Chapter VII: Part 7

3 Where choise is hard, count good for well a fine,[E466] Skill mixt with will, is he that teacheth best: Let this suffice for teaching childe of thine, Choose quickly well for all the lingring rest. Mistaught at first how seldome prooueth well! Trim taught, O God, how shortly doth excell!

4 Although as ships must tarrie winde and tide, And perfect howers abide their stinted time; So likewise, though of learning dailie tride, Space must be had ere wit may thereto clime. Yet easie steps, and perfect way to trust, Doth cause good spéede, confesse of force we must.

5 Thus in the childe though wit ynough we finde, And teacher good néere hand or other where, And time as apt as may be thought with minde, Nor cause in such thing much to doubt or feare. Yet cocking Mams,[E467] and shifting Dads[E468] from schooles, Make pregnant wits to prooue vnlearned fooles.

6 Ere learning come, to haue first art thou taught, Apt learning childe, apt time that thing to frame, Apt cunning man to teach, else all is naught, Apt parents, glad to bring to passe the same. On such apt ground the Muses loue to bilde, This lesson learne; adue else learned child.

[1] ? faire [1614].

[In the edition of 1573, The Sonnet to Lady Paget, which follows the Posies, is placed here.]

96.

¶ The description of a womans age by vi. times xiiij yeeres prentiship, with a lesson to the same.

14. Two first seuen yeeres, for a rod they doe whine,

28. Two next, as a perle in the world they doe shine,

42. Two next, trim beautie beginneth to swerue,

56. Two next, for matrones or drudges they serue,

70. Two next, doth craue a staffe for a stay,

84. Two next, a beere to fetch them away.

A Lesson ( Then purchase some pelfe,
( by fiftie and thrée:
( or buckle thy selfe,
( a drudge for to bée.

97.

¶ _The Inholders posie._[1]

[1] At meales my friend who vitleth here, and sitteth with his host, Shall both be sure of better chere, and scape with lesser cost.[E469]

[2] But he that will attendance haue, a chamber by himselfe, Must more regard what pains do craue than passe of worldly pelfe.

[3] Let no man looke to purchase linne[E470] with pinching by the waie, But laie before he takes his Inne to make his purse to paie.

[4] For nothing paie and nothing praie, in Inne it is the gise, Where no point gain, there no point pain, think this if you be wise.

[5] For toiling much and spoiling more, great charge smal gains or none, Soone sets thine host at needams shore,[2][E471] to craue the beggers bone.

[6] Foreséeing this, come day or night, take vp what place ye please. Vse mine as thine, let fortune spight, and boldly take thine ease.

[1] Not in edition of 1573.

[2] A pun recorded by Ray. Needham is in Suffolk (M.).

98.

¶ _Certaine Table Lessons._

1 Friend, eat lesse, and drinke lesse,[1] and buie thee a knife, else looke for a caruer not alway too rife. Some kniueles their daggers for brauerie weare, that often for surfetting neede not to feare.[E472]

2 At dinner and supper the table doth craue good fellowly neighbour good manner to haue. Aduise thee well therefore, ere tongue be too free, or slapsauce be noted too saucie to bee.

3 If anything wanteth or seemeth amis, to call for or shew it, good maner it is. But busie fault finder, and saucie withall, is roister like ruffen, no manner at all.

4 Some cutteth the napkin, some trencher will nick, some sheweth like follie, in many a trick. Let such apish[2] bodie so toieng at meate, go toie with his nodie, like ape in the streate.[E473]

5 Some commeth vnsent for, not for thy good cheere, but sent[3] as a spiall, to listen and heere. Which being once knowne, for a knaue let him go, for knaue will be knauish, his nature is so.

[1] eateles and drinkles. 1577.

[2] Let apishle. 1577.

[3] bent. 1577.

99.

¶ _Lessons for waiting servants._

1 One diligent seruiture, skilfull to waight, more comelieth thy table than other some eight, That stand for to listen, or gasing about, not minding their dutie, within nor without.

2 Such waiter is fautie that standeth so by, vnmindful of seruice, forgetting his ey. If maister to such giue a bone for to gnaw, he doth but his office, to teach such a daw.

3 Such seruiture also deserueth a check, that runneth out fisging[E474] with meat in his beck. Such rauening puttocks for vittles so trim, would haue a good maister to puttock with him.

4 Who daily can suffer, or else can afoord, his meat so vp snatched that comes from his boord? So tossed[1] with cormorants, here and there some, and others to want it that orderlie come?

5 Good seruiture waieth (once dinner begon,) what asketh attendance and what to be don. So purchasing maister a praise with the best, gets praise to himselfe, both of maister and gest.

[1] toesed. 1577.

100.

¶ _Husbandly posies for the hall._

1 Friend, here I dwell, and here I haue a little worldly pelfe, Which on my friend I kéepe to spend, as well as on my selfe.

2 What euer fare you hap to finde, take welcome for the best, That hauing then disdaine thou not, for wanting of the rest.

3 Backbiting[E475] talk that flattering blabs know wily how to blenge, The wise doth note, the friend[E476] doth hate, the enmie will reuenge.

4 The wise will spend or giue or lend, yet kéepe to haue in store, If fooles may haue from hand to mouth, they passe vpon no more.

5 Where ease is sought, at length we sée, there plentie waxeth scant, Who careles liues go borow must, or else full often want.

6 The world doth think the welthy man is he that least shall néed, But true it is the godlie[1] man is he that best shall spéed.

[1] Cf. _ante_, ch. 72, st. 2.

101.

¶ _Posies for the parler._

1 As hatred is the serpents noisome rod, So friendship is the louing gift of God.

2 The dronken friend is friendship very euill, The frantike friend is friendship for the Deuill.

3 The quiet friend all one in word and déede Great comfort is, like ready gold at néede.

4 With bralling fooles that wrall for euerie wrong, Firme friendship neuer can continue long.

5 In time that man shall seldome friendship mis, That waith what thing touch kept in friendship is.

6 Oft times a friend is got with easie cost, Which vsed euill is oft as quickly lost.

7 Hast thou a friend, as hart may wish at will? Then vse him so to haue his friendship still.

8 Wouldst haue a friend, wouldst knowe what friend is best? Haue God thy friend, who passeth all the rest.

102.

