Portland-Stone IN Paules-Church-yard.  
Their Birth, their Mirth, their Thankfulness, their Advertisement.  
Written By HEN: FARLEY, a Freeman of London: Who hath done as freely for Freestone, within these eight years, as most men, and knows as much of their minds as any Man.  
Buy, or go by.  
LONDON, Printed by G. E. for R. M. and are to be sold at the great South door of of Paul's. 1622.   

THE AUTHORS CHARGE TO HIS BOOK.  

TO know where Portland is,  
If any do desire,  
Lest they should think amiss  
Tell them in Dorsetshire.   

For some perhaps will say,  
That do not understand  
From whence they be, that they  
Came from a foreign Land.   

So England may have wrongs,  
And eke a noble County,  
And God to whom belongs  
All thanks for his great bounty.   

For sure as he's above,  
Then we, no living Nation  
e'er tasted of his love  
In more abundant fashion;   

Of things which named be  
Above or underground:  
Or on, or in the Sea  
That can or may be found.   

His name be blest therefore:  
And so my Book adieu,  
I need to say no more,  
But pray God prosper you.    

The Books answer.  

YOur Charge I will obey  
As I am bound by right:  
And what ye have writ I'll say  
To Lady, Lord, and Knight.   

In hope though I am weak,  
And in proportion small,  
Yet so y'ave taught me speak,  
As some good do I shall.   

And workmen will take heed  
To do what's just and fit,  
Which is as much as need,  
Where Conscience is and Wit.    

TO THE RIGHT Honourable, Reverend, Worshipful, and Worthy Commissioners, appointed by the Kings most Sacred Majesty, for the Reparation of St. PAUL'S Church in LONDON:  
My very good Lords and Masters.  
IF your grave Wisdoms herein I offend.  
My faithful Muse  
did never so intend;  
For (though but plain)  
she's honest, and she's true,  
And hath respect to God, King, Church and You.  
In all humility she's well content,  
For her least fault to be right penitent;  
And (of your favours) craves but this for guerdon,  
If well, your boon; if ill, your gentle pardon.  
Amore, Veritate, & Reverentia. So devoted to God's House, And to your Lordships and Worships ever bounden, HEN: FARLEY.   

TO THE RIGHT Reverend Father in GOD, GEORGE, Lord Bishop of London, etc. My singular good Lord.  

AS from the Hill  
of Hermons Heavenly tops,  
Most Sacred Dew  
on Zion Mountains drops:  
Which falling further to the lower ground,  
Doth make the Fields with fruits divine abound;   

So may that Hermon-Dewe be dropping still,  
On thee (chief Montaigne) of Pauls-Sion Hill;  
That so Her lower grounds may fruitful be,  
And She (poor Church) made fortunate by Thee:  
For which I pray, these Blessings may ensue,  
Health, Plenty, Peace, joy, and Long-life to You.   
H. F.   

This is no Nettle, thorn or thistle, But unto Envy an Epistle.  
PErhaps you do delight to flout and fleer,  
Perhaps a word may be misplaced here,  
perhaps some thing may touch you very near,  
perhaps you do believe, your threats I fear,  
perhaps you love me not, the case is clear,  
perhaps you do backbite me every where,  
perhaps you think it comes not to mine ear,  
perhaps you crossed my new books sale last year,  
Perhaps you know I cannot quit this gear.  
Yes, if I would as envious appear:  
But what need I, sith acting thus your part,  
You wound yourselves (by Envy) to the heart.  
H. F.   

PORTLAND STONE IN Paul's Churchyard.  

e'er since the Architect  
of Heaven's fair frame,  
Did make the World,  
and Man to use the same;  
In Earth's wide womb,  
as in our natural bed,  
We have been hid,  
concealed, and covered,  
Where many thousand ships, have sailed by,  
But knew us not, and therefore let us lie.   

