THe purple whip of vengeance, (the Plague hauing beaten many thousands of mē, wo­men, & children to death, and still marking the people of this Cittie, (euery weeke) by hundreds for the graue, is the onely cause, The miseres that a Plague brings to Men that al her Inhabitance walke vp & downe like mourners at some great solome fune­ral, the Citie her selfe being the Chiefe mourne [...]s. The poy­son of this Lingering infection, strikes so déepe into all mens harts, that their cheekes (like cowardly Souldiers) haue lost their colours▪ their eyes, (as if they were in debt, and durst not looke abroad,) doe scarce peepe out of their heads; and their tongues (like phisitions ill payd) giue but cold comfort. By the power of their Pestilent Charmes, all merry meetings are cut off. All frolick assemblyes dissolued, and in their cir­cles are raised vp, the Blacke, Sullen and Dogged spirits of Sadnesse, of Melancholy, and so (consequently) of Mischiefe▪ Mirth is departed, and lyes dead & buryed in mens bosomes, Laughter dares not looke a man in the face; Iests, are (like Mu­sicke to the Deafe, not regarded: Pleasure it selfe finds now no pleasure, but in Seghing, and Bewailing the Miseries of the Time. For (alack) what string is there (now) to bée played vpon whose tench can make as merry? Play-houses, Play-houses stand empty. stand (like Tauernes, that haue cast out their Maisters) the dores locked vp, the Flagges (like their Bushes) taken down, or rather like Houses lately infected, from whence the affri­ [...]ed dwellers are fled, in hope to liue better in the Country. The Players themselues did neuer worke till now, there [Page] Comodies are all turned to Tragedies, there Tragedies to Nocturnals, and the best of them all are weary of playing in those Nocturnall Tragedies. Thinke you to delight your Poets walke in melancholy. selues by kéeping company with our Poets? Proh Dolor! their Muses are more Sullen then old Monkeys, now that mony is not stirring, they neuer Plead chéerfully, but in their Tearme times, when the T [...]o-peny Chents, and Peny Stin­kards swarme together to héere the Stagerites: Playing voca­tions [...] dant proce­ [...]es neque hi­ [...]riones. are Diseases now as common and as hurtful to them, as the Fowle Euill to a Northen Man, or the Pox to a French man. O Pittifull Poetry, what a lamentable prentiship hast thou serued, and (which is the greatest spite) caust not yet be made Free! no, no, there is no good doings in these dayes but amongst Lawyers, amongst Vintners, in Bawdy houses and at Pimlico. There is all the Musick, (that is of any reck­ning) there all the meetings, there all the mirth, and there all the m [...]ny. To walke euery day into the fields is weari­some; to drink vp the day and night in a Tauerne, loathsome: to bée euer rydiug vpon that Beast with two Heades, Let­chery) most damnable, and yet to be euer idle, is as detest­able. [...]nauum [...] ot [...] [...]rpus.

What merry Gale shall wée then wish for? vnles it bée to Ferry ouer the Hellespont, and to crosse from Sestus to Abi­dus, that is to say, from London to the Beare Garden? The company of the Beares hold together still; they play their Tra­gi-Comaedies [...]he Beares are [...]dly put [...]wne. as liuely as euer they did: The pide Bul héere kéepes a tossing and a roaring, when the Red Bull dares not stir. Into this Ile of Dogs did I therefore transport my selfe, after I had made tryall of all other pastimes.

No sooner was I entred but the very noyse of the place put me in mind of Hel: the beare (dragd to the stake) shew­ed [...]ris garden an [...]age of hell. like a black rugged soule, that was Damned, and newly committed to the infernall Charle, the Dogges like so many Diuels, inflicting torments vpon it. But when I called to mind, that al their tugging together was but to make sport to the beholders, I held a better and not so damnable an opi­nion [Page] of their beastly doings: for the Beares, or the Buls fight­ing with the dogs, was a liuely represētation (me thought) of poore men going to lawe with the rich and mightie. The dogs (in whom I figured the poore creatures) and fitly may I doe so, because when they stand at the dore of Diues, they haue nothing (if they haue thē but bare bones throwne vnto Poore men cō ­tending with rich men, are as dogs fighting with Beares. them, might now & then pinch the great ones, & perhaps vex them a little by drawing a few drops of blood from them: but in the end, they commonly were crushed, & either were car­ried away with ribs broken, or their skins torne & hanging about their eares, or else (how great so euer their hearts were at the first encounter) they (stood at the last) whining and barking at their strong Aduersaries, when they durst not, or could not bite them. At length a blinde Beare was tyed to the stake, and in stead of baiting him with dogges, a company of creatures that had the shapes of men, & faces of christians (being either Colliers, Carters, or watermen) tooke the office of Beadles vpon them, and whipt monsieur Hunkes, till the blood ran downe his old shoulders: It was some sport to sée Innocence triumph ouer Tyranny, by be­holding Innocence pu­nished. those vnnecessary tormentors go away w^t scratchd hands, or torne legs from a poore Beast, arm'd onely by nature to defend himselfe against Violence: yet me [...]hought this whipping of the blinde Beare, moued as much pittie in my breast towards him, as y^e leading of poore starued wret­ches to the whipping posts in London (when they had more neede to be reléeued with foode) ought to moue the hearts of Cittizens, though it be the fashion now to laugh at the punishment.

The last Chorus that came in, was an old Ap [...]e drest vp in a coate of changeable cullers (on horsebacke) [...]d he rode No slaue li [...] the soothing v [...] of fooles in their vices. his circuit with a couple of curres muzled, that like two footemen ran on each side of his old Apes face, euer and a­non lea [...]ing vp towards him and making a villanous noise with their chappes, as if they had had some great suites to his Apishues, and that he by the haste he [...]ade had no lei­sure [Page] to heare such base and bashfull Petitioners.

