The Times' Whistle Or A Newe Daunce of Seuen Satires, and other Poems: Compiled by R. C., Gent. [i.e. Richard Corbett]. Now First Edited from Ms. Y. 8. 3. in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral: With introduction, notes, and glossary, By J. M. Cowper |
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Sat[ira] 4. [AGAINST AVARICE, BRIBERY, APOSTASY.] |
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41
Sat[ira] 4. [AGAINST AVARICE, BRIBERY, APOSTASY.]
Argumentum.
Effodiuntur opes ex imo viscere terræ,Quæ fiunt miseri causa, cibusque mali.
Omnia sunt auro nostræ vænalia Romæ,
Ius, pudor, & probitas, favor & ipse deus.
Insatiate Avarice then first began
To raigne in the depravèd minde of man
After his fall; & then his mother Earth,
That gave first being to his bodies birth,
Vngracious childe, he did begin to wound,
And rend the bowels of the harmelesse ground;
For precious metals & rare minerals ies
Her veines, her sinnewes, & her arteries.
Among these, Golde, Dame Tellus glittering sunne,
Was with his sister Sylver, earth[s] bright moone,
Digd from the center of rich Aurimont,
Sol & his sister Phebe to confront.
But for that silver golde in price doth follow,
Because from him, as Cynthia from Apollo,
She takes her light, & other mettals all
Are but his vassaile starres; they well may fall
Vnder his title, therfore I 'le expresse
Others in him, the great includes the lesse.
He that first searched the teeming earth for golde,
Now as a demigod perhaps enrolde
In Fames eternal booke, was the chief cause
Of wronging right & abrogating lawes.
For since these mines bewi[t]chd the mindes of men,
What mischiefs haue ensude my worthlesse pen
Cannot delineat, but we all can tell
The number infinitly doth excell;
Omitting former ages & strange climes,
The vices of our nation in these times,
So far excede in quality & number,
That to recite them would whole volumes cumber.
To raigne in the depravèd minde of man
After his fall; & then his mother Earth,
That gave first being to his bodies birth,
Vngracious childe, he did begin to wound,
And rend the bowels of the harmelesse ground;
For precious metals & rare minerals ies
Her veines, her sinnewes, & her arteries.
Among these, Golde, Dame Tellus glittering sunne,
Was with his sister Sylver, earth[s] bright moone,
Digd from the center of rich Aurimont,
Sol & his sister Phebe to confront.
But for that silver golde in price doth follow,
Because from him, as Cynthia from Apollo,
She takes her light, & other mettals all
Are but his vassaile starres; they well may fall
42
Others in him, the great includes the lesse.
He that first searched the teeming earth for golde,
Now as a demigod perhaps enrolde
In Fames eternal booke, was the chief cause
Of wronging right & abrogating lawes.
For since these mines bewi[t]chd the mindes of men,
What mischiefs haue ensude my worthlesse pen
Cannot delineat, but we all can tell
The number infinitly doth excell;
Omitting former ages & strange climes,
The vices of our nation in these times,
So far excede in quality & number,
That to recite them would whole volumes cumber.
Iustice, opprest by golden bribery,
Hath left the earth-stage of mortality
And fled to heaven for succour & defence,
Wher she doth keep eternall residence;
And now our lawes for Mammons cursed golde
Like as at open mart are bought & solde.
Our lawyers, like Demosthenes, are mute,
And will not speak, though in a rightfull sute,
Vnlesse a golden kei vnlocke their tongue;
Then how thei 'l sweat, be it for right or wrong,
And get their cause too, or it shall goe hard,
When the poore client, of his right debard,
Cursing the law, first for mans good ordainde,
Grieves at his losse, which ne're can be regainde.
Let some damnd villaine of all grace bereft
Commit a murder, sacriledge, or theft,
And if he can procure but store of pence
Our iustice then will with the law dispence,
And grant the hell-hound life, when, for lesse cause,
Poore men abide the rigor of the lawes.
Let lustfull Iove, that virgins would defloure,
In Danaes lap rain but a golden shower,
Her chastety will soone be washt away,
And she be ready for his amarous play.
Let some rich cuffe, Thersites-like in shape,
Of far worse qualeties then an olde ape,
Which hath nought in him that may speake him man,
But a good purse; although he scarcely can
Speake without slavering, goe without a crutch,
Be rivall to a man that is not such
In wealth, though far above him in desertes,
As good discent, rare features, vertuous partes;
Yet for all this, I ten to one will lay,
The richer man carries the wench away.