Till at the last, and very lately too,  
(Some Bvilder's having building work to do,  
And time being come we could no longer tarry,  
But must be borne from out our earthly quarry)  
We were discovered, and to London sent,  
And by good Artists tried incontinent:   

Who (finding us in all things firm & sound,  
Fairer and greater than elsewhere are found;  
Fitter for carriage, and more sure for weather,  
Then Oxford, Ancaster, or Beerstone either,  
Did well approve our worth above them All,  
Unto the King for service at Whitehall:   

Where being quickly come, as quickly we,  
Had welcome to his Sacred Majesty,  
And (for our humbleness full many a day)  
Were still exalted highest every way,  
In works of most perspicuous Eminence,  
Which in all buildings have pre-eminence:   

As Columns, Cornish, Capitals, and Basis,  
In Fillets, Frise, in Ornaments and Facis,  
In Architraves, in Pedestals, and Pillars.  
And (as the only best of our well-willers)  
Hi● Highness now our service doth prefer  
Unto the Church, to join and dwell with Her:   

So that from one good Montaigne to another,  
And from our Mother-earth, to this Church-mother  
We come apace, and are preparing aye,  
To cure her evils, and her great decay;  
To be her front, her bulwark, and defence,  
And: also to renew her excellence,  
Where Hymns and Hallelujahs shall be sung,  
With praises to the Lord by old and young,  
From day to day, and so from year to year,  
Till Christ his second coming doth appear.   

O happy age, wherein such things are done,  
Thrice happy we that now may see the Sun,  
And be united to this sacred place,  
(A grace to us beyond all other grace)  
For thus we know the truth of truest story,  
All that God made, he made for his own glory;  
And at one time or other come to light,  
To do man service, and their Maker right;  
That very senseless things may him adore,  
And magnify his holy Name therefore.  
O Blessed God preserve our Royal james,  
honour his name among the honoured names  
Of best precedent Kings that ever stood,  
Renowned for Wisdom, and for doing good:  
Make him a second Solomon, a peerless gem,  
In these his Kingdoms, this his jerusalem:  
Lengthen his days, his treasure still increase,  
And let him live, and dye, a King of peace.   

So bless, O Lord, our high & mighty Charles,  
And then the names of Barons, Peers and Earls▪  
The worthy Knights, and Gentry of this Land,  
That to this Work do set their helping hand.  
The Bishops, Clergy, City, Country, All,  
(And as our duties bind in special)  
This Reverend Bishop for his love to us,  
Let him be famous as MAURITIUS,   
Anno 1087. This Church of Saint Paul was much wasted by fire; and worthy Mauritius here mentioned (than Bishop of London,) began a new foundation thereof, in manner as now it is, upon Arches and Vaults of stone, for defence of fire. In which work he continued a constant and a bountiful Benefactor for 20 years together, and then died After him (viz) Anno 1107 succeeded Bishop ●eaumer, who wonderfully increased the same Church for 20 years more, purchasing at his own costs the large Streets and Lanes round about it, which he began to compass about with a strong wall of stone, and Gates.  

Long lived as Nestor, and in every way  
Happy and prosperous till his dying day;  
That still he may this famous Church advance,  
In gaining her both Coin and Countenance,  
Till such a noble Register be seen  
Of Benefactors, as hath never been  
In any age or any work before,  
And till he say, Enough, there needs no more.   

And cause no mourning in our streets may be,  
With such as fear demolishment to see.  
Lord for thy Names sake, let it be thy pleasure,  
The rather to increase that pious Treasure,  
That every one may have some satisfaction,  
To gain their prayers in so good an action,  
And that two Noble works together may  
Be bravely done, to all true Subject's joy;  
And through the world this fame may ever ring,  
Pity did reign in Bishop, Lord, and King;  
Mercy and justice were so met in one,  
That justice (scarce) from Mercy could be known.   

So, for a Nation pitiful and loyal,  
Great Britain shall win praise past all denial.  
No man shall need to grieve, or to lament,  
For's place of Custom, or Demolishment:  
And blessings many will the Work attend,  
From the beginning to the very end.   

But yet, though pity here we do request,  
That none may think themselves too much oppressed  
Let such as must depart their houses know  
No wind so calm or warm did ever blow,  
Nor ever was a Work so good as this,  
But that with some it blue or went amiss.   

