THe world at the first was made of nothing and shal a the last bee cousumed to nothing . The fashion of it is round , for as a Circle is the most perfit figure , So this , the rarest and most absolute frame , that euer the Creator made . It was indeed ( excepting that which was like himselfe ) his Maister peice .

In this great world did he place a little world ( and as the lesser wheeles in a clock being set a going , giue motion to the greatest , and serue them as guides ) So that little world ( called man ) doth by his Art , office and power , controule the greater : yet is there such a harmony in both their motions , that though in quantitie they differ farre , they agree in qualitie : and though the one was made somewhat before the other , yet are they so like , that they seeme to be instruments belonging to one Engine . For man is made vp by the mixture of foure complections , Bloud , Flegme , Choller , and Melancholly ▪ The world is a ball made vp of foure Elements , Water , Ayre , Earth , and Fire , yea these very Elements haue likewise parts in him . The world is circular , So is man , for let him stand vpright and extend forth his armes to the length , A line drawen from his nauell to all the vtmost limits of his body , makes his body Orbiculer . And as man hath foure ages , Infancie , Child-hood , Youth and olde age : so hath the world , in which foure measures of time are filled out , the Risinges and fallings , the growings vp and the witherings both of the one and the other .

The infancy of the world was the golden age ( not so called because men had at that time more golde then they haue now , Description of the 4 ages of the world . ( for not to deceiue you , there was ( then ) not a peece of golde stirring ) but as this sacred mettall is the purest that the earth can bring foorth , so the golden age was the best of all the foure and the most blessed : For then all the earth was but one garden , where ( without planting ) grew all sorts of trees , Golden age . which ( without grafting ) carryed all sortes of fruites : the ground was not wrinckled with ●urrowes , for there were then no Plough-men to misuse her beauty : the Sea was not rugged , for there were then no Ships to bruse her body : there were no countries , for there were no Kinges : all the world was but one Land , and all the people in it but one Nation : who knew not how to obey any , because none amongst them had a desire to commaund : their houses were the shadowy couerings of trees , & their statelyest buildings were grauen bowes , Iustice in those daies had eyes , and Pittie eares , for none could complain of wrong and not be reléeued , nor any crie out for want , who were not satisfied : Oppression was either then not borne , or if shee were in the world she had no handes to strike , or if shee did strike , the blowes were no other then such as when with a sword wee cut the water , they did no harme . The Law ( in this golden time ) got no golde : there were neither Counsellors to pleade , nor Atturneys to plodde vp and downe : the name of a Fee-taking was not knowne : there were no Clyents , and therefore no Courts kept , neither Tearme nor Uacations : what a merrie world was this ? The frozen nailes of winter , nor the pestilent scorching breath of Summer did not then destroy the fruites of the earth : there was no Autumne , for there was no yeare ; the whole year● was but one month , and that month was euer , nay , it was a continuall Spring , so that man ( the Emperour of earth ) grew proud , insolent , and sawcie : the fulnesse of this happinesse making him swell into such a disdaine of the gods , that hee preferred the vizeroy-ship of this lower kingdom ( bestowed vpon him by them ) and the pleasures vppon which he surfeted heere , before those felicities which they enioy'd aboue . Whereuppon as men in these dayes , so did the Gods in those , hould vp to themselues that Golden age : they tooke it away from mortals , because they were vnworthy of it , And on a sudden changed it into white mony , so that the Golden age became the Siluer .

