Grandsire graybeard. Or Machiauell displayed.

Grandsire Graybeard.

The Preface.

BVt now my son, that thou hast learnd this lore, (Vpon my blessing) looke on it no more Except it be (by ill) to know the good; But yet take heed lest it be vnderstood.

Precept 1.

BE that thou seem'st to be, in word and deed, Lest Pater n••ster put thee from his Creed.

Faire speech is good, but keep not a foule mind, For hollow hearts are of a hellish kinde.

A good beginning makes a blessed end, And hold him for a dogge that hath no friend.

Receiue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bribe to fill a rustie chest, A quiet conscience is a Kingly feast. And tis a ••eauie ••ence in sorrowes Roule, To saue the body and to loose the Soule.

In Honors cause, maintaine thy reputation, And hold loue good for Reasons recreation.

Affect the wise and with the learned talke, And with the vertuous often make a walke.

Sooth no ill cares with idle flatterie, Honour the Bride, but doe the Groome no Rie,

With great or small be sure to keep eu'n measure, And scorne no trifle that may doe thee pleasure.

Frequent the Church, with faith & true deuotion, And doe not step too fast vnto promotion. For farre more griefe is in a headlong fall, Than if thy care had neuer climbd at all.

Be wisely kinde to eu'ry quality, And euer keepe good hospitality. At thine owne charge keepe thy horses stable, And seeke no banquet at a beggers table. For a true minde had rather starue then eat, When churles or seruants grudge a stranger meat.

Iest not with cowards, for they will but cry, And as for bawds, pitie their beggery.

Arithmeticke is seene in eu'ry trade, But true accompts are euer to be made. For when the last count-reckning is cast vp, Then shall the crafty take their poisoned cup.

For Lions, Beares, For Wolues, for Apes & Asses Leaue them to figure humours looking-glasses. And haue a care to carry so thy selfe, No storme may driue thy ship vpon the shelfe.

Swallowes doe ••eed ••ns••es, but light they slie▪ While Epicures in too much feeding die.

By others harms seeke not thy priuate good, A bloody feast is an vntimely food. And to dissemble loue is such an euill, As neerest shewes the nature of the Deuill.

To helpe thy friends, do not forbeare thy hand, And (for thy credit) sell both goods and land.

Denie no friend, when he doth friendly craue it, For honest minds will pay, when as they haue it,

Performe thy word, but promise not too much, With rich and poore be carefull to keepe touch.

Let garments fit thy body, grace thy minde,

And to thy friend (as to thy selfe) be kinde.

Let care of conscience, guide thre eu'ry way, To giue thee comfort on the holy day.

First if thou be a Courtier know the grace, And seeke in heau'n to haue a higher place, And if on earth such seruice profit brings, What shall he haue that serues the King of Kings?

If that thou be a Scholler and canst preach, With simple truth thy simple Audience teach; And feed thy flocke thou hast in charge to keepe. Lest that thou proue a Wolfe vnto thy sheepe, But whatsoeuer (here) be thine estate, There is none poore but hee whom God doth hate.

And if thou be a Souldier, sucke no blood, To Kingly minds it is vnchristian food. And honours title who doth truly hold, Shall it in mercy finde, and not in gold.

If that thou be a Lawyer, iudge the right, And let no briberie bl••nde a blessed sight:

For thou shalt finde it writ in Mercies roule, Better a thread bare gown, than thred-bare soule

And if thou be a Merchant, know thy cares, And do not wound thy conscience with thy wares Lest in repentance all too late thou finde, The gaine is losse that feeds a greedy minde.

In briefe, of what estate soere thou bee, Let truth and conscience euer gouerne thee. Let clownes clap all their craft on clowted shoes, Seeke thou no earthly gaine thy Heau'n to loose.

Aime at no profit with a poisoned breath, Lest it be paied in thy second death. An honest gaine in eu'ry trade doth well, The winde blowes ill ••hat blowes the soule to hell.

In Law and Physicke haue a conscience, In making gaine of thy experience. Lest that thy Clients crie, or patients death, Make thee cry out and howle in hel beneath.

For Cards and D••ce and all such idle play, From thy delight discard and cast away. For deale or rub whose hap it be to haue, The Knaue of Clubs will euer be a Knaue.

By wicked plots do neuer prole for pelfe, Let thy Soules care be neerest to thy selfe. And sooth no humours in an euill minde, For poisning breath is of a hellish kinde. And though to hurt a few to help a many Seeme good, yet (better) not the helpe of any. Flatte no Mistris Fubs, or Iohn▪ a Noddes, Nor honour golden Calues, nor wodden gods.

Nor puffe a Peasant vp with flattering pride, A rascall will but like a Begger ride.

If that thy wife be faire, be thou not foule, To let her play the Ape, and thou the Owle.

And to thy daughter be a better Sire, Then l••ke a hackney let her out to hire.

And for thy seruants let no belly swell, A baudy-house is but an earthly hell.

Be faithful to thy Wife, firme to thy friend,

And constant in religion to the end.

If thou be rich, abandon wicked pride, And doe not on the horse of enuie ride, Nor seeke the well deseruing to disgrace, Nor put the vertuous spirit out of place.

If that thy friend doe trust thee with his loue, Vnto his trust do not a Traitor proue; Lest he that seeth thy ill-gotten treasure, Do pay thee home with an il-meaten measure,

Be rich and wise in that good wit, my Boy, That death nor hell, nor deuill can destroy. Tax no mans name in any euill matter, But like a Christian deale with euery creature. Be sorry for the euill thou hast done, And go on with the good thou hast begunne. Pray for thy faith, that it may faile thee neuer, So (though thou die) yet shalt thou liue for euer. Serue GOD, thy King, be to thy Country true, Liue till thou die, then bid the world adue.

FINIS.