A verry merry vvherry-ferry-voyage: or Yorke for my money sometimes perilous, sometimes quarrellous, performed with a paire of oares, by sea from London, by Iohn Taylor, and Iob Pennell. And written by I.T.

A very Merry Wherry-Ferry-Voyage , Or , Yorke for my Money . THE Yeare which I doe call as others doe , Full 1600. adding Twenty a a The yeare of our Lord two : The Month of Iuly , that 's for euer fam'd , ( Because 't was so by b b Iuly was nam'd so by Caesar. Iulius Caesar nam'd , ) Iust when sixe dayes , and to each Day a Night , The dogged c c The Dog-dayes were 6. dayes entred . Dog-dayes had began to bite , On that day which doth blest Remembrance bring , The name of an Apostle , and our King , On that remarkeable good day , Saint Iames I vndertooke my Voyage downe the Thames . The Signe in d d I obserue signes , windes , Tides , dayes , houres , times , Scituations & manners . Cancer , or the Ribs and Brest , And Eolus blewe sweetly West Southwest . Then after many farewels , Cups and Glasses , ( Which oftentimes hath made men worse then Asses ) About the waste or e e Noone if you 'le take it so . Nauell of the Day , Not being dry or Drunke , I went my way . Our Wherry somewhat olde , or strucke in age , That had endur'd neere 4. yeares Pilgrimage , And caryed honest people , Whores , and Thieues , Some Sergeants , Bayliffes , and some f f Boats are like Barbars Chairs Hackneyes or Whores : common to all estates . vnder-Shrieues , And now at last it was her lot to be Th' aduent'rous bonny Barke to carry me . But as an olde Whores Beauty being gone Hides Natures wracke , with Artlike painting on : So I with Colours finely did repaire My Boates defaults , and made her fresh and faire . Thus being furnish'd with good Wine and Beere , And Bread and Meate ( to banish hungers feare ) With Sayles , with Ancker , Cables , Sculs and Oares , With Carde and Compasse , to know Seas and Shores , With Lanthorne , Candle , Tinder-box and Match , And with good Courage , to worke , ward , and watch , Well man'd , well ship'd , well victual'd , well appointed , Well in good health , well timberd and well joynted : All wholly well , and yet not halfe Fox'd well , Twixt Kent , and Essex , we to Grauesend fell . There I had welcome of my friendly Host , ( A Grauesend Trencher , and a Grauesend Tost ) Good meate and Lodging at an easie Rate , And rose betimes although I lay downe late . Bright Lucifer the messenger of Day , His burnisht twinkling splendour did display : Rose cheek'd Aurora hid her blushing face , She spying Phoebus comming gaue him place . Whilest Zephirus , and Auster , mix'd together , Breath'd gently , as fore-boding pleasant weather . Olde Neptune had his Daughter Thames supplide , With ample measure of a flowing Tide , But Thames supposde it was but borrowed goods , And with her Ebbes , payde Neptune backe his Floods . Then at the time of this Auspicious dawning , I rowz'd my men , who Scrubbing , stretching , yawning , Arose , left Grauesend , Rowing downe the streame , And neere to Lee , wee to an Ancker came . Because the Sands were bare , and Water lowe , We rested there , till it two houres did Flowe : And then to trauell went our Galley foyst , Our Ancker quickly weigh'd , our sayle soone hoyst , Where thirty miles we past , a mile from shore , The water two * * These star Sands are called the Spi●s . foote deepe , or little more . Thus past we on the braue East Saxon Coast , From 3. at morne , till 2. at noone almost , By Shobury , Wakering , Fowlenesse , Tittingham , And then wee into deeper water came . There is a crooked Bay runnes winding farre , To Maulden , Esterford , and Colchester , Which cause 't was much about , ( to ease mens paine ) I left the Land , and put into the mayne . With speed , the crooked way to scape and passe , I made out straight for Frinton , and the Nasse . But being 3. Leagues then from any Land , And holding of our Maine sheate in my hand , We did espy a coleblacke Cloud to rise , Fore-runner of some Tempest from the Skies ; Scarce had we sayl'd a hundred times our length , But that the winde began to gather strength : Stiffe Eolus , with Neptune went to Cuffes , With huffes , and puffes , and angry counter-Buffes , From boyst'rous Gusts , they fell to fearefull flawes , Whilest we 'twixt winde & water , neere Death's iawes Tost like a Corke vpon the mounting maine , Vp with a whiffe , and straight way downe againe , At which we in our mindes much troubled were , And said God blesse vs all , what Wethers heere ? For ( in a worde ) the Seas so high did growe , That Ships were forc'd to strike their topsailes lowe , Meane time ( before the winde ) wee scudded braue , Much like a Ducke , on top of euery waue . But nothing violent is permanent , And in short space away the Tempest went . So farewell it ; and you that Readers be Suppose it was no welcome Guest to me : My Company and I , it much perplext , And let it come when I send for it next . But leauing jesting , Thankes to God I giue , T was through his mercy wee did scape and liue . And though these thinges with mirth I doe expresse , Yet still I thinke on God with thankefulnes . Thus ceast the Storme and weather gan to smile , And we Row'd neere the shoare of Horsey I le . Then did Illustrious Titan seeme to steepe His Chariot in the Westerne Ocean deepe : We saw the farre spent Day , withdraw his light , And made for Harwich , where we lay all night . There did I finde an Hostesse with a Tongue , As nimble as it had on Gimmols hung : T will neuer tire , though it continuall toyl'd , And went as yare , as if it had bin Oyl'd : All 's one for that , for ought which I perceiue , It is a fault which all our Mothers haue : And is so firmely grafted in the Sexe , That hee 's an Asse that seemes thereat to vexe . Apolloes Beames began to guild the Hils , And West Southwest the winde the Welkin fils . When I left Harwich , and along we Row'd Against a smooth Calme flood that stifly flow'd , By Bawdsey Hauen , and by Orford Nasse , And so by Aldbrough we at last did passe . By Lestoffe , we to Yarmouth made our way , Our third dayes trauell being Saturday , There did I see a Towne well fortifide , Well gouern'd , with all Natures wants supplide , The scituation in a wholesome ayre , The Buildings ( for the most part ) sumptuous , faire , The people courteous , and industrious , and With labour makes the Sea inrich the land . Besides ( for aught I know ) this one thing more , The Towne can scarcely yeeld a man a Whore : It is renownd for fishing farre and neere , And sure in Britaine it hath not a Peere . But noble Nash thy fame shall liue alwayes , Thy witty Pamphlet , the red * *

It hath not a fellow in England for fishing .

A Booke called the praise of the red Herring .

Herrings praise Hath done great Yarmouth much renowned right , And put my Artlesse Muse to silence quite : On Sunday we a learned Sermon had , Taught to confirme the good , reforme the bad ; Acquaintance in the Towne I scarce had any , And sought for none , in feare to finde too many , Much kindnesse to me by mine Host was done , ( A Marriner * * And a ship Carpenter . nam'd William Richardson ) Besides mine Hostesse gaue to me at last A Cheese , with which at Sea we brake our fast , The Guift was round , and had no end indeede , But yet we made an end of it with speede : My thanks surmounts her bounty , all men sees My Gratitudes in Print : But where 's the Cheese ? So on the Munday , betwixt one and twaine , I tooke my leaue , and put to Sea againe . Down Yarmouth Roade we Row'd with cutting speed , ( The Wind all quiet , Armes must doe the deed ) Along by Castor , and Sea-bord'ring Townes , Whose Cliffes & shores abide sterne Neptunes frownes , Sometimes a mile from land , and sometimes two , ( As depthes or sands permitted vs to do ) Till drawing toward night , we did perceaue The wind at East , and Seas began to heaue : The rowling Billowes all in fury Roares And tumbled vs , we scarce could vse our Oares : Thus on a Lee shore , darknesse gan to come , The Sea grew high , the winds gan hisse and hum : The foaming curled waues the shore did beate , ( As if the Ocean would all Norfolke eate ) To keepe at Sea , was dangerous I did thinke , To goe to land I stood in doubt to sinke : Thus landing , or not landing ( I suppos'd ) We were in perill * * We were in a puzzell . round about inclos'd ; At last to Rowe to shore I thought it best , 'Mongst many euils , thinking that the least : My men all pleas'd to doe as I command , Did turne the Boates head opposite to land , And with the highest Waue that I could spie , I bad them Row to shore immediatly . When straite we all leap'd ouer-boord in hast , Some to the knees , and some vp to the waste , Where suddainly t'wixt Owle-light and the darke , We pluck'd the Boat beyond high water marke . And thus halfe sowsde , halfe stewd , with Sea and sweat , We land at Cromer Towne halfe dry , halfe wet . But we supposing all was safe and well In shunning * * We were like Flounders aliue in a frying Pan , that leap'd into the fire to saue themselues . Silla , on Caribdis fell : For why some women , and some children there That saw vs land , were all possest with feare : And much amaz'd , ranne crying vp and downe , That Enemies were come to take the Towne . Some said that we were Pyrats , some said Theeues , And what the women saies , the men beleeues . With that foure Constables did quickly call , Your ayde ! to Armes you men of Cromer all ! Then straitway forty men with rusty Bills , Some arm'd in Ale , all of approued skills , Deuided into foure stout Regiments , To guard the Towne from dangerous Euents ; Braue Captaine * * These were the names of the cumbersome Cromorian Constables . Pescod did the Vantguard lead , And Captaine Clarke the Rereward gouerned , Whilst Captaine Wiseman , and hot Captaine Kimble , Were in the mayne Battalia fierce and nimble : One with his squadron watch'd me all the night , Least from my lodging I should take my flight : A second ( like a man of speciall note ) Did by the Sea side all night watch my Boate , The other two , to make their names Renownd , Did Guard the Towne , and brauely walke the Rownd . And thus my Boat , my selfe , and all my men , Were stoutly Guarded , and Regarded then : For they were all so full with feare possest , That without mirth it cannot be exprest . My Inuention doth Curuet , my Muse doth Caper , My Pen doth daunce out lines vpon the Paper , And in a word , I am as full of mirth , As Mighty men are at their first sonnes birth . Me thinkes Moriscoes are within my braines , And Heyes and Antiques run through all my vaines : Heigh , to the tune