THE RETVRNE of the Knight of the Poste from Hel, with the Diuels aunswere to Pierce Penilesse Supplication.

HAuing consumed the beginning of Incredibilis [...] caecitas homin [...] &c. Aug. my youth with vanitie, and the lat­ter ende with hope, finding in the first, the error of nature, in the latter the weakenes of mine owne iudge­ment, willing to recouer past losses with present thri [...]tfulnes, I betooke my self to a more setled and constant Mens imm [...] [...]anet lachrin [...] voluuntur in [...]nes, Virg. course of [...], which being sutable to mine vnambitious spirit, as not promising any unweeldie aduancement, yet did it show me assured grounds, how I might attaine to a certaine comp [...]tencie, which euer was th [...] greatest height of my naturall couetousnes: this to ef­fect with such substantiall and sound workemanshippe, as might both withstand the fury of present stormes, and the ru­tuating of after consuming Time, I beganne and stained the bu [...]ding of my fortunes, vpon the fayrest, the goodliest, and once the strongest colombe of this Kingdome, by whose sup­port I risse to all that I desired: for my desire was no more, Heureux est ui la, qui plus en ne desire then by it I enioyed: but behold, whilest my blind content­ment seducing my more blind affections, made me forget this Philosophie, that vnder the Sunne, there is nothing immor­ta [...]l, and that Times workes, like Penelopes webbe, are prima quae tam dedit, [...] carpsit. done and vndone, made to day, and to morrow defaced: I [Page] know not whether they were blinde Moales, or fearefull Conyes, politique Fo [...]es, or flattering Badgers, but sure­ly all or some of them enuying the beautie of so goodly a Py­ramedde (whose plaine luster defaced others counterfeite bright [...]esse, and whose well fashioned strength might haue supported the Counsell Chamber of Princes) by a tedious and long labored vndermining at length ouerthrew him in­to the foule muddy lake of most detested Lethe, with whose fall my selfe was vndone, and many others perished: blame ra [...]ument i­a, nigrescunt [...]guine venae, [...]uid. me not, if I toare my hayre, beate my breast, curst my birth, talkt [...] to the ayre, and like a mad man forswore all mediocri­sie in my moanes, when I saw the expence of a double Pren­tishippe, rewarded with this altogether vndone Fortune, my passion augmented my frenzie, and my frenzie (though confu­sedly, and without proportion) calde vp into my remēbrance all the accountes of mine owne stupiditie and blockishnes, as hauing not formerly eyther armde my selfe against these ge­nerall euils of mankind, or else by a dayly expectation, haue beheld no more then for what I continually waited, but when the wearinesse of my troubled thoughtes began to take some rest, through better consideration, and that I beheld my selfe like an orphan, left to the world hopeles and comfortles buil­ding new castles in the aire, and strange Eutopian common­wealthes in my fantasticall braine, found at length both by mine owne experience, and others iudgements such crosses, such calamities, and such vnresistable miseries in all the cour­ses of life to which man can any way eyther dispose himselfe, or his meditatiōs, that like the ofspring of [...]iobe, I became a weeping stone, hauing no sence in me, but insensible coldnes riguisie ma▪ Ouid. whereupon willing to impart some part of my cogitations, I beganne in verse to write after this manner.

After I had in this rude manner rymed out my Cura leues lo­q [...]tur ingē ­tus stupent Sen. passions and as it were discharged mine afflicted minde of much woe by this former meditation, I began to tosse my thoughts vp and downe a thousand seuerall wayes, and to thinke with my selfe what new course were best for mine vn dertaking, the losse of my former time made m [...]e loathe ser­vice, distrust the warres, and feare the courte, as being too olde for bondage, tos poore to buy prefexment, and too plaine by flattery to gaine aduancement, wherefore finding my selfe vnfit for those thinges to which most men fit all their disposi­tions, I began to looke into my selfe and to the sto [...]ke from whence I was deriued, where I found my pedegree was not obscure, nor my disc [...]nt vngentill, but what availeth high mat ches vnto lowe meanes: hence I began to locke into what mine auncestors had left behind them, and I found that their prouidence left inough both to renowne their names and inriche their posterity, to part of which I knewe my selfe might both by the lawes of God and nature iustlye challenge a title, vpon which gauel [...]kind estate prese [...]ing, I instantly resolu'd to forsake the cit [...]ie, and wholy to betake my selfe to a country habitation, where liuing poorely I might yet liue In solis [...]is tibi turba locis contentedly, which hauing done aud framed in my selfe euery thing sutable to the course I intended, being at my first ariual rauished with the homelie delights of the countrie, I could not forbeare to write in verse this country conunendation.

But after I had in the countrie spent many yeares, ex­pecting much, but obtaining nothing, and found that the te­nour in our Northerne partes, was a meere contrarie, to the [Page] charitabie Custome of thrise happie Kent, this vnequal Fee-simple, allotting yonger Brothers but the simple see of contempt and Beggerie, when I say I saw those, whose onely fortunes, were but to exchange a sonie trencher, ride before a Cloke-bagge, or but carry a sworde and vnckler out-scrippe me, and out-braue me (by an vnequall distributi­on) euen with that patrimony, for part of which doubtlesse I was once created, yea when I saw nature her selfe, (whome Philosophie had made the excellent mystres of all thinges,) now become the vg [...]est monster of all ages, serpent like deuouring vp the issue of her owne bowels: when I saw neglect in parents, tyranny in Brethren, and contempt in kinsfolke, when I saw fooles a aduanced, Philosophers dis­pised, straungers feasted children starued, gold enough to pur­chase toyes, charitie too little, euer to enter heauen, when I saw Monkeis cherisht in mothers lappes, while Children cride for want of cradles, new fashions purchast with al un­modestie, old manors solde to maintain thriftlesnes when all this I saw, what could I doe but cry,

