Portland-Stone IN Paules-Church-yard.
Their Birth, their Mirth, their Thankefulnesse, their Aduertisement.
Written By HEN: FARLEY, a Free-man of London: Who hath done as freely for Free-Stone, within these eight yeares, as most men, and knowes as much of their mindes as any Man.
Buy, or goe by.
LONDON, Printed by G. E. for R. M. and are to be sold at the great South doore of of Pauls. 1622.
TO THE RIGHT Honourable, Reuerend, Worshipfull, and Worthy Commissioners, appointed by the Kings most Sacred Maiesty, for the Reparation of St. PAVLS Church in LONDON:
My very good Lords and Masters.
IF your graue Wisedomes herein I offend.
My faithfull Muse
did neuer so intend;
For (though but plaine)
shee's honest, and shee's true,
And hath respect to God, King, Church and You.
[Page] In all humilitie shee's well content,
For her least fault to be right penitent;
And (of your fauors) craues but this for guerdon,
If well, your boon; if ill, your gentle pardon.
Amore, Veritate, & Reuerentia. So deuoted to Gods House, And to your Lordships and Worships euer bounden, HEN: FARLEY.
TO THE RIGHT Reuerend Father in GOD, GEORGE, Lord Bishop of London, &c. My singular good Lord.
AS from the Hill
of Hermons Heau'nly tops,
Most Sacred Dewe
on Sion Mountaines drops:
Which falling further to the lower ground,
Doth make the Fields with fruits diuine abound;
So may that Hermon-Dewe be dropping still,
On thee (chiefe Montaigne) of Pauls-Sion Hill;
That so Her lower grounds may fruitfull be,
And She (poor Church) made fortunate by Thee:
For which I pray, these Blessings may ensue,
Health, Plenty, Peace, Ioy, and Long-life to You.
H. F.
This is no Nettle, thorne or thistle, But vnto Enuy an Epistle.
PErhaps you doe delight to flout and fleere,
Perhaps a word may be misplaced here,
[...]erhaps some thing may touch you very neere,
[...]erhaps you doe beleeue, your threats I feare,
[...]erhaps you loue me not, the case is cleare,
[...]erhaps you doe backbite me euery where,
[...]erhaps you thinke it comes not to mine eare,
[...]erhaps you crost my new bookes sale last yeare,
[Page] Perhaps you know I cannot quit this geare.
Yes, if I would as enuious appeare:
But what need I, sith acting thus your part,
You wound your selues (by Enuy) to the heart.
H. F.
PORTLAND STONE IN Pauls Church-yard.
E'Re since the Architect
of Heauens faire frame,
Did make the World,
and Man to vse the same;
In Earths wide wombe,
as in our nat'rall bed,
We haue beene hid,
conceal'd, and couered,
[Page] Where many thousand ships, haue sailed by,
But knew vs not, and therefore let vs lye.
Till at the last, and very lately too,
(Some Builders hauing building worke to doe,
And time be'ing come we could no longer tarry,
But must be borne from out our earthly quarry)
We were discouer'd, and to London sent,
And by good Artists tryde incontinent:
Who (finding vs in all things firme & sound,
Fairer and greater then else-where are found;
Fitter for cariage, and more sure for weather,
Then Oxford, Ancaster, or Beerstone eyther,
[Page] Did well approue our worth aboue them All,
Vnto the King for seruice at White-hall:
Where being quickly come, as quickly we,
Had welcome to his Sacred Maiesty,
And (for our humblenesse full many a day)
Were still exalted highest euery way,
In workes of most perspicuous Eminence,
Which in all buildings haue preheminence:
As Columnes, Cornish, Capitals, and Basis,
In Fillets, Frise, in Ornaments and Facis,
In Architraues, in Pedistals, and Pillars.
