Saint George for England, allegorically described: by Gerrard De Malynes merchant
About this Item
Title
Saint George for England, allegorically described: by Gerrard De Malynes merchant
Author
Malynes, Gerard, fl. 1586-1641.
Publication
Imprinted at London :: By Richard Field for William Tymme stationer, and are to be sold at the signe of the Floure de luce and Crowne in Pater-noster row,
1601.
Rights/Permissions
To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Subject terms
Balance of trade -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800.
Exchange -- Early works to 1800.
Great Britain -- Commerce -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"Saint George for England, allegorically described: by Gerrard De Malynes merchant." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A06790.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 21, 2024.
Pages
descriptionPage 1
Saint George for England:
Allegorically described.
APRILL hauing
with his sweete
showers moyste∣ned
the drought
of March, bathing
euery veine of the
rootes of trees &
ingendring floures, Zephirus with his
pleasaunt breath prouoking tender
crops by vertue of young Phebus, hol∣ding
her course in Aries. Abstinence in
Lent performing her accustomed race
feeding on waterie creatures, the
Moone being entred into the aquatike
signe of Pisces, and my bloud increa∣sing
with the nource of digestion, cau∣sed
me to slumber, and no sooner did
descriptionPage 2
I discharge some part of that tribute
due vnto nature, when suddenly falling
into most strange dreames, or rather
visions, which seemed to dimme my
sight, I was partly amazed, and partly
rauished with such admirations: which
by apprehension haue left such deepe
impressions in the treasurie of my
braines, as I am now compelled to cō∣mit
some of them to the generall re∣cordor,
whose bodie (after the ampu∣tation
of his head) called for blacke
drinke to staine the ouerbeaten clouts,
to ease my fatigable memory, the re∣ceptacle
whereof is otherwise barred
from all succeeding matters, like a
trammell replenished with fish, which
can containe no more then her full (as
it were) naturall imbibition.
Me thought according to the pro∣uoked
motion, that being in a ship sai∣ling
on the seas with a prosperous
wind and pleasant trauell, I did arriue
into a most fruitfull Iland, whose
descriptionPage 3
beautifull and pleasant sight, with sa∣uorie
and delicious fruites distilling
the iuice of Nectar, ministrated such
delight and health vnto my wearied
bones and drowsie mind, that by the
delectable obiect of mine eyes, of
faire running riuers with their siluer
streames, of greene fields with their
varietie of floures, of easie high waies
set with fruite-trees on euery side, of
stately hils gracing their Horizon as
the nose doth the face, of liuely foun∣taines
of refreshing water, and by the
sweete and harmonious melodie of
birds, whose warbling notes did pene∣trate
my eares, all my sences were re∣duced
to puritie; my sight without co∣lour,
my hearing without sound, my
smelling without smell, my tasting
without smacke or feeling, and my fee∣ling
without sence or tasting: all of thē
being simple in themselues, seemed to
haue obtained fruition of their wished
desires, as if all things with a Simpa∣thy
descriptionPage 2
〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉
descriptionPage 3
〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉
descriptionPage 4
of a generall applause had bene en∣tertaining
them, and prognosticating
vnto me all worldy felicitie. Trauelling
along with a setled pace, taking the be∣nefite
of these rare blessings, an insup∣portable
loathsome smell scaled the
fortresse of my nose, depriuing me of
some part of the former pleasures. But
the sence of smelling not hauing
so great operation with the heart as
the motion of the eyes, made the sence
of seeing to remaine predominant:
howbeit by the interposition of the
facultie of hearing. For behold a man
of meane stature, stricken in age, yet
bearing his bodie vpright, did stand on
the high way, in whose face did shine
such amiable reuerence as was plea∣sant
to behold, notwithstanding his
pale colour caused through the stin∣king
smell; who told me with a loude
voice these or the like speeches.
Not without cause (courteous gen∣tleman)
do you stop your nose to auoid
descriptionPage 5
this pestiferous smell, as dangerous to
the smelling as the cockatrice is to the
sight, proceeding from a terrible cruel
Dragon, which deuoureth and de∣stroyeth
daily the inhabitants of this
(otherwise) flourishing Iland, the king
himselfe being in great ieopardy, with
his sweet and welbeloued daughter: as
heretofore his predecessor hath bene,
whome Saint George that valiant cham∣pion
(through his great faith and va∣lour)
did rescue and saue miraculous∣ly,
deliuering therby the whole state of
this common wealth from the like dā∣ger.
The consideration whereof doth
comfort and reuiue our dead hopes,
that God will be pleased to stirre vp
some other champion, who like vnto
the noble Romaine Marcus Curtius
shall deliuer our weale publike, and de∣stroy
this hideous monster, wherwith
we haue bene troubled almost these
30. yeares▪
Hearing the same, me thought I
descriptionPage 6
was possessed with a most feruent de∣sire
to vnderstand the particularitie as
well of that Dragon whereof he com∣plained,
as of the other which is repor∣ted
to haue bene slaine or vanquished
by Saint George: for I had many times
inquired very diligently where that I∣land
might be situated where that dra∣gon
was destroyed, and how it was
possible that he could deuoure such an
infinite number of creatures as is re∣ported,
which made me to be very im∣portunate
with this man to know eue∣ry
thing with the circumstances ther∣of,
whome I found to be not onely by
learning, but also by nature of singu∣lar
eloquence, and in reasoning and
debating of matters of politicke go∣uernement,
what by his naturall wit,
and what by daily exercise, surely he
had in my iudgement few fellowes, by
reason whereof, he gaue me full satis∣faction
and answer to all my demands,
and seemed in his discourse to dis∣charge
descriptionPage 7
the part of an Orator.
This flourishing Iland (quoth he)
which ouerfloweth with milk and ho∣ny,
is called Niobla, and lyeth vnder the
kingdome of Persia, the chiefe citie
whereof called Diospolus standeth
partly vpon the side of a low hill, in fa∣shion
almost foure square. For the
breadth of it beginneth a little be∣neath
the toppe of the hill, and still
continueth by the space of one mile.
The length of it which lyeth by the ri∣uers
side is somewhat more. The riuer
called Semath riseth aboue foure score
miles aboue Diospolus out of a little
spring: but being increased by other
small riuers and brookes that runne
into it, before the city it is halfe a mile
brode, and farther broader, and fortie
miles beyond the citie it falleth into
the Ocean sea. By all that space that ly∣eth
betweene the sea and the citie, and
certaine miles also aboue the citie, the
water ebbeth and floweth sixe houres
descriptionPage 6
〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉
descriptionPage 7
〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉
descriptionPage 8
together with a swift tide, when the
sea floweth in, for the length of thirty
miles it filleth al the riuer Semath with
salt water, and driueth backe the fresh
water of the riuer: and somewhat fur∣ther,
it changeth the sweetnesse of the
fresh water with saltnesse. But a little
beyond that the riuer waxeth sweete,
and runneth foreby the citie fresh and
pleasant. There goeth a bridge ouer
the riuer, made not of piles or of tim∣ber,
but of stone-worke, with gorge∣ous
and substantiall Arches, at that
part of the citie that is farthest from
sea: to the intent that ships may passe
along foreby all the side of the citie
without let: from this riuer the water
is deriued and conueyed downe in
channels of lead diuerse waies, euen in∣to
the highest part of the citie, which
doth the inhabitants great seruice.
The citie is compassed about with
high and thick stone walles, with some
bulwarkes, and a dry ditch somewhat
descriptionPage 9
broade and ouergrowne with bushes,
briers and thornes. The streetes are
commodious and reasonable broade
for the most part, with diuerse gorgi∣ous
and faire buildings standing toge∣ther
without partition, diuerse gar∣dens
are enclosed by the backe part
of the streete, all in good order and
most commodious. Almost in the
middle part of this citie in a most sum∣ptuous
and stately building, being
foure square, all of marble & free stone,
erected vpon seuerall pillars curious∣ly
wrought, hath this Dragon his prin∣cipall
and most ordinarie habitation,
albeit he wandreth through the whole
Iland at his pleasure, and beareth a
wonderfull commaund in deuouring
& destroying an infinite number, al∣tering
the course of our gouernment.
