assistance to the Earle of Tyrone of men of mony of munition of shipping and of all other r essaries and to send him into Ireland new sanctified aâ—â—ngst his friends that hath long lookt for him and doe daily wish for him and alas are like to doe so still to their great griefe and sorrow These Newesmongers be those that from time to time do spread such reports as doth sometimes arme the ill disposed with vaine and friuolous hopes but especially the Papists that are so strong of faith that they will beleeue any lie be it neuer so vaine or foolish if it doth any waies serue their purpose And as the Newesmonger is not without Art sometimes to spread a lie that is of his owne coining so by some prery skill that he hath in Arithmeticke he can both multiply and deuide lies that be of other mens making He vseth to frequent faires markets and other places of aslembly sometimes hee will stumble into a Barbers shoppe but about ten of the clocke in the fore-noone you may hitte vpon him in the middle walke in Pauls but from aleauen to twelue hee will not misse the Exchange These be the places from whence he makes his collections and if there be any newes at all stirring he pockets them vp for his owne prouision and hee neuer vents them but for his owne aduantage for he knoweth that men are so well inclined to haue nouelties that they are as good paiment for a dinner or a supper as eighteene pence to goe to an ordinary Here comes yet another a fit companion to march in one ranke with the newes monger it is the state ape a man that will take vpon him to know more then he vnderstandeth hee speakes of nothing but of matters of state and what lawes are fit to passe and repasse by act of Parlament and in the Parliament time he makes himselfe as conuersant with all intents and plots purposed for the Common-wealth as if they had beene of his own begetting And what Embassadour can bee sent from any forraine Prince or Potentate but before he hath deliuered his message or before he hath put his foote in at the court gate but he will tell you both what his arrand is and what shall be his answer if a man will beleeue what himselfe will make vaunt of there is not a Court counsell holden but he will seeme to know whereof they haue consulted and what they haue concluded I thinke I doe but pester your eye-sight with presenting to your viewes these vaine prospects but a man may the better learne to eschew vanitie by learning first to know it here is yet one other of the same straine a malecontent a right cornish Diamond that although a counterfeit would yet be set in gold He is singular in his owne conceit and will sometimes withdraw himselfe into retired places for bearing speech and conuersation reproouing the vanities of the world but with a word and the manners of the people with a shrug or a countenance giuing answers with signes and dumbe showes pacing his steppes with sad and sober aspects as if he would haue it said Loe yonder goes the melancholy gentleman see there vertue and wisedome both despised and neglected this is the man that doth carrie a whole Common-wealth in his head that can mannage the whole affaires of a state and that is able to draw the world about by the nose in a string His verie gate as he passeth along the streete cries Looke vpon me and although to some mens thinking hee is but a man yet in his owne opinion the wisest of men I will not trouble you with these angrie fellowes that will swagger and be ready to giue the stabbe sometimes for the pleasure of a harlot sometimes for the speaking of a word sometimes for the taking of the wall sometimes for the not pledging of a health And what a sturre we keepe againe about precedence we striue with Zebedâ—us children who shall sit on the right hand who on the left we dispute of dignities who shal go before who shall come behind and as this infection is common amongst men so it is become so violent amongst women that they are ready to scratch for their places many of them taking their roomes perforce and will render reasons whereby to maintaine their causes one makes her plea my husband is an Esquire and I will giue place to none but to my Ladie an other will alleadge my husband is a Doctor and I will therefore march with the foremost one stands vpon her pedigree and deriues her selfe from some ancient family an other challengeth precedence by her husbands office an other by her wealth by her chaines by her Iewels by her silken gownes by her garded peticoate and they are so eager and so vehement in these incounters that if their husbands should once fall a dealing in these quarrels they could not bee determined without bloodie noses But amongst all the spectacles of folly that wee haue yet surueied hee now presents himselfe that is best worthy to beare the Bable looke vpon him it is the amorist see how gastfully hee lookes his armes crossed his eyes blubbered his hatte puld ouer his browes and all for loue