Joanereidos, or, Feminine valour eminently discovered in western women, at the seige of Lyme, as well by defying the merciless enemy at the face abroad, as by fighting against them in Garrison towns, sometimes carrying stones, anon tumbling of stones over the works on the enemy, when they have been scaling them, some carrying powder, other charging of pieces to ease the souldiers, constantly resolved for generality, not to think any ones life dear, to maintain that Christian quarrel for the long Parliament : whereby, as they deserve commendations in themselves so they are proposed as example unto others : with marginal notes on the work, and several copies of verses by a club of gentlemen on this authors year and half work / by James Strong ... Strong, James, 1618 or 19-1694. 1674 Approx. 87 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 28 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A61840 Wing S5991 ESTC R20044 12443426 ocm 12443426 62158 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. A61840) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 62158) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 948:19) Joanereidos, or, Feminine valour eminently discovered in western women, at the seige of Lyme, as well by defying the merciless enemy at the face abroad, as by fighting against them in Garrison towns, sometimes carrying stones, anon tumbling of stones over the works on the enemy, when they have been scaling them, some carrying powder, other charging of pieces to ease the souldiers, constantly resolved for generality, not to think any ones life dear, to maintain that Christian quarrel for the long Parliament : whereby, as they deserve commendations in themselves so they are proposed as example unto others : with marginal notes on the work, and several copies of verses by a club of gentlemen on this authors year and half work / by James Strong ... Strong, James, 1618 or 19-1694. [20], 9-16, [26] p. Re-printed (with additions) for the satisfaction of his friends, [S.l.] : 1674. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. In verse. 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. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Women -- Poetry. 2003-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2004-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Joanereidos : OR , FEMININE VALOUR ; Eminently discovered in WESTERN WOMEN , At the Siege of LYME . AS WELL By defying the merciless Enemy at the face abroad , as by fighting against them in Garrison Towns ; sometimes carrying stones , anon tumbling of stones over the Works on the Enemy , when they have been scaling them , some carrying powder , other charging of Pieces to ease the Souldiers , constantly resolved for generality , not to think any ones life dear , to maintain that Christian quarrel for the long Parliament . Whereby , as they deserve commendations in themselves , so they are proposed as example unto others . With Marginal Notes on the Work , and several Copies of Verses by a Club of Gentlemen on this Authors year and half WORK . Languet virtus sine adversario . Horace , Scribimus indocti , doctique &c. By IAMES STRONG Batchelor , &c. Re-printed Anno Dom. 1674. ( with Additions ) for the satisfaction of his Friends . A BALLAD On the Famous Author of Joanereidos , or Feminine Valour ( That Incomparable Piece , drawn some years since by his most Unimitatable Pencil . ) To the Tune of * Chivy Chace . I Sing the Man whose Lofty Muse , With Zeal and Wit inspir'd , Did Western Womens Valour chuse To chant with Art acquir'd . Strang is his Name , though Strong he writes , Forgetting's Father 's House , Whom he neglecteth and thus slights Because a Poor (a) Prick-Louse . For ought he met him on the Road , And in the Market-Town , But would swell on him like a Toad , And not his Parent own ; Though he had bred him up at School , by 'th help of (b) Doctor Pitts , Yet hath he prov'd both Knave and Fool , At least one not in 's Wits . At length to Oxford (c) Iames was sent , And was there a Poor Scholar A year or two , and from thence went As he (d) came . But when Choler And heat of Zeal had prompted him To be a Holder-Forth , He then became as Spruce and Trim As Any in South or North. The Sacred (e) Function he invades Without a Lawful Call , ( As now adaies do Men of Trades , Though learned not at all . ) And soon became a Teacher queint , Zealous of Reformation , Presently falling on the Point Of dire Predestination . Bishops and Deans he much decri'd As Things intolerable , The Surplice and the Cross beside Were most abominable . The (f) Doctor he turn'd out of door , And took into possession His Lands , his Goods , and , which is more , His Books by Sequestration . These he remov'd to Bettescombe , Which was his Benefice , That did by Smock-Simony come And with a Belly-piece . His Wife he often did chastise , Who was a (g) Gentlewoman , And would her Beat and Kick , though Niece To 's Patron , (h) the Old Roman . She hap'ning on a Day to wipe Her Shooes with Wash-dish Clout , He therefore gave her many a stripe , And at Door turn'd her out : But takes the Clout and buries it In holy Turf hard by , Causing its Knell in Angry Fit To be rung solemnly . The Holy (i) Font that raised was For the Administration Of Infant-Baptisme , he ( alas ) Fed Pigs , and put his Wash in . When (k) Raw the Sequestrator had Himself hang'd , through Despair , Our Authour ( as his Chaplain ) made A Sermon to repair The Credit of this Fallen Saint , And did him much applaud , As one impatient of Restraint , From being with his God. This Corps which should have buried been In some Cross-way and (l) stak'd , In Holy Ground interr'd was seen By our Author , and up rak'd . For being a Brother of the (m) Cause , His Corps the Temple was O' th Holy Ghost , though judg'd by th' Laws The Carcass of an Ass. But Iames at length so Pettish grew , And eke so Cholerick , That his Good-natur'd Consort knew Not how to find the Trick Of Pleasing him ; and therefore left His Bed , Board , House and All , And to her Tender Parents cleft , To shun her Husband's Brawl . For Iimmy is an Eager Man , Most Froward all his Life , No Body near him Quiet can Be , he 's so full of Strife . And 't is because he is so Eager And Spightful too withal , That he is grown so Thin and Meagre By Trouble and by Thrall . His Tender-hearted Wife he did Heart-break , as most Men think , Though Some there be have boldly said They know 't was his Breath's stink . For Iames doth breath so Ill an Air , That he can Spiders slay At three yards distance , and Few dare I' th Room , where he is , stay . This is the Cause that near his House No Rose or Flower blows , Nor on his Body will a Louse Come , nor within his Clothes . His Feet have eke so strong a Scent That This our Fragrant Brother Is often sent for with intent To cure the Womens (n) Mother . For Feathers burnt are not so strong In stinking , as his Toes , Therefore they follow him in throng Where ever Iimmy goes . The second part to the same Tune . But being at length Ambitious grown , He could not be Content With that (o) Small Lot which was his Own , To Ilmister he went , A Market-Town in Somerset , And though a (p) Sequestration , Yet Iimmy's Throat could swallow it Glibber than Ordination . Our Author here increas'd in Wealth , As well as in Renown , Though what he got was All by stealth , And was none of his Own. A Purchaser he then became Of House , and eke of Lands , And rose to be a Man of Fame ; But he built on the Sands . For moving from the Vicaridge-house The Porch , unto his Own , The Fact , so Sacrilegious , Did throw his Own House down . And being now a Widower , He would a Wooing ride , To get a Rich Wife , far or near , His Palfrie he 'd bestride . In order whereunto , on goes The Rich Black Velvet Coat , ( Which worn is , Every Body knows , Onely by Men of Note . ) In This he swagger'd up and down Ilmister , Taunton , Chard , On Market-daies ; scarce any Town Near him , but saw , or heard How Brave a Gallant Iimmy was Become . But though the Skin Without was Lion , yet the Ass Enclosed was within . Thus habited , our Author did Accost with Complement His Widow , and as fairly bid With 's Coat , and 's Implement ; As Any could at One Congress , Which prov'd so Fortunate , She thought it her Great Happiness To make him her Bed-mate . But not her Belly is 't alone That he hath so well ply'd , She often since hath made great Moan , He beats her Back and Side . For Iames can Cuff , Kick , Scratch , and Scold Like any Butter-Quean , He 'l not be Thwarted or Control'd By Ioan , Mall , Bess , or Iane. And though he Female Valour rais'd In Rich Heroick Verse , Yet is our Author to be prais'd In that he 'l not turn Arse To th' Weaker Sex. What ere the Song Sayes , Iimmy , put up thy Dagger ; He will unsheath it , and among His Country Lasses swagger . For Iimmy's good at Poniard point ( The Western Women know it ) He 'l pierce the Bone , and strike the Joynt ( Where 's such another Poet ? ) His Children very Many are , But tatter'd so , and torn , That , should you see them , you would swear That they are quite forlorn . On Carrion commonly he feeds , ( For his Appetite 's Canine ) And therewith satisfies his Needs Be 't Bullock , Sheep , or Swine . His Servants frequently complain That he is so unjust , As their Due Wages to detain ; Then summon him they must , By Justice Warrant to Appear ; But Iames , This Man of Strife , To save his Coin will boldly swear He stands in fear of 's Life : And so doth cause them to be bound Unto the Good Behaviour , But if his Debt shall be disown'd He himself will be their Saviour . And yet will Iimmy pule and whine , And make Devout-Bad Faces I' th Pulpit , and look so Divine , You 'd think he 'd All the Graces . Did you but see him rhank his Nose And hear its Zealous Twang , This Instrument you 'd swear , i' th Close , At (q) New-Inne Hall was strang . On the Masculine-Feminine Poem of Mr. Iames Strong , Poet Hermophrodite . POET of Mars and Venus ! sweetly met , And as before embracing in a Net. A Net so thin and wonderfully small , You cannot but conclude it Cobweb all . Only the Postures chang'd , for by thy knack Venus is uppermost , and Mars on 's back . Cow'd Hercules must at the Distaff spin . And Madam Omphale wears Lions skin . The Female glory melted down thy head As Flints are broken on a Feather-bed . Pity it is for so much service done Thy Pate's not washt from secret Helicon . And with that Linnen to dear flesh so nigh Thy sacred brows and lips were not wipt dry . Sure they would do 't ; and it would soon come from ' em Thou hast so meltingly quite overcom ' em . Orpheus was once with furious Froes assail'd But unto thee They 've all their Kerchiefs vail'd , Thou canst not stir abroad a Gossipping But they their Caudles , Kisses , Amours bring . They love thee for thy Name , and thy strong charms , And all are ready Captives for thine arms . Freely thou maist ( if thou wilt not be shy ) With Hercules his thirteenth Labour vye . Go on brave Man , and do not think it much ( As times shall serve ) to give us tother touch . Some plagiary Poets steal their Bayes , And from what others writ their Trophyes raise . From Homer , Virgil , much of glory drew , And much of matter from old Ennius too . But thou this honour hast ( and be it known ) That what thou writest , purely is thine own . Nor can we call thine Dogg'rel-Poetry Great Laureat of dear Pres-bitchery . Thy Name 's immortal then , and shall still ring , Whil'st Wives wear Breeches , and whilst Milk-maids sing . On STRONG , and his more Stronger Poem . STRONG is the Name , Strong is the Fame Of this our Poet Iames , Strong his Fancy's which out-prances Valorous Western Dames . Strong is his skull , like that of Bull , Strong is his riming brain , Strong is his Sconse as Parnass Mons And Forked too some fain . Strong are his Eyne , which by their shine Pure Sistren comfort , Oh! Strong his Eye-brow , like brisled Sow , Her Arched back I trow . Strong is his Snout , which high doth strout , Strong both his breath and weazon , Strong is the dinn , when from within Bag-pipe lungs he plays-on . Strong is his Lip , whose Muscles skip More quick than nimble Hart. Which tear and beat like Puss in seat , Before his words do start . Strong is his Mouth , and firm of growth , And also heav'nly wide , The many mops of 's Monkey Chops Shews Pug hast edified . Strong is his Tongue , which sounds among The Precious , Alarm's , Ev'n to prevail unto Battail 'Gainst Antichrist his Arms. Strongly he strives , by his Motives , The Saints to set a-Gog ; Strongly to fight with all their might , Against God and Magog . Strong is his Chin , where Jaws do twin , Thence forking back to Ear , Strong is their Mass , like that of Ass Made Philistine to fear . Strong Teeth are set in Jaw's socket , Which meat doth grind , and wrack , Both great and small serve like Iackall To Lion-like stomack . When prey is got , They slow it not Ne finee nor nibble , He Eateth so , you would cry , Oh Th'stroak of his Mandible ! Strong are the Wrist's , strong are the Twist's Of face so scru'd with tricks , That 't is hard bout , for to squeese out His Costive Rhetorick's . Forehead 's drawn back , when ginns to speak , Back nose strong fibres draw , You 'd swear like vile , Monster of Nile He 'd ope his upper Jaw . Strong is his Arm , which does much harm To Feathers and to Wood , When he did gin to beat down sin 'T is marle the Pulpit stood . Strong heart of Oak , rends ev'ry stroak Laid on by furious skill When he doth pump , then fist doth thump Like Mall of Tucking-Mill . Strong though and fierce , yet neretheless Cunning grew hand , and meek , When to advance in wise semblance It stroak'd his Mistress Cheek . But when all woo'd our Iamsee stood Rectus in Curia , He did embrace , and Wife solace After the Russian way . Strong were her tears , he perseveres In Soul-Correcting sense , Bangs hip and thigh , leav's place hard by Undue Benevolence . Strong since he grows , but weak his Spouse , No otherwise we deem , But Iames at length by tryed strength , Confutes his own Poem . Rog. Rimer of Doggrill-Hall . The Book-Seller to the Reader . THis matchless piece of Poetry falling into my hands , whether directed by Providence or by Accident , I shall not distinguish ; but conceiving it to be of so much importance , in regard of the times , for comfort to those famous Western women , whose piety and valour deserve to be recorded amongst the worthiest of their Sex in this declining age , and may well serve as Presidents to others . And fearing lest some malignant spirits should have injured the Author , in exposing an imperfect copy , by reason the sundry transcriptions which this elaborate Poem hath much suffered in , the Author in this is rendered according to the Original . And whereas many obscure places would have admitted a double construction different from the Authors true meaning , you shall find the literal sense of those places explain'd by one that had a great insight into the Authors fancy . And for the better encouragement for a further progress , many Wits have presumed to lend their willing fancies , as servants to usher into the world these elaborate Poems ; and though they appear to the eye but small lights to thy Sun , yet the reflexion from thee may in time make them worthy to be accounted thy Schollers ; what literal errata's thou meetest with in the printing , let thy candid disposition pass by , and let not any fault lessen the worth of the Author , and him that is most ambitious how he may be accounted yours in all service , Thomas Harrison . To my most esteemed friend Mr. James Strong , cause these to be delivered . Worthy Sir : HAving had the unexpected happiness of seeing you at this Book-Sellers shop , I was so surprized with your reverend aspect , grave habit , and Schollar-like comportment , that I wanted confidence to address my self to you , being conscious of mine own unworthiness to deserve your knowledge : but returning to the shop the next morning , the Book-Seller was pleased to shew me the incomparable Poem , which assured me that sage out-side had a lining suitable ; then was I enflamed with an affection too strong to be supprest , which hath now broke out in this address , humbly begging the happiness of your acquaintance , and the honour to prefix a copy of commendatory verses , when you oblige the world by making it publick : truly Sir , the little needle of my soul wrought so strongly after the great Load stone of yours , that I had designed the same gallant subject to my thoughts long since , and intended what you have beyond imitation performed , in so sweet a chyme of words and sense , so rare a contexture of stories , and so exquisite embellishments throughout the whole piece , that I must for ever be The great admirer of your unparallel'd abilities , THO. ALLEN . Honour'd Sir : TO accept your courtesie might seem to argue vain glory , to deny it stupidity ; whatever I am to others , I shall acquit my self of both , and deem my self unworthy to be so honoured , as to have either countenance or commendation from a man so drest with ingenuity : herein indeed will be my grief , that it smels of no more than ( believe me ) a year and halfs labour , whereby I may seem to undervalue your respects for so easily acquiring it ; deal with it as you please , and to morrow if you please to give me a meeting at the three Daggers at nine of the clock , I shall not fail of attending you . Your undeserving friend , I A. STRONG . To my most ingenuous friend , Mr. James Strong , on his excellently well-pen'd Poem . INimitable Sir , your lofty strain So far transcends the lazy low-strung vein Of those faint Rhimers which the world admir'd For buskin'd raptures , that thou seemest fir'd From