The hunny that I sucked out of this weede, was this: That by seeing these, I called to minde the infortunate cō ­dition of Soldiers and old seruitors, who when the stormes of troubles are blowne ouer, being curbd of meanes and so hurying that courage and worth that is in their bosoms, are compeld (by the vilenesse of the time) to follow y^e héeles of Asses with gay trappings, not daring so much as once to open their lips in reprehension of those apish beastly and ri­diculous vices, vpon whose monstrous backes they are car­ried vp and downe the world, and they are flattered onely for their greatnes, whilst those of merit liue in a slauish sub­iection vnder them.

No pleasure thus, nor any place being able to giue per­fect contentment to the minde: I left swimming in those common sensuall streames, wherein the world hath béene Nulla est sincera [...]oluptas. so often in danger of beeing drowned, and waded onely in those cleare brookes, whose waters had their currents from the springs of learning. I spent my howres in reading of Histories, and for the laying out of a little time, receiued larger interest then the greatest vsurers doe for their mo­ney. By looking on those perspectiue glasses. I beheld king­domes and people a farre off, came acquainted with their Excellence of Histories. manners, their pollicies, their gouernement, their risings, and their downefalles: was present at their battailes, and (without danger to my selfe) vnlesse it were in greeuing to sée States so ouerthrowne by the mutabilitie of Fortune, I saw those Empires vtterly brought to subu [...]rsion, which had béene terrours and triumphers ouer all the nations vp­pon earth. The backe of Time which was next to mine eie, (because he was gone from me) was written full of Tra­gicall wonders: but the hinder part of his reuerend head was bare and made bald by mens abusing it. O Histories! you soueraigne balmes to the bodyes of the dead, that pre­serue them more fresh then if they were aliue, kéepe y^e fames of Princes from perishing, when marble monuments can­not [Page] saue their bones from being rotten, you faithfull entelli­gensers, betwéene Kingdomes and Kingdomes, your truest councellors to Kings, euen in their greatest dangers! Hast thou an ambition to be equall to Princes! read such bookes, as are the Chronicles of Ages, gone before thee: there there maiest thou find lines drawne (if vertue be thy guide) [...]t quae mox imi­têre legas. Discitur hinc nulles [...] is ob­sistere c [...]sus. to make thee paralell with the greatest Monarch: wouldest thou be aboue him, there is y^e scale of him ascending. Huntst thou after glory? marke in those pathes how others haue run, and follow thou in the same course. Art thou ficke in minde? (and so to be diseased, is to be sicke euen to y^e death) there shalt thou finde physicke to cure thée. Art thou sad? where is swéeter musicke then in reading? Art thou poore? Discitur hinc quantum pau­pertas sobrea p [...]ssit. open those closets, and inualuable treasures are powred in­to thy hands.

Whilest I dwelt vpon the contemplation of this happi­nesse, the dreames of Infants were not more harmelesse then my thoughts were, nor the slumbers of a conscience that hath no sting to kéepe it waking more delicate then the musicke which I found in reading: but the swéetest flower hath his withering, and euery pleasure his ending. This full Sea had a quicke fall, and the day that was warme and bright in the morning, had frosts and gloomy darknesse to spoile the beauty of it ere it grew to be noone: for on a sud­daine all the aire was filled with noise, as if heauen had bin angry, and chid the earth for her Villanies, people rush head­long A Commotion. together, like torrents running into the sea, full of fury in shew, but loosing the effect of doing violence because they know not how to do it, their rage and madnesse burning in them like fire in wet straw, it made a great stinking smoake, but had no flame. Wildnesse and afrightment were ill fa­uouredly drawne in euery face, as if they had all come from acting some fresh murder, and that at euery step they were pursued, arme was cryed, and swords were drawne, but either they had no hearts to strike, or no hands, for (like so many S. Georges on horse-backe) they threatned, but gaue [Page] not a blow, euery one fearing to smite first, least the rest should make that an occasion to kill him for beginning the quarrell. But at the last drun [...]nes were heard to thunder, and trumpets to sound alarums, murmure ran vp & downe euery streete, and confusion did beate at the gates of euery City, men met together, and ran in heards like Deere frigh­ted, or rather like Beares chased, or else seeking for prey. But what wild beasts (thinke you) were these that thus kept such a roaring? it was a people sauage and desperate, a nation patchd vp (like a beggers cloake of y^e worst péeces) O quantum [...]git [...] that could be gathered out of all nations and put into one. They were more scattered then the Iewes, and more hated, more beggerly then the Irish, and more vnciuill, more har­dy then the Switzers, and more brutish: giuen to drinke, more then the Dutch, to pride more then the French, to ir­religion more then the Italian. They were like the Dun­kirkes, a mingle mangle of countries, a confusion of langua­ges, yet all vnderstanding one another. Such as the peo­ple VVha [...] vices are compani on [...] (for the most p [...]) with pouerty. were, such was the Princesse whom they followed, she had all their conditions, & they all hers, seeming to be made for no other purpose then to gouerne them, because none else could be bad inough to be their gouernour. They obey­ed her not for loue, nor feare, but made her onely great a­mongst them, because it was their will to haue it so, she (a­mongst a number of vices, that reigned in her) hauing onely this vertue of a Prince, not to see her people take wrong.

