sad distractions those dispaires and feares That all their glorious guilding cannot hide Those wofull ruines on their inner-side But ten to one at length they doe depart With losse with shame and with a broken heart I care not for this Humor but I had Far rather lye in Bedlem chain'd and mad Then be with these mens frantique mood possest For there they doe lesse harme and haue more rest I care not when there comes a Parliament For I am no proiector who inuent New Monopolies or such Suites as Those Who wickedly pretending goodly showes Abuses to reforme engender more And farre lesse tollerable then before Abusing Prince and State and Common-weale Their iust deserued beggeries to heale Or that their ill-got profit may aduance To some Great Place their Pride and Ignorance Nor by Extortion nor through Bribery To any Seat of Iustice climb'd am I Nor liue I so as that I need to care Though my proceedings should be question'd there And some there be would giue their Coat away That they could this as confidently say I care for no such thriuing Pollicy As makes a foole of Morrall Honesty For such occasions happen now and than That He prooues Wise that proues an Honest man And howsoere our Prâ—iect-mongers deeme Of such mens Fortunes and of them esteeme How big soe're they looke how braue soe're Among their base Admirers they appeare Though ne're so trimme in others feathers dight Though clad with Title of a Lord or Knight And by a hundred thousand croucht vnto Those gaudv Vpstarts no more prize I doe Then poorest Kennell-rakers yea they are Things which I count so little worth my care That as I loue faire Vertue I protest Among all honest men the beggerl'est And most betatter'd Pesant in mine eye Is Nobler and more full of Maiestie Then all that braue bespangl'd Rabblement Composd of Pride of Shifts and Complement Let great and Courtly Pers'nages delight In some dull Gestâ—r or a Parasite Or in their dry Buffoone that gracefully Can sing them baudy songs and sweare and lye And let their Mastership if so they please Still fauour more the slauerings of These Then my free Numbers For I care no more To be approued or esteemed for A witty Make-sport then an Ape to be And whosoeuer takes delight in me For any quality that doth affect His Senses better then his Intellect I care not for his loue My dogge doth so He loues as farre as sensuall loue can go And if how well he lou'd me I did weigh Deserues perhaps as much respect as they I haue a Soule and must beloued be For that which makes a louely Soule in me Or else their Loues so little care I for That them and their affections I abhor I care not though some Fellowes whose desert Might raise them to the Pillory or Cart The Stocks the Branding-yron or the Whip With such like due Preferment those doe skip And by their blacke endeauours purchase can The Priuiledges of a Noble man And be as confident in what they doe As if by vertue they were rais'd thereto For as true Vertue hath a confidence So Vice and Villaines haue their impudence And manly Resolution both are thought Till both are to an equall Tryall brought But vicious Impudence then prooues a mocke And Vertuous Constancy endures the Shocke Though such vnworthy Groomes who t'other day Were but their Masters Panders to puruey The fuell of their Lust and had no more But the Reuertion of their meat their Whore And their old cloathes to brag of Though that these The foes to Vertue and the Times disease Haue now to couer o're their knauery Got on the Robes of Wealth and Brauery And dare behaue their Rogueships sawcily In preseuce of our old Nobilitie As if they had been borne to act a part In the contempt of Honour and Desart Though all this be and though it often hath Discourag'd many a one in Vertues Path I am the same and Care not For I know Those Butter-flies haue but a Time to show Their painted wings that when a storme is neare Our habits which for any weather are May shew more glorious whilst they shrinking lye In some old creuise and there starue and dye Those Dues which vnto Vertue doe belong He that despiseth offers Vertue wrong So he that followes Vertue for rewards And more the Credit then the Act regards Or such esteeme as others seeke doth misse Himselfe imagines worthier then He is If therefore I can tread the way I ought I care not how ignoble I be thought Nor for those Honours doe I care a fly Which any man can giue me or deny For what I reckon worth aspiring to Is got and kept wheâ— others will or no. And all the world can neuer raise a man To such braue heights as his owne Vertues can I care not for that Gentry which doth lye In nothing but a Coat of Heraldry One Vertue more I rather wish I had Then all the Heralds to mine Armes could add Yea I had rather by my industry I could acquire some one good quality Then through the Families that noblest be From fiftie Kings to draw my Pedigree Of Nations or of Countries I