PLATO'S Cap. Cast at this Year 1604, being Leape-yeere.  
LONDON Printed for Jeffrey Chorlton. 1604.   

ble Venus, till all the States smile at him, if your Glances be not too full of yron-moulds, I presume you will fling one smile at our button-Cap, and I wish no higher:  
For  
A smile is constant and doth gild each Style:  
But laughter is the Fool of every smile.  
The wonders we entreat of here have little harm in them, you may take more hurt in a Barber's shop, if you sit there fasting, than all my prognosticating Comedy, or comic Prognostication aims at, and if these Events chance to happen, they will be but merry ones, for they wish ill to none, but to those that wish ill to themselves, and none can justly except at this, but those that cannot well read it, for there is great difference between reading and reading well, for those that read well have a good tongue of their own, and spoil nothing in the spelling, and to such I cast up my Cap, both in Paul's-churchyard, Popes-head Alley, and at Temple-bar.  
Yours for a Raynie day. Adam Eavesdropper.   

❧ MIHILL MERcurie the Pothecary in praise of the Book.  
IF I have skill,  
This book's not ill,  
But chaste and pleasant:  
If I knew the Author,  
I swear by my Daughter,  
I'd give him a Pheasant.  
Nor do you wonder  
You writers of Thunder,  
I know not the Poet.  
'tis the Books praise I write,  
But I would not for a mite  
Have he himself know it.  
For if he should spy it,  
I'd flatly deny it,  
He would fret, chafe, & Nestle.  
Stamp more in a minute  
Than I in a Sennet  
At home with my Pestle.  
Therefore my best way  
Is, not long here to stay,  
Because I'm no fighter.  
This course than I took,  
To commend the Book,  
But not meddle with the writer:  
And because his Art  
Is so pretty and tart,  
And his ink so well savourd,  
I swear by my simples,  
A Nose full of pimples  
Is very ill favoured:  
For so he doth prognosticate, and shows  
A white flax beard wastes with a fiery Nose.  
See where he comes, I dare not stay, I fly:  
So:  
All envies poison go with Mercury.  The same Hand again.  

PLATO'S Cap.  
THE Revolution of this present year 1604, takes his beginning, at what time the Sun enters into the first minute of Aries, when many a scold shall be found in Ram-alley, whose tongues will never linne jangling, until the Sun enter into another Sign, as the Mitre, or rather some bowzing Taphouse, where they must all drink themselves friends again, till they are able to speak no more than a drowned Rat, and then by that time, I hope they will be quiet.  
Next I find, that the Sun entering into Taurus, it will be exceeding good this year for the Butchers both in Southwark, Eastcheap, and Saint Nicholas Shambles, for he takes his entrance just upon Easter Tuesday, to the deposing of Lent, and the overthrow of salt Sammon, and fresh Cod, and to the restoring again of Heroick-valiant Beef, that ancient and surly Courtier, that never appears without a mess of Mustard his Gentleman-usher bareheaded before him: Red Herring may go hang himself then for a Twelvemonth upon the rusty beam of some Farmer's chimney, until the hungry Ploughboyes cut him down and quarter him: for Oliver Offal the Butcher will be fat and flourish, and Gregory Gizzern the Poulter will bring forth his Progenies of Partridges, Plovers, and Blackbirds, and what a pitiful sight it will be for poor Waiters and Trencher-bearers to see wise men their Masters feed upon Woodcocks.  
From thence the Sun travails into Gemini, not into Germany, (as some Mechanicke-readers will read Germany for Gemini) and then Maids beware of two at once, or two at a Birth, if you love to preserve your own Credits, but you especially this double sign threatens most, that live in merchants houses amongst wanton Springals your Fellow-servants, and are at midnight at the massacre, and sacking of a Posset, when your sober Master and continent Mistress are in their first sleep, and little dream of your Cinnamon and Sugar, which are always the two sweet Presenters of a Sack-Posset, the Scene being laid in a Bowl, or a Basin, and the Actors some half a dozen of silver Spoons, which seldom are out of their parts, until all be eaten: there is much peril and danger in this Sign, you Damosels of seventeen, and one and Twenty: therefore if I might counsel you, you should be your own Pothecaries, and preserve your honesties better than Barberies: Go to bed presently after your Master and Mistress, save candles and Candles, pound, for there is craft now adays in weighing of Candles, and great policy in the uttering of Puddings.  
Next the Sun takes his journey into the stinging Sign Scorpio, and then beware of Brokers, Usurers, and Pettifoggers the Scorpions of a kingdom, come not in their villainous clutches all that month especially, for they will make you pay well for it, more in one month, than you shall be able to recover again a whole Twelvemonth after.  
But entering into Sagittarius, it will be passing good for the Fletcher's in Grubstreet, and all the Cavaleero Bowyers, twelvescore Pricks will be in season, and those may shoot at Bun-hill, that are nonsuited at Westminster Hall.  