For the the execution whereof, what
with his venimous breath, what with
his subtilty of setting men together by
the eares, what with his naturall de∣uouring,
descriptionPage 10
or what with his alluring Se∣renian
songs, he hath all the meanes
that can be excogitated, euen vnder
the colour of religion and iustice.
Wonder not (good sir) for this
monstrous beast waxing euery mo∣neth
bigger one then another, is like
vnto the Serpent that with the subtile
guile of Sathan seduced our great
grand-mother Eue, and brought all
her posterity into exile, and misery
vppon mankind, and so doth this
monster bring al misery and calamitie
vnto our common-weale. There∣fore
with great reason it was recor∣ded,
that great was the faith of
Saint George, whereby he was corro∣borated
and made valiant to deliuer
this commonwealth of the like cruell
and execrable monster, which daily
deuoured so many oxen, sheep, and o∣ther
cattell, and at last all reasonable
creatures, vntill by the fatall lot the
kings daughter was in danger and ap∣pointed
descriptionPage 11
to be deuoured. Neither must
you imagine, that this infernall dragon
doth deuoure so many creatures, as it
were consuming them, but by sleight,
deuises and stratagemes, he causeth
them to destroy one another, in such
sort as I haue determined to tell you.
But first I will tell you in what ma∣ner,
and by what meanes the inhabi∣tants
of this Iland did liue before this
monster was bred in hell, next what
the conditions and qualities are of
those that be in league with him. And
lastly what practises this dragon vseth
with euery member of our weale pub∣licke,
to the generall destruction ther∣of.
O Codrus of Athens, wert thou aliue
to destroy this serpentine dragon, that
creepeth not vpon his belly, as the ser∣pent
of Paradise was condemned to
do, and feedeth not on earth, but do∣mineereth
on his foure indented Har∣pyon
feete, feeding on the most preci∣ous
meate, which doth command all
descriptionPage 12
other meates and delicacies. And be∣hold
his cruelty by so much the grea∣ter,
as most vsually this meate is pre∣pared
vnto him by the poorer sort, and
vpon them he feedeth most greedily.
And whether euer that serpent went
skipping vpon his taile before the
curse, I know not: but I am sure this
beareth his taile aloft like a conquerer,
riding in his triumphant chariot. The
curse of the Scripture denounced a∣gainst
him is neglected, the wri∣tings
of Diuines hath no efficacie, the
Canonists cursings is without vertue,
the prohibition of Ciuilians is ouer∣come
by the tolleration of the Statute
Law, and the manner of mens actions
before this monster did tyrannize, is
cleane forgotten, whereas Licurgus
did banish this canker worme out of
Sparta, Amasis did punish him seuerely
in AEgypt, Cato did banish him also out
of Sicilia, and Solon did condemne him
in Athens. And should not we do the
descriptionPage 13
like, if some Lucullus would deliuer vs
of this contagion, wherewith we are
infected, when as Sergius Galba being
president of Affrica, vnder the Empe∣rour
Claudius, caused one to be puni∣shed
with death by famine, for feeding
and entertaining this monster, which
like a whirle-poole swalloweth what∣soeuer
it catcheth?
The inhabitants of this noble Iland
did liue by the naturall richesse of the
lands they were borne vnto, or by the
artificiall riches they were bred vnto,
according to their educatiō & profes∣siō,
euery man vsing and enioying his
own, & nothing but his own, which in
regard of charity euery mā possessing,
yet seemed not to possesse at all: Cler∣gy
men and magistrates did liue by
their reuenues and pensions, Noble∣men
and Gentlemen of their lands,
husbandmen by their farmes, mer∣chants
and citizens by their trade, arti∣ficers
by their craft and handyworke;
descriptionPage 14
all of them making a perfect consent
and harmony of the gouernement of a
common-wealth, in proportionable
manner with exercise of religion, and
due administration of iustice in time
of peace, and necessary prouision for
warre, which the Prince is to prouide
for in the two seasons of peace and
warre. And from the Prince as from a
liuely fountaine all vertues did de∣scend
into the bosome of that com∣mon-wealth,
his worthy counsellors
were with the magistrates as orna∣ments
of the Law, and did ministrate
(like Phisitions to the weale publicke)
good potions for the ridding out of all
distemperate humors: euery man was
contented to liue in his vocation with
true obedience: so that experience it
selfe made manifest proofe, Iustice to
be ordained of God, as a measure a∣mongst
men one earth, to defend the
feeble from the mighty, for the sup∣pressing
of iniuries, and to roote out
descriptionPage 15
the wicked from among the good, pre∣scribing
how to liue honestly, to hurt
no man wilfully, and to render euery
man his due, carefully furthering what
is right, and prohibiting what is
wrong: to which intent euery man did
endeuor himselfe for the good of the
cōmon-wealth, obseruing concord, &
all things in the course of traffike were
caried with an equalitie, free lending
was vsed, hospitality maintained, com∣miseration
towards the poore was ex∣ercised,
and loue which is the very
summe and substance of the Law, did
flourish to the generall comfort of a
Christian society.
But since the accursed comming of
this hell hound, the concord is bro∣ken,
charity is growne cold, inequali∣ty
is crept in, by falsifying our measure:
the generall rule, Do as thou wouldest
be done vnto, is broken, free lending is
banished, oppression must needs flou∣rish,
and no man seemeth to be con∣tented
descriptionPage 16
to liue in his vocation, as
though Pride sitting vpon the highest
degree, did contend with Ambition
for preheminence. Briefe, our com∣mon-weale
will in time be more like a
prison, where this beast with his ad∣herents
liueth like a Iaylor, with his fa∣mily
in pleasure and wealth, whiles all
other weepe and smart for it. Auarice
found out this monster, which nou∣risheth
idlenesse, and idlenesse is the
bringer forth of euils.
Our society and weale publicke is
furnished with sixe necessary things,
namely diuine seruice, iudgement,
armes, riches, arts and sustenance, all
which are brought out of their due
course and proportionable order, and
those that haue the managing thereof
as Clergy men, Magistrates, Noble∣men,
Merchants, Artificers and Hus∣bandmen,
and such as are comprehen∣ded
vnder these, cannot execute their
charge according to their profession.
descriptionPage 17
For behold the insinuating dealings
which this monster vseth with some of
the better sort, and his cruell procee∣dings
with the inferiour.
He giueth them ability to destroy
one another, and many times the se∣uen
leane kine of Pharao do deuoure
the seauen fat kine, and yet proue no
whit fatter themselues.
Some neglecting their charge, haue
their minds filled with worldly cares,
and ability giuen them with Simon
Magus to buy that which ought to be
freely giuen, which maketh them to
sell that which they shold freely giue.
Others he maketh with Ananias &
Saphira to dissemble with God, temp∣ring
the holy Ghost, boasting of false
liberality, being like cloudes and wind
without raine.
Hospitality is by his meanes turned
into Iacke Droms entertainement, and
and Laban and Nabal, two Churles
in the Scripture mentioned, hauing
descriptionPage 18
but one name preposterously taken, as
being too many, are propagated into
an infinite number.
Others he causeth to measure Gods
blessings by worldly riches, and with
the kite to mount exceeding high in
outward shew, but neuer looking vp∣wards
to heauen, hauing the eyes of
their minde set and fixed below on
worldly things.
Others do blow with him the win∣dy
bellowes of the organs of vaine
glory, and without his helpe they
should giue but little sound.