And (as the onely best of our well-willers)
[Page] Hi [...] Highnesse now our seruice doth preferre
Vnto the Church, to ioyne and dwell with Her:
So that from one good Montaigne to another,
And frō our Mother-earth, to this Church-mother
We come apace, and are preparing aye,
To cure her euils, and her great decay;
To be her front, her bulwarke, and defence,
And: also to renue her excellence,
Where Hymnes and Haleluiahs shall be sung,
With praises to the Lord by old and young,
From day to day, and so from yeare to yeare,
Till Christ his second comming doth appeare.
[Page] O happy age, wherein such things are done,
Thrice happy we that now may see the Sunne,
And be vnited to this sacred place,
(A grace to vs beyond all other grace)
For thus wee know the truth of truest story,
All that God made, he made for his owne glory;
And at one time or other come to light,
To doe man seruice, and their Maker right;
That very senslesse things may him adore,
And magnifie his holy Name therefore.
O Blessed God preserue our Royall Iames,
honor his name among the honor'd names
[Page] Of best precedent Kings that euer stood,
Renown'd for Wisedome, and for doing good:
Make him a second Salomon, a peerlesse Iemme,
In these his Kingdomes, this his Ierusalem:
Lengthen his dayes, his treasure still increase,
And let him liue, and dye, a King of peace.
So blesse, O Lord, our high & mighty Charles,
And then the names of Barons, Peers and Earles▪
The worthy Knights, and Gentry of this Land,
That to this Worke doe set their helping hand.
The Bishops, Clergy, Citie, Country, All,
(And as our duties binde in speciall)
[Page] This Reu'rend Bishop for his loue to vs,
Let him be famous as MAVRITIVS,
Anno 1087. This Church of Saint Paul was much wasted by fire; and worthy Mauritius here mentioned (then Bishop of London,) beganne a new foundation thereof, in manner as now it is, vpon Arches and Vaults of stone, for defence of fire. In which worke he continued a constant and a bountifull Benefactor for 20 yeares together, and then dyed After him (viz) Anno 1107 succeeded Bishop [...]eaumer, who wonderfully encreased the same Church for 20 yeares more, purchasing at his owne costs the large Streets and Lanes round about it, which he beganne to compasse about with a strong wall of stone, and Gates.
[Page] Long liu'd as Nestor, and in euery way
Happy and prosperous till his dying day;
That still he may this famous Church aduance,
In gaining her both Coine and Countenance,
Till such a noble Register be seene
Of Benefactors, as hath neuer beene
In any age or any worke before,
And till he say, Enough, there needs no more.
And cause no mourning in our streets may be,
With such as feare demolishment to see.
Lord for thy Names sake, let it be thy pleasure,
The rather to encrease that pious Treasure,
[Page] That euery one may haue some satisfaction,
To gaine their prayers in so good an action,
And that two Noble workes together may
Be brauely done, to all true Subiects ioy;
And through the world this fame may euer ring,
Pitty did raigne in Bishop, Lord, and King;
Mercy and Iustice were so met in one,
That Iustice (scarce) from Mercy could be knowne.
So, for a Nation pittifull and loyall,
Great Britaine shall winne praise past all deniall.
No man shall need to grieue, or to lament,
For's place of Custome, or Demolishment:
[Page] And blessings many will the Worke attend,
From the beginning to the very end.
But yet, though pitty here we doe request,
That none may thinke themselues too much opprest
Let such as must depart their houses know
No winde so calme or warme did euer blow,
Nor euer was a Worke so good as this,
But that with some it blew or went amisse.
Then sith herein the wind blowes somwhat ill
For such as ioyne to Pauls against her will;
That haue impair'd her strength by vaults & cellars
To make more roome for Buyers and for Sellers;
[Page] Let them with patience endure some losse,
And for the Worke sake beare a little crosse;
Not grudgingly, or by pronouncing wrong,
Cause ther's their Custom, there they liued long
[...]or though desire of gaine's a grieuous Tempter
There is a Prouerb bids them Caueat Emptor.
And ne'rethelesse their Custome and their trade,
This House of God must new againe be made.
