But yet I know that many doe misdoubt
that those his pains are fables, and untrue;
Not only I in this will bear him out,
but divers more that did his Patents view,
And unto those so boldly I dare say
that nought but truth John Fox cloth here bewray.
Besides, there's one was slave with him in thrall
lately return'd into our native land;
This witness can this matter perfect all:
what needeth more? for witness he may stand.
And thus I end, unfolding what I know;
the other man more larger proof can show.
"Honos alit Artes"
The above lines by Anthony Munday are omitted by Hakluyt in his reprint of the captivity of John Fox in his "Principal English Voyages," vol. ii. p. 136, ed. 1598-1600. John Fox, of Woodbridge, gunner of the Three Half Moons, was made prisoner by the Turks in 1563. Escaped with 266 other Christians in 1577.
CARE FOR THY SOULE.
Care for thy soule, as thing of greatest pryce!
Made to the ende to taste of power Divine,
Devoid of guilt, abhorryng sin and vice,
Apt by God's grace to virtue to incline;
Care for it soe, as by thy retchless traine
It bee not brought to taste eternall paine!
Care for thy corpse (body), but chiefely for soules sake,
Not of excess; sustainyng food is best
To vanquish pryde, but comely clothing take.
Seeke after skille; deepe ignorance detest;
Care so, I say, the flesh to feede and cloth,
That thou harm not thy soule and bodie both.
Care for the world, to doe thy bodie right;
Back not thy wytt to win by wicked wayes;
Seeke not t'oppress the weak by wrongfull might;
To pay thy due, doe banish all delayes;
Care to dispend accordyng to thy store,
And, in like sort, bee mindfull of the pore.
Care for thy soule, as for thy chiefest staye,
Care for thy bodie, for the soules avail;
Care for the world, for bodies helpe alwaye,
Care yett but soe as virtue may prevail;
Care in such sort, that thou be sure of this,
Care keepe the not from heaven and heavenlie blisse.
MEGLIORA SPERO.
By Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford.