Taylors pastorall being both historicall and satyricall: or the noble antiquitie of shepheards, with the profitable vse of sheepe: with a small touch of a scabbed sheepe, and a caueat against that infection.

A. E. I. O. V. two Anagrams of the fiue vowels , the one serues for the glorious name of God , and the other in the Spanish tongue is a Sheepe , which name the Prophet Esay doth figuratiuely or mystically call our Creator IEOVA , or IEHOVAH , OVEIA , is a Sheepe . Wherein may be perceiued , that there is no word , name or action , in or vnder Heauen , but hath one or more of the fiue vowels , and that no word or Name hath them all without other Letters , but IEOVA , and OVEIA . Which doth admonish vs in the feare and reuerence of the Almightie , because in all our thoughts , words and actions , some part of his wonderfull Name is infinitely included . And withall that OVEIA or a Sheepe is a most significant Emblem , or signe of our God and Sauiours innocencie and patient suffrings . WIse and Inscrutable , Omniscient , Eternall , Gracious , and Omnipotent , In Loue , in Iustice , Mercie and in Might , In Honour , Power and Glory infinite , In workes , in words , in euery Attribute Almightie , All-commanding , Absolute ; For who so notes the Letters of the name IEHOVAH , shall perceiue within the same , The Vowels of all Tongues included be : So hath no name that e're was nam'd but He. And I haue heard some Schollers make Relation , That H , is but a breathing Aspiration ; A letter that may be left out and spar'd , Whereby is cleerly to our sight declar'd , That Great IEOVA may be written true With onely Vowels , A , E , I , O , V. : And that there is no word or name but this , That hath them all Alone , but onely His. So that the Heauens with all the mighty Host Of Creatures there , Earth , Sea , or any Coast , Or Climate , any Fish , or Fowle , or Beast , Or any of His workes , the most and least , Or thoughts , or words , or writing with the pen , Or deeds that are accomplished by men , But haue some of these Letters in them all , And God alone hath all in Generall . By which we see , according to his will , He is in all things , and doth all things fill , And all things said or done , he hath ordain'd , Some part of his great Name 's therein contain'd ; All future , present , and all past things seeing , In whom we liue , and moue , and haue our being . A Almightie , All in All , and euery where , E Eternall , in whom change cannot appeare , I Immortall , who made all things mortall else , O Omnipotent , whose Power all Power excels , V Vnited , Three in one , and one in three , IEOVA : Vnto whom All Glory bee . Besides the learned Poets of all times , Haue chanted out the praise , in pleasant rimes , The harmlesse liues of rurall shepheards Swaines , And beauteous shepheardesses on the plaines , All the famous Poets and Poetesses of altongs and nations , haue written vpon this worthy subiect . In Odes , in Roundelaies , and Madrigals , In Sonnets , and in well-pen'd Pastorals : They haue recorded , most delightfully , Their loues , their fortunes , and felicitie , And sure , if in this low terrestriall Round Plaine honest happinesse is to be found ; It with the Shepheards is remaining still , Because they haue least power to doe ill : And whilst they on their feeding flockes attend , They haue the least occasions to offend . Ambition , Pompe , and hell-begotten Pride , And damned Adulation , they deride : The complementall flattry of Kings Courts , Is neuer intermix'd amidst their sports ; They seldome enuy at each others state , Their loue and feare is Gods , the deuil 's their hate . In weightie businesse they nor marre or make , And cursed bribes they neither giue or take . They are not guiltie ( as some great men are ) T' vndoe their Mercer and Embroiderer , Their Tailer , Butcher , Brewer , Baker , Powlter , ( For which there 's some haue well deseru'd a halter ) Their Shoemaker and Silkeman I forgot , Though breaking , or else begg'ry be their lot , Nor is 't a shepheards trade , by night or day To sweare themselues in debt , and neuer pay . He 's no state-plotting Machiuilian , Or Proiect-monger Monopolitan : He hath no trickes or wiles to circumuent , Nor feares he when there comes a Parlament . He neuer weares his cap , or bends his knee To feed contention with a Lawyers fee : He wants the art to Cogge , Cheate , Sweare and Lie , Nor feares the Gallowes , or the Pillorie . Nor cares he if great men be fooles or wise , If honour fall , and base dishonour rise , Let fortunes mounted minions sinke or swim , He neuer breakes his braines , all 's one to him . He 's free from feare full curses of the poore , And liu's and dies content , Great temperance in Shepheard . with lesse , or more . He doth not waste the time , as many vse , His good Creators creatures to abuse , In drinking sicke vngodly healths to some , The veriest Cankerwormes of Christendome : My Lord Ambition , and my Lady Pride , Shall with his quaffing , not be magnifide : Nor for their sakes will he carowse and feast , Vntill ( from man ) he be turn'd worse then beast . Whereby he scapes vaine oathes , and blasphemy , And surfets , ( fruits of drunken gluttony . ) He scapes occasion vnto lusts pretence , And so escapes the Pox , by consequence . Thus doth he scape the Parrator and Proctor , Th' Apothecarie , Surgeon , and Doctor ; Whereby he this prerogatiue may haue , To hold the laying in , These are great priuiledges though few men seeke or care for them . into his graue , Whilst many , that his betters farre haue bin , Will very hardly hold the laying in . Thus Shepheards liue , and thus they end their liues , Adorn'd and grac'd with these prerogatiues : And when he dies , he leaues no wrangling heirs To law till all be spent , and nothing theirs , Hooke , Tar-box , Bottle , Bag , Pipe , Dog , and all Shall breed no iarres in Westminsters great hall : Peace and tranquillitie was all his life , And ( dead ) his goods shall be no cause of strife . Thus Shepheards haue no places , meanes , or times , To fall into those hell-deseruing crimes , Which Courtiers , Lawyers , Tradesmen , men of Armes Commit , vnto their soules and bodies harmes . And from the Shepheards now I le turne my stile To sundry sorts of Sheepe another while . The Lambs that in the Iewes Passoeuer di'd , Were figures of the Lambe that 's crucifi'd . Esa. 53.7 . 