in possibilitie For to be reacht vnto But say it were Will the Ambitious-minded-man forbeare To be Ambitious if he once fulfill His longing thoughts No he will rather still Encrease that passion which first he had Or fall into some other that 's as bad For altring the Condition or Estate The soules vexation doth no more abate Then changing roomes or beds doth ease his paines That hath a Feuer since the Cause remaines Still in himselfe But how and which way then May these Diseases be recur'd in men Why by Philosophy Counsell and Reason These being well appli'd in their due season May do much good Else seek the Cause whence rise These hurtfull and pernitious maladies Let them consider That and so they may Cut off the ' ffect by taking it away But if they cannot the occasions find I le tell them 't is a Basenesse of the mind Or els a false Opinion that 's in some Of Good or Euill present or to come Respecting good things thus They do desire And are to yehemently set on fire With coueting what seemes so Or anoying Themselues with an Excessiue Ouer-ioying In the obtaining In regard of ill They are oppressed with some sorrow still So that we see if men would goe about To change their minds and driue that basenes out Through Magnanimity And note well this That Passion but some false Opinion is Fram'd by the will and drawne by the direction Of Iudgement that 's corrupted by affection Me thinkes they might by reasons help confound The former errors that haue tane such ground In their weake Hearts and learne for to esteeme That which doth either good or euill seeme And in their soules such perturbation wrought As things not good nor ill and that which ought Being vnworthy neither to molest Nor breed such Passions in their carefull breast By these and other such like meanes as these The wise Philosophers in elder daies Kept out those furies and 't were now a shame If that we Christians could not doe the same Hauing besides those helps whereon they staid A certaine promise of a better ayd If wee le but aske it Le ts demand it then To rid these euils from our soules agen If that we feele them yet not stirring in vs Let vs preuent them ere by force they win vs For 't is more easie eu'ry one doth know For to keep out then to expella foe If any thinke I from my purpose swarue Cause my intent was chiefly to obserue And not to Teach let them not blame me tho For who can see his friends lie sick and know Which way to cure them But you 'l say my skill Cannot instruct you yet may my good-will Be worth accepting and the other neither A thing to be reiected altogether For I haue seene when in a knowne disease Doctors with all their Art could giue no ease To their weake Patient a Country Dame Hath with a home-made medicine Cur'd the same And why not I in this Yes I le abide it Being well vs'd it helps for I haue tride it Thus much for that but still there doth remaine Some obseruations yet for to explaine I haue not done for I am further task't And there 's more Humors yet to be vnmask't Wherein because I will not step astray Nor swerue from Truth a iot beside the way I 'le say no more least men should seeme belide Then what my owne experience hath espide And then if any frowne as sure they dare not So I speake truth let them frowne still I care not But if my Muse you should so saucy finde Sometime to leaue her Notes and speak her minde As oft she doth when she but haps to see How vaine or weake or fickle most men be Yet blame me not 't is out of the good-will I beare to you and hatred vnto ill Which when I see my purpos'd Course I breake Because indeed I am compel'd to speake Yet thinke not though I some where bitter be I count my selfe from all those Vices free Rather imagine 't is to me well knowne That here with others faults I tell mine owne The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE VANITY Inconstancie VVeake-nesse and Presumption of Men. PRECATIO THou that Createdst all things in a weeke Great God whose fauour I doe onely seeke E'ne thou by whose sweet Inspiration I vndertooke this obseruation Oh grant I pray since thou hast dain'd to show Thy seruant that which thousands doe not know That this my noting of mans hum'rous Passion May worke within Me such an Alteration I may be for my past offences sorry And lead a life to thy eternall glorie Let not Ambition nor foule Desire Nor Hate nor Enuy set my heart on fire Reuenge nor Choller no nor Iealousie And keepe me from Despaire and Crueltie Fond hope expell and I beseech thee blesse My soule â—rom feare and too much heauines But giue me speciall grace to shun the vice That is so common Beastly Auarice Yea grant me power I not onely know But flye those euils that from Passion flow Moreouer now Inspire my soule with art And grant me thy assistance to impart The rest of mens ill Customes yet remaining And his vaine humors that by my explaining They may perceiue how odious I can make them Blush at the reading and at last forsake them So let my Muse in this and things to come Sing to thy glory Lord or else be dumbe THE SECOND BOOKE Of the Vanitie Inconstancie Weaknes and Presumption of MEN. OF VANITIE SATYR 1. MY Muse that now hath done the best she can To blaze corrupted Passion bred in man Goes further here and meanes for to vndoe Another knot of ill 's he 's prone vnto From which as out of the main root there growes All whatsoeuer euill Mankind knowes With thousands of bad Humors of which some Such as to mind by obseruation come As also such as are the proper crimes Of these vngodly and disorder'd times She means to treat off the chiefe heads be these Consider of them Reader if thou please First VVanton and light-headed Vanity Next that Camelion-like Inconstancy Then miserable Weaknes lastly this Damned Presumption that ore-daring is But ere I doe begin this worke that I May speake to purpose with sinceritie Lord I beseech thee help me to explaine And teach me to contemne the thing that 's vaine I haue begun in thee this my endeauour And constancie I craue for to perseuer Also my knowledge I confesse is weake Yet through thy strength and truth I hope to breake These mires of sinne from which mankind kept vnder Must be let loose like beds of Eelles by thunder Then that I may man's pride the better see From all Presumption Lord deliuer me Likewise disperse the foggy mist of sinne That to my purpose hath a hindrance bin And th' euill by thy wisedome I perceiue Lord let thy mercy giue me grace to leaue That being free my selfe I may not coldly Tax
ABVSES STRIPT AND WHIPT OR SATIRICAL ESSAYES By GEORGE WYTHER Diuided into two Bookes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dispise not this what ere I seeme in showe A foole to purpose speaks sometime you know AT LONDON Printed by G. ELD for FRANCIS BVRTON and are to be solde at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Green-Dragon 1613. To him-selfe G. W. wisheth all hapinesse THou euen my selfe whome next God my Prince and Country I am most engaged vnto It is not vnlikelie but some will wonder why contrary to the worlds custome I haue made choyse of thy Patronage for this booke rather then the protection of such whose mightinesse might seeme better able to defend it especially considering such a Gigantick troupe of aduersaries haue banded themselues against the Truth that one of them Goliah-like dares raile vpon a whole hoast of Israel It may be I say some will wonder and some scoffe at mee for it for which cause though to answer them with sic volo had been sufficient yet to shew I will not like our Great ones stand so much vpon my authority as to make my VVill my Reason I heere let you know why and for what causes I haue done it the first is this I could not amongst all men finde any man in my opinion so fitting for this purpose but either my Worke was vnworthy or too worthie his Patronage Secondly it is said Obsequium amicos veritas odium parit and I doubting my free speech would hardly make a Diapason pleasing to the eare of a common Mecaenas thought it best to hold my tong or speake to my selfe whose disposition I am better acquainted with Thirdly seeing I know but what men appeare and not what they are I had rather indure the Kites tyranny then with Aesops Doues make the Sparrow-hauke my Champion Fourthly if I haue spoken Truth it is able to defend it selfe if not who-ere be my Patron it is I must answere for it Fiftly for asmuch as I know my owne minde best I purpose if need be to become my own Aduocate Sixtly for my owne sake I first made it and therefore certaine I am I my selfe haue most right vnto it But seauently and lastly which is indeed the principal Reason I haue made this Dedication to thee poore world-despised Selfe euen to put thee in minde seeing thou hast here boldly begun to bid defiance to the Flesh and vpon iust causes quarrelled with the World that thou take heed to thine owne words and not through basenes of minde or vntowardnes of Fortune to thy euerlasting disgrace faintly giue ouer so noble a Combate If euer aduersitie as t is like enough oppresse thee yet remember thy owne sayings and in despight of outward Destinies haue a care to keepe an vndeiected heart still free for Vertue Or on the contrary if euer as t is vnlikely vnexpected Prosperity bee cast vpon thee then look to thy selfe take to thee this poore booke of thine wherein thou shalt see the dangers of it and be perhaps thereby staid from many a perilous enterprise which that estate might else driue thee into Reade it weekely daily yea and howerly toe what though it bee thine owne thou knowest mans nature to bee so vncertaine and prone to forgetfulnesse euen in the best things that thou canst not haue too many Memorandums The wisest fall and therefore euery day was Philip desirous to bee remembred that hee was a Man thou thinkest I know still to remaine what thou art I desire in some things thou maist but vnlesse thou labour it with diligent watchfulnesse ouer affection it is at least much to be doubted if not altogether to bee despaired of thou hast seene many by an alteration in their estate beene so metamorphosed as if they were not the same men nor of that Nation Nay remember it thou thy selfe and that but vpon a bare hope or imagination of some preferment hast bin puffed vp and exalted aboue measure consider now then how much more thou hadst beene so and what had become of thee if God had not by dashing those hopes called thee to thy selfe againe Alas if hee had answered thy ambitious expectations to thy desire thou hadst bin by this time past recouerie and not thought of