University of Virginia Library

THE FIRST CENTVRIE.

Epig. 1. To his heroike, and splendent Patronesse, Katherine, Lady Mansell.

This stuffe of mine, I grant, is overcourse,
For your fine wearing, Loadstarre of our Clime,
Yet let it serue, I pray, tho few be worse
As a course garment for this Winter time.
Ere Sommer els, I do most highly feare,
That Momus will my Loome in sunder teare.

Epig. 2. On her name.

C Cell of vertue thou art rare,
A Any with for to compare,
T That doth dwell in Cambers Clime,
H Having noble Sydneys Line.
E Ever beautifie thy name,
R Royall, worthy, peereles dame:
I In vertue still let be thy dwelling,
N Never ill, in good excelling;
E Eternizing so thy fame.
M Might my praier be accepted,
A Accept it, Lord, and graunt her Ishue:
N Never none to be reiected
S Send her, children, cloath'd in Tishue,
E Erect her calling at thy pleasure,
L Let her life be vertues Treasure:
L Lead her soule where Angels are.

Epig. 3. To the worthy founder of our famous Oxonian Librarie, Sir Tho: Bodley, built in the forme of a T.

The forked Y, as learned Sages write,
Containes in it deepe mysteries divine:
Thy target T if that I true endite,
Doeth shelter in't more many a sacred Line
Then all the letters of that sage his name;
Such is the Glory of thy Vaticane.

Epig. 4. To the Reader, of his Poëmes.

Some of these Poemes, some will Satyres call,
(What tho some be grim Satyres-like, and tall?
Which Monsters be, pertaining to the Wood.)
These do molest the Bad, but please the good,

Epig. 5. On Zoylus, of his Booke.

Poets doe stile thee oft a biting Mate;
Which argues thee the eater of some Bookes:
Eat this withall, but leaue to Barke thereat,
So that in fine this Morsell quite thee choakes.

Epig. 6. A Courtizan, Etymologized.

A Courtizan most fit deriues her name,
By her conditions from a courteous Dame.
What Nature did to her so gratis giue,
With this shee will all such as begge relieue.

Epig. 7. The Noone-tide Walker of Pawles.

VVhat maks thee stay? Wel nie, since all be gone.
Thou telst me, cause some verses thou wouldst make.
Ist so'? thou mai'st since thou art most alone,
And cause all day thy Panch must emptie quake.

Epig. 8. Garnet, with his twelue Apostles.

Ioseph, with his Apostles twelue first plants,
In Englands Soile, Religion pure to grow;
But thou, and thy twise sixe infernall Wants,
Didst this endeavour to supplant; and Sow
Thy Popish Darnell; but the season fail'd,
And thou with thine, to Tyburns post wast nail'd.

Epig. 9. The sickemans Dialogue.

Sicknes what art? the Bodies schourging-Rod,
What els? the queller of thy lofty blood.
Moreover what? the path vnto thy God.
And what in fine? Death's message for thy good.
Since thou art then the soule and bodies weale,
Come when thou wilt, from thee Ile ne're appeale.

Epig. 10. On our Bacchanalians.

To Magistrats.

Thunder as anci'ent Poëts fabulize,
Begate God Bacchus, Lord of all misrule:
No wonder then his Nephewes, which Pottize
Till they be drunke, vse clamors like the Mule.
Remoue the cause th' effect soone take away:
Y'll aske me how?lop downe the Ivie Bay.

Epig. 11. To his deare interressed friend Mr M. Cradocke.

As I thy ground did compasse and o'relooke
I compassed well nie, this triviall Booke.

Epig. 12. In Lanuginosos Buccinatores.

To his fr. M. Rob. LLoyd.

O're many are, as we may dayly see,
That start too soone to Moyses sacred seat.
Before they sit beneath Gamaliels knee,
To sucke the Nectar of his flowing Teat.
These Brocchers be of schisme and heresie,
Not skilling how to teach or edifie.

Epig. 13. To the worthie Mecænas of learning Mr Anthony Guin, Esquier.

Amongst the Scythians Anacharsis sage
Was their sole Clearke, the

[_]

Anacharsis inter Scythas.

Proverbe verifies.
I will not say, in this our learned age,
Thou art sole Phœnix, in arts Mysteries.
But this I'le say, in this our barren Clime:
Thou art the best Mecænas vnto thine.