the same flame , which whilom shone so bright , It seem'd Meridian after the Star-light Of meaner Poets , when great Gascoyn liv'd , And Alexander Barklayes Muse contriv'd That rare Translation of Brants stately * ship , Fraught with those fools deserv'd his Satyrs whip : I 'de think their charming souls reviv'd in thee , But that I find a vast disparity : Their lines are easie , and their phrases common , Thine are heroick , thy words us'd by no man ; And here the Sun sets brighter in the West , Then earst it rose in the refulgent East ; Thou hast the disadvantage , but in time Thy admirable Subject , and thy Rhyme Will render thee more famous to the age Ensuing , then the high Poetick rage Of heathen wits , whose brows deserv'd but bays , Whilst on thy reverent head these lines do raise King Midas ornament , a guerdon due Unto no mortal juster then to you : Withers a man of Arms and Arts hath wrote In gallant Rhyme , but thy immortal throat Hath far out-voic'd him , and thy active Muse Out-does his lance , and pen ; all Pedlars use Next unto Almanacks with care to buy Their dear delight Tho. Pru's sweet Poetry , Which spread in wickar scive , hath oft invited The Chamber-maids with itch of verse delighted , Unto their moving shops , where they do sell Nothing but tape and needles half so well , Thy stately Poem will usurp their place , And bring them to the fatal sad disgrace Of Chandlers shops , whilst thine alone are sung With tuneful noise unto the long-ear'd throng ; Whose well-weigh'd praises will advance thy name 'Bove Heywood , Viccars , or Iohn Taylors fame As far as e're the Bard past Aristarchus , Or foolish Bavius was excell'd by Marcus. Tho. Allen. On this reverent Poem , and the more reverent Author . ARms , and the man I sing , whose lines rehearse The Western wenches doughty deeds , in verse ; More high , then ( earst ) the acts of Guy of Warwicke , Southamptons Beavoys , or the Knight of Barwicke . Assist Mol Cut-purse , and ye warlike bands , That march towards Billings-gate with eager hands , And tongues more loud then bellowing Drums , to scale Oyster or Herring ships , when they strike sail In that Creeks bosome ; you the Muses are Most fit to be invok'd to aid this war , And the couragious Poet , that dares write The Rare adventures of this doughty Knight , Who in a Village Belfrey rul'd of late The awing rod , and in that happy state Each hour survey'd Pernassus double Hill , When Lillys Rules , being pars'd or conster'd ill , The weeping Lads mount woodden Pegasus ; How could the Pedant chuse being furnisht thus But write this Poem in a motley stile , Which first in bumbast prose he did compile ? With toyl and sweat out of a Dictionary , Mixing some stories of the Virgin Mary , And other Saints , whose names his babling tongue ( Fitter for Ballads ) doth prophanely wrong . Then buffeting his patient desk he bites His nails , inspired with new fancy , writes , Breaks off abruptly , knocks his empty scull , Falls to 't again , and with a mouth brim-full Of spumy froth spits praises on that sex , Tells inconsistent stories , which perplex The sense , and his dull noddle , now at length His hackney Muse is tir'd , and wanting strength To trot on farther , ends his stately song , With which his teeming brain travail'd as long As breeding Elephants ; but by the help Of Midwives this his self resembling whelp Is like the Moon-calf born , and as men carry Their Monster-children , Satyr-like all hairy , Distorted in their limbs , dwarfish in stature , Or unlike men in any brutish feature , From Villages to Cities where they show By painted clothes hung out , the throng that go Thorow those streets , that their admiring eyes For two pence may behold those prodigies . So learned Strong full sixty miles did travel , Maugre all danger of the dirt and gravel , From Village Belfrey unto London City With many a weary step , to shew this pretty Spawn of his ignorance , so like him in shape , Owl was ne're liker Owl , nor Ape like Ape ; i th' crooked lines of 's face and hands you may Each line within his Book fully survey , And more exactly view wonder in both , Then in the picture on the painted cloth : Were he and his brat mine , I would out-vy Thredesken , Gill , and all the frippery In the Tower-wardrop , but in this I wrong The Bookseller , unto whose shop the throng Will hourly flock , amazed at the post , Where this rare Frontispiece shall proudly boast A sight so strange and pleasant , that his gain Will equal thy expence in purse and brain . Pedantick wretch , whilst thy much hop'd reward ( Ten shillings ) is unpaid , without regard Of thy necessity ; but thou art sure Of happiness above a Country cure In Gotham Colledge ; where the cap and bable , The reverent Hood , and Tippet , shall enable The learned Bible Clark to instal thee Vice-President of their Society . ALLEN . THOMAS . Verses made into Meeter , whereby they might more illustriously give praise unto this Author , who whilom was a Student of the seventeen Liberal Sciences of New-Inn-Hall in Oxenford . This may be either said , Or sung , To the Tune of When Sculls . O Oxenford ! old Oxenford ! how many Clerks I wis , Learned in deed , and eke in word , hast thou yspawn'd like this ? O New-Inn-Hall ! New-Inn-Hall high ! how hast thou doctrinated His plumbeous cer●brosity , he is so subtil pated ? Some segregated are , I ween , fro midst the ruder throng , By Providence , so hath he been , and plac'd Schollards among : Where comptly nurtur'd up in good , and savoury literature , Sage words of wise he understood , and put all eke in ure . To argumentate he was taught Syllogistically , First to divisionating brought , to define by and by : But why alas ? nay why alas ? should I by a gradation Think to declare how he did pass all men in disputation , Or in mysterious Sciences , As in M●ll-stones pellucid , Saw quiddities , and entities , and all that Art produced . Much less how he , with sweat and pain , drudged in Poetry , And Mid-wiv'd gravitated brain Swoln big with rapsody ; Taking Occasions fore-top then , eft soons his mind he bent , To write with paper , ink , and pen , wars most sanguinolent . With pulchritude of sense , and rhyme , he strait charactered West womens valour stout , what time in Towns they were besieged . And eke also what time in field , at face of Foe they vaunted , Whilst monstrous stones they nimbly wield , and the fierce Souldiers daunted ▪ O man of worth , memento now , in height of glory , whence , By dotes transfunded your scull through , your learnt skilful-loquence : And in requital of the same on Bodley's Library , Bestow this Book of greater fame , than ever Groat did buy . This was composed by A.B. quondam Student of Oxenford . To the Author on this never-enough praised Poem . EVen as the Sun , and eke the Wind , With laughter fils the Elephant : So do I thus to please my mind , thy praise , O Author , loudly chaunt . And as the Moon , and eke the Sky , are nearer unto Heaven than Earth : So also do I versifie , being far from grief , and full of mirth . Or as a man , and eke a woman , is neither Horse , nor Dog , nor Cat : So do I write , enforc'd by no man , I know not , nor I care not what . Or lastly , as a Harry Groat , ( being gray ) is worth four single pence : So is he worthy a fools Coat , that writes to thee in rhyme or sense . On the Lurned labour of this VVorshipful good Power . ICh pray you Readers , have you no dizdain , 'Cause I an ing-rant , and unletterd zwayn , ' Mungst lurned Glarks do zomething notivy : Good will unto the thang cleppt powetry ; Cham zore abasht with this rudeness to haundle The point , or zhow forth with an hauf-penny caundle , His worth to the world varr off and at haund , 'Mongst those houge bon-vires which before this book staund , And make zike a cracklin blaze that ich ween , My greazed Bul-rush will scauntly be zeen ; Yet ich do well ken that moany a mon , Will pook out my intendiments better thon Moony tales and names , in thuck lurned Powet , Who ich do believe himselve did not know it , But writ it , that we with wonderment mought Think him in schollardzhip , marlous ztout ; C ham not zo well liked with his cunning wit , As c ham with the wonches he talks of in it , Zike bounsing Lasses would hould a mon tack , Though he had my tough gray vour horses back ; My teeth do water to wrestle a vall , Though it were with the zdurdiest wench an um all : Chave known the time when Maudlin and Joan , And two ztouter girls the west hath not known , Have vallen down vlat , and not stood upright , When I gan ta buckle my tools to the vight , And with my implement , and but twa stones , Have clawd um zoundly both twice and once : But vor thy meed , Sir John , if thou comst ere Toward my zimple cottage ich'le make thee good cheer , Of Uurmenty , White-pot , vat Bacon , and Cale , And vill thy skin with March Beer , and Ale , Uor the zweet sport chave had