could awe nor love allure That you from course of Justice less may swerve Observe the Rule which Cato did observe Who on a time when he in judgement sat Professing truth the scope he aymed at Receiv'd a Letter which in post-haste came From One who was esteem'd a special man Then in the State addressed to this end To spare pronouncing judgement on his Friend But He suspecting what th' contents might be Meant to prevent him by this Policie And that he might procede in judgment better First Sentenc'd him and after read the Letter O then to all alike just judgement render As you the safety of the State doe tender Grant great ones no exemption who alledge They may offend by writ of Priviledge But make them know that you have pow'r to strike If they impugn the Law all men alike This if you do which Conscience bids you doe Good men will love and ill men feâ—re you too Yea God himself who 's present iâ— your Court Sees your uprightness and shall bleâ—â—â—ou for 't And you strife-stirring Lawyers who have sold Too oft your souls more oft youâ— tongues for gold Like some foule Leprosy my Muse would shun you But that the State complaines so much upon you Eye your profession and examine then If you your selv s be such condition'd men As both the State requireth at your hands And with the form of your profession stands And what is this but that you should take heed What cause you take in hand for whom you plead Whom you perswade and with perswasion mad Saying their cause is good when it is bad How you doe earne your fees for some mens ayms Are by delayes to multiply theâ— gaines For know that you who should judicious bee Are fiâ—st to weigh the cause then take your fee And if 't be such a Cause 't will bear no water Perswade your Client to compound the matter But if the cause be good fall soundly to it And slight it not for so you might undo it What shame were 't then to see men of your Coat Diâ—temperd wiâ—h a swelling in the throat A dangerous infâ—ctâ—ous disease Sp ung from the practice of Demosthenes Whom the Milesians feeing on a time That to their cause he might the more incline Hee when he should the matter fully break Had got the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Demost apud Gellium lib. 11. cap. 9. 82. Squinancie and could not speak O take you heed of this lest God withhold Gold Speech from your tongues thus tipt and tide With And you the Gentry who retaine the name But not the Worth of those from whence you came You who should be life hope and all that 's deere Both to your selves and such as neighbour neere Observe your ranke and in your ranke so live As to your House you may no scandall give Alasse for griefe that ere it should be â—ed So many hopefull Plants are withered Such ancient houses where reliefe was found By way-beat Passengers now raz't to ground And whence comes this but from improvidence Neglect of State profusenese of expence So as me thinks I heare poore earth complaine And chide her brats for being so profane That th' antient badge of Hospitality Should be defac'd by prodigality Cloaths made to cover shame and colour sin Are now habilliments to glory in Meates given to suffice nature not delight Must satisfy our liqu'rish appetite Drinks to refresh times so distemper'd are Must drink down debt apply a cure to care Of which disorderd rank I knew of late A youth of faire and eminent estate Who in few yeares had his estate to seeke from pissing Conduit that doth stand in Cheap But in my judgement there is none of these Brings ruine to our ancient families So much as profane swearing which doth call Like that hand-writing showne upon the wall For vengeance on them that the same do use Gods curse must nere depart from swearers House And yet I see and sigh to say I see How in this Land where God should honour'd be With duest praises for her great increase Of earthly blessings and continued peace The Gentry of our Ile should think no shame With new coin'd oaths to profane his name Which is their Parents fault who so much love them That when they hear them swear they 'l scarce reprove them Yea though they curse ere they be wean'd from teat And learne to sweare before they learn to speak They must not be rebuk'd but mark their ends And you 'l conclude their Parents their worst frends And you deceitful Tradesmen whose great'st care Is to contrive dark shops to vent false ware Scorne with injurious practise to deceive Such as in you their trust reposed have And day by day the Chandlers case remember As you the welfare of your necks do tender Lastly to you my Brethren who by nature Are woodmen borne and gotten by a Satyre Examine ere you publish any line For I must tell you 't is a dang'rous time The State is jealous and will have an eye Oâ— such wild headed waggs as you and I. Be warie then good Boyes and have a care Least in my censure yee do likewise share Which could not chuse but turne to your disgrace â—â—sides your lothsom lodging in this place Where trust me though I doe not lye with any Spight of my teeth I goe to bed with many And which is strange Backbiters have I more Since I lay here then e're I had before But heark while I am taxing others sin My fellows they are roaring now within I must withdraw my Keeper he doth call And now my grate is shut good-night to all Exit Spectrum A Postscript NO sooner was my Grate closed than I from my Prospect barred retiring my self to my rest which was as restlesse as my fortunes haplessâ— my friends hopelesse and help esse Neither did this lessen but heighten my misery to have mine eye barred from liberty by being shut from my Pâ—ospect of vanity But beggars must be no choosâ—rs nor prisoners disposâ—rs w th Patience I retired resolving to enjoy my selfe though of all outward joyes d prived and â—oy in the liberty of my minde though of bodily freedom restrained Neither indeed to doe my surlie Câ—â—â—erus right was my Argus-eyed Porter so relentlesse as wholly to restrain mee for his promise was unto mee next morning betime to tender mee a courtesie by giving mee f ee recourse to my Grate where I resolved to spend the next day in a serious survey of such passengers and passages as happily might encounter mee and make themselves objects to an embleme of misery But see how humane purposes a e diverted implying that nothing can bee by man so long as hee is man firmly resolved For next day addressing my selfe to my old taske I understood by One of the Knights ward that divers broken and decayâ—d Merchants whose estate howsoever it seeme to the eye of the world razed yet so wise is
