I haue little to say to the Reader , because I neither know him or his conditions , therefore to auoyde lying and slattry in putting the stiles of Christian , Gentle , courteous , friendly , learned or honest , vpon the Atheiste , barbarous , hatefull , Ignorant , or dishonest , the Reader gets no Epistle at all of me : If he be good and well inclinde it is the better for himselfe , and if otherwise , it shall not be much the worse for me , ther 's the poynt : now the reasons why all these words or names of my Morrall Nauy are called SHIPS , or doe all end with the word or sillable SHIP , as Lord SHIP , Ladye SHIP , Freind SHIP and the like &c. The reasons I take to be these which followeth , and as I imagine most significate ; first the whole life of man is as a SHIP vnder sayle , for , be it either day or night , storme or calme , light or darke , hot or colde , winter or sommer , yet the SHIP is in her course euer going on her voyage : so likewise Man , let him goe , sit , stand , ride , run , worke , play , sleepe or wake , yet he is still going onward in his mortall passage . A SHIP is euer in need of repayring , so is a man eyther in body , minde or goods . A Ship is euer vnsteddy ; a Man is alwayes mutable : Some SHIPS are hard to be steered ; some men are harder to be guided . Some Shipps beare so great a sayle that they beare their Masts by the Board and make all split againe ; some Men doe spread such a Clue in a calme , that a sodaine storme halfe sinkes them and teares all . Some SHIPS are so fauoured by the wind that they make rich voyages , & quicke returnes ; some men are so fortunate that wealth and promotions do fall in their mouthes . Some SHIPS runs through many a storme , with much danger , and yet are so vnlucky that they doe neuer make good voyage ; some Men ( being borne vnder a three peny plannet ) can neither by paines , watching , labour or any industry bee worth a groat . Some SHIPS by being ouerladen haue bene cast away , some men by taking in too much haue bene forc'd to cast all away . SHIPS doe wallow and heaue and set vpon the Sea ; Men do stumble , reele and stigger on the land . Some Ships haue their cracks & imperfections gayly hid with painting ; some Men haue their bad intents coulourd ouer with hippocrisie , and their diseased carkases couered with good clothes . Some SHIPS doe bring profitable commodities , and some bring bables , toyes and tri●les ; some Men doe inrich a kingdome with their wisedome , authority , and practise in vertue : and some men doe disgrace and Impouerish a Monarchy by folly , ill imployed power , and sottishnes in vanity . Some SHIPS will run to leeward extreamly if the wind bee scant , and some againe will brauely beate it out to windward and weather it , so some Men will shrink from their friends or from themselues , in a storme of trouble or pouerty , and some few agen will beare vp stiffe , constantly contemning & opposing the brunts of fortune . Some SHIPS are taken by others and made prizes ; some Men are captiu'd by others and made slaues . Some SHIPS are commended more for their Bulke & beauty , then for any good seruice ; and some Men are more applauded for their fortunes , then for any good conditions . If I would insist longer on these comparisons , I could enlarge my Induction to the bounds of a Pamphlet : therefore I will conclude it with King Solomons similitude , wisdome 5. C. 10. that mans life passeth as a SHIP that passeth ouer the waues of the water : therefore I wish all men to bee prouided , as good SHIPS should be : let HOPE be their Anker , let Fayth be their Cable , let charity & loue be their Card & Compasse , till they come happily to the Hauen of GRAVESEND , and from thence to that blessed harbour which hath no END .

THis Ship is a very Auncient Ship , and was built at the first , and hath bin euer since Repaired with Infinite cost , paines and Study . Shee hath beene of that worthy Estimation , that the greatest Monarks , Kings , Princes , and Estates of the world , haue made it their chiefest felicity to sayle in her : all famous Diuines and Philosophers haue steered her and beene steered by her . Some of her greatest Mariners haue beene much troubled with plurifies , pluralities I would say , and some haue bene great Marchants a Steeple faire , but it was in the old time when Si - Mony , was as good as ready Mony . The Artes Mathematicall & metaphysicall haue beene the Rich Prizes and Purchases of her Painfull Voyages : and now at this present ( though the world be much altred with her ) She tryes her fortunes in this aduentrous Nauy . The Captaines name was Sapience , the Master Experience , his mate Knowledge , and euery other officer Correspondent , being muniti●nd and victualled for the enterprise shee set sayle , with her squadron or Regiment of Ships here under named .

