 | Works of John Taylor the Water Poet not included in the folio volume of 1630 |  |
The Old, Old, Very Old Man:
OR, The Age and long Life of Thomas Par, the Son of John Parr of Winnington in the Parish of Alberbury; in the County of Salopp, (or Shropshire) who was Borne in the Raigne of King Edward the 4th. being aged 152. yeares and odd Monethes.
His Manner of Life and Conversation in so long a Pilgrimage; his Marriages, and his bringing up to London about the end of September last. 1635.
Whereunto is Added a Postscript, shewing the many remarkable Accidents that hapned in the Life of this Old Man.
6
The Epistle.
Hee may be great in spir't, though small in sight,Whilst all his best of service, is Delight.
The Old'st, your Subject is; but for my use,
I make him here, the Subject of my Muse:
And as his Aged Person gain'd the grace,
That where his Soveraign was, to be in place,
And kisse your Royall Hand; J humbly crave,
His Lives Discription may Acceptance have.
And as your Majesty hath oft before
Look'd on my Poems; Pray reade this one more.
Your Majesties most Humble Subject
and Servant, Iohn Taylor.
11
An Old man's twice a child (the proverb saies)
And many old men nere saw halfe his daies
Of whom I write; for hee at first had life,
When Yorke and Lancasters Domestique strife
In her owne blood had factious England drench'd,
Vntill sweet Peace those civil flames had quench'd.
When as fourth Edwards raigne to end drew nigh,
Iohn Parr (a man that liv'd by Husbandry)
Begot this Thomas Parr, and borne was Hee
The yeare of fourteen hundred eighty three.
And as his Fathers Living and his Trade,
Was Plough, and Cart, Sithe, Sickle, Bill, and Spade;
The Harrow, Mattock, Flayle, Rake, Fork, & Goad,
And Whip, and how to Load, and to Vnload;
Old Tom hath shew'd himselfe the Son of Iohn,
And from his Fathers function hath not gone.
And many old men nere saw halfe his daies
Of whom I write; for hee at first had life,
When Yorke and Lancasters Domestique strife
In her owne blood had factious England drench'd,
Vntill sweet Peace those civil flames had quench'd.
When as fourth Edwards raigne to end drew nigh,
Iohn Parr (a man that liv'd by Husbandry)
Begot this Thomas Parr, and borne was Hee
The yeare of fourteen hundred eighty three.
And as his Fathers Living and his Trade,
Was Plough, and Cart, Sithe, Sickle, Bill, and Spade;
The Harrow, Mattock, Flayle, Rake, Fork, & Goad,
And Whip, and how to Load, and to Vnload;
Old Tom hath shew'd himselfe the Son of Iohn,
And from his Fathers function hath not gone.
Yet I have read of as meane Pedigrees,
That have attain'd to Noble dignities:
Agathocles, a Potters Son, and yet
The Kingdome of Sicilia hee did get.
Great Tamberlaine, a Scythian Shepherd was,
Yet (in his time) all Princes did surpasse.
First Ptolomey (the King of Ægypts Land)
A poore mans Son of Alexanders Band.
Dioclesian, Emperour, was a Scriveners Son,
And Proba from a Gard'ner th'Empire won.
Pertinax was a Bondmans Son, and wan
The Empire; So did Valentinian,
Who was the off-spring of a Rope-maker,
And Maximinus of a Mule-driver.
And if I on the truth doe rightly glance,
Hugh Capet was a Butcher, King of France.
By this I have digrest, I have exprest
Promotion comes not from the East or West.
That have attain'd to Noble dignities:
Agathocles, a Potters Son, and yet
The Kingdome of Sicilia hee did get.
12
Yet (in his time) all Princes did surpasse.
First Ptolomey (the King of Ægypts Land)
A poore mans Son of Alexanders Band.
Dioclesian, Emperour, was a Scriveners Son,
And Proba from a Gard'ner th'Empire won.
Pertinax was a Bondmans Son, and wan
The Empire; So did Valentinian,
Who was the off-spring of a Rope-maker,
And Maximinus of a Mule-driver.
And if I on the truth doe rightly glance,
Hugh Capet was a Butcher, King of France.
By this I have digrest, I have exprest
Promotion comes not from the East or West.
So much for that, now to my Theame againe:
This Thomas Parr hath liv'd th'expired Raigne
Of ten great Kings and Queenes, th'eleventh now sways
The Scepter, (blest by th'ancient of all days)
Hee hath surviv'd the Edwards, fourth and fift;
And the third Richard, who made many a shift
To place the Crowne on his Ambitious head;
The seventh & eighth brave Henries both are dead,
Sixt Edward, Mary, Phillip, Elsabeth,
And blest remembred Iames, all these by death
Have changed life, and almost 'leven yeares since
The happy raigne of Charles our gracious Prince,
Tom Parr hath liv'd, as by Record appeares
Nine Monthes, one hundred fifty, and two yeares.
Amongst the Learn'd, 'tis held in generall
That every seventh yeare's Climactericall,
And dang'rous to mans life, and that they be
Most perillous at th'Age of sixty three,
Which is, nine Climactericals; but this Man
Of whom I write, (since first his life began)
Hath liv'd of Climactericals such plenty,
That he hath almost out-liv'd two and twenty.
