were good they had it that know how to vse it For such are lightly weake in resolution And men but of a simple constitution Or are by some seducing Villan taught That their goods rather then their good haue sought Now I suppose the man that well obtaines His wealth and in an honest calling gaines More wisedome shewes in vsing it aright Then such a Cynnick as contemnes in quite Men will be in extreames but sure the lesse Is to neglect wealth for much greedines Makes not the body onely leane and foule But also spreads infection to his soule And clogges her so with things of no account That she is ouer-poyz'd to much to mount But those that for to goe astray are loth Vse their endeuours to auoide them both OF AMBITION SATYR 9. HEre 's yet another cal'd Ambition Little with men of low condition But 't is a humor which doth euer search The stout-high-minded and doth alway perch In men of spirit This doth farre surmount The force of Loue It maketh no account Of Nature nor Religion 't is not Law Nor Conscience that can keep such men in awe Ther 's no estate contents them peace and strife Are both alike to them yea death and life Wiues children friends nor none but such as may Be vnto their Ambitious plots a stay Shall be respected and so they may reape What they desire the 'il not stick to heape Murther on Murthers yea and think 't no sinne Be it of strangers or their nearest kin They haue such flinty breasts they can out-beard Danger it selfe and be no whit afeard Proud daring Spirits yet we see confusion Of such high minds doth prooue the sad couclusion And he that first was ruin'd by this euill Was our grand foe which wee doe call the Diuell For he aspir'd so high that higher powers Wrought his iust fall and now he seeketh ours He first infus'd this ill into our brest For to disquiet and disturbe our rest This most vnreasonable strong desire This too excessiue longing to aspire To honour and promotion which indeed Doth from a sottish ignorance proceed It is the wild'st and most disorderd'st passion And a great enemy to contentation For whatsoeuer state man hath attain'd T is e ' ne as if that he had nothing gain'd For he hath hereby still a farther I cope And neuer reaches to the end of 's hope That which he doth possesse he neere respecteth But altogether things vnknowne affecteth And counts them best which whatsoe're they Being once gotten too are not esteem'd But what 's the reason that they doe abhor sseem'd The things possest that they haue labor'd for What is the cause I say they doe contemne Or cannot vse things hauing gained them Sure hence it doth proceed they doe not know VVhat the things are that they doe long for so And they obtaine them oft e're they haue might And Reason fit to gouerne them aright Had many of our reaching Yeomanry That haue growne wealthy through good husbandry And some of our proud Gentry that haue sought Titles and vndeserued Honors bought Had they I say before-hand knowne the shame And beggery that followed on the same For want to knowing where to they aspir'd They would not haue those Dignities desir'd And so indeed they might haue walk't the street And not haue feard the Counters nor the Fleet Yea and with Good-man haue contented bin Where now there 's scarce a good man of the kin Ambitious men wil euer enuious be Regarding neither loue nor amity And though that they may make a goodly shew With reason it can neuer stand I know They should be faithfull or with Iustice deale Either for Princes or for Common-weale For why this humor makes them to attend And all their labours and best counsels spend In their owne plots And so they haue no losse They care not whose proceedings they do crosse Vertuous endeauors this doth also let Yea makes men many a good thing to forget And though I 'me loath to speake it I protest I thinke it raignes not in the Clergy least For they at first shew great humility While that they are of meane ability Thei 'l be industrious and take paine to teach For twise a week shal be the least thei 'le preach Or in their pouerty they wil not stick For Catechizing viziting the sick And such like dutious workes of Piety As do belong to their society But if that they can reach a Vicarage Or be inducted to some Parsouage Men must content the mselues and thinke it well If once a yeare they heare the Sermon bell Now if it be a Deanery or so If not in twelue months it is oft enough And why Alas consider that Deuotion Is but a busie thing that lets Promotion And if that they should giue their minds too 't all Who should haue their great places when they fall No no t were fitter they their ease did take And se what friendes and Patrons they can make For the next Hierarchy or learne how To humor and to please the Great-ones now But if that they in that aduenture speed Thei 'le be more paineful yes t is like indeed If they get into their formalibus And Reuerent Pontificalibus 'T is very like