¶ _Posies for the gests chamber._

1 The slouen and the careles man, the roinish[E477] nothing nice, To lodge in chamber comely deckt, are seldome suffred twice.

2 With curteine som make scaberd clene, with couerlet their shoo, All dirt and mire some wallow bed, as spanniels vse to doo.

3 Though bootes and spurs be nere so foule, what passeth some thereon? What place they foule, what thing they teare, by tumbling thervpon.

4 Foule male some cast on faire boord, be carpet nere so cléene, what maners careles maister hath, by knaue his man is séene.

5 Some make the chimnie chamber pot to smell like filthie sink, Yet who so bold, so soone to say, fough, how these houses stink?

6 They therefore such as make no force what comly thing they spil, Must haue a cabben like themselues, although against their wil.

7 But gentlemen will gently doe where gentlenes is sheawd, Obseruing this, with loue abide, or else hence all beshreawd.

103.

¶ _Posies for thine owne bed chamber._

1 What wisdom more, what better life, than pleseth God to send? what worldly goods, what longer vse, than pleseth God to lend?

2 What better fare than well content, agréeing with thy wealth?[1] what better gest, than trustie friend, in sicknes and in health?

3 What better bed than conscience good,[2] to passe the night with sléepe? what better worke than daily care fro sinne thy selfe to kéepe?

4 What better thought, than think on God and daily him to serue? What better gift than to the poore that ready be to sterue?

5 What greater praise of God and man, than mercie for to shew?[3] who merciles shall mercie finde, that mercie shewes to few?

6 What worse despaire, than loth to die for feare to go to hell? what greater faith than trust in God, through Christ in heauen to dwell?

[1] what mirth to godly welth. 1577.

[2] quiet rest. 1577.

[3]

----than hatred to forsake What merciles shall mercy get, that mercy none will take. 1577.

[1573 M.].

104.

¶ _A Sonet to the Ladie Paget._

[1] Some pleasures take, and cannot giue, but onely make poore thanks their shift: Some meaning well, in debt doo liue, and cannot tell how else to shift.

[2] Some knock and faine would ope the doore, to learne the vaine good turne to praise: Some shew good face, and be but poore, yet haue a grace, good fame to raise.

[3] Some owe and giue, yet still in det, and so must liue, for aught I knowe: Some wish to pay, and cannot get, but night and day still more must owe.

[4] Euen so must I, for seruice past, Still wish you good while life doth last.

105.

¶ _Principall points of Religion._

1 To praie to God continually, To learne to know him rightfully.

2 To honour God in Trinitie,

3 The Trinitie in vnitie. The Father in his maiestie, The Sonne in his humanitie, The holie Ghosts benignitie, Three persons, one in Deitie.

4 To serue him alway holily,

5 To aske him all thing needfully,

6 To praise him in all companie,[1]

7 To loue him alway hartilie,[2]

8 To dread him alway christianlie,[3]

9 To aske him mercie penitently,[4]

10 To trust him alway faithfully,

11 To obey him alway willingly,

12 To abide him alway patiently,

13 To thanke him alway thankfully,

14 To liue here alway vertuously,

15 To vse thy neighbour honestly,

16 To looke for death still presently,[E478]

17 To helpe the poore in miserie,

18 To hope for heauens felicitie,

19 To haue faith hope and charitie,

20 To count this life but vanitie: be points of Christianitie.

[1] alway worthely. 1577.

[2] steadfastlie. 1573 (M.), 1577.

[3] fearfullie. 1573 (M.), 1577.

[4] heartilie. 1573 (M.), 1577.

106.

¶ _The Authors beleefe._

[Sidenote: God the Father.]

1 This is my stedfast Créede, my faith, and all my trust, That in the heauens there is a God, most mightie, milde and iust. A God aboue all gods, a King aboue all kings, The Lord of lords, chiefe gouernour of heauen and earthly things.

[Sidenote: Maker of Heauen.]

2 That power hath of life, of death, of heauen and hell, That all thing made as pleaseth him, so woonderfull to tell: That made the hanging Skies, so deckt with diuers lights, Of darknes made the chéerfull daies, and all our restfull nights.

[Sidenote: The earth.]

3 That clad this earth with herbe, with trées, and sundrie fruites, With beast, with bird, both wild and tame, of strange and sundrie suites: That intermixt the same with mines like veines of Ore, Of siluer, golde, of precious stones, and treasures many more.

[Sidenote: The waters, frost and snowe.]

4 That ioyned brookes to dales, to hilles fresh water springs, With riuers swéete along the méedes, to profit many things: That made the hoarie frosts, the flakie snowes so trim, The honie deawes, the blustering windes, to serue as pleaseth him.

[Sidenote: The seas.]

5 That made the surging seas, in course to ebbe and flo, That skilfull man with sailing ship, mought trauell to and fro: And stored so the same, for mans vnthankfull sake, That euery nation vnder heauen mought thereby profit take.

[Sidenote: The soul of man.]

6 That gaue to man a soule, with reason how to liue, That doth to him and all things else, his blessing dailie giue: That is not séene, yet séeth how man doth runne his race, Whose dailie workes both good and bad, stand knowne before his face.

[Sidenote: Thunder and plagues.]

7 That sendeth thundring claps, like terrours out of hell, That man may know a God there is, that in the heauens doth dwel: That sendeth threatning plagues, to kéepe our liues in awe, His benefites if we forget, or do contemne his lawe.

[Sidenote: Full of mercie.]

8 That dailie hateth sinne, and loueth vertue well, And is the God of Abraham, Isac, and Israell, That doth displeasure take, when we his lawes offend, And yet amids his heauie wrath, his mercie doth extend.

[Sidenote: Christ the Sonne.]

9 This is that Lord of hostes, the father of vs all, The maker of what ere was made, my God on whom I call: Which for the loue of man, sent downe his onelie sonne, Begot of him before the worldes were any whit begonne.

[Sidenote: Christes birth. Christ, God and man.]