Others do neglect to relieue the
poore, and put innocent Ioseph (being
in prison) in obliuion.
Others are by his meanes so inticed
with the feeding of delicacies, that set∣ting
all religion aside with Festus, they
accuse Saint Paule of madnesse, euen
in the presence of Agrippa.
Others he maketh with Lot to be so
loytering and trifling in Sodome, that
descriptionPage 19
the Angell is faine to plucke them out
with violence, when God is pleased to
saue them.
Others he maketh to go loaden
with gold and siluer, gauling their
soules vntill they be despoiled thereof
by death, and cast into the loathsome
stable of damnation: like vnto the
mules of Princes, going all the day
loaden with treasure, and couered
with faire clothes vntill they be sha∣ken
off into a sorry stable.
Others he maketh voide of all cha∣rity,
which will lend no money but for
gaine, vnto such men as they esteeme
to be good, but nothing to the poore
man, although the pawne of the
Gospell doth assure them, that God
is the poore mans surety, and will for
his promise sake pay all mens debts,
though the men be neuer so vnthank∣full.
Others he maketh to vse the Lawes
like vnto cobwebs, to catch onely litle
descriptionPage 20
flies, and to haue ability to purchase
dignities.
Others haue ability giuen them by
the multiplicities of sutes grounded
vpon bonds and counterbonds, to ac∣cumulate
riches, and to incorporate
farmes, and to make vnlawfull inclo∣sures
of grounds, to the decay of ma∣nie.
Others he causeth to account no∣thing
to be science or learning, but
that wherewith money is to be gotten
to feede him withall, because they find
that a lūpish blockhead churle, which
hath no more wit then an asse, shall
haue many wise and good men in sub∣iection
and bondage, onely for this,
because he hath a great heape of gold
and siluer.
Others he causeth to put the kings
daughter in danger, feeding thereup∣pon
with this dragō to the kings great
losse and hinderance, if he haue present
occasion to vse his reasure, which by
descriptionPage 21
the meanes of the dragons taile may
be exported.
Others hauing of this meate belon∣ging
vnto the king, do detaine the
same into their hands to please this
monster, and to share the booty be∣tweene
them.
Others he causeth to put the king
in remembrance of certaine olde
mo••th-eaten lawes, of euery man for∣gotten,
as a way vnto him honorable
and profitable, hauing a shew and co∣lour
of Iustice, and all this for to be
meate for him to feede vpon.
Others haue a present greater
abilitie giuen them to liue licen∣ciously,
following whores, harlots,
wine-tauernes, and many other vn∣lawfull
games, to their vtter destru∣ction.
Others do augment by his meanes
the number of vagabonds, which
through idlenesse the (root of all mis∣chief)
do commit robbery and theft,
descriptionPage 22
and then are they destroyed by the
gallowes.
Others he causeth to spend their
stockes by prodigall riot, sumptuous
fare, and strange and proud new fan∣gles
in their apparell, growing in∣solent,
and riding a gallop with a
lame jade, and yet are they too,
soone destroyed by warre or other∣wise.
Others hauing spent their goods,
he beateth with the whores and har∣lots
(like to the prodigall sonne) out of
doores, when they haue no more for
him to feede vpon.
Others he maketh to whet their
kniues vpon a chalke stone, neuer shar∣ping
them, spending their time and
dulling their wits, with the vse of di∣cing
and carding, when the boxe
doth carrie away the gaines on both
sides.
Others hauing deuoured and con∣sumed
by his meanes all what they
descriptionPage 23
could come by, or had about them, do
creepe out like the vermine out of the
nut, and then are they but newly
borne.
Others he maketh not to be conten∣ted
to liue idle thēselues like dorrers of
that which others haue laboured for,
polling and shauing their tenants to
the quicke: but to carry about with
them at their tailes a great flocke or
traine of followers: which being tur∣ned
off, when he hath vndermined
their maisters liuing, become vnthrif∣ty,
and hauing neuer learned any
craft whereby to get their liuing, fall a
stealing, & are by the gallowes cut off,
if by warres they suffer not a commen∣dable
death.
Others he maketh to be like raging
and roaring Lions, spoyling and de∣uouring
all that they can catch or
come by.
Others haue ability giuen them to
be like vnto great flouds and swelling
descriptionPage 24
riuers, when they ouerflow their chan∣nels,
and do breake through their
bankes, by reason of their raging and
violent streame, hurting what they
find in their way, polling and pilling
the richesse and substance of the silly
weake and poore, filling their purses
with the bloud of innocents, and buil∣ding
their houses and dignities by the
destruction of others.
Others he maketh wealthy and rich,
and like sheepe and kine which are
put into pasturs to be prepared for the
shambles, or like oxen wearing the
garland against the day of their slaugh∣ter.
Hercules his exploit in killing the
Serpent Hydras was great, because it
had many heads, and after the ampu∣tation
of one, another did arise: But
the heads of this monster do multiply
without that any be cut off, and those
that are infected therwith, are as swel∣ling
monsters, like vnto those that are
descriptionPage 25
diseased with the dropsie, which the
more they drinke, the more increaseth
their desire of drinking.
Some he causeth with Sampson to
discouer the secret of their strength,
vnto Dalilah, and before they do per∣ceiue
the same, their lockes are shorne
off suddenly, and their strength is ta∣ken
away.
Others he causeth to bestow all
their wealth vpon the opinion of men,
in gemmes and precious stones, as fit
meate and commodious for him to
feede vpon, in hope that the folly of o∣thers
shall pay for all: wherby he brin∣geth
some to destruction; for these
things increasing and not wearing a∣way,
neither being consumed, must of
necessitie consume others.
Others he causeth to deuoure one
another, and by his posteriors he doth
auoide them both as excrements.
Diana is preuented to cause Acte∣on
to be deuoured of his owne
descriptionPage 26
dogges. Hero and Leander may drown
themselues without an Ocean. For this
monster is the right firebrand which
Samson put betweene the foxes tailes
to burne the rickes and standing corn,
with the vineyardes and oliues. For
the world consisting of strife, warre,
and discord, must needes bring a con∣fusion,
and fall into wasting, spoiling
and destroying, when this monster
doth augment the causes thereof.
Consider then, how iustice and re∣ligion
can flourish? the one shewing
vs how we ought to liue in this life,
and the other teaching vs of the life to
come.
Will not religion suffer shipwrack
in time, when charitie decayeth and
the bonds of loue are broken, and di∣uersities
of opinions are the causes of
Schismes? Shal I with the Philosophers
describe iustice to be of foure sorts:
Celestiall, Naturall, Ciuill and Iudiciall:
I shall but knocke at a deafe mans
descriptionPage 27
doore: yet in hope of the antiquitie
thereof, which (as Cicero saith) will
make the same flourish, I demaund
where Celestiall iustice (which is the
perfect consideration and dutie to
God) is found, seeing that Naturall
iustice, which all men should haue a∣mongst
themselues by nature, is bani∣shed,
which was the cause that Ciuill
iustice was made, grounded vpon the
law of nature, the statutes of the peo∣ple,
the consultation of the Senators, or
the authoritie of graue and wise men,
as the deuice of Princes, whereupon
also Iudiciall iustice dependeth, for the
commoditie of the common-wealth.
In regard whereof we are in hope that
one day this monster shall be destroy∣ed.
For the better accōplishmēt wher∣of,
I would our images of Iudges were
erected againe, hauing neither hands
nor eyes. O Manlius Torquatus who
shall imitate thee in the execution of
of iustice, not sparing thine owne son?
descriptionPage 28
The members of our common-wealth
which haue the managing of
the naturall and artificiall riches, are
dealt withall in most strange and sub∣till
manner by this monster, which
hath his principall delight therefore
to feede vpon them, & with his scorn∣full
looke, recreating his mind with
the internal miserie of the mind of his
leaguors, and with the externall cala∣mity
of the body, & inward troubles of
the mind of others, he beareth a won∣derfull
sway.
