Taylors Pastorall: BEING BOTH HISTORICALL AND SATYRICALL: Or the Noble Antiquitie of Shepheards, with the profitable vse of Sheepe: With a small touch of a scabbed Sheepe, and a caueat against that infection.

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Printed at London by G. P. for Henrie Gosson, and are to be sold at Edward Wrights shop neere Christs Church Gate. 1624.

TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL IVDI­CIOVS AND TRVLY GENE­rous, my well approued good friend Mr. THOMAS DOVE, Archdeacon of Northamp­ton, the accomplishment of his worthy desires Temporall and Eternall.

Right Worshipfull Sir,

BOokes without Patrons, are like Babes without Parents, (for except the one be pleasing and plausible to humour, the va­rious dispositions of men, and the other left with warme portions or legacies in the tuition of faithfull Executors or Guardians) both Bookes and Babes are happy if they die in their birth, that the first minute of their miserie may be the first moment of their felicities: these considerations haue humbly emboldened me to lay this poore Infant of my laborious Braine, at the doore or gate of your patro­nage & protection, not doubting but your innated chari­ty, good disposition, and vnfaigned affectation of al Law­dable endeuours, will giue it both free and hospitable [Page]entertainment. The function I treate of being venerable and honourable, as of Shepheards, the profit commenda­ble, lawfull, necessarie, ample, and vniuersall, as of Sheepe. The writing or method of it historicall, mysticall, tropi­call, typicall, literall, and Satyricall; which hath encou­raged me to dedicate my poore Shepheardly inuention, and their harmlesse flockes to your Worships good ac­ceptance, whose reuerend function is truly Pastorall; ac­knowledging that my many imperfections in writing, and vnworthinesse in handling so worthy a subiect, hath made me doubtfull to vse the protection of your Name; yet on the other side, considering your good inclination, and mine owne humble innocencie, both my selfe and my best endeauours I here consecrate to be employed euer in your Worships seruice.

He whose meaning, writing, and speaking, are one: IOHN TAYLOR.

All those that will not read this plaine Epistle, Lay downe the Booke, on Gods Name, and goe whistle.

HOnest mens Sonnes (if I giue you a wrong name, I aske your Fathers pardon) although euery one that eates Mutton, may truely bee suspected for a sheepe-biter, yet I hope my Sheepe shall finde no such dogged dealing a­mongst you. There are indeed three sorts of Creatures, two of which are so much repugnant to a Sheepe, that I thinke there will neuer be an vnion betwixt them, which are a Wolfe and a Dog: the third is a Goate, which although they may graze or pasture one with another, as Christians and Infidels are wouen together in the linsey woolsey web of the world, yet I did neuer know any kind of familiarity betweene them. And be thou in nature, a Wolfe, a Dog, or a Goate, that readst this, I passe not, but I rather pitty thy accursed inclina­tion, then stand in any feare of thy Butting or Byting: the honest-minded Reader shall finde my Subiect or Theame both laudable and Honourable: and those who hold the name of Shepheard in contempt or derision, may heere find truely pro­ued, that the whole world doth not now containe, nor euer will retaine any men, who for goodnesse, honour, true worth, worthinesse and respect, that can or dare make comparison with the Shepheards of former ages. And though Virgill, O­uid, Mantuan, and many of our learned English and Scottish Poets, haue made their inuentions trauell vp the top of the [Page]forked Mountaine of Parnassus; yet I would haue the Reader know, that if they, each of them had Argos eyes, to suruay and obserue, and as many hands as Briareus, to write, yet for all their paines, diligent search and collections, my weake capa­citie can find matter enough to make an honest Pamphlet out of what they haue ouerseene, neglected, or made slight account of. Foure things, I haue, doe, and euer will obserue in my Writings; which are, not to write prophane, obsceane, palpa­ble, and odious Lyes, or scandalous Libels. In keeping which Decorum, I hope I shall keepe my selfe within the limits or bounds of good mens Respect. And this Aduertisement more I giue the Reader, that there are many things Imprinted vn­der the name of two Letters, I. T. for some of which I haue beene taxed to be the Author: I assure the world that I had neuer any thing imprinted of my writing, that I was either afraid or ashamed to set my name at large to it; and therefore if you see any Authors name I. T. I vtterly disclaime it: for I am as I haue bin, both I. and T. which with addition of Letters, is yours to be commanded in any laudable endeuours,

IOHN TAYLOR.

Taylors Pastorall, being both Historicall and Satyricall.

