inquisitive and judicious Reader then much matter and conceit compendiously digested with sufficiency of perspicuity To conclude lines of a farre fetcht and labour'd fancy with allusions and curiosity and in similes of little more fruit or consequence then to ravish the Reader into the writers fine Chamaeleon colours and feed him with aire I approve not so much as heighth and force of spirit sententiously and weightily exhibited wit needs not rack it self where matter flowes embroderies become not a rich stuffe and art is best exprest where it least appeares A strong wing is to be preferred before a painted and good â—ense and matter elegantly delivered before extravagancy of fancy and conceit such unnaturall impertinency serves rather to shadow then illustrate to overwhelme then set forth the subject as well apposite as accurate writing is the Authorsglory Postscript upon occasion of the then young Princes pretended desire to have sight of the following Poems ANd here under pardon to conclude with this further defence of Love the subject of this little work but taking it more large and high I find love to be the most worthy object of the best and most generous dispositions and none but maligne natures that addresse not their thoughts towards it for what good and worthy mind hath its being that is not bent as upon its felicity either to the love of women the most naturall of men the most noble or above all of God the most happy and rewardfull Whither else tend all our studies of comlinesse of glory and noble actions of charity and good deeds Wherein can man so well resemble his great Creator as by worth and goodnesse to win love what more noble end can any man have to study vertue and perfection then thereby to win affection and praise the reward and food of vertue and tribute of God Nay love the essence of God the good spirit and wings of the soule the Mother Child and finall cause of Beauty the begetter and maintainer of the world the life of life by love the Sunne shines and the earth brings forth by love is society and commerce maintained by love the soule dwels with the body and God with the soule by love nature ever works for our preservation when the body and almost the soule are laid in sleep Admirable love without thee life is hatefull man but a wolfe to man the world a second Chaos For thy sake alone who affectest not a decaying Mansion I apprehend losse by growing old yet thus againe am I comforted by thy most divine power that thou never abandonest the dwelling of goodnesse and art successively fruitfull over all the good works of nature to the worlds period so that to the vertuous where the love of women failes the love of men begins and where that by the withering imperfections of age grows cold as the aire to a setting Sunne there for our supreame and infinite comfort begin to shine most clearly the beames of that divinest love which before were too much intercepted by the sensualities and passions of our younger yeares to make us therein eternally happy by that operation of love and contemplation of beauty which at the last must be our soules immortall food and joy Advertisement upon the first Verses I am not ignorant that who keepes the common road falls not into the incumbrances incurred by them who search or by or nearer wayes Writing is a by-path of life I am yet ingaged to it but hope shortly to get out and by the way I give you this Antidote and Rapsody of praecaution and true information concerning the following pieces The reason why I retaine and expose them with others is not so much that I esteem them worthy of view or life as that they were many yeares since Copyed and spread abroad beyond my knowledge then and are now beyond my power to recall they are more Chaffe then Corn fitter to bee ventilated blown away and play in the aire then vented in any Market and commerce of wit and censure they are incorrect if not incorrigible yet I consent to leave them and many other my pieces such as they are to represent unto me the difference 'twixt then and now To attempt to perfect them were to dispersonate their youth and hasty nature and fall into the much frequented stage Error of putting stronger lines and more conceited and elaborate elegancy into weake mouths and strong passions then well comporteth with them let their youth and genuine conception plead their pardon You shall mistake them if you often conceive them not rather the off-spring of fancy then passion But take them at the worst they have something of reason and serious in them and the errours of love are not so foule as the love of errour nor is it impertinent to perswade love in them who have constrained it in you and love may bee such as to become no lesse justifiable then naturall Love is in truth of divers kinds ever an Ebullition of the liver sometimes it is made and forced upon us sometimes wee weave and foole our selves into it sometimes it proceeds from gratitude and good nature of gratification It is generally the child of weaknesse as well as of idlenesse witnesse my selfe in my childish youth and Melancholy humour A vigorous gayety of the heart and mind taken up and busie in other affections and entertainments hardly admits it It is a sad confinement a disease like womens longing where the violent appetite of one object no better then the rest gives relish to that alone whilst a right and undistasted apprehension of every thing in the true kind is the much better and sounder constitution and as in longing after such or such a morsell the consideration is carried by the fancy and tast which have no rule but themselves or as at Table the hearty approbation of some one dish is a provocation to others appetites so in love And as most Dogs will often strive to get away anothers bone though otherwise little desired or when a morsell is offered to bee snatched from them grow greedy of that which before they neglected so in affections I leave the application Sometimes as love hath been tearmed a warfare so is brave Conquest made ambition too many make it their felicity and effeminately bend all their affections towards it Sometimes it is taken up for a fashion and to be in fashion is in idle times of no small importance to idle and gallant persons Sometimes like Coqualuchios and Epidemicall diseases it may much proceed from the disposition of the Ayre as in other kind wee may observe of quarrells that they seldome go alone Our poore volatile ayery affections are strongly wrought upon as well from outward as inward incentives winds and Aspects The first accesse of love is not ever by the eyes it hath often a strong foundation and preocupation begotten at the eare when a noble heart takes impression of a well lodged reputation eminent in fame vertue