10 This entred Maries wombe, as faith affirmeth sure, Conceiued by the holy Ghost, borne of that virgine pure; This was both God and man, of Jewes the hoped king, And liued here, saue onely sinne, like man in euerie thing.

[Sidenote: Christ, our Messias.]

11 This is that virgins childe, that same most holie Preist, The lamb of God, the prophet great, whom scripture calleth Christ, This that Messias was, of whom the Prophet spake, That should tread down the serpents head and our attonement make.

[Sidenote: Christes passion.]

12 This Judas did betray, to false dissembling Jewes, Which vnto Pilat being Judge, did falsely him accuse: Who (through that wicked Judge) and of those Jewes despight, Condemned and tormented was, with all the force they might.

13 To liuing wight more euill, what could such wretches do? More pearcing wounds, more bitter pains, than they did put him to? They crowned him with thorne, that was the king of kings, That sought to saue the soule of man, aboue all worldly things.

[Sidenote: Christes death.]

14 This was that Pascall lambe whose loue for vs so stood, That on the mount of Caluerie,[1] for vs did shed his blood: Where hanging on the Crosse, no shame he did forsake, Till death giuen him by pearcing speare, an ende of life did make.

[Sidenote: Christes buriall.]

[Sidenote: Christes descension.]

15 This Ioseph séeing dead, the bodie thence did craue, And tooke it forthwith from the crosse, and laid it in his graue, Downe thence he went to hell, in vsing there his will,[E479] His power[2] I meane, his slained corps in tumb remaining still.

[Sidenote: Christes resurrection.]

[Sidenote: Christes ascension.]

16 From death to life againe, the third day this did rise, And séene[E480] on earth to his elect, times oft in sundrie wise: And after into heauen, ascend he did in sight, And sitteth on the right hand there, of God the father of might.

[Sidenote: Christ shall be our iudge.]

17 Where for vs wretches all, his father he doth pray, To haue respect vnto his death, and put our sinnes away: From thence with sounded trump, which noise all flesh shall dread, He shall returne with glorie againe, to iudge the quicke and dead.

[Sidenote: The Iudges sentence.]

18 Then shall that voice be heard, Come, come, ye good to mée, Hence, hence to hell you workers euill, where paine shall euer bée: This is that louing Christ, whom I my Sauiour call, And onely put my trust in him, and in none else at all.

[Sidenote: God the holy Ghost.]

19 In God the holy Ghost, I firmely do belieue, Which from the father and the sonne a blessed[3] life giue, Which by the Prophets spake, which doth all comfort send, Which I do trust shall be my guide, when this my life shall ende.

[Sidenote: The Catholike Church.]

20 A holy catholike Church, on earth I graunt there is, And those which frame their liues by that, shall neuer do[4] amis: The head whereof is Christ, his word the chiefest post: Preseruer of this temple great, is God the holy Ghost.

[Sidenote: The Communion of Saints.]

21 I do not doubt there is a multitude of Saints, More good is don resembling them, than shewing them our plaints: Their faith and workes in Christ, that glorie them did giue, Which glorie we shall likewise haue, if likewise we do liue.

[Sidenote: Forgiueness of sinnes.]

22 At God of heauen there is, forgiuenesse of our sinnes, Through Christes death, through faith in it, and through none other ginnes: If we repentant here, his mercie dailie craue, Through stedfast hope and faith in Christ, forgiuenes we shall haue.

[Sidenote: Mans resurrection.]

23 I hope and trust vpon the rising of the flesh, This corps of mine that first must die, shall rise againe afresh: The soule and bodie euen then, in one shall ioyned bée, As Christ did rise from death to life, euen so through Christ shall wée.

[Sidenote: Life euerlasting.]

24 As Christ is glorified, and neuer more shall die, As Christ ascended into heauen, through Christ euen so shall I: As Christ I count my head, and I a member of his, So God I trust for Christes sake, shall settle me in blis.

[25] Thus here we learne of God, that there be persons thrée, The Father, Sonne, the holy Ghost, one God in trinitée, In substance all like one, one God, one Lord, one might, Whose persons yet we do diuide, and so we may by right.

[26] As God the Father is the maker of vs all, So God the Sonne redéemer is, to whom for helpe we call, And God the holy Ghost, the soule of man doth winne, By moouing hir to waile for grace, ashamed of hir sinne.

[27] This is that God of gods, whom euerie soule should loue, Whom all mens hearts should quake for feare his wrath on them to moue: That this same mightie God, aboue all others chiefe, Shall saue my soule from dolefull Hell, is all my whole beliefe.

[1] Caluerine. 1577.

[2] soule. 1577.

[3] proceeding. 1577.

[4] speede. 1577.

107.

_Of the omnipotencie of God, and debilitie of man._

1 O God thou glorious God, what god is like to thée? What life, what strength is like to thine, as al the world may see? The heauens, the earth, the seas, and all thy workes therein, Do shew (to who thou wouldst to know)[E481] what thou hast euer bin.

2 But all the thoughts of man, are bent to wretched euill, Man doth commit idolatrie bewitched of the Deuill. What euill is left vndone, where man may haue his will, Man euer was an hypocrite, and so continues still.

[Sidenote: What these 4 principal diuels do signifie.]

3 What daily watch is made, the soule of man to slea, By Lucifer, by Belzabub, Mammon, and Asmodea? In diuelish pride, in wrath, in coueting too much, In fleshly lust the time is spent, the life of man is such.

4 The ioy that man hath here, is as a sparke of fier, His acts be like the smoldring smoke, himselfe like dirt and mier. His strength euen as a réede, his age much like a flower, His breth or life is but a puffe, vncertaine euerie hower.[E482]

5 But for the holy Ghost, and for his giftes of grace, The death of Christ, thy mercie great, man were in wofull case. O graunt us therefore Lord, to amend that is amisse, And when from hence we do depart, to rest with thee in blisse.

108.

_Of Almes deedes._

_Eleemosyna prodest homini in vita, in morte, & post mortem.

Out of S. Augustine._

[1] For onely loue to God, more Christian like to liue, And for a zeale to helpe the poore, thine almes daily giue. Let gift no glorie looke,[E483] nor euill possesse thy minde: And for a truth these profites thrée, through almes shalt thou finde.