After this the Sun mounts into Capricorn, and then woe be unto you that are Horne-madde, and have three Acres at Cuckold's Haven, you are well landed then, for one Acre there, is more than ever you will be able to make away as long as you live: This Sign reigns jealousy upon men and women, upon old frosty men that have young lusty wives, and upon old riveled women, that have young beardless Husbands, for the 〈◊〉 poison of jealousy swells the bosoms of unequal Bedfellows, and a piece of a unicorns Horn can help any man but a Cuckold, whereby that old motheaten Proverb is verified, which says, One man's meat, is another man's poison: For if he should take it down, he would think it would breed more Horns within him: such is the strange property of invincible jealousy, that is stronger than the great Spanish Armado in Eighty eight.  
Next the Sun enters into Aquarius, and then there will be good doings for watermen, many wanton meetings at Brandford, freshwater Voyages to Blacke-wall and Greenwich, reveling and domineering among amiable Lads and young Wenches over the water: but that which I find most lamentable in this watery Sign Aquarius, and most to be feared of all those that love valiant liquor, is the singlesole disposition of Brewers that will put to much Thames in their Beer, and I fear me make it hop but of one leg, and that so lamely too, that a little thing will make it hop quite into the Thames again: and because Ale-brewers and they are Brothers, it is as much to be doubted on the other side, that each Alebrewer will play the jew of Malta, and put but a little Malt in the Ale: so I hope there will be fewer Red-noses this year than was of a Year a great while, amongst the base Rank, and as for Taverne-whiffers. I do not think but the honest virtuous Vintners will take an order, and assuage the desperate and furious humours of their Wines, with a good sober quantity of fair temperate Water: nor can I much blame them, for after the Reckoning hath been discharged and all, you should have some cast it up again before the Vintner's face, and think themselves misreckoned in the Pottle, until they see two Gallons apparently lie upon the floor before their eyes, and then they will believe it, and therefore good sober Vintners I will not condemn, but rather applaud the watering of your Wine: for by that honest-profitable policy, those that are your common Wine-suckers will surfeit and be sick ten times, ere they be drunk once, and so much for the suns taking Barge in Aquarius.  
The Twelve and last, is when he turns golden Angler, and catches Pisces, and then woe be unto you that are dissolute full mouthed Swearers, for you will never catch Haddocks as long as you breath, for you shall never hear a true Fisher indeed, swear beyond Coddes-fish, and no oath at all that hath any flesh in it: In this last and finnye Sign Pisces, there will be odd doings in old Fish-street, Lobsters will be no meat for Lobcockes, as long as they pass for two Shillings apiece, Maids will be no Fish for Harlotts, nor Soles for Brokers, the one wanting continence and the other conscience, marry Gudginnes will be your only Dish for Country Gentlemen, such as are come to their Lands, before they come to their Wit, and are one and Twenty year old in Acres, but scarce scaven in discretion or manners, such as these may fitly dwell at Fisher's Folly, when they have made away all their Fish Pondes in the Country, and this shall suffice for the suns Twelve strides into the Twelve Signs.   

NOW FOR General dispositions in all Ranks of people whatsoever, bred by variable, womanish, and unconstant Planets.  
THe great conjunction of Saturn and jupiter, changed from the watery Triplicity to the fiery, is to be noted specially (as our Prognosticators would have it) nevertheless I hope there will be small hurt done by fire this year, because Faggots, Billets, and Charcoal bear such a price, that no poor snake is able to purchase them, and the most danger for fire lies in their Cottages, because for the most part they are low, old, and rotten, and as for rich men they could build up their houses again: but those which most prevent this great and si●rie Conjunction, are Usurers, and Niggard's, both which are sure to have no sparkle flying, or lying about their houses, for they will have never a coal in their attorneys.  
This hot Conjunction being but badly affected, shows, that those which were widows the last Year, will be catched up this year, more for wealth and spending-money, than for love and honesty, they shall have many gallant suitors, that will carry all their Lands upon their backs, and yet swear they have grounds, Backsides, & yards, when they have no more Ground than the Kings high way, no more Backsides than one, and no Taverne-potts shall fly from one end of the Room to the other, and do much hurt, if they light upon men's Pates: Many cracked Crowns shall pass currant through Cheapside by Goldsmith stalls, and yet never suspected: Many terrible Frays in Smithfield between sergeants and Gentlemen, marry sergeants will win the day, and get the Victory, especially if they be six to one, than there is no remedy but the Counter in Woodstreet must part the fray: there shall be a dreadful war between the wife and the husband for Superiority, in so much that the good man shall be fain to give over first, cry mum, and let her do what she will all the year after.  
Shrewd Tempests shall arise about Cole-harbour, and many a maid shall be cast away about Westminster: there shall be a Battle between the feure knaves at Cards for superiority, and between false Dice and true, for antiquity.  
Women that wear long gowns shall be glad to take up their clothes in the street, when it raynes, although a hundred men stand and look upon them, yet they shall blush no more to hold them up if it be very dirty, than men to make water in broad day at the Pissing Conduit if they have need.  
