A LOOKING glass FOR London and England.  
MADE By Thomas Lodge Gentleman, and Robert Greene..  
In Artibus Magister.  
LONDON Imprinted by Barnard Alsop, and are to be sold by William Barley, at his house within Garter place. 1617.   

A LOOKING GLASS, for London and England.  Enters Rasni King of Niniveh, with three Kings of Cicilia, Crete, and Paphlagonia, from the overthrow of jeroboam, King of jerusalem. 
SO place ye on triumphant warriors,  
Make Venus lemon armed in all his pomp,  
Bash at the brightness of your hardy looks,  
For you the Viceroys and the Cavalires,  
That wait on Rasni's royal mightiness:  
Boast petty kings, and glory in your fates,  
That stars have made your fortunes climb so high,  
To give attend on Rafnies excellency,  
Am I not he that rules great Niniveh,  
Rounded with Lycus silver flowing streams,  
Whose city large Diametri contains,  
Even three days journeys length from wall to wall,  
Two hundred gates carved out of burnished brass,  
As glorious as the portoyle of the Sun,  
And for to deck heavens battlements with pride,  
Six hundred Towers that topless touch the clouds:  
This city is the footstool of your King,  
A hundred Lords do honour at my feet,  
My sceptre straineth both the poralels,  
And now to t'enlarge the highness of my power,  
I have made judea's Monarch flee the field,  
And beat proud jeroboam from his holds,  
Winning from Cades to Samaria.  
Great jewries God that foiled stout Benhadab,  
Can not rebate the strength that Rasni brought,  
For be he God in heaven, yet viceroys know,  
Rasni is God on earth, and none but he.  Cicilia. 
If lovely shape, feature by nature's skill,  
Passing in beauty fair Endymion's,  
That Luna wrapped within her snowy breasts,  
Or that sweet boy that wrought bright Venus' bane,  
Transformde unto a purple Hyacinth,  
If beauty Nunpareile in excellence,  
May make a King match with the Gods in degree,  
Rasni is God on earth, and none but he.  Crect. 
If martial looks wrapped in a cloud of wars  
More fierce than Mars, lighteneth fro his eyes,  
Sparkling revenge and dire disparagement:  
If doughty deeds more haughty than any done,  
sealed with the smile of fortune and of fate,  
Matchless to manage Lance and Curtelex,  
If such high actions graced with victories,  
May make a King match with the Gods in degree,  
Rasni is God on earth, and none but he.  Paphlag. 
If Pallas wealth.  Rasni. 
Uiceroyes enough, peace Paphlagon no more,  
See where's my sister fair Remilia.  
Fairer than was the virgin Dania,  
That waits on Venus with a golden show,  
she that hath stolen the wealth of Rasnes looks,  
And tied his thoughts within her lovely locks,  
She that is loved, and love unto your King,  
See where she comes to gratulate my fame.  Enters Radagon with Remilia, sister to Rasni, Alvida wife to Paphlagon, and other Ladies, bring a Globe seated in a ship. Rem. 
Victorious Monarch, second unto jove,  
Mars upon earth, and Neptune on the Seas,  
Whose frown stroyes all the Ocean with a calm;  
Whose smile, draws Flora to display her pride,  
Whose eye holds wanton Venus at a gaze,  
Rasni the Regent of great Niniveh,  
For thou hast foiled proud jeroboams force,  
And like the mustering breath of Aeolus,  
That overturns the pines of Libanon,  
Hast scattered jury and her upstart grooms,  
Winning from Cades to Samaria,  
Remilia greets thee with a kind salute,  
And for a present to thy mightiness,  
Gives thee a Globe folded within a ship,  
As King on earth and Lord of all the Seas,  
With such a welcome unto Nynivie  
As may thy sister's humble love afford.  Rasni. 
Sister. The title fits not thy degree,  
A higher state of honour shall be thine,  
The lovely Trull that Mercury entrapped,  
Within the curious pleasure of his tongue,  
And she that bashed the sun-god with her eyes,  
Fair Semele the choice of Venus' maids,  
Were not so beauteous as Remelia.  
Then sweeting, sister shall not serve the turn,  
But Rasnes wife, his Lemon and his love.  
Thou shalt like juno wed thyself to jove,  
And fold me in the riches of thy fair,  
Remilia shall be Rasnes Paramour.  
For why if I be Mars for warlike deeds?  
And thou bright Venus for thy clear aspect,  
Why should not from our loins issue a son,  
That might be Lord of royal sovereignty?  
Of twenty worlds, if twenty worlds might be,  
What sayst Remilia, art thou Rasnes wife?  Remilia. 
My heart doth swell with favour of thy thoughts,  
The love of Rasni maketh me as proud  
As juno when she wore heavens Diadem.  
Thy sister borne, was for thy wife by love,  
Had I the riches nature locketh up,  
To deck her darling, beauty when she smiles,  
Rasni should prank him in the pride of all.  Rasni. 
remelia's love, is far more either prised,  
Then jeroboams or the worlds subdue,  
Lordings, i'll have my weddings sumptuous,  
Made glorious with the treasures of the world,  
I'll fetch from Albia shelves of Margarites,  
And strip the Indies of their diamonds,  
And tire shall yield me tribute of her gold,  
To make remelia's wedding glorious,  
I'll send for all the damosel queens that live  
Within the reach of Rasni's government,  
To wait as handmaids on Remelia,  
That her attendant train may pass the troop  
That gloried Venus at her wedding day.  Crete. 
Oh my Lord, not sister to thy love,  
'tis incest, and too fowl a fact for Kings,  
Nature allows no limites to such lust.  Rada. 
Presumptuous viceroy darest thou check thy Lord?  
Or twit him with the laws that Nature loves,  
Is not great Rasni above nature's reach,  
God upon earth, and all his will is law?  Crect. 
Oh flatter not, for hateful is his choice,  
And sisters love will blemish all his worth.  Radag. 
Doth not the brightness of his majesty,  
Shadow his deeds from being counted faults.  Rasni. 
Well hast thou answered within Radon,  
I like thee for thy learned Sophistry:  
But thou of Creet that countercheck'st thy King,  
Pack hence in exile, give Radagon thy crown,  
be thee Vicegerent of his royalty?  
And fail me not in what my thoughts may please,  
For from a beggar have I brought thee up,  
And graced thee with the honour of a Crown,  
Ye quandam king, what feed ye on delays?  Crete. 
Better no king then Viceroy under him  
That hath no virtue to maintain his Crown.  Rasni. 
remilia's, what fair dames be those that wait  
Attendant on thy matchless royalty?  Rem. 
'tis Aluia, the fair wife to the king of Paphlagonia  Rasni. 
Trust me she is fair: thou'st Paphlagon a jewel,  
To fold thee in so bright a sweeting's arms.  Rad. 
Like you her my Lord?  Rasni. 
What if I do Radagon?  Rada. 
Why then she is yours my Lord, for marriage  
Makes no exception, where Rasni doth command.  Paph. 
Ill dost thou counsel him to fancy wives.  Rada. 
Wife or not wife, who so he likes is his.  Rasni. 
Well answered Radagon, thou art for me,  
feed thou mine humour, and be still a king.  
Lords go in triumph of my happy loves,  
And for to feast us after all our broils,  
Frolic and revel it in Niniveh.  
Whatsoever befitteth your conceited thoughts,  
Or good or ill, love or not love my boys,  
In love, or what may satisfy your lust,  
Act it my Lords, for no man dare say no.  Smith. 
Denesum imperium, Cum jove nunc teno.  Exeunt. Enters brought in by an Angel Oseas the Prophet, and set down over the Stage in a Throne. Angel. 
Amaze not man of God, if in the spirit  
thou'rt brought from Jewry unto Niniveh,  
So was Elias wrapped within a storm,  
And set upon mount Carmel by the Lord,  
For thou hast preached long to the stubborn jews,  
Whose flinty hearts have felt no sweet remorse,  
But lightly valuing all the threats of God,  
Have still perseverd in their wickedness.  
Lo, I have brought thee unto Niniveh,  
The rich and royal city of the world,  
Pampered in wealth, and overgrown with pride,  
As Sodom and Gomorrha full of sin,  
The Lord looks down, and cannot see one good,  
Not one that covets to obey his will,  
But wicked all, from Cradle to the Church.  
Note then Oseas all their grievous sins,  
And see the wrath of God that pays revenge.  
And when the ripeness of their sin is full,  
And thou hast written all their wicked through,  
I'll carry thee to jewry back again,  
And seat thee in the great jerusalem,  
There shalt thou publish in her open streets,  
That God sends down his hateful wrath for sin,  
On such as never heard his Prophets speak,  
Much more will he inflict a world of plagues,  
On such as hear the sweetness of his voice,  
And yet obey not what his Prophets speak,  
Sat thee Oseas pondering in the spirit,  
The mightiness of these fond people's sin.  Oseas, 
The will of the Lord be done.  Exit Angel. Enters the Clown and his crew of Ruffians, to go to drink. Ruffian. 
Come on Smith, thou shalt be one of the crew, because thou know'st where the best Ale in the town is.  Smith. 
Come on, in faith my colts, I have left my M. striking of a heat, and stole away, because I would keep you company.  Clown. 
Why, what shall we have this paltry Smith with us?  Smith. 
Paltry Smith, why you in of Niniue you that you speak petty treason against trade?  Clown. 
Why slave, I am a gentleman of Niniue  Smith. 
A Gentleman good sir, I remember your progenitors, your father bare office in our man he was, and in great discredit in the parish, 〈…〉 two squires livings on him, the one was on and than he kept the town stage, and on him the Sextens man, for he whipped dogs out of the sir, your father, why sir, mée-thinks I see the proper youth, he was faith, aged some four and ten, his rat colour colour, half black half white, his nose was in the highest degree of noses, it was nose Autem glorificam, so set with rubies that after his death it should have been nailed up in Copper-smiths hall for a monument. Well sir, I was beholding to your good father, for he was the first man that ever instructed me in the mystery of a pot of Ale.  2. 
Well said Smith, thou hast crossed him over the thumbs.  Clown. 
villain were it not that we go to be merry, my rapier should presently quit thy opprobrious terms. O Peter, Peter, put up thy sword I prithee hearty into thy scabbard bard, hold in your rapier, for though I have not a long Reacher, I have a short hitter. Nay then gentlemen, stay me, for my choler begins to rise against him: for mark the words of a paltry Smith, Oh horrible sentence, thou hast in these words, I will stand of it, libeled against all the sound horses, whole horses, sore horses, Coursers, Curtals, jades, Cuts, Hackneys, and mare: whereupon whereupon my friend, in their defence, I give thee this curse, thou shalt not be worth a horse of thine own this seven year.  1. Clown. 
I prithee Smith is your occupation so excellent? A paltry Smith, why i'll stand to it, a Smith is Lord of the four elements, for our iron is made of the earth, our bellows blow out air, our flore holds fire, and our forge water. Nay sir, we read in the Chronicles, that there was a God of our occupation.  
〈…〉 a Cuckold.  
〈…〉 he called your father cousin, paltry smith, 〈…〉 thou hast defaced their worshipful occupation.  
〈…〉 how?  
〈…〉 stand to it, that a Smith in his kind, is a 〈…〉 and a Barber. For let a Horse take a cold, or be troubled with the hots, and we strait give him a potion or 〈…〉 physical manner that he mends strait, if 〈…〉 diseases, as the spewing, splint, ring-bone, 〈…〉 fashion, or sir a galled back, we let him blood & clap 〈…〉 to him with a pestilence, that mends him with a 〈…〉, now if his mane grow out of order, and he have 〈…〉 hairs, we strait to our shears and trim him 〈…〉 cut it please us, pick his ears and make him neat, 〈…〉 indeed sir, we are sloving for one thing, we never use 〈◊〉 musk-balls to wash him with, and the reason is sir, because 〈◊〉 woe without kissing.  Clown. 
Well sirrah, leave off these praises of a Smyth, 〈◊〉 us to the best Ale in the Town.  
〈◊〉 sir I have a feat above all the Smiths in Niniveh, for sir 〈◊〉 am a Philosopher that can dispute of the nature of Ale, for 〈◊〉 you sir, a pot of Ale consists of four parts, Imprimis the 〈◊〉, the Toast, the Ginger, and the Nutmeg.  Clown. 
Excellent.  
〈◊〉 Ale is a restorative, bread is a binder, mark you sir two excellent points in physic, the Ginger, oh ware of that, the philosophers have written of the nature of ginger, 'tis expullsitive in two degrees, you shall here the sentence of Galen, it will make a man belch, cough, and fart, and is a great comfort to the heart, a proper poesy I promise you, but now to the noble virtue of the Nutmeg, it is saith one Ballad I think an English Roman was the author, an underlayer to the brains, for when the Ale gives a buffet to the head, oh the Nutmeg that keeps him for while in temper.  
Thus you see the description of the virtue of a pot of Ale, now sir to put my physical precepts in practice 〈…〉 any further.  Clown. 
What's the matter now?  
Why seeing I have provided the Ale, who is 〈…〉 wenches, for masters take this of me, a cup 〈…〉 wench, why alas 'tis like an egg without salt, 〈…〉 without mustard.  
Led us to the Ale, we'll have wenches enough I 〈…〉  Oseas. 
Iniquity seeks out companions still,  
And mortal men are armed to do ill:  
London look on, this matter nips thee near,  
Leave off thy riot, pride and sumptuous cheer.  
Spend less at board, and spare not at the door,  
But aid the infant, and relieve the poor:  
Else seeking mercy being merciless,  
Thou be adjudged to endless heaviness.  Enters the Usurer, a young Gentleman, and a poor man. Usurer. 
Come on, I am every day troubled with these needy companions, what news with you, what wind brings you hither.  Gent. 
