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Of Golds Kingdome,
And This Unhelping Age

By Edward Hake

 

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A Speech Intended To Have Bene Made Unto His Kings Majestie, In The Towne Of Windsore, But Not Spoken. 

To The Right Worshipfull His very kind and curteous friend Edward Vaughan Esquire, Deputy Officer of the Office of the Pipe of the Kings Majesties Eschequer.

The Authors Prologue to Such of his Poems in this Booke as Concerne Golds Kingdome.

Three Things Very Grievous to Good Mindes.  

Of True Nobilitie. 

Of The Most Commendable And Honourable Governement Of The City Of London, In The Late Times Of The Sicknesse And Decease Of The Most Gracious And Renowmed Queene Elizabeth.

 No Gold no Goodnesse.

 The Same of this Unhelping Age.

The Same Complaining of his Want of Friends.

Droupe and Die, Looke up and Live.

Of Dissembling Friends.

A Carefull Debtor.

Of One Neere Dead Through Thought. 

The Liberall Mans Expostulation With Golde.

The Golden Swaggerer.

To All Worthy And Well Deserving Souldiers.

Though Wit Be The Woer, Yet Gold Is The Speeder. 

A Sale of Sinne.  

To a Foule and Common Swearer.

To a Common Lyer.  

To An Olde Man Loosely Living. 

Ad Hypocritam.  

Ad Christum.

To the Right Worshipfull and of High Deserving Sir Julius Caesar Knight, One of the Maisters of the Requests to the Kings Majestie.

The Author.

 

 


 

A Speech Intended To Have Bene Made Unto His Kings Majestie, In The Towne Of Windsore, But Not Spoken.

 
Most Gracious and renowmed King, if we your Highnesse subjects of this place, be (for the present) to seeke in what sort to applaud the incomparable blessing of your royall presence: we are most humbly to bessech your Highnesse to impute the same unto two causes: The one, the consideration we have of our owne imperfections, as the same are now to be exposed unto the censure of your Princely perfections: The other, the abundance of our joy which hath so possessed every part of our thoughts, as that thereby we are unable to retaine in our speaking either Methode or Decorum: For it cannot be told (most gracious Soveraigne) with what insatiable power of our minds we do imbrace & entertaine this joyfull time of your Majesties personall repayre into this land, and now particularly to this your Towne and Castell of Windsore: This time I say, most brightsome and cleere, not overcast with any the least cloud of either trouble present, or danger to come: For it may truly be said of your Majesty (and that to the glory of God) as it was sometimes said of Mauricius the godly Romaine Emperour: that true piety and felicity have so met together in your royal person, as that true piety hath forced felicity to be present at all your royall solemnizations whatsoever: And why? surely, because your Majesty hath not onely covered your head with Imperiall Diademe, and invested your person with Royall Ornaments of the Crowne, but hath also adorned your mind with the inestimable Jewels of true Religion and Justice: But what shall I say? Among all the inexplicable blessings which we are now by the goodnesse of God injoy by your Majesty, there is one amongst the rest so full of blessednesse, as that it overreacheth the measure of common comprehension to dilate it in speech: And what is that? Even the knitting togither of your two Kingdomes England and Scotland, which are now so closed in one Harmony as well of Religion, as of their confining borders and agreeing languages, as that (according to the saying of the Prophet) Bone is joyned to Bone, & Joynt to Joynt: Most gracious king, our most beloved Soveraigne, there is one thing that your Majesty may hold as an undoubted certainty: namely this, that you are entred into your rule and raigne over England, with as great conformity of harts of English subjects as ever King or Queene within this Realme. Long may your Highnesse live: Long may the Scepter sway in your Princely hands: And unto the Kind of Kings we bow the knees of our hearts, that he will vouchsafe to graunt unto your Majesty a long, a peaceable, and renowmed Raigne over us.  
I will not take upon me to particularize unto your Majestie the Nature of Englands governement, but generally (under you Princely favour) this thereof may be sayd, that by the most ancient usage of England, the king hath bin accounted to be persona mixta, hoc est, unita cum Sacerdotibus, aunswerable to that of Homer and Aristotle: Suprema potestas antiquitus fuit regia & Sacerdotalis. And for that is holden thereof civilly at this day, it is this: we say that our supreme power is principatus tam regalis quam politicus, the one respecting times of warre, and the other times of peace. And we say also that principatus regalis & politicus paris sunt potentie, sed principatus regalis difficilioris est exercitii & minoris securitatis. But of this as also of the Equity of your Majesties Common lawes of England, and so of the Equity of your high Court of Chauncery with their differences, and therewithall also of Equity in generall as the same is to be used in every humane law, I your Majesties most humble subject, a professor of those Common lawes some certaine yeares past did imploy my labours in writing a plaine & open Treatise thereof in English,which being here contained in this written Volume, if it might stand with your Princely pleasure to vouchsafe your reading of it, I make no doubt but that your Majestie will find sundry things therein not impertinent, no nor yet unnecessary for your Princely perusing: The simplicity of the handling always excepted, for which I must and do most humbly beseech your Majesties gracious pardon.

