Abuses stript, and whipt. Or Satirical essayes. By George Wyther. Diuided into two bookes

THE SCOVRGE.

MY Muse I purpos'd to haue rested heere, And so she should indeed, but that I feare A gentle warning wil not now suffice To make men leaue off their iniquities: Yea, I do know their negligence so great, Tis not enough for to perswade or threat: And therefore Ime resolued ere I part, To giue them a remembrance to their smart, And though full loath, cause their ill natures vrge Ile send abroad a Satir with a scourge, That to their shame for this abuse shall strip them, And being naked in their vices, whip them: And to be sure of these that are most rash, Not one shall scape him that deserues a lash, But some will kick, now let them kick & spare not, So he may come and Ierk them well I care not; For be they rich, or poore, or weake, or strong, Ile make him finde them that delight in wrong, Not in despight, to make reuengefull rumors; Rather in sport to mock the worlds base humors; But least I make my Prologue ouer-large, 'Ile let my whipping-Satyr know his charge: First though he haue but little manners got; Bred in the woods; where many vse them not:

Yet will I send him to suruey the court, And dance the Witch to make his king some sport. Doe Satyr, goe, thou shalt not be disdain'd, Loue without merit hath bin entertain'd, And so many thine; that Progenies the most, Yea all indeed of which the world can boast, And that so worthy: ('tis a wondrous matter) Commend it how thou wilt thou canst not flatter. If thou maist get their fauour that's the best, There is no cause why thou should'st feare the rest The good will help but neuer hurt, then care not, Although the wicked would offend they dare not. First lash the great ones, but if thou be wise, In generall and doe not speciallize: Yet if thou do, so wisely let it be, None may except but those that faulty be. Now peraduenture some will rage or storme, But that's no matter thou art freely borne; And though their eies spark fire, and they look big Be thou as sterne, thou need'st not care a fig; And tell them plainely ' tis not all their shew, Can make them think them better thē they know; 'Tis not great words, nor yet a large possession, Shall free them from the scandall of oppression, Thogh they can now, to get themselues a name, Build Babell vp a new, and quickly frame Such loftie Pallaces as if they ment, To threaten heauen from the batlement. Who wonders at it? none I thinke; and why? Who is so mad to tel them that, not I?

Yet Satyr looke that thou before thou part, Giue them one ierke to make their Honors smart, Their Stately houses say are things but vaine: An age or two shall rot them downe againe; And for their vice if there be none dare show it, Say I haue vow'd to make the world to know it, Then tis not toombes nor yet a heape of stones, Shall make men thinke the better of their bones, No, it shall speake their Auarice and pride, Which those they scorn'd and wrong'd, shall then deride. So let them go their Soueraigne to attend, And those that be not at the best, amend: Search on for more; but if thou hap to finde Any among them of the female kinde, VVomen or Angels, bad or good; thine eyes Shall not looke toward their infirmities. VVhat ere some say, no man will, or can, VVrong him (Ile warrant) that's an honest man, For they are good and surely would be still, VVer't not that men did often make them ill: Those that are angry with them let them show it, Ile say th' are Vertuous for because I know it. Mens faults I tell, so may he womens too That's plagu'd by whores, with whom he had to doe. These if thou hap to see, I charge thee skip, And search in euery office with thy whip; There, there are those that for their priuate store Make both th' exchequer & the commons poore, Extortion doth maintaine their brauery, Yet lay not open all their knauery,

But tell them they a new account must bring, That lash perhaps their guilty soule will sting. Thou shalt in Court another troope espy, Such as in show are full of honesty, Faire tong'd; but he that such fine followers wants Is happy; for they are but Sycophants, Dissembling▪ Villaines: do but note them well, And thou wilt say they are the brood of hell. For pluck away their fain'd fidelity, And they are e'ne a heap of villany: To make them smart these wordes to them com∣mend That beggery and shame shall be their end. Yet thou shalt find depending on the Court Some that wil ieast to make their betters sport, But sift them, I durst pawne a brace of testers, If truth were known they are more fooles then Ie∣sters And so they are suppos'd, although indeed, They are more knaues then fooles; but take thou heed Come not within the compasse of their Bable, Then call them knaues as lowd as thou art able; If thou come thither at some publike show, As there thou shalt be whether they will or no, Remember that thou make a shift to creepe Neere to the place where they the Re••els keep. There stand a while vnseene, and do no more, But note those fellowes that do keep the doore, If thou perceiue some, as some will do then, Keep out a many worthy Gentlemen, And let a Laundresse or a Scoundrel passe, Giue him a ierk and tell him hee's an asse;

