A REMEMBRANCE of the well employed life, & godly end, of George Gaskoigne Esquire, who deceased at Stalmford in Lincoln Shire the 7. of October. 1577.  
The report of Geor Whetston's Gent. an eye witness of his Godly and charitable end in this world.  
Forma nulla Fides.  
IMPRINTED AT LONdon for Edward Aggas, dwelling in Paul's Churchyard and are there to be sold.   

The well employed life, and godly end of G. Gascoigne Esquire.  

ANd is there none, will help to tell my tales  
who (ah) in health/ a thousand plaints have shone?  
feels all men joy? can no man skill of bale?  
oh yes I see/ a comfort in my moan.  
Help me good George, my life and death to touch  
some man for thee, may one day do as much.   

Thou seest my death, and long my life didst know,  
my life: nay death, to live I now begin:  
But some will say. Durus est hic sermo,  
'tis hard indeed, for such as feed on sin.  
Yet trust me friends (though flesh doth hardly bow)  
I am resolved, I never lived till now.   

And on what cause, in order shalt ensue,  
My worldly life (is first) must play his part:  
Whose tale attend, for once the same is true,  
Yea Whetston thou, hast known my hidden heart  
And therefore I conjure thee to defend:  
(when I am dead) my life and godly end.   

First of my life, which some (amiss) did know,  
I leave mine arms, my acts shall blaze the same 
He was Sir john G. son & Heir, Disinherited.   
Yet on a thorn/ a Grape will neven grow,  
no more a Churl, doth breed a child of fame.  
but (for my birth) my birth right was not great  
my father did, his forward son defeat,   

This froward deed, could scarce my heart dismay,  
Virtue (quoth I) will see I shall not lack:  
And well I wots Domini est terra,  
Besides my wit can guide me from a wrack.  
Thus finding cause, to foster high desire:  
I clapped on cost (a help) for to aspire.   

But foolish man decked in my Peacocks plumes,  
my wanton will commanded straight my wit:  
Yea, brainsick I, was, drunk with fancy's fumes,  
But, Nemo sine crimine vivit.  
For he that finds, himself from vices free  
I give him leave, to throw a stone at me.   

It helps my praise, that I my fault recite,  
The lost sheep found, the feast was made for joy:  
evil sets out good, as far as black doth white.  
The pure delight, is drained from annoy.  
But (that in chief▪ which writers should respect)  
truth is the guard, that keepeth men unchect.   

And for a truth, beguiled with self conceit,  
I thought that men would throw rewards on me  
But as a fish, seld bites with out a bait,  
So none unforst, men's needs will hear or see.  
and begging suits, from dunghill thoughts proceed:  
the mounting mind, had rather starve in need.   

Well leave I hear, of thriftless will to writ,  
wit found my rents, agreed not with my charge:  
●…he sweet of war, sung by the carpet knight,  
I●… post haste then shipped me in Ventures Barge.  
These lusty limbs, Sans use (quod, I) will rust:  
That pity were, for I to them must trust.   

Well placed at length, among the drunken Dutch,  
(though rumours lewd, impaired my desert) 
He served in Holland,   
I boldly vaunt, the blast of Fame is such,  
As proves I had, a froward sours heart.  
My slender gain a further witness is:  
For worthiest men, the spoils of war do mis.   

Even there the man, that went to fight for pence,  
Cacht by sly hap, in prison vile was popped: 
Prisone●… in Hol.   
Yea had not words, fought for my lives defence,  
For all my hands, my breath had the●…e been stopped  
But I in fine, did so persuade my foe: 
He had the Latin, Italian, French, & Dutch languages.   
as (scot free) I, was homewards set to go.   

Thus wore I time the wealthier not a whit,  
Yet awckward chance, lacked force, to beard my hope  
In peace (quoth I) i'll trust unto my wit,  
the windows of my muse, than str●…ight I ope 
His books publ.   
And first I show, the travail of such time:  
as I in youth, employed in loving rhyme.   

Some strait way said (th●…ir tongues with envy fret) 
Poyse●…   
those wanton lays, inductions ●…ers to vice:  
Such did me wrong, for (quod nocet, docet)  
our neighbours harms, are Items to the wise.  
And sure these toys, d●… show for your behoof:  
The woes of love, and not the ways to love.   

And that the world might read them as I meant,  
I left this vain, to path the virtuous ways: 
Glass of gover me●…   
The lewd I checked, in Glass of government,  
And (labouring still, by pains, to purchase praise,  
I wrought a Glass, wherein each man may see: 
〈◊〉 ●…asse.   
Within his mind, what cankered vices be.   

