I dare wager euery one will say They 'le giue to me and spare another way Secondly to the Clergie THVS doe thou leaue the Court and quickly hie Vnto the Reuerend Bishops and Clergie And giuing Them due Grace and Reuerence Craue thou Their Bounties and Beneuolence Tell Them I am Their Church of greatest note Although I weare a poore and ragged coate And stand in fairest Citie of this Land And with great state was builded to Their hand I was the onely Mirrour so am still But then for Beautie now for looking ill And Strangers wonder why I am so bare Where such great costs on pleasures buildings are And where for Vanitie there wants no coine Or any thing to make her braue and fine I doe assure them vnder their Correction That I haue liued long in great subiection And ' cause I doubt my rents and meanes are small That I shall not be mended till I fall I thinke it not amisse for Them and mee To trie what helpe from others there will bee So I haue turn'd thee to the world therefore That if I want good men may giue me more And doubtlesse there are Thousands that would giue Great and large gifts to see me prosperous liue Thirdly to the Citie NOW from the Clergy walke through London-City And looke them out that my poore case do pitie For there thou 'lt finde innumerable many That for my good will doe as much as any No place so famous as that Royall Towne For works of Worth of Honour and Renowne Be it for profit pleasure health or state Whatsoe're it cost the Citizens will ha 't Marke but Morefields how it 's aduanced hie That did before both lowe and loathsome lie And going on take Algate in thy way Note well her building and her rich aray Then without feare of stocks or pillorie Goe to the garden call'd Th'artilarie Passe by the pikes and muskets and be bold That honourable action to behold And I am sure if backe thy newes thou bring Thou wilt protest it is a worthy thing That men of note their time and coine should spend To practise Armes their Country to defend And voluntarily themselues incline To learne the rules of Martiall discipline I like it wondrous well and could agree In euery Shire and Towne the like might bee That if in time we come to counterbuffes We may haue skill at Armes more then at cuffes And be prepar'd with skill and armour bright Against Gods enemies and mine to fight Nowe come to Bowe in Cheape that cost full deare And see how gloriously shee doth appeare From thence to Smithfield if thou chance to hit Tell me what costs they haue bestow'd on it It was before a filthy noisome place And to the Citie verie much disgrace Yet now some say it may with best compare Of market places that in England are Then vnto Amwell see what you can say The Riuer which was cut the other day Me thinkes it is a very famous thing And doth much comfort to the Citie bring I needs must say it doth and will avowe it And so I thinke all others will allow it And praise the Founders for their good intention And pray to blesse them and their newe inuention So may you verie well the Founders praise Of water-engins made in former dayes For they are worthy and their works good still Though Amwell doe the best it can or will Also for Charitie and good Almes-deedes What Citie vnder heauen more poore feeds Or who more bountifull to Preachers be Then Londiners to their abilitie All which I doe and may reioyce to see And hope in time they 'le doe some good to mee And so will leaue a thousand things to name That likewise doe deserue their lasting fame And those more cheifely which were done of late Together with their triumphs of great state Because for thee my Booke and for the Wise I hope t' will be enough for to suffice And therefore nowe thy dutie there is done See that to other Cities thou be gone Intreat them faire as thou go'st on thy way And doe not care what carping Critticks say Fourthly to the Countrie WHEN thou hast done in Citie and in Towne I pray thee walke the Countries vp and downe And so disperse thy selfe both farre and wide Till euery honest Christian heart be tride Spare neither sexe nor age nor bond nor free Nor any one of whatsoe're degree For though some places are but poore and bare Yet will the poorest haue a mite to spare The Countrie welcome I doe knowe is kind Where meanes doth hit according to the minde Therefore my louing Booke take heart and goe Thou shalt finde tenne good friends for one bad foe Doe not thou feare for want of Eloquence Or filed tearmes to please the outward sence But with a courage and a conscience free Doe what thou canst to grace and pleasure me And I will pray as much as in me is To bring my Benefactors vnto blisse Thy words are honest and thy matter true Wherefore goe on I say and so A-Dieu Thy wel-willer to the Worlds ende St. PAVLES Church ⧠The Epistle of the Author