Pasquils mad-cap· And his message.

PASQVILS MAD-CAP .

And his Message .

LONDON Printed by V. S. for Thomas Bushell , and are to bee solde at his shop at the great North doore of Paules . 1600.

To the Reader .

WHAT you are that reade this I know not , and how you like it I greatly care not ; the honest will keepe their condition in spight of the diuell ▪ and for them that are of the foure and twentie Orders , God amend them for I cannot : what I haue written was in a madde humor , and so I hope by your reading you will imagine : a gallde hackeney will winch if he heare but the noyse of a Currie-combe , while a better horse will abide dressing and be quiet : call a foole a foole , and he will either crie or scratch ; and yet an Oxe cannot hide his hornes though he were clad in a Beares skinne . To bee short , I wish well to all honest professions ; I honour the Souldier , I reuerence the Diuine , I commend the Lawyer , and I obserue the Courtier : The Marchant I hold a man of worth , the Farmer a rich fellow , the Craftes-man no foole , and the Laborer worthy his hyre ; but sor the Beggar , he dwelles so neere my doore , that I am weary of his companie : and therefore let Souldiers march , Diuines preach , Lawyers pleade , Marchants trafficke , Craftes-men follow their trade , and Worke-men take paines , Fencers play , and Players thriue , I say nothing to them all , but when they goe well to worke , God speede the plough : he that cannot abide the wether , let him lay by his fether ; the Wise will liue in his Wisedome , and the foole will die in his folly , of which number hoping you are none , I leaue my labour to your pleasure , to consider of as your patience will giue you leaue , and so rest , your friend .

PASQVILS Mad-cappe . WHy should Man loue this wretched world so much ▪ In which is nothing but all worse than naught ? Shadowes , and shews of things are nothing such , While strong illusions haue too weak a thought , With wicked humours too much ouer wrought , The witch of Will , and ouerthrow of Wit , Where gracelesse sinnes doe in their glory sit . Beautie is but a Babies looking glasse , While Money eates into the Misers hart , And guarded Pride , all like a golden Asse , Makes Lecherie lay open euery part : Slouth lies and sleepes , and feares no waking smart , While froath and fatte in drunken gluttony , The venome shew of natures villany . Patience is counted but a Poets fancie , While Wrath keepes reakes in euery wicked place , And fretting Envie falne into a franzie , While tyrant Murther treades a bloudy trace , And blessed Pittie dare not shew her face , Pride , Power , and Pence march in such battell ray , As beares downe all that comes within their way . The wealthy Rascall be he ne're so base , Filthy ▪ ill-fauourd , vgly to behold , Mowle-eie , Plaise-mouth , Dogges-tooth , and Camels face , Blind ▪ dumbe and deafe , diseased , rotten , old ▪ Yet , if he haue the coffers full of gold , He shall haue reuerence , curtsie , cappe , and knee , And worship , like a man of high degree . He shall haue Ballads written in his praise , Bookes dedicated vnto his patronage , Wittes working for his pleasure many waies , Petigrees sought to mend his parentage , And linckt perhaps in noble marriage , He shall haue all that this vile world can giue him , That into Pride , the Diuells mouth may driue him . If he can speake , his words are Oracles , If he can see , his eies are spectacles , If he can heare , his eares are miracles , If he can stand , his legges are pinacles : Thus in the rules of Reasons obstacles , If he be but a beast in shape and nature , Yet , giue him wealth he is a goodly creature . But be a man of ne're so good a minde , As fine a shape as Nature can deuise : Vertuous , and gracious , comely , wise , and kinde , Valiant , well giuen , full of good qualities , And almost free from Fancies vanities : Yet let him want this silthie worldly drosse , He shall be sent but to the Beggars Crosse. The foole will scoffe him , and the knaue abuse him , And euery Rascall in his kinde disgrace him , Acquaintance leaue him , and his friends refuse him , And euery dogge will from his doore displace him : Oh this vile world will seeke so to deface him , That vntill death doe come for to relieue him , He shall haue nothing here but that may grieue him . If he haue Pence to purchase pretty things , Shee that doth loathe him will dissemble loue , While the poore man his heart with sorrow wrings , To see how Want doth womens loue remoue , And make a Iacke Daw of a Turtle-doue : If he be rich , worldes serue him for his pelfe , If he be poore , he may go serue himselfe . If he be rich , although his nose do runne . His lippes do slauer , and his breath do stinke , He shall haue napkins faire and finely spunne , Pilles for the rhewme , and such perfumed drinke , As were he blind , he shall not seeme to wincke : Yea let him cough , halke , spit , and fart , and pisse , If he be wealthy , nothing is amisse . But with his pence , if he haue got him power , Then halfe a God , that is , more halfe a Deuill , Then Pride must teach him how to looke as sower , As Beldames milke that turned with her sneuill , While the poore man that little thinketh euill , Though nobly borne shall feare the Beggars frowne , And creepe and crowch vnto a filthy Clowne . Oh , he that wants this wicked cankred Coine , May fret to death before he finde reliefe , But if he haue the cunning to purloine , And ease the Beggar of his biting griefe , Although perhaps he play the priuie theefe : It is no matter if the bagges be full , Well fares the wit that makes the world a Gull . The Chuffe that sits and champes vpon his chaffe , May haue his Mawkin kisse him like a mare : And on his Barne-dore-threshold lie and laugh ▪ To see the Swaggrer with the Beggars share , Follow the Hounds , till he hath caught the Hare : Oh ▪ t is the purse that guilds the Bullockes horne , And makes the Shrew to laugh the sheepe to scorne . Who hath not seene a logger-headed Asse , That hath no more wit than an olde ioin'd stoole , Prinking himselfe before a Looking-glasse , And set a face as though he were no foole , When he that well might set the calfe to schoole . Must be attentiue to the Ganders keake , Or giue a plaudit , when the Goose doth speake ▪ Let but a Dunce , a Dizard , or a Dolt Get him a welted gowne , a sattin coate , Then though at randon he doe shoot his bolt , By telling of an idle tale by roate , Where Wisedome findes not one good word to note : Yea , though he can but grunde like a swine , Yet to the eight wise men he shall be nine . But , for a poore man , be he ne're so wise , Grounded in rules of Wit and Reasons grace , And in his speeches neuer so precise , To put no word out of Discretions place , Yet shall you see , in shutting vp the case , A pesant slouen with the purses sleight ▪ Will humme and hah him quite out of conceit . Looke on a souldiour that hath brauely seru'de , And with discretion can direct a campe , If he haue nothing for himselfe reseru'de , To warme his ioints when he hath got the Crampe , He shall haue little Oyle vnto his Lampe , But in a iacket and a paire of broags , Goe passe among the companie of roags . But if he can make money of his men , And his Lieutenant to supply his place , Although the Cocke be of a Crauen henne , And dare not meete a Capon in the face , Yet if he can be garded with gold lace , And sweare and swagger with a siluer sword , Who would not feare a stabbe for a foule word ? And yet this swappes , that neuer bloudied sword , Is but a coward , braue it as he list : And though he sweare and stare to keepe his word , He wil but loose his Armour in the Lift , Or take the Cuffe , and kindly kisse the fist : Stolne honor is a iest of Chiualrie , And vnto valure open iniurie . While he that ventures , lands , and , goods , and life , To shew the vertue of a valiant heart , And leaues his house , his children , and his wife , And from his countries quiet will depart , To passe the pikes of Dangers deadly smart : He is the souldior , be he nere so poore , May write Disgrace vpon the cowards doore . But for the Lordes and Generalls of fields , The Sergeant , Maiors ▪ Colonells and such , Marshalls and Captaines , that in Vertues shields , Do beare the truth of Valures honors tuch , In good of them I cannot say too much , If all their armour were of pearle and gold , That by desert the due of knighthood hold . Take an odde Vicar in a village towne , That onely prayes for plentie and for peace , If he can get him but a threed bare gowne , And tyth a Pigge , and eate a Goose in grease , And set his hand vnto his neighbours lease , And bid the Clearke on Sondaies ring the bell , He is a church-man fittes the parish well . But if he get a Benefice of worth , That may maintaine good hospitalitie , And in the pulpit bring a figure forth , Of Faith and Workes with a formalitie , And tell a knaue of an ill qualitie , If with his preaching he can fil the purse , He is a good man , God send nere a worse . But yet this simple idle headed Asse , That scarce hath learnd to spell the Hebrew names , Sir Iohn Lacke-latine with a face of brasse , Who all by roate his poore collations frames , And after seruice falles to ale-house games , How ere his wit may giue the foole the lurch , He is not fit to gouerne in the church . While he that spends the labour of his youth , But in the booke of the Eternall blisse , And can and will deliuer but the truth , In which the hope of highest comfort is , That cannot leade the faithfull soule amisse : Howeuer so his state of wealth decline , Deserues the title of the true diuine . I do not speake of Bishops nor of Deanes , Nor learned docters in Diuinitie , For they are men that rise by godly meanes , Who with the world haue no affinitie , But