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
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
gain'd A part of what I had I will not leave Her company till time doth me bereave Of sense and motion If thou still wilt nurse Such jealous fancies thou wilt make me worse Be rul'd by her and do not me mistake Thou speedst and far'st the better for her sake Do' it think for dyet I would be so free Spend thus at home but for her companie Then turning to his hag he thus did say I am no turn-coat I 've devis'd a way To fit her in her kinde I 'l send her down I' th' Countrey to her friends although they frown What matter is 't expences will be large There let her leave her load 't will ease my charge And when she 's gone we 'l fell the houshold stuffe To spend the coyne we 'l have delight enough When she sees this and hears what mirth we had Being wilde before these things will make her mad Poor soul th' art bought and sold but do not fear Thy Hell is all on Earth their Heaven 's here Thy sufferings will be short Repent and pray Thy next will be a sweeter marriage-day Ye cursed blind-worms if ye had your due Hell should be hotter made and brought to you Yo 've wrong'd a harmle's soul Your sins will be Chang'd into plagues and then you 'l disagree Thou Incubus how cans't escape the curse That 's laid below and Succuba is worse Your hateful brood being passent in their ill Keeps off the Muses from my humble Quill SECT. XIV The Vsurer and Broker stept Into a hole how dry'd Whore kept The rueful Court A Witch descry'd A devilish Lawyer in his pride The speechles bell A trap two stroyes A Beggar doth adopt two Boyes The vaporing Rogues new Traitors found The Guards neglected in the Round A Welchmans guilt much sorrow brings Though he complains his Cozen sings SO many changes in a night before The meadows were like â—allet â—ugger'd ore Now change their party colours and the Ice E'rewhile was proof of steel yet in a trice Fals in consumption as it doth decay Ingenders treach'rous pits which do betray My ' nocent Babes The Broker doth begin To try the depth the Usurer steps in To free his Debtor To be dry'd they went To White-crosse-street The Usurer had lent The Broker many a pound and he no doubt Had lent upon good pawns the money out This house had pawn'd him divers pretious things Silk Peticoats and Gowns with Diamond rings Hats scarffs and dressings handkechers of lawn Their smocks in time of trouble went to pawn To line themselves within When trading fails Poor tyers Hackneys cannot pawn their The Usurer is fearful not of sin Since Story broke he 'l call his money in Yet having seen the pawns without abuse He 'l have gratuity besides the use For feelings now and then he 'l be content To take 'em here forbear the money lent So he be shot-free Trading will increase Seing cut-throat huxters sue to make their peace With that I met a man that rung a bell Who thought the Marshall-Court was kept in Hell Chief Officers were sunk the Marshals brains Could find no grave the Steward left his gains The Cryer and the Jaylor with the rest Which to recrute their Den were judg'd the best By Devils are preferr'd How they agree You 'l hear more on 't for Web is gone to see A Lawyer known that died of Lincolns-Inne Appear'd in sight as living he had bin Who spit out haile-shot which did fall so fast That made us run A seeming beauty past And kept her distance as we trac'd the ground His bell grew speechlesse having lost the sound So Damb yet still remains And in a fray A Witch Cat-like did carr ' his Dog a way Then one that had been carted for a bawd Complain'd she was betray'd yet did applaud The plot of those that bargain'd for a Whore And made her panderesse to keep the door Till Tostes came from one whom she did sue Who call'd her so but could not prove it true Till sin conceiv'd again which with consent Made proclamation for her punishment A man compleat in habit dogg'd a Whore Asham'd to arm her but he mark't the door Where fetching of a compas she went in He follow'd after not asham'd of sin So it be private Sorrow meets with shame To seize his person first and then his name With that I heard three voices sing with grace The Mean the Treble and the Beggers Base Two of them vapouring Citizens both known Adopted by the Begger for his own He 'l bring them up that they may grow more vile Let them but sin and he will beg the while To bear 'em out in 't Then this Grandy sings A publike Maunder deals with private things Still moving on I heard a hideons brawl Their chief Commander had been a Corporal But now cashierd they swore and did protest They 're Majors all a Captain was the least And so they passe they live by theft and rore With sack-split-oaths Each Vassal keeps his Whore Horn was as great though he in New-gatetry'd The Virginals till he at Tyburn dy'd But in a Fog I heard a twisted breath As though that sin and Hell had brawl'd with death For 's 〈◊〉 but near the Dammee crue I durst not venter as I lay perdue Being twice in such so like the Devils hands I bought distrust I do not like such bands Methought I heard these words We have compounded for the bloud we spilt Which ran as Round-heads purg'd away the guilt By a confiding Oath And now we may Without distrust walk weapon'd night and day To find out Royalists about the Town Upon Commission pull the prisons down To make a gallant party If we please To raise a stock we 'l plunder rob and seize On any thing Our projects being hid Will better thrive then ever Waller's did With Roiler's wit Our fortunes all are crost Let 's swear each other 't is but labour lost We 're all made men if this invention thrives Or at the worst we can but lose our lives We are despis'd We may our Father tels Break faith with Hereticks and infidels What sores may break when knaves are discontented It 's best to doubt to have the worst prevented Their water 's low they double in like shrimps As witches are forsaken by their Imps. When Justice meets them so these twice sold slaves Are left by wrath to vengeance-purchast graves Then to the line I went to walk the round Where fast asleep a Centinel I found I check'd him thus Thou art cipher'd Ginne To let knaves out with ease and villains in The guards were carelesse with their matches out Some drunk some absent others marcht about In grumbling postures wheels when wanting liquer Do move as free and turn about much quicker They take a charge but not discharge the thing An old acquittance goes for Manwaring A cancell'd bill they passe in
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
