The copy of a letter, lately written in meeter, by a yonge gentilwoman: to her vnconstant louer With an admonitio[n] to al yong gentilwomen, and to all other mayds in general to beware of mennes flattery. By Is. VV. Newly ioyned to a loueletter sent by a bacheler, (a most faithfull louer) to an vnconstant and faithles mayden.

The Copy of a letter , lately written in meeter , by a yonge Gentilwoman : to her vnconstant Louer .

With an Admonition to al yong Gentilwomen , and to all other Mayds in general to beware of mennes flattery .

By If. W.

Newly ioyned to a Loueletter sent by a Bacheler , ( a most faithfull Louer ) to an vnconstant and faithles Mayden .

Imprinted at London , by Richarde Ihones dwelling in the vpper end of Fleetlane : at the Signe of the spred Egle.

¶ THE PRINTER TO the Reader . What lack you Maister mine ? some trifle that is trew ? Why ? then this same will serve your turne the which is also new . ¶ Or yf you minde to reade , some Fables that be fained : Buy this same Booke , and ye shall finde , such in the same contained . ¶ Perchaunce my wordes be thought , vncredible to you : Because I say this Treatise is , both false and also true . ¶ The matter of it selfe , is true as many know : And in the same , some fained tales , the Auctor doth bestow . ¶ Therefore , bye this same Booke , of him that haere doth dwell : And you ( I know ) wyll say you haue bestowed your mony well . ¶ Farewell

To her vnconstant Louer . As close as you your wedig kept yet know the trueth I here : Which you ( yer now ) might me have told what nede you nay to swere ? You know I alwayes wisht you wel so wyll I during lyfe : But sith you shal a Husband be God send you a good wyfe . And this ( where so you shal become ) full boldly may you boast : That once you had as true a Loue , as dwelt in any Coast. Whose constantnesse had neuer quaild if you had not begonne : And yet it is not so far past , but might agayne bewonne . If you to would : yea and not change so long as lyfe should last : But yf that needes you marry must ? then farewell hope is past . And if you cannot be content to lead a single lyfe ? ( Although the same right quiet be ) then take me to your wife . So shall the promises he kept , that you so firmly made : Now chuse whether ye wyll be true , or be of SINONS trade . Whose trade if that you long shal vse , it shal your kindred stayne : Example take by many a one whose falshood now is playne , As by ENEAS first of all , who dyd poore DIDO leave , Causing the Quene by his vntrueth with Sword her hart to cleaue , Also I finde that THESEVS did , his faithfull loue forsake : Stealyng away witout the night , before she dyd awake . IASON that came of noble race , two Ladies did begile : I muse how he durst shew his face , to them that knew his wile . For when he by MEDEAS arte , had got the Fleece of Gold And also had of her that time , al kynd of things he wolde . He toke his Ship and did away regarding not the vowes : That he dyd make so faithfully , vnto his louing Spowes , How durst he trust the surging Seas knowing himselfe forsworne ? Why did he scape safe to the land , before the ship was torne ? I think king Aeolus stayd the winds and Neptune rulde the Sea : Then might he boldly passe the waues no perils could him stea . But if his false hed had to them , bin manifest befor : They wold haue rent the ship as soone as he had gon from shore . Now may you heave how falseies is made manyfest in time : Although they that commit the same , think it a veniall crime . For they , for their vnfaithfulnes , did get perpetuall Fame : Fame ? wherfore dyd I terme it so ? I should haue cald it shame . Let Theseus be , let Iason passe , let Paris also scape : That brought destruction vnto Troy all through the Grecian Rape , And vnto me a Troylus be , if not you may compare : With any of these parsons that aboue expressed are . But if I can not please your minde . for wants that rest in me : Wed whom you list , I am content , your refuse for to be . It shall suffice me simple soule , of thee to be forsaken : And it may chance although not yet you wish you had me taken . But rather than you shold haue caush to wish this through your wyfe : I wysh to her , ere your her haue , no more but loste of lyfe . For she that shal so happy be , of thee to be elect : I wish her vertues to be such , she nede not be suspect . I rather wish her HELENS face , then one of HELENS trade : With chastnes of PENELOPE the which did never fade . A LVCRES for her constancy , and Thisbie for her trueth : If such thou have , then PETO be not PARIS , that were rueth . Perchance , ye will think this thing , rare in on woman to fynd : Saue Helens beauty , al the rest rare the Gods haue me assignd . These words I do not spek , thinking from thy new Loue to turne thee : Thou knowst by prof what I deserue I nede not to informe thee . But let that passe : would God I had Cassandraes gift me ient : Then either thy yll chaunce or mine my foresight might preuent . But all in dayne for this I seeke , wishes may not attaine it Therfore may hay to me what shall , and I cannot refraine it . Wherfore I pray God be may guide and also thee defend : NO worser then I wish my selfe , vntill thy lyfe shal end . Which life I pray God , may agayne , king Nestors lyfe renew : And after that your soule may rest amongst the heauenly crew . Therto I wish king Xerris wealth , or els king Cressus Gould : With as much rest and quietnesse as man may have on Mould . And when you shall this letter haue let it be kept in store ? For she that sent the same , hath sworn as yet to send no more . And now farewel , for why at large my mind is here exprest ? The which you may perceiue , if that you do peruse the rest ? ¶ FINIS . Is. W.