 

 

 

 

This booke herein mentioned, the Author hath delivered to the Kings Majesty, but not by way of dedication.

After this, there should have followed some private and particular matters on the behalfe of the sayd Towne.  

 

To The Right Worshipfull His very kind and curteous friend Edward Vaughan Esquire, Deputy Officer of the Office of the Pipe of the Kings Majesties Eschequer.

 
GOOD Sir, my occasions staying me so long in London this last vacation, as that according to the bill of Certificat there died about 19 hundreth of the Plague in one weeke: Although I then thought it not fit to imploy that time in any serious Study, yet I was unwilling to passe it wholly over without some exercise of my Pen. Whereupon resorting to a few odde trifles which I had penned about a yeare of two sithens, I added every day for diverse dayes together sundry others unto them. And causing my man to write them out after me, in the end I found the whole thereof to arise unto a proportion of a litle Booke: which (thus written as it is) I send unto you, as a token of my assured goodwill, being ready from time to time to expresse the same by better meanes as I shall be enabled thereunto. And whereas in one or two places of the booke I have made mention of outragious fees, let that light where it will: As for you, you are knowne to be a giver of fees: But an extreame exacter of fees I am perswaded in my heart you never were, nor ever will be. And so with my best wishing unto you, I cease: This First of Januarie 1603.  
Your true and hearty Welwiller, E. Hake.  

 

 


 

 

The Authors Prologue to Such of his Poems in this Booke as Concerne Golds Kingdome.

 

 

Although that Gold can closely creepe

  where th’aire could never come,
  And cause that vice and vertue be
  of equall poise with some,
  Yet noble and true gentle minds
  with Gold will not be won,
  To do the thing that is unjust
  or leave good things undone.
  A proofe hereof me selfe have seene
10 in one that noble is,
  And holdeth place of high respect
  as he will worthy is:
  A poore man with Petition
  annexed to his case
  To him repaires, not having helpe
  of any friend in place:
  Which when he had exhibited,
  although that noble man
  Had great imployments of the State
20 yet marke what followd than:
  Not full two dayes expyrd, before
  the poore man did receave
  An Answer to his full content,
  And thence did take his leave,
  Not rendring gifts to any one
  nor Secretaries fees,
  But hasting home unto his Hive,
  rejoyced with his Bees.
  A yeare thence after, troubles came
30 about that passed gift,
  As that some sought to frustrate it
  by friends or fained shift.
  The poore man for his helpe againe
  preferreth his complaint,
  And by his onely writing doth
  that Lord therewith acquaint,
  Himselfe unable through disease
  in person to be seene.
  This noble man, as if the case
40 had then like present bene,
  What he had passed carst before,
  Confirmes with greater force:
  Right noble surely was this deed
  and full of true remorse.
  Yea, as before, no peny went
  out of the poore mans purse,
  So now againe, no peny he
  to any did disburse.
  Patron to pupils is that Lord,
50 (so doth his office lie)
  Amongst whose vertuous deedses this one,
  the poore mans case did try.
  And sith that I an Actor was,
  to pen that poore mans case,
  I therefore write it as a note
  of vertue in that place.
  The rather, for because this Age
  unhelping is, and why?
  Few men will helpe in cases where
60 they see no profit lie.
  So that to speake what I conceive,
  I feare, no Gold, no Good,
  No, not perhaps for such as have
  adventured their bloud.
  And for the man at home, who hath
  of good deserving bene,
  Nor workes nor worth can him advance
  if Gold come not betweene:
  For now, as good to beate the ayre
70 as fill the eares of some
  Who Sutes preferre: Nay, fill their hands,
  else looke to find them Mum.
  Yet write I not with mind to touch
  men of superiour place:
  Nor do I know particulers
  that any should deface.
  Many complaine and many cry:
  God knoweth where the fault doth lie.