1. Ioh 1.29 and Reue. 5.8.9.13 . And Esay doth compare our heauenly food T' a Sheepe , which dumb before the shearer stood : Whose death , and merits , did this title win , The Lambe of God , which freed the world from sin . LAMBE Anagram's BLAME . LAMBE Anagram's BALME . The Anagram's of Lambe is Blame and Balme , And Christ , the Lambe , vpon him tooke our Blame , His precious Blood , ( Gods heauy wrath did calme ) 'T was th' onely Balme for Sinne to cure the same : All power , and praise , and glory , be therefore Ascribed to the Lambe for euermore . And in the threescore nineteenth Psalme we reade , That like a Sheepe our God doth Ioseph leade . Againe , of vs he such account doth keepe , That of his Pasture we are called Sheepe . And euery day we doe confesse ( almost ) That we haue err'd and straid like Sheepe that 's lost . Our Sauiour , ( that hath bought our soules so deare ) Hath said , his Sheepe his voice will onely heare : And thrice did Christ vnto Saint Peter call , ( In which he spake to his Disciples all ) If you doe loue me , Ioh. 21.15 , 16 , 17. feed my Sheepe ( quoth he ) And feed my Lambs well , if you doe loue me . Moreouer , in the finall Iudgement day , There is the right hand , and the left hand way , Whereas the sheepe he to himselfe doth gather , With saying , Come , ye blessed of my Father , &c. And to the Goates , in his consuming ire , He bids , Depart into eternall fire . Thus our Redeemer , and his whole elect , The name of Sheepe held euer in respect , And the comparison holds reference To profit , and to harmelesse innocence . For of all beasts that euer were , or are , None can ( for goodnesse ) with a Sheepe compare : Indeed , for bone and burthen I must grant , He 's much inferiour to the Elephant , The Dromedarie , Camell , Horse , and Asse , For loade and carriage doth a Sheepe surpasse : Strong Taurus , An Oxe is the Eunuch son of a Bull. Eunuch sonne , the labouring Oxe , The stately Stagge , the bobtaild craftie Foxe , These , and all rauenous beasts of prey , must yeeld Vnto the Sheepe , the honour of the field . I could recount the names of many more , The Lion , Vnicorne , the Beare and Bore : The Wolfe , the Tiger , the Rhinoscerot , The Leopard , and a number more I wot : But all these greedy beasts , great Ouid , pen Doth say are metamorphosde into men , For beast to beast afford more conscience can , And much lesse crueltie , than man to man . I le therefore let such beasts be as they be , For feare they kicke , and snap , and snarle at me . Vnto the Sheepe againe my Muse doth flie , For honest safetie , and commoditie . He with his flesh and fleece , doth feed and clad All languages and nations , good and bad : What can it more , but die , that we may liue , And euery yeare to vs a liuerie giue ? 'T is such a bountie , and the charge so deepe , That nothing can affoord the like , but Sheepe . For should the world want Sheepe , but fiue whole yeare , Ten thousand millions would want cloaths to weare : And wert't not for the flesh of this kinde beast , The world : might fast , when it doth often feast . There 's nothing doth vnto a Sheepe pertaine , But 't is for mans commoditie and gaine : For men to men so much vntrustie are , To lie , to cousen , to forsweare and sweare : That oathes , and passing words , and ioyning hands , Is like assurance written in the sands , To make men keepe their words , and mend all this , Parchment made of Sheepskin The silly Sheepe-skin turn'd to Parchment is . There 's many a wealthy man , whose whole estate Lies more in Parchment , then in coine or plate , Indentures , Leases , Euidences , Wills , Bonds , Contracts , Records , Obligations , Bills , With these ( although the Sheepe-skin is but weake ) It bindes men strongly that they dare not breake . But if a man eates Spiders now and then , The oyle of Parchment cures him oft agen . And what rare stuffes which in the world are fram'd , Can be in value , like to parchment nam'd ; The richest cloth of gold that can be found , A yard of it was ne're worth fiftie pound : And I haue seene two foot of Sheepeskin drest , Which hath beene worth ten thousand pounds at least . A piece of parchment well with Inke lac'd ouer , Helps many a gallant to a Sattin couer : Into the Mercer it some Faith doth strike , It giues the Silkeman Hope of no dislike : If the Taylors Bill be out of measure to the Gentleman then he can make a fit measure for him with his owne bond . The Taylor it with Charitie assailes , It thrusts him last betwixt his Bill and Vailes : And by these meanes , a piece of parchment can Patch vp , and make a Gull a Gentleman . The nature of it very strange I finde , 'T is much like phisicke , it can loose and binde : 'T is one mans freedome , and anothers noose , And like the Pope it doth both binde and loose . And as the Ram and Ewe doe fructifie , And euery yeere a Lambe doth multiplie : So doth a sheepe-skin Bond make money breed And procreate , as seed doth spring from seed . An hundred pound 's the Ewe , A Bond is the Ewe , the borrower and lender are both Rams and the Interest is the Lamb. which euery yeere Doth breed a ten pound Lambe , ( all charges cleere . ) Thus is a sheepe-skin proou'd the onely Tie And stay , whereon a world of men relie , Which holds a crue of Earthwormes in more awe , Then both the Tables of the sacred Law . Past number , I could many functions name Who ( as 't is parchment ) liue vpon the same : But 't is sufficient , this small homely touch : Should all be writ , my Booke would swell too much . Now of the Ram , the Ewe , the Lambe , and Weather , I le touch their skins as they are turn'd to Leather , And made in Purses , Powches , Laces , Strings , Gloues , Points , Booke-Couers , and ten thousand things , And many tradesmen liue and thriue thereby , Which if I would , I more could amplifie . Their Guts serue Instruments which sweetly sound , Their Dung is best to make most fruitfull ground : Their Hoofes burnt , will most venom'd serpents kill , Their grated Hornes are good gainst poyson still : Their Milke makes Cheese , mans hunger to preuent , As I haue seene in Sussex and in Kent : Their Trotters , for the healthy or the sicke , ( Drest as they should be ) are good meat to picke . The Cookes and Butchers with the ioints doe gaine , And poore folkes eat the Gather , Head , and Braine ; And though all wise mens iudgement will allow A Sheepe to be much lesser then a Cow . Yet in a Leg of Mutton I can see More meat then in a Leg of Beefe can be . A liue Sheepe hath one Necke , yet I perceiue Sheepe being dead , two Neckes of Mutton haue . Foure legges each liuing Sheepe hath , but once slaine , ( Although he lose none , yet ) he hath but twaine . Now , for the honour of the valiant Ram , If I were learn'd more treble then I am , Yet could I not sufficiently expresse His wondrous worth , and worthinesse . For by Astronomers 't is verifide How that the Ram in heau'n is stellifide , Aries . And ( of the twelue ) is plac'd head signe of all , Where Sol keepes first his Equinoctiall . For , Taurus . Gemini . Cancer . Leo. Virgo . Lybra . Scorpio . Sagitarius Capricornus . Aquarius . Pisces . hauing at the Bull drunke Aprils showres , And with the Twins , May deck'd the earth with flowres : And scorch'd the Crab in Iune with burning beames , Made Iulies Lion chafe with fierie gleames : In August solace to the Virgin giuen With Ballance in September made Time euen , Octobers Scorpion with declining course , And passing by Decembers Archers force , Then hauing past Nouembers frozen Goate , He next to Ianus Waterie Signe doth floate : He to the Lenten Signe in Februarie , And so bright Phoebus ends his yeeres vagarie . Then , to the Ram , in March , in his careere , He mounts , on which this Sonnet's written heere .

