pride And are too good for all the world beside To looke upon Religion is too base For flaming furies is not now the case You should have liv'd from such corruptions free And prov'd sweet patterns of humilitie Preferring goodnesse loving purer theames To stop the tide of basenesse in the streames Do good with your estates your wit your art Should make you carefull to prevent the smart Which follies buy I doubt what I reherse Will make you slight my subject or my verse Yet read the book and pay for 't if you fret They will not give you trust to run in debt To all Judges Justices Church-Warden Constables c. YOu whom Astrea greets were you all right I had not been so sharp nor had this night Been twisted into whip-cold Was it made To help the Jaylours or the Beadles trade I am your Vsher come for here 's a race Able to bring the Hang-man to disgrace You are to find out sinners and to give Them punishment that honestie might live In Courts of justice that the world may see How some of widow Truths posteritie Do walk in gownes should favour friends or lyes Or feare or bribes blind any of your eyes But ah they do too much some of you nurse These Fly-blowne vermin stiled Englands curse Convert not sins nor plagues into a jest Nor yet with mischiefes make your selves a feast I do but move in Court I dare not treat With upstart Plush which sin hath made so great To Justices and Judges I present And all inferiour Officers intent Vpon the publike good these humble straines As the untutour'd issue of my braines Rough with revenge although conceiv'd at night You may bring forth my black birds to the light And heare'em chirp Let sin have no release Which nourisheth our woes and wounds our peace To the Fowles of Night TO you whose lives are eaten up with lust Your spirits and your names consum'd with rust Whose soules are bought and sold whose bodies will Vnsheath your wicked practices to fill The world with wonder you by whom Hell best Is here and in her place below exprest To you who poyson earth with your foule deeds And from your brest your torment ever feeds I do present my lines if taken well They may hedge up your passages to Hell And break your league If not your damned cause Which is condemn'd by my Satyrick Lawes Will gender vipers who will gnaw the sweet And bite your bowels 'till their teeth do meet Whence life it selfe against your health shall strive You vassals are not dead nor yet alive You trim your vice and will your humours have Although your corps are dressing for the grave Maintaine your sinfull freedome prove 't is more Disgrace in living chast than be a whore Death hath his charge your plots being all reveal'd Judged by a Statute not to be repeal'd Expect the execution then your pet Vill no way save you till you pay the debt o which you were engag'd for with delight 〈◊〉 can time bale you though y' are found by night You cannot 'scape away Ah! well I must With such vile Rebels leave my Search in trust To his friend Mr. H. Mill upon his Discoveries of Night KInd Friend 〈◊〉 made a golden frame For glorie of thy lasting name Thou paint'st most faire the foulest globe Hell-hounds in a most comely robe Vertues luster for all mens sight Wit and sense do touch aright A stile that is so Indian rich As brave Palace exceeds a ditch Proves he haunted the pious wayes Yet shewes the ill of all those dayes To see the Verge not to enter Vices Circle know the Center To him is given so large a grant Each of the Nine shall be his Aunt Whose Cherub-Muse hath wing alone To fetch that Ore from Helicon Pride of the tongue from Peru shore The words rich Ingots subject poore That Poet doth excell in parts When matter smels perfum'd by Arts Not he who hath a noble theame Weighs out his phrase with Cicros Beame Print buy this book all that live well Who this despise are bound for Hell Edw Peyton Knight and Baronet To his ingenious friend Mr. Mill upon his loftie Discoveries of Night THou hast laid out to each mans view The Rogue the Cut-purse and that Crew Who with their damned plots do strive To kill and torture men alive From henceforth no Eclipse shall be Since thou hast made the Welkin free Thy Moone in srate shall ever shine For now the night is made divine Light Luna borrow'd of the Sun When infant time was but begun Shee 'll now confesse the brightest night From thee receiv'd that borrow'd light Those that have wit will gaine from hence Embroyder'd reason high-borne sense Fooles from thy Search would faine get free But wise men will stand bound to thee Tho. Perrin Knight To his industrious and quick-sighted friend Mr. Humphrey Mill upon his Night-search FRiend Mill thy rare descriptions I admire More than the Indians when they 〈◊〉 found fire By clashing canes for you by this your skill Downe dropping wonders from your fluent quill Incense the gods in that you should aspire Prometheus-like from heaven to fetch this fire The Indians fire materials did combust But this thy fire doth purge the soule from rust The vicious conscience it so throughly tries And by mens deeds discovers what there lies Should I compare thy light unto the Sun He never could find out what thou hast done Or had he spi'd it Pimp-like he 'd conceale The fact which honour drives thee to reveale Not spite Thy hate to mankind is not such But that who good are thou admit'st as much Such creatures then as do thy lines abhor Expresse themselves but what thou took'st them for Deluding Miscreants living thus did urge Thy Genius to twist this triple scourge Like Pedlars wares that are sophisticate Hating the light because the light brings hate The honest need not thou shouldst them reprove For t'others hate 't is better far than love In this thy conscience thou dost fully cleare Spurning their folly which they bought so deare In stately measures with thy lamp so bright Thou hast displaid the villanies of night Will. Scot Gent. To his worthy friend Mr. Mill upon his excellent Poem of the Night-Birds PAle Envie 's at a stand let Momus bark His lungs into a palsie here 's a mark Though Pride and Folly shoot they cannot hit Or charg'd with choler or discharg'd of wit These lines are rich and loftie smooth and even To fit the noblest subject under Heaven But thou hast chus'd the blackest which might be Set as a foyle to thy brave Poetrie So full of usefull wit the Birds of night Found caught unroosted darknesse brought to light Shames Ensignes took vice conquer'd which no man Did more than challenge since the world began Where are those cancel'd wits that rack'd their verse To varnish guilt and thatch a rotten herse Praise Madams curlings they thy scourge may feele And
