AN INGENIOVS POEM, CALLED THE DRVNKARDS PROSPECTIVE, OR Burning-Glasse.
Composed by JOSEPH RIGBIE, Gentleman, Clerke of the Peace of the County Palatine of Lancaster.
Lo [...], this prospective to the Drunkard showes
His odious postures, and his dreadfull woes.
Like as the Elephant, hee may here see
In pure cleare waters, his deformity.
I wish the sight thereof may sore affright him,
Repentance and amendment much delight him;
Or else the Burning Glasse will surely place
An everl [...]sting brand upon his face.
London, Printed for the Author, and are to be sold at the Brazen Serpent in St Pauls Church-yard, 1656.
To the religious and honourable Lady, Margaret Hoghton, relict of Sir Gilbert Hoghton Knight and Baronet.
Madam,
I Have made bold to put your name,
In front of this small work, to grace the same.
Your superscription fixed in its bonnet,
I hope will cause some good men look upon it.
It's a designe in me I must confesse,
To use your name, and make you Patronesse:
That (worthlesse in it selfe, yet) it may passe,
And have the splendor of a burning glasse.
Which from the eye of heaven borrowing flame,
Shines and burnes out by vertue of the same. Madam,
In this same treatise you shall finde
Description of a Drunkard in his kinde.
Out of his robes you have him here quite stript,
And naked laid, for to be lasht and whipt:
His face is so unvailed with his cloathing,
That possibly the sight may cause a loathing.
And if it chance one soule but for to gaine,
I shall not count it labour spent in vaine.
Madam,
Your Ladiships most humble Servant, J. R.
To his truly Vertuous, and right Worthy Mistrisse, Ann Daughter of Sir Gualt her Blount, Knight and Baronet: Wife of James Anderton of Birchley Esquire.
Mistresse,
BY your faire hand I have made bold,
This little scroll of caution out to hold:
That by the fairnesse of the frontispice,
Many may be induc'd to cast their eyes,
And seing your honoured name, may further look,
To be informed what's within this book.
I doe expect the brand of a black cole,
Cavill, will (if it find none) make an hole.
Me a poore spirited man you might suppose,
Should I affect the suffrages of those.
Let it but in esteem with you prevaile,
And in their Temples it will prove a naile.
They'l blaze but for a while like kitchin-stuff,
And instantly will vanish in a snuffe.
Mistrisse,
Your most humble and faithfull SERVANT, I. R.
To the Right Worshipfull, united in Candor and Knowledge, Richard Shutleworth of Gauthrop, and John Starkie of Huntroid, Esquires, Justices assigned to keep the Peace in the County of Lancaster.
Right Worthy,
THus have I now in my declining age,
Adventured my selfe upon the stage.
With resolution for to undergoe
The censures of the most detracting foe.
As Baalam's Asse his mouth was opened wide,
Even so is mine the drunkard for to chide.
Loe, here you have him painted, though so ill,
I wish him painted by some better quill.
Worthies, For temperance you are of all
Your Country-men and Neighbours, principall.
And neither Rome nor Athens ever hatcht
Two head-pieces more sound, more fitly matcht.
Oh, doe not blush I pray, that I present
This worke to you, so wise, so abstinent.
[Page] Vouchsafe it but the favour of your sight,
Assure your selves it is no Hypocrite.
And though your knowledge sentence on it give,
Candor reprieve it, and so let it live.
Let it be read I pray in your owne quire,
And through the confines of your Blackburnshire.
And this prodigious sinne thus put to show,
May by God's blessing for ought we do know,
Both work with our, and after generations,
For to abhor such base abominations.
So prayeth your most obedient Servant J. R.
To the Right Worshipful, truly Noble, and his worthy Honored Friend and Neighbour, Roger Bradshaigh of Haigh Esquire.
Noble Sir,
THen to your selfe, that man I doe not know,
To whom more obligation I doe owe.
You'r blest with love of Neighbours; and beside,
Blest with th' enjoiment of a lovely Bride.