Then sith herein the wind blows somewhat ill  
For such as join to Paul's against her will;  
That have impaired her strength by vaults & cellars  
To make more room for Buyers and for Sellers;  
Let them with patience endure some loss,  
And for the Work sake bear a little cross;  
Not grudgingly, or by pronouncing wrong,  
Cause there's their Custom, there they lived long  
●or though desire of gain's a grievous Tempter  
There is a Proverb bids them Caveat Emptor.  
And nevertheless their Custom and their trade,  
This House of God must new again be made.   

Was it not example scurrilous and rude,  
At first to grant that trades should there intrudel  
Nay are they not accursed, that did yield  
To make Gods Courts a merchandizing field?  
May we not call them beasts, even to their faces,  
That like bruit beasts defile such sacred places?  
Things consecrated unto Pious uses,  
Is't fit that they should suffer foul abuses?  
Is there no civil difference or odds,  
'twixt clean and unclean things, man's house & Gods?  
Should Christians bones be digged out of their graves  
And laid with dogs bones in the fields by knaves,  
That so more room under the Church foundation,  
May be for Ajax in a beastly fashion?  
No easement but against the Temple-wals?  
No other place to piss, or make Laystals?  
No way to pass with burdens, but through Paul's  
where burdened consciences should ease their souls?  
And 'cause she is material, as men term her,  
Is it material therefore they should harm her?   

Look well about thee Reader, and then see  
Whether such things as these aught so to be:  
And after due consideration had, then tell  
If therewithal God can be pleased well:  
Or if there do belong no curse or woe,  
To such as first gave way to wrong her so:  
Or if it were a credit to our Nation,  
At all to grant so base a toleration:  
For we do know thou wilt agree with us,  
To hold it vile and sacrilegious:  
And all good men that after look upon her,  
Will say, 'tis to this Land a great dishonour.   

O that we had such gifts of tongue and pen,  
As there is given to some sons of Men;  
That by persuasive reasons we might win  
Th' abusers of God's house to know their sin:  
That with their Souls they might no longer flatter  
But understand it is a heinous matter;  
And will be punished before men's eyes,  
When all things wronged shall in judgement rise:  
But we are blockish yet, not past our letters,  
And (being divine) we leave it to our Betters.   

SO now you Workmen, listen what we say,  
You are so called by work, and not by play)  
If ever you were Masters of your Trade,  
Make this best Masterpiece that ere you made.  
'Tis for the Church, and therefore do not spare  
Your best advice, skill, diligence and care:  
And as (some ways) you stand on reputation,  
So labour now to get the commendation:  
Not for precedency, lest then you err,  
For all 〈◊〉 s one here, both Free and Forreyner;  
And as she doth receive all sorts to prayer,  
So any Workman, any good Surveyor,  
She may retain to gain her Reparation,  
As for the Church is used in every Nation.  
And yet we hold it were both sin and pity  
Sith Workmen live in this renowned City,  
Good Artists, honest, paying scot and lot,  
If more than others they should be forgot;  
But rather be preferred in some degree  
Before a Stranger, whatsoever he be.  
And 'cause our Writer a poor Freeman is,  
We hope these words no man can take amiss;  
For what he writes according to his oath,  
Which to infringe we know he will be loath;  
That is, the City's honour to maintain,  
And also to advance Her honest gain.   

So once again we do revive our Muse,  
And to all workmen do more counsel use;  
Learn by the Scriptures what you ought to do  
Let them direct your hands and conscience to;   

Ezra, Ne'miah, Chronicles and Kings,  
And Haggai will show you many things:  
How justly men did work about the Temple,  
Which there is Registered for your example;  
And with what joy and love they did proceed,  
The Book of God will show you if you read;  
For happy was that man that could devose  
Most curious work to grace that Edifice:  
Or he whose purse or person could present  
Aught that might help to make Her excellent.  
Led, timber, stone, brass, iron, some men gave;  
Some lime, some sand, some glass, to make her brave▪  
And Laborers, like Bees, did labour truly,  
Observing all their times and hours most duly.   