of Trenchmoore I could write The valient men of Cromers sad affright : As Sheepe doe feare the Wolfe , or Geese the Fox , So all amazed were these sencelesse blockes : That had the Towne beene fir'd , it is a doubt , But that the women there had pist it out , And from the men Reek'd such a fearefull sent , That People three * * People did come thither 3. or 4. miles about , to know what the matter was . miles thence mus'd what it meant , And he the truth that narrowly had sifted , Had found the Constables , had need t' haue shifted . They did examine me , I answer'd than I was Iohn Taylor , and a Waterman , And that my honest fellow Iob and I , Were seruants to King Iames his Maistie , How we to Yorke , vpon a Mart were bound , And that we landed , fearing to be drownd : When all this would not satisfie the Crew , I freely op'd my Trunke , and bad them view , I shew'd them Bookes , of Chronicles and Kings , Some Prose , some verse , and idle Sonnettings , I shewed them all my Letters to the full , Some to Yorkes Archbishop , and some to Hull , But had the twelue Apostles sure beene there My witnesses , I had beene nere the * * I had as good to haue said nothing . neere . And let me vse all Oathes that I could vse , They still were harder of beliefe then Iewes . They wanted faith , and had resolu'd before , Not to belieue what e're we said or swore . They said the world was full of much deceit , And that my Letters might be * * Diligent Officers . counterfeit : Besides , there 's one thing bred the more dislike , Because mine Host was knowne a Catholike . These things concurring , people came in Clusters , And multitudes within my lodging Musters , That I was almost wooried vnto death , In danger to be stifled with their breath . And had mine Host tooke pence a peece of those Who came to gaze on me , I doe suppose , No Iack an Apes , Baboone , or Crocodile ‛ Ere got more money in so small a * * The dancing on the Ropes , or a Puppet play , had come short of his takings , accounting time for time . while . Besides , the Pesants did this one thing more , They call'd and dranke foure shillings on my score : And like vnmanner'd Mungrells went their way , Not spending aught , but leauing me to * * This was more then I could willingly afford . pay . This was the houshold businesse , in meane space Some Rascals ran vnto my Boate apace , And turn'd and tumbled her , like men of Goteham , Quite topsie turuy vpward with her bottome , Vowing they would in tatters piece-meale teare , The cursed Pyrates Boate , that bred their feare ; And I am sure , their madnesse ( to my harme ) Tore a Boord out , much longer then mine arme . And they so bruis'd , and split our Wherry , that She leak'd , we cast out water with a Hat . Now let men iudge , vpon these truthes reuealing , If Turkes or Mores could vse more barbarous dealing , Or whether it be fit I should not write , Their enuie , foolish feare , and mad despight . What may wise men conceiue , when they shall note That fiue vnarm'd men , in a Wherry Boate , Nought to defend , or to offend with stripes But one old * * And the sword was rusty with Salt-water , that it had neede of a quarters warning ere it wold come out . sword , and two Tobacco Pipes , And that of Constables a Murniuall , Men , women , children , all in generall , And that they all should be so valiant , wise , To feare we would a Market Towne surprise ! In all that 's writ I vow I am no lyer , I muse the Beacons were not set on fire . The dreadfull names of Talbot , or of Drake , Ne're made the foes of England more to quake Then I made Cromer , for their feare and dolour , * * O braue sent . Each man might smell out by his Neighbours Collor . At last the ioyfull morning did approach , And Sol began to mount his flaming Coach , Then did I thinke my Purgatory done , And rose betimes intending to be gone ; But holla , stay , 't was otherwayes , with me The messe of Constables were shrunke to three Sweet Mr. Pescods double diligence Had horst himselfe , to beare intelligence , To Iustices of Peace within the land , What dangerous businesse there was now in hand , There was I forc'd to tarry all the while , Till some said he rode foure and twenty mile , In seeking men of worship , peace and quorum , Most wisely to declare strange newes before vm . And whatsoeuer tales he did recite , I 'm sure he caus'd Sir Austine Palgraue , Knight , And Mr. Robert Kempe a Iustice there Come before me , to know how matters were . As conference twixt them and I did passe , They quickly vnderstood me , what I was : And though they knew me not in prose and lookes , They had read of me in my verse , and bookes , My businesses account I there did make , And I and all my Company did take , The lawfull Oath of our Alleageance then , By which we were beleeu'd for honest men . In duty , and in all humility I doe acknowledge the kinde courtesie Of those two Gentlemen : for they did see , How much the people were deceiu'd in me . They gaue me Coyne , and Wine and Suger too , And did as much as lay in them to doe To finde them that my Boate had torne and rent , And so to giue them worthy punishment . Besides Sir * * He would haue had vs to haue stayed 3. or foure dayes with him . Austin Palgraue , bad me this , To goe but foure miles , where his Dwelling is , And I and all my Company should