those spels But they that know him think 't is something elss And will not stick vnder the Rose to speak That this same Docter is indeed his Tweak But what have they or I to doe with him If it be so 't is but a Lordly Sin Many have beene and so no doubt will be Bewitcht with Objectâ— meaner farre then she Yâ—t I 'me resolv'd they judge not farre amisse Who say that he 's Bewitcht for so he is For who unlesse drawne in by some impostor Would such a Blouse to his dishonour fostâ—r Now were it fit likâ— Glow-wormes to discover Mâ—ting and meetings of so great a Lover Admiâ— you know extortion in the Land In officers corâ—uptiâ—n under hand Symony Bâ—ocage Rapine Sacriledge Mâ—y you not see the Age grant priviledge Tâ— such State-epidemicall disâ—ases What profit gets it generally pleases Why Sir I see as much as you can see For my whole life is Albions scrutinie In City Court and Couâ—try I doe want For no inteâ—ligence for I doe hant Wâ—th ciâ—cumspection every nooke and angle And how our State-impostors doe intangle Ouâ— unexperienc'd New comes I observe it And how they ' r honour'd most that least deserve it All which I could display and draw the lines Of all their actions to succeeding times To make men wonder at but pray thee say Would this reclaime these State moaths any way Or dart a blush in any of their faces Or â—ake them wearie of their purchas'd places Or strike a terrour in their conscience Or einsâ—all lost justice to her Bench Wâ—uld it mâ—ke one man good that now is evil Or weane one sâ—ule from serving of the devill Lasse no Sir Though from God you have your warrant And faiâ—hfully perfoâ—m his sacred arrant When so small benâ—fit is wâ—ought by th' Pulpit Dâ—e you by Satyrizing hope to help it Is all the Tribe of Levi so farre short Or shallow to improve reprove exhort As thâ—y must silenc'd be while you begin To taxe theâ— Coat because â—hey taxe not sin You are too bold Sir in youâ— fluent straine And tenders that which none will entertaine For doe you thinke we live in such an Age A Clergie man will loose a Parsonage Before he scourge not sinne it cannot be For how should he relieve his familie His hopefull O â—ve branches with his Spouse With all the hâ—ly Meynie of his house If he should not dispence with his Creatour And smooth the sinne of his Impropriatour Or that an Officer in any Court Will rectifie himselfe by your report Or purchase to his soul least hope of blesse By taking of a poore man one fee lesse For though Extortion be I gâ—◠〈◊〉 a sin This course would goe well neere to begger him A place that at so deaâ—e a â—aâ—e is bought Most be imploy'd for gaine not soâ—d for nought Or that a Lawyer should his practise make Lessâ— for himselfe thâ—â— for his Clyents sake Or use that glibberie mâ—mber of hiâ— Tongue To further right and not to bolster wrong For so he shâ—ulâ— gâ—â—w out of practise quite And wrong himselfe by doing others right For right and wrong though they contraries be Yet wrong does right if it bring in a fee Or a Physitian whose Empyrick Hâ—nd Must kill downe right before he understand Should apprehend remorse when as by doses He weighs his Physick out but not the losses Oâ— his abused Patients who with gâ—ones Must loose their lives and substance both at once These hauing novght to give must be forsaken And if they die the care is quickly taken Or a Civilian thâ—ugh Conscience be Thâ— Oâ—j ct of his Law will loose his fee Or not protract a Cause and make a sturre By plodding some impertinent demurre For he such store of Presidents can show That then examples tell him what to doe And will secure him onely leâ— pretences Guilded with sanctity disguise offences Or that a Rorer wâ—ll his Oathes forbeare Or shudder when he does Gods judgements heare Or leave his Brothellâ— or his midnight revells Oâ— leave consorting with his fâ—mal Devels For so he should abandon all his joy And loose thâ— Title of a roring Bâ—y No Sâ—â— these taskes surpasse â— Critick straine And make him wash the Blackamoore in vaine Yet I pâ—â—sâ—ade me you exprest your zeale In youâ— dimensions to the Commonwâ—ale And that your meaning was to waine the State From some of that which all good people hate But where sinne 's grow to ripenessâ— you must know Good meanings and intentions will not doe So delicate aâ—e these corrupted times As none must taxe or taint heir swelling crimes But tell me in good sadnâ—sse what 's the cause To think your Lives more powerful â—hen our Lawes If an Oppressor hatefull Contractâ— make Our Laws can bring hâ—m hâ—â—â— a Bâ—â—re to th' stake The Cunningst Church thiefe be he neere so great When on e detectâ—d for a Counterfeatâ— Must not uncensnâ—'d passe nor any one Who in a civill State shall throw a Bone So as in my Opiâ—ion from the State Such Stigmaticks doe highly derogate Who judge their Muse mongst men t' have more command Then all the Lawes and Statutes of our Land But to remove this Error I thinke fit If any one have mind to shew his wit That in obscurer manner he disclose it Least too much plainenesse make the Satyre lose it This moved some as in their workes we find In Hieroglyphicks to expresse their mind Or like choyce Heralds to finde out a Crest Fitting the forme and nature of the Beast As some of our spruce-silken Curtaine Lords Who shew their worth in their imperious words Have beene displaid and shadow'd to their shame Yet know not who nor where they wounded them But most of these their Dingity have lost And can of nought but painted Scutchions boast This Course was held at first and ever since The freest from distaste and from offence For when we darkely write thanks be to Heav'n So small a portion of conceit is given To our Magnifico's as when they read us They understand us not or never heed us Which happy ignorance secures our pen And makes them laugh at us that nettle them In these darke colours have I drawne the shapes Of vicious Silke wormes in this Age of Apes Which shâ—dow'd with a Vision may doe good To purge if not to purifie the blood Nor would I have this to be held in me Weaknâ—sse of courage or timiditie For in a Cause where I intend to doe Service to God I ne're did terror know Nor doe I see ought in this vale of teares Which should beget in me such fruitlesse feares The Substance I enjoy I nere did gather But as a Birth-right left me by my Father For had my fortunes hung upon my care My part had com'â— unto an easie share But what I now possesse be it more or lesse I never wâ—sh God may it longer blesse Then I shall willingly forgoâ— the same To honour God and magnifie his name