Epig. 14. To the studious Gent. Mr I. Carne.

Thy studious Booke, thy blazed fame shall ring:
When others pastime to great shame shall bring.

Epig. 15. Unum necessarium.

To his respectiue fr. Mr Row. Harries, of pious, religious scholler, Mr Hop. Price, lately deceased.

Some graue in yeares, in lore but childish yet,
In stud'ing fleering, fliting, fading toies.
But thou, young Price, had'st cert's a graver wit
In conning precepts of ay lasting ioyes.
Let these alone, to 'enioy their fruitlesse art;
Thou doubtlesse now hast choos'd the better part.

Epig. 16. To our Moderne Epigrammatists, of his Poemes.

All arts, which latest come to common view,
Are commonly the best without compare;
But in these lines you cannot finde this true,
Like timelesse fruits, vnmellowed right which are,
For you haue gather'd all the Sommers flowers.
Here are but leauings mixt with Hyems showers.

Epig. 17. One Mounsier Elatus, deceased.

It lately seem'd by thy aspiring mind,
Thou totall wast compos'd of loftie fire:
Which vpward's tend's, the place to' hit assign'd,
But thy downefall vnto the basest mire,
Betokens now thy substance was but clay;
Which should haue stoop't thy loftinesse alwaie.

Epig. 18. A new Convert.

Thy change was good, from bloody killing sword;
To preach and teach the ever living word.

Epig. 19. A rare Metamorphosis.

Is it not strange, in this our iron age?
To see one clime to pulpit, from the stage.

Epig. 20 The Epitaph of the studious Gent. Mr Hop. Price.

To the worshipfull, his loving father Mr Wm Price, Esquier.

As my true loue was loyall vnto thee
Whiles that thou breath'st within this valty Cell;
Which shall not end with thy mortalitie,
But in the graue with thee shall ever dwell:
So take these farwels as thy only due,
Of thy deare freind, thy death which doth berue.
Farewell, bright Gem of learnings worthie grace;
Farewell, great hope of all the Muses nine;
Farewell, sweet Impe, with thy Angellike face;
Farewell, embracer of the word divine.
Farewell, deere Price, whose price I cannot count:
Farewell, vntill we meet in Sions Mount.

Epig. 21. Duke Humfrey entomb'd.

Thy Tombe has Gratis more spectators e're
Then those of Westminster for Coine I wote;
'Tis strange, therefore they doe not pay more deare,
But as I gesse, they be not worth a grote.

Epig. 22. Gullus, Grillus.

Gu.
How goes the world, my Grillus, now with thee?

Gr.
Comrade, my life naught is but slaverie;

Gu.
How so, a freeman for to be a thrall?

Gr.
Free borne, but yet, Don Magnus Tenis Ball.

Gu.
Cashiere his yoke, cast of his servile Badge.

Gr.
Oh, no, for feare of his most furious rage.

Gu.
What world is this? must you be Rombus slaue?

Gr.
Yes; else for such iust nothing we can haue.

Epig. 23. To I. G.

Thy Crosses were full many in account;
But, ay, one Manie, doth these many mount.

Epig. 23. Tillage.

To his fr. M. Ie. Cradocke.

Tillage is good, the Husbandmans true badge;
While youth remaines, still fructifies, Till Age.

Epig. 25. The Sympathy of Law, and Logicke.

To his Academian Cousen, Io. Powell.

The subtile Logicke, and the craftie Law,
Most equally within one yoke doth drawe,
Both vse

[_]

fallacius.

Deceipts, the one for glorie vaine,
Th' other doth abuse it for his Gaine.
Both Brawlers be, and doe for ever iarre.
Th' one at Schoole, the other at the Barre.
But of all evils we must chuse the lesse;
And from Impostors vs for ever blesse.
To Logicks quipping tongue, I'ld rather stand:
Then to lawes cruell, shearing, shaving hand.

Epig. 26. Quicquid in Buccam venerit,

To Mistr. Futilis.

Thy Sivie breast can keepe no secrecie,
But forcest all things thereout for to fle:
If there were vent to gable lie, or truth;
Thy breast should be in leiu of open mouth.

Epig. 27. Fides sola iustificat.

To Mr VVadams, the worthie founder of a new College in Oxford.

