HORNBYES' HORNBOOK.  
judge not too rashly, till through all you look;  
If nothing then doth please you, burn the Book.   depiction of master and student 
By William Hornbye, Gent.  
London, Printed by Aug. Math. for Thomas Bayly, and are to be sold at his shop in the middle Rowneere Staple Inn. 1622.   

TO THE HONOURABLE AND HOPEFUL YOUNG Gentleman, Sir ROBERT CARR, Baronet, W. H. wisheth increase of all honourable virtues.  

MY honest, humble, harmless horning-book,  
From whence young Scholars their first learning tool  
To you I dedicate (true generous spirit)  
Your early towardness, and virtues merit  
A fare more worthy work, than here I can  
Set out, that ne'er was Academician:  
Yet in my homely verse (perhaps) you'll find  
Something, a little which may please your mind.  
My book's but Harden to some Holland wit,  
And so with homespun plainest best doth fit;  
For in a plain and honest simple style,  
There lurks no craft, no subtlety, nor guile.  
Here is no vain, nor yet profane discourse,  
To make you by the reading be the worse;  
I would not stain your thoughts with such a book,  
Nor have your chaste eyes on such follies look.  
This in a manner doth but plainly show  
How Scholars do begin, and how they grow  
To Learning by their industry and pain,  
That rich inestimable gem to gain.  
(The Hornbook is at first Arts Nurse, from whence  
We suck the milk of our intellîgence)  
We must be perfect in our letters all,  
 we to spelling, and to reading fall.  
By this Original, we win (indeed)  
The Muse's glory, if we so proceed:  
And as this book (sweet Sir) but young appears  
So tis respondent unto youthful years,  
Fit for your young days and minority,  
Until you come to seniority.  
Into my mind this cogitation came,  
Unto yourself to dedicate the same,  
Presuming of your favour, and your love,  
That what I writ your virtues will approve  
Upon your face, although your years be green,  
The portraiture of modesty is seen.  
Though in the Teens you scarce have entered yet,  
You have a manly Carriage, pregnant Wit.  
God be your good guide, and your happy speed  
Even as you have begun, so to proceed  
In honourable virtues worthy Car,  
To make your name shine like the Morningstar.  
Thus Honourable Sir, I take my leave,  
In hope you kindly will (this mite) receive.   
Yours in all humble service, W. H.   

TO THE WORSHIPFUL YOUNG GENTLEMAN, THOMAS GRANTHAM, Esquire, Son and Heir to Sir THOMAS GRANTHAM, Knight; W.H. wisheth all Health and Happiness.  

BEtwixt two Roses, I a Lily place,  
Three flowers most sweet, and lovely flourishing,  
All hopeful, by God's blessing and his grace,  
In Virtue's Garden sweetly up to spring;  
A true and worthy Gardener they have  
From choking weeds, them to preserve and save.   

God was assistant to so wise Elector,  
When first he chose so sure a friend indeed  
To be his children's Guardian and Protector,  
Who with an honourable care, and heed,  
Kindly respects his dear posterity,  
Which sure shall lift his honour to the sky.   

To you sole Son unto this worthy Knight,  
I likewise dedicate my simple Muse,  
Conjoining you together, as 'tis right,  
Because a Sympathy in love you use:  
As you are Fellows both at School and play,  
(I hope) I blameless join you partners may.   

And thus relying on your kind affection,  
That courteously you will this book receive,  
I boldly shrowded it under your protection:  
And here in brief I humbly take my leave,  
Wishing your virtues to grow more and more  
In multitudes, like Sand upon the shore.   
Yours most officious and obsequius in what he can, W. H.   

To the Worshipful and virtuous young Gentleman, Mr. Rochester Car: W.H. wisheth increase of all spiritual and temporal blessings.  

RIght (generous Sir) I kindly you entreat  
To be Copartner, for to patronise  
This little Orphan of my brains conceit,  
Which to you also in all humble wise  
I dedicate; my Muse shall still engage her  
As well unto the Minor as the Mayor.   

