THose that will change this new coined English shilling,  
And give's two Testorns, or three Groats, most willing:  
Shall find (though 'twas not Coined in the Mint)  
That there's no counterfeited mettle in't.  
I Coined it, and the Coining I'll maintain  
It is unclipped and weight unto a grain;  
To Mint and stamp, my brains and Pen agreed,  
I Coined, and fear no hanging for the deed.   

The meaning of the Picture.  
HEre, Twelvepences slowly rides upon a Snail,  
To meet the Oar, the Shovell and the Flail:  
But to the Furre-gowne all in post he flings  
Through th' Air, o'er Earth and Sea, with Falcon's wings,  
Which Emblem truly to the world implies,  
That Money to the Miser's Coffers flies.  
Whilst unto those that pains and labour take,  
It doth a creeping, sleeping dull pace make.  
But let it creepo, fly slow, or swiftly come:  
Amidst this scrambling Age, I will have some:  
For if it come not to the Oar, nor Pen,  
I'll never study, write, or Row again.  JOHN TAYLOR.  

A SHILLING OR, The Travails of Twelvepences.  
  

TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN, ARE, WILL, OR WOULD BE, Masters of a SHILLING or TWELVEPENCES.  
SIR john Mandeuill, an English Knight, a famous Traveller, and discoverer of foreign Manners, Regions, and Rarities; Christopher Collumbus, Magellane, Hernando Cortes, Don Diego de Almagro, Drake, Hawkins, Frosbushir, Baskervile, Cavendish, and many more worthy Travellers of our own and other Nations, whose honourable, dangerous, and laudable achievements, have made their meritorious names to be Recorded, to the admiration of the time past, present, and to future posterity: yet if it be well considered, it will plainly appear, that all their laborious endeavours had an end with their lives. But the Traveller that I treat of, the Thricetrebble triumphant Troynovantine Twelvepences, is like a perpetual motion in continual travel, to whose journey there can be no end, until the world come to a final dissolution and period. For the progress of Coriat was but a walk in regard of my Shillings perambulations: and if all the Ink and Paper-murdering fictions should be true of Amadis de Gaul, Huon, Sir Egre, Bevis, Guy, the Mirror of Knighthood, the seven champions, Chinon, Sir Dagonet, Triamore, Launcelet, Don Spatterlash of Toledo, Monsieur Mallegrindo, Knight of the frozen Isle: If it were possible that all their lies should be true, of the great Travels of these imaginary and never seen Worthies, yet must they all come short of the praise that is due to my travelling Twelvepences. I could have busied my brains about many other Subjects, as quick Epigrams, biting Satyrs, sharp iambics, soothing Elegies, pleasant Pastorals, Odes, Madrigals, or Roundelays; alluring Sonnets, flattering Epithalamiums, or lying Epitaphs, Panegericks, or name-seruing Acrostics, and Annagrams, lofty Tragedy, lowly Comedy, riddling Moral, or stately Heroics: either of all these I could have poorly handled, but that my Muse stumbled by chance upon this Twelvepenny subject, wherein I would have the Reader to consider, that in some places I speak only of a Shilling or Twelvepences, and in some places generally of Money. I have set down the manner of my Shillings shifting of Masters, more often then the Sergeants do; for they use the old Sheriffs like Almanacs out of date, and yearly serve the new: but Twelvepences hath sometimes 12. 16. or 20. Masters in a day. In a word (Reader) I do not beg your favour, crave your acceptance, entreat your kindness, implore your love, or request your friendship; for it is not any of these in particular that I seek or care for: but generally at all I aim, and for all I hope, and being in that hope, I leave you to Read and judge of my ensuing Labours, and my Twelvepences Travels.  
Yours, as you please to be mine, JOHN TAYLOR.   

THE TRAVELS OF Twelvepences.  

Imagine Reader (to his grief and glory, 
No man da●● confess h●● whole life● actions, as twelue-pen●● doth.   
Twelvepences himself declares his wandering story:  
Relating how he first was borne and bred,  
And how about the world he Travailed.   

