❧ News out of Paul's Churchyard Now newly renewed and amplified according to the accidents of the present time. 1579. and Otherwise entitled, sir Nummus. Written in English Satyrs. Wherein is reproved excessive and unlawful seeking after riches, and the evil spending of the same.  
Compiled by E. H. Gent.  
Seen and allowed according to the order appointed.  Horatius. 
Aetes' parentum peior avis, tulit  
Nos nequiores, mox daturos  
Progeniem vitiosiorem.  
Well get thy goods, and spend them well:  
well got, keep the same.  
Beware of hoard, hoard hate doth bring,  
and vile reproachful name.  
Non mordet qui monet,  
Non vulnerat, sed sanat.   

❧ To the high and Honourable, and his especial good Lord, Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leycester, Baron of Denbigh, and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter, high Steward of her majesties Burrow of new Windsor, Edw, Hake, understeward there, wisheth daily preservation with increase of honour to God's glory.  
SIth grace hath graffed in your Noble breast,  
far grater gifts than type of mundane gle●:  
Sigh high renown, your Honour, & the rest,  
To Virtue yield, and countervailed be  
With great effect of virtues worthy view:  
I make it bold for virtues aid to sew.  
And though my gift (as slender to the shoe)  
Unworthy seem to shroud himself as now●  
In blessed Bay from force of deadly foe:  
Yet Virtue may your Lordship's pity bow  
To fence the Book beset with deadly hate,  
For that the same explains the present state,  
And sets to view the vices of the time  
In Novel Verse and Satyrs sharp effect  
Still drawn along and penned in plainest rhyme  
For sole intent good living to erect:  
And sin rescind which rifely reigns abroad  
In people's hearts full fraught with sinful load,  
Sigh so (I say) therefore your Noble heart  
Let grace so guide and bend to virtues bait,  
That Satyrs these (though seeming somewhat tart)  
May shielded be from such as lie in wait  
The same to shend and bring to fowl decay:  
To deadly shame, and mortal malice ay.  
So shall your Lordship show yourself to be  
Sole virtues stay, and friend unto the good:  
So hate to sin shall men apparent see,  
And love set forth to save the sinful blood.  
And so shall I encouraged in my pain,  
Proceed, and set my Pen to Book again.  
And ever pray the living God of might  
Your Lordship so to guide by gift of grace,  
That you may stand accepted in his sight  
Whilst here you live, and in the end a place  
Receive with such as virtues path have traced:  
And live with them that virtue have embraced.  
Your Lordship's most humbly at commandment. Edw. Hake.   

To the Gentle Reader.  
IT pleaseth the Printer, (Gentle Reader, as thou seest) after twelve years silence, to hale again into the light, this my little book of english Satyrs, which else might have soonge unto itself, ●cce nunc in pulvere dormio: what his gain shallbe, I know not: and I am persuaded, that gain is not the only, not nor the chiefest end he respecteth. But on the other part what I shall gain that am the Author of the book, none can be so ignorant, but he may easily guess. Once, money I gain none at this time, either for writing altering or correcting of the same: & hereof I stand so clear, that both I and my book may be bold to exempt ourselves from the reach of mine own Argument which consists in the reproving of those who (by male engine) lie in wait for sir Nummus. And thus much be spoken to prevent the opprobry & reproach that this way might be raised against me.  
As for praise and commendation, if the sharpness of my Satyrs were not matter sufficient to settle me against the expectation thereof: yet I am not so far from Judgement I thank God, but that I know (in part) what is lacking (aswell in the invention as in the verse of the book,) that should carry away commendation amongst the better sort of english poets of our time: And indeed, it is a matter that I strive nothing at all to attain unto:  
For if I did, I would frequent the means, which are reading and practice, neither whereof, I have been acquainted with to any purpose since the first three years which I spent in the Inns of Chancery: being now above a dozen of years passed. And so long is it sithence these satires were first made and set forth, even (as I may say) in my childish years, whereof notwithstanding very little or nothing I repent me. Only I wish that all that I have written & published heretofore were by me revised, and that I might have license and leisure to run them over again, hereby to make them a little more substantial if my ability served thereto: which being once done and performed, how forward I would be from thenceforth in setting forth of books, should appear unto the world by the continuance of my silence. For (to speak a truth) it is not meet we should cloy the world with to many books of weak handling: especially, while the learned travails and profitable labours of worthy writers are fain to keep the door (as I may term it) or, which is more, to lie buried in silence.  
But touching this my book: I have not abridged it of any one Satire that was in the first edition thereof, neither have I added unto it any other whole satire: But I have enlarged here and there one, and have corrected that whole book in many places. I confess I could have been willing to have increased the number by ij. or iij. Satyrs at the lest: Namely of undershreeves and Baylliffs one: And of Informers and Sompners or Apparitours other two. Which offices (if they all so be) how they abuse the Subjects and people of this Realm at this day, by intolerable Extortions briberies treacheries and deceits, what whole Shire, and in every Shire, what City Town or village, is not able haboundauntly to declare? But these, together with the exquisite handling of mine allowable Argument, I must be contented to omit, as neither having leisure, nor (through want of leisure) skill sufficient to accomplish the same: For I tell you, it is no matter of mean ymportaunce, first to search and sift owte the wrenches and wiles, shifts, practices and deceits that the lewd sort of this people (which I fear me are the greater number of them) do use to get money with. And then having so searched and sifted them out from nook to crook, to set forth the same in apt and convenient discourse:  
For which causes (gentle Reader) be contented and afford me thy indifferent Judgement in this that I have already done: And if thou find therein any matter or reprehension more fit to have been handled by men of graver Censure and more agreeable calling: Forasmuch as it reacheth no farther than to the reproving of vice, and the same also written in that age of mine, when as vice (without the grace of God) might rather have drawn me to her league, then have had me for her enemy: I think thou mayest well enough (without endaungeringe of Justice) assent to my request, and so I hope thou wilt do. Far well.   

Ad authorem, joannes Long Londoniensis minister.  
QVarit opes hominum mens improba, querit honores:  
Sed quid divitiae? quid decus omne valent?  
Insidiis quaeruntur opes, quaeruntur honores:  
Ista brevi fugiunt, & peritura volant.  
Perge tuos igitur foelici tramite gressus:  
Sistere ne retrahat Zoilus istud opus.  
Insidias ostende virùm, quos nulla movere  
Heu pietas poterit: queis pador omnis abest.  
Sic tu Nestoriae traduces stamina vitae  
Hakê, tuam famam sydèra summa canent.   

The same to the City of London.  
A Great conquest of sin hath made  
a Student Edward Hake.  
O London learn for to beware,  
from sin arise and wake.  
Of wanton Maids he did also,  
the sleights a late detect:  
Learn to be wise, and look to them,  
the worst always suspect.  
He hath redusde to vulgar tongue  
the Imitation true  
And following of our Captain Christ,  
good living to renew.  
A Touchestone for the present time  
he eke set forth of late,  
Wherein the ruins of the Church  
with zeal he doth debate.  
A brief memorial of our Queen  
● and of her blessed reign  
He also written in dew discourse  
first once and then again.  
At length these news are now come forth  
wherein thy sins he shows.  
Repent (therefore) and call for grace  
of God each thing that knows.  
FINIS.   

The Author to the Carping and scornful sycophant.  

AS plated fin of slender slicing Oar  
Wherewith the Seaman cuts the crooked wa●e,  
Is scant of force tattaine the happy shore  
When check of tide back bears the mighty Nave:  
So I (not less) long lodged on mounting surge,  
Was kept aloof by cankered caitiffs gurge.   

Though true intent did slice the stream so swift,  
Sea beaten Bark could scantly yet obtain  
The shore till now: by subtle Zoyls drift  
And viper's tongue that beaten my Boat amain.  
What then? perforce, and maugre Momus head,  
I skip on Stroud, as free from dangers dre●d.   

Let Sicophaunts and Minotaurus brood.  
Let Cyclops Fear, and subtile Ciren Hags,  
With grinning Jaws and gasping giddy mood  
Go shake their ears, and shut their shameless bags.  
I force them not, nor Neutral, Papist, nor  
Vile Janus Jacks: their league do I abhor.   

Thou Papist, thou, false hearted to thy Prince,  
That wouldst bereave her grace of princely power,  
To thee I say that checking, dost convince  
(As seemeth thee) my poynaunt poor devour:  
For that thou deemst me dampened by thy doom,  
Stand back sir Brock, let Bandog take thy room.   

Shall brockysh Badger bear as now the sway,  
Or shepherds Dog that bringeth in the Sheep?  
Shall wolvish mates that wont the same to slay,  
Rebuke the Whelp? no, not, take thou no keep.  
To my poor power isle bark thee from the fold,  
And shepherds shall rehayte thee to thy hold.   

Wherefore, withdraw thy raging spoil by day  
And see thou lurk (at lest) within thy cave  
While Sun to up, for fear of Hunters pray:  
What time thy craft is not of force to save.  
And eke at night, beware if'ft be thy hap,  
And keep thy foot from slipping Hunters trap.   

And now to thee thou double faced drudge,  
That plies thyself so pliant unto change,  
And under hand dooste bear thy face so Budge:  
Thou Time slave thou, y● sayest my pen doth range:  
To thee I say (for that thou moanst my case)  
Restrain thy tongue, lest I descry thy face.   

Thy hooded head that doth two faces bear,  
I see how closely underhand it nods,  
And triple tongue that bids me ware this gear,  
Lest change should come. But between us two be odds,  
And therefore (Janus) once again I say,  
Go charm your tongue, lest I take hood away,   

And last of all, I turn my tale to thee,  
Thou Nunquam sanus vile reproachful mate  
And carping careless cankered churl, whom he  
That writes each where, reproves with worthy hate.  
For that thou belkst with belly bursten paunch,  
'Gainst them that haps from idle shore to launch.   

To thee, to thee my flitting Muse avers,  
And bond by Oath of Faith, I do avow  
That neither hate nor harbraynd toy infers  
This work of mine which I do publish now.  
Nor meed at all, though where it bringeth gain,  
It pleaseth some for to requited my pain.   

For well thou wotste, if thirsty were my mind  
To bend the same to win by gaynsome trade,  
Then would I write the thing that Authors find  
A gain within: and whereby Sums be made,  
I mean vain ●estes to stir up filthy game.  
But I protest my heart doth hath the same   

And only seeks how to sequester sin,  
And Satan's dryfts that drive men down to hell:  
My thoughts be clear, my conscience clean within.  
Thus knoweth God, that each one's thought can tell.  
Wherefore, beware and let thy carping lie.  
Else, sure my pen my guiltless heart shall try.   

And to conclude, to all that wish me well,  
And love by tongue, do utter to my fate,  
I make request that rancour they depel  
And let their verdict to the Truth give place.  
Else, let them cease to bear of friend the name.  
For I refuse to take them for the same.   

Once (sure I am) with quipping quirks herein,  
I have not meant to taunt, or check the good,  
Nor (railing bend) I slanders do begin:  
Though truth I say, to such as will be wood.  
For guilty man finds each thing to his shame.  
Where good men can their own offences blame.   

But well, for fine and final end I say  
To all such Snakes as sting by stealing pace  
And boughing Curs that bark and wind away,  
I hold it best that they no more deface  
An open truth: For then, as they deserve,  
Enbarckt I lie to launch when time shall serve.   
FINIS.   

❧ Ad authorem Ric. Mathaeus, Londoniensis minister.  
TVus probatur à pijs labor bonus:  
Qui quod pium est non diligit,  
Noli put are vincere hunc virum tibi●  
Huic sit loquela libera.  
Quis Zoilum fugit pius? Tu nec potes:  
Bonis mali nam detrahunt.  
Tibi beata sit precor solatio  
Vita ea, Deus quam tunc dabit,  
Cum tua fides Christo ut facit des obuiam  
Regno patris summi sui.   

The Novelty of this Book.  
SUch Novelty as time doth bring,  
I yield in meeter here:  
Even news that to the Godly heart  
may noisome news appear.  
But yet what then? such is the state  
of this our present time,  
That now no day doth pass without  
some new devised crime.  
FINIS.   

¶ The Glory of the Honourable, is the fear of God.  

The Bear doth bear me now in hand  
that Noble is thy race.  
The virtues of thy worthy mind,  
show forth the gifts of grace.    

