Churchyardes farewell

Churchyardes farewell . AS witte is neuer good till it bee déerely bought : So fréends vntill their truth be tride , may passe for thinges of nought . For fréendship all in woordes , a kinde of flattringe is . And if I thinke my woorthiest fréende may be abusde by this , I ought in plaine flat termes to shewe him what I thinke , And blaze the meaninge of my minde by paper , pen , and Inke . Because the doores be barde , where my good will should pas : And buzzinge Bées do créepe in place , where Churcheyards credite was . The fowlers mery pype betraies the careles byrde : And fléeringe fawners lye in waite , to géeue their fréends a gyrde . When fortune turnes hir face , beware the Syrenes songe : Beware the busie Clawbackes fine whose freendship lastes not longe . Thinke you the flyes doo flocke aboute the fleashe in vaine ? Dooth not the Bée seeke out the flower some hony there to gayne ? Doo courtiers all for loue , approche the princes gates ? Dooth plainnesse in these double daies , repaire to great estates ? No sure in maskinge robes goeth mischiefe muffled nowe : And subtile sleightes with snakish stings , doo lodge in smilinge browe . And your affections blinde , hath you bewitched so , Ye haue no power to finde your freendes , nor to descerne your fo . Ye fill the fleesinge fistes , and let the needie lacke : And sharpe their teeth whose crafty tungs can byte behinde your backe . I pray you tell me now , if hap woulde let you slyde , How many would through thick & thinne for loue with you abide ? Perhaps a heape of suche could hungry hangers on , Whose nature geues the courte a fygge when worldly hap is gon . Can you not see the cause , that bringes them swarminge in ? And where the whéele of Fortune swayes , the worlde fauour winne ? Had not your elders wise , good triall of suche trashe ? Did you not sée what woorthy wittes at length were lefte in lashe : By trustinge some to farre , and heapinge hope in those That seemed fréends to outwarde sight , and yet were secrete foes ? O let me licence haue to painte these pecocks out , Whose fethers wauereth with the winde and so turnes taile aboute : Yet flicker with their winges , to faune the face awhile , Untill their sodaine flight they take , and so their fréends beguile . What should we iudge of them , that stare in faces still : Where lo , for all their curtsie great , they beare but small good will . And where they seldome come , but when some sute they haue : They make a signe to sée my Lorde , yet seeke by sleight to craue . What makes them watch their howres , and thrust in thickest preest . It is for fréendship that they beare vnto a certaine lease . My Lorde must helpe to get , now crowche and knéele they all : Now stand they vp like sainctes in shrine , or nayld against a wall ? Now figge they here and there , as thornes were in their héeles Now trudge aboute these whirlegigges , as worlde did runne on whéeles . Now cast they fréendly lookes , all ouer the chambers gaye . Now geue they place as God were there , now turne they euery waye . Now talke they trimme in printe , and prate of Robin hood : Much like the knightes of Arthers courte , that knew full well their good . Some through a finer meane , doo créepe in credites lappe : And vale their bonettes by deuise , as fauour folowed cappe . Suche Iuglers bleare your eies , and smile within their sléeue : When honour in his harmles moode Dooth best of them beléeue . Were you but once a daye , in simple seruauntes place , And like a looker on ye stoode , to prie vpon this case : Then should ye throughly sée , who plaies the wily foxe : And how the Wolfe can frame himselfe , to draw in yoke like oxe . Then shoulde the mufled men , shew foorth their faces bare And therby noble hartes shoulde learne to knowe what flatterers are . The glory of your state , heaues vp your hed so hie : That many thinges doo scape your vewe , whiche we sée full with eye . And who is now so bolde , that dare flat warninge geue , To suche as in toppe of pompe , or princely plasures lyue . I muse what new founde chaunce , hath so disguisde the state That men oft times for speakyng plaine , doo purchace endlesse hate . Whilest fraude and fained chéere dooth euell honour féede : And noman dare a plaister geue , to heale the wounde in déede : Full fickle shall you walke , and neuer wante disease . They should be banisht from your courte that are so glad to please With twittell twatlyng tales . The truth like larm bell . Should shortly sounde in tender eares and learne you to doo well . But sure the swéetest nuttes doo noorishe woormes apace , And flatterers of the finest stampe , in courte haue finest place . I am to plaine therefore , my penne hath drunke to muche ? An alie hed makes idle hande , the quicke to néere to touche . Nay , nay , some one must speake , although the vice it bée : Or els the play were done ye wot , then Lordinges pardon mée . For frée of euery Hance I thanke the gods I am , And serues no turne but for a vice , since first to courte I came . To make the Ladies laugh , that leades the retchles liues Who late , or neuer woodcocke like at later Lammas thriues . Yet if the foole had gotte , at his departinge thence A night cap , or a motley coate , or els some spendinge pence . It had bene well enough : but nothinge there I founde For nothinge from their budgets fell they were so straitly bounde . Ye lie sir Daw in déede , canst thou so longe be there But needes must fall into thy handes , some paringe of the peare ? A hungry paringe Lorde he hath that there doth weight : He watcheth like a gréedy hounde that standeth at receight : That oft for lacke of g●me , runnes home his panche to fill Or sterues in forest or in parke , at least at kepers will . Looke what to courte he brought it is consumed and gone And there the fleash of euery iointe , is worne vnto the bone . The carraine crowes of Cheape in steyng bones so bare Would clap the fell in counter too , to breede him further care . Nay fie on such good hap , on Souldiers faith I sweare : To sell the Courts and Cittie bothe , and he that takes me there . Let him cut of mine cares , and slitte my nose aright And make a curtoll of the beast , that hath a hed so light . To linger out my yeeres for moone shine in the well A hood , a hood , for such a foole , a bable and a bell . A coxcombe is to good for such a calfe I trow . As of my Lorde my leaue I take , so now againe I go . Where fortune shall assigne , my staffe to light or fall . And thus I know a truer freende , was not amonge them all . Then to my power I was , to you and all your race Nor vnto whome I dayly wishe , more blesse happe and grace . ꝙ Churchyarde . FINIS .