first in giuing the charge and the last in retiring his foot Equall toile he endures with the Common Souldier from his example they all take fire as one Torch lights many He vnderstands in warre there is no meane to erre twice the first and least fault beeing sufficient to ruine an Army faults therefore he pardons none they that are presidents of disorder or mutiny repaire it by being examples of his Iustice. Besiege him neuer so strictly so long as the aire is not cut from him his heart faints not He hath learned aswell to make vse of a victory as to get it and in pursuing his enemy like a whirlewinde carries all afore him being assured if euer a man will benefit himselfe vpon his foe then is the time when they haue lost force wisedome courage and reputation The goodnesse of his cause is the speciall motiue to his valour neuer is hee knowen to slight the weakest enemy that comes arm'd against him in the hand of Iustice. Hasty and ouermuch heat he accounts the Step-dame to all great actions that wil not suffer them to thriue if he cānot ouercome his enemy by force he does it by Time If euer hee shake hands with warre hee can die more calmely then most Courtiers for his continuall dangers haue beene as it were so many meditations of death hee thinkes not out of his owne calling when he accounts life a continuall warfare and his prayers then best become him when armed Cap a pea He vtters them like the great Hebrew Generall on horsebacke Hee casts a smiling cōtempt vpon Calumnie it meets him as if Glasse should encounter Adamant He thinkes warre is neuer to be giuen ore but on one of these three conditions an assured peace absolute victory or an honest death Lastly when peace folds him vp his filuer head should leane neere the golden Scepter and die in his Princes bosome A vaine-glorious Coward in Command IS one that hath bought his place or come to it by some Noble-mans letrer hee loues a life dead payes yet wishes they may rather happen in his Company by the scuruy then by a battell View him at a muster and he goes with such noise as if his body were the wheelebarrow that carried his iudgement rumbling to drill his Souldiers No man can worse define betweene Pride and noble Courtesie hee that salutes him not as farre a Pistol carries leuell giues him the disgust or affront chuse you whether He traines by the booke and reckons so many postures of the Pike and Musket as if hee were counting at Noddy When hee comes at first vpon a Camisado he lookes like the foure windes in painting as if hee would blow away the enemy but at the very first onset suffers feare trembling to dresse themselues in his face apparantly He scorns any man should take place before him yet at the entring of a breach he hath been so humble minded as to let his Lieutenant lead his Troopes for him He is so sure armed for taking hurt that he seldome does any and while hee is putting on his Armes he is thinking what summe hee can make to satisfie his ransome He will rail openly against all the great Commanders of the aduerse party yet in his owne conscience allowes them for better men such is the nature of his feare that contrary 〈◊〉 all other filthy qualities it make him thinkes better of another man then himselfe The first part of him that is set a running is his Eye-sight when that is once struck with terrour all the Costiue Physicke in the world cannot stay him if euer he doe any thing beyond his owne heart t is for a Knighthood and he is the first kneeles for't without bidding A Pyrate TRuely defined is a bold Traitour for he fortifies a castle against the King Giue him Sea-roome in neuer so small a vessel and like a witch in a sieue you would think he were going to make merry with the Diuell Of all callings his is the most desperate for he will not leaue off his theeuing thogh he be in a narrow prison and looke euery day by tempest or fight for execution He is one plague the Diuell hath added to make the Sea more terrible then a storme and his heart is so hardned in that rugged element that hee cannot repent though hee view his graue before him continually open he hath so little his own that the house he sleepes in is stolne all the necessities of life hee filches but one hee cannot steale a sound sleepe for his troubled conscience He is very gentle to those vnder him yet his rule is the horriblest tyranny in the world for hee giues licence to all rape murder and cruelty in his owne example what hee gets is small vse to him onlie liues by it somwhat the longer to do a little more seruice to his belly for hee throwes away his treasure vpon the shore in riot as if he cast it into the Sea Hee is a cruell Hawke that flies at all but his own kind and as a Whale neuer comes a shore but when she is wounded so hee very seldome but for his necessities He is the Marchants booke that serues onely to reckon vp his losses a perpetuall plague to noble traffique the Hurican of the Sea the Earth-quake of the Exchange Yet for all this giue him but