And thus my love in equal balance peasde  
I equalise your worths with equal thought,  
My only wishes are, you would be pleased,  
Kindly to take what my poor wit hath wrought,  
Your kind acceptance is my chiefest gains,  
I wish no greater gurdeon for my pains.   
At your service to be commanded, W. H.   

TO THE READER.  

MY Brain now (gentle Reader) 's brought to bed  
Of that a while she painful laboured:  
●ypen a careful Midwives part hath played  
●o see her of her Orphan safely laid,  
Wrapped up in rags of mean intelligence,  
Without the Robes of learned eloquence:  
And though she be she's not abortive borne,  
Though rhetoric her shaps did ne'er adorn:  
Nor is she of a base and bastard strain,  
Her Parentage is honest, simple, plain,  
All of her Father, true Inventions getting,  
As 'tis most honest, requisite and fitting.  
She is no filtch-line of another's wit,  
Such Theft she hateth and abhorreth it,  
And she dare look even with a modest grace,  
Her better Muse with boldness in the face.  
A Cottyers' child may be as truly got,  
As is a Courtiers every way, why not?  
As fair and lovely too in shape and face,  
And even as well adorned with inward grace,  
And prove as faithful, just, and plain a man,  
For he ne'er temporise, nor flutter can;  
He doth not know the art of Adulation,  
He never is acquainted with such fashion,  
The difference of these two in this appears,  
Th'one Robes of silk, th'otherraggs doth wear:  
Even so although (this homely brat of mine)  
Doth want rich robes of Art to make it shine  
Through out all places, where it happily goes,  
Yet mere simplicity, and truth it shows.  
The two collauded, and applauded springs,  
Where all the Muses most delicious sings,  
Within their arms did never me enfold,  
Nor did my eyes their glory yet behold;  
Such bliss to me (alas) did ne'er belong,  
I had the greater injury and wrong.  
Then (gentle Reader) if that title fair,  
With thy good nature I may right compare:  
Pardon my Muse, which for no ill intent,  
Into the world I homely here have sent.  
Here is no envy that at all doth lurk  
In this my harmless Muses little work:  
And if that any discontent doth grow,  
'tis not my fault, but theirs which take it so.  
Those people then whose consciences are clear  
From all such things as I have written here,  
Accept my minds true meaning and good will,  
More than my rhetoric, my Art and skill;  
If some cannot commend it nor defend it,  
Then in their wisdoms let them kindly mend it:  
If neither; cease then a malignant tongue,  
And do a harmless honest Muse no wrong.   
Yours, as you like him, Cornu-apes.   

HORNBYES' HORNBOOK.  

