GRIEVOUS GROANS FOR THE POOR.  
Done by a Well-willer, who wisheth, That the poor of ENGLAND might be so provided for, as none should need to go a begging within this Realm.  
The Poor afflicted are,  
So that they perish fast:  
If now no order taken be,  
Then Ruin comes at last.  
· HEB ·D●●●· ✚ HEB·D●●●●·  
LONDON Printed for MICHAEL SPARK. 1621.   

TO THE RIGHT Honourable, Right Worshipful, and worthy Company of the Virginian and Sommer-Iland Plantations.  
RIGHT Honourable, Worshipful, and Worthy: It is an old, and yet a true Proverb, Vis unita fortior, United force is most vigorous: I could have commended this poor Fatherless Volume to the simple perfection of some one man in eminence, under whose shade it might obtain a quiet rest. But knowing your conjoined Society, doth extend the branches of Charity, to a farther limit than some one particular person, I am bold to present this Orphan to your tuition: assuring myself, that although scandals may derogate from the worth in this our home bred Nation, your affection will find it shipping to transport it to the Land of security, where no biting Satire dares assail it with his envious teeth, or censuring Critic, carp to catch it with his AEnigmaticke brain. The reasons why this long obscured Offspring of Charity claims your worthy particular Patronage, divide themselves into a Tricotomie. The first Reason is drawn from the supposed parent, whose industrious seduline to the vast womb of the Ocean, describes these two Lands, now Cities of refuge for poor impoverished persons. For his sake therefore, whose wisdom lives crowned with the Garland of Fame, though his body be buried in the Sepulchre of Oblivion, protect this his poor extant issue.  
The second Reason, proceeds from the remarkable note of Christianity, which is Charity: For, by this (saith our Saviour) shall all men know that ye are my Disciples. As therefore you prise the segregation of yourselves from wolvish Worldlings, in Charity entertain this submissive petulant, prostrate at the Altar of your acceptance.  
The third Reason, issues from your continued and daily exercise in the relapse of mean and decayed persons, by transporting of them to a Land, where they have Corn which they sowed not, Vines which they planted not, and plenty which some of them deserved not.  
Since therefore, so many have felt the reviving heat of the Sunbeams of your Charity, whose very intrals bless you: amongst the multitude of these, let this tongueless Orphan be one, that by its birth into the World, though it cannot speak, it may prove your praise. Thus with my service, as appointed to speak for this infant, in the hehalfe of it, I rest a Well-willer to your Business.  M. S.  

A Division of the estate of the Poor.  
THE poor of this Commonwealth are of two sorts, viz The impotent persons not able to relieve themselves with their labour, & the idle Rogues, able to mintaine the selves, and do their Country good, if they were set on work, as the Statute Laws of this Land prescribeth.  
The impotent is the blind, lame, wounded soldier, fatherless child, aged person, or diseased by Leprosy, Dropsy, or else visited with other grievous sickness, not able to labour, to relieve themselves sufficiently.  
The Idle poor is the Thief, the Rogue, the Rogue, the Strumpet, the sturdy Beggar, the Filcher, the Cozener, Cutpurse, and such like.   

