An essay upon satyr, or, A poem on the times under the names of the golden age, the silver age, the brazen age, and the iron age : to which is added, A satyr against Separatists. Buckingham, John Sheffield, Duke of, 1648-1720 or 21. 1680 Approx. 113 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 46 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A38641 Wing E3299 ESTC R13552 11834536 ocm 11834536 49752 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A38641) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 49752) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 28:15) An essay upon satyr, or, A poem on the times under the names of the golden age, the silver age, the brazen age, and the iron age : to which is added, A satyr against Separatists. Buckingham, John Sheffield, Duke of, 1648-1720 or 21. Dryden, John, 1631-1700. [2], 88 p. Printed for Tho. Dring ..., London : 1680. Written by John Sheffield and John Dryden. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.). Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Satire. 2002-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-09 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-10 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2002-10 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion AN ESSAY UPON SATYR , OR , A POEM On the TIMES ; Under the NAMES of The Golden Age , The Silver Age , The Brazen Age , and the Iron Age : To which is Added , A SATYR against Separatists , The Laws themselves grew lawlesse , and the Tribes O' th' Gown entail'd their Consciences for Bribes , Like Cobwebs , Laws the lesser Flies entrap , But Great Ones might break thorow , and escape . Brazen Age , Cap. 8. P. 19. LONDON , Printed for Tho. Dring at Chancery-Lane End in Fleetstreet . 1680. The GOLDEN AGE . CHAP. I. GOne are those Golden Halcyon-days , wherein Men uncompell'd , for love of good , fled sin : When men hug'd right & truth ; whose souls being clear , Baffled the threats of punishment or fear . No Laws , no Penalties ; but there did rest A Court of Equity in each mans brest : No trembling Pris'ner to the Bar did come , From his severer Judge t' expect his Doom : No need of Judge or Executioners , To keep by Law that which by Right was theirs , The Pine not then his Mother-Mountains leaves , To dance Lavalto's on th' unconstant waves . Walls cloath'd not Towns , nor did mens safety stand In moving Forts by Sea , or fixt by Land. They understood not Guns , nor Spears , nor Swords , Nor Cause , nor Plunder , and such Martial words : No Armed Souldier stood for their defence ; Their chiefest Armour was their Innocence . Mans quiet Nature did not feel that fire , Which since inflames the World , too great desire . Kings did not load their heads with Crowns , nor try By force or fraud , t' invade the Liberty Of their Obedient Subjects ; nor did they Strive with Anointed Soveraigns for Sway : But Prince and People mutually agree In an Indissoluble Sympathy . Religion flourish'd , and the Laws increase , Both twin'd in one , the Gemini of Peace . An Universal Concord tuned then Th' unjarring thoughts of many-minded men In an unblemisht harmony . Then Right Spurn'd the proud thoughts of domineering Might ; And Lawrell'd Equity in Triumph sate , Upheld by Vertue , which stood Candidate , And curb'd the Power and Craft of Vice ; maintain'd By the instinct which in mens Nature raign'd , Th' unspotted soul could not attained be With Treason 'gainst the Highest Majesty ; Vice was a stranger to 't , nor could it ' bide To club with Av'rice , or converse with Pride . Nor was it plung'd i' th' whirl-pool of those crimes That have inthrall'd now these degenerate times . Th' imprison'd Will then , durst not whisper Treason , But cring'd to th' Dictates of its Rectress , Reason . Friend was the soul of Friend , and ev'ry man Fed like a Stream , the whole , its Ocean . CHAP. II. THe pregnant Earth untill'd did yield encrease , . And men enjoy'd what they possess'd in peace . The Winter plunder'd not the leaves from Trees , Nor skurf'd the ground with hoary Leprosies . No scorching Summer , with Canicular heat , Parboil'd their Bodies in immoderate sweat : Whatever Autumn pluck'd , the Spring did bring , An endless Harvest wed an endless Spring . The quarter'd Year mixt in a bunch did come , And clung it self t'an individuum . Then flouds of Milk , then flouds of Nectar , flow'd , And on the fertile Earth all plenty grow'd . Th'enamell'd Fields with Tapestry were crown'd , And floating Honey surfeited the ground . Of purest Blessings men enjoy'd their fill , And had all good , 'cause they did nothing ill . The Silver Age. CHAP. I. MAns nature not content with this , did range To further things ; Fancy is prone to change . Then domineering Will began to stir , And scorn'd that Reason should rule over her . Active Ambition would not be content To keep its self within its Continent ; But being unsatiable , doth aspire ; Like Oyl , enjoyment makes the flame blaze higher : And Appetite , the servant to each Sence , Would not obey , but have preheminence . CHAP. II. ARts were invented , studi'd ; men began T' instruct the ground , to plough the Ocean . The year 's quadrangled ; people did begin T' erect them houses to inhabite in : Coffin'd their limbs in cloaths , ( cloaths first were meant But for necessity , not Ornament : But pride , the Childe of plenty , made them grow From warmth to comely , thence t' a gawdy show . ) Then such magnificence in them begun , That glittering vestures seem'd to stain the Sun. Houses to Babels swell'd , and were baptiz'd With their own Founders Names ; and men devis'd All ways to write their Names , that they might be Read in the Rolls of vast Eternitie . Turrets on tiptoe stood , to kiss the Skies , And Marble-Pillars to the Spheres did rise . Towers did periwig their Heads in Clouds , As if those were their bases , these their shrouds . Men deckt their Walls , and drest their spacious Rooms With costly excrements of Persian Looms : And guiltless Aras was condemn'd to be Hang'd for no crime , but its Imagerie . CHAP. III. SHips crost the angry Seas , with Billows hurl'd , And in their race begirt the spacious World , Rifling it of its Treasures , to delight With rarities , the craving Appetite . The ransack'd Indies brought in weekly rates To feast their curious taste with delicates . The burden'd fields brought in centuple crops , Dischannelling themselves into their laps ; Yet having stript the Earth of what she wore , They not content with this , dive still for more . And the embowell'd Earth is brought to bed Of treasures , which within her Nature hid . Musick , the soul of pleasure , still prepares To breath delicious Accents in their Ears : Arabia contributed her Gums , And wanton Zephire from all Gardens comes With odorifrous smells , which did so vary , The Phoenix soil did seem ubiquitary . And in all these , the touch and sight did meet ; For what was bliss to touch , 't was bliss to see 't . CHAP. IV. THen with what pomp they feasted , with what state Each several course wallowed in antick Plate : Dish follow'd Dish , and course succeeded course ; Still Chimneys took Tobacco by the force Of a continu'd fire , which was heapt on For a new meal , ere t'other scarce was done . All outward blessings were in one conjoyn'd , That might delight or satisfie the minde . Each place was Plenties Magazine , to fill Their hearts ; yet they had a plus ultra still . Men bath'd in plenty , and in pleasure rol'd , Then they found out that strife-begetting Gold. Now men stretch their estates wide , that they might Like their desires , be boundless , infinite , Wide as the Horizon ; the careering Sun Scarce in a day their limits could out-run . Big-belli'd chests uncatechised lay , Waiting a general accounting day ; Un-Eunuch't purses precious stones did wear ; Nor did they then the gelding Troopers fear : Yet having all these riches , they were poor , 'Cause , having much , they still desired more . Dropsi'd desire did teach men to be vile , From hence did flow the seven-headed Nile Of deadly sin . This gave sinister birth To Injury ; but Justice on the Earth Had yet some being ; Laws enacted were ; Men must do right , though not for love , for fear . Just equity fetter'd the hands of might , With both hands arm'd , and yet both hands were right . Then vicious mindes were bridled by the Law , And Judgements kept disorder'd men in awe . Times trod on th' heels of times ; but as they grew , The old were still out-stript in Vice by new . The Brazen Age. CHAP. I. THen men so vile did grow , so prone to sin , The bonds of Law no more could keep them in ; They striv'd t'imbarque themselves for Hell : then shame And modesty were banish'd , and the Name Of Faith and Truth grew odious ; in whose room , Fraud , Couz'nage , Force and Treachery did come , Boldly out-staring vertue ; and that vice Of Sword , Plague , Famine , spawning Avarice , Teeming with Legions of sins ; with these Men did commit Adultery , to encrease Their Progeny , and thus at length did raise As many new-born sins i'th'year , as daies . So pride and avarice became the twins Of general mischiefs , Colonels of sins . Ease taught men sloth , sloth usher'd in excess , Excess nurs'd pride ; pride , lust ; lust , wantonness ; That , rapes ; rapes , incest ; incest , Sodomy ; This brings unnat'ral bestiality . And thus our sacred bodies , that should be Gods Holy Temples , built of puritie , Are now prophan'd by sacrilegious sin , And become dens for thieves t' inhabit in ; Yea Garrisons of Rebels : and by these , Men so abus'd that Crown of blessings , Peace , That it was so corrupt , so full of sin , It must be Ianc'd ; thus did our woe begin . CHAP. II. THe Angels of the Church did soar so high , Like Lucifer , they lost their Hierarchy ; They first from grace , and then from Glory fall ; Some turning Devils , brought disgrace on all To all new fashions they their zeal translate , And Disciplin'd the Church by rules of State. Hetrodox Tenents did the Truth invade , And mens inventions grounds of Faith were made . One Ceremony did another send , Nor did Will-worship know a bound or end . Their Canons were as various as the Winds , Nay ( which is more ) unconstant as their mindes . Choak'd with their great Revenues , they become ( Who , being empty , sounded well ) quite dumb . Nay they did hold it an extreme disgrace To execute the office of their place . Well said a fool , Who does a Bishop fear , May fly t' a Pulpit , for he 'll not come there . Like Weathercocks , on Churches tops they stood , To over-see them , not to do them good : Yet being Lords , they fain would higher be , And guild their Lordships with a Deitie . CHAP. III. ANd the cram'd clergie , t' imitate their Masters In pride and sloth , grew most Episcopasters . The Pulpit rusted , some had got a trick ( As if their Sermons had been Lunatick ) To Preach by th'Moon , some but at Quarter-day ; And then their Texts were Summons to their Pay. Some were so costive , they requir'd a year ; Like Elephants , some ten ; then one might hear ( To the amazement o' th' expecting house ) The groaning Hill deliver'd of a Mouse . Dumb Dogs , that wallow'd in excessive store , While those poor souls that all the burthen bore , Could hardly get by their continu'd pain , A stipend that might them and theirs maintain . And though one serve a Cure , nay two , or three , He must a Scriv'ner and Schoolmaster be : Yet all these Trades will scarce so much allow , As a good Hinde may get , that goes to Plough . Instead of this , they studi'd Law , and read , Not what God says , but what the Judges said . Their care of Bodies choak'd their care of Souls ; They more frequented Westminster than Pauls : They pray'd i' th' Temple often , but it was , That their fee'd Lawyer would