Those that be in league with him, &
become miserable in mind, he haled
with a cable rope of vnsatiable desires,
causing thē to make no period or com∣ma
frō the highest Zodiacke or Climate
to the lowest Centre, & to be more foo∣lish
thē Tantalus, amidst the water dy∣ing
of thirst, obtaining with Mydas the
transmutation of all things they touch
into gold, & staruing for want of food:
for they make by his instigation of
descriptionPage 29
abundance, indigence, to the end that
by possessing more, they should haue
lesse, as not hauing a hart giuē thē (as
the wisemā saith) to enioy their wealth
He maketh them thinke with the
Ape that is tyed to the clogge, that he
keepeth the clog, & not the clog him,
for they keepe not their riches, but ri∣ches
keepeth them, and entangleth
their minds.
He maketh them like vnto the Asse
which carrieth meate for his maisters
belly, & the clothes for his backe, yet
himselfe is contented to feede vpon
grasse, and to weare a haire skinne, for
miserie hath assaulted their soules.
He maketh them like vnto the Indi∣an
Ants or Emets, who gather the gold
and keep it, although they cannot vse
it, and to hunt after goods, graunting
them onely the sight, and not the vse
thereof: he maketh their riches to in∣crease,
as though he would make
them contented, seeming to quench
descriptionPage 30
the fire by casting oyle into it, and ma∣king
them more couetous.
He causeth diuerse to get their
goods fraudulently, and by taking of
forfeitures, which maketh them to
hide their treasure, or to purchase lāds
therewith: when as their heires shall
vnthritily spend that, which they haue
vnlawfully gotten.
Some he maketh like vnto the
wolues of Syria, which delight to bark
against the Moone, spending their
time about nothing, and entertaining
Podagra, for the most part of the yere.
He caused him that did dreame to
haue spent a great summe of money in
a banquet, to haue so strong an imagi∣nation,
that by the apprehension ther∣of,
thinking the same to be true, went
to hang himselfe most desperately, ha∣uing
bought for the purpose a two pe∣nie
halter, and being saued from han∣ging
by the meanes of his friends
which did cut the halter, would not∣withstanding
descriptionPage 31
make his friends pay for
that halter.
He caused the vnthriftie sonne to
hang himselfe, that gaping for his fa∣thers
death for to enioy the goods of
this nature, became desperate vpon
the witches declaration, that his fa∣ther
should yet liue thirtie yeares.
He caused that miser (who hauing
hid his treasure in a hollow tree, and
finding the same taken away) to hang
himselfe, changing his treasure with
the halter that a poore man left: who
by the finding of this treasure was sa∣ued
from hanging, being through the
cruell dealings of others become des∣perate.
Some he causeth to haue all their
wealth in paper and inke, or parch∣ment,
which they accompt as preci∣ous
as the golden fleece, multiplying
the same in their imagination vntill
they die, when as the debtors haue of
a long time bene insoluent, and they
descriptionPage 32
deceiued with false pleasure, like vnto
those who hiding their gold in the
ground do depriue themselues of the
vse of it, hoping for ioy: when as the
gold hauing bene stolen and they ig∣norant
thereof, dye ten yeares after,
and all that ten yeares that they liued
after the money was stolen, haue fed
themselues with a vaine conceipt.
Others he maketh to grow and
spread as great oakes full of branches,
by whose dropping he destroyeth and
suffocateth the young little sprigs.
Others he causeth to be more dog∣gish
then the dogs themselues, which
will sooner licke the vlcers and sores of
Lazarus, then they will giue any re∣leefe
to the poore.
Others he causeth to sel their lands
and goods, and to liue obscurely, like
vnto the staring owle, which will not
looke vpon the bright sunne.
Others he maketh to seeme that
which they are not, like vnto the hypo∣crites
descriptionPage 33
which are as a wooden leg set to
the body, being no member thereof.
Others he maketh like vnto madde
men, desiring nothing so much as to
get water, by reason of their excessiue
distemperature, when as there is no∣thing
so much tormenting them; as
the abundance of riches.
Others he maketh like vnto the
Moone when she is at the full, and
then farthest from the sunne of whom
she hath her light: and so by increasing
their riches, remoueth them farther
from God and godlinesse.
Others which be leane, like vnto the
henne which daily did lay an egge, or
in poore estate did good deedes and
were vertuous, he causeth to become
fat, leauing the laying of egges, and
to become wealthie and vitious.
Others he maketh like hogges to
feed vpon acornes vnder the oake, and
in steed to looke thankefully vpward,
to deuoure the garment of him
descriptionPage 34
that feedeth them.
Others he causeth to be like vnto
the fawning Spaniell, which often∣times
fetcheth his maisters gloue, in
hope to change it for a better morsell:
doing a small pleasure, to the end they
might reape a greater aduantage.
Others he maketh to be like flouds,
which send their waters into the sea,
and leaue the dry land (which is thir∣stie)
vnwatered, bestowing or leauing
their goods vnto those that need them
not.
Others are exalted like vnto the I∣uie
sticking to the boughes of trees,
and yet by an ouerhard embracing do
hinder the growing of the trees, ma∣king
meane men to oppresse their
betters, by whose meanes they haue
bene aduanced.
Others he maketh to liue idle, and
their braines to become a shop for the
Diuels Alchemy, sowing tares amongst
the wheat, whiles men are asleepe, set∣ting
descriptionPage 35
with the traiterous seruant, the
doore open to the theefe.
Others he maketh to thinke that
the increase of riches commeth by
their owne meanes: whereas with king
Kanutus who in this Iland would haue
commaunded the waters, they should
learne, that they were commaunded
by the heauenly power.
Others he maketh like vnto the two
theeues of Esops fable, the one stea∣ling,
and the other the receiuer or
conueyer.
His strength lyeth chiefly in his
taile: for triall whereof, euen for his re∣creation
and sport, after a full stomack,
he will many times encounter with
great Elephants, clapping his taile a∣bout
their mil-post legges, and neuer
leauing them vntil he haue felled their
vnweildie bodies to the ground.
But behold his subtill proceedings,
for he will not onely change colours
with the Camelion, but also weepe for
descriptionPage 36
their ouerthrowe with the Crocodiles
teares, when as hee intended to
make them instruments to serue his
turne.
With the wild boare and swine,
which are wont to eate and destroy all
other corne, he will beware of bearded
wheate, because of the prickie beards
which do hurt him, as the authoritie
of great men. Yet sometimes like the
boare franking in his stye, he will con∣sume
men of many miles off, by the
means of his leaguors and attendants,
whereby he knoweth the lands and a∣bilities
of noble men and gentlemen,
yeoman and husbandmen, and here
he will gobble vp a whole towne, and
there a goodly parke, here a Lordship
or Manor, and there a most pleasant
wood.
Some he causeth to weaue conti∣nually
Penelopes cloath, vndoing by
night that which they made in the day,
and loosing one way that which they
descriptionPage 37
get another way.
Others he setteth on Icarian wings
with waxe, and maketh them to flie e∣uen
aboue the cloudes, when as the
waxe by the heate of the sunne dis∣soluing,
they are drowned vna∣wares.
Others that vpon pleasure enter∣taine
him, and haue taken him vp out
of the snow, being almost dead with
the snake of AEsope, do find him rea∣die
to bite of their throate in processe
of time.
Others he causeth to serue his turn,
whose labour like vnto the Cats paw,
he maketh to serue as the Ape did, to
take the chesnuts out of the fire for
his owne vse.
Others he maketh with the hauke
to mount so high, trusting to their
wings and other mens feathers, that
they lose themselues, and their wit and
wisedome is ouercome.