his pardon and forgiue him restitution hee may liue to know the inside of a Church and die on this side Wapping An ordinarie Fencer IS a fellow that beside shauing of Cudgels hath a good insight into the world for he hath long been beaten to it Flesh and bloud hee is like other men but surely Nature meant him Stock-fish his and a Dancing-schoole are inseparable adiuncts and are bound though both stinke of sweat most abominably neither shall complaine of annoiance three large bauins set vp his trade wich a bench which in the vacation of the afternoone hee vses for his day bed for a sirkin to pisse in hee shall be allowed that by those make Allom when hee comes on the Stage at his Prize hee makes a leg seuen seuerall waies and scrambles for money as if he had been borne at the Bathe in Somerset-shire at his challenge hee shewes his mettall for contrarie to all rules of Physicke he dare bleed though it be in the dog-daies hee teaches Diuelish play in 's Schoole but when he fights himselfe he doth it in the feare of a good Christian He compounds quarrels among his Schollers and when hee hath brought the busines to a good vpshot he makes the reckoning His wounds are seldom aboue skin deep for an inward bruse Lambe-stones and sweet-breads are his only Sperma Ceti which he eats at night next his heart fasting strange Schoole-masters they are that euery day set a man as farre backward as he went forward and throwing him into a strange posture teach him to thresh satisfaction out of iniurie One signe of a good nature is that hee is
Sir Thomas Ouerburie HIS WIFE With NEW ELEGIES vpon his now knowne vntimely death Whereunto are annexed new Newes and Characters written by him selfe and other learned Gentlemen Editio Septima LONDON Printed by Edward Griffin for Laurence L'isle and are to bee sold at his shop at the Tigers head in Pauls Church-yard 16 11 To the Reader THE generall acceptance of this matchlesse Poem the Wife written by SIR Thomas Ouerbury is sufficiently approued by many the worth whereof if any other out of malice shall neglect to commend hee may well if it proceed from nice Criticisme be excluded as a Churlish Retainer to the MVSES if from direct plaine dealing he shall be degraded for insufficiencie For had such a Poem beene extant among the ancient Romanes although they wanted our easie conseruations of wit by printing they would haue cōmitted it to brasie lest iniurions time might depriue it of due eternitie If to cōuerse with a Creature so amiable as is here described be thought difficult let the contemplation thereof be held admirable To which are added many Elegies of his vntimely death and Characters and Newes written by himselfe and others his friends Howsoeuer they are now exposed not only to the Iudicious but to all that cary the least scruple of mother wit about them Licet toto nunc Helicone frui Mar. Lau L'isle Elegies of seuerall Authors on the vntimely death of SIR Thomas Ouerburie poysoned in the Tower Vpon the vntimely death of Sir Thomas Ouerburie T' would ease our Sorrowes t' would release our Teares Could we but heare those high celestiall Spheares Once tune their Motions to a dolefull straine In sympathie of what we Mortalls plaine Or see their faire Intelligences change Or face or habit when blacke Deeds so strange As might force pittie from the heart of Hell Are hatch'd by Monsters which among vs dwell The Starres me thinks like Men inclin'd to sleepe Should through their chrystall casements scarcely peepe Or at least view vs but with halfe an eye For feare their chaster Influence might descry Some murdering hand oaded in guiltlesse bloud Blending vile iuices to destroy the good The Sunne should wed his Beames to endles Night And in dull darknesse canopie his Light When from the ranke stewes of adulterous Brests Where euery base vnhallowed Proiect rests Is belcht as in defiance of his shine A steame might make euen Death it selfe to pine But these things happen still but ne're more cleare Nor with more lustre did these Lampes appeare Mercurie capers with a winged heele As if he did no touch of sorrow feele And yet he sees a true Mercurian killd Whose birth his Mansion with much honour filld But let me not mistake those Powers aboue Nor taxe iniuriously those Courts of Ioue Surely they ioy to see these Acts reueald Which in blinde silence haue bin long conceald And Virtue now triumphant whil'st we mourne To thinke that ere shee was foule Uices scorne Or that poore Ouer-buries bloud was made A sacrifice to Malice and darke shade Weston thy Hand that Couvre-feu Bell did sway Which did his life to endles sleepe conuay But rest thou where thou art I le seeke no glorie By the relation of so sad a storie If any more were priuie to the Deed And for the Crime must be adiudg'd to bleed To Heauen I pray with heau'd-vp Hands and Eyes That as their Bodies fall their Soules may rise And as those equally turne to one Dust So these alike may shine among the Iust. And there make vp one