Which set our weake subdu'd distempered minds on fire Reason is put to flight and appetite beares sway Which blindly leads and blindly forceth us obey And that hee much mistakes who from a womans minde Or reason doth expect or just effects to finde Since passions indigest conceipt meere chance and will Their resolutions and their actions governe still But soft my gall-distilling pen your griefe contain Which howsoever just yet blaphemy refrain Admit her heart of fleshly temper fram'd as mine Bee pierc'd and captivate by Cupids pow'r divine Alas shee rather should bee pitied then accus'd Since what from force proceeds may justly bee excus'd And if indeed my faire Coelestia it bee true That your heart for another burnes as mine for you If you desire to bee so happy in your love That his affections unto you may mutuall prove If you expect your sighs which numberlesse abound Shall eâ—re receive reward or e're with joy bee crown'd Oh! let your your kindnesse then extended unto mee Make you deserve your happy hopes effects to see And faire beware lest if you shew unkind disdaine Loves justice justly yeeld you Talions law againe And if 't bee true that griefe delights in company Then will you love my presence and my sympathy Together wee will sit and comfort one another For griefe is most extreame when we our passions smother Where breathing out at large our due complaints of love Wee 'l both our hearts discharge and pitie learne to move And this lame happinesse of love shall please my mind That though you cannot love you are not yet unkind â—â—t pardon mee deare friend 't is not report alone Can prooflesse my aspiring fixed hope dis-throne But stedfast still in zeale and confidence I dwell As faithfull I love her shee may love mee as well IN fruitlesse expectation to remaine To bee in bed and yet debarr'd of rest To serve where you no favour can obtaine Is saith th' Italian to bee most distrest And these unfortunate effects I prove My faire Coelestia in my fervent love 'T is you detaine my long expected blisse 'T is you that make mee restlesse passe the night 'T is you I faithfull serve yet you it is Mercilesse you with-hold my chiefe delight And know faire creature hee that faithfull serves A costlesse favour ever well deserves Thinke that you have a friend that doth possesse A curious garden plentifully fraught VVith all the pleasures nature can expresse And all delights that ever cunning wrought And all these beauties singularly grac'd By a faire fountaine in the Center plac'd Hee lets you in with welcome entertaine And grants that many wayes your selfe you please Yet midst this ravishment you doe complaine Of thirst extreame which seeking to appease At that faire fountaine which you chance t'espie Your unkind friend his water doth deny And most uncharitable doth permit That part of it should idly slide away And part corrupt by over-keeping it Rather then yeeld a drop your thirst to stay VVhich nothing else can quench and 's onely bred By those dry sweets wherewith hee had you fed Would you now take this party for your friend O no I know you rather would conceive That all his kindnesses did only tend VVith quenchlesse thirst your pleasures to bereave And justly might you wish you ne're had knowne Those joyes whereby your joy is overthrowne That cruell friend faire love are you to me And your perfections that faire garden are VVhither a welcome guest I seeme to bee My senses ravisht all with pleasures rare Of beautie enterchange of words and kisses VVhich yet all breed but thirst and further wishes And those as cheapely you may satisfie As you a water drop may easily give Why cruell faire is't then that you deny That kindnesse without which I cannot live Deale plainly may not this the true cause bee You love my verses better farre then mee And apprehend that if I once obtain The full of my ambitions high desire My love will Moone-like enter on the wain And having won the day straight sound retire O do not so abuse your selfe and mee My love like Phoebus never change shall see My love like Phoebus never change shall see In constant course and heate ever the same And like the Northerne Pole shall fixed bee More firme then can be mov'd by heavens frame Constant to you till death I will remaine For never shall I see so faire againe No faire Coelestia love is Venus sonne Feare not the mother for the child 's destroying Nor is that saying unto you unknowne That th' essence true of love is in enjoying Hee playes the best who holdeth what hee wins The wiser sort still at their end begins If you approve my muses loftie flight And to be fed with change of praises still You must not oft delude her and invite Her to an empty lure that yeelds no fill A Hawke that loftily hath flowne and hard Well merits the best food and best reward Those exhalations that the heavens feed Did they not downe againe distill their rain Coelestiall bodies soone should want and need Those vapours which the earth sends up againe And Iove himselfe should lose his sacrifice But that hee mortals feeds and gratifies No fire can long subsist by smoak alone Flame 's by an oily solid substance fed Who divers times a field hath till'd and sowne Yet findes no profit by his labour bred His folly well deserves to reape but wind Having oft prov'd it barren and unkind Who shoots his arrows up and nothing hits Fooles bolts they prove which their own heads do break One may be ventur'd but he wants his wits That all his Quiver spends one shaft to seek Though vertue ought not foule repulse receive Yet wisdome wils us fruitlesse labours leave Full ill hee sings whose song cannot obtain A draught of drink impatient thirst to swage Though silly Bird I warble many a straine To please your eares imprison'd in your cage Birds long unfed their singing soon neglect No Almes no thankfull language must expect As happy in love are they that give as take Faire pity me and make me happy then Since you your self shall equall happy make VVomen receive farre more delight then men And if you find that I unfaithfull prove Let me be made a reprobate of Love And if you like these off-springs of my brain Whereto your self the Heroine mother are Suffer them not to die with drought but daign To water them from that your fountain faire VVhich true Parnassus spring doth Poets breed And tasted makes their Muse her self exceed It 's true that my affections lately bent And shap't their course that Mid-land straight to win Where Love hath plac'd his uttermost extent His else insatiate conquest to confine And as in nature it is proper known That fire should mount untill it hath attain'd His proper place the concave of the Moon So love untill it hath that center gain'd Whether by natures stimulating force It is