APollo (father of the Sisters nine,
I craue thy aide t'inspire this Muse of mine,
Thou that thy golden Glory didst lay by
(As Ouid doth relate most wittily)
And in a Shepheards shape, didst deigne to keepe
Thy Loues beloued Sire, Admetus sheepe.
And rurall Pan, thy helpe I doe intreate,
That (to the life) the praise I may repeate
Of the contented life, and mightie stockes
Of happy Shepheards, and their harmlesse flockes.
But better thoughts my Errors doe controule
For an offence, most negligent and foule,
In thus inuoking, like a heathen man,
Helpe, helplesse, from Apollo, or from Pan:
When as the subiect, which I haue in hand,
Is almost infinite, as starres, or sand,
Grac'd with Antiquitie, vpon Record
In the Eternall, neuer-failing Word.
There 'tis ingrauen true and manifest,
That Sheepe and Shepheards, were both best and blest.
I therefore inuocate the gracious aide
Of Thee, whose mightie Word hath all things made,
I Israels great Shepheard humbly craue
That his assur'd assistance I may haue:
That my vnlearned Muse no verse compile,
Which may be impious, prophane or vile,
And though through Ignorance, or negligence,
My poore inuention fall into offence,
I doe implore that boundlesse Grace of his,
Not strictly to regard what is amisse:
But vnto me belongeth all the blame,
And all the Glory be vnto his Name.
Yet as this Booke is verse, so men must know,
I must some Fictions and Allusions show,
Some shreds, sowe remnants, reliques, or some scraps,
The Muses may inspire me with perhaps,
Which taken literally, as lies may seeme,
And so mis-vnderstanding may misdeeme.
Of Sheepe therefore, before to worke I fall,
Ile shew the Shepheards first originall:
Those that the best Records will reade and marke,
Shall finde iust Abel was a Patriarke,
Abel, a Prince, a Patriarke, a figure of the true Church, a type of Christ, & a Shep­heard. Abraham a Prince, a Patriarke, intituled with the Glorious title of fa­ther of the faithfull, a Shep­heard.
Our father Adams second sonne, a Prince,
(As great as any man begotten since)
Yet in his function he a Shepheard was:
And so his mortall pilgrimage did passe.
And in the sacred Text it is compilde,
That he that's father of the faithfull stilde,
Did as a Shepheard, liue vpon th'encrease
Of Sheepe, vntill his daies on earth did cease.
And in those times it was apparent then
Abel and Abram both were noble men:
The one obtain'd the title righteously
For his vnfeigned seruing the most HIGH,
He first did offer Sheepe, which (on Record)
Was sacrifice accepted of the Lord.
He was (before the infant world was ripe)
The Churches figure, and his Sauiours type.
A murdered Martyr, who for seruing God,
Did first of all feele persecutions rod.
And Abraham was in account so great,
Abimelech his friendship did intreate.
Faiths paterne, and Obedience sample, he
Like starres, or sand, was in posteritie:
In him the Nations of the earth were blest,
Isack.
And now his bosome figures heau'nly REST.
His Sheepe almost past numbring multiplide,
And when (as he thought) Isaack should haue dide,
Then by th'Almighties Mercies, Loue, and Grace
A Sheepe from out a Bush supplide the place.
Let a Shep­heard.
Lot was a Shepheard, (Abrams brothers sonne)
And such great fauour from his God he wonne,
That Sodom could not be consum'd with fire,
Till he and his did out of it retire,
They felt no vengeance for their foule offence,
Till righteous Let was quite departed thence.
And Iacob, as the holy Ghost doth tell,
Iacob.
Who afterwards was called Israel,
Who wrastled with his God, and (to his fame)
Obtain'd a Name, and Blessing for the same,
He (vnder Laban) was a Shepheard long,
And suffred from him much ingratefull wrong,
For Rachel and for Leah, he did beare
The yoke of seruitude full twentie yeare,
He was a Patriarke, a Prince of might,
Whose wealth in sheepe, was almost infinite,
His twice sixe sonnes (as holy writ describes,
Who were the famous fathers, of twelue tribes)
Were for the most part Shepheards, and such men
Whose like the world shall ner'e containe agen.
Young Ioseph,
Ioseph.
'mongst the rest, especially,
A constant mirrour of true Chastity:
Who was in his affliction, of behauiour
A mortall Type of his immortall Sauiour:
And Truth his mother Rachel doth expresse
To be her father Labans Shepheardesse.
Rachel.
Meeke Moses,
Moses.
whom the Lord of hosts did call
To leade his people out of Egypts thrall,
Whose power was such, as no mans was before,
Nor since his time hath any mans beene more,
Yet in the sacred text it plaine appeares,
That he was Iethroes Shepheard fortie yeares.
Heroicke Dauid,
Dauid.
Ishayes youngest sonne,
Whose acts immortall memorie hath wonne:
Whose valiant vigour did in pieces teare
A furious Lion and a rauenous Beare:
Who (arm'd with faith and fortitude alone)
Slew great Goliah, with a sling and stone,
Whose victories the people sung most plaine,
Saul hath a thousand, He ten thousand slaine.
He from the sheepfold came to be a King,
Whose fame for euer through the world shall ring:
He was another Type of that blest HE
That was, and is, and euermore shall be.
His vertuous Acts are writ for imitation,
His holy Hymnes and Psalmes for consolation,
For Reprehension and for Contemplation,
And finally to shew vs our saluation,
The Prophet Amos,
Amos.
vnto whom the Lord
Reueald the sacred secrets of his Word:
God raisd him from the sheepfold, to foretell
What plagues should fall on sinfull Israel.
True Patience paterne, Prince of his affections,
Iob.
Most mightie tamer of his imperfections,
Whose guard was God, whose guide the holy Ghost.
Blest in his wealth, of which Sheepe was the most.
Iust Iobs lost riches doubled was agen,
Seth and Noah, were shep­heards & feeders of cattell.
Who liu'd belou'd of God, admir'd of men.
The first of happy tidings on the earth,
Of our all onely Sauiours blessed birth,
The glorious Angels to the Shepheards told,
As Luke th'Euangelist doth well vnfold.
Luk. 2.8.
And should my verse a little but decline
To humane stories, and leaue diuine:
There are some mightie Princes I can name,
Whose breeding (at the first) from Shepheards came.
Romes founder (Romulus) was bred and fed,
Romulus.
Mongst Shepheards, where his youthfull daies he led.
Valerius Maximus and Aure­lianus were raisd from be­ing heard­men to the Impe­riall dig­nitie. Tamber­laine. Psal. 80.1.
The Persian Monarch (Cyrus) he did passe
His youth with Shepheards, and a Shepheard was,
The Terrour of the world, that famous man
Who conquer'd Kings, and kingdomes ouer-ran
His stile was, (as some stories do repeate)
The Scythian Shepheard, Tamberlaine the great.
Tis such a title of preeminence,
Of reuerence, and such high magnificence,
That Dauid, (who so well his words did frame)
Did call our great Creator by that name.
Our blest Redeemer (Gods eternall Sonne)
Whose onely merits our saluation wonne.
He did the harmlesse name of Shepheard take
For our protection, and his mercies sake.
Ioh. 10.11, 12.
Those that will reade the sacred Text, and looke
With diligence, throughout that heauenly Booke,
Shall finde the Ministers haue Epethites,
And named Angels, Stewards, Watchmen, Lights,
Salt, Builders, Husbandmen, and Starres that shine,
(Inflamed with the Light which is Diuine)
And with these names, within that Booke compilde,
They with the Stile of Shepheards are instilde.
Thus God the Sire, and Sonne, the Scriptures call
Both Shepheards, mysticall and litterall,
And by similitudes comparing to,
All Kings and Churchmen beare that title do.

A. E. I. O. V. two Anagrams of the fiue vowels, the one serues for the glorious name of God, and the other in the Spanish tongue is a Sheepe, which name the Prophet Esay doth figuratiuely or mystically call our Creator IEOVA, or IEHOVAH, OVEIA, is a Sheepe.
Wherein may be perceiued, that there is no word, name or action, in or vnder Heauen, but hath one or more of the fiue vowels, and that no word or Name hath them all without other Letters, but IEOVA, and OVEIA. Which doth admonish vs in the feare and reuerence of the Almightie, be­cause in all our thoughts, words and actions, some part of his wonder­full Name is infinitely included. And withall that OVEIA or a Sheepe is a most significant Emblem, or signe of our God and Sauiours innocencie and patient suffrings.