maintain their Cause . Others , to Pleasure , Pride and Ease inclin'd , Studi'd to pamper their luxurious minde With Wine and Banquets ; but in most of all , The Golden Number was Dominical ; So that it was become a common speech , The way to spoil a Priest's to make him Rich. If one Preacht well , he was in life so evil , A Saint in Pulpit , out of it a Devil . Their Lives confute their Doctrines ; for they strove Which most should act the sins they did reprove ; That one might think , that whatsoere they say , Were to be done the clean contrary way . CHAP. IV. ANd the vain people , always prone to ill , Follow not Precept , but Example still : For they disgrac'd themselves by what they do , And taught the people to disgrace them too . Thus that soul-saving Function'gan to be A publick scandal , and an obloquie , By the base vulgar , who were glad , for this , To blaze their Spiritual Father's nakedness . The Office so abus'd , men scorn'd to do it , Unless bare need , or gain did force them to it . And men unfit , unuseful for the State , Yet were accounted good enough for that . And why ? the sordid Gentry , in whose hands They'd got the Church-revenues , and her Lands , Turn'd Publicans , and stood at Churches door ; None must come in , but who paid well therefore . These were Church-merchants , and by them did gain , As those by wares , though they dealt not so plain . He that would buy a Horse , or take to 's Bride A Daughter , got a Benefice beside . If Sacriledge to steal from Churches be , What 's he that steals a Church , nay two or three ? Well did a Herauld their base nature note , That gave a Wolfs head to them for a Coat , Swallowing a Church , the steeple stuck in 's throat . CHAP. V. TY'd to the tail of Levi , was the Tribe Of Many-Asses : some that won't subscribe To God , nor King , nor State , nor Law ; but still Do vow Allegiance only to their Will : That to be cross to theirs , did bend their course Into a contrary extreme , far worse . Men of vertiginous brains , still running round , That Cymbal-like , from emptiness do sound ; That abhor Learning , and don't hold it fit For Christians to pollute their brains with it . They say 't is vain for Holy men to seek For language of the Beast , or Heathen-Greek . Unbenefic'● and poor , that have no way To get a stipend , but to preach and pray 'Gainst Church and State ; and 'cause they cannot be Famous for Learning or Divinity , Yet they 'll do something to inrole their Name In the large Catalogue of blab-tongu'd Fame ; And though their Doctrine be nor sound , nor true , They 'll have 't approv'd , because 't is strange and new . There were some upstart Levites , hot and young , Active and proud , whose interdicted tongue Imprison'd in the Dungeon of his mouth , For Sacriledge is now broke forth , and grow'th More violent ; or such , whose Ears of late , Have both been circumcised by the State : Whose sufferings spread their fame from far and near ; The giddy people flock in sholes to hear These zealous Saints , those pious Martyrs prate , With their impoyson'd tongues 'gainst Church & State ; Who in their Preachments tell them , Such as we ( Beloved ) suffer for our purity ; Because we will not follow Popish lies , We fall by th' ears with profane Pillories . 'T is for our good , who ope our Ears to take The pious Whispers which the Nails do make . Peripatetick Teachers , Journy-men , That trot t' America , and back again , To get a proselyte , these dare make Kings The subjects of their talk , and handle things Direct 'gainst Form or Order , as each lists . Their Texts and Doctrines , both like Sepratists , Run from each other ; and their Uses loath Their company , 'cause holyer than both . And having nam'd a Text , like Cowards , they Straight from the unarm'd words on 't run away ; And thus excuse it , that it is a breach Of Christian freedome to be ty'd to preach Upon one place : they make their Doctrines run From Genesis to th' Revelation , And handle all alike ; a wilde-goose chace They run through Countries a Curranto pace . They straight divide a Text in parts ; but then They do not bring them to be friends agen , But fall to flat Adultry with the sense , Begetting spurious broods of Uses thence ; That such unnat'ral Children thence do spring , They dare make head against the Text , their King. These are State-barrettors , and set by th' ears The Prince and People , Commons and the Peers . These kindle first , and still foment the rude Seditions of the cock-brain'd multitude ; Who , like themselves , are Planet-struck , and vary , Prograde , and Retrograde , ne're stationary . Their Heads , like Bowls , run round , unsteer'd by Reason ; Their Bias Faction , and their Jack is Treason . These ever rail at , and are discontent At States and Churches present Government . And why ? not for defects do they withstand it , Because 't is bad , but 'cause the Laws command it . Eve is their Mother ; they think no fruits be So sweet , as those on the forbidden Tree . Some do not hate it , nor finde fault therein , But 'cause they 've been neglected , and not bin Employ'd with Hierarchy , since they suppose Themselves more fit for Government , than those That are instal'd ; which , 'cause they cannot reach , ( Like Dogs at th'Moon ) they bark at , and still teach The peoples reeling fancie to despise Church-orders , and embrace what they devise . Which always various and changeable be , For nought more pleases than variety . These men are nine days old , and do begin To look abroad upon anothers sin . To other men they are as Argos-ey'd As Heav'n in spangled nights , when Sol does hide In the Antipodes , and Stars begin To execute his Office : to their sin They are as blinde as Moles , which lest they might Behold , they draw the curtain of their sight . By the foul hands of these , dirt still is thrown On others faces , yet ne're wash their own . For he will soon'st espie the Mote that 's blown In 's Brothers eye , who hath a Beam in 's own . These and the Romulists , although they bend Their heads contrary , meet at last , and tend Both to burn down Religion , which doth stand Like Christ o' th' Cross , with Thieves on either hand . Extremes , both in a Circle set their feet , And though contrary go , at last must meet . CHAP. VI. THe many-empty-headed multitude , Once mov'd , like Hornets , eagerly intrude On all employments , and run forward still , Like Swine , steer'd only by their headlong will. The zealous Cobler pricks his Leather-ears , And in the Tub ( his Pulpit ) he declares , No Priest , no Doctrine can Religious be , That smells of either Universitie . So Ignorance , the Mother of each doubt , Leads Faction in , and turns Obedience out . While he translates , and edifies the Soul , The two-ear'd Hatter does the Crown controul ▪ He Peter scorns , himself will be a Rock , And sets mens heads upon a rounder Block . He with inspired fury doth declare There 's no salvation unto those , whose Hair Transcend their Teeth in longitude ; his shears Have raz'd the Locks that did besiege his Ears ; And lets his rampant Ears grow up alone , The two supporters of his globous Crown . So each Profession , from head to heel , Sets forth lay-Levites ; and the old ones feel Their just deservings , suffering their due ; They displac'd old , and are displac'd by new : And all these simples make one Mithridate To be a poison both to Church and State. New Lords create new Laws ; one brings a branch From Amsterdam , some to New England lanch ; To Scotland , Rome , Judea , Turkie , some ; Some to Geneva ; back again they come Fraught with Religions new , of each a feather , All in a Chaos bundled up together ; which makes our Church all particolour'd show , Like Joseph's coat , or Aesop's theevish Crow , A Pantheon of Religions . Mean time our guiltless Prayers , which have stood Writ in the Characters of Martyrs blood , The grace of Christian Churches , the delight Of God and godly men , are conjur'd quite Out of the Church b'extemporary stuff ; Which though three hours , yet are not long enough To reach to heav'n ; And though their non-sense dare Gore at the Clouds , yet never shall come there ▪ By these extremes Religion 's from us flown , And our one Church grows many ; therefore none . CHAP. VII . BUt Church and State being Twins , and none can hi● The one , but straight the other falls with it ; The Court , that should a Sanctuary be To Vertue , and the Bourse of Pietie , The throne of Justice , and excel in right , As 't did in State , in dignity and might , Became th' Asylum of Ambition , Envy and fraud ; where Vice doth tread upon O'reswayed Vertue , and doth seem to be Vertue it self vail'd o're by Policie . Injurious persons of all sorts resort , As to the horns o' th' Altar , to the Court. CHAP. VIII . THe Laws themselves grew lawless , and the Tribes O' th' Gown entail'd their consciences for bribes : Like Cobwebs , Laws the lesser flies entrap , But great ones might break thorow , and escape : They were no more defence , but grew to be A legal violence , licenc'd injurie . Courts were call'd Courts of Justice ; but it is Because there 's none there , by Antiphrasis . The ambidextrous Judges brib'd , rebrib'd , And lesser gifts to greater still subscrib'd . Queen-money made , and un-made all Decrees , And Justice grew adulterate for Fees. It had a balance , but so falsifi'd , That it inclin'd still to the weightiest side . If bribes did plead , they must needs grant the Sute : For gifts have pow'r to move , although they 're mute . They had got Pearls within their Eyes , that so They scarce the truth from injury did know . Instead of Judges , Pride , Oppression , Fraud , Injustice , Violence , the Bench invade ; Justice , the junior Judge , sate like a block , Or puisne Baron , but to tell the Clock . What ere the Cause be , whether bad or good , It must be felt , ere heard or understood . CHAP. IX . THe under-Foggers , with their dagled Gowns , Like Sampson's Foxes tails , inflame the Towns ; Make Suits , as Conjurers raise Winds ; and why ? That they might lay the same , and get thereby . They did intail their Clients , and their Suit , From Term to Term , and ev'ry Term renew't ; Till the poor Client had no Suit but that , And starv'd his Purse , to make their Pouches fat . How slenderly a Cause is spun when 't is Bandy'd between Clotho and Lachesis ! They must anoint their Jaws with bribes , or els Their venal tongue nor truth nor falshood tells . Their tongues Angelical , their Consciences Strung to their Clients Purse , where no pence is ; The Client is discharged of his pain , Till to his cost , he do recruit again . They hoise their Fees 'bove Statute , Law , or task , As if'twere Law to pay what they did ask ; Whose Cheverl-consciences , stretch'd far and wide , And they still wore them on the wrongest side . Yet these Dunce-Desk-men to such wealth did rise , Their State nobilitates their Families . Who ere began a Suit , they 'ld draw them on To the third and fourth Generation ; As if th'were tenants in Fee-simple to them , And they had power , by degrees t' undo them . They can't a Cause for one year calculate ; Like Erra Pater , 't was nere out of date . So he that hath been wrong'd , and comes to these For help , 's like one that leaps into the Seas To 'scape a storm : or like the sheep that goes To a bush for shelter from the cold , and lose His Wooll ; and so by that is render'd more Unable to endure it than before : For so much cost and trouble there is in it , That the poor Client , when he did begin it , ( Though he should have the best on 't ) he were better Be overthrown , and would be greater getter . What an eternal Term on 't will they hold , When Causes come wrapt in a showre of Gold ! There 's no Vacation then : like Mastiffs they Destroy the Wolfs , because they mean to slay Or fleece the flocks themselves . The other twin That did run round i' th' Zodiack of sin , CHAP. X. WEre spiritual Courtiers ; these were more sublim'd In their injurious cunning , and they climb'd To a diviner stile : what e're they do , Though ne're so wrong , was Law and Gospel too . Each Proctor at his pleasure could derive T'himself the Churches pow'r Legislative . Who not appears , or is behinde in Fees , The Church must , whensoe're the Sumners please , Excommunicate ; give up to Satan , till God gives him Grace to pay his Lawyers Bill . Bawdry was bought and sold , and for a Fee Men might have license for their Lecherie . If any had offended , th' onely curse Was the dear penance of an empty purse . And for a yearly custome , an old Bawd Might have a Patent to set up the trade . Upon the Sabbath they allow'd to play ; But if one wrought upon a Holy-day , Oh! 