Into armes therfore as well for her owne chastity as de­fence The quarrel betweene mo­ney and pouer­ty. of her subiects doth she dote [...]ine to put her selfe pre­sently. A faithful & serious [...]tion mad [...] I to vnderstād the cause of this suddaine and vniuersall vprore, and by true intelligence (from persons o [...] [...] side) found that y^e quar­rell was old, the e [...]ty mortall, the enemies puissant and fierce, many leagues had béene made, and all were broken, Di [...]is [...] ­um est auri. no conditions of peace would now be looked vpon, open warre must be the the sword to st [...]ke open wrong.

[Page] The fires (kindled by Guizian Leagues) set not France in hotter combustions then these are likely to proue if the flames in time be not wisely quenched. The showers of Ciuell warres of Fraunce. bloud which once rained downe vpon the heads of the two kingly families in England, neuer drowned more people, Diuision of the two Houses. not that braue Romane tragedy acted in our time, at y^e bat­tel of Neuport, not the siege of Bommell, where heads flew from sholders faster then bullets from the Cannon. No, nor all those late acts of warre and death, commenced by Hispa­niolized Netherlanders, able to make vp a Chronicle to hold all the world reading: did euer giue rumour cause to Low country warres. speak so much as the battailes of these two mighty enemies (so mortally falling out) will force her to proclaime abroade, vnlesse they grow to a reconcilement, to which, by the con­iecture of all strangers, that haue trauailed into both their dominions, and know the hot and ambitious spirits of the quarrellers, they cannot easily be drawne: for no one paire of scales being able to hold two Kings at one time: and this law being ingrauen on y^e very inside of euery Kings crowne (because it is the wedding ring of his Empire to which hee is the Bride-groome) that, ‘Nulla fides socijs Regni: omnisque potestas, Impatiens Consortis erit.’

At the sterne of a kingdome, two Pilots must not sit, nor principality endure a partner, and againe, that ‘Non capit Regnum duos,’

A Kingdome is heauen, and loues not two suns shining in it. How is it possible, or how agréeable to y^e politick grounds of state, that two such potentates should be vnited in firme friendship, sithence their quarrel is deriued from an equall claime of soueraignety.

Ouer Citties is there ambition to bée Superiours, yet not together but alone. and not onely ouer London (the great The chiefe Ci­ties of Chri­stendome. Metropolis of England) but also ouer Paris in the kingdom of Fraunce; ouer Ciuil, and Madril in Spaine; ouer Rome in Italy: Francfurt and Colin in high Germany: Antwerp in [Page] Brabant, Elsinor in Denmarke, Prage in Bohemia; Craconia in Poland: Belgrad in Hungary, and so ouer all the other Ca­pitall Citties, that bewtifies the greatest Kingdomes of The Princes that raise these warres. Europe. For Signority in these doe they contend.

Haue you not a longing desire, to know the names of the generals that are to commaund these expected armies; and from what countries they come? what forces march with them? and what warlike Stratagems they st and vpon?

I haue a little before roughly drawne the picture of one of Pouerty & her Army. them; the Princesse her selfe being barbarous, néedy, of great power by, reason of her people, but far vnable to keepe them in pay, or in order, they themselues (how valiant soeuer they bée) being likewise all together, vntrained and indisci­plinable, yet full of courage, and desire to set vpon the Ene­my.

Whose Army though it consist not of such multitudes, (number being oftentimes the confusions of battailes) yet Mony and her Army. is the Empresse, vnder whose collours they fight, full of ri­ches (which are the sinews of Warre) of great commaund, feared and loued, yea adored as a Die [...]y, of a Maiesticall pre­sence of incomparable bewty Such a one, that euen the very Auri sacra sames quid non [...]rta­lia cogis Pectora. sight of her is a Charme strong enough to make me venture their liues in the quarrell of her right.

Kings are to her beholden for she often sends them suplies, and therefore pay they homage vnto her. Her Captaines are pollitik & fight rather vpon aduantages, then vpon equ [...]lity, her soldiers braue & resolute, hardly drawne to venture into dangres, but when they are in, a thousand Stratagems vse they to saue themselues: what they get they kéepe, which is one of y^e noblest points belonging to a soulder, for it is more hard to vse a victory wel after it is gotten, then it is to get it. The name of this latter Princesse, is y^e renowned Empres Argur [...]on (Mony) The name of the former, is that warlike Vi [...]ago [...]amd ouer all y^e earth, for her hardines, called P [...]uer­ty. Now to the intent that y^e whole world (as an indifferent [Page] Iudge may arbitrate the wrongs done betwéene these two states, & by that meanes find out which of them both come into the field w^e vniust armes: you shal vnderstand y^e Pouer­ty being sundry waies d [...]eply indebted to y^e kingdome of Mo­ney, as hauing b [...]ene from time to time relieued by her, and not being well able to maintaine herselfe in her owne d [...]mi­nions, but that Money hath sent her in prouision, it had b [...]ene neither policy, neither could it stand with her honour, that Pouerty should first breake the league, neither indéede Poore men fall not first out with the rich, but the rich with them. hath she, but hath euer had a desire to be in amity rather with y^e excellent Princesse; then with any other Monarch whatsoeuer. But y^e golden mines of the west & east Indies, (ouer which the other Empresse is sole Soueraigne, swel­ling vp her bosome with pride, couetousnesse, and ambiti­on, as they doe her coffers with treasure, made her to dis­daine Rich men hate poore men. The poore may begge. the miserable poore Quéene, & in that height of scorne, to hate the holding of any confederacy with her, that she on the soddaine, (most treacherously and most tyrannously) la­boured by all possible courses, not onely to driue the subiects of Pouerty from hauing commerce in any of her rich & so po­pulous Cities▪ but also wrought (by the cruelty of her own O nostri infami [...] Saeclis. ministers, and those about her) to roote the name, not onely of that infortunate and deiected Princesse, from the earth, but euen to banish all her people to wander into desarts, & to perish, she cared not how or where.