in the worship of the Trinitie , Their times , their braines ▪ their loues , and liues do spend , To gaine the honour that shall neuer end . Take but a Peti-fogger in the Law , That scarce a line of Littleton hath read , If he hath learnd the cunning how to claw His Clients backe , and bring a foole to bed , With beating toyes and trifles in his head , His golden fees will get him such a grace , A better Lawyer shall not crosse his case . But be a poore man neuer so well read , In all the quirkes and quiddittes of Law , And beate his braines , and weary out his head , Till he haue prou'de a Dunce to be a Daw , Yet wil his skill be held not worth a straw : And he perhaps in pleading of his case , With floutes and scoffes be shouldred out of place . But let that pidling peti-fogging Iacke , That faine would seeme a Lawyer at the lest , Be nere so busie in a beggars packe , And light vpon the card that likes him best , Yet shal you see in setting vp his rest , In all the game whoso doe loose or saue , His tricke wil alwaies fall vpon the Knaue . While he that hath the honest Case in hand , And learnedly can iudge twixt right and wrong , And doth vpon the care of conscience stand , And knowes that Sorrow's the Afflicteds song , Biddes Iustice not the poore mans griefe prolong , But hateth Bribes to heare the Trueth approued , He is the Lawyer worthie to be loued . But for the Lords and Iudges of the Law , They looke into the Matter , not the Men : They know the mettall if they see the flaw , And iudge the marish if they see the Fenne : They know both what , and how , and where , and when , And are as gods on earth to the distressed , To giue the right , and see the wrong redressed ▪ But for our gentle Iustices of peace , That but the chaire of Charitie doe keepe , By whose great wisdome many quarrels cease , And honest people doe in quiet sleepe , While their commaund both watch and ward doth keepe : I say no more , but God preserue their health , They are good members in a Common-wealth ▪ Say , Coine can make a Painter draw face , a He cannot giue it life doe what he can : And though that Coine can giue an outward grace , It cannot make a knaue an honest man , It cannot turne the cat so in the pan : But he that hath his eies may easily finde , The difference twixt the bodie and the minde . Take him that is disfigured in the face , And woorse in minde , and euery where to blame , He shall be but the subiect of Disgrace : How euer Fortune doe his shaddow frame , And in Loues triumph but a laughing game : For neuer Mastiffe curre will be a Beagle , Nor euer Owle will grow to be an Eagle . Looke on a fellow with a filthie face , Snow on his head , and frost vpon his beard , And euery where so furnisht with disgrace , As well might make a seely foole afeard , And like a Smith with sea-coale all befmeard , Yet if he haue his working toole of gold , Venus will helpe to strike , if Vulcan hold . Let but a fellow in a fox-furrde gowne , A greasie night-cap , and a driueled beard , Grow but the Bailiffe of a fisher towne , And haue a matter fore him to be heard , Will not his frowne make halfe a streete afeard ? Yea , and the greatest Codshead gape , for feare He shall be swallowed by the vgly beare . Looke but on Beggars going to the Stockes , How masse Constable can march before them , And while the Beadle maketh fast the lockes , How brauely he can knaue them , and be-whore them , And not affoord one word of pittie for them , When it may be , poore honest seely people , Must make the Church make curtsie to the Steeple . Note but the Beadle of a beggars Spittle , How ( in his place ) he can himselfe aduance , And wil not of his Title loose a tittle , If any matters come in variance , To trie the credite of his countenance : For whatsoeuer the poore beggars say , His is the word must carry all away . Why let a begger but on cock-horse sit , Will he not ride like an ill-fauourd king ? And will it not amaze a poore mans witte , That Cuckoes teach the Nightingale to sing ? Oh , this same wealth is such a wicked thing , T will teach an Owle ( in time ) to speake true Latine , And make a Frier forsweare our Ladies Mattine . Take but a pesant newly from the Cart , That onely liues by Puddings , Beanes , and Pease , Who neuer learned any other art , But how to driue his cattell to the Leas , And after worke , to sit and take his ease : Yet put this Asse into a golden hide , He shall be Groome vnto a handsome Bride . Take but a Rascall with a rogish pate , Who can but onely keepe a counting booke , Yet if his reckning grow to such a rate , That he can angle for the golden hooke , How euer so the matter be mistooke , If he can cleerely couer his deceit , He may be held a man of deepe conceit . Finde out a villaine , borne and bred a knaue , That neuer knew where Honesty became , A drunken rascall , and a dogged slaue , That all his wittes to wickednesse doth