time taketh place There Ver and Flora both do shewe theyr gorgious face Nor Zephirus doth shake no braunche within that sacred Hill But euery thing in former state alwayes continueth styll Nor Hiemps hath no power there the flakye Snowe to cast There is nothing that taketh taste of cruell Winters blast And as I sayde ere while hawe that wée did these Ladies spie So what wée sayd and they to vs I le tell you by and by When wée in order found them thus Haile Ladye Morpheus sayde With Cap in hande I vailde to earth They bad mée hele my heade And welcom Morpheus one and all they sayde reioysinglie Why hast thou bene so long ê™ they what newes hast brought with thée â–ª What newes ê™ Morphe newes ynough aread froÌ„ whence I came I haue performoe my promise made as ought an honest man. You did request and I agréede to vewe vile Stigion lakes And to peruse with wicked sorte what order Pluto takes And how they are rewarded there it was your willes to know That did delite in euill actes to worke poore people woe Quoth they that 's true were you there I came from thence ê™ hée Then all at once they gaue him thankes as glad as they might bée With modest words tell vs ê™ they what sightes that you haue séene For thankes is all you get of vs to quite your toyled paine But what we can or may be boulde that honest séemes to bée To pleasure you in any wise we shall thereto agrée But speake tell on le ts lose no time quoth one we thinke it long Begin good Morpheus quoth the rest and we will holde our tongue So Morpheus streight began his tale and tâ—ulde them how that hée â–ª Among a Masque of merye mates by chaunce did light on mée And howe wée past from ward to ward what was done and sayde And when wée came to Plutoes place among them howe wée sped And whome we saw and what they did what theyr sayinges was Correspondent to the trueth discribed more and les But when hée tolde them of the Pope that Alexander hight And of the Seruice that they sang and vsed day and night And what resort of Shauelings hée had with him euery howre The Ladyes all on Laughing fell yea rounde about the Tower. Yet wofull for the rest they were because they wanted grace For very zeale these worthy Dames in teares did washe theyr face Where at when Morpheus did behold these Ladies woful cheare Quod hée if I had thought on this I would not haue come heare But cease your dolour yet a while your listning eares lende mée And wipe away those plainting teares which gréeueth me to see For certs I haue of woefuluesse and dyrefull destnye tolde Of pleasaunt Pageantes I le rehearse Triumphs many folde In wandring vp and downe the vale to see these vglye fightes About the place where Pluto laye wee sawe great Lampes lights With Pageands playd and Tragedies noise of Trumpets sound Yea Boâ—fires blasde with thumping guns that shooke the trembling grouÌ„d Which when we hard did behold we hasted fast to know What was the cause wherfore or why those trumpets gan to blow And comming to the Pallaice Gates wee néede not craue them why For Boner comes with open Iawe both yong and olde gan crye So Morpheus set the Tale an ende â–ª and as I sayde of late â—ne so as Boner welcomdâ— was at large diâ—cride the state Where at the Ladies euery one with comely smiling cheare Laide by their Bookes lawght ful fast those newes of him to heare A ha quoth they is Boner there That 's Plutoes Butcher bolde â–ª It's Plutoes parte to welcome him for seruice done of olde And reason good another saide desertes must néedes bée quit And so they are I doe perceyue by you in Plutos pit Some scoste sayd hee went for Soules that long in Stigion dwelde â–ª And other some to preache and teache a great opinion helde But in the fine a thousand thankes they yéelded Morpheus there And sayde they would deserue his paines if able that they were And yong man quoth Melpomina sith thou hast taken paine Wée doe confesse for recompence thy debtors to remaine But muche I wonder howe thy witte did serue these sights to sée Nay maruaile not quoth Morpheus then al while he was with mée But otherwyse in deede not hée nor any mortall man That could or might at any time Phlegetons fiers scan That 's true but what 's his name quoth one hee lookes with musing moode He is quoth Morpheus towards you al and sproong of Robins blood Whose painefull pen hath aye béene prest for to aduance this place As at these dayes his actes full well shal witnesse to your grace And certainelye his chirping tongue delites to bawke no truth But plaine song partes each where doth sing as well to age as youth Therfore sith I had promise made this vglye place to sée Mée thought a fitter man to take I could not finde then hée Quoth Vranye with séemely lookes Good sir yee saye full true For had you not some bodye take no man had knowne but you And theÌ„ your laâ—er had béen lost which now great thanks doth craue Nor the reward had beene knowen that wicked people haue And sith you light vpon our friende ten times the gladder wée To warning of the rest we trust these newes in Print to sée And with these words they tooke their bookes froÌ„ Turret straight discend With one accord they chargde me al to hast y this were pend In verse quoth Clio pithilye according to your Dreame We charge you that to al the world your pen doe straight proclaime And the Rewarde of wickednesse your Booke shall haue to name No better title can bée founde to grée vnto the same But when I hard these woordes in déede so full of care I was That when I should haue aunswere made no word from mée coulde pas My wits were wast my sence was fled and stil I stoode amasde Like Hart before the Hounde afright or Birde in pitfall dasde And what to say I readâ—es was they gaue so straight a charge Yet at a venture by and by these wordes I spake at large Madames quoth I my willing mind aye alwaies yours hath béene Although the grosenesse of my head deseru'de no praise to winne And more then twentye times ashamde assuredlye I am That any of my barren workes your learned eyes shoulde scan Apollos prudent worthie skill nor Pallas actiue feates I neuer knew to promise this how shall I pay my debtes My sillie eares Mineruas voyce could neuer vnderstande Alas good Ladies woulde you I shoulde take this worke in hande If Caliope rulde my pen and did thereto agrée Then shoulde you well and easie spie at all no fault in mée And sith as yet I neuer taste your milke of sacred brest I doe beséeche you euerie one forget your last request And place some