Hath left the earth-stage of mortality
And fled to heaven for succour & defence,
Wher she doth keep eternall residence;
And now our lawes for Mammons cursed golde
Like as at open mart are bought & solde.
Our lawyers, like Demosthenes, are mute,
And will not speak, though in a rightfull sute,
Vnlesse a golden kei vnlocke their tongue;
Then how thei 'l sweat, be it for right or wrong,
And get their cause too, or it shall goe hard,
When the poore client, of his right debard,
Cursing the law, first for mans good ordainde,
Grieves at his losse, which ne're can be regainde.
Let some damnd villaine of all grace bereft
Commit a murder, sacriledge, or theft,
And if he can procure but store of pence
Our iustice then will with the law dispence,
And grant the hell-hound life, when, for lesse cause,
Poore men abide the rigor of the lawes.
Let lustfull Iove, that virgins would defloure,
In Danaes lap rain but a golden shower,
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And she be ready for his amarous play.
Let some rich cuffe, Thersites-like in shape,
Of far worse qualeties then an olde ape,
Which hath nought in him that may speake him man,
But a good purse; although he scarcely can
Speake without slavering, goe without a crutch,
Be rivall to a man that is not such
In wealth, though far above him in desertes,
As good discent, rare features, vertuous partes;
Yet for all this, I ten to one will lay,
The richer man carries the wench away.
Honours & offices, which in times of olde
Were given for deserts, are bought for golde.
Sir Iohn Lacklattin, one that ne're did passe
In any place, but for an ignorant asse,
If he can grease his patron in the fist,
Shall for his gold be richly beneficde;
When he that better doth deserve the place,
If poore, shall be repulsèd with disgrace.
Lode but a silly asse with store of golde
And he will enter in the strongest holde.
Let a foole passe by in a golden coate,
He shalbe reckond for a man of note
By those that know him not, when on[e] that's wise,
Poore in arraie, seemes abiect in their eyes.
Were given for deserts, are bought for golde.
Sir Iohn Lacklattin, one that ne're did passe
In any place, but for an ignorant asse,
If he can grease his patron in the fist,
Shall for his gold be richly beneficde;
When he that better doth deserve the place,
If poore, shall be repulsèd with disgrace.
Lode but a silly asse with store of golde
And he will enter in the strongest holde.
Let a foole passe by in a golden coate,
He shalbe reckond for a man of note
By those that know him not, when on[e] that's wise,
Poore in arraie, seemes abiect in their eyes.
Tradesmen make no account for golden gaine
To sell their soules vnto eternall paine;
Daily each one, in vttering of his wares,
Cosens his chapmen & himselfe forsweares.
The vserer hords golde vp in his chest,
Making an idole of it. To be blest
Is to get store of golde, the wre[t]ch doth thinke;
When the fruition scarcely lets him winke,
For sleep he cannot, till i' th' end his pelfe
Shipwracks his soule vpon hels rocky shelfe.
Many for golde have turnd (like Iulian)
Apostates to true religion,
And have, with wicked Iudas, Iesus solde
For the vaine purchase of a litle golde.
To sell their soules vnto eternall paine;
Daily each one, in vttering of his wares,
Cosens his chapmen & himselfe forsweares.
The vserer hords golde vp in his chest,
Making an idole of it. To be blest
Is to get store of golde, the wre[t]ch doth thinke;
When the fruition scarcely lets him winke,
For sleep he cannot, till i' th' end his pelfe
Shipwracks his soule vpon hels rocky shelfe.
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Apostates to true religion,
And have, with wicked Iudas, Iesus solde
For the vaine purchase of a litle golde.
Thus doth the devill, full of slie deceits,
Fish for the soules of men with golden baites;
And to increase his kingdome, doth assay
By this temptation to pervert our way.
Well did the Lacedæmons banish golde
Out of their common wealth; well did they holde
Community of all things necessary;
For by this meanes they were not accessary
Vnto the many kindes of wickednes,
Which the vnsatiable greedinesse
Of golde in this our iron age begets;
Which to entrap, so many kinde of nets,
So many damnèd plots are dayly laide;
He that gets moste thinks himselfe best apaide,
And well he may, for in a golden string
A man may lead the world to any thing.
What in these days may not a man command,
That seekes to purchase with a golden hand?
Fish for the soules of men with golden baites;
And to increase his kingdome, doth assay
By this temptation to pervert our way.
Well did the Lacedæmons banish golde
Out of their common wealth; well did they holde
Community of all things necessary;
For by this meanes they were not accessary
Vnto the many kindes of wickednes,
Which the vnsatiable greedinesse
Of golde in this our iron age begets;
Which to entrap, so many kinde of nets,
So many damnèd plots are dayly laide;
He that gets moste thinks himselfe best apaide,
And well he may, for in a golden string
A man may lead the world to any thing.