IF any one (as I dare boldly dare) 
* Where the best metta●● do grow, Earth is n●● barren, wh●● is an Emb●● that they t●● hoard or h●● money, barren of fruits of go●●ness.   
His Birth, his Breeding, and his Life declare:  
Let him appear, & I dare lay my neck  
He willbe hanged, or else deserve a check.  
From vast America's rude barbarous bounds,  
From rocky barren soil, and sterile grounds,  
Where men did not their great Creator know,  
And where the Devil's the God to whom they bow,  
There from my Heathen Dam, or mother Earth  
With pains and travail, I at first had birth.  
A hundred strong men-midwives, digged their way  
Into her bowels, to find where I lay  
With Engines, Spades, Crows, Mattocks, and such matters,  
They ripped & tore her harmless womb to tatters,  
And but they did within the midway catch me,  
They would have digged to Hell itself to fetch me.  
At last they found me, mixed with dirt and dross,  
Corruption unrefined, eclipsed my Gloss,  
And from the Earth I in the fire was tried,  
And into Ingots purged and purified.  
From 
* Purchase.  Paphlagonia, some my birth do count,  
Near Sandracurgium, a most famous Mount,  
And that poor Slaves which were condemned to dye,  
Were forced to dig for me laboriously,  
Whereas the dampish Mines infecting air  
Killed the poor wretches, and so eased their care.  
Some say that 
* Polidore Virgil. Me●●es might ●e the first ●●uenter of ●oyne in E●●pt, yet not ●f a Twelvepences, but I ●●inke money ●as in ●●ains time, I am sure ●●at Abra●am bought ● field for bu●●all with ●oney.  Menes, an Egyptian King,  
Me to the shape of Coin, at first did bring:  
But when they saw that people, greedily  
For me did run into all villainy,  
The Priests did curse the King, that first invented  
Me, that so many ways their minds tormented.  
For till they knew me, they affirmed true,  
No Envy, Pride, or Avarice they knew.  
Thus with great labour, and the death of men  
I first was borne, and afterwards again  
He that to Money did convert me first,  
Was by the Priests and People, banned and cursed.  
With blood and curses I at first began,  
And ever since have been a curse to man.  
Yet for me some excuses may be shown  
The name of Twelvepences, was as then not known,  
Diversity of Coins o'er all the world  
Were scattered universally, and hurled,  
In Courts, in Cities, and in warlike Camps  
ere I was made, they all used other stamps.  
There were some Sicles, some Meruiades, 
* A small piece of Splenish Coyness six of them to an English penny.   
An As, a Drachma, a Sesterces,  
Quadrins, Sextanes, Minaes, (it appears)  
Didrachmaes, and Sportullas, and Denieres.  
My name at first did from the Romans come,  
(As Cooper says) they called me Sollidum,  
Or from a Soldier it was named thus,  
(As 'twere his daily wages) Sollidus.  
For though the Times are subject to mutation,  
Yet from Soldatus I have nomination:  
Thus Twelvepences hath an ancient Warrior been,  
Although men know not when I did begin.  
And by experience all the world can tell,  
Soldatus doth love Sollidus so well,  
That always every Soldier is unwilling,  
Long to be kept asunder from a Shilling,  
If he do want me, a month, two, 
* Soldiers ●●●●ng their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will to 〈◊〉  or three,  
he'll grumble, and go near to Mutiny,  
He hath no mind to draw his sword and fight,  
But (discontented) bids the war's good-night,  
When let but Sollidus come to his hand,  
he'll fight as long as he can go or stand,  
Regarding nor remembering child or wife,  
he'll hazard and endanger limb and life:  
And thus by way of argument 'tis penned,  
A Shilling is a Soldier's loved friend.  
A Shilling's much more ancient than a pound,  
And in pronouncing gives a better sound:  
As for example; which is most mouth-filling  
Of fifty pounds, or of a thousand shilling,  
A thousand pounds, may make the accent roar,  
But twenty thousand shillings soundeth more.  
Thus of two syllables, I am compacted,  
When into one the pounds are all extracted.  
The German Dollars are my juniors far,  
So are the Copesticks of the Brabander.  
The Spanish Royal, piece of four and eight,  
On me for my antiquity may wait:  
The Floren, Gelder, and French Cardecus  
To me are upstarts, if Records be true,  
The Grosh, 
* A brass piece of Bohemians coyn● twelve of them to a penny.  Potchandle, Stiver, Doit, and Souse  
Compared with me, are all scarce worth a Louse:  
Nor can the Atcheson or the Baubee  
For my antiquity compare with me.  
The half Crown is on horseback mounted high,  
Yet never travailed half so far as I;  
The Scottish Mark's a dangerous piece of Coin,  
'Tis just a hanging price, if one purloin,  
There's no such hazard in the stealing me,  
I am three halfpences lower in degree.  
And as in pence I for a jury stand,  
I have eleven Coins under my command:  
And (to grace all the rest) my proper self,  
Like a Grand juryman make up the Twelve. 
The Anatomy of twelvepences or a shilling.   
But for men shall not think I brag or prate,  
Those whom I do command I'll nominate.  
Nine pence (three quarters) with his Harp befriends me,  
And six pence with half service still attends me,  
The four pence halfpenny next comes fiddling on,  
The Groat my third part doth depend upon:  
The threepences is a quarter waiter still,  
The two pence in six parts attends my will,  
Three halfpences stoops to my commanding sway,  
And eight of them at once doth me obey:  
The single pence are all my little Cousins,  
And do attend my service by the dozen.  
Three farthings by sixteenes attend in plenty,  
And halfpences to the sum of four and twenty,  
And last (for Pages) on my State doth wait,  
Of dapper farthing Tokens forty eight.  
But ere I did attain my shape and form,  
I'abid the brunt of many a furious storm;  
For this the world I would have well to wots,  
Mine honour was with pains and danger got.  
I passed the raging Seas and flaming fire,  
And gained a Face and Cross for all my hire:  
It would almost dissolve a heart of flint,  
To be so used as I was in the Mint:  
The pains of Purgatory cannot be  
But fictions to those things that fell on me.  
For what I did endure, had man but felt,  