 

 

Three Things Very Grievous to Good Mindes.

 

 

Three things there are that breed much griefe,

  And discontent of mind:
  The worlds mishaps, untrust of friends,
 

The third, that Gold doth bind,

 

  Nay binde and loose, though not with all,
  yet greatly with the most:
  And for the first of these three things,
 

what man on earth can boast

 

 

That he hath past his dayes in peace,

10 not crost with worlds missehap?
  Not one I thinke, though best men most
 

doe taste of sorrowes sap.

 

  The King hath cares to crosse his joyes,
  home strifes to crosse his peace,
  And traytrous harts conspire his hurts,
 

while Subjects loves increase.

 

 

If pleasures for his health he take,

  what interruptions are
  Unto his pleasures and disportes
20 by suites, that breeds his care
 

 

In causes of his Subjects states,

  perhaps their lives and lands:
  The strong doth still oppresse the weake,
  the help’s in Princes hands.
 

 

Yea day by day occasions rise

  of common wealthes redresse,
  And day by day abuses grow,
  which Princes should suppresse.
 

 

And yet if Princes should not have

30 their pleasures and delight.
  Alas, alas, what were their case?
  of all men worst in sight:
 

 

Onely the King that feareth God,

  and seekes to spread his prayse
  Shall have his seat and State securde,
  his soule shall see good daies.
 

 

Then if the King in this worlds course,

  where all men him obay,
  Findes worlds unrest, of lower States
40 how firme can be the stay?
 

 

Next for the faith and trust of friends,

  where is the friend whose faith
  As well in hard as happy state
  in friendship firmly stayth?
 

 

Swallowes men are, whose Sommers glee

  retaines in friendships band,
  And Winters woes drive cleane away:
  So doth mens friendship stand.
 

 

Examples hereof infinite

50 the world doth dayly show,
  And how mens loves are wrongly plac’d
 

and from wrong causes grow:

 

 

For were true vertue their loves cause,

  then what could it remove?
  No, no; tis gaine, or vaine respect,
  that most where causeth love:
 

 

The rich holds friendship with the rich,

  the lecher with his like,
  And pot-companions with their mates
60 great league of friendship strike.
 

 

Blind Zeale also to maintaine Sects,

  and to impugne the truth,
  Doth lincke it selfe in friendships bands:
  but what thereof ensu’th:
 

 

Disturbance of the Churches peace,

  contempt of King and law,
  And all that with such friends is found,
  is onely to withdrawe
 

 

From uniforme consent of faith,

70 and from true serving God:
  O, out, alas, what love is this?
  Such league from love is od.
 

 

The third and last is sway of Gold,

  which so still hinders all
  That to the well deserving man
  should for his Guerdon fall,
 

 

As that no gifts of learning, nor

  of skill which in him are,
  Can do him good, because perhaps
80 his state is something bare.
 

 

Fayre speach and sugred words are rife,

  but if thy state be poore,
  While others prease and come in place,
  looke thou to stand at doore.
 

 

Ist office that thou seekest friend?

  why offices are bought:
  An Office is a Nemo scit,
  and should it come for nought?
 

 

But be it small or great that thou

90 doest labour to obstaine:
  Assure thy selfe that if there be
  therein a sent of gaine,
 

 

Though nere so small, and yet perhaps

  the matter full of toyle,
  Unlese with gifts thou get thee friends,
  be sure to catch the foyle:
 

 

For if thou stand upon desert,

  though maist put up thy pipes:
  There is a fellow calde Giffe Gaffe,
100 that in such cases gripes.
 

 

And so we see that Gold and gifts,

  In suttes must doe the deede,
  And how that no man for desert
  of any thing can speede.
 

 

Audacious proud, and flattering mates

  I graunt you may doe much;
  And many things of good respect
  are oft bestowd on such.
 

 

Againe, we see that some there are,

110 who willingly are led
  By men of slender gifts: And why?
  because by them are fed
 

 

The humors whereunto they be

  enclined, and most what
  For that they please them with delights,
  and servile are to that.
 

 

And sooner will they give to those,

  Then unto men of price.
  If such one aske, he straight way speedes,
120 and hath it with a trice.
 