And in that passion comparing the Cittie and Countrie to­gether, and finding them of sutable ilnes, I resolued with Astopho, that since there was no better, and that as Ma­chiuell holdes, we must necessarily conueise with the euill, that it was my best to chuse the best of euils, whereupon dis­chargeing my hopes, and praying for my persecutors, I packt vtque in s [...] sua per vestigia voluitur ano [...]s Virg. vppe my baggage, and made a maine backe againe for the Cittie, which how euer ch [...]den by the Puritanise, the Hu­morist, or the Satyrist yet in mine experience I foūd it more charitable then the Countrie Uulgarist but my horse was no sooner ariued within the pr [...]ts of [...]hordich, where bountie is so super aboundant, that men may commaund bo­dies, as fast as the deuill desires soules: when I beheld at euerie dore a weapon, at every streetes end a guard, and at euerie gate a petty regiment, I coulde not chuse but wonder and presage that some notable, famous and vnweakeable vil­lanie [Page] should be the occasion of this seuere & diligent care­fulnes, yet againe remembring with my selfe, that since the blessed comming of his most excellent Maiestie, I had not beheld the Cittie gouernment: I halfe supposed that this strict obseruance was grounded vpon some strayt [...]r ruling the vulgar multitude: so that loath to discharge mine owne ignorance, I [...]oroare to make inquirie o. that I most desired to vnderstand, the rather sith I behelde the generalitie thereof, which was equal [...]e demeaned throgh the whole Cittie: in the end comming into Powles, to beholde the old Duke & his guests, and to see if greate Christophers rome were not equaled with nob e Fran­cis and famous Philips Tombe: I beheld, all things af­ter the olde fashion, in the ende walking downe into the great market place of confused discourses, I had not taken aboue two or three turnes ere I obserued this: that gene­rally all men, whose talke I could ouer-heare, seemed one­ly to discourse of one Subiect, praysing God, that had re­uealed a must horridde, and not to be imagined treason, & biterly cursing those monsters and monstrous men, whose [...]uelish braines could contriue a damnable Proiect, worse then euer the Diuell himselfe dreamde of, at least much worse then euer was thought of in former ages▪ for no re­ligion could cloake it, no Atheizme could maintaine it, nor could any reuenge be imagined of so infinit and dam­nable greatnes, for the plot made no respect of Gods an­nointed, no conscience of his elect nor no care of many thousand innocents: as hauing onely this end to bring the most fluorishing empyre of the world to à most sad, wofull, and eternall desolation: this vniuersall discourse as I gathe­red here and there a word, and ioynde them together in mine own thoughts, made euen my hayre, rise with the terror thereof, yet insomuch as I could not gette a perfect vnderstanding of the matter in my walking vp and down, I much more diligently lookt about, to see it I could dis­cerne any of mine acquaintance, of whome I might en­quire, [Page] the truth of this hyddcous conspiracie: but my long absenc [...] had robd me of olde acquaintance: From the great wal [...]e I went to the Usurers alley, where hauing taken a turne or two, I might perceiue the argument of th [...] tie in the hundred, and the coos [...]ning the law, with an o [...]e stale [...]ricke of the life of a stranger was quite layde a­side, and the bringing of the Lumbard out of Germany, into England was quite forgotten, and they as the former (though fo [...] merlie they had neuer reioycste at any mans [...]) now were infinitely well pleased with the disco­u [...]ri [...] of the execrable conspiracie, but [...]ull my selfe was not bettered in mine owne knowledge. From thence I went into the Intelligencers gallerie, where the Prote­ousles of this age hold their conuenticle, men that change their religions a [...] ost as the Marchants wife her smocks, that had seuenscore for her shift, and esteeme more of a Spanish Crusado, or a French sous, then eyther of the allegiance to which they are bound by nature, or of honesty which should make them acceptable in mens so­cietie: these men albeit they are no better in reputation then common executioners, and that all their Proiectes haue but these endes, eyther to entangle, or strangle, yet as I might ouer heare some odde parcels, of their broken Spanish, Italian, and French Apotheges, I found (O myracle) a certaine contyence in them, with a bitter de­testation, and hatefull condemning of the former practise. Now whether it were Enuie in them, that the Deuill should select worse Agents then themselues, or that grace being not vtterly banisht, toucht them with the thought of such bestiall vnnaturalnes, I know not, but certaine it is they like wise condemned the inuention, and reioy [...]st at the preuention, which when I noted, I was much more enflamed then euer I was before to vnderstand the substance, the rather when I considered, how God and good men fooles and fantastickes, slaues and villaines, & euen all sortes of people, from the [...]est to the worst, ioynd [Page] in one generall, applauding Gods mercies, that had brought to light a treason of such not to be imagined mon­strousnes: whereupon looking vp and dawne at last, I espied a fellow with a hunger staruedlooke and an en­uious gesture, with a threede-bare cloake, and an halfe but­ [...]onde doublet, with a necke almost ru [...]les, and a waste all girdlesse, with torne breeches, and vngarterd stoc­kinges, his shooes cut, and his toes vncouered: this fellow mee thought as he walkte more discontentedly thē the rest, so did he in my conceite, vse more serious and b [...]sie action to himselfe then any other, and albeit he was alone, yet did he vse such earnest demonstrations, as if hee had beene declaiming before a multitude: to him I went, and priuiledged by the basenesse of his habite at the first I askte him what newes hee heard in the Citty; why (saide he) are you such a straunger, that you heare not the newes; truely, aunswered I, I am but newlie come to the Citie, and haue not as yet heard of any passad­ges: why quoth he) the Parliament-house, the Kinges Maiestie, the Queen the Prince of Wales, the Lords spiri tual and Temporal, the Commons of the Kingdom, and all that eyther had attended them, or come to behold thē, should this day haue beene blowne vppe with Gunne­powder: Now, the Lord in Heauen defend quoth I (and withall started backe:) what? hath there beene seene any visible Deuils abroad, that should haue acted that vgly tragedie, for sure no man or mankind could eyther haue the braines to contriue, or the handes to execute such an h [...]ride and inhumaine treason: But (sayd he) Deuil me no denils, they may hereafter through iudgement proue Deuils, but as yet they are men, which bo [...]h con­triude, and should haue executed: Haue you, (quoth I) heard any of their names▪ their names (replied he) why: I am of familiar acquaintāce with them all, he that should haue executed, and was like wise a contriuer, was one Guy do Faulkes. The especial Plotte-layer, was Tho­mas [Page] Piercy, Robert Catesby, the two VVinters, John VVright, Christopher VVright, and din [...]rs o­thers: truely (aunswered I) you doe but delude me, for these sellowes, were of such vnder qualitie, and so sarre from hope of aduancement, by the [...]u [...]uersion of the com­mon-wealth, that except all [...]entrie should be rooted out, and nothing left but their families: I see not which way they should haue raisde their fortunes one steppe higher: [...]s for Faukes I neuer bearde his name before, for Per­cie, I knewe him long since, at what time he was reputed a good honest geutleman seruingma [...], one that [...]urst fight, and had fought many t [...]l frayes, by which meanes he got loue amongst men, and credit with his Lorde and Maister, but for any estate worthye to bring him into the eye of the common wealthe, or for any wise­dom worthy to bee called into a common coūsel or for any sinceriti [...] in religion, fit to be a lantherne to others pathe [...] they were attributes then as farre from him as he by this plotte is farre from a good christian, there was in him a [...]alure which had it not been estrangde from vertue might well haue brought him to account, but neuer to the office of a crowne bestowing.

Nowe for Catesby, I had also some knowledge of him too, whom many men esteemed in times pastfor a gentil­man of a good franke nature, and of a sociable disposition, one that coulde well tell how to set vp a rest at primero, or to throwe a paire of Dice out of his hardes with the best comelines. But for me [...]ling with matters of estate or alteration of kingd [...]s, I neuer knew any foole so mad, as to hope of aduancement by his fortunes. Yet this in [...]haritie I must say of him, he had a secret greatnes of [...]pi­tit which had it like wise had no acquaintance but vertue, might haue deser [...]d much good both of his King & Coun­try: as for VVinters they were mē like Faukes out of my [...]llement therefore I thinke of them as of the [...]e de [...]d [...], that they are the worst of past and present remembrance, but [Page] for the two VVrights, though they were men with wh [...] I had little or no acquainiāce: yet were they men of whom I haue heard many vild discourses & therfore likely to be the ministers of euil, The elder of thē was infinitly proud, yet not so proud as ingratefull, for being v [...]terlye without any certaine meares more then the reuenue of other mens purses, yet was his generall ostentatiō that he was beholden to no man. His vertue was a good oylie tongue, that with easie vtterance beguild many weake attentions and a formall corriage which contemning others heapt vpon himselfe a selfe commondations, his vsuall boast was that he scornd felt hats, he loude dublets lined with taffat [...] [...]nen of twenty shillings an elle, silk stockings, neuer v [...] d [...]r twenty angels in his pocket, and his horseat least of fortic poū [...] reckoning, this being wrought onely by cifers I scarde would euer in the end bring vpon him the Romō iudgement Detur carnifici, & the rather in that I knew his youth was loose and adulterate, his middle age proud and contemptuous, and therefore his ende like to bee des­perate and treacherous: for the younger Wright, he was in show blockish, and clownish, in disposition currish, and as his samiliars reported, by facultie theeuish, so that he was ofter carractred in my Lord chiefe Iustices records, then in the callender of those that should marke men for good imployment.

