University of Virginia Library

Anagramma.

Thomas Coriatus. Homo Cristatus.

Thy mother towne that bred thee in her wombe,
Hath for thine euen head, found out an Od-combe.

To the famous traueller euer to bee esteemed the ioy of his Somerset-shire, Thomas Coryate of Odcombe, professed enemy to the Gentle-Craft or Mysterie of Shoomakers.

Why doe the rude vulgar so hastily post in a madnesse
To gaze at trifles, and toyes not worthy the viewing?
And thinke them happy, when may be shew'd for a penny
The Fleet-streete Mandrakes, that heauenly Motion of Eltham,
Westminster monuments, and Guild hall huge Corinæus,
That horne of Winsor (of an Vnicorne very likely)
The caue of Merlin, the skirts of old Tom a Lincolne.
King Iohns sword at Linne, with the cup the Fraternity drinke in,
The Tombe of Beauchampe, and sword of Sir Guy a Warwicke:
The great long Dutchman, and roaring Marget a Barwicke,
The Mummied Princes, and Cæsars wine yet i' Douer,
Saint Iames his Ginney Hens, the

An East Indian bird at Saint Iames in the kepinge of Mt: VValker, that will carry no coles but eate them as hot as you wil.

Cassawarway moreouer,
The Beauer i'the Parke (strange beast as er'e any man saw)
Downe-shearing willowes with teeth as sharpe as a hand-saw.
The Lance of Iohn a Gaunt, and Brandons still i'the Tower:
The fall of Niniue, with Norwich built in a bower.
King Henries slip-shoes, the sword of valiant Edward,
The Couentry Boares-shield, & fire-works seen but to bedward.
Drakes ship at Detford, King Richards bed-sted i' Leyster,
The VVhite Hal whale-bones, the siluer Bason i' Chester;
The liue-caught Dog-fish, the VVolfe and Harry the Lyon,
Hunks of the Beare-garden to be feared, if he be nigh on.
All these are nothing, were a thousand more to be scanned,
(Coryate) vnto thy shooes so artificially tanned:
That through thicke and thinne, made thee so famous a Trotter,
And bore thee o're the Alpes where sidewaies, long, like an Otter
Thou climb'dst and clambredst, there single solie recounting,
(Another Alcides) thy labours lustily mounting.
And as Alcides did scorne to weare any linnen,
So Coryate shirtlesse did as wel as if he had beene in
The brauest Lyons hide, with the taile downe fairely depending:
But matchlesse Coryate since now thy labour hath ending,
And since th'art wel againe vnto thy Country returned:
Thy very heeles by me shal be with Laurel adorned.

In the Vtopian tongue.

Nythalonin ythsi Coryate lachmah babowans
Oasiam Europam Americ-werowans
Poph-himgi Sauoya, Hessen, Rhetia, Ragouzie
France, Germanien doue Anda-louzie
Not A-rag-on O Coryate, O hone vilascar
Einen tronk Od-combe ny Venice Berga-mascar.