day If the Defendant come within your power Pray make him pay an Angell for an hower Or you 'll degenerate how 's truth abus'd Such roguing Catch-polls should be ever us'd A weakling taken with a harlots voyce And fawning looks neglects his former choyce To cleave to her who with her venom'd breath Divides his heart alive but at her death This Sot falls sick his senses do decay And now his filth breaks out another way For he lyes bed-rid vext and he doth rave All his delights are buried in the grave With that me thought I saw and heard a Bawd The situation and her house applaud Which stands entire a fob made under ground To hide her Cattell where a catch turnes round To let 'em in and out a slie back doore Where any bash full knave or modest whore May come and go unseen besides the leads Where they may hide if they should search the beds Iron boks to ev'rie door and the staires made So cunningly that I can drive my trade Vnknowne to all with wanton pictures trim'd My rooms are all some painted and some limb'd Like to the paler vermine whose renowne 〈◊〉 to creep up and nest upon the Crowne The height of their ambition can no higher They with such bawdes must downe into the fire A man whose passion had engag'd his heart To one whose lust had ty'd to act her part With him being lawlesse she her time will spend With what 's most precious so to have her end But he began to have an inward eye And having drawne the streames of pleasures dry The gravell fills his mouth Thus he complains Vnto himselfe I must expect the pains Which follow sinfull sweets which are at strife To seale disgrace upon then take my life Lust steales the name of love I must abide Reproach among my friends on ev'ry fide My sores break out my childrens cries breed griefe My ' state 's consum'd I cannot give relief To serve their wants Diseases which I have Will 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 piece-meale to the grave What helps to make me wearie of my life The constant barking of a froward wife Who us'd to vex me where she did me find And spread my same yet could not change my mind But most of all my soule a bleeding lies Fearing to be releas'd from him it flyes That must give help if any comes at all Or to the burning deep I downe must fall VVhere hypocrites must dwell who are misled That seek for living fruits among the dead She muses hee so long from her did stay And sends these lines to hasten him away My love I long to see thy face Oh! come to me I will imbrace Thy sweet bosome let not me For want of thy sweet company Lye dipt in teares is love growne cold Or have those six dayes made thee old Or has thy peevish brawling wife Made thee refrain so sweet a life Be not dismaid when fortune brings Me gold with other gallant things 'T is all thine owne to come make hast And then the winter will be past With all conditions I can fit To humour thee and heare thy wit Thy absence makes my heart opprest Which lives in thine and so I rest Thy friend or not for this world H. E. From my lodging in Lukeners-lane His Answer Though I was foolish mad and vain To sell away my heart To buy a never-dying staine And cheapen lasting smart By thy temptations I was drawne To fall in love with sin To lay my soule my life to pawne To fetch new torments in I now renounce my former deeds And what I lov'd before I hate it bitter griefe exceeds Teares wash them off the score Vaine is thy suit repent and turne Thy former waies amend Least wrath in thee doth ever burne Where cursed pleasures end Thine once but now his owne From Princes street Like to an Oxe when she these lines had read Which having felt the axe upon his head Staggers a while and gaines a little stay Then tugs the roap but cannot 'scape away Or like the swine whose throat receives the knife He runs about to loose his wearied life She fumes with rage and stares about for death The knife 's mislaid she cannot get out breath Without some warning then a rope she got And tide it to a beame made fast the knot And stretcht her neck so thus she ends her life And changes mortall for immortall strife Her Epitaph as she hangs This lump of clay the heavens do disdaine O're-matcht by hell dy'd over-charg'd with sinne Hangs in the aire whereas the Devills raigne Earth brought her out which scornes to take her in Her soule 's confin'd within those blacke precincts Which will not take her carkase 'cause she stinks Sir Justice Had-been prompting whores and theeves Turn'd to the slime of shame whom he releeves Must weare the badge of hell A poor mans grief Being forc'd to lodge a punck and keep a thief At his command for nought broke out so fast That shame did blush to hear 't till at the last He told him had he brought a in hand He had been eas'd for justice cannot stand With bare complaints This tribe was lately shent And routed too pray thank the Parliament Shame steeld with impudence one brings his nurse That 's gag'd for hell to twist a double curse And challenge vengeance 'cause his wife lyes in They 'll have a chamber writ to charge their sin A spotted fondling which begins to swagger 'Cause she 's indicted here the codpiece-dagger Receives it name Fog with a fierie face As free from coyne as he is bare of grace Yet stockt with knavetie would adjourne this curse His words are bribes because his emptie purse Stands out-law'd for the fact he did last night Though he appears that durst not come in sight Some are not ripe enough for death to pluck Nor is their measure full some others suck The poyson with their sins untill they burst All turning not are at the last accurst Like Toads or Traytours being Male-contents That from faire day-light hide their foule intents But spets 'em in the night Here they do mind Their owne undoing in another kind The Panther drawes men with his pleasing sent Into or neare his den when his intent Is to devoure'em So the Devill drawes The sinners in where with his sharper clawes He teares their flesh Poore creature that exceeds The second Devill in his cursed deeds Who freely loves the sins but hates the shames That follow close nor will he owne those names The Devill lives a Batchelour but he Is free from acting of adulterie As from foule language he was never drunk Nor did he ere lye bed-rid for a Punk Hee 'll nere begin nor pledge thy Masters health Hee 'd rather give than steale a way mens wealth Whom he arrests they do not take it well Yet ere hee 'll hang himselfe hee 'll hang in hell His sins are spirituall to act such ill
the best I can Thou art for fraught but I am for the man The times are envious men by sea and land Are cast and cut away on everie hand I loose my custome 〈◊〉 a wittie theft To make some sure while there are any left I cannot live without 'em art not mine Then with a kisse and a bewitching twine She stole his lungs and prey'd upon his heart The next his mezell liver feeles the dart Like to the little fish which in the seas Doe sucke the 〈◊〉 their watry humors please Amongst the cutled waves they frisk and seek For 〈◊〉 delights at last into some Creek The saker streames convey them where the tide Forsakes them unawares when they are spide Or from the shore or from their muddie holes They 're took imbowell'd cast upon the coles Or in the pan like traitors halfe alive Dye by degrees for 't is in vain to strive With deaths 〈◊〉 So these Vassalls play In waves of lusts till wrath drives them away Into a straight where miseries are vast Not like delights which perish in the tast And constant dwellers there they must remaine Till they are pluckt away like Traitors shine And cast into the flames but still their name Shall stinke on earth as monuments of shame The Devill likes grand Seigniors golden vice Finding a man inclin'd to avarice Fill'd with disdaine whose