to all Courteous and Charitable Readers IF you should aske me Why I vndertooke Into the ruines of Paules Church to looke Or How I durst like Bayard lift my Muse To such a height or such a subiect chuse Or Who prouok'd me on or bid me doe it Or who did set their helping hands vnto it Or Which way I doe thinke this Land can raise Inough Beneuolence in these hard dayes Or What the ende of my intent should be Or When I thought this worthy worke to see To these your Why your How Who Which What When I answer thus kind friends and Gentlemen First for your Why my reason I will tell It 's cause I loue and still will loue Bethel And How I durst on such a subiect write It 's cause I doe it in the Churches right For whom and for my Prince and Countrie too I 'le spend my blood write speake ride runne or go And for your Who did bid me or assist me It was my God that hitherto hath blist me And for your Which way such great gifts will rise I could set presidents before your eyes Of one or two whose deeds so farre extend As would build three and this Church well amend Then wonder not I pray which way or whence This Land should raise such great Beneuolence And for your What 's the ende of my intention The scope of all my Booke will make you mention And lastly for your When this worke shall bee Belongs vnto my Betters not to me To God and King and Powr's superiour And not to me that am inferiour Wherefore good Readers take it well in worth The answer which to you I haue set forth And when this Booke of mine abroad is sent Though poore and plaine beleeue it is well meant And eu'ry thing 's well done that 's taken so But otherwise
of Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Which worthy worke his Highnesse hath begunne As much as any heretofore hath done Virginnia Sommer-islands and the rest Will testifie in time how they are blest By comming of His Subiects there to liue Which could not be if He no leaue did giue By which good meanes those which now Sauage be Will come in time to Christianitie If not the elder sort the younger may And after one age thousands euery day Though all things at the first seeme hard to bee Yet good beginnings haue good ends you see So it be followed and well protected And for Gods glorie cheifely be respected No such beginnings need to feare good ends For they shall haue both God and King their friends There is not any that for wise would passe But holds that England as Virginnia was And how it 's now the world may iudge with me A brauer Kingdome neuer eie did see And so in time may poore Virginnia If seconded by rich Brittannia OH God I pray thee blesse this Royall IAMES The prayer of Paules Q. ANNE Prince CHARLES their issue their realmes Prince PALATINE and his ELIZA faire Their Princely Babe and first borne Sonne and Heire Feede them with Manna from thy mercie-seate Let thy Word be their onely drinke and meate Blesse all their Counsell faithfull wise and graue With euery gift good Counsellors should haue Their gracious and their reuerend Bishops all Blesse likewise Lord and more especiall Their Reu'rend Kingly Father of this See Cheife Lord and Preacher that belongs to me Also their Deane and Chapter of this place Blesse with thy louing countenance and grace And all the rest of godly Ministrie And daily them increase and multiply Oh make their words and workes for aie agree That I the Halciâ—on dayes and houres may see Blesse all their Nobles Knights and Gentrie all Their Yeomandry and Commons great and small Blesse both their Nurses of sweete learnings lore And all good Students now and euemore Blesse Them from all designes of feare and blood And from all things that are not for Their good Poison the poisoners that seeke Their death And suffer not a Traytor once to breath Roote out the Romish rubble from their Land That naught but plots of murther haue in hand Driue farre from Them all Sorcerers and Deuils And still defend Them from pretended euills Blowe all the chaffe away that spoiles good corne And let no vaultie villaines more be borne Set markes of powder-vengeance in their faces And let it there abide to their disgraces Yet Lord thou art their potter they the clay Thy skill and will can worke them any way Then if it bee thy will for Honour make them And in thine anger do not quite forsake them Or as the Scripture saith a blessed storie Do what thou wilt O God for thine owne glorie Blesse this most famous Citie where I stand The Flowre the Perle the Iemme of Brittaine Land The Honourable Maior of the same The Sherifs and the Aldermen by name All other officers in their degree And all good Citizens whereso'ere they be My Benefactors I doe pray thee blesse And frame their hearts to giue with willingnesse So blesse O Lord the Noble English hearts That in Virginnia haue done