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PHILOMYTHIE or PHILOMYTHOLOGIE wherin Outlandish Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, are taught to speake true English plainely.

By Tho: Scot Gent.

Philomithus est aliquo mo­do philosophus: fabula enim ex miris constituitur.

The second edition much inlarged.

LONDON for Francis Constable at the white Lyon in Paules church:yard. 1622

TORTI TOTO MVNDO

A PRAEMONITION TO THE INTELLI­GENT READER.
Lest hee finding his affection or opinion crost in the praise or dispraise of some particular, should thereby be drawn to reade or reiect the rest with Praeiudice.

WHO safely in the streame would swim,
Must free from weeds keepe euery lym;
Lest sl [...]e vnto himselfe he grow,
And vulgar humour drawes him low;
Or v [...]n [...]ring in the deeps (too weake),
Opinions windie bladder breake.
" We ought both in our selues and friends,
" To hate all acts with doubtfull ends;
" And loue euen in our foes the good
" Which may be seuer'd from their blood.
[Page] And if the times mislead vs so,
To sooth those sinnes we would not do;
At least (like free-men) let vs thinke
What's good and bad, although we winke.
To this free nature if you finde
These busie papers much inclinde;
Yet pardon them, and i [...]dge ar [...]ght,
A free man (not a slaue) did write.
Reade for your pleasure, close the Booke,
On th' innocent out side all may looke.
Th' intelligent within may prie:
But barre th' Intelligencers eye.
THOMAS SCOT.

SARCASMOS MVNDO: OR, The Frontispice explaned.

HOw apt is Man to erre? Antiquitie
Thinks it sees right, and yet sees all awry.
Our sight is impot [...]nt, the helpe we haue
By aArt-full sp [...]ctacles, doth much d [...]praue
The truth of obiects; And tradition saith
Bookes vse to ly [...], And bBookes d [...]ny her faith.
Ecclipses of the Sunn [...] were wonders thought,
Thales.
Till sage Milesi [...] the cause out-sought.
And man had not the wit to make a doubt
Of halfe the world, till fortune found it out.
Columbus.
But what this Age hath s [...]ene, makes that s [...]eme truth
Democr. Alex. Ma [...].
The laughing wiseman wrote, which made the youth
Shed teares to reade it; that more worlds remaine
Still vndiscouer'd then are yet made plaine.
De [...]pe diuing Paracel [...]us findes the ground
With minerals and mettals to abound;
More proper for our humors then the weed [...]s [...]
Hearbs, plants, & flowers, which spring from weaker seeds [...]
This earth we liue on and do stedfast call,
Copernicus proues gid [...]y-brainde, and all
[Page] Those other bodies whose swift motions we
So wonder at, he setled finds to be.
Till sanctifi'd
The f [...] ­e [...] o [...] the e [...]uits.
Ignatius and his brood
Found out the lawfull way of shedding blood,
And prou'd it plainly that a s [...]bi [...]ct might
Murther [...]is Prince we fondly vsde t'indite
Such persons of high treason: Now before them
We kneele, we pray, we worship and adore them.
[...]e mireris [...]bsecro, s [...] ationes de [...]s [...]fe [...]re [...]on po [...] ­i [...]a: saris [...]ctu [...] pu­ [...]re debes, i non mi­ [...]us proba­ [...]les quam [...]u [...]uis ali­ [...]s, [...]ationes [...]ttuler [...]m. [...]e [...]uum [...] [...]st memi­ [...]s [...]e & m [...] [...]ui disierā, & vos qu [...] udicabitis [...]omines [...]ste: vt s [...] [...]babilia [...] [...]hil [...] req [...] ­ [...]tis. [...]la [...] in [...]imaeo.
For with their merits now w'ar [...] mor [...] acquaint [...]d
And know for zealous Pa [...]riot [...] they are s [...]incted.
His power that doth it, till of lat [...] we do [...]bted
But now who qu [...]stions it to death are flout [...]d.
Th [...]n l [...]t what I propound no wonder s [...]eme,
Though doting age new truthes do dis­esteeme,
For time may mak [...] it plaine, and reason too
May beare it out, though sure with much adoe.
Causes for [...]g [...] [...]ff [...]cts by course of kinde,
Yet first th' [...]ff [...]ct and then the cause we finde.
And so much I do here, propound the thing,
But strong [...]r reason af [...]r-times may bring.
Attend my Doctrine then. I say this Earth
On which we tread, from whence we take our birth,
Is not, as some haue thought proportion'd round,
And Globe-li [...]e with s [...]ch zon [...]s, and girdles bound,
As Poets or (more lyer [...]) Tr [...]u [...]ll [...]rs s [...]y,
But shap [...]d awry, and lookes another way.
It is a monstrous Creature like a M [...]n,
Thrust altog [...]ther on a heape, we can
Distinguis [...] no part, goggle cyes, wide mouth,
Eares that reach both the poles from north to south,
Crump-shouldr [...]d, breast, & back, & thighs together,
The legs and feet all one, if it hath [...]ither.
[Page] In breefe it is the greatest Master D [...]uill
Thro [...]ne downe from heauen, in whose womb [...] euery cuill
Is radically fixt, and from thence springs
Infusing natiu [...] euill, in all such things
As it doth bre [...]d and nourish. The place of H [...]ll
Is in his wombe, there lesser deuils dwell.
And when he stirres a limme, or break [...]th winde,
We call't an earth-quake, and the danger finde.
Kings, Emperours, and mighty m [...]n that tread
In [...]ighest state, are l [...]ce vpon his head.
The Pope and all his traine are skipping [...]leas
That know no bounds, but l [...]ape lands-law and seas [...]
The r [...]st are nits or body-lyc [...], that craule
Out of his sweat, s [...]ch vermin are we all.
From heauen this monster fell, and now doth lye
Bruzde with the fall, past all recouery.
Neither aliue, nor dead, nor whole, nor sound,
Sinking, and swimming, in a sea profound
Of sinn [...], and punishment, of paine, and terror,
Of learn [...]d ignorance, and knowing error.
No wonder then, that we who liu [...] and dye
On curs [...]d earth, do all things thus awry,
Being monstrous in our mann [...]rs, and our minds,
And mixing in the lust-full change of kinds.
That we are full of passions, doubts, and feares,
And daily f [...]ll together by the eares.
No wonder that the Cl [...]rgie would be Kings,
Kings Church-men; Lords and Ladies equall things;
So like in painting, spotting, starching, all,
That Ladies Lo [...]ds, and Lords we Madams call.
For euen as Hares change shape and sex, some s [...]y
Once [...]uery yeare; these whores do eu [...]ry day,
[Page] So that Hirquittall and his wife were waken
By Succubus and Incubus, mistaken.
No wonder that Diuines the Parasites play
In ieast and earnest; Actors euery way.
No wond [...]r that some the [...]ues doe Lawyers proue,
Since all these euils by course of nature moue,
So f [...]rre; that it is question [...]d 'mongst the wise
Which now is vertue, and which now is vice.
Two Croo [...]backs (not the third Dick Gloster, hight,
We will haue none of him, for he would fight)
Debate this question, each assumes his part.
Aesope for vertue stands, and all his art,
Is to instruct the world to leaue the sinne,
And folly, which it lyes incompast in;
We [...]ps to behold it circled so with vices,
Whose serpentine and poysond sting, intic [...]s
To f [...]ding pleasure, and to deadly paine,
By vse soone caught, but hardly left again [...].
He wries his necke at earth; but 'tis to see
How out of order euery part will bee.
He wills each R [...]der if my tales be darke,
To iudge the best, the morall still to marke.
And w [...]ere they finde a doubtfull meaning, there
To hold an eu [...]n course, and with compass [...] stere.
But where strict rigor might inforce a doubt,
T [...]incline to [...]auour, and to helpe me out.
On th' other side doth learned [...]ort [...]s stand
Concomitant, and beares the world in hand
That Aesope and some Stigmaticks beside,
(In shape and wit) did call well-fauour'd Pride
A vice, because themselues were so deform'd,
At euery pleasure they with malice storm'd;
[Page] But wiser much, he doth with better face,
With equall wit, worth, knowledge (but lesse grace)
Confront such fond assertions, lookes awry
On all the world of vertue, giues the lye
To iudgement, and with crooked minde and backe
( T [...]sites-like)vnloades this learned packe.
He teacheth first that Aesope was a slaue,
"But Man's free borne, and freedome ought to haue,
"To worke h [...]s owne good pleasure, fayre content;
"Who liues not thus, hath his whole life mis-spent.
This rule he followes, and laies violent hands
On all; that his pride, lust, and will, with-stands.
Calls his affection reason; his desire
And appetite, sets all his world on fire.
His childe, his wife, his neighbour, or his friend,
Is for his pleasure lou'd; without that end
No King, no great Lord, can forget so soone,
And slight d [...]sert; as he hath often done.
Bastards are true legitimates, he [...]aith:
And enemies then fri [...]nds, haue far more faith.
His n [...]ighbors are most strangers, and before
A modest wife, he likes a shamel [...]sse whore.
For many whores (he [...]aith) he often kept
Without disturbance; but one night, hauing slept
In twenty yeares with his true wife, th' assault
Of many Sumners did correct the fault.
What we terme cowardice, he doth valure call,
And in that valure he exceedeth all.
An oyster-wife once beat him; brauely hee
Bore all her blowes, but wanted heart to [...]lec.
He will on Sundaies with an Abbot dine,
On Frydaies, with a brother Libert [...]ne.
[Page] And euery day drinke health's vp to the eye:
He treads not right vnlesse he treads awry.
The Maa of sinne himselfe, is not more free
In doing all forbidd [...]n sinnes then hee.
For what he spea [...]es or te [...]cheth, writes or reads,
Only speaks p [...]easu [...]e, aud to pleasure leads.
Had
[...]he [...]ault Seneca [...] Sir [...]as [...]erbury.
Ner [...]' [...] froward Tutor too precise)
Been like our Philo [...]rch [...], ple [...]sure wise,
And pliant to all humors but the good,
He had with [...]ur [...]ts dyd'e, not lac [...]e of blood [...]
Learn'd A [...]tine he reads, and can expound
His modest pictures with a touch profound.
That part is his of [...]uery tongue, and ar [...]e,
Which stricter Ia [...] tremble at, and starte
To hear [...] recited. This, this man is h [...]e
Who on the forefront you with Ae [...]ope see.
Ae [...]op [...] that loo [...]es awry on all m [...]ns vice;
But this on vertue casteth scornefull eyes.
Ae [...]ope m [...]kes birds, beasts, fishes, sp [...]ake and liue
As if t [...]eir liues should M [...]n example giue
To pr [...]ctis [...] vertu [...]. This (with apt beheasts)
Doth teach all men how to becom [...] li [...]e beasts.
And [...] w [...]ose life these creatures m [...]st res [...]mble
Comesn [...]rest tru [...], and s [...] doth lea [...] di [...]emble [...]
Th [...]t Nature is the best g [...]ide, if w [...] pl [...]se
To follow her, then we must [...]ollow [...]
For these obser [...] her rules, and are not spoyl'd
By arte, nor haue their able organ [...] foyl'd
With abstinence and lac [...]e of vse, but still
Dir [...]cted are by appetite and will.
Looke on [...] front.
In Kings he would no other vertue see
Then what in Lyons, and in Eagles b [...]e:
[Page] To prey on all, to make their will a law,
To tyr [...]nnize, to rule by force and awe,
To feare no higher powers, to do no good,
But liue to gl [...]t themselues with guiltl [...]sse blood.
Courtiers he would h [...]ue fas [...]ion'd like to apes,
So fond their gestures, so d [...]formde t [...]eir shapes:
So full of idle imitation found,
That scorne in them, our stages might confound.
That they should starch & paint white, red, blew, yellow
And then all blacke, that other fooles might follow.
Diuines of Owl [...]s he would haue learne to shrieke,
As if they hated all the world did like;
But hauing got a tree and Iuy bush,
He then would haue them mute, and dumbe, and hush,
To serue all purposes, to hate the light,
And prooue right Blackbirds, childr [...]n of the night.
Men that want wit, yet haue great place in State,
He woul [...] haue like to Parrots, learne to prate
Of others, till with Almonds they w [...]re fed.
The rest lik [...] Foxes he would still haue bred
Clos [...], cr [...]ftie, indir [...]ct, to get by stealth
The goods both of the Church and Common-wealth.
All sub [...]ects and inferiors he would haue
Thems [...]lues like G [...]e, and Asses to behaue.
Rich men and [...]rers to swallow all
Dir [...]cted by the Dolphine, and the Wh [...]le.
Many of his sch [...]l­l [...]r haue learned this le [...]on.
All m [...]n like Dogs to flatter, and to bite,
And mi [...]int [...]rpret what we speake or write.
He wills all those that on my payers looke,
To make each line a libell in my booke:
To poyson with their eyes what [...]'ere they see,
And make themselues sport, and make worke for me.
[Page] Not to beleeue the morall, but to seeke
Another meaning whatsoe're they like,
And call it mine; and sweare I meant the same,
Although I would not persons plainly name.
And then he wils them laugh to seeke the ieast.
"Anothers mischiefe, makes a merry feast.
This Doctor is our Ages guide and Tutor,
The world his Schoole, the flesh his Coadiutor.
No wonder then if we liue all awry,
When on our Master we cast steady eye.
For
Regu ad ex­ [...]mplum. &c.
[...] Alex [...]nder [...] necke can teach vs this,
"The Schoole and Court by greatnes fashio [...]'d is.
Thus our great Masters crookednesse is spide
In vs his followers, who no good parts hide
That he hath learn'd vs, but proclaime aloud
The cause which makes our vertuous Tutor proud.
If any seeke his name, and list to come
To schoole, enquire for M [...]rus & Antrum.

A SVPPLY OF THE description of Quasi d [...]rsus pandus.MONSIER PANDORSVS WALDOLYNNATVS, that merry American Philosopher, or the Wiseman of the New World; being Antipode to Aesop, placed with him as parallel in the front. Done according to the simple truth of his owne naked deliuery.
And dedicated to THOMAS THVRSBY Esquire, no lesse fit to be publicke, then desirous of retire­ment and priuacie.

YOV shun all office, though your state and wit
With long experience makes you truly fit;
Wherefore Pandorsus wils me pricke you heere
Shriefe in my booke, who might be in the Sheere.
AS the East and West are opposite, so stand
These Wise- [...]en in the front on either hand.
Aesope well known an Easterne witty thing:
But our Pandorsus Westerne fame I sing;
Whose picture in the Front, whose markes before,
Behinde, within, without, I late did score;
Yet lest that picture, nor these markes, should make
His worth enough apparant, briefely take
[...] [...]
[Page] His life anatomiz'de, but chiefly where
It may our sucklings with example rer [...].
The lines are drawne euen by his owne true light,
From partiall flattery free, and enuious spight.
Within that S [...]i [...]re where Hyndes with dumplings fed,
Beget best Lawyers, was Pandors [...]s bread:
But for his P [...]r [...]nts were of better ranke,
And in a Co [...]ste Town [...] dwelt, they Clarret dranke,
And wrie-mouth'd Pl [...]i [...] br [...]ts butts [...] and [...] did eate,
And crooked Crabs with such prodigious mea [...]e.
Thus for a wonder they prepar [...]d in feeding:
And such he prou'd, who from that root [...] had breeding.
Though no P [...]n lora yet P [...]ndorsus he,
For vice as famous, as for vertu [...] shee.
Each God gaue her a grace, and g [...]ue so much
As more then Momus thought there was no such.
But what to her they gaue, from him they tooke,
And now in vaine for grace in earth we looke.
Looke for effects according to the cause:
"Our childrens faults a [...]e moulded in our mawes.
T [...]is salt-water-daintie diet f [...]d
The parts concupiscible, and there bred
An itching humor, whence extracted was
This quint essence of contraries, this masse
Of Natures shreds and parcels, who partakes
A part of all, which imperf [...]ction makes.
A Foxes brain [...]s, knowing m [...]ch wrong, no right;
Gote-bearded, sweete-fac'd, like a Catamite;
Toung'de Lawyer-like, all terme without vacation;
A Baboon [...]s loyn [...]s, desiring occupation;
Crumpe-Cammell-shoulder'd, neckt as straight as [...]ynx,
One eye like to a Molls, t'other like Lynx;
[Page] A Lyons stomack; not to fight but feede;
A Hare in heart, and yet a Snaile in speede.
This is the man whom we Pandorsus call.
Whose armes or Rebus thus we blasen shall.
Vpon a stat [...]ly wall Saint George doth ride
(Wanting a horse) in pompe and armed pride;
Beneath there is a Den, in that the Dragon.
This tells his name, whose worthy parts we brag on.
It is his owne deuice, let all men know:
So is the rest which we in order show.
His Mothers Husband (who reputed was
His Father) being rich and well to passe,
A wealthy Merchant and an Alderman,
On forraigne shores did trau [...]ll now and than:
The whilst a Gallant Souldier, new come forth
From warre b [...]got this man of mickle worth.
This gallant Souldier, then from [...]Belgia brought
A wondrous Mandrake (with much perill bought)
Sprung (though some thin [...]e it fabulous) from seed
The gallow [...]s drop (for so this roote doth breed,)
Which whilst his mother did in pl [...]asure eye,
Our Mo [...]nsurs shape, she did conc [...]iue thereby.
Much like that Mandrake, writ [...]en, turning round,
As from the gallow [...]s he had dropt to ground.
And l [...]t no dou [...]tfull Reader much admire,
A Myrmidon should be Pandorsus Syre,
For as there's none with vs get brauer men
Then Lawyers, or the tender Citizen,
So none more cowards g [...]t, then those which are
Our brauest Spirits, most renownde in warre.
The cause I know not, or I list not tell,
But so it often falles, and heere so fell.
[Page] None bolder then Pandorsus Syre, then he
None fearefuller; and yet he needs would be
A Souldier, where the Muster-booke he fild,
But fought with none, nor ne're saw any kild.
Artemon was more hardy though afraid
Of his owne shadow. Wagers haue beene laid,
That let an enemie fart, he would out-run
An Irishman, for feare t'had been a gun.
Where learned Spencer maketh harna'st Feare
Afraid the clashing of his armes to heare,
That apprehension he from hence did gaine,
Our Monsieur did, what Spencer did but faine.
But stay, I haue forgot to let you know
His education, and to shew you how
(Being nusled vp in Letters) he in sport
His time wore out at Schoole and Innes of Court,
Yet so as once a Gipsie, who did looke
Vpon his Palme, said he, should liue by's booke;
Which fortune some conceiue hath doubtfull scope,
As if his booke should saue him from the rope:
But since he proues, it meant another thing,
That teaching Tongues, he should liue like a King;
And so he now doth, liuing as he lust,
And by his owne will measuring what is iust.
For being set to Schoole when he was young,
He of all knowledge learn'd both taile and tongue.
Th' Italian, Latin, Spanish and the French,
He grew as cunning in, as at a Wench.
A Dictionary of all words of Art,
And Lullies old-ends, he hath got by heart.
Th' apparrell of all knowledge he doth weare,
And 'bout him (Bias-like) his wealth doth beare.
[Page] And now (growne ripe) he doth religion choose
That's most in fashion, as our great ones vse:
But otherwise for truth hee'le neuer burne,
Th' aduantage of his wry-necke helps him turne:
He knowes the way, and wills the world ne're doubt,
That comming raw in, hee'le go rosted out.
In youth he tooke to Wife a louely Dame,
Not hight the chast Penelope by name;
But worthy such an attribute, for shee
Her wandring loose Vlisses did not see
In twenty yeeres, and yet t'is thought her bed
Shee kept vnstain'd, and vn-ad-horn'd his head.
But what a blessing was, he thought a curse,
His wife had better beene, had shee been worse,
Her goodnesse made him hate her; she had dide
But that a dozen must be kil'd beside.
He knew not then (as I haue heard him say)
Th' Italian tricke, but the plaine English way,
Of simple Country poysoning, now he knowes
To do t by inches; Court perfection growes.
Lopus and Squire, are not so skil'd as hee,
And scarce Romes Conclaue in that mysterie.
He can a Nullitie worke, diuorce the life
Twixt soule and body, sooner then some wife.
And if his ricke be knowne, men ne're will seeke
A doubtfull way by law, but do the like.
His wife thus scap'd a scouring, so did he,
When being merry once in company
And passing Smith-field (then vnpau'd) too late
With rich Canary hauing linde his pate,
The owle-eyde Sharkers spi'd him, how he felt
To finde a post; his meaning soone they smelt:
[Page] And then the sturdiest knaue, with sodain'd rush,
Our wauering Monsieur on his knees did push,
The whil'st another kindly to him spoke;
Help't him out of the durt, and chang'd his cloke.
This cloke he wore next day, and passing by
A Brokers shop, the prentice lowde gan cry
Sirs stop the theefe, the cloake this fellow weares
Is mine: with that they swarm'd about his eares,
Conuayde him to a Iustice, where one swore
He had been branded stagmaticke before.
Another said, he was the man that hung
Three dayes beyond Seas, as the ballad sang;
The cause why he his necke awry, did hold,
Was for he hang'd long, and was ta'ne downe cold
But to the Iustice being throughly knowne,
For carrying letters where't must not be showne,
And for his skill, each moderne language speaking,
And wondrous Art, to silence doores from squeaking,
With losse of his good cloke, he slipt the hooke,
And thus he once was saued by his booke.
Thus farre I stretch my lines, thus farre he liues,
And more I'le write, when he direction giues.
But if I die, these lines shall be the glasse
His worth to shew, and how I thankfull was.

To the ouer-wise, ouer-wilfull, ouer-curious, or ouer-captious Readers.

I Faine would tell some Tales, but I'de be loth,
To haue men be so wise to thinke them troth.
This is [...] wondrous witty age that sees
Beyond the truth of things, forty degrees,
Each Riddle now hath Poyson in't; each Rime
On the blancke Almanak points at guilty time.
Aesope must mak no Lyons roare, nor Eagles
Shrike loude, nor wolues r [...]in, nor swift Beagles
Yelpe with their slauering lips after the Foxe,
Nor must he meddle with the Asse, or Oxe,
For feare some querke [...]e found, to proue he men [...]
Vnder those shapes, a priuate spleene to vent
Against wise vigilant Statists, who like Ianus,
Looke both waies squint, and both waies guard and sa [...]e v [...].
Or that he closely would great Lawyers yerke,
Who build their neasts, with ruines of the kirke:
Or that he toucht some Church-man, who to rise
One Steeples height, would tell Canonicall lies.
The Ghost of Virgils Gnat would no [...] sting so [...]
That great men durst not in the City go
For feare of petty-Chapmen, with a Serieant,
And a sly Yeoman, noted in the Marg [...]ant.
If Spencer now were liuing, to report
His Mother Hubberts tale, there would be sport:
[Page] To see him in a blanket tost, and mounted
Vp to the starres, and yet no starre acco [...]nted.
I dare not for my l [...]se in all my tale,
Vse any English Bird, Beast, worme, or Snaile,
Or fish that in the narrow Seaes do trauell,
(Al [...]hough each Pyrat dares) le [...]t some should cauell,
And finde it did belong in times of yore
To some blew sleeue, (but shall do so no more)
Or that the Maker of new blood, the Marrold,
(Cleped in our w [...]lch-Scotch and English Harrold)
Had (too too cheape) for fiue pounds it entailed
On some bold Britaine, and by warrant nailed,
To him and to his house, and double voucher,
Fine and recouery; and then who dare touch her?
Not I, I loue my ease too well, my money,
My eare [...], my liberty; he longs for hony,
That mo [...]gst the angry Wh [...]spes thrusts his bo'd fingers,
And from their neas [...]s in Summer, hunts those stingers.
My valour is lesse hardy, my desire
Lesse hot Ile bl [...]sse and blow, not kisse the fire.
Therefore auant all ca [...]h [...]like Lo [...]sts, [...]me
Into my tale nothing one this side Rome,
Nor in Virginia, though't be ours by lot,
And yet p [...]rhaps it may, perchaun [...]'t maynot.
I would not [...] if it lay in me to chuse,
Meddle with any thing we Christians vse:
But would all dealing with our owne eschew,
If other world, and elements I knew.
But since that Nature doth some gifts disperse
Alike to all within the Vniuerse;
And in a cicular globe, tye those to these;
Mixt vs [...]n common with th' Antipodes:
[Page] I ca [...]not choose but do as nature doth,
Mixe many names and things well knowne to both.
Thus if by chance I vse Bird, Fish, or beast,
Which is no daintie at a Mayors feast:
But oft familiar food for euery Swaine,
That in our Countr [...]y, Coast, and Wood remaine.
Yet still concei [...] (I pray) those names I take
Not properly, but for your ignorance sake.
Or if they proper be, of all one kinde,
Yet difference in their place of birth we finde.
And in the [...] natures. For though man be man,
Yet sure an Indian is no English man,
And so an Indian Asse, or `Daw, or Trout,
Though we haue such, are none of ours no doubt:
But would we wonder here, and purses pick [...],
Since none but trauellers [...]uer s [...]y the like.
Excuse me then though with such names you meete [...]
They are not those that trauell in our streete,
But forreiners to vs and to our Nation,
Except by trade, commerce, or transplantation
Made our acquaintance. Hence thou subtile spies
Streach out my tailes to iustifie your lies.
If ought beside the morall you in [...]ent,
Call it your owne [...] By me'twas neuer ment.
My tale shall sort all Atheists well, and be
Of their religion, heathenish and free.
It shall make lust a Gospell and a Law,
(Not for the truth) but to keepe fooles in awe,
That when our Gospell or else Law doth thware
O ur willes, we then may neither reck a f—.
Come Ibis, Lead the way; eat one snake more
And by my fury; vsher on before

1. IBIS.
DEDICATED To the religious KNIGHT S r EDMVND MONDEFORD, and his Lady a true louer of LEARNING.

in. lib. 8. [...]spae [...]iunt corporibus [...]uorum ortuorum: [...]es ranarū iortuarum: [...]nae ver [...] & [...]gues ex [...] utrefactio­e aquae. [...]omment. [...] lib [...] 1 [...] Arist M [...] ­aphy. bis [...]erpentibus [...]st inimica [...]ostro enim, [...]os percuti [...] nterficit & leuorat. Arist.
KNowledge and Grace, are antidotes to you,
Who killing Serpents, do not Serpents grow.
EGYPT opprest with Serpents, either growing
F [...]om slimie NILVS fruitfull ouerflowing,
Or from the enuious bankes of Tyber sent
To tell what farther harme the Romans ment:
Or by the foggy Southern winds brought o're
From sandy Lybia to this fertile shore:
Made [...]bis Keeper of their liues and states,
VVho like a watchfull Porter, kept the gates
VVhere this infected Crue did vse to enter:
And (as they came in poysoned troopes) did venter
Mauger their sting, and teeth, and venome too,
To swallow th' enuious Aspes with small adoe.
[Page] So long shefed, that Egypt now seem'd free,
And scarce a Serpent in the land could see.
"But ouer [...]f [...]eding hurts [...] as some men say,
" [...]hough food be good then surf [...]t soone we may
"B [...] poyson [...]d bits. And Ibis found it true.
Diod [...] Sicul [...] lib [...] 3.
So that her glutted gorge sh [...]e's [...]orc't to spue;
The noysome stinke wher [...] of inf [...]ct [...]d more
Then by these Serpents had bin stung before,
And Ibis selfe (corrupted with the food)
Grew Serpentine, and did more harme then good,
Shee ke [...]ps no [...]ntrance now, but lets them passe,
And of their faction, and their treason, was
A cunning aider, and a close contriuer;
Al-gate Shee se [...]m'd a diligent, faithfull, diuer
Into their darker holes to search them out:
But truth it was to put them out of doubt,
That Shee their friend, they need not feare a foe,
But might at pleasure through the kingdome goe,
VVhilst all neglect [...]d their increase, supposing,
Ibis their trusty warden, had been closing
The lands strong Ports, with skill to keepe thesein,
And others out, till all had eaten bin.
But she had other aimes, and vnder hand,
Plac'd Cockat [...]ices all about the land:
And such as these (who kin to serpents were)
Did she make Captains, and to place preferre
Plin. lib. cap [...] 22. Cacoble alias. Ca [...] cotheph [...]
Of chiefe command in warre: with hope to bring,
The Basiliske to be th' Egyptian king;
The Basiliske that at the head of Nile,
VVith deadly poyson doth the spring defile.
Thus Ibis faild them, and betraide their trust,
And now or die themselues, or kill they must.
[Page] And scarc [...] was't in their choice. Such quick increase
"Hath bad things more then good, in time of peace.
Yet the Egyptians from securer sleepe,
Of foolish pitty, and remisnesse deepe,
Or fond c [...]edulity, and easie faith,
At last aw [...]k't, wha [...]s'euer Ibis saith,
Suspects of [...]r [...]ud, of double-meaning, doubt,
And with qui [...]ke search do finde the treason out.
Whic [...] Ibis [...]eeing to be past preuention,
Past skill [...]o cloke and coner with inuention:
With [...]alice, enuie, feare, and horror swelling,
And other poyson in her bosome dwelling,
Shee burst asunder, and pre [...]eut [...] the paine
Her cri [...]e de [...]er [...]'d, but not the shame and staine:
That the E [...]ptians left for a [...]ter tim [...]s,
To reade and wonder at in these few rimes.
"Whom nature made good, custome made vniust;
We tr [...]sted Ibis, but shee faild our trust.
Let Reason rule, and Reason thus exhorts,
[...]Make not your will wardon of your Cinque Ports.

Epimythium.

ut. in vit [...] ex [...] mag. PLutarch in the life of Alexander the Great, writes of a Woman brought to a Serpentine and poy­sonous natur [...], by feeding ordinarily on Serpents. This hath so [...]e r [...]s [...]mblance with this tale, whose Morall is [...] that man should carefully, guard himselfe from others, and from himselfe: From others, because though we come neere sin, with a purpose to punish it; yet being full of contagion, the effect is hazardous: [Page] much more when wee conuerse with it daily; as they witnesse, who keeping company with pro­phane, dissolute, and blasphemou [...] persons, doe often come out such themselues, seldome otherwise. Be­ware therefor [...] of euill company, and euill custome. Psal. 1To walke in the counseil of the wicked, leads you to stand in the way of sinners, and caus [...]th you to sit in the seate of scorners. To conuerse with Hereticks vnder whatsoeuer pretence is dangerous. Thus there­fore guard your selfe from outward inuasion, from others; but keepe one eye to looke inward. The worst company is at home, within a mans selfe. His senses stirred vp to pleasure, are so many Serpents in his bo­some, seeking his destruction: neither will they easily bee charmed. The sting of sinne is sweet, but deadly [...] Set your vnsanctified app [...]tite and will to gouerne these, and you are vndone. The flesh will let in the world and the deuill, in stead of God and Heauen. But let your sanctified Reason bee your gouernour, and you are safe at home and abroad. Mortifie there­fore p Colo c [...] 3. v. your members which are on the earth; fornication, vncleannesse, the inordinate aff [...]ction, euill concupiscence, and couetousnesse, which is Idolatry, &c. The place of greatest danger where your foe may land and enter, is the Cinque-ports, the fiue senses: watch therefore ouer these, and ouer our affections, and you are safe.

2. Venaticum Iter.
Dedicated To the example of Temperance, S r HENRY BEDINGFEILD Knight, and to his LADY the example of Loue.

You hunting loue, your fields are spread with sheepe,
Looke that your hounds, your folds from foxes keepe.
Foxes and Wolues in sheepskins range about:
Within [...]pinions; Parasites without.
TH' Egyptian Shepheard arm'd at all assayes
With Dogs and Sheephookes, sat vpon the Layes,
At pleasure piping many a lear [...]ed sonnet
Of fixed starres, and each course keeping plann [...]t:
Of thunder, lightning, meteors, and the c [...]use
Of changing kingdomes, and translating law [...]s:
Why pestilence did rage, why good men di [...],
Why Nilu [...] ouerflowes the bankes so hie,
Why killing frosts, and such aboundant snow,
That ruine falling, [...]uine as they thaw:
Why th' earth should barren be, and famine breede
In the fat soil [...], though [...]owne with better seede.
[Page] Why water, ayre, the earth, and cheerefull fire
Should (being made for man) gainst man conspire,
And of themselues (by nature neuer bidden,)
Bring forth such crosse effects, vnheard and hidden,
To plague poore man, and liuing him t'intombe
In his one ruines, e're the day of doome.
The cause of this, they wisely found to be
Mans open sins, and close Hypocrisie.
And of this Theame discoursing too and fro,
Prouing it was, wishing it were not so.
The King came by, and with him many Nobles,
Whose pestred traine the sheep and shephead troubles.
Poore Country, thou find'st this in corne and cattle,
When most remote f [...]ō Court, thou most dost battle
The King a hunting rides; the shepheards dogs
Would needs a hunting too, and onward iogs
These iolly Currs: the Shepheards whoope amaine,
Hollow and whistle too, but all in vaine.
The Hunts-men rate, and like to mad men ride;
The Currs suppose they cheere them when they chid [...]:
So on they go, and doe as others doo,
Throw vp their curld tailes, spend their wesands too,
And when thy cannot top the rest, run after
[...]o [...]ong, till anger now is turn'd to lafter;
And now the King delights the Currs to heare.
For they are euer busie in his eare;
And comming home to trencher-food they fall,
[...]rouing good blood-hounds some, good harriers all.
[...]hey can draw dry-foot to the harmlesse game,
Whil'st Wolues and Foxes passe their noses tame.
[...]hus fed by fat sweet bones, they all proue gluttons,
[...]nd where they wont to guard, now kill our muttons,
[Page] They learned haue Court lore, and nothing failes;
Can fawne and flatter, nimbly wag their tailes;
And snarle, and bite, and beat [...]he better hound
Out of the Court, who their false hunting found.
And now the time drawes on, the King againe
Rides out to hunt, and with him all his traine.
These dogs are fore-most, and pursue the chace
With eager stomackes and with equall pace.
But being trencher-fed, the weather ho [...],
Themselu's vnbreath'd, to hunting vsed not,
They soone are shaken off, and waxing slacke
Become the lag and hindmost of the packe;
And straight lose [...]ight, sent, hearing of the rest.
So then to Nilus-ward they hold it best
To turne their course, with the coole waues to slacke
The heat they got, for double diligence [...]ake.
The roughest, rudest, curstest Curr of all,
Which wont vpon the gentlest Dogs to fall,
(And neither being Hound nor Mastiffe bred,
Lyci [...]ca.
But of a mongrill kinde, by shee-Wolues fed,
Did silence such as spent their sweeter voice
In turnefull tones, which Hunters eares reioyce,
Whil'st he nor at the fold would watch in darke,
Nor bite the Wolfe, nor with his harsh voyce barke,
Nor here amongst the Hounds once open wide
His monstrous chaps, except, to bite, or chide,
Or rauin and deuour the daintyest meat
Which the industrious, not the slug should eat:
And in despite of whips, though crouch and cry,
Would neuer mend, nor better grow thereby)
Led on the way, for he would still be fi [...]st,
His impudence was such, and such his thirst.
[Page] [...]or would he suffer auy their to drinke
[...]ill he had done. Ambitions eye doth thinke
To swallow all, and all too little to,
For him that least deserues, and least can doo.
[...]ut see a iust reward, whil'st thus he lies
[...]ending his pleasure, from the waues doth rise
[...] cruell subtle Crocodile, who snatcheth
[...]t him with her sharpe sangs, quickly catcheth
[...]he lazie Curre; which struggles, cryes, and str [...]ues.
[...]ut all too late. Th' amphibious monster diues
[...]nder the waues; the Dog r [...]sists in vaine,
[...]eath swallowes him, the rest run home amaine;
[...]ome to the Sheepfolds, and attend the trade
[...]hey were by Art traind to, by Nature made.
[...]nd fearing now the like, fore-warn'd by this,
[...]hen hot and dry they waxe [...] their custome is,
[...]t banks of Nile nere to rest and stay,
A [...]lianus I. [...]. Praet [...]rc [...]r­runt autem ripam, & suf­furantes bi­bunt, quant [...] est capere: iterum aeque iterum.
[...]ut here and there to lap, and so away;
[...]est otherwise some Crocodile being hid,
[...]hould serue their sloth, like as the other did.

