Sir Thomas Gresham HIS GHOST.  
 engraving of ghost  
Printed for William lay. 1647.   

VITRUVIUS to the impartial Reader.  
Worthy Reader:  
THe consideration of these two things, emboldened me to th● writing of these few lines: Considering, first, the great accommodations that might have redounded unto this City, and to all men, had the good-intended Will of Londons large and bountiful Benefactor Sir Thomas Gresham been( as in conscience and equity it should have been) rightly performed, in giving his House to seven able Artists to inhabit, to exercise and teach the seven liberal Sciences; for hereby Learning might have been nourished, Art flourish, Ignorance abandoned, the Ignorant taught, the Artist improved, the Learned established, every man profited. Secondly, considering the bad use that is made of it, the Will abused, Men deceived in their expectations, the City misused, Art neglected, Ignorant rejected, and all things slighted. Whereas they ought every day to exercise; they have brought it( I know not from what ground, but a bad custom) to be red onely in term time; whereas Sea-men and other Artists( that their more necessary business will not permit to be present) are abridg●d of reaping that profit the Gift was intended for. Likewise, such men as are placed in, who( though never so able) do not the least good; for they they are so superbiously-pettish, that they will resolve no Quaere that may advantage the Dubitour; nay, they are come to that strain, that they will do as they list, red what, when, how, and where they list, and not at all if they list; and indeed they have their means for a song.  
Three hundred and fifty pounds per annum might be better employed, unless a course be taken whereby things might be brought to a better pass, Exercises performed duly and constantly every day; that Men might be profited, the City pleasured, the Will performed: otherwise it must needs be a great discouragement to able and willing-harted men to do like Deeds as these, lest they should have like dealing.  
Accept with a charitable hand( whatsoever others do, I pass not) my poor endeavour, being with good intention( void malice to any one I am ●●re) hoping that it may take effect unto the reforming and reclaiming what is amiss, and performing what was intended in that bountiful and ever-praise-deserving Gift:  
Farewell.   

sir THOMAS GRESHAM'S GHOST.  

WHat clamour's this I hear? what covert voice?  
Why what's the matter? what makes all this noise,  
That thus me wakens? what is no place free?  
Death's called a Rest, but Death's no rest to me:  
Though I am dead, yet I'm molested: Hark,  
Who's this complains? I'll go( none sees, 'tis dark.)  
And hear what means this do; which having heard  
I'll rest, void fear or care, nothing regard.   

The Complaint of Sea-men and other Artists.  
¶ The good old Knight Sir Thomas Gresham gave  
His House( for public good) that such as have  
Desire to learn might duly there be taught:  
How is't neglected how is't brought to nought?  
The good old man left in his Will, that they  
Should duly red their Lectures every day.  
( Truly we know not, but each day each man  
Should red his several Lecture: for what can  
It profit any once to hear, and when  
They once have heard, They ne're shall hear again?  
But if each day each Science might be taught,  
Then men might profit; otherwise it nought  
avails a man it to frequent, to hear  
A many Lectur●s, and be ne're the near.  
Like as a scholar, if he doth not go  
Each day to school continually, that so  
What he this day doth learn, tomorrow he  
May not forget, and ne're the better be:  
If otherwise, he doth but go to school,  
( As common Proverb speaks, To play the fool;)  
That so all men might it frequent and learn,  
That they might truly every Art discern;  
That they in time might skilful Artists grow,  
That they their right Hand from their left may know  
In point of Art. Truly were it well used,  
It were a Prais-deserving Gift; abused  
It profits nought. Alas! what pitty 'tis  
To see so good a Gift thus used amiss.  
Alas! they grow so idle now, that they  
Will do but every term, what every day  
They ought to do; and thus they make their pains  
Of none effect, for none thereby reaps gains.  
We're ne're the better for their reading, we  
When they are reading( may be) are at Sea:  
But if at home we stay, they'll ne're be heard  
But in Terme-time; all other times debarred  
We are from hearing; we can't always stay  
I'th term at home to hear: but if each day  
Lectures were red, if we cannot to day  
Attend to hear, another day we may▪  
But we are ne're the better for the cost  
Sir Thomas Gresham was at; all is lost.  
To whom shall we complain this to redress?  
To them? they tell us, they will red the less:  
If to his Trustees, we may fear they will  
Suffer thief men to do as they've done still.  
Alas! the good old man is dead, or he'd  
redress our great agrievances with speed.  
Se●'ng it is thus, it were a pious dead,  
To give this means for to relieve the need  
Of maimed Souldiers, widows, fatherless,  
Who for the public good are in distress;  
So should you worthily requited their losses,  
And make amends for their sustained crosses:  
The cry of them is great impiety,  
If not, in pitty them relieve▪ for why,  
It's better to relieve them with it, then  
It should be given to undeserving men.   Ghost. 

¶ What's this I hear? am I no more regarded?  
Am I thus( for the good I did) rewarded?  
I'll go myself and seek for to redress  
These faults: Oh! that I might find good success●.   

His Complaint and Request to his Trustees and Citizens.  

¶ I'm Gresham's Ghost, which from the darksome Den  
Of horrid Death, am come to visit men:  
whilst other Ghosts and Sprights securely slept,  
I from Death's pitchy Dungeon flily crept,  
That none me heard; therefore I cannot stay,  
I'll utter my complaints without delay.   

