THE Little World.
OR, A Liuely Description of all the partes and properties of Man.
For Inuention Wittie, for Iudgement Learned, and for Practise Necessarie.
By Ro. Vn. Bachelor of Diuinitie.
LONDON, Printed for W. Iones, and are to be solde at his Shoppe neere Holborne Conduit at the signe of the Gun. 1612.
A NEW ANATOMIE, OR, A description of the whole Body of man, after an vnwonted manner: No lesse pleasant to the Reader, then profitable to the Regarder.
LAte in the night, not long agoe
as I lay in my bed,
Musing alone of many things,
which then came in my hed:
VVere it by Reuelation,
by Vision, or by Dreame:
Or yet as lying in a traunce,
or by some other meane,
I knew not well: but yet mee thought,
as it were suddainly,
One caught me vp into the Aire,
from whence I did discrie
A Cittie large, of bignes such,
the world
as it the World had beene:
A thousand thousand Houses there,
The people, or the bodyes of men.
a man might well haue seene:
Their fashion, stuffe, and workemanship,
[Page 2]in all poynts did excell.
The order of these Houses too,
I marked very well:
These Houses they were mooueable,
and often did remooue
The Soule.
To places where the Owners thoughtit fit for their behoue.
Their substaunce was of mixed stuffe,
which seemed very faire:
And was deriued from the Fire,
Water, Earth, and Ayre.
The foure Elements.
Compacted by such cunning skill,as it hath heretofore
Continued vnconstant full
In Adams time.
Nine hundred yeeres, and more.The cullour of these Houses be
both faire, smoth, and white:
To see them trimly decked vp,
it would a man delight:
Yet be as other Houses be,
in beautie for a time:
But when they once do come to yeeres,
their beautie do decline:
But euery House doe stand alone,
builded vpright and straight:
And each was equall in it selfe,
The Armes being stretched out▪ the two leggs & thighes.
in breadth, in length, in height.Two Pillars framed like an Arch,
did for foundation stand,
Whereon was builded Tower wise,
each House by cunning hand.
was framed all of Boane,
As cleere as Alabaster, and
as hard as any Stoane.
No Siluer, Gold, Iron, or Steele,
no Copper, Tinne, or Brasse,
Nor any mettall, VVood or Stone,
about these Buildings was.
With Lases very strong and white,
The Sinewes
their Ioyntes were tied suer:
And euen so long as House did last,
these Lases would endure.
A Chimney in each House there was,
The noctrils.
where out there did proceede
A vapoure very like to Smoake,
The Breath.
and sometime Smoake indede.
Of Tabacco.
They all had Turrets on their tops,
Their heads.
and some were seene to haue
Vpon their Turrets tops for shew,
a Plume of Fethers braue:
These Turrets being round: in them
two Windowes did I see,
The Eyes.
Which are so like to eyes, that I,
do thinke them eyes to be.
If any Houses did decay,
Die.
as often times there did:
Then presently an other House,
was raised in his stead.
Borne.
So that the Cittie was supplide
though thousands did decay:
The World.
And so shalbe supplied still,
[Page 4]vntill the latter day.
The Scriptures. Diuines.
Oft haue I redd in Auncient Bookes,and Auncient Fathers say,
The matter of these Houses first,
was nothing els but Clay:
God.
Till one did by a wondrous skill,and Wisdome, vndertake
By mixing of the Ellements,
these Houses all to make:
God.
Not any one (saue one alone)in all the world can frame
These Houses, as these Houses be,
nor any like the same.
These thinges thus seene; thus thought I then,
If these things thus without
These Houses, be so wonderfull,
and glorious; then no doubt,
Those things, the which we cannot see,
which in these Houses are,
Must nedes exceede these outward things
and go beyonde them farre.
And as I still thus musing stoode,
euen then it came to passe,
One standing by, did speake to me.
I know not who it was;
And bade me looke: I looked then,
and loe, I did behold
The Houses all were open, and
each did it selfe vnfold,
That I might see all thinges in them,
which was a thing most rare,
[Page 5]To marke how thinges within the same,
in order placed were.
And first, the Kitchen seated was,
The place frō the Grames to the Midrife.
as nethermost of all,
Whereby it might receiue such things,
as from aboue did fall:
By Vessels, fitting for the same,
The Bowel▪
which long there, did not stay.
For things that bad, and noysome were,
this Kitchen did conuay
By Gutters, Holes, and Channels so,
The Yard & the Fundament.
that euery thing was seene
Within this Kitchen for to be
both hansome, sweete, and cleene.
And yet vnto the Walls thereof,
The Sides.
fast cleauing did I see,
A Matter (like I know not what)
The kidnies.
encombred for to bee
With filthy Grauell, Sand, and Stone,
The Collicke and Stone.
which very often was
A stopping to the Cundits, that
the Water could not passe.
The Ʋrine.
With that I saw an Auncient man,
Phisicke.
that at the gate did sit:
To whom the Maker of the house,
God.
these Houses did commit
To looke vnto, and them to mende,
when ought was there amisse.
who then tooke Hawes & stamped them
A Remedie for the Stone.
and then he put to this,
White Wine to soake; and with the same,
[Page 6]hee afterward did fill
A Stillitorie, and thereof
a Water he did still:
wherewith was washt this place so noyd
with Grauell and with Sand:
And presently the place was cleer'd,
and clensed out of hand.
In shape most strange and wonderfull,
The Stomacke.
A Pott hunge boyling there:Yet vnderneath the same was seene
no fyer to appeare.
The Lyuer.
But vnder it a Fountaine was,out of the which did flow,
A lickuor very like to redd
The Blood.
or Claret Wine in show:VVhich running into euery part
By the Ʋaines.
of euery House, did serueTo keepe the House in culler, and
his beautie to preserue:
The oppilation of the Lyuer.