Epimythium.

This tale doth teach, each man himselfe t'apply
To his Vocation; not to looke awry
At Honors, Riches, Pleasures, which are baites
The deuill layes in our way, and in them waites
To swallow vs, whilest eagerly we seeke
To swallow and ingrosse what [...]'ere we like:
Without respect what's honest [...]iust, and fit,
[...]o we by any meanes can compasse it.
[Page] Each hath his element, his toyle, and sport.
The clowne the country, and the King his Court.
The Nobles in the Councell or the field,
The Sea, and Burse, doth like to Marchants yeeld.
Each trades-man in his shop, house-wiues at home [...]
"They range too far, that o're the threshold rome.
Lawyers vpon the bench, Diuines within
their studies, schooles or pulpits; else they sinne [...]
Who takes the plow in hand, must neuer s [...]acke,
"Nor looke about, for then [...]e looketh backe,
Who takes the Crowne and Scepter, still must thin [...]
"When others soundly sleep, he must but winke,
Who goes to warre, or counsell must aduise
"The shame or honor on the Noblest lies.
Who guides the Helme must still his compas minde,
"And cheere his mates, and saile with eu [...]ry winde.
Who by Mechanicke Arts doth hope to thriue,
"Must be a Bee, and make his shop his Hiue.
Who sits to Iudge, the Person must neglect,
"Not looke asquint, but to the truth direct.
Who will Episcopize, must watch, fast, pray,
"And see to worke, not ou [...]rsee to play.
They haue a double charge, to rule, and teach,
"Whil'st they neglect to preach, negl [...]ct they preach [...]
Each must his Diocesse tend; or if at Court,
What others dare not he must still report.
Yet nought but truth, [...]or all truthes but the good:
Ps [...]l. 106. 13.
(So Mos [...]s in the gap of vengance stood)
What others dare not whisper he must sing,
And like a golden trumpet [...]ouze the King,
VVith wise alarums from securer sleepe,
VVherein fraile flattring flesh doth greatnesse keep [...]
[Page] [...]or greatnesse, both in state, wit, strength, and all
[...]hat wee call great one earth, is apt to fall [...]
[...]Vith greatest danger, greatest violence,
[...]nlesse vpheld by greatest diligence.
[...]nd he is only worthy to be great,
[...]Vho with a vertuous freedom holds the seat
Of Moses, and inclines to neither hand,
But both vpright only for truth doth stand,
[...]uch tend their flocks; whil'st they attend the Court,
Their pastime'tis to moderate each sport.
They season all raw humors. Seldome glance
On honours or on pleasurs, but by chance:
And then to recreate their spirits they do it,
Taking a snatch, and fall the harder to it.

GRYPS.
DEDICATED To the Courtly and accom­plisht Knight, S r. HENRY RICH, and his most equall Lady.

ALL Men seeke greatnes: goodnesse is the way.
Hee's oft lesse King that rules, then doth obay.
Add [...] to Gods worke your owne, his image then
Shall be repayr'd, for that's the crowne of Men.
Gryp [...] animal pennatum & quadrupes. Hae belluae di [...]untur ess [...] in S [...]ythia [...] & cum Arimas­pis qui vni­cum haben [...] oculum, auri causa quod custodiunt [...] assiduè bel­lu [...] g [...]rere. Plin. lib [...] 10.
THe Griffon (well alli'd, and great in power)
Made challenge to be generall Emperour
Of beasts, and birds; whose title to decide,
A generall Councell was proclaimed wide
Through all the world, and euery bird and beast
Together met, the greatest, and the least.
Mongst these some crawling serpents, some with feet,
And some with wings did at this Councell meet,
And claim'd the place of beasts, and did alledge
Full many ancient lawes of priuiledge
[Page] [...]or their high honour; b [...]t the chiefe was this;
Gen. 3 1. Serpens enim erat as [...]utus, astu [...]or quauis be­stia agri.
[...]hey prou'd themselues beasts, out of Genesis.
[...]ut when that Law was read, and it was found,
[...]heir treason brought a curse vpon the ground;
[...]hat euer since their poyson did annoy
[...]oth birds an [...] [...]sts, and oft did both destroy;
Cloking their [...]aud, guilding their villanie
With ancient vniuersall-vnity;
Betraying truth with darke a [...]biguous lies,
And cosening man of blessed Paradise:
Adulterating, purging of the sence
Of holy Writ, vnder a good pretence:
They had by generall voice, strict banishmen [...]
[...]rom comming nere this Court of Parliament.
And now the rest proceed; but by the way
Arose another cause of some delay,
Comming to choose a Speaker, bolde Iack daw
Goodmat­ters may be propounded with an ill minde.
Would interpose his skill, and vouch a Law,
(The law of Para [...]ites) that each one might
Speake what him list, gainst reason or gainst right.
And that no Speaker needed, ought to be,
Where such a mixture was; for if quoth he,
We choose a bird, the beasts will all dissent;
If they a beast, we shall be discontent.
This speech, though true in pa [...]t, did all offend,
B [...]cause they saw his busie tongue did bend
To c [...]osse all businesse, and his wit de [...]ise
To change the firmest knots to nullities.
So they agreed toge [...]her in this sort,
To cut his nimble tongue a little short,
For sa [...]cie tatling, where he should not teach [...]
And being silent where he ought to preach.
[Page] But he aueides his sentence with a quirke,
Pleading of old he longed to the Kirke,
Though seldom he came there; and each one tooke
Him for no Clarke, vntill he claim'd his booke
Then they perceiu'd his skill; and soone discerned
How he to flatter and backbite was learned;
Could mount a steeples top and with the winde
Turne like a weather-cocke his ready minde,
Seruing the time. Therefore they onward passe
To choose a Speaker; some would haue the Asse,
Because he could diminish nought nor adde,
But truth deliuer, were it good or bad:
Yet most mislik'd that choice, and those pronounce
The Parrot fit, and some the nimble Ounce;
Some the sweet Nightingale, and some the Dog,
And some the Fox, the Baboone, some the Hog;
Some Robin red-brest, or the speckled Thrush,
Some Chantecleere, and some the VVoodcock flush.
Some chose the Ape, and some mislike his voice,
So sundry factions rise from his heard choice.
At last the Elephant perswades with all,
To take an equall course, and Man to call
As Speaker, Iudge, and Vmpire in this thing,
Being by nature the worlds generall King,
And the most fit t'appoint and to depute
His owne Emperiall bird beast substitute.
To this they all consent, and to this end
In humble wise to Man this Message send,
That he their Patron, Gouernor and Lord,
VVould daigne this mighty difference to accord
VVith reason and authority. His consent
Is soone obtain'd: now gins the Parliament.
In which the Griffon thus begins his plea.
Grand Emperour, of Ayre, Earth, and Sea;
I challenge by prerogatiue, and birth,
To be your Vicar generall on the Earth,
O're birds and beasts: The beasts I ought command,
Gryps quadru Gryps ter vol [...] recitat [...] Deut. 1 [...]
Because vpon foure feet like them I stand.
The birds I ought to rule, cause I can flie
With these my wings like them, and soare as hie.
I doe surpasse the beasts in hauing wings,
The birds in legs, in taile, and other things:
My force doth match the Lyons, and my heart
The Eagle, or excels them in each part.
Your doome I therefore claime, that I may be
Plac'd equall to my worth in soueraigntie:
And next your selfe the Emperour be of Earth,
According to the priuiledge of my birth.
Then spake the Elephant, and said, that he
Ought ouer beasts the only Lord to be.
His strength was great, and more then others farre,
Elephas animal quod ma nitudine inter om nia anim lia quadr [...] pedia ex­cellit: I [...]. tellectu & memoria multum vigens. Plin. Solit. Regulus, or, Reg [...]liolu [...]
His honours purchasde more in manly warre:
His le [...]rning more, the letters vnderstanding,
And aptly doing all, wise Man commanding.
Gainst him vp rose the Syre of Ban [...]es his horse,
And challeng'd him to try, wit, worth, and force.
This grew to heate, but then the mighty Rucke
Soone parts the fray, each did from other plucke;
Desires she might be heard, her challenge was
To rule all birds, since she all [...]rds did passe.
The Wren straight hopt about, and said, his [...]ame
Did shew from what a royall stocke he came.
And euery bird and beast, the great and small,
Had his ambitious ayme to gouerne all [...]
[Page] Which hauing made, in silence all sate downe
Being ouer-aw'd with mans Emperiall frowne.
Each fear'd, each hop'd, vntill at length the Man
Rose vp, and to determine thus began.
I was your Master made, you made for me,
And whatsoeuer in the Globe there be
Hid or reueal'd, t'is mine. And I alone
Sole Emperouram, vnder that onely One.
Nor doubt you this; the question now in hand
Is for the vnder-king-ship of my land;
For t'is not fit that I should troubled be
With euery toy, when subiects dis [...]gree:
But that my Presiden [...] should still be nigh,
Your doubts and iarrest' appease and rectifie.
It only rests to shew what parts are fit
For gouernment. That's courage, strength and wit,
Mercy and iustice, and the guard to those,
Awe to command, dexteritie to dispose.
If any part of these be separate,
The rule is most imperfect, and the State
Falls to con [...]empt; the lawes are trodden downe,
The Scepter broken, and despi [...]'d the Crowne.
This shewes how many her [...] haue vainly sought
For one good part, the wreath that many ought.
That nor the Ruck, the Elephant nor Ho [...]se,
Are fit to gouerne for their matchlesse force;
Nor for their wit alone; for then the Oxe
Might make his claime too, and subtle Foxe:
Much lesse the silly Wren for honor'd house,
Nor the catt-fearing, Elephant-frighting Mouse.
For these would breed contempt, and Athens Owle
Might challenge so night-rule of eu'ry Fowle.
[Page] Nor is it meet this Griffon should obtaine
What by pret [...]nce of right he seeks to gaine.
Because his title halts on either side,
Except in halues, himselfe he will deuide.
Gryph [...] Capite [...] alis Aqu similis [...] [...] quo cor [...] re simili [...] Leoni. Isid. l. 1 [...]
He is no beast: his talents, wings, and head
Conclude against his challenge in my stead.
Nor yet a bird: his body, legs, and tayle
With euidence his garments all do quaile.
But if where proofe lyes hid, we may proceede
By probabilities; from spurious [...]eede
He tooke his being, and would neither loue,
Being like to neither, but a Tyrant proue.
And where he boasts his wondrous strength and hart,
It's false he doth pretend, because that part
Which shewes him Lyon-like in shape, hide, haire,
Doth of the kingly-Lyon stand in feare.
And that birds part which he from th' Eagle tooke,
On the sky-towring Eagle dares not looke.
The Lyon therefore I ordaine and make
The King of beasts; his awfull voice shall shake
Aquil [...] mas [...]
The proudest spirit. And the Eagle shall
Be King of Birds, and ouer-looke them all.
This sentence past, the Parlament arose,
And with these rules of truth the Sessions close.

Epimythium.

Who seeks two swords to sway, hath right to none [...]
Vnum opus optim [...] fi [...] ab vno [...] Arist. l. 2. Politic.
Who seeks two offices, is not fit for one:
Who seeks two callings, takes too much in hand:
Who hath two faiths, doth true to neither stand.
One sword, one office [...]calling, and one faith,
Is fit for one Man; so this storie saith.

Who seekes two swords to sway, hath right to none.

The Pope challengeth not onely Peters keyes and Pauls sword, but hath found two swords in Peters hand, with which he (like another Alexander) cuts asunder the knots hee cannot vndoe. The band of marriage betwixt man and woman: The hand of loyall obedience betwixt subiects and Soueraignes; The band of conscience betwixt God and man; hee cuts asunder by dispensing with marriages, allegeance, and others, &c. By his behauiour therefore in these things, it may bee iudged whether hee be fit to haue many swords that cannot vse one well. Edged tooles are not to bee put into the hands of drunkards: Hee is scarce sober that makes all other drunke with the c [...]p of his abhominations.

Who seekes two offices, is not fit for one.

To the late Queene of famous memory, a Courtier who had great place about her Maiestie, made suite for an office belonging to the Law. Sh [...]e told him he was vnfit for the place. He confest as much, but pro­mised to finde out a sufficient Deputy. Do (saith she) and then I may bestow it vpon one of my Ladies, for they by deputation may execute the office of Chan­cellor, chiefe Iustice, and others, as well as you. This answered him, and I would it could answer all others: that [...]it men might be placed in euery office, and none how great soeuer suff [...]red to keepe two. They should [Page] take offices for the Common-wealths benefit; but they take them like Farmes for to inrich themselues. This discourageth all professions, both in the Church and Common-wealth: one place is fit for one man.

Who seekes two Callings, takes too much in hand.

The Church hath some of these, who are better Phisitions, Lawyers, Merchants, or Handicrafts-men, then Diuines. The Common-wealth hath many of these, some who receiue tythes, buy and sell Church­liuings, retaine Deanryes, and Prebenda [...]ies. and are well seene in all occupations, but in that which they were bound to professe. To be a Marchant, a Mault­ster, a Brewer, a Grasier, a Sheepe-master, a Farme­monger, an Vsurer, a Diuell and all, is ordinari [...] in e [...]ery Country, and hee is thought no good husband that is not all or the most of these.

Who hath two faiths, doth true to neither stand.

Our miraculous example in these our dayes, hath demonstrated this beyond deniall, which but lately though wee knew, yet wee durst not v [...]ter for feare of censure. With what Tyranny doth vice guard it selfe from knowledge? How rankly doth that Fame stinke now, against which but lately we durst not stop our noses? This is a maxime grounded from this example. No honor, preferment, or respect can assure our [...]aith, if the band of faith, religion, be not intire with vs.

4. SPHINX, HYENA.
DEDICATED To the wise and valiant Souldier, S r. IOHN POOLY Knight, and to his good Lady.

YOu lou'd my Brother, he is gone, I stay,
T' acknowledge first a debt, and then to pay:
Loue lookes vpon the will, which easily can
Proue ther's no bankrupt but the thanklesse Man.
ena cru­ [...]is es [...] be­ [...]similis [...]o, &c. [...]cuit do­ [...]g per no­ [...]m & hu­ [...]nà prout [...]est [...]ingi [...] [...]em Isid. [...]icuiusque [...]men [...]n [...] [...]it, quem [...]ca [...] [...]o­ [...]laceret. [...]d:
HY [...]n [...] was a subtle beast and bloudy;
To ruine man was his whole trade and study.
He scorn'd the sheep, the shepheard was his prey,
His nightly plots got, what he mist by day.
The shepheards of Arcadia, beguil'd
By his fain'd voice, were murther'd oft and spoil'd.
For in the night he wont like some good friend,
To call them out, and then a peeces rend.
One onely wiser shepheard thought it best
Hire Sphinx to watch his house whil'st he did rest:
[Page] Whose subtiltie foresaw, and still preuented,
What else his Master had too late repented.
For when the false Hyena went about
Calling for helpe, to train [...] the Shepheard out,
Faining distresse as if he robbed were,
Or mist his way (a weary traueller);
Sphinx soone perceiu'd his counterfeit complayning,
And laught out-right to heare his craftie fayning;
But would not let the credulous shepheard goe,
(Whose tender heart pittied his mortall foe)
Till day appear'd, and that the Sunne shone bright.
Together with the Sphinx full many a night,
An Indian Asse and Musk. cat, safely slept,
Whil'st Sphinx the shepheards house & houshold kept.
Nor did they alwaies sleep but often heard
What at the first to thinke vpon they fear'd;
But custome at the length bere [...]t all awe,
And they afrayd were when they nothing saw.
So enuy wrought, and Ignorance, and Pride,
That they the wiser Sphinx dare now deride.
And mou'd the Shepheard, to preuent the charge
Of keeping more, to let the Sphinx at large.
Perswading there was no such cause of dread,
But they might well supply the Sphinx his stead:
Who fain'd those feares, and did imagine treason,
To win th' opinion of much wit and reason.
The Sheapheard fondly credits this; and straight
Lets loose the Sphinx, and these in order waite.
The Indian Ass [...] he trusted being plaine,
Supposing he would nei [...]herlye, nor faine.
And the Musk-cat, was pleasant to the smell,
And very watchfull; needs must these do well.
[Page] The night is come, the Shepheard soundly sleeps
As he had wont, no skar his conscience keeps.
These two stand Sentinel, and now ere long,
Comes the Hyena, and with smoothing tongue
Saith; Is your Master waking, gentle swaines?
If not, a [...]ere him, tell him all the Plaines
Are vp in armes against our common foe,
The false Hyena that beguil'd vs so.
He cannot scape their hands, for they haue found
The Caue he keeps in, closely vnder ground.
Bid him awake and rise and come away,
For all the Shepheards for his comming stay.
This tale beleeu'd, the Asse and Musk-cat hye,
To make their Master to make hast to dye.
He r [...]seth rashly, opes the doore, goes out,
And is de [...]our'd ere he can looke about.
Nor can the watch-men scape, but both are slaine:
Though one be sweet, the other true and plaine.

Epimythium.

"Not simple truth alone can make vs fit,
"To beare great place in State without great wit.
"For when the Serpent comes to circumuent vs,
"We must be Serpents too, or els repent vs.

HIPPOPOTAMƲS.
DEDICATED To the magnificent KNIGHT S r. HVGH SMITH, and his worthy LADY.

YOur Auon's quiet, no such Monsters feede
'Bout sandy Seuerne, as in Nilus breede:
[...]t Nilus-like your bountie o [...]erflowes,
[...]ence good report, and [...]ame, and honour growes.
Hippopo­tamus in Nilo edi­tur, Cro­codilo ini­micus. Pli. lib. 8. c. 25. Crocodilus animal quadrupes in terra & in aquis valens.
THe Sea-horse, and the famous Crocodile,
Both challeng'd to be Kings of fruitfull Nile;
[...]nd sundry fields they fought, where many dyed
[...]f either [...]action, still the cause vntried.
[...]et often had they single, hand to hand,
[...]ncountred in the flood, and on the land:
[...]nd parted still with equall harme away,
[...]or both the blowes bore thence, but not the day;
[Page] Yet each inuincible himselfe did call,
And so they were, but to themselues, to all.
But when they cop'd, successe did thus conclude;
Courage remayn'd, strength only was subdu'd.
And so for want of strength they often sundred,
Though at their wondrous strength al other wondre [...]
Thus o [...]t they met, and o [...]t assay'd in vaine,
Who should th' Emperiall crowne of Nilus gaine:
Till both grew weary of these warres at length,
And gan lay by the vse of armes and strength.
And truce proclaim'd a while on either part,
A fained truce, no friendship from the heart.
For vnder-hand by stratagems, and friends,
And secret plots, each sought their seuerall ends.
But much more noble was the Crocodile,
And wiser much, though not so full of guile
As Hippopotamus, so th' other hight,
Who car'd not what he did, or wrong or right,
By falshood, bribes, or treason; so he could,
Seruo enim non [...]as est ve [...]um di­cere, quod Hero suerit incommo­dum Enti [...] Chamele­o [...] mutat s [...]m [...]olo­rem infl [...] ­tus A [...]ist, Hist. Ani­mal [...] lib. 11. cap. 11.
The foulest fact, to his aduantage mould,
And thus he call'd Chameleon on a day,
With Polypus, and vnto them gan say:
You two my bosome-fri [...]nds, my Minions are,
My p [...]iuie Counsellers in peace and warre.
And I haue found you plyant to my will,
Faithfull to me, but false to others still.
And now I craue, your vtmost Art and reason,
In conquering of the Crocodile by treason;
Which thus I purpose: Both of you are made,
By nature apt to colour and to shade,
With fit resemblance all the obiects nye,
On which you shall reflect a steady eye,
[Page] [...]ou can seeme otherwise, then what you be,
[...]nd couer hate with close hypocrisie,
[...]ou can take any shape, any disguise,
[...]nd soone beguile the most inquisitiue eyes;
[...]eare any Liuery, all companies fit,
[...]nd to each humour change your ready wit.
[...]his you haue done before, and oft made plaine
[...]eightie intelligence, and can so againe.
[...]ut each his proper element retayning,
[...]hameleon in the ayre, and earth remaining,
[...]ou Polypus at sea. To sea then hye,
[...]nd with rich promises Torpedo buy
[...]o our close seruice: he in Counsell is
[...]o our great [...]oe, a greater friend of his.
[...]But wealth is our best friend, and that corrupts
[...]The purest minde, and friendship interrupts.
[...]ith gifts and promises peruert him so,
[...]hat he may call vs friend, count him a foe:
[...]ill him he would, when fitting time doth come,
[...]ith his slowe touch, secure, bewitch, benumme,
[...]ur aduersary, and his sense astonish,
[...]hat it may seeme a crime him to admonish
[...]f our apparant practises preparing,
[...]hilst he attends his sports, no danger fearing.
[...]hen to the Water-rat Ichneumon go [...],
[...]nd you to Cuschill [...] and will them too,
Phi [...] lib. 8, cap [...] 26 [...]
[...]hen next they picke his teeth, and scratch his head,
For they are neere him still at euery stead,
[...]nd highly fauor'd, (chiefly Cuschi [...]us),
[...]hough both in fee and pension be withvs),
[...]hat they would ioyne their wits and force together
[...]o murther him; and for reward come hither.
[Page] So when your plots he closely thus conuey'd,
And all your traines and tew in order laid,
Then mixe your selues in either element
With the profuse, the needy, discontent,
The desperate, the bloody, and the bold,
Whom nought but feare do from rebellion hold;
Of such you shall finde many in this State.
For hee's remisse, and doth all businesse hate,
Whereby he gets contempt, and opens wide
A ready way of entrance vnespide
To our high aimes. Full many you shall finde
Of our close faction, fitting to our minde.
Those that are such encourage, others frame,
A [...]d what you will speake largely in our name;
Promise, and sweare, and lye, to make things fit,
That our designes may prosper by our wit.
[...]way, and for the rest leaue that to m [...].
The spies instructed thus fit agents be,
And post with speede, and with a speed too good
Dispatch all Scenes fit for the Act of blood.
And now the wise, learn'd, valiant Crocodile,
A hunting hies vnto the bank [...]s of Nile:
Where hauing sported long, and fully fed,
The slow Torpedo strokes him on tbe head,
Whisp [...]rs within his eare, and charmes him so
That in the Sun-shine he to rest must go.
But as he goes drowsie and reeling thus,
Meets him the Indian Rat, and Cu [...]chillus,
And lowting low with musicke him presents,
And antique she [...]es, and mas [...]ing meriments;
Striuing to hide their treason with such Art,
That their true care almost betraid their heart,
[Page] [...]his wise Alcedo (one that many a dish
[...]ad for his King prepar'd, of dantiest fish),
[...]id soone suspect, and with shrill voice gan crie,
[...]ir King beware, for enemies are nie;
[...]eware of him that's busie with your eare,
[...]nd tells you lies, that truth you may not heare:
[...]eware of him that's s [...]ratching of your head,
Regnum potius ab assentatori­bus quam ab hostibus euertitur [...]F. Patr. Seu. Comm de Inst. Princ [...] lib. 5.
[...]eware of him that's making of your bed.
[...]eware of [...]im that doth extoll you so,
[...]nd like a God adores you as you go:
[...]eware of him that doth so humbly fall
On his false [...]nee; good King beware of all.
With that the Crocodile gan looke about,
Being halfe asleep, from a sweet dreame wak [...]d ou [...],
[...]nd would haue heard more, but the charmers kept
The bird away by force; and so he slept.
[...]e slept, and Cuschillus did sing the while,
And pickt his [...]eeth, and vsed many a wile
To ope his ouer-chap (for onely he
[...]oth moue his ouer-chap, the nether we):
Solus inter animali [...] superiorem maudibulā mouet Crocodi­lus. Isid.
At last he tickled him, and forc't him so
[...]o yawne and gape: then Cuschillus doth go
[...]nto his belly, and the Indian Rat
[...]eapes quic [...]ly after; where they first search what
[...]lose counsels, secret purposes did fill
His darker bosome, were they good or ill.
But were they good or ill, it matters not,
For they pursue and prosecute their plot:
They gin to gnaw his bowels, and to rake
[...]is entrailes with their nailes; which paine doth wake
[...]im from his latest sleepe, and makes him crie
Aloud this counsell: Princes see ye trie [...]
[Page] Before ye trust, Those seruants that be ill
"At your commaund, for others money will
"Betray you too: he easly will dispense
"With greatest sinnes, who hath of small no sence.
"Beware of such as flatter by traduction,
"Theile first be others, then be your destruction.
"Beware of priuie whisperers and spies,
"The truth they tell is but a sauce for lies.
Beware of Ledgers, for legerdemaine
With others beside Iuglers doth remaine:
"And cheating and crosse-biting Great ones may
"In great things vse, as Little ones at play.
Beware of Clergie men their colour changing,
And in each place with lawlesse freedome ranging.
Take heede of Pensions, they haue often slept,
In priny Chambers, and at Counsell kept.
Philip Cō ­mineus. lib. [...]. c [...]p. 2,
And if it be a truth which some haue told,
Good men haue had large sleeues to put vp gold.
With that he dies, and those that were within,
Striuing who first should greatest credit win,
By carrying newes of this accursed deede,
Hinder each other in their hasty speede:
And issuing out iust as his chaps did close,
Did their reward, life, fame, together lose.
"Yet ill report findes wings in euery place;
And this vnto the Sea-horse flies apace;
Who (making too much hast) in top of pride,
Nothing before, behinde, nor bout him spide,
And so, for lacke of care, himselfe betraide
Into a pit-fall which th' Egyptians laid.
There he doth pine to death, and dying cries,
"Who liues by treason, thus by treason dies.

Epimythium.

THe Crocodile is a Hieroglyphicke of Honour or Nobility.
The Hippopotame, of Impietie, Ingratitude, and [...]enesse.

1. These two haue continuall warre: and in that [...]melion and Pol [...]pus (the types of subtill dissimu­ [...]ion, and craftie hypocrisie), ioyne with Hippopotam [...] [...]ainst the Crocodile; it giues honour warning to be­ [...]re of such who adapt themselues to please humors, sooth grosse follies: for these though perhaps they [...]me of their colour, weare their liueries, follow [...] religion whom they depend vpon, will notwith­ [...]nding for gaine, Iudas like, kisse and betray [...]em.

2. In that the time when this was done, is said to in peace after sport: it shewes that Honor which [...]ings from action, decaies with affectation of peace, [...]d sleepes to death with immoderate pleasure in the [...]mes or bed of securitie.

3. The touch of Torpedo warnes Greatnesse from [...]oth, and to beware of such charming Counsellours hide the truth of dangers from the eyes of States.

4. Alcedos warning the Crocodile, tels vs no danger [...]mes without a [...]monition: Wisedome cries out in [...]e streetes, it is our owne fault if stopping our eares [...]e perish wilfully.

5. In that Ch [...]schillus sings the Crocodile asleepe, tels vs, flatterie is the ruine of honour; yet the flat­ [...]rers note is sweeter, and wel-commer to the eare, [Page] then the admonition of friendship and true loue.

6. In that Ichneumon and Cuschillus leape into belly, it shewes Treason will pursue the blackest p [...] ­iect with most bloody and bold violence; and [...] striue to double that sinne with slander and misrepo [...] which once they contriued, applauded, and perh [...] perswaded Greatnesse to commit.

7. In that Hippopotame falls into the Aegypti [...] trap, it shewes what the Psalmist saith, Who dig [...] pit for another, falls therein himselfe. Treason e [...] betrayes the Traytor, else it were not right treason.

If any man enquire farther after this tale, let h [...] call to minde the late death of that renowned King France, whose life was terrible to Rome and her a [...] her [...]nts.

He had many admonitions to beware of Iesuitic [...] practises, but would not take heede, his confiden [...] might rather be tearmed presumption then courage.

I haue heard a story of him which may be as true its strange: the probabilitie is great.

Monsieur D. Plessis (that glorious starre of o [...] age) being euer bold with the King, because the ki [...] knew him honest, and durst trust him farther then Protestant Prince may trust a Popish Catholike wi [...] safety, told his Master that all the world did wond [...] at the sodaine repeale of that edict of banishment solemnly made by the Parliament against all [...]esuit [...] vpon so iust an occasion as the wounding of his sacr [...] person by one of their disciples. He humbly besoug [...] him to giue him licence to put him in minde ho [...] once professing the reformed religion, euen in arme [...] he had been defended from the treacheries of his enemies [Page] by that God whose cause hee fought for. But now in the armes of peace, hee was endangered by them who pretend his protection, for that they thought that howsoeuer for some respects he carried himselfe, he could not be in loue with their darkenesse who had beene acquainted with the true light: And the Protestants thought so likewise, the rather induced hereunto by Gods miraculous deliuerance of him [...]rom the horror of that bloody attempt, not suffering any part to be punished but his mouth with which hee had offended. But hee besought him to remember that the hearts of Kings are in the hands of God as­well as their heads; and if they forsake or forget him and what he hath done for them, hee in Iustice often giues them ou [...]r into the hands of their enemies.

I enforce no man to beleeue this Narration; the [...]robability, with the credit of the Relator, and the [...]uccesse, haue preuailed with me to accept and repor [...] [...]t. As his death was the damnable act of a Iesuiticall Assasinat of the Romish religion, so this admonition [...]eares the shape of a true Israelit [...] and one of the house of peace.

PHAENIX.
DEDICATED To the honorable KNIGHT S r. ROBERT RICHE, and his noble LADY.

