Nor like a Lowse in beggars Residence Nor like a Flea that can but leape and skippe Nor like a worme but to be troden on Nor like a Gue-Gaw to be gaz'de vpon 142. Nor would I be a Byrd within a Cage Nor Dogge in Kennell nor a Bore in Stye Nor Crab-Tree-staffe to leane vpon for Age Nor wicked Liue to leade a Youth awrye Nor like a Flooke that floates but with the Fludde Nor like an Eele that liues but in the mudde 143. Nor would I haue the Crane picke out mine Eyes Nor Pyes nor Parats teach me how to pratâ— Nor fill my Pawnche too-full of Wood-cock-pyes Nor haue Mâ—dge-Howlet make me watch too-late Nor let the Cuâ—kooe learne me how to sing Nor with a Buzzarde make too Lowe a wing 144. Nor would I bee a Câ—tte to hunt a Mowse Nor yet a Ferret to goe hunt a Câ—ny Nor yet an Aoâ— to stand and looke a Lowse Nor yet a Shâ—epes-head to be solde for mony Nor yet a Hawke to seâ—ze vpon a Ducke Nor yet a Narsâ— to giue a Baby sucke 145. Nor would I write vpon the death of Dogges And say here lyes a good olde-stinking Curre Cut Rusty faceâ— out of rotten Logges Nor of an Owles-skinne make an Ape a Furre Nor teach a Byrde to whistle in a Cage Nor be a Ministrell at a Marriage 146. Nor teach a Cat to hunt a Mowse drye-foote Nor a young Squyrrell hoâ— to clime a Reede A skarre-crâ—w in a Gardeâ— how to shoote Nor a blinde-Harper how a Song to reade Nor how a Fleâ— may scape the Fingers endes Nor how a Lowse may liue among her Friends 147. Nor would I be a Golden Alchymist To studie the Phylosophers faâ—re stone And feede a sight of Fooles with Had-I-wist To weepe for Sâ—luer when theyr Golde is gone Poope Noddy neuer was there such an other To make a Couzen of a simple Brother 148. Nor would I be a Foole when all is done To weare Pyed Coats Turn-spit eat fat-meat Follow my Master dandle his young Sonne And tell my Mistris who the Foole did beat That she might chide her Wenches euery one For medling with her Foole when she was gone 149. Nor sing new-Ballads nor make Countrey-games Nor set vp sights were neuer seene before Nor walke among my câ—ue of Cursed-Dames And bee a Pander to a Paltry-Who No Pandarisme is so poore a Trade That none but Beggars bargaine for a Iade 150. No I would not bee any one of these Nor any of this wretched worlds delight I would not so my spirits comforts leese To haue mine Eyes bewâ—tcht froÌ„ heauenly light No I would haue an other World then this Where I would seeke for my Eternall-Blisse 151. And till I come vnto that Glorious place Where all Contents doe ouercome the heart And Loue doth liue in Euerliuing-Grace While greatest Ioy doth feele no smallest smart But GOD is all in all to his beloued The Sweet of soules that sweetest soules haue proued 152. To tell you truely what I wish to bee And neuer would be other if I could But in the comfort of the Heau'ns Decree In soule and bodie that I euer should Thoâ—gâ— in the world not to the world to liue But to my GOD my seruice wholly giue 153. This would I be and would none other be But a Religious seruant of my God And knowe there is none other God but he And willingly to suffer mercies Rod. Ioy in his Grace and liue but in his Loue And seeke my blisse but in the heauen aboue 154. And I would frame a kinde of faithfull praier For all estates within the state of Grace That carefull loue might neuer know despaire No â—eruile feare might faithfull loue deface And this would I both day and night deuise To make my humble spirits Exercise 155. And I would arede the rules of sacred Life Perswade the troubled soule to patience The husband Care and Comfort to the wife To Childe and seruant due obedience Faith to the friend and to the Neighbour peace That loue might liue and quarrels all may cease 156. Pray for the health of all that are deceased Confession vnto all that are Conuicted And patience vnto all that are displeased And comfort vnto all that are afflicted And mercy vnto all that haue offended And Grace to all that all may be amended 157. Pray for the King the Queene Countries health Their Royall issue and their Peeres of Estate The Counsaile Cleargy and the Common-wealth That no misfortune may their blisse abate But that th' Almighty so his Church will cherish That not a member of his Loue