IT is almost Arts wonde● , for strength , length , beauty , widenesse , height : It may be sayd to be Polypus , because it is so well furnished with legges : Euery Mouth is foure times filled in eight and forty houres , and then as a Child it is still , but as soone as they be empty , like a Lyon it roares , and is wondrous Impatient : It is made of Iron , Wood , and Stone , and therefore it is a wondrous hardy Fellow . It hath changd the forme , but as few doe now a dayes , from worse to better : certainely it is full of Patience , because it beares so much , and continually : It 's no Prison , for any one goes through it : It is something addicted to pride , for many a Great man goes vnder it ; and yet it seemes something humble too , for the poorest Peasant tread vpon it : It hath more Wonders then Arches , the houses here built are wondrous strong , yet they neyther stand on Land or Water : It is some praeiudice to the Water-mans gaines ; many goe ouer here , which otherwise should row or sayle : It helpes many a Pennilesse Purse to passe the water without danger or charges : nothing afrights it more , then Spring-tides or violent inundations : It is chargeable to keep , for it must be continually Repayred : it is the onely chiefe crosser of the water , his Arches out-face the water , and like Iudges in the Parliament are plac'd vpon woole sackes : one that liues heere neede not buy strong Water , for heere is enough for nothing : it seemes to hinder the Water-bearers profit , for the Inhabitants easily supply their Wants by Buckets : He is a setled fellow , and a maine vpholder of houses ; hee is meanely plac'd , for there are diuerse aboue him , and many vnder him , & his houses may wel bee called None-such , for there is none like them , and to conclude , he pertakes of two Elements , his nether parts are all for Water , his vpper for Land ; in a word , it is without Compare , being a dainty streete , and a strong and most stately Bridge .

THis is a long , broad , slippery Fellow ; Rest hee affects not , for he is alwaies in motion : he seemes something like a Carrier , for he is stil eyther going or comming , and once in sixe or eight houres , salutes the Sea his Mother , and then brings Tydings from her : He followes the disposition of the Wind , if that be Rough , so is the Water ; if that calme , so is this : and hee loues it , because when the Winde is at highest , then the Water will best show her strength and anger : it is altogether vnsteedy , for it commonly is sliding away . Mans vnconstant state , and Vncertayne frayle condition , is truely Resembled by this , alwayes either ebbing or flowing , beeing in a trice high and low : he will not be a Martyre , for he will turne , but neuer burne : Resolution is absolutely his Guide and Counsellour , for he will run his course ; hee cannot be sayd to be a Wel or Spring without Water , for he is puteus in exhaustus . Merchandize hee likes and loues ; and therefore sends forth Ships of Trafficke to most parts of the Earth : his Subiects and I●habitants line by oppresion like hard Land-lords at Land , the greater rule & many times deuoure the lesse : the City is wondrousl● beholden to it , for shee is furnished with almost all necess●ries by it : He is wondrously crost , hee is the maintainer of a great company of Water-men ; he is a great 〈◊〉 , for he works as much in the night as the day . Hee is led by an vnconstant Guide , the Moone : he is cleane contrary to Smithfield , because that is all for Flesh , but this for Fish ; his inhabitants are different from those vpon Land , for they are most without legges : Fisher-men seeme to off●r him much wrong , for th●y rob him of many of his Subiects ; he is seldome without company , but in the night , o●●ough weather : H● meets the Sun but followes the Moone : ●e seemes to complaine a● the Bridge , because it hath intruded into his bowels , and that makes him Roare at that place : to speake truth of him , he is the priuiledg'd place , for Fish and Shippes ▪ the glory and wealth of the City , the high way to the Sea , the br●nger in of wealth and Strangers , and his busines is all for water , yet hee deales much with the Land too : he is a little Sea , and a great Riuer .

