THE LOST SHEEP IS FOUND, UNDER A NEW DISGUISEMENT OF A Yong-raw-sculled Wit, etc. A Bold adventure, a new way declared in a further imitation of more domestic Boarders and Scholars of the feminine gender, in vindication of a pious intention, and Christian relief of a disconsolate Husband, and three innocent young Children, for the loss of an imperious revolted wife, and an ungrateful Manservant, lately departed together, or asunder, into the straits of Magellanica, or the West Indies, or some where else unknown, to trade by their own self wits or wills, in Chaundry wares, or cotton-wool, in flat opposition and dislike of so laudable and generous a design, etc. London, Printed. 1642. THE LOST SHEEP IS FOUND, UNDER A NEW DISGUISEment of a young-raw-sculled Wit, etc. PAUL may plant, and Apollo may water, but it is God alone which rendereth the increase. The sandy foundation of my building hitherto must be razed, and a firmer timely prepared to erect a new edifice upon. But seeing my particular ruin (with too many in the like Catastrophe) cannot, nay, must not (with times variation) be repaired by the ancient and ordinary rules of Law and Justice, which evidently presages an eminent (or imminent) dissolution. And therefore beyond the care of these outward Tabernacles, the eternal mansion of our souls should be thought upon, by a sure laying another manner, and more firm foundation; building and erecting securely on that blessed, and most Rock, Christ Jesus; by a daily fabric and edification of a Theological archietecture of Faith, Hope, and Charity; which virtues are not singly attained by humane endeavour alone, but through co-operation of God's holy Spirit (preventing Grace from divine illustration perpetually assisting) yet for certain we may (by industry) enlighten and conduct morality to some special degree or apprehension of some hopeful perfection (beginning at youth especially) in the future in one, or all, the chief whereof is Christian charity; always intending the moral good and benefit of others, with (and sometimes before) ourselves. Now although my former intendment hath prepared ready for the press, two tracts of another consequence, and more concerning the public; a taste whereof I have lately set forth in Print, by way of a Remonstrance, entitled Clericus Mercati; of another also likewise ready, for the timely expression of Mortification and Repentance. Forasmuch as my unhappy and perfidious yokefellowes, and copartners, both male and female, have conjointly made me (some other way not to be mentioned) more public than myself would have it, or desired; and thereafter framed and suited their intentions and purposes (though not with my consent, as they pretend) quite opposite to these immaculate times (as some too precisely deem) which need no Repentance now, aswell as no Clericus Mercati; both damned in judgement, as useless or fruitless for Church or Commonwealth; I have therefore laid aside and suspended awhile, both. Tracts and rural office together, as impertinent, until the present times mend or end with me and mine, and so patiently refer my cause and needless calling, to the Laws supreme, at the last and general Resurrection. In the mean season (not grow desperate) but assume a steadfast resolution (through public and private distemper) to wade through all temporal disasters; but first, submit and return to God Almighty, beginning like a young and hopeful Grammar-Scholar, with Proximus sum, etc. true charity gins at home, etc. Maugre that instance of wisdom and experience, which infallibly denoteth Cor humile faciemque moestam, & plagam cordis efficit mulier improba; manus remissas & genua soluta, quae non consolatur virum suum in angustia, etc. Ecclesiasticus 25. ver. 23. For as much as time and too late experience hath made me sensible of every syllable of this sacred Text, and sent home to my habitation (even to the very doors and posts of my house) a doleful commentary thereof, yet in pious consideration, that Samson (though treacherously betrayed by Dalilah) had strength enough continued in him afterwards, to ruin his enemies by the same means they ensnared him; and surely the promise (through divine ordinance and providence) is not by the bondwoman, but the free, as our Apostle also inferreth, etc. Gal. 4.24. Let me not therefore (Christian Reader) be deemed too confident or arrogant (amid a conjugal contestation) to undertake (though not by myself alone, being the unfortunate husband of an impious and revolted wife) yet by the obsequious help of others, pious, virtuous, and expert assistants that way of my procurement) to breed up and religiously educate, three dozen at least of pure Virgins, and yet turn and return them all safe and secure to their several indulgent Parents, after four or five year's exercise of their young and tender inclinations, as chaste and pure, and surely more perfect and clear, than they came or were delivered into my charge, maugre all those imputations of my frozen imbecility that way, cast upon me by my lustful wife, who (after almost twenty year's experience) declares me scarce so able for her satisfaction as an Eunuch, or for education (as well as procreation) of youth male or female, more impotent than a dunce or a disguised Schoolmaster, lost utterly for want of wit, or defect of such another rural office, having almost consumed his whole substance upon his wife's wit, and her two leaved book, whereon he hath poared himself so dull and blind, that half his revenue left can hardly procure right Crystal spectacles, to contrive a close, way