The forrest of fancy Wherein is conteined very prety apothegmes, and pleasaunt histories, both in meeter and prose, songes, sonets, epigrams and epistles, of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner. VVith sundry other deuises, no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable.

What small trust there is to be reposed in friendes or kinsfolkes.

SIth friendship is as rare a thing to finde, As tis to see a Swanne all black of hue: Wise Esope in his Fables as we finde, Doth warne vs well to thinke no friend so true. That will be prest, our pleasure to fulfill, So redily as we the same require, For why in trust is treason tried still, And fairest lookes doe lack the best desyre: Wherefore (saith he) let no man trust his friend, To doe the thing which he himselfe may doe, For feare he be deceaued in the end, By those whome he hath leaned most vnto, For profe whereof a Fable he resightes, which who so notes, shall find to great effect, The fraude of friendes he plainly there resites, who to their promise haue but small respect. A Larke there was vpon a certaine tyme, That trained vp her yong ones in a feild, Where Corne did grow, which then was euen in prime, To be cut downe as ripe, the Larke to sheild Her little ones from harme, when as she went Abrode to get such meate as should suffice To feede them with, did giue commaundement, That they should haue regard in any wise To that they heard, and at her back returne, To tell her all: it hapned on a day, whilst she was forth, that thether came the Borne, which ought the field, which to his sonne did say, This geare is ripe and ready to be cut, wherefore to morrow go thou in my name, Unto our friendes, and them in mind doe put To come and helpe me to dispatch the same.

which charge his son dischargde in each respect, whereto his friends in friendly wise did frame Their aunswere straight, that they would not neglect, To worke his will when night approched was, This Larke come home her byrds did flitter fast, About her all and shewing what did pas, Desyred her, that she in all the haste, wold them transport vnto some other place, But she perswading them to be content, Commaunded them next day to lend good eare, To that they heard, and so awaye she went. Next day in Field the farmer doth appeare, with Sim his sonne, where all that day they spent, But of his friendes there came not one of all, wherefore vnto his sonne againe he said, To morrow to my Cosines goe you shall, And say that I require their friendly ayde, To reape my corue: the yong ones hearing this, More earnest were with their beloued damme, To be remoued from thence, but she ywis, Did let it slip vntill the next day came, For why quoth she, no cosins are so kinde, That by and by will come at kinsemans call, To morrow therefore marke what newes you find, And then if neede require, Ile helpe you all. Next day the Cosins came not into place, wherefore the good man sayd, all friendes farewell, And kinsmen to, now will I chaunge the case, And trust no trifling tale that they shall tell, Trust to our selues we will, go thou my soune, Prouide to sickles for thy selfe and me, And by our selues it shall to morne be done. when as the Larke hard this, nay now quoth she, Tis time indeede to pack away from hence, Unles we will each one destroyed be, And so she bare her little ones from thence,

Finis.