LOoking lately into the customes of this Age , & coniecturing the inward affections of men I gather that the world is the house of confusion , and the inhabitants thereof set vpon mischiefe , for the seauen Capitall sinnes are growne to such a custome , that our eyes want no allurements to bewitch , our eares no perswasions to seduce , nor our sences , no subtlety to affect : Which seazing on the hearts of men , haue brought fourth many pernitious children , to the hurt of Nature , some like centaures , begotten of clouds : as Ambition , some like Serpents nurrished in dunghils , as Sensuallity , some like Vapors , raysed vp to be consumed as Flattery , and such like , generally all dangerous and full of trouble : therefore is it ( in the sence of man ) most fitting to haue the painting taken off from these foule faces , the couers pulled off from these cups of Poyson , and the couert of this bed of Serpents cipped vp , that we may discerne what hath long time bene hidden cunningly .

The first that presents 〈…〉 our stage ; will wee call Ambition , catching at nothing but Starres , climing onely for Greatnesse , this is hee , that cunningly can inuent strattagems to his owne ouer throw , giuing Pens occation to wright Tragedies , if hee rise from obscurity , ( as many haue done ) hee laboreth to bee skilfull in those things , which are most pleasing to the greater Sort , and tollerable among the commons : His study is for prayse , and not for vertue : His lookes like Mausolus toumbe , faire and comly without , but within , nothing but rotten bones , and corrupt practises : his apparell increaseth with his Fortune , and as worldly affaires direct him , so suteth hee both fashions and affections , in his studdy hee affecteth fingularity , and is proud in beeing Author of a new Stratagem : if hee chance to come into the eye of the World , hee then creepes into the fauour of some great Personage , in feeding whose humors ( to relieue his wants makes intrusion into some heritage , and marcheth not according to his birth , but to the increase of his fortune , and by that meanes , by hooke or crooke , he anayneth to some place in the Court : Then begins hee with guifts to winne hearts , by fayned humility to auoyd hatred , by offices of friendship , to bind his equalls , by cunning insinuations to worke his Superiours , by which meanes hee is held to bee worthily a Statesman ; beeing growne to this steppe higher , the authority likes him not , without the stile , wherein if any crosse him , looke for poyson in his cuppe , or conspiracy in his walkes , yea so pestilent is his nature , that ( like fire raked vp in embers ) hee neuer sheweth but to consume , both himselfe and others : if hee perceaue any that by ripe Iudgement conceiteth his courses , with him hee ioyneth , as if hee sought his onely protection vnder the wing of his Glory , but the very truth is hee hath no other intent but this , to clippe the wings of his renowne for feare , hee flye beyond him , if the nature of the Nobleman whom hee enuyeth beegentle , hee bringeth him in feare , eyther of his seruants in his household , or his familliars that loue his honour , or else some mislike bewixt his Prince and him , sworne and confirmed by flatteries and intelligences , till the noble looseth either his land , authoitie , or place , and hee attaine both his stile and promotion : yet plaie hee neuer so cunningly , such vncertaine honours beget daily dangers , and makes him carelesse of his soules prosperitie : For then there entreth into his mind a delightfull sinne called curiosity , by which to make him more able in other mischiefes , hee giues intertainment to witches and charmers , and consorts him-selfe with nouell mongers , and strange inuenters of banquets , to set lust on fire , and that can deuise confections to besot youth with luxury , that for an irefull man can worke strange reuenges , for a fearefull , a strong tower to keepe him in : to be excellent at poysons , to kill lingringly , like the Italian : But againe to our purpose , to the Ambitius man there is commonly belonging a rustick troup , of Flaterers , Bauds , Adulterers , Soothers , and such like , that hating al vertue makes sin seeme pleasing , which workes in the flexable heart such a sweet desire of forbidden pleasures , that it euen surfets and growes sicke , with excesse , Lust and Adultery I meane , which I discribe in this maner , it is the most insolent of all things , it troubles the mind and taketh away the empire of liberty , it confounds memory , kills prouidence , and treads downe good councel : offends not he the law , that takes possession of another mans free hold , and makes a common of his neighboures