this but delighted in villany bin ouer-mastered by passion rusht into all vanity and presumption yet neuer felt any danger till it were too late to preuent it Thou hast oft wisht thou hadst bin borne to the like means that others are which might it haue beene so now thou seest thou shouldst hardly or neuer haue come to the knowledge of those things that are now showne thee T is true thou hast lamented to be crost in thy preferments but thou seest since that it might haue been thy vndoing if it had not beene so and maist perswade thy selfe whether it be now or neuer it will be to thy good For tell me hast thou not often felt euen when thou wert busiest to preuent them fond loue ambition reuenge couetousnesse and such like Passions then to inuade thee Hast thou perceiued it I say How much more then would they haue beene ready to assaile thee when quite forgetting them thou hadst wholly addicted thy self to the things of this world Let mee aduise my deare-selfe then to make vse of this thine owne worke it will be better to thee then all the world for this good it may do thee and to this end I made both â—t and the Dedication thereof to thee that if euer hereafter the temptations of the world the flesh the diuel or any occasion should make thee to forget this mind that thou art now in or so blind thy vnderstanding thou shouldst not perceiue thy owne and the Worlds follies as thou now dost That if thou shouldst be in that miserable state as many are to haue no feeling of thy danger that if thou shouldst bee wofully flattered and haue no friend that dares or loues thee so well to put thee in mind of thy transgressions Then I haue ordained this to shew thee what once thou wert to touch thee againe with the feeling of thy miseries and to bee vnto thee that true Friend which free from all faigned inuention shal plainely tell thee what perhaps should else haue neuer beene brought againe to thy remembrance Looke then that for thy owne sake thou respect this how euer to others it may seeme a trifle Bee carefull of thy actions for seeing thou knowest the dangerous Passions wherevnto Man is subiect hast showne his vanities layed open his Weakenesse and sharpely taxed his Presumptions If now thou shouldest wilfully runne thy selfe into the same euilles the vvorld would vpraidâ— thee this Booke yea thy Conscience accuse thee God and good-men hate thee thy fault be more odious and in-excusable thy iudgement more seuere and which is worst thy punishment most intollerable I say seeke therefore if for no other cause so to carry thy selfe that at least thou maist haue a
Rime Faith I would do it though thou wisht me choakt Did'st thou but see how thy faire antique shape Is now transformed to a shapelesse hew How like thou look'st to some Barbarian Ape Could'st thou I say with me thine owne selfe view Thou wouldst be Metamorphosed anew Run quite away and either all amend Or wish thy selfe and all things at an end And yet dispaire not Time though thou art ill The worst that euer yet was knowne to be T is not ordain'd thou shouldst remaine so still For I my selfe this age do hope to see The gloriou'st work that euer Time brought forth The master-peece and the most noble act In the respect of which 't were nothing worth If all the braue deeds done were but one fact Romes fall I meane I heard it when it crack't Yea from my Cradle I did still surmize I should see Babell tumble Bethell rise EPIG 2. I Heare there 's some aske how I dare so plaine Tax the Abuses that I now see raigne I muse as much they dare say ill vnto it Or dare but aske but how I dare to doe it To the Stranger 3. THou that wert so vnhappy first to breath Without the compasse of Great Brittans poweâ— And blest againe that fate did thee bequeath The knowledge of so rich a tongue as our If vnderstanding thou dost hap to read This booke wherein thou seest my nations shamâ— Yet do not thou against my Country plead For thine thou know'st doth merit as much blame Our faults are many this indeed is true But were they moe we were no worse then you To the Satyro-mastix 4. OH Lord Sir y' are deceiu'd I 'me none of thoâ—â— That write in Anger or malicious spleene I haue not taken pepper in the Nose Nor a base forger of false libels beene Such ones there be indeed such I haue seene I enuy no man for his greatnes I Nor seeke I any honest mans disgrace I ioy in euery ones prosperity I le not the credit of a dogge deface My Aduersaery shall not prooue the case Then stand back sirrah Whip-Iack with your scourge Do not incense my Satyr for thy life Hee 's patient enough vnlesse thou vrge Contentions are now a dayes to rife And he is very backward vnto strife But notwithstanding heere he lets thee see As long as there is cause and reason why In spight of all that foes to Satyrs be He shall if I list taxe iniquitie It is a matter of necessity What you would faine haue all the great ones freed They must not for their vices be controld Beware that were a saucines indeed But if the Great-ones to offend be bold I see no reason but they should be told Yea and they shall their faults most hurtfull be And though I will not put them to that shame I no iniustice in the matter see If they were taxed by their proper name For no sinne can on earth haue her full blame Then Scourge of Satyrs hold thy whip from mine Or I will make my rod lash thee and thine To the gald Reader EPIG 8. SIr he that 's night-gald or hath cornes on 's toes May blame the Shoomaker and curse his shooes But those that are acquainted with the fault Can tell the reason wherefore he doth halt So thou maist think perhaps these Satyrs sting thee Where only thy owne guiltines doth wring thee For if thou wert from these diseases free Thou wouldst be quiet as some others be But t is well known a ticklish beast hath tricks And the old Prouerb saith a gold la â—e kicks But I 'le aduise thee if thou feele it smart Be rule by me and play not the fooles part Keep 't to thy selfe and there are none shall know Whether that thou art toucht therein or no Thou seest thou neither art markt out nor na'md And therefore onely to thy selfe art sham'd Now if thou stir at best thou shalt but make The Country of thy faults more knowledge take And as indeed it iustly may diuine The worst faults that I write against are thine Then since to be reprooued seemes a curse And to be mooued makes the matter worse Either for to amend thy life haue care Oâ— like a Pack orse and an Asse stil beare To the Impartiall Author CEorge I did euer thinke thy faithfull breast Conteind a mind beyond the common sort Thy very looke and honest heart exprest And seem'd an aw-full mildnes to import Poets may vaunt of smooth and lofty straines Thine with thy subiect fitly do agree But then thy Muse a better praise obtaines For whilst the greatest but time-pleasers be Thou vnappald and freely speak'st the truth Not any one for feare or lucre sparing A vertue rare in age more rare in youth Another Cato but I think more daring Wel maist thou speed in these tempestuous times Thou soone begin'st to make the world thy foe Yet I so wel do like thy honest rimes That I could wish al Poets would write so For thou the way of truth so rightly tend'st I hold them double prais'd whom thou commendst Thy deare friend TH. C. The Contents of the first BOOKE The Occasion The Introduction Of Man Offond Loue. Satyr 1 Of Lust. 2 Of Hate 3 Of Enuy. 4 Of Reuenge 5 Of Choller 6 Of Iealousie 7 Of Couetousnes 8 Of Ambition 9 Of Feare 10 Of Despaire 11 Of Hope 12 Of Compassion 13 Of Cruelty 14 Of Ioy. 15 Of Sorrow 16 The Conclusion of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE Of Vanity Satyr 1 Of Inconstancy 2 Of Weaknes 3 Of Presumption 4 The Scourge Epigramms to the King c. and to certaine noble Personages and friends to whom the Author gaue any of his Bookes THE OCCASION Of this worke VVHen nimble Time that all things ouer-runs Made me forsake my tops and elderne guns Reaching those yeares in which the schoole boyes bragge In leauing off the bottle and the bagg The very spring before I grew so old That I had amost thrice fiue winters told Noting my other fellow-pupils hast That to our English Athens flockt so fast Least others for a truant should suspect me That had the selfe-same Tutor to direct me And in a manner counting it a shame To vndergoe so long a Schoole-boyes name Thither went I for though I le not compare With any of them that my fellowes were Yet then I le speake it to my Teachers praise I was vnfurnisht of no needfull layes Nor any whit for Grammar rules to seeke In Lillies Latine nor in Camdens Greeke But so well grounded that another day I could not with our idle students say For an excuse I was ill enter'd no There are too-many know it was not so And therefore since I came no wiser thence I must confesse it was my negligence Yet daily longing to behold and see The places where the sacred Sisters be I was so happy to that Foard I came Of which an Oxe they say beares halfe the name It is the spring of knowledge that