[2] 1 First here the holy Ghost shall daily through his grace, Prouoke[E484] thée to repentant life, Gods mercie to embrace.

2 Of goods and friends (by death) when thou thy leaue must take, Thine almes déedes shall claspe thy soule, and neuer it forsake.

[3] 3 When God shall after death, call soone for thine account, thine alms then through faith in Christ, shal al things els surmount. But yet for any déede, put thou no trust therein, but put thy trust in God (through Christ) to pardon thée thy sin.

[4] For else as cackling hen with noise bewraies hir nest, Euen so go thou and blaze thy déeds, and lose thou all the rest.

109.

_Of_ malus homo.

Malus homo, _out of S. Augustine._

Of naughtie man, I read, two sundrie things are ment, The ton is man, the other naught, which ought him to repent. The man we ought to loue, bicause of much therein, The euill in him we ought to hate, euen as a filthie sin. So doth thy daily sinnes the heauenly Lord offend, But when thou dost repent the same, his wrath is at an end.

110.

_Of two sorts of people._

_Of two sorts of men, the tone good, and tother bad, out of S. Augustine._

Since first the world began, there was and shall be still, Of humane kind two sundrie sorts, thon good and thother ill: Which till the iudgement day, shall here togither dwell, But then the good shall vp to heauen, the bad shall downe to hell.

111.

_Of what force the devil is if he be resisted._

_Diabolo cùm resistitur, est vt formica: Cùm verò eius suggestio recipitur, fortis est vt leo._

Out of S. Augustine.

When Sathan we resist, a Pismier shall he be, But when we séeme to giue him place, a Lion then is he.

112.

¶ _Eight of S. Barnards verses, both in Latine and English with one note to them both._[1][E485]

1
_Cur mundus militat, sub vana gloria,
Cuius prosperitas, est transitoria?
Tam citò labitur, eius potentia,
Quàm vasa figuli, quæ sunt fragilia?_

1 Why[2] so triumphes the world, in pompe and glorie vaine, Whose state so happie thought, so fickle[3] doth remaine? Whose brauerie slipprie stands, and doth so soone decaie, As doth the potters pan, compact of brittle claie?

2
_Plus crede literis, scriptis in glacie,
Quàm mundi fragilis, vanæ fallaciæ,
Fallax in præmijs, virtutis specie,
Quæ nunquam habuit tempus fiduciæ._

2 More credite sée thou giue, to letters wrote in ise, Than vnto vaine deceits, of brittle worlds deuise. In gifts to vertue due, beguiling many one, Yet those same neuer haue long time to hope vpon.

3
_Magis credendum est, viris fallacibus,
Quàm mundi miseris prosperitatibus,
Falsis insanijs et voluptatibus,
Falsis quoque studijs et vanitatibus._

3 To false dissembling men more trust is to be had, Than to the prosperous state of wretched world so bad: What with voluptuousnes, and other maddish toies, False studies won with paine, false vanities and ioies.

4
_Dic vbi Salomon, olim tam nobilis?
Vel vbi Samson est, dux invincibilis?
Vel dulcis Ionathas, multùm amabilis?
Vel pulcher Absolon, vultu mirabilis?_

4 Tell where is _Salomon_, that once so noble was? Or where now _Samson_ is, in strength whome none could pas? Or woorthie _Ionathas_, that prince so louely bold? Or faier _Absolon_, so goodlie to behold?

5
_Quò Cæsar abijt, celsus imperio?
Vel Diues splendidus, totus in prandio?
Dic vbi Tullius, clarus eloquio?
Vel Aristoteles, summus ingenio?_

5 Shew whither is _Cesar_ gone, which conquered far and néere? Or that rich famous _Carle_,[E486] so giuen to bellie chéere: Shew where is _Tullie_ now, for eloquence so fit? Or _Aristoteles_, of such a pregnant wit?

6
_O esca vermium! ô massa pulueris!
O ros! ô vanitas! cùr sic extolleris,
Ignoras penitùs vtrùm cras vixeris,
Fac bonum omnibus, quàm diu poteris._

6 O thou fit bait for wormes![E487] O thou great heape of dust! O dewe! O vanitie! why so extolst thy lust? Thou therefore ignorant, what time thou hast to liue, Doe good to erie man, while here thou hast to giue.

7
_Quàm breue festum est, hæc mundi gloria?
Vt umbra hominis, sic eius gaudia,
Quæ semper subtrahit, æterna præmia,
Et ducunt hominem, ad dura deuia._

7 How short a feast (to count) is this same worlds renowne? Such as mens shadowes be, such ioies it brings to towne. Which alway plucketh vs from Gods eternall blis: And leadeth man to hell, a iust reward of his.

8
_Hæc mundi gloria, quæ magni penditur,
Sacris in literis, flos fæni dicitur,
Vt leue folium, quod vento rapitur,
Sic vita hominum, hac vita tollitur._

8 The brauerie of this world, estéemed here so much, In Scripture likened is, to flowre of grasse and such: Like as the leafe so light, through winde abrode is blowne, So life in this our life, full soone is ouerthrowne.[4]

[1] "These eight verses of St. Bernard seem to have been extremely popular at one period.... In the 'Paradise of Dainty Devices,' first printed in 1576, we find translations of the same words" (Mason).

[2] Who. 1577.

[3] unsteady. 1577.

[4]

.... which wind abrod doth blowe, So doth this worldly life, the life of man bestow. 1577.

113.

¶ _Of the Authors linked Verses departing from Court to the Country._[1]

1 Muse not my friend to finde me here, )(For fortunes looke,[E488] Contented with this meane estate: )(Hath changed hew: And séeme to doo with willing chéere, )(And I my booke, That courtier doth so deadly hate. )(Must learne anew.

2 And yet of force, to learne anew, )(But where a spight, Would much abash the dulled braine: )(Of force must bée: I craue to iudge if this be trew, )(What is that wight, The truant child that knowth the paine. )(May disagrée?

3 No, no, God wot, to disagrée, )(For lordlie bent, Is ventring all to make or mar: )(Must learne to spare: If fortune frowne we dailie sée, )(And be content It is not best to striue too far. )(With countrie fare.

