A SMALL handful of fragrant Flowers, selected and gathered out of the lovely garden of sacred scriptures, fit for any Honourable or worshipful Gentlewoman to smell unto. Dedicated for a Newyears gift, to the honourable and virtuous Lady, the Lady Sheffeeld.  
By N. B.  
¶ Imprinted at London, by Richard jones. And are to be sold at his shop, at the south-west door of Paul's. 1575.   

¶ To the right Honourable and virtuous Lady, the Lady Sheffeeld, N. B. wisheth continual health, with increase of Honour.  
AS I must of necessity (right honourable and virtuous Lady) give leave, licence and liberty unto such as altogether search out the strange operations of things well-nigh incredible to the rude and ignorant sort: So reposing a confidence in your noble degree, ready priest to accept the simple gift of a young and unskilful husbandman, I am the more bold to present your Ladyship with this little handful of Flowers, the sent whereof I trust, being gathered in so fruitful a time, will so revive your senses, that your godly industry will vouchsafe to plant the root thereof in the Garden of nobility, which I am assured, being watered with the due understanding of the fountain of knowledge, cannot choose but increase to a defence 〈…〉 modest demeanour. As therefore on th'other side, your virtuous life is such as rather alloweth the godly work of a simple scholar, willing by daily practice to grow unto more & exacter ripeness of understanding. And on the other part is ready to prefer the base & country man's pen, to the end that I m●ght hereafter take the more heart of grace, to attempt a more substantial piece of work. And then if it shall please the almighty to be my guide, in future time I will not be forgetful of your honours clemency, which the almighty G●d guard and furnish plentifully with increase & maintenance of renown for ever.  
Your most humble to command N. B.   

¶ john Parcels pamphlet in the praise of this handful of flowers.  

THE little be, fair Ladies all,  
Brings more increase than doth the Kite:  
Wherefore although this book be small,  
The flowers thereof may well delight,  
A second peerless Saba queen,  
Because they are continual green.   

¶ Peruse them well therefore and say,  
We have the choice of good and ill,  
Yet if my counsel by the way,  
Might urge your mind or move your will,  
To imitat this piece of work,  
For many a pearl therein doth lurk.   

¶ For though the fountain be not here,  
Of heavenly health that doth excel,  
Yet to your sight may playneappéere,  
The golden Bucket of the Well,  
Wherefore dear dames keep that in store,  
And time will yield to you the more.   

¶ It is no Poetes fable old,  
It is no gaude nor trifle vain,  
It is a gift excelling gold:  
In which the Gentle state may train,  
Themselves to godly exercise,  
And learn thereby for to be wise.   

¶ Search therefore such a Honycombe,  
And try the same with diligence,  
It is no fruitless vanishing foam,  
It is a cerce of excellence:  
The juice whereof being pleasant sweet,  
Is for a courteous Matron meet.   

¶ Thus virgins, wives, and widows too,  
If that you tender your estate,  
Learn as he teacheth you to do,  
That framed this Posy for your sake:  
And than you can not lose the crown,  
Diana holdeth with renown.   
I P.   

¶ The book to the Reader.  

SInce I poor book am put into thy hand,  
although the tome or volume little be,  
Yet Reader dear that I be thoroughly scanned  
with zealous mind I beg and crave of thee  
Ne seem to judge or sentence thine to frame,  
Before throughout thou do peruse the same.   

Read not as though thou wouldst forget again,  
such fruitless faith brings profit none at all:  
But if thou wilt reap merit for thy pain,  
let not regard from wonted custom fall,  
Which as I read by wise men is defined,  
While time doth serve, to bear the fruits in mind.   

If then I cast a jewel unto thee,  
play not the Cock that Esope speaketh on,  
Who rather craved a barley corn to see:  
then for to find the costly precious stone,  
But if I might give counsel with the rest,  
First read, them choose such fruits as like thee best.   

Hold me excused, and take my masters Muse,  
in as good part as pain he doth bestow,  
Let his good will his simple work excuse,  
for were it much more better: to bestow  
For thy delight he would vouchsafe his toil,  
And yield to thee the crop of such a soil.   
FINIS.   