frame , And onely liues in infamy and shame , Yet let him tincke vpon the golden Pan , His word may passe yet for an honest man . Why take a Fidler but with halfe an eie , Who neuer knew if Ela were a Note , And can but play a Round , or Hey-de-gey ▪ And that perhaps he onely hath by roate , Which now and then may hap to get a groate , Yet if his Crowde be set with siluer Studdes , The other Minstrels may goe chew their cuddes . Giue mistris Fumkins Iohn Anods his wife , The filthiest queane in fifteene countrey townes , Who neuer had good thought in all her life , But one fringde Kertle , and two woosted Gownes , And fill her leather powch with a few crownes , She shall haue more fine suters for her marish , Than all the fairest maidens in the parish . Olde Gillian Turne-tripe Iacke an Apes his Trull , That scarce can chew a peece of new made cheese , Swelld with the dropsie , foule , and farting-full , With feeding on the fatte of Scullens fees , Yet if she haue the golden hony bees , She shall be kept as cleanly , fine , and fresh , As if she were a sweeter peece of flesh . Let prinking Parnell with a paire of thumbes , That well might serue a Millers tolling dish , Who thickes her porredge but with browne bread crums , And neuer carde for butter to her fish , Haue but the mettall of the Misers wish , Twenty to one but she shall quickely marry , When siner wenches will be like to tarry . Looke on olde Bettresse with her beetle browes , Begot betwixt a Tinkar and his Tibbe , And , but of late a seely Coblers spouse , If she haue playde the thrifty prowling scribbe , To purchase Grasse to greaze the Bullockes ribbe , She shall be fedde with fine and daintie fare , And woo'd and wedded , ere she be aware . But for a poore wench , be she ne're so faire , Gratious , and vertuous , wise , and nobly borne , And worthy well to sit in Honors chaire , Yet if her kertle , or her gowne be torne , All her good gifts shall be but held in scorne : And she ( poore soule ) in sorrow and disgrace , Be forcde to giue a filthy baggage place . So that by all these consequents I see , It is the Money makes or marres the man , And yet where iudges will indiffrent be , The Hobby-horse best fittes Maide - Marrian , While greedy dogges may licke the dripping pan : For though that Mony may doe many things , Yet Vertue makes the truest Queenes and Kings ▪ Oh what a world it is to see what wiles , A seely foole will finde to gather wealth ! And how he laughes , when he himselfe beguiles , With getting of the Cuckoes note by stealth , And thinke all well : it is a signe of health , When Patience hath the vaine to gather Pence , It is a fault to trouble conscience . Who doth not see what villanies are wrought , To gather wealth , the ground of wickednesse ? How many schollers Machauel hath taught , To fill the earth with all vngodlinesse , While witte doth onely worke for wealthinesse : Who liues in Ebbes , and may let in the floods , But will betray his father for his goods ? But , what auailes vnto the worlde to talke ? Wealth is a witch that hath a wicked charme , That in the mindes of wicked men doth walke , Vnto the heart and soules eternall harme , Which is not kept by the Almighty arme : Oh , t is the strongest instrument of ill That e're was knowne , to worke the diuels will . An honest man is held a good poore soule , And Kindnesse counted but a weake conceit , And Loue writ vp , but in the woodcockes rowle : While thriuing Witte doth but on Wealth awaite , He is a Fore-horse that goes euer streight : And he but held a foole for all his wit , That guides his braines but with a golden bit . A Virgin is a vertuous kind of creature , But , doth not Coyne command Virginitie ? And Beauty hath a strange bewitching feature , But Gold reades so much worldes diuinitie , As with the heauens hath no affinitie , So that where Beauty doth with Vertue dwell , If it want money , yet it will not sell. The market doth not serue to looke on minds , T is Mony makes the way with euery thing , Coyne alters Natures in a thousand kindes , And makes a Beggar thinke himselfe a King , The Carter whistle , and the Cobler sing , Money , oh God , it carries such a grace , That it dare meete the Diuel in the face . And he that wants this wicked kind of drosse , May talke of Nuttes , but feede vpon the Shales , In steede of Grasse be glad to gather Mosse , And steede of Hills be glad to keepe the Dales , With chilling blasts in steede of blessed gales . Valure , Wit , Honor , Vertue , Beauty , Grace , All little worth , if Wealth be out of place . The Golden tale is euer soonest heard , The Golden suter soonest hath dispatch , The Golden seruant hath the best regard , And what such marriage , as the Golden match ? And who so wise as is the golden patch ? Sweete Musicke soundes it in a Golden vaine , The sweetest stroke is in the Golden straine . And yet for all this , by your leaue awhile , Examine all , and giue each one his right , Let not Selfe-will a better wit beguile , To take a candle for the Sunnie light , There is a diffrence twixt the day and night , So is there twixt the riches of the mind , And the base drosse in Beggar-thoughts to find . The wealthy Beggar with his golden bagges , Is yet a Beggar , maugre all his golde , And noble Vertue , though it be in ragges , May well deserue a better place to holde , Than many a one that is for money solde : And t is not Wealth can make an Ape a man , Cut out his coate the best way that you can . Wealth will not make an old man yong againe , How euer so Elixers do abuse him , Nor wealth can take out a dishonest staine ▪ How euer kindnesse for a time excuse him , Wealth cannot make the wise but to refuse him : Wealth cannot sweeten an old stincking breath , Nor saue a Miser from the dart of death . A Knaue in graine can take none other hue , The Counterfeit wil quickly shew his kind , A Traitor in his heart cannot be true , The Weathercocke goes euer with the wind , He hath no eies that can no colours find : Fooles may be blinded with a wilfull mist , But wise men will beware of had-I-wist . For he that were as rich as Croesus was , Yet , if he haue a paire of Midas eares , He shall be counted but a golden Asse , What euer worship in the world he beares , For Truth her selfe by all her triall sweares , In all the rules where Reason hath his right , A shadow doth but onely mocke the sight . While he that hath a manly comely feature , And wisedomes grace to guide the spirites will , And with the outward ornaments of Nature , To heauenly comfort bends his inward skill , Although he cannot clime the golden hill , How bare soeuer here be his abode , He shall be gracious in the sight of God . He that walkes wanton with his head aside , And knowes not well how he may set his feete : And she that minceth like a maiden Bride , And like a shadow slideth through the streete , How euerso their mindes in mony meete , Measure their humours iustly by the middle , He may be but a Foole , and she a Fiddle . She that hath a round table at her breech , And like a Puppet in her parrell dight : He that is all formality in speech , And like a Rabbet that is set vpright , How euerso their purses be in plight , He may be wise , but in his owne opinion , And she accounted but an idle minion . He that with fat goes walowing like a Beare , And puffes and blowes , and gapes to gather ayre : She that all day sittes curling of her heare , And paintes her face to make the fowle seeme faire ▪ How euer so their wealth encrease , or paire , He may be held for a Butchers Weather ▪ And she a Bird , but of an idle feather . He , like a Crane that stalkes along the streete , And ouer-lookes the Moone , and all the Starres : She that doth softly striue to set her feete , As though her ioynts had lately bin at iarres , How e're their purses breede their peace or warres , He may be counted but the sonne of Pride , And she perhaps haue an vnwholsome hide . He that doth set his wicked wittes to worke , To coosen and to conny-catch his friend , And she that doth in secret corners lurke , To bring yong humours to a wicked end , How euer so their purses paire or mend , She may hap proue as good as euer twang'd , And he a Rascall , worthy to be hang'd . He that doth bring men into bondes of debt , And feede their humors with a carde of tenne : She that can mump , and mince , and ierke , and iet , As though she were olde Chaunteclers chiefe henne , How ere their purses build the golden Penne , In the best rules that Witte and Reason haue , She may be thought a Queane , and he a Knaue . He that can fleere and leere and looke aside , As though he studied on some weightie case : She that can kindly counterfet the Bride , On working daies to make aSondaies face , How euer so their purses be in case , He may perhaps haue but a knauish wit , And she perhaps be but a foolish Tit. He that will drinke , and sweare , and stabbe , and kill , And will be brought vnto no better stay , She that will brawle and scold , and haue her will , In spight of whosoeuer dare say nay , How ere their wealth do beare the world away , He may be fit to keepe the diuells court , And she a match to make a mad man sport . So that I see I find my selfe deceiued , To thinke that Mony should monarch it so , Although I thinke I might be well conceiued , To thinke that money makes a goodly show , Vnto a mind that doth not mettall know : But he that knowes the flower from the mosse , Will find it but a necessarie drosse . But ▪ he that can with conscience , and with kindnesse , From a small Mole-hill , to a mountaine rise , And she that will not with Discretions blindnesse Leade a poore friend into fooles paradise : Let Crownes and Angells follow them like flies : If they get gold , on Gods name let them weare it ▪ He hath a peeuish humour cannot beare it . But , let him yet acknowledge what he is , That by his wealth his onely worship getteth : And let her that is such a misteris , Thinke her but fond that so her selfe forgetteth , As Labors lucre euen with Honor setteth : Let them I say confesse but what they be , And they shall be still as they are for me . But if King Pippin ouer-looke his basket , I wish a Rotte among his Apples fall : And if dame Laundresse do forget her flasket , I wish her loose her Crippin , or her Cawle , I cannot make a Parlour of a hall : Let euery Rabbet to her borough runne , And then the hunting will be quickly done . But if the hildings care not howe they rome , Nor where they range in fetching of their feede , If they be met with in their going home , I can not pitty their vnhappy speed : Who cuts their fingers must abide them bleed : Who wilfully wil venture for a smart , I can not help them , if it breake their heart . Then let a knaue be knowne to be a knaue , A thiefe a villaine , and a churle a hogge , A Mincks , a Minion , and a rogue a slaue , A Trull a Tit , a Vsurer a dogge , A Lobbe a Lowte , a heauy Loll a Logge : And euery bird go rowst in her owne nest , And then perhaps my Muse wil be at rest ▪ But if a Iacke will be a Gentleman , And mistris Needens Lady it at least , And euery Goose be sawcy with the Swanne , While the Asse thinkes he is a goodly beast , While so the foole doth keepe Ambitions feast , My Muse in conscience that cannot be quiet , Will giue them this good sawce vnto their diet ▪ But I doe hope I am but in a dreame , Fooles will be wiser than to loose their wittes , The Countrey wench will looke vnto her creame , And workemen see , but where their profite sits , And leaue fantastickes to their idle fittes : Pride shall goe downe , and Vertue shall encrease , And then my Muse be still , and holde her peace . But , if I see the world will not amend , The wealthy Beggar counterfeit the King , And idle spirites all their humours spend , In seeking how to make the Cuckoe sing : If Fortune thus do daunce in Follies ring , When contraries thus goe against their kindes , My Muse resolues to tell them what she findes . For she cannot be partiall in her speech , To smoothe , and flatter , to colloge , and lie , She cannot make a breast-plate of a breech , Nor praise his sight that hath but halfe an eie , She cannot doe her selfe such iniurie : For she was made out of so plaine a molde , As doth but Trueth for all her honor holde . FINIS .

Mad-cappes Message . GOe Muse abroade , and beate the world about , Tell truth for shame , and hugger vp no ill : Flatter not folly with too plaine a flowt , Nor on a Buzzard set a Faulcons bill : Do no man wrong ▪ giue eu'ry man his right , For time will come that all wil come to light . Do not perswade a foole that he is wise , Nor make a Beggar thinke he is a King : Say not a Mole can see that hath no eies , Nor starke dead stockes haue any power to spring , For while that Logicke would maintaine a lie , T is easely found out in Philosophie . Tell idle eies that know not how to looke , Their wanton thoughts will worke them nought but woes , Tell addle wittes that haue the world mistooke , Vnbrideled willes are Reasons ouerthrowes , While onely Trueth that walkes by Wisedomes line , Happieth the heart and makes the soule diuine ▪ Goe to the Court , and tell your gratious Queene , That in her loue her land hath blessed beene : And tell her land that you haue truely seene , No Court on earth more graced in a Queene , Where Vertue giues a kinde of heauenly Crowne , That all the world can neuer tumble downe . There tell the Lordes and Ladies in their eares , They must be loyall in their humble loues , The fairest Badge that Honor euer beares , Is , in a crowne a nest of Turtle-doues , The crowne of Lawrell that can neuer wither , The Birdes , in loue , that liue and die togither . There tell the Courtier he doth kindely serue , That of his curtsie cannot make a cloake ▪ Where Bounties hand doth honor best deserue , That giues rewarde before the word be spoke : And tell the Gallants that will seeke for Graces , Chaste modest eies best figure Angells faces . Goe bidde the Lawyers looke their Common places , And where they know the trueth , there giue the right : For God himselfe , who heares the poore mans cases , Will giue a day vnto their darkest night : When in the booke that doth all thoughts disclose , Their soules shall see whereto iniustice growes . Goe to the learned Vniuersities ▪ And tell the Schollers of the losse of time , Bidde them beware of too much liberties , Best thriuing plants are tended in their prime , And bidde them first goe read the rules of Grace , That lower blessings may come on a pace . Tell country Players , that old paltry iests Pronounced in a painted motley coate , Fills all the world so full of Cuckoes nests , That Nightingales can scarcely sing a note : Oh bidde them turne their