WIse and Inscrutable, Omniscient,
Eternall, Gracious, and Omnipotent,
In Loue, in Iustice, Mercie and in Might,
In Honour, Power and Glory infinite,
In workes, in words, in euery Attribute
Almightie, All-commanding, Absolute;
For who so notes the Letters of the name
IEHOVAH, shall perceiue within the same,
The Vowels of all Tongues included be:
So hath no name that e're was nam'd but He.
And I haue heard some Schollers make Relation,
That H, is but a breathing Aspiration;
A letter that may be left out and spar'd,
Whereby is cleerly to our sight declar'd,
That Great IEOVA may be written true
With onely Vowels, A, E, I, O, V.:
And that there is no word or name but this,
That hath them all Alone, but onely His.
So that the Heauens with all the mighty Host
Of Creatures there, Earth, Sea, or any Coast,
Or Climate, any Fish, or Fowle, or Beast,
Or any of His workes, the most and least,
Or thoughts, or words, or writing with the pen,
Or deeds that are accomplished by men,
But haue some of these Letters in them all,
And God alone hath all in Generall.
By which we see, according to his will,
He is in all things, and doth all things fill,
And all things said or done, he hath ordain'd,
Some part of his great Name's therein contain'd;
All future, present, and all past things seeing,
In whom we liue, and moue, and haue our being.
A Almightie, All in All, and euery where,
E Eternall, in whom change cannot appeare,
I Immortall, who made all things mortall else,
O Omnipotent, whose Power all Power excels,
V Vnited, Three in one, and one in three,
IEOVA: Vnto whom All Glory bee.
Besides the learned Poets of all times,
Haue chanted out the praise, in pleasant rimes,
The harmlesse liues of rurall shepheards Swaines,
And beauteous shepheardesses on the plaines,
All the fa­mous Po­ets and Poetesses of altongs and nati­ons, haue written vpon this worthy subiect.
In Odes, in Roundelaies, and Madrigals,
In Sonnets, and in well-pen'd Pastorals:
They haue recorded, most delightfully,
Their loues, their fortunes, and felicitie,
And sure, if in this low terrestriall Round
Plaine honest happinesse is to be found;
It with the Shepheards is remaining still,
Because they haue least power to doe ill:
And whilst they on their feeding flockes attend,
They haue the least occasions to offend.
Ambition, Pompe, and hell-begotten Pride,
And damned Adulation, they deride:
The complementall flattry of Kings Courts,
Is neuer intermix'd amidst their sports;
They seldome enuy at each others state,
Their loue and feare is Gods, the deuil's their hate.
In weightie businesse they nor marre or make,
And cursed bribes they neither giue or take.
They are not guiltie (as some great men are)
T'vndoe their Mercer and Embroiderer,
Their Tailer, Butcher, Brewer, Baker, Powlter,
(For which there's some haue well deseru'd a halter)
Their Shoemaker and Silkeman I forgot,
Though breaking, or else begg'ry be their lot,
Nor is't a shepheards trade, by night or day
To sweare themselues in debt, and neuer pay.
He's no state-plotting Machiuilian,
Or Proiect-monger Monopolitan:
He hath no trickes or wiles to circumuent,
Nor feares he when there comes a Parlament.
He neuer weares his cap, or bends his knee
To feed contention with a Lawyers fee:
He wants the art to Cogge, Cheate, Sweare and Lie,
Nor feares the Gallowes, or the Pillorie.
Nor cares he if great men be fooles or wise,
If honour fall, and base dishonour rise,
Let fortunes mounted minions sinke or swim,
He neuer breakes his braines, all's one to him.
He's free from feare full curses of the poore,
And liu's and dies content,
Great tē ­perance in Shep­heard.
with lesse, or more.
He doth not waste the time, as many vse,
His good Creators creatures to abuse,
In drinking sicke vngodly healths to some,
The veriest Cankerwormes of Christendome:
My Lord Ambition, and my Lady Pride,
Shall with his quaffing, not be magnifide:
Nor for their sakes will he carowse and feast,
Vntill (from man) he be turn'd worse then beast.
Whereby he scapes vaine oathes, and blasphemy,
And surfets, (fruits of drunken gluttony.)
He scapes occasion vnto lusts pretence,
And so escapes the Pox, by consequence.
Thus doth he scape the Parrator and Proctor,
Th'Apothecarie, Surgeon, and Doctor;
Whereby he this prerogatiue may haue,
To hold the laying in,
These are great pri­uiledges though few men seeke or care for them.
into his graue,
Whilst many, that his betters farre haue bin,
Will very hardly hold the laying in.
Thus Shepheards liue, and thus they end their liues,
Adorn'd and grac'd with these prerogatiues:
And when he dies, he leaues no wrangling heirs
To law till all be spent, and nothing theirs,
Hooke, Tar-box, Bottle, Bag, Pipe, Dog, and all
Shall breed no iarres in Westminsters great hall:
Peace and tranquillitie was all his life,
And (dead) his goods shall be no cause of strife.
Thus Shepheards haue no places, meanes, or times,
To fall into those hell-deseruing crimes,
Which Courtiers, Lawyers, Tradesmen, men of Armes
Commit, vnto their soules and bodies harmes.
And from the Shepheards now Ile turne my stile
To sundry sorts of Sheepe another while.
The Lambs that in the Iewes Passoeuer di'd,
Were figures of the Lambe that's crucifi'd.
Esa. 53.7. 1. Ioh 1.29 and Reue. 5.8.9.13.
And Esay doth compare our heauenly food
T'a Sheepe, which dumb before the shearer stood:
Whose death, and merits, did this title win,
The Lambe of God, which freed the world from sin.
LAMBE Anagram's BLAME.
LAMBE Anagram's BALME.
The Anagram's of Lambe is Blame and Balme,
And Christ, the Lambe, vpon him tooke our Blame,
His precious Blood, (Gods heauy wrath did calme)
'T was th'onely Balme for Sinne to cure the same:
All power, and praise, and glory, be therefore
Ascribed to the Lambe for euermore.
And in the threescore nineteenth Psalme we reade,
That like a Sheepe our God doth Ioseph leade.
Againe, of vs he such account doth keepe,
That of his Pasture we are called Sheepe.
And euery day we doe confesse (almost)
That we haue err'd and straid like Sheepe that's lost.
Our Sauiour, (that hath bought our soules so deare)
Hath said, his Sheepe his voice will onely heare:
And thrice did Christ vnto Saint Peter call,
(In which he spake to his Disciples all)
If you doe loue me,
Ioh. 21.15, 16, 17.
feed my Sheepe (quoth he)
And feed my Lambs well, if you doe loue me.
Moreouer, in the finall Iudgement day,