and tickling lafter , That ich shall be merry vor ever hereafter , When I think in my mind , that moony a parson , Poor Uicar , and Reader , and Bell-fray whorson , Durst never in verson zo doughty and bold , Zince the cunning Bards , and the Monks of old , Zet vorth the valourous deeds of women , That have gen the voyl to moony ztout yeomen , And dare in their zmocks without coat of Mayl Incounter the ztrongest hind with his vlayl . Go vorward , Sir John , and tell of the boys , That are got on these girls in this time of noyse , Will not do exbloyts vit vor thy high verze , With bellowing zound zweetly to reherze , Uor wich hereafter 't will of thee be zeed , Sir John , the Powet , had a harey head . B. A. A Sang made to gang to the Balliballeer , to the tune of the Authors praise , by B. A. of Aberdeen . O Doughty Sankster , thy luggs sa lang , Thy loins sa stark , thy wit sa strang , Makes me agast with brussels upright , As if I kend some uncouth wight , How mought I than with dread beheld Thy gude-wives drill in martial fleld ? And heave sike miccle stanes as I ween In Albion Clyffs man never did ken , But what recks that these willy coats gay , Those fause lowns did well beat by my say , Mare sare then unwhile in Muscleborough-field , When the stern so pour Scots-men queld ; Ide lever have a gripp of anes crage , And with twa stanes her bonny wem invade , Then fra their weildy fists ha ane At the fair mark of my noddle thrane . Thus ta conclude my trim Scotch-hops now , Mare prayses to thee I must allow , Then to Rhymer Lord Sterline , and Mis-Davee Linfy , And all they leave an um in Poyets frensy . An Hymn , for to declare the Authors praise withal . WHen sculs of men are sorely bent to learned Poetry , Then deeds of arms are sung in tent full lofty-loftily . Lo , in tall Verse the Authors self , with Pen in ear so thick , Doth brandish rhyme from Western clime , of dead and eke of quick . Of Gyants thumbs and Saracens ears , he nill no care to take , Of Ladies fell and Damsels keen , his Poem is y make : Whose brawny arms , full delicate , distilling amber sweat , Through trusty nose of Poet good inspire no vulgar heat . Tough quil in hand is hent most sure , which goose so gray did bear , In wrathful wise , he to the skyes stern chivalry doth — clare . With — phane and sacred history y granished all o're , The Maiden Fame is stretched out from West , all eke to Nor'e . No more in dirty socks , no more shall Poet stride the plains : Nor under fustian cap shall work those bay-deserving brains . On Sconce of hill bold squire of art hath shook the Laurel tree , His gols been washt in Pegase Fount by Ladies three times three . Moreo're , his face is Mouse-trap true , o're done with bacon rinde , To snap your Critick black or blue where ere so them he find . O soul of man , to glory bent ! may that day never come , When Custard fond , or Tart more gay , thy leaves to pavement doom . Performed by one of the Wisdoms . To the Renowned Author , Master IAMES STRONG . WHen first thy parts and person I did view , I mean thy outward lineaments and hue , Thy vaster bulk , thy grave and wise aspect , And all with equal guise and beauty deckt , I much admir'd , and to my self concluded , ( And well I ween'd , I could not be deluded ) Within that cask ( and right it was defined ) Some nobler spirit sure must be inshrined : Thus wondring as I stood , straight to mine eye Were brought thy rarest Rhymes and Poesie . Poor mortal , how agast ! I read 'hem with wit so fraught , That like to one who was of wits bestraught . I stood amaz'd , astonisht let it be , For much I fear'd the fate of Niobe ; Only this difference 'twixt us there had bin , ( Which to forget , I fear had been a sin . ) She , she , poor soul , through grief was petrify'd , But I through admiration stupify'd , But well ; these pangs , and pantings being over , After my self , I'gan for to recover . Oh how I kist , embrac't , and hugg'd thy Verse ? And now nought else but Strong I could rehearse . Nay , which is more , I'gan to love the times That had occasion'd these thy happy Rhymes : And blam'd those peevish wits , who oft had cry'd , Since Abraham Frauner , and haughty Church-yard dy'd . All Poesie is left , ( indeed I know it , Since they were gone till now , we scarce had Poet ) For now like Sun with clouds of sable hue , Bedeckt , and cover'd , all 's return'd in you . No more let 's now the much renowned trade Of Ballading , too much of late decay'd , As lost bewail , for from thy clearest spring , Poets inspir'd each market day shall sing ; And stories now bedight in homely Prose , Each morn in Rhyme and Meeter we 'l expose Vnto the greedy view of mortals , who Shall own restored Poetry to you . I must confess , when first I did but glance Vpon thy huger bulk , and that by chance , I deem'd sure now a well proportion'd birth From Teeming Mount : to mortals greatest mirth Shall issue forth , 't was even as I did guess it , And now my Muse desires an acquiescit . This only needs she I must for to rehearse , Strong is thy name , but stronger is thy Verse . Peter Jeffrey . A gratulatory Poem to the Western Amazons , and to their Learned Bard. WHich I should most admire , I know not yet , The womens valour , or the Poets wit. He made the Verses , and they threw the stones ( Verses you 'ld swear were all made for the nonce ) O happy stones which those fair fingers grip'd ! But happier Muse , which their loud praises pip'd Through nostrils oaten-reed , and sung so shril That the whole Earth's Horizon ' broad they fill . Miracles are not ceast , we see ; for here The weaker Sex , whom nature taught to fear The face of death and danger , now out-dare Ev'n valiant men in fight ; nor do they spare Their willing flesh . Here comes an Amazon , And fearless treads th' assaulted Works upon : With coats tuckt up , and tippet bolt upright , Lap full of stone● , she fits her for the fight . Two might have serv'd you 'l think , but more she brings Which 'mongst the Enemies heathen troops she flings ; And after them words , harder then the Pebbles , She thunders 'gainst those Antichristian rebbels . So do the rest , for planted all a-row Fast as they can they joyntly curse and throw . O had you seen them toyl , and swink , and sweat With the same ardor they their husbands beat When they came home at night , you 'd then confess These Western Saints had well deserv'd the press . They 've wrought a wonder too , and you shall know it , They chang'd this Western Pug into a Poet. Else had his mouldy brains ne'r been inspir'd With rage Poetick , nor this all-admir'd And sacred work ere seen the gladsom light . For who 'ld expect a Poem from a wight Nurs'd up with Beans and Butter-milk , or on Festival days , stale Bisket and Poor Iohn ? Strange dyet to train up a Muse , you 'le say ; Yet see the luck on 't ; having view'd one day A skirmish 'twixt those brave Virago's , and Their Foes , a gray Goose quil he takes in hand The omen pleas'd him well : ( Quoth he ) Of old Strange stories have of these poor birds been told . The Roman Capitol by Geese was kept , They wak't , poor souls , when the dul Souldiers slept . Alas ! who now keeps Lime ? poor female Cattel , Who wake all night , labour all day in Battel , Geese , as a man may call them , who do hiss Against the opposers of our Countries bliss . And by their seasonable noyse discover Our Foes , when they the Works are climing over . And shall such acts as these forgotten die Unrecommended to posterity ? No , whilst I have a Muse that can afford One verse , their names shall stand upon record . Nor shall the cankred teeth of envious Time Devour the story of besieged Lime . Thus having spoke : He drencht his Virgin Quill i th' sable Flood , and did his Paper fill With rich Invention , which if thou wouldst see , Reader , disburse thy groat and happy be . Toby Trundle . Certain fit similitudes , whereby for to set forth the worth of this Poem . AS little Bee in broyling heat doth search the fields about , So Authors best are drained quite , And suck't by this learn'd lout : As precious pearl in little room shrouds vertues more then many , So secret knowledge much is shew'd in this Book , as in any . As little sphear by tumbling round doth Heavens high unfold , So maist thou in this rumbling Book things Heavenly behold . As load-stone doth the iron hard by secret force hold fast , So little volume in despight will envy make agast . As glittering Sun with his bright hue , doth other Stars make slink , So where this Book doth once appear , of others ne're you 'll think . As Crab-tree fair , both flower and fruit doth bring forth without stay ; So fruitful is the Book to all in time , and place alway : Then honey taste , buy precious pearl , view sphear that turneth fast , Fear load-stones force , walk by Suns light , eat fruit that aye doth last . By the same Author . Coriato Juniori . ENter the Ring , all