The praise, of cleane linnen With the commendable vse of the laundresse. By Iohn Taylor.

¶ The Praise , of Cleane Linnen . With The Commendable vse of the Laundresse .

By John Taylor .

〈…〉 printer's or publisher's device

LONDON Printed by E : All-de for Hen. Gosson . 1624.

The Epistle dedicatorie . To the most Mundifying , Clarifying , Purifying , and Repurifying , Cleanser , Clearer , and Reformer of Deformed and polluted Linnen , Martha Legge Esquiresse , transparent , vnspotted , Snow-Lillywhite Laundresse to the Right worshipfull and generous the Innes of Court , of the middle Temple , with diuers others in the rancke of Nobilitie , Gentilitie , and tranquilitie , your poore and vnknowne Poeticall Oratour Iohn Taylor , in humilitie and seruilitie , craues your Patronages abilitie , in defence of his imbecilitie .

MOst cleanely and profest Antagonist to vermine , dirte , and filth , as Dragmatus the Diagorian Stigmatist very worthily wrot in his treatise of the antiquity of Shapparoones and carelesse Bands ; Rushto● ton tumeron smolensco whish wherlibumque . Which is in English , That to conserue and keepe cleane , is as much or more then to make cleane : and I knowing by long experience that your 〈…〉 for our health 〈…〉 vpon those g●●●e 〈…〉 I haue p●esumed to 〈…〉 to your 〈…〉 . No● doubting 〈…〉 of your I ennity 〈…〉 fault● as are not 〈…〉 th●ough ●ant of igno●●● 〈…〉 Sta●●h of your 〈…〉 will stiff●n the wea●e●●sse 〈…〉 ●●eble and limber labours , 〈…〉 ●ee able to stand like a stoute 〈…〉 D●gge , against the opposition of 〈…〉 Mungerels : I haue in this 〈…〉 , set forth the praise and 〈…〉 of Cleane Linnen , with 〈…〉 pa●nes of the Laundresse : 〈…〉 Lawndres I finde to bee both 〈…〉 de●●gat●ry to your comly , 〈…〉 near , sweete and 〈…〉 for the Annagram of F●sh●●● 〈…〉 most 〈…〉 your glory 〈…〉 to be termed 〈…〉 of Lawne , 〈…〉 dresse , Lawnd●esse , 〈…〉 lesdresse , 〈…〉 which 〈…〉 for you are the 〈…〉 Cap a pea 〈…〉 Socke , to the 〈…〉 and from the 〈…〉 and well beloued 〈…〉 in I am strucke 〈…〉 daunted 〈…〉 accompany 〈…〉 chast●t● . For 〈…〉 enter a Gen●●●●● 〈…〉〈◊〉 of his soule 〈◊〉 in his bed , to 〈…〉 h●m 〈◊〉 your bare and naked mercy , 〈…〉 , in pitty 〈…〉 you put 〈◊〉 cleaue 〈…〉 leauing him in a clea●●● 〈…〉 th●n you found 〈…〉 doub● bu● such objects 〈◊〉 pro●●●● 〈…〉 temptations to fraile flesh and 〈…〉 as I said before , your courage 〈◊〉 constancy alwayes brings you fairely of and on , though thousands weaker yes●●● 〈…〉 would be cra●●● in these 〈…〉 As for your good 〈…〉 who 〈◊〉 L●gge by name , my poore 〈◊〉 makes a legge in courtesie to him & 〈◊〉 both . Some Cobling Coxcombes in 〈◊〉 and ●udgement , will terme him a 〈◊〉 , w●●●est good manners entitles 〈…〉 Tratis●ator When I thinke vpon the 〈…〉 correspondency of both your 〈…〉 approue i●●●●tune for a wise 〈…〉 chapping such a con●●● 〈…〉 a mender , and 〈…〉 , speake truth you 〈◊〉 both 〈…〉 how many will 〈…〉 mond your 〈…〉 ( were and cleare , 〈…〉 our wicked and 〈…〉 vpright the is 〈…〉 and wayeth much of 〈…〉 worke is sild 〈…〉 shewes the true 〈…〉 Name : and 〈…〉 more 〈…〉 whereof , 〈…〉 house , doth good 〈…〉 betweene the Legges , 〈…〉 husband may 〈…〉 Poetically make an H●●●merez Legges are the sup●o●ters 〈…〉 holds and 〈…〉 A gool Legge●a grea● grace 〈…〉 creetlyessex● to the ca●e , me not too much ●indled in the 〈…〉 wo●e Translot knowes that a 〈…〉 mourfo● go●●●ogge , we a 〈…〉 or visor for bad 〈…〉 . mens many a Gentleman vsher will say ●●●hatu●● est of all parts of the Body the Legge beares the prick and praise It is embrodered with veines , inlaid with Arteries , enchased with Nerues , interlac'd with Muscles , ennamel'd with Sinewes , interwouen with Membranes , intermixt with Tennons , embost with Ankles , hauing a Neate Foote for a Man , and fiue Toes for Pages to attend it . More for the honour of Legges ; what is better meate then the Legges of Beife , Mutton , Lambe , Porke , Capon , Turkey , Goose or Woodcocke ? Nay , there is such vertue in them , that any reasonable Cooke with a Stooles Legge ( & something else ) wil make good broath . To finish my prolixious short briee , and tedious dedication , I wish that you and your Husband in coniugall combintion , in the way of Procreation , may multiplie and make Legges , whic● is a part of good Manners and Cortesie , whereof these vnmannerly times almost barren . Thus referring my ●se and my labours to be accepted and censured according to the purity and integrity of both your reforming functions , with my prayers for the cleane amendment of all soulers of Linnen , and the reforming of all bad Legges for the better supportation of Washers , Starchers and Translaters I remaine ,

