1 IT seemes that Tunis is an auncient towne Neere to the ruines of Carthage once so prowde , Whose stately buildings now are cleane pulled downe , And calmde her bruit , that sounded sometime lowde : But roome , that is their auncient far away Doth holde , and shall , though cities all decay . Roome is more large , then spacious Millaine faire , Or Venice or the Tartars great Camball , Boeams three Prages , or Egypts rich Alcaire , Or Quinsei in Cataie , biggest of them all , And more I say , after the day of doome Hell shall be no where , vnles it be in roome .

2 ROome is a taker , Poets say , And lawyers are so too , you see Roome is a taker by my faie , No learned man can disagree , And roome shall take , beleeue well me , At least till something , no where be .

3 MAny a man doth speake of mee , But no man euer shall me see , For all in one , doe full agree That no where must my dwelling bee .

4 NOt Marke , but Mercurie keepes her warme , And Neptune hugs her in his arme Infertill , fertile of all good things , Her Lord her seruant her children kings .

5 SAy what it is and if you can , That neither was by God create , Nor framed by the hand of man , Nor by the fiend that doth him hate ; But caused it was for tyrants strong , As things are many of great woorth , Which made it straight and woondrous long When at the first , they brought it foorth : And good it doth , and none ill deedes , Feeding vpon greene grasse and weedes .

6

A Prince , for his delight , erected a spacious forrest , which beareth euen in the coldest monthes of the yeeres , store of sweet flowers , holsome herbs , and faire trees , some blossoming , & some bearing fruit . The forrest is diuided into fiue partes , euery one of them containing birdes , beasts , and fishes of diuers kindes and qualities .

A keeper hath this forrest in charge , that in a woonderfull sort attendeth ouer it , to the preseruing , refection , creating and recreating of euery thing vegetant or sensitiue . A wife or sister he hath that is as diligem as himselfe , who with a sconce in the one hand , and a watering pot in the other , goeth about continually watering the herbes . The keeper hath no residence or abode , but taking with him his footeman , and the blackesmithes wife , they crosse the forrest continually , trauelling from one Inne vnto another . And when he comes once to the signe of the Dolphine , the Phenix beginneth to die , which first begun to liue , when he entred , at the signe of the Ramme . The true Phenix , of which we haue neuer but one at once , and in euery of her wings are 182 feathers at the least , so that she flieth fast , and dieth quickly .

7 BEleeue me now I tell it for notale , There is a Queene , or else a Goddesse t 'one , That without helpe of man , or any male Conceaueth daughters by her selfe alone : But at their birth , be it by night or day , Some skilfull man , the midwiues part doth play . When they be borne , and perfectly brought foorth , Both olde and yong doe greatly them desire ; Their beautie and their power is of such woorth , That all mens harts , therewith are set on fire : And in all times , they beare as great a sway As if on earth , there were no queenes but they .

8 A Creature is that humane flesh deuoures , From out whose howels fatnesse may be taken , That being dried by fire , a certaine houres Will waxe as hard , as crust of bread well baken , Which fat dissolued , and with the leane confused Of that bodie , from whom you must it take , May be with skill and industrie so vsed , That a confection thereof we doe make Greatly helping , though it be held no woonder Against all tempest , lightning and thunder .

9 HAndsome she was , and well beseene , As fresh as any of them all , Her raiment for the most part greene , Her stature good and meetely tall . Mounsier did take her by the arme And friendly entertained her , His countenance said he meant no harme , But well I wot he strained her , That ( as lamenting her mishap ) She cried , perhaps she cracked too , Yet Mounsier would not leaue her lap For any thing that she could doo , This was a scholler by S. Anne , A ciuill , sober , honest manne .

10 I Wrinkled am and passing olde But gallant is my motion , Abhorring aie to be controulde By any ones deuotion . Come all that list on me to mount , Sure I will not forsake them , But let them make their iust account , That finely I shall shake them . Ne doe I aske men ought for hose , For shooes , for drinke , or meating , Come all that list with me to close Sans paying or intreating . And they may chaunce finde in my wombe To make them wish they were at home .

11 WHilst Phebus lodgeth in his southerne Inne , His auncient Inne , at signe of Capricorne , His northren lasse , her raiment waxeth thinne , And for her Lord she seemes to pine and morne , I meane the lasse that many brings to scorne , And makes men oft reueale their proper shame , Her maker once , tooke to himselfe her name .

