The vvell of wisedome, conteining chiefe and chosen sayinges vvhiche may leade all men to perfect and true vvisedome, as vvell to Godvvard as to the vvorlde Gathered out of the five bookes of the olde testament, especially belonging to vvisedome, that is to say, the prouerbes of Salomon, Ecclesiastes, Canticum, Sapientia and Ecclesiasticus, and bestowed in usuall common places in order of A. B. C. By T. C.

Vanitie of the world.

* 1.1 ALl is but most vayne vanitie (sayth the preacher) and all is most vayne (I say) and but plaine vanitie.

* 1.2 Then said I thus in my heart: Now go to, I will take myne ease, and haue good dayes. But loe that is vanitie also: in so much that I sayde vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to myrth, what doest thou? So I thought in my heart to geue my selfe vnto wine, and agayne to ap∣ply my minde vnto wisedome, and to com∣prehende foolishnes, vntill the tyme (that amonge all the thinges which are vnder the Sunne) I might see what were best for men to doe, so long as they liue vnder hea∣uen. I made gorgeous fayre works. I buil∣ded me houses, & plāted vineyardes. I made me orchardes, and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all maner fruites. I made pooles of water to water the grene & fruitful trees withal. I bought seruaunts and maydens, and had a greate housholde. As for cattell and sheepe, I had more sub∣stāce of them then all they that were before

me in Ierusalem. I gathered siluer and golde together, euen a treasure of kinges and landes. I prouided me singers, and wo∣men which coulde plaie on instrumentes to make men mirth and pastime. I gatte me psalteries and songes of musicke. And I was greater and in more worshippe, then all my predecessours in Ierusalē. For wise∣dome remained with one: and looke what soeuer mine eyes desired, I let them haue it: and wherin soeuer my hearte delited or had any pleasure, I withhelde it not from it: Thus my hearte reioysed in all that I did: and this was my portion of all my trauaile. But when I considered all the workes that my handes had wrought, and all the labour that I had taken therein: lo all was but va∣nitie, and vexacion of minde, and nothing of any value vnder the Sunne.

* 1.3 What getteth a man of all the labour and trauaile of his minde, that he taketh vnder the Sunne, but heauinesse, sorowe, and disquietnesse all the dayes of his life: in so muche that his hearte cannot rest in the night, this is also a vaine thing: is it not better then for a man to eate and drinke and his soule to be mery in his labour, yea I sawe that this also was a gift of God.

* 1.4 Vaine are all men which haue not the knowledge of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ecclesiastes 1. 2.
• * 1.2

  Ecclesiastes 2. 1. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
• * 1.3

  Ecclesiastes 2. 22. 23. 24
• * 1.4

  VVis. 13. 1.