THE GARDEN of Prudence. Wherein is contained, A pathetical Discourse, and godly meditation, most briefly touching the vanities of the world, the calamities of hell, and the felicities of heaven. You shall also find planted in the same, divers sweet and pleasant Flowers, most necessary and comfortable both for body and soul.  
Printed at London, by Richard johnes, at the sign of the Rose & Crown next above S. Andrew's Church in Holborn. 1595.   

To the Right Honourable, THE MOST Virtuous and renowned Lady, Anne, Countess of Warwick, B. C. wisheth in this life all prosperity, and in the life to come sempiternal felicity in the blessed kingdom of God.  
AS amongst all human things (right Honourable and most renowned Lady) virtue & learning are most excellent, even so (in mine opinion) the daintiest Diamond set in the purest gold of this world is not any way comparable to the worthy graces which spring of either of them. Wherefore, having made trial of the most honourable affection & godly zeal you bear to them both, and knowing how wonderfully and laudably the rare flowers of the same, deck and adorn you on every side, I thought good by your singular and most splendent virtues thereunto moved and persuaded, so much to embolden myself as humbly to beseech your honour, to vouchsafe the patronizing of this slender pamphlet; and to take upon you the keeping of this little sweet Garden, that neither the wild Boar destroy it, neither carping Knights, or any of Momus wights devour it, but that it may have free passage (by your Honourable assistance) amongst all godly Christians. And they viewing the same, may the easier see the abominable vices, and vain vanities of this loathsome Labyrinth, and the better perceive the most miserable calamities and endless tortures and torments of hell, that fiery lake and kingdom of Satan. And also beholding the unspeakable felicities & most gladsome joys of heaven, may so run their course in this life, that they may eschew the vanities of the one, and after death escape the dangers of the other, & with the holy Angels & saints of God eternally enjoy all happy and most comfortable felicities in the blessed kingdom of heaven. The premises therefore duly considered, and my good meaning discreetly pondered, I doubt not but that you will according to your accustomed courtesy towards all men, pardon my presumption, and of your wonted zeal to godliness, accept of my trivial travel which in my idle hours I bestowed herein, and think me ra●her unable than any way unwilling to discharge my duty, whereof as I ought, so I have been ever most careful, and pleasing God) will during life, so remain. Thus referring my labours to your godly censure, I beseech the Almighty to grant you, whilst you live in this troublesome soil, most prosperous health, and perfect strength of body to god's glory, and your hearts desire, and after this life ended, most happy arrival unto the blessed haven of eternal felicities, and that your soul may there with the holy Angels and Saints of God, for ever have the perfect fruition of all joys.  
Your Honour's most humble in all duty to command▪ Bartholomew Chapel.   

To the Reader, health and peace in jesus Christ.  
Xerxes', that mighty Monarch and Emperor of the Persians, (gentle Reader) beholding from an high the hugeness of his Army, which was in strength invincible, in quality diverse, in number infinite, and in every degree surmounting all that ever were before or since, yea covering the whole face of the earth: in whose courage, force, & ●ight, he reposed the strength of his kingdom the safeguard of his person, and the glory of his Empire, could not but gush out most bitter tears, considering that of all the wonderful multitude that he saw, after one hundred years there should not a man be left. And shall not we that be Christians at least wise in name, viewing from the depth of our conceits, ourselves, our pomp, our honour, our glory, our magnificency and renown, our wealth, our substance, our beauty our friends, our strength, our great possessiont, and territories, our knowledge, our wit, our bravery and politic dealings, wherein we repose all our felicity and happiness, be nothing moved with due consideration, that this world and all things therein contained, are but fickle and vain, and that our bodies, ●e they never so fair, be they never so high, be they never so strong & valiant, can not escape the dart of death, but must be resolved to earth, whereof they were framed, and know not when, how soon or how suddenly, for this is the indgment of all flesh, thou shalt die the death, and the covenant of the grave is not revealed to any, for our life appeare● as a bubble of water, and suddenly passeth, it vanisheth into the air, as smoke, it slideth as a ship, that styleth with a full wind, or as a bird swift of flight, yea swifter than an arrow, mightily shott● out of a strong bow: for as soon as we are borne, forthwith we decay, our first entrance into this life, is our first step to death, and draweth us towards an end, showing nothing, but the frailty and fickleness of our estate the weakness and wickedness of our flesh, whose impiety daily draweth us from virtue to vice, from carefulness to carelessness from the chair of godly study, to the cradle of vain security: but the reward hereof is nothing but death and damnation in utter darkness for ever, where our drink shall be turned to sharp vinegar, and our bread to bitter gall: Wherefore view and with all diligence mark (most courteous reader) the sweet and comfortable flowers which thou shalt find to adorn this little Garden, and regard not the slender workmanship of the unskilful Gardener, but weigh in the balance of thy deep discretion the singular virtues, and most divine operations both of the plants, herbs and flowers inserted in the same, for so mayst thou eschew the vain vanities of this wicked world, so shalt thou escape the miserable calamities of that fiery lake, the kingdom of Satan, and finally, most happily attain the joyful felicity of most gladsome Paradise in the blessed kingdom of God. Thus desiring only thy love for my labours, I bid thee heartily farewell.  
Thine in the Lord. B. C.   