may perish 158. Wish King to haue King Dauids heart And euery Queene the Queene of Shelaus wit And euery Councell Salomons best part Of vnderstanding for a kingdome fit And euery Lady faire Rebeccaes face And euery Virgin the wise Virgins Grace 159. And euery Souldiour Iosuahs true spirit And euery Scholler Aarons eloquence And euery Miser wicked Diues merits And euery poore man Iobs true patience And euery Lawyer Maries heau'nly minde And euery Merchant of Zacheus kinde 160. Doe not with Esaw hunt for venizon And sell thy birthright for a messe of pottage Lest Iacob steale away thy benison When Isaach falls vpon the yeeres of dotage But be a Ioseph in the time of neede To good olde Iacob and his blessed seede 161. Be Abraham in obedient sacrifice And follow Lot in his loues holines Like Salomon be in thy Iudgement wise And Ionathan in friendships faithfulnes Like Henoch make thy Ioy of heauenly loue And with Eliah liue in Heau'n aboue 162. And diet not with Holofernes drinke But follow Iudith in her ioyfull strength Let Dalila not make stout Sampson winke Lest the Philistines fall on thee at length Nor Salâ—mon be led with Pharaohs Childe Lest by the flesh the spirit be beguilde 163. Be both a Priest a Prophet and a King A Priest to make thy selfe a Sacrifice A Prophet to declare the way to bring The blessed Spirit vnto Paradise A King to rule thy selfe with such direction Thy Soule may keepe thy body in subiection 164. Know what and how where when to speake Be fearefull how thou doest thy God offend A vertuous vow take heed thou doest not breake And mercies pleasure willingly attend Holde backe thy hand from all vnlawfull Action And weane thy Spirit from vngodly Faction 165. Flatter not folly with an idle faith Nor let earth stand vpon her owne desart But shew what wisedome in the Scripture saith The fruitfull hand doth shew the faithfull hart Beleeue the word and thereto bend thy will And teach obedience for a blessed skill 166. Chide sinners as the father doth his childe And keepe them in the Awe of louing feare Make sinne most hatefull but in words be milde That humble patience may the better heare And wounded conscience may receiue reliefe WheÌ„ true repentance pleades the sinners griefe 167. Yet flatter not the foule delight of sinne But make it loathsome in the â—ie of Loue And seeke the hart with holy thoughts to winne Vnto the best way to the soules behoue So teach so liue that both in word and deede The world may Ioy thy heau'nly rules to reade 168. Heale the infect of sinne with oile of Grace And wash the Soule with true CoÌ„tritious teares And when Confession shewes her heauy Case Deliuer faith from all Infernall feares That when high Iustice threatens sinne with death Mercy againe may giue Repentance breath 169. Sit not with Sathan on the Horse of pride But see sweet Iesus sitting on an Asse Better on foote then sowly so to ride As with the Diuell into hell to passe There is no meane but either heau'n or hell For on this Earth must no man euer dwell 170. Time hath a course which nature cannot stay For youth must die or come to doting Age What is our life on Earth but as a play Where many a part doth come vpon the Stage Rich poore wise fond faire fowle great smal And olde and young death makes an ende of al. 171. Where he that makes his life a Comedy To laugh and sing and talke away the time May finde it in the ende a Tragedy When mournefull Bells doe make no merry chime When sad despaire shall feare Infernall euill While Sinne and death are Agents for the diuel 172. But doe not Raue nor Raile nor stampe nor stare As if thy care would goe to cuffes with sinne But shew how mercy doth Repentance spare While working faith doth heau'nly fauour winne And loues obedieÌ„ce to the law doth proue The chosen Soule that God doth chiefly loue 169. Thus would I spend in seruice of my God The lingring howres of these fewe daies of miâ—e To shew how sinne and death are ouertrod But by the vertue of the power diuine Our thoughts but vaine our substance slime and dust And onely Christ for our Eternall trust 174. This would I be and say would not no more But onely not be otherwise then this All in effect but as I said before The life in that lifes kingdomes loue of his My glorious God whose grace all comfort giues Then be on Earth the greatest man that liues FINIS