Now these thinges considered, I can but wonder and stand amazed, that such wormes as these should goe about to vndermine so glorious and strong a gouernmēt, the ruines whereof, coulde not chuse but trus [...] them into many peeces, but the Dinel whose time is but short, more extreamely rageth. And this last Iron age, must of ne­cessitie be the mother of Monsters, mischiefes and prodi­gies. Why (replied this threede-ba [...]e fellow,) Do you hold this Position, that Pouertie is no fitte Agent for villany, at [...]s you are much dece [...]ued, they are the onely corner­stones on which the diuell [...]ecteth his Empyre, for to [Page] them, he preposeth wealth, glory and aduancement, the onely contraries to their fortunes: and what dooth man Communi vi­tio naturae vt inuisis, latitan­tibus atque in­cognitis rebus, magis confida­mus, vehemen tiusque exter­reamur. Cesar. li. 2. naturally most couet, but what he most wanteth: againe, where shall you finde more pride then in beggars, more contempt then in slaues, and more reuenge then in weake­nes,: O you are too simple, if you th [...]nke not these men fit for massacre. I hearing him talke thus, beganne to looke somewhat strangely vppon him, and demaunded of him what he was, & of whence, that being so disorderlie at­tired, could so fubtlely order his wordes: I am (quoth he) to tell you truely both in essence and nature a spirite, which taking vpon me this humaine shape, runne vp and downe to encrease these mischiefes, and to enrich Hell, which is my maisters kingdō, briefly, I am a knight of the post, & that knight of the post who about som tē years agon cōuaide the supplicatiō of Pierce Pennilesse to the Deuil my Maister: I hearing him talke thus, tooke vppe my hand and blest my selfe, but after, casting away both feare and amazement, I told him that I had many times reade the Supplication, wherein Pierce did describe the Knight of the Poste, to be a neate [...]edanticall fellow, in the forme of a Cittizen, and you looke (quoth I) like a [...]atterde out-cast, that should hide himselfe from the Pro­nost Marshall, why Sir (said he) Thinke you the Deuils Factors shift their shapes no o [...]ter then wilde Irish womē their smockes, O you are deceuied I am a Cittizen, but for Cittie occasions, as to bayle v [...]thriftes, to defeat cre­ditors, to abuse iustice, and to c [...]s [...]n Innocentes. I am sometimes an Atturney, sometimes a Pr [...]ctor, very [...]ltē a Parrator, I haue worne a Barresters gowne, and whē neede requires, a cornerde Cappe, I haue a short furde cloake, and a paire of Spanish lether Bu [...]kins, I haue a suite of the best fashion, white Pumpes, and a guil [...] Ra­pier, I haue a great scarfe, a short skrine, and a paire of starcht Mutchatoes: in briefe, what can I not counter­feite, when eyther the Diuell will haue me conicatch men [Page] of their soules, or the world of reputatiō. Beleeue me (quoth I) you are a desperate Iugler, but since it is my fortune, to fall thus foule vpon your beggarly Knightshippe: I pray thee let vs leaue all former discourses, and tell mee, how thy maister accepted poore Pierces Supplication, truely (replied he) at first hee was very angrie, as wel for troubling him in those busie times; when he had great affaires of estate in handling, as also for so plainely laying open the politique stratagemes, and secret de [...]ises, which he himselfe and his seuen Counsellers had of so long time beene in compiling for spéedy meanes to bring the world into his subiection, yet in the ende being infinitely solicited by my importunicie after the fashion of the worlde, rather to ease himselfe of vexation, then for any good he en­tended to Pierces sute, gaue me by word of mouth this answere, which I abrupt­ly after writing downe, you may heare reade in this paper, following

The aunswere of the high and mighty Prince of darkenes Don­sel Del Lucifer, King of Acheron Stix & Phlegeton, Duke of Tarta­rie, Marquesse of Cocytus, and L. high Regent of Limbo, to the Supplication of Pierce Pennilesse

THe tenor Pierce of thy supplicati­on comming into our all confoun­ding fingers wee coulde not chuse but out of our damnable inclinati­on, take bie displeasure, both at the vnreasonablenes of thy demād and at thy too plain vnfolding of those sinnes, by which we aduance the power of our kingdome, yet to satisfie in some part the earnestnes of thy solicitor we haue out of our inferuall sinfulnes returnd thee this answere.

For the rent thou challengest due to thine vnhallowed purse, wherein I haue kept reuels so longe a season, I tell thee there is none due from me as neuer hauing taken possession of the tenement, nor at any time delighted in such vast vnfurnished places, for I tell thee how euer blindnes by my suggestion hath perswaded, yet is there not any place wherin I am better entertained, or bestowe my ma­lediction [Page] in greater aboundance, then amongst the in­finite he apes of idolatrous Crosses: therefore I may not suffer my seruaunt Auarice to disfurnishe my Treasurie, till bringing a certificat from my publique notarie dispaire he witnes thee apt for villanye, and then I will not onely take the aduantage of those vsurping Cormorants which without letters pattentes take vpon them my highest offices, but by a secret way which leades vnto damnation bring thee to heare the conference of Gold my all preuailing orator. I know there be a great sorte of good fellowes that would swimme through ale and blood, and many needy lawyers that mourne in thryed-bace gowns that would forsweare speaking either true latine or true law, so they might com to be Goldes acquaintance. But I tell thee Pierce it may not be, least hauing what they de­sire, they being glutted leaue to desire what I would haue them: or gold being too generally made the slaue [...] slaues leaue his power of inchanting great persons: therefore I thinke it fitte to straiten some parte of his former libertie & by the extremitie of his absence make men run mad for his presence, so that the very hope of him shalbe prized a­boue a soules-fafetie, for which purpose I haue sent new directions to my seruant Greedines and to his assistants Famine, Lent, & Desolation, that they shalbe more seuere in their gouernmēt, and lesse prodigal of the libertie of gold then formerly they haue beene. I will haue them teach the world, as Courtiers do Fātastiques that the only fashion & beutie of this age is to be immoderately miserable, and to make Bountie and Hospitality of vilder reputation then a great bellid dublet, or a payre of vnbombasted venetians. Attili [...]s Regu­lus▪ I wil haue them teach Generalls of armies, y ^t it is better to forsake there charges, then to endure the losse of a plow share, or a horse teame, I wil haue them teach consuls that Cato the elde [...]. it is better to sell their horses then prouide prouender: that to trauell a foote showes strength, to ryde sloth, that a gowne of freeze is warmer then a robe of scarlet: I will [Page] haue them teach Emperours that small traines are great treasures, and that honourable and full courtes are but Scipio A Emili­anus. Homer, Zeno Tibenus Grac­cus hordes of enuie and nests of ambition, I wil keepe learning poor and vnrespected, least if he be aduanced my kingdom be consumed, generallie I will haue them ere the dissolutiō of the world make euery thing worse then it was in the time of the old sages, for recompence where of I will cloath my seruant Greedines in Monopoles, Morgages the lands of Orphans and the liuings of Churches: yet I tell thee my poor Pennilesse supplicator I wil not be so infinit in my tyrannie, but that gold my prisoner shall haue some recreation, and at great feastes and pageant-playes ligh­ten out the glorie of his beutie, nor will I keepe him so vt­terlye without the comfort of society, but that he shall euer haue one of the seauen pillars of my throne to be his play­mate, and sometimes attendant euen Pride, which as thou sayest raigneth in the heart of the Courte, and The seauen deadly sinnes peruerteth all vertue, shall not onely assist Gréedinesse in this designe, but shall so farre exceede in all inhumane pride and incomprehensible ostentation, that her former mo­numentes, and her former vnnaturall ambitions shalbee rekoned as types and shadowes of great humilitie, alas thy sillie chothier shall bee but the cypher of an vpstart, who beeing nurst in Tauernes, taught in Brothelles, & The vpsta [...]te confirmde in Theaters, shall so quickly be discouered by the eye of the i [...]dicious, that brought into contempt by the weakenes of his owne demean [...]r, he shall be able to enrich my Kingdome with nothing more then his owne hanging. There must bee in this decrepednes of the worlds age, vpstartes of an other condition, those on whome Nature hath bestowed excellent benefites, as a comely forme, a rype witte, and a ciuill, or an vnambi­tious disposition, whome Education hath made learned, rōmerce, beloued, and obseruation full of perfect iudge­ment: Upon these shall Pride showe the power of her Internall D [...]tie: Into these shall shee i [...]spue such a [...]enome [Page] of selfe affection, that beeing hood winkt with the follye of imaginarie greatenes, they shall transport all their actions beyond the lymits of Pietie or reason, ac­cusing and condemning all present thinges, as eyther go­uerment or fortunes, and onely fixe and amuse their co­gitations vpon future actions, Hope, Feare and Desire, Calamitosus est animus futuri anxius: Sen. drawing into their mindes this Position, that to doubt of what is to came, is to be ac [...]rtainde of present sorrow. Hence shall it proceede, that they shall raze out of their re­membrances, this Philosophie, Know thy selfe, and fol­low thy businesse, which comprehen [...]ing all dutie, makes men leaue other mens businesse, to thinke of their owne actions and not to correct, but to bee well chastisde: but they giuing loose raynes vnto Folly, shall liue vnsatisfied with all thinges, till the world impouerisht, can boast of nothing, but chiefly of this, that it is not vertuous: nay so farre shall Pride exhale and draw them vppe vnto om­nipotent ilnes, that when they shall with their owne euil­seeing eyes behold the vilnes of their wicked passages, yet shall they seeke to glorifie themselues in their deathes strangenes, which how euer it be odious to God and his Angels, yet shall it bee to them pleasant, in that the like wickednesse hath not beene before repeated: insomuch that like the dying Frenchman, neyther looking backe­warde to sinne, nor forward to saluation: they shall in their last gaspe expect nothing but a tumultuous Fune­rall.