He whose sinfull so●rs 〈◊〉 bumbl● at the m●r●y of your washing Bo●te , ●●●a T●●●●a .

The Praise of Cleane Laennen . MY M●se ●●●ydings beings 〈◊〉 ●●●ster 〈◊〉 Nor from the Fridg●de or the 〈…〉 She hath not sea●●● : Amer●●●●as ●ounds , Nor forag'd ouer A●●ces ●co●●ned grounds ; For this here vnder W●nt ●●●ueld ●or Vnto the Welch , the Ir●sh 〈◊〉 the Scot To Towne nor C●●e did I make repu●e , Nor did I buy in Market or ●n Faire This L●nnen Treasure ; but ●n ●ed none . Where ( Cares except , Be●fellowe ●ad ●one My drowsie M●●e 〈…〉 straight he nee●● : This welbeloued sub●ect ●●wixt me ●hee●es . Yet , though not farre 〈◊〉 mu●e for 〈◊〉 ●ome . I did accept 〈◊〉 when she ●●ougnt●r ●ome . And taking Pe●●● 〈…〉 What you may 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 . And O sweete I 〈…〉 ( Though of thee 〈…〉 ) Yet , for I 〈…〉 And with my 〈…〉 Assist thy Poet , neuer let him lacke A comely cleanly Shirt vnto his backe . Cleane Linnen , is my Mistris , and my Theame Flowes , like an ouer-flowing plenteous streame , But first I will discouer what I meane By this same seemly word , which men call Cleane : As Titans light 's offenciue to the Owle , So Cleane is opposite to what is fowle : Yet ( in the Ayre ) some flying Fowle there are , Which tane , & cleanly drest , are Fowle cleane fare , But fowly drest , when it is fairely tooke : Foule is that Fowle , a foule ill take that Cooke . But to the worde cald Cleane , it is allotted , The admirable Epithite Vnspotted , From whence all soylde pollution is exiled , And therefore Cleane is called vndefiled : 'T is faire , 't is clarified , 't is mundifide , And from impuritye is purifide . But to be truely Cleane is such a state As gaines the Noble Name immaculate : And I wish all mankinde the grace might win To be ( as here I meane ) all Cleane within . As 't is no grace a man a man to bee , If outward forme want inward honesty : ●o Linnen if with ( Cleane ) it be not grac'd , T is noysome , loathsome , and it giues distaste . A● Virtue man or woman doth adorne , So ( Cleane ) is Linnens vertue ; and is wome For pleasure , proffit , and for ornament , Throughout the Worlds most spacious continent . Much more of this word ( Cleane ) might here be writ , But tediousnesse is enemy to wit , Cleane Linnen now my verse descends to thee , Thou that preordinated wert to be Our Corps first Couer , at our naked Birth : And our last Garment when we turne to Earth . So that all men Cleane Linnen should espie , As a memento of mortallitie : And that a Sheete vnto the greatest State , Is th' Alpha and Omega of his Fate . As at our Births Cleane Linnen doth attend vs ; So doth it all our whole liues Race befriend vs , Abroade , at home , in Church or common-wealth ; At bed , or Boord , in sicknesse and in health . It figures forth the Churches puritie , And Spotlesse Doctrine , and integritie : Her State Angellicall , whate innocence ; Her Nursing loue , and bright magnificence . Yet some for linnen doe the Church forsake , And doe a Surplice for a 〈◊〉 beare take . But alwaies to the Chur●● bring mine eares . Not eyes , to note what Robes Churchmen weares . Now from the Church let vs returne but home , And there the Cloth is laid against you come , Though raging hunger make the Stomack wroath ●is halfe asswaged by laying of the Cloath . For in the warres of eating , 't is the vse A Table of cloth is hungers flagge of Truce : Whilst in the fight the Napkins are your friends And waite vpon you , at your fingers endes . Your Dinner and your Supper ouer-past By Linnen in your beds , you are embrac'd , Then , twixt the sheetes refreshing rest you take , And turne from side to side , and sleepe , and wake : And sure the sheetes in euery Christian Nation Are walles or limites of our generation , For where desire , and loue , combined meetes Then ther 's braue doings twixt a paire of sheetes : But where a Harlots lust doth entertaine , There one sheetes pennance , bides the shames of twaine To all degrees my counsaile here is such That of the Lower sheete , take not too much . As from our beds we ofte doe cast our eyes , Cleane