THe one of these came from Antwerpe , the other from a Stable ; the one was Dutch , yet made Denison ; the other was not lo at the beginning , but did Exchange his name and nature . The Merchants are men generally of good habite , their words are vsually better then their Consciences ; their Discourse ordinarily begins in Water , but ends in Wine : the frequenting of the Walkes twice a day , and a careles laughter , argues that they are sound : if they visit not once a day , t is suspected they are cracking , or broken : their Countenance is ordinarily shap'd by their successe at Sea , eyther merry , sad , or desperat : they are like ships at sea , top and top gallant this day , to morrow sincking : the ●ea is a Tennis-court , their State● are Bals , the Winde is the Racket , and doth strike many for lost vnder Line , and many in the hazard : They may seeme to bee acquainted with Athens , for they all desire Newes : Some of them do keepe two brittle Vessels , their Shippes and their Wiues : the latter is lesse ballast , and that makes them so light : the Merchants Respect the former most , for if that sinke or be ouer-throwne , they fal , but the fall of the latter , is oftentimes the aduancing of their heads : Conscience is sold here for nought ; because it is as old Sermons , a dead Commodity : they wil dissemble with , and cozen one another , though all the Kings that euer were ●nce the Conquest , ouerlooked them . Here are vsually more Coaches attendant , then at Church-doores : The Merchants should keepe their Wiues from visiting the vpper Roomes too often , least they tire their purses by attyring themselues . Rough Seas , Rockes , and Pyrats , treacherous Factors , and leaking ships affright them : they are strange polititians , for they bring Turkey and Spaine into London , & carry London thither . Ladies surely loue them , for they haue that which is good for them , Farre fe●cht , & dear● bought : they may proou● stable men , but they must first leaue the Exchange . It is a great House full of goods ; though it be almost in the middle of the Citty , yet it Stands by the Sea . There 's many Gentle-women come hither , that to helpe their faces and Complexions , breakes their husbands backs , who play foule in the Countrey with their Land , to be faire ; and play false in the City : the place to conclude , is thought to bee a great Formal●st , and an hazardable Temporizer , and is like a beautifull Woman , absolutely good , if not too common .

T Is thought the Way through this streete is not good , because so broad , and so many go in it ; yet though it be broad , it 's very streight , because without any turnings : it is suspected here are not many sufficient able men , because they would sell all : and but little honesty , for they show all , and some think , more some time then their owne : they are very affable , for they 'le speak to most that passe by : they care not how few be● in the streets , so their shop● bee full : they that bring them money , seeme to bvsed worst , for they are sure to pay soundly : their Bookes of accounts are not like to their estates ; for the latter are best without , but the other with long crosses ▪ there are a great company of honest men in this place , if all bee gold that glisters : their parcell-gilt plate is thought to Resemble them selu●s , most of them haue better faces , then hearts ; their monies and coines are vsed as prisoners at Sea , kept vnder hatches . One would thinke them to bee good men , for they deale with the purest and best mettals , & euery one striues to work best , and stout too , for they get much by knocking , & especially by leaning on their Elbowes . Puritans doe hold it for a fine streete , but something addicted to Popery , for adorning the Crosse too much . The inhabitants seeme not ●o affect the Standard ; the Kings and Queenes would bee offended with , and punish them , knew they how these batter their faces on their coynes . Some of their Wiues would bee ill priso●ers , for they cannot in●re to be shut vp ; and as bad Nunnes , the life is so solitary : there are many vertuous and honest Women , some truly so , others are so for want of opportunity ▪ they hold that a harsh place of Scripture , That women must be no goers or gadders abroad in going to a lecture many vse to visite a Tauern : the young attendant must want his eyes , and change his tongue , according as hi● mistresse shal direct , though many times they do mistake the place , yet they will remember the time an houre and halfe , to auoyd suspition . Some of the men are cunning Landerers of plat● and get much by washing that plate they handle , and it hath come from some of them , like a man from the Brokers that hath casheer'd his cloake , a great deale the lighter . Well , if all the men be Rich and true , and the women all faire and honest , then Cheapeside shall stand by Charing-Crosse for a wonder , and I wil make no more Characters . But I proceede .

THese were builded for Profit , Grace , Pleasure , Iustice : the buildings grace City , the Men grace the Buildings , Iustice & Learning grace the Men : These places furnish our Land with Law : Here Nobility , Learning , Law , Gentrey , haue their Residence ; here are Students and Professors ; here are Students that will not be Professors ▪ here are Professors & Students : here are Professors yet not Students ; & here bee some that are neyther Students nor Professors : Many hold , that for an excellent Custome , in the Temple , immunity , from danger of Serieants or such like proling Vermine . Some liue here for profite , others for Grace , some for pleasure , some for all , yet most for profite and pleasure : They that meane to liue by Law , desire not so much the Theory as the Practicke part : though many here follows the Law , yet all keep it not , but some transgresse : They are the Seminaries of Iudge ment and Iustice ; hee that is most expert in the Law , is the most fitting for publicke imployment , and the Magistracy ; these cause Caesar to haue his due , and giue the Subiect his Right : that Land is likely to flourish where Religion and Iustice are honour'd and practis'd : take away Iustice , and Religion wil halt ; remooue Religion , and Iustice will degenerate into tyranny ; let Moses and Aaron Rule , and our Israel will prosper : these places Moralize , Ciuilize the younger , aduance the Learned : their Founders intended the stablishing of Peace , and confirming of Religion : many things that begin with blows , & would end in blood , are by these Professors mediated , and Christian agreement made ▪ their number , Vnity , great imployment , makes the● admired , to conclude , the● are Rich Megazines for Law , store-houses for policy , Bulwarkes of Equity , let them euer flourish , as long as they are Deo , Regi , Patria ; for God , their King and Country .

