ALL THE WORKES OF IOHN TAYLOR THE WATER-POET Being 63 in Number COLLECTED INTO ONE VOLUM By the Author With Sundry new Additions Corrected Reuised and newly IMPRINTED 1630. ALL THE WORKES OF IOHN TAYLOR THE WATER-POET Beeing Sixty and three in Number Collected into one Volume by the AVTHOR VVith sundry new Additions corrected reuised and newly Imprinted 1630. AT LONDON Printed by J.B. for IAMES BOLER at the signe of the Marigold in Pauls Churchyard 1630. To the Right HonouraBLE THE LORD MARQVESSE HAMILTON Master of the Horse to his MAIESTIE IAMES HAMILLTON ANAGRAMMA I AMM ALL HONESTY Of words 't is vaine to vse a Multitude Your very Name all Goodnesse doth include TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE Lord Steward of his Maiesties Honourable HOVSEHOLD WILLIAM HERBERT EARLE OF PENBROKE ANAGRAMMA LIBERALY MEEKâ— FOR REPVTE HONOVRABLE What can be more then is explained here T' expresse a worthy well deseruing Peere TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE LORD Chamberlaine of his Maiesties most Honourable HOVSEHOLD PHILIP HERBERT EARLE OFF MONTGOMERY ANAGRAMMA FIRME FAITH BEGOT ALL MY PROPER HONER Firme faith begot miâ—e honor sayes my name And my firme faith shalleuer keepe the same To the Author Iohn Taylor WAst euer keowne to any time before That so much skill in Poesie could be Th'attendant to a Skull or painefull oare Thou liu'st in water but the fire in thee That mounting Element that made thee chuse To court Vrania the diuinest Muse. Row on to watermen did neuer blow Agale so good none so much goodnesse know THOMAS BREWER IOhannes Tailerus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ira an honesté lusi Lusi et stigmata pessimis inussi Paucis paruâ— furunt sed oh meorum Ira ipsa arbitra siste tu librorum Virus euome honesté an ipse lusi Respon Ars niuea hos lenit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VErbis verbera corripi merentes Non est ira â—sed ampla mititudo Esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decet Poetam Sed non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renendum est Frendens rabula carnifex vocetur Qui aurem vellit is artifex habetur Quo sque vrit leuis ira commerentes Hos lenit niuea arâ— scitè monentis Ergo ludis honesté amor notabit Naeuos leniter hostis aggrauabit T. G. Ad amicum meritò dilectum Iohannem Tailor alià s aquinatem vulgó Poëtam aquaticum hendecasyllabae QVod numen Thamesis vagae per vndas Plectro ludit eburno deorum Physis dicitur eius hic sacerdos Fundit millia mille ab ore cantus His mulcens lepidum artibus popellum Hunc quaerit Dea hunc docet sua illi Tam secreta libenter illa pandit Quam tam rara decenter ille pendit Hic verò rutilos Tagi lapillos Et grandes Orientis vniones Si his mysteria tanta conferantur Tricas quisquiliasque censet omnes De te sabula tota mi Iohannes Verso nomine scito praedicatur Parnassus cerebrum tuum est bifurcus Cor fons est Helicon sedentque linguâ Et Musae Charites venustiores Ipse es tu tibi suggerens Apollo Extrà nil opus inuocare Diues Naturae tibi sat fauor ministrans Intus pectore delitet feraci Quod multis labor improbus dat aegré Suffuratio et impudens librorum Instinctus genij tui ingenique Momento intimat euge perge lymphas Plus vltra Thamesis beate Cygnos Moeandri vada tortuosa curui Non tot quot Thamesis canora nutrit Te vicisse iuuabit hos canendo Nos iuuabit omnia imprimendo Hoc si feceris vnda dum manebit Atque aestus Thamesis manebis ipse Et campanus vt est propheta Aquinas Anglicanus eris poeta Aquinas T. G. To my worthy and well-deseruing friend our wel-known hydropoet IOHN TAYLOR Some till their throats ake cry alowd and hollo To aucupate great fauors from Apollo One Bacchus and some other Venus vrges To blesse their brain-brats Those caerulean surges Gyrdling the earth emball thy nerues and season Those animall parts quick Organs of mans reason This Nimph-adored sountaine farre excells Aganipe Aon all that Bubulkes wells These daunst about thy Quinbro-boâ—te to kisse thee And often since roare out because they misse thee These wyned with loue sicke Thame the banks o'rswel water To visit their ingenious darlings