Linnen yields a shirt before we rife , Which is a garment Shifting in condition And in the Canting tongue is a Commission : In weale or woe , in joy or dangerous drifts A shirt will put a man vnto his shifts . For vnto it belongs this fatall lot It makes him shift that hath or hath it not . The man that hath a shirt doth shift and chaunge And he that hath no shirt doth shift and raunge , So the conclusion of this pointe must fall , He shifteth most that doth not shift at all . Besides , a shirt , most magically can Tell if it's owner be an honest man : The washing will his honesty bewraye , For , the lesse soape will wash his shirt they saye , Most men , Cleane shirts at such esteeme do prise That the poor'st theefe who at the gallowes dyes If but his shirt is Cleane , his mind is eas'd , He hanges the hansomer , and better pleas'd . Next at the smocke I needes must haue a flirte ( which is indeede the sister to a shirt ) 'T is many a females Linnen tenement , Whilst twixt the quarters she receaue herrent . A smock 's her store-house , or her ware-house rather where she her commings in doth take & gather . Hit gaines by it are more then can be told , 'T is her reuenue , and her coppy-hold , Her owne fee simple , she alone hath power To let and set at pleasure euery hower . 'T is a commodity that giues no day , 'T is taken vp , and yet yeelds ready paye , But for most other wares , a man shall be Allow'd for payment dayes three months & three . Yet hath a smocke this great preheminence ( Where honour's mix'd with modest Innocence ) It is the Robe of maryed chastitie , The vaile of Heauen-belou'd Virginitie , The chaste concealement of those fruits close hidde● Which to vnchaste affections are forbidden , It is the Casket or the Cabinet where Nature hath her chiefest Jewels set : For what so ere men toyle for , farre and nere By s●a or land , with danger , cost , and feare , Warres wrinkled brow , & the smooth face of peace Are both to serue the Smocke , and its encrease . The greatest Kings , and wisest Counsellours , Stout Souldiers , and most sage Philosophers : The welthiest Merchants , and Artificers , Pleibeians , and Plough-toyling labourers , All these degrees , & more haue woo'd and praide , And alwayes to the Smocke their tributes paide . Besides , 't is taken for a fauour great , ( When one his mistris kindly doth entreate ) He holds these words as Iewels dropt from hir , You first shall doe as doth my Smocke sweete Sir. This Theame of Smocke is very large and wide , And might ( in Verse ) be further amplifide : But I thinke best a speedy end to make Least for a Smel-smocke some should me mistake , I first began it with a flirt or floute And ending , with a mocke , I will goe out . The An●gram of SMOCKE I finde is MOCKES , And I conclude a pox of all strait Smockes . Now vp aloft I mount vnto the Ruffe , W●●ch into foolish mortals pride doth puffe : Yet Ruffes antiquity is here but small , Within this eightie yeares , not one at all , For th●●ighth Henry , ( as I vnderstand ) Was the first King that euer wote a Band , And but a falling Band , plaine with a hem , All other people knew no vse of them , Yet Imitation in small time began To growe , that it the Kingdome ouer-ran : The little Falling-bands encreac'd to Ruffes , Ruffes ( growing great ) were waited on by Cuffes , And though our frailties should awake our care , We make our Ruffes as careles as we are : Our Ruffes vnto our faults compare I may , Both careles , and growne greater euery day . A Spaniards Ruffe in follio , large and wide , Is th' abstract of Ambitions boundles pride , For roundnes 't is the Embleme , as you see Of the terrestriall Globes rotunditie , And all the world is like a Ruffe to Spaine , Which doth encircle his aspiring braine , And his vnbounded pride doth still persist , To haue it set , and poaked as he list . The sets to Organ-pipes , compare I can Because they doe offend the Puritan , Whose zeale doth call it superstition And Badges of the Beast of Babilon . Ruffes onely at the first were in request With such as of abilitie were best : But now the