Hereupon strict proclamation went thundring, vp and downe her dominions, charging her wealthy subiects, not to negotiate any longer with those beggers, that flocke day­ly to her kingdome, strong guards were planted at euery gate, to barre their entrance into Cities, whipping-postes and other terrible engines, were aduaunced in euery stréet to send thē home bléeding new, if they were takē wandring (like shéep broken out of leane pastures into fat) out of their owne liberties, Constables were chosen of purpose that had Oni [...]s Diomed [...] Equi Busidis ara. Clementes. Marble in their hearts; thornes in their tonges, and flint­stones (like pearles) in their eies, and none could be admit­ted [Page] into the office of a Beadle, vnles he brought a certificate from Paris Garden, that he had béene a Beare-ward, and could play the Bandog brauely in baiting poore Christians at a stake, better then curres (there) baite the Bull, or then Butchers Mastiues, when they worry one ano­ther.

These peales of small shot, thus terribly going off, the poore Hungarians (with their pennilesse Princesse) did not onely not shew a fowle paire of héeles, to flye to saue them­selues (as it was to be feared they would haue done, like Sors vbi p [...]ssim a rerum sub pedi­bus timor est. cowardly peasants) but rather they grew desperate, and sticking clos [...]y, (like Prentises vpon Shrouetwuesday one to another, they vowed (come death, come diuels) to stand against whole bands of browne rusty bille men, though for their labours they were sure to be knockt downe like Oxen Qui nil potest sperare desperet nihil. for the slaughter; but a number of Iack-strawes being a­mongst them, and opening whole Cades of councell in a cause so dangerous, they were all turned to dry powder, took fire of resolution, and so went off with this thundring noise, that they would dy like men, though they were but poore knaues, and counted the stinkards and scum of the world: and yet as rash as they were, they would not run headlong vpon the mouth of the Canon; No, but like snailes pul­ling in the hornes of their fury, they hid their heades for a time, either (like spies to watch for aduantages, or to try if this rotten whéele of Fortune would turne, and that the broken world could mend, but all the waters of chastity and goodnesse being poisoned, of which they both thirsted, & Money hard to be spoken with. hoped to drinke: and all the wayes to come to the pre­sence of Money, at whose féete they would haue fallen, and complained of their wrongs, being likewise cut off, & none of their thréed-bare company, vpon paine of death, daring to stand within ten miles of her Court gates, for feare they should either lift them off the hinges and steale them quite away, (being all of beaten gold) or else cunningly in the night time, should file off handfuls (like pin-dust, thereby to [Page] enrich themselues, she being their vowed enemie. It was therefore by a generall voice concluded, that they would all put themselues into armes, and for that purpose went in swarmes to the Court of Pouerty, (their good Lady and mi­stresse) and neuer gaue ouer balling in their eares, till shee had sworne by her crowne, though she had scarce two shil­lings in her purse, that open warre should presently be pro­claimed against that arrogant haughty, ambitious Tyrant Open warre. Money. Hereupon pouerty summoned her councel for war, together they came, and being set, shée at large laide open what wrongs and dishonors her enemy had done to her & her subiects, withal declaring how willing her poore people Pouerties speech to her councell. were to venture their liues in her quarrell, and that their very fingers itched to be doing with the rich chuffes, and U­surers, and others that were seruants, or rather slaues to Money, adding moreouer, that a number of her enemies subiects too welknown by the name of Banck-rupts (being a great and auncient family in her greatest City) haue of late The villany of Bank-routes. gotten other mens goods into their hands, spending them basely and villanously in prisons, colouring this their poli­ticke theft, by giuing out, that they are subiects to Pouer­ty, albeit they were neuer suffered to harbour in her domi­nions. To cleare herselfe of these, and such like imputati­ons and dishonorable scandals, as also to let Money know, that she hath more right to those townes & Cities to which she pretendeth sole claime then Money hath herselfe, and Dum ciuitas erit, pauperes erunt. that like a Prince, though her coffers be not so full, nor her forces so able, she purposeth to defend her owne title, & not to loose one foote of that which was left to her by her Ance­stors, all of them comming out of old & ancient houses it is therefore her resolution, to send defiance to her insolent e­nemy, Pouertie brings any man on his knees. and to that end (for their aide and Aduice, hath she thus called them before her.

Her councellors applauded y^e courage of their Princesse, and (being first brought on their knées) gaue her reasons to goe forward in so iust a warre. All of them for the most part [Page] being glad, that the Golden age should now come amongst them, and proudly reioycing that they should bid battaile to so rich an enemy as Money and her subiects, to haue about with whom, they haue for a long time had both a desire, and waited for aduantage to picke a quarrell.

Those that were at this time of Pouerties councel, were men well beaten to the world, all of them great trauellers, such as had séene many countries: As hardy as they were wise, it shall not be amisse in this place, to draw the liuelie pictures of them, because if any of their owne countrimen happen to behold them, their report may cōfirme the trueth of all that is here related. Their names are these:

• Discontent.
  Pouerties coū ­cellors.
• Hunger.
• Sloth.
• Industry.
• Despaire.
• Carelesnesse.
• Repining.
• Beggery.
• Miserie.

DIscontent had a graue countenance, somewhat incli­ning to melancholie, temperate of spéech, and sparing Discontent de­scribed. in diet, not caring either for pleasures or greedy of honours: but (as a man that is wearie of the world for the impieties in it) wishing rather to die then to liue. One thing was no­ted in him more then in any other Courtier, that in all his life time, hee had neuer béene a reuellor, nor euer courted Afflict [...]s gaude [...] repoget. Lady, he seem'd indifferent whether the warres went for­ward or not: yet inwardly moregréeued at the wrongs of his Prince, then at any iniuries that could be done to him­selfe.