The first satire.  
AS late I walked up and down, 
Author.   
in Pawles for my repast,  
And there (as many wont to do)  
about the Church had traced  
Long time alone to view the rout,  
and great confused noise,  
With pleasant that (a world to se●)  
at length I herded a voice.  
And casting back mine eye, I spied  
a pretty wimble lad,  
Who salving of his mate, did ask  
what news were to be had.  
His fellow (like a gentle swain,  
and to lie headed child)  
Conjoined ●andes, and sighing, said  
a slave hath me beguiled,  
But scarcely had he spoken this,  
or ear his faithful fear  
Fast claspte his arm, and him besought,  
to be of better cheere●  
And let not chance (quoth he) affright,  
nor so molest your mind,  
As thus to seem a Wight that hath  
his wonted joy resygnde.  
Tell tell, quoth Bertulph 
Bertulph.  (so be bite)  
By whom you are beguiled  
And eke what cause and cruel chance  
your comfort hath exiled.  
O friend (said Paul 
Paul. ) full soon would I  
express to thee my grief,  
But so perversely falls it forth  
that I see no relief.  
But yet sith thou so urgent art  
and earnest of the case,  
I grant thereto if thou attend  
and walk about the place.  
Content is pleased, quoth Bertulph tho,  
and then they walckte yfere,  
And I perceiving all their talk, 
Author.   
approached very near:  
And joining close unto their side,  
I walckt with equal pace  
(Without offence as I suppose  
their talk had such a grace.)  
Then Paul began with visage pale 
Paul.   
and hands conjoined fast,  
To settle forth himself to speak,  
and thus be spoke at last.  
The highest God that fits above  
For ay in heavenly Throne,  
That Prince of might that rules she heaven's  
and Welkin wéeldes alone,  
He knows if I do falsely speak,  
or (moved through affect)  
If I through hate or favour, lie  
in any one respect.  
But first, before my tale begin,  
I'll tell you how the slave  
Hath many one beguiled erst  
that sought the same to have.  
His name also I will not stick  
to tell you with the rest.  
And to be short, He Nummus height  
(a passing proper guest,)  
He lodgeth oft with Marchauntmen  
and eke with men of Law,  
And lightly where he hosteth, there  
are people kept in awe.  
I'll eke declare how that as he  
doth often men beguile,  
Even so himself is often catched,  
with fraud and filthy wile.  
And how oft times by force they wrist  
and wring him to their hands  
And how from fools he often flies  
and breaks his tinsel bands,  
Now, while that Paul was speaking thus, 
Author   
his mate 'gan me espy.  
He knew my mind, I gave a beck,  
he winked with his eye  
And held his finger on his mouth,  
suspecting sore the man:  
He thought that fancies fed his brain,  
his visage looked so wan  
And word●s so void of wonted sense.  
But yet (for that he height,  
And promised had to hear the end)  
his he●t he kept aright.  
And forth proceeded Paul at large. 
Paul.   
This Nummus now (quoth he)  
Is straightly watchte, and hardly kept  
with men of each degree.  
He wanteth none to wait for him,  
although he scaped from me.  
The laity and the Clergy both,  
if ●aply him they see:  
Will talk with Vobis ear he part,  
they'll pluck a Crow with him.  
They'll shut him up, or send him forth,  
seem greater gain to win.  
Or else to work their neighbours woe,  
by wagin●● suits at Law,  
To bring themselves in press and price,  
and to be had in awe.  
But as for Clergy, 
Clergy.  some of them,  
they know his nature well,  
They know his false corrupting force,  
with him they will not mell,  
Except it be where need requires,  
and for a just intent.  
And surely some, though not the sway,  
right so to gain are bont.  
Although that some again do seek  
excessively the same,  
And some do hoard it up in store,  
to their rebuke and shame.  
But (if I should uprightly speak)  
Their livings are so lopped,  
That from th'inferior Clergy men,  
long since sir Nummus hoped▪  
I mean not pompous Prelates here,  
nor Chaplains of degree.  
These flaunting fellows by your ●●●ue,  
will haat if'ft had may be  
I mean, I mean poor Ministers,  
some placed and some dispersed▪  
Whom polling Patrons and such like,  
have grievously amerst.  
And yet forsooth our Baldockes bleat,  
and say they keep no cheer.  
They catch sir Nummus from them still,  
and yet would have him here.  
But well they are no small fools now▪  
that rob the Clergies meed.  
Wherefore to silence were I best,  
such words may rancour breed.  
And here you must advert it well,  
that justly men may seek  
For Nummus to relieve their need,  
if so their fancy leek.  
And also bow that they right well  
the same may still retain,  
So that they do not ●oord him up  
for sole intent to gain.  
But such as I shall here recite,  
cannot without offence  
The same or seek, or keep, or spend  
what so be their pretence.  
Because their minds are all perverse:  
they spend for spite or gain:  
And through the lust of lawless board,  
the same do they retain.  
And what are they that seek it so?  
Even most men now a days.  
In Country, City and each where  
they find sinister ways  
T'obtain the same, and spend it ill,  
or else to keep it worse:  
And ever ay their minds are bend  
to fill their farced Purse.  
But now, for that the scope is large  
where we may find them out,  
And time but short, I rather mean  
to leave the Country rout,  
And meddle with our Townish lade  
in London sole precinct,  
Except (as need) the Suburbs must  
be with the City Linked.  
Whereas, when I have reckoned up  
of them the most estates,  
Then tell how many kinds of folk  
ne live within the rates  
And bounds of honest seeking store.  
of spending well the same,  
Of closely couching up their hoard  
as bedlam bugs to tame.  
Why sir (quoth Bertulph) now me thinks 
Bertulph.   
you talk not of the man  
That served you of that sluttish touch  
of late I wots near when.  
O Friend (quoth Paul) is this the faith 
Paul.   
and this thy late behest?  
I sticked not to begin my tale  
at thy alone request:  
And thou therefore didst promise' me  
thy silent ear to give.  
And yet thou interruptst my tale.  
How should I thee believe?  
Of friendly faith attend a while,  
and mark me to the end:  
Then shalt thou think that I disclose  
to thee as to a Friend.  
Finis.   

The second satire.  
AS promise presseth me to show 
Pa●●.   
my mind to thee at large:  
Even so t'observe due order is,  
belonging to my charge.  
〈◊〉 therefore (first) how Nummus doth  
beguile each kind of men:  
How it through force and vile effect  
doth noisome humour blen:  
His beauty (first) and pregnant show,  
and then his mighty force,  
Enchaunteth so the people's hearts:  
that (void of all remorse)  
They fawue & 〈◊〉 watch and pry,  
they leaze and off for wear,  
They work the t●ing that wicked is,  
they curse, they ban and tear  
The blessed name of great jehove,  
and all to win the 〈◊〉  
They put 〈◊〉 they practise still  
to get the golden●ame.  
And first behold our men of low:  
let them have chiefest place, 
〈…〉   
Sigh by the laws 〈◊〉 comm●n wealth  
doth run his 〈…〉  
And for that Laws accounted are,  
each where the chiefest stay:  
Let Lawyers then be principal,  
and first within my play.  
But as for Judges now to judge, 
Judges.   
my judgement will nor say:  
I wot full well, their praise was spread  
by me this other day.  
And Truth it is, our Judgement seats  
such Uyrent beads possess,  
As former days for men of choice,  
had never such I guess.  
What then? no sort, no one degree,  
no place, no function so  
Uprightly stands, but with the good  
some wicked weed doth grow.  
With virtues league, some vice doth lyuk  
and form of godly vow  
Often equal makes with men of troth,  
some Hypocrites untrue.  
I know friend Bertulph, s●we there be  
whose hands regard no meed,  
Whose hearts die no deceit at all,  
from whom no harms proceed.  
And sure I am, when cause of troth,  
before such men is tried,  
With simple troth, they Justice yield,  
and justly do decide.  
But now, although with these there sit  
no one that doth descent  
Though all of them in public place  
do sing Amesine lentent  
Yet underhand perhaps there are  
that now and then denoure  
The sugared sap that Justice yields:  
And where they list to lower  
For spite or gain, or private wreak,  
there Justice course is stayed.  
And where they list to smother troth,  
there, right is clean dismayed.  
Such such there be (or have been some)  
who when they rule alone,  
When scope & course hath hoist them up  
and set them chief in Throne  
From Censors sight, and private made  
their sway and supreme place:  
Then than they wring & wrong the right,  
then then they truth deface.  
Ah Bertulph, be there not think you,  
In place of Justice set  
Some feigned sorts of fawning Spriteses  
that course of Justice lets?  
That frame a semblance sound and good,  
that just and holy seem,  
●nd yet in heart are fraught with guile,  
and oft unjustly deem?  
I fear I fear me falsehood lurks  
in laps of learned size  
I fear me Nummus often perverts  
in some that go for wise:  
So then, some chief and some besides  
so smally ponder me●de,  
That where they sit in common sway,  
there, Justice doth proceed.  
But some again where place hath made  
their powers distinct, I fear  
Of popish wills, through grutch or gain  
with much enorm do bear.  
And hence, from hence I fear me come  
these cries of common sort  
That often lament and often affirm  
their Judgement to be ●ort.  
One here be wails his woeful case  
and wisheth him unborn,  
Another cries with wring hands,  
alas, I am forlorn  
My suit thus long depended hath:  
The Law is on my side,  
And yet in hard delays I lie  
true Judgement to abide.  
Another thus: be friended is,  
the Judge doth love him well  
And me (as poor and needy) they  
do daily thus depel  
Two hundredth miles and more I come:  
My Wife at home (alas)  
Lies with my Children half forepind:  
(O lamentable case.)  
My goods are spent, which labour brought,  
through long and careful toil:  
The Law hath lyckt up all my wealth  
for which I did turmoil.  
O, I can have no Law nor right,  
ne Money have I now:  
I must go beg, my goods be go,  
to live I know not how.  
These ears of mine abhorred have,  
mine eyes have wet my plants.  
My heart hath yeend in Judgement true,  
to see such woeful wants.  
'tis hard to say, I'll hold my peace.  
But if these plaints be true,  
Sir Nummus swayeth there with some,  
(a worthy cause to rue.)  
But unto him that highest sits,  
and sees each secret ill,  
With prayer I commit the same,  
t'amende it at his will.  
And now to Lawyers that do parley, 
Practisers at the Law.   
and plead in cause of right.  
To such as for sir Nummus will  
turn darkness into light,  
And light into obscured sense,  
and arsy-varsy turn each thing:  
To such will I proceed as now,  
and to my matter bring.  
I will not speak of fine devise,  
nor fowl deceitful clause,  
In Leases, wils, and other like,  
but wresting of the Laws  
And foding of the Client forth:  
for though that fraud abound,  
And though by falsely framing so,  
each where are beggars found:  
Yet I as now will blazon forth,  
and give you well to see,  
How these men join in matters false,  
retained for a fee.  
And so for N●mmus long delays  
a poor and needy soul,  
To fleece and slay the simple wretch,  
to pilfer and to poll:  
To shred him clean from all his wealth,  
and then perhaps relent,  
And ware full cold to aid his right,  
when Nummus all is spent.  
Yea likewise 'tis in doubt with some,  
when Nummus so doth fail,  
If they through bribe of tother side,  
let not the suit to quail.  
A Fee of Forma pauperism  
no no it hath no scent.  
Such formal Fees find small relief  
they buy no land ne rent.  
My friend (therefore) if you have naught  
wherewith to see me still  
But forms and shows, Take forms again  
for Counsel if you will.  
But what said I? was promise' made  
to paint such practice here?  
Not not: If so, I must relent:  
Great matter doth appear  
Therein: and therefore will I leave  
them to the worldly view:  
I mean the false and subtle one's,  
I speak not of the true,  
Nor such as are affected well  
(as many there are such  
Although the false in number do  
exceed them very much.)  
But well, go too▪ this gotten good  
how is it spent I pray?  
Forsooth, no poor man must have land:  
for so will they assay  
And practise, that in time they will  
get all into their hands,  
And turn the poor men headlong forth  
of all both house and lands.  
A shame it were and great reproach  
to see a poor man devil,  
Or have a house not far from there's:  
their Noses hate the smell.  
And long (no doubt) their Noses be,  
right mischievous of Scent:  
For that which once was land demean,  
is held now for rent.  
They smell it forth, though far it be:  
they have a vengeance hook:  
Both Parsuage and aught besides  
they'll have by hook or crook.  
Their Princely Places stately be,  
their houses built for ay,  
Their turrets up aloft are raised,  
foundations deep they lay,  
So thus (no doubt) and far more ill,  
they let sir Nummus wag,  
Reserving still some mighty Mass  
to rust within the bag,  
And here you see what wait they lay  
and eke what ways they use  
To get this pelf: and got, see  
how they the same abuse,  
The next are Petypractisers 
Ano●●●● and Petypractisers.   
and Petyfogging mates●  
Yea, Clerks, attorneys, such of them  
as live of lewd debates,  
Each honest calling towards Law,  
so pressed is from Sise,  
That hardly can an honest man  
with honesty arise.  
And twice as hardly may he stand,  
to stop each strained shift.  
Such force hath falsehood, more than truth,  
so deadly can they lift.  
What crews of greedy gripping crows,  
what fowl infecting rout.  
Good Lord, what store of gleaning Jacks  
dispersed are through out?  
Can Laws relief be easily got,  
or got, can't do ease,  
Where such great troops of bribing fists  
must first sir Nummus cease?  
Of truth such ●●aines, of truthless mates  
such heaps of monsters devil  
tween plaints and final Judgements seat,  
that greater woes in hell  
If hell were as the Poets write,  
I think could not be felt.  
Care S●les have end, such charged, such toil,  
as make my heart to melt.  
But whence arise these ravening routs?  
whence spring they? Sure from guile  
And of disdain to vulgar state,  
wherein their Parent's toil.  
Well, these be they, that what for tale  
and what for falsehood great,  
Do taint the Realm with strifes, & stop  
the way to Justice seat.  
That make the juice of Justice sour,  
that turn the Laws to wreak,  
That make true Judgement taste like gall,  
that naught but falsehood speak.  
That live and lustily lash out  
in purchase or in pride  
Moore largely then of Country States  
doth any State beside.  
But here to show what prowling means,  
what pranks this pylfring sort  
Do use to get sir Nummus with,  
and so hold up their port:  
This this to do, were to to hard.  
Nay, this were such a work  
As if one only man should press  
to fight against the turk.  
But greater, yea far greater 'twere  
to cleanse this Channel clean.  
I think Augaeus Oxestalles were  
to this a work but mean.  
I know good Judges have begun  
and waded very far  
I know that some, to help these hurts,  
right godly careful are.  
But new found Clerckes and Officers  
so press with might and main,  
That (Hydra like) one head cut of,  
for eary head spring's twain.  
Good Lord, & shall these wandering Spréets  
ay walk abroad at will?  
Shall Nummus nowhere start, but straight  
these catchpoles catch him still?  
Shall no man's eye that lives this day,  
behold a better state?  
Ah, out alas, and shall this rout  
feed always of debate?  
Why then, what man shall live in peace?  
whose portion shall be fast?  
Whose land and living shall be free  
where these men once are placed?  
And where almost, or in what Soil  
do not these Monster's swarm?  
What coast friend Bertulph can you name  
where these men do not harm?  
I know in this same calling are  
a sort of seemly Wights  
That live in peace, and further peace,  
that so their Country dights  
With sound examples of good life,  
with Justice and with truth,  
That scarce from any state of men  
a better life ensueth.  
And in this speech of mine, I mean  
and eke do comprehend  
Not only Clerckes and Practisers  
But also do intend  
That counsellors have equal praise  
and higher praise in deed  
By how much they in higher place  
and higher things proceed.  
But these, all these are now so matched  
and overswayde with swarms:  
That seld and seldom can they help  
to keep the good from harms.  
I wish to God some Theseus  
might give a chop or twain  
And rather then these heads should stand,  
to chop and chop again.  
Now, whereas Bertulph here perhaps  
you look I should declare  
How this great Rabble rakes for coin,  
and how they Nummus snare:  
I tell you as I told you erst,  
this is too much for me:  
The pens of twenty skilful men  
for this would needful be.  
In brief, yet thus I dare affirm  
that these superfluous trains  
In Lawyer's state, use fowl deceits  
t'enlarge their private gains,  
Which got once, is lewdly spent  
in pomp and proud array,  
To whose fowl rapine seely wights  
are oft and oft a pray.  
I leave them as I left the rest,  
I touch and go my ways.  
This short discourse shows well enough  
how here sir Nummus sways.  
Finis.   