THere's but one Phaenix, is there had been more,
Your names had stood within, but now before.
Phaenix v­nica dicitur este, auis, & in toto or­be terrarum singularis. Isid.
TH' Arabian Phaenix, being noble, young,
And newly from his fathers ashes sprung,
Seeing how other birds did louers take
Of their owne kind, would needs like tr [...] ma [...]
And thought by what good course he might preuent
His doubted ruine, and seeme prouident,
Where nature (as he iudg'd) defectiue stood,
In leauing single, such an absolute good.
His meanes was marriage, married he would be,
But where to choose a Mate he could not see:
[Page] For choose hee might and please his curious eyne,
Each bird made suite to be his Valantine.
The Pehen drest her selfe and spred her taile,
The Turkey [...]hen aduanc'd her spotted saile.
The Turtle left her mate to ioyne with him,
The Siluer-Swan, in ruffled pride did Swim,
The Parakite, and Goldfinch,, Citie heires,
Offer'd him loue, and what besides was theirs:
The courtly Pheasant gaudy Pop [...]niay,
In varied coloures drest themselues that day:
The sweet Canary singer stroue t'excell
The merry-making mournefull Ph [...]lomel;
Who left deploring, and did mirth preferre [...]
Wishing the Phaenix would haue rauish't her.
All these, with all besides the rest excelling,
Did woo him, proffer loue, their passions telling.
But all in vaine; the bird of Paradise,
Had with her pleasing forme bewitcht his eyes.
He wooes, and winnes her too, with small adoe,
"Where both desire, both parties seeme to wooe:
And who would not desire so rare a one,
Whom [...]ll desire, him to enioy alone?
They married are. Opinions equall voice,
Say both are happy in each others choice.
For she was faire, and rare, and rich, and young,
And wise, and noble, and full sweetly sung;
In [...]ll complete she was, only did faile,
Hauing too small a body for her t [...]ile.
This fault she tooke by kinde, it cost her nought,
From her birth place the frai [...]tie first she brought.
And though by all good meanes she stroue to hide
This naturall blemi [...]h, still it was espide.
[Page] And spied the more, because this corporall ill,
Being single here, did each mans fancy fill.
"That disproportion doubles in the minde,
"Where we it single in the body finde.
And so it fell out here; not long they dwelt
In peace, but loues fire alteration felt,
And gan to slake and coole, where it should not,
And where it should be coole, it waxed hot.
Shee now did hate and loath, the sweet she had,
And linger after something that was bad.
Her taile was too too large for him to tread,
He too too little her to ouer-spread.
To ouerspread her body was not much,
But her insatiate taile, and minde was such.
So weakest stomacks strongest meates desire.
So greatest smoke riseth from smallest fire.
So slender wits great matters vndertake.
So swift pursuite, doth slow performance make.
So th' appetite, by impotence is mou'd.
So shee (though little) eu'ry great thing lou'd.
She lou'd all great things, and all rare things sought,
But what she had that she esteemed nought.
She had what others long'd for, and enioyde
What all desir'd: and that enioying cloyde.
And now she ginnes to hate, and wish in heart,
A fit occasion offer'd were to part.
But wanting such, shee frames one: doth traduce,
And wound his honour for her owne excuse.
And still pretending modesty a cause,
Immodestly, she triall claimes by lawes.
Although the Phaenix her with teares did woo,
She separation sought, and gets it too.
[Page] The sentence past, she Cynosure doth wed,
An vnknowne fowle, by th' ayre begot and bred.
He (following kind) trod oft, and quencht her heate,
And she laid oft, fild many a neast and seate
With addle egges; but neuer bird did spring [...]
Out of those [...]hells, nor other liuing thing.
Yet some in their opinions counted wise,
Say that such egges do hatch the Cockatrice.
Yet nothing from these spurious Embrions came
But naked promises, and open shame.
In memory of whose vnhappy wombe,
That brought dead fruit forth, like a liuing tombe,
(Dead fruit, much like faire apples all of smoake,
Which grow in Sodome, and the eaters choake,)
Each courtly lady now vpon their head,
Do weare a bird of Paradise, instead
Of a light feather; which doth warning giue,
How free from lightnesse, Ladies ought to liue:
How constant they should be, how firme in loue:
Not feather-like, apt with each breath to moue.
How well proportion'd, not so great below,
But lesse in shew, and more in truth to know.
To fit the bottome with an equall saile,
And not to ouer-top the head with taile.
All this it tells them, and doth shew beside,
"How addle egges spring out of lust, and pride.
"How noble houses by ignoble deeds,
"Bury themselues and their owne ruine br [...]eds.
"How beautie and all vert [...]es of the minde,
"Conioynde with wealth, adorne not woman kinde:
"Except with these, true chastitie be plac'd,
"And that againe, by modesty be grac'd.
[Page] And now I will proceede to tell my story,
How sad the Phaenix was in minde, how sory
To be so sleighted and so ill respected,
By her for whose sake, he had all neglected.
This wounds his heart, and he resolues too late,
All second matches for the first to hate;
To liue alone, and neuer mor [...] to minde
Fond alteration, in the course of kinde.
But griefe perp [...]ex't him so, he fear'd to die,
E [...]e were fitted for posteritie.
And so his neast vnmade, he quickly might,
Both life, and nam [...], and memory loose out-right
This to pre [...]ent, his [...]light he nimbly takes
O're hill [...]s and dales, o're desarts, riu [...]rs, lakes,
O're kingdomes, countries, bounding East and West,
And spices gathers vp to build his neast.
Which made, and finding still [...]is former griefe,
Not cur'd but growing desperate of reliefe,
Him better seem'd by p [...]iuiledge of kinde,
To kill his body, and renue his minde:
To leaue g [...]iefe where it breeds with earth on earth,
And [...]ecr [...]ate his spirit with spritly birth,
(Li [...] [...]re, which touching powder straight resolues
T [...] grosser parts; and eac [...] it selfe inuolues
In its owne element) then so t'out weare
And tyre away with griefe sixe hundred yeare,
(For so long liues the Phae [...]ix) but thought he,
"So long [...]e dies that liues in miserie.
And [...]herefore soone betakes him to his neast,
Wherefore-prep [...]r'd he finds his funerall drest.
The Sun shi [...]es bright and hot, he with his wings
Makes more the heate: & sparkling diamond brings,
[Page] Whose strong reflection, or retention rather
Either beates backe the heate, or heate doth gather.
Which kindled (like dri'd leaues with burning glasses)
Consumes the neast, and bird, and all to ashes.
Vpon these ashes fruitfull dewes descend,
And the hot Sun his actiue beames do b [...]nd.
So heate and moisture twixt them procreate,
A silly worme vnlike the bird in state.
But time doth giue it growth, and shape, and feathers,
And still perfection from each houre it gathers.
Till to the former equall it appeares,
Or rather all one bird, except in yeares.
The rauenous Vulture wondring long had stood
To marke all this, within a neighbour wood.
Which hauing seene, ambition pricks her so,
That she resolues what'euer power saith no,
Example and direction hence to take,
Her selfe and hers all Phaenixes to make.
So calls she first the Hee, and then the young:
And thus gan speake to them with rauisht tounge.
How much my power hath done, how much my wit,
You know, yet know some repetition fit.
I do the Eagle rule, (the birds braue King)
And worke him to my minde in euery thing.
He preyes on whom I list; still on the best;
Eates what I stint him, and leaues you the rest.
I gouerne euery Hawke, or bird of prey;
Such as confront the Eagle, me obay;
And make me sharer in their richest prize,
And how to please me best, best meanes deuise.
I that despise Religion, scorne all law,
Do binde all other birds to both by awe:
[Page] To both for my aduantage, else you know
I can prophane the Temple well enough;
Pollute the Altar; search the graue, each tombe,
And dig out of the priuiledged wombe
Of hallow'd earth, dainties for you to lurch,
Mans flesh, enshrined in the sacred Church.
You know I foster Souldiers not for loue,
But to breed warres; the slaine my prey still proue.
All sorts, professions, kinds, I prey vpon,
When their sweete slesh is turn'd to carrion.
For carrion is my food, let others kill
And hazzard life for life, we safely will
Eate the vnfortunate, the weake, distressed,
Whom want enfeebled, mightie power oppressed.
This is our practise. But I cald ye now
For higher aimes: to giue you notice how
We may aspire in royaltie and pride
Aboue the Eagle, and all birds beside.
Much time, much study, with full large [...]xpence,
Haue I bestowed, to gain [...] intelligence
Of a rare secret, which exceedeth farre
Th' Alchi [...]isters Idol, call'd th' Elixar.
This is, to vnderstand and know aright,
What course to take, and how we compasse might
The glorious eminence, the singular grace,
The famous Phaenix hath in euery place:
How to attaine her nature, beauty, state;
And without copulatio [...] procreate.
At l [...]ngth my wit, my industry, and chance
Concurring, did this happinesse aduance [...]
For watching lately, as I often did,
In desart vast, among thicke bushes hid,
[Page] I saw (vnseene) the mysterie throughout,
And can resolue each rite, each scrupulous doubt.
The circumstance were needlesse, whil'st the fact
Shall manifest each seuerall Scene, and act,
With happy issue; and accomplish so
Our wishes, that we shall amazed goe;
Amazed goe, to see our selues so low,
So soone to such a pitch of glory grow:
So soone translated, metamorphosed,
And new created from the foot to head:
Beyond our hopes, report, the present station
Of other birds, almost to adoration.
Enquire not how, but each prepare t'obay,
What I command; performance leads the way.
Hie on, hie all, to seuerall quarters flie,
And through the whole world make a scrutinie
For aromatick drugges, perfuming spices,
Rare pretious stones, rich iewels, strange deuices.
Bring them together, lay them on this hill,
And the successe refer to my deep skill.
The young ones all obayde, but then the Male
Staid long t'enquire the reason of this tale.
Yet long he durst not stay, lest shee from thence
Should beate him for his arrogant offence:
For females of all rauening fowles beare sway,
And the blacke Vulture is a bird of prey.
The male ne're meddles with young, meat, or nest:
But shee commands, and he sits like a guest.
He seeing her incenst, away doth post
Ore many Seas, and many an vnknowne Coast,
And all the world surueyes from East to West,
From North to South, and gathers what is best;
[Page] Sweet odoriferous spices, amber-greece,
The Castors stones, the Ermins spotted fleene,
Rich Luzerns, Sables, Martins, and the horee
Of the most precious-seld-seen V [...]icorne.
The Musk-cats cod, with Rubies blushing red,
Quick-sparkling Diamonds cutting glasse like lead;
Bright shining Carbuncles, and Saphires blew,
With Iasp [...]r, Iacynth; Emerals greene in view;
Perspicuous Christall, orient Pearles large, round,
And Gold, for which man doth the Center sound;
Blacke, white, greene, marble; in-laid Porphyrie,
With Alablasters for Imagerie:
Truth-trying Touch-stones, making things distinct,
And what rariety else within precinct
Of ample Nature dwels, they hither brought;
With which a curious neast shee neatly wrought,
To match whose wealth remaining earth was base.
Her s [...]lfe, Mate, yong, each by themselues had place
In this most royall building. Then in state
Her selfe sate downe, and next her musing Mate.
Her young ones, then in orde [...], One by One,
And now the Sunne shin'd hot on euery stone
The spice gan kindle. Now quoth shee I finde
My selfe halfe made immortall changing kinde.
The fire flam'd fiercer then, and sing'd their wings:
Be constant Sirs quoth shee, you shall be Kings.
"Gold crownes are heauy, toyle is hard but gainfull;
"There is no excellent sweet but first is painfull.
They would haue flowne away, but 'twas too late.
Quoth shee the Phaenix dies to liue in state.
With that she sinkes, her neast and all combust
Her glorious hopes, and proiects turn'd to dust.
[Page] Which tells vs this: Pride still doth ouer-build.
[...]Folly is not in architecture skill'd.
[...]Wit frames his Plot according to his state,
[...]And to a small house makes no lofty gate.
[...]But ouer-bold Ambition fires her neast,
[...]And proues her houses shame, her house a ieast.

Epimythium.

The Phaenix betokens vnitie in Religion. This was proper to the Iew [...]s, but they forsooke it, as the bird of Paradice did the Phaenix. Then it came to the Gentiles and seemed to returne to its owne nature to be vniuersall, not tyed to place, or Nation, or person. The Phaenix died, and out of the ashes arose a new Phae [...]ix. Christ came not to destroy but fulfill the Law. The old faith remaines which was first prea­ched in Paradice, the ceremonies only are abolish [...]d by the pr [...]sence of the thing signified. That seems an­other, which is the same truth. Wee Christians pos­sesse what the Iewes expected. They are diuorced (with the bird of Paradice) for their vnfaithfulnesse and vnbeleefe; now they are wedded to the Cynosure their owne wils and stiffe-necked opinions and tradi­tions. They tread and cac [...]le, and lay egges; addle egges or rather adders egges, egges of winde with­out fruit, which neuer proue birds. They expect in vaine an other Messias to saue them, till the true Mes­sias is ready to come to iudge them. They are a scat­tred people, hatefull to all where they inhabite.

[Page] The [...]Vulture and her brood is the Clergie of Rome; where the shee or female preuailes. Shee will be cal­led the Mother Church, which is truly the whore of Babylon, the malignant Church, the Aduersarie, the Antichrist. Shee builds to her owne ruine, her power and policie shall ouerthrow it selfe. Shee shall burne in her owne nest. Let all such therefore as loue the truth, and would saue their soules, come out of her.

VNIO.
DEDICATED TO THE TRVE LO­VER OF HIS COVNTRY S r. ARTHVR HEVENINGHAM Knight, and his truly Reli­gious LADY.

YOV know the moodes of Men, the tempers too
Of Climes, of States, of Elements; Then who
May better read this tale? The minde that's free
Can iudge diseases, and distempers see.
THE Mole, Chamelion, and the Salamander,
As neere the Ocean they together wander,
Spying at sea the Lamprey, haild him thus [...]
Good day my friend to you and eke to vs.
We three are met to argue and debate
Which of vs liueth in the happiest state;
Whether the ayre, the earth, or fire doth giue
To what they breed best sustenance to liue.
[Page] And we would gladly heare how farre the sea
May with fire, ayre, and earth compared be.
You happily we met as we would wish,
Being a prompt, deep diuing, subtle fish,
And ablest to resolue vs. Come then show
The life you lead, and learne our liues to know.
The Lamprey soone consents. And first the Mole
Demogor­gon omnium Deorum pri­mus, in me­dia terra de­gen [...], crassis­sima n [...]bula circumdatus, situ obdu­ctus est. Ima Deorum ex Boccacio. Q [...]od non e [...]t cogni­tum est ens. Arist lib. 8 de gener. & corr. Im­possibile [...]st scire quid est ignorare, si est. Poste­rior. lib [...] 2. Plut [...]rch. vita The [...]istocl. Socra. Hoc scio me n [...]hil scire. Ouid. Met-lib 1. [...] Omne quod fit a natu [...]a [...]it secu [...]dum ordinem. Arist lib. 16. Animal.
Doth thus begin. Deare friends I left my hole
To breath the open ayre (whose light I hate)
T'acquaint yee with the blessings of my state.
And to perswade ye, if you loue your rest
To liue with me in peace, and plenty blest.
It fits me first to speake, for I had first
My being, long before the earth was curst.
Darkenesse was not created; tis as old
As that great workeman which the whole doth mold
But light was made long after, and doth show,
That ignorance is elder then to know.
The workmans selfe in cloudy darknes keeps;
For no eye sees or when he wakes or sleepes.
He loues not euery curious foole should see
What ioyes, what treasures, in obliuion bee.
The worthy Grecian would haue learn'd that Art,
For ignorance is wisdoms better part.
When all was Chaos first the Center stood,
And all the solide parts, call'd Earth. The flood
Was next being ponderous. The ayre flew higher;
And as a hedge to all was placed fire.
What first was plac'd was worthiest, & brought fort [...]
The first of creatures, and best things of worth.
And first it brought forth things that were below;
The roote had life, before the fruit did g [...]ow.
[Page] And we (earths darlings) had our shape within
Ere you without. Nor doe th' effects of sin
(Ambitious sin which light and'knowledge sought
And (fondly curious) blinde obedience thought
A base director) so afflict and kill
Vs h [...]re within; as you who share in ill
Of punishment and guilt, with foolish man;
Yet no way from his rule acquit ye can.
You dwell with him, and dye with him. But we
Are earth by nature, procreated free.
And our forefathers customes still obay,
Doe as they did, and follow their blind way.
Not striuing busily our wits t'approue
By searching doubts, but rather shew our loue,
By louing eu [...]n their errors that are gone,
Humnm degerit Talpa, & radices subt [...]a co­medit & corrodit. Isid [...] [...]. 12.
Or reuerently beleeuing they had none.
Our dyet is most choice, on rootes to feed,
And rellish first the sweet of euery seed.
You liue on th' excrement, and do not know,
That fundamentall vertue springs below.
Besides you liue like slaues, but I am free,
Though bloudy-minded Man oft seeks for me.
The Lyo [...] did pretend because I haue
Foure feet, that I by nature was his slaue:
He call'd for this a Councell, sent for me
To sweare to his seruile supremacie.
But I (refusing th' othe) to spite him more
Did vndermine his Councell-chamber flore
And had not light (damn d light) my plot bewraide [...]
He had to hell s [...]nke by the traine I laide.
But light discouered me, and since that deed
I loath light more, and so in darknesse breed.
[Page] Darknes thou sweet companion, friend of sleepe,
How I delight in thee. With thee doth keepe
All that man seeks for, euery secret plot,
Darke mysterie, close sttatagem; what not?
Inuisible wealth, with treasures manifold,
But chiefe Mans soule, his god, almighty gold.
This Man knowes well, and knowing learnes of me
To dig and delue till in his graue he be.
Then all proclaime him happy: say he is
Omnia corrum­puntur in ea ex qui­bus sunt. Ar [...] lib. 3. Metaphy.
At peace and rest, and doth emoy all blisse.
And such say truth: for he returnes againe
To his first being, and doth so remaine.
"Contentment with darke ignorance doth dwell,
"And light and knowledge only maketh hell.
Then without farther strife liue all with mee,
If you will taste no paines, nor errors see.
The changeable Chamelion laught out-right,
To heare the blinde Mole raile so much at light.
And said; Your darker spirits can't conceiue,
The blessed fruit, that we from light receiue.
Let fooles depend on faith implicatiue,
Wise-men into the depth of truth will diue.
Darknesse and ignorance, which you suppose
Tenebrae sunt pri­uatio lu­minis. Arist. l. 2. de anima [...] Arist [...] de gener. & corrup. lib. 1.
Had an eternall being, are the foes
Of all eternall beings; and indeed
Are voide in nature without fruit, root, seed.
Darknesse is but the absence of cleare light.
As error is the ignorance of right.
So these two are vacuities, want being;
Not seene by others, nor yet others seeing.
From nothing, nothing springs; something there was
From whence this vniuersall frame, this Masse
[Page] Of strange agreeing contrarieties,
Had essence: and 'twas something that had eyes:
For sure it was not ignorance, nor night,
They could not see to order things so right.
But it was knowledge, wisedome, light, and truth,
Figur'd in mature age, and actiue youth.
The priuiledge you plead, Antiquitie,
Talpa sol [...] odit & fugit Isid. Omne ani­mal gene­rans; sibi similes ha­bet oculos praeter tal­pam, &c. Arist.. Talpa non hab [...]t ocu­los quia in generatio­ne e [...]us na­turale edi­tur. Arist [...] l. 4. de animal [...] Talpa ro­strum habe [...] [...]d modum porci.
Proues onely, that of old you vs de to lye;
And that all truth you hate, for truth doth run
Still to the light, and you the light do shun.
And where you challenge your creation first;
It is not like, Nature would make the worst
Before the best; except this can preferre
Your claime, that as young workemen vse to erre
In their first workes; so Nature first did try
To make right eyes, by making yours awry.
Much rather truth it is, she did bestow,
Labour in framing others; but for you,
She left you to corruption, night, and chance,
Which made you [...] eies such, such your countenance.
And your tame-blinde obedience well befits
Such earth-bred, doltish, dull, and sluggish wits.
But ayerie Spirits acquainted with the light,
Will not be led by custome from the right.
No loue, no friends, no predecessor shall
Peruert their iudgements; they examine all.
And for the food ye boast to eat boast still;
No root, herbe, fruit of yours, I handle will.
They are corr [...]pted. Ayre doth only giue
True nourishment, and happiest meanes to liue.
The sick-man shewes this, who the weather fayre,
Remooues for health, from close to th' open ayre.
[Page]
Talpa. Cor [...]um rump [...]tur qu [...]do in­cipit mo [...]i, & [...]um [...] ­pit ap [...]rire oc [...]los [...] A [...]st.
And for the light, your death doth it approoue;
When onl [...] then your eyes are seen to moue.
Then you begin to see, and loath the kinde
Which being blind themselues brought you vp blind,
Bereauing you of many a bles [...]ed sight,
Which we enioy, [...]ho loue and liue in light.
Your freedom from all beasts I like. T'is ill
[...]o be s [...]bi [...]cted to anothers will:
A [...]r fit Cam le­onti cibus. Chamele­on gyrat oculos [...]u­os frequen­ter circum­queque. Arist.
B [...]t that to your superiors I do hate,
And therefore am exilde from euery state:
I liue a poore thin creature, by the ayer;
My selfe I feed with hopes, others with prayer.
My eyes I oft lift vp, and roole about,
D [...]siring to be s [...]en to be d [...]uout.
But neither with my bulke, nor with my backe
Supply the l [...]ast defect of others lacke.
I beare no Wooli to clothe, no flesh to feed;
Let sh [...]ep, and Calues, relecue the poore that need.
I rauisht go with a distracted looke,
A [...]d turne my mind, still, as I turne my booke,
My will doth lead my conscience, not my wit.
And euery riddle for my purpose fit:
Hating whats'ere is old, I loue the new
And to all purposes, change my ready hue.
My flesh is low, my spirit high and prowd
Illud. quod est in corpore [...]uo est modicae carnis.
Doth contradict what order hath allow'd.
I fast when others feast, feast when they fast,
And with Angelicall food, I do out-last
All Gormandiz [...]rs. Come then, liue with me
All that loue life, and light, and would be free.
The Salamander hearing this discourse,
Sayd. Sure you both do argue without force.
[Page] Darke ignorance our nature doth contemne:
And curious search wise Magistrates condemne
By blindnesse we our wants and dotage shew:
To those, not reuerence but reproch is due.
Not priuatiue blindn [...]sse, our antiquitie showes,
But onely that which by long seeing growes.
But you blinde Mole do ignorance affect,
Which breeds derision, scorne and dis-respect.
For what a sensel [...]sse part is this in you,
Your fathers [...]aults and errours to allow?
And not much rather to reforme your owne,
By shunning the defects, which they haue showne?
Your food is grosse and earthly; dirt and mould
Mixt with old roots, do much corruption hold.
Yet (though they gin to die, with age and wither)
The good with bad (being old) you cram togither.
This makes my fiery spirit scorne to keep
I [...] your darke celles, where knowledge seems to sleep.
But you Chameleon with a hand too bold,
Oppose, contemne, and scorne, whats'ere is old.
You onely loue to see, but not to doo,
You dote on knowledge and on error too.
"T'is error, in our sight to ou [...]r [...]eene,
"And but our owne, all iudgements dis-esteeme:
"T'is error to be fondly ouer-wise,
"Too pure, too iust, too perfect, too precise.
There is a meane [...] For knowledge sure doth liue
"Onely, where it doth good to others giue.
You too too sawcie hidden secrets handle,
And too too fond your o [...]ne conceits doe dandle,
And cocker with obseruance: being so
A friende to superstition, though a foe.
[Page]
Corpus pellucidum illum inatur per reflecti­onem, cor­pus coeleste solum per se. Com. in Arist. lib. 1. Met. Lux est vi­sibilis per se: color verò medi­aute luce. Com. in Ar. l. 2. de Anima.
The light you vse, is borrowed not your owne,
The colours that you see, their ground vnknowne.
Your darke imperfect, double glimmering sight,
Is but th' extended beames of greater light.
Arising from vicinitie of fire,
To which the purest elements aspire
In their refined parts; the earth in gold
And pretious stones, doe most resemblance hold;
The sea in salt, in Pearles, in dewes that rise,
And to the Sonne-ward with ambition flies;
The Ayre in colous and in Meteors bright,
Which the Sunnes place vsurpe in darkest night.
Tis fire alone that searcheth and refines,
And doth diuide the grosse from purer mines.
Tis fire that makes grasse, herbe, andtree to grow:
Meltes the seas Icie chaines, and th' earths cold snow.
It cheares the young, it cherisheth the old,
Omnia e­lementa putresiunt preter ig­nem. Arist. l. 4. Meteo.
Reuiues the dying, makes the Coward bold.
Nothing without it can be said to liue,
Whats'ere hath being, it doth glory giue.
Which makes me to determine, that the light
Which you inuisible call, is but a sprite
Made by your feare, and strong imagination,
Without true being, essence, or foundation.
Stellae e­ [...] non vidatur de die propter lumen solis [...]om. Ar. l. 2. de Anima.
For light the greater 'tis, doth more appeare;
So should that light of lights, if such there were.
My indgement therefore in this rule doth runne,
There's nothing greater then the glorious Sunne,
Here I set downe my rest. And for the schooles,
That teach beleefe, let them still tutor fooles.
From your contention, my instruction sprung;
And thus I learn'd to thinke when I was young.
[Page] The Mole doth feede too much on earthly meat,
And the Chameleon nought but ayre doth eat.
I neither like your fast, nor yet your feasting,
Salamar [...] drae tantus est rigor, vr ignem tactu extin­gu [...]t sicut glacies. P [...]n l. 10. fructus ar­borum infi­cit, aquas corrumpit. Ex gu [...]bus s [...] quis co­mederit vel. biberi [...] mox neca­tur. Plin. l. 10. Murena non à suo simili con­cip [...]tur, sed à serpente. I sid. l. 12. cap. 6.
For twixt you two all earnest turnes to ieasting.
And doth perswade me thinke, there is no food,
In earth or ayre, that doth or hurt, or good.
So all my knowledge, practise, life, doth chime,
According to the current, state, and time.
I thinke they'r only gulls that liue in awe
Of any thing but want, death, and the law.
I quench all fiery zeal wheres'ere I co [...]e;
And would haue Policie speake, Religion dumbe.
I poyson with my breath, both foe and friend,
And to my pleasuredo [...] each proiect bend:
In briefe I onely am a freeman borne,
Who loue my s [...]lfe alone, and others scorne.
The Lamprey hearing this damn'd Atheist tell,
A tale befitting none b [...]t Machiuael,
Thrust his eye-guarded h [...]ad aboue the brim,
Of the rug'd waues [...] and to the shore did swim.
And on his slippery belly gan to slide,
Till he came neere the Salamanders side.
Thou cursed slaue (q [...]oth he) though I proceed
From some of thy neere kin, of serpents seed.
And am halfe serpent, as thou wholly art,
Yet I am halfe a fish; and euen that part
Prouokes me contradict the cursed note,
Which thou didst vomit from thy venomd throat.
Thy Pedigree is lineally detiued
From that great Serpent, which at first depriued
The rest of feet; and being ouer-wise
Gull'd credulous man of glorious paradise.
[Page] Still thou partak'st that nature, and each tree,
Thy tongue or teeth touch, so infected be
In root and fruit, that who so eats doth die,
Poyson'd b'accurst, cold infidelitie.
Too light beleefe, and too too earnest thirst
Of curious knowledge, causde de [...]th enter first:
But now thy skill hath brought it so about,
That hearing, seeing, feeling, still we doubt.
And flying one extreame, we fondly fall
Into the contrary; wise, fooles, and all.
"Yet blindnesse better is, then hauing eyes,
"Not t'acknowledge truthes, but count them lye [...].
Dubitato. [...]um solum­modo [...]st veritatis in­quisit [...]o. A [...]stot. Me [...]. l. 3.
"T'is better to be doubtfull what we know,
"Then to be Truthes profest and open foe.
The Mole and the Chameleon better are,
And neerer truth, then thou thy selfe by farre.
Yet the Cham [...]leon somewhat doth resemble
Thy nature, but he can more close dissemble.
He is not so prophane, so impious, bold,
To call all truth in doubt, both new and old;
Though he giues darknesse not the praise he ought,
And too too curious, after knowledge sought:
Yet he confesseth that there is a light
He cannot see, through th' impotence of sight.
But you all light and knowledge do confine
Within the Sunne, as if it were diuine:
And like a desperate traytor, foolish theefe,
From art and nature steale, to kill beleefe.
Come then good fellowes (quoth the Lamprey) take
This monster vp against vs; let vs make
Him an exampl [...] of our iustice showne,
Vpon Truthes foe, so manifestly knowne.
[Page] With that he nimbly twines himselfe about
The Salamander (being quicke and stour:)
Chameleon and the Mole, the Lampr [...]y aide
Which makes the Salamander much disinay'd.
Yet he doth lay about with tongue, teeth, nailes,
And bites them all, but oddes at length pr [...]uailes.
And they remaining victors cast him downe
F [...]om the steepe cliffe, and so the Atheist drowne.
Then comming backe, they two the Lamprey pray
His wi [...]e opinion of their st [...]ife to say:
That they may know to which part he enclines
Whether to darknesse, or where spl ndor shines.
He soone consents, and tells how he (by kinde
B [...]ed and brought vp in [...]u [...]) is of the minde
The Mole spake truth. For happinesse (quoth he)
"Consists in what we haue, not what we see.
And sight prouokes vs wish, and couet change
And so in boundl [...]sse, endlesse, toyle we range.
"He that knowes most, knowes best what he doth misse,
"The losse of Parad [...]se is only this.
"Th [...] simple innocent truth this instance fameth;
"Man in the darke being naked nothing shameth.
Thus he discourst, then tells how he behaues
Himselfe in darkn [...]sse, vnder [...]eath the waues.
How he prefers old gnorance, before
N [...]w K [...]owledge, and (I wot) knowes cause therefore.
Shewes how for this opinion he was brought
Before the Whale, yet lo [...]g in vaine was sought:
Tells how he scapes the sear [...]h b [...] many creeks
And winding holes, when Hipp [...]a him seeks:
For they (Phoenician Cre [...]ishes being swift)
Are Purseuants which he can hardly shift:
[Page] Yet he hath learned counsell, who directs
His whole proceeding when he ought suspects.
First subtle Polypus to whom he cleaues,
And seeming part of him the search deceaues.
The turbulent Cuttle, who doth raise the mud,
Aud such a colour mingle with the flood,
That no eye can discouer where he lies,
And so he often scapes the craftie spies.
L [...]mprey quasi Lam­petra [...] Of licking rocks. Camden.
Then creepes to stones that lye on silt and sand,
(Not to the corner-stone on stedfast land [...])
And if by chance they finde him spite of these,
And so attach him, then he can with ease
Slip through their fingers, or himselfe vnwinde,
By leauing some part of his slime behinde.
He can equiuocate, and double so,
That [...]uery way at once he seemes to go.
Yet once he taken was, and brought to triall,
Where with his doubtfull answer [...], stif [...]e deniall,
Low crowching, smoth conueyance, flattering guise
He scap't th' Exchequer, Prison, and th' A [...]s;si [...]e.
Then being askt, why darker ignorance
Before the light he did in speech aduance.
He answers, first it was to try his wit;
Not that he held it, to be true or fit.
Againe, because [...]inall vse of light he had,
He to make some fooles like himselfe was glad [...]
With these slye answers, and great friends beside,
Bribes are faithfull friends, for gifts cor­rupt the wise.
And faithfull bribes, he did from danger glide:
And such fe [...]'d friends he had in euery Court,
And euery office, at the least report
Of threatned danger rounded him in th' eare
To shift [...]is scat, before the storme came neare.
[Page] [...]en shewes he how the better to disguise
[...]is double face, he had two rowes of eyes:
[...]s though he lou'd all knowledge, and all light.
[...]ut (quoth he) only two of these haue [...]ight;
[...]he rest are hypocriticall and blind:
[...]et their appearance calmes the Whales fierce mind
[...]hose easie nature open to abuse,
[...]akes shew for substance, colour for excuse.
[...]hus adapt and frame my selfe to follow
[...]he Whales command, although my hea [...]t be hollow,
[...]iue at quiet, offices obtaine,
[...]ace in the warres, and in the Coram gaine.
[...]ll which shall turne vnto the Whales destruction:
[...]euer great fish, mooue but insurrection:
[...]or I'le discouer all when time shall fit;
Who trusts a halfe friend, hath not halfe his wit.
[...]hil'st thus he argu'd, and the Mol [...] grew proud,
[...]o heare affected ignorance allow'd:
[...]nd that so many in that large dominion,
[...]emain'd vpholders of his stiffe opinion.
[...]he thinne Cham [...]le [...]n gan looke bigge and swell,
[...]nd each complain'd himselfe he was not well,
[...]ut then too late, they found how they were stung
[...]nd poyson'd by the Salamanders toung.
[...]here was no helpe, but die they must. In vaine
[...]hey weepe; and each to other shew their paine,
[...]ill Iustice did by death their paine conclude,
[...]ith tragicke end closing their interlude.

Epimythium.

The Mole is the blinde, obstinate, refractary Ro­mish Catholike, who hath no other answere or reason for any article of faith, or point of religion, but this: My predecessors were of this opinion, and they were wiser then I am. His Positions are. 1. Ignoran­tia est mater de [...]otionis. 2. Caeca obedientia meruit ex condigno. 3. [...]ides implicatiua sufficit. He obeyes that which he calls the mother Church, before God, who is his heauenly Father. For he had rather breake ten of his commandements then one of hers. Gods Sab­both day is his play [...]day, and euery Saints day, his Sabboth. What hee spends on Christmas day, hee spares on Ashwednesday, and Goodfriday. And this is his generall rule, two fasting dayes, makes the third a glutton.

The Chameleon is in England a Familist, at Amster­dam a Brownist, further on an anabaptist He liues by the aire, and there builds Castles and Churches [...] none on the earth will please him. He would be of the tri­umphant and glorious Church, but not of the terrene militant Church, which is subject to stormes, defor­mities, and many violences and alterations of time; he must findeout Sr. Thomas Mores Vtopia, or rather Pla­toes Communitie, & be an Elder there: In this point, and in that of r [...]isting ciuill gouernours, he seems the same with the Romish Catholicke. But they are tide onely by the tailes, like Sampsons foxes, their heads like Ianus looke diuers wayes. They are Boutefewes & carry betwixt them a fire-brand to inflame all Chri­stendome. [Page] They haue in the imagination an Idea of [...]uch a Church, and such keyes as the Romanists mad­ [...] boast they poss [...]sse: but they will not haue them the [...]me, nor to resemble theirs. Foolish Alchimisters [...]hey are both, seeking a Ph [...]osophers stone, and neg­ [...]ecting the true Elixar, the Corn [...]r-stone. They boast [...]o build golde on the foundation, when what they [...]aube on is adulterate stuffe, laid b [...]side the founda­ [...]ion. They beggar themselues in s [...]king for wealth [...]broad, whil'st at home they neglect that Pearle of in­ [...]tinable price, for which the wise M [...]rchant giues al [...]hat he is worth. If euer I could heare Papist cleare [...]he Pope from being Antichrist and proue he must bee [...]ne singular person, I would then beleeue that hee [...]hould not spring from a [...]ew of the tribe of Dan, as [...]hey fable, but [...]rom a promiscuous coniunction be­ [...]wixt two fugitiues, to Amsterdam, and Rome.

The Salamander is the Atheist, hee is contrary to himselfe, and hatefull to others; he poysons all with whom he con [...]erseth, and knowes some Philosophy [...]no Diuinity. Hee seekes all wisdome in himselfe, where the Tutor is the Master foole; and is so inqui­sitiue after the cause, that he forge [...]s both the [...]nd and the causer. His reason is his god, and that being false, is not able to direct him to search & see the true God. Thus he is drown'd in the sea of his own foolish and boundlesse imaginations [...] and being [...] a pretty childe, is brought vp for his mo [...]hers Cocknie, spends Lamprey, quasi Lam­petra Of li [...] ­ [...]ing the r [...]ck [...]. Camden in Worster­shire.his youth like a witie foole, his Manhood like a rea­sonable beast, and his age (if iudgement cut him not off) like [...] deuill incarnate.

