a medicine Butter Sage make the wholsome breakfâ—st but fresh chéese and creame are meat for a dainty mouth and the Strawbery and the Pescod want no price in the market the Chicken and the Ducke are fatned for the market and many a Goflin neuer liues to be a Goose. It is the moneth wherein Nature hath her full of mirth and the Senses are filled with delights I conclude It is from the Heauens a Grace to the Earth a Gladnesse Farewell Iune IT is now Iune and the Hay-makers are mustered to make an army for the field where not alwayes in order they march vnder the Bagge and the Bottle when betwixt the Forke and the Rake there is séene great force of armes Now doth the broad Oke comfort the weary Laborer while vnder his shady Boughes he sits singing to his bread and cheese the â—ay-cocke is the Poore mans Lodging and the fresh Riuer is his gracious Neighbour Now the Faulcon and the Tassell try their wings at the Partridge and the fat Bucke fils the great pasty the trees are all in their rich aray but the séely Shéep is turned out of his coat the Roses and swéet Herbes put the Distiller to his cunning while the gréene apples on the trée are ready for the great bellied wiues Now begins the Hare to gather vp her heeles and the Foxe lookes about him for feare of the Hound the Hooke and the Sickle are making ready for haruest the Medow grounds gape for raine and the Corne in the eare begins to harden the little Lads make Pipes of the straw and they that cannot dance will yet bee hopping the Ayre now groweth somewhat warme and the coole winds are very comfortable the Sayler now makes merry passage and the nimble Foot-man runnes with pleasure In briefe I thus conclude I hold it a sweet season the senses perfume and the spirits comfort Farewell Iuly IT is now Iuly and the Sunne is gotten vp to his height whose heat parcheth the earth and burnes vp the grasse on the mountaines Now begins the Canon of heauen to rattle and when the fire is put to the charge it breaketh out among the Cloudes the stones of congealed water cut off the eares of the Corne and the blacke stormes affright the faint-hearted the Stag and the Bucke are now in pride of their time and the hardnesse of their heads makes them fit for the Horner Now hath the Sparhawke the Partridge in the foot and the Ferret doth tickle the Cony in the borough Now doeth the Farmer make ready his teame and the Carter with his whip hath no small pride in his Whistle Now doe the Reapers try their backs and their Armes and the lusty Youthes pitch the sheafes into the Cart The old Partridge calles her Couey in the morning and in the euening the Shepheard fals to folding of his flocke the Sparrowes make a charme vpon the gréene Bushes till the Fowler come and take them by the dozens the Smelt now begins to be in season and the Lamprey out of the Riuer leapes into a Pye the Souldier now hath a hot march and the Lawyer sweats in his lâ—ned Gowne The Pedler now makes a long walke and the Aqua vitae Bottle sets his face on a fiery heat In summe I thus conclude of it I hold it a profitable season the Labourers gaine and the rich mans wealth Farewell August IT is now August and the Sunne is somewhat towards his declination yet such is his heat as hardeneth the soft clay dries vp the standing ponds wythereth the sappy leaues and scorcheth the skin of the naked now beginne the Gleaners to follow the Corne Cart and a little bread to a great deale of drinke makes the Trauailers dinner the Melowne and the Cucumber is now in request and Oyle and vineger giue attendance on the Sallet hearbes the Alehouse is more frequented then the Tauerne and a fresh Riuer is more comfortable then a fiery Furnace the Bathe is now much visited by diseased bodies and in the fayre Riuers swimming is a swéet exercise the Bow and the Bowle pirke many a purse and the Cockes with their héeles spurne away many a mans wealth The Pipe and the Taber is now lustily set on worke and the Lad and the Lasse will haue no lead on their héeles the new Wheat makes the Gossips Cake and the Bride Cup is caried aboue the heads of the whole Parish the Foâ— neâ—ty pot welcomes home the Haruest cart and the Garland of Flowers crownes the Captaine of the Reapers Oh 't is the mercy time wherein honest Neighbours make good chéere and God is glorified in his blessings on the earth In summe for that I find I thus conclude I hold it the worlds welfare and the earths Warming-pâ—â— Farewell September IT is now September and the Sunne begins to fall much from his height the medowes are left bare by the mouthes of hungry Cattell and the Hogges are turned into the Corne fields the windes begin to knocke the Apples heads together on the trees and the fallings are gathered to fill the Pyes for the Houshold the Saylers fall to worke to get afore the windâ— and if they spy a storme it puts them to prayer the