Sir I hope how far soever you make it off, you remember too well for me, that this is the day wherein I should pay you money that I took up of you o'late in a commodity.  Poor man. 
And sir, sirreverence of your manhood and genterie, I have brought home such money as you lent me.  Usurer. 
You young Gentleman is my money ready.  Gentle. 
Truly sir this time was so short, the commodity so bad, and the promise of friends so broken, that I could not provide it against the day, wherefore I am come to entreat you to stand my friend and to favour me with a longer time, and I will make you sufficient consideration.  Usurer. 
Is the wind in that door, if thou hast my money so it is, I will not defer a day, an hour, a minute, but take the forfeit 〈…〉 sir consider that my loss was great by the 〈…〉 up, you know sir I borrowed of you forty 〈…〉 I had ten pounds in money, and thirty pounds' 〈…〉, which when I came to sell again, I could get 〈…〉 for them, so had I sir but fifteen pounds for 〈…〉 In consideration of this ill bargain, I pray you sir 〈…〉 month longer.  〈◊〉. 
I answered thee afore not a minute, what have I to do how thy bargain proved, I have thy hand set to my book that thou receivedst forty pounds of me in money.  Gent. 
I sir it was your devise that, to colour the Statute, but your conscience knows what I had.  Poor. 
Friend thou speakest Hebrew to him when thou talkest to him of conscience, for he hath as much conscience about the forfeit of an Obligation, as my blind Mare God bless her, hath over a manger of Oats.  Gent. 
Then there is no favour sir?  Usurer. 
Come to morrow to me, and see how I will use thee.  Gent. 
No covetous Caterpillar, know, that I have made extreme shift rather than I would fall into the hands of such a ravening panther, and therefore here is thy money and deliver me the recognizance of my lands.  Usurer. 
What a spite is this, hath sped of his Crowns, if he had missed but one half hour, what a goodly Farm had I gotten for forty pounds, well 'tis my cursed fortune, Oh have I no shift to make him forfeit his recognizance.  Gent. 
Come sir will you dispatch and tell your money.  Strikes 4. a clock. Usurer. 
Stay, what is this a clock four, let me see, to be paid between the hours of three and four in the afternoon, this goes right for me, you sir, hear you not the clock, and have you not a counterpane of your Obligation, the hour is past, it was to be paid between three and four, and now the clock hath strooken four, I will receive none, I'll stand to the forfeit of the recognizance.  Gent. 
Why sir, I hope you do but jest, why 'tis but four, and will you for a minute take forfeit of my bond, if it were so sir, I was here before four.  Usurer. 
Why didst thou not tender thy money then? if I offer thee injury take the law of me, complain to the judge, I will receive no money.  Poor. 
Well sir, I hope you will stand my good master for my Cow, I borrowed thirty shillings on her, and for that I have paid you 18. pence a week, and for her meat you have had her milk, and I tell you sir, she gives a goodly soap: now sir here is your money.  Usurer. 
Hang beggarly knave, comest to me for a Cow, did I not bind her bought and sold for a penny, and was not thy day to have paid yesterday, thou getst no Cow at my hand.  Poor. 
No Cow sir, alas that word no Cow, goes as cold to my heart as a draft of small drink in a frosty morning. No Cow sir, why alas, alas, M. Usurer, what shall become of me my wife, and my poor child?  Usurer. 
Thou getst no Cow of me knave, I cannot stand prating with you, I must be gone.  Poor. 
Nay but hear you M. Usurer, no Cow, why sir here's your thirty shillings, I have paid you 18. pence a week, & therefore there is reason I should have my Cow.  Usurer. 
What pratest thou, have I not answered thee thy day is broken?  Poor. 
Why sir alas, my Cow is a Commonwealth to me, for first sir, she allows me, my wife and son, for to banquet ourselves withal, Butter, Cheese, Whey, Curds, Cream, sod milk, raw-milke, sower-milke, swéete-milk, and buttermilk, besides sir, she saved me every year a penny in Almanacs, for she was as good to me as a Prognostication, if she had but set up her tail and have gallapt about the mead, my little boy was able to say, oh father there will be a storm, her very tail was a Calendar to me, & now to lose my cow, alas M. Usurer take pity upon me.  Usurer. 
I have other matters to talk on, farewell fellows.  Gent. 
Why but thou covetous churl, wilt thou not receive thy money and deliver me my recognizance?  Usurer. 
I'll deliver thee none, if I have wronged thee, seek thy mends at the law.  Gent. 
And so I will insatiable peasant.  Poor. 
And sir, rather than I will put up this word no Cow, I will lay my wives best gown to pawn, I tell you sir, when the slave uttered this word no Cow, it struck to my heart, for my wife shall never have one so fit for her turn again, for indeed sir, she is a woman that hath her twidling strings broke.  Gent. 
What meanest thou by that fellow?  Poor. 
Marry sir, sirreverence of your manhood, she breaks wind behind, and indeed sir, when she sat milking of her Cow and let a fart, my other Cows would start at the noise, and kick down the milk and away, but this Cow sir the gentlest Cow, my wife might blow whilst she burst, and having such good conditions, shall the Usurer come upon me with no Cow: Nay sir, before I pocket up this word no Cow, my wives gown goes to the Lawyer, why alas sir 'tis as ill a word to me, as no Crown to a King.  Gent. 
Well fellow, go with me, and i'll help thee to a Lawyer.  Poor. 
Marry and I will sir: No Cow, well the world goes hard. Exeunt.  Oseas. Oseas. 
Where hateful usury  
Is counted husbandry,  
Where merciless men rob the poor,  
And the needy are thrust out of door.  
Where gain is held for conscience,  
And men's pleasures is all on pence,  
Where young Gentlemen forfeit their lands,  
Through riot, into the usurers hands:  
Where poverty is despised & pity banished  
And mercy indeed utterly vanished.  
Where men esteem more of money then of God,  
Let that land look to feel his wrathful rod.  
For there is no sin more odious in his sight,  
Then where usury defraudes the poor of his right.  
London take heed, these sins abound in thee:  
The poor complain, the widows wronged be.  
The Gentlemen by subtlety are spoiled,  
The ploughmen lose the crop for which they toiled▪  
Sin reigns in thee o London every hour,  
Repent and tempt not thus the heavenly power.  Enters Remilia, with a train of Ladies in all royalty. Remilia. 
Fair Queens, yet handmaids unto Rasnes love,  
Tell me, is not my state as glorious  
As juno's pomp, when tired with heavens despoil,  
Clad in her vestments, spotted all with stars,  
She crossed the silver path unto her jove,  
Is not remilia's far more beauteous,  
Riched with the pride of nature's excellence?  
Then Venus in the brightest of her shine.  
My hairs, surpass they not Apollo's locks,  
Are not my Tresses curled with such art,  
As love delights to hide him in their fair?  
Doth not mine eyen shine like the morning lamp  
That tells Anrera when her love will come?  
Have I not stolen the beauty of the heavens,  
And placest it on the feature of my face?  
Can any Goddess make compare with me?  
Or match her with the fair Remilia?  Aluida. 
The beauty's that proud Paris saw fro Troy  
Mustering in Ida for the golden ball,  
Were not so gorgeous as Remilia.  Remilia. 
I have tricked my trammels up with richest balm,  
And made my perfumes of the purest Myrrh:  
The precious drugs that Egypt's wealth affords,  
The costly paintings fetched fro curious tire,  
Have mended in my face what nature mist.  
Am I not the earth's wonder in my looks?  Alui. 
The wonder of the earth & pride of heaven.  Remilia. 
Look Aluida a hair stands not amiss,  
For women's locks are trammels of conceit,  
Which do entangle love for all his wiles.  Aluid. 
Madam, unless you coy it trick and trim,  
And play the civil wanton ere you yield,  
Smiting disdain of pleasures with your tongue,  
Patting your princely Rasni on the cheek,  
When he presumes to kiss without consent:  
You mar the market, beauty nought avails.  
You must be proud, for pleasures hardly got,  
And sweet, if once attained.  Remilia. 
Fair Aluida,  
Thy counsel makes Remilia passing wise.  
Suppose that thou wert Rasnes mightiness,  
And I Remilia Prince of excellence.  Aluida. 
I would be master then of love and thee.  Remil. 
Of love and me. Proud & disdainful king,  
Darest thou presume to touch a Deity,  
Before she grace thee with a yielding smile?  Aluida. 
Tut my Remilia, be not thou so coy,  
Say nay, and take it.  Remilia. 
Careless and unkind,  
Talks Rasni to Remilia in such sort  
As if I did enjoy a human form?  
Look on thy Love, behold mine eyes divine,  
And darest thou twit me with a woman's fault?  
Ah Rasni thou art rash to judge of me,  
I tell thee Flora oft hath wood my lips,  
To lend a Rose to beautify her spring,  
The sea-Nymphs fetch their lilies from my cheeks.  
Then thou unkind, and hereon would I weep.  Alui. 
And here would Aluida resign her charge,  
For were I but in thought Th'assirian King,  
I needs must quite thy tears, with kisses sweet,  
And crave a pardon with a friendly touch,  
You know it Madam though I teach it not,  
The touch I mean, you smile when as you think ill.  Remi. 
How am I pleased to hear thy pretty prate,  
According to the humour of my mind?  
Ah Nymphs, who fairer than Remilia?  
The gentle winds have wood me with their sighs,  
The frowning air hath cléerde when I did smile,  
And when I tract upon the tender grass,  
Love that makes warm the centre of the earth,  
Lift up his crest to kiss remelia's foot,  
juno still entertains her amorous jove,  
With new delights, for fear he look on me,  
The Phoenix feathers are become my Fan,  
For I am beauty's Phoenix in this world.  
Shut close these Curtains strait and shadow me,  
For fear Apollo spy me in his walks,  
And scorn all eyes, to see remilia's eyes.  
Nymphs, Knancks, sing, for Mavors draweth nigh,  
Hid me in Closure, let him long to look,  
For were a Goddess fairer then am I,  
I'll scale the heavens to pull her from the place.  They draw the Curtains and Music plays. Aluida. 
Believe me, though she say that she is fairest,  
I think my penny silver by her leave.  Enter Rasni with his Lords in pomp, who make a ward about him, with him the Magis in great pomp. Rasni. 
Magis for love of Rasni by your Art,  
By Magic frame an Arbour out of hand,  
For fair Remilia to disport her in.  
Meanwhile, I will bethink me on further pomp.  Exit. The Magis with their rods beat the ground, and from under the same riseth a brave Arbour, the King returneth in an other suit while the Trumpets sound. Rasni. 
Blessed be ye man of Art that grace me thus,  
And blessed be this day where Hymen hies,  
To join in union pride of heaven and earth.  Lightning and thunder wherewith Remilia is strooken. 
What wondrous threatening noise is this I hear?  
What flashing lightnings trouble our delights?  
When I draw near remelia's royal Tent,  
I waking, dream of sorrow and mishap.  Rada. 
Dread not O King, at ordinary chance,  
These are but common exhalations,  
Drawn from the earth, in substance hot and dry,  
Or moist and thick, or Meteors combust,  
Matters and causes incident to time,  
Enkindled in the fiery region first.  
Tut be not now a Roman Angurer,  
Approach the Tent, look on Remelia.  Rasni. 
Thou hast confirmed my doubts kind Radagon.  
Now open ye folds where Queen of favour sits,  
Carrying a Net within her curled locks,  
Wherein the Graces are entangled oft:  
Open like th'imperial gates where Phoebus sits,  
When as he means to woo his Clitia.  
Necternall Cares, ye blemishers of bliss,  
Cloud not mine eyes whilst I behold her face.  
Remilia my delight, she answereth not.  He draws the Curtains and finds her strooken with Thunder, black. 
How pale? as if bereaved in fatal méedes,  
The balmy breath hath left her bosom quite,  
My Hesperus by cloudy death is blended,  
Villains away, fetch Sircopes of the Ind,  
Fetch Balsomo the kind preserve of life,  
Fetch wine of Greece, fetch oils, fetch herbs, fetch all  
To fetch her life, or I will faint and die.  They bring in all these and offer, nought prevails. 
Herbs, Oils of Ind, alas there nought prevails.  
Shut are the day-bright eyes, that made me see,  
Locked are the gems of joy in dens of death,  
Yet triumph I on fate, and he on her.  
Malicious mistress of inconstancy,  
Dammed be thy name, that hast obscured my joy,  
Kings, Uiceroyes, Princes, rear a royal tomb  
For my Remilia, bear her from my sight,  
Whilst I in tears, weep for Remilia.  They bear her out. Rada. 
What maketh Rasni moody? Loss of one?  
As if no more were left so fair as she?  
Behold a dainty minion for the nonce,  
Fair Aluida the Paphlagonian Queen,  
Woo her, and leave this weeping for the dead.  Ras. 
What woo my subjects wife that honoureth me?  Rada. 
Tut Kings this meum tuum should not know.  
Is she not fair? Is not her husband hence?  
Hold, take her at the hands of Radagon.  
A pretty peat to drive your mourn away.  Rasni. 
She smiles on me, I see she is mine own.  
Wilt thou be Rasnes royal Paramour?  Rad. 
She blushing yields consent, make no dispute:  
The King is sad, and must be gladded strait.  
Let Paphlagonian King go mourn meanwhile.  He thrust the King out, and so they Exeant. Oseas. 
Pride hath his judgement, London look about,  
'tis not enough in show to be devout,  
A Fury now from heaven to lands unknown,  
Hath made the Prophet speak, not to his own,  
The wantoness fly, this pride and vain attire,  
The seals to set your tender hearts on fire.  
Be faithful in the promise you have past,  
Else Cod will plague and punish at the last.  