The Misery of the Poor, with the danger of their souls.  
GREAT is the misery that the Carcases of the poor sustain, as extreme hunger, pinching cold, pitiful nakedness, great disdain, strange surfeits, grievous sores, deadly diseases, and painful deaths: but greater and much more lamentable, is the dangerous distress of their silly souls. For, they are the slaves of Satan, in the Galley of Idleness, fastened to the seat of Poverty, with the Chain of Slothfulness, where extreme Cruelty, with his Whip of Necessity (whose biting Cords are Hunger and Cold) forceth them to haste the fearful Voyage, unto the doleful Haven of Hell, by greedy rowing with the Oars of Injurious Wrongs, as Theft, Cozenage, Witchcraft, and such like: but I hope to see, that Serpent so encountered with that goodly Ship, called, The good Government of England, and that Love that good Gunner therein (with the Powder of Zeal) will so thunder forth those Bullets of judgement out of the battering pieces of the Law, that Satan shall be enforced to deliver those silly slaves out of his thraldom, and yield his huge Vessel, to remain a famous monument, until the end of the World.  
Excellently was that onset given in the making of sundry Statutes▪ for the relief of the Impotent, and setting the idle on Work: but if we consider how Negligence hath overthrown that Famous Work; we shall find, how Self-love is settled far into every man's heart, and that we so hotly hunt after private Gain, that we freezing coldly, seek not any Public Profit. We play the slothful hand, loath to come out of a warm pocket, to heal and help to cover the whole body from pinching cold.  
But come, come, dear Christians, let every man now be more moved with pity. And according unto their several Callings, so charitably to further some good provision, that the poor hereafter may be otherwise relieved, and not be forced to beg or steal for maintenance. And the idle so set on Work, that they be not compelled to run about the Country, haunting of Alehouses, and using all bad and wanton exercises, to drive away the time withal. And let not Parishioners do still (as some do now) bear out thieves in their thievery, for that they take their prey with the Fox, far from his home, which otherwise should charge the town. Let them not wink at the matter, when they find the Thief, and so the thing stolen, nor make the Host of the Alehouse their Constable, that diligent Setter for all misorder, and Master of misrule, their chief Officer, to see good Order kept. Let them not suffer suspected persons, to be playing in Alehouses, especially in the time of Divine Service, nor play there for more (at any time) than they have honestly gotten.  
And, whereas many poor Parents be so foolish, to plant their Children on the root of idleness, which will yield no other fruit, but the Berries of Iniquity; whereby our Country is pitifully and grievously pestered, with such as for want of other Trade or means to live by, do practice Robbing, Filching, Stealing, Cozening, and such like. Now therefore, I would heartily wish, that every Christian (as his Calling serveth for that purpose) should be some means, that those youthful plants, may be trained up in some honest course of life; whereby they may hereafter get their livings by some good and lawful means: so shall they greatly glorify God, by their dutiful diligence in doing of his will, overthrow the power of Satan by the confusion of Idleness: rescue those silly souls out of that Tyrant's thraldom: and work a public profit to the whole Land, by freeing it from that extreme charge, to maintain so many thousands of people without their labour.   

The Evil of Idleness, and what men do for want of Exercise, and Maintenance.  
Idleness maketh men's bodies the Demeanes of the Devil: for the body of an Idle person is the Devil's home, Viz: Empty of Grace, swept of all Goodness; and so garnished with Natural Evils, that it may well entertain Satan, and seven more as bad as himself.  

The Evil of Idleness.  
Idleness, is the head of that Serpent Satan, which where it entereth, windeth in his whole body, with all the poison of Iniquity. For first, for want of exercise, we see idle people hunt and run after evil Company: seek out disordered Alehouses, where they swear and forswear, Banne, Curse, Blaspheme God, disdain good things, slander and backbite their Neighbours, use all unlawful Exercises; tell Tales, that are taken for Tales, and lies of others that are taken for truth, so setting much variance, yea often among Friends, and driving away the time with the wretched works of Wantonness, and disfiguring themselves with the loathsome sin of Drunkenness. Then, for want of maintenance, they practise Pilling, Polling, Promoting, Wrangling, Defrauding, Robbing, Begging, Filching, Stealing, juggling, Coney-catching, Cozening, False Dicing, and with such like shifting: like Caterpillars, Wasps, and Drones, they eat and devour up the Fruits and sweet Commodities of this Commonwealth.  
But how might I enlarge this Volume (if I so intended) with painting forth the deformity, which Idleness hath bred in these Roguish Travelling people, which in their Common Whoredom, resemble lawless Beasts; in their Cozening, Filching, Stealing, and Devouring, imitate vild Vermin; in their Drunkenness; do show themselves loathsome Swine; and in Banning, Cursing, Forswearing, Lying, Outfacing, and egregious Dissembling, both with GOD and the World, painted forth, the very perfect pictures of Satan: O that Christian hearts can abide the sights of these most grievous and monstrous Evils.  
Come then therefore, O ye painful judges, and careful justices of this Land: Ye watchful Magistrates, and diligent Labourers in the Lord's Vine-yard: cutting of the branches will not suffice, but strike at the Root (which is Idleness) with the Axe of judgement, and the flourishing Tree of all Iniquity, will quickly fade away.    