there Finde friendly Welcome , mix'd with other Cheare . I gaue them thankes , and so I 'le giue them still , And did accept their Cheere in their goodwill . Then 3. a Clocke at afternoone and past , I was Discharg'd from Cromer at the last . But for men shall not thinke that Enuiously Against this Towne I let my Lines to flye : And that I doe not lye , or scoffe , or fable , For them I will write something Charitable . It is an Ancient Market Towne that stands Vpon a lofty Cliffe of mouldring Sands : The Sea against the Cliffes doth dayly beate , And euery tide into the Land doth eate , The Towne is Poore , vnable by Expence , Against the raging Sea to make defence : And euery day it eateth further in , Still wasting , washing downe the sand doth win . That if some Course be not tane speedily , The Towne 's in danger in the Sea to lye . A goodly Church stands on these brittle Grounds , Not many fairer in Great Britaines Bounds : And if the Sea should swallow 't , as some feare , T is not Ten thousand pounds the like could Reare , No Christian can behold it but with griefe , And with my heart I wish them quicke reliefe . So farewell Cromer , I haue spoke for thee , Though thou didst much vnkindly deale with me , And honest Marriners , I thanke you there Laboriously you in your armes did beare My Boat for me three furlongs at the least , When as the tyde of Ebb was so decreast , You waded , and you launch'd her quite a floate , And on your backes you bore vs to our Boate. Th' vnkindnes that I had before , it come Because the Constables were troublesome : Long'd to be busie , would be men of action , Whose labours was their trauels satisfaction , Who all were borne when wit was out of Towne , And therefore got but little of their owne : So farewell Pescod , Wiseman , Kimble , * * They long'd for imployment , and rather then be idle , would be ill occupied . Clarke , Foure sonnes of Ignorance ( or much more darke ) You made me loose a day of braue calme weather , So once againe farewell , fare ill together . Then longst the Norfolke Coast we Rowde outright To Blakeney , when we saw the comming night , The burning eye of day began to winke , And into Thetis lap his Beames to shrinke : And as he went stain'd the departed skie , With red , blew , purple , and vermillion dye . Till all our Hemispere laments his lack . And mourning night puts on a Robe of black , Bespangled diuersly with Golden sparkes , Some moueable , some Sea-mens fixed markes . The milky way that blest Astrea went , When as she left this earthly Continent , Shew'd like a Christall cawsey to the Thrones Of Ioue and Saturne , Pau'd with precious Stones . Olde Occeanus , Neptune , a a The God of Riuers , Springs , Brookes , Foords , & Fountains . Innachus , And two and thirty huffecapt Eolus , Had all tane truce and were in League combin'd , No billowes foaming , or no breath of Winde ; The solid Earth , the Ayre , the Ocean deepe Seem'd as the whole world had bin fast asleepe . In such a pleasant Euen as this came I To Blackney , with my Ship and Company : Whereas I found my Entertainment good For welcome , drinking , lodging , and for food . The morrow when Latonaes Sunne gan rise , And with his Light illumines mortall eyes : When Cockes did Crow , and Lambes did bleat & blea , I mounted from my Couch , and put to Sea . Like Glasse the Oceans face was smooth and calme , The gentle Ayre breath'd like Arabian Balme : Gusts , stormes and flawes , lay sleeping in their Celles Whilest with much labour we Row'd o're the Welles . This was our greatest b b We Rowed aboue 100. miles that day . Day of worke indeed , And it behoou'd vs much , to make much speed , For why before that Day did quite expire We past the dangerous Wash , to Lincolnshire . And there in 3. houres space and little more We Row'd to Boston , from the Norfolke shore : Which by Report of people that dwell there , Is sixe and twenty mile or very neere . The way vnknowne , and we no Pilate had , Flats , Sands and shoales ; and Tides all raging mad , Which Sands our passage many times denide , And put vs sometimes c c Sands lying crookedly in our way , making vs goe 3. or foure miles about at lowe water . 3. or foure miles wide , Besides the Flood Runs there , with such great force , That I imagine it out-runnes a Horse : And with a head some 4. foot high , that Rores , It on the sodaine swels and beats the Shores . It tumbled vs a Ground vpon the Sands , And all that wee could doe with wit , or hands , Could not resist it , but we were in doubt It would haue beaten our Boates bottome out . It hath lesse mercy then Beare , Wolfe , or Tyger , And in those Countries it is call'd the * * It is so call'd in Mr D●aytons second part of Polyalbion , in his treatise of Humber . Hyger . We much were vnacquainted with those fashions , And much it troubled vs with sundry passions : We thought the shore we neuer should Recouer , And look'd still when our Boate would tumble ouer . But He that made all with his word of might , Brought vs to Boston , where we lodg'd all night . The morrow morning , when the Sunne gan Peepe . I wak'd and rub'd mine eyes , and shak'd off sleepe , And vnderstanding that the Riuer went , From Boston , vp to Lancolne , and to Trent , To Humber , Owse , and Yorke , and ( taking paine ) We need not come in sight of Sea