Besides, to such weakenes shall the Pride of their own thoughts bring them, that like him that excéedinglie troubled with the stone, beeing forbidden the taste of sli [...]y and grosse meates in the extreamitie of his worst fittes, sound ease in rayling against milke, cockles, and carba­nadoes: so they for aspiring to darte mountains against ventus vt a­mittit vires ni­si robore d [...]s [...] occurra [...]t s [...]l [...]ae [...]p [...]tio diffusus [...] Lucan. the heauens, shall finde no comfort, but the acusing of their owne consciences, how euer formerly they had resolude v­pon this principle, That Fury wanting a Subiect, on [Page] which to be furious, is Fury of no estimation.

Thus shall their soules loose themselues in themselues and not being content with those reasonable Obiects, for which it was created, loose both the worke of aduance­ment, and the fast holde of saluation. Pride shall make these ouer wéening great ones resemble fantastique Ladi­es, whose affections being estraunged from those lawful and honourable obiects on which they ought to be imploi­ed, rather then they should perish in idlenesse to bestowe them too excessiuely on Monkeis, dogs, & parokitos de­ceiuing the passions of the soule by a false and vncomely obiect so they estranging their labours and studies from moderation and iustice, shall imploy them vppon building Pannonis hand aliter post ictū saeuior vrsa, &c Lucan. Castles in the ayre, conforming states and ouerthrowing Kingdomes, like brute beastes, bitting the stone that hurt them, or appeasing theyr woundes by new woundes of theyr owne making: they shall with the Persian whippe the Sea, and challenge mountaines to combat: they shall besiege riuers, and seeke reuenges against mightie houses, nay in the ende, when their actions shall bee opposed by diuine prouidence, they shall with the prophane King vow hate against the Almightie, binde their thoughtes from adoring, their tongs from speaking, and their harts from beléeuing the truth of the tryple Deitie: These are the vpstartes of this last age; who hauing all the ornamentes in which any deceite can bee couered, shall so much deceiue wisedome with her antique and painted garments that truth shall not be respected, albeit he goe clad in neuer so great plainnes.

Next this vpstart thou placest the beggerly and The politician. counterfeite Politician, as a cumber to the common­wealth, whose knowledge is but a sulien Pride, and his discontent a beggerly need [...]nesse, who being but a foole by nature and a knaue by practise, commonly bee pernicious to none, but men of lesse and weaker vnderstanding, but there bee Politicians of an other moulde, of an o­ther [Page] spirite, and of an other vnderstanding, Fel­lowes that hauing gotte experience by obseruation, and vnderstanding by much reading, that with labour hauing attaind wisedome, and with well spent howers that good which might do good to their country being ready to deli­uer up a fruitfull haruest of their toyles shalbe so corrup­ted with pride, that disdaining any vertuous scale (whose straite steps shall renowne the aduanced) they shall hold in contempt and derision all manner of promotion, if at one iumpe they may not sit cheeke by ioule with the highest maiesty, as if princes eies could in this tumultuous world behold and vnderstād mens desarts by their outward appa­rances: hence shal issue the damnable proiects of treasons, murders, and subuersions, and hence shall men forsake to be maisters of their owne goods, so they may be slaues to forraine ambitions, from hence shall come the marchan­dise of crownes, the sales of cities and strong fortes, the ex­change of gouermēts, the shipwracke of soules and altera­tions of religions, these are they that shall maintaine oppositions, hold intelligence with the factious, and discover the weakenes of their owne cradles, and in the end hauing sworne themselues the hangmen to execute all damnable iudgments, shal like old hangmen bring their owne necks to the cord and dye with confusion.

What shall I do speaking of these prodigall heyres who The prodigall young maister. like filthie weedes are no sooner sprung vp but the sithe is readye to crop them, doth not their lasciuiousnesse poyson their bodyes as fast as their prophanes their soules, or can the world say he sees them, ere the graue saith he hath them tut they are but bubbles in water and records in sande.

And albeit the gates of hell are made much wider then they were for entertaining there multitudes, yet doth their riotes, their lustes, their periuries and their blasphemies bring none into hell but those of their owne damned quali­tie, the yong maisters that shalbe of the worldes last fra­ming, shalbe at least of the age of three score or vpwarde. [Page] Fellowes that hauing par [...]im [...]iously, basely and gree­dily heapt vnto themselues great masses of wealth, by vsu­rie, extortion, and all vnlawfull exactions, shall in the end with the ticklings of pride haue such an itch in their soules, that what with the searching of the old records of gentrye to finde a name that should sound somwhat neare to their predecessors, what with bribing of [...]erraulds to confirme and linke together their genealogies, what with riotous ex­pence to gaine a little vulgar worship amongst their neigh­bours, what with building princely houses, for the monu­ments of their magnificence, or els what with braules and controuersies in lawe about the precession meare of the next Lordship they liue to consume their owne hoardinges and in the end dying miserably leaue a forlorne issue which retaining the blood of their parents ambitions, become ei­ther amongst their neighbours theeues, or amongst stran­gers traitors to their King and country, these are gallants that we are somer garments on winters body, who hauing ten moe diseases then can be reckoned by a horselieche, thinke of their liues as of their sinnes that they shall neuer be cald in question.

Next these thou placest the pride of the learned, whose combates and controuersies troubles all the worlde pride in the learned with their franticke disputation. Why, where were the Diuells kingdome if they were brought either to a peace­full vnitie, or a charitable conformitie, tut there be new se­ditions inuenting to keepe them at an eternall enmitie, so that the weake being confounded and the ignorant missed there shalbe both a doubtfulnes of the truth, and a defence of false opinions how absurd & vilely soeuer it be grounded: they shall suggest scriptures to maintaine heresies and cite the old fathers of the primitiue church to defend a new si­nagogue neuer before this last age harde of or imagined: they shall spurne at magistracie, and go about to confound authoritie, which being too strong a bulwarke for their vndermining, they shall what their sharpest tooles to digge downe the immortall seate of royall maiestie: but whe [...] [Page] their strokes shall rebound backe into their owne bosomes they shall in the furye of their prides like windie bladders swell till they burst and become vnprofitable for the mea­nest vses.

Another sorte shall denie the reading of holy writ, the forme of meditation, the vse and number of sacraments, the papists function of the elect, the congregation of the belieuing, and heape such infinite authoritie vppon a sinful mans iurisdic­tion, that casting faith into that ende of the wallet which euer hangs behinde them, they shall rob the great almigh­ty both of his true homage and alleagance and in the ende when their batterie shalbe able not to moue one stone [...] christianitie, they shall like true souldiours of hels king­dome, practise to make such mines and vndermininges as may blowe vp all truth and religion with vnmerciful gunpowder, adding vnto Cattelins conspiracye and all o­ther treasons how vilde soeuer great showes of charitie in comparison of their inhumanitie.

