Britains Remembrancer, Poem · Canto 6

Britains Remembrancer · Poem · Canto 6

p. 168The sixth Canto.

The Poet (wei…hing w…ll his War…ant)

Goes on with his enjoyned Arrant.

I…partially he doth relate

This Iland… good and bad estate.

What s…v'rall sinnes in her have place;

How grosse they are; how they …ncr…ase,

He also t…ls: and, then he sn…w…s

That nor the Gentiles, nor the Iewes,

We…e ch…ck'd, or pl…gu…d for any Crimes,

Which are not reigning in th…se times.

N…xt …hat, he boldly doth reprove

…he course in which ou… Nobles …ove;

Derides their folly, blames th…ir sin,

And warnes what dan…ers we are in.

Ou… G…ntry then he repr…hends;

Their foolish humours dis…n m…nds;

And (having brought them to their sights)

VponUpon the guilty Clergy lig…ts;

On Lawyers that abuse the Lawes,

On Officers, and on the Cause

Of most Corruptions: Last of all

On some enormities doth fall

Which are in Court and City found;

And runs this Canto, there, aground.

BVt, am I well a…vis'd? and doe I know

From whence, & from what Spirit this doth flow?

Doe I remember what, and who I am,

That I this famous Monarchy should blame?

Am I assur'd no ill-suggesting Spirit

(In hatred of thine honou…able merit)

Seduceth me (oh Britaine) that I might

Become an instrument of his despight?

Have I considered of what esteeme

Thou art? How great thy Piety doth seeme?

What glorious titles, and trans…endent stiles

Thou …ast obtain'd above all other Isles?

What attributes unto thy selfe thou givest?

What of thine owne perfections thou beleevest?

And what thy fl…ttri…g Priests and Prophets say

O… thy admired happ…nesse this day?

Yes, yes; all this I ponder'd, and I know

What g…o… or evill …rom this act may flow.

I am not ignorant, th…t thou hast beene

Among the n…ghb'ring Countries as a Queene,

Among …er Ladies▪ Fo…mes of Government,

O… Lawes, or Custom…s through Earths Continent,

A…e no…e …eceived that more pious be,

Or mo…e upright then those t…at are in thee.

Among fai…e Sions Daughter…, none doth sit

M…e frée f…om blemishes (the… t…ou art yet)

p. 169In points of Ch…istian Doctrine (though there are

Some, who that simplenesse begin to marre)

No people doth retaine a Dis…ipline

More Ap…sto…c…ll, …hen some of thine.

No Church that's visible, hath kept more pure

The grounds of Faith, nor countenanced fewer

Of Romes innumerable Superstiti…s;

Of usel…sse, …r of burdensome Tr…ditions,

Then thou ha…t lately done. I feele thou hast

Some warmth yet left. As yet, so brazen-fac'd

Thou …rt not growne, but that thou dost despise

Notorious C…imes, and open Heresies;

Because the hidden Leaven of t…y sin

To sowre the Lumpe, is (yet) but new put in.

I…le doe thee right, and give thee all thy due,

Before thy follies further I pu…sue.

I know that thou with patience heretofore

(Ev'n like the Church at Ephesus) hast bo…e

Thy Christian Labours; t…at, thou hast been moved

Against offenders; that, thou such hast proved,

Who fa…sely did …ffirme themselves to be

Apostles; and, strong …aith was found in thee.

Yea, …hou didst long those heresies resist,

Which God abhorreth; and …idst th…m detest.

I know▪ that like the Smyrnian Congregation

Thou h…st through pove…ty and tribulation,

Got heav'nl… Riches: neither didst thou feare,

When they, who of the Church of Satan were,

Blasphem'd the T…uth, and did themselves professe

True Isra'lites, when they were nothing lesse.

I know, that when …hy Lott it was to dwell

Like Pergamus, ev'n where the throne of Hell

Erected was (and in their bloody Raigne,

By whom so many Martyrs here were slaine)

Thou didst not then the Faith of Christ deny,

Not from professing of his Gospel flye.

I know, that Thyatira-like thy love,

And t…y devotion did unfained prove;

And that thy piety, and righteousnesse,

Did (for a season) more and more encrease.

I know, thy goodnesse i… not quite bereft,

But that (like Sardis) thou some Names hast left

That walke with Christ, from all pollution free,

In those white Garments that unspotted be.

I know, that like the Church of Philadelph,

Thou hast a little strength within thy sel…e:

Gods word, and holy Sacraments yet are

(As pledges of his love) preserved here.

An… I doe know, that, sin…e thou heretofore

Didst love the Truth; God will his Grace restore,

On thy repentance; and in all temp…ation

Become thy sole-sufficient preservation;

Yea make all them, who now false boasters be

Of true Religion, to subscribe to thee;

Confesse he loves thee; and to thee hath given

That Ci…ies title, th…t came downe from heaven.

But, much is, yet, amiss…; and (to prev…nt

Thy Ruine) I advise thee to r…pent.

Remember (oh! remember th…u) from when…e

Thou fallen …rt; and seeke by penitence

To …se againe. Thy former works renew;

Thy lately practis'd wi…kednesse esc…ew;

What th…u hast lost, …nde…vor to regaine,

Hold …ast that Faith which yet thou dost retai…e;

Awake, and use thine utmost pow'rs, to cherish

Those Graces, which in thee are like to perish.

O…! doe it speedil…, whilst he doth knock

Tha… ope… th… doo…e, which no man can unlock,

p. 170And shuts, where none doth open: yea (lest he

Come suddenly, and take away from thee

Thy pretious Candlesticke) renew thy zeale;

And unto him thy sinne, betimes, reveale.

Marke, to the Churches, what the Sp…rit saith;

And purchase thou of Christ (by lively faith)

To make thee rich, gold t…yed in the fire.

To hide thy filthy nakednesse, desire

The pure white …yment of his Righteousnesse.

Thy former sight, tha… thou maist reposs…sse,

His eye salve take: The conquest strive to get,

That of the hidden Manna thou maist eate;

And g…ine the Stone inscribed with a Name,

Which none can know, but he that wea…es the same▪

For, I must tell thee, thou art run astray,

And (like a whorish wife) hast cast away

Thy old affection: thy fi…st-love is gone,

An… other friends thy heart hath doted on.

Thou …st not halse that zeale, which thou hast bore

To thy Redeemers honor heretofore;

That simplenesse, thou h…st not in thy workes;

Put, base d…ss…m…ling in thine actions lurkes.

Some Doctrines also are in thee profest,

Without …eproofe, which God doth much detest.

Thou dost let goe unpunished in thee,

Those persons that notorious sinners be,

And impudently wicked: thou mak'st light

Of their misdeeds, in vertuous mens despight.

Thou hast conniv'd at those, who in the Land

Have with an high, and an imperious hand

(Like Iezabel) oppressed, and bereav'n

Thou poore mans portion, in contempt of Heav'n.

Thou hast blasphemers, who d…e falsely say,

That they are Catholiques, (and none but they)

Yet, if they heeded what their words imply,

Their owne Distinction giv…s themselves the Lye.

The Babylonish Strumpet thou (as yet)

Within …y territories dost permit▪

Who doth s…duce Gods people, and thy N…ions;

And make them drunken with her Fornications.

Tho hast those Hypocrites that make a show

Of zeal…s hearts, when they are nothing so.

T…ou hast those B…alamites ▪ that in the way

Of weake Prof…ss…rs, stumbling blocks doe lay:

And pra…tise cunning slei…ht… o… policy,

To bring thee b…ke unto Idolatry.

To trouble and di…tract thee▪ they invent

St…ange qu…stions, dou…tfull, and impertinent.

By needlesse provings, by their vaine confuting…,

By over nice distinctions, and disp…ting…,

And by their multitudes of windy notions,

They have so in…orrupted thy devotions,

So over whelm'd thy Fait…; so tired out

Thy knowledge, (with still running round about)

That there is left but lit…le care in thee,

How much decayed thy good manners b….

Indeed, of thy lost Vertues, there's a Fame

Remaining still; and thou hast yet a Name

To be alive; but, some doe greatly feare

That thou art either d…d▪ or very neare.

Though Laodicea like thou proudly vauntest,

That rich thou art, and that thou nothing want…st:

Though thou art h…ppy in thine owne esteeme,

And dost to thine owne s…lfe quick-sighted seeme:

Yet, were thy Iudgement cleared, thou wouldst finde

That thou art wretched, naked, poore, and blinde.

Thou dost almost that lukewarme temper hold,

Which neither can be termed hot, nor cold.

p. 171Thy wi…kednesse is (well neere) growne as ripe,

As hers, that served for thy Prototype.

Nay, Gods great Volume mentions not a sin,

Wherewith or place, o… person, taxt hath bin,

But thou hast practis'd it; and of thine owne

Host added others, to those times unknowne.

With our first Parents, there are some in thee▪

Who …trive to eate of Gods forbidd…n tree;

And have upon them such an itch to know

Those t…ing… which he v…uchsafeth not to show:

That, from their eyes true wis…dome it hath hid,

And m…re en…ang r'd them, then Ad…m did.

Thou hast a brood of Cainites, that envi…s

Their bre…hrens better pleasing sacrifice;

And pe…secut…s, and slanders, (what it may)

All those that walke not in their wi…ked way:

And th…rst with greedinesse to shed t…eir blood,

Who seeke their safeties, and effect their good.

There be, am…ng thee, some just like that Race,

Who (being made the So…nes of God, by G…ace)

Did with mans female issue fall in love;

And these beget a mungrell brood, that prove

The Giants of their times; and, those, that will

The measure of the worlds misdeeds fulfill.

They (as those carelesse people did, on whom

An universall Deluge once did come)

Eate, drinke, and take their pleasure, without care,

How many or how great their follies are.

And, though a Iudgement on their head is pour'd,

They will not heed it, till they are devour'd.

As soone as any Pla…ue from us is gone,

We build and plant, and in our sins run on:

Or when (with Noah) blessings we have had,

(In st…ad of being in Gods favour glad)

We doe in some vaine mi…th bewray our folly;

I… drunken feastings, or in games unholy.

Since out of beastly Sodom they were got,

Thy Children have among themselves (like Lot)

Committed much uncleannesse; whence proceeds

A Race, which discord in thy borders breeds.

Like Laban, many wickedly detaine

The workmans hire; and make unlawfull gaine

From their owne Children. Some (with Isma…l)

Are bitter mockers; some (with Esau) sell

Their heav'nly Birth-rights: & for what d'yee think?

For worse then porridge▪ ev'n for smoake and slinke.

We hav… a… m…g…ty Hunters (now adayes)

As Nimrod, and as wilfull in their wayes.

Som…, of their brethren merchandizes make,

Li…e Iacobs Sonnes, and money for them take.

With Simeon, and with Levi; some, pretend

Religio…s cause; when for some other end

They doe proj…ct: and, m…kes of holy zeale

Doe often bloody cruelties conceale.

For wives, for wealth▪ and for our vai…e d…lights,

We change Religio…, like the Sichemites ▪

We have those Iudges, who will (Iudah-like)

Their brother, for his fault severely strike;

Deride, taunt, censure, and without compassion,

To death condemne him, for the same transgression

Which they are far more guilty o… then he:

And, those the Plague-sores of this Iland be.

We have in either sex, of those that are

As wicked as the wife of Potiphar.

Ev'n those, who so wil slander, and accuse;

If any to obey their lust refuse.

Like Er and On…n, we have wicked heires,

Who rather would consume themselves, and theirs,

p. 172In fruitlesse▪ vanities, then part from ought

By which their brothers welfare might be wrought▪

With Phar'oh, we Gods judgements do contemn▪

And grow the bolder, and the worse by them.

When he most plagued us, we most presumed;

And sinned most, when we were most consumed.