Sonnet . DIurnall Titans all-reuiuing Carre , Throughout the heau'ns his progresse 'gins to take : And now his glistring Raies he doth vnbarre , What absence marr'd , his presence now doth make : Now he begins Earths mourning face to drie With Eols breath , and his bright heauenly heate . March dust ( like clouds ) through aire doth march & flie : Dead-seeming Trees and Plants new life doth get . Thus when the Worlds eie dazler takes his Inne At the celestiall Ram , then Winter 's done : And then dame Nature doth her liuerie spinne Of flowers and fruits , which all the Earth puts on . Thus when Apollo doth to Aries come , The Earth is freed from Winters martyrdome . Thus haue I prou'd the Ram a luckie signe , Wherein Heau'n , Earth , and Sunne and Aire combine , To haue their vniuersall comforts hurld Vpon the face of the decaying world . With twelue signes each mans bodie 's gouerned , And Aries , or the Ram , doth rule the head , To be cald Ramhead , is a title of honour & a name proper to all men . Then are their iudgements foolish , fond , and base , That take the name of Ramhead in disgrace ; 'T is honour for the head to haue the name Deriued from the Ram that rules the same : And that the Ram doth rule the head , I know , For euery Almanacke the same doth show . He that sells wood , is call'd a Woodmonger ; He that sells fish , is call'd a Fishmonger ; He that doth brew , is call'd a Brewer ; and He 's call'd a Landlord that takes rent for land ; He that bakes Bread , scornes not the name of Baker ; The stare will haue it so . He that makes Cuckolds , is a Cuckold-maker . So as the Ram doth rule the head , I see , By Constellation , all men Ramheads be . And as the twelue Celestiall signes beare sway , And with their motions passe mans life away : The Ram , the head , the Bull , the necke and throte , Twins , shoulders , Crab doth rule the brest , I note , A comfort for Cuckolds , that though a man hath a Rame head , yet he hath a Lions heart . But 't is the Lions portion , and his part , To be the valiant ruler of the heart . From whence such men may gather this reliefe , That though a Ramhead may be cause of griefe , Yet Nature hath this remedie found out , They should haue Lions hearts , to beare it stout , And to defend and keepe the head from harme , The Anagram of Ram , I finde , is Arm. Thus is a Ramhead arm'd against all feare , He needs no helmet , or no head-piece weare . To speake more , in the plurall number , Rams , It yeelds signifique warre like Anagrams , For Rams is Mars , Mars is the god of warre , And Rams is Arms , Arms warres munitions are ; And from the fierce encounters which they make , Strange mysteries in the words Ram or Rams : the Rams the first runners at tilt and first teachers of warlike battel . Iosephus Bella. lib. 3. cap. 9. Rams hornes the first trumpets . Our Tilts and Tourneys did beginnings take : For as the Rams retire , and meet with rage , So men doe in their warre-like equipage . And long e're powder , ( from hells damned den ) Was monstrously produc'd , to murder men , The Ram , an Engine call'd a Ram , did teach , To batter downe a wall , or make a breach . And now some places of defence , 'gainst shot , Haue ( from the Ram ) the name of Rampiers got . First warlike Trumpets that I e're heard nam'd , At Iericho , were all of Rams hornes fram'd : For at the Ramshorne Trumpets fearefull blast , Their cursed walls were suddenly downe cast . Thus is the Ram with many vertues stor'd , And was in Egypt for a god ador'd : And like a Captaine he the flocke doth leade , As fits their Generall , their Prince or head . Thus haue I prou'd a Sheepe , a beast of price , Cleane , and reputed fit for sacrifice : And sleeping , waking , early , or else late , It still doth chew the cud and ruminate . Of all beasts in the worlds circumference , For meeknesse , profit , and for innocence , I haue approu'd a sheepe most excellent , That with least cost , doth giue man most content . There 's such instinct of Nature in the Lambe By bleating , It , mongst thousands knowes the dam ; Agnus . Great knowledge in the Lambe . For which the name of Agnoscendo , knowing , Is giuen to a Lambe , it 's knowledge showing .