shines And Sun-like doth in spite of mists expresse Its owne true glory Wisely happy hee Who in this glasse of water viewes this Sun Excelling object which to looke upon Our humane Organs too unable bee What though the Sisters nine my Muse disclaime As an untutor'd Novice new start up That never tasted the Castalian cup Let others invocate their idle name Whilst I by thy divine pow'r set on fire Thy worth on higher Trophees elevate Then e're the greatest Poet Laureate Could her renowne that did his Muse inspire Assist great goddesse then my passions story Thy beauties record thine shall bee the glory To make an Inventory of thy parts By faire resemblance of their forme and hew To Ivory Corall Crystall heavenly blew Hills Pillars Bowes Valleyes and piercing darts Were to detract from that perfection Of teeth of lips of eyes of azure veines Breast neck browes lookes and those delicious plaines Which thou hold'st in most faire connexion Excelling all resemblance all compare And were indeed by cunning to aspire To colour forth the burning heat of fire Or glorious light and dazling beames which are In Phoebus face and fiery Chariot dwelling Thou like the joyes of the Elysian place Which who strives to describe shall but debase Art onely knowne by others all excelling Let then all Pens and Species confesse Their weaknesse thy perfections to expresse Since Cupid to Loves Seas my Barke hath prest My fate once led mee by the Cape of Hope But since alas my agitated Boate Hath past Despaires sad gulfe and its arrest I Anchor cast dysaster to prevent But Anchor hopelesse did and helplesse prove That marble white and red it could not move Whereon I ventur'd it but home was sent Like as do those whom fearefull shipwrack threats Labour for life some harbour good to win Yet crost by wind and tide cannot put in So up and downe my tossed Bottome beates Expecting better fortune and some grace That welcom'st haven that I may recover Which under that Cape once more I discover Center of happinesse most wished place But cruell night why dost thou mee such wrong With thy black cloake to barre mee of that fight My onely marke my soules supreme delight Supplanting my enflamed hope so long That for a fortnight thou dost that remove Fortnight which will as long to mee appeare As if each night contain'd a tedious yeare The onely object of my joy and love For joy without her presence have I none Nor can I love but onely her alone If Art by wishing could obtained bee I would I had the power of Circe's skill Not like to her by poys'ning meanes to kill But by some secret Philters mystery Loves mutuall flames to her I would impart Whose piercing eyes have set my breast on fire Whilst shee I feare remaines without desire Impenetrable to loves powerfull Dart. Bee not unjust great-little God of love Turne not a Tyrant in thy latter raigne Make us not thinke that thou didst love ordaine Our torture but felicitie to prove Justices ballance ever even stands Shoote equall then her heart as well as mine That wee may both adore thy power divine With equall happy love faith joy and bands So shall I ever celebrate thy fame But else have cause to curse thy power and name I wonder much that all this Parliament Your Sex 'gainst you a bill hath never fram'd Wherein me thinkes you justly might be blam'd That contrary to common Lawes intent And common good by your meanes dearth is bred With scarcitie which men incenseth so That some contentlesse some to fury goe And all because you hold monopoled And have ingross'd into your sole possession The masse and stock and beautie of our age A grievance just except you can asswage Their cause of plaint by satisfying impression Whereat me thinkes I see you forth produce Your selfe for Patent beautifully fram'd By God and Natures perfect working hand Whose power to question were prophane abuse And thus your right authoriz'd they confuted Subscribe your Patent n'ere to bee disputed Come on you searching quintessence of wit Limbeck no more your all-exhausted braine To find that delectable place againe Where all things did in first perfection meet Contemplate here this little peece of mould And you will soone acknowledge it at least A perfect modell happily congest Of all delights which that place did enfold Perpetuall Sommer faire doth here reside Harmonious concord is in all things found Flowers fruites perfumes delights do here abound Nor growes there here or nettle thorne or weede Here all in native true perfection growes Nor shall the Gard'ner need to toyle but take Who would not then all earth besides forsake Here to inhabit where all solace flowes Most happy garden earths true Paradise But happier gard'ner whom my soule envies Be not unwilling my request to grant That I your shadow and resemblance have The reason why this favour I do crave Is not for that your pourtraiture I want For were my breast transparent like mine eye You there your selfe enthronized should see Sole Empresse of my heart my thoughts and mee Consecrate trophees of your victory This your Idea feasteth mee within Whilst my poore eyes who first did entertaine You for their welcom'st guest doe now complaine They stâ—rved are distasted of each thing Except your selfe alone deny not then A charitie so superficiall Which when times ruines you can not recall Shall yet your glory shew and shown to men Who nothing will beleeve but what they view Shall force them wonder and accuse their fate That made them lose by sending them too late The happy servitude of seeing you And make them honour verse and pencills skill Which onely can preserve what time would kill Since that my vowes my fortune and my love My course and resolution did ingage To undertake a sacred Pilgrimage To that Saints shrine which sole my soule doth move So haplesse and malignant is my chance That guide and Pilot other have I none Then onely that blind cruell Boy alone Who suffers mee nor rest nor yet advance Thus leads the blind the blind whilst both astray Wander 'mongst thorny thicks looking each hour When fierce untamed passions should devour Like savage beasts my poore soule for their prey Oh pitie now my fairest Saint and Starre The restlesse wildred state wherein I stand And since I seeke but you lend your faire hand To guide my course such morall lessons are That none deny to kindle others light Nor to direct the wandring Pilgrim right That light to light way to the stray we give The reason easie is it nothing costs Nor breeds our diminution or losse And truth to say faire Sun I onely live By that pure light and heat drawne from your eyes VVhose sparkes have so my subject heart inflam'd VVith heav'nly fire so wonderfully fram'd That it to quench in you it onely lies You like Achilles speare which sole imparted Helpe to the hurt it made can sole apply A soveraigne