Souldier now begins to shrug at the weather and the Campe dissolued the Companies are put to Garison the Lawyer now begins his Haruest and the Client pâ—yes for words by waight the Innes now begin to prouide for ghests and the night â—aters in the stable pinch the Trauailer in his bed Paper pen and inke are much in request and the quarter Sessions take order with the way-layers Câ—ales and wood make toward the Chimney and Ale and Sacke are in account with good fellowes the Butcher now knocks downe the great Béeues and the Poulters feathers make toward the Upholster Walflet Oysters are the Fishwiues wealth and Pippins fine are the Costermongers rich merchandise the flayle and the fan fall to worke in the Barne and the Corne market is full of the Bakers the Porkets now are driuen to the Woods and the home-fed Pigges make porke for the market In briefe I thus conclude of it I hold it the Winters forewarning and the Summers farewell Adieu October IT is now October and the lofty windes make bare the trées of their leaues while the hogs in the Woods grow fat with the falne Acorns the forward Déere begin to goe to rut and the barren Doe groweth good meat the Basket makers now gather their rods and the fishers lay their leapes in the déepe the loade horses goe apace to the Mill and the Meal-market is seldome without people the Hare on the hill makes the Greyhound a faire course the Foxe in the woods cals the Hounds to a full cry the multitude of people raiseth the price of wares and the smoothe tongue will sell much the Saylor now bestirreth his stumps while the Merchant liueth in feare of the weather the great feasts are now at hand for the City but the
to few but hurt to many puls downe the Churches and builds the faire houses makes the Prodigall an Ape and the miser dogged makes Bridges ouer the Sea and fire in mens braines fetchâ—th the Beasts from the Wildernesse and the Birds from the Ayre it drawes fansies out of fine Wits and eloquence from learned mouths It makes friends foes and enemies friends It serues all professions all qualities and conditions from the King to the Begger In summe not to talke too much of it hauing so little of it I thus conclude my opinion of it I thinke it a necessary drosse and a dangerous mettall the reliefe of the honest and the ruine of the wicked Farewell The Spring IT is now Spring a Time blest of the Heauens for the comfort of the Earth now begins the Sunne to giue light vnto the Ayre and with the replexion of his beames to warme the cold earth the Beasts of the woods looke out into the plaines and the fishes out of the déepe run vp into the shallow waters the bréeding fowles fall to building of their nests and the senselesse creatures gather life into their bodies the Birds tune their throats to entertaine the Sunne rising and the little flies begin to flocke in the ayre now Cupid begins no nocke his Arrowes and sharpe their heads and Venus if she be will be knowne what she is Now Pallas and her Muses try the Poets in their Pamphlets and Diana if shee bee to bée séene is a grace to her fayrest Nymph Time is now gracious in Nature Nature in time the Ayre wholesome and the earth pleasant and the sea not vncomfortable the Aged féele a kind of youth Youth the Spirit ful of life it is the messenger of many pleasures the Courtiers progresse and the Farmers profit the Labourers Haruest and the Beggers Pilgrimage In summe there is much good to be spoken of this time but to auoyd tediousnes I will thus conclude of it I hold it in all that I can sée in it the Iewell of time and the Ioy of Nature Farewell Summer IT is now Summer Zephirus with his swéet breath cooles the parching beames of Titan the leaues of the trées are in whisper talkes of the blessings of the aire while the Nightingale is tuning her throat to refresh the weary spirit of the Trauayler Flora now brings out her Wardrop and richly embroydreth her gréene Apron the Nymphes of the Woodes in consort with the Muses sing an Aue to the Morning and a Vale to the Sunnes setting the Lambes and the Rabbettes run at base in the sandy Warrens and the Plow landes are couered with corne the stately Hart is at Layre in the high wood while the Hare in a surrow sits washing of her face The Bull makes his walke like a Master of the field and the broad-headed Oxe beares the Garland of the market the Angler with a sly takes his pleasure with the fish while the little Merline hath the Partridge in the foot the Hony-dewes perfume the Ayre and the Sunny-showers are the earths comfort the Greyhound on the plaine makes the faire course the wel-mouthed Hound makes the Musicke of the woods the Battaile of the field is now stoutly fought and the proud Rye must stoupe to the Sickle The Carters whistle chéeres his forehorse and drinke and sweat is the life of the Labourer Idle spirits are banished the limits of