For by Records, and true Certificate,
From Shropshiere late, Relations doth relate,
That Hee liv'd 17 yeares with Iohn his Father,
And 18 with a Master, which I gather
To be full thirty five; his Sires decease
Left him foure yeares Possion of a Lease;
Which past, Lewis Porter Gentleman, did then
For twenty one yeares grant his Lease agen:
That Lease expir'd, ehe Son of Lew's cald Iohn,
Let him the like Lease, and that time being gone,
Then Hugh, the Son of Iohn (last nam'd before)
For one and twenty yeares sold one Lease more.
And lastly, he hath held from Iohn, Hugh's Son,
A Lease for's life these fifty yeares, out-run:
And till old Thomas Parr, to Earth againe
Returne, the last Lease must his owne remaine.
Thus having shew'd th'extention of his Age,
I'le shew some Actions of his Pilgrimage.
This Thomas Parr hath liv'd th'expired Raigne
Of ten great Kings and Queenes, th'eleventh now sways
The Scepter, (blest by th'ancient of all days)
Hee hath surviv'd the Edwards, fourth and fift;
And the third Richard, who made many a shift
To place the Crowne on his Ambitious head;
The seventh & eighth brave Henries both are dead,
Sixt Edward, Mary, Phillip, Elsabeth,
And blest remembred Iames, all these by death
Have changed life, and almost 'leven yeares since
The happy raigne of Charles our gracious Prince,
13
Nine Monthes, one hundred fifty, and two yeares.
Amongst the Learn'd, 'tis held in generall
That every seventh yeare's Climactericall,
And dang'rous to mans life, and that they be
Most perillous at th'Age of sixty three,
Which is, nine Climactericals; but this Man
Of whom I write, (since first his life began)
Hath liv'd of Climactericals such plenty,
That he hath almost out-liv'd two and twenty.
For by Records, and true Certificate,
From Shropshiere late, Relations doth relate,
That Hee liv'd 17 yeares with Iohn his Father,
And 18 with a Master, which I gather
To be full thirty five; his Sires decease
Left him foure yeares Possion of a Lease;
Which past, Lewis Porter Gentleman, did then
For twenty one yeares grant his Lease agen:
That Lease expir'd, ehe Son of Lew's cald Iohn,
Let him the like Lease, and that time being gone,
Then Hugh, the Son of Iohn (last nam'd before)
For one and twenty yeares sold one Lease more.
And lastly, he hath held from Iohn, Hugh's Son,
A Lease for's life these fifty yeares, out-run:
And till old Thomas Parr, to Earth againe
Returne, the last Lease must his owne remaine.
14
I'le shew some Actions of his Pilgrimage.
A tedious time a Batchelour hee tarried,
Full eightie yeares of age before he married:
His Continence, to question I'le not call,
Mans frailtie's weake, and oft doth slip and fall.
No doubt but hee in fourscore yeares might find
In Salop's Countie, females faire and kind:
But what have I to doe with that; let passe,
At th'age aforesaid hee first married was
To Iane, Iohn Taylors Daughter; and 'tis said,
That she (before he had her) was a Mayd.
With her he liv'd yeares three times ten and two,
And then she dy'd, (as all good wives will doe.)
She dead, he ten yeares did a Widdower stay;
Then once more ventred in the Wedlock way:
And in affection to his first wife Iane,
Hee tooke another of that name againe;
(With whom he now doth live) she was a widow
To one nam'd Anthony (and surnam'd Adda)
She was (as by report it doth appeare)
Of Gillsels Parish, in Mountgom'ry-shiere,
The Daughter of Iohn Lloyde (corruptly Flood)
Of ancient house, and gentle Cambrian Blood.
Full eightie yeares of age before he married:
His Continence, to question I'le not call,
Mans frailtie's weake, and oft doth slip and fall.
No doubt but hee in fourscore yeares might find
In Salop's Countie, females faire and kind:
But what have I to doe with that; let passe,
At th'age aforesaid hee first married was
To Iane, Iohn Taylors Daughter; and 'tis said,
That she (before he had her) was a Mayd.
With her he liv'd yeares three times ten and two,
And then she dy'd, (as all good wives will doe.)
She dead, he ten yeares did a Widdower stay;
Then once more ventred in the Wedlock way:
And in affection to his first wife Iane,
Hee tooke another of that name againe;
(With whom he now doth live) she was a widow
To one nam'd Anthony (and surnam'd Adda)
She was (as by report it doth appeare)
Of Gillsels Parish, in Mountgom'ry-shiere,
The Daughter of Iohn Lloyde (corruptly Flood)
Of ancient house, and gentle Cambrian Blood.
But hold, I had forgot, in's first wives Time,
Hee frayly, fouly, fell into a Crime,
Which richer, poorer, older men, and younger,
More base, more noble, weaker men, and stronger
Have falne into.