't was a crime that nought could expiate , But the large bribing of an Advocate ! He 's in a wretched case , each Christian knows , That has no better Advocate than those . CHAP. XI . THe Gallenists , those Factors for our health Were so infected with this love of wealth , That generally our wounds and all diseases , Were slight or mortal , as the Doctor pleases : And all our maladies were ever dated By th' purses strength , as if th'were calculated For all Nativities , what ere they be ; The Purse is still purg'd by Phlebotomie . The Poor's incurable , the Rich must have An endless Gout in 's joynts , that will not leave Till all the money from the Purse be done ; Then he that could not go before , can run . Besides those Quacks , that strumpet to each slave , For a small price , that smaller art they have ; Who without Judge or Jury basely kill More than they cure , to exercise their skill . Who need no plague but their own ignorance , Accompani'd with their Arts masters , wants . The State-Physitians more perverse than these , Cur'd bad diseases with worse remedies . For sicknesses do usually fall On Bodies politick , like natural . These prov'd right Empricks , and without all doubt , Wrought the States end to bring their own about . For most that seem'd to be the Kingdoms friends , Tipt publick Justice still with private ends . These made the three Professions of the Gown , ( That were the grace ) the odium of the Town . CHAP. XII . THe spring being thus corrupt , the streams can be Nothing but currents of impuritie : From this Red Sea of sin a crew there came , Differing in nought from Locusts , but in name ; Monopolists , that ( Priest-like ) had a share In every trade , but more than Tythes they were . These did so spawn , they got nine parts at least ; Th' right owner scarce was to his own a Priest. Others were Rogues by Patent , and did draw A power to pole the people from the Law ; Which they had made a Stalking-horse to be A legal Warrant for their Villanie . Thus painful men , by Taxes were , and Rates , Unjustly cheated of their own Estates . And this did make the transitory streets Eccho with poor mens cries , where Rapine meets With Rapine , Guile with Guile ; and Right became An airy title , and an empty name . Cities compos'd of several streams that ran From Hills and Valleys , turn an Ocean ; Where sins meet sins , like Billows , and do strive ( As they with th' Court ) for the Prerogative . Greedy desire is Mayor , and puff-past Pride Aspires , as Mayoress , to sit by 's side . Treason and Cheating , Sheriffs ; and next , such plenty Of capital sins , they 're more than four and twenty . CHAP. XIII . ANd the tame Country in its several climes , Practise to ape the Cities baneful crimes . Th' incestuous Us'rer with 's own Bags doth lie , Ingendring Use by damn'd Adultery ; Till every hundred doth survive to see Himself centupled in his progenie ; While that curst Barathrum still cries for more , Beggars the Rich , and does devour the Poor . And though he Learning hates , and every Art That 's liberal ; yet he could finde in 's heart To turn Logician , and doth understand To do all things with a Contracted hand . He ( like an Ass laden with various meats ) Bites not at all , or else but Thistles eats . He cheats his Back of needful ornament , And his poor Belly keeps perpetual Lent : And all to cram a Chest , having an itch , But while he lives to be accounted Rich : Or leave to 's Heirs , when he to death inclines , ( Got lawfully by him or his Assignes ) An ample patrimony , which the Sot Consumes as fast as ere his Father got . The Tradesman too , whose Weights and Measures were Lighter than 's Wife , and shorter than his Hair , With his oyl'd Tongue , and dancing Complements , The Engines of his cheating eloquence , Gull'd men by whole-sale , though his Wife and he Both drove a retail trade , and did agree To ope their shops to all ; whose gain did slide Quick as 't was got , by Luxury and Pride . CHAP. XIV . DUll Gluttony did raign , and striv'd to kiss His t'other sister , swinish Drunkenness , That nursery of sins ; for there 's no Vice So bad , but from this spring it takes its rise . How many Swine does this make in a year , If all were Sows that wallow in the mire ? This Anti-god that uncreates a man , Turns him t' a beast , or to a lump again : How does poor Reason split it self , and sink , When man lies floating in a sea of drink ! And yet they ran so violently to it , As if they had been onely born to do it . 'T was manners , if a man his Friend did meet , With pinte and quart they must each other greet ; Or if to 's neighbours house a friend did come , 'T was welcome stil'd to send him drunken home . Men thought no shame to glory in this sin , Who could drink most , as if their Mouths had been Made not to speak , but drink , and Bellies were But Barrel-like , the continents of Beer . Yet that 's small cause to boast , did we but see That a weak Hogshead can hold more than wee . And yet we see how many a drunken Sot Hath drown'd and drunk all 's fortunes in a pot ▪ Swilling his brutish soul in Beer and Wine , While his poor Family at home doth pine ; And have no food to feed upon but Cares , Nor any thing to drink ( poor souls ) but Tears . This is the Gulph that swalloweth a-whole The Wealth , the health of body and of soul. CHAP. XV. TH' effect of luxurie and ease , is Lust , And this sets men on flame , so that it must Be vented by base actions : men did do 'Gainst God's , 'gainst Nations Laws , and Nature's too . Great persons rang'd like Goats to slake their flame , With all variety ; yea , they kept tame Their Concubines , with costly motives fed ; Their Handmaids serv'd them both for board and bed ; By whom they Issue got , and so might be Indeed the Fathers of their familie . The Ladies kept Preambles , men of might , That stood them both for service and delight . Men 'gainst the Grammar sin'd , and did contest The Feminine Gender is the worthiest . Young men had hoary hairs , or else had none ; And when they had been satiate with one , They 'ld ha'fire-new-ones . Nay , the spiritual part Of Brethren lov'd the flesh with all their heart . But 'cause 't was grown so common , they would be Entwin'd with Sisters , but extempore . CHAP. XVI . ENvy , that hideous Monster , meagre , fell ; That Skeleton , is belch't up too from Hell ; She roosts in peoples mindes , and greatly breeds The bane of vertuous doers , and their deeds : It s own tormentress ; both a plague and sin : Oh! how it gnaws the bones , where it gets in ! And yet men were so chain'd to 't , that their eyes Waxt sore at other mens Prosperities . Malicious men did their own bodies pine , To see their Neighbours plentifully dine ; And be content , with all their hearts , to lose An Eye , to have another want a Nose . CHAP. XVII . HOnour became a Chattel to be sold ( To those that ne'r were kin to 't ) for their Gold : Such whose unworthy souls did wear a Stile But as a Livery , and did exile All noble thoughts out of their breasts ; who be , While they 're alive , grav'd in obscurity : Men , like their Grandsires Tombs , titled without , And full of rottenness within , or nought : The Garbage of the World , compos'd of Mire And slime , like Frogs of Nile ; if Gold inspire Their purse with life , it clarifies their fames ; Promethean fire was nothing to those flames . Fame was but Wealth 's Elixir ; every Clown That could get Wealth , might quickly get Renown , Though they 'd intrench their bodies with such crimes , That they might be the scandal of the times , And had a dearth of worth , or good ; yet when They'd paid for 't , they must needs be Gentlemen . Nay , this Almighty Gold such acts could do , That Lords , nay Gods , were made by Angels too . CHAP. XVIII . BUt thred-bare Vertue , and lean Honesty , Were thought unworthy great mens company ▪ A man of Learning , Wisdom , Breeding , Wit , And had all parts that did conduce to it ; Yet if his purse were ignorant of pence , A fig for 's Learning or his Eloquence : But he must cringe and creep t' each guilded Sot Whose Purse is full , although his Head be not . Thousands per annum were the onely glory , And sweet-fac'd Gold the winning'st Oratory . These favourites of Fortune , ( that is , fools ) Whose ignorance did make them foes to Schools , And Scholars , nay to all ingenious Arts ; That had a man nere so deserving parts , And painful in a Calling , two , or three , All could preserve him scarce from beggarie . They so dispos'd it , as if 't were not fit One man should have at once both Wealth and Wit. And yet these Muck-worms cannot be so wise , To see how Fortune does Eutrapelize , And give them Wealth to plague them . Good men hold They 're fetter'd slaves , although those fetters gold . CHAP. XIX . HOw many Slow-worms had we in our Land , 'Twixt , whom & beasts no difference could stand ▪ That having Wealth , liv'd here , and spent their own ; And having suckt out that ( Leech-like ) are gone . Whose life ( if'twere a life ) cannot be found Guilty of one good act , that might redound Unto their Kindreds , Friends , or Countries good , But e'en like Belly-slaves , provide for food : Whose mindes were not emblazon'd with those gifts That man above a brutish Creature lifts : They wear no souls within , or if they do , They count them burthens , nay and troubles too : Their bodies do like Sodomes Apples stand , And they but Pleonasmes of our Land. Luxurious Wantonness did still prevent Their natural desire of nourishment : They us'd Provocatives to Eat , Drink , Sleep ; From Hunger , Thirst , and Cold themselves to keep . The Cankers and the Bellies of the State , Whose limbs stand useless , as if out of date ; And when they die , this onely may be said , Here lies one that was born , that liv'd , and 's dead , By whom Death lost his labour ; he 's no more But a dead lump , and so he was before . CHAP. XX. OUr giddy phansie surfeited with Pride , In various habit ev'n the French out-vy'd ; So great was our luxurious Wantonness , 'T was sin the Sun should twice behold one dress . Fashions had still a Climax ; clothing went From warm , to Comely , thence Magnificent . Our natural Hair , not shed by Venerie , Was shav'd by Pride , and we our Heads belie With Womens excrements ; which might be known , ( Only because we bought it ) 't was our own . Lech'ry first taught this evil to our Nation ; Now what it wore for need , we wear for fashion . Women transform'd to men , men women grew , We by the shape scarce one from t'other knew ; Such boldness those , these such effeminateness S● ossess'd , that both seem'd one Androgenes . Faces bely'd with paint ; and York put there , Where Nature did at first write Lancaster . When angry Teeth fell out , and brake their sums , By the pollution of their stinking Gums , Begot by Sweet-meats , or that trait'rous Sawce , The Rebel to good Stomacks wholsome Laws ▪ Women had Regiments of Teeth in pay , And