The third satire.  
Advert we now who else there be 
Paul.   
that grasping gape for gain,  
And let us place them in the cue  
amongst this greedy train.  
Physicians 
Physicians.  take the second room,  
for worthy so they be:  
They stately stalcke, and bear a port  
in London now we see.  
With reverence and worship great,  
with cap and eke with knee,  
We must beseech his Mastership  
our Patient to see,  
And what of this? will this suffice?  
Not: Nummus doth the deed,  
unguentum Aureum or such like  
will make him'runne with speed.  
Go Simon go, or Gilbert else,  
go cast my foot-cloth on?  
No need to bid to Doctor go,  
he will be go anon.  
And when he's there, with solemn face  
and grave devised port  
He frames his talk for to persuade  
or else for to dehort  
As likes him best: he both can do,  
and both so finely frame,  
That Nummus shall be nymmed straight,  
O passing pretty game?  
Who would not blush to see such fraud,  
and such fine framed knacks?  
Who would not hate the falsehood vile  
of these so peevish Jacks?  
And (sooth if I should affirm)  
I hear so much deceat  
Of there's in progging after gain,  
as tongue can not repeat.  
And (as of course) I do demand  
how they do spend the same?  
Forsooth, I hear no good they do:  
Not man can justly blame  
Or aught accuse them of good deeds.  
But this myself can say,  
That most thereof that I see spent,  
is on apparel gay.  
For but of late, even thus I herded  
a worthy Doctor say:  
My matters frame not as I would,  
I'll work some other way.  
I see these weeds be not to wear.  
I'll henceforth so provide,  
That I will have a pretty Nag  
about the Town to ride.  
I'll have a foot-cloth, and each thing  
belonging to the same:  
My fellow Doctor hath the like,  
and passing flies his name.  
A Gown with graundcape will I have,  
a swinging Velvet Cap,  
A Coat according very brave:  
and then if'ft be my hap,  
With mighty looks, and learning such  
as God hath given me,  
I'll hook sir Nummus to my hands,  
and make the Ruddocks flee  
For fear almost into my purse.  
I'll leave my simple gate,  
I'll rather frame myself to ride  
like one of high estate.  
And what? were these but scoffing words?  
Yes sure, he (earnest bent)  
Hath so purveyed, that now he hath  
even all for that intent.  
And thus you see with how great care  
they seek t'enrich their store,  
You see the pride that they maintain  
through this excessive lore.  
And (well I wot) none other means  
of expense at all I see,  
But only such as wicked are:  
(if any else there be.)  
Wherefore, it seems they hoard it up  
and hide it from the Sun:  
They covered close, and lock it fast  
till more thereto be won,  
They give small alms as I can hear,  
for beggars bark apace,  
And say that they of all men worst  
relieve their woeful case:  
Their pride is great, and high they look  
for fear of waxing low:  
They'll give no place to any man  
where ere they hap to go.  
I well record a pretty tale  
alluding to a truth:  
I force not much to tell it you.  
Hark how the same ensueth?  
Once happed it (through a fowl mischance) 
A Civilian, or a Canonist, or both.   
that great debate did rise  
Between a Doctor in the Law  
(for so th'example lies)  
And Doctor (eke) of Physic, who  
should have the upper hand  
In each assembly where they met  
to walk, to sit or stand.  
The Lawyer laid for himself  
and said well to the case,  
Physician did full wisely to  
and with a goodly grace:  
Alleging well (even both of them)  
like handsome learned men.  
But naught could be agreed upon.  
So fallen the matter then,  
That they unto the Praetor would  
for to decide the same.  
They made relation of the case  
and finely 'gan it frame.  
The Praetor when he herded the dolts  
contend about a Straw,  
Was soon content to judge the same,  
and asked the man of Law  
Who went unto the Gallows first,  
the Hangman or the Thief?  
Who foremost was of both them two  
and which was there the chief?  
The Hangman quoth the Lawyer tho,  
for he doth kill the man:  
The Hangman he must go before,  
the Thief must follow▪ Than  
Quoth Praetor hark. This is my mind  
and judgement in the case.  
Physician he must go before,  
and Lawyer give him place.  
Why then (quoth Bertulph) by your tale 
Bertulph.   
Physicians men do kill.  
And Lawyers live by robbing men,  
and so their Coffers fill.  
Whereby with pride embossed they swell,  
and whereby (raging) they  
T'advaunce themselves to honours type  
unlawful means assay.  
Yea sure (quoth Paul) and so they do 
Paul.   
a number of them now.  
But as for our Physicians,  
their cunning knoweth how  
Aswell to kill, 
Such are the evil sort.  as to purloin:  
they are expert in all.  
And force not (so that Nummus come)  
which way their staff do fall,  
One hath a Potion for to serve 
A Potion to cure all kind of diseases and grief●●.   
and cure each kind of grief,  
he'll cell a quart for forty pennies.  
This fellow is the chief  
And finest child in casting of  
men's waters when they need.  
he'll bid the healthy get him home  
and make his Will with speed.  
Although he live from that time long,  
without all kind of pain.  
he'll make him doubt and dread his life,  
and all for filthy gain.  

† Carnifitia potius Medici quàm no●●ne dig●●.  He will persuade that men have lived  
in whoredom and excess,  
Where never reigned fond affect,  
and whoredom much the less.  
Another is so Doltlyke seen  
and learnedly beguiled,  
That when he seethe your urine, he  
will say you be with child  
Although you be a man: for sur●  
but hittie missy he  
And so full many of them play,  
so Bussardlike they be.  
O Paul, quoth Bertulph, give me leave  
to interrupt you here.  
For by your patience, I'll requited  
the tale you told while ere.  
Content quoth Paul (and with good will)  
I am right well apaid  
To hear thy tale: my talk shall cease  
till thou thy mind have said.  
There dwelled (sometime) where I was born 
Bertulph.   
a perfit cunning man,  
A good Physician well beseen:  
and so it happened than,  
That he should ride abroad to see  
a Patient of his.  
He had a man that road with him  
(a jolly Knave iwis.)  
The Doctor drove his Horse apace  
and road with merry cheer.  
He longed sore to see the place  
where Nummus should appear.  
But as he pricked forth in haste,  
by chance he did espy  
A sort of Felons in a Cart  
adjudged there to die.  
And musing what the press should mean,  
he sent his man with speed.  
To know the cause of all the crowd:  
his man performed the deed.  
And posting, soon he did perceive  
the thieves to hanging priest.  
He turned his Horse at sight thereof:  
To fly, he thought it best.  
And so he did with sturdy pace,  
He galloped on his way.  
And as a man half skarde, he fled  
as naught might make him stay.  
His Master loudly asked the cause  
why he did ride so fast.  
O Master save yourself (quoth he)  
I vice you make good haste.  
The Doctor swallowde up with fear,  
spurred Cut and made away.  
And till he came within a mile,  
his Horse did never stay.  
But when he came unto himself,  
be called back his man  
And him demanding cause of grief,  
the fellow thus began.  
O Master, thank we God (quoth he)  
for this our good escape:  
Else surely had we swinged both  
within an hempen Tape.  
For yonder, where the press was so,  
I saw three handsome men  
Which for the death of only one,  
were to be hanged then.  
But when I saw that they (for one)  
were all judged to dye,  
No need to bid me haste me thence,  
no need to bid me fly:  
For well I wist, if you were seen  
which have a number slain,  
You should have been trust up in haste  
and near returned again.  
The Doctor being thus informed,  
known not what best to say.  
He thought as childish him to take  
and lightly him to way.  
wise man you are no doubt, (quoth he)  
the vicar of saint Fools  
Go shrive you: for you have been taught  
in some well learned schools.  
Shrewd fool quoth Paul, I warrant you, 
Paul   
but fools and children often  
Do tell the truth: for all men know  
their tongues are very soft.  
But well, no doubt, yet some there be  
in London (whom I know)  
That both do get sir Nummus well,  
and well the same bestow.  
That lead no doubt a virtuous life,  
and live in Godly fear:  
That goods to get by means perverse  
at all times will forbear.  
Of those I have not talcked here,  
nor of the honest sort.  
But such as (galled) seem to kick,  
herein I do exhort  
To keep their patience when they see  
their faults reproved here.  
For sure I am that in my tale  
'gainst good doth naught appear.  
And so I leave them to the Lord,  
and bid them all adieu.  
My tongue in order must record  
such things as do ensue.  
Finis.   