The Phisitian.
at any time or tide,
Then for the same, the keeper did
a remedie prouide.
And as this Pott hung boyling there,
it wonder was to see,
The multitude of sundrie thinges,
within the same to be,
The sundry sorts of meats and drinkes boyling in the Stomacke at once.
There flesh of Fishes, Beastes, & Fowlesand many kindes of Graine,
Fruites, hearbs, & rootes, of diuers sorts
within it did remaine:
[Page 7]And sundry kinds of white-meates too▪
and Grocerie great store:
And Water, Wine, & Ale, & Beere,
and many Liquors more:
And euery one did differ much,
in cullour, taste, and smell:
VVhose quallities and vertues, would
great cunning aske to tell.
I saw it; yet in seeing it,
I tooke no great deliget:
For why (more strange and wonderfull
then pleasant, was the sight)
Fast cleauing to this Fountaines side,
Fast to the Lyuer cleaueth the Gaull.
there was a little Spring,
VVithin the same there seemd to be
a moyst or liquid thing:
In cullour like a darkish greene,
and yellowish withall:
The taste thereof most bitter was,
as it were very Gaull:
And if this Spring at any time,
did chaunce to ouerflow,
It made the House in euery part,
The Body.
all yellow for to show,
As if it were with Saffron dide:
The yellow Iaunders.
so one did chaunce to bee,
And then foorthwith a remedie
the Keeper did foresee.
The Phisitiā
VVho Turmaricke or Cellindine,
A remedie against the yellow Iaunders.
and Saffron then did take.
And so [...]d them both in Posset-ale,
[Page 8]and there withall did make
[...] drink [...].
A Water for to wash the same:whereby he did restore,
And made the cullour for to be
e'uen as it was before.
All next about this Kitchin lay
The place from the Midriffe to the necke. The midriffe
a large and a faire Hall,Deuided from the Kitchen with
a thinne and slender wall:
VVhose fashion, stuffe, and workmanship
as I was thinking on,
And did intend to take thereof,
some better view anon:
Mee thought I heard a voyce, that spake,
and sayd vnto mee, Looke;
And what thou seest; see that the same
thou notest in the Booke.
I looked, and within this Hall
were many things to see,
That very rare and precious were,
and glorious seemd to mee.
The Heart.
Amongst the rest, one thing I saw,that did the rest surmount,
A famous (though a little thing)
a thing of great account
It was indeed; and like vnto
a Throne of Maiestie:
Or to a Chaier of estate
it may compared bee:
In fashion like a Pine-aple,
The fashion of the Heart
in cullour somewhat redd,[Page 9]But in the greater end thereof
a Cannopie was sprede,
The fatues thereof.
That was of cullour very white,
which signifies in deede,
That he that sits therein as Iudge,
An application of the white & red cullour of the heart.
must execute with speede
True Iustice: yea and Mercie both:
and that he must beware,
Maliciously not to reuenge,
nor parcially to spare.
And furthermore there did I see
an hollownes in it,
And in the same a Magistrate,
appoynted there to sit:
A good Conscience.
Who in his office all his time,
so well him selfe did beare,
That all thinges in good order were,
whilst he did gouerne there.
But then (me thought) it greued mee,
to see when he was out,
A Wretch intrudes himselfe therein,
A badde Conscience.
who playes such reuell rout,
That all the good the which before
the other there had done,
Was by this wicked wight defaste
and vtterly for-done.
Sometime this Seate should tremble,
The trembling of the heart.
whichthe Keeper helpe [...] thus,
By making a Confection
De Arramatibus:
A remedie for the same.
And then applying of the same
[Page 10]vnto the Seate did cause,
The tremblinge and the shaking of
the Seate, forthwith to pause,
The L [...]ngs or Lightes.
About this roiall Seate was seene,to hang in open sight,
(As Vallance hang about a Bedd)
a thing in substance light:
In collour very changeable,
and soft it was to toutch;
Yet hard to teare, it was so tought
it doth not differ much
In fashion from the Vallance, and
I thinke it not amisse
To shewe the dayly vse thereof,
the vse thereof is this.
As Bellowes drawes in winde to them,
and then to blow it out:
A similitude
And so doth puffe it to and fro,all through a hollow spout.
The off [...]ict of the Lounges.
Euen so do these continually,by moouing to and fro,
Hale in the coole and tender aier,
and then againe it blow,
And puffe it out euen by a long,
The Winde-pipe.
and slender Pipe that streachAnd runneth from these Places, and
The Head.
vnto the Turrets reach.And if it chaunce at any time,
this Pipe be stopt▪ they say,
The Heart.
That then the Seate and all the house,do presently decay.
that perfect, good, and pure,
Those Houses framed were at first,
and so they did endure,
Till One did by a wicked act,
Adam.
then cause them for to bee
Full of such imperfections,
as now we do them see:
For many times these Houses all
haue blemishes and blottes,
Impediments and crookednes,
deformityes and spottes:
And many imperfections more,
which often times are done
By violence or by mischaunce,
yea often times they come,
Through lacke of care of looking to,
then was it in my minde,
To helpe these inconueniences,
some remedie to finde:
And as I then did busie mee,
therein to take some payne,
One suddenly did speake to mee,
and sayd, it was in vayne
To do those thinges, which fitter were,
The Author is heere forbidden to deale in Phisicke.
by others to be done,
And bad me goe about the things
that earst I had begone,
With that then looking to the Hall
I did behould and see
A short and hollow Pillar plaste
The Necke.
VVhich oftentimes bedecked was
with Iewels, Pearles, and Ringes▪
With cheines of gold, with pretious stones
and many other thinges.