There is the right hand, and the left hand way,
Whereas the sheepe he to himselfe doth gather,
With saying, Come, ye blessed of my Father, &c.
And to the Goates, in his consuming ire,
He bids, Depart into eternall fire.
Thus our Redeemer, and his whole elect,
The name of Sheepe held euer in respect,
And the comparison holds reference
To profit, and to harmelesse innocence.
For of all beasts that euer were, or are,
None can (for goodnesse) with a Sheepe compare:
Indeed, for bone and burthen I must grant,
He's much inferiour to the Elephant,
The Dromedarie, Camell, Horse, and Asse,
For loade and carriage doth a Sheepe surpasse:
Strong Taurus,
An Oxe is the Eu­nuch son of a Bull.
Eunuch sonne, the labouring Oxe,
The stately Stagge, the bobtaild craftie Foxe,
These, and all rauenous beasts of prey, must yeeld
Vnto the Sheepe, the honour of the field.
I could recount the names of many more,
The Lion, Vnicorne, the Beare and Bore:
The Wolfe, the Tiger, the Rhinoscerot,
The Leopard, and a number more I wot:
But all these greedy beasts, great Ouid, pen
Doth say are metamorphosde into men,
For beast to beast afford more conscience can,
And much lesse crueltie, than man to man.
Ile therefore let such beasts be as they be,
For feare they kicke, and snap, and snarle at me.
Vnto the Sheepe againe my Muse doth flie,
For honest safetie, and commoditie.
He with his flesh and fleece, doth feed and clad
All languages and nations, good and bad:
What can it more, but die, that we may liue,
And euery yeare to vs a liuerie giue?
'Tis such a bountie, and the charge so deepe,
That nothing can affoord the like, but Sheepe.
For should the world want Sheepe, but fiue whole yeare,
Ten thousand millions would want cloaths to weare:
And wert't not for the flesh of this kinde beast,
The world: might fast, when it doth often feast.
There's nothing doth vnto a Sheepe pertaine,
But 'tis for mans commoditie and gaine:
For men to men so much vntrustie are,
To lie, to cousen, to forsweare and sweare:
That oathes, and passing words, and ioyning hands,
Is like assurance written in the sands,
To make men keepe their words, and mend all this,
Parchmēt made of Sheepskin
The silly Sheepe-skin turn'd to Parchment is.
There's many a wealthy man, whose whole estate
Lies more in Parchment, then in coine or plate,
Indentures, Leases, Euidences, Wills,
Bonds, Contracts, Records, Obligations, Bills,
With these (although the Sheepe-skin is but weake)
It bindes men strongly that they dare not breake.
But if a man eates Spiders now and then,
The oyle of Parchment cures him oft agen.
And what rare stuffes which in the world are fram'd,
Can be in value, like to parchment nam'd;
The richest cloth of gold that can be found,
A yard of it was ne're worth fiftie pound:
And I haue seene two foot of Sheepeskin drest,
Which hath beene worth ten thousand pounds at least.
A piece of parchment well with Inke lac'd ouer,
Helps many a gallant to a Sattin couer:
Into the Mercer it some Faith doth strike,
It giues the Silkeman Hope of no dislike:
If the Tay­lors Bill be out of measure to the Gentlemā then he can make a fit mea­sure for him with his owne bond.
The Taylor it with Charitie assailes,
It thrusts him last betwixt his Bill and Vailes:
And by these meanes, a piece of parchment can
Patch vp, and make a Gull a Gentleman.
The nature of it very strange I finde,
'Tis much like phisicke, it can loose and binde:
'Tis one mans freedome, and anothers noose,
And like the Pope it doth both binde and loose.
And as the Ram and Ewe doe fructifie,
And euery yeere a Lambe doth multiplie:
So doth a sheepe-skin Bond make money breed
And procreate, as seed doth spring from seed.
An hundred pound's the Ewe,
A Bond is the Ewe, the bor­rower and lender are both Rams and the Interest is the Lamb.
which euery yeere
Doth breed a ten pound Lambe, (all charges cleere.)
Thus is a sheepe-skin proou'd the onely Tie
And stay, whereon a world of men relie,
Which holds a crue of Earthwormes in more awe,
Then both the Tables of the sacred Law.
Past number, I could many functions name
Who (as 'tis parchment) liue vpon the same:
But 'tis sufficient, this small homely touch:
Should all be writ, my Booke would swell too much.
Now of the Ram, the Ewe, the Lambe, and Weather,
Ile touch their skins as they are turn'd to Leather,
And made in Purses, Powches, Laces, Strings,
Gloues, Points, Booke-Couers, and ten thousand things,
And many tradesmen liue and thriue thereby,
Which if I would, I more could amplifie.
Their Guts serue Instruments which sweetly sound,
Their Dung is best to make most fruitfull ground:
Their Hoofes burnt, will most venom'd serpents kill,
Their grated Hornes are good gainst poyson still:
Their Milke makes Cheese, mans hunger to preuent,
As I haue seene in Sussex and in Kent:
Their Trotters, for the healthy or the sicke,
(Drest as they should be) are good meat to picke.
The Cookes and Butchers with the ioints doe gaine,
And poore folkes eat the Gather, Head, and Braine;
And though all wise mens iudgement will allow
A Sheepe to be much lesser then a Cow.
Yet in a Leg of Mutton I can see
More meat then in a Leg of Beefe can be.
A liue Sheepe hath one Necke, yet I perceiue
Sheepe being dead, two Neckes of Mutton haue.
Foure legges each liuing Sheepe hath, but once slaine,
(Although he lose none, yet) he hath but twaine.
Now, for the honour of the valiant Ram,
If I were learn'd more treble then I am,
Yet could I not sufficiently expresse
His wondrous worth, and worthinesse.
For by Astronomers 'tis verifide
How that the Ram in heau'n is stellifide,
Aries.
And (of the twelue) is plac'd head signe of all,
Where Sol keepes first his Equinoctiall.
For,
Taurus. Gemini. Cancer. Leo. Virgo. Lybra. Scorpio. Sagitarius Capricor­nus. Aquarius. Pisces.
hauing at the Bull drunke Aprils showres,
And with the Twins, May deck'd the earth with flowres:
And scorch'd the Crab in Iune with burning beames,
Made Iulies Lion chafe with fierie gleames:
In August solace to the Virgin giuen
With Ballance in September made Time euen,
Octobers Scorpion with declining course,
And passing by Decembers Archers force,
Then hauing past Nouembers frozen Goate,
He next to Ianus Waterie Signe doth floate:
He to the Lenten Signe in Februarie,
And so bright Phoebus ends his yeeres vagarie.
Then, to the Ram, in March, in his careere,
He mounts, on which this Sonnet's written heere.