After these shall followe Herillus and his legions, who being selfe conceited and ouer weening in their own learnings, Neuters shallhould no heauen, no religion, nor no felicitie but the rarenes of their owne knowledges, affirming it to haue sufficient authoritie to make men wise, happie, and vertuous, binding grace and truth within limites of their studies, as if arte being the mother of vertue, and ignorāce the nurse of viciousnes, the one coulde not erre, nor the o­ther attaine any perfection: forgetting this principle that God oweth his extraordinary assistance vnto faith and re­ligion and not to our passions, these are they which haue iustice in their mouthes not in their heartes, making reli­gion but a show to show their other knowledges, lending nothing to deuotion, but the offices that flatter their passi­ons making their zeale worke wonders when it assisteth their dispositions, towardes hatred, crueltie, ambition, couetousnes, defamation and rebellion, but towardes piety, be nignitie and temperance it goes like the s [...]mmer tropique [Page] retrograde and backward, so that religion which was made to roote out vices shall by these proselites, be made to shrowde, foster, and prouoke them.

Next these shal rise vp publique Atheists who although Atheists. they shal haue in euery afflictiō & danger, som feeling of the great deity yet shal the infinite pride of their prophanes disavow the acknowledgement, and loath to be repentant because their fa [...]thes are planted but by the cowardlines of their heartes, and established by the weakenes of their apprehensions, beléeuing onely that which they beléeue, because they want courage not to vnbeléeue: and faine vn­to themselues, that Hell and after tormentes are onely but shadowes, and fictions, till summoned eyther by old age, sicknesse or authority, to giue an ende to their brea­thing, they then féele that horror which bringes them vnto hell, with their onely Companion Desperation: These Pierce are the Factors that make rich Sathans Common-wealth, who neither by compulsion nor reason being brought to acknowledge their Maker, only confirme themselues in Atheisme, which is a Position as mōstrous and vnnaturall, as it is hard and vneasie to be established in the mind of any reasonable Creature.

Next learning thou peticionest against the Pride of Ar­tificers, pride of Artifi­cers and gen­ [...]y. where the needie Taylor will imitate the neate Nobilitie: Alas, a small faulte, if there were none proud, but Taylors, who being the impers of Peacockes plumes may best borrow some of their broken feathers: but doe but cast thine eye aside, in after ages, and thou shalt see a Water-bearer as braue as a Sea▪Captaine, and a Cobler as curious in his acoutermentes, as on Candle­mas day at night, an Innes of Court Reueller, why hée shall not be accounted worthie of a trade, if hee will not aduenture more then halfe his cleare profites, to adorne his bodie beyond eyther his degree or vocation, and some like the Duke of Florence foole, weare all their wealth on their ba [...]kes onelie, but this excesse béeing Male and [Page] Female, shall bring foorth into the world millions of pro­degies, so that streetes shall be pestered, Theaters bur­dened, conuenticles [...]lled, and Churches thronged with ga [...]dymen and painted women, who like the kings of Mexico, shall haue more seuerall shifts of cloathes to ad­borne their bodies, then vertues to imbellish their minds, their almes being god help you, and their bribes a cast sute or an once worne Reba [...]o, these are they which shall metamorphize seruingmen to lackeyes, the loue of their neighbors to the lusts of their fond thoughts, great houses to a citie chamber, and good hospitalitie to [...] penurious miserie, till bringing pearles from America, Iewels from India, silkes from Arabia, perfumes from Cataya, furs from Muscouia, Monkies from Barbaria, Tobacco from Trinidada, [...] Fashions from Italia, Fooles from the Ile Cithaera, and lying kna [...]es from Creta, they as lauishly spend as they vnconscionably gott, till shaking handes with beggery they make their last wills and Testaments in the bottom of some dungeon, whilest those vnworthy creatures that rise by their downfalles, start vp into their promotions, and make a scoff of them by whom they were formerly advanced: these and a thousand more such trans­uersions must be wrought before the worldes dissolution, euery nation is full of the worldes faultes, nor shall they be clensed til the al-confuming fire of heauen purge and re­store againe the olde Chaos. Therefore Pierce content thy selfe with this, that the world cannot be amended, till it be quite ended, for as yeares grow, euils grow, & men alwayes estéeme that best, which is of the latest fa­shion.

Now to conclude, that Pride may be compleate in Of En [...] ▪ all his proceedinges: there is sent into the worlde cer­taine Furies of Hell, who in the habites of Petty-fog­gers, or vnlawfull Lawyers, runne aboute to disturbe Peace, and ouerthrow friendship, to breake the bonde of nature, and the chaine of allegance, by ringing in mens [Page] [...]ares, the properties of mine and thine, the beuty of com­mandement, and the glory of large possessions, that it is fit eyther to be none, or else alone, That to imitate Prin­ces, is to be without Competitors, and hence it springes, that Enuie being an Assistant with Auarice sets all the world together, by the eares. These Ministers of the infernall Kingdome, abusing Law with Law, and mis­construing the iudgements of most learned Sages, with the base corruptions of their muddie consciences, these are they which haue double tongs, and two▪ folde soluti­ons, one for priuate discourse, and an other for publique profite, like the Athenian, who hauing giuen two contra­ry resolutions of one question, and being taskt therefore, replyed, He had giuen the first at the Table, where was no profite. The second at the Barre, where was both gaine and glory.

Thus doe they despise mens ouerthrowes, and make a scoff of their own wickednes: These are they that make as many rightes, as men haue powers to put chase and as many wrongs as there be emulous thoughts fit for contradictions. These are they that maintaine beg­gers to contend with the wealthie, that hauing gotte them into their nets, they may make a pray of their ri­ches: These when Contentions grow irkesome, spread foorth the false roabe of arbitration, and making them­selues the vmpyers, proue conscience to bee more coretou­sly tedious, then Law was bitter and wastefull, yea, their quirkes, their quiddities, their iudgements, reuerst by er­rors, their errors imagined, and not proued, their tedious references, and their purchast reportinges, shall make men so runne madde with rage and discontentment, that euen dispay [...]e shall swelt himselfe with labour to instruct men how they shall be ridde of the world and her troubles: These with their contesting behauiours, and wrangling action, with their clamorous voyces, and vnblushing countinances, shall bring such a scandal to that mest excel­lent [Page] corrector of vice, and fountaine of reason, that the very name thereof shall be as fearefull to Wisemen, as the name of Talbot to the French, or a Bugge-beare to an infant. Nor shall Enuie spende all his power vp­pon these Subiectes, but like a shape-chaunging Proteus alter euerie hower with euerie seuerall fashion, not somuch but the Courtes of Princes shall bee infected with his poysons: Nobilitie dreaming of Maiestie, and states­men how to get noble Titles. Fooles enuying the pre­fermēts of the Wise, and Wisemen offended with the too much respect, that Fooles haue gotten: Flatterers shall euen gnaw their owne heartes, to sée plaine dealing in authoritie, and plaine dealing shall with himselfe vnder ground, to see Flatterers become Pedants to the choisest dispositions, nay, I will tell thee Pierce, when the highest Maiestie shall adorne thy Countrie with all these infinite and immortall blessinges, which neuer before were séene, so generallie to flourish ouer any Nation, when hee shall send a power that shall close vppe the Ianus of domesticke garboiles, and vnreuealed discontentments, that to a ge­nerall warre shall bring an vniuersall Peace, that to ver­tue shall bring honour, to desert, rewardé, and to euerie seuerall estate, his seuerall aduancement, euen in those dayes shal Enute be waking, and murmuring against his pleasures, rayling at his Followers, and making scoffes of those, whome his hand hath graced, in the ende run head­lōg into those dānable protects of vnnatural treasons that euē wickednes it selfe, shalbe ashamed it was euer inuēted.