yet notvvithstanding as the order there is I keepe my vvatche and vvarde as time appointeth it to mee at the vvhich times gentle reader I collected this together faining that in my sleepe MORPHEVS tooke me to PLVTOS Kingdome in a Dreame The vvhich deuice I mistrust not but thou shalt thincke vvell of Notvvithstanding I knovve that the Papiste vvill gnashe his teeth at me The vvanton Dames vvill scolde at mee The Couetous vvorldlinges vvill disdaine mee The vaine glorious personnes in Aucthoritie vvill enuie mee False accusers vvill abhorre mee Traitours vvill vtterlye detest this my simple vvorke Another sorte there is vvhiche I namde not yet As the Cobler and ZOILVS VVhose nature is to plaie hissing HIDRAS parte reiecting the vertuous labours of painefull personnes Lying Idle them selues like Buzzing Drones deuouring vp the svveete trauaile of the busie Bees but for these I passe not Sithe the most noble and famous vvriters of the vvorlde haue not yet hitherto escaped the dâ—â—t of their abhominable tongues VVherefore Ilothe lenger to bestovve the time so ill as to speake of their beastlie behauiour against the skilfull Beseeching thee once againe gentle Reader that I maie reape at thy handes but the revvard of my good vvill vvhiche shall not onelie content my trauaile But also binde mee another time to present some other noueltie more fitter to â—eede thy fantasie Hoping in the meane vvhile thou vvilt in my absence stande an indifferent friend Thus vvishing to thee and thine as to my selfe and mine I bid thee fare vvell From my Chamber in Sheffield Castle The xix of Maie 1574. ¶ Thy Friende R. Robinson ⧠The Aucthour to the Booke THY woefull plaints thy rueful face and carefull countenaunce shoe To all the worlde bee not tonguetide reueale abroade the woe That is among the sillie soules in Plutos ouglie lake For vvickednesse done on the Earth howe loue doth vengeance take Blushe not my booke to thunder foorth the tormentes thou hast seene Tell vvilfull vvits and hatefull hearts vvhat iust deserued teene In Plutos pitte they shall abide that headlong plunge in sinne Bee not abashte to tell the best vvhat plagues be there within And whome thou sawe in sincke of sorrow bewaile and toile in griefe VVhy and vvherefore for whome and what they bide in this mischiefe And vvhy thou mournest tell the cause and vvherefore thou art sad No doubt thy teares and trauaile both may thousands make full glad Except the Cobler gin to carpe that alwaies loues to cauell Or secte of Sicophants stur vp Zoilus that drnnken Iauel To stampe and scorne against thy talke that thou art chargde vvithall For to rewarde thy sugered gift vvith bitter stinking gall But if they doe no force no harme their vvonted vse is knowen The difference both of them and thee Report hath iustly blowen And doubte not but the learned loue thy company to haue And hissing Hidras venimde stinge shall daylie from thee saue And vvhen the skilfull heades shall scan the tale that thou must tell I charge thee pardon craue of them it doth become thee vvell And if they doe demaunde from vvhence thou came or what 's thy name The Iust reward of wickednesse my Lords I am the same Saye thou vvhich came from Plutos-Pit whom Morpheus led with him In drowsie Dreame to see the soules Rewarded there for sinne VVhich sightes so rare and seldome seene as in my dreame I see Good Lords and Ladus vvith the rest shall straight reuealed bee And doing dutie thus no doubte but thou shalt bee imbraste Of suche as doe of honour or of vertuous learning taste FINIS I Quoth Richard Robinson ⧠The Booke to the Aucthour AND must I needes be packing hence about such newes to beare VVhich shal be to the most these daies an inward griefe to heare VVhy knowst thou not that worldlings wish to dwel on earth for aie And may not bide but them abhorre which saye they must awaye Howe shall I scape the cruell Iudge that is corrupt with golde Or craftie Carles and Muckscrapes now that al from poore men hold The Tyrant he will whet his blade the prowde will present puffe The wanton Dames will skould at mee the Roister strange wil snuffe Piers Pickthanke and Tom teltale will deuise a thousand waies Tibbe Tittiuilly that lowring Lasse some yll on mee wil raise VVhoremongers they and al their mates I doubt wil stone me straight Flatterers Filchers and Sclanderers both I looke but when they sight Rent Rackers that doe fleece the poore and Baillifes false vntrue VVith bragging Officers forgetting God that Conscience bid adue Murder Treason Theft and Guile maye not abide my face The greatest number at these daies will hurt mee in eache place And lustie Youth starke stamping mad wil be to heare these newes â–ª VVherfore I greeue these Dreames to tel ifte were in me to choose Thinkst thou they le credite Dreames these daies that Christ wil scarce beleeue No no I doubt it ouermuch then blame not mee to greeue But had thou pende some pleasaunt songes of Uenus smiling boye I not mistrust but almost all would clappe their handes for Ioye Or any thing but that which doth reprooue mens silthy vice No doubt among the most it would haue beene of greatest Price But speede as speede maye abroade I