1
^:
ISHAM. REPRINTS.
No. I.
SHAKESPEARE'S VENUS AND ADONIS.
From a hitherto-unknown Edition. 1 1^99. —
THE PASSIONATE PILGRIME, by
Shakespeare. 1599.— EPIGRAMMES, by
Sir John Davies; and OVID'S ELEGIES,
by Marlowe.
No. 2.
NEWES OUT OF POWLES CHURCH-
YARDE.... Written in English Satyrs. By
E. Hake. 1579.
No. 3.
BRETON (NICHOLAS). NO WHIPPINGE,
NOR TRIPPINGE: BUT A KINDE
FRIENDLY SNIPPINGE. 1601.
No. 4.
SOUTHWELL (ROBERT). A FOVRE-
FOVLD MEDITATION OF THE
FOURE LAST THINGS. 1606.
THE ISHAM REPRINTS.
No., 3.
lVo whippinge, nor trip-
pinge : but a kinde
friendly snippinge.
BY NICHOLAS BRETON.
160I.
A
J15o JKHl)tppinge, nor Crip-^
pittjje : but a hintie frienDlp
S>mppinge.
LONDON, 1601.
A POETICAL REPLY, MORAL, SATIRICAL, AND PRO-
VERBIAL, DURING THE LITERARY QUARREL BETWEEN
BEN JONSON, JOHN MARSTON, W. INGRAM, OF
CAMBRIDGE, AND OTHERS.
By NICHOLAS BRETON,
AUTHOR OF "the PILGRIMAGE TO PARADISE," "rAVISHT SOULE
& BLESSED WEEPER," "fLOORISH UPON FANCIE," ETC.
REPRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL EDITION, LATELY
IN THE POSSESSION OF SIR CHARLES E. ISHAM, BART.,
AND NOW IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, WITH
A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE,
By CHARLES EDMONDS,
EDITOR OF THE " ISHAM SHAKESPEARE OF I599;" HAKe's
" NEWES OUT OF POWLES CHURCHYARDE, IS79 )" " THE
POETRY OF THE ANTI-JACOBIN," BY CANNING,
HOOKHAM FRERE, G. ELLIS, W.
PUBLISHED BY
ELKIN MATHEWS,
VIGO STREET, LONDON,
MDCCCXCV.
fK
L
»-*^i^ -
V
A B R A R-
r
APR 11 1966
.0^
•065089
CHISWICK press: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO.
TOOKS COURT, CHANCEKV L.\.NE, LONDON.
A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE BY
THE DISCOVERER, WHO IS
ALSO THE EDITOR.
That " Good Wine needs no Bufh " is a
good old Englifh proverb, and one that the
good old Englifh writer who is now under
notice would have heartily endorfed, for no
one more frequently ufed proverbs nor more
often inculcated their ftudy, as may be feen in
the prefent Tra6late, and in another production
of his publiftied in the fame year. On his great
literary abilities, both in profe and verfe, and
his power to bound " from grave to gay, from
lively to fevere " — it is unneceflary to dilate,
for they have been acknowledged by compe-
tent authorities from the time when he firft
appeared as an author in 1577, till his laft
dated work in 1637. Indeed, he was never
more appreciated than at the prefent time, as
viii A Bibliographical Note.
is evidenced by the jubilant chorus of Biblio-
philes and Bibliographers over the acquifition
of fome of the moft important of his as well
as of other precious books, from the Lamport
Hall Library, by the Britifh Mufeum authori-
ties, and proudly exhibited by them in the
King's Library there.'
This poetical piece by Nicholas Breton,
a StafFordfliire man, was found by the writer of
the prefent notice, together with many other
moft valuable poetical works of the Elizabe-
than-Jacobean age, in a difufed lumber-room
at Lamport Hall, Northamptonfhire, the feat
of Sir Charles E. Ifham, Bart., the 23rd Sept.,
1867. What made this literary treafure-trove
more noteworthy and valuable was, that not
only moft of the books were in as clean and
perfect a ftate as when ifTued by the printer,
but that many of them — including fome by
^ " Elizabethan Literature at the Britifli Mufeum "
is the heading of a highly congratulatorj' notice on
the pofTeiTion of thefe works, in " The Times " of
Aug. 31, and in "Notes and Queries" of Sept. 15,
1894.
A Bibliographical Note. ix
Breton — had never even been cut open. The
GREAT GLORY OF THE IsHAM LiBRARY V/aS
the volume containing the hitherto unknown
edition of Shakespeare's [fo originally fpelled]
earlieft poem, " Venus and Adonis," dated
1599, and the remarkable colleftion of pieces
entitled the " Paffionate Pilgrime " — thefe laft
all fathered upon Shakefpeare without his
authority — with pieces by {Sir) John Davies
and Marlowe. This volume was in equally
fine prefervation, and in the original vellum
binding, with ftrings.
The work now under notice was the laft of
an anonymous Trilogy; arifmg out of an attack
upon Ben Jonson by a clique of envious and
rancorous poets and adlors, among whom were
Marston and Dekker, for his dictatorial
and generally fcornful manner towards them.
The firft of the feries was entitled " The
Whipping of the Satyre," by I. W. The
author is conjedlured by the late Dr. Brinfley
Nicholfon, who beftowed much labour on
the matter, to have been Wm, Ingram, of
Cambridge. The fecond, called " The Whip-
X A Bibliographical Note.
per of the Satyre, his Pennance in a White
Sheete, etc.," who is alfo mercileflly attacked,
is undoubtedly John Marfton ; while the third
fhows the hand of Breton in every page.
Breton's work is efpecially valuable. Not
only does he a6l as a true peacemaker, but ex-
hibits his good qualities in various directions.