THe Hornbook of all books I do commend,  
For the world's knowledge, it doth comprehend.  
There is no book under heavens copious cope,  
Of mighty volume, large and full of scope,  
Composed of the pure quintessence of wit,  
But sure the Hornbook full containeth it.  
What ever can be written, read, or said,  
Are first of letters framed, composed, and made;  
Each word, and sentence are in order set,  
Derived from the English Alphabet.  
Of all chief learning, literature and Art,  
The Hornbook is the ground, which doth impart  
A world of Science; and great Art and skill  
Comes from the Hornbook be it good, or ill;  
And I have reason to colland the same,  
Because 'tis sounding somewhat near my name.  
The Rtoritian, and the great Logition;  
Th' Arethmatition, and the black Magition;  
The learned Physician, and the acquaint Musician;  
The grounded Grecian, and the sound Hebritian,  
Which mount Parnassus' 
* Vni●ersity.  Hill; and not to seek  
In English, Latin, Hebrew, and in Greek.  
And all that deeply politic are found,  
Had first their knowledge from the Horn-bookes ground▪  
Great learned Preachers of Divinity,  
Which with the heavens have near affinity;  
Profound sound Doctors of the Moral Law,  
First from the Hornbook did their reason draw.  
And from Christ's Cradle, to his bloody Cross,  
In Christ-crosse-row is Charactered each loss,  
And great affliction that to man doth fall;  
Being taught by Patience how to bear withal.  
There's an old saying to be understood,  
And yet (in deed) is not so old, as good:  
In my beginning God be my good speed,  
In grace and virtue that I may proceed.  
So virtue is the Alpha of God's grace,  
How we should run th' Omega of our race.  
And what is Patience but a virtue pure,  
Which to the end all Crosses doth endure:  
He that hath Patience, is a perfect man,  
And well is skilled the Christ-crosse-row to skan:  
Patience is even the ground, from whence proceeds  
All goods conceits, and charitable deeds.  
And charity is even the firm foundation,  
On which a man doth found his soul's salvation.  
Then to conclude, these virtues first do flow  
From the Original, the Christ-crosse-row.  
The little Infant that receives his birth,  
To pass his pilgrimage upon the earth,  
Takes first a respite, and a time to grow,  
Before he comes unto the Christ-crosse-row;  
And at his Baptism, even from the Font,  
Receives the Cross of Christ upon his front,  
In sign that he should never shame, nor fear,  
The Cross of Christ and Christian life to bear.  
For three or four year's space, like to a lamb,  
He spends his time in sporting, and in gam:  
His wanton courage somewhat then to Cool,  
His Parents puts him to a petty School.  
Then after that, he takes a pretty pride,  
To wear the Hornbook dangling by his side:  
And was it not well armed with plate and horn,  
'Twas in great danger to be rend and torn:  
For in his sport, sometimes he falleth out  
With his Schoolfellow, so they have a bout  
At Buff, and counterbuff; the Horr-bookes than  
Are all the weapons for these stout tall men;  
As 'tis agreeing with their childish years,  
They briefly fall together by the ears  
For a small cause, their quarrel doth begin,  
Even for a Point, a Counter, or a Pin,  
And as a trifle small their friendship broke;  
Even so a toy, them friends again do make:  
For they (good Lads) in malice cannot sleep,  
Within their breasts they anger never keep;  
So to their sports they fresh again do fall,  
As if they had not fallen out at all: 
The good nature and disposition of Children.   
For he to learn yet, cannot well betake him,  
But finding toys, & sports, sits down to lake him  
With Top, and Top-stick, and his Eldern-guns,  
And never thinks of time, how fast it runs;  