glorious constellation Who suffred here in such a differing fashion D. T. To the Memorie of that generally bewailed Gentleman S r. Thomas Ouerburie BVt that w' are bound in Christian pietie To wish Gods will be done and Destinie In all that happs to Men or Good or Ill Suffer'd or sent by that implored Will Me thinks t' obserue how Vertue drawes faint Breath Subiect to slanders Hate and violent Death Wise men kept low others aduanc'd to State Right check't by wrong and Ill men fortunate These mou'd Effects from an vnmoued Cause Might shake the firmest Faith Heauens fixed Lawes Might casuall seeme and each irregular Sence Spurne at iust Order blame Gods Prouidence But what is Man t' expostulate th' Intents Of his high Will or iudge of strange Euents The rising Sunne to mortall sight reueales This Earthly Globe but yet the Starrs conceales So may the Sence discouer Naturall Things Diuine aboue the reach of Humane wings Then not the Fate but Fates bad Instrument Doe I accuse in each sad Accident Good men must fall Rapes Incests Murders come But woe and curses follow them by whom God Authors all mens Actions not their sin For that proceeds from deu'lish Formes within Thou then that sufferd'st by those Formes so vile From whom those wicked Instruments did file Thy drossie part to make thy Fame shine cleare And Shrine thy Soule in Heauens all glorious Sphere Who being good naught les to thee befel Though it appear'd disguis'd in shape of Hell Vanish thy Blood and Nerues true Life alone In Vertue liues and true Religion In both which thou art deathles O behold If thou canst looke so low as Earths base Moulde How dreadfull Iustice larewith lingring Foot Now comes like Whirle-winde how it shakes the Root Of loftie Cedars makes the stately Brow Bend to the Foot how all men see that now The Breath of Infamie doth moue their Sayles Whiles thy deare name by Loues more hartie gales Shall still keep Winge vntill thy Fames extent Fill eu'rie part of this vast Continent Then you the Syre of this thus murder'd Sonne Repine not at his Fate since he hath wonne More Honor in his Sufferance and his Death Succeeded by his Vertues endles Breath For him and to his Life and Deaths Example Loue might erect a Statue Zeale a Temple On his true worth the Muses might be slayne To dye his Honors Web in purest Grayne C. B. Vpon the vntimely Death of the Author of this ingenious Poem S r. THO OVERBVRY Knight poysoned in the Towre SO many Moones so many times gone round And rose from Hell Darknesse vnder ground And yet till now this darkned deed of Hell Not brought to light ô tardie Heauen yet tell If Murther layes him downe to sleep with Lust Or no reueale as thou art Truth and Iust The Secrets of this vniust secure Act And what our feares make vs suspect compact With greater deeds of Mischiefe for alone We thinke not This and doe suspect yet One To which compar'd This but a falling Starre That a bright Firmament of Fire Thy Care We see takes meaner things It times the World The Signes at random thorough the Zodiack hurld The Stars wild wandrings the glib-quick Hinges Which turne both Poles and all the violent changes It ouer-lookes which trouble th'endlesse course Of the high Firmament by thy blest Force Doe hoary winter frosts make forrests bare And straight to Groues againe their shades
then he oft forgets his iourneis end although he looke on the Starre-Chamber Neither is hee wholie destitute of the Arts. Grammer he hath enough to make terminations of those words which his authoritie hath endenizon'd Rhetorike some but so little that its thought a concealement Logike enough to wrangle Arithmetike enough for the Ordinals of his yecre-bookes and number-rolls but he goes not to Multiplication there 's a Statute against it So much Geometrie that hee can aduice in a Perambulatione facienda or a Rationalibus diuisis In Astronomie and Astrologie he is so far seene that by the Dominicall latter he knowes the Holy-dayes and finds by Calculation that Michaelmas Terme will be long and dirty Marry he knowes so much in Musique that he affects onely the most and cunningest Discords rarely a perfect Concord especially song except in fine His skill in Perspectiue endeauours much to deceiue the eye of the Lawe and giues many false colours He is specially practised in Necromancie such a kinde as is out of the Statute of Primo by raising many dead Questions What sufficiency he hath in Criticisme the fowle Copies of his Speciall Pleas will tell you Many of the same coat which are much to bee honoured partake of diuers of his indifferent qualities but so that Discretion Vertue and sometimes other good learning concurring and distinguishing Ornaments to them make them as a foyle to set their worth on A Meere Scholler A Meere Sholler is an intelligible Asse Or a silly fellow in blacke that speakes Sentences more familiarly then Sense The Antiquity of his Vniuersity is his Creed and the excellency of his Colledge though but for a match at Foot-ball an Article of his faith he speakes Latine better then his Mother-tongue and is a stranger in no part of the World but his owne Countrey he do's vsually tell great stories of himself to small purpose for they are coÌ„monly ridiculous be they true or false his Ambition is that hee either is or shall be a Graduate but if euer he get a Fellowship hee ha's then no fellow Inspite of all Logick he dare sweare and mainetaine it that a Cuckold and a Towns-man are Termini Conuertibiles though his Mothers husband bee an Alderman he was neuer begotten as it seemes without much wrangling for his whole life is spent in Pro Contrae his tongue goes alwaies before his wit like a Gentleman-vsher but somewhat faster That he is a compleat Gallant in all points Cap a pea witnesse his horsemanship and the wearing of his weapons hee is commonly long-winded able to speake more with ease then any man can endure to heare with patience Vniuersity iests are his vniuersall discourse and his newes the demeanor of the Proctors his Phrase the apparell of his mind is made vp of diuers shreds like a Cushion and when it goes plainest't hath a Rash outside and Fustian linings The currant of his speech is clos'd with an Ergô and what euer be the question the trueth is on his side T is a wrong to his reputation to bee ignorant of any thing and yet he knowes not that hee knowes nothing hee giues directions for husbandry from Virgils Georgicks for Cattell from his Bucolicks for Warlike Stratagems from his AEneides or Caesars Commentaries hee orders all things by the Booke is skilfull in all trades and thriues in none he is led more by his eares then his vnderstanding taking the sound of words for their true sense and do's therefore confidently beleeue that Erra Pater was the Father of hereticks Rodolphus Agricola a substantiall Farmer and will not sticke to auerre that Systema's Logicke doth excell Keckermans his ill lucke is not so much in being a foole as in being put to such paines to expresse it to the world for what in others is naturall in him with much adoe is artificiall his pouerty is his happinesse for it makes some men beleeue that hee is none of fortunes fauorites That learning which hee hath was in Non-age put in backeward like a Glister and 't is now like Ware mislayd in a Pedlers packe a ha's it but knowes not where it is In a word hee is the Index of a man and the Title-page of a Scholler or a Puritane in morality much in profession nothing in practise A Tinker IS a mooueable for hee hath no abiding place by his motion he gathers heat thence his chollericke nature He seemes to bee very deuout for his life is a continuall Pilgrimage and sometimes in humility goes barefoot therein making necessity a vertue His house is as ancient as Tubal-Caines and so is a runnagate by antiquity yet hee prooues himselfe a Gallant for he carries all his wealth vpon his backe or a Philosopher for hee beares all his substance about him From his Art was Musicke first inuented and therefore is hee alwayes furnisht with a song to which his hammer keeping tune prooues that he was the first founder of the Kettle-drumme Note that where the best Ale is there stands his musicke most vpon crotchets The companion of his trauels is some soule sunne-burnt Queane that since the terrible Statute recanted Gypsisme and is turned Pedleresse So marches he all ouer England with his bag and baggage His conuersation is vnreprooueable for he is euer mending He obâ—erues truely the Statutes and therefore he had rather steale then begge in which he is vnremooueably constant in spight of whips or imprisonment and so strong an enemy to idlenesse that in mending one hole he had rather make three then want work and when hee hath done hee throwes the Wallet of his faults behinde him Hee embraceth naturally ancient customes conuersing in open fields and lowly Cottages If hee visit Cities or Townes t is but to deale vpon the imperfections of our weaker vessels His tongue is very voluble which with Canting prooues him a Linguist Hee is entertain'd in euery place but enters no further then the doore to auoid suspicion Some would take him to be a Coward but beleeue it hee is a Lad of mettle his valour is commonly three or fower yards long fastned to a pike in the end for flying off Hee is very prouident for he will fight but with one at once and then also hee had rather submit then bee counted obstinate To conclude if he scape Tiburne and Banbury he dies a begger An Apparatour IS a Chick of the Egge Abuse hatcht by the warmth of authority he is a bird of rapine and beginnes to prey and feather together He croakes like a Rauen against the death of rich men and so gets a Legacy vnbequeat'd his happinesse is in the multitude of children for their increase is his wealth and to that end hee himselfe yeerely addes one He is a cunning hunter vncouping his intelligencing hounds vnder hedges in thickets and corn-fields who follow the chase to City-Suburbs where often his game is at couert his quiuer hangs by his side stuft with siluer arrowes which hee shoots against Church-gates
