All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet Being Sixty and three in Number. Collected into one Volume by the Author [i.e. John Taylor]: With sundry new Additions, corrected, reuised, and newly Imprinted |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| [A very Merrie VVherrie-Ferry-VOYAGE.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet |  |
6
[A very Merrie VVherrie-Ferry-VOYAGE.]
AS MVCH HAPPINESSE AS MAY BE WISHED, ATTEND THE Two hopefull Impes, of Gentility and Learning, Mr Richard and George Hatton.
You forward Payre, in Towardly Designes,To you I send these sowsde Salt-water Lines:
Accept, Reade, Laugh, and breathe, and to't againe,
And still my Muse, and I, shall yours remaine.
Iohn Taylor.
PROLOGVE.
I now intend a Voyage here to Write,From London vnto Yorke, helpe to Jndite,
Great Neptune lend thy Ayde to me, who past
Through thy tempestuous Waues with many a blast,
And then J'le true describe the Townes, and men,
And manners, as I went and came agen.
7
A very Merrie VVherrie-Ferry-VOYAGE. OR, YORKE for my Money.
[_]
In this poem footnotes are anchored in the text. Where anchors and footnotes do not correspond, no attempt has been made to match them.
Full 1600. adding twenty two:
The Month of Iuly that's for euer fam'd,
(Because 'twas so by Iulius Cæsar nam'd)
Iust when sixe dayes, and to each Day a Night,
The dogged Dog-dayes had begun to bite,
On that day which doth blest Remembrance bring,
The name of an Apostle, and our King,
On that remarkeable good day, Saint Iames,
I vndertooke my Voyage downe the Thames.
The Signe in Cancer, or the Ribs and Brest,
And Æolus blew sweetly, West Southwest.
Then after many farewels, Cups and Glasses,
(Which oftentimes hath made men worse then Asses)
About the waste or Nauell of the Day,
Not being dry or Drunke, I went my way.
Our Wherry somewhat old, or strucke in age,
That had endur'd neere 4. yeeres Pilgrimage,
And carried honest people, Whores, and Thieues,
Some Sergeants, Bayliffes, and some vnder-Shrieues,
And now at last it was her lot to be
Th'aduentrous bonny Barke to carry me.
But as an old Whores Beauty being gone
Hides Natures wracke, with Artlike painting on:
So I with Colours finely did repaire
My Boats defaults, and made her fresh and faire.
Thus being furnish'd with good Wine and Beere,
And Bread and Meat (to banish hungers feare)
With Sayles, with Anker, Cables, Sculs and Oares,
With Carde and Compasse, to know Seas & Shores,
With Lanthorne, Candle, Tinder-box and Match,
And with good Courage, to work, ward, and watch,
Wel man'd, wel ship'd, wel victual'd, wel appointed,
Well in good health, well timbred and wel ioynted:
All wholly well, and yet not halfe Fox'd well,
Twixt Kent, and Essex, we to Grauesend fell.
There I had welcome of my friendly Host,
(A Grauesend Trencher, and a Grauesend Tost)
Good meat and lodging at an easie rate,
And rose betimes, although I lay downe late.
Bright Lucifer the Messenger of Day,
His burnisht twinkling splendour did display:
Rose cheek'd Aurora hid her blushing face,
She spying Phœbus comming gaue him place,
Whilst Zephirus, and Auster, mix'd together,
Breath'd gently, as fore-boding pleasant weather,
Old Neptune had his Daughter Thames supplide,
With ample measure of a flowing Tide,
But Thames supposde it was but borrowed goods,
And with her Ebbes, paid Neptune backe his Floods.
Then at the time of this Auspicious dawning,
I rowzd my men, who Scrubbing, stretching, yawning,
Arose, left Grauesend, Rowing downe the streame,
And neere to Lee, we to an Ancker came.
Because the Sands were bare, and Water low,
We rested there, till it two houres did Flow:
And then to trauell went our Galley foyst,
Our Ancker quickly weigh'd, our sayle vp hoyst,
Where thirty miles we past, a mile from shore,
The water two foot deepe, or little more.
Thus past we on the braue East Saxon Coast,
From 3. at morne, till 2. at noone almost,
By Shobury, Wakering, Fowlenesse, Tittingham,
And then we into deeper water came.
There is a crooked Bay runnes winding farre,
To Maulden, Esterford, and Colchester,
Which cause twas much about, (to ease mens paine)
I left the Land, and put into the mayne.
8
I made out strait for Frinton and the Nasse.
But being 3. Leagues then from any Land,
And holding of our Maine-sheate in my hand,
We did espy a cole-blacke Cloud to rise,
Fore-runner of some Tempest from the Skies;
Scarce had we sayl'd a hundred times our length,
But that the winde began to gather strength:
Stiffe Eolus with Neptune went to Cuffes:
With huffes, and puffes, and angry Counter-Buffes,
From boysterous gusts, they fell to fearefull flawes,
Whilst we 'twixt wind & water, neer Deaths jaws,
Tost like a Corke vpon the mounting maine,
Vp with a whiffe, and straightway downe againe,
At which we in our mindes much troubled were,
And said, God blesse vs all, what weather's here?