Cell Blue Neptunes salt tempred with Thames sweet Make thee both tart and pleasing What theater Of late could Cinthius halfe staru'd mists perswade T' applaud nay not to hisse at what they made Then call on Neptune still let Delos sinke Or swimme for thee let Phoebus looke or winke VVhilst his poore Priests grow mad with ill successe That still the more they write they please the lesse Thine Amphitritean Muse growes more arrident And Phoebus tripos stoopes to Neptunes trident R. H. To his friend the Author IN sport I hitherto haue told thy same But now thy Muse doth merit greater Name Soares high to Heau'n from earth and water flies And leaâ—ing baser matters mounts the skies Where hidden knowledge she doth sweetly sing Carelesse of each inferiour common thing Oh that my Soule could follow her in this To shun fowle sin and seeke eternall blisse Her strength growes great and may God euer send Me to amend my â—aults as she doth mend ROBERT BRANTHWAITE To my honest friend Iohn Taylor WHat shall I say kind Friend to let thee know How worthily I doe this worke esteeme Whereof I thinke I cannot too much deeme From which I find a world of wit doth flow The poore vnpollisht praise I can bestow Vpon ' this well deseruing worke of thine Which heere I freely offer at thy Shrine Is like a Taper when the Sunne doth showe Or bellowes helpe for Eol's breath to blow For thou as much hast soard beyond the flraine Whereto our common Muses doe attaine As Cintyhaes light exceeds the wormes that glowâ— And were my Muse reple at with learned phrase The world should know thy work deserueth praise Thine in the best of friendship RICHARD LEIGH To the deseruing author Iohn Taylor IT is disputed much among the wise If that there be a water in the skyes If there be one no Water-man before Was euer knowne to row in 't with his Oare If none such is thy high surmounting pen It soares aboue the straine of Watermen Whether there be or no seeke farre and neere Th' art matchlesse sure in this eur hemispheere WILLIAM BRANTHWAITE Cant. To my friend Iohn Taylor ROw on good Water-man and looke back still Thus as thou dost vpon the Muses Hill To guide thee in thy course Thy Boate's a sphaere Where thine Vrania moues diuinely cleare Well hast thou pli'd and with thy learned Oare Cut through a Riner to a nobler shore Then euer any landed-at Thy saile Made all of clowdes swels with a prosp'rous gale Some say there is a Ferriman of Hell The Ferriman of Heau'n I now know well And that 's thy selfe transporting soules to Blisse
therefore vp with them The Schismaticall Separaust I haue many times discourst with him and though hee be but a Botcher or a Button-maker and at the most a lumpe of opinionated ignorance yet he will seeme to wring the Scriptures to his opinions and presume to know more of the mysteries of Religion then any of our reuerend learned Bishops and Doctors I know this worke will be vnrelished in the pestiferous pallats of the dogmaticall Amsterdammarists but I doe must and will acknowledge a most reuerend honour and regard vnto the sacred memory of this blessed Virgin Lady Mother of our Lord and Redeemer IESVS and in my thoughts she shall euer haue superlatiue respect aboue all Angels Principalities Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Euangelists or Saints whatsoeuer vnder the blessed Trinity yet mistake me not as there is a difference betwixt the immortali Creator and a mortall creature so whilst I haue warrant sufficient from God himselfe to inuocate his name onely I will not giue Man Saint or Angell any honour that may bee derogatory to his Eternall Maiestie As amongst women she was blest aboue all being aboue all full of Grace so amongst Saints I beleeue she is supreme in Glory and it is an infallible truth that as the Romanists doe dishonour her much by their superstitious honourable seeming attributes so on the other part it is hellish and odious to God and good men either to forget her or which is worâ—e to remember her with impure thoughts or vnbeseeming speech for the excellency of so Diuine a Creature I confesse my selfe the meanest of men and most vnworthy of all to write