As those two mettalls ( of Gold and Siluer ) are in dgrees of basenes one to another , So were those two ages in degrees of Badnes . The Siluer age The siluer age was worse then the former : the change of mettalls brought in the change of maners : for now men pluckd feathers from the winges of Ambition , and with those plumes laboured to flie one aboue another : their Braines now wrought day and night how to frame tooles to cut downe trees , of those trees to build houses , of those houses to set vp Citties , of those Citties to raise Kingdomes , and from those Kingdomes to deriue souerainties . In this Siluer-Cradle of the world , Arts were borne , and Trades put to nursse Time hauing now got siluer haires on his head ( but as yet it was not balde ) prouided himselfe of a sickle and a glasse full●of sand : with the one did he teach men how to deuide the Seasons , into quarters , moneths , weekes , dayes and houres : with the other , how to cutte downe Corne : For foure Princes did now by course rule the year : 4 ▪ seasons of the yeare . two of them milde , two of them cruell : two of them were liberall , full of mirth , full of maiestie , full of beautie : the other two were hard fauour'd , dogged , addicted to melancholly , to diseases , to hate mankinde , to hurt the earth , and to rob both of all , that the former two had giuen to them . This Siluer-age of the worlde , was the worlds Childehood , and therfore like a childe it grew wayward and inconstant : It was apt to fall out , and soone to be pleased : as you may see the whel●s of Lions wanton at first and ready to playe euen with infants , and not to harme them , with whome afterwardes armed men dare not encounter , So in this second playe vppon the great Theater of the worlde , men shewed like shepheards ( Simple ) they had power to doe hurt , but not a will to doe it : a care they had more to prouide for them-selues , then to iniurie others . If this siluerthred of mans life had still bene spun , man had liued in a reasonable happines , But the Fates ( enuious euer of his good ) cut it off : and at the last , instead of this siluer maske which the world wore , The Brazen age . did she ( being turnd strumpet ) put on a Brazen-face . Hauing that on , she grew impudent lasciuious and lustfull , yet was she not altogether past modestie , but fell into the company of Vices , and so at length into a loue of them , beeing rather deceiued with the goodly shapes they carryed , then delighted with their dooings .

This was the lustie age of the world , when men knewe their strengthes , and had desire to trie them : their veines were full of blood and itched to be let out : but warre was not yet begotten , and as in a ciuill kingdome ▪ when Sedition is deuising plots how to set the state in an vprore , shee looketh wildely , walkes distractedly , and speakes ambiguouslie : her verie face seruing as a Calender , wherein men may reade what stormes shall followe , the time when they shal fall , or how , or where , is not set down . So at this brazen & third round table of the world ( who in her bosom was hatching vs countries ) did men sit with countenances , wherein were ingrauen the pictures of troubled thoughts , which tolde that mischiefes were apt to breede there , though to be borne in another Age . The windes did now but begin to shake the earth : the shipwracke which it should suffer , was to be afterwards : so long therfore as the world rested vpon this brazen pillar , men did but whet their swords : there was an Yron gate to be opened , at which Warre should yssue ●oorth , and then was the time to strike .

Quickly there●ore was this circle of Brasse broken in peeces , The Yron age the glasse of this Third age was soone runne out , and in the place of it was the Yron age turnd vp , the Yron age is that wherin we liue : it is the olde age of the world that must bring the world to a graue : it is the last of foure , and the worst of foure : it is the ba●est , yet the prowdest . In this Yron bed of Tyme what vnnaturall ingenderings , what preposterous birthes haue there bene ? Deuotion hath lyen with Hipocrisie , Zeale with Coldnesse , ●ustice with Par●ialitie , Valor with Furie , Learning with Pride , Pride with Ambition , Ambition with Treason , and Treason with Murder .

In this bed was Auarice borne , monstrous in shape , and diuelish in conditions : her fingars are hookes , which Usurers still are fyling to keepe more sharpe then Taylors needles . In one hand shee holdes a lime-bush , in the other a net , a company of olde rednosd fellowes ( of all trades some ) spredding Birdlime continually vpon the one , and with strong Cordes still peecing vp the other . She whispers euerie morning in a Lawyeres eare , what shee saies none knowes , but some thinke shee teaches him his prayers : she goes attired like a Brokers wife , for her apparell is made of seuerall parcells , which by violence she hath torne from sundrie backes : Shee féedes vppon golde as the Estredge dooth vppon Iron , and drinks siluer faster downe her crane-like throat than an English Cockatrice doth Hipocras .