plaine , the stich'd , the lac'd , & shagge , Are at all prises wome by tagge , and Ragge . So Spain ( who all the world would weare ) shal see Like Ruffes , the world from him shall scatred bee . A● for the Cuffe 't is pretily encreac'd ( Since it began two hand-fuls at the least ) At first 't was but a girdle for the wrist Or a small circle to enclose the fift , Which hath by little and by little crept . And from the wrist vnto the elboe leap't , Which doth resemble sawcy persons well : For giue a Knaue an inch , hee le take an ell . Ruffes are to Cuffes , as 't were the breeding mothers And Cuffes are twinnes in pride , or two prowd brothers , So to conclude , Pride weares them for abuse Humilitie , for omament and vse , A Night-cap is a garment of high state , which in captiuitie doth captiuate The braine , the Reason , wit , and sence and all ; And euery night doth beare sway capitall . And as the horne aboue the head is worne . So is the Night-cap worne aboue the horne , And is a Sconce or Blocke-house for the head , wherein much matter is considered , And therefore ( when too much we sucke the tap ) 'T is truely called a considering Cap. By day it waytes on Agues , Plurisies , Consumptions and all other malladies , A day worne Night-cap , in our Common-wealth Doth shewe the wearer is not well in health , Yet some mens folly makes my muse to smile When for a kib'de heele , broken shin , or bile , Scab'd hams , cut fingers , or a little scarr , A Groyne Bumpe , or a Goose from Winchester , When I see Night-caps worne for these poore vses It makes my worship laugh at their abuses . Thus is a Night-cap most officious , A Captaine , Captious , and Capritio●u , And though vnmaried young men may forbeare it Yet age , and wedlocke makes a man to weare it . A Handkercheife may well be cald in breife Both a perpetuall leacher , and a theefe , About the lippes it's kissing , good and ill Or else 't is diuing in the pocket still , As farre as from the pocket to the mouth So is it's pilgrimage with age or youth . At Christning-banquets and at funerals At weddings ( Comfite-makers festiuals ) A Handkercheife doth filch most manifold , And sharke and steale as much as it can hold . 'T is soft , and gentle , yet this I admire at At sweete meates 't is a tyrant , and a pyrat . Moreouer 't is a Handkercheifes high place To be a Scauenger vnto the face , To clense it cleane from sweat and excrements , Which ( not auoyded ) were vnsauoury sents ; And in our grieifes it is a trusty friend ●or in our sorrow it doth confort lend : It doth pertake our sighes , our plaintes & feares , Receaues our sobs , and wipes away our teares . Thus of our good and bad it beares a share A friend in mirth a conforter in care . Yet I haue often knowne vnto my cost A Handkercheife is quickly found , and lost . Like loue where true affection hath no ground , So is it slightly lost , and lightly found ; But be it tentimes lost , this right I le doe it , The fault is his or hers that should looke to it . Should I of euery sort of Linnen write That serues vs at our neede , both day and night , Dayes , months and yeares , I in this Theame might spend , And in my life time scarcely make an end . Let it suffice that when 't is fretted out And that a cloth is worne into a clout , Which though it be but thin and poore in shape A Surgeon into lint the same will scrape , O●r l●es ▪ or bolsters , or with plaster spreade , To dress and cure , all hurts from heele to heade , For gangrenes , vlcers , or for wound● new hack'd For cuttes , & slashes , and for Coxcombes crack'd Thus many a Gallant that dares stab and swagger And gainst a Iustice lifte his fiste or dagger : And being mad perhaps ▪ and hot pot-shot , A crazed Crowne or broaken-pate hath got ; Then ouer him old Linnen domineeres , And ●●…ht of s teeth it cloutes him bout the eares Thus new or old , it hath these good effects To cure our hurts , or couer our defects : And when it selfe 's past ●elpe , with age & rending Quite past s●lfe mē●ing , 't is our meanes ●f mending . The sh●t & steele will strike bright sparkling fire , But