Nor …lood, nor frogs, nor loathsome lice, nor flyes,

Nor murraines, biles, nor botches can suffice

To make our Nations their bad lives reforme;

Nor Locusts, nor the leafe-devouring worme;

Nor horrid darknesse, liable to sense,

Nor Haile, nor Thunders, nor the Pestilence;

Nor bringing us to sp…ings that bitter are;

Nor sweetning those things that unsav'ry were;

Nor strange deliv'rances by sea and land;

Nor Gods protecting us with his owne hand;

Nor Q…ailes, nor Manna, (blessings which be rare)

Nor favou…s which more ordinary are:

No, nor Gods dreadfull Anger, nor his Love,

Can our hard hearts unto repentance move;

But, we (l…ke Aegyp…) in rebellion be,

And, full as faithlesse as the Iewes, are we▪

Among us, we have wealthy men, who may

W…ole Groves dispend; yet on the Sabbath day

They'll gather sticks. Ev'n to the Devill, some

With no lesse worthy sacrifices come,

Then sons and daughters. For, what lesse do they

Who them in wedlocke wickedly betray

To open Hereticks? Or, they that make

Their mar'ages, fo… wealth, and hor…ors sake,

Without affection? And (I pray) what lesse

Doe they, who force their children to professe

Vnlawfull trades? There be among us, living,

Too many, that, ev'n whilst the Law is giving,

Do… set up golden-calves. Such men are they,

Who in the Church, or on Gods Holiday,

Are plodding on the world; whil…t they should bend

Their eares to God, and on his will attend.

We have (our best proceedings to withstand)

A Iannes, and …amb…es in t…e Land,

Who (by their …orceries) continue shall

Some people of this M…narchy in …hrall:

Vntill a Plague (like Ae…ypts …owsinesse)

Shall make them God Almightie, pow'r confesse.

Young Vadab… and A…h…es, we have some,

That with strange fires unto Go…s altars come:

T…ir dull devotions kindled are with sticks,

And wither'd leaves of humane Rhetoricks;

They offer up to God, their vaine Orations,

Compos'd of Cli…bings, and Adnominations;

Which he abhor…es; with all that frothy stuffe,

Of which this age hat… more then thrice enough.

Our b…ethren by extortion we oppresse:

True st…ange…, (nay, our kin) are harbou…lesse;

And those o…fences we have Patrons for,

Which many Heathen p…ople did abhor.

With Miriam and with Laron, we have such,

Who at their … preferment grutch;

Hot spirits, trouble…om… to civill states;

Like C…rah …nd his rude confederates.

These a…gue mach for p…p'lar p…rities,

And raile upo… all civill di…iti…s;

But▪ when they can attaine the…, none speake louder

In their de…ence; nor are there any prouder.

We Gallants have mo…e imp…dent, then e're,

Yong Z…nri, and his Caz…i did appeare:

And doubtl…sse we have … who …ve hidden

Some Babylonish things which are forbidden.

p. 173For all the Land much troubled we may see;

And many thinke, it shall not quiet be,

Till they be found. Reveale thou their transgressions,

O Lord! and be thou prais'd in their confessions.

We have, this day, amongst us, many a Bramble,

That, like Abimelech, knowes how to scramble

Abov… their owne deservings: and (though base

Vnworthy …hrubs) durst arrogate a place

More eminent, then dares the noblest Plant,

Whereof the Mountaine Libanus doth vaunt.

By others vert…es these ascend on high,

And raise themselves to such authority,

That our most noble Cedars are o're-topt;

Our pleasant Figtrees, are b…scratcht and dropt▪

Our Vines are shadow'd, and unfruitfull made;

Our Olives robbed of that oile they had;

Yea, all our forrest and our garden trees,

By their ambition, fruit, or honour, leese.

Thou nourisht hast, and fondly doted on

Those cunning Dalilahs, who having won

Thy good respect, doe practise how to spye

Wherein the chiefest of our strength doth lye;

That (having by their flatt'ries lull'd asleepe

Those watchmēs eyes that should our fortress keep)

They may (unheeded) steal our pow'r away,

And to our greatest Foes our lives betray.

Here want not such as Michah, who with ease

Can make a new Religion when they please;

Coine …ormes of worship proper to their Sect;

A private Church among themselves erect;

Make Priests at their owne pleasure; furnish them

Ev'n with their owne new-fangled Teraphim;

And preach abroad for good Divin…ty,

The tumours of their windy fantasie:

Nay, some of them far stranger things can doe;

For, they can make their gods, and eate them too.

There be of us, as wilfull Favourites

Of wicked men, as were the Benjami…es;

And, rather then we will deliver …hem

To feele the stroke of Iustice, who contemne

The wayes of goodnesse; we will h…zardize

Our peace, our fame, and our posterities.

We have those Prophets, who (with Balam) know

Gods pleasure, and what way they ought to goe:

And, yet, will for preferment doe their best,

That they his plaine revealed Will may wrest.

And though they are, perhaps, asham'd to say

Their minds in publique, closely they'll betray

The Lords inheritance; and Scripture proofe

Inferre for all things to their owne behoofe.

If of the pop'lar faction these become,

And thinke some gaine may be atchieved from

That side; Gods word they will produce for those

That would disloyally their King oppose:

If by the Prince advantage may be had,

Then, God himselfe an instrum…nt is made

To warrantize their claimes; an…, Tyranny,

Sh…ll pr…ved be a lawfull M…narchy.

As rash as Iephth…, in our vowes are we;

As Ehu…s gift, such oft our presents be.

In ent…rtainments, some like Iael are;

And, in their complements may well compare

W…th bloody Ioa…: for, they make their table

Become a snare: and (when most serviceable

They doe appeare) unheeded, they unsheath

So…e fat…ll instru…ent, t…at wounds to death.

Like old indulgent Eli, some connive

At all the sins, in which the…r children live:

p. 174Nay, glory in their lewdnesse; and maintaine

In them those follies, which they should restraine;

Till their owne shame, and their undoing followes,

And their wilde brood be tamed at the Gallowes.

Nor were the sonnes of Eli, heretofore

More wanton at the Tabernacle doore,

Then some young Priests of ours; whom to correct,

The Fathers of our Church so much neglect,

That if they long connive as they have done,

The glory of our Isr'el will be gone.

Like those Philistians, whose advice it was

To fixe God's Arke, and Dagon, in one place,

We have too many; and, they cannot see,

Why God and Baal in one, should not agree.

But, when they raise their I…ol in these Lands,

Lord, let it fall, and lose both head and hands.

We are as cur…ous as the B…thsh…mites,

And long as much to see forbidden sights:

Like those of Ekron, we professe to know

The truest Go…, and whence our troubles grow:

Yet, are so stupid, that we sleight his Grace,

And, send him from us, to another place.

Yea, like the Gadarens, we for our Sw…ne,

Would banish Christ, and sleight his love divine:

Wi…h Saul, we doe neglect what should be done▪

And sacrifice, when God requireth none.

Fat Sheepe and Oxen were prefer before

O…edience to the Lord; and follow more

Our wills then his. When God saith kill, we spare,

And where he bi…s, be kinde, we cruell are.

No love, no kindnesse, no sincerity,

No tokens of unfained piety

Can stay our furies, or divert our mind.

When we are once maliciously enclin'd.

Goliah like, Gods army some contemne;

With R…bsh…k…h, some others doe blaspheme;

Some curse (w…th Shimei) Gods best beloved;

As causelesly, to …rieve them they are moved,

And are of gaine as greedy. For, if they

Have but an us…sse Groome escap'd away,

(O… lost a beast) for such a petty prise,

They will not stick their l…ves to haza…dize.

VVe have those Michols, which will scoffe & flou…

At such as are mo… zealously devout.

We have those dog-like Doegs in our Courts,

That gladly heare and utte… all reports,

To disadvanta…e them, whose wayes a…e pure,

And cannot their impieties endure.

VVe have those Nabals, upon whom all cost,

All curtefies, and kindnesses a…e lost.

We have (like Vzzah) those that dare to touch

Gods holy Arke. Nay, we have worse then such,

Ev'n those that rob it; and themselves adorne

With Iewels, from the San…tuary torne.

With David, some have thought their sins to hide▪

And, their Adulteries, in Murther dy'd.

Officiou… knaves (like Ziba) we have some,

VVho by their Masters falls, to gre…tnesse come;

And (though they did men inno…ent betray)

VVithout reproving, they doe passe away.

VVe have those wicked A…mons, who defile

Their sisters. And, to lay a cunning wile

For helping their companions to a drab,

VVe have more subtile Bauds then …onadab.

Those disobedient Absoloms there be

Among us …ere…t at wish and seeke to see

Their Parents dea…hs; like him they can conceale

Their ends, till they (by faire dissembling) steale

p. 175Mens hea…ts away; and then abuse them so,

That all seemes just and honest which they doe.

VVe have Achitophels, that are a… wise

Against Gods honor, projects to devise,

As if the Delphian Oracle were sought:

But, still in their owne pit-fals they are caught.

For, he that honest purposes doth blesse,

Conve…ts their wisedome into foolishnesse.

VVe have with Solomon (though none so wise)

Men wonne by women to Idolatries.

VVith Ieroboam, we have those who strive

A settled temp'rall fortune to contrive

By ruining Religion; and to win

An outward peace, by tolerating sin:

Not heeding, that a greatnesse so procur'd,

Hath seldome to a third descent endur'd.

To serve an Idoll we like him proceed,

Although Gods Messengers reprove the deed.

And though our arme be wither'd, for our sin,

Our obstinacies we continue in.

VVe want not Re…oboams Counsellors,

VVhose unexperienc'd Policy prefers

H…rsh courses, rather then a calme proceeding;

VVhen times are troublesome, & dangers breeding.

VVe have (with Ahab) those who covet so

Their neighbours Vineyard, that they f…llen grow,

And can nor eate, nor sleepe, till they may plot,

How their ungodly longings may be got:

And we have Iezabels enough, to further

Their claimes by slanders, perjury, and murther.

Nor want such Elders, and such Nobles here,

As those that Citizens with Naboth were.

For should (as God forbid) our hopefull King,

Desire to compasse any lawlesse thing,

Or seeke his loyall Subjects to bereave

Of what their Ancestors to them did leave:

We have of those (I doubt) that would effect it

According to their pow'r: nay, project it,

And urge him, and perswade him, that (of right)

He overthrow their lawfull freedomes might.

We have of those (I feare) that would command

A Fast (like Iez…bels) throughout the Land,

And underneath a maske of Piety,

Proceed to practise any Villany,

Which might advance their greatnesse: and, I doubt

Some Priests would helpe to set the project out.

Yea, we those Iud…es, and those Elders have,

That if a man his neighbours Vineyard crave,

He need not, for his purpose, name the King,

Or Letters from the royall Signet bring

To move the same: Nor were it necessary

That (to corrupt them) he Epistles cary

From some g…eat Lords. For, if he can but make

The tongues of golden Angels for him speake;

Or get some one, on his behalfe to write,

That is but servant to a Favourite;

The deed is done: and they will feele no sense

Of others griefes▪ or o… their owne offence.

We have such Prophets a… Zidkiah was,

Who are no whit asham'd, in publique place,

To speake fal…e messages; and those to smite,

Tha… in Gods name have spoken what is right.

We have Gehezies; fellowes that will take

Vnlawfull bribes▪ ev'n those who sale doe make

Of what their Maste…s should have, gratis, done;

And force out fees, where they can challenge none.

Gehezies did I call this crew? I fea…e

I wrong the Leper: for his brib'ri…s were

p. 176Put petty pillages, to those rich preyes,

On which some one of these his fingers layes.

He askt, and had a willing gratulation,

From one both rich, and of another Nation:

…ut, these extor…, compel…, and stil… serue

Vnjust demandings, as a lawfull due.

From friends, from strangers, from both poore & rich

Their fingers to be scraping have an itch.

For making their poore suitor, wait and pray,

(When they might have dispatcht him) he must pay.

For surly speeches, and for proud neglect,

They must be humoured with all respect.

When to their …lient, they a w…ong have done,

He must not seeme to know or think …hereon;

But, faine all noble thoughts of them to have,

Or, in some other persons call them knave▪

And bribe them still, in hope they may be won,

Yet, at the last, be cheated and undone.

We have among us, men as very fooles

As Na'man was; who thinke Damascus pooles

A… good as Iordan: and (like him) at home

Some serve one God; and when to Court they come,

Professe another. We have those that be

As trustlesse of Gods promises, as he,

Who in Samar…a…s gate was trodden on:

These may behold the favours which are done

To faithfull men; but, till they can beleeve,

They shall not taste what blessings those receive.

Here be like Haz'el, those who seeme to hate

All tyrannizing, in their low estate;

Yet, being once promoted, throw aside

All pity; and all piety deride.