4 From daintie Court to countrie fare, )(Where néede yet can, Too daintie fed[E489] is diet strange: )(None other skill: From cities ioy, to countrie care, )(Somtime poore man To skillesse folke is homelie change. )(Must breake his will.

5 If courtlie change so breaketh will )(If court with cart That countrie life must serue the turne: )(Must be content,[E490] What profit then in striuing still, )(What ease to hart, Against the prick to séeme to spurne? )(Though mind repent?

6 What gaine I though I doo repent, )(As néede doth make My crotches[2] all are broke and gon: )(Old age to trot: My woonted friends are careles bent, )(So must I take, They feare no chance I chance vpon. )(In woorth my lot.

7 Now if I take in woorth my lot, )(Behold the horse That fatall chance doth force me to, )(Must trudge for pelfe, If ye be friends embraid[3] me not, )(And yet of forse, But vse a friend as friends should do. )(Content it selfe.

[1] "In the edition of 1573 this piece is entitled 'Of the Author's departing from the Court to the Country,' and the verses are printed consecutively--four long lines and then four short lines."--M. So, in 1577.

[2] chrotches. 1577.

[3] upbraid. 1614.

114.

_The Authors life._[1]

[Sidenote: Epodium.]

1 Now gentle friend, if thou be kinde, Disdaine thou not, although the lot Will now with me no better be, than doth appere: Nor let it grieue, that thus I liue, But rather gesse, for quietnesse, As others do, so do I to, content me here.

2 By leaue and loue, of God aboue, I minde to shew, in verses few, How through the breers, my youthfull yeeres, haue runne their race: And further say, why thus I stay, And minde to liue, as Bee in hiue, Full bent to spend my life to an end, in this same place.[2]

[Sidenote: Borne at Riuenhall in Essex.]

3 It came to pas, that borne I was Of linage good, of gentle blood, In Essex laier, in village faier, that Riuenhall hight: Which village lide by Banketree side, There spend did I mine infancie, There then my name, in honest fame, remaind in sight.

[Sidenote: Set to song schoole.]

4 I yet but yong, no speech of tong, Nor teares withall, that often fall From mothers eies, when childe out cries, to part hir fro: Could pitie make, good father take, But out I must, to song be thrust, Say what I would, do what I could, his minde was so.

[Sidenote: Queristers miserie.]

[Sidenote: Wallingford Colledge.]

5 O painfull time, for euerie crime, What toesed eares,[E491] like baited beares! What bobbed lips, what ierks, what nips! what hellish toies! What robes,[E492] how bare! what colledge fare! What bread, how stale! what pennie Ale![E493] Then Wallingford, how wart thou abhord of sillie boies!

[Sidenote: Singing mens commissions.]

6 Thence for my voice, I must (no choice) Away of forse, like posting horse, For sundrie men, had plagards then,[E494] such childe to take: The better brest,[3][E495] the lesser rest, To serue the Queere, now there now heere For time so spent, I may repent, and sorrow make.

[Sidenote: Iohn Redford an excellent Musician [organist of St. Paul's. M.]]

7 But marke the chance, my self to vance, By friendships lot, to Paules I got, So found I grace, a certaine space, still to remaine: With Redford there, the like no where, For cunning such, and vertue much, By whom some part of Musicke art, so did I gaine.

[Sidenote: Nicholas Vdall[E496] schoolmaster at Eton.]

8 From Paules I went, to Eaton sent, To learn streight waies, the latin phraies, Where fiftie three stripes giuen to mee, at once I had: For fault but small, or none at all, It came to pas, thus beat I was, See Udall see, the mercie of thee, to me poore lad.

[Sidenote: Trinitie hall in Cambridge.]

9 From London hence, to Cambridge thence, With thanks to thee, O Trinitee, That to thy hall, so passing all,[4] I got at last: There ioy I felt, there trim I dwelt, There heauen from hell, I shifted well, With learned men, a number then, the time I past.

[Sidenote: Quartan ague.]

[Sidenote: Lord Paget good to his seruants.]

10 Long sicknes had, then was I glad To leaue my booke, to proue and looke, In Court what gaine, by taking paine, mought well be found: Lord Paget than, that noble man, Whose soule I trust is with the iust, That same was hee enriched mee, with many a pound.

[Sidenote: The hope we haue of the dead.]

11 When[5] this betide, good parents dide, One after one, till both were gone, Whose petigree, who list may see, in Harolds Booke:[E497] Whose soules in blis be long ere this, For hope we must, as God is iust, So here that craue shall mercie haue, that mercie looke.

[Sidenote: The vices of the Court.]

12 By Court I spide, and ten yeres tride That Cards and Dice, with Venus vice, And peeuish pride, from vertue wide, with some so wraught: That Tiburne play[E498] made them away, Or beggers state as euill to hate, By such like euils, I saw such dreuils, to come to naught.

[Sidenote: The Court commended.]

13 Yet is it not to be forgot, In Court that some to worship come, And some in time to honour clime, and speede full well: Some haue such gift, that trim they shift, Some profite make, by paines they take, In perill much, though oft are such, in Court that dwell.

[Sidenote: The nobilitie at variance in Edward the 6 daies.]

[Sidenote: Katewade.]

14 When court gan frowne and strife in towne, And lords and knights, saw heauie sights, Then tooke I wife, and led my life in Suffolke soile. There was I faine my selfe to traine, To learne too long the fermers song, For hope of pelfe, like worldly elfe, to moile and toile.

[Sidenote: At Katewade in Suffolke this booke first deuised.]

15 As in this booke, who list to looke, Of husbandrie, and huswiferie, There may he finde more of my minde, concerning this: To carke[6] and care, and euer bare, With losse and paine, to little gaine, All this to haue, to cram sir knaue, what life it is.

[Sidenote: Ipswich commended.]

16 When wife could not, through sicknes got, More toile abide, so nigh Sea side, Then thought I best, from toile to rest, and Ipswich trie: A towne of price,[E499] like paradice, For quiet then, and honest men, There was I glad, much friendship had, a time to lie.

[Sidenote: The deth of his first wife.]