The fourth satire.  
THapothecarie here I leave, 
Apothecaties & Surgeons'. Paul.   
which so for Nummus ●ugges,  
That he the people 'noys with pelf,  
and filthy stinking drugs.  
So let I pass the Surgeon,  
who with his fowl deceit,  
Doth hook sir Nummus to his hands  
and takes him at receit.  
The pelting patches will presume  
to practise Physic, and  
Will minister like learned men  
in places of the Landlord  
Let go such Squibs: I know them not.  
Yet people do complain:  
And well I wot, they use such ways  
for mere intent to gain.  
A rabblement of rascal Rogues  
as if wield harrow hell,  
I think we should not find the like  
in Pluto's house to devil.  
But let them pack, I'll pass them over.  
Perhaps there many be  
Both honest, good, and expert men,  
they shall go by for me.  
And now I'll turn me to my tale,  
and (as my course doth tend)  
To evil sort of Merchant men 
March●●● men.   
the sequel will I bend.  
Let's see (I pray) how they turmoil  
and fix their whole intent  
To catch sir Nummus by the coat.  
Let's see how they be bend  
And sole addicted unto gain.  
One runs me to the Indes,  
To Gynnie, Spain, and calicut: 
Not the deed but the inte●● is to be misliked.   
where he such chaffer finds,  
As (there although it cost him small)  
will bring him here a pound:  
Yea, ten perhaps, or else they lie  
which in such wealth abound.  
Another skuds me o'er the Seas,  
and fully fraught with toys,  
He brings them into London, where  
a●length he wealth enjoys.  
The people are so fond bend,  
they'll change their Cheese for chalck.  
And for such pelting pienish trash,  
the isle let good chaffer walck.  
O foolish, 
●ueros pew rilia decent.  fond and doltish momes,  
o men devoid of wit,  
O Capons crammed with barley corn:  
how far are stones unfit  
For such pyld palting peevish Cocks?  
how ill bestowed is wealth  
On such new fangled fondish foltes 
A Fool will not give his able for the Tower of London.   
which change the same for pelth?  
One brings me o'er a painted Priest,  
another brings a Nun,  
And shops are fraught with toys, wherewith  
are English people won.  
Another grounded well in wealth,  
(acquainted with the guise)  
Doth bring us in such dainties, as  
the man can best devise.  
Some else there be, and many such  
(chief Merchants in the Town)  
That for our Peacock's plumes do bring  
and sylcks the stream adown:  
They know the Laws do limit where▪  
and what such should be worn,  
And they such Laws to execute,  
have eftsoons office born.  
And yet for that their gain is such  
and wealth so great thereby,  
They must forbear, and winking walk.  
The Laws must lawless lie:  
And Uarlets vaunt about the street,  
like men of high estate:  
Their Hosen strowting forth with silk,  
and plumes upon their pate.  
The Raskalles now must roam abroad  
like men of honest port:  
And Strumpets stately in attire  
like Ladies must resort  
To places where themselves think best  
without all kind of doubt:  
They customde are about the Town  
and shall be born out.  
It seemeth so undoubtedly:  
for nothing is amended.  
Although the Laws have sharply set  
and punishment extended.  
Now, other some vagaries fetch  
abroad I wot ner where,  
And they bring in most pleasant spice 
Such as bring them in for intent aforesaid are to be blamed.   
with Hops and other gear:  
These make fine mouthed Gentlemen.  
For who but Merchants now?  
Who wallow more in wealth than they  
like peers I wot ●er how?  
Yea, 
I speak not of the trade but of the corruption of  who are they but Marchauntmen  
that have the costly fare?  
Who now in banquets with these men  
are able to compare?  
For such strange store of divers meats 
the trade & abuse of the same.   
and dishes finely wrought?  
Who hath the like? no man besides.  
Well-nigh it costs them naught.  
They cell so dear and take such gain,  
that well they may afford  
To set fine Marchpanes and such like  
upon their servants board.  
Thus may we see these kind of men  
how they for Nummus prod:  
A man would think that sooth they  
take Nummus for a god.  
They labour so with might and main,  
they so bestir their stumps. 
Although they have money in such price, yet evil got goods shall be ill spent.   
They exercise such ackward ways  
to bring it in by lumps.  
They scratch, they scrape, they mice, they muse  
at night when they should rest.  
They search their senses and bethink  
how to obtain it best.  
And ah alas, some do devise  
to let it out for gain:  
Such gain as at the length will bring  
to them infernal pain.  
And (not content with fowl deceit  
that they in sale do use)  
Some of them do in lone alas  
their countrymen abuse.  
Let Preachers cry and tell them o●t,  
but nothing will prevail:  
They flock, they flout, and jest at it.  
They bid them kiss their tail.  
They have no shame, but (brazen fasde)  
they stick not it to call 
A lament●●ble ca●●.   
A gainesome Occupation.  
And so the people fall  
From honest state, to plain banckrowte  
through such their Wolvish ways.  
The Commons near were so oppressed  
as in these woeful days.  
They hook, they hawk for Nummus so,  
they cog, they foist and poll,  
They lay such snares by broking means,  
that thus they Nummus toll.  
A thousand means sinister, they  
accounted and call exchange,  
Although thereby be men undone:  
the case is very strange.  
And woeful 'tis no doubt to see  
how lightly they do way  
Th'account which must be made by them  
to God another day.  
They are right wise in worldly wit:  
surpassing is their brain.  
But o, they do apply the same  
to nothing else but gain.  
And when they haat, how is it spent?  
Attend a while, and you  
Shall have it laid before your eyes  
and set unto the view.  
This day, my Lord his special friend  
must dive with him (no nay)  
His Partners, Friends and Aldermen:  
wherefore he must purvey  
Both Capon, Swan, and Her●shoe good,  
fat Bit●ure, Larcke and Quayle?  
Right Plover, S●ype, and Woodcock fine  
with Curlew, Wipe and Rail:  
Stoneti●ets, Teal, and Pecteales good,  
with Busterd fat and plum,  
Fat Pheasaunt Pout, and Plover base  
for them that after come.  
Stint, Stockard, Stampine, Tāterueale,  
and Widgeon of the best:  
Puyt, Partridge, Blackbirde and  
fat Shoveler with the rest.  
Two Warrants eke he must provide  
to have some Venison fat.  
And means he'll make for read Dear too,  
(there is no nay of that.)  
And néedefully he must provide  
(although we speak not o●t)  
Both Peacock, Crane, and turkeycock,  
and (as such men are wont.)  
He must foresee that he ne lack  
cold bakemeats in the end:  
With Custards, Tarts, and Florentines,  
the bancquet to amend.  
And (to be short and knit it up)  
he must not wanting see  
Strange kinds of fish at second course  
to come in their degree.  
As Porpesse, Seal and Salmond good  
with Sturgeon of the best  
And Turbot, Lobster, with the like  
to furnish out the feast.  
All this they'll have, and else much more,  
sides Marchpane and green Cheese,  
Stewed wardens, Prunes, & sweet conserves  
with spiced Wine like lees.  
Gréeneginger, Sucket, Sugar Plate,  
and Marmaladie fine:  
Blauncht Almonds, Pears and Ginger bread.  
But Pears should we assign  
And place before (as meet it is)  
at great men's boards: for why,  
Raw fruits are first in service still,  
Else Serving men do lie.  
But now me thinks, one quips me up  
and spurs a question here.  
He says (forsooth) that I mislike  
to have men keep good cheer.  
In deed, the stomach overchardgde  
and man full gorged with meat,  
Doth make the mind and inward man  
unfit for reason's seat.  
For change no doubt annoys the man,  
and meat not well endued,  
Doth make the same scant half a man  
it reason be renewed.  
And what of this? should this reformed,  
house keeping now depel?  
Not sure, for hospitality  
becomth them very well.  
But that this cheer is always such,  
I plainly do deny.  
Some feast great men for friendship sake,  
and let the poor go by.  
They rather do't to oppress the poor,  
and by such friendship got,  
The poor have naught within their hands  
which they get to them not.  
For what through friendship wealth & force  
no one enjoys the thing,  
That (if they like) some will not soon  
into their clutches bring.  
But goods ill goat, are evil spent.  
And how can they bestow  
Their wealth on poor and Preachers true  
Which through deceit did grow?  
No f●e, 'twere shame and fowl reproches  
t'ave beggars at their board:  
An't seems (some think) all ill bestowed  
that's spent t'increase God's word.  
For (worse than this) some cannot bide  
t'ave beggars at their gate,  
Nor not repined when Preachers live  
in mean and simple state.  
O Labirinths of loathsome lust,  
O hellish human hearts,  
O beastly belching belly gods  
that thus their store convarts:  
O lumpish Luskes, that liefer had  
to have of Uiands store:  
To win the Rytchman, then to feed  
the beggar at their door.  
O stony hearts, that more esteem  
a Monkey tied with chain,  
Then their poor brother, for whose sake  
Christ Jesus sufferde pain.  
O wicked Wights of wolvish kind,  
which so the lambs denowre,  
And cranckly cram themselves with spoils  
of needy souls each hour.  
And (more than this:) for how doth walck  
Sir Nummus day by day?  
How trudgeth it to buy the Wife  
and Daughter fine array?  
They must not go as other do.  
Wherefore, they must devise  
To have them known from common sort  
by some new-fangled guise.  
'tis meet therefore, as they do not  
with court-like Dames compare,  
Even so they should from townish wives  
their garments new repair.  
And so (forsooth) his wife must have  
prepared out of hand,  
Gay garments of the finest stuff  
that is within the land.  
She must have Partlet, Square & Lace,  
with Chain about her neck:  
She must have costly kind of change,  
and all things at her beck.  
Her Daughter also must be clad  
well like a Lady's fear,  
And all to walk about the street  
with her true Lover dear.  
What tho? Forsooth, she must not wed  
but with some wealthy man,  
And one that must be grounded rich,  
though honest when he can.  
And thus I say (aswell 'tis seen)  
fair Par●ell must be pranked  
And walk at will: whereby it haps  
often times that she is banckte.  
And all through means even of her Sire  
which so consumes his good,  
And joys therein, more than to give  
the hungry wretch his food.  
Chance some men see good deeds they do.  
But in good sooth not I  
(Though many nought) can understand.  
'Twere sin on them to lie.  
And now, as some you see to scrape  
by vile sinister ways:  
So may you see them spend as ill  
in these our later days.  
I mean for so much as they spend,  
But well have we to weet,  
Their hoarding and their Chesting up  
is all as far unmeet  
As this their expense and filthy trade,  
as this their prowling guise,  
As this their building all for gain  
and profit to arise:  
As this their hateful vile contempt  
of poor and needy Wights:  
As this their robbing and their stealth.  
As these their sinful slights.  
The poor complain and wanting, cry  
through hunger half forepinde:  
And some through want, about them have  
their fainting breath resigned.  
And yet their Coffers farced lie.  
Their Bags are filled at full.  
But wot you what? it is reseru'de  
For Tib his pretty Trull,  
And Dick his Boy that dapper lad:  
which for his sake, perchance  
Even both of them, when he is go,  
will make sir Nummus dance.  
But always this is not the cause  
of such their spiteful hoard.  
For certs I think they never look  
at all to come aboard  
In crooked Charon's ugly Boat:  
Or else perhaps they think  
(As long they have) the Pope shall purge  
and save them all for think.  
And in the mean time ween they best  
to covered close and fine,  
And bring more too't, t'increase the heap.  
This judgement is of mine.  
Else things amiss, before expressed,  
should near so ill remain,  
But soon they would reform them well  
and make them straight again.  
Which so to do, God grant them grace.  
And cleanse their filthy minds:  
That Avarice may once decay  
which so their body binds,  
And subject makes to vile devise,  
to Usury and deceit,  
That nought they are, and will persist  
till grace do blow retreat.  
I end with them: protesting still  
I touch no good man here,  
But such as through these words of mine  
shall wrathful bent appear.  
For sure I am that many just,  
and men upright remain,  
Exempted from this talk of mine.  
Who never yet with stain  
Or spot of beastly Usury  
or vile notorious vice,  
Were once corrupted or infect.  
which are discrete and wise.  
And (truth it is) they nill disdain  
at this troth telling tale.  
And for the rest, let them adieu,  
my tongue must further vale.  
Finis.   

The fift satire.  
'tIs strange to see what small account  
men now a days do make:  
How slightly they let slip the pain  
of Brimstone burning lake.  
How fond they persuade themselves  
(at lest how they suppose)  
That grisly death shall never strike.  
That ey●e shall never close.  
O sottish sinful brittle age.  
O mad and blockish Mome.  
O doltish fool, and wilful wretch  
that here dost hope for home  
And dwelling ay unto thyself.  
How art thou wilful blind?  
I tell thee, I, thou hence shalt flit  
like dust blown forth with wind.  
Let wearish wimpled age grow on:  
let head be hoary white,  
And old be thou: yet at the last  
blackwinged death shall smite.  
But what is he can promise' here  
himself to live a day?  
Not doubt not one. Death unawares  
shall take our life away.  
And when we think us surest, then  
most often doth he strike.  
O then why do we lyngre on  
to sleepy sluggerds like?  
O, why should men thus mucker up  
such falsely got gain?  
Or why should they by wicked ways  
seek wealth for to obtain?  
But soft a while, 
Banckrowtes.  what need these words?  
as good to bold my peace:  
For lo how Bankrupts gin for gain  
to put themselves in press.  
Shall fraud lie hide unfriended now?  
Shall fowl Deceit be gone?  
Shall wily want? Not, bark a while,  
and you shall hear anon.  
Some men there be that bear a port,  
and live like to the best.  
That feast, the flow, that chop, that change,  
and practise with the rest.  
That Office bear, 
I have made a difference between the wilful and the contrary.  and worthy seem  
through wealth to wield the charge.  
That save, that spend, & bargains make,  
that keep their trade at large.  
That wart work, and wind to them  
good credit in the end.  
That get such friends as will not stick  
a thousand pound to lend.  
Often more often less: almost as much  
as they can well demand.  
For why, their credit now is such,  
that they may men command.  
But what of this? Even this forsooth.  
They'll shut up door anon,  
They'll give up office, trade and all:  
farewell, they will be go.  
When they have got the most they can,  
they will become banckrowte,  
They will no longer styfeled be  
amongst the honest rout.  
They can no longer bide the trade  
which honest men do use.  
They keep at home amongst their bags,  
They'll honesty refuse.  
They'll lurking lie like Thief in den,  
like Drane upon the spoil.  
They'll grease their lips, & fat their paunch,  
with honest Merchants toil.  
O dreyrie dregs of dampish cave,  
O fowl infernal fiends,  
O triple stinged Uipers brood,  
O hags of hellish minds.  
O Cyctops such as still devour  
the sheep of foreign folds,  
O brockish beasts with ravin gorged:  
that lurk within their holds.  
Shall dusky dross of Dytis ca●e  
deny infecting death?  
Shall Oreus spare with scalding skortch  
to noye their vital breath?  
Not sure, the pitchy burning pit,  
and Limboes flaming Lake  
Shall yolpe them up, except they yield  
the goods which they did take.  
Or else to power requited the same,  
But this they never think:  
For mark how they do still bestow  
this beastly got chink.  
And here I must advertise you  
that some besides there be  
Which often by means become banckrowte  
(as daily we may see.)  
For some exceed and so abound  
in Epicureous fare,  
That so at length they banckrowte be  
and bring themselves full bore.  
And othersome through great excess  
and proud surpassing charge,  
In brave array do bring themselves  
into Cock lorrels Barge.  
When ere saw you their Dames so nice,  
and wines so richly clad?  
When winst yo● Women ere so proud,  
or Husbands ere so mad?  
O where are Matrons now become?  
O where are Husbands grave?  
Where are the wives that took such care  
their honesty to save?  
Would Matrons walk or Wives discreet  
with silver shining brows  
From street to street? no, rather they  
would keep within their house.  
Would Matrons skud to common games  
and prank in earl press?  
Not, 'tis to vile, I loathe to tell.  
I'll therefore hold my peace.  
'tis this, 'tis this, the Bankrupts breed.  
This brings the wife ill name.  
The husband thus is bore through expense,  
and wife nought by the same.  
And now you see a difference  
'tween him that banckrow●e is  
Of vile intent, and him that falls  
through great excess of his.  
But both of these perhaps a like  
by fraud have Nummus goat,  
Though both in care and wanting pine  
sing not like doleful note.  
And now●, (as to my promise made  
at first when I began)  
I'll place sir Nummus caught by Foole● 
Fools and Roisters.   
and Roisters now and than.  
A wise man dies, and wealthy leaves  
his son in goods and lands.  
The young man (when he is of age)  
takes all into his hands.  
And straight to Court, or Inns of Court,  
he goes to lead his life)  
Where frank he is, and youthful bent  
for why, haas Nummus rife.  
Or else, if not: So he ban land  
or aught that's Money worth,  
He shall not want of Marchauntmen  
fine silcks to set him forth.  
Nor Money will they stick at all  
to lend him at his need.  
As long as aught he doth possess,  
they'll never cease to feed  
My younker and young Master so.  
And he (when once he seas  
The bridle laid upon his neck)  
is loathe much time to lose.  
For why, he wished it long before:  
And sith he doth espy  
The matter wholly in his hands,  
why should he longer lie  
Like blunt John Whoball all at home?  
Not fie, he'll haste him now.  
Both liberty and Chink enough  
himself he will allow.  
And straightway (else the world is hard)  
He meets with Copesmates, such  
As to exalt and set him forth,  
at all will nothing grudge.  
And he forsooth must foremost be  
in every brave attempt.  
Who ear be one, young Master must  
at no time he exempt.  
he'll be the chief within the Masks  
and chief in bancquet: he  
Shall sit exalted to the Sun,  
Even to the tenth degree.  
And now and then (else escapes he well)  
he'll have a spyrt at Dice.  
He wants no mates to bring him too't  
by slight and fine device.  
He must have walkings in the night:  
he must be brave and fine.  
He must be of the hoygh no doubt.  
He never must repined  
Although it be to sit it out  
all night in costly game.  
And (more than this) he must not stick  
to pay for all the same.  
And when he seemly seemeth once,  
and thinks well of himself,  
Then, than no doubt he is stirred up  
to spend this noisome pelf.  
And then (I say) with posting speed  
he must be gay decked  
In colours of his Lady, and  
therein not ●ught neglect  
That's incident to every suit:  
Of change he must have store,  
And frame himself full scatly then  
to every lusty lore.  
And doubtless then he is so drowned  
in pleasure and in pride,  
That naught at all may him withdraw:  
It hath been often tried.  
Yea, though at length he feel great smart  
through that he made away:  
Yet is his mind so haughty then,  
that he can make no stay.  
For wo●e you what, use custom brings,  
and yong●er thus doth say:  
Shall I make spare while aught is left  
and so live wanting? Nay,  
It were a shame and great reproach,  
if I that ever have  
As yet lived like a Gentleman,  
should now live like a slave.  
And so my child no changeling is,  
till all be spent and go:  
And till his mates him needy leave  
and comfortless alone.  
From which time forth if aught he have,  
whereof may Nummus rise:  
He will live shi●ting till't be go.  
Then forth of Town he flies  
And keeps the high way side (perchance)  
to live by theft and spoil:  
Till Tyburn twitch him by the neck  
and Hangman give the foil.  
So that's the end of all his wealth  
and ending of the man.  
But goods perhaps were evil goat:  
and who can marvel than  
Though that the same were all consumed  
in filthy vain expense?  
And who will doubt that gallows should  
such Dingthrifts recompense?  
But one thing I do here lament  
and 'tis most wicked sure,  
'tis noisome, vile and beastly trade,  
yet most of all in ure.  
A Gentleman his child doth send  
t'apply his studies here,  
With hope to have him do the same  
as daily doth appear.  
The youth often times declineth straight  
as apt to youthly guise:  
And sets his mind to make him brave  
with all he may devise.  
The Citizen when that he sees  
the bruit so bravely bend,  
Doth closely search the young man's state,  
and learns the whole extent  
Of all his possibility,  
which known, he will not spare  
For friendship sake unto the same  
of loan to let his ware.  
The young man having wealth at will  
and all things at request,  
Bids book adieu, and cuts it out  
as bravely as the best.  
How vile this is, let all men judge.  
how often it comes to pass,  
The youngmen brought to nought thereby,  
are witnesses alas.  
O, where is love or fear of God?  
where's faith for to be found?  
where's friendship, truth and honesty?  
Where doth not Fame resound  
The beastly pranks of wicked men?  
where's one that thinks of God?  
where's one that doubts or fears aught  
the sharpness of his rod?  
How few be there that tread the paths  
or trace Dame virtues steps?  
How many rather be there now  
that quite from virtue leps?  
O woeful case: the best almost  
do much accounted it now  
If they from vile notorious faults  
at any time do bow.  
How talk our tattler of the truth  
and Scripture still discuss?  
How live they quite contrary yet  
for all their talking thus?  
How earnest bent are men as now  
to hear the word of God?  
(I mean professors of the truth.)  
How far yet live they odd?  
They cry Lord Lord, and God be praised:  
but straight within an hour,  
That heat of there's is cold as stone.  
Such heat hath made them sour.  
O thou good God and Father kind:  
were not thy mercies great,  
Thou wouldst destroy these men with fire  
from thy supernal seat.  
O heavenly Prince of glory: and  
O thou alone Jehove,  
Thou God of grace, o loving Christ,  
yond whom we can not rove  
Or range aright: yond whom no man  
can perfit bliss attain:  
Thou only one, and all in one,  
yond whom doth naught remain:  
Give grace unto thy wandering sheep.  
Fetch home the same again,  
Sigh blood of thy hath them redeemed  
from sharp infernal pain.  
Grant grant (O God) thy holy spirit  
to guide, defend and keep  
All such as in most loathsome sin,  
are yet not fallen sleep.  
Save thy elect from noisome trade  
of worldly minded men:  
Let not the custom of the world  
their life with vices blen.  
From place to place, from street to street,  
from house to house, alas:  
Yea, and well nigh from man to man  
doth sinful living pass.  
Not words prevail, nor preaching aught,  
can turn the people's hearts:  
Not kind of thing can move their minds.  
O, death is their deserts,  
O, Hell their hire, and burning flame,  
is guerdon of their deeds:  
No one almost in heart doth bear  
the true repentant seeds.  
O, horror doth possess my head,  
And while through town I trace,  
Deep cutting cares annoyed my heart.  
to see such want of grace.  
Not sparkle, jot or small remain,  
no sign of godly fear,  
No badge at all of christian men  
doth any person wear  
Or keep almost throughout the Town,  
O, what a case is this,  
Not one to find that fears God,  
but all to do amiss?  
And all to wander from good life  
(full few alas exempt)  
And all to work that wicked is  
and beastly vile attempt?  
O God, how often do I wish  
to be divided clean  
From all the dealings in the world,  
and to God only lean?  
How often do I seek some trade,  
and solitary life.  
How fain would I departed the place  
where sins be now so rife.  
The world doth tempt, & naught remains  
in his due practice now:  
Each kind of trade corrupted is,  
alas, I know not how.  
Nothing almost is exercised  
without some vile deceit:  
Fraud, falsehood, theft and pilfering, often  
in matters are of weight.  
The worldings ween & think no doubt  
there is none other place  
But ground and grave, and so they run  
and keep their wonted race.  
What helpen tears or wailing grief?  
what aught at all prevails  
God's word sincere? They keep their course:  
they have set up their sails  
Of deadly sins and hateful hellish life.  
They run and will not stay.  
They keep themselves in darksome holes.  
They hate to see the day.  
Look look throughout their dealings all,  
and you shall nothing find  
But covin, craft, and filthy lore.  
They have good life resigned.  
Let's sift & search ourselves throughout.  
Let's rip our inward man:  
Let's way ourselves even with ourselves.  
And we shall see us than,  
And find ourselves but dross and death  
and fowl infected Swine.  
Most ugsome snapes, and creatures, such  
as I can not define,  
What faith in bargains can be found?  
What store of oaths must be  
In each compact? And yet in end  
what falsehood do we see?  
Not Merchant useth only fraud:  
nor men of greatest meed.  
But each one now that bargain makes,  
hath falsehood in his deed.  
How often and daily haps it now  
that children do begin  
Where Parents ended, and do end  
where Parents did begin?  
The parents' beggars first began,  
They end great men of wealth,  
The son gins a wealthy man:  
and ends his life by stealth,  
Or woeful wanting simple state.  
How often comes this to pass?  
'tis daily seen of common course.  
it happ●●● still alas.  
Shall wealth that's won by fraud, be kept?  
shall riches such descend  
From heir to heir? Not not, such wealth  
shall quickly have an end.  
It cannot bide, nor prospero well.  
But who doth that regard?  
Who yet for wealth most vile deceit  
at any time hath spared?  
Not one well nigh: (the world is such.)  
And here doth come to mind  
The passing pride in common sort  
which now each where we find.  
Such is their rage, and fowl affect,  
that though their bellies want:  
Their backs must bravely clothed be:  
apparel nothing scant.  
For what cause else they do reserve  
each where the Saboth day,  
But for to jest about the streets  
in passing brave array?  
The wealthy sort exceed their state,  
and mean degree the same:  
The common sort will do the like.  
So all goes out of frame:  
And Roisters ruffle all about  
and toss the Bylbow shoulder-blade,  
And to maintain such vile excess,  
behold what shifts be made?  
Such cogging, foisting, cossening:  
such filching, theft and guile:  
Such pelting, pylfring, peevish drifts,  
as are almost to vile  
And beastly to be named once.  
I'll therefore silent be:  
For sure I am such life of there's  
all men may plainly see.  
there's brothel baits, & whoring dens:  
there's lurking strumpet's lodge:  
there's stuff each-where for lusty Swash  
for Simkin, Dick, and Hodge.  
Look look the Lanes about the Town,  
and search each corner through:  
And you shall find I doubt not I  
of broken ware enough:  
Corrupt at lest much seems to be:  
so brightly shine the brows,  
So pricked & pranked, so lyckt and trimmeth  
is Banckrowtes pretty spouse.  
Search Taverns through, and tippling bowers,  
each Saboth day at morn:  
And you shall think this gear to be  
even too too much forborn.  
Take care a while to view the Skowtes,  
and wanton walking trulls:  
And you shall see how sufferance now  
good life awayward pulls.  
What should I say? Mark each where well,  
and you shall understand  
And plainly see how sin is spared  
and cloaked under hand.  
What else but gain and Money gets 
Bear bayting●on the Saboth day.   
maintains each Saboth day  
The baiting of the Bear and Bull?  
What brings this brutish play?  
What is the cause that it is born,  
and not controlled aught,  
Although the same of custom be,  
on holy Saboth wrought?  
Now sure I think 'tis gain or spite,  
'gainst good and godly life:  
It seems it is t'ynuegle men,  
whiles God's word is so rife:  
I cannot anywhere perceive  
where gain is got well:  
I can not see where well 'tis spent.  
I think no man can tell  
Or justly say, here goeth one  
(for most part now I mean)  
That justly lives and leads his life:  
that doth to virtue lean.  
But well, to God I leave this gear.  
I have been somewhat long:  
I'll turn my tale to other talk:  
I'll sing some other song.  
Finis.   