For (in a word) the Seas so high did grow,
That Ships were forc'd to strike their topsails low:
Meane time (before the winde) we scudded braue,
Much like a Ducke, on top of euery waue.
But nothing violent is permanent,
And in short space away the Tempest went.
So farewell it; and you that Readers be,
Suppose it was no welcome Guest to me:
My Company and I, it much perplext,
And let it come when I send for it next.
But leauing jesting, Thankes to God I giue,
Twas through his mercy we did scape and liue,
And though these things with mirth I doe expresse,
Yet still I thinke on God with thankfulnesse.
Thus ceast the Storme, and weather gan to smile,
And we row'd neere the shoare of Horsey Ile.
Then did illustrious Titan gin to steepe
His Chariot in the Westerne Ocean deepe:
We saw the farre-spent Day, withdraw his light,
And made for Harwich, where we lay all night.
There did I finde an Hostesse with a Tongue
As nimble as it had on Gimmols hung:
'Twill neuer tyre, though it continuall toyl'd,
And went as yare, as if it had bin Oyl'd:
All's one for that, for ought which I perceiue,
It is a fault which all our Mothers haue:
And is so firmely grafted in the Sexe,
That he's an Asse that seemes thereat to vexe.
Apolloes beames began to guild the Hils,
And West Southwest the winde the Welkin fils,
When I left Harwich, and along we'Row'd
Against a smooth calme flood that stifly flow'd,
By Bawdsey Hauen, and by Orford Nasse,
And so by Aldbrough we at last did passe.
By Lestoffe we to Yarmouth made our way,
Our third dayes trauell being Saturday,
There did I see a Towne well fortifide,
Well gouern'd, with all Natures wants supplide;
The situation in a wholsome ayre,
The buildings (for the most part) sumptuous, faire,
The people courteous, and industrious, and
With labour makes the Sea inrich the Land.
Besides (for ought I know) this one thing more,
The Towne can scarcely yeeld a man a Whore:
It is renownd for Fishing, farre and neere,
And sure in Britaine it hath not a Peere.
But noble Nash, thy fame shall liue alwaies,
Thy witty Pamphlet, the red Herring praise,
Hath done great Yarmouth much renowned right,
And put my artlesse Muse to silent quite.
On Sunday we a learned Sermon had,
Taught to confirme the good, reforme the bad;
Acquaintance in the Towne I scarce had any,
And sought for none, in feare to finde too many,
Much kindnesse to me by mine Host was done,
(A Mariner nam'd William Richardson)
Besides mine Hostesse gaue to me at last
A Cheese, with which at Sea we brake our fast,
The gift was round, and had no end indeed,
But yet we made an end of it with speed:
My thankes surmounts her bounty, all men sees
My gratitudes in Print: But where's the Cheese?
So on the Munday, betwixt one and twaine,
I tooke my leaue, and put to Sea againe,
Down Yarmouth Road we'row'd with cutting speed,
(The winde all quiet, Armes must doe the deed)
Along by Castor, and Sea-bordring Townes,
Whose Cliffes & shores abide stern Neptunes frowns,
Sometimes a mile from land, and sometimes two,
(As depthes or sands permitted vs to doe)
Till drawing toward night, we did perceiue
The winde at East, and Seas began to heaue:
The rowling Billowes all in fury roares
And tumbled vs, we scarce could vse our Oares:
Thus on a Lee-shore darknesse'gan to come,
The Sea grew high, the winds'gan hisse and hum:
The foaming curled waues the shore did beate,
(As if the Ocean would all Norfolke eate)
To keepe at Sea, was dangerous I did thinke,
To goe to Land I stood in doubt to sinke:
Thus landing, or not landing (I suppos'd)
We were in perill round about inclos'd;
At last to rowe to shore I thought it best,
Mongst many euils, thinking that the least:
My men all pleas'd to doe as I command,
Did turne the Boats head opposite to land,
And with the highest waue that I could spie,
I bade them rowe to shore immediately.
When straight we all leap'd ouer-boord in haste,
Some to the knees, and some vp to the waste,
Where sodainely 'twixt Owle-light and the darke,
We pluck'd the Boat beyond high-water marke.
And thus halfe sowsd, halfe stewd, with Sea & sweat,
9
But we supposing all was safe and well,
In shunning Sylla, on Caribdis fell:
For why, some Women, and some Children there
That saw vs land, were all possest with feare:
And much amaz'd, ran crying vp and downe,
That Enemies were come to take the Towne.
Some said that we were Pirats, some said Theeues,
And what the women sayes, the men beleeues.
With that foure Constables did quickly call,
Your ayde! to Armes you men of Cromer all!
Then straitway forty men with rusty Bils,
Some arm'd in Ale, all of approued skils,
Deuided into foure stout Regiments,
To guard the Towne from dangerous Euents;
Braue Captaine Pescod did the Vantguard lead,
And Captaine Clarke the Rereward gouerned,
Whilst Captaine Wiseman, and hot Captaine Kimble,
Were in the mayne Battalia fierce and nimble:
One with his squadron watch'd me all the night,
Lest from my lodging I should take my flight:
A second (like a man of simple note)
Did by the Sea side all night watch my Boate,
The other two, to make their names Renownd,
Did Guard the Town, & brauely walk the Rownd.