drew out several Cent'ries every day , To stop the breaches ; that should Poets write Their Teeth were Ivory , it may be right . Their Heads with massy Ruffs were bulwark'd round , And yoak'd in Bands , which scarce a measure ●ound . With such impostures , and a thousand more , As if we were not Proud , but Pride all o're . This brings new sins , new sins new Plagues draw on ; So Pride's preamble to destruction . A Kingdoms bliss is but conditional ▪ When they from Grace , they straight from Glory fall : For whatsoever unto Vice doth tend , Begins in Sin , and must in Sorrow end . The Iron Age. CHAP. I. THe Cup of trembling , which so oft has bin Quaft round about us , is at last stept in , And we must drink the dregs on 't : we that be Sever'd from other Nations by the Sea , And from our selves divided by our sin , Need now no Forrain foes , we 've foes within . What need an Enemy the Walls to beat , When the Defendants sins do ope the Gate ? God , who at first , did man to man unite , Sets man 'gainst man , in a Cadmean-fight . Limb jars with Limb , and every Member tries To be above 's superiour Arteries . The Elements and Humours , that before Made up a compound Body , now no more Kiss in an even temp'rature , but try T'unmake themselves , by their Antipathy . And 'cause divided Kingdoms cannot stand , Our Land will be the ruine of our Land. The State 's now quite unhing'd ; the Engineers , That have been ham'ring it these many years , Now ply it home , striking while th'Iron's hot , And make our Jars th' ingredients of their Plot. When bing contriv'd by some , whom Schism and Pride Had long ago inflam'd , now when they spl'd The peoples mindes inclining to their Will , Set on their work , and more and more instill Sedition , by themselves and Instruments , To fill the peoples mindes with discontents ; But privately at first , until , at length , They had encreas'd their number , pow'r , and strength CHAP. II. THen first a Meteor with a Sword breaks forth Into this Island , from the boist'rous North ; Darting ill influences on our State ; And though we knew not what they aimed at , They went to make us Denizons o'th'Tombs , While they Religiously possess our rooms . These , from the entrails of a barren soil , On an imagin'd wrong invade our Isle , Upon pretence of Liberty , to bring Slav'ry to us , and Ruine to our King : Whose yelling Throats b'ing choakt , at last , with that Which cures all , Gold ; they aimed at A private Project , to engage the Rout Of English-Scots , to bring their ends about , And spoil the Crown : so what they could not do By force ; by fraud , they slily work us to . They came to help us , that themselves might get ; And are dear Brethren , but we pay for it . Hence , hence our Tears , hence all our sorrow springs : The curse of Kingdoms , and the bane of Kings . CHAP. III. THen they in publick meet ; and 'cause they knew , All their success upon the people grew , They feel their Pulses , and their Cures applie , Be 't good or bad , still to their Phantasie : What ere they love to praise , and what they hate , In every act to give a jerk at that . What ere they would have done , must not b'impos'd By Humane Law , but with Religion gloz'd ; And when Laws penal are too weak to do it , Then their Lay-Levites press the Conscience to it ; Who are maintain'd to preach , and pray ; and pray ▪ As if they had Commissions of Array From Heav'n , to make men fight ; they crie , Arms , Arms ; What e're 's the Text , the Uses are Alarms : Though they seem pale , like Envy , to our view , Their very Pray'rs are of a sanguine hue ; And though they 've Jacob's Voice , yet we do finde T hey've Esau's Hands ( nay more ) they 've Esau's mind . Their empty Heads are Drums , their Noses are In sound , and fashion , Trumpets to the War. These dangerous Fire-brands , of curst sedition , Are Emissaries , to increase division . These make God's Word their Pander , to attain The fond devices of their factious Brain : Like Beacons , being set themselves on fire , In peoples mindes , they Uproars straight inspire : Or , like the Devil , who , since from Heav'n he fell , Labours to pull Mankinde , with him , to Hell. In this beyond the Devil himself they go ; He sow'd by night , they in the day-time sow : He while the Servants slept , did sow his Tares , They boldly in God's Pastors sight sow theirs . They 've tongue-ti'd Truth , Scripture they 've made a Glass , Where each new Heresie may see his Face . CHAP. IV. THey make long Speeches , and large promises ; And giving hopes of plenty and encrease , Cherish all discontented men at hand , To help all grievances : they crouch and stand Congying to all , and granting every Suit , Approve all Causes , Factions ; and impute All Scandals to the Court , that they 're unjust , And negligent , giv'n to delight and Lust ; And what 's done there ( to give the more offence ) They still interpret in the worser sense . In all they make great shows of what they 'll do ; They 'll hear the Poor , and help the Needy too . For in all civil Discords , those that are Disturbers , always counterfeit the care Of publick good ; pretending they will be Protectors of the peoples Libertie ; The priviledge o'th'State , the good o'th'King ▪ The true Religion : yet all 's but to bring Their own designes about ; they 'll ruine all , That they may rise , though the whole Kingdom fall . By these delusions us'd with dext'rous Art , They drew all Factious Spirits to their part . The childish people gazing at what 's gay , Flock to these Shows , as to a Puppet-play : Like Drunken men , they this way , that way reel , And turn their Mindes , as Fortune does her Wheel . They long for noveltie , are pleas'd with shows , And few Truth , from truth-seeming Errour knows . Their Love ( like French-mens courage ) does begin Like Powder , and goes out , as soon's 't is in . The thing or person whom they dearly love , Within a moment hate , and disapprove . They measure every Action by th' event , And if they 're crost by some ill accident , Whoever serves them , nere shall recompence , With all his vertuous deeds , one slight offence . So wretohed is that Prince , that Church , that State , That rests upon their love , or on their hate . They 'll all be Kings , and Priests , to teach and sway Their Brethren , but they can't indure t' obey , Nor rule themselves ; and that 's the onely cause , Why they 've pluck'd down Religion , and the Laws , And yet will settle neither , that they might Have fair pretences to make people fight : For by this cunning , every factious minde Hopes to finde that , to which he 's most inclin'd : They like Miscellionists , of all mindes be , Yet in no one opinion can agree . Their Planet-heads they in Conjunction draw , As emptie Skulls meet in a Golgotha . Each Head his several sense , though sensless all , And though their humours by the ears do fall ; In this they jump , To disobey and hate Whatere's injoyn'd them by the Church or State : And all strive to be Reformation-men ; Yet putting out one evil , bring in ten . CHAP. V. GRreat men , that would be little Kings , did come : Some led by discontent , b'ambition some ; Others of ruin'd Fortunes , but a minde To Pomp , to Sloth , and Luxurie inclin'd ; Who long'd for Civil Wars , that they might be Instal'd in Wealth , or we in Miserie . These bobtail'd-Bears , would fain like Lions raign , And Clowns would drive , or ride in Charles his Wain . These , by their greatness , were the heads of Faction : The Commons must be Hands , and Feet of Action , That must by force defend , if they had need , Their grand designe ; thus on their plots succeed . All humours stir'd , none cur'd ; jar , yet conspire To be all Fuel , to begin the fire . Some go in wantonness to see , and some Must go , because they cannot stay at home . Villains , that from just death could not be free , But by the Realms publick calamitie : They 're like the Milt , which never can encrease , But by the Bodies ruine or disease : That with our Money must recruit their Chests , And onely in our trouble , have their rests . Such as in Luxurie , in Lust , in Play , Have prodigally thrown their ' states away ; Convicted persons , Bankrupt-Citizens , That spend their own , and long for other mens . Servants , which from their Masters hither flee , And change their bondage for this libertie . Men of high thoughts , and of a desp'rate minde , Wilde Gallants , whose vast thoughts were not confin'd To'th'Circle of the Laws ; and all , whom Want Or guilty Conscience made extravagant , Flockt in to make up this new Colonie , Where hainous Crimes had got a Jubilee . And as in this , so 't is in every State , Men of low Fortunes envy still and hate The good , extol the bad ; they dis●pprove All ancient Laws , and novelties do love : Disdain their own Estates , and envy those , Whose Wealth above their ruin'd Fortune goes . These are secure from Troubles , for they 're poor , And , come what can , they can't be made much more . Nor was 't a small incentive , to behold How the poor Skowndrels wallowed in Gold : How Kingly in their Diet and Array , And how they do their betters daunt and sway ; To whom they had been Vassals heretofore , And been perhaps relieved from their Door . This made the Peasant who did work for'shire , Or Beg , or Steal , leave Ploughing , and aspire To imitate the rest as well's he can ; First steals a Horse , and then 's a Gentleman . A young Physitian well may guess th' events Of Medicines made of such ingredients ; For how unlikely is't , things should go right , When th'Devils Souldiers for God's Cause do fight ? 'Mongst these they stole the Hearts of some that be True-meaning-men of Zeal and Piety ; Though ignorantly zealous , still possest By their strange Doctrine , that none could be blest That were not Actors : who did Neuters stand , God would spue out ; Opposers out of hand Should be cut off : No Mercie , they decreed , To th' Enemie , though Christ should intercede . No pardon ; but their Goods , Moneys and all , As guerdon of their facts , to them should fall . Wealth , Pleasure , Honour , that were wont to be The general spurs to all Activitie , Were largely promis'd unto every one , Just as they found his inclination . It was esteem'd an ordinary grace , For broken Citz to get a Captains place . The Wealthy Citizens , whose glut'nous eye Gaz'd on the publick Faith , that Lotterie , Though they for fear or shame were loth to do it , They 'd cut down Boughs , and cry Hosanna to it . They brought their Plate and Money to this Bank , Hoping for Prizes , but draw forth a Blank ; Themselves reserve the Prizes : and this stands Still gaping , like the Bottomless Quick-sands . You might track Plate , like Beasts , to th'Lion's Den , How much went in , but none come out agen ! Here was our Primum mobile of woe ! This was the Mother and the Nurse on 't too ! Thus many were drawn in : But those that were Not mov'd by love , were driven on by fear . CHAP. VI. THe adverse part , perceiving their intents , Prepar'd them powers for their own defence . The Gentry , for the baseness they did do , Were quite discountenanc'd , and justly too : They grew degenerate , and Gentilitie Was but a Nick-name , or a Liverie , Which every wealthie Clown might have , and wear , And be stil'd Worshipful . They took no care To keep their blood untainted from the stain Of Vulgar sordidness , and so maintain The glorie of their Ancestors , that be Deriv'd to them from vast Eternitie ; But mixt the blood that had inrich'd their Veins , With each ignoble Slave , or Trull , for gains . Learning , Wit , Vertue , Birth , Report , that be Essential bases of Gentilitie , Vail'd all to Wealth ; and that 's the Cause we finde So many rich in Purse , so few in Minde . How many Justices did Wealth advance That had nothing to