et them foorth. Simple is the device,
and the composition meane, yet carrieth some delight, even the rather
because of the simplicitie and meannesse thus personated. The same I
beseech your Ladiship take in good part, as a pledge of that profession
which I have made to you, and keepe with you untill with some other
more worthie labour redeeme it out of your hands, and discharge my
utmost dutie. Till then, wishing your Ladiship all increase of honour
and happinesse, I humblie take
leave.

Your La: ever
humbly,
ED. SP.

[* "This lady was Anne, the fifth daughter of Sir John
Spencer, distinguished also, in the pastoral of _Colin Clouts come Home
again_, by the name of _Charillis_. She was married, first to Sir
William Stanley, Lord Mountegle; next to Henry Compton, Lord Compton;
and lastly to Robert Sackvilie, Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Earl of
Dorset."--TODD.]

* * * * *

PROSOPOPOIA:

OR

MOTHER HUBBERDS TALE.

It was the month in which the righteous Maide
That for disdaine of sinfull worlds upbraide
Fled back to heaven, whence she was first conceived,
Into her silver bowre the Sunne received;
And the hot Syrian Dog on him awayting, 5
After the chafed Lyons cruell bayting,
Corrupted had th'ayre with his noysome breath.
And powr'd on th'earth plague, pestilence, and death.
Emongst the rest a wicked maladie
Raign'd emongst men, that manie did to die, 10
Depriv'd of sense and ordinarie reason;
That it to leaches seemed strange and geason.
[_Geason_, rare.]
My fortune was, mongst manie others moe,
To be partaker of their common woe;
And my weake bodie, set on fire with griefe, 15
Was rob'd of rest and naturall reliefe.
In this ill plight, there came to visite mee
Some friends, who, sorie my sad case to see,
Began to comfort me in chearfull wise,
And meanes of gladsome solace to devise. 20
But seeing kindly sleep refuse to doe
His office, and my feeble eyes forgoe,
They sought my troubled sense how to deceave
With talke that might unquiet fancies reave;
[_Reave_, take away.]
And sitting all in seates about me round, 25
With pleasant tales fit for that idle stound
[_Stound_, time.]
They cast in course to waste the wearie howres.
Some tolde of ladies, and their paramoures;
Some of brave knights, and their re