The night-rauen. By S.R.

THE NIGHT RAVEN . ALthough the Owle , and I , a custome keepe , To flye abroad , when other Birds doe sleepe , Changing our course from those of other feather , Yet do not we consort a nights together . I haunt not barnes , for either Mouse or Rat , As doth the searching two-foote flying Cat , Nor into bushes after birds to pry , Ther 's diff'rence t'wixt that deuills face and I : For secret things , being of another kinde , In obscure darknesse , I apparant finde Those euill actions that avoyde the Sunne , And by the light of day are neuer done , But lurke in corners , from disclosing eyes , Not daring open view in any wise : Those most familier are made knowne to me , I take a notice who , and where they be , Drunkards that drinke vntill they cannot speake , Villains and Theeues , that into houses breake Whores and Whoremongers trading for the Pox , And reeling Watch-men , carrying Rogues to Stox , With many knauish matters that be fall Which , turn and read , and you shall know them all , I neither tattle with lack-daw , Or Maggot-pye on thatch'd house straw , Nor with your hopping cage birds sing , Nor cuckow it about the spring : Or like your Blacke-bird , Thrush , and Stare Whissell in cages , for good fare : Or cackell with your scraping Hens , Nor hisse with Geese , ( that finde you pens ) Or like your durty Ducks doe quacke , That in the water , water lacke , Nor crow as doth your dung-hill cocke , Clowne almanacke , and Shepheards clocke , Or prate as greene-coate Parrot doth , Like an old-wife , with ne're a tooth , Nor mourne like Pigeons fed with pease : I am consort for none of these . My watchfull eyes awake I keepe , When all such idle creatures sleepe . Were I not blacke , as all crowes be , I should euen blush , at things I see .

Three fearefull Theeues . A Gentleman , lying awake in 's bed , Hauing good Christian motions in his head , How he had spent the day , worse then he should , Omitting to performe the good he would , Committing those things which he ought not doe , As Sathan , World , and Flesh , did vrge him to . Vnder his lodging very close and neare , A conference twixt certaine theeues did heare . Quoth one of them , my counsell pray imbrace , Let 's breake in heere , this is the weakest place . No said another , I doe doubt we shall Finde this so strong , that heer 's a double wall . Then quoth the third , breake out the iron barrs For too long lingring all our businesse marrs : We must not onely heere this night abide , For we haue houses to attempt beside . The Gentleman vnto the window goes , And thus he spake , vnto his theeuing foes ; My friends ( quoth he ) forbeare this quoyle to keep , And come anon , I am not yet a sleepe . When they heard this , away with feare they fled , And he securely , did returne to bed .

A Rogue in the Stockes . A Base rude rascall of the Roguish crew , For misdemeanors that by him there grew , Set by the heeles ( according to desert ) Made himselfe merry with this knauish part : The night obscure , as darke as night could be , Hearing one come , Stand , who goes there ? quoth he : The fellow ( seeing neither watch nor bill ) Reply'd an honest man , that meanes no ill : Sirra ( quoth he ) I heere protest and sweare As I am Constable , step one foote neare ; And in the stocks thou shalt till morning sit , Or I my selfe , will for thee furnish it , The fellow backe againe his course did take , With all the hast that both his legs could make , Supposing t' was some Constable in 's rage , Whose fury was no lesse , then stocks or cage .

An Apology for Women . THer 's an abuse which comes vnto my mind , Vniust imposed vpon women kind , When men haue done things that distastfull be , And that their words from actions disagree , In saying one thing , doing of another , A speech is vs'd their guiltinesse to smother , Sure he 's a man would haue perform'd the same , But the night Rauen is in all the blame . Casting the cause by slaunder on the wife , When she ( good soule ) is of such vertuous life , That from his word she no way would perswade , Although rash promise had him looser made . Therefore kinde harted men 〈…〉 Tearm them no more night 〈…〉 True harted Turtles , constant 〈…〉 Mylder then men , and of lesse hurtfull minde More pittifull , and more compassionate , Lesse enuious and lesse 〈…〉 And of themselues so rare 〈…〉 Not prouing bad , till bad 〈…〉