Of the Vanities of the WORLD.  
WHat wilful rage? what furious fit?  
what madness pearste the worlds brain?  
To serve in thrall, once for to sit,  
in Chair of pomp, that is so vain:  
Whose glittering glee is decked with woe,  
whose fickle weal we all do see:  
As flitting stream from thee doth go,  
and can no time remain with thee.  
For all thy pleasures sorrows bring,  
all thy delights most bitter pain:  
All thy conceits turn thee a ring,  
wherein to run: but all in vain:  
For when thou dost thyself assure,  
that thou dost sit in state most strong,  
When thou dost think still to endure,  
then suddenly thou liest along.  
When thou in Centre of thy bliss,  
with Solomon hast thee enthroned:  
When joy and peace thou dost possess,  
when Croesus' wealth to thee is bound:  
When all things else that world can yield,  
at thy command and beck do stand:  
Then cometh Death like Mars in field,  
and plucks thy life into his hand.  
Thy lands, thy rents, thy wife most grave,  
thy daughters clad with Venus ho:  
Thy sons adorned with virtues brave,  
thou art compelled to bid adieu.  
Thy houses high, thy castles strong,  
thy gardens square in each degree:  
Thy pleasant courts and towers long,  
all to forsake thou forced must be.  
Thy lambs, thy goats, thy fatlings all,  
which feed themselves in pastutes green  
Thine Oxen eke within thy stall.  
thou wilt then wish hadst never seen.  
Thy horses which in stable stand,  
and prance most stately in their kind:  
Thine oxen eke that blow thy land,  
thou art full loath to leave behind:  
Thy Deer which range thy forest wild,  
and browse on boughs, in winter cold:  
And such as room abroad the field,  
do please thee well, though thou be old.  
Thy tender youths and servants grave,  
which on thee wait in comely glee:  
No longer with thee must thou have,  
but leave them all, thus must it be.  
Thy brother's kind, and sisters dear,  
thy kindred all that loved thee best:  
Hereafter may not keep thee here,  
but trudge thou must among the rest.  
Contemn therefore all worldly wealth,  
and crave no more than may suffice:  
So God will bless thy soul with health,  
which still shall dure without surmise.  
But if with want thou be oppressed,  
if pinched eke with poverty,  
Let all by sufferance be redressed,  
when it shall please our God on high,  
For job by patience won great praise,  
cruel Pharaoh could not David daunt,  
By patiented hope they both had ease,  
and all their foes could not once vaunt,  
Or say, lo here we have prevailed,  
lo here is he, whom we subdued:  
But Peacock like they all were quailed,  
and forced to fly in sort most rude.  
Let these examples move thy heart,  
all woes, all pains for to endure:  
For heavens bliss without great smart,  
none can achieve, I thee assure.  
All crosses who so doth embrace,  
all miseries who doth sustain:  
Adorned is he with divine grace,  
with Angels eke shall he remain.  
But he that liveth wantonly,  
he wicked Mammon that doth love,  
He that desires to climb on high,  
forgetting God that sits above.  
And he whose mind is pu●t with pride,  
whose heart with malice great doth swell:  
With Lucifer still shall abide,  
and with the Furies must he dwell.  
Wherefore O man, O wretched wight,  
this wicked vale seek thou to scorn:  
Thy latter end have still in sight.  
least soul and corpses be both forlorn,  
For what can it thee ought avail, 
What can it avail thee to win althe world & lose thine own soul,   
if all the world thou do possess?  
Sith grie●ly grave is thy reraile,  
where worms thee gnaw without redress  
Yet worse than that doth it remain,  
when Spirits thy silly soul shall rend:  
In fiery flame, with hellish pain,  
Which never stays, nor will be spent.  
In dungeon deep when thou shalt lie,  
a place from God, that's farthest cast:  
Where damned souls both howl and cry,  
where fiery chains do hold them fast.  
Wherefore with Solomon I cry,  
O son remember thou thine end:  
Then wilt thou wicked sin defy,  
then wilt thou never God offend.  
Now sith tha● we compassed be,  
with dreadful death on every side:  
And that the same all creatures see,  
what of us all shall now betide.  
May not we call this wretched life, 
This life is a miserable vale   
a vale whose corn is bitter woe:  
The crop whereof we reap with strife  
in age, which lusty years did sow.  
The worms which vex our minds be cares  
most griping grief our body press:  
And sickness takes us in his snares,  
whereof we hardly get redress.  
Our bodies are a cursed ground,  
our skin is like to withered hay:  
Our humours weak and waterish found,  
which filthy worms shall suck away.  
Behold now, mark you what we are,  
Behold, but dust and brittle glass:  
Behold, a stream that falls like star,  
behold a wind that soon doth pass,  
Behold, here are we turned and cast,  
Behold, we often times do change,  
Behold, from pillar to the post,  
both to and fro are forced to range.  
The sands in sea, the grass we see, 
The sands o● the sea & the grass of the field are sooner numbered then our woes.   
in fertile lands and fields most fair,  
With all the stars may reckoned be,  
that glister in the healthsome air:  
Much sooner, I do tell thee right,  
than all the woes and pinching pain,  
Which still on men do fall and light,  
that in this loathsome vale remain.  
Amongst mankind was never one,  
that ever here on earth did dwell,  
Of miseries that taste had none,  
or once could say, all things run well:  
Although he were in glorious state,  
although he lived in high degree,  
Yet forced was he to blame his fate, 
No man was ever happy in this life.   
and say, I see it will not be.  
But if both poor and indigent,  
thou be, and canst not wealth attain:  
Thy life thy breath thou dost repent,  
and still in sorrow dost remain.  
If that a suckling babe thou be,  
but even now if thou were borne:  
Thy life is death, we all do see,  
thou art a silly wretch forlorn.  
And when a t●nder child thou art,  
thine age is chiefest spring of woe:  
Ten thousand griefs oppress thy heart, 
All estates ● this world most miserable   
and still on every side they flow.  
If that by years thou be a man,  
most great mishaps on thee will fall.  
And dangers will sare now and than,  
cast thee and thine int'wofull thrall.  
When crooked age comes stealing ou,  
then have we lost all worldly bliss,  
With pinching pain and sickness strong,  
than all our body troubled is,  
If that a wedded man thou be,  
than art thou tied to block of pain:  
Then art thou bound, which once wert free  
and so for ay thou must remain.  
If thou a single life dost lead,  
than sunk thou art in all annoys,  
And drowned in grie●e, although indeed  
thou thinkest to swim in sea of joys.  
Although thy body thou adorn,  
with glittering gold and pearl bright.  
Yet is thy mind with care forlorn,  
because in sorrows thou art pight.  
What life thou wilt, do thou profess,  
of want and woe thou shalt have store:  
Be what thou wilt thy cares to cease,  
thy dolours yet are as before.  
Unconstant is the state of man,  
his life as brittle as the clay:  
And is compared to a span,  
for in short time it fades away.  
It to a bubble likened is, 
●●e frailty ●t this life,   
which to our sight appeareth high:  
And in the time thou canst say this,  
flat with the water doth it lie.  
The man that late in wealth did flow,  
in poverty is now, and thrall,  
And is constrained to lie full low,  
which lately was the prince of all.  
Whom God in mercy hath extolled,  
and set in golden chair of bliss:  
Death plucketh down in sort most bold,  
and unto him least partial is.  
He lives to day quite void of pain,  
no grief hath he nor irksome care,  
Passing the time in pleasures vain,  
with jollity and dainty fare.  
To morrow dead and turned to dust,  
to morrow put in mournful tomb:  
And to the earth his corpses he must  
commit: till doleful day of dumb.  
Such is the state which we enjoy,  
such is the end all doth betide:  
That in this vale of all annoy,  
'mongst mortal men do once abide.  
Though Nestar's years we can attain,  
though thousand ages yet we have:  
The worms to feed we must be feign, 
The certainty of death,   
and fill we must the gaping grave.  
Not Hercules, not Samson strong,  
not Pompey stout, nor Caesar brave,  
But forced were to lie along,  
and take the blow which Death them gave.  
Not Cato that in wit did flow,  
not Solomon that did excel  
All mortal wights from high to low,  
in wisdoms court that bore the bell,  
The tyranny of death could daunt,  
or make his grisly face to blush:  
For he doth boast, yea brag and vaunt,  
and holds our force not worth a rush▪  
Behold rich Croesus with his wealth,  
could not the dart of death defend:  
Behold, great monarchs want their health,  
and all do trudge with death in end.  
He spareth none, he taketh all,  
both young and old of each degree:  
Both rich and poor both free and thrall,  
he pays to every one his fee.  