YOu may haue a faire prospect of this square Fellow , as you passe from the streights of Pie Corner ; this place is wel stored with good harbours for Passengers to put into for flesh & drinke , and fish it is admirable ; but fish harbour appeares now but two dayes in seauen aboue water : here thrice in a week one may see more beasts then men . Butchers that haue money make this their Hauen , or Rendeuouz : Men that are downe-fled , and better fed then taught , may see many like themselues , boght here for the slaughter : Butchers surely cannot indure Cuckolds , because they kill so many horn'd beasts . Some I suppose , may bee sayd to buy themselues , such as trafficke for Calues : though the place besquare , yet here is much cheating in it : here Land-pirates vse to sel that which is none of their own : heere comes many Horses , ( like Frenchmen ) rotten in the ioynts , which by tricks are made to leape , though they can scarse go ; he that lights vpon a Horse in this place , from an olde Horse-courser , sound both in wind and limbe , may light of an honest Wife in the Stews : here 's many an olde Ia●e , that trots hard for 't , that vses his legs sore against his will , for he had rather haue a Stable then a Market , or a Race : I am perswaded that this place was paued without the consent of the Horse-courses company : this place affords those leather blacke-coates , which run so fast vppon Wheeles , they shake many a young Heire out of his stocke and meanes : the men that liue here , may be said to be wel fed , for here 's meat enough ; this place 〈◊〉 what Rich Countrey England is ▪ and how well it breedes Beasts , a man that considers their number and greatnes and how soone Consumed ▪ may thinke there are a World of mouthes , or else that Englishmen are great eaters . Well , I will speake this of Smithfield , it is the greatest , fairest , richest , squarest market place of this great City or Kingdome .

HEre comes many that haue beene at many a Dance , but neuer affected the Bride-Well ; heere 's a Pallace strangly Metamorphosed into a prison : in the outward Court were Carts not for the Husband-man , but for those that haue vsed the vnlawfull game of Venery ; it seemes to be contrary to nature , to make those draw which were made to beare , a strange inuention to haue such a new punishment , for such an old sinne . Me thinkes the house complaines , Oh quam a dispari Domino : It may be sayd of it , that it hath beene Eminent , Great , and Maiesticall , so much may bee sayde of it yet , that the Court is where it was : It should maintaine Vertue , for it punishes vice , they are seuere Gouernors , for they are most vpon correction : when men haue here done their work , they are sure of their wages , a whip : they are temperate here , for they eate not ouer much ; for their drinke , if all were to follow their course , it would make Male cheape , for it's water . It may be sayd of this , as of the Palatinate , would it was restor'd In statu qu● prius : some say there are many idle persons in it ; strange ! yet work so hard : It ' is thought there 's scarse a true fellow in it , for they all lye hard : there 's none can say hee workes for nothing , for they are all s●e of payment . It 's the only Remembrancer of Aegypts The lash . slauery , they haue task●maisters to holde them to their worke : their whippemaister is like a Countrey Pedagouge , they many times whippe better , then himselfe , and both take a pride in their office , they inflict that vppon others , which they deserue themselues : they that come out of it neede not feare Purgatory , for it's thought to be a place of more ease . This is a two fold comfort vnto them , that they may once come out , and then they can scarce light of an harder maister , or a worse seruice : they may be Papists , for they fast often , haue their bodies afflicted , are shut vp from the World , seeme wondrous penitent , onely they pray not so often . I leaue the place , wishing they may come out , amend , and neuer more come into it .

