The brevvers plea. Or, A vindication of strong-beere and ale.: Wherein is declared, the wonderfull bounty and patience of God. The wicked and monstruous unthankfulnesse of man. The unregarded injuries done to those creatures, groaning, as it were, to be delivered from the abuses proceeding, from disdainfull aspertions of ignorant from the intemperance of sinfull [brace] man.

The Brewers Plea, or a Ʋindication of strong-beere and Ale.

What a vineyard in England? hath God been pleased to warm this westerne clymate with a Temporall Blessing of so excellent a na∣ture for the Sustaining, yea for the reviving of the poore wearyed Labo∣ring men, and not only foe, but also for the cheering up of the droop∣ing Spirits and the glading of the hearts, of the Sorrowfull and afflicted? This is no small favour which hath so long been bestowed upon us in this occidentall part of the world; but it is a wonder, that for so great a bles∣sing, we should return so little thanks unto the Almighty? yea, many amongst us take not so much notice of it as to accompt it for a blessing, and other∣some more ungratefull (little knowing what the want thereof would pro∣duce) seeme to loath it in their thoughts, by their disdainfull expressions, and aspersions cast upon those creatures, without which this Kingdome especially neere London were in a sad condition, as I shall shew more plain∣ly hereafter. And here is manifestly seene not only the great bounty of God, but also his exceeding wonderfull patience, that notwithstanding such murmurings he hath yet continued this blessing amongst us, though some∣times threatned a dearth thereof. Thus God dealt with his Israel in the wildernes, although some murmured at Manna, yet he withdrew not that favour from them. But our disdainers will say, it is their zeale against drun∣kennesse, I may as well say, O sinfull zeale! staggering and wavering no lesse through ignorance, then the drunkard through his intemperance. Be∣cause some do abuse the good creature of God by that detestable sinne of drunkennes, shall others therefore (such as would be thought to be religious) expose it to disdaine? Nay cry it down as a thing to be extinguished? Let such ingeniously confesse which they hold to be the greater sinne, to abuse or to extinguish, any of Gods creatures, the abuse (by punishment duely inflicted) may be reformed; but to extinguish or diminish the vir••ue of any of the crea••ures, is to deprive not o••ely the offenders, but also the inno∣cent of the full fruition of those creatures which God hath appointed for the comfort of mankinde.

After Noah had offended, and suffered reproach by his cursed son, did he to manifest his detestation against that sinne, give order to destroy that vine∣yard which he had so painfully planted, had not this errour been greater then the former? For he that will serve God aright, must neither turne to the right hand nor to the left; but must walke before him in a straight path

with an upright heart, to diminish or detract from the excellency of the creature, is to dishonour the Creature. And it is a punishment from God upon a people when a people degenerateth from its naturall ver∣tue, or is deprived of its proper excellency, as appeareth by the expression of the Prophet, bewailing the sad condition of Israel, (saith he) Your sil∣ver is become drosse, your wine is mixt with water. Isa. 1.22. And our Sa∣viour who came to repaire our ruins and to purchase for us a better Paradice then that which Adam lost, made it his first miracle to make water wine, and that of the best, (Iohn 29.) whilst some of us would turne our native wine into water, I meane our Strong-beere into Beere of the least nourish∣ment & meanest condition. For brevities sake let these two witnesses suffice, although the holy Scriptures are full of expressions tending to the commen∣dations of those creatures most (I speake concerning temporall blessings) which are most cherishing to the vitall spirits, and most preservative to the health and well being of weake mankind. The same holy spirit that pro∣nounceth woes against gluttons and drunkards commendeth Canaan, be∣cause it flowed with milke and honey, and corne and wine and oyle, Deut. 11.9 14. ver. And although England hath not naturally the wine of the vine yet it injoyeth the plentiful fruition thereof; yea in such an abundant manner that many English prodigals, though vast estates have been left to divers of them, yet have complained more of the want of money, then of the want of wine. But grant that these forrain plantations should faile us, or that we should be disappointed, yea almost destitute of wine by some unexpected meanes proceeding from providence, either divine or humane, or that those ships that ventured, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those commodities transported for wine, should be otherwise imployed, or improved to the enriching of the Kingdome, that wine ther••by should be scarce amongst us, yet hath England whereat to re∣joyce within it selfe. For of hopps and Mault our native commodites (and therefore the more agreeable to the constitutions of our native inhabitants) may be made such Strong-beere being well boyled and hopped, and kept its full time, as that it may serve instead of sack if authority shall thinke fit, whereby they also may know experimentally the vertue of those creatures at their full height, which Beere being well brewed of a low pure amber co∣lour cleare and sparkling, Noble men and the Gentry may be pleased to have [English Sack] in their wine-sellers, and Tavernes also to sell to those who are not willing, or cannot conveniently lay it into their own houses, which may be a means greatly to increase and improve the tillage of England, and also the profitable plantations of hop-grounds, thereby inabling the indust∣rious Farmers to pay their rents, and also to improve the revenews of the Nobility and Gentry, and so much the more, may they be pleased to add some of those places (w••ch as yet are receptacles for wild beasts [Parks & Forrests]