Was it not example scurrilous and rude,
At first to grant that trades should there intrudel
Nay are they not accursed, that did yeeld
To make Gods Courts a merchandizing field?
[Page] May we not call them beasts, euen to their faces,
That like bruit beasts defile such sacred places?
Things consecrated vnto P [...]ous vses,
Is't fit that they should suffer foule abuses?
Is there no ciuill difference or ods,
Twixt cleane and vnclean things, mans house & Gods?
Shold Christians bones be dig'd out of their graues
And laid with dogs bones in the fields by knaues,
That so more roome vnder the Church foundation,
May be for A-iaxe in a beastly fashion?
No easment but against the Temple-wals?
No other place to pisse, or make Laystals?
[Page] No way to passe with burthens, but throgh Pauls
wher burthend cōsciences shold ease their soules?
And' cause she is materiall, as men tearme her,
Is it materiall therefore they should harme her?
Looke well about thee Reader, and then see
Whether such things as these ought so to be:
And after due consideration had, then tell
If therewithall God can be pleased well:
Or if there doe belong no curse or woe,
To such as first gaue way to wrong her so:
Or if it were a credit to our Nation,
At all to grant so base a toleration:
[Page] For we doe know thou wilt agree with vs,
To hold it vile and sacrilegious:
And all good men that after looke vpon her,
Will say, 'tis to this Land a great dishonor.
O that we had such gifts of tongue and pen,
As there is giuen to some sonnes of Men;
That by perswasiue reasons we might winne
Th' abusers of Gods house to know their sinne:
That with their Soules they might no longer flatter
But vnderstand it is a haynous matter;
And will be punished before mens eyes,
When all things wronged shall in iudgment rise:
[Page] But we are blockish yet, not past our letters,
And (being diuine) we leaue it to our Betters.
SO now you Workmen, listen what we say,
You are so call'd by work, and not by play)
If euer you were Masters of your Trade,
Make this best Master-peece that ere you made.
'Tis for the Church, and therefore doe not spare
Your best aduice, skill, diligence and care:
And as (some wayes) you stand on reputation,
So labour now to get the commendation:
[Page] Not for precedency, lest then you erre,
For all [...]s one here, both Free and Forreyner;
And as she doth receiue all sorts to prayer,
So any Worke-man, any good Surueyor,
She may retaine to gaine her Reparation,
As for the Church is vs'd in euery Nation.
And yet we hold it were both sinne and pitty
Sith Work-men liue in this renowned Citie,
Good Artists, honest, paying scot and lot,
If more then others they should be forgot;
But rather be preferr'd in some degree
Before a Stranger, whatsoe're he be.
[Page] And' cause our Writer a poore Free-man is,
We hope these words no man can take amisse;
For what he write's according to his oath,
Which to infringe we know he will be loath;
That is, the Cities honor to maintaine,
And also to aduance Her honest gaine.
So once againe we doe reuiue our Muse,
And to all workmen doe more counsell vse;
Learne by the Scriptures what you ought to doe
Let them direct your hands and conscience to;
Ezra, Ne'miah, Chronicles and Kings,
And Haggai vvill shew you many things:
[Page] How iustly men did worke about the Temple,
Which there is Registred for your example;
And with what ioy and loue they did proceed,
The Booke of God will shew you if you reade;
For happy was that man that could deuise
Most curious worke to grace that Edifice:
Or hee whose purse or person could present
Ought that might help to make Her excellent.
Lead, timber, stone, brasse, iron, some men gaue;
Some lyme, some sand, some glasse, to make her braue▪
And Laborers, like Bees, did labor truly,
Obseruing all their times and houres most duly.
[Page] Then if your owne gaine you doe only plod,
You are vnworthy for the House of God;
For if you worke by taske-worke, or by day,
Your pay shall be as iust as ere was pay;
And therefore 'tis expected you should bee
Not sparing in your worke, but francke and free.
Some men there are will maintain to ones face,
(But such we hold both lewd and very base)
That in a worke for King or Church they may
Trifle the time by loytring and delay.