show , but Ignorance ? They liv'd like Cedars , and their drops from high Made th' Poor like under-woods , to starve and die : That in what place we saw so many Poor , Some great man liv'd not far , we might be sure . Now these that so imperiously did awe , When they perceiv'd men did not care a straw For their Commands , but that the Shrub began To be as stately as the Gentleman ; Then they ( though not for Conscience-sake ) oppose Them , that t' infringe the Kinglie pow'r arose . The truly Noble Heroes ( for there be Two contrarieties in each degree ) Are by the blindfold people made to bear In suffering ( though not in sin ) a share . For when the Vulgar to be Judges come , Then all must suffer for the fault of some . They quickly saw , when the bold Subject dares Usurp Kings Rights , 't is time to look to theirs . The Vulgar , knowing little , but b'ing led By th'Priests , or Gentry , joyn to make a head Each as his phansie leads him . Some ambidextrous villains took one part , And yet held with the other in their heart . Such men desire our Wars may still encrease , And fear of nothing but a needy Peace . Mean while the Neuters , Jacks of both sides stand , Poysing themselves , on both , yet neither hand ; Like Goddesses of Victory , attend To take the Conquerers part i' th' latter end . Those that are wisest , were they Argos-ey'd , And ( Bithyan-like ) had every eye suppli'd With double sight , yet they could hardly see Which side to take , and save their Bacon free . So betwixt both , these civil Wars ore-whelm Th' whole superficies of this wretched Realm : This Land that was a Canaan , while 't was good , Is now the sad Aceldama of Blood. CHAP. VII . ANd now the great State-gamesters plainly finde , All , either stir'd in body or in minde . The Instruments prepar'd , to work they fall ; Ambiguous Oaths ( Treasons Original ) They now invent , impose : first men are made To swear amiss , and then they do perswade , Those Oaths binde them to do what these intend , Stretching poor souls to bring about their end . Now Jealousies and Fears , which first arose From the polluted Consciences of those That were the first contrivers ; these divide The Limbs from th' Head , nay from themselves beside . One won't confide in t'other : this although It rose from nothing , to a world did grow . Nor did it lose by th'way● ; like Balls of snow , It bigger still , as it did go , did grow . Both separate themselves , and each intends Distance , a great advantage to their ends . Those , that had active been on either side , Are mutually accus'd , sent for , deny'd . This makes both stick to what they had begun , And each his course more eagerly did run . First they fall to 't by Pen , which did incense Both parties with a greater vehemence ; From hence Names of disgrace at first arose , And each to other made more odious . And the amazed people did invite To lay aside their tedious Peace , and fight . They plainly saw the War , before they could Discern the Cause on 't , and they might behold Th' effects , though not the Quarrel ; they well knew That they must feel the War , and end it too . War , like a Serpent , at the first , appear'd Without a Sting , that it might not be fear'd ; But having got in 's head , begins to be The sole Monopolist of Monarchie . Thus by degrees we ran from Peace : to go Downward , was easie ; but b'ing once below , To re-ascend that glorious Hill , where bliss Sits thron'd with Peace , oh what a labour ' t is ! Our floating eyes , in Seas of Tears , may see The Heav'n we 're faln from ; but our miserie Does more encrease , to Tantalize to th'brink In happiness , when yet we cannot drink . Now we must fight for Peace , whose worth by most Was not discern'd , till utterly 't was lost . None know the good of Peace , but such as are Broil'd in the Furnace of Intestine War. CHAP. VIII . NOw having us'd the Effeminate war of words , Which did enlarge the jars , at length the Swords Apparelling themselves in robes of Blood , Sate Doctors of the Chair ; which never stood To hear the Cause , but quickly does decide All that comes near , and without skill divide All individuums . 'T is a fearful Case , When undiscerning Swords have Umpires place : That have two-edg'd to wound , but have no eye To sever Justice from Iniquity . When Rage and Ignorance shall moderate , That understand no Syllogisms , but straight Turning all method into curst confusion , Majors to Minors , bring both to Conclusion ▪ And now the great Reformists only care Is how to help those miseries which were Of their own rearing Faction , like a Snake , Stings those , from whom it did a quick'ning take ▪ First , all the Kingdom to a need they draw ; Then make that need , they 've brought their only Law ▪ This Mint of Laws stands not on observation Of Statutes fixt ( the Birth-right of our Nation : ) It 's turn'd a Warlike Council , and no more A legal Senate , as it was before . Now Salus Populi begins to be The general Warrant to all Villanie , Of which themselves are Judges . Lawless Need ( The conqu'ring Rebel to all Laws ) does plead A priviledge ; what e're they say or do , New need still makes them act contrary to . When any injur'd Subjects did complain , These two Laws paramount could all maintain . Religion too , and Fundamental Laws , Are both o're-ruled by a Law , call'd Cause . CHAP. IX . OUr Quarrel is a working jealousie Fixt in a sever'd Kingdom ; both sides be So diffident of each , they 'll rather die , Than trust each other : such Antipathie Springs from this ground . Subjects dare spill the Blood Of their Anointed Soveraign , for his good : Th' ungrateful Son , forgetting Nature's Laws , Dares kill his Father for the good of 's Cause : Fathers their Sons ; and Brothers , Kinsmen , Friends , Do seek their Brothers , Friends , and Kinsmens ends . Arms , that long useless lay for want of War , Are now call'd forth , more summoned from far . English to English are become a terrour ; One wicked action is a second 's mirrour . Each strives in mischief to transcend another , And every Christian is a Turk to 's Brother . Blows seldom fall upon a barren ground , But bear Centuple crops , they still rebound . Rage begets Rage , men do in Vice climbe higher , And all bring fuel to encrease the fire . Conscience rejected , men their forces bend , Which shall the rest in hight of sin transcend . Now Faith and Loyalty grow out of date , And Treason is the Gole that 's aimed at . The sacred League 'twixt Body and the Soul , Which Laws preserv'd inviolate , and whole , Is daily broke , and that sweet Bridegroom forc'd From his beloved Spouse to be divorc'd . Each man is drunk with Gallus , and grows mad ; Nor can there Hellebore enough be had To re-instate our Reason in its Throne : Nor have we sense enough to feel we 've none . Th'Age was so vile , the Iron Age of old , Compar'd with ours , may be an Age of Gold. We in the times of Peace , like th' Ocean , were Impenetrable , till Divisions tare Us from our selves , and did divide us quite , As the Red Sea was by the Israelite . And we like Walls , facing each other , stand To guard our selves , while they devour our Land. We are like those that vainly go to Law , And spend their Corn , while they defend the Straw : We sue for Titles , Castles in the Air , Egg'd on on both sides by the Martial Lawyer , Who saies the Cause is good : but what 's the fruit ? We spend the substance to maintain the Suit. At last , we purchase at so dear a rate , A larger Title of an empty State. But oh ! the general Law-case of our Nation Doth know no Term , nor yet our woes Vacation . CHAP. X. NAy , we can't soon enough our selves undo , But we call others in to help us too . They bring their pocky Whores , and do desire To drive us from our Land by Sword and Fire . These serve as Umpires , not to work our Peace , But that their Wealth may with our Wars encrease : For Forrain aids and Contributions are Not to conclude , but to prolong the War , All for their own advantage ; not t' expire , But ( fewel-like ) t' encrease the fatal fire . We ( like the Steel and Flint ) do fall by the ears , And each by mutual blows his fellow wears : Mean while the Souldier ( like a wily Fox ) Purses the golden sparkles , which our knocks Strike forth : so we must all expect no less Than certain Ruine , or a sudden Peace . These Journey-Souldiers will expect a pay , Nor can fair promises their stomacks stay : Plunder but blows the flame : they will so far Ingage themselves in our unnat'ral War , That when they end it , it shall be so well , They 'll take the Fish , and give both sides a Shell . They ( Phoenix-like ) will from our ashes rise , And 't is our ruine only satisfies Their bloody mindes ; and we may justly fear They will have all , not be content to share . CHAP. XI . HOw direful are th' effects of Civil War ! No Countries , Cities , Corporations are , Nor Families , but their division 's so , That their own selves will their own selves undo . One's for the King , and t'other for the States ; And the poor Souldiers , like the Andabates , Fight blindfold , shoot , are shot , are wounded , die , Only because they do , not knowing why . Yet those whom Rage had hurri'd on to slay Each other in the Exodus o'th'day , Breathe with their souls their anger out , and lie Kissing , or hug each other when they die : And though in life they had such enmitie , Meet in one death , and there they both agree . Two Armies now against themselves do fight , For th'publick good , so equal both in might , That between both the Kingdom 's like to fail , And both to fall , but neither to prevail : Yet both in disagreeing do consent , To be the Realms continual punishment . While some , like Camels , take delight to swill Their souls i'th'troubled waters of our ill , That are on foot i'th'Kingdom , and do rise When that does fall ; and on our miseries Do float , like Arks ; the more the Waves aspire , The more they dance , and are exalted higher . That ( Leech-like ) live by Blood : but let such know , Though they live merry at the Kingdoms woe , 'T is a sad Obit , when their Obsequies Are tun'd with Widows and with Orphans cries . Wo be to those , that did so far engage This wretched Kingdom in this deadly rage ! That both sides being Twins of Church and State , Should slay each other in their fatal hate . This Mountain-sin will clog their guilty souls , Whose pois'nous breath hath kindled all these coals ; And when their Souls do from their Bodies flie , If they have burial , ( which they so defie , And 't is more fit their Carkas meat should be To beasts , whom they transcend in crueltie ) Posterity upon their Tombs shall write , Better these men had never seen the light . 