12

A Female , produced first in a rude lumpe , as they say a yong beare is , not by licking , but by pressing , became beautifull . For she hath as many friendes as the Queene of England , As many subiectes as the King of Spaine , As many rulers as Athens euer had , or Venice hath . And though shee can neither write nor reade , yet is she lettered , a Phisition , a Rhetorician , and a Chronicler .

13 AS Pallas was ingendred from her fathers braine , So was one other guest , that I see men doe entertaine , She sprang from neither grift , nor plant , nor egge nor seede , Ne is she fish , or flesh , or graine , or pulse or herbe or weede , With Ladies and great Lordes , she is both day and night , And clergie men , and prelats graue , sometime in her delight . Some thinke that the deuill , begat her on his dame , Because that he much euill doth , and mischiefe by her frame : I thinke not so , but wish , she soberly were vsed , That neither she nor men by her , might hencefoorth be abused .

14 A Virgine faire , betwixt whose milke white Paps I sometime lay , When I was borne , the midwiues part And nurses too did play , To whom I spent , my formost age Working both day and night , And recompensed her taken care With profit and delight , Vntill by fate , without my fault In prison I was cast , And held in giues , which I had made , From which breaking at last : Such change and chaunces hath the world , A dotage made me blinde , In amorous sportes I kild my selfe Foole : propagating kinde .

15 VPon some pale , or pearch , Or stond , or rotten tree , In watrie lowes and fennie grounds Where store of fishes bee : There will he gazing stand , And fish be faine would eate , Bur he disdaines to touch a fish If that it be not great . Right good ones he lets goe , For better still to stay , Till that the sunne is welnigh set , And gone almost the day : Then downe vnto the ground In stately sort he hies , Where he a hungrie supper makes On wormes and butterflies .

16 THe welkin is welnigh , out of our seeing , Our eies and thoughts are on the ground remaining , On th' earth or no , where is our happie being , Yet there we euer grudge , and are complayning , But turne vs so , that heauen hang in our spying , And straight we leaue , our murmur , and our crying .

17 ONe rips the earth , another cuts the seas , And runs the world in circuite round about , All for my sake , I doe all men so please , That all doe seeke , which way to finde me out . In Diadems in scepters , and in Crownes , In robes , in rotchets , in a Cardnals hat , In scarlet , silkes , in costly furred gownes , In stones and pearles , and in I wot not what , In horses , haukes , bounds , harlots , and in bookes , One flieth for me , vp into the skies , Another downe to Plutoes raigne he tookes , Where all this glistering Or and argent lies . This search declares , how greatly men doe leeke me , But they are mad so far from home to seeke me .

18

A Neuer wearied , but euer bearing mother , was deliuered of children , all ( in a maner ) of stature equall : which though they were ( being yong ) very like one vnto another , yet by diuer sitte of bringing vp , they were transmuted so , that vnneath they might be discerned to be of one linage Some of them were made carters & plowmen , some serued in cities , as porters , sergeants , and hangmen : some became mariners , and serued at sea . Some were fine lier trained vp , and for their delicacie , waxed in fauour with faire virgins great matrones , gentlewomen and great Ladies . To all which they were so inwarde and neerely conioyned , that scarcely brother or husband was permitted to be with them of equall trust . Many of these waxed so skilfull , and stored with all manner of learning , that more of them became diuines , lawiers and states-men , then are to be found in Paris , Padua , Bononia , Venice or Vienna . Of this last sort , sundry which grew to be embassadours , secretaries , and intelligencers , were finally brought to violent death by fire , or interred in so fowle a fashion , that not knowing with what termes to expresse it , I must of force leaue it , to be deuined at .

19 AFter midnight , ere it was day His eies he did vnclose , And striuing for to get away From prison he arose , With bodies two as colde as Leade He wrought so fine a feate , That other two which seemed dead Receiued life and heate . Then dead men came about him round , I wot not who they were , But of much thing deepe and profound With them he did confer .

20 WE are in number not fiue times fiue , No one of vs two handfull long , Nor any of vs takes care to thriue , Yet all together we doe so throng , That if a man would list to striue T' extinguish or to doe vs wrong , Were he the greatest prince aliue , We should be found for him too strong , And could make him infamous in time to come , Though most of vs beene deafe and dombe .