I say that we shall heare They vse the Pulpit once in twise a yeare Nay and t is wel if it be done so oft For this Ambition beares men so aloft They soone forget their duties and this pride I in the Clergy worst of all abide In them I hold it the most odious And no Ambition so pernitious Eeither for prince or Church or common good VVitnesse the beast of Rome and his fou'e brooâ— Of clyming Cardinals who from base states Are gotten to be Kings and Princes mates Yea their superiors This the diuel makes His cheefest engine where withall he shakes Religions soundnesse And rends in it chinks Which he dawbes vp againe with what he thinkâ— Shall ruin't all in time was it not hence He had his meanes to mar the innocence Of Romes first Bishops yes the Church grew strong And flourish't while it was supprest with wrong But when the worthy Emperors embrac't The Sacred Truth and with their fauors grac't Their good proceedings They then gan to leaue Their humble Nature off and closely weaue Vnder a Religious shew not a bare Miter It fits not the successors of Saint Peter A triple Diadem and such a state That neuer any earthly Potentate Enioy'd the like yet all with humble preaching A long degree I tak 't beyond the reaching Of temporall Ambition But I pray Er'e the first Beast his time be done away There rise not vp another monster heere 'Mongst our Ambitious Churchmen I should feare A second Antichrist but that I hope They either shall be kept within their scope Or the last iudgement whose nigh times vnknowne Shall cut him off e're he be wholly growne But more of these I here omit to speake Because I thinke there 's no
fault offend I le shew First when that they new worshippings inuent And cannot hold themselues so well content VVith that which God doth in his word ordaine As with inuentions of their owne weake braine It seemes they think their fancies to fulfill VVould please him better then to haue his will Next I doe reckon them that ouer-bold Gods sacred Legend haue at will contrould And maugre his grand-curse some places chang'd Added to some and some againe estrang'd Then those great masters I presumptuous deeme That of their knowledge doe so well esteeme They will force others as the Papists doe For to alow of their opinions to Yea though it be a meere imagination That neither hath good ground nor iust foundation Some will be prying though they are forbidden Into those secrets God ment should be hidden So doe some students in Astrologie Though they can make a faire Apologie And so doe those that very vainely trie To finde our fortunes by their Palmistrie These doe presume but much more such as say At this or that time comes the iudgement day Or such as aske or dare for to relate What God was doing ere he did create Heauen and Earth or where he did abide How and by whom he then was glorifide But those that into such deep secrets wind A slender profit in their labours find For to make knowne how highly they offend A desperate madnes is ofttimes their end Yet such their nature is thei le not beware But to be prying further still they dare For sure that longing can no way be flaid Which well the Poet seemd to know who said Man what he is forbidden still desires And what he is denide off most requires Rather then many will a man gainesay They dare make bold with God they thinke they may Because it seems they deeme him not so strong Or so well able to reuenge a wrong Some such great power to themselues assume And on their owne strength doe so much presume They seldome doe for Gods assistance craue As if it were a needlesse thing to haue Which is the cause that often the conclusion Proues their owne shame their hindrance confusion In Praying men presume Vnlesse they be With eu'ry one in loue and charitie Or if in their Petitions they desire Such things as are vnlawfull to require Death 's their reward we know that break the law But neither that nor yet damnations awe Keeps vs from sinne a thousand God-heads more Then one we make and dare for to adore Our owne hand-works the Sabboth we disdaine And dreadlesse take the name of God in vaine If but by his Lords hand an Irish swere To violate that oath he stands in feare Least him of both his lands and goods he spoile For making him the instrument of guile And yet dare we poore wormes before his face Respecting whom the greatest Lords are base Both sweare forsweare vsing that great Name At pleasure without any feare of blame Why should not we as well suppose that he Who in our hearts would haue no fraud to be Will miserable poore and naked leaue vs Yea of those Blessings and Estates bereaue vs We now hold of him If we thus contemne And still abuse his sacred name and him But men secure in wickednes perâ—ist As if they could please God with what they list If they can Lord haue mercy on them say And mumble some few prayers once a day There needs no more nay surely there be such That thinke it