Blest with a faire estate, and likewise blest
With hopefull Issue added to the rest.
Blest with a disposition for to live
With decency, on that which God doth give.
Blest with the Love of Gentry which resort,
And want no welcome to your Noble Court.
None can (our observation notes it well)
For Hospitality you parallell.
Wherefore I do this work to you present,
But not as dead mens Corps to th' Church are sent
For to be laid in grave; but to be read
Amongst your people, when your Table's spread.
[Page] That at your plenteous Table none may feed
Nor drink, but for refreshment, and for need.
Nor after Drunkards, or the Gluttons mode,
Their Stomacks or their Understanding loade.
Then will your Table not become a snare,
Either to you or them (be't round or square)
But God that gives you such variety,
Seeing your temperate use, and great sobriety;
Doubtlesse will blesse and add unto your store,
As to your Predecessors heretofore,
And questionlesse, in honour and in fame,
Will still at Haigh preserve the Bradshaigh's name.
Most Honoured Sir,
Your most obliged, and most humble Servant, J. R.
To the Courteous and Judicious Reader.
EXperience teacheth that ther's no one thing
Can please each one; not Parliament nor King.
That each one is not pleas'd with a Protector;
A wise Ʋlysses, nor a Valiant Hector.
That some on virtue set a mighty price;
And others are as far in love with vice.
That crossed wickednesse will never yield,
But challeng'd others uprightnesse the field.
To take exceptions is a thing not rare,
Mens censures various, as their palats are.
Wise Solomon, and Prophet Ieremie,
Tels me before hand what my wage shall bee.
He that a scorner doth reprove or blame,
Instead of love, t' himselfe shall purchase shame.
For they will take it as an open wrong,
And say, come let us smite him with the tongue.
Shall I then silent be, and spare to speak,
Fearing the censures both of wise and weake.
Nay, I'll all censures set as light as cinder,
Ere I the good of one poore soule will hinder.
Admit their swords instead of tongues were moving,
As to Iohn Baptist, Herod for reproving;
I'll seek God's glory (as in duty bound)
Although my corps be breathlesse sent to ground)
[Page] If I do ill, no plea can warrant me,
If well, by none discourag'd can I be;
Yet that my selfe and Reader both may be,
From being mistaken and mistaking, free,
I will remove some rubs, levell the way,
And pave a tract to what I meane to say.
'Gainst this discourse what will alleadged be,
My selfe without a Teacher can foresee.
I could both raise and answer to their hand,
All the Objections which they could demand:
Two for to answer I will do my best,
I count it labour lost to name the rest.
First, my comparisons and expressions all,
Some (without doubt) will into question call,
And tearme them light and homely, let such know
We are agre'd, I do confesse them so.
And this I do, presuming that I may,
With his owne sword the great Goliah slay;
And think it best, that Drunkards should be checkt,
And argued with in their own dialect.
Moreover to paint out, or to explaine
Their light, lascivions garb, and language vaine.
It were not possible, or to expresse,
In grave or modest words, their filthinesse.
Next; if that any to this vice addicted
Bee with the harshnesse of my stile afflicted,
I wish they would cast their impartiall glances,
Upon these few ensuing circumstances.
And then this pardon I shall surely win;
They'l only blame the foulnesse of their sin.
First, then with me consider (if they please)
The med'cine is but fit for the disease.
Necessity requires, and each one knowes
The knottiest hearts must have the strongest blowes.
And secondly, we all may blesse those times
That most discover unto us our crimes.
For till that we to knowledge doe attaine,
Of the disease, we hardly ease the paine.
Sinne to reprove is mercy (this I dare
Boldly affirme) and cruelty to spare,
Thirdly, I wish they would (in manner like)
Think and consider well, that I do strike
Not at the tree, but at the worm therein,
Not at themselves, but at their deadly sinne:
Knowing that I a deadly blow must give
Unto their sins, or else they cannot live.
Fourthly, that no Physitian should be shent,
But the disease, for paine of Patient.