of her that was the best of Women but my hope is that Charity will couer my faults and accept of my good meaning especially hauing endeuoured and striuen to doe my best So wishing all hearts to giue this holy Virgin such honour as may be pleasing to God which is that all should patterne their liues to her liues example in lowlinesse and humility and then they shall be exalted where she is in Glory with eternity IOHN TAYLOR THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE MOST BLESSED AMONGST ALL VVOMEN THE VIRGIN MARY The Mother of our Lord IESVS CHRIST BEfore the fire ayre water earth were fram'd Sunne Moone or any thing vnnam'd or naun'd God was who ne'r shal end nor ne'r began To whom all ages and all time 's a span By whose appointment each thing fades or growes And whose eternall knowledge all things knowes When Adams sinne pluck'd downe supernall lre And Iustice iudg'd him to infernall fire The Mercy did the execution stay And the great price of mans great debt did pay And as a Woman tempted Man to vice For which they both were thrust from Paradise So from a woman was a Sauiours birth That purchas'd Man a Heauen for losse of earth Our blest Redeemers Mother that blest Shee Before the World by God ordain'd to be A chosen vessell fittest of all other To be the Sonne of Gods most gracious Mother She is the Theame that doth my Muse inuite Vnworthy of such worthinesse to write I will no prayers nor inuocations frame For intercession to this heau'nly Dame Nor to her name one fruitlesse word shall runne To be my Mediatresse to her Sonne But to th' eternall Trinity alone I le sing He sigh He inuocate and mone I prize no creatures glory at that rate The great Creators praise t'extenuate But to th' Almighty ancunt of all dayes Be all dominion honour laud and praise I write the blest conception birth and life Of this beloued Mother Virgin Wife The ioyes the griefes the death and buriall place Of her most glorious gracious full of grace Her Father IOACHIM a vertuous man Had long liu'd childlesse with his wife S. ANNE And both of them did zealously intend If God did euer Sonne or Daughter send That they to him would dedicate it solely To be his seruant and to liue most holy God heard and granted freely their request And gaue them MARY of that sex the best At three yeeres age she to the Temple went And there eleu'n yeeres in deuotion spent At th' end of fourteene yeeres it came to passe This Virgin vnto IOSEPH spoused was Then after foure months time was past and gone Th' Almighty sent from his tribunall throne His great Ambassador which did vnfold The great'st ambassage euer yet was told Haile MARY full of heau'nly grace quoth he The high omnipotent Lord is with thee Blest amongst women oâ— Gods gracious doome And blessed be the fruâ—â— of thy blest wombe The Angels presence and the words he said This sacred vndefiled Maid dismaid Amazed musing what this message meant And wherefore God this messenger had sent Feare not said GAERIEL MARY most renown'd Thou with thy gracious God hast sauour foâ—â—â—â— For lo thou shalt conceiue and beare a Sunne By whom redemption and saluation's wonne And thou bis sauing Name shalt IESVS call Because hee'lâ— come to saue his people all She humbly mildly heau'ns high Nuncius heares But yet to be resolu'd of doubts and feares How can these things quoth she accomplisht be When no man hath knowledge had with me The Holy Ghost the Angell then replide Shall come vpon thee and thy God and guide The power of the most High shall shadow thee That Holy thing that of thee borne shall be Shall truely called be the Sonne of God Be whom Sinne Death and Hell shall downe be trod Then MARY to these speeches did accord And said Behold the hand-Maid of the Lord Be it to me ' according to ' thy well I am thine owne obedient seruant still This being said she turn'd her Angel tongne My soule doth magnist the Lord the song My spirit and all my faculties and doyce In God my Sauiour solely doth reioyce For though mans sinnes prouoke his grieuous wrath His humble hand-maid he remembred hath For now behold from this time hence I forth shall All generations me