will attempte in haste Eyther of thankes or else rebukes the tone or tother taste The vertuous sorte I not mistrust the wicked here I warne The wise in christ wil thanke me much the foole wil laugh me scorne And now the paines plagues below where Charon rowes the barge As Thaucthour hath commaunded mee I shall declare at large And if I chaunse to speake amisse thy pardon here I craue Repentaunce at the sinners hande Is all Christ seekes to haue FINIS ¶ Richard Smith in praise of the Aucthor YE Muses all of Thespyas with sacred Songes that sing Novv staie your steppes geue eare a while and harke what newes I bring Your Sonne that lately did indite with sacred siluer quill In Forest here is fled awaye vnto Pernassus hill VVhere hee among the Muses there and Ladies of great Fame Contrites the time both daye and night in seruice of the same Beholding of these Goddesse face with bewtie shining bright Like to Diana with her traine Resplendishing by night Ambrosia is his foode sweete Nectar is his drinke VVhat pleasures are not reaped there that mortall heart can thinke I doe him deeme in deede to bee sir Orpheus Feâ—â— â–ª VVho made the stones to vnderstande and senceles Trees to heare The sauage Beastes of sundrye kinde came thrusting in a throng And went out of the vvilsome woodes to heare his sacred song Suche grace the Muses geue to some for to delight the eare And to allure the mortall mindes enchaunted as it were A Diamonde for daintie Dames For Peeres a precious Pearle This Robinson the Rubi red a Iewell for an Earle Suche Pearle can not bee bought I knowe for all the Golde in
wittely to watche that no man sawe when they to worke procede But quod I looke that your Father bleede in one vessell and with this Ram at once And doing thus I sayde that by and by with spéede theyr Father should arise with youthful flesh and bones These sillye Sisters and Daughters to this man beléeued well this subtile tale of mine â–ª And as I bad they slewe an aged Ram and so they did theyr Father deare in fine Beléeuing faithfullye by power deuine that theyr olde Father should bée made yong Alas which was not so but onelye crafte of mine to make an ende of him whome I had hated long Thus exited I by crafte theyr worke alas and dead lyeth theyr father bléeding fast But harke Morpheus harke how it then came to passe mischiefe hath euer her due rewarde at last I thought this wicked déede that thus was done and past woulde best haue pleased Iason then my Lorde Which chaunste not so for hée with all the hast fled from mée quite and all my actes abhorde And so to Corinthe to Creon Then the King hée tooke his waye as straight as thing might bée Who had a Daughter called Cruso bewties darling whome Iason married and so refused mée Whereat Dame Fame sound vp her Trumpet hye eache liuing eare was filled with the same Which made mée broyle as whot as gleyde might bée till I had spilde this tender noble Dame. Which through Magike and vile Coniuration A cofer I inuented with diuers Jewels moe Subtillye contriued of a straunge fashion with the which to Creuso I made my sonnes to goe To present the same that liuelye Ladye toe who gratefullye receyued it but yet alas beguilde For through my arte when as it was vndoe there flewe foorth fire that burnde both man and child Consumde to dust this Ladye fresh and gaye burnde all the pallas fiue yardes within â—he grounde Urged Iason him selfe to flée away or else with fire he had béene streight confound Many a wofull heart I made within that stounde the Clowdes themselues bewayling teares let fall The rockes and hilles brake out their plainting sounde beside the guiltlesse bloode that did for vengance call Of noble Iason thus the heart I slewe who thought to be reuengde of mine iniquitie Towards me when I perceyu'de he drew my two sonnes left aliue without compassion or pitie Which were both tender well made and wittie of my body begot and naturallye borne For malice to their father Iason amyd the Citie I cut their throtes and made their bodies torne With wilde horses vp and downe the stréete beside much mischiefe more than this be sure In all this stincking vale yet did thou neuer méete with any wretch that did like gréefe procure But who so euer meanes in wickednesse to byde or leade a Tyrauntes life in th end shall haue rewarde According his deserts this cannot be denyed â–ª Though mortall fleshe thereto haue no regarde And then quod she thou knowest my name and why that I am thus tormente in Stygion pitte O that witches and Coniurers knew so well as I of Joues mightie doome that doth in heauen sitte Then woulde they mende if they had grace or witte To serue the Lorde woulde set theyr whole delight And disobedient children woulde their follye flitte assur edly the Lorde at length doth smite And with these wordes her paines increaste so sore But that shée sayde report good Morpheus thus Or else aâ— all wee heard her saye no more but that shée shrikte as one that tormente is Thus seeing the reward of her wicked déedes Wée stayed a while her tormentes to behold Which at a moment both daye and hower bréedes much more then can by any tongue bée tolde To sée the staring Deuilles with fiery speares on Dragons backes with poisoned pumples pight As at a Quintan at Medea eche Tyrant beares and through her runnes that trickling blood appeares Then from the scalding heart by violence out teares Hote flames of fire at woundes on euery side Monsters with hornes and lothsome louped eares Ranne on this wretch with gnashing téeth they cryed The blood by murder this wicked wretche had shed thondered vengeaunce whose terrible noyse Heapte double paines vpon her wretched head and filde that dreadeful vale alas with woeful noise Innumerable of Witches out of theyr Cabbins rose with screming scrikes they yelded loude and hye Hote Pitche