so good in that kinde that it was impossible for me to become pleased therein to forbeare as I have done a long time In this particular which hath been more then most troublesome unto me Fortune according to her custome hath plaid double with me offering me on the one side most casually Grounds in my hands close by my house well-wooded and Park-like which I confesse much surprized my fancy therein Yet on the other side such varieties of perswasion for greater lesse good bad dry or wet Ground wayes thorow or not some neighbours Grounds to be taken in or no and whether or no they might be had difficulty of paling and carriage which I hate for though I love not trouble yet I enduâ—e my own more willingly then of my Friends and Neighbours After these and many other crosse points of offers and retractings of Neighbours and such like I have been led by degrees aliud agens besides my meaning to lay out a small yet sufficient peece of Ground for houshold provision of Venison a Garden to keep me from beging so neer dry fertile pleasant in view convenient and commodious that I would scarsely wish it other it was as it were marked out unto me and for my purpose Yet blinde as I was divers and crosse considerations which this world and I abound in kept me so long from discerning to lay hold of it that I scorn my senses and my self and almost condemn my self to all that I have suffered in my non-sense The inconvenience of pale is avoided for I have enough at hand I am still Master of my Woods my Ground found for Winter and Summer and the goodnesse of it makes it much in little nor would I wish it greater great inconveniences attend a great Park it is a kinde of Whore much in fancy and often kept more for others use then our own it is a wilde Mistris and courted by a kinde of wilde people fiercely riding this way and that way with great hoopings and outcryes upon a very slight errand Our forefathers were not yet without reason who meeting with a world and wildernesse of woods and wastes assigned an otherwise uselesse part thereof to Parkes and Forests It is not so with us want of Tymber and Woods will tame our wildenesse and reduce us to an usefull compasse Never was Land bought dearer then I have paid for my own may house and land prove more happy to my Successours how many years of my life it hath cost me I know not nor much as the world is care This and much more retirednesse Melancholy and Fortune have brought upon me yet considering how ill a wandring or publique course of life would suite with mee I choose rather to suffer and compose as well as I may all incommodities within my selfe then to expose my selfe to such as others finde and thrust themselves into abroad and which would bee to mee more intolerable Quiet is not ill bought at any reasonable rate Vt habeas quietum tempus perde aliquid de tuo jure is a saying which if the Spaniard had practised even to the quitting of the 17. Provinces or I in sitting downe by some forbearances wee might possibly have been both more at ease God hath given him a strong state of dominions and me of body and mind to our owne as well trouble as subsistence Hee maintaines his strength by exercise and so have I done by extraordinary motion agitation and distensions such as to a man of an evener minde and fortune then mine are I confidently affirme shall keepe in health strength free from great inconvenience of colds feavers fulnesse or putrefaction of humors c. vigor of spirits and length of life better then Lessius or Cornarus their staticall diet which is most unnaturall servile subject by their owne confession to great distemper upon the least change or excesse whereas the other comports with any tolerable diet prescribed in reason rather for Monkes Hermites Votaries and persons of a sedentary life then such as are to use the world and labour Thus much have I written in this early of the morning as hastily and wildly and perhaps to as little purpose as Foresters follow their chase which to my owne better instruction and use of my selfe and mine may it please God to blesse Amen December the 7. 1639. Potius inserere virtutem quam disserere de virtute Postscript IF I write wildly and erroneously yet my follies are short and the shortest are the best I had rather write without method and abrupt then as many doe in long intricate and often mistaken distributions and divisions as tedious and unprofitable in some one subject as I am confused and wild in change and varying my scenes Thus Bos lassus fortius sigit pedem and if my soule cannot digest and indure its owne weight strength and discernings it must suffer Perplexed condition of our sophisticated and preternaturall life the wayes of nature are obvious easie certaine The Swallow Crane c. know their seasons and vary not in their course or building of their nests where the most ingenuous and rightaffecting soules amongst us are ever to seeke and even at the best which I call with the illumination of supernaturall grace vexed with our owne scruples and fancies and either forced from the world and natures libertie of delights or like Lot to have their righteous soules contristate with a vaine crooked perverse and wicked conversation IF my peeces appeare not all of a peece constant to themselves but so diversified that I ordinarily fall into a superfetation or various births of male and female at one graviditie If I superinduce and contract into little roome matters of severall and important consideration such as might otherwise have been beaten out into particular and large treatises I hope you will bee indulgent to the sparing of labour as well yours as mine finding in your power to extend or remit your owne either by receiving my coyne for currant or bringing it to the balance or test of a farther yet favorable examination not forgetting that allowance which I have often begged to my acknowledged infirmitie defects confusion and precipitation in their conception and production Passus graviora dabit Deus his quoque finem FINIS EXTRAVAGANTS Dream IF you are at leisure I will tell you my mornings dream which was that in the quality of a Soliciter for Old England in a cause that concerned him for limme life land and liberty which were all drawn to stake by I know not what Promooter I cast my eye on a Friend as I rode into York with the Chiefe Justice of Assize there to be held and desired him to help me to some good Counsellors to plead for me he lookt about him and spyed some portlike men riding on Scotch pads but said they were not for me for they favour'd of the others near them were on hard Scotch saddles but had long since given desperate the cause of Old