And thus with such like laking, childish play,  
He many times doth pass the time away,  
Until his Tutor with an awful hand,  
Not sternly though but with a mild command,  
Makes him affect his book, not with a twig,  
But with a Nut, an Almond, or a Fig.  
And having so the child's affection won  
(He saith) sweet Lad come, and thy Hornbook con.  
And so the A.B.C. he first is taught;  
From that to spelling, he is after brought;  
And being right instructed for to spell,  
He learns his Syllables and Vowels well.  
Then with due teaching he doth well consider  
By's Master's rule how he may put together.  
The Hornbook having at his singer's end,  
Unto the Primer he doth next ascend;  
When his capacity, again doth alter  
From that, he goes into the holy Psalter;  
Then next to that, into the Book of Books  
The sacred Bible modestly he looks;  
As in a glass, where he may plainly see  
Both what he is, and what he ought to be.  
How that he was conceiu'd-and borne in sin,  
Since his first breath to draw, he did begin:  
There he may see that he's a mortal man,  
Subject to sin, and hard resist it can;  
There is a sovereign salve most gracious sent  
To heal sick souls which truly do repent;  
There he may see, that sin original  
Came first from Eve and Adam by their fall;  
Before the Masculine I here prefer  
The Feminine, because she first diderr:  
The woman with enticements did begin  
To draw old Father Adam unto sin;  
And since her first disease, it still infects  
Unto this day a number of her sects.  
There he may see by the first Adam's fall,  
A second Adam did redeem us all  
With bis most dearest blood, shed on the Cross,  
The greatest gracious blessing that e'er was.  
And as the Proverb old doth teach us, so  
We first must creep, before we well can go:  
So from the Hornbook we must first incline,  
Before we can attain to things divine.  
Divine or humane, or in what degree  
Of Art and knowledge, what so e'er it be;  
And as the Bible is the well of preaching,  
Even so the Hornbook is the ground of teaching;  
Yet ●e not hold my argument so strong,  
To do the Accidence one jot of wrong.  
A second worthy ground there is in truth  
Of learning, apt for more able Youth:  
But yet he cannot unto this attain,  
Before the Horn book doth direct him plain;  
By skill, good will, and times experience,  
He enters strait into the Accedence:  
There's the true ground Gramarians ground upon,  
To climb unto the Hill of 
* University.  Helicon:  
To that, they're brought with charge & large expenses,  
To know their Monds, their Cases, & their Tenses:  
By that they're learned to scan and prove a Verse;  
And also how to Construe, and to Perseus;  
Then with the Latin Abcee they begin,  
And so from step to step, more skill do win:  
Puriles next is used in Scholars making,  
In which Youth gather profit by pains taking.  
By viewing Cato, there they may rehearse  
For good examples, many a golden verse;  
Ovid's lascivious book, in's ●rt to love,  
Is good to read, but not so good to prove.  
Tully for eloquence doth bear the bell,  
For a sweet style, he doth the rest excel.  
Corderus Dyalogues doth true relate  
Good precedents for youth to imitate.  
Terence a worthy book, and ready means  
Timboulden boys, by acting of his Scenes.  
In Ovid's Metamorphosis is had  
divers examples, that are good and bad:  
There Phaeton through pride did get a fall,  
A goodly precedent for pride to all;  
For he beyond his skill, needs would assay,  
That which turned quickly to his own decay.  
Actaeon, for his longing, and his lust  
After chaste Dyna, was transformed just.  
Narcissus that proud self-conceited Else,  
Loving his shadow, fond lost himself.  
There may they find Diana's dignity,  
For simple pureness, and pure chastity:  
With diverse more examples I could write,  
