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.

THE TRVE CAVSE OF THE WATER∣MENS Suit concerning Players, and the reasons that their Playing on London side is their extreame hindrances. With a Relation how farre that suit was proceeded in, and the occasions that it was not effected.

THe occasions that hath moued me to write this Pamphlet are many, and forcible, and the Attempt in wriring it ad∣uenturous and full of danger, for as on the one side I doubt not but with truth to stop the mouthes of Ig∣norance and Mallice that haue and doe daily scandalize mee (and withall I know I shall purchase a generall thankes from all honest men of my Company) so I am assured to gaine the hatred of some that loue mee well, and I affect them no worse, only for my plaine truth and discharging my conscience: But fall back, fall edge, come what can come, I am resol∣ued and without feare or flattery, thus I be∣ginne.

In the month of Ianuary last 1613. there was a motion made by some of the better sort of the company of Watermen, that it were ne∣cessary for the reliefe of such a decayed mul∣titude to petition to his Maiesty, that the Players might not haue a play-house in Lon∣don or in Middlesex, within foure miles of the City on that side of the Thames. Now this request may seeme harsh and not well to bee disgested by the Players and their Apendixes. But the reasons that mou'd vs vnto it, being claritably considered, makes the suite not on∣ly seeme reasonable, but past seeming most necessary to be sued for, and tollerable to bee granted.

Out petition being written to purpose a∣foresaid, I was selected by my company to deliuer it to his Maiesty and follow the busi∣nesse, which I did with that care and integri∣ty, that I am assured none can iustly taxe me with the contrary. I did ride twice to Theo∣balds, once to Newmarket, and twice to Roy∣stone, before I could get a reference vpon my petition. I had to beare my charge, of my company first and last, seuen pound two shil∣lings, which horshire, horse meat, and mans meat brought to a consumption; besides I wrote seuerall petitions to most of the Right Honourable Lords of his Maiesties Priuy Counsell, and I found them all compassionate∣ly affected to the necessity of our cause.

First, I did briefly declare part of the ser∣uices that Watermen had done in Queene E∣lizabeths raigne, of famous memory, in the voyage to Portingale, with the Right Hono∣rable and neuer to be forgotten Earle of Essex; then after that, how it pleased God (in that great deliuerance in the yeere 1588.) to make Watermen good seruiceable instruments, with their losse of liues and limbs to defend their Prince and Country. Moreouer, many of them serued with Sir Francis Drake, Sir Iohn Hawkins, Sir Martin Frobusher, and others: besides in Cales action, the Iland voyage, in Ireland, in the Lowcuntryes, and in the nar∣row Seas they haue beene, (as in duty they are bound) at continuall command, so that euery Summer 1500. or 2000. of them were imploy∣ed to the places asoresaid, hauing but nine shillings foure pence the month a peece for their pay, and yet were they ab••e then to set

themselues out like men, with shift of Appa∣rell, linnen and wollen, and forbeare charging of their Prince for their pay sometimes sixe months, nine months, twelue months, some∣times more, for then there were so few Wa∣termen and the one halfe of them being at Sea, those that staid at home had as much worke as they would doe.

Afterwards the Players began to play on the Bank-side and to leaue playing in London and Middlesex (for the most part) then there went such great concourse of people by water, that the smal number of watermen remaining at home were not able to carry them, by rea∣son of the Court, the Tearmes, the Players, and other imployments, so that we were in∣forced and encouraged (hoping that this gol∣den stirring world would haue lasted euer) to take and entertaine men and boyes: which boyes are growne men, and keepers of houses, many of them being ouer-charged with fa∣milies of Wife and Children, so that the num∣ber of Water-men, and those that liue and are maintained by them, and by the onely la∣bour of the Oare and the Scull, betwixt the Bridge of Windsor and Grauesend, cannot be fewer then forty thousand; the cause of the greater halfe of which multitude, hath beene the Players playing on the Banke-side, for I haue knowne three Companies besides the Beare-bayting, at once there; to wit, the Globe, the Rose, and the Swan. And it is an infallible truth, that had they neuer played there it had beene better for Water-men by the one halfe of their liuing, for the Compa∣ny is encreased more then halfe by their meanes of playing there in former times.