It had (like Kitchenstuff) have made him melt.  
Then my Tormentors, all at once agrees  
From my great heat, to let me cool or freeze,  
And dead and cold, me then again they martir'd,  
Me all in pieces they be cut and quartired,  
Weighing the mangled mammocks 
Five Shillings weigh●● an ounce. , they pronounce  
That five of me in weight should be an ounce.  
Then to the Anuile was I brought in haste,  
Whereas with Hammers they did me bombast,  
And there they never left belab'ring me,  
Until they brought me to the shape you see.  
Thus I mine honour, and my form did win,  
Through many dreadful dangers I was in.  
And though there scarce doth memory remain,  
What I was e'er the sixth King Edward's reign,  
Yet long before his time I was in value,  
As read in good true written Stories shall you.  
My stamp (when Rome did keep the world in awe)  
Was four swift Steeds that did a Chariot draw,  
Which figured, that I too and fro should run  
An endless journey that would ne'er be done.  
I am made endless, round, which doth portend,  
Till the world end, my journey ne'er shall end.  
And men may plainly in my roundness see,  
An Emblem of the world's rotundity.  
Round is the Globe, round is the Hemisphere,  
Round runs the Moon and Sun, each month and year;  
Round ran the Empire from th' Assyrian Kings,  
Round unto Persia, Greece, and Rome it flings,  
Round to great Britain, it is come I know,  
Whence (hemmed round with the Sea) it cannot go.  
But the main cause that makes it stay and stand,  
Is where 'tis guarded by th'Almighties hand.  
Round from the North to East, to South and West,  
All Arts have still ran round 'tis manifest.  
The jews, th' Egyptians, Calates, Persians,  
Devised Arts, and were Astrologians,  
And true experience doth approve it thus,  
Their knowledge is run round from them to us.  
The age of man goes round, a child at first,  
And like a child returns unto his dust.  
His body and his limbs, his eyes, his head,  
All in round forms are made and fashioned,  
The roots, the fruits, the flowers, and the Trees,  
All in a round conformity agrees,  
Our drinking healths run round, with nimble quickness  
Until at last to many healths brings sickness:  
When store of money to men's hands do come,  
They say they have received a good round sum;  
And when a man doth take a Knave up sound,  
'Tis said he told him of his faults most roundly.  
The Hangman hangs a Traitor, or a Thief,  
And is about his business round, and brief,  
Round are the dishes where we put our meat,  
Our Cups, wherein we drink, are round complete:  
Round is our Butter, round our Cheeses are,  
Round are the clothes which on our backs we wear,  
Beasts, fowls and fish, that every where abound,  
Are (for the most part) every where made round.  
Round are all wedding Rings, implying still,  
men's cares run round, like horses in a Mill.  
Thus having plainly showed, why, and wherefore  
I am made round, now to my task once more.  
About my circle, I a Poesy have,  
The Title, God unto the King first gave. 
* In Engli●● I have put ●● placed) G●● my helpe●●   
The circle that encompasseth my face,  
Declares my Sovereign's Title, by God's grace,  
Upon my other side is, 
* Annagra●● of the Lat●● Motto of Posui pla●●●into English words, W●●dom adm●● me Power  POSVI DEUM,  
Whereto is added ADIUTOREM MEUM.  
The which last Poesy Annagrammatized,  
Wisdom, admit me power, true comprised,  
Wisdom at first upon me did bestow  
Such power that for a Shilling I should go,  
When Wisdom gave me power, I was then  
A servant, not a Master unto men.  
Now, Power 
* The Annagram turned ●●ckward, wisdom ●●●es behind ●●●ey.  makes me Wisdom force perforce  
Improper, like the Cart before the Horse.  
For in this Age, so many friends I find,  
My power's before, and Wisdom comes behind.  
He that for me and for my kin can rake  
Is wise, (although a Coxcomb) for my sake,  
He that wants me, shall be esteemed an Ass,  
Although he be as wise as e'er man was.  
For there's such league, one in Triplicity  
Sworn firm betwixt the Devil, the world, and I,  
That those who to the one true servants be,  
Are captive bondslaves unto all the three,  
Great sway upon the earth to us is given,  
For well we know we ne'er shall come in heaven,  
And all that in us take delight and mirth,  
Their only heaven is here upon the earth.  
And covetous they are not, in this case,  
Because they covet for no better place;  
So much for that: now to my shape again,  
You see my face is beardless, smooth and plain,  
Because my Sovereign 
* King Edw. a●s crowned 〈◊〉 nine years' 〈◊〉 a●● and ●●ed before 〈◊〉 was 6.  was a child, 'tis known  
When as he did put on the English Crown.  
But had my stamp been bearded, as with hair,  
Long before this is had been worn out bare;  
For why with me the unthrifts every day,  
With my face downwards do at shove-boord 
* Edw. shillings for t●● most part are used a● shooue-bor●●  play,  
That had I had a beard, you my suppose  
Th'had worn it off, as they have done my nose.  
Yet doth my bare face sometimes, now and than  
Make a young beardless Boy, outface a man,  
For any Boy and I, do both agree,  
To outface any man that doth want me.  
A cross 
* Upon t●● Cross of a Twelvepences.  I bear upon my other side,  
(A glorious figure of true Christian pride)  
And with that cross I any man can cross  
From wrong to injury, from harm to loss,  
And in me is such working powerfulness,  
That those that have me, and both cross and 
* here I mean genially of m●ney, and simply of twelve p●●  bless.  
The English, and French Arms, the Lions & flowers  
Shows France a subject once to England's powers,  
And when my Master did respire his breath,  
His sisters Mary, and Elizabeth  
Ordained new Twelvepences with me to join,  
But altered not my badge upon my Coin,  
Except a little which King Philip did,  
Which Queen Elizabeth did soon forbid.  
But since the coming of my Sovereign james,  
The Badge upon my 
* K. Ed●● Q. Mar● Qu. E●● & K 〈◊〉 all their ●●●lings of weight 〈◊〉 and before my 〈◊〉- penny  back more worth proclaims.  
And to mix state with truth, truth with delight.  
Upon the arms I carry, thus I write.   

