The Sir Anthony Cooke to whom these Sonnets are dedicated descended from the Sir Anthony who was Preceptor to King Edward VI., and for Letters from whom whoso cares may consult the "Reformation" correspondence of the Parker Society. His daughter Mildred was second wife of Lord Burleigh, and his daughter Anne was mother of _the_ Bacon. His son and heir, Richard Cooke, died in 1579, and was succeeded by his son Anthony (this Sir Anthony), who was knighted in 1596 by the Earl of Essex at the sacking of Cadiz. He was buried at Romford, Essex, on the 28th December, 1604. G. [Dedicatory Sonnet.] TO HIS GOOD FREINDE S^{R} ANTH. COOKE. Here my Camelion Muse her selfe doth chaunge to diuers shapes of gross absurdities, and like an Antick[131] mocks w^{th} fashion straunge the fond[132] admirers of lewde gulleries. Your iudgement sees w^{th} pitty, and w^{th} scorne The bastard Sonnetts of these Rymers bace, W^{ch} in this whiskinge age are daily borne To their own shames, and Poetrie's disgrace. Yet some praise those and some perhappes will praise euen these of myne: and therefore thes I send to you that pass in Courte yo^{r} glorious dayes; Y^{t} if some rich rash gull these Rimes commend Thus you may sett this formall witt to schoole, Vse yo^{r} owne grace, and begg him for a foole. J. D. [Footnote 131: = motley-dressed jester or fool. G.] [Footnote 132: = foolish. G.] _Gullinge Sonnets._ 1* The Louer Vnder burthen of his M^{ris} love W^{ch} lyke to Ætna did his harte oppre[s][s]e: did giue [s]uch piteous grones y^{t} he did moue the heau'nes at length to pitty his di[s]tre[s][s]e but for the fates in theire highe Courte aboue forbad to make the greuous burthen le[s][s]e. the gracous powers did all con[s]pire to proue Yt miracle this mi[s]cheife mighte redre[s][s]e; therefore regardinge y^{t} y^{e} loade was [s]uch as noe man mighte w^{th} one man's mighte [s]u[s]tayne and y^{t} mylde patience[133] imported much to him that [s]hold indure an endles payne: By there decree he [s]oone transformèd was into a patiente burden-bearinge A[s][s]e. 2* As when y^{e} brighte Cerulian firmament hathe not his glory w^{th} black cloudes defas'te, Soe were my thoughts voyde of all di[s]content; and w^{th} noe my[s]te of pa[s][s]ions ouerca[s]t they all were pure and cleare, till at the la[s]t an ydle careles thoughte forthe wandringe wente and of y^{t} poy[s]onous beauty tooke a ta[s]te W^{ch} doe the harts of louers [s]o torment: then as it chauncethe in a flock of [s]heepe when [s]ome contagious yll breedes fir[s]t in one daylie it [s]preedes & [s]ecretly doth creepe till all the [s]illy troupe be ouergone. So by clo[s]e neighbourhood w^{th} in my bre[s]t one [s]curuy thoughte infecteth all the re[s]t. [Footnote 133: A trisyllable. G.]