And now it hath pleased God in this peace∣ful time, that there is no imploymēt at the sea, as it hath beene accustomed, so that all those great numbers of men remaines at home; and the Players haue all (except the Kings men) left their vsuall residency on the Banke-side, and doe play in Middlesex farre remote from the Thames, so that euery day in the weeke they doe draw vnto them three or foure thou∣sand people, that were vsed to spend their mo∣nies by water, (to the reliefe of so many thou∣sands of poore people, which by Players for∣mer playing on the Banke-side) are encreased, so that oft-times a poore man that hath fiue or sixe children, doth giue good attendance to his labour all day, and at night (perhaps) ath•• not gotten a Groat to relieue himselfe, his wife and family.

This was the effect and scope of our peti∣tion, though here I haue declared it more at large, to which his Maiesty graciously gran∣ted me a••reference to his commissioners for suites, who then were the Right honourable Sir Iulius Caesar, Sir Thomas Parray, Knights, the Right Worshipfull Sir Francis Bacon then the Kings Atturny generall, Sir Henry Moun∣tague his Maiesties Sergant at Law, Sir Walter Cope, Master George Caluert, one of the Clarkes of his Maiesties priuy Counsell, and Baron Southerton, one of the Barons of the Kings Ex∣chequer: these Honorable and Worshipfull persons I did oft folicite, by petitions, by friends, and by mine owne industrious impor∣tunity, so that in the end when our cause was heard, wee found them generally affected to the suit we prosecuted.

His Maiestes Players did exhibit a petition against vs, in which they said, that our suit was vnreasonable, and that we might as iustly remoue the Exchange, the walkes in Pauls, or Moorefields to the Bank-side for our profits, as to confine them; but our extremities and cause being iudiciously pondered by the Ho∣norable and Worshipfull Commissioners, Sir Francis Bacon very worthily said that so farre forth as the Publike weale was to be regarded before pastimes, or a seruiceable decaying multitude before a handful of particular men, or profit before pleasure, so far was our suite to be preferred before theirs. Whereupon the Players did appeale to the Lord Chamber∣laine, which was then the Earle of Sommerset who stood well affected to vs, hauing beene moued before in the businesse by Master Sa∣muel Goldsmith an especiall friend of mine, and a Gentleman that my selfe and all the rest of my poore company in generall, are generally beholden, and deepely ingaged vnto; for of his owne free will to his cost and charge, wee

must with thankfulnesse acknowledge he hath beene and is continually our worthy friend. Who seeing the wants of such numbers of vs, ••••hath often neglected his owne vrgent and profitable affaires, spending his time and coyn•••• any honest occasion that might profit vs. Th••s much I thought good to insert in the ••ay of thankfulnesse, because of all vices, in∣gratitude is most hatefull.

The Commissioners did appoint mee to ••••me on the next day that they sate again, and that then the Players and wee should know their determinations concerning our busi∣nesses: but before the day came, Sir Walter Cipe died, and Sir Iulius Caesar being chiefe Commissioner was made master of the Rolls, by which means the Commission was dissol'd, and we neuer yet had further hearing. Thus f••••re did I proceed in this thanklesse suite; and because it was not effected, some of my com∣••••••y partly through malice or ignorance, or ••oth, haue reported that I tooke bribes of the Players to let the suit fall, and that to that purpose I had a supper with them at the Car∣dinalls Hat on the Banke-side, and that if I ••••d dealt wel with my Company, and done as I might haue done, then all had beene as they would haue had it.

These and more the like such pritty asper∣sions, the out-cast rubbish of my Company hath very liberally, vnmannerly and ingrate∣fully bestowed vpon mee, whereby my credit •••••• been blemished the good opinion which many held of me lost, my name abused, and I •• common reproach, a scorne, & bye-word, and bayting-stocke to the poysonous teeth of en∣••••••y and slander.