When lust is hid in shroud of wretched life,  
When craft doth dwell in bed of married wife.  
Mark but the Prophets, we that shortly shows,  
After death expect for many woes.  Enters the poor man and the Gentleman, with their Lawyer. Gent. 
I need not sir discourse unto you the duty of Lawyers in tendering the right cause of their Clients, nor the conscience you are tied unto by higher command. Therefore suffice the Usurer hath done me wrong, you know the Case, and good sir, I have strained myself to give you your fees.  Lawyer. 
Sir if I should any way neglect so manifest a truth, I were to be accused of open perjury, for the case is evident.  Poor. 
And truly sir, for my case, if you help me not for my matter, why sir, I and my wife are quite undone, I want my mess of milk when I go to my work, and my boy his bread and butter when he goes to school, M. Lawyer pity me, for surely sir, I was feign to lay my wives best gown to pawn for your fees, when I looked upon it sir, and saw how handsomely it was tawbed with statute lace, and what a fair mockado Cape it had, and then thought how handsomely it became my wife, truly sir my heart is made of butter, it melts at the least persecution, I fell on weeping, but when I thought on the words the Usurer gave me, no Cow: then sir, I would have stripped her into her smock, but I would make him deliver my Cow ere I had done, therefore good M. Lawyer stand my friend.  Lawyer. 
Trust me father, I will do for thee as much as for myself.  Poor. 
Are you married sir?  Lawyer. 
I marry am I father.  Poor. 
Then goods Benison light on you & your good wife, and send her that she be never troubled with my wives disease.  Lawyer. 
Why what's thy wives disease?  Poor. 
Truly sir, she hath two open faults, and one privy fault, sir the first is, she is too eloquent for a poor man, and hath her words of Art, for she will call me Rascal, Rogue, Runagate, varlet, Uagabond, Slave, Knave. Why alas sir, and these be but holiday terms, but if you heard her working-day words, in faith sir they be ratlers like thunder sir, for after the dew follows a storm, for then am I sure either to be well buffeted, my face scratched, or my head broken, and therefore good M. Lawyer on my knees I ask it, let me not go home again to my wife, with this word, No Cow: for than she will exercise her two faults upon me with all extremity.  Lawyer. 
Fear not man, but what is thy wives privy fault?  Poor. 
Truly sir, that's a thing of nothing, alas she indeed strreverence of your mastership, doth use to break wind in her sleep. Oh sir, here comes the judge, and the old Caitiff the Usurer.  Enters the judge, the Usurer, and his attendants. Usurer. 
Sir here is forty angels for you, and if at any time you want a hundredth pound or two, 'tis ready at your command, or the feeding of three or four fat bullocks: whereas these needy slaves can reward with nothing but a cap and aknée, and therefore I pray you sir favour my case.  judge. 
Fear not sir, I'll do what I can for you.  Usurer. 
What master Lawyer what make you here, mine adversary for these Clients?  Lawyer. 
So it chanceth now sir.  Usurer. 
I know you know the old Proverb, He is not wise, that is not wise for himself. I would not be disgraced in this action, therefore here is twenty angels say nothing in the matter, and what you say, say to no purpose, for the judge is my friend.  Lawyer. 
Let me alone, I'll fit your purpose.  judge. 
Come, where are these fellows that are the plaintiffs, what can they say against this honest Citizen our neighbour, a man of good report amongst all men?  Poor. 
Truly M. judge, he is a man much spoken off, marry every man's cries are against him, and especially we, and therefore I think we have brought our Lawyer to touch him with as much law as will fetch his lands and my Cow, with a pestilence.  Gent. 
Sir, I am the other plaintiff and this is my councillor, I beseech your honour be favourable to me in equity.  judge. 
Oh Signior Mizaldo, what can you say in this Gentleman's behalf?  lawyer. 
Faith sir as yet little good, sir tell you your own case to the judge, for I have so many matters in my head, that I have almost forgotten it.  Gent. 
Is the wind in that door, why then my Lord thus, I took upon this cursed Usurer, for so I may well term him, a commodity of forty pounds, whereof I received ten pound in money, & thirty pound in Lute-strings, whereof I could by great friendship make but five pounds: for the assurance of this bad commodity, I bond him my land in recognizance, I came at my day and tendered him his money and he would not take it, for the redress of my open wrong, I crave but justice.  judge. 
What say you to this sir?  Usurer. 
That first he had no Lute-strings of me, for look you sir, I have his own hand to my book for the receipt of forty pound.  Gent. 
That was sir, but a devise of him to colour the Statute.  judge. 
Well he hath thine own hand, and we can crave no more in law, but now sir, he says his money was tendered at the day and hour.  Usurer. 
This is manifest contrary sir, and on that I will depose, for here is the obligation, to be paid between three & four in the afternoon, and the Clock struck four before he offered it, and the words be between three and four, therefore to be tendered before four.  Gent. 
Sir, I was there before four, & he held me with brabbling till the Clock struck, and then for the breach of a minute he refused my money, and keep the recognizance of my land for so small a trifle: Good Signior Mizaldo speak what is law, you have your fee, you have heard what the case is, and therefore do me justice and right, I am a young Gentleman and speak for my patrimony.  Lawyer. 
Faith sir, the Case is altered, you told me it before in an other manner, the law goes quite against you, and therefore you must plead to the judge for favour.  Gent. 
O execrable bribery.  Poor. 
Faith sir judge, I pray you let me be the Gentleman's Counsellor, for I can say thus much in his defence, that the Usurer's Clock is the swiftest Clock in all the Town, 'tis sir like a woman's tongue, it goes ever half an hour before the time, for when we were gone from him, other Clocks in the Town struck four.  judge. 
Hold thy prating fellow, and you young Gentleman, this is my ward, look better another time both to your bargains and to the payments, for I must give flat sentence against you, that for default of tendering the money between the hours, you have forfeited your recognizance, and he to have the land.  Gent. 
O inspeakable injustice.  Poor. 
O monstrous, miserable, motheaten judge.  judge. 
Now you fellow, what have you to say for your matter?  Poor. 
Master Lawyer, I laid my wives gown to pawn for your fees, I pray you to this gear.  Lawyer. 
Alas poor man, thy matter is out of my head, and therefore I pray thee tell it thyself.  Poor. 
I hold my Cap to a noble, that the Usurer hath given him some gold, and he chawing it in his mouth, hath got the toothache that he cannot speak.  judge. 
Well sirrah, I must be short, and therefore say on.  Poor. 
M. master judge, I borrowed of this man thirty shillings, for which I left him in pawn my good Cow, the bargain was, he should have eighteen pence a week and the Cow's milk for usury: Now sir, assoon as I had gotten the money, I brought it him, and broke but a day, and for that he refused his money and keeps my Cow sir.  judge. 
Why thou hast given sentence against thyself, for in breaking thy day thou hast lost thy Cow.  Poor. 
Master Lawyer now for my ten shillings.  Lawyer. 
Faith poor man, thy Case is so bad I shall but speak against thee.  Poor. 
'Twere good then I should have my ten shillings again.  Lawyer. 
'tis my fee fellow for coming, wouldst thou have me come for nothing?  Poor. 
Why then am I like to go home, not only with no Cow, but no gown, this gear goes hard.  judge. 
Well you have heard what favour I can show you, I must do justice, come M. Mizaldo and you sir, go home with me to dinner.  Poor. 
Why but M. judge no Cow, & M. Lawyer no gown, Then must I clean run out of the Town.  
How cheer you gentleman, you cry no lands too, the judge hath made you a knight for a gentleman, hath dubbed you sir john lack-land.  Gent. 
O miserable time wherein gold is above God.  Poor. 
Fear not man, I have yet a fetch to get thy lands and my Cow again, for I have a son in the Court that is either a king or a king's fellow, and to him will I go & complain on the judge and the Usurer both.  Gent. 
And I will go with thee and entreat him for my Case.  Poor. 
But how shall I go home to my wife, when I shall have nothing to say unto her, but no Cow. Alas sir my wives faults will fall upon me.  Gent. 
Fear not, let's go, I'll quiet her shalt see.  Exeunt. Oseas. 
Fly judges fly, corruption in your Court,  
The judge of truth, hath made your judgement short.  
Look so to judge that at the latter day,  
Ye be not judged with those that wend astray.  
Who passerh judgement for his private gain,  
He well may judge, he is adjudged to pain.  Enters the Clown and all his crew drunk. Clown. 
Farewell gentle Tapster, masters as good Ale as ever was tapped, look to your feet, for the Ale is strong, well farewell gentle Tapster.  1. Ruffian. 
Why sirrah slave, by heavens maker, thinkest thou the wench love thee best because she laughed on thee, give me but such an other word, and I will throw the pot at thy head.  Clown. 
Spill no drink, spill no drink, the Ale is good, I'll tell you what, Ale is Ale, & so I'll commend me to you with hearty commendations, farewell gentle Tapster.  2. 
Why wherefore peasant scorn'st thou that the wench should love me, look but on her, & i'll thrust my dagger in thy bosom.  1. Ruffian. 
Well sirrah well, thart as thart, and so i'll take thee  2. 
Why what am I?  1. 
Why what thou wilt, a slave.  2. 
Then take that villain, and learn how thou use me another time.  1. 
Oh I am slain.  2. 
That's all one to me, I care not, now will I in to my wench and call for a fresh pot.  Clown. 
Nay but hear ye, take me with ye, for the Ale is Ale, cut a fresh toast Tapster, fill me a pot here is money, I am no beggar, I'll follow thee as long as the Ale lasts: a pestilence on the blocks for me, for I might have had a fall, well if we shall have no Ale i'll sit me down, and so farewell gentle Tapster.  Here he falls over the dead man. Enters the King, Aluida, the King of Cilicia, and of Paphlagonia, with other attendant. Rasni. 
What slaughtered wretch lies bleeding here his last?  
So near the royal palace of the King,  
Search out if any one be biding nigh,  
That can discourse the manner of his death,  
Seat thee fair Aluida, the fair of fairs,  
Let not the 〈◊〉 once offend thine eyes,  L. 
Here's one sits here a sleep my Lord,  Rasni. 
Wake him and make inquiry of this thing.  Lord. 
Sirrah you, hearest thou fellow?  Clown. 
If you will fill a fresh pot here's a penny, or else farewell gentle Tapster.  Lord. 
He is drunk my Lord.  Rasni. 
we'll sport with him that Aluida may laugh.  L. 
Sirrah thou fellow, thou must come to the King.  Clown. 
I will not do a stroke of work to day, for the Ale is good Ale, and you can ask but a penny for a pot, no more by the statute.  L. 
Villain here's the King, thou must come to him.  Clown. 
The King come to an Alehouse, Tapster, fill me three pots, where's the King, is this he? give me your hand sir, as good Ale as ever was tapped, you shall drink while your skin crack.  Rasni. 
But hearest thou fellow, who killed this man?  Clown. 
I'll tell you sir, if you did taste of the Ale, all Niniveh hath not such a cup of Ale, it flowers in the cup sir, by my troth I spent eleven pence beside three races of ginger.  Rasni. 
Answer me knave to my question, how came this man slain?  Clown. 
Slain, why Ale is strong Ale, 'tis hufcap, I warrant you 'twill make a man well, Tapster ho, for the King a cup of ale and a fresh toast, here's two races more.  Aluida. 
Why good fellow the King talks not of drink, he would have thee tell him how this man came dead.  Clown. 
Dead nay, I think I am alive yet, and will drink a full pot ere night, but here ye, if ye be the wench that filled us drink, why so do your office, & give us a fresh pot, or if you be the Tapster's wife, why so, wash the glass clean.  Aluida. 
He is so drunk my Lord, there's no talking with him.  Clown. 
Drunk, nay then wench I am not drunk, thart a shitten quean to call me drunk, I tell thee I am not drunk, I am a Smith I  Enters the Smith, the Clowns master. Lord. 
Sir here comes one perhaps that can tell.  Smith. 
God save you master.  Rasni. 
Smith canst thou tell me how this man came dead?  Smith. 
May it please your highness, my man here and a true of them went to the Alehouse, and came out so drunk that one of them killed another, and now sir, I am feign to leave my shop and come to fetch him home.  Rasni. 
Some of you carry away the dead body, drunken men must have their fits, and sirrah Smith hence with thy man.  Smith. 
Sirrah you, rise come go with me.  Clown. 
If we shall have a pot of Ale let's have it, here's money, hold Tapster take my purse.  Smith. 
Come then with me, the pot stands full in the house.  Clown. 
I am for you, let's go, thart an honest Tapster, we'll drink six pots ere we part.  Exeunt. Rasni. 
Beauteous, more bright than beauty in mine eyes,  
Tell me fair sweeting, wants thou any thing?  
Contained within the threefold circle of the world,  
That may make Aluida live full content.  Aluida. 
Nothing my Lord, for all my thoughts are pleased,  
When as mine eye surfeits with Rasnes sight.  Enters the King of Paphlagonia, malcontent. Rasni. 
Look how thy husband haunts our royal Courts,  
How still his sight breeds melancholy storms,  
Oh Aluida I am passion passionate,  
And vexed with wrath and anger to the death,  
Mars when he held fair Venus on his knee,  
And saw the limping Smith come from his forge,  
Had not more deeper furrows in his brow,  
Then Rasni hath to see this Paphlagon.  Alui. 
Content thee sweet, i'll salve thy sorrow strait,  
Rest but the ease of all thy thoughts on me,  
And if I make not Rasni blithe again,  
Then say that women's fancies have no shifts.  Paphla. 