Others he maketh so poore, that they
descriptionPage 38
are alwaies in prison, forth-comming,
but neuer comming forth.
Others he causeth alwaies to be
waited on by Serieants, and their
clokes cannot take hold at a butchers
hooke, but they imagine that the Ser∣ieants
Mace taketh them by the
backe.
Others he playeth withall like the
Cat with the mouse for a time for to
eate her vp, or like the flie about the
candle, and in the end are brought to
destruction.
Others he maketh like vnto AEsops
Iay, clad with the feathers of other
birds, which being discouered and
stript of all, for a reward are throughly
scorned, and turned from their scarlet
Gownes, into blacke threed-bare
cloakes.
Others he maketh like vnto bond∣men
and slaues, that though they toile
and labour neuer so much, all is for
their maisters, and they get nothing
descriptionPage 39
for themselues.
He causeth Mariners to conspire a∣gainst
their ships, and the diuell Bom∣mery
to arise to boare holes to make
them sinke and perish.
He maketh many owners of ships,
and by their discord to destroy ship∣ping.
For he is like vnto the worme
called of Plinie Teredo, that breedeth
in timber, which being touched or
handled seemeth gentle and soft, and
yet hath so hard teeth that he de∣stroyeth
all manner of wood.
He draweth with the Lady Claudia,
the ship wherein the idoll of the God∣desse
Bona is, and maketh that the
Mariners (like vnto the young men)
not once do stirre.
He causeth the water to get in se∣cretly,
and to increase by the Pumpes
of their shippes, so that both they and
their ships are drowned.
He causeth many apprentises to be∣come
vntimely maisters, whē as swim∣ming
descriptionPage 40
with other mens bladders, they
are soone drowned.
He maketh them to spoile their
maisters occupation and their owne,
and not to be able to liue by that they
were bred vnto.
He maketh the husbandman vna∣ble
to liue by his farme, and giueth a∣bility
vnto others to incorporate them
to the decay of husbandry.
He maketh sheepe to become de∣uourers
of men, destroying the lustie
husbandmen which are alwaies the
best souldiers.
He maketh the husbandman to
make money of his woods and trees,
in proyning his old trees, and neuer
to mipe or graffe young settes, so that
the woods do daily decay, and the
trees dye within few yeares.
He maketh them to sell their
croppes halfe for nought, and to buye
such things deare as they haue neede
of.
descriptionPage 41
He will like a thorne-bush succour
and shelter a poore silly sheepe in
some storme or tempest a litle while:
but when she departeth from the
bush, keep backe a peece of her fleece,
and that so often vntill all be consu∣med.
He bringeth with the Bee sweete
hony in his mouth, but a very sharpe
sting in his taile.
The horse of Gargantua had
not so much strength in his taile
as he hath, for the same being pric∣ked
of flies, did beate downe with
his taile, all the trees of a great
wood. But this Dragon by the
meanes of his taile causeth others to
transport whole woods, with trees,
houses and lands into forreine coun∣tries.
He maketh the prosperitie of
common-wealthes to be like vnto the
grasse on the house top, which for
lacke of roote withereth afore it can
descriptionPage 42
grow vp to be mowne, and the Prin∣ces
bare of flesh, and voyd of strength,
like vnto harts that can find no pa∣sture,
for the common-wealthes trea∣sure
(which he transporteth) is accoun∣ted
theirs.
He is the cause that the kings trea∣sure
is like water powred into a siue or
basket, which presently runneth out,
and is neuer filled.
By the meanes of his taile he main∣taineth
a league with forreine nati∣ons,
and causeth them to serue his
turne, by bringing in superfluous com∣modities
at a deare rate, and they to
feede vppon our natiue soile, to the
common-wealthes destruction.
He doth falsifie our weight and
measure, and bringeth thereby ine∣quality,
to our ouer-great hinderance,
making of money a merchandize.
He carieth out our treasure in bul∣lion
and money, empouerishing our
commonweale, in giuing vs chalke for
descriptionPage 43
cheese, making vs like vnto AEsops
dog, going ouer a bridge to snatch at
the shadow of the flesh, loosing the
flesh it selfe.
He causeth vs to spend farre aboue
our reuenues, and maketh vs to buy
more then we sell, and to sell our home
commodities good cheape, and to
pay deare for the forreine commodi∣ties,
all tending to our destruction.
He feedeth vppon both kinds of
commodities, and maketh the hus∣bandman
vnable to liue by his farme,
and the merchant by the trade of our
owne commodities.
He bringeth inequality betweene
the estimation of the naturall riches
and the artificiall riches, and a great
part of our wealth to be imaginatiue.
He giueth ability vnto landed men
to incorporate more lands and farmes
conuerting arable ground into pasture
to the decay of husbandry, and destru∣ction
of souldiers.
descriptionPage 44
He giueth ability to the grower, not
to haue cause to bring his corne or
cattell to the market, but rather to en∣grosse
more, and to sell them deare, or
to haue it transported vnto other na∣tions.
He is the cause of dilapidations of
cities and townes, and depopulations
of inhabitants, with the decay of their
occupations and handiworke.
He gnaweth the poore artificer to
the bones, and sucketh out the bloud
and marrow from him, feeding on him
most greedily.
He causeth by the incorporation of
many farmes into few mens hands, the
kings subsidy much to decrease, and
the kings rewards or recompenses to
be supplied diuerse wayes.
He is like Naa•• the Ammonite
warring against the men of Iabes Gile∣ad,
who would not raise his siege, but
vpon condition that he might thrust
out all their right eyes, for he putteth
descriptionPage 45
out the right eyes of the iudgement
of gouernors, in the course of politike
gouernement, to bring common∣weales
to destruction.
He is the cause of rebellion and
variance in countries, which many
times is imputed vnto the gouernours
thereof, and maketh men generally
vnable to liue by the naturall or arti∣ficiall
riches whereunto they were
borne or bred.
He maketh in some barren and vn∣fruitfull
yeares many thousands of
people to starue for hunger, and yet
diuerse mens barnes to be well furni∣shed
with corne.
He setteth vp pride and new fan∣gled
apparell, by the meanes of the
merchant that bringeth in those com∣modities
which please mens humors,
for pride doth not measure wealth and
prosperity by her owne commodi∣ties,
but by the misery and incommo∣ditie
of other.
descriptionPage 46
He giueth ability to intemperance
the daughter of excesse, which maketh
men slaues to the mouth and belly,
bringing them both wayes to destru∣ction.
He maketh money to be the creede
of the world, and perswaded men to
seeke first money, and that honesty
then will follow of course, and that
learning and wisdom is nothing with∣out
it.
He causeth men to commence sutes
in law for euery trifle, and exaction
and extortion to flourish, relying vpon
the penalties and forfeitures of bonds
and counterbonds.
He striketh out with the rauen, first
of all the sheepes eyes, and so bringeth
to passe that men cannot see the way
to escape his tyranny.
He is the right Cannibal, feeding
onely vpon raw flesh, especially of
men, and like an Apothecary he co∣uereth
his bitter bils with some sweete
descriptionPage 47
substance, to make them to go downe
the easier.
He maketh men to fall into the
mire, & the more they stirre, the more
are they defiled and brought into his
danger: for like a bitter and pinching
blacke frost, he killeth and destroyeth
the tender, sweete and beautifull blos∣somes.
He will not haue men to depend v∣pon
the reward of God, but vpon the
reward of man, for charity and free
lending he causeth to be banished,
and preferreth the brittle mettal be∣fore
the eternall treasure.
He maketh the hearts of his lea∣guors
not to be inflamed with a true
and sincere loue to God: but to be
wide open vnto all temptations, like
vnto a pot full of sweete liquors ouer
the fire (which not boyling) are cor∣rupted
by flies, and they are become
the wolues of our Iland, since that all
other wolues haue bene destroyed: for
descriptionPage 48
they deuour both leane and fat
sheepe.