sir reuerence Alas poore gentleman I doe pittie him and I thinke Dame folly his mistris would simper to see the foole her seruant how he is besotted I can not beleeue that euer vertue was knowne to be a dotarde in that we call loue I haue heard of some that haue beene mad for loue yet I neuer heard of any that were wise in loue I haue read of couragious men that loue haue made effeminate yet I neuer read of any whom loue hath made truly valiant I haue knowne where wise men hath beene besotted by fancie but I neuer knew where fancie made a wise man In loue what seeth the eye laciuiousnesse what heareth the eare laciuiousnesse what vttereth the tongue laciuiousnesse what thinketh the heart laciuiousnesse what incurreth the bodie laciuiousnesse and call you this loue no it is filthie lust that marcheth vnder the banner of loue The folly of affection is wonderfull but the indiscretion of an Amorist is more admirable that will hang the whole estate of all his fortunes in a womans word but in the yea or nay of his light heeled mistris To conclude I neuer heard of any of these louing wormes that was euer besotted of any woman that was famed for her vertue yet if the braines of my Amorist bee not barraine they will sometimes hatch out Rimes and learne to indite amorous verses in the praise of his mistris that is many times scarce worth the speaking of and will borrow colours from lillies and red roses to beautifie her cheekes her eyes shall be saphires her lippes corall her teeth pearle her breath balme a Pallas for her wit but he neuer streines so farre as to her honesty women haue euer beene
bee a corrosiue to his Conscience still world without end But this worldly wealth I see is but a tickle commoditie for he that hath most he hath notynough neither to keepe his head from aking nor his conscience from despairing He is onely to be accounted rich that possesseth what he hath gotten iustly and vseth what he possesseth honestly but for the vngodly they may well be reputed wealthy but neuer rich There cannot bee a more excellent Touch-stone whereby to discouer the dispositions of men then is the superfluitie of wealth and the extreamitie of want the spring tide of prosperitie and the low ebbe of aduersitie for although the mattess of themselues are indifferent yet the mannaging of them is it that giueth light Prosperitie pampereth vs vp in pleasure it maketh vs to forget God and to repose our greatest confidence in the vanities of the world Aduersitie maketh vs contemptible in the Eye of the world it is the meanes whereby we are taught to know our selues and to draw vs to God Prosperitie so swelleth vs in pride that wee forgette our selues it so blindeth our vnderstanding that vvee are not able to discerne a friend from a flatterer nor to iudge whether those that doe favvne vpon vs bee more in loue with our selues or with our fortunes Aduersitie maketh vs humble it cleereth the vnderstanding and giueth vs Eyes to discerne betweene Friendship and Flatterie and to make assured triall betweene a Friend and a Foe Aduersitie may bee both Iudge and Iurie VVhat haue I said may Aduersitie iudge betweene a friend and a foe I neuer heard that pouerty was cloied with many friende and aduersitie if he once begins to want shall neuer want a foe they will say a friend is tried in time of need but I say that neede is it that makes a friend a foe he is a foole that wanteth friends and if hee wants not wealth But he that hath pouertie to cast vp his accounts and is become Needes Embassador to beg or to borrow if he finde a friend to supply his wants I say such a friend is more precious more rare to be found then Platos Common wealth Moores Eutopia Ciceroes orator or Baldesers Courtier he that is a friend to all can be friend to none but it is nothing so smarting to be called a Niggard or to be reputed for a Miser as to haue it said He is euery mans friend but his owne It were too great a presumption in me now to meddle with Diuinitie the dignitie of the subiect may suffice for where the obiect is God the ground worke is infallible there needs no further demonstration Diuinitie is a heauenly Law sealed by God the lawgiuer written and set downe by the finger of God and deliuered by those that were inspired by his holy spirit It hath likewise pleased God from the beginning to raise vp Patriarkes and Prophets to teach and gouerne his people and after in the kingdome of our Sauiour he ordained the ministery of the Gospell appointing it perpetuall to the end of the world and hath further taught vs to pray that Labourers might be thrust into the Haruest Shall I then speake of the Diuine that is the Steward of God appointed to dispose his misteries that is the Embassadors of glad and joyfull tidings that doth bring vnto vs the word of our saluation that is the light to shine before vs in all godly example of Loue of Charity of Humility of Temperance of Chastity of Sobriety of