Sham'st thou not Rasni though thou be'st a King,  
To shroud adultery in thy royal seat,  
Art thou arch-ruler of great Niniveh,  
Who shouldst excel in virtue as in state,  
And wrong'st thy friend by keeping back his wife,  
Have I not battailed in thy troops full oft,  
'Gainst Egypt, jury, and proud Babylon,  
Spending my blood to purchase thy renown,  
And is the guerdon of my chivalry,  
Ended in this abusing of my wife,  
Restore her me, or I will from thy Courts,  
And make discourse of thy adulterous deeds.  Ras. 
Why take her Paphlagon, exclaim not man,  
For I do prize mine honour more than love.  
Fair Aluida go with thy husband home.  Alui. 
How dare I go, shamed with so deep misdeed,  
Revenge will broil within my husband's breast,  
And when he hath me in the Court at home,  
Then Aluida shall feel revenge for all.  Rasni. 
What sayst thou king of Paphlagon to this?  
Thou hearest the doubt thy wife doth stand upon,  
If she hath done amiss it is my fault,  
I prithee pardon and forget all.  Paphla. 
If that I meant not Rasni to forgive,  
And quite forget the follies that are past,  
I would not vouch her presence in my Courts,  
But she shall be my Queen, my love, my life,  
And Aluida unto her Paphlagon  
And loved, and more beloved then before.  Rasni. 
What sayst thou Aluida to this?  Alui 
That will he swear it to my Lord the king,  
And in a full carouse of Greekish wine,  
Drink down the malice of his deep revenge,  
I will go home and love him new again.  Rasni. 
What answers Paphlagon?  Paphla. 
That what she hath requested I will do.  Alui. 
Go damosel fetch me that sweet wine  
That stands within thy Closet on the shelf,  
power it into a standing bowl of gold,  
But on shy life taste not before the king,  
Make haste, why is great Rasni melancholy thus?  
If promise be not kept, hate all for me.  
Here is the wine my Lord, first make him swear.  Paphla. 
By Niniuies great gods, and Niniuies great king▪  
My thoughts shall never be to wrong my wife,  
And thereon here's a full carouse to her.  Alui 
And thereon Rasni here's a kiss for thee.  
Now mayst thou freely fold thine Aluida.  Paphla. 
Oh I am dead, obstructions of my breath  
The poison is of wondrous sharp effect,  
Cursed be all adulterous queens say I,  
And cursing so poor Paphlagon doth die.  Alui. 
Now have I not salved the sorrows of my Lord?  
Have I not rid arrival of thy loves,  
What sayst thou Rasni to thy Paramour?  Rasni. 
That for this deed i'll deck my Aluida,  
In Sendal and in costly Sussapine,  
bordered with Pearl and India Diamond,  
I'll cause great Eol perfume all his winds,  
With richest myrrh and curious ambergris,  
Come lovely minion, paragon for fair,  
Come follow me sweet goddess of mine eye,  
And taste the pleasures Rasni will provide. Exeunt.  Oseas. 
Where whoredom rains, there murder follows fast,  
As falling leaves before the winter blast.  
A wicked life trained up in endless crime,  
Hath no regard unto the latter time.  
When Lechers shall be punished for their lust,  
When Princes plagued because they are unjust.  
Foresee in time the warning bell doth toll,  
Subdue the flesh, by prayer to save the soul.  
London behold the cause of others wrack,  
And see the sword of justice at thy back.  
Defer not off to morrow is too late,  
By night he comes perhaps to judge thy state.  Enter jonas Solus. jonas. 
From forth the depth of my imprisoned soul,  
Steal you my sighs, testify my pain,  
Convey on wings of mine immortal tone,  
My zealous prayers, unto the starry throne:  
Ah merciful and just thou dreadful God,  
Where is thine arm to lay revengeful strokes  
Upon the heads of our rebellious race?  
Lo Israel once that flourished like the vine,  
Is barren laid, the beautiful increase  
Is wholly blended, and irreligious zeal  
encampeth there where virtue was enthroned  
Alas the while, the widow wants relief,  
The fatherless is wronged by naked need,  
Devotion sleeps in cinders of Contempt,  
Hypocrisy infects the holy Priest,  
Ay me for this, woo me for these misdeeds,  
Alone I walk to think upon the world,  
And sigh to see thy Prophets so contemned:  
Alas contemned by cursed Israel.  
Yet jonas rest content, 'tis Israel's sin  
That causeth this, then muse no more thereon,  
But pray amends, and mend thy own amiss.  An Angel appeareth to jonas. Angel. 
Amithai, son, I charge thee muse no more,  
(I am) hath power to pardon and correct,  
To thee pertains to do the Lords command.  
Go girt thy loins, and hast thee quickly hence,  
To Niniveh, that mighty City wend,  
And say this message from the Lord of hosts,  
Preach unto them these tidings from thy God.  
Behold thy wickedness hath tempted me,  
And pierced through the ninefold orbs of heaven,  
Repent, or else thy judgement is at hand.  This said, the Angel vanisheth. jonas 
Prostrate I lie before the Lord of hosts,  
With humble ears intending his behest,  
Ah honoured be jehovahs' great command,  
Then jonas must to Niniveh repair,  
Commanded as the Prophet of the Lord,  
Great dangers on this journey do await,  
But dangers none where heavens direct the course,  
What should I deem, I see, yea sighing see,  
How Israel sin, yet knows the way of truth,  
And thereby grows the byword of the world,  
How then should God in judgement be so strict?  
'Gainst those who never heard or knew his power,  
To threaten utter ruin of them all:  
Should I report this judgement of my God,  
I should incite them more to follow sin,  
And publish to the world my country's blame,  
It may not be, my conscience tells me no.  
Ah jonas wilt thou prove rebellious then?  
Consider ere thou fall what error is,  
My mind misgives, to joppa will I flee,  
And for a while to Tharsus shape my course,  
Until the Lord unfret his angry brows.  Enter certain Merchants of Tharsus, a Master and some Sailors. M. 
Come one brave merchants now the wind doth serve,  
And sweetly blows a gale at West south-west.  
Our yards a cross, our anchors on the pike,  
What shall we hence and take this merry gale?  Mer. 
Sailors convey our budgets straight aboard,  
And we will recompense your pains at last,  
If once in safety we may Tharsus see,  
M. we'll feast these merry mates and thee.  M. 
Meanwhile content yourselves with silly cates,  
Our beds are boards, our feasts are full of mirth,  
We use no pomp, we are the Lords of see,  
When Princes sweat in care, we swink of glee.  
Orious shoulders and the pointers serve,  
To be our load-stars in the linger night,  
The beauties of Arcturus we behold,  
And though the sailor is no bookman held,  
He knows more Art than ever bookmen read.  sailor. 
By heavens well said, in honour of our trade,  
Let's see the proudest scholar stir his course  
Or shift his tides as silly sailors do,  
Then will we yield them praise, else never none.  Mer. 
Well spoken fellow in thine own behalf,  
But let us hence, wind tarries none you wots,  
And tide and time let slip is hardly got.  M. 
March to the haven merchants, I follow you.  jonas. 
Now doth occasion further my desires,  
I find companions fit to aid my flight,  
Stay sir I pray, and hear a word or two.  M. 
Say on good friend, but briefly if you please,  
My passengers by this time are aboard.  jonas. 
Whether pretend you to embark yourselves▪  M. 
To Tharsus sir, and here in joppa haven  
Our ship is priest and ready to departed.  jonas. 
May I have passage for my money then?  M. 
What not for money? pay ten silverlings,  
You are a welcome guest if so you please.  jonas. 
Hold take thy hire, I follow thee my friend.  M. 
Where is your budget let me bear it sir.  jonas. 
To one in peace, who sail as I do now,  
Put trust in him who succoureth every want.  Exeunt. Ose. 
When Prophets new inspired, presume to force  
And tie the power of heaven to their conceits,  
When fear, promotion, pride, or simony,  
Ambition, subtle craft, their thoughts disguise,  
Woe to the flock whereas the shepherds foul,  
For lo the Lord at unawares shall plague  
The careless guide, because his flocks do stray:  
The axe already to the tree is set,  
Beware to tempt the Lord ye men of art.  Enter Alcon, Thrasibulus, Samia, Clesiphon a lad. Clesi. 
Mother, some meat or else I die for want.  Samia. 
Ah little boy how glad thy mother would  
Supply thy wants but naked need denies:  
Thy father's slender portion in this world,  
By usury and false deceit is lost,  
No charity within this City bides:  
All for themselves, and none to help the poor.  Clesi. 
Father shall Clesiphon have no relief?  Alcon 
Faith my boy I must be flat with thee, we must feed upon proverbs now. As necessity hath no law, a churls feast is better than none at all, for other remedies have we none, except thy brother Radagon help us.  Samia. 
Is this thy slender care to help our child?  
Hath nature armed thee to no more remorse?  
Ah cruel man, unkind, and pitiless,  
Come Clesiphon my boy, i'll beg for thee.  Clesi. 
Oh how my mother's mourning moveth me?  Alcon. 
Nay you shall pay me interest for getting the boy (wife) before you carry him hence. Alas woman what can Alcon do more? I'll pluck the belly out of my heart for thee fwéete Samia, be not so waspish.  Samia. 
Ah silly man I know thy want is great,  
And foolish I to crave where nothing is.  
Haste Alcon haste, make haste unto our son,  
Who since he is in favour of the King,  
May help this hapless Gentleman and us.  
For to regain our goods from tyrant's hands.  Thra. 
Have patience Samia, weight your weal from heaven,  
though Gods have raised your son I hope for this,  
To secure innocents in their distress.  Enters Radagon, Solus 
Lo where he comes from the imperial Court,  
Go let us prostrate us before his feet.  Alcon. 
Nay by my troth, i'll never ask my son blessing, i trow, cha taught him his lesson to know his father, what son Radagon, i'faith boy how dost thee?  Rada. 
Villain disturb me not, I cannot stay.  Alcon. 
Tut'sonne i'll help you of that disease quickly, for I can hold thee, ask thy mother knave what cunning I have to ease a woman when a qualm of kindness come too near her stomach? Let me but clasp mine arms about her body and say my prayers in her bosom, and she shall be healed presently.  Rada. 
Traitor unto my Princely Majesty,  
How darest thou lay thy hands upon a King?  Samia. 
No Traitor Radagon, but true is he,  
What hath promotion bleared thus thine eye,  
To scorn thy father when he visits thee?  
Alas my son behold with ruthful eyes,  
Thy parents robbed of all their worldly weal,  
By subtle means of Usury and guile,  
The judges ears are deaf and shut up close,  
All mercy sleeps, then be thou in these plunges  
A patron to thy mother in her pains,  
Behold thy brother almost dead for food,  
Oh secure us, that first did secure thee.  Rada. 
What secure me, false callet hence avant?  
Old dotard pack, move not my patience,  
I know you not, Kings never look so low.  Samia. 
You know us not. Oh Radagon you know,  
That knowing us, you know your parents then,  
Thou know'st this womb first brought thee forth to light,  
I know these paps did foster thee my son.  Alcon. 
And I know he hath had many a piece of bread & cheese at my hands, as proud as he is, that know I.  Thracib. 
I weight no hope of succours in this place,  
Where children hold their fathers in disgrace.  Rada. 
Dare you enforce the furrows of revenge,  
Within the brows of royal Radagon?  
Villain avant, hence beggars with your brats,  
Marshal why whip you not these rogues away?  
That thus disturb our royal Majesty.  Clesiphon. 
Mother I see it is a wondrous thing,  
From base estate for to become a King:  
For why méethinke my brother in these fits,  
Hath got a kingdom, and hath lost his wits.  Rada. 
Yet more contempt before my royalty?  
Slaves fetch out tortures worse than Titius' plagues,  
And tear their tongues from their blasphemous heads.  Thrasi. 
I'll get me gone, though woe begon with grief,  
No hope remains, come Alcon let us wend.  Ra. 
'Twere best you did, for fear you catch your bane,  Samia. 
Nay Traitor, I will haunt thee to the death,  
Ungracious son, untoward and perverse,  
I'll fill the heavens with echoes of thy pride,  
And ring in every ear thy small regard,  
That dost despise thy parents in their wants,  
And breathing forth my soul before thy feet,  
My curses still shall haunt thy hateful head,  
And being dead, my ghost shall thee pursue.  Enter Rasni King of Assiria, attended on by his soothsayers and Kings. Rasni. 
How now, what mean these outcries in our Court?  
Where nought should sound but harmonies of heaven,  
What maketh Radagon so passionate?  Samia. 
justice O King, justice against my son.  Rasni. 
Thy son: what son?  Samia. 
This cursed Radagon.  Rada. 
Dread Monarch, this is but a lunacy,  
Which grief and want hath brought the woman to,  
What doth this passion hold you every Moon?  Samia. 
Oh politic in sin and wickedness,  
Too impudent for to delude thy Prince.  
Oh Rasni this same womb first brought him forth.  
This is his father, worn with care and age,  
This is his brother, poor unhaphie lad,  
And I his mother, though contemned by him,  
With tedious toil we got our little good,  
And brought him up to school with much charge:  
Lord how we joyed to see his towardness,  
And to ourselves we oft in silence said,  
This youth when we are old may secure us.  
But now preferred and lifted up by thee,  
We quite destroyed by cursed usury,  
He scorneth me, his father, and this child.  Clesi. 
He plays the Serpent right, described in Aesop's tale,  
That sought the Foster's death that lately gave him life.  Alcon. 
Nay and please your Maiesti-ship, for proof he was my child, search the parish book, the Clerk will swear it, his godfathers and godmothers can witness it, it cost me forty pence in ale and cakes on the wives at his christening. Hence proud King, thou shalt never more have my blessing.  He takes him apart. Rasni. 
Say sooth in secret Radagon,  
Is this thy father?  Rada. 
