bin His equall since King William first came in Nor can I thinke true Vertue euer car'd To giue or take for praise what I haue heard For if we peyze them well what goodly grace Haue outward Beauties Riches Titles Place Or such that we the owners should commend When no true vertues doe on these attend If beautifull he be what honour 's that As faire as he is many a Beggers brar If we his noble Titles would extoll Those Titles he may haue and be a foole If Seats of Iustice he hath climb'd we say So Tyrants and corrupt oppressors may If for a large estate his praise we tell A thousand Villanies may be prais'd as well If he his Princes good esteeme be in Why so hath many a bloody Traytor bin And if in these things he alone excell Let those that list vpon his prayses dwell Some other worth I finde e're I haue sense Of any praise-deseruing excellence I haue no friends that once affected were But to my heart they sit this day as neare As when I most endear'd them though they seeme To fall from my opinion or esteeme For precious Time in idle would be spent If I with All should alwayes complement And till my loue I may to purpose show I care not wher'they thinke I loue or no. For sure I am if any finde me chang'd Their greatnes nor their meannesse me estrang'd I haue not priz'd mens loues the lesse or more Because I saw them either rich or poore But as their loue and Vertues did appeare I such esteem'd them whosoe're they were I haue no trust or confidence in friends That seeke to know me meerly for their ends Nor haue I euer said I loued yet Where I expected more then Loue for it And let me faile of that where most I lou'd If that with greater ioy I be not mou'd By twenty-fold when I my kindnes show Then when their fauours they on me bestow I haue not that vile minde nor shall my brest For euer with such basenes be possest As in my anger be it ne're so iust To vtter ought committed to my trust In time of frienâ—ship though constrained so That want of telling it should me vndo For whosoe're hath trust repos'd in me Shall euer find me true though false he be I haue no loâ—o Countrey Prince or Friend That can be more or lesse or haue an end For whatsoeuer state they rais'd me to I would not loue them better then I do Nor can I hate them though on me they should Heape all the scorne and iniury they could I haue no doâ—ing humor to affect Where loue I finde rewarded with neglect I neuer was witâ— melancholy fit Oppressed in such stupid manner yet A that vngently to my friends I spâ—ke Oâ— beed to their contentment did not take Nor haue I felt my Anger so inflam'd But that with gentle speach it might be tam'd I haue no priuate cause of discontent Nor grudge against the publike gouernment I haue no spight or enuâ—e in my brest Nor doth anothers peace disturbe my rest I haue not yet that dunghill humour which Some Great-men haue who so they may be rich Thinke all gaine sweet and nought ashamed are In vile and rascall Suites to haue a share For I their basenes scorne and euer loth'd By wronging others to be fed or cloth'd Much more to haue my pride or lust maintain'd VVith what by foule oppression hath bene gain'd I haue not bene enamor'd on the Fate Of men to great aduancements fortunate I neuer yet a Fauorite did see So happy that I wished to be hee Nor would I whatsoe're of me became Be any other man but who I am For though I am assur'd the destiny Of millions tendeth to felicity Yet those deare secret comforts which I finde Vnseene within the closet of my minde Giue more assurance of true happines Then any outward glories can expresse And 't is so hard what shewes soe're there be The inward plight of other men to see That my estate with none exchange I dare Although my Fortunes more dispised were I haue not hitherto divulged ought VVherein my words dissented from my thought Nor would I faile if I might able be To make my manners and my words agree I haue not bene ashamed to confesse My lowest Fortunes or the kindnesses Of poorest men Nor haue I proud beene made By any fauor from a great Man had I haue not plac't so much of my Content Vpon the goods of Fortune to lament The losse of them more then may seemely be To grieue for things which are no part of me For I haue knowne the worst of being poore Yea lost when I to lose haue had no more And though the Coward World more quakes for feare Of Pouerty then any plagues that are Yet He that mindes his End obserues his Ward The Meanes persues and keepes a heart prepar'd Daâ—es Scorne and Pouerty as boldly meete As others gladly Fame and Riches greet For those who on the stage of this