againe . I lik'd the motion , and made hast away To Lincolne , which was 50. mile , that day . Which Citty in the 3. King Edwards Raigne , Was th' onely Staple , for this Kingdomes gaine For Leather , Lead , and Wooll , and then was seene Fiue times ten Churches there , but now fifteene , A braue Cathedrall Church there now doth stand , That scarcely hath a fellow in this Land : T is for a Godly vse , a goodly Frame , And beares the blessed Virgin Maryes name . The Towne is Ancient , and by Course of Fate , Through Warrs , and Time , defac'd and Ruinate , But Monarchies , and Empires , Kingdomes , Crownes , Haue rose or fell , as Fortune smiles or frownes : And Townes , and Citties , haue their portions had Of time-tost Variations , good and bad . There is a Prouerbe , part of which is this , They say that Lincolne was , and London is . From thence we past a Ditch of Weedes and Mud , Which they doe ( falsely ) there call * * It is a passage cut through the land 8. miles from Lincoln into Trent , but through either the peoples pouerty or negligence it is grown vp with weeds , and mud , so that in the Summer it is in many places almost dry . Forcedike Flood : For I 'le be sworne , no flood I could finde there , But dirt and filth which scarce my Boate would beare , T is 8. miles long , and there our paines was such , As all our trauell did not seeme so much , My men did wade , and drawe the Boate like Horses , And scarce could tugge her on with all our forces : Moyl'd , toyl'd , myr'd , tyr'd , still lab'ring , euer doing , Yet were we 9. long houres that 8. miles going . At last when as the Day was well nigh spent , We gat from Forcedikes floodles flood to Trent . Eu'n as the Windowes of the Day did shut , Downe Trents swift streame to Gainsborough we put , There did we rest vntill the morning Starre , The ioyfull doores of Dawning did vn-barre : To Humbers churlish streames , our Course we fram'd , So Nam'd , for Drowning of a King so nam'd . And there the swift Ebbe tide ranne in such sort , The Winde at East , the Waues brake thicke and short , That in some doubts , it me began to strike , For in my life , I ne're had seene the like . My way was vp to Yorke , but my intent Was contrary , for from the fall of Trent I fifteene mile went downewards East Northeast , When as my way was vpward West Southwest . And as against the Winde we madly venter , The Waues like Pirates boord our Boate and enter , But though they came in fury , and amaine Like thieues we cast them ouer-boord againe . This Conflict lasted two houres to the full , Vntill we gat to Kingstone vpon Hull : For to that Towne I had a Proued friend , That Letters did and Commendations send By me vnto the worthy Maiestrate , The Maior , and some of 's Brethren , in that State . Besides I had some Letters , of like Charge From my good Friend , the Master of the Barge Vnto some friends of his , that they would there Giue me * * I went 15. mile out of Trent , down Humber , on purpose to see Hull , when my way was quite contrary . Hull Cheese , and welcome and good Cheere . Sunday at Mr. Maiors much Cheere and Wine Where as the Hall did in the Parlour Dine , At night with one that had bin Shrieue I Sup'd Well entertain'd I was , and halfe well Cup'd : On Monday noone , I was inuited than To a graue Iusticer , an Alderman , And there such Cheere as Earth and Waters yeeld , Shew'd like a Haruest in a plentious Feild . Another I must thanke for his Goodwill , For he Prest * * Hull Cheese , is much like a loafe out of a Brewers Basket , it is Composed of two simples , Mault and Water in one Compound , and is Cosen germain to the mightiest Ale in England . on to bid me welcome still . There is a Captaine of good Life and Fame And , God * * The meaning of those marks are onely knowne to the Townsmen there . with vs , I oft haue call'd his Name : He welcom'd me , as I had bin his fellow Lent me his silken Colours , Blacke and Yellow , Which to our Mast made fast , wee with a Drum Did keepe , till we to Yorke in Triumph come . Thankes to my louing Host and Hostesse Pease There at mine Inne , each Night I tooke mine ease : And there I gat a Cantle of Hull Cheese One Euening late , I thanke thee * * An ingenious man named Machabeus . Macabees . Kinde Roger Parker , many thankes to thee , Thou shewedst much vndeserued loue to me , Layd my Boat safe , spent time , Coyne and endeauour , And mad'st my money counted Copper euer . But as at Feasts , the first Course being past , Men doe reserue their Dainties till the last , So my most thankes I euer whilest I liue Will to the Mayor , and his Bretheren giue , But most of all , to shut vp all together I giue him thankes that did Commend * * Mr. I.I. me thither , Their Loues ( like Humber ) ouer-flow'd the bankes , And though I Ebbe in worth , I 'le flowe in Thankes . Thus leauing off the Men , now of the Towne Some thinges which I obseru'd I 'le heere set downe : And partly to declare it's praise and worth , It is the onely Bulwarke of the North. All other Townes for strength to it may strike , And all the Northerne parts hath not the like , The people from the Sea much Wealth haue wonne , Each man doth liue as hee were Neptunes Sonne . Th' Antiquity thereof a man may Reede In Reuerend Cambdens workes , and painefull Speede : How in King Edwards Raigne first of that Name