21 BY helpe of fiue , and sixe , and seuen And lines and distances betweene , A scale is made that brings from heauen A virgine sweete that nere was seene , Nor any man euer see her shall , Though heauen and earth together fall . Vnseene , of louers she hath choice , That are not led by wanton eies , But they doe loue her Angels voice , And he that rules aboue the skies Doth daine a listening eare to lend , Her earnest praiers to attend .

22 I Am not , but am said to bee , And many things are told of mee , As first for sooth that I am blinde , And bushed before , and balde behinde : And that I halting come to one , And flie when as I will be gone : With fooles my godhead is not small , With wise men it is none at all .

23 SVch as the companie is , such am I , And I thinke some other folke are so too , To two Ladies great I euer am nie , And we with the world haue much to doo : T is hard for a lowte to tell ye my name , And shame for a clerke if he hit not the same .

24

IT is not more fabulous what Prometheus did , then ridiculous what Paracelsus promiseth : yet there is one ( to no man of great vnderstanding vnknowen ) that not onely maketh persons at her pleasure , but also bringeth them from hell or heauen to life againe when they be dead . Yea she maketh pillers , wals , or any thing to speake , not by sorcerie , witcherie , or imprecation of deuils , but by fine arte to the face of iudges , for iustice , she hath heretofore practised her skill , and of her propertie , a long time borne speciall denomination .

25 THis is the age that I would haue , These times for me are woondrous fit , Each Ladie that is fine and braue , With me delights to goe and sit . My liuing lieth not in my lands , Yet I am daintie , fine and sweete . The Ladies take me in their hands , Their lips and mine full often meete . Their paps , their cheekes I well may touch , In smiling sort with me they play , Their husbands thereat thinke not much , No : though I downe with them doe lay : In sooth it is a foolish sin , When foolish husbands iealous bin .

26 TWo forward went , and one did seeme to stay them : Foure after ran , and fiue did ouerlay them , Of which one dead , foure quicke was comprehending : And all these twelue vnto one marke were tending .

27 FIrst I was small , and round like a pearle , Then long and slender , as braue as an Earle , Since , like an hermit , I liude in a cell , And now like a rogue , in the wide world I dwell .

28 THere is a bodie without a hart , That hath a toong , and yet no head , Buried it was , ere it was made , And lowde it speakes , and yet is dead .

29 FArre in the west I wot not wheare Are trees men say which oisters beare , I woonder how that comes about Those oisters she not , out of doubt And fall straight like a swarme of bees At home here on our apple trees . Growe they on trees , those oisters ? fie : Methinkes it soundeth like a lie , A kinde of trees , I know t is true , In purpoole lane beare oisters new And fish and flesh , and now and then They beare ( I tell you ) honest men .

30

THe new world , is enuironed with a deepe ditch , whereinto many riuers do fall continually : in so much that it would ouerflow the whole world , were it not that from the water of this ditch , there riseth and is ingendred great store of barnacles and other sea fowle of diuers colours and proportions , some of them being bigger by great ods , then is any crane , bustard , swan , camell , elephant , whale , or whirlepoole . And euen as flies will sticker in the night season , about a torch or great light , till sometimes their streamers be sindged : so assuredly these which I tell of ▪ and which neuer fall to the ground , till their death , or dissolution , euen from their first naisance , making towards the sunne and starres , are inforced to shed their feathers in such abundance , that thereof are yeerely made beds , a hundred times as big againe , as the great bed in Ware . If I saide a thousand times , it were no more then a thousand , which haue seene them as well as I , might maintaine and verifie .

31 I Sawe one stately stalking like a crane Strike at a stripling , something like a man , At the first stroke , he gaue the wretch his bane , Threw him in the dirt , and with him ran Vnto the water , where he washt and beate him , And at a mouthfull at the last he eate him .

32 A Murtherer , a prisoner , barelyfed Was first of all depriued of the light , And then straightwaies vnto the gallowes led , Which did belong to him of very right : Where hanged he was something against my will , Though some good folke could wish him hanged still . But one of power , the power of law to stay , That ere this time , did a companion make him : The prince himselfe came passing by that way , And from the gallowes graciously did take him : The best is though he did enjoy this fauour , He standeth bound vnto the good behauiour .

33 WHen one by one , men fearefull are They quickly are affrighted , And wanting weapons fit for warre , Not daring be vnited : Whether it be in towne or field To th' enimies forces soone they yeeld . A simple souldier God doth knowe , In Norfolke bloudie warres doth make , And heapes of foes , doth ouerthrowe Alone : and oft doth prisoners take : Yet they haue fortes , so hath not hee , Marry fearefull , and ill armed they be .