 

But if I should runne over all

  that might be said in this,
  How Gold hath Soveraigne power in sutes,
  and chiefe effecter is
 

 

Of mens desires, and that desert

  (as of it selfe) shall fayle,
  I might imploy much speech therein,
  And little should prevaile:
 

 

For howsoever men of place

130 and honour are enclinde
  To further and promote a man
  that is of honest mind,
 

 

Yet are the meanes so difficult

  that must be made to such,
  And favorites so many that
  therein doth looke for much,
 

 

As that a man farre better were

  to live with bread and grew,
  Then with a thrid-bare purse to seecke
140 or for preferment sew.
 

 

And so I end my dolefull song

  of threefold griefe and paine,
 

As worlds unrest, next friends untrust,

  the third, that all’s for gaine.

 


 

 

Of True Nobilitie.

 

 

Of true Nobilitie doe we enquire?

  Tis that that doth excell the common sort
  In vertuous Actes whereto it doth aspire,
  And shewes it selfe abroad with noble port:
  For noble port must shew the noble State,
  It fits not Noble minds to be at common rate
 

 

But what for that? doth Noble therefore wrong?

  Doth he oppresse or seeke a common hurt,
  Whereby to raise himselfe or make him strong?
10 No fye, the Noble reckons that as durt:
  For as the world is cheered by the Sunne,
  So from true Noble comforts daily runne.
 

 

Doth Countries service call the Noble forth?

  Most what he is prepared for the same,
  For that’s a meane to shew his noble worth:
  And that accomplisht wins him noble fame.
  To God, to King, and Countrey is he chargde
  To see the Honour of them all enlargde.
 

 

Is noble neere the King? who else should be?

20 Then nobly doth he service to his Grace,
  As both his honour and his safety to foresee,
  For which his eyes are open in each place,
  Detracting none that are of good desart,
  But helping all out of a noble hart:
 

 

And chiefly unto suters doth he show

  A noble affabilitie, and why?
  Because from Prince, as from a spring doth flow
  The Subjects helpe, which helples else might lye:
  Then if this Noble keepe poore suters backe,
30 Unnobly doth he cause poore suters wracke,
 

 

And to proceed, doth he in Countrey dwell?

  No partie factions doth he there support,
  Much lesse, prepareth plots how to rebell,
  Nor graceth any of suspected sort.
  But honours law, and Judges doth assist,
  And makes not law to serve him as he list.

 



 

Of The Most Commendable And Honourable Governement Of The City Of London, In The Late Times Of The Sicknesse And Decease Of The Most Gracious And Renowmed Queene Elizabeth.

 

 

Feare, horror, trembling, and dismay of heart

  Were each where seene upon reports that went
  That our late Queene lay sicke. O dreadfull smart
  Redoubled still as new reports were sent.
  Most men to flit and chaunge their soiles were bent,
  But where to seate or where to be secure,
  Alas, alas, no casting could procure.
 

 

The upland man, thought safest in the Towne,

  The townes man thought him best that was at large,
10 And he that earst sate warme in long furd gowne,
  Could well have brookt the steering of a barge.
  Not one of other then would take the charge,
  But each suspecting other, all dismayd,
  Not for defence, but for destruction stayd.
 

 

O London then (to thy stil lasting fame)

  So prudently thy Governement was set,
  As that how ever newes then went and came,
  Nought could thy grave foresight or compasse let
  Wisedome and courage so in thee were met,
20 As that the Peacefull had his quiet rest,
  And few men feard that they should be opprest.
 

 

No troupes by day nor lurkings in the night

  Could gather head, but streight they were descryde:
  Each officer so held his course aright,
  As that no doubtfull person durst abide.
  And for the care that was at water-side,
  It was to all great joy to understand
  What rules were there for setting men on land.
 

 

In fine, when certainty of death was knowne

30 Of her our Queene, did hurly burly rise?
  No none at all: A bud then straight way blowne
  On selfe same Stalke did London well suffice
  To measure all things with an upright Size.
  The keyes were kept for him who did succeed,
  And nought was heard that discrepance might breed.
 

 

Then I as one partaker of that Good,

  Who with my wife and family did stay
  Within the City where I understood
  Th’ occurrents of those times and Cities sway,
40 Found cause of sweete content whereas I lay,
  Observing there the orders of that place,
  Which with my heart I highly did imbrace.

 


 

 

No Gold no Goodnesse.

 

 

O Gold that goest in and out,




  That rul’st and raignest at thy will,
  O thou that bringest things about,
  Why art thou absent from us still?
  But O our God, O where art thou
  That suffrest Gold to conquer now?
 

 

Your earthly men who unto men

  Nought give where you can nothing take,
  I speake to you, regard me then,
10 Your Gold and Goods your God you make:
  For whereas Gold is, you are won,
  But where Gold is not, you have done.
 