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
assaults of modesty And he Will have the rules of hell for 's libertle Could they but bring his Pinnace under saile Plac't next the herbe-wench with her dagl'd taile He in his scutchin'd robe and one by vote To read this history and blaze the cote Set neare th' exchange about the golden 〈◊〉 If they afford this Shew for pence a peece The Turkie-Rom the double footed Hart The dancing Horse and Hocus with his Art Being joyntly or a part put out to use Flags to entice the eyes can neere produce Such choise of penny-customers who 'd see This cominicke story with the tragedie A Nest of water-rats with dropsie swell Grin through the grates being like to challenge hell One tamer then the rest as he did stand A spie for death cause he would come to hand He was allow'd such priviledge to have As suites the confines of a living grave This Vermine spies a Fury one whose haire Had quit the skull her face with age and care Was tan'd and furrow'd deepe her purled skin Was pleated for the grave rat brings her in To stocke his crimes must arme this fondling up Salutes the Lady having dranke a cup He 'd grow familiar she begins to fight And scratch his face and had a minde to bite But that her guns lay follow in their play Her 〈◊〉 were dag'd her legs were wreath'd with hay Hell hath her ends All those Percullos Imps Under her privie seale became their Pimps Despised 〈◊〉 of vice whose putri'd slime Makes living vengeance ripe before its time One who pretends she's plunderd with a breife Will beg in print to keep a Pimping theife Came creeping by A bloudy rebell then VVho had acquaintance with Committee-men If they'll befreind him so to save his land He 〈◊〉 scorne destiuction at the second hand But give a rate for any new-found sinne Though but at 〈◊〉 as when he did beginne To murther under seale New here 's a Punk Seiz'd by a lumpe of clay being stag'ring drunk VVill slake his hell-bred heate this rake-shame must Spawne plagues in 〈◊〉 and gender guilt with dust But found her limping VVhen he brought her in She could but give bare quarter to his sin Her wooden legge or turne-pipe being stout VVhich like a Barracado kept him out And when it was unbrac't with what belong To this Rare-peece ye buckle and ye throng Fell out upon 't which skirmish did betray Their twisted shame before they went away This damosell could not walke untill by Art The Stump was reconci'd nor could he part From his beloved Criple Greedie hell Cast lots with death when her Choy'e member sell As Pars pro toto All this Pot-cat kinde When ere they passe they leave a stinke behinde As did ye Vxebridge Priest who needes must wooe The guard of death when he did lye with two One that joynes issue with an heire of shame Forsweares her husband and denyes his name Keepes him in prison Angells teach the Judge He 'll take no bale And now she will not grudge His Clarke a feeling reason out of sight He weighes downe sorrow cause the womans light An aged father breedes his childrens greife Truthes persecuter and a bloudy theife Props shame with crooked shoulders and invites A Lease of Strumpets to his base delightes VVho tyrant-like promotes a damned cause To banish right and poyson wholesome lawes Strong parts speake plainely when they grace the divell 'T is grace not knowledge keeps a man from evill Flesh genders lust which flaming torments breedes Without manuring as the earth doth weedes Which shelters vengeance and contracts the crime Of yeares of pleasure in a minuites time With lasting shame That foole who for a bowle Would sell his coate deny'd to pawne his soule These venture all they 've not enough of life To taste all sweets before the fatall knife Strikes all their joyes like beasts for what the've eate Their parts devided pay for all their meate When reason is engag'd to beastly sence A man turnes 〈◊〉 agen and will commence Lost by degrees saluting death he spyes 〈◊〉 breake prison where his pleasure dyes For hells burn't off'ring In which horrid frights His Soule hath tooke her leave of all delights His dust committed till th' impartiall toombe Vpon the summons leaves him to his doome Wner's justice is compleate and hell-hounds-have Eternity to guard their burning grave SECT. 10. A Cell of Sharks the Tutor made A falcity doggs learne his Trade He bayts his snares with Rings and Glasse To catch the weake his words shall passe To Cheate the Doblt his strange decipes An other finding newer baites He spies his times hides ill with Lies And rides the Circuit of the Size ABout the second Watch I saught the places Where Sharkes did meet the Starrs had hid their faces The vapours were congeal'd into a cloud With which the shades of night had made a shroud To wrap poor mortalls in I being in feare Did heare a whispering but I knew not where But gaining courage guided by the sound I spi'd a Cell where cheats were under ground They did divide the spoyle the lots were throwne All had their shares but no man had his owne They brag'd and told each other how they sped How some did take the prize while others fled The Tutor first begins I have to night Mett with a booty as I tooke my flight I was discover'd I began to try Stop stop the Theife to catch him who but I I gave my prey unto another man I was discharg'd But finde him if you can I have a Dog that can convey a purse Vnto my fellowes what am I the worse If hee be tooke I 'm gone that did the deed If hee be hang'd I 've others of the breed I raise a tumult as I walke abroad To help my Friends I 'm partner with a Bawd Ther 's not a tearme but I doe understand Where Gamesters lye with some new slite of hand I get their gold new plotts I doe devise To gull the world I baite'em fresh with lies To cast a Coular'd chaine a ring of brasse An empty purse or Braceletts made with glasse To catch a Country-man or draw him in To pick his purse perswade him we are kin To name his Neighbours or to give a slip Before to make him fall while others 〈◊〉 His purse away to cut a Cloak-bagg downe These trickes are stale and common in the towne I borrow money other men are bound I give my name in wrong nor am I found When 't is to bee repai'd and those agen Take names of worth but they are not the men I doe procure it they will set me free 'T is but to give the Scribe a treble fee Or any Heire not come to his estate Yet would be brave paying but twice the rate I 'le bring him one shall fit him if he will Morgage his Land he payes me for my skill But if the Land be forfeit then my paines
'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