Upon the King's Arms.  
THree Lions Passant (borne by former Kings)  
Subdues the 
* 〈…〉  Harp, quarter's the 
* 〈…〉  flowers of 
* 〈…〉  France  
Fourth Lion Rampant, equal honour brings,  
Though having power to war doth peace advance,  
United in great james this Royal style,  
King of great Britain, France, and Ireland's Isle.   

Thus Readers, having printed for your reading,  
My birth, my rising, my estate, and breeding:  
My Badge, my face, my Cross, my Annagram.  
How mighty in my great command I am,  
Now will I tell some travels I have had,  
And humours of my Masters, good and bad,  
Some (as I can remember) I'll recite)  
Should I name all, 'twere almost infinite.  
ONE asked the Cinnick wise Athenian, 
Diogenes   
The cause why silver looked so pale and wan:  
He, in reply was quick, and answered straight,  
Because so many for it lay in wait,  
And did men think in what diversity  
Of fashions men for me in wait do lie,  
They would agree together in a tale, 
Twelue●●● is at ●●●●.   
That I had reason to look wan and pale.  
I have of Treason, been made Instrument  
To betray Kingdoms, and to circumvent,  
To undermine, and to subvert the states  
Of Empires, and of mighty Potentates.  
I have caused murder, cruel Homicide,  
Fowl Fratricide, unnatural Parricide.  
For which a curse doth unto me remain  
A Runagate, and Vagabond like Caine.  
And though that God, in thundering Majesty  
For bad man to have any Gods but he,  
Yet many thousands that command forget,  
Not minding God, their minds on me 
* On mon●●  they set.  
To purchase me, men have forsworn and sworn,  
And from the Book of life their names have torn.  
For me the Sabaoth is profaned with works  
Of Christians labours, worse than jews or Turks,  
For me those Parents that have nursed and bred  
Their Children, by them are dishonoured,  
For to have me (to endless joy or woe)  
Some children care not where their Fathers go.  
I with the deu'ls sole help (my sole partaker)  
Have been an universal Cuckold-maker:  
For where nor wit, or beauty could come in  
In any shape I could admittance win.  
I make the Husband sometimes keep the door,  
The whilst for me) his wife doth play the whore.  
And many times (to move all hell to laughter)  
I made a Mother Bawd unto her daughter.  
I forced a Virgin, cast off continence  
And Chastity, and put on Impudence.  
I made a reverend judge to take a Bribe,  
I made a Scribe a forged Name subscribe,  
I caused a Miser sell his soul to hell,  
Because I here on Earth with him should dwell,  
And eighteen years he kept me day and night  
Locked in a Chest, not seeing any light.  
And though my lot was thus a Slave to be,  
Yet was he a far worse Slave to me;  
For he had vowed himself to death to pine,  
Rather than spend one penny pot of wine,  
Although he late had swallowed down his throat,  
Stinking fresh Herrings threescore for a Groat.  
And he did bide this slavish misery,  
On purpose to debar my liberty.  
At last this poor rich, base penurious Knave,  
Was borne (the way of all flesh) to his Grave:  
And his brave heir, upon his back had got  
A mourning merry suit, long looked I wot,  
He the next day let fly the ill got treasure,  
And I began to see some worldly pleasure;  
From my old Master's Chest, I was assumed  
To my young Master's Pockets, sweet perfumed,  
‛ Ta bawdy house, of the last new translation  
He bore me with him, for his recreation,  
There for a maidenhead he played a game,  
Where eightscore more before had done the same,  
There did my Master Knave, discharge the score,  
And went, and left me with my Mistress Whore.  
I stayed not in her service long, for she  
Was not two days before she set me free,  
For having got a Frenchified heat,  
She was prescribed a Diet, and a sweat,  
She gave me to the Surgeon, for some Lotion  
For Unguents, and a gentle working Potion  
For Plasters, and for Ointments in a Box,  
And so I left my Mistress, with a Pox.  
The Surgeon me to the Physician sent,  
From him I to th' Apothecaery went,  
But there I thought that Hell I had been in,  
And all the Fiends had in his Boxes been.  
For it appeared to me that all his drugs  
Had got the names of the infernal Bugs:  
Zarzaparilla, Colloquintida,  
Auxungia Porci, Cassia Fistula,  
Egiptiacum, Album Camphiratum,  
Black Oxicrotium, and white Sublimatum.  
But soon my Master freed me from my fear,  
He to the Tavern went, and left me there.  
And whilst I in the Vintner's house remained,  
Some knowledge of my Master's state I gained,  
Let no man say that drunk, myself I show,  
For what I speak I understand and know.  
I'll show some discommodities that wait  
(For the most part) on every Vintner's state.  
First, if a row of houses stand together,  
All of one bigness formed, no odds in either,  
If one of them be to a Vintner let,  
Amongst the rest at double rent 'tis set,  
Next, if French Wine be twenty pounds the Ton,  
But a poor penny in a quart is won:  
Besides, he sometimes in the Cask doth find,  
Of Lees six Gallons, for a Lagge behind.  
And more, when in the Cellar it is laid,  
The Carmen, and Wine-Porters must be paid.  
And by misfortune if the Cask be weak,  
Three or four Gallons in the ground may leak,  
Or taking vent, it may grow dead and flat,  
And then the Vintner little gets by that.  
And if he be a fellow of free hart,  
He now and then must give a pint or quart.  
His Candles (night and day) are burning still  
Within his Seller, lest his Wines should spill:  
And if two Kennel-rakers chance to come  
To come i'th' evening, they must have a room,  
And over one bare pint will sit and prate,  
And burn a Candle out (perhaps) thereat,  
Whilst all the Drawers must stay up and wait  
Upon these fellows be it ne'er so late.  
The whilst a Candle in the Kitchen wastes,  
Another to his end i'th' Seller hasts,  
One with the Guests, another at the Bar,  
Thus for one pint, four Candles burning are.  
By day light, this I have seen some to do,  
Call for a pint, a Pipe, and Candle to,  
By that time he hath done, 'tis quickly counted,  
To what large sum the Vintner's gains amounted.  
Besides all this, his charge is ever great,  
For servant's wages, clothes, and fire, and meat;  
For linen, washing, Trenchers, loss of Plate,  
For Glasses broken (by the course of Fate)  
Besides, he hath some scores, which if you look  

〈◊〉 or the 〈◊〉 of this 〈◊〉 true on 〈◊〉 own ●●●wledge.  They make his posts look white, & black his book:  
And if a debtor seven long years do stay,  
But six pence for a quart of wine he'll pay,  
When if a Merchant do a Vintner trust,  
For the forbearance dear he answer must.  
And when some Guests have liquor in their brains,  
How they will swagger in their roaring strains,  
Out goes their swords, and by the ears they fall,  
And now and then one's nailed unto the wall.  
The man and's wife abused, his servants beaten,  
No monies paid for what is drunk or eaten,  