 

Be honest, learned, skilfull, wise,

  Be what thou canst, if Gold thou want,
  Thou maist lie still, thou shalt not rise,
  For nothing proves where Gold is skant:
  For Gold it is that doth the deed,
  But nothing prospers where is need.
 

 

What, shall I then lie downe and die?

20 Alas I cannot when I would:
  Or shall I sit me downe and crie
  And with my teares my griefe unfold?
  Lament and crie, do what thou wilt,
  Thy cause is lost for lacke of Gilt.
 

 

Yet say I not that all men looke

  To be rewarded for their deed:
  But this I say, that few men brooke
  To helpe a man that is in need:
  For though he write with Homers inke,
30 Yet go he shall before he drinke.

 


 

 

The Same of this Unhelping Age.

 

 

Where is the man on whom thou mayst depend

  To worke thy good or to assist thee so,
  As by his helpe thou mayst thy state amend,
  (Though by thy owne desert?) Not one I tro.
  In words theile give thee (yea) In deeds still (No)
  My selfe have had the proofe with men of choise,
  Who wisht me ever well, but all in voyce:
 

 

For when it came to proofe, to write or speake

  In matters which themselves thought good and right,
10 Good Lord, how were those friends of mine growne weake
  And how small joy tooke they of me the sight?
  If twere a matter for me to endite,
  I could report hereof a tedious Tale
  And yet the morall might be worth the sale:
 

 

But this (in somme) I say and make it knowne,

  That if my case require more helpe then view,
  Except I give, or can, I looke for none:
  For if thou stand upon desert, Adieu:
  Marke well my speech, for thou shalt find it true,
20 This age affoordeth naught but words and wind,
  The rich shall be preferd, The poore shalt stay behind.


 

 

The Same Complaining of his Want of Friends.

 

 

Waking in my bed I wept

  And silently complaind,
  The cares that on me crept
  All hope of sleepe restraind,
  I called on my hap,
  I cried on my chaunce,
  Will none stand in the gap?
  Will none my state advance?
  My woe that never ends,
10 My state that never mends,
 

 

My soule that ever cries,

  All these are but the loome
  That warpeth up my death,
  All these presage my doome,
  The losse of later breath.
  But is there not a Joy
  That worldy Joy excels,
  That helpeth all annoy
  And worldly woe expels?
20 There is no doubt, God graunt it me
  So shall those woes extinguisht be.

 


 

Droupe and Die, Looke up and Live.

 

 

Be drouping N. and die my dearest friend:

  For who regardeth him whose joyes do end?
  Looke up and live, make shew of greatest store:
  If little thou possesse, make shew of more:
  Be modest, simple, bashfull in thy deed,
  Assure thy selfe of nothing thou shalt speed:
  But stout vaunt parler stirring in the State
  Will have his pasage through a Princely Gate.
 

 

Answer.

 

 

Oh God my God, and must it needes be thus?

  Will nothing come by plaine and simple course?
  Must Nature change her selfe and loose her Ius?
  Must humble mind be proud? Nay (which is worse)
  Must vertue servile be to stalcke upon the Stage?
  Ah Lord my God, how grievous in this Age?
  Ile never live to make such fained showes:
  Ile rather live where peace of Conscience growes.
 

 

Natura pauca, opinio multa requitit.


 

 

Of Dissembling Friends.

 

 

Well spake that chosen of the Lord

  Who viewing friends by proofe,
  Compared those that in our woes
  and sorowes stand aloofe,
 

 

To water brookes, whose moysture Heate

  in Sommer dryes to nought
  And winters Frost likewise suckes up
  When helpe thereof is sought.
 

 

Contrariwise, in time of Raine,

  When each small pit is full,
  Then flow they fast and send forth store
  each hollow gappe to gull.

 


 

 

A Carefull Debtor.

 

 

I Live in debt, yet love not to do so,

  I pay no debt, but not because I would not:
  Tis debts disease that breedeth all my woe,
  It kils my heart (alas) because I could not.
  But hence I go to seeke some change of soyle
  Whereby to pay my debt with bodies toyle.

 


 

Of One Neere Dead Through Thought.

 

 

Thought is a secret that doth kill

  And with the dead it selfe doth doth die
  As with his ruine Sampson fill
  Himselfe and all with him perdie,
  And is not my poore case much nye,
  Neere dead through Thought both Thought and I?
 