light I wonder much why you ' r not made a Knight For if to healths such knightly vailes befall You 's drinke a health with any of them all But to the purpose thoâ—gh I force a smile I 'd rather moâ—e th' abuses of our I le Again to see those who have well deserv'd How they can â—hew their warlike bodies carv'd Their arms diâ—joynted or their legs cut off Yet for all this rewarded with a scoff Their service wants least solace for our Peace Mâ—kes us conceive small pitty toward these Yet their designes were glorious and the cause For which they fought deserv'd no lesse applause Bâ—t see their end for all the time they serv'd The most of these are eyther hang'd or starv'd Now to propose some due reward to these Nâ—ught were more fit if it the State would please Than to injoyne the miserable Chrone I meane the usurous oppressing one Whose only sport it is and recreation To see a dearth of grain in all our Nation Who grates regrates grinds and engrosseth all Lâ—ughs when our markets rise grives when they fall Who will not sell his Corn if men should die Bâ—â— stops his eare against their ruthfull crye Thâ—n to injoyn I say his stonie heart Some portion of his substance to impart To a deserving Souldier and know My reason 's this why I would have it so This earth-adoring and admiring wretch Who craves no more then that he may be rich Lives safe at home his family attend him But all this while the Souldier doth defend him Snayle-like at home hee ever makes aboad And little feels the dangers are abroad While the encamped Souldier doth endure The worst extremes the Miser to secure From sleep hee wakes with noyse of least alarm Surveys the Campe prevents ensuing harm Rampters he reares Fortes Bulwarks Palisadoes Mures Countermures stores his wel-rig'd Armadoes The key-cold ground the field-bed wher he rests him Where not one minute but some fear molests him All which he beares with patience for this Elfe Who cares not who fall so he save himselfe Now ought not he to share in his encrease Who by his danger doth secure his peace Do wee not see each one relieve his Cur Who on the night-time barks and makes a stur To shield his masters house from those would venter But for fear of discovery to enter And shall a Cur so kindly be entreated And a poor Souldier of his right defeated Can one delight so much a Cur to cherish And suffer one endow'd with reason perish Nor for my self do I this comfort seek For as I think I 'm in for all the week Although perchance I have as great delight In a good cause as any one to fight And would be loth to spare my dearest blood If shedding it might do my Countrey good But diverse means are form'd for diverse men Some are to fight with pike and some with pen Eyther of which requires a spirit stout To vanquish fiends within or foes without But say can neither eye eare taste nor smell Afford thee ought that may content thee well Can no choice object to thy eye appeare Nor no melodious accent to thy eare No fragrant perfume to refresh thy Scent While thou art here in lists of thraldom pent No sense-affecting-solacing repast That may delight or relish thy distast Can none of these thy drooping spirit cheere Or ease thy griefe while thou art lodged here Yes yes in every faculty I find Somthing to give contentment to my mind For thus I argue If these breed such loathing I must infer on earth there can be nothing Bee 't nere so pleasant-seeming or so moving That may in any measure merit loving Which to confirme as I conceiv'd distast In all those former Senses that are past Now for my love I bear the Commonweale Heare but the griefs I for her sake do feele MUch do I feele for even my heart doth ake Not for my self but for my Country sake Wherein ther 's nought doth me so neerly touch As to see great-men wrong the State so much For ther 's no place we heare not some of these Tax'd and reprov'd for their Monopolies Which they will beg that they their turns may serve No matter though the common-people starve O age me thinks thou art distracted growne To squeeze a whole State for advancing one And what 's that one a profuse Rioter Who spends upon a painted Sepulcher What ere he gains by begging thus the poor Are forced to maintain a great mans whoor They want he surfeits they may pine and die Hee hears but takes small pitty on their crie They crave one crum of comfort he denies them And when he meets them stops his nose flies them He all enjoys whatso'ere may like him well And on his foot-cloth rides in state to Hell O yee high peering Mounts incline your ear Unto the counsel of a Prisoner For do not think although I be in thrall That I will humor any of you all I have not learn'd to flatter hitherto And I do scorn to take the trade up now But what 's my counsell Labour to deserve Well of your Prince whom you are bound to serve Hate to inhance your State or fill your purses With wofull widows tears and poor-mens curses That gaine must needs be ill be 't more or lesse That 's suck'd and strained from the fatherlesse Scorne to enrich your selves by others hate Or rayse your selves by razing of the State And for as much I heare that Some of you Which I protest doth much my grief renue Support your Followers in an unjust cause Against the course and tenure of the Laws So as they care not what they undertake Because they shall be favor'd for your sake Surcease for shame to countenance a wrong Either by Letter or perswasive tongue For there is nought on earth right sure I am Detracteth more from any Noble-man Then with the brand of injury to stain him For love of any one that doth retain him For this such deep impression leavs behind it As on your graves succeeding times shall find it Where it will live long after you be dead And sprinkle hatefull poyson on your seed And you the reverend Judges of the Land Stand in defence of right whosoe're withstand Your just proceedings let no favor draw you Nor fear of any great-one over-aw you Doe you not think it were a shame to heare Such men as you who on your shoulders beare The burden of the State and should take care To guard the Prince and those his Subjects are E're to decline from doing what is right For love or lucre enmity or might Patrons and Patterns you should be of truth To curbe the misdemeanors of our youth Whose unconfined wills are rather bent To ill then good unless they feel restraint But for as much as I have heard Some say That great-mens power hath ever born much sway In Seates of Justice which should be so pure As neither power