how can we haue fire at our desire , Except old Linnen be to tinder burnd , Which by the steele and flint to fire is turnd ? Thus all Cleane Linnen that a Laundresse washes , My Muse hath worn to clowtes , or turnd to ashes . And ther 's the end on 't . Now I must pursue ( The old consumed ) how to purchase newe . Now of the louely Laundresse , whose cleane trade Is th' onely cause that Linnens cleanely made : Her liuing is on two extreames relying , She 's euer wetting , or she 's euer drying . As all men dye to liue , and liue to dye , So doth she dry to wash , and wash to drye . She runnes like Luna in her circled spheare , As a perpetuall motion sh● doth steare . Her course in compasse ro●nd and endlesse still , Much like a horse that labours in mill : To shew more plaine how shee her worke doth frame , Our Linnen 's foule ere she doth wash the same : From washing further in her course she marches , She wrings , she folds ▪ she pleites , she smooths , she starches , She stiffe●s , poakes , & sets & dry againe , And fold : thus end of paine begins her paine . Round like a whirligigge or lenten Top O● a most plenteous spring , that still doth drop The Suddes vnto the Sea I may compare The Reake or smocke , the wind , the fishes Linnen are The Laun●resse fishes , foaming froth doth lighten , T●e w●●st her tongue doth thunder & affrighten . The totall is a tempest full of chiding ●●●t no man in the house hath quiet byding , For Laundresses are testy and full of wroth , When they are lathering in their bumble broth , No● can I blame them though they brawle & talke , M●● there haue naught to do , they may go walke : Yet commonly their worke this profit brings T●e g●od-wife washeth , and her husband wrings . B●t though my vearse thus merrily doth straye , Yet giue the Laundresse still her due I praye : What were the painefull Spinner , or the Weauer B●t for hir labour , and her good endeauour , W●at were the function of the Linnen Draperye , Or Sempsters admirable skill in Naperye ? They all might turne and wind , and liue by losse But that the Laundresse giues their worke a glosse , All Linn n that we vse to weare , 't is plaine , The Laundresse labour giues it grace and gaine , Without her 't is most loathsome in distaste A●d onely by her paines and toyle 't is grac'd , She is the ornamentall Instrument That makes it tastefull to the sight and sent : All you man-monsters , monstrous Linnen soilers , You shirt polluting tyrants , you sheetes spoilers , Robusti●●● rude Ruffe rending raggamentoyes Terratritorian tragma Troynouantoyes Remember that your Laundresse paines is great , Whose labours onely keepes you sweet and neate : Consider this , that here is writ , or saide And paye her , ( not as was the Sculler payde ) Call not your Laundresse slut or slabb'ring queane , It is her slabb'ring that doth keepe thee cleane , Nor call her not Drye-washer in disgrace For feare she cast the suddes into thy face : By her thy Linnen 's sweete and cleanely drest , Else thou would'st stink aboue ground like a beast . There is a bird which men Kings fisher call , Which in foule weather hath no ioy at all , Or scarce abroade into the ayre doth peepe But in her melancholy nest doth keepe : Till Tytans glory from the burnish'd East , Rich Bridegroome-like in gold and purple drest Guilds , and enamels mountaines , woods & hillles , And the rotundious Globe with splendor filles , In these braue Buksome merry Halcion dayes , Then this most bewteous bird her plumes displaies . So doth a Lauudresse , when the Sun doth hide His head , when skies weep raine & thunder chide , When powting , lowring s●●●●ering s●eete & nowe , From foggy Austers blushing jawes doth blowe , 〈…〉 by g●de ●nd 〈◊〉〈…〉 doth the ski●e 〈…〉 A●●●● blush 〈…〉 ●●●ple slush . 〈…〉 w●sted ●ll their 〈…〉 an bles . 〈…〉 b●an bles , 〈…〉 draw● 〈…〉 a●d shuttes , 〈…〉 puttes . 〈…〉 hye , 〈…〉 to dry , 〈…〉 ●aun●●●● praise & pa●●e , 〈…〉 beg●● 〈◊〉 worke againe : 〈…〉 they w●●● all conclude . 〈…〉 ingra●●●●●● : Bu● 〈…〉 haue ●●●creede , 〈…〉 wan● 〈…〉 at ●●y ●eed . 〈…〉 I comend them , 〈…〉 may attend them . 〈…〉 of mine ,