17 There left good wife this present life, And there left I, house charges lie, For glad was he, mought send for me, good lucke so stood: In Suffolke there, were euerie where, Euen of the best, besides the rest, That neuer did their friendship hid, to doo me good.

[Sidenote: Newe maried in Norfolk.]

18 O Suffolke thow, content thee now, That hadst the praies in those same daies, For Squiers and Knights, that well delights good house to keepe: For Norfolke wiles, so full of giles,[E500] Haue caught my toe, by wiuing so, That out to thee, I see for mee, no waie to creepe.

[Sidenote: Mistres Amie Moone.]

19 For lo, through gile, what haps the while, Through Venus toies, in hope of ioies, I chanced soone to find a Moone,[7] of cheerfull hew: Which well a fine me thought did shine, Did neuer change, a thing most strange, Yet kept in sight, hir course aright, and compas trew.

[Sidenote: The charges following a yoong wife.]

20 Behold of truth, with wife in youth, For ioie at large, what daily charge, Through childrens hap, what opened gap, to more begun. The childe at nurse, to rob the purse, The same to wed, to trouble hed. For pleasure rare, such endlesse care, hath husband wun.

[Sidenote: West Diram Abbie.]

[Sidenote: Land-lordes at variance.]

21 Then did I dwell in Diram sell,[E501] A place for wood, that trimlie stood, With flesh and fish, as heart would wish: but when I spide That Lord with Lord could not accord, But now pound he, and now pound we, Then left I all, bicause such brall, I list not bide.

[Sidenote: Sir Richard Soothwell.]

22 O Soothwell, what meanst thou by that, Thou worthie wight, thou famous knight, So me to craue, and to thy graue, go by and by? O death thou fo, why didst thou so Ungently treat that Iewell great, Which opte his doore to rich and poore, so bounteously?

[Sidenote: His vij executors.]

23 There thus bestad, when leaue I had, By death of him, to sinke or swim, And rauens I saw togither draw, in such a sort: Then waies I saught, by wisdome taught, To beare low saile, least stock should quaile, Till ship mought finde, with prosperous winde, some safer port.

[Sidenote: Norwich Citie.]

[Sidenote: Norwich qualities.]

24 At length by vew, to shore I drew, Discharging straight both ship and fraight, At Norwich fine, for me and mine, a citie trim: Where strangers wel may seeme to dwel, That pitch and pay, or keepe their day, But who that want, shall find it scant so good for him.

[Sidenote: Maister Salisburie deane of Norwich.]

25 But Salisburie how were kept my vow, If praise from thee were kept by mee, Thou gentle deane, mine onely meane, there then to liue? Though churles such some to craue can come, And pray once got, regard thee not, Yet liue or die, so will not I, example giue.

[Sidenote: In 138 houres I neuer made drop of water.]

26 When learned men could there nor then, Deuise to swage the stormie rage, Nor yet the furie of my dissurie, that long I had: From Norwich aire, in great despaire, Away to flie, or else to die, To seeke more helth, to seeke more welth, then was I glad.

[Sidenote: Faiersted parsonage in Essex.]

27 From thence so sent, away I went, With sicknes worne, as one forlorne, To house my hed, at Faiersted,[E502] where whiles I dwelt: The tithing life, the tithing strife, Through tithing ill, of Jacke and Gill, The dailie paies, the mierie waies, too long I felt.

[Sidenote: Lease for parsons life.]

28 When charges grew, still new and new, And that I spide, if parson dide, (All hope in vaine) to hope for gaine, I might go daunce: Once rid my hand of parsonage land, Thence by and by, away went I, To London streight, to hope and waight, for better chaunce.

[Sidenote: London commended.]

29 Well London well, that bearst the bell Of praise about, England throughout, And dost in deede, to such as neede, much kindnes shew: Who that with thee can hardly agree, Nor can well prais thy friendly wais, Shall friendship find, to please his mind, in places few.

[Sidenote: Vnthrifts order.]

30 As for such mates, as vertue hates, Or he or thay, that go so gay, That needes he must take all of trust, for him and his: Though such for we by Lothburie go, For being spide about Cheapeside, Least Mercers bookes for monie lookes, small matter it is.

[Sidenote: The plague at London [1574, 1575].[E503]]

[Sidenote: Trinitie College in Cambridge.]

31 When gaines was gon, and yeres grew on, And death did crie, from London flie, In Cambridge then, I found agen, a resting plot: In Colledge best of all the rest, With thanks to thee, O Trinitee,[8] Through thee and thine, for me and mine, some stay I got.

[Sidenote: Youth ill spent makes age repent.]

32[E504] Since hap haps so, let toiling go, Let seruing paines yeeld forth hir gaines, Let courtly giftes, with wedding shiftes, helpe now to liue: Let Musicke win, let stocke come in, Let wisedome kerue, let reason serue, For here I craue such end to haue, as God shall giue.

[Sidenote: A lesson for yonger brothers.]

33 Thus friends, by me perceiue may ye, That gentrie standes, not all by landes,[E505] Nor all so feft, or plentie left by parents gift: But now and then, of gentlemen, The yonger sonne is driuen to ronne, And glad to seeke from creeke to creeke, to come by thrift.

[Sidenote: A true lesson.]

34 And more by this, to conster is, In world is set, ynough to get, But where and whan, that scarsely can, the wisest tell: By learning some to riches come, By ship and plough some get ynough, And some so wiue that trim they thriue, and speede full well.

[Sidenote: Hardnes in youth not the worst.]

[Sidenote: Cocking of youth not the best.]

35 To this before, adde one thing more, Youth hardnes taught, with knowledge wraught, Most apt do prooue, to shift and shooue, among the best: Where cocking Dads[E506] make sawsie lads, In youth so rage, to beg in age, Or else to fetch a Tibourne stretch, among the rest.

[Sidenote: Not pride in youth, but welth in age needfull.]

36 Not rampish toie, of girle and boie, Nor garment trim, of hir or him,[E507] In childhoode spent, to fond intent, good end doth frame: If marke we shall, the summe of all, The end it is, that noted is, Which if it bide, with vertue tride, deserueth fame.

[Sidenote: Man doth labour and God doth blesse.]