The Lamprey is the subtill shotten Catholike or [Page] Church Papist. He coosins the law and his owne sou [...] too. He is worse to trust then the open and profest [...] cusant. He hath no good conscience, for Conscientia [...] scien [...]ia cum alia scientia. N [...] good zeale, for zeale [...] Intentio virtutu [...] theologicarum (An opposite to Hy­pocrisi [...], with which h [...] clokes himselfe from all pena [...] statutes). H [...] is neither fish nor fle [...]h; but halfe fish, an [...] halfe Serpent, as they s [...]y which write of the genera­tion of the Lamprey. A man m [...]y easily surfet of such meate, and a S [...]ate so [...]ne indanger it selfe by suffering such to increase. There is no law can meete with thei [...] fraud. The Churchwarden is the Coppiholder. The Parson is his Chaplaine. These dare not present him. A fine will vndoe the first, and a prohibition begge [...] the other: yet these the law presumes must first speak or none. If these do their office, the I wery are perhaps his tenants; he is a Iustice of peace, a great man their neighbour. If they finde him guiltie, there are pillars in the Excheaquer: or if these faile, a friend or kins­man in Court makes all sure. These scape thus them­selues, and shelter others in their houses and abroad. Because the State through conniuence accepting a weake and imperfect shew of conformitie, giues cre­dite to their conuersions, and intru [...]ts them in place where they may doe much hurt. The goods, leases and monies of the meaner and more resolute sort are past ouer to thes [...], and passe free vnder their priui­ledges and protections. The Character to know these is this. They come to Church once a moneth, and then when Prayers are done and the Psalmes sung, p [...]rhaps at the beginning of the Sermon. They are prag naticall, and haue for the most part trauail' [...] and [Page] [...]rought home ignorance: They are stiffe and inflexi­ [...]le, and call it strength to oppose truth and reason. They extoll forraigne gouernment, and slight all do­mesticke graces. They magnifie the Infanta, the Archduke, and Spinola; but vilifie his Excellence and the States. They will dispu [...]e scandalls [...] or what may seem scandalous, and that only at tables, where if you stop their mouthes with ar­gument, they pretend they could say more, but that their mouthes are stopt with meat. They trauaile still on Sundaies, and remooue against Easter.

Struthiocamelus.
DEDICATED To the vertuous Knight, Sir Iohn Heueningham, and his charitable Lady.

VVHat on our selues we spend, doth through vs pa [...]
And leaue vs [...]aked, as this Ostrich was:
This makes you on the poore bestow so much,
And no expence but owne your selues to grutch.
A Wealthy Marchant late in Barbary,
Through sandy desarts passing; chanc't to sp [...]
An Ostrich eating iron which he found,
By Trauellers scattered vpon the ground:
Tantae cali­ditatis est Stru [...]hioca­melus quod ferrum de­glutit, dirigit & co [...]sumit Isisid.
Quoth then this Merchant; prithee let me know,
What nourishment, can from those mettals grow?
Th [...] Ostrich answers; Sir I do not eat
This iron, as you thinke I do, for meate.
I only keepe it, lay it vp in store,
To helpe my needy friends, and friendlesse poore.
[Page] I often meere (as farre and neere I goe)
Many a fow [...]dred horse that wants a shooe:
Se [...]uing a Master that is money-lesse:
Such I releeue and helpe in their distresse.
With trauellers I meete that are beset
By theeues and [...]obbers often. Then I beget
My selfe a [...]ong the thickest, and present
Out of my [...]aw a pistoll ready bent,
A sword and dagger, or some such like toole,
To help the true man, and the theefe to coole.
The Merchant mus'de (as well he might) at this,
And thought within himselfe; this fellow is
Most fit for my imployment, I will straight
Hire him to be my Bailiefe. No deceit
Lurkes in his simple shew; he'le surely keepe,
My plow-yrons, when my lazie hindes do sleepe.
This to the Ostrich motion'd, he agrees,
The wages are set downe, the vailes, the fees,
The liuory, with circumstance enough,
And they come home [...] And now God speed the [...]
The Ostrich carefully laies vp the rakes,
The pitch-forke teines, the yron-pointed stakes,
The wedges, hammer, hatchet, and the nailes,
Th [...] sithe, the sickle, and the biles of pailes,
The share, the coulter, heele-yorne, and the cocke,
The whip, the horse [...] shooe, with the key and locke.
He needs no locke and key to keepe them vnder,
But keeps both lock & key, where you wold wonder.
Then comes into the house, puts vp the gun,
The sword and dagger; and when this is done,
Deuoures the dripping-pan, the cob-irons, spit,
And swallowes all the iron bit by bit.
[Page] The Merchant prais'd his fortune, that he had
Got one so good, 'mongst many seruants bad.
Told him he shortly would his state preferre,
From being Bailiffe, to be Treasurer;
For he could not inuent a surer hold,
Then th' Ostrich had for siluer, or for gold.
And now the Merchant leauing one at home,
That he may well trust, goes abroad to rome:
Neglects his house and lands, thinkes all is well,
And as he wont to doe, doth buy and sell.
Mongst other things he sold, because the warres
Began afresh, he truct for yron barres.
For he was one of those that would for gaine:
Sell bullets, where they were shot home againe,
And did our Mines and Woods on Ordnance wast,
Which spite of lawes, he to the Enemie past,
Much yrone he had at home, and sold beside
All kinde of armour fit for such a tide.
So home he comes glad of so good a mart,
For here he knowes the Ostrich playes the part
Of a good Bailiffe. He may easily thriue,
When such a full winde doth his fortune driue.
His land he finds vntill'd, he wonders then
And thinkes the fault rests on his lazy Men.
They say they wanted yrons for the plough,
He wonders, for the Bailiffe had enough.
He findes his house all naked, not a bit
Of meate prepar'd, the Cooke wants pot, and spit [...]
He goes to bed, the theeues assault his house:
He hath no weapon to resist a Mouse.
H [...] riseth early, lookes for his munition,
The place remaines, no yron in fruition.
[Page] His barres are gone, his houshold-stuffe, and all,
Now to account his Bayliffe he doth call.
The Seruants ioyne in their petition first,
And shew their griefes, [...]ow hard he was, and curst.
How he kept backe their wages and their meate,
And gaue them worke, but gaue them not to eate.
How he neere hand had made a monstrous neast,
Where whilst they fasted, he and his did feast.
And thither he conuaide the yron worke
Where the she Ostrich and his young did lurke;
Who swallow'd all: for they haue mawes as large
As culuerings, which would as soone discharge
The yron loade; and sooner farre would spend,
And bring a world of wealth to lauish end.
The Ostrich to excuse himselfe bewraies
The place where safely he this yron layes.
Carries him to a priuate hole, where still
He dung'd, when he his maw did ouer-fill.
Quoth he if you can good distinction make,
Each seuerall peece you may from hence vptake.
The plow-geares, cart-geares, and the toole for war,
Stercusfer­ri eximium rarumque medica­mentum ad omnesioci­neris & splenis ob­structiones. Mathiol [...] Medicamē ­tum ex [...]cca­catorium. Idem Ma­thiol.
Spits, pots, and cobirons, here together are.
Each wedge, knife, hammer, and the smallest naile,
Drawne lymbick wise through stomacke, guts & taile
It's a rare chymicall extraction now,
Better then all the drugs the Mount-bankes show.
It passeth our elixar, or the stone [...]
Sought for by many, but attaind by none.
Th' obstruction of the Liuer, and the spleene,
It opens, mollifies, and purgeth cleane.
A secret t'is assured, for madnesse, folly,
Wild i [...]alousie, and cloudy melancholly,
[Page] It cures the Gout, and qualifies the cause,
Suppling a hide-bound purse like th' oile of lawes:
It dries vp humours, humours that a bound,
And mans weake body it makes safe and sound.
The merchant stood amaz'd, but at the last,
He seazde vpon the Ostrich, held him fast:
Made him be tide be [...]inde a horse, and stript,
They are called his egges, be­cause hee trod the hen that laid them.
(His buttocks bare as now they be) and whipt.
Ransackt his neast, and brake before his face
His egs, though his poore Hen in hope of grace,
Did sue for their repriuall. But in vaine,
He look [...]s to finde his Iron there againe.
Which missing he proceedes, exiles him quite,
And then vpon his gate this note doth write.
Let Rich-men wisely feare,
All such as feathers weare,
It's lost whats'ere they borrow,
And soone their mawes goes thorow:
The substance they consume
To nought but smoke and rheume;
But th'vse they neuer faile
To pay with tongue and taile.
Naturaliter equum odit Aren [...]m fodit & ibi ponit oua [...]ua quae fa­bulocoope­rit & regi [...]
The Ostrich euer since his breeches lost,
Goes like a naked rogue at whipping post.
He hates a horse to death since he was stript,
And for his fault, ti'de at his taile and whipt.
He hides his egges, and couers them from sight,
Lest man should find & break them. Thus they write.

Epimythium.

THe Merchant. figur [...]th Parsimony, the Ostricl prodigalitie; what the one gathers, the other spends. Ages, nations, and particular persons haue their alternall variations and vicissitudes, euen in ga­thering and expence, as in all other passages. [...]There bee few scraping fathe [...]s, but their children proue witty scatterers, or foolish retainers: experience of many ages scarce produce one contradiction to this generall obseruation. The father vs [...]th no more dili­gence in damning his soule by getting goods vnlaw­fully, then the sonne doth in sp [...]nding them prodi­gally: Let this therefore learne Vsurers, Ingrossers, and Oppressors of all professions, (if they loue their wealth, and would not haue it wasted; or loue their children, and would not haue them vndone) to secure their estates rather from their children, then for them. It is not the want, but the enioying of aboundance that vn­does many men. The rich father who dares bestow nothing on himselfe; and the prodigall sonne that spends all on others, and keepes nothing for himselfe, are the miserablest beggers in the world. Others haue pitty and prouision to helpe them, t [...]ese nothing but derision and scorne. No Hospitall will entertaine them; only the father finds roome in Bedlame, and the sonne a hole in the Counter, or a dungeon in Newgate.

ONOCROTALVS.
DEDICATED TO THE RIGHT hopefull KNIGHT, Sir THOMAS SOVTHVVELL.

YOur name hath long been mist, now fairely rise
And make your Country flourish. All our eyes
Are cast vpon your actions; then on vs
Reflect your loue. Shun Onocrotalus.
[...]nocrota­us est auis luos ha­ [...]ens vte­ [...]os. In vno [...]ecipit, in [...] deco­ [...]uit. Isid.
VVHilome within the Persian gulfe did haunt
A fowle much like our greedy Cormorant,
Cal'd Onocrotalus, who vsde to prey,
On fish, or fowle, or beast which past his way.
He had a crop vnder his bosome wide,
In compasse like a sacke, and thereto side.
[Page] Much harme and spoile he did, for none could passe
But fild his pouch, if bird, beast, fish, it was.
At length th' oppressed birds, with fish, and beast,
Petition to their Soueraignes, and request
Aide and protection gainst the open wrong,
This tyrant daily did, and had done long.
The beasts vnto the Lyon made complaint.
Birds to the Eagle. Fishes did acquaint
The Seas great Emperour the Whale. with griefe,
They all sustain'd, and all implor'd reliefe.
Long was it ere they could be heard, for still,
The Cormorant, (for so we call him will)
Had many friends in euery Court, which he
Maintainde with large shares, and full liberall fee.
For still his gorge full laden, ready stood,
And when they mist else-where they here had food:
Food of each kinde, for euery stomacke fit,
And such as fauorites were, had part of it.
Long thus he put them off, yet at the last,
By counter-bribes, their weake petitions past.
The Eagle first did seeke him, and he found,
The theefe where he would wish, vpon the ground,
Quoth he, well met, are you the fowle that prey,
Vpon our harmlesse subiects night and day,
That none can this way passe and vse his trade,
But is a subiect to your fury made?
Not I sir (quoth the Cormorant) I am one,
That liue in contemplation all alone.
This poke I begge with, to sustaine my need,
And I no fowle am but a beast indeed.
Quoth then the Eagle, wherefore serue thy wing?
O (quoth the Cormorant) thou mighty king
[Page] Of feathered fowles, these two are my forefeet,
Held vp to honor thee, with reuerence meete.
And that thou maist be full resolu'd, and know
That I vnto the Lyon duty owe,
As subiects to their Soueraignes, not to thee,
Without thou wilt vsurpe authoritie,
And into other neighbour Realmes incroch
(Which to thy Iustice were a fowle reproch)
[...]strum [...]aquam ergens [...]rridum [...] cit [...]o­ [...]m, Asi­no mor [...]. id.
Heare but my voice. With that he steps aside,
And in the water thrusts his wezand wide,
And like an Asse gan bray. The Eagle straight
Hearing his voice, suspected no deceit,
But p [...] away to seeke what now he saw.
When the late noyse he made did thither draw
The kingly Lyon, who did hunt about,
As th' other did to finde th' oppressor out.
And when he spide him; What art thou quoth he
The beast gainst whom so many plaine to me?
O noble Lyon, quoth the Cormorant,
I am a fish, the water still I hant.
And here I take my food, and lead my life,
Free from oppression, and each cause of strife.
Why, quoth the Lyon, now I heard thee bray
Like to an Asse. True, True, my Lord ye say,
(Quoth this smooth hypocrite) for I would faine
Be like an Asse, so innocent and plaine.
I loue beasts well, and next your excellence,
The humble Asse, for still his patience.
And now to put your highnesse out of doubt,
Behold me swimme and diue, (so launcht he out
Far from the Lyons reach) If beasts quoth he,
Can swimme and diue thus, I a beast may be.
[Page] With that he diues, saying, Sir fare you well,
Your faire commends to the King Whale I'le tell.
The Lyon parted thence; the Whale that way
Had sought this Monster all the liue-long day;
And seeing such an vn [...]outh thing glide past,
Within his Kingdome, with such nimble hast;
He call'd and bad him stay, and will'd him tell,
If he were Onocrotalus, that fell
And cruell murtherer, who hauocke made
Of all that in that wealthy Rode did trade?
O mighty Emperour (aloud he cri'de)
I hardly scap't euen now his cursed pride
For being by my noble Master sent,
(The Eagle King of fowles) you to present
With birds and other iunkets in my crop,
He needs would me from your glad presence stop;
And but he heard you comming, I surmise,
His lawlesse force had made me lawfull prize.
Quoth then the Whale, I search to meete that slaue.
But what art thou that canst so well behaue,
Thy tayle and nimble fins? Art not a fish?
That I were such (quoth he) it is my wish.
I like thy milder reigne where subiects say,
For loue, and not for dread, they thee obey.
And would arm'd in white scales, if I might choose
Serue thee a fish, and my blacke feathers loose.
But Nature this forbids; yet still I striue,
Euen from my youth, fish-like to swim and diue:
And vnderstand their language, and conuerse
With them whose ciuill manners, are lesse fierce
Then beasts or birds be. For they drinke far more
And eat much lesse, then we doe on the shore.
[Page] This drinking I delight in, and haue tride,
By all good meanes to make my belly wide.
Yet see, I am a fowle. So vp he hies,
And takes his wings with speede, and far thence flies?
The Whal [...] then found his cunning and straight sent
A priuy letter of his close intent,
Both to the Eagle and the Lyon stout,
To meet and ioyne, and finde this Out-law out.
They met, and ioynd, and then this Out-law found
Nor in the Sea, nor yet vpon the ground:
Nor flying in the aire, but in a hold,
A hollow tree, whose strength made braggard bold.
[...]in lito­quies [...]ēs [...]rum su­ [...]uper [...]um eri­ [...]Et sui us acu­ [...]e con­ [...]nsul [...]um [...]ipitris [...]raemu­ [...]s [...]d.
They spoke him faire, but he discerned plaine,
Their drift, and cride [...] Faire words make Idiots faine.
They threatned him, but threats he doth deride,
And saith, by threatning words none euer dyde.
The Eagle would haue ventred on his neast,
But he his bill held right vpon his breast,
Like a stiffe souldi [...]rs pike, sharpe, long, and armd;
And no way but right downe he could be harmd.
The Lyo [...] would haue torne with teeth and nailes
The tree vp by the roote, but wanted sailes
To swim so farre, for it in waters stood.
The Wh [...]le then thought to tosse it in the flood,
But in a rocke it grew, and growing so,
He bad them do their worst, he fear'd no foe.
They saide, they would besiedge and starue him out;
He laught amaine, and shew'd how gainst that doub [...]
He was prouided, hauing store to serue
So long, till if they staid, they all would starue.
Then each bethought himselfe of many a wile
And war-like stratagem, how to beguile
[Page] This politique Rebell, and to force him yield
Or starue within, or venter to the field.
All workes the ayre, the water, or the land
Did ere produce, these Captaines vnderstand:
B [...]t none found able to enforce his strength:
The warlike Ly [...]n yet conceiu'd at length
How to effect it. Great confederates heare,
(Quoth he) what I propound. There's uought I feare
But what I speake of. Once I did rebell
Against out Generall Soueraigne Man: to tell
This fault doth touch my honour, but you all,
I [...]now haue been co-partners in my fall,
And his most gracious pardon. Then, O then
I kept within my fort, a hideous den
Caru'd out of rocke it was; and no way he
Could force me out, or make assault on me.
At last with indignation mou'd, he takes
A mighty flint vp, and with hurling, breakes
The same against a rocke, which flying sings,
And sparkles from the ayre betwixt them springs
As from a red-hot yron, when a Smith
With heauy hammer beats it on a stith.
Neere hand he had before laid leaues with rosse
From Okes torne with a Northern blast, and mosse
Dride in the parching Sun: and wood which dide
By killing age, and stood my den beside.
The sparks inflam'd this stuffe, which in the mouth
Of my darke Caue he plac'd: the winde then South
Forc'd in the smoke, and this ayre-thickning smoke
Infor'd me thus, either come out or choke.
[Page] The issue you remember: this alone
Must be our proiect now; or Art hath none.
Hie therefore braue-bird brother, quickly take
Twixt your strong tallents this great flint, and make
Experience of my plot. Mount with it hie
And let it fall, that fire may from it flie:
Which kindled once, fan gently with your wing,
And cherish with soft breath: then let the king
Of fishes with his mighty nostrels puffe
Till it [...]lames fiercely, and burnes hot enough.
This counsell they applaud; but th' Eagle thought
How purer, hotter, flames might soone be [...]ought:
And vp he nimbly fores the milke-white way,
Where (being a minion knowne) he findes no stay;
Each dore [...]ies ope alone, till to the eare
Of mighty loue he gets, and let him heare
His businesse and his suite, which was for fire
And thunderbolts; loue grants his full desire.
Downe quickly he descends and makes a traine
About the place where this theefe doth remaine:
Then powder he applies vnto the root
Of t'hollow tree, and thence the slaue doth shoot.
He shoots him thence into the ayre as hye,
As th' Eagles selfe could follow with his eye.
And downe he comes and doth descend the deep,
Where the still Center doth no motion keep.
Then vp againe aboue the swelling maine,
He bounds, there floting without sense or paine.
And ere he can recouer labouring breath,
That's lo [...]h to part, the Whal [...] from vndern [...]ath
[Page] The traytor doth attach, and straightway brings
To be arrayn'd before the other Kings.
Him they examine, but he will confesse
No truth, but what they know as he doth gh [...]sse.
Then they doe racke him (being rent before)
Yet he no truth, but many a lye doth rore.
Till with the violent torture and constraint,
Life almost failing, and with sufferings faint,
His gorge he vomits and bewraies with paine
The truth, for which they sought so long in vaine.
And first (preposterously) he casteth out,
All slimy lubricke meats, Eele, Gudgeon, Trout;
The Citie heires, Gilt-head and Golden [...]eye,
Belonging to the Sea-kings soueraignty.
And with this euidence conuict, the tryall
Proceeds to proue him guilty in denyall
Of farther wrongs done. The Wood-cocke, Parret,
The Goose, the Dotterell, lack [...]daw prone to parret,
The Sea [...]gull and the Cinclos weake and friendlesse,
And of poore widdow- Turtles numbers endlesse,
With diuers subiects to the royall Eagle,
He doth as easily voide, as erst inueagle.
Yet still vnto the Lyon he denies
Himselfe a trespasser, but all those lyes
He lately made, and late was taken in,
Afford presumption of his farther sinne.
For which againe they racke him one pin higher,
And then he vtters more then they desire.
A foolish Cony, and an innocent Lambe,
A credulous Cal [...] new weaned from the dam,
And yet in wardship; a ridiculous M [...]use
For feare of Cats leauing her sheltring house:
[Page] And last of all, (for which the Lyon greeued)
A Hare, from execution oft repreeued.
All these with easie vtterance, doth declare
That he did fowle, nor beast, nor fishes spare
But preide on all, and so became a prey
To the Eagle, Whale, and Lyon, eu'ry way.
Which prou'de and made by demonstration plaine,
Beyond the power of impudence to faine:
He then excepts against th'vndue proceeding,
They in his apprehension vsde, not heeding
The law of Nations, but by force constraining
(Himselfe) an others subiect, remaining
In peace, and league with them, to be arrayn'd
Like to a Traytor, and with tortures payn'd.
He saith the place he kept in was without
Their iurisdiction, and he made no doubt
To proue it with large priuiledges blessed
A sanctuarie for the poore distressed.
They slight his cauils; And the Whale demands
In whose vnknowne, strange gouernment it stands
If not in one of theirs? For ayre, earth, sea,
And all they haue (but Man and what Mans be),
Doe properly belong to one of these,
Who may dispose of all, as they best please.
I pray then (quoth the Corm [...]rant) relate
To whose Emperiall crowne, and to whose state,
My enuy'd neast belongs? which of you three
Claime th' interest as Lord by right of fee?
For if it proper be to one, the rest
Haue done much wrong, t'vsurp his interest
Whose it should be. This question he did make
Hoping thereby their setled loues to shake
[Page] [...]y couetous ambition, whilst they all
[...]ould make their claimes, and so asunder fall.
[...]ut the foreseeing Eagle bids him minde
[...]is owne affaires, and not to thinke t'vnwinde
[...]he snares true Iustice laies about his life,
[...]ut interposing such slight cause of strife
[...]etwixt such firme friends, in strong league combinde
And with all strength of entercourse entwinde.
And yet to satisfie this curious doubt,
Know (quoth the Eagle) that being hem'd about
With floting waters, it belongs to him
Who gouerns all that in the waters swim.
But as it on the stedfast earth doth stand,
It longs to him that is the king of land.
And the large tree which spreads his spacious bowes
In th' open ayre, within my kingdome growes.
Thy neast thus longs to all of vs, thy food
Stolne from our subiects, in th'ayre, earth, flood:
And thou thy selfe must needs, if thou beest either
Beast, bird, or fish, be one of ours; if neither,
Say what thou art, or whose thou art; for all
But Man and Monsters in this number fall.
Then (quoth the Cormorant) I doe belong
Vnto the fearefull Dragon, whose blacke tongue
Threats death to each of you, and keeps in awe
Draco maximus est cuncto­rum ser­pentium à spelnuci [...] abstractu [...] sertur in aerem.
Your humbler spirits, making his will your law,
He is the king of serpents, whose strong breath
Confounds your strength with all-subduing death.
He rules the vpper region, purging fire
Which searcheth hell, and doth to heau'n aspire.
This, this alone it was which I obay'd
When that strong law vnto my neast you layd.
[Page]
Excitatur propter [...]um aer, & mare contra e­ius ventu [...] contumes­cet. Isid. lib. 12. Solum ha­bet vene­num in lingua & in felle. Plin. [...]
But you that sprightly power by int [...]usion
Falsely vsurpt to my deuout confusion.
Fire onely to the Dragon doth belong;
To him, and vnto me, you haue done wrong.
To him I doe appeale; and haue resort
In this great cause to his infallible Court.
This speech inflam'd their hearts with heat & scorne
To be confronted thus, thus ouerborne
By a base villaine who did proudly brag on
The free protection of their foe the Dragon.
So with a full resolue, they all agree
Each for himselfe and his reueng to bee.
The Lyon takes, feet, head and throat away:
With those he walk't and like an Ass [...] did bray.
The Eagle seaseth on his wings and taile,
With these he bird-like in the ayre did saile.
The Whale his body swallowes at a bit
Which he vs'de fish-like, diu'd and swam with it.
Thus Traytor-like hee's quarter'd out and caru'd;
Would land and water Pyrats were so s [...]ru'd.

Epimythium.

The water Pyrat euery one doth know
They rob our Marchants, and allegeance owe
To no command; dutie to none will giue,
But out-lawes, like the sea wherein they liue.
Our Pyrats on the land haue sundry kinds,
And sundry obiects. Our goods, bodies, minds.
Law-state-Church Pyrats, when no Church, state, law,
Can their irregular liues to fashion draw.
The first pretending gouernment of all,
And freeing such as into danger fall;
Doe kill in curing, and oppresse with easing
Both the delinquent, and the free displeasing.
The second guard our land from forraigne force,
Whilst they themselues (perhaps) afflict vs worse.
Strangers may not deuoure vs, yet we are
By peace eat vp, more then we wont by warre.
The third are of two kinds; our owne and others,
Who not in doctrine, but in fact are brothers.
Our owne feed few (for the dumb dog still lurches)
They'le not teach one, but swallow many Churches:
They vnto ignorance our soules betray;
And to seducing diuells giue silent way.
The other knowes, no king, but knowes their subiects,
And faines to reconcile, but make them abiects.
No place is priuileg'd, no law, no Nation:
For all the world his parish is and station.
Rome giues him licence, and although he swim
In the whole sea, there is no roome for him.
He cries where s'ere he comes; Al's mine, giue room;
And if it be oppos'de a fatall doom
Becomes his vsher. Kings must kisse his foot,
If curses, pistolls, poyson, hell can doo't;
But if nor these, nor hell, then Faux more skilfull
Will charme the open earth, blow vp the wilfull.
These Cormorants my bleare-eyde Muse hath spide:
But there are many Cormorauts beside.

If any man seeke a true body for this shadow, let him read Commines his fourth booke; where hee shall see Lewis of Luxe [...]b [...]rgh Earle of S. Paul & Constable [Page] of France, playing the right part of Onocrotalus with Le [...]is the XI. King of France (shadowed by the Ea­gle [...] because hee ouer-sored the other Princes in wise­dome and policie, and because that kingdome hath been honored with [...]he Emperiall crowne and armes) As also with the King of England Ed [...]ard the fourth shadowed by the Lyon (both in regard the Lyon is part of the Armes of England, and for that the said King was a most valiant Prince, hauing been personally pre­sent in nine set battailes, and remaining Conquerour in all. And lastly with Charles Duke of Burgu [...]die, shadowed by the Whale (both in regard he was strong by Sea, as also for that he was terrible and cumbersom to all his neighbour Princes) If any seeke far­ther they seeke without mee, and must be their owne guides.

The ASSE.
DEDICATED. TO THE LEARNED and iudicious KNIGHT S r. HAMOND LE-STRANGE. Pol. Virg. lib. 1 c. 19. de inuent. rer▪

Some beasts are [...]minous some birds are so,
But Massolanus and [...]our selfe say no.
Hee slew the Augurs bird [...] My [...]illy Asse.
May [...]o a wise-man without perill passe.
ALthough in [...]taly, in France, and Spaine,
Asinus est [...] animal maxim [...] frigoris [...] impatiens. Plin. lib. 8. cap. 4 [...]
And all those hotter Regions, there remaine
Great store of Asses? and with vs but few,
Saue some that our late Trauellers do shew.
And though the Pope and Romane Clergie ride
In euery lowly, patient, humble pride
Vpon these beasts, or on their bastards rather,
As fits each single, simple, holy father.
[Page] I would not haue you thinke my meaning such
A beast of theirs or of our owne to touch.
The Asse I talke of, bred in Thess [...]ly
Came to a country man, a neighbour by
And made great mone, that euery sauage beast
In woods and fields, the greatest and the least
Misus de him, wrongd him, made it all their sport
To trouble him, who had no remedy for't.
The Man seemde pit [...]ifull, enclind to good,
And gaue the Asse aduice to leaue the wood,
To dwell with him who able was and strong,
His weake Retainers to protect from wrong.
True (quoth the Asse) your wit, your strength I know,
But how can I deserue the grace and shew?
What benefit or pleasure whilst I liue
Can I doe you, who must my liuelyhoood giue?
Quoth Man, for my protection, and my meat
You shall affoard me but your dung and sweat,
Those excrements t'inrich and lust my ground,
That it with corne and vintage may abound.
And when I chance to trauell farre and nye,
You like a friend, shall beare me company.
The Asse was glad the cou [...]nants were so good,
And straight agrees, nor long consulting stood.
The articles were drawne [...] read openly,
Sealed and deliuered interchangable.
And homethey goe, and long together dwelt
Without repentance; neither greeuance felt.
But man in innocence remain'd not long,
And since is apt to doe all innocence wrong.
Sure here it fell out so. The crafty Man
Wo say and vnsay, lye, and cauill can,
[Page] Went to the Asse, and (all inrag'd) demands?
Why all that while he had not dung'd his lands?
Sir (quoth the Asse) such compasse as I yield
I haue with daiely care laid in your field.
True (quoth the Man) but that will not suffice
To dung my ground, that plenty may arise;
Yet so you vndertooke. Then out of hand
See you prouide enough to serue my land.
And yeeld what you keepe backe good store of sweat
Tria [...] ver [...] cùm sint [...] o­pus, cibus. & cast [...] ­gatio. &c. Arist. O [...] ­conomi [...] lib. cap. [...].
Or Ile giue store of blowes, but not of meat.
The Asse finds he is wrong'd, but sees not how
To right himselfe; weake men to stronger bow.
He does what man commands, and rather more
Till Man grows rich, and so grows proud, with store.
Then man must trauaile, must his kinsfolke see
And other countries how they fashion'd be.
The Asse must goe with him, so 'twas agreed
To beare him company. Well mote they speed,
The Man a saddle sets vpon his backe,
A hal [...]er on his head, which wit doth lacke.
What meane you master (quoth the simple Asse)
These will but make me weary as I passe?
Foole (quoth the Man) thinke you ile haue my Page [...]
Not suited to the fashions of this age?
I should be sham'd to s [...]e you neere me stand,
Without a cloake, and bout your neck a band.
Proud was the silly Asse, to heare he stood
So high in fauour, and doth onward skud
With willing pace, not like a sleepy snaile,
But tossing of his eares, winching his taile.
Long trauailde they, till to a brook they came,
Wherein a many siluer fishes swam.
[Page] A bridge was n [...]re, but Man withheld his eye,
And would not see the bridge, some reason why.
The Asse went through the water: quoth he then,
All beasts are far more happier than all Men.
You are by nature safely cloth'd, and armde,
Gainst cold, heat, drought, and wet; we easly harmde
With any small annoyance. You are free,
And gainst all these extreames must patient be.
The Asse being prais'd, vpon no ground stood still,
But must turne backe againe to shew his skill,
To boast his valour, let his Master know
All his good parts, and s [...]ruices arow.
Now sir, quoth he, you on my backe I'le beare,
Safe o're this water [...] G [...]t vp, nothing fear [...].
The Man leapt lightly vp. Dissimulation
"Doth neither stirrup n [...]d, nor great perswasion.
The Asse doth quickly passe the Ri [...]er. Then
He stayes, and prayes him light. No, (s [...]ith the Man)
Proceed vpon your iourney you can beare,
I dare not light, to fall I stand in fear [...].
I'le kneele then (quoth the Asse) and down he kneels,
The Man straight raisde him with his whip and heels.
O Master (quoth the Ass [...] you promisde meat,
You [...] cou [...]nant giues no liberty to b [...]at.
[...]oole (quoth the Man) the word expresly meant,
Wages for worke impli [...]s a punishm [...]nt
For sluggishnesse and sloth; make haste away,
Our busin [...]sse and the time permits no stay.
So on they goe, till the Asse now almost tyred,
Askt pitty of the Man, and ease desired,
Th [...]t the would daigne a little while to light.
The Man denide it, and then laught out-right.
[Page] And doubled blowes with whip, with heele, & staffe.
Verberās [...] absque ira peior, est verberā [...]e cum [...]ra [...] Com. in Arist [...] 1. 6. Metaph.
O tyrant (quoth the Asse) dost fight and laugh?
Are these th' effects of promises and words?
Is this the peace your law, bond, faith, affords?
Keep you your couenants thus? O man thinke how
You make vs traytors, when you, breake your vow.
Why (quoth the Man) my couenants are vnbroke,
I haue performde whatsere I wrote or spoke.
I giue you meat, my meaning likevvise vvas,
To giue you blovves, if that you plaide the Asse.
I was to haue your ex [...]rem [...]nts and sweat.
I cannot haue those but by vvorke and heat,
Therefore I ride you. You were to attend
In all my iourneyes on me like a friend.
And vvhat is liker to a friend I pray,
Then a mans drudge, that toyles both night & day?
That carries him through thicke and thin vvith paine,
And a sure stud for all turnes doth remaine [...]
O (quoth the Ass [...]) the vvorld vvas neuer good,
Since other on mentall reseruation stood.
I only vvas to beare you company,
True (quoth the Man) to beare, that's carry me.
O damn'd equiuocation, vvho at first,
(quoth the poore Asse) this double Doctrine nurst?
No Merchant, Tradesman, Lavvyer, nor Diuine,
Though much frō truth they warp, frō grace decline,
Could be the a [...]thors of this ample euill,
But truthes professed foe, that i [...]gling deuill.
You be [...]s Gods knowing good [...]u euill.
That Diuell who taught it first, and practiz'd too,
In paridise, vnto our generall woe.
That Diuell which doth renue in euery age,
By this alone his kingdome and image.
[Page] For without this his kingdome would decay,
And without this his image weare away.
This onely murthers truth, opposeth faith,
Deceiuing, whether true or false it saith.
If true we dare not trust it fearing ill.
If false, like truth it looks, and tempts vs will.
Quoth Man, thou preachest well; and well mightst passe
Couldst thou speake Latin too, to say a Masse.
Thy folly was in fault rashly to draw,
Thy articles without aduice at law.
[...]hat is a com­non cas [...].
There wanted stops, pricks, letters, here and there,
And by your leaue some words the truth to cleere.
Nay quoth the Asse, had euery word, stop, letter,
Been left vnwritten my estate were better.
This is the plague, when power expoundeth lawes
Not as the truth requires, but as the cause.
When euery letter may an error breed,
To helpe the rich, and begger such as need.
When tyrants do capitulate and treat
Not to conclude, but to deceiue and cheat.
When your false minds are candi'de ore with words
As your gay sheathes conceale your bloody swords.
Now (quoth the Man) I thinke that Balaams Asse,
Or golden Apuly's, thy Tutor was.
Thou art so eloquent, so learned, witty,
As if thou hadst been taught in Athens Citty.
In Athens? (quoth the Asse) now I espie,
You speake no truth, but when yee thinke to lie.
I was a Cockny once, of noble blood,
Traind vp in Athens Court, and in the flood
of pleasure, bathde my youth, (but not in Art,)
Which causde this transformation, teares, and smart.
[Page] Yet went our Master, and was well allowde [...]
(With many of my kin) in that thicke crowde,
When Philip did so learnedly dispute,
And made Demost [...]enes with wonder mute.
I was in fauour then, and then did passe,
For braue and wise, though now I be an Asse.
For no Man ought to iudge by forme, or face,
By fauour, or imployment, or by place,
Which are the wise and foolish. Dunces oft
[...]Passe by great doctors. Baboones leap aloft.
And they may proue like me, (li [...]e to be switcht,)
If they my fortune meet, to be bewitcht.
How I bewitched was, you now shall heare.
There is no true accomplisht Caualere,
That hath not trauailde. And the'rs few of these,
Which scape bewitching, passing ouer Seas.
When I first trauail'd, my braue Spirit did moue,
T'attempt great Ladies and to purchace loue.
I purcha'st loue so long, till all I had,
Was purcha'st from me, and my selfe full glad,
To leaue both Court and Citie, and to try,
A better Country fortune to espie.
With much much toyle, and many courtly shifts,
At length I did arriue mongst craggy clifts,
And barraine rocks, t'a smoaky house which stood
Alone, besides a fearefull desart wood.
There with a wither'd witch I long time staid,
A Bel-dame that had been Mede [...]es maid.
She turn'd me to an Asse that very day,
Th' Odcombian wit, did odly scape away,
He may his good shooes praise, pray for his heeles,
By those he scap't. And yet I feare he feeles,
[Page] His braine, was turning, if he euer passe
That way againe, he will turne perfect Asse.
And so will many more as well as I,
Except they stop their eares, as they passe by.
No (quoth the Man) this is a pretty fable,
Fitting the end, so neere vnto the stable.
Ile now alight, we two are perfect friends,
My iourney and thy tale together ends.
So they went in to rest, but euer since,
The Man mounts on the Asse, although he wince.
There is no remedy, and he must obay,
That's sadled, bridell'd, and bound euery way.
He might haue look'd before he made his match:
Now ti's too late, when time was past to watch.
Aquas tran­sire & pedes in eis figere multum horret. Ari. 5. de Ani­mal.
Yet euer since he letters hates and learning,
When ther's no fault in them, but his discerning.
He shunneth water too, all that he can,
The cause which made him first a slaue to Man.