He maketh men generally like vnto
the decreasing moone, hauing here opē
side hanging downward, & their harts
set onely on worldly things, whereas
with the moone increasing & open to∣wards
heauē, they should be gathering
light, and not step aside to gather fea∣thers,
and leaue to runne the golden
game of inestimable value.
He maketh men to be disconten∣ted,
and to iudge as bondmen do of
those that are free, neuer being con∣tented
with their state, alwayes behol∣ding
how much inferior they are vnto
others.
And to conclude, whereas euery well
gouerned common-wealth is to keepe
a certaine equality cōcerning the traf∣ficke
betweene them and other coun∣tries,
& a concord amongst the mem∣bers
of their common-wealth, when e∣uery
member thereof liueth conten∣tedly
descriptionPage 49
in his vocation, this dragon
hath brought in discord and inequa∣litie.
And if this Gangrena be not cu∣red,
it will in time subuert the whole
state of the realme, for Synons horse
was not so dangerous to the Troyans,
as this dragon is to our common-wealth.
Conceiue now (I pray you) in your
imagination on the one side, the cru∣elty
of this monster, and his subtile
practises and dealings, and on the o∣ther
side the meekenesse and innocen∣cy
of the creatures deuoured by him
and by his meanes. And because the
consideratiō there of wold amaze your
iudgement, do but remember the ten∣der
and inexplicable loue of a father
towards his child, and especially of a
most victorious king towards his faire
& peereles daughter: the bright splen∣dent
beames of whose angelicall beau∣ty,
do dim my sight, and captiuate my
vnderstanding. Hide Absolon thy
descriptionPage 50
cleare guilt tresses, and you Hester
your meeknes & beauty, giuing place
to this Virgin and noble creature; you
Penelope, Marcia, Lauine and Helleni,
make no comparison with her: nei∣ther
you Lucrece and Polixene, Dido,
Laodomia or Tisbe, that haue bought
your loue so deare; or thou Cleopatra
with all thy passions, you all may be
handmaids vnto her: for her melodi∣ous
voyce doth command the heathen
Gods, Bacchus, Pan, Ceres & Minerua,
and by her sweete breath a second life
is inspired into you all. Venus her selfe
giueth her the preheminence, for
the strength of Cupide without her
countenance will soone decay, his
firy darts will soone be cold, and his
wings loose their viuacity. Mars, Pal∣las
and Bellona cannot subsist, if this
Virgin should withdraw her fauour,
she remaineth still a Virgin immacu∣late,
though all the world seemeth to
be contaminated by her, for her con∣stancy
descriptionPage 51
is singular, she is bright shi∣ning
as the Moone, although the E∣clipse
doth darken her for a time, to
make her brightnesse to appeare more
glorious: and albeit she receiued her
light from the transparent Sunne,
yet in a manner she seemeth to be
predominant, and by a voluntarie
loue to command, for she is the rose
of the field, and the lilly of the vallies,
whose fragrant smell as the sauour
of good ointments poured out, doth
reioyce and make glad the king, and
maketh him runne after her, for his
soule loueth her, and he hath brought
her into his chamber, where like a
bundle of mirrhe she lyeth betweene
his breasts, his left hand is vnder
her head, and his right hand doth
embrace her, for she is faire and
pleasaunt. She came accompanied
with a Lambe representing her in∣nocencie,
her amiable eyes the
messengers of her perplexed heart,
descriptionPage 52
distilling salt teares, did wound & pe∣netrate
the cruellest mind: the lockes
of her golden hanging haire did a∣dorne
her as a triumphant Goddesse:
her yuory white teeth stood like a flock
of sheepe in good order: from her scar∣lat
lips did drop the sweetenesse of ho∣ny
combes, for hony and milke was
vnder her tongue, and the sauour of
her garments was odoriferous as the
smell of Lebanon: her straight snow
white necke like a prety towre of iuory
was compassed with chaines of orien∣tall
pearle, wearing the garland of her
virginity of most precious stones, as a
royall Diademe: and yet from her
two breasts (which were like two yong
Roes that are twinnes feeding among
the lillies) two liuely fountaines of
celestiall water did runne, nourishing
an infinite number: her cheekes were
as a bed of spices, and as sweet floures
delectable: the ioyntes of her fin∣gers
were delicate, making the
descriptionPage 53
whitenesse of her hands to haue a
strong attraction. For in briefe such
was her perfection, that Dame Nature
was ashamed to see her selfe ouercome
and vanquished of her owne worke:
her admirable body was couered with
a garment of white silke Damaske
hanging loose about her, embrode∣red
with letters of gold Patientia vi∣ctrix,
wherein the Sunne with the as∣sistance
of AEolus did seeme to play
her illustration, with the repercussion
of the varietie of colours of the gar∣ments
of the Virgines following her.
Consider now the agony of her
mind tempered with magnanimity,
notwithstāding the aggrauating ther∣of
by the lamentation of her associats,
and although the lot cast for her was
not so fatall as the rash vow of Iphtah
was to his daughter: yet she had
greater cause to go to the mountaines
with her companions, to lament and
bewalie her virginitie, because the
descriptionPage 54
deuouring of the dragon was farre
more crueller then the fire where∣with
Iptahs daughter is sayd to haue
bene consumed; when as this Virgin
being brought vp like a kings daugh∣ter
in all pleasures and delicacies, was
brought to the sight of this cruell
monster, and that she was ready to
abandon her ornaments, preparing
her gentle body to his cruelty with a
perfect patience.
If Griselde was worthy of commen∣dation,
and obtained the name of
Patient, for being aduanced by the
Marquesse of Saluzze, who tooke her
from a poore estate to be his wife, and
afterwards to try her, made a shew to
relinquish her againe, vnder colour
that he would haue maried another,
which (vnknowne vnto her) was her
owne daughter had by him, and there∣upon
depriued her of all her or∣naments;
if she (I say) was renow∣ned
for enduring all this patiently,
descriptionPage 55
much more without all comparison
is the patience of this rare Virgin to
be had in perpetuall remembrance,
who abandoning all her peculiar pre∣rogatiues
and pleasures, suffered her
body to be expounded to the cruelty
of this monster. And the greater was
the exployt of Saint George in deliue∣ring
her, who like a valiant champion
being arriued into this Iland, and vn∣derstanding
of the danger she was in,
came with a Princely resolutiō to de∣liuer
her, mounted on a pyball horse of
seuerall colours, armed like a conque∣rour,
to fight the cōbat with the shield
of faith, hauing on the breast-plate of
righteousnesse, the helmet of saluatiō,
his loynes girt about with verity, and
being adorned with the liuery of the
Crosse, did with the sword of the Spi∣rit
destroy this monster, and deliuered
this Indian Phenix & this Iland, of that
contagion & abominable hell hound,
being not moued or amazed at his
descriptionPage 56
terrible sight and fashion; neither re∣garding
those that were in league with
this dragon, or tooke vpon them to
speake in his defence.
What vnspeakeable ioy came ther∣by,
let the consideration rauish your
mind, and ease me of the amplifica∣tion
thereof. For I must now exactly
describe vnto you this dragon con∣cerning
his compounded body, as I
haue already done his properties, and
the effects of his mischieuous condi∣tion
and qualities.
His ordinary mansion (I haue told
you) to be about the middle part of the
city, which is beset with many gras∣hoppers
round about, without any
green fields wheron to feed, for they be
not wild, sauage, or noysome, diuerse
of those that be in league with the dra∣gon
are like toades, which drinke the
iuice of grapes so fast, till ouercharged
with the broath, their bowels do burst,
casting their venimous poyson and in∣fecting
descriptionPage 57
many, and yet the aire is soft,
temperate and gentle.