Sonnet.

DIurnall Titans all-reuiuing Carre,
Throughout the heau'ns his progresse 'gins to take:
And now his glistring Raies he doth vnbarre,
What absence marr'd, his presence now doth make:
Now he begins Earths mourning face to drie
With Eols breath, and his bright heauenly heate.
March dust (like clouds) through aire doth march & flie:
Dead-seeming Trees and Plants new life doth get.
Thus when the Worlds eie dazler takes his Inne
At the celestiall Ram, then Winter's done:
And then dame Nature doth her liuerie spinne
Of flowers and fruits, which all the Earth puts on.
Thus when Apollo doth to Aries come,
The Earth is freed from Winters martyrdome.
Thus haue I prou'd the Ram a luckie signe,
Wherein Heau'n, Earth, and Sunne and Aire combine,
To haue their vniuersall comforts hurld
Vpon the face of the decaying world.
With twelue signes each mans bodie's gouerned,
And Aries, or the Ram, doth rule the head,
To be cald Ramhead, is a title of honour & a name proper to all men.
Then are their iudgements foolish, fond, and base,
That take the name of Ramhead in disgrace;
'Tis honour for the head to haue the name
Deriued from the Ram that rules the same:
And that the Ram doth rule the head, I know,
For euery Almanacke the same doth show.
He that sells wood, is call'd a Woodmonger;
He that sells fish, is call'd a Fishmonger;
He that doth brew, is call'd a Brewer; and
He's call'd a Landlord that takes rent for land;
He that bakes Bread, scornes not the name of Baker;
The stare will haue it so.
He that makes Cuckolds, is a Cuckold-maker.
So as the Ram doth rule the head, I see,
By Constellation, all men Ramheads be.
And as the twelue Celestiall signes beare sway,
And with their motions passe mans life away:
The Ram, the head, the Bull, the necke and throte,
Twins, shoulders, Crab doth rule the brest, I note,
A comfort for Cuck­olds, that though a man hath a Rame head, yet he hath a Lions heart.
But 'tis the Lions portion, and his part,
To be the valiant ruler of the heart.
From whence such men may gather this reliefe,
That though a Ramhead may be cause of griefe,
Yet Nature hath this remedie found out,
They should haue Lions hearts, to beare it stout,
And to defend and keepe the head from harme,
The Anagram of Ram, I finde, is Arm.
Thus is a Ramhead arm'd against all feare,
He needs no helmet, or no head-piece weare.
To speake more, in the plurall number, Rams,
It yeelds signifique warre like Anagrams,
For Rams is Mars, Mars is the god of warre,
And Rams is Arms, Arms warres munitions are;
And from the fierce encounters which they make,
Strange mysteries in the words Ram or Rams: the Rams the first run­ners at tilt and first teachers of warlike battel. Iosephus Bella. lib. 3. cap. 9. Rams hornes the first trumpets.
Our Tilts and Tourneys did beginnings take:
For as the Rams retire, and meet with rage,
So men doe in their warre-like equipage.
And long e're powder, (from hells damned den)
Was monstrously produc'd, to murder men,
The Ram, an Engine call'd a Ram, did teach,
To batter downe a wall, or make a breach.
And now some places of defence, 'gainst shot,
Haue (from the Ram) the name of Rampiers got.
First warlike Trumpets that I e're heard nam'd,
At Iericho, were all of Rams hornes fram'd:
For at the Ramshorne Trumpets fearefull blast,
Their cursed walls were suddenly downe cast.
Thus is the Ram with many vertues stor'd,
And was in Egypt for a god ador'd:
And like a Captaine he the flocke doth leade,
As fits their Generall, their Prince or head.
Thus haue I prou'd a Sheepe, a beast of price,
Cleane, and reputed fit for sacrifice:
And sleeping, waking, early, or else late,
It still doth chew the cud and ruminate.
Of all beasts in the worlds circumference,
For meeknesse, profit, and for innocence,
I haue approu'd a sheepe most excellent,
That with least cost, doth giue man most content.
There's such instinct of Nature in the Lambe
By bleating, It, mongst thousands knowes the dam;
Agnus. Great knowledge in the Lambe.
For which the name of Agnoscendo, knowing,
Is giuen to a Lambe, it's knowledge showing.

But to consider more seriously, the wonderfull bles­sing that the whole world hath had, and hath by sheepe at this present, I thinke it not amisse to vse the words of an ingenious and well affected Poet of our time, Master T. M. where he truly saith,

No Ram no Lambe, no Lambe no Sheepe, no Sheepe no Wooll, no Wooll no Woolman, no Woolman no Spinner, no Spinner no Weauer, no Weauer no Cloth, no Cloth no Clothier, no Clothier no Clothworker, Fuller, Tucker, Shearman, Draper, or scarcely a rich Dier.

And what infinite numbers of people rich and poore haue liued, and doe liue, hauing their whole dependance from the poore sheepes backe, all men of iudgement will acknowledge; besides, I thinke it not amisse to set downe the names of many worthy men, who haue beene free of London, of such trades and mysteries whereof the sheepe is the originall vnder God. And first, to begin with the Right Worshipfull Company of Drapers, with the names of such as haue borne the honourable Office and Dignitie of Lord Maior of London, with their pious deeds, and diuers other persons of the said Company, their names, and memorable charities, with the like re­membrance of the Worshipfull Company of Clothwor­kers. And first, I begin with the first.

Anno 1189. In the beginning of the raigne of King Richard the first, Sir Henrie Fitz Allen Draper, was the [Page]first Lord Maior of London, who continued in that dig­nitie twentie foure yeares together, till the fourteenth yeare of King Iohn 1212. when he died, he was a worthy Benefactor to his Company, and gaue houses to the vse of the poore, in the parish of Saint Marie Bothaw in Wal­brooke ward.

Anno 1252. Iohn Talason Draper, Maior.

1253. Richard Hardell Draper, sixe yeares Maior.

1330. Sir Iohn Pultney Draper, two yeares Maior.

1332. Iohn Preston Draper, Maior.

1333. Sir Iohn Pultney, Maior.

1336.Many of these men did good and chari­table deeds, but they did them se­cretly in their liues time. Sir Iohn Pultney the fourth time Lord Maior, he built a Chappell in Pauls, where he lies buried: he also built Saint Laurence Pultney Church, and the Church of little Alhalowes, and the Church called the Friers in Couentrie: he gaue to the poore of Saint Giles in the fields, to the poore prisoners in the Fleet and Newgate, ten shil­lings to each yearely for euer, besides many other deeds of charitie which he did.