A night Swaggerer . TEll me the Watch is set ! why th' art an asse ! What Constable dare say I shall not passe ? Who euer bids me stand , i le make him lye , And cut his watchmen out like steakers to frye . I am a gentleman in three degrees , And for three worlds my tytles i le not leese : A gentleman by true discent of blood , My auncient stocke , was long before the flood . Then for my schollership a gentleman , Both reade and 〈…〉 cast a count I can . Then third degree of gentleman I clayme Is my profession of a Souldiers name , Looke but your Chronicle for eighty eight , 〈…〉 you haue me straight . And doest that I will stand in feare , 〈…〉 , asking who goes there ? 〈…〉 and will beare sway , 〈…〉 not so by day , 〈…〉 it best , 〈…〉 I feare arrest .

Fashions , out at the elbows . TAylor , I take thy want of manners ill , Dost come to supper to me , with thy bill ? Hast thou no time , but come at candle light ? Or dost thou feare I meane to vanish quite ? My choller tells thee , th' art a botching slaue , Thy Iourny-man , a very pricklowse knaue . My Sattin-sute is most malignant made ; Goe burne thy bill , and so resolue th' art pay'd : And cutter-out thinke y' are a happy man To scape my fury thus , sirrah I can , Arest you for the spoyling of my stuffe , And yet that action shall not be enough , I haue at least seuerall nine or ten To teach a knaue , how he wrongs gentlemen : As making it according to French-nation , When I should haue it of the Spanish-fashion . Then bringing it in Iune home , past your day , When I should had it seene at court it May . Then for two lice ( I will be sworne I found ) Vpon my Pickadilly , creeping round , But since th' art poore , I some compassion taking Will punish thee , with , nothing for the making .

The Roaring-boy , and his Punke . PVnck I lacke money , how hast thriu'd to day ? To morrow I haue layd a plot will pay , And strap thou shalt haue interrest to boote , Count me a villaine if I faile to do ot . Apox vpon thee , roaring rogue ( quoth she ) When we should get I wonder where you be : Heere was a city-young-man , by this token , Search you the purse , a pretty youth well spoken , And sayes on thursday hee le be heere againe , With him let me alone , I haue his vayne : But I lack'd you to swagger with a gull , A gallant that had crownes his pockets full , A shame light on thee , hadst thou then come in And curst , and swore thou hadst my husband bin , The fearefull slaue , would willingly compound , Rather then in a baudy house be found , Be heere on monday-night in any case , I shall haue an Italian then in chase , Besides a Dutch-man comes to try a Punke Swagger it brauely then , be soundly drunke .

The Gull , and the Domineering Constable . SIrra , what are you ? where 's your dwelling place ? Sirs bring the Lanthorne , let me see his face . Doest know him Beadle ? Surely sir not I. Ant please your worship I doe lodge hereby , I haue bin forth at supper with a friend . Tell me of supper , tut a puddings end You kisse the Counter sirra that is flat , I le teach you know my place deserues a hat . An t please your worship , I confesse it doth But pardon me , my head 's not well in sooth . You thinke all howres of the night to march Because y' are in your yellow close-stoole starch . Hast not Tabacco , and a tynder box ? The knaue may fire the towne , haue him to stocks , Please your good worship not a Pipe I haue . Dost thinke I sit heere to keepe sheepe thou knaue ? No sir , with reuerent magistrates I match Your worship , and the gentlemen , your watch , Well sirra since your duty doth appeare , I am content , this time you shall goe cleere . Depart in peace , and play no knauish pranckes , I giue your worships all , most humble thanks .