〈◊〉 if a ●●●wer be 〈◊〉 so good ●●●an, yet ●●ry paltry 〈◊〉 will 〈◊〉 fill 〈◊〉 Wine.  His house in question brought, a man is killed,  
His and his wife's heart both with sorrow filled,  
And whereas other Trades their labours end  
At night, till midnight He doth still attend,  
At every Grooms command officiously  
He waits, and takes hard words most courteously.  
He that amongst these harms can purchase profit,  
Much good may't do him, he is worthy of it,  
My Master Vintner's Trade, I thought to touch,  
Because I cannot think his gains is much,  
I love them all, my lines here manifests,  
And so God send them honest sober guests.  
From thence unto the Wine-Marchant I went,  
He presently me to the Market sent:  
For Butter, and for Eggs I was exchanged,  
And to the Country with my Dame I ranged.  
Her Husband gave me to a labouring Ditcher,  
He to the Alehouse went, and banged the Pitcher.  
To stay long there, I was exceeding loath,  
They used so much deceit with nick and froth.  
My Master Host, unto the Brewer gave me,  
The Maltman came on Monday, and would have me,  
He to the Alehouse brought me back in haste,  
From thence I quickly to the Baker past,  
My service there was very short and brief,  
He placed me with a Miller and a Thief,  
That was a merry Master for the nonce,  
He got his living cogging, with two stones,  
I next dwelled with a Butcher, that had tricks  
To live and thrive by Mutton and by pricks.  
Thus have I oft been tossed too and fro,  
From bad to worse, from misery to woe,  
From miserable Slaves, to Prodigals,  
To arrant thieves, and to good Hospitals,  
To good and bad, to true men and to Tailors,  
To Fiddlers, Pipers, Fishmongers and Sailors,  