Anno 1363. Stephen Candish Draper Maior.

1367. Iames Andrew Draper Maior.

1381. Iohn Northampton Draper two yeares Maior.

1391. Iohn Hinde Draper Maior.

Anno 1402. Iohn Walcot Draper Maior.

1404. Iohn Hinde the second time Maior, he newly built the Church of Saint Swithin neere London stone.

1413. Sir William Cromer Draper Maior.

1415. Sir Nicholas Wotton Draper Maior.

1423. William Cromer Draper Maior.

1427. Iohn Gedney Draper Maior.

1430. Nicholas Wotton Draper Maior.

1433. Iohn Brockle Draper Maior.

1441. Robert Clopton Draper Maior.

1445. Sir Simon Eyre Draper Maior, he built Leaden Hall for a Garnerie for the Citie, and gaue fiue thousand Markes to charitable vses.

1447. Sir Iohn Gedney Draper Maior.

1453. Sir Iohn Norman Draper Maior.

1458. Sir Thomas Scot Draper Maior.

1462. Sir Thomas Cooke Draper Maior.

1464. Sir Ralph Ioslin Draper Maior.

1474. Sir Robert Drope Draper, Maior; he lieth buried in Saint Michaels Church in Cornhill London: he gaue towards poore maides marriages of that parish twentie pound, and to the poore of that ward ten pound, and three hundred shirts and smockes, and a hundred gownes of Broadcloth.

1476. Sir Ralph Ioslin Draper, the second time Maior.

1479. Sir Bartholomew Iames Draper Maior.

1481. Sir William Harriot Draper Maior.

1484. Sir William Stocker Draper Maior.

1489. Sir William White Draper Maior.

1503. Sir William Capell Draper Maior.

1507. Laurence Aylmer Draper Maior.

1509. Sir William Capell the second time Maior.

1511. Sir Roger Achley Draper Maior.

1514. Sir George Monox Draper Maior, he repaired the ruinated Church at Walthamstow in Essex, and erected a Free Schoole there, and thirteene Almeshouses for aged people, also he built a long Timber Cawsway ouer the Marshes from Walthamstow to Locke Bridge.

1520. Sir Iohn Bruges Draper Maior.

1521. Sir Iohn Milbourne Draper Maior, he built 14. Almeshouses for 14. aged poore people, neere the Lord [Page] Lumleys house in the crossed or crooched Friers, allow­ing to each, two shillings foure pence monthly for euer.

1524. Sir William Bailie Draper Maior.

1528. Sir Iohn Rudston Draper Maior.

1533. Sir Christopher Askew Draper Maior, he paied largely to the building of eight Almeshouses in Beech­lane London, for eight poore Widowes of his company.

1540. Sir William Roch Draper Maior.

1560. Sir William Chester Draper Maior.

1565. Sir Richard Champion Draper Maior, a good Be­nefactor to the poore of Saint Dunstans in the East, and to the poore in Saint Edmunds in Lumbard street he gaue fiftie foure shillings yearely in bread for euer, besides o­ther gifts.

1578. Sir Richard Pipe Draper Maior.

1580. Sir Iohn Branch Draper Maior.

1584. Sir Thomas Pullison Draper Maior.

1588. Sir Martin Calthrop Draper Maior.

1614. Sir Thomas Hayes Draper Maior.

1615. Sir Iohn Iolls Draper Maior.

1621. Sir Edward Barkham Draper Maior.

1623. Martin Lumley Draper Maior.

These good deeds following were done by others of the said Company, who were not Lord Maiors.

IOhn Holmes Draper, gaue his house to the poore in Saint Sepulchers parish for euer, the yeerely rent of it being thirtie two pound.

Iohn Russell Draper, gaue eightie pound to Schooles, and to other pious vses.

Iohn Quarles Draper, gaue sixe pound a yeere for euer [Page]to be giuen to the poore in bread.

William Dummer Draper, gaue to the poore thirteene pound eighteene shillings foure pence, yeerly for euer.

Owen Clun Draper, gaue to the poore fiue and twentie pound yeerly for euer.

William Parker Draper, towards the maintenance of Preachers at Saint Antlins sixe pounds yeerly for euer.

Iohn Skeet Draper, gaue to the Hospitals at London three hundred pound, and to foure poore schollers at Ox­ford fiue pound a piece, and the like to foure poore schollers at Cambridge.

Henrie Butler Draper, gaue to Saint Thomas Hospitall ten pound, to Christ Church, Saint Bartholomewes, & Bride­well, fiue pounds to each.

Peter Hall Draper, gaue to Christs Hospitall ten pound, to Saint Bartholomewes and Saint Thomas Hospitall three pound to each.

Thomas Church Draper, gaue to Christs Hospitall and to Bridewell, to each ten pound, and to the Hospitals of Saint Thomas & Saint Bartholomew, to either fiue pound.

Humphrey Fox Draper, gaue to Christs Church Hospi­tall fiftie pound.

Edmund Hill Draper, gaue to the poore of Saint Andrew Vnder shaft fiftie two pound, anno 1609.

William Gilborne Draper, gaue foure markes the yeere for euer to the poore of Saint Katherine Christ Church neere Aldegate, & twentie pound he gaue to build a Gal­lery in the same Church.

Iohn Quarles Draper, gaue to the poore of Saint Pe­ters in the poore in Bredstreet ward, fiftie pound to be be­stowed yeerly in bread for euer.

Sir Richard Goddard Draper, and Alderman, gaue to [Page]the Hospitall of Bridewell two hundred pound.

Master Benedict Barnham Draper, gaue for the reliefe of poore prisoners, in the seueral prisons of London, 50. l.

Sir Iames Deane, Draper and Alderman, gaue to the se­uerall Hospitals in London, a hundred and thirtie pound, and to sundry prisons seuentie pound.

Lady Bainham, sometimes an Aldermans wife of the Drapers Company, gaue to the poore of the said Com­pany ten pound yeerely for euer.

Lancelot Thomson Draper, gaue to the parish of Saint Peters in Cornhill, twentie pound for fiue Sermons, and a hundred pound to the poore of the Drapers Company, and fiue pound yeerely to be bestowed by them in fire and bread on the poore of that parish.

Richard Shore Draper, gaue fifteene pound to build a Church porch at Saint Mildreds in the Powltrie.