his eyes and beard to a new forme of learning His Religion lyes in waite for the inclination of his Patron neither ebbes nor flowes but iust standing water betweene protestant and Puritane His dreames are of pluralitie of Benefices and non-residency and when he rises acts a long Grace to his looking glasse Against hee comes to bee some great mans Chaplaine he hath a habite of boldnesse though a very Coward Hee speakes Swords Fights Ergo's his pase on foote is a measure on horsebacke a gallop for his legs are his owne though horse and spurres are borrowed He hath lesse vse then possession of Bookes He is not so proud but he will call the meanest Author by his name nor so vnskill'd in the Heraldrie of a Studie but he knowes each mans place So ends that fellowship and begins an other A meere Petifogger IS one of Sampsons Foxes He sets men together by the eares more shamefully then Pillories and in a long Vacation his sport is to go a Fishing with the Penall Statutes He cannot erre before Iudgement and then you see it onely Writs of error are the Tariers that keepe his Client vndoing somewhat the longer He is a Vestrie man in his Parish and easily sets his neighbours at variance with the Vickar when his wicked counsell on both sides is like weapons put into mens hands by a Fencer whereby they get blowes he money His honesty and learning bring him to Vnder-Shrif-Ship which hauing thrise runne through hee do's not feare the Lieutenant a'th' Shire nay more hee feares not God Cowardise holds him a good Common-wealthes-man his pen is the plough and parchment the Soyle whence he reapes both Coyne and Curses He is an Earthquake that willingly will let no ground lie in quiet Broken titles make him whole to haue halfe in the Countie breake their Bonds were the onely libertie of conscience He would wish though he be a Brownist no neighbour of his should pay his tithes duly if such Sutes held continuall Plea at Westminster He cannot away with the reuerend Seruice in our Church because it ends with The peace of God He loues blowes extreamely and hath his Chyrurgions bill of all rates from head to foote to incense the fury he would not giue away his yeerely beatings for a good peece of money He makes his Will in forme of a Law-case full of quiddits that his Friends after his death if for nothing else yet for the vexation of Law may haue cause to remember him And if hee thought the Ghosts of men did walke againe as they report in time of Popery sure he would hide some single mony in Westminster-Hall that his spirit might haunt there Only with this I will pitch him o're the Barre and leaue him That his fingers itch after a Bribe euer since his first practising of Court-hand An Ingrosser of Corne. THere is no Vermine in the Land like him hee slanders both Heauen and Earth with pretended Dearths when there 's no cause of scarsitie His whording in a deare yeere is like Erisicthons Bowels in Ouid Quodque vrbibus esse quodque satis poterat populo non sufficit vni He prayes daily for more inclosures and knowes no reason in his Religion why wee should call our fore-fathers daies The time of ignorance but onely because they sold VVheat for twelue pence a bushell He wishes that Danske were at the Moloccos and had rather be certaine of some forraine inuasion then of the setting vp of the Stilyard When his Barnes and Garners are ful if it be a time of dearth he will buy halfe a bushell i' th' Market to serue his Household and winnowes his Corne in the night lest as the chaffe throwne vpon the water shew'd plenty in AEgypt so his caried by the winde should proclaime his abundance No painting pleases him so wel as Pharaohs dreame of the seauen leane Kine that ate vp the fat ones that hee has in his Parlour which he will describe to you like a motion and his comment ends with a smothered prayer for the like scarsitie Hee cannot away with Tobacco for hee is perswaded and not much amisse that t is a sparer of Bread-corne which he could finde in 's heart to transport without Licence but weighing the penaltie hee growes mealy-mouth'd and dares not Sweet smells he cannot abide wishes that the pure ayre were generally corrupted nay that the Spring had lost her fragrancie for euer or wee our superfluous sense of Smelling as he tearmes it that his corne might not bee found mustie The Poore he accounts the Iustices intelligencers and cannot abide them he complaines of our negligence of discouering new parts of the VVorld only to rid them from our Clymate His Sonne by a certaine kinde of instinct he bindes Prentise to a Taylor who all the terme of his Indenture hath a deare yeere in 's bellie and rauins bread extreamly when he comes to be a Freeman if it be a Dearth he marries him to a Bakers daughter A Diuellish Usurer IS sowed as Cummin or Hemp-seede with curses and he thinks he thriues the better Hee is better read in the Penall Statutes then the