cruelties beside Make him a Tyrant to maintaine his pride He doth preferre him to'a loftie place As full of envie as he is free from grace He peels the great ones and undoes the poore To fill his coffe rs when his golden store Is at the height the Turke doth cast his eye To spy a fault he is condem'd to dye By word of mouth to squeeze his vast estate Into his treasurie at such a rate My fondlings live who are inclind to lust The Devill sets them in a place of trust Who sucke the poyson'd sweet untill they burst They 'l feel that then they nere beleev'd at first To undergoe their tortures could they hire Or like to Salamanders live in fire Or loose their sences in the flaming fume Or might their lasting soules in fire consume I would decline my task and spare my braines And let them take their pleasures for their gaines But bodies soules and sinnes in flames must frye Last by consuming spirits never dye SECT. II. The Centinells the Drunkards note One cuts his hat and burns his coat Two Devills would de file abride And two to lust by coyne are tide Exchange of Pimps a harlot shent A fooles conceit the whores intent A counter-greeting of the store How to his friend one lends his whore THe world now hung with black my charge begun The Western Seas had swallow'd down the sun But Heavens tapers then began to light Which did by turnes attend the Queene of night The skie was all enamell'd in my view With glittring Diamonds all the panes were blue But straight the clouds those riches did disgrace For everie heavenly torch did hide his face The sable stormes arose proud winds grew high Which blew my candle out Alas said I My task is heavie here 's a hard beginning Must I returne and leave the harlots sinning My Muse will never brook it all the best Are lockt with th' leaden keyes to quiet rest Their mantles darknesse all their braines do steep In watrie humours being rockt asleep With rough-breath'd lullabies I held my tongue But hop'd the best such tempests are not long Some thriving Bawd that 's newly turn'd a witch Or else her father Daemon think you which Hath rais'd this blast from Hell congeal'd with spite To stop my course and spoyle my search to night Or else some Calve-skin Pander for a spell To keep the doore hath sold himselfe to Hell And this the breath of triumph But I must Go now in hast to over-look my trust I from the Centre went to see how far My charge extended then a twinekling star Broke prison through the clouds the backer doore Was open set and out came divers more The lower gates were open'd for the Queene Where in their offices the Sparks were seeve The lesser lights of Heaven stirr'd my fire Oh! heaven-borne patience thee I must admire Which warm'd my breast Now now my care begins I spie an Army clad with severall sins But they disperse themselves the Front for feare Turnes back in hast to fall behind the Reare The Files observe no distance and the Ranks Are out of order firing in the Flanks Will end their service for the Wings are fled Or chang'd to Scouts See who goes there in red A scarlet Drunkard Strength hath made him weak He reeling railes about yet cannot speak His brains are like his guts you need not feare His wit for he has none but garbidge there Though he be three parts drown'd yet this I know H' as a fire that is unquencht he 's burnt below He has been feasted by a man of note Who burnt his hat for joy and shot his coat To make him welcome Tom o' Bedlams grace They drank the hogshead out to take his place Then by and by appear'd before mine eyes Two earth-borne Devills of the largest size Shap'd just like men and cover'd o're with skin They broke a doore quite downe and rushing in Vpon a Bride-groome with his faithfull Bride Who lying like a Turtle by his side Would faine have ravisht her for they did think 'T had been a Cell through which there was a fink Which older Devils made first to convay Their ordure into hell a nearer way From hence they go unfurnisht of a whore Crying Confound us we mistook the doore Then Next to them câ—me ruffling on whose haire Hung downe almoft a yard being rich and faire In his apparrell he was kept so high And pamper'd like a Bore within a stie His pockets full which made him much rejoyce His sputs were off because they had a voyce I follow'd on to understand his bent A chamber doore being open in he went Where was a powder'd Ape as full of lust As Spiders are of poyson graves of dust They intermixt their sins to purchase shame He had his golden fee then out he came I met another of a lower breed He 's like a common Bull his wife agreed To let him out for halfe a Crowne a week Who undertakes he shall not be to seek When any Queane is salt and cannot have A Cur to give her what her lust will crave The Bawd that entertaines 'em for her paines From the insatiate whore hath double gaines Or coupling in the corners of the street She saves a fee so Dogs and Bitches meet I went on still and spi'd two Blades together One was in Frize the other clad in Leather The first was bred in Wales the other he Came newly from the Vniversitie His words are not his owne yet full of Art As in praâ—senti is his owne by heart They 're bare and
from her Jawes or at the least if shee Did swallow them when once she left the paine To ease her spleene she 'd spue them up againe But nothing frets her lungs she needes must thrive The ten horn'd beast she swallow'd downe alive With monstrous locusts she 'll her Patent use To take in all which Heavens doth refuse Bawd-like the Spider in his Pantry spies To sieze the heedelesse carkases of flies And vent his poyson'd humours For his hire He with his brood are swept into the fire Or prest to death As wandring Comets fall To earth from whence they rose this rabble shall Speede like the Spider and their sparkling flame Shall fall as low as hell but still their shame Must live on earth Except my papers rot Or time consume their memorie If not Some sharper quill may chase them to their Inne When they have onely priviledge to sinne And pleasures are degraded by their paines Old time consum'd Eternity remaines SECT. VI A hatefull swarme the shot one pai'd The plaister'd Crue seizd goods what stai'd They bib a fresh the Cripples will A bore the Ruiners lines prove ill THe day being driven neare the furthest point Sence dead asleepe Discretion out of joint Blacke darkenesse rul'd with triumph sent out spies To take close prisoners all with open eyes Least they should view the workes by candle light Untill they were exchang'd for bratts of night The Starres did feare infection and the Moone Turn'd backe with feare to see one night so soone Should gender such corruption wherein breedes Such strange shap'd Vermine and such hatefull deedes By them ador'd Those that love slothfull rest Call her sweete shadow Chamber for the blest Now to my worke I scouted out and found A sixe fold knotte One in a drunken swound Lay stretching by the rest One's like to choke The third whose heathen weede turn'd into smoke Will cure all distempers in the braine Is but a learner yet The fourth had a vaine With new-found baites to cheate the silly fish Had he but catcht'em he 'd present a dish To these his friends The fifth a grosse offender And judg'd to be but of the doubtfull gender The last was of the neuter but to night Their gender 's common in the Coblers sight The lustfull Ape would blush to heare it nam'd And brazen impudence would be asham'd They 'd swear and drink out time they with their whores Did onely chase his fore top out of dores And saw him bald behinde one sculks away But now the reck'ning comes which one must pay The Captaine has no coyne but he intends To leave his tooles which with the Coblers ends Will stoppe a hole The man that suks the weed Is flush as yet and he must doe the deed The Bill No. 1. For two and forty Pots of Ale o 11 s. 6 d.  