The Cytherean, or the Paphæan game,
That thundring Iupiter did oft inflame;
Most cruell cut-throat Mars layd by his Armes,
And was a slave to Loves Inchanting charmes,
And many a Pagan god, and semi-god,
The common road of lustfull love hath trod:
For from the Emp'rour to the russet Clowne,
All states, each sex, from Cottage to the Crowne,
Have in all Ages since the first Creation,
Bin foyld, & overthrown with Loves temptation:
So was old Thomas, for he chanc'd to spy
A Beauty, and Love entred at his eye,
Whose pow'rfull motion drew on sweet consent,
Consent drew Action, Action drew Content,
But when the period of those joyes were past,
Those sweet delights were sourely sauc'd at last.
The flesh retaines, what in the Bone is bred,
And one Colts tooth was then in old Toms head,
It may be he was guld as some have bin,
And suffred punishment for others sinne;
For pleasures like a Trap, a grin, or snare,
Or (like a painted harlot) seemes most faire;
But when she goes away, and takes her leave,
No ugly Beast so foul a shape can have.
Faire Katherin Milton, was this Beauty bright,
(Faire like an Angell, but in weight too light)
Whose fervent feature did inflame so far
The Ardent fervour of old Thomas Parr,
That for Lawes satisfaction, 'twas thought meet,
He should be purg'd, by standing in a Sheet,
Which aged (He) one hundred and five yeare,
In Alberbury's Parish Church did weare.
Should All that so offend, such Pennance doe,
Oh, what a price would Linnen rise unto,
All would be turn'd to sheets, our shirts & smocks
Our Table linnen, very Porters Frocks
Would hardly scape trans-forming, but all's one,
He suffred, and his Punishment is done.
Hee frayly, fouly, fell into a Crime,
15
More base, more noble, weaker men, and stronger
Have falne into.
The Cytherean, or the Paphæan game,
That thundring Iupiter did oft inflame;
Most cruell cut-throat Mars layd by his Armes,
And was a slave to Loves Inchanting charmes,
And many a Pagan god, and semi-god,
The common road of lustfull love hath trod:
For from the Emp'rour to the russet Clowne,
All states, each sex, from Cottage to the Crowne,
Have in all Ages since the first Creation,
Bin foyld, & overthrown with Loves temptation:
So was old Thomas, for he chanc'd to spy
A Beauty, and Love entred at his eye,
Whose pow'rfull motion drew on sweet consent,
Consent drew Action, Action drew Content,
But when the period of those joyes were past,
Those sweet delights were sourely sauc'd at last.
The flesh retaines, what in the Bone is bred,
And one Colts tooth was then in old Toms head,
It may be he was guld as some have bin,
And suffred punishment for others sinne;
For pleasures like a Trap, a grin, or snare,
Or (like a painted harlot) seemes most faire;
But when she goes away, and takes her leave,
No ugly Beast so foul a shape can have.
16
(Faire like an Angell, but in weight too light)
Whose fervent feature did inflame so far
The Ardent fervour of old Thomas Parr,
That for Lawes satisfaction, 'twas thought meet,
He should be purg'd, by standing in a Sheet,
Which aged (He) one hundred and five yeare,
In Alberbury's Parish Church did weare.
Should All that so offend, such Pennance doe,
Oh, what a price would Linnen rise unto,
All would be turn'd to sheets, our shirts & smocks
Our Table linnen, very Porters Frocks
Would hardly scape trans-forming, but all's one,
He suffred, and his Punishment is done.
But to proceed, more serious in Relation,
He is a Wonder, worthy Admiration,
Hee's (in these times fill'd with Iniquity)
No Antiquary, but Antiquity;
For his Longeuity's of such extent,
That hee's a living mortall Monument.
And as high Towres, (that seeme the sky to shoulder)
By eating Time, consume away, and molder,
Vntill at last in piece meale they doe fall;
Till they are buried in their Ruines All:
So this Old Man, his limbs their strength have left,
His teeth all gone, (but one) his sight bereft,
His sinewes shrunk, his blood most chill and cold,
Small solace, Imperfections manifold:
Yet still his sp'rits possesse his mortall Trunk;
Nor are his senses in his ruines shrunk,
But that his Hearing's quicke, his stomacke good,
Hee'l feed well, sleep well, well disgest his food.
Hee will speake heartily, laugh, and be merry;
Drinke Ale, and now and then a cup of Sherry;
Loves Company, and Vnderstanding talke,
And (on both sides held up) will sometimes walk.
And though old Age his face with wrinckles fill,
He hath been handsome, and is comely still,
Well fac'd; and though his Beard not oft corrected,
Yet neate it growes, not like a Beard neglected;
From head to heele, his body hath all over,
A Quick-set, Thick-set nat'rall hairy cover.
And thus (as my dull weake Invention can)
I have Annatomiz'd this poore Old Man.
He is a Wonder, worthy Admiration,
Hee's (in these times fill'd with Iniquity)
No Antiquary, but Antiquity;
For his Longeuity's of such extent,
That hee's a living mortall Monument.