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 Master's 〈◊〉 Twelve- 〈◊〉, not in 〈◊〉 as they 〈◊〉 degree, 〈◊〉 calling, 〈◊〉 as he ●●●●iled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, good 〈◊〉 bad, poor 〈◊〉 rich, ●●●●out any 〈◊〉.  To Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, Tinkers, Pedlars,  
To Fruiterers, for Pipins, Plumbs, and Meddlers,  
To Silk-men, Saddlers, Turner's, Tilers, Glasiers,  
To Tripewives, Mealmés, Gardeners, Graziers, Braziers,  
To Plumbers, Bricklay'rs, Smiths, and Carpenters,  
To Dyers, Goldsmiths, and to Plasterers,  
To Noblemen, to Watermens, to joiners,  
To honest men, to Knaves, to clipping Coiners.  
To Knights, to Beggars, Scriu'ners, Colliers, Lawyers,  
To Stationers, to Printers, Silk-men, sawyer's,  
To fools, to wisemen, Dunces, and to Doctors,  
To Harlots, Varlets, Sergeants, Bailiffs, Proctors,  
To Papists, Protestants, and Puritans,  
To Traitors, Subjects, Matchivillians,  
To Catchpoles, Beadles, jailors, Ironmongers,  
To Cooks (whose labours do assuage men's hungers,  
To Cuckolds, Bawds, to greasy Pimps and Panders,  
To Cowards, valiant men, and stout Commanders.  
To Fishers, Fowlers, Shepherds, Queristers,  
To Feather-makers, Girdlers, Barristers,  
To Players, Bearwards, Fencers, to good fellows,  
To those that make no breath, yet can make bellowes.  
To Pewt'rers, Shoemakers, and Buttonmakers,  
To Marshal's men, and dirty kennel-rakers.  
To Leathersellers, Armourers, and Curriers,  
To jugglers, jesters, Masons, Barbers, Spurriers,  
To Woodmongers, to Tapsters, and to Salters,  
To Rope-makers, for Cables, Ropes and Halters,  
To Painters, Poynters, Hackney-men and Skinners,  
To Hearb-wives, Fishwives, & such scolding sinners,  
To Cutlers, Parrators, to Posts, to judges,  
To Druggist's, fellmongers, and to toiling Drudges,  
To Hatters, Poulterers, Conjurers, and Farmers,  
To Priests, Clerks, Sextanes, Sorcerers, and Charmers,  
To Bowyers, Chandler's, and Astronomers,  
To Gulls, to Gallants, and Embroiderers,  
To Basket-makers, Milkmaids, jewellers, 
Hear are a strange gallimaufry of Twelvepences Maste●● honest men and Kna●●● like herbs and weede● in a Hotchpotch.   
To Comfit-maker's, and Solicitors,  
To Yeomen, Ostlers, and to under shreeves,  
To Millainers, to Chamberlains, and Thiefs,  
To Cappers, Falconers, Ploughmen, Haberdashers,  
To Cooper's, Weavers, Scullions, Cobblers, Thrashers,  
To Huntsmen, Gunners, gravers, Rhethoritians,  
To Coachmen Tuckers, Potters, and Musicians,  
To Reapers, Spinners, Carvers, and surveyors,  
To Orators, to Carrier's, and Puruayors,  
To Clothiars, to Logicians, Mowers, Shermen,  
To Clockmakers, Collectors, Miners, Carmen,  
Tobacco-sellers, Netmakers, men, Boys,  
To Sharks, Stales, Nims, Lifts, Foists, Cheats, Stands, Decoys,  
T'a Cutpurse, and a Pocket picking Hound,  
To as mad Rogues as ever trod on ground.  
To married men, to Bachelors, to Lads;  
To sober Fellows, and to drunken Swads,  
To Maids, to Wives, to Widows, and to Whores,  
To liberal minds, and hungry hidebound Boars,  
To Midwives, Chimney-sweepers, Beadles, Nurses,  
To Scampsters, Laundresses, and Gossips purses,  
To Drummers, Draymen, Pirates, Drawers, Glover's,  
To Trumpets, Whitsters, Ratcatchers, and Drovers,  
To Hangmen, Sidemen; to Churchwardens, Criers,  
To Flutes, Horse-coursers, Sellers, and to Buyers,  
To Prisoners, to Night-farmers, and to Broom-men,  
To all estates of Foreigners and Freemen:  
I could name more, if so my Muse did please,  
Of Mouse Traps, and tormentors to kill Fleas:  
For Ballads, Table-books, and Connyskins,  
For ends of Gold and Silver, Points and Pins:  
For Knights, and Madams made of Gingerbread,  
And many a stale and musty maidenhead.  
These Masters have I served, and thousands more  
Of all degrees and Trades, on seas and shore.  
And amongst all the places that I had,  
Whereas I found one good, I got ten bad:  
If I did serve a poor man but one day,  
I five year (for it) with the rich would stay,  
I have been Twelvepences seventy odd long year,  
And to the world, I'll make it plain appear,  
That where I had one Master loved the poor,  
I had ten Drunkards, that did love a Whore,  
For each hour's service good men had of me,  
To my great grief I served bad people three.  
I wear the King's badge, yet fly from the King,  
And to a Miser's Chest I profit bring.  
The words I have be Latin, which implies  
That I should wait upon the learned and wise,  
But for one Scholar, that can understand,  
I have served twenty Artless fools command.  
My service to the Poets have been evil,  
I ran more swift from them, then from the Devil,  
I know not well the cause, but they and I  
Together long could ne'er keep company.  
I have a true excuse that will defend me,  
They 
* Poets and money are i● emulation.  love me not, which makes 'em quickly spend me.  
But there's no great love lost 'twixt them and me,  
We keep asunder, and so best agree.  
They that do love me best beyond 
* 〈…〉  Sea dwell,  
For there I am like to a soul in hell,  
From whence there's no returning, and so I  
In the Low Countries or in Germany,  
If they do get me once upon their shore,  
'Tis ten to one I ne'er see England more,  
I have served Cutpurses, and highway Fellows,  
And I have brought ten thousand to the Gallows,  
Were he the arrantst Thief that euer' twanged,  
For my love he would venture to be hanged.  
Some Scriveners, and some Post Knights (it appears)  
For loving me too much, have lost their ears,  
There's many a reverend Bawd road in a Cart,  
For bearing unto me a loving hart.  
There's many a sweet-faced Punk hath been perplexed,  
Whipped, and behind her 
* 〈…〉  back, much grieved & vexed,  
Some of my Masters would take pains to have me,  
And like to Barbers, wash, clip, 
* 〈…〉  poll, and shave me,  
In this I only differ from a Whore,  
We both have wicked followers great store:  
The Whore they may kiss, clip and college, and strip,  
Me they may safely kiss, but never clip.  
And now and then, like imitating Apes,  
With Brass, Tin, Iron, they'd counterfeit my shapes.  
They loved me more than honesty requires,  
But commonly the Hangman pays their hires.  
Thus though I be but of a small account,  
I have had power to make my Master's mount,  
And some again (by their own bad endeavour)  
I have had power to sink them down for ever.  
To some I am (in coming) show as Led,  
But quick as Quick silver, again, soon fled.  
Suppose that any mischief that could be,  
Had lately been by th'only means of me,  
As casting good men into great distress,  
T'undo the Widow, and the Fatherless,  
A long delayed sure, longer to prolong,  
Or hanged a guiltless man, that did no wrong:  
Corrupted a chaste Maid, enticed a Wife  
To folly, and to loathe her Husband's life:  
If I had been the means to work all this,  
Or ten times more such actions of amiss,  
Yet do I look as white as Innocence,  
And never blush, at the most vile offence.  
Nay more, there's none will (for my faults) refrain me,  
But every one will straightway entertain me.  
If treason (through my means) be thought or wrought,  
I never am unto my trial brought:  
For I have had the trial touch before,  
And am so known, I shall be tried no more.  
For though I be in ill, chief foremost Actor,  
No man suspects me for a malefactor,  
And if there be one man that will reveal me,  
There are at least ten thousand will conceal me.  
Indeed I was a Pagan 
* 〈◊〉 first and a●ongst Pa●ans and ●●eathen.  borne at first,  
And since in Christendom I have been nursed,  
So they might have me to increase their pelf,  
Many are turned, worse Pagans then myself.  
For I no God or deity did know,  
To whom I should my love and service show:  
But they forsake their God, whom they know well,  
And make a God of me, an Infidel.  
So, though I be but of a Heathen state,  
I am no base Apostate, Reprobate.  
Look on the herbs, the flowers, the fruits, the Trees,  
Fowls of the air, the painful labouring Bees,  
And ask their Owners why they breed and spring,  
His answer is, they must him money bring.  
Note but the toiling Ploughman, he is sowing  
He's hedging, ditching, raking, reaping, mowing,  
Goes to bed late, and rises before day,  
And all to have my company, he'll say,  
For me with dagled Gowns, and duty hammed,  
The Hall at Westminster, i'th' Term is crammed,  
Such writing, running, sweeting, interceading,  
Removing Causes, Pleading, Counterpleading,  
Ask the cause why, the answer true will be, 
All men ●●bour for ●●ney, bu●● with al●● devotion   
Their wrangling and their strife is all for me.  
Look in the Town, how folks throng to and fro,  
So thick, one cannot for another go,  
And how the Shops with Wares are furnished out:  
How every one stairs, pries, and gapes about.  
Demand the reason, all will answer make,  
They watch, and wait, cause they would money take.  
I know not why my reputation's such,  
But still my credit hath been wondrous much,  
I am more willing taken, now and then  
Then a sealed Bond, of any 
* Ready ●●ney is as 〈◊〉 as any m●●●● Bond.  Aldermen,  
For by long proof, the Proverb true doth say,  
That ready money ever will away.  
I am no worse than I have been of old,  
When thrice my worth, for me was bought and sold,  
For I could once have paid a quarters rend.  
For a small Garden, and a Tenement,  
And that (for me) of Barley, Wheat or Rye,  
Three times as much as now a man might buy:  
The cause why now I not so much attain,  
Is (that I am not lighter half a grain)  
But that through greediness, and hateful pride,  
I still am ill employed, and worse applied:  
For though the world be in a tottering state  

●●●●●●ng is constant ●●●●●nce.  Yet am I constant always at one rate,  
Let house, land, clothes, food, high or lower rise,  
I am in value, always at one size,  
Raise the price up, or let it fall down low,  
A shilling is but Twelve pence, all men know.  
I am the same I was, 'tis only men  
Have lost the consciences they harboured then.  
I might (as they might use me) be a blessing,  
And they make me the cause of their transgressing,  
Some to obtain me into mischief run,  
And some to spend me have destruction won:  