The Bakers, Woodmongers, Butchers, and Brewers, shall fall to a mighty conspiracy this year, so that no man shall have bread, fire, flesh, or drink without credit or ready money: Barbers shall be mightily out of work this year, by reason of the French disease, for many shall lose their Hair, before they can come to their shops, and so put them quite out of work: and Beards shall be Commodities hard to be gotten, but more hard to be kept, for many hairs will start out this year that will never come in again, but perish and drop down by the way: And amongst all other Trades and Occupations, Masons poor souls shall be much troubled with the Stone this year, if there chance to be any great Buildings, as by my skill I find no less: marry I doubt Paul's will scarce have a new Steeple this year, and in that, I think I shall be the truest Prognosticator, that writ Almanacs this twenty Twelvemonths: The Gout, I find, will keep a foul Racket this year, and play at Tennis in a usurers puffed Toe, but his gaping Son and Heir shall have little hope of his dying, i'll put him in that Comfort, because he may linger yet above Seven years longer, and his Toe serve out above four Prenticeships to the Gout.  
tailors shall be mightily troubled with the stitch, and sow many false seeds which shall peep out, before a Moon come about, and having a Hell of their own, being but a bare board between, woe be to pieces of white Fustian-linings, for they fall in with their heels upward, Satin is the chiefest Devil there, and domineers over all inferior Blacks. Velvet that old Reveller and brave Courtier, lies there most tragically dismembered, poor Perpetuano is perpetually damned, and desperate Rash falls in headlong.  
Only in this all Tailors are most true,  
They damn false bodies, & give them their due.  
And what a lamentable thing it is on the otherside, that so many of our English women should wear French Bodies, and be a scorn and by-iest to all riotous Nations.  
But shall I discover to the world wondrous events indeed, and tell how Muscadine in Vintner's Sellers shall indite their Masters this year of Commixtion, and arraign them at their own Bar: and how Bailiffs and Marshals men shall be content to arrest any man, if they can catch him.  
Poor men shall be accounted Knaves without occasion, and those that flatter least, shall speed worst, and never be worth Three Hundred a year, if they should live until Doomsday: Many shall eat upon other men's Trenchers, and surfeit upon other men's Costs, but scarce feed upon Holland Cheese in their own Chambers.  
The Palsy will be a very shrewd disease this year, for some shall have it in their heads, and shake so long till they have no more wit in their brains then Wil the bell-ringer: some shall have a Palsy in their Teeth, in so much that they shall eat more in a week, than they will be able to pay forin a twelvemonth, Othersome shall be troubled with a Palsy in their hands, and those are your riotous elder Brothers that can keep nothing fast, but will shake all the money out of their hands that comes in to them, Videlicet, in Taverns, Tenniscourts, and Dicing-houses, and lastly some shall have a Palsy in their feet, and will not be able to stand to any thing but shake and reel from the stall into the Channel, your excellent Reele-pots, and so I leave them full in a puddle.  
Some there shall be which shall have such a smell in their Nostrils that no Feast shall escape them without they have share in it.  
But Consumptions this Year are dangerously threatened, by the fiery copulation of those two surly & ambitious Planets, for some shall be so consumed in their members, as they shall find never a good Tongue in their heads, some so consumed in conscience, that they will take above Forty in the Hundred, and more too if they can get it, othersome so consumed by inchastity, that if the Constable should search them, he should find about them very little honesty.  
Those that sing Bases this year shall love to take their liquor sound, and Trumpeters that sound Trebles shall stare by custom.  
There shall be many Fortune-tellers, that shall shut a Knave in a Circle, and looking about for a Devil find him locked in their bosoms.  
Many strange events shall happen and befall this year in those houses where Virgo is predominant with a master, but wants a Mistress to look narrowly unto her, for the influence of the Grocer's shops being elevated within a few sweet degrees presageth that some shameless Drabs shall be still gadding about the streets for figs, almonds, and Confects, and that without regard of either Wit or Honesty.  
Great Mists and Fogs will arise and fall this year, so that some shall not see but to take their Neighbour's bed for their own, and if Watch-candles could tell tales, they would make you laugh, though your wives went to burying.  
Many men shall be so venturously disposed, that they shall go into Brothelhouses, and yet come out again as honestly, as when they went first in.  
Baker's shall thrive by two things this year, scores well paid, and Millers that are honest, which are as rare to be found now a days, as black Swans, and white Ravens. Long bearded men shall not be the wisest: nor the most gravest in looks, the most holy in life.  
The Haberdashers by the natural operation of this conjunction, are very fortunate. For old Hats new trunde shall not last long, and new Hats for the most part shall have old trimming: and so by this means foisting john shall thrive better by his knavery, than any plain dealing john about London by the Talon of his honesty: and so I end, wishing all the Felts in his shop no more wickeder Block than his own Pate, and then I am sure they will be so far from good fashion, that no honest man in England would be hired to wear them: and so farewell john, 'tis good luck some times they say, to end with a etc.   
FINIS.