and Brimstone eache one on other throse A hell it selfe mée thought it was to sée Eache one in hande begrypte a Butchers knife the blades in fleshe on euerye side they hide The throate the Guttes or nexte to ridde the life the mortall woundes they make on euery side Then straight with thundring throate Maegaera cryde come Cacus come bring double paine and woe Let wickednesse in endles flames bée fride come come the Gods haue sixte it soe At which came Cacus and Cloudes of fire shakes more fearefull farre then blaste of storming winde Eache pitte boylde vp the craggye mountayne quakes all crawling creepes the Snakes of Serpentes kinde No greater griefe no damned spryte coulde finde For out of flashe to gleydes of glowing coale From paine to paine from place to place assignde and al to toyle and teare the woefull soule And thus wée lefte this late rewarded Dame and so adrestour selues to crooked Charons bote Where many a wandering spirite had passage by y same through boyling broath thrée times as sulfer hote With muche a doe at length wée passage gote and downe the smoaking banckes wée creptâ— on knée Tyll at the length by chaunce it was our lotte twoo men to sée tormented woefullye ⧠The bookes verdite vpon Medea HEr cause who can bewaile that plaide this butchers parte As from her father deare to steale that lou'de her in his hart Her brother thus to slea the Parentes hearts to kill And with a straunger ronne awaye to feede her fleshly will. The guiltlesse blood to sucke of Creuso vvorthy Dame And all at once vppon a rocke to wast in fiery flame Beside her Children deare hath wounde with mortall knife The smiling Babes her body beare bereft their tender life VVhat eyes can stint from fluddes whose eares doe vnderstande To cal to minde the gyltles bloods shed by this womans handes VVhat harme by witchraft done it passeth tongue to tell Or any heart to thinke the somme or hand to penne it well Alas whoe would haue thought that in a womans breast Dame nature would haue let been wrought to breede so much vnrest But harde it is to trust what euer that shee bee That to hir father is vniust shee meanes the same to thee But loe you cruell Dames that loue your wils so much I speake it now to all your shames if there be any such Medea now is gone that all the bate did brewe Take heede among you there be none with hir to prooue vntrewe You witches all take heede you see how God rewardes And what appoynted is your meede that diuelish
the slieghty tempting bayte Which hanges on flattering bowes that flatters him to And to his mozid mouth declines y barked is ful drye WheÌ„ the hungry soule would eate away y fruite doth flye And flood on euery side swels vp with boyling waues Wherein hée standes an inche aboue the Chinne Whose cruell thyrst to drynke no litle craâ—es But when to taste poore soule hée doth beginne It blencheth out of sight as it had neuer béene Then touched fruite doeth beate him on the téethe Appointed by the Gods to worke him double griefe With face deformde al quaking standeth hée Ten times worse then death the Caitiâ—e lookes Nought els vppon his legges but skinne and bones to sée Eache finger of his hande as bare as angling hookes His bellye as thinne as out of season flowkes Muche like a shadowe of the Moone hée standes With rewfull cheare doth wring his careful handes And after a while amid his tormentes greate Quoth hee Oh Marcus Curius blessed bée thy dayes Thou wast indifferent thou dealt not with disceate â–ª Thou wanst thy subiects harts wanst immortal praise Thou wast a louing Capitaine to men at al assaies For to thy people thou wast a Parent deare As by thy noble actes among them did appeare Thou didst deuide the soyle by iust and equall line And to eache man thou fortye acres gaue Which ground before alotted was for thine â—â—â— â–ª like for like with least thou would but haue The faithful heartes of men was al that thou didst craue Therefore thy iust rewarde is with the Gods on hyâ— And through the earth thy same abroade doth flye And wride his head and Morpheus straight behelde Thou knowest my name quoth he I pray y get the hence To leaue my talke by thyrst I am compelde The hungry worme doth also worke mée vengeance Sith of my déedes thou hast true intelligence Declare it to thy frindes how euer they regard it How I for my wickednesse of Pluto am rewarded That will I doe quoth he the best I may or can To all the worlde diuolgat shall it be My voyce shall thunder it out vnto eche man The rewarde of wickednesse that now I sée Doe so quod Tantalus and there with all doth hée Betwiâ—t the fruite and guylefull fountaines vaine Watching wisheth foode to ease his hungry paine And thus we both departe and went our way This dreirye doubtfull Myser left we there Whose thirste increaseth griefe to see the pray That heart woulde haue in sight doth aye appéere Streight came Alecto And shee began to sweare quoth shée thou oppressor thy hunger still increase To rewarde thy wickednesse hope not to haue release â–ª No sooner from the valley were we gone But in our eares we hearde a carefull crye Which sayde alas in Plutos kingdome none Sustaineth halfe the plagues that I doe taste and trye Fie one worldely workes fye vpon them fye Quoth Morpheus to me make haste we will go sée Who it is that plaines and â—ones so grieuouslye ⧠The bookes verdite vpon Tantalus THe monstrous Camel that staÌ„ping beast cake the sluggish Asse And Bayarde bolde I may compare to many men alas â–ª VVhich with the Camell beares awaye the massie packe of pelfe Yet twise as slowe as sluggish Asle but onely for themselfe The lothsome loade of wished wealth the harts hath so bewitcht That Iustice friendship pitie and loue away is from them twitcht VVith brags they bouldly leape plunge nothing they do mistrust As Baiard doeth till at the length