¶ Now I am dead, am I quiter out of mind?  
What left I nothing? proved I so unkind  
Unto the place I loved so well? what then?  
Hath rigid Time thus changed the hearts of men?  
Are men forgetful of those things th'admir'd?  
Or are men with too much admiring ●ir'd?  
How comes it then to pass that Gresham's Will  
Is thus perverted? some thing's extant still,  
Which might put you in mind: discharge your duty,  
And bring my former gifts to former beauty.  
'Mongst divers gifts I gave( because I loved  
The City) mine own house to be improved  
For learned uses, that the Ignorant  
Might there be taught▪ I yearly means did g●a●●  
To able men, to red the liberal Arts  
Continually: but who is't that imparts  
His skill i'th Sciences to others gain?  
If fools they come, they fools must still remain:  
There's nought performed of what I then intended;  
How little's done, and yet how much pretended?  
Now whereas they should imitate the Bee,  
Who labours for to gather Honey, she  
Doth not it eat herself, but keeps in store  
For others good; or like the Cook, the more  
He dresses Meat the less he eats; the Meat  
He doth prepare indeed, but others eat.  
These men do nothing less, their Art they keep  
Unto themselves, so none can profit reap:  
And if men come with them for to discourse,  
Their n●'re the better if they're ne're the worse;  
By ranglings, questions come to be dissensions;  
Men seek for profit, but they find contentions.  
They're there by me maintained for others good;  
But if intentions may be understood,  
By outward actions, it's for love of gains,  
They red at all, or take that little pains  
They do; not love to Learning, or to make  
Their Country skilful Artists, but the sake  
Of Money them compels: I'd think my cost  
Was well bestowed, If I might not be crost  
In mine intentions; which are these, That they  
Should red their Lectures every one each day,  
And contribute that Science that they have  
Unto such men th●t do their Science crave:  
Why then they would fulfil my first intentions,  
And men might profit get by their conventions:  
What credit would it be unto the City  
To see Art flourish? but alas what pitty  
It is to see my labour come to nought,  
My great expenses thus to nothing brought.  
Truly me thinks I've heard the sad complaint  
Of Artists, who desire to learn, but can't;  
'Cause Lecture's red so seldom, onely they  
Have profit who at home at Tearm-time stay.  
All men at Tearm-time cannot Lectures heed,  
If not in Tearm-time they no Lectures red;  
Nay they will not; these are the terms they use,  
They me disparaged, and my gifts abuse.  
Truly me thinks it were more charitable,  
It to bestow upon the poor, not able  
Themselves for to maintain, but are a charge  
Unto the City; this would be a large  
And grateful gift unto poor maimed men,  
And unto all distressed widows; then  
This would encourage each man to defend  
His Country, though it'h War his Life he end▪  
My means thus being disposed my house might be  
Made Tenements for Hospitality;  
And these seven men might do the Church and State  
More worthy service if they'de dedicate  
Their studious labours to Divinity,  
( The Church of such men hath great need) whereby  
They'de do more good then now they do;  
For now their labour summed up, mounts but to  
A nothing▪ nought is the result of all  
Their labours; nought is all that they can call  
Of their own gettings, not what they can do;  
But what they do, from thence nought doth ensue▪  
Observe this( for your good) let none that make  
The Covenant prejudicial, it won't take  
Within that house to dwell, let them be outed,  
Let all Malignants totally be routed.  
Of all I've spoken, this is the effect,  
That you would mind, regard, and have respect  
Unto my Will; see if I there do mention  
Any set time( but in some's apprehension)  
That they should red onely in Tearm-time; why,  
Surely they ought to red continually;  
For otherwise, if they don't red each day,  
Why should they for each day receive their pay?  
Or see if in my Will I mention make,  
That they should red in Latin; they mistake  
That think they should: it was for England's good,  
English in England is best understood.  
I do confess, that some here Artists are,  
But yet so pettish-stout, that all their care  
Is for to keep all other men from gaining  
By what they have, not help men in attaining  
Their expectations; yet( I say) th●re be  
Some men that are unfit for Teachers: see  
How these come in, it is by others Letters,  
That specify their Art( whereas their Betters  
Both in Art and Learning wanting such writings,  
They are put by both with disgrace and slightings)  
When art less they enjoy their places, and  
They thus get means by dealing underhand;  
Therefore I think most fit that they should be  
Elected by the whole Society  
Of mathematics, then unquestionable,  
Those chosen men will be elected able.  
Well, all that I desire is Reformation,  
And this is all I have in expection:  
It is for all mens good( pray) do't in time,  
Knowing that opportunity's the prime  
Of human wisdom. Time is bald behind  
( Oh! would this were imprinted in your mind!)  
Take him by's fore-top, opportunity;  
In time apply a salue, a remedy,  
Before the sore be past a cure, and then  
To cure that wound is past the power of men.  
Mark well what I have spoken, don't delay  
To mend the Breach, while mend the Breach you may.  
Oh! would my words with you effect might take!  
Oh! would you would my words successive make!  
I have much more to say, but that I fear,  
If I should stay, that some Ghost would me hear,  
And me surprise, for breaking forth the Den  
Of Death, and so I ne're come forth again:  
I must be gone, alas! I dare not stay,  
The light begins to shine, I must away.    
FINIS.