proud World Into the pawes of Want and Scorne are hurld Are in the Master-prize that trieth men And Vertue fighteth her brau'st Combat then I no Antipathy as yet haue had Twixt me and any Creature God hath made For if they doe not scratch nor bite nor sting Snakes Serpents Todes or Catts or any thing I can endure to touch or looke vpon So cannot eu'ry one whom I haue knowne I haue no Nation on the earth abhord But with a Iewe or Spaniard can accord As well as with my Brother if I finde He beare a Vertuous and Heroick minde Yet I confesse of all men I most hate Such as their manners doe adulterate Those Linsâ—-woolsie people who are neither French English Scotsh nor Dutch but altogether Those I affect not rather wish I could That they were fish or flesh or hott or cold But none among all them worse brooke I then Our meere Hispaniolized English men And if we scape their Trecheries at home I 'le feare no mischies where so'ere I come I haue not fear'd who my Religion knowes Nor euer for preferment made I showes Of what I was not For although I may Through want be forc't to put on worse arâ—y Vpon my Body I will euer finde Meanes so maintaine a habit for my Minde Of Truth in graine and weare it in the sight Of all the world in all the worlds despight I their presumption haue not who dare blame A fault in others and correct the same With grieuous punishments yet guilty be Of those offences in more high degree For oh how bold and impudent a face And what vnmoued hearts of Flint and Brasse Haue those corrupted Magistrates who dare Vpon the seat of Iudgement sit and there Without an inward horror preach abroad The guilt of Sinne and heauy wrath of God Against offenders pleading at their Barr Yet know what plots within their bosomes are Who when enthron'd for Iustice they behold A reuerend Magistrate
the value of her pelfe And though to Gentry nor good breeding born Can all that haue estates beneath her scorn This wit a Woman hath and shall not I Who know I haue a Wealth which none can buy For all the world expect a nobler phere Then sutes vnto a hundred pounds a yeere Shall loue of Truth and Vertue make of me A match no better worthy then is He Who knowes not what they meane and doth possesse In outward fortunes neither more nor lesse Haue I oft heard so many faire ones plaine How fruitles Titles are how poore and vaine They found rich greatnes where they did not find True Loue and the endowments of the mind Haue fayrest Ladies often sworne to me That if they might but onely Mistresse be Of true affection they would prize it more Then all those glories which the most adore Haue I obseru'd how hard it is to find A constant heart a iust and honest mind How few good natures in the world there are How scanty true affection is how rare And shall I passe as true a Heart away As hath conceiu'd an honest thought to day As if in value to no more it came Then would endeare me to a vulgar Dame On equall termes or else vndoe me with Some old rich Croan that hath out-liu'd her teeth I 'le rather breake it with proud scorne that dead The wormes may rifle for my Mayden-head I haue no loue to beauties which are gone Much like a Rose in Iune assoone as blowne Those painted Cabinets and nought within Haue little power my respect to win Nor haue I yet that stupid loue to pelfe As for the hope thereof to yoke my selfe With any female betwixt whom and me There could not in the soule a marriage be For whosoeuer ioyne without that care Fooles and accursed in their matches are And so are you that either heare or view What I auerr vnlesse you thinke it true I haue no meaning whensoere I wed That my companion shall become my head Nor would I if I meant to keepe my right So much as say so though that win her might Not though a Dutchesse for the meanes I le vse To keepe my worth though my reward I loose Yea from a prison had she raised me Lord of her fortunes and her Selfe to be I that respect would still expect to haue Which might become her Husband not her slaue And should I spouse a Begger I would shew What loue and honor to a wife were due I haue not yet of any skorned binn Whoâ—e good opinion I haue sought to winn Nor haue I when I meane to woe a feare That any man shall make me willow weare I haue not eyes so excellent to see Things as some men can do before they be Nor purblinde sight which crimes farre off can markâ— Yet seeme no faults which are more neare me dark I haue not cares for euery â—ale that 's told Nor memory things friuelous to hold I haue not their credulity that dare Giue credit vnto all reports they heare Nor haue I subiect to their