nought care To be Commaunder my Ambitions are To haue the Rule and Soueraignty of things Which doe commaund great Emperours and Kings Those strong and mighty Passions wherewithall Great Monarchs haue bin foyld brought in thâ—all I hope to trample on And whilst that they Force but my body if I disobey I rule that Spirit which would they constraine Beyond my will They should attempt in vaine Yea whilst they bounded within Limits here On some few Mortals onely domineer Those Titles and that Crowne I doe pursue Which shall the Deuils to my powre subdue I care not for that Ualour which is got By furious Choller or the Sherry-pot Nor if my Cause be ill to heare men say I fought it out euen when my bowels lay Beneath my feete A desperatenesse it is And there is nothing worthy praise in this For I haue seene and you may see it to That any Mastiue dogge as much will doe He valiant is who knowes the dis-esteeme The vulgar haue or such as Cowards seeme And yet dares seeme one rather then bestow Against an honest cause or word or blow Though else he fear'd no more to fight or die Then you to strike a dogg or kill a flie Yea him I honour who new wakt from sleeping Finds all his Spirits so their temper keeping As that he would not start though by him there Grim Death and Hell and all the Deuils were I care not for a Coward for to me No Beasts on Earth more truely hatefull be Since all the villanies that can be thought Throughout the world and altogether brought To make one Villaine can make nothing more Then he that is a Coward was before And he that is so can be nothing lesse Then the perfection of all wickednesse In him no manly
Vertues dwelling are Nor any shewes thereof except for feare In no braue resolution is he strong Nor dares he bide in any goodnesse long For if one threatning from his foe there come His vowed Resolution starts he from And cares not what destruction others haue So he may gaine but hope himselfe to saue The man that hath a fearefull heart is sure Of that disease that neuer finds a cure For take and arme him through in euery place Build round about him twenty walls of Brasse Girt him with Trenches whose deepe bottoms lye Thrice lower then three times the Alpes are hye Prouide those Trenches and those walles toward A Million of old Souldiers for his guard All honest men and sworne His Feauer will Breake in despight of all and shake him still To scape this feare his Guard he would betray Make cruelly his dearest friend away Act any base or any wicked thing Be Traytour to his Countrey or his King For-sweare his God and in some fright goe nigh To hang himselfe to scape the feare to dye And for these reasons I shall neuer care To reckon them for friends that Cowards are I care not for large Fortunes For I find Great wants best trie the Greatnesse of the minde And though I must confesse such Times there be In which the common wish hath place in me Yet when I search my heart and what content My God vouchsafe me hath I count my Rent To be aboue a thousand pound a yeare More then it can vnto the World appeare And with more wealth I lesse content might find If I with riches had some rich-mans mind A daintie Pallate would consume in cheere More then I doe an hundred pounds a yeere And leaue me worse sufficed then I am Had I an inclination much to game A thousand Markes would aunually away And yet I want my full content at Play If I in Hawkes or Doggs had much delight Twelue hundred Crownes it yearely waste me might And yet not halfe that pleasure bring me to Which from one Line of This receiue I do If I to braue Apparell were inclind Fiue Students Pensions I should yeâ—rely spend Yet not be pleas'd so well with what I weare As now I am Nor take so little Care I much for Physicke might be forc't to giue And yet a thousand fold lesse healthy liue To keepe my Right the Law my goods might wast And with vexation tyre me out at last These and no doubt with these full many a thing To make me lesse Content more wealth might bring Yet more employ me to for few I see Who owners of the greatest Fortunes be But they haue still as they more riches gaine More State more lusts more troubles to maintaine With their Reuennues That the whole account Of their great seeming Blisse doth scarse amount To halfe of my content And can I lesse Esteeme this rare acquired Happinesse Then I a thousand pounds in Rent would prize Since with lesse trouble it doth more suffice No for as when the March is swift and long And men haue foes to meet both fierce and strong That Souldier in the Conflict best doth fare Who getteth Armes of proofe that lightest are So I who with a little doe enioy As much my Pleasure and Content as they Whom farre more wealth and businesse doth molest Account my Fortune and Estate the best Gods fauour in it I extoll the more And great possessions much lesse care I for I care not so I still my selfe may bee What others are or