CERTAIN ELEGANT POEMS, WRITTEN By Dr. CORBET, BISHOP OF NORWICH. London, Printed by R. Cotes for Andrew Crook at the Green Dragon in Paul's churchyard, 1647. TO THE RIGHT honourable THE Lady Teynbam: Her humble Servant N. N. wisheth eternal Beauty, both in this world, and the world to come. Madam, I Have read that a poor and mean Lamp of a great Philosopher, hath been sold at a great price; And I have seen a Medail, which in the enrolment value was worth little, sold at a great rate, because it had the Name and Image of some great Person stamped upon it. I therefore that I may gain an extrinseque value to this Book, have presumed to dedicate it unto you, Madam, in hope that your nobleness and gentleness is as great as your Beauty, which delighteth and causeth admiration in the eyes of all, but those of the envious: And that you will in the permission of your Name to be set before this Book, imitate the custom of Kings, who set their Names on coins of Copper, as well as on those of Gold; and as the King that coins, sets what value he pleaseth on his Money; so when your name is set to his Work, I will give it what price 〈…〉 please, and every wise person will ●…uy it. POEMS. Iter Boreale. Four Clerks of Oxford, Doctors two, and two, That would be Doctors, having less to do With Austin, then with Galen, in Vacation Changed studies, and turned books to recreation And on the tenth of August Northward bent, A journey not so soon conceived as spent. The first half day they rode, they light upon A Noble Clergy host, Kitt Middleton; Who numbering out good dishes with good tales, The major part o'th' cheer weighed down the scales, And though the countenance make the feast, say books; We ne'er found better welcome with worse looks; Here we paid thanks, and parted, and at night Had entertainment all in one man's right, At flower, a Village, where our Tenant she Sharp as a winter morning, fierce, yet free, With a lean visage like a Carved face On a Court-cupboard, offered up the Place; She pleased us well, but yet her husband better, A hearty fellow and a good bonesetter; Now whither it were providence or luck, Whether the keepers or the stealers buck, There we had venison such as Virgil slew, When he would feast AEneas and his crew; Here we consumed a day, and the next morn, To Daintry with a land-wind we were borne, It was the Marker, and the Lecture day, For Lecturers sell Sermons, as the Lay Do sheep and Oxen, have their seasons just, For both their Markets, there we drank down dust. I'th' interim comes a most officious drudge, His face and gown drawed out with the same budge, His pendant pouch which was both large and wide, Looked like a Letters-patents by his side: He was as awful as he had been sent From Moses with the eleventh commandment; And one of us he sought, a man of Flower He must bid stand, and challenge for an hour: The Doctors both were quitted of their scare, The one was hoarse, the other was not there, Therefore him of the two he seized best, Able to answer him of all the rest, Because he needs but ruminate that o'er, Which he had chewed the Sabbath day before; For though we were resolved to do him right, For Master Bayleys sake, and Master Wright, Yet he dissembled that the Mace did err, For he nor Deacon was, nor Minister; No quoth the sergeant, sure then by relation, You have a licence Sir, or Toleration; And if you have no orders 'tis the better, So you have Dods precepts, or Cleavers letter; Thus looking on his Mace and urging still, 'Twas Master Wright's, and Master Bayleys will, That he should mount, at last he condescended To stop the gap, and so the Treaty ended; The Sermon pleased, and when we were to dine, We all had Preachers wages, thanks, and wipe. Our next day's stage was Littleworth a town Not willing to be noted, or set down, By any Traveller, for when we had been Through at both ends, we could not find an inn, Yet for the Church sake turn and light we must, Hoping to find one dram of Wickless dust, But we found none, for underneath the Pole, No more rests of his body, than his soul; Abused Martyr, how hast thou been torn, By two wild factions! first the Papists burn Thy bones for hate, the Puritans in zeal Do sell thy Marble, and thy brass they steal. A Parson met us there who had great store Of Livings, some say, but of Manners more; In whose straight cheerful age a man might see Well governed fortune, bounty, wise and free; He was our guide to Leicester, save one mile, There was his dwelling where we stayed a while And drank stale beer, I think was never new, Which the dun wench that brought it us did brew; And now we are at Leicester, where we shall Leapeo're six steeples and an hospital Twice told, those Lande-markes I refer To Camden's eye, England's Chronogropher; Let me observe the alms men's heraldry, Who being asked what Henry that should be That was their founder Duke of Lancaster, Answered, 'T was John of Gaunt, I assure you Sir; And so consured all their walls that said; Henry of Ric●…mond this foundation laid. The next thing to be noted was our cheer, Enlarged with seven and six pence, bread and beer. But O you wretched Tapsters as you are, Who reckon by your number, not your sare; And set false figures for all Companies, Abusing innocent meals, with oaths and lies; Forbear your Cousnage to Divines that come, Lest they be thought to drink all that you sum. Spare not the laity in your reckoning thus, But sure your thest to us is scandalous. Away my Muse from this base Subject, know Thy Pegasus ne'er struck his soot so low: Is not th' usurping Richard buried here, That King of hate, and therefore slave of fear; Dragged from the fatal lield Bosworth, where he Lost life, and what he lived for, Cruelty? Search, find his name, but there is none; O Kings Remember whence your power, and vastness springs: If not as Richard now, so may you be, Who hath no tomb, but scorn and memory. And though from his own store Wolsie might have A Palace, or a college for his grave; Yet here he lies in●…rr'd, as if that all Of him to be remembered were his fall: Nothing but earth to earth, nor pompous weight Upon him but a pebble, or a quayte. If thou art thus neglected, what shall we Hope after death that are but shreds of thee? Hold! William calls to horse, William is he, Who though he never saw threescore and three, Ore-reckoned us in age, as he before In drink, and will bate nothing of fourscore; And he commands, as if the warrant came, From the great Earl himself, to Notinghame: There we cross Trent, and on the other side Prayed for Saint Andrew, as up hill we ride. Where we observed the cunning men like Moles Dwelled not in houses, but were ●…arth'd in holes. So did they not build upwards, but dig through, As Hetmits Caves, or Coneys do their Borough. Great underminers sure as anywhere, 'Tis thought the powder Traytots practised there. Would you not think that men stood on their heads, When Gardens cover houses there, like leads, And on the chimney's top, the maid may know, Whether her potrage boil, or not, below; There cast in herbs, or Salt, or bread, her meat, Contented rather with the smoke, than heat. This was the rocky Parish, higher stood Churches and houses, buildings, stone and wood, Crosses not yet demolished, and our Lady, With her arms on; embracing her whole Baby: Where let us note, though these be Northern parts, The cross finds in them more than Southern hearts. The Castle's next; but what shall we report, Of that which now is ruin, was a fort? The Gates, two Statues keep, which giants are, To whom, it seems, committed is the care Of the whole downfall, if it be your fault, If you are guilty, may King David's vault Or Mortimer's dark Cell contain you both, A just reward for so profane a sloth; And if hereafter tidings shall be brought Of any place, or office to be bought, And your left lead, or unwedged timber yet Shall pass by your consent to purchase it, May your deformed bulks endure the edge Of axos, feel the beerle and the wedge, May all the ballads be called in and die, That sing the wars of Colebrand, and Sir Guy; O ye that do Guild Hall and Holmby keep So carefully when both the founder's sleep, You are good