What in these days may not a man command,
That seekes to purchase with a golden hand?
Fortunate Fatuo was late dubd a knight,
Not for his wit, or for his martiall fight;
For wit ne're blest him, valour never knewe him;
What may the cause be then that only drew him
To this preferment? Faith, his store of wealth,
For honours now ar[e] purchasèd by stealth
Of vndermining bribes. Canst thou disburse
Good store of coine from a well lined purse?
Thou shalt not want authority to grace thee,
And in an office of repute to place thee,
Be thy life ne're so vilde. O evill times,
And ill conditioned men, that act such crimes,
Which great meanes then good meaning better deeme,
And more of goods then goodnesse doe esteeme!
But bootelesse I exclaime on this same age,
This vnrelenting age, whose furious rage
Will not be mollified as it hath been,
But is now hardned in vngodly sinne.
Yet, though the world nothing the better grow,
I 'le rip vp all the villanies I know.
Not for his wit, or for his martiall fight;
For wit ne're blest him, valour never knewe him;
What may the cause be then that only drew him
To this preferment? Faith, his store of wealth,
For honours now ar[e] purchasèd by stealth
Of vndermining bribes. Canst thou disburse
Good store of coine from a well lined purse?
Thou shalt not want authority to grace thee,
And in an office of repute to place thee,
Be thy life ne're so vilde. O evill times,
And ill conditioned men, that act such crimes,
Which great meanes then good meaning better deeme,
And more of goods then goodnesse doe esteeme!
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This vnrelenting age, whose furious rage
Will not be mollified as it hath been,
But is now hardned in vngodly sinne.
Yet, though the world nothing the better grow,
I 'le rip vp all the villanies I know.
Flavia, because her meanes are somewhat scant,
Doth sell her body to relieve her want,
Yet scornes to be reputed as a quean,
Though with moste nations she have been vnclean.
English, Scots, Dutch, French, Spannish, yea, black Moor[es],
If they bring store of gold, her open dores
Conveigh to private lust; bee 't day or night,
Golde vshers them to sensuall delight.
Thus often fighting vnder Cupids banner
Perhaps she's sometimes taken in the manner,
And being brought before authority,
Which should correct her hell-bread villany,
If golde speake for her in the present tense,
The officer deputed for th' offence
Will winck at smale faultes & remit correction.
This foolish, knavish pittie's an infection
Spread through our land, & hurtes our common wealth—
Iustice restore her to her former health!
For true 's the saying (magistrates, beware!)
“He harmes the good that doth the evill spare.”
Doth sell her body to relieve her want,
Yet scornes to be reputed as a quean,
Though with moste nations she have been vnclean.
English, Scots, Dutch, French, Spannish, yea, black Moor[es],
If they bring store of gold, her open dores
Conveigh to private lust; bee 't day or night,
Golde vshers them to sensuall delight.
Thus often fighting vnder Cupids banner
Perhaps she's sometimes taken in the manner,
And being brought before authority,
Which should correct her hell-bread villany,
If golde speake for her in the present tense,
The officer deputed for th' offence
Will winck at smale faultes & remit correction.
This foolish, knavish pittie's an infection
Spread through our land, & hurtes our common wealth—
Iustice restore her to her former health!
For true 's the saying (magistrates, beware!)
“He harmes the good that doth the evill spare.”
Midas is patron to a goodly living,
And Stolido, that dunce, hath now been driving
A price for it. What, benefices solde?
This was not wont to be in times of olde,
But Simonie is now soe common growne,
That 'tis account noe sinne, if kept vnknowne.
Or otherwise, lawes danger to prevent,
The patron with the parson will indent
That he shall have the living in this wise,
Suffering him yearly to reserve his tithes;
When the whole parish knowes the better part
Of all the living, those his tithes imparte.
Thou wicked imp, thus to abuse the C[h]urch,
And with such sacrilegious handes to lurch
Gods sacred duties, which he doth afford
To the dispensers of his holy word!
How dar'st thou with all-seeing Iove dissemble?
Me thinkes thou shouldst with great amazment tremble
At that most fearfull yet just punnishment
Powrd downe one Ananias, whose intent,
Like thine, was in most damnd hypocrisie
To mocke God with a shew of charity.
But for this sinne he & his cursèd wife
Suddenly fell downe dead & lost his life.
Take heed the like plague fall not on thy head,
If thou persist, high Iove can strike thee dead;
Though he awhile forbear to shew his ire,
His mercy keeps back what thy sinnes require.