The cullour of this Piller was
as white as any Mylke:
So was the touching of the same,
as soft as any Silke.
The Ioyntes.
It framed was with many Ioynts,which made it apt to mooue,
VVhich way the owner of the same,
thinkt fitt for his behooue.
The Windpipe.
The throate gell.
within this Piller go,
By one of them the wind it hath
his passage to and fro:
A multitude of many thinges,
do by the other passe,
To fill the Pott which earst I saw,
The Stomacke.
whereas it boyling was.Out off this Pipe or Cundit too,
wee many times may heare
The Ʋoyce.
A very sweete and sounding noyse,so pleasant and so cleare,
As that it yeeldeth to our care
a mellodie so fit,
As all the Musicke in the world,
is nothing like to it.
Tpon the vpper end of all
this hollow Piller, stand
and with such cunning hand,
As to our sight it seemes to grow.
The workmanship of it,
Doth differ much from all the things,
which we haue told of yet.
So doth the forme and fashion too,
and substaunce of the same:
For though that Hee that made it,
GOD.
insome roundnes did it frame▪
Yet in the former front thereof,
The Face.
such rarenes there is found,
As nothing in the world can, in
more maiestie abound.
In Beautie from all worldly thinges,
it beares away the bell:
In Comelines for to behold,
all thinges it doth excell.
And if one well do view the same,
The maiesty of the Face described.
such grauitie it beare,
As that it yeeldeth cause of loue,
and matter eke of feare:
For meeke, and milde, and gentle thinges,
feare not to it to come:
But fierce and cruell thinges from it
for feare away do rome.
I saw a Dore, which open was,
The Mouth.
whereby I might discrie
All thinges which in this Turret were,
in order as they lie.
And first, I saw a Mill therein,
The Teeth.
[Page 14]which was deuised so
That winde nor water, horse not hand
did cause it for to goe:
Nor any Saile did long thereto,
but yet therein it grindes
What so for man is meete to eate,
or what therein it findes.
But yet the thing it grindes withall,
it is not made of stone
As other Mills but (strange to see)
it framed is of Bone.
The place where the Braynes lye.
All next aboue the Mill there dotha little Chamber lie
Which Chamber ouer head is seelde
with Bone like Iuorie.
The Skull. The Braine.
In it a Bed (in Pallet wise)doth lie vpon the floore,
Be wrapped in a Sheete of Lawne:
The thin web which wrappeth in the Brayne. The Forehead.
Inuention.
Or in the former part thereof,
doth sit a gallant wight,
Lustie and young Inuention,
for so his name it hight.
But in the hinder part of it,
Memory.
an Auncient man doth lie,Who many thinges doth beare in minde,
they call him Memorie.
Betwixt these two, out of this Bedd,
I saw there did arise
Wit.
A proper fleete and slender Youth:It is his common guise,
[Page 15]Much company for to frequent,
and in his table talke,
To argue there of many thinges,
to make his Clapper walke.
The Tongue
Hee often times with Learned men
will offer to dispute,
The property of a yong and greene wit.
And if that they his arguments
at any time confute,
Then will he wrangle mightely,
and then a man shall heare
Both quips and taunts, yea rayling words
hee scarcely can forbeare:
Hee thinketh to be furnished
sufficiently with skill,
Did take in hand to guide the House,
the Clapper, and the Mill,
For in this Mill a Clapper was,
The tongue.
(tis wonder for to tell)
What thing this Clapper can performe
if Miller vse it well:
Wit.
But if that he be negligent
in ordering of the same,
The Millar then and all the House
it bringeth out of frame.
I sawe my selfe when many folke
vnto this Millar came,
Who hauing no regard vnto
His Clapper how it ran:
Tongue.
Vpon a little conference,
betwixt them there did raise
Some wrangling words: words breeding brawles,
[Page 16]
The inconuenience that grow by misgouerning of the tongue.
and then did follow Frayes:And so of Frayes came bloody Wounds
of Wounds did Slaughter spring:
Then Griefe and Shame ensu'd thereof:
thus did the Clapper bring
All out of frame, and order too,
when vnaduisedly,
The Miller did permit the same,
at large to runne awry.
Now that this House some light might haue
things farr and neare to spie,
The Eyes.
Two little Lights glaswindow-wise,were on this Turret hie.
The eye-lids
Two Casements did to each belong,to ope or shut withall,
VVhen to the Windowes any harme,
were likely for to fall:
And each of them a Pentice hath,
The Eye-browes.
which ouer it depend,From dust, and raine, and other harmes,
those Windowes to defend.
All next aboue those Pentices,
The Brow or Forehead.
there is an open place,In fashion like a Table, and
not much vnlike the space
That's painted White vpon a wall:
wherein doth vse to stand
A [...].
A Diall drawne with certaine lynes,there made with skilfull hand:
By which the howers and the course
of euery day we know,
[Page 17]And eke the moouings of the Sunne,
these dayly to vs shew.
Euen so vpon this Former front,
Viz. The Brow.
in open vewe there lies
A sort of Long and slender lines,
The lines on the forehead.
Whereof some do deuise
An Arte, cald Phisiognomie;
A degression to the Art of Phisognomie.
whereby they boast they can
Soothsaie the chances good and ill,
which happen shall to man:
The Hiest lyne they attribute
vnto Saturnus oulde,
The line of Saturne.
Which being playne, vncrossed, straight,
and smooth; then are they bold
To saie, that in their latter age,
good fortune there shallbe.
But contrarie, if that this line,
all crossed they do see,
All next vnto the same, the line
of Iupiter doth lie;
(Which signifies the middle age,
The line of Iupiter.