Then called Wike . Then did they Kingston frame , And then the Townesmen cut a * * The Riuer of Hull is 20. miles in length , cut with mens labor to the infinite Commodity of the Countrey . Riuer there , An exc'lent Hauen , a Defence or Peere : Built with excessiue Charge , to saue it from Fierce Humbers Raging , that each Tide doth come . From time to time , more Greatnes still it gain'd , Till lately when the Eight King Henry Raign'd , He made it greater , by his oft Resort , And many times kept there his Royall Court , He Wall'd it well , built Battlements , and Gates , And ( more with Honour to augment their States ) He built two Blockhouses , and Castle strong To Guard the Towne from all Inuasiue wrong . He gaue them much Munition , Swords , Shafts , Bowes , And Brazen Ordnance , as the world well knowes , Which Guns he gaue them for the Townes defence , But were in 88. all borrowed thence , With promise they againe should be sent backe , But the performance euer hath bin slacke . Now in this Yron age , their Guns I see , Are mettle like the Age , and Yron be : And glad they would be if they could obtaine , To change that mettle , for their owne againe . Foure well built Gates , with bolts , and lockes & barres For ornament or strength , in Peace or Warres : Besides to keepe their Foes the further out , They can Drowne all the Land 3. miles about . T is plentifully seru'd with Flesh and Fish , As cheape , as reasonable men can wish . And thus by Gods grace , and mans industry , Dame Nature , or mens Art doth it supply . Some 10. yeares since Fresh water there was scant , But with much Cost they haue supply'd that want : By a most exc'lent Water-worke that 's made , And to the Towne in Pipes it is conuay'd , Wrought with most Artificiall engines , and Perform'd by th' Art of the Industrious hand Of Mr. * * He built another faire Waterwork , at Yorke , of Freestone , which doth the Citty exceeding seruice . William Maltby , Gentleman , So that each man of Note there alwayes can But turne a Cocke within his House , and still They haue Fresh-water alwayes at their will , This haue they all vnto their great Content , For which they each doe pay a yearely Rent . There is a Prouerbe , and a Prayer withall , That we may not to three strange places fall : From Hull , from Hallifax , from Hell , 't is thus , From all these three * * A Prouerb Good Lord deliuer vs . This Praying prouerb 's meaning to set downe , Men doe not wish deliuerance from the Towne : The Townes Nam'd Kingstone , Hulls the furious Riuer And from Hulls dangers , I say , Lord deliuer . At Hallifax , the Law so sharpe doth deale , That who so more then 13. Pence doth steale , They haue a Iynn , that wondrous quicke and well , Sends Thieues all Headlesse vnto Heau'n or Hell . From Hell each man sayes , Lord deliuer me , Because from Hell can no Redemption be : Men may escape from Hull and Hallifax , But sure in Hell there is a heauier tax , Let each one for themselues in this agree And pray , From Hell good Lord deliuer me . The Prouerbe and the Prayer expounded plaine , Now to the Orders of the Towne againe : I thinke it merites praise for Gouernment , More then all Townes in Britaines Continent , As first their Charity doth much appeare , They for the Poore haue so * * Mark , for all is true . prouided there , That if a man should walke from Morne till Night , He shall not see one Begger ; nor a Mite Or any thing shall be demaunded euer , But euery one there doth their best endeuour To make the Idle worke , and to Relieue Those that are Olde and past , or Sicknes grieue . All Poore mens Children haue a House most fit Whereas they Sowe , and Spin , and Card , and Knit , Where all of them haue something still to doe , As their Capacities will reach vnto , So that no Idle person , Olde or Young Within the Towne doth harbour or belong . It yearely Costs Fiue hundred pounds besides , To fence the Towne , from Hull and Humbers tides , For Stakes , for Bauins , Timber , Stones and Piles , All which are brought by Water many miles , For Workmens labour , and a world of things Which on the Towne excessiue Charges brings . All which with perill , industry and sweat , They from the bowels of the Ocean get . They haue a Bridewell , and an exc'lent skill To make some people worke against their will : And there they haue their Lodging and their meate , Cleane Whips , and euery thing exceeding neate , And thus with faire or foule meanes alwayes , they Giue idle persons little time to Play . Besides for euery Sea or Marine cause They haue a House of Trinity , whose Lawes And Orders doe Confirme , or else Reforme That which is Right , or that which wrongs deforme . It is a Comely built well ordred place , But that which most of all the House doth grace , Are Roomes for Widdowes who are Olde and poore , And haue bin Wiues to Marriners before . They are for house-roome , foode or lodging , or For firing , Christianly prouided for , And as some dye , some doe their places win , As one goes out , another doth come in . Should I in all things giue the Towne it 's due , Some fooles would say I flatter'd , writ vntrue : Or that I partiall in my writings were , Because they made me welcome , and good cheere : But for all those that haue such thoughts of mee , I rather wish that them I hang'd may see , Then that they