With this ill-fauoured hag came enuie into the worlde : they both are twins , and both looke like Staruelings : in bodies they somewhat resemble one another , but differ in mindes , for the one couets to haue all to herselfe , the other cares for nothing : but pines away to the bare bones , with very griefe and madnesse , to see another inioy any thing .

The last of these two furies ( Enuie ) was begotten by a player , & that makes her so lean : the other by a Dutch Burger , and that makes her haue such a belly . Now was the time ( whilst this Yron-milles of mischiefe were going ) for warre to set at the Anuile , whilst swords , Billes , Pole-axes , Partizans , Guns &c. were forged to destroy mankinde : for till this rustie Iron world came vp , there was not an Armorer to be had for loue or money . Presently vpon this , priuate quarels were first pickt , which afterwards burst out into open maine battailes , those battailes haus drawne whole kingdomes into faction , and those factions like so many fyres , haue set the whole world in a combustion , but because Nations were so deuided one from another by the Seas ( which lay like barres betweene them ) Couetousnes and Ambition laide their handes together , and inuented shippes :

Now was the Reuerend Oake ( the King of the Forrest ) who had stood so many yeares vnshaken and vndishonoured , laide groueling on the ground : the mountaines that before were glad to be his foot-stooles , and were euen proud when hee stood vpright on their backes , did now send foorth groanes at the report of his fall .

His Oaken browes must notwithstanding bee vncrownd : his aged body dismantled of his roabes , yea his very heart cleft spitefully in sunder , whilst his strong and tough ribs be puld from his sides , to make a Pageam that shall dance on the Waters .

And not the O●ke alone felt the misery of these great stroaks , but the tal Firrhe Tree was compeld likewise to leaue the woo●s , where proudly he had stood so many yeares , and like a Slaue to followe a Saile , which w●y soeuer it should lead him . With these woodden Castles ( which ●loated vp and downe like so many Townes , or rather like so many little Citties full of People ) was the Kingdome of the Waues bes●eged , her Christal Walles batterd , and her treasury rif●ed : The scaly Citizens being terrif●ed with this boldnes of mankinde , as hauing neuer seene any creatures but themselues to venture into their dominions , complayned to the mona●ch of the Deeps , who in reuenge of this presumption , did not onely sticke Rockes in the playnest paths of his Kingdome , to make those inuadors stumble at them and so to fall headlong into Hell , But also consulted and conspired with the Windes ▪ to be euer working their ouerthrow .

Neither was the Earth ( which neuer before felt bruises ) free from the blowes and wounds euen of tho●e to whome she gaue nourishment .

The World being all turnd thus to Yron , mens hearts were made of the same mettall , and like vnnaturall children misusde the Mother of vs all , mangling her bosome , cutting open her veines , and ripping vp her very bowels , compelling her not onely to giue them common foode to sustaine them , and fruits and flowers to satisfie their lust and pleas●res , But thinking that the Golden and siluer worldes were hid in her e●trals , euen amongst those do they barbarously rake to finde riches : For this cause the Earth that at the beginning was vnto vs as a Mother , shewes herselfe now as a stepd●me , her bre●●s out o● which flowed ( once ) nothing but milk and hony to nourish vs , swelleth now with rank poyson to destroy vs .

But ( alas ) these moales are but small warts on the cheekes of this Yron World , the great blemishes that make it seeme vgly are not yet discouered .

Entring ther●ore into a con●emplation of the changes of Time , how all things that are vnder the Moone are as variable as her lookes are : how Goodnes growes crooked , and hath almost lost her shape : how Vertue goes poorely and is not regarded : how Villany●ettes ●ettes in silks , and like a God adorde : And when I consider how al the pleasures of this life are but as Childrens dreames , how all the glories of the world are but artificiall fire-works that keepe a blazing for a time , and yet dye in stinking smoakes and how all the labours of man are like the toyling of the windes , which striue to cast vp heaps of dust , that in the end are not worth the gathering . Then euen then do I grow weary of my selfe ▪ then am I neither in loue with the beautie of the Sunne , neither stand I gazing at the ●auncing of the starres : I neither wonder at the 〈◊〉 measures of the cloudes , the nimb●é galliards of the Water , 〈◊〉 the wanton trippings of the winde 〈◊〉 delighted when the earth dresses vp her h●ad with flowers , I wish my selfe a Bea●t , because men are so bad that Beastes do excell them in goodnes , & abhor all company , because the best is but tedious , the worser loathsome , both are the destroyers of time , and both must be maintained with cost .