right blessed call He that is mighty me hath magnifide And bo'y is his name his mercies hide On them that feare him to prouoke his rage Throughout the spacious world from age to age With his strong arme he hath shew'd strength and batterd The proud and their imaginations scatterd He hath put downe the mighty from their seat The mecke and humble he exalted great To fill the hungry he is prouident When as the rich away are empty sent His mercies promis'd Abr'am and his seed He hath remembred and holpe Israels need This Song she sung with heart and holy spright To land her Makers mercy and his might And the like Song sung with so sweet a straine Was neuer nor shall e'r be sung againe When MARY by the Angels speech perceiu'd How old ELIZABETH a child conceiu'd To see her straight her pious minde was bent And to Ierusalem in three dayes she went And as the Virgin come from Nazareth Talk't with her kinfwoman ELIZABETH IOHN Baptist then vnnam'd an vnborne boy
good in me â—â—â— I am sure there is much lesse in thee That â—â—â— thou bear'st me prethee beare me still â—â—â—â— good with enuie all thy veines shall fill â—â—â— they swell and burst thy angry gall Then if â—rue I will lament thy fall And on thy graue this Epitaph bestow For to be read for either friend or foe Epitaph HEre lyes a Carkasse in this Graue Who while he lin'd would rayle and raue Borrow his wit from others worth And in his owne name â—â—â—t forth He row'd from Tyber to the Thames And there his tongue himselfe proclaimes The luster of all Watermen To row with Scull or write with Pen. O had he still kept on the Water And neuer come vpon Theater He might haue liu'd full merrily And not haue di'd so lowsily O 't was that foolish scuruie Play â—â—t Hope that tooke his sence away â—et he to blot out all his shame â—â—â— the fault on Fennorâ—s name And rayl'd at him like a mad bodie Liu'd a bare Foole di'd a base Noddie But if you 'l know what was his name I willingly will shew the same No Land-Poet nor Sea-Saylor But a poore Sculler call'd Iohn Taylor And had not hate this wonder slaine He would haue liu'd a Knaue in graine Thus Iack thou feest what friendship I would doe Garnish thy Graue out with a verse or two But yet thou art aliue and I surmise Thou wilt not dye till Crowes peck out thy eyes I 'd wish thee sayle vnto some forraine Places Where they haue neuer heard of thy disgraces The Baramoodes Tongue thou dost professe The name of Poet there thou may'st possesse There spread thy Pamphlets make them vnderstand Thou art the chiefest Poet in that Land Thou say'st my pate a mint of lyes can forge Indeed t' hast wit ynough thy lyes to scourge For I was neither rid South North nor East But into Warwick-shire direct North-west Nor did I thither ride to shun thy Play But 't was my Fathers will call'd me away And for th' obedience that he in me found He gaue me his blessing with a hundred pound Then Sculler know that was no Tinkers gift Nor had I need for thy poore Crowne to shift But he that told thee I was gone in 't Kent Spoke halfe as true as thou dost lies inuent But see how enuie in thy heart doth trot Thou grieuest that I a poore mans pardon got Is thy eye euill then cause mine is good Or wouldst thou stop my Fountaine with thy mud No spigh of thee thou Canniball to man I will not cease to doe what good I can Nor doe I looke for Siluer for my meed When poore men want if I can helpe their need For though thou rayld'st on me at the Beare garden Rather then see thee hang'd I 'd beg thy pardon Although it cost me more the suing forth In ready money then thy Boat is worth So much tender man though bred by Nature As being image of his high Creator But thou that of mans liâ—e art no esteemer What mercy canst thou hope from thy Redeemer Say I had wrong'd thee thou good-names betrayer Thou call'st for vengeance in toy Sauiours prayer I will not say so but it doth appeare Thou scarce dost say thy prayers once a yeere Thou must forgiue if thou wouldst be forgiuen For if thou fear'st not hell ne'r hope for heauen Thou dost cause the King as well â—or Graunts As men for Sutes but leaue these bitter taunts And learne intime