heads by secret meanes to crosse My wisht desire and to procure my losse But hauing noted this their hollownesse And finding that meere Country businesse Was not my Calling to auoyd their spight Which at that season was not showne outright I to the City often did resort To see if either that place or the Court Would yeeld preferment but in vaine I sought Ill fortune still my hopes confusion wrought Which though for an ill signe some vnderstood Yet I presum'd vppon some future good For though I scarce am wisht so well of some I hope I haue a happy time to come Which when I haue most need of comfort shall Send me true Ioy to make amends for all But say it be not whilst I draw this ayre I haue a heart I hope shall nere dispaire Because there is a God with whom I trust My soule shall triumph when my bodie 's dust But when I found that my endeauours still Fell out as they would haue 't that wisht me ill And when I saw the world was growne so coy To deeme me then to young for to employ And that her greatnes thought she did not want me Or found no Calling bad enough to grant me And hauing scapt a thrall which I le not touch Here in this place for feare I haue too much Spoke on 't elsewhere I say well weighing this Together what a foule reproch it is To be still idle and because I spide How glad they would be that my state enuide To find me so although the world doth scorne T' allow me action as if I were borne Before my time yet for to let them see In spight of fortune I le employed be Casting Preferments too much care aside And leauing that to God for to prouide The times abuses I obseru'd and then In generall the state and tricks of men Wherein although my labour were not seene Yet trust me the discouery hath been My great content and I haue for my paine Although no outward yet an inward gaine Of which because I can with all my heart Allow my Country-men to haue a part And cause I thinke it may do some a pleasure On opportunity I le now take seisure And summon vp my Muse to make relation I may b' imploid ere long now 's my Vacation AN INTRODVCTION COme then Inuention and call Iudgement in Knowledge and Reason fie where haue you bin Goe whistle off my Muse that wanton plaies With Epigrams Loue-Sonnets Roundelaies And such like trifling game Bid her come on I haue found brauer prey to seaze vppon â—ome new inspiring prayer warmes my heart And addes fresh courage vnto euery part New blood hath fild vp all my loue-dri'd veines â— sacred Fury hath possest my braines And something too there is that swels my breast â—il that be vtter'd I expect no rest For full with matter like a Sibill Nun I shall grow furious till this taske be done Then rouse thee Muse each little Hobby plies At Scarabes and painted Butterflies Leaue thou such trash it is not now for vs To flye for pleasure wee le in earnest trusse But thou lookst dull vnfit for lofty things Thy wanton flight I feare hath tir ' de thy wings Least therefore thou should'st faint forsake thâ—efist And turne thy selfe into a Satyrist Not of the roughest nor the mildestsort Be most in earnest but sometimes in sport What e're thou find to speake be not affrayd And for assistance craue Iehouahs ayd Vse all thy art for why thou must vnfold The strangest Nature that was euer told At ripping vp whereof some smart will be Yet goe thou foreward still who dares touch thee Diue if thou canst til thou the bottome sound Yet not too farre least thou thy selfe confound Mistake me not I meane not thou shouldst goe To search th' earths center what lies hid below Or vndermine it for ritch Mineralls Thou shalt not haue to do with Vegetalls Strange natures haue both Stones Trees Herbes and Plants Which let him speake of that a Subiect wants There is an Herb indeeed whose vertues such It in the pasture only with a touch Vnshooes the new-shod steed within the North The Scottish Iles cald Oreades brings forth Trees or else writers faine it from whose seeds A certaine kind of water-foule proceeds The Loadstone also drawes the steele vnto it Yet hath not ginne or instrument to doe it Rare properties you see but neither these Nor what lies hidden in the vast wide Seas Meane I to speake off I no knowledge haue What Monsters play with Neptunes boistrous waue Nor quality of birds nor beasts I found For why their natures may be quickly found Indeed we may by little inquisition Find out the bruitish creatures true condition As for example we for certaine know The Elephant much loue to man wil show The Tygers Woolues and Lyons we do find Are rauenous fierce and cruell euen by kind We know at caryon we shal find the crowes And that the roost-cock wheÌ„ t is mid night knowes By a few dayes experience we may see Whether the mastife curst or gentle be And many other natures we find out Of which we haue no cause at all to doubt But there 's another Creature called Man Note him who wil and tel me if he can What his condition is obserue his deeds His speach his rayment yea and how hee feedes Try him a month a yeare an age and when You haue so tride him say what is he then Retaines he either vnto Praester Iohn Or else vnto the whore of Babilon If that you know not which of them to grant Is he a Brownist or a Protestant If in an Age you cannot find out wheither Are you so much as sure that he is either Is his heart proud or humble know you where Or when he hates or loues or standes in feare Or who can say in Conscience I think none That this mans words and deeds thoughts are one Where shall you him so well resolued find That wants a wandring and a wauering mind Nay he of whom you haue most triall when You see him dying will you trust him then Perhaps you may yet questionlesse he leaues you A mind misdoubting still that he deceiues you And no great wonder for hee s such an else That euer is vncertaine of himselfe He is not semper idem in his will Nor stands on this or that opinion still But varies he both will and wil not too Yea euen the thing he thinkes and sweares to doe He many times omits Now God forgiue him I wonder how another should beleeue him But this same diuers and inconstant creature That so contrary is in his owne nature 'T is him my new-inspired Muse here tries Whilst he is liuing to Anotomize T is his abuses and condition Although it be beyond all definition I labour to discouer But aswell I may againe dragge Cerberus from hell Alcydes toyles were much yet this is more Yea if his twise-sixe had beene twise
Reuenge and greedy Auarice Choller and Cruelty which I perceiud To be the only causes man 's bereau'd Of quietnesse and rest And these I found To be the principall and only ground Of all pernitious mischeefes that do rage Or haue disturbed him in any age And therefore I do heere entend to show Ere I goe farther what ill humors flow From these fore-named yea I will declare To what abuses most men subiect are Throgh any of them For when as I tooke view Although I saw not all I found a few And for because I wil not order breake I will assunder of each passion speake OF THE PASSION OF LOVE SATYR 1. FIrst Loue the same I heere the first do call Because that passion is most Natural And of it selfe could not be discommended Wert not with many a foule abuse attended Or so much out of measure as we see By those in whom it raignes it oft wil be For looke wher't growes into extremity It soone becometh Vertues Laethargy Makes them set light by reasons sound direction And beares them headlong by vntam'd affection Câ—unsels in vain cause when this fit doth take them Reason and vnderstanding doth forsake them It makes them some-time merry some-time sad Vntam'd men mild and many a mild man mad To fooles it wisdome giues and makes the witty To shew theÌ„selues most fooles the more 's the pitty Some it makes purblind that they do not know The Snow white Cygnet from the cole-black Crow That one to gold compares his Mistris hayre When 't is like foxe-fur and doth think shee 's faire Though she in beauty be not far before The Swart West-Indian or the tawny Moore Oh those faire Star-like eyes of thine one saies When to my thinking she hath look't nine wayes And that sweet breath when I thinke out vppon 't 'T would blast a flower if she breathed on 't Another hauing got a dainty peece Prouder then Iason with his golden fleece Commends her vertues that hath iust as many As a shee-baud that neuer yet had any Yet sweares shee 's chast and takes her for no more VVhen all her neighbours knowes she is a Another he growes carelesse of his health Neglects his credit and consumes his wealth Hath found a pretty peat procur'd her fauor And sweares that he in spight of all wil haue her Wel let him take her since they are contented But such rash-matches are the soon'st repented Then there is one who hauing found a peere In all thinges worthy to be counted deere VVanting both Art and heart his mind to breake Sits sighing wo is me and wil not speake All company he hates is oft alone Growes Melancholly weepes respecteth none And in dispaire seekes out a way to dye VVhen he might liue and find a remedy But how now wast not you saies one that late So humbly beg'd a boone at beauties gate Was it not you that to a female Saint Indited your Aretophels complaint With many doleful Sonnets wa' st not you Sure t was saies he but then how comes it now You carpe at loue thus in a Satyrs vaine Take heed you fall not in her handes againe Sure if you doe you shal in open court Be forc't to sing a Palinodia for't What are your braines dry or yourblood growne cold Or are you on a sodaine waxen old To flout at loue which men of greatest wit Alow in youth as naturall and fit What reason haue you for 't els what pretence Haue you for to excuse this vild offence To him I answer that indeed een'e I Was lately subiect to this malady Lik't what I now dislike employ'd good times In the composing of such idle Rimes As are obiected From my heart I sent Full many a heauy sigh and oft-times spent Vnmanly teares I haue I must confesse Thought if my Loue smil'd that no happinesse Might equalize it and her frowne much worse O God forgiue me then the Churches curse I did as some do not much matter make To hazard soule and body for her sake Hauing no hope sometime I did despaire Sometime too much built castles in the ayre In many a foolish humor I haue beene As wel as others looke where I haue seene Her whom I lou'd to walke when she was gone Thither I often haue repair'd alone As if I thought the places did containe Something to ease me oh exceeding vaine Yet what if I haue beene thus idly bent Shal be now asham'd for to repent Moreouer I was in my child-hood than And am scarse yet reputed for a Man And therefore neither cold nor old nor dry Nor cloi'd with any foule disease am I 'T is no such cause that made me change my mind But my affection that before was blind Rash and vnruly now begins to find That it had run a large and fruitlesse race And therevpon hath giuen Reason place So that by Reason what no Reason might Perswade me from before I haue out-right Iustly forsaken for because I see 'T was vaine absurd and naught but foolery Yet for all this looke where I lou'd of late I haue not turnd it in a spleene to hate No for 't was first her Vertue and her Wit Taught me to see how much I wanted it Then as for Loue I do alow it stil I neuer did dislik't nor neuer will So it be vertuous and contain'd within The bounds of Reason but when 't will begin To run at random and her limits breake I must because I cannot chuse but speake But I forget my selfe wherefore am I So tedious in my owne Apologie It needed not at all I le on againe And shew what kind of Louers yet remaine One sort I find yet of this louing crew Whose quality I thinke is knowne to few These seeke by all the meanes they can to gaine Each Virgins liking Sometime not in vaine They do obtaine their wish but when t is got Sorry they are and wish they had it not For peraduenture they haue plac't their Loue So as it cannot nor it must not mooue And yet if they should faile for to procure it 'T would greeue theÌ„ so they hardly woould endure it Yea though in shew at least they haue said nay Their Loues with like affection to repay If they perceiu't abate as it will doe Both this and that doth make them sorry too But he that is with such a humor led I may be bold to terme a watle-head More-ouer men in placing their affection Haue feu'rall humors for to giue direction Some like the Faire but there 's not all the grace She may be faire and haue a squemish face Some like the wanton some the modest eyes The pace or gesture some's affection ties A smile wins one anothers lookes mooues pitty The next commends the lasse that 's bold and witty Againe some loue where they no cause can find But onely this the wench they see is kind Yea one doth thinke her faire another loathes Because she seemes so in her gaudy