Epimythium.

We must learne from hence these lessons.

1. Eccles. 8. 13.First to beware with whome wee deale: for if hee be stronger either in person, or by friends, wee shall become his prey: if hee be richer, hie gold will weigh dow one siluer: if he be more eloquent, his lies will be belecued before our truths: if hee bee the Iudge, he will giue sentence according to his honour, [Page] or at least according to his owne profit. This is seene by generall [...]xperience, and [...]sp [...]cially in that man of sinne, who pretends to Iudge of all controu [...]rsies, and expounder of all doubts; d [...]termin [...]s the darkest things to be cleere in his owne b [...]half [...]; and the most clecre and pregnant proofes brought against him, to be darke and obscure.

2. Secondly, we must beware of whom wee take counsell; they may be our enemies to morrow, that are our friends to day; we often shew our euid [...]nces to such, who for a larger free giuen by our aduers [...]ries, know how to betray vs, and open a gap for the ouer­throw of our cause.

3. Thirdly, to whom we slee for protection from wrongs, lest shunning the Buzzard, wee become a prey of the Sparhauke. Many poore men are swal­lowed in this pit-fall: we make lawes to tye our owne winges. So much of euery act is taken as will scrue for lime-twigs to take vs; the rest which should reforme, lies vse lesse. We receiue strength into a towne, which beeing once in possession, hold for themselues, and plague vs worse the then enemies would haue done. So the Brittai [...]es (our fellowes) call'd in the S [...]x [...]ns (our fathers) and all histories are full of like exam­ples. We [...]el might the last yeere haue looked into this glasse, now it is too late. The hand which holdes it, hath practised the Falcone [...]s first prou [...]rbe in many places before. It knowes how to holde fast: and knowes no other honour, but profit. But C [...]llis was wiser, who would rather yeeld it selfe to the Archduke [Page] then expect profferd deliuerance by vs. The French durst not let vs haue footing againe in France, we had taught them too well before how hardly we are in­treated to let goe our hold in so good a Countrey. Let this then teach vs to beware.

4. Fourthly, let vs take heede to whom wee giue And what we giue. A talent is too much for a Cynicke to receiue; a groat too little for a King to giue: discre­tion must guide liberality. Many bounties haue mis­carried, and been lost, vndoing both the giuer and re­ceiuer, whil'st they were not proportioned according to the worth and respect of both parties. Our age may looke in this glasse. Who giues some the first peny, giues him earnest mony to begge still, encoura­ging rather then releeuing. Giue such the whip. We often giue presents to our betters, & they expect the custome still: power demands that of duty, which was first granted by way of bencuolence.

Lastly let vs beware what we receiue from others and what we put on. It may be a saddle, which wee thinke an ornament, and a bridle which we thinke a Ca [...]den. Hist [...] Antiq. Ir [...].grace. Diuers forraigne ouertures shew this, and at home the inu [...]stitures of Ireland, made by the Pope to Henry the second whereby that Sea challengeth right in Ireland. All other titles and prerogatiues [...]which come from thence, are of this nature; and were sent to this end, to be witnesses of their interest. Doubt­lesse the Diuell pretends thus to bee author of our G [...]. [...]. 5.knowledge; & saith but for him we had neuer known good and euill asunder. Our lawes and priuiledges written in the Norm [...]n [...] tongue are euidences to prooue our subiection to William of Norm [...]ndy; as [Page] the vniuersall speech of the Latin proued the worlds slauery to Rome, though none were thought free men, and braue fellowes, but such slaues as spake that tongue; the rest Barbari [...]s. Merchants will trust vs to draw vs into their book es; they bridle and saddle vs with gay clothes, (like foot-clothes to Asses;) then they girt vs vp sure, and mount our backs, whil'st we can walke free in no ground, not in the streets. Our stable is the Counter, where we are mad [...] right Asses: Hither many Courtly Gal­lants make hast to come, and to stand at liuery in the HOLE.

CVRIALE.
DEDICATED TO the good acceptance of Master FLYODE, Admirall to the Queenes Maiestie, and of her Counsell.

The Court from Flies and fleas you cannot free,
Whilst such sweet meates, good fires, soft beds there be:
Yet guard your eyes and eares well, for we know,
Princes both heare and see by such as you.
THe Flie and Flea hauing in Court got place,
Saw all such Courtiers as were chi [...]fe in grace.
Still present with the King: how in his eare
For being busie, some rewarded were:
Others they saw get wealth with standing nie:
But none did thriue that were not in his Eye.
They thought since these alone grew rich and braue,
They would as nimbly too themselues behaue.
[Page] [...]hat they were black could be no hindrance thought,
[...]or many blacke gownes their pre [...]erment sought.
[...]ut their ambition reacht t'ingrosse all grace,
[...]nd shoulder others from so wisht a place [...]
[...]nd thus resolu'd, the Flea leapes vp alo [...]t,
[...]nd in the Kings eare falls with footing soft.
[...]he foolish Flie did mount with speedy wing
[...]etwixt the Eye-lids of th' amazed King;
[...]ho with his nimble hand did apprehend
[...]he rusticke Courtiers, and their hopes soon end.
Quoth he, Ye saucy Traytors, Dare ye thus
[...]resume our presence neuer cald by vs?
Or being come, Is there no other place
[...]n all our Court to please you, but our face?
And in our face no roome can you espie,
[...]ut our reserued [...]are? our tender eye?
[...]n all my kingdomes you might freely range,
And varied pleasures euery minute change
Without my perturbation: only heere
Your boldnesse you shall both with life buy deere.
And though the Eagle takes no Fleaes nor Flyes
Y [...]t for pre [...]umption both by th' Eagle dyes.

Epimythium.

THis tells inferiours that they must not aspire too Principa­tu [...] virum o [...]tendit. Ari [...]t. l. 5. Metaphys. Tacit [...] Hist [...] lib. 1. cap. 7.high, nor presume too far [...]e. All persons are not [...]it for all places: fooles mistake, and ouer-doe; wise­ [...]en warme themselues at the fire, where children [...]urne their fingers: many seeking to be in grace, dis­grace themselues. None was thought fitter to bee Emperour then Galba, till being made Emperour [Page] he prooued himselfe vnfit. Or age hath seene many of these Babels, whose ruines seeme greater farre of [...] then at hand. In a darke night each Mete [...]r, each I gnis fatuus seemes a Sunne; but the day, comming neere the Sunne, they cannot bee seene. There bee many ofthese, who if they had not attained prefer­ment, would haue thought themselues wronged, and the world would haue thought them vnfortunate; as if enuy had crost honour from beholding them with equiualence: when now hauing attained what their ambitions desire, they see their owne insufficiencies, and the world iudging them vnworthy of such emi­nence, say they serue for nothing but to keepe out better Men. Their high flight rather helpt by the winds strength, (by fauour and grace) then by their owne wings (vertue and true worth,) serues onely to shew the world its owne blindnesse, and their weake­nesse; for being aloft in the top and pride of their pitch, they make many plaines, and dare not come freely at all occasions; but they soone stoop to the lure of the dead quarry, hauing good stomackes, but bad hearts; what they speake, what they doe, as not out of their owne strength and sufficiency, but from others direction. They are french souldiers and Statesmen; their horses, their seruants must be Knigh­ted, for these did the seruice; It was not the Rider, his care was only to keepe the saddle warme and to sit sure.

Againe, it tells Superiours that the poorest and Exod. 8 [...] 17most despised creatures may annoy them. Lice pre­sume into [...]araohs bed-chamer, in spite of the Guard, the Vshers, and Pensioners, the Squires of the [Page] body, the Gentleman, and the Groomes; where none durst come before but Minions and Fauorits. Wormes craule into Herods wombe, euen then when his flatte­rers Act [...] 12 23.and all the people crie out, vox De [...] & non hom [...] ­nis. Hee spake well but he did nothing: he vsed elo­quence and learning to his owne glory not to Go ds: God therefore shew'd him that he was a worme and no man, who a little befote did both in place and Psal. 82. [...].voice shew himselfe like a god. A [...]lie skips into Pope Alexanders cup and into his throat and kils him, who a little before chalenged to haue the keyes of life and death in his hands, and with his cup of abominati ons poysoned not only the poore flies (the subiects) but Reu. 17. 2. Iudg [...] cap. 4. 17. cap. 9 53. Gra [...]ton.the Eagles (the kings) of the earth. Despise not there­fore litle ones. Remember how Sisera and Abimelech fell by the hand of women. And Sigebert king of the West-saxons was slaine by a swine-heard of Combra­ [...]s, euen in that place where Sigebert had slaine Com­branus before, for the good and wholsome counsell he gaue the vnthankfull King.

SOLARIƲM.
DEDICATED. To the absolute and open enemies of Ignorance and Darknesse, and the true Louers and Followers of Light and Knowledge, Sr. Iohn Crofts and his happy LADY.

THe Clock that chim'de your praise, went right for still
The Diall rulde his tongue the Sunne his Will.
And as these led him right, you follow may,
To heauenly glory, through the Milk-white-way.
IN some part of the World, I know not where,
But sure S [...]. Thomas Mard [...]uile was there.
Betwixt a Clocke and a Sunne-dyall fell
A difference which I with sorrow tell.
With sorrow, for this error calls to minde
Th' vncertainty, which we in Story finde;
[Page] Where computations crosse, and make vs doubt
Cambden in his Brit. Alluding to the ages of the [...]hurch. 1. The Pri­n [...]tiue, by [...]ason of ou [...]ward [...] persecuti­on, being obscure. 2. The se­cond vnder the Spiritu­ [...]ll persecu­tion of An­tichrist, be­ing fabu­lous. 3. The third being our Age, where Cō ­trouersies are tried by the cleare Sun-shine of Gods Word, and so certaine and Histo­ [...]icall. Pol. Virg. Rer. [...]nuen. Cap. 14. lib. 1.
Of what we all seeke, cannot one finde out.
How to agree, and reconcile th' obscure,
The fabulous, and c [...]rtain [...] Age of our.
The Age obscure; is that before the Floud:
The Fabulous, on fained Wonders stood
The race of gods, on gold [...]n Legends told,
Where for sad truths, mad [...]ictions were enrold.
This latter Age more plaine and cleere, we call
The certaine Age, or th' Age Historicall.
Yet houres, and day [...]s, and yeeres haue sure been lost
In some of these, which our accounts haue crost.
And so they easily might, when from the Sunne
To lying Clocks for our accounts we runne.
This tale makes all apparant, or at least,
Makes probable, what some haue thought a ieast.
Within a Churchyard once a Dyall stood
Vpon a square hewne Marble, which the Flood
In vaine with enuious waues had often sought
To spoile, when it the whole world vnder brought.
But Seth's wise sonnes had fastned it so sure,
It could all stormes [...] and stre [...]e of times endure.
And thereon they had caru'd the Art, and lore
They learned of their Grandsire long before [...]
Vpon a Church or steeples side neere hand
A goodly Clocke of curious worke did stand;
Which ouer paysde with lead or out of frame,
Did time miscall, and euery houre misname.
Th [...] Dyall hearing this, aloud gan cry
Kinde neighbour Clocke your glib tongue tells a lye.
Reforme your error, for my Gnomon [...]aith
You gad too fast, and misse an houres faith.
Foole (quoth the Clocke) reforme thy selfe by me,
The fault may rather in thy Gnomon be.
Had'st thou tould euer truth, to what end then
Was I plac'de here, by th' art of cunning Men?
The weather-Cocke vpon the steeple standing
And with his sharpe eye all about commanding,
Heard their contention, wil'd them to appeale
Motus [...]raec [...]d [...]t e [...]pus [...]aturali [...]er, & Tempus consequi­ [...]u [...] mot [...]m. A [...]ist. Ph [...] ­sic. lib. 4. Causatur autem mo­tus primo & princ [...] ­pal [...]ter à circum­uolutione Coel [...]. A [...]ist. Motus est transitus à termino ad termi­num. Tem [...]us [...]st re­ [...]um mu­ [...]abilium men [...]u [...]. A [...]ist.
To him the Chiefe of all that Common-weale.
Told them that he was set to Ouersee
And to appease, to guide and to agree
All diff'rence in that place; and whatso'ere
He setteth downe from Iustice cannot erre.
For from the winde he information takes
Which searcheth through the world, & swiftly make [...]
A true suruay of euery proofe and cause,
And doth of Reason know the ground, and lawes.
He bids them boldly speake, and bring their pleas,
And hee'le define th' infallible truth with ease.
The Dial then beginnes. The globe-like world
From Center to Circumf rence being whorl'd
In neuer-resting motion, maketh [...]ime
In sundry reuolutions fall and clime.
This Time the measure of all mutable things
Comes with lead-heeles, flies hence with fiery wings;
Sleepes with two eyes, hath two eyes euer waking,
Twixt minuts, hours, daies, nights, distinction making
And though the diff'rence and degrees of change,
In seuerall yeares, be wonderfull and strange;
Some by the Moone, some reckoning by the Sunne,
And some the great yeare, whē th' heauens hauing ru [...]
Their compleat course, doe to that point arriue
Whence the first mouer, them did motion giue;
[Page] Yet the most generall certaine count of all
Vigila [...] tempus cum dor­mire vide­tur: dum­que vigilat s [...]mul dor­mire Idem. que cum si [...] stit, volat; & cum vo­lat, consi­stit. Vince Chartari­us. Sunt an­no [...]um di­uersa gene­ra. 1. Annus Lunaris. 2. Annus Solarus. 3. Annus Magnus.
Is measur'd by the Sunne, whose rise and fall
Makes day, and night, and noone, and midnight too,
Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumne, and the two
Solsticiums, Equinoctials, and the houres
Now naked, and then deck't in gaudy flowers.
This Adam to his Grandsons hauing told,
With other Arts, and wonders manifold,
How all the world both fire and flood should try;
They plac'd me here, to tell posterity
Such hidden mysteries; And to direct
The wiser Soules deep-diuing intellect.
About me they haue grau'd seauen liberall Arts,
The Sciences, with their diuiner parts,
A circle and a Gnomon set aboue
With Characters; which as the Sunne doth moue
In his ascent, or low declension, tells
The certaine houre, degree, and all things else.
But for my speech was slow, and cause the Sunne
Did often vnder clouds for pleasure runne,
Succeeding ages did this C [...]ocke out finde
T'attend on me, and to declare my minde,
From me intelligence and rules ro gather
Persecuti­ons are l [...]ke clouds and stormes, which be­night the Gospel [...] The Mor­ning is de­liueranc [...] from e [...]o [...].
To measure night, close stormes, and cloudy weather:
And in the Morne, finding his reckoning wrong,
By my straight rule, to tune and set his song.
But this forgetfull Clocke at randome strikes,
Not as I bid, but fondly what it likes:
Robs short-liu'de Man of his most precious time,
And orderlesse, doth others orders chime.
It will not follow me, but wanting wit,
VVould haue the Sunne and Me to waite on it.
[...] [...]
[Page]
and dark­nesse by the Gos­pel; which obtaines free pas­sage, and cleares and reformes the abuses of supersti­tious times.
This matter so apparant, though I might
Wild Weather-Cocke, except against your right
To iudge, and thinke you partiall at the least,
Since you o're-cloude me when the Sun comes West,
And will take part with it, that's in the name,
In nature, and in sight, almost the same
With you; yet know I'l [...] not refuse
Thy censure, but high place with honour vse.
Thus did the Dyal end, and then the Clocke
Low-louting to the powder Weather- Cocke,
Began his pl [...]a. Thou mighty Soueraigne
VVhich doest the vniuer [...]all [...]udge remaine
In all those places, where thy pearcing eye
Can see, or my shrill voice be he [...]rd to cry.
Behold this impudent, poore, negl [...]ct [...]d post
How it gainst me, and gainst thy sta [...] doth bost
Embasingthy great wo [...]th, n [...]gl [...]cting mine;
As if the glorious Sunne did n [...]uer shine,
Nor his sweet influence on vs l [...]t fall,
But that the Dial had ingrost vp all.
VVhen all the world knowes thou wer't placed there
The sleepy Hind [...] vp to his worke to reare,
Pausanias [...]cribit Grae cos gallu [...] generatos e [...]e, vt A­pollini sa­crum; Is e­nim ca [...]tu mane [...]olis aduentum anuncia [...] Vin. Cha [...].
To call the Scholler to his booke, and wake
The The [...]e which at thy shrill voice gins to shake.
Thou art the cheerefull dayes Embassador,
In whose praise once these lines composed were.
A crowned King, a compleat Knight,
An armed Captaine, fit to fight,
A plumed Courtier, fairely clad,
A louer that was neuer sad,
A Trumpetter [...] the house wifes Mate,
Who riseth early, sleepeth late,
[Page] A Querister, the poore mans Clocke,
All this is our great Weather-Cocke.
This sacred Antheme all the world doth sing [...]
To thee the Suns bird, [...]ho doth tidings bring,
O [...] his approch and rising: as for me
I heere was seated, next thee in degree
To giue thee ease, to tell the wondring people
What thou discouer'st from that lo [...]tie steeple,
The whil'st thou keep'st thy voice from [...]ub [...]les,
And art for silence honour'd with large fees.
The Dial is my ward, first placed there
That Common Persons who presume not neere
Thy hallow'd thron [...], may haue intelligence
And learne from me the close and hidden sence
Of all those Characters, and not expound
As list themselues, darke riddles, so profound:
Nor contradict, nor yet correct by force,
According to the Gnomon, my true course;
But the false Gnomon rather to correct
By my aduice, whose way is still direct.
Who knowes not, that the Sun in his round race,
Many degr [...]es is gone from his first place,
And like a drunkard reeling to and fro,
With giddy steps doth shift his circle so;
That where he was euen now, he comes no more,
His course is all confusde, behin'ds before?
Needs must the Dial then deceiued be,
Which trusts a Guide that doth so disagree
Within it selfe, and without iudgement shines
Alike on all, making of fooles Diuines.
And teaching Fishermen to see as farre,
As learned Shepheards, without other starre.
[Page] Too common in this Guide, to guide aright;
Or if he could, where is the Guide for night?
I then am present still at euery neede
Poore erring man, in ignorant night to leade.
Then why should this bold Dial, dare to speake
Against my greatnesse, or the orders breake
Of custome and consent? since all make choice
To feede, fast, pray, or play, led by my voice?
And that all bargaines made, all wagers laide,
Not by the Dial but the Clocke are paide?
Which truth, whilst all the world dare neuer doubt,
This Dial seemes to question, and (growne stout)
Exc [...]pts against thy iudgement too, that thus
He might be free and seeme to gouerne vs.
But since our causes are so neere of kinne,
Let that respect some grace and fauour winne
With thy high holinesse, that thou maist see
To giue iust sentence for your selfe and me.
The weather-Cocke thrice turn'd himselfe about,
As taking care to minde the matter out;
And thrice return'd, as if he were as free
From preiudice, as from integritie.
Then thrice hee claps his wings (which courage showes)
And thrice aloude his senslesse sentence crowes.
To giue a reason, wherefore, how, and what,
When, where, by whom, or fondly this or that,
Might argue reference to higher power;
But what is he whose place doth equall our?
We are the rule of reason, truths cleare law.
Heare then with reuerence, and obey with awe.
Without more question, argument, or triall,
The iudgement I pronounce against the Dial.
[Page] The Dial shall be guided by the Clock [...]
This is the sentence of the weather- Cock.
Which when the Cl [...]ck had heard (puftvp withp [...]ide)
He ginnes the wronged Dial to deride;
And sits his tongue at large, too much, too soone;
Twelu times he fetch'd his breath, & laugh'd out none.
The Dial then with indignation moued
By this inuectiue speech their fault reproued.
Poore silly Clock (quoth he) reioyce thy [...]ill,
Time will reforme thy ignorant zeale with s [...]ill,
Stay thy distempered course, which hurried now,
By mad-braind humor, goes it knowes not how.
Time that's my pupill, shall thy Tutor be,
And teach a diff'rence twixt thy selfe and me;
Then thou wilt know thy error, and recant
That euer thou wert proud of so much want.
But as for thee (thou iudge corrupt and base,
Who bindst all knowledge Prentise to thy place)
Know this, th' all-seeing Sunne thy folly knowes,
And to each vulgar eye thy shaddow showes,
That they may plainly see how poore thou at
Thy head deform'd, defectiue euery part.
And that those high prerogatines of state
You challenge proper to your selfe, are late
Vpstart intrusions, vsurpations new;
Forg'd by the force or flattery of some few.
The promise which you boast, to haue the winde
Blow where you list, and alte [...] when you minde,
Is false, and foolish; but 'twas promisde still
To blow and guide you right, if that you will.
And so it doth, so it doth others too,
If they consent, not whether they will or no.
[Page] For when they would the point and quarter know
Where it doth breath, on me they looke; I show
The truth to them and thee, if you looke right,
If not, you are misled by your owne sight.
But how can'st thou others from error keepe
When as thy selfe foulded in error deepe,
Shun'st reformation, and wilt neither minde,
My graue directions, nor the powerfull wind?
I can remember, long before thou Wert
When wise Alcedo stood where as thou art.
He calm'd all stormes, and pacified the wind
To patient sufferance, bent his humble minde.
He to the fisher, and the Seaman gaue
Directions, how their storme-tost barke to saue.
When by the Lee-shore, when to lanch the Maine,
And when to lie at Hull, when to remaine
In harbour Anchor-fast, and when to saile
With a full winde, and when againe to vaile:
How, where and when, to cast their nets, and lay
Their hidden hookes, where all the skull do play.
Some of each kinde, yet at each corner stand,
Who still loue truth; in spite of thy command:
Their heads look south, because the wind blows there,
Thy taile stands south, thy head the winde doth feare [...]
Ill might he fare that in Alcedos place,
Set thee, who springest from a bloudy rac [...].
His error, and thy pedigree behold
As it in ancient story is inrould.
[...]hocas.
A trayt'rous Slaue, his Master hauing slaine
Did sole Commander of the world remaine.
Luk. 22. [...].
But whilst he slept; a chickin of that Cocke
Which Cephas check't when he denyde the rocke,
[Page] And forc't him to repent, to sigh, and weep,
Did with his voyce the murtherer wake from sleep,
And would not suffer him to rest in sin,
But he would rouse his conscience still within [...]
This Murtherer, a Cocke of kinde did get,
And him to kill this kinder Cocke did set,
Who soone perform'd the taske he tooke in hand:
For Chauntecleer would [...]uffer, not withstand.
He watchfull was and tended his vocation,
To stirre vp others to their occupation:
He lou'd the pearle more then the barley corne;
To crow, and not to quarrell he was borne.
So he was slam [...], and slaine by one of those
From whence thy proud succession strangely rose
Who hight Alectrion, and while-ere had bin
The Pandor vnto Mars and Venus sin,
Luc [...]an.
And then (being Captaine of great Mars his guard),
Stood Sentinel, and kept both watch and ward,
For feare that Phoebus all discouering eye,
Should them vnwares at their stolne pleasure spie.
But ouert'ane with sleep, he did not wake
Till Vulcans net did both the lechers take;
For which the angry God (inrag [...]d and mad)
His sleeping souldier, all in feathers clad,
His sword turn'd spurr [...]s, himselfe a Cocke of kinde,
His armes and body changde, but not his minde;
That's bloody still, and too far prone to sight
Without respect of persons, cause, or right.
Els [...] would he ne're haue been so mad to kill,
A harmeles Cocke, who had no thought of ill.
[Page]
Pho [...]as ha­ [...]ing slaine Mauritiu [...] ga [...] the ti­tle of vni­uer [...]all Bi­shop to Boni­face then Bishop of Rome. The Crosse [...] Omnia haec tibi d [...]bo. Math. 4. 9 [...]
But him he falsely slew, and hauing [...]aine
Did for this murther, of a murtherer gaine
Too great preferment, to be set vp heere
In t iumph t'ouersee all, farre and neere;
To be ador'de with vniuersall praise
And triple crownd with Oliue, Oake, and Bayes.
Him thou succeed'st both in thy minde and place,
An armed Champion, of that yron race,
A Souldier, none of his whose badge thou bear'st;
But rather one of his whose crowne thou wear'st;
Thy narrow heeles are sharpe, thy tongue is short:
To prey, and not to prayer fit t'exhort.
Thou wilt not crow to ro [...]se the world from sleep,
But with thy silent charmes, it drunken keepe.
Servus Seruorum.
When thou most seruant-like thy head dost beare
Downe to the ground, then Cockes their crownes ma [...] feare.
Thou seek'st a fained quarrell then to pick,
And wilt with both wings mount, with both heeles strick [...]
At euery feather come, stab either spur
Vp to the hilts; and furiously bestur
Thy ready parts, t'attaine thy bloody end,
And all the world to thy owne scope to bend.
Thou trumpet'st warres and curses ouer all,
And ouer-c [...]owes, but wilt not crow to call
Thy selfe and others of thy ranke, and place,
Culpas hu­ius redar­guere prae­ [...]umit mor­ [...]lium nul­lus [...]
From looking on the Earth, to view the f [...]ce
Of the all-searching Sunne, and by his light
To measure truly what is wrong and right.
The Cock is kil'd that Peter caus de to weepe,
Th [...] Petrean Pastor now may safely sleep.
[Page] [...]leepe though he hath deni'd his master too;
[...]or none t [...]admonish him hath ought to doo.
Crauen awake, behold how I deride
[...]y mutabilitie, thy sloth, thy pride,
[...]ou stand'st where he stood who claim'd all the world,
Diabolus st [...]tit su­per pinnas Templi. Math. 4. 5.
[...]d shalt with him from that steep heigh [...] be hurld.
[...]bout thy head each prating bird that perks,
[...]a [...]e take the name and place of learned Clerks,
And vn [...]o royall Eagles offer lawes,
[...]Vhen each eye sees, they are but iangling dawes.
And though all Lyons in the desart feare,
And crouch, when they thy crowing voice do heare [...]
Our Lyon scornes thee, when he heares thee crow;
And with his [...]oaring voice the world doth show,
How poore thou art, how cowardly, how weake,
Who shak'st & trēblest when thou hear'st him speak.
And yet how proud art thou, t'vsurpe a place
Of iudgement ouer me, in this darke case,
And to prefer the Clock for want of wit,
VVhen I should be the iudge of thee and it?
The Sexton comes, hee'le mend all this anone.
VVith that the angry Clocke in rage strooke one.
The Sexton came indeed, and one did tell,
Look't on the Diall, saw all was not well.
For that said twelue, the Clock said one and past.
He tooke the weights off, which caus [...]d too much hast,
Suruaide the wheeles, for there the fault might be,
And found some cog supply the place of three.
Some whe [...]les were taken off, and borne to Court,
To trundle vp and downe, and there make sport.
And some with dust, and rust, were duld and foild,
And some stood vselesse, so the Clocke was spoild.
Which to reforme, he mends the wheels forthwit [...]
Files, oyles, and beats them throughly on a stith:
Makes weights and wyere fit, then by the Sunne
Sets the new course, which it doth truly runne.
Then going vp the steeples top he spies
The weather-cocke how palpably it lies.
For at each Corner the Kings-fishers stood,
Full South; and that the Dial prooued good.
But the fond Weather-cocke (being w [...]ather-wise)
From the Calme blast turn'd his scornefull eyes.
The Sexton tooke him downe, and straight did see
An easie way how he might mended be,
His head was too too great, with 3. combes crownde
Which euer when the wind blew turn'd him round.
His taile was too too weake, when euery feather
Was bent with storms, and broken with the weather
The Sexton cut his crownes, and gaue more saile
With them and with the spurs vnto his tayle
So humbled now in habite, looke and minde,
He waites with due obedience on the winde:
Knowes his high place was not to rule, but serue,
And means no more from this strict course to swerue [...]
Epimythi­um. Prin [...]ipi­um plus [...]st quam di­midium totius. Ari [...]t. [...]. 5. Pol. 2. King. 9. 32.
This tale no mortall needs, it is not darke,
But points a worke fit for our learned Clarke
Who by the Dyal may reforme the Clocke,
And by kings fishers turne the Weather-cocke.
We haue the winde to helpe vs and the Sunne,
And works are halfe accomplisht when begun.
Then who'le begin? who is on our side, who?
Where words, winde, writings faile, resolue to Doe.

[Page] I had thought this Tale should haue needed no other [...]ongue then its owne to bee rightly vnderstood. But because I see it too misty for some apprehensions, whose wills are as desirous as others to know truth, I haue added this by way of illustration to enlighten such as accept well of my good meaning, which is to informe others according to that which I haue recei­ [...]ed, and to be reformed where I erre my selfe.

1. First the teaching part of the militant Church, which consists of the Clergie, I haue vayled vnder the Cl [...]cke [...]. The wheeles are the distinct degrees and of­fices they en [...]oy of superioritie, and inferioritie; wherein the Harmonie of the whole consisteth. The weights are the priuiledges, immunities, prerogatiues and donations of seuerall kinds, bestowed vpon the Church in seuerall ages, by good Kings, liberall pro­fessors and benefactors. The challenge the Clocke seemes to make h [...]ere to rule the Dyal, resembleth the controuersie the Church of Rome raiseth in the Catholicke Church about the exposition, the restray­ning or publishing of the Scriptures.

2. The Dyal is the written word, which is of it selfe dead and vnprofitable, without farther illumination. Since none of the Philosophers, nor Salomon himselfe by the me [...]re strength of Nature, could from thence draw sauing knowledge, without sauing grace. But as the Dyal hath reference to the Sunne; so hath this to the Sonne of righteousnesse. Neither am I without warrant for vsing this bold Allegorie, since the sweet Psal. [...]16. v. 105. Singer of Israel compares the same word to a lanterne, and the spirit to a light, when he saith elegantly, and like a Diuine POET, Thy word is a lanterne vnto my feet, and a light vnto my path.

[Page] Now as it is absurd that the Dyal should bee set by the vncertaine gadding of the Clock: So is it more absurd that the Clergy should so iudge of the Scrip­tures, as to conclude o [...] teach any thing by w [...] pre­tence soeuer against it, or to vouch vnwritten veri [...]es (as some call them) or traditions contradictorie to the written word. But much rather as the [...] ought to be set by the Dyal; so ought the Church to subiect it selfe to bee directed by the Scriptures. and to prooue and examine it selfe by the same rule whe­ther it be in the faith or no. And finding i [...] sel [...] in the right, it ought by manifest proofes and arg [...]ents from thence to shew forth the same faith [...]

3. Thirdly, the Weather-cocke who [...] himselfe as iudge in this controuersie betweene the Dyal and the Clocke, is that Pope of Rome, who chal­lengeth the same prerogatiue iure diuino, oue [...] the Church and Scriptures. How falsely he doth this, and yet how impudently, is well knowne to all.