Despaire and Carelesnesse were brothers, & in great fa­uour Despaire. with Pouety (their Princesse) she neuer was well but when one of them was in her company, yet the wiser sort [Page] thought that they did much mischéefe to the State. De­spaire was not beloued by reason of his crueltie: for if hee got any man into his hands, hee hung him vp present­lie.

Hunger was one of the best commanders for warre, that Hunger. was in all the Land: a man of almost an inuincible stomack, hée had ouerthrowne many armies, & sped most fortunately at the besieging of a Towne or Cittie, where continually he vseth to behaue himselfe so valiantly that no stone wall (of what height or strength whatsoeuer) is able to hold him out: yet is hee: not accounted so sound a common wealths man as some of the rest, for that it is imagined, hee loues the enemy better then his owne country, & if occasion were offered, would rather fly to Money then serue Pouerty (his Soueraigne.) A great transporter of corne he hath béene from time to time: for which cause the people hate him in their hearts, and doe now and then openly cry out against him with such clamors, that he hath béene glad to stop their mouthes. The onely good that he doth, and indéede the on­ly cause for which the kingdome loues him, is that when hee leads men on in any hot péece of seruice, they get such stomacks by séeing how brauely he laies about him, that they neuer come off till they be satisfied, victory béeing as good to them as meate and drinke.

Sloth, by reason that he is troubled with the gout, busies Sloth. himselfe little with State matters, he hath lyen bed-rid for many yéeres, and gréeues that any stir should be made in the common wealth he was neuer either tilter or trauellor, his body being weake and subiect to diseases, which made him vnapt for both.

Repining was the onely man, that whetted on both his Repining. Prince and her subiects to go forward in these warres: for he could by no means abide either Money or her followers, it fretted him more to sée any of them prosper, then if him­selfe had fallen into the lowest misfortune. He dealt alto­gether in Monopolies: for which the people gaue him ma­ny [Page] bitter curses, and those (I thinke) kéepe his body so leane.

Industry, was a goodly personage, a faithfull friend to Industry. his Prince, and a father to his country, a great Lawyer, & a déepe scholler, stout in warre, and prouident in peace. Po­uerty (whom he serued) did often say, that two such coun­cellors (as Industry) were able vpon their shoulders onely to support any State in the world. In deare yeeres, when the Land had béene ready to sterue, hath he reléeued it, and turned dearth into plenty: his head is euer full of cares, not for himselfe so much as for the people, whom hee loues and tenders as déerely as if they were his kindred: yet stand they not so well affected to him, because he compelles them to take paines, when tis their naturall inclination (like Drones) to liue basely, and to féede vpon the bread that the sweat of other mens browes doe earne. A good States man he is, and a louer of peace, séeking rather to draw Money to be stil in league with Pouerty, then to haue them thus at defiance one against another.

Beggery, and Miserie, are so well knowne to vs, I shall not néede to draw their faces. Beggery. Misery.

These councellors, after many arguments, weighed out to prooue the necessity either of warre or peace, at the last concluded vpon the former. The drumme was therefore struck vp, to try what voluntaries would offer themselues: but few voluntaries (or none at all) came in. Then went forth a very streight command, to presse not onely all ma­sterlesse A presse for sol­ [...]ier. to serue Pouerty. men, but all others of what condition or profession soeuer, that liued vnder the subiection of Pouerty.

The Captaines, Lieftenants, Corporals, Serieants, and [...]ow country [...]ldiers come [...]om thence to [...]ght vnder Po­ [...]erty here. the companies that were casheard and cast, vpon concluding of the late league in the low Countries, hearing of these new warres, threw vp their old weather-beaten hattes w^e torne sethers in them, fetcht capers aboue ground, danced, swore, drunke tobacko, and Dutch béere, and after they had fallen on their knées cursing for halfe a [...] howre together, all tru­ces, [Page] leagues, confederacies, & combinations of peace, they bitterly cryed out vpon the proud and tyranous gouerne­ment of Money: some of them damning themselues to the pit of hell, if euer they could but finger her, they would sée an vtter confusion and end of her: because for her sake, and vpon her golden promises they had ventured their liues, spent their blood, lost legs and armes, had béene pinched w^e cold, parched with heate fed vpon cabbage, vpon rootes, & vpon Christmas day (in stead of minched pyes) had no bet­ter chéere then prouant, (mouldy Holland chéese, and course browne bread) not a rag to their backes, yes, rags more thē they cared for: but not thrée stiuers among fiue of them. They therefore vowed to serue Pouerty, to liue and dye w^e her, and with all their forces to set vpon Money, who had made them slaues to the world, not rewarding thē to their merit: and thereupon striking vp their drum, and sprea ding their tottered cullors which hung full of honour, because it was full of holes, an [...] was indéede no bigger, nay scarce so big, as the flagge of a Play-house, away they came (troope­wise) with bag and baggage marching, and were receiued (as old soldiers should be) at the hands of Pouerty, she swea­ting by her birth, and the fame of her Ancestors (who were well knowne farre and néere) that she would neuer forsake their company, but sticke to them euen to the death.