Enuie hauing thus glutted himselfe with ilnesse, and brought his Agents to the ruine, for which he preserued them, he shall then for his recreation take vppon him, the habite of a woman, and as a Tennis-court fittest for his pleasures, bandie his balles vppe and downe in wo­mens bosomes. Hence shall it come, that age and defor­mitie, enuying youth, and beautie shall fetch from Italy, France, and the low-Countries, a second nature, which [Page] though it be bastarde and abortiue, yet shall it bee royallie entertainde, as the goodliest Creature, couering wrinkles with Ceres & Cinaber, & bald heades with golden Peri­wigges, or browne Gregoryans, hauing this vertue that though all the sinnes of their liues be repeated before them e [...]en in plaine and vnglosed Phrases, yet shall they no more blush or seeme to be ashamed, then at the reporting of a tale out of Orlando, or a Sonet out of Portes or Stella. Hence shall come the alteration of Attyres, the new▪ fanglenes of fashions, and the mask-like disguises of intemperate spirites, this day enuying to morrow, & the morrow enuying the day that ensues it, and all but to this end, that making themselues by their disgrace, gracious in the eyes of their Fauourites, they may enuiously con­found them, and themselues together: nor shall this poy­son bee particularly bounded within any restrayned ly­mit, but shall in such vniuersall sort be cast ouer the whole world, that the Court, the Cittie, and the Countrie, shal goe together by the eares,, which shall bee renowned for pryme inuention. As for forraine Enuie▪ home-practi­ses shall witnes, I meane the Enuie of Rome onely, where [...]urther kéeping an Apothecaries shoppe, com­poundes Medicines, to impoyson all Christians. Oh were it not for the bloody doctrine of that Church, Hel had wan­ted a greate number of her chiefest Burga-Mai­sters.

Next after Enuie, thou complaynest of this mindes perturbation, Wrath, who being not so greate as En­uie, Of [...]ath. is yet in his Nature, as busie to aduance the dignity of Limbo, as any of the former, not like Enuie, looking on­ly alost at starres and hie obiectes, but like a more humble slaue of sinne, neyther regarding persons, nor degrées, makes all thinges his pray with whatsoeuer hee encoun­treth, hee is no Dwar [...]e, nor is hee of swarthie visage yet indeede he is chollericke and of a hastie nature, displea­sed both with right and wrong, both with warre and peace [Page] ful proceedings, he hath as many shapes as the former, and doth change his vizardes as ofte as great men their resolu­tions, nor ma [...] his euils be taken from the earth till the golden age be brought backe, and Saturne and Ops re­stord to their old commandement: he sometime lookes like to a Bedle, that whippes beggers out of the streete & cha­ritie out of mens bosomes, banishing with the sight of the needy the remembrance of commiseration, whilst the right vagabond indeed with a brasen face of ostentation ouer­comes the bedle, and ouer braues the Constable.

Another while he walkes like a promoter buying and selling for 6. pence a pe [...]ce the whole volum of the pennall statutes, but if once he be crost or want but two pence of his reckoning, then doth he rage like a wild-boare and layes his soul to paw [...]hel▪ by periury rather thē loose one iot of his reuengement. He hath the garments of a Citie magi­strate, and then he cries revenge against all that stoode be­twixt him and preferment shadowing crueltie vnder the law, mallice vnder vpright gouerment, and▪ vnexcusable, iniustice vnder wāt of better information, sometimes he is in a countrie iustices garments, and then woe vnto all that be of a contrary faction, for then they looke not into mens estates but into their loues, not what they are able to spare, but with whom they are most willing to spend, & then they lay subsidies on the poore, great loans on borrowers, and strong troubles on weake resisters, who shall goe to the warres but the sonne of the widdowe, the steward of the aged, or the bridgroome that comming from the church is but newely marryed. But resteth wrath thus? No, hee hath in euery degree a seuerall designe, and though not in this present age: yet in times past hee hath beene seene to sitte inscarlet, from whence euen to the dung-hill hee hath spread the venome of his nature, and is no way to be apeased but either by the siluer I­mage of some of the Lords annointed, or with the cordyall luster of some golden Angells, both which haue power to [Page] appease anger and to insinuate freindshippe where hate was the extreameliest conceiued: after wrath hath thus se­uerally transformed himselfe, he shal lastly take vppon him the shape of a monster, and shew himselfe more vgly to the beholder then those which are seene in Nilus, or the Ba­boones in sturbidge, for he shall haue the head of an Asse, the body of a Toade, the feete of an Asprea, and the minde of a Serpent, which forme when he hath taken vppon him he shall wholy giue himselfe ouer to detraction and falling in hate with al things, and al creatures dispise whatsoeuer in the world is held comely or decent, the ministrie of the word shall not escape his reproofe, but tasking their chari­table labours and despising their Doctrin, show the prophanes of his poysonous rancor. Learning which onely plucks the vizard from his ougly face shalbe spotted with his re­proches (yet clēsed againe by her own vertues) and he that shines the fairest in the eye of the best iudgements, shal the most be assailed with his lies and defamatiōs, nay the arts shall not escape his fury, saying Grammar is but an intro­duction to corruption: Lodgick a defence of vntruthes, Re­thoricke the beautie of sinne, Musicke the [...]awde to loose­nes, Arithmeticke an index for grosse rememberances, historie the store-house of treasons, and Philosopie the mo­ther of cowardise: with a thousand such like chimeras fit to issue from a hellish study, but of all and of all poor Poetry▪ (yet is it not poor that is beloued of y ^• muses) shalbe a mighty block in the way of his malice, as wel because his guard is but nine woemen, whose armes are not vsed to weapons as also for that some illiterat intruderes who neuer hauing beene acquainted with any high contemplation, shall ad­minister to the world matter of much scoffe and foolery. To conclude there is nothing how ingenious, how comly, how fit soeuer to be preserued for after ages, but this mon­ster shall detract, maligne, and slaunder, and thinkst thou then it is fit to call such agents out of the world, the mul­tiplication of whose seed shall make hell an invincible mo­narchy, [Page] no they are predestinate to gouern til the last day, at what time they shall come laden home with rich spoiles and great tryumphes, in the meane space there shall go to consort with those furies the fury Gluttony, with whom albeit thou seemest to be mightely offended, yet so it is thou maiest see an increase but no waneing of his mischiefes, Of Glutton [...] for euen as promotions rise so shall this mischiefe grow bigger and bigger, he that with toile studies in the vniuer sitie shall with good cheare sleepe in a rich personage, and he that is painfull in in [...]eriour places shall ofte proue idle in the hyer offices so that gluttonye being made a coherent with Avarice they shall suffocate the world with the smoake of surfeit and disorder. what talkst thou of the Em­perours of Rome or of their vitious and excessiue disorders in their too [...]urious diets, descend thine eies into [...]ower times of thine owne rememberance and see if the triple [...]round monarke of that fatall Cittie, do not make them temperate, and well dyetted princes in comparison of his superaboundant fare, and intollerable magnificence, placing Peeters chaire at the vpper end of feasts, and preaching abstinence with a full gorgde stomacke, whom one of his Disciples imitating, vpō a vigil eue at night hauing eaten for his own share a box of Marmalad, a pound of Eringoes, besides preserued Cherries, Abricotts, [...]ride Peares and Poumcitherous, fel into an infinit and vncha­ [...]it able rayling against the protestants whom he tearmed flesh eaters and vnhallowed, thanking. God that he had that night as well satisfied him selfe with that [...]lender re­past as with all the flesh and grosse meates in a Princes kitchin, this was a fast fit for such a Saint, and thus doth gluttony riot euen with him that cals himselfe Gods vicar from his example came the abstinence of Cloysters who fast all Aduent, and eate nothing but chines of porke, tripes and puddinges, a thinne dyet for a lazy deuotion, and from them I thinke the Citty tooke their obseruati­ons, who beholding their teachers stray soe farre from tē ­perance [Page] armed with their institutions, gaue themselues [...] ­ [...]er to all ryot, all effeminacie, and all voluptuous and im­moderate eating, making all the feastes that eyther were instituted or inuented by Solon, or Numa, not compara­ble in the meanest degree with the weddinge of two beg­gers, or the supper of one of the Bandetty vpon his punke or Curtyzan. It is purposlesse for me to tell thée the excesse that shall arise in merchaunts, in gouernors, and in hyer people, when euen Theaters shall bee turned to Pul­pits, to inuay and giue example of their much riotousnes, and the super fluitie of their banquets, shall exceede the immoderate feast, wherein Alexander was poysoned at the Cittie of Babilon: there shall not be an Alphonso heard of, that will liue a whole day with one Apple, nor a Diogenes that will sustaine Nature with a Carret roote or a Parsenippe: There shalbe no more Molynes, that will exchaunge the State of Princes, to become Capu­chine Fryers, For gluttony shall alter all those Lectures and write, Ne quid nimis on euery great Mans Ta­ble: so that surfeites sooner then swordes, shall bring [...]oules in heapes into the infernall kingdome: nor shall Gluttony there rest satisfied, but sending his Handmaide Drunkennes forth of Spruceland, Danske & Belgia, Of drunkennes shal ouerthrow more, and worke greater disorder then all the feastes that eyther hath, or hereafter shall be inuented & that she doth the shall do with so good a grace, & with so amiable and facile a dexteritie, like a venetian fire-maker or a refined traueller, there shal nothing [...]e held commen­dable that is not grac'd with her fashions. Truth shalbe held doubtfull if not deliuered from a drunken vtterance, freindship shall not be embraced i [...] it be not bound with a drunken obligation, nor shall seruice haue his meritt if drinke be not a witnes to the protestation. To be briefe to drinke drunke shalbe as vsuall as good morrow in a mor­ning, good euen after noone, and God saue you at a high way incounter, for there shalbe no health, no service, no [...] [Page] no good wish which shall passe cum priuilegio, if it come not so ofte from the bottome of a full boule, that in the end the well wisher for want of sence drop vnder the Table: this is a notable proiect for helles enriching, when the fol­ly of blind men will attribute false titles of glory to the [...]ugliest sinne that is preserued in the kingdom of darknes and to repute themselues then the best men when they are worse then the basest that euer was created. Thou [...]elst me of the lawes of King Edgar for repressing this vice and keeping men within the compasse of moderation I tell thee there shalbe edicts publishst of greeter power and from a better wisedome from a King of all compleat per­fection and full of infinite detestation of these loathed a­buses, yet these s [...]ie insinuating Furies, shall haue so ma­ny labory [...]hes and Fore holes, to couer their maskte vildenes, that they shall neuer be quite banisht, whilest there hanges a Garland before a Tauerne, or a wispe at an Ale-house.