integrity of life of honest conuersation and therefore worthy of double honour I thinke of my conscience our English Clergy at this present houre are as compleat in learning in liuing in doctrine in wisedome and in all manner of godly knowledg as although in some other parts in Christendom perhaps there may be some found to second them yet none to disproue or exceed them But as amongst the twelue Disciples there was a ludas so amongst this honourable function there creepes in now and then a false Disciple that knowes how to bait his booke with grauity till he hath caught a Benefyce then the Surples must serue to couer a most vngodly carcase he that should set vp a light for other men to follow his Lampe doth burne so dimme that he that were not well sighted of himselfe might sooner stumble then hit the right tract Another intruder there is Parson please-time by name that being vnbeneficed will therefore become a Chaplaine to some man of worth and worthines he will sometimes step vp into the Pulpit and he will preach against sin but it shall be done with halfe a lip he dares not presse it till it smarts he knowes it is no time of yeare to be too vehement against all sorts of sinnes for offending those that he would more willingly please Where shall we finde another Nathan that dares tell his master to his face Thou art the man 2. Sam. 12. Thou art the man that hast sinned in Pride thou art the man that hast sinned in Drunkennesse in Adultery in Blasphemy thou art the man that hast racked vp thy rents that hast oppressed thy tenants that hast wronged thy poore neighbours no Parson please-time knoweth well ynough this is not the ready way to get a fat Benefice To speake now in generall and to speake according to a truth the Pulpits in England and in Ireland both were neuer better supplied with a more reuerent and a more learned Ministry then at this present for their sakes therfore that be good I will speake no more of those few that be ill I shall not neede to speake of Philosophy the study of wisedome is now out of season and the natural part of Philosophy but sheweth vs what we haue and the morall how to vse rightly what is our own a burthē too heauy for euery mans head to carry I will leaue it and speake a little of Souldiours or at the least of such as in these daies would faine be taken for souldiers and do march some of them vnder the title of Captaines that neuer spread Ensigne of their owne before an enemy nor neuer saw enemy march in the field yet he will relate of warres of skirmishes and incounters as brefly as if he had bin an eye-witnes vvhen he hath but pilferd them from report or perhaps stolnethem from some new printed ballade and he that hath but seene the siege of Troy pictured forth in a painted cloath will speake of sallies of assaults of incounters of retraites of palizados of rauelins of parapites all his speeches shall be nothing else but powder and shot He will spend a whole after noone in relating his own valours and this he doth to preuent quarrels because he loues not euery day to fight he beares downe strangers with the story of his own actions wil attribute the honour of a victory to his
sensualitie did neuer so much abound he is blinde that seeth not this and too malitious that will not acknowledge it The sinnes of this age are become like old festered soores that are not to bee cured but with biting corosiues we can not therefore too bitterly reprehend them We are become like naturall beasts that do bring all things to triall but by the senses but if we could carry them to the inquisition of the soule we should finde it a fearefull iudgement of God for men to be giuen vp so much to their owne lusts to haue no sense nor feeling of their sinne he that hath this hardnesse of heart that he neither feeleth his owne sinne nor will not be told of it by another he is no more of the race of Adam who was ashamed of himselfe but of Pharao who hardened his owne heart and whose heart God did harden If the head doth but a little ake our vrins must knocke at the Phisitions doore and alas how inquisitiue we be about the state of our bodies but let our consciences cry out and exclaime how they list our sickly famished soules are neuer respected we are so farre in loue with our sinnes that wee care not for the losing of our soules Are these the works that faith affordeth is this the life that God requireth we goe to Church indeed and we say to seeke the Lord but we do not seeke him as if we ment to finde him wee seeke him not with humble and penitent heart but with proud and presumptuous spirits decking and pranking vp our selues with those gawdy and vngodly attires as are more liker to poison our praiers then to profit our soules better fitting indeed for a Brothell house then for the house of God We goe to Church rather to show our pompe and our pride then with any zealous intent to serue our God as we should do We goe to the Church as