And thus my Boat, my selfe, and all my men,
Were stoutly Guarded, and Regarded then:
For they were all so full with feare possest,
That without mirth it cannot be exprest.
My Inuention doth Curuet, my Muse doth Caper,
My Pen doth daunce out lines vpon the Paper,
And in a word, I am as full of mirth,
As mighty men are at their first sonnes birth.
Me thinkes Moriscoes are within my braines,
And Heyes, and Antiques run through all my veines:
Heigh, to the tune of Trenchmoore I could write
The valiant men of Cromers sad affright:
As Sheepe doe feare the Wolfe, or Geese the Fox,
So all amazed were these sencelesse Blockes:
That had the Towne beene fir'd, it is a doubt,
But that the women there had pist it out,
And from the men Reek'd such a fearefull sent,
That People three miles thence mus'd what it ment,
And he the truth that narrowly had sifted,
Had found the Constables, had need t'haue shifted.
They did examine me, I answer'd than
I was Iohn Taylor, and a Waterman,
And that my honest fellow Iob and I,
Were seruants to King Iames his Maiesty,
How we to Yorke, vpon a Mart were bound,
And that we landed, fearing to be drownd.
When all this would not satisfie the Crew,
I freely op'd my Trunke, and bade them view,
I shew'd them Bookes, of Chronicles and Kings,
Some Prose; some Verse, and idle Sonettings,
I shew'd them all my Letters to the full:
Some to Yorkes Archbishop, and some to Hull,
But had the twelue Apostles sure beene there
My witnesses, I had beene ne'r the neere.
And let me vse all Oathes that I could vse,
They still were harder of beliefe then Iewes.
They wanted faith, and had resolu'd before,
Not to beleeue what e'r we said or swore.
They said the world was full of much deceit,
And that my Letters might be counterfeit:
Besides, there's one thing bred the more dislike,
Because mine Host was knowne a Catholike.
These things concurring, people came in Clusters,
And multitudes within my lodging Musters,
That I was almost woorried vnto death,
In danger to be stifled with their breath.
And had mine Host tooke pence apiece of those
Who came to gaze on me, I doe suppose,
No Iack an Apes, Baboone, or Crocodile
E'r got more mony in so small a while.
Besides, the Pesants did this one thing more,
They call'd and dranke foure shillings on my score:
And like vnmanner'd Mungrells went their way,
Not spending ought, but leauing me to pay.
This was the houshold businesse: in meane space
Some Rascals ran vnto my Boate apace,
And turn'd and tumbled her, like men of Gotham.
Quite topsie turuey vpward with her bottome,
Vowing they would in tatters piece-meale teare
The cursed Pirates Boate, that bred their feare;
And I am sure, their madnesse (to my harme)
Tore a Boord out, much longer then mine arme.
And they so brus'd, and split our Wherry, that
She leak'd, we cast out water with a Hat.
Now let men iudge, vpon this truths reuealing,
If Turks or Mores could vse more barb'rous dealing;
Or whether it be fit I should not write
Their enuy, foolish feare, and mad despight.
What may wise men conceiue, when they shal note,
That fiue vnarm'd men, in a Wherry Boate,
Nought to defend, or to offend with stripes,
But one old sword, and two Tobacco-Pipes,
And that of Constables a Murniuall,
Men, women, children, all in generall,
And that they all should be so valiant, wise,
To feare we wou'd a Market Towne surprise.
In all that's writ, I vow I am no lyer,
10
The dreadfull names of Talbot, or of Drake,
Ne'r made the foes of England more to quake
Then I made Cromer; for their feare and dolor,
Each mā might smel out by his neighbors Collor.
At last, the ioyfull morning did approach,
And Sol began to mount his flaming Coach:
Then did I thinke my Purgatory done,
And rose betimes intending to be gone;
But holla, stay, 'twas otherwayes with me,
The messe of Constables were shrunke to three:
Sweet Mr Pescods double diligence
Had horst himselfe, to beare intelligence
To Iustices of Peace within the land,
What dangerous businesse there was now in hand:
There was I forc'd to tarry all the while,
Till some said he rode foure and twenty mile,
In seeking men of worship, peace and quorum,
Most wisely to declare strange newes before vm.
And whatsoeuer tales he did recite,
I'm sure he caus'd Sir Austin Palgraue, Knight,
And Mr Robert Kempe a Iustice there
Came before me, to know how matters were.
As conference 'twixt them and I did passe,
They quickly vnderstood me what I was:
And though they knew me not in prose and lookes,
They had read of me in my verse, and bookes;
My businesses account I there did make,
And I and all my company did take
The lawfull Oath of our Allegeance then,
By which we were beleeu'd for honest men.
In duty, and in all humility
I doe acknowledge the kinde courtesie
Of those two Gentlemen; for they did see,
How much the people were deceiu'd in me.