And Jug that told the merry tale No. 2. For Wine and Sugar and for Nell 1l 2 s. 3 d.  But you must pay for what befell No. 3. For Cakes Strong-water Smoke and Wood o 17 s. o  Pay all and ther 's my Flagon good No. 4. But I forgot you had at first o r. s. 7 d.  Of Red Cowes milke to quench your thirst  His purse did swell till he had paid 2l 12 s. 4 d.  But then the rising bunch was laid One foaming like a Boare that 's not excus'd Who hatmis the sinkes of sinne and he is us'd For hotter worke For he goes up and downe To serve the queanes their friends being out of towne But then there was presented to my sight A Master-Peere the worst I saw to night A formelesse heape of rubbish in a Cell Almost as darke and not so hot as Hell Yet living buggs Some had but halfe a face Some halfe a nose some none some in the place 〈◊〉 lost their legges another wants his arme Another both some hands some had their harme About their loynes some wanting 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gregory scorcht their sight I did despise They point their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when to 〈◊〉 Which rob in private which in open streete Who to be baud in cheife who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who Warden of the 〈◊〉 and every Impe 〈◊〉 their orders from 〈◊〉 and they doe 〈◊〉 lawes and punish grosse offenders too They make them pay 〈◊〉 for severall sinnes 〈◊〉 Cabbs in graine yet one of them beginnes 〈◊〉 malignant humors and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they consume their stock and he prepares A bill against them but before t was fram'd His goods were seiz'd in th' inventery nam'd Primo A dish two spoones two earthen pans  A tub two stooles one was his mans Secundo A dublet and a paire of hose  The coat 's at pawne belong to those Tertio A pot a cubbard and a knife  A gooding bagge a coyfe for s wife Quarto A boxe of salve and two brasse rings  With Parkers workes and such like things Quinto A bedstead and a bed of straw  A sheete a rugge all which I saw Sexto With other lumber being gest  Will come to nine pence at the least Besides he has convey'd away A bowle a skillet and a tray A trowell and a paire of tongs And downe this Court apparant wrongs He stands sequesterd now he`s made their 〈◊〉 Being a delinquent who can take it off I must goe view my Senators who have New plaisterd all their sores they onely crave An other tub of Ale to laugh and prate And he shall pay for`t out of his estate The chiefe of these did surfet and was ill So sicke at last that he did make his will In manner and forme following Inprinsis I doe bequeath my pallet bed  My hat my cap upon my head  To Will in 〈◊〉 Item My pewter dish my earthen ware  And sheetes I thinke I have a paire  To Doll in Old Bridewell Item My table and my two joyn'd stooles  My trusses and my plascering tooles  To Ned in the Clink Item I freely give my pleared Ruffe  The third part of my Housholdstuffe  To 〈◊〉 in the Gate-Honse Item The other two parts I bestowe  If he will pay what ere I owe  To George in the White Lyon 〈◊〉 I give my shirt an ell of lawne  Which lye for eighteene pence at pawne  To Nan in the Marshall Sea for clouts Item My wearing clothes within my Chest  The Cloke hath beene but nine times drest  To 〈◊〉 in the Counter Item My second cruch scrapt lint fine clouts  An ounce of pills or thereabouts  To Giles in the Hospitall Item My better crutch my plasterd rowle  Boxe-legge receits and bowzing bowle  To this Worthy Assemby As for my foule I cannot tell Whe`re t is for heaven or for hell I leave it to the venture A private dunghill for my grave My corps cast in by night I 'd have Least 〈◊〉 Idolize my name Or
envious Roundheads blase my shame I leave it to your wise consideration Being joynt Executors this my will Within two monthes you must fulfill Or my Ghost will 〈◊〉 you But this disaster parted all the rout T' will cost you paines agen to finde A Poetaster comes And yet I The' are rough They They He How Art They are not With ekes from weight As is the horseleech the Poetaster Whose sides bagg out when newly fetcht from grasse His prayses make them rich He hewes their feete Like his that rim'd for farthings in the streete Yet they have tooke a Pinnas who 's at strife To cut the throate or poison his poore wife But feares the Wardens check her love of late That walks to 's Mannor once a Month in start He 's 〈◊〉 a begging paper to a Knight Or else he had bin study'ng all this night They made his worship laugh yet gave no chink But stuft his belly and his braines with drink His rimes made privy seales he sweares being vext He 'll write no more to Knights a Lord 's the next He rail'd and reel'd about untill he found His heels betray'd his fancies to the ground But no learshon poore Poets old excuse His stock was witte before 't was put to use As is the Ty-dog mad when he breaks loose Here spoiles a sheepe and there he pulls a goose Yonder a calfe With rage and venome prest He 'll bite a man as well as teare a beast At last he 's caught he dies they seize his skinne He suffers for his fact yet free from sinne Being hard to take so violent and curst Before he dyes he 's knockt and 〈◊〉 first Such fit similitude may blaze your ill To open view although he made no will You all had chaines by nature on your necks Nor did all spring from dunghills but had checks With sweeter education Natures tye Is broke by force from what you learn'd your flye Make spoyle of what you finde 〈◊〉 a while You pull and teare and growing still more vile By finne you 'r caught burnt mangl'd and disgrac't Disarmd unnos'd dismouth'd and some unfac't The Law doth seare whippe crop you at the last Death takes you as he findes you having cast Your naisty plaisterd 〈◊〉 into the dirt Your soules grow mad where they can doe no hurt I pitty you Ah! must your helplesse soules Dwell still in teares and groanes where hels black roules Ingroc't with all your sinnes lye in your sight To gnaw your wounds but never see the light Yet all such torments with the soule in summes Dwell but in as earnest till the body comes SECT. IX A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 His shirt exchang'd a smock displaid With Armes upon 't Another time A basket-wench renues his crime The grated Vermine Rebels land Shall buy no finne at second hand The drunken dust how shame breaks in A wooden ligge prevents a sin The guilty Priests a Drab denyes Her husbands names the Judge then spyes A glorious sight The young mans greife The old mans shame must have 〈◊〉 