Then there attended her fiue small Pinnaces and Frigots , namely , the Dogmatist , the Captious , the Preiudicate , the Carper , and the Critick . These fiue were man'd with yong Bachelours of Arte , Puny Inns of Courtmen , and humorous Poets , who with their continuall cudgelling one another with broken verses , had almost beaten Priscians braines out .

COurt-SHIP , is a vessell of Royall and magnificent burthen , of eminent Command , and inuincible force , if she be well man'd , carefully rig'd , discreetly ballac'd and wisely steerd ; she is of that impregnable strength , that neither the stormes of sawcy censure , the Gusts of Mallapart babling , the flawes of Enuy , the Tempests of Temporising tale-bearers , or the smooth calmes of Flattery , can make her sayle to any other Harbour then the famous Ports and Hauens of Vertue , Honour and perpetuall hapines .

But ( to vse Sea-tearmes and Phrases ) there are a Crew of vnprofitable Steale-sharers , peremptory Hotshots , idle Flat-sheates , and vnseruiceable vseles Loose-guise , that doe attempt to board this worthie admired Ship , and so hauing boarded her , ( like Drones ) they eate and liue vpon the labours and deserts of the painefull industrious Mariners ; these are the youths that after they haue foysted themselues into so●e meane place or Office , though it be but a Swabber , Lyer or Lyers Mate ( alwayes prouided that they haue sworne themselues into good cloaths ) then let all their acquaintance and friends stand further off , for the●● 〈◊〉 : themselues to be no more mortall , so that a man ha● faire better speake to the Material owner of the Shippe himselfe , then to any of these Pucke-foysts : yet there is 〈◊〉 shew of zeale in their salutation to any one they meete , for the word God s●●e yee , is as common as the Ayre 〈◊〉 ●hem , b●t 〈◊〉 ●●f●ct they neither mind God nor the 〈◊〉 ●hey speake to , and ( like an Ape for an Aple ) they 〈◊〉 kisse their pawe , inuiting a man to their Cabbin , but whosoeuer takes them at their word , they hold him to want manners , and to be a fellow of no breeding . The ignorant Asse that caried the Egyptian Goddesse Isis in procession , ●hen the more ignorant people kneeled downe to adore the 〈◊〉 , the witlesse Asse thought it had beene in reuer●●●●o him : so in like manner these vpstart Ship-boyes . 〈◊〉 once crept into any inferiour Office in the Ship , and 〈◊〉 being couered with silke and good borrowed beaten Sattin , ●●nde and buttered through with Plush or Veluet , they arrogantly imagine , that all the reuerence or respect that men doe either for their vndeserued place , or gawdy out-side , is done to their persons ; but I would haue them vnderstand that they are honoured and worship'd , with the same deuotion as the barbarous Brasilians , Americans and Virginians doe adore the Deuill withall , which is not for the hope of any good which they evpect , but for feare of the hurt which they suppose the Deuill can doe them . The conclusion is , that when a storme or tempeste comes , the Noble , stout , skilfull Nauigator stands to his Tackling , and couragiously applyes himselfe either to Top and yard , Helme and Lead , from Post to stem , and from Prow to Quarter , when all the seruice Monsier Mushrome and his Mate can doe , is either to eate , sleepe , spewe , and stinke , and at last for some notorious or meritorious worke , they are duck'd from the yeard arme of State , into the deep sea of disgrace , and turn'd a shoare like Caines Imps , preferd to their due estates of Runagates and Vagabonds .

1 THe Renowne , a Ship of worthy port , strength and burthen , man'd with approued and experienc'd Soldiers and Saylors .

2 The Courage .

3 The Resolution .

4 The Fore●●●ght .

5 The Expedition .

6 The Loyalty .

The Perseuerance . Sixe tall Ships of most excellent seruice and performance .

7 The Complement .

8 The Brisbe .

9 The Strange . Three Gallant Pinnaces , but of very small vse , profit or seruice .

10 The Obliuious . A Ship of great burthen and most plentifully man'd , with those that had forgotten their Parents , kindred , friends , birth , estate , breeding , and indeed such as were so farre out of knowledge to knowe any man , that they had no acquaintance of themselues , and being meere strangers to their owne qualities and conditions ; and thus was the Court-SHIP appointed and attended ; much of her great Ordinance , were Promises , the Pouder breath , and ayry performance were the Shot , which by reason of the tossing of the billowes and vnquiet surges of the Sea , did often misse the marke .