MECAENAS but give way To what the meanest of his Knights can say Now my good Lord your humble Suppliant comes To know the cause why he should pay these Sums Object Our Princes Coronation by a Statute Inflicts these fines on those that were not at it Provided they have fourty pounds by yeare Of free hold Land the Statute makes it cleare Answ T is true but this reflecteth not on me For I was at that high solemnitie And I' th best note my rurall Muse could sing Tendred my Poemes to my gratious King Object Yea but the Proclamation did forbid it You were not well advis'd then when you did it Answ 'Slid should I neither then be here nor there But like a Ball hang hovering in the ayre Object No though the Coronation wil'd you come The Proclamation wish'd you stay at home You should not have come up Sir Answ No more did I For I as fortune fell was there allready Where my ambitious Muse did Knighthood crave But what I had I hold no more I have Discusse my Lord then each particular I shall be found in nought irregular I came not up I broke not th' Proclamation The Statute 's kept I was at Coronation At which I 'le justify with heart and hand I joy'd as much as any Knight i th' Land These duely weigh'd your Honour Umpire be Whether I pay the King or King pay me His regall rites receiv'd this Muse of mine And were this reason think you for my rime I sung my Sov'reigne heard me now wee say The Hearer not the Singer usd to pay I judge then what soe're to me is done Is by that figure Vsteron Proteron You for the King demand of me a fee When it is meant that He should pay it mee But lest this should by me too much be thought So I goe free my Song shall go for nought But husht no more with this approv'd Position Your constant Servant closeth his Petition More Knights my Lord your State has little need on Let me be a poore Country Squire to breed on Now if these Reasons take no place my Lord I must Obey if you but speake the word A Knights fee for your Honour I have heere Knight and no Knight the Purchase is too deere But I 'm resolv'd my Reasons are so plaine Your squire may with his Coine go back againe AMPLITUDINI TUAE DEDITISSIMUS MUSOPHILUS EBORACENSIS EQUES EQUITUM HUMILLIMUS * Area quot spicas quot profert Silva myricas Curia quot curas Semina terra tenes Quot scatebrae venas quot mittit literis arenas Tot Milites inopes Anglia semper habes Vpon his Hon. Election of Deputation for Ireland FOr Ireland Lord what will become of me For Conscience-sake looke on my Familie Would you receive more honour then you have And so relinquish those whom you may save Is any one more earthly-blest then you Firme friends faire fates brave Bards corrivals few And who is hee that is so richly blest Will hatch his Airy in a forraine nest There the best Hawkes indeed they say are bred But there High-flyers oft have perished Those that doe love my Lord doe hold it fit As th' Country honours him so should he it Admit my Lord that you entitled be Yorks President and Irelands Deputie Where you are five yeers onely to remaine Which time expir'd you'r to return againe Nay more then that when ev'ry third Month ends You may revisit here your constant friends What 's this to me while you at distance stand I 'm forc'd to write my sorrows in the sand It is a weeke agoe since I did dreame How you and I were swimming in a streame Rough were the Billows for the water swell'd While I for safety by a Willow held Which you catch'd at but 'las it would not be That failed you what had supported me For when you strove to save your selfe from Wrack Rude-chattring Reeds me thought still held you back Now such as are Expositors of Dreames Might thus interpret it These troubled Streames Betoken danger Willowes friends indeede But such as faile us most when most we need Rude chattring Reeds such as doe make a sport To blemish Honour with a base report But dreams are dreams such as rightly know them Will nere give trust nor confidence unto them But why my Lord should you transplanted be And reave me of that hope supported me ' Zlid all the world knows you to be wise And play'd i th' Parl'ament your Master prize But what 's all that God knows what some will say In heat of hate when you are gone away Excuse me Lord my zeal conceits the worst If I should silent be my gall would burst No Sycophant am I upon my word I le speak as Servants should unto their Lord. Then taxe not my discretion for the matter But praise his honesty that cannot flatter Here then a tatterd Knight comes sneaking in And jeers the Honour you bestow'd on him And swears that Diotolph Brand who look't so big Being made Knight for rosting of a Pig Was ne're to more desertlesse honour hurl'd For hee 's scarce worth a Pig in all the World Here a rack-rent Recusant cryes amaine O my deere Conscience and repeats your name And vowes since Abbies were dissolved heere A Romish Conscience never cost so deere So as you must not be till they be freed E're in their Pater-noster or their Creed Some say you 'r grown to that resistless might He is not wise dare be your opposite For you will crush him be he nere so great Having such free accesse to Caesars Seat Whose gracious rayes are such as they impart Verdure and vigour to your known desart These and such like reports they ' l spread on you Which though I 'm confident are far from true For in that equal Scale your actions stand As I le avouch you just with heart and hand Yet too maliciously will some men deem When the wide Sea hath sever'd you from them Nought 's left to answer for you but report Which good men know you by and love you for 't Alas my Lord for Ireland many one Have gone forth laughing that come weeping home Our Modern Stories have sufficient To shew wee need no other President Nor can you there doe service to your King For as I heare there breaths no venemous thing What then can Justice finde it selfe to doe Plant rather here where there be snakes enow Such as deserve a Censure Hee that 's just Must finde offenders or his Sword will rust Some from the height of their concealed hate Doe much maligne the fulness of your State And say One day a Parliament will come And then we hope Some will be payed home If these while you live here so envious be Judge what they 'l doe when you 'r beyond the Sea Your Presence then 's the way to make you strong Just men have oft through absence suffred wrong Pardon my boldness Lord the Case is such
