The house of correction: or, Certayne satyricall epigrams. Written by I.H. Gent. Together with a few characters, called Par pari: or, Like to like, quoth the deuill to the collier

Certaine CHARACTERS, Called PAR PARI: or, Like to like, quoth the Diuell to the Collier.

A Pirat is an excellent Bow-man.

WHo from his childe-hood being much bent to rouing, is in time become a cun∣ning Shooter, and thereby hath wonne many a Prize. If you purpose to out∣goe him, you must betake you to your flight: but if once he Boord you, your game is lost. Adam Bell and his Archers gaue him first example to bee an Out-law; And because in times past he hath beene a beneficiall Souldier to the English, hee is sent vnto the Marshalsey; for whose sake, there is a Stake or two set vp at Wapping, for him, or any of his Com∣panions to make vse of.

A Drunkard is a Master of Defence,

WHo dares challenge any Dutchman or Ger∣man. He takes no felicitie at the single, but dares any man at the double. He is but too to cruell: for oftentimes hee seekes the bloud of the Grape; ye•• hath he in many a Duel bin ••eft for dead, when his Friends, taking of him vp, haue f••und his crowne crackt. Once he had almost lost his eyes, inso∣much as he was led home to his lodging. And if at a∣ny time he be not able to stand, he may be well ex∣cused, because he hath got a cut in the leg. Many times haue I seene him so stonied, he had not the power 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speake; yet w••ll he justle any man in the Streete, and very manfully fal vpon all fewer at a time. If ••er∣chance he meetes with a Constable, hee prepares for the Encounter, and betakes him to his word.

A meere Gallant is one that playes at Noddy.

ONe & twentie ends his game; for the like num∣ber ended his Nonnage, and made him flush, which if perchance he be, expect him to shew it ve∣ry openly: But if there come a sequ••ns, you shall haue

him keepe close. For feare of a payre of knaues, you we••e best to looke to his d••aung, lest that hee shuffle with you But of all things, take neede how you fall out about scoring; for hee is knowne to bee a g••eat Cutter. If it bee you fortune 〈◊〉〈◊〉 get to twentie, it is impossible for you to loose the gam••, because you are sure to haue a Noddi•• in hand.

A Curtezan is a Musi••ian.

WHo from her youth being brought vp to pricksong, hath lost no time, but is become a Woman of note. She learnt it of the Nigh∣tingale, and in imitati••n of he•• sleepes, alwaies a∣gainst a Prickle. She sings sometimes in Paris▪ but they are not much respected, because they are growne common; yet neuer was she put downe by any but onely in the closing, and the reason, as some say, is because she fals oftē too flat, she steales away your cares with her voice, and in the meane time hath ma∣ny crotchets in her head how to straine courtesie with your purse. A large and a long shee is well affected with; but a briefe or a sembriefe, nothing pleaseth

her. Of all Instruments she loues not the Recorder because it makes her too melancholy. Shee hath playd at many a Marriage, yet neuer could affect the Bride-well, although shee hath beene paid largely for her paine. Imitating the ancient Poets, she sings her Poems in Cars, and the people being much deligh∣ted therewith, for the maintainance of her voyce, haue bestowed many an Egge vpon her, which oftentimes haue proued as rotten as her selfe. Faine would she haue beene a Quarrister at Pauls, but that she loues not to stand in a Surplisse: yet many times she repayres thither, especially vnto the lower end of the Middle Ile. She is neuer out of the moods but when she meetes with a Be••dle or Constable, and then shee begins to quarter, because shee feareth to sing a Counter tenor. If you have a desire to heare her, eyther shee is gone to Lambeth to take the ayre; or else you shall meete her at the next Tauerne with her conserts.

A Gull Traueller is the Ball at Tennis,

WHo, by reason of the later Racket in France, hath left it, and now hath tooke vp his place

of residence in the Court of England. Af∣ter his passage hither, hee held vs with a long dis∣course of the seuerall hazzards he had bin driuen in∣to: How he was tost from this place to that place, ha∣uing not a few times past vnder the line. Neither for∣got hee his rare exploy••s done in the Field, in the late banding of faction: nor what grea•• seruices hee had beene proffered so his g••od parts in Court: but because he lyeth for his v••••tage, which in him in a fault, it is fit he be whipt out of the Court.

A Swaggerer is one that playe•• at Ruffe,

FRom whence hee tooke the denomination of a Ruffin. Take heede how you deale with him, for he is much giuen to packing; and at play his vsuall oath is Renounce me. He cares but for one good suite at a time: and the foure orders of Knaues are his most familier Companions. Let no Wenches trust him, for hee is neuer well but when he is taking vp their Coates, who for his sawcinesse is oftentimes sent to the Stocks, where euery one is glad to finde h••m.

A broking Scriuener is a Barbersurgion.

WHo in his Apprenticehood being brought vp to the Art of Poleing, is now made free of the Sha∣uers. He hath his Shop fully furnisht with most rare and cunning Instruments. His chiefe customers con∣sists of Vsurers and mad-men, which mad-men he so hampers, keeping them fast bound, that in sixe Moneths many of them recouer their wits againe. He begins to haue some practise in Phisicke; 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ••f any young Gentleman be troubled wi••h a looseness, he can giue him a bynding potion▪ and againe, if he be bound, he can minister vnto him a purging pill, that shall fetch an extraordinarie quantitie of yellow stuffe from him. He neuer mist of his cunning but once, when looking into the Market-place through a win∣dow, he lost one of his eares, and neuer since could be cured.

A Gamester at Irish is a Merchant Aduenturer.

THe Dice are his Ships, the Men are his goods, which lye in seuerall parts to to bee brought

home in safetie. In the returne, many times, his goods are taken by Pyrats, who lye in waite for them: but if in the pursuite hee can but safely bring ••hem ore the barre, he cares not a point for them. If ••he weather be so tempestious, that hee be constrai∣ned to lye at Hull, ten to one but the Ships are cast away. When he comes to make vp his accompts, hee beares away as much of his goods as he can possible▪ for then is he compelled to breake, which is a great bi•••• to his credite: and his aduersaries imediately en∣ter their actions, and attache his goods: so are they car∣ried backe againe to the bilbowes, where they lye wind-bound vntiil such time as he hath spent most part of his estate. When his aduersaries hauing got their will of him, more of constraint thē pity, release him.

An Amorist is a Painter.

WHo paints foorth his passions in blacke and white, and carries his Mistris Colours in his Hat. He hath made her Picture in a Sonnet, & doth Idolize her like Pigmalion. If you make any compa∣risons with her, he will draw, although he be beate••

blacke and blew in the quarrell Hee is so obseruatiue, that he will not omit her shaddow, and accounts it the heig••t of his happinesse when hee can frame his demeanour to please her. The vtmost end of his studie. is but to attaine to the secrets of the Arte of L••••ming, wherein being vnskilfull, hee sometimes layes his Colours on a false ground, whereby they fading he himselfe is disgraced.