The sixth satire.  
WHat think you (Bertulph) of this place 
Paul's Church abused.   
(this Church of Paul's I mean)  
How think you of th'abuses here,  
In talk and tales unclean,  
In fearful oaths and vile compacts,  
in vain expense of wind,  
In vilely spending time therein,  
in idle chat to find  
Men occupied at prayer time,  
and other times unmeet,  
In toys, and divers noisome trades?  
(As thou thyself dost weet.)  
And sooth tell me, what thou déemst,  
and how it seems to thee,  
In place reseru'de to hear God's word,  
such Chaos vile to see?  
Of truth, 
Bertulph.  to show my mind therein  
(at lest what I have seen)  
The time (as now) will not permit:  
'tis to far spent I ween.  
Again, sith you have well begun  
of Nummus to entreat,  
'Twere pity (sure) that want of time  
should let you to repeat  
Such things again with brief discourse,  
of well proposed Theme:  
Return therefore, and make some end  
of this thy faithful dream.  
And I at else appointed time  
(for time it doth demand)  
Will nothing fail, in each respect,  
wherein you shall command.  
Well, well (quoth Paul so shall it be. 
Paul.   
I'll end my tale begun.  
I'll not be long: give silent ear,  
the same shall soon be done.  
And now, besides the great abuse  
that I whileare did name,  
Here in this Temple (day by day)  
themselves do likewise frame  
A number of our foreign Feeres 
Gentlemen.   
and men of grounded wealth,  
Our cawtie country Gentlemen  
to win this noisome pelth.  
The fertile soil that foison brings  
of goodly sheaved grain,  
The Meadow ground that plenty yields  
of Hay through little pain,  
And rankly springing pasture, which  
doth fat the fleeced sheep,  
Will not suffice their greedy minds,  
nor them contented keep.  
Not gain enough by gainsome trade,  
to them will now arise,  
Nor wealth enough can quench their thirst:  
too much will not suffice  
Or stay their lust: still lust they more.  
Not highly raised rends  
Not lofty fines can humours purge,  
nor extreme whole extents  
Can fill their hungry gaping gulls,  
nor staunch their fowl desire.  
They are so fell, that more they have,  
the more they do require.  
Their Grandsires great, of long time since,  
their Ancestors of yore,  
With sole revenues of their lands,  
have maintained evermore  
Right worthy ports, forgetting naught  
the stay of their good name:  
Well goat they wealth, in bounty, and  
well spent they still the same.  
They never (most of them I mean)  
encrocht on neighbours ground,  
Nor ere enclosed unjustly aught,  
They lived within the bond  
Of Charity and reasons law,  
contented with their own.  
They fed within their Tedure still:  
fowl fraud was then unknown.  
At lest the fraud that's now in ure.  
They near enhanced their rents,  
Nor found such beastly practices  
as this vile age inventest.  
Their own sufficed: they sought no more,  
they lived well of the same:  
Yet lived they not unto themselves,  
as their successors frame.  
They well could bide that beggars should  
have comfort at their gate:  
They were content, though that they dwelled  
by men of mean estate.  
But now not so. That Age is spent,  
and Charity withal:  
These men are not contented now:  
to spoil each one doth fall.  
They racking stretch their living so:  
such wolvish ways they frame,  
That through fine force, & pilfering shifts,  
twice doubled are the same.  
And double twice decayed yet  
howsekeping is no doubt.  
They live like Misers to themselves.  
Their neighbours round about  
Of poor estate may not approach  
nor come within their gates:  
Sometimes perhaps for fashion sake  
they do invite their Mates,  
And such as do the like to them:  
or else by whom doth rise  
Some hope of gain or getting aught.  
And thus their bounty lies.  
But this not all: for wot you what?  
They shame not now to say  
That beggars do so eat them up,  
that they no longer may  
Be able to keep ope their doors,  
nor howsekeping maintain.  
Perhaps they see some other trade  
where lies some greater gain.  
And so they do, for when they have  
once got to their hands  
By purchase, fraud, and subtle mean  
their needy neighbour's lands  
About them round (whereby of truth  
they come to great decay)  
Then shut they doors & household break  
they turn their men away.  
And hither come they tag and rag:  
here must the gain be had:  
Here be their charges very slight:  
yet pelting twice as bad  
As ear it was. The Country house  
is broken up through charge,  
The lands are let, and fines are raised:  
whereby comes in at large  
Grand sums of Coin: which gotten once  
is strait to London brought 
Usurers are Caterpillars in a common weelth   
To bring increase. (O hellish trade)  
and thus the means are wrought.  
In bank is laid the mighty Masses  
the gain whereof may be  
Enough to maintain them at ease,  
Nay thalfe thereof we see  
Doth well suffice: for but one man  
or two at most they have.  
And they themselves do Tables haunt,  
and so sir Nummus save.  
And at a mean and slender price,  
themselves, their men and all,  
Have meat and drink even of the best  
well served at their call:  
And with revenues of the stock,  
right richly are they clad.  
And so from thence their braving state  
and all the rest is had.  
The ste●ke as whole reserved still.  
and often (such is the trade)  
That from the grand stock flows so much  
as petty stocks are made.  
And here the caterpillars haunt.  
In Paul's forsooth they use  
To spend the day to make their mart  
and harken after news.  
Was ever seen such state confused,  
such monstrous kind of men,  
Such vomit, reffize, Dunghill dross?  
what man can tell me when  
such watch, such ward, such winking wiles  
were ever put in urs  
In time tofore, or such foul fraud  
sir Nummus to procure?  
In faith, and by my saving health,  
full hardly can I find  
A man amongst a number now  
of uncorrupted mind,  
And such a one as hope of gain  
will not procure to sin.  
I think full few be living now  
whom meed may nothing win:  
Or whom that wealth may never wind  
from Gods prescribed law.  
O earth, O sin, O Satan's thralls:  
How do we still withdraw  
The grace and love of God from us?  
O how do we regard  
Moore, noisome coin, than health of soul  
or hope of good reward?  
I think if I could persevers  
one Month in this my tale,  
I scantly should the half descry  
Of fraud, (for why) in sale  
And each compact, the sole regard  
of gain is always had:  
And thirst of score, each where almost  
doth make the people mad.  
O where are bits to bring them in,  
and laws to lay their rage?  
O where is faith, or fear of God  
in this presumptuous age?  
Each one doth live as likes him best,  
the laws do lie for gain.  
Besides deceit and vile devise,  
doth nothing now remain  
Within the hearts of English men,  
far fled is all remorse:  
All love of God, all fear of plague,  
and Keysers mighty force.  
How prodde our Papists privily? 
Papists.   
How do these men purvey?  
How prowl the Caytives now about,  
for Nummus day by day?  
Here, in this Church a walck there is  
where Papists do frequent 
The Papists walk in Paul's.   
To talk of news among themselves:  
and often the time is spent  
In glad recounting of their state:  
which though not at the best,  
Yet joy they still to see how men  
in aid thereof be priest.  
And now comes one and cheers them up, 
The walk is in the south I'll.   
he tells them with great joy,  
That Pope and Spaniard joined be,  
God's people to annoyed.  
By solemn protestation comes  
an other by and by  
He tells how that in Flaunders still,  
the Gospelers do dye  
For sole professing of the truth:  
and with a cheerful face,  
He shows how fast the Sheep are slain,  
abroad in eary place.  
And what great towns are now besieged  
and Cities round about.  
And how God's word decays apace,  
even all the world throughout.  
Another new fond fellow comes,  
and he begins to tell  
How Popish Champions landed are,  
and Irish men rebel.  
How holy father's blessing brought  
in Bishops sacred bres●e,  
Hath made the land before profane,  
now holy as the rest.  
And how that Stukley lost his life,  
among Barbariens late,  
A marquess of the Romish mark,  
O too untimely fate:  
His part (alas) was yet to play  
in places nearer hand.  
He meant and bend his forces he,  
against the Irish lands  
But what this marquess left undone,  
Mack Morice he contrived:  
And hotly 'gan pursue the charge,  
But ah, it never thryued.  
For Martyrlyke▪ he lost his head,  
a loss (in deed) to wail:  
Scythe holy Father, through this loss,  
of his intent doth fail. 
Have you not seen the knack to know knaves by. compiled by many kanues?   
Great Sacks of news are poured forth  
in that same worthy walk.  
And knavish knacks are there de●nsde  
whilst that they stately stalk  
About the place like honest men,  
and subjects true of heart.  
From that same place do rumours rise  
God's truth to overthwart.  
From that same place do slanders come  
and vile reproachful lies  
Against God's word and Preachers true.  
From that same corner flies  
Lewd scoffing testes and taunting tales:  
there do these Rebels coin  
Their subtle drifts and noisome tales.  
Yea, there do they conjoin.  
And cleave like burrs with solemn vow  
the truth for to resist.  
And doubt there's none, for why? I think  
that they will so persist.  
Until that Satan snatch them hence,  
the Grandsire great of lies:  
And till through want of vital breath,  
they may no more devise.  
What kind of men be these (I pray) 
Bertulph.   
that thus themselves in ure?  
What, are they open foes professed  
that by these means procure  
The slander of the certain truth  
and teachers of the same,  
Or Ipocrites that covertly  
the Gospel do diffame?  
Once, Bertulph, 'tis well known to thee 
Paul.   
that small restraint there is  
For papists tongues that proudly prate,  
(how ere they gabbe amiss.)  
They talk from fear of check at large.  
But yet of them there be  
That press amongst professors true,  
and well with them agree.  
For why, their livings so do lie,  
that but they seemed such,  
They never could aspire so high,  
nor yet obtain so much  
As now they do. O janus Jacks  
and double faced Dogs?  
O wily winking wizard Wolves,  
O grunting groining Hogs?  
These men (I say) forswear themselves  
(As perjured Papists do.)  
They grant the Queen is supreme head  
and murmur at it to.  
But what of that, fine fled heads  
well fraught with trim devise  
And civil sleights, without remorse,  
such scruples count unwise.  
And so through sharp and wily wits,  
And through far fetching brains,  
They mount aloft to honours type,  
and come by greatest gains.  
And these be they that under hand  
the truth do still annoyed,  
And let the working of the word  
in such as might enjoy  
The sweetest salve of saving health.  
Such lay the loathsome snares,  
And when good seed is sown, forthwith  
such men sow noisome fares.  
Yea, such I say (as to my tale)  
lay wait by wily ways  
For Nummus: and to get the same,  
are priest at all assays.  
These be supporting purveyors  
for Papists now suppressed  
These rankly feed the pampered Swine  
upstalled in their nest.  
These foison bring, and brokers set  
through bend of popish crew,  
And these men foster Balamites  
To whom revenge is dew.  
These men are sale abettors of  
the cursed Priests of Baal:  
And these men shavelings do suffulse,  
which else would have a fall.  
Is't marvel though they cranckly crow  
well lodged in their cage?  
With proven pricked, is't marvel now,  
That thus the tiger's rage?  
What need have they to yield themselves  
unto their lawful Queen?  
For what intent should subjects they  
at any time be seen?  
They want nothing, no pleasant lodge:  
of viands they abound,  
Both Uenion, Wine, and finest cates.  
almost that may be sound  
They do enjoy: yea, and such store  
as true report doth say,  
That (rather than the poor should haat)  
they cast their scraps away.  
And in good sooth, their wealth is such  
and dainty fare so rife,  
That worldlings will not blame their wit  
to lead such captive life.  
And fools they were if they would not  
be persecuted so:  
Yea some of them so sore be hurt  
that broad they ride and go.  
They walk and wallow at their will:  
they hawk and hunt yfere  
With such as have the charge of them:  
they quat●e and make good cheer,  
Set Cock on hoop, with hope that once,  
a dare shall pay for all:  
Mean time they will not die through care  
nor from their treason fall.  
Why paul (quoth Bertulph) mercy will 
Bertulph.   
perhaps so pierce their heart,  
That through the mercy of the Prince  
they will to truth convert.  
Nay Bertulph, 'tis so far that they 
Paul.   
with mercy should be won,  
That vauntingly they brag and say  
bound duty will have done  
All that is done: and (thus) they crack  
that if the Queen by law  
Or conscience could them guilty damn,  
she would not stand in awe  
To sand them to their doom: nor to  
restrain their tongues so lose.  
Thus bleat the Popish Balamites,  
thus creaks the romish goose.  
And what, should mercy here be showed,  
or can the sante prevail?  
Not not, as long as mercy is,  
their tongues shall never quail,  
Nor heart obdured once relent:  
nor common state be sound.  
For how can gentle salve do good  
or cure the festered wound?  
How can the body be in health,  
that is with Biles infect? 
I mean those of the only that have been distained with the blood of the lords Saints.   
Or Tree spring well that hath dead sprays  
unless you do resect  
The branches of? What man so mad  
will show himself to be,  
As aught to hope for leaves or fruit  
to come from rotten Tree?  
How can the state of Christ his flock,  
be fenced from decay:  
Unless the higher powers do cast  
the stumbling stocks away?  
How can the Lord of truth be pleased,  
when such false Prophets live?  
How will he like to have them kept  
his seely Lambs to grieve?  
And doubt the tyrants now to say  
that time shall come again  
Wherein the blessed Saints of God  
by them shall suffer pain?  
Not not, they fear not to protest,  
that where they put to death  
Of late but few, for earye such  
shall twenty lose their breath  
In time to come. O bloody beasts  
and foul infected Swine?  
But these be they for whom (no doubt)  
men scrape and so purloin:  
For whom these factors have such care  
and passing great regard:  
For whom they poll the Preachers true  
these Monsters to reward.  
And hate of there's so heinous is,  
their rancour hath such force  
Against the Gospel of the Lord,  
that (void of all remorse)  
They eft procure Pluralities  
For vile disguised Jacks.  
They glad and joy, to see the Church  
sustain such woeful lacks.  
And they again, a Priesting sort,  
attired in their kind:  
Do creep into Cathedral Cells.  
their charge they have assigned,  
To be discharged per auters mains,  
themselves will live at ease,  
They force not what become of flock,  
so they sir Nummus seize,  
And Nummus do they seize in deed,  
which seized buyldes no Schools:  
Nor makes no stocks for men decayed,  
no Bertulph so plays fools.  
But here you may not take me so  
as if I did defase  
Without respect, the good with bad  
in each Cathedral place.  
Much less that I depraved have  
all Preachers so attired  
In Priestish weeds, as Popelings were,  
and as their state requyrde.  
Not: far and far, be this from me,  
for why I know right well:  
That in these Priestish weeds there are,  
full many that excel.  
Nay Bertulph nay, then blame have I  
if so my words be meant:  
For some of these attired thus,  
in peaceful wise are bend:  
And brawl not with their brethren, who  
neglect or clean refuse:  
And therefore great unjustice 'twere,  
such Preachers to accuse.  
Although I wish (that's all I may,)  
that Preachers might be known  
From Popish Jacks in weeds and words  
a thing confused grown.  
But hushed, I'll haste me to the shore:  
I'll shun such mounting waves.  
I'll leave this Sea for to be swam  
of triple tongued Naves.  
FINIS.   