●●● I speak ●●ally of ●●●ey.  There's many a Master, where I used to dwell,  
That took delight (with me) to purchase hell.  
And all the vicious ways they ran aside,  
They made the devil and I, their only guide:  
(Perhaps) their Fathers went to hell to have me,  
And their mad heirs, run the same way to leave me,  
The whilst a haire-brainded needy crew beset me,  
And gallop to the devil amain, to get me.  
Thus vilely, how to get, and keep, and spend me,  
Three quarters of the world do still attend me.  
I have made Marriages in many a place,  
Where hath been neither beauty, wit, or grace,  
All's one for that, I am of that high price,  
I can make vice seem virtue, virtue vice.  
I am of that great power, and high command,  
In joining house to house, and land to land:  
That where one hath a dwelling to abide,  
One hundred knows not where their heads to hide:  
And as one may three hundred Tenants have,  
Five hundred knows not where to have a grave.  
For though from Earth man hath original,  
And to the Earth, from whence he came doth fall,  
Though he be Earth, and can claim nought but earth,  
(As the frail portion due unto his birth)  
Yet many thousands that the earth doth breed,  
Have no place (certain) where to lodge or feed:  
In which respect men's pleasures are behind  
The Birds, and Beasts, for they contentment find  
With the provision that dame Nature gives,  
Free (without money) every Creature lives,  
Their food, attire, their Caves, dens, holes, and nests  
They have, and hold, as their own interests.  
And man, that hath a reasonable soul,  
Whose reason countermands each beast and fowl,  
Within whose face, a Majesty is seated,  
Beyond all Creatures that were e'er created;  
Yet let him but want money, and 'tis plain,  
He's th' only brief and abstract or disdain,  
Despised, scorned, dejected, and contemned,  
And round about with miseries behemed.  
Search all the world's Records from age to age,  
And view Times variable Pilgrimage:  
Note that though Fortune (in her tottering guise)  
Hath played at Football with great Monarchies,  
Yet shall you find how ever States have varied,  
How ever things were carried or miscarried,  
That money still bare the commanding sway,  
To whom both right and wrong, and all obey.  
Should all the Witches in the whole world sit  
In Counsel, and employ their damned wit,  
And have the aids of all the fiends in hell,  
With many a mumbling Necromantic spell,  
And all this toil and pains of theirs should be,  
To bring Pecunia into infamy,  
To cast my Lady Argent in disgrace,  
And make some other thing supply her place:  
The fruits of all their labours they should find,  
Would be like throwing feathers against the wind:  
For in man's heart 'tis rooted with such love,  
That nothing else but Death can it remove.  
And many humane reasons doth approve it,  
That above all things earthly he should love it.  
Dost thou want honour, money straight will buy it,  
Although ten thousand needy Slaves envy it.  
Wouldst have an office thy estate to rear,  
Money will help thee to't man, never fear:  
Dost want wit how to guide and govern it?  
If thou hast money thou canst want no wit.  
Art thou a damned Matchivillian,  
Thy money makes thee held an honest man.  
Hast thou a scurvy face, take this of me,  
If thou hast money 'tis not seen in thee.  
Wouldst have a whore, a Coach, smoke, drink or dry?  
Money will bring thee all at any price.  
Wouldst have all pleasures in variety,  
Money will thy insatiate wants supply:  
Then seeing money can do what it will,  
Have not men reason to regard it still?  
Some things there are that Money cannot win,  
But they are things men take small pleasure in;  
As Heaven, and a good Conscience, Virtue, Grace,  
He that loves Money, cannot these embrace.  
For he whose heart to Money, is inclined,  
Of things Celestial hath but little mind.  
If Money were a Woman, I do fee  
Her Case most pity pitiful would be,  
Because I think she would no lovers have,  
Except a Gouty miserable Knave:  
One that all night would by her lie and Groan,  
Gripped with the Colic, or tormenting Stone,  
With stinking, Coughing, Grunting, spitting, spauling,  
And nothing but Contagious Caterwauling.  
Besides he'd be so jealous day and night,  
He would not suffer her go out of's sight:  
That sure I think her Case far worse would be  
Then is the Turkish Galley slavery.  
For none but such as those whom Age hath got,  
Are in the Love of Money extreme hot.  
And when as Hearing, Sent, and Taste, and Sight,  
Are gone, yet Feeling Money's their Delight.  
The whilst a Youngman, full of strength and pride,  
Would make her Go by water, Run and Ride,  
Force her in all things to supply his need,  
For Recreation, or to Cloth and Feed,  
Compel her to Maintain him fine and Brave, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉   
And in a word make her his Drudge or Slave,  
And all his Love to her would be so so,  
For he'd but kiss her, and so let her go.  
Thus if It were a Woman as I say,  
Her Case were Lamentable every way:  
For Old men within Doors would ever worr'y her,  
& young men round about the world would hurry her,  
That were she matched with either young or old,  
Her miseries would still be manifold.  
But this Commanding bright Imperious Dame,  
Used well or ill, she's evermore the same:  
Lock her, order her lose, she Cares not which,  
She still hath power the whole world to bewitch.  
I call to mind, I heard my Twelvepences say,  
That he hath oft at Christmas been at play:  
At Court, at th'inns of Court, and every where  
Throughout the Kingdom, being far and near.  
At Passage, and 
* And tw●● games more  Mumchance, at In and in,  
Where Swearing hath been Counted for no Sin,  
Where Fullamshigh and 
* False ' Di●  Loanmen Bore great sway,  
With the quick help of a Band Cater Trey.  
My shilling said such swaggering there would be  
Amongst the wrangling Knaves for me (quoth he)  
Such shoveing, sholdring, thrusting, thronging, setting,  
Such striving, crowding, justling and such betting,  
Such storming, fretting, fuming, chafing, sweeting,  
Resuse, renounce me, damn me, swearing, cheating,  
So many heavy curses, plagues and pox,  
Where all are losers, but the Butler's boxes:  
That sure in hell the Devils are in fear,  
To curse and to blaspheme as they do there.  
Whilst without touch of conscience, or of sense,  
They abuse th' Almighty's great Omnipotence,  
And all this wicked stir that they do make,  
Is me from one another how to rake.  
That though I were a Pagan borne, I see  
They make themselves much worse, to pocket me.  

