Linsi-woolsie. Or Two centuries of epigrammes. Written by William Gamage Batchelour in the Artes

THE SECOND CENTVRIE.

Epig. 1. To his worthy Ho: Patronesse, Catherine, Lady Mansell.

THy splendent name, I doe not know right well, Or blazed fame, in praise doth most excell; But both vnite, and both shall equall be, Such is thy praise, sans partialitie.

Epig. 2. On our vulgar Pie-Poets. To the Readers.

AN Epigram, I graunt is common grown, Squis'd out of Coblers, Tinkers, base of Trade; (Whereby of yore the learned well was knowne, Whose warbling songs was not by Coopers made.) Such sordid stuffe we should cast of in hast, And will S^r. Sutor not to passe his Last. * 1.1

Epig. 3. To the learned Diuine M^r. Francis Sydney.

SOme of thy name doe braue Trill Pallas Lance; And thou most graue her Lawrell dost aduance.

Epig. 4. On the Mercilesse Niggard. To his decre Cosin, Edm. Basset.

THe Base we see do commonly admire, And high esteeme the Baslings of this Earth: As Siluer Gold, Brasse, Yron Lead, and Wire, So that if famine fals, or pining Dearth, Scarse will they spare, yea to themselues one crum, Much lesse to Others, to their Doores which come.

Epig. 5. To his lo: friend M^r. M. Hopkins.

WIth dolefull sighes right well may we compare, The Leuit's liuing par'd on either side; By greedy Patron thence which culs his share, And Dunstus dumbe, in learning little tri'de: Vnto the Cheese, which Banbury doth yeeld, Which looks most poor, on both sides cleanly peeld.

Epig. 6. The Naturalized Dutch-man. To his kinde Comrade, and lo: Cosin, M^r. Willi∣am Hughes.

WE say, one fault marres somes good qualities; But Contrary in the right Flemming borne,

One Good'mends all his superfluities Of bad conditions, to be ere forlorne: His Bibbing, Rashues, Mercenary fight; But worthre praise, for a 1.2 seruing God aright.

Epig 7. On the worldlings Auarice. To his lo: friend M^r. Io: Roberts, alaborious Preacher of Gods Word.

THe faithfull Abr'am for his Heritage Did rest content with promise of a Land: Whereto the faithlesse Bastards of our Age, Words nought auaile without performance-Band. Yet see the difference 'twixt the Sonnes, and Sire, He Heauen gate, base Earth they sole Desire.

Epig. 8. Agriculture. To his lo: friend Io G.

LIke Nero, many do enbowell deepe Their Mother Earth, for White and yellow Mine: And others do into Her concaues creepe Like Pluto's swart, darke coles to digge that shine. But thou art farre more Naturall then They, Which dost but, Rase thy Mothers face of Clay.

Epig. 9. To one, declining vnder the yoke of Affliction.

VVHat tho thy cofers be not stuffed hard With Caesars crosses, all of beaten gold: And all the crosses of the Popes be bard Thy house; yet faint not; but be euer bold. For thou hast had those crosses, that exceede Farre these; which be Christs crosses, best in deed.

Epig. 10. a Babylon Metamorphosed. To his lo friend M^r. Math. Bennet.

THou boastest proud, that thou dost rule as a 1.3 Queene, Thou art mistake, 'tis rather like a b 1.4 Quene. a

Epig. 11. On Sir Phill. Sidneys Arcadia.

THy workes are worthy praise, and why, I pray? Because that none can these dispraise, I say.

Epig. 12. To his lo: friend M^r. M Hop: for the loane of Dod, and Cleauer on the Decalogue.

DOd with his Cleauer cleaues the stonie rocke Of our hard hearts through their laborious pain:

And plaines the way most plaine for Christ his flock, That leads o're hils to the celestiall plaine. These paire of friends with thankes I send againe, Though two in Name, in Nature yet not twaine.

Epig. 13. On the monstrous sin of Drunkennesse.

THat a 1.5 stoicall sage did drunkennesse prescribe A salue most sure vnto a quiet minde; Which spuing potion most of euery Tribe, Now takes, which workes most brauely, as we finde. It causeth vomits, doth phlebotomize, And more, the dumbe doth cause to Rhetorize.