But to consider more seriously , the wonderfull blessing that the whole world hath had , and hath by sheepe at this present , I thinke it not amisse to vse the words of an ingenious and well affected Poet of our time , Master T. M. where he truly saith ,

No Ram no Lambe , no Lambe no Sheepe , no Sheepe no Wooll , no Wooll no Woolman , no Woolman no Spinner , no Spinner no Weauer , no Weauer no Cloth , no Cloth no Clothier , no Clothier no Clothworker , Fuller , Tucker , Shearman , Draper , or scarcely a rich Dier .

And what infinite numbers of people rich and poore haue liued , and doe liue , hauing their whole dependance from the poore sheepes backe , all men of iudgement will acknowledge ; besides , I thinke it not amisse to set downe the names of many worthy men , who haue beene free of London , of such trades and mysteries whereof the sheepe is the originall vnder God . And first , to begin with the Right Worshipfull Company of Drapers , with the names of such as haue borne the honourable Office and Dignitie of Lord Maior of London , with their pious deeds , and diuers other persons of the said Company , their names , and memorable charities , with the like remembrance of the Worshipfull Company of Clothworkers . And first , I begin with the first .

Anno 1189. In the beginning of the raigne of King Richard the first , Sir Henrie Fitz Allen Draper , was the first Lord Maior of London , who continued in that dignitie twentie foure yeares together , till the fourteenth yeare of King Iohn 1212. when he died , he was a worthy Benefactor to his Company , and gaue houses to the vse of the poore , in the parish of Saint Marie Bothaw in Walbrooke ward .

Anno 1252. Iohn Talason Draper , Maior .