blacke tayle of insolence To arme thy heart with Christian patience Thus haue I answer'd all thy false alarmes Now it remaines for me to blaze thy Armes For thou hast falsely set vp mine in blue Wherefore I meane to haue a bowt with you Thy Heraldrie shall not out-strip my braine But I 'l deuise as good for thee againe And first because all Sculls thou dost excell A siluer Oare will for thy Crest doe well A paire of Armer bound in a Sable Scarffe In a sad field as large as Wapping Wharffe Out of the water shall appeare one dead A halter and a crosse-barre o' t his head And on his Shield this Motto shall be found Taylor the Sculler was both hang'd and drown'd In all this blazing thee no hurt I meane But hang thee till the Tide hath wash thee cleaner And when the billowes o'r thy head are flowing And AEolus 'gainst Neptunes brow is blowing And Oares and Sculls aboue thy crosse-barre failing There is great hope thou wilt forget thy rayling Thus haue I answer'd thee in three dayes space And yet my Pen ranne but an ambling pace Thus much I mildly write in hope 't will mend thee If not the Thames or Wapping shore will end thee And last to shew what course I would direct thee Vse honesty from Tiburne to protect thee Thiâ—e more then thou desirest Will. Fennor his Maiesties Riâ—â—â—g Poet. To my kinde Friends in generall NOw you haue read and vnderstand my minde I hope your wonted fauors I shall finde In spight of rayling basenesse whose lowd tongues Are Saâ—hans instruments for stand'rous wrongs Sure I haue satisfi'd your expectation And vsde the Sculler in his owne vocation But if you thinke my answer ouer-milde Know this I would not haue my tongue defilde With such vnciuill tearmes much lesse my pen Which now giues satisfaction to all men Of truth I will auouch in spight of ill My answer was set vp in Taylors Bill Falsely without my knowledge or consent Then was not that a cause sufficient To giue my purpose suddaine alteration When I was plai'd the knaue with in that fashion But though we could not then meet face to face I hope my pen hath follow'd him space If I be not deceiu'd it hath out-stript him And spight of all his rods in pisse ' tath whipt him And made his howling hollow voyce to rore Yet for your loues I 'l giue him one lash more FENNORS finall Fareâ—ill to TAYLOR with his blue Bitch and Cods bellie BLadder of enuie one word more with you I must hunt out your Bitch of Azure hue You that at Roterdam haue Spies to honer And in Cods bellies transport Slanders ouer And without Licence helcheth them abroad 'T were fit she should be seartcht to see her Load For in her head her bellie and her crookes I doubt there wil be found some dang'rous Bookes For he that vndertooke this Worke for thee Perhaps prints Romish Doctrine for a fee Or matters preiâ—diciall to the State Or things Schismaticall to breed debate If it be found so spight of your Reuenge You and your Bitch may in a halter swinge And your Cods bellie starue for want of water To you all three I doe commend this Satyre And to my Country all my loue and skill To root out all such instruments of ill FINIS A CAST OVER THE VVATER BY IOHN TAYLOR Giuen Gratis to WILLIAM FENNOR the Rimer From London to the Kings Bench. DEDICATED To all that vnderstand English By
some haue done in France And now I enterd am I 'le further in And spur my Muse amaine through thicke and thin 'Till I haue made the Court thy praises ring 'Till in thy lawd the Citty Songs do sing Till I haue forc'd the Country Rurall Styaines Chant Pipe and dance thy praises on the Plaines The tongues confusion in our braue Exchange Shall Babell like declare thy story strange The newes of thee shall fill the Barbers shops And at the Bake-houses as thicke as hops The tatling women as they mold their bread Shall with their dough thy fourefold praises knead Whilst Water bearers at the Conduits all Within their tankerds sound thy honour shall And at the house of office at Qucene hithe Men shall record thy actions braue and blithe Then France shall well perceiue who'ere sayes nay That we haue bauins here as well as they And that we can make bonefires and ring bels