is enough if not too-much But what 's their reason God made all the man Why should he haue but part allow'd him than He in their seruice nothing doth delight Vnlesse it be with all their strength and might With their whole heart soule and that way toe As he appoints them in his word to doe Some men their are who hope by honesty By their Almes-deeds and works of Charity To win Gods fauour and for to obtaine Saluation by it but their hope 's in vaine Also their 's others cause they haue the faith For to beleeue 't is true the Scripture saith Since they haue knowledge in Religion And make thereof a strict profession Or doe obserue the outward worship duly Do think that their in they haue pleas'd God truely Now these are iust as far as th' other wide Or they Gods worship doe by halfes diuide And for his due which is e'ne all the heart Do dare presume to offer him a part But th' one must know he will not pleased be With a Religion that wants honestie And th' other that as little good will doe His honest shew without Religion toe If this be so as so it is indeed How then wil those presumptuous fellowes speed Who thinke forsooth because that once a yeare They can afford the poore some slender cheare Obserue their Country feasts or Common doles And entertaine their Christmas wassaile boles Or else because that for the Churches good They in defence of Hock-tide custome stood A Whitsun-ale or some such goodly motion The better to procure young mens deuotion What will they doe I say that think to please Their mighty God with such vaine things as these Sure very ill for though that they can mone And say that Loue and Charity is gone As old folkes do because their banquetings Their antient-drunken-summer reuelings Are out of date though they can say through teaching And since the Ghospell hath had open preaching Men are growne worse though they can soon espy A little mote in their owne neighbours eye Yea though that they their Pater noster can And call their honest neighbour Puritan How ere they in their owne conceits may smile Yet they are presumptuous weake and vile Also in this abhominable time It is amongst vs now a common crime To flout and scoffe at those which we do spy VVilling to shake off humane Vanity And those that gladly do themselues enforce Vnto a strict and more religious course Then most men doe although they truely know No men are able to pay halfe they owe thought Vnto their God as though their wisedomes He migh be serued better then he ought They count precise and curious more then needs They try their sayings and weigh all their deeds A thousand thinges that they well do shal be Slightly past ouer as if none did see But one thing ill done though the best does ill They shal be certaine for to heare of still Yea not with standing they can daily smother Millions of ten times greater faults in other VVho are so hated or so often blam'd Or so reuil'd or scorn'd or so misnam'd To whom do we now our contentions lay Who are so much term'd Puritans as they That feare God most But t is no maruaile men Presume so much to wrong his children when As if they fear'd not his reuengefull rod They can blaspheme and dare to anger God Now by these wordes to some men it may seeme That I haue Puritans in high esteeme
Indeed if by that name you vnderstand Those that the vulgar Atheists of this land Do daily terme so that is such as are Fore-named heere and haue the greatest care To know and please their maker then 't is true I loue them well for loue to such is due But if you meane the busie headed sect The hollow crew the counterfeit Elect Our Dâ—gmatists and euer-wrangling spirits That doe as well contemne good workes as merits If you meane those that make their care seem great To get soules food when 't is for bodies meate Or those all whose Religion doe depend On this that they know how to discommend A Maygame or a Summerpole defie Or shake the head or else turne vp the eye If you meane those how euer they appeare This I say of them would they all might heare Though in a zealous habit they doe wander Yet they are Gods foes and the Churches slander And though they humble be in show to many They are as haughty euery way as any What need I here the lewd presumptions tell Of Papists in these daies t is knowne to well For them there of each peasant now conuinces In things as well concerning God as Princes Other I find toe that doe dare presume The Office of a Teacher to assume And being blind themselues and gone astray Take on them to shew other men the way Yea some there be who haue small guifts or spirit No kind of knowledge and as little merit That with the world haue made a firme coÌ„iunctioâ— Yet dare to vndergoe the sacred function Of Christ his Pasâ—or Yea such is their daring That neither for their Charge nor Duty caring Insteed of giuing good and sound Instruction They lead themselues and others to Destruction We read that Ieremy