His found practical fenfe is fhown throughout
by the ufe he makes of Englifh Proverbs ; and
his fcathing rebukes of each clafs of contem-
porary delinquents, and his objecSl-lefTons from
human beings, quadrupeds, birds, fifhes, and
fpiders, are remarkably happy. But his
ALLUSIONS TO HIMSELF, HIS EDUCATION, HIS
LIKES AND DISLIKES, ETC., HAVE ALL THE
CHARM OF A CANDID AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
C. E.
NO
Whipplnge, nor
trippinge: but a
kinde friendly
Snippinge.
Imprinted at London
for lohn Browne,
&Iohn Deane.
% TO ALL GRATIOVS,
Vertuous, Courteous, Honeft,
Learnedyand gentle fpiritSithat are
truely poeticall, & not too fantafticall :
that will patiently readjindifferently cen-
fure, andhoneftly fpeake of the labours
of thofe wits that meane nothing
but welljthe writer hereof wifti-
eth all contentment, that
a good conditio may
defire.
r
T good friendes ^ iffuch yee bei
if not^ God blejfe tne from yee :
for the world is fofullofwicked-
nejfe^ that a man can meete with
little goodneffe : Maye it pleafe
you to vnderfiandythat it was my happe of late,
pajjing through Paules Church yarde, to looke
vpon certaine pieces of Poetrye^ where I found
(that it greeues me to fpeake of)one writer fo
At. firangely
The Epiftle
Jiraungely inueigh aga'tnj} another ^that many
Jhallow witsjioode and laugh t at theirfollies*
Now^find'inge their labours fo toucht with ill
tearmsyas befitted not the learned to lay open;
I thought good yhauing little to doe^ to write
vnto all fuch writers ^ as take pleafure to fee
their wits plaie with the worlds that they will
henceforth ^ before they fall to worke^ haue in
minde this good prouer be : Playwith meejbut
hurt me not : and ieft with me; but difgrace
me not; Leajl that the world this ieji do kind-
ly fmot her ^ Why Jhould one foole be angry with
an other? Now for my felfe^I protejie that hu-
mor of Charitie^that Iwijh tofinde at all their
handes that fee and will reprooue my folly: for
1 am none of the feauen wife rnen^ and for the
eighty I knowe not where to feeke him. Bear e
with me then ^if out of the principles of a pain-
ted cloth I haue pickt out matter to mooue im-
patience, yind if there be any thing out of that
poore library ^that maytakeplace in any of your
good likingSyl will honour your good fpir its for
your kinde acceptations. But^ in any wife ^what
ere you think ^giue me no word of c'omendation:
kafi^too glad of fuch a mifchauncCyl trufi the
better
to the Reader.
better to my euill fortune. Well, in earneji^ I
will entreat all good fch oilers to beare with
my lacke of learning, and wife men with my
lacke ofwittey and my creditors with my lacke
ofmony. Which ^though it haue nothing to doe
in this Treatife, yet entreaty fometime doeth
wellwith honeji mindes:which Iwijh^andhope
of in themy yea^ and all the world that IJhall
haue to doe with all. Leauing therefore the pa-
tient to their Paradice, and the difpleafed to
their better patience , in my hue to allfchol-
lers{but chiefly to thofe^that in the ioy of their
ftudies^make vertue their heauen ) / Reji
Your friend,as Ifinde caufe.
No whippe.
(dales:
IS ftrange to fee the humors of thefe
Howfirft the Satyre bites at imperfe6tios:
TheEpigrammiftin his quips difplaies
A wicked courfe in fhadowes of corre61:ions:
TheHumorift hee ftri6Hy makes colle6lions
Of loth'dbehauiours both in youthe and age:
And makes them plaie their parts vpon a ftage.
An other Madcappe in a merry fit.
For lacke of witte did call his cappe at finne:
And for his labour was well tould of it,
For too much playing on that merry pinne;
For that all fifties are not of one finne:
And they that are of cholerick compledtions,
Louenot too plain to reade their imperfedtion
Now
No whippe.
Now comes another with a new founde vaine:
And onely falls to reprehenfions:
Who in a kind of fcoffing chiding ftraine,
Bringes out I knowe not what in his inuentions:
But 1 will ghelTe the heft of his intencions:
Hee would that all were well,and fo would I :
Fooles fliuldnot too much fhew their foolery,
A nd would to God it had ben fo in deed,
The Satyres teeth hadneuer bitten fo:
The Epigrammift had not had a feede
Of wicked weedes, among his herbes to fowe,
Nor one mans humor did not others fhowe,
NorMadcaphadnotfhowenhismadnefTfuch,
And that the whipper had not ierkt fo much.
For
No whippe.
For they whofe eyes into the world doe looke,
And canuafle euery crotchet of conceite,
Whofe wary wittes can hardly be miftooke,
Who neuer feede their fancies with deceite,
Finde this the frui6t of euery idle fleight:
To fhew how enuy doeth her venom fpit,
Or lacke of wealth doeth fell a little wit.
And while they tumble in their tubbes of coine,
Laugh at their wittes that runne fo far awry :
In learning how to giue the foole the foine,
Miftake the warde & wound them felues thereby:
While only wealth doth laugh at beggery.
For rowling ftones will neuer gather mofle,
And raunging wittes doe often liuebylofTe.
The
No whippe.
The Preachers charge is but to chide for finne,
While Poets fteppes are fhort of fuch a ftate:
And who an others office enters in,
May hope of loue,but ftialbe fure of hate.
Tis not a time offences to relate.
Contentions fooner will begin then end :
And one may fooner lofe,then keepe a friend.
Andhe that writes,vnwary of his wordes,
May haue an ill conftrudion of the fenfe.
For fortune euer not the right affordes,
Where will doeth gouerne ouer patience,
Who doeth not finde it by experience,
That points and letters often times mifread,
Endaunger oft the harmelefle writers head?
Good
No whippe>
Good writers then, if any fuch yee be,
In verfe or profe,take well that I doe write:
I wifh yee all what ere yee heare or fee ,
Hafte not your wits to bring it vnto light:
Left ere you weet you doe repent your fpight.
