Abuses Stripped and Whipped, Title page – Dedication
ABVSES STRIPT, AND WHIPT. OR SATIRICAL ESSAYES.
By GEORGE WYTHER. Diuided into two Bookes foreign.
Dispise not this what ere I seeme in showe,
A foole to purpose speaks sometime you know.
AT LONDON, Printed by G. ELD, for FRANCIS BVRTON, and are to be solde at his shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the Green-Dragon. 1613.
To him-selfe, G. W. wisheth all hapinesse.
THou (euen my selfe) whome next God, my Prince, and Country I am most engaged vntounto; It is not vnlikelie, but some will wonder, why, contrary to the worlds custome, I hauehave made choyse of thy Patronage for this booke, rather then the protection of such whose mightinesse might seeme better able to defend it; especially considering such a Gigantick troupe of aduersaries hauehave banded themselues against the Truth, that one of them Goliah-like dares raile vponupon a whole hoast of Israel. It may be (I say) some will wonder, and some scoffe at mee for it; for which cause (though to answer them with sic volo had been sufficient: yet to shew I will not like our Great ones stand so much vponupon my authority as to make my VVill my Reason) I heere let you know why, and for what causes I hauehave done it; the first is this: I could not amongst all men finde any man, in my opinion, so fitting for this purpose, but either my Worke was vnworthy, or too worthie his Patronage. Secondly, it is said; Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit: and I doubting my free speech would hardly make a Diapason, pleasing to the eare of a common Mecaenas, thought it best to hold my tong, or speake to my selfe, whose disposition I am better acquainted with. Thirdly, seeing I know but what men appeare, and not what they are; I had rather indure the Kites tyranny, then with Aesops Doues make the Sparrow-hauke my Champion. Fourthly, if I hauehave spoken Truth it is able to defend it selfe; if not, who-ere be my Patron, it is I must answere for it. Fiftly, for asmuch as I know my owne minde best; I purpose, if need be, to become my own Aduocate. Sixtly, for my owne sake I first made it, and therefore certaine I am I my selfe hauehave most right vntounto it. But seauently, and lastly (which is indeed the principal Reason) I hauehave made this Dedication to thee, poore world-despised Selfe; euen to put thee in minde, (seeing thou hast here boldly begun to bid defiance to the Flesh, and vponupon iust causes quarrelled with the World) that thou take heed to thine owne words, and not through basenes of minde or vntowardnes of Fortune (to thy euerlasting disgrace) faintly giuegive ouer so noble a Combate; If euer aduersitie (as tis like enough) oppresse thee, yet remember thy owne sayings, and in despight of outward Destinies hauehave a care to keepe an vndeiected heart still free for Vertue. Or on the contrary, if euer (as tis vnlikely) vnexpected Prosperity bee cast vponupon thee, then look to thy selfe, take to thee this poore booke of thine, wherein thou shalt see the dangers of it, and be, perhaps, thereby staid from many a perilous enterprise, which that estate might else driue thee into. Reade it, weekely, daily, yea and howerly toe: what though it bee thine owne? thou knowest mans nature to bee so vncertaine, and prone to forgetfulnesse, euen in the best things, that thou canst not hauehave too many Memorandums. The wisest fall, and therefore eueryevery day was Philip desirous to bee remembred that hee was a Man; thou thinkest I know, still to remaine what thou art, I desire in some things thou maist, but vnlesse thou labour it with diligent watchfulnesse ouer affection, it is at least much to be doubted, if not altogether to bee despaired of; thou hast seene many by an alteration in their estate beene so metamorphosed, as if they were not the same men, nor of that Nation.