The Calamities of hell.  
HE throws the wicked headlong down  
to Limbo lake, where is no rest:  
Where damned souls look grim, & frown,  
and are with endless pain oppressed.  
This is the place that darkened is,  
this is the place of bitter pain:  
This is the place void of all bliss,  
this is the place where devils reign.  
This is the place of chillest cold,  
this is the place of endless fire:  
Whose forces great none can unfold,  
both tongue and pen though he do tyre.  
If monsters fell thou wouldst see,  
which in this place make their abode:  
Thy heart then daunted so would be,  
that none thy fear could then unload.  
If to thine ears their hellish sound,  
should once be brought I thee assure▪  
Thy senses all it would confound.  
but oh, none can the same endure:  
These grie●ly ghosts such tortures have,  
such pinching pain doth them oppress  
That some relief still do they crave,  
but never can they get redress.  
They weep, they ●ry, they wring their hands  
their miseries they do bewail:  
They gnash their teeth in woeful bands,  
this is the gain of their retail.  
They roar like Lions in their dens, 
The noise of damned souls,   
like dogs they howl in kennels staid,  
Like filthy Swine they lie in fens,  
and thus all reprobates are paid.  
Their filthy place no tongue can tell,  
no pen can well the same descry.  
The stink is such where they do dwell, 
The loathsomeness of hell,   
that all it slays that pass thereby.  
Their entry is of chillest y●e,  
their doors and gates of fiery brass,  
Their house more hot than Aetna thrice,  
that's full of fire, and ever was.  
Their walk on fiery serpents is,  
which pluck the marrow from the bone  
So is their comfort and their bliss,  
to mourn, to weep, & make great moan  
O wretched soul, what is thy state,  
what shall at last become of thee?  
Of greater grief who can delate,  
what greater woe or pain can be?  
Yet worse there is I tell thee plain,  
thy body must to judgement rise:  
And with thy soul it must sustain  
more torments than can heart devise: 
The tor●ents of ●ody and ●oule together.   
Because in earth both did offend,  
because the laws of God they broke  
Together, therefore without end  
must both be drowned in fiery lake▪  
All sinners would this day eschew,  
all sinners wish their peril past:  
All sinners hearts the same must rue,  
all sinners must it find at last:  
Behold it cometh now with speed, 
●okens of the second coming ●f the lord   
behold the sun that shined bright,  
Is darkened over all in deed,  
Behold all things appear as night.  
Behold the stars as withered leaves,  
in windy Autumn down do fall;  
Behold the Moon God eke bereaves,  
of light and shining brightness all.  
Behold the hearts of men do faint,  
behold, their wits are scant their own:  
Behold, with fear they make complaint,  
be hold, with griping grief they groan.  
Behold their faces are but pale,  
behold, their bodies weakened be:  
Behold, their doubt of endless thrall,  
behold their flesh consumes we see.  
Behold, what grief doth men oppress,  
behold, they cast their heads on high:  
But to lament, they can no less,  
mark well, all men do seem to die.  
Mark how both trees and branches all,  
do sweat forth blood against their kind:  
Mark, all things are oppressed with thrall,  
mark nothing hath a quiet mind.  
The roaring sea doth fret and fume,  
her waves she flings above the land:  
She shows all things are out of tune,  
she cries, God's day is nigh at hand:  
The earth of late hath shaked herself,  
as weary of her sinful burn:  
Which is ourselves, with worldly pelf,  
but oh! thereby we are forlorn.  
Of late she swallowed in her gulf,  
twelve thousand out of London town: 
The last great plague in London,   
By sudden plague like ravening Wolf,  
yet are our hearts not once plucked down.  
Her wrath yet is not it appeased,  
our friends from us she taketh still:  
Our sins so much have God displeased,  
that she revenge doth use, and will.  
Her fruits also she doth detain,  
and hath done forty months and more:  
Yet few of us in heart complain,  
nor for our sins are pricked wit woe.  
The skies also with misty clouds,  
are over cast and gush out tears:  
Whereby the earth hath had great floods, 
The hardness of our ●eares.   
and with their noise have filled our ears,  
The blustering winds do puff and blow,  
they sob, they sigh in raging sort:  
They force high tres to lie full low,  
they tempests stir in every port.  
They range with fury East and West,  
from North to South they also run,  
They know not where to take their rest,  
But beat the air, as Cannon gun.  
The stoutest hearts their faces hide,  
both rich and poor are much dismayed:  
No flesh God's judgement can abide,  
but seek where they may find some aid.  
All living things for help do cry,  
both savage beasts and birds also.  
The worms which in the earth do lie,  
do wish for legs with speed to go,  
The earth doth quake and mountains all,  
both herbs and roots their virtues lose,  
Great towers long flat down do fall,  
and odours sweet do leave the Rose.  
Dame Nature in her fury strong,  
receives a curse and gins to quail,  
Her forces all do lie along,  
whereby all things their virtues fail.  
The Angels all, 
The Angels wait the coming of the ●●rd,  with Saints most blest,  
the Cherub and the Seraphin,  
All sinners that have life possessed,  
both quick and dead that erst have been.  
Assembled are, and dreadfully,  
with terror great our Lord expect:  
And wait his coming from on high,  
for then each thing shall be perfect.  
Behold both heaven and earth do bow,  
behold thev down and prostrate fall:  
Behold jehovah cometh now,  
all flesh before him for to call.  
In glory cometh he and state,  
his trumpets through the earth do sound▪  
All sinners suddenly t'awake,  
in every coast that may be found.  
In air most fiery floods appear,  
wherein he comes most gloriously:  
Which sight the mountains great do fear,  
and melt down flat, which were on high.  
The seas eke tremble at his sight,  
and dried are, most strange to see:  
Whose waves did seem in sand most bright  
but now bare sands there only be:  
The craggy rocks are turned to dust,  
his furious wrath none can abide,  
God still will favour all the just,  
but sinners seek themselves to hide:  
Ocursed soul how art thou vexed?  
how art thou choked with woeful care?  
How dost thou quake when as the text,  
of sin doth will thee to beware.  
When all these dreadful sights appear,  
before thine eyes, and are at hand:  
How doth thine heart then shake and fear,  
how dost thou care to fly the land:  
Thy body now doth rise also,  
like grisly ghost from out the grave,  
And in the same thy soul must go.  
and with the same due pains must have.  
Before thee sits a judge severe, 
The Lord sitteth in judgement,   
whose wrathful rage thou must abide▪  
Behind thee Spirits they soul to tear,  
accusers eke on every side.  
Above thee hangs a dreadful sword,  
to cut thy body to the pot:  
Which is of God the mighty word,  
but woe to thee that hath this lot.  
Below the fiery pot doth stand,  
which filled is with boiling lead:  
And will consume both heart and hand,  
and every limb from foot to head.  
Most filthy brimstone is the fuel,  
th●t makes the lead like burning fire:  
Of wicked men this is the jewel,  
of damned souls the perfect hire. 
The reward for the wicked.   
Yet worse than this remains behind,  
their hope is passed of all redress:  
For dying still themselves they find,  
yet live they must a time endless.  
Behold, thou canst no mercy win,  
behold thy foes have thee beset:  
Behold, thy soul condemned for sin,  
in St●gian lake must pay thy debt.  
O doleful doom, of sin the meed,  
O wretched soul, that dost repent:  
But too too late, thus do we read,  
for time of grace is past and spent.  
Wherefore in vain, thou now dost cry,  
with Dives that is vexed in hell:  
Thy birth, thy life thou dost defy,  
because with devils thou must dwell.  
Which rave with rage, which firebrands cast,  
which room, which run, still in their kind,  
Which only fiery trumpets blast,  
this is the joy which sinners find.   

Of the felicities of heaven.  
But come, behold the joyful place,  
behold the comfort of the same:  
Behold, where Saints, and souls of grace,  
all joy possess, quite void of blame.  
Behold, who can conceive in heart,  
behold, what tongue can else express:  
What pen can well descry in part,  
the wondrous joys of heaven bless,  
Where Angels bright with Christ do reign  
where honours hie do flourish still, 
The comfort of the Godly.   
Where darkness all is banished clean,  
where all things have their wished will,  
Where heat nor cold do once oppress,  
where thirst and hunger have no place:  
Where pain and sorrow always cease,  
where love and peace have all their grace.  
Where heaviness is turned to joy,  
where all conceits do comfort bring,  
Where nothing is that breeds annoy,  
where perfect bliss doth always spring.  
O caitiff wight this place behold,  
which doth surmount the reach of thought  
Whose gates are framed of finest gold,  
whose walls of diamonds clear are wrought.  
Behold the city, where it stands,  
whose pavements are of pearl fine,  
Whose springs brings comfort to all lands,  
for still they run with oil and wine.  
There all things bathe in joyful bless.  
There milk and honey do abound:  
There all men have chief happiness,  
there music hath her sweetest sound:  
The lamb of God is there inthroand,  
in chair of state shining most bright:  
Which all the wicked doth confound,  
and brings the godly to his light.  
The light is such, as would obscure,  
both Sun and Moon, if they were there:  
And so for ever will endure,  
most happy he that is his heir:  
There flows a pleasant silver stream,  
wherein the life of man doth run.  
Which glittereth as fair Titan's beam,  
yea much more bright than is the Sun.  
There grows a tree on either side,  
which saving health and comfort brings:  
Whereby in peace we always bide,  
and from the same all mercy springs.  
The ●ap thereof doth justice nurse,  
the leaves as relics left behind:  
Do still maintain each Christians purse,  
whose souls in fine our Lord doth find.  
The blossoms of the same do cease  
all worldly strife, even in one hour:  
The seeds thereof bring heavens bless,  
the fruits do show Gods mighty power▪  
No time can well consume the bark,  
it stronger is, than time can waste,  
The substance eke appears so sta●ke,  
that death it doth subdue at last.   