Drink healths and be starke drunke and something else That we can time beyond all sence or Reason And can doe what we may at any season This shall be done before that I haue done And then thy glory shall a gallop run Like to the gliding of a shooting Starre East West South North from Deuer to Dunbar Meane space accept the rudenesse of my Rime And I le doe twice as much another time Thus wishing to Escape occasions Male In Courtly Complement my pen bids Vale. FINIS HEAVENS BLESSING AND EARTHS IOY OR A true relation of the supposed Sea-fights and Fire-workes as were accomplished before the Royall Celebration of the all-beloued Marriage of the two peerelesse Paragons of Christendome FREDERICKE and ELIZABETH With Triumphall Encomiasticke Verses consecrated to the Immortall memory of those happie and blessed Nuptials DEDICATED To the illustrous Lampe of true VVorth the noble Ingenious judicious and vnderstanding Gentleman Sir IAMES MVRAY Knight VNto the prospect of your Wisedomes eyes I Consecrate these Epithalamies Not that I thinke them worthy of your view But for in Loue my thoughts are bound to you I doe confesse my selfe vnworthy farre To write in such high canses as these are Which Homer Virgil nor the fluent Tully In sitting tearmes could scarce expresse them fully But since the Muses did their bounties show And on me did poore Poësie bestow I hold it best to play the thankefull man To spend their guifts the best wayes that I can And not like pedling Bastards of the Muses That like to Lawyers liue on Times abuses Thus vnto you I giue it as it is Desiring pardon where there 's oughts amisse Your Worships Euer to be commanded in all integritie IOHN TAYLOR THE FIGHT BETWEENE the Ships and Galleyes I Did not write nor publish this description of fire and water tryumphs to the intent that they should onely reade the relation that were spectators of them for to such perhaps it will relish somewhat tedious like a tale that is too often told but I did write these things that those who are farre remoted not only in his Maiesties Dominions but also in forraine territories may haue an vnderstanding of the glorious Pompe and magnificent Domination of our High and mighty Monarch King Iames and further to demonstrate the skils and knowledges that our warlike Nations hath in Engines fire-works and other military discipline that they thereby may be knowne that howsoeuer warre seeme to sleepe yet vpon any ground or lawfull occasion the command of our dread Soueraigne can rouze her to the terrour of all malignant opposers of his Royall state and dignity But to the purpose In the representation of this Sea-fight there were 16 Ships 16. Gallyes and 6. Frigots of the which Nauy the Ships were Christians and the Gallies were supposed Turkes all being artificially rigg'd and trim'd well man'd and furnished with great Ordinance and Musquetiers one of the Christian fleet was a great vessell or a supposed Venetian Argosey and another was a tall ship as it were appointed for the safe Connoy of the Argosey And for the auodying of the troublesomnesse of Boats and Wherries and other perturbatious multitudes there was a lists or bounds made with Lighters Hoyes and other great Boates to the number of 250 or thereabouts the one end of the Lists was as high almost as Lambeth bridge and the other end as low as the Temple staires and so fastned to the South shore or the vpper end of the Banke on Southwarke side in the forme of a halfe Moone or Cemicircle So that boates might passe vp and downe the Riuer betwixt London side and the Lighters any way The aforesaid Turkish Gallies lying all at an Anchor ouer against Westminster in a Hanen or Harbor made artifically with Masts and other prouision 60 yards into the Riuer which harbour or hauen was belonging to a supposed Turkish or Barbarian Castle of Tunis Algiers or some other Mahometan fortification where the Gallies might scowt out for purchase and retire in againe for safeguard at their pleasure About two of the clocke on Saturday the 13. of February the aforesaid Argosey and the Venetian Ship her conuoy sets forward fromward the Temple and driuing vp with