England and were now packing and posting for New-England and the Isle of Providence Some he saw upon French pads who came this Circuit only for Company to laugh make good cheer and advantage of the times but not to meddle till the cause became their own A greater number were mounted on the French great Saddle with Pistols at the Bow but my desires were peace and their word was Vive la guerre Then the Spanish Morocco men presented themselves to our view hopelesse to me for Warre was both naturall and profitable unto them Next I eyed a grave Gown-man fitting in Croop behinde a side Saddle I liked him for a good forward man but my Friend told me he was a Scotch Bishop and had too much to doe for himself Not farre from him rode a pretty pert luking man upon a lean bare horse back and I was informed he was a Scotch Recusant and could not speak good English Then I observed a Coach drawn by six Mules with well-stuffed provender bagges at their noses a long-Coated Postillion with Pistols upon the foremost a solemne robed personage in place of Coach-man the first a short whip in his hand the second a long one which was somewhat tangled in the carriage a company of Gown-men within concerning whom I enquired and found the fore-men were Church-men Militant and Triumphant and those in the Coach were High-Commissioners and the Kings learned Counsell who were not used to plead in common Causes After them came a company of plain fellows upon Pack-saddles who proved to be out of favour for the present yet followed on in hope of better Grace In this distresse I fastened on one of my New Englanders and prayed him for old Englands sake to stay his journey and speak for me he replyed his tale would not be heard and that he came this way only for his safety to defend himself and no body else Whereat in great despaire I asked if there were no conceit of a kinde of Parliament to be held here My Friend told mee no and that another Faux had long since blown up that hope with white Gun-powder One while he advised me to sue in Forma Pauperis and procure my self Counsell to be assigned other-while to suffer my selfe to be non-suited for this time pay charges and expect a better advantage But at last he encouraged me saying that counsell or not I needed not to be dismayed being my Judge was both good and wise and too much interested himself in the consequence of my cause not to relieve and compassionate me which gave me such a joy of heart that I awaked Aprill 1639. Newes from York THe world is full of expectation what will be the product of this early Spring The Sun no sooner cuts the Line but with him we march in the moneth of March towards the Cancred Tropick our Lady day and King Charles his Initiation inaugurate our expedition I should have said for us We travaile towards the little Beare exalting Charles Wayne ore our heads great cost great scot and lot we pay which may prove Englands joy or bane Mars is Lord of the Horoscope Saturn may grumble and eat his Children but Iupiter and his Lieutenant must rule the Roast Momus may goe whistle and the World dance whilst Mercury pipes and with his Caduceus charmes extracts conjures and transformes the Clouds There are ill Conjunctions abroad that threaten little good but if Iupiter prove not malevolent all may goe well Let Venus goe Retrograde and Diana raise the Clouds we will not feare but Sol at his heighth with a faire Northerly wind may disperse them and bring faire weather These late raines promise a good year and if Booker and his fellows may be credited the storm will fall where it was least looked for if you will be advised by me break not your braines with over-calculating for all this grew betwixt the pen and the paper Many spirits are conjured up and it must be the work of a good Exorcist to make them keep their circle and settle them again York was never fuller of businesse and idlenesse Feavors reign and ravings must be admitted Fancy Reasons old Ape will have his vagaries and since the invention of Gallileos Glasse men must discover farther into Moons and Milstones then they were wont in the mean time you that want work as I doe exercise your selves with this my Trol Madam To tell you the truth I must be thinking though I know not what and indeed who does These are times that would pose Oedipus or Solomon and make him fly to his Vanity of vanities and vexation of Spirit Vivere Laetari would be his Motto but it is hard to do at York where though Victuals are cheap Ale is deare The people drawn together are too much strangers to be over-familiar or confident Never more company never more solitarinesse men are so hard to finde and farre to seek that Diogenes would be troubled with his Lanthorn at noon day to finde an honest friends lodging Here is riddle me riddle me what is this A Courtier and no Courtier a Souldier and no Souldier Little Warre and lesse pay to a great many who finde great fault with the Translation that sayes No man warres at his own charge Many of the Court few of the Counsell Gentlemen want their Mistresses Lords their Ladies some have too much some too little to doe some expected to have been Actors or Counsellors at least that prove but lookers on and hangbies some finde themselves prisoners without conflict or knowing the crime and want the old comfort of the Warre which was wont to be quick death or victory Many wish Sir Arthur Ingram had been made Purveyor Generall for the whole yeare but he found it charge enough at York Every man roves at an end but many will misse their marks where men scarse know their own ends it is hard to know others where intentions are concealed wayes cannot be concluded yet from Cards played a good gamester will guesse at the game and from things appearing results may be forked out that either thus or thus and so I entertain my self and so do you every man hath businesse every man his thoughts such as they are The blinde man may hit the Crow some are not wise enough to divine others are divined wiser then they are This would I doe quoth I a wiser man of another mind sayes no For brevity sake I omit to tell you my thoughts I am wise enough yet for that Sauue qui pent Sweare what you will but say nothing This you may thanke me for when I could write but not read and wanted something else to doe Your Cousin and servant Iohn Nonsense May 1639. Postscript When the Children shall be drawne into the desert of Zim it is much feared that hors and man will have somewhat to do to keep their iron and flesh on their backs that murmuring will prove a great pastime Quayles and Manna would prove in great