Mighty King he is,  
I blushing, tell it to your Majesty.  Ras. 
Thy dost thou then contemn him & his friends?  Rada. 
Because he is a base and abject swain,  
My mother and her brat both beggarly,  
Unméete to be allied unto a King.  
Should I that look on Rasnes countenance,  
And march amidst his royal equipage,  
Embase myself to speak to such as they?  
'Twere impious so to impair the love  
That mighty Rasni bears to Radagon.  
I would your grace would quit them from your sight  
That dare presume to look on Ioues compare.  Rasni. 
I like thy pride, I praise thy policy,  
Such should they be that wait upon my Court.  
Let me alone to answer (Radagon.)  
Villains, seditious traitors as you be,  
That scandalise the honour of a King,  
Depart my Court you stales of impudence,  
Unless you would be parted from your limbs,  
So base for to entitle fatherhood,  
To Rasnes friend, to Rasnes favourite?  Rada. 
Hence begging scold, hence caitiff clogged with years,  
On pain of death revisit not the Court.  
Tip I conceived by such a scurvy trull,  
Or brought to light by such a lump of dirt:  
Go Lozel troth it to the cart and spade,  
Thou art unmeet to look upon a King,  
Much less to be the father of a King.  Alcon. 
You may see wife what a goodly piece of work you have made, have I taught you Arsmetry, as additiori multiplicarum, the rule of three, and all for the begetting of a boy, and to be banished for my labour. O pitiful hearing. Come Clesiphon follow me.  Clesi. 
Brother beware, I oft have heard it told,  
That sons who do their father's scorn, shall beg when they be old.  Exet Alcon, Clesiphon. Radagon. 
Hence bastard boy for fear you taste the whip.  Samia. 
Oh all you heavens, and you eternal powers,  
That sway the sword of justice in your hands,  
(If mothers curses for her sons contempt,  
May fill the balance of your fury full)  
power down the tempest of your direful plagues,  
Upon the head of cursed Radagon.  Upon this prayer she departeth, and a flame of fire appeareth from beneath, and Radagon is swallowed. 
So you are just, now triumph Samia. Exet Samia.  Rasni. 
What exorcizing charm, or hateful hag.  
Hath ravished the pride of my delight?  
What tortuous planets, or malevolent  
Conspiring power, repining destiny  
Hath made the concave of the earth unclose,  
And shut in ruptures lovely Radagon?  
If I be Lord-commander of the clouds,  
King of the earth, and Sovereign of the seas,  
What daring Saturn from his fiery den,  
Doth dart these furious flames amidst my Court?  
I am not chief, there is more great than I,  
What greater than Th'assirian Satrapos?  
It may not be, and yet I fear there is,  
That hath bereft me of my Radagon.  soothsayer. 
Monarch and Potentate of all our Provinces,  
Muse not so much upon this accident,  
Which is indeed nothing miraculous,  
The hill of Scicely, dread Sovereign,  
Sometime on sudden doth evacuate,  
Whole flakes of fire, and spews out from below  
The smoky brands that Vulueus bellows drive,  
Whether by winds enclosed in the earth,  
Or fracture of the earth by rivers force,  
Such chances as was this, are often seen,  
Whole Cities sunk, whole Countries drowned quite,  
Then muse not at the loss of Radagon.  
But frolic with the dalliance of your love.  
Let clothes of purple set with studs of gold,  
Embellished with all the pride of earth,  
Be spread for Aluida to sit upon.  
Then thou like Mars courting the queen of love,  
Mayst drive away this melancholy fit.  Rasni. 
The proof is good and philosophical,  
And more, thy counsel plausible and sweet.  
Come Lords, though Rasni wants his Radagon,  
Earth will repay him many Radagons,  
And Aluida with pleasant looks revive,  
The heart that droops for want of Radagon.  Exeunt. Oseas. 
When disobedience reigneth in the child,  
And Prince's ears by flattery be beguiled.  
When laws do pass by favour, not by truth,  
When falsehood swarmeth both in old and youth.  
When gold is made a god to wrong the poor,  
And charity exiled from rich men's door.  
When men by wit do labour to disprove,  
The plagues for sin, sent down by God above.  
Where great men's ears are stop to good advice,  
And apt to hear those tales that feed their vice.  
Woe to the land, for from the East shall rise,  
A lamb of peace, the scourge of vanities.  
The judge of truth, the patron of the just,  
Who soon will lay presumption in the dust.  
And give the humble poor their hearts desire,  
And doom the worldlings to eternal fire.  
Repent all you that hear, for fear of plagues,  
O London, this and more doth swarm in thee,  
Repent, repent, for why the Lord doth see.  
With trembling prey, and mend what is amiss,  
The sword of justice drawn already is.  Enter the Clown and the Smith's wife. Clown. 
Why but hear you mistress, you know a woman's eyes are like a pair of pattens fit to save shooleather in summer, and to keep away the cold in winter, so you may like your husband with the one eye, because you are married, and me with the other, because I am your man. Alas, alas, think mistress what a thing love is, why it is like to an ostry faggot, that once set on fire, is as hardly quenched, as the bird Crocodill driven out of her nest.  Wife. 
Thy Adam cannot a woman wink but she must sleep, and can she not love but she must cry it out at the Cross, know Adam, I love thee as myself, now that we are together in secret.  Clown. 
Mis. these words of yours are like to a Fox tail placed in a gentle woman's Fan, which as it is light, so it giveth life. Oh these words are as sweet as a lily, whereupon offering a borachio of kisses to your unseemly parsonage, I entertain you upon further acquaintance.  Wife. 
Alas my husband comes.  Clown. 
Strike up the drum, and say no words but mum.  Smith. 
Sirrah you, and you housewife, well taken together, I have long suspected you, and now I am glad I have found you together.  Clown. 
Truly sir, and I am glad that I may do you any way pleasure, either in helping you or my mistress.  Smith. 
Boy here, and knave you shall know it strait, I will have you both before the Magistrate, and there have you surely punished.  Clown. 
Why then master you are jealous?  Smith. 
jealous knave, how can I be but jealous, to see you ever so familiar together? Thou art not only content to drink away my goods, but to abuse my wife.  Clown. 
Two good qualities, drunkenness and lechery, but master are you jealous?  Smith. 
I knave and thou shalt know it ere I pass, for I will beswindge thee while this rope will hold.  Wife. 
My good husband abuse him not, for he never proffered you any wrong,  Smith. 
Nay whore, thy part shall not be behind.  Clown. 
Why suppose master I have offended you, is it lawful for the master to beat the servant for all offences?  Smith. 
I marry is it knave.  Clown. 
Then master will I prove by logic, that seeing all sins are to receive correction, the master is to be corrected of the man, and sir I pray you, what greater sin is, than jealousy? 'tis like a mad dog that for anger bites himself. Therefore that I may do my duty to you good master, and to make a white son of you, I will so beswinge jealousy out of you, as you shall love me the better while you live.  Smith. 
What beat thy master knave?  Clown. 
What beat thy man knave? and I master, and double beat you, because you are a man of credit, and therefore have at you the fairest for forty pence.  Smith. 
Alas wife, help, help, my man kills me.  Wife. 
Nay, even as you have baked so brew, jealousy must be driven out by extremities.  Clown. 
And that will I do, mistress.  Smith. 
Hold thy hand Adam, and not only I forgive and forget all▪ but I will give thee a good Farm to live on.  Clown. 
Begun Peasant, out of the compass of my further wrath, for I am a corrector of vice, and at night I will bring home my mistress.  Smith. 
Even when you please good Adam.  Clown. 
When I please, mark the words, 'tis a lease parol, to have and to hold, thou shalt be mine for ever, and so let's go to the Alehouse.  Exeunt. Oseas. 
Where servants 'gainst masters do rebel,  
The Commonweal may be accounted hell.  
For if the feet the head shall hold in scorn,  
The City's state will fall and be forlorn.  
This error London, waiteth on thy state,  
Servants amend, and masters leave to hate.  
Let love abound, and virtue reign in all,  
So God will hold his hand that threateneth thrall.  Enter the Merchants of Tharsus, the M. of the ship, some Sailors, wet from sea, with them the Governor of joppa. Gover. jop. 
What strange encounters met you on the sea?  
That thus your Bark is battered by the floods,  
And you return thus sea-wrecked as I see.  Mer. 
Most mighty governor the chance is strange,  
The tidings full of wonder and amaze,  
Which better than we, our M. can report.  Gover. 
M. discourse us all the accident.  M. 
The fair Triones with their glimmering light  
Smiled at the foot of clear Roots a rain,  
And in the wrath distinguishing the hours,  
The Lodestar of our course dispersed his clear,  
When to the seas with blithfull western blasts,  
We sailed amain, and let the bowling fly:  
Scarce had we gone ten leagues from sight of land,  
But lo an host of black and sable clouds,  
'Gan to eclipse Lucina's silver face,  
And with a hurling noise from forth the South,  
A gust of wind did rear the billows up,  
Then scantled we our sails with speedy hands,  
And took our drabblers from our bonnets strait,  
And severed our bonnets from the courses,  
Our topsailes up, we truss our spritsailes in,  
But vainly strive they that resist the heavens.  
For lo the waves incense them more and more,  
Mounting with hideous roar from the depth,  
Our Bark is battered by encountering storms,  
And wellnigh stemd by breaking of the floods,  
The stéers-man pale, and careful holds his helm,  
Wherein the trust of life and safety lay,  
Till all at once (a mortal tale to tell)  
Our sails were split by Bisas' bitter blast,  
Our rudder broke and we bereft of hope,  
There might you see with pale and ghastly looks,  
The dead in thought, and doleful merchants lifts,  
Their eyes and hands unto their Country's Gods,  
The goods we cast in bowels of the sea,  
A sacrifice to suage proud Neptune's ire,  
Only alone a man of Israel,  
A passenger, did under hatches lie,  
And slept secure, when we for succour prayed:  
Him I awoke, and said why slumberest thou?  
Arise and pray, and call upon thy God,  
He will perhaps in pity look on us.  
Then cast we lots to know by whose amiss  
Our mischief come, according to the guise,  
And lo the lot did unto jonas fall,  
The Israelite of whom I told you last,  
Then question we his Country and his name,  
Who answered us, I am an Hebrew borne,  
Who fear the Lord of heaven, who made the sea,  
And fled from him for which we all are plagued,  
So to assuage the fury of my God,  
Take me and cast my carcase in the sea,  
Then shall this stormy wind and billow cease.  
The heavens they know, the Hebrues God can tell,  
How loath we were to execute his will:  
But when no Oars nor labour might suffice,  
We heaved the hapless jonas overboard.  
So ceased the storm, and calmed all the sea,  
And we by strength of oars recovered shore.  Gover. 
A wondrous chance of mighty consequence.  Mer. 
Ah honoured be the God that wrought the same,  
For we have vowed, that saw his wondrous works,  
To cast away profaned Paganism,  
And count the Hebrues God the only God.  
To him this offering of the purest gold,  
This myrrh and Cascia freely I do yield.  M. 
And on his altars perfume these Turkey clothes,  
This gassampine and gold i'll sacrifice.  sailor. 
To him my heart and thoughts I will addict,  
Then suffer us most mighty Governor,  
Within your Temples to do sacrifice.  Gover. 
You men of Tharsus follow me,  
Who sacrifice unto the God of heaven,  
And welcome friends to joppais Governor. Exeunt a sacrifice.  Oseas. 
If warned once, the Ethnics thus repent,  
And at the first their error do lament:  
What senseless beasts devoured in their sin,  
Are they whom long persuasions cannot win.  
Beware ye western Cities where the word  
Is daily preached both at church and board:  
Where majesty the Gospel doth maintain,  
Where Preachers for your good, themselves do pain.  
To dally long, and still protract the time,  
The Lord is just, and you but dust and slime:  
Presume not far, delay not to amend,  
Who suffereth long, will punish in the end.  
Cast thy account o London in this case,  
Then judge what cause thou hast, to call for grace.  jonas the Prophet cast out of the Whale's belly upon the Stage. jonas. 
Lord of the light, thou maker of the world,  
Behold thy hands of mercy rears me up,  
Lo from the hideous bowels of this fish,  
Thou hast returned me to the wished air,  
Lo here apparent witness of thy power,  
The proud Leviathan that scours the seas,  
And from his nostrils showers out stormy floods,  
Whose back resists the tempest of the wind,  
Whose presence makes the scaly troops to shake,  
With humble stress of his broad opened chaps,  
Hath lent me harbour in the raging floods.  
Thus though my sin hath drawn me down to death,  
Thy mercy hath restored me to life.  
Bow ye my knees, and you my bashful eyes,  
Weep so for grief, as you to water would:  
In trouble Lord I called unto thee,  
Out of the belly of the deepest hell,  
I cried, and thou didst hear my voice O God:  
'tis thou hadst cast me down into the deep,  
The seas and floods did compass me about,  
I thought I had been cast from out thy sight,  
The weeds were wrapped about my wretched head,  
I went unto the bottom of the hills,  
But thou O Lord my God hast brought me up.  
On thee I thought when as my soul did faint,  
My prayers did press before thy mercy seat.  
Then will I pay my vows unto the Lord,  
For why salvation cometh from his throne.  The Angel appeareth. Angel. 
jonas arise, get thee to Niniveh,  
And preach to them the preachings that I bade:  
Haste thee to see the will of heaven performed.  Depart Angel. jonas. 
jehovah I am Priest to do thy will.  
What coast is this, and where am I arrived?  
Behold sweet Licas streaming in his bounds,  
Bearing the walls of haughty Niniveh,  
Whereas three hundred towns do tempt the heaven.  
Fair are thy walls pride of Assiria,  
But lo thy sins have pierced through the clouds.  