But time will not permit me to recite.  
Virgell, a book that doth exceed the rest;  
And Horace, equallized with the best.  
By these good means, and Gods assisting grace,  
They run the happy heliconian race;  
If God preserve their labours, and their health,  
They prove good members in a Commonwealth  
As Musterd-seed of all the seeds that be, 
Simile.   
Is the least grain: but yet by proof we see,  
The flittering fowls of heaven may live & breed  
In those large branches that from it do spread;  
And though it be (indeed) a grain but small,  
Yet doth it bear a sound round price withal.  
Even so the Hornbook is the seed and grain  
Of skill, by which we learning first obtain:  
And though it be accounted small of many,  
And haply bought for two pence, or a penny,  
Yet will the teaching somewhat costly be,  
Ere they attain unto the full degree  
Of Scholarship and Art: for at a word,  
It first doth hatch the 
* Vni●ersitie chollers  heliconian bird,  
Learning; a precious gem I do account,  
Which doth all treasure in the world surmount;  
It is a blessing, if it well be used,  
But to a curse it turns, if ill abused;  
Learning's a Ladder, grounded upon faith,  
By which we climb to heaven (the Scripture saith.  
And 'tis a means to hurry men to hell,  
If grace be wanting for to use it well:  
So the Hornbook without God's grace-guiding still  
May be an introduction unto ill;  
To every one God doth a Talon give,  
To try how they can prosper, thrive and live.  
That profitable servant that hath four,  
If frugal, shall have thrice as many more;  
He that hath three, his labour shall not cease;  
For to enrich him with a great increase.  
He that hath two, with diligence and pain,  
Shall be requited with a double gain;  
And that same slothful sluggard that hath one,  
If fruitless buried, shall be sure of none.  
And now my Hornbook I may rightly apply  
Both to the Clergy, and the Laetie,  
How many Pastors are there, 
Careless and unprofitable shepherds.  that should feed  
Their flock (alas) yet starve them in their need  
Which do that worthy function much neglect  
For worldly causes, or some by respect,  
Who the regardless hirelings part do play  
That care not how their sheep do go astray,  
But leave them all at random, here and there,  
For greedy Wolves to spoil, devower, & tear;  
These ill deserve (I say) in such a case,  
Their liuings, learning, and so worthy place:  
These are blind guides, blind in their inward sight,  
Which grope at Noontide, with a Candle light.  
(Methinks) neglect of this their sacred function  
Should strike with horror, a most sharp compunction  
Into their Marble hearts: for there's a woe  
Pronounced 'gainst those, which slip their duty so;  
Who more respect the world, and worldly pelf,  
Then for to profit others, or himself  
In soul's salvation; such desire to gain  
The riches of this world, which are but vain:  
Like Isops Cock, which of more worth did deem  
A Barly-corne, than gem of of great esteem.  
These kind of scatter-graces right are found  
Like him that hide his Talon in the ground:  
For such as these I mourn, & make great moan,  
They better never had the Hornbook known.  
Yet many a City, 
Provident and careful Pastors.  many a Town is blest  
Here in our Land, with Pastors of the best,  
Who take most earnest pains, and honest heed,  
Not for to fleece their flocks, but them to feed,  
And with a special care, and conscience cause,  
Reform the wicked to religious laws:  
So they which sit in Ignorance black night,  
They do enlighten with their splendent light.  
These are true Shepherds, even to Christ's desire,  
And he'll reward them with a Heavenly hire:  
Blessed are they, that ever they did know  
The Hornbook, and the happy Christ-crosse-row.  