34 ALowe bred squire Borne in the mire , That neuer knew who was his sire , Being armed light After midnight , ( No remedie ) would needes go fight . In corslet bad The youth was clad , And sarcenet sleeues for sooth he had . But at a word He had no sword , Nor other weapon woorth a &c. Newas he strong , Nor large nor long , But foorth he came with a hideous song . And Tartar leeke He me did seeke , Lighting at first full on my cheeke . This thing of naught , At face still raught , As Cesar once his souldiours taught When they should fight , Against that knight , Pompey defending countries right : So in like case , This varlet base Was euer poring at my face . I could not rest Within my nest , The rascall did me so molest . I had the Iacke , Soone brought to wracke , Had he not euer retired backe . But he comes , he goes , He fell , he rose , He bit me by the very nose . It made me sweare , And God to teare , I could not for my life forbeare . That such a knaue Should be so braue , Would make ( I trowe ) a Saint to raue . But clod or stone , Or sticke or bone , Or gunne or crosbowe had I none . That truth to showe , I did not knowe , Which way I might him ouerthrowe . So that at last I waxt agast , And longing t' haue the combate past . I hid my head Within a bed And slept like one that had been dead .

35 A Target bearer to a gallant man of warre Was bidden by his Lord , t' attend him at a doore , Whilst he should get him in , about t' appease a iarre , That lately risen was , betwixt him and his whoore : And heare ye ( saide he ) Sirra : if any body come , Or stirring be this way , alowde see ye crie hum . The scutiger had tarried but a little while , Ere Morpheus gan vpon his forehead for to creepe , His stomacke vapours sent , which did his braines beguile , And ere he was aware , he falleth fast asleepe : The Master hoping well , that well his man did watch , Accorded with the girle , her husbands coate to patch . To kissing first they fell , and after that to play , Souldiers fight sometimes , ye wot it well in sport , And I can tell no more , what they did doe or say , God knowes I haue no skill of warring in this sort : But as the neighbours tolde , such warre the souldier maked , That at the locke they lay , and both of them were naked . Tacitum petiuit , my captaine falles asleepe , One in at window lookes , where close he them espied , And tarrying not a whit , either to laugh or weepe , He backward with the newes , vnto the husband hied , Which calde his friends vnto him , these pigeons for to get , And soone he had them both , caught fast within his net . The lookers on did laugh , the captaine was ashamed , The husband was as angrie , as any man could be , And though the wife by friends , and by her man were blamed , Yet made she her defence , and chid as fast as he : Thou hast ( said she ) ere this , thy slouens armefull borne , By stealth as we did now , of many a neighbours corne . She praies to be diuorced , but he would not agree To heare that motion made , it made his hart full sore To set them in a sheete , alas why should it bee , They had been sheeted now three howers and somwhat more . Forgiuenesse , that was best , the soulder him reuested , The goodman kissed his wife , all quarrels were digested . His squire still at the doore , this while lay fast asleepe , His helmet clapped close vnto his drowsie head , He dreamed that he sawe , a louely lasse to weepe , Inchained with his Lord vpon a feather bed : And in this dreame he lay still in a mischiefes name , Vntill his captaine came , and found him in the same . By shoulders he him tooke , he quickly made him wake , What was to him befalne , he did describe and tell , His angrie looke and noise , did make the wretch to shake , Villaine he cried , how saiest , hast thou not serude me well , Thou varlet base , thou asse , thou drunken headed ape , I thee coniure straight way , leaue of thy souldiers shape . His spurres to bodkins turned , his lips conuert to horne , His beard turned all to flesh , gone was his manly face , His shirt of maile and helmet , that he long had worne , To plumes and cockscombe turned , this was a foule disgrace : Behold and see , what t is , an angrie one to serue , That for a toy forgets , what seruing did deserue . He liueth still , and still retaines a souldiers minde , With Switzers he will go , when they are waged to fight , Vnto a lasse he is , more then his captaine kinde , And fiue or sixe at once , doe lodge with him all night : Remembring still the fault , that did him ouerthrowe , He cries at peepe of sunne , Looke to your windowes hooe .