conceale it For they themselues will to their shames reueale it There 's others who disliking so to vaunt VVill si non castè tamen cautè grant For that 's their Motto they make modest showes But what they doe in secret man nere knowes Some make a Baud of their diuine profession Like Shauelings in Auricular-confession Th' other are bad and sure of God accurst But of all others these I deeme the worst There 's other Gallants would desire but this VVithout suspition for to talke and kisse For other pleasures they do neuer craue them Nay if they might they sweare they will not haue them So mean perhaps but time brings alteration And a faire woman is a shrewd temptation Then many make their fained loue to be A cloake to couer their immodestie These will protest and vow and sweare their life Consists in hauing whom they wooe to wife Yet if the villaines can their lust fulfill They will forsweare them and be liuing still Some doe court all and not alone doe proue But for because with all they are in loue With such deep passion that they cannot smother Their hot affection till they meete another But why will man against himselfe and Reason Consent to such a Tyrant in his treason Why will he so his liberties foregoe To be a slaue to such a monstrous foe For what is this same passion We call lust I st not a Brutish longing and vniust And foule desire of the soule to gaine Some euill pleasure Or to speake more plaine A furious burning passion whose hot fumes Corrupts the vnderstanding and consumes The very flesb of man then what 's the fact What may I terme that vile and shamefull act But this The execution of an ill Out of set purpose and with a good will In spight of Reason Tell me i st not base When men shall so their worthy sex disgrace To giue their bodies in a deed vncleane With a foule nasty prostituted queane Or in their vnderstanding be so dull As to obserue on idle short-heeld trull A puling female Diuell that hath smiles Like Syrens songs and teares like Crocadiles Yet there be some I will not name them now Whom I haue seene vnto such Puppits bow And be as seruiceable as a groome That feares another man will beg his roome They had beene glad ful oft to please their pride With costly gifts and forc't for to abide Imperious scoffs with many scornefull words Such as the humors they are in affords And yet for these thei 'le venter Honors liues If they command it when for their poore Wiues Though they in Beauty loue and true delight Exceed them more then day-time doth the night They le scarcely take vppon them for to speake In any case of theirs their loues so weake Yea and their lust doth wrap them in such blindnes They cannot giue them one poore look in kindnes Moreouer for their lust they haue not laid Base plots alone like him that was conueyd In a close trunk because in secrecy He would vnseene enioy his venery I say not only therein haue they retcht Their damn'd inuentions It hath also stretcht Vnto strange lusts of which I wil not speake Because I may offend the minde that 's weake Or least I to some simple one should show Those sinnes by naming he did neuer know And here I leaue there 's lurking holes such store This stinking Vermin I wil hunt no more OF HATE SATYR 3. BVt I haue rous'd another here as bad They call it Hate A worse I neuer had Before in chase I scarce can keepe insooth My selfe from danger of his venom'd tooth This is the Passion that doth vse to moue The mind a cleane contrary way to loue It is an inspiration of the Divel That makes men long for one anothers euill It cankers in the heart and plagueth most Not him that 's hated but the hateful host And yet there 's too too many I do know Whose hearts with this soule poyson ouer-flow Of which I haue a true intelligence By the sharpe scoffs and slanders springing thence For where it rules they cannot well conceale it But either wordes or deeds or both reueale it Were it iust causes that did stil engender This passion in them or if they could render A reason fort 't were somwhat but their will Carries them on in spight of Reason still These are their humors for a slight offence Thei 'le hate th' offender for a recompence Some malice all that any way excell In which who thinkes but they do very well And many haue abhorred God amend them The stranger that did neuer yet offend them VVhich they are not asham'd for to confesse Yet in their hate continue ner'e the lesse But though that they can yeeld no reason why They beare them causlesse mallice yet can I Their hearts are il and it is seldome knowne That a sweet broâ—ke from bitter springs hath flowne There 's some to when they see a man respected More then themselues though they be not neglected They inly grudge and outwardly disdaine Being alike condition'd as was Caine Some hate their friends that loue and count them deare As by the sequel plainely shal appeare One that a seeming friendship had profest me Vpon a time did earnestly request me That I would plainely my opinion shew What I of his conditions thought or knew And that I would without exceptions tel What acts of his did not become him well I scorning flattry with a louing heart Twixt him and me my mind did soon impart And as a friend that is vnfaigned ought Left nothing vnreueald of what I thought Yea without feare I boldly reprehended If I perceiud he any way offended Provided alwayes that I did not swerue From a decorum fitting to obserue But marke Mans nature he perceiuing I Had taken note of some infirmity He would not haue vnript And seeing toe I espide more then he wisht I should doe Of his ill humours though I must confesse Being my friend I lou'd him nothing lesse In steed of thankes and liking for my paines My company and sight he now refraines And for my kindnes like a thanklesse mate Doth ill repay me with a lothing hate This one I know and by that one I finde That there be many beare as bad a minde But let vs for their true conuersion pray For we alasse may very iustly say Quod nulla est in terra Charitas Et Odium parit ipsa Veritas Againe the wicked hates beyond all measure The righteous man that contradicts his pleasure And that 's the fundamentall cause I know That many men doe hate their teachers so These common humors are obseru'd of few Yet may a yong experience find them true And boldly say that all in whom th' are found Haue poysoned hearts polluted and vnsound But they corrupted aboue all the rest Which hate their friends they should account of best But let Men striue and study to remoue This passion from
much greefe why that Doth only make them iocund full and fat Of Kingdomes ruine they best loue to heare And tragicall reports do only cheere Their hellish thoughts And then their bleared eies Can looke on nothing but black infamies Reprochful actions and the foulest deeds Of shame that mans corrupted nature breeds But they must winke when Vertue shineth bright For feare her lustre mar their weakned sight They do not loue Encomiastick stories Or for to read their predecessors glories For good report to all men they deny And both the liuing and the dead enuy Yea many of them I do thinke had rather Loose all good fame then share 't with their owne father The biting Satyr they do only like And that at some particulars must strike Or al 's worth norhing if they can apply Some part of this to him they do enuy As well perhaps they may then thei l commend it And spite of their ill natures I that pend it Shall haue some thank but why not cause they deem Me or my writing either worth esteem No heere 's the reason they thy labour like They think I meane him then suppose I strike Now whose endeauors thinke you prosper should If the euent of thinges were as these would No man can answere that for it 's vnknowne Nor parents no nor childrens scarce their owne I say their owne hand-works are seldome free But subiect to their proper enuies be ' Witnesse a certaine rich-man who of late ' Much pittying a Neighbours wofull state ' Put to his helping hand and set him cleare ' From all his former misery and feare ' But when he saw that through his thrift and heed ' He had well cur'd againe his former need ' And grew to pretty meanes though he no whit ' Vnthankfull was for this his benefit ' Yet being of a nature that did long ' And ioy to see anothers case goe wrong ' Hauing no second cause much grieued now ' That he once helpt him all his study's how 'To ruinate the poore mans state againe ' And make through Enuy his owne labour vaine I wonder men should so from reason range Or entertaine a humor that 's so strange And so vnprofitable tell me why Should we the honors or the wealth enuy Of other men if we delight to see Our brethren when in euill case they be Le ts wish them Riches Titles and promotion T will make them greedy proud choke deuotion T will plunge them in a flood of misery In the respect of which the beggery We thinke so vile is heauen Yea I know It is a thousand more mens ouerthrow Then Pouertie can be That if we hate Or would enuy who are in happy state In my opinion they must not be such That titles haue attaind or to be ritch No poore men rather who are combred lesse And haue indeed the truest happinesse But be they rich or no I passe not whether For my part I am sure I enuy neither So I but reach the glorie I desire I doe not care how many mount vp higher And if I want not what hurt is'â— to me If I the poorest in the kingdome be Yet from this Passion I beleeue not many Can be exempted if there may be any But sure more mischiefe alway doth betide Th' enuious then to him that is enuide And they haue often who would then bemone Lost both their eyes to lose their neighbour one Yea there is many a periur'd enuious Noddy Damnes his owne soule to hurt his neighbours body But now such men may best by this be knowne They 'le speake in no mans praise but in their owne And in their presence