Your friendes ill courfes neuer doe difclofe,
And make your pens no fwords to hurt yonr foes.
Spend not your thoughts in fpilling of your wits:
Nor fpoile your eies,in fpying of offences.
For howfoeuer you excufe your fittes,
They carry fhreud fufpedt of ill pretences:
And when you feeke to make your beft defences,
How euer priuate friends will poorly purfe ye,
If one doe blefle yee,fiue to one will curfe ye.
Some
No whippe.
Some one will fay, you are too bufie pated,
An other faies the foole is idle headed:
An other faies fuch rakehells would be rated:
An other,fee, how will to wit is wedded:
An other, fur e the man is poorely ftedded:
Hee writ for coine,he knew,nor car'd not what:
Butyet take heede,we muft not like of that.
Meane while perhaps he fits within his Cell,
And fighes to heare how many defcant on him:
And for a litle muft his labour fell,
While fuch as haue the pence, do preie vpon him;
And he poore foule,in want thus wo begon him,
Curfeth the time, that euer he was borne,
To vfe his will to make his wit a fcorne.
No whippe.
For let him bragge,and braue it as he lift,
The Poets is a poore profeflion:
And often times doeth fall on had I wift, (feflion:
When confcience makes of inwarde crimes con-
And forrow makes the fpirites interceflion,
For mercies pardon, to that time miflpent,
Which was the foule for better feruice lent.
Yet will I fay that fome,oh all too fewe,
Doe bend their humors to diuine defires:
Thofe I confefle,doe in their verfes ftievv.
What vertue, Grace into thofe foules infpires,
That are inflamed with the heauenly fires:
Such a good Poet, good if any bee,
Onely in God,wouldGod that I were hee.
As
JSfo whippe.
As for thofe fanfieSjfidtionSjOr fuch fables,
That fhow in lofle of time abufe of wit:
That neuer look't into thofe holy Tables,
Where doeth the grace of reafons glory fit:
And wifedome findes what is for vertue fit.
What ere they figure in their dark conftru6bions.
They doe but little good in their inftrudlions.
No,poets,no: I write to yee in loue,
Let not the world haue caufe to laugh at vs:
Letvs our mindes from fuch ill meanes remoue,
As makes good fpirits for to fall out thus:
Let vs our caufes with more care difcufle: (chide:
Not bite, nor claw,nor fcoffe, nor check,nor
But eche mend one, and ware the fall of pride.
Know'ft
No whipp
e.
Know'ft thou a foole? then let him leaue his folly,
Or be fo ftil, and with his humour pafTe.
What hath thy wit to do with trolly lolly?
Muft euery wife man ride vpon an Afle?
Take heede thou mak'ft not him a looking glafle,
Wherein the world may too apparant fee,
By blazing him, to finde the foole in thee.
Haftthouefpieda knaue? care not to know him,
Left that thy knowledge get thee little good.
Orifyou know him,doe not feeke to ftiow him:
Left that your head be fear'd to fit his hoode.
Such fenfe were better neuer vnderftoode.
Better to fee a knaue, and not to fee,
Then to be thought a knaue,as well as hee.
Knowe
No whippe.
Know you a villaine? let him finde his matche:
And {how not you a Matche a villaines skill:
A foolifh dogge at euery Curre doeth fnatch,
Wordes haue no grace in eloquence of ill:
There is no wreftling with a wicked will:
Letpafle the villaine with his villany,
Make thou thy match with better company.
Haue you acquaintance with fome wicked quean,
Giue her good words, and do not blaze her faults:
Looke in thy foule if it be not vncleane:
And knowe that Sathan all the world aflaultes:
lacob himfelfe before the Aungell haultes:
Sighe for her fmne, but doe not call her whore:
But learne of Chrift, to bid her fmne no more.
Knowe
No whippe.
Know you a drunkeard? loath his drunkennefle:
But doe not laie it open to his foes:
Leaft in defcribing his vngodlinefTe,
You take your felfe too foundly by the nofe:
Who hurts himfelfe doth giue vnkindely blowes:
Winke at each faulte & wiih it were amended,
And thinke it well that's with repentance ended .
Knowe you a wencher, let his wenche alone,
Winke at his fault, & age will make him leaue it:
And though he doe not,tell not lohn of loane,
For feare that ether you may mifconceaue it,
Or tone be hurt when tother doth perceiue it :
Or while youfeeke to make their folly knowne,
It be a meane to lay abroad your owne.
B Knowe
No whipp
e.
Knowe you a Mifer? let him be fo ftill,
And lethis fpirites with his metall melt:
Let him alone to diein his owne ill,
And feede not you on that which he hath felt:
Be notyou girded in fo vile a belt:
Rather praie for him, then foraile vpon him,
That all the world may lay their curfes on him.
Knowe you a Spendthrift fecreatly aduife him,
But tell not all the worldeof his expence:
For if fuch kinde of warning you deuife him,
Yourcourfe male happe to fall on fuch offence.
As may be put off with an ill defence:
For many a man thathath his wits afquint.
Would frowne to fee his folly put in print.
Knowe
No whippe.
Know you a Gamefter? let him play his game:
But feeke not you to cheat him of his coyne.
Nor to the world doe idly tell his name,
Whofe heedleffe fancie doeth with folly ioyne,
That cannot fee who doeth his wealth purloine:
Leaft when you name the chance that loft his
Helightonyou,& make your noddle ake.(ftake
Know you a Plotter? ftuddy not his Plots,
But leaue the bufie, to their bufinefle :
Leaft while you winde your wits into fuch knots,
You doe too late repent your foolifhnefle.
And while you write of fuch vngodlinefle,
Finde ere the lines of halfe your rules bered,
To write of knaues doth bring a foole to bed.
B 2 Know
No whippe.
Know you a Swaggerer? let him walke along
Trouble him not in either word,or deed.