Here will I enter boldly, since I know  
My God commands, whose power no power resists.  Exet. Oseas. 
You Prophets learn by jonas how to live,  
Repent your sins, whilst he doth warning give.  
Who knows his masters will and doth it not,  
Shall suffer many stripes full well I wots.  Enter Aluida in rich attire, with the King of Cilicia, her Ladies. Aluida. 
Ladies go sit you down amidst this bower,  
And let the Eunickes play you all a sleep:  
Put garlands made of Roses on your heads,  
And play the wantoness whilst I talk a while.  Lady. 
Thou beautiful of all the world, we will.  Enter the bowers. Aluid. 
King of Cilicia, kind and courteous,  
Like to thyself, because a lovely King,  
Come lay thee down upon thy mistress knee,  
And I will sing and talk of love to thee.  King Cili. 
Most gracious Paragon of excellence,  
It fits not such an abject Prince as I,  
To talk with Rasnes Paramour and love.  Al. 
To talk sweet friend? who would not talk with thee?  
Oh be not coy, art thou not only fair?  
Come twine thine arms about this snow white neck,  
A love-nest for the great Assyrian King,  
Blushing I tell thee fair, Cilician Prince,  
None but thyself can merit such a grace.  K. Ci. 
Madam I hope you mean not for to mock me:  Al. 
No king, fair king, my meaning is to yoke thee.  
Hear me but sing of love, then by my sighs,  
My tears, my glancing looks, my changed cheer,  
Thou shalt perceive how I do hold thee dear.  K. Ci. 
Sing Madam if you please, but love in jest,  Aluid. 
Nay, I will love, and sigh at every rest.  

Song.  
Beauty alas where wast thou borne?  
Thus to hold thyself in scorn:  
When as Beauty kissed to woo thee,  
Thou by Beauty dost undo me.  
Heigho, despise me not.  
I and thou in sooth are one,  
Fairer thou, I fairer none:  
Wanton thou, and wilt thou wanton  
Yield a cruel heart to plant on?  
Do me right, and do me reason,  
Cruelty is cursed treason.  
Heigho I love, heigho I love,  
Heigho, and yet he eyes me not.   King. 
Madam your song is passing passionate.  Alui. 
And wilt thou not then pity my estate?  King. 
Ask love of them who pity may impart.  Alui. 
I ask of thee sweet, thou hast stole my heart.  King. 
Your love is fixed on a greater King.  Alui. 
Tut women's love, it is a fickle thing.  
I love my Rasni for my dignity.  
I love Cilician King for his sweet eye.  
I love my Rasni since he rules the world.  
But more I love this kingly little world. Embrace him.  
How sweet he looks? Oh were I Cinthia's Fere,  
And thou Endymion, I should hold thee dear:  
Thus should mine arms be spread about thy neck.  Embrace his neck. 
Thus would I kiss my love at every beck.  Kiss. 
Thus would I sigh to see thee sweetly sleep:  
And if thou wakest not soon, thus would I weep.  
And thus, and thus, and thus: thus much I love thee.  Kiss him. King. 
For all these vows, beshrew me if I prove you:  
My faith unto my King shall not be falced.  Alui. 
Good Lord how men are coy when they are craved?  King. 
Madam behold our King approacheth nigh.  Alui. 
Thou art Endymion, then no more, heigho for him I die.  Faints. Point at the king of Cilicia. Enter Rasni, with his Kings and Lords. 
What ails the Centre of my happiness,  
Whereon depends the heaven of my delight?  
Thine eyes the motors to command my world,  
Thy hands the axier to maintain my world.  
Thy smiles, the prime and springtide of my world.  
Thy frowns, the winter to afflict the world.  
Thou Queen of me, I King of all the world.  Alui. 
Ah feeble eyes lift up and look on him, She rises as out of a trance.  
Is Rasni here? then droop no more poor heart,  
Oh how I fainted when I wanted thee?  Embrace him. 
How feign am I, now I may look on thee?  
How glorious is my Rasni? how divine?  
Eunuches play hymns, to praise his deity:  
He is my jove, and I his juno am.  Rasni. 
Sunbright, as is the eye of summers day,  
When as he suits Spenori all in gold,  
To woo his Leda in a swan-like shape.  
Seemly as Galbocia for thy white:  
Rose-coloured, lily, lovely, wanton, kind,  
Be thou the labyrinth to tangle love,  
Whilst I command the crown from Venus' crest:  
And pull Onoris girdle from his loins,  
Enchased with Carbunckles and Diamonds,  
To beautify fair Aluida my love.  
Play Eunuches, sing in honour of her name,  
Yet look not slaves upon her wooing eyen,  
For she is fair Lucina to your king,  
But fierce Medusa to your base eye.  Alui. 
What if I slept, where should my pillow be?  Rasni. 
Within my bosom Nymph, not on my knee.  
Sleep like the smiling purity of heaven,  
When mildest wind is loath to blend the peace,  
Meanwhile thy balm shall from thy breath arise,  
And while these closures of thy lamps be shut,  
My soul may have his peace from fancy's war.  
This is my Morane, and I her Shafalus.  
Wake not too soon sweet Nymph, my love is won:  
Catnies why stay your strains, why tempt you me?  Enter the Priest of the sun, with the mitres on their heads, carrying fire in their hands. Priest. 
All hail unto Th'assirian deity.  Ras. 
Priests why presume you to disturb my peace?  Priest. 
Rasni, the destinies disturb thy peace.  
Behold amidst the addittes of our Gods,  
Our mighty Gods the patrons of our war.  
The ghost of dead men howling walk about,  
Crying We, We, woe to this City woe.  
The statutes of our Gods are thrown down,  
And streams of blood our altars do distain.  Aluida. 
Alas my Lord what tidings do I hear?  
Shall I be slain?  She starteth. Rasni. 
Who tempteth Aluida?  
Go break me up the brazen doors of dreams,  
And bind me cursed Morpheus in a chain,  
And fetter all the fancies of the night,  
Because they do disturb my Aluida.  A hand from out a cloud, threateneth a burning sword. K. Cili. 
Behold dread Prince, a burning sword from heaven,  
Which by a threatening armeiss brandished.  Rasni. 
What am I threatened then amidst my throne?  
Sages? you Magi? speak: what meaneth this?  Sages. 
These are but clammy exhalations,  
Or retro grave, conjunctions of the stars,  
Or oppositions of the greater lights.  
Or radiatrous finding matter fit,  
That in the starry Sphere kindled be,  
Matters betokening dangers to thy foes,  
But peace and honour to my Lord the King.  Rasni. 
Then frolic Uiceroys, Kings & potentates,  
Drive all vain fancies from your feeble minds.  
Priests go and pray, whilst I prepare my feast,  
Where Aluida and I, in pearl and gold,  
Will quaff unto our Nobles, richest wine,  
In spite of fortune, fate, or destiny.  Exeunt. Oseas. 
Woe to the trains of women's foolish lust,  
In wedlock rights that yield but little trust.  
That vow to one, yet common be to all,  
Take warning wantoness, pride will have a fall.  
Woe to the land where warnings profit nought,  
Who say that nature, God's decrees hath wrought.  
Who build one fate, and leave the corner stone,  
The God of Gods, sweet Christ the only one.  
If such escapes o London reign in thee:  
Repent, for why each sin shall punished be.  
Repent, amend, repent, the hour is nigh,  
Defer not time, who knows when he shall die?  Enters one clad in devils attire alone. 
Longer lives a merry man then a sad, and because I mean to make myself pleasant this night, I have put myself into this attire, to make a Clown afraid that passeth this way: for of late there have appeared many strange apparitions, to the great fear and terror of the Citizens. Oh here my young master comes.  Enters Adam and his mistress. Adam. 
Fear not mistress, i'll bring you safe home, if my master frown, then will I stamp and stare, and if all be not well then, why then to morrow morn put out mine eyes clean with forty pound.  Wife. 
Oh but Adam, I am afraid to walk so late because of the spirits that appear in the City.  Adam. 
What are you afraid of spirits, armed as I am, with Ale, and Nutmegs, turn me lose to all the devils in hell.  Wife. 
Alas Adam, Adam, the devil, the devil.  Adam. 
The devil mistress, fly you for your safeguard, let me alone, the devil and I will deal well enough, if he have any honesty at all in him, I'll either win him with a smooth tale, or else with a toast and a cup of Ale.  The Devil sings here. Devil. 
Oh, oh, oh, oh, feign would I be,  
If that my kingdom fulfilled I might see.  
Oh, oh, oh, oh.  Clown. 
Surely this is a merry devil, and I believe he is one of Lucifer's Minstrels, hath a sweet voice, now surely, surely, he may sing to a pair of Tongues and a Bagpipe.  Devil. 
Oh thou art he that I seek for.  Clown. 
Spritus santus, away from me satan, I have nothing to do with thee.  Devil. 
Oh villain thou art mine.  Clown. 
Nominus patrus, I bless me from thee, and I conjure thee to tell me who thou art?  Devil. 
I am the spirit of the dead man that was slain in thy company when we were drunk together at the Ale.  Clown. 
By my troth sir, I cry you mercy, your face is so changed, that I had quite forgotten you, well master devil we have tossed over many a pot of Ale together.  Devil. 
And therefore must thou go with me to hell.  Clown. 
I have a policy to shift him, for I know he comes out of a hot place, and I know myself, the Smith and the devil hath a dry tooth in his head, therefore will I leave him a sleep and run my way.  Devil. 
Come art thou ready.  Clown. 
Faith sir my old friend, and now goodman devil, you know, you and I have been tossing many a good cup of Ale, your nose is grown very rich, what say you, will you take a pot of Ale now at my hands, hell is like a Smith's forge full of water, and yet ever a thrust.  Devil. 
No Ale villain, spirits cannot drink, come get up on my back, that I may carry thee.  Clown. 
You know I am a Smith sir, let me look whether you be well shod or no, for if you want a shoe, a remove, or the clinching of a nail, I am at your command.  Devil. 
Thou hast never a shoe fit for me.  Clown. 
Why sir, we shoe horned beasts as well as you, Oh good Lord let me sit down and laugh, hath never a cloven foot, a devil quoth he, i'll use spritus santus nor nominus patrus no more to him, I warrant you I'll do more good upon him with my cudgel, now will I sit me down and become justice of peace to the devil.  Devil. 
Come art thou ready?  Clown. 
I am ready. And with this cudgel I will conjure thee.  Devil. 
Oh hold thy hand, thou kill'st me, thou kill'st me.  Clown. 
Then may I count myself I think a tall man, that am able to kill a devil. Now who dare deal with me in the parish, or what wench in Niniveh will not love me, when they say, there goes he that beat the devil.  Enters Thrasibulus. Thrasi. 
Loathed is the life that now enforced I lead,  
But since necessity will have it so,  
(Necessity it doth command then Gods)  
Through every coast and corner now I pry,  
To pilfer what I can to buy me meat.  
Here have I got a cloak not over old,  
Which will afford some little sustenance,  
Now will I to the broking Usurer,  
To make exchange of ware for ready coin.  Alcon. 
Wife bid the Trumpets sound a prize, a prize, mark the posy, I cut this from a new married wife, by the help of a horn thumb and a knife, six shillings four pence.  Samia. 
The better luck ours, but what have we here, cast apparel. Come away man, the Usurer is near, this is dead ware, let it not bide on our hands.  Thrasi. 
Here are my partners in my poverty,  
enforced to seek their fortunes as I do.  
Alas that few men should possess the wealth,  
And many souls be forced to beg or steal.  
Alcon well met.  Alcon. 
Fellow beggar whither now?  Thrasi. 
To the Usurer to get gold on commodity.  Alcon. 
And I to the same place to get a vent for my villainy, see where the old crust comes, let us salute him, God speed sir may a man abuse your patience upon a pawn.  Usurer. 
Friend let me see it.  Alcon. 
Ecce signum, a fair doublet and hose, new bought out of the pilferers shop, a handsome cloak.  Usurer. 
How were they gotten?  Thrasi. 
How catch the fishermen fish?  M. 
take them as you think them worth, we leave all to your conscience.  Usurer. 
Honest men, toward men, good men, my friends, like to prove good members, use me, command me, I will maintain your credits, there's money, now spend not your time in idleness, bring me commodity I have crowns for you, there is two shillings for thee, and six shillings for thee.  Alcon. 
A bargain, now Samia have at it for a new smock, come let us to the spring of the best liquor, whilst this lasts, trillill.  Usurer. 
Good fellows, proper fellows, my companions, farewell, I have a pot for you.  Samia. 
If he could spare it.  Enters to them jonas. 
Repent ye men of Niniveh, repent,  
The day of horror and of torment comes,  
When greedy hearts shall glutted be with fire,  
When as corruptions veiled, shall be unmasked,  
When briberies shall be repaid with bane.  
When whoredoms shall be recompensed in hell.  
When riot shall with rigour be rewarded.  
When as neglect of truth, contempt of God,  
Disdain of poor men, fatherless and sick,  
Shall be rewarded with a bitter plague.  
Repent ye men of Niniveh, repent.  
The Lord hath spoke, and I do cry it out.  
There are as yet but forty days remaining,  
And then shall Niniveh be overthrown.  
Repent ye men of Niniveh, repent.  
There are as yet but forty days remaining,  
And then shall Niniveh be overthrown. Exet.  Vsur. 
Confused in thought, oh whither shall I wend? Exet.  Thrasi. 
My conscience cries that I have done amiss. Exet.  Alcon. 
Oh God of heaven, 'gainst thee have I offended. Exet.  Samia. 
Ashamed of my misdeeds, where shall I hide me? Exet.  Clesi. 
Father methinks this word repent is good,  
He that punish disobedience,  
Doth hold a scourge for every privy fault. Exet.  Oseas. 