Nay remember it, thou thy selfe, and that but vponupon a bare hope, or imagination of some preferment, hast bin puffed vp and exalted aboue measure: consider now then how much more thou hadst beene so and what had become of thee if God had not by dashing those hopes called thee to thy selfe againe? Alas! if hee had answered thy ambitious expectations to thy desire, thou hadst bin by this time past recouerie and not thought of this; but delighted in villany, bin ouer-mastered by passion, rusht into all vanity and presumption; yet neuer felt any danger, till it were too late to preuent it▪ Thou hast oft wisht thou hadst bin borne to the like means that others are, which might it hauehave beene so, now thou seest thou shouldst hardly, or neuer, hauehave come to the knowledge of those things, that are now showne thee. Tis true, thou hast lamented to be crost in thy preferments, but thou seest since that it might hauehave been thy vndoing if it had not beene so, and maist perswade thy selfe, whether it be now or neuer, it will be to thy good. For tell me, hast thou not often felt, euen when thou wert busiest to preuent them; fond louelove, ambition, reuenge, couetousnesse and such like Passions then to inuade thee? Hast thou perceiued it I say? How much more then would they hauehave beene ready to assaile thee, when quite forgetting them, thou hadst wholly addicted thy self to the things of this world? Let mee aduise my deare-selfe then, to make vse of this thine owne worke, it will be better to thee then all the world: for this good it may do thee, and to this end I made both …t and the Dedication thereof to thee, that if euer hereafter the temptations of the world, the flesh & the diuel, or any occasion should make thee to forget this mind that thou art now in: or so blind thy vnderstanding thou shouldst not perceiue thy owne and the Worlds follies as thou now dost; That if thou shouldst be in that miserable state as many are, to hauehave no feeling of thy danger: that if thou shouldst bee wofully flattered and hauehave no friend that dares, or loues thee so well to put thee in mind of thy transgressions.
Then I hauehave ordained this to shew thee what once thou wert, to touch thee againe with the feeling of thy miseries, and to bee vntounto thee that true Friend, which, free from all faigned inuention, shal plainely tell thee, what perhaps should else hauehave neuer beene brought againe to thy remembrance. Looke then that for thy owne sake thou respect this, how euer to others it may seeme a trifle. Bee carefull of thy actions, for seeing thou knowest the dangerous Passions wherevnto Man is subiect, hast showne his vanities, layed open his Weakenesse, and sharpely taxed his Presumptions: If now thou shouldest wilfully runne thy selfe into the same euilles, the vvorld would vpraid… thee, this Booke, yea thy Conscience accuse thee, God and good-men hate thee, thy fault be more odious and in-excusable, thy iudgement more seuere, and which is worst, thy punishment most intollerable; I say seeke therefore (if for no other cause) so to carry thy selfe, that at least thou maist hauehave a good conscience before God, for Si Deus tecum quis contrate, but if now hauing made the World thine enemie, exposed thy selfe to the malice thereof, and hauing so many Legions of foes without thee, thou shouldest also, by thy negligence, suffer the inuincible fortresse of a sound Conscience to be crazed within thee, the Di…ell, that is alway watching such aduantages, would quickly possesse it with an vnmercifull troupe of Horrors, Feares, and Desperations, that without Gods miraculous assistance thou wouldest grow wholly past either comfort or recouery.
For all the World cannot defend thee against thy Conscience, but that beeing with hee, thou maist preuaile against all the World. Beware then, doe not like the Zibe…hum yeeld a perfume to sweeten others and be thy selfe a stinking vermine, but let this thy owne worke bee first confirmed by thy life and conuersation, yea let it be a President to thy selfe, for, Tan…i erit aliis quanti tibi fuerit, but if not, I say if the World mis-esteeme either it or thee, yet doe not thou therefore esteeme the lesse either of thy booke or of thy selfe, but rather let them know
That thou hast learned, still thy care, shalbe,
A rush for him, that cares a straw for thee.
But now, though for these and diuers oother Reasons, I hauehave to thee my Owne-selfe committed the protection, and made the Dedication of this booke, yet my meaning is not that thou shouldst keepe it wholly to thine owne vse; But rather seeing it is honourable to giuegive, (though none will giuegive thee any thing) I hauehave bestowne this o… thee, that if thou canst in this corrupted age, finde any, whom desert, and thy louelove may make so deare vntounto thee, or whom… thou art perswaded will gratifie, or but thinke well of thy honest endeauours, thou maist bee liberall to them both of these thy labours and expences. But this I coniure thee to; be they neuer so great yet flatter not, or if he be a man whom thou knowest the World speakes any way iustly ill of; either tell him his fault, or leaue him wholly out of thy Catalogue: But because I begin to grow tedious to my owne-selfe, and since I shall hauehave Opportunity enough to consider with thee what is further needfull without an Epistle, with my prayers for my Prince, my Country, my friends, and my …wne prosperitie, without any leaue taking, or Commendations of my Selfe; I heartily wish my owne Soule to fare-well.
Thy Princes, thy Countries, thy friends, and thine i. thine owne whilst Reason masters Affection. GEO. WITHER.