humane policy their supposed Heirs are to great fortunes raised were inquisitive how they might procure a trustie and faithfull Retainer who had knowledg in keeping of a booke casting an account and such necessary parts as properly concerned men of their ranke Vpon which enquiry â—he whole H use to doe mee a courtesy and add some small comfort to my present misery preferred mee knowing mee to have a little smattering in Arithmetick and in that respect fittest to bee imployed for such an instrument since which time I have used all diligence to tender them all possible content wherein I have so far prevailed as with the generall suffrage of these decay d Magnificoes it is lately concluded that if it come to passe as much may bee that they may eyther by meanes of Protection or s me other eâ—franchisemâ—nt to them granted attaine to the honour of a Company I shall forthwith bee made their Remembrancer which place I shall â—ight willingly accept intending to rem mber them upon all occasions Hence then appeareth the cause why I am from further survey restrained being in affaires of higher consequence employed having no time to betake mee to writing or from wasting my Spleene with laughing to see so many deluded Creditors bemoaning the fall of my politick Masters whose well-cram'd coffers are so well stored as they will feed the Breaker though thâ— Creditor bee starved To discover their Treasure were to betray their Trust I were a knave then to bee lesse then trustie although they bee knaves in grain that doe trust mee only know thus much there are many here in this City to my knowledge that beare their heâ—ds high keepe their shops ope walke the Exchange and retaine an opinion of mighty Merchants who come many thousands short of these in substance So as my comfort is for gold to the eye-sight is very soveraign I have enjoyed the sight of more treasure since I was restrained then ore I enjoyed being freed But silence b comes a man of my Plaâ—â— let this suffice I enjoy more by sight then ever their thirstie Creditors are like to possesse so high am I in trust with those who have advanced their fortunes by best be trust Now to these who would have mee proceed further in my Survey or Display of vanity haâ—ing found Poverty an individuate to Poetry my answere is when I have hope to gaine so much by my Reader as by my Breaker hee shall heare further from meee Now to my charge 10 100 1000 10000 100000 Thus my wiâ—â— M ther 's burnish though they burst Foxes fare ever bâ—st when they are curst The Copy of a Letter sent from a Burgess of the Lower-House to the brittle Society or broken Company of Bankrupt-Merchants 1625. MASTERS and Magistrateâ— whose timely policy hath got you the deserved name of a provident Company Know that both-Houses wherein I was employed as an especiall Member have taken into their Consideration the qualitie of a Breaker Wherefore I thought good in respect of that ancient familiarity and inviolable league of former amity which did somtimes cement us so neere together to propose certain cautious observations not so much for your behoofe who are excluded from this number and consequently exempted from their Censure as for our dispersed Bankrupts who have broke since the sixt of October whose persons and estates are only made lyable to the extent of a legall Censure First therefore to discover to you and your brittle Corporation some apparent Remonstrances of my affection yet not so as my love should forget forme oâ— my Letter method my purpose is to reduce this schedule to you directed to four main heads or principall points where in the first branch I meane to make known what was objected against you secondly what was answered for you thirdly what was Enacted and lastly certain directions by way of prevention propounded that the force or virtue of that Act might bee frustrated or diverted For the first divers Bills of complaint were preferred against you and with much heate prosecuted sundry main objections press d the substance or effect whereof I have no lesse freely couched then friendly touched that in your memories they may bee the deeper imprinted It was objected and that with much vehemency by a rawbone Knight who is it seemd had been formerly conversant wâ—th men of your quality which occasioned him to exasperate the businesse against you more feelingly That if such as you were suffered to get mens estates into your hands under pretence of Commerce and then fraudulently shut up shop as if the light of you fortunes had received a Dampe there would in time bee no Commerce in this Iland but an utter decay or decrease of all trades the reason hee alledged was this Because said hee every Profession by way of Commerce useth to have dependence upon mens reputation or credit now if this reputation the buttresse of every profession faile needs must all Commerce relying upon mens reputation fall This objection was illustrated by divers apt similitudes to add more lustre to his proposition and detract the more from your profession The State quoth hee is a body politick and may bee aptly compared to a body naturall and orgâ—nicall the Belly or Maw of this body is the Commonaltie whereto other parts stand engâ—ged to relieve her necessity with these she conforâ—eâ—h and Commerceth and on their engaged reputation shee relyeth The eye promiseth to direct her the hand to relieve her and the foote to support her If these â—nfringe their promise shee of nâ—cessity must perish because their mutuall supportaâ—ce requires a mutuall assistance whiâ—h neglected the whole fabrick must be dissolved so fares it with the body politick where one veine drawes blood from an ther if one vâ—iâ—e grow tâ—o full the whole body suffeâ—s for it whi h â—â—â—â—mper admits no prevention but by Paâ—â—bo â—my and incision Full bodieâ— m◠〈…〉 purged spungie and ranke Vines pâ—â—â—ed grounds ovâ—â—fl wing dâ—ained and impostum'd sor◠〈◊〉 â—ed much moâ—â— this Gangrene of our State which menaceth ruine to the whole body if it be not p evented by a speedy remedy For tell mee shâ—ll th se ulcerous Scarabees who feede on others fortunes and fat themselves with others ruines receive countenance from us respect by us or expect lesse then an exemplary Censure of us Shall these Horsleaches who suck till they swell swell till they burst be suffered any more to nestle amongst us Shall these lazie-Labourers reape what they have not sowne eate of the fruit they have not planted or receive profit for what they never ventured And more tollerable were it if they parted but stakes or only shaâ—ed in the benefit of others adventures although for this they never laboured but like egregious Land sharks to strip their honest Creditors and ruine others to enrich themselves of all and appropriate all to themselves what civill or well Go-govern'd State can endure I quoth hee not without just cause am