)to him, they do applie
The giuing of good quallities,
as Honestie, and Grace,
And for to be Religious,
and for to beare a place
Of Prelate, Iudge, or Magistrates
in such things shall he gaine,
VVho hath this line, both fortunate,
Vncrossed, smooth, and plaine;
But if it croked be, or cut,
[Page 18]and crossed therewithall;
Then shall he rather loose in these,
or little gaine he shall.
The line of Mars.
The next to this, lyes Mars his lyne,who gouerns (as they say)
The fierie and the furious folke,
and makes them for to play
Their prises in the blooddie warrs,
where Captaines some he makes,
And some seditious Souldiers proue,
and some of them he takes,
And makes them Smithes, and Armorers;
and Alcumists of some:
All Butchers, Bakers, Barbers too,
By meanes of Mars, do come:
The Surgeons and the Sarieants both,
yea some must Hangmen be,
If Mars be not asspected well
in their natiuitie:
If that this line be Long and straight,
Vncrossed smooth and plaine,
Then those that vse these faculties,
shall haue exceeding gaine:
But if it Croked be, and cutt,
and Crossed; by and by,
They Iudge the owner of the same,
some violent death shall die.
All next to this, another line,
The two lines of Sol and Luna.
both Long and Slender lies,The which the Phisiognomers
amonst them do deuise,
[Page 19]In parcels two for to deuide
the right side of the same,
They say to be the line of Soll;
and of the left they frame,
A line to Lady Luna: but,
to Soll, they say pertaine
For to dispose of dignities,
First of the line of Sol.
of Lordships, and to gaine
By honorable offices;
in Credit eke to be
With those that are great maiestrats,
the rather if they see
The lyne of Soll to be both smooth,
and there withall to haue
No Cutte, or Crossings ouerwhart,
for else they do perceyue
The influence that Soll do giue
is by some ill aspect;
Of some ill Signe or Planet mard,
and brought to none effect.
The left side line for Luna lies,
The line of Luna.
who doth enrych all those
Which haunteth nauigation;
and eke she doth dispose
Of Legates, and Imbassadours,
and with Atturnies too,
With Benchers, and with trauellers,
she hath somwhat to doe:
If that her lyne be fortunate,
she giues them good successe;
But i [...] it be vnfortunate,
[Page 19]she benefits the lesse.
The Eye-browes.
Betwixt the foresayd Pentises,two certaine Lines there lyes,
VVhich if the endes of both of them,
chaunce vpward to aryse,
And meete together in the topp,
and make an Angle there,
The line of Mercurie.
Then Mercurie doth promise that,hee neede not for to feare;
That is, the owner of that House▪
for luckie shall he bee,
(The rather) if an vnright line
betwixt them both we see:
If Mercurie be fortunate,
in a Natiuitie,
Hee causeth one an Orator
or Poet, for to bee:
And teacheth very well to speake,
and very well to wrighte,
A Secretarie eke to bee,
and skilfull to indite:
And good in Mathematicals,
and in Arithmaticke:
A witt and a capacitie,
he causeth very quicke:
But being found vnfortunate
in any birth, they say,
That all his Influence doth worke
a cleane contrary way:
The longer all the lines do reach,
the smoother, and more plaine,
[Page 20]So much the more they luckie be,
and longer life retaine.
But if no Angle Crosse or Line,
Crosses or ouerthwart lines be vnluckie.
(which ouerthwart we call)
Vpon this foresayd Front appeare
nor yet be seene at all,
A singuler most happie lucke,
or fortune then hee haue,
That is the owner of the House,
and shall haue to his graue.
Though all the Houses there, such fronts
and places do possesse,
Yet haue they not all Lines alike,
but some haue more or lesse:
For some haue foure, three, or two,
Yea many haue but one;
But very seldome do it chaunce,
if any House haue none:
For then vpon the same (they say)
no Iudgement can be giuen,
No more then on a Dials square,
A similitude
which beeing smooth and euen,
Doth want his Lines to iudge vpon;
without the which we shall
Perceiue no more how howers passe,
then on a painted wall.
And many other odd conceites
I saw within the same,
Which now for lacke of memorie,
and time, I cannot name.
Long stood I looking on these Lines,
[Page 22]at length [...]e seemd to heare
A voyce, that safely sayd to mee,
thus whispering in mine eare.
The Art is vaine and vncertaine.
Leaue off to view those vanities;For though the Art doth show
Great cunning for to be in it:
and though that God (we know)
In vaine hath nothing made in man,
Yet since that it is found
The chiefest rules of all this Art,
yea and his greatest ground,
Stands but on obseruations,
and on coniectures fraile:
How can we censure of the same,
but that we needes must faile,
Of Infants lines, and such as be
The lines of Infants, old-men, and labouring men.
exceeding leane, or old;No man can rightly iudge vpon,
as Learned men haue told?
And as this voyce still talked on,
I chaunst to looke aside,
Where I an Auncient man all clad
in sundry cullours spide;
And after we each other had
saluted, by and by
I did intreate him that he would
vouchsafe not to deny
His name, for to declare to me,
and what he did intend,
By clyming of these places hie,
and hither to assend.
[Page 23]Then courteously he spake to me,
and did this answere frame:
I called am Pampirus;
Pampirus omnia expertus.
andaccording to my name,
To Countries, Realmes, and Nations, and
to places farre and neere,
Their Customes, and their Orders, for
to know, to see, and heare,
I trauell: that experience
in all things I mought haue:
And when that I haue got thereof
as much as I would craue,
I do impart the same vnto
Philotimus: for why,
Philotimus amans veritatem.
Experience and trueth ought to goe togither.