Epig. 14. To the hopefull, and courteous Courtier, young S^t. Edw. Lewis.

THe Court, thy Name may better, I confesse: But not thy Nature, lesse I misse to gesse.

Epig. 15. Worm'shead. To his approued good fr. T. Rog.

A Rocke there is that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shead has to name, Within whose Concaues, fish, and fowle do br•…•…ed:

A wonder strange, which merits blazing fame, That stones, the selfe same Rocke, and eke indeed At the same time, the feathered bird, the fish Should feed, and stanch their appetites at wish.

Epig. 16. Christ, and Apollo. To Physitians.

BOth, sores of soule and bodie Christ doth cure. Which cannot Synthius, which you say is sure A God; and a 1.6 God, they say, can all effect, But certs, I thinke, your God has this defect.

Epig. 17. On curious questionists. To his lo: fr. Har: Iohnes.

TOo many are of curious Questionists, That proud demands what God himselfe did frame, before a'fram'd the World wherein consists All Cre'tures that both Sauage be, and tame. Which cannot yet their Pater noster say, Vnlesse perhaps in Latine cleane astray.

Epig. 18. To his lo: fr: M^r. W. Awbrey, an ingenious A•…•…agr▪ matist, late turned a Minister.

I•…•… that the Censure of the Gabalists 〈◊〉〈◊〉 true, which saith their lies in each mans name By the inuersion of Hieroglyphists, His fatall fortunes, or his blazed fame. Which in thy name thou didst, I thinke out finde When to that sacred coat thou gau'st thy minde.

Epig. 19. Pengwin, the eight wonder of the World. To •…•…s Cousen Rees Griffith a Peregrinator.

THe vniuerse, as we may reade, containes But only seauen wonders, strange and rare; The eight, to make the number eu'n, remaines, Which Disticke-wise, herein I will declare. This is a Bird, that Pengwin has to name, Which neuer slew, and yet was neuer tame.

Epig. 20. To the cour•…•…us Ge•…•…. M. Arth. Mansell.

AS thou art Arthur excellent in Name, In Nature to, I wish thee eke the same.

Epig. 21. The Ile of the Crosse.

I Gesse, a 1.7 Columbus gaue that fitting name To that same Clime, which he cals Crucis Ile; Because there Cannibals without all shame, Doe eate mens flesh, which they to them beguile. Which first they fix vnto a Crux to feede, Like to an Oxe, being fat they cause to bleede.

Epig. 22. On curious Damaetas. To his Cousen H. Tho. studious in the Bible.

TH' ignorant in this our curious Age, Or little lesse, some Asse of shallow reach, Will seeme to prate in myst'ries deepe, and sage; The greatest Clearkes which vex, that write, or preach And if you tell him, a 1.8 doe this thou shalt liue, 'Tis nought, vnlesse vnto the depth you diue.

Epig. 23. Iesus College in Oxford, speaking to King Iames.

AL things, a 1.9 they say, doe wish a perfect end, I being vnperfect, doe eke wish the same,

Thy Royall hand my ragged wals can mend, And perfect that what Priscious e'ne began. An easier taske, to ioine foure corner stones In me, then lincke in one foure Nations.

Epig. 24. Mors, Sceptra ligonibus equat. Alluding to the death of the most renowned H. Fredericke, Prince of Wales.

OFatall death, can none escape thy Dart? O gastly Ghost, must all obey thy Hest? Must Princes, as the beggar feele thy smart? Must great ones die, sans mercy, as the least? Henry was yong, therefore thou mightst him spare; Henry was sage, then shouldst his life prolong: Henry was war like touch him how could'st dare? Henry was learned, death thou hast vs wrong. Mauors farewell, and learned Mercury, Since Henry left too soone our company.

Epig. 25. To the most famous, and Heroike Lady, Mary, L. Wroth.

THy worthy husband Ladifies thee Wroth, Pray be not so with my poore pen, to place 'Fore R the O; then iustly Lady Worth I might thee stile, worth what? hie honours Grace.