Bible and his euill Angell perswades him hee shall sooner be saued by them He can be no mans friend for all men hee hath most interest in hee vndo's and a double dealer hee is certainely for by his good will he euer takes the forfeit He puts his money to the vnnaturall Act of generation and his Scriuener is the superuisor Bawd to 't Good Deeds he loues none but Seal'd and Deliuered nor doth he wish any thing to thriue in the Countrey but Bee-hiues for they make him waxe rich He hates all but Law-Latine yet thinks hee might be drawne to loue a Scholler could he reduce the yeere to a shorter compasse that his vse-money might come in the faster he seems to be the son of a Iailor for all his estate is most heauic cruell bonds He doth not giue but fell daies of Payment and those at the rate of a mans vndoing he doth only feare the day of Iudgment should fall sooner then the payment of some great sum of money due to him hee remoues his lodging when a Subsidie comes and if he be found out and pay it hee grumbles Treason but t is in such a deformed silence as VVitches raise their Spirits in Grauitie hee pretends in all things but in his priuate Whore for hee will not in a hundreth pound take one light sixe-pence and it seemes hee was at Tilburie Campe for you must not tell him of a Spaniard He is a man of no conscience for like the lakes-farmer that swounded with going into Bucklersburie hee falls into a cold sweat if hee but looke into the Chauncerie thinks in his Religion wee are in the right for euery thing if that were abolisht hee hides his money as if hee thought to finde it againe at last day and then begin's old trade with it His clothes plead prescription and whether
they or his bodie are more rotten is a question yet should hee liue to be hangd in them this good they would doe him The very Hangman would pittie his case The Table hee keeps is able to starue twentie tall men his servants haue not their liuing but their dying from him and that 's of Hunger A spare Dyet he commends in all men but himselfe he comes to Cathedralls onely for loue of the singing Boyes because they looke hungry He likes our Religion best because t is best cheape yet would faine allow of Purgatorie 'cause 't was of his Trade and brought in so much money his heart goes with the same snaphance his purse doth t is seldome open to any man friendship hee accounts but a word without any signification nay he loues all the world so little that and it were possible hee would make himselfe his owne Executor for certaine hee is made Administrator to his own good name while he is in perfect memorie for that dyes long afore him but he is so farre from being at the charge of a Funerall for it that hee lets it stinke aboue ground In conclusion for Neighbourhood you were better dwell by a contentious Lawyer And for his death t is rather Surfet the Pox or Despaire for seldom such as hee dye of Gods making as honest men should doe A Water-Man IS one that hath learnt to speake well of himselfe for alwaies hee names himselfe The first man If he had betane himselfe to some richer Trade hee could not haue chos'd but done well for in this though it be a meane one he is still plying it and putting himselfe forward He is euermore telling strange newes most commonly lyes If he be a Sculler aske him if hee be maried hee 'l equiuocate and sweare hee 's a single man Little trust is to be giuen to him for he thinks that day he does best when he fetches most men ouer His daily labour teaches him the Arte of dissembling for like a fellow that rides to the Pillorie he goes not that way he lookes hee keepes such a bawling at Westminster that if the Lawyers were not acquainted with it an order would be tane with him When he is vpon the water he is Fare-companie when hee comes ashore hee mutinies and contrarie to all other trades is most surely to Gentlemen when they tender payment The Play-houses only keep him sober and as it doth many other Gallants makes him an afternoones man London Bridge is the most terriblest eye-sore to him that can be And to conclude nothing but a great Presse makes him flye from the Riuer nor any thing but a great Frost can teach him any good manners A Reuerend Iudge IS one that desires to haue his greatnes onely measur'd by his goodnesse his care is to appeare such to the people as he would haue them be and to be himselfe such as hee appeares for vertue cannot seeme one thing and be another hee knowes that the hill of greatnesse yeelds a most delighifull prospect but with all that it is most subiect to lightning and thunder and that the people as in ancient Tragedies sit and censure the actions of those are in authoritie he squares his owne therefore that they may farre bee aboue their pittie he wishes fewer Lawes so they were better obseru'd and for those are Mulctuarie he vnderstands their institution not to be like briers or springes to catch euery thing they lay hold of but like Sea-marks on our dangerous Goodwin to auoid the