WAs a Vessell of great account and estimation , Dauid and Ionathan , Damon and Pithias , Pilades and Orestes , Alexander and Lodowicke , Scipio and Lealius , did most louingly and vnfeignedly sayle in her : indeed shee was euer free for all commers of what Country , sexe , age or estate soeuer , for the word Friend importes free end , which is as much as the end and intention of Friend-SHIP is free : In these latter times , she should haue gone to Sea , but there were not men to be gotten to man her , so for a shift they were faine to furnish her with Kinred , Nunkles , and Couzins , with here and there a false Brother : Herod , and Pilate went aboard this Ship ( with a shamefull deale of loue from the teeth outward ) but their purpose was to destroy innocent blood . It was a merry world when Fidelitie was Master of this Ship , Constancie his Mate , and Plaine-dealing the Botswaine : but those worthy Mariners are dead , and an old Prouerbe as sure as Checke with them : in a word , the old Ship is decayd and rotten , hauing onely the bare name left , for she is so much past seruice , that she can hardly steere or beare sayle , with an aduerse contrarie gale , shee will fall to Leeward most abominably , yet with a prosperous and fortunate winde , she will spread all her Canuasse exceeding faire and hipocriticall , and so I 'le describe no further , because shee is growne to that cheape rate , that a man may haue her a Bellingsgate for a box on the care .

The Friend-SHIP had two very small Pinnaces in her Squadron : named , he is called and esteemed a man of good Foote-man-SHIP , which word Annagramatiz'd is Foe to Man-SHIP , importing that running away is an enemy or foe to Man-hood , valour and resolution , ( thus much by way of Paradox . )

Let the winde blowe where it will , yet all weathers this Ship sayles a Trot , her light-footed , nimble-hee●d Mariners ( like so many dancers ) capring in the Pumpes and vanities of this sinfull world , sometimes a Morrisca or Trenchmore of 40. miles long , to the Tune of Dusty my deere , Dirty come thou to me , Dun out of the mire , or I wayle in woe and plunge in paine , all these daunces haue no other musicke , except now and then he chaunce to heare an oath , or a curse or two from the Coachman .

These Saylors , the most part and best of them are bred in a Kingdome of much fertilitie and plenty , called Realdine , where after they haue all their youth beene accustomed to weare Brogues and Tru●es , their fare being many times shamrookes , oaten-bread , beanes and butter-milke , arm'd vpon starke naked , with a Dart or a Skeene , steeld with the spirit of Vsquabath , then they crosse a ditch of eight houres sayle , and land in the most flourishing Kingdome of Triabnie , where by their good Foot-man-SHIP they are turned out of their old habits , into Iackets of good Preterpluperfect Veluet , plated with siluer or Argentum vi●um , ( for the quickenesse ) and all to be embrodered backe and side , with the best gold twist , and the best of the silke-worme , sometimes with a Courte ( a Coate of Guard I should say , ) or a Coate of Regard , being well guarded , vnreguarded , with such a deale of feather Ribbands , and points , that he seemes to be a running Habberdashers shop of small wares .

Yet are those men free from Pride , for their greatest Ambition is not to ride but to foote it , or else to sweepe Chimneis , or turne Costermongers ; this is the altitude of their aime , and the profundity of their ●elicitie , neuertheles they know themselues to be Great mens Trappings , couragious Torch-bearers , ill●strious Firedrakes , glorious & sumptuous Turmoylers , they are farre from the griping sinnes of Vsurie and Extortion , and are such Philosophicall contemners of the world , that euery day they treade it vnder their ●●ete and trample on it ; and they are such haters of wickednesse , that they leaue it in all places where they come : they are not couetous of other mens land , for they make all the hast they can euery day to leaue it behinde them ; they are so much to be trusted , that their words are as good as their bonds , yet in this their humilitie they may compare with Emperours , for they are as braue as Nero , and can drinke with Tiberius : To conclude , the Foot-man-SHIP is man'd with well breath'd Mariners , who after all their long , painefull , and faithfull seruice , are ship'd in-the Barke-beggerly , and brought to an Anker in the Hauen of Cripplegate .

There were in the R●giment with the Foote-man-SHIP 4. small Pinnaces .