Epig. 26. The ^a Canaries.

THose Iles were wont to be cal'd fortunate, Haue now their names Canaries, for the Curres That breed therein (a Metamorphos'd state, And strange) which thinks her blest for beastly Burres. But Brittaines Ile should certaine more be blest, If with mad dogs she were the lesser prest,

Epig. 27. Goddesse Fortune.

TH' vnfortunate denominates his name And fortunate also, from fortune blind: In Polycrates, and Vlysses fame, Her constancy vnconstantly we finde. Th' one she euer cros'd by Sea and land, Th' other blest with her vnblisfull hand.

Epig. 28. Hispana, in Hispanos.

HIspana Ile, has in't a wonder rare, Which Serpents be without all poison strong; And do not hurt (as a 1.10 stories do declare) Th' Inhabitants, which do dwell them among; Which should teach those that conquer'd first the Ile, To shun to kill, through veno•…•…'s poisned guile.

Epig. 29. On Terhernes Sepulture.

TErherne thou li'est enterd within the graue, Of a blind Monke, in those daies compted wise, And thou a foole; a Sepulture most braue, Which doth the idiot, and the Sage comprise. Yet, thou a foole to greater Blisse maist rise, Then the blind Monke, that was esteemed wise.

Epig. 30. On the feminine Supremacy.

I Often heard, but neuer read till now. That Women-kinde the Codpeeces did weare; But in those Iles, the men to women bow, Which do their names of a 1.11 male, and female beare. I should therefore the woman iudge to be The vessell strongst, but b 1.12 Paul denies it me.

Epig. 31. To the right worshipfull and most courteous knight, Sir Lewis Mansel, of his he: a mariage,

THe Porcupine, with launces sharpe, and keene, Doth now not seek to pearce the Fawchi'on faire, Nor is the Fawchi'on 'gainst the Griffon seene

To •…•…y, but ioies as friends, a Royall paire. What is the cause of this their league? thy a loue, Which doth the birds, that's strange, to vniō moue.

Epig. 32. On Cottulus the vnconstant Professor.

VNconstant Cottulus, which primly wast, Preciscian like, most curious of thy life: But thou that faction thou hast ouerpast, And turn'd a Papist, seeds man full of strife, I wonder, what thou thirdly wilt Professe, Camelion-like, a Newter, as I gesse.

Epig. 33. To his Antiquious Academian friend M^r. William Ie.

THe Swan, they say, doth sing before he die; But thine, I wis, did mourne most dolefully.

Epig. 34. On the beloued Gossips, Laena, and Larga.

Lae.

VVHy wilt not Larga, Marry M^r. Steere? A p•…•…oper man, & wise, no Meacocks Gul:

La:

I tell thee why, I hate a castred Pheere, •…•…nd rather chose my Suiter, Maister Bull.

Epig. 35. The Picture of a Paramour.

MOst pretty Loue, of all our Loues, which louest Neuer to feed on one sole dainty dish; But many more do'st taste, and often pronest, Through sweat of Body, and a louely kisse. Thou euer lou'st variety of cares, Which honest Vesta and Maechaon hates.

Epig. 36. To the gastly Ghoast of Terherne.

SOme are, which haue grow'n famous by their lore, By dint of sword, and eke by Prudencie; But thou (Terherne) renowned wast of yore, For a pure foole, and nat'rall foolerie. But here's the difference 'twixt your brinted fame, Theirs, for their wit, and thine, of folly, came.

Epig. 37. Cord Franke. Of the Knights of S^t. Denis Bathe,

I Wonder why men did thee nominate Coed Franke, in Antique Brittains copious Tongue; Vnlesse thou got'st it through the French-mans fate, The gallian griefe, which blasted thee along.

If it be so, let fleshmen learne by thee To shun the Pox which burns the very tree.

Epig. 38. Of the lamentable Deaths, of H. 3. and H. 4. the French kings, murthered by a brase of Fryars.

IF a 1.13 Patriarches twaine, in Holy Writ be nam'd b 1.14 Brethren in euill for reuenging wrong; Then may those Brase of Friars well be blam'd, (Which burns sans Mercy, 'mongst the Hellish throng) For doubtlesse they were brethren in ill, Which trat'rously France Royall blood did Spill.