Honour while the studious braine brings forth his wonder the Azure Sky shewes the Heauen is gracious and the glorious Sunne glads the spirit of Nature The ripened fruits shew the beauty of the earth and the brightnesse of the aire the glory of the heauens In summe for the world of worth I find in it I thus conclude of it I hold it a most swéet season the variety of pleasures and the Paradise of loue Farewell Haruest IT is now Haruest and the Larke must lead her yong out of the nest for the Sithe and the Sickle wil down with the grasse and the corne Now are the hedges ful of Berries the highwayes full of Rogues and the lazy Limmes must â—â—éepe out their dinner The Ant and the Bee worke for their winter prouision and after a frost the Grashopper is not séene Butter milke and cheese are the Labourers dyet and a pot of good Béere quickens his spirit If there be no plague the people are healthy for continuance of motion is a preseruation of nature The fresh of the morning and the coole of the Euening are the times of Court walkes but the poore traueller treads out the whole day Malt is now aboue wheat with a number of mad people and a fine shirt is better then a Frize Ierkin Peares and Plummes now ripen apace and being of a watry substance are cause of much sicknesse The pipe and the taber now follow the Fayres and they that haue any money make a gaine of their markets Bucks now are in season and Partridges are Rowen-taild a good Retriuer is a Spaniell worth the keeping In sum it is a time of much worth when if God bee well pleased the world will thriue the better And to conclude this is all that I will say of it I hold it the Heauens Bounty the Earths Beauty and the Worlds Benefit Farewell VVinter IT is now Winter and Boreas beginnes to fill his chéekes with breath shaketh the tops of the high Cedars and hoyseth the waues of the Sea to the danger of the Saylers comfort Now is the Earth nipt at the heart with a cold and her Trées are disrobed of their rich apparell there is a glasse set vpon the face of the Waters and the Fishes are driuen to the bottomes of the déepe The Usurer now sits lapt in his furres and the poore makes his breath a fire to his fingers ends Beautie is maskt for feare of the ayre and youth runnes to Physicke for Restoratiues of Nature The Stagge roares for losse of his strength and the Flea makes his Castle in the wooll of a blanket Cards and Dice now begin their haruest and good Ale and Sack are the cause of ciuill warres Machiauil and the Deuill are in counsell vpon destruction and the wicked of the world make hast to hell Money is such a Monopoly that hee is not to be spoken of and the delay of suits is the death of hope In it selfe it is a wofull Season the punishment of Natures pride and the play of misery Farewell Ianuary IT is now Ianuary and Time beginnes to turne the whéele of his Reuolution the Woods begin to lose the beauty of their spreading boughes and the proud Oke must stoop to the Axe the Squirrell now surueyeth the Nut and the Maple and the Hedgehogge rowles vp himselfe like a football an Apple and a Nutmeg make a Gossips cup and the Ale and the Fagot are the Uictuallers merchandise the Northerne black Dust is the during Fuell and the fruit of the Grape heats the stomake of the Aged Downe beds
FANTASTICKS Seruing for A PERPETVALL Prognostication Descants of 1 The VVorld 2 The Earth 3 VVater 4 Ayre 5 Fire 6 Fish 7 Beasts 8 Man 9 VVoman 10 Loue. 11 Money 12 The Spring 13 Summer 14 Haruest 15 VVinter 16 The 12. Moneths 17 Christmas 18 Lent 19 Good Friday 20 Easter day 21 Morning 22 The 12. Houres 23 Midnight 24 The Conclusion LONDON Printed for Francis Williams 1626. To the VVorshipfull and worthy Knight Sir MARKE IVE of Riuers Hall in Essex N.B. wisheth on earth hearts ease and heauen hereafter SIR your many fauours and my small deserts make mee study how to discharge my selfe of ingratitude which not knowing better how to doe then by the labour of my spirit to shew the nature of my loue I haue thought good to present your patience with this little volume of varieties in which though the Title promise no matter of great worth yet it may be if you peruse it you shall finde somewhat that you may like in it howsoeuer it be it may serue you in the Winter to keepe you from sleep by the fire side and in the Summer in shady walkes to passe away idle time In briefe wishing it of that nature that might come neere the worthinesse of your acceptation I leaue it with my better seruice to the fauor of your good discretion and so in all humilitie rest Yours affectionately to command N. B. To the Reader IT was my hap of late walking thorow the fields to light vpon a peece of paper in which I found a kind of discourse set down vpon an imagination of midnight By whom it was written I know not but by whomsoeuer I liked it so well that wishing my selfe able