giants, and partake no shame, With these two worthless trunks of Nottingham: Look to your several charges, we must go, Though grieved at heart to leave a Castle so. The bullhead is the word, and we must eat, No sorrow can descend so low as meat: So to the inn we came, where our best che●…re, Was that his Grace of York had lodged there. He was objected to us when we call, Or dislike aught, my Lord's Grace answers all; He was contented with this bed, this diet, This keeps our discontented stomach's quire. The inn keeper was old, fourscore almost, Indeed an emblem, rather than an Host: In whom we read how God and Time decree, To honour thrifty ostlers, such as he: For in the stable first he did begin, Now see he is so●…e Lord of the whole inn. Mark the increase of straw, and hay, and how By thrift a bottle may become a Mow, Mark him all ye that have the golden Itch, All whom God hath condemned to be rich; Farewell glad father of thy daughter Mayress, Thou ostler Phoenix, thy example rare is. We are for Newarke after this sad talk, And thither 'tis no journey but a walk, Nature is want on there, and the high way Seemed to be private though it open lay; As if some swelling Lawyer for his health, Or srantique Usurer to ●…ame his wealth, Had chosen out two miles by Trent, to try Two great effects of Art and Industry: The ground we tread is meadow fertile land, New trimmed, and levelled by the mower's hand, Above ●…t grew a rock, rude, steep and high, Which claims a kind of reverence from the Eye: Betwixt them both there flides a lively stream, Not lo●…d, but swift: M●…ande was a theme Crooked and rough, but had those Poets seen Straight-even Trent, it had immortal been; This side the open plain admits the sun, To half the River which did open ru●…ne; The other half ra●…ne clouds, where the curled wood With his exalted head threatened the flood: Here I could wish us never passing by, And never past; Now Newarke is too nigh; And as a Christmas seem a day but short, Deluding times with revels, and good sport, So did this beaurious mixture us beguile, And the whole twelve being travailed seemed one mile. Now as the way was sweet, so was the End, Our Passage easy, and our prize a Friend; Whom there we did enjoy, and for whose sake As for a kind of purer coin men make Us liberal welcome, with such Harmony As the whole town had been his Family Mine host of the next inn did not repine That we perfer'd the Hart and passed his sign: And where we lay the host and hostess sane Would show our loves were aimed at, nor their gain. The very beggars were so ingenuous, They rather pray for him, then beg of us; And so the doctor's friends be pleased to stay, The P●…ritans will let the Organs play. Would they pull down the Gallery builded new, With the Church wardens seat and Burleigh pew? Newarke for light, and beauty might compare With any Church, but what Cathedrals are: To this belongs a Vi●…ar, who succeeded The friend I mentioned, such a one there needed, A man whose life and tongue is eloquent, Able to char●… those n●…inous head●… of Trent, And urge the Canon home when they conspire Against the cross and B●…ls with sword and fire: There stood a Castle too, they show us here The place where the King slept, the window where He talked with such a Lord, how long he stayed In his discourse, and all but what he said. From whence without a perspective we see beaver and Lincoln, where we fain would be, But that our purse, and horses too were bound Within the compass of a n●…rrower ground. Our purpose is all homeward, and 'twas time At parting to have wi●…, as well as wine. Full th●…ee a clock and twenty miles to ride, Will ask a speedy horse, and a sure Guide: We wanted both, and Lowborough may glory, Error hath made it famous in our story. 'Twas night, and the swift horses of the sun Two hours b●…ore our Jades their race had run; Nor pilor, moon, nor any such kind star, As guided those Wise men that came from far, To holy Bethlem; such lights had they been They would have soon conveyed us to an inn: But all were wandering stars, and we as they Were taught no course but to ride on and stray: When Oh the fate of darkness, who hath tried it, Here our whole fleet it scattered, and divided! And now we labour more to mere, then erst We did to lodge; the last cries down the first; Our voices are all spent, and they that follow Can now no longer track us by the hollow; They curse the foremost, we the hindmost, both Accusing with like patience, haste, and sloth. At last upon a little town we fall, Where some for drink, some for a candle call: Unhappy we! such stragglers as we are, Admire a Candle oft●…er than a star; We care not for those glorious lights aloof, Give us a ●…allow Candle, a dry roof. And now we have a guide, we'll cease to chase, Now we have time to pray the rest be safe, Our guide before cries Come, and we the whiles Ride blindfold, and take bridges to be styles, Till at the last we overcome the dark, And spite of night and error hit the mark: Some half hour after enters the whole rail, As if they were committed to the jail; The Constable that took 'em thus divided, Made 'em seem apprehended and not guided, Where when we had our fortunes both detes●…ed, Compassion made us friends, and so we rested; 'twas quickly morning, though by our short stay, We could not find that we had less to pay; All Travellers these heavy judgements hear, A handsome hostess makes a reckoning dear; Her smiles, her words, your purses must requ●… 'em, And every welcome from her adds an Item. Glad to be gone from hence, at any rate, For Bosworth we are horsed: behold the sat Of mortal men, foul error is a mother, And pregnant once doth soon beget another: We who last night did learn to lose our way, Are perfect since, and further out next day, And in a Forest having travailed sore, Like wandering Bevi 〈…〉 he found the boar, Or as some love-sick Lady of●… hath done, Before she was rescued by the knight o●…th sun, So are we lost, and meet no comfort then But Carts and horses, wiser than the men: Which is the way? They neither speak, nor point, Their tongues and fingers, both are out of joint, Such monsters by Cole Herton banks there sit, After their Resurrection from the pit. Whiles in this Mill we labour and turn round, As in a conjurer's circle, William found A means for our delivery, turn your cloaks Quoth he, for Pucke is busy in these oaks; If ever ye at Bosworth will be found, Then turn your cloaks, for this is fairy ground. But e'er this witchcraft was performed, we meet A very man, who had not cloven fear, Though William still of little saith doth doubt, 'Tis Robin or some Spirit walks about, Strike him, quoth he, and it will turn to air, Cross yourselves thrice, and strike him: Strike that dare Thought I, for sure this massy Forester, In blows will prove the better Conjurer; But 'twas a gentle keeper, one that knew Humanity and manners where they grew, And rode along with us, till he could say, Lo yonder Bosworth stands, and this your way. And now when we had sweat, twixt sun and sun; And eight miles long, to thirty broad had run, We learned the just proportion from hence, Of the Diameter, and Circumference. That night made yet amends, our meat, our shears, Were far above the promise of those streets, Those houses that were tiled with straw and moss, Promised but weak repair for that day's loss Of patience, yet this outside lets us know, The worthiest things make not the greatest show. The shot was easy, and what concerns us more, The way was so, mine host did ride before, Mine host was full of Ale, and History, And on the morrow when he brought us high Where the two Roses joined, you would suppose, Chaveer ne'er writ the Romant of the Rose, hear him: see ye yonder woods? there Richard lay With his whole Army: look the other way, And lo where Richmond in a bed of gross, Encamped himself o'er night with all his source. Upon this Hill they met; why, he could tell The Inch where Richmond stood, where Richard sell; Besides what of his knowledge he could say, He had Authenrique notice from the Play; Which I might guess by's mustrimg up the Ghosts, And policies not incident to hosts: But