But least thou spy what may make thee asham'd, Or speake of that for which thou maist be blam'd, Leaue thou the Court if thy owne ease thou pitty, And come a while to walke about the Citty▪ As soone as there thou ent'rest thou shalt meet Great store of Gallants pacing out the street: A part from dice, or fence, or dancing come, And peraduenture from a whore-house some, Those are goodfellowes that will frankly spend, While land will last or any man wil lend; And yet to see (more fooles the world had neuer) They are so proud as if't twould last for euer, And though these lightly cannot haue a worse, Or deadlier sicknes then an empty purse Which wil ensue, yet tell them they must meete At the Kinges-bench, the Counter, or the Fleet, Then step vnto the Lawyers, peraduentnre They'l by some VVrit command thee not to enter: Yet feare them not but looke and thou shalt spye, Vnder their gownes a messe of Knauery. Pluck off their mask of law that clokes their drifts, And thou shalt see a world of lawlesse shir••s; But tell them theres a iudge wil not be feed, And that perhaps wil make their conscience bleed; Then tell the Scriueners as thou passest by: That they were best to leaue their forgery, Or else, why is't their eares do scape so well, The Diuell meanes to beare them whole to hell▪ Tell the Phisitions if thou meet with any, Their Potions & their Drugs haue murther'd many

For which thou would'st haue lasht, but dost delay them Because the diuel means himselfe to pay thē; But if thei'l proue conclusions, bid them then, Try't on themselues and not on other men: Desire the Brokers that they would not yaune, After the forfeit of anothers pawne, It is their right by law theile say, tis true, And so's their soule, perhaps, anothers due; But sting them if their conscience quite be fled, Then shall they pay what they haue forfeited: Entreat the Tailor next, if that he can, To leaue his theft and proue an honest man; If that he think the matter be too hard, Knock him about the noddle with his yard, If he bee ritch and take the same in snuffe, Tell him his substance is but stolen stuffe And that the Iay would hardly brook the weather, If eu'ry Bird should take away her feather. So hauing whipt him, let the Priest go shrieue him, And if he haue authority forgiue him: Go warn the Crafts man that he do not lurke All day at ale-house, and neglect his worke, And then suruey the ware of euery trade, For much, I tell thee, is deceitfull made, Which if thou find I charge thee do not friend arrow_forward it, But call him knaue, and bid him go and mend it, Oh see if thou the Marchant-man canst find, For heele be gone at turning of the wind, Bid him keep touch, or tell his worship how His heart wil tremble when the Seas are tough,

Desire him to, if he doe trauaile thither, Where Conscience is, that he would bring some hither, Here's little; some wil haue it; if none will, He shall gaine by it though he keepe it still; If he bring none, 'twere Charitie, I thinke, To pray some storme might make his vessell sinke; Looke in their ships, for I haue knowne deceit Hath bin in both the Owner and the fraight, Yea note them well, & thou shalt finde their bookes Are ginns for wood-cocks made like tenter-hooks: Well they are ritch, the Marchant wealth obtaines And cares not how, so he encrease his gaines; Yet least his wealth may hap to make him proud, Satyr I pray thee, tell him this aloude To make him smart, that whilst he like a mome, Playes fast abroad, his wife pla••es loose at home; Nor shall his ill-got masse of wealth hould out But he or his become a banquerout: Now to thy rest, tis night; but here approaches A troupe with torches hurried in their Coaches, Stay and behold, what are they? I can tell, Some bound for Shoreditch, or for Clarken-well: Oh these are they which thinke that Fornication, Is but a youthfull sportfull recreation: These to hold out the game, maintaine the back VVith marrow pies, potato-rootes and sack: And when that Nature hath consum'd her part, Can hould out a Luxurious course by art: Goe stop the horses quickly least thou misse And tel the Coachmans wanton carriage this,

They of their guide must be aduised well, For they are running downe the hill to hell. Their Venery will soone consume their stocks, And bring them to repentance with a poxe. So other crimes committed without light, Let such reueale as see like Owles by night: For many men a secret fault can finde, But in apparant rougeries are blind Or else they will not see; but thou wertst best Leaue whipping and betake thee to thy rest; If in an Inne it be, before thou sup, Will that the Tapster call his maister vp And bid him kindly, since he giues thee lodging, To vse plaine dealing and detest all dodging. Dissembling's naught, hard rekonings they ar wors•• Light gaines (they say) will make a heauy purse. And let them not (this fault is very rife) Make any guest familiar with his wife. For many men (they weare but what they should) Do make their wiues more wantō then they would. Thereby they gaine, their Innes are wel frequented But such ill courses are too late repented; So schoole him well and do thy whip refraine, And send him to his other guests againe. Then thou shalt see the nimble Tapster flie, Still yalling, here, anon sir, by and by, So dilligent, till thou thy selfe acquaint With his ••ly tricks thou'lt ••'take him for a Saint. But I suppose that they haue tane an oth, Neuer to ••••ll a pot but halfe with froth;