who takes place of me I care not for the times vniust neglect Nor feare their frownes nor praise their vaine respect For to my selfe my worth doth neuer seeme Or more or lesse for other mens esteeme The Turke the Deuill Antichrist and all The Rabble of that Body-mysticall I care not for and I should sorry be If I should giue them cause to care for me What Christians ought not to bâ— carefull for What the Eternall Essence doth abhor I hate as I am able and for ought Which God approues not when I spend a thought I truly wish that from my eyes might raine A shower of Teares to buy it backe againe I care not for their Kin who blush to see Those of their blood who are in meane degree For that bewrayes vnworthines and showes How they by Chance and not by Vertue rose To say My Lord my Cousen can to me In my opinion no such honour be If he from vertues precepts goe astray As when my honest Kinsman I can say And they are fooles who when they raised are Faine their beginnings nobler then they were Yea they doe rob themselues of truest Fame With some false honor to belye their Name For such as to the highest Titles rise From poore beginnings nobler then they were To honour and obserue them farre then all That doe succeed them euer boast of shall For being nothing more then they were borne Men heede them not vnlesse they merit scorne For some vnworthinesse And then perchance As their forefathers meannesse did aduance His praise the higher so their Greatnesse shall Make greater both their Infamy and Fall It is mens glory therefore not a blot When they the start of all their Names haue got And it was worthlesse Enuy first begun That false opinion which so farre hath run Which well they know whose Vertues honor win And shame not to confesse their poorest Kin. For whensoeuer they doe looke on those To God they praises giue and thus suppose Loe when the hand of heauen aduanced vs Aboue our brethren to be lifted thus He let them stay behind for markes to show From whence we came and whither we may goe To haue the mind of those I doe not care VVho both so shamelesse and so foolish are That to acquire some poore esteeme where they VVere neuer heard of vntill yesterday And neuer shall perhaps be thought on more Can Prodigally there consume their store And stand vpon their points of honour so As if their credit had an ouerthrow VVithout redemption If in ought they misse VVherein th'accomplish Gallant punctuall is Yet basely eu'ry qualitie despise In which true VVisdome and true honour lies If you and one of those should dine to day T were three to one but he for all would pay If but your seruant light him to the doore He will reward him If but he and 's whore Carocht a Furlong are the Coachman may For sennight after let his Horses play And yet this fellow whom abroad you shall Perceiue so noble and so liberall To gaine a dayes perhaps but one houres Fame Mong those that hardly will inquire his name At home where euery good and euery ill Remaines to honour or to shame him still Neglects Humanitie Yea where he liues And needs most loue all cause of hatred giues To poole to racke to ruine and oppresse The poore the widow and the fatherlesse To shift to lie to cousen and delay The Lab'rer and
another word to write Or tell you what I purpose to indite Or thinke out halfe a thought before my death But by the leaue of him that gaue me breath I haue no natiue goodnesse in my soul But I was ouer all corrupt and foul And till another cleans'd me I had nought That was not stain'd within me not a thought I haue no propper merrit neither will Or to resolue or act but what is ill I haue no meanes of safety or content In ought which mine owne wisedome can inuent Nor haue I reason to be desperate tho Because for this a remedy I know I haue no portion in the world like this That I may breath that ayre which common is Nor haue I seene within this spacious Round What I haue worth my Ioy or sorrow found Except it hath for these that follow binn The Loue of my Redeemer and my sinn I none of those great Priuiledges haue Which make the Minions of the Time so braue I haue no sumpteous Pallaces or Bowers That ouertop my neighbours with their Towrs I haue no large Demeanes or Princely Rents Like those Heroes nor their discontents I haue no glories from mine Auncesters For want of reall worth to bragg of theirs Nor haue I basenes in my pedigree For it is noble though obscure it be I haue no gold those honours to obtaine Which men might heretofore by Vertue gaine Nor haue I witt if wealth were giuen me To thinke bought Place or Title honour'd me I yet haue no beliefe that they are wise Who for base ends can basely temporise Or that it will at length be ill for me That I liu'd poore to keepe my Spirit free I haue no Causes in our Pleading Courts Nor start I at our Chancery Reports No fearefull Bill hath yet affrighted me No Motion Order Iudgement or Decree Nor haue I