chiefly by that one perspicuous thing, Where he mistook a Player for a King, For when he would have said, King Richard died, And called a Horse, a Horse, he Burbage cried. How e'er his talk, his company pleased well, His Mare went truer than his Chronicle; And even for Conscience sake uns purred, unbeaten, Brought us six miles and turned tail to New-Eaton; From thence to Coventrey, where we scarce dine, Only our stomachs warmed with zeal and wine, And thence as if we were predestined sorch, Like Lot from Sodom, fly to Killingworth. The keeper of the Castle was from home, So that half mile was lost; yet when we come An host receives us there, we ne'er deny him, My Lord of Losters' man, the Parson by him; Who had no other prose to testify, He served the Lord, but age and bawdry. Away for shame, why should three miles divide Warwick, and us? they that have horses ride, A short mile from the town, an humble shrine, At foot of a high rock consists in sign Of Guy and his devotions, who there stands, Ugly and huge, more than a man on's hands, His Helmet steel, his Gorget mail, his Shield Brass, made the chapel fearful as a field. And let this answer all the Pope's complaints: We set up giants, though we pull down Saints. Beyond this in the road way as we went, A pillar stands where this Colossus leaned, Where he would love, and sigh, and for hearts case Oft times write verses, some say such as these. Here will I languish in this silly bower, While my sweere heart triumphs in yonder Tower. No other hindrance now, but we may pass, Clear to our inn; Oh there an hostess was, To whom the Castle and the dun cow are Sights after dinner, she is morning wa●…e, Her whole behaviour borrowed was and mixed, ●…se fool, half puppet, and her pace betwixt Measure and jig, her courtsy was an honour, Her gare as if her neighbours had out gone her; She was barred up in Whale bones that did lose None of the whales length, for they reached her knees; Off with her head, and then she hath a middle, As her Wast stands, just like the new found fiddle, The favourite Theorbo, truth to tell ye, Whose neck and throat are deeper than the belly: Have you seen Monkeys chained about the loins, Or pottle pots, with rings? just so she joins Herself together; a dressing she doth love, In a small print below, and text above. What though her name be King, yet 'tis no treason, Nor breach of Statute to inquire the reason Of her branched ruff, a Cubit every poke I seem to wend her, but she struck the stroke At our departure, and our worships there Paid for our titles dear, as anywhere. Though Beadles and Professors both have done, Yet every inn claims augmentation: Please you walk out and see the Castle, come, The owner saith, it is a scholar's home, A place of strength, and health, in the same Fort You would conceive a Castle and a Court, The Orchards, Gardens, Rivers and the Ay e May with the Trenches, Rampires, walls compare, It seems no art, no force can intercept it, As if a Lover built, a soldier kept it; Up to the Tower, though it be steep and high, We do not climb, but walk; and though the eye Seem to be weary, yet our feet are still In the same posture, cozened up the Hill, And thus the workman's art deceives our sense, Making those rounds of pleasure and defence. As we descend the Lord of all this frame, The Honourable chancellor to us came, Above the hill there blew a gentle breath, But now we feel a sweeter gale beneath, The phrase and welcome of this Knight did make The place more elegant: each word he spoke Was wine and music, which he did expose To us if all our art could censure those: With him there was a Prelate, by his place Arch deacon to the Bishop, by his face A greater man, for that did counterfeit Lord Abbot of some Covent standing yet, A corpulent relic, marry and'tis sin, Some Puritan gets not that face called in; A●…ongst lean brethren it may scandal bring, That look for parity in every thing; For us let him enjoy all that God sends, Plenty of flesh, of livings and of friends, Imagine us here ambling down the street, Circling in Flower, and making both ends mere, Where we sare well four days, and did complain Like harvest folks of weather and of rain, And on the feast of B●…olmew we try, What Revels that Saint keeps at Ba●…bury; I●…h name of God Amen first to begin, The altar was converted to an inn, We lodged in the chapel by the sign, But in a banck'rupt Taveme by the wine, Besides our horse's usage makes us think, 'Twas still a Church, for they in Coffins drink, As if'twere congruous that the ancient stlye Close by those Altars in whose faith they die; Now you believe the Church hath great variety Of Monuments when inns have such society, But nothing less, there's no inscription there, But the churchwardens of the last year, In stead of Saints in windows, and in walls, Here buckets hang, and there a Cobweb falls: Would you not think they love antiquity, Who rush their choir for perpetuity, Whilst all the other pavements and the floor Are supplicant to the surveyors power Of the high ways, that he would gravelled keep Them, or in winter sure they will be deep; If not for God's sake, for Master Wheatley's sake, Level the walks; suppose these pit-sals make Him sprain a Lecture, or misplace a joint In his long prayer, or in his seventeenth point, Think you the daws and S●…ares can set him right? Surely this sin upon your heads will light; And say, Beloved, what unchristian charm Is this, you have not left a leg or arm Of an Apostle? Think you it those were whole, They would arise at last t'assume a soul? If not, 'tis plain all the Idolatry Lyes in your folly, not the imagery. 'Tis well, the pinnacles are fall'n in twain, For now the devil should he tempt again, Hath no advantage of a place so high: Fools! he can dash you from your Gallery, Where all your medley meets, and do compare Not what you learn, but who was longest there; The Puritan, the Anabaptist, Brownist, Like a grand salad, Tinkers, what a town is't? The Crosses also like old stumps of Trees, Or stools for horsemen that have seeble knees, Carry no heads above Ground: those which tell, That Christ hath n●…re descended into Hell, But to the Grave, his picture buried have In a far deeper dungeon than a Grave, That is descended to endure what pains The devil can think, or such disciples brains. No more my grief, in such profane abuses Good whips make better verses than the Muses: Away, and look nor back, away, while yet The Church is standing, while the benefit foreseeing it remains so long you shall Have that racked down and called apocryphal, And in some barn hear cited many an Author, Ka●… Stubs Anne Ascue, or the Lady's daughter, Which shall be urged for Fathers: stop disdain, When Oxford once appears Saran refrain. Neighbours, how hath our anger●…lius outgone us, Is not Saint Giles' this, and that Saint John's? We are returned, but just just so much o'er As Rauleigh from his voyage, and no more. R. C. WHen too much zeal doth fire devotion, Love is not love, but superstition: Even so in civil duties when we come Too oft, we are not kind, but troublesome, Yet as the first is not Idolatry, So is the last, but grieved industry, And such was mine whose strife to honour you By overplus, hath robbed you of your due. On Bishop Ravis. WNen I pass Paul's, and travai●… in the walk, Where all our British sinners swear and talk, Old hairy ruffians, Bankrupts, South sayers, And youth whose cozenage is as old as theirs; And there behold the body of my Lord, Trod under foot by vice which he abhorred. It wounded me the Land lord of all times Should let long lives and leases to their crimes; But to his saving honour scarce afford But so much sun as to the prophet's Gourd, Yet since swift flights and envy hath best end, Like breath of Angels with a blessing send, And vanisheth withal, while fouler deeds Expect a tedious harvest of bad seeds; I blame not fame and nature if they gave Where they could add no more, the last a grave; And justly do thy grieved friends forbear Bubble and alabaster boys to rear O'er thy religious dust, but bid men know Thy life, which such illusions cannot show; For thou hast died amongst those happy