The Song of the Angels, and of all the Saints of God.  
A Famous Choir there is also,  
whose godly songs do sound most sweet,  
Sanctus, Sanctus, and Lans Deo,  
thus in their harmony they meet.  
The finger's Angels, are most bright,  
the Cherub and the Seraphin:  
The holy Saints are eke in sight,  
and all consent in well tuning.  
Most happy he yea ten times blest,  
amongst these Saints that bears a part:  
In heavens high sure is his rest,  
and hath all joy placed in his heart,  
There is also a pleas●nt field,  
wherein all virtues flourish still,  
Their humbleness, which oft doth yield  
and patience that gets good will.  
Fideli●y there eke doth reign,  
with her is joined Dame Prudence grave,  
Good government for to maintain,  
whereby at last good rest we have.  
There Sapience sage, with Modesty,  
there faithful Love doth come in place:  
There Friendship dear with courtesy,  
which favour wins without disgrace.  
There Probity herself doth stay,  
a virtue rare I you assure▪  
There Piety remains always,  
which bringeth blisle which will endure▪  
There Summum bonum shall we find,  
the strongest Anchor of our hope:  
There chiefest treasures for mankind,  
there of all bliss the only scope,  
This summum bonum is the well,  
whence godly virtues all do spring,  
Wherein each faithful seeks to dwell,  
and there with gladsome joy to sing:  
O Fountain clear! O blessed spring,  
whereby all virtues flourish still:  
Most happy he in every thing,  
that virtue loves and ever will.  
By virtue honours here we have,  
By virtue, faithful hearts we win:  
By virtue clean we are and brave,  
by virtue purged of all our sin:  
Wherefore lets all with might and main,  
Embrace the course of virtues lore:  
That we in bliss with Christ may reign,  
where virtues spring for evermore.  
O famous place that doth excel,  
that doth all earthly bliss surmount:  
Where Saints and Angels only dwell,  
whose pleasant joys no man can count.  
Each saint is higher in his place,  
and brighter also in our sight:  
Then Sun or Moon, whose glittering grace  
our eyes refuse, they are so bright.  
What glory there, where glory is▪  
and doth in highest state abound:  
Thrice happy he that can see this,  
most blessed they that have it found.  
Here patriarchs and Prophets all,  
here godly martyrs wear the crown:  
Here Virgins pure are freed from thrall,  
here sacred Saints have all renown.  
Here senses all are fully fed.  
with their delights in highest degree:  
1. Here music seeks to fill thy head,  
with sound as sweet, as sweet may be.  
2. Most fragrant smells here eke abound,  
to please thy nostrils in their kind:  
3. Here tastes most sweet are also found,  
to please thy palate: yet behind  
4. Surpassing sights here are also,  
as objects for thy Crystal eyes:  
5. More perfect feeling than we know,  
here eke remains by destinies.  
O glorious God that hast assigned,  
these pleasures all, us to content!  
Inspire our hearts, that thou mayst find  
our souls with thee still to consent.  
What greater joys can be expressed,  
what sweeter bliss, what pleasure more:  
Can be conceived in humane breast,  
than here have been rehearsed before,  
Yet more than all is ouer●ast,  
which one is all I dare well say:  
For fa●e to face we shall at ●●st,  
Our Saviour sweet, see night and day,  
And joy in him with perfect bl●sse:  
and live with him, that death hath s●aine,  
In love and peace which are endless  
and never touched with woe or pain,  
No goo● can be but there is found:  
no good without him is possessed:  
All best delights do there abound,  
each fight doth yield a perfect rest.  
The Angels there most glorious are,  
then humane eyes can well behold:  
More bright they shine then any star,  
and still God's mercies they unfold: 
●he Angel's show ●he mercy's ●f God,   
What place more stately can there be,  
for greatest Princes to enjoy:  
Then follow heirs with him to be,  
that grants all bliss without annoy,  
Behold the time, which once hath been,  
behold the time, which present is:  
Behold also each future thing,  
most plain are there with God in bliss.  
O knowledge deep, O heavenly light,  
O sense most clear, that so can reach,  
That so can bring all things in sight,  
and so all saints and Angels teach,  
O blessed state, where malice sleeps,  
no one is here of base degree:  
O glorious Lord, that Princes keeps,  
his loyal servants for to be!  
O seat of joy! O s●e of bliss!  
O happy house of all pleasures!  
O state which never doth amiss,  
O blessed place, which so endures!  
O place which yieldeth all contents,  
O place which never wrack sustains!  
O place which need ne lands, ne rents!  
O place which still in bliss remains!  
O wondrous place of all the best!  
O place which endless comfort brings!  
O place of joy and quiet rest!  
O place whence chiefest goodness springs!  
O place, the nurse of love and peace!  
O place the fountain of all faith!  
O place where strife and discord cease!  
O only place of life and breath!  
O glorious Lord that there doth reign!  
and only giver of all bliss.  
O happy we, if we maintain,  
and keep his laws in righteousness:  
O happy we, to whom the light,  
and knowledge of his word is brought▪  
O happy we, that live in sight,  
of such a Lord in word and thought.  
O happy all that do embrace  
this famous Lord in word and deed:  
For they shall comfort get, and grace,  
and on his Manna shall they feed.  
O Manna sent from God above!  
O, Manna sweet that bringeth bliss!  
O only food of godly love,  
that mends all things that are amiss.  
O heavenly jewel of all the best!  
O pearl passing glittering gold!  
Wherein all Christian souls do rest,  
and with all joy the same behold.  
No difference there of persons is,  
Each one doth live in like degree:  
Each one possesseth heavens bliss,  
all face to face our Lord do see,  
O man to thee now must I call,  
the end where first I did begin,  
That joys, that bliss, that pain and thrall.  
may keep thy soul and mind from sin.  
Thy heart will melt on them to think,  
if any grace in thee remain,  
And from all filthy sinful sink,  
thy heart and hand thou wilt refrain.  
Vain pleasure all, then wilt thou scorn,  
when heavens bliss thou dost behold:  
For they with damned spirits are torn,  
that make a treasure of their gold.  
When grie●ly death doth the assault,  
it is too late for to amend:  
Wherefore in time confess thy fault,  
and God to please see thou intent.  
For when this li●e is gone and passed, 
There is no remedy for sin after death.   
there is no cure for any sin:  
Then as we are, so shall we last,  
in joy, or pain as we begin.  
Wherefore thy life see so thou frame,  
that it may please our Saviour sweet:  
And always praise his holy name,  
than thou in bliss shalt Angels meet.  
And with them ever shalt thou be,  
all peace, all joy, with them shalt have,  
Surpassing pleasures still shalt see,  
and nothing ever need to crave.  
Which blessed place none can possess, 
The end of 〈…〉 the first entrance to eternal bliss   
till from this sinful life they go:  
None to the same can have access,  
unless in godliness they flow.  
FINIS.    

A PRAYER TO ESCHVE worldly vanities.  
FOr as much (O bountiful jesus and most sweet saviour of mankind) the frailty of our corrupted flesh is still more ready to yield to the vain allurements of this wicked world, and fond fancies of this wretched vale, then to the sweet and comfortable persuasions of thy constant word revealed in the holy Gospel, the food of our souls, the bread of our lives, and the strength of our salvation: I most humbly beseech thee, even in the bowels of thy tender mercies, to turn thy favourable countenance towards me, & so pour in me the dew of thy heavenly grace, that I may even hate and eschew the vain inventions and fond pleasures of this loathsome labyrinth, & walk in the ways of the godly, according to thy holy laws & commandments. Be thou (O merciful God) my strong castle and refuge, against the wicked assaults, and most filthy temptations of Satan, and all his hellish host; for they secretly dig pits for my soul, and seek continually to entrap the same in the snares of eternal damnation, and leave nothing unattempted that may work my most miserable destruction. Wherefore, o most sweet and tender Father, so mortify old Adam in my fond affections, that despising the uncertainty & frailty of this momentaneous life, I may not delight myself in the joys of any earthly pleasures, or look for any comfort of this present life, but withdraw my mind and soul from things of fickle stay, & to fix my heart to solace and delights, upon the hope of beholding the majesty and beauty of they glory, wherein joy shall be full, and nothing wanting for ever. Grant, O blessed God and most merciful Father, that art the mighty monarch of heaven and earth, and only giver of all goodness, that my soul may as a Dove speedily fly unto the sweet bosom of thy dear son, and there with him receive the happy rest, which he by shedding of his preeious blood hath purchased and prepared for the same, to whom with the father and the holy Ghost be all glory, praise▪ dominion and power for ever and ever. Amen.   

