Nothing for a nevv-yeares gift Nihil ext ex onmi parte beatum. By W.L. Sit voluisse sat valuisse.

NOTHING FOR A NEW-yeares gift .

Nihil est ex omni parte beatum .

By W. L.

Sit voluisse sat valuisse .

LONDON Printed by T. C. for William Lugger , and are to be solde at the signe of the blinde Knight , ouer against S. Andrewes Church in Holborne . 1603.

TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull his dearely respected Patron , Syr William Hide Knight . TO you that daine my ditties to peruse , And gild the temper of my brazen quill , You that giue strength vnto my weakned Muse , To clamber vp the height of learned skill . You that for nothing shewe this generous minde , ( A perfect token of true Noblenes ) You that to bountie haue your soules inclinde , ( Which shewes the world your world of worthines ) Nothing I send you for a Newyeares gift , The faint endeuours of my sickly spirit , Measure my meaning and my vertuous drift , My loue , zeale , dutie , and your owne demerit . You lookt for Nothing , Nothing I impart , With the poore remnant of my broken hart . Your worthy vertues euer vowed : W. L.

Nothing for a New-yeares gift . OVt from the sadnesse of my greeued spirit , And from the depth of serious contemplation , Why blooming Vertue should black Enuy merit , My troubled thoughts recall the first creation . Searching Arts secrets , at the last I found , Nothing to be of euery thing the ground . Excesse of studie in a traunce denies My rauisht soule her Angel-winged flight : Strugling with Nothing , thus my bodie lies Panting for breath , depriu'd of sences might . At length recouered by this pleasant slumber , The straunge effects from Nothing , thus I wonder . That power of powers , great , good , pure , bodiles , Who vncontaind , yet in himselfe confinde : That liuely word , which no word can expresse , Who foote-stoole earth , who rides vpon the winde . Ouer whose throne the Cherubins do houer , With flaming wings his starry face to couer . He that is good , yet voide of qualitie , In his owne essence , fully excellent : He that is great , beyond all quantitie , All pure in substance , free from accident . But I grow senceles , when I seeke by sence To sound his infinite omnipotence . Then he that farre surmounts all comprehending , Whose mightines is all inexplicable : Whose seuerall glories , by his seate attending , Like to his name , are all vnvtterable . Though accommaundement euery thing he had , Each thing that be of Nothing , yet he made . The glimpse of Gods great glorie , our pure soule , Which like a prince within his kingdome seated , The motions of the bodie to controule , By heauens high hand of Nothing was created . Thus God doth stamp ; tho past our sence of seeing , His wisedome in his workes , to proue his beeing . The world of nothing made , doth seeme an Instrument True-strung , well-tun'd , resounding sweetly shrill , The praises of the great Omnipotent , Whose Alleluiaes , all the heauens did fill . And God yet smiling on his paramoure , Still in her lap , did Mel and Manna poure . To nurse this league , all creatures seem'd to striue , In sweet accord , the base with high reioist , The liueles clipping mutually the liue , The hot with cold , the solide with the moist . But Adam being chiefe of all the strings , All out of tune , ore-retched quickly brings . Rebellious man , thus from his God reuolted , The troubled Sea , the aire with tempest driuen : Which were his subiects gainst himselfe insulted , Thorne-bristled earth , the sad and lowring heauen , As from the oath of their alleageance free , Reuenge on him , th' Almighties iniurie . So since his sinne , the wofull wretch findes none , Hearbe , garden , groaue , field , Fountain , shore , or hauen , Beast , mountain , valley , Seagate , streame , or stone , But beares his deaths doombe , openly ingrauen . In briefe , the whole scope this round Center hath , Is a true store-house of heauens righteous wrath . First Dearth assaults man , in the forme of Death , With hollow eies , lanke meager cheeks and chinne : Still yawning wide , with loathsome stinking breath , With sharpe leane bones piercing her sable skinne . And brings besides from hell for to assist her , Rage , Feeblenes , and Thirst , her ruthlesse sister . Next marcheth Warre , the mistres of enormitie , Lawes , Manners , Arts , she breaks , she marres , she chases , Mother of mischiefe , monster of deformitie , Bloud teares , bowers , towers , she spils , swils , burnes and rases , Sack , Sacriledge , Rape , Ruine , Discord , Pride , Are stil sterne consorts , by her barbarous side . Then as a man that frunts in single fight , His suddain for the best aduantage spies , Thrusts , wards , auoids , his ground doth trauers light , At last to daze his Riualls sparkling eies , He casts his cloake , and then with coward knife , In crimson streames , he makes him straine his life . So sicknes Adam to subdue the better , Brings to the field the faithlesse Opthalmie , ( Whom thousand lines alreadie iustly fetter ) With scalding blood to blind her enemie : Hauing for aides , cough , casting , yawning , shaking , Fantastick , rauing , and continuall aking . And then foure Captaines , farre more fierce and egar Then any sicknes , which the bodie seases , On euery side , the spirit doth beleager , Alas these are farre worse then death diseases . Excessiue Ioy , Feare , Sorrow , and Desire , Striuing with Treason often to aspire . But God ( as thoe forgetting Adams fall ) From the maine ocean of his boundles loue , With streames of mercy ouerfloweth all , In that excesse of kindnes man to proue . So sent his Sonne to be our best Phisition , Which at this day receiued Circumcision . His head is launst to worke the bodies cure , With angry salue it smarts to heale our wound , To faultlesse Sonne , from all offences pure , The faultie vassalls scourges do redound . The Iudge is cast , the guiltie to acquite , The Sonne defac'd , to lend the starres his light . Our Rock giues issue , to an heauenly spring , Teares from his eyes , blood runs from wounded place : Which showers to branch of ioy an haruest bring , The vine of life , distilleth drops of grace . This sacred deawe , let Angels gather vp , Such daintie drops , best fit their Nactan cup. With weeping eyes , his mother rewd his smart , If blood from him , teares came from her as fast , The knife that cut his flesh , did pierce her hart , The paine that Iesus felt , did Mary taste . His life and hers , hung by one fatall twist , No blow that hit the Sonne , the mother mist. Man sprung from Nothing , if thine humble soule Did inly see her ill misgouernd life : With Mary thou wouldst spend whole yeares in dole , Only to thinke that Christ endur'd this strife . Then eyes , hart , tong , would powre , breath out , & send Teares , sighes , and plaints , vntill their ioyes they find . But mans ambitious thoughts ( like Eues aspiring ) So wanton-like , are weaned to each wrong : Giuing stil bridle to his selfe-desiring , All free to fleshly wil hath liu'd so long . That those fresh springs whence penitent harts should flowe , Presumption hath so stopt that none wil showe . If Sorrow knock , Remorce is Mercies porter , And euer opens to let Sorrowe in : Man to that doore should be a quicke resorter , T is much to saue that losse which comes by sin . He that of Sarrowe is true mournful taster , Doth feele sins smart , and finde sinnes saluing plaster . Els nothing can recure sinnes festred wound , The soules seuen doubled shield it wil assaile : Nay Nothing for to ease it wil be found , And Circumsition Nothing wil auaile . And so we shall approue the Heathnish writ Of Aristotle , Ex nihilo Nihil fit . FINIS .