ones, Who trust not in their superstitions, Their hired Epitaphs, and perjured stone, Which oft belies the soul when she is gone, But durst commit thy body as it lies, To tongues of living men, not unborn eyes; What profits thee a sheet of lead, what good? If on thy course a marble Quarry stood? Let those that fear their rising purchase vaults, And send their statues 〈…〉 faults As if like birds that pick at painted grapes, Their Judge knew not their persons from their shapes, Whilst thou assured by thy easy dust Shalt spring at first, they would not, yet they must: Not need the Chancellor boast, whose pyramid Above the Host and altar reared is; For though thy body fill a narrow room, Thou shalt not change deed●… with him for his tomb. R. Corbet. On Doctor Corbets Father. VIncent Corbet farther known By Pointers name then by his own, Here lies engaged till the day Of raising bones and quickening clay: No wonder reader that he hath Two surnames in one Epitaph, For this one doth comprehend All that both families could lend; And if to know more art than any Could multiply one into many, Here a Colony lies then Both of qualities and men. Years he lived were near fou●…score; But count his virtues, he lived more; And number him by doing good, He lived the age before, the flood. Should we undertake his story, Truth would seem feigned, and feignedness glory: Besides the Tablet were too small, Adding the pillars and the wall; Yet of this volume much, if found, Writ in many a fertile ground, Where the Printer thee affords Earth for Paper, Trees for Words He was nature's Factor here, And leaguer ●…gu for every shire; To supply the ingenious wants Of some Spring fruits, and fortaine plants. Simple he was, and withal, His purs●… not base, nor prodigal, Poorer in substance, then in friends, Future and public were his end●… His conscience like his diet, such As neither took nor left too much, So the made laws needless grown To him, he needed but his own: Did he his neighbour bid like those That feast them only to enclose, Or with their roast-meat rack their ●●●●●, And cozen them with their 〈…〉 consents? No the free meeting of his board Did but one liberal sense afford; No Close or acre understood, But only love and neighbourhood His alms were such as Paul defines, Nor causes to be said, but ●●●●●● Which alms by faith, hope, love, laid down, I aid up what now he wea●…, a crown. Besides his fame, his goods, his life, He left a grieved son and wife; Strange sorrow scarce to be b●leev'd, When as a son and heir is grieved. R. Corbet. On the death of Master Rice Manciple of Christ-Church. WHo can doubt (Rice) to what eternal place Thy soul is fled, that did but know thy face? Whose body was so light it might have gone To heaven without a resurrection; Indeed tho●… wert all Type, thy limbs were signs, Thy Arteries but mathematic lines; As i●… two souls had made the compound good, Which both should live by faith, and none by blood. R. C. To his son Vincent Corbet. WHat I shall leave thee none can tell, But all shall say I wish thee well; I wish thee (Vin) before all wealth, Both bodily and ghostly health; Nor too much wealth, nor wit come to thee, So much of either may undo thee. I wish thee learning, not for show, Enough for to instruct, and know; Not such as Gentlemen require To prate at Table, or at Fire. I wish thee all thy mother's graces, Thy father's fortunes, and his places. I wish thee friends, and one'at Cou●…t Not to build on, but support, To keep thee, not in doing many Oppressions, but from suffering any. I wish thee p●…ace in all thy way●…, Nor Lazy nor contentious day●…s; And when thy soul and body part, As innocent as now thou a●…. R. C. An Elegy on the late Lord William Howard, Baron of Effingham, dead the 10. of December, 1615. I Did not know thee, Lord, nor do I strive To win access, or grace, with Lords alive: The dead I serve, from whence nor faction can Move me, nor favour; nor a greater man. To whom no vice commends me, nor bribe sent, Fr●… whom no Penance warns, nor portion spent, To these I dedicate as much of me As I can spare from my own husbandry: And till Ghosts walk, as they were wont to do, I trade for some, and do these errants too. But first I do inquire, and am assured, What trials in their Journeys they endured, What certainties of Honour and of worth, Their most uncertain Life times have brought forth; And who so did least hurt of this small store, He is my patron, died he rich or poor. First I will know of Fame (after his peace, When Flattery and Envy both do cease) Who rul●…d his actions: Reason, or my Lord? Did the whole man rely upon a word, A badge of Title, or above all chance Seemed he as Ancient as his Cognisance? What did he? Acts of mercy and refrain Oppre●…ions in himself, and in his train? Was his essential table full as free As boasts and invitations use to be? Where if his Russet-friend did chance to dine, Whether his Satten-man would fill him wine? Did he think perjury as lov●…d a sin, Himself for sworn, as is his slave had been? Did he seek regular pleasures? was he known Just Husband of one Wife, and she his own? Did he give freely without p●…use, or doubt, And read petitions, ere they were worn out? Or should his well-deserving Client ask, Would he bestow a Tilting, or a mask To keep need virtuous? And that done not fear What Lady damned him for his absence there? Did he attend the Court for no man's fall? Wore he the ruin of no hospital? And when he did his rich apparel done, Put he no Widow, nor an Orphan on? Did he love simple virtue for the thing? The King for no respect but for the King? But above all, did his Religion wait Upon God's Throne, or on the chair of state? He that is guilty of no Quaere here, Our-lasts his Epitaph, our-lives his heir. But there is none such, none so little bad, Who but this negative goodness ever had: Of such a Lord we may expect the birth, He's rather in the womb than on the earth. And 'twere a Crime in such a public fate. For one to live well and degenerate: And therefore I am angry, when a name Comes to upbraid the World like E●…ingham. Nor was it modest in thee to de part To thy eternal home, where now thou art, Ere thy reproach was ready: or to die, Ere custom had prepared thy calumny. Eight days have past since thou hast paid thy debt To sin, and not a libel stirring yet, Courtiers that scoff by Patent, silent sit. And have no use of Slander or of wit; But (which is monstrous) though against the tide, The watermen have neither railed nor lied. Of good and bad there's no distinction known, For in thy praise the good and bad are one. It seems we all are covetous of Fame, And hearing what a purchase of good name Thou lately mad'st, are careful to increase Our title by the holding of some lease From thee our landlord, and for that th'whole c●…ue Speak now like Tenants ready to renew: It were too sad to tell thy pedeg●…ee, Death hath disordered all, misplacing thee, Whilst now thy herald in his line of heirs Blots out thy name, and fills the space with tears. And thus hath conquering death, or nature rather, Made thee preposterous ancient to thy Father, Who grieves th'art s●…, and like a glorious light Shines o'er thy H●…arse. He therefore that would write And blaze thee throughly, may at once say all, Here lies the Anchor of our admiral. Let others write for glory or reward, Truth is well paid, when the is sung and heard. R. Corbet. An Epitaph on Doctor Donne, Deane of Paul's. HE that would write an Epitaph for thee And do it well, must ●…st begin to be Such as thou wert; for none can truly know Thy worth, thy life, but he that hath lived so. He must have wit to spare, and to hu●…le down Enough to keep the Gallams of the town, He must have learning plenty, both the Laws, Civil and Common, to judge any cause; Divinity great store, above the rest, Not of the last Edition, but the best. He must have language ●…ravaile, all the Arts. Judgement to use, or else he wants thy parts; He must have friends the highest, able to do, Such as Mecan●…s and Augustus too. He must have such a sickness, such a death, Or else his vain descriptions come beneath. Who then shall write an Epitaph for thee He