Reasons to relieve the Impotent, and to reform the Idle.  
IF the body have a lame and withered foot, whereof it can have small use, yet if it be whole and sound, and the blood of the body hath the course therein; we see every member is helping the same with necessaries, and assisting the same from hurt: but being infected with a running or rotting sore or Thistela, that sharp Corsies cannot eat out the filthy corruption thereof: then all the members (not regarding the present pain) give their consents, that the same shall be cut off with the Saw of the Chirurgeon, lest it be the decay of the whole body: Even so the Impotent with the lame foot, is to be defended and sustained by every member of the body of this Commonwealth; having a will (although it want power) to requite the same. But the idle persons, infected with that running and rotting sore of Whoredom, Theft, Cozenage, and such like; must be cut off with the sword of judgement, if the sharp Corsies of Correction, cannot eat out the filthy Corruption thereof, lest it runneth up so near the heart, that it overthrow and bring unto ruin the whole body of this Commonwealth.  
This Rotting sore hath run far of late, if we consider how many of these people the Wars hath swallowed up: How many of them are shipped to that famous Plantation of Virginia & Sommer Islands: How many the Judgement of the Law hath turned over: How many of them grievous diseases have ended their days: How many have perished in the fields: And how the realm is yet pitifully pestered with them: so that it is more than time for the Eye, with steadfastness to visit the same; the Head with carefulness to devose a help, & the Hand with marvellous diligence to minister it thereunto.  
The Husbandman covereth close his Hives of Bees from cold storms, and setteth watchmen to preserve them from the stinging Wasp and the idle Drone: Even so our Sovereign Prince, whose Highness Hive is this Land, covereth the same from the storms of Oppression; and setteth his Watchmen to take away Waspish Theft, and Dronish Begging: which if it were effected (according to his Highness' intention) than no doubt, the labouring Bees would work with Comfort, Courage, and Strength, filling their Hive full of Honey, his Highness' Country full of sweet Commodities.  
The wise Housholding Husbandman, will suffer no idle persons in his house, only for two causes. First, he knoweth, it is a charge to maintain them that doenothing: And then, that those idle people, with their Wanton and vain Exercises, bring his whole household out of Order. Even so, let the Wise Husbandmen of this Commonwealth, consider; That it is not only a charge to the Land, to maintain so many thousands of those idle people without their labour, but also it bringeth the whole Commonwealth so out of Order, that every man wanteth now, that service at his Servant's hands, that heretofore they have had. For our younglings heads, are always occupied with those wanton Exercises, which they see idle people daily devose and practice.   

THE POOR WITHout Relief.  
LOOK with hearts of Charity, and eyes of pity, unto the distressed estate of the poor (good Christians) for first, although the Commons with common Commodities in some Town be worth an hundred, or two hundred pounds a year, or more; yet the poor of the same Town, unto the third part of the Town in number, shall not be thereby relieved, to the value of forty shillings in a year: So are the Commons surcharged by the Rich: and the profit of their Towne-lands▪ employed to bear other common Charges withal.  
And how may I complain therewith of the decay of Hospitality in our Land, whereby many poor souls are deprived of that relief which they have had heretofore. The time hath been, that men have hunted after Worship and Credit by good House-keeping, and therein spent great part of their Revennewes: but now commonly, the greater part of their livings, is too little to maintain us and our Children in the pomp of Pride: yea, and yet all is well if we may maintain that, though no Hospitality be maintained there withal.  
And thus, though the number of the poor do daily increase, all things yet worketh for the worst in their behalf. For, there hath been no Collection for them, no not these seven years, in many Parishes of this Land, especially in Country towns; but many of those Parishes turneth forth their poor, yea and their lusty Labourers that will not work, or for any misdemeanour want work, to beg, filch, and steal for their maintenance, so that the Country is pitifully pestered with them: yea, and the maimed Soldiers, that have ventured their lives, and lost their limbs in our behalf, are also thus requited: For when they return home, to live by some labour in their natural Country, though they can work well in some kind of labour, every man sayeth, We will not be troubled with their Service, but make other shift for our business So are they turned forth to Travail, in Idleness (the highway to Hell) and seek their meat upon Meres (as the Proverb goeth,) with Begging, Filching, and Stealing for their maintenance, until the law bring them unto the fearful end of hanging.  
But our Saviour Christ hath taught us Christians to do good unto our Enemies, and shall we then do nothing for our Friends? If we ought to love them that hateus, shall we thus recompense them that have ventured life and limb for us? No, no, for their good Service, let us see their bodies hereafter better relieved, and some good and godly means used, to save their souls from the Torments of Hell, that GOD may be better pleased, and those poor Souls that fight for us, much more animated.  
And I would wish all men to consider, that the Lord of Heaven, hath retained those poor Souls, with the hyring-penie of Life, that they might Labour in this his Vineyard or Commonwealth, and make it flow with all kind of Commodities. Then may not we which are Stewards, turn them forth of his service, to Cozen, Beg, Filch, Steal, & such like; excusing ourselves, that it is a trouble to us to keep them in order, and so put up the Lord's allowance in our own purses: For then, he having tried and found us unfaithful with the dust of the earth, will never trust us with the heritage of heaven.  
But no doubt some will say, the fault is in those poor people, that they are not set on work; they are either untrue, froward, unruly, slothful, or some such matter, which indeed I cannot deny: but if there be not the like, or worse in us, let us be thankful to God; who through Grace hath made us Conquerors, of those natural evils. And let not us, because they of weakness, go over the shoes in sin, show so much unchristian Cruelty to them, to thrust them over head and ears into Hell, by forcing them to live by unlawful means.  
Can we not content ourselves with the Priest and Levite to see their misery being thus robbed, bound, and wounded by that Thievish Satan, but we must much more cruelly, with our swords of extremity, smite them unto death? O when and where shall they then find, the Neighbourhood of the good Samaritans, to bind up their wounds with compassion, carry them home with trouble, move others to take care of them, and provide for them sufficiently with charge.   