The admonition by the Auctor , to all yong Gentilwomen : And to al other Maids being in Loue . YE Uirgins that from Cupids tentes do beare away the so●yle Whose hartes as yet with raginge-love most paynfully do boyle . To you I speake : for you be they , that good adusee do lacke : Oh if I could good counsell geue my tongue should not be slacke ? But such as I can geue , I wyll , here in few wordes expresse : Which if you do obserue , it will some of your care redresse . Beware of fayre and painted talke , beware of flattering tonges : The Mermaides do pretend no good for all their pleasant Songs . Some vse the teares of Crocodiles , contrary to their hart : And yf they cannot alwayes weepe , they wet their Cheekes by Art . Ouid , within his Arte of loue , doth teach them this same knacke To wet their hand , & touch their eies : so oft as teares they lacke . Why haue ye such deceit in store ? have you such crafty wile ? Lesse craft them this god knows wold soone vs simple soules begile . And wyll ye not leaue of ? but still delude vs in this wise ? Sith it is so , we trust we shall , take hede to fained lies . Trust not a man at the fyrst sight , but trye him well before : I wish al Maids within their brests to kepe this thing in store . For triall shal declare his trueth , and show what he doth think : Whether he be a Louer true , or do intend to shrink . If SCILLA had not trust to much before that she dyd trye : She could not haue ben clent forsake when she for help did crye . Or yf she had had good aduice Nisus had liued long : How durst she trust a strainger , and do her deare father wrong . King Nisus had a Haire by fate which Haire while he dyd kepe : He neuer should be ouercome , neither on Land nor depe . The straunger that the Daughter lou'd did warre against the King And alwaies sought how that he might them in subiection bring . This Scylla stole away the Haire , for to obtaine her wyll : And gaue it to the Straunger that , dyd straight her father kyll . Then she , who thought her self most sure to haue her whole desyre : Was cleane reiect , and left behind when he dyd whom retyre . Or if such falshood had ben once , vnto Oenone knowne : About the fieldes of Ida wood , Paris had walkt alone . Or if Demophoons deceite , to Phillis had ben tolde : She had not ben transformed so , as Poets tell of olde . Hero did trie Leanders truth , before that she did trust : Therfore she found him vnto her both constant , true , and lust . For he alwayes did swim the Sea , when starres in Skie did glide : Till he was drowned by the way nere hand vnto the side . She scrat her Face , she tare her Heir ( it greueth me to tell ) When she did know the end of him , that she did loue so well . But like Leander there be fewe , therfore in time take heede : And alwayes trie before ye trust , so shall you better speede . The little Fish that carelesse is , within the water-cleare : Now glad is he , when he doth see , a Bayt for to appeare . He thinks his hap right good to bee , that he the same could spie : And so the simple foole doth trust to much before he trie . O little Fish what hap hadst thou ? to haue such spitefull Fate : To come into ones cruell hands , out of so happy state ? Thou diddst suspect no harme , when thou vpon the bait didst looke : O that thou hadst had Linceus eies for to haue seene the hooke . Then hadst thou with thy prety mates bin playing in the streames Wheras syr Phebus dayly doth , shew forth his golden beames . But sith thy Fortune is so yll to end thy lyfe on shore : Of this thy most vnhappy end , I minde to speake no more . But of thy Felowes chance that late such prety shift did make : That he from Fishers hooke did sprit before he could him take . And now he pries on euery baite , suspecting styll that pricke : ( For to lye hid in euery thing ) where with the Fishers stricke . And since the Fish that reason lacks once warned doth beware : Why should not we take hede to that that turneth vs to care . And I who was deceiued late , by ones vnfaithfull teares : Trust now for to beware , if that I liue this hundreth yeares , ¶ FINIS . Is. W.

A Loueletter , or an earnest perswasion of a Louer : sent of late to a yonge Mayden , to whom he was betrothed .

Who afterward being ouercome with flattery , she seemd vtterly to swerue from her former promise without occasion , and so to forsake him .

By W. G.

A Loueletter , sent from a faythful Louer : to an vnconstant Mayden . AS dutie wils , so nature moues , thy frend these lines to wright : Wherin thy fraude , ( O faithlesse thou ) I minde to bring to light . Can plighted faith , so firmly plight , without desert be moued ? Or should the man that faithfull is , so slenderly be loued ? ¶ Should hate his guerdon 〈◊〉 , remaine in place of thy good wyl ? Should rigor raign within thy brest to vanquish reasons skyll ? Should faith to falshed so be changd ( alas ) the greater ruthed When double dealyng is preferd , before a perfect trueth●● Of case such hap , as recompence , vnto your friend you yelde ? What Bulwarke canst thou clayme , gainst Gods thy selfe to sheilde ? Can they that sit in hauty Heauens such couert gilt abyde ? Or ar they parcial now deemst thou ? is Iustice throwne a syde ? May iust are they , and iustice styll , as iust , they iustly vse : And vnto them , as giltlesse then , canst thou thy selfe excuse ? No , no , not so , for they be holde , thy double deades , be sure : Do forged style , nor flattryng phrase their fauour may allure . No gifts , no golde , can them corrupt such iustice there doth raigne : And they that disobey their heastes , are subiect vnto payne . These are no nouel newes I tell , the proofe is playnly knowne : To such as do offend their wils , their powre forth are showne : To see thy conscience , gylty is , thy faithles frawde they see : And thinkste thou then , this gilt of thine , can vnrewarded bee ? O Faith , think not so far to wish , from reasons lymyts pure : But iudg thy selfe , what iustice they to sinfull ones inure . And thy selfe such domb , shalt geue , as gilty shalt thou finde : Therfore relent , and once agayne , thy grudging conscience minde . Which vnto Gods that sacred are , as gilty thee he wray : In place of fraude , let faith & trueth with thee now heare the sway , Reuoke and call to memory , the fruits of friendship showne : Perpend in mind , my torments strong my playnts and pensiue mone . Which sixe yeares long , as pacionate to caryyng yoake of care : I bod for thee , as thou they selfe , I know canst wel declare . Remember thou the plaints & teares , which I powrd foorth for thee : And ponder well the sacred vow , that thou hast made to mee . Which vow gaue comfort to thi frend that subiect serued to griefe : Thou gauest thy selfe a pledg to me , thy faith was my releffe . But now what helyth hagge ? ( alas ) hath tournde thy loue to hate : Or els what whelpe of HYDRAS kind in thee hath wrought debate . Alas , wilt thou dispoyle me quight , of my possessed ioye ? Or wilt thou plunge me headlong thus , to gulphes of great annoye ? Who would a thought ( alas ) such fraude to rest in thee ? Who wold haue deemd withou desert thy hart should change from mee ? Whose hart hath coucht his tent , within my couert brest : And thine I hopte , of me thy friend , likewise had ben possest . But waueryng minds I plainly set , so compassed with guile : Pretend by slights , the perfect ioyes , of frindes for to exile . O , shuld a pratlyng Parasite , so egge thee with disdayne ? That thou the presence of thy friend through flattery should refrayne ? Not vouching once to speake with him whose hart thou hast in hold : Sith likeing same hath graunted grace should loue so soone be cold . Consider these my letters well , and answer them agenne : For I thy friend in couert zeale , this time hath closd my penne . Farewel , a dieu tenthousand times , to God I thee commend : Be seching him his heauenly grace , vnto thee styll to send . ¶ Thy friend in wealth , thy friend in woe , Thy friend while lyfe , shal flytt mesroe : And whilst that you , inioy your breath , Leaue not your friend , vnto the death : For greater praise cannot be wonne , Then to obserue trueloue begonne . ¶ FINIS . W. G.

¶ Imprinted at London , by Richard Ihones .

R W Against the wilfull Inconstancie of his deare Foe E. T. Whiche Example may iustly be a sufficient warnyng for all Yongmen to beware the fained Fidelytie of vnconstant Maydens . All youthful Mights at lyberty whom LOVE did neuer thrall , I wish that my deray may bée , a warnyng to you all : That haue a soare bred in my Brest although it be not strange : Yet wyll it bryng mée to the Graue without some sodaine change . For I by Sute haue serued one two yeares and somwhat more , And now I can no longer serue my hart it is so sore . Whiche hart I let to Userie through gredie fond desire : Not doubting to receiue home twain when I would them requyre . But if that euerie Userer had such good hap as I , There would not be so many men would vse this Userie . My Debtor hath deceyued mée for she is from mée fled : And I am left among the Bryers to bryng a Foole to Bed . So that I séely man remayne eche day in doubtfull case : For DEATH doth dayly lye in wayte to rest me with his Mace . And cast mée into Prison strong the Doore is made of Grasse : And I might bles my houre of birth if it were come to passe . For lo my carefull choyce doth choose to kéepe mée styll in thrall , And doth regard my loue no more then Stone that lyes in wall : Wherby I see that Womens hartes are made of Marble Stone I sée how carelesse they can bée when pensiue men do mone . I sowed both pure and perfect séede on fayre and pleasant grounde In hope though harnest brought som pain som profit might bée found . But now the Haruest ended is and for my faythfull Séedes And all my payne and labour past : I haue nought els but Wéedes . I thrust my hand among that Thornes in hope the Rose to finde . I prickt my hand and eke my hart yet left the Rose behynde . Not I , but many more I knowe in Loue do lacke reléefe , But I as cause doth mée compell , do wayle my payne and griefe , I doubtlesse can not bée the first That Loue hath put to payne , Nor yet I shall not be the last that Women wyll disdayne . If I poore wretch should think vpon the paynes that I haue past : Or if I should recount the cares , that she hath made me taste Into Dispayre it would mée driue , and cleaue my hart in twaine : Or els bereaue me of my Wittes to thinke vpon the payne . I neuer spent one day in Ioye my carefull hart doth know , Since first I lent my Loue to her by whom my griefe doth growe . There are no greater paynes assignd for dampned Ghostes in hell : Then I do suffer for her sake , that I do loue so well . The Pryce that I haue paid for loue not many men do gyue . But I my Bargayne shall repent as longe as I do lyue . I payde for loue and that full deats yet I receyue right nought , I neuer was so much deceyued in any thynge I bought . If euerie woman on her friend suche pitie vse to take , Then shortly men wyll ron to loue , as Beares vnto a stake . But now let VENVS fire her forge let CVPIDS Shafte be sent : They can no more encrease my woe for all my Loue is spent . But here good Reader thou maist sée how Loue hath paide my hyre , To leaue mée burnyng in the frame , compeld to blow the fyre . But if that thou good frende desire to lyue in happy state ? Then séeke in 〈◊〉 if thou mis 〈…〉 ap , Repentance comes too late . Frequent not Womens company but sée thou it from them swarue For thy Rewarde shall be but smal , whateuer thou deserue . Take héede for thou maist come in the all Before that thou beware : And when thou art entangled once thou canst not fliethe snare . Take thou not this to be a Iest , but thinke it to be true , Before thou prooue as I haue done , least proofe do make thée rew . Yet if thou chaunce to place thy loue take héede what than doest sate : And sée thou place thy talke in Print or els beware a fraie . And thus I ende : not doubtyng but these wordes may well suffice , To warne thy gredie bart of harme and ease thy rouing eyes .

¶ Ease by Disease , hath made me to halt , Time hath so turned my Suger to Salt . FINIS . R. WITC .

¶ Imprinted at LONDON , by RICHARD IOHNES .