Iohn Calthrop Draper, built the Bricke wall betwixt the Hospitals of Christs Church and Saint Bartholomew.

Iohn Chertsey Draper, gaue to the Hospitals twentie pound, and to other charitable vses a hundred pound.

Master Henrie Woolaston Draper, gaue to Saint Thomas Hospitall fourtie pound, with other charitable beneuo­lences.

These memorable and pious workes, (with many more then my weake capacitie can collect and reckon) haue beene done by the Drapers or Clothsellers, which doth approue the sheepe to be a thriuing, happy, and a most profitable beast. Now to speake somwhat of the Right Worshipfull Company of Clothworkers.

Anno Domini 1559. Sir William Hewet Clothworker, Lord Maior.

1570. Sir Rowland Heyward Clothworker, Lord Maior.

1574. Sir Iames Hawes Clothworker Lord Maior.

1583. Sir Edward Osborne Clothworker Lord Maior.

1594. Sir Iohn Spencer Clothworker Lord Maior.K. Iames (our most gracious Soueraign was made a free bro­ther of the Worship­full Com­pany of Clothwor­kers, Sir Iohn Wats being thē Lord Ma­ior, who feasted his Maiestie, Sir Willi­am Stone Knight be­ing then Master of the Com­pany, as which time the King gaue a gift of a. brace of Bucks to the said Company yeerly for euer, to be spent at their feast in their Hall.

1596. Sir Thomas Skinner Clothworker L. Maior, gaue to the Hospitals in London and the Suburbs 120. l.

1599. Sir Nicholas Mosley Clothworker L. Maior.

1606. Sir Iohn Wats Clothworker Lord Maior, gaue to Christ Church Hospitall ten pound, and to the Hospitall of Saint Thomas in Southwarke twentie pound.

Richard Farringdon Clothworker and Alderman, gaue to the seuerall Hospitals in London and the Suburbs 66. pound, 13. shillings foure pence.

Sir William Stone Clothworker, gaue to the seuerall prisons in London 50. pound.

Lady Barbara Stone, wife to the forenamed Sir Willi­am Stone, gaue to the Hospitall of Christs Church one hundred pounds.

Lady Spencer, wife to Sir Iohn Spencer Clothworker, gaue to the seuerall Hospitals seuentie pound.

William Lambe Esquire, free of the company of Cloth­workers, & one of the Gentlemen of the Chappel to king Henrie the eight, built a free Grammar Schoole at Sutton Valence in Kent, (where he was borne) al­lowing yeerely for euer to the Master of the said Scchoole twentie pound, and to the Vsher ten pound: also he built 6. Almeshouses there, with gardens & orch­yards, and 10. l. yeerly to each of them for euer. Besides, he gaue to the free schoole at Maidstone in Kent 10. pound yeerly for euer, which he appointed to be bestowed only vpon poore children, who were destitute of friends and succourlesse. Also he bestowed three hundred pound for the vse of decayed Clothiers in the Countie of Suf­folke, and in the townes of Bridgenorth and Ludlow. [Page]Moreouer, hee built two Conduits in London, one at Holbourne Bridge, and the other on the Hill towards New-Gate, both of which cost 1500. pounds; at which time he gaue 120. new Pailes to so many poore women, to beare water withall: Moreouer, he gaue thirtie pound a yeere to his Company for euer, and 4. pounds yeerely to a Minister for foure Sermons, and thirty pound yeere­ly for euer to be bestowed on twelue poore men, and twelue poore women; each of them to haue a Freeze Gowne, one Lockrom shirt or smock, one paire of winter shooes; which Gift is yeerely distributed on the first of October; he also gaue to the Poore of Saint Giles Parish without Cripplegate, fifteene pound: To the Poore of the Company of Stationers, he gaue sixe pounds, thirteen shillings, foure pence yeerely for euer, to be bestowed e­uery Fry day in the Parish of S. Faiths, on twelue poore people, twelue pence in bread, and twelue pence in mo­ney. He gaue to Christs Hospitall sixe pounds yeerely for euer and 100. pounds in ready money present; Hee gaue to S. Thomas Hospitall 4. pounds yeerely for euer: and to poore Maids marriages he gaue 20. pounds: be­sides Newgate, Ludgate, the two Comptors, in Lon­don, the Marshalsea, the Kings-Bench, and the White Lyon, had all most louing tasts of his Charitable liberali­ty: and in conclusion, he gaue 108. Gownes to poore a­ged people at his Funerall.

This was a Lambe, whose like was neuer any:
Whose loue and pitty sed and cloth'd so many:
And 'tis no doubt, but these good deeds of his,
Did helpe to lift his Soule to endlesse Blisse.

Master Iohn Berriman of Bishops Taunton in the Coun­ty of Deuon-shire, Clothier, and free Draper of London, [Page]gaue to the Hospitall of Christ-Church, 100. pounds: to S. Bartholomewes, 5. pounds: to S. Thomas Hospitall, 6. pounds, to Bridewell 40. Shillings: and to the Hospi­tall of Bethlem, 50. pounds.

Peter Blundell, Clothier, gaue to Christ-Church Hos­pitall, 500 pounds: to Saint Bartholomewes Hospitall, 250. pounds: to Saint Thomas Hospitall 250. pounds: to Bridewell, 8. pounds yeerely foreuer: to the Repara­tion of the Church at Tiuerton (where he was borne) 50. pounds: towards the mending of High-wayes, 100. pounds: to the twelue Companies in London, to euery of them 150. pound: to poore Maides marriages in Ti­uerton, 400. pound: to the poore at Exester, he gaue 900. pound: to build a Grammer-schoole at Tiuerton, 2400. pounds: and after laid out by his Executors, 1000. pound: to the Schoole-master 50. pounds yeerely for euer: to the Vsher 13. pound 6. shillings 8. pence yeerely: to the Clarke 40. shillings yeerely: to place foure poore boyes yeerely Aprentises, 20. pounds per annum: to keepe three Schollers at Oxford, and three at Cambridge, 2000. l.

Robert Chilcot, Seruant to the aforesaid M. Blundell, gaue to Christs Hospitall 100. pound towards a meaner Schoole, to haue Children taught, to be apt for his Ma­sters Grammer-Schoole: he gaue 400. pound to main­taine it: he gaue 90. pound, allowing the Schoole-ma­ster yeerely 20. pound, the Clarke 3. pound, and toward Reparations, 40. shillings per annum: to fifteene poore men he gaue 16. pounds, 10. shillings a yeere for euer: to fifteen poore labouring men 15. pound: to fifteene poore people weekely, six pence each, for euer: to mend the Church at Tiuerton, 19. pound, 10. shillings: to mend High-waies, 10. pounds: and to other charitable vses, more then is mentioned.