For I know not what the Pope hath more to doe with the rule of the Catholique Church, then the Wea­ther-cocke (because he stands vpon the top of the stee­ple) hath to doe with the gouernment of the Clock and Dyal. I haue heard and read the reasons vpon which the contrary opinion is grounded, but for my owne part can see no strength in them able to turne any but Weather-cock [...]. The prioritie of place, the whole Church perhaps would bee content to yeeld him for the generall peace, and to expresse the true humilitie of holy Pastors, who follow the example and doctrine of their master Christ. But for him (that turnes and returnes as vncertainely with euery [Page] blast of humor or occasion, as any Weathercocke at [...]e change of the winde) to challenge not onely the [...]mmunitie from errors, and the infallibilitie of iudge­ [...]ent, but also to be Christs Vicar Generall vpon earth, [...] Peters Successor, the Apostolicall Prince, and Vniuer­sall Bishop of the whole Church, to haue all power in Heauen and on Earth, and all iurisdiction both tem­porall and spirituall, impropriated to his Cha [...]re, and [...]nnexed to his place, this seemes strange; and they [...]ustly deny it him, who are not giddy with standing [...]oo neere him, or troubled with the same vertigo, by [...]eason of the height of place, from whence they looke [...]pon the rest of the poore afflicted and distressed [...]ocke of Christ Iesus. But for this proud challenge [...]hey know truly how to style him the great Anti­christ, and crowne him with this triple Crowne; the Man of sinne, the Whore of Babylon, the Vicar Generall of HELL.

CERTAINE PIECES OF T …

CERTAINE PIECES OF THIS AGE PARABOLIZD.

viz. Duellum Britannicum. Regalis Justitia Iacobi. Aquignispicium. Antidotum Cecillianum.

By THOMAS SCOT Gentleman.

Scire tuum nihil est.

LONDON, Printed for Francis Constable. 1616.

DVELLVM BRITANNICVM.

DEDICATED To the eternall memorie of that admirable Combat performed by two valorous Knights, Sir Robert Mansell ap­pellant, and Sir Iohn Heydon Defendant; where both equally expressing fortitude and skill in giuing and receiuing wounds, scaped death, notwithstanding by the onely fauour of Prouidence.

SInce you haue done more then I can relate
(A miracle in conquering Death) what hat [...]
Is that, then death more deadly, which suruiues
To cloude the glory of your after liues?
Be reconcilde; we shew most strength and skill
In mastering our strong frailtie, our weake will.

Duellum Britannicum.

HOMO HOMI­NI DAEMON

Man may Man perswade amisse,
But the skill and cunning is,
To rule him right, to cause him do [...]
What true wisedom [...] [...]o [...]gs [...]nto.
See how the busie Lawyers throng
Twixt Man and Man for right and wrong [...]
Those Papers, all those bookes are writ,
To reconcile Mans iarring wit.
Pistols, Muskets, Rapiers, Swords,
All the Engines war affords [...]
Are for Man prepar'd, not hell:
There no foe like Man doth dwell.
"Man for sport baites Lyons, Beares,
"Man alone Man hates, and feares.
GReat Volumes in few lines epitomiz'd
Are easiest apprehended, and so priz'd.
[Page] Large Countries in small Maps are best suruaide,
Because the sense (in these abridgments staid)
Keeps company with Reason, neuer flitting
From that firme obiect their ioynt powers fitting.
Thus the whole world is in one Man exprest,
And euery part describ'd and iudged best.
Then noble Britain [...] do not scorne to see
Thy owne face in this Glasse I proffer thee:
Two of thy children, whose fortune tels,
What danger and assur'd destruction dwels
In thy dis-vnion; and how fond they are,
Who with false reasons nurse thy ciuill warre.
The two (two Worthies, nobly borne and bred;
Inrich'd with vertue, and vpon the head
Of Court and Kingdome plac [...]d, (as Iewels worne
For vse and ornament) now rent and torne,
Remaine sad spectacles; and cry aloud
O Man, why, being mortall, art thou proud?
Why art thou proud of beauty? Roses blast;
Or of thy wealth? the mines of India waste;
Or of thy strength? since sicknes, age, or wounds
Let loose the stiff-strung ioynts, and spirit confounds.
Or of thy honour, and thy high-borne blood?
Since to be great is not worth praise, but good:
Or of all these? since all these, and much more
Wh [...]rton and Steward had, lost, and di'd poore.
Much more they had; so much, that hard it is
To tell what either wanted. Earths chiefe blisse,
(Their Princes fauour) like the Sunne aboue
In his hot Solstice stood, and did improue
Their blooming youth's with ripened fruit, before
Their thoughts could hope: ô what could they wish more?
Friends sought thē, fortune blest thē; blest them so,
That which might happiest seeme was hard to know,
Neither had cause of Enuie; except thus,
As th'eies [...] hands, feet, which guide, guard, carry vs;
Whose selfe like shape, and equall vse admits
No warre, but fellow-feeling of such fits,
Griefes, and diseases, and each part sustaines;
So shar'd they in all pleasures, toyles, sports, paines.
Nor had these other cause of warre at all,
"And causelesse warre is most vnnaturall.
Yet (oh) that subtle Spirit incens'd rash blood
With franticke rage, that enery ill seem'd good.
They first must pray; so vndeserued gold
"Ill got, we waste, and haue no power to hold [...]
Then they proceed to words, from words to blowes;
"The way to ill is easie; but who knowes
The Clue that we returne by? hence proceeds
A Challenge from wrong'd Wharton: Steward needs
No such stale prouocation: Mischiefes feet
"Are swift to blood: their quicke desires soon meet,
And (met) soone fight; bold Steward falls by Fate;
Wharton by Chance: those powers each other hate.
So I haue seene from th' Indies East and West,
Two Ships well rigg'd and mann'd vpon the brest
Of Thetis d [...]ncing, spreading flags abroad
For ioy of their long-wisht-for English roade;
Past now all dangerous Ro [...]ks [...] Gulphs, Pyrats, Sand,
Ready t'vnlade their rich fraught on firme land,
And tell the story of their perils past,
And frolicke with glad friends in peace, at last.
When spying each other so bedeckt, adorn'd,
With outward pomp: ones pride the other scorn'd,
[...] [...]
[Page] And from that enuious scorn some word proceeding,
And from that word some blow, from that blow bleeding.
Then giuing way to fury, all inrag'd,
Both are in desp'rate tearmes of fight ingag'd.
The fire in water, Lead in th'ayre, their center
Doe madly seeke; and both these r [...]dely enter
The strong ships wombe, and ransac [...]e euery hold,
For pretious life, neglecting Indi [...]n gold.
The shot seems thunder, but the dying grones
Of slaughtered soules, shrike louder, deeper tones
Then roring Cannons, whose thicke charging rout
Lets water freely in, and poures bloud out.
In this hot fight both firmly doe defend,
Both nimbly do assault, both madly spend,
Strength, skill, and all to hurt. Conquest inclines
To neither part as partiall. Equall lines
Are drawne betwixt them both by Fate and Chance;
Till th' one his topsaile fairely doth aduance
To win the winde, and in that vantage flies
With force and fury on his foe; who plies
All meanes to salue this losse, and to regaine
Faire ods, or equall standing once againe.
But all in vaine, fortune, the winde, and sea,
Con [...]ederate with the aduerse seeme to be.
So this to sinke (rather then yeeld) resolues,
And halfe his tatter'd sides the Sea inuolues.
When th' other (couetous) grapples with his foe,
To bourd and rob him: and (being chained so)
The s [...]ip that leaks sinks, and with his weight drawes
The Conqueror with Conquest, to deaths iawes.
So fares it with these noble Combatants
Both equally of blood and honor vaunts:
[Page] Both enui'd and belou'd alike, both friends,
Both yong, both valiant, and their life and ends
So paralell, and twin-like like in all
That they obtain'd one graue, one [...]unerall.
One graue, one funerall, they obtain'd, yet lost
The [...]ame and honor their youth thirsted most.
Because their quarrell on false grounds begun,
Could not produce true praise, nor true blame shun.
The wounds thou gau'st stout Wharto [...] had bin good
Against thy Kings or faiths foe; and thy blood
Heroicke Steward, had been nobly shed,
Against such slaues; so both had brauely bled.
And your brasse Monuments had spoke the fame
Of Whartons noble, Stewards royall name.
Then the fierce challenger for his quicke charge,
And stout assault with wounds giuen deepe and large;
His apt command of euery part soone shunning,
All wounds saue one, giuen more by chance then cunning
And the Defendant, who so long time stood
Drownd (yet vndanted) in his owne life blood;
And deadly wounded, past all hope of liuing,
Death in his death to his haile fooeman giuing;
Had filld the largest leaues of Fames faire story,
And both worne wreath of triumph, conquest, glory [...]
And then like patterns [...]o both Realms, set out
By vertue for example; the wise and stout
Had been your schollers, and their lessons read,
In those greene fields, where both so boldly bled.
Bnt now (aye me!) as rocks, bars, sands, at sea,
Or marks set vp to shew ships where they bee,
Or rather as some wrack'd ships selfe, whose mast
Ore-looks the waues, and yet still sticking fast
[Page] In th' eating silt, bids the wise Pilot flye
The tracklesse path, where such hid dangers lye.
So stand these two, the signes of woe, and ruth,
Of shipwrackt honor, fortune, valour, youth;
And by their deaths confirme this speech for good,
"Vertue hath greater priuiledge then blood.
"Our soules are Gods, our bodies are the Kings,
"And he that in his priuate quarrell brings
"Either of these in question doth betray
"The Kings part, and giues Gods part cleane away.
England, behold in Wharton what thou art,
And Scotland see in Steward euery part
Of thy best power; shun enmitie and strife,
None but your selues haue power of eithers life.
Let no slight toyes (the snares and traines of hell)
Breed war betwixt you two; but kindly dwell
Within this Ile as in one house, the rather
Being thereto wooed by your good King, kind father.
If not, peruse this glasse, and let not me
The fatall Prophet of such ill newes be
To your succeeding times; but choose you whether
You'le still liue friends, or like these die together.

DVELLI FINIS:

A cast of Falcons (in their pride
At passage scouring) fowle e [...]pide
Securely feeding from the spring,
At one both ayme with nimble wing.
They first mount vp abou [...] Mans sight,
Plying for life this emulou [...] flight
In equall compasse, and maintaine
Their pitch without a lazie plaine.
Then stooping freely (lightning like)
They (counter) dead each other strike.
The [...]owle escapes [...] and with her wings
Their funerall dirge, this lesson sings.
"Who aimes at glory not aright,
"Meet [...]s death, but Glorie takes her flight.

Epitaphium Georgii Whartoni Milit.

TH' offence was great, worse the report,
The ini [...]r [...]e Reuenge acquitting,
And life with many wounds ta'ne for't
Arg [...]'de a minde true honour fitting.
"For sluggish Cowardice doth shame
"Anoble Stocke, and [...]onour'd name [...]

Epitaphium Iacobi Stewardi Armigeri.

VVIth an vndaunted heart I fought,
Reuenge and Choller me assailing,
In fight I fell, with courage sto [...]t,
My life and [...]oes, together failing [...]
I dig'de my graue out with my sword,
And stroke, whilst life would strength afford.

IVSTITIA IACOBI.

Dedicated to the graue, reuerend, and iudicious Knight, Sr. ROBERT GARDINER, sometime Lord Iustice of Ireland.

SO many men presse now for place in State,
Deseart and Worth cannot come neere the gate:
[...]ut happy were it for the State and Vs,
[...]f we (as Rome did) sought for Curius.
[...]here should we finde him, farre from Court, with you
[...]erhaps a Gardiner, or perhaps at Plow.
[...]et euen the same which Pyrrhus did withstand,
[...]amnites, and Sabines ruld, as you Ireland.
[...]hen should our Kings cleare Iustice shine too brigh [...]
[...]o suffer potent wrong, cloude impotent right.
[...]hen should this act of Iustice so aboue
[...]ll presidents, make others like it moo [...]e.
But wretched we, whilst few the doore can passe
Of high pre [...]erment, but the L [...]den Asse.

Regalis Justitia IACOBI.

DEVS VIDET.

Man, Angell, nor the Fiend of Hell,
Can Mans heart see, search, and tell,
That God alo [...]e doth vnderstand,
Closing all thoughts within his hand,
He better knowes then Priest, Iudge, Scribe,
Who gaue the last cause-carrying bribe.
He sees, when sentence goes aw [...]y,
Where the hidden ground doth lie.
He kno [...]es if it be true or no,
The doubtfull witnesse sweares vnto [...]
He markes the Iewrie and their leader,
And obserues the lying Pleader.
He notes the Councell what they doe,
And the Kings heart searcheth too.
HOw hatefull is this silence? I haue stood
Wishing, expecting, musing long, who wou'd
[Page] With honest thrift, this faire aduantage take
To fame himselfe for euer, and to make
This sencelesse age conceiue (perhaps commend)
The good we now enioy, not apprehend.
Time was, Kings words were like to apples, snatch'd
From t' Hesper [...]des, so obs [...]ru'd [...], so watch'de.
None [...]ffer'd to drop downe; all highly prizde
Preser [...]ed, recorded, apothegmatizde.
But now their words (though Or [...]cle [...] to those
Of former times, though verse vnto their prose)
Are slighted by this lip-wise age of ours;
Whose rootles knowledge bears no fruits but flow'rs
Where is the Man whose better fate, admits
Him place, time, meanes, to heare the King of wits.
Discourse like Salomon, of euery thing,
Begot betwixt the winter and the spring?
Determine euery doubt that doth arise
Twixt heauen and earth, the [...]diot and the wise?
That doth for priuate vse, or publike good
Make knowne how Sab [...]-like, he vnderstood?
And did not (like the pictures) waite for show
To fill place only, but to learne to know.
This man is yet no Courtier, or at least
No daily waiter; scarce s [...]ne at a feast.
Too poore and plaine to trauaile, and bring backe
The [...]ongue and heart of treason; he doth lacke
A face t'outface his wants, and doth bewr [...]y
His ignorance in euery arrogant way.
He meanes good faith and speakes it, though the lip
Of censuring law, his state and body stript
Of coyne, and eares, and freedome; it's no crime,
To speake truth (he thinks) though't be out of time.
[Page] He is no chamber Traytor from hell sent,
To v [...]dermine the Soules high Parliament.
He cannot candy poyson; wants the waies
To tickle truth to death, with her owne praise.
He dares not weare a desperat [...] suite t'vndoe
Himselfe, a Mercer, and a Taylor too:
And then make that the preface how to aske
Towards his vnknowne losse in the last maske.
But such as can those Court-lie Mysteries
Want time for this. Themselues are histories
Not easely learn'd; t'will aske a perfect Man
To read them daily o're, do what he can.
And ere he learns by heart each attribute
Appropriate to the body, and the suite,
Himselfe growes old, or a new-fashion springs:
Which shifts the Scene, the forme, and face of things.
Thus silk-worms spend their times, & schollers too
Haue idle worke enough to turne them to.
Perhaps a paire of feete and a tongue stroue
Who should walke fastest, and most countries roue.
In fewest howers to smallest purpose; these
At length returne (their trauailes finisht) please
To publish their fond Iournall. But (alasse!)
Neither themselues, nor their huge worke can passe
Our presse vnpraisde. O Courtiers thither hie,
Gallants, Wits, Poets; Let your Muses flie
Not to reforme, or settle this light braine,
But render him more wilde. Your selues shall gaine
Much wonder by't; extol'd shall be your skill,
For writing well in ieast, in [...]rnest ill.
Or if not this, some other witty taske
Staies your continuall leisures, and doth aske
[Page] Inke from your pens, t'asperge, deforme, defile,
States and their instruments, with libells vile.
No man must liue without your fawning praise,
Nor no man die without your rounddelaies.
Death maks you sport, & stroks which force the State,
Stagger and reele; your humors eleuate.
"Vice liuing, is preferd to Vertue dead,
"The present, no time els, is honored.
If you attend on Kings, it's to obserue
Their imperfections, where their frailties swerue
In rash attempts or passionate words vnstaid,
From iuster rules, their intemperate bloods once laide
As if Kings were not men, weake, fraile, and poore,
Like to their Subiects, and subiected more.
As if at Rome (whether you send this newes)
All there were Saints, & your Popes Court no stewes [...]
As if that you a Patent had from Hell
All things to say or doe, but nothing well.
O! if you yet retaine a graine of that,
Which your high aimes would seeme to leuell at:
Or if no faith (but that you Atheists be,
And nothing but vnhallow'd Reason see)
If but a sparke of that remaine intire,
Which you seeme to monopolize (the fire
Prometheus filch'd from lou [...]) let that bright flame
Kindle your zeales for selfe, kings, countries fame,
To vse those opportunities, parts, pl [...]ces,
Intelligences, meanes, friends, fortunes, graces,
You haue 'boue other, for the publique good,
That we may vnderstand you vnderstood.
Learne Saba- like to heare, obserue, report,
The good our Salomon speakes, doth at Court.
[Page] Not Shemei- like to slander, curse, deride,
Religions Nurse, Arts glory, vertues pride,
Bnt you contemne my admonition. Goe
Feed [...]at for hell, the place you co [...]et so.
And let my humble Muse, applaud, admire
And celebrate he [...]uens grant to our desire.
Tell what thou seest and feel'st. Ingratitude
"Receiues, craues swallowes, a whole multitude
"Of gifts and graces, without thanks or cense,
"And with dul silence beats heauens blessings hence [...]
"It is D [...]traction to conceale due praise,
"When good related, might more goodnesse raise.
"It is not flattery to report truth well;
"True glasses both our faults and fauours tell.
Here then receiue this one worke royall [...]ames,
Which now reflects vpon thee, and more fames
This Church and [...]ingdom, then thy birth, crown, pen,
Or [...]hat else makes thee the good King of men.
I sing thy Iustice, whose cleere raies giues light,
To neighbour Princes in this ignorant night
Of mistie error, and corrupt Respect,
How to informe aright their intellect.
And (hauing here on earth, mongst Christian Kings
And Pagans shone) it mounts the winds swift wings
Calming the sea, bounding her ebs and tides,
And in her monthly change the moist Moone guides [...]
Then sores vp higher, and informes the Sunne,
How mongst the signes in an euen line to run;
How to make daies, and nights; and higher yet
Mounts, till it be in the first Mouer set.
Two warlike kingdomes linck't in happy peace.
When they beheld how common fewdes did [...]ase
[Page] And saw how strongly blest that concord stands,
Where brethren ioyne first hearts, and after hands,
Resolu'd that course; turn'd matches into Maskes,
And reuelling tissues wore for massier Caskes:
Steeds traind for ready fight, learnd now to peace,
And knew no foes but Buckes and Hares; nor race
But on smooth plaines for wagers, or for sport,
Not for lou'd life; where Campes lay, lay the Court.
Keene swords that bit the bone, abated now
Kist without making skars, or help'd the plow
To draw long furrowes on the fruitfull earth,
Least Peace should (breeding teeth too fast) breed (dearth.
Blunt foiles were on sharpe pointed Rapiers set,
And so Lord Sanquier and poore Turner met.
They met to play: there Sanqu [...]er lost an eie.
O Brittaine! canst thou nothing further spie,
In this then his losse? Looke vp now and see;
Securitie hath ta'ne an eye from thee.
Ill didst thou ward that blow; If sport hurt so,
O what will open force and malice do?
Thy King rides, hunts and falls. Are horses then
Turn'd traitors too? will beasts proue like to men?
Can Kings finde sportfull peace so hazardous?
To armes then Caesar, shun the Senate house.
Like poison, ponyards, pistols, Death a [...]oue
Attends on 'Pr [...]nces when they feed, sleep, moue;
B [...]neath like powder, that the ground they tread,
Seemes all one continent, to quicke and dead.
And is't not so with others too? behold,
This silly Fencer, in his ignorance bold
Think's his submissiue sorrow will suffice
For that vnhappy thrust at Sanquiers eyes;
[Page] And begging pardon, seemes to haue it then.
What foole dares trust the vnseald words of men?
Yet Turner will. A reconciled foe
"Seemes a true friend, to him would haue him so.
He thinks (now Dunne is dead) to die in peace.
"but blood cries out for blood, and doth not cease
"Till vengeance followes. Vengeance euen at hand
Whaits like a treacherous Groome of Sanquiers; and
(When Turner nothing of his neere death thinkes,
But laughes, & plaies, & to his deaths-man drinkes.)
Let's his charg'd pistoll flie, whose mouth spits lead
With fire-wing'd speede, striking the Fencer dead.
"No ward auoides that blow: Pal [...] Death we see
"A fellow-gamester in all sports will be.
The Murtherers flee; Iusti [...]e pursues with speede,
Th' Abettor, Actor, Author of this deede;
Who (apprehended) apprehend too late
(If friends helpe not), the issue of their fate.
But friends will help. One steps vnto the King,
Kneeles and thus pleads. Leige Lord, you are the spring,
From whence Nobilitie flowes. And all our blood
The neerer yours it comes, the neerer good:
As you first gaue, so let your power preserue
Those that are set a part the Crowne to serue [...]
Others by fit election, these by fate
Are made hereditarie to the State;
Distinguish'd from the common ranke of those
Who only know they are not, when they rose
And priuiled [...]ge aboue the raskall rout,
Whose words and deeds haue reference to account.
Else why did our bold fathers, with the losse,
Of lymmes and liues, honors for vs ingrosse?
[Page] O why do these new Nobles de [...]r [...]ly buy
Those attributes for which they dare not die?
Or why should land or gold [...] which all things can
Be giuen for [...]itles, if they mend not man,
And something adde besides an emptie sound,
To recompence the glosse of gold and ground?
If honour doth nought but a name afford,
A Lordship then is bette [...] then a Lord.
"Nobilitie this priuiledge doth bring,
"It makes the owner something like a king;
"Exempting him from penall lawes, which crack
"With heauy pressure the poore Commons back.
This (Sir) I speake t'excite your royall power
To rescue Noble Sanquir, who this houre
Is by the too-strick't vnrespectiu [...] lawes
Condemn'd to die a villa ines d [...]ath. The cause
And quarrell this. The Barron chanc'd to play
With a rude Fencer; where both did bewray
Their best ability at Rapier foyles.
The [...]encer to vphold his credit toyles,
But wanteth skill; which makes his hate arise;
And with an enuious thrust at Sanquirs eyes,
The wicked and inchant [...]d foyle depriu [...]s
An eye of sight; worth many Fencers liues.
The suffering Lord forbeares to kill him then
But being after scorn'de by watermen,
Fidlers, and such base instruments of hell
For this foule blemish, his great heart did swell.
And (full of noble courage) loth to do
So blacke a de [...]de himselfe he puts it to
His mans performance, who obaide too soone,
Repentan [...]e came before the deede was done.
[Page] The equall lawes to equalls doth appoint
An eye should haue an eye, ioynt answere ioynt.
But where suc [...] [...]ddes of persons be, I ghesse
An eye should haue a life to boote, no lesse.
Yet not on this or that doth Sanquir stand;
His death, his life, his doome is in your hand.
He doth confesse the foulnesse of his guilt:
He sorrowes for the blood that he hath spilt.
Your mercy (royall Sir) he doth implore
For this rash act, who neuer beg'd before.
Scarce had he don [...], and e're the king could speake,
An other thus begins. If you should wreake
Each English peasants life with bloud so hie
As noble Sanquir is, No memorie
Of your faire traine, of Natiue Scots, should stand,
To let times know the glory of that land.
Souldiers must doffe their armes, and gowns put on,
If villaines so foule may passe vpon
Lords vnreueng'de; or if those antique names,
Those honors, trophees, and eternall fames,
We got by killing many Englishmen,
Be for the death of one, thus lost agen.
If thus to quench the fewde you pleased are,
You thereby quench the heart of lawfull warre.
Remember what a souldier he hath bin;
How easly might forget it was a sinne.
And thinke he did but chastice one of those
Who'gainst his Leader muteni'de, and rose.
Many of th' English haue been pardoned
For treasons capitall. Some honored
For their knee-seruice, and no other merit.
Then (Sir) let vs who lineally inherit
[Page] Allegeance, worth, and honours; sometime finde
You left not all your Scottish blood behinde:
Nor meane to leaue vs in the hands of [...]hose
Who kill with law more friends, then fewdes kil foes.
Thus ended he; And then as in a Queere
Of solemne singers, one shall euer heare [...]
After the Trebles hath the Antheme sung,
(And their diuisions with shrill vtterance [...]ung);
The Base, the Tenor, Counter-tenor sweet,
With Howboyes, Cornets, Trumpets, Organs meet,
And ioyne their hye-stretcht notes, that all the ring
Seemes Eccho-like, their sonnets to resing:
So did the graue and gallant troope, which stood
About the King (like a dew-dropping wood)
Conuey their powres to make this consort full
And cryed; Be stil'd King [...]ames the mercifull.
Or (if to satisfie the course of law,
And stop Opinions wide-gull swallowing iaw)
Life must haue life, take Carlis [...]e, one for one,
And one to boote too; so this Lord be none.
With that (as if all aymes would this aduance)
Comes from the Regent and the King of France,
Letters, intreating for their Pensioners life;
And last, as if the difference of a wife
Should from this fact take characters, to know
A true good wife, from a good wife in show:
Comes his forsaken Lady all in blacke,
(W [...]ose youth from him did due beneuolence lacke)
Weeping, intreating, for her lost Lords sinne,
And then like fullomes that run euer in
A baile of Gossips (some true beggars borne,
Pittying this Lord more then the Lord of Lorne)
[Page] Beg his remission with obstreperous voice:
But mongst the rest, she that made lowdest noise,
Was Turners Widdow, whose shrill throat did yell,
That she was satisfied, and all was well.
The king abhord it, and his vpright heart,
Beholding these assaults on euery part,
Made it his glory to be onely good,
And from his crowne to wipe those staines of blood.
Thus he replies [...] "The crowne for Iustice sake,
"Heau'n plac'd vpon our head; which none can shake
"Or touch, till with vniustice we make way,
"And (for respect) that strict rule disobay.
"God is our Guard of proofe, that we may be
"A guard to you vnpartiall, iust, and free.
"And this stands firme; If one hand goes about
"To signe a croock't line, th' other blurs it out.
O magnanimitie, aboue a Man!
O Iustice more confirm'd then that which wan
Zeleuchus so much fame! Corrupt with gold
States, Cour [...]iers, Law, or Wi [...]es that will be sold.
Peruert with passion euery solid heart,
Moue Stoickes, or melt marble with thy Art,
Iustice sits still vntouch'd, with kingly care,
Not pardoning till true mercy bids him spare.
And then not striking, though the life he giues,
Repines, and enuies that the giuer liues.
Deni'de they vanish, as the cloudes disperse,
When the hot-shining Sunne lookes red and fierce.
The law proceeds; the Actors suffer first,
A death too-good, too-bad; the best the worst.
The Author then submits him to his doome,
And dies a Catholike; That's a man of Rome [...]
[Page]
Romulus & Remus nur­ [...]ed by a Wolfe, [...]omulus [...]ew his [...]rother R [...] ­nus for lea­ [...]ing ouer [...]he walls of [...]is Citie [...]ome.
O Rome! Liues yet that Wolfe which was thy Nurse
When (growing great) thou grewst the whole worlds curse?
May none yet leap thy wals, or leaue thy Sea
Vnslayne, though he a King and brother be?
Retain'st thou yet that sauage kinde, to pray
On the distressed flocke which shuns thy way?
Do all that sucke thy brests, for milke sucke blood?
Dare not that spring from thee die well, doe good?
Must Gibbets onely rocke them to their rest?
Doe they desire that death? become they't best?
Must Traytors, Murtherers, only be thy Saints?
Weare none white robes but such as scarlet paints?
Else why doe all euill men so soone drinke vp
The deadly lees of thy inchaunted cup?
Or why doe fooles so credit what Rome sayth,
But for they easely learne implicit faith?
If Rome keep heauens keyes, (as'tis out of doubt),
None dare barre Lambert, or Lord Sanquir out:
Nor neede they feare, where Iesuits haue to doe,
Garnet shall be a Saint, and [...]udas too:
Their writings and examples murther teach;
They'l not condemne the doctrine which they preach.
This makes our desperate Ru [...]ins, Romanes dye.
And our crack'd Virgins seeke a Nunnery.
Iustice rise Lyon-like out of thy sleepe,
The Westerne Wolues worry the [...]rish sheepe:
And here at home thy borders swarme with those
Who doe imitate, breed, beget thee foes.
Vnion.
The t scar thou thinkst to close, these make more wide,
"True faith vnites, but their faith doth deuide.
[...]nno 1. [...]acob.
The Grimes are banish'd, but worse Foxes earth
In those vast places, through the Gospels dearth.
[Page] The Hu [...]our that feeds these, affects the heart,
And doth dilate it selfe through euery part
By secret influence, though it closely lurkes,
"Causes are best discouered by their workes.
"Examples though they doe no other ill,
"Rebell against the Lawes in being still.
"They count'nance giue to error, and curbe in
"Bold reprehension, making truth a sinne.
"Who hides his question'd faith he ought reueale,
"Will vtter what perhaps he should conceale.
Hunt out these Foxes then; it is a sport
Fitting a King, a Councell, and a Court.
Vse Hounds that lie not, or flie out; for such
Spend freely, sweetly, but thee ground ne're touch,
They please the eare and eye, but neuer minde
To kill the Game. Those Cubs are of their kinde.
But stay, take off, we ryot: leaue the sent:
"Plaine Truth cannot be slaine, but may be shent.

Aquignispicium.

DEDICATED TO THE FREE and bountifull House-keeper, Sr. Le-strange Mordant, Knight Baronet.

THou that are almost onely left to tell,
Wherein our ancient Gentry did excell,
These vpstart plants, be still thy selfe, till we,
For shame reforme our liues, and wax like thee.
So plaine, free, vpright, honest, open, iust:
But sure first die, and rise againe we must.

Aquignispicium.