Yea, that which forme…ly they did condemne,

(As vilifying, and debasing them,

Below a Dogs condition) they allow,

VVhen to their height of …reatnesse once they grow.

(If none yet live) we had in former time,

Ev'n those that guilty were of Zimries c…ime.

Most Officers like Iehu, doe begin

Good reformation, at first entring in;

Their violent Zeale doth seeme to say, Come see,

How just in our proceedings we will be.

But, oft they prove mee…e Hypocrites, who having

Acquired meane… to colour their deceiving,

Surpasse the worst; and by degrees proceed,

Till they appeare the men they were indeed.

Like wicked Haman; some, unlesse they may

Insult and trample on poore Mordecai,

Are so distemper'd by their haughty minde,

That they nor pleasure, nor contentment finde,

In honours, riches, or in any blessing,

Which they already have in t…eir possessing:

But, will pursue, and ruine, if they can,

VVhole Kingdomes, for their malice to one Man.

As p…oud are we as Nebuch…dnezar:

In feastings, as profuse as Bal…hazar,

And as prop…ane as he. VVe sometime seeke

The god of …kron, Abaziah like.

Like Amiziah (an informing Priest

Of Bethel) we have those that will resist

Gods Messengers; and would not heare them bring

Into the Court or Chappell of the King▪

The sound of that reproo…e or punishment,

VVhichWhich to pronounce among us th…y we…e sent:

And, these, perhaps, wh…n they my Arrand see,

VVill prove as busie as that Priest with me.

But, if they doe (as Amos sa…d to him)

Although I be no Prophet, nor of them

p. 177That are the sonnes of Prophets; God doth know

He called me to thi… (which now I doe)

From viler actions, then from gathering fruit,

Or foll'wing herds: And I will make pursuit

Of what he b…ds me; though o…pos'd I stand,

By all the Priests and Prelates in the Land.

And if they contradict, what well is done

Their heads, at last, the sh…me shall light upon.

Some …ourtiers now, like Daniels foes, there are,

That wi…l object as things piacular,

The truest Piety; and s…eke to bring

Ev'n those to be suspected of the Ki…g,

Who strive most loyally, to keepe his Name

In honor; and his Kingdome without blame.

As Iudah had (in Zephaniahs times)

Her Priests of Baal; the name of Chemarims;

Those, who the heav'nly army did adore;

Those also, who by God, and Mal…om, swore;

And multitudes among them, who did weare

Fantastick Habits: So, we harbor here

Some Shavelings yet; some Romish superstitions;

To Saints we offer up some vaine petitions;

Equivocating Oathes we often take;

And, we our selves, in our apparell, make

Deformed, by a skittish imitation

Of ev'ry new-found guise, in ev'ry Nation.

I doe not think (nor have I ever thought)

That in it selfe it is materiall ought,

What shaped Robes I weare: nor do I hold

That any Fashion, whether new or old,

Doth so much handsome or disfigure any,

As it may seeme to do, perchance, to many.

It is the Time, or else their mindes, that weare

Such clothes, which make them good or bad appear.

Those fooles who bring new fashions first; and they

That hast to follow them (and thinke it gay

And generous) are those unworthy ones,

That bring such folly, shame, and cost upon's.

But, when those Garbes grow generall; then, we

That first abhorred them, compelled be

To take them up: lest our old clothes be thought

New fashions from some forrain kingdomes brought:

Or, lest we shoul…d by some be thought to erre,

In being over nice, and singular.

Most other people, both at home, and here,

Doe in their habits, like themselves appeare:

But, wheresoe're we come, we change our shapes,

And, in our gestures, are all N…tions Apes.

True gravity, we so are fallen from,

And, so absurdly blockish are become;

That, strangers jeere us, to behold how soone

We get the garbe of ev'ry fond Baboon.

Yea, they are proud, to see that we condemne

Ou… o…ne attires, by imitating them.

And I doe blush to thinke, that our whole Nation

Should of it selfe admit a transformation,

So suddenly (as oftentimes we see)

To imitate the guise of two or three.

But, so it is: And at this present ti…e,

Our female Gentry is so frenchifi'd;

That we have scarce a Gentlewoman now,

In clothes, more handsome bodied then a Cow.

Those women who e're while were goodly creatures,

Proportion having, and (me thought) sweet features;

Doe looke as triple-bodi'd Gerion did,

When they in their mis shapen gownes are hid:

For, either arme, in such a mould is cast,

As makes it full as fulsome as their waste.

p. 178Their necks stand sneaking out, before those rustes,

Which lie behind their backs with wide mouth'd puss

As doth a peeled Ewes, whose fleece unshorne,

Was from about her neck with brambles torne.

Their flaring cu…les about their shag-shorne browes,

Doe, of the fairest Lady, make a blouse.

Those demy-skarfes, they wreathe about their chaps,

(Which may be comely to some… eyes, perhaps)

Doe make them seeme as Antick-like to me,

As Hag…, that sent to fright yong children be.

And I am sory, that a foolish pride

Should make our Beauties their perfections hide

In such a masking suit. And that a few

Fantastick women, so great numbers drew

To follow their new-fangles; and besot

Their judgements, by that fashion newly got.

For, not meane wits alone; but, of the wisest;

(Nay, of the most religious, and precisest)

There are great multitudes befool'd in this:

And, She, that of that Guise their Patterne is,

(Perhaps) derides their ficklenesse. For she

Is from their minde, and from their folly free.

Nought, but her count…y fashion, she hath worne:

And, that which them deformes, do…h her adorne.

Yea, they have either missed o… her dresse:

Or else she gives it much more lovelinesse,

For to my eye there is some excellence

Which puts t'wixt her and th…m much difference▪

And this opinion is not mine alone:

For▪ so much hath beene said by many a one.

Oh! shew the sweetnesse of your disposition,

In hearing me, and granting my petition.

Lay off your strange attires, that we may know

If you be Englishwomen, yea or no.

Your monstrous habit, each true Britaine lothes;

And, were your bodies formed like your clothes,

(Which, God in Iustice, may effect, perchance)

You might go seek your fortunes out in France,

From whence your new prop…rt…on hither came:

For, we shall never truly love the same.

Because, if other men have thoughts like mine,

It would appeare to be some fatall signe,

To see our women leave th…ir native fashion,

And, turne themselves into another Nation.

But, let these Females goe I hope that she

Who shall be mine (if any such the…e be)

What ever accident or change be…alls,

Will still retaine her English na…urals.

More bl…me then this might in this kind be laid

On women: but, unwillingly I said

What here is uttred. And, if they had bin

In those attires that I have seen them in,

I had not on this over-sight reflected;

But, left them to be counsell'd and directed

By their neare Friends or Husbands. Yet, ala…!

We have of them, whose levity doth pass

The …icklenesse of these: and, they alone

Are oft the cause, that th…se have so misgone.

Nor ever did this folly more appeare,

Then now it doth; …v'n in this very yeare,

Where…n the Pestilence devoured so:

And, as that Plague de…reased, this did grow.

But, in Trans…ressions, how we parallell

The times before, I will proceed to tell.

High-priest have we, who send ou… spies to watch

T…e Preachers of Gods word; and pick, and catch

Advantages against th…m. Some of us

Are like the Silver-smiths at Ephesus,

p. 179And, for their private lucre will contend

Against the Truth, and Heresies defend.

We, Demas like, have those Apostataes,

Who, for the world, forsake the Christian cause.

And, some there be, that with Diotrophes,

Affect preheminence in these our dayes.

Some, like the Scribes and Pharises do rinse

The Cup without; but, have no care to clense

The loathsome inside. Some, have arrogated

Such Holinesse, that they are separated

From others, as a spotlesse Congregation,

That is without all blame, or prophanation.

Some, like to those, their Brethren d…s…espect:

And, lo…dly titles over-much affect,

As did the Iewish Rabbies. Some, as they

On others backs uneasie burthens lay:

Which they themselves, to cary do refuse.

The Orphane, and the Widow, some abuse,

By shewes of piety. And, we have some,

In tything Anniseed, and Mint, become

Exceeding zealous: yet, have neither care

Nor conscience, in those things that waighty are.

VVe have our sev'rall Brotherhoods of those,

VVho seriously do Sea and Land enclose,

(And practise, by a multitude of sleights)

To win unto their Sects new p…oselites:

Not out of love to Truth, or Charity,

But ra…her to advance their Heresie.

VVho ever all their crotchets doth embrace,

Is instantly become the child of Grace,

(In their opinions) whatsoever he

In other points, or in his manners be.

Bu… whosoe're he be that shall despise,

One branch of any toy, which they devise,

Is judg'd a Reprobate. Yea, though in all

The grounds of Faith, and in his works he shall

Appeare unblemished; they will contemne

His judgement; and traduce and censure him.

Yea, some of those there be who have des…ride

A tricke to know who are unsanctifide;

Though they have all the ma…kes of holin…sse.

Nay, some a…e not ashamed to confesse,

To know what persons those hid ma…ks do beare,

W…ich knowne to no men but their wearers are.

Like Ananias, and Saphira, here

Are they that holy Brethren do… appeare,

Yet want sin…erity. And, I could tell y…

Of Multitudes, who meerly for their belly,

Doe follow Christ. With Herod, we have such

Who heare m…n gladly, till those Crimes they touch

Which are their Darlings: But, then mad they grow,

And what they truly are, they truly show.

Like Dives, we have those that ev'ry day

Are fed with dainties; cloth'd with rich aray,

And, full as mercilesse unto the poore,

That lye uncloth'd, and hungry at the doore.

We have a rattle-brain'd and wilfull Crew,

That with a purblinde zeale the Truth pursue:

And would be found, were not their pow'… so small,

More bloody, and more violent th…n Paul,

Before his name wa… c…anged: for, they teare

That Robe, whereof they doe profe…se a care.

We have those Nobles, who with Felix, can

Confesse the inn…cency of a m…n

Accus'd before them; and, yet leave him bound,

If ought to their advant…ge may r…dound.

We have of those that parcell Christians be,

As King …grippa. Othersome have we

p. 180That walke for company, th…y care not whither;

And, some that sleight Religion alt…gether.

Nor want we those, that while th…y Christ professe,

Convert his Graces into wantonness….

We are almost as wicked as old Rome:

Of Heresi…s we are as full become,

As Amsterdam. Nay, many men have we,

That can of three or …oure profession… be,

(Ev'n all at once) although that ev'ry Sect

Each other doth directly contradict.

We have an Elimas, who doth apply

His cunning to pervert the Depu…y:

Like Simon Magus, we have Merchants here,

That were baptized; and yet without feare,

Dare buy and sell those things that holy be;

And which, by Gods donation, s…ould be f…ee.

Nay, in the gall of bitternesse they lye,

More deepe then he, fr…m whom their Symony

Deriveth name: for, he, in shew, repenting,

Did crave the Churches prayers for preventing

Of his deserving: whereas, these devise

Quaint arguments▪ their sin to patronize;

Or make it lesse. Else, by equivocation,

Or, by …heir tricke of m…ntall reservation,

They hide thei… fault: and (that the s…n they doe

May grow compl…at) themselves they perjure too.

There be, that Mammon, for their God, adore:

That make Christs members, members of a whore:

And stained be with those offences all,

Wher…of the Gentiles were accus'd, by Paul.

We all are guilty of much fraud, debate,

Imp…ety, uncleannesse, envy, hate,

Backbiting, stealing, pride, maliciousnesse,

Dissembling, murther, lying, spightfulnesse,

Truce breaking, disobedience, ignorance,

Implacability, bold arrogance,

Want of affections naturall, excesse,

Inhumane cruelty, ungratefulnesse:

Blaspheming, swearing; and innumerable

Transgressions more, of …hat ungodly rable:

And, some (when God Almighty poured hath

VponUpon their heads the Viols of his wrath)

In stead of penitence, encrease the score

Of their offences; and, blaspheme the more.

Nay, that we may be partners of thei… guilt,

That have the blood of Gods Anointed spilt,

With Pilate and the Iewes, we have, againe,

The Lord of Life, both crucifi'd, an… slaine.

Thou hast, Oh Britaine, ev'ry thing misdone,

That Ashur, Moab, Ammon, Babylon,

Or any Kingdome hath transgressed in,

Which unto Piety a foe hath bin.