forced beene to tedious Iourneys Betwixt my Counsellors and my Attorneys â—e no neede of those long-gowned warriers Who play at Westminster vnarm'd at Barriers Nor gamster for those Common-pleas am I Whose sport is marred by the Chancery I haue no iuggling hand no double tongue Nor any minde to take or doe a wrong I haue no shifts or cunning fleights on which I feed my selfe with hope of being rich Nor haue I one of these to make me poore Hounds Humors running horses Haukes or VVhore I haue no pleasure in acquaintance where The Rules of State and Ceremony are Obseru'd so seriously that I must dance And act o're all the Complements of France And Spaine and Italy before I can Be taken for a well bred Englishman And euery time we meet be forc't agen To put in action that most idle Sceane Mong these much precious time vnto my cost And much true-hearty meaning haue I lost VVhich hauing found I doe resolue therefore To lose my Time and Friendship so no more I haue no Complements but what may show That I doe manners and good breeding know For much I hate the forced Apish tricks Of those our home-disdaining Politicks VVho to the Forraine guise are so affected That English Honesty is quite reiected And in the stead thereof they fuâ—isht home VVith shaddowes of Humanity doe come Oh! how iudicious in their owne esteeme And how compleatly Trauelled they seeme If in the place of reall kindnesses VVhich Nature could haue taught them to expresse They can with gestures lookes and â—guage sweet Fawne like a Curtezan on all they meet And vie in humble and kind speaches when They doe most proudly and most falsely meane On this too many falsely set their face Of Courtship and of wisedome but t is base For seruile vnto me it doth appeare When we descend to sooth and flatter where We want affection yea I hate it more Then to be borne a slaue or to be poore I haue no pleasure or delight in ought That by dissembling must to passe be brought If I dislike I 'ld sooner tell them so Then hide my face beneath a friendly show For he who to be iust hath an intent Needs nor dissemble nor a lye inuent I rather wish to faile with honesty Then to pâ—euaile in ought by treachery And with this minde I 'le safer sleepe then all Our Machauillian Pollititians shall I haue no Minde to flâ—tter though I might Be made some Lords companion or a Knight Not shall my Verse for me on begging goe Though I might starue vnlesse it did doe so I haue no Muses that will serue the turne At euery Triumph and reioyce or mourne Vpon a minutes warning for their hire If with old Sherry they themselues inspire I am not of a temper like to those That can prouide an houres sad talke in Prose For any Funerall and then goe Dine And choke my griefe with Sugar-plums and Wine I cannot at the Claret sic and laugh And then halfe tipsie write an Epitaph Or howle an Epicoedium for each Groome That is by Fraud or Nigardize become A wealthy Alderman Nor for each Gull That hath acquir'd the stile of Worshipfull I cannot for reward adorne the Hearse Of some old rotten Miser with my Verse Nor like the Poetasters of the Time Goe howle a dolefull Elegie in Ryme For euery Lord or Ladiship that dyes And then perplex their Heires to Patronize That muddy Poesie Oh! how I scorne Those Raptures which are free and nobly borne Should Fidler-like for entertainment scrape At strangers windowes and goe play the Ape In counterfeiting Passion when there 's none Or in good earnest foolishly bemâ—ane In hope of cursed bounty their iust death Who liuing merrit not a minutes breath To keepe their Fame aliue vnles to blow Some Trumpet which their blacke disgrace may show I cannot for my life my Pen compell Vpon the praise of any man to dwell Vnlesse I know or thinke at least his worth To be the same which I haue blazed forth Had I some honest Suite the gaine of which Would make me noble eminent and rich And that to compasse it no meanes there were Vnlesse I basely flatter'd some great Peere Would with that Suite my ruine I might get If on those termes I would endeauour it I haue not bin to their condition borne Who are inclined to respect and scorne As men in their estates doe rise or fall Or rich or poore I Uertue loue in all And where I finde it not I doe despise To fawne on them how high so e're they rise For where proud Greatnesse without worth I see Old Mordecay had not a stiffer knee I cannot giue a Plaudit I protest When as his Lordship thinkes he breakes aieast Vnles it moue me neither can I grin When he a causeles laughter doth begin I cannot sweare him truely honourable Because he once receiu'd me to his table And talk't as if the Mases glad might be That he vouchsased such a grace to me His slender worth I could not blaze on so By strange Hyporboles as some would do Or wonder at it as if none had
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
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