The lawes of Drunkardes thou hast repeated, and no doubt but they shall be much amplified in the next con­uenticle of sinnes, and for the Species of Drunkennesse, thou hast▪said as much as can bee reported, yet must they still continue in the world, some as Syrens, to entice straungers, some as Pedagogues, to instruct the not knowing, and some as Lacedemonian pictures, to giue a distast and loathing to such brutish and beastlie corrupti­ons.

After all these shall presse foorth the olde Beldame and nurse of these mischiefes, inayle-footed sloth, who ha­ting Of Sloth. all vertue, because it is Laborious, shakes handes with Industrie, & bidding adew giues himselfe ouer vnto all inst and sensualitie▪ from whence there proceedeth a thou­sand worse euils, then those which thou taskest: for if an idle drunkard, a baudy humorist, or a vagrāt vnthrist, were the worst fruites that Iolenes could produce. Then the [Page] Dropsie; the Poxe and the Gallowes, would like good Physicions soone purge the body of the common-wealth, of such solide yet weake obstructions▪ neyther woulde the infection be so mortall, but the smallest Antydote of vertue might preserue the weakest iudgement from perishing: but there be greater damnations begot by this Idlenesse, for when it once takes possession of a great spirite, and a ready witte, like the Positions of Machiuel. It obscures the remembrance of heauen, and castes vertue▪ into the Lake of Obliuion and then my young Maister siittes, with his hat euer his eyes; and in one hower, sendes his thoughtes Poste ouer all the worldes Monarchie, which once againe returning into his bosome, finde particular faultes, with al they haue suruayde in their wandring cō ­templation: There is no Religion but they will confoūd it, no gouernement but they dislike it, no authority but it is too austere, no Fréedome but it is too remisse, nor no customes but they shall be broken: Kinges are with them eyther Stockes or Blockes, and the necessarie Officers of a wall builte common-wealth, are with them but as a heape of Cyphers, without any figure, they will haue lawes, but they shall not punish, they will haue rule, but it shall obserue no order, and they will haue all thinges in good fashion, yet nothing without confusion. Hence doth spring treasons, Massakers, and surprises, the sale of duetie, and the sacke of Citties, the Creation of murther, and the crie of Innocents.

And hence dooth spring those e [...]ecrable Positions, which making reckoning of no God but their breath, nor no Heauen but the contentment of their o [...]ne affections, throw into the world as many blasphemies, as Northerne blastes throw parcht leaues on the ground after Au­tumne. One sayth, all loue must be to a mans selfe, or for a mans selfe, and not to trust at all, is the onely way to kéepe a man from deceite and circumvention, that rich [Page] promises must be seconded with poore performances, that honesty and dishonesty are of equall estimation so they serue in their needefull offices, that to giue reward to the well deseruing, is to loose the benefite of deserts to come onely by false hopes like the Syrene still to entertaine Vlisses, that a thankefull nature is as great a clogge to a Wiseman, as an execution to a poore Debtor, that vnséene dissimulation is better then playne dealing, that it matters not for mens affections, so they gaine mens serui­ces, that forbearance is the best reuenew, if in the ende it gaine what it expecteth, with a world of other, as to op­pose truth in an aduersarie, to despise the distressed, to make sale of iustice, to take bribes by vnderfactors, that it is vertue enough to gaine an opinion to be vertuous, that zeale is a hidden rocke in a rough Sea, that that Religion is best that best fitteth mans purposes; that men of the sworde are like Physitions or their vrinalles, good but in extremitie, that to kéepe hie spirits from rising, is to kéep low thoughtes from doubting, are not these Rules of a religious disposition? Why, this is the fruit of sloth, whē it is companiond with hatred, contempt and mans weake­nes, and euen from this sinne issues more scandals, more re­proofes, and more defamations to common wealthes, thē from all the other, percedent furies,: therfore how busie so­euer she bee in the world, yet in hell shee hath the quietest lodging with the greatest torment.