1253. Richard Hardell Draper , sixe yeares Maior .

1330. Sir Iohn Pultney Draper , two yeares Maior .

1332. Iohn Preston Draper , Maior .

1333. Sir Iohn Pultney , Maior .

1336. Many of these men did good and charitable deeds , but they did them secretly in their liues time . Sir Iohn Pultney the fourth time Lord Maior , he built a Chappell in Pauls , where he lies buried : he also built Saint Laurence Pultney Church , and the Church of little Alhalowes , and the Church called the Friers in Couentrie : he gaue to the poore of Saint Giles in the fields , to the poore prisoners in the Fleet and Newgate , ten shillings to each yearely for euer , besides many other deeds of charitie which he did .

Anno 1363. Stephen Candish Draper Maior .

1367. Iames Andrew Draper Maior .

1381. Iohn Northampton Draper two yeares Maior .

1391. Iohn Hinde Draper Maior .

Anno 1402. Iohn Walcot Draper Maior .

1404. Iohn Hinde the second time Maior , he newly built the Church of Saint Swithin neere London stone .

1413. Sir William Cromer Draper Maior .

1415. Sir Nicholas Wotton Draper Maior .

1423. William Cromer Draper Maior .

1427. Iohn Gedney Draper Maior .

1430. Nicholas Wotton Draper Maior .

1433. Iohn Brockle Draper Maior .

1441. Robert Clopton Draper Maior .

1445. Sir Simon Eyre Draper Maior , he built Leaden Hall for a Garnerie for the Citie , and gaue fiue thousand Markes to charitable vses .

1447. Sir Iohn Gedney Draper Maior .

1453. Sir Iohn Norman Draper Maior .

1458. Sir Thomas Scot Draper Maior .

1462. Sir Thomas Cooke Draper Maior .

1464. Sir Ralph Ioslin Draper Maior .

1474. Sir Robert Drope Draper , Maior ; he lieth buried in Saint Michaels Church in Cornhill London : he gaue towards poore maides marriages of that parish twentie pound , and to the poore of that ward ten pound , and three hundred shirts and smockes , and a hundred gownes of Broadcloth .

1476. Sir Ralph Ioslin Draper , the second time Maior .

1479. Sir Bartholomew Iames Draper Maior .

1481. Sir William Harriot Draper Maior .

1484. Sir William Stocker Draper Maior .

1489. Sir William White Draper Maior .

1503. Sir William Capell Draper Maior .

1507. Laurence Aylmer Draper Maior .

1509. Sir William Capell the second time Maior .

1511. Sir Roger Achley Draper Maior .

1514. Sir George Monox Draper Maior , he repaired the ruinated Church at Walthamstow in Essex , and erected a Free Schoole there , and thirteene Almeshouses for aged people , also he built a long Timber Cawsway ouer the Marshes from Walthamstow to Locke Bridge .

1520. Sir Iohn Bruges Draper Maior .

1521. Sir Iohn Milbourne Draper Maior , he built 14. Almeshouses for 14. aged poore people , neere the Lord Lumleys house in the crossed or crooched Friers , allowing to each , two shillings foure pence monthly for euer .

1524. Sir William Bailie Draper Maior .

1528. Sir Iohn Rudston Draper Maior .

1533. Sir Christopher Askew Draper Maior , he paied largely to the building of eight Almeshouses in Beech-lane London , for eight poore Widowes of his company .

1540. Sir William Roch Draper Maior .

1560. Sir William Chester Draper Maior .

1565. Sir Richard Champion Draper Maior , a good Benefactor to the poore of Saint Dunstans in the East , and to the poore in Saint Edmunds in Lumbard street he gaue fiftie foure shillings yearely in bread for euer , besides other gifts .

1578. Sir Richard Pipe Draper Maior .

1580. Sir Iohn Branch Draper Maior .

1584. Sir Thomas Pullison Draper Maior .

1588. Sir Martin Calthrop Draper Maior .

1614. Sir Thomas Hayes Draper Maior .

1615. Sir Iohn Iolls Draper Maior .

1621. Sir Edward Barkham Draper Maior .

1623. Martin Lumley Draper Maior .

These good deeds following were done by others of the said Company , who were not Lord Maiors .

IOhn Holmes Draper , gaue his house to the poore in Saint Sepulchers parish for euer , the yeerely rent of it being thirtie two pound .

Iohn Russell Draper , gaue eightie pound to Schooles , and to other pious vses .

Iohn Quarles Draper , gaue sixe pound a yeere for euer to be giuen to the poore in bread .

William Dummer Draper , gaue to the poore thirteene pound eighteene shillings foure pence , yeerly for euer .

Owen Clun Draper , gaue to the poore fiue and twentie pound yeerly for euer .

William Parker Draper , towards the maintenance of Preachers at Saint Antlins sixe pounds yeerly for euer .

Iohn Skeet Draper , gaue to the Hospitals at London three hundred pound , and to foure poore schollers at Oxford fiue pound a piece , and the like to foure poore schollers at Cambridge .