Or see men play like busie buzzing flies Venereous skraping still for Ore Upstarts with pride swell'd to the skies Upon their journey to bee seen no more To see a Doctor play the learned foole The ravenous Woolf in justice seat The devill preaching in a coole Glossing the Text to get what he can get An old wife curious in her Curles Pratling and painted like a Jay Wise Gallants led by giddy Girles Triumphing to become a prey To see men love to gather hate Woorying the one the other Losing themselves to get a state And trample on their brother Like Schooleboyes make rods for themselves By turnes to whip each one his marrow Running their mates upon the shelves Shortly to prove their proper sorrow The wiser sort the arrant'st knaves The learn'd make formall workes Full of false method and mistakes Where nor delight nor profit lurkes Curious dissections to confound Things already knowne and plaine Great Treatises on little ground Notions from nothings to attaine Termes which should science easier make To make it harsh and more obscure Like Sprights to fright and make forsake Things usefull else who can endure Youth to vice and basenesse fram'd Impudence for vertue passe Knowledge by ignorance disdain'd Gay trappings on a pamper'd Asse Temporizing wisedome counted Zeale of vertue folly Goodnesse by vice so much surmounted Small good can come from being good or holy Master Pamphlets sweld with words And tumors preternaturall Pageant-dishes for Mayors bords High cry but little flesh or wooll Loftie brave corveting speech Plaine dealing to outface Prauncing over hedge and ditch In stead of keeping even pace Truth a stranger is become Vitious times no more can beare it Flattery and falsehood holds its roome Writers must suffer or forbeare it Selfe conceipt and foolish pride Hypocrisie and jugling showes What sober judgement would abide But that shame meets them in the close Endlesse 1644. Epigramme Full many a want had Ages heretofore Had ours goodnesse and wit we want no more Glimmerings GOd above all thy Neighbour as thy self Lovely Epitome could speculation see And practise thee Iohns Common-wealth Would flourish and we should most happy bee REligion Gods reasonable service is Christs yoke is easie and his burden light This wel-agreed would make the whole world his Pastors and people would walk more upright ALtar 'gainst Altar Clergy against the Lay What may this breed nay what good can it breed T is nine to one yet God can all allay And raise sweet fruit from foul and bitter seed POore creature man that studies to be poore To whom God gave this ready furnisht frame To use not pry rip live on follies score Quit Natures legs to walk in knowledge lame Doe emulate dissect work what you can To Gods works still thou shalt be blinde poore man Some steps affects and squarings thou mayest finde To the full Schematisms thou must be blinde Bacon how-ever short of a clear light Did well to show how farre thou art from right When women marry to be chaste not free When Clerks turn Priests for Gods sake not for gain When King and People love and well agree And all themselves within their Spheres contain Then may we hope to see a happy age Fâ—aud will abate and malice will asswage ILl-Clergy-men have reason to forbid Reading the Scriptures for they them discover So clear that one would think all were kept hid By them as from the Lay so from each other Else would they shame to say and doe so ill As if Religion they profest to spill St. Gregories Complaint two houres work REady to dye though well I know not why You that goe by heare me lament and cry And tell the King who can doe no ill thing 'T was no good ring under St. Paul his wing Gregory to spill who hath stuck to him still And ne're did ill alas by his good will I can prescribe full many a Christmas tide How by his side his Peterman I ride And what disgrace I now bring to this place I cannot guesse unlesse as faln from grace Nor can I see that a true cause should be In my degree and consecrate Antiquity Happy St. Faith whom no mis-hap betray'th My lowly heighth casts me St. Pauls glosse saith But my great crime is Paul I undermine Yet that 's not mine St. Faith take that for thine I will repaire what ever I impaire My cost and care shall make me thorow faire I am no wen except miscall'd by men Mole be I then Moles faces grace have been I am no stain except you overstrain And lay me plain your good work to distain Good works to nurse made good men ope their purse St. Gregories curse may make Pauls fare the worse Make not them glad who wish St. Gregory sad For being the Lad who first turn'd Tables had The Parish cost and rich inside they boast Would not be lost since God loves inside most Though Pauls full age nor sister needs nor page 'T is no vantage To cast old Gregory off in holy rage My Verse breaks measure Great Neighbour Lord of Treasure Assist my Rhymes to those that rule the Times And help if you can well Whil'st I toll my own knell Yet I will not despaire Church ruines ill repaire My Caesar right inform'd My will shall be conform'd His sentence finall be my fate To stand or to lye desolate Now doe not blame my Verse but know it St. Gregory never was a Poet Many a one hath reese by Rhyme O might I so my fall decline St. Gregory to St. Paul MIghty St. Paul help Gregories desire And scorn me not though none of thy great Quire Take heed a second time of Heavens fire If falling late thou now my fall conspire Without thy Buttresses thou canst not stand Accept of me for such and thy command Shall rule me still though small yet neer at hand And next to thee the greatest in the Land A shrub offendeth not a lofty tree An under Oratory let mee bee Thou partly standest by my Charity For that and Gods sake then Oh pitty me My Bells and Western Steeple I will lend To thee that want'st them both I 'le bee thy Friend And stop their mouthes who ill Invectives send Against thy state and wayes and so I end Sick but not dead and dying but not sick About 1635 I Have gotten a little leave of absence from the Parliament to lay hold of your promise for the favour of a visit and I hope notwithstanding all feares the carriage of affaires will be such as to give no suddaine occasion of my recall Gods grace and his Majesties wisdome goodnesse and constancy must be the Authours of our happinesse our distractions and distempers are otherwise such in the State Ecclesiastick Civill and Military our spirits in all parts so peremptorily and uncharitably divided men so superabounding in their own sense and so little indulgent and communicable to others and parties daily growing to a stiffer opposition that without such