felt no scant But bravely surfeited on others want It was my ayme and I did ayme aright To winde me in with some Great-favorite Whose gracefull count'nance might support me still In all my courses were they good or ill Where I observ'd more good might be effected By meanes of One who was in Court respected Were his Cause ne're so faultie nor so weake Then a good Cause if he no friends could make The reason was though Justice bore ev'n hand From some of these there came a countermand Which cause he was a great-Antagonist They durst not his authority resist Or else his meanes advanc'd them to that place Which mov'd them veile to him in any Case 〈◊〉 this I held a grounded observation â—ustice to Greatnesse ever had relation â—or some of these oft get a place worth chusing By being married to a great-mans Cousin So firm's the linke of mutuall allyance Against all opposits it pleads defiance For other silken-Apes who spend their time In making their seer-bodies brisk and fine I hold it needlesse here to make report Because ther 's suâ—h an Ape just now in Court Who will describe himselfe in every lim Which makes me leave that labor unto him For our Court-Ladies very few I know Who racket it with their Comradoes now Our spritely Lords doe either Treasure lack Or else they want agility of back So as amongst a number ther 's scarce one But shee is eyther mortifide or gone One did I heare of but the other day Who now has throwne her lighter Roabs away And by a firm-friend whom she well approv'd Sent to the wife of that same Lord she lov'd How she resolv'd her good esteeme to win By wearing of a mourning-gowne for him But what 's the answer shee return'd to her I wish quoth shâ— your Lady may not weare But what becomes her best in publique sight Her Suite must sute her selfe her selfe is light But if with mee shee 'll keepe a mourning part Shee must not mourn in Habit but in Heart And so no question doth shee for long since Shee lost the eye of her concupiscence Which makes me hope the eye-light of her mind Is cleerer far since th' outward eye was blind Thus be our Ladies matchlesse Converts held To whom no Suiters make but are repeld Though One I know nor was old Lais liker Unto her selfe then shee is to a striker In City likewise I remain'd a while Where I observ'd how Trades-men did beguile And in some darke part of their shop tooke care How they might vent their most deceitfull ware Here did I stay farre longer then I need That I with laughter might my humor feed For here I might observe a Country-gull Whose fathers death had made his pockets full Mount Ludgate-hill to buy a Spanish felt Pull out his money bid the Knave go tel 't Notes from Black-fryers I presently might gather For now this Cornish-Chough mourns for his fathe in a Carnation-feather wherewithall Hee means to grace his fathers funerall By this hee travells to Saint Martins lane And to the shops hee goes to buy a chaine Where ev'ry painted Babie that hee sees With their horse-gilded varnish doth so please As such commodities must not bee lost For he will have them whatsoe're they cost To th' Royal Exchange fain would he take his course If he had any money in his purse But the Long-shop hath brought his pockets low With Daggers Bells and Hobby-horses too For City-wives I will not presse them much If they be pleas'd that I may only touch Their errors not their persons which shall be Shadow'd so covertly as none shall see I have observ'd that nothing is more sweete In their conceit then when these gossips meete Nor would this halfe so much their husbands vex If all these gossips were but of one Sex But this the grief on 't forth they will not go But they must have their foremen with them too Which to redresse and for a quiet life Let ev'ry one be foremen to his wife For this in short time will her humor tame And purchase to her selfe a better name For the gum'd grogran Citty-usurer He is observ'd so much by Lucifer I need small observation take of him Being known to be th' Engrosser of all sin Not all his furrs nor vermin-skins shall save him He has contracted with him meanes to have him And reason good for you shall truely finde The master and his man both of one minde For there is nought the Vsurer doth crave But that he may Security receive With whom in this his master doth agree For all he seeks is but Securitie Yet for all this I cannot chuse but love him Because he cheats so many men above him And by a Forfeiture or such like Sentence In time he brings them unto true repentance Whereas if they had never met with him Perchance they had still rioted in sin Besides he 's charitable for to his door You cannot come but you shall see the poor Yet th' cause hereof he cannot well conceale He makes all poor with whom he has to deale Now for the Country though there many be Who make pretences of simplicitie Because they little know that part of speech Which southerne people to their children teach Yet in a home spun native Rhetorick They shew themselves as pregnant and as quick As those whose education may impart Far more accomplishment by meanes of Art A subtle-piercing ayre has made these wittie Apt to deceive as any in the Cittie For th' richer grubs we properly may call Broggers Forestallers and Regraters all And these prey on his state that weakest is As Whales and Sea-Bulls feed on lesser fish For th' younger sort small policie discerns Yet as the old Cock crows the young Cock learns Though they be gulld oftimes by City ware They are by it made circumspecter farre And now and then the City recompences With a commodity of stale-stuffe wenches Who by their carriage gaine them such esteeme As many times they match with Aldermen For th' higher ranke they live at such a rate As some of them cannot support their state Without sinister meanes yet these by aw Seeme to oppose and contradict the Law So as the Law grows tongue-tide or else bent To give these Bulls of Basan all content Law 's as a Spiders-web and ever was It takes the little flies lets great ones passe But let us draine these Rivolets that flow Those last are lost they were so long ago If we extract not poyson from each Rill Injoyn us Silence we have lost our Skill But Pan should thwart the fancy of his Pipe Ceasing to play when Vices are so ripe Then to our Trillo you shall heare more set In this Composure then you heard of yet A nimble Ningle we did lately heare Has purchased a thousand pounds by yeere Contracting for Delinquents though some say ' He was Delinquent once as well as they And there 's small doubt when all Accounts are past