I WOVLD AND would not LONDON Printed by Tho. C. for Tho. Bushell 1614. To the Reader YOu that reade what you would be I know not what you would not be you know your selfe But what you should be God knowes But for my selfe I haue founde what is best to be and so wishe other except they neither knowe what they should be nor well what they would or would not be Scorne iâ— not because it is in verse or rime for if you will reade it you maie perhaps finde more pleasure and profit in it then a worse piece of prose not to perswade you to any thing further then your liking I leaue the censure of it to your discretion and my better Labours as they fall out to your further content And so loath to make you beleeue more then perhaps you shall finde hoping that no man will be angry with his owne shadowe nor saie meaning mâ— when hee comâ—s to a fâ—â—le point But take the best and leaue the worst and break none of the palâ— as kinde hearts doe in the Countrey I rest as you may see in my Discourse what I would and would not bee and without would not would bee as I should be Your friend and well-willer B. N. I WOVLD And would not 1. I Would I had as much as might be had Of wealthy wishes to the woldes content That I might liue all like a lusty Ladde And scorne the world and care not how it went But eate and drinke and sleepe and sing and play And so in pleasures passe my time away 2. And yet I would not for too wealthy then I should be troubled with a world of toyes Kinred Companions Troups of Seruing-men Fashion-Deuisers Fooles and Guirles Boyes Fidlers and Iesters Monkeys Apes Babounes Drunckards and Swaggerers and such trouble-townes 3. Besides I should forget to finde the way That leades the Soule to her Eternall blisse And then my state were at a wofull stay No I would wish a better world then this And in Afflictions here on Earth to dwell Rather then seeke my Heau'n on earth run to hell 4. I would I were a man of such deepe wit As might discerne the depth of eâ—ery cause That wherefoere I did in Iudgement sit I might be held a Note-booke in the Lawes My braine might seeme a kinde of miracle And euery word I spake an Oracle 5. And yet I would not for then woe were me I should be troubled witâ— a world of Cases Both rich and poore would then â—â—y Clients be Some with their pleasing some with piteous faces And when the Rich had left their briberie I should not rest for Formapâ—uperie 6. I would I were a man of greatest power That swaies a Scepter on this worlds great Masse That I might sit on toppe of pleasures Tower And make my will my way where ere I passe That Lawe might haue her being from my breath My smile might be a life my frowne a death 7. And yet I would not for then doe I feare Enuy or Malice would betray my trust And some vile spirit though against the haire Would seeke to lay mine honor in the dust Treason or Murther would beset me so I should not knowe who were my friend or foe 8. No I doe rather wish the Lowe estate And be an honest Man of meane degrees Be lou'd for good and giue no cause of hate And clime no higher then a Haw-thorne tree Pay euery man his owne giue Reason right And workâ— all day and take my rest at night 9. For sure in Courtes are worlds of costly Cares That Comber Reason in his course of rest Let me but learne how thrift both spends spares And make enough as good as any feast And fast and pray my daies may haue good end And welcome all that pleaseth God to send 10. I would I were the fairest sweetest Creature That could be painted with the purest Art That Arte might wonder at the worke of Nature How so perfection made vp euery part That euery Eye that saw mee might admire mee And euery heart heard of me might desire me 11. And yet I would not for then out alasse I should be troubled with a world of fooles When many a simple Idle headed Asse Would put his wits vnto some Poets schooles To learne to make a verse to flatter mee As there were no such louing foole as hee 12. No I doe rather wish the louely Browne Where vertues Beauty makes the Inward faire Then be the gallant Gazer of the towne And make mine honor but a Barbers