but commend a man They 'l from his worth detract eu'n all they can So do the foule mouth'd Zoili spightfull Momes VVhose eyes on euery new pen'd treatise romes Not for their owne auaile or benefit To feed their humors by disgracing it They rather seeke and that they 'l disallow Which they would mend themselues if they knew how But what are they that keep this censuring court None I le assure you of the wisest sort None of the wisest said I yet content ye They are a great way past Ass in presenti And think themselues but thought somtime is free A great deale wiser then indeed they bee For howsoeuer their insinuation Hath gain'd a little vulgar reputation They are but glow-wormes that are briske by might And neuer can be seen when sunne giues light Ill tong'd and enuious ignorant of shame And vile detractors of anothers fame But let them carp on what need any care Simce they are knowne for fooles without compare But fellow Christians thinke vpon this euill Know 't is an instigation of the Diuell Remember 't is a knowne apparant foe To Charitie and friendships ouerthrow A vicious humor that with Hell acquaints And hinders the communion of Saints Consider that and how it makes vnable To be partaker of the holy Table And so I trust you 'l root it from the heart And as th'Apostle counsels lay apart Dissembling Enuie Slander Malice Guile And Euil-speaking as most bad and vile Chiefely in those men whose Religion saith Her mainest piller is True-loue next Faith OF REVENGE SATYR 5. ROome for Reuenge he 's no Commedian That acts for pleasure but a grim Tragedian A foule sterne monster which if we displease Death wounds and bloud or nothing can appease So wicked that though all good men disdaine it Yet there are many rashly entertaine it And hugge it as a sweet contented Passion But all men act not in one kinde nor fashion For one so priuate is that no man knowes it Another cares not before whom he showes it Then some of them are fearefull some are bolder Some are too hot and some againe are colder Oh I haue seene and laught at heart to see 't Some of our hot-spurs drawing in the street As though they could not Passions rage withstand But must betake them to it out of hand But why i th' street Oh company doth heart them And men mâ—y see their valorous acts and part them That humor yet I rather doe commend Then theirs whose fury hath no stay nor end Till of their liues they haue bereft their foes And then they thinke they pay them yet who bâ—â— knows That t is a smal reuenge since to be slaine Is to be free from danger care and paine So whilst his enemy lies and feeles no smart He hath a thousand tortures in his heart And say his conscience do escape a flaw He brings himselfe in danger of the Law If such reuenge be sweet sure I le forgiue And neuer seeke for vengeance whilst I liue But oh me thinkes I heere our Hacsters tel me With thundring words as if their breath would fel me I am a Coward if I wil not fight True Cauelieroes you hane spoke the right And if vpon good tearmes you vrge me to it I haue both strength and heart enough to doe it Which
vnto an Asse Obseru'd a Dolt and much debas't their merits To men of vulgar and ignoble spirits How many of our finest wits haue spent Their times and studies in meere complement Greasing with praises many a fat-fed Bore Of whom the world thought too too well before How many now that followed Mars his troope Whom force of death could neuer make to stoope Nay more how many of our graue Diuines That should seeke treasure not in earthly mines What store I say of these against the haire As goes the common prouerbe can speake faire Flatter for gaine and humor such base groomes As are not worthy of their horse-boyes roomes They wrong themselues but those are counted wise That now a daies know how to temporize I cannot brooke dissembling and I vow E're I to any golden calfe would bow Flatter against my conscience or else smother That which I know for truth to please another E're I for gaine would faune to please a clowne Or feed great fooles with tales of the renowne Of their reputed fathers when God mend them TheÌ„selues haue nothing why we should commend them And ere I le coine a lie be 't ne're so small For eu'r a bragging Thraso of them all In hope of profit I le giue vp my play And fall to labour for a groat a day And for my clothing in a mantle goe And feed on Sham-roots as the Irish doe For what contentment can in riches be Vnless the body and the mind be free But tush what 's freedome look where gold beares sway It takes That Credit yea and Wit away Corrupts the iudgement and can make the lawes Oft-times to fauour an vngodly cause Besides a worldly mind doth so affect Where wealth abounds beares so much respect To those that haue it that their vice they deeme To be a vertue and so make it seeme For say they vse extortion no men more Vndoe their Country hurt and wrong the poore Be damn'd Vsurers and keep a house That yeelds not crums enough to feed a mouse Yet they 'l not say hee 's couetous oh no Hee 's thrifty a good wary man or so Another though in pride he doe excell Be more ambitious then the Prince of hell If his apparell be in part like vs Italian Spanâ—sh French and Barbarous Although it be of twenty seuerall fashions All borrowed from as many forraine nations Yet hee 's not vaine nor proud what is he than Marry a proper fine neat Gentleman Or if he be a drunkard that can swagger Goe daily armed with an alehouse dagger Quaffe soule-sick-healths vntill his eyes doe stare Sing baudy Songs and rounds and curse and sweare Though he vse gaming as the cards and dice So out of measure that he mak 't a vice Turne his owne house into a filthy stewes Keep whores and knaues and baudes as that 's no newes Yet if he be a rich man what is he A rude ranke ruffine if you aske of me A Ruffin Guep Iack sauce-boxe with a wannion Nay hee 's a merry and a boone companion This is the Worlds censure Yet beside Another qualitie I haue espide For those diseases they doe shun the poore They doe abhor a Rich-man ne're the more Him I haue knowne that hath disdain'd to sup Water or beere out of a poore mans cup For feare of poysoning or some thing as bad Although he knew no malady he had And yet haue I seene the same curious Asse Pledging a rich-man in the selfe-same glasse When he hath knowne the party if you please I le speakeplaine English had the French disease But as the Prouerb saith Birds of a feather VVill alwaies vse to flock and feed together I haue oft mused and doe still admire That men should hurtfull riches so desire For weigh it well and you shall find it fils The owner of it with a thousand ill 's Much worse then these forenam'd for why we find It choakes and mar's the Vertues of the mind Then we perceiue it greatly doth annoy Vexes the heart and hinders the true ioy Would else be there And as it may appeare Loads vs with diuers troubles cares and feare It makes vs to grow arrogant vniust Drawes vnto pleasure and prouokes to lust More hopefull for to practise villany Then for to further vs in honesty It nere contents the owners that enioy it And those that haue it many times employ it To corrupt iustice or for to allure Matrons or Virgins to an act impure It hires murthers and makes men seditious Full of suspect and enuie or ambitious Yea it breeds claw-backs pick-thanks flattery Makes many theeues and causes periury It hinders knowledge for most that haue lands Liue neither by their wisedome nor their hands They follow sloath and pleasure not the schooles And that 's the reason there 's such wealthy fooles These are the fruits of wealth yet that alone Seemes now the fairest marke of euery one To make his course for and which to attaine Or keep once gotten we refuse no paine Labor nor danger yet it doth appeare They think that all which they were plac't for here Now ther 's a Counterpassion vnto this Which to speake something of 't were not amisse Those subiect therevnto haue got a fashion That 's quite contrarie to the former Passion Fore'ne as greedy men are set on fire With an vnquenched and a soule desire Of hourding Riches God in heaven amend them So doe the other hie as fast to spend them Their 〈◊〉 diuers some vaine-glorious Asses Consuâ—n't in gaudy cloathes and looking glasses Others blowne vp e'ne with the selfe same bellowes Seeke to obtaine the loue of all good fellowes These at the Althouse haue their daily pots Though they be there or no. And looke what shots Are in their chambers spent be 't nere so many He doth them wrong that thinks to pay a penny These feast at Tauernes their supposed friends That pay with Thankes we nere shall make 〈◊〉 Yea and in more things they haue lauish bin But those are pathes I'uc no experience in Yet such as they ere many yeares be past Will wish I warrant they had held it fast When for their kindnes and their former cheere They hardly shall procure a cup of beare But there must needs be some men prone there to Or how a diuell shall our sharker doe Yet can I not say rightly that these be From Auarice and greedinesse quite free For though they doe consume it knauishly And spend it on vaine pleasures lauishly They gladly would their euill course maintaine And therefore ouerslip no meanes of gaine For they haue vsed by their owne confession Secret and open Robberies Oppression And diuers tricks which show this spending vice May haue some reference to Auarice Others there are but few who hauing store Neglect their wealth and rather would be poore And why it stops the way to heauen they say Sure being misimployed so it may And therefore rather then they should abuse it 'T