As Trauellers togither, goe
Philotimus and I:
This is the man, his voyce it was
which lately you did heare:
With that a plaine and comely wight,
did presently appeare;
His countenance was very graue,
and auncient for to see:
But yet a cleere and liuely grace,
In him there seemd to bee▪
His name importes a louer of
things honest, good, and true:
His cloathing shewd no lesse; which was
of cullours White and Blue:
And after salutations done,
the other did not stay,
But fell into his former speach,
[Page 23]and thus began to say.
Now for our comming to this place,
Pampirus goeth forward with his speach to the Author.
you are to vnderstand,It was our happ of late to heare,
of one that tooke in hand
For to describe in euery part,
the Body of a Man,
Both inwardly and outwardly,
from topp to toe: and than,
Compareth it vnto an House,
that hath in it great store
Of needfull thinges; well gouerned
by one of worth: and more,
Applyeth euery part which in
the Body wee do see,
Vnto some necessarie thing,
which in an House should bee.
And furthermore, report doth goe,
(If we may credite fame)
That he that made this Symilie,
so aptly did it frame,
That it vnto a Common-wealth,
compared well may bee.
Much more thereof besides, wee heare,
which is the cause that wee
Do hither come: and for asmuch
as that it is a lore,
That hath not yet in such a sort,
been dealt withall before,
By any man: wherefore we craue,
(if you the partie bee,
[Page 25]That deales herein) you will declare
the same in each degree.
And for a new experience
I will the same forth show.
And I too (quoth Philotimus)
thincke to applie it so,
As that some good and godly vse
may of the same be made.
And thus, when as this auntient man
his minde hereof had sayd,
Vpon this aunswer, then my selfe
did make him this replie.
The authors reply.
Your reasons which you heere alledge,
I can not well denie.
Yet cause of great discouragment,
I see before my face:
For why, the Curious they will carpe,
and seeke for to disgrace
The thing which now you do perswade:
thereof the setting foorth,
And say that I (for want of skill)
haue made it nothing woorth.
And some will thinke me arrogant,
because I vndertake
To wright hereof, and make report,
that for vaine-glories sake,
I do the same: whereas in deede
the Truth is otherwise.
The cause why the Authaer did deuise this Booke.
For why, the onely cause for which
I did the same deuise,
Was for mine onely priuate vse,
[Page 26]that many times thereby,
By meditating of the [...]e,
my selfe might edifie:
And though my paines shall not to some,
do any good at all:
Yet su [...] I am that harme thereby,
shall not to any fall:
Which maketh mee the willinger
with you to condiscend,
Hoping you will as you haue said,
herein your ayde me lend.
The authors application of this his former deuise.
Almighty God in Paradice,when he created man
Of Soule, and eke of Body both,
he did create him than,
With Sence he did this Soule indue,
which was celestiall,
And eke with Reason for to rule
the Body there withall.
A similitude
This Body then (I say) is like,an House, in each degree;
The Soule, the owner of the House
I do account to bee;
As touching first this Body then,
I did of late declare,
A comparisō
It like an House in euery poynt:but now I will compare
or Body.
This House vnto a Common wealthOr as a Cittie faire:
Or like a Corporation,
[Page 27]consisting of a Mayer,
And many other Officers,
there needefull to be had.
And Commons too: amongst the which
are people good and bad:
And therefore need of gouernment,
such people for to guide,
And as each Towne and Common wealth
Or Cittie: hath beside
Appoynted places for to kepe
their Courtes of Common law;
Yea and their Courts of Conscience too,
to kepe these men in awe
So hath each House his magistrates,
or Body.
and officers to serue
Yea Commons too: and places fitt,
for Courts, which do deserue
Good magistrates to sit in them.
But let vs first of all
Speake of the Chirest Seate which late
thou sawest in the Hall.
or Body.
The Heart of man is the Court of good Conscience, when Grace fitteth there as chiefe Iustice. These be the ordinary attendants vpon the court of a good Conscience. Viz. Good thoughts.
The chiefest Seate in euery House
it is the Hart of man
VVherein if that the Sperit of Grace
do sit as Iudge, euen than
The Court of Conscience very well
we may it call: but see,
These Officers vpon this Court
allwayes attendant bee.
Good thoughts, and motions of the minde
and next to these proceede
[Page 28]Another sort of Officers.
Good words. Good deedes. Fayth. Loue. Charitie. Obedience. Care to liue vprightly. Patience. Godly feare. Mercie. Hope. Thankfulnes Pittie.
Good wordes, and eke Good deedes:Yea Faith, and Loue, and Charitie,
Obedience, and Care
To liue vpright, and Pacience,
and eke a Godly Feare:
And Mercy, that most willingly
forgiueth euery wrong:
And Hope, that lookes for happie life,
although delayes be long:
And Thankefulnesse, that with goodwill,
doth benefites requite:
And Pittie, that compasion takes
of those in ruthfull plight:
Ʋertue. Meekenes. Innocencie.
And Vertue, that doth Vice abhorre,and Meekenes, eke so milde,
That loues to be as Innocent,
as any little Childe.
And many such like Officers,
vpon this Iudge attend,
To execute his warrants, when
he doth abroad them sende.
And if all these doe faythfully
their offices: why shall
We not of right, such officers,
Good Officers them call?
But when out of this Court (alas)
The cause why Grace fayle vs, is our owne corruption.
this rightuous Iudge is gone,(For many times he doth depart,
and leaue this Court alone,
Because the Seate wherein this Iudge
[Page 29]doth vse to sit, is seene
Oft times to be corrupted,
By originall Sinne.
anddefiled, and vncleene,)
Another straight vsurpes the roomth,
When Grace doth faile the Diuell preuaile.
and sitting in the place,
Workes all the meanes he can deuise,
the Court for to deface:
Much like vnto the Parrable,
which we in Mathew reede,
A Parable.
