These doubtfull doings draue mee to my dumpes, Uncertaine what should moue them so to doe: I feared least affections lothly lumpes Or inward grudge had driuen[1239] them thereto, Whose wicked stinges all storyes truth vndoe, Oft causing good to bee reported ill, Or drownd in suds of _Læthe’s_ muddy swill. 5. For hitherto slye wryters wily wits, Which haue engrossed princes chiefe affayres, Haue bene like horses snaffled with the bits Of fancy, feare, or doubts full deepe dispayres, Whose raynes enchained to the cheifest chayres, Haue so bene straynde of those that bare the stroke That truth was forste to chow or els to choke. 6. This caused such as lothed lowd to ly, To passe with silence sundry princes lyues: Lesse fault it is to leaue, then leade awry, And better dround, then[1240] euer bound in gyues: For fatall fraud this world so fondly driues, That whatsoeuer writer’s braines may brue Bee it neuer so false, at length is tane for true. 7. What harme may hap by help of lying pennes, How written lies may lewdely bee mayntainde, The lothly rites, the diuilishe ydoll dennes, With guiltlesse bloud of vertuous men bestaynde, Is such a proofe as all good hartes haue plainde, The taly groundes of stories throughly tries, The death of martyrs vengeaunce on it cries. 8.[1241] Far better therefore not to write at all, Than staine the truth, for any maner cause, For this they meane to let my story fall, (Thought I) and ere my time theyr[1242] volume clause: But after I knew it only was a pause Made purposely, most for the reader’s ease, Assure thee, _Baldwine_, highly it did mee please. 9. For[1243] freshest wits I know will sone be weary, In reading long what euer booke it bee, Except it bee vaine matter, strange, or mery, Well sauste with lies, and glared all with glee, With which because no graue truth may agree, The closest stile for stories is the meetest, In rufull moanes the shortest fourme is sweetest. 10. And sith the playnts already by thee pende, Are briefe inough, the nomber also small, The tediousnesse I thinke doth none offend, Saue such as haue no lust to learne at all: Regard none such, no matter what they brall, Warne thou the wary least they hap to stumble, As for the carelesse, care not what they mumble. 11.