were good they had it that know how to vse it For such are lightly weake in resolution And men but of a simple constitution Or are by some seducing Villan taught That their goods rather then their good haue sought Now I suppose the man that well obtaines His wealth and in an honest calling gaines More wisedome shewes in vsing it aright Then such a Cynnick as contemnes in quite Men will be in extreames but sure the lesse Is to neglect wealth for much greedines Makes not the body onely leane and foule But also spreads infection to his soule And clogges her so with things of no account That she is ouer-poyz'd to much to mount But those that for to goe astray are loth Vse their endeuours to auoide them both OF AMBITION SATYR 9. HEre 's yet another cal'd Ambition Little with men of low condition But 't is a humor which doth euer search The stout-high-minded and doth alway perch In men of spirit This doth farre surmount The force of Loue It maketh no account Of Nature nor Religion 't is not Law Nor Conscience that can keep such men in awe Ther 's no estate contents them peace and strife Are both alike to them yea death and life Wiues children friends nor none but such as may Be vnto their Ambitious plots a stay Shall be respected and so they may reape What they desire the 'il not stick to heape Murther on Murthers yea and think 't no sinne Be it of strangers or their nearest kin They haue such flinty breasts they can out-beard Danger it selfe and be no whit afeard Proud daring Spirits yet we see confusion Of such high minds doth prooue the sad couclusion And he that first was ruin'd by this euill Was our grand foe which wee doe call the Diuell For he aspir'd so high that higher powers Wrought his iust fall and now he seeketh ours He first infus'd this ill into our brest For to disquiet and disturbe our rest This most vnreasonable strong desire This too excessiue longing to aspire To honour and promotion which indeed Doth from a sottish ignorance proceed It is the wild'st and most disorderd'st passion And a great enemy to contentation For whatsoeuer state man hath attain'd T is e ' ne as if that he had nothing gain'd For he hath hereby still a farther I cope And neuer reaches to the end of 's hope That which he doth possesse he neere respecteth But altogether things vnknowne affecteth And counts them best which whatsoe're they Being once gotten too are not esteem'd But what 's the reason that they doe abhor sseem'd The things possest that they haue labor'd for What is the cause I say they doe contemne Or cannot vse things hauing gained them Sure hence it doth proceed they doe not know VVhat the things are that they doe long for so And they obtaine them oft e're they haue might And Reason fit to gouerne them aright Had many of our reaching Yeomanry That haue growne wealthy through good husbandry And some of our proud Gentry that haue sought Titles and vndeserued Honors bought Had they I say before-hand knowne the shame And beggery that followed on the same For want to knowing where to they aspir'd They would not haue those Dignities desir'd And so indeed they might haue walk't the street And not haue feard the Counters nor the Fleet Yea and with Good-man haue contented bin Where now there 's scarce a good man of the kin Ambitious men wil euer enuious be Regarding neither loue nor amity And though that they may make a goodly shew With reason it can neuer stand I know They should be faithfull or with Iustice deale Either for Princes or for Common-weale For why this humor makes them to attend And all their labours and best counsels spend In their owne plots And so they haue no losse They care not whose proceedings they do crosse Vertuous endeauors this doth also let Yea makes men many a good thing to forget And though I 'me loath to speake it I protest I thinke it raignes not in the Clergy least For they at first shew great humility While that they are of meane ability Thei 'l be industrious and take paine to teach For twise a week shal be the least thei 'le preach Or in their pouerty they wil not stick For Catechizing viziting the sick And such like dutious workes of Piety As do belong to their society But if that they can reach a Vicarage Or be inducted to some Parsouage Men must content the mselues and thinke it well If once a yeare they heare the Sermon bell Now if it be a Deanery or so If not in twelue months it is oft enough And why Alas consider that Deuotion Is but a busie thing that lets Promotion And if that they should giue their minds too 't all Who should haue their great places when they fall No no t were fitter they their ease did take And se what friendes and Patrons they can make For the next Hierarchy or learne how To humor and to please the Great-ones now But if that they in that aduenture speed Thei 'le be more paineful yes t is like indeed If they get into their formalibus And Reuerent Pontificalibus 'T is very like I say that we shall heare They vse the Pulpit once in twise a yeare Nay and t is wel if it be done so oft For this Ambition beares men so aloft They soone forget their duties and this pride I in the Clergy worst of all abide In them I hold it the most odious And no Ambition so pernitious Eeither for prince or Church or common good VVitnesse the beast of Rome and his fou'e brooâ— Of clyming Cardinals who from base states Are gotten to be Kings and Princes mates Yea their superiors This the diuel makes His cheefest engine where withall he shakes Religions soundnesse And rends in it chinks Which he dawbes vp againe with what he thinkâ— Shall ruin't all in time was it not hence He had his meanes to mar the innocence Of Romes first Bishops yes the Church grew strong And flourish't while it was supprest with wrong But when the worthy Emperors embrac't The Sacred Truth and with their fauors grac't Their good proceedings They then gan to leaue Their humble Nature off and closely weaue Vnder a Religious shew not a bare Miter It fits not the successors of Saint Peter A triple Diadem and such a state That neuer any earthly Potentate Enioy'd the like yet all with humble preaching A long degree I tak 't beyond the reaching Of temporall Ambition But I pray Er'e the first Beast his time be done away There rise not vp another monster heere 'Mongst our Ambitious Churchmen I should feare A second Antichrist but that I hope They either shall be kept within their scope Or the last iudgement whose nigh times vnknowne Shall cut him off e're he be wholly growne But more of these I here omit to speake Because I thinke there 's no
others faults but reprehend them boldly So hauing for this good assistance praid My Muse goes forward trusting to thine ayd To guide me in the Wildernes of Sinne Great Vanities Suruey for being in I see now 't is an intricate Maeander In which I feare I shall confus'dly wander It is a Labyrinth so full of wayes And seemes so endlesse if my pen oâ—ce strayes As doth the Fisherman amazed stand That knoweth not which way to row to land When all alone in some close misty day Far from the Hauen he hath lost his way Knowing he may as well strike vp the Maine As turne vnto the wished Shore againe So I doe feare least this may carry me Into an Ocean where no Sea-marks be Because what way so ere my course I bend There Vanity I see without all end Which hath not vnder her Subiection gain'd Such things alone as are on earth containd Or vnderneath the Orbs of Ayre and Fire But reaches farther and encroaches higher According to his meaning who said plaine That all things vnderneath the Sunne were vaine But now I thinke it may a question be Whether the Sunne the Moone and Starres be free For sometimes false predictions they impart Or are belyed by abused Art But of Man onely here my Muse must tel's Who is by much more vaine then all things els For Vanity his reason ouerswayes Not onely on some certaine Monthes or Dayes But is at all times in him resident As if it were his proper accident Neither doth age in which he groweth on Any thing lessen the proportion Of Vanities he had But in the steed Of some reiected follies there succeed Others as bad for we perceiue when boyes Begin to Man asham'd of childish toyes These then leaue off their former idle chat And foolish games but what 's the cause of that For being ill No rather they contemne Those bad things as not bad enough for them And as one poore playes first for points and pins Once growing rich leaues that and then begins To venture Crownes dislikes not gaming tho He shun the first game as not fit enough For his estate So yong men doe forsake The rope-ripe tricks that their first age did take Cheef pleasure in not cause they wicked deem them But being men they think 't will not beseeme them Then Hounds Haukes Whores aâ— their delight Quarrels and Braules doe fit their humors right Disordred meetings Drunken Reuellings Consuming Dice and lauish Banquettings Proud costly Robes this is the yong mans Vaine The which his Elder doth dislike againe Not since ill neither But because his yeares Him vnto other Vanities endeares As Selfe Conceit much Care for worldly pelfe Heaping vp what he nere enioyes himselfe Prone to Contentions much desiring still Be it his weale or woe to haue his will Extreamely louing lies and giuen to prate Yet making shew as if he both did hate Yea old men boast of what they did in youth VVhich none disproouing we must take for truth And thousands more or else they are belied Each age is pester'd with and yet beside Vanitiesâ—proper vnto each degree Millions of thousands I suppose there be Princes haue these They very basely can Suffer themselues that haue the rule of man To be oreberne by Villaines so insteed Of Kings they stand when they are slaues indeed By blood and wrong a heauenly Crowne thei 'l danger T' assure their State heere often to a stranger They quickly yeeld vnto the Battaries Of slye insinuating flatteries Most bountifull to fooles too full of feare And far to credulous of that they heare So giuen to pleasure as if in that thing Consisted all the Office of a King But if heere in my harmeles halting Rimes Were onely ti'de vnto this Place and Times And shold of none but of my Soueraigne tell Spight of her heart she could not speake but well For I suppose the Truth I must confesse That Vanity no Prince ere harbord lesse Then IAMES hath done vnlesse corrupted stories Rob's former ages of deserued Glories If any say to sooth I now deuise His heart I know wil tel his tong he lies For did I not thinke true what heere I Sing I 'de not wrong Iustice for to please the King Great men are vaine toe In much seâ—king Fames With Nimrod and his Mates they raise their Names By building Babels yea and they suppose Honour consists in Titles and in showes They Thraso-like in Parasites delight That do in presence claw in absence bite They vse their Pleasures not as pleasures now Or Recreations as 't were fit but how 'T is all their care their cheefe and only ioy In satisfying which they doe employ Both wealth and wit and all if they would take Somthing in hand for recreations sake They are wiâ—h pleasures so o'recloyâ— we see It must be that which their affaires should be A wondrous Vanity And their Care Is for rich rayment and the Curioust fare Pamâ—ring their flesh when all is but in vaine For Dust it was and shal to Dust againe Then since their euils we seeme not to see In vaine they think that they wel thought of be Tush men their lewdnes cease for to repeat Why cause th' are faultles no because th' are greatâ— But for their vices though now none dare shew the Ì„ Vnlesse they mend another age shal know them And therefore if they count their Honors deare Let them be Good as wel as Great men heare Let them leaue Vanity and not suppose The World wil euer blinded be with showes For that great mighty Peere that died so lately Ere while was mighty powerful and stately He was most croucht vnto and oft implor'd Yea almost like a Demi-God ador'd He onely as my selfe haue heard some prate Was the vpholder of the Brittaine State And all the wit this Kingdome did containe Some thought was harborâ—d in his little braine Ahd had he liu'd if all be true men say He might haue wel beene Pater Patriae But now alas hee s gone and all his Fame You sees not able to preserue his name From foule Reproach but each one breaks his mind Which shewes though they winkt they were not blind In spight of all his Greatnes 't is wel knowne That store of Rimes and Libels now are sowne In his disgrace But I heare diuers say That they are slanders then the more knaues they That were the Authors but if so it be He were from those vild imputations free If that his Vertue 's paid with such a curse What shal they looke for that are ten times worse Wel Nobles I le the Court ere long suruay And if I find among you such as stray Through Vanity or Pride vnlesse it be Into some small faults through infirmity If there be no man that dare taxe you for 't My Muse shal do it e'ne to make me sport For though she keepe but a plaine hobling forme Shee shall haue wit enough to make you storme I wil not