Epig. 39. To his Sickly friend.

STore is no sore, the Prouerbe verifies; Which thou find'st false, in store of Malladies.

Epig. 40. To Reuerend vida, the filching Preacher.

GOds zeale, (most zealous vida,) Prelate graue, Did eate thee vp, while that the borrowed oyle Of others Lampes, did furnish thee most braue,

With Budget Lore, to keepe a Preaching coile. What meanes thy silence? Sure the oile is out, And being thrust from Movses chaire, art Mute.

Epig. 41. To plaine Io. the versificator.

VVHat kinde of Poem's thine, I thee beseech? No wittie one, therefore a witlesse speech.

Epig. 42. To Battus, the Cat•…•…chiser.

MAgister Battus of the A. B C. I do commend thy conscience for to teach Thy Punies Raw, without reward or fee; Th'wilt serue to catechise, but ill to preach. Whereas thou dost thy pupils teach for nought, Right well thou maist, thy Lore deseru's not ought.

Epig. 43. On Mistresse Wag-taile.

THy gadding head, my pretty Mysa sweet, Did cause thy taile to be most wagging still; Herein we see both head, and taile do meet Thy lust ne're satiate seeking to fulfill. 'Twas not thy Head that did thy Taile enflame, But t'was thy Taile, that did thy Head defame.

Epig. 44. Lex Taliouis, on Rot, the Tyrant.

PRoud cruell Rot, which now dost rot in graue, That e're wast wont to tread on poore mens necks And force the harmeles Gull to be a Slaue, Vnto thy Threts, and eke commanding checks. These all requite thee now with Talio's Law. And on thy Head doe trample without Awe.

Epig 45. The Cacademons Epitaph.

H•…•…ere Batcocke lies, a Cocke too Bad by kinde, Which euer wak't his Prentises to play At Cardes, he had a zelous minde, For them he bore insteed of Bookes to pray. Which being dead, a paire of Cards was found Vnder his head, to play with vnder ground.

Epig. 46. Socrates.

THou Socrates the wisest Sage foretold, That was on eath, while that on earth thou breth'st Wast not so wise yet, for to choose that Scold, To be thy wife; thou wisedome herein leau'st. Vnlesse it were thy patience, for to trie, If so, our dayes yeelds thee many a fry.

Epig. 47. To his honest kinde friend Mr. Edw. Andrewes, of the Epithit, Honest.

HOnest, a word, I sweare an Adiectiue, For now a daies, it little stands in steed: But he that to the Depth of Crafts can diue, He is the Wiseman that doth now exceed.

Epig. 48. An Anothomie for Husbandrie.

PAterne for Husbands, Choake thou art of right, Which dost not choake thy good seed with the Thornes Of worldly care to be a Miser hight, Thy lands brings better fruit, then wild Acornes. This shining candle of thy husbandrie, Vnder a Bushell doth not hidden lie.

Epig. 49. To the worthie and famous Earle of Not∣ingham, high Admirall of England.

GReat number doe on the firme land beare sway, These thou excell'st, thou mak'st the Sea obay.

Epig. 50. The Flushing fray. To his Couser, Leiftenant Ie, Watkins.

THe Flemmings fight is reasonable, yea; Being a 1.15 reasonlesse, he'ill but or sticke, or snee.

Epig. 51. Omnium rerum vicissitudo est. Master, Messenger.

Ma:

VVHat's thy name? Messenger? for what I pray?

Me:

Tis Master kind, for your deere loue, I say.

Ma:

Tush, I doe hate, detest thy lawlesse bed,

Me:

You may helpe that, if you doe me but wed.

Ma:

Fie 'tis not fit for females for to sue;

Me.

Tut, let's conioine, it is the fashion new.

Epig. 96. Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. To trustie M. Gage.

THou faithful Gage, that wast a gage indeed. For loyaltie, and eke for seruice true, (Vnto that famous a 1.16 Prince by God decreed To Quell the Pope, Religion pure to shew)

In her distresse; which few of thin owne name, To thy pure faith, themselues doe wholly frame.