 

I Thought no Thought could have prevaild

  Against my cheerefull minde,
  But cross with cross hath so assaild,
  That now not so I finde:
  For Thought is come and joy is gone,
  The body pines and death drawes on.

 



 

The Liberall Mans Expostulation With Golde.

 

 

Were my desier to hoord thee in my chist,

  Or wisht I thee to feede my lustfull paunch,
  Or that by thee I might do what I list,
  And into seas of banefull pleasures launch,
  Or were my minde to lash thee out in lawe,
  By brabling suites which all good things withdrawe:
 

 

Then hadst thou (Gold) good cause to shunne my sight.

  And keepe thy presence from my longing eye:
  But sith in seeking thee my Thoughts goe right,
10 Why should’st thou then disdaine my Thoughts to trye?
  Beleeve me as thou list, this is my mind:
  If thou make choyce of me, the poore shall finde
 

 

Not peny helpe or slender almes at doore,

  But pounds of aide, if need shall so require:
  A full reliefe Ile give unto the poore.
  My needy friend shall have his harts desire,
  And ev’ry case that helplesse lyes for Golde
  Shall have my sure support as powre can hold.
 

 

To Booke-men wanting meanes, both hands shall give

20 The unprovided Preacher sound of life
  Shall finde how far my zeale my purse can drive,
  But not to nourish Sects, or maintaine strife.
  In summe, what good so’ere thou Gold canst do,
  My hand shall not withhold my helpe thereto:
  But here I cease, least thou shouldst thinke I woo
  thee with my wordes.



 

The Golden Swaggerer.

 

 

Crownes, Crownes cries Swaggerer: Then healthes are had

  Of soundest liquor that those Crownes can finde,
  It bootes not then to tell him he is mad.
  His heads chiefe care is how himselfe to blinde,
  Great suppers then so soone as he hath dinde:
  And late at night new banquets are preparde,
  So rundell-wise his Crownes he doth discarde,
 

 

Not to advance his state perdy: But how

  To glut himselfe with pleasures long desirde.
  He sowes no seede, though deepe he sets his Plow,
  But downe he sinkes untill his feete be mirde,
  And fast he stickes when he should be retirde:
  Then Gold, what goodnesse hast thou done hereby
  To make him now crie Crux, who crownes did crye?



 

 

To All Worthy And Well Deserving Souldiers.

 

 

True Martial men dispaire not in the times:

  Nobilitie of you must have a care.
  Live still untoucht of infamie and crimes,
  And high Jehove will helpe you where you are.
  Are you the men who never yet would spare
  Nor life, nor lim, for Prince and Countries good?
  You are the men, the men whose losse of blood
  With wounds and skars doth still on you appeare
  Though cloth’d and cover’d with your best aray:
10 But is that all? no, this besides I heare
  That what remaines of life or lim, you say,
  You are content to spend it any way
  At Princes pleasure, speake he but the word.
  Ah good sweet harts, what more can breath afford?
 

 

Write downe your names, your services write downe,

  And say that you devoutely doe remaine
  Prest for the field, and to forsake the Towne,
  If new imployments call you forth againe.
  That being done, then with the same retaine
20 Some one that is true Noble for your aide,
  Upon whose mediation all be laid:
  But let him be like her who sometimes said
  Non ignara Mali, miseris succurrere disco
  So help will come from service or from fisco.

 


 

Though Wit Be The Woer, Yet Gold Is The Speeder.

 

 

Fye Fibbus, fye, now fye upon thee foole,

  What meaning hast thou by thy wooing so?
  Thinkst thou to speed with that thou broughtst fro schoole,
  Or that by Arts thou canst her over go?
  If thou say yea, assure thee ile say no.
  She heares thee speake, but when thy tale is tolde,
  Sheele give thee love as thou canst giver her golde,
  Except that flesh for flesh may hap be solde,
  Then looke to that.



 

 

A Sale of Sinne.

 

 

Bum-braka Lady of slimie Snailes,

  Out skowting still, doth seeke where she can win,
  Then in she drawes her bootie by the tailes,
  And puts foule flesh to flesh in filthie sinne:
  Yet gilt sheele have before they do begin:
  Odamned creature clapt in Sathans hold,
  Who damnes her selfe and many mo for gold
  if Grace come not betweene.




 

To a Foule and Common Swearer.

 

 

Thow swear’st (vile man) as though thou were to pay

  A summe of oathes to Sathan for thy soule,
  Thy tongue and lips that so blaspheme alaay,
  In heiles blacke booke thy judgement do enrowle
  To suffer torments there and endlesse dowle
  For cursed swearing in this mortall life
  Will there have tearing and eternall strife.