the wind and tide till they came as high as Yorke house where 4 Gallies met and encountred with them where vpon a suddaine there was friendly exchanging of small shot and great Ordinance on both sides to the great delectation of all the beholders the Drums Trumpets Fifes Weights Guns shouts and acclamations of the Mariners Souldiers and Spectators with such reuerberating Ecchoes of joy to and fro that there wanted nothing in this fight but that w ch was fit to be wanting w ch was ships sunke and torne in peeces men groaning rent and dismembred some slain some drowned some maimed all expecting confusiō This was the māner of the happy famous battell of Lepanto fought betwixt the Turkes and the Christians in the yeare of grace 1571. or in this bloudy māner was the memorable battell betwixt vs and the inuincible as it was thought Spanish Armado in the yeare 1588. but in the end in this friendly fight the ship and Argosey were encompassed round by the Gallyes and surprized and taken whereupon the whole fleet made towards them to rescue them and reuenge their receiued iniuries Then there was a Beacon fiered by the Turkes which gaue warning to the Castle and the Gallyes of the comming of the Christian Fleet Then all the Ships and Gallyes met in friendly opposition and imaginary hurly-burly battalions then the lofty instruments of Wars clamorous encouragements sounded the thundring Artillery roared the Musquetiers in number lesse volleys discharged on all sides the smoake as it were eclipsing Titans refulgent Beames filling all the Ayre with a confused cloudy mist. The Castle and the Land adiacent continually discharging great shot in aboundance at the Ships and the Ships at them againe so that after this delightfull battaile had doubtfully lasted three houres to the great contentment of all the beholders the
themselues agreeued lately because they thought the Bottles were made bigger then they were formerly wont to bee did wage Law with the Lieutenant Sir Geruis Helwis by Name in which sute the Lieutenant had beene ouerthrowne but for such witnesses as I found that knew his right for a long time in their owne knowledge But I hauing had the gathering of these Wines for many yeares was at last Discharged from my place because I would not buy it which because it was neuer bought or sold before I would not or durst not venture vpon so vnhonest a Nouelty it beeing sold indeed at so hugh a Rate that who so bought it must pay thrice the value of it wherevpon I tooke occasion to take leaue of the Bottles in this following Poem in which the Reader must bee very melancholy if the reading heereof doth not make him very merry IOHN TAYLOR BY your leaue Gentlemen I le make some sport Although I venture halfe a hanging for 't But yet I will no peace or manners breake For I to none but Leather bottles speake No anger spurres me forward or despight Insomuch plaine Verse I talke of wrong and Right The looser may speake when the Winner wins And madly merrily my Muse begins Mad Bedlam Tom assist me in thy Rags Lend me thy Army of foule Feinds and Hags Hobgoblins Elues faire Fayries and foule Furies Let me haue twelue Groce of Infernail luries With Robin Gooasellow and bloudie Borre Assist my merry Muse all euery one I will not call to the a The 9. Muse. Pegassian Nine In this they shall not ayde me in a Line Their fauours I 'le reserue till fitter time To grace some better businesse with my Rime Plaine home-spun stuffe shall now proceed from me Much like vnto the picture of we b The picture of two Fooles and the third looking on I doe fitly compare with the two blacke Bottles and my selfe Three And now I talke of three just three we are Two false blacke bottles and my selfe at jarre And Reader when yon reade our cause of strife You 'le laugh or else lye downe I 'le lay my life But as remembrance lamely can rehearse In sport I le rip the matter vp in Verse Yet first I thinke it fit here downe to set By what meanes first I with those Bottles met Then stroake your beard my Maisters and giue eare I was a Waterman twice Foure long yeare And liu'd in a Contented happy state Then turn'd the whirling