A CAPITE, VS (QUE) AD CALCEM

The State is cast; God doth behold
Eyes blinde, eares deafe, tongues dumbe with cold.
Dayes care to get, gets nightly cares,
Which memorie foyles, and iudgment marrs.
The faint hearts (slowly beating) tells
Dull spirits in the slacke ner [...]e dwells,
The Liuer boyles with l [...]stfull blood,
Weake stomacke brookes no meat that's good.
Loose palsie makes the hands to tr [...]mble,
When they for loue shake, they dissemble.
The gowty knees doe stifly bend;
The feete walke flow to all good end.
The Doctor saith; Repent, fast, pray,
Die, or this diet take we may.
GOd bends his bowe but shoots not; see, it stands
Alluding to the Rain­bow.
As if the stiffe string were in Mans owne hands.
[Page] For God first plac'd it so, that Man might know
How prone to peace he is, to warre how slow,
That couenant which he made with Noah, he keeps,
His Mercy euer wakes, his Iustice sleeps.
And though our sins a second Deluge craues,
Hee'l drench the world no more in those salt waues.
"What hurt frō heauē fals, first frō th' earth proceeds [...]
"And Mans misfortune, springs from mans misdeeds [...]
Misdeeds that from our selues, friends, country come,
And where they should on all, light but on some.
The snow, haile, raine, are by the Suns pure beames
Exhalde from standing Marishes, whose streames
Infect the ayre with foggy mists, and then
Are botteld vp in clouds for sinfull men.
And for Mans good, in season they distill
Or out of season, to amend the ill.
The plagues we feele fall at the head and foot,
Are shafts gainst God our hands first vpward shoot.
Presumptuous sins in Country and at Court,
Creatnesse, and Grace, and Fauour do support.
The Pulpit flatters; Iustice sits and smiles,
Making a gainefull skill, of lingring wiles.
"Who hath great friends liues free, & wanteth faults,
"But without friends the vpright innocent haults.
Vice now prouides vs rayment, meat and drinke,
So how't increas't not how to curb't we thinke.
Old men waxe impudent, lasciuious, wilde,
That fits them best, which scarce becomes a childe.
Young men are stubborne, disobedient, stout,
And rule, and teach, euen from the swathing clout,
They all things know and can but (what they ought)
Themselues and vertue. These they neuer sought.
Fashions from Spaine, France, Germanie, and Rome,
And Turkie too, wi [...]h their Religions come.
So they are suited faire from top to toe,
And each new suite in a new faith they goe.
Matrons that are not dead nor yet aliue.
But betwixt both, in some part vegetiue,
Crown their smooth scalps with haire, [...] now makes
A second Mistres ready for the graue
Young Maids (that goe for such) are Mothers known b [...]aue
And such as should be none, are Virgins showne.
O modesty where dwelst thou? Womanhood
Is scarce by our high English vnder stood
Vice growes so common, tha [...] it is far more
Opprobrious, to be chaste, then be a whore.
All things are out of order. Lawes are made
Strong meanes not to defend, but to invade.
Then why should we limit the sea, or fire
Within their bounds, and not our owne desire?
Southward th' Armado, and the fleetes of Spaine,
(Oft beat [...]n) s [...]eme to threaten vs againe.
Ann. Dom. 1588 The seas broke in before West, now East.
And East and West the Seas would meet we see:
But that (O wonder!) Northward blest we bee.
The want of water was the cause before
Those huge built hulkes, could not approch our sho [...]e,
VVho came resolu'de of conquest: and did stand
As if they ment to beare away our land.
Poore Ile so small thou wert, and they so great
Too scant a sea for them that was thy seat.
But had they staide till now, now might they ride
On the swolne waues at ease in all their pride.
[Page] Andinto euery heauen their bold Ships steere,
As if no sands, barres, shallowes, had bin there.
We know whens'ere they come, God can prouide
Such seas, so high, so vncontrold a tide,
Able without their Enuie, or their ayde
To bury vs; for see how he hath layde
Our workes all leuell; draines, dikes, sluces, bankes,
Fields, pastures, gardens, mannors, farmes, and frank [...]
With man their owner, and what Man doth feed,
Are buried with a sea of teares indeed.
Nouember did we scape thy fift day thus,
That euery day thou should'st be ominous?
Doe we so soone forget [...]he sixt day last,
And worst of all daies to our Iland past,
That thus we should so oft remembred be,
From what strange thraldom, we were once set free?
Or do the waters thus breake in, to show
How humorous and irregular vices flow?
How Sai [...]-like Sacriledge doth impropriate?
And calme Oppression swallowes Church and State?
How close Hypocrisie bends his courtly knee,
And (wanting all faith) would haue all faith's free?
How holy Hymen [...] sacreds band are broken,
His torch extinguish'd, and his rites fore-spoken?
How Gotish lusts needs all those waues to slake
His scorching flames, hot as th' infernall lake?
Or is't for all these crimes, and more vntold,
The faithfull Sea, which wont our Ile to hold
In his moist armes, from strange a [...]aults secure,
Hath chang'd his loue to this sad ouerture?
[Page] And (for our sinnes) learnes vs to fast and pray.
Bringing in fish, sweeping our flesh away?
That land which (Goshen-like) did flow whil-ere,
Marshland in Nor­folke.
With all that Man desires or life holds deere,
So that no spot in all this Iles large field,
The sythe more hay, sickle more corne did yield:
Where sweetnes was the sawce, and fatnes fed,
Whil'st Dearth, and Famine from the confines fled:
Where the stiffe-vdder'd Cow long'd twice a day,
To meet the merry milke-maide on the way:
And missing her by chance, wrot on the ground
With milke-white letters where she would be found,
Now prostrate lyes; the goodly beauty foil'd,
The welth wash'd thence, the gards & trēches spoil'd.
O what assurance haue we then in clay
Which (if not Lawyers) Seas thus eat away?
Build farre from waters, that secures thy feare,
Though lesse thy profit be, safe dwelling there.
O no; what's that I see? a raging flame
New-mar­ket burned with many other no­table town [...] in England
[...]ounts vp in yonder plaine, and none can tame
His hot misgouern'd furie. Water heere
Some cry, but no such element is neere.
Like a mad-Dog that through the thronged streets
Ranging with rage snatcheth at all he meets,
And all that bitten are, as mad as he,
Runne raging too, that few or none scape free:
The cry is vp, and euery man stands arm'd,
To do he knowes not what till he be harm'd;
And then to saue himselfe neglects the rest,
And madly mischiefe does when he meanes best.
[Page] Or as a towne of strength, at dead of night,
Surpriz'd (by sodaine stratagem or slight,)
The people (with the allarum bell awak'd)
Run out to see what newes amaz'd and nak'd;
And meeting death abroad, for life run home,
And finde their houses s [...]ck'd before they come.
Then turning backe againe they know not whither,
Flocke all on heaps and dye like freinds together:
So far'de it there; the fire flew vp and downe
Snatching at euery house within the towne.
And whilst one thought his neighbors house to saue [...]
He sees his owne doth instant succour craue.
Here stands an Al [...]house tosting, and the Hostis
Swearing her false-s [...]or'de tally burn'd or lost is.
The T [...]pster (wanting water) plies with ale
The thirstie fire which drinks both new and stale,
And by that oyly-liquor is not quenched
But rather (Drunkard-like) inrag'd, incensed.
The Host (instead of pailes) fils pots and sweares
H [...]e'le vse no penny-pots that wants their eares.
Wisheth his Iuggs were bigger, he would fill them,
And (but in vaine) on the wilde fire doth spill them.
Here stares an Ostler whil'st the flame makes c [...]asure [...]
On his small bottles and his ostry measure,
And here a Chamberlaine giues quicke attendance
To saue his pretty faggots with a vengeance.
Those pretty faggots which fire-hot being eat
In a cold morning, scarce would make one sweat.
Here runs a rauening Vsurer dog-like tyred
Betwixt his owne house and the mort-gagde fired.
[Page] Here flames a barne of some ingrossing Farmer.
And here the study burnes of some false Termer.
Here stands a kennell, there a rack and manger
For running horses, but both stay the danger.
A Baude houles here, and here a [...]east of whores
Burnde oft within, are now burnde out of dores.
Heere's a Tobacco shop, and in the Celler
Th' Indian Deuil, our baud, witch, whore, man-queller,
That spirit waster, and that Liuer heater,
Of t'humor radicall that greedy eater,
That breath corrupter, and quick-eye-sight spoyler,
That wit confounder, and strong Memorie foyler,
That pickpurse, theefe, time [...]cheater, connycatcher,
That alehouse haunter, and fell mischiefe hatcher,
That all compounded euill of euery Nation [...]
Too bad (almost) for th' English imitation [...]
Tobacco by the fire was there caroused
With large pettounes, in pisse perfum'd and soused.
Thus what full many thrifty yeeres erected,
One prodigall flame hath wasted and dei [...]cted.
And now (behold) the prouder Chimnies stand
As heires left well [...] who wasted haue their land,
Of whom the common people vse to say,
It's pitty proper men should thus decay;
Yet none releeues them, or build vp their state
To such an eminent fortune as of late.
Mongst these one Chimney stands, where passers by
May reade this sentence with a running eye,
[...]othing is so close carried or concealde,
[...]hich shall not be in his due timere [...]eal'd.
[Page] Whether by chance or by diuine decree,
(For so all humane actions ordr'ed bee)
This object stands; that all may make good vse
Of what they see, or quit them from excuse,
He not d [...]termine. L [...]t it bee my folly
Rather than bee profane, to bee too holy.
H [...] t [...]at once drown'd the world, can if he please,
Drowne part or the whole world againe with ease:
But since his word is past, though we abound
With that which caus'd the former world be drown'd
Hee'le keep his promise, and the Sea restraine
From ouer flowing sinfull slesh againe.
Yet is it in his power the whole t'mmerse
In variable woes; plagues to disperse
In the most frequent stre [...]tes, most fragrant fields,
That th'ayre may breath out death, [...]helth now yields
Or thin cheek'd [...] (though a stranger borne)
Who now to know on Fridayes th' English scorn,
Who of all forrainers is worst in [...]reated,
His fashion left, himselfe in prison seated,
May be familiar with our countreymen
(Like a post [...] Natus, or free Denizen)
And that without an act, if God thinke good,
Though a [...]l the Peeres and Commons it withstood.
Fire, aire, earth, water, all are his: he can
With or without these, saue or punish Man.
No place is free from him, no thing is hid,
He knowes what Fauk [...]s, Persi [...], and Cate
Vnder the ground; and what new plots doe come bie did
From hell, or from hels Councel-chamber (Rome).
[Page] And this, (and all els) his blest hand reueales
To his elect, and with deliuerance seales.
Attend his pleasure then; first we shall see
Rome burne, and all with Rome that lynked bee.
Then the whole world; and that fire shall disclose
Each truth, each falshood, and each cause of those.
Till then, these waters doe but wash the slime
Of Babel from this too indifferent time.
These petty fires, kindle our loue and zeale,
(Halfe-dead) to King, the Church, & cōmon-weale,
Affliction profits. Strike vs (Lord) in loue;
Let thy milde hand each way our firme faith proue.
But let not Babel triumph in our fall,
Nor any that on Baal, or Dag [...]n call.

ANTIDOTVM CECILLIANVM.

DEDICATED To the Common-wealth.

DEsert hath no true follower after death
But En [...]y; others flatter with their breath.
Jn vaine I sought particular Patrons; they
When life left greatnesse, ran with life away.
Blood, kindred, friends, forsooke him; so't was [...]it,
We might haue doubted else his worth and wit.
Their compasse was too narrow to [...]ield shade
To him that both their rootes and fortu [...]es made:
But gentle England, since he quiet gaue
To thee by his cares, giue his corps a graue.
And since his wisdome did renowne thy name,
Be thou a Sanctuary to his fame.
And since he gaue for thee his life and health,
Giue him protection, thankefull Common wealth.

TO THE HONOVR of the illustrious Familie of the CECILLS, deseruing of this Commmon­wealth, all the Romane wreaths of triumph: The memorable Pyramids of Egypt: And all other Trophes of Eternitie.

AS by one mouer, motion, doth commence,
Euen from the Center, to circumference:
So from one good Man, many may arise,
Like-good, like-apt, like-faithfull, and like-wise.
This now is verified; The Cecills are
Statesmen in time of p [...]ace, Souldiers in warre.

Epicedium.

What needs, thy Monument be rais'd?
What needs, the Muses singthy worth?
What needs, thy memory be prais'd?
Or what needs Art, thy fame set forth?
Let Art, time, gold, the Muse, and Men,
Guild falshood, folly, ignorance:
Let them conspire gainst thee; and then,
The more they shall thy worth aduance.
They worke, write, raile, or praise to please,
"But Truth giues vertue, life, not these.

Antidotum Cecillianum.

THESAVRVS INTVS.

Darius on a Graue. stone found
This Epitaph: Who digs this ground
Shall treasure finde. The greedy King
Dig'd there, but found another thing.
Within was written; Had'st not been
A beastly-minded man, I ween
The harm [...]lesse bones of the deceast
Had in their quiet tombes tane rest.
Who rips the coffins of the dead,
Finds same and honour thence are f [...]ed
With life, the Subiect of their Ire;
Stench onely stayes to pay their hire.
"Worth hath his Epicedium sung
"By enuies shrill and slandrous tongue.
WHen this rich soule of thine (now s [...]inted) kept
Her State on earth, my humble Mu [...] nere stept
[Page] Out of that sweete content wherein shee dwelt,
To sing thy worth, th' eff [...]cts wher [...] of we felt.
But now since death hath freedome giuen to thee,
To see thy scorne made others flatterie,
And that each mouse on the dead Lyon leaps,
And euery riming [...]en, forg'd matter heaps
On thy bright frame, casting their owne base durt
Vpon thy honour'd hearse, (minding more hurt
To thee then `Death or He [...] can doe) I may
And must be bold (or sinne) this truth to say.
Each euidence thy foes bring, speakes thy praise:
For what can more thy fame and glory raise,
Then to be rail'd on by the worst of men [...]
Such as like out-lawes liue, not in the ken
Of Iustice, or communitie? Base slaues
Whose crimes & sins make their own nest their graus.
T'was meet thy vertues eminent and hie
Should not vn-en [...]ied liue, vnslandred dye:
For then we might haue fear'd thou had [...]st not been
So absolute a man; now it is seen
Euen by those many shadowes Enu [...] throwes,
That thy worth was substantiall, and not showes.
De [...]rac [...]ion [...]s perplext, aud f [...]ies about
Ouer a world of Acts to single out
Some one or two in thy whole life to scan,
And proue by the (what Death did) thou wer't man:
Yet s [...]eing that past credit, she descends
To view thy body, and her venom spends
Not again [...]t it but nature, which did shroud
So great a sunne vnder so small a cloud.
But we that plainly see men sildome rise
Though they be learn'd, iudicious, daring wise,
[Page] Except the body somewhat [...]uites the minde,
And good cloathes sute the body too; are blinde
And mad with enuie if we yeeld not thee
[...]orth aboue thought, who to that high degree
Rose through the eminent parts of thy blest soule,
Aboue contempt, disgrace, scorne or controule.
Nature did recompence thy want of clay
With heauenly fire; thy body could not stay
Thy acti [...]e soule heere longer, t'was too light
A clog to keepe from Hean [...]n so strong a spright.
Well might thy body be a soule to those
Whose more grosse earthen soules did late compose
Blacke libels gainst thy fame, and rak'd so low
Into thy purged excrements to know
What foule disease durst kill thee, and then found
Many were guilty: for it could not sound
They thought like truth, that one disease slue thee
When they hauing all yet scape to Deddick free.
By this they shew that whatsoe're we thinke,
They know all these diseases by th' instinck,
They are familiar with them and of kin,
To their first causes of being deadly sinne,
And of the elders house too. For the diuell
(Chiefe libeller formes all degrees of euill
And like good boies of his, these labour too
(More then disease, or Death, or Hell can doe)
To kill the soule, and to bely a fame
Which laughes to scorn, all scorn, & shames all shame.
You that stand next the helme and thinkey're free
From their sharpe viperous tongues, it cannot be;
If death comes, these Rauens follow, and perchance
(Time fauouring their desires) th'eile leade the d [...]nce
[Page] And raile at you too. Tis not you they hate
But our blest King, Religion, and the State.
And if (which God forefend) so stood the time
Y'ould see they could do worse, then they can rime.
Now I haue throwne my selfe into the way
To meete their rage, and (if I can) to stay
Their dog-like malice rather on my head
Then suffer it pollute and wrong the dead.
If they alledge I giue him more then due,
You know their custome, they cannot speake true.
But if they say I gaue him lesse, their spite
Shewes neither I nor they can do him right.

Antidotum Cecillianum.

OPPORTVNE TIBI IN TEMPESTIVE NOBIS

The Sunne past by degrees those signes
Which to his sotherne seate inclines,
And now in Leo sate aloft.
The s [...]eating labourer bans him ost,
The Shepheard melts, and ore the Plaine
His new shorne-sheepe seeke shades in vaine.
The Marchant, Sea man, euery T [...]ade
They say by him are Banckrupt made.
He heares it and (at height of noone,
Hides his bright beames behinde the Moone.
They sadly know that d [...]th presage
Dearth, death, warre, want to euery age
And then his late wisht absence mone;
"Fooles wisemen misse, when they are gone.
SInce its decreed in heauen, found true on earth,
That all things haue an end which had a birth;
[Page] That no estate is fixed, nights follow noone,
Ebs second floods, change fils the horned Moone
Which wanes againe at full, and shewes the glory
Of Earths best essence to be transitory:
How happy is that Man whose fate expires
Before declension crowned with his desires.
And hath his daies by vertuous actions told,
Guessing how much he would had he been old,
Since yong, his noted deeds out-vied his daies
And he lack't not true worth but rather praise.
Few touch this point, yet hither seeme to bend
Preuenting ruine with a violent end.
So Otho, and the Persian Monarch fell,
But this steepe way precipitates to Hell
Flattering with seeming help our wretched state
Not curing woes, but making desperate.
Our way is holy, white, and leades to blisse
Not by oblique attempts. For nature is
Made priuy with our passage, and we stay
Till she leades gently on, Grace making way.
Not euery common President can fit
This golden rule, all aime; but few can hit
This narrow passage which more fames the man,
Then sayling twise through fatall Magelan:
Or girding all the earth with one small bote,
Discouering gold, new worlds, things of rare note.
From hence the ground of thy great praises spring
O Cecill lou'd of God, good men, the King,
Borne vp not by stolne imps or borrowed plumes,
Which lets them fall who with high flight presumes
Neere the suns scorching beames; thy natiue worth
Vertue, and actiue knowledge, set thee forth
[Page] [...]is Kingdomes Pilot, where no storme or stresse
[...]ould make thee lose thy compasse or expresse
[...]hew of doubt, but firmely guide our state
[...]s th' adst beene ruler both of chance and fate.
This well thy Master saw, who therefore plac'd
[...]ee next himselfe, and with high honors grac'd
[...]y great deserts: more could'st thou not desire
[...]or earth afford, yet that which we admire
[...]as aboue this, euen in the top of these,
[...]ing neerer heauen thither to mount with ease,
[...]s if th' adst [...] tane th' aduantage of the time
[...]n Gre [...]tnesse staires, helpt by good deeds to clime.
O happy thou, but wretched creatures wee
[...]o s [...]e thy flight, and yet to slander thee:
[...]o f [...]ele the fruite of thy life wasting care,
[...]hich zealous for our good, no time would spare,
[...]o cherish nature, that we thus being free
[...]hould onely freedome vse to raile at thee.
[...]ur idlenesse proclaimes thy well spent time,
[...]ince by thy meanes we leisure haue to rime,
[...]hil'st neighbour States are acting it in blood,
[...]hich we scarce heare of, neuer vnderstood.
The benefite the Sunne gi [...]es to our sight,
We see not halfe so well by day as night.
Want giues a grace to goodnesse, when th' inioying
[...]onfounds and dazells sense like honny cloying.
[...]ome needes no target till the sword be lost:
Whil'st Nestor wakes, well may Thirsites boast.
Plutar in vita Fabii.
[...]ishers and expert Masters are all one
[...]n calmes and deepes, the ship there goes alone.
[...]ut when the winds, seas, rocks, and sands do fight,
[...]he skilfull Master then keepes all vpright.
[Page] We feare no stormes the Porpuses do play,
The Dolphins dance, and Prot [...]us flocks do stray
O're Neptunes watry Kingdome safe and free,
None casting doubts, or fearing what may be.
May this calme last perpetuall, and faith then
We ne're shall need thee Cecil nor such men:
Others we haue to fill thy roome thou gone,
So Aristippus saith, stone sits on stone.
We yet are senselesse of thy losse, and find
No danger in't. Like some within the winde
Of a great shot, whose violent thunder driues,
The sense into distraction, and depriues
The eare of present vse: so did report
Of thy death make vs mad to raile and sport,
To temporise, lye, flatter; so defaming
Our selues, state, manners, law, religion shaming:
But now the fit being past, tis plaine to fense
"Though man for beares Heauen pleads for innocenc [...]
"Vertue o'recomes by sufferance, and good deeds
"Are fen [...]'d by Calum [...]y, as herbes by weeds.

Antidotum Cecillianum.

BACVLVM TANTVM

The Cynicke sicke and like to die,
To such as askt where he would lie,
Made answere where you will; the field
Is large, and roome enough doth yeeld.
But they reply'de, the fields are wide;
Rauenous beasts and vermine vilde
Haunt those places; Kites and Crowes
Who to dead men no mercy showes.
True (quoth he) but if you please
Lay a staffe to driue hence these.
Tis only man I feare ali [...]e,
From my graue beasts only driue.
"Though (liuing) we haue staues for dogs,
"Dead w'are rooted vp by hogs.

EPITAPHIVM.

ROmes poison, Spaines coplots, the French designes
Thy skill foresees, discouers, vndermines.
D [...]g like they lick'd the dust, crouch't low, and faund
When (liuing) thy skil'd power did ought command:
But (de [...]d) they madly rage, grin, some for spite;
For toothlesse curres will bark that cannot bite.

TO THE RIGHT WORTHY, Henry Doile, Esquire.

THe folly which in man with wit is fixt,
Must needes haue pleasant things with wholesome mixt;
Else Nature loath it. Homers frogs and mise
Instructs Achilles: Virgil is not nice
Totue an Oten pipe. These toyes I send:
Accept; to please, and profit is my end.
Sic paruis componere magna solebam. Virgi.

SATYRA AVLICA.

VVHo (weary of contentfull Coun­tries rest)
Repaires to Court, with patience had best
Fore [...] arme himselfe, both Fate and Fortune proofe
'Gainst all assaults, or wisely stand aloofe:
For plainnesse is despisde, and honestie
Is fellow Shakerag with simplicitie.
To be a Scholler, is to be a foole:
Rude impudencie is the Courtiers Schoole.
Arts are but Lackies to attend and waite
On Ignorance, Apparance, and Deceite.
[Page] Canst thou seeme wise? Enough. This followes then,
"Vizards haue fairer vizages then men.
To be a Souldier is to be a slaue,
Danger abroad, reproach at home to haue.
Deepe furrow'd wounds fresh bleeding in the wars
Findes lesse reliefe and pittie then the scars
Of muskey Courtiers, when their smooth slicke skin,
Is bramble-scratched with a Ladies pinne.
Nor do they now, (as er'st they did) delight,
The stubborne Steedes to mannage to the fight;
To tilt and turnay with strong staues of oake,
To fight at barriars with a Brandons stroake,
To dance in compleat armour, (but alas!)
To tilt, fight, dance and turnay with a lasse.
The Schollership they vse, is to discourse
Of my Lords bloud-hound, and his Honors horse:
To tell how well the one pursued the chase,
The other swiftly ranne a lustie race.
Or if more high their heauy wits aspire,
It's to dispute of lust, and loose desire.
Their Soulderie is swaggering in the Court,
Where none may strike the vrger but in sport:
To offer strangers, strange and foule disgraces,
Presuming on their priuiledged places,
Which oft-times is repaide them, when they come
Abroad from Court, they'r w [...]lcom'd like Iack drum
Their idle houres, (I meane all houres beside
Their houres to eate, to drinke, drab, sleepe and ride [...]
They spend at shooue-boord, or at penny pricke,
At dice, cards, tennis; or they will not sticke
Rather then not be idle, to delay
At shittle-cocke the precious time away.
[Page] O slaues! regard what slander doth arise
From your effeminate slow cowardise.
Haue you no Soules? no pens? no swords in hand?
Behold where cursed Mahom [...]t doth stand,
Triumphing o're the Crosse; he Iew beside
And Heathen do our holy faith deride.
For shame vnsheath your swords, let not reproch
You sluggish ease is forraine kingdomes broch.
Cast painted Puppets from your yeelding neckes
And scorne to stoope when the stale Strumpet beckes:
Let stallians serue to squench the scorching hea [...]e
Of such as marrow, oysters, Ringoes, eate.
You that are Scholers, souldiers, or such men
Whose soules seeke knowledge, flee this shady den
Of ignorance; let thither none resort
But Taylors, Bauds, Perfumers, fooles for sport,
Cookes, Painters, Barbers, Fidlers; these may hap
To sleepe in for [...]unes net, and honors lap.
In honors lap? auaunt base dunghell groomes
You are but shadowes: honors lo [...]ty roomes
Must be supplide with men. Though Isis Asse
Thinke men adore his greatnesse as they passe.
Yet Isis knowes tis false; then hence be gon
And let desert be honored alone.
For [...]une vsurpe no more, permit not fooles
To triumph ouer Souldiers, Arts, and Schooles.
Let not the wit for higher actions able,
Attend for scraps at [...]gnoramu [...] table.
Faire Cynthia fill thy horne, at length arise
And chase these blacke clouds from our troubled skies

AN IRISH BANQVET, OR THE Mayors feast of Youghall.

TAles many haue been told by men of yore,
9 Worthics
Of Giants, Dragons, and of halfe a score
Worthies saue one, of Castles, kings and knights,
Of Ladies loues, of Turnaies, and such sights
As Mandeuile ne're saw; yet none like this
Which my Mu [...]e howles: then listen what it is.
The old Maior [...]
Saturne grew old, and the gods did agree,
That
New Maior.
Ioue should him depriue of Soueraigntie,
And become chiefe himselfe. A solemne day
Appointed was, when all the
Alder­men [...]
Gods most gay,
Attired in mantles faire, and truses strange,
Came to behold this Lecher-like lou'd change.
The frie of all the Gods was there beside,
And each his bastard had, his Whore and Bride.
The milk-white path which to [...]oues Pallace leades,
In comely order all this rich troope treades.
An old wi [...]e.
Ceres threw wheate vpon Ioues face most daintie,
Presaging and forespeaking future plenty.
The well-instructed swine did follow after,
And for the whe [...]t left something that was softer,
Smell out the meaning.
Ciuet, like Irish sope. Sweete naturde beasts,
Fit waiters at such ciuill solemne feasts.
At length the traine reach't the high Hall of Ioue.
The Gods sat downe, the
Alder­mens w [...]es.
Goddesses then stroue
For place and state: but
Mistres Maiores.
Iun [...] most demurely,
Plac'de and displac'de that day, as pleasde her surely,
[Page] The tables stood full crownde with dainty dishes,
Enough to satisfie the idle wishes
Of longing Wiues, or Maids grown green and sickly,
With eating fruit, and doing nothing quickly.
Huge
So they call their butter cakes [...]
hands of butter not yet fully blue,
With quiuering custards of a doubtfull hue.
Stewde prune, and bread that passeth
Bread of crud [...].
Malahane.
And honny sweeter farre then sugar cane.
Greene apples and such plenty of small Nuts.
That there with safely one might fill his guts,
Though he were sure the Cookes were Irish sluts.
The goblets sweld with pride, themselues to see,
So full of French and Spanish wines to be.
Nectar-like Vsqua-bath, or Aqua-vitae,
And browne Ale growne in yeeres and strength most mighty
Was there as a
Com­mon Irish drinke.
Bonniclabbar,
That euery guest his cleane lickt lips might slabbar
In full satiety, till they were crownde
With Bacchus wreathes [...] and in still slumber drownde.
The fidling
Two fid­lers and a blind boy with a bag­pipe.
Spheeres made musicke all the while.
And riming
Their poer [...] Chroni­clers.
Bardes braue meeter did compile
To grace this feast: when
One of the Alder­men.
Phoebus standing vp
Tooke in his greasie fist a greasier cup
And drunke to Daphnes health. Bacchus replide
And straightway quaft another to the bride
Of Mulciber. This health past all along.
Then Mars his feather wagde amongst the throng
Carowsing Pallas health (braue wench and wise)
Which draught cost bonny
The fid­lers boy.
Cupid both his eyes,
Straining to pledge it. Maias sonne stood still,
And stilly mark't how Ganimed did [...]ill
The seuerall healths, which swiftly past around
[Page] Till all the Gods, and Goddesses had bound
They were al­most all drunke.
Their browes with wreathes of Iuy leaues and vines,
And each his forehead to his knee enclines.
The Sun went down.
Apollo then slipt thence, and being halfe drunke
His burning bonnet doft, and slily sunke
His head in Thetis lap. So heauen lost light,
And cheerefull day was damp't with irksome night.
Master Maior cald to his wife for can­dles.
Ioue yet disposde to mirth, bad Iuno spread
Her Starry mantle or'e the worlds blacke head.
But
She was drunke and would none.
she inrag'de with plumpe Lyeus iuice,
And mad with iealousie, without excuse
Refusde to guild the then vnspangled skie,
With th' eyes of Argus her cow-keeping spie.
She took Master M ior a box on the care.
And aided by Necessitie, and Fate,
And all the shrewder Goddesses, Ioues state
She durst assume, and boldly presse as [...]arre
As all the Gyants in their ciuill warre.
They first bound Ioue, then all the other Gods,
Who were constrain'd by darknes, drinke, and th'ods
Of this conspiracie, to condescend
To hard conditions for a quiet end.
Mistris Maiores might doe what she would.
Ioue granted [...]uno power of all the ayre,
Her frowne or smile makes weather fowle or faire.
His thunderbolts and lightning she may take,
And with her tongue the worlds firmes axtree shake [...]
From hence do women their free charter hold,
To rule gainst reason, or else cry and scold.
Proserpina obtained of her Pluto,
That such should only speed, who she-saints sue to:
That all affaires of man in state or purse
His wife should sway, or women that are worse.
From whence this custome springs in towne and city,
[Page] The wife growes rich, the bankerout begs for pitty.
[...] go [...] leaue [...] [...] with an [...] [...] [...]
And that no sawcy god should once reproue her:
That Mars and she might dally, whil'st Don Vulcan
Should freely to their pleasures drinke a full can.
Fro whence this vse proceeds, that wiues once wātons
Wage seruants, as the French the Swizzers Cantons.
You that are Statists looke vnto this geare,
Do not Tyrone and his rash striplings feare;
Feare not Tirconnel, nor those Galliglasses
That cut, and hacke, and carue men as it passes:
Feare those which all these feare, those fathers holy
Which make the whole world their sole monopoly:
That crowne & vncrowne Kings, when as they please,
Play fast and loose like Iuglers with slight ease;
Dissolue all othes, though made with hand and heart,
And pardon all sinnes,
The eight dead­ly sin, and more shun­ned of the Irishmen then the other se­uen.
yea an Irish fart.
Feare these, and
Their crosses, their wiues.
those they ioyne with, lest too late
We finde our [...]le an Amazonian state,
Where none but women, Priests and Cocknies keepe
As close as young
His hi­story is wel knowne.
Papiriu [...], and as deepe,
And none but these state mysteries may know,
Lest they to more fooles then themselues should show
The atreasons, stratagems, and bgolden fables
Which are proiected at their Councell tables.
If this aduice be good, crie, Ioue be thanked,
And with that short grace close my Irish banquet,

To all those Knights, Ladies, and Gentlemen, to whom my Dedications are made, a true reason and excuse why I haue not placed them in their rankes and distances.

IF any of you now be discontented,
To haue your names found here, it is repented
On my part too: for I would no man wrong
Nor honour, but for merit in my song.
If here yon finde your vertues be not proude,
But thinke you are by me and truth allowde
To weare Fames liuery, which if y'abuse,
Shee'l soone pull off againe; and as you vse
To deale with your euill seruants, put ye forth
Naked of honour, if you be of worth:
But whilst you be what now I know and write,
Your fames guard me, and I giue you your right;
Yet not in place, for I my selfe professe
To be no Harold; but if worthinesse
Had as much power, as many hath, to grace,
You should not (hauing so much worth) want place.
FINIS.
…

[Page] THE SECOND PART OF PHILOMYTHIE, OR PHILOMYTHOLOGIE.

CONTAINING CER­TAINE TALES OF True Libertie. False Friendship. Power Vnited. Faction and Ambition.

By THOMAS SCOT Gent.

LONDON, Printed by Iohn Legatt for Francis Constable. 1625.

MONARCHIA.
DEDICATED To all the worthy professors of the Law, who make not priuate-wealth, but the good and peace of the Common­wealth the end of their studies and practise.

Though you (perhaps) be Clyentlesse and few,
Friendlesse and poore, yet 'tis to you I sue
For kinde acceptance. You alone are they
Who by example guide vs in our way.
You looke not on the fee, but on the cause,
Cambden Insula ve­ctis. This title is giuen them by our wor­thy L. chiefe Iu­stice of Eng.
And follow truth, as truth doth lead the Lawes.
The rest, with vice, and wealths ill-gotten load,
Passe on to death, in glories beaten road.
TH' inhabitants of the Ile of Wight did bost,
No vermin vs'd to harbour in their coast.
For they no hooded Monkes, nor Foxes had,
Nor Law * Retriuers who make fooles run mad,
[Page] With their strife-stirring tongues; but liu'd as free,
From these, as by them others combred be.
And though our whole land cannot boast so farre,
That we from all such vermin quitted are:
Yet happy is our Ile, that's hemd about
With water-walles, to keepe our enemies out;
Whilst we (as Adam did) in Eden dwell,
And scarce of famine in an age heare tell.
Where hils are clad with woods, and vales with corn
Whose laden eares doe listen to be shorne.
Where shephearde neither Lyon doubt, nor Beare,
Nor rauening Wolfe which sheep & shepheard teare;
But each in safety dwell, and sillie sheepe
From all but Man, doe one the other keepe.
O happy are we if we know our good,
And if our state be rightly vnderstood:
To liue thus free vnder so blest a King,
Iust Magistrates and Cleargy-men, that sing,
The songs of Syon in the holy tongue
Conuerting old men, and informing yong.
No spirit-tyrant, Pope, State, Tyrant, Turke.
Can here their bloudy ends and proiects worke;
But each in safety may his owne possesse,
More free then Kings, because our cares be lesse.
But most vnhappy are those neighbour lands,
Where Peace, and Plenty, as two strangers stands;
Where bloodie war, and bloodlesse famine ride
Vpon the ruin'd top of thanklesse Pride:
Where Law destroies, Diuinity deceiues,
And where the crowne the care of kingdome leaues.
Where men eate men, as beast deuourd by beast,
The strong the weaker kill, the great the least.
[Page] Where tyrannie in triumph mounted hie,
Makes truth and innocence in dungeon lie.
This tale the difference shewes, that weemay know
How much to God for our good king we owe.
An aged Hart, vpon mount Carmel bred,
Hauing as Admirall the Nauy led
From Syria through the Seas, to Cyprus shore,
Where all the Ile with greene is couered o're.
Hapt by a Parke to trauaile, where he spide
A yonger sad Hart, standing close beside
Th' imprisoning pale, and vsing all his skill
To free himselfe from thence, to larger ill.
Good brother (quoth the stranger) let me know,
What heauy thoughts they are that vex you so?
Why do you sadly so your selfe bemone?
Why hauing friends within come you alone
To feed sad melancholly, and inuent
To doe a rash act, which youle soone repent?
The younger Deere made answer, Can ye muse
Why I am sad, and wherefore I doe vse
All meanes to free my selfe, from being thus
A slaue to him that's foe to all of vs?
Know brother, I endure more sorrowes here,
In one halfe day, then you in one whole yeere.
For you haue liberty to come and goe,
Though forrester and wood-man both say no.
But I by cru [...]ll man, imprisond keepe,
Within this woodden walls, where none but sheepe
Hares, Conyes, Cowes, and other of my kinne
Are my associates, simple soules within.
I haue no beast of worth, of birth, or wit,
With whom I may conuerse; but faine to fit
[Page] My lofty spirit to the lowly straine,
Of base companions, sluggish, fearefull, vaine.
No Wolues or Dogs come here whereby decaies
The exercise of valure and the praise.
The traps for vermin, are so thicke beset,
That oftentimes they some of vs doe get.
The watchfull keeper, euery night and morne,
Commands me rise, and rest with his shrill horne,
He with his Lymehound rounds the pale about,
For feare least we be stolne or broken out.
He feeds vs cheerefully, and doth prouide
Sufficient meat that's fit for euery tide;
But being fat, he chooseth which he likes,
And through our sides, deaths forked arrow strikes.
Thus all he doth, is his owne turne to serue,
And for his owne life doth our liues pres [...]rue.
Then gentle brother helpe to free me hence,
And my swift thanks shall yeeld you recompence.
Stay brother mad-brain stay, quoth Light foot thē
If you were out, you'ld wish you in agen.
I was in Syria borne, and euery yeere
A dangerous voyage make, for what you here
Enioy with proud cont [...]mpt. We cannot find
"Content on earth, without a thankfull mind.
You slight your ease and plenty; we, alas!
With toyle seeke that which you with scorne let passe.
Our meat is grutchd, we like to robbers watcht,
So what we feed on, here and there is snatcht.
The pale you call your prison rather may,
Be tearmd your Castle, Garden, Closet, Stay,
To keepe ou [...] others from those ioyes of yours,
Or to preserue you from these woes of ours.
[Page] Whilst we without by Lyons, Leopards, Beares,
Wolues, Eagles, Serpents, and a thousand feares,
Are howrely vext, beset, besieged so,
That as our shadowes, death doth next vs goe.
Yet none our deaths reuenge, nor craues account,
How our neglected blood is lauisht out.
For euen that Man (which is your guard) to vs
Proclaimes himselfe a foe, most dangerous.
He hunts for our destruction cheeres the hound,
Rides, runs, whoopes, hollowes, and at euery sound,
Rings our shrill deaths bell with so fearefull blast,
As charmes our ioynts to heare, whilst hounds make hast
To finish our desired death, and glut
VVith our sweet flesh, each vermins maw and gut.
Thus doe we die abroad, for euery man
Claimes right in vs, and labors all they can,
Our weary feet in toyles, nets, snares t'inclose,
VVhen you haue friends, to guard you from your foes
If therefore you haue told me truth that there
You doe no creature but your keeper feare;
O bring me to this prison, shew me how
I may obtaine a blessed life with you.
Direct me to a leape, ile soone leape in.
"Tis happinesse, vnhappy to haue been.
VVith that he mounts the pale, adue quoth he,
Vaine, wide, wild world; who serues the law is free.