••n which may be erected faire and profitable farmes, and so become com∣fortable habitations, for laborious and painfull husban••dmen with no small profit to the owners thereof, and also to the generall good of the whole nation, should part of those commodities transported for wine be more advantagiously disposed of, and our own vineyard at home be better husbanded and manured. And at lesser rates such good strong beere as shall be most cherishing to poore labouring people without which they cannot well subsist, their food being for the most part of such things as afford lit∣tle or bad nourishment nay sometimes dangerous, and would infect them with many sicknesses and diseases were they not preserved (as with an An∣tidote) with good beere, whose vertues and effectuall operations by helpe of the hop well boyled in it, are more powerfull to expell poisonous infe∣ctions then is yet publikely known, or taken notice of.

And should the Almighty, (being provoked by our sins) afflict these parts with the infection of the plague, in what a deplorable condition, would the poor of this City and Suburbs be, if they should be deprived of comforta∣ble fruition of good strong beere and ale, for the providing whereof the li∣censed well governed victualler is to be encouraged by suppressing of un∣licensed Ale houses, which are the onely receptacles of drunkards, and by severe punishing those lewd livers who frequent those disordered houses, which onely dare harbour them because having no licences they are in no danger of the losse thereof, and being accustomed to their evil courses both they that keepe such houses and they that frequent them, regardlesse of their reputation by reason of continuall impunitie, grown impudent and fearlesse either of God or the Magistrate, which causes scandalous aspersions to be cast on those which offend not: But the licensed victuallers keeping good houses & good orders, paying taxes according to their degrees are no lesse necessary for the poor, neighbouring inhabitants (and also for strangers as accasion may require) then any other retailing trade, for as the Brewer is the poore mans treasurer, so the victualler is the yeoman of the poor mans wine-seller, providing and preparing for present use, such sound well ripened beere, as the poore cannot provide for themselves, neither without it can they go on in their labour, unlesse beefe, porke, and bacon, and such hearty meate could be afforded them at a cheaper rate, but although such meates should prove more scarce and deare, yet may it please God in mer∣cy to send plenty of Corn for bread and beere, we shall not heare the cry of the poor complaining of want, so long as for a sma••l matter they can send for so much good bread and beere as will suffice their whole families, which is not onely a sustenance against hunger but a preservative against sicknesse. But grains if they be taken hot; and put into a vessell fit for that purpose they are an excellent bathe for itching limbs, also they are good

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food for the cattell of this Cittie and suburbs, without which hey and other provision would be at a farre dearer rate then usually it is. Thus we see that among the many temporall blessings which the Lord hath bestow∣ed upon us this is none of the meanest, The Lord in mercie graunt us thankfull hearts. But, Nescio quis teneros oculis mihi fascinat agnos, Beholds a foule monster called ingratitude, with two prodigious heads and scorch∣ing eyes have cast such looks upon this our vineyard, as if like Balak and Balaam they were conspiring together to bring a curse thereon though of differing dispositions, yet both dangerously provoking the Almighty to dis∣pleasure. The one of these heads is of that sort of people, who out of a fer∣vent zeal to the glory of God the Creator forget to honour him in a right taking notice of him in his mercy and bounty towards us in his crea∣tures but with an austere countenance and supercilious eye, and speeches agreeable thereunto, slight and despise the creature and those that deale therein, because abused by untemperate persons: thus the creature is made the patient of evil, groaning as it were to be delivered therefrom, and yet is burdened with hard censure, a double injury; zeale without discretion is like heat without moisture every way destructive, let such consider, if at any time afflictions befall them, would they be contented therefore to be evil thought of because they fare so ill, nay would not the calamitie be the more heavy unto them, when they shall see that it layes them open to un∣charitable censure, this is all one as if we should afflict the innocent because they are abused, and let the guilty escape and prosper according to that say∣ing, Faelix ac prosperum scelus virtus vocatur, Optimi corruptio p••ssimo, is a destiny equally fatall to every good creature, and the better the creature is it being corrupted or abused is so much the more dangerous und hurtfull, the sweetest ointment being putrified becomes most noisome, And man himself (by creation the most honoured of all the creatures) being degene∣rated into a condition tending to crueltie and violence, is more unsatiable and unavoyd••bly dangerous then any beast. Nay religion it self, which is illa aurea catina that golden chaine, whereby God and man (with reve∣rence be it spoken) are so neerly linked together John 17.11, 21. verses, I say religion which is that scala miliarium by which we are directed the right way to ascend the heavenly throne of glory is not free (quis talia fando tem∣peret a lachrymis.) From the foul abuses of audaciously wicked mankinde, the Profane Person maketh a mock of it, the hypocrite maketh it his cloake for every occasion but it will prove a mourning one at the last full of la∣mentations and woes, but this is not a subject now to treate of; wherfore I cease, but I shall not cease to mourne although in silence cura leves loquun∣tur, ingentes stupent; Igne quid vtilius? what more needful then fire? ye-many fair buildings have beene destroyed thereby, shall it therefore be for∣bidden?

Then let not those whose better fare maketh them so insensible of poor mens wants, deny them that good beer, which is so needful to their meaner food because that some abuse it. But alas who complaineth of that foul sin of gluttony? which as a Grave unsatiable hath swallowed up many of those good creatures which are appointed for our nourishment and comfort, but by the excessive abuse thereof, many of exce•••••• parts, have been much disabled both in body and minde from the free and happy use of those good guifts, which God bestowed upon them to be improved and also imployed to his glory and that in their latter dayes most, which is that age of man which should be most adorned with wisdome by reason of long experience; yet let not any cry out against or lay any blame upon East cheap, plentifull Cheapside or Leaden-Hall, or either Fish-street, or any other of those faire and plentious markets in and about this City, wherein Gods bounty is manifested and ex••ended towards us in so large a manner; but rather in a detestation of our own unworthinesse and unthankfullnesse, let us all cry out and say, Nos, ••o•• inquam desumus Iapeti genus qui praesumus; Primetheus the sonne of Iaph••t (for the Heathen looke no higher but some∣what darkly concerning Noah, who was their two faced Ianus) [who saw the end of the old world and the beginning of the new.] having (as Poets fained) stolne fire from Heaven, and brought it amongst the sonnes of men, it occasioned many new and dangerous deseases, even such is that zeale which is not guided by true knowledge, and limitted within the bounds of charitie, it fills the mind with many strange and dangerous errors, corrupt∣ing the judgement, which are the deseases of the soule, but doubtlesse those that are truly religious will qualifie and coole (I doe not meane extinguish) the hot fervencie of their zeale, with the sweet dew of discreet and pious charitie, knowing that God is a severe Iudge against those who passing by themselves, presume to censure others, which is one of those crying sins which the land now mournes. The other head of that wrath provoking monster, (Ingratitude) [Si ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris] is that wret∣ched sort of people, who falling (an infirmitie proper to the Drunkard) in∣to the Error of the left hand, are so besotted with the love of the creature, as altogether neglecting their du••y towards the Creator, who is blessed for ever Amen. This bruitish sin, drunkennesse may be called a sin of sinnes, the fruitfull mother of a numerous brood, hatefull even among the Hea∣then, the Turkes amongst whom our English Beere is of more esteem then any other sort of drinke, are severe punishers of drunkennesse, in Cairo a fair Citie in Turkie, it is punished with death, among the Iudians in some part it is so severely punished with death, that they spared not the Magistrate; but gave rewards to them that slew him in the time of his being drunke, such was their cruell zeale, or heathenish severitie, permitting no time for

repentance as being ignorant what belonged thereunto, nor to set their houses in ord•••• for the good of their posterity, but the indulgent leuitie of our Magistracie to the e••∣dangering of many ••oules, hath so provoked the Almighty to take the matter into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own hands, that sometimes he hath also for a warning to others punished this sinne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death, witnesse mose untimely ends, some having dyed immediately in the sinne, yea 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the very house where they have so offended, others have broke their necks off their hor∣ses, and others going a Ship-board have fallen betweene the Ship and the Boate, and so have been drowned, a manifest token of Gods displeasure against that sin, neither hath he spared the Glutton, though a sin lesse scandalous, because not so easily discerned, yet no lesse detestable in the sight of the al-seeing Almighty, witnesse that rodd of ma∣ny twigs, I meane the many diseases, and divers weaknesses, paines, and infirmities in∣flicted upon their bodies, and also the unfitness of their intellectual parts to any thing than is good. But now in this time of reformation better things are not onely h••ped for, but also expected that the Magistrate may be pleased, for the Glory of God, whose sub∣stitute he is, and for the good of the Comm•••• Wealth whose welfare is committed to his care, to do his endeavour according to the power and trust committed unto him, to punish according to lawes of this Kingdome: those that wilfully offend and continue in those grosse 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the foulness whereof are expressed. Deut. 21.20, 21. verses Prov, 23.21. Rom. 1••.••••. Ephes. 5.18. Those which are drunken are drunken in the night sait•• the Apostle. 1 Thes 5, 7. if such modesty were amongst those, who as yet were not converted to the faith, or perhaps as yet had no knowledge of the truth; how great•• shame is it 〈…〉〈…〉 as this where the sound of the Gospel hath been so long heard, to harbour such offenders, yea to let ••hem pass unpunished. The Considera∣tion of which doubtless will m••ve the hearts of the pi••us Magistracy of these times to have a more vigilant eye over those irrigular unlicenced private houses (which hither∣to have been the more secure, becau••e so little suspected) that not onely the drunkards; but also the places of drun••enness may be punished, whereby the good creatures may be delivered 〈…〉〈…〉 servile ••ses, or rather freed from those base abuses which they are exposed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by unworthy intemperate persons. And also whereby those who deale in Those creatures may the more cheerfully go on in their lawfull callin••s, and the more assuredly expect a blessing from th•• Almi••hty upon their carefull indeavours, that so the company of ••r••wers may be loo••ed upon as supporters, and releevers of a great p•••••• of the poore of this C••ti•• and Subburbs, and be had in such respect, and enjoy such priviledges as a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Company and Members of this Cit••e of London, according to that admonition of the Apostle, 1 Cor. ••2 verse 14. The ••ody is not one member but many, &c, and verse 18. God hath set the Members every one of them in the b••dy as it hath ple••sed him, &c. which holy advice, let ever•• one of th••m in the body as it hath pleased him, &c. which holy advice, let every one so observe and follow, that evill speaking may be put away, that envyings and emulations may cease, that we may all according to ••ur-degree, like States in their order fight against Satan (that common enemy to all mankind) who would deprive u•• of our spiri••ual Canaan, as the Starres in their ••rd••r fought against Sise••a who would have depr••ved Israel of th••ir temporall Canaan, that the Lord may be p••eased t•• shine upon these 3. Kingdomes with the blessings of truth and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that ••••e affrighting voice of the oppressour may cease; and the crie of the oppres••ed may be no more heard, that all men may receive their due re••pect not according to the greatness of their estates, but acco••ding ••o manner of their getting those estates, that th•• ensuing yeare may be as it were a Iubily; wherein every true Isralite may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to his own proper ••nheritance, that the winter stormes of warres & rumours 〈…〉〈…〉 may spr••ng forth like a vine with her clusters of plenty, & the peaceable voice of the Turtle may be heard in our land; in the meane while let every true hearted ••••••istian send forth such sighes & prayers to the A••mighty that he may be p••eased to frame such hearts in all the 3. Nations; that with speed he may bring people from ••••••∣tivity, that Iac••b may rejoyce and Israell may be glad: which the Lord grant for his mercies sa••e who is that individuall ••rinity and that incomprehensible Vnity; to whom 〈…〉〈…〉 for ever Amen.

FINIS.