Nor the Chyrurgion, but the wound for sure,
Which he endeavours by all meanes to cure.
Fiftly, consider all is done in love,
And bitter pils do oft most wholsome prove.
Yea, they will suffer letting out of blood,
When they do know it tendeth to their good.
And let them know, these keene invectives are
Drawne up against them, not as men of war;
But shot like Jonathan's arrowes, to the end,
Not to destroy but to advise his friend.
Sixtly, what torment it will be to beare
Those judgements which so dreadfull are to heare.
And stand in resolution firmly grounded,
Rather to be converted then confounded.
Then, this ensuing Treatise I advise
Them for to read, but without prejudice.
And though it seem both rigid, tart, and sharp,
Yet it may prove to them as David's Harp
Was unto Sau; on which when he did play,
The evill spirit he frighted quite away.
[Page] Or as those Messengers that came to Lot,
And him out of that sinfull Sodome got:
Or as the crowing Cock did mind his fall,
And Peter back unto repentance call.
These things considered, I most humbly crave
Him that is knowne the keye of hearts to have,
T' open th' eyes of each poore soule, that hee
His dangerous condition may see.
To blesse this meanes prescribed for their good,
That it may prove to them a lively food.
So to th' judicious Reader's judgement, I
Refer my selfe, and this my industry.
Not doubting but acceptance it will find,
With every honest, well disposed mind:
And as for those of judgement ignorant,
They cannot love that, therefore let them rant,
Assault, detract, asperse, revile, I care not,
String up their bowes, & shoot at me and spare not.
And so farewel. Thy true friend J. R.
From my study this last of May, 1655.
THE DRVNKARDS PROSPECTIVE, OR BVRNING-GLASSE.
A Drunkard; such an one I take to be,
As not for thirst, but for the company,
For pride, for lust, or conscience to stil,
Or for to drive the time away, doth swill.
And he to be a creature may be said,
That God in the Creation never made.
Halfe man, halfe beast he is, or at the least,
He's one that's born a man, and lives a beast.
An humane carkasse he may be suppos'd,
That hath a beastiall heart therein inclos'd.
His heart is chang'd from man's, and in its roome
A beast's is plac'd, Nebuchadnezzars doome.
Where other sins God's Image do deface,
This leaves him not a man's, it is so base:
It takes both speech and reason from the elfe,
And for the present robs him of himselfe.
All sins whatsoever in a drunken man
Doe meet like Rivers in the Ocean.
[Page 2] He's like the Swetian Ierffe in qualitie,
A beast (as History tels) whose property
Is, when he hath some carkasse found or game.
Fals a devouring speedily the same;
And never feeding leaves, untill that he,
Like Bag-pipes strouted feeles his paunch to be.
And between two narrow trees he straines
Out backward, what his strouted paunch containes.
And so being emptied, with al might and main
He gallops to the Carkasse back againe;
And fils himselfe untill his belly strout;
And so the second time he straines it out:
And so he fils, and empties as before,
Till all's consum'd and then he hunts for more.
With Thuscian Asses you may him install,
Who fed with hemlocks so asleep do fall;
That Country men do oft for dead them take,
Halfe flea their skins before they will awake.
Such qual [...]ties he hath, no Creature can
For shame report him for to be a man.
Like to a Swine he swils, kicks like an Asse,
Neighs, like a Horse, at women as they passe.
As Beare, or Wolfe, or Tyger fierce, and just
Like to a Bull he rageth in his lust.
As subtle as a Fox, can foyst, and cog,
As impudent, and shamelesse as a Dog.
Svren for flattery, Aspe in tongue; and stings
Those like a Scorpion that he with him brings.
In appetite a Leech, gesture an Ape,
Nothing remaines of man save only shape:
And that affrights the more, when as we see
A beast in likenesse of a man to be.
Yet his condition he doth like so well,
He'll not be drawn to Heaven out of Hell.
[Page 3] Wish that his conversation he would change,
He'll scorn your counsell, and will think it strange.
For as all use of reason he hath lost,
If you speake any, he conceives he's crost.
His case is not unlike in his owne Region,
To his that in the Gospell's called Legion.
Who having been with Devils long possest,
At last was very loath to part with's guest.
Yea thought himselfe tormented, when to save him
Christ came to cast them out, he would not have him.
Drink beastiates the heart, and spoiles the brains,
Exiles all reason, all good graces staines.
Infatuates judgement, understanding blinds,
Perverts the wils, and doth corrupt the minds.
It doth surprize the thoughts, and it doth all
The powers and faculties of soule enthrall.
A man it wholly rendereth unfit for
A private friend, or publike Councellour.
Excesse of wine away mens hearts so drawes,
Makes them forget both God and all his lawes.
Yea makes men utterly so fall from God,
They'r ne'r recall'd by mercy, nor by rod.
For by this sinne the heart it is so stenched,
All lust so strengthned and the spirit quenched;
That it repentance Organs overthrowes,
And with impenitence doth fully close.
Yea Drunkennesse it selfe hath ever been
In power superlative to every sinne.
For Wine, like stocks and stones doth drunkards make,
And sense and motion both doth from them take.
That fitly they to Heathen Idols be
Compared, which have eyes yet cannot see.
Have hands, and handle not, tongues doe not talke,
Have feet, and yet like dead men cannot walke.
[Page 4] Have eares, and heare not; nay, the truth to tell,
Noses, and (their own vomits) cannot smell.
And if for men they would reputed be,
They are but like that man in lunacie;
Vext with an evill spirit, wherewithall,
Oft into fire and water he did fall,
Whom none could cure untill the Master came,
Though his Disciples did attempt the same.
So brutish Drunkards, through excesse are lost,
And by that fiend from post to pillar tost.
Moses, nor Aaron, they cannot endure,
Caesar nor Paul can work on them no cure.
Nor word, nor sword, can make them to decline
Their wicked waies; such are the fruits of Wine.
This an hard saying by some may be thought;
But thus much we from Gods own word are taught.
And I may speak it as a truth most clear,
That corporall torments of ill spirits, here
Are not so rare, as spirituall are rife,
From which no man is free in this our life.
One hath the spirit of errour, another of feare,
Departs from faith to truth, dare not appeare.
A third of Fornication; and the next,
Sore with the spirit of blasphemy is vext.
A fifth, with th' spirit of Giddinesse is led,
Not having understanding in his head.
Some have the spirit of pride, others of slumber,
Envy and falshood doe possesse a number.
All have a worldly spirit: but Drunkards have
Legions of spirits leading to their grave.
For every raigning sinne a Devill is,
And quite deprives them of eternall blisse.
Drunkards are Captives to the Devill, still
At his command, ready to doe his will;
[Page 5] He is their Father, King, their God, their treasure,
Ruling and in them working his owne pleasure.
He makes them Traitors, as he Iudas did,
Puts in their hearts to do what he shall bid.
Like Ananias and Sapphira both,
Makes them to lye (nay bind it with an oath)
He enters Drunkards, and with one accord,
Makes them to tempt the spirit of the Lord.
As by the Serpent he speaks in them, by them;
Or Ahab's Prophets if you doe but try them.
He acts by them, and stretcheth forth their hand,
As by King Herod over all the Land.
So that as Paul, guided by God you see,
Could say I live not, but God lives in me.
So Drunkards they may say, and fitly thus;
We live not, but the Devill lives in us.
For they so curse so swear, so skip, so hop.
That questionlesse they have receiv'd the sop.
Drunkards with their own conscience do not 'gree,
But with remembrance of their vices be
Disquieted: And still their thoughts torment,
With feare of some ensuing punishment;
And with the gripes of conscience pinched thus,
Seek out companions boon, voluptuous.
So that to Stewes and Taverns they are given,
And thither as free horses they are driven,
That trot away, need neither spur nor wand,
Let them but see the shaking of a hand.
Nay they are such sworne friends unto the cup,
They'll need no more, hold but a finger up;
They are so ready at the Devil's becks,
They'll post as if they meant to break their necks.