to yeld to harme they must These Beastes mee thinke doe wel present the qualities of such That with the Camel drug and drawe of worldlye wealth so much As Tantalus the Phrigion did the Camels part that plaide VVhose mind froÌ„ Midas muck in time no counsel could haue staid His Beastly heart beare that away that body nor bones could doe As some such Camels at these daies are lately start vp newe VVithin the circuite of our soile which members beare of men VVhose customes in their countrey is to beastly now and then For oft their greedy pauÌ„che deuoures their neighbors house grouÌ„d Yea Pastures Parks whole fields Tounes al that may be found VVhich passeth beast or beastly bones of worldlinges for to beare Although their hearts docraue as much as both they see and heare They hoke and holde with tothe and naile by slight of wily braine That which we see each time and tide doth waste like snow in raine Goodes are ill gotte which causeth losse of endlesseioy and blisse To purchase paines where lasting griefe and tormente euer is Marke this wel you mighties whome the Lord appointesto rule Lende not your eares in any wise to Peter Pickthankes schole His flattering fetche doth robbe you al offamous honour due VVhose painting pensels euermore reprocheful colours hewe And causeth curses of the poore whose plaints the Lord doeth heare â—edressing streight their care grief throughout the earth echewhere VThat Camell then more couetous what Asse more dull of witte VVhat boulder Bayara can be found to keepe the lothsome pitte TheÌ„ are these muckserapers at these daies that swalow vp the poore VVhich haue to much yet not content but proule for more more VVhose gluttons eies are neuer filde till gaping chappes bee full Of suddie soile and slimie slitche where at this while you pulll And then your woeful soules bewaile the daies your carkasse spendâ— â–ª In wickednes and neuer could finde any time to mende But wordes are wind what will you more No vertue is regarded Be as be maie the daie will come your workes will bee rewarded FINIS ⧠The rewarde of an Ambicious and vaine glorious counseller called Vetronius Turinus For his wicked life among them that hee might ouercome and for his Pride whose wordes folow in the middes of his tormentes PEace Tantalus hold still thy plainting chaps Bewaile no more thy state thy lot is light enough And if thou knewe of my mischaunsed haps And how I am torment within this stinking clough CoÌ„tented would thou be where now thou art not so And if thou felte but least of this my endles woe Fye of the face of fortunes smiling lookes Whose slye deceyte is sugred baytes to cast The foolishe sorte to catche vpon hir hookes That erste from smiling mouth the Iudas kisse had taste And suche as shée hath set the hext of all Shée most delites to geue the greatest fall Who sittes so sure as in the simple seate Who is so Ritche as hée that reason doth content Who scapes the hooke that leapes at euery baite Who meddles much at last that is not shent Or yet who deales with craft that is not spide Who hath not al mens wrath that euermore hath lide The sure pathe I neuer founde as yet Which was to set all worldly thinges at nought With Phaeton I thought aboue the starres to sit On worldly wealth was euermore my thought But custome teacheth al thinges shal litle bee
time To sounde these wordes in th' eares of young and olde VVith fumes lo here he dieth that fumes hath euer solde Thus confusion my guerdon quitte ful well And payde my hyre which I deserued best The Gods also condemnde me into hell Among the wicked sorte with whome I am possest of yrkesome Stigion whereas Phlegethons flames The pompe of cruell Tyrauntes euer dayly tames Loe this the lotte of wicked life in th' ende Looke to your states you that Counsellors bée You that perswade the nobles to offende Leaue of betime for my rewarde you sée Bee sure whosoeuer in wickednesse procéedes In th ende the Gods doe recompence their deedes How sayst thou Morpheus hast thou hearde the like Whome hast thou knowne to haue a fall like mine Coulde Fortune worke to me a greater spite Then first to whirle me vp then cast me downe in fine When least of all hir wrath I did mistrust From hext of Pelops turret no helpe but downe I must Thus through the coste I got eche poore mans curse With shamefull death and hell at latter daye A deere bought treasure thus to fill my purse To lose the ioyes among the Goddes for aye These words no sooner sayd so much increast his pains His tongue with ruful voyce his perfit talke constrains This sincke of sorrow wherein he standes and cryes With pitche and Brimstone boyles vp like a floode Where serpents with their triple heads still yelling flyes Whose crooked clawes are bathed in his bloode From out whose mouthes such foming flames arise Which lighteth in his face or spowteth in his eyes Eche finger of his hande was turnde to ougly snakes His téeth were chaungde to wormes Cerestres like His legges all serpentes that dayly vengaunce takes Upon eche other that venomly gan smite His toes vpon his feets were filthie Todes to sée That swelde with poyson as bigge as they might bée His heart the Captaine of his sleyghtie tongue Transformd in likenesse of a Hedgehogge kinde Before whose greedie mouth such riped fruite was hong As monstrous beast in hearte did wishe to finde Which when he toucht they turnde to Scorpions all Perforce his lippes from gaping chappes lets fall His guilefull tongue was turnde to Crocadyle Amidde whose sleightie heade brast out consuming coles From out whose eyes fell droppes like gaddes of stéele Wherewith sometime he trapt poore sillie soules And molten golde into his mouth was pourde Whose gasping gummes most gréedely deuourde And yet a greater griefe then this hadde hée A plagie paine aboue the rest no doubt An horrible feend