dulnes beene Who can beleâ—ue no more then they haue seene I haue no feeling of those wrongs that be By base vnworthy fellowes offerd me For my contentment and my glory lyes Aboue the pitch their spight or malice flyes I haue not neede enough as yet to serue Nor impudence to craue till I deserue I haue no hope the worlds esteeme to get Nor could a foole or knaue e're brooke me yet I haue not villany enough to prey Vpon the weake or friendship to betray Nor haue I so much loue to life that I Would seeke to saue it by dishonesty I haue not Cowardise enough to feare In honest actions though my death be there Nor heart to perpetrate a wilfull sinne Though I with safety large renowne might winne And for omitting it were sure to dye Ne'r to be thought on but with infamy I haue not their base cruelty who can Insult vpon an ouer-grieued man Or tread on him that at my feet doth bow For I protest no villany I know That could be done me but if I perceiu'd Or thought the doer without faigning grieu'd I truely could forgiue him as if hee Had neuer in a thought abused mee And if my loue to mercy I belye Let God deny me mercy when I dye I haue not that vnhappinesse to be A Rich mans Sonne For he had trained me In some vaine path and I had neuer sought That knowledge which my pouerty hath taught I haue no inclination to respect Each vulgar complement nor neglect An honest shew of friendship For I sweare I rather wish that I deceiued were Then of so base a disposition be As to distrust till cause were giuen me I haue no Constitution to accord To ought dishonest sooner for a Lord Then for his meanest Groome and hopes there be It neuer will be otherwise with me I haue no pollicies to make me seeme A man well worthy of the worlds esteeme Nor haue I hope I shall hereafter grow To any more regard for saying so I haue no doubt though here a slighted thing But I am fauorite to Heau'ns great King Nor haue I feare but all that 's good in me Shall in my Life or Death rewarded be But yet I haue not that attain'd for which Those who account this nothing thinke me rich Noâ— that which they doe reckon worth esteeme To whom the riches of the minâ—e doe seeme A scornefull pouerty But let that go Men cannot prize the Pearles they doe not know Nor haue I power to teach them for if I Should here consume my gift of Poesie And wholy wast my spirits to expresse What rich contents a poore estate may blesse It were impossible to moue the sense Of those braue things in their intelligence I haue not found on what I may relie Vnlesse it carry some Diuinitie To make me confident for all the glory And all hopes faile in things meere transitory What man is there among vs doth not knowe A thousand men this night to bed will goe Of many a hundred goodly things possest That shall haue nought to morrow but a Chest And one poore Sheet to lie in What I may Next morning haue I know not But to day A Friend Meat Drinke and fitting Clothes to weare Some Bookes and Papers which my Iewels are A Seruant and a Horse all this I haue And when I dye one promist me 〈◊〉 Graue A Graue that quiet closeâ— of Content And I haue built my selfe a Monument But as I liue excepting onely this Which of my wealth the Inuentory is I haue so little I my oath might saue If I should take it that I nothing haue Nec Careo ANd yet what Want I or who knoweth how I may be richer made then I am now Or what great Peere or wealthy Alderman Bequeath his sonne so great a Fortune can I nothing want that needfull is to haue Sought I no more then Nature bids
The Good approue it and so crowne the Cause Of this my Resolution with applause That such as spight it dare not to appeare In opposition to the Challenger Their Malice would enforce them but it lyes Oppressed yet with fearefull Cowardize For they so arm'd haue found me that they feare I may in spight of all their Enuy beare The Conquest from them and vpon the Face Of their be-spotted Fame stick more disgrace This makes them Storme in priuate Slander Raile Threat Libell Ryme Detract and to preuaile Vpon my Patience try their vtmost Art But I still mind my Motto's latter-part And Care not for it which more makes them chaâ—e And still the more they fret the more I laugh But now their Enuies haue so well conspir'd That they haue 〈◊〉 the Proiect they desir'd And tooke such course that if their word you take Shall mooue my Choller and my Patience shake Forsooth some Rimers they haue hyr'd to chew Their Rankor into Balladry and spew Their blacke Despight which to a drunken note They in a hundred Tauerns haue by roate Already belcht vnto that Auditory Who are the