They gaue me Coyne, and Wine, and Suger too,
And did as much as lay in them to doe,
To finde them that my Boat had torne and rent,
And so to giue them worthy punishment.
Besides Sir Austin Palgraue bade me this,
To goe but foure miles, where his Dwelling is,
And I and all my Company should there
Finde friendly Welcome, mix'd with other Cheare.
I gaue them thankes, and so I'l giue them still,
And did accept their Cheare in their good will.
Then 3. a Clocke at afternoone and past,
I was Dischar'd from Cromer at the last.
But for men shall not thinke that Enuiously
Against this Towne I let my Lines to flye:
And that I doe not lie, or scoffe, or fable,
For them I wil write something Charitable.
It is an Ancient Market Towne that stands
Vpon a lofty Cliffe of mouldring Sands:
The Sea against the Cliffes doth daily beate,
And euery tyde into the Land doth eate,
The Towne is poore, vnable by Expence,
Against the raging Sea to make defence:
And euery day it eateth further in,
Still wasting, washing downe the sand doth win,
That if some course be not tane speedily,
The Town's in danger in the Sea to lye.
A goodly Church stands on these brittle grounds,
Not many fairer in Great Britaines bounds:
And if the Sea shall swallow't, as some feare,
Tis not ten thousand pounds the like could reare.
No Christian can behold it but with griefe,
And with my heart I wish them quicke reliefe.
So farewell Cromer, I haue spoke for thee,
Though thou didst much vnkindly deale with me,
And honest Mariners, I thanke you there,
Laboriously you in your armes did beare
My Boat for me, three furlongs at the least,
When as the tyde of Ebbe was so decreast,
You waded, and you launch'd her quite afloate,
And on your backes you bore vs to our Boate.
Th'vnkindnesse that I had before, it come,
Because the Constables were troublesome:
Long'd to be busie, would be men of action,
Whose labours was their trauels satisfaction:
Who all were borne when wit was out of Towne,
And therefore got but little of their owne:
So farewell Pescod, Wiseman, Kimble, Clarke,
Foure sonnes of Ignorance (or much more dark)
You made me lose a day of braue calme weather.
So once againe farewell, fare ill together.
Then 'longst the Norfolke Coast we row'd out-right
To Blackney, when we saw the comming Night,
The burning eye of Day began to winke,
And into Thetis lap his beames to shrinke:
And as he went, stain'd the departed Skye,
With red, blue, purple, and vermillion Dye,
Till all our Hemisphere laments his lacke,
And mourning night puts on a Robe of blacke,
Bespangled diuersly with golden sparkes,
Some moueable, some Sea-mens fixed markes.
The milky way that blest Astrea went,
When as she left this Earthly continent,
Shew'd like a Christall cawsey to the Thrones
Of Ioue and Saturne, pau'd with precious Stones.
Old Oceanus, Neptune, Innachus,
And two and thirty huffe-capt Æolus,
Had all tane truce and were in league combin'd,
No billowes foaming, or no breath of Winde;
The solid Earth, the Ayre, the Ocean deepe
Seem'd as the whole world had bin fast asleepe.
In such a pleasant Euen as this came I
To Blackney, with my Ship and Company:
11
For welcome, drinking, lodging, and for food.
The morrow when Latonaes Sunne 'gan rise,
And with his Light illumines mortall eyes:
When Cocks did crow, & Lambes did bleat & blea,
I mounted from my Couch, and put to Sea.
Like Glasse the Oceans face was smooth and calme,
The gentle Ayre breath'd like Arabian Balme,
Gusts, stormes and flawes, lay sleeping in their Cels,
Whilst with much labour we Row'd o'r the Welles.
This was the greatest Day of worke indeed.
And it behou'd vs much, to make much speed:
For why, before that day did quite expire,
We past the dangerous Wash, to Lincolnshire.
And there in three houres space and little more,
We Row'd to Boston from the Norfolke shore:
Which by Report of people that dwell there,
Is six and twenty mile, or very neere.
The way vnknowne, and we no Pilot had,
Flats, Sands and shoales; and Tydes all raging mad,
Which Sands our passage many times denide,
And put vs sometimes three or foure miles wide,
Besides the Flood runs there, with such great force,
That I imagine it out-runnes a Horse:
And with a head some 4. foot high that Rores,
It on the sodaine swels and beats the Shores.
It tumbled vs a ground vpon the Sands,
And all that we could doe with wit, or hands,
Could not resist it, but we were in doubt,
It would haue beaten our Boates bottome out.
It hath lesse mercy then Beare, Wolfe, or Tyger,
And in those Countries it is call'd the Hyger.
We much were vnacquainted with those fashions,
And much it troubled vs with sundry passions:
We thought the shore we neuer should recouer,
And look'd still when our Boat would tumble ouer.
But He that made all with his word of might,
Brought vs to Boston, where we lodg'd all night.