Iudas went to the Supper of the Lord we returne home in a worse case then when we first went thither With what faces can we make show to professe the Gospel when we be so giuen vp to that monstrous pride that we rather desire to follow our owne voluptuous pleasures then to serue God the world doth see it our consciences doth witnesse it neither can we denie it They will make show by their speeches as if they could not indure that God should be dishonoured but looke vpon their actions their pride their vanity their drunkennesse their excesse and they doe shew them plainly what they are and he that should iudge theÌ„ by the rules of holy scriptures might boldly pronounce them to be farre from euerlasting life our Sauiour Christ hath confidently avowed The vnrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of heauen and the Apostle 1. Cor. 6. Be not deceiued neither fornicator neither adulterer nor drunkard nor idolater shall not inherit the kingdome of God Let them flatter themselues therefore how they list they are in a dangerous plight we cannot be too plaine to put them from that vaine hope that thus deludeth them that will euery day pollute themselues with these abhominations yet will trust or hope for saluation they thinke it time soone ynough to repent when their climacterical yeare is past then if they haue but time to say Lord haue mercy vpon vs and for their executors to giue penny dole when they bee dead it wil serue for a quietus est for all their sins forepassed they may perhaps sometime dreame of a dying time and it is but a dreame for being not throughly resolued that this time draweth euery day neerer then other they neuer prepare themselues against the time but are many times taken suddenly in the fulnesse of their filthinesse and in the very prime when they be acting of the abhominations I haue little hope therefore to reforme those by my writing whom the thundring voyce of Gods word pronounced euery day by the Preacher can neither conforme nor any thing at all terrifye I know I shall rather procure hatred for speaking truth then win loue for wishing well but I little feare the Adulterat censure of a senceles multitude the wicked are like an Ocean that cannot rest from raging and a madnesse for him that will run amongst thornes and thinke scorne to be prickt let them then rage raile as they list he that is throughly settled and composed in himselfe moues in so high an Orbe and at so far a distant from the malicious and ill disposed that their vnsauoury belchings can neuer annoy him It sufficeth me that I maske in the true simplicities of a loyall honesty my conscience bearing me witnes I haue spoken those truths that I am in nothing more agrieued then in that they are too true FINIS What one applies to vice another may conuert to vertue Caligula vsed to looke in a glasse The nicitie of yong men in this age Looking glasses flattering Some make defects where none are The nature of this Glasse The loftinesse of sinnes Men are vnwilling to heare their faults No speaking against sinnes Augustus thought it necessary for men to finde fault Pasquils piller why prohibibited Sin growne malipert The fearefull condition of the time Angry fault sinders VVhat they be that are angry A dangerous time The holy workes of Papists The Diuell much bound to the Pope Vice deriding vice A dangerous sickenesse VVorke for the Diuell Pitifull spectacles Religious in show Religion but made a staale VVe must exhort one another The securitie of the time The effects of sinnes The sinnes of all nations brought into England The wantonnesse of sinne in this age Sinne a knowne Strumpet become a Lady The Lady New-fashions a Strumpet a Bawde and a VVitch Sinne setteth a worke all sorts of Tradesmen A godly admonition to Ladies and Gentlewomen VVomen more excellent by nature then men I speake this but to those women that be wise doe feare God More then would serue â—o good women that feared God VVandring Eyes I hope al this will offend no women that are good How women should vse their glasses Monstrous fashions euery day hatched vp The genealogy of sinne Couetousnes the parent of many sinnes The varieties of Iniquities Sinne thinkes scorne to be reprooued Three shrewd witnesses The glory pride The effects of pride A happie age Strange inuented vanities The diuels Ingeny Credible and true though strange to be beleeued VVe marre that fashion that God hath made to follow our owne A most ridiculous folly A precept from God neglected The little difference that is vsed between men and women in their apparell The new found out folly of taking tobacco Experience much better then Master Doctors opinion Tobacco vsed but to drawe dowue drinke The loathsomnesse of Tobacco The Tobacconist and the Drunkard fit companions Tobacco sophisticated A pitious expence The inormities that be drawne in by Tobacco Of couetousnesse Bribery in great estimation Briberie disguised Many sinnes boulstered out by