The Author to his Lady in verse.  

IN ancient time the golden guise  
of Matrons great renowen,  
Was for to strive in virtues school,  
who should enjoy the crown:  
So that each branch of nobleness,  
surpassed in those days.  
Because they sought by their attempt  
to win immortal praise:  
As for example, Lucrece chaste,  
and famous sacred life  
May record be, who as I read,  
was Collatinus wife.   

And next to her, that pearl of price,  
which Triata had to name.  
By constant love to Mansolus  
doth manifest the same.  
Thirdly, queen Artimesia reaped  
the Sceptre by desert,  
That could as well as all the rest,  
most finely play her part.  
But since that Sabbas wisdom great,  
in honour yours doth reign.  
I must dear Lady wish to you  
aswell, as to the train.  
For why? the garland that you wear  
is ever fresh and green,  
And serves most fit in Court therewith,  
to tend upon a Queen.   

The modesty of Matrons mild,  
bedecked with virtue round.  
There is no wight but well may see  
in you for to abound.  
So that a pattern to the nymphs  
of Court and courtly crew,  
Your Ladyship resembleth well,  
as plainly they may view.  
For on the one side guarded with  
Dame virtue you do enter:  
And on the other, continence  
encourageth you to venture.   

Wherefore, since then defensed with  
such ayoe to your degree.  
Your noble race procureth these  
your days with joys to see,  
That Flora, Susan, and the rest  
attained unto the end.  
Your Honour might conceive my cause,  
a slow and thankless friend,  
If that this time he should negle  
to beautify your name:  
Whose merits are blown all abroad,  
in golden trump of fame.   

Wherefore as pledge of my good will,  
with humble duty due,  
Accept I crave this little book  
that I present to you.  
And though it be of value small,  
or simple to your sight,  
Your wisdom may conceive the Lark,  
more daintier than the Kyght.   
G. T.   

¶ The names of all the flowers contained in this posy, with the proper use thereof.  

Dear Dames, your senses to revive,  
accept these Flowers in order hear,  
Then for the time you are alive  
renown your golden days shall bear:  
Mark therefore what they have to name,  
and learn to imitate the same.   

The first resembleth Constancy,  
a worthy bud of passing fame,  
Which every Gentle certainly  
delights to choose of for the name:  
The cause is (that) the truth to tell,  
it scents and savours passing well.   

This Flower in her garden green  
Susanna planted day and hour,  
Which by her life was daily seen,  
when her good fame for to devour  
The wicked Elders did pretend,  
to bring her days unto an end.   

But God that saw her constantness,  
and how she was unjustly wronged,  
Gave little Daniel warrantise,  
to be her judge, wherewith he throngde  
amidst the press with help divine,  
and rescued Susan at that tyme.   

Then when her steadfastness was known,  
and how she scented of that Flower,  
Which in Diana's bower was sown,  
the carnal judges fleshly power  
Was cut full short, and she like case  
was honoured in the judgement place.   

O worthy sprig of constancy,  
O jewel far surpassing gold,  
Preserved by the eternity,  
as a looking glass for to behold,  
To such as covet with renown,  
to wear that chaste and peerless crown.   

This pleasant branch in Sara's breast,  
was daily used for a show,  
So that her faith among the rest,  
thereby did bountifully grow.  
And she extolled was therefore,  
as noble Matron evermore.   

Well might I call to memory,  
Rebecca mild and judith chaste,  
By whose great faith and constancy,  
Holofernes power was sore aghast,  
So that as plain the scriptures say,  
his hosts were fain to fly away.   

Since than ye Ladies of degree,  
and honours nymphs within the place,  
Whereas that pearls dame may be,  
which all the Gods inspire with grace,  
This flower I say doth sent so well,  
accept the sweet and savoury smell.   

There is no odious stintch at all,  
of any worldly infamy,  
That can procure your ruinous fall,  
if you retain this constancy,  
And therefore Ladies pluck this flower,  
for why it withereth never an hour.   