Henrie Butler Draper , gaue to Saint Thomas Hospitall ten pound , to Christ Church , Saint Bartholomewes , & Bridewell , fiue pounds to each .

Peter Hall Draper , gaue to Christs Hospitall ten pound , to Saint Bartholomewes and Saint Thomas Hospitall three pound to each .

Thomas Church Draper , gaue to Christs Hospitall and to Bridewell , to each ten pound , and to the Hospitals of Saint Thomas & Saint Bartholomew , to either fiue pound .

Humphrey Fox Draper , gaue to Christs Church Hospitall fiftie pound .

Edmund Hill Draper , gaue to the poore of Saint Andrew Vnder shaft fiftie two pound , anno 1609.

William Gilborne Draper , gaue foure markes the yeere for euer to the poore of Saint Katherine Christ Church neere Aldegate , & twentie pound he gaue to build a Gallery in the same Church .

Iohn Quarles Draper , gaue to the poore of Saint Peters in the poore in Bredstreet ward , fiftie pound to be bestowed yeerly in bread for euer .

Sir Richard Goddard Draper , and Alderman , gaue to the Hospitall of Bridewell two hundred pound .

Master Benedict Barnham Draper , gaue for the reliefe of poore prisoners , in the seueral prisons of London , 50. l.

Sir Iames Deane , Draper and Alderman , gaue to the seuerall Hospitals in London , a hundred and thirtie pound , and to sundry prisons seuentie pound .

Lady Bainham , sometimes an Aldermans wife of the Drapers Company , gaue to the poore of the said Company ten pound yeerely for euer .

Lancelot Thomson Draper , gaue to the parish of Saint Peters in Cornhill , twentie pound for fiue Sermons , and a hundred pound to the poore of the Drapers Company , and fiue pound yeerely to be bestowed by them in fire and bread on the poore of that parish .

Richard Shore Draper , gaue fifteene pound to build a Church porch at Saint Mildreds in the Powltrie .

Iohn Calthrop Draper , built the Bricke wall betwixt the Hospitals of Christs Church and Saint Bartholomew .

Iohn Chertsey Draper , gaue to the Hospitals twentie pound , and to other charitable vses a hundred pound .

Master Henrie Woolaston Draper , gaue to Saint Thomas Hospitall fourtie pound , with other charitable beneuolences .

These memorable and pious workes , ( with many more then my weake capacitie can collect and reckon ) haue beene done by the Drapers or Clothsellers , which doth approue the sheepe to be a thriuing , happy , and a most profitable beast . Now to speake somwhat of the Right Worshipfull Company of Clothworkers .

Anno Domini 1559. Sir William Hewet Clothworker , Lord Maior .

1570. Sir Rowland Heyward Clothworker , Lord Maior .

1574. Sir Iames Hawes Clothworker Lord Maior .

1583. Sir Edward Osborne Clothworker Lord Maior .

1594. Sir Iohn Spencer Clothworker Lord Maior . K. Iames ( our most gracious Soueraign was made a free brother of the Worshipfull Company of Clothworkers , Sir Iohn Wats being then Lord Maior , who feasted his Maiestie , Sir William Stone Knight being then Master of the Company , as which time the King gaue a gift of a. brace of Bucks to the said Company yeerly for euer , to be spent at their feast in their Hall .

1596. Sir Thomas Skinner Clothworker L. Maior , gaue to the Hospitals in London and the Suburbs 120. l.

1599. Sir Nicholas Mosley Clothworker L. Maior .

1606. Sir Iohn Wats Clothworker Lord Maior , gaue to Christ Church Hospitall ten pound , and to the Hospitall of Saint Thomas in Southwarke twentie pound .

Richard Farringdon Clothworker and Alderman , gaue to the seuerall Hospitals in London and the Suburbs 66. pound , 13. shillings foure pence .

Sir William Stone Clothworker , gaue to the seuerall prisons in London 50. pound .

Lady Barbara Stone , wife to the forenamed Sir William Stone , gaue to the Hospitall of Christs Church one hundred pounds .

Lady Spencer , wife to Sir Iohn Spencer Clothworker , gaue to the seuerall Hospitals seuentie pound .