to pay his debts to her minion, or avoid the acknowledgement of a disguised or discontented Cuckold, unless the revolted wife would have timely become a convert to return on her bare knees to ask pardon of her husband's jealousy, and not her own impudence, and therefore politicly he turned his Clerk out of doors after his rural office, being first in his debt 500 pound by his wife's procurement, that she might (in pious affection of justice) follow after him, well knowing before hand, that herself alone, neither could nor would perform the duties of a loyal wife, unless the man were sometimes ready provided to take off what the master had laid on; but mistake me not, I mean in dry beating, which she could no longer endure from her husband at no time, but rathera threefold bombasting from the abler man, her husband's Clerk, at all times at home or abroad, more willing always to steer her floating vessel by her man's Rudder then her husband's Mainesaile or Tackling either, which made her at last cut Cables and ride away by stealth in Church time, for fear of too speedy pursuit by an old, lame, and lazy husband. But to avoid prolixity in this ambiguous and incurable malady, and to congratulate with their conjoynt and more feasable designs, whatsoever, or wheresoever pretended, or farther intended between themselves, or asunder, as they cunningly seem to be for a time of future advantage: I dedicate as well to them, as these wavering times, this my rustic muse. Viz. Though wives comply not with their husband's strain, To castigate young girls, must age restrain? No sure, for education (man's) evermore the best; To instruct and point them home to heavenly rest. Although the younglings think the old ones fools, Yet th'oldest know more young ones whipped in schools. All youth is ranging, till find themselves more wise, Old ones experience, for 's in stead of eyes. Numb. 10.31. Eccles. 25.6. Notwithstanding all the insultant premises of an ungracious wife; I have had by two wives, six children; though now (through lazy negligence or other accidental impediment) I have so seldom, and timerously frequented the two-leaved foredoor of my stately habitation; that my present wife (with some other of that fleeting sex) hath been unwillingly constrained to run thorough the back-yard of Concupiscence behind her husband's great house, to persuade her lusty man to perform his Master's office at home and abroad, that she may the better enjoy her own husband's company, who hath been hitherto detained from her, and bated of her own and due benevolence, three quarters, at least, of every whole year, for almost twenty years together. Besides, to aggravate the long tyranny she hath endured in that kind or nature, she hath to sundry persons desperately sworn and vowed to return no more (like a loyal and obedient wife) without her man to wait on his old Maher for redemption of his former neglects and escapes, within his first covenant, without a livery of two Laces behind and before, as the Clerk of the Markets man, proudly and reproachfully taunted some of the Justices of the peace in Cornwall, as also (not long since) nearer hand at London. But wots you the reason (courteous reader) of so sudden and strange alteration of late betwixt me and my wife; my associate in office and fellow Clerk, it is (may it please you) as well double as doubtful, the one, if her husband's rural office with its rustic authority, should rise in judgement against her and her minion, for their conjoynt, corrupt, or indirect making the slave away at an under value, without her husband's privity, being his sole and only substance; then albeit the office never return more in statu quo, etc. she is sure of a more loving husband in posse, then ever the present, or preterimperfect tense, of her Verb could yet decline, or indeed ever means hereafter, in her husbands well appointed new female schoolhouse, in the Latin (or lackwits) tongue especially. A second reason may be inferred (ex congruo) for apt and seeming complaint with her husband's purpose and laudable design in present agitation, to teach the young Damsels and Gentlewomen (boarding scholars in her husband's house) to write true English or French, in a bastard Komane hand, herself having so long time approved his character to be very legible, and so contiguous to discipline and good nurture of Pupils (or rather puppets) that in very deed, she can hardly (though her lame husband may still if he list) be well or ill understood without him. Nevertheless, dread not you, my tender, innocent, and feminine scholars, let not the thought of these disastrous times, or trivial suggestions affright you, nor your indulgent or timorous parents; for I have undertaken next under the Almighty) the sole tuition and safe protection of every one of you, and am steadfastly purposed to trust neither of them (him or her, nor any other of their party or confederates) with any your writing tackles, much less any other instruments of your discipline, mine own pen (I praise God, how ever depraved by them and their complices only) hath yet ink and virtue enough to supply some particular defects of my hired teachers (beside superintendency) to guide your right hands to the untainted paper of chaste integrity and sincerity of life and example; while both your interiall and exterial faculties are severally exercising their several functions and operations by turn and course, assiduously pursuing those ends and exigents, for which you came, and particularly your parents acquire, and yourselves hope and aspire