He is not borne to put vp open wrong:
Where euery man may ofhis humour read.
Be filent then good Poet and take heede
(What euer faults you in his folly fee)
You doe not talke of fuch a man as he.
If that a great one haue a great defedl,
Let not your thought once touch at fuch a thing.
Vnto Superious euer haue refpe6l :
A Begger muft not looke vpon a King.
Take heede, I fay, is a moft blefled thing :
Leaflifyourun tofarrein fuch a fit,
A foole may happe to hang for lacke of wit.
Learne
No whippe.
LearneEnglifh ProuerbSjhaue them wel by heart,
And countthem often on your fingers ends :
Doe not your fecrets to the world impart:
Beware your foes, doe not abufe your friends :
Take heed of flatterers as of hellifh fiends:
Eate vpyour meat, & make cleane all your plat-
Andmeddle notwith any princes matters.(ters,
Reade what is written on the painted cloth;
Doe no man wrong,be good vnto the poore :
Beware the Moufe, the Maggot, and the Moth;
And euer haue an eye vnto the doore :
Truft not a foole,a villaine,nor a whore.
Goe neat,not gaie; and fpend but as you fpare :
Andturne the Colte to pafture with the Mare.
B 3 Be
No whippe
Be not a churle,nor yet exceed in cheere.
Holdfaft thine owne, pay truely what thouoweft:
Sell not toocheape,anddoenotbuy todeare :
Tell but to few, what fecret ere thou knoweft,(eft :
And take good heed to whom,& what thou fhew-
LoueGod,thyfelf,thy wife, thy childrc',friend,
Neighbour,and feruant,and fo make an end.
Beleeue no newes,till they be nine dayes old.
Nor the too much, although the print approue the:
Miftake not drofle for perfect Indian gold; (them:
Nor make friends godsjbut as you finde them, loue
And as you know them, keepethe,orremooue the-
Beware of beauty, and affedt no flutte :
And ware the worme before ye cracke the nut
Be
No whippe.
Be neither proude, nor enuious, nor vnchafte ;
Leaft al too late,repentance ouer-take you: ( wafte,
And take good heede howe you your wealth doe
Leaft fooles doe fcoffe you, & your friends forfake
And the the begger by the ftiulders fliake you. (you
Giue vnto all that askejnot askers,all :
And take heed how you clime, for fear you fall.
Doe well,be true, backe-bite no man,be iuft;
The Ducke,the Drake,theO wle,do teach you fo :
Speake what you thinke ; but no more then you
Leaft vnawares you make your friend your fo(muft
Be warie, fayes the Crane; bee wife, the Crowe:
Be gentle, humble, courteous, meeke, & milde,
And you fliall be your mothers bleffed childe,
B 4 Be
No whippe.
Be loyall, fayes the Lyon, for your life;
Be firme and conftant, fayes the Elephant :
The Doue bids you be louing to your wife :
Be carefull, fayes the Partridge: painefull,the Ant :
Fake heede, fayes Rainarde, of the Sycophant :
Be wakefuU, fayes the Cocke: Witty, the Conny:
And fayes the Dog; looke well vnto your monie.
Haue all the weeke a penne behinde your eare,
And weare your fword on Sundayes,tis enough :
Be not too venturous,nor too full of feare :
Nor ftand too much vpon a double ruffe;
Eor feare a falling band giue you the cuffe.
Know well your horfe before you fall to ride :
And bid God bleffe the Bride-groom h his Bride.
Be
No whippe.
Be merry, fayes the Cuckow: lufty,the Frog :
Nimble,the Snaile : the Mag-pye, prouident :
Bethrifty,fayes the Buzzard: cleanly the Hogge:
Honeftjthe Bull: the Pigeon refident :
The Popingeare doth bid you to be filent :
Be valiant, fayes the Horfe: fimplejthe Afle;
A better Didlionary neuer was.
Be gracious,fayes the Kite : gentle, the wafpe:
Be liberall, the Moile : rober,the Hare :
Swiftjfayes theTortoife: vertuous,the Ape:
PittifuU, the Woolfe : mannerly, the Mare :
Thankefull the Eagle: bountifull,the Stare :
Trufty,the lack-daw: faithfull,fayes the Hearne:
What better leflbns then the Birdes doe learne?
No
No whippe.
No further runne,then you may turne gaine,
And let not will be guider of your wit.
What needes a plaifter, where there is no paine ?
Phyficke is onely for the crazed fit :
Who is in health. hath not to doe with it.
Take heede of lying lippes, a fwearing tongue.
For they are odious both in old and young.
Haft thou a wit and knoweft thou canft do wel,
Vfeit vnto fomeworke of worth in deede.
For tis no wit, to teach a foole to fpell
Nothing but foole; when he is learn'd to reed.
Better, to teach him Chrifts crofle be his fpeed,
And how the holy Ghoft may better guide him,
Then with conceites of iefts for to deride him.
It
No whippe.
It is a courfe of little charitie,
To find out faults, and fall vpon them foj
And tis a wit of fingularitie,
That perfedl wifedom doth but little fliow:
Which thinks it giues the foole the ouer-throw,
And might haue bene farre better exercifed,
Then in the folly that it hath fuprized.
Tis womens ieft to wrangle for a word,
And what thinke women then of wrangling men
Let fuch fond quarrels be put vnder boord,
As doe but fpring out of an idle penne.
Oh, trouble not the fowle within the fenne.
The fame of learning neuer was worfe grac't>
Then where one foole an other hath defac't.
But
No whippe.
But,art thou learned ? looke into thy booke,
And thou fhalt find thy fancy is abufd,
Which hath thy hope of happy prayfe miftooke;
And doneafault that cannot be excuf d :
For Wifedome neuer fuch an humour vfd.
To fhoote at ftiame, the aime was to farre off,
To beat downe fmne,to ierke it with a fcoffe.