accusers not onely to reprooue him but also to reproach him Sinne doth neither want Siluer-smithes nor Gold-smithes to serue her with plate and garnish her with iewels that will call him Foole that will but speake against her excesse Sinne hath her Silkemen and Mercers that doth serue her of lace silke sattin veluet cloath of siluer cloath of gold that will say he is a Criticke that will inueigh against her pride Sinne hath her Merchants that will transport the commodities behoouefull for the common wealth into forraine countries and will returne backe againe toies and trifles that will say he is but a satyrist that will detect her vanitie Sinne hath her Lawyers that will bring him into the Starre-Chamber for a Libeller that will speake against her Bribery Sinne hath her Procters that will cite him to the Commissaries Court and make him doe open penance that will speake against her whooredome I might yet speake of women whereof a great number that are not to be detected with any bodily abuse that would yet sharpen their tongues to chide at any man that would reprehend those enormities that sinne by custome had ingrafted in them But I would I could now admonish Ladies and Gentlewomen that amongst all the creatures of Gods handie worke I doe acknowledge to bee most excellent here vpon the earth but as the finest cloath is most aptest to take a staine so their milde dispositions inclined to all compassionate loue and curtesie are soonest led astray and most easiest to be seduced And this olde Hagge of Hell this loathsome Lady Sinne with her glazed eyes her painted cheekes her new-formed fashions and her inchanting tongue doth so bewitch and blindfolde their vnderstandings that when they thinke they conuerse with an Angell of Light they giue entertainment to a Monster of Hell but when Sinne shall present her selfe to their new awakened soules in her true forme and shape and begins once to play the make-bate betweene God and them and their owne consciences to testifie betweene them and themselues then they shall see to their owne sorrow what Saint it is that they haue serued they shall then perceiue to their great horror and grief that this darling of theirs so dearly esteemed and beloued will then be most busie to affright and afflict them I would I could wish therefore and with a reuerent regard I doe intreate them that they would bethinke themselues of their owne happinesse whilst they haue time and not to doe as that foolish gentlewoman that neuer remembred to say her prayers till she heard it thunder But some wil say And why women more then men because as women are more flexible and therefore more apt to be seduced to ill so they are more tractable againe and therfore more easie to be induced to vertue Men are composed of an vneuen temperature of the elements togither with the malitious influence of the planets prefiguring them to be sturdie stubborne froward and ouerthwart but women are by nature of a more excellent metall their hearts are more soft and yeelding and themselues more pliable to all vertue and goodnesse There is more possibility to reclaime ten ill liuing women to a conformitie of a better life then to reforme one misliuing man Would they now bethinke themselues when they looke in their Glasses that there is no Forehead heeld so gracefull amongst many women as that which the Prophet Ieremie tearmeth to be gracelesse the Forehead that is past shame and cannot blush let them therefore fall a chiding at their owne resemblances beginning first with the Forehead and say ô thou proud and shamelesse Forehead the very Chaire and Seate of pride where thou shouldest be deckt with a Crowne of Glory thou art clouded and ouershadowed with a monstrous Mappe of Haire no lesse offensiue to the Maiestie of God then ougly and deformed in the sight of all good men be ashamed therefore of thy intollerable pride and by thy humilitie and submissiue lowlinesse reconcile thy selfe againe to thy God whom thou hast so highly offended Descending then a little say yet againe ô you wandering and lasciuious Eyes the attracters and drawers on of lust and sinfull thoughts you that were first created to be the Deemers of my Discretion but now become the Dimners of the insight of my Soule forbeare your wonted traines of light and wanton glances seeke now with bitter teares to bewaile your former follies and lifting vp your selues to Heauen aske grace and mercie Proceeding thus you may yet reprooue the Tongue that is more apt to speake ill then good the Eares againe that are euer more set wide open to vanitie but still shut vp to good counsell or godly instruction And so we may say of all the rest of our necessarie and naturall members that are displaced of their ordinarie courses for being first created as the Ministers of the Soule are now become the Disturbers of our Innocency This externall beautie of the body so much esteemed of amongst women when