to doe halfe so well I fell into an humor of imitating the veyne so neer as I could in description of the twelue houres the twelue moneths and some speciall dayes in the yere how wel to your liking I know not but my labour herein hath not bin little my desire much I meane to doe well which if I haue not I can be but sory that my dull wit hath not bin fed with a more pleasing humour but if you be able to iudge of the worth of it and like it I shall be more glad then proud of it howsoeuer it be hoping of your kindnes I leaue it to your like censure so loth to entertaine your patience with a long tale to little purpose I thus conclude and in affection and discretion I rest Your friend N. B. FANTASTICKS Descants of the Quarters Moneths and houres of the yeere with other matters The World TOuching my opinion of the world I will tell you as briefly as I can what I thinke of it a place wherein are contained the variety of things Men thinke women talk beasts féed birds flye fishes swim and wormes créep ayre pearceth windes blow cold nippeth fire heateth grasse groweth and time withereth Wealth is a Iewell and pouerty is a plague Conscience is a charge and care is a burden Pride is a Lord of misrule and beauty is painted Mars must yéeld to Mercury and Diana is a strange woman Cupid is an idle inuention and all is as good as nothing Loue is more talked of then proued Couetousnesse the key of wit Nature the trouble of Reason and Will the master of the Senses Beauty is an eye sore Learning a taske Ualour a heat and reason a study A King a great man a Souldier a stout man a Courtier a fine man a Lawyer a wise man a Merchant a rich man a Begger a poore man and an honest man an honest man Fayre weather is chearfull foule weather is melancholicke The day is lightsome and the night is darksom Meate is necessary and sléepe is easefull and drinke doth well and exercise doth not amisse Law is good and punishment is méet and reward would be thought on and fooles would be pityed and so Opinions differ and Iudgements vary and Time trauailes and Trueth is a vertue and wisedome an honor and honor is a title and Grace a gift and Patience a blessing and Content a Kingdome and so from one thing to another a trouble in all A kingdome full of care wit full of trouble power full of charge youth full of action Age full of griefe and none content with his condition wishing in one willing in another thinking in one doing in another working in one crossing in another thoughts words and déeds so different in their effects that for ought I can sée in it when I haue well considered of it I can say thus much of it He is happy that hath not to doe with it And not to dwell too long vpon it to conclude my opinion briefl◠of it I hold it the Labyrinth of wit and the toyle of vnderstanding the pilgrimage of patience and the purgatory of reason Farewell Loue. TOuching my Iudgement of Loue it is if it bee any thing such a thing to speake of that to tell truly I know not well what to say of it but yet what I imagine of it I will tell you at the first I ghesse it was an old nothing to exercise wit in idlenes and now is a kind of new-nothing to féed folly with imagination but be it what it will be or may be this wanton Loue that this world is too full of whatsoeuer it is thus much I find of it It is begotten by the eyes bred in the braines walkes in the tongue growes with the flesh and dyes in an humour and this ill commonly doth trouble wit hinder Arte hurt Nature disgrace Reason lose time and spoile substance It crosseth wisedome serueth Beautie and sotteth Folly weakneth strength and baseth Honour It is only Willes darling Patience triall and Passions torture the pleasure of melancholy and the play of madnesse the delight of varieties and the deuiser of vanities The Uirgins cracke and the Widowes crosse The Batchelors bane and the maried mans Purgatory the Yong mans misery and the Ageds consumption The abuse of Learning the ground of Enuy the stirrer of wrath and the cause of mischiefe The disquiet of the mind the distractor of the Wit the disturber of the Senses and the destruction of the whole body A fained god an idle fancy a kind of fury and in some kind a frenzy To conclude I hold it an Inuention of idlenesse and an Imagination of Indiscretion the plague of people an dt he mocke of the Word Farewell Money TO tell you mine opinion of money I thinke it the Monarch of the world the maintainer of Pride the Nurse of Couetousnesse the Steward of Lechery the sower of Sedition the cause of war the sacke of a City and the ouerthrow of a Campe The Gluttons Purueyour and the Drunkards Cupbearer the Thiefes tempter and the Hangmans Master The misguider of Wit the corrupter of Conscience the blinder of Reason and the ouerthrow of Honour the Usurers God the poore mans oppression the Lawyers hope the Laborers hire doth good