Of one that sowed in his ground
both good and perfect Seede:
But while men slept, his Enemie
vpon this Land did sow
Great store of Tares among the Wheate,
and then away did goe.
So Sathan, with his hellish crue,
this place doth enter in,
And sitting there as Magistrate,
his Court he doth begin:
About him then flocks all his traine,
these be companions to the court of a bad Conscience: viz. Pride. Disdaine. L [...]ftines. Scorne. Contempt. Ambition. Ʋaine-glory. Enuie. Malice. Spight.
(like to a swarme of Bees)
Of Baylifes, and of Officers:
the names of whom be these.
Pride, and Disdaine, and Loftines:
and Scorne, and eke Contempt:
Ambition, with Vaine-glorie: which
great matters do attempt.
Then Enuie, yea and Mallice too,
and Spight, that peeuish else,
Who fretteth that another should
be better then himselfe.
who like a Miser old,
Comes limping in, and in his hand
a mightie bagg of Gold.
Robberie.
And Robberie, that vse to standhard by the hig-wayes side.
Theft.
And sneaking Theft, that in the darkedoth seeke him selfe to hide.
And those that know how for to hoord
Hoording of mony.
and hide their mony well,Thinking that they the same, with them
shall carry into Hell.
Vsurie.
And Vsurie, that greedie-gutt,that eateth vp the poore:
Simonie.
And Symonie, that Cleargie mate,and many others more.
Wrath.
And Wrath, with his allyances:Murther.
and Murder, which doth killBoth friend and foe maliciously,
and with pretended ill,
Banning. Cursing.
And Banning, yea and Cursing both,whose customes are to craue
More Plagues to light on other folkes,
then they themselues would haue.
Furie.
Then Furie, in his franticke mood,came squaring into Court,
And brought with him in companie
Disorder.
Disorder, and a sortSwearing.
Of Swearing mates: that straight the Courtwas brought in such a rage,
Belzabub.
That scarce could Belzabub himselfe[Page 31]his Officers asswadge:
Yet Crueltie, for all this coyle,
Cruelti [...]
could scant be pacified,
Vntill that with inflamed eyes
his Lust he had espied:
For Lust doth to this Court belong,
Lust.
her vse is to allure
Lasciuiousnes; shee Wantonnes:
lasciuiousnes.
and Wantonnes procure
Wantonnes.
Concupisence to come with her
Concupisence
into the Court; and there
Foule Ribaldrie,
Ribaldrie.
her filthy talkeno whit at all doth spare.
Then enters in Idolatrie:
Idolatrie.
who is so farr begone
With blinded loue of Images,
that many times a Stone,
A Stocke, a peece of Lead, of Brasse,
of Siluer, or of Gold,
Hee worships as his God, and doth
it for his Sauiour hold.
Heere Witchcraft came;
Witchcraft. Sorcerie. Coniuration. Gluttonie. Drunkennes Adulterie. Fornication. Incest. B [...]gerie. Heresie. Err [...]u [...]. Hipocr [...]sie.
a withered wretchwho alwayes beares a minde
To spoyle another, though itselfe
thereby no profite finde.
And Sorcerie with Charmes do vse,
and poysoned Drinkes likewise.
And Coniuration, causing Spirits
in Circles for to rise.
And Gluttonie, that onely ioyes
in ease, and belly-cheare.
[Page 32]And Drunkennes, that reeling goes,
with belly blowne with Beere.
Adulterie, which mariage bed
of Honestie doth spoyle:
And Fornication, that doth chast
Virginitie defyle:
And Incest, which with kindred neere
to lie, no sinne it thinke:
And Buggerie, that beastly sinne,
for which did Sodome sinke▪
And Heresie, that doth vphold,
and stoutly doth mayntaine
False errours in Religion,
and eke opinions vaine.
At last comes in Hipocrisie,
who outwardly doth show
A face of faigned holines,
though deedes be nothing so.
And many other Officers
did to this Court belong,
Which for to tell them all by name,
it would be very long:
Anone vnto the Court againe,
the rightuous Iudge did come;
But when he saw such wicked wights,
possessed in the roome,
Hee did commaund his Officers,
A Battaile betwixt the flesh and the spirit.
in no wise for to spare,But thrust them out with violence,
the other side prepare
With force for to resist, and then
[Page 33]a Battell they did trie
When Grace drawes nie, the Diuell must flie.
But yet at length the wicked ones
constrayned were to flie
Much like vnto the Battell which
Saint Iohn hath to vs tould
Which in his Reuelations
he saith he did behould
How Michaell and his Angells did
A similitude.
a Mightie Battell fight
With Sathan and his hellish impes
and put them all to flight
Lo thus (quoth I) then very well
we may behould and see
A Court of Consience in each House
Or Body.
is nedefull for to be
Aswell as in a Common Wealth;
or in a Cittie large,
If for to rule and gouerne well,
we minde to take the charge.
And now the Court of Common Law,
The Court of common law.
I meane for to declare
Both what it is, and where it's kept,
and who the Iudges are:
what officers on it attend,
and for to shew likewise,
Who are disturbers of this Court;
for many times arise
Both quarrels, and Contentions there,
by some of euell fame
For Vertue crossed is by Vice,
contrary to the same
there doth a Chamber lie,
Which Chamber, round about is scold
as white as Iuory.
With in the same the Court is kept,
and in this Court doth sitt
The foure cardinal vertues wherby we should gouerne alll our common afaffaies described.
Fower Iudges, all of worthy fame,and for the place most fiitt,
The Chefe of them is Iustice cald,
who doth vprightly heare
Both rich and poore, not led awry
with malice, loue, or feare
The second Prudence hath to name,
whose wisdome doth foresee,
To sounde the deapth of euery cause
least ought mistaken be.
