All the vvorkes of Iohn Taylor the water-poet Beeing sixty and three in number. Collected into one volume by the author: vvith sundry new additions corrected, reuised, and newly imprinted, 1630.

TO NO MATTER VVHO, NO GREAT MATTER VVHERE, YET TO BE READ, THERE IS MATTER WHY, ALTHOVGH NOT MVCH MATTER WHEN.

IT is no matter in whose hands or censure this my Superibae Flagellum, or Whipping, or Stripping of Pride fall into: If it come into the view of true Nobility or Gentry, I know it will be charitably accepted. If into the hands of degenerate yongsters, that esteeme Pride more then all the Liberall Sciences, who account the foure Cardinall vertues, inferiour to their owne carnall vices, such a one will put me off with a scornefull tush, a pish, or a mew, and commit my Booke to the protection of Ajax. If a wise man reade it, I know it will be discreetly censur'd; if a Foole, his Bolt is soone shot, and I am arm'd against it; if a Learned man peruse it, he will beare with my bad Schollership; if an vnlearned, I care not for his opinion; if a man of knowledge view it, he will pardon my ignorance; if an ignorant Asse see it, he will bray out his owne; if an honest rich man spy it, he will be the poorer in spirit, though not in purse; but if a proud Diues handle it, he will esteeme it worse then his Dogges; if a proud Courtier reade it, hee will teare it to tatters; whilst a Generous Affable Gentleman, will louingly entertaine it. If beauty chance to behold it, it will bid it welcome, if Pride stand not in the way; if a strong man that is not proud of it, grow acquainted with the contents of my meaning, I thinke it will content him; if Parents, or children, or all, or any body, that are not poysoned with pride, doe but see or heare it distinctly, read and vnderstand it with iudgement, I am per∣swaded it will passe and repasse, with friendly vsage, but if any of the contrary faction come within the Aire of it, they will vse it in some sort, as bad as the hangman will vse them. And So much for, To no matter who.

It is no great matter where this be read, for as a good man (being banished) is neuer out of his Country, because all Countries are his, so my Booke in Church, Court, Citty, Countrey or Cottage, is one and the same; it may perhaps alter the place where it comes from worse to better, but the place can neuer alter the honest intents of it, from better to worse. Therefore no great matter where.

To be read there is matter, why because it strikes at the roote of a most deadly sinne, which almost as bad as an vniuersall deluge, hath ouerflowed the most part of the world; and though the Preachers on Earth, (Gods Trumpets, and Ambassadours from Heauen) doe diligent∣ly and daily strike at this abomination, with the eternall Sword of the euerlasting Word, yet what they cut downe in the day, like Mushromes, it growes vp againe thicke and three∣••old in the night; for whilst the husband-man sleepes, the enuious man sowes tares.

Wherefore, I hauing a talent of knowledge lent me, by which I know that I must render an account one day, how I haue imployed it, and hauing written neere forty seuerall Pam∣phlets in former times, I purpose henceforward (God willing) to redeeme the time I haue so mis-spent, imploying my Pen in such exercises (which though they be not free from a rel∣lish of mirth. yet they shall be cleare from profanation, scurrillity, or obsceannesse. I doe know, Pride is at such a height, that my Mole-hill Muse can neuer by mineing at her foote, shake her head; for where Diuinity preuailes not, Poetry in meddling doth but shew the Suns brightnes with a Candle. Yet forasmuch as I know that Pride cast Angels out of Heauen, made diuels in hell, threw man out of Paradise, was a maine causer of the drowning of the first World, is a deuourer of this world, and shall euer be accursed in the world to come, by this knowledge, I haue with a mix'd inuectiue mildnesse, shewed in this Booke the vanities of all sorts of Pride, not that I hope for amendment, but to shew my honest intendment.

I haue seene sixe or seuen fashion hunting Gallants together sit scorning, and deriding a better man then themselues, onely because either his Hat was of the old Blocke, or that his Ruffe was not so richly lac'd, his Cloake hath beene too plaine, his Beard of the old transla∣tion, his Bootes and Spurres of the precedent second edition, and for such slight occasions a man hath beene slighted, ieerd and wonderd at, as if he had beene but a Zany to the fa∣shion, or a man made for the purpose for them to whet their scorne vpon, and therefore to reade this, there is a matter why.

It is not much matter when, for be it read on Friday the Turks Holyday, on Saturday the Iewes Sabbath, on Sunday the Lords Day, or on any day or all dayes, nights or houres, there is Diuinitie with Ala••ritie, Poetrie with mirth, and euery thing so interwouen, one with another, that if it please not the generality, yet I hope in particularitie it will tolerably censur'd by all that hate Pride, and loue humility. And therefore, not much matter when:

IOHN TAYLOR.