a prop I should utterly despair of any good or quiet If some men chance to finde a strength rising against them they may partly blame themselves in their reservednesse a Cause may be starved at Law for want of fees and so may power by being over-sparing in a winning familiarity it is harsh to a noble Nature to think it self slighted a good Judgement may manage it self in an open freedome without profusion or betraying the bottome and there is the greater need to use it where there is little else to pay It is true that the King may seem to have made himself a great loser by giving ground so much from the way of his former course but it must first be cleared that it was the right way of his advantage and well examined others more their own Friends then his may prove the greater losers and his parting may be like Abrahams in the conclusion rather with the Ramme then the Childe The undoubted Laws of England are no such churles and niggards to their Prince as not to leave him a Royall power and splendid state but there must be at this time more then leaving after so much alienation exhaustion and contraction of debts there must be a plentifull supply and support this indeed after all our other payments will be a work but so it must nor doe I doubt but suddainly it will be vigorously undertaken if new jealousies interpose not themselves His Majesties condition requires it his goodnesse deserves it and his faithfull Subjects affection duty and reputation can doe no lesse It is true that we have already had a long time and paid dearely for it possibly there might have been a better husbanding but a good end will make all good and for the best As I said before that Grace of God and wisdome of his Majesty which have hitherto assisted us are my hope and confidence the Genius of the Kingdome doth as yet extraordinarily need them The consideration of Divine Service Episcopacy and Recusants in the scandall that these late times have drawn upon them or they upon the times is yet to be regulated and the conceived offence and danger springing from them to be prevented this you will say is a businesse and the greater by the greatnesse of the parties severally affected in them For the Common Prayer Book you know how the Scots esteem it multitudes of our own growing in all parts no lesse incurably impatient of it Bishops are in the same predicament but so much worse by how much a dead Letter hath neither so much imputed to it for our past troubles nor apprehended from it for a future propension to Popery But it may be said Punish then the men without rejecting that calling which certainly is more ancient then the Papacy and that surely might serve if there were not such a connaturality in the reasons for the one and the other that admitting the one the other will ever bee in danger to follow as hath been seen The Common-Prayer-Book hath also unquestionably much good in it but the scandall considered whether another forme of another tenure and extraction more of a peece and conform to the other Reformed Churches be not more fit and necessary to our quiet I referre to better judgements Gods Service and Worship is the substantiall and Morall part Episcopacy and this or that Form but the Ceremoniall and I would be sorry to see cutting of throats for Discipline and Ceremonie Charity ought to yeeld farre in things indifferent But must all the yeelding be on the Governours part God forbid that we should yeeld to every fanatical opinion and to fal into a way of Enthusiasts without any set Form of Directory or Liturgy Freedom of zeale and inspiration may be reserved to the Sermon or an after Prayer without engagement through the whole time of convention to go along and say Amen upon surprise The other great bodies of Reformed Churches are in great part prescript and regulate and as the ancient Druides who ruled the Religion of France and Britaine were said to hold their chiefe seat in the Isle of Anglesey so may his Majesty I perswade my self without going farther then the Dominions of his Crown of England take from his Islands of Gernsey and Iersey in this rare necessary some such modell at least with little alteration as may fit his greater Island and immaterially differ from our Brother Churches But howsoever it is necessary to come to a resolution and settlednesse whereby to prevent the numerous spreading of obstinate Sects which are said to grow too much upon us amongst which multiplicity it is somewhat strange unto me not to heare of any Lutherans considering our late Queen Anne was according to her Country conceived that wayes affected Now for our Recusants they have Petitions in Parliament to move a relaxation of the Lawes and a Commiseration in their behalfe And truely for the better and devoutest sort such as turne not their Religion into wantonnesse and malice I am moved to pity them but as they affect to move us to pity them I wish they would no lesse reflect upon us and consider the troubles and unsufferable condition that their leaders have affected and will ever affect to draw upon us and what a difference there would be in what we should suffer from them in respect of that being and conversation which they have injoyed amongst us to the proceedings of their Inquisition against us I referre you Charity begins at home and let them in the first place pity their abused selves let them crave the pity of their Pope and Priests who for their own unjustifiable ends are guilty of all their sufferings I spare them who spare no man and whose policy incompatible with all Monarchy and Government but their own enforceth the industry of others in the preservation of their true faith to God and their own safety Thus after my manner I runne and write with a light hand I touch but not to the quick You who carry a Key of my thoughts can further open mee and will I hope as you use bee indulgent unto mee London and the Parliament afford much company but to mee little conversation I am now in an opener Aire and with you I lye more open The truth is Carriages have been so Cabalisticall of all sides so unpleasant and inconvenient to participate or comply with that being embarqued to a concurrency of results I found enough to doe to look to my self as little desirous to counsell as affected or thought fit to bee called unto it No man ever acted lesse or suffered more then by my infirmity I have done this Parliament My good God hath still wonderfully supported mee and it may bee all to the best Much good may others finde and wee in them by their advancement My ends are onely to keep my self an honest man with an untainted Conscience and Reputation nor am I as I hope unhappy therein at least from the best A faire