Hawkes hoods, h bels are not for Scholers ftudy,
They haue no argument for wo,ho,ho :
Theirfpirits fhouldnot thinkon things fo muddy,
Where Duckes lie dibbling in the lakes below :
But on the grounds, where fweeter graces grow.
And though a fault be fcufed with a ieft :
A left is but a folly at the beft.
Let
No whippe.
Let all good Scbollers winde their wits away,
From fuch ill following of their idle wilsj
Leaft when they fee their faults another day,
They doe repent them of their little skils,
Where lackeofGrace,a wittie fpirit fpils.
For drinkeis poifon that is drunke in quaffing;
And wit but folly,that fets fooles a laughing.
Beleeue me,tis a kind of fport to fome
That loue no wit; becaufe of ignorance:
When warres begin,to ftrike a wodden drum.
When vertuous fpirits fall at variance :
About the treading of a Moris-dance.
But what more fpight can be to a good wit,
Then fee a foole to ftand and laugh at it?
But
No whippe.
But, who will laugh fo quickly as the foole?
Although he know not well at what indeede:
But who hath liu'd in any learned Schoole,
Would leaue a line for any afTe to reede;
Except(alas)he were conftrain'd for neede,
As many are, God knowes(the more the pitty)
That were they wealthy, would be far more witty.
Sigh then for fuch,to fee their fory cafes,
That muftfuchtreafure for fuchtrafh, go fell:
And doe not fall to grieue them with difgraces,
That in their lowles doe fo with forrow dwell,
As in their hearts is more than halfe a hell,
To beat theitbraines but for a little gaines,
And,or be curft, or fcoftat for their paines.
But
No whippe.
But if there be fome nimble wittted Sir,
That loues to play with euery one he fees:
And hath a fport to make a ftinking ftir
With buzzing verfes, like to Humble Bees:
I wifh fuch pride were plucked on his knees,
To make him know twere better to be quiet,
Then with his wits to runne fo farre at riot.
But for my felfe, I know not any fuch:
Becaufe, perhaps,! haue not read their writings:
Or els, I doubt they are too deepe a tuch,
For the fhort reach ofmypoore thoughts inditings,
That could not roue at their conceipts delightings.
Howere it be, I know I doe not know them;
And therefore care not who do ouerthrow them.
But
No whipp
e.
But for my felfe, what euer I haue writ;
And for poore Mad-cap,I dare fweare as much :
In all the compafTe of a little wit,
It meant no one particular to touch.
But for one (hould not at another grutch;
As the clouds thickend,and the raine did fall,
He caft his Cap, at fmne in generall.
Indeed, tis true, he caft his Cap at finne;
And would to God that all the world did fo ;
Then doe I hope our fpirits fhould begin,
Our wit, and fenfes better to beftow,
Then one to feeke anothers ouer-throw.
But pardon him for what is paft before,
And he hath done for capping any more.
And
No whippe.
And for my felfe, good brother,by your leaue,
I will not now difpute an Argument
Of what I would, nor what I could conceiue,
Nor what may be difcretions detriment,
In fhewingof a wittie excrement:
But I will wifli all Scholersfhouldbe friends,
And Poets not to brawie for puddings ends.
I am not worthy to be heard to fpeake
Emong the wife, what they fhould haue to doe:
But if thereliue a wit that be too weake,
Aduifed care to bring his will vnto:
Oh, with good words let me his fpirit wooe.
That he will now but onely ftudie/iro,
Let nos be nobis ^ and the contra goe.
C So
No whtppe.
So fliall our Mufes fweeteft mufique make,
When gratious fpirits doe agree in one :
And euery foole may not example take
At our vnnaturall diflention :
Let euery AiTe goe by himfelfe alone :
And let vs feeme as though we knewe them not,
Since no more good is by them to be got.
TellnotaSouldier ofhisbloodie fword,
Nor yet the Sailer of his life at Tea:
Nor tell the Courtier of his knife aboord,
Nor tel the Lawier of his gaineful plea :
Nor tell the louer of his little flea:
Let them alone, and trouble none of them :
A fecret hum is better then a hem.
If
No whippe.
If you will needes be merry with your wits,
Take heede of names, and figuring of natures:
And tell how neere the goofe the gander fits:
Oi Hob and Sib, and of fuch filly creatures:
Oi Croydon fanguine and of home made features:
But skorne them not,for they are honeft people,
Although perhaps theyneuer faw Paules fteepie.
But,if you could,you fhoulddoe better much,
To bend your ftudie to a better end,
And neither one nor other feeme totuch:
But in fuch forte, as may befeeme a friend:
And doe no more your fpirits idly fpend
With ierking, biting, skoffing and fuch humors
As fill the world too full of wicked rumors.
C 2 Brin
g
No whippe.
Bring in no Verfes for Authorities:
As in prefenti^ and leaue out the R\
Tis fit for Babes in their minorities,
Emong their formes, to fall at fuch a iarre.
Necke verfes are for theeuesbutatthe Barre.
God blefl'e vs man from euer comming there:
A guiitie heart can fcarcely reade for feare.
Bacchus Rnd Ceres were the Gods below:
And there fhall be, and neuer come aboue.
And Claret wine will quicken wit I trowe:
By the Redde Crofl'e, I fweare, it is to proue:
But, what fhould Scholers, wine and fugar moue,
To bring in fo Jppollo and virorum ?
When v/ife men fmile at horum harum horuni.
But,
No whippe.
But,pardon me, if that I fpeake falfe Latine
For lacke of learning : I no fcholer am:
My matters gowne deferues no face of Satine:
I neuer to degree of Mafter came:
But, where fmal learning might attaine the fame:
And for a verfe in Latine, let me fee:
AlaSjthey haue too many feete for mee.
But, let me loue that language yet of olde,
For Ergos fake, that many a time deluded
My troobled harte,that knewe not what to holde
Should be vpon the confequence concluded,
While many a Placet for his place entruded:
Vntill the Bell bad breake vp fchoole,andthen
Sufficient,made,a world of propre men.