Terrible news , for Taber and Pipe . AN odd companion , walking vp and downe , To pipe a liuing out from towne to towne : Being at a Wedding busie at his play , Forgetting daunger of his tedious way , Belated was , yet be it ill or good , He did resolue to wander through a wood . And as he went with knap-sacke full of scrapps , And Taber at his backe , by fortune happs That he farre off by Moone-light chanced to see , A cruell Beare , which forc'd him take a tree , The beast , with sodaine speed came feircely too 't And fell to scrape and scratch about the roote . Poore Taborer so scar'd was with the Beare , He sweate and trembled , in a stinking feare . At length he thought vpon his wedding scraps And threw them to the Beare , to fill his chaps . Who for the time from mining did refraine ; But eating all , fell hard to worke againe . Oh now ( quoth he ) I haue no hope at all , The tree begins to shake , and I must fall , Adew my friends this Beare will me deuouer , Yet as a farewell at my dying hower , Euen in dispight of Paris-garden foes I le haue a fit , as hard as this world goes , And so betakes him , to his Pipe and Tabor , And doth them doth , so sound and braue belabor , The Beare amazed from his scratching runs As if at 's breech had bin a peale of guns , Which when the Taborer with ioy did see , Well Beare ( he said ) if this your humor be , Would I had knowne to vse the charming feate , You should haue daunc'd , before you had my meate So downe he comes , and without longer staying , Thorow the wood goes homeward , al night playing ; Then sends for all his friends , that they may heare The story of the Piper and the Beare , Vowing his Tabor was more deere to him , Then was Arions harpe , when he did swim Vpon the Dolphins backe , most safe a shore , And that same Instrument for euer-more As monument , vnto Tompipers race , Should show his valour , and the Beares disgrace .

To all slothfull Seruants . I Often in the night ( as I doe flye ) See burning houses flaming to the skye , At which most dreadfull accidents that fall , A sodaine terrour terrifieth all , People amazed crying fire , fire , And in perplexed manner helpe require Some in their beds consum'd to ashes quite , And some for ever franticke with the fright , Some wealthy men at setting of the Sunne , And ere the rising , beggers cleane vndone . And when that people seriously inquire , How all this great misfortune comes by fire ; The common answere is , ( and t is too true ) Most slothfull seruants , it is long of you , You that no care doe in your callings take , Nor christian conscience of your waies doe make , To looke vnto your fire and your light ; Of which in duty you haue ouer-sight , But slight the danger that to other growes Because your selues haue nothing for to loose ; Assure you this , a carelesse queane or knaue , Euen such as they haue bin , shall seruants haue .

A wicked Wife . IN darkesome shade of melancholy night , There did appeere to one , a walking sprite , Which put him in a fearefull fit to see , At length vnto Hobgoblin thus said he , If thou belong to God , and beare good mind , Thou wilt not vse me cruell and vnkind , Because no hurtfull things to him belong , That will doe vs ( poore humane creatures ) wrong , But if thou dost pertaine vnto the Deuill , Yet for his sake forbeare to doe me euill , For I haue married late , a lumpe of sin Which is his sister , therefore pray for kin That is betweene the diuell and my wife , Affright me not with feare of limbe , or life . Hast thou ( quoth he ) nay then if it be so , I will not vrge thee vnto further woe : A wicked wife , crosse vpon crosse begins , She 's plague enough , to plague thee for thy sins .

A wounded Drunkard . A Drunkard , ( whom the cup did tardy catch ) Came very late a reeling through the watch , Who cald him with the common who goes there ? But he in staggers would not seeme heare , The Constable , ( with drowsie Bill-men mand ) Said sirrah , in the Kings name looke you stand . What rebell knaue ( quoth he ) wilt not obay ? So looking by their Lanthorne , downe he lay And to the watchmen , holding vp his hand , Said now I charge you all to help me stand , Or else in sober sadnesse , ( you fox getters , ) I le make you anuswere it before your betters , Marke what I say , for now I charge you all , To make me stand , and looke I doe not fall . With that they got him on his legs and staid him , Saying heer 's the Constable , you disobay'd him , And were it not for shame , ( base drunken clowne ) We would ( as we may lawfull ) knocke thee downe . With that he fell vnto the ground againe And cry'd out murder , murder , I am slaine , My scull is cleft , they haue put out mine eyes , And cut off both my legs , Hostes , Dick dyes .