unto; whereof I purpose (for the public good, as for my own and children's better subsistence) according to a more succinct subscription & description, God assisting by myself and others, to be a vigilant and sedulous professor; and therefore by this succeeding brief, or intimation, I refer the well disposed, to try if they lust, And then confer trust, Who (hence with all) must Return to his dust, Thence rise with the just— One to live with Him for evermore, Amen. THere is lately erected, within a private, healthful, and pleasant house, situate in Kingston upon Thames, in the County of Surrey, a private School or Nursery, for the general education of female youth only, at, or from the age of eight years, or thereabouts, with all convenient and delightful appurtenances thereunto belonging, and therewithal provided of men and women, expert, as well for the teaching of Latin, French, and writing by Letters and Ciphers, as also for other Moral, Civil, and Religious discipline, with the teaching of sundry sorts of Needlework, Tent-worke, or the like, Musical instruments, and Dancing. If any person of what estate or degree soever, be thereunto disposed, may have their daughters placed, boarded, and taught, at, and for answerable rates or rents, per annum; and shall be also therewithal daily supplied (with much safety and security) by other needful and fruitful accommodations. Per me, Ben: Agar. An humble Remonstrance to the Honourable house of Commons assembled in Parliament, for the furtherance and establishment of a necessary and laudable design in hand for the public good, but hitherto much hindered, molested, and impeached, by an ungracious Obstacle of an adulterate and shameless wife, etc. IN which disastrous and untimely accident, the husband of the foresaid wife retiring himself within his house, since the beginning of October last; at which time this Author's wife wilfully departed from her husband and children to follow her man, they both yet conspiring against the husband; nevertheless to avoid discontent, or fatal despair (the issues of her desire) the husband hath spent his time since, in the composure of these several Tracts, ready prepared for the Press; the several arguments and contents whereof hereafter more amply ensueth: viz. Wherein some persons may conceive and find, The various explications of perplexed mind. viz. The sundry and several arguments particularised in Prose and Meeter. viz. 1. A Swarm of Bees fitted and provided for the Hive of Prophecies and Predictions, The ●logicall and Moral, concerning sundry events to be expected in the last Ages of the world; with other smaller Tracts, and Discourses, both in Prose and Verse, profitable and delightful to be known; together with sundry Apothegms collected from King James his Tabletalk in his life time, both in England and Scotland, since his happy access to the Crown of England, etc. Item. FOr Moral honest; and for mongrel wife, For other things belonging to this life. viz. For Wit, or Wisdom, or such sublimer things, Which cumber life below, which hang on supreme strings. For man and wife (Assizes ought be had) Reciprocal invectives, as well for good as bad; viz. First, whorish women, and their exultations, To quit them quaintly, select evacuations; For Meer-maids sly, and subtle attemptations, Their privy tisements, and dangerous insinuations. Their Crocodiles tears, and Siren's adulations. For table-talk, to help maintain discourse, Some for the better sort, some others for the worse. For Prophecies, and their nice explanations; So visions, dreams, and their quick explications, By various Ways, doubtless interpretations. For godly solace, and such contemplations, Some pithy consort, devout, short ejaoulations, Some sacred vows, and pious meditations For Churches foes, some Christian imprecations: The like for friends, with doleful invocations, Some Psalms inverted, meet for consolations, Acquaint solliloquys meet for nights or days, Predictions calculate, for Churches holy ways. Some Dialogues, Anagrams, Epigrams, to raise A plot for interludes, deserving Laurel bays. An Emblem postured with a new disguise, T' instruct the wits, perambulate more wise. A microcosm explained in circular rhyme, For young and old to know, t' redeem the time. Some problems closed in letters, penned in proes, And such composed from exigents in Wees, And then again, more fancies to disperse, Inverted proes into satyrique verse. For these and like, as th' author shall be able, (To make for good men) wives more comfortable Again (for bad wives) men more suspectable, Lest both in th' end decline most despicable, Diseases festered, prove not incurable. Hence therefore dream (for each) things profitable. Assizes due 'mongst all, all must appear, howsoever disguised, or now baffled here, For which performance all should be charitable, With prayers to God, and gestures answerable. For due assize, that all be conformable, To men within, to beast without in stable. That such at least (when all have coursed the round) For upright deal may in Christ be found; So found in him, when God himself shall come, Each mortal may receive deserved doom. All blessings flow from God alone, Thrice blessed three in one. Amen. To set forth all these tracts at once, to public view, Cannot be brought to pass; But when for truths (they all) shall prove as true, As clear perspective glass. Then render choice and change to all, acquaint strains of wit MY obtain a public praise, As cause appears abroad, give all some taste of it, May doleful spirits raise. Per me Ben. Agar. FINIS.