Fortunes tennis-ball a warning to all that are nursers of pride, for justice is knowne to be eagle-ey'd .... Or, A proviso for all those that are elevated, to take heed of falling, for fortune spights more the mightie then the poore: according to the poet: qui cadit in terram non habet unde cadit.

Pride will have a fall . The downfall of Pride , and aspiring wits , Painted at full in their ague fits . PRide that aspiring girle , whose soaring minde Flyes swifter then the ayre or Easterne wind , Hath got a downfall , when she thought to fly , Time held her tresses , pulld her back , her eye Which still was fixt upon the highest spheere , Is , taught now to look lower , and her eare Set to a lower key , her loftie front Must be new Christned in afflictions font . Our Noblemen , me thinks , I now espie Like splendent stars fixt on our azure skie : Where each man studies to out-shine the rest , And he most proud that can be counted best . Yet know ye stars , who bespankle our skie , Know that the Sun is still the worlds eye , From him you shall receive your lustre , and Must pay 't again when he shall it demand ; Our King , I mean , who is this Ilands eye Of Government by true Epitomie : The moon oftimes doth strive t' eclipse the sun , As overgiddie stars of late have done , I read how Phaeton Don Phebus sonne , That he might know from what race he was sprung , Swelling with pride , desir'd his father graunt This one boone to him , who thus himself did vaunt , That he might guid his fathers horses and , Have his bright charret at his owne command ; Which thing was granted caus'd the world burne , And threw the child to his untimely urne , 'T is no expedient for a vulgar eye , To stare upon superiour Maiestie , Nor can you great ones , though you 're crept so high , Say you can rule the bright translucent skie : No god can thunder but the mightie Iove , Yet all are gods as well as he above ; Therefore be wise , and cease to high t' aspire Least you do burne in Phaetontike fire , Let Soll's bays alone , I mean the crowne , Those that soare high are aptest to fall downe , Have you not seen the loftie Cedar fall , When shrubs fast rooted stand within the vale , 'T is not your riches , nor your pomp of state , Honours nor strength , nor can powers mitricate Secure you here on earth , fate will overthrow , When blastering stormes of fortune 'gin to blow Cesar and Pompey in their golden prime . Whose armes did thunder terror in their time Wear queld by fate , pride nought avail'd there then , Their graves were digd on earth amongst other men , Ye kinglike eagles which on this Cedar top Do perch , pray look how soon mans life doth stop , 'T is as soone here and yet 't is sooner done , Then the hot summers rain , or winters sun . Set fast your footing lest you catch a fall We hope to rise at honours trumpets call . I 've seen our Bishops on the wings of hope Flying with swiftnesse to the reverend pope Thinking to cloake all with their fallacies , Which had no credence from our watchfull eyes ; First Metrapollitan , could not a Miter Suffice your little pate would you be whiter Then La●vne can make you , you strive to pull downe Religion here to gain the Triple crown : and how you bend and bowe to th' altar plac't In an old corner which is ●oward the east , And how you cringe and creep when ye shall hear The name of Iesus touch your reverend eare . Displace the Levite who shall ●eed his flocke Twice on a sabbath from the common stock . Beware , repent , for now the Scottish club , Hath drove the into Englands powdering tube : Scholiers are bound to curse thy aspiring minde , Nor here , nor there they can no comfort finde , But they are mercifull , and still will pray That great Iove would be pleasd to send a day That they might hear you preach on tower hill , Which thing they hope will rid thee from all ill . If the low keele of a great ship shall fayle , What ' i st the better for a brave top sayle , Or if the roote of a fayre tree doth rot , How can we well believe the tree doth not , The root of this our kingdome rotten found : But yet I hope the kingdom is still sound , The Land the root which was made rotten quite For some there were through weaknesse of their sight . Can't view its splendor , the kingdomes still sicke Being troubled with the subtile politick , Better some members perish then the whole Body should languish in continuall thrall ; Our Judges are corrupt , they should dispence The Law according to each mans offence Which they wrest other wayes , pride bids them rise And mount above the bright bespangled skies , But judgement pulls them down and they shall finde What dangers hap to the aspiring minde , Hear this proud courtier , whose aspiring braines Are never fed but with strong Ela straines , Refraine to soare aloft , lest that you fall With prides projecters to eternall thrall ; Seek not to stop petitioners who sue To right old wrongs , for 't is your scarlet crew That 's Banisht , which for bribes , or hope of gaine You 'l gain the devill , and stop justice raigne . Next leave your swearing , you strive to invent New oathes , and make them but a complement , Gods name is bare of honour in our hearing And quite worn out by our blasphemous swearing , It 's taken in vain by iesters every day , Vnlesse that actors sweare , it is no play : An execrable vice when you shall die Your selves in sinnes vault , and crucifie Our Saviour , hourlie make his wounds bleed fresh , And thrust sharpe pricking speares into his flesh . Leave off for shame lest judgement over take you , For when that comes your pride must needs forsake ( you ) O how you 'l cringe and prate if a great Pear Shall daigne to lend the audience of his care , Or how officious will you seeme to be If you shall but espy his Majesty , Superiors you adore , like Persians You 'l worship the bright sun , not country Pans . Inferiours shall not gaine that curtesey As once to wag your hat , or bend your knee , But near me Squashers , let me tell you plaine , If you use those things my pen shall complaine , Let pride perswade what she can I know , If Fortune once shall kicke you downe below We shall espie you , your supposed skie Will prove at length but a meer timpany : Your moon will waine , your hour 's of pride will waste Then what will come to those who 're Ianus fac'd . Gentiles refraine the sharking cards and dice , Hearken to counsell and hear sound advice , What pride doth bid you spend , give to the poore , Let hospitallitie fatten at your dore , So shall you rise when prides associates fall , Who yeeld themselves as Fortunes Tennis-ball . Expect a while , and you shall quicklie see The derivation of their pedigree . If any one of this proud troupe should die Then who should write their epitaphs but I. An epitaph on a noble man . Here lies the Cedar who aspired so tall , That Joue took notice of , and caus'd him fall . On a gentleman . Here lies the verie timpanie of pride , Which made him breake at length , and so he died . On our great Bishop . W. L. A. B. C. If anie stranger shall ask who lies here , Let this new toomb this for inscription beare . Paint Pope and divell , make the stranger laugh ; Mix his own shame , and ther 's his epitaph . On a Iudge . He that iudged many is condemned now , Because 't was prov'd by law he broke his vow ; Pride was his Goddesse , he thought still t' aspire , But sure his grave is nere a whit the higher . On a Courtier . He that took many bribes thought to bribe death , But death dealt cunningly , took bribe , and breath . FINIS .