Nor is my health so good that I should feare When s' ere 't please God my dissolution here Besides gray-hayres have caus'd me change my song Assuring me my dayes cannot be long Should I â—hen in my Glorious Makers sight Pâ—â—y servile Sycophant or Parasite Shouâ—d I now whâ—n my one foot is in grave Learne the obsequious posture of a knave Should I contemne my Soule when death is nie Oâ— complement when I should learne to die Should I who ne're could fawne in all my dayes An unjust Man agâ—inst my conscience praise No heav'ns forbâ—d that I shâ—uld taxe that thing In Subjects which I would not in a King O praise that in a King which I 'le not doe Even in his Groome or meanest Subject too For howsoe're our Statists Some times frowne Seeing those darling vices of their owne Touch'â— to the quicke yet why should good men feare Such Impes who Sattin in and out side weare No in that cause where I desire to please My gratious God I scorne the threates of these But I returne unto my Critick now And will informe him too what he shall doe I know the Sate Sir desperately sick Where some Sores should be Lanced to the quick For they must not bee smooth'd or smeer'd with Oyle Least they attract a more impressive soile But how should this be done or how appâ—de Bâ—fore the member grow quite mortifide An art-full and experienc'd hand were fit Aâ—d to that actâ—ve hand a pregnant wit A grave and serious outside too wouâ—d prove That they were types of what their selves did move For him unfit I hold to chastize sin Whose youth admits no downe upon his chin He should be of authority and power If he would be a powerfull monitour For such mens words like nayles enforce our passion Stru k by the Rulers of a Congregation Yea this our owne experience doth teach We eye as much the person as the speech For if he be a man of worth or prize Speake what he will his person makes it wise Besides that life of his should be approv'd That his example may be better lov'd For it redounds unto the Teachers shame To taxe when he is guilty of the same Who aymes to shoote his shaft at many men May chance to hit himselfe too now and then Unlesse he blamelesse be which is so rare As to seâ—ke such our labours we may spare Lest then this frumpe should 〈◊〉 our dish be laid Phisitian cure thy selfe as hath been said Our Lifes should forme our Lines that after times May say our Life 's did paralel our Lines But why should we pursue this fruitlesse taske By striving Great-mens errors to unmaske Their discontent may by some censure move us But them we cannot hurt so far above us I hold it best then Critick we begin To let these Peers take their Careere in sin While we restraine our liberty of pen Untill we see Gods judgement waken them Have we not known of late some raised high That they with more disgrace and shame might die Who would have thought in such a civill State I rather touch't because it chanc'd so late That Witch of Endor who I thinke had force In magick-art much like my crop ear'd horse Of whom 't was propheci'd I can assure ye Three yeers agoe that he should die in furie Should be i th' Street with stones brick-bats slain And not one known of all that bandlesse train Who murdred him Sure 't was his profuse sin Which when he would not mend God met with-him But let him rest they doe exceeding ill Who rake him from his ashes with their quill He troubled us enough ere he was slaine It were not well to raise him up againe Should we peruse the Actors and the Crimes Both of preceding and succeeding times To what command their Soveraignty extended And with what shame and misery it ended What glory they exprest and how their state Was blemish'd by their fault not by their fate What port thâ—y bore yet in the end no gainers But split themselves and ruin'd their reteiners We would admire Gods lawful judgements showâ— No lesse on other States then on our own See those Sicilian tyrants how their power Still labours one another to devoure Envie wrought with suspicion both conspir'd With hot revenge to have whâ—t they requir'd Yet what effect produc'd these plots to all Those state-aspiring Flyes but timelesse fall Though Caesar with victorious honor come To be sole Monarch ore triumphant Rome And ride in 's Ebor to be seene of all A stab will serve him in the Capitall Much have I seene yet seldome seene I have Ambition go grayheaded to his grave This then State-Critick would I thee advise To leave to God the censuring of vice But if thou needs must shew thy wood-bred naturâ— Let it be shrouded in a shadow'd Satyre The Apes Censure EXcellent Apes yee have your selves displaid Now heare what shal againe to you be said And first for you grand-gull whose ayrie vants Consist of Titles and of Sycophants I here degrade you and injoyne you more To live as private as you did before You came to greatnesse they that cannot tell How to demeane themselves when thâ—y are well Must by severer meanes be brought unto it I doe this to reclaime you pray you show it For you licentious flâ—shly Libertine Who in delights surfeit away your time Go from our presence wee have here enow To traine our Lords in lightnesse besides you Cynthia's pure rayes should not be dark't by those Who live like Venus friends but Vesta's foes Retire Retire your follies are descride And live from us till you be mortifide For you Vaine-glorious Ape you doe appeare So proud we cannot brooke your being here God hath ordain'd before the heav'nes begin A fall for Pride A punnishment for Sin The proud are ever plagu'd by prouder ones There must be had sharpe Steele to smooth rough stones Leave us you are not for us nor be wee For you or yours till you more humble bee For you my prettie Guga whose vaine fancie Hath brought you to a carlesse curelesse Phrensie I will not censure you for as it seemes You understand not what a Censure meanes Yet that you be restrain'd I hold it fit Till diet and restraint restore your wit Which done you may regain your former freedom For mad-braind boys our court doth litle need 'em For you new fangle Jack whose aymes aspire To gaudie and fantasticall attire For your abuse both to the State and us Wee censure you and your distemper thus Till you a fashion finde rome too and fro That may content our hum'rous gallants so As they shall never change that fashion more But keepe them still to that which you bring ore For you rare Ape your observation 's such I cannot well admire your worth too much Yet I may partly guesse what is your ayme And I will labour to effect the same It 's your ambition to beget esteeme In
publique places to be heard and seene And so you shall for trust me you shall be Reer'd on a publique place the Pillorie Now my sweete Ape how brisk my Courtier goes A if for want of feete he went on 's toes You or I much mistake me make a sport To buy and sell our Offices in Court Our Imposts too you farme for such a sum And glory in your tricks when you have don For which neat Sir you shall by th' heeles be laid Till restitution to the State be made For you rich City-Ape who can devour Poore Widows houses cheat your Creditor And by Protections bearing such a date Wipe others of their owne inhance your State These I suppresse and if it shall appeare Your Sonne was not estated a whole yeare Before you broke your Creditors shall share Meane time of Pious Works you must take care For you penurious drudge who pores one earth And joyes in nought but in your Countrey dearth Twentie poore Soules you weekely shall maintaine During which time you shall not sell a graine For th s's the ayme which I doe levell at The leane Kine are to feed upon the fat For if the fat yeeld not the leane supplie The fat may ryot but the leane will die For you Law list for Laws are in your fist Ruling our Courts of justice as you list You shall be spar'd for climing up our stayres Betake you now unto your private prayers Meane time this Labell shall be writ and hung Upon your Gowne to manifest our wrong For love of bribes and for contempt of right My Master is become Anacorite For you Church-gnat who can observe the time And make your Coat a cover for your crime Who Church Revenues with your tricks inhance And pride you in your blockish ignorance Who to oppression and extortion sold Dishonour God idolotrize your gold Since gold my Prelate is to you so deere To India go you shall be Bishop there For you Sir Politick you are so wise I know not well what Project to divise To keepe your Brains a worke but for a space My Pleasure is that you doe leave this Place And not returne untill you understand What causeth dearth of money in our Land What way our best commodities doe go And whether they bring back as good or no. For you my Chimick Ape I muse you would Pore in a glasse and lose your hope of gold But let this passe I heare you have no skill And that in curing one you twentie kill Which to redresse I have by Act decre'd Your Vrinal be broken on your head And that you be indited of maâ—slaughter If ere you practise rules of Physick after Now for my Critick Ape that Demophon Who sweats i' th shadow shudders in the Sun Who never saw that man in all his dayes He could finde in his heart to love or praise He with his Gypsies is so fitly mated He will be taken hold on by the Statute Mean time let him by Foists and Bungs be friended It is not long till he must be suspended Be gon my Censure shall not be disputed This is decree'd and must be executed Affrighted with the Censure of each Ape Fearing my selfe were one I did awake But finding it a dreame I thought it fit Only for pastime-sake to publish it Similis mihi Simia nulla est Vpon the Censure of his Vision SOme Familist or punctuall Precisian Will sleight this worke because it is a Vision Saying That Visions are deceitfull things And to distraction our affection brings That this Luciferan Spirit takes the shape To gull th' imagination of an Ape Whence he inferres to prove these Visions evil That this same Ape is an incarnate devil All which I grant but likest of all other When he resembles such a Zealous Brother Truth is for sinns survey who would descry it Must closly doe 't or soone be censur'd by it Whereas 't were ' gainst all reason that to Prison One should be sent for seeing of a Vision But whether I be censured or no This will I say and you shall finde it so Viewing these grosse abuses of your minde This for a grounded maxim you shall finde Of all the Tyrants which the world affords Your owne affections are the fiercest Lords Ista Poemata non sine lepidula Genii facetia primùm Conscripta fuere An. Dom. 1625. The life of POLYMORPHUS SIMIANUS Author of this Poem POlymorphus Simianus a Florentine born a younger brother but well descended and during his minority in all generous free-born Studies trained He was naturally affected to Poesie from the delight whereof his Father being of eminent esteeme in Florence laboured to waine him by diverting his course that way and importuning him to the study of the Law Whereto having for some yeares applyed his minde he grew in short time indifferently furnished Neither was his practise lesse usefull then his knowledge fruitfull Albeit inwardly he could never relish nor palat that profession being as he termed it a practise whose materiall were extracted from extortion yet to give all possible content to his father he ever extended his best endeavour seemingly to further what he could not favour Being now growne a pretty good proficient in a profession contrary to his element you shall heare upon what occasion he became degraded from the benefit of his practise excluded and by a judicial though incompatible censure silenced Pleading one day with great vehemencie for his friend Farnesio a Citizen of approved honesty and whose cause deserved no lesse successe being in the judgement of the whole Court grounded on equity and uprightnesse He perceived the Judge of the Court to be more indulgent to the Advers part so as the more he pressed it the more did the Judge sl ight and disvalue it Wherefore being without expectance of reliefe for his much injured friend as one eyther transported with passion to see corruption seated on the throne of Judgement or transpierced with affection to see his honest friend so highâ—y wronged with a spirit no lesse resolved then enraged he thus accosted the Judge My Lord quoth he my comfort is though this gentleman my clyent be by your Lordship injuriously censured the date of your commission for sitting on Judgement is almost expired so as our hope is by your Successour we shall be redressed Expired said the Judge how doe you meane I meane replied Simianus you are at the point of death Your reason quoth the Judge for I feele no such matter in my selfe The more dangerous is your malady answered Simianus for diseases insensible are ever held most incurable but to resolve your doubt with an infallible reason your Lordship knowes it is an ancient sacred ceremony here in Florence as in all other Catholique Countries for the sick immediatly before the approching instant of their dissolution to receive from a religious man thereto ordained and consecrated extreme unction The Judge perceiving whereto his meaning tended covertly implying corruption by