Some will be working hard, but when d'ee thinke?
Iust when they haue no come, or trust for drinke;
[Page] Or when the Clocke is neare the stroke eleuen,
And say they haue so wrought e're since 'twas seauen,
Or when some Officer they doe espie,
That otherwise cashiers them presently.
Some with their Rules do fidle vp and downe,
As if they did more worke then all the towne:
But mark them wel, & giue them their due check
For one weeks work, almost three daies they lack
Some spend much time in finding fault, and so
To picke a thanke will nimbly runne or goe,
Till at the last, the seed which they haue sowne,
Brings forth a fruit more fit to be their owne.
[Page] Some haue the gift of working more then some,
Vntill a holiday, or Sunday come.
But then vvhat they haue got sixe dayes before,
They vvill consume it, if'tvvere ten times more:
Mean while poor vvines & children liue ful bare
Hoping vvhen husbands come of better fare,
And they returne vvhen all the vvorke is done
As poore as Iob, or as the Ʋnthrist Sonne.
Some haue their jobs to doe in other places,
And so they vvorke like Ianus vvith tvvo faces;
And from that taske that longest vvill remaine,
They oftentimes an houre or tvvo vvill gaine.
[Page] But hee that in this worke proues such a lobber,
Is but a kinde of Sacrilegious Robber.
Others, at euery one that by them walke,
Will to their fellowes haue some thing to talke:
& while their tongues are tatling, 'tis their course
To hold their hands, and that is ten times worse.
So there are other some▪ that for a need,
When hempe is scarce, will onely buy gape-seed,
And looke about as if nought were their taske,
But for to answer all that men will aske,
And thinke it is a colour fit t'excuse
The precious time they wrongfully abuse.
[Page] These, like some Schollers that are sent to schools
Haue a good conscience, though not little fooles;
And make Pauls-worke, the Prouerb true doth stand,
Of euery little thing they take in hand:
With whom to liue a faithfull Clarke ath' works,
As good goe dwell with Saracens and Turkes.
But now we thinke no man will be so rude.
And thus in charitie wee doe conclude.
FINIS.
Pauls merrily, yet modestly.
IF Preachers now will speake for me,
In Parish-Churches where they be,
And all good hearts agree in one,
Then farewell my Complaint and moane.
Our good King Iames, he hath begunne,
And eke Prince Charles his onely Sonne:
With many' a Noble Lord and Peere,
To giue me money euery yeere.
O follow such braue Leaders then,
All you braue-minded English-men:
For what you giue it is not lost,
But brings a blessing for your cost.
So Portland stone sith you are come,
To ioyne with me till day of doome,
Vntill that day we will be friends,
And wish them good that good intends.
Certaine Additions of the Author, as they were giuen to the King and Prince, in the Parliament-time last, and at the Christmas following
CHrist the Beloued of the King of Kings,
Apparant Heire of Heau'ns rich Diadem;
Reioyce the Heart, and Spirit in all things,
Of this faire Branch of our most Royall Stemme,
Long Life, good Wife, (sweet Iesus) giue to Him,
Vnto His present Age, and day of Birth,
Send Him all Blessings both of Heau'n & Earth.
PRotect Him by thy Power Omnipotent,
Renowne Him in the Court of Parliament,
Instruct Him by the Wisdome from aboue,
Neuer be absent from Him in thy Loue;
Crowne Him with Triumphs and great victories,
Euer confound (or turne) His Enemies;
Prosper His going out, and comming in,
Saue Him in all assaults of deadly Sin.
Amen.
IN sixteene hundred Twenty one,
(A yeare you may remember)
Prince Charles was aged Twenty one
The Nineteenth of Nouember,
The Nineteenth yeare of IAMES our Kin [...]
His peacefull happy Raigne:
God blesse Them both, and Their Offspring
Till SHILO come againe.
He that did write for Pauls (nam'd Henry Farley [...]
Prayes thus for Them, and so will late and early.
FINIS.