their parts Incourage and increase them euermore And still enrich their treasure and their store Oh let all worthie minds imboldned bee To doe the works that best may Honour thee And I doe pray thee sith the times grow ill Teach all the ready way to doe thy will So by thy goodnesse sinne may be or'ecome And they prepar'd against the day of doome To liue with thee in thy eternall blisse Where they shall neuer any comfort misse Vnto which blessed place Lord bring them still That feare thy name and striue to doe thy will AND now for to returne where I left off Least some perhaps may rashly giue ascoffe I must complaine of more then yet you see Which I desire may well amended bee My body round within and eke without My windowes and my pillars all about My pauements and my doores my leads my walls And many other faults vpon you calls And craues repaire against all wind and weather That wee may giue you thanks for altogether The Church the foeminine gendor doth require And like a Ladies should bee her attire Nay like an Empresses adorn'd and grac'd Within without in order all things plac'd And cheifely that Church which is most insight The head the members guide and candle-light So should I bee that all the world may know Th'vnfayned loue that Brittaines hearts do owe To mee their Princely Church and Empresse deare In whom the word of God doth shine most cleare Say that you should vpon your backe bestow Rich clothing as ther 's many doe I know And on your head a threedbare cap should weare Motheaten and at ev'ry touch to teare Would you not thinke that all which see you goe Could chuse but wonder why you should doe so In all whatsoeuer like to like is best If one part be well cloth'd so let the rest Or els that which is base makes all seeme base And by that fault doth all the rest disgrace Were it not strange also oh pardon mee That any one within the Court should see Our Royall Queene attir'd in base aray And all her hand-maides cloth'd in garments gay I thinke t' were strange and such vnseemely sport As neuer will I hope be in our Court Yet euen so the case with mee doth stand That am the Queene of Churches in this Land For in the middle of a matchlesse Citie I stand like to a mourner more the pittie Inuironed with buildings faire about And I am tallest built in all the rowt All other Churches are but dwarfes to mee Yet vnto all beare-headed must I bee My head should weare the Crowne full well I know But that must stand vpon the toppe of Bowe Bowe steeple in Cheapeside verie well beautified at the cost of one Parish Or els the shaft or spire that should bee best But that 's vpon S. Dunstanes in the East My chime of fine small bells might well be heard All London ouer but I am afeard That some will say what need such cost be there Because of chimes there be enough elswhere But such Lobiectors I could wish were dead That better minds might come in place and stead Let such hoard vp for Sir Hugh Prodigall Or Sir Raph Want wit you may noddie call Whose backe and belly cheere Tobacco smoake All good designes doth hinder stifle choake Some few I hope the Lord will euer raise To bee the light and mirrour of these dayes That in good time will pittie my complaint And with my wants will all my friends acquaint And stirre them vp to be as franke to me As God to them is bountifull and free One such a Sutton as of late did die That turned Charter-house to charitie If to himselfe the honour
limme and feature He did seeme a Kingly creature Stout and bold gentle free And all that in good princes bee His motto now I will set forth Cause it was a thing of worth I scorne the feare of shedding blood For God for Church for Countries good But for all these I le warre and fight As Kings and Princes should by right I will helpe the poore oppressed And those which truely are distressed THE third as faire as was the rest With Elizabeth was blest Rhynes sweete Princesse Brittaines ioy Holding in her armes a Boy Whom if Art doe not dissemble Her first borne He did resemble At which sight I was amazd And with ioy on them I gazd Rauished with admiration At this delectable fashion Thinking if such great delight Could be in the pictures sight What would then the substance bee Vnto him that may them see I am sure to me t' was Treasure For to see them in this measure Her motto now I will declare Kill me if the same I spare In the Churches wealth and peace Good things prosper and increase But if shee wither and decay All Gods blessings fleete away IN the fourth faire Pyramide Two other Pictures I espide One of Denmarks royall King Whose fame with vs shall euer ring And shall be linked in this knot Where He shall neuer be forgot Three Queenes in one is His Sister Twice in England hath he kist her With such great ioy on all parts As