must be dead first, let't alone for me. R. Corbet. Upon Mistress Mallet. HAve I renounced my faith? or basely sold Salvation, or my loyalty for gold? Have I some fo●… in practice undertook By poison, shot, sharp knife, or sharper look To kill my King? have I be●…ay'd the State To fire or fury, or some newer fate? Which learned murderers, those grand destinies, The Jesuits have nursed if of all these I guilty am, proceed, I am content That Mallet take me for my punishment: For never sin was of so high a rate But one night's hell with thee could expiate: Although the law with Garne●… and the rest Deal far more mildly, hang's but a jest To this immortal torture; had she been In Martyrs torrid days engendered, when Cruelty was wit●…y, and invention free Did live by blood and thrive by cruelty, she would have been more horrid engines sa●… Then sire or famine, tack or halters are. Whether her wit, form, talk, smile, tire I name, Each is a stock of tyranny and shame. But for her breath, spectators, come nor nigh, That lays about, God bless the company. The man in a bear's skin baited to death Would abuse the dogs much rather than her breath. One kiss of hers, and eighteen words alone Puts down the Spanish inquisition. Thrice happy we (quoth I) thinking thereon, That see no days of persecution, For were it free to kill, this grilly else Would Martyrs make in compass of herself. And were she not prevented by our prayer By this time she corrupted had the air. And am I innocent? and is it true That thing which Poet Pliny never knew. Nor Assri●…k, Nile, not ever Hakluyt's eyes Descried in all his East, West voyages? That thing which Poets were afraid to sane For fear her shadow should infect their brain, This spouse of Antichrist, and hers alone Shee'●…●…rest so like the whore of Babylon, Should dote on me? as if there should contrive The devil and she to damn a man alive. Why doth not Welcome rather purchase her, And beat about this rare familiar? Six market days, a Wake, and a fair too't Would beat his charges, and the ale to boor. No Tigerlike, she seeds upon a man, Worse than a tigress or a Leopard can, Let me go pray and think upon some spell, At once to bid the devil and her farewell. R. Corbet. On great Tom of Christ-Church. BE dumb ye infant Chime●…, thump nor your mettle, That ne'er out-ting a Tinker and his Kenle, Cease all your petty La●…s, for to day Is young Tom's resurrection from the clay: And know when Tom rings out his knells, The best of you will be but dinner bells: Old Tom's grown young again, the fiery cave Is now his Cradle that was erst his grave; He grew up quickly from his mother earth, For all you see was but an hour's birth, Look on him well, my life I dare engage You ne'er saw prettier Baby of his age. Some take his measure by the rule, some by The Jacob's staff take his profundity, And some his altitude but some do swear Young Tom's not like the old, but Tom ne'er fear The critic Geomatrician line. If thou as loud as ere thou did ringest nine; Tom did no sooner peep from under ground, But straight Saint Mary's Tenor lost his sound; O how this May poles heart did swell With full main sides of joy, when that cracked bell ●…hoakt with annoy, and's admiration, ●…ung like a quart pot to the Congregation; Tom went his progress lately and look●… o'er What he ne'er saw in many years before, But when he saw the old foundation, With like hope of preparation, He burst with grief, and left he should not have Due pomp, he's his own Bell man to the grave: And that there might of him be full some mention, He carried to his grave a new invention, They drew his brown bread face on pretty gins. And make him stalk upon two Rowling-pins, But Sander Hill swore twice or thrice by heaven, He ne'er set such a loaf into the Oven; And Tom did Sanders vex his Cyclops maker As much as he did Sander Hill the Bak●…r; Therefore loud thumping Tom be thi●… thy pride, When thou this motto shall have on thy side. Great world! one Alexander conquered thee, And two as mighty men scarce conquered me. Brave constant spirit, none could make thee turn, Though hanged, drawn, quartered, till they did thee burn; Yet not for this, norten times more be sorry, Since thou was marryred for the church's glory, But for thy meritorious suffering Thou shortly shalt to heaven in a string; And though we griev●…d to see thee thumped and banged, we'll all be glad great Tom to see thee hauged. On John Dawson Butler of Christ Church. Doctor Corbet. DAwson the Butler's dead, although I think Poets were ne'er infused with single drink, I'll spend a farthing Muse, a marry verse Will serve the turue to cast upon his hearse. If any cannot weep among us her●…t, Take off his cup, and so sque●…ze out ●…reare. Weep O ye barrels, let your drippings fall In trickling streams, make wast more prodigal, Then when our bear was good, that John may float To S●…yx in hear, and list up Charon's boat, With wholesome waves: and as the Conduits ran With Claret, at the Coronation, So let your Channels flow with single tiff, For John I hope is crowned; take off your whisfe, Ye men of Rosematy, and drink up all, Remembering 'tis a Bu●…s funeral Had he been master of good double bear, My life for his, John Dawson had been here. Doctor Corbet against the Anniversarist. EVen so dead Hector thrice was triumphed on The walls of Troy, thrice slain when fates had done, So did the barba●…us greeks before their host Toiment his ashes, and profane his Ghost, At Henry's vault his peace and sacred hearse Are torn and battered by thy anniverse; Wast not enough nature and strength were foes, But thou must yearly murder him in prose? Or couldst thou hope thy raving phrase could make A louder echo than the almanac? Trust me, November doth more ghastly look In Dades and Hoprens penny, than thy book. A sadder record their sixt figure bears, Than thy false printed and ambitious rea●…s, For were it not for Christians which is n●…gh. When fruit, spice, eaten, and digested pie Call for more paper, no man could make sh●…: How to employ thy writings to his thri●…t Wherefore for bear for pity, or for shame, And bid some richer pen redeem his name From rottenness, leave thou him captive, since So vile a Price ne'er ransomed such a Prince. A Letter sent from Doctor Corbet to Master Ailebury, Decem. 9 1618. MY Brother and much more, hadst thou been mine, Hadst thou in one rich present of a line Enclosed Sir Francis, for in all this store, No gift can cost thee less, or bind me more, Hadst thou (Dear churl) imparted his return, I should not with a tardy welcome burne; But had let lose my joy at him long since, Which now will seem but studied negligence; But I forgive thee, two things kept thee from it, First such a friend to gaze on, next a Comet, Which Comet we discern, though not so true As you at Zion, as long tailed as you, We know already how will stand the case, With Barnavell of universal grace, Though Spain deserve the whole Star, is the fall Be true of Lerma Duke, and Cardinal, Marry in France, we fear no blood, but wine, Less danger's in her sword, then in her vine: And thus we leave the blazers coming over For our portents are wise and end at Dov●…; And though we use no forward censuring, Not send our learned Proctors to the King, Yet every morning when the star doth rise, There is no black for three hours in our eyes; But like a Puritan dreamer towards this light All eyes turn upward, all are zeal and white: More it is doubtful that this prodigy Will turn ten schools to one Astronomy; And the Analysis we justly fear, Since every Art doth, seek for resene there, Physicians, Lawyers, glover's on the stall, The Shopkeepers speak mathematics all, And though men read no Gospels in these signs, Yet all professions are become Divines, All weapons from the Bodk in to the Pike, The mason's Rule, and tailor's Yard alike, Take altitudes, and th'early sidling knaves, On Fluirs and oboes, made them Jacob's slaves, Lastly of fingers, glasses we contrive, And every first is made a Prospective; Burton to Gunter Cants, and Burton hears From Gunter, and th●… Exchange both tongue & ear, By carriage: thus doth mired Guy complain, His wagon in their