The businesse thus successefully thriuing at the first, gaue encouragement to all to haue it set forward, so that pre­cepts were forthwith directed to the Hals of euery Compa­ny, Hals of euery company fur­nish men on both sides. who albeit they had furnished the Queene of siluer and gold (Mony) with certaine voluntary bands of sound ap­proued souldiers: Yet (because they themselues, that were old growne okes, cared not how many paltry low bushes that nestled vnder their shadowes were cut downe) they prest ten times more of euery trade, to fight vnder the ban­ner of Pouerty, than those were that went to serue her ene­my. Yet was it a long time ere the Handicrafts men could be mustred together: for Carelessenes (one of the former Carelesnesse [Page] councellours) whose ambition consisted in popular great­nessé, hath the hearts of most trades­men in the City. and had stolne the hearts of the common people, gaue them a priuy inckling of the presse before it came forth, and wished them to shift for themselues, by being dispersed, for a time abroad, whose counsel they following, threw by their tooles, neglected their trades, fled from their shops, and spent both their gettings and their goods in common bowling­allies, dicing houses and alehouses. But proclamation be­ing made, That vpon paine of death they should all (by such an howre) be ready to come into the field, and fight for Po­uerty (their soueraigne Lady and mistres.) It is incredible to be spoken, what infinite multitudes of all occupations, (some yong, some old) were in a short time assembled toge­ther.

[...] Schollers hearing of this, fled from the Uniuersities, and made such hast to be in pay with Pouerty (whom they had Learning held in contempt. knowne a long time) that some of them had scarce put shoes to their seete: The Queene bestowed very good words vp­pon them, because Schollers had alwayes béene fauored by her progenitors, and (vpon her bare command) they tooke such place vnder her in the Army, as was sutable to their professions.

Young Gentlemen, that neither durst walke vp and downe the Citty, for feare of Rauens and Kites, that houered to catch them in their tallons, and could get no entertaine­ment in the court of Money, because they were yonger bro­thers, and condemned by the verduict of Silkemen and Mercers to be most Desperate fellowes: yet were they all wellcome to Pouerty.

These yonger Brothers were appointed to stand Infans perdus (or the Forlorne hope) because though they had lit­tle [...]onger bro­thers. to loose but their liues: yet they should winne honour, nay perhaps knighthood, which in these dayes are better then lands: if fat widdowes can be but drawne to nibble at that worshipfull baite. And for that purpose did a goodly troupe of knights put themselues (as knights errant) into [Page] Armes, in defence of y^e innocent wronged Lady, (Pouerty) which Cheualiers, though they durst not (as some ill-tongd people gaue out) shew their heads in the Cittie: yet were they appointed Masters of the field, and had the charge of the most resolute troopes that were to scale the Cittie (If the enemie should cowardly happen to fly thether) and to ransacke all the Mercers and Gold-smiths shops, not so much to set frée the silkes, veluets, plate and iewels impri­sond most cruelly in them, as to vndoe the old Cittizens, & then to marry their yong wiues, and so to raise them vp to honour in their most knightly[?] posteritie.

A regiment of old seruingmen were sworne the guard to Pouerties person, of whom there was great hope, that they Old Seruing­men the gaurd[?] to Pouerty. would both stand stifly to her in any danger, and if y^e maine battailes did euer ioyne, would be the onely Canonéeres to breake their ranckes, because they had such excellent skill in charging and discharging of the great Bombard.

There came in some seuen thousand Banckrouts, offe­ring Banckrowtes come to Pourt but as spies. their seruice to the distressed and wronged Princesse, who gaue them thankes for their loue: yet was she feare­full to trust them, because a number in her owne army ex­claimed vpon them, as the ranckest villaines in a common wealth, and that they had vndone them, their wiues and children: But the dangers wherein they now all stoode, re­quiring rather hands to punish the wrongs done by an ene­mie, then to rip vp old wounds of their owne. Those seuen thousand had the ordering of all fire-workes, Mines, and countermines, as béeing the onely rare fellowes for dam­nable and spéedy blowing vp of men in any assault.

The vanguard béeing filled vp thus with their troopes Masters vnd by seruants, [...]rue in the R [...]areward. before named, a stoute company of honest Housholders, (whose seruants like Acteons dogs, had with whoring, di­cing, and drinking eaten vp their Masters) came brauely vp in the Reare: their wings consisted of schoolemasters, hus­bandmen, fencers, Knights of the Poste, and such like, who had all vowed by the crosse of their swords, and by the ho­nour [Page] of a souldier to die at Pouerties féete.

It was in the middle of a Terme, when the fire of these ciuill broiles first began to kindle: but Law hauing with many hard words on both sides taken vp a number of brab­ling matters, and for her healths sake beeing rid into the country, whereby a great crew of her followers, that were not able with bag and baggage to march after her in that progresse) were ready to giue vp their cloakes, (the summer was so hot for them) and because all their practise was but to set people together by the eares, a number of them ther­fore vpon their bare knees, begd that they might serue Po­uertie Poore Attor­neys. in her warres, whereupon certaine broken-héeld, gowtie-legd, durty-hamd pettifoggers, with some lack-la­tine prowling pennurious country Attorneys were promo­ted to be Clarkes of Bands, Pandors, Pimpes, and Apple­squires Pandors euer poore. came thicke and thréefold, and had the leading of y^e Pioners, because they had déepest skill in digging of Tren­ches.

The victualers to the Camp, were a company of double­chind polt-footed, stincking-breathd Bauds, who with pew­ter [...]audes seldom [...]ich. bottles of Aqua vitae at their girdles, rings with deaths heads on their fore fingers, and old stitchd hats, out of fashi­on on their heads, came along with the bag & baggage, and were ready if any poore soldier fainted, to put life into him againe by a sip from their bottles, and to lift vp his spirits.

The whole Army being thus leuyed, Pouerty was found to be one hundred thousand strong in the field, whom mar­tialling in the best order of warre, they marched forward w^e full resolution, either to take Money and her subiects priso­ners, or else neuer to come out of the field, so long as they & Pouertie (their mistresse and powrefull commander) could be able to hold life and soule together.