The morrow morning when the Sun 'gan peepe,
I wak'd and rub'd mine eyes, and shak'd off sleepe,
And vnderstanding that the Riuer went,
From Boston vp to Lincolne, and to Trent,
To Humber, Owse, and Yorke, and (taking paine)
We need not come in sight of Sea againe,
I lik'd the motion, and made haste away
To Lincolne, which was 50. mile, that Day:
Which City in the 3. King Edwards Raigne,
Was th'onely staple, for this Kingdomes gaine
For Leather, Lead, and Wooll, and then was seene
Fiue times ten Churches there, but now Fifteene;
A braue Cathedrall Church there now doth stand,
That scarcely hath a fellow in this Land:
Tis for a Godly vse, a goodly Frame,
And beares the blessed Virgin Maries name.
The Towne is Ancient, and by course of Fate,
Through Warres, and Time, defac'd and Ruinate,
But Monarchies, & Empires, Kingdomes, Crowns,
Haue rose or fell, as Fortune smiles or frownes:
And Townes, and Cities haue their portions had
Of time-tost Variations, good and bad.
There is a Prouerbe, part of which is this,
They say that Lincolne was, and London is.
From thence we past a Ditch of Weeds and Mud,
Which they doe (falsly) there call Forcedike Flood:
For I'l be sworne, no flood I could finde there,
But dirt & filth, which scarce my Boat would beare,
'Tis 8 miles long, and there our paines was such.
As all our trauell did not seeme so much,
My men did wade and draw the Boate like Horses,
And scarce could tugge her on with all our forces:
Moyl'd, toyl'd, myr'd, tyr'd, stil labr'ing, euer doing,
Yet were we 9. long houres that 8. miles going.
At last when as the Day was well-nigh spent,
We gat from Forcedikes floodlesse flood to Trent.
Eu'n as the Windowes of the Day did shut,
Downe Trents swift streame, to Gainsborough we put,
There did we rest vntill the morning Starre,
The ioyfull doores of Dawning did vn-barre:
To Humbers churlish streams, our Course we fram'd,
So Nam'd, for Drowning of a King so nam'd.
And there the swift Ebbe tide ranne in such sort,
The Winde at East, the Waues brake thick & short,
That in some doubts, it me began to strike,
For in my life, I ne'r had seene the like.
My way was vp to Yorke, but my intent
Was contrary, for from the fall of Trent
I fifteene mile went downewards East Northeast,
And as my way was vpward West Southwest.
And as against the Wind we madly venter,
The Waues like Pirats boord our Boate and enter,
But though they came in fury, and amaine,
Like Theeues we cast them ouer-boord againe.
This Conflict lasted two houres to the full,
Vntill we gate to Kingston vpon Hull:
For to that Towne I had a Prooued friend,
That Letters did and Commendations send
By me vnto the worthy Magistrate,
The Maior, and some of's Brethren, in that State.
Besides I had some Letters, of like Charge,
From my good Friend, the Master of the Barge,
Vnto some friends of his, that they would there
12
Sunday at Mr Maiors much Cheere and Wine,
Where as the Hall did in the Parlour Dine,
At night with one that had bin Shrieue I Sup'd,
Well entertain'd I was, and halfe well Cup'd:
On Munday noone, I was inuited than
To a graue Iusticer, an Alderman,
And there such Cheere as Earth and Waters yeeld,
Shew'd like a Haruest in a plentious Field.
Another I must thanke for his Good will,
For he Prest on to bid me welcome still.
There is a Captaine of good Life and Fame,
And, God with vs, I oft haue call'd his Name.
He welcom'd me, as I had bin his fellow,
Lent me his silken Colours, Blacke and Yellow,
Which to our Mast made fast, we with a Drum
Did keepe, till we to Yorke in Triumph come.
Thankes to my louing Host and Hostesse Pease,
There at mine Inne, each Night I tooke mine ease:
And there I gat a Cantle of Hull Cheese
One Euening late, I thanke thee Machabees .
Kind Roger Parker, many thankes to thee,
Thou shew'dst much vndeserued loue to me,
Layd my Boat safe, spent time, Coyne and endeauor,
And mad'st my mony counted Copper euer:
But as at Feasts, the first Course being past,
Men doe reserue their Dainties till the last,
So my most thankes I euer whil'st I liue,
Will to the Maior and his Brethren giue,
But most of all, to shut vp all together
I giue him thankes that did Commend me thither,
Their Loues (like Humber) ouerflow'd the bankes,
And though I Ebbe in worth, I'l flow in Thankes.
Thus leauing off the Men, now of the Towne
Some things which I obseru'd I'l here set downe:
And partly to declare it's praise and worth,
It is the onely Bulwarke of the North.
All other Townes for strength to it may strike,
And all the Northerne parts haue not the like.
The people from the Sea much Wealth haue wonne,
Each man doth liue as he were Neptunes Sonne.
Th'Antiquity thereof a man may Reede
In Reuerend Cambdens workes, and painfull Speede:
How in King Edwards Raigne first of that Name
Then called Wike. Then did they Kingston frame,
And then the Townesmen cut a Riuer there,
An ex'lent Hauen, a Defence or Peere:
Built with excessiue Charge, to saue it from
Fierce Humbers Raging, that each Tyde doth come.