fear discard , The womans grand Olympique Bard , Th' ast foyl'd Apollo , and giv'n all The weaker Muses a fair fall : This Trophy of thy female verse Shews how they did themselves disperse , Some ran away on Badgers feet , And some on Scotch-hops , not so fleet ; ( Their airy motion quite forgot ) Need makes them in thy verses trot ; Coriat had once each Eastern lip Vpon his propatetique hip : But thy Pug poem has in hug Each western tongues virago dug , Wits compass hath but two points blest , Tom's lines ran East , and yours to West . D. VV. Al Autor . LIsonjas introdu zidas ( Por error de las edades ) Vsurpan a las verdades , El traje de ser creidas . Yfrases encarecidas ( Lo mas incierto y lo mas vano ) Que yo en tu alaban ç a ufano , Sin adornos de tal tira , Iuzgo , milagro a tu Lyra , Ya ti , divino , en lo humano . J. D. FLattery the greatest crime Was ever introduc'd by time ; Usurps some truth , a whoreson thief The more to Cunny-catch belief With heightned language of a strain , Ambiguous ever , yea and vain : And therefore my plain-dealing Muse Abhorrs that vices Arts to use . Now this premis'd , thrice happy I , For Zoylous none can say I lye In saying thou' rt to be preferr'd Before the blind or wanton Bard , Or the best master of that trade That ever Ode or Eglogue made . ( Phoebus his rays alas with thine Appearing once , would lose their shine . ) Their Muses Pyes were and their songs Ballads compar'd with those of Strongs : Their Musick Reeds , their Harps of Wyre ; But to speak truth 't is thine 's the Lyre . To the deserved Commendations of that well meaning Poem of the Western , but most Christian Amazons Ioanizareidos . NO ravish'd Brain was e're since Homer spude Heroique models , with a vein endude Of such high consequence , to raise a stile Out of the medley of the Lyre and File . How strangely are thy thoughts and numbers met ! While in each line the Fancies rise and set . This is ( indeed ) t' indite unto a Mint , And to coyn current Rithms that run in Print . Thy Epique White-pot is not like the prose Are scand upon a snorting six foot nose : Thy valiant Muse , that is so highly born , Fears not the wrinkles of their nasal horn , Who under a bent Brow 's prophaner Bay Men in their nostrils rugged ballance weigh ; Like nosewise Critiques striving to suspend By judgement , what their wits can never mend . Injoy thy Issues attributes , well known By Pallas voted for the Muses Hone. Rich pen ! to light upon a blessed nest Of Amazonian Worthies in the West : That where the Wisemans Adage says a shrew Should be sought ought to drive away the foe : Thy she's , like silent men themselves behave Not ( Capitolian Geese ) by kackling save ; And whereas female valour ( apt to quail ) Is seldom seen to rise above the nail : Here with the Phalanx of each Hand array'd In natures files , they men at Arms invade . Take heed henceforth you She-beat Royal Bands , Who wave their mouths loud weapon in their Hands , Will be ( when all your feeble valours spent ) Most oriental in their Occident . Aesculapius Menecraticus . Ignoto novarum cruditatum Authori Scribendi Cacoethe laboranti S. CArmina ronchissas balba de Nare Poeta , Ad Rhombum resonans Maevius alter eris . Sic glacit as mollem Calamo crepitante triumphum , Scilicet ut fuso Palladis hasta fuit : Exitus acta probat : Si nunc Cacophonia grata est Sphyncteris occidui sibilus , omen erit . Lectori . Long as oscitationes trahenti , Et vix sibi lecta paginâ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 severè spectanti , haec mora Epigrammatis morigeri : In morosas , hujus Morologiae cruditates , Per Authorem , virum moratum Et summoperè morandum Nuper editas ; Ac ( O mores ! ) ex improviso Excussas , Etiam dum Remores auspicium vaticum Moretis incusabat . Attica Qui moriens obitér dicteria lusit , Ille Morus , vibrans , Vtopiensis Olor ; Plebicolusque nigro Chiliadis Indice vultu , Sacrans moríae pegmata pulchra Moro : Arrident nostro , morum Diplomate Vati , Quem tu morari dixeris Encomio . Morion Colax minor Cognomento Remora . Custos Morii Poetici . Helleboratus . Cum Cicerone ad Atticum . Vultum tuum Videre cuperem quùm haec legeres . Authori Oscedinis & Orthopnoneae Poeticeae gravidine deplorato Alexipharmaca Hygiaeque Litatio . Mandibulis prodest succis Oleaster amaris Hinc Oscedo volans & satagentis opus . Res. Iradices persilidis , optime succo , Perdulcis Calami conde , superque sapis . Os. Pennae ( Scripturo ) acri stet semper aceto N●m musam ronchos ducere saepe , vet at . POets ( that have one ) with a waking Nose May make a scurvy shift to snort in Prose : But here 's the secret cunning of thy Art ! To snore so well in tune , and sing thy part . The Greek , whose vomits dregs Thou seems to lap , VVas wont sometimes in verse to take a nap : But herein your Errata's are at odds , His were short slips , and yours are thorow nods . He Cepius-like , to his male friends did keep ; And thou dost only unto women sleep , So loud ; as if Th'adst hir'd Menippus cave To be thy Muses long poetique grave . VVere tart Lucilius but alive agen To set a wiping nose upon his pen ! He would his own smart accent let alone , Drive Hogs to Rumford in thy Muses tone . The sneezings of thy Genius we wou'd call ( VVere there Familiars now ) Socratical ; And though Thou hast such rites in smal repute , VV' are bound those sacred omens to salute : And do ( as sympathetically drawn ) Grow nauseous , for to see thy Fancy yawn . Larus Lucianus . Cognomento Implumis . Alias Ionathan . Rumford . Physiognomical Conjectures at the unseen Author . NAture hath seem'd to make our Faces terse , In manner of a well-composed verse ; But sure , there 's something in the ayr of Thine Remarkable above the native line : thou 'dst be by him could copy out thy look By pencil , for a Crisp Abderite took . A Prophet of the true Pierian race , Bred on Parnassus forked Top ; his Face Should have the Jiggs and Fancies of his mind Prickt down in Crotchets , and so interlin'd With Clifts and Moods ; it might be , for a Book Of Physiognomy , or Musick took ; Not look like those , whose thoughts do suck their Dam Through the close hurdle of an Anagram . The wits Idea in thy Visage seen , Works like Platonique capers on the spleen ; And brings Sardonian laughter into scorn ! VVere man's dull fivers made of Stoique horn , The spruce aspect , could not introduce a gleek Of Cynique Spasms into his dimpled cheek . Such in his visages Dramatique map VVas Rowley , when his look d●serv'd a clap : VVho from the Thuscan stem derive their stile , Oft by Arts magique , raise a humming smile : But thine ( a vertue of a higher bi●th ) Moves , so , an interjections shaking mirth , ( Had he seen Thee ) Democritus had dy'd , And Heraclitus eyes had soon been dry'd ; Sure mine ( had I once enter'd at this door Into thy mind ) would never pain me more . Since thy description made my midriff sprout , And through my liver thrust these wilde figs out . Had thy rich countenance e're blest the eye Of my judicial Astrology ; I could have then , by vertue of a beam , Have drawn thy Horoscope into a Scheam . But fate has laid on me a harder task To Physiognomize , as through a mask . By the long stroaks and scratches of thy pen , Thou shouldst be the seventh son of a white Hen. Ianus de Indagine . Pam mai garw blaen blewyn baf garfr yn pori kelyn kaled dan dy nhâd ei . LYthyr wyfi yn myned nid oes ond un dyn am gwyr Na egored neb honof fam selieda chwyr . Nis gwyr ond un dyn y chwaith ibleu traf Os dywed ynte i un dyn nid ydiw fo ond knaf . Gwalcchmai fab Gwenllian ferch Gwenhwyfar ferch Edynyfed Fab Gronw ab Tudor fab Angharad ferch Rhydderchap Rhirid ben blaid . Ai Kunt . To her much honoured , though unknown Friend , the Author on his Spinning Poem . FAncy cut out of a block , First , hung spindle at a rock ; And so plodding wit brought in The Peripatetique sin . Wine set Poets to the wheel , Made their warmed verses reel ; Sent them strong into the loom , Thence , they scorn'd the peoples doom ; Women , here set up thy Gigg , Make it spin into a Jigg Of as high and great regard , As the Pyrrhique Gallyard : But ceasing to let it feel The scourge of thy Brains flead Eel ; Thinking it had power to keep ( Town-top like ) it self asleep ; Whirling put thee in a swoon , So ( alas ) thy Gigg went down : And we doubt 't will be in vain E're to set it up again . Eve Spinster . Rhodomontado Qackesalvo Bobadill de Montebanko the Hispanolized Emperique : On the Great Don Deigo of Parnassus , Master Operator to the Muses , thus danceth his attendance by way of preamble , in the measures of the Spanish Pavin OLd Erasistratus who thought ! That Nature did commit a fault To give us Spleens were good for nought , As he imagined . He would have , sure , retriev'd his wit , And found some pleasant use of it Had he felt in thy Muses fit Thy pulses . For there he mought have found the strain Of sweet Herophilus