Epig 53. To the faire fac'd Margaret.

WHat odd's 'twixt Margarit, a precious pearle, And Margaret, a sweet and peerelesse Girle. No odd's I see, for we must buy the one, And Gratis thee, I thinke possesse shall none.

Epig. 54. The voluble wheele of Fortune. To the interne friend Mounsier Hie, and M^r. Low.

Lo:

THou clim'st the wheele of fortune Mounsier Hit And gap'st for glorie, and preferment great;

Hie.

True M^r. Low, and thou as fast do'st flie, And lowe descend'st from fortunes highest seat Despaire not yet if fortune, a 1.17 fortune be, Shee may thy name appropriate vnto me.

Epig. 55. To the worthy Gent. M^r. Rawley Bussie, in voluing the earthly Globe, & tossing of the Tents ball, most expert.

THy solace is to volue the Orbicke ball Of this round earth, and eke this Tenis Pile;

Th' one in sporting, which we pastime call, Th' other, when thy fluent Muse do'st file.

Epig. 56. To Mistris Lightfoot.

I Chaunc'd, as once I trauail'd to o'retake One Mistris Quick, being found'red, making mone: I ask'd, what did her pace so halting make, I did my foot quoth she, hurt 'gainst a stone. Tis nothing so, said I, kind Mistrisse Quicke, Your griefe I take, came rather of a pricke.

Epig. 57. Uincit qui patitur. To his lo fr. Rich. Gibons, a Teacher.

IF any wish his patience for to try, Let him, but practise sole thy Ministrie.

Epig. 58. To his fragile firtree staffe.

THe Prouerbe se's, tis better for to bow Then for to breake, a note of gentlenesse; But thou, my prop, dost scorne to stoope so lowe As bend, a signe, se'st thou of basefulnesse. But breake wilt rather (my most brittle Tree) Yet doe not so, I prethee, vnder me.

Epig. 59. On Stephen, the bloody Persecutor.

GOod Gardiners doe vse for to supplant Their bad grow'n weeds, their fruitfull hearbes to saue; But Gard'ner thou the a flowre of Troynouant, Did'st thinke to weed, and burie in her graue. To heauens Reapers, far vnlike wast thou, To weed the wheat, and let the a 1.18 Euer grow.

Epig. 60. To the worthy Knight, S^r Ro. Wroth, of his house call'd Durnnce.

THy Durance keeps in durance none, I heare, 'Lesse be to pertake of thy a 1.19 bounteous cheere.

Epig. 61. On our Popish fugitiues.

THey say, o'refasting doth procure a paine, (Virtigo hight) the turning of the head: Which true we find in male contents most plaine, When of preferments long they haue not sped. And a 1.20 Arrius like, which mist his Bishopprick, Th'ill change their faith, and shewe a Popish tricke.

Epig. 62. Mother B's Tranflation.

GOode'n, most antique, zelous mother B, This salutation well befits your age: For while you liue, a vestall you decree To be, and shun the toies of Pupillage. And as of old, on Beds you lou'd to play: So now on Beades you wholy like to pray.

Epig. 63. * Licentia Poetica. To the carping Criticke.

IVdge not so hard, that Poēts still doe lie, For what they write, 'tis 'llow'd by Libertie.

Epig. 64. On the Popes Holinesse.

THe Romish Canons shamelesly auer, Their holy Father, God, nor man to be; What is he then? if that, I doe not erre, H'is no Angell, of heauens Hierarchie. Vnlesse be a 1.21 Him, that puts on euery Hue For to deceaue, and this, I thinke, is true.

Epig. 65. To the Paracelfian Empricke.

IF all the World were like to Socrates, That neuer stood in need of Phsicks hand; How then couldst liue, if this thy art should cease, Poore Iack, in this, or any other Land? Wouldst thou thenbe a graue Sr. Iohn by skill? So, sure more soules, then bodies wouldst thou kill.

Epig. 66. Of H. 1 King of England, whose inuenomed braine, being dead, kill'd his owne Physitian.

WHat men aliue, being sick, would oft fulfill, Thou being a 1.22 dead did'st thy Physitian kill.