37 When all is done, lerne this my sonne, Not friend, nor skill, nor wit at will, Nor ship nor clod, but onelie God, doth all in all: Man taketh paine, God giueth gaine, Man doth his best, God doth the rest, Man well intendes, God foizon sendes, else want he shall.[E508]

[Sidenote: A contented minde is worth all.]

38 Some seeke for welth, I seeke my helth, Some seeke to please, I seeke mine ease, Some seeke to saue, I seeke to haue to liue vpright: More than to ride, with pompe and pride, Or for to iet,[9][E509] in others det, Such is my skill, and shall be still, for any wight.

39 Too fond were I, here thus to lie, Unles that welth mought further helth, And profit some should thereby come, to helpe withall: This causeth mee well pleasde to bee, Such drift to make, such life to take, Enforsing minde remorse to finde, as neede neede shall.

[Sidenote: Happie that liues well, vnhappie dies euill.]

40 Friend, al thing waid, that here is said, And being got, that paies the shot, Me thinke of right haue leaue I might, (death drawing neere:) To seeke some waies, my God to praies, And mercy craue, in time to haue, And for the rest, what he thinkes best, to suffer heere.

[1] First added to the 1573 edition.--M.

[2] "The author means London; but though it is believed he died there, it is evident from the sequel, that he left it on account of the plague."--M.

[3] Cf. Shakespere's Twelfth Night, ii. 3.

[4] "Till it was repaired, between 1740 and 1750, it is said to have been but a poor-looking place; and which is reported to have been characterized by Dr. Mar, the Vice-Chancellor, when speaking of it to the King of Denmark, as _le petit coigne._"--M.

[5] While. 1577.

[6] carp. 1573.

[7] His second wife.

[8] Founded in 1546.

[9] set. 1573.

FINIS.

[Of edition of 1580, but see over.]

[115.]

_Of Fortune._

The following poem is not to be found after the edition of 1573 and its reprint of 1577.--M.

_Fortuna non est semper amica, Superbiam igitur semper devita._

1 Though Fortune smiles, and fawnes vpon thy side, Thyself extol for that no whit the more; Though Fortune frownes and wresteth al thing wide, Let fancy stay, keepe courage still in store; For chance may change as chance hath don before: Thus shalt thou holde more safe then honour got, Or lose the losse,[1] though Fortune will or not.

2 Thy friend at this shall dayly comfort haue, When warely thus, thou bearest thy selfe vpright, Thy foes at this shall gladly friendship craue, When hope so small is left to wrecke their spight, For lowly liefe withstandeth enuy quight: As floeting ship, by bearing sayl alowe, Withstandeth stormes when boistrous winds do blowe.

3 Thy vsage thus in time shall win the gole, Though doughtful haps, dame fortune sendes betweene, And thou shalt see thine enemies blow the cole, To ease thine hart much more then thou dost weene, Ye though a change most strangely should be seene, Yet friend at neede shall secret friendship make, When foe in deede shal want his part to take.

[1] lesse. M.

_A Table of the points of Huswiferie mentioned in this Booke._

The Authors Epistle to the Ladie Paget.

The Authors Epistle to the Reader.

The Authors Preface to his booke of huswiferie.

The praise of huswiferie.

A description of huswife and huswiferie.

Instructions to huswiferie.

A digression to cockcrowing.

Huswiferie morning workes.

Huswifelie breakefast workes.

Huswifelie admonitions or lessons.

Brewing.

Baking.

Cookerie.

Dairie.

Scouring.

Washing.

Malting.

Dinner time huswiferie.

Huswifelie afternoone workes.

Huswifelie Euening workes.

Supper time huswiferie.

After Supper workes of huswiferie.

Of bedtime in winter and sommer.

The times to rise in winter and sommer.

Of bearing and forbearing.

The Ploughmans feasting daies.

The good huswifelie physicke.

The good motherlie nurserie.

A precept of thinking on the poore.

A comparison betwéene good huswiferie and bad.

The meanes for children to attaine to learning.

A description of womans age from fourtéene to fourescore and foure.

The Inholders posie.

Certaine table lessons.

Lessons for waiting seruantes.

Husbandly posies for ye hal.

Posies for the Parler.

Posies for the gestes chamber.

Posies for thine own bed chamber.

A Sonet to the Ladie Paget.

Principall pointes of Religion.

The Authors beliefe.

Of the omnipotencie of God and debilitie of man.

Of almesdéedes.

Of _malus homo_.

Of two sortes of people.

Of what force the deuill is if he be resisted.

Eight of Saint Barnards verses in Latine and English, to be soong both by one note.

Of the Authors departing from the Court.

The Authors life of his owne penning.

[Of Fortune.]

FINIS.

¶ Imprinted at London, by Henrie Denham, dwelling at Paternoster Row, at the figure of the Starre, being the assigne of William Seres.

Cum priuilegio Regiæ Maiestatis.

¶ A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie.

A hundreth good pointes, of good husbandry, maintaineth good household, with huswifry. Housekeping and husbandry, if it be good: must loue one another, as cousinnes in blood. The wife to, must husband as well as the man: or farewel thy husbandry, doe what thou can.

¶ _To the right honorable and my speciall good lord and maister, the lord Paget, Lord priuie seale._

T The trouth doth teache, that tyme must serue. H (How euer man, doth blase hys mynde) O (Of thynges most lyke, to thryue or sterue:) M Much apt to iudge, is often blynde. A And therfore, tyme it doth behoofe: S Shall make of trouth, a perfit proofe.

T Take you my lord, and mayster than, U (Unlesse mischaunce mischaunseth me:) S Such homely gyft, of your own man, S Synce more in court, I may not be: E and let your praise, wonne here tofore, R Remayne abrode, for euermore.

M My seruyng you, thus vnderstande, A And god his helpe, and yours withall: D Dyd cause good lucke, to take myne hande E Erecting one, most lyke to fall: M My seruing you, I know it was, E Enforced this, to come to passe.

S So synce I was, at Cambridge tought, O Of court ten yeres, I made a say; N No musike than, was left vnsought, A A care I had, to serue that way, M My ioye gan slake, then made I chaunge, E Expulsed myrth, for musike straunge.