Like Mistris like Maide . Svsan , would meete with Richard and with Ned , Assoone as ere her mistris was a bed , For a Sack-posset they agree'd to eate , And she besides would haue a bit of meate , And so be merry , that they would in sadnesse . But euen about the time of mirth and gladnesse , When both the young-men were bestow'd within , One that had long her mistris louer bin , Knocks at the doore , whereat her selfe came downe ( As loose of body as she was of gowne ) And in the darke put Letcher in the roome , Where both the youths attend till Susan come , Who in meane time to light a candle went , So did her mistris for the same intent , And meeting with her maide , oh strange ( quoth she ) What cause haue you at this time heere to be ? Mistris ( quoth she ) vnto you i le be true , There 's two as honest youths as ere I knew , Came late to see me , ( pray you be content ) Wench this may be ( said she ) and no hurt ment , For there 's an honest man , to make them three , That came in kindnesse for to viset me , Good Susan be as secret as you can , Your master is foolish Iealous man , Though thou and I , doe meane no hurt or ill , Yet men take women in the worst sense still , And feare of hornes , more griefe in harts hath bred Then wearing hornes doth hurt a cuckolds head .

A Shifters Rifling . MOst louing friends on Thursday next at night One master Needy , kindly doth inuite Some foure or three score gallants ( at the least ) To rifle for his Nag , a passing beast , That he indeed did borrow of a friend , But being come vnto his iournies end , And finding it is no good husbands way , To be at horse expence for oates and hay , Which idle stands and pampers in the stable , Besides himselfe vnwilling , purse vnable , To be at further charges with the Iade , Will rifle him , his friend can be but paied As they shall afterwards agree of price , When he his horse-play hath perform'd at dice . Each a Iacobus , come in any wise , His whole estate , vpon the bu'snesse lies , His money wants and patience now perforce Depends vpon the credit of this horse , Fayle not his rifeling therefore but come too 't Or you ore-throw a gallant horse and foote .

Quarell vpon debate . TWo chanc'd to fall at some dissention late , And waxing weary of their fond debate Wherein ( like fooles ) law-money might be spent , Agree'd to put it to arbitterment , Each of an honest friend did make his choyse , And bound themselues to their awarding voyce , The arbitrators met to end the Iar , And argu'd matters in a heate so far , That knaue , and knaue betweene them both was delt , And so from words , the force of fists they felt , Their noses bled , their eies were blacke and blew , As feirce a buffet fray , as ere you knew . At length those twain they met for to make friends , Came in , to heare their matter how it ends , And what award they did intend to make . Quoth th' arbitrators ; Masters for your sake , We met together , your debates to smother , And very soundly we haue beate each other , Now as your selues meane to be delt withall , Take vp our matter , ere we end your brall , We two that came your quarells to discusse , Doe now want two to cese debate for vs .

Hee hath little to care for , that hath little to lose . VIllains by night into a Kytchin brake , Supposing brasse , and pewter thence to take . The good-wife heard them , and her husband calls , Telling him theeues were breaking throgh the walls And therefore to preuent them will'd him rise , Quoth he ( kind wife ) I am not so vnwise . To put my selfe in danger causelesse so , The night is darke as any pitch you know , And if they there can find out goods by night , When thou and I , see nothing by day light , I le say they coniure or doe vse some charme , For there is nought to lose can doe vs harme Wife let vs both laugh at them in our sleeues , That with our empty kitchin we gull theeues .