William Lambe Esquire , free of the company of Clothworkers , & one of the Gentlemen of the Chappel to king Henrie the eight , built a free Grammar Schoole at Sutton Valence in Kent , ( where he was borne ) allowing yeerely for euer to the Master of the said Scchoole twentie pound , and to the Vsher ten pound : also he built 6. Almeshouses there , with gardens & orchyards , and 10. l. yeerly to each of them for euer . Besides , he gaue to the free schoole at Maidstone in Kent 10. pound yeerly for euer , which he appointed to be bestowed only vpon poore children , who were destitute of friends and succourlesse . Also he bestowed three hundred pound for the vse of decayed Clothiers in the Countie of Suffolke , and in the townes of Bridgenorth and Ludlow . Moreouer , hee built two Conduits in London , one at Holbourne Bridge , and the other on the Hill towards New-Gate , both of which cost 1500. pounds ; at which time he gaue 120. new Pailes to so many poore women , to beare water withall : Moreouer , he gaue thirtie pound a yeere to his Company for euer , and 4. pounds yeerely to a Minister for foure Sermons , and thirty pound yeerely for euer to be bestowed on twelue poore men , and twelue poore women ; each of them to haue a Freeze Gowne , one Lockrom shirt or smock , one paire of winter shooes ; which Gift is yeerely distributed on the first of October ; he also gaue to the Poore of Saint Giles Parish without Cripplegate , fifteene pound : To the Poore of the Company of Stationers , he gaue sixe pounds , thirteen shillings , foure pence yeerely for euer , to be bestowed euery Fry day in the Parish of S. Faiths , on twelue poore people , twelue pence in bread , and twelue pence in money . He gaue to Christs Hospitall sixe pounds yeerely for euer and 100. pounds in ready money present ; Hee gaue to S. Thomas Hospitall 4. pounds yeerely for euer : and to poore Maids marriages he gaue 20. pounds : besides Newgate , Ludgate , the two Comptors , in London , the Marshalsea , the Kings-Bench , and the White Lyon , had all most louing tasts of his Charitable liberality : and in conclusion , he gaue 108. Gownes to poore aged people at his Funerall .

This was a Lambe , whose like was neuer any : Whose loue and pitty sed and cloth'd so many : And 't is no doubt , but these good deeds of his , Did helpe to lift his Soule to endlesse Blisse .

Master Iohn Berriman of Bishops Taunton in the County of Deuon-shire , Clothier , and free Draper of London , gaue to the Hospitall of Christ-Church , 100. pounds : to S. Bartholomewes , 5. pounds : to S. Thomas Hospitall , 6. pounds , to Bridewell 40. Shillings : and to the Hospitall of Bethlem , 50. pounds .

Peter Blundell , Clothier , gaue to Christ-Church Hospitall , 500 pounds : to Saint Bartholomewes Hospitall , 250. pounds : to Saint Thomas Hospitall 250. pounds : to Bridewell , 8. pounds yeerely foreuer : to the Reparation of the Church at Tiuerton ( where he was borne ) 50. pounds : towards the mending of High-wayes , 100. pounds : to the twelue Companies in London , to euery of them 150. pound : to poore Maides marriages in Tiuerton , 400. pound : to the poore at Exester , he gaue 900. pound : to build a Grammer-schoole at Tiuerton , 2400. pounds : and after laid out by his Executors , 1000. pound : to the Schoole-master 50. pounds yeerely for euer : to the Vsher 13. pound 6. shillings 8. pence yeerely : to the Clarke 40. shillings yeerely : to place foure poore boyes yeerely Aprentises , 20. pounds per annum : to keepe three Schollers at Oxford , and three at Cambridge , 2000. l.

Robert Chilcot , Seruant to the aforesaid M. Blundell , gaue to Christs Hospitall 100. pound towards a meaner Schoole , to haue Children taught , to be apt for his Masters Grammer-Schoole : he gaue 400. pound to maintaine it : he gaue 90. pound , allowing the Schoole-master yeerely 20. pound , the Clarke 3. pound , and toward Reparations , 40. shillings per annum : to fifteene poore men he gaue 16. pounds , 10. shillings a yeere for euer : to fifteen poore labouring men 15. pound : to fifteene poore people weekely , six pence each , for euer : to mend the Church at Tiuerton , 19. pound , 10. shillings : to mend High-waies , 10. pounds : and to other charitable vses , more then is mentioned .

Thus hath it pleased God , that these men ( whose trades and liuings were deriued from the poore Sheepes backe ) haue not onely growne to great wealth , and places of Honour , but haue bin also great Instruments of the Almighties mercy , in relieuing the needy and impotent members of Christ : and should I reckon vp the particulars of profits that arise from this Beast , to Graziers , Butchers Skinners , Glouers , Felmongers , Leathersellers , Feltmongers , Taylors , & an infinite number of other Trades and Functions , who could not liue , or els liue very hardly without this Commodity . I say , should I write of these things in particular , my worke would neuer bee done in generall .

Wooll hath beene formerly in such esteeme in England , that in a Parliament holden the 36. of Edward the third , the King had his Subiects paide him in wooll ; and before that , in the 11. yeere of his Raigne , is was forbidden to be transported out of this Kingdome ; and then did Strangers come ouer hither , from diuers parts beyond the Seas , who were Fullers , Weauers , and Clothworkers , whom the King entertained , and bare all their charges out of his Exchequer : at which time , the Staples , or places of marchandise for Woolls , were kept at diuers places of this Land at once ; as at Newcastle , Yorke , Lincoln , Canterbury , Norwich , Westminster , Chichester , Winchester , Exester , Bristoll , and Carmarthen : by which may be perceiued what a great commodity wooll was in those daies . But in the 6. yeere of King Edward the fourth , the King sent certaine Ships out of Cotswold in Glocester shire , into Spaine , the encrease of which so inriched the Spaniards with our wooll , that euer since , it hath bin in the lesse request in England : neuer thelesse , as it is , it is the meanes of life and maintenance for many hundred thousands .