36

SInce the rebellion in the North , an host of light horsemen , issued , as from Scotlande and inuading England , came as farre as Northampton shire , where they hurt and killed many , sparing neither age nor sexe . At last they enuironed a worshipfull knights house , and had assuredly won entrance into it , had not his seruants beene , who with such woonderfull resistance , stopped their passage ; that no one of them , were he much lesse then a Pigmei , could make any irruption , yet left they way for a friend , which got in , of stature greater than euer was Atlas , or the goodly sonne of Grandgosier .

37 WIth cordes they haled her from the ground , And did about them lay , Like lustie ringers of the bels , Vpon some holiday . Her legs and armes close to a tree , She tottered vp and downe , Cla●●●●g her iron lined breech Close to a lubbers crowne : Whome she strooke downe into the ground , Full twenty foote and more , And yet he neuer did complaine , Or felt that he was sore .

38 WHilst I was yong , I dare well say , I was as fresh as fairest May , And like a malapert yong elfe , As proudly did I beare my selfe . But pride men say , will haue a fall , Euen so had I , and therewithall To seruants seruant I became , And euery puzzell is my dame . When that I once haue done my worke , I am inforced in hurnes to lurke , Expecting when for want of meate , My fellow seruant should me eate .

39 I Louers had , had words been true , As many as faire Corinna had , Yet when my foes me ouerthrew , My friends looked on , and were right glad . When he that earst did me defend Vntill the day of dreadfull death Did hasten most vnto mine end , Striking the stroke which reft my breath , And from my graue men me remoue , Pretending still they doe me loue .

40 A Coniurer was circling in the aire , With nimble eies attentiue on the ground , Where walking spirits , nousled many a paire , Making a search the harmelesse to confound , They wrought to reaue poore wretches of their breath , Which neuer in life did ought deseruing death . I saide to an abettor looking on , Those innocents were woorthie of some pittie , He answere made , and sware by sweete S. Iohn , In pitying them , I shewed my selfe not wittie : What skils ( saide he ) the shedding of their blood , They doe me harme : but doe they any good ?

41 MOunsier Monoculus , with that one eie , It s not for his personage or his sweete face , That wheresoere I goe , I doe him espie , With maidens and wiues in speciall grace , He is a surgeon , he can let blood , His pricke is a thing that doth them good .

42

BEfore many monethes be expired , there shall be borne of parents base and simple , a more silly ofspring , blinde , deafe and dumbe : which after incision in the head , and drinking a certaine liquour , shall become great tellers of mens thoughts . Not onely reuealing the deceits of loue , stratagems of warre , and policies of states : but they shall haue also power of vniting or setting at variance : maintaining in England a warre , which shall cost many their liuings , and some their liues ; without ceasing , vnlesse all things growe so common , that ioyners and locksmithes giue ouer their occupations .

43 I Doe agree with sister and brother , But I loue neither father nor mother , If she imbrace me , she makes me die , If he doe but touch me I cracke and crie , And surely it is a preatie thing , ●o see how he makes me fart and fling : Maruell you sirs , who I should bee , On sunday before noone you may me see .

44 I Haue in the countrie seene at a faire , Of brethren and sisters many a paire , That being coupled like man and wife , Went yet to seruice for terme of life , But they could neither wash nor wring , Nor brue , nor bake , nor play , nor sing , Nor pipe , nor daunce , nor any such thing : All that they can , is well to keepe All things , except great flocks of sheepe .

45 OVr parents are euer besmeared with dust , Our sisters and brethren in very good trust : Our chaps euer gaping , or if they meete iust , Some one thing or other in sunder must .

46 LEt neuer woonder fill your head , For sure the case is plaine and cleere , By sluggish keeping of my bed , I lost a thousand pound a yeere : My brother rose , and did it get , And I am to his keeping set .

47 THe Miller , and the Millers wife , That they might merrie make , Were set downe with a dish of fruite , A cake , and halfe a cake , The parson of the towne with them , His sister and no more : Now haue you heard of all the guests , And of their bread the store , Yet did they vse the matter with Such cunning , skill , and art , That euerie one eate halfe a cake , Before they did depart .

48

THere are two sisters , one faire and cheerefull , the other blacke or browne . The first for her beautie , is of all desired , loued and longed for : The second ( with good reason ) is to be liked for her humilitie . Supping all winter with the poorest , and making beggers ( during her reigne ) more happie oftentimes then mightie monarches . Before Phebus shined , or Cinthia borrowed light , they were and euer since , striuing for the worldes gouernance ( of which either of them hath euer one halfe vnder her ) they haue chased continually one another , more swiftly than any ship sadeth on the sea . Long hath this contention lasted , and cease it shall neuer , till the Turke be ouerthrowne , the Pope haue resigned his triple crowne , and all be brought to one sheepefolde , vnder one shepherd .