HOrsmanship had not so faire a beginning as Footman-SHIP , for Cayno who was the first vagabond and runnagate in the world , was also the first that back'd and mannadge a Horse ( as Polador Virgil saith , 〈…〉 doubt after he had murdred his brother , seeing he could not runne from the horror of his conscience , therefore he practised Horseman-SHIP , because perhaps hee tho●g●t to ride from himselfe . This Ship hath more p●ces then 〈◊〉 hath ; and the comparison may hold well for in long vacations , quarter dayes , against payment of Bon●s absence of true friends , or protracting of Maydes marriages , after the Banes hath beene thrice asked , in these cases the Lawyer ▪ the Land-lord , the Vsurer , the friends , and the Contracted couple , doe thinke time to be soundred , starke lame , or quite tyred , & that his best pace is after 14. miles in 15. dayes ; whilst many a poore ( lyent , an vnprouided Tennant , or vnfurnished debter , or a fellow going to be hang'd , they thinke time is all vpon the spur , and that he run● at full speed a wilde galloppe . And as a Ship at sea sayles sometimes by the wind , sometimes before the wind , sometimes with a quarter wind , sometimes with a stone sheate , and sometimes with tacke hard a board , and Bolin st●e●chd and sheate close a●te , by all which winds she sayles seuerall paces : So Horseman-SHIP hath the Trot , the Amble , the Rack , the pace , the false and wild Gallop , or the full speed , & as seuerall vessels at sea do make vp a Nauy , as Carracks , Argoseys , Hulkes , Ships , Barkes , Pinnaces , Hoyghs , Drumlers , Fregates , Brigandines , Carnels , Catches , Gallies , Gallions , Gall●● 〈◊〉 ●oysts , Galley-Asses , and Asses-Galleys : so this Horseman-SHIP , hath to attend her , her 〈…〉 , her Barbary ho●●e , her Naples Courser , her Germ●ne S●e●de her 〈◊〉 Mare , her Galloway Nagge , her 〈◊〉 Hobby , her French C●●uaia , her Welch Pal●ray , her English All , her Smithfield lade , and her Barthlomew Hoby-horse , and 〈◊〉 to all other Ships , which haue their Bridle , H●lme or Rudder in their sterne or tayle , Horseman SHIP is altogether directed and steered by the head , whereby , ●●r want of good managing , many times the Rider makes a head-long voyage ( like a man of good forecast 〈◊〉 the horse head . And as Horseman are none of the best Mariners , so Mariners are commonly the worst Horsemen , as one of them being vpon a tyred Hacken●y once , ( his companions pray'd him to ride faster , he said he was becalm'd .

Another mounted vpon a foundred ●ade , that stumbled 3. or 4. times hea●●ong , the Saylor imagined that his horse was too much 〈◊〉 a head , or ●●t●ward on ( as the sea phrase is ) and therefore to b●l●●●e him , that he might goe or sayle with an euen keele , he aligated and s●l'd his ●erkin slee●●● full of stones , and ty'd them fast to his horse cro●p●r , supp●sing to make his s●eme as deepe laden as his head to an ●yd stumbling .

Indeed this Horseman-SHIP is neuer vnfurnished of a lad●● tricke or two at a pinch or time of neede , ( and contrarie to any other ship in the fairest weather it will heaue , set , wi●ce , kicke , fling , & ●uruet , like a Mi●●ommer Morris dauncer , or as if the Deuill were practising a French 〈◊〉 or ●●rran●o ▪ but I cannot blame them to be lusty , 〈◊〉 they we not put to such hard allowance as many poor who had taught their Iades no better manners , then to take the wall of his Maiesties Horse , hee dismissed them from their Offices , and made two of his owne stable Groomes , Senatours in their roomes , and after proceeded to the funerall of his Horse , in manner and forme following .

First , a 100. poore gald Hackneies , and next 300. labouring Asses , all couered with blacke Cotton , going 2. and 2. euery one hauing 2. bottles of ●●aye on their backes , the onely guift of the deceased : then 100. hunting Nags , and 50. Coache-horses , with 10. Horses of State , with each two horse-loaues for dyet bread . Then followed the Pleybeians in mourning habit 200. in number ; next the stable Groomes , Puruayers , Chikes of the stable , Farryers , Horse-leeches , and Gentlemen of the stable , 300.

Then went the Sadlers , Charioteeres , Waggoners , Carters , Sumptermen , Littermen and Coachmen , 300.

After them Singers , Pagan Priests , Flammines and Archslammines . 70.

Then the H●arse richely behung with Scutcheous deuices , Mottoes , and Impresses .

After them , the Emperour Nero chiefe mourner , and his Trayne borne vp by Otho , and young Sporus .

Next went two old Asses all in blacke Veluet , as mourners of State or Cheuals de du●il .

Then followed Agripina ( Nero his mother ) with the faire Popeia and the beautifull Acte , ( two of his Concubines ) and after them Galba Nimphid●us Vittelluss , with others : it i● t●ought that Seneca ●at all the while in his studie laughing at the Funerall .

Lastly a great Troope of straggling attendants : The Hearse being set downe in Campus Martius , Otho began this speech which followeth , in blancke Verse .