'T is just that all Achitophels of State , That have his policie , should have his Fate . CHAP. XII . THe Sun four times , and more , his course hath run ▪ Since we began to strive to be undon ; Since millions , heap'd on millions , do concur T' encrease the sinews of this too-strong War. The glutted ground hath been parboil'd in Blood Of equal slaughters ; Victory hath stood Indifferent Arbiter to either side , As if that Heav'n by that had signifi'd Both were in fault , and did deserve to be Both overthrown , not Crown'd with Victory . While Saw-pit Warrious blinde the peoples eyes , On both sides , with mock-victories , and lies ; And tell us of great Conquests , but they be Total defeats giv'n by Synechdoche : When one side is the master of the field , T'other striv'd to recruit , but not to yield ; And which soever won , was sure to lose , The Conquests being the Conq'ror's overthrows , Skirmishes every day , where Souldiers get Salmatian spoils , with neither blood nor sweat : To overcome by turns both sides agree ; Horses are taken , but the men go free . Towns have been lost and won , and lost and won ; Whole Countries plunder'd , thousands been undone , All to no purpose : Wars still keep their course , And we instead of better , grow far worse . War does the nature o' th' Abeston hold , Which being once made hot , grows never cold . We have a Lease of lives on 't , our heirs be Intitled to our Plagues , as well as we , By lineal succession . Peace is quite Ejected from possession of her right . Passion 's like heavy bodies down a Hill , Once set in motion , do run downward still . The Quarrel 's still inflamed ; Jealousies And Fears increase , Malice doth higher rise . Want comes upon us arm'd : Humanity Dissolves to savageness ; Friendship doth lie Trod under foot ; neither oan Natures force , Or Consanguinity beget remorse , Or un-inrage mens fury : now the Sword Is Lord Chief-Justice , and will not afford Law the copartnership ; for none must be Primate or Metropolitan , but he . Laws are but ligaments of Peace , which are Broken ( like threds ) by all in time of War. CHAP. XIII . PLundring , that first was licens'd by that Cause , That turns ev'n Lawlessness it self to Laws , Spur'd on by Need , and sweetned by the gain , Grows Epidemical , and spreads amain : It slights the difference of friends and foes , And like an uncurb'd Torrent , overflows . That which before was Felony , 's the same Only new Christen'd with a German-Name . This violent killing men , which was ere while Condemn'd for Murther , now they Valour stile . Opposing of a Parliament , they bring Now to be due Allegiance to the King. And who the King's Prerogative do hate , Are now call'd faithful servants to the State. The King ( a syllable that us'd to be Sacred ; a name that wore Divinitie ) Is banded on the tongue of ev'ry Slave , And most by those to whom he quickning gave . The Cobler's Crow hath now forgot to sing His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , but cries , Kill the King. He , on whose Health , Wealth , Safety do depend Our Health , Wealth , Safety , and with whose they end : He , whom the everlasting Potter chose A Vessel for himself , is by his foes Scandal'd , despis'd : those Phaetons of Pride , Would pull him down , that they might up and ride . Our Wealth , the excrement of all our toil , For which , in days of Peace , we did so moyl , And care to rake together , 's quickly gone , Like a scrap'd Portion on a scattering son . Gold , which we made our God , and did adore , Is but a Cause to make our plagues the more : The Worldling's Mammon , which ( he did suppose ) Made him not love his Friends , nor fear his Foes , Is now his snare ; nay , 't is become a sin , Now to have Wealth , where heretofore hath been Our only vertue . We call those good men , That swell'd with Goods , not Goodness ; now 't is grown Our onely innocence , if we have none . The idle Souldier doth devour the store That painful men have labour'd for before ; Unstock the grounds , and clean deface the fields : Th' untutor'd ground scarce any Harvest yields ; The Grass for want of Cattel , dries away , And without labour turns it self to Hay . Corn while it grows , is eat or trodden down ; Or if it happen to be reapt or mown , Right owners do but toyl the more about it , To bring 't to them , themselves must go without it : They work , fare , lie hard , all to maintain Knaves , So that at best , they are but Troopers slaves ; And now in them is Adam's Curse made good , They with much labour get a little food . Some men will toyl no more to till the ground , Because no profit of it does redound Unto themseves ; or ( which is worse ) for want Of Horse or Hindes , those that would do it , can't . CHAP. XIV . ALL which do usher in a Famine ; that Comes seldom unattended ; Graves grow fat . When Captain Lack comes with his hungry Troop Of fell diseases , and takes people up To victual Death a Garrison ; then all That scape the Sword , must by the Famine fall . We , to our grief , shall sinde that Axoime true , Who die without the Sword , die by it too . Need will create new foes ; for Hunger grows A Warrant to all Villanie , and knows No Property nor Right ; wrongs legal be By that Authentick Law , Necessitie . Spur'd on by this , no man will pass or care , So he may have 't , from whom , how , when , or where . Commanders make a mizmaze of the War , And all their Battles subtile motions are . If one remove his men , the other will Move after him , and so they follow still ; But yet they have a Precept , that confines Each in the compass of their mutual Lines , And not molest each other ; they agree To share our Goods , and set each other free , By mutual change . Thus that great Idol Cause , To whom they 've sacrific'd the mangled Laws Of God and man , is but a cunning paint , To make a Devil seem a Heav'nly saint . While we like Turkish slaves , are bought and sold , Imprison'd , and releas'd , and all for Gold , From one to t'other : Now we need not fear Algier abroad , we have too many here ; And what ere they pretend their quarrels are , They only fight which shall have greatest share In our Estates , by Rapine , and by Stealth ; And thus they mean they fight for th' Commonwealth . This lacks a House , and that desires a Field ; And new Enjoyments new Desires do yield . The Victors know nor modesty , nor measure Of their desires , but their Gain , Pomp , and Pleasure . No moderation bridles or keeps in The head-strong force of a prevailing sin . And the Commanders too , that ought to be The Remora's to th'Souldiers crueltie , Sometimes transcend the rest in Vice , as far As they b'Authority above them are . Beggars on Horse-back , that no art can do , Whereby we may them from Inferiours know , But by their injuries , and those do stand As a sure argument of their Command . Nor sight they as our Ancestors did fight , By force to get our Law-denied right ; But cauponate the War ; they sell and buy A Town , a Castle , or a Victory . What ere an Enemy shall do or say , Is all , forgiven if he will but pay . These Garisons are Sanctuaries still , To shelter those , that do and maintain ill . They 're Purgatories too ; we go about To bring in Popery , while we drive it out . CHAP. XV. ANd yet these Souldiers go t' undo us quite , And steal our Reason , as they have our Right . Both say they fight for our Religion , And Laws , which all our safety stands upon ; Yet , they 'ld bewitch us so , we should not see , That by this War both violated be ; Unless we take Prophaneness for the true Religion , and Injury for Due . If Imprisonment be Liberty , and Peace Be made by open Wars : if Truth encrease By new-broacht Heresies ; then Churches are Maintain'd by Blood , and Kingdoms rul'd by War. If in those two a Gordian-knot were knit , 'T is fit that Wisdom then should open it , And not the Sword. War is the common Nurse Of Barbarism ; Souldiers add curse to curse : Those rude professors o'th'reforming Trade , How unfit Instruments will they be made To rectifie the Church , that hardly name God , but in Oaths , when Wine or Wrath inflame Themselves above themselves ? or if there are Men of more Conscience than the rest , or care , 'T is but to gloze their Actions ; we all see Their courses are full of Impietie . How can we exercise Religion now , When want of Laws doth liberty allow To all Prophaneness ? Such lewd men as they Have made the War a common Holiday To all licentiousness . We hardly can Serve God aright ( so vile is every man ; ) Nor live uprightly in such times as these , Being so wicked in the daies of Peace . Is this Religion , when each Souldier dares Become a Bishop , to correct our Prayers , And new-coin all our Orders ? each retains A publick Synod in his factious Brains . Temples which pious Fathers have erected For Divine Worship , how are they rejected ! Made stalls for Horse and Men ( more beasts than they : ) Where God did feed his Flock , Horse feed on Hay . Garments to Churches giv'n by Saints , t' adorn The Sheep , by sacrilegious Wolfs are worn . And harmless Rails , which stood in the defence O'th'Table , from irrev'rent violence , They have thrown down ; as if they would allow No railing , but such as from Pulpets flow . Whoe're but sees these acts , must needs allow God's House was n'ere more den of thieves than now . Such bad effects , or more pernicious far , We must expect : when an eternal War Cures a divided Church , the Victorie Will prove more pestilent than th' War can be . CHAP. XVI . OLd Laws cannot be us'd , or new ones made When general Lawlesness doth all invade . Custome and Liberty have made mens minde Uncapable of curbs ; that should we finde Laws re-establish'd with a pow'r to sway , Men are more prone to suffer than t' obey . The eyeless Sword 's unable to decide , But with it's two-edg'd skill it doth divide The Client , not the Cause , our Liberties , Which they pretend to save , before our eyes Are still infring'd ; they ev'ry day divorce Us from our livings , by that Law call'd Force . Nor have we Judges , to appeal for Right , Nor Law to live by , but a greater Might : That should we by such courses purchase Peace , 'T would be dear-bought at such high rates as these . Nor would I thank their bounty , that present Food , when my body is by Famine spent . And all these woes ( the more t' augment our Curse ) Are but sad Prologues to an Act that 's worse . Yet though our woes be great , and still encrease , We 're not desirous , nor prepar'd for Peace ; But so bewitched with their fawning knavery , We binde our selves to an eternal slavery : For if that any peaceful Treaties are , Those manage them that have begun the War : And how unlikely is't , it should succeed , When Malefactors Judge , and Traytors Plead ? CHAP. XVII . THe Loyal Subjects mourn , and grieve to see The Realm destroy it self by Policie , To prevent Ruine ; and will be as far From blowing , as from kindling this our War : Not out of Cowardise , or fear to die ; But they desire to have a reason why This Realm is not better preserv'd by Peace , Than by such Ruine-bringing-Wars as these : They see no cause so great , why 't was begun , As now they do , why it should soon be done . They love the King in earnest , and believe , His presence doth a perfect essence give To Parliaments ; which though they don't adore , They duly honour , and do wish for more , Though not for such : and they think them to be , If right , the Kingdoms sole felicity . They think them not omnipotent , but be Men , Subjects , prone to erre , as well as we . They love Religion , and don't hold it fit To have it alter'd by each Cockscomb's wit. They would not have it puppeted with shows , Nor rudely stript start-naked of its Clothes ; As if there were no better way to cure A Lethargy , but with a Calenture . The Surplice , which so much is rail'd upon , And term'd by some the Whore of Babylon ; Wise men will not believe 't is so ; or wer 't , Whores Smocks will serve to make a Rogue a Shirt . Or if Whores do wear Smocks , we do not know Why honest people should not wear some too . It is not zeal of those that rob us of it ; But 'cause 't was whorish , therefore they do love it . Oft Preaching is not counted an offence , Lest Treason and Sedition flow from thence : For it is known , they that do Faction teach , May ( what d' e call 't ) but neither Pray nor Preach . Good Preachers are as contrary to these , As is our Zenith to th' Antipodes . Those like not Peace , that go about to draw The Gospel from agreement with the Law ; And would have so much difference betwixt These two , as 'tween their Doctrine and their Text. 