they behold it in a Glasse it should stirre them vp a farre off to display the maiestie of the Creator and from thence should passe with the wings of their cogitations to the contemplation of the highest Faire which is the inuisible beautie of the Almighty God from whence as from a Fountaine all smaller Riuers deriue their beauties It is said that Africa bringeth forth euery yeare a new Monster the reason is that in the desarts of that countrey the wilde and sauage beasts that are both diuerse in nature and contrarie in kinde will yet ingender the one with the other but England hatcheth vp euery moneth a new Monster euery weeke a new Sinne and euery day a new Fashion our Monsters are not bred in the Desarts as those in Africa but in euery Towne and Citty where they are so chearely fostered so daintily cherished that they multiply on heapes by hundreds and by thousands It were not possible for me now to set down how this monstrous generation thus hatched vp by Sinne hath beene from time to time procreated and brought into the world one sinne still begetting an other Pride the eldest daughter of Sinne was first Spaund in Heauen shee was from thence expelled but shee drew after her a great dissolution of Angels It was pride that begat Contempt in Paradise where there was no Apple in the Garden so well pleasing to Eue as that which God had forbidden her It was Contempt that begot Malice And Malice againe begat Murther when Cain kild his brother Abell As the sonnes of men increased in the world so Sinne began to multiply so fast that God repented him that hee had made man To purge the world of her abhominations the Deluge came and all were drowned except eight persons After the Floud amongst the sonnes of Noah the generation of the accursed Cham became to be great and mightie vpon the earth at which time Sinne was growne againe to that
own valour now he that is but weake of faith wil not beleue these wōders must be terrified with the stab It is as good a warrant for him that would swagger sweare and be euery day drunke to be called a Captaine as for him that would become a Rebell both to God and his Prince to be called a Catholique Honour was wont to be the Adamant to draw the souldiers sword but now the instigation of a Harlot or a pot of strong Ale His vertue is this if it be but for a matter of a thousand pounds a Souldiers word is as good as his band I might now speake of Knights that in former ages were had in honourable reputation and the order so remaineth honourable still where the dignitie is bestowed vpon worthy persons but as amongst Captaines and Souldiers there be a number that doth march vnder those titles that are but counterfeits so amongst Knights what a number are crept into the order that doth but be-durty the dignity and are become a scandall to that honourable order Knight-hood was wont to be the reward of vertue but now a common prey to the betraiers of vertue we shall sooner meet Sir Dinadine or Sir Dagonet at another mans table thē with Sir Tristrum de Lionis or Sir Lancelot de lake in the field Knights in former ages haue beene assistant vnto Princes and were the staies of the Common-wealth but now they liue by begging from the Prince and are a burthen to the common-wealth May we yet speake a little of the Courtier I will speake but softly the first principles of a Courtier I speake but of the meaner sort he must learne to creepe to crouch to flatter and to climbe vp to immerited praise by the steps of others disgrace and the ambitious sort must not be without base mindes to attend them that will stoope to any villany for preferment A right Courtier is high in his owne imagination and his best complements are Pride and Ignorance he is more curious in his wordes then constant in his promises the matter that he most admireth is the beauty of his Mistris his greatest circumspection is about his apparrel how he may pinke it how he cut it stitch it and lace it he is still inquisitiue after newes and in all his discourses he dares speake more then himselfe vnderstands He spends his greatest time in the contemplation of suits and he will not open his lips to salute any man that is not clad in silke and his apparrell made in the new fashion Now I cannot tell what I should call the study of Law whether I should tearm it to be a profession a science or an art a trade I cannot call it yet there be some that do thinke it to be a craft because a Gentleman demanding of a Lawyers seruant what crafts-man his maister was answered Syr my master is a crafty Lawyer But I thinke it may rather be called an occupation for they haue those amongst them that they do call apprentises at Law who by that time they haue serued out their yeres and that they are become iourney men they do trouble the whole common-wealth with their practise as they make it an vngracious practise that doth breed such disturbance There be three sorts of men that they say may