And as high Towres, (that seeme the sky to shoulder)
By eating Time, consume away, and molder,
Vntill at last in piece meale they doe fall;
Till they are buried in their Ruines All:
So this Old Man, his limbs their strength have left,
His teeth all gone, (but one) his sight bereft,
17
Small solace, Imperfections manifold:
Yet still his sp'rits possesse his mortall Trunk;
Nor are his senses in his ruines shrunk,
But that his Hearing's quicke, his stomacke good,
Hee'l feed well, sleep well, well disgest his food.
Hee will speake heartily, laugh, and be merry;
Drinke Ale, and now and then a cup of Sherry;
Loves Company, and Vnderstanding talke,
And (on both sides held up) will sometimes walk.
And though old Age his face with wrinckles fill,
He hath been handsome, and is comely still,
Well fac'd; and though his Beard not oft corrected,
Yet neate it growes, not like a Beard neglected;
From head to heele, his body hath all over,
A Quick-set, Thick-set nat'rall hairy cover.
And thus (as my dull weake Invention can)
I have Annatomiz'd this poore Old Man.
Though Age be incident to most transgressing,
Yet Time well spent, makes Age to be a blessing.
And if our studies would but daign to look,
And seriously to ponder Natures Booke,
We there may read, that Man, the noblest Creature,
By ryot and excesse doth murder Nature.
This man nere fed on deare compounded dishes,
Of Metamorphos'd beasts, fruits, fowls, and fishes,
The earth, and ayre, the boundlesse Ocean
Were never rak'd nor forrag'd for this Man;
Nor ever did Physician to (his cost)
Send purging Physick through his guts in post:
In all his life time he was never knowne,
That drinking others healths, he lost his owne;
The Dutch, the French, the Greek, and Spanish Grape,
Vpon his reason never made a Rape;
For Ryot, is for Troy an Annagram;
And Ryot wasted Troy, with sword and flame:
And surely that which will a Kingdome spill,
Hath much more power one silly man to kill,
Whilst sensuality the Pallat pleases,
The body's fill'd with surfets, and diseases;
By Ryot (more than War) men slaughtred be,
From which confusion this Old Man is free.
He once was catch'd in the Venerall Sin,
And (being punish'd) did experience win,
That carefull feare his Conscience so did strike,
He never would againe attempt the like.
Which to our understandings may expresse
Mens dayes are shortned through lasciviousnesse,
And that a competent contenting Dyet
Makes men live long, and soundly sleepe in quiet.
Mistake me not, I speake not to debar
Good fare of all sorts; for all Creatures are
Made for mans use, and may by Man be us'd,
Not by voratious Gluttony abus'd.
For hee that dares to scandall or deprave
Good hous-keeping; Oh hang up such a Knave,
Rather commend (what is not to be found)
Then injure that wch makes the world renownd.
Bounty hath got a spice of Lethargie,
And liberall noble Hospitallity
Lyes in consumption, almost pin'd to death,
And Charity benum'd, neere out of Breath.
May Englands few good hous-keepers be blest
With endlesse Glory, and eternall Rest;
And may their Goods, Lands, and their happy Seed
With heav'ns best Blessings multiply and breed.
'Tis madnesse to build heigh with stone and lime,
Great houses, that may seeme the Clouds to clime,
With spacious Halls, large Galleries, brave roomes
Fit to receive a King, Peeres, Squires and Groomes;
Amongst which rooms, the devill hath put a Witch in,
And made a small Tobacco-box the Kitchin;
For Covetousnesse the Mint of Mischiefe is,
And Christian Bounty the High-way to Blisse.
To weare a Farm in shoo-strings edg'd with gold,
And spangled Garters worth a Coppy hold:
A hose and dublet; which a Lordship cost,
A gawdy cloake (three Manours price almost)
A Beaver, Band, and Feather for the head,
(Priz'd at the Churches tythe, the poor mans bread)
For which the Wearers are fear'd, and abhorr'd
Like Ieroboams golden Calves ador'd.
Yet Time well spent, makes Age to be a blessing.
And if our studies would but daign to look,
And seriously to ponder Natures Booke,
We there may read, that Man, the noblest Creature,
By ryot and excesse doth murder Nature.
This man nere fed on deare compounded dishes,
Of Metamorphos'd beasts, fruits, fowls, and fishes,
18
Were never rak'd nor forrag'd for this Man;
Nor ever did Physician to (his cost)
Send purging Physick through his guts in post:
In all his life time he was never knowne,
That drinking others healths, he lost his owne;
The Dutch, the French, the Greek, and Spanish Grape,
Vpon his reason never made a Rape;
For Ryot, is for Troy an Annagram;
And Ryot wasted Troy, with sword and flame:
And surely that which will a Kingdome spill,
Hath much more power one silly man to kill,
Whilst sensuality the Pallat pleases,
The body's fill'd with surfets, and diseases;
By Ryot (more than War) men slaughtred be,
From which confusion this Old Man is free.
He once was catch'd in the Venerall Sin,
And (being punish'd) did experience win,
That carefull feare his Conscience so did strike,
He never would againe attempt the like.
Which to our understandings may expresse
Mens dayes are shortned through lasciviousnesse,
And that a competent contenting Dyet
Makes men live long, and soundly sleepe in quiet.