'T is our desire to make them friends again , That so the Gospel may the Law maintain . They are ( though two ) one word , and should agree ; As their two Authors , in one unitie . We hate Court-lazy-Clergy , and withal , The new State-Levites , too pragmatical . We pray for Peace , the Physick of our Nation , Not sprung from War , but from Accommodation . CHAP. XVIII . WHy then , you tott'ring Bases of our Land , Who at this wave-tost Kingdoms Stern do stand , Why did you first begin ? why do you still With all your force strive to prolong our ill ? Can't all our sad Petitions ? can't our Charms Of people groaning under the Alarms Of bloody broils , nor slaughter'd Subjects cries , Move you to end our endless miseries ? Sheath up your Swords , and let your quarrels cease , Or drown themselves in a desired Peace . The King and State are individual , And both must needs decay if one do fall . They 're like the Twins of old Hippocrates , Both live together , both together cease . And what a glorious triumph 't is to see Both Prince and People kiss in Unitie ! Our God is all-sufficient , and as far In Peace he 's to be trusted , as in War : He can as well Wisdom bestow , and skill To treat , as pow'r to fight ; and as he will , Both have success . 'T is man-like to contest By disputation ; Force is for a Beast . Those that do save a State from perishing , Do truly love the Kingdom and the King. And as much Honour will to those acrue , That save a Kingdom , as that gain a new . You that are call'd Divine , nay Gods , why then Do you degenerate to worse than men ? And have no share of what should in you be The chief of Attributes , just Clemency ? Is 't not as great a glory , to forget An Injury , as take revenge for it ? The injur'd Subject would be glad to hear That mutual Love might triumph over Fear . What if we have been injur'd heretofore ? Must we , to help us , make our wrongs the more ? If we were wet before , shall we desire No remedy , but a consuming fire ? And can there be no temperate Region known Betwixt the Frigid and the Torrid Zone ? War is a pleasant Theme to those that do Not what it is , nor what it bringeth , know . But they will get as much that first began These broils , as he that ploughs the Ocean ; Nothing but stormy Billows . War 's a Play , Which both the Stage and Actors will destroy . 'T is like an Estridge , hot , and can digest Men that are valiant , men of Iron brest . Would you 've Religion ? 't is no godly course To write upon mens Consciences by force . Faith is destroy'd , and Love that cemented The Head and Members , now from both is fled . Where 's then our hope ? God did not hold it good , That Hands which had bathed themselves in bloud , ( Though in a lawful War ) should ever build A Temple to his Name : Mens brains are fill'd With Faction so , that all who lent a hand To un-create Religion which did stand Established by Law , now each is left To his own fancie , how he please to hav 't . Now here will be no Church ; each pate will be A Cross to Christ , a second Calvarie . Nor can the Earth bring any Fruit that 's good , When it is dung'd with its own Childrens bloud . But how melodiously the accents sound Of Peace , when full-chapt Plenty does rebound , And answer like an Eccho ! Peace is the strength of Truth , the strength of Laws : Law , Truth , and Peace , are all Synonyma's . This is the good mans Darling ; from this springs The wealth of Subjects , and the grace of Kings . CHAP. XIX . BUt an unbiass'd Reason may suppose Which side , by th' Sword , does prove victorious Will so insult o're his inslaved foe , That whatsoever does but make a show Of leaning to 't , though in it self most good , Will without Law or Reason be withstood . Which side soe're doth rise by t'others fall , Will still remain too great , and that too small : And such a Victory it self will be A greater War , a longer miserie . For should the King prevail , 't is to be fear'd , We justly are from Parliaments cashier'd ; And without those , what can we look for less Than an untrue , or else a slavish Peace ? So while we pole away his natural power , He 's periwig'd with greater than before . 'T is the best Conquest when the Prince is Lord Of 's peoples hearts by Love , not by the Sword : For what 's the King with a full pow'r to sway , When there are left no Subjects to obey ? And if the War to th'States a Conquest brings , Have at Prerogatives , and pow'r of Kings . For when the Realm is in confusion run , ( As it must be , when e're the War is done , ) The people being Victors , we shall finde As various in desires as they 're in minde : They 'll be controlling still , and still aspire To limit Legal Pow'r , not their desire : And when their Votes are granted , are as far From b'ing contented with 't , as now they are . Both King and Magistrate must look to raign No longer than they do their wills maintain : And that Great Council ( if they did intend ) Can't bring the stubborn people so to bend T' authority , that any King shall sway By fixed Laws , they loyally obey ; No more than Pilots on the stormy Seas , Can guide their ca'pring Vessels where they please . So we ( like fools ) while we do Scylla shun , Do headlongly into Charybdis run . For if we can't endure t' obey one King , What shall we do if we a thousand bring ? CHAP. XX. HOw sad our Case is now ! how full of woe ! We may lament , but cannot speak , or know : Our God , in whom our Peace , our Plenty lay , In whom we liv'd , on whom we fix'd our stay , Who being pleas'd , our foes became our friends , ( All their designes conducing to his ends ) Is highly now incens'd , and will no more Own us for 's people , as he did before ; But hath deliver'd us to th' hands of those That are our God's , our King 's , our Kingdoms foes . And we 're involved in so many evils , That men turn Souldiers , and the Souldiers Devils . 'T is he that all this variance did bring ; The King 'gainst us , and we against the King. A King , so Good , so Gracious , so Divine , That ( if 't were possible ) he doth outshine The glory of his Ancestors ; yet he Is bundled up in our Calamitie . Better ten thousands of his Subjects fall , Than He whose Life 's th' Enchiridion of all . Our Council's thwarting , and our Clergy heady , Gentry divided , Commonalty unsteady ; That always to the rising party run , Like Shadows , Ecchoes to the rising Sun. Religion rent with Schisms , a broken State , Our Government confus'd , and those that hate The Realm , still undermining , those that brought A civil War , which all our ill hath wrought ; The King in danger , and the Kingdom rol'd Into inevitable ruine , sold Unto her Foes . Commerce and Trade , the sinews of a State , The bane of Poverty , grows out of date . Learning 's neglected ; and the Heptarchy Of liberal Arts , all unregarded lie . Our Wealth decays , yet Souldiers encrease ; The more we fight , the farther off from Peace . United Kingdoms jarring , and our foes Laugh at , and labour to encrease our Woes . A general Jealousie , Intestine Hate , 'Twixt several Members of one wretched State. Both pretend Peace and Truth , yet both oppose ; Which , till both do agree on 't , no man knows . Truth is the Childe of Peace ; the golden mean 'Twixt two extreams , which both sides part from clean . The Poor , that beg'd relief from door to door , Are like to pine , each rich man to be poor ; And many Christians are expos'd ( we see ) Unto the more than barb'rous Crueltie Of the remorseless Souldiers , who run on , Like Torrents , uncontrolled , and are grown Quite prodigal o' th' guiltless bloud they draw , Emboldned by the silence of the Law. Streets ring with Swearing , one Oath brings another , As if one were the Eccho unto t'other . Nor Age , nor Sex , nor Quality they spare , They 're not allur'd by Love , nor aw'd by Fear . The Carolists , and the Rotunditie , Both must be blended in one Miserie . They rack , hang , torture men on either side , To make them tell where they their Gold do hide . And lovely Ladies cries do fill the Air , While they are drag'd about the house by th' hair . Some ravish'd , others rob'd of their Attire , Whose naked Beauty ' flames their base desire ; And when they have deflour'd those spotless Souls , They butcher them : Whole Towns calcin'd to Coles : Children that from their Mothers first came hither , Are with their Mothers by them nail'd together . From wounded Hearts a bloudy Ocean springs ; The King bleeds in our Wounds , we in the Kings . Slain Bodies naked lie , and scarce can have A Christian Burial ; Kings scarce a Grave , Nor have we Zoars to fly to , from ill , But must stay in this Sodome , come what will ; Where we in floating bloud surrounded lie , Like Islands in a Sea of Miserie : Nor have we either Bulwarks , Forts , or Arms , To stand betwixt our sences and our harms , But our bare Skulls ; no Trumpets , but our cries , And those can't help , though ease our miseries . Complaint's an easement to a burden'd Soul , That vents by retail , what we feel in whole . So on th' Hydraula's of our dropsi'd eyes , We ( Swan-like ) sing at our own Obsequies . We pour out Tears , and having spent our store , We weep again , 'cause we can weep no more : Yet all in vain , our Griess do still extend , And know no measure , nor our Sorrows end . Nay , which is more , those that should help all this , Labour to make 't more woful than it is . Peace we may labour for , but ne're shall see , Till men from pride and avarice be free . Which since we so desire , and cannot finde , Let 's make a Ladder of our peace of minde , By which we 'll skale that Throne , where peace doth dwell , Roab'd with such joys , which none can think nor tell ; Which neither vice can break , nor time decay ; Nor Schism , nor Treason ever take away . O det Deus his quoque sinem . Postscript . To his Judicious Friend , Mr. J. H. FRIEND , I Have anvil'd out this Iron Age , Which I commit , not to your Patronage , But Skill and Art ; for till 't be fyl'd by you , 'T will seem ill-shap'd in a judicious view : But , having past your test , it shall not fear The bolt of Criticks , nor their venom'd Spear . Nay ( if you think it so ) I shall be bold To say , 't is not an Age of Ir'n , but Gold. A. C. Eidem . HIc Liber est mundus , homines sunt ( Hoskine ) Versus ; Invenies paucos hîc , ut in orbe , bonos . Owen . Ep. To my Lord Lieutenant of IRELAND . HOw much you may oblige , how much delight The Wise and Noble , would you die to night ! Would you like some grave sullen Nictor die , Just when the Triumphs for the Victorie Are setting out ; would you die now t' eschew Our Wreaths , for what your wisdom did subdue ; And though they 're bravely fitted for your head , Bravely disdain to wear them till you 're dead : Such Cynick-glory would out-shine the light Of Grecian-greatness , or of Roman-height . Not that the Wise and Noble can desire To lose the Object they so much admire : But Heroes and Saints must shift away Their flesh , ere they can get a Holy-day : Then like to Time , or Books feign'd Registers , Victors , or Saints , renown'd in Calenders , You must depart , to make your value known ; You may be lik't , but not ador'd till gone . So curst a Fate hath humane excellence , That absence still must raise it to our sense . Great vertue may be dang'rous ; whilst 't is here , It wins to love , but it subdues to fear . The mighty Julius , who so long did strive At more than man , was hated whilst alive ; Even for that Vertue which was rais'd so high , When dead , it made him straight a Deity . Embassadors that carry in their breast Secrets of Kings and Kingdoms Interest , Have not their Calling's full preheminence , Till they grow greater by removing hence : Like Subjects , here they but attend the Crown , Yet swell like Kings Companions when they 're gone . My Lord , in a dull Calm the Pilot grows To no Esteem for what he acts or knows , But sits neglected , as he useless were , Or con'd his Card , like a young Passenger : But when the silent Windes recover breath , When Storms grow loud enough to waken Death , Then were he absent , every Traffiquer Would with rich wishes buy his being there . So in a Kingdom calm you leave no rate , But rise to value in a storm of State. Yet I recant ; I beg you would forgive , That in such times I must perswade you live : For with a Storm we all are overcast , And Northern Storms are dangerous when they last . Should you now die , that only know to steer , The Windes would less afflict us then our fear : For each small States-man then would lay his hand Upon the Helm , and struggle for Command , Till the disorders that above do grow , Provoke our curses , whilst we sink below . A SATYR AGAINST SEPARATISTS . I 'Ve been , Sir , where so many Puritans dwell , That there are only more of them in Hell : Where silenc'd Ministers enough were met To make a Synod ; and may make one yet . Their blessed liberty they 've found at last , And talk'd for all those years of silence past . Like some half-pin'd , and hunger-starved men , Who when they next get Victuals surfeit then . Each Country of the World sent us back some , Like several Windes , which from all Quarters come , To make a storm . As 't haps , 't is Sunday too , And their chief Rabbies preach . To Church I go , He whines now , whispers straight , and next does roar ; Now draws his long words , and now leaps them o're . Such various voices I admir'd , and said , Sure all the Congregation in him praid . 