University of Virginia Library

To the Reader.

Times Ministers haue often drawne the features,
Of many vild, obsceane, illitterate creatures;
Euen till the pensils they portraid withall,
Had spent all colours, now they write with gall.
(Seeing those fairer shapes were not respected)
Thereby to make vice lothed and reiected:
Yet notwithstanding marke mans impudence,
See yonder villaine, who for his offence
Did merrit death; yet pardon'd swiftly flyes,
To act more damd and horrid villanies.
Note that Adulterer which seemes sorry now,
And with a fained sanctimonious vow
Abiures his sinne, yet more his soule to blame,
With's neighbours wife next day commits the same.
The Vsurer by scripture reprehended,
Weepes and is sorry that he hath offended:
Yet as the diuell will haue it he is drawne,
Immediatly from's booke to take a pawne.
Behold that impious Theefe that lately swore,
To make his godlesse stocke but twenty more;
And then to leaue his rude and ruthlesse dealing,
But heele behang'd before heele leaue his stealing.
And multitudes of such like impious slaues,
Which labour for to purchase their soules graues:
Are oft determind to forsake their sinne,
And when the diuell please, they will beginne.
But not till then, let Iustice doe her worst,
Such is the will of villaines (most accurst:)
Therefore since milde perswasion cannot mooue them,
(Nor reprehension, whosoere reprooue them,
Nor Lawes seuerity, nor Iustice sword)
I will not (to reclaime them) wast a word.
Nor will I taxe their vice, because I see
They will persist in spight of you or mee:
And so I leaue them to their damned rules,
I will not deale with villaines, but with fooles.