Here may you behold this hideous
monster, swelling euery moneth big∣ger
one then another, with his fierie
flaming eyes, seeming to cast fire at e∣uery
moment, by the means of his tri∣••••••ted
toung like vnto a Turkish dart,
his body vnweildy like an Elephāt, but
his taile nimble, & continually waue∣ring
& inconstant, for therin consisteth
his greatest strength & actiuity, to the
commonwealths destruction: and the
same is marked with the new Moon of
the Turkes, like vnto the letter C, and
his forehead with an F, like a fellon, he
walketh vpon his foure Harpion legs,
like a theefe closely to surprise any mā
either by night or day: for he omitteth
no time, albeit he seemeth with the in∣dex
of the dyall not to moue, when he
is continually moouing, and stirred in
such sort, that when men begin to per∣ceiue
his motion, and pretend to
descriptionPage 58
runne from him: he doth so allure
them, that the more they runne, the
more he seemeth to follow them, as
the moone doth to the little children,
whereby his motion is the lesse regar∣ded.
He rideth vpō the wings of time,
and by imagination hasteneth the
course thereof: so that he that sitteth
surest may be ouerthrowne, for he
hath two wings to fly withall, the one
hauing an internall strength from the
mind, and the other an externall from
the bodie: that of the mind is (as it
were) couered with a vaile: but the o∣ther
is plaine and naked: howbeit both
of them are indented with seuerall
braunches, wherewith according to
the Adage, the Diuell seemeth to be
God to some bodie, and maketh those
to speak in his defence. For in abusing
iustice to the hurt of many, he seemeth
to do good vnto some particular: these
therefore (although they be ashamed
of him) do allow him as a necessarie
descriptionPage 59
member in a common-wealth, like vn∣to
the hangman which for executions
sake must needes be had. Others doe
compare him to be admitted, as the
husbandman suffereth many weedes
to grow in his ground which he likes
not, and that so he is to be tollerated;
when as in the like manner they might
speake for murtherers and theeues,
and say that the naturall rule (Do as
thou wouldest be done vnto,) is to be ta∣ken
generall without any exception
in all things and in all respects: where∣by
the Magistrate must of loue spare
the conuicted malefactor: for if he
were in the malefactors case, he wold
be glad to be spared and pardoned
himselfe: albeit they would not be
bound by this rule, to giue all their
goods vnto another, seeing their grip∣ple
mind is such, that they would wil∣lingly
an other man should giue them
all his substance. They would be con∣tented
to haue mony freely lent them,
descriptionPage 60
yet they would lend none freely them∣selues,
for (say they) I must make a
gaine of my money, which is as law∣full
for me to take, as others do of the
rents of their houses, reuenues of
lands, or gaines of corne and cattell,
or wares and merchandizes: whereas
they do not consider, that money was
ordained as a pledge or right betwixt
man and man, and in contracts and
bargaining a iust measure and pro∣portion,
which measure is by them
falsifyed: and this monster causeth
them to incorporate the same, so that
no man can come by it without their
consent and paying for it, falsifying
and altering the same. And yet can
they find fault, and hold for very ab∣surd,
if vpon plentie or scarcitie of
corne, or abundance of cloth, or scar∣citie
thereof, the measure or yard
should be altered vpon all occasions,
considering that a measure ought to
remaine at a certaintie. But what can∣not
descriptionPage 61
this dragon bring to passe? when
he will seeme to be a protectour of or∣phanes,
as though Magistrates or tu∣tors
could not prouide for them, for
vnlesse he should carie some shew of
good, he could neuer haue raigned so
long: he seemeth to fauour iustice,
for if any man borrow money for an
other, and do enter his bond for it,
and take of him the like that receiued
the money, he will see him that bor∣rowed
the money recouer that by
lawe ex damno habito which he is
damnified, albeit there be meanes
otherwise to satisfie him. Againe,
if a shopkeeper lend money freely
to his neighbour till such a day, ha∣uing
then occasion to vse it at some
faire to lay it out in wares, if he breake
touch, he helpeth the shopkeeper
with all extremitie vnder colour of
iustice ex lucro cessante, to recouer so
much as he sustained losse for want
of his money to lay out; as if at an
descriptionPage 62
other time the other could not lend
him the like summe of money, and
make him recompence another way.
Whereas these euents come to passe
vpon abuses which this monster hath
brought in, hauing with the operation
of his taile (being a very Canker) trans∣ported
the moneys of our Iland, and
within our land altered the nature and
valuation of the money, making one
hundred pounds, to be one hundred
and ten pounds, and hauing ouer∣throwne
charitie and free lending.
Hence did the cause proceede, that the
statute lawes were repealed, which
did banish this monster, for therein it
was like vnto the water which the
more it is pent, the more it swelleth,
and like a theefe, who when he is loc∣ked
in at the prison doore, breaketh
out at the windowes, falling to his
shifts, subtilties and deuises. For if
money had remained plentifull with
vs, this monster could neuer haue pre∣uailed,
descriptionPage 63
nor charitie should haue wa∣xed
so cold, neither casuall and aduen∣turous
bargaines would haue bene so
hunted after. And to conclude, no law
can do good which admitteth an in∣conuenience
as a necessarie euill.
I am not ignorant, that with a wet
finger, some do point at those that are
growne rich by the meanes of the fee∣ding
of this monster, which maketh
me to remember a pretie historie to
my purpose. A man comming into a
certaine church, and seeing it fraught
full of images made of waxe, deman∣ded
what might be the cause of such
an vnwoonted sight; answer was made,
that those whom these images did re∣present,
were certaine persons, which
on a time were saued from drowning
by calling vpon our Lady. Nay then
(quoth he againe) where be the ima∣ges
of those (I pray ye) that called v∣pon
our Lady and were drowned not∣withstanding?
So say I in this case, if
descriptionPage 64
any man will set before me the instan∣ces,
and as it were the images of those
who haue fed this dragon, and yet are
not become poore: I would demaund
on the other side, that he shew foorth
the hundreds and thousands of those,
whose estates and persons he hath de∣uoured,
they will be found a million
for one, yea to be without all compa∣rison:
for this monster is an actiue ele∣ment
that consumeth all things.
He demaundeth consideration for
that which is none of his owne, and
moreouer two recompences for one
entire thing: by reason whereof he
bringeth foorth inequalitie for his ad∣uantage,
making men to forget that
euer they liued without him, by that
which they were borne or bred vnto.
But let this hideous monster be de∣stroyed,
and euery man will returne
vnto his quietnesse, and liue within
his bounds and calling, vsing such
trade as he ought to do. Plentie will
descriptionPage 65
soone increase, and money will
abound, if you take away but the
strength of his taile, and we shall feele
our libertie and deliuerance.
Will not the daunger that the lea∣guors
of this Dragon do runne into,
giue them warning, when as at one
time fiue hundreth Iewes were trans∣ported
with Carons boate the ferrie
man of hell, which were slaine by
the Cittizens of Troynouant for fee∣ding
him? Let the punishments as∣signed
for them, put them in feare if
they haue any feeling.
The curse of God denounced a∣gainst
them in the holy Scripture, in
Exodus 22. Leuiticus 25. Psalm. 15.
Ezechiel 18. and Luke the sixth chap∣ter,
expounded by the auncient and
learned holy Fathers, vpon which
ground the temporall punishments
haue bene ordained against those that
should feed this monster: whereby
their condemnation appeareth.
descriptionPage 66
They are diffamed persons by the
lawe, and if any man make by his last
will any goods vnto them, the testa∣ment
may be broken, neither should
they be admitted to communicate
with Christians, or enter into their
congregation, or offer any oblation.