A Prayer to escape the calamities of hell.  
BEholding with the eyes of my heart, O blessed Lord, the cruel torments, and dreadful terrors of the pit of hell, which thou hast appointed to be a just guerdon for sin, and a fit punishment for such as forsake thee, and daily seek by infidelity to dishonour thee; and knowing that if thou shouldest deal with me according to thy justice, I should receive nothing but death and damnanation; I here prostrating myself before thy divine Majesty, most humbly beseech thee of thy gracious favour to cast down the eyes of Mercy upon me, to pardon my sins, to forgive mine offences, and to renew thy holy Spirit in me, that I may so pass my time in this life, that through thy grace & favour, I may never wander in the most filthy streets of eternal death and destruction, but for ever escape the dangerous and stinking gulf of hellish calamities, and damnation, Consider (O Lord) consider I beseech thee, the weakness and frailty of my sinful flesh, and according to the multitude of thy mercies receive my soul into thy favour, and put all my wickedness out of thy remembrance. Cleanse me, O sweet Saviour, and so shall I be cleansed, and made whiter than the snow in thy sight. Strengthen me, O God, strengthen me, that the gates of hell prevail not against me; neither let Satan, death or hell ever have power to triumph over me, but let me that am thine, be thine still, and be thou mine. Grant this, O most victorious & triumphant Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake, and for thy dear sons sake, our only mediator and Advocate, Amen.   

A Prayer to attain heavenly felicities.  
THis world (O Lord) is a dungeon of darkness, a mountain of miserable martyrdoms, a lewd labyrinth of loathsome lusts, a cankered course of choking calamities, a place of all vanities, quite void of all virtues. Wherefore, make me strong, O sweet Saviour, to walk upright in this wretched wilderness, and arm me blessed Lord with thy holy armour: let me have, O tender Father, thy righteousness for my breastplate, a lively faith in thee for my target, a firm hope of thy mercies, for my helmet; and the true knowledge of thy word for my banner; so that I may be strong against all the fond allurements, vain fancies, and most wicked assaults of the world, the flesh and devil, the mortal enemies both of my body and soul; and after the end of this frail life, I may participate with thee and thy holy Angels, the perfect joys of heavenly felicities in eternal life, but feeling the heavy burden of my sin, and calling to memory the grievous punishment which thou hast often time laid upon sin, as when thou didst send fire upon Sodom, and Gomorrha for sin, when thou didst cast forth Adam out of Paradise for sin, when thou didst harden the heart of Pharaoh for sin, when thou didst cast Lucifer forth out of heaven into utter darkness for sin; yea, when thou didst persecute Solomon in himself & his posterity, with David thy own servant, and many others to our example, & all for shameful sin. O Christ most merciful, I beseech thee, that art the lamb of God, and takest away the sins of the world, to blot out all mine iniquities, which I confess O Lord to be more than all theirs; & let not mine offences be witnesses against me in the great day, for than I know that both death and everlasting damnation shall be my reward: Wherefore I beseech thee, O most mighty God, and merciful Father, that the pitiful passion of thy dear son, may be a sufficient ransom for all my sins, & a full satisfaction for all mine offences. Grant me, O Lord, thy holy spirit, & of thy loving kindness turn thy favourable countenance towards me, that I may for ever in all my thoughts, words and deeds, praise & glorify thy holy name, & after this life attain the felicities and joys of thy blessed kingdom, and there with thee to reign eternallly. To whom with the father, the son, and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen▪   

Sweet and comfortable Flowers for soul and body.  

Avarice.  
THe chariot of Avarice is carried upon four wheels of vices, which are, Faint courage, Inhumanity, contempt of God, and forgetfulness of death.  
The two horses that draw the same, 
Ba●nard  are ravin, and Niggardship: to them both is but one Carter, which is, a desire to have; the whip which the carter useth, hath two cords and they are, a greedy mind to get, and a fearful heart to forego.  
As hell and perdition are never filled, even so the mind of a covetous person is never contented. 
Solomon,   
Riches hastily gotten shall soon diminish, but that which by honest travel is by little and little gathered, shall daily increase, and continue long.  
He that maketh haste to be rich, and beareth envy to others, little knoweth how soon pinching necessity shall summon him to the base court of poverty.  
Endless woe is the reward of him, that greedily doth gather to maintain his house, that his nest may stand on high, and thinketh to escape the great stroke of vengeance.  
The covetous person never taketh rest, for in this life his mind is vexed, and his soul shall ever burn in the fiery lake of eternal perdition.  
O with what difficulty shall they that are in love with money enter into the kingdom of heaven! Verily I say unto you, more easy is it for a Camel to pass through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.  
Such as be rich, or covet much wealth, shall no doubt into most wicked temptations, and are taken in the s●ares of the devil, yea by greedy and unlawful desires are drowned in the stinking gulf of sempiternal death & damnation.  
Poverty lacketh many things, 
Seneca.  covetousness all things: the niggard ●o no man is good, ●ut to himself worst.  
Money is a servant and drudge to a wise man, but to a fool a Lady and Mistress.  
Inordinate desire of riches and rule, 
Sallust.  is the only fountain whence springeth all mischief, for covetous appetite subverteth credit, honesty, humility, clemency, patience, & benignity, with all other virtues.  
Riches to a wicked man are instruments of mischief.  
As the fire ever desireth more fuel, that it may consume it, even so a man that is covetous craveth more wealth, that he may hoard it, the fire to his comfort, because it is thereby maintained, but the man to his misery, be-because he is thereby damned.  
Riches to the virtuous and godly that use them well, are a token of the sweet mercies & favour of God, but to the wicked that abuse them, a perfect sign of their reprobation, & loss of God's love towards them.   

Ambition.  
THe Devil did fall only because he would rather be a prince, than a subject.  
An aspiring mind never enjoyeth quietness.  
He that desireth to be above others, often times falleth; and is set with the lowest.  
Such as are infected with ambition, & are desirous of honour, must be enforced to possess such treasures only as are unspotted, and clean from all mischief, which may not of any enemy be corrupted, of any friend misliked, nor of any man slandered.  
All such as exalt themselves shall surely be daunted and set low.  
Who so liveth in authority, let him weigh in the upright balance of his clear conscience in what sort he came unto it, 
●●egori●.  and coming well unto it, how he ought to live well in it, & to the end he may govern wisely, let him call to remembrance his own infirmity.  
Rule & authority are fit only for men that are both wise and virtuous, for the wicked still seek to destroy, and not to maintain godly and civil government.  
Ambition is a lurking plague, 
Barnard  a secret poison, a subtle mischief, the mother of hypocrisy, the forger of deceit, the nurse of envy, the wellspring of vices, the moth of devotion; the blinder of Arts, making diseases of remedies, and sickness of salves.  
Ambition breaketh the league of godly society, pincheth the purse, stirreth strife, daunteth virtues, and layeth herself open to all vice and wickedness.  
The ambitious man so little regardeth his duty, that he wisheth the death of his own father to enjoy promotion, yea seeketh the subversion of a whole kingdom in hope once to sit in the chair of pomp.   

Abstinence.  
ABstinence is the curer of many maladies in the body, a due corrector of filthy lusts of the flesh and a ready director of the soul to sempiternal felicity.  
By Abstinence thy purse is saved, 
Gregory.  thy body preserved, & thy soul blessed, better is a man patiented then strong, for he that can rule his affections is a great conqueror.  
They that abstain from vice, glorify God and preserve their souls to eternal bliss.  
Nature is content with a little, 
Seneca.  and he that oppresseth her with excess hurteth himself, and displeaseth God.  
They that drink wine in youth, double the flame of carnal desire. 
Solomon.   
Keep thine eyes from vain sights, lest it be carried from thine eyes to thine heart.  
Let not thy conceit embrace the image of lust, for thereby thy heart is stirred to vain folly.  
Yield not to the motions of the flesh, for it poisoneth thy soul, and bringeth thy body to a miserable end.   