his vein , Who unto Musicks living gain The Shygmick moods did add . His Systol ' and Diastole So with thy verses do agree , That I must dance for company Morisko . Each line doth run so smooth away They nor for sense nor reason stay , And yet the Rhymes are very gay And well breath'd for a course . Sure Phoebus cut thy spleen from Thee Thou mights the Muses Footman be , And ( Insect like ) in Poetry Be flying . Hermophroditus Proselyta foeminili Poetae . ANdrogynus nutans nec mas nec foemina , steti Ambos sic sexus singere , Neuter eram ; Donec in Encomii requiescens auspice vatem Hoc muliere virum vincere posse , tuli . Demitto auriculas Epicoeni facta virago Tiresiae venerem Martis alumna probo . Some sprinklings of commendations on the fragrant and most aromatick Poem of Ja. Strong . STow talks of Albions Amazons , I swear , Mandeviles Pigmies to thy Haeroines hear : How they mow down their mighty foes ; protest Meer clippings , to thy hacksters in the West . Thy Mu●e ( young Ovid ) trumpets these Viragoes To the utmost bounds of Indies , or Barbadoes : That Sidneyes Zelman when she 'l hear of you , Will w●sh her counterfeiting gender true : And Tomyris , ( were she alive ) not dead , Had rather hold their trains then Cyrus head . What miracle is this in sight of men , When other folk did cry , nay howl and scream , Put finger in the eye , and made great moans , These should be pulling up , now throwing down stones . They willingly imbrace the cornish hug , At which the boldest Hectors shoulders shrug , Like to light corks they beoy up gainst the tide , Like Water-men , ne're work before they are ply'd : Or as indeed ( young Ovid ) thou hast it best , Like grapes ne're fallen till they were prest . Let them wear buskings ever to their knees , Or higher it , for ( friend ) thy verse all sees That is in them , of vertuousness I mean , Pray take my rime as I suppost , that 's clean , Let them have statutes made ( like men ) of stone , Another wonder , which may be daily sh●wn , And let thy pen contrive it , which must stand Immovable , when stiffened by thy hand . Bu●ly Ioans . Ascunes motts ou verses sur les marveilous Gests del tresnoble puzeles en le West . Provant auxi que le entrie de ses dits puzeles sur les Cavalieres fuit bone per le Ley. VOus avez icy ( Mastres ) verses scaches De tresgrand faits de nostre Western lasses Et ceo suppuose que il serra come Treason Ou al pluis meindre il serra misprision Si nostre Ley voile riens de ceo escrie Ne voile reporter cielx femes Chivalry Est en nous pris un Count nosme Devon-shire Le scite & sinke de plusars Cavalire Mes ceux bones Houswives vice le broom le weapon Ad scoure ceo cleane & done al eux disseison Et s' bone ley que quant home per tort enter Le feme avera un briefe de inspiciend ' venter . John Perkins un sage Mastre de Ley. Reg. Ed. 6. ac Rotulo 1645. To his honoured friend Mr. JAMES STRONG , on his excellent Poem . HOw dost thou strain thy wits ! thy thoughts perplex With Stronger lines to court the weaker Sex ! He who in time to come shall read their story Beyond Haec homo , or The Female glory , Will ( if no wiser than thy self ) admire Both them and thee : and think you did conspire T' amaze the minds of men , more than to teach The zeal you here present : For who can reach The top of that gay garland , wherewith thou , Like Whitson-Ladies hast bedeckt their brow . S. W. In ipsissimum Musarum melliculum , Phoebi germanum , & maxime Familiarem Dominum Presbyterum - IACOBVM cognomento STRONG , & pium ejus subuculare Carmen . SAxa , virumque cano , gressus removete Prophani ; Haec ne , quisquis ades , tela lacesse volens . Si sapis his credas , rapiat ne fide carentem Turba loquax , captum at redime quam minim● . Certè Author caveat , novum ne augendo furorem , Castratus miser , hinc audiat ipse male . Io triumphe canunt petientes Penthea Bacchae . Multae unum , minor est gloria Naso tuis . Molle genus nobis pugnando restituit rem , Saxa dabat testes nam retinere cupit . Quam benè scripsisses novam Batromuomachyam ? Carmine avent repeti Nuxque Culexque tuo . Dignaque quae melius describi , à Pollice dicti Facta Equitis : faciunt quaeque stupenda grues . O tibi si dominae reserasset scrinia Fotis , Bubonem benè vix unctum abtisse puto . Dicitur , ut memini , faecundis ●latibus olim , Lascivus celeres gignere ventus equos . Quisve neget Zephyro nostrum praegnasse Poetam , Talibus hic videas quem properare modis . Ast animal quodcunque , asinus , fuit , anne caballus , Nil moror , at mulum parturit egregium , Cardo quod occiduus trahat hunc , sympathia quaedam ast ; Nasum Heliconiadis forte lavavit aquis . Ridiculum caput est , vultuque , habituque perennis , Risus sacra ferens , quemque vidisse sat est . Nil prohibet sed si ridentem dicere verum , Musarum huic crepitus aura jocosa tulit . D. G. Sonnet . WHen first thy doughty verse I read , O verse ! no verse ! but stranger thing ; And saw what wondrous mirth it bred , I marvell'd how the Queen and King Had mist this while thy high-strain'd note , And thou the privileged Coat . For as the Moon with crisped beams Produceth flowers which please the sight ; And as the Sun amidst the streams Doth make the waves stand bolt upright ; So thou , though by no Star allow'd , Nor Planet lov'd , shin'st in the Crowd . I le not believe those tales , which say , Apollo fed Admetus sheep , His Cow , or Oxe , for by my say , Since thou the number up dost keep , The Herd was of , I dare protest , Arcadia's more peculiar beasts . And since the Lamiae all are pleas'd , Their Gods should all be born by thee , Thou of thy load shalt not be eas'd By roses , though here plenty be ; One Apuleius was , they say , But he I think did never bray . Wherefore be thou secure , and now To you whose blessed hap't shall be This Syrian Goddess to to bow , And dream some Fane , or great City ; I tell you plain , O Mortals , Mortals , This Myndus is , look you secure the portals , For there the jest lyes , but to thee Again , my Meta - Virgil , terse Thought of my end now driveth me ; For since thou wouldst live by thy verse , How dare I hope a death in mine , Aim'd for so just , so jump , like thine . Richard Ionson , Salamanca . A Character of the Author . ME thynk it , Sirs , accordaunt to reason , To tell you now all the condycion Of thilke on , so as it semed me , And what hem were , and of what degre , And eke in what aray that he were in , And all for forward by Saint Runnyon . A Clerke of Oxenford he was tho , That unto Logicke h●d long ygoe , Of his complexion nothing sangyne He is , but all swa sw●rt ; and of Latyne A few termes hath he , two , or thre , That he han learned out of som degre : His face is bald , and shines as any glas , His mouth as great as is a furnas , With scaled browes , blacke and pylled berde , Of his visage children are sore afferde ; His voyce as smale as is a Gotes fare , I trow he be a Geldyng or a Mare ; His here is by his eeres round yshorne , His top is docked like a Priest beforne ; He is short sholdered , a thicke gnarre , There nis no doore but he wol hede the bar , Or breke it at a renning with his heed , Dares none ones wyle him but he wol be deed , Aye by his belt he bares a longe Pavade , And , of a sword full trenchaunt is the blade , To rage as t were a whelpe he is sayde , Yet of his porte , as meke as is a Mayde : Full longe he lokes , and thereto soberly , Full thred-bare is his over Court py ; For he han yet getten him no benefice , Ne is nought worthy to have none office , And yet Saynt Iulyan is in 's countre , And the best begger of his house truly : Full longe are his legges and full l●ne , I lyke a staffe , there is no calfe ysene , Of yedding he bares utterly the price , Well loveth he garlike , onyons , and eke likes , He holden a syde wemme for the none , Full oft tyme he han the bourde begon , No Crysten man soe oft in his degree , And in Lyme at the siege had he be . But soth to say he is somwhat squaimus Of far●yng , and of speche dangerous . Now is it not of God a sul fayre grace , That such a lewde mans wit shal pace The wisdome of an heape of lerned men ? But I must sayne , as that I farther twyn , I weene he fares as doth an open●●rs , That ylke frute is ever lenger the w●rs , Til it be rotten in molloke or in ●●re , And so God save us al that here be . J. Chaucer junior . PROLOGUE . GEntlemen , ( in the Authors phrase ) I come to chatter My mind unto you , and think not I should flatter At all our Penman ; for , believe me , he Will hardly read or hear me , willingly : But some there be , I know , will ask why here In Satans name a Prologue should appear ? Since they Drammatike Ushers still were known , And this the world will for an Epic own . I answer , sure our Author meant to raise The first best instituted form of plays , To its prime height : were one Narration took The fore-top , and the toe of the whole Book . One more Objection there