haue been a happier man without it For though he now 〈◊〉 speake a little better It is not words you know will free the debter Thus so ne whose speeches shew wel what they be For want of matter fell to talke of me Of whom though somthing they haue said be true Yet since insteed of giuing Act her due They haue disgrast it Notwithstanding I Haue not the knowledge that these Dolâ—s enuy Or can so much without incurring blame As take vnto my selfe a Schollers name Yet now my reputation for to saue Since I must make account of that I haue I le let you know though they so lightly deeme it What gaine 's in knowledge and how I esteeme it As often as I call to minde the blisse That in my little Knowledge heaped is The many comforts of all which the least More ioyes my heart then can be well exprest How happy then thinke I are they whose soules More wisdome by a thousand parts in rowles Whose vnderstanding-hearts are so diuine They can perceiue a mâ—llâ—ou more then mine Such haue content indeed And who that 's man And should know reason is so sencelesse than To spurne at Knowledgâ— Art or Learning when That onely showes they are the race of men And what may I then of those Peasants deeme The which of wisdome make so small esteeme But that indeed such blockish sencelesse logges Sprang from those clownes Latona turn'd to frogs Alas suppose they nothing can be got By precious stones cause swine esteeme them not Ot do they thinke because they cannot vse it That those which may haue Knowledge wil refuse it Well if their shallow coxcombs can containe A reason when It s told them I 'le explaine How that same little Knowledge I haue got Much pleasures me though they perceiue it not For first thereby though none can here attaine For to renew their first estate againe Apart reuiues although it be but small Of that I lost by my first fathers fall And makes me man which was before at least As haplesse if not more then is the beast That reason wants for his condition still Remaines according to his Makers will They neuer dreame of that and then by this I find what godly and what euill is That knowing both I may the best ensue Aud as I ought the worser part eschew Then I haue learn't to count that drosse but vaine For which such Bores consume themselues with Paine I can endure discontentments crosses Be Iouiaâ—l in want and smile at losses Keep vnder Passions stop those insurrections Rais'd in my Microcosmus by affections Be nothing greeued for aduersitie Nor nere the prouder for prosperitie How to respect my friend I partly know And in like manner how to vse my foe I can see others lay their soules to pawne Looke vpon Great-men and yet scorne to fawne Am still content dare whilst God giues grace E'ne looke my grimmest fortunes in the face I feare mens censures as the char-coale sparks Or as I doe a toothlesse dog that barks Th' one frights children ' other threats to burne But sparks will die and brawling curs returne Yea I haue learn't that still my care shall be A rush for him that cares a straw for me Now what would men haue more are these no pleasures Or do they not deserue the name of treasures Sure yes and he that hath good learning store Shall finde these in 't besides a thousand more Oâ— but our Chuffs thinke these delights but course If we compare them to their Hobby-horse And they beleeue not any pleasure can Make them so merry as Maid-marian Not is the Lawyer prouder of his fee Then these will of a Cuckooe Lordship bee Though their sweet Ladies make them father that Some other at their VVhitson ales begat But he whose carriage is of so good note To be thought worthy of their Lords fooles coate That 's a great credit for because that he Is euer thought the wisest man to be But as there 's vertue where the Diuil's precisest So ther 's much knowledge where a fool 's the wisest But what meane I let earth content these moles And their high'st pleasure be their summer-poles About the which I leaue them for to dance And much good do 't them with their ignorance So this I hope will serue for to declare How rude these vulgar sort of people are But herevpon there 's some may question make VVhether I onely for the Vulgar take Such men as these To whom I answer no For let them hereby vnderstand and know I doe not meane these meaner sort alone Tradesmen or Labourers but euery one Be he Esquire Knight Baron Earle or more Yet if he haue not learn'd of Vertues lore But followes Vulgar Passions then e'ne he Amongst the Vulgar shall for one man be And the poore Groome that he thinks should adore him Shall for his Vertue be preferd before him For though the world doth such men much despise They seeme most noble in a wise-mans eyes And notwithstanding some doe noblest deeme Such as are sprung of great and high esteeme And those to whom the Country doth affoord The title of a Marquis or a Lord Though 't were atchiued by their fathers merits And themselues men but of dunghill spirits Cowards or fooles And such as euer be Prating or boasting of their Pedigree When they are nothing but a blot or shame Vnto the noble house from whence they came Yet these I say vnlesse that they haue wit To guide the Common-wealth as it is fit They should And as their good fore-fathers did How ere their faults may seeme by Greatness hid They shall appeare And the poore Yeomans sonne Whose proper vertue hath true honour won Be plac't aboue him But Nobilitie That comes by birth hath most antiquitie Some thinke and tother if at all They yeeld as noble they an vpstart call But I say rather no his Noblenesse That 's rais'd by Vertue hath most worthinesse And is most ancient for it is the same By which all Great men first obtaind their Fame So then I hope 't will not offend the Court That I count some there with the Vulgar sort And outset others yet some thinke me bold Because there 's few that these opinions hold But shall I care what others thinke or say There is a path besides the beaten way Yea and a safer for heere 's Christs Instruction The broadest way leads soonest to Destruction And truely no opinions deceiue Sooner then those the Vulgar sort receiue And therefore he that would indeed be wise Must learne their rude conditions to despise And shun their presence for we haue bin taught Diseases in a presse are quickly caught Now Satyr leaue them till another time And spare to scourge the Vulgar with thy rime If any thinke thou hast digrest too long They may passe ouer this and doe no wrong But in my former matter to proceed Who being mans Race is so much freed From ficklenes
paine To come somtime and visit them againe In meere good will because these weake ones see They cannot then so well prouided be To bid them welcome as their loues require Though more then loue their loues did ne're desire A foolish Shame so blinds them that they shall For giuing them to much haue naught at all Yea for because they want excessiue fare Or some such things for which their friends neere care Though by their will it other wise had beene They neither will be knowne at home nor seene VVhich doth not onely shew impiety But hindereth loue and barres society Yet now the greatest weaknesse that I finde To be in man is ignorance of mind It makes a poore man hee 's scarse good for ought If rich men haue it they are worse then nought For hauing riches store and wanting might Or strength of mind to vse the same aright T is arrogancies and ambitious fuell It makes them Couetuous Inconstant Cruell Intemperate Vniust and wonderous heady Yea in their actionsrude and so vnsteddy They cannot follow any sound direction But are still carried with a wild affection This is their nature it is quickly noted If they to honour be by hap promoted Then they grow insolent beyond all reason Apt for Ambition Quarrels Murthers Treason Or any villany that followes those Who doe the summe of happinesse repose In worldly glory But if Fortune frowne And from her fickle wheele once cast them downe Then their deiected hearts againe grow base They are impatient of their present case Raue or run mad and can doe nought poore elues Vnlesse it be goe hang or drowne them selues Moreouer the same weakenes that proceeds From ignorance this mischife also breeds It makes men will conceited of their will Which they will follow be it nere so ill And they thinke all things needs must fall out bad Wherein their wise aduise may not be had But heere 's the hell to them all Counsell's vaine Cause they all others wisedome doe disdaine And wholly on their owne deuises rest As men perswaded that their owne are best But as all such are weake e'ne so I say Is euery one that rashly doth repay Vengeance in anger Or that 's male content Oft or oft mooued and impatient Or those that iudge of Counsels by th' euent Or that perswade themselues if their intent Be good and honest that it doth not skill If that the matter of it selfe be ill Which were it true then Dauid might complaine That Vzzah for his good intent was slaine Others againe thinke Superstitious Rites To be the seruice in which God delghts But since I 'me forst my mind of them to speake I must needs say their iudgements are but weake The like I must of them who disesteeme All forraine customes and doe onely deeme Their owne praise-worthy As also such as do Thinke those things best they cannot reach vnto Yet in the vulgar this weake humor 's bred They 'l sooner be with idle customes led Or fond opinions such as they haue store Then learne of reason or of vertues lore We think that we are strong but what alas Is there that our great might can bring to passe Since though we thereto bend e'ne all our will We neither can be good not wholly ill God giues vs needfull blessings for to vse them Which wanting power to do we oft abuse them Some hold them wise and vertuous that professe An heremitall solitariness But it proceeds from imbecillity And for because through Non-ability Those thinges they cannot well in dure to doe Which they indeed should be inur'd vnto Besides they wrong their Country and their friends For man saith Tullye's borne to other ends Then for to please himselfe a part to haue The common-weale doth look and parents craue A part so doth his friend then deales he well That closely mewd vp in a carelesse cell Keepes all himselfe and for a little ease Can in his Conscience find to rob all these I say hee 's weake and so againe I must But add withall hee 's slothfull and vniust Then as hee 's vaine that precious time doth spend In fond and idle pleasure to no end So are those weake that with contempt disdaine All plesure and delights on earth as vaine And though they would be zealous thought wise I shall but count them foolishly precise For Man hath cares and pleasures mixt with-all Are needfull yea both iust and naturall We are no Angels that our recreation Should consist only in meer Contemplation But we haue bodies to of whose due pleasure The soules must find sometimes to be at leasure For to participate but in this kind Though some find fault we are not much behind Then t is through humane weaknes when that we Of a good-turne will soone forgetfull be And readier to reuenge a small offence Then for that good to make a recompen â— And so 't is also when that we eschew Or shunne them vnto whom from vs is due Both loue and mony this because their owne Th' other cause friendship at our need was showne But 't is well seen there 's many so abhor To be in presence with their Creditor That thankless elues though he be still their friend They rather would desire to see his end He 's weake to that 's not able to withstand Any vnlawfull or vniust demand As well as he that knowes not to deny Seruing-mens kindness or pot-curtesie Some simple fellowes cause that silken-fooles That had their bringing-vp in Bacchus schooles In show of loue but daine to drink vnto them Think presently they such a fauour do them That though they feele their stomack wel nigh sick Yet if to pledge these kind ones they should sticke Or for a draught or two or three refuse them They thinke in conscience they should much abuse them Nay there be some and wisemen you would thinke That are not able to refuse their drinke Through this their weaknesse though that they be sure 'T is more then their weake stomacks can indure And why oh 't is the health of some great Peere His Maisters or his Friend he counteth deare What then if that the party vertuous be He 'le not esteeme of such a foolery If not who er 't be this is my mind still A straw for 's loue his friendship or good will Some muse to see those that haue knowledge gaind And to Degrees of Art in Schooles attaind Should haue opinion stuft with heresie And in their action such Simplicitie As many haue At first without a pause As meere a Boy as I may tell the cause I st not the reason their acquired parts And knowledge they haue reacht vnto by Arts Is growne a Mâ—tch to great and farre vnfit For to be ioyned with their Naturallwit 'T is so and they insteed of rightfull vsing Draw from their leraning errors by abusing Plaine Reason should and euery man that 's wise Knowes though that Learning be a dainty prize Yet if that
do not at my handes require My youthfull sinnes though that my flesh be fraile And my affections often do preuaile Seeing thou knowest the weake estate of man And what a little his small power can Accept my will and let thy blood suffice To quit the rest of mine iniquities But now because I haue obseru'd such store I needs must tell a few presumptions more Some in contemning others wisdome show That they presume themselues do all things knoâ— But that vile selfe-conceit nere raised any Certaine I am it is the fall of many Others and they in this kind too offend On their owne Memories too much depend Such I haue heard so confidently speake As if they had no thought that men were weaâ— Yea those though twenty men haue all gaine-said What they affirmed were not yet affraid Their owne bare affirmation to out-face With sundry oathes such wondrous trust they place In their remembrance yea my selfe ere now Haue beene oft-times more rash for to anow What I thought truth then ere I le be againe For what I deemd to be so sure and plaine That I not onely stood in 't to my might But would haue paun'd my life ' thad been the right That to my shame I haue my selfe alone Found to be false when all the rest were gone VVhich greeu'd me so that I le nere more rely Or trust so much to mine owne memory But what may I terme those who for a name Or for to get some vile prepostrous fame VVill desperately for the nonce begin To put in action some vngodly sinne That all men loath and only as they say For to be talkt of VVhat are such I pray Presumptuous vaine or weake or all that 's bad The last I thinke and ten-times more then mad Yet we haue gallants and great store of such That in their great Brauadoes care not much VVhat villanies they doe But 't is their humor Only to fill mens mouthes with idle Rumor And cause they know the Vulgar sort do deeme them Youths of great Spirit and do much esteeme them But amongst wise-men they are sure to gaine Reprochfull shame and wel deseru'd disdaine Yet for to adde some fame vnto this story We will be queath them Erostratus glory Nor haue our old men left that humor yet For though through feeblenesse they are vnfit To put in practise their old tricks againe Yet for to show they like them and would faine Thei 'le often with a lie or two recite them And the rememberance doth so much delight them That whereas they ought rather to repent And with a grieued heart for to lament Their former follie They with Ioy and Laughter Seeme to approu't in those that shall come after Yet there 's a crew the which my Muse wel knows To them she here a Memorandum owes And yet no Commendations for they are But busie fellowes that doe boldly dare Take on them in their comments for to finde The secret meaning of each Authors minde And to apply that in particular That should extend to all in generall And in this little booke perhaps they can Say here I ment one there another man And by their names they wil not stick to shew them When as perhaps I nere so much as knew them So from my honest meaning they will reare them A slander for some priuat grudge they beare them But though these are so bold yet I beleeue Or hope at least no men of wisedome giue Credit to any such interpretations That are but false imaginations Since each of these what stile soere he craue Doth show him a presumptuous foole and knaue But heare all you that are quite voyd of care VVhat you presume in chiefly you that dare Maugre Gods threates go foreward to fulfill Your naughty rash vnbridled hare-braine will As if you thought that you your selues made all And that indeed there were no God at al. Know this ere long time it shall come to passe That you shall houling sit and cry alas Cursing your births and miserable state VVith sad repentance when it is too late Vnlesse you now take time Oh wormes oh men Forsake your sollies oh forsake them then VVhat wil you do else when that seiz'd by death Ready to draw the latest gaspe of breath VVhen as you are so weak that you would faine But cannot mooue your tongues for to complaine VVhat would you do if then their should appeare The Authors of most miserable feare Your guilty Consciences and there vnroll To your remembrances the dreadfull scroll Of your Presumptions and with all present â— vision of th ' infernall punishment â—repar'd for such And if in that bad case You should behold him you esteemd so base â—t with such power that at each frown he makes â—he earth doth tremble and the heauen shakes VVhat would you doe Oh any thing I 'me sure â—o paine there is but you would then endure To scape his wrath if you do not dispaire Then wil you beg entreat and promise faire Or any thing if so it were you might Returne to life againe then you would quite Alter your doings then forsooth you 'l be A patterne vnto all posterity You would be humble meeke deuout and chaste But now there 's time and then it may be past Yet I my selfe haue heard those that haue vow'd Much in their anguish and God hath allow'd A longer time yea hath vouchsaft to saue And giue them life againe e'ne at the graue And yet haue these forgot their former paine And turnd vnto their owne ill wayes againe Which hauing seene this for vs men I 'le speake Not without griefe though nothing be so weake Yet we are in our owne conceits so tall That for presumption we do out-passe all And if so be that this same hardning sinne Do seaze vpon the heart once and get in My mind is this 't will nere be purg'd thence well No not with all the feares and pangs of Hell EPILOGVS SO in some measure I haue now made knowne What foule abuses Time to me hath showne And what man is I haue explain'd some Crimes That I haue noted in these present times Then though I haue beene stil accounted idle This showes I haue not giuen time the bridle To run away vnmannag'd But did vse it Then best when I seem'd most for to abuse it Here sinfull man thou maist behold in part Thy miserable state and what thou art Thy Passions thy vanities heere see In part I say for all there cannot be Thy wauerings and thy frailties I 'ue explain'd With thy Presumption yet nothing fain'd If thou hast read it then I hope thou know'st Though thou seem'st bad thou art worse then thou show'st And I do trust thy wretchednesse espide Will quell thy most intollerable pride I mus'd a while thou wert so prone to sinning But 't was thy fault I see from the beginning And as the Lord himselfe once said so stil T' immaginations of thy heart are ill That 's