Triplex, of songes, for three, fower, and fiue voyces ; Medius, of songes, for three, fower, and fiue voyces ; Tenor, of songes, for fiue voyces; Bassus, of songes, for three, fower, and fiue voyces ; [Contratenor for fower [fiue] voyces] composed and made by Thomas Whythorne ...

¶The first part of Songes com∣posed by Thomas Whythorne, conteyning Songes for three voyces. (Book 1)

〈♫〉〈♫〉 IF eu'ry one that goth about, to set abroad for common vew, a work, hath any fear 〈♫〉〈♫〉 or dout, that the faut finding carping crew, should vtterly the same de face, few 〈♫〉〈♫〉 works set forth then should we haue: but who by vertue doth purchase, their state aye lastes lye 〈♫〉〈♫〉 they in graue, their state aye lastes lye they in graue.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 AS many heads haue many wits, so diuers men of vertues haue, and vertue likes her

〈♫〉〈♫〉 ritches so, as other goods she doth not craue: nor to be celebrate of those, which be but of the cōmon 〈♫〉〈♫〉 sort, because that of her selfe she hath no need of prayse or good re port, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 because that of her selfe she hath no need of prayse or good re port.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 WHen fliering fortune fauoreth, the fals world then smi leth, but turn she once a- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 bout her wheel, strange changes shalt thou feel. Wherfore as now I coūsell thee, vse truth and 〈♫〉〈♫〉 honestie: so shalt thou stand & neuer quail, though fortune do thee fail, though fortune do thee fail.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 WHen Cupid had compelled me, to serue my fained frend, Pallas from that perswaded me, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 lest trouble I should finde: for though thy loue doth seem, quoth she, thy good will to re- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 quite, yet in the end thou shalt well see, thy gwerdon shall thee spite, yet in the end thou 〈♫〉〈♫〉 shalt well see, thy gwerdon shall thee spite.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 SUch as in loue would haue long ioy, their choice must be for ver tues sake, if 〈♫〉〈♫〉 otherwise they seek to knit, no deep root shall their true loue take, no deep root shall

〈♫〉〈♫〉 their true loue take.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 THe restles race, the restles race the yong man runs, is strange to know in ech de- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 gre, now heapes he ioyes, and cares, and cares he shuns, a non his myrth away doth fle, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 now heaps he ioyes, and cares, and cares he shuns, a non his myrth away doth fle.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 THough frends be frail, though frends be frail in eu'ry place, in eu'ry place, though frends be 〈♫〉〈♫〉 frail, though frends be frail in eu'ry place, in eu'ry place, and promise broke, and promise broke that

〈♫〉〈♫〉 erst was plight, and promise broke, and promise broke that erst was plight: Yet one there is, yet 〈♫〉〈♫〉 one there is a boue all frends, aboue all frends, who faileth not, who faileth not, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 who faileth not the faithfull wight, ij. who faileth not the faithfull wight, who 〈♫〉〈♫〉 faileth not the faithfull wight, the faithfull wight.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 IN frends of ech estate, look for equalitie to be al way, equalitie to be al way, in frends of 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ech estate, look for equalitie to be al way, equalitie to be alway, of mind, of welth, of mind,

〈♫〉〈♫〉 of welth, and honours eke, of minde, of welth, and honours eke, and honours eke, of 〈♫〉〈♫〉 minde, of welth, of minde, of welth, and honours eke, ij. els soon they swarue 〈♫〉〈♫〉 and part a way, ij. els soon they swarue and part a way, and part 〈♫〉〈♫〉 away, .ij els soon they swarue and part a way, and part a way.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 WHo y^t for truth decrees (as iudge most sage) true noblenes of right one ly to stād, in dignitie, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 or auncient linage, or great ritches, or reuenues of land, if therwithall, if therwithall he do not

〈♫〉〈♫〉 link in band, wisedome, knowledge, and other vertues rare, his iudgement then of reason is but 〈♫〉〈♫〉 bare, his iudgement then of reason is but bare.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 THou shalt soon see, thou shalt soon see in ech estate, wher y^t do take deep root these fautes, wher 〈♫〉〈♫〉 that do take deep root these fautes, suspitiousnes beyond y^e race, that needful is, or like assauts, or like as- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 sauts of hasty mind, or gelous mood, gret sorows ay to be their food. ij.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 THe happy life as I do take, the quiet mind therof is ground, ij. which sowre so-

〈♫〉〈♫〉 rowes doth still forsake, ij. digesting them as they a bound: for who frō cares will passe 〈♫〉〈♫〉 to ease, must take all troubles in good part, and if the mind take no disease ij. all troubles 〈♫〉〈♫〉 els will soon reuert, ij. will soon reuert.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 HE that contemneth iniuries, his state better appeare shall soon, then his who frets, then 〈♫〉〈♫〉 his who frets, then his who frets maliciously, ij. till he reuenge offences done: for 〈♫〉〈♫〉 as malice tormentes his hart, and all his helth doth straight vnwrest, and all his helth doth straight

〈♫〉〈♫〉 vnwrest, the other not forcing therof, ij. returneth soon to quiet rest, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 returneth soon to quiet rest.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 BEware how sorowes thee oppres, ij. let wisedome rule thy fan- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 tasie, let wisedome rule thy fantasie, so as dispaire, so as dispaire, so as dispaire thee not pos ses, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 with deadly dread thy fayth to try, thy fayth to try.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 WHat euer hath been in time past, ij. what euer hath been

〈♫〉〈♫〉 in time past, ij. in time present t'is often found, ij. in time present t'is often found, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ij. y^e flattery hath got y^e cast, ij. y^e flattery hath got 〈♫〉〈♫〉 the cast, ij. to get frendship both safe & sound, to get frendship both safe & sound, to get frend- 〈♫〉〈♫〉 ship both safe & sound, wheras plaines in word & deed, ij. wheras plaines in word & deed, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 wheras plaines in word & deed, wheras plaines in word & deed, of hatred great is sure to speed, 〈♫〉〈♫〉 of hatred great is sure to speed, ij. of hatred great is sure to speed.

¶The end of the first part.