The seventh satire.  
NOw hearken Bertulph to the end 
Paul.   
of this my present tale.  
I am enforced my floating Boat  
to shore from course to hale.  
The time runs on, the day is spent,  
The night awayward pulls,  
And endless scope of my pretence,  
down pressed palate dulls.  
O endless power, O wellspring, whence  
all wisdom wisely flows:  
O God, whose grace doth guide the good,  
in whom all bounty grows:  
Thou know'st the hearts, & seest the reins  
yea, thinward thoughts of men  
Do open lie before thy face:  
Thou know'st how, where and when  
Each thing hath, is, or shall be done  
or else committed: thou  
Haste perfit view and insight good  
which way man's heart doth bow.  
Thou, thou, I say, sole God of might,  
beholdest the hearts of men,  
What they pretend, what ill they work:  
so justly judge me then,  
And shut thy mercy from my soul,  
if slaundrously my lips  
Do ope at all: or if my tongue  
of vain presumption skips  
From this to that, or rashly run  
more than the truth doth urge,  
Or more than that through extreme rage  
and force of sinful surge  
I am constrained with deep remorse  
and moaning plaint to tell.  
O, o, how many brothel Bawds  
within the town do devil?  
How many filthy scudding scouts,  
bestir their crooked stumps?  
For gain, for gain, old mother B  
how she still limping lumps,  
And proddes about with ackwarde pace  
unto her beastly haunt?  
How do these subtle groining Sows  
poor seely girls enchant,  
And often abet the loved spouse  
to start from husband's bed?  
Behold I say, how by these Bawds,  
are women captive led  
And simple maids unto the spoil.  
Behold and see their trade,  
See, see, what wily winking shifts,  
by cliff browde beasts are made.  
Of course and custom, common Inns  
they watch with wary eye  
If that at any time they may  
(as often they do) espy  
The country maids that come from far,  
as strangers to the town:  
Whom still the Trots do tittle so,  
that strait all shame laid down.  
They yield themselves as captive queans,  
unto some whorish cave:  
Where trotting jade for filthy gain  
doth urge them to behave  
Full soon themselves vile strumpet like  
to live by whorish trade:  
And she herself doth let them forth  
that gain by them be made.  
But (out alas) the Maiden's minds  
and coming was tobtaine  
Some service where to spend their times  
as servants to remain.  
O ardent force of flaming sin.  
O rage, O riot, O  
That ever such should be sustained  
or once on ground should go?  
Behold behold how good men's wives  
Inuegled are by them?  
Behold how servants they support?  
Behold how they do hem  
And hook to them through crooked guile  
And undereating craft,  
Great store of Trulls? Behold I say  
how often is bereft  
By them alas the fruitful wife,  
of her most loving mate:  
And husband bearing honest port,  
of wife in that same rate.  
Behold also how honest Maids  
and servants they entice  
To whoredom, theft, and filching by  
their devilish vile device.  
But where are these? how should we know  
where such lewd Lossels lodge?  
Where is their haunt, & where are they  
accustomed thus to dodge?  
Round, round about the City walls.  
Within and eke without.  
The Alleys, Lanes▪ yea open streets,  
and places all about  
Are now replenished with such stuff,  
and filthy broken ware.  
And (wo begone) the Officers  
thereof do take no care.  
For if they did, how dared the Drabs  
and Callets be so bold  
As limp about in lawless times  
or take into their hold  
Young fillock jylles, and bawdy Jacks  
at inconvenient tides:  
And still retain for storeware some  
within their house besides?  
How dared the Dunghills dance about  
with blind vagaries so,  
And with close colours lead their trulls  
where that they list to go?  
Behold, behold, how camoysed quean  
and crafty crooked crib  
Doth under vile and lewd pretence,  
(most like a subtle gib)  
Pretend to place in service still  
young maidens here and there.  
And maidens having refuge such,  
behold how they ne fear.  
To pilfer, filch, and to purloin  
from Master and from Dame,  
And in the end to give the slip  
and serve no more the same.  
Which all doth spring from wimpled B:  
and old deceitful Bawd,  
And how to her the gain doth rise,  
which she by theft so drawde  
Besides revenues of the tail,  
and foreign filched good:  
Behold how thus like carrion Crow,  
she lives by filthy food.  
another sort of them advert  
some old, some young yféere,  
That walk about with Brushes, Pins,  
with Tape and other gear.  
But well, sith that the camps be wide,  
wherein as now I walck:  
I leave them here, intending once,  
at large therein to stalk  
And sever places by themselves,  
with styles and parting stakes:  
And as I can, to my poor skill,  
rescind the noisome brakes.  
For treating now of broking Bawds,  
and filthy Panders, I  
Have cause therein full many such  
vile people to descry.  
For why the husband now is priest,  
to put his wife for gain  
Unto her choice to be an whore,  
or honest still remain.  
And so it is: else how could they  
thus strumpet like attire  
And set them out? 'tis too too true,  
they let their wives to hire.  
O great excess, how long could I  
retain your ears herein,  
If I but briefly should discourse?  
(So great a scope hath sin.)  
But as I said, so shall it be:  
I leave it to my pen,  
Which (granting God) hereafter shall  
at large dilate it: when  
Both time shall yield herself thereto  
and mind (as only bend  
Upon the same) shall beat at full,  
with perfit true intent.  
Mean time, with one thing more, I e●  
which (sith the day is passed)  
I'll comprehend in briefest words:  
and this shall be the last.  
Whereas before, of broking Bawds  
my former tale was told,  
Of Brokers likewise now to tell 
Brokers.   
my Pen shall be so bold.  
For why, their deeds be damnable:  
and they in number so  
Do still increase, that day by day  
by them deceits do grow  
In such abundance, that (alas)  
I fear, I fear as now,  
All dread of plagues clean set apart,  
to fraud men's minds do bow:  
Sequestered clean from Godly love,  
and so from Godly fear,  
That rich to poor, where gain doth lie,  
will ravin naught forbear.  
And (out alas) where heretofore,  
(pricked forth by thirst of gain)  
Within the Town, of Brokers, they  
did thirty such ordain,  
Or thereabouts, shrewd wily Mates  
and witty winking Colts  
(Although in wisdom sure I think,  
they showed themselves but dolts)  
To use the trade of broking, and  
discreetly so the same,  
That if the world should view the Act,  
they might be void of blame:  
Whereas (I say) of late this act  
decreed was for intent,  
That Broking trade might practised be  
by men so well ybent,  
That reason ruling them therein,  
(though God's word doth forbidden,  
And clean condemn all loan for gain)  
their fact might so lie hide.  
Now now alas, 
I speak of the intent as it hath fallen out sithence such order made.  (O sinful fact)  
the Magistrates, herein,  
Not so content for to dispense  
with such an heinous sin,  
Do altogether clean neglect  
by them such order made:  
Whereby whole hundreds now do live  
by beastly broking trade.  
And in such sort do they demean  
themselves, and so devise,  
That horrible it is to tell  
which way their gain doth rise.  
Our gentlemen in these our days  
(as sooth goes report)  
In time of need, to Marchantmen  
are wonted to resort  

* Gentlemen, when they can get no Money of loan, are glad to take, wares whereof Money may be made.  And take of loan such wares, as they  
best like of: yielding there  
Themselves to bands, and surance good  
to pay for all the ware,  
Which when they have with thirsting hope  
once taken to their hands, 
Note the subtlety of the Merchant which uttereth his wares in such sort, and that also for v●une   
For ware, scant half may they obtain  
for to discharge their bands:  
And so perforce constramed are  
to sue for broker's aid,  
By whom they think to save themselves:  
And so the goods are laid  
In broker's hands: who handle them  
so handsomely I trow,  
That all the gain that may be had,  
doth to the Broker grow.  
For (at the lest) one part thereof  
he keeps unto his share:  
And yet unto the gentleman  
he yieldeth for his ware  
Perhaps much more than he himself  
could have obtained therefore.  
He nicks him, and besides he takes  
a crown in earie score  
For payment of his pains therein.  
O execrable crime?  
Were ever seen such subtle shifts  
in any former time,  
As are in this our present age?  
what should I think therein?  
No doubt, no doubt, that men as now  
do snorting sleep in sin.  
The Lethargy or some such ill  
doth rifely reign abroad.  
They are down priest with monstrous sins  
and yet sustain the load.  
What craft is coined day by day?  
what fraud afresh is found?  
What new devise and strange deceit  
doth in this age abound?  
I fear, I fear, true dealing now  
deryded is with men.  
I fear me they do practise Faith  
and Truth but now and then.  
But (as unto my former tale.)  
Is this the worst they use?  
Will Broker use this only theft  
and other fraud refuse?  
Not not, the varlet vengeablye  
can coin more noisome drifts:  
He hath his bouget fraught with fraud,  
and Foxie knavish shifts.  
Well escapes the debtor, if he do  
three parts thereof obtain.  
Nay, oftentimes he's glad to take  
one only part again.  
For broker when he hath the goods,  
at leisure will repay  
The same by piecemeal: and perhaps  
for all his foul delay,  
The debtor shall be glad to take  
on quarter of the same.  
If this be well, (as true it is)  
than nothing's out of frame:  
And all may be right well forborn,  
as it hath been full long.  
But happed the same to Magistrates,  
they would redress the wrong,  
And not set light by such deceit:  
nor winking, let it lie.  
Had they such loss, they would I say  
redress full soon espy.  
But who cares aught, so gain be had,  
and wares be made away?  
They utter by such means their wares.  
Why then, what hurt have they?  
They shall be paid, who ear do lose,  
and gain shall they by lean.  
Although the debtor lose the half,  
yet they'll take heed to one.  
And oftentimes (such is the faith  
of these vile broking knaves)  
When they have got the dettors goods,  
they will like roguing slaves  
Some of them show a pair of heels:  
the Rakehells will be go.  
They'll run away with goods and all,  
though life lie thereupon.  
And doubtless, many of them do  
so practise now a days,  
That they come up and rise to wealth,  
by such ungodly ways.  
Some of them use such privy shifts,  
and such close couched wiles,  
That they come up and bear good port  
And only live by guiles.  
And other some so slavish be  
and cutthroat cullion leek,  
That when they have a booty goat,  
they'll straight way give the gléeke,  
And pack away. As, now and then  
is brought into their hands  
A Chain of Gold, a Tablet or  
some bracelet golden bands  
By Gentlemen to lay to pawn  
For Nummus when they need:  
Which, when they have once in their hands,  
they'll pack away with speed.  
I tell you Bertulph, on my faith,  
if I should now dilate  
The vile deceit of Brokers, and  
so set to view their state,  
You scantly could abide to héered,  
so horrible it is.  
But thus we must consider on't,  
and so I ends with this.  
Where that the state corrupted is  
by them that bear the sway,  
There meaner people will pervert  
and bring it to decay.  
If Magistrate do win with fraud,  
the commons will the same.  
If Magistrate must wink for fear,  
than all goes out of frame.  
And so I end till time renew  
this tale of mine begun.  
I tell you truth, there rests yet  
much more ere it be done.  
But here you have unto my hest,  
declared (as I can)  
How Nummus is awaited for  
by most men now and than:  
And how the same is put to use  
most wicked now a days:  
And how it is by men abused  
in spending many ways.  
You eke have heard expressed here,  
how often times it is  
For hoard kept close and cofferd up.  
I have delated this.  
Now rests that I do declare  
how he hath harmed me.  
But this (as I intend) hereafter  
shall dilated he:  
For (doubtless) herein doth consist  
a thing importing wait,  
To show how Nummus doth deceive  
by Satan's subtle sleight.  
And sith I do intend at large  
of this (God granting grace)  
To writ hereafter, now I end:  
and (with erected face)  
Unto my God great thanks I yield,  
that so hath been his will  
To guide my tongue the thing to speak  
wherein doth rest such ill.  
And pray we heartily unto him  
to mitigate the pain  
And plague which for our monstrous life  
as due doth now remain.  
Amen.   

The. viii. and last satire.  
The Author.  
THough Muse have made his final end,  
and Pen have run his race,  
Yet careful custom causeth me  
to wail the want of grace.  
And quaking quill renews the plaint  
that lurckes in pensive breast  
Commixed with cares that flow from head  
full fraught with great unrest.  
The time back beats mine idle brain  
that labour gins to leave:  
And rage of sin returns the grief  
my silent pause to reave.  
How shall I safely seek the shore?  
How may I shun the seas,  
Until that Triton blow retreat  
and mounting wave appears?  
The dawning day doth keep aloof,  
and Loads man loseth aim:  
The ryffie rock doth lie in wait  
my beaten bark to maim.  
And yet when day shall once descry  
the danger of the surge,  
Then shall my poop due course observe  
and glide through crooked gurge.  
Mean time betost with great turmoil,  
and tempests bitter flaw,  
I'll keep myself amid the stream:  
and yet a while withdraw  
My Pen from port of quiet pause.  
For time doth urge me so:  
The time alas infect with sin.  
Yea time wherein doth grow  
The rage of sin and riots force,  
the romping Serpents guile,  
With all deceit that may be found:  
yea sin almost to vile  
To be expressed or set to view.  
But such is Satan's force:  
Such are the hearts of vanquished thralls,  
clean frustrate of remorse.  
Call call to mind you careless crew:  
Lay custom now a side:  
And let your faith with faithless fruits  
herein a while be tried.  
Confirm the life that you do lead  
And ratify the same.  
And then let's see how wilfully  
you wander worthy blame.  
First Avarice, what force it hath,  
what cursed cancer 'tis, 
The canker ●f covetousness is cause ●f all evil.   
What running rot and cureless wound,  
to men apparent is.  
What great enorm this sin hath wrought  
What thirsting hath procured,  
The block, the tree, the beggars bag  
such sequel hath enured:  
And yet how ryfely now it reigns,  
how grafted in greedy minds,  
How grounded 'tis in people's hearts,  
a proof our living finds.  
Not one abandons beastly trade,  
nor maketh stay at all  
To practise fraud and fliching lore  
so gain thereby may fall.  
The rich doth say his goods for gain,  
and gapeth still to get  
The substance of the needy soul  
that got the same by swett.  
The needy (not unlike) devise  
and seek by subtle drifts  
To scrape for coin, and gain to win,  
do seek ungodly shifts.  
So charity excluded is:  
and love is kept aloof.  
And right is wronged through reward,  
as falls still in proof:  
And Userie about the Town  
is maintained as a trade:  
And equity to ease the wrong,  
in matters dares not wade.  
But well, the Sin shall not be hide  
nor cloaked from the view.  
I will explain the practice here  
in words that do ensue.  
The cormorant that coucheth ●vp  
and crams his cankered bags,  
Doth give to hoard his gotten coin:  
and bout the town he lags.  
To Broker doth he bend his course:  
or haply unto him  
The Broker bannes and weans a mate  
for purpose very trim.  
And between them two are crafts conveyed  
and foxy falsehood wrought.  
between them are traps so framed, that  
thereby is Nummus caught.  
O God, what gain doth guileful gnuffe  
by loan of Nummus raise?  
How doth he neck the debtor now  
by haut exacting ways?  
Ten powndes in hundred, nothing is▪  
and twenty is but small.  
For half in half full oftentimes  
in loan among doth fall.  
A seely man constrained of late  
to borrow for his need,  
Repaired unto a Merchant man  
to borrow on his deed  
The Merchant (as it is of course)  
had Money none to lend:  
But wares he proffered willingly.  
and Dettor in the end  
The same become: and took to loan  
as much as did amount  
To thirty pounds of currant coin  
by Marchantmans' account.  
Which wares so taken up to loan,  
to Broker are they brought:  
The Broker to the Merchant he  
(of whom the same were bought)  
Full falsely doth return them straight:  
who now twice gains thereby:  
For first he sold and now eftsoons  
the same again doth buy.  
So that when this our seely soul  
should raise thereof the sum:  
Above the price of twenty pound,  
the credit will not come.  
For ten in thirty could vouchsafe,  
the Creditor to have  
For recompense in Usury.  
O careless cankered slave,  
O cawty cutthroat, cullion, wretch,  
O caterpillars Féere,  
O miserable Murderer,  
Canst thou abide this gear?  
¶ The time is now at hand wherein  
thou strait accounted shalt make:  
Wherein thou shalt Hell fire gain  
for gain that thou didst take.  
O Usurer, thou Satan's thrall,  
and Butcher of the Fiend,  
Thy Gold shall be transformed to muck:  
thy plagues shall never end.  
But as thou dost thy Ocker use  
to oppress thy neighbour here:  
Even so the scorching flames of Hell  
thy caitiff corpse shall dear.  
Thy rusty hoard ascendes the sky:  
thy dettors harm doth mount  
Unto the high supernal seat  
to call thee to accounted.  
Thou greedy Gleade, thou hungry Hawk,  
thou starveling vulture's mate,  
How dar'st thou thus by ravin seek  
to maintain thy estate?  
I see how thou canst soar aloft  
like hungry Hawk tespye  
And catching Kite, when pray shall spring,  
for best game bend to fly.  
I see thy subtle lagging pace,  
and crafty coloured guile:  
I see thy false dissembling sleight:  
I see thy plaited wile.  
Thou hast devised by the Month,  
for gain to let thy ware:  
Thy money eke from month to month,  
thou canst right well forbear.  
But for each shilling (Caitiff thou)  
in surplysage will't take  
A penny: and of twenty shillings,  
twenty pennies make:  
And (in that rate) for forty pound,  
so lent out: in a year,  
Thou will't receive twice forty pounds  
of lawful Money clear.  
Thou wéenst to welter here for ay,  
and wallow in thy wealth:  
Thou never thinkest to see the day  
to part from this thy pelth.  
But I will tell thee Cormorant,  
thou fallen and eager drone:  
Each penny shall accountaunt be  
which thou hast let in loan.  
And though as now the law be thy  
to say beneath thy foot:  
Yet than the furies by decree  
shall rend thy heart at root:  
When as the libel of thy lust  
and bayliwick abused,  
Shall thee condemn to Limboe pit  
and scalding lake confused.  
FINIS.   