The drunken soul, transformed to a beast, 
Diet for drunkers.   
my diet helps, a man, again to make▪  
But (that which should, be praised above the rest)  
My dooms day Drum, from sin doth you awake 
Drum of doonsday.   
For honest sport, which doth refresh the wit:  
I have for you, a book of hunting writ. 
Hunting.    

These few books, are daily in your eyes,  
Perhaps of worth; my fame alive to keep: 
He hath books to publish,   
Yet other works. (I think) of more em●…e,  
Couched close as yet, within my coffers sleep.  
yea till I ●…y, none shall the ●…ame reveal:  
So men will say, that Gas●…ign wrote of Zeal.   

O En●…y ●…ile, foul fall thee wretched sot,  
Thou mortal foe, unto the forward mind:  
I curse thee wretch, the only cause godwot. 
Enuy.   
That my good will, no more account did find.  
And not content, thyself to do me scar:  
Thou ni●…st my heart, with Spite, Suspect & Care.   

And  of Spite foul envies poisoned pie, 
Spite,   
To Midas ears, this As hath Lyntius, eyes:  
With painted shows, he heaves himself on high,  
Full often this Dolt, in learned authors pries,  
But as the Drone, the honey hive, doth rob:  
with worthy books, so deals this idle lob.   

He filcheth terms, to paint a prattling tongue,  
when (God he knows) he knows not what he says  
And jest the wise should ●…nde his wit but young,  
He works all means, their works for to dispraise.  
To smooth his speech, that beast this patch doth crop  
He shows the bad, the writer's mouths to stop.   

You worse than this, he dealeth in offence,  
(Tenterhook good turns, he with silence striketh dead)  
A slender fault, ten times beyond pretence,  
This wretched Spite in every place doth spread.  
And with his breath, the Viper doth infect:  
The hearer's heads, and hearts with false suspect.   

Now of Suspect: the property to show, 
Suspect   
He hides his dought, yet still mistrusteth more:  
The man suspect, is so debarred to know,  
The cause and cure of this his rankling sore.  
And so in vain, he good account doth seek,  
Who by this Fiend, is brought into mislike.   

Now hear my tale, or cause which killed my heart,  
These privy foes, to tread me under foot:  
My true int●…nt, with forged faults did thwart:  
so that I found, for me it was no boot.  
to work as Bees, from weeds, with honey dranes  
when Spiders turned, my flowers unto banes.   

When my plain words, by fools misconst●…ed were  
by whose fond tales-reward held his hands back  
To quite my worth, a cause to settle care:  
within my breast, who well deseru●…d, did lack.  
for who can brook, to see a painted crow:  
Singing a fit, when Turtles mourn below.   

What man can yield, to ●…arue among his books. 
Care.   
and see pied Doultes, upon a booty feed?  
What honest mind, can live by favouring looks,  
and see the lewd, to reach a friendly deed?  
What heart can bide, in bloody wars to toil:  
when carpet swads, devour that Soldiers spoil?   

I am the wretch, whom Fortune ●…irted so,  
These men, were bribed, ere I had breath to speak:  
Muse then no whit, with this huge overthrow,  
though crusshig care, my guiltless heart doth break  
But you will say, that in delight do devil:  
my outward show, no inward grief did tell.   

I grant it true, but hark unto the rest,  
The Swan in songs, doth knolle her passing be●…:  
The Nightingale, with thorns against her breast  
when she might mourn, her sweetest lays doth yell  
The valiant man, so plays a pleasant part:  
When moths of moan, do gnaw upon his heart.   

For proof, myself, with care not so a feared,  
But as hurt Dear wail, (though their wounds alone  
When stoutly they do stand among that heard.  
So I that saw, but few hark to my moan.  
made choice to tell deaf walls, my wretched plaint:  
in sight of men, who nothing seemed to faint.   

But as often use, doth wear an iron cote,  
as missing drops, hard flints in time doth pierce  
By piece meals, care so wrought me under foot 
No Physician could found out his grief.   
but more than strange is that I now rehearse,  
Three months I lived, and did digest no food  
when none by art my sickness understood.   

What helpeth then? to d●…ath I needs must pine,  
yet as the horse, the use of ●…arre which knows:  
If he be hurt, will neither winch nor whine,  
but till he die, post with his Rider goes.  
Even so my heart, whilst lungs may lend me breath:  
Bares up my limbs, who liuing●… go like death.   

But what avails, Achilles' heart, to have,  
King Croesus' wealth, the sway of all the world:  
The Prince, the Peer, so to the wretched slave,  
when death assaults, from earthly holds are whirled.  
Yea often he strikes ere one can stir his eye:  
Then good you live, as you would daily die.   

You see the plight, I wretched now am in,  
I look much like a threshed ear of torn:  
I hold a form, within a wrimpled skin,  
but from my bones, the fat and flesh is worn  
See, see the man, late pleasures Miniou:  
●…inde to the bones, with care & wretched moan   

See gallants see, a picture worth the sight,  
(as you are now, myself was heretofore)  
My body late, stute full of manly might,  
As bore as job, is brought to Death his door.  
My hand of late, which taught to win me fame:  
stiff clung with cold, wants force to writ my name   

My legs which bore, my body full of flesh,  
Unable be▪ to stay my bones upright:  
My tongue (God wots) which talked as one would wish  
In broken words, can scarce my mind recite.  
My head late stuffed, with wit and learned skill  
may now conceive, but not convey my wil   

What say you friends, this sudden change to see?  
You rue my grief, you do like flesh and blood:  
But moan your sins, and never morn for me,  
And to be plain, I would you understood.  
My hat doth swim, in seas of more delight:  
Then your who seems, to rue my wretched plight.   

What is this world? a net to snare the soul,  
A mass of sin, a desert of decert:  
A moment's joy, an age of wretched dole,  
A lure from grace, for flesh a toothsome bait.  
Unto the mind, a cankerworm of care:  
Unsure, unjust, in rendering man his share.   

A place where pride, oreruns the honest mind,  
Wheer richmen joins, to rob the shiftles wretch:  
where bribing mists, the judges eyes do blind,  
Where Parasites, the fattest crumbs do catch.  
where good deserts (which challenge like reward)  
Are over blown, with blasts of light regard.   

And what is man? Dust, Slime, a puf of wind,  
Conceiu●…d in sin, placed in the world with grief,  
Brought up with care, till care hath caught his mind,  
And then (till death, vouchsafe him some relief)  
Day yea nor night, his care doth take an end:  
To gather goods, for other men to spend.   

O foolish man, that art in office placed,  
Think whence thou cam'st, & whether thou shalt go:  
The huge high Okes, small winds have over cast,  
when slender reeds, in roughest wethers grow.  
Even so pale death, often spares the wretched wight,  
And woundeth you, who wallow in delight.   

You lusty youths, that nurish high desire,  
Abase your plumes, which makes you look so big,  
The Collier's cut, the Courtiers' Steed will tire,  
Even so the Clerk, the parsons grave doth dig.  
Whose hap is yet, here longer life to win:  
Doth heap (God wots) but sorrow unto sin.   

And to be short, all sorts of men take heed,  
the thunder bolts, the lofty Towers tear:  
The lightning flash, consumes the house of reed,  
y●…a more in time, all earthly things will wear,  
Save only man, who as his earthly living is:  
Shall live in woe, or else in endless bliss.   

Moore would I say, if life could lend me space,  
but all in vain, death waits of no man's will:  
The tired jade, doth trip at every pace,  
when pampered horse, will prance against the hill.  
So healthful men, at long discourses sport  
When few words, the sick, would fain report.   

The best is this, my will is quickly made,  
my wealth is small, the more my conscience ease:  
This short account (which makes me ill paid)  
my loving wife and son, will hardly please.  
But in this case, to please them as I may:  
These following words, my testament do wray.   

My soul I first, bequeath Almighty God, 
The effect of his wil   
and though my sins are grievous in his sight:  
I firmly trust, to scape his fiery rod,  
when as my faith his dear Son shall recite.  
Whose precious blood (to quench his Father's ire)  
Is sole the cause, that saves me from hell fire.   

My Body now which once I decked brave  
(from whence it came) unto the earth I give:  
I wish no pomp, the same for to engrave,  
once buried corn, doth rot before it live.  
And flesh and blood in this self sort is tried:  
Thus burial cost, is (with out profit) pride.   

I humbly give, my gracious sovereign Queen  
(by service bound) my true and loyal heart:  
And truth to say, 〈◊〉 ●…ight but rarely scene,  
as Iron greaves from th' adamant to part.  
Her highness so, hath ●…each●… the Grace alone:  
To gain all hearts, yet gives her heart to none.   