Adversity.  
Hid thy misfortune, 
Solomon.  that thine enemy rejoice not at thy fall.  
As the Potter's vessels are tried in the furnace, even so good men are known in adversity.  
Virtuous men find some solace in greatest sorrows. 
Seneca.   
In all thine adversities remember these th●e things: hard things may be mollified, strait things may be loosed, and heavy things by custom are made little or nothing troublesome, to such as bear them handsomely.  
Trouble is cause of patience, patience maketh proof, 
Paul  proof bringeth hope, and hope is never rebuked.  
Coals being in the fire do burn & consume, 
Augustine.  but the gold is tried, the one is turned to ashes, and the other is fined: the forge is the world, good men are the gold, adversities the fire, and God the workman.  
Despair not in adversity, for he that cast thee down, can raise thee up again,  
As our sins provoke the wrath of God whereby we are forced to sustain all calamities, so repentance with amendment of life, restore us to our former prosperities.  
I judge him most miserable that never knew misery: 
Seneca  for good men are tried like fi●● gold, but the wicked are left like dy●tie drosle.  
By many tribulations we shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that hath not taken up his cross and followed Christ, shall not inherit the kingdom of Christ.  
Afflictions and crosses are as necessary for the soul as warm clothes and dainty fare for the body. 
Paul●.   
My child neglect not the punishment of God, because it bringeth thy soul to all eternity  
Blessed is he that patiently taketh that corrections which God layeth upon him. 
Solomon   
Adversities cause good men to be better, make wicked men worse.  
He that never felt adversity is not worthy of prosperity.  
It is better to suffer adversity in this life, & hereafter to enjoy eternal life, than here once to seem to be blessed, and hereafter to be ever cursed.  
Troubles in this life being patiently taken increase solace to life eternal, but being stubbornly borne, and taken as a wrong at the hands of the Almighty, bring all heaviness and sorrow to eternal death.   

Alms deed.  
Alms delivereth thee from sin, 
David  and from death, and will not suffer thy soul to enter into darkness.  
Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy, 
Solomon.  for the Lord will deliver him in the day of trouble.  
He that stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall cry, and God will not hear him  
He that useth alms, offereth sacrifice to the Lord.  
Charity is not perfect, when craving exhorteth it.  
Perfect compassion is to prevent the hungry, before the beggar desire.  
The Alms of the heart is much better than the Alms of the body, for God loveth a cheerful giver.  
As the fiery lake is provided for the niggard, 
Salomo●  even so the joys of heaven are prepared for such as delight in charitable giving.  
The Alms of charity without worldly substance sufficeth, but that which is corporally given without a merciful heart is not sufficient but worse than nothing.  
He that useth Alms doth offer sacrifice to the Lord, 
ecclesiast   
Charity is not perfect when craving exhorteth it.   

Accusation.  
HE that accuseth not the wicked, is condemned with him. 
Augustin●   
It is better that an evil man be accused, then to be suffered to go unpunished. 
Idem,   
The wicked accuse no man because they would go free.   

Arrogancy.  
PRide is the mother of many mischiefs, 
Augustine.  for it nourisheth theft, it maintaineth adultery, it bringeth forth disdain, and causeth men to forget God.  
Pride breedeth idleness, provoketh lust, and leaveth the soul in the filthy puddle of eternal damnation.  
The congregation of proud men shall never prosper.  
He is an arrogant person, and still counted most dissolute, that setteth little by that which good men deem of him.  
An arrogant man heareth not the wholesome counsel of such as are grave, wise and virtuous.   

Apparel.  
THe apparel, laughter, and gate of a man do show to the world what he is. Virtuous conditons are the only brave & laudable ornaments that can set forth any Christian.  
She is not well appareled that is not well mannered.  
She that painteth her face with material colours, putteth out the true picture of god.  
Fowl manners are worse than dirty apparel, 
〈◊〉  but fair conditions surpass vestures of gold.  
As too much sluttishness, and exquisite niceness are detestable vices, so a decent comeliness is a laudable virtue.   

Babbling.  
IN much babbling lacketh no sin, 
Solomon,  but he is wise that can temper his language.  
A babbling enemy shall less annoy thee, than he that is secret.  
One thing often times spoken troubleth the hearer. 
Aristotle,   
So talk with men, as if God did hear thee & so talk with God, as if men did hear thee.   

Battle.  
War ought only to be taken in hand that peace may ensue.  
Such as are oppressed, are forced to use war for their own defence.  
Octavian the Emperor was wont to say, that war should not be stirred without surety, 
Salus●  that the gain should be more than the charges.  
Victory resteth not only in a great army, for the strength of battle cometh from heaven.  
Soberness in a Captain is no less commendable than strength and hardiness.  
A careful soldier is never idle, but always busied in his attempts.   

Boasting.  
LEt a stranger commend thee, & not thine own lips.  
Nothing doth more diminish a man's commendation, 
Solom●n  then much vaunting the success of his acts.   

Beneficence.  
Benefit the godly and thou shalt find recompense, 
Augustine.  & if they cannot requite thee, yet God will remember thee.  
Those benefits are most thankful, which a man findeth ready and are bestowed with out tarrying, 
Seneca.  but only the shame fastness of him that shall take them.   

Charity.  
CHarity is patiented and gentle, and envieth no man▪ If I had faith, in so much, as that I could carry away mountains, 
Paul  yet were I nothing if I lacked Charity.  
If I should distribute all my goods & give them to the poor; and although I gave my body to be burned, having no charity, it nothing availeth me.  
Charity doth nothing amiss, it is not puffed with pride, it is not ambitious, she seeketh not her profit, she is not moved, she thinketh no evil, she rejoiceth not in miss chief, she suffereth all things, she joyeth in truth, she believeth all things, she hopeth well of all things, Charity never faileth.   

Chastity.  
Chastity is the beauty of the soul, 
Augustin●  or of the King's daughter that is abroad.  
Chastity without Charity is like a Lamp without oil.  
Where necessity is laid unto Chastity, where authority is given to Lechery, there virtue is put to exile.  
The absence of women, causeth chastity amongst men.  
A chaste eye showeth an honest mind.   

Constancy.  
Constancy doth surely perform the thing determined.  
He that is constant, ●eeleth neither trouble nor heaviness.  
Constancy keepeth and still preserveth things well gotten, but goods evil gotten never continue long.   

Carnal Appetite.  
Carnal appetite leaveth behind her more cause of repentance, then of remembrance. filthy lust will have no affinity with virtue.  
The fleshly mind is never satisfied.  
A carnal woman ever wisheth without contentment.  
Carnal appetite dulleth the wit, dimmeth the eyes, letteth good counsel, spoileth the mind, and with virtue will have no meddling.  
Heshly lust consumeth the body, and damneth the soul.   

Confession  
COnfession is the only remedy for sin. 
augustine,  The vengeance of God ceaseth, where man's confession timely preventeth.  
Confession is the life of a sinner, the glory of good men, to all offenders necessary, and not inconvenient to the godly.  
Confession is the confounder of vices, the cleanser of souls, 
Augustine.  the restorer of virtues, the vanquisher of devils: what will you more? It stoppeth hell's mouth, and setteth wide open the gates of Parad●ce▪   

Discord.  
IF they which make peace, 
Hierome.  be called the children of God, without doubt the disturbors of peace be the children of Satan.  
Discord is the root of all confusion, 
gregory,  & the spring of desolation.  
Discord is an enemy to nature, and a shortener of the life of man.  
They that sustain one part of the city, 
Cicero  & neglect the other, low the wicked seeds of sedition and discord.  
By concord small things are made great, but by discord the most greatest are brought to nothing.  
War is soon made, but not quickly discussed, for he is not sure to finish it, 
Sallust,  that first took in hand to begin it.   

Dignity.  
HE is most honourable that disdaineth to erue, or be subject to vices.  
True Nobility consisteth no● of great patrimonies and rich possessions, but of godly & virtuous actions.  
If thou wilt esteem a man truly, & know him plainly, view him naked, and let him lay aside authority, possessions and other fortunes: finally respect not his body, but behold his soul, then shalt thou see what he is of himself, and what he hath of others   

Dolours.  
THere is no sorrow, but the length of time doth diminish, & make more easy. As a mo●h consumeth a garment, 
Solomon  even so heaviness hurteth the heart of man.  
It is to be considered in all grief and heaviness, that nothing be done unadvisedly, nothing rashly, nothing fearful●ie, nothing desperately, nothing wretchedly, or any thing foolishly.  
Over much sorrow breaketh the heart, and killeth the body.  
sorrows bring solace to the godly, 
Augustine,  but they utterly overthrow & daunt the wicked Sorrows are most necessary to all sinners for they bring amendment of life.   