 

To a Common Lyer.

 

 

Thy lyes come from thee by the load

  The carriage of them easie is.
  Where so thou makest thine abode,
  Of lyes a man shall hardly misse.
  But wilt thou know what comes of this?
  Though thou speake truth, yet men will cry,
  Beleeve him not, he tels a lye.



 

To An Olde Man Loosely Living.

 

 

Prauus eras paruus, malus et nunc magnus haberis: Esto bonus tandem, non decet esse malum:

 

 

Englished thus.

  Thou lewdly liv’dst a little boy,
  now olde, th’art cald a knave:
  Be good as length , tis too too bad
  so vile a name to have. 
   
   
 

Ad Hypocritam.

 

 

Die mihi, cum Christus tibi sit tam multum in ore. Cur vita Christum (flagitiose) negas?

 

 

Come tell me now, sith in thy mouth,

  of Christ thy words are rife,
  Why dost thou still deny him then
  so lewdly in thy life?
 

 

Ad Christum.

 

 

Tabesco desiderio tua Regna videndi: Hac tu (Christe) tamen da mihi tabe mori.

 

 

I waste with longing Lord

  To see thy kingdomes hie,
  Yet grant me (Christ my God)
  Such wasting death to dye.

 


 

 

To the Right Worshipfull and of High Deserving Sir Julius Caesar Knight, One of the Maisters of the Requests to the Kings Majestie.

 

 

Though griefes arise in men of troubled harts,

  Yet when the same by skill of penne are plaste,
  Petition-like in writing with the parts,
  Good God, how then such Suters griefes do waste,
  As though that then their helpe would come in haste
  But if their Sutes do happen on delay,
  Faint growes the hope whereon their hearts did stay.
 

 

If toylesome paine procure dispatch of Sutes,

 

What plowman taketh greater paines than yea:

10 An open Truth a slaunderous lye confutes,
  So what I write apparently is true:
  And yet (good sir) this sequele may insue,
  Unlesse the Suter do his Sute obtaine,
  Ill words may come for recompence of paine.
 

 

For why it happens oft, that he who sues,

  Because his minde runnes wholly on successe,
  If that he happe to heare contrary newes.
  Then weying no mans travell more or lesse,
  Away he goes with great unthankfulnesse.
20 So thanklesse thoughts and speeches that deprave
  Oft Mediators unto Princes have.
 

 

Alphonsus king of Naples was wont to say of Mediators of Request unto kings and princes, that they are like unto those who having their dwellings in the middle roomes of a house, are besprinckled with urine by those that are above them, and annoyed with filth by those that are belowe them.

 

 

Sic plerunq; Mediatores utrinq; leduntur, sicut vespertilio Laceratur a maribus & avibus.



 

The Author.

 

 

And here my Booke shall have his end

  with my complaint of Gold:
  God graunt that high and holy things
  in sound estate may hold.
 

 

And as the seate of Justice is

  at this day firme and pure,
  So passages unto the same
  may be both plaine and sure,
 

 

Not clogd with shifts and falsities

10 by such as have to deale
  Inferiourly with Justice in
  our English common-weale:
 

 

That Suters may be soone dispatch’d

  before they be opprest
 

With bribes and charges in their sutes

  and so for all the rest,
  That Gold may never beare the sway,
  But that true vertue flourish may.
 

 

FINIS.

 