But I doubt not but what is before said will satisfie any well disposed or honest mind, and for the rest (if there bee any such) as I found them ignorant knaues, so I leaue them vn∣thankfull villanes. And I will regard such Vi∣pers and their slander so little, that their ma∣lice shall not make mee giue ouer to doe ser∣uice to my Company, by any honest lawfull meanes, my Trade (vnder God) is my best friend, and though it bee poore, I am sure the calling is honest, therefore I will be an assistant in this suite, or any other that may be auaile∣able vnto it; and howsoeuer we are slightly esteem'd by some Giddy-headed Corkbrains or Mushrom Painted Puckfoysts; yet the e∣state of this Kingdome knowes, that many of the meanest Scullers that Rowes on the Thames, was, is, or shall be if occasion serue, at command to doe their Prince and Country more seruice, then any of the Players shall be ioyned vnto.

I must confesse that there are many rude vn∣ciuill Fellowes in our company, and I would some Doctor would purge the Thames of them: the reason whereof is, that all men be∣ing Vicious, by consequence most Vice must be in the greatest Companies, but Water-men are the greatest Company, therefore most a∣buses must raigne amongst Water-men; yet, (not to excuse them in any degree) let a man but consider other trades and faculties of of higher account, and I am sure they will come short in honesty, perhaps not of Water∣men, but of the honest Vocation of a Water∣man.

For if hee vse his labour no otherwise then he ought, which is to carry the Kings Leidge people carefully, and to land them safely, to take his due thankfully without murmuring or doing iniury, then I say, that that Water∣man may feed vpon the labours of his hands with a better Conscience, and sleepe with a quieter spirit then many of our furre-gownd mony-mongers that are accounted good com∣mon-wealths men: but if a rayling knaue doe chance to abuse his Fare, either in words or deeds, (as indeed wee haue too many such) what reason is it, that for the wrong that one, two, or more doth commit, that all the rest of the whole Company shal be scandaliz'd for it. If a Mercer, a Grocer, a Gold smith, or any other of the best Trades, be a Traytor, a Thiefe, or a Debosht Drunkard, it were im∣pudent ignorance for the Vices of a few, that all the rest of the function should bee re∣proch'd: I will make no odious comparisons, but I am perswaded that there are as many ho∣nest men of our company as of any other, such as doe make a conscience of what they doe

such as wil not wrong others though it might be gainfull to themselues: Such who are both Religious and Charitable, and whose greatest care is to liue in Gods feare, that they may die in his fauour: And for those that are vnruly, ignorant, and brutish, there is no company hath sharper Lawes, or more seuerely execu∣ted, as the Counters can testifie once a weeke: Little ease can witnesse often: The whip, and the Whipper, like a roaring diuell doth ma∣ny times affirme the naked truth, and banish∣ment from the Riuer of Thames for euer, now and then cuts off a bad member. Besides, Fines and Forfeitures are laid vpon the heads of petty offenders, that few or none escapes vnpunished if their faults be knowne: If the gout be in a mans toe, all the body is grieued; if a finger ake, the rest of the members hath a share in the paine; but if many of the Ioynts and members be putrifide, then the heart can∣not chuse but be craz'd with eare, if not woun∣ded; so is it with our company, that the Abu∣ses and Vices of the worst inferiour members as Gracelesse, Godlesse, Reprobates, are some∣times like a Plague, infectious to their betters, and a daily heart-griefe to all honest men, who are scandalized by their damnable de∣meanors. But all they doe or can doe, is no∣thing to the defaming of the Company, for it were very absurd because one in his drinke hath kild a man, to impute the fault to the wine or the drinke that he dranke, when the blame lies in the drunkard that abus'd Gods good Creatures in taking too much; so a Wa∣termans trade is honest, necessary, and not to be wanted, howsoeuer it is abus'd by misgo∣uern'd vnciuill companions. If a Water-man would be false in his trade, I muse what fals∣hood he could vse, hee hath no false weights or measures to curtoll a mans passage, but he will land a man for his money, and not bate him an inch of the place he is appointed: His shop is not darke like a Wollen-Drapers on purpose, because the buyer shall not see the coursnesse of the Cloath, or the falsenesse of the Colour: no, his worke and ware is seene and knowne, and hee vtters it with the sweat of hi•• browes, the worst fault is, that like a Lawyer he will take more then his see (if any∣body will giue it him) very thankfully, his bare fare he will take willingly (vpon neces∣sity) but lesse then his fare, or many times no∣thing, me thinkes goes against stomacke.