Thus hath it pleased God, that these men (whose trades [Page]and liuings were deriued from the poore Sheepes backe) haue not onely growne to great wealth, and places of Honour, but haue bin also great Instruments of the Al­mighties mercy, in relieuing the needy and impotent members of Christ: and should I reckon vp the particu­lars of profits that arise frō this Beast, to Graziers, Butch­ers Skinners, Glouers, Felmongers, Leathersellers, Felt­mongers, Taylors, & an infinite number of other Trades and Functions, who could not liue, or els liue very hard­ly without this Commodity. I say, should I write of these things in particular, my worke would neuer bee done in generall.

Wooll hath beene formerly in such esteeme in Eng­land, that in a Parliament holden the 36. of Edward the third, the King had his Subiects paide him in wooll; and before that, in the 11. yeere of his Raigne, is was forbid­den to be transported out of this Kingdome; and then did Strangers come ouer hither, from diuers parts beyond the Seas, who were Fullers, Weauers, and Clothwor­kers, whom the King entertained, and bare all their char­ges out of his Exchequer: at which time, the Staples, or places of marchandise for Woolls, were kept at diuers places of this Land at once; as at Newcastle, Yorke, Lincoln, Canterbury, Norwich, Westminster, Chichester, Winchester, Exester, Bristoll, and Carmarthen: by which may be per­ceiued what a great commodity wooll was in those daies. But in the 6. yeere of King Edward the fourth, the King sent certaine Ships out of Cotswold in Glocester shire, into Spaine, the encrease of which so inriched the Spaniards with our wooll, that euer since, it hath bin in the lesse re­quest in England: neuer thelesse, as it is, it is the meanes of life and maintenance for many hundred thousands.

ANd now from solid Prose I will abstaine
To pleasant Poetrie, and mirth againe.
Here fol­loweth a touch of paltry Scabbed infectious kind of Sheepe, which I thinke fit to place by them­selues in the lagge end of my Booke, as farre as I can from the clean, sound, & profitable Sheepe before mentio­ned, for feare the bad should infect the good.
The Fable of the Golden Fleece began,
'Cause Sheepe did yeeld such store of Gold to Man:
For he that hath great store of woolly fleeces,
May (when he please) haue store of golden peeces.
Thus many a poore man dying, hath left a Sonne,
That hath transsorm'd the Fleece to Gold, like Iason:
And heere's a mystery profound and deepe,
There's sundry sorts of Mutton, are no Sheepe:
Lac'd Mutton, which let out themselues to hire,
Like Hackneys, who'le be fir'd, before they tire.
The man or men which for such Mutton hungers,
Are (by their Corporation) Mutton-mongers:
Which is a brotherhood so large and great,
That if they had a Hall, I would intreat
To be their Clarke, or keeper of accounts,
To shew them vnto what their charge amounts;
My braines in numbring then wound grow so quicke,
I should be master of Arithmeticke:
All States, Degrees, and Trades, both bad and good,
Afford some members of this Brotherhood:
Great therefore needs must be their multitude,
When euery man may to the Trade intrude:
It it no free dome, yet these men are free,
Not sauers, but most liberall spenders be:
For this is one thing that doth them bewitch,
That by their trading they waxe seldome rich:
The value of this Mutton to set foorth,
The flesh doth cost more than the broth is worth:
They all are Ewes, yet are exceeding Ramish,
And will be dainty fed, whos 'euer famish.
Nor are they mark'd for any man, or no man,
As mine, or thine, but euery mans in common,
Fine heads, and neckes, and breasts, they yeeld some storee,
But scarcely one good liuer in nine score:
The liuers being bad, 'tis vnderstood,
The veines are fild with putrified blood,
Which makes them subiect to the scab, and then
They proue most dang rous diet vnto men.
And then the prouerbe proues no lie or mocke,
One scabbed sheepe's enough to spoyle a flocke.
But yet for all this, there is many a Gull,
Loues Mutton well, and dips his bread i'the wooll.
And were a man put to his choyce to keepe,
'Tis said, a Shrew is better then a Sheepe.
But if a man be yok'd with such an Ewe,
She may be both a scabbed Sheepe and Shrew.
And he that is so match'd, his life may well
Compared be vnto an earthly hell.
But to my Theame which I wrote of before,
I at this Mutton must haue one cut more.
These kinde of Sheepe haue all the world o're growne,
And seldome doe weare fleeces of their owne:
For they from sundry men their pelts can pull,
Whereby they keepe themselues as warme as wooll.
Besides, in colours, and in shape, they varie
Quite from all profitable sheepe contrarie:
White, Blacke, Greene, Tawny, Purple, Red, and Blue,
Beyond the Raine-bow for their change of hue:
Camelion like in alteration,
But, that bare Aire they cannot liue vpon.
The Moones mutation's, not more manifold,
Silke, Veluet, Tissue, Cloth, and cloth of God:
These are the Sheepe that Golden fleeces weare,
They are as soft as Silke-wormes.
Who robe themselues with others wooll or haire:
And it may be, 'twas such a Beast and Fleece,
Which Iason brought from Cholcos, into Greece.
Were it no more but so, I dare be bold
To thinke this Land doth many Iasons hold:
Who neuer durst to passe a dang'rous waue,
Yet may (with ease) such Golden fleeces haue.
Too much of one thing's good for nought (they say)
Ile therefore take this needlesse dish away:
For should I too much, of Lac'd Mutton write,
I may o're come my Readers stomacke quite.
Once more vnto the good Sheepe Ile retire,
And so my Booke shall to it's end expire:
Although it be not found in Ancient writers,
I finde all Muttone-aters are sheepe-biters.
And in some places I haue heard and seene,
That currish sheepe-biters haue hanged beene,
If any kinde of Tike should snarle or whine,
Or bite, or woorry this poore Sheepe of mine,
Why let them barke and bite, and spend their breath,
Ile neuer wish them a sheepe-biters death.
My Sheepe will haue them know, her Innocence
Shall liue, in spight of their maleuolence:
I wish them keepe themselues and me from paine,
And bite such Sheepe as cannot bite againe.
For if they snap at mine, I haue a pen,
That (like a trustie Dogge) shall bite agen.
And in Conclusion, this I humbly craue,
That euery one the honestie may haue,
That when our fraile mortalitie is past,
We may be the good Shepheards sheepe at last.
FINIS.

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