none such in hell to sée Before him standes whose voyce doth roare and shoute What ioyes among the Gods they lose that wicked are This ougly Geylor to him streight did declare And with the Psalmes began this cruell Clarke To taunte the torment wretche with griefe to heare Saying Turinus incline thine eare and harke I am thy Curate thou art my Parishner Geue eare quoth hée and marke my sayinges well Else shal these hookes with care thy corps compel And then these places of scripture straight hée reades And shakes his Snakie head with grinning téeth And scoffes him still with all his olde done déedes That then to heare no litle was his gréefe And then this frouning Curate braggingly gan hoast And tels the wretch what endles ioyes hée lost Thou hast lost quoth hée myrth out of measure All libertye all Light all reioysing and health All wealth all ioye and glorious pleasure All honour all power al long of thy selfe With solace and loue vnitie concorde and peace Wisedom vertuous melodye and felicities increase Méekenes and beatitude from the is fled and gone And that in most glorious heauenly Citye Hope for no redresse be sure heare is none But euer more vnspeakeable miserye This Den quoth hee is still the place of paines For thée and such of whom the poore complaines Nowe hast thou lost the company of Archangels With Thapostles Patriarkes and Cherubins Powers Thrones Dominione and Aungels Confessors Uirgins Martyrs with blessed Zeraphins Where righteous sprites cease not but alwaies sing Holy Holy Holy God of earth and heauen King. And with these words with hast hée shut the booke To some place else hée ranne to execute his spite Whereat Turine cast vp a woeful looke Quoth hée good Morpheus take foorth thy pen and write Alas regester vp my rewfull wicked ende It may preuent much harme if the same were pende But Morpheus â—asting downe his heade for woe Uneth one worde coulde well pronounce almost But sayd come Robinson I praye thée let vs goe My heart doth wâ—rche to see this grâ—slye ghost And then he wisht that all offenders sée How Pluto doth rewarde all them that wicked bée And thus we left Turinus in his paines Whose wante of grace we both lamented much And there in Jayle he shakes his lincked chaines Whose bandes to breake no mortall handes may tuch His endlesse paines it bootes not to be wayle No sacrifice to Ioue can ought at all prâ—uayle ⧠The Bookes verdit LOE thus to see him pulde with raging hagges of hell That whilom thousandes ruide esteemd with Princes well I meruell in my minde such men should plagued bee VVhome Fortune hath assinde vnto such dignitie But now I doe perceyue none such the Gods will spare That poore men doe bereaue of money goodes or ware Or whome by counsell seemes to blinde their Noble eyes VVhose iudgements best esteemes and quites with double fees Or such as sentence sel by slye and cloked craft And harmelesse soules compel a fruitelesse tree to grafte On these the Gods doe poure their wrath by whole consent And alter in an houre the wickeds yll intent Regarding not at all their statelie hie degree But shortlye giue the fall to such as climbe to hie Turinus now hath lost his prince that lou'de him best And such as hate him most ioyde thus to see him drest VVhat profittes blubbred teares The Gods haue iudged thee How long or fewe yeres they know so doe not wee To leaue thee in thy paines of very â–ª force I must No hope but this remaines a warning fayre I trust â–ª FINIS ⧠The wofull complaint of the monstrous Emperour Heliogabalus for spending of his dayes in abhominable whoredome SYth Morpheus thou art come to take the dewe of Plutos kingdome where the wicked guerdon haue Of all the rest thou euer sée or knewe I am the marke to guide the rest from scath â–ª Loe howe I lye that earst did florish braue â–ª and yet Turinus thinkes he hath much wrong I heare him hither vpon the furies raue yet not such cause as I â–ª Turinus holde thy tongue Oh how tickle is the staye of honors hie what doth auaile a while to guide the earth Th' example plaine appeareth now by me an Emprour once descende of noble birth â–ª My triple crowne that was abundaunce worth â–ª my Scepture sette with Saphirs rich to sée My sworde that helde
sir John His Nunnes and his Ancrees and all be thrust out His Pardnors go begging and wandring about The shauelings be shronken that once bare the swaye Their credite and customes be runne to decaye And Boner that bolstred the beames of his glorie Lyeth Sunke in the sandes that onse beare the blade That many a Christian therewith made full sorie A while in Christes Uineyarde he cut a great glade And stoute Storie that all the sturre made Gardiner is wanting that was the blood letter And Fecknam is fast that was the clocke setter Besyde an infinite number within that same I le That now be decayed and worne out of minde Banisht is Babilon that florishterâ— while And the way to Ierusalem by the Gospell they finde The Pope they repute to be a guide blinde They passe not a pin for his blessinges nor curses Let him saye what he will they holde fast their purses And in place of his friendes are starte vp his foes And one cruell Captaine that workes all the griefe A Iewell of Christ Jesus gaue Harding the bloes Confuting his fables in spite of his teeth Hée féedes the poore flocke with Christian beléefe Squencht is the confidence I say of our Harding Ther 's none young nor olde that estéemes him a farding One Barthlet wée may ban throughout this whole vale And so may the Pope with Candle Booke and Bell In the Papall pedigrewe hee tels such a tale That all Romish Roges may rore to heare tell That Christians had knowledge of the trumprye they seâ—â— For he tippes vp the sacke and all poureth out From the first to the last he rappes the whole route This and much more being the iust cause Of the