extinguish our devouring flames Professions and pretences have beene hitherto on all sides not unfaire O that they may be so contained And now you also on each side our soule and State Physitians looke upon God his truth and publique peace more then your passions selfe interest and policie streâ—ch not your strings too high trust God with the blessing his owne Truth and Oracles feare not the consequence of a truely orthodox assertion may truth and peace bee ever as well your object as pretence faire uniforme harmonious reformed discipline order and government your prudentiall and Christian ayme maintaine our foundations as entire and unshaken as an orderly candid well intended edifice will admit else may you pervert and destroy what you are bound to assert and maintaine Nor will I pretermit you Stars of the greater and lesser magnitude in the Oxford Firmament whose ennobled blood birth station constitute you Patrons and supporters of your Countreys preservation and welfare whose predecessors and progenitors are glorious in the Registers of time as happy advancers and dilaters of the English possessions name and honour Suffer not now our Annals to disgrace your name and memory as the impulsive active Engins to our Kings and Countreys lugubrious irreparable losse commiserate the sighs and groanes of our gasping exspiring defaced Nation Search home into the disguised caâ—ses and Authors of yours and our miseries undeceive disabuse your selves dispell the mists of your distemper'd bewildred spirits and lend at last a hand to save and rescue to stanch and cure our letiferous wounds Let no Roman recorded eterniz'd examples devoted as a willing ambitious sacifice for their Countries deliverance and redemption diffame you in what you owe and to procure can hardly over-doe or suffer Infinite matter you may discover would here offer and suggest it selfe the times require but will not well comport with ingenuitie much for caution much for cure might bee exhibited I have met with conjunctures to have been often versed and engaged in deliberations obnoxious and captious nor have proved my selfe destitute of some abilitie to tread by a line and cut by a thread I am at this instant not unfurnisht of a plentifull Magazin of specious flattering materialls for the present occasion somewhat I had conceived not impertinent to have farther alleaged for my selfe I silence and passe by all confining my selfe to what impremeditately falls and flowes upon my paper my wonted diffusive confusion would fit these troubled distracted times but I will containe if my lines have a propitious Genius though unhappily I have as much despaired as affected to bee able to serve my generation either alive or dead I may possibly with my little erudition prove an illiterate Author of some small fruite and edification at least to the seeking faire industrious mind such is my prayer such my desire How neere my end of writing of abilitie to comply with publique dutie and my lives period concurre I know not The disorder of the times consumes our fortunes and spirits consternates devasts and plunders our soules and consciences I have a long time conceived ordinary taken Oathes especially when multiforme of great and evill consequence and little effect Oathes of course as I was wont to say are coursly observed they passe at length insensibly they cauterize the vulgar they often ensnare when considered like over-iterated frequent Physick they lose their operation as well the tender conscientious as the libertine impatient finding themselves pent and constrained to disentangle they counterworke and perforate them like Sampson they breake their uneasie bands and by a depraved consecution carelessely sleight them letting out their soules to a subsequent dissolution and corruption Warre and custome turne blood and crueltie to nature necessitie of imposing and rigorous coertion render us incompassionate Yet however hee may appeare the honest good Chirurgion being by the inconsiderate ignorant unjustly censured of crueltie and hard-heartednesse by his incisions and other necessary operations of art will to the better judgements stand justified as having acted onely towards cure preservation health and recovery May it please God to overrule and rectifie our hearts blessing us in maintaining our Fundamentals of Faith Hope and Charitie and mee in supporting my selfe by faire and necessary subterfuges and diversions I am no Cabalist one of the open none of the closer Counsells I am neither wise nor good enough yet as the Scripture mentions of the over-wise and over-just am left alone to my solitary unjunctoed selfe my fate not my affections or lazinesse may bee the cause I confesse some unsutablenesse may bee in mee by my default and curiositie making mee in businesse more troublesome and lesse ductile and tractable then ordinary my mind is also too sofâ— and smooth for the questionablenesse anxietie obliquities hardnesse and roughnesse of the present I am naturally active yet daintie and scrupulous of resolutions and undertakings What shall I doe Stirring Spirits must be fomented if I finde no hope of doing good abroad if no evasion I will in all events endevour to make use of my experience to subsist not injurying my self within my self at home I have scarcely to this day become instructed how to forbeare to oppresse how to favour be charitable to and honestly indulge my self but am in a much cleerer light for my guide then formerly and even now which you see is hard for me to do to make use of it I most humbly implore the Grace and Mercy of the Omnipotent upon this disconsolate afflicted deplorate world and me and end Amen March 10. 1644. Un peu de tout Rien come il fault a la Francoise Chorus MAnkind cruell to thy self No beast of prey comes neer to thee Thou need'st no other Rock or Shelf For Shipwrack then thy cruelty Wolves thou destroyedst more wolf then they They never prey upon their kind Nor joy to kill and to betray Where faire subsistence they might finde Wolves in Sheeps cloathing are the worst Poore Sheep that with such Shepherds meet Our sins doe make us thus accurst Ensowring all that would bee sweet No warning nor forbearance could On our obdurate Soules prevaile Wee still doe all but what wee should Our fatall sufferings to entaile Bee wise at last by your own cost Exempt your selves from common scorn Else King and People all is lost All into blood and peeces torn God and your Neighbour take to heart God alone can help impart IF you are a Formalist one who does Stupere in Titulis Imaginibusque here is scarcely so much as a tittle for you exercise your severity somewhere else this doth neither invite nor defie you Master of it self and its own entertainment It rather forbids you as an unwelcome guest Non omnibus dormit what most by chance and something by designe as most things goe the most important peeces carry their Date you must accordingly distinguish the times like me they are no temporizers neither affectedly precisely following nor over Monsterlike