will be , which is , Why to so scarrifi'd a piece as this , A merry Prologue , and a laughing name , Are tender'd ? Ye , fine Coxcombs , fye for shame , Know ye not yet t' what sage Mimnermus stood ? That but what pleasant was nothing was good . Our Authors of his mind and no man grieves So far , but that he may laugh in his sleeves . Think then you hear him now , and think anon , How that you hear the swelling Lycophron Chaunt , how the Trojan women stirr'd their bones , To tumble down their walls huge massie stones ; For ours did so , yet wiser far then those , These to repel , those to let in their foes , Oh would himself now but his face make shine , With daubing plaister , and the Lees of wine ! Ascend a Cart ( as was the mode of old ) And through the streets himself this Poem trol'd . Youl l think if not Apollo fresh and young , Because his hair is short , his ears are long . Because Don Phoebus robes do loosly float , And he alas has but a petti-coat : Yet since he had paper got , by teaching School , He had been sworn ( you 'd swear ) Groom of his stool . And this same Poem here which now you view , Part of the excrements from thence which flew . A year and half box'd up , ( this is sad mirth ) From whence ( like to an Elephantine birth ) Is dropt this wonder ; Sirs , pray hold your noses , Or hold some of my friends wits here for poses : I doubt you 'l snuff else , and like him , to whom Admetus shew'd the Verse for his own tomb , Admire the strangeness of it , but yet say , You wish that you had seen it yesterday . Richard Ionson . Si non dant Proceres , dabit Histrio . Feminine Valour : OR THE Western Women . COme Reader wilt thou see how Grace Through Sable veil shews comeliest face : Womens vertues in the West Like Grapes ne'r drop till they were (a) prest : One rib of Adam there is grown Like (b) Cadmus teeth when they were sown ; Almost an Army , they have spent Prayers and praise for Parliament . Could'st thou the parts of Devon trace No * via lactea , but thy race Of blood would be , there see the field Maintain'd by Women tho men yield : Look round about and see , who can But wonder if he see a man , But stand and wonder more at this , To see a (c) Metampsukesis . Mens (d) spirits lost have reinformed Womens bodies , both's reformed : Who could see the sword not daunting A Womans heart , but stand still vaunting ? A Garrison in part defended By Women , till the Quarrels ended , And worn out men to be supply'd By second strength of Women (e) try'd , And not acknowledge that 't is true , I give West Women what is (f) due . Ia. St. WHat former Age did ever want a Quill Drencht with the dew of high Parnassus hill ? Those Bastard gifts of nature to record , But ah ! cannot our ill taught times afford One to give vertue juster praise ? (a) Ye Nine , Have ye no quicker fancy now then mine To limn the praises of that weaker Sex Exactly as beseems an (b) Artisex Where 's now that nimble tongue , Apollos vein , Or had we one could match blind Homers strein , Or but that (c) wanton Poet who to flatter , One (d) Lalage sweet Poems once did (e) chatter . Here 's now a subject worth his pains , who sings Had need carouse of all the (f) Muses springs : A saint-like sort of Females as before , Earths broad Horrison till now ne're bore . (g) From heaven are fallen , O let 's not be dull To write their worth whereof the West is full . New natur'd are they and their grace divine , Come let 's embalm their faces , and eke enshrine Their worth with honour , which doth claim the bays And round their heads , let 's deck the Daphnean bays . If constancy that golden garland wreath'd Which mortals none yet wore that ever breath'd , In (h) sun-burnt times of danger , but he lost This sacred jem , wherewith this crown 's imbost Sometime or other : O what cause had we To spread the praise of female constancy ? Yet such a train of vertues do attend This (i) Lady leader , as I should not spend Some pain of speaking of her retinue , I should deny her what I know is due : Not one but hand in hand me thinks she goes Linkt to all vertues following her in rows : An injury it were should I describe The mistress by her self which it doth ride , Born not by few but such a train of Graces As did the (k) three , but see they 'd hide their faces : Cease now (l) Agathocles to speak the praise Of thy (m) Theogina , for our late dayes Have overmatcht thy mate for constancy ; Yea constant (n) Camnia or (o) Antiope : I must search further for a parable , Or else our all past females will excel : Vertue in those was single , shew me one Like ours hold vertue all and I have done . If here Corvina , Sapho , or that Queen , Zenobia for their learning would be seen So far as ere the Bard past (p) Aristarchus , Or foolish Bavius was outstript by Marcus : Our (q) christal wits be (r) pearl'd with gifts divine Those ruder rugged spirits do out-shine . If Great Gorgonia or Evanders mother Endowments now would shew beyond all other , Trasilla And prove their eminence in pious zeal , O let our Matrons only but appeal To heavens high Chancellor ▪ where they may not boast If ere himself were conquer'd by an hoast Of praying females , where every hour Heaven be not forc't his mercy down to showr : No strangers are they at the throne of Grace , But vow to pray until they see his face ; Which being hidden hath eclipst this Ile , As when the glorious Sun 's withdrawn a while : Doth noble Portia or (s) Lucretia strive For chastity this praise us to deprive . Modesty forbids you vaunt , hark how Diana Prefers our females far beyond (t) Susanna : Who though the (u) crimson whore seek to deflowr , And spoyl this Virgin vertue every hour . Let each day testifie how they refuse Her whorlsh proffers , and do rather choose To sacrifice their blood to Christ their Bride , Then with Romes Idols to be (u) stuprifide . This makes Romes beasts to foam with rage 'Cause we hold fast that knot of Marriage With Christ our Husband , and will not defile Our milk-white garments with his whoredoms vile . Dost thou (x) Sulpitia fret for this their glory , And for thy verity relat'st a story Which needs must lay a claim unto that Rose That joys our females temples to inclose ? Their persons yet their hearts do bend As circle lines do to one center tend . Religion reformed is all their scope Which not one few or most but all do hope : Ones griefs not anothers joy , but all Do live and die together , rise and fall , So closely are they joyn'd by union● tie , That all resolve to live , and all to die . 'Mongst them not one (y) Tarpeia ere betray'd Their strength through bribes or else with fear dismay'd . Blush then to see our (z) Corus so combin'd That all seem better one , then more defin'd . How strangely frugal still Dame Nature seem'd Pinching her gifts till now , these may be deem'd Her darling unto others being bereaved Of those choice * dowries to our sex bequeath'd , But flesh and blood ne'r gave a legacy To match the graces we in them descry : None but that sacred story must produce A Saint to challenge my undaunted Muse. 'Mongst Mary's three 't was chiefly given in charge VVith ne'r forgotten praises to enlarge , The Sacred Bible with her praise that cast Perfuming Nard on Christ , 't was called wast : Not one but many matrons there we see VVho rather then to Baal they 'l (a) bend a knee , A set of martyred matrons chose to be , As earths contemners joyntly do contend Who most in oyntment shall on Christ expend Whole mannors , large possessions lost , are gain In their account , Christs honour to maintain . Did Mary wash with tears ? 