Doctrine.  
DOctrine is an ornament to the rich and Noble, 
Solomen  but to men without wealth, a happy refuge and succour.  
As fair legs be in vain to a Cripple, so unseemly is Doctrine in the mouths of fools.  
Learning is a treasure which water cannot drown, fire burn, thieves steal, nor dice lose.  
As learning in good men is the armour of virtue, 
Seneca  so in wicked and corrupted persons it is a spur to do mishciefe.  
We teach our children liberal Sciences, no because these Sciences may give any virtue, but because they make the mind apt to receive virtue.  
As the right use of learning adorneth the soul, 
Hieronim.  even so the abuse thereof spoileth both body and soul.   

Diet.  
IN divers meats is occasion of sickness, 
Galen  and greedy feeding is a token of choler. When the sickness is in his force, than sparest diet is best.  
Unclean bodies, and they which be not well purged of superfluous humours, 
Hipocrat  the more you nourish them, the more you hinder them.  
Overmuch evacuation or over much filling of the body is dangerous, for too much of any thing is enemy to Nature.  
To him that is fallen into a distemperance in heat or cold, 
Galen  it is expedient to give him things of contrary qualities.  
stomachs in winter and spring time be hottest, 
Hipocrat,  and sleep then is longest, wherefore in those times, meat should be taken in greatest abundance.  
You must not only remember that contrary things be cured by their contraries, but also consider in every contrary the true dose and quantity.  
V●e moderate exercise, for so shalt thou help Nature.  
Over much ease maketh Nature feeble, that she cannot resolve that which by Ar●e was not purged.   

Drunkenness.  
Drunkenness maketh men seem as beasts, ●o● it depriveth them of reason, and stirreth them to all filthiness.  
The drunken man shall never be rich.  
The Drunkard conso●ndeth Nature, loseth both grace and honour, & runneth headlong into ●uerlasting damnation.   

Envy.  
THe envious man pineth to see the prosperity of his neighbour.  
Envy seeketh daily to subvert the state of the god●ie.  
Envy is blind, & can do nothing but dispraise virtue.  
Envy is an excrement of Satan, which poisoneth the hearts of all such as once touch it.  
Envy cannot endure the virtuous, but seeketh their confusion.  
The envious man wisheth well to no man, but worst to himself, for his filthy conceits drown his soul in the filthy puddle of eternal damnation.   

Faith.  
AS the bodies is dead, wherein is no spirit, even so that faith is dead which bringeth forth no good works.  
By faith we see God, by faith we believe in God, and by faith we have our salvation from God.  
A lively faith is the badge of a perfect christian.  
Let all godly believers, endeavour to excel in good works.  
True Faith confirmeth thy words with works. 
〈◊〉.   
Not the hearers of the Law, be righteous in the sight of God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.  
The Faith of a Chtistian is joined with charity, 
Augustine  and without Charity is the Faith of the Devil.   

Flattery.  
TAle bearers, 
Hierome.  rioters, glozers, & flatterers are more to be abandoned than open enemies.  
Better is the stroke of a faithful friend, than the false kisses of them that flatter thee.  
The best natures soon believe, and by flattering persons are soon destroyed.   

God.  
IN the heart of man be many devices, 
Solomon.  but the will of God never altereth.  
They that fear God will believe his word and such as love him will keep his commandements.  
The eyes of God are more bright than the Sun, for he seethe the secrets of the heart and searcheth the rains.   

G●ace.  
GRace is given for three causes, that the ●aw be fulfilled, that nature be restored, and that we by sin be not subdued. 
Augustine.   
By grace we are freed from the bondage, 
Barnard,  of sin.  
Grace bringeth us to the haven of eternal happiness.  
Without the grace of God no flesh can be saved.   

Humility.  
hVmblenes banisheth pride, winneth love, and bringeth us into the favour of God. 
Augustine.   
As pride pride is the root of all destruction, so humility is the wellspring of etern●ll bliss.  
Pride cast Lucifer into the gulf of damnation, 
Barnard  but by humility we shall attain salvation.  
Suffer not pride to rule thy wit, for than will it spoil thy senses.  
God hateth the proud, but the humble he exalteth.   

Honour.  
Honour's over great, 
plutarch  wherein is pride, or over much stateliness, be suddenly thrown down like high trees in a great tempest.  
Honour-nourisheth cunning, 
●ully,  and with praise men's wits be kindled to study.   

Ignorance.  
IGnorance excuseth not sin.  
The only enemy to knowledge is Ignorance.  
By Ignorance all absurdities are nourished.  
Ignorance is the image of blindness, 
●gustine  the mother of errors, and the Nurse of all folly.   

Ingratitude.  
Evil shall never departed from the house o● him that rendereth an evil turn for a good. 
Sal●mon,   
He that doth all things well cannot be unkind. 
Seneca.   
The hope of a person unthankful shall relent like winter ice, & vanish away, as a sudden flood.   

Idleness.  
Idleness weakeneth, strength, but exercise increaseth the same.  
As rust consumeth iron, 
Seneca.  even so idleness wearieth strength.  
Idleness without learning is death, & the grave of a quick man. 
Hieronim,   
Idleness bringeth beggary, and causeth men with hatred to fall into misery.  
Idleness teacheeth all unhappiness.  
Where Idleness beareth ●way, all virtues decay.   

love.  
Love covereth the multitude of sins. 
Solomon,  Love pleaseth God, and winneth the hearts of men.   

Liberality.  
LIberality consisteth not in the quantity of the thing that is given, 
〈◊〉.  but the manner of the giver, for he giveth according to his abilititie and substance.  
He giveth late, that giveth not till he be asked. 
〈◊〉.   
Liberality is the only means, 
Plutarch  for a prince to advance his honour, and to keep the faithful hearts of his true subjects.  
As the Adamant draweth iron, so liberality winneth the hearts of men.   

Lechery.  
Lechery is an enemy to God, and subverteth all good virtues. 
A●gustine.   
He that delighteth in Lechery, wearieth his body, consumeth his ability, and damneth his soul.  
If we consider the excellent work of God in us, we shall easily perceive how foul & filthy a thing it is to be resolved in lechery, and to live wantonly.  
Lechery hasteneth old age, and withereth the body.   

Malice.  
BY malice a man slayeth his own soul: Malice hurteth them most that do retain it.  
Malice is compassed with no limmites of reason.   

Nobility.  
THe chiefest Nobility before god is, to excel in all virtues. 
Hieroni●●.   
True Nobilitity scorneth to do service to sin  
He that boasteth of his ancestors, 
Chrisosto●  declareth himself not worthy of praise.  
Iphicrates a valiant Captain, 
Sallust.  but the son of a shoemaker, being there with embraided of Hermodius a Noble man borne, answered in this wise: My blood beginneth at me & thy blood of Generosity endeth in thee. The only wellspring of true honour is virtue. 
Osoriu●.    

Obedience.  
IT is a general decree made by mankind to be obedient to kings, 
Augustine,  how much more unto god, which governeth all creatures.  
Better is obedience than Sacrifice.  
If thou wilt be wise, 
Salomo●  be thou ever obedience for it is written, desirest thou wisdom, then keep the commandments, and God will give her unto thee.  
The contempt of superiors is the original fountain of mischief in every public weal. 
Barnard,   
That country is ever well governed, where people well know how to obey.  
Faithful obedience in subjects, maketh loving and kind hearts in Princes.   

Patience.  
BY patience job overcame his wondrous miseries, 
Ambrose,  and afterward enjoyed all wished prosperities.  
He that patiently suffereth the troubles & crosses of this life, 
Augustine.  shall after be endued with all felicity.  
Patience comforteth the heart, quieteth the mind, and best pleaseth God.  
Most happy is he, whom no misery troubleth Patience causeth much peace, and breedeth quietness twixt man and wife.   

poverty.  
BEtter is a little in the fear of God, 
Solom●n  then great treasures with a troubled Spirit.  
The patience of poor men shall surely be rewarded.  
The life of man is not in abundance of wealth, great riches, and high pomp, but in virtue and faith, for he is only rich, that to Godward is rich.  
Be poor in spirit so shalt thou see God, so shalt thou praise God, 
Augustine,  when thou dost good, so shalt thou lay the fault upon thyself when thou dost evil.  
poverty plucketh down the hearts of the proud, and often times bringeth them home to God.  
He that liveth after his own opinion will never be rich: but God will bless him that with his riches praiseth the Lord in doing alms, 
Barnard  and maintaining virtue & godliness.   