The second bud is modesty,  
which Triata did much delight.  
And furnished the company,  
of many a Roman matron bright,  
So that no blemish there did grow,  
as long as they the same could show.   

The third is virtuous exercise,  
the fourth is called humility,  
The fifth, to set beforeyour eyes,  
the fear of God most reverently.  
The sixth obedience to the crown,  
and Princes laws with great renown.   

The seventh is Patience, for to bear  
the cross of Christ continually:  
The eight is liberal talk to hear,  
and use the same indifferently:  
The ninth is called Chastity:  
the tenth, to put up injury.   

The eleventh is to sustain the poor:  
the twelfth to aid the comfortless,  
And to endeavour more and more,  
to train your steps to godliness.  
The thirteenth, that is chiefest skill,  
which we do call, do good for ill.   

The fourteenth is to love the troth,  
and flattery wholly for to shun:  
The fifteenth, bar the chair of sloth,  
whereby full many are undone:  
For idleness doth shame but win,  
and is the entrance unto sin.   

The sixteenth Flower is willing zeal  
unto the sacred verity:  
Which is a lantern to your feet,  
to lead you to sincerity:  
The seventeenth blossom fresh of hue,  
in words and deeds for to be true.   

The eighteenth is for to restore  
that by oppression hath been got:  
The nineteenth for to cure that sore,  
which careless conscience makes to rot:  
The twentieth is sweet Charity,  
the fruits whereof begin to die.   

There are beside these, godly love,  
whose leaves though they be not so green,  
Yet who to pluck thereof will prove,  
shall with Lucretia soon be seen,  
To shine in words and deeds as bright,  
as when the moon doth yield her light.   

Lo Gentles, this small bunch of flowers,  
It is that may increase your fame,  
For they be watered with the showers,  
that sacred Scriptures have to name:  
You may discern them by the seeds,  
full much unlike to worldly weeds.   

Take heed therefore how you reject,  
the simplest flower among them all,  
For if disdain do you infect,  
to pluck one leaf the rest will fall:  
Do not therefore the thread untwined,  
Which doth this pretty posy bind.   

The name thereof is diligence,  
in seeking virtuous company:  
A string of great pre-eminence,  
given unto us in generally.  
Therewith each godly wight doth make,  
A snare therewith each vice to take.   

〈◊〉 Matrons therefore I require,  
as one that wisheth all were well:  
〈◊〉 bear a zeal and full desire,  
●o buy these Flowers that so did smell.  
〈◊〉 shall the bounty of the Lord,  
with all your works right well accord.   

〈◊〉 whom be honour, power, and fame,  
praise, laud, and sempiternity:  
●oth God and man sweet Christ the same,  
who planted for a certainty.  
●hese Flowers in heavenly paradise,  
for such to gather as will be wise.   

●is blessing say, and let us crave,  
to light upon our sovereign Queen:  
Whom we may see in hand to have  
this little branch of Flowers green.  
Which scents and savours passing well,  
the readiest way to heaven to smell.   

Her counsel and nobility.  
the Pastors of the Church like case:  
The mighty God continually,  
bid we with golden drops of grace.  
That they may serve her majesty:  
With reverence and humility.    

❧ A prayer for gentlewomen and others to use, whereby through the help of the divine grace, they may attain the right sent of this posy of Godly Flowers.  

VOuchsafe, O Lord, to be our guide,  
thy spirit of grace into us power:  
Defend our cause on every side,  
that we may pass into the bower:  
Whereas those heavenly Flowers do grow:  
By Christ that Garden first did sow.   

Illuminate our inward mind,  
to seek to thee continually:  
From worldly Errors that be blind,  
preserve us for thy Majesty.  
Teach us as we in words profess,  
In deeds each one to do no less.   

Assist us daily to begin,  
spiritually to enterfight  
Against the world, the flesh, and sin,  
that we may shun the dusky night.  
In which our enemy the devil,  
Doth watch to work each Christian evil.   

Arm us with faith to bear the shield,  
and sword of heavenly purity:  
Crown us with Helmet in the field,  
of thy surpassing verity.  
Grant this O bounteous jesus sweet,  
That we with thee at last may meet.   
FINIS.