From time to time, more Greatnesse still it gaind,
Till lately whē the Eighth King Henry Raign'd,
He made it greater, by his oft Resort,
And many times kept there his Royall Court,
He Wall'd it well, built Battlements, and Gates,
And (more with Honour to augment their States)
He built two Blockhouses, and Castle strong,
To Guard the Towne from all Inuasiue wrong.
He gaue thē much Munition, Swords, Shafts, Bowes,
And Brazen Ordnance, as the world well knowes,
Which Guns he gaue them for the Towns defence,
But were in 88. all borrowed thence,
With promise they againe should be sent backe:
But the performance euer hath beene slacke.
Now in this Yron age, their Guns I see,
Are mettle like, the Age, and Yron be:
And glad they would be, if they could obtaine,
To change that mettle, for their owne againe.
Foure well built Gates, with bolts, & lockes, & bars,
For ornament or strength, in Peace or Wars:
Besides, to keepe their Foes the further out,
They can Drowne all the Land three miles about.
'Tis plentifully seru'd with Flesh and Fish,
As cheape, as reasonable men can wish.
And thus by Gods grace, and mans industry,
Dame Nature, or men's Art doth it supply.
Some 10. yeeres since Fresh water there was scant,
But with much Cost they haue suppli'd that want;
By a most ex'lent Water-worke that's made,
And to the Towne in Pipes it is conuai'd,
Wrought with most Artificiall engines, and
Perform'd by th'Art of the Industrious hand
Of Mr William Maultby, Gentleman,
So that each man of Note there alwayes can
But turne a Cocke within his House, and still
They haue Fresh-water alwayes at their will,
This haue they all vnto their Great Content,
For which, they each doe pay a yeerely Rent.
There is a Prouerbe, and a Prayer withall,
That we may not to three strange places fall:
From Hull, from Hallifax, from Hell, 'tis thus,
From all these three, Good Lord deliuer vs.
This praying Prouerb's meaning to set downe,
Men doe not wish deliuerance from the Towne:
The Town's nam'd Kingston, Hul's the furious Riuer:
And from Hulls dangers, I say, Lord deliuer.
At Hallifax, the Law so sharpe doth deale,
That whoso more then 13. Pence doth steale,
They haue a Iyn that wondrous quicke and well,
Sends Thieues all headlesse vnto Heau'n or Hell.
From Hell each man sayes, Lord deliuer me,
Because from Hell can no Redemption be:
Men may escape from Hull and Hallifax,
But sure in Hell there is a heauier taxe,
Let each one for themselues in this agree,
13
The Prouerbe and the Prayer expounded plaine,
Now to the Orders of the Towne againe:
I thinke it merits praise for Gouernment,
More then all Townes in Britaines continent,
As first their Charity doth much appeare,
They for the Poore haue so prouided there,
That if a man should walke from Morne till Night,
He shall not see one Begger; nor a Mite
Or any thing shall be demanded euer,
But euery one there doth their best endeauour
To make the Idle worke, and to relieue
Those that are old and past, or Sicknesse grieue.
All poore mens Children haue a House most fit,
Whereas they Sowe, & Spin, and Card, and Knit:
Where all of them haue something still to doe,
As their Capacities will reach vnto,
So that no Idle person, Old or Young
Within the Towne doth harbour or belong.
It yeerely costs Fiue hundred pounds besides,
To fence the Towne, from Hull and Humbers tydes,
For Stakes, for Bauins, Timber, Stones, and Piles,
All which are brought by Water many miles,
For Workmens labour, and a world of things,
Which on the Towne excessiue charges brings.
All which with perill, industry and sweat,
They from the bowels of the Ocean get.
They haue a Bridewell, and an ex'lent skill,
To make some people worke against their will:
And there they haue their Lodging and their meat,
Cleane Whips, and euery thing exceeding neat:
And thus with faire or foule meanes alwayes, they
Giue idle Persons little time to play.
Besides, for euery Sea or Marine cause
They haue a house of Trinity, whose Lawes
And Orders doe Confirme, or else Reforme
That which is right, or that which wrongs deform.
It is a comely built well ordred Place,
But that which most of all the House doth grace,
Are roomes for Widowes, who are old and poore,
And haue bin Wiues to Mariners before.
They are for House-roome, food, or lodging, or
For firing, Christianly prouided for,
And as some dye, some doe their places win,
As one goes out, another doth come in.
Should I in all things giue the Towne it's due,
Some fooles would say I flatter'd, spake vntrue:
Or that I partiall in my writings were,
Because they made me welcome, and good cheare:
But for all those that haue such thoughts of mee,
I rather wish that them I hang'd may see,
Then that they iustly could report, that I
Did Rime for victuals, hunger to supply;
Or that my Muse, or working braines should beat,
To flatter, fawne, or lye, for drinke or meat:
Let Trencher-Poets scrape for such base vailes,
I'l take an Oare in hand when writing failes;
And 'twixt the Boat and Pen, I make no doubt,
But I shall shift to picke a liuing out,
Without base flatt'ry, or false coyned words,
To mowldy Madams, or vnworthy Lords;
Or whatso'er degree, or Townes, or Nations;
I euer did, and still will scorne such fashions.