C3 And
No whippe.
And I among them,not the leaft contented
To fee both Maior,and the Minor ceafe,
Full many a time myhaftie will repented,
When I haue wifht a Placet hold his peace:
\V^hofe Sophyftrie would fo my feare increafe,
That to be fhort,my learning was fo little,
As I may write my Title in a tittle.
Looke not therefore for arguments of Arte:
But from the painted cloth vpon the wall,
What Ihaue learn'd I kindely doe imparte,
Hoping to purchafe no ill will at all:
Becaufe,fo rudely to my worke I fall.
Suchweakeneflemypoorewits are come vnto,
That beafts,&: birds, muft teach me what to do.
iMy
No whippe.
My Librarie is but experience:
The Authors, Men, that in my notes I finde:
My notes,the natures of fuch difference,
As may defcry each other in their kinder
Where, if my wit and fenfes be not blinde,
I doe perceiue in too much ill defarte:
Pride in a Scholer, makes a foole by Arte.
Blame me not then, if that I iudge amifTe:
The Sunne and Moone are my Aftronomie:
When you beholde where all my cunning is.
Charge not fimplicitie with villany:
It were enough to breede an Agony
In many a man: but truely not in me.
That make no care, what ere your cenfure be.
C4 If
No whippe.
If it be good, I thankeyou for good will:
If contrarie, focontrarie come to you.
If it be well, 1 can not take it ill:
If otherwife, the like good may it doe you.
J f kindely then,as kindly let me wooe you
Toleaue fuchierkings,leafttheyfmarttoofore,
Loue me as I doe you, I askeno more.
But yet, me thinkes, I fee you fmile at mee, (ding:
As though my Rules were fcarcely worth the rea-
And that a filly painted cloath fhould be
The Librarie of all my learnings breeding:
And that my wits had need of too much weeding-
Oh what a burthen muft my patience cary?
The Alehoufe is the Afles Di6tionary.
But
No whippe.
But for the Alehoufe and the Painted Cloth,
If ought I finde there, that be worth the noting :
Laying afide the filthy dronken froth :
What good I fee,Iwillnotskippe the coating.
A good Redde Herring maybe worth the bloting.
Better a good wit in an Alehoufe Ht,
Then finde an Alehoufe in an idle wit.
So much in honour of my hom.ely booke :
Wherein the Birds and beafts fo wifely fpeake:
And fo much for the notes from them I tooke,
To helpe fuch wits as will hath made too weake,
Into the bounds of blefiTed thoughts to breake.
Now,for the natures of thofe notes, you fee
What caufe you haue to thinke amifle of me.
No whippe.
I will not meddle with ^«^ Maribus^
The Propria will trouble me too much :
Nor yet, ^'t mihi Dijcipulus :
Except I knew my mafterftiip were fuch,
As fomewhat might a gratious Scholer tuch.
No, I will let the Latine lines alone ;
And fpeake a few more £nglifh,and be gone.
Let all good wits,if any good there be;
Leaue trufling, and vntrufTmg of their points,
Andheare thus much(although not learne)ofmej
The fpirits,that the Oyle of Grace annoyntes,
Will keepe their fenfes in thofe facred ioynts.
That each true-learned, Chriftian-hartedbro-
Will be vnwilling to offend another. (ther
And
No whippe.
And fo would I; for if in truthe, I knewe
(Although it were full much againft my wiil)
I fhould ofFend but any one of you,
That might conceiue iuft caufe to wifli me ill:
I would throwe downe my Inke,& break my quill.
Ere I would write one word to fuch anende,
As might but gaine a foe,or lofe a friende.
In kindenefle then let me entreate you this:
I f that your leafure fer ue you,looke it ouer :
And what you Hnde that you may take amifle,
Let my confeffion of fmall learning couer,
Let euery Poet be each others louer.
Let vs note follies, and be warned by them :
But not in writing,to the world defcry them.
It
No whippe.
It is a plot among pernicious braines,
To breede a brawle twixt better natur'd wits,
B) foothing finne with humour of difdaines,
Vntill they fall into fome raging fits,
Wherein the fruite but of Repentance fits:
But let them liften to thofe tongues that lift,
Let vsnot labour for a Had I wift.
For, feme will fay that Arte is ill beftow'd
On him that Icnowes not how to vfe it well.
And he fometime may finde his wits beftirow'd,
That reades his leflbn ere he learne to fpell:
Marke but the truthe,the painted cloath doth tell;
Who laies to much vpon his wits at once,
May happe to prooue an Ideot for the nonce.
Sound
No whippe.
Sound a mans minde before you fhew his meaning:
For feare repentance come an houre too late.
Barre nor the beggers from their merry gleaning:
Except the Land-lord bid you keepe the gate:
And where you m.ay haue loue,hunt not for hate.
Let Poets drinke of //^//V(j«j faire fountaine,
But bring no Mice out of a fwelling mountaine.
Let Noddies go to cufFes for bloudie nofes:
Let vs but laugh to fee their lack of reafon:
Leaue them their weedes, and let vs gather Rofes,
And reap our wheat,while they do pick on peafon.
Let vs hate lies, ingratitude, and treafon,
And with our friends in fond conceipts to ftriue.
And we fhall be the blefled'ft men aliue.
If
No whippe.
If that a minde be full of mifery,
What villany is it to vexe it more?
And if a wench doe treade her (hooe awry,
V^Vhathoneft heart will turne her outofdore?
Oh, if our faultes were all vpon the skore:
VV^hat manfo holy,but would be afhamed,
To heare himfelfe vpon the Schedule named?
Let vs then leaue our biting kinde of verfes:
They are too bitter for a gentle tafte.
Sharpe pointed fpeach fo neare the fpirit pcarces,
As orrowes to rankle ere the poifon wafte.