Epig. 67. To M^r. Monoculus, the Sagittarie.

VVHat dire mishap befell you Mounsier Blinck? That you haue lost your most respected eie: You tell me, tush, you shall the better winck To hit the marke, and l•…•…t the arrow flie. I'st so? your shot •…•…I gesse, will be farre wide, When that you shut the other eie beside.

Epig. 68. To Zantippa the Scold.

VVHat mary muffe, what makes thee sweet of hew And sowre of speech, most bitter, waspish, bad? I thinke, thon art a most detested shrew; Or with the Ague, or burnt feuer clad. Which euer fils thy tongue most full of Gawle, To all distastfull, but to ban, and brawle.

Epig. 69. The Epitaph of his deerely beloued Schoole∣master, M^r. W. Edwards.

HEre lies the picture of pure honestie. Here lies, the sire of many a learned Sonne, Here lies, the zeale of Christianitie, Here lies, the Patron of Religion. Here lies, that man, whose life was naught to none, Here lies, that friend, whom yong and old bemone.

Epig. 70. To Rome, with her Romish brood.

PAule a 1.23 saith, a Bishop should a husband be Of one wife, for to liue a sober life; But the great Bishop, of the high'st degree, Will haue his Bishops for to haue no wife.

I wonder how from all he cuts this band? They'are either Eunuches, or play vnder hand.

Epig. 71. To Gill: the fingring Lawyer, and ambodexter.

VVHat mak's thee, Gill, the perfect vse to haue, As well of left, as of thy right hand faire? Thou Galen-like wilt answer very graue, 'Tis o'remuch heat that doth from heart repaire. I thinke not so, but thy poore Clients gold Mak's thee to be an Ambodexter bold.

Epig. 72. A new formo of finding out Petigrees To Don Stolidus.

MY vpstart Gull, that would'st right noble be In Royall blood (thy labour quite is vaine In voluing bookes of old Antiquitie For thy base line, not worth thereof the paine) B' aduis'd by me, ope thou an old made Graue; There thou thy first Genologie shalt haue.

Epig. 73. Tom of Christ Church in Oxford. To our ceremonious Papists.

THe clapping sound of Antichristian Bels, They say, expels from them their airie Ghosts:

So, Tom thy sound which all thy mates excels, Doth thine Oxonians cause to flie their Hoasts. But if thy sound could sound as far as Spaine, Their bodies Ghosts, I thinke, would them refraine.

Epig. 74. God, and the Pope.

THe sacred Scripture doth for truth record, * 1.24 That God is only of the liuing God, And of the dead, he claimes to be no Lord; But father Pope recalleth with a nod They say the dead, from Purgatories griefe; Th'are dead in sinne, that makes this their beleefe,

Epig. 75. To glorious Mopsa, of her stolen feathers.

WHy Mistris Noll, dost thou Adulterate (From others Royall lines, thy selfe to grace) Their noble birth, and titles high of state? That wast at first but poore, obscure and base. If each should pluck from thy patch't Pedegree His feathers of, right Aesops Iay might'st be.

Epig. 76. On Cornutus, the Monster. To his lo: friend Wil: Arne.

OF all wilde Birds, I loth the monstrous Batte, Which is a bird, and eke a filthy beast; But of tame birds, I do most deadly hate, That's man in shape, yet hath a Beast-like creast. Which of these Monsters do'st abhorre the more? I thinke the tame, that with his Hornes doth Gore.

Epig. 77. To Boorish Petita.

THe Latine a 1.25 prouerbe doth for truth relate, That eu'ry land doth Arts diuine embrace: Which euery where most true, I estimate, But in Petita, 'mongst that Rusticke Race. Which studies nought, but most the crooked Law; And will effect no goodnesse, but for Aw.

Epig 78. To his Cosin, Lieftenant William Watkins, of Flushings Scituation.

VVHere Flushing stands, the walkers Ile, t'was wel So nem'd for in't walkes many a Sentinell.

Epig. 79. On Nic: Herberts Posie, (Lle y Kymero. To his worthy Son Mr. Will: Herbert.