'T was the most tedious Soul , the dullest he , That ever came to Doctrines twenty three , And nineteen Uses . How he draws his Hum , And quarters Haw , talks Poppy and Opium ! No Fever a mans eyes could open keep ; All Argus body he 'd have preach'd asleep In half an hour . The Wauld , O Lawd , he cries Lukewarmness : And this melts the womens eyes . They sob aloud , and straight aloud I snore , Till a kinde Psalm tells me the danger 's o're . Flesh'd here with this escape , boldly to th'Hall I venture , where I meet the Brethren all . First there to the grave Clergy I am led , By whatsoever title distinguished , Whether most reverend Batchellors they be Of Art , or reverend Sophs , or no Degree . Next stand the Wall-eyed Sisters all arow , Nay , their Scal'd-headed Children they come too : And mingled among these stood gaping there Those few Lay-men that not o' th' Clergy were . Now they discourse ; some stories here relate Of bloudy Popish Plots against the State : Which by the Spirit , and Providence , no doubt , The men that made have found most strangely out . Some blame the King , others more moderate , say , He 's a good man himself , but led away : The women rip old Wounds , and with small tears Recount the loss of the three Worthies Ears . Away you fools , 't was for the good o'th'men ; They ne're were perfect Round-heads until then . But against Bishops they all rail ; and I Said boldly , I 'd defend the Hierarchy : To th'Hierarchy they meant no harm at all , But root and branch for Bishops ; to 't we fall ; I like a fool , with reason , and those men With wrested Scripture : a slie Deacon then Thrust in his Ears , So speaks th'Apostle too : How speaks he , friend ? not in the nose , like you ▪ Straight a She-zealot raging to me came , And said , o'th'what d' you call 't party I am ; Bishops are limbs of Antichrist , she cries . Repent , repent good woman , and be wise , The Devil will have you else , that I can tell , Believe 't , and poach th' eggs o'those eyes in Hell. An hideous storm was ready to begin , When by most blessed Fate the meat came in ; But then so long , so long a Grace is sed , That a Good Christian when he goes to bed , Would be contented with a shorter prayer : Oh how the Saints injoy'd the creatures there ! Three Pasties in the minute of an hour , Large , and well wrought , they Root and Branch devour , As glibly as they 'd swallow down Church-land ; In vain the lesser Pies hope to withstand . On Geese and Capons , with what zeal they feed ? And wond'ring cry , A goodly Bird indeed ! Their spirits thus warm'd , all the jests from them came Upon the Names of Laud , Duck , Wren , and Lamb , Canons and Bishops Sees ; and one most wise , I like this innocent Mirth at Dinner , cries , Which now by one is done ; and Grace by two ; The Bells ring , and again to Church we go . Four Psalms are sung , ( wise times no doubt they be , When Hopkins justles out the Liturgie ) Psalms , which if David from from his seat of Bliss Doth hear , he little thinks they 're meant for his . And now the Christian Bajazet begins ; The suffering Pulpit groans for Israels sins : Sins , which in number many though they be , And crying ones , are yet less loud than he : His stretch'd-out voice Sedition spreads afar , Nor does he onely teach , but act a War : He sweats against the State , Church , Learning , Sense , And resolves to gain Hell by violence . Down , down ev'n to the ground must all things go , There was some hope the Pulpit would down too . Work on , work on good Zeal , but still I say , Law forbids threshing thus o' th' Sabbath-day . An hour lasts this two-handed Prayer , and yet Not a kinde syllable from him can Heaven get , Till to the Parliament he comes at last ; Just at that blessed Word his fury 's past : And here he thanks God in a loving Tone , But Laud ; and then he mounts : All 's not yet done : No , would it were , think I , but much I fear That all will not be done this two hours here : For now comes to , As you shall finde it writ , Repeats his Text , and takes his leave of it ; And straight to his Sermon , in such furious wise , As made it what they call 't , an Exercise . The Pulpit's his hot Bath : the Brethrens Cheer , Rost-beef , Minc't-py , and Capon reek out here . Oh how he whips about six year ago , When superstitious Decencie did grow So much in fashion ! How he whets his fist Against the name of Altar , and of Priest ! The very name , in his outragious heat . Poor innocent Vox ad palcitum how he beat ! Next he cuffs out Set-prayer , even the Lords , It bindes the Spirit , he says , as'twere with cords ; Even with Whip-cords . Next must Authority go , Authority's a kinde of binder too . First then he intends to breathe himself upon Church-government ; have at the King anon . The thing 's done straight , in poor six minutes space Titus and Timothy have lost their place ; Nay with th'Apostles too it e'en went hard , All their Authority two thumps more had mar'd ; Paul and S. Peter might be sure o' th' Doom , Knew but this Lion Dunce they 'd been at Rome . Now to the State he comes , talks an Alarm , And at th'malignant party flings his arm ; Defies the King , and thinks his Pulpit full As safe a place for 't , as the Knight does Hull ; What though no Magazine laid in there be ? Scarce all their Guns can make more noise than he . Plots , Plots he talks of , Jealousies and Fears . The politick Saints shake their notorious Ears ; Till time , long time ( which doth consume and waste All things ) to an end this Sermon brought at last . What would you have , good Souls ? a Reformation ? Oh by all means ; but how ? o' th' newest fashion ; A pretty slight Religion , cheap , and free , I know not how , but you may furnish'd be At Ipswich , Amsterdam , or a Kingdom neer , Though to say truth , you paid for 't there too dear : No matter what it costs , we 'll reform though ; The Prentices themselves will have it so . They 'll root out Popery whats'ever come , It is decreed ; nor shall thy fate , O Rome , Resist their Vow : They 'll do 't to a hair ; for they , Who if upon Shrove-tuesday , or May-day , Beat an old Bawd , or fright poor Whores they cou'd , Thought themselves greater than their Founder Lud , Have now vast thoughts , and scorn to set upon Any Whore less than her of Babylon . They 're mounted high , contemn the humble play Of Cat , or Foot-ball on a Holyday In Finsbury-fields : No , 't is their brave intent Wisely t' advise the King and Parliament : The work in hand they 'll disapprove or back , And cry i' th' Reformation , What d' you lack ? Can they whole Shop-books write , and yet not know If Bishops have a Right Divine or no ? Or can they sweep their doors , and shops so well , And for to clense a State as yet not tell ? No ; study and experience makes them wise , Why should they else watch late , and early rise ? Their wit so flows , that when they think to take But Sermon-notes , they oft new Sermons make : In Cheapside-cross they Baal and Dagon see ; They know 't is gilt all o're as well as we . Besides , since men did that gay Idol rear , God has not blest the Herbwives Trading there . Go on brave Heroes , and perform the rest , Encrease your fame each day a yard at least , Till your high Names are gro wn as gloriousfull As the four London-Prentices at the Bull : So may your Goodly Ears still prickant grow , And no bold Hair encrease , to mar the show ; So may your Morefields-pastimes never fail , And all the Towns about keep mighty Ale ; Ale your own Spirits to raise , and Cakes t' appease The hungry coyness of your Mistresses : So may rare Pageants grace the Lord-Mayor's show , And none finde out that those are Idols too . So may you come to sleep in Fur at last , And some Smectymnuan when your days are past , Your Funeral-sermon of six hours rehearse , And Heywood sing your Acts in losty Verse . But stay ; who have we next ? mark and give room , The Women with a long Petition come : Man's understanding is not half so great , Th'Apple of Knowledge 't was they first did eat . First then Plural'ties must be ta'ne away ; Men may learn thence to keep two Wives , they say . Next , Scholarship and Learning must go down ; Oh fie ! your Sex so cruel to the Gown ? You do'nt the kindeness of some Scholars know ; The Cambridge-women will not have it so . Learning 's the Lamp o'th'Land , that shines so bright , Are you s'immodest to put out the light ? This is a Conventicle-trick . What 's next ? Oh! with the Churches solemn Forms they 're vext ! The signe o'th'Cross the Forehead must not bear , 'T was only you were born to plant signes there . No Font to wash Native Concupiscence in , You like that itch still of Original sin . No solemn Rites of Burial must be shown ; Pox take you , hang your selves , you shall ha'none . No Organs ; Idols to the Ear they be : No Anthemes ; why ? nay ask not them , nor me . There 's new Church-musick found instead of those , The Womens Sighs tun'd to the Teachers Nose . No Surplice ; no ? why none , I crave ? They 're Rags of Rome , I think : what would you have ? Lastly , they 'd Preach too ; let them , for no doubt , A finer Preaching-Age they 'll nere finde out . They 've got the Spirit , firy Tongues they 've , that 's true ; And by their talk those should be double too . OH Times ! oh Manners ! when the Church is made A Prey , nay worse , a scorn to ev'ry Cade , And ev'ry Tyler ; when the popular rage ( The Ages greatest curse ) reforms the Age. When Reason is for Popery suppress'd , And Learning counted Jesuitism at least ; When without books Divines must studious be , And without meat keep Hospitality ; When men 'gainst antient Fathers rev'rend daies That many-headed Beast Smectymnuus raise , That Hydra which would grow still , and encrease , But that at first it met an Hercules ; When the base rout , the Kingdoms dirt , and sink , To cleanse the Church , and purge the Fountains think , They who whilst living waters they might take , Drink Belgian ditches , and the Lemnian lake ; When th'Liturgy , which now so long hath stood Seal'd by five reverend Bishops sacred Bloud , Is left for Non-sense , and but pottage thought ; Pottage from Heav'n , like that to Daniel brought : Their Broaths have such weeds mixt , and are so hot , The Prophets Sons cry out , Death 's in the pot . Oh times ! Oh manners ! but me thinks I stay Too long with them ; and so much for to day : Hereafter more ; for since we now begin , You 'll finde we 've Muses too as well as Pryn FINIS .