Popes great plague and miserable want I meane of money to maintaine his lawes Perforce must perswade you that here make your plaint Considering Gods worde hath him on the tainte You wofull soules that in Purgatorie lye Must yet here remaine there is good cause why Which is this you know the Pope hath béen at cost To found betwixt Pluto and Rome these stayres And nowe it is like that his labour is lost Because that his customes and credite thus weares Yet hée hath set Priests Munkes Nunnes and Friers And the rest of his Rable in hande for to make A Ladder to reache into Heauen for your sake And vp it was reared â–ª yeares long a goe And well vnderset with Dyrges and Masses With Popishe Props thousandes on a roe As Pardons Buls Idols Holy water and Ashes Palmes and holy Bread and many olde Trashes Lampes Lightes Crossing and Créeping And all to redresse your pitifull wéeping Singing and Ringing with Belles euery where Sensing and Fensing with Booke Bell and Candle Cursing and Praying of Muncke Nun and Frier Night daye and hower al thing for to handle Like workemen worthy not bunglers to Scamble A building to bolte so hye in the skyes doth craue Cunning workemen and such as are wise But loe alas the Popes willing minde For money to release you of these bitter paines So many thousandes stroue this Ladder to climbe That you mist the Heauen and hée his great gaines For bending it brake with waight of your Chaines By meanes whereof therein who put trust World without ende remaine héere they must And too short it was by full ten degrées And neuer could reach Gods glorye and blisse Although hee and his were as busie as Bees In th ende it woulde haue prouided but this Wherefore bée contented no remeedye is Tyl the Ladder bée mended hence to dispatche yée Or elâ— that the Pope come him selfe for to fetch yee The Gospell of Christ hath throughly confounded Not onely this Ladder of the Popes owne deuice But also destroyde al them that first founded The painted helles and paper Paradice Heare among vs they shall playe theyr Price Theyr stinking Idolatrye and vile Superstition As holye as they bée heare findes no remission Therefore it is Pultos pleasure that you knowe What fortune hath hapned your Father the Pope Hee him selfe to Heauen is not able to goe Except Saint Peter hale him vp in a Roape Or that hée chaunse to bée pulde by his Coape By our Lady of Walsingham swéet Roode of Chester Else his porcion in Heauen is scant worth a Testar These wordes being saide hée dismounteth the stage Saying vengeance and torment protect Plutos grace At the which cryed out with terrible rage Both yong and olde that were in that place A sight to sorrowfull in beholding theyr case I meane of al such as put trust in the Masse These Newes made theyr torments much worse then it was To sée the sorrowfull sort hale one another Crying out on the Popes and his shauelinges there The Father the Sonne the Daughter the Mother The Uncle the Aunte and Grandsier appeare To the ninthe degrée thousandes there were Both Ritch and Poore that trusted to the Masse Not one of themall but I am sure there hée was Some cryde fye of Idols and some of holye water Some of Supersticion and some of Scalaceli Other some lamented the mumbling of Lady Psalter Alas quod another this will not preuaile yée Now maye you sée their trumprye doth faile yée So it doth them selues for loe where they lye That late hoyst theyr Gods in Haulters full hye And loe quoth hée where they hée singing a Masse Pope Alexander Pope Ioane and both vnder a stoale Sée you not the swéete blood of hayles in a glasse Which Idoll brought hither many a poore soule A Pardoner mée thinke standes by with a scrowle Some officer bée like of Saint Johns sweete Frary Looke who is in his bookes it is best you prepare yée At which wordes such a number brake out Of Caues and Sinkes on euery side As Tipling Bibs and Suckers of growâ—e Seâ— Sowers and Brewbates thyther fast bide Tutors and Teltales in euery nowke cryde Pickethankes and Prowâ—ers beare holy water Their maisters being worldlings sayd Confiteor and Misereator Flattery light Lampes to our Lady of grace Ipocrisie calde them vp to the offering Saint Anne of Buckstones was washing a pace But Lucre was lifting small pence to the Coffering At shrieft they were close in euery place Twâ—â— faces in one hoode the Crosse then did beare Whereat abhomination beganne for to sweare Great deuiâ—ion there séemed to bée All that were there â–ª did knocke on theyr breast But alas to late for to crye then Peccaui Althoughe the Pope both Crossed and bleste For when hée lookte backe at Ite missa est When Dan Limliâ—ter the Candles should oute All flewe on a fire their Colledge through out ¶ Howe the Ladder was amended that lately was craishâ— After that time trulie of no man I aihste FINIS ⧠The torment of Tiranny and the reward for his vvickednesse Being a King called Mydas VVhich Tirannouslye swallowed not onely his Countrey for Lucre sake but his householde Seruauntes also THus as wée left these Romish