NO treason was euer so secretly contriued, so cunningly carried, nor so resolutely at­tempted: but either in the very growing vp it hath beene discouered, or the head of it cut off, where it was at point to come to the full ripenesse. The workes of Prin­ces are great, and require many hands to finish them, and a number of engines cannot be set, going so closely, that no eare shall heare them: Ioue may talke in his big voice of thunder as soone and not be vnderstoode, as a kingdome may call vp her owne subiects with the yron tongue of warre, and not awaken those people that are her neighbours. The eies of a true State do neuer sléepe, Prin­ces are quickest of hearing, the blowes that forraine ene­mies giue, are broken for the most part: because the weapon is alwaies séene and put by, otherwise they would cut déepe, and draw blood, where (by such preuention) they scarce giue bruises.

This mercilesse tyrant therefore (Pouerty) could not kindle such fires of vprores, and ciuill mischiefes, but that the flames (like burning beacons) armed her enemies with safetie, euen as they put them into feare. Her rag­ged troopes were more apt to betray themselues and their procéedings, then polliticke to betray the foe into any dan­ger. With swift wings therefore did the newes of this inuasion fly abroad into all countries, and at last alight­ed before that glorious and most adored Empresse (Money) whom néerest it concerned, because all the arrowes of their enuie and intended malice were shot at her bosome.

The drom of warre beate in her eare, not in the dead of night, when her glories and beauties were darkened and [Page] eclipsed, but when she was seated in the throne of all her pleasures (which a whole world was rifled and trauailed o­uer to maintaine in height and fulnesse) when her pallate The life of a sensuall man. surfeited on the variety of dishes and delicacy of féeding, when her body shone brighter then the sunne it selfe, who (in his lusty heate begot her) strucke an amazement into those that beheld her, by the splendor of those maiesticall roabes which she wore: when musicke went into her eare in ten thousand seuerall shapes, when her walkes were per­fumed, her sports varied euery hower, when her chéekes were dimpled with laughters at her iesters, her Parasites, her Pandors, and all the rest of those seruile soothing Apes, that in pide colours waite vpon and shew trickes to fate the appetite of that Lord of flesh and bloud, the blacke Prince of the world, her husband. Then, euen then, in the full sea of all these iollities, pompes, and whorish ceremonies, the onely bewitchers of mankinde, came sayling in, the newes of a suddaine insurrection, and an vnexpected inuasion, by that common, fatall, and barbarous spoiler of so many king­doms, infamous amongst al nations by that beggerly name of Pouerty.

These newes (vpon the first arriuall) did no more moue the great Indian Empresse (Money) then the bleating of a shéepe terrifies the king of forrests (the Lyon.) Money was rich, strong in friends, held league with Princes, had whole countries at her becke, nations were her slaues, no people but did loue her. On the contrary side, Pouerty (her ene­my) had sinall reuenues, fewer friends, a world of follow­ers, but none of any reckoning, except a few Philosophers, Alchemists, &c. She held many townes, and was obeyed in most kingdomes but how? as théeues are obeyed by true men, for feare, and because they cannot otherwise choose, her owne strength therefore being so good, and her enemies ful­ler of spite then of power, she onely laughed at the thunder of her threates, and resolued that her pleasure should spread larger sailes.

[Page] But her councell being prouident, carefull, and iealous of their owne estates, wisely considering the dangers that a weake enemy (being desperate, and hauing little to loose) Riches make men cowards, may put the best fortefied kingdome to, & the most valiant nation did in the end, with one consent fall on their knées, most humbly intreating thier Soueraigne Mistresse to giue ouer her reuellings, maskes, and other Court-pleasures for a time, and that aswell for the safety of her owne royall per­son (to take héede of them: for many plots were now, and had oftentimes bin laid) as also for themselues, whose liues and liberties wholly depended on her, either to leuy pre­sent forces, which should méete this beggerly Monarch in the field, and so vtterly to driue her out of the kingdome, or else to giue the rich men of her Empire leaue to make strict and seuere lawes to take away the liues of that wretched & scattered people that follow Pouerty in these commotions, wheresoeuer or whensoeuer they take them medling in any of her wealthy dominions.

These words brake forth with such lighning, that Money stampd for very anger, that so base an enemy should put her subiects into feare. Their vigilance awaked her, and like a good Prince that would loose her life rather then her subiects should perish, she began (with the Eagle) to shake her royall wings, and to be rouz'd out of her late golden slumbers, & securities, that [...]ay vpon her like enchantments.

To their requests she yéelded, and thereupon to fortifie her kingdome against all the shot of Villany & Vengeance, shee summoned those of her councell together, whom shee Councellors to Money. know to be most faithfull and most seruiceable in a busines of this nature, state & importance. Her councellors names were these.

• Couetousnesse.
• Parsimony.
• Deceipt.
• Prouidence.
• Monopoly.
• Violence.
• Vsury.

[Page] Couetousnesse was an old wretched leane fac'd fellow, Couetousnesse that seldome sléep'd: for his eyes (though they were great, and suncke at least two inches into his head) neuer stood still, but rolled vp and downe, expressing a very enuious longing gréedinesse to enioy euery thing that they looked vpon. He neuer pared his nailes, and being often asked the reason why, he alwaies answered, that he saued them for his heire, for béeing cut off, after hée himselfe was dead, they might be put to sundry good thrifty purposes, as to make hornes (being thinly scraped) for a Scriueners lanthorne to write by a nights, or to nocke arrowes, &c. Hée kept not so much as a Barber, but shaued his owne head and beard himselfe, and when it came to wey a pound, hée sold it to a Frenchman to stuffe tennis balles. Money (his Soueraigne) cared not so much for him, as he did for her, she could make him do any vile office how base soeuer; but because he was Couetous men are slaues to that which is a slaue to them. saucy, and would often checke her for taking her pleasures, séeking to restraine her of her liberties, she hated him, and was neuer more merry then when one brought her newes once that Couetousnesse lay a dying. Yet was he well be­loued af the best Citizens, and neuer rode through the ci­ty but he was staid, and feasted by many Aldermen, and wealthy Commoners, few Courtiers loued him heartily, but onely made vse of him, because he was great, and could do much with Money (their empresse.)