M My musike synce, hath been the plough, E Entangled with, some care among: T The gayn not great, the payn enough, H Hath made me syng, another song. A And if I may, my song auowe; N No man I craue, to iudge but you.

¶ Your seruant,

Thomas Tusser.

¶ _Concordia paruæ res crescunt
Discordia maximæ dilabuntur._

1. Where couples agree not, is rancor and poysen, where they two kepe house, than is neuer no foysen: But contrary lightly, where couples agree, what chaunseth by wisdom, looke after to see.

2. Good husbandes, that loueth good housholdes to kepe, be sometime full carefull, when others do slepe: To spend as they may, or to stop at the furst, for running behinde hand, or feare of the wurst.

3. Then count with thy purse, when thy haruest is in, thy cardes being tolde, how to saue or to win: But win or els saue, or els passe not to farre, For hoping to make, least thou happen to marre.

4. Make money thy drudge, for to folow thy warke, and Wisdom thy steward, good Order thy clarke: Prouision thy cator, and all shall goe well, for foysen is there, where prouision doth dwell.

5. With some folke on sundayes, their tables do reke: and halfe the weke after, their diners to seke. At no tyme to much, but haue alway ynough: is housholdy fare, and the guyse of the plough.

6. For what shal it profet, ynough to prouide, and then haue it spoiled, or filched aside: As twenty lode busshes, cut downe at a clappe, such hede may be taken, shall stoppe but a gappe.

7. Good labouring threshers, are worthy to eate, Good husbandly ploughmen, deserueth their meate, Good huswiuely huswiues, that let for no rest, should eate when they list, and should drinke of the best.

8. Beware raskabilia, slouthfull to wurke, proloiners and filchers, that loue for to lurke: And cherishe well willers, that serueth thy nede, take time to thy Tutor, God sende the good spede.

¶ August.

9. When haruest is done, all thing placed and set, for saultfishe and herring, then laie for to get: The byeng of them, comming first vnto rode, shal pay for thy charges, thou spendest abrode.

10. Thy saultfishe well chosen, not burnt at the stone, or drye them thyselfe, (hauing skill is a lone:) Brought salfe to thy house, would be packed vp drie, with pease strawe betweene, least it rot as it lie.

11. Or euer thou ride, with thy seruauntes compound, to carry thy muckhilles, on thy barley ground: One aker wel compast, is worth akers three, at haruest, thy barne shall declare it to thee.

12. This good shalt thou learne, with thy riding about, the prises of thinges, all the yere thoroughout: And what time is best, for to sell that thou haue, and how for to bye, to be likely to saue.

13. For bying and selling, doth wonderfull well, to him that hath wit, how to by and to sell: But chopping and chaungeing, may make such a breck, that gone is thy winninges, for sauing thy neck.

14. The riche man, his bargaines are neuer vnsought, the seller will fynde him, he nede not take thought: But herein consisteth, a part of our text, who byeth at first hand, and who at the next.

15. He byeth at first hand, that ventreth his golde, he byeth at second, that dare not be bolde: He byeth at third hand, that nedes borrow must, who byeth of him, than shall pay for his lust.

16. When euer thou bargain, for better or wurse, let alway one bargain, remain in thy purse: Good credit doth well, but good credit to kepe, is pay and dispatche him, or euer thou slepe.

17. Be mindeful abrode, of thy Mighelmas spring, for theron dependeth, a marueilous thing: When gentiles vse walking, with hawkes on their handes, Good husbandes, with grasing doe purchase their landes.

18. And as thou come homeward, bye xl. good crones, and fatte me the bodies, of those sely bones: With those and thy swine, or and shrouetyde be past, thy folke shal fare well, where as others shal fast.

19. Thy saffron plot, pared in saint mary daies, for pleasure and profit, shal serue many waies: With twenty foote square, knowing how for to doo, shal stede both thine own house, and next neighbour too.

¶ September.

20. Threshe sede and goe fanne, for the plough may not lye, September doth bid, to be sowing of rye: The redges well harrowde, or euer thou strike, is one poynt of husbandry, rye land do like.

21. Geue winter corne leaue, for to haue full his lust, sowe wheate as thou mayst, but sowe rye in the dust: Be carefull for sede, for such sede as thou sowe, as true as thou liuest, loke iustly to mowe.

22. The sede being sowne, waterforow thy ground, that rain, when it cummeth, may runne away round: The diches kept skowred, the hedge clad with thorne, doth well to drayne water, and saueth thy corne.

23. Then furth with thy slinges, and thine arowes & bowes, till ridges be grene, kepe the corne from the crowes: A good boye abrode, by the day starre appere, shall skare good man crowe, that he dare not come nere.

24. At Mihelmas, mast would be loked vpon, and lay to get some, or the mast time be gon: It saueth thy corne well, it fatteth thy swyne; In frost it doth helpe them, where els they should pine.

¶ October.

25. The rye in the ground, while September doth last: October for wheate sowing, calleth as fast. What euer it cost thee, what euer thou geue, have done sowing wheate, before halowmas eve.

26. The mone in the wane, gather fruit on the tree, the riper, the better for graffe and for thee. But michers, that loue not to bie nor to craue: make some gather sooner, els fewe should they haue.

27. Or winter doe come, while the weather is good: for gutting thy grounde, get the home with thy wood. Set bauen alone, lay the bowghes from the blockes: the drier, the les maidens dablith their dockes.

28. For rooting thy grounde, ring thy hogges thou hast nede the better thou ring them, the better they fede. Most times with their elders, the yong ones kepe best: then yoke well the great knaues, and fauour the rest.

29. But yoke not thy swine, while thine akorne time last: for diuers misfortunes, that happen to fast. Or if thou loue eared, and vnmaimed hogges: giue eie to thy neighbour, and eare to his dogges.

¶ November.

30. Get vp with thy barley lande, dry as thou can: at March (as thou layest it) so loke for it than. Get euer before hande, drag neuer behinde: least winter beclip thee, and breake of thy minde.

31. At Hallowmas, slaughter time sone commeth in: and than doth the husbande mans feasting begin. From that time, to Candlemas weekely kill some: their offal for household, the better shal come.