inclosure , Adulterers I say haue no spirits to goodnes , nor will they be by any councell moued to godlines , for their felicity is in the surfets of the flesh , and the pleasures thereof bring nothing but too deare repentance , the Adulterer spights him most that examines his proceedings , and plots his ouerthrow that doth but touch his infirmities , Oh! what an enemy is it to Vertue , the onely wrake of wealth , and plaine high way to pouerty . The Adulterer is so blinded in heart , and so hardened withall , that hee can hardly looke vp towards Heauen to behold Gods iust Iudgements : yea so iust and sure they are , that in all ages this vile sinne hath beene s●uerely punished , as by the example o● Tudas , iustice on Thamas , Dauids ●●ultery with Vrias Wife , punished in his Sonne Absolon , thousands of men died in ●he fields of Moab for this fault , threescore thousand of the children of Israell were put to the sword for the rauishing onely a Leuits Wife , of all sins it is in nature the most odious , and brings with it the greatest shame vnto mankind : it is a sinne that hath made the Earthe drunke with blood , to the confusion of many Townes and Cities , Sodome and Gomorah were consumed with fire for Incest and Adultery : Troy a proud City made a plow-land for the same sinne : It was the onely adulteries of the French that caused a massaker of fourescore thousand , by the ringing of one bell : Let not the Strumpits eye , saies one of the sages of Greece , shine vpon the countenance of young men , least with the Basaliske , it pearce vnto the death : for her malice is as lightning , and more raging then the she Beare , vpon her attends malitious hatred , whose felicity is onely to reioyce at the harmes of others , giuing more affliction to them that are most troubled with affliction , where if any offend her , she admitts no reconciliation , but liues as a partiall Iudge in her owne cause , if she heares the aduancement of vertue then growes she pensiue , & if she want credit amongst the mighty then falls shee working with the meaner sort , shee smiles not vppon any man but to betray him , nor giue him countenance but to vndoe him , nor contriue , any stratagems without Murder , nor dwels by any neighbour but to hurt him ; and if shee be but crossed in her will , shee euer frets her selfe away in anger , and after in Hate and Malice becomes infamous , for her loue is a minet , but her spight euerlasting , her hand being once dipt in mischiefe , shee neuer walks abroad but in suspition , fearing to bee accused by Vertue , and still liues in dread of her good Fortune , yet by nature is shee such , that shee hath courage enough to aduenture on any sinne , an Ambitious woman shewes her selfe to bee a troublesome disturber of the world , powerfull to make smale things great , and great , monstrous , enuy by nature is greeued at the Prosperity of others , hee enuyeth the Great in that hee cannot Equall them , hee enuieth the weake , dreading they should compare themselues with him : hee enuyeth his Equalls because they should not become his Companions : in Kingdomes , Common-Wealths , Princes Courtes and Ambitious mens Houses he is still working , no Man hunteth after Honor but hee affronts him , onely the miserable man hee enuies not , because ( beeing kept in Prison ) hee feares not his risings , yet hath hee a scorne ouer him : Machiuell knowing the venome of this vice , gaue his sonne this last and not least instruction : that hee should not bee enuious , but to doe ( saith hee ) such deeds that others may enuy thee , for to bee enuied is the token of good desert , but to be enuious the signe of a foolish nature , which verefies the saying of Marcus Tullius the Orator , that the most florishing fortune is most enuied at : But now to bee more familiar in my Discourse , where Ambition , Adultery , Pride , Enuy , Malice , and such like Capitall Sinnes haue set in foote , there cannot chose but follow Murder and confusion , and where the foundation is layd with blood , there can bee a building but of small continuance , but where Honors haue a true beginning , a ground of vertue springing vp by noble deserts , continued by Wisedome and maintayned with Care , there cannot choose but follow a fruitfull haruest , and a plentifull Winter : contrariwise to obtaine sodaine Honors begets Pride and Vaineglory , Pride and Vaine-glory are the cherishers of Enuy and Mallice , Enuy and Mallice the Nurses of Bloodshed and Murder , in which whosoeuer dippeth but the tippe of his finger , giues to his Soule a scarlet staine , which neuer can bee cleared vntill the dissolution of the Body , and then well are they that can wash it away with the true teares of repentance .