Mistake me not, I speake not to debar
Good fare of all sorts; for all Creatures are
19
Not by voratious Gluttony abus'd.
For hee that dares to scandall or deprave
Good hous-keeping; Oh hang up such a Knave,
Rather commend (what is not to be found)
Then injure that wch makes the world renownd.
Bounty hath got a spice of Lethargie,
And liberall noble Hospitallity
Lyes in consumption, almost pin'd to death,
And Charity benum'd, neere out of Breath.
May Englands few good hous-keepers be blest
With endlesse Glory, and eternall Rest;
And may their Goods, Lands, and their happy Seed
With heav'ns best Blessings multiply and breed.
'Tis madnesse to build heigh with stone and lime,
Great houses, that may seeme the Clouds to clime,
With spacious Halls, large Galleries, brave roomes
Fit to receive a King, Peeres, Squires and Groomes;
Amongst which rooms, the devill hath put a Witch in,
And made a small Tobacco-box the Kitchin;
For Covetousnesse the Mint of Mischiefe is,
And Christian Bounty the High-way to Blisse.
To weare a Farm in shoo-strings edg'd with gold,
And spangled Garters worth a Coppy hold:
A hose and dublet; which a Lordship cost,
A gawdy cloake (three Manours price almost)
20
(Priz'd at the Churches tythe, the poor mans bread)
For which the Wearers are fear'd, and abhorr'd
Like Ieroboams golden Calves ador'd.
This double, treble aged man, I wot,
Knowes and remembers when these things were not;
Good wholsome labour was his exercise,
Down wth the Lamb, & with the Lark would rise,
In myre and toyling sweat hee spent the day,
And (to his Teame) hee whistled Time away:
The Cock his night-Clock, and till day was done,
His Watch, and chiefe Sun-Diall, was the Sun.
Hee was of old Pithagoras opinion,
That greene cheese was most wholsome (with an onion)
Course Mesclin bread, and for his daily swig,
Milk, Butter-milk, and Water, Whay, and Whig;
Sometimes Metheglin, and by fortune happy,
Hee sometimes sip't a Cup of Ale most nappy,
Syder, or Perry, when hee did repaire
T'a Whitson Ale, Wake, Wedding, or a Faire,
Or when in Christmas time hee was a Guest
At his good Land-lords house amongst the rest:
Else hee had little leasure Time to waste,
Or (at the Alehouse) huffe-cap Ale to taste.
Nor did hee ever hunt a Taverne Fox,
Nere knew a Coach, Tobacco, or the Pox;
His Physick was good Butter, which the soyle
Of Salop yields, more sweet than Candy oyle,
And Garlick hee esteem'd above the rate
Of Venice-Triacle, or best Mithridate.
Hee entertain'd no Gowt, no Ache hee felt,
The ayre was good, and temp'rat where he dwelt,
Whilst Mavisses, and sweet tongu'd Nightingales
Did chant him Roundelayes, and Madrigals.
Thus living within bounds of Natures Lawes,
Of his long lasting life may be some cause.
For though th'almighty all mans daies do measure,
And doth dispose of life and death at pleasure,
Yet Nature being wrong'd, mans dayes and date
May be abridg'd, and God may tollerate.
Knowes and remembers when these things were not;
Good wholsome labour was his exercise,
Down wth the Lamb, & with the Lark would rise,
In myre and toyling sweat hee spent the day,
And (to his Teame) hee whistled Time away:
The Cock his night-Clock, and till day was done,
His Watch, and chiefe Sun-Diall, was the Sun.
Hee was of old Pithagoras opinion,
That greene cheese was most wholsome (with an onion)
Course Mesclin bread, and for his daily swig,
Milk, Butter-milk, and Water, Whay, and Whig;
Sometimes Metheglin, and by fortune happy,
Hee sometimes sip't a Cup of Ale most nappy,
Syder, or Perry, when hee did repaire
T'a Whitson Ale, Wake, Wedding, or a Faire,
Or when in Christmas time hee was a Guest
At his good Land-lords house amongst the rest:
Else hee had little leasure Time to waste,
Or (at the Alehouse) huffe-cap Ale to taste.
Nor did hee ever hunt a Taverne Fox,
Nere knew a Coach, Tobacco, or the Pox;
21
Of Salop yields, more sweet than Candy oyle,
And Garlick hee esteem'd above the rate
Of Venice-Triacle, or best Mithridate.
Hee entertain'd no Gowt, no Ache hee felt,
The ayre was good, and temp'rat where he dwelt,
Whilst Mavisses, and sweet tongu'd Nightingales
Did chant him Roundelayes, and Madrigals.
Thus living within bounds of Natures Lawes,
Of his long lasting life may be some cause.
For though th'almighty all mans daies do measure,
And doth dispose of life and death at pleasure,
Yet Nature being wrong'd, mans dayes and date
May be abridg'd, and God may tollerate.
But had the Father of this Thomas Parr,
His Grand-father, and his Great grand-father,
Had their lives threds so long a length been spun,
They (by succession) might from Sire to Son
Have been unwritten Chronicles, and by
Tradition shew Times mutabillity.