tell a lye by authority and those are an olde man a Trauailer and a Poet but a Lawyer hath both authority and law to tell any lye that his Clyent will informe The office of the Law is to command things that be honest and vertuous againe to countermand what is dishonest and vicious and next after the Gospell the Law is the greatest comfort that God hath giuen to the sonnes of men it remedieth iniuries and giueth to euery man what is his but by the corruption of some Lawyers the Lawes are made traps and traines whereby both rich and poore are caught and spoyled for they haue such a number of subtill subtillties that they do yet make more subtill by their subtill handling that they be able to set the Lawes themselues togither by the eares and vtterly to ouerthrow one Law with another The Lawyer is more hated for his inconstancy then loued for his learning when he will take mony to defend a matter that in his owne conscience he knowes to be vniust Their tongues were wont to be tied to tenne shillings but they haue raised their market and they thinke foure for one now to be too litle yet they do shew thēselues to be of a charitable disposition they do loue their enemies they do loue and with an entire affection they do heartily imbrace the Angels that with faire showes sometimes shining and glistering in their faces do send a number of them to the Deuill Now to wind vp all and for a last farewell I could find in my heart to praise Poetry and to commend a great number of writers which I do better know by the excellency of their lines then by their persons but their own works are a better cōmendation then I am able to apply but there are a nūber in these daies that make semblance to be retaining to the Muses that do pester the Stationers stalles with such vnprofitable stuffe that learning might seeme to be the mistres of vngodlinesse when our especiall endeuours consisteth but in the abuse of knowledge and Poetry that hath beene accustomed vnder feined fictions to discouer Vice is now become the Art of Flattery Be there not printed lines or to speake more truly may be called printed lyes for take away but so much of the matter as they haue inforced but to Lying and to Flattering and there would nothing be left remaining that were worth the reading How many Writers be there that do labour with the Mountaines to bring forth Myce that do seeke to draw the Lyons skin vpon Aesops Asse and Hercules Shoe vpon a childes foote Some againe conuerts all their Reason into Rime and some will write a whole Volume neither in Rime nor Reason let their lines be neuer so vaine and friuolous yet they must be fronted with the name of Excellent But they doe well to sute the World with Bookes according to the time for rude limping lines are best befitting a lame halting age Writers are not so vaine but Readers for the most part are three times more foolish and a vaine glorious tytle doth better fit their appetites then a good booke the Stationer dares hardly aduenture to print a good booke if it tend to the reprehending of vice or vanitie Idle toyes tending to sensualitie or other like lycencious follie are set foorth vpon their Stalles in bright and glistering couers when those Bookes that are eyther drawing to vertue or godlinesse are throwne into dustie corners Socrates admonisheth that if any man be carefull of his honor let him foresee that he hath not a poet to his enemy because they haue
not so great a grace in pray sing as in ill speaking but yet to blaze the praises of my friend I would wish a learned Poets pen that with a drop of Inke can exalt him whom they loue and leaue him famed to posterity But this trauell of wit is the most thriftlesse and vnprofitable exercise that any man can indeuour for where doth it finde recompence or who is he that doth reward it The Swaine that followeth his handy worke is paid at night for his handy labour the Cobler that sits and cloutes a Shoe receiues his peny for his patch but he that digs the Myne of wit and giues the world new eyes to see into conceits beyond the common sence what gaineth he or what is his reward perhaps good words A poore satisfaction yet he that gets good words from all must haue a strange Subiect and a pleasing pen. But stay my braynesick thoughts whither will you gallop you haue ridden a large circuit and I feare me quite out of the way or at the least to little purpose You haue inueighed against sin and that is all one to rolle Sisiphus Stone or to fill Daneas Tubs We must not taxe the times abuses we may make a show to expell vice and to shut it out at the brode gate but we may priuily take it in againe at the wicket wee may desire to come to Christ but it must bee with Nicodemus it must bee in the night when no bodie may see vs. We may dance with Christ in the one hand and the world in an other and so wee inroule our selues in his Muster booke we may march in Sathans campe and fight vnder the Diuels banner