shipwracke of ignorant passengers hee hates to wrong any man neither hope nor despaire of preferment can draw him to such an exigent he thinks himselfe then most honorably seated when he giues mercie the vpper hand hee rather striues to purchase good name then land and of all rich stuffes forbidden by the Statute loaths to haue his followers weare their clothes cut out of bribes and extortions If his Prince call him to higher place there he deliuers his minde plainly and freely knowing for truth there is no place wherein dissembling ought to haue lesse credit then in a Princes Councel Thus honour keeps peace with him to the graue and doth not as with many there forsake him and goe backe with the Heralds but fairely sits ore him and broods out of his memorie many right excellent Common-wealths men A vertuous Widdow IS the Palme-tree that thriues not after the supplanting of her husband For her Childrens sake she first marries for shee married that shee might haue children and for their sakes shee marries no more She is like the purest gold onely imploide for Princes meddals shee neurer receiues but one mans impression the large iointure moues her not titles of honor cannot sway hir To change her name were she thinks to commit a sinne should make her asham'd of her husbands calling shee thinks she hath traueld all the world in one man the rest of her time therfore she directs to heauen Her maine superstition is shee thinks her husbands ghost would walke should she not performe his VVill she would doe it were there no Prerogatiue Court She giues much to pious vses without any hope to merit by them and as one Diamond fashions another so is she wrought into works of Charitie with the dust or ashes of her husband She liues to see her selfe full of time being so necessarie for earth God calls her not to heauen till shee be very aged and euen then though her naturall strength faile her she stands like an ancient Piramid which the lesse it growes to mans eye the neerer it reaches to heauen this latter Chastitie of Hers is more graue and reuerend then that ere shee was married for in it is neither hope nor longing nor feare nor iealousie Shee ought to be a mirrour for our yongest Dames to dresse themselues by when she is fullest of wrinkles No calamitie can now come neere her for in suffering the losse of her husband shee accounts all the rest trifles she hath laid his dead bodie in the worthiest monument that can be Shee hath buried it in her owne heart To conclude she is a Relique that without any superstition in the world though she will not be kist yet may be reuerenc't An ordinary Widdow IS like the Heralds Hearse-cloath she serues to many funerals with a very little altering the colour The end of her Husband begins in teares and the end of her teares beginnes in a Husband She vses to Cunning women to know how many Husbands shee shall haue and neuer marries without the consent of sixe midwiues Her chiefest pride is in the multitude of her Suitors and by them she gaines for one serues to draw on another and with one at last she shootes out another as Boies doe Pellets in Elderne Gunnes She commends to them a single life as Horsecourses doe their Iades to put them away Her fancy is to one of the biggest of the Guard but Knighthood makes her draw in a weaker Bow
That Lightning and greatnesse more feare then hurt From Rome THat the Venereall called veniall sin is to passe in the ranke of Cardinall vertues and that those should be held henceforth his Holinesse beneficiall friends that sinne vpon hope of pardon That where vice is a State-commoditie he is an offender that often offends not That Iewes and Curtezans there are as beasts that men feed to feed on That for an Englishman to abide at Rome is not so dangerous as report makes it since it skills not where we liue so we take heed how we liue That greatnesse comes not downe by the way it went vp there being often found a small distance betweene the highest and the lowest Fortunes That rackt authoritie is oft lesse at home then abroad regarded while things that seem are commonly more a far off then at hand feared From Venice THat the most profitable Banke is the true vse of a mans selfe whiles such as grow mouldy in idlenes make their houses their Tombes and die before their death That many dangerous spirits lie buried in their wants which had they means to their minds would dare as much as those that with their better Fortunes ouertop them That professed Curtezans if they bee any way good it is because they are openly badde That frugalitie is the richest treasure of an estate where men feede for hunger cloath for cold and modestie and spend for Honour Charitie and Safety From Germany THat the infectious vice of Drunken-good-fellowship is like to sticke by that Nation as long as the multitude of Offenders so benums the sense of offending as that a common blot is held no staine That discretions must be taken by weight not by tale who doth otherwise shall both