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Notes

KINGS MAJESTIE: James I of England (1603-25), aka James VI of Scotland (1567-1625), who was named successor to the English throne by his cousin Elizabeth.
Mauricius: Mauritius Tiberius, Roman (Byantine) Emperor (582-602).
Royall Ornaments of the Crowne: the Crown Jewels of England and Scotland are used at the coronation of a new monarch.
dilate: to relate, describe, or set forth at length; to enlarge or expatiate upon (OED).
England and Scotland: James was king of England and Scotland, yet the two countries were not formally united until the Act of Union and the dissolution of Scottish Parliament in 1707.
Bone is joyned to bone, & Joynt to Joynt: Ezek. 37:7.
persona mixta, hoc est, unita cum Sacerdotibus: “a personage combined, this is, one with the priesthood.”
Suprema potestas antiquitus fuit regia & Sacerdotalis: “long ago the supreme power was both regal and priestly.” Suprema potestas is a title of the Pope.
principatus tam regalis quam politicus: “is a ruler as much regal as political.” (William of Ockham, Dialogus 3.1.2.9)
principatus regalis & politicus paris sunt potentie, sed principatus regalis difficilioris est exercitii & minoris securitatis: “the royal rule and the political rule are equal in might, but the royal rule is more difficult in practice and less secure.”
Equity: A system of law existing beside the common and statute law, and superseding these, when they conflict with it (OED).
Treatise: Hake’s Epieikeia: A Dialogue on Equity in Three Parts.
Eschequer:exchequer; an office or department of state; by 1603 it had been divided into two branches, the one being charged with judicial, the other with administrative functions (OED).
Plague: the Black Plague hit London in 1603-4 and over 50,000 people died.
sithens: sithence; continuously or ever from or since that time (OED).
Mum: silent (OED).
disportes: a diversion from serious duties (OED).
pot-companions: friends indulging in drinking liquor (OED).
Guerdon: recompense; reward (OED).
prease: press; being crowded or thronged (OED).
Nemo scit: “no one knows;” in theological terminology an indeterminate.
Giffe Gaffe: gives and takes, mutual giving and help (OED); in the 16th and 17th century, it was used in reference to a person.
suttes: petitions, supplications, or entreaties; especially petitions made to a prince or other high personage (OED).
desert: deserving; the becoming worthy of recompense, i.e. of reward or punishment, according to the good or ill of character or conduct (OED).
with a trice: instantly, without delay (OED).
preferment: bringing forward; furtherance, promotion (OED); sew: sue, petition.
Elizabeth: Elizabeth I (1558-1603): one can understand Hake’s relief at the relatively smooth transition from Elizabeth to James, considering the discord that accompanied the successions of Edward VI (1547-53), Lady Jane Grey (1553), Mary Tudor (1553-58) and Elizabeth.
earst: erst; not long ago, a little while since; sate: sat.
brookt: put up with, endured, tolerated (OED).
descryde: discovered, disclosed, revealed, (OED).
hurly burly: commotion, tumult, strife, uproar, turmoil, confusion (OED).
keyes: the power of custody, control, admission of others, etc., implied by the possession of the keys of any place; hence as a symbol of office (OED); him: James I.
Friends: in the special sense of influential friends, advocates, patrons.
vaunt parler: proud, boastful speech.
Ius: law.
stalcke: a striding gait; a stately or pompous mode of walking (OED).
Natura pauca, opinio multa requitit: “Nature [demands, requires] few things, reputation [the demands of society] requires many.”
Sampson: Samson; Jud. 8-16.
Liberall: Free in bestowing; bountiful, generous, open-hearted (OED); Expostulation: remonstrance, protest, reproof (OED).
brabling: quarrelsome (OED).
Crownes: silver coins of Great Britain with the value of five shillings (OED); healths: toasts drunk in a person's honour (OED).
rundell-wise: in a circular fashion; from roundel; something forming a circle or ring (OED).
Crux: cross.
Non ignara Mali, miseris succurrere disco: “Being acquainted with misfortune, I learn to assist the wretched.” Aeneid I.630.
fisco: fiscus; the state treasury.
Fibbus: Apollo Phoebus; patron of poetry, music, healing, purification and prophecy.
Bum-braka: burlesque phrase; bum+break, probably associated with breaking wind.
blacke booke: a book recording the names of persons who have rendered themselves liable to censure or punishment (OED).
Die mihi, cum Christus tibi sit tam multum in ore. Cur vita Christum (flagitiose) negas?: more literally: “Tell me, when Christ is in your mouth so much, why do you (shamefully) deny the life of Christ?”
Tabesco desiderio tua Regna videndi: Hac tu (Christe) tamen da mihi tabe mori: more literally: “I am consumed with the desire to see your Kingdom; O Christ, grant this to me in death’s consummation."
Sir Julius Caesar Knight: Julius Caesar (1558-1636); a lawyer and judge, he was an MP for Windsor and was made a Master of the Requests in 1600. Although not known for exceptional legal acumen, he did prove himself above corruption.
Alphonsus king of Naples: either Alphonso V “The Magnaminous,” King of Aragon and Sicily (1416-1458), aka Alphonso I King of Naples (after 1442); or Alphonso II, King of Naples (1494-5).
Sic plerunq; Mediatores utrinq, leduntur, sicut vespertilio Laceratur a muribus & avibus: "So for the most part, Mediators are offended from both sides, just as a bat is torn to pieces by rats and birds."

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