THe Ayre as now enlighten'd with a gleame Night winkes at all or being in a dreame A gentle 〈◊〉 glides in she 's over-prest Or having tooke a surfet at the feast Quicke eyes tooke license to behold the crimes That are in 〈◊〉 with the charge of times Darke losers 〈◊〉 bearded Comets seene Backebite Dame Venus flatter with the Queene Yet breaking 〈◊〉 with finners they devide Their shame by equall portions Then I spi'de A Squire of 〈◊〉 Court to recruite his sin A facke of female kitchin-stuffe tooke in To greaze his way to hell and his intents With 〈◊〉 oaths and compleents Were varnishd thus Dam-me I 've a minde To court thy louzie carkase be but kinde Let me imbrace thy corps it is my will To search thy closet doe not take it ill Be not so coy confound me thou art strange Sir did not your Grandfather build the exchange You are a worthy Gentleman but I Am far unfit fot your sweete company Being old and dirty and my dressing tore My smock is nasty ragged course and poore Hang 't thou shalt have my shirt thy smock I 'le make Gentile in love I 'le weare it for thy sake They are gone to bed but how the bold fac'd night Did turne their baud I m silent when the light Had out-fac'd darknesse she had quit the bed The Squire gropt but kissing Shiffe was fled He rose in rage inquir'd searcht about His shirt did wipe her heeles when she went out He in her Frocke as blacke as hell did looke Arm'd with a patch of greene the left arme tooke The azuae trophie time did now uncase The divels fondlings In another place The bloudy colours from an ancient house Where the pale 〈◊〉 of the passent louse Lye couchent bend in Sable-field but he Is rampant gules a trope of victorie A badge the Mullet seated on the breast A Woodcock moulting squire had lends creast But the supporters were this vesture bore An Ape in chaines a Letcher burn'd before Some laughing said this garment was astray The hang-man was too proud to bring 't away When crosse-lane Peggy dy'd and some did thinke It was the divels dish-clout dipt in inke Inricht with Bluekins tippet being seene Or Lady Katherines flesh-bag trim'd with greene When this choyse robe was by the Landresse found The Reliques was reserv'd the Creepers drown'd Let greife in Commans waite upon this Sparke His onely shirt is lost which cost a Marke who 'd be the divels Vassall if he must Be alwayes cheated by a sinners trust This Blade recruites agen his Courtly minde Was to salute disgrace where he did finde A water'd clod of dust whose dropping nose With waper eyes and matter did disclose Deformity if selfe her broadsold feete Bore natures greife which at the heeles did meete Lust was in travell when the watch-man found These lovely Babes where sinne with shame is crrownd His wife who heard the fame spoke thus you 'll have Your name and state goe mourning to the grave Attended with disdaine Reproach will live To staine your family when death shall give A challenge to your dust who will display His fable flagges and storme your house of clay He answered her let me have pleasure seal'd For tearme of life such acts may be repeal'd Ere saucie death be arm'd I 'le leave my lust When drops of pleasure cannot drench my dust Quit scores with me But she with teares replyde How vaine is that revenge where sinnes abide With miserie but Justice gives releife To plunderd hopes and will casheere my greife When wounded joyes shall muster dead they must Have all free quarter in the easie dust Had I had portion comlinesse or wit I had not beene so fond as to have quit My freedome thus or sold content to borrow A dying Prop where strife breedes living sorrow This stately Courtier scornes to harbour shame But impudence is guardian to his name From the
Will be rewarded with the greater gaines He that has no invention is not fit To use this Trade 't was Industry and wit That made me perfect things both old and new May help our traffique and uphold our crew But new conceits I love pray how was he That had the Carte and then the Pillorie Prais'd and belov'd his witty projects made Him both gentle and master of his Trade Faine I would give you rules and tell you how To cast your plotts but I 'le say nothing now Just as hee stop't another broke his minde I Walke the City round and where I finde A doore left open if it be but late I slinke in quick and take a peece of plate Or any thing of worth if any spie mee I 'se hide the prize and sweare they doe belye me Or els to cover and prevent all feare I aske for such a one or call for beere I tooke it for an Alehouse if the maid Will be familliar I am not affraid To trye agen perhaps I 'le be her Suitor To bring my ends about sh'ell be my Tutor If all be closse or if there be a hatch Where I have laid my gin then I must watch Walke to and fro untill I finde the slight To turne the wards it is a hatefull spight That they were e're devis'd tha're alter'd still I am to seeke I strive to learne the skill Where they be sold when I have found the way Let me alone I 'le quickly take my prey I change my walkes for where I shew my face This night the next i 'm in another a place Vnlesse it be full tearme then I doe stand To take my turne in Fleet-streete or the strand I were a Livery and what I can That men may thinke I am a Serving-man I counterfeit a Letter or a Bond A Justice-warrant any thing will stand When I am wittnes too t if I am found 'T is but a whip or snip twise turning round Will weare it out and for a single fee I 'le sweare a lye as others will for mee At any meeting revelling or feast I make up one when I am neatly dreast Who will distrust me then I take my time To snap a bone as perfect in the crime I goe to Church if there I doe but spye A man that on the Preacher hath his eye I 'le seeme as strict as hee and with a grace I 'le shake my head and looke upon his face Till I have got his purse or cut his cloake Then looke on still I care not what is spoke Nay more I ride the circuit cheat and steale Before the Judge I see him every meale And taste his fare and yet I scapt ' till now I keepe a Whoore or two can tell you how I spend my meanes Come rise let us dispatch To quitt this place for yonder comes the Watch I would have told you more but now I must Commit my skill and secrets to your trust As doth the snake in Summer first begin To shift his hole and then to change his skin So doe those Vermine when the light appeares Change place and skin their necks backs nose or eares Will beare the brunt on 't they 'l be made a prey Sweepe down the Cobwebs th' Spiders creepe away Those noysome flies that on the dunghills feed And buz about though now they are agreed To read to one an other yet they 'l finde The meat they feed upon will make 'm blind They lay the Sceane above ground but they make The Vult et exit in th' infernall Lake They crawle together growing still more vilde If one repenting dies their plots are spoil'd Humanitie with them is out of date All Right and Justice till it be to late They praise themselves for sin what art from Hell They can but learne till there they come to dwell Shall be prefer'd but ah how soone they slide Downe to their mourning shade who can abide To reckon up their woes such cheating slaves Are