Thy (Lle y Kymero) did well Sympathize, (Right worthy Nich'las) with thy noble minde: For where thou took'st, thou didst not temporize, But all thy friends did a sure Friend thee find. Thou wast not like the glosers of our Age, Which disagree most from their Posies Sage.

Epig. 80. To the right Reuerend Father, Io: Kinge, Bishop of London, a most perswasiue Preacher.

VVHat tho thy hand doth not the Scepter sway, Thy tongue doth cause full many to obey.

Epig. 81. Tobaccho. To his respectiue good friend Mr. M Cradocke.

THe maior part of our Tobacchonists, Tak's sole the shaddow of this smoakie weed: But thou hereof contrary often whift's The substance all of this prodigious Reed.

I grant the substance doth the shaddow pafse In all besides; saue in this Indian Grasse.

Epig. 82. A paire Royall of Clerkes. To his frtend Tho: Prichard.

THree sorts there be, which Clerks be call'd by nam•…•… The first of right is the superlatiue, The Bible Clerke, that doth expound the same; The next in Rancke is the Comparatiue, The Pen and Inkhorne Clerke; that bandeth men; The third, the positiue, that cries, Amen. But prowd comparisons were odious farre, 'Twixt these same Clerkes, for their Scholaritie; Yet my braue Scribe will make no bones to iarre, Yea with the best, in case of felonie. But poore Ding-dong will not offend his sire, For feare to loose his small collected hire.

Epig. 83. Of the Ambitious. To his cosen Io: Vaughan of his fall from a Wor•…•…eshead.

SOme fall, whose falling doth their Deaths procure, Thy fall was great yet doth thy life remaine; The ods is, they themselues to climbe inure, And sithence, thou from climing do'st refraine.

Epig. 84. To Sir Humfrey the Recorder.

THou Humfrey ke'pst a calender most streight Of others faulrs, by Word, or Deed, ere sure; But neere I thinke, most hatefull, carelesse weight, Kep'st true accompt of thine owne Crimes vnpure. I deeme thou could'st not, cause they did surmount The'others slips, which thou so nigh didst count.

Epig. 85. To Morus, the Baldepate.

GOod M^r. More, what made your pate be bawle? You say, you were borne vnder Venus starre, Whose Constellation made your haire to fall, And eke the credit of your crowne to marre. But, as I cast, of this your great mishap, You lull'd were rather vpon Venus lap.

Epig. 86 Cupid the blind God. To his lo: friend M^r. William Williams.

WHy is't that Poets stile the but a boy? Since that thou art a thousand yeares of age; No maruaile, for thy a 1.26 dotage loue, thy •…•…oy, With childish youth doth euen equipage.

Epig. 87. To Caecus, the painefull Preacher, of our Dumbe Dogges.

THou seest not yet makest other see Their hainous sinnes, through thy laborious paine: When Linx-ei'd Drones, which euer idle be, With taking paines doe neuer one soule gaine. Thy sight, their liuings eke, I wish to thee, So that thou wouldest then not idle be.

Epig. 88. To his louing friend Io: Spencer, skilfull in Arith meticke, of Mounsier Mutilus.

THy numbring art the plurall number loues, And doth casheere the singular, as none: But Mutilus, Grammarian-like stout proues The singular; as Lapis, his sole stone.

Epig. 89. On bibbing Belgieus. To his cosin Io: Watkins Ensigne bearer.

FLemmingo vseth after euery whiffe, His kinde Comrade to take fast by the hand: He se's, it is to shew his kindnesse rife, But 'tis, I gesse, because he cannot stand.

Epig. 90. On Del Lucifer. To his friend M^r. Edw. Robinson, Cler.

What though Superbus from the Dunghill crept, Thy holy function scornes with open throat: Yet be content, forgiue and eke forget, Sith Christ himselfe did dignifie thy coat. Yet suffer Cinicke, when that he is dead, To Hearse him, where the Cuckoe first was bred.

Epig. 8. The Imparatiue Moode. To my Lady Myso.

I Wonder greatly what thy Mood should be, Indicatiue? no, that doth reason shew, But thine is madd; nor Subiunctiue I see, That should depend sole on thy husband true. But thine, sans doubt, is the Imparatiue, Which makes thee dayly with thy Mate to striue.