The Prin●●pall ●●●asions why th● 〈…〉 was written .

IT was at that 〈◊〉 that the worlds terrour , a●d wa●●es Thunder ●olt A●ari●ke King of the G●thes waste 〈◊〉 ●●cked Rome , and stooke all the Kingdomes of the earth into a I●●er 〈◊〉 , when there was inhabiting 〈◊〉 D●kedome of Tus●anye a valiant Captaine named Ca●ss , descended from the Roy all house of ●●●gus the first King of the ●●tag●ans . This Cats● being driuen 〈…〉 sh●t●s in these ●obustuous brekeri●gs of the G●●hes , fled f●t safety to the I●e of S●●●n●a , where for 〈◊〉 ; good parts and free b●●●u●our , ●ee was entertained by the 〈…〉 Madam 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 daughte● and ●●le 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 although 〈◊〉 place was chiefe Gentleman of the 〈…〉 , his high pu●ht resolution was ●lenated and crec●ed , for tra●●ll and houre●●e●●ces So ( with much 〈◊〉 to the Lady ) hee tooke his leaue , and sayling through the str●ts of ●●br●lt●● , ●nd the gulph of 〈◊〉 ●an● , hee past the 〈…〉 Espe●an●e , as farre as China , where be sta●d certaine dayes at 〈◊〉 then hee determined to progresse it by land , and passing by the great Citty of Tarsus in 〈◊〉 , by long iourneys he came to Gal●●● , where ne●● the G●●●ne he was in hot seemee , and came off ●oru●ewhat scorch●d , with fireworkes in a mine : passing from thence be came into France where he was well well com●d at Brest , & at the Towne of Deip● , was made great prouision for his comming ; but for some reasons he would neuer came there . In briefe after hee had approu●d himselfe a hot , valiant and aduenturous Soldier abroad , and a peace●a●er at home , hee came into Ireland , where at Dubblin he was strucke lame ; but ●coue●ing new● strength and courage , he ●ip●d himselfe for ●●●●and , la●ded at ●●st Chester , whence taking poste towards London he lodg●d at Ho●ey in the ●ole , in his way , at last being corne to the Citty , he made many merry and mad vag●●es betwixt Turne●ull-streete and Brunt-prood , spending freely , and faring deliciously ; hauing a stiffe stomacke to digest all dishes except Winche●ter Geese , and Newmarket Turkies : thus with much danger and difficulty hauing trauailed farther then euer man sawe , and passed his time with much loue amongst Ladyes and Gentlewomen , hauing beene a great withstander of many desperate oppositions , and a rare Musitian for his long practise in Pricke-s●ng . He againe past the Sea in a Frigget to C●●st●●tin ●le , where he fell into a moody melane ●oly like Tymon of Athenes and scorned to ●and at any ●●me , although hee was charged in the name of the Graund S●g●●●r . This Gallant hauing beene all his time a great vser wearer● , and taker vp of Napery , did most bountifully bequeath to any Poe● that would write a Poeme in the praise o● Cleane ●innen , as many shirts of the pures● Holland as might bee wash'd in Hellicon , and dryed on the two topt hill of Parnassus . To performe whose commaund , and receaue the bequeathed Legacie , I vndertooke this great taske , and perform'd it accordingly .

FINIS .