brought full soone to their unwelcome Graves Who can rehearse the miserie that they Doe meet withall towards Hell when all the way Is full of snares and feares which will undoe Their Mirth at best it 's joyn'd with torments too A serious looke the shaking of a hand A Dogge that barkes or any thing will stand To let in shame upon them all they get Or makes them lasting Gins or weaves a Net To keepe them for the triall when they must Be sent from whence they came from thence to Dust And as at first when cheating they begun They lov'd the darkest shade and loath'd the Sun Now darkn esse is their portion where Death have Tooke all their cheats to purchase them a Grave Poore Sotts that were bewitch't you did but finde A smacke of Hell what follow'd on behind You could not see till now Oh let my Quill Display not teach nor countenance such ill Oh that my Muse could shew what horrid state Hell meetes with sin and death Then sinners fate In mournfull measures would be ever sung By all that love the Muses every tongue Would move in order But my slender quill Sutes with my Muse compared with my skill Vile sinners are in life and death distrest Read but this Epitaph then take your rest The Epitaph TWo Sharkes being dead alive did feare no weather They pawn'd themselves or any ill they 'd doe The Hangman put'm in a hole together Their hopes are earth now they are private too Beware of 〈◊〉 't will raise a horrid blast These sherking Rogues did cheat themselves at last SECT. II. A Constable is wise and grave He sucks the sack and he will have His guilty neighbours scape the Lawes The beadle doth bewray the cause Another Strikes where he 's abus'd His 〈◊〉 guard his wit accus'd His love his teares beget a feast His 〈◊〉 preferment is exprest I Searching went my busines to dispatch And on a sudden spi'd the common watch The Constable being grave put me in feare He should have bin the Officer last yeare His rule was by example when he spoke One halfe was sacke the other part was smoake The Taverne was his centre he must have The other quart and hee 's an errand knave That will not pledge him if a hansome Whore Be guilty found her freedome hee 'l restore She promise to amend but this the case She payes her fees he points a private place To meet about it if the Bawd can make But Friends or money hee her part will take And quitt her for this once to please her then Hee 'l winke in love or not come there agen The Wine converts him to a cunning spie None but his favorites dare looke so high As such out landish liquor some a sleepe Are while the vermine round about them creepe The rest are in blind Ale-houses for they Have pence a peece to spend and when the day Begins to peepe they cannot see it why Tobacco's cloudy
she takes him in the day The third is mark't with reding she will try Tempt fawn and call upon the passers by To come to Hell if she can draw them so She burnes them half a live before they go The last lies to be cured of her curse She 'l deal wi' ye even hand and spare your purse She hath provoking meanes to stir up lust One must be whip't with rods another must Be beaten out of dores and for his 〈◊〉 Coole at the gates of Hell 't is hot within Another's made a skullin he must wash The dishes and be knock't and then the trosh Must kisse to make amends untill desire Is by degrees converted into fire The common cheaters when they take a prey Doe come to thee by turnes the more fooles they Thou canst not help them in a dang'rous case Nor at the Sessions dar'st thou shew thy face Who come to thee to night the next be Hid in a hole for feare when thou do'st see A Gorget that 's for Cis a handsome Dresse Must be for Gin the wastcoate is for Besse Being trim'd with stolne goods their price is rais'd Thou art maintain'd and hell and thee both praisd Thou art a baud a theif an out-worn whore If e're I come to Tyburn I 'le say more I was in hope the morn by this would smile But 't is grown darker then it was ere while A tedious night nor can I once forecast To ease my Muse untill the night be past Those that do sin in State do here foretell That they shall have the hottest room in hell For those that live to sin and sin to live Shall find what Motto Death and Hell do give They purchase pain and shame with greedie sinning Whose life is death whose end is deaths beginning Sin is at ods I need not tell you how Hell did agree but 't is divided now She 'l never yeeld till she hath all she had When she is chok't her Tenants will grow mad SECT. XXIII The Devill with a Priestling meets A Souldier comes the Devill greets He rails at first the feinds unkind How he in sorrow speaks his mind The Preist is charg'd of his advise How he did tempt the Devill twise Pandorssus try'd how he did wooe Casts off one Whore and takes in two The dreadfull fight the combat past Their healths and triumph at the last NOw hell will sound a parle before tshe'l beat Up her travail or seem to make rereat She musters all her forces views their scope Draws up the reer in the forlorne hope The Prelates Traine was plac'd She iounds agen The Divell hath reserves as well as men But light though distant scornes to stoop or see Her issue joyne with this black Pedigree The Divell met a Priestling where came in A bloudy rustick who had lately bin A suiter to this feind that he might take Mens lives and plunder freely who did make Him promise to that end but cause he fails Souldate growes mad and at the Divell railes Have I been servant to thee many years And took thy word for all as it appeares By my successe nor did I feare to kill The innocent being promp't to what was ill Rob teare sweare curse at those that did rebell A'gainst thy Lawes Just so do we in Hell Souldier And so thou'lt serve me too and for my gaines Thou 'lt send black death with torment for my paines Is 't come to this Divell I pray thee tell me how Our Plots should thrive if we should not allow False Protestations with the breach of truce To cheat conceit such subtletie 's in use Souldier Now thou dealst plainly hadst thou don 't at first I had been happy Divell Now thou art accurst We try all means your senses to invade Sometimes we 'l be gentile but 't is our trade To chayne your reason to the breath of men Who are our journey men and now and then They send such Chapmen to our darksome cave To purchase tombes with life that loath'd a grave They can do more then we being in request Our names are stain'd what is by us exprest Is put in use by Deputies But we Work privately Souldier Ah! to what misery Have I engag'd my self if Earth and Hell Combin'd against me is 't in vain to tell My cause to Heaven Divell Aske this flattring Priest That goes in velvet slippers give a list Of all thy rapes and he perchance may give An absolution his conceits do live With wastefull hopes being pregnant in his evill He thinks in pride to go beyond the Divell All Learning dwells in him what falls beside Are but the concrets of his inward pride Souldier You 're comforters alike thou did'st begin A bloody Plot and slily drew'st him in To be thy Executioner and what is ill Is but the execution of thy will Being of the Horsleech kind and mettle free The Priest tempts the Divell To take