And Stolido, that dunce, hath now been driving
A price for it. What, benefices solde?
This was not wont to be in times of olde,
But Simonie is now soe common growne,
That 'tis account noe sinne, if kept vnknowne.
Or otherwise, lawes danger to prevent,
The patron with the parson will indent
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Suffering him yearly to reserve his tithes;
When the whole parish knowes the better part
Of all the living, those his tithes imparte.
Thou wicked imp, thus to abuse the C[h]urch,
And with such sacrilegious handes to lurch
Gods sacred duties, which he doth afford
To the dispensers of his holy word!
How dar'st thou with all-seeing Iove dissemble?
Me thinkes thou shouldst with great amazment tremble
At that most fearfull yet just punnishment
Powrd downe one Ananias, whose intent,
Like thine, was in most damnd hypocrisie
To mocke God with a shew of charity.
But for this sinne he & his cursèd wife
Suddenly fell downe dead & lost his life.
Take heed the like plague fall not on thy head,
If thou persist, high Iove can strike thee dead;
Though he awhile forbear to shew his ire,
His mercy keeps back what thy sinnes require.
Signior Necessity, that hath no law,
Scarce ever read his Litleton, a daw
To a solliciter, is now become
Iustice of peace & coram; takes his roome
'Mongst grave & learned Iudges; is still cald
Right worshipfull, his wit & pate both bald.
And yet the foole expects th' ensuing year
To be elect high sherif of all the sheire.
I, & he hath great hopes, for the whole tribe
Of voices that elect the sherif hee 'l bribe;
And after that he hopes to get consent
By this meanes to be knight o' th' parliament.
Base minded peasants, which for some few pence
Give to [a] foole such place of eminence!
Ignoble Crassus did in litle time
Vnto the top of honours mountaine clime;
If you aske how he rose, let this suffice,
His wealth was great, & therfore needs must rise.
Scarce ever read his Litleton, a daw
To a solliciter, is now become
Iustice of peace & coram; takes his roome
'Mongst grave & learned Iudges; is still cald
Right worshipfull, his wit & pate both bald.
And yet the foole expects th' ensuing year
To be elect high sherif of all the sheire.
I, & he hath great hopes, for the whole tribe
Of voices that elect the sherif hee 'l bribe;
And after that he hopes to get consent
By this meanes to be knight o' th' parliament.
Base minded peasants, which for some few pence
Give to [a] foole such place of eminence!
Ignoble Crassus did in litle time
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If you aske how he rose, let this suffice,
His wealth was great, & therfore needs must rise.
Ruffino, that same roring boy of fame,
By braules & wenches is diseasde & lame;
Yet hath some store of crownes left in his purse,
Which he with all his heart would fain disburse,
And those that healpt him benefactours call,
To get a place in the new hospitall.
Fear not Ruffino, for it is decreed
Those that have meanes to give shall only speed.
By braules & wenches is diseasde & lame;
Yet hath some store of crownes left in his purse,
Which he with all his heart would fain disburse,
And those that healpt him benefactours call,
To get a place in the new hospitall.
Fear not Ruffino, for it is decreed
Those that have meanes to give shall only speed.
Loth am I to rip vp my nurces shame,
Or to accuse for this those schooles of fame,
The Academies: yet for reformation
Of this abuse, I must reprove the fashion
Of divers seniors, which for private gaine
Permit some ignorant asse, some dunce, attaine
A schollers or a fellowes place among 'em.
Some think perhaps of malice I doe wrong 'em,
But the poore students know it to be true,
Which wanting meanes, as often want their due.
Art was not thus rejected heertofore,
But plenty now hath made a scholler poore.
Learning was wont to be the highest staire,
Vpon whose top was fixd preferments chaire;
In which the best deserver was instald,
The worthiest man to highest honour cald.
But now the world's altred, changèd is the molde,
And learnings step is turnd to massie golde.
To get preferment who doth now intend,
He by a golden ladder must ascend.
Thus cursed golde doth bear soe great a sway
That nurseries of learning doe decay;
For not the meanes of taking our degrees
Are quite exempt from bribes; for duble fees
A dunce may turne a Doctour, & in state
Walke in his scarlet! O, vnhappy fate!
When paltry pelfe doth worthlesse ignorance
Vnto the top of learnings mount advaunce.
Or to accuse for this those schooles of fame,
The Academies: yet for reformation
Of this abuse, I must reprove the fashion
Of divers seniors, which for private gaine
Permit some ignorant asse, some dunce, attaine
A schollers or a fellowes place among 'em.