Then Temperance, whose mildnes doth
both moderate each thing
And driueth Discord out of Court,
and doth Good order bring.
The last is Fortitude, whose force
and Courage doth defend,
The Iustnes of the Inocent,
and makes the stubberne bende:
The officers which to this Court.
attending I did see,
Their names be these; or such as these,
I wishe them all to be.
Plaine-dealing stands in Court and shewes
the title of the Cause:
And craueth nothing but the righte
[Page 35]according to the Lawes,
Then Expedion, doth desier
with speed an ende to haue,
Of all his long and teadious sute,
Expences for to saue,
And Pittie pleades for Pouertie,
in For [...]a pauperis,
The right vse of all those that are to be imployed in any court.
And looketh for no stipend nor
for any fee for this.
Then Charitie for concord calls,
perswading to agree
And wils them for to leaue their sutes
and friends againe to be.
Content then tells his Client thus,
I hunt not after gaines,
Giue what you will, amodicum
shall please me for my paines.
But yet amongst these officers,
do many times resort
Vnto this Court a nother Crue
of naughtipacks a sort,
VVho by their shiftes and pollices
do compas so the same▪
That oft they do disturbe the Court,
and bring it out of frame.
The Sundry abuse [...]s of many that are imployed in Courtes described.
For Fraud seekes with his suttle shifts
plaine-dealing to disgrace,
And trifles much on many points
that riseth in the Case,
Delaie coms dallying in with drifts
demaunding furder day
[Page 36]All though his Clyent hath before
informd him what to say,
Discorde.
Then Discord mooues Contentions,and bids them go to law:
Why put you vp of wrong (saith he)
the value of a strawe
Affection.
Afection thus vnto his friendin secret sort doth tell,
Let me alone what ere it be,
your matter shall go well
Feare.
Your aduersarie (then saith Feare)he is a man of might
Haue pacience, I sorry am
I may not do you right
Ambo dexter.
And Dexter, deales deceitfullyof Ambo, taking fees
And cares not, (so that he might gaine,)
though both of them do leese,
Briberie.
And Bribery, bestirs him there,as busie as a Bee,
And thinks by giuing giftes, to blind
the eyes of Equitie
By Couler of his office, though
Extortion.
Extortion doth the wrong,Yet saith, he takes no more then to
his office doth belong
And many more such busie mates
do in this Court abide
Vnder the Cloake of honestie,
seeking themselues to hide.
The hart.
Whom though the Iudges many times[Page 37]do banish out of Court,
And punish them as they deserue,
yet still they will resort:
For as they haue been in this Court
time out of minde of man,
So still in Court they will bee, do
the Iudges what they can.
Title of prescription.
Loe thus you see of keeping Court,
in euery House the neede.
Now of the Commons for to speake
somewhat, I will proceede:
As Commons for the greater part,
consist of men of Trade,
Artificers, and Laborers,
and such as vse haue made
Both apt and fit for that which should,
Societie maintaine.
A similitude
Without the which, a Comon-wealth,
cannot it selfe sustaine.
Euen so in euery Body, or
in euery House, we see
Such partes and members of the same,
as may compared bee
To Commons in a Cmmon-wealth:
The Commons, or communaltie, and how it is applyed.
and like in each degree
For in the Body of a man,
(as I before haue sayd)
Some part or member of the same,
can exercise the Trade
Of Brewers, and of Bakers too:
yea and some haue the skill
[Page 38]To Barber, and to Butcher to,
[...]
and Foules likewise to kill:So hath it some that exercise,
the Sciene of Defence,
And handles can the weapon which,
oft times do b [...]de offence.
It hath likewise the Souldier, which
in Warres can tosse the Pike
And handle well the Musket, and
knowes how with Sword to strike.
And drumm [...] and Trumpet for to sound,
The proper and sundrie vses of the hand.
and eke the Horse to guide,If that they hap at any time,
vpon an Horse to ride.
The Carpenters and Coopes art:
the Coblers craft▪ some can
The Ioyners trade, and some likewise
can Iuggle now and than:
For euen as in a Common-wealth,
a Cittie, or a Towne,
Full many idle people bee,
So euery idle man abuseth some parts of his body to idle [...]isti [...]es.
which wander vp and downe:So euery House hath idle mates,
which vseth for to play
At Chesse, at Bowes, at Dice, at Cards,
at Tennis, day by day.
And some there be, which haue likewise
The vse of the armes & shoulders, or the legges.
in them, a Comely grace,Within their Armes in kindly sort,
his friendes for to imbrace.
And euery House hath Porters too,
[Page 39]which carry too and fro
Great Packes & burdens, when they are
commaunded to do so.
It hath Intelligencers, which
seeke out to see and heare
What newes abroad, both good and bad,
The vse of the eye and the eare.
and then the same they beare
Vnto the owner of the House,
and him thereof doth warne,
That he the better may preuent
the things that might him harme.
It hath likewise his Clergie men,
that now and then can preach,
And doctrine either good or bad,
can vtter foorth and teach.
And Orators, that can a smooth
and learned tale foorth tell.
And Lawyers too, that for it selfe,
The vse of the tongue & the voyce.
can plead his causes well.
And Chapmen that cen buy and sell,
and good account can make,
Of any thing that for the House
they do receiue and take.
And them likewise that can conferr
with either friend or foe,
And as occasion offered is,
can frame an answer so.
And Laborers that digg and delue,
The vse of the hand and the foote ioyntly.
with Mattocke and with Spade,
And those that both with hand and foot,
do vse the Weauers trade.
[Page 40]And many other Scienses,
and Arts, of sundrie kind
Are practiz'd there: but halfe of them
I cannot call to minde.