What filleth this Land with Poor.  
THree kinds of Oppressions much pestereth the same with poverty, Viz. The taking in to the Lords hands of Copyhold Lands: whereby many Householders are utterly decayed.  
Secondly, the surcharging of Commons, so that the poor cannot have any benefit of them.  
And lastly, the purchasing of Land unto Land, until rich men get whole Towns into their hands: and then dispeopling the same, by letting down of Houses, and turning forth of Tenants, they recover the Commons from the poor, and make them their own severals▪ And therewithal, they take the chief Commodities with ten or twelve Husbandmen, omitting the rest: whereas before that time upon that Ground, were set on work and maintained, not less than a hundreth men, women, and children: yet the Landlords had their rents duly paid them, and the poor amongst those Farmers otherwise provided for. This is the Encroachment, that will bring the woe of the Prophet upon the Land.  
Even thus as you see, the poor man with that which heretofore he had, and of right should now have, is swallowed up into the rich man's possession: but let me show those people their folly, by a simple simile.  
The subtle Fisherman hideth his Angling hooks in the backs of little Roaches, and draweth the same too and fro in the sight of devouring Pikes (within the Water) which after long dalliance, unadvisedly swalloweth the same up with greediness into their hungry bellies, and thinking themselves fully possessed thereof, the Fisherman draweth the hooks, pulleth them from their Fellows, carrieth them unto his home, fryeth them upon the Coals, and with sharp Vinegar maketh them dishes fit for his own diet. Even so, that subtle Fisherman the Devil, hath Hooks in the backs of all those Rochlike Little-loves, being here upon earth, drawn too and fro in sight of those devouring people, which swalloweth them up with all greediness into their unsatiable possessions.  
But let them know, that when they think themselves fully possessed of this their prey, and say with the Rich man, Now soul take thy rest, the Fisherman-like Devil by the strength of the strings of God's vengeance and justice, will draw the Hooks of death, pull them from their fellows, carry them to his homely Hell, dress them after a devilish fashion, fry them with unquenchable Coals: and so soused and soaked in the sharp sauce of God's everlasting wrath, he will make them a dish whereon he will feed, world without end.  
Yet I hope the LORD of his mercy, will breathe now upon the body, the blessed quickening spirit of life, that all the members having their senses so restored, may perform their several duties: to the help, succour, and sustentation one of another: which GOD grant for his own clorie, the peace of his Church, the joy and pleasure of our Sovereign Prince, the relief of the needy, and the public Honour and profit of this Christian Commonwealth.  
FINIS.   

THe Figtree without fruit,  
yet flourishing Leaves did bear:  
Our Saviour Christ did Curse,  
which may make us fear  
That bear the Leaves of Light,  
professing much his Name:  
And yet small Love do show  
to them that need the same▪