Heare-say, sometimes vpon a lye may light,
But what I see and know, I dare to write.
Mine eyes did view, before my pen set downe,
These things that I haue written of this Towne:
A new built Custome-house, a faire Towne-Hall,
For solemne meetings, or a Festiuall:
A Maior, twelue Aldermen, one Shrieue, Recorder,
A Towne-Clarke, altogether in one order,
And vniformity doe gouerne so,
They need not flatter friend, or feare a foe,
A Sword, a Cap of maintenance, a Mace
Great, and well Guilt, to do the Towne more grace:
Are borne before the Maior, and Aldermen,
And on Festiuities, or high dayes then,
Those Magistrates their Scarlet Gownes doe weare,
And haue sixe Sergeants to attend each yeare.
Now let men say what Towne in England is,
That truly can compare it selfe with this:
For Scituation, strength and Gouernment,
For Charity, for Plenty, for Content,
For state? And one thing more I there was told,
Not one Recusant all the Towne doth hold,
Nor (as they say) ther's not a Puritan,
Or any nose-wise foole Precisian,
But great and small, with one consent and will,
Obey his Maiesties Iniunctions still.
They say that once therein two Sisters dwelt,
Which inwardly the pricke of Conscience felt,
They came to London, (hauing wherewithall)
To buy two Bibles, all Canonicall,
Th'Apocrypha did put them in some doubt,
And therefore both their bookes were bound without.
Except those two, I ne'r did heare of any
At Hull, though many places haue too many.
But as one scabbed sheepe a flocke may marre,
So there's one man, whose nose did stand a jarre:
Talk'd very scuruily, and look'd ascue,
Because I in a worthy Towns-mans Pue
Was plac'd at Church, when (God knowes I ne'r thought,
To sit there, I was by the Owner brought.
This Squire of low degree displeased than,
Said, I at most was but a Water-man,
And that they such great kindnesse setting forth,
Made more a'th flesh, then e'r the broth was worth:
Which I confesse, but yet I answer make,
'Twas more then I with manners could forsake:
He sure is some high-minded Pharisee,
14
And must be set downe in their Catalogues,
They lou'd the highest seats in Synagogues,
And so (perhaps) doth he, for ought I know,
He may be mounted, when I sit below:
But let him not a Water-man despise,
For from the water he himselfe did rise,
And windes and water both on him haue smil'd,
Else, The great Marchant he had ne'r bin stil'd:
His Character I finely will contriue,
He's scornefull proud, and talking talkatiue:
A great Ingrosser of strange speech and newes,
And one that would sit in the highest Pues,
But bate an Ace, he'l hardly winne the game,
And if I list, I could rake out his name.
Thanks Mr. Maior, for my Bacon Gammon,
Thankes Roger Parker, for my small fresh Sammon,
'Twas ex'lent good, and more the truth to tell ye,
Boyl'd with a fine Plum-Pudding in the belly.
The sixth of August, well accompani'd
With best of Townes-men to the waters side,
There did I take my leaue, and to my Ship
I with my Drum and Colors quickly skip:
The one did dub a dub and rumble, braue
The Ensigne in the aire did play and waue:
I launc'd, supposing all things had bin done,
Bownce, from the Block-house, quoth a roaring Gun.
And wauing Hats on both sides with content
I cri'd Adiew, adiew, and thence we went
Vp Humbers flood that then amaine did swell,
Windes calme, and water quiet as a Well:
We Row'd to Owse with all our force and might,
To Cawood, where we well were lodg'd all night.
The morrow, when as Phœbus 'gan to smile,
I forwards set to Yorke eight little mile:
But two miles short of Yorke I landed than,
To see that reuerend Metropolitan,
That watchful Shepheard, that with care doth keep
Th'infernall Wolfe, from Heau'ns supernall Sheepe:
The painefull Preacher, that most free Almes-giuer,
That though he liue long, is too short a liuer:
That man, whose age the poore doe all lament,
All knowing, when his Pilgrimage is spent,
When Earth to Earth returnes, as Natures debter,
They feare the Prouerbe, Seldome comes the better.
His Doctrine and example speake his due,
And what all people sayes, must needs be true.
In duty I most humbly thanke his Grace,
He at his Table made me haue a place,
And meat and drinke, and gold he gaue me there,
Whilst al my Crue i'th Hal were fill'd with cheare:
So hauing din'd, from thence we quickly past,
Through Owse strong Bridge, to York faire City last;
Our drowning scap'd, more danger was ensuing,
'Twas Size time there, and hanging was a brewing;
But had our faults beene ne'r so Capitall,
We at the Vintners Barre durst answer all.
Then to the good Lord Maior I went, and told
What labour, and what dangers manifold,
My fellow and my selfe had past at Seas.
And if it might his noble Lordship please,
The Boat that did from London thither swim
With vs, in duty we would giue to him.
His Lordship pawsing, with a reuerend hum,
My friend (quoth he) to morrow morning come:
In the meane space I'l of the matter thinke,
And so he bade me to goe nee'r and drinke.
I dranke a Cup of Claret and some Beere,
And sure (for ought I know) he keeps good cheere.
I gaue his Lordship in red guilded leather,
A well bound booke of all my Workes together,
Which he did take .
There in the City were some men of note,
That gladly would giue money for our Boat:
But all this while good manners bade vs stay,
To haue my good Lord Maiors yea, or nay.
But after long demurring of the matter ,
He well was pleas'd to see her on the water,
And then my men Row'd halfe an houre or more,
Whilst he stood viewing her vpon the shore.
They bore his Lordships Children in her there,
And many others, as she well could beare.
At which his Honour was exceeding merry,
Saying it was a pretty nimble Wherry:
But when my men had taken all this paines,
Into their eyes they might haue put their gaines.
Vnto his shop he did perambulate,
And there amongst his Barres of Iron sate.
I ask'd him if he would our Boat forgoe,
Or haue her? And his Lordship answer'd, No.
I tooke him at his word, and said, God buy,
And gladly with my Boat away went I.
I sold the Boat, as I suppos'd most meet,
To honest Mr. Kayes in Cunny street:
He entertain'd me well, for which I thanke him,
And gratefully amongst my friends I'l ranke him.
My kind remembrance here I put in paper,
To worthy Mr. Hemsworth there a Draper.
Amongst the rest he's one that I must thanke,
15
Now for the City: 'Tis of state and Port,
Where Emperors & Kings haue kept their Court,
989, yeere the foundation
Was layd, before our Sauiours Incarnation,
By Ebrank who a Temple there did reare,
And plac'd a Flammin to Diana there:
But when King Lucius here the Scepter swaid,
The Idols leuell with the ground were layd,
Then Eleutherius, Romes high Bishop plac'd,
An Archbishop at Yorke, with Titles grac'd,
Then after Christ 627.
Was Edwin baptiz'd by the grace of heauen,
He pluck'd the Minster down, that then was wood,
And made it stone, a deed both great and good.
The City oft hath knowne the chance of warres,
Of cruell forraigne, and of home-bred iarres.
And those that further please thereof to read,
May turne the volumes of great Hollinshead,
'Tis large, 'tis pleasant and magnificent,
The Norths most fertile famous ornament:
'Tis rich and populous, and hath indeed
No want of any thing to serue their need,
Abundance doth that noble City make
Much abler to bestow, then need to take.
So farewell Yorke, the tenth of August then
Away came I for London with my men.
To dinner I to Pomfret quickly rode,
Where good hot Venison staid for my abode,
I thanke the worshipfull George Shillito,
He fill'd my men and me, and let vs goe.
There did I well view ouer twice or thrice,
A strong, a faire, and ancient Edifice:
Reedifi'd, where it was ruin'd most,
At th'high and hopefull Prince of Wales his cost.
I saw the roome where Exton and his rowt
Of Traytors, Royall Richards braines beat out:
And if that King did strike so many blowes,
As hackes and hewes vpon one pillar showes,
There are one hundred slashes, he withstood,
Before the Villaines shed his Kingly blood.
From Pomfret then, vnto my noble friend,
Sir Robert Swift at Doncaster we wend,
An ancient Knight, of a most generous spirit,
Who made me welcome farre beyond my merit.
From thence by Newarke, I to Stamford past,
And so in time to London at the last,
With friends and neighbors, all with louing hearts,
Did welcome me with pottles, pintes and quarts.
Which made my Muse more glib, and blythe to tell
This story of my Voyage. So farewell.
The dancing on the Ropes, or a Puppet play, had come short of his takings, accounting time for time.
And the sword was rusty with Saltwater, that it had need of a quarters warning ere it would come out.
It is a passage cut thorow the Land eight miles from Lincolne into Trent, but through either the peoples pouerty or negligence, it is growne vp with weedes, and mudde, so that in the Summer it is in many places almost dry.
I went fifteene mile out of Trent downe Humber on purpose to see Hull, when my way was quite contrary.
Hull Cheese, is much like a loafe out of a Brewers Basket, it is Composed of two simples, Mault and VVater, in one Compound; and is Cousin Germane to the mightiest Ale in England.
The Riuer of Hull is 20. miles in length, cut with mens labour, to the infinite Commodity of the Countrey.
But I was euer better with forks to scatter, then with Rakes to gather, therefore I would not haue the Townes men to mistake chalke for Cheese, or Robert for Richard.
At Bishopsthorpe, where the right reuerend Father in God, Toby Mathew Archbishop of Yorke his Grace did make me welcome.
I thought it my duty (being we had come a dangerous voyage) to offer our Boat to the chiefe Magistrate: For why should not my Boat be as good a monument, as Tom Coriats euerlasting ouertrampling land-conquering Shooes thought I?
A substantiall worthy Citizen, who hath beene Shrieue of York, and now keepes the George in Cunny street.
An Epilogue.
Thus haue I brought to end a worke of paine,I wish it may requite me with some gaine:
For well I wote, the dangers where I ventered,
No full bag'd man would euer durst haue entered:
But hauing further shores for to discouer
Hereafter, now my Pen doth here giue ouer.
FINIS.
| All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet | |