A Beggar.

A Beggar is the childe of Idlenesse, whose life [ 33] is a resolution of ease, his trauaile is most in the High-wayes, and his Randevows is com∣monly in an Ale-house: His study is to counter∣feit Impotency, and his practice, to cozen simplicity of Charity, the iuice of the Malt is the licour of his life, and at bed, and at boord a Louse is his compa∣nion: Hee feares no such enemy, as a Constable, and, beeing acquainted with the stocks, must visite them, as hee goes by them: Hee is a Drone that feedes vpon the labours of the Bee, and vnhappily begotten, that is borne for no goodnesse; his staffe and his scrippe are his walking furniture, and what hee lackes in meat, hee will haue out in drinke: He is a kinde of Caterpiller that spoiles much good fruite, and an vnprofitable creature to liue in a com∣mon-wealth: Hee is seldome handsome, and often noysome, alwaies troublesome, and neuer welcome: hee prayes for all, and preyes vpon all, begins with blessing, but ends often with cursing: if hee haue a Licence, hee shewes it with a grace, but if hee haue none, hee is submissiue to the ground: sometime he is a Thiefe, but, alwaies a Rogue, and in the nature of his profession, the shame of Humanity. In sum, hee is commonly begot in a Bush, borne in a Barne, liues in a High-way, and dyes in a Ditch.