The great grave worthy judges of the Land, 
Just Judges   
That do with care and conscience understand  
The poor men's causes, be they right or wrong,  
To give the right, where right doth true belong,  
(I hope) will with my Hornbook free dispense,  
Knowing that knowledge is derived from thence.  
Before we learn, we learn to know each letter,  
Or else to learn to read, is ne'er the better.  
And to all gentle justices of Peace, 
Upright Justices.   
Who do their Talents (in their charge) increase,  
In doing justice with a single eye,  
Without respect of men, or bribery,  
My Hornbook very humbly I commend,  
Hoping that learning they will still defend.  
To all Schoole-founders, 
Schoole-founders  that have ever been  
Most beneficial unto Scholars seen,  
By Schools errecting, and protecting those  
Under their favours, which in learning grows  
To full maturity; these do support  
Poor Scholars in a charitable sort,  
These happy Stewards have their Talents spent  
Pleasing to God, and for a good intent:  
To these my Hornbook likewise I commend,  
Knowing the Muses they do best befriend. 
Lawyers and Attorneys.   
The busy Lawyers, and the brief Attorneys,  
Which every Termtime take most tedious journeys  
To toil, and moil, to ride through thick & thin,  
And all to bring their fees more roundly in;  
Whose only labours to this purpose tends,  
They would have all men rather foes than friends,  
Because by controversy they do gain,  
And concord makes them beggars, they complain.  
These from the Hornbook first did draw their skill,  
Good cause have they to bear it great good will.  
A Constable's a judicious man, 
A Con●●able.   
If he perform his Office wisely can:  
But if unlearnedly he do amiss,  
(Alice) the Hornbook was no friend of his.  
The learned Poet, 
The learned Poet  that in Poetry  
Doth mount aloft unto the lofty sky  
In high conceits, through divine inspiration  
Who for his Art, is held in admiration;  
That which I writ, will grant for to be true,  
And give unto the Hornbook praise due.  
The Third-bare Poet, 
The Threadbare Poet.  or the Ballad-maker,  
That of lassivious Rhymes, is full partaker,  
And bawdy songs writes with his unchaste pen,  
Which stink i'th' nostrils of virtuous men:  
These show the very dreggs, and froth of wit,  
Which an unprofitable, and unfit;  
These did at first the Hornbook learn in waste,  
Whose wits ill spent, give even as ill a taste.  
And the Pet-Poet I must not forget, 
The Pe● Poet.   
Which with good liquor doth acute his wit;  
And when 'tis got a little into's Crown,  
He makes his Pen to gallup up and down;  
Writing a song like unto Smug and's Daughter,  
Or some such odd conceit, procuring laughter.  
These make brave songs, and for their greater graces,  
Sing them in private, & in public places.  
To these (I say) as Drink doth them embolden,  
So to the Hornbook they were first beholden.  
The Free-Schoole-Masters, 
The Fre●… School Masters  which pains do take,  
Good Scholars fit for Cambridge to make,  
Were Infants first themselves, and little Boys,  
Which did delight in trifles, and in toys,  
And at the Hornbook likewise did begin,  
Before they do such good preferment win  
(Where youth is brought to reverence and grace,  
I hold a very venerable place.)  
But yet some bad and basely do abuse it,  
Because they want discretion how to use it,  
Knowing no mean, nor mediocrity  
In their correction, but extremity.  
As for example, I will here be bold  
To tell a tale, the like was never told;  
In the brave History of valiant Guy,  
You shall not read the like for verity:  
Nor in the Mirror of Knighthood can be found  
The like; for there huge lies do loudly sound:  
This is plain truth, I pray you note it well,  
It is no feigned fable that I tell.   