Some think perhaps of malice I doe wrong 'em,
But the poore students know it to be true,
Which wanting meanes, as often want their due.
Art was not thus rejected heertofore,
But plenty now hath made a scholler poore.
Learning was wont to be the highest staire,
Vpon whose top was fixd preferments chaire;
In which the best deserver was instald,
The worthiest man to highest honour cald.
But now the world's altred, changèd is the molde,
And learnings step is turnd to massie golde.
To get preferment who doth now intend,
He by a golden ladder must ascend.
Thus cursed golde doth bear soe great a sway
That nurseries of learning doe decay;
For not the meanes of taking our degrees
Are quite exempt from bribes; for duble fees
A dunce may turne a Doctour, & in state
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When paltry pelfe doth worthlesse ignorance
Vnto the top of learnings mount advaunce.
Cocus, that faine would thrive, hath a[n] intent,
To curry favour, to dresse meat in Lent—
How is 't to be obtainde? hast store of golde?
And canst thou spare a litle? then be bolde,
Persue thy project, & I 'le vndertake
The overseers will a licence make,
By which is granted leav to dresse for th' sicke,—
Vnder the colour of which pretty tricke
Thou mayst make sale of it to whom thou list.
Sayth master mony-taker, greasd i' th' fist,
“And if tho[u] comst in danger, for a noble
I 'le stand thy friend, & healp thee out of trouble.”
But these are petty crimes which now I cote,
This vicious age acts sinnes of greater note,
And them by greater persons, in which sence
Th' offenders greatnesse aggravates th' offence.
To curry favour, to dresse meat in Lent—
How is 't to be obtainde? hast store of golde?
And canst thou spare a litle? then be bolde,
Persue thy project, & I 'le vndertake
The overseers will a licence make,
By which is granted leav to dresse for th' sicke,—
Vnder the colour of which pretty tricke
Thou mayst make sale of it to whom thou list.
Sayth master mony-taker, greasd i' th' fist,
“And if tho[u] comst in danger, for a noble
I 'le stand thy friend, & healp thee out of trouble.”
But these are petty crimes which now I cote,
This vicious age acts sinnes of greater note,
And them by greater persons, in which sence
Th' offenders greatnesse aggravates th' offence.
Taurus, that ruffen, in his drunken fit
An execrable murder did committe,
For the which fact he straight was apprehended,
And should, had right tooke place, have been condemnèd.
But marke th' event; his mony stood his friend,
And sav'd the caitife from a shamefull end.
For having the chief iudge sollicited
With bribes, from iustice him he quite misled;
Who when he should pronounce his condemnation,
Instead therof gave him his approbation,
Vowing there was good reason him to clear,
'Cause 40 angels did to him appear,
Which spake him guiltlesse. O, rare vision,
And admirable golden apparition,
That had the power to make good such evill,
And turne a demigod into a devill!
An execrable murder did committe,
For the which fact he straight was apprehended,
And should, had right tooke place, have been condemnèd.
But marke th' event; his mony stood his friend,
And sav'd the caitife from a shamefull end.
For having the chief iudge sollicited
With bribes, from iustice him he quite misled;
Who when he should pronounce his condemnation,
Instead therof gave him his approbation,
Vowing there was good reason him to clear,
'Cause 40 angels did to him appear,
Which spake him guiltlesse. O, rare vision,
And admirable golden apparition,
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And turne a demigod into a devill!
Turnus his enemy would faine supplant,
Yet how to doe it iustly, cause doth want.
His Machiavillian pate doth then devise
To overthrow him by meer forgeries;
Then saith he is a traiter to his prince,
And that he can of treason him convince.
Divers seditious wordes are then invented,
For which he is before the iudge convented;
But there wants witnesse to confirme this lie,—
Tut, they are easily found; his neighbours by
Are knights o' th' post, and for a litle coine
Will swear what ever he doth them enjo[i]ne.
Thus armde, he brings to passe his damnèd will,
And like a villian guiltlesse blood doth spill.
But he & 's knights o' th' post will post to hell,
That thus their soules vnto damnation sell.
Yet how to doe it iustly, cause doth want.
His Machiavillian pate doth then devise
To overthrow him by meer forgeries;
Then saith he is a traiter to his prince,
And that he can of treason him convince.
Divers seditious wordes are then invented,
For which he is before the iudge convented;
But there wants witnesse to confirme this lie,—
Tut, they are easily found; his neighbours by
Are knights o' th' post, and for a litle coine
Will swear what ever he doth them enjo[i]ne.
Thus armde, he brings to passe his damnèd will,
And like a villian guiltlesse blood doth spill.