And there's an old shift if they leaue it not, There must be something added to the shot. But wilt thou swagger with him for it? no, But take him as he is and let him goe, Now for most hostlers if thou hap to try them. Knaues thou maist say they are and not belie them, For they deceaue the poore dumb traueling beast, And for the same deseru'd a ierke at least; Yet do thou spare them, for there is no doubt, Some guest will finde a time to pay the lout. Well, hauing rested and discharg'd thine host, Ile send thee downe, into the country, Post; For I haue bus'nes, no man would beleiue, With whom d'ye thinke? e'ne with the vnder-Shreeue Tell him thou heardst (and that's a fault indeed) That in some causes he is double-feed. And that moreouer he deserues a Portion, With those that are indited for extortion. Yea and for other things as well as that, Tell him the country tearmes him he knowes what▪ A•• which if he make light as if he care not, Whip him in conscience soundly for't, and spare not Now for our Knights; their much formality, Hath made them leaue their hospitality, Yet, le••t they should be angry say no more, This age hath made a number of them poore; And that some toe (or else they are belied) Haue begger'd their posteritie with pride, And since thou art so neere them doe not cease Vntill thou see our Iustices of peace,

There try if thou canst get but so much fauour, To bind the Country to the good behauiour, And tell them how thou hast informed been, That they haue granted Warrants vpon spleene; Are partiall, and haue ouer-sway'd by might The poore mans cause that's innocent and right: If this thou finde be true, thou hast permission; To lash, or put them out of the Commission; The Cunstable if he were bid, I wiss, Be good in's office, 'twere not much amiss: For he, they say, a many meanes may haue, If so he be dispos'd to play the knaue; See how he deales and makes thy message known, For he hath stocks and whipping-posts of's owne: There are Church-wardens to, I shame to see How they runne into wilfull periurie, Partlie in fauour and in part for feare, They wink't at much disorder in a yeare; But if thou hap to take them in the lurch, Ierke them as euill members of the Church; If they reply, offenders are so friended Though they present, 'tis little thing amended, Yet tell them 'tis their duty to discharge, Their consciences in euery thing at large; VVhich if they doe, ill doers shall be sham'd Or the corrupted Visitors be blam'd And prethee tell the B. Chancellor, That thou art sent to be his counsellor: And will him if he meane not to be stript, And like a schoole boy once againe be whipt,

His worship would not so bad minded be, To peruert iudgement for a scuruy fee. Then next go tell the reuerent good maisters, Thou and the Clergy needs must fall at wasters: Faith thou shalt find their Doctorships perhaps, Disputing of their Surplesses and caps, About the holy Crosse, and Gowne, a Hood, Or some such matters for the Churches good, But tell them there are other thinges to doe, A great deale fitter to be lookt into. And if they please to go their Visitation, There's waightier matters looke for reformation, Yea say theres many an infirmity, Which they both may and ought to remedy. But touch them with remembrance of their place, And they perhaps will alter then the case, Then bid those Dunces in our Colledges, That they prouide them good Apologies: For 'tis reported lately they haue borh, Betooke themselues to Venery and sloth, And seek not learning only as they should, But are back friends to many a man that would 'Twere fit they made a publike recantation, And were wel whipt before a Congregation. Sole auing them their wits for to refine, Thou shalt be bold to looke on the Diuine; They say, hee's growne more carefull of his stock, His profits and his tithes then of his flock: Now if thou find report hath not belied him, With a respect vnto his Calling chide him,