The Author speaketh to Phil [...] ▪
Loe thus you heare what I haue sayd,if you will take the paine
The meaning of these things, to make
more manifest and playne:
That they which heare or read the same,
the better may apply,
And make some further vse thereof,
themselves to edifie.
I pray you do: hee then to mee
did answere thus; I will
Indeuoure for to do herein
according to my skill.
Philotimus speaketh to the Author.
Though many do affirme (quoth hee)(which thing is true and iust,)
Mans Body for to be a Sacke,
or Budget full of Dust:
All painted ouer cunningly
A pescription of our corruptible bodyes.
with cull ours white and redd,And with a kind of slender Haire,
bethatched ouer head:
And that the same is made of Clay,
of Earth, and Ashes dry:
And nothing but Corruption is,
while it in Graue doth lie:
And like vnto the withered Grasse,
[Page 41]and like the ra [...]ing flower:
And to an earthen vessell, that's
in danger euery hower:
For to be chrusht in peeces: and
a Dungeon some it call,
A Prison-house vnto the Soule,
that keeps the same in thrall:
And many such like other names
the Scriptures do declare.
All which is true, if with the Soule,
we do the same compare.
For why, the Soule Gods Image is,
What the Soule is.
a thing Deuine: but yet,
As touching this our Body suer,
God hath bestowde on it
Such admyrable workeman-shipp,
as when he did it frame,
His wisedome, power, and glorie then,
was shewed in the same:
So that we are therefore to laude,
and prayse his holy name.
Likewise each Body of the Iust,
the Scriptures terme to bee
The Temple of the Holy Ghost,
and that we shall it see:
At latter day, for to arise
in glorie for to sitt
With Christ, who by his precious blood,
long since redeemed it.
Beside, the ordering of the same,
[Page 42]and gouernment of [...]
Euen from the state of Common-wealths,
do differ not a whit.
And whyt because all Common-wealths
do of our Bodyes come,
And when our Bodyes cease to bee,
then Common-wealths are done.
And as a Realme, a Common-wealth,
a Cittie, or a Towne,
Cannot continue long, but is
in state of falling downe,
If that the Common-people, which
within them do remaine,
Doe not together ioyne as one,
their state for to maintaine.
And as an House must needes decay,
and all that longe there to,
If those that dwell therein neglect
the things that they should do.
Euen so it with our Bodyes stands:
for if it so befall
The Eye, the Eare, the Hand, the Foote,
the parts and members all,
Ioyne nor together all as one,
the Body to sustaine,
wee see by dayly proofe, the Body
cannot long remaine.
And euen as in a Common-wealth,
a Cittie, or a Towne,
There ought to be good Magistrates,
[Page 43]to kepe the wicked downe.
And as in euery House there ought
a Gouernour to bee
Amongst the people in the same,
good order for to see:
Euen so in euery Body; in
the which a Soule do dwell,
Most needefull tis some one to haue,
A good Conscience.
the which may gouerne well:
Or eke the Realme; the Common-wealth;
The generall incōuenience of euill gouernment.
the Cittie; or the Towne:
Yea and the Soule, and Body too,
(though things of great renowne)
Cannot endure: but needs must fall.
to ruine and decay,
The proofe thereof by ruling ill,
too often see we may.
As Corporations, Citties, Townes,
and Villages a sort,
The better for to gouerne them,
haue oftentimes their Court:
As well Ecclesiasticall,
as of the Common Lawes.
So euery man within his House,
(and in him selfe) haue cause,
To see that both these Courts be kept:
the first of them to keepe,
For Causes hidden in the Hart,
See more hereof in fol. 27. & 28.
and in the Conscience deepe.
The other Court must houlden be,
[Page 44]for matters that depende
Twixt man and man, right for to doe,
and wrong for to amende.
Each seuerall Court, hath seuerall Rules
belonging therevnto,
For to instruct their suters all,
what euery one should do.
The Gospel. The Commandements
The Gospell, and the Mortall law,who so obserueth, this
I am perswaded that he shall
but seldome doe amisse.
And for the keeping of these Courts,
The application of the keeping of these Courts.
we thus must vnderstand,That euery good and faythfull man,
must dayly take in hand
For to examine well himselfe,
his thoughts, his words, and works,
And Looke if any wickednes,
in any of them lurks:
And if he chaunce some faults to spie,
as doutles but he shall,
That then vnto the Lord-chiefe-Iudge,
he faythfully do call
For pardon for his former faults:
and do as is before
Directed him: and then I thinke,
he need to do no more.
Thus briefly haue I shewed my minde:
and now, because the day)
Comes on apace, and that (quoth they)
[Page 45]we needs must hence a way:
We leaue you till another time,
when we may talke our fill.
I rather wish you would (quoth I)
abide and tarry still.
But when our leaue, each one of vs
did of each other take,
The sorrow I conceiu'd thereof,
did cause me for to wake:
And when I sawe my selfe in bed,
I rose vp presently,
And went and tooke my pen in hand,
and Wrote downe by and by
(So neare as I could call to minde)
what I before had seene:
And all the talke, and conference,
which passed vs betweene.
If any shall hereafter seeme
for to mislike of this,
I craue they would vouchsaue to mende
what here they finde amisse.
And here I ende; wishing these things,
may be as well applide,
And to no worser ende, then in
this booke is specifide.
FINIS.
- Letchrie is like a fiery furnace, whose mouth is Gluttonie.
- Letchrie is like a fiery furnace, whose flame is Pride.
- Letchrie is like a fiery furnace, whose sparks are euill words.
- Letchrie is like a fiery furnace, whose smoake is Shame,
- Letchrie is like a fiery furnace whose Ashes is Pouertie.
- Letchrie is like a fiery furnace whose end is Destruction.