I Le ioyne all these together , because their natures are not much diferent , some of the Officers make the places worse then they would be , if a man cannot by monies or good security pay his debts , yet hee may l●e for them here ▪ the Prisoners are like Apprentices , desire hartily to bee Freemen : Certainly , they haue beene men of great credite , for they haue beene much trusted : they hate three persons , an extream Creditor , a cunning Lawyer , and a biting Serieant : these three are all fishers of men , the Creditor ownes the Net , the Lawyer places and spreads it , the Serieant ●als and drawes it to a purse : the Serieant seemes to bee most of trust , for hee hath the Whole businesse put into his hands , and if he can , concludes it : the Lawyer next to him , for hee is trusted with the Bonds : the Creditor himselfe is of least note , for he will not be seene in his owne busines : yet the Creditor is Lord of the Game , the Lawyer is his Hunsman , the Serieant his blood Hound , the Yeoman his Beagle , and the Debtor is the wild Hare ; if hee be taken , most commonly hee is tamed in one of these M●ses : a Serieant is worst when most imploied , & a Lawyer when most trusted , the Cre ditor when without pitty , and the Debtor when prodigality and ill courses haue procured this Cage . The Attourney and Serieant may be termed Hang-men , they procure and serue so many Executions : These places are fullest when men break their bonds , & make forfeitures ; they may bee called Dens , the Serieant Lyons , and the Debtor the Prey . It is a● ancient Gate , yet not affected by Citizens , though a closet for safety . For the Counters , they teach wandrings Nitingals the way vnto their Nests , and learne them to sing the Counter-Tenor : the Counters seeme very courteous , for they will open almost at any houre in the night , they would not haue men lye in the streets : wel , they are places that are too full , the more pitty that men eyther haue not better Estates , Consciences , or manners , to pay their Debts , & li●e vprightly and orderly .

IT may well answere to the name , and thanke the City for her care and charges : It is now well fac'd and heāded , Charity helps much to a decayed Estate : but that Saint Pauls is a Church , and so to beare no anger or grudge , it would enuy the prosperity of the Gates , and be angry with the Citizens for not thinking vppon her old age and pouerty . Newgate is generally a place of safety , and few comes hither , but by merit : the captiues are men that once would not , now must liue within compasse , they should be men of worth , for the Keeper will not , dare not loose one of them . When they are forsaken euery where , then this place takes them in , for feare their heeles should bee as quicke as their Hands haue beene : Hee layes them in irons , that he may be the surer of them : they are , or may be supposed to be sound men , for they seldome break out : as long as they stay heere , they cannot be sayd to bee vnstayd fellowes or Vagrants , for they are sure of a place of stay : they are quicke-sighted , for they can see through iron grates : some of them seeme to be Eminent men , for they are highly aduanced ; they are like Fish , haue a long time nibled away the baite , but are now caught : Certainly they are no Libertines , and are conuicted of Free will : they are vncharitable , for they seldome loue their Keeper ; they haue the power of life and death in their owne hands , and put many to be prest to death . Lice . By seeking others goods they procur'd their owne hurt . They liued without any thought of Iudgement , now it is the onely thing they feate : They hold a Triangle to be a dangerous Figure . Of all places they hold Holborne-hill an vnfortunate place to ride vp . It seemes they goe that way vnwillingly , for they are drawne : They cannot misse their way to their Iourneys end , they are so guarded and guided . Lice seeme to bee their most constant Companions , for they 'le hang with them for company : It seemes these men were not made for Examples , for at their Confession they wish all men not to follow their courses : and most are easily perswaded , for ther 's very few dare do as they haue done . Well , I passe from them , thus much you may bee sure of , once a Moneth you may heare , know , and see if you please ; whether they liue , or dye

IT is in an ill name , and therefore halfe-hang'd : here may bee some Probability of Honesty , little or no demonstration , especially a Priory . Heere are Lasses that seeme to hate Enclosures , for they would lay all open , they may seeme good Subiects , for they loue standing or lying for the Common : They hold it was a good Age , when Woemen practis'd Astronomy . They seeme to bee P●ritans , for they loue priuate Conuenticles : They are not altogether vnpractif'd in the Law , for they know and loue Feelings : The Aspect here is the Conjunction , and they hold a noune Substantiue , a Preposition , an Interiection & Coniunction the best parts of speech . They haue learn'd thus far in their Ac●idences , that femin● ludificantur viros . They seeme to bee no whit addicted to pride , for they desire to be below : they loue not Lent , because they delight more in flesh : they seeme to bee well-wishers to Lawyers , and to the Citie , for they loue Terme-times , and pray against the decay of trading . Their chiefest desire is to bee well mann'd , they keepe open houses : It is hazardable to trust them because they are much addicted to Lying : They affect a Cannoneire well , because hee will force a breach , and enter the passage . They Ioue not to wrastle , they had rather take a fall , then giue one . When this Streete was builded , surely Mars and Venus were in a Coniunction . Here are very few men , but they are well arm'd : Nay the Woemen haue receiued presse-money , & haue performed the Seruice : woemen though the colder vessels by Nature , yet these are the hotter by Art : they may bee thought to be great Schollers , for they pertake of all the liberall Sciences , for Grammar they know the Syntax●s , and the Figure cal'd Apollo P. For Logic● they haue skill in the Antepraedicaments & the Fall●cies ; for Musicke they a● not affected with Vnisons ▪ but are skilfull in Chroches and quauers , & loue Ela● because the highest Note and makes them squeake for Retoricke , they kno● the Metonomia adiuncti , and Apostrophe ; for Arethmeticke , the loue addition , and deuision ; for Astronomy , they know the motion of Venus , and are obseruers of Mars ; for their skil in Geography , they know the Tropickes and the Torrid Zone , and ●o being thus experienc'd in these Sciences , they are much frequented and sought too . I wish all in this Streete to take heed of their Cellars , least they fire first , and to lay their Trading downe , or else it will lay them downe .