Epig 92. To the ingenious Poet, M^r. William Herbert of his booke intituled the Prophesie of Cadwalader.

THy Royall Prophesie doth blaze thy name. So Poets must, if they will merit fame.

Epig. 93. To the snarling censurer.

REader, perhaps thou wilt my Muse dispraise Of Barrennesse, which was a curse of yore; It is not so, note thou her fathers daies, A yongling, able to beget yet more. If idle, vaine, thou deeme it, and vnfit: An idle vaine becomes a childish wit.

Epig. 94. On Moneanus, the Bibber. To his louing friend M^r. William Thomas.

THy Nectar, Quondam, was but whiggin small, Alias sowrew hay, how is't that nought but wine Thy slippery palate now doth taste at all? That ne're was Prest in Bo•…•…eas freezing clime. No maruaile, for thy body is so bet With cold, which thou dost seeke with Ale to Heat.

Epig. 95. On Simon Magus, Roman, To his lo. fr. and familiar, M. I. Vaughan

GOd gratis giues his Grace most liberally, But man will not without a Simons fee. Which was the cause, as farre as I perceaue, T•…•…at caused thee sweet Oxford for to leaue.

Epig. 96. On Luke-warme loue. To his lo. and approued good Cousen M^r. Edw Gamage.

LOue now adaies is neither hot, nor cold, Th'wilt aske me then, what i'st? I say luke-warme; Why then 'tis Bet, thou se'st, then that of old, O, no, this warme has in't the greater harme.

Epig. 97. Tempus edax rerum, To the learned Historian, his lo. friend, M^r. W. Meyricke.

TIme doth in time they say, all things devoure, And eke forgets each learned Mercurie, Saue the Historian, only times fresh flowré, Which neuer fad's, much lesse doth euer die. For't cannot be that time can blot his name, Which doth of time Records most antique frame.

Epig. 98. On Iudeas the Vsurer. To his louing Cosen Iohn Stradling.

WHat makes that Beggars in thy neighbourhood, Poore silly wtetches, numberlesse to swarme? Tis not I weene, for thy deuotion good;

But rather 'tis for thy purlonging harme. Which suffer'st uone to thriue that liues at hand; But begger'st all, by purchasing their land.

Epig. 99. To the Readers of his Epigrams.

IN the Popes tongue I list not to endite: Cause of my time all men should haue the sight.

Epig. 100. To the Printer, of Detractors.

THe Captaine presse the Souldier to repell The furious force of foemens cruell hand: So do'st thou Presse some papers, that excell, Yet must they cankred tongues of men withstand. A wonder t'is, the tongue for the hand, right Should warre; no force, t'is but a womans fight.

The end of the second Centurie.

Patere aut Abstine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  a Ne Suter vltra cripidam.
• a 1.2

  A pure Protestant.
• a 1.3

  Apoc. 18. 7.
• b 1.4

  Apoc. 18. 9.
• a 1.5

  S•…•… de Tranquil. •…•…im.
• a 1.6

  Mat. 19. 26.
• a 1.7

  Exilih. Munst. Cosm.
• a 1.8

  Mat. 10.
• a 1.9

  Arist. 1 Eth.
• a 1.10

  Ex Munst Cosm.
• a 1.11

  Ex lib. Nauig. Aug.
• b 1.12

  1 Cor. 7. 3.
• a 1.13

  Gen. 49. 5.
• b 1.14

  Gen. 34. 5.
• a 1.15

  drunke.
• a 1.16

  Qucene Elizabeth.
• a 1.17

  vnconstant.
• a 1.18

  Mat. 13. 28.
• a 1.19

  A famous housekeeper.
• a 1.20

  Ex E•…•…seb.
• a 1.21

  2 C•…•…, 11. 14.
• a 1.22

  Ex lo Stovve. Chron.
• a 1.23

  1 Tim. 23.
• * 1.24

  a Mat. 22. 32.
• a 1.25

  Quaeuis terra alit artem.
• a 1.26

  Senes his pueri.