Then if your own gain you do only plod,  
You are unworthy for the House of God;  
For if you work by taskworke, or by day,  
Your pay shall be as just as ere was pay;  
And therefore 'tis expected you should be  
Not sparing in your work, but frank and free.   

Some men there are will maintain to ones face,  
(But such we hold both lewd and very base)  
That in a work for King or Church they may  
Trifle the time by loitering and delay.   

Some will be working hard, but when d'ye think?  
Just when they have no come, or trust for drink;  
Or when the Clock is near the stroke eleven,  
And say they have so wrought e'er since 'twas seven,  
Or when some Officer they do espy,  
That otherwise cashiers them presently.   

Some with their Rules do fiddle up and down,  
As if they did more work than all the town:  
But mark them well, & give them their due check  
For one week's work, almost three days they lack   

Some spend much time in finding fault, and so  
To pick a thank will nimbly run or go,  
Till at the last, the seed which they have sown,  
Brings forth a fruit more fit to be their own.  
Some have the gift of working more than some,  
Until a holiday, or Sunday come.  
But than what they have got six days before,  
They will consume it, if'twere ten times more:  
Mean while poor wines & children live full bare  
Hoping when husbands come of better fare,  
And they return when all the work is done  
As poor as job, or as the Unthrift Son.   

Some have their jobs to do in other places,  
And so they work like janus with two faces;  
And from that task that longest will remain,  
They oftentimes an hour or two will gain.  
But he that in this work proves such a lobber,  
Is but a kind of Sacrilegious Robber.   

Others, at every one that by them walk,  
Will to their fellows have some thing to talk:  
& while their tongues are tattling, 'tis their course  
To hold their hands, and that is ten times worse.   

So there are other some▪ that for a need,  
When hemp is scarce, will only buy gape-seed,  
And look about as if nought were their task,  
But for to answer all that men will ask,  
And think it is a colour fit t'excuse  
The precious time they wrongfully abuse.  
These, like some Scholars that are sent to schools  
Have a good conscience, though not little fools;  
And make Pauls-worke, the Proverb true doth stand,  
Of every little thing they take in hand:  
With whom to live a faithful Clerk o'th' works,  
As good go dwell with Saracens and Turks.  
But now we think no man will be so rude.  
And thus in charity we do conclude.   
FINIS.   

Paul's merrily, yet modestly.  

IF Preachers now will speak for me,  
In Parish-Churches where they be,  
And all good hearts agree in one,  
Then farewell my Complaint and moan.   

Our good King james, he hath begun,  
And eke Prince Charles his only Son:  
With many ' a Noble Lord and Peer,  
To give me money every year.   

O follow such brave Leaders then,  
All you brave-minded Englishmen:  
For what you give it is not lost,  
But brings a blessing for your cost.   

So Portland stone sith you are come,  
To join with me till day of doom,  
Until that day we will be friends,  
And wish them good that good intends.    

Certain Additions of the Author, as they were given to the King and Prince, in the Parliament-time last, and at the Christmas following  

CHrist the Beloved of the King of Kings,  
Apparent Heir of Heavens rich Diadem;  
Rejoice the Heart, and Spirit in all things,  
Of this fair Branch of our most Royal Stem,  
Long Life, good Wife, (sweet jesus) give to Him,  
Unto His present Age, and day of Birth,  
Send Him all Blessings both of Heaven & Earth.   

PRotect Him by thy Power Omnipotent,  
Renown Him in the Court of Parliament,  
Instruct Him by the Wisdom from above,  
Never be absent from Him in thy Love;  
Crown Him with Triumphs and great victories,  
Ever confound (or turn) His Enemies;  
Prosper His going out, and coming in,  
Save Him in all assaults of deadly Sin.  
Amen.   

IN sixteen hundred Twenty one,  
(A year you may remember)  
Prince Charles was aged Twenty one  
The Nineteenth of November,  
The Nineteenth year of JAMES our Kin●  
His peaceful happy Reign:  
God bless Them both, and Their Offspring  
Till SHILO come again.   

He that did write for Paul's (named Henry Farley●  
Prays thus for Them, and so will late and early.   
FINIS.