49 THat which a sheepe did inward hide , I vse to weare on my out side , And that which a tree did outward weare , Within me alwaies I doe beare : By drowning first I tooke essence , And hanged was since for none offence : Still ready by a blast of breath , To finde a life causing my death .

50 AL day leeke one that s in disgrace , He resteth in some secret place , And seldome putteth foorth the head , Vntill day light be fully fled , Then in the maides , or goodwiues hand , The gallant ginnes first vp to stand : Whom to a hole , they doe apply , Wherein he will both liue and die .

51 ON an euening as colde , as colde might bee , With frost and haile , and pinching weather , Companions about three times three , Lay close all in a pound together : Yet one after one , they tooke a heate , And died that night , all in a sweate .

52 A Remnant of a soule , the water did inclose , That staide by one , from fire , which did repaire , That fenced by one , which from the earth arose , And all kept warme by one , which grew vp in the aire : The goodwife out of these , did deale about her dole , Till one did put his nose , euen right into her hole .

53 IF Lords of the land esteeme me not a flie , If daintie nosed doctors , crie fie on me fie , If Ladies at Court , none account on me make , If citizens wiues , doe me all forsake , Then Ioane in the countrie , for a friend I will take : What though from my youth , I haue had a white head , My taile will be greene , vntill I be dead .

54

A Poore Alcumist , out of streight prison , accepted to seruice , fell presently on eating , and of a starueling , in short time , became goodly . But such was his gormandize , and quicke digestion , that had he not been excellent , not onely in transformation of mettals , but also in preseruing , conseruing , candying , distilling , extracting of oiles , balmes , quintessences and spirites , with many other things , no man would haue entertained him : for he could eate doing little worke , but not worke , vnlesse he were eating . Hauing deuoured to some scarcitie , things growen and nourished vpon the earth , he was brought to feede on viler achates , taken from the bowels thereof . But still he eateth , bringing profit by his seruice , comfort by his presence , and in his chaps destruction . He hath therefore allowed him , roome from his trade , and habitation by himselfe , wherein he neuer resteth , but when he is wrapped vp in his owne excrements , and wert not that he is in danger of death , by too much fasting , or too much drinking , ye might iudge him to be immortall .

55 AN idle braine , and wanton eie , Breedes in the hart , sometime a goose , That s often kept full hungrily , Whilst lecherie , iugling fast and loose , Doth gaine his bushell for each oate , That comes into the gozlings throate .

56 ENuie and loue , together hatcht a beast , Or hag of hell it rather seemes to mee , That pines if other comes but neere her feast , And willingly would euer watching bee , Things that are not , this enuies bird would see : This parricide , this errour whelping sprite , This Sibill false , seldome diuining right .

57 THere is a thing , some call it sport , ( That yong and olde , and all will prooue ) T is musicke in a kind consort , On tuned instruments of loue , The fashion something bagpipe like , With poke and pipe the minstrels plaie , And if the bommes iust measure strike , T is pastime for a wedding day : Maides that to this their mindes applie , For Lute and harpe care not a flie .

58 A Tree , a beast , an angell , all in one Liues , and hath rule ouer both beast and tree , That oft , is after goatishnesse so gone , That there is no beast , beastlier than hee . Bridle the beast , monster , mishapen thing , Least tree , beast , angell , to the deuill fling .

59 TO th' earth from highest heauen , Foure virgins were descended , Sent downe from him that vnto men All goodnesse hath intended . And here they staide a while , And many things amended , But they were forced backe by those , That should haue them defended . Since then the golden age , The happie daies were ended , And vice hath raigned most in them , That vertue most pretended .

60

IN a towne , where the Praetor is wise , the Counsell wittie , is a slouenly citizen , to whom many are so indebted , that they haue much to doe , to pay for the forbearance , and no man can get a generall quietus est at his hand till he be dead ; which yet is longed for of very few . For both the principall agents in the corporation , receiue maintenance from him : and the Maioresse , with the other good wiues , doe so fansie him , and the fore man of his shop , Bawdie Brian , that there is many times much misgouernance thereby in the whole towne : notwithstanding any edict , proclamation , or reclamation that the magistrate can make .