English

Not long after, seeing his Aduersary still creeping in countenance, and himselfe almost excluded: sitting on a day alone in his Chamber, thinking on the despight of Fortune & the want of discretion, in his discourteous Dame: wrote in haste these verses following.
O H ! wat a spight it is vnto a noble harte
To see a Scabbe, without all due desarte
With no account of credit nor of fame,
To winne the loue of any gallant Dame.
Which valyant harts, with trauaile great and paine

Not many dayes after, hee sawe a Gentle-woman in the house, whom he accounted his deere Mistresse, beginne to shew her euill countenaunce without cause, and to make very much of another, whom he thought very vnworthy of such good happe: and being not a little agreeued, to see himselfe causelesse to grow dayly so much out of countenaunce, and his adversary so vnworthy, esteemed: wrote one day among other, halfe a sheete of Paper in verse: wherein he priuily shewed his aduersaries unworthinesse, his Mistresses inconstancy, and his owne euill happe: and finding a fit time, deliuered the writing t

The next day after that he had written this passion of Ioue, dyuers Gentle-women being then in the house: he was intreted by two or three of them at once, to make some verses: and one among the rest, being very desirous to haue her request fulfilled, brought him a Pen, and ynke, and Paper: with earnest intreaty, to make some verses, upon what matter he thought best him. selfe: he, very vnwilling to write, not knowing of a sodain, how to please them all in vearse, and yet desirous to graunt all their requests, with much adooe, was in the end intreated to write, as followeth.

The same man beeing desired the next day following, to singe some prety song to the Virginalles, by a Gentlewoman that he made no small accoumpt of: was faine, Extempore, to endite, and sing as followeth.
A MID my ioyes such greefe I fynde,
That what to doo, I know not I:
My pleasures are but blastes of winde:
Full well euen now, and by and by
Some sodaine panges torment me so

An other time, not long after, he chaunced to be in his friends and betters house: being in his bed about midnight, by chaunce awake, heard in the next chamber a Page of the Ladyes of the house, lamenting, as he laye in his bed, very sore his vnhappie estate: which as he could well beare away in the morning, put it in verse only for his owne reading, to laugh at: but being by his friend intreated, put it, as you see, among his Toyes (as one not the least), which was as followeth.
That I would not perswaded be
in my yong rechlesse youth:

An other Dittie, after that, made by the same man (after a sorte) in defence of Cardes and Dice, as followeth.
T O play at Dice is but good sporte
So it be vsed in good sorte:
But who delights in Cardes and Dyse
In deede, I cannot count him wise:
For he that playes, till all be gone,
With Robin Hoode and little John,
May trace the Wooddes: for wise men say
Keepe somewhat till a rayny day.

But will you, therefore generally
Disprayse the Dyce so spightfully?
What thing so good, that now is vsde

It chaunced not long after, that this Gentleman happened to be in the company of his very friend, which at Dyce lost much money: and after his losse, entreated him to write some despightfull Ditty, to diswade him from Cards and Dice: which with much intreaty he graunted, & wrote as followeth.
M Y freend, I saye, if thou be wise,
Use not to much the Cardes and Dyce:
Least, setting all at sincke and syce
Doe make thee know the cost:
T'will make thee weare a thinne light purse,
T'will make thee sweare and ban, and curse:

Farewell Youth, to your vntruth
When as thou badst farewell to myne vntrueth,
I hope thou spakest it but in iest deare Dame:
Or else, for that you thought that euery youth
Most commonly is touched with the same:
Such youthes there are, I must confesse, in deede
As with vntrueth their Ladies fancies feede.

But what of that: tush I am none of those,
Though youthly yeares, I cannot well denie:
For rather lyfe then trueth, I chuse to lose:
By trueth, I meane my true fidelitie:

The same man beeing in very great dumpes the same time, beeing likewise intreated to write some dolefull Dittie of his owne inuention wrote as followeth.
What griping greefes, what pinching pangues of payne?
What deadly dinte, of deepe and darke annoye?
What plague? what wo, dooth in this world remaine?
What Hellish happe? what wante of worldly ioye?
But that (oh Caytife) I do dayly bide,
Yea and that more then all the world beside.

If euer man had cause to wish for death

In the latter end of Christmas, the same Gentleman was likewise desired to sing; and although against his will, was content to singe as followeth.
The Christmas now is past and I haue kept my fast
With prayer euery day:
And like a Country Clowne with nodding vp and downe,
Haue past the time away.

As for old Christmas Games, or daunsing with fine Dames,
Or shewes, or prety playes:
A solemne oath I sweare, I came not where they were
Not all these holy dayes.