Chaire WheÌ„ none that had with losse of treasure tride me Once finding my foule Inside would abide me 13. I would I were an Innocent a foole That can do nothing else but laugh or crie And eate fat-meate and neuer goe to schoole And be in loue but with an Apple-pie Weare a pide-Coate a Cockes-Combe and a Bell And thinke it did become me passing well 14. And yet I would not for then should I not Discerne the difference twixt the good bad Nor how the gaine of all the world is got Nor who are sober wise nor who are mad Nor in the Truth of follies sence to see Who 's the foole now ther 's no such foole as hee 15. I would I were a Fidler and could play A thousand quauers in a minutes space And at a Bridale brauely leade the way Before the Bride and giue the Groome a Grace That I might shake the head and stare and gape And make a thousand faces like an Ape 16. And yet I would not for ten to one My fiddle or my fingers should not rest But euery Iacke a Lute would call vpon Such Moris daunces as doe like him best And euery wagtaile with a wanton Eye Would hang vpon me for a Heidegy 17. I would I were a Cuckolde Wittal Asse And car'de not who did mount my Hackney Saddle Yet thinke I haue as true a louing Lasse As ere lay in Swadling Clouts or Cradle And manerly goe to the Church before her And would not heare how many did be whore her 18. And yet I would not for then doe I feare My hornes would be so hard I could not bide them And wheÌ„ their weight were more theÌ„ I could beare Alas I know not what to doe to hide them But euery one would say in bitter scornes Looke yonder goes a gallant paire of hornes 19. I would I were the arranst Cuckolde maker That euer answerde for his Aperne sport There should not scape a wench but I would take her And set her to her worke in such a sort That all the world should know while I had health I would not see an Idle Common-wealth 20. And yet I would not for then doe I doubt Bride-well and I should wrestle for the Whippe And once got in I hardly should get out Till I had soundly pay'd for Trully-Trippe WheÌ„ all the Beggers in the street would whoo me And do me all the shame that they
And cosen no man with false weight nor measure But with true dealing make a poore maÌ„s treasure 47. I would I were a practiser in Phisicke To know my simples Compounds my waters To heale the Rume the Tooth-ach and the Tisicke The Coughe olde Aches such other matters That I might by my skill in generall Be held the Maister of the Vrinall 48. And yet I would not for then day nor night I should haue quiet scarcely in my bed And in my Conscience haue full many a fright To heare my Patient suddenly were dead When by a Vomit I had burst his heart Or pur'gde his guttes out through the nether part 49. No I had rather bee an Herbalist To know the vertue both of Hearbs Rootes Then be too bolde and desperate Alchymist That ofte his weight and measure ouer-shootes And so by either want of Care or skill In steede of Curing giue a killing-Pill 50. I would I were a high Astronomer That I might make my walke among the starres And by my insight might fore-see a farre What were to come talke of peace warres Of liuâ—s and deaths and wonder to ensue Although perhaps but fewe doe fall out true 51. And yet I would not for then doe I doubt With too-much study I should grow stâ—rk mad When one Conceit would put an other out While giddy braines beyond themselues would gad And seeking for the 〈◊〉 within the Moone Mistake a morning for an after-noone 52. No I would rather learne no more to knowe Then of the times and seasons of the yeare What dayes the Fayres are kept and how to goe From towne to towne euery Sheer to Sheere That 〈◊〉 may not their day-note-books slack And so to make an honest 〈◊〉 53. I would I were a râ—re and sound 〈◊〉 And had the Lawes of honest loue by heart Would not corrupt my Conscience for a million Nor euer pleade but on the honest part Examine strictly and consider duely And so giue sentence to the matter truly 54. And yet I would not for then might I heare How Truth gets hatred for her honest minde And simple-Fees doe make but sory cheâ—â—e While true Plain-dealing hath but barely dinde When such as know the world and how to vse it Seeing a Fee come