The Popish sect faire Colleges did raise,
Whereby they thought themselues to iustifie;
But sole true faith we see doth now adaies,
Produce Good daughters, workes of charitie.
Which caus'd, I thinke, our Wadam so to wade,
In building Columnes, which shall never fade.

Epig. 28. On Curius, and Curiosus.

I did 'force thee present my faultlesse Bill.
And prai'd thereto thy hand to vnderwrite;
Thou told'st me, nay; for that t'was framed ill,
And why? thou se'st, 'cause faults it did not cite.
Thou diff'rest then from Curiosus quite,
Which will subscribe to All, but to the Rite.

Epig. 29. To Mounsier After.

After, in what? in name, sure not in Lore.
For most Sr Iohns thou wentest bold, Before.

Epig. 30. To King Iames, Brittaines Royall Monarch.

The Vnicorne, and Lion ioine in loue,
Which props the Armes of our most Gracious King;
Tho enimies in all things else they proue
Themselues vnto themselues; a wondrous thing;
That beasts should be more humane in their kind,
To vnions pearle; then mens Divisions blind.

Epig. 31. To the most Illustrious Brothers, the Earles of Pembroke, and Mountgomerie.

VVales stiles you Both with titles great of fame
You pay hir'alike, your Greatnesse 'mounts her Name.

Epig. 32. To the learned and ingenious Divine. Mr D. Hall, of his vowes Cent.

Some vow, and breake; thou vowst and do'st fulfill.
Such is the difference 'twixt good, and ill.

Epig. 33. In the praise of Brasen-nose-Coll.

Thy Nose more famous is, tho' it be of Brasse,
Then many a head of many a golden Asse.

Epig. 34. To his loving fr. Mr Io. Price. Batc. of Divinitie.

Well may we liken Gods most sacred write,
Vnto the formes of Alcibiades:
Which outwardly look't plaine, and nothing bright
But inwardly, most like faire Goddesses:
So doth Gods word seeme rude, in outward face;
But the cleare spirit yeelds a shining grace.

Epig. 35. On perfidious Carle, the loue-maker.

Carle will not keepe promise, wote yee why?
He thinkes by Law all Suiters well may ly.

Epig. 36. To his friend and Phisition Mr VVm Uoyle.

My friend thou hast a griefe in Phisicks art,
Called, Me noli tangere, by name;
For being touch't, it forthwith yeeldeth smart.
How can'st thou then to this a Med'cine frame?
Each griefe, I thinke, within thy Bookish cell,
With this griefes name will be contented well.

Epig. 37. To his golden Gildus.

The feign'd Vtopian weareth in his eare
A ring of Gold in leiu of infamie;
But, Gildus thou, Gold-earings still do'st weare,
Which is, thou sai'st, thy selfe to glorifie.
What glorie i'st? it serues to hide the sore,
Which in thy eares the Pillorie did Bore.

Epig. 38. To sober Mr Bevans.

Sobrietie thou comp'st a sin, and why?
Because thou seldome livest soberly.

Epig. 39. The Sheapheards Calenders Arithmeticke.

Thou Kalender of Sheepheards farre did'st erre,
In numb'ring Gods Commaundements by rote;
When Nine for Ten for Truth thou did'st averre,
Leaving the second out, not least of note.
This thy substraction serues no other Sheepe
But thine; which basely to the Image creepe.

Epig. 40. Perkins.

Thou sweet, profound Divine, with one sole hand,
Did'st raze more buildings of the Popish frame,
Then many a one, that seeketh to withstand
With both at once, the Gunshot of the same.
Here doth the Maim'd, (a wonder) as we see
The whole o'rematch, in Christ his Soulderie.

Epig. 41 To Sr Io. Stradling, Knight and Baronnet, of his learned Epig.

Thy Muse fits not the vulgar in effect:
For reading, sans conceipt, is to neglect.

Epig. 42. Iewell, the Hammer of Hereticks.

Thou Iewell wast a iuell rare indeed,
Of value more then is the Ophir gold:
For this doth only decke the bodies weed;
But thy most heav'nly words most sweetly rowl'd
Doe decke the soule; and thy keene English Pen
Did cut his throat, that sung the Popes Amen.

Epig. 43. D. Rainolds Ghost.

VVhat made thee, Atlas of our Church divine?
For to decline so vnder thy light paise:
Which never stoop'st to any Popish shrine
In all thy life; but loth'st such Trash alwaies.
Thy answer is hereto most right I doome,
Burning to vs thou did'st thy selfe consume.

Epig. 44. To Mr Blable the Tale-teller.

Dame Nature gaue thee two eares, and two eies,
(My wheel-tongu'd Gemy) which doth seldōe stay
And but one mouth (through her foreknowledge wise)
That thou should'st more both heare, & see, then bray.
But thou do'st blab against Minerva's Law
More then thy Eares did heare, or Eies e're saw.

Epig. 45. To the Ho: and most vertuous Lady, Barbara, Uice-countesse de Lisles, the Omega of the Gamages.

Al rivers that do run to Neptune Vast,
Do loose their names let them be neere so great:
So thy great Gransiers names in thee at last,
Do loose their stile, and coyties royall seat.
What tho? is not the sea of more renowne
Then rivers, which in him themselues do drowne?

Epig. 46. Gabriell Goodman, heretofore Deane of Westminster.

Goodman wast hight, (and lesse I misse to scan)
Thou wast indeed a zealous right good man.

Epig. 47. Tam Baccho, quam Uulcano.

To Hugh, the Ale-Draper.

Thou art a Crafts-man good; yet all thy Craft
Cannot detaine thee from too deepe a Draft.

Epig. 48. To the noble heroike Gent: Sir William Sidney Knight, of the place of his Nativitie.

Zeland did blaze thy birth, be like thy name;
Then Sea, and Land shal Trumpe thy Goldē fame.

Epig. 49. To Zutphen, a towne in Gilderland, at the Beleagring of which, the renowned Sir Phillip Sidney was killed.

I wist not which thy fame or infamie?
Doth more exceede, in causing Sidneys fall:
But yet, I rather thinke thy fame, for why?
Before that time thou hadst no fame at all.

Epig. 50. On Elizabeths Embleme, late Queene of England, Tanquam Ovis.

Thou wast a sheepe, and Wolfes thy shepheards were;
How didst thou then escape Deaths bloody hand?
Another shepheard which doth rule the Spheare,
Did these fell shepheards wondrously withstand.

Epig. 51. In Du Bartas praise, and his Translator.

Right well Du Bartas may we call thy name,
For Duw in Welch betokens more then Man.
So wast, I thinke, when thou thy Laies didst frame,
Such Heav'nly Muse sole Man could scarsly scan.
And Iosuah thou that took'st this verse in hand
To turne; for ere thy sunne of praise shall stand.

Epig. 52. To wise Lusca.

I wonder, Lusca, of thy foolish Pate,
Which to thy husband haste so wise a Mate;
He should haue powr'd into thy selfe being One
Linkt to himselfe, some wisdome long agone.
But, as I gesse, thy head is farc'd so full
With folly, that no lore can pearce thy scull.

Epig. 53. To publicke Lata alias Wh[illeg.]

Why do men call thee, Publicke? for I weene,
What thou committ'st is not in Publick seene.

Epig. 54. On Fabius, to the Readers.

Thou didst resigne thy Office, wote yee why?
Because thou sai'st, thou hard'st a Rat to Squeake:
None would haue wondred at thy foolerie,
In leaving it, if thou hadst hard her Speake.

Epig. 55. Pilling, and Polling.

To Dæmon, and Damon.

Dæ:
How ist Comrade? we both professe the Law,
Therfore we should in one yoke equal draw.

Da:
We do; but in the Manner we disioine,
I civill do, thou common do'st Purloine.

Dæ:
No force, our Maners both shall Manours buy;

Da:
Why then Ile shaue, and fley thou Equitie.

Epig. 56. To the most learned, and Heavenly Divine, Doctor Holland, Doctor of the Chaire, lately Deceased.

Thy sacred Chaire did oft from Earth thee Mount:
No marvaile; for of Earth thou nought didst Count.

Epig. 57. To Sir Hebes, the Unctions Empericke.

What diffrence twixt the Papists Vnction,
And thine? for both we see be quite extreame;
No great; they vse it when all helpe is gone,
And thou hereby more kill'st then curst, I deeme.

Epig. 58. To his loving friend Mr Ie: Mayos, Preacher of Gods Word.

In the Church primitiue, devoted men,
Did lay their Treasures at the Apostles feet;
But the Derivatiue, alas, since then,
Allowance poore allots to Preachers meete.
But like their brother Ananias, they,
Yeeld their poore Pastors, but a part of Pay.

Epig. 59. To his friend R. Loue.

Loue oft is taken for blinde Cupids Game;
So is all loue, thats only but in Name.

Epig. 60. To the Illustrious L: Viscount de Lisle, brother to Noble Sir Phill: Sydney.

Though not in Name vnto thy brother deere,
Yet thou in Nature art his worthy peere;
His fame extolled, blazed forth his name
Thy name exalted, Trumpets loud thy fame.

Epig. 61. To the worthy Mecænas of learning, Oliver, Lo: St Iohn, Baron of Bledso.

We Scholers may, St Iohn, thee stile right well,
Which gratis giv'st to Saints what others sel.

Epig. 62. The Gilden Mile.

If that same Mile were farced full with Gold,
That's Gilden call'd, for her smooth-silken face;
Then would our Mony-Miners sure be bold
Her pathfaire-superficies to deface.
Then should shee right her Gilden name forsake:
And for the same a gauled name might take.

Epig. 63. Ius, and Iurista Robbing poore Luscus.

Ius:
How ist colleague? how goes Don-Luscus case?

Iur:
Clean backwarts, sans of Angels bright a brase

Ius:
These heav'nly be, how then canst thou thē haue?

Iur:
Friend, thou mistak'st the earthly I do craue.

Epig. 64. On Thraso, the kill Cow.

I meete percase Dell Thraso at the shore,
As he came fresh from Irelands dismall warre;
I askt what newes? He told me all, and more,
How he himselfe did thousands kill, and skarre.
I him beli'ud, for he did beare about
Whole multitudes of the rebellious Rout.

Epig. 65. Spiritus, & Caro.

To his loving friend Mr R. Tho.

These seeme in peace to liue in midst of warre,
So blind we iudge whē with our selues we iarre.

Epig. 66. Brittaines Bursse.

To the famous late Earle of Sarisburie.

Full fraught with store shall be thy famous Bursse,
When penilesse shall be the Misers purse.

Epig. 67. To the ingenious Epigrammatists Io: Owens, and Io: Heath, both brought vp in New Coll: in Oxenford.

Though you were both not of one Mother bore,
Yet nursed were you at the selfe same brest:
For fluent Genious, and ingenious lore,
And the same Dugges successiuely haue prest.
Tis true yee are but Fosterers by birth,
Yet brothers right in Rimes conceiptfull mirth.

Epig. 68. To Blincke, the Archer.

Cupid is blinde yet never misse the white:
But thou do'st see, yet never shoot'st aright.

Epig. 69. Pecunia potest omnia.

On franticke Fiscus.

The proverbe is, Dame Mony can do All;
It instigats the Theefe to kill and steale.
It Spurres the Merchant On, to Round the Ball
Of this vast Orbe, to'enrich his Common-weale.
What can it not? It causeth vs runne mad,
And Fifcus too, being therewith overclad.

Epig. 70. The capring Corde.

To theevish Lato, and Clownish Leto.

VVhat wouldst haue done with that strong halter, Nick?
Which, Lato thought t' exchange for thy Gold;
Thou in it wouldst haue show'n a capring Tricke,
And strech't thy Necke in that Racke, long of old.
But since thou scap'st, giue Lato's Corde againe,
His right 'tis pitty from him to detaine.

Epig. 71. On the Worldlings question.

The common question now a daies doth passe,
Not what shee is; but what sweet Mopsa ha's.

Epig. 72. On the Nativity of Queene Elizabeth, borne on the Eue of the Nativity of Ma.

Thy Virgin Birth vpon a Virgins Eue,
Did true Presage thou should'st a Virgin Liue.

Epig. 73. To our Navigators, seeking heare the Port of Rest.

Yee Neptunes Plowmen, ye are cleane astray,
Which seeke on Earth the Port of quiet Rest;
Direct your course vnto Olympus Bay,
This of all other Capes is sure the Best.
But your calme sea must be the liquid Aire,
Your ships, your sailes the wings not of Despaire.

Epig. 74. A paire royall of Fiends.

If friendship true did ere in Bad Ones stay,
It did remaine in Bengfield, Winchester,
And Constable; three men of Hels array,
Which sought Elyza'in in hir Prime to smoother.
I may not tearme these paire of Royall friends
But rather paire of most disloyall fiends.

Epig. 75. To his loving Cosen Mr Rees Myricke.

Thou shalt now light on many a compleat frie,
That will thee call, most loving Cosin, kinde,
Which never skill'd it by arts Heraldrie;
Take heed, this Cosin, mai'st a cousner finde.
For Iudas-like h'ill Haile thee with a kisse;
And to betray, such Cheaters seldome misse.

Epig. 76. On Fuske, the Gormandiser.

To his Cosin Row: Uaughan student in Physicke.

Physitians say, all sicknes doth proceede
From Ore aboundance, or Vacuitie;
Whereof, the first thou verifi'est in deed
My Fuske, by gorging thy profunditie.
And 'fore that Nature should a Vacuum graunt
Within thy Panch; Death-Surfeit thou wilt haunt.

Epig. 77. On an Inne, Grac'd with the Flowre-de-Luce.

Th'art brauely deckt without, with Frāce faire Armes,
But stain'd within with her most lothsome Harmes.

Epig. 78. Coytie Castle, and Radyr house exclaiming ou Time.

World-wasting Time, thou worker of our woes
Thou keene-edg'd rasor of our famous name,
That antique was, but now oblivious growes,
The subiect almost of contempt and shame.
Yet doe thy worst, our names shall liue for ay,
Altho our fame thou buried hast in Clay.

Epig. 79. Almes Deed's.

On Pinch-Peny, Tent.

Some Treasures cast into the poore mans Box,
Some slender Mites according to their state;
But thou didst never (Tent) once op'e thy Lockes,
Thy Mydas muck for to anihilate.
But stuff'st his mawe with Roundings for to eate,
To still his crie, which did for coine intreat.

Epig. 80. To the studious, and noble Gent. Sr R. Sydney, knight of the Bath.

The waters giue thee titles; but the earth
Shall adde great Trophies to thy greater Birth.

Epig. 81. Lalus, and Lelius.

Lalus presuming on a dram of Lore,
Did Lelius daughter for his Mate implore.
Tush Princocke proud who scornefully repli'd,
Think'st thou to haue my Darling, for thy Bride?
La:
I am a Scholler, so I may growe great,
And may hereafter sit in princely seat.

Le.
What do'st professe? what is thy facultie?

La.
I study sacred deepe Divinitie.

Le.
Tut, what a Priest? a Tenant but for life?
Packhence thou get'st not my ioy for thy wife.

La.
Be patient Sir, let me win your good will,
I am a Lawier, full of Ploydons skill.

Le.
I'st so? why then I'le instantly thee wiue
Vnto my child, for thou art like to thriue.

Epig. 82. On Prudentius, a Christian Poet.

Tis not thy name mak's thee deale prudently,
But thy profession, Christianitie.

Epig. 83. To the most Rever. in Christ, Francis. B. of Landaffe u his Catalogue.

Though no Record shall register thy fame,
Thine owne Records enrowled haue the same.

Epig. 84. The Crab tree.

Of all the Trees, the Crab tree, I thinke best;
(The Oke is strong great buildings to erect,
The fir tree faire to frame thereof a chest,
TheEw most fit an arrow to direct.)
But this ha's in't a pretious Baulme to cure
The poys'ned stings which womens tongs procure.

Epig. 85. On our fleering, fawning, trecherous Gnathoes.

The temp'rat Zones, as

[a]

1 Meta.

Naso testifies,
Participate of heate, and cold commixt.
Herein I thinke, he vents out truth, not lies;
Because that many in these Clymat's fixt
Doe, as the Proverbe saith, in either hand,
Both carry water, and a burning Brand.

Epig. 86. On Golden Simonie.

To his deere affectiue Cousen, Mr I. Pralpth.

At first, I knowe, our ghostly simonie
His name deriv'd from Simon Magus, iust;
But now adaies, I thinke it verily,
It tooke his name from See-money accurst.
Hereby Sir Iohn gets him a living fat,
That never knewe the Latine for his hat.

Epig. 87. Heavens Diademe.

To his fr. and familiar, W. Io.

Most wonder will to heare a beggars brat
Should haue as good, as large an heritage,
As the rich heire of some great Potentate,
That whilome was, or is in this our age.
But so it is, the Heavens Hirarchie
To Spade belongs, as well to Scepter hie.

Epig. 88. Perkins cases, the Divine.

Thy sacred Cases conscionable be,
And why not Fips? because he nips the Fee.

Epig. 89. To the most Rever. Father in Christ, Anth. B. of St Davids.

Of his learned conceipts painted in his hall.

Some Pen conceipts their ingine sole to shew,
But thine doe wit, and sacred Lore containe:
Which tho domesticke be, for private yew,
Thy fame to publish yet, they doe 'pertaine.
If any question why they secret lie,
I say because the Pencill cannot flie.

Epig. 90. On his brother, buried in Zeland,

VVhat though thy corps, as is the

[a]

Gen. 49 33.

custome old,
with thy forefathers doth not lie ingrav'd?
I trust thy soule with theirs be safe enrowl'd
Within the booke of life, most certaine sav'd.

Epig. 91. To the hypocriticall Papist, wearing the Gospell of St Iohn about his necke.

Thou well this book about thy neck mai'st weare:
For, this, I knowe, thy heart it comes not neere.

[Epig. 92.] To his cordiall fr. Mr Moore Fortune heretofore a Traveller. Of Virgina.

The Naturall

[a]

Ex lib. Aug. Nav.

Virginianist's beleeue,
All creatures, both visible, vnseene;
That were, or shall, or doe on earth now liue,
To be composed of light water greene.
A light beliefe, more light then is the water;
To deeme that all was made of such a matter.

Epig. 93. In medio virtus.

To his fr. Rich. Iohnes

Vertue they say 'twixt two extreames doth stand,
To separate Superlatiues in ill:
Which true we finde in Brodefoord with her Strand,
That parts Lauryddian, 'gainst Lanellies will.
Else sure the bibbers of these famous Townes,
Would meet ful oft to cracke their giddie crownes.

Epig. 94. To the learned, honest, and Pious Gent.

Mr Th. Leysons, Phisitian; of the Bathes.

Your Bathes partake of waters cold, hot too,
A wonder t'were, but that they wonders doe.

Epig. 95. On the Orchadians, with their Bestiall fellowship.

It ill befits for Man and beast to lie
In one selfe roome without partitions shreene;
which the Orchadians hereof testifies.
A match ill made together as I weene.
Vnlesse it be for loue of buggerie,
The worst of kinde with beasts to multiply.

Epig. 96. To the Censurers of these vulgar Poesies, Epigrams.

Some carping Criticks doubtlesse will averre,
This kind of rime to haue a common hew,
And therefore harsh, be cause it doth inferre
No novell forme, like to the fashion new;
No marvell, for it is the worlds true guise,
The new to loue, the ancient to despise.

Epig. 97. To ingenious Ben. Iohnson.

If that thy Lore were equall to thy wit:
Thou in Apollo's chaire might'st iustly sit.

Epig. 98. The Traveller.

Costing Catita, t'was my chance to meet
Alumnus poore, whome kindly I did greet:
And ask't what newes? who, sighing, did impart,
Which to vnlace, said he, torments my heart.
But hoping, friend thou wilt condole with me:
I will vnfold what I too common see.
The vnderling in Church, and Common-weale,
Must travaile, trudge, of bondage the viue seale;
And when his sorrie Sallarie would gaine,
He oft receaues his labour for his paine.
The poore Pedant, who liues a servile life,
Which ever toiles, turmoiles in endlesse strife;
Must be to all, yea to the Clowne a Salue,
And for his owne, with cap and knee must craue.
The needy student wanting meanes to liue,
Detesting by the former waies to thriue:
The Oc'ean furrowes, being quite out of hope,
And either serues fierce Mavors, or the Pope.
Alas, quoth I, is this the best reward?
That good deserts reapes in this fertile soile?
Yes certs,, said he, but for the soules regard,
T'were better farre at the plow's taile to toile.

Epig. 99. To long Megge of Westm.

All cald thee, long Megge, true; they did not misse;
If broad Megge too, they had not fail'd, I wis.

Epig. 100. To the kinde Reader, of the Censure of my Booke.

Some will, no doubt, thee aske of this my Booke,
Whither 't be good; perhaps thow'lt say, so, so.
Thy Iudgement giue not so, I pray thee, looke:
But hereof rather answere him, no, no.
Then ile be sure to shun each curious frie:
That nought but faults in Writings can espie.