When they are dead, they should
not be buried in Christian buriall, and
if they be, the doers thereof are ex∣communicated:
for they are not wor∣thie
of such reuerence, which dumbe
beastes, and euen a silly Asse (who like
vnto Balaams Asse was inspired) did
manifest, for one of these leaguors
being departed out of this world, a
certaine zealous & godly parson wold
not bury him, notwithstanding his
great riches, whereof part was offered
vnto the parson to the same effect.
Wherupon his friends vnderstanding
that the parson had an asse which
brought his books from his parsonage
daily to the church, being a pretie di∣stance
descriptionPage 67
in sunder, they politikly desired
to obtaine this fauour of him, that as
his asse did daily cary his seruice books
to the church, so it would please him,
that for this one time the quicke Asse
might take pain to carie this dead asse
in a Coffin; with this condition, that
wheresoeuer the asse stayed, there the
body should be buried, perswading
themselues, that as the asse by an ordi∣nary
course, vsed euery day to go from
the parsonage to the church with a
burden of bookes vpon his backe: so of
course he would take the same way
with this dead mans corps being che∣sted,
euē straight to the church; which
being granted by the parson, had not
that euēt. For the asse feeling a weigh∣tier
burden vpon his back then vsually,
did seeke all the meanes to be disbur∣dened,
running and flinging along the
streets, vntill he came to a paire of gal∣lowes
at the townes end, and there did
neuer leaue tumbling and tossing him∣selfe
descriptionPage 68
vpon the bare ground, till he was
clean disburdned of so miserable a ca∣rion,
leauing a sacrifice to that altar as
miraculously assigned for it: for it was
not without cause that priests were
forbiddē to giue vnto such any ghostly
comfort, but vpon euident proofe of
repentance; also that they must make
their willes without witnesse, which
wills are not of any force except satis∣faction
be made, or else their goods to
be forfited to the higher powers, with
many other hard cēsures which ought
to moue any reasonable man in the ob∣seruatiō
of so easy a comādement as to
forbeare to feed a monster vnto whom
Cerberus in hell, and all those monsters
that Hercules subdued are inferior in e∣uill.
Alas poore creatures, how are
you tossed with the waues of care to
satisfie this dragon before you are de∣stroyed?
you know by experience, that
the feare of death is more then death it
selfe: what shifts, deuises, or extremi∣ties
descriptionPage 69
are not you driuen vnto? Aristo∣phanes
hath painted foorth your ago∣nies
and perplexed minds, vnder the
person of an aged mā altogether ship∣wracked
by fraighting with this mon∣ster,
who thinking to haue found out
the way to be eased of his slauerie, did
propound vnto Socrates this demaund:
That if he should by a witch of Thessa∣lia,
and by her enchantments fetch the
Moone out of heauen, and bring it a∣way,
and afterwards inclose it in a case
of glasse, and so keepe it, as if he
would keepe a flye in a boxe: Socrates
demaunding, what good that would
do him: he answered, If the Moone do
neuer rise againe, and I being con∣strained
to feede this monster by the
new Moone, shall be freed of that
trouble. A straunge shift, that this
poore man was driuen vnto, to plucke
by violence the Moone out of heauen
for his helpe. For in truth the witch
did her best, and beganne to
descriptionPage 70
charme the Moone, which when the
leaguor of the dragon vnderstood, did
put him in such a pelting chafe, as was
wonderfull to heare: for accusing this
poore man of enchantment, at last he
went himselfe to another witch, not
onely to keepe the Moone from com∣ming
out of heauen, but also to hasten
the course of it faster, that the mon∣ster
might be the sooner fed. Good
God what a trouble was the Moone
put vnto betweene these two witches?
What stormes and tempestes did
arise? What horrible wind did blow?
What great raine did fall? What
floudes ensued euery where? What
countreys were almost drowned and
vnder the water in many places? But
herein (say some) was the dragon to
be blamed, for troubling or oppres∣sing
a poore man, or feeding vpon
him, which he ought to haue done
vpon the rich: for they conclude that
to be lawfull, in regard of the prohi∣bition
descriptionPage 71
of the other; as who would say,
it is not lawfull to vexe a poore man
by lawe, therefore it is lawfull to vexe
or trouble a rich man by lawe: where∣as
neither rich or poore, young or old,
lowe or high, should be troubled or
vexed at all to feede this monster: for
it taketh away the chiefest comfort
of the poore, which is the quietnesse
of their minds, and deuoureth their
gaine before it can be gotten; and to
the rich it giueth abilitie to doe all
the mischiefe that can be deuised, as
I haue told you. Others say Volenti non
fit iniuria, when as money being made
a merchandize, hindreth the course
of commodities, and that euen the
politicke course of our gouernement
driueth men to feede this monster,
and for the most part vpon an imagi∣natiue
wealth, when by meanes of
his taile he hath transported our trea∣sure
into forraine parts.
Arise thou ô Prophet Daniel, and
descriptionPage 72
make knowne vnto our most gracious
king the deceipts and cruelties of the
false god Bell and of this dragon. Let
the footsteppes be seene of those that
are in league with their false God
Mammon and this Dragon, in the
ashes of the efficacie of holy Scrip∣ture,
and our most wholesome lawes,
and let them be vsed as pitch, fat and
haire, to burst this Dragon in sun∣der.
He is not contented with the spen∣ding
daily of twelue great measures of
fine flower, forty sheepe, and sixe great
pots of wine: but he consumeth thou∣sands
of measures of corne, innume∣rable
flockes of sheep, and whole ships
lading of wines, euen with al the crea∣tures
that haue the managing thereof:
for he doth not feede threescore & ten
priests with their wines and children
only, but an infinit number that are in
league with him and their followers,
to the commonwealths destruction.
descriptionPage 73
The aspect, countenance, and be∣hauiour
of creatures doth many times
prouoke loue towards thē. But behold
his vgly and fearfull countenance, his
ill fauored shape and cruel behauiour,
and you will wonder how it is possible
that any man can loue him.
With that, me thought he tooke
me by the hand, and shewed me a cer∣taine
place, where this monster stood
wallowing like a bear, which expecteth
the comming of the dogs; presently al
my sences did assaile him, Prima facie
I saw him, then I imagined him and
my fancy did delude me, as if I had
seene some satire, halfe a man & halfe a
beast, which made so deep an impres∣sion
into my memory, that by the ap∣prehēsion
therof, I was possessed with
a great feare & ashonishment, which
made me to cry and awake from slum∣ber,
remaining still pensiue aboue
measure: for on the one side I knowe
the passions of men and the debility of
descriptionPage 74
nature, and on the other side I do con∣sider
the difference betwixt dreames
and visions.
Such are the naturall passions of
men, that some not fearing to fight
with the strongest and stoutest man,
will notwithstanding cry out, and
sweat at the sight of a cat, or any other
abiect creature: others are alwayes in
feare, if they be alone, and cannot abide
to haue their doores locked in priuate:
nay, some cannot endure the pointing
of a finger or any iesture towards
them, or but the rehearsing or telling
of a dreame, for they do for the time
participate so much of the melancho∣like
humor, that reason and discretion
is not able to conquere it: dreames
being prouoked according to the dis∣position
of the mind and of the body,
and dilating into fansies and illusions,
I can hardly conclude them to be visi∣ons;
for visions are really seene, and
fansies are but represented or imagi∣ned.
descriptionPage 75
But howsoeuer this came to passe,
and may be importeth little, so long
as the morall of it declareth with all
the history of Saint George, wishing
with all my heart, that I might haue
seene also that valiant champion pre∣figured
vnto me as the dragon was,
for then no doubt the deliuerance ex∣pected
and long required would en∣sue;
and this my dreame (howsouer
displeasing to some) might be admit∣ted
for a vision to the welfare
of the common∣wealth.
Exitus acta probat.
email
Do you have questions about this content? Need to report a problem?
Please contact us.