If he suggest the thought, or speak the word,
They'll any mischiefe act by tongue or sword.
[Page 6] If he say slander, lye, they'll doe you'll see,
As fully falsely, spirefully as he.
If he bid quarrell, fight, revenge; nay worse,
Murther, destroy, blaspheme, forswear, and curse.
They instantly obey; and doe begin
To act, as soone as he commands the sinne.
Thus farre I have Drunkards set forth entire,
And think that none can tax me for a lyer.
Now whilst they sit and take the other cup,
I will anatomize and cut them up;
And I will sparingly in this my verse,
But few of their ill qualities rehearse,
Instead of a great number, so that you
May well by them guesse at the residue▪
The first ill quality I doe present,
Is, that they think each hour a day that's spent;
Each day a moneth, that they'r not at the tap;
Or tumbled downe to take a gentle nap;
Or that their money be all spent and gone,
And credit with the tapster they have none:
And when they have thus lavisht out their store,
They plot and practice how they should get more;
And so they fall to secret mischiefe hence,
Or to an open course of violence.
So that the taphouse fits them for the Jaile,
The Jaile to th' gibbet sends them without faile:
For those that through a Lattice sang of late,
You oft find crying through an iron grate.
Yet this the work of many moneths may be;
But trace them step by step and you shall see,
So soone as to the Ale-bench they are got,
Up comes uncall'd for, every man his pot.
[Page 7] (Of losing of their custome upon paine)
Which being doft, are quickly fill'd againe:
For their attendant hath a strict command,
That the pots neither full nor empty stand.
Thus they each day as soon as they do rise,
Offer to Bacchus their first sacrifice.
If you the reason do desire to know,
I will it in a word most plainly shew.
In mornings being sick, to th' jugg they jog,
Each one to take a haire of the same dog
That bit them over-night; And so they first,
Do drunkennesse prepare, to add to thirst.
To qualify the old heate with a new,
By drinking Savin, to wash down the Rue:
Which is not sin to cure, but sinne to smother,
Heaping up vengeance one upon another.
Or as some Surgeons use to deale,
By deading flesh an ulcer for to heale;
Which to the sore doth give but small reliefe,
But renders them insensible of griefe.
Through desperate custome hath this viperous brood,
Made others physick their own naturall food.
For they themselves to tipling so do give,
Without excesse of Wine they cannot live.
They drink, and vent, and vent, and drink amaine,
Sell [...]ngers round, and then the same againe.
Yea every cup is fast to others wedg'd,
They alwaies double drink, they must be pledg'd.
He that begins, how many soe'r they be,
Looks that each one do drink as much as he;
And he will drink although his face he mars,
Untill his eyes do stare like blazing stars.
And now by that, that these gutmongers brave,
Dubbled their mornings draught most finely have,
[Page 8] And gulped downe each one a many quarts,
As easy as their drink, up comes their hearts:
Yea let them get a pot more in their pate,
You'd wonder how confusedly they'll prate.
Their restlesse tongues do to small purpose chatter,
And, like loose windowes in the wind, do clatter.
As sick mens pulses in distemper great
Alwaies (but ever out of order) beat.
And in the loose discourse, which from them flowes,
All secrets whatsoever they disclose.
As when Wine purgeth that comes to the brim,
Which is i'th' bottome, and a loft doth swim,
Or else the vessell bursteth: Even so
Doth Drunkennes vent what the heart doth know.
For if that wisedome and discretion be
Hoops to a vessell; pray you then tell me,
How should the liquor in these hogsheads stay,
When that the hoops are taken quite away.
And amongst Drunkards it's an ancient Law,
For to disgorge the bosome with the Maw.
When Malt's above the wheat, they are so strong,
They il can rule their hands, but worse their tongue.
For that's so oil'd with cups, and made so bold,
So glib, so laxative, it cannot hold.
Drinke turns the key o'th' tongue, and doth unlock
Those counsels all, which wisdome hath in stock.