thy easie stamp Devill He tempted me For when the stubborn Scot did give abuse To his Divinity that was in use Du ni'd the gudly bukes he rais'd his voyce In folio sodenly and then made choise Of my assistance when he could not prate His hunderts out nor could retaine that State He vomits bloud afresh and then indeed I got an Office lov'd to see men bleed As well as he and when I went to fight I long'd to have the Parson in my sight Souldier How are poore soules deluded that are taught By such to loose themselves now am I brought For sale to Death The trembling Earth doth gape To let me down and would commit a rape Upon my reason too the shivering aire Benums my senses but then black dispair Revives my grief again the sawcie wind That 's quarterd with the anguish of mind Makes Earth-quakes in my breast nor can I tell Of one weeks pay to bear my charge to Hell Shame joynes with terrour to increase my evill Oh pitie me Devill Aske mercie from a Devill I shall be made thy Gaoler never look For pardon any more now the black book Is laid before thee Souldier Reverend Sir come 〈◊〉 Oh now or never quell the rage of sin Priest Shake off thy dumps and lose not thy renown Had not the Service-Book been voted down I 'de conjure out this Fiend do thou but fight Defend our cause thou need'st not fear the sight Of men and Devils if thou dost forsake Our blessed way the devill will thee take Well be advis'd Souldier Away yee Fiends away You both desire my ruine you 'd destroy Me soule and body thou hast laid a 〈◊〉 To catch poor souls of which thou should'st take care Thou limb of Antichrist is this the rest Thou didst propose thou r't proctor for the beast The Devill tels more truth I doe defie A seeming friend a reall enemy Goe changeling go Priest Can Ideots understand What 's best for peace and freedome of the Land And such a one as I be still to seeke
'l allow That I might have return from French and Dutch With English too that you may do as much That will be quid for 〈◊〉 thou knowst my mind Come little Monkey every Beast in 's kind With that he steer'd away and fear'd no weather But with more shame then ever he came hither Now come my Customers for I 'l be free Of what I have I 'm set at libertie She 's such an active Whore to all that come As if sh' had learn'd it in her mothers wombe She wears out one another he is lost A third's consum'd she jeers him for his cost Then meeting with a shifter who of late Maintain'd a nastie Whore till his estate Was sunk much like his nose and she had bin Under the lash to suffer for her sin Indicted and arraign'd and then she fell To tune aloud the fourth part of Hell He being flig'd again he chatters out Like to a rook in Spring and flies about To find a place to build in where he brings His new-found Whore whose taile is full of stings But there the nest is made till he had spent His present stock besides what to him lent And now this Ape 's grown sullen she 's not well What nor a place nor lands nor goods to sell I want a petti-coat a bagge a jewel Another thing or two Such beasts are cruel He pitty'd her and answer'd with a smile Thou shalt have those but thou must stay a while I 've such a thing to sell I know not how To sell 't but with great losse as times go now He going forth she drops down to the ground Dissemblingly she fals into a swound And being taken up she hangs her head Hold's in her breath as if she had been dead Closing her eyes and slobbering out her tongue 'T had been some hope on 't had she been so long Her neck like Tyburns blossoms had been if It had been long enough or half so stiffe But her's was plyable to turn about Forward or backward all might find it out That 't was but fained She was throughly vex't 'T was done no neater but she 'l mend the next He hearing of her fall came in again And when she was reviv'd she did complain Ah ah unkindnesse Ah! 't will break my heart Alas I love too much the more 's my smart Unkindnesse kills me Oh! my heart is broke She drop't down tears like charms Then thus he spoke What should I be undone woulds't have me strive To humour thee to dig my grave alive Thou hast bewitch't me What he spoke was true The Jade had her desire Sh'was trim'd anew Within a little time The Land was sold They laid it on a while until the gold Was sent from whence it came then with a jest She cast him off as she had done the rest She 's taken up and coatch't unto the bath But still she 's follow'd with a cloud of wrath How she did truck in common with what men Perhaps I 'l tell you when she comes agen SECT. XVI One vampt with plush lives not in awe Is found a Letcher at the Law A married man four Queans he 'l have One very young one tall and brave The third for wit the fourth she must Be full of stuffe to slake his lust They live apart for each his wife One with his worship fals to strife WHen in my search Queen Phoebe cast a blush I turn'd aside and saw a thing in plush As black as Hell his lust was in the prime He had a Gown too long did hide his crime His wit was put to Nurse his face was blew And all his upper parts were vamp't anew His garbidge kept him moist because his 〈◊〉 Was lately bottom'd Till his purse doth faile He 'l wear a Ruffe a full-crown'd Beaver-hat Loves he the Law or no guesse you by that He 'l give you words as good as gold can make Give him his way advice he will not take He 's wise enough for Hell pray let him stand His practise of delight lies underhand He 's often distant from his native place I 'l shew the Cels he hants then judge the case His wife and children in the Countrey bee They hardly will beleeve nor can they see What Hell doth daily venture on his side Nor how he bought a Whore sweet Mistris Bride She must be call'd He doth consume his ' state To keep her to himself at any rate She 's young and fresh her hair brown like a berry And full of mirth to make his worship merry A second he must have that 's full of wit She gives him great content for that is it That he stands most in need of She is thin Small low and active with a milk-white skin The third that he doth chuse is very tall Well joyn'd upright her fingers long and small With yellow hair her eyes being full and gray With cherry cheeks This modest Quean will stay Her turn and never grumble But the next If he but break his day she 's shrewdly vext She 's very fleshly minded full of stuffe With greasie brawny limbs and tongue enough To raile him to her self as free from fear As honesty but not from stand clear He visits them with papers in his hand As though he came to state them in his land He spends his time his substance and his life And every one of these goes for his Wife He takes a part for every one a Room Maintains them at his cost and he 's the Groom To each of them by turns When he would have A laughing bout the pleasant Wench he 'l crave When he would hear new fancies then he 'l dwell With her that with her shame ha's wit to sell When he to sin with silence has desire The tallest bashfulr'st Whore must quench his fire But at Spring-tides his lusts swell high then she That 's full ofstuffe shall have his companie Although a part their seiz'd they do forecast With joint consent to help him to his last One of his Tibs full of the lustfull itch Did kick and bite I need not tell you which He staid a way too long nor could she have What she desir'd Though silence he did crave It could not be obtain'd They fell to strife Till 't was perceiv'd they were not man and wife The' are hist a way from thence But then her mother Does prove their baud the whisking is their brother But tell him if you durst What Law affords Or violence to make you eat your words Shall not be wanting But the common fame Is mounted up to blaze their sin and shame The several Nests are found now he must be Purg'd by the Law But ah the miserie Is not bewail'd No means can give redresse T' a man that 's morgag'd to his wickednesse He keeps his truce with Hell He doth bereave Himself of hopes till Devils give him leave He cannot change his course or till grim death Age want or sicknesse doth attach