An English Canniball . A Roreing boy , ( of the late damned making ) Sat moneylesse , alone , Tabacco taking , For he had thriu'd so well by candle-light , He lost ten pound by eight a clocke at night , So cursing dice and Fortune for this wrong A sawcy Fidler offers him a song , Ha , song quoth he ? Sirra wilt sell thy Boy ? I haue an vse for such a kinde of toy . Why sir ( said he ) what will you put him too ? Eate him ( quoth he ) that I intend to doe . Sad melancholy makes my sences weary , And that same boy shall make me inward merry , The Fidler downe the stayres with all hast hies , Quicke boy be gone ( saies he ) one of vs dies , The diuell 's in him sure , and he may fall , To eate vs vp aliue , fiddles and all , Some greedy plannet certainly doth strike-him , He hath a hungry looke , I doe not like-him , Yet for his dyet we are most vnmeet , Because through feare , there 's neither of vs sweet .

A Foole probatum . A Graue Phisition , in the night at 's booke , ( That did dame Natures secrets ouer-looke , ) Found ( amongst other things ) this one worth hearing That a long beard was but a foolish wearing , With that he tooke the candle and the glasse , And went to see what size his owne beard was , Which as he viewd , and did stroking handle , He set the same on fire , by the candle Burning it sodainly vnto his chin , Which had before downe to his middle bin , Now doe I finde ( quoth he ) t' is a true note That he which is long bearded ( like a Gote ) Is but a foole , my selfe can this protest , So set it downe in 's booke Probatum est .

Iesting turn'd to good earnest . GEntlemen kindly in a Tauerne met , And as they all to supper downe were set , Came in a Iester , ( vnto some there knowne , ) Who at the table boldly maketh one , Where like an impudent audacious asse He turnes his foolish idle scoffes to passe , Not caring whom , nor how he did abuse : But one amongst the rest , whom he did chuse To play vpon , and in a vaine to run Did quiet put vp all , till supper done , Then rising , came and tooke him by the hand , And said familiar sir , I vnderstand The ripenesse of your wit to breake a iest It seemes your braine is busily possest To vtter all your humour doth allow , And therefore for your boldnesse with me now , Although I cannot breake a iest , I say , Yet I can breake your pate , take that I pray . Goe to the Barbers shop , and there reueale-it , And Iest a plaister out of him to heale-it .

The Horne Plague . INto a iealous passion one did fall , And kept his bed , not being sick at all . A friend of his did come to see him , and The cause of his not being well demand . Tell me ( quoth he ) wher doe you feele your paine ? In head or heart , where doth your griefe remaine ? What member is it that is ill affected , That Phisick may the better be directed ? Truely ( said he ) of head I not complaine , Nor doth my heart pertake of any paine . Nor lights nor lungs , nor kidnes do torment , But an ill Liuer is my discontent : And none can help it better then my wife , If she would seeke to mend her queanish life ; T' is this bad - Liuer doth the horne plague breed , Which day & night my Iealous thoughts doth feed .

The Tragedy of Smug the Smith . A Smith for fellony was apprehended , And being condem'd for hauing so offended , The townes-men , with a generall consent Vnto the Iudge , with a petition went , Affirming that no smith did neare them dwell , And for his Art they could not spare him well , For he was good at edge-toole , locke and key , And for a Farrier , most rare man ( quoth they . ) The discreet Iudge , vnto the clownes reply'd , How shall the Law be iustly satisfied ? A theefe that steales must dye therefore , that 's flat . Oh sir said they , we haue a tricke for that : Two Weauers dwelling in our towne there are , And one of them we very well can spare , Let him be hang'd we very humbly craue , Nay hang them both so we the Smith may haue , The Iudge he smyled at their simple iest , And said the Smith would serue the hang-man best .

Of two euills chuse the least . A Scriuener ( about nine a clocke at night ) Sat close in 's shop , and earnestly did write , The villany abroad suspecting not , While two obseruing him , thus layd a plot , Quoth one to t'other , snatch thou off his hat : The which he did , and ran away with that : The Scriuener in hast his shop forsakes , And for to ouertake him vndertakes , So while he follows him that runs away The other rascall watching for his pray , Enters the shop as bold as bold might be , And takes his cloake and so away goes he . Scriuener comes backe , bare headed as he went , Missing his cloake was far worse discontent , Quoth he what case am I brought in to night , Of hat and cloake being vncased quite ? I will not cry Hamlet Reuenge my greeues , But I will call Hang-man Reuenge on theeues .