I haue seene a Vsurer (who hath beene •••••• onely for the graue these seuen yeeres being more then halfe rotten with the Gowt, the Cough, and the Murre) who hath lost his con∣science to get money, and perhaps, win dam∣nation, who is not able to goe by land, and yet will not pay his Fare by water, but like the picture of misery, will either beg his passage of some seruing-man, or bargaine with a Wa∣terman to giue him two pence for sixe penni, worth of labour, such I haue seene, and such there are too many, who if they were once bu∣ried, the wheele of Time, would turne, and what they got vniustly by extortion, oppres∣sion, and grinding the faces of the poore, what they haue vncharitably pinch'd in keeping backe the labourers hyre, their Sons or heires perhaps will consume in Law who shall pos∣sesse most of that ill gotten goods, or else Drinke it, Dice it, Drab it, Reuel and ruffle it, till al is gone; and as their fathers before them made others to rot in prison, so their prodigall Sonnes are holed in some loathsome Iayle, be∣ing lowzy, lodging on the boords, and liue vp∣on the Boxe and the Almes-basket.

Moreouer, too many there are that passe the bounds of liberality, and spend most pro∣digally on a Whore, on (the diuell of India) Tobacco; on the superfluous Quarts and Pintes of the blood of Bacchus (Sack and Cla∣ret) Spanish and French, on vnlawfull Games, and in a word, on a thousand vanities, they wil carelesly and beyond expectation cast away their cash: but vpon a Water-man, that hath rowed till his heart ake, and sweats till hee hath not a dry thread about him, the Gentle∣mens bounty is asleepe, and hee will pay him by the Statute, or if hee giue him two pence more, he hath done a huge worke beyond the merrit of Suttons Hospitall.

I my selfe haue often met with a Roaring boy (or one of the cursed crew) that hath had nothing about him but a Sattin outside to co∣uer

•••••• his knauery, and that none of his owne ••••ther witnesse his Mercer and his Taylor: •••••• this Gallant must be shipp'd in a paire of •••••• at least: but his gay slop hath no soo∣•• •••••• the Cushions, but with a volley of •••••• coynd outlies) newly brought from hell •••••• Bermoodoes by the Ghost of a Knight •••••• the poft) he hath neuer left Roaring, row, ••••••, row, a pox on you row, (as if his punke ••••ld stay too long for his pestiferous per∣•• •••••• and when his scuruinesse is landed where •••••• leases, hee hath told me•• I must waite on •••••• and he, will returne to mee presently, •••••• I shall carry him backe againe, and bee ••••d all together: then haue I attended fiue •••• six houres (like Iohn & Noakes) for nothing, •••••• my cheating sharke hauing neither mony •••••• honesty, hath neuer come at mee, but •••••• some other paire of stayres, and in the •••••• fashion coozened another Water-man •••••• his Boat-hire.

We must, and doe with thankfulnesse con∣•••••• •••••• that the Nobility, Gentry, and all others •••••• •••••• •••• of this Kingdome, haue ho∣•••••• •••••• worthy and charitable considerations of •••••• want of meanes, and multitude of men; •••••• they doe know that house rent and victu∣•••••• •••••• are at foure times the rate which it was •••••• when the Statute was made in Queene Ma∣•••••• •••••• •••• for our fares, and as the price of •••• thing is raised (except to ••••••••••mens labors) •••••• doe they in conscience very liberally rayse •••••• hires accordingly.