iustly could report , that I Did Rime for victuals , hunger to supply . Or that my Muse , or working braines should beate , To flatter , fawne , or lye , for drinke or meate : Let Trencher-Poets scrape , for such base vailes , I 'le take an Oare in hand when writing failes ; And 'twixt the Boate and Pen , I make no doubt , But I shall shift to picke a liuing out , Without base flatt'ry , or false Coyned words To mowldy Madames , or vnworthy Lords ; Or whatsoe're degree , or Townes , or Nations I euer did , and still will scorne such fashions . Hearesay , * * I write not by heare-say . sometimes vpon a lye may light , But what I see and know , I dare to write . Mine eyes did view before my Pen set downe , These things that I haue written of this Towne . A new built Custome-house , a faire Towne Hall , For solemne meetings , or a Festiuall : A Maior , twelue Aldermen , one Shriefe , Recorder , A Towne-Clarke , altogether in one order , And vniformity doe gouerne so , They neede not flatter friend , or feare a foe . A Sword , a Cap of maintainance , a Mace Great , and well Guilt , to doe the Towne more grace : Are borne before the Maior , and Aldermen , And on Festiuities , or high dayes then Those Maiestrates their Scarlet Gownes doe weare , And haue sixe Sergeants to attend each yeare . Now let men say what Towne in England is , That truly can compare it selfe with this : For scituation , strength , and gouernment , For charity , for plenty , for content , For state ? and one thing more I there was told , Not one Recusant , all the Towne doth hold , Nor ( as they say ) there 's not a Puritan , Or any nose-wise foole Precissian , But great and small , with one consent and will , Obay his Maiesties Iniunctions still . They say that once therein two sisters dwelt , Which inwardly the prick of Conscience felt , They came to London , ( hauing wherewithall ) To buy two Bybles , all Canonicall , Th' Apocripha did put them in some doubt , And therefore both their Bookes were bound without , Except those two I ne're did heare of any At Hull , though many places haue too many . But as one scabbed sheepe a flock may marre , So there 's one man , whose nose did stand a iarre : Talk'd very scuruily , and look'd ascue , Because I in a worthy Townes-mans Pue , Was plac'd at Church , when ( God knowes ) I ne're thought , To sit there , I was by the Owner brought . This Squire of low degree , displeased than , Said , I at most was but a Water-man . And that they such great kindnesse setting forth , Made more a' th flesh , then e're the broth was worth : Which I confesse , but yet I answere make , 'T was more then I with manners could forsake : He sure is some high minded Pharisie , Or else infected with their Heresie , And must be set downe in their Catalogues , They lou'd the highest seates in Sinagogues . And so ( perhaps ) doth he , for aught I know He may be mounted when I sit below : But let him not a Water-man despise , For from the water he himselfe did rise , And windes and water both on him hath smil'd Else , the great Marchant he had n'ere beene stil'd : His Character I finely will contriue , He 's scornfull proud , and tatling talkatiue : A great Ingrosser of strange speech and newes , And one that would sit in the highest Pues , But bate an Ace , he 'le , hardly winne the game , And if I list , I could rake * * But I was euer better with forks to scatter , then with Rakes to gather , therefore I would not haue the Townes-men to mistake chalke for Cheese , or Robert for Richard . out his name . Thanks Mr. Maior , for my Bacon Gammon , Thankes Roger Parker for my small fresh Sammon , 'T was ex'lent good , and more the truth to tell ye , Boyl'd with a fine Plum-pudding in the belly . The sixth of August , well accompanide With best of Townes-men to the waters side , There did I take my leaue , and to my Ship I with my Drum and Colours quickly skip . The one did dub a dub and rumble , braue The Ensigne in the ayre did play and waue : I launch'd , supposing all things had beene done , Bownce , from the Block-house , quoth a roaring Gun , And wauing Hats on both sides , with content I cride Adiew , adiew , and thence we went . Vp Humbers flood that then amaine did swell , Windes calme , and water quiet as a Well : We Rowde to Owse , with all our force and might , To Cawood where we well were lodg'd all night . The morrow , when as Phoebus gan to smile , I forwards set to Yorke , eight little mile : But two miles short of Yorke I landed than , To see that reuerend * * At Bishopsthorpe , wher the Right reuerend Father in God , Toby Mathew Archbishop of Yorke his Grace , did make mee welcome . Metropolitan , That watchfull Shepheard , that with Care doth keepe , Th' infernall Wolfe , from Heau'ns supernall Sheepe : That painefull Preacher , that most free Almes-giuer , That though he liue long , is too short a liuer : That man whose age the poore doe all lament , All knowing , when his Pilgrimage is spent , When Earth to Earth returnes , as Natures debter , They feare the Prouerbe , Seldome comes the better . His Doctrine and example , speake his due , And what all people sayes , must needes be true . In duty I most humbly thanke his Grace , He at his Table made me haue a place , And meate and drinke , and gold he gaue me there , Whilst all my Crue it 'h Hall were fill'd