To the City and Suburbes . THere 's not a night I fly throughout the yeare , Be it obscurely darke , or Moone light cleere , But I behold abuses things vnmeet , By such as doe vntimely haunt the street . I heare a knocking at your City gates , By your good-fellowes , with their drunken pates : I note the places of polluted sinne Where your kind wenches and their bawds put in . I know the houses where base cheaters vse , And note what Gulls ( to worke vpon ) they chuse , I take a notice what your youth are doing , When you are fast a sleepe , how they are woing And steale together by some secret call , Like Piramus and Thisby through the wall , I see your prentises what pranks they play , And thing you neuer dreame on can bewray , But i le giue warning first , for reformation , Which if it fayle then of another fashion I le tell a tayle , some will be loth to heare , Therefore let these amend and i le forbeare .

The coniuring of a Spirit . A Seruing-man , his fellow did perswade , To play the spirit and make a clowne afraid , Thou knowst ( quoth he ) Tom of his manhood boasts That he like butter-flies esteemes all Ghoasts , Thou shalt at night vnder a stayre-case stand Bound in a sheet , the dogs chaine in thy hand , And as that way toward bed he doth prepare Thou like a Ghoast , most brauely shalt him scare . Content ( quoth he ) withall my heart agreed , I am the man that will performe the deed . Fitted at night , vnder the stayres he got , The other he reueales the bug-beare plot , Saying Tom take thou a cudgell , and rib roast him . Let me alone ( quoth Tom ) I will be ghost him . So comming to the place , the spirit groanes , Tom with his cudgell , well bebasts his bones . Hold , hold , ( quoth he ) for Gods loue , ( I protest ) I am no diuell , but a spirit in iest , Vntye the sheet , behold me by the light , I le kill the rogue , that made me play the spirit .

The Gallant , and his brother Begger . A Stately gallant in his fashions brauing , A begger followed , and almes went crauing Good gentleman ( quoth he ) some succour grant , To a poore man in misery and want . Sirrah ( said he ) there is foure farthings take them , Oh ( quoth the begger ) all men now forsake them , Kind gentleman , afford to your poore brother , Some siluer peece will passe from one t' another . Brother ( said he ) how came that neerenesse in ? I pray which way are we become of kin ? Sir ( quoth the begger ) brothers we may call Cause Adam was the father of vs all , Sure brother begger , it is true ( quoth he ) And this is all the hurt I wish to thee All Adams sonnes aliue vnder the Sunne , Would giue their brother but as I haue done , Yet then I feare the Prouerb would proue right A begger set on horse-backe nere would light .

A mad voyage for old Moones . A Marchant lost by shipwracke all he had , And therevpon he fell distracted mad , But in the humors of his franticke fits , He plotted matters did amaze good wits , As to haue plowes to goe with canuas sayles , And meate well boyld , and sod in wooden payles , With many matters he did strange , proiect , Whereof a number came to some effect , But a rare voyage came at last in 's head , Should stand the commonwealth in wondrous stead Onely one trade he would vndoe thereby , ( The Chaundlers he did hate exceedingly ) And therefore ( quoth he ) to his friends , you know That euery moneth there doth a new Moone grow , And then the old giues place to that , you see , I le make a voyage , where the old ones be , ( You cannot be in th' Indies halfe so soone , ) Then will I sell to euery man a Moone , And that shall giue him all his life time light And thus i le begger all the Chaundlers quite .