pleas'd ten hundred thousand hearts His motto was as doth ensue Beleeue me it is very true I Christian King of Denmarke giue My loue to These while I doe liue And will assist with power and sword My kinred friends the Church Gods word BY him was Prince Palatine Looking on his Valentine Each to other seem'd to glance With a cheerefull countenance In such an amiable sort As my soule did therein sport This Prince a Motto did vnfolde Fit and worthie to be told Gods spouse and mine I will maintaine So long as I do liue and raigne Turke Pope nor deuill shall them fright Or do them hurt by day or night And in this Gordion knot will I Bee knit in loue vntill I die THEN in the middle of the square Where all these braue pictures were There was rais'd tenne foote higher A curious and a costly spire And at the top thereof a Crosse Of Siluer guilt and not of drosse Then a gallant cocke to showe Which way still the wind did blow In this place good Art was tride How to make it sure abide And accordingly t' was fram'd That no workman could be blam'd Not too weightie nor too light Like Cheape-crosse it was in sight But the pictures there that stood Were of Princes that were good That this Church did er'st aduance And gaue it store of maintenance And first the lowest placed there Elizabeth and Henry were One of proofe one of hope Better Princes Heauens cope Euer had or euer can Be better amongst the sonnes of man Then betwixt them I espide Two Princesses that lately di'd Which looked like those of King Iames Gotten since hee dwelt by Thames And aboue in the next round Other Princes there I found Pictur'd all in their degree As by time now dead they bee There in letters of pure gold Their right names I did behold And I thinke in hollow brasse Eu'ry picture shaped was This spire was hollow and with lead Round about t' was couered Fram'd with oken timber pure Such as euer will endure In that hollow was nought els But a score of little bells Which the Art of wittie times Made a delectable chymes Who being high their prettie sound Might be heard the Cittie round In the midst of th'upper loft A paire of wodden stayres were wrought And a doore at that stayres head Which did bring mee to the lead Where my thought I did behold All that I before haue told As about the leads I went And saw all things so excellent Looking ouer I did see The Church likewise as it should be With new battlements about And walls mended throughout All the windowes where need was Were amended with pure glasse Not any thing that wanted there But was repaired eu'ry where Neuer did I see a thing Of more worth and reckoning Then this vision which I In my sleepe did plaine espie Had I beene an Architect Dreaming of this faire prospect Or with true tearmes could relate All the fashion forme and state Then might I say it taught mee more Then any practise did before But many things of note and worth I am not able to set forth After long I had beheld The outward beautie it did yeld Then I was vpon the pinne To see what Grace it had within Downe I went my thought in hast But my speede did proue in wast For to mee it's griefe to tell I was waked by a bell And my dogge beganne to bay At a frogge leapt crosse my way By which meanes I did not see How the same within might bee And more worse to ende my theame It vexed mee t' was but a dreame Well I wisht the Sexton hang'd And my dogge I soundly bang'd Yet to giue them both their right T' was time to goe for it was night And I thinke my foolish curre Knew t' was fit for me to stirre So away I runne in hast And came safely home at last Where with pen I did record All I dreamed word by word And I hope it 's not amisse To place it where it placed is THVS you see good people all What is done for Londons Paul If in ought my Dreame prooue true Let it be as 't pleaseth you Though I dreame I doe not teach That 's a straine beyond my reach Since I learn'd my Crosse rowe letters I left all teaching to my betters And leaue it will vnto my ende So good Reader be my friend The Booke to PAVLES ACcording as you doe command I will flie about the Land To Court Clergie Countrie Citie For to find out Ladie Pitie If I finde Her and returne me Pray take order none may burne me Though I be but poore and plaine I may bring you store of gaine For this Ladie doth not care In pious vses what shee spare To the Church shee is more free Then thousands other Ladies bee The answer of PAVLES BOOKE I thanke thee for thy loue And doe pray to God aboue Thou maist finde this Lady out Where thou goest round about That thou maist returne againe With a labour not in vaine For thy burning take no care Thou wilt surely better fare I will keepe thee in record Till the comming of the Lord. And thy Author here shall rest Whilst his soule with God is blest FINIS