Prouidence was but of meane birth, the ladder by which Prouidence. he climbd to such high fortunes, as to be a councellor to Mo­ney, being made by himselfe, much giuen to study, yet no great scholler, as desiring rather to be frée of the City, then to serue a long thréed-bare Prentiship in the Universities. He is rarely séene in Minerals, and distillations, and will draw Aurum potabile, or fetch quick-siluer out of horse­dung, he will grow rich, and be in time the head warden of a company, though he were left by his friends but thrée shil­lings thrée pence stocke to set vp, such another he was as Whittington, a very cat shall raise him if he be set vpont, [Page] He is the best that writes Almanackes in these times, and where the rest write whole Calenders of lies for bare forty shillings a yéere, (seruingmens wages) he foreséeing what will happen, buies vp all the commodities of one or two Countries at one bargaine, when he knowes they will bee déere, and so makes vp his owne mouth, and for it, gets much fauour at the hands of Couetousnesse his elder bro­ther.

Parsimonie is kinsman to those two that go before, he is Parsimonie. not vp yet: for he vseth to lie a bed till afternoone, onely to saue dinners, when he rises (which will be presently) the motion shall be shewen and interpreted to you.

Monopoly is a very good man where he takes, that is to Monopoly. say, 9. maner of waies.

Deceipt lookes a little a squint, yet is of déeper reach then Deceipt hath many great friends in the Cittie. any of the rest: for he doth oftentimes fetch ouer Couetous­nesse himselfe. He is great in Lawyers bookes, and trades­men not onely loue him, but their yongest wines, thinke themselues highly happy, if at a running at Tilt, at a maske or a play at Court, or so (as he oftē doth) he will but voutch­safe to place them (and the sports done) he commonly sends them home lighted. He hath more followers then the 12. Péeres of France, he studies Machiauell, and hath a french face.

Violence hath borne many great offices, and Money hath Violence. Might ouer­comes right. done much for him. He purchaseth lands daily: but loo­seth mens hearts, some of the richer sort follow him & loue him: yet he cannot go thorough the stréetes, but the com­mon people curse him, hee reades Law as men reade He­brew (backward) and neuer makes o [...]e Lawe, but he breaks two. Of all men, he cannot abide a Iustice of Peace, yet oftentimes is hee séene at the Sessions: many of his Ance­stors haue béene Traytors, and by that meanes were still cut off before they were old men, the Nobilitie hate him, Nullum violen­tum perpetuum. he is a méere martiall man.

Vsurie was the first that euer taught Money to comm't Vsurie. [Page] incest with Gold and Siluer, her néerest kinsmen Brokers are now their Baudes, and kéepe the dores till the letchery A Broker is an Vsurers Baude. of ten in the hundred be sated: he hath made many a man, but how? to be damned, he is a great housekéeper, for thou­sands in the Cittie liue vpon him, and would hang them­selues but for his sauing them. There is no more conscience in him then in Tauerne faggots, yet yong gentlemen pray for him daily that he may be fetched quick to hell. He is an insatiable féeder: for a Scriuener and he will eate vp foure men at a breakefast, and picke them to the bare bones. He loues not a Preacher, because hee frights him out of his wits: for he neuer heares any of them talke to him but he thinkes himselfe damned. He hath no skill in Arithmeticke, but onely in the rule of Interest. He is the Diuels Tole-ta­ker, and when he dies, lies buried with his ancestors in the widest vault of hell.

These were the councellors whom Money assembled to­gether, to consult vpon hers and their owne safeties, from the base assaults of their wild and desperate enemy: who being solemnely set in their due places and the Quéene of Riches her selfe beeing aduanced vp into her imperial chaire, Parsimonie (who by this time was gotten vp and ready) tooke vpon him to be speaker for all the rest.

This Parsimonie is a nasty batcheller of fourescore, one that neuer went trussed (to preuent hanging) to which Parsimony. end he will not be at charges of a paire of garters (though they were but woollen lists) fo [...]re of temptation, his breches once were veluet, when his great grandfather wore them, and thrée-piled, but the pox of any pile can be seene there now, vnlesse betwéene the clifts of his buttocks, to saue a pennie, hee will damne halfe his soule, hee weares cloathes long, and will sooner alter his religion ten times, then his doublet once, his hatte is like his head, of the old blocke, he buies no gloues but of a great a paire, and ha­uing worne them two daies hee quarrels with the poore Glouer that they are too wide, or too ill stitched, & by base [Page] scolding and lorldly words gets his money againe, and the wearing of so much leather for nothing. He will be knowne by a paire of white pumpes some 16. or 20. yeares, onely by repairing their decaied complection w^e a péece of chalke. This whining Parsimonie (that for a supper of 16. pence will budge & slip his necke out of the coller from his owne father) and that vowes neuer to marry, because he will not spend so much as may kéepe a childe, stood vp so well as he could stand with his crinckling hammes, and knowing that it was high time for him to bestirre his stumps, thus shot his bolt after much stammering, coughing and hemming, si­lence béeing first cryed, which accordingly was giuen him.