fittest Trumpets of their Story When their Inuentions by the powre Diuine Of much-inspiring Sacke and Claret-wine Are ripened to the highest then they say The Stationer expects it eu'ry day And that he may a sauing bargaine make A forehand doth his Customers bespeake But when these Braine-wormes crawling forth you As pity t were such wit should smotherd lie They will bewray the Sires and mak 't appeare spie That Ignorance and Enuy Parents were To that despightfull Issue So that he Who shall a Rush the lesse esteeme of Me For ought there Writ eu'n He is one of Them Whose Hate and whose Affection I contemne The Instruments they get to serue the turne Are those that are vnworthy of my Scorne And if contend or answere them I should It more might wrong me then their Riming could As therefore when an armed Souldier feeles A testy Curre in vaine to gnaw his Heeles He mindes not Him but spends his blowes vpon Those churlish Peasants that did set him on So I that know these Dogges doe but their kind Well let them barke fâ—arle spend their wind Till they grow weary But let them sit strong That vrge them to it or I lay along Their high Top-gallant where each Groome shall see How worthy Scorne and infamy they be For they who are their Patrons are such Foes As I may somewhat worthyly oppose And I le vnmaske them so that you shall spie In them Detractions true Anatomy Yea whereas they haue by their malice thought To haue on me their spightfull pleasures wrought I le from their Censures an occasion take To shew how other men a sport shall make At all Detractions So those slaues vndoe Who that base practise are enclin'd vnto Raile they that list for those men know not yet What mind I haue who thinke the man that writ This Motto can be euer brought to feare Such poore fond things as idle Carpers are Nay rather from those Slanders they shall raise I will aduantage gather for my praise While they that in my shame would take delight Shal gnaw their flesh through vengance despight To see how I vnmou'd their enuy mocke And make of them this Ages laughing-stocke For lest to haue preuailed they should seeme And so grow wise men in their owne esteeme Or by their foolish brags dishearten such Whose resolutions are not growne so much When I at leasure am for Recreation â—e merry make my selfe to their vexation Yet shall my Mirth from Malice be so free That though I bitter to the guiltie be It shall appeare that I in loue doe scourge them That of their foule Corruptions I may purge them And that it may be knowne how Vertue hath A sting to punish though not moou'd to wrath But goe and for the Pamphlet seeke about For yet ere night t is thought it will come out Yet when you finde it Doe not looke for there His wit alone whose Name you see it beare For though you nothing can collect from thence But foul-mouthd Language Rime and Impudence Yet there expect since t is the common cause Of all Crowe-Poets and Poeticke-Dawes Which I haue toucht that all the Brotherhood Will lend their wits to make the Quarrell good For to that purpose they are all combind Yea to their strong Confed'racy are ioynd That Corporation by whose Patronage Such Poetry hath flourisht in this Age And some beside that dare not yet be knowne Haue fauour to this goodly Proiect showne But let them ioyne their force For I had rather Ten Millions should themselues against Me gatherâ— And blot and practise for my ouerthrow Then be the Conqueror of one base Foe For as mine enemies encreasing be So Resolution doth encrease in mee And if I must haue foes my Fates shall friend me If great and noble enemies they send me But whether on meane Foes or great I light My Spirit will be greater then their spight An Epigram written by the Author on his owne Picture where this Motto was inscribed THus others Loues haue set my shadow forth To fill a Roome with Names of greater worth And Me among the rest they set to show Yet what I am I pray mistake not tho Imagine me nor Earle nor Lord nor Knight Nor any new aduanced Fauorite For you would sweare if This well pictur'd me That such a One I ne'r were like to bee No child of purblind Fortun 's was I borne For all that issue holdeth Me in scorne Yet He that made Me hath assur'd Me to Fortune can make no such nor such vndo And bids me in no Fauours take delight But what I shall acquire in Her despight Which Mind in Raggs I rather wish to beare Then rise through basenes brauest Robes to wearâ— Part of my Outside hath the Picture showne Part of my Inside by these Lines is knowne And t is no matter of a rush to me How This or That shall now esteemed be FINIS