Brittle is that greatnes that fadeth in a moment , and vaine the ioy that is vnwisely lost , hee that hath a sodaine rise and can wisely stand , is a most happy Worldling , but he that forgets himselfe on the Pinacle of prosperity is besotted with arrogancy : therefore let him that hunts for honors in Princes Courts , wander in an euen passage , for dangerous are the proceedings and busines of a Statesman , take this for an example : suppose that a yong man from the lowest ebbe of worldly chance haue the aduancement of greatnes laid vppon his shoulders , will it not for a time seeme a heauy burthen , and a great trouble to his new transformed fortunes ? will not the pride of his heart swell to a full Sea ; euen ready to burst ouer the bankes of his Honourgiuer ? Then rightly may the Picture of ingratitude bee imprinted in his forefront , playing the Viper to his high fortunes first beginner .

Beeing thus inituled with State Offices , hath he not many soothers in sinne personages of bace condition attending him , hemming him round with perswasions of selfe conceit , which for a need will venture their liues to gaine him the commands of his will : what becomes of such follies , but a sorrowfull repentance , and no recouery . All you that haue your hearts pierced with sad considerations , take this for a remembrance of greefe , that is , That when a Woman of noble Parentage , placed on the mountaine of smiling chance , hauing the dignity of Greatnesse shining on her fore-head , should humble her selfe to base conditions , giuing her whole mind to malicious hatred , secret consents of iniquity , selfe-will and wicked proceedings , neuer pacified till the end of damned performances . Oh : was not this Woman created for a deepe sorrow to her Aliance , a great greefe vnto her Country , and a foule staine vnto her owne reputation ? Is it not also a lamentable example , for a Gentleman of good birth and calling , Placed in dignity , in high office and charge for his Country , to giue way by consent to a bloody stratagem , and for feare of the displeasures of Greatnes intangles himselfe in the snares of reproch ? will not this also be a continuall remembrance to his posterity , and a barre of disgrace branding the coate Armes of his house , to haue the common course of Iustice passe vppon him in the eye of the multitude . Is it not also great pitty that for want of grace some of a seruile ( yet an obseruing condition ) should from the golden meane of low estate wait at the elbow of Greatnes , and bring fuell to their fire of iniquity , wherein at the length they themselues are likewise consumed . Oh! wherefore should simplicity thus blind vp their eyes of vnderstanding , to bee thus the instruments of such dangerous drifts , that aymes at nothing but grudge and mallice ? if with Solons saying they had sealed vp their hearts , Remember the end , this had neuer beene : then how are they led away with amisse , that hauing the guifts of art and experience , the secrets of the simples of Phisicke , ordained by God for mans good vse , should by the Diuell and them be conuerted thus to malignant purposes if the feare of God had shined in their hearts , it would haue beene a light to haue led them from all those darke practises , which hath now spotted the foreheads of their reputations with the marks of black infamy , shame cannot choose but bee the reward of such enterprisers , that for the fauours of Greatnes , will dip their hands in the blood of Innocents , and euen as it were worke against nature : Oh more then sauage minded Crreatures in the very deepenesse of your blacke and bloody immaginations , ( imboldened by whomsoeuer ) this might haue been your Memento , in which I conclude , that strange and wonderfull are Gods iudgements , that in these fore-passed stratagems haue shined in great glory , say you then , that blood innocently shed is layd vp in Heauens Treasury , not one droppe of it can bee lost , but lent out to Vsury : water poured forth , sinkes downe quietly into the earth , but blood spilt on the ground , sprinkles vp to the Firmament , Murder is wide mouthed , and will not let God rest till hee grant reuenge , not onely the blood of the slaughtered , but the soule of the innocent ascending to his throne , crying out and exclaining for Iustice , which ( the Lord bee praysed ) hath beene , and will bee carefully followed by the learned and worthy Magistrates of this Kingdome , whom the Lord God prosper and protect in all their proceedings , to which let all true hearts say . Amen .