THE Effects proceeding from Nothing . W. L.

In rebus humanis Nihil est eternum .

TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull his dearely respected Patron . Syr William Hide , Knight . Mr Virgine Muse , leaues Nothing she can finde , Which may agree with your Heroick minde . Pleasing her selfe , to lay before your sight , The generous pastimes wherein you delight : From Nothing first , how many things were fram'd Shee tells , who first the fierie Courser tam'd , How astiuely to backe him he beginnes , And by what meanes to gentlenes him winnes . Mistake me not , I do not write to teach you , For in this Art , he liues not that can reach you . My running Pen must make a litle boasting . What skill she gaind of you , in her swift poasting . Take all in worth , with my well ▪ meaning hart ▪ I want a Horse , well may I want the Art . Your Worships euer earnestly affected . W. L.

The effects proceeding from Nothing . FRom Paradise our rebell Elders driuen , ( From that sweet Eden , earthly tipe of heauen ) Lie languishing neare Tigris grassie side , With numbd limbs , and spirits stupifide : Till powerfull need did make them seek their liuing , Among the mountaines to their greater greeuing . For Sommer garments , they the Vine vnleaue , The Palme and Figge tree , of his branch bereaue : Eue growing wise among the Forrests gethers , The Parrots , Peacocks , Estrich scattred feathers : With white Horse haires she sowes them all in one , And giues to Adam this Mandilion . But when the Winters keener breath began , With Isie fetters waters all to chaine , To glaze the Lakes , and bridle vp the floods , And perrywig with wooll , the bald-pate woods , Our grandsire Adam gan to shake and shiuer , His teeth to chatter , and his beard to quiuer . Spying therefore , a flocke of muttons comming , He takes the fairst , and with a fish bones cunning , He cuttes the throat , flaies it , and spreds the fell , Then dries it , pares it , and he scrapes it well : Then cloathes his wife therewith , and of such hides , Slops , hats , and doublets , he himselfe prouides . Yet fire they lackt , Adam sate musing downe Vpon a steepe Rocks craggie forked crowne , A foaming beast come toward him he spies , Within whose head stood burning coales for eies : Then suddenly , with boisterous arme he throwes A knobby flint , that hummeth as it goes . Hence flies the beast , th' ll'aimed flint shaft grounding , Against the Rock , and on it oft rebounding Shiuers to Cindars , whence there issued Small sparkes of fire , no sooner borne then dead . This happie chance , made Adam leape for glee , And quickly calling his cold company . In his left hand , a shining flint he lockes , Which with another in his right he knockes : So vp and downe , that from the coldest stone , At euery stroake small fierie sparkles shone . Then with the drie leaues of a withered bay , The which togither handsomely they lay , They tooke the falling fire , which like a Sun Shines cleare , and smoaklesse in the leafe begun . And now mankinde with fruitfull race began , A litle corner of the world to man : First Caine is borne , to tillage most addicted , Then Abel , most to keeping flockes affected , Caine tames a Heyfer , and on either side , On either horne , a three ▪ fold twist he tide , Of Ozear twigges , and for a plough , he got The horne or tooth of some Rhinocerot . Now th' one in Cattle , th' other rich in graine , On two steep mountaines , build they Altars twaine , Where humble sacred , th' one with zealous crie Cleaues bright Olimpus starry Canopie . With faigned lippes the other loude resounded , Hart wanting himnes , on selfe deseruing founded . Rein-searching God . Thought-sounding Iudge that tries , The will and heart , more then the work or guise , Accepts good Abels gift , but hates the other Prophane oblation of his furious brother : Who feeling deepe , th' effects of Gods displeasure , Raues , frets , & fumes , and murmures out of measure . So one day drawing with dissembled loue , His harmelesse brother farre into a groue : With both his hands he takes a stone so huge , That in our age three men could hardly bouge , And iust vpon his tender brothers crowne , With all his might he cruel casts it downe . The murdred face lyes printed in the minde , And loude for vengeance cries the martir'd blood : All day Cain hides him , wanders all the night , Flies his owne friends , of his owne shade affright , Scard with a leafe , and starting at a Sparrow , And all the world seemes for his feare too narrow . Cain as they say by his deepe feare disturbed , Then first of all the vntamed Courser curbed , That while about on others feete he run , With dustie speed , he might his deaths mans shun , Among a hundred braue light lustie horses , ( With curious eye marking there comely forces . ) He chooseth one for his industrious proofe , with round , high , hollow , smooth , brown , Ietty hoofe , With pasterous short , vpright , but yet in meane , Dry sinewed shankes , strong fleshles knees , and leane , with hart-like legges , broad brest , and large behind , with bodie large , smooth flankes , and double chind . A crested necke ▪ bow like a halfe bent bowe , Whereon a long thin curled Mane doth growe , A firme full Tayle , touching the lowly ground , With Dock betweene two faire fat buttocks drownd . A pricked Eare that rests as litle space , As his light foote , a leane-bare bony face . Thin choule , and head , but of a midling size , Full liuely flaming , quickly rowling eies , Great foaming mouth , hot fuming nostrils wide , Of chest-nut haire , his forehead starrified : Three milke white feete , a feather on his brest , Whom seuen yeares old , at the next grasse he guest . This goodly Iennet , gently first he winnes , And then to backe him , actiuely beginnes : Steedie , and straight , he fits , turning his sight Stil to the forepart , of his palphray light . The chafed horse , such thrall ill suffring , Begins to