Of whatsoever Isr'el was detected,

For whatsoever Iudah was corrected,

Thou maist be taxed; for, among thy Nation…

Are daily practis'd their abominations.

Their tricks thou hast, to hinder and oppresse,

Those men who tell thee of thy wickednesse.

Right so thou dost debase; so slander them:

Right so, their just reproofes thou dost contemne:

And, though their words are daily verifide,

Yet, thou dost alwayes wilfully deride

Their admoni…ions; and, passe all things by,

As falling on thee but by casualty.

I doe beleeve, and know, that, yet, in thee

Some Obadiahs, and some Ezraes be.

Some Courtiers, and some Nobles yet remaine,

Which doe their true Nobility retaine:

p. 181But, most of them their dignity have lost;

And can of nought but painted Scuch…ons boast.

As did of theirs, the Iewish Prophet say,

Thy Princes doe procrassinate the day

Or thy Calamity; and will not heare,

O… that affliction which approacheth neare:

But, of Iniquity they climbe the seat;

And, by extortion make their house… great.

Their Palaces, they seele and trim with gold,

Gods Temples being ruinously old.

On beds (more pretious then of Ivory)

They stretch themselves, and live luxuriously.

The pasture Lambes, and wainlings of the stall,

Suffice not them; but they make prey of all.

Which liveth in the wood, or in the field;

Or which the land, the sea, or ayre doth yeeld.

Their lushious wines in pretious bowles they quaff… ▪

While Ioseph is afflicted, they doe laugh;

And sing unto the Violl, wanton straines,

While Syon in captivity remaines.

They have but little care of Gods commands;

They breake his yoake, and cast away his bands.

Thy men in honour, without knowledge be,

Like beasts that perish; and, dishonour th…e.

Some have aspired to their present heights

Of wealth and greatnesse, by ignoble sleights:

Of others houses, they have got possession,

And, furnished their chambe…s, by oppression.

Their wives and children, waste in brave attire,

The poore mans portion, and the workmans hire.

Their credits they have pawned, to main…aine

Their luxury, their pride, or gaming vaine.

And, by their Honors …ave so falsly sworne.

That men their Idoll, and their oath do scorne.

Some, have so blushlesse and so shamelesse beene,

To let their Coach, and foot-cloth horse, be seene

At common Strumpets doores: their Favorites,

(And they, in whom their Noblenesse delights)

A…e gamesters, …oarers, persons dissolute,

And such; for unto them such best do sute.

To bold fac'd Rimers, Iesters, or to those

Who make their Lordships laugh with foolish prose;

To Fence…s, Fidlers, Tumblers, and to such,

W…o any way t…eir sensuall humors touch,

Their hands are prodigall; and these obtaine

Rich favours to requite their idle paine.

Their tongues, to speak on their behalfe are free;

When question'd for the foulest c…imes they be.

(Ev'n fellonies and murthe…s) but a…e mutes

In vertuous causes, and in honest suits.

When wise and painful men, have spent their wealth,

Their strength consumed, or impair'd their health,

In profitable works; and to reveale

Such …hings as might advance the publike weale;

Their labours (for the most) are over-past

With…ut encouragement; sometimes, disgrac…d

By arrogant impostors; who arise

To greatn…ss…, by discrediting the wise;

Or broaching such good projects for their owne,

Which were by those mens industry made knowne,

Whom they have ruined. For, what were some

(That now to places eminent are come)

Before they got aloft on others wines,

But poore unworthy, and ignoble things?

Nay, what (as yet) appeare they (unto those

Whose good experience their true value knowes)

But gild…d ignorance? who having got

The shadowes of the substance they have not,

p. 182Doe passe for men of worth, in their esteeming,

Whom they have cheated, by a cunning seeming.

Admit but some of the…e into such place,

VVhichWhich may afford them priviledge or grace,

To speak before their Prince; and you shall heare

Their tongues to run, as if their knowledge were

A… great as Solomons; and that of all

The pl…nts, ev'n from the Hysope of the wall,

VntoUnto the Cedar, they could tell the nature;

And knew the qualities of ev'…y creature.

They, Pro…eus like, will any thing appeare;

A Sea-man, Ship-wright, or an Engin…ere,

Or what soe're they list: and having bought

Of some poore Artists; or (some worse way) wrought

Their project from them, that they may be showne,

As if the quaint invention were their owne:

(And, having gotten also termes of Art,

To help them in the acting of their part)

To such opinion of themselves they rise,

That men of soundest knowledge they despise;

Deride experience; and, ev'n to their face,

The skill of most approved men disgrace.

M…ke these men Counsellors, and though till then

They knew not halfe so much as common men,

Nor had the meanes of knowing any thing,

But how to ride a horse, or take the Ring,

Or hunt, or hawk, or caper: yet (behold

A wonder) in a moment they grow old

In State affaires; and nothing doth concerne

Or peace o… war, which they have need to learne.

If any question be, before these, made,

Of Merchandise; the skilfull'st in the trade

Are fooles to them; and tis an arrogance

To offer to instruct their ignorance.

If armes be treated of, there's no man knowes

By practice, that which th…se men can disclose

By contemplation. And though they have seene

No other warres but those at Mile end greene,

Or Tutle-fields; great Mars himselfe, of these

May learne to be a Souldier, if he please.

If any thing concerning Navigation,

Be tendred to a grave consideration,

These either dare affirme, or to deny

What all the Masters of the Trinity

Oppos… them in; and Nov…ces would make

Of H…wkings, Frob…sh…r, and f…mous Dr…ke,

Were they now living. And, y…t such a… they,

The wreathes of Honor soonest beare away.

With empty Names, and Titles, b…ing …lowne

Above themselves, they are unweildy growne;

An… g…ater in their pride, and in their traine,

Then their consume… fortunes will maintaine.

Which doth compell them, by unworthy wayes,

To seeke the patching up of their decayes:

And, still in their p…ofusenesse they proceed,

As if thei… pro…gality should breed

New fortunes; and, were like those wells that fill,

And grow the purer, by exhausting still.

In feasts, apparell, furniture, and things

Of such like nature, m…ny Christian Kings,

To equall them shall finde it much to doe:

But, them they cannot very far outgoe,

Vnlesse they meane to draine their fountaines dry,

With Fooles, in prodigality, to vye.

Hence comes it, that the Rents and Royalties

Of Kings and Princes, which did well suffice

In former times, to keep in comely port

An honour'd, and an hospitable Cou…t,

p. 183(Yea, and an Army if occasion were)

Can hardly now the charge of houshold beare▪

For, they must either in their large expe…ce,

Come short of that p…ofuse magnificence

Among thei… Vassals: o… else waste away

The price of many Lordsh…ps, to defray

The cost of one vaine supper; and, from this,

With other such like things, growes all am…sse.

For, one exc…sse another still produces;

One Foole out-vies his fellow Fooles abuses;

Vnt…ll their wealth, and hop…s, and reputation,

Be wasted in a witn…sse emulation:

Not heeding what is taught them in the Fable,

That when a Toad hath sweld while he i… …ble,

An Oxe is bigger, and with ease can smite

His pride to nothing when it is at heig…t.

This over la…ge profusenesse, they are faine

By many evill cou…ses to maintaine:

By bribery, by g…iping, by the sale

Of Iustice yea of Consci…nce, and of all

That may be sold for mony. From hence springs

Deceiving, and mis-leading of good Kings.

This makes their Treasuries to ebbe so low;

This, makes their Subjects discontented grow;

This, makes the Me…chant, and the Tradesman, break;

This, makes the arme of Iustice grow so weake;

By this, are States unjointed, by degrees;

By this, their honour and their love they leese;

And, that confusion in upon them steales,

Which ruines Nations, Kings, and Commonweales.

From hence are all those rascall Suits derived,

By which the common dammage is contrived:

Hence, they (who by the publike desolation

Would raise themselves) pretend the…reformation

They purpose not: and, by their faire pr…tences

To …ure old griev…n…es, breed new off…nces.

Hence comes it, that to keep …hemselves on hie,

They sell their country, and p…sterity

To slave…y and bondage; ca…ing nought▪

So they have rest, how dearly it be bought.

This, makes the Gr…nts of Kings …ecome so tickle,

An… O…ders, and De…rees of State, s… si…kle,

T…at no man knowes when he hath ought procured,

How he, of w…at he hath may be assu…ed;

For, in a righteous cause, though be proceed,

A…d hav… it …atified and decreed,

By all Authority that may be gained;

A sleight suggesti…n (without reason f…ined)

May …u…tr…t… make the Royall-confirmation,

O… k…p him in an endl…sse exp…ctation,

Till he be quite undone. And, if his foes

Have weal…h▪ (though no good reasons to oppose

His rig…tfull cause) he may be whe…l'd …bout,

With O…ders, tha… will …tch him in and out,

Till he be tyr'd: and, neith…r side is sure

O… conq…est, till the other can p…ocure

No brib… to give. VVhichWhich is m…re wicked far,

Then thos… injustices which practis'd are

In heathen Kingdomes: since, when any t…ere,

For Iustice or Injusti…e b…ibed are;

A man …h…ll hav… his bargaine. And in this

More just they be then many a Christian is.

For, when some here a…e forced for their owne

To give great fines, they afterward a…e throwne

From their possessions if another come

To buy Injustice with a larger sum.

O…! what a madnesse is it, for one day

On earth, to foole Eternity away?

p. 184To sell both soule and body for meere toyes;

And r…all comfort…, for deceiving joyes?

To build the…r house with morter, which will bu…ne

The timber, and the structure overturne?

Perchance before the finishing be done,

But (doubtlesse) e're the third descent be gone?

What folly is it for a man to waste

At one vaine triumph (which an houre doth last)

Mo…e then the portion, ten and ten times told

Which all his predecessors leave him could;

That, to his prejudice it may be knowne,

How hastily a ri…h man he is growne?

What meaneth he, who doth consume upon

One banquet, wh…t a towne of Garison

Might live a yeare withall; to heare it spoken,

That so much cost was but a certaine token

Of his corruption? And that all the store

He wasts, was got by making ot…ers poore?

Or that t…e greatnesse of his new gain'd glory,

Is of the common wrong… a reall story?

Who prai…eth him for this? or who doth call

Him honorable, wise, o… l…berall.

For those expences; but …he rascall rable

Of Coxcombs, and of G…lls, that haunt his table?

What honour is it? or what can it please,

To be the Lord of many Palaces?

To have their Cambers, and their Galleries

Adorned with most precious …arities?

To feed, and cloath, and patronize a number

Of Parasites, and of Buffoones, to cum…er

Their w…lks and lodgings? To have ev'ry day

Th…ir servants following them in rich aray?

Rich stuffes, with rich embroyderies to bury,

To ride on princely charets? or to hurry

In gilt Caroches? or o… pampered Steeds,

(From Turky fetcht, or from the Barbary breeds)

To p…aance about the streets to show their pride?

Or with vaine titles to be magnifi'd?

What pleasure is all this, when they sh…ll heare,

How loud the clamou… sounds in ev'ry eare,

Of their oppressions, …rau…s, and cruelties?

And how the people curse their tyrannies?

Their state, and their ambition to maintaine;

How many, oh! how many to complaine

Conftrained are? Alas! how m…ny a one

Have their proud followers tyranniz'd upon?

And of their servants, what great numbers too,

Doe these by thir ambitiousnesse undoe?

The faces of the poorer sort they grinde;

The bread of Orphanes (who the while are pin…e)

They feed upon. The people they have sold

For old-worne shooes … on Altars they lay hold;

And, of each holy thing they m…ke their prey,

Whereon their sac…ilegiou… hands they lay.

The portion of their brethren they devoure;

A…d, by us…rping an unl…wfull pow'r,

They save each other harmlesse from the lawes;

And overthrow the poore complainants cause.

Their neighbours, often, and t…eir nearest friends,

(To who… they daigne respect but for their ends)

Are so engaged to uphold their pride,

That they their foolish heads are faine to hide.

