AN EXTEMPORARY ANSVVER To a cluster of drunkards, met together at Schiedam: Made by Timothy Gunton, who was compelled thereto, upon his refusall to drink the Kings health. Whether such impetuous drinking of other mens healths were lawfull, profitable, commendable, or reasonable?

IF lawfull, it is either by the Lawes of God, or man: If of God, it is con­tained in holy writ, which is the old and new Testament; but from the Alpha of Genesis, to the Omega of the Revelations, there is no such thing commanded; therefore not by the Lawes of God. If by the Lawes of man, search the Records, review the Statutes, and shew in whose reign, and what yeare it was enacted.

If profitable, it must conduce to the good, either of soul or body: If of the soul, it must be suitable, convenient, and agreeable to the soul; But the soul is a spi­rituall creature, not capable either to eat, or drink any materiall substance: If of the body, then be ye your own judges, what profit have ye to drinke the money out of the purse, the wit out of the brain, the bread from wife and children, the health from the body, and the peace of God both from soul and body?

If commendable, it is commended either by wise men, or fooles: By wise men, who know a thing to be good; By fooles, who suppose a thing to be good: But wise men know that man is the Image of God, and by his reasonable soul he is distinguished from other creatures, and other creatures cannot (contrary to reason) be compelled to drink a­gainst appetite; yet man being become worse then a beast, not only drinks himself, but al­so compels others to drink, untill they vomit it up againe; Wherefore, no wise man will commend it; And if a foole commend it, it is for want of wit.

If reasonable, let all the world censure, what reason hath one man to drink another mans health, to impair his own?

By these let all men know 'tis worse then sordid stealth,
To fawn upon a friend, and swallow down his health.
Yet some audacious Rogues dare in their drunken notes
Pour King, and Kingdomes health down their ungodly throats
And stove it in their stinking paunch an hour, or twain,
And then they'l spew, and cag, and pisse it out again.
Oh then how sick art thou poore King, and common-wealth,
While drunken sots daily drink, pisse, and spew thy health.
For these my lines I'le pardon crave,
And promise eke they shall be mended:
But first I must some reason have,
Wherein, and whom they have offended.

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