minds to better meanings , Fields are ill sowne that giue no better gleanings . Goe tell the Fidlers that doe haunt the Faires , They are but coales to kindle wicked fires , Where onely Pence do make vnequall paires : Performe the actions of vncleane desires : When in an Ale-house in a drunken pot , The diuell daunceth though they see him not . Goe tell the Swaggrers that doe vse to sweare , Heere , or in hell , their mouthes will sure bee stopt : And tell the theeues that robbe without a feare , That Tiborne trees must once a month be topt : And tell the cluster of the damned Crue , Such hell hounds heauen out of her mouth doeth spue ▪ Bidde each Diuine goe closely to his booke , And truly teach the comforts of the soule , And to his life to haue a carefull looke : Knowing what actions Angels doe enrowle , And tell them truly that diuinitie With worldly loue hath no affinitie . Feed not the Souldiour with delight of blood , While Mercie is the honour of a field : And tell the Merchant , that ill-gotten good , A wretched life a wofull end will yeeld : And tell the Miser vsurer of monie , His soule is poisoned with his bodies honie . Goe tell the Craftes-man of his craftie worke , And that his cousoning one day will decay : For long the Fox may in his borow lurke , That may be catcht in hunting for his pray : And whereas truth can onely beare a blame , Falshoode must runne and hide her face for shame . Goe tell the Fencer with his deadly foine , That Caine and Abel yet are currant weight , Where is more easie for to part than ioine The soule and bodie by a wicked sleight , While secret Murther in the sinners brest , Will neuer let the foule to be at rest . Goe tell the Beggar at the Rich mans gate , That Lazarus in Abrahams bosome liues : And tell the Rich , that Diues wofull state , Doth shew what almes lacke of Pittie giues : And tell the Wise that Salomon is dead , While wilfull Fancie brings a Foole to bedde , Goe bid the Iailour looke vnto his charge , And not be cruell where he may be kinde , For though a prisoner be not set at large , Yet in his sorrow let him comfort finde , That when the soule at Mercies doore doth knocke , Pittie on earth may ope the heau'nly locke . Goe to the prisoner that doth liue opprest , And tell him , Patience is a heau'nly power , That in all troubles giues the Spirit rest , And makes it happie in a heau'nly hower : When true Remorce that Vertues griefe doeth see , From Care and Sorrow soone will set him free . Goe tell the wretch that would and cannot thriue , That his endeuour , standeth for a deede : And bid the sicke man in his soule reuiue , While Angells ioyes on sinners teares do feede : And tell the soule that mourneth for her sinne , Heau'n gates stand open for to let her in . Tell not the Crow , that she is lillie white , Because a Painter colourd hath her coate , Nor say a Cuckoe hath in musicke sight , Because in Maie she hittes vpon a noate , But say the Crow is blacke , the Cuckoe's hoarse , The finest carkasse will be but a coarse . Tell Aesopes Pig , that Flies with Peacockes feathers , They are but stolne , or borrowed , not her owne : And tell the shippe that sailes in roughest weather , Vpon a Rocke she may be ouerthrowne : And tell the Hart that will not keepe the wood , To graze too farre , will doe him little good . Goe tell the Poets that their pidling rimes , Begin apace to grow out of request , While wanton humours in their idle times Can make of Loue but as a laughing iest : And tell prose-Writers , Stories are so stale , That pennie Ballads make a better sale . Goe tell the Authors of high Tragedies , That bloudlesse quarrells are but merry fights , And such as best conceit their Comedies , Do feede their fancies but with fond delights , Where toyes will shew that figure Trueths intention , They spoile their spirites with two much inuention . Goe bid the Scriuener looke in his Indentures . That no ill couenant a conueiance marre , And tell the Sailer that in Sea aduentures , A shippe ill guided splits vpon a barre : And tell the Fisher when he layes his nets , He fisheth ill that but a Gudgin gets . Goe tell the Iugglers that their iests are toies , Where Wisedome seeth the woorth of little wit , Their exercises but for girles and boies , That watch the Gander while the Goose doth sit , Their trickes but trifles , bred by wickednesse , But to deceiue the eie of simplenesse , Goe tell the Pander and the Parasite , The one his tongue is like the others minde , The Parasite without a tooth can bite , The Pander liues in a more loathsome kinde , The one , his facultie is flatterie , The other liues by fitthie Lecherie . Goe tell the traitor , if thou hitst of any , That Iudas is a prologue to their play : And tell the world , that Iudasses too many , In secret corners spring vp euery day , Who , since both heau'n and earth may well abhorre , Goe hang themselues as he hath done before . Goe to the Country , where the Farmers dwell , And bid them bring their corne out to the poore , Tel them the Sexton comes to ring the Bell , When Death will fetch the richest out of doore : And they too late to their sorrow shall see , How Churles on earth , in hell shall plagued be . Goe tell the Laborers that the lazie bones That will not worke , must seeke the beggars gaines , And tell the Beggar that his fained groanes , Must haue a whip to ease him of his paines , While worke-mens labour and the lame mans woe , In Wisedomes eie cannot vnpittied goe . Thus not in order seeke out euery one , But as thou meetst them , tell them what I bid thee , But if thou seest thou canst do good of none , Of gracelesse Schollers quickly seeke to rid thee , Such as determine in their sinnes to dwell , Thou canst not help them if they runne to hell ▪ But lest thy worke be all too much to doe , Beginne againe and I will make an end , But , haue a care of that I set thee to , Lest I discarde thee euer for a friend : But take good heed , beginne where I begunne . And make an end , and I will soone haue done ▪ Goe bid the Courtier that he be not prowde , The Sloudier , bloudie ▪ nor the Lawyer blinde : And bid the Marchant , that he doe not shrowde A subtile meaning in a simple kinde : Goe bidde the Schollers learne , the Doctors teach , And haue a care to liue as they doe preach . Goe bid the Farmer bring abroad his graine , The Craftes-man , that he soundly make his ware , The Workman , that he labour for his gaine , The Beggar , that he waite for Pitties share : Then , if the Sexton come to ring the Bell , Where Faith is fixt , there is no feare of Hell . Forbid the Poets , all fantasticke humors , The Players , acting of vnlawfull iests , The Prose-men , raising of vnciuill rumors ▪ The Fidlers playing , but at Bride-ale feasts ▪ The Fencers fight , but onely to defend , That easie quarrells soone may haue an end , Go tel the spend-thrift that doth sel his land , Money will melt like snow against the Sunne : And he that takes his rent vp afore-hand , May hap to want before the yeare be done : And tell a foole that playes on better wittes , A lowzie head wil quickly shew his nittes . Go bid the Scriuener looke he truly write , And tel the Iuggler that his feates are stale : And bid the Sailer looke his shippes be tight , And take the blowing of a merry gale , And bid the fisher lay for bigger fish , A world of Gudgins will not fil a dish . Go tel the rich man that his store of wealth , Wil purchace him no place in Paradise , And bid the strong man boast no more of health , For as the Lamb , we see the Lion dies : And bid the wise man boast not of his wits , Lest vnawares he fall to madding fits . Go bid the Iaylour looke vnto his lockes , And keepe his keies and feare no prisoners flight , And keepe his rackes , his tortures , boltes and stockes , To make a traitour bring a truth to light , But to his power to helpe the poore oppressed , For God is pleasde in pittying the distressed , Go bid the Poets studdie better matter , Than Mars and Venus in a Tragedie , And bid them leaue to learne , to lie , and flatter , In plotting of a Louers Comoedie : And bid Play-writers better spend their spirites ▪ Than in Fox-borowes , or in Cony ferrits . Doe not alure a wanton eie to Loue , Nor seeke with words to witch an itching eare : Play not the Turkie with the Turtle-doue , Nor fray a Babie with a painted Beare , Finde better worke to set thy selfe vnto , As good by ydle , as haue nought to doe . Follow not Follies , Shadowes , nor Conceits , For in the end , they will but all deceiue thee : Practise no iestings , nor no iuggling sleights , For in the end Discretion will perceiue thee , And when that woe and want doth ouertake thee , Fortune will faile thee , and the world forsake thee . Loose not thy time with looking after toies , Nor fall to building Castles in the aire , Let Natures Iewels neuer be thy ioies , Butloue the beautie of the inward faire : Where ere thou goe , let Trueth and Vertue guide thee , And then be sure no euill can betide thee . Spend not thy patrimony in thy apparell , In cardes nor dice , in horses , hawkes , nor hounds , Maintaine thy right , but make no idle quarrell , And keepe thy selfe within discretions bounds : Abuse no friend , nor trust an enemie , And keepe thy selfe from euill companie . Reuenge no wrong , except it be too great , True valour liues in sparing , not in spilling , Denie no truce that mercie doth intreate , A cruell conquest that doth end in killing : For Patience finds that poison's wrath to death , An angry word is but an angry breath . Bid them feare God , that meane to shunne the diuell , And hate the Diuell , that wil come at God , And say when children be inclind to euill , Parents sometime of force must vse the rod : For sinne is hatefull in Iehouahs eies , And Man his life but in his mercie lies . FINIS .