ANd now from solid Prose I will abstaine To pleasant Poetrie , and mirth againe . Here followeth a touch of paltry Scabbed infectious kind of Sheepe , which I thinke fit to place by themselues in the lagge end of my Booke , as farre as I can from the clean , sound , & profitable Sheepe before mentioned , for feare the bad should infect the good . The Fable of the Golden Fleece began , 'Cause Sheepe did yeeld such store of Gold to Man : For he that hath great store of woolly fleeces , May ( when he please ) haue store of golden peeces . Thus many a poore man dying , hath left a Sonne , That hath transsorm'd the Fleece to Gold , like Iason : And heere 's a mystery profound and deepe , There 's sundry sorts of Mutton , are no Sheepe : Lac'd Mutton , which let out themselues to hire , Like Hackneys , who 'le be fir'd , before they tire . The man or men which for such Mutton hungers , Are ( by their Corporation ) Mutton-mongers : Which is a brotherhood so large and great , That if they had a Hall , I would intreat To be their Clarke , or keeper of accounts , To shew them vnto what their charge amounts ; My braines in numbring then wound grow so quicke , I should be master of Arithmeticke : All States , Degrees , and Trades , both bad and good , Afford some members of this Brotherhood : Great therefore needs must be their multitude , When euery man may to the Trade intrude : It it no free dome , yet these men are free , Not sauers , but most liberall spenders be : For this is one thing that doth them bewitch , That by their trading they waxe seldome rich : The value of this Mutton to set foorth , The flesh doth cost more than the broth is worth : They all are Ewes , yet are exceeding Ramish , And will be dainty fed , whos ' euer famish . Nor are they mark'd for any man , or no man , As mine , or thine , but euery mans in common , Fine heads , and neckes , and breasts , they yeeld some storee , But scarcely one good liuer in nine score : The liuers being bad , 't is vnderstood , The veines are fild with putrified blood , Which makes them subiect to the scab , and then They proue most dang rous diet vnto men . And then the prouerbe proues no lie or mocke , One scabbed sheepe's enough to spoyle a flocke . But yet for all this , there is many a Gull , Loues Mutton well , and dips his bread i' the wooll . And were a man put to his choyce to keepe , 'T is said , a Shrew is better then a Sheepe . But if a man be yok'd with such an Ewe , She may be both a scabbed Sheepe and Shrew . And he that is so match'd , his life may well Compared be vnto an earthly hell . But to my Theame which I wrote of before , I at this Mutton must haue one cut more . These kinde of Sheepe haue all the world o're growne , And seldome doe weare fleeces of their owne : For they from sundry men their pelts can pull , Whereby they keepe themselues as warme as wooll . Besides , in colours , and in shape , they varie Quite from all profitable sheepe contrarie : White , Blacke , Greene , Tawny , Purple , Red , and Blue , Beyond the Raine-bow for their change of hue : Camelion like in alteration , But , that bare Aire they cannot liue vpon . The Moones mutation's , not more manifold , Silke , Veluet , Tissue , Cloth , and cloth of God : These are the Sheepe that Golden fleeces weare , They are as soft as Silke-wormes . Who robe themselues with others wooll or haire : And it may be , 't was such a Beast and Fleece , Which Iason brought from Cholcos , into Greece . Were it no more but so , I dare be bold To thinke this Land doth many Iasons hold : Who neuer durst to passe a dang'rous waue , Yet may ( with ease ) such Golden fleeces haue . Too much of one thing 's good for nought ( they say ) I le therefore take this needlesse dish away : For should I too much , of Lac'd Mutton write , I may o're come my Readers stomacke quite . Once more vnto the good Sheepe I le retire , And so my Booke shall to it's end expire : Although it be not found in Ancient writers , I finde all Muttone-aters are sheepe-biters . And in some places I haue heard and seene , That currish sheepe-biters haue hanged beene , If any kinde of Tike should snarle or whine , Or bite , or woorry this poore Sheepe of mine , Why let them barke and bite , and spend their breath , I le neuer wish them a sheepe-biters death . My Sheepe will haue them know , her Innocence Shall liue , in spight of their maleuolence : I wish them keepe themselues and me from paine , And bite such Sheepe as cannot bite againe . For if they snap at mine , I haue a pen , That ( like a trustie Dogge ) shall bite agen . And in Conclusion , this I humbly craue , That euery one the honestie may haue , That when our fraile mortalitie is past , We may be the good Shepheards sheepe at last . FINIS .