The Author upon the Book, in the defence of the government of the City.  

TWo sorts of men repair unto this Book.  
The one to carp and cavil at my words:  
The other through delight, thereon doth look:  
And reading it, true judgement well affords.  
He deemeth strait (when haply I reprove)  
That mine intent is vices to remove.   

But now, tappease and satisfy the mind  
Of such as rashly run with open mouth  
At my reproof which often here they find,  
I thus much say to them in my behove.  
I mean, I touch, I quip no private man  
For hate, ne spite since first my work began,   

Nor yet do I (with childish rage stirred up)  
Seek to deface a worthy common state  
Of such as seldom drink of sinful Cup  
By matter such as I do here debate.  
For I protest, I know no matter why  
I should so do: sith no man can deny   

That in the Town are divers sorts of men  
By whom the virtuous are supported still:  
With whom the wicked may at no time blen  
Their noisome drifts, nor work the thing that's ill:  
By whom the poor and needy are sustained:  
And eke with whom true zeal hath still remained.   

I mean both Judge, Phistion, Lawyer and  
The Merchant (whom even all I must commend)  
With other else which in my Book do stand.  
I say, of them there be whom to defend  
I need not here. Their lives avoid the blame,  
And through good life, they win immortal fame.   
FINIS.   

Gentle Reader, for the filling up of empty pages, this letter written by the Author to his friend lying at the point of death is inserted.  
SIr, how and in what wise every man should bear himself toward his friend in time of health, in time of prosperity and strength, most men know: yea, such is the untruste that is in man, more men can speak plausibly in time of good hap, as we term it, then in time of sickness judge uprightly. Alas, in time of sickness and in assaults of death (wherein the body is not more grievously oppressed then the mind diversly distracted and the soul mightily assaulted) how few do consider, or at the leastwise, do apply themselves to the relief of the poor afflicted soul, to the strengthening of the feeble mind, and to the repelling of those bitter temptations and assaults of the common enemies of man kind, the old Serpent, the vain, wicked and unconstant world, and the frail, perverse and rebellious flesh which always do attend and attempt the sick enfeebled and oppressed person? Surely, were it not that God in time of such extremity doth mightily comfort and confirm such as be his in the promises of his mercy, in the death of his dear Jesus, and in the merits of his passion: it is not possible but that sickness should be intolerable, death horrible, Hell wictorious, the body living, to be a terror to the mind, and the mind so terrified and brought to desperation, to be the perpetual damnation of the body and soul.  
Which thing considered, and from my very heart remembered, I cannot choose but in this blessed battle, and I trust (though somewhat sharp and eager) yet most happy conflict whereunto (as a fellow soldier, and adopted brother) you are called for your trial, I cannot choose I say, but, to the increase of your courage, endeavour to make plain unto you in all that I may, the fruit of affliction and the commodity of death: imparting with you such weapons as for mine own store, the Lord our Captain hath allotted unto me, to the end, that being conveniently appointed, you may resist and avoid at all assays, and become bold, valiant, constant and perseverable to the death. Touching which death, notwithstanding it be grievous to the frail flesh, yet is it most joyfully to be received as an undoubted end of all grief, for why? it is the beginning of joy and perpetual triumph whereupon a certain godly man writeth. If thou hadst a good conscience, thou wouldest not fly death. And again, why haste thou pleasure in that wretched body, whose fellowship doth nothing else but violently withdraw and detain thee from the king▪ come of everlasting glory? O cousin: what else but a place of exile is the miserable body to the Soul? And to what thing else may this our life more aptly be compared, then to an horswaie or stage play where men do assemble to behold sundry feats, and where every man laboureth in all that he may, to win praise, promotion and authority after the end of his tragical part: God only is permanent immortal & ever lasting: All things else are transitory and subject to corruption. They be constituted corruptible and mortal, and must be consumed of time, and ha● their ends by corruption. The S●●e shall pass, for it was made but for man's use. The Moon, and the stars shall perish, for they were created but for the necessity of man. Heaven and earth shall decay, for they contain but a place of exile and prison for the body of man: yea, the body of man also shall perish, for it is but as an enemy to exercise the soul, and to make it apt to apprehended by faith, the Joys of heaven and crown of immortality. Most certain (I say) it is that the frail body shallbe resolved to earth, & there shall sleep till the soul return unto it, and till the members be restored to their right places. Wherefore, sith earth and corruption is the end of the body: yea, the end of all things that were made & created, and that the same end of the body is the beginning of life, wish for death, wish for a peaceable departure, and finding the same, embrace it: saying in your heart: Come Lord, come Jesus, make haste and tarry not: Come Lord that I may be one with thee and coheyre of the kingdom purchased with thy precious blood. Dear cozen and beloved in the Lord, let not long sickness discourage you, neither be you in anywise perplexed or grieved with the low state and constitution of your body: And in and above all things, let not hindrance in worldly affairs disquiet you. As you have begun, so further the will of the Lord, and be ready to receive whatsoever he will lay upon you. For the greatest affliction & misery that man may or doth suffer in this life, is not worthy the least of those treasures which God will bestow upon him in the life to come, which is durable, permanent, glorious & altogether full of blessedness. And assure yourself (for so God hath promised, and will not go one jot from his word) that he will say no more upon you, then by his grace and strength you shallbe able to hear, although he seem somewhat sharply to correct you, and somewhat severely to deal with you: for who is he whom the Lord chasteneth not? Surely, surely, whom he loveth, the same doth he chasten, & in him is he delighted as the father in his son, offering himself unto him as a dear father to his son: whereas if we refuse chastycement, we are no sons, but bastards, and not inheritable by any right. joseph was afflicted and delivered by y● Lord. David was chastised, and he acknowledged the Lord and found relief in his Soul. Tobias was corrected, and he found health. job was tried & was made perfect. What should I say, even all the Apostles, all the Prophets: yea, and all the good men that ever were, have been tried by affliction, choose by persecution, and crowned by patience, abiding the will and pleasure of God. Wherefore, be strong in the Lord, & desire of him in your heart the his will may be wrought in you, & that you may with a glad heart receive whatsoever his Majesty shall lay upon you. Assure yourself that this your present sickness is either for punishment of sin, for exercise of your faith, or to that death. And therefore, if it be for punishment, beseech him to give you patienceand assure yourself upon repentance, to have free & full remission in Christ: If it be for trial, give him thanks: & if it be to the death, rejoice in it, & think it is the greatest gift that ever he gave you in this world, being the very passage to the heavenly and Angelical Paradise. And pray even from the bottom of your heart, that neither the love of the world, nor the fear of the same death, may distract you from the desire of it. Be not careful to leave your kinsfolckes, friends, and acquaintance, let it not grieve you to part from your goods, nor have any love depending upon any earthly thing whatsoever. As for your Kinsfolks and worldly friends, at your Grave they will leave you, and within a while after forget you: and shortly after that, shall dye themselves, and be forgotten themselves also. Your goods willbe fawning upon other men, assoon as the breath shallbe out of your body: and even as they served you, so are they ready to screw an other, and perhaps to his perdition, without the special grace of God. To conclude, lift up your heart, & call together your wits, which are dispersed and diversely affected to things which are corruptible, and fall not from God, for things that are so deceitful and vain. A battle must be, no question: Not triumph is obtained without fight, neither any Garland given, but to him that manfully standeth in the Lord. If any sorrow be found in death, it ariseth but of our own infirm or desperate fear: for death is but a swift flight or passage of the soul from the corruptible body, rather to be desired then to be fled from of men. God is the rewarder of this conflict, & heaven is the eternal stipend. Wherefore, let these gifts provoke you to esteem this battle the lighter: for cheerfully shall you pass after death, into the pleasant Camps of heaven, which place is convenient for those that have minded heavenvly things. The saints of heaven will receive you as a friendly companion of there's into the portals of clearness, whereas you shall find very glorious abiding. Thus shall you (at the last) come from grievous cares and from large continuing troubles into a peceable rest and mansion of quietness. In the Paradise above or like place of pleasure among the departed Saints, shall be your continuance, having all the heavens at your pleasure. A celestial song willbe uttered at those recreations, and so sweet melodies as are able to move the Stars. With the Saints, I say, departed hence shall you live, and with them shall you reign in heaven with your Redeemer: so much glory hereafter shall you have, and so much heavenly honour. What should I say? In that place is eternal pleasure, and a life replenished with perpetual felicity: yea, in that place shall the glory of the Godhead be revealed unto you, and seen with your very eyes: even with those your eyes of flesh, which from the foundations of the world hath been hidden from mankind in this his mortality. finally, there shall you wait upon the Lamb, your Saviour Jesus, who surely loves you and rejoiceth that he hath saved you. God Cousin, assure yourself that in this blessed place you must needs be.  
And that as surely as your saviour lived here upon the earth, so surely you must and shall reign with him in the heavens. For there is he, there is that Saviour your head who can not nor will not be separated from any of his members. As for the weight of Sin, how heavy, how heinous, how huige and burdensome soever it be, cast it all upon him, for therefore he died, and not for small sins only, but for all the sins that mankind hath committed, doth or shall commit from the beginning of the world to the end of the same. It is his only and great glory to be a Saviour. And for that cause is he ascended to the heavens in our flesh, and will in no wise deceive those poor seely one's upon the earth that cling unto him for help and salvation. And whereas (haply) you may fear, because of the weakness of your faith, which now in your extreme and last battle (if so to be the Lord have appointed it unto you) is diversly assailed and assaulted: Be of good comfort and pluck up your courage, for that meek Saviour will not cast you of: not, he will not cast of his séelye creature though he be able to touch but the hem of his vesture. It is told us in the sacred scriptures that he will not quench the smoking flax nor break the bruised reed. O, he is gentle, & will make all perfect that in the poor soul of man is unperfect. He knoweth and hath felt how hard a thing it is for poor man, to stand upon his legs, when he hath to deal with those ghostly and ghastly emmies: Satan, the world, and the flesh: but especially in the agony of death. O how well acquaiuted, is he with those conflicts? Fear not cousin, fear not: If your faith be but as a grain of Musterdséede, you shallbe saved. That Saviour hath said it. And as for those wounds and scars that these bloody enemies have made or shall make in your feeble soul, that heavenly Samaritane shall bind them up again, and shall suppling them with the oil of his grace, so that they shall not hinder you a whit. He will in no wise disdain you, no: although you were as fowl as a Leper. For what are they but sins? what are they (I say) but soul and loathsome sins that his precious blood hath washed and shall wash away in mankind, so long as mankind shall have place and abiding in the Tabernacle of sinful flesh? He knoweth, yea, he knoweth and that thoroughly, what poor man is & whereof he is made. And as he knoweth him, so he pitieth him, and thereof hath given him a a sure and everlasting Testimony: For he hath died for him: he hath died, (I say) for man, that man might live with him for ever be saved. In him therefore be comforted, and upon him only repose your whole confidence, to the last gasp of your life: say unto him, if not with a loud and strong voice, yet softly in your sick soul. Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Come Lord and make haste. Into thy hands Lord I commend my spirit. etc. And so saying, weight patiently when he shall come unto you, and put a final end to your happy conflict. To the same Lord, being God in trinity, with the father and the holy Ghost, be all honour praise and glory eternally.  
Amen.   

Imprinted at London by John Charlewood, and Richard Ihones.