with cheere : So hauing din'd , from thence we quickly past Through Owse strong Bridge , to Yorke faire Citie last , Our drowning scap'd , more danger was ensuing , 'T was Size time there , and hanging was a brewing : But had our faults beene ne're so Capitall , We at the Vintners barre durst answere all . Then to the good Lord Maior I went , and told What labour , and what dangers manifold , My fellow and my selfe had past at Seas , And if it might his noble Lordship please , The Boat that did from London thither swim With vs , in duty we would giue to him . His Lordship pawsing , with a reuerend hum , My friend ( quoth he ) to morrow morning come , In the meane space I 'le of the matter thinke , And so he bad me to goe neere and drinke . I dranke a Cup of Clarret , and some Beere , And sure ( for aught I know ) he a a There is some oddes betweene keeping & spending . KEEPES good ch●ere . I gaue his Lordship in red guilded leather , A well bound Booke , of all my Workes together , Which he did take b b Heere I make a full point , for I receiued not a point in exchange . . There in the Citie were some men of note , That gladly would giue money for our Boat : But all this while good manners bad vs stay , To haue my good Lord Maiors yea , or nay . But after long demurring of the matter c c I thought it my duty ( being wee had come a dangerous voyage ) to offer our Boat to the chief Maiestrate . For why should not my Boat be as good a monument as Tom Coriats euerlasting ouer-trampling land-conquering Shooes , thought I ? , He well was pleas'd to see her on the water , And then my men Rowde halfe an houre or more , Whilst he stood viewing her vpon the shore . They bore his Lordships Children in her there , And many others , as she well could beare . At which his Honour was exceeding merry , Saying it was a pretty nimble Wherry : But when my men had taken all this paines , Into their eyes they might haue put their gaines . Vnto his Shop he did d d And forgat to say , I thank you good fellowes . perambulate , And there amongst his Barres of Iron sate . I ask'd him if he would our Boat forgoe , Or haue her , and his Lordship answer'd , No. I tooke him at his word , and said God buye , And gladly with my Boate away went I. I sold the Boat , as I suppos'd most meete , To honest Mr. * * A substantiall worthy Citizen , who hath beene Shriefe of Yorke , and now keeps the George in Cunny streete . Kayes , in Cunny streete : He entertain'd me well , for which I thanke him , And gratefully , amongst my friends I 'le ranke him . My kinde remembrance here I put in paper , To worthy Mr. Hemsworth there , a Draper , Amongst the rest he 's one that I must thanke , With his good wife , and honest brother Franke. Now for the Citie , 'T is of state and Port , Where Emperors & Kings haue kept their Court , 989. yeare , the foundation Was layde , before our Sauiours incarnation , By * * Ebrank was the 5. K. of Britaine , after Brute . Ebrank who a Temple there did reare , ( And plac'd a * * An Arch-Flammin which was as an Idolatrous high Priest to Diana . Flammin to Diana there , But when King Lucius here the Scepter swayde The Idols leuell with the ground were layde , Then Eleutherius , Romes high Bishop plac'd , An Archbishop at Yorke , with Tytles grac'd . Then after Christ , 627. Was Edwin * * Edwin and his whole family were baptized there on Easter day the 12. of Aprill 627. baptiz'd by the grace of heauen , He pluck'd the Minster downe , that then was wood , And made it stone , a deede both great and good . The Citie oft hath knowne the chaunce of warres , Of cruell forraigne , and of home-bred iarres . And those that further please thereof to read , May turne the volumes of great Hollinshead . Yourkshire the greatest Shire in England , and 308. miles about . Speed . 'T is large , 't is pleasant and magnificent , The Norths most fertile famous ornament : 'T is rich and populous , and hath indeede No want of any thing to serue their neede . Abundance doth that noble Citie make Much abler to bestow , then neede to take . So farewell Yorke , the tenth of August then Away came I for London with my men . To dinner I to Pomfret quickly rode , Where good hote Venson stay'd for my abode , I thanke the worshipfull George Shillito , He fill'd my men and me , and let vs goe . There did I well view ouer twice or thrice , A strong , a faire , and auncient Edifice : * * Pomfre● Castle . Reedifide , where it was ruin'd most At th' high and hopefull Prince * * Prince Charles . of Wales his cost . I saw the roome where Exton * * Sir Peirce of Exton Knight . and his rowt Of Traytours , Royall Richards braines beat out : * * King Richard the second murdered there . And if that King did striue so many blowes , As hacks and hewes vpon one pillar showes , There are one hundred slashes , he withstood , Before the villaines shed his Kingly blood . From Pomfret then , vnto my noble friend , Sir Robert Swift at Doncaster we wend , An ancient Knight , of a most generous spirit , Who made me welcome farre beyond my merit . From thence by Newarke , I to Stamford past , And so in time to London at the last . W●●●ere friends and neighbours , all with louing harts , Did welcome me with pottles , pintes , and quarts . Which made my Muse more glib , and blyth to tell This story of my voyage . So farewell .