euery Soldier will sell it for six pence. And trust me, I doe now detest life, worse then a goat doth hate

Basill.

With that the Doctor prepared his instrument, and being ready to set to the Dukes eyes, he said, O stay Master Doctor, till I haue conueyed my Loues countenance downe into my heart: Come hither my sweet, and let me giue thee my last kisse, while mine eyes may direct me to thy cherry lips. Then imbracing her in his armes, he said, O that I might giue thee a kisse of xx yeeres long, and to satisfie my greedy eyes with thy sight yet it doth somewhat content me, because thou art present at my punishment, that I may hold thee by the hand, to comfort my heart, at the sudden pricke of my eye.

This being said, the Doctor performed his duty, and so put out the christall sight : at what time D. Robert started vp and with a most manly courage said, I must thanke his Maiestie, that though hee depriueth me of my sight, yet he leaueth me eyes to weepe for my sinnes. But so soone as Margaret beheld the deed, she fell downe in a swoune; and much a doe her dame had to recouer her life: which when the Duke vnderstood, hee was wondrous woe, groaping for her with his bleeding eyes, saying where is my Loue? for Gods sake haue regard to her. And I pray you most heartily, good good-wife Gray, let her haue this fauour for my sake, that she may be vsed kindly. And with that the Keepers led him into the Castle, and Margaret was carried away

wondrous sicke and ill: but her dame was most tender ouer her; and would suffer her to lacke nothing. When she was somewhat well recouered, her Dame Gray set her on horsebacke: and at her comming to Glocester, there was no small ioy.

How Thomas Doue being fallen to decay, was forsaken of his friends, and despised of his seruants: and how in the end he was raised againe through the liberality of the Clothiers. Chap. 14.

SUCH as seeke the pleasure of the world, follow a shadow wherein is no substance: and as the adder Aspis tickleth a man to death, so doth vaine pleasure flatter vs, till it makes vs forget God, and consume our substance, as by Tom Doue it is apparent, who had through a free heart, and a liberall minde wasted his wealth; and looke how his goods consumed, so his friends fled from him: And albeit he had beene of great ability, and thereby done good vnto many, yet no man regarded him in his pouerty, but casting a scornefull countenance vpon him, they passed by him with slender salutation: neither would any of his former acquaintance do him good, or pleasure him the value of a farthing; his former friendship done to them was quite forgot, and he made of as much account, as Iob when he sate on the dunghill.

Now, when his wicked seruants saw him in this disgrace with the world, they on the other side began to disdaine him. Notwithstanding that hee (to his great

cost) had long time brought them vp, yet did they nothing regard it, but behind his backe in most scornefull sort derided him, and both in their words and actions greatly abuse him, reuerence they would doe none vnto him, but when they spake, it was in such malapert sort, as would grieue an honest minde to heare it.

At last it came to passe, that breaking out into meere contempt, they said they would stay no longer with him, and that it was a great discredit for them, to serue a person so beggerly: whereupon they thought it conuenient to seeke for their benefits elsewhere. When the distressed man found the matter so plaine being in great griefe, he spake thus vnto them Now do I find, to my sorrow, the small trust that is in this false world. Why, my Masters (quoth he) haue you so much forgotten my former prosperity, that you nothing regard my present necessity? in your wants I forsooke you not, in your sicknesse I left you not, nor despised you in your great pouerty it is not vnknowne, though you doe not consider it, that I tooke some of you vp in the high-way, othersome from your needy parents, and brought the rest from meere beggery to a house of bounty; where from paltrie boyes, I brought you vp to mans state, and haue, to my great cost, taught you a trade, whereby you may liue like men. And in requitall of all my courtesie, cost and good will, will you now on a sudden forsake me? is this the best recompence that you can find your hearts to yeeld mee?

This is farre from the minds of honest seruants. The fierce Lion is kind to those that doe him good: plucke but one thorne out of his foot, and for the same he will shew manifold fauors. The wilde Bull will not ouerthrow his dam: and the very Dragons are dutifull to their nourishers. Bee better aduised and call to mind, I beseech you, that I haue not pluckt a thorne out of your feet, but drawne your whole bodies out of perils, and when you had no meanes to helpe your selues, I onely was your support, and he, that when all other forsooke you, did comfort you in all your extremities.

And what of all this, quoth one of them? because you tooke vs vp poore, doth it therefore follow, that we must be your slaues? We are young-men, and for our part, we are no further to regard your profit, then it may stand with our preferment: Why should we lose our benefit to pleasure you? if you taught vs our trade, and brought vs vp from boies to men, you had our seruice for it, whereby you made no small benefit, if you had as well vsed it, as we got it. But if you be poore, you may thanke your selfe, being a iust scourge for your prodigalitie, and is my opinion plaine, that to stay with you, is the next way to make vs like you, neither able to helpe our selues, nor our friends: therefore in briefe; come pay me my wages, for I will not stay, let the rest doe as they will, for I am resolued.

Well said his Master, if needs thou wilt be gone, here is part of thy wages in hand, and the rest as soone

as God sends it, thou shalt haue it: and with that, turning to the rest, he said, Let me yet intreat you to stay, and leaue me not altogether destitute of helpe : by your labours must I liue, and without you I know not what to doe. Consider therefore my need, and regard my great charge. And if for my sake you will doe nothing, take compassion of my poore children; stay my sliding foot, and let me not vtterly fall, through your flying from me.

Tush (quoth they) what do you talke to vs? we can haue better wages, and serue a man of credit, where our fare shall be farre better, and our gaines greater: therefore the world might count vs right coxcomes, if we should forsake our profit, to pleasure you therefore adieu, God send you more money, for you are like to haue no more men and thus they departed.

When they were gone, within a while after they met one with another, saying, What cheare? are you all come away: in faith I, what should we doe else, quoth they : but hear'st thou sirra, hast thou got thy wages? Not yet saith the other, but I shall haue it, and that is as good, tis but x shillings. Saist thou so (said he) now I see thou art one of God Almighties idiots: Why so, said the other? Because (quoth he) thou wilt be fed with shales : but Ile tell thee one thing, twere better for thee quickly to arrest him, lest some other doing it before, and there be nothing left to pay thy debt: hold thy peace, faire words make fooles faine, and it is an old