letters beats Charles wain, Charles wain, ●…o which they say the tail will reach And at this distance they both hear, and teach. Now for the peace of God and men, advise (Thou that hast wherewith all to make us wise) Thine own rich studies, and deep harriors' mine, In which there is no dross, but all refine, O tell us what to trust to, lest we wax All stiff and stupid with his paralex; Say, shall the old Philosophy be true? Or doth he ride above the moon think you? Is he a Meteor forced by the Sun? Or a first body from creation? Hath the same star been object of the wonder Of our forefathers? shall the same come under The sentence of our nephews? write and send Or else this star a quarrel doth pretend. Doctor Corbet to the Lord Mordant. MY Lord, I do confess at the first news Of your return from home, I did refuse To visit you, for fear the Northern wind Had pierced into your manners, and your mind, For fear you might want memory to forget Some arts of which might haunt you yet, But when I knew you were, and when I heard You were at Woodstock seen well suned and ayr'd, That your contagion in you now was spent, And you were just Lord Mordant as you went, I then resolved to come, and did not doubt To be in season, though the buck was out. Windsor the place, the day was Holyrood, Saint George my muse, for be it understood, For all Saint George more early in the year Broke fast, and eat a bit, yet he dined here, And though in April in red ink he shine, Know't 'twas September made him red with wine. To this good sport rode I, as being allowed To see the King, and cry him in the crowd, And at all solemn meetings have the grace To thrust, and to be trod on by my place. Where when I come I see the Church beset With tumults, as had all the bre●…n met To hear some silenced teacher in that quarter, In veigh against the Order of the Garter; And justly might the weak be grieved and wrung, Because the Garter prays in a strange tongue, And doth retain traditions yet of France, In an old [Honi soit qui maly pense] Whence learn (those Knights that order that have ra●…) That all besides the buckle is profane; But there was no such doctrine now at stake, No starved physician from the pulpit spoke, And yet the Church was full, all sorts of men, Religions, sexes, ages were there then, Whilst he that keeps the choir, together locks Papists and Puritans, the Pope and Kn●…. Which made some wise men fear that love our nation, This mixture would be get a toleration; Or that Religion should united be, When they said Service, these the litany. But no such haste, this day's devotion lies Not in the hearts of men, but in their eyes; They that do see Saint George, hear him aright, For he loves not to parley, but to fight. Amongst this audience (my Lord) stood I Well edified as any that stood by; And knew how many legs a Knight lets fall, Betwixt the King, the offering, and his stall: Ask me but of their robes, I shall relate The colour and the fashion; and the state: I saw too the procession without door, What the poo●…e Knights and what the Prebends wore: All this my neighbours that were by me took, Who dived but in the garment, and the look, But I saw more, and though I have their fate In place and favour, yet I want their pate: Me thought I then did these first ages know, Which brought forth Knights so armed, and looking so, Who would maintain their oath and bind their word With these two seals, an Altar and a Sword. Then saw I George new Sainted, when such Priests Wore him not only on, but in their breasts. Oft did I wish that day, with open vow, O that my Country were in danger no●…: And 'twas no treason, who could fear to die When he was sure his rescue was so nigh? And here I might a just digression make, Whilst of some particular Knights I spoke, To whom I owe my thanks, but 'twere not best By praising two or three t'accuse the rest, Nor can I sing that order or those men, That are above the mystery of my pen; And private fingers may not touch those things Whose authors Princes are, whose partners Kings Wherefore imburnt I will refrain that fire, Lest hearing such a theme I should aspire●… T'include my King and Prince, and so rehearse Names fitter for my Prayer then my Verse; He that will speak of Princes let him use More grace than wit, know God's above his Muse. No more of counsel hark the Trumpets sound, And the grave Organs with the anthem drowned, The Church had said Amen to all their rites, And now the Trojan horse lets lose her Knights, The triumph moves: O what could added be Save your success to that solemnity; Which I expect and doubt not but to see't, When the King's favour and your worth shall meet, I think the robes will now be come you so, Saint George himself would not his own Knights know, From the Lord Mordant: Pardon me that preach A doctrine only that King James can teach; To whom I leave you who alone hath right To make Knights Lords; and you a Lord a Knight. Imagine now the Scene lies in the hall, (For at high noon we are ●…sants all) The Church is empty as the bellies were, Of the spectators that had languish there; And now the favourites of the clerk o'th' check, Who oft had yawned and stretched our many a neck Twixt morn and evening, the dull seeders on Fresh patience, and rays●…s of the Sun, They who lived in the Hall five hours at least, As if 'twere an arraignment, not a feast, And look so like the hangings they stand near, None could discern which the true pictures were; These now shall be refreshed, whiles the bold ●…rum Strikes up his srolick through the Hall they come. Here might I end, my Lord, and here subscribe Your honours to his power: but O what bribe, What fear, or mulct can make my muse refrain When she is inged of nature or disdain? Not all the guard shall hold me, I must write Though they both swear, and lie, how they would fight If I proceed: my though their captain say Hold him, or else you shall not ca●…e to day; These goodly yeomen must not scape my pen, 'Twas dinner time, and I must speak of men; So to the Hall made I, with little care To praise the dishes, or to taste the fare; Much less t'endanger the least Tart, or pie By any water there stolen, and set by, But to compute the value of the mere, Which was for glory, not for hunger eat; Nor did I fear, stand back: who passed before The presence or the privy Chamber door, But woe is me, the Guard, those men of war But two weapons use, Beese, and the bar Began to gripe me, knowing not in truth That I had sung John Dory in my youth, Or that I knew the day when I could chant, Chevy, and Arthur, or the Siege of Gaunt; And though these be the vertu●… which must try, Who is most worthy of their courtesy, They profited me nothing, for no notes Will move them now, they're dense in their new coats; Wherefore on run I, afresh they sall, and show Themselves more active than before, as though They had some wager laid, and did contend Who should abuse me furthest at arms end; One I remember with a grizzled beard, And better grown than any of the heard, One were he well examined, and made look His name in his own parish, and Church book, Could hardly prove his Christendom, and yet It seems he had two names, for there were set On a white calf's doublet which he wore, Two capital Letters of a name, before; Letters belike which he had spewed, and spilled, When the great Bombard leak●…, or was at tilt: This Iron side takes hold, and suddenly Hurls me, by judgement of the standers by Some twelve foot by the square, takes me again Out throws it half a bar, and thus we twain At this hot exercise an hour had spent. He the fierce agent, I the instrument, My man began to rage, but I eryed peace, When he is dry or hungry he will cease, Peace for the Lord's sake Nicholas, lest they take us And use us worse than Hercules did Ca●…s. And now I breathe my Lord, now have I time To tell the cause and to consess●… the crime; I was in black, a scholar straight they guessed, Indeed I coloured for it at the least, I spoke them fair, desired to see the hall, And gave them reasons for it, this was all; By which I learn it is a main offence, So near the clerk ●…oth Check to utter sense. Talk of your emblems