Then Parr might say he heard his Father well,
Say that his Grand-sire heard his Father tell
The death of famous Edward the Confessor,
(Harrold) and William Conq'rour his successor;
How his Son Robert wan Ierusalem,
Ore-came the Sarazens, and Conquer'd them:
How Rufus raign'd, and's Brother Henry next,
And how usurping Stev'n this Kingdome vext:
How Mawd the Empress (the first Henries daughter)
To gaine her Right, fill'd England full of slaughter:
Of second Henry's Rosamond the faire,
Of Richard Cuer-de-lyon, his brave heire,
King Iohn, and of the foule suspition
Of Arthurs death, Johns elder Brothers Son.
Of the third Henrie's long raigne (sixty yeares)
The Barons wars, the losse of wrangling Peeres,
How Long-shanks did the Scots & French convince,
Tam'd Wales, and made his haples son their Prince.
How second Edward was Carnarvon call'd,
Beaten by Scots, and by his Queen inthrall'd.
How the third Edward, fifty yeares did raigne,
And t'honor'd Garters Order did ordaine.
Next how the second Richard liv'd and dy'd,
And how fourth Henries faction did divide
The Realme with civill (most uncivill) war
'Twixt long contending Yorke and Lancaster.
How the fift Henry swayd, and how his son
Sixt Henry, a sad Pilgrimage did run.
Then of fourth Edward, and faire Mistrisse Shore,
King Edwards Concubine Lord Hastings (------)
Then how fift Edward, murthered with a trick
Of the third Richard; and then how that Dick
Was by seventh Henries slaine at Bosworth field;
How he and's son th'eighth Henry, here did wield
The Scepter; how sixt Edward swayd,
How Mary rul'd, and how that royall Mayd
Elizabeth did Governe (best of Dames)
And Phenix-like expir'd, and how just Iames
(Another Phenix) from her Ashes claimes
The right of Britaines Scepter, as his owne,
But (changing for a better) left the Crowne
Where now 'tis, with King Charles, and may it be
With him, and his most blest Posterity
Till time shall end; be they on Earth renown'd,
And after with Eternity be crown'd.
Thus had Parr had good breeding, (without reading)
Hee from his sire, and Grand sires sire proceeding,
By word of mouth might tell most famous things
Done in the Raigns of all those Queens and Kings.
But hee in Husbandry hath bin brought up,
And nere did taste the Helliconian cup,
He nere knew History, nor in mind did keepe
Ought, but the price of Corne, Hay, Kine, or Sheep.
Day found him work, and Night allowd him rest.
Nor did Affaires of State his braine molest.
His high'st Ambition was, A tree to lop,
Or at the furthest to a May-poles top,
His Recreation, and his Mirths discourse
Hath been the Pyper, and the Hobby-hors.
And in this simple sort, hee hath with paine,
From Childhood liv'd to bee a Child againe.
'Tis strange, a man that is in yeares so growne
Should not be rich; but to the world 'tis knowne,
That hee that's borne in any Land, or Nation,
Vnder a Twelve-pence Planet's Domination,
(By working of that Planets influence)
Shall never live to be worth thirteene pence.
Whereby (although his Learning cannot show it)
Hee's rich enough to be (like mee) a Poet.
His Grand-father, and his Great grand-father,
Had their lives threds so long a length been spun,
They (by succession) might from Sire to Son
Have been unwritten Chronicles, and by
Tradition shew Times mutabillity.
Then Parr might say he heard his Father well,
Say that his Grand-sire heard his Father tell
The death of famous Edward the Confessor,
(Harrold) and William Conq'rour his successor;
How his Son Robert wan Ierusalem,
Ore-came the Sarazens, and Conquer'd them:
22
And how usurping Stev'n this Kingdome vext:
How Mawd the Empress (the first Henries daughter)
To gaine her Right, fill'd England full of slaughter:
Of second Henry's Rosamond the faire,
Of Richard Cuer-de-lyon, his brave heire,
King Iohn, and of the foule suspition
Of Arthurs death, Johns elder Brothers Son.
Of the third Henrie's long raigne (sixty yeares)
The Barons wars, the losse of wrangling Peeres,
How Long-shanks did the Scots & French convince,
Tam'd Wales, and made his haples son their Prince.
How second Edward was Carnarvon call'd,
Beaten by Scots, and by his Queen inthrall'd.
How the third Edward, fifty yeares did raigne,
And t'honor'd Garters Order did ordaine.
Next how the second Richard liv'd and dy'd,
And how fourth Henries faction did divide
The Realme with civill (most uncivill) war
'Twixt long contending Yorke and Lancaster.
How the fift Henry swayd, and how his son
Sixt Henry, a sad Pilgrimage did run.
Then of fourth Edward, and faire Mistrisse Shore,
King Edwards Concubine Lord Hastings (------)
Then how fift Edward, murthered with a trick
Of the third Richard; and then how that Dick
23
How he and's son th'eighth Henry, here did wield
The Scepter; how sixt Edward swayd,
How Mary rul'd, and how that royall Mayd
Elizabeth did Governe (best of Dames)
And Phenix-like expir'd, and how just Iames
(Another Phenix) from her Ashes claimes
The right of Britaines Scepter, as his owne,
But (changing for a better) left the Crowne
Where now 'tis, with King Charles, and may it be
With him, and his most blest Posterity
Till time shall end; be they on Earth renown'd,
And after with Eternity be crown'd.