proue his own too light and fall short of his reckoning That feare and a nice fore-cast of euery sleight danger seldome giues either faithfull or fruitfull counsell That the Empire of Germany is not more great then that ouer a mans selfe From the Low Countries THat one of the sureft grounds of a mans libertie is not to giue another power ouer it That the most dangerous plunge whereto to put thine enemie is desperation while forcing him to set light by his owne life thou makest him master of thine That neglected danger lights soonest and heauiest That they are wisest who in the likely-hood of good prouide for ill That since pittie dwells at the next doore to miserie he liueth most at ease that is neighboured with enuy That the euill fortune of the warres as well as the good is variable Newes from my Lodging THat the best prospect is to looke inward That it is quieter sleeping in a good conscience then a whole skin That a soule in a fat body lies soft and is loath to rise That he must rise betimes who would cosen the Diuell That Flatterie is increased from a pillow vnder the elbow to a bed vnder the whole body That Policie is the vnsleeping night of reason That hee who sleepes in the cradle of securitie sinnes soundly without starting That guilt is the Flea of the conscience That no man is throughly awaked but by affliction That a hang'd Chamber in priuate is nothing so conuenient as a hang'd Traitor in publike That the religion of Papistrie is like a curtaine made to keepe out the light That the life of most Women is walking in their sleep and they talke their dreames That Chambering is counted a ciuiller qualitie then playing at tables in the Hall though seruing-men vse both That the best bedfellow for all times in the yeare is a good bed without a fellow That he who tumbles in a calm bed hath his tempest within That he who will rise must first lie downe and take humilitie in his way That sleepe is deaths picture drawne to life or the twi-light of life and death That in sleepe wee kindely shake death by the hand but when we are awaked wee will not know him That often sleepings are so many trials to die that at last we may do it perfectly That few dare write the true newes of their Chamber and that I haue none secret enough to tempt a strangers curiositie or a Seruants discouerie God giue you good morrow B. R. Newes of my Morning worke THat to be good the way is to be most alone or the best accompanied That the way to heauen is mistaken for the most Melancholywalke That the most feare the worlds opinion more then Gods displeasure That a Court-friend seldome goes further then the first degree of Charitie That the Diuell is the perfectest Courtier That innocency was first cozen to man now guiltinesse hath the neerest alliance That sleepe is deaths Leger Embassador That time can neuer be spent wee passe by it and cannot returne That none can be sure of more time then an instant That sinne makes worke for repentance or the Diuell That patience hath more power then afflictions That euery ones memory is diuided into two parts the part loosing all is the Sea the keeping part is Land That honesty in the Court liues in persecution like Protestanss in Spaine That Predestination and constancy are alike vncertaine to beiudged of That reason makes loue the Seruing-man That vertues fauour is better then a a Kings fauorite That being sicke begins a suit to God being wel possesseth it That health is the Coach which carries to Heauen sickenesse the post-horse That worldly delights to one in extreame sickenesse is like a high candle to a blinde man That absence doth sharpen loue presence strengthens it that the one brings fuell the other blowes till it burnes cleere that loue often breakes friendship that euer encreaseth loue That constancy of women and loue in men is alike rare That Arts is truths lugler That falshood playes a larger part in the world then truth That blinde zeale lame knowledge are alike apt to ill That fortune is humblest where most contemned That no porter but resolution keepes feare our of mindes That the face of goodnesse without a body is the worst wickednesse That womens fortunes aspire but by others powers That a man with a female wit is the worst Hermaphrodite That a man not woorthy beeing a friend wrongs himselfe by beeing in acquaintence That the worst part of ignorance is making good and ill seeme alike That all this is newes onely to fooles M ris B. Newes from the lower end of the Table IT is sayd among the folks here that if a man die in his infancy hee hath onely broke his fast in this world If in his youth hee hath left vs at dinner That it is bed-time with a man at three score and ten and hee that liues to a hundred yeeres hath walked a mile after supper That the humble-minded man makes the lowest curtsie That grace before meat is our electiō before we were grace after meatour saluation when wee are gone The soule halts betweene two opinons fals betweene two stooles That a foole at