It is ynough to cry Lord Lord but not to doe any thing that is commanded by the Lord if we thinke of God wee thinke him to be a good man easie to be pleased and vve knovv hovv to put him off vvith faire vvords and dumbe shovves till our prime of pleasure be past it is time ynough to repeÌ„t vs of our sins when we be vvel spent in yeres ready for the graue but if vve vvill haue our wils in sinne God will haue his will in punishment and our short pleasures being ended euen then begins our euerlasting paines the pleasures and delights of the world as they are soone loued so they are as quickly ended but they are long yea very long lamented My conclusion is it is lesse misery when we die to giue vp the ghost then vvhilst vve liue to giue vp the holie Ghost I leaue vvhat I haue vvritten to thy conscience and leauing againe thy conscience to God I rest FINIS EPILOGVS I Haue here cast into a small volume a large discourse of sin and wickednes the which I haue endeauoured rather by a diligent obseruation of the time then by any other shaddow of complement I haue composed a Glasse wherein to behold the inconstant follies of this giddy headed age a taske that I know wil rather produce hatred then win loue the vicious sort doth so hugge their sinnes and doth so bestroke and flatter their owne abhominations that he that should but detect there vice and villany he could not be accounted to be Caesars friend they cry out crucifige crucifige away with him and deliuer vnto vs Baxabas Let vs haue him that can sing lullaby to folly that can smooth vp sinne and wincke at any maner of wickednesse He that is too busie with his ve vobis he must be brought coram nobis he must haue his tongue charmed he must be taught to know to whom he speaks and how he dares presume to disturb their quietnes that are so addicted to follow their pleasure and delight that they cannot indure to heare neither of God nor the Diuell neither of heauen nor of hell nor of any other motion that should either mooue them to repentance or reprehend there sinnes WheÌ„ Lot went about to disswade the Sodomites from their abhominations were they not angry with him did they not say vnto him What hast thou to doe to take vpon thee to correct and iudge vs He that should now speake against the pride of the time where should he be able to shew his face but that both men and women would be ready to worrow him whoredome and adultery hath so many friends to support them so many fauourites to vphold them so many of all sorts both old and yong rich and poore that doth delight follow the game that he that should but open his lips to reprehend it the whole rablement of whoremasters harlots bawdes panders and such vicious liuers they would say he were a criticke a satirist a precisian a puritane or a counterfeit hipocrite but they would not mend their liues Drunkennesse againe is growne into that generalitie that he is not accounted to be an honest man that will not bee drunken for good fellowship but amongst drunkards that be of diuerse kindes I hold those to bee more dangerous ill that are drunken with vanitie then those other that are drunken with wine for the one two houres sleepe may restore him againe to the vse of his senses but the other many houres daies monethes nor yeares may suffice to make him to looke into his owne folly Amongst these I commend me to the drunken Tobacconists that doth besot themselues in their owne conceits attributing that soueraignty to a stinking Indian weede that if they were not enemies to their owne discretions daily experience would teach them that their excessiue sucking at their Tobacco pipe is but a flat mockery and would make that fauorite that doth thinke himselfe most wise to defend it to confesse his owne ignorance neither can there be a stronger argument to proue it meere vanitie indeed then to see it so much imbraced by so many vaine men that doth so much dote and are so farre in loue with it that some of them are more angry with him that doth but speak against their Tobacco then they would be with him that should take exceptions at the shalownesse of their wit But hee that weares a siluer or a golden Mine on his backe there is no question to be made neither of his wit nor of his honesty he may praise or dispraise how or what he list he is priuiledged and he hath a parcell of scripture to avow in his owne behalfe Dixit insipiens Psal 14. By this it may appeare Sinne is growne to that statelines of Pride that shee will not be controld If we speake against sinne we must doe it lispingly wee must not speake it out too bitterly but the follies of this age must bee seasoned with sugar they must be made sweete but those sinnes that do seeme sweete in the committing will be found as bitter when without repentance they come to be accounted for Loâ—ke vpon the actions of this age consider of the times abuses whose eyes are so bleared with vice that doth not behold how sinne and