Mistaking in the darke . CHaucer , amongst his merry iests doth write , Of one that went a woing in the night , It being extreame darke , as darke might be , Vnto the widdowes window commeth he , And there intreats her fauour for a kisse , And she affords him , such a one as t' is , Opening the casement , to her clownish friend She turnes out to his lips her lower end , Which past away for currant in the darke , A better man might so mistake the marke , And like to him haue goe away with thankes . Well this was one of Chaucers widdows pranks . But we haue diuers night men now a daies , That in the darke become such wilfull straies , When they should goe vnto their wiues chast bed , Doe get vnto the maids , in mistris stead . And so the auntient prouerbe doth allow , That Ioanes as good , as is my lady now , But he whose honest wife cannot suffice him I wish the Surgeons tooles might circumcise him .

The Constable cannot doe it . A Warrant to a Constable was sent , Of speciall charge , disorder to preuent , ( Which was suspected from men ill inclind , ) All those he after ten a clocke did finde , He should disarme of weapons they did beare , Not suffring any one a dagger weare . A humorous odd fellow heard the same , And to the constable he serious came , Sir ( quoth he ) hearing you haue ouersight For to disarme all weaponed men by night , I doe intreate you , for your office sake , A rapire and a dagger you would take From one that 's armed , and a man I feare A Broker , that my weapons now doth beare , If Load-stone-like by you they could be drawne , From , ( Day 's broke , ) that hath them now in pawne , My credit ( sir ) would be sharp set againe , Which now lies desperate rusting in Long-lane .

Mistris Newfangle . HOw am I plagued with a scuruy maid ? In all I doe command her , disobay'd , To no good quallity she doth inclyne But she 's my husbands seruant none of mine , It is his will to haue her in the house , But if I find his Flea , or body Lowse , Betweene my sheets , ( as I doe shrewd suspect , ) I le haue their itch killd in Bridewell direct . Set her to starch a band , ( I vow t is true ) She euer spoyles the same with too much blew . Last night she seru'd me , a most roguish tricke , Fell fast a sleep , and burnd my poking sticke , Nay heard you of a verier queane then this , She layd my Fan where rats and mise did pisse . And calling hasty for my Maske and Fan , She was at her Tabacco with our man , And brought it to me smelling so of smoke , That almost for to sound it did prouoke . If that it had not fortuned so well , That I had on my perfum'd gloues to smell : Pray speake , had you this vexer and abuser , And were thus plagu'd as I , how would you vse her ?

The valiant Butcher . FOure theeues , that all the day had bin to take , At night betweene themselues would euen make Within a wood vnder a hedge on ground They spred a cloake , and sat about it round , And there their monyes equally deuide Into foure parts , laying to each mans side His share according to th' amounting sum , Thus as they sat , a Butcher chaunc'd to come A long the hedge , who sound of voyce did heare , And prying softly through , saw money there , Bouldly resolu'd to share it from them all : Breakes through with his staffe and lowd did call , Heere masters heere , the villains are we looke , Come through quick , with that the theeues forsook Money and cloake , and take themselues to run , That they the daunger of their necks might shun , Constrain'd by guilt and put to flight by feare . As if a hundred armed men were there , The Butcher tooke the money and the clooke , And to himselfe in ioyfull manner spoke , Heer 's the best match , that I haue made of long As speech is vs'd , I le pocket vp this wrong

The Conclusion . ALL you vsurpers of the nights darke houres , ( As though those times , were for abuses yours ) Drunke in the Tauerns , making Ale-house scores , And in Tabacco shops , smoking like-Moores , You that with Fox and Wolfe , by night doe pray , For that must feed your theeuish throats next day , You that are inmates to the diuells Inns , Baudy houses . Fild with corruption of the rotten sinnes , You in a word , that are most vile , most base , And liue like men that haue renounced grace , When you doe act the diuells reuells thus ( More blacke of soules , then blackest Crow of vs ) If you but saw what vgly feinds of Hell , Imbrace you , for your pleasing them so well , And how about you numberles they swarme , And with the Seauen deadly sinnes doe charme Your sinfull lusts , to draw you downe to Hell , You would reforme your waies , with doing well , Arming your selues against the diuell stronger , And so be children of the night no longer .

FINIS .