〈◊〉 shilling ●●●o Puritan 〈◊〉 all this.  These Gamesters make this time, a time of mirth,  
In memory of their blessed Saviour's birth:  
Whose dear remembrance, they do annually  
Observe with extreme odious gluttony,  

speak not ●●ainst ho●●●t mirth, ●●ndly Ga●●ng, nor good cheer but against the unlawful use of these Recre●●tions, and abuse of Go●●  With gurmondizing beastly belly filling,  
With swinish drinking, and with drunken swilling,  
With Ribald Songs, jigs, Tales, & gaudy clothes,  
With bitter cursings, and most fearful Oaths,  
That sure my shilling saith, the Heathen will  
Not entertain the devil half so ill;  
But worship Saethan in more kind behaviour,  
Then some professed Christians do their Saviour.  
In Saturn's reign when money was unfound,  
Then was that age with peace and plenty crowned,  
Then mine was thine, Thine mine, and all our lives,  
All things in common were, except our wives.  
But now the case is altered (as they say)  
Quite topsy-turvy the contrary way:  
For now men's wealth is privately kept close,  
The whilst their wives are commonly let lose.  
For he whom love of money doth besot  
For's own soul, or's wives body, much cares not.  
It bewitched Aohan at the siege of Ai, 
joshua 7.   
For which the Israelites did lose the day:  
It made Gehezie false in his affairs, 
2. Kings 5.   
And gained the Leprosy for him, and's heirs,  
It with th'Apostle judas bore such sway,  
That it made him the Lord of life betray;  
And Anaenias and his wretched wife, 
Acts 5.   
By sudden death it made them lose their life;  
And Divine stories, and profane, recite  
Examples of such matters infinite,  
'Tis said in Salomon's Dominions,  

Kings. 10. 7.  That Silver was as plenty as the Stones:  
But sure the Sin of Covetise was not  
Amongst them either borne, or scarce begot.  
For all that Silver, and a great deal more,  
Raked and Ripped from the Europian shore,  
From AEsia, and Sun-parched Africa,  
And from the womb of vaust America,  

Purcas.  From which last place the Potent King of Spain,  
Eleven Million in one year did gain,  
And from Pottozzy Mines he Daily had  
Three hundred thirty thousand Rials made.  
To speak what mighty sums King David won,  
And left them unto Solomon his Son,  

Chron. 22. A Talent of Gold is in ●alue 600. ●rownes.  Of Gold one hundred thousand Talents fine,  
Silver one Thousand thousand, from the Mine,  
Besides from Ophir he had at the least,  
Three thousand Golden talents of the best.  

●oseph in the ●●●. Book of ●is Antiquities.  josephus doth of David's Tomb thus write,  
How th'hidden Treasure there was infinite,  
The Basins, Candlesticks, and Censors all,  
Lamps, Organs, Instruments most Musical,  
Ports, Altar, Tables, Hinges the Gates to hold,  
They were all made of pure Refined Gold.  
Besides 600. Shields and Targets more,  
The King caused all with Gold be plated o'er.  
Besides the Richnes' of his Royal Throne,  
The like whereof elsewhere 
a And 〈◊〉 the Captan●● 5000. Talents, and 10000 pierces of Gold and 1000 ● talents of Silver, besides Brass and Iron.  was never none.  
When the Great Macedonian did subdue  
Darius, 
b Quint●● Curtius.  and his hapless Persian Crew,  
'Tis said his Treasure did so much abound,  
Twenty nine thousand Talents there was found.  
And more he faith (if we may Credit this)  
How that in Susa and 
c 2 Cities in Persia.  Persepolis  
They found, of Silver to Increase their store,  
One hundred seventy thousand Talents more.  
When Cirus Conquered Croesus, 
d About 60. Millions of Crowns.  Croesus lost  
Three hundred Millions of good Gold almost,  
'Tis writ that Midas 
e A King of Phrigia.  Treasure so amounted  
Innumerable, not to be Accounted,  
Sardanapalus an Assyrian 
f A most Licentious Prince.  King  
Near eight score Millions to the Fire did bring.  
Where Fifteen days did burn his house, and pelf,  
His whores, and (amongst the rest) his wretched self.  
And Plutarch faith, Mark 
g Of Crown●● which was pay.  Anthony spent clear  
Of Gold, full Six score Millions in one year.  
What should I speak of Cleopatra's Treasures,  
Or wealth, or Triumphs of the Roman Caesars.  
Or what they were whose riches have been such,  
Or who they are that now possess too much,  
But here's the question, seeing times of old  
Did yield such store of silver and of gold,  
And seeing daily more and more is found,  
Digged in abundance from the solid ground,  
I muse which way the devil all is gone,  
That I, and thousand thousands can have none.  
I know myself as able to abuse it,  
As any man that knows well how to use it,  
But sure I never should my Master make it,  
But as my servant take it, and forsake it.  
I have described in particular  
What Twelvepences is, how it hath travelled far:  
How to all ages, Sexes, Trades, and Arts,  
It comes and goes, it tarries and departs:  

〈…〉  I could tell further how it doth command,  
In pressing men to serve by sea or land,  
How Bakers thirteen penny loaves do give  
All for a shilling, and thrive well and live.  
How it a pottle of good Claret buys,  
How 'tis a quart of rich Canaries prize,  
How for a thousand things 'tis daily ranging,  
And is so round a sum, it needs no changing,  
How up and down the world he still doth firrit,  
And takes no more rest than an eyrie spirit.  
Then at the last my Muse to mind doth call,  
The mighty power of money in general,  
And how all ages still have had good store,  
Musing the cause myself can have no more.  
And Money having writ all this for thee, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mone●●   
Show not thyself ingrateful unto me:  
But as I know thou canst, so prithee grant  
That when I want thou wilt supply my want,  
Reward thy Poet, that doth set thee forth,  
I'll love thee still, according to thy worth.   
FINIS.