wheele of fickle Fate From Water vnto Wine Sir William Waad Dâ—â— freely and for nothing turne my trade Ten yeares almost the place I did Retaine And c I filled the two Bottles being in quantity sixe gallons from euery ship that brought Wines vp the Riuer of I hames glean'd great Bacchus bloud from France and Spaine Few Sâ—ips my visitation did escape That brought the spright fuil liquor of the Grape My Bottles and my selfe did oft agree Full to the top all merry came We three Yet alwayes 't was my chance in Bacchus spight To come into the Tower vnfox'd vpright But as mens thoughts a world of wayes doe range So as Lieutenancs chang'd did customes d The Wines had beene continually brought into the Lieutenants Seller of the Tower for â—16 yeares and neuer sold till â—â— of late within this foure or fiue yeares change The Ancient vse vs'd many yeares before Was sold vnto the highest Rate and more At such a price that whosoe're did giue Must play the Thiefe or could not saâ—e and liue Which to my losse I manifestly found I am well sure it cost me thirty pound For one yeare but before the next yeare come 'T was almost mounted to a e It was sold at these hard Rates by another Lieutenant an honest religious Gentleman and a good House-keeper by the perâ—wasions of some of his doubled diligent Seruants double summe Then I in Scorne Contempt and vile Disgrace Discarded was and quite thrust from my place There Bacchus almost cast me in the mire And I from Wine to Water did retire But when the blinde misiudging world did see The strange vnlook'd for parting of vs Three To heare but how the multitude did judge How they did mutter mumble prate and grudge That for some f Against all the world I oppose my selfe in this poynt but yet â—â— purpose to confesse more then any man can accuse me of faults I surely had committed I in disgrace thus from my place was quitted These imputations grieu'd me to the heart For they were caustesse and without desert And therefore though no man aboue the Ground That knew the Botles would giue Twenty g Except he were a Foole or a Madman pound Rather then I would branded be with shame And beare the burthen of desertlesse blame To be an Owle contempâ—uously bâ—wondred I would h I did â—eareth at that Lieutenant was to leaue his place which made me bargaine with him at any price in hope that he would not stay the full Receiuing which fell out as I wished it giue threescore fourescore or a hundred For I did vow although I were vndone I would redeeme my credit ouetrunne And 't is much better in a layle to rot To suffer Begg'ry Slauery or what not Then to be blasted with that wrong of wrongs Which is the poyson of Backbiting tongues Hoysted aloft vnto this mounting taxâ— Bound fast in Bonds in Parchment and with waxe Time gallop'd and brought on the payment day And for three Moneths I eighteene pounds did pay Then I confesse I play'd the Thiefe in graine And for one Bottle commonly stole twaine But so who buyes the place and meanes to thriue Must many times for one take foure or fiue For this I will maintaine and verifie It is an office no true man can buy And by that reason sure I should say well It is vnfit for any man to sell For till at such an extreame rate I bought To filch or steale I scarcely had a thought And I dare make a vow 'fore God and men I neuer playd the Thiefe so much as then But at the last my friendly starres agreed That from my heauy bonds I should be i That Lieutenant left his place by which I was eased of my hard payments freed Which if I euer come into againe Let hanging be the Guerdon for my paine Then the k By this Lieutenant that now is old custome did againe begin And to the Tower I brought the Bottles in For which for seruing more then halfe a yeare I with much Loue had wages and good cheere Till one l A desperate Clothworker that did hunger and thirst to vndoe himselfe most valiant ignorantly stout Did buy and ouer-buy and buy me out Thus like times Footeball was I often tost In Dock out Nettle vp downe blest and crost Out-fac'd and fac'd grac'd and againe disgrac'd And as blind Fortune pleas'd displac'd or plac'd And thus for ought my