Som… Tradesme…, for their vaine credulity,

(In trusting to their H…nors) now doe lye

Imprison'd for their aptn…sse to beleeve:

And, what they suffer, or how m…ch they grieve,

Their Lordships care not: For (except their owne)

Of all mens troubles they are sens…lesse growne.

p. 185Their houses, and their lodgings, ev'ry day▪

Are full of Suitors, who as humbly pray

Fo… what's their owne, as if that they were some

Who to entreat for charity were come:

And oft are answer'd with such harsh replyes,

For their compelled impo…tunities,

As if it were an impudence or wrong,

To aske the debt which had beene …ue so long.

The Baker and the Butcher, sometime serve

Great men with bread and flesh untill they sta…ve

Themselves almost: and, if they doubt they shall

Be quite undone before it so befall▪

They oft a…e glad to lose the summe that's due,

Through feare that for their own if they should sue,

(In stead of recompence) receive they might

Some evill turne, their boldnesse to requite.

For, some are growne so base, that now and than

Their Costermonger ▪ yea their Butterman,

And Herbw…fe is halfe begger'd and undone,

By suffring them upon their scores to run.

Oh! with what faces can these Tyrants ride

Along the streets, in such a h…ight of pride,

As oft they doe, when they are lookt upon

By those poore Tradesmen whom they have undone?

What j…y have they to see, or to be s…ene

In those gay feathers, which have plucked beene

From others wings; whose nakedn…sse appeares

To cry aloud for Iustice, in Gods eares?

And what a Plague is fallen on that L…nd

Where such as these have places of command?

Where t…ese are chose for Statesmen, what protecti…

Is Vertue like to finde? what due correction

Hath Vice where such controule? or what is he

Can looke for Iustice, where such Iudges be?

Would I could say, oh! Britaine, thou hast none

Of these Or else might name thee such a one,

As lawfully, as I might boldly do it,

For thy advantage, were I called to it.

But, that authority which I have got,

Checks faults alone, with persons meddles not.

Thy ancient Vertues are not wholy lost,

In all thy families. Yet, …or the most,

As are thy Princes, now, thy Gentry be▪

According to the height of their degree.

They spend their youth in lust and idlenesse;

In impudent p…ophanenesse, and excesse;

In foolish complements; in thriftl…sse games;

And in oblivion do interre their Names:

Through want of knowledge, and that reall worth

Which sets the lustre of true Gentry forth.

The ma…kes of Gentle-blood, and that which praise

Did thereunto acquire, in fo…mer dayes,

Were Iustice, Temp'rance, Courage, Prude…cy,

True Courtsie, Meeknesse, Liberality,

And such as these. Their Ex…rcises were

Those which the mind or body might prepare

For ve…tuous practices: as leaping, runn…ng,

To handle Armes, to shoot, to shew their cunning

In m…naging great Horse; in studiousnesse

Of piety, and of the Sciences.

Which we terme liberall. But now, alas!

Th… Gentry, Britaine, is not as it was.

To be a Gentlem…n, is now, to we…re

Fant…stick habits, horrid oaths to swe…re;

To w…ifte Tobacco; to be drunk, and game;

To do a villany, and boast the s…me.

To dare the Pox; to talk with impudence▪

How oft they had it, without griefe or sense,

Of their misdoings; no…hin… to pro…esse

Or p…acti…e, but to live …;

To quarre…l; to be in…ole…t, and proud;

To che…t, and brag, and lye, and speak aloud

In stea… of …p…aking reason: to p…esume

Abov… his wo…th; unwise…y to …o…sume

Hi… p…t…imony; fast and loose to play;

To borrow▪ …ithout purposing to pay;

To spend their time in …uitless… visi…ations,

In beastly and p…ophane communications;

In telling and in liftning a…ter newes;

In viewing idle sights, or haunting Stewes;

With such like exe…cises: as if they

Were made to flutter all their time away

Like Butterflyes, and lived, pu…posely,

For nothing, but to eate, and drink, and dye.

Their noblest mark, is di…ting a brace

Ofhandsome Nags, to run a …quitting Race.

Or keep…ng of a cast of Norway Kites,

To show them yearly halfe a dozen flights;

Or else, the feeding of a stinking pack

Of yelping Hounds; that when discourse they lack,

They m…y whole d…yes together, pra…e a story,

In which so…e Dogs, or Hauks, or Horses g…ory

…s m…gnifi'd; and him they c…unt a Clowne,

That in their folly is no partner growne.

Oh! wou…d these lines had po'wr to make thē see,

How fooli…h and absurd their cou…ses be:

And that my Muses now could reach the straine,

Might win them nobler t…oughts to ente…ta…ne.

But, mine will h…rdly prove such Charmes, I feare;

For, at t…e very root we rotten are;

And, where our Maladies their cure should have,

T…e dangerou… infections we receive.

Our Nurseries of Arts are not so pure,

But th…t in them our bane we may pr…cu…e.

Our Inne of Court have lost their good repute,

By ha…boring of persons …issolute.

The …chooles of Law are Sanctuaries made

For Out-lawes, and where once our Gentry had

That nurture which enobled them; now, ther…

By lewd examples, which too frequent are,

O…, by too great a liberty, we gaine

A habit in …ll courses tha… are vaine.

A…d most of those, of whom the world beleeves

Most good (among them) are but civill theeves.

For, Lawyers, and some Officers, in thee,

(Which Ministers of Iustice seem… to be)

Have made t…e Courts and Offices, whereby

We should of wrongs receive a remedy;

To prove to us things more uneasie, far,

Then those, for which their just complainings are.

So costly b… their wilde interpretations

Of Lawes and Customes; and such variation…

Are found in their opinions, that few know

When they up…ightly, or in safety goe.

If any Common Ba…reter will please

By suits u…just his neighbors to disease;

The Plea may be mai…tained, though that all

His allegations prove untrue they shall:

Or manifest, …y d…u…tlesse demonstration,

He pu…pos…d nou…ht but wilfull molesfation.

For, Lawy…rs will defend and plead the Cause,

Which to their knowledge doth oppose both Iawes

And Conscience too; as if they did contemne

His threatnings that pronounced woe to them,

Who justifie the w…cked in their fin;

Or him gainsay which hath not faulty bin.

p. 187Ev'n in our Court of Co…science, some things are

Vnconscionable. For, if any here

Be causlesly compl…n'd on well is he

If uncondemn…d in the …uit he be.

For, this Defen…ant h…th small r…medy,

Save that, an… patie…ce, for his injury.

His causl…sse trou…l…s, and his large expence,

Hath no req…it…ll save his innocence.

For, if all they that are u…ju…tly grieved,

By h…ing co…ts o… suits …ould be re…ved;

Or if the Plaintiffe should his B…ll ave…re

VponUpon his oath, as ev'ry Answerer

Confirmes his An…wer, m…ny … brawling K…ive

W…uld then be quiet, and that Court would have

Far lesse employment: yea, and we…e it not

Their Trave…ses did knit againe the knot,

W…ich Answers upon O…th, almost unty,

Suits would not h…lfe so long unended lye.

This, many Offi…ers doe seeme to feare;

And th…refore (as if Courts erected were

To m…ke them rich, by n…urishing contention;

Much rat…er then to co…passe the prevention

Of wrongs and discord) they continue still,

T…at cou…se w…ich brings most grists unto their mil.

If I would m…ke a Libell, it should be

By way of Suit: f…r, I did never see

A scurrilous Rime or Pamphlet, so compact

O… sl…n…ers (nor so cunningly derract)

As doe their than-lesse Bils, and their Replies,

Who seeke, th…t way, mens names to scandalize.

They dare p…etend (as if with warranty)

Those things of which no probability

Was ever seene. For, thou…h they prove it no…,

They kno… the very mention of a blot

Doth leave a sta…n…; …nd, that aspersions laid

Sup…osedly, are often so …nvaid,

And so disperst; a…d in disperting, will

Such new additions g…the… to th…m s…ll;

That, at th… last (althoug… most fal…e they were)

For t…uths, they told and heard, of ma…y, are.

But, their I…tergatorie ▪ have a tricke

Beyond all other L…b…dings, to stick

An infamy on any: for, in those,

O… …ll which they will causl…sly suppose

W…thin their Bils; they may the qu…st…on move,

To whoms…ever t…ey preten… … sh…ll prove

Wh…t they object And, t…ough no p…oofe be broght,

N…y, thoug… it never came within his thought,

That is complai…'d a…ainst▪ to doe or say

Those things which they object against him may:

Yet, he th…t is examined, or he

That …eads what matters question'd of him be;

Suspects, perhaps, (although he nothing knew

Con…erning them) that ev'ry thing is true

W…ich their Intergat…ries doe imply.

For, why thinks …e (that meaneth honestly)

Should Propositions of these things be made,

If they no likelihood of being …ad?

Or w…o (suppose…h he) hath so abhord

A mind, as to suggest, and on …e…ord

To leave aspersions (o… deserving blame)

O… him, that no way merited the same?

Yet, this is frequent: and this li…elling

Much profit to th…ir Common wealth doth bring,

Who gaine by others losses. And, there's none

O… whom this mischiefe m…y not …all upon.

For …ne example …f suc… g…osse abuse,

My selfe I can, and justly may, p…oduce.

p. 188For, sitting lately in a roome alone,

My owne occa…ons meditating on:

Two men, who talking at the doore had bin,

(And, as appeared, knowing me within)

Ma…e entrance and besought me both to heare,

(And witnesse) what they had agreed on th…re.

I heard them; and, I purposed to do

As they requi…ed, being call'd thereto.

But, mark what …ollow'd. Twelve months after that

Th… one of these (not well content with what

His b…rgaine wa…; and knowing, I alone

Cou'd re…tifi… wh…t they a…reed upon)

Did i… this k…vish c…nn…ng wise project

To make my wi…nesse take the lesse effect.

Forsooth, …e m…k…s me pa…ty in the cause;

A pitifull complaining Bill he drawes;

Wherein his le…rned Counsell did devise

Such Combinations, and Conspiraci…s,

Such Plots, such Pra…tices ▪ and such large tal…s,

Of Premises, of Bargai…i…gs ▪ of Sales,

And such like Heathrish …uffe: and his pretence,

Was wo…ded out with so much impudence;

T…at, surely, whosoever came to see

That peece o… Ch…uncery, supposed me

A very cheating Rascall: or, tha… I

(At least) was privy to some knavery;

Whereas he knew, who then did so abuse me,

I blamelesse was of w…at he did accuse me.

Yea, then so farre was I from any plot,

Or purpos'd wrong; that I had quite forgot

Both man and ma…ter: and, but for his Bill,

Had beene (I thinke) unmin…full of them sti…l.

A wrong like this, if any please, he may

Inflict upon me ev'ry other day,

With safe impunity. For, such as he,

Intituled Am…i Curiae be:

And, many thousand fees would quite be lost,

Were they▪ in such like suits, to beare the cost.

If I should here disclose what I have seene,

The p…actice of some Lawyers to have beene;

What cunning in convey…nces they use,

How strangely their Profession they abuse▪

And what a glory to them…elves they take,

Wh…n they an evill cause to thrive can make:

Or, should I he…e character their Delayes,

Their Errors, their Demurs, their many w…yes

Of hindring Iustice; their impertinent

And costly ted…ous Formes; their impudent

Extorting from their Clients doubl… fees;

For Motions, which they willingly d…e leese:

How they doe move by halfes; how they mistake

(Of purpose) for themselves, new wo…k to make;

How oft their Orders have by procrea…ion,

Made up, almost, the hundreth generation;

What double-tongu'd …eports, for double fees,

Are gotten by cor…upted Referrees;

(Who when the truth is plaine, can coine a doubt

To bring againe the fals…st Cause about)

How sense lesse of mens losses, griefes, or paine,

They are in all things which concerne their game;

To what expences they their Clients bring;

How they doe ride them in an endlesse Ring,

And prey upon them: or, if here I should

Disclose as evidently as I …ould,

How full of wicked bribes, their closets be;

What brutish cruelti… mine eyes did see;

How many honest Causes I have knowne,

For want of prosecution, overthrowne;

p. 189Because our tedious f…rmes of triall, stretch

Much further then the Clients purse can reach.

How many miles poore men are forc'd to come,

For trifling suits, w…ich might have end at home;

But that our higher Co…rts more seek encrease

Of t…eir base profits, then of blessed …eace.