't was much with blood , These steep the parched earth as doth (b) a flood . O precious balm sweat from a soul perfum'd With grace till body be again resum'd . This like an (c) Ordure shall the world fill And keep your glory pure and spotless still : But Jael thinks at last this palm to win By valour greater far then feminin : Ours truly warlike are , she took the odds VVhen Sisera lay sleeping , ours with clodds , (d) Stones , swords or fists , can fight on equal terms , A handful scorns to fly from (e) Summer swarms . This Amazon-like train vows ne'r to stoop Being fled from Venus unto Mars his troop , VVhere they with tumors , tost , Truths (f) standard bear , And Sions downfaln breaches strive to rear : They stop the gap themselves , where judgement flies Praying in Moses turn with tear-swoln eyes , Nor fancy , frenzy , or blind passion , Or ought but pious resolution Moves them with constant courage thus to hold , Right tutoring reason makes them bold . VVhy speak I more then this , to most 't is known (g) The weaker vessels are the stronger grown . The vine which on the pole still lean'd his arms , Must now bear up and save the pole from harms . How many man-like spirits have been steel'd By these she helpers being like to yeeld . How have some to courage been exhorted , How often others by them been supported ? I this deblason coat that makes the crest Is (h) constancy of vertues all the best : A vertue which till now was never known In womens breasts , till now was never shewn : Their choice was Mary's ( Christ ) then 't is not strange Their motto's this ( Our choice admits no change . ) Worlds wanton wooers may rend Josephs coat From him , but him from Christs , hell cannot doo 't : A sweeting solace have they in their crosses , We keep our Christ , what matter is 't for losses ? Go on , heavens saints , like to those Roman Dames (i) Cornelia , (k) Portia , and the rest whose names Shall wear out time , who first began To make a Pagan state a Christian one : Your praise is great who cannot abide That Babels (l) tired whore her self should hide Under Christs garments , or be fostered longer Within the Kingdom to some now grown stronger By opposition fill'd with detestation Of (m) Romish Locusts near to deaths damnation ▪ Rejoyce then travelling women thy time near grows To be delivered from the painful throws Of twice two tiring Summers that do make Our bowels yearn to (n) see our hearts to ake : The Judge already set on bloody room And murdered Saints cry lowdly for her doom , How long Lord , how long shall this whore wallow In guiltless blood , and threaten still to swallow Each day a deeper draught ; O make her drunk With vials of thy plagues ; let her be sunk As low as hell with vengeance from above Judg'd to the persecutors of thy Dove ; Mean while continue pure , the lilly scorns To be defiled tho behedg'd with thorns . The husbandman's at hand and he must needs Gather the rose or else destroy the weeds . Come Lord to thy garden and do pity The wilde Bore routs thy plants in every City : Hedge us within the pales of thy defence So shall thy plants be safe from violence . Farewel rare paramours , I must confess Vertues perfection claims a purer dress , Stand fast a while , the nuptial chambers sweeping To welcome those to joy that now stand weeping . The Epilogue . SIrs , if you are set on edge , you must excuse Our Author says , the sharpness of his Muse. Because he vows , and stands to 't , that no wines Do grow in th' West , he thought for lack of Vines . Next to ground apples , be loves nought before The milk-maids courtesie behind the door , When for a tale of love , or last nights dream , She pays him with two kisses , and sowr cream . Besides as he remembred , 'a did think , That 'a put verguice into once his Ink , But wonder't should be stale , for by the sun , He swore 't was scarce two years since he begun . Truth 't was the Stati'ners fault , that was too nice , To bate at first ten shillings in the price ! If y' are displeas'd he vows to write no more , But Satyrs ( I 'ad forgot ) against the whore , And you his friends howere he does not fear But to prefer'em to a judges ear , And reason ; for to me , he did protest They'd make as good neck verses as the best . Pray don't provoke him , for you know not what An inrag'd fancy may attempt ; that 's flat He 'll write Iambicks , and then if that you Do hang your selves , mechance he 'll do so too . Faith , do not trust him ; for who justly can Value the loss , that such a worthy man , Would bring upon the Commonweal of wit Should he but undergo a fate unfit ? Wer 't not for him Apollo would be sad , And th' Muses want of mirth , poor girls , run mad . But 'gainst the Proverb , while he lives I 'le swear , The God will laugh more then bare once a year : Now much good do 't ye , 't is th● Authors will ; Beshrew you if you did not laugh your fill . But lest this mirth should cease , pray write ye too , And then perchance we 'll laugh as much at you . Lusimus Octavi 8 Sive G. D. FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A61840-e140 * Or may indifferently suit with one of Tho. Sternhold 's Airs , and be sung as a Hymn at a Conventicle . (a) his Father was a poor Tayler at Church-stoak in Dorsetshire ▪ and wrought for a Groat a day , his Pottage , and Bread and Cheese . (b) The Wor●hy Parson of Church-stoak and afterward Warden of Wadham-Colledge in Oxford . (c) James Strang our learned Author . (d) A Poo● Scholar still . (e) Having no Episcopal Ordination . (f) That had so charitably contributed both toward his Education and Instruction . (g) Mr. Mintern's Daughter in Dorset-shire . (h) Old Brown of Brampton in Dorset was so called by N●l , for giving his Voice for bringing King Charles the First to his Tryal . (i) He took the Font out of the Church , and made it his Pigs-trough . (k) His Father was a Committee-man in Dorset-shire . (l) It should have had a Stake driven through it . (m) The Good-Old Cause of the Long Parliament . (n) A Disease incident to Women , proceeding from an Obstruction in the Matrix , which our Author is well known to be experimentally skill'd in removing . (o) His Parsonage of Bettescombe . (p) Mr. Tarlton's Vicaridge . (q) Formerly the Famous Seminary of Schismaticks . Notes for div A61840-e5190 * Navis stultifera . Notes for div A61840-e16610 (a) The Author writes to chast ears . (b) The History is thus . A tooth-drawer having drawn Cadmus his teeth . sowed them on his belt , where they got him so much credit , and consequently practice , that in a short space he had adorned it all over with the frequent atchievements of his Art and Pincers . See Ovids Metam . translated by Gawen Duglas Bishop of Dunkelly , and Unkle to the Earl of Angus . * Milkstreet . (c) The word in the original Welch signifies the succession of women into mens breeches . (d) He means women turned to men ; Pliny in his Natural History , lib. 7. affirms the like of Ha●es and Conies , our Author alludes to him . (e) Whose mettal has endured the Test. (f) Benevolence . Notes for div A61840-e17070 (a) Not the nine worthies , but the nine women worthies . See Haywood . (b) Read the English ●●positer . (c) Q Horatius . (d) An Handmaid of Rome . (e) He sung them to the Gittar under her window in a cold frosty night . (f) Both before and behind the forked Hill. (g) He does not mean as Lucifer fell , not Vulcan when he broke his ships , but as woman should do . (h) See Sir John Mandevil , where he speaks of a People in Africa that use to rost Geese in the sun : and the Author , could not fancy a place of greater danger . (i) Alluding to Vicars in his translation of Virgils Aeneids , where he makes Turnus call I●●urna , Sister Coachman , &c. (k) Charites , or the Adamites that go naked . (l) A S●cilian much celebrated for his constancy to Pi●kins . (m) His wife Mrs. Agathocles . (n) Who this Camnia should be I cannot justly say , I guess her to be the Lady mentioned in the first edition of some years travels , sister to the Persian Emperor whose head was cut off , and sent to her brother upon a spears point with her hair about her shoulders . (o) A Gentlewoman of Thebes in the County of Bonia . (p) A Poet , Godfather to the Author . (q) For the right understanding of this . See the Mirror of Knight . (r) See Mrs. Susan Brotus de Margar. (s) A Popish Roman Dame that stabd her self for one Raph. See the Knight of the burning Pest. (t) She whom the two wicked elders would grope while she sent out her maids to fetch her some sope . (u) It seems this whore is an Hermophrodite else the feat could not be done . (u) To stuprifie is not found in the English Expositers , but familiarly used by this Author . (x) A Poetess that whipt and stript Domitian the Emperour , because he sent the Philosophers from Constable to Constable . (y) Tarpeia was a Nun that dealt between the Sabines and the Geese , about delivering up the Capitol . She was the first woman that ever was prest to death (z) Not the Popish Cathedral , nor the prophane Dramatique . but that Western C●rus the Poet mentions in Corum solitus savive ●●agellis . Meaning the Beadle . * Some Copies have it doweets . (a) Make a curtsey or a leg . (b) He means the floud of Deucalion and Pyrrha who also threw stones in imitation of these Matrons . (c) That is to say the smell of a perfum'd soul is an excellent preservative against black patches . (d) So Diomedes and Aeneas in Homer , Entellus and Dares in Virgil of whom Mr. Vicars sings . They bang'd each others hides And made redoubled thwak● sound on their sides . (e) See Coriats Trophy in his Crudities , where he describes these bloud-thirsty Myrmidons whom no mortal could ere subdue on equal terms , but by some shift or other . (f) Lasciva est Pagina vita proba est (g) The gray Mare is the better Horse . (h) Inconstancies a vice . She that loves more then once , loves twice . (i) A School-mistris in Rome that taught children the Horn-book . (k) He does not mean that they should eat fi●e as Portia did , but rather fight . (l) So Juvenal says of her , Lassata viris nondum satiata , Sat. 6. (m) These locusts are a kind of Cantharides which the whore of Babylon uses to take for proneness . (n) Though the belly have no ears yet it should seem it hath eyes