English

A prety Toye in rime

MISERO INFORIUNATO SOLO:

LAMENTING HIS EUILI HAPPE IN DISPAYRE OF HELEE

W HE purse grows pild, & credit cracks,
& friends begin to faile,
To comfort then a beauy heart
alas what may prevalle?

Audita vox confortans.

Yet doo not thou dispayre at all,
but comfort thou thy minde:
Though credit, purse, & friends be gone,

A Ditty in despight of a very olde man, who was suter to a very young Gentilwoman: written by a young Gentilman, who was then (in deede) suter to the same Lady.
Perhaps you thinke, that all for spight
I writ this running verse,
Wherein I doo such deepe dispraise
of doting fooles rehearse:
No, no (good faith) I hate no man:
but yet, to such a snudge,
Of force I must, I cannot chuse
but beare a certaine grudge,
For as one way I honour age

Her aunswer, as prety.
Good Sir, the selfe same thing that you
aboue all things doo most esteeme:
And that in deede is present now,
and to your selfe you deerest deeme:
That doo you take it, out of doubt,
That I would chuse yet be without.

A Riddle propounded by a Gentleman to a Gentilwoman whom he loued, but was a suter, but secretly
The thing on earth you most desire,
and yet of all you lest would chuse:
That often times you doo require,
and yet I know you will refuse:
And thaThere present you may see
All this is one: what may it be?

A Letter sent vnto a Gentilwoman in verse, wherein he gaue great thanks for both good cheere and other curteous entertainement he had receiued at her hands, beeing in the Country at her house. The Gentilwomans name was Mistris Lettis.
First , to thy seemely selfe
my selfe I doo commend:
And for thy friendly cheere & cost
ten thousand thanks I send:
Which able to requite,
I know I shall not be:
But to my power, I will deserue

A pretty toye, written vpon a Ladyes propounding of a Riddle to her friende.
A LADY once in pleasaunt sorte,
A question did demaunde of mee.
For want as then of other sporte:
Without offence, good Sir (quod she):
May I craue thus much at your hande
To haue a riddle rightly scand?

Whereto I soone gaue this replye:
Madame you know full harde it is
To reade a Riddle perfectly;
The wisest men may iudge amisse

Not many dayes after, he chaunced to walke with the same Gentilwoman in a Garden: and was againe then intreated by her, to make her another prayer, which presently he pend: speaking with the tearmes of a Gardiner, as followeth.
Plant L ORDE , in me the tree of godly lyfe,
Hedge me about with thy stronge fence of faith:
If thee it please, vse eke thy proyning knife,
Least that, oh L ORD , as a good Gardiner saith:
If suckers draw the sappe from bowes on hie

A Gentleman being requested by a Gentlewoman, to pen her a Prayer in verse, wrot at her request, as followeth
P ITIE , oh Lord thy Servaunts heavy heart,
Her sinnes forgiue, that thus for mercy cryes:
Judge no man (LordE ) according to desart
Let fall on her with speede thy healthfull eyes:
In hart who prayes to thee continually
Putting her only trust of G OD in Thee.

TWO OR THREE PRETY TOYES giuen to a Gentilman, to set about his Counting-house
What man can beare a lofty saile,
Where fortune frownes, and friends doo faile?

And who so low, but he may rise,
By fortunes aide and friends aduise?

What wo to hate? what ioye to love?
What stranger state then both to prooue?

What treasure, to a friend in deede?
What greater spight then faile at neede?

What wisdome more, then for to learne
The trueth from falshood to discerne?

From which false dealing G OD defend

A Gentleman on a time, hauing three Sonnes: and being very desirous to haue them brought vp at an Universitie: being very well acquainted with a yong Gentleman, who he knew had spent some yeares at Oxford, desyred him to choose a Tutor there, for his three Children, which as he thought were fyttest to bring them vp as well in learning as good behaviour: which he was contented to doe: and hauing chosen a Tutor for them, not long after, hauing a great desire to see them doo well, wrote their Tutor a Letter, and with the Letter a pretty Tale in verse, to mooue him to haue a great care of them: th