masters, and relate How AEsop hath it, and how Al●…iate, The cock, the pearl, the dunghill and the gem, This passeth all that talk of sense to them. Much more good service was committed yet, Which I in such a tumu●…t must forget, But shall I smother that prodigious fit, Which passed in clear invention, and pure wit●… As thus: a nimble knave, though somewhat far, Strikes at my head, and fairly steals my hat; Another breaks a jest, (well Windsor, well, What will ensue there's none can tell. When they spend wit, serve God) yet 'twas not much, Although the Clamour and the applause were such, As when Sir Archey, or Garret doth provoke them, And with wide laughter, and a cheat lose choke them. What was the jest d'ye ask? I dare repeat it, And put it home before you shall entreat it, He called me Bloxsord man, confess I must 'Twas bitter; and it grieved me in a thrust That most ingrateful word Bloxford to hear From him whose breath yet stunk of Oxford bear; But let it pass, for I have now passed through Their halberds, (and worse weapons) their teeth too, And of a worthy officer was invited To dine; who all their rudeness hath required, Where we had mirth and meat, and a large board Furnished with all the kitchen could afford, But to conclude, to wipe off from before ye All this which is no better than a story; Had this affiont been done me by command Of noble Fenton, had their captives hand Directed them to this, I should believe I had no cause to jest, but much to grieve; Or had discerning Pembroke seen this done And thought it well bestowed, I would have run Where no good man had dwelled, no learned should fly, Where no disease would keep me company, Where it should be preferment to endure To teach a school or else to serve a cure. But as it stands, the persons and the cause Considered well my manners and their laws, 'Tis no affliction to me, for even thus Saint Paul hath sought with beasts at Eph●…sus, And I at Windsor; let this comfort than Rest with all able and deserving men; He that will please the guard and not provoke Court wits, must sell his learning, buy a cloak; For at all seasts, and masks the doom hath been, A man thrust forth, and a gay cloak let in. To the Duke of Buckingham. I'Ve read of lands floating and removed In Ovid's time, but never saw it proved, Till now; that fable by the Prince and you, (By your transporting England) is made true. We are not whore we were, the dog-Star reigns No cooler in our climate, then in Spain's; The selfsame breath, same age, same heat, same burning Is here, and there, 'twill be till your returning; Come ere the Cards be altered, else perhaps Your stay may make an error in our maps, Lest England will be sound when you shall pass, A thousand times more Southward than it was; O that you were (my Lord) O that you were Now in Blackfriars, or had a disguised ear, Or you were Smith again two hours to be In Paul's next Sunday, at sull Sea at three; There you should hear the Legends of each day, The perils of your inn, and of your way Your erterprises, accidents until You should arrive at Court and reach Madrill. There should you hear how the States grandees ●…out you, With their twice diligence about you, How one environed Prince walks with a guard, Of Spanish spies, and his own servants barred; How not a chaplain of his own may stay When he would hear a Sermon preached, or pray. You would be hungry having dined to hear The price of victual, and the scarcity there, As if the Prince had ventured there his life To make a 'samine, not to fetch a wise. Your eggs (which must be addle too) are dear As English Capons, Capons as sheep here. No grass for horse or cattle, for they say It is not cut and made, grass there grows hay, Then 'tis so seething hor, they swear You never heard of raw Oyster there; Your cold meat comes in reeking, there your wint Is all burnt sack, the fire was in the vine; Item the Pullers are distinguished there Into sour quarters, as we branch the year, And are a week a wasting; Monday noon A wing, at supper something with a spoon; Tuesday a leg, and so forth, Sunday more, The Liver and the gizzards betwixt four; As for the mutton, in the best house holder, 'Tis felony to cheapen a whole shoulder: Lord how our stomachs come to us again, When we conceive what snatching is in Spain? I whilst I write and do your news repeat, Am forc'r to call for breakfast in and eat; And do you wonder at this dearth the while The flood that makes it runs i'th' middle isle, Poets of Paul's, these of Duke Hum●… mess, That feed on nought but graves and emptiness. But hark you noble Sir, in one cross week, My Lord hath lost 4000 l. at gleek, And sith they do allow you little meat, They are content your losses should be great; False on my Deanery, ●…alser than your sare is Or then the difference with the Grand d'Olivaries, Which was reported strongly for one tide, But after six hours flowing ebed and dy'd. If God would not this great design should be, Perfect and round without some knavery, Nor that our Prince should end this enterprise, But for so many tales, so many lies. 〈…〉 for a good intent the heavens may please, ●…ens tongues should become rougher than the ●…as, ●…nd that th'expense of paper should be such, ●…irst written, then translated out of Dutch, ●…urrants, diaries, packets, news, more news Which innocent whiteness constan●…ly abuse 〈…〉 first the Belgic pismire must be seen, Before the Spanish Lady be our Queen, With that success and such an end at last, All's welcome, pleasant, grateful that is past, And such an end I pray that you may see A type of that which mother Zebedee Wished for her sons in heaven, the Prince and you At either hand of James, you need not sue, Him on the right, you on the lest, the King Safe in the midst you both environing, Then shall I tell my Lord his words and band Are forfeit till I kiss the Prince his hand, Then shall I tell the Duke our royal friend, How all your other honours, this hath earned, This you have w●…ought for, this you hammered out, Like a strong Smith, good workman, and a stout; In this I have a part, in this I see Some new addition smiling upon me; Who in an humble manner crave my share In all your greatness whatsoever they are. R. Corbet. Upon the death of the Lady Haddington dying of the Small Pox. Dear loss! to tell the world I grieyed, were true, But that were to bewail myself, not you. That were to cry out help for my affairs, For which nor public thoughts nor private cares; For when thy sat I publish among men I should have power to write with the state's pen. I should by naming thee force public tears, And bid their eyes pay ransom for their ears. First, thy whole life was a short feast of wit, And death the attendant which did wait on it; To both mankind doth owe devotion ample, To that their first, to this their last example. And though 'twere fame enough with thee, where same And vertue●… nothing but an ample name, That thou wert highly borne, which no man doubts, And so might swathe base deeds in noble clouts, Yet thou thyself in titles didst nor shroud, And being noble wast not soul, nor proud; And when thy fruit was ripe, when all the suit Of all the longing Courtiers for thy fruit, How wisely didst thou choose sour blessed eyes, The Kings and thine had taught thee to be wise. Did not the best of men the Virgin give Into his hands by whom himself did live, Nor did they two years after talk of force, Or ladylike, make suit for a divorce; Who when their own vile lust is fully spent Cry out my Lord, my Lord is impotent; Nor hast thou in his nuptial arms enjoyed Barren embraces, but sweet girld and boyed; Twice pretty ones, twice worthy were their youth Migh●…t thou but bring them up that brought'st them fo●… She would have taught them by a thousand strains Her blood runs in their manners, not their veins, That glory is a lie, slate a grave sport, And country sickness above breath at Court, Oh what a want of her loss gallants have, Since she hath changed her window for a grave; From whence she wont to datt her wit so fast, And stick them in their Coaches as they passed, Who now shall make well coloured vice look pale And a ●…rld m●…eor with her eyes exhale