Epimythium.

There [...]ath been long disputation to finde out the true freedome. The world holds opinion that Liber­tines who doe what they list, and lust what soeuer is vnlawfull are onely free men. Cain was founder of this brotherhood. He might doo what he list, he was a vagabond exempt from lawes, he had a marke of priuiledge set vpon him to keep [...] him from punish­ment here. Our Iesuits and King-killers being ex­empt from the tempor all sword are free of this com­pany [...] But the child of God whose affections are mor­tified, who obeyes law for conscience sake, who is a law vnto himselfe, is the onely freeman; for him the Magistrate beares the sword in vaine. He would be honest without law, and will be honest if the la [...] should [...]orbid him. Yet would he not resist, but sub­mit himselfe to power. Hee is free of that company whereof S. Paul professeth himselfe one when hee saith, I haue learned in all estates to bee conten­ted. How much more happy are they who liue vn­der the protection of a good King, and wholesome lawes, then these are who liuing here like outlawes, goe without contradiction out of momentary plea­sure and liberty into eternall slauery and punish­ment.

The Cony-burrow.
Dedicated to the louers of worth, and friends of vertue, who follow truth with a single heart, and speake it with a single tongue.

Be inn [...]cent, but circumspect withall,
The Turtles mate may be the Turtles stall.
[...] wise yet trust not wit. The traps we make
For others, first doe our false fingers take.
What we delight to vse, take pride to weare,
Take vs; as Absalon hangd with his haire.
Then walke vpright, to neither hand encline,
There's nought frees innocence, but grace di [...]ine.
THe Polcat, Ferret, Lobstar, Wea­sell, made
A secret match, the Cony to in­uade:
VVhich no way they could com­passe, whilst he kept
Himselfe abroad, when as hee fed or slept.
[Page] At last the Polcat to the Cony went,
With this smooth speech. Good cousen my intent
Hath been long since t'acquaint you with our kin,
And tell ye how our cousenage came in.
Your Grandame was my carefull fostermother,
To your kind S [...]re, I was a fosterbrother;
My education, nurture, and my foode,
I from my youth receiued from your sweet brood.
In recompence whereof, my thankfull mind,
A fitte requitall long desired to finde.
The time is come, for I haue lately found,
A secret plot, wherein the cunning hound
The close dissembling Tumbler, Lurcher swift,
With Raynard that knowes many a subtill shift.
The Eagle and the Goshauke, haue agreed,
Their stomacke with your d [...]inty [...]lesh to feed.
First they intend the hound shall hunt you out,
And by your footing heate ye once about.
Then shall that hypocrite, the Tumbler tri [...],
To cheate you of your life, with his false [...]ie.
But if he faile, the Lurcher with his speed,
Will snatch yee vp (they hope) and do the deed.
If not the Eagle, Fox, and Goshauke, sweare,
To eat no meat, till on your lims they teare.
The harmlesse Cony; at this dir [...] report,
Ready to sound, besought in humble sort
The wary Polcat him t'inst [...]uct and teach
A way, how he might s [...]ape his foes long reach.
Faith (quoth the Polcat) you perhaps might hide,
Your selfe among thicke bushes vnespide,
But that the Hounds and Lurcher both are [...]here,
whose sents will quickly find ye out, I feare.
[Page] Againe vpon the rocks, you might remaine,
But that the Eagle, Fox, and Goshauke saine
Thei'l watch ye there; so that no other way
Remaines to scape with life, but night and day
To scrape and grate with your forefeet, a den,
Within the earth, where safe from beasts and men,
And foule, and euery bloody foe you shall,
Your life securely lead in spite of all.
The simple Cony doubting no deceit,
Thought treason had not councell for a bait [...]
And therefore thanks his foe, and (glad at heart)
To dig his owne graue vseth all his art.
A sandy place he seeks, and finding one,
Free from all clay, or flint, o [...] other stone,
He with his forefeet grates, and makes a burrow,
As deepe, as if he ment to trauaile thorow,
The body of the earth, and meet the Sunne,
When it vnto the Antipodes doth run.
Which hauing finisht, he prepares a feast,
And there the Polcat is the chiefest guest.
The Lobster, Ferret, Weasel too must goe,
To ioy him in his house, they loue him so;
And their great friend, the [...]iluer-suited Snake,
Must needs along with them, and merry make.
He welcomes them, and do [...]h before them set,
What iunckets he with purse or paines could get.
The Lyons Court hath not a dainty dish,
But he prouides it, euen beyond their wish.
"Yet they that long for blood, till blood be shed,
"Cannot be satisfied, though fully feed.
Ingratitude! thou monster of the minde [...]
Art thou not only proper to mankind?
[Page] Is there a beast that can forget his friend,
And for his owne ends, worke his fellowes end?
Is there a beast whose lust prouokes him kill
The beast that did him good, nere wisht him ill?
Is there a beast who vnder kindnesse can
Dissemble hate? O then thrice happy man!
Thou art not only he that kilst [...]hy brother,
Some beasts there are that murther one another.
Some foules, some fishes, Serpents some there are
VVho pray vpon their kind in open war.
And some that vnder friendship fal [...]ly faind,
VVith fellowes murther haue their natures staind.
Nay there is one who can so couer [...]uill,
That man may iudge him Angell, find him diuell.
He first with sweet meats poysond Adams seed,
Since when of sweet meats wisest men take heed.
So need not these bold gu [...]sts, they eat and drink
And then rise vp to play; but neuer thinke
Ought fadgeth right, till they haue brought to passe
The purposde plot for which this meeting was [...]
Theref [...]re (dissemblingly) the Polcat gins,
To licke and catch the Cony, and so wins
Hold vnderneath his throat, which hauing fast,
The tragedy begins, the sport is past.
For all assault him then on euery part,
Some at his sides, some at his head and heart.
Some at his belly, but the poisonous Snake,
Doth at his tayle a deadly issue make.
The helplesse Cony [...]ues, intreat [...], [...]nd striues,
But he must die had he ten thousand liues.
Each foe his greedy go [...]ge with blood doth glut
And with his sweet flesh cram each hollow gut.
[Page] "But blood that's sweet in tast, is not so sound,
"To feed vpon, as milke that's easier found.
The Snake with poisonous touch had venome spred,
Through all the swelling vaines, from taile to head.
And they had suckt the blacke infection in;
A fitting vengeance for their crying sinne.
Straight they their stomacke find not well at [...]ase,
And something feele, that doth their minds displease.
The VVeasel first suspects the Snake, for he
Can neuer with a Serpent well agree;
Saies, they are poisond all by one base slaue,
VVhose company the Ferret needs would haue.
The Snake replies, he did no more but what
He was appointed to performe by plot.
And if they foolishly had eat their last,
He could not mend with sorrow what was past.
They find it true, but find it now too late,
Each rauing dies, and yeelds constraind by fate.
Yet ere they die, all doe their farewell take,
By shaking teeth together on the S [...]ake.
VVho deadly wounded, crawles but faintly thence,
Confounded with the guilt of his offence.
And heeding not his way, by good mishap,
Became a prisoner to the warriners trap.
This feast was ended thus, death tooke away,
And where they did not well we mend it may.

Epimythium.

Some are of opinion that wisedome consisteth i [...] the abilitie to giue good counsell. But I thinke the knowledge how to take good counsell and how to dis­cerne the differences of ad [...]ise, is the principallpart of wisedome. That Frog in Aesope which in a great drought spying water i [...] a deep pit aduised his fellow to leape downe [...] that they might be satisfied and liue there, gaue good counsell and seemed to be a patterne of the first wisedome spoken of [...] But the other Frogge that refused his aduise, and diued deeper then the present time, then the bott [...]me of the pit with this question; But if the water faile vs there, how shall we get out, or how shall we liue there [...] was a figure of the second wisedome, and teacheth vs that it is harder to take good counsell then to giue it. Let vs therefore beware in this point, and learne to looke a little beyond that good which is first and most appa­rant in euery proiect, The second and third good is that which we must rest on [...] for truth is often most remote and neorest the bottome [...] all that swims vp­permost is the froth and false good and fraud.

The House of Fame.
Dedicated to all the noble atten­ dants of Royaltie in the Campe of Vertue, who fight for the honor of the Church, and Common-wealth.

Till now of late we feard that loud report,
Of Cressy field, Poicters, and Agincourt,
Fought by our Kings and Princes heretofore,
Had not been true, or should be told no more.
We wondred if those Nobles euer were
Who [...] [...]ame for armes and bounty did prefer [...]
We doubted all our Countries had forgot.
The deede of Audely or beleeu'd it not [...]
we thought our Nation was of worth [...]eref [...],
When bowes and arrowes and browne bills were left.
But see [...] occasion now hath turnd our eyes,
To inward wars where greater wonders rise.
To see affection couquerd, l [...]st chastisd'e,
Priae humbled, Murther slaine, all vice despisd'e.
And all old vert [...]es freshly now reneude,
By fa [...]re examples as the Sun ere vewd.
In which bra [...]e war of wonders (passing far
[Page] All other conflicts that compounded are
(Of loue and hate) each Lord who lends a hand
To fight against vice for vertue, doth this land
More [...]onor then his ancestors before
In conquering France, and shall be famd for't more.
Some for their Prudence who found out and led,
Others for zeale through whom the enemy fled [...]
Others for Art, whose skill the squadrons placed
Others for Iustice who the e [...]emy chased,
And some for Constancie [...] who held it out.
And still vnwearied, not v [...]w [...]unded fought.
But none more [...]ame attaind then mercies squire,
Who begd to giue, all sa [...]ing i [...] desire,
He Audely-like taught Courtiers how to craue
What they might giue aw [...]y [...] and giuing s [...]ue,
Saue free from feare of forfeiture or losse,
Or there-begging or the next y [...]res crosse:
Or enuies eye sore, or the Commons [...]ate,
Or poores complaint, or grieuance of the state,
To him and to the rest, this tale is sent,
Howsoeuer taken with a good i [...]tent.
FAme that in Homer [...]s time a vagrant was,
Without a house and home, did after passe
In stately structures all the mixed race
Of S [...]mdeities, and euery place
Built her a Court, assisted by the Rages
Of s [...]ndry Poets i [...]succe [...]ding ages.
[Page] For euery one did something adde, to frame
More space and roome for their friends narrow fame.
Which as they purchast, still to her they gaue
And that's the cause, themselues so little haue.
This Fame hath now her house glazde all with eies,
The rafts, beames, balkes, nerues, sinewes, arteries;
The dores wide open, eares; hangd round about
With nimble tongues, and couerd so without.
All things are seene and heard the wide world ore
Which touch that place, and farthest off the mo [...].
The House of Fame built vp foure stories hie,
Stands in an open pl [...]ine, in which doth lie
Foure sister twins, True [...]ame, and good the first,
And eldest are; false and had fame the worst.
And youngest payre, yet swiftest are in flight
And though last borne, yet oft come first to light.
These last dwell in two darker roomes below,
Among the thicke Crowdes where all errors grow.
There keepe they Court, where Scandals, Libels, lies,
Rumors, Reports, Suspicions, c [...]lumnies,
Are fauorites and Go [...]ernors of State,
Whose practise 'tis true worth to ruina [...]e.
False fame liues lowest, and true Fame aboue,
Bad Fame next false, good fame next, true doth moue [...]
Yet good fame somtime doth with false fame stay,
And bad fame sometime doth with true fame play.
But false and true (opposd) will neuer meete,
Nor bad and good fame, one the other greete.
It so fell out (as oft strange things befall)
A gallant Knight, ariued at that faire Hall,
Attended on with such a noble sort,
Of warlike squires, as fild this spatious Court.
[Page] Who curiously enquiring of the rout,
Whose Court it was, could no waies find it out.
For contradictions crosse each other so,
As truth from falshood he could no waies know.
Bad fame did call it hers, and said, she was
A guide to such as vnto glo [...]y passe.
False Fame did call it hers; he saw they lide,
For 'boue their heads, two brighter Queens he spide.
True fame spake to him then, and let him know,
That [...]he and good fame did the building owe,
Being eldest borne, to Titan and the Earth,
Before the Gyants war: when th' others birth
Long since was subiect to their p [...]rents sinne,
And heauens curse which now they liued in.
For as those Gyants gainst the Gods did war,
So these to t [...]uth professed enemies are;
Had by strong hand, and fraud, vsurpd her state [...]
And to expresse to vertue v [...]most hate,
Had bard all passage other houses hie,
That mor all men might in obliuion die
Or haue their memories blasted, glories kild
By eating time, wi hlies and slanders fild.
She wisht him then if he his good desired
To haue repeated, or his spi [...] it aspired
To worthy honor as old knights had wont,
(Whose swords not rust, but too much vse did blunt)
That he would vse some meanes to set them f [...]ee,
Whereby his blest name might [...]ternizd be.
Good Fame then told him, that the only way,
How he this enterprize accomplish may,
Was by the helpe of mercy, prudence, art,
Iustic [...] and zeale, and Constancy of heart.
[Page] All their knowne friends to summon vp in armes,
To force the place, and to disperse those swarmes
Of idle vagabonds; who kept below
And hated good Fame, would not true fame know.
Then (since the stayres of fame were broken downe,
And do es stopt vp to glory and renowne)
She wild him make an engine where withall,
He might her lodging and her sisters scale.
And so himselfe in spite of perill, raise
Aboue the reach of enuy, or dispraise.
The Knight (in spirit rauisht with delight
To heare their speech, to see their goodly sight)
Mounts his fierce Coursers backe, with which at hand
His Squires attend vpou his strict command.
Wils euery one of them to take a dame,
Such as the Ladies of the house did name,
Who there attended that they might direct
This high attempt, with order and respect.
The Squires with willing minds the knight obaide,
And each behind them tooke a louely maide.
Prudence directs her Squires to lead the way,
(Who followes her direction cannot stray,)
At length they come vnto a fruitfull wood,
Wherein a world of vpright timber stood;
Tall Cedars, Cypres, Pine and royall Okes,
With country Elmes, and Ash for plow and yokes.
The lea ned Laurell, and the weeping Mirrh,
The smarting Birch, and the sweet smelling Firr
Grew there in order, and all trees beside,
Where in the thrifty Woodreeue taketh pride,
The knight suruaies all this, yet [...]inds not one
Fit to be feld; till Prudence lights upon
[Page] A proud straight Aspe, whose wauing top did leane
On a slight Poplar, with some shrubs betweene.
The cursed Eldar, and the fatall Yewe,
With W [...]ch and Nightshade in their shadowes grew;
Whose saples tops, with mildewes often stood,
And grew self-seare, and ouertopt the wood.
The Rauen & Shreikeowle there did build their neasts,
And at their roots did harbour harmefull beasts,
Which Pruden [...]e saw, but mercy would not see,
Till she perceiu'd how euery other tree
Droop'd vnderneath the height of these alone,
And could not thriue, or grow till these were gone.
She therefore (ioynd with Constancie and Zeale)
Besought sharpe [...]stice, who doth euenly deale
Her warie blowes, to fell all these with speed;
Who soone consents, and soone, performes the deed.
At euery stroke she fetcht, the trees did grone,
The rest did eccho laughter to their mone.
And now they lye along, their branches topt,
Their barke pild off, their trunks asunder chopt.
Then Art with rule and line, these vselesse payer
Frames ( [...]ngine-lik [...]) a straight clowd climing stayer
To mount Fames house; this euery Squire doth reare [...]
And brauely on their backs do thi her beare.
But Mercy seeing all the other ment
To burne the C [...]ips, to saue them she is bent.
And, with her Squire, the knight praies, let them lye,
For he shall gaine, and glory g [...]t thereby.
Since chips which cut from Aspe and Poplar bee,
Do soone take roote, each growes a goodly tree.
The knight co [...]ents, and fenceth round the spring.
Whose forward growth doth hope of profit bring.
[Page] And now, together to the house of Fame
With speede they passe, where first the falsest Dame
Salutes them with a lye, and [...]aith she heares
Her Sisters are together by the eares,
And haue destroyde each other; this she had
From her Twin sister, who tells rumors bad.
They slight her leasings, and with speedy assay
To raise the lather, where bold Zeale makes way;
But false Fame and her Sister, lay about
To hinder her, with all their rascall route.
Slander, foole-hardines and heartles fear [...],
With foolish Pittie, and false Lou [...] was there,
Damnde In [...]idelitie, and secret Hate,
And treason [...]oo, that close d [...]ss [...]mbling mate.
Who all with open mouth, and open lyes,
All waies to stop his honord worke deuise.
They raile, and fight, intreat, and curse and ban.
The Knight proceedes, in scorne of what they can.
And mounts the ladder, with his sword in hand,
Which soone disparkles, such as dare withstand.
Zeale hales him vp, and Prudence guides him right,
True Constancie encourageth the fight,
Mercy saues all the inno [...]ent, who swarme
For companie, not with intent of harme;
Art orders euery act, the engine staies
And helpes the Knight step after step, to praise
The lusty squires below, with sword and lance,
Withstand bad fame, whilst Iustice doth aduance
Her heauy hatchet, and strikes off the head
Of both the leaders, and there leaues them dead.
Which when their troopes discouer, they forsake
Th' vsurped fortress [...], and themselu [...]s betake.
[Page] To heady flight, into a marsh neere hand,
Where many whispering reeds and Osiars stand.
There they like out-lawes do themselues inclose,
In wilfull banishment, with all the foes
Of this good knight, whose valure vndertooke
This high attempt, that Fame might rightly looke
On all deseruers, and that man might finde,
Like freedome for his tongue, as for his mind.
That vertue migh be crowned by true fame,
And honest meaning liue with honored name.
Which promise gladly both the sisters swore,
In solemne forme; and now as heretofore
The freedome of their tongues they both possesse;
And worth is knowne from base vnworthinesse.
The knight they humbly thanke, and him they crowne
The Soueraigne of glory and renowne.
Which stile, Fames trumpetters the foure winds blow
Through th' earths foure quarters, that the world may know
Th' extent of vertuous actions; how no power
Can stop their passage, nor lanke time deuoure
Their sweet remembrance; which shall liue as long
As nature hath an eare, or eye, or tongue.
To euery Squire then they this fauour giue,
That after death their Fames shall euer liue;
For still those Ladies, whose imploiment they
So well aduanc't'shall duly night and day
Repeate heir labors, and prefer them far
Beyond Alcides workes, as peace doth war
Surpasse in glory, or those works we doe,
When others wills, and ours we conquer too.
Now 'tis proclaimd that if we tell no lies,
We may with boldnesse speake and feare no spies.
[Page] That what this age hath done, this age may heare,
As well repeated now as the next yeere.
That all our words our selues shall first expound,
And that no forc't construction shall confound
Our honest meaning, but bee't ill or well,
We may with freedome our opinions t [...]ll.
Since no man dares to doe the thing which he,
Would haue all the world both heare and see.
These orders ratified, they fall to sport,
And fill with maskes and reuells all the Court.
The sequel I refer to Fames relation,
Whose golden trumpe sounds vs a blessed nation.

Satellitium.
Dedicated to all that stand Sen­ inell, that watch and ward in defence of this kingdome, especially to the strength and guard of the State.

Be of one minde; Religion tyes a knot,
Which none vndoes, by practise or by plot.
But if in that we differ, be our breed
Within one house, or wombe, of all one seede.
'Tis seuerd soone by hate, respect, or gold,
Which Law can neuer soulder, art make hold.
'Faith only ioynes, what nothing sunder can.
'Beasts loue for benefits, for vertue Man.
VVHo guarded round about, with Parthian bowes,
Or Spanish pikes; or hedg'd and dikt with rowes
Of sturdie Ianisaries, or the shot
Of hardy Swizzars, or the valiant Scot [...]
[Page] And after these with walles of steele and brasse,
Hemd in so close that scarce the ayre may passe
Betwixt the cliffes, is not so free from doubt,
As is that King whom loue doth guard about.
Whom subiects loue doth guard, because that he
Guards them from all oppression, and makes free
His noble fauourers to desert and worth,
Spreading his valiant vertues frankly forth,
That both his owne may finde, and neighbors know,
What glorious fruit doth from religion grow.
How sweet an odor Iustice sends to heauen,
How rare example is to Princes giuen,
By vertuous deeds, to stop the mouthes of those,
Who vnreform'de are reformations foes.
Such one sleepes safe within the armes of loue,
Diuine regard doth all his subiects moue
To due obedience; and with sacred awe
Binds conscience, with a stronger bond then lawe.
Such heauen informes, whilst hell doth vndermine,
And spit [...] of darkest plots with grace diuine
Doth hedge about, that naked in the armes
Of en [...]mies he is preseru'd from harmes.
They sleepe securely, feed on holsome cates,
Angels their beds make, cookes their delicates
Giues Antidotes gainst poysons, doth defend
Gainst d [...]mned w [...]tches and their God the fiend,
No [...]esuits at their elbowes can do hurt,
Nor t [...]oopes of Papists that their courts ingirt.
For God doth them in his blest armes inclose,
Safe, though their chiefest fauourites were foes.
O happy then good Kings proceed, ride on,
Grow vp in glory, as you haue begun.
[Page] Ride on for truths sake, looke on either hand,
how you are guarded with a heauenly band
Of blessed spirits, who shall lead you still
[...]n holy paths, and guid [...] your steps from ill.
Psal. 91.
These being with you, you shall boldly tread
Vpon the Lyon, and the Dragons head,
And trample danger vnderneath your feete,
As men tread stones, or dirt within the street,
Which only spraids them; your heauen-garded state
[...]s safer far, then that of Mithridate,
The King of Pontus, vnto whom befell,
VVhat strange aduenture in this tale I tell.
This King perceiuing well there was no band,
Aelianus.
Of duty, loue, or nature, could withstand
The strong inticement of corrupting gold,
Or baser lust, or humor ouerbold,
Or fond ambition (which makes empty slaues
Swim bladder borne vpon the floting waues
Of false Opinion, with the arme of pride,
Of borrowed power, and ignorance beside)
But that these would peruert the faith they had,
And cause them after farther hopes run mad;
Did to preuent all this, a guard prouide
Of faithfull beasts, whose strength had oft been tried.
A Bull, a Horse, a Hare, the Captaines were,
Of this strong guard, whose force did nothing feare
But falshood, and Ingra [...]itude, and Treason,
From which they were as free, as man from reason
VVhy knowing more then beasts, he should not hate
As they doe, to be treacherous, and ingrate.
These three together being put to feed,
And sport themselues till there were farther need
[Page] Of their knowne faith, together long did dwell
In peace and loue, till on a time it fell
That they with rest and ease full fed and fa [...],
Had time to play, to dally, and to chat.
Then did the wanton Hart propound a course,
Betwixt himselfe and the couragious Horse.
The warlike Horse did dare the horned Bull
To make one in the race, who straight way full
Of burning choller, and adusted blood,
Bad cowards run, hee for no footman stood.
Twas meet for them that durst not stand it out,
To vse their heeles, his heart was too too stout.
The angry Hart replies, ther's none of you,
But may to me as to your better bow,
I swifter then the Horse, my feet can vse,
And for my head, the Bull ile not refuse
To combat with, my courage I am sure
Is like my strength as able to indure,
And doe, as either of you dare or can,
And more I am esteemd by royall man.
Those Serpents which you run from, I seeke forth,
And teare them with my teeth as nothing worth.
And as my life to man is sweet and pleasing,
So is my death, each part some sorrow easing.
My hornes all mortall poyson can expell,
My marrow makes stiffe-ioynted misers well.
My fat yeelds strength and sweetnesse; that fierce lad
Achilles, neuer other spoonemeat had.
Which made him such a Captaine, euery part
Is physicall and comforteth the heart.
Yea euen my excrements the dropsie cures,
My teares, like precious Iewels, man allures.
[Page] To seek them vp, wheresoeuer they be shed.
My skin great Captaines weare when I am dead;
And boast that they haue such a coat of proofe,
Which wounds withstands, whence venome stands aloofe.
Then why) O baser creatures) dare you brag
And match your selues with the long liuing Stag?
My life is long, cause I with cost am wrought,
But nature slights your liues, as good for nought.
The crested Horse, with fiery eyes did show,
What inward rage did in his hot blood flgw
To heare this bold speech vttered, and with head
Tost in the ayre his hardned hoofes doth tread
The scornd earth with contempt, then thus breaks out;
O thou fearefull of all the rout
Of hunted beasts, how haps it that you dare
With me your master and your Lord compare?
Forget ye my preheminence? the loue
Man beares me? how one spirit seemes to mo [...]e
Me and my rider? that we start and run,
Stop, turne, trot, amble, as we were but one?
Haue you at any time been calld to war,
Where none but Captaines and great Souldiers are?
Trusted to heare their Councels? on your backe
Borne the Commander of that royall packe?
I haue done this and more, borne him about
Through worlds of danger, and then borne him out
He trusts me when his legs he dare not trust,
And when his hand, faile them performe I must.
Nay when he failes himselfe in euery part,
I adde another life, another heart.
In war I thus befriend him, in his need,
And so in peace, I helpe his wants to feed.
[Page] I till this land that else would barren be,
Beare all his carriage, and am seldome free
From some imploiment, but must neere him stand
As being fit, and apt for his command.
If he to visit friends abroad doth fare,
I must along with him, true friends we are.
If he intends to hunt such beasts as you,
For sport, or hate, or need, he lets me know
The time, the place, the end, and we agree [...]
I see the sport, and hunt as well as he.
How often haue I seene some fearefull Hart,
Perhaps your [...]ire, at my dread presence start;
Fly hence with vtmost speed, and neuer slacke
His willing pace, when I vpon my backe
Bearing my noble master haue at length
O'retane the lubber, hauing lost his strength?
VVhilst I still foming courage, breathing sprite,
Haue sought another conquest long ere night;
And after that a third, vnwearied yet,
Yet you your selfe as Paralell will set
To match and ouermatch my worth, my force;
As if weake Stags might braue the peerelesse Horse.
For physicall receipts easily yeeld,
Aliue I profit man, you being [...]ild,
This makes him seeke your death, my life to saue,
Yet being dead my parts their vertues haue.
VVhich I refer to others to relate [...]
As scorning Hog-like to doe good so late.
This only I conclude, If man should choose
To saue but one, hee'd both of you refuse.
[...]sal. 54 [...]
The armed Bull sweld, pu [...]t and roard alowd,
To heare [...]he Hart so bold, the Horse so proud.
[Page] And all the while they spake, he tost about
With hornes and hoofes the dust; then bellowd out
This bolder braue; What ignorance is this,
That causeth both of you, so much amis [...]e
To boast your false worths, and neglect the true,
Which res [...]s in me, belongs to none of you?
The Wolfe, the Greyhound, and [...]ach questing cur,
Makes thee poore trembling Hart keepe such a stir.
To shift thy layer, as if thy life were lost,
With euery faint blast, that the leaues downe tost [...]
And this couragious Horse, that makes a quoile,
Of wounds in war, and tilling o [...] the soyle,
With many other vses fit for man,
(As they that least can doe, best cauill can)
Let this his answer be, the spur and bit
Shewes man trusts not his courage, nor his wit.
For if he tyre or faint, his spur prouokes,
And prickes him forward, with continuall strokes.
And if with head-strong heat, he madly rides,
The bridle curbes him, and his folly guides.
"All voluntary acts the actors praise,
"Not such as others by constraint doe raise.
"Out of our natures, whilst we easily are
"Made instruments either of peace, or war [...]
Else might our horned Heards, the rescue boast
Of Hannibal and his distressed hoast,
Plut [...]r [...] in vita Han.
When he with lights and torches tyde to vs,
Escapt the trap, of lingring Fabius.
But truth is far from such ostents, those deeds
Cunctando restitui [...] rem Enniu [...]
We call our owne, which from our choice proceeds.
The yoke we beare, and wherewithall we till
The earth for man, is by constraint, not will [...]
[Page] What comfort from our flesh, or from our Cowes,
By calues, or milke, or Cheese or Butter flowes,
Or physicall receipts, as they are more,
And vsefuller, then what you both before
Haue mentioned, so freely I confesse
Man hath in them the glory more or lesse.
His wit and industry, in them is seene,
And th' Authors goodnesse from whom first we been,
War is the good you glory in, which springs
From mans ambitious ignorance, and brings
Wants, woe, and death, with many ills beside,
To scourge vs all, through ou [...] great masters pride.
Then at the best, you are but slaues to such,
As feeding you, foode to thei [...] like doe grutch.
And through your force, their owne reuengements take,
Whilst you to stout men; cowards equall make [...]
For what from you they borrow, they must grant
They feare their foes enioy, whilst they doe want.
Thus therefore all the nobler nations vse
To sight on foot, whilst coward rather choose
To share with beasts in glory, and to get
Themselues a name, through your foole hardy heat.
So you on them, and they on you depend,
Such seruice iudgement neuer did commend.
And thus in sportiue war, and warlike sport,
You doe your rider from himselfe transport.
Whilst you not man-li [...]e grow, but beast-like he
Resembles you, in all these sports we see.
Yea often to mischance you doe betray
Your heedlesse rider, and in midst of play
Pr [...]cipitate his soddaine fortune so,
That who hath you a fai [...]nd, shall need no [...]
[Page] But may himselfe, a happy man proclaime,
If by your meanes he scapes without a maime.
But now if either of you, thinke you can,
Out of your owne worthes, proue more fit for man,
And better able to defend, and guard,
Him whom we serue, from whom we haue reward,
Then I can with my hornes, and harnast hide,
Proceed to triall, I defie your pride;
And with bold challenge summon you to fight,
A triple combat, to decide the right.
They both with eager appetite accept
These wisht conditions, and by this haue stept
For from each other; all prepard doe stand
At full carere, to ioyne this treble band.
The field triangle wise they euenly cast,
And each with rage expects, that dreadly blast,
Which warnes them charge. Each roreth out his wrath,
Nor other need of drums or trumpe [...]s hath.
The Hart doth bray, the bounding Steed doth neigh,
The Bull doth bellow, deepe, and lowde and high.
The earth doth tremble, and the ayre doth shun,
This dreadfull thunder; as when laden gun
Spits forth its load, in scorne to be restraind,
The ayre giues way vnto the bullets chaind,
As dreading to resist so mighty force,
Thus meet the valiant Bull, the Hart and Horse.
The Hart and Horse first touch tha'ppointed place
Being more swift, and apter for the race.
And let each other, with much dange [...] feele
The force of horned head, and armed heele.
But ere a second bout they can performe,
In comes the boystrous Bull, like winters storme,
[Page] And seuers them with such a violent push,
That they amazde, turne giddy with the rush.
But (nimble both and actiue they repay
The sturdie Bull, with all the speed they may.
The Hart with his broadhornes, doth make him reel [...]
But the kinde Horse, vpholds him with his heele.
The Bull thanks neither, for the one did pearce
His hollow flanke, the other much more fearce,
Did breake a rib, and bruise his shoulder blade,
And taught him with lesse choller to inuade.
Yet th'ods is soone recouer'd with his horne,
Which hath the belly of the Courser torne.
And rent one weaker beame, from branched Hart,
As trees by thunder riuen, or clouen athwart.
The subtle Hart, then shuns those ruder blowes,
And tho'ds of handistrokes too dearely knowes [...]
The Horse taught by his wounds, doth keepe aloofe,
And stands vpon defence, with hardned hoofe.
The Bull assaults them both with watchfull eye,
And seeks how he aduantages may spie.
The Horse and Hart vpon their guard do stand,
In doubt and iealousie, on either hand.
The Bull assaults the Hart, but he giues way,
And slips his furie with what slight he may.
Yet turnes not head, as fearefull cowards will,
But wefes aside, to tyre his foe with skill.
The Bull then strikes the Horse a deadly cuff,
But he requites him with a counterbuff.
The Hart strikes in betwixt, the Bull turnes rownd,
The Horse leaps right vp, doth coruet, and bownd;
So at one instant, fatally they me [...]te;
The Bull his death meets from the Horses feet.
[Page] The Hart th' aduantage takes, the [...]orse aloft
Strikes his one horne into his belly soft,
Which there hangs fast; the Horse doth with his fall.
Breakes the Harts necke, this is the end of all
None hath the conquest, all of them are slaine.
Their deaths not doubted, long they there remaine,
Till that the King their Master, hauing neede
Of their attendance, goes his guard to feed,
For none might tend them else, least they acquainted
With others bribes, by treason should be tainted.
So enters he the place, and there he spies
What doth affright him, all his comfort lies
Dead at his feet, then sadly going neere
Their carrion corpes, he doth a murmur heare,
As armed souldiers in a Citie sound,
Or fire in th'ayre, or wind within the ground.
And doubting the successe, three seuerall swarmes
He sees prepar'd for fight, and vp in armes.
Bees from the Bull, Waspes from the Hors [...] do start,
And Hornets from the melancholly Hart.
He motions peace, and hopes to part the fray,
They send three souldiers, who sends him away.
For each of them doth fix his venomd sting,
Wit [...]in the flesh of the amazed King.
He flies with speed from thence, they fight it out;
The conq [...]est all expect, all feare and doubt.
But what befell I know not; this I know,
The King cride out aloud. The euils that grow
Epimithiū.
From pride, ambition, and excesse of grace,
"Like thanklesse curs, flie in their masters face.
"Beasts will be beasts, doe bounty what it can,
"Tis cast away, thats giuen to worthlesse man.
O Princes banish faction from the Court,
It sowres all actions, leauens euery sport.
And at the last, when it should sweetly close,
From one false friend riseth a thousand foes.
FINIS.

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