Sh…uld I relate, wi…h what strange tyrannies

Some Officers their places exercise;

What par…iality they shew; what pride▪

How they insul… on men; how they d…ride;

How big they speak; how scur…ilous …hey be,

In taunting and reviling men more free

From vice, then they themselves: Or▪ should I tell

How little tendernesse doth seeme to dwell

VVithin their bosomes, when they do oppresse

The needy w…dow, and the fatherl…ss…:

If all these things I should insist upon,

And so describe them, as they might be done;

The wo…ld would know that all those injuries,

For which the Law appointeth remedies,

Are oft lesse grievous to the Common weale,

Then most, w…o most pretend her sores to heale:

And that as little help from them she sees,

As when she sets her Cats to keep her Cheese.

For, some of them are trusty in their kind,

And so, some trusty Lawy…rs she may find:

Yea, those …here be, that in these evill dayes,

Like Rubies mixt with peble…, send forth rayes

Of Christian p…eties; which do declare,

That some remaine who yet an honor are

To that prof…ssion; and all those are free

From being t…xt, or blamed here by me.

The rest shall beare their shame; for, they were bor…

To be our plague; and they shall be my scorne:

Their torments …o afflict both night and day,

An… there are few such tortu…ers as they.

Fo…, of those wrongs which we by them sust…ine,

We scarcel… a…e pe…mitted to complaine.

Nor will this …land better dayes be…old,

So long as Offices are boug…t and sold.

Nor shall I ever think that a…y one,

Much cares, what right or injury be done,

That buyes or sels an Office; chiefly he,

Who chaffe…s that where seats of Iudgement be.

Fo… order s…ke, to …hese my knee I bend;

Or, I to give them titles can descend,

And ev'…y outward reverence; that so

The pla…e they beare, con…emne… may not grow:

Yet, nobler far he seemeth in mine eyes,

Who, by a due election, doth arise

To be but Heardma… in some Country Borrough,

Then all those Lordlings who have passed thorough

The greatest Office…, by giving pay;

Or by some other unapproved way.

When mē were sou…ht, that Office they might beat

And had it gratis▪ they such persons were,

Whose wo…t…, whose vertue…, and whose noblenesse,

Bro…gh… ho…or to t…e seats they did po…sesse.

With faithfulnesse, their du…ies they discharged,

No ancient fee unjustly was enlarged;

Or n…w extorted; neither did they take

The poore mans money, when he mone did mak…:

For, by an easie entrance they were able

(When need required) to be charitable.

Their just expences, also, to provide;

And to sust…ine a comely port b…side.

But, since men sought out Offices; and thought

Of their owne merits, better then they ough…,

p. 190(Int…uding, without modesty, to sit

VponUpon that Seat, …or which they were u…fit)

Since men expe…ienced (by serving long

In some inferior places) ha… such wrong,

Tha… ignorant Impostors got possession

O… what pertaines to them, by due su…cession:

Yea-since to sac…ed Calling… men are chose

By th…m, that should not of such …hin…s dispose;

What can e're long expected be, u…lesse

It be an overflow of Barbarous…esse?

Since each base fellow (who, perhaps, by steal…h,

By fraud, or by extortion, scrape…-up wealth)

May pu…cha…e, by his evill gotten pel…e,

A place o… honor, to ens…once hims…lfe,

And fortifie his wickednesse withall;

What hope of good proceedings follow shall?

Since needy, worthlesse, base, & shamel…s grooms,

May se…ue their persons into noble roomes,

By meanes ignoble; no man must exp…ct

From such a Cause, to draw a good Effect;

Or, that he honor gets, who in such times

To any honorable title climbs.

He'… but a theefe, that in at window comes;

The buyer sells, and sells …or greater sums;

By bribery, he bribery defend…,

Of unjust Mammon he do…h make him friends,

To nourish Pride; or else to make up that,

W…ereby possession of his pl…ce he gat;

Without compassion, he doth grieve, oppresse,

And rack the widow, and the fatherlesse:

All places▪ and all things t…at appertaine

To ev'ry place, he put… to sale, for gaine:

Yea, most men of each other, now, m…ke sale:

Of th…ir owne liberties, of lives, and all.

Great Offi…ers pretending to the gift

… some inferiour places, make a shift

…o save the giving, and, so dearly sell

That their poore underlings they oft compell

To serve without allowance; or to raise

Their maint…nance, by some unlawfull wayes:

VVhichWhich they must co…ntenance; or else contrive

That others at such doing… may connive.

VVhereby those places held disg…acefull be,

VVhichWhich, otherwi…e, from scandall, had bin free.

VVhy then reproach we such with odious names,

Since they that are the author… of then shames,

(And those to whom base te…me… do appertaine)

Are their great Mast…rs, who make wicked gaine

Of what should …reely be bestow'd on those

To whom they ought such places to di…pose?

From them, and their corruption, doth arise

The multitudes of base enormities

That swarme among our petty Officers.

It is a sum …f mony that prefe…s

To ev'ry place; and that makes knaves, and sharks,

Of Sergeants, Waiters, and of VnderUnder-clarks.

This maketh Registers, in ev'ry Court,

And other Ministers, so much extort:

This makes them seek out knots, demurs, delayes,

And practise many unapproved wayes,

To make up that which …oolishly they paid:

Yet, in the grave, thei… heads, perhaps, are laid

Ere halfe recover'd be: and oft their wives,

(VVhose portion bought those places for their lives)

Are le…t, with many ch…ldren, to a lot

Vnpitied, as they others pitied not.

For, many a one of these, although you see

Their wives and children in apparell be

p. 191As costly as a Lords (that yea…ly may

Dispend as g…eat a sum, as these did pay

For their new Offices) engaged are

To Vsurers, for twice the better share

Of …heir large Fines: and, sometime they undoe

Themselues, their kindred, and their neighbours too.

Hence comes it, that Receivers, Bailifes, Reeves,

And other such, are worse then common theeves;

And …ack and pill so boldly; and from hence

It flowes, that few suppress their insolence:

Ev'n from their base corruption, who do thrive

By such mens losse; and not alone connive

At their misdoings, but, oft patronize them,

And from just censures an escape devise them.

For they that else would Furze and Brambles burn…,

Will cherish them, where they may save their co…ne.

Thus, Britaine, most of them have used thee,

Whose Offices, by purchase, gotten be.

These, and a multitude of other crimes,

They cause, and act, and suffer in these times:

And are so insolent in what they doe,

That they dare practise, and defend it too,

Without remorse of mind, or seeming sense

Of being guilty of the least offence.

Nor come thy Priests or Prophets much behind

The worst of these: but, passe them in their kind.

For, though a learned Clergy thou possessest,

And ev'ry day in knowledge much increasest:

Although I do beleeve thou hast in thee

Those Guides whose wayes are from reproofe as free

As are the best on earth: yet, thou hast more

That are perverted, now, then heretofore.

Of late, thou heaps of Teach…rs gotten hast,

Resembling empty vapours, or a blast

That breathes no comfort. What God never ment

They publish fo…th; and come e're they are sent.

Thy peoples hurts, t…ey cure with sugred speech;

W…n there's no peace at all, of peace they preach;

Thou pu…bl…nd Watchmen hast, and some that see,

As blindly walke, as they that blindest be.

Dumb Dog… thou hast, who spend their time in sleep;

And, some who barke, but to affright the sheepe.

Like hungry Curres, some alwayes gurmandize;

Yet nothing can their greedin…sse s…ffice.

They follow their owne wills, and their owne waies

They hunt for their owne profit, their owne praise.

They tread the p…ths where common sinne…s wal…e;

Amongst themselves, they most prophanely talk;

And, at the Tavernes meet, and sit and …will

Strong drinke, and wine▪ untill their guts they fill.

In taking Gifts, and compassing Promotion,

They shew more zeale, and practice more Devotion

Then in their holy Callings. They delight

In Flatterie…; and the fawningst Parasite

In all t…e Cou…ts of Europe, cannot prate

More Heathnishly, nor more …nsinuate

Then some of th…m. The blessed Sacraments

And holy Word, are us'd as inst…uments

To compasse th…t, for them, which they projected;

And oft polluted are, and of… negl…cted.

Their sacred Orders, are abus'd and made

To serve them for an Office, or a Trade,

To be in…iched by; and to that end

The preaching of the Gospel, they intend.

They come not …y the doore into the fold;

Things holy, they hav… often …oug…t and sold;

Conspiraci…s they m…ke in matters fowle;

They prey vponupon the body and the soule;

p. 192And, fat and rich, and mighty to become,

They daub and plaister with untemper'd …ome.

With lies, and faire pretences they beguile;

And violate the Law of God, the while.

His Altars they prophane, they sla…ve his flocke;

They make Religion but a mocking-flocke;

And, by examples horrible and vile,

Cause other men, Gods Temples to defile.

There is no avarice which theirs exceeds;

No malice which a mischiefe sooner breeds:

No pride so sutly as their Clergy-pride,

Except among the Beggers, when they ride.

They, who but few yeares past, would h…lfe have broke

Thei… kindreds, to have purchas'd them a cloake;

And in poore threed bare Cassocks sought to preach

Beneath an VnderUnder-Curate; or to teach

The chil…ren of some Farmers, for their meat:

And seem'd scarce worthy so much grace to get,

Vntill by counte…f…it humility,

(By fawni…g mixt with importunity,

And g…lt with fained zeale) they wr…ught on some;

To bring their wandring feet into their home.

Ev'n some of these, so well have acted out

Their part…, of seeming honest and devout;

That (either like to Micahs Priest, by leaving

Their Patrons; and their hopefull trust dec…iving:

Or, some su…h likely wayes) they have acquired

A …i…her st…tion, then th…y first desired.

They have so quaintly humour'd, and so pleased

T… present times; that, they have proudly s…ized

Supremest places: and, now, over peere

Their heads by whom, they fi…st a…vanced were.

And v…ry profit…ble, sure it is,

To heed them, since their met…mo…s…s.

For, if thou mark, how stately now they beare

Their lofty heads; how insolent they are;

How pitilesse to suters they become;

With what contempt poore men be rated from

Their angry presence; what imperious Lords

Their Docto…ships are grown; what haughty words

They thunder forth; what Antichristian state

They take upon them; how extreame ingrate

And inhumane they prove (ev'n unto those

By whom, they from the dunghill first …rose)

Wer't well observ'd how strangely they contemne

Their ancient friends; and twixt themselves, & them,

What distances they set; or, to their kin

How harsh and evill natur'd they have bin;

(Except to those, that having meanes to rise

As well as they, their folly do despise.)

Wer't knowne, what selfe opinion they have got

Of their owne worths; how they themselves besot

With arrogance; how peevish, and unquiet

They be in their attendance, and their diet;

In small or trifling matters how severe;

In those which of the greatest moment are,

How carelesse growne: how envious of the grace

O… gifts bestow'd on those, in meaner place.

Were notice also taken, with what straine

Of p…ide and loftinesse, they entertaine

Their brethren of the Clergy, when they are

By any summons called to appeare

…efore th…ir Lordships; with what Pope like phrase

They seek to terrifie, and to amaze

Their humble Suppliants, with what balde conceits

T…ey v…nt their humors, that the crew which waits

To claw and sooth such follyes, may begin

(In …tead of some applause) to fleere, and grin.

p. 193How tar…ly they can chide, and raile, and play,

And jest on those, who but the other day

Did equall them in tempr'all dign…ties;

And are more worthy, though less high they rise.

Were these things heeded, and some passages

Which name I could, as worthy note as th…se;

A man would har…ly think, that these had beene

Those Priests, who but a while before were seene

So be…gerly, and so expos'd to scorne;

But, that, they had (at least) beene Prelates borne.

None could have thought that these mē had bin they

Who lately did so bitterly invey

Against the pride Episcopall; and plained,

To see themselves so sleighted, and disdained

Of their superiors: no man would …ave thought

These had bin poore mens children, who had nought

To give them nurture; or, that they, bereft

Of all their friends, were to the parish left.

None would beleeve, almost, that any such

Should from so little, rise to have so mu…h

In such a Calling; and so wo…thlesse be

In their condition: for, it seemes to …e,

They little con…cience make of that Prof…ssion,

Whereby they have those glories in possession:

Since then (me thinks) so …ar they would not swerve

From his pure word, whom they pretend to serve.

Oh! pray that God would mak… thos… watchmen see

What blots and errors in their c…urses be.

And, that, by good example they may teach,

What they by word, unto the people preach:

For, by their actions▪ many overthrow

The growth of that, which they themselves did sow.

Or by their failing, or their falling f…m

A Christan zeale, make others cold …ec…me.

And, some of these are those, of whom Christ sayes,

We should embrace their words, but not their wayes.

But, many a one will neither say nor doe,

What we may follow, or give heed vntounto.

Yea, we have now among us many a one,

(That could have spoken well) whose voice is gone,

By growing over fat with double Cures:

And pampring up themselves like Epicures.

How many Doctors have we, who before

They were advanced, from conditions poore,

Were glad and willing twice each Sabbath day,

To preach, and all the publike pray'rs to say?

Yea, without any show of being weary,

The Sacraments to give; to wed, to bury,

And, often in the week, those works to do,

Which by their Calling they were bound unto?

Of those how many in these dayes are seene,

Th…t having to promotion raised beene,

Are well nigh silenc'd, now performing neither

Of all those duties, for whole months together?

Of these, how many lately have I knowne,

So proud (or else perhaps so lazy growne)

To cast upon their hirelings all that care,

And al that pains, which they themselves should bear?

Vouchsafing not so much as once a day,

(Though they are present) publike pray'rs to say;

Or preach; or, of the dutie… to be done,

To ease their Curate, in performing one?

But (sitting as meere strangers, or as he

Who thought such works, for him too meane to be)

Take ease and state upon t…em; more I wis,

Then either needfull or beseeming is.

Indeed (when they are any way engaged

By publike studies, weak, or sick, or aged)

p. 194Sometime to ease themselves, deserves no blame:

But having no excuse, it is their shame.

How unbeseeming is it, to behold

Our Doctors, who nor crazy are, nor old,

Nor any way disabled, save through sloth,

Or through their pride (or else perchance through both)

To leave that charge to some inferior one,

Which is too worthy, to be undergone

By him that's worth'est, in respect of all

Those dignities, the world afford them shall?

Why should the adding of a new Degree,

Or la…ger meanes (which no additions be

To their essentiall wor…h) make wise men seeme

So highly praised, in their owne esteeme,

As to debase that worke, for whose meere sake,

Gods mercy them so eminent did make?

For, if it were not so, why do they more

Neglect those duties now, then heretofore?

Why, in performing them, respect they so

The times, and persons, as we see they do?

At solemne feas…s, or in those places where

Most honorable personages are,

Why do they preach more often? why baptize,

And wed, and bury, where their living lies,

The richer fort, and let the poore alone;

If what they do, for conscience sake be done?

Ala…! preferment, and the being rich,

Doth choak up vertues, and the mind bewitch,

The daughter sleights the mother. For, Devotion

Brought forth by painfull travell, faire Promotion;

And lo, no sooner is Preferment borne,

But, proud she growes, and doth her Mother scorne.

They who d…d much sor little; now, possessing

A great abundance, do requite the blessing

With doing lesse, in stead of doing more;

And, marre with pride, what paine did plant before.

The greater favours we from God receive,

The greater thankfulnesse we should conceive.

Yea, when that he advanceth us most high,

We should expresse the more humility;

And think, that ev'n the meanest circumstances

Belonging to his holy Ordinances,

Could not with reverence enough be done,

When we have all our worthinesse put on.

And, doubtlesse, when to God most high we raise

Our hands, in offring up his publike praise,

The man (in my opinion) fitteth best

That work; who seemes more worthy then the rest.

And, whosoever should that act eschew,

(Except just cause within himselfe he knew)

I know (how high soe're his place hath bin)

His Calling is dishonored therein:

Or, if to be assistant he doth shun,

When any priestly work is to be done,

Where he hath Cure: for, into others roomes,

To make intrusion, no man it becomes.

God grant those men humility, and care,

Who otherwise, in this, affected are;

And show o…r Clergie what uncomelinesse

Appeares in this. For, some herein transgresse

By other mens examples; and indeed,

Some other men, by want of taking heed

Of what they doe; who having weigh'd the fact,

Will never put the same, againe, in act.

Lord waken these; and, humble those, I pray,

Whom pride, or vanity have led astray.

And oh! ye house of Levi, warning take ye;

Lest God, for times to come, examples make ye,

p. 195As he that Clergie, your example made,

Whose monstrous pride, the age before you, had

So great a fall. Oh! minde it, and be more

Regardfull of your Charge then heretofore:

Lest they that spight the Churches dignities,

(And of her Dowry seek to make a prize)

For your ambitious pride, occasion take,

On Gods Inheritance, their pr…y to make.

So will our Clergie, which is yet respected,

Be scorn'd, become as poore, and as neglected,

As in those Countries, where their former pride

Hath made their Calling to be vilifide.

Oh! leave, oh! leave your haughtinesse betimes,

Your avarice, your envy, and those crimes,

That are observ'd among you; left for them

God shake the wall of our Ierusalem.

For, heav'n and earth for me shall testifie,

That this my Muse in nothing doth belye.

Your manners; but that you are mo…e then stain'd,

With ev'ry fault whereof I have complain'd.

And as it was their Priests and Prophets sin

That brought the Deluge of those troubles in,

Which overwhelm'd the Iewish Commonweale:

So, if with us the Lord severely deale,

Your sinnes and errors will enlarge the rent,

Through which the mortall arrow shall be sent,

That deepest wounds. Oh! God defend us from

Such judgements; or, if thou be pleas'd they come,

VponUpon our sinfull bodies strike the blow;

And keepe us from a spirituall overthrow.

Excuse me worthy Prelats; and all you

Whom God with la…ge preferments doth endue,

And raise to honor, out of low degrees,

Because ingrafted in your hearts he sees

Such inward vertues, and such outward graces,

As doe become your high and holy places;

Excuse me if in ought deliver'd here,

Injurious to your worths I may appeare:

For, not a Line of these reproving straines,

To you or any one of your pertaines;

Nor need you cure, if any shall apply,

These tart reproofes, to blur your Callings by:

Because you know, that none are this way harmed,

Who are by true and reall vertues armed.

Because you also know, that some have shamed

Your pl…ces by such …imes as I have named.

I know you will not frowne, though I did say,

That some of Christs Disciples would betray

Their Master to his foes. Since this no more

Redounds to your disgrace, then heretofore

It did to his Apostles, that he said

How he by one of them should be betraid.

None taxe you shall, by meanes of this, but heady

And hairebrain'd fooles, that are your foes already;

Nor would I for the world unloose my tongue,

To do the Vertuous, or your Calling wrong.

Let no man gather hence, my Muse envies

The Clergie, or the reverend Dignities

To them pertaining; or dislike to see

Great Prelates raised up from low degr…e:

For, them I honor most, who from a race

Of meane esteeme, have gain'd an honor'd place,

By true desert. And (might I be as able

As willing) I would make more honorable

Their holy Callings; and for ever close

Their greedy mouths, and bind the hands of those

Who speak, or act, what might infringe their due,

Who in those places good examples shew.

p. 196I know, among our Bishops, there are some,

Who make their outward honors to become

A meanes to keep Religion, and their Calling,

From being vilified, and from falling

Into contempt: of S…iles account th…y make not,

For their owne glory: to themselves they take not

Their Lordly Attributes; but to adorne

Their Office, and to keep the same from scorne.

Some such there are: and for the sakes of such

It is, that yet our Clergie hath so much

Of that esteeme which our forefathers left them;

And that these greedy times have not bereft them

Of those endowments which were granted here

When Kings the Churches nursing Fathers were.

From these reprooses, let such therefore be free;

And fall the blame on those that faulty be.

But, as the Shepherds have deserv'd the strokes

Of Gods displeasu…e; so their wanton Flocks

The same have merited; and, blame there lyes

On all conditions, and fraternities.

I woul… not speake what might offend the Throne

Of Iustice; or the King that fits thereon.

From all taxation let him scape as free

As he is innocent; yea let him be

Vntouched: and, let ev'ry vertuous Peere,

Be free from all, that shall be spoken here:

For, I will ayme at none, but whom it shall

Become an honest Muse to chide withall.

In this, beleeve me Readers. For, I pray

Forgive my bluntnesse. And I dare to say

The Court is fraught with bribery, with hate,

With envie, lust, ambition, and debate;

With fawnings, with fantasticke imitation,

With …hamefull sloth, and base diffimulation.

True Vertue's almost quite exiled …hence,

And vice with vice, for chiefe preheminence

M…intaineth w…rs. The mo…t profuse Excesse,

And Avarice, one bo…ome oft possesse:

The greater pa…t are of a Mushroome breed,

Spring up upon a sudden, without seed,

Or plant, or graft, and, often, in one day,

(Yea som…time in a moment) swept away.

With lyes, they seeke their Sover…igne to delight;

And act their impudences in his sight.

They flay the people, an… their flesh they teare

Ev'n from the bones; as doth a greedy Beare.

They cannot broo… the mention of their error;

They drive out of their mindes the day of ter…or.

Deep pits, to hide their mischiefes in, they m…ke;

And think th…t God no heed of them will take.

They live upon the Commons; and yet grow

More fat, then others in enclosures do

And, that which followes t…eir encreasing pow'r,

Is but to be devoured, or devoure.

Their wealth consists of Projects: their esteeme

Is that which they to one another seeme.

Their Honors are bare Titles; and, that state

Which they themselves do fancy and create.

Their Ze…le is wilfulnesse. Their Faith is such

As Reason breeds; and, most times, not so much.

Their Hope is something, but I know not what.

Their Charity is nothing; or else that

Which I should call Selfe-love. Their Strength i… in

Opinion▪ and in ablenesse to sin.

Their Wisdome, and their Policy, (if we

May guesse at things that undiscerned be)

Is to resolve on nothi…g: so, the Foe

Shall never compasse their designes to know.

p. 197Their Courtesie (if men will be content

To think it may consist in Complement)

Is wondro…s great. Their Valour is in oaths.

Their greatest Glory doth depend on cloaths;

In which they are so vaine, that ev'ry morne

(Almost) a new attire by some is worne,

Of sev'rall stuffes or fashions: and they dresse

Their bodies, with such tedious curiousnesse,

And, such a multitude of hands there are

To tr…m them (and their trappings to prepare)

That halfe so many, of good workmen, may

Erect a house, e're they themselves aray.

Of Honesty they scarce the name afford:

For, should I terme one, there, an honest Lord;

It might be thought as clownish, so to do,

As it were fal…e, perhaps, to call him so.

Gods holy Sabbaths, most among them, there,

Observe not much; except it be to weare

Their finest clothes. The Bus'nesses, that may,

And should be done upon some other Day,

Are then debated on, as frequently,

As those affaires which by necessity

Are urg'd upon them. And, all sorts of men

(When they should serve their God) are forced then

To wait upon the world; to whom God gave

Sixe dayes; for ev'ry one which he should have.

Nor, thereby, many other mens unrests

Occasi…n they alone; but, ev'n their beasts

Are then disquieted; and cannot have

That right, which both Gods Lawes, & Natures, gave▪

Sometime, they to remove, that Day, prepare;

Yea▪ then begun, sometimes; Removalls are;

And in the Court, more Carters, we may see

Employ'd that day, then through the Kingdome be.

On Sun…ayes far more Coaches rumble thither,

Then doe in some three other dayes together:

And, seldome have they leisure for a Play,

O… Maske, except upon Gods Holy-day.

I doe not think we are obliged to

A Iewish Sabbath, as great numbers do:

But sure I am, from Piety we swarve,

Vnlesse a Christian-one we do observe.

And, though to them no fault it may appeare,

Who on such Evenings do but only heare

Or (for their honest recreation) view

The action of some Enterlude, or Shew;

Yet, needs it must be knowne, to some of these,

That to prepare for such Performances,

To many persons must occasions be

Of Sabb…th-bre…king in a high degree.

In whom this fault most lyes, as yet, my Muse

Descrieth not: bu…, sure I may excuse

The King: and if but halfe …o forward were

Those Clergy men that have his royall …are,

To cause him such enormities to see;

As they are thought in other thing… to be

Which lesse concerne them; he would soone fo…bid

Those customes; and as Nehemiah did,

More hallow'd make the Sabbath. Nay if none

O… them, whose wisdome he d…pendeth on,

In this have mis-inform'd him; he will prov…

O…r Nehemiah, and this fault remove,

When he hath warm'd his Thro…e: for we have hope

That all our Breaches he e're long shall stop.

But leaving him, I'le finish the repo…t

Which fits the greater number in the Co…rt.

Religion they have some, but many care not

I… …he…e the use or mention of it were not:

p. 198Some others have divided it betweene

Our gracious Sov'raigne, and his royall Queene;

And, till in one Religion they agree,

They stand resolv'd, that they will Neuters be.

Oh! make betwixt them, Lord, a blessed Vnion,

And, us partakers of thy blest Communion.

Our Cities are as wicked as the Court;

Of he… transgressions they come nothing short:

But, rather passe them; if a man might say

That Infinites admit exceeding may.

And, London, thou thy Sisters all hast passed,

In all the faults, whereby they have transgressed:

To thee alo…e, my speech I therefore bend,

And will in …hine their follies reprehend.

I know that thou hast m…ny soules in th…e,

Who truly zealous of Gods glory be:

Yea, thousands that by prayers and repenting,

Doe seeke thy peace, and labour the preventing

Of thy perdition; and, though they indure

Scoffes, t…unts▪ and injuries, from thy impure

And faithless… Children …yea, though such as are

Thy shame, and m…rk… Gods heavie wrath to beare,

Contemne and malice those, and use their pow'r

Those innocents to ruin… and devoure:

Yet, they are those who keep away Gods wrath;

And for whose sakes be …o long spar'd thee hath.

They make that pl…asing Number, who restraine

Those flames of Sulphure, that consum'd the plaine

Which now the Lake Asphaltis overflowes.

And when (from out of thee) God calls for those,

Thou feele it shalt; and, not unlike become

Those Asian Churches, which departed from

Their ancient love▪ and are the loathsome den

Of Satyrs, Faries, and of Beasts uncleane.

A place for Zim, and Iim; a nest for Owles,

Night Ravens, Vultures, and ill-boding Fowles.

And, then, in ev'ry house (as heretofore,

When popish-darknesse spred this Kingdome o're)

Men shall be frighted with strange dreadfull noises;

Deformed visions, and hobgoblin voices.

I know, Good-works in …hee are to be found;

And that, above the rest, thou dost abound

In publike Charities. I know thou hast

All Cities, in this Kingdome, over-past

In plentifully preaching of Gods word;

And, that thou bountifully dost afford

Large voluntary pensions to that end.

(Yea, somewhat else I might in thee commend.)

But, if thou take a note of thy transgr…ssions▪

If thou at thy Assises, at thy Sessions,

Or, at thy other Courts, observe, or heare,

How many horrid crimes detected are;

How many filthy and abhorred things,

God there discloses, and to Iudgement brings;

And if thou think, withall, how many m…

Committed are, which few do come to know.

Or heededst thou how few, and worthlesse, all

Those works appeare, which thou dost Vertues call▪

What would they seeme, compared to thy sin?

Or to those favours, which have heaped bin,

By God, upon thee? Doth he owe thee ought,

Or hast thou done him services for nought?

Oh! LONDON, hath he not advanced thee

The Mistris, and the Soveraigne to be

Of all the Townes, and Cities of this Ile?

Hath he not rais'd thee many a goodly pile?

Art not thou plac'd above, and they below?

Continuing blessings doth he not bestow?

p. 199And many priviledges, yet, deny'd

To all the Burroughs of the Land beside?

Behold, thou hast the principallest Trade,

And all their Merchants are thy Chapmen made:

Thou art the Royall Chamber of the King;

Whose residence doth wealth and honor bring

To magnifie thy greatnesse. Kept in thee

His Parliaments, and Courts of Iustice be.

Among the famoust Cities under heaven,

God hath to few a situation given

For pleasure, health, and profit, well united,

To thee compar'd▪ Yea, God did seeme delighted

In thee to make his Dwelling (ev'n among

Thy Temples) by maintaining here so long

His Harbengers, and Ledgers, to provide

Fit mansions, for his Graces to reside.

Thy God, to be thy Hu…band, thou hast had;

And, wer't by him a fruitfull Mother made,

So plenti…ull in Child…en; that, they play

Like swarmes of Bees, about their hives, in May.

No place in Europe, hath been so supply'd

With soule and bodies food; or, fortifi'd

By Garisons, Forts, Bulwarks, and munition,

As thou art hitherto (by Gods tuition)

Without such charge or trouble. And the day

Will come, wherein, if any man shal… say

What peace thou hadst; and, in what plenty …ere

Thy Children lived (without want or feare)

It will not be beleeved, that a Nation

So blest, could suffer such an alteration.

For, as (by Seas) from ev'ry other part

Of Earths vast circuit, thou enclosed art:

So, from the sudden comming of invasions,

And from the many troubles and occasions

Of Wars and wants, which in the world, we see;

Divided, also, these doe seeme to be.

Such is thy blest condition; and, although

Thou hast, about thee, of all things enough,

That may thy pleasure, or thy need suffice;

Yet, all the dainties and the rarities,

The World affords, are yearely hither sent,

From ev'ry quarter, of Earths Continent.

Oyles, wines, and fruits, that good & pleasant are,

Swimme hither through the Straights of Gibraltar.

Cold Norway, (or the parts adjoyning) g…eets

Thy River with materialls for thy Fleets.

America doth oft renew thy store

With Suger, drugs, with gold and silver Ore;

With Ambergreece; with woods that sweetly smell;

And other things, that please thy …ancy well.

Ormus, with Pearle thy beauties doth adorne,

The Silkes of Persia, in thy st…eets are worne.

From divers parts of Africa, (and from

Cham's linage there) white Ivorie doth come;

And Apes and Fe…thers. China, where they printed,

And used Guns, ere we those Arts invented,

(If Fryers be not lyers) doth impart

The f…uits of their Inventions, and their Art,

To thy Inhabitants. Ra…e stones o… price,

Sweet smelling gummes, and odoriferous spice,

Are broug…t unto thee ma…y thousand miles;

Ev'n from …he Easterne Indies, and their Iles.

This shewes Gods bounty: and of his compassion

Thou lately hadst, (ev'n by thy preservation,

In thy g…eat Plagues remove; and by his pitty

Vouchs…fed otherwaies, unto thy City)

Such evidence: that all men may confesse

He did respect thee, with much tendernesse.

p. 200What should I mention more, since, to recount

God… benefits would doubtlessly amount

To many Volumes? and sure none is able

To number that which is ina…merable?

This may suffice (for this time) to expresse

His Bounty, and thy great unthankfulnesse.

For, what h…st thou returned him, …or these.

And all those …lessings, which his Love doth please

To showre upon thee? What hast thou repay'd

For all the Charges which he hath defraid,

(In fencing, planting, and manuring thee)

That worthy, such a Husbandman, may be?

Thou hast faire-seeming Grapes, I must confesse,

But, they are sowre, and full of rottennesse.

Thou mak'st great sh…w of charitable works;

But, that hypocrisie within them lurks,

Which marrs their acceptation. Thou hast built

Some Churches; yet, art tainted by the guilt

Of Sacriledge: and, those thy gifts that eary

The pioust showes have …earce beene voluntary.

Great numbers, in thy Hospitalls are fed,

And lodg'd, and cured: but, the men are dead

Who founded them; and few doe bring supply

To such good works, till they are sick, or dye.

Thou entertainest Proachers, but they must

Speake pleasing things; or else away are thrust.

Thou hast of Pastors, some who shewes do make

Of so much Conscience, that they will forsake

Their Livings rather then it shall be said

Theyle weare a Surplesse: yet, some are afraid,

That most of these, doe cunningly conceale

Much pride or avario… beneath their zeale,

And that their suff…ing of a silencing,

Doth much more liberty or profit bring,

Then two good Pers…nages: and that, thereby,

Good meaning folke are brought to beggery.

Thou hast redeem'd some Captives; but, it was

With sparingnesse, and hardly brought to passe.

Thou plantest Colonies; but, thou dost dra…ne

The nourishment away, that should maintaine

And settle them. God grant some be not gl…d

To flye (for this) to them, that should have had

More helpe from thee, and in farre Countri…s peris…,

Because those plants they did no better nourish.

Much know thy people; but (alas) they do

As if good life belong'd not thereunto.

Strict Gospellers thou hast, that can professe

Religion, with much for…all holinesse:

But they, like Zodoms apples, prove within

As loathsome, as their ou…sides …aire have bin.

Yea, they (against their brethren) oft are found

In hate, and pois'nous malice to abound.

Good Orders, Lawes, and Customes thou hast many;

But, very seldome exercisest any,

Except for private gaine; or to acquire

Some Vengeance, which thou dost, perhaps desire.

Thou hast judiciall Courts, wherein I (heeding

Their Lawes) saw promises of just proceeding:

But, marking well their Formes, they seemed, rather,

Devices for thine Officers, to gather

Rich fortunes by; then to afford redresse

For those, whom their oppressors doe oppresse.

Thou hast a Magistracy, to maintaine

The peace of honest men; and, to restraine

The rage of wickednesse: but, loe; ev'n some

Of those are patrons of mis-rule become;

Disturbing quiet men, and thriving by

Befriending sin; else I have heard a lye.

p. 201Yea, some are famed, to encrease their living,

By cunning rig…ur, mixed with conniving:

Deceiving honest people, by strict shewes

Of punishing of those whom they excuse.

For when by doing Iustice they compell

A wicked man beyond their bounds to dwell,

(Some thi…k) their griefe, and losse, it doth augment,

As much as losing of a Tenement.

Thou hast Correction-houses; but, thou mende…t

Not many, whom to chasten thou p…etendest:

For, thither they are oftner …ent to ease thee

Of them, or of their pilfrings, which disease thee;

Then out of Christian purposes, to force

Such vagrant people to a better course:

And, therefore are thy Suburbs pestred now,

With beggers; yea, for that, so large doth g…ow

The number of thy vagrant Rogues, and Cheaters,

That they begin to imitate their betters,

In Government, and Method: and, are growne

To have both Lawes, and Language, of …heir owne.

Thy Children yeeld some good conformity

To Rules and Precepts of Morality:

But, most observe good orders, to enjoy

Their owne state safe, and to prevent annoy

That might be…ide themselves; much …ather, then

In true obedience unto God, or men.

Within thy Corporation, I likewise

Have notice taken of Societies,

Which be…re a goodly shew of ordering

Thy sev'rall Trades: and I in many a thing

Theire use commend: yet, some of them, to me,

Grosse Monopolies, doe appeare to be.

Which do in secret, with some open shewes

Of publike good, the publike weale abuse.

Nor would it be a…isse, if some things were

M…re free, which by their meanes restrained are:

Or if the State would better looke unto

Those injuries, which many of them do.

Fo…, when these Bodies politick oppresse,

Their pow'r doth make the wrong without redresse▪

Their purses, and continuance, may o'rebea…e

The righ…full'st cause (if so they pleased are)

The friends, and oft, the very noise they'll make,

(Because a multitude) much hold doth take

For their advantages; although the cause

Be both against good Consci…nce, and the Lawes.

Nay, should the Common…weal…h her s…lfe, oppose

These Corporations, for some wrong that flowes

From their proceedings; it would scarce obtaine

That pow'r which could these Petty-weales restraine.

For, having gaine or losse, accrewing by

Their Claime, which doth concern thē, far more nigh,

Then that, oft seemes to touch those men, who stand

To take the Kingdomes gen'rall cause in hand,

It makes them t… pursue it, more then they;

More Patrons to procure, more bribes to pay;

And, at the last, to conquer▪ by that course,

Which makes the better cause to seeme the worse.

This brings to mind same wrongs that I have had,

And what a…count of honest suits is made,

If once a greedy foolish multitude

VponUpon the right of any doth intrude.

But, left by thinking on it, mixe I may

My private harmes, with what I meant to say

For publike ends: here breathe I will a space,

Vntill my present thoughts I can displace.

Forgive me, Lord, if I have guilty beene

In this my worke, of any private spleene.

p. 202My Musings h…llow thou; confirme thy love:

Infuse me with thy Spirit from above,

With better things then flesh and blood discernes;

Inspire me with each Ve…tue which concernes

The finishing of what I undertake:

Make profitable all that I shall speake.

And, to thy Name some honor let it be,

Although it should both shame and ruine me.