his breath Had he so many souls as many lives As he hath Whores for his supposed Wives He 'd venture all but is not one too much To lie at hazard for a World of such Thou common vassal what dost mean to do Thy various sins breed several Torments too Thou canst not live here ever thou must have To end delights a prison and a grave Y 'ave change of rooms for death being dead alive One room in Hell may eas'ly hold all five Though sin remains there still there 's no delight Souls dwell with horrour and eternal night But where 's the scurf of age that is so vilde To turn a Baud and offer Hell her childe Upon such easie terms I would not ask But that she has performed such a Task That Hell seems innocent What did she hatch A brat for living shame then make the match Her sense her nature she doth now controul To give the body life to damn the soul Her shame is dy'd in grain why write I thus She 's fit for nothing but an Incubus There is a Pander too I 'd call him in But that he is so overgrown with sin Being made an Officer his humours swell He 'l curse and swear the devils out of hell His counsel cost him nought his sisters man Call him but so he 'l swear but by her fan I cannot talk with him he doth so stink Being parboil'd twice and overcharg'd with drink I 'll leave you altogether till my Pen Be sharper set and then I 'll write agen If I should shew her wit how she will vaper 'T would steal a way my time besides a sheet of paper Her outside now shall satisfie my rime I 'll blaze her inside at another time Look where she is and view her in the light Now I 'll be silent left I shame her quite SECT. XVII A young mans 〈◊〉 furies rise His mothers ghost her words his eyes Disclose his grief Into the fire They thrust his soule the sinners 〈◊〉 His soul returns his mothers train And whiter Devils come again Some pull some call he sound his tongue He was releas'd but 't was not long A Devil grave fain'd love exprest More wantonsome then all the rest Plaid sung and dane'd while he did pray The evil spirits flunck away WHen through contempt and wilfulnesse to sin Man forfeited the day he did begin To side with darknesse and to Hell he 'd creep Unheard unseen when Conscience was asleep She leaves the charge to Cerb'rus made no stay But sends out strength to meet him in the way Who marching on desired sinful leasure Because the way was sweet and full of pleasure But lusting mischief ever comes too soon Unlook't for in the morning if at noon 'T is conceal'd to the minde or if at night 'T is most unthought of He should take delight To reckon well spent-time But as he stands Expecting rest as purchas'd by his hands Death strains his senses Ah! he must submit To Deaths pale Tenant where the hungry pit Will keep him Prisoner But I must indite A Scean of dolour Hell 's broke loose to night He that neglects his Watch will find too late Terrors and feinds assuming pomp and state With Furies waiting on them Passing by A hollow Cave I heard a hideous cry Come le ts divide the spoile his bones are thine Betwixt you part his flesh his soul is mine A masculine being past the third degree And into manhood enter'd now is hee Yet never liv'd unlesse it were to sin Being frighted from himself he 'l now begin To change his course If this black storme were past Which Hell hath rais'd to Heaven now at last He 'd consecrate himself The night being dark It cannot hide his grief Hell light 's a spark To blaze his crime in colours First there came His mothers Ghost to gender fear and shame Within his breast and threatning him she said Ah! thou art lost 〈◊〉 how often have I stay'd Thee from thy ruine Worse and worse thou art I was thy mother once e're we did part I begg'd thy change with tears but I was crost In my desire Turn turn or thou art lost And many other spirits with consent Did becken from above then out they went But fear came in the more for there he saw A troop of deadly 〈◊〉 who strove to draw As they were gaping on the fiery brim Him to the furious lake or that to him But Species sine visu he believ'd His torment was begun and still he griev'd Which made his wound more wide his loathed bed Helps not his quaking limbs his heavie head Hardens the gentle feathers and his tears Did onely shew not mitigate his fears Then came the feinds and snatcht his soul away Making a triumph soon they cast their prey As he conceiv'd into a Vault of fire Thrust it with forks This is the Sinners hire Then to the Bed a Fury brings a Bier To lay his corps upon and now his fear Hath made him speechlesse but his sense remains To fold up sorrow Who can judge what pains Hell gives in earnest But the hardned sinner Knows what hell is for he was the beginner Of Discord in the World and he shall have A bed of sorrow lower then the grave I must not stray too much my feeble Pen Must give account his soul being come agen Of what the issue was In this distresse He water'd his pale-earth Groans did expresse The horrour of his minde he spi'd again His mother all in white with her a train Of Saint-like figures pointing down to'ards hell Then heaven-ward he mus'd but could not tell What speech they us'd Of gleams they had a shroud With verba sine voce in a cloud They vanish'd all away But there remain'd The horrid Vision which from hell was strain'd With strange deformities A Fury call'd Upon him strangely other would have hall'd Him from his wat'ry couch Fear made him strong And home-born danger help him to his tongue Thus he in anguish said Ye Feinds of darknesse what have you to do With me that am redeem'd you shall not woo My soul with your enchantments to embrace The motions drawn in hell Although my case Is much to be lamented I am free For mercy as the rest of sinners be This Book the Book of God may end the strife My name is written in the Book of Life Nor shall your 〈◊〉 remove me I am set To keep possession here and all my debt Is paid by him that gave himself to death That I might live From him I draw my breath Depart ye damned spirits I have cast My self for sin I 've griev'd for what is past Thus said they quit the room With that he rais'd His feeble 〈◊〉 and in his heart he prais'd Him that had bought his Freedom But he spi'd As he went down once more his mother ti'd But not from motion in her winding sheet He thought to gain his freedom in the street But could