A Tale.  

I Still remember, when I was a Lad,  
Long after I the Hornbook learned had,  
I passed over every petty book,  
In which young Scholars first do use to look;  
When as through care and cost, I then began  
To be a pretty good Grammarian.  
Unto the Free-school I was forthwith sent  
By my good Parents, with a good intent,  
(That learning still my mind might more adorn;  
A sweet light burden, that is easy borne.)  
Now I begin to tell a tale of sorrow  
Even of my tail: I went to Peterborrow  
To reap more learning, then before I had;  
But yet I proved more backward, and more bad,  
By reason that my Masters strict correction,  
Turned quite from him my love, and my affection,  
That unto learning than I had no mind,  
To which before I greatly was inclined.  
Before a Christmas time, 
Scholars desire liberty to play, but the event was costly.  we did conspire  
Against our Master, for to have desire  
Of liberty, for double pains we took  
All the year long by toiling at our book,  
With many a woeful smarting lash beside,  
Which our poor buttocks patiented did abide.  
So with a general and free consent,  
We shut him forth of doors incontinent;  
For this did strongly for our reason stand,  
It was a common custom through the land,  
And since that others did attempt the same,  
If we should not do so, it was a shame.  
This we resolved, and this we did perform,  
Which made him for to stare, to stamp, & storm;  
But yet we cared not for his threatening words,  
We stoutly stood with Pistals, Pikes, & Swords,  
Even like a little Army in the field.  
He could not daunt our hearts, nor make us yield;  
Though we were boys, yet we by this exclusion, 
Manly hearts in Boys breasts.   
Showed in each one a manly resolution.  
Four nights together we were prisoners kept,  
The boards our beds, on which we nightly slept,  
And for our victuals, they were never scant,  
For we found friends that did relieve our want:  
Yet were abundance faint and Capon-hearted,  
That from their business very basely started.  
Of sixty proper Scholars that were found,  
But six of sixty that would stand their ground;  
Hearing great threats, the rest durst never stay,  
But like right Cowards ran with speed away.  
Had these been Martial men, then Martial law  
Would sure have held them all in better awe,  
They durst not then have ruined away at all,  
For fear of hanging, that might after fall.  
Thus were we six even left unto ourselves,  
By reason of those base white-livered Elves:  
The residue like fools, and shallow-witted,  
Went to their Master, and themselves submitted;  
Because (indeed) their bumbs began to itch,  
They all went crouching for to save their britch▪  
Thus they esteemed more their neither part,  
Then foul disgrace, which woundeth some to t'hart▪  
Some carried tokens, bribes, and petty gifts,  
To save their tails from heating by such shifts.  
But all this while we very stout did stand  
Unto the exploit that we took in hand;  
Nor to our Master would we yield a jot,  
Till a false pardon fond we had got:  
For he like to a false pernicious Wretch,  
Did violate his word, and conscience stretch;  
He vowed unto the Bishop and the Dean,  
For that offence he would remit us clean:  
But afterwards (alas) too true we tried,  
That he like a perfidious villain lied;  
We one by one were brought a little space  
Unto the woeful execution place.  
Unto the Bishop's Bach-house we were led,  
Where they do use to make, and bake his bread▪  
Over that house there certain Chambers were,  
Where we were brought the, with no little fear,  
All intricate; and winding to and fro,  
As if we in a Labyrinth did go.  
When I came there, my heart began to fail,  
To see such cost provided for my tail:  
For he provision privily had got,  
Which made my brich toasting, it was so hot;  
There was prepared Rods a large●elne long, 
Scholar whipped, peppered, and salted at Peterborow.   
Of tuffe-red-willowes binded very strong;  
Pepper and salt he did together blend,  
Full half a peck he on our tails did spend:  
Twixt every four yerkes, we a handful had  
On our bare bumbs, which almost made us mad.  
This Tyrant-part he played, and ne'er gave o'er,  
Till he had given us lashes, four times four.  
Thus he had seasoned well unto his thinking,  
Our woeful tay les, to keep them all from stinking:  
And sure (I think) that he did understand,  
He Haunches had of Venison in hand;  
For I'm persuaded, never man did know,  
That ever Scholars tails were powdered so.  
It was no boot for to resist at all,  
Our strength (alas) and number was but small,  
Our fellows did our fellowship forsake,  
And on our Master's side they all did take;  
We force and help, and weapons all did lack,  
Which made our hinder-parts to go to wrack.  
Whilst we to shut him out did undertake,  
This Bach-house he a School-house then did make,  
And so some fifty of them there he taught,  
Where we to this same doleful place were brought,  
I would himself the cruel smart had felt,  
Which by his devilish savage hand was dealt,  
Then should he know, that our so small a falting,  
Never deserved peppering and salting.  
For my own grief, to me it was best known,  
I felt no bodies sorrow but my own;  
I was in such a woeful case, I'm sure,  
That in no certain place I could endure:  
My tail did smart, I every where was flinging,  
As if a swarm of Bees had there been stinging,  
I could not sit, nor lie, nor stand, nor go,  
The salt and pepper vildly plagued me so.  
Thus have you heard a tail of lamentation,  
Even of our tails great grief, and sore vexation;  
As sure as I the Hornbook first did know,  
So surely is he named in this Roe.  
This true we found to our great smart and pain:  
Now to my Hornbook I return again.  
Young men and Maidens, when they first do wed,  
And chastely enter in their nuptial bed,  
Not suffering lust their bodies to beguile,  
Nor marriage rites, to spot and to defile,  
According to that solemn vow they make,  
That they each other never shall forsake  
Till death departed, come poverty, come wealth,  
Come painful sickness, or come perfect health:  
To these a worthy praise belongs to either,  
When they in Matrimony join together  
In a Conjunction Copplative most chaste,  
And of their neighbour's Commons make no waste.  
To these the Hornbook proves not cross, but when  
Women do teach it unto married men.  
The filthy Lecher, that on drabs and queans,  
Consumes his flesh, his marrow, and his means,  
Making his body to resemble most  
A sink, than temple of the holy Ghost;  
Who cannot be contented with a wife,  
Nor yet live honest by a single life.  
The married man may be compared (indeed)  
To a rich thief which steals, yet stands no need,  
And for so grievous and so great abuse,  
With his best cunning cannot plead excuse  
To save himself; Gods sacred Malestie  
Did preordain a means and remedy  
'Gainst fornication; and to hate that vice,  
He honoured Marriage first in Paradise;  
To this intent, he did that honour give,  
That all therein, might honourably live,  
Without infringing of those nuptial bands,  
By which united are both hearts and hands.  
The Bridegroom with a Ring his Bride doth wed,  
In sign none should participate his bed:  
And as a Ring that hath no end but round,  
So should no ending of their love be found▪  
But they which other women's kindness prove,  
There is a breach of Wedlock's honest love.  
These do even Hell for a just stipend earn,  
And so (indeed) the Hornbook backwards learn.  
Both married wives, & maidens here may look,  
With modest eyes upon my Horning-booke:  
My Hornbooks honesty will theirs affront,  
If that they can vouchsafe to look upon't;  
If they be chaste, it chastity embraceth;  
It taunteth vices, and true virtue graceth:  
And though the Hornbook be my books right style,  
Here's no lascivious lines yet, to beguile  
The ears of them that hear, or read the same,  
Though unto some may harshly seem the name.  
The Hornbook, if it true be understood,  
Containeth nothing but is right and good.  
Then wives and Maidens, this is my request,  
Befriend the Hornbook, for it is your best.  
Young hopeful Gentlemen, that do resort  
By Art and learning to the Inns of Court,  
Which do through time and pains much understand  
To grow great men, and judges of the land:  
All these I reverence with a due respect,  
Whose labours turn unto a good effect,  
(I hope) their splendent favours all will shine  
Upon my Hornbook; though that some repine  
And Crittick-like, do my good meaning wrest  
To the worst sense, though I conceive the best;  
For (I protest) I think not an ill thought,  
Though I do itterate the Hornbook oft;  
My modest Muse like to a Maid would blush,  
If unadvisedly I should but rush  
Into a sentence sordid and unfit,  
And check my Pen, to run before my wit. 
Hypocrosie.   
That man whose hart and tongue do not agree,  
Though pure his words, his thoughts pernicious be,  
The glozing speeches which he doth impart,  
Are characters of his deceitful heart,  
His double inside, out ward doth appear  
Like to the habit, that he best might wear,  
As in a suit of Linsie-woolsie-stuff,  
Of lace, called (lack of both-sides) for his Ruff;  
His Cuffs about his wrists just of the same,  
And Ambidexter, fitteth right his name.  
Religion for a cloak he putteth on  
To hide his faults, when falsely he hath done,  
Unto the Church he goeth most demure,  
As if he was extreme devout and pure;  
Under his arm, a Bible he doth bear,  
To make his lukewarm zeal more hot appear;  
When he speaks fair, he than pretends most evil,  
And Scripture falsely useth; like the devil,  
Who in his Disputation went about  
To tempt our Saviour, like a Tempter stout.  
From these more devilish villainy proceed,  
Then from those men that sinful seem (indeed.)  
These be not Hel-black Devils, no, they are white,  
Which do through holiness, in sin delight;  
These learned the Hornbook to a bad intent,  
Their time of learning was but vainly spent.  
And now (my Muse) I will not overcharge,  
I else could write of Pallaters at large,  
Of Summoners, Bailiffs and such knavish men,  
But that with them I will not foil my pen;  
Yet in their praises (thus much) I can tell,  
Even in a word or two, and so farewell.  
On the world's stage, they do the devil's part play,  
Which up and down do range to seek their prey,  
And daily hunt for booties where to speed  
On poor men's purses most of all they feed,  
In taking fees they simple men abuse  
By vild extortion, which they often use,  
For poor men they quite swagger & out swear,  
Where they suppose that they can domineer;  
These all are Lawyers factors, for to do  
Such like employments as they put them to.  
These from the Horn-books honest meaning swerve,  
And in their places right like knaves do serve.  
Now cease (my Muse) in quiet silence rest,  
For of the Hornbook thou hast said thy best.   
FINIS.