Churchyardes lamentacion of freyndshyp

❧ Churchyardes Lamentacion of Freyndshyp . IN Court some say doth freindshyp stolne . And some to Court for freindshyp goe : But I that walke the worlde aboute , Could neuer yet fynde freyndshyp out . For fyneness : shewes so fayre a face , That freyndshyp hath no dwellynge place Yea , depe dyssemblynge manners mylde , Hath sayth and freindshyp both erylde : The holow● harte is fowle and fell , Wheare freyndshyp loketh now to dwell . The humble speche and Syrenes songe Hath shrouded freyndshyp ouer longe , The wylye wordes that waues wyth wynde Hath brought true frendshyp out of mynde : And to be shorte fayre wordes is all The fruite that from the tree dothe fall . Wordes weldes the worlde , & beares the swaye , And freindshyp daylye dothe decaye : Yet durste I make of it reporte , it is amonge the meaner sorte , If any faythe or freyndshyp bee : But I so lytle freindshyp see , I feare the vertue of the same Consystes but in the gentle name . The worlde is waren now so nyce That we haue learnd the frenche deuyce , At your commaundement for a showe , and meane no farther for to goe : We are as free of promyse styll as though we mente a great good wyll , And braue it out for gloryes sake , and much adoe therof we make , To blase abrode our bountye great : T●●h man the fyre hath lost his heate , The flame yeldes furthe but sparkles smal , theare is no freyndshyp now at all . Geue eare and here a pretye Iest : Theare was a man ( at my request ) That seemd an earnest freinde in dede , and swore he wolde supplye my nede Wyth all hys helpe he could deuyse , and ofte to blere hys Ladyes eyes , And make her know hys lyberall mynde : ( for women Larges loue of kynde . ) He promyst many a goodlye gyfte , but when I put hym to hys shyfte , For quycke performaunce of thys geare , then backwarde gan he for to swarue Eche worde had past hys mouth before , I pray you now if we had store Of such good freinds , when nede shuld cum myght not a pore man stryke hys Drum Before theyr dores wyth chereful sprete , and sounde a marche in open strete A thousand tymes amidste hys greefe , or he should fynde thearby releefe ? Fyue hundred of such mates as thease ( whose freyndshyp is not worthe a pease , Whose brauery shynes beyonde the Sune , yet slypper laddes when all is done . ) My hap hath bene to mete or thys : beware I say the Iudas kysse , The ●yrynge face the Parate gaye , the bablynge tongue that hath no staye , The fa●ner fyne that croutcheth lowe , the plyant head that bendes lyke bowe , Whose nature lykes not freindshyps lawe : the gloryous man , the pratynge dawe . Tut , tut , I warne thee ouersoone , ful longe had nede to be the spoone A man should haue for euery feate that wyth the dyuell thynkes to eate : For dyuels in these dayes are to ryfe , and thou must nedes leade out thy lyfe Wyth depe dyssemblers euery wayes : the d●uels are much more to prayse Then muffled men that myscheife breedes : who are not knowen but by theyr deedes ? Oh frendshyp thou art much mysused to be wyth freindes thus abused , For freyndshyp should wyth open face be seene and felt in euery place . Of playnenesse first was freyndshyp wrought , Iust as the Gods , and pure of thought : Full free and franke as Lordes hath byn , full bent the peoples hartes to wynne : Full glad to fyll the nedye hande , full fyrme of worde , and sure to stande As Oke that euery storme wyl byde : not lost with want , nor wonne wyth pryde And welthy pompe , the pumpe of synne , that bryngeth euery myscheife in : But alwayes cleare from falseheddes trayne . Than tell me now and do not fayne : Where do that freindshyp buylde his bowre ? where is such freindshyp had thys howre ? Where maketh he now hys mansyon place ? or where ( good Lord ) hath men such grace To lyght vpon so great a blysse ? mans mynde and nature altered is : The worlde in wyckednesse is drounde , and trulye freindshyp is vnsounde And rotten lyke corrupted fruite , though gloryous men wyll beare a brute Of freindes , theyr freyndshyp is so colde that we therof haue lytle holde : When it should serue our turne ( god knowes ) we reape the weede , and plant the Rose : We gape for golde , and grype but glasse : now dothe such wordes of offyce passe Tweene all estates bothe farre and nere , that talke is nought but fayned chere To make fayre weather for a whyle tyl one the other do beguyle . I tell the man who playes the parte of wylye For , must lerne thys arte : They are no small byrdes ( as I gesse ) if I in authors maye expresse The synnes that now be kept in store , that puts in practyse this and more To compasse cloked freindshyp fyne . The Fowler neuer drawe● hys lyne So strayghte vpon the selye fowle : nor sure the byas of the bowle Goeth not so strayghte on mayster blocke , as dayly dothe thys dallyenge flocke Upon the polycye of the brayne to brynge the selye foole to trayne . Men are so vsed these dayes wyth wordes , they take them but for ●stes and boordes That Christmas Lordes were wonte to speke . well , well , I say the worlde is weke , And weker it is lyke to be , when credyte out of the worlde shall flye , When trust is gone , and trothe is dead , and faythfull freyndshyp hydes hys head , And wordes are help of none effecte , and promyse faythfull is suspecte . Farewell , al earthly hope is past , I see our maners change so fast , And suche affection leades our wyll awrye , to fyckle freindshyp styll : That sure true freindshyp sylent syttes , and nought beares rule but wylye w●ttes : Unshame faste wayes , and meare deceyte , for playnenesse such a pleasante bayte , As choketh vp bothe hye and lowe , and poysoneth all the worlde I trowe : Wherfore synce freyndshyp takes hys leaue , and fynenesse dothe vs all deceyue , Let freyndshyppes name be banyshed quyte , for sure it is a great dyspyte To speke of freindshyp any tyme , to make of freyndshyp prose or ryme , Or gyue to freyndshyp anye prayse , that is so frutelesse in our dayes . qd. Churchyarde . Finis .