Thus had Parr had good breeding, (without reading)
Hee from his sire, and Grand sires sire proceeding,
By word of mouth might tell most famous things
Done in the Raigns of all those Queens and Kings.
But hee in Husbandry hath bin brought up,
And nere did taste the Helliconian cup,
He nere knew History, nor in mind did keepe
Ought, but the price of Corne, Hay, Kine, or Sheep.
Day found him work, and Night allowd him rest.
Nor did Affaires of State his braine molest.
His high'st Ambition was, A tree to lop,
Or at the furthest to a May-poles top,
His Recreation, and his Mirths discourse
Hath been the Pyper, and the Hobby-hors.
24
From Childhood liv'd to bee a Child againe.
'Tis strange, a man that is in yeares so growne
Should not be rich; but to the world 'tis knowne,
That hee that's borne in any Land, or Nation,
Vnder a Twelve-pence Planet's Domination,
(By working of that Planets influence)
Shall never live to be worth thirteene pence.
Whereby (although his Learning cannot show it)
Hee's rich enough to be (like mee) a Poet.
But er'e I doe conclude, I will relate
Of reverend Age's Honourable state;
Where shall a young man good Instructions have,
But from the Ancient, from Experience grave?
Roboam, (Sonne and Heire to Solomon)
Rejecting ancient Counsell, was undone
Almost; for ten of the twelve Tribes fell
To Jeroboam King of Israel.
And all wise Princes, and great Potentates
Select and chuse Old men, as Magistrates,
Whose Wisedome, and whose reverend Aspect,
Knowes how and when to punish or protect.
The Patriarkes long lives before the Flood,
Were given them (as 'tis rightly understood)
To store and multiply by procreations,
That people should inhabit and breed Nations.
That th'Ancients their Posterities might show
The secrets Deepe of Nature, how to know
To scale the skie with learned Astronomy,
And sound the Oceans deepe profundity;
But chiefly how to serve, and to obey
God, who did make them out of slime and clay;
Should men live now, as long as they did then,
The Earth could not sustaine the Breed of Men.
Each man had many wives, which Bigamie,
Was such increase to their Posterity,
That one old man might see before he dy'd,
That his owne only off-spring had supply'd
And Peopled Kingdomes.
But now so brittle's the estate of man,
That (in Comparison) his life's a span.
Yet since the Flood it may be proved plaine,
That many did a longer life retaine,
Than him I write of; for Arpachshad liv'd
Foure hundred thirty eight, Shelah surviv'd
Foure hundred thirty three yeares, Eber more,
For he liv'd twice two hundred sixty foure.
Two hundered yeares Terah was alive,
And Abr'ham liv'd one hundred seventy five.
Before Iob's Troubles, holy writ relates,
His sons and daughters were at marriage states,
And after his restoring, 'tis most cleare,
That he surviv'd one hundred forty yeare.
Iohn Buttadeus (if report be true)
Is his name that is stil'd, The Wandring Iew,
'Tis said, he saw our Saviour dye; and how
He was a man then, and is living now;
Whereof Relations you (that will) may reade;
But pardon me, 'tis no part of my Creed.
Vpon a Germanes Age, 'tis written thus,
That one Iohannes de Temporibus
Was Armour-bearer to brave Charlemaigne,
And that unto the age he did attaine
Of yeares three hundred sixty one, and then
Old John of Times return'd to Earth agen.
And noble Nestor, at the siege of Troy,
Had liv'd three hundred yeares both Man and boy.
Sir Walter Rawleigh (a most learned Knight)
Doth of an Irish Countesse, Desmond, write,
Of seven score yeares of Age, he with her spake:
The Lord Saint Albanes doth more mention make
That she was Married in Fourth Edwards raigne,
Thrice shed her Teeth, which three times came againe.
The High-land Scots and the Wilde-Irish are
Long liv'd with Labour hard, and temperate fare.
Amongst the Barbarous Indians some live strong
And lusty, neere two hundred winters long?
So as I said before, my Verse now sayes
By wronging Nature, men cut off their dayes.
Therefore (as Times are) He I now write on,
The age of all in Britane hath out gone;
All those that were alive when he had Birth,
Are turn'd againe unto their mother earth,
If any of them live, and doe replye,
I will be sorry, and confesse I lye.
For had he bin a Marchant, then perhaps
Stormes, Thunderclaps, or feare of Afterclaps,
Sands, Rocks, or Roving Pyrats, Gusts and stormes
Had made him (long ere this) the food of worms.
Had he a Mercer, or a Silk-man bin,
And trusted much in hope great gaine to win,
And late and early strived to get or save,
His Gray head long ere now had been i'th Grave.
Or had he been a Iudge or Magistrate,
Or of Great Counsell in Affaires of state
Then dayes important businesse, and nights cares
Had long ere this, Interr'd his hoary haires:
But as I writ before, no cares opprest him,
Nor ever did Affaires of State molest him.