and Moses both To vndertake their charge were wondrous loth The greatnes of the same so much appal'd them Yea though that God himselfe directly cal'd them But our braue Clarkes as if they did condemne The two much bashfull backwardnes of them Or else as if themselues they abler thought Those Diuine Callings haue not onely sought Without respect of their Ability A Câ—ristian Conscience or Ciuility But being of old Simon Magus tribe Purchase it often with a hateful bribe VVhich showes that they such places do desire Not for the good of others but their hire But Patrons feare yee neither God nor hell Dare ye the Churches patrimony sell For filthy lucre in despite of Law Sacred or humane Pedants dare yee hah Dare you buy 't of them by Gods help vnlesse This villany ere long haue some redresse I le find a meanes or else let me haue blame To bring some smart or else eternal shame Vpon you for 't it may be you do sent it But all your pollicy shall not preuent it What do you look for Hell and your Dâ—mnation VVel you shall haue it by Impropriation I know now you haue enter'd Simony You le double damne your selues with Periury For they as oft together may be seene As is the chilling feauer and the spleene But oh deare Countrymen be more aduis'd Thinke what God is he may not be dispis'd Could you well weigh his Iustice and his power How many infinites it passeth ouer And knew his iudgements we would not dissemble An outward fained reuerence but tremble And shake with horror you 'd not dare to venter Sanctum Sanctorum so vnfit to enter His Churches good you rather would aduance Then rob it thus of her inheritance Or make the same as men stil vnbeleeuing Like to a house of Merchandise and Theeuing You to whom deeds of former times are knowne Marke to what passe this age of ours is growne Euen with vs that strictest seeme to be In the professing Christianity You know men haue been carefull to augment The Churches portion and haue beene content To adde vnto it out of their estate And Sacriledge all Nations did so hate That the meere Irish who seem'd not to care For God nor Man had the respect to spare The Churches profits yea their heed was such That in the time of need they would not touch The knowne prouisions they daily saw Stor'd vp in Churches in such feare and awe The places held them though that they did know The thinges therein belonged to their foe But now the world mans good natures chang'd From this opinion most men are estrang'd We rob the Church and what we can attaine By Sacriledge and theft is our best gaine In paying dues the refuse of our stock The barrennest and leanest of our flock Shall serue our Pastor whom for to deceiue We think no sin nay further by your leaue Men seeke not to impropriate a part Vnto themselues but they can find in heart T' engross vp all which vile presumption Hath brought Church-liuings to a strange consumption And if this strong disease do not abate 'T wil be the poorest member in the State No maruaile though in steed of learned Preachers We haue beene pester'd with such simple Teachers Such poore mute tong-tide readers as scarce know Whether that God made Adam first or no Thence it proceeds and ther 's the cause that Place And Office at this time incurs disgrace For men of iudgement or good dispositions Scorne to be tyde to any base conditions Like to our hungry Pedants who 'le engage Their soules for any curtold Vicarage I say there 's none of knowledge wit or merit But such as are of a most seruile spirit That will so wrong the Church as to presume Some poore-halfe-demi-Parsnage to assume In name of all no they had rather quite Be put beside the same than wrong Gods right Well they must entertaine such Pedants then Fitter to feed swine then the soules of men But Patrons thinke such best for there 's no feare They will speake any thing they loath to heare They may run foolishly to their owne damnation Without reproofe or any disturbation To let them see their vice they may bee bold And yet not stand in doubt to be contol'd Those in their houses may keepe priuate Schooles And either serue for Iesters or for fooles And will suppose that they are highly grac't Be they but at their Patrons table plac't And there if they be cal'd but Priests in scoffe Straight they duck down and al their caps come off Supposing it for to be done in kindnes Which shows their Weaknes apparant Blindnes Moreouer 't is well knowne that former time Held it to be a vild presumptuous crime Such men in sacred Offices to place Whom they knew toucht with any foule disgrace Or to allow those whom they did suspect To haue an outward bodily defect But be they now not only crooked lame Dismembr'd and of the vnshapeliest frame That euer Nature form'd though they be blind Not in sight onely but as well in mind Though they be such who if they come to shreeuinâ— Might confess murder whordom slander theeuing And all damb'd villany yet