Prayer.  
WIth fasting corporal passions are to be cured, 
Hieronim,  with prayer the pestilence of man's mind is to be healed.  
Thy prayer is thy speech unto God, when thou readest, God talketh with thee, & when thou prayest, thou talkest with God.  
By prayer the Niniuits were preserved.  
By prayer jonas was delivered out of the Whale's belly.  
Earnest and fervent prayer doth oftentimes pacify the wrath of God.  
The froward nature of men is by humble pe●ition and prayer rectified.   

Prosperity.  
THe world is more dangerous laughing then lowering.  
Live so in prosperity, as though thou shouldest fall into misery.  
Let not prosperity make thee proud, lest God forsaking thee, thou be plucked into the narrow straits of pinching necessity. 
A●gustine   
When God suffereth evil men to have great prosperity, them his indignation is much more grievous.  
If thou hadst the wisdom of Solomon, 
Hieronim,  the beauty of Absalon, the strength of Samson the long life of Enoch, the riches of Croesus, the power of Octauia●, what can all this avail thee? when finally thy body is given to worms, thy soul unto devils to be with the rich man in pain everlasting.  
Perfect prosperity is the use of virtue. 
Aristotle,    

Promise.  
ALL honest promises are to be performed, 
●ully,  but these are not to be kept which are either compelled by fear, or By craft deceived.  
O the shameful confession of fraud, and the common mischief of man: 
Senec●  more credit is given to men's signets, then to their souls.  
The honesty of men consisteth in the true performance of their promises.   

Quietness.  
THe paeient man enjoyeth most quietness, 
plutarch,  and a quiet mind keepeth the body in temperance.  
It is better to live with a little quietly, then with abundance troublesomlie.  
Quietness maketh a merry heart, 
Seneca,  and a fat body.   

Remembrance.  
IT is good to remember our faults, that we may first repent us of them, 
plato,  and then specdil● amend them.  
There is nothing more comfortable to the heart of man, than the remembrance of sorrows past, in prosperity present. 
●ully    

Reason.  
Nothing in a man is better than reason, for by that he goeth before beasts, 
●ully  and followeth the gods.  
A perfect reason is that good, which properly belongeth to man, all other things are to him common with beasts: For if he be strong, so is the Lion: if fair, so is the Peacock: if swift, so is the horse.  
Reason maketh a man full of felicity: Man by reason killeth the wild Boar, stayeth, yea slayeth the light footed Stag.  
By reason one man governeth another, for the subject by reason is brought to obey the Prince, & the Prince with clemency through reason ruleth the subject and long reigneth over them.   

Riches.  
RIches make place for loss, for such as possess much, must lose much.  
Not Riches, but good deeds shall deliuer●a man from damnation. 
Salomo●   
Riches are the ●ause of sin, 
Paul●  and sin of death. Riches draw men to hurtful desires, an● drown their souls in the gulf of perdition▪   

Sapience.  
THe root of wisdom is to fear God, 
〈◊〉  and the branches thereof be of long life, The ardent desire of wisdom bringeth a man to the everlasting kingdom.  
A wise heart will abstain from evil deeds, and he shall prosper in the works of justice:  
The thoughts of a wise man can not be depraved.  
A wise man is never troubled with the tempests of heaviness.  
Wisdom excelleth strength, & the prudent person, is preferred before the puissant.  
Wisdom is the Nurse of peace, and the mother of all other virtues.   

Sickness.  
Sickness patiently taken, 
Augustine.  is a perfect token of the love and favour of God, for thereby we see our frailty and weakness, and also the omnipotent power of the highest.  
Sickness causeth great men to remember God, and poor men to acknowledge their offences.  
Sickness is more necessary than meat for by the one the body only is maintained, but by the other both body & soul are comforted.   

Silence.  
SIlence to folly is great wisdom:  
Use few words and much wit: 
Pithag.   
Offend rather in silence then in babbling.  
Silence hurteth none, but many words are hated of all men.  
An evil man is sooner vanquished by silence then with answers, 
Chrisostom  and malice sooner stirred with words then reform.  
A man which cannot keep silence, is like a city whose gates stand wide open, wherein the adwersarie entereth at his pleasure.   

Truth.  
Many words commonly scatter truth to nothing. 
H●eronim.   
Truth seeketh not corners. 
D●uid   
All the ways of God are mercy & truth. Time trieth truth, & truth pleaseth God. Let thy tongue ●ee ignorant of lying and swearing, 
Hierome.  and so well see thou love truth, that what soever thou speakest, think that thou swearest the same.  
Truth surmounteth all earthly things, for God himself is very truth. 
Augustine   
Truth floweth from God, as from the only fountain of the same.  
Truth cannot hide itself, for it shineth in darkness, and banisheth the dim clouds of ignorance.  
As Satan is the father of lies, 
Barnard  so is God the author of truth.  
Truth flourisheth amongst the godly, but all such as bear lying lips are banished from that society.  
Let all thy talk be mixed with modesty and truth.   

Virtue.  
V●rtue is godly inclination of the mind to eschew evil, 
plato,  and embrace godliness.  
Virtue is to restrain anger, 
Paul  to mitigate desire, and to refrain carnal pleasures.  
The fruits of the Spirit are, charity, chastity, humility, joyfulness, peace, patience, 
Chrysost,  bountifulness, goodness, long sufferance, saith, temperance, continence and meekness.  
Virtue adorneth thy mind, decketh thy thy soul, 
●ully  and winneth love to thy ●ody.  
Virtue is ever one, with most deep roo●s perfectly planted, and can with no violent means be destroyed.  
It beseemeth virtue to be free from dread, and subject to no servitude.  
Virtue cannot serve, 
Aristotle,  because she is free.   

Virginity.  
VIrginity flourisheth as the green laurel and can by no tempestuous blasts of adversity be quailed. 
Cyptian   
Virginity is sister of Angels, vanquisher of lusts, Princess of Virtue, and possessor of all good things.  
Virginity be●●tifieth the body, 
Augustine  preserveth strength, and leadeth the soul to eternal happiness.  
The woman unmarried, & the Maiden uncorrupted, 
Paul.  think on things pertaining to God, to the intent to be holy in body and soul.  
The servants of Virginity, 
A●brose,  are sobriety, modesty, continency, silence, and lenity.  
Virginity scorneth Pride, banisheth malice, daunteth envy, & embraceth all virtues.  
Virginity is the garland of all Virtues, 
Cyprian  the garden of comfort, and the court of all praise: For there is no godly motion, but she affecteth, no flower of comfort but she possesseth, no earthly praise, but she deserveth.   

Witte.  
A Wise man doth all things by counsel, 
Salomen.  & a fool soon discovereth his folly.  
Wit consisteth in the knowledge of things good and evil. 
●ully.   
Separate them from thee that do craftily flatter thee, and embrace them with kindness that faithfully love thee, 
Socrates.  least ill men have most profit by thee.  
The help of god is not only gotten with wishing, and praying, but by vigilant study, diligent executing, 
Sallust  and wise counseling, all things come to pass.  
Prevent as a wise man the dangers that may fall upon thee. 
plato,   
A wise man foreseeth future mishaps, and suffereth none to afflict him.  
A wise man winneth wealth, 
Democrit,  both to comfort himself, and his posterity, but a fool looseth his patrimony, and can get nothing.  
Witte refuseth hastiness & wrath, 
Socrates,  because they be enemies of counsel.  
Wit governeth affections, and putteth all vices to flight.  
Wit is the gift of God, 
Solomon,  and the brightness thereof banisheth all the dark clouds of ignorance.  
Wit adorneth herself with th' the sweet & pleasant flowers of all virtues, 
Sallust,  she refraineth from sin, and embraceth all godliness, she prepareth us to handsomeness, and teacheth us to eschew the filthy way of beastliness.  
Witte is the mother of patience, the daughter of wisdom, the sister or modesty and temperance, and the careful Nurse of well doing. 
Ambrose,   
FINIS.