Now in conclusion like a bynding fillet to knitt toge­ther all those disorders which best order the Diuels pallace thou complainst of Slothes fairest daughter, the mind—in­chanting O [...] Lechery Lecherye, she that with a burning desire ouer­throwes reason and with a furious and vnrestrainde ape­tite murders all the good motions of mans minde and lea­ues no monumēt or place where vertu was acknowledged whom although sterue-gouerning Philosophie reports to be a pleasure bought with tormēt, a delight be got with vn­rest, [Page] a content companiond with seare, and a sinne that hath his ending in lamentation. Yet is shee a ne­cessarie minister of hell and the deuils only Lumbard who takes most soules for interest what though wisemen say shee is a théefe to the purse, a disease to the body, a rotte to the minde, a consumer of the witt, a madder of the sences, and a mortall poyson to the whole fabricke of mans com­position, yet is shée pleasant euen in the depth of perdition and like a load-stone directs men with desire to ruine and destruction, yet is not her powerfulnes showne as thou suggests in shorditch Curtezans, or Southwarke brothels, not in base persons, nor in knowne Burdelios, those places be rather Lacedemonian tables which with liuely pictures and demonstrations present to wandring eyes, such ou glines, such loathsom [...]es, such terror, such affright, & such abhomination, that if there be left in the hart of man but one halfe liueing sparke of grace, if there be in him but the shadow of shamefastnes, but one touch of honour, but one pecce of a cleanely thought, if he desire to be but in the lowest degree of vertue, and not to be the worst of all that are accounted vitious, he cannot chuse but in beholding their shamelesnes grow either vtterly to detest [...]r at least to forbeare the pollution of such noisome and stinking excrements, so that these pub­liquc, knowne, and noted damnations, confound none but such as were in their natiuities long before damned for a thousand worse iniquities. The pride of lustes gouerment & the conquest of her charmes consists in greater and more subtill obiects, such as haue modesty in their lookes, chasti­tie in their behauiours, and heauen in their words, that publish fasts for humilitie, prayer for exercise, and learning for a defence against inchastitie, those that weare a deathes head vppon their finger, that go to their bedds as vnto se­pulchres, that meditate on the generall iudgement, and measure the paines of Helles infinite tormentes, these [Page] when slothes childe doth inchaunt with her lasciusousnes she makes Wisedome wonder, and weakenesse imitate the follyes of their affections, these are they that enrich Hell, and minister vnto the worlde matter of infinite dis­coursing: These are they that in the most beutious work of nature, in the richest embroderie of Arte, that vnder the Crowne of Honour, the spheare of innocency, the pro­tection of seuere education, and all that euer can bréede reuerence or admiration, lappe wantonnes in chast gar­mentes, and imaginarie silence, deluding themselues with these Principles, That sinne is no sinne, being eyther shadowed with greatenes, authority, or concealement.

Hence came the first inuention of those skinne-coates, or artificiall vissardes, wherewith now a dayes is cloa­thed both youthfull and decayed nature, least according to the first preordination which ordained the face to be the index of the minde by which should be defended or accusde all secret consultations, there might nothing bee left close or entire to the corrupted conscience, it is not a Lais with publike sale, but Helen with priuate stealth, it is not a Clodius, but an obscure Anselmus, not a doating Dola­bella, but an insorcing Aiax, not a wanton Horace, but a lustfull Ouid, that doth either enrich the worlde, or heape vp infinite spoyles in the kingdome of darkenes: wherefore Pierce euen this sinne and the other fiue, as they marcht formerly in thy Supplication, may neyther yet be vtter­ly razde from the earth, nor stolne from mans memorie, least the golden age turning backe contrarie to all nature, there neyther bee left Subiectes for idle pennes, talke for fooles, nor habitation for the vitious, to the great sur­charge of Hell, and impouerishment of the earth, which shall holde no reasonable creatures, if they bee not eyther saintes in their conuersation, the worldes fooles, or childrē not aboue the age of seauen.

Now to conclude that Pierce Pennilesse may find the [Page] deuil as gratful to him as in times past he was to the [...]e [...] ­lous painter, and that thy want and pouerty shal not bring thee to too sodaine a desperation euen from these seauen great trees of damnation, and from the fruit of their brā ­ches from whence all euills both knowne and concealed receiue their tast, their relishe, and their season: shalt thou and euery other Genius of learning whose crost fortunes and neglected vertues, haue no other meanes or sustentati­on, then what shall issue from a worne Penne, and a more wearied meditation, receiue the merite of prayse, reward, and admiration? for why, there shal be such a poyson spread through that little worlde, where Poets haue their mo­uings and euery guilded vnderstanding shall so delight to tickle his itching sence, eyther with Satyrical bitternes, or lasciuious beastlinesse, that albeit they see the very image of their owne thoughts and the pictures of their faces as liuely as in a christall fountaine, yet shall selfe-opinion so ouermaister their acknowledgements and blindnes make them so misinterpret the colours of their soules garments, that as if May-games were to bee pre­ferred before the Triumphes of Princes, the blasphe­mies of Brothelles, before the Orations of Demosthe­nes, and the story of Gollart, before the commentaries of Cesar they shall giue no merit, no prayse, no satisfaction to any thing that is more solide then an Attomie or mors moral then a plowmans salutation the reason being that those for the most part which should giue learning his right glory and with their bounteous handes vpholde the muses in their all peacefull contemplations, are so vtterly illiterate, and so scornefull to acknowledge the antipathie betwixt them and pure science, that accounting al things ridiculous which are not molded in Barbarisme, and all writings ridles which are not drawne from Purilis they [...]o like Iack Cade and his companions think themselues and others best spoken when they speake nothing but their [Page] mothers language Hēce proceedeth the contempt of lear­ning, the disgrace of wisedome, and the burial of the muses hence shall it come to passe that the loftie Poem wherein the soule of arte shalbe celestiallie infused, and the rare a­mazing passions of life stirring tragedyes shalbe both neg­lected & vnrewarded, whilst wanton Clio in her comicke lasciuiousnes vsurping vppon the entertaine of her ill-iudging fauorites, shall spread such new fashions in the court of mens vnconstant affections, that animated by the applause of their enduring sufferance, she shall like a Curtezan of the first defiling by vse of euill, make men thinke, there is no goodnes, but the euil which so much she bosteth: bashful modestie shal become blockish stupidity, & the serious labor of art, shalbe the weary tediousnes of the mind, al the graue subiects of vertu & prowes, & at those noble histories which giue eternity to the worthines which died in past ages, shall in th [...]se times be by h [...]ng serpents banisht from publique audiēce, & nothing alowed of which doth not either moue laughter by imaginarie wa [...]o [...]nes, or by plaine and grosse vncleanlines, the Emperour Max­imilian shall haue no linnen breeches when he is dead to c [...] his nakednes, nor shall the Lord of Mountaignes cu­riositie in concealing the priuate offices of nature be alowd amongst our worldlings for any rule of decency, but euen as one of our Gallenists maintaind in a declamation, it shal­be no shame to speake any thing which nature doth not shame to perform be it neuer so great secretnes, out of this applause and sufferance shal most famous wittes euen such as are able io enchaunte Angels with sweetnes to moue sencelesse trées with admiration and to make adamantine Rocks melte with the hearing of their passions desist and breake off from their more serious studies wherein the gra­uer Muse had woont to exercise, honourable loue, immortal prowesse, or deuine meditation, and fall to display the vul­gar humours of deiected natures whose excelling ilnesse being decyphered by excellent witts which make the vil­dest [Page] subiects glorious by there handling shall so please h [...] the accademies of Arts & Fashions that others lesse power full séeking to flye with their feathers shall rippe vppe all the gra [...]es of Sc [...]litie, & common market places of [...] ­th [...]s, and there withall so ouer presse and loade all eares & attentions, that as if there were nothing but follie, wor­thie the chronickling, all vertuous actions shall be eyther forgot or vnspoke of. Hence shall it come to passe, that sa [...]dges which neuer behelde the true beautie of fayre buildinges, or ta [...]ed the comforte of ciuill societie, as [...]a­uingledde wilde liues with disorder, ryot, violence, and all barbarous [...]mēt, shal take vpon them like wis­sards or Pa [...] to vnderstād or fore-tell all the imperfections [...] [...], which euer haue raigned in court, [...] or [...], as if they were the thoughtes of [...], the [...] of magistrates, or the desires of the [...] that neither vertue, place, honour nor beauty shall [...]y shieldes or defences against the pier­cing [...] of [...]ce and [...], but only the indiffe­re [...] ▪ [...]gements of the w [...] and the contempte of [...] which bitternes howeuer arti [...] with the [...]e banishing garments of learned Saty [...] ▪ are [...] the sinne nourishing or ingē [...]ring parēts of the m [...] wor [...] [...]teaching by correcting▪ and ina­bling [...]e [...]kenes [...] erre, by the strength they [...]Spand [...] in t [...] pl [...] [...] err [...], so that they shal trans [...]ert this sa [...].

[...]cum est [...]onum scientia, et malum vnicum Ig­ [...]oranti [...] ▪