on the other side his flagge Was depainted a fagot that glowed like a gleede And a bluddâ—e hande with a sworde that did bragge Gainst all that profest Christes Gospell in déede With a poasie that threatned both aged and young To be léeue in his lore or else howe their tongue But then to sée what a méeting there was Betwéene Pluto Proserpin and Boner that time For want of skill I must let it passe I cannot mention th' one halfe in this rime No displeasure to the Pope if himselfe had bene there It had not beene possible to made him better cheare Mary what they sayd that wée did not know But there was for ioye such colling and kissing Some laught that teeth a foote long they did show And clawde eache other by the pate without missing To see the triumph made with fleshhookes spits Had bene able to haue brought a man from his wits For thunder and lightning flew fizing about Dartes and firebrandes walkt here and there Bonfiers were made in all hell throughout For ioye that Boner was comming so néere Whose face I frayde least he shoulde haue spide me For when he was liuing he might not abide me Behinde Morpheus I crept till they marched by And were past as farre as Cerberus warde But when they were within we hearde such a crye As among all the sorrowes before I not hearde They set bell on fire with making a feast And all was to welcome this lately come gest What was Boners Businesse that I doe not knows â–ª Peraduenture he went to fetche soules away thence But iudge as you list therein yea or no I would not be with him for all the Popes pence But if Boners babes doe thinke that I lie Then let them go thither the truth for to trie ⧠The ende of the Rewarde of VVickednesse ⧠Retourning from Plutos Kingdome To Noble Helicon The place of Infinite Ioye WHen wée from Plutos Pallaice came and vewed had this woe Quod Morpheus yet I haue a walke a litle waye to goe For sith I haue take al this paine the doleful place to sée My friendes shall knowe of my affayres for that I am so nye This viage hight I long a goe performde my promise is As thou thy selfe who eare demaunde shal witnesse bée of this My Ladies lookte for mée long since some vncouth newes to heare And howe in Stigion flames they sped that liuing wicked were Therefore it standes mée much vpon my promise to performe For that vnto these worthy Dames so firmely I haue sworne It nothing doth behoue quoth hée with them to bawke or blooke For why they doe from mighty Gods descende of Sacred stocke Of Mercurie the onely sayde Mineruas dearlinges déere Whose mightie Muse and learned skill had neuer yet theyr péere In Helicon their dwelling is with Cytheron full hye Pernassus for theyr pleasure haue when they thereto agrée And loe where Helicon appeares of truth a princely place Where thou and I these Ladies with must commen face to face At which mine eyes I lifted vp The fore sayde place I sée Which was mée thought so passing fine as neuer thing might bée The Redrose and the Rosemarye Inuironed this Hill In euerye nooke the Gâ—lyflower him selfe presented styll The comely Bancks with Daysies deckt and Primrose out of crie The Uiolets and Cowleslops swéete abought in sight I spye With other Hearbes that pleasaunt were which did mée good to sée Whose fragrant smels perfume the ayre y from this place doth flee The Thrustel and the Nightingale with Musike swéete they Pipe So pleasauntlye the Gods them selues to heare would much delite â—â—â— here doe yéeld the Christal Springs theyr trickling siluer floods And there Pomgarnet Trée with fruite to earth doth veile his buds The Fâ—lbeard in another place as browne as Beryes shoe â—â—â—sâ—nes I spyed the Orrange hyng with Quince and many moe What wa st that wanted there nothing that might delite the minde â–ª But hée that lookte in euery place the same should present finde In triple wise the Arbours cast I made of swéetest Briar Mirt with the Uine that vp and downe the ripest grape doth beare Of Bore are Turrets dubbed round stayres by arâ—e wel wrought â–ª Tascende into the tops thereof as fine as maye bée thought Wherein these Ladies ofte doe sit this Joyfull sight to vewe For there they maye afarre beholde what strangers come a newe And when wée had perusde this place of highe and mightye â—ame In hexte of al these Turret tops wée spied a noble Dame Adornde and deckte in comelye raye and séemely to beholde Hir face was like an Angel bright whose hayre that steinde the gold â–ª Not curld and fruzulde her browes about but combde in order fayre And on her head of Laurell made a garlande which shee ware No double Ruffes about her necke no garded Gowne ware shee Nor on her handes that steinde the snow no ringes there were to see Hir eyes stoode stedfast in her head they whirlde not here and there â–ª Nor in her face you coÌ„uld espye ought else but grace appeare A comely Gowne shée had vpon of collour sad and sage As best became a worthy Dame presenting midle age To whome wée drewe in al the haste our reuerence for to vse Whom when shee saw first word shee said welcome quoth she what newes â–ª But further or I do proceede her name I shal describe And in what order that I sée hir Sisters in that tide Melpomina this Ladye hight the eldest of the nine That there among hir Sisters sate within that Turret gréene And euerye Ladye with a Booke in studie sate full fast And reading of the worthy actes that had beene done and past The workes of Poets all they had and scanning there they were â–ª Who was best worthy in his time a Poets name to beare And Instruments in euery nowke these noble Ladies had To recreate theyr Muses with and for to make them glad And euerye one appareyld like whose face like starres did shiuâ— Respondent to Melpomina In gracious giftes diuine Among them were no wanton songs nor Bacchus banequets sought â–ª Nor newe deuice of prancking Pride nor signe of euill thought There was no care to purchase lande nor fleessing of the poore Nor renting Houses out of crye nor hording for a store There was no â—â—riuing for such pelfe as worldlinges nowe delite â—om Teltale could not there bée found that worketh al the spite Nor Peter Pickthancke beare no swaye for all his craftye fatche The Baiâ—fe Laurence Lurcher there hath nothing for to catche There is no Tyrant there that spoiles nor doth y poore man wrong No taking in of Commons is within that circuite long One séekes not there anothers blood his liuinges to obtaine No priuie hate nor open wrath among them doth remaine Hipocrisie doth take no place among these worthye Dames Of any Crime it is not heard that one another blames The ruggie blast of Boreas mouth at no