Some may object, that they will not believe
His Age to be so much, for none can give
Account thereof, Time being past so far,
And at his Birth there was no Register.
The Register was ninty seven yeares since
Giv'n by th'eight Henry (that Illustrious Prince)
Th'yeare fifteene hundred fourty wanting twaine)
And in the thirtieth yeare of that Kings raigne;
So old Parr now, was almost an old man,
Neere sixty ere the Register began.
I'have writ as much as Reason can require,
How Times did passe, how's Leases did expire;
And Gentlemen o'th County did Relate
T'our gracious King by their Certificate
His age, and how time wtsuperh; gray haires hath crownd him;
And so I leave him older than I found him.
Of reverend Age's Honourable state;
Where shall a young man good Instructions have,
But from the Ancient, from Experience grave?
Roboam, (Sonne and Heire to Solomon)
Rejecting ancient Counsell, was undone
Almost; for ten of the twelve Tribes fell
To Jeroboam King of Israel.
And all wise Princes, and great Potentates
Select and chuse Old men, as Magistrates,
Whose Wisedome, and whose reverend Aspect,
Knowes how and when to punish or protect.
The Patriarkes long lives before the Flood,
Were given them (as 'tis rightly understood)
To store and multiply by procreations,
That people should inhabit and breed Nations.
25
The secrets Deepe of Nature, how to know
To scale the skie with learned Astronomy,
And sound the Oceans deepe profundity;
But chiefly how to serve, and to obey
God, who did make them out of slime and clay;
Should men live now, as long as they did then,
The Earth could not sustaine the Breed of Men.
Each man had many wives, which Bigamie,
Was such increase to their Posterity,
That one old man might see before he dy'd,
That his owne only off-spring had supply'd
And Peopled Kingdomes.
But now so brittle's the estate of man,
That (in Comparison) his life's a span.
Yet since the Flood it may be proved plaine,
That many did a longer life retaine,
Than him I write of; for Arpachshad liv'd
Foure hundred thirty eight, Shelah surviv'd
Foure hundred thirty three yeares, Eber more,
For he liv'd twice two hundred sixty foure.
Two hundered yeares Terah was alive,
And Abr'ham liv'd one hundred seventy five.
Before Iob's Troubles, holy writ relates,
His sons and daughters were at marriage states,
And after his restoring, 'tis most cleare,
26
Iohn Buttadeus (if report be true)
Is his name that is stil'd, The Wandring Iew,
'Tis said, he saw our Saviour dye; and how
He was a man then, and is living now;
Whereof Relations you (that will) may reade;
But pardon me, 'tis no part of my Creed.
Vpon a Germanes Age, 'tis written thus,
That one Iohannes de Temporibus
Was Armour-bearer to brave Charlemaigne,
And that unto the age he did attaine
Of yeares three hundred sixty one, and then
Old John of Times return'd to Earth agen.
And noble Nestor, at the siege of Troy,
Had liv'd three hundred yeares both Man and boy.
Sir Walter Rawleigh (a most learned Knight)
Doth of an Irish Countesse, Desmond, write,
Of seven score yeares of Age, he with her spake:
The Lord Saint Albanes doth more mention make
That she was Married in Fourth Edwards raigne,
Thrice shed her Teeth, which three times came againe.
The High-land Scots and the Wilde-Irish are
Long liv'd with Labour hard, and temperate fare.
Amongst the Barbarous Indians some live strong
And lusty, neere two hundred winters long?
So as I said before, my Verse now sayes
By wronging Nature, men cut off their dayes.
27
The age of all in Britane hath out gone;
All those that were alive when he had Birth,
Are turn'd againe unto their mother earth,
If any of them live, and doe replye,
I will be sorry, and confesse I lye.
For had he bin a Marchant, then perhaps
Stormes, Thunderclaps, or feare of Afterclaps,
Sands, Rocks, or Roving Pyrats, Gusts and stormes
Had made him (long ere this) the food of worms.
Had he a Mercer, or a Silk-man bin,
And trusted much in hope great gaine to win,
And late and early strived to get or save,
His Gray head long ere now had been i'th Grave.
Or had he been a Iudge or Magistrate,
Or of Great Counsell in Affaires of state
Then dayes important businesse, and nights cares
Had long ere this, Interr'd his hoary haires:
But as I writ before, no cares opprest him,
Nor ever did Affaires of State molest him.
Some may object, that they will not believe
His Age to be so much, for none can give
Account thereof, Time being past so far,
And at his Birth there was no Register.
The Register was ninty seven yeares since
Giv'n by th'eight Henry (that Illustrious Prince)
28
And in the thirtieth yeare of that Kings raigne;
So old Parr now, was almost an old man,
Neere sixty ere the Register began.
I'have writ as much as Reason can require,
How Times did passe, how's Leases did expire;
And Gentlemen o'th County did Relate
T'our gracious King by their Certificate
His age, and how time wtsuperh; gray haires hath crownd him;
And so I leave him older than I found him.
| Works of John Taylor the Water Poet not included in the folio volume of 1630 | |