A smale handfull of fragrant flowers selected and gathered out of the louely garden of sacred scriptures, fit for any honorable or woorshipfull gentlewoman to smell vnto. Dedicated for a Newe-yeeres gyft, to the honorable and vertuous lady, the Lady Sheffeeld. By N.B.

A SMALE handfull of fragrant Flowers , selected and gathered out of the louely garden of sacred scriptures , fit for any Honorable or woorshipfull Gentlewoman to smell vnto . Dedicated for a Newe-yeeres gyft , to the honorable and vertuous Lady , the Lady Sheffeeld .

By N. B.

¶ Imprinted at London , by Richard Iones . And are to be solde at his shop , at the Southwest doore of Paules . 1575.

¶ To the right Honorable and vertuous Lady , the Lady Sheffeeld , N. B. wisheth continuall health , with encrease of Honour .

AS I must of necessitie ( right honorable and vertuous Lady ) geue leaue , licence and libertie vnto such as altogeather search out the straunge operations of thinges welnigh incredible to the rude and ignorant sort : So reposing a confidence in your noble degree , redy prest to accept the simple gift of a yong and vnskilful husbandman , I am the more bolde to present your Ladyship with this litle handful of Flowers , the sent wherof I trust , being gathered in so fruitful a time , wil so reuiue your senses , that your godly industrie wil vouchsafe to plant the roote therof in the Garden of nobilitie , which I am assured , being watered with the due understanding of the founten of knowledge , cannot chuse but encrese to a defens 〈…〉 modest demeanor . As therfore on th' other side , your vertuous life is such as rather alloweth the godly worke of a simple scholler , willing by dayly practise to grow vnto more & exacter ripenes of understanding . And on the other part is redy to prefer the base & countrey mans pen , to the end that I m●ght hereafter take the more hart of grace , to attempt a more substantial peece of worke . And then if it shal please the almighty to be my guide , in future time I wil not be forgetfull of your Honors clemencie , which the almighty G●d garde and furnish plentifully with increase & mayntenance of renowne for euer .

Your most humble to commaunde N. B.

¶ Iohn Parcels pamphlet in the prayse of this handful of flowres . THE little Bée , fayre Ladies al , Bringes more encrease then doth the Kight : Wherfore although this booke be small , The flowres thereof may wel delyght , A seconde peareles Saba quéene , Because they are continuall gréene . ¶ Peruse them well therefore and say , We haue the choyse of good and yll , Yet if my counsel by the way , Might vrge your minde or moue your wyll , To imitat this péece of woorke , For many a pearle therin dothe lurke . ¶ For though the fountayne be not héere , Of heauenly health that doth excell , Yet to your sight may playneappéere , The golden Bucket of the Well , Wherfore deare dames keepe that in store , And tyme wyl yéelde to you the more . ¶ It is no Poetes fable olde , It is no gaude nor trifle vayne , It is a gifte excelling golde : In which the Gentle state may trayne , Them selues to godly exercise , And learne thereby for to be wyse . ¶ Searche therfore suche a Honycombe , And trye the same with diligence , It is no fruitles vanishing fome , It is a cerce of excellence : The ioyce whereof beyng pleasant swéete , Is for a curteous Matrone méete . ¶ Thus virgins , wyues , and widowes too , If that you tender your estate , Learne as he teacheth you to doo , That framde this Posie for your sake : And than you can not loose the crowne , Diana holdeth with renowne . I. P.

¶ The booke to the Reader . SInce I poore booke am put into thy hand , although the tome or volume litle bee , Yet Reader deare that I be throughly scand with zelous minde I begge and craue of thée Ne séeme to iudge or sentence thyne to frame , Before throughout thou do peruse the same . Reade not as though thou wouldst forget agayne , such fruitles fayth bringes profite none at all : But if thou wylt reape merite for thy payne , let not regarde from wonted custome fall , Which as I reade by wise men is defind , While time doth serue , to beare the fruits in mind . If then I cast a iewell vnto thée , play not the Cocke that Esope speaketh on , Who rather craued a barlye corne to sée : then for to finde the costly precious stone , But if I might giue counsel with the rest , First reade , them chuse such fruits as lyke thée best . Holde me excused , and take my maisters Muse , in as good part as payne he doth bestowe , Let his good wyll his simple worke excuse , for were it much more better : to bestowe For thy delyght he woulde vouchsafe his toyle , And yeelde to thée the croppe of suche a soyle . FINIS .

The Author to his Lady in verse . IN auncient tyme the golden guise of Matrons great renowen , Was for to striue in vertues schoole , who should enioye the crowne : So that eche braunche of noblenes , surpassed in those dayes . Because they sought by their attempt to winne immortall praise : As for example , Lucrece chaste , and famous sacred lyfe May record be , who as I reade , was Collatinus wyfe . And next to her , that pearle of price , which Triata had to name . By constant loue to Mansolus doth manifest the same . Thirdly , quéene Artimesia reapt the Scepter by desert , That could as well as all the rest , most finely play her part . But synce that Sabbas wisdome great , in honour yours doth raigne . I must deare Ladie wish to you aswel , as to the trayne . For why ? the garland that you weare is euer fresh and gréene , And serues most fit in Court therwith , to tende vpon a Queene . The modestie of Matrons mylde , bedect with vertue rounde . There is no wight but well may sée in you for to abounde . So that a patern to the nimphes of Court and courtly crewe , Your Ladiship resembleth well , as plainely they may vewe . For on the one side garded with Dame vertue you doe enter : And on the other , continence encourageth you to venter . Wherefore , since then defensed with such ayoe to your degrée . Your noble race procureth these your daies with ioyes to see , That Flora , Susan , and the rest attaind vnto the ende . Your Honour might conceiue my cause , a slowe and thankles freend , If that this time he should negle to beautifie your name : Whose merites are blowne all abrode , in golden trumpe of fame . Wherefore as pledge of my good will , with humble dutie due , Accept I craue this litle booke that I present to you . And though it be of value small , or simple to your sight , Your wysedome may conceiue the Larke , more daintier then the Kyght . G. T.

¶ The names of all the flowres conteyned in this posie , with the proper vse therof . DEare Dames , your senses to reuiue , accept these Flowers in order heare , Then for the time you are aliue renowne your golden dayes shall beare : Marke therefore what they haue to name , and learne to imitate the same . The first resembleth Constancie , a worthie budde of passing fame , Which euery Gentle certeinlie delightes to chuse of for the name : The cause is ( that ) the trueth to tell , it sents and sauours passing well . This Flower in her garden gréene Susanna planted daye and howre , Which by her lyfe was dayly seene , when her good fame for to deuoure The wicked Elders did pretend , to bring her dayes vnto an end . But God that sawe her constantnes , and howe she was vniustlie wrongde , Gaue little Daniel warrantice , to be her Iudge , wherwith he throngde Amidest the prease with helpe diuine , and rescued Susan at that tyme . Then when her stedfastnes was knowen , and howe she sented of that Flower , Whiche in Dianas bower was sowen , the carnall Iudges fleshly power Was cut full short , and she like case was honored in the iudgement place . O worthy sprig of constancie , O iewell farre surpassing gold , Preserued by the eternitie , as a looking glasse for to behold , To suche as couet with renowne , to weare that chaste and peareles crowne . This pleasaunt braunche in Saraes brest , was dayly vsed for a showe , So that her fayth among the rest , thereby did bountifully growe . And she extolled was therefore , as noble Matrone euermore . Well myght I call to memorie , Rebecca mild and Iudith chaste , By whose great fayth and constancie , Holofernes power was sore agaste , So that as playne the scriptures say , his hostes were fayne to flye away . Since then ye Ladies of degrée , and honors nimphes within the place , Whereas that pearles dame may bee , which al the Goddes inspire with grace , This flowre I say doth sent so well , accept the sweete and sauery smell . There is no odious stintch at all , of any worldly infamie , That can procure your ruynous fall , yf you reteyne this constancie , And therfore Ladyes plucke this flowre , for why it withereth neuer an houre . The second budde is modestie , which Triata did muche delyght . And furnished the companie , of many a Romane matrone bright , So that no blemishe there did growe , as long as they the same coulde showe . The thirde is vertuous exercise , the fourth is called humilitie , The fifth , to set beforeyour eyes , the feare of God most reuerently . The sixth obedience to the crowne , and Princes lawes with great renowne . The seuenth is Pacience , for to beare the crosse of Christe continually : The eyght is liberall talke to heare , and vse the same indifferently : The ninth is called Chastitie : the tenth , to put vp iniurie . The eleuenth is to sustayne the poore : the twelfth to aide the comfortles , And to endeuour more and more , to trayne your steppes to godlynes . The thirtenth , that is cheefest skill , which we doo call , doo good for ill . The fourtenth is to loue the trouth , and flatterie wholy for to shunne : The fiftenth , barre the chaire of slouth , whereby full many are vndonne : For idelnes doth shame but wynne , and is the entraunce vnto synne . The sixtenth Flower is willing zeale vnto the sacred veritie : Which is a lantarne to your féete , to leade you to sinceritie : The seuententh blossome fresh of hue , in wordes and déedes for to be true . The eyghtenth is for to restore that by oppression hath ben gotte : The niententh for to cure that sore , which carelesse conscience makes to rotte : The twenteth is sweete Charitie , the fruites wherof begin to dye . There are besides these , godly loue , whose leaues though they be not so greene , Yet who to plucke therof wyl proue , shall with Lucrecia soone be seene , To shine in wordes and deedes as bright , as when the moone doth yeelde her lyght . Loe Gentles , this smal bunche of flowres , It is that may encrease your fame , For they be watered with the showres , that sacred Scriptures haue to name : You may discerne them by the seedes , full much vnlyke to wordly weedes . Take heede therefore howe you reiect , the simplest flowre among them all , For if disdayne do you infect , to plucke one leafe the rest wyl fall : Do not therefore the thréede vntwinde , Which doth this prettie posie bynde . The name thereof is diligence , in seeking vertuous company : A string of great preheminence , giuen vnto vs in generally . Therewith eche godly wyght doth make , A snare therewith eche vice to take . 〈◊〉 Matrones therefore I require , as one that wisheth al were well : 〈◊〉 beare a zeale and full desire , ●o bye these Flowres that so dyd smell . 〈◊〉 shall the bountie of the Lorde , with all your workes right well accorde . 〈◊〉 whom be honor , power , and fame , prayse , laude , and sempiternitie : ●oth God and man sweete Christe the same , who planted for a certayntie . ●hese Flowres in heauenly paradise , for such to gather as will be wise . ●is blessing say , and let vs craue , to lyght vpon our soueraigne Queene : Whom we may see in hande to haue this litle branche of Flowres greene . Which sents and sauours passing well , the redyest way to heauen to smell . Her counsell and nobilitie . the Pastors of the Churche lyke case : The mightie God continually , byd we with golden droppes of grace . That they may serue her maiestie : With reuerence and humilitie .

❧ A prayer for gentlewomen and others to vse , whereby through the helpe of the deuine grace , they may atteyne the right sente of this posie of Godly Flowers . VOuchsafe , O Lorde , to be our guyde , thy spirite of grace into vs powre : Defende our cause on euery side , that we may passe into the bowre : Whereas those heauenly Flowres do growe : By Christ that Garden first dyd sowe . Illuminate our inwarde minde , to seeke to thee continually : From worldly Errours that be blind , preserue vs for thy Maiestie . Teache vs as we in wordes professe , In déedes eache one to do no lesse . Assist vs dayly to begin , spiritually to enterfight Agaynst the worlde , the flesh , and sinne , that we may shunne the duskie nyght . In whiche our enimie the deuill , Doth watche to worke eache Christian euyll . Arme vs with fayth to beare the shielde , and sworde of heauenly puritie : Crowne vs with Helmet in the fielde , of thy surpassing veritie . Graunt this O bounteous Iesu sweete , That we with thee at last may meete . FINIS .