But he & 's knights o' th' post will post to hell,
That thus their soules vnto damnation sell.
Codrus to his poore cottage had some land,
With which, & with the labour of his hand,
Six litle children & his sickly wife
He did maintaine in such estate of life
As his best meanes could yeild, sufficient
Because they therwithall did live content.
But now Antilegon, his neighbour by,
Because the ground did lye commodiously
For his owne vse to make a garden plot,
Hath encroacht all & sure possession got,
Which he maintaines by force. Poor Codrus is
Constraind to sue sub formâ pauperis,
(As wanting friends & mony) to regaine
What is his owne. T' other doth entertaine
The best of counsell, & his golde 'gainst lawes
O're throwes the poor man in his rightfull cause;
Who with his family are quite vndone,
Through this vnjust & damnd oppression.
With which, & with the labour of his hand,
Six litle children & his sickly wife
He did maintaine in such estate of life
As his best meanes could yeild, sufficient
Because they therwithall did live content.
But now Antilegon, his neighbour by,
Because the ground did lye commodiously
For his owne vse to make a garden plot,
Hath encroacht all & sure possession got,
Which he maintaines by force. Poor Codrus is
Constraind to sue sub formâ pauperis,
(As wanting friends & mony) to regaine
What is his owne. T' other doth entertaine
The best of counsell, & his golde 'gainst lawes
O're throwes the poor man in his rightfull cause;
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Through this vnjust & damnd oppression.
Thus Iustice eyes closde vp in golden sleep,
The ravenous woolfe eats vp the harmlesse sheep.
Thou wicked Ahab, which hast got possession
By such iniurious transgression,
Think that if God inflict damnation
On them that doe not take compassion
Of their poore bretheren, & their wants relieve,
What will he doe to thee, which seekst to grieve
With an oppressours hand the innocent!
Being not only not to give content,
But even to take away by cursed wrong
All that in right doth to the poore belong?
Vnlesse thou doe due restitution make,
And to a better life thy selfe betake;
Vnlesse repentance purchase grace from Iove
And his iust iudgements from thee quite remooue,
Surely the Lord (which doth such sinne detest)
With horrid tormentes will thy soule invest.
And you, which should true equity dispense,
Yet bear a gold-corrupted conscience,
Looke for some plague vpon your heades to light,
That suffer rich wrong to oppresse poore right.
All lawyers I cannot heerof accuse,
For some there are that doe a conscience vse
In their profession. This our land containes
Some in whose heart devine Astræa raignes.
To these, whose vertue keeps our land in peace,
I wish all good, all happiness encrease.
Go forward then, and with impartiall handes
Hold Iustice ballance in faire Albians landes.
The ravenous woolfe eats vp the harmlesse sheep.
Thou wicked Ahab, which hast got possession
By such iniurious transgression,
Think that if God inflict damnation
On them that doe not take compassion
Of their poore bretheren, & their wants relieve,
What will he doe to thee, which seekst to grieve
With an oppressours hand the innocent!
Being not only not to give content,
But even to take away by cursed wrong
All that in right doth to the poore belong?
Vnlesse thou doe due restitution make,
And to a better life thy selfe betake;
Vnlesse repentance purchase grace from Iove
And his iust iudgements from thee quite remooue,
Surely the Lord (which doth such sinne detest)
With horrid tormentes will thy soule invest.
And you, which should true equity dispense,
Yet bear a gold-corrupted conscience,
Looke for some plague vpon your heades to light,
That suffer rich wrong to oppresse poore right.
All lawyers I cannot heerof accuse,
For some there are that doe a conscience vse
In their profession. This our land containes
Some in whose heart devine Astræa raignes.
To these, whose vertue keeps our land in peace,
I wish all good, all happiness encrease.
Go forward then, and with impartiall handes
Hold Iustice ballance in faire Albians landes.
Olde greedy minded Pandarus hath a paire
Of daughters whom the world reputeth faire,
And faire indeed they are to outward eyes,
Which not discerne inward deformities;
These, for the purchase of a litle golde,
By the olde miser vnto lust are solde.
This slave will even vsher his disgrace,
Bringing his daughters vnto any place
Which is appointed to commerce with sinne,
And himselfe keep the dore, whilst that within
The shamlesse strumpetes are with lust defilde,
Having the gallants of their golde beguilde.
Impious villaine! to defame the fruit
Of thine owne loynes, & basely prostitute
Thy childrens body to such luxurie,
Whom with paternall care & industrie
Thou shouldst traine vp in vertuous education,
For want whereof theire horrid imprecation
Will light vpon thy soule, &, which is worse,
Gods fearfull plaugues second thy childrens curse.
Of daughters whom the world reputeth faire,
And faire indeed they are to outward eyes,
Which not discerne inward deformities;
51
By the olde miser vnto lust are solde.
This slave will even vsher his disgrace,
Bringing his daughters vnto any place
Which is appointed to commerce with sinne,
And himselfe keep the dore, whilst that within
The shamlesse strumpetes are with lust defilde,
Having the gallants of their golde beguilde.
Impious villaine! to defame the fruit
Of thine owne loynes, & basely prostitute
Thy childrens body to such luxurie,
Whom with paternall care & industrie
Thou shouldst traine vp in vertuous education,
For want whereof theire horrid imprecation
Will light vpon thy soule, &, which is worse,
Gods fearfull plaugues second thy childrens curse.
Me thinkes the hellish & mad lunacy
Of them that doe commit apostacie
For gold, might well a Christian heart affright
Only to hear another but recite
So damnd a sinne; yet every day their fall
In these relapses diabolicall
Many, too many,—Christians shall I name them?
Ah, noe! their actions otherwise defame them.
Some have tur[n]d Turkes for gaine, yet live despisde
After they once have been but circumcisde.
Base slaves, which Dagon 'bove the Arcke doe set,
And for true Christ adore false Mahomet.
But Mahomet, as Dagon did, shall fall,
And all those wicked priests that worship Baal.
Others, that would to high preferment come,
Leave vs, & flie vnto the Sea of Rome.
But how dost prosper with them being there?
Contemptibly they live, & full of feare.
Is ther some damned enterprise in hand,
To murder princes, ruinate a land?
These be the men that must be actours in it,
Who ever were the author to beginne it.
If they refuse, 'tis death; if they proceed
Death & damnation waites vpon their deed.
Thus chaind in wre[t]ched servitude, doth live
A runagate, & English fugitive;
And yet like fooles, they doe submit their necke
Vnto the slavish yoke & proudest checke
Of Romes insulting tyrant, vpon hope
That their demerits will win larger scope;
Many which theither dayly flocke apace
To worke their owne confusion & disgrace
Witnesse their fearfull endes & wre[t]ched lives:
“But goe they must because the devill drives.”
Of them that doe commit apostacie
For gold, might well a Christian heart affright
Only to hear another but recite
So damnd a sinne; yet every day their fall
In these relapses diabolicall
Many, too many,—Christians shall I name them?
Ah, noe! their actions otherwise defame them.
Some have tur[n]d Turkes for gaine, yet live despisde
After they once have been but circumcisde.
Base slaves, which Dagon 'bove the Arcke doe set,
And for true Christ adore false Mahomet.
But Mahomet, as Dagon did, shall fall,
And all those wicked priests that worship Baal.
Others, that would to high preferment come,
Leave vs, & flie vnto the Sea of Rome.
But how dost prosper with them being there?
52
Is ther some damned enterprise in hand,
To murder princes, ruinate a land?
These be the men that must be actours in it,
Who ever were the author to beginne it.
If they refuse, 'tis death; if they proceed
Death & damnation waites vpon their deed.
Thus chaind in wre[t]ched servitude, doth live
A runagate, & English fugitive;
And yet like fooles, they doe submit their necke
Vnto the slavish yoke & proudest checke
Of Romes insulting tyrant, vpon hope
That their demerits will win larger scope;
Many which theither dayly flocke apace
To worke their owne confusion & disgrace
Witnesse their fearfull endes & wre[t]ched lives:
“But goe they must because the devill drives.”
Carrier of late would have made his career
(Thinking perhaps to be esteemèd dear
Of th' antichristian prelate) to the citty
Of seven hilld Rome, “O, &,” say some, “'twas pitty
That his (how e're they grant it lewd) intent
Met not a look't for prosperous event.
For he, because his learning was not small,
Might in short time have been a Cardinall.”
What the successe had prov'd I dare not say,
For he was cut of from his wishèd prey;
High Iove incensd that thus he should backslide
Stroke him, & in a neighbour land he died.
Some think he was not Apostolicall,
But alwaies in his heart papisticall;
Certaine it is, how e're they can excuse him,
The devill in this act did but abuse him.
And were he not apostate in his flight,
In his stay heer he was an hypocrite.
(Thinking perhaps to be esteemèd dear
Of th' antichristian prelate) to the citty
Of seven hilld Rome, “O, &,” say some, “'twas pitty
That his (how e're they grant it lewd) intent
Met not a look't for prosperous event.
For he, because his learning was not small,
Might in short time have been a Cardinall.”
What the successe had prov'd I dare not say,
For he was cut of from his wishèd prey;
High Iove incensd that thus he should backslide
Stroke him, & in a neighbour land he died.
Some think he was not Apostolicall,
But alwaies in his heart papisticall;
Certaine it is, how e're they can excuse him,
The devill in this act did but abuse him.
And were he not apostate in his flight,
In his stay heer he was an hypocrite.
53
Pistor was falln into great poverty,
How come he to grow rich thus sodenly?
For he of late hath matchd his daughter well
Vnto a gentleman, as I hear tell,
Of faire demeanes, & great extent of ground,
And made her portion worth five thousand pound.
Why, once within these five year (as was thought)
Ten poundes would all the wealth he had have bought,
And now he 's in his thousandes! This quick change,
This sodaine metamorphosis is strange.
Belike he hath found out some mine of golde,
Or else the Fairies bring him heapes vntolde
Because he sweeps his house cleane, sets a light,
Faire water in a basen, every night,
And other pretty toyes, to doe them pleasure;
Or else some spirit shewes him hidden treasure.
O now you hitt it, 'twas indeed a spirit,
To whom, for certaine tearme of yeares t' inherit
His ease and pleasure with aboundant wealth,
He hath made sale of his soules dearest health.
And in a deed engrost, signd with his blood,
Sould soule & body with all hope of good
In heavenly ioyes to come, vnto the devill.
O horrid act! O execrable evill!
Another Faustus, haplesse, hopelesse man,
What wilt thou doe, when as that litle sand
Of thy soone emptied houreglasse, is spent?
When horrour of thy conscience keeps repent
From thy black spotted soule? O (but in vaine)
Thou wilt then wish (& think it ease, not paine)
“That I had that estate of grace I solde
[For the] fruition of a litle golde.
Thoug[h] I liv'de ne're soe miserablie poore,
And like an abject begd at every doore
Millions of yeares, I could be well content
To 'scape the everlasting punnishment
Of hells infernall lake, & purchase heaven,
Of which for ever I am now bereaven.”
Then wilt thou curse thy selfe, thy wretched fate,
The wombe that bare thee, him that thee begat;
Wish thou hadst been a beast, a sencelesse stone,
To 'scape that horrour of confusion.
But wishes, vowes, & horrid execration
Cannot preserve thee from damnation.
How come he to grow rich thus sodenly?
For he of late hath matchd his daughter well
Vnto a gentleman, as I hear tell,
Of faire demeanes, & great extent of ground,
And made her portion worth five thousand pound.
Why, once within these five year (as was thought)
Ten poundes would all the wealth he had have bought,
And now he 's in his thousandes! This quick change,
This sodaine metamorphosis is strange.
Belike he hath found out some mine of golde,
Or else the Fairies bring him heapes vntolde
Because he sweeps his house cleane, sets a light,
Faire water in a basen, every night,
And other pretty toyes, to doe them pleasure;
Or else some spirit shewes him hidden treasure.
O now you hitt it, 'twas indeed a spirit,
To whom, for certaine tearme of yeares t' inherit
His ease and pleasure with aboundant wealth,
He hath made sale of his soules dearest health.
And in a deed engrost, signd with his blood,
Sould soule & body with all hope of good
In heavenly ioyes to come, vnto the devill.
O horrid act! O execrable evill!
Another Faustus, haplesse, hopelesse man,
What wilt thou doe, when as that litle sand
Of thy soone emptied houreglasse, is spent?
When horrour of thy conscience keeps repent
From thy black spotted soule? O (but in vaine)
Thou wilt then wish (& think it ease, not paine)
“That I had that estate of grace I solde
[For the] fruition of a litle golde.
Thoug[h] I liv'de ne're soe miserablie poore,
And like an abject begd at every doore
Millions of yeares, I could be well content
54
Of hells infernall lake, & purchase heaven,
Of which for ever I am now bereaven.”
Then wilt thou curse thy selfe, thy wretched fate,
The wombe that bare thee, him that thee begat;
Wish thou hadst been a beast, a sencelesse stone,
To 'scape that horrour of confusion.
But wishes, vowes, & horrid execration
Cannot preserve thee from damnation.
Thus each thing of esteem is bought and solde
For mindes-corrupting, soules-confounding golde.
Sellers take heed, & byers have a care,
This is no common ordinary ware!
Looke to 't betimes, lest you to late repent
The poore mans curse, earths plague, hells punnishment!
For mindes-corrupting, soules-confounding golde.
Sellers take heed, & byers have a care,
This is no common ordinary ware!
Looke to 't betimes, lest you to late repent
The poore mans curse, earths plague, hells punnishment!
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