I had almost forgot our ciuill Doctors; I pray thee warne them and their lazy Proctors, They would not vse to make so many pauses, Before they do determine poore mens causes, And let them not suppose their fees are small, Since they at last wil get the Diuell and all, There be Court Barrons many in the way, Thus maist thou to the Guardians of them say, Their policy in raising fines and rents, Hath put poore men beside their Tenements: And tel them, let them answer if they can, Their false Court-roles hath vndone many a man; Say thou hast seene what to their place belong'd And knowst, ofttimes both Lord & tenāts wrong'd Yet spare thy whip; for why? the peoples curse, Already hath prepared them a worse, So when that thou hast punisht vices slaues, And roundly Ierk't the Country petty-knaues, Then march we to the Camp to bloody Nero And tel the ruftling shuffling Caualero; He whose hard-heart can brooke to rob or spill, His arrow_back friend or foe, to ruine, wound or kil, Tel him, I say, there is a misery Must follow to reuenge his cruelty; And see that thou the Ruffaines courage quaile, Or lash him till the stock and whipcord faile; Walke but the round, and thou maist hap to catch, The carelesse souldiers sleeping in their watch, Or in a march perhaps theile goe astray, But if thou see them in their best aray,

And without leaue and warrant roming out, To fetch some desperate booty there about, Remember them; and for their stout brauado's, Let them be wel prefer'd with bastinadoes, Then bid the Captaines in their Garisons, Not lay to paune their rich Caparisons, Nor come vppon the score til they are forc't, To be disarmd for payment, or vnhors't, Nor keepe the soldiers hire, least they be faine, To make an insurrection or complaine, For that indeed prooues oftentimes the cause, They do so much transgresse the Martiall lawes; Yea tel him 'tis a scandall to be drunke And drowne their valour, or maintaine a Punk; Then if he mend not for to blot his fame, In steed of honor whip him for't with shame, Then lastly there are selfe-conceited wits, Whose stomacks nought but their own humor fits, Detractors, Critticks; who en'e at the best, Do bite with enuy or else snarle at least, And in thy progresse if discern'd thou be, 'Tis out of question they wil snap at thee, To spight them then the waie's not to out-brawle them, But say thou car'st not, & that lash wil gaule them: Now Satyr leaue me to my selfe alone, Thou hast thy message and thou maist be gone, Whip any that shall offer to withstand thee, In executing that which I command thee; And yet so, ho, ho, ho, come back againe, Be sure that thou do vnderstand me plaine:

First note; I from my Scourge do here except, The Guard by whom the kingdomes peace is kept The vertuous Peeres: Alas! I nothing grutch them, And on my blessiing see thou do not touch them: And if in all our offices theres any; That is an honest man amongst so many; Him did I euer meane that thou shouldst spare, Because I know that such a one is rare; Physick and Law I honor both (God blesse it) With euery vertuous man that doth professe it, I do not ayme at such as they, nor when I flout our Gallants, meane I Gentlemen, Such worthy Brittaines as maintained be, According to their fashion and degree: No, those I loue; and what can I lesse doe, Since I of them am wel-beloued to; To blame all Marchants neuer was my will, Nor do I think all Trades-mens work is ill; My meaning must not so be vnderstood, For the last shooes I had were very good; Yea and so farre am I from such a thought, Thou shouldst against the vertuous doe ought, That if thou but an honest Tapster see, Tell him I wish we might acquainted be; And I'le that Hostler loue which in amends, Will vse my horse wel, that we may be friends; And to be breefe good Satyr vnderstand That thou maist not mistake what I command: 'Tis not my meaning neither do I like, That thou at this time shouldst in speciall strike,

Because my hatred might appeare as then, Not to the vice, but rather to the men; VVhich is not so, for though some malice me vvith eu'ry one am I in charitie; And if that thou doe euer come to sight, And bring thy yet concealed charge to light▪ I wish it might be tooke as 'twas intended: And then no vertuous man wil be offended: But if that any man doe thinke amiss, Vpon my life that partie guiltie is; And therefore lash him, so get thee out of dore Come what come will, I'le call thee back no more: So, now he's gone the way that I direct him, I wonder how the world will now respect him, If that she maruaile why he was not bolder, Perhaps he may be when that he is older; He hath too smooth a chin, a looke too mild, A token that he is not wholly wild; But may I reach the yeares of other men, If that this loose world be not mended then, Ile send a Satyr rougher then a Beare That shal not chide and whip, but scartch & teare. And so I'le teach him he shall be too strong, For all your Paris-garden dogs to wrong. This Satyr hath a scourge, (but it wants weight, Your Spanish whips were worse in eighty-eight,) That shall not onely make them howle for paine, But touse them, till they hold their peace againe: Now if the world, frowne vpon me for't, Shall I be sorie? No, 'twil mend my sport;

But what if I my self should hap to stray, Out of my bounds into my Satyrs way? Why then; and that's as much as I need doe, I giue him leaue to come and lash me toe. So now my Muse a resting time requires, For shee's or' wearied and her Spirit tires. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

FINIS.