Since then , that in the Noblest streames there are such Whirlepooles to swallow vs vp , such rockes that threaten daunger ( if not Ship-wracke , ) and such Q●icke-s●nds to make vs sinke : who would not willingly take downe all the sailes of his ambition , and cast anchor on a safe and retired shore , The praise of the countrie l●●e . which is to be found in no place , if not in the Country : O blessed li●e I patterne of that which our first Parents ledde , the state of Kinges ( now ) being but a sla●erie to that of theirs .

O schoole of contemplation ! O thou picture of the whole world . drawn in a little compasse ! O thou Prospectiue glasse , in whome we may behold vpon earth , all the frame and wonders of heauen● Now happy ( 〈◊〉 thrice happy ) is he that not playing with his winges in the Golden flames of the Court , nor setting his foote into the busie throngs of the Cittie , nor ●unning vp and downe in the intricate mazes of the Law , can be content in the winter ●o sit by a country fier , and in the sommer to lay his head on the greene pillowes of the earth , where his sleepe shall be soft slumbers , and his wakings pleasant as golden dreames . Hast thou a desire to rule , get vp to the mountaines , and thou shalt see the greatest trees stand trembling before thee to doe thee reuerence , those maist thou call thy Nobles : thou shalt haue ranckes of Oakes on each side of thee , which thou maist call thy Guard : thou shalt see willowes bending at euerie blast , whome thou maiest cal thy flatterers : thou shalt see vallies humbled at thy feete , whome thou maiest tearme thy slaues . Wouldst thou beholde battailes ? step into the fieldes , there shalt thou see excellent combats betweene the standing Corne and the Windes . Art thou a tyrant and delightest in the fall of Great ones ? muster then thy haruesters together , and downe with those proud Summer Lordes , when they are at the highest . Wouldst thou haue Subsidies paid thee ? the Plow sends thee in Corne , the M●dow giues thee her pasture , the Trees pay custome with their fruit , the Oxe bestowes vpon thée his labour , the Shéep his wooll . Dost thou call for musick ? No prince in the world keepes more skilful mus●tians : the Birds are thy consort , and the wind instruments they play vpon , yeeld ten thousand tunes . Art thou addicted to studdie , Heauen is thy Lybrarie , the Sunne , Moone and Stars are thy Bookes , and teach thee Astronomy : By obseruing them , thou makest Almanackes to thy self , that serue for all seasons . That great Uolumne is thine Ephem●●ides , out of which thou maist calculate the predictions of times to f●llowe : yea , in the verie clowds are written lessons of Diuinitie for thée , to instruct thee in wisdome : the turning ouer their leaues , teach thée the variations of seasons , and how to dispose thy businesse for all weathers . If the practise of Phisicke delight thee what Aphorismes can all the Doctours in the world set downe more certaine ? what rules for good dyet can they draw out more singuler ? what medicines for health can they compound more restoratiue ? what vertues can all their extracted Quintessens●s instil into our bodies more soueraign , than those which the earth of her owne bountie bestowes for our preseruation , and whose working powers are dayly experimented in beastes for our example ? O you plants of the fields , and you flowers of the garden ( natur●s Apothecaries , & Earths Chirurgians ! ) your stalkes are slender , yet you your selues are the chiefest pillars that vphold mans life : what clearnes doth the sight receiue onely in beholding you ? what comfort does the Sence of smelling finde onely in your Sauors ? and how many that haue had halfe their bodies in their graues , haue bene brought backe againe onely by your sacred I●ces ? Who therefore would not consume his youth in the company of these creatures , that haue power in them to keep off olde age longer then it would , or when old age doth come , are able to giue it the liuelihood and vigour of youth ? who would not rather sit at the foote of a hill tending a flock of sheepe , then at the heline of Authoritie controuling the stubborn and vnruly multitude ? Better● it is in the solitarie woods , and in the wilde fieldes , to be a man among beastes then in the midest of a people● Citie , to be a beast among men . In the homely village art thou more safe , then in a fortified Castel : the stings of Enuy , or the Bullets of Treason , are neuer shot through those thin walles : Sound healths are drunke out of the wholsome woodden dish , when the cup of golde boyles ouer with poyson . The countrie cottage is neither battred downe with Cannon in time of warre , nor pestred with clamorous suits in time of peace . The fall of Cedars that tumble from the tops of Kingdomes , the Ruine of great houses , that bury families in their ouerthrowe , and the noise of Shipwracks , that beget euen shrikes in the hearts of Citties , neuer send their terrors thither : that place stands as safe from the shocke of such violent stormes , as the Bay-tree does from lightning .

The admiration of these bewties made me so enamoured , and so really in loue with the inheritor of them , that the flames of my affection were ( in their burning ) onely carried thither . So that in stead of paued streetes , I trod the vnbeaten pathes of the fields , the rankes of the trees were to me as great buildings , Lambes and skipping Kids , were as my merry companions , the cleare fountaine as my cups of wine , rootes and hearbes as the table of an Ordinarie , the Dialogues of birds as the Sceanes of a play , and the open emptie medowes as the proud and populous Cittie . Thus did I wish to liue , thus to dye : and h●uing wandred long ( like a Timonist ) hating men because they dishonoured their creation . At length fortune led me by the hand into a place so curiou●lie built by nature , as if it had beene the Pallace where shee purposed none should lie but her selfe : It was a Groue set thicke with Trees , which grew in such order , that they made a perfect circle , insomuch that I 〈◊〉 in feare , it was kept by Fayries , and that I was brought into it by e●chantment . The branches of the Trees ( like so many●handes ) reached ouer one to another and in their embracements held so fast together , that their boughes made a goodly greene roo●e , which being touched by the winde , it was 〈◊〉 to beh●ld so large a see●ing to mooue : vpon euerie branch sat a consort of singers , so that euerie Tree shewed like a Musick room . The floore of this summer-house was pa●ed al ouer with yelow-field ●lowers , and with white and red dazies , vpon which the 〈◊〉 casting but a wanton eye , you would haue sworne the one had bene nailes of Golde , the other studdes of enamel●ed S●●uer . Amazed I was when I did but looke into this little Paradice , and afraid to enter , doubting whether it were some hallowed ground or no , for I could finde no path that dyrected me to it : neither the foot of any man , nor the hoofe of any beast had beaten down the Grasse : for the blades of it stood so hie and so euen , as if their lengthes had beene giuen them by one measure . The melodye which the birds made , and the varieties of all sorts of fruites which the trees promised , with the prettie and harmelesse murmuring of a shallow streame , running in windings through the middest of it ( whose noise went like a chime of Bels , charming the eyes to sléepe ) put me in minde of that Garden whereof our great Grandsire was the kéeper , I e●en wept for sorrow to think he should be so soolish , as to be driuen from a place of such happines , & blamed him in my mind for leauing such a president behind him because by his fall wée lost his felicitie , and by his frailtie all men are now apt to vndoe themselues and their posterity throgh the inticements of women .

Into this Gro●e therefore at last I did venter , resoluing ●o make it the Temple where my thoughts shold spend themselues i● fruitefull contemplati●n : I purposed to deuide the day into acts , as if the ground had beene a stage , and that the life which there I ment to leade , should haue bene but as a play . Some of my houres should haue runne out in Speculation of the admirall workemanshippe of Heauen and of the orders which the Celestiall bodies are gouerned by : Some of my houres should haue carried me vp and downe the earth , and haue shewen vnto me the qualities and proportions of the creatures that breede vpon it : at another time would I haue written Satyres against the imp●etie of the world : At another I would haue chaunted Roundelayes , in honour of the Countrie life . The rest of my time should haue fetched in prouision for my bodie . These were appointed to be my Actes in this goodly The●ter : the Musicke betw●ene were the Singers of the Wood , the audience such as Orphe●s plaide vnto , and those were Mountaines and Trees who ( vnlesse the whispering windes troubled them with their noise ) would haue beene v●ris attentiue . But whilst I setting foorth to runne this Goale , beholde , ●asting vp mine eye , I espyed a farre off certaine cloudes of smoake ▪ whose vapors ascended vp so blacke and thicke into the Element , as if the sighes of hell had burst the bowels of the earth , and were flying vp toward heauen , to pull downe more vengeance .

Before I saw this , I belee●ed that this place had beene fr●e from all resort , desirous therefore to learne who they were that neighboured so nie and in a solitari● wood , ( that stood so far from inhabited buildings ) I stept forward & came to the place which ( what by nature and what by Art ) was so fenced about with Trees , quick set hedges and bushes , which were growne so high ( that but for the sm●ak ) it was not possible to imagin how a house could there be builded , there was but o●path leading to it , which ( after much searching & many turnings ) being found , boldly we●● I on , & arriued at a homely Cottage : the verie doore of it put me in minde of that poore 〈◊〉 of good Ba●cis & Philaemon , where a God was a guest ▪ for it was so lowe , that euen a dwarf might haue seemed a tall man , entring into it , so much would it haue made him s●oope . This house stood not like Great mens places , alwaies shut , but wide open , as if bounty had beene the porter , & being within , it 〈◊〉 Hospitality dwelt there , and had giuen you welcome . For there was a Table ready couered , with faire linnen , nut-browne round trenchers lay in good order , with bread and salt , keeping their state in the middle of the board . The roome it selfe was not sumptuous but hansome , of indifferent bignes , but not very large : the windowes were spread with hearbs , the chimney drest vp with greene boughes , and the floore strewed with bulrushes , as if some lasse were that morne to be married : but neither saw I any bride or bride-groome , nor heard I any musicke , onely the next roome ( which was the kitchen , and into which I went ) was there as much stirring , as commonly is to be seene in a Booth , vppon the first day of the opening of a Faire . Some sate turning of spits , and the place being all smoaky , made me thinke on hell , for the ioynts of meat lay as if they had bene broyling in the infernall fier : the turne●spits ( who were poore tott●red greasie fellowes ) looking like so many heedeuills , Some were basting and seemed like fiends powring scalding oyle vppon the damned : others were myncing of pye-meat , and shewed like hangmen cutting vp of quarters , whilst another whose eies glowed with the heat of the fier , stood poaking in at the mouth of an Ouen , torturing soules as it were in the ●urnace of Lucifer . There was such chopping of hearbes , such tossing of Ladles , such plucking of Geese , such scalding of Pigges , such singing , such scolding , such laughing , such swearing , and such running too and fro , as if Pluto had that day bidden all his friendes to a feast ▪ and that these had bene the Cookes that drest the dinner .

At the last espying an old nimble-tongd beldam who seemed to haue the commaund of the place , to her I stepped , and in faire tearmes requested to know the name of the dwelling , why this great cheere was prouided , and who were the Guests , for as yet I saw no bodie but this Baud of the Blacke Guard . Instead of her tongue , her eies ( that had started backe a good way into her head , as if they durst not looke out ) made me an answere . I perceiued by her verie countenance , that I was not welcome , which afterward she confirmed in words , telling me the place was not for mée , the Feast was for others , and that I must instantly bée gone , for that a strange kinde of people were that day to bee merry there . No Rhethoricke that I could vse , had power to win her to discouer who these Guests should be , till at the length a Bribe preuailing more then a Parlee , she tolde me I should be a Spectator of the Comedy in hand , and in a priuate gallerie beholde all the Actors , vppon condition I would sit quietly and say nothing . And for that purpose was I conuaied into an vpper loft , where ( vnseene ) I might ( through a woodden Latice that had the prospect of the dining roome ) both see and here all that was to be done or spoken .

There lay I like a Scoute to discouer the comming of the expected enimie , who was to set vppon this good chear● , and to batter downe the walles of hot Pies and Pasties . Mine eies euen aked with staring towardes the doore , to spie when these states shold enter , ducking downe with their heads like so many Geese going into a Barne . At length ( with bagge and baggage ) they came dropping in one after another , sometimes thrée in a company , sometimes fiue , now more , now lesse , till in the end the great Hall was so full that it swarmed with them . I know you wonder , and haue longing thoughts to know what Generation this is , that liued in this hospitable familiarity : but let me tel you they are a people for whom the world cares not , neither care they for the world : they are all freemen , yet scorne to liue in Cities : great trauellers they are and yet neuer from home , poore they are , and yet haue their dyet from the best mens tables : They are neyther olde Seruingmen ( for all I say they are poore ) that haue bene courtiers , and are now past carrying of cloake-bags : nor yong gallants that haue serued in the low Countries , ( albeit many of them go vppon wodden legs ) nor hungry schollers , that all their life time haue kept a wrangling in the schooles , and in the end are glad to teach Children their Horne-bookes : neither are they decayed Poets , whose wits like a fooles Land , holde out but a twelue month , and then they liue ppon the scraps of other mens inuention : no nor players they be , who out of an ambition to weare the best Ierkin ( in a Strow●ing company ) or to act great partes , forsake the stately and our more then Romaine Cittie stages , to trauell vpon the hard hoofe , from village to village for cheese and butter-milk : neither are they any of those terrible noises ( with thrid bare cloakes ) that liue by red lattises and Iuy-bushes , hauing authoritie to thrust into any mans roome , onely speaking but this , Will you haue any musique ? Neither are they Cittizens that haue bene blowne vp ( without Gunpowder ) and by that meanes haue bene free of the Grate at Ludgate , some fiue times : no , no , this is a Ging of goodfellowes in whome there is more brother-hood : this is a Crew that is not the Damned Crew ( for they walke in Sattin ) but this is the Ragged Regiment : Uillaines they are by birth , Varlets by education , Knaues by profession , Beg gars by the stattute and Rogues by act of Parliament . They are the idle drones of a Countrie , the Caterpillers of a common wealth , and the Aegiptian lice of a Kingdome . And albeit that at othertimes their attire was sitting to their trade of liuing , yet now were they all in hansome cleane linnen , because this was one of their Quarter dinners : for you must vnderstand , that ( as afterward I learnt by intelligence ) they holde these solemne meetings in foure seuerall seasons of the yeare at least , and in seuerall places to auoyde discouerie .

The whole assembly being thus gathered togither , One amongst the rest , who tooke vppon him a Seniority ouer the rest , charg●d euery man to answere to his name , to see if the Iury were full : the Bill by which he meant to call them being a double Iug of ale ( that had the spirit of Aqua vitae in it , it smelt so strong ) and that he held in his hand : Another standing by with a toast , Nutmeg and Ginger , ready to crie Vous auez as they were cald , and all that were in the roome hauing single pots by the eares which like Pistolls were charged to go off so soone as euer they heard their names . This Ceremony being set abroach , an O-yes was made : But he that was Rector Chory ( the Captain of the Tatterdemalions ) spying one to march vnder his cullors , that had neuer before serued in those lowsie warres , pawsed awhile ( after he had taken his first draught , to taste the dexteritie of the liquor ) and then began ( Iustice like ) to examine this Yonger Brother vppon Interrogatories ?

The first question he demaunded , was , if he were stalled to the Rogue or no ? the poore H●ngarin answered yes , he was : then was he asked by whom he was stalled , and where , and in what manner of complement it was done ? to which question the nouice hauing not so much beggerly knowledge as might make a learned reply , forthwith did the wicked Elder o●●maund the young Slauonians that stood about him , to 〈◊〉 him that was so vnskilfull in the Rudiments of Rogerie ) of his best garment , and to carry it presently to the Bows●ng Ken ( that was to say to the tap-house ) and there to pawn it for so much strong Ale , as could be ventur'd vppon it . Thus the cheife Rag●a-muffen gaue in charge , the rest obayed and did so , whilst the other suffered himselfe to be stript , and durst not resist their base authority .

This done , the Grand Signior called for a Gage of Bowse , which belike signified a quart of drink , for presently a pot of Ale being put into his hand , he made the young Squier knéele downe , and powring the full pot on his pate , vttered these wordes .

I doe stall thee to the Rogue , by vertue of this soueraigne English liquor , so that hence forth it shall be lawfull for thee to Cant ( that is to say ) to be a Vagabond and beg , and to speake that pedlers French , or that Canting language , which is to be found among none but beggers : with that , the stalled Gentleman rose , all the rest in the roome hanging vppon him for ioy , like so many dogs about a Beare , and leaping about him with shoutes like so many mad men .

But a Scilence being proclaimed , all were hushed , whilst Hee that playde the Maister Deuills part amongst these Hell-hounds , after a shrug or two giuen , thus began to speake to him that was new entred into the damned f●aterniti● . Brother Begger ( quoth he ) because thou art yet but a meere freshman in our Colledge , I charge thee to hang thine eares to my lips , and to learne the orders of our house , which thou must obserue , vpon paine either to be beaten with our cudgels the next time thou art met , or else to be stript out of any garments that are worth the taking from thee . First therefore ( being no better then a plaine ordinarie Rogue , marry in time thou maiest rise to more preferment amongst vs ) thou art not to wander vp and downe all countries , but to walke onely like an Vnder-keeper of a Forrest , in that quarter which is allotted vnto thee : Thou art likewise to giue way vnto any of vs that haue borne all the offices of the Wallet before thee , and vppon holding vp a finger to auoide any towne or countrie Uillage , where thou 〈◊〉 wee are forraging to victuall our armye that ma●ch along with vs . For ( my poore Villiaco ) thou must know , that there are degrees of Superioritie and Inferioritie in our Societie , as there are in the proudest company . We haue amongst vs some eighteene or nineteene seuerall offices for men , and about seauen or eight for women : The cheefest of vs are called Vpright-men ( O my deere Sun-burnt-brother , if all those that are the Cheifest men in other companies were Vpright-men too , what good dealing would there be in all occupations ? The next are Rufflers : then haue we Anglers , but they sildome catch Fish till they go vp westward for Flounders : then are there Rogues ( which liuerie thou thy selfe wearest ) next are wilde Rogues , then Priggers , then Palliards , then Fraters , then Tome of Bedlams band of mad caps , otherwise called Poore Toms flocke of Wilde-geese ( whom heere thou seest by his black and blew naked arms to be a man beaten to the world ) and those wilde geese or hairebraines are called Abraham-men : in the next squadron march our braue Whip-iacks , at the taile of them come crawling our counterfeit Crankes : in another troop are Gabling Domerers then Curtals follow at their heeles , and they bring along with them strange Enginers , called Iri●h-toyles : After whome followe the Swigmen , the Iarkmen , the Patricoes , and last the Kinchincoes . These are the totterd Regiments , that make vp our maine armie . The victuallers to the Campe are women , and of those some are Glymerers , some Bawdy-baskets , some Autem-morts : others Walking-Morts : some Doxies , lothers are Dels , the last and least are called Kinchin-morts , with all which Comrades , thou shalt in thy beggerly perregrination , meete , conuerse , and be drunke , and in a short time knowe their natures and roguish conditions without the helpe of a Tutor . At these words the victualls came smoaking into the hall to be set vppon the boord , whereupon the whole swarme squatted downe , being as vnciuill in manners . as vnhansome in apparell , onely the Vhrightmen and Rufflers had the graine of the board giuen them , and sat at vpper end of the table : the rest took ther trenchers as they happened into their hands , yet so , that euery knaue had his quean close by his side .