faire will not refuse it 55. I would I were a Scriuener and could pen All kinde of writings write all kinde of hands Be well acquainted with great Monyed-men And closely deale for all their goods and Lands And being furnisht fully to my pleasure Play them a trick to make them look their Treasure 56. And yet I would not for then I am sure My Conscience would receiue a Mortall-wound And such a wound as neuer Arte could Cure By all the feates that euer sâ—riâ—eâ—er sound When if I scap'â— mine eares for Forgery My soule should goe to Hell for Vsury 57. No I had rather in a Copy booke Write a good sentence for a Schollers reading Whereon the parents may be glad to looke And say God send their hands a happy speeding And take my mony on the Saterday For all the weeke then bid my Boyes goe play 58. I would I were a Trades man and could sell My wares by weight and measure as I list And had such trickes to make my market well That I might send home fooles with Had-I-wist That while poore soules did sit with losses crying I might growe Rich with swearing with lying 59. And yet I would not for my Conscience then Wold make me feele the smart of falshoods woe When I beheld the ends of faithles men With what a horror to their Hell they goe While true plaine-dealing hearts in quiet die And faithfull loue doth liue Eternally 60. I would I were a Broker and for Coyne Tooke any Pawnes and â—are not what I tooke For interest nor how I did pouâ—loyne So I might get it with the Siluer hooke Wâ—o were the Thiefe so â— might buye the wares Nor who did shift so I did get the shares 61. And yet I would not for then doe I doubt Some priuate Eyes would closely prie into me And some odde Ladde or Landresse finde me out And for receiuing stolne goods would vndo me When with the losse of all my goods scarce hope To be so happy as to scape the Rope 62. No I had rather trie a better Trade Whereby to make some honest kinde of gaine Whereby some better reckoning may be made Then buy Repentance with so great a paine Now fie vpon them Brokers Bawdes and Theeues Make poore men weare their Ierkins without sleeues 63. I would I were a close promoting Mate To picke a hole in each offenders Coat And make a shew of seruice to the State When I would purse vp many a priuy groat But in great Summes follow my Information Till I were well paied for a Reformation 64. And yet I would not for then euery knaue Would single me out for a secret friend And teach me how to play the cunning slaue To bring my busines to a wretched ende While hellish Craft with Cloke of heresie Might hide a world of foule iniquitie 65. No I would rather learne my selfe t' amend What is amisse and so my friends aduise Then when I see an other man offend In secret seeke his â—uine to deuise And making shew to seeke the good of all Set vp my selfe with many thousands fall 66. I would I were a Tapster fill my pot Halfe vp with froth and make my gaine of drinke And make no Care how I my mony got So I might heaâ—e my Golde and siluer chinke Make more of Drunkardes then of better men By putting off bad licour now and then 67. And yet I would not for then should I be At Call and Checke of euery Iacke and Gill And many a Lobcocke would looke into me What drinke I drew how I my pot did fill And sometime trust so farre vpon the score I scarce should put my head out of the doore 68. No I had rather runne an other Race Though for lesse profit yet for more content That both with God and man might be in Grace Wherein my time might be more happily spent And rather pay my penny for my pot Then cosen twenty people for a groat 69. I would I were as tall and stout a man As euer drewe a sword out of a sheath That I might see who durst come neere my Canne Or speake a word where I but seeme to breath Or fortune durst but crosse me with her wheeles For feare to see her braines about her heeles 70. And yet I would not for then where should I Bestowe my selfe but euery man would flie me I should be sure to haue no company Where none that loue themselues that wil come nigh me And fortune would be sure to fit me so That she wold some way seeke mine ouerthrow 71. I would I were a Trauellor to passe The Roughest Seas and card'e for winde and weather And might