And talk him into nothing, who shall dare Tell barren brain they live in fertile air? Who now shall keep old Countesses in awe, And by ●…att similes repentance draw From those whom preachers had given or●… some such Whom S●…mons could not reach her arrows touch, Hereafter fools shall prosper with applause, And wise men smiled, and no man ask the cause, He of so●… score, three night caps, and two ha●…ds; Shall marry her of twenty and get lieir●…s, Which shall be thought his own, and none shall say, But 'tis a wondrous blessing; and he may. ●…or whichis more than pity, many a knight Who can do more than quarrel, less than fight; Shall choose his weapons, ground, draw seconds thither; Put up his sword, and not be laughed at neither; O thou deformed unwoman-like disgrace, Thou plow'st up flesh and blood, and there fo●…st peace And leaves such print on beauty if thou come, As coloured shoes do on 〈…〉 ●…oore of loom, Thou that of faces huny ●…bes lost ●…ke, And of two breast 〈…〉 forsake Thy deadly trade, thou art now rich give o'er, Or if thou needst wilt magnify thy power, Go where thou art invoked every hour; Amongst the gamesters where they call thee thick At the last maine, of the last pocky nick, Get thee a lodging where thy client's dice, There thou shall practise on more than one vice, There's where withal to entertain the pox, there's more than reason cozening for the Box, Thou who hast such superfluous store of gain, Why stickst thou on whose ruin is thy shame? O thou hast murdered where thou shouldst have kissed, And where thy ●…hast was needful there thou missed; Thou shouldst have chosen out some homely face, Where thy ill favoured kindness might add grace, That men might say, How bea●…ous once was she, Or what a piece ere she was sea●… by thee! Thou shouldst have wrought upon some Lady's mould That ne'er did love her Lord, nor never could, Until she were deformed, this cruelty Were then within the rule of charity: But upon one whose beauty was above All sort of beauty, whose love was more than love; On her to fix thy ugly counterfeit, Was to erect a pyramid of Jea●…, And put out fire to dig a curse from hell, And place it where a blessed soul should dwell; A soul which in the body would not stay, When 'twas no more a body nor good clay, But a high ulcer O thou heavenly race, Thou soul which 〈…〉 ●…tion of thy case, Thy house, thy prison soul, 〈…〉, fair Rest where no health, no cold no●… compounds are, Rest in that Country, and enjoy that case Which thy frail flesh divides and thy disease. R. Corbet. A proper new Ballad, entitled The Fairies farewell, or God a mercy Will, to be sung or whistled, to the tune of the meadow Brow by the learned, by the unlearned to the tune of Fortune. FArewell rewards and Fairies Good housewives now may say, For now soul sluts in Dairies Do fare as well as they; And though they sweep their hearths no less Than maids were wont to do, Yet who of late for cleanliness, Finds Six pence in her shoe? Lament, lament old abbeys The Fairies lost command, They did but change Priests babies, But some have changed your land And all your children stolen from thence Are now grown puritanes, Who live as changelings ever since For love of your domains. At morning and at evening both, You merry were and glad; So little care of sleep and sloth, These pretty Ladies had, When Tom came home from labour, — Or Cisse to milking Rose; Then merrily went their Tabor And nimbly went their Toes. Witness those rings and round lays Of theirs which yet remain, Were sooted in Queen Mary's days On many a grassy plain. But since of late Elizabeth And later James came in, They never danced on any heath As when the time had been. By which we note the Fairies Were of the old profession, Their Songs were Ave Mary's, Their dances were procession; But now alas they all are dead Or gone beyond the Seas, Or further from Religion fled Or else they take their case. A tell-tale in their company They never could endtire, And who so kept not secretly Their mirth was punished sure, It was a just and Christian deed To pinch such black and blue, O how the commonwealth doth need Such justices as you! Now they have left our Quarters, A Register they have, Who can preserve their Charters; A Man both wise and grave. A hundred of their merry pranks By one ●…hat I could name, Are kept in store; con twenty thank, To William for the same. To William churn of Staffordshire, Give laud and praises due; Who every meal can mend your cheer, With Tales both old and true. To William all give audience, And pray you for his Noddle; For all the fairy's evidence, Were lost if it were addle. To the Ghost of Rob. wisdom. THou once a Body, now but air, Arch-botcher of a psalm or Prayer; From Carfaux come: And pa●…h us up a zealous Lay, With an old Aver and for aye, Or all and some. Or such a Spirit lend me, As may a Hymn down send me, To purge my brain. So Robert look behind thee, Lest Turk or Pope do find thee; And go to bed again. An Epitaph on Tho. Jonce. HEre for the nonce Came Thomas Jonce, In St. Jileses' Church to lie. None welsh before, None Welshman more, Till shone Clerk die. I'll role the Bell, I'll ring his Knell; He died well, He's saved from Hell: And so farewell Tom Jonce. On the Earl of Dorset's Death. LEt no profane ignoble soot tread here, This hallowed piece of Earth, Dorset lies there: A small poor relic of a Noble spirit, Free as the Alre, and ample as his Merit: A soul refined, no proud forgetting Lord, But mindful of mean names, and of his word: Who loved men for his Honour, not his ends, And had the noblest way of getting friends By loving first, and yet who knew the Court, But understood it better by report Then practise: He nothing took from thence But the King's favour for his recompense. Who for Religion, or his country's good, Neither his Honour valued, nor his blood. Rich in the world's opinion, and men's praise, And full in all we could desire, but days. He that is warned of this, and shall for bear To vent a sigh for him, or shed a tear, May he live long scorned, and unpitied fall, And want a Mourner at his funeral. R. Corbet. On Henry Bolings. IF gentleness could tame the Fates, or wi●… Deliver man, Bolings had not died yet: But one which over us in judgement sits, Doth say our sins are stronger than our wi●…. R. Corbet. The author's Answer. SO to de●…d Hector boys may do disgrace, That durst not look upon his living face. So worst of men behind their betters back May stretch men's names and credit on the rack. Good friend, our general tye to him that's gone, Should love the man that yearly doth him moon: The author's zeal and place he now doth hold, His love and duty makes him be thus bold To offer this poor mite, his Anniverse Unto his good great Masters scared hearse: The which he doth with privilege of name, Whilst others 'midst their Ale in Corners blame. A pennyworth in Print they never made, Yet think themselves as good as Pond or Dade, One Anniverse; when thou hast done thus twice, Thy words among the best will be of Price. Dr. Price. A Reply. NOr is it grieved (grave Youth) the memory Of such a Story, such a Book as he, That such a Copy through the world were read, Henry yet lives, though he be buried I could be wished that every day could bear Him our good witness that he still were here; That sorrow r●…l'd the year; and by that sun (Such Man) could tell you how the day had run. O'twere an honest cause for him, could say, I have been busy, and wept out the day Remembering him; an Epitaph would last, Were such a trophy, such a Banner placed Upon his hearse as this, Here a man lies Was slain by Henry's date, not Destinies. But for a cobbler to throw up his Cap, And cry, The Prince, the Prince: O dire mishap! Or a 〈…〉- Bridegroom after grace To throw his Spouse i'th' fire, or scratch her face: To the tune o'th' Lamentation, and delay His Friday Capon till the Sabbath-day: Or an old Popish Lady half vowed dead, To fast away the day with gingerbread: For him to write such annals: All these things Do open laughter, and shut up griefs springs. Wherefore Vertumm●…, if you Print the next, Bring better votes, or choose a meaner Text. R. Corbet. FINIS.