But let all be forgotten that is paft:
And let vs all agree in one in this;
Let God alone to mend what is amifle.
But
No whippe.
But if we needes will try our wits to write,
And ftriue to mount our Mufes to the height,
Oh let vs labour for that heauenly light,
That may dire6t vs in our pafTage ftreight:
Where humble wits may holy will awaite;
And there to finde that worke to write & reede.
That may be worth the looking on indeede.
'sr
To fhewe the life of vnitie in loue.
Where neuer difcord doth the mufique marre:
But,in the blefling of the foules behoue,
To fee the light of that faire fhining ftarre,
Which {hews the day that neuer night can marre:
But in the brightneffe of eternall glory,
How loue and life doe make a blefled ftory.
If
No whippe.
If we be toucht with forrow of our finnes,
Exprefle our pafTions as the Pfalmift did:
And ihew how mercy, hopes reliefe beginnes,
Where geateft harmes are in repentance hid:
When Grace in Mercy doth defpaire forbid:
And fingof him, andof his glory fuch,
Who hateth finne,yet will forgiue fo much.
And let our hymnes be Angell harmonic,
Where Halleluiah makes the heauens to ring:
And make a confort of fuch companie,
As make the Quire but to their holy King:
This, this, I fay, would be a blefTed thing:
When all the world might ioy to heare and fee
How Poets, in fuch Poetry agree.
For
No whippe.
For who can make an Ape to leaue his mowes,
Although he call him twentie times an Ape \
And who can ftop the cawing of the Crowes,
Although he tell them of their carrion gape ?
And if the collicke chance to breed a fcape,
But hold your nofe the fent will quickly die :
Then cry not fohjbutlet the fih goe by.
A MaflifFe dog will neuer make a Spaniell :
Then let the Curre alone to ftiew his kinde.
A horfe-mans faddle is no market paniell.
To wafh a Moore is worke againft the winde.
Thofe blinking wits do fhow their wils too blind,
That finding faultes fo roughly fall vpon them,
To think to mend them with their railing on them
D The
No whippe.
The deuill is a knaue, who knowes it not?
And who but God, can put downe all his power?
And how muft God his gracious loue be got ?
But all by prayer euery day and houre;
While teares of forrow make a blefied fhowre:
And humble faith doth but to mercy flie,
In hearty prayerjnot in Poetry.
Yet fay I not,but Poets well may pray;
And praying Poets doe moft fweetly iing.
For proofe, o^ Dauid fee what trueth may fay;
A praying Poet, and a blefled King:
Whofe verfes all did from fuch vertues fpring,
As left the loue of learned trueth to try,
Howe prayer fhewes the princely Poetry.
Let
No whippe.
Let vs all Poets then agree together,
To run from hell, and fained Helicon,
And looke at heauen, and humbly hie vs thither,
Where Graces (hall be let in,euery one,
To Ting a part in Glories vnion;
And there to fettle all our foules defire.
To heare the muficke of that heauenly Quire.
•3
Let Om/V, with A/'(7ra^x idle tale,
Weare out his wits with figuratiue fables.
Old idle Hiftories grow to be foftale, (tables.
That clownes almoft haue bard them from their
And PhabuSy with his horres,and his ftables:
Leaue them to babies: make a better choife
Of fweeter matter for the foules reioyce.
D 2 Who
(
No whippe.
Who toucheth pitch and tarre cannot be cleane.
A wilfull wit doth worke it felfe much woe.
In euery courfe tis good to keepe a meane :
And being well, to Hue contented fo.
The foftelt walkers doe moft fafely goe.
Haft maketh waft:and wits that run aftray,
Make had I wift,to make fooles holy-day.
Be quiet then,I fayjbe quiet, Wagges :
And haue no more with nothing worth to doe :
While other angle for the golden bagges,
We feeke out toies,to fet our wits vnto :
But let vs leaue the Cobbler to his fliooe.
And let the foole, himfelfe with folly flatter:
And bend our ftudies vnto better matter.
No
No whippe.
No: this is not a world for fimple wits,
That can not looke a mile aboue the Moone :
Nor rofte their fparrowes but on wodden fpits ;
Nor make a morning of an after-noone :
Nor watch a bleffing when there fals a Boone :
No, no: it is no world for weake conceit.
The Deuil is too cunning in deceit.
A filly honeft creature may do well.
To watch a cockefhoote or a limed bufh :
For many a Scholler happly learnes to fpell,
That can not put together worth a rufti;
Yet let a Poet at fuch humors hufh:
His will fhould be about fome other worke.
Then where the Adder in the graffe doth lurke.
D 3 And
No whippe*
Ard fince my felfe haue marched in that ranke,
Where Mercury commanded Pallas Traine,
And fpent my fpirits in my thoughts,as franke
As he that thought he had a better vaine :
I muft confefre,what idle humours gaine;
A frumpe,a frowne,a foy]e,or els a feare :
When wil doth write that reafon cannot beare.
No,trueIy no : this world is not for me.
I will no longerbe fantafticall;
But winke at folly, when the foole I fee :
That in his gefture is fo finicall,
As if his fpirit were Poeticall :
And thinke it better weare my wits at Schoole,
Then fpoyle my wits in painting of a foole.
Vpon
No whtppe.
Vpon the painted cloth, the Nightingale
Did bid me heare,and fee,and fay the beft.
The fea Mew fayes it is a cruel gale,
That driues the Swallow cleane out of her neft.
Why,rimple nofes now can bide no left:
And Poets,that are open in Inuedtiues,
Doe often fall vpon too much defedtiues.
Beleeue me brother,tis as thou doeft write;
Poets fliould wright by heauenly infpiration:
But he that is poffelTed with defpight,
Shewes but a wicked kinde of inftigation;
To thinke by fcoffes to make a reformation.
Nojlet vs all goe backe to vertues Schooles,
And let the world alone to bring vp fooles.
D4
No whippe.