Look London, look, with inward eyes behold,  
What lessons the events do here unfold.  
Sin grown to pride, to misery is thrall,  
The warning bell is rung, beware to fall.  
Ye worldly men whom wealth doth lift on high,  
Beware and fear, for worldly men must die.  
The time shall come, where least suspect remains,  
The sword shall light upon the wisest brains.  
The head that deems to overtop the sky,  
Shall perish in his humane policy.  
Lo I have said, when I have said the truth,  
When will is law, when folly guideth youth.  
When show of zeal is pranked in robes of zeal,  
When Ministers poll the pride of commonweal?  
When la is made a labyrinth of strife,  
When honour yields him friend to wicked life.  
When Princes hear by others ears their folly,  
When usury is most accounted holy.  
If these shall hap, as would to God they might not,  
The plague is near, I speak although I write not.  Enters the Angel. Angel. 
Oseas.  Oseas. 
Lord.  An. 
Now hath thine eyes perused these heinous sins,  
Hateful unto the mighty Lord of hosts,  
The time is come, their sins are waxen ripe,  
And though the Lord forewarns, yet they repent not:  
Custom of firm hath hardened all their hearts,  
Now comes revenge armed with mighty plagues,  
To punish all that live in Niniveh,  
For God is just as he is merciful,  
And doubtless plague's all such as scorn repent,  
Thou shalt not see the desolation  
That falls unto these cursed Ninivites,  
But shalt return to great jerusalem,  
And preach unto the people of thy God,  
What mighty plagues are incident to sin,  
Unless repentance mitigate his ire:  
Wrapped in the spirit as thou wert hither brought,  
I'll seat thee in judea's provinces,  
Fear not Oseas then to preach the word.  Oseas. 
The will of the Lord be done.  Oseas taken away. Enters Rasni with his Viceroys, Aluida and her Ladies, to a banquet. Rasni. 
So Uiceroyes you have pleased me passing well,  
These curious cates are gracious in mine eye.  
But these Borachious of the richest wine,  
Make me to think how blythsome we will be.  
Seat thee fair juno in the royal throne,  
And I will serve thee to see thy face,  
That feeding on the beauty of thy looks,  
My stomach and mine eyes may both be filled.  
Come Lordings seat you, fellow mates at feast,  
And frolic wags, this is a day of glee,  
This banquet is for brightsome Aluida.  
I'll have them skinck my standing bowls with wine,  
And no man drink, but quaff a whole carouse,  
Unto the health of beauteous Aluida.  
For who so riseth from this feast not drunk,  
As I am Rasni Niniuies great King,  
Shall die the death as traitor to myself,  
For that he scorns the health of Aluida.  K. Cili. 
That will I never do my L.  
Therefore with favour, fortune to your grace,  
Carouse unto the health of Aluida.  Rasni. 
Gramercy Lording, here I take thy pledge.  
And Crete to thee a bowl of Greekish wine,  
Here to the health of Aluida.  Crete. 
Let come my Lord, jack scincker fill it full,  
A pledge unto the health of heavenly Aluida.  Rasni. 
Uassals attendant on our royal feasts,  
Drink you I say unto my lovers health,  
Let none that is in Rasnes royal Court,  
Go this night safe and sober to his bed.  Enters the Clown. Clown. 
This way he is, and here will I speak with him.  Lord. 
Fellow, whither pressest thou?  Clown. 
I press no body sir, I am going to speak with a friend of mine.  Lord. 
Why slave, here is none but the King and his Uiceroyes.  Clown. 
The King, marry sir he is the man I would speak withal.  Lord. 
Why call'st him a friend of thine?  Clown. 
I marry do I sir, for if he be not my friend, i'll make him my friend ere he and I pass.  Lord. 
Away vassal be gone, thou speak unto the King.  Clown. 
I marry will I sir, and if he were a king of velvet, I will talk to him.  Rasni. 
What's the matter there, what noise is that?  Clown. 
A boon my Liege, a boon my Liege.  Rasni. 
What is it that great Rasni will not grant  
This day, unto the meanest of his land?  
In honour of his beauteous Aluida?  
Come hither swain, what is it that thou cravest?  Clown. 
Faith sir nothing, but to speak a few sentences to your worship.  Rasni. 
Say, what is it?  Clown. 
I am sure sir you have heard of the spirits that walk in the City here.  Rasni. 
I, what of that?  Clown. 
Truly sir, I have an oration to tell you of one of them, and this it is.  Alui. 
Why goest not forward with thy tale?  Clown. 
Faith mistress, I feel an imperfection in my voice, a disease that often troubles me, but alas easily mended, a cup of Ale, or a cup of wine, will serve the turn.  Alui. 
Fill him a bowl, and let him want no drink.  Clown. 
Oh what a precious word was that, and let him want no drink. Well sir, now i'll tell you forth my tale: Sir as I was coming alongst the port ryvale of Niniveh, there appeared to me a great devil, and as hard favoured a devil as ever I saw: nay sir, he was a cuckoldly devil, for he had horns on his head. This devil, mark you now, presseth upon me, and sir indeed, I charged him with my pike staff, but when that would not serve, I came upon him with sprytus santus, why it had been able to have put Lucifer out of his wits, when I saw my charm would not serve, I was in such a perplexity, that six pennyworth of juniper would not have made the place sweet again.  Alui. 
Why fellow wert thou so afraid?  Clown. 
Oh mistress had you been there and seen, his very sight had made you shift a clean smock, I promise you though I were a man and counted a tall fellow, yet my Laundress called me slovenly knave the next day.  Rasni. 
A pleasant slave, forward sirrah, on with thy tale.  Clown. 
Faith sir, but I remember a word that my mistress your bedfellow spoke.  Rasni. 
What was that fellow?  Clown. 
Oh sir, a word of comfort, a precious word: and let him want no drink.  Rasni. 
Her word is law: and thou shalt want no drink.  Clown. 
Then sir, this devil came upon me and would not be persuaded but he would needs carry me to hell, I proffered him a cup of Ale, thinking because he came out of so hot a place that he was thirsty, but the devil was not dry, and therefore the more sorry was I, well, there was no remedy but I must with him to hell, and at last I cast mine eye aside, if you knew what I spied you would laugh, sir I looked from top to toe, and he had no cloven feet. Then I ruffled up my hair, and set my cap on the one side, & sir grew to be a justice of peace to the devil. At last in a great fume, as I am very cholloricke, and sometime so hot in my fastin fumes that no man can abide within twenty yards of me, I start up, and so bombasted the devil, that sir he cried out, and ran away.  Alui. 
This pleasant knave hath made me laugh my fill.  
Rasni, now Aluida gins her quaff,  
And drinks a full carouse unto her King.  Rasni. 
A pledge my love, as hardy as great jove,  
Drunk, when his juno heaved a bowl to him.  
Frolic my Lord, let all the standards walk.  
Ply it till every man hath ta'en his load.  
How now sirrah, how cheer, we have no words of you?  Clown. 
Truly sir, I was in a brown study about my mistress.  Alui. 
About me for what?  Clown. 
Truly mistress, to think what a golden sentence you did speak: all the philosophers in the world could not have said more: what come let him want no drink. Oh wise speech.  Alui. 
Villains why skinck you not unto this fellow?  
He makes me blithe and merry in my thoughts.  
Herd you not that the King hath given command,  
That all be drunk this day within his Court,  
In quaffing to the health of Aluida?  Enters jonas. jonas 
Repent, repent, ye men of Niniveh repent.  
The Lord hath spoken, and I do cry it out,  
There are as yet but forty days remaining,  
And then shall Niniveh be overthrown.  
Repent ye men of Niniveh, repent.  Rasni. 
What fellow is this, that thus disturbs our feasts,  
With outcries and alarums to repent.  Clown. 
Oh sir, 'tis one goodman jonas that is come from jericho, and surely I think he hath seen some spirit by the way, and is fallen out of his wits, for he never leaves crying night nor day, my master heard him, and he shut up his shop, gave me my Indenture, and he and his wife do nothing but fast and pray.  jonas. 
Repent ye men of Niniveh, repent.  Rasni. 
Come hither fellow, what art, & from whence comest thou?  jonas. 
Rasni, I am a Prophet of the Lord,  
Sent hither by the mighty God of hosts,  
To cry destruction to the Ninivites,  
O Niniveh thou harlot of the world,  
I raise thy neighbours round about thy bounds,  
To come and see thy filthiness and sin.  
Thus saith the Lord, the mighty God of host,  
Your King loves chambering and wantonness,  
Whoredom and murder do distain his Court,  
He favoureth covetous and drunken men.  
Behold therefore all like a strumpet foul,  
Thou shalt be judged and punished for thy crime:  
The foe shall pierce the gates with iron ramps,  
The fire shall quite consume thee from above.  
The houses shall be burnt, the Infants slain.  
And women shall behold their husbands die.  
Thine eldest sister is Lamana.  
And Sodom on thy right hand seated is.  
Repent ye men of Niniveh, repent.  
The Lord hath spoke, and I do cry it out.  
There are as yet but forty days remaining,  
And then shall Niniveh be overthrown.  Exet offered. Rasni. 
Stay Prophet, stay.  jonas. 
Disturb not him that sent me,  
Let me perform the message of the lord Exet.  Rasni. 
My soul is buried in the hell of thoughts.  
Ah Aluida, I look on thee with shame.  
My Lords on sudden fix their eyes on ground,  
As if dismayed to look upon the heavens.  
Hence Magi, who have flattered me in sin.  Exet. His Sages. 
Horror of mind, disturbance of my soul,  
Makes me aghast, for Niniuies mishap.  
Lords see proclaimed, yea see it strait proclaimed,  
That man and beast, the woman and her child,  
For forty days in sack and ashes fast,  
Perhaps the Lord will yield and pity us.  
Bear hence these wretched blandishments of sin,  
And bring me sackcloth to attire your King.  
Away with pomp, my soul is full of woe:  
In pity look on Niniveh, O God.  Exet. A man. Alui. 
Assailed with shame, with horror overborne,  
To sorrows sold, all guilty of our sin.  
Come Ladies come, let us prepare to pray.  
Alas, how dare we look on heavenly light,  
That have despised the maker of the same?  
How may we hope for mercy from above,  
That still despise the warnings from above?  
Woes me, my conscience is a heavy foe.  
O patron of the poor oppressed with sin,  
Look, look on me, that now for pity crave,  
Assailed with shame, with horror overborne,  
To sorrow sold, all guilty of our sin.  
Come Ladies come, let us prepare to pray.  Exeunt. Enter the Usurer solus, with a halter in one hand, a dagger in the other. Usurer. 
Groaning in conscience, burdened with my crimes,  
The hell of sorrow haunts me up and down.  
Tread where I list, mée-thinkes the bleeding ghosts  
Of those whom my corruption brought to noughts,  
Do serve for stumbling blocks before my steps.  
The fatherless and widow wronged by me.  
The poor oppressed by my usury,  
Mée-thinkes I see their hands reared up to heaven,  
To cry for vengeance of my covetousness.  
Where so I walk, I'll sigh and shun my way.  
Thus am I made a monster of the world,  
Hell gapes for me, heaven will not hold my soul.  
You mountains shroud me from the God of truth.  
Methinks I see him sit to judge the earth.  
See how he blots me out of the book of life.  
Oh burden more than Atna that I bear.  
Cover me hills, and shroud me from the Lord.  
Swallow me Licas, shield me from the Lord.  
In life no peace: each murmuring that I hear,  
Mée-thinkes the sentence of damnation sounds,  
Die reprobate, and hie thee hence to hell.  The evil angel tempteth him, offering the knife and rope. 
What fiend is this that tempts me to the death?  
What is my death the harbour of my rest?  
Then let me die: what second charge is this?  
Mée-things I hear a voice amidst mine ears,  
That bids me stay: and tells me that the Lord  
Is merciful to those that do repent.  
May I repent? oh thou my doubtful soul?  
Thou mayst repent, the judge is merciful.  
Hence tools of wrath, stales of temptation,  
For I will pray and sigh unto the Lord.  
In sackcloth will I sigh, and fasting pray:  
O Lord in rigour look not on my sins.  He sits him down in sack-cloathes, his hands and eyes reared to heaven. Enters Aluida with her Ladies, with dispiearsed looks. Alui. 
Come mournful dames lay off your broidered locks,  
And on your shoulders spread dispiearsed hairs,  
Let voice of music cease, where sorrow dwells.  
Clothed in sackcloaths, sigh your sins with me.  
Bemoan your pride, bewail your lawless lusts,  
With fasting mortify your pampered loins:  
Oh think upon the horror of your sins.  
Think, think, with me, the burden of your blames,  
Woe to thy pomp, fall, e beauty, fading flower,  
Blasted by age, by sickness, and by death.  
Woe to our painted cheeks, our curious oils,  
Our rich array, that fostered us in sin.  
Woe to our idle thoughts that wound our souls.  
Oh would to God all nations might receive,  
A good example by our grievous fall.  Ladies. 
You that are planted there where pleasure dwells,  
And thinks your pomp as great as Niniuies,  
May fall for sin as Niniveh doth now.  Alui. 
Mourn, mourn, let moan be all your melody,  
And pray with me, and I will pray for all.  Lord. 
O Lord of heaven forgive us our misdeeds.  Ladies. 
O Lord of heaven forgive us our misdeeds.  Usurer. 
O Lord of light forgive me my misdeeds.  Enters Rasni, the Kings of Assiria, with his nobles in sackcloth. K. Cilicia. 
Be not so overcome with grief O King,  
Lest you endanger life by sorrowing so.  Rasni. 
King of Cilicia, should I cease my grief,  
Where as my swarming sins afflict my soul?  
Vain man know, this my burden greater is,  
Then every private subject in my land:  
My life hath been a lodestar unto them,  
To guide them in the labyrinth of blame,  
Thus I have taught them for to do amiss:  
Then must I weep my friend for their amiss,  
The fall of Niniveh is wrought by me:  
I have maintained this City in her shame.  
I have contemned the warnings from above.  
I have upholden incest, rape, and spoil.  
'tis I that wrought the sin, must weep the sin.  
Oh had I tears like to the silver streams,  
That from the Alpine Mountains sweetly stream,  
Or had I sighs the treasures of remorse,  
As plentiful as Aeolus hath blasts,  
I then would tempt the heavens with my laments,  
And pierce the throne of mercy by my sighs.  K. Cil. 
heavens are prepitious unto faithful prayers.  Rasni. 
But after our repent, we must lament:  
Lest that a worse mischief doth befall.  
Oh pray, perhaps the Lord will pity us.  
Oh God of truth both merciful and just,  
Behold repentant men with piteous eyes,  
We wail the life that we have led before.  
O pardon Lord, O pity Niniveh.  Omnes. 
O pardon Lord, O pity Niniveh.  Rasni. 
Let not the Infants dallying on the tent,  
For father's sins in judgement be oppressed.  K. Cil. 
Let not the painful mother's big with child,  
The innocents be punished for our sin.  Rasni. 
O pardon Lord, O pity Niniveh.  Omnes. 
O pardon Lord, O pity Niniveh.  Rasni. 
O Lord of heaven, the virgins weep to thee.  
The covetous man forie sorry for his sin.  
The Prince and poor, all pray before thy throne.  
And wilt thou then be wroth with Niniveh?  K. Cili. 
Give truce to prayer O king, and rest a space.  Rasni. 
Give truce to prayers, when times require no truce▪  
No Prince's no. Let all our subjects hie  
Unto our temples, where on humbled knees,  
I will expect some mercy from above. Enter the temple Omnes.  Enters jonas, solus. jonas. 
This is the day wherein the Lord hath said  
That Niniveh shall quite be overthrown.  
This is the day of horror and mishap,  
Fatal unto the cursed Ninivites.  
These stately Towers shall in thy watery bounds,  
Swift flowing Licas find their burials,  
These palaces the pride of Assurs kings,  
Shall be the bowers of desolation,  
Where as the solitary bird shall sing,  
And tigers train their young ones to their nest.  
O all ye nations bounded by the West,  
Ye happy Isles where Prophets do abound,  
Ye Cities famous in the western world,  
Make Niniveh a precedent for you.  
Leave lewd desires, leave covetous delights.  
Fly usury, let whoredom be exiled,  
Lest you with Niniveh be overthrown.  
Lo how the suns inflamed torch prevails,  
Scorching the parched furrows of the earth.  
Here will I sit me down and fix mine eye  
Upon the ruins of you wretched town,  
And lo a pleasant shade, a spreading vine,  
To shelter jonas in this sunny heat,  
What means my God, the day is done and spent.  
Lord shall my Prophecy be brought to nought?  
When falls the fire? when will the judge be wroth?  
I pray thee Lord remember what I said,  
When I was yet within my country land,  
jehovah is too merciful I fear.  
O let me fly before a Prophet fault,  
For thou art merciful the Lord my God,  
Full of compassion and of sufferance,  
And dost repent in taking punishment.  
Why stays thy hand? O Lord first take my life,  
Before my prophesy be brought to noughts.  
Ah he is wroth, behold the gladsome vine  
That did defend me from the sunny heat,  
Is withered quite, and swallowed by a Serpent.  A Serpent devoureth the vine. 
Now furious Phlegon triumphs on my brows,  
And heat prevails, and I am faint in heart.  Enters the Angel. Angel. 
Art thou so angry jonas? tell me why?  jonas. 
jehovah I with burning heat am plunged,  
And shadowed only by a silly vine,  
Behold a Serpent hath devoured it?  
And lo the sun incensed by Eastern wind,  
Afflicts me with Cariculer aspect,  
Would God that I might die, for well I wots,  
'Twere better I were dead, then rest alive.  Angel. 
jonas art thou so angry for the vine?  jonas. 
Yea I am angry to the death my God.  Angel. 
Thou hast compassion jonas on a vine,  
On which thou never labour didst bestow,  
Thou never gavest it life or power to grow,  
But suddenly it sprung, and suddenly died.  
And should not I have great compassion  
On Niniveh the City of the world,  
Wherein there are a hundred thousand souls,  
And twenty thousand infants that ne wots  
The right hand from the left, beside much cattle.  
Oh jonas, look into their Temples now,  
And see the true contrition of their King:  
The subjects tears, the sinners true remorse.  
Then from the Lord proclaim a mercy day,  
For he is pitiful as he is just.  Exet Angelus. jonas. 
I go my God to finish thy command,  
Oh who can tell the wonders of my God,  
Or talk his praises with a fervent tongue.  
He bringeth down to hell, and lifts to heaven.  
He draws the yoke of bondage from the just,  
And looks upon the Heathen with piteous eyes:  
To him all praise and honour be ascribed.  
Oh who can tell the wonders of my God,  
He makes the infant to proclaim his truth,  
The Ass to speak, so save the Prophet's life.  
The earth and sea to yield increase for man.  
Who can describe the compass of his power?  
Or testify in terms his endless might?  
My ravished sprite, oh whither dost thou wend?  
Go and proclaim the mercy of my God.  
Relieve the careful hearted Ninivites.  
And as thou wert the messenger of death,  
Go bring glad tidings of recovered grace.  Enters Adam solus, with a bottle of beer in one slop, and a great piece of beef in an other. 
Well goodman jonas, I would you had never come from jury to this Country, you have made me look like a lean rib of roast beef, or like the picture of lent, painted upon a read-hering cob. Alas masters, we are commanded by the proclamation to fast and pray, by my troth I could prettely so, so, away with praying, but for fasting, why 'tis so contrary to my nature, that I had rather suffer a short hanging, than a long fasting. Mark me, the words be these. Thou shalt take no manner of food for so many days. I had as lief he should have said, thou shalt hang thyself for so many days. And yet in faith I need not find fault with the proclamation, for I have a buttery, and a pantry, and a kitchen, about me, for proof, Ecce signum, this right slop is my pantry, behold a manchet, this place is my kitchen, for lo a piece of beef. Oh let me repeat that sweet word again: For lo a piece of beef. This is my buttery, for see, see, my friends, to my great joy, a bottle of beer. Thus alas I make shift to wear out this fasting, I drive away the time, but there go Searchers about to seek if any man breaks the King's command. Oh here they be, in with your victuals Adam.  Enters two Searchers. 1. Searcher. 
How duly the men of Niniveh keep the proclamation, how are they armed to repentance? we have searched through the whole City & have not as yet found one that breaks the fast.  2. Sear. 
The sign of the more grace, but stay, here sits one mée-thinkes at his prayers, let us see who it is.  1. Sear. 
'tis Adam, the Smiths man, how now Adam?  Adam. 
Trouble me not, thou shalt take no manner of food, but fast and pray.  1. Sear. 
How devoutly he sits at his orisons, but stay, mée-thinkes I feel a smell of some meat or bread about him.  2. Sear. 
So thinks me too, you sirrah, what victuals have you about you?  Adam. 
Uictuals! Oh horrible blasphemy! Hinder me not of my prayer, nor drive me not into a choler, victuals! why heardst thou not the sentence, thou shalt take no food but fast and pray?  2. Sear. 
Truth so it should be, but methinks I smell meat about thee.  Adam. 
About me my friends, these words are actions in the Case, about me, No; no: hang those gluttons that cannot fast and pray.  1. Sear. 
Well, for all your words, we must search you.  Adam. 
Search me, take heed what you do, my hose are my castles, 'tis burglary if you break open a slop, no officer must lift up an iron hatch, take heed my slops are iron.  2. Sear. 
Oh villain, see how he hath gotten victuals, bread, beef, and beer, where the King commanded upon pain of death none should eat for so many days, no not the sucking infant.  Adam. 
Alas sir, this is nothing but a modicum non necet ut medicus daret, why sir, a bit to comfort my stomach.  1. Sear. 
Villain thou shalt be hanged for it.  Adam. 
These are your words, I shall be hanged for it, but first answer me to this question, how many days have we to fast still?  2. Sear. 
Five days.  Adam. 
Five days, a long time, than I must be hanged?  1. Sear. 
I marry must thou.  Adam. 
I am your man, I am for you sir, for I had rather be hanged than abide so long a fast, what five days? come i'll untruss, is your halter and the gallows, the ladder, and all such furniture in readiness?  1. Sear. 
I warrant thee, shalt want none of these.  Adam. 
But hear you, must I be hanged?  1. Sear. 
I marry.  Adam. 
And for eating of meat, than friends, know ye by these presents, I will eat up all my meat, and drink up all my drink, for it shall never be said, I was hanged with an empty stomach.  1. Sear. 
Come away knave, wilt thou stand feeding now?  Adam. 
If you be so hasty, hang yourself an hour while I come to you, for surely I will eat up my meat.  2. Sear. 
Come let's draw him away perforce.  Adam. 
You say there is five days yet to fast, these are your words.  2. Sear. 
I sir.  Adam. 
I am for you, come let's away, and yet let me be put in the Chronicles.  Enter jonas, Rasni, Aluida, kings of Cilicia, others royally attended jonas. 
Come careful King, cast off thy mournful weeds,  
Exchange thy cloudy looks to smoothed smiles,  
Thy tears have pierced the piteous throne of grace,  
Thy sighs like Imence pleasing to the Lord:  
Have been peace-offerings for thy former pride.  
Rejoice and praise his name that gave thee peace.  
And you fair Nymphs, ye lovely Ninivites,  
Since you have wept and fasted for the Lord,  
He graciously have tempered his revenge,  
Beware henceforth to tempt him any more,  
Let not the niceness of your beauteous looks,  
engraft in you a high presuming mind,  
For those that climb, he casteth to the ground,  
And they that humble be, he lifts aloft.  Rasni. 
Lowly I bend with awful bent of eye,  
Before the dread jehovah, God of host,  
Despising all profane device of man,  
Those lustful lures that whilom led awry,  
My wanton eyes shall wound my heart no more:  
And she whose youth in dalliance I abused,  
Shall now at last become my wedlock mate.  
Fair Aluida look not so woe begun:  
If for thy sin thy sorrow do exceed,  
Blessed be thou, come with a holy band,  
Let's knit a knot to salve our former shame.  Alui. 
With blushing looks betokening my remorse,  
I lowly yield my King to thy behest,  
So as this man of God shall think it good.  jonas. 
Woman, amends may never come too late.  
A will to practise goodness, virtuous.  
The God of heaven when sinners do repent,  
Doth more rejoice then in ten thousand just.  Rasni. 
Then witness holy Prophet our accord.  Alui. 
Plight in the presence of the Lord thy God.  jonas. 
Blest may you be, like to the flowering sheaves,  
That play with gentle winds in summer tide,  
Like Olive branches let your children spread:  
And as the Pines in lofty Libanon,  
Or as the Kids that feed on Lepher plains,  
So be the seed and offspring of your loins.  Enters the Usurer, Gentleman, and Alcon. Usurer. 
Come forth my friends whom wittingly I wronged,  
Before this man of God receive your due,  
Before our King I mean to make my peace.  
jonas behold in sign of my remorse,  
I hear restore into these poor men's hands,  
Their goods which I unjustly have detained,  
And may the heavens so pardon my misdeeds,  
As I am penitent for my offence.  Thrasi 
And what through want from others I purloined,  
Behold O King, I proffer fore thy throne:  
To be restored to such as owe the same.  jonas. 
A virtuous deed pleasing to God and man,  
Would God all Cities drowned in like shame,  
Would take example of these Ninivites.  Rasni. 
Such be the fruits of Niniuies repent,  
And such for ever may our dealings be,  
That he that called us home in height of sin,  
May smile to see our hearty penitence.  
Viceroy's proclaim a fast unto the Lord,  
Let Israel's God be honoured in our land.  
Let all occasion of corruption die.  
For who shall fault therein, shall suffer death.  
Bear witness God, of my unfeigned zeal.  
Come holy man, as thou shalt counsel me,  
My Court and City shall reform be.  Exeunt. jonas. 
Wend on in peace, and prosecute this course,  
You Islanders on whom the milder air  
Doth sweetly breathe the balm of kind increase:  
Whose lands are fattened with the dew of heaven,  
And made more fruitful than Actean plains.  
You whom delicious pleasures dandle soft:  
Whose eyes are blinded with security,  
Unmask yourselves, cast error clean aside.  
O London, maiden of the mistress I'll,  
Wrapped in the folds and swathing clouts of shame:  
In thee more sins than Niniveh contains,  
Contempt of God, despite of reverend age.  
Neglect of law, desire to wrong the poor:  
Corruption, whoredom, drunkenness, and pride.  
Swollen are thy brows with impudence and shame.  
O proud adulterous glory of the West,  
Thy neighbours burns, yet dost thou fear no fire.  
Thy Preachers cry, yet dost thou stop thine ears.  
The alarm rings, yet sleepest thou secure.  
London awake, for fear the Lord do frown,  
I set a looking Glass before thine eyes.  
O turn, O turn, with weeping to the Lord,  
And think the prayers and virtues of thy Queen,  
Defers the plague which otherwise would fall.  
Repent O London, lest for thine offence,  
Thy shepherd fail, whom mighty God preserve,  
That she may hide the pillar of his Church,  
Against the storms of Romish Antichrist:  
The hand of mercy overshead her head,  
And let all faithful subjects say, Amen.  
FINIS.