And as before I haue written out grade is∣•••••• •••••• •••• vsefull and necessary, both for the Kings ••ruice and the Commons commodity, that it •••••• not to be (or cannot be wanted and by how •••••• the more a, Water-man is neere to his ••••esty, to the Queenes Maiesty, to the Prin∣••es •••• Highnesse, to the Nobility; the Gentry, •••••• the best of the Commonaity of this King∣••ome, •••••• and sometimes of forraine Nations, so ••••ch the •••••••••• ••ight Water-men to behaue ••••emselues honestly, and soberly in their •••••• •••••• ••here are many better trades and qua∣••ties •••••• that scarce the best of their Companies •••••••• their ••••ues •••••••• do come so often and so •••••• •••••• presence of Mai•••••• and Nobility as we doe. (I write not to disparrage any, nor with boasting to puffe vp our selues) none comes neerer, except the Barber, and long and often may he come) or the Physicion and Chirurgion, (which God grant they may bee euer needlesse:) but a Water-man many times hath his Soueraigne by the hand, to stay him in and out the Barge, where there is not aboue halfe an inch betwixt life & death, the Barge being then the royal Court & being but a dore betwixt the King & them, they are at that time Gentlemen of the priuy Chamber, or Yeomen of the Gard at least.

And thus much I am bold to insert for my selfe, and many more of my company that I know, that we neuer exacted mony wrongful∣ly, or contended with any of the Kings Leidge people for more then they themselues would giue with any reason, or gaue any one abusiue or vnreuerend speeches if they would not go with vs: for we know that men are free to buy their cloath at what Drapers they please, or their stuffes at which Mercers they will, what Taylor they list make their garments, and what Cooke they l••ke may dresse their meat: and so forth of all f••••••••ions euery man is free to make his choy••e; and so amongst Water∣men, men may take whom they please, because they are s••ound to none, he that goes with me shall haue my labor, and I am in hope to haue his money•• he that will not go•• with me goes with another, and I haue the more ease the while, he doth me no wrong in not going with me, & I will do •••••••• iniury for going from •••••• this is my resolution, and a number more of my Company, and those that are otherwise minded •••••• all my heart that God will be pleased to •••••• them or else that the Hangman may haue authority to end them.

But to returne to the purpose (from which I haue too long digrest) The Players are men that I generally loue, and wish well vnto and to their quality, and I doe not know any of them but are my friends, and wish as much to me: and howsoeuer the matter falls out, whe∣ther they play or not play I thanke God, I am able to liue as well as another, either with them or without them: But my loue is such

vnto them that whereas they do play but once a day, I could bee content they should play twice or thrice a day, so it were not in such places as doth vndoe so many thousands of poore people; for as it is, it were much better for vs that they plaid no where. And seeing so triuiall a cause as this would be scar••e incom∣modious to any, and more commodious to vs then the foure Tearmes in the yeere, seeing our necessities so great, and our reliefe harme∣lesse to any, seeing the vse of vs expedient, if occasions serue abroad or at home, and our vnablenesse to set our selues to sea, by reason of ou•• want; our hope is that wee shall bee as much ••eckoned of as horses, for horses haue meat, drink, and lodging, though they be but seldome ridden; and many of them haue a warme footcloth, when thousand of seruicea∣ble men are like to famish and star•••• through want and nakednesse.

As concerning our endeauours to ••••moue the shelues and sands in the Thames (whic•• are a great ••••noyance to the Riuer, and hu•••••• full to the City,) As his Maiesty hath com••manded, and the Right Honourable the Lo•••• Maior & the rest of his worshipfull brethre•• shall direct, we shall with all willingnesse do•• our duties we doubt not both to the King Maiesties contentment; the good of the City and the good report of our selues.

Thus (becuase the truth shewes best being naked) I haue plainely set downe how farre proceeded in my suite, how it was broken of•• what thankes I haue for my paines. The ne∣cessity of the cause that made mee goe abou•• •••••• it. The abuses I had because it tooke no effect (which is the chiefe cause why I wrote thi•• Pamphlet to iustifie my selfe.) At these thing I hope the Iudicious Vnderstander will iudge accordingly, alwaies esteeming mee a Loyal ouer of my Countrey; and my Company.

FINIS.