THese two are twinnes , they haue both set vp one Profession ; they will buy a mans Suite out of his hands , but it shal be hang'd or prest for 't . A man that comes here as a stranger would think that there had beene some great death of men and woemen , here abouts he sees so many suites & no men for them . Here are Suites enough for all the Lawyers in London to deale withall : the Inhabitants are men of many outsides , their faults are not seene easily , because they haue so many cloakes for them : they should be well affected to the Romane Church , for they keepe , & lay vp old Reliques : They are beholden to the Hangman , for he furnishes their Shops : And most of their Creditors wish that they may furnish his three corner'd shop , which often comes to p●sse ; and as many say , the oftner the better : Broke Currs they are in two respects , most of them were broke before they set vp , & Currs for biting so sore euer since they set vp : his shop is a Hell , he the Diuell in 't , & torments poore soules : the Iayler & Broker are Birds of a feather , the one Imprisons the Body , the other the Cloaths , both make men pay deare for their lodging : The Broker seemes somwhat the kinder , for he layes the cloaths in Lauender : he is much of a Seruing mans nature , liues much vpon the Reuersion of cast cloathes : the Seruing-man hath them the cheaper , but the other keepes them the better , they many times do make a bargaine : Hee loues those birds best , that oftnest cast their Feathers : to conclude , he is no Tradsman , if the whole bunch of them be weighed , you shal not scarse finde a dramme of honesty , for a pound of craft .

THis place is wel described by three thinges , Magnificence , Munificence , and Religious gouernment : Magnificence is the ●erminus a quo , good Orders the Terminus mediari , Munificence and Charity the Terminus ad quem : the first showes the wealth of both Founder and Establisher : the second showes the ●eanes to make the good thing done , durable : the third demonstrates his in●ent that thus Establisht it : had it beene great without good gouernment , it had long ere this time come to ruine : or had it bin great & yet deuoyd of Charity , it would haue bin laught at & derided ; but now Charity showes it is well gouerned , and the good Gouernment keeps it firme , and make● it famous : Souldiers and Schollers , I thinke , beginne their loue here , that they continue hereafter firme & solide , by liuing together ▪ callings both honorable , & here bountifully maintayned : It is a Reliefe for decaied Gentlemen , old Souldiers , and auncient Seruingmen : t is to bee pittied , that such Religious , Charitable houses , increase not in number : this one place hath sent many a famous member to the Vniuersities , and not a few to the Warres : I wil not censure as some do , that many places are heere sold for monies , nay the reuersions also : I le rather ex●ort the Gouernors to discharge a good conscience , ( and not to suffer their men , or any other whom they affect , to get thirty or forty pounds for the promise of the next vacant place for a youth to come in , ) and to obserue their first Institutions ; and those that so suppose , I wish them that they speake not that with their mouthes , which they know not in their hearts . The deede of this man that so ordered this House , is much spoken of , and commended : but there 's none Syon Col ledg ner● CripleGat● . ( except onely one ) that as yet , hath eyther striuen to equall or imitate that , and I feare neuer will : there 's many that will not doe any such good Workes , and giue out that they smell something of Popery , and therfore not to be imitated : well , I durst warrant thus much , let the Ouer-seers liue Religiously , gouerne Ciuily , auoid Bribery , keep their Cannons directly , and this House shall stand to vpbraid this Iron Age , and see many brought to beggery for prodigality , when they shall be satisfied , and haue enough : Well , this is my opinion of it , that the Founder is happy , and so are all his Children that liue here ; if they degenerate not , and ●rne from fearing God , obeying their Prince , and from liuing in loue amongst themselues .