I haue bene vaine as any man aliue:
But would be vertuous now,if I knew how :
And euery day,and houre,and minute ftriue
My wicked heart to better grace to bow.
Then let me fay, as to my felfe, to you;
Let vs leaue all our idle imperfections,
And ftudyvertue,for our Hues diredions:
Let vs ferue God, in word, and deed, and thought;
And by our filence make our quarrels ceafe:
And learne thofe lefTons that true loue hath taught,
Where concord doth a blefl'ed world encreafe,
And fpeake ofPeace,or let vs hold our peace.
For words, or deeds, or thoughts of ftrife are e-
And are but inftigations of the Deuill. (uill,
It
No whippe.
It is a fhame to fhun the way of Grace,
And run our wits a gathering after wool;
And finde the haire fo courfe in euery place,
As makes a wood-cocke proue himfelfe a Gull,
That hath no better braines within his fcuU,
Then to beftow his time in idle trifles,
With penning notes to fil the world with nifles.
For God fake let vs then our follies leaue.
And not lay open one anothers ill;
But in our confcience learne for to conceiue.
How heedlefle wit may be abuf'd by will,
And haue a care fo well to vfe our skill.
We may be loued for our learned lines,
Where gracious fpirits Poets makeDiuines.
And
No whippe.
And for my felfe, I meane the Ice to breake,
Vnto the paflage of that Paradice;
VVhererauiftit Grace may of that Glory fpeake,
Where mercy liues,and comfort neuer dyes,
And the beft praife of any Poet lies ;
Or at the leaft if any went before,
Follow that line,and loue the world no more.
What right bred wits, will haue to doe with blind
Efpecially blind beggers and their boyes ? ( men,
Theythathaueiudgement,howindeedtofindmen
V Vil think fuch younkers but hobberdie-hoyes,
That ply their wits vnto fuch paltrie toyes :
Or els to fhew that he hath learn'd in part,
To rob the blindeman of his beggers art.
If
No whippe.
If it be fo,and meane to keepe a Schoole
To bring vp boyes vnto the baggers crafte,
To take a threftiolde,for his cufhen-ftoole,
To knaue a cruft,and drinke a forry draft,
Let him goe fleepe when he hath foundly quaft,
And fhrugge himfelfe vnder fome forry tree,
. Andj'mong the beggers,mafter begger be.
But then me thinkes he fliould fet out his table;
All ye that feeke to haue your children taught.
To play the begger how he may be able,
V Vhen that his eye-fight groweth old, or naught:
Aske for the man that hath the Cony caught,
And dwelleth, where the matter is not great :
And you fhall haue them boorded without meate.
But
/
No whippe.
But tis no matter : men that haue a name,
Neede make no table; they are knowen fo well.
And the blinde Begger hath fo great a fame,
As of his trickes can euery high-way tell.
And fince for begging he doth beare the bell,
Let him keepe Schoole; and learne of him that
The flocks wil kindlyfithim forhisskill. (will:
But for I doubt, fome men of good profeflion,
Will take exceptions at my table-writing:
To honeft mindes I make my hearts confeffion;
My foule is free from vertuous fpirits fpighting:
Not one of them is in my thoughts endighting.
I rather wi{h,God blefle them and their Arts,
And let the blind men play the Beggers parts.
For
No whtppe
For all good Poets will cry out vpon him,
That falles to blindenes and to beggery :
And in his wits,be fo farre woe-begon him,
That in an humour,of bafe trumpery,
The world may fee, in idle foolery,
A Ballad-maker would haue bene a Poet:
But hat he knew not in what point to (hew it.
Thus will the world be defcanting on writers,
Whentheyfhallread their ouer-rudedefcriptions,
And fay that fpirits which are growen fuch fpigh-
Shuldbetterlearnedbeinlouesprefcriptionsj(ters
Then goe about fo with their circumfcriptions :
That wits of worth,that know their foolery,
Doe call it Pot-rie, and not Poetrie.
And
No whippe.
And what haue we to doe with pilgrimage,
To walke bare witted to S. Dunces well?
A Grammer Scholer but often yeeres age,
That fcarfe hath learn'd his Latine lines to fpell,
Will foone by heart, a better ftory tell:
And fay, fuch Poets as their wits fo tofle.
Make all their walkes by little witttam crofTe.
For let the world imagine what it lift,
And idle wits deceiue themfelues with toyes :
Thofe hammeringheads that breedbut HadI wift,
Are all to farre from thofe afTured ioyes,
V Vhereheauenly comfortkils al earths annoyes.
No,no: tis onely Vnitie and Peace,
That makes all bleffings profper and encreafe.
Oh,
No whippe
Oh Poets, turne the humour of your braines,
Vnto feme heauenly Mufe, or meditation;
And let your fpirits there imploy your paines,
Where neuer weary,needs no recreation,
While God doth bleffe each gracious cogitation.
For proud comparifons are alwayes odious:
But humble Mufes muficke is melodious.
Then learne to fing, and leaue to learne to braule.
It is vnfitting to a fine conceit,
From vertues care,to vaine effeds to fall.
Where careleffe words doe carry little weight,
While fancie angles but with follies baite:
V Vhich,hanging but a Gudgin on the hooke,
May figh to fee,what idle paines he tooke.
No whippe.
No,no: let fancie weane her felfe from folh'';
And heauenly prayers grace our Poetrie.
Let vs not loue the thought that is not holy,
Nor bend our mindes to blinde mens beggerie :
B ut let vs thinlce it our foules mifery,
That all our Mufes doe not ioyne in one,
To make a Quire to fing to God alone.
Eor could our fpirits all agree together,
In the true ground of vertues humble grace,
To fing of heauen,and of the high-way thither,
And of the ioyes in that moft ioyfuU place.
Where Angels armes the blefled foules embrace;
Then God himfelfe would blefle our foules endi-
And al the world would loue a Poets writing, (tins:,
FINIS.
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No whippinge
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