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15

Chap. 3.


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[Why keepes one man three Offices alone]

Why keepes one man three Offices alone,
Another yet deseruing more, hath none?
Eyther the Starres shoot out some crooked rayes,
On this low world, or Fortune on it playes.
Or else the Ayry Prince this busines guides:
For surely God more equally diuides.
More Offices then one, 'tis great pitty.
That any in Countrey hold or Citty.
One Charge, and yet I am no puritan,
Will serue one man, and that a carefull man.
Graces and Muses twelue in number are;
Which for their Troupes looke equally to share.

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A Prince had need to marke, and well to know,
On whom he doth great Offices bestow.
In Horses race men looke into the Sires.
Like Crow like Egge. The gracious Grace inspires.
Sith with the Parents seed their manners slow,
And in the Sonnes deriu'd by Birth due grow,
Why doe some Lawyers prey on Labours hires,
This Lesson they haue conn'd from Clownish Sires.
Those Clowns their Sires, which hating Heauēly right,
Them from their Birth defil'd with Earths delight.
Whereby their Sonnes so trained vp at first,
By natures kinde commit that act accurst.
Tis seldome seene, that one of Noble Race,
Peruerts Tribunall Seates by trickes so base.
Tis seldome seene that one of Noble bloud,
Betrayes his King, or sels his Countries good.
If one among a thousand such you finde,
Some Treacher him seduced of Clownish kind.
If any Lawyers play the Tyrants part,
Thundring out fines, to make the vertuous smart,
Or proue notorious for deceit and bribes,
They are descended of base Clownish Tribes.
Nothing more base then is the Ruling Clowne,
Not Antichrist for fraud can put him downe.
No change of manners, though he change his weed,
He what his father wore, doth neuer heed.
Whiles that such Moles in nought but Earth delight,
They snort in ease, and snatch at others right.
Nobles like Planets moue with noble thought.
A Royall Virgin forth our Sauiour brought.

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The Commons should be rul'd, the Nobles rule,
Lawes rule them both, as Bits the Horse and mule.
Peeres plac't in Office, by their peerelesse King,
Are iust, least blots they to their Honour bring.
The vulgar Sort fit for Mechanick Trade,
May helpe their country with the Plough and Spade.