My loving wife, whose face I fain would see,  
my love I give, with all the wealth I have:  
But sense my goods (God knoweth) but slender be  
most gracious Queen, for Christ his sake I crave  
(not for any service that I have done)  
you will vouchsafe, to aid her and my Son.   

Come, come dear Son, my blessing take in part,  
and therewithal I give thee this in charge:  
First serve thou God, then use both wit and art,  
thy Father's debt, of service to discharge.  
which (forced by death) her Majesty he owes:  
beyond deserts, who still rewards bestows.   

I freely now all sorts of Men forgive,  
Their wrongs to me, and wish them to amend:  
And as good men, in charity should live,  
I crave my faults may no man's mind offend,  
Lo here is all, I have for to bequest:  
And this is all, I of the world request.   

Now farewell Wife, my Son, & Friends farewell.  
Farewell O world, the bait of all abuse:  
Death where is thy sting? O Devil where is thy hell?  
I little force, the for●…es you can use.  
Yea to your teeth. I do you both defy:  
ut essem Christo, cupio dissolui.   

In this good mood, an end worthy the show,  
Bereft of speech, his hands to God he heaved:  
And sweetly thus, good Gaskaigne went a Dio,  
Yea with such ease, as no man there perceived,  
By struggling sign, or striving for his breath:  
That he abode, the pains and pangs of Death.   

Exhortatio.  

His Sean is played, you follow on the act,  
Life is but death, till flesh, and blood be stain:  
God grant his words, within your hearts be pact 
Good men,   
As good men do, hold earthly pleasures bain.  
The good for there needs, Vtuntur mundo:  
And use good deeds, ut fruantur De●….   

Contemn the change, (use nay abuse) not God,  
Through holy shows, this worldly muck to scratch:  
To deal with men & Saints is very odd.  
Hypocrisy, a man may over catch. 
●…ocrites.   
But Hypocrite, thy heart the Lord doth see:  
Who by thy thoughts (not thy words) will judge thee.   

Thou jesting fool, which makest at sin a face,  
Beware that God, in earnest plague thee not: 
Careless ●…uers.   
For where as he, is coldest in his grace,  
●…uen there he is, in vengeance very hot.  
Tempt not to far, the lathest man to fight:  
When he is forced, the lustiest blows doth smite.   

You Courtiers, check not, Merchants for their gain, 
Courtier   
〈◊〉 by your loss, do match with them in blame:  
The Lawyer's life, you Merchants do not stain, 
Mercha●…   
The blind for sloth, may hardly check the lame,  
I mean that you, in Balance of deceit:  
Will Lawyers payze, I fear with over weight.   

You Lawyers now who earthly judges are,  
you shallbe judged, and therefore judge aright: 
Lawye●….   
you count Ignorantia juris no bar,  
Then ignorance, your sins will not acquit.  
Read, read God's law, with which yours should agree:  
That you may judge, as you would judged be.   

You Prelates now, whose words are perfect good, 
Prelates,   
Make show in works▪ that you your words ensue:  
A Diamond, holds his virtue set in wood,  
but yet in Gold, it hath a fresher ●…ue,  
Even so God's word, told by the Devil is pure:  
Preached yet by Saints, it doth more heed procure.   

And Reader now, what office to thou have,  
to whose behoof, this brief discourse is told:  
Prepare thyself, each hour for the grave, 
Readers in general   
the market eats aswell young sheep as old.  
Even so, the Child, who fears the smarting rod:  
The Father often doth lead the way to God.   

And both in time, this worldly life shall leave,  
thus sure thou art, but know'st not when to die:  
Then good thou live, lest death do the deceive,  
as through good life, thou mayst his force defy.  
For trust me man, no better match can make:  
Then leave unsure, for certain things to take.   Vivit post funera Virtus.  

An Epitaph, written by G. W. of the death, of M. G. Gaskoygne.  

For Gaskoygnes death, leave of to moon, or morn  
You are deceived, alive the man is still:  
A live? O yea, and laugheth death to scorn,  
In that, that he, his fleshly life did kill.   

For by such death, two lives he gains for one,  
His Soul in heaven doth live in endless joy  
His worthy works, such fame in earth have sown,  
As sack nor wrack, his name can there destroy.   

But you will say, by death he only gains.  
And how his life, would many stand in stead:  
O deign not Friend (to counterchange his pains)  
If now in heaven, he have his earned mead,  
For once in earth, his toil was passing great:  
And we devoured the sweet of all his sweat.    
FINIS.  Nemo ante obitum beatus.