snuffe , and snort , and leape , and fling . And flying swift , his fearefull Rider makes Like some vnskilfull Lad , that vndertakes To hold some ship helme , while the head ▪ long tide Carries away the vessell and her guide . Who neere deuowred in the iawes of death , Pale , fearefull , shiuering , faint , and out of bretah , A thousand times with heauen-erected eies , Repents him of so bold an enterprise . But sitting fast , lesse hurt then fear'd Caine , Boldens himselfe , and his braue beast againe , Brings him to pace , from pacing to the trot , From trot , to gallop , after runnes him hot , In full carere , and at his courage smiles , And sitting still to runne so many miles . His pace is faire , and free , his trot as light As Tigers course , or Swallowes nimble flight : And his braue gallop , seemes as swift to goe As Irish darts , or shafts from English bowe . Born whirle wind like , he makes the trampled ground Shrinke vnder him , and shake with doubling sound . The roaring Cannon from his smoaking throat , Neuer so speedie spewes the thundring shot , That in an Armie mowes whole squadrons downe , And batters bulwarkes ; of a sommond Towne . Then this light horse seuddes , if he do but feele His bridle slacke , and his side the heele . Shunning himselfe , his sinewes strength he stretches , Flying the earth , the flying aire he catches : And when the fight no more pursue him may , In fieldie cloudes he vanisheth away . But Cain waxt wise , esteemes it not the best , To take too much now of this lustie beast . Restrainig fury , then with learned hand , The triple Coruet makes him vnderstand : And on his necke his flattering palme doth slide , With skilful voice , he gently cheares his pride . He stops him steddie still , new breath to take , And in the same path brings him softly backe . But th' angry steed , rising and raigning proudly ; Striking the stones , stamping , and naighing loudly , Calls for the Combat , plunges , leapes , and prances , Befoames the path , with sparkling eyes he glances . Champs on his burnisht bit , and gloriously His nimble fetlocks lifteth belly-high , All side-long iaunts , on either side he iustles , And wauing crest , coragiously he bristles , Making the gazers glad on euery side , To giue more roome vnto his portly pride : Cain gently stroakes him , and now suer in seate , Ambitiously stil seekes some fresher feate . One while ( to be more famous ) trots the ring , Another while , he doth him backward bring : Then of all foure , he makes him lightly bound , And to each hand , to mannage rightly round : To stoope , to stop , to caper , and to swim , To daunce , to leape , to hold vp any lim . And all so done with time-grace-ordred skill , As both had but one bodie , and one will : Th' one for his Art no little glorie gaines , Th' other throrough practise , by degrees attaines Grace in his gallop , in his pace agilitie , Lightnes of head , and in his stop facilitie : Strength in his leape , and stedfast managings , Aptnesse in all , and in his course new wings . Cain nam'd his Courser , Gallant Bellarmin , And in his name he built a gallant Towre . So Alexander , in his Horses name A Citie calld Bucephala did frame . So Beuis built the Castle Arundell In his Horses fame , as auncient stories tell . So least Gray Gallant loose his glistring same , You must erect some monument in 's name . The vse of Horses thus discouered , Each to his worke more cheerly setteled , Each plies his Trade and trauels for his age , Following the pathes of painfull Tuball sage . And now the way to thousand workes reueald , Which long shall liue maugre the rage of Eld. They build Townes , Cities , Castles , and huge Towers , Occasion giues me leaue to speake of yours : Of ancient Hides seated on a hill , For to commaund the Country at her will . But afterward my Muse must show her power In the description of that famous Tower . Here might I shew the pleasures I haue seene On the Tower hill ( where pleasures euer beene ) There I beheld in what a pittious case The trembling Stagge was long pursude in chase : Flying for succour to some neighborwood , Sinkes on the suddaine , in the yeelding mud . And sticking fast amid the rotten grounds , Is ouertaken by the eager hounds : One bites his backe , his neeke another nippes , One pulls his brest , at 's throat another skippes . One tugges his flancke , his hanch another teares , Another tugges him by the bleeding eare . And last of all , the wood-man with his knife Cutts off his head , and so concludes his life . And how I sawe the Bull , whose horned crest Awakes fell Hornets , from their drowsie nest : With fisking 〈◊〉 , with forked head and foote , Himselfe th' aire , th' earth , all beating to no boote . Flying thorough woods , hills , dales , & roaring riuers , His place of griefe , but not his painful griuers . Forth of his way yet many makes to tr●dge , Some to the 〈…〉 ods , and some towards the Lodge . Some one behind an aged Elder flees , Someone for haste climbes vp the yongest trees . Some vnder hedges , some to holes would 〈◊〉 , This way and that , the best the beast to shun . Stitcht full of stings when on the ground he lies , Least any more the cruel beast should rise , I might behold a company of slaues Thrashing the dead Bull with their grained staues : Thinking they were ( for this act ) champions stout , They laie their heads togither make a shout . My forward tongue did giue my soule in charge , When first your troupes to Boland made resort , That spatious Forrest to describe at large , With all our Sommer progresse and disport : In this I promise breake aboue all other , With my deare friend , & with your nearest brother . For now the vertue of my sprights decaide , The inspiration of my Muse allaide , My memorie which meetly hath bene good , Is now ( with griefe ) much like the fleeting flood . Whereon no sooner haue we drawne a line , But 's canceld straight , and Nothing left for signe . FINIS .