And drunkards seem to be no little proud,
That their discourse is full as lewd as loud.
For as in anger, spitefully they rave,
So in their mirth, beastly discourse they h [...]ve.
Their bawdy, shamelesse language in their drinke,
Like gaping Oysters makes their mouths to stinke.
They have more rage then reason, if you mark,
Backbite the absent, at the present barke,
[Page 9] Their prayers are curses, their relations lies,
Two birds that alwaies out of one nest flies.
Yea Drunkards are so barbarous, and so fell,
With them no word that's civill, savours well.
They belch forth nothing but what beastly is,
No rotten speech to Drunkards comes amisse.
They speak no lesse then murthers, blasphemies,
Rapes, whoredoms, incests, and adulteries.
That which from their polluted mouths doth gush,
A man would think should make the Devill blush.
And thus from wicked talking they'r agreed,
To cursed impious swearing to proceed.
As you shall rarely any drunkard see,
But a great swearer he is known to be.
Oh, the prodigious fearfull oaths they sweare,
As if that God were deafe, and could not heare.
The damned language which in drunken fit,
These Ruffines, monsters of the earth do spit
Out in defiance of his Majesty,
And all subordinate authority;
Would pierce and wound a heart of brass, nay make
A dumb man speak, a dead man almost quake.
Now when their mouths are somewhat stopt with pot,
And all that's said or sworne is quite forgot;
You shall have one for very pure love creep,
And wanting speech, in's fellow's bosome weep.
Another takes a chamber pot, and pissing,
Turns to's companions, and him fals a kissing.
A third, like one that halfe his wits doth lack,
With laughter sets his mouth upon the rack:
A fourth, he ramps and stamps, whisks down the cup,
Because the wine's no sooner brought him up.
A fifth sits in a corner (him I passe)
Nodding and slavering like a drunken Asse.
[Page 10] A sixt he kneels scarse able for to stand,
Yet makes a shift to hold the cup in's hand:
After that, every one that is awake
Must sing his song, his instrument must take.
Instead of Harp, then one a knife up takes,
And a quart pot, wherewith he Musick makes.
Next, in a song extols his mistresse fine;
Another sings the goodnesse of the Wine;
Another lesse in meeter skill'd then prose,
'Twixt wife and him, relates how all things goes;
Where for to heare how they do pawn their lives,
Plot and contrive to charm and tame their wives,
Would make an honest modest maid to tarry,
And take a resolution not to marry.
Another he relates how many quarts
His friend and he drank lately next their hearts;
Another of Religion he doth prate,
(To little purpose) and affairs of state;
Another claps his fellow on the back,
And sweares that he's a dunce that drinks not sack;
Another gets a candle, where with all,
He strives to set his name upon the wall;
Another takes a cole, and speechlesse reeling,
Would gladly write his mind upon the seiling;
Next brags with such a woman he hath been,
Whom in his life he yet had never seen;
Another, how demurely he did jet
By such a round head which by chance he met;
Another swaps his cap upon the floore,
Quarrels with's friend, because he'll drink no more;
Another swears, each one ere they do part,
Shall drink his pot, tell's tale, or let a fart;
Not to drink share, or part before their time,
Is an unpardonable, and most hainous crime.
Their Lybrary's a large roome, so full as passes,
Of Pots, Canns, Jugs, Tobacco pipes and glasses.
Rashers o'th' coales, Red Herrings, Caveare,
Gammons of Bacon, and the like good cheare,
To whet their appetites the better up,
And give a relish to another cup:
Together with a Bason and a Jurdane,
To vomit in, and pisse for every Lurdane,
Unto their knowledge now I might proceed,
Whereof to speak I think I shall not need.
For though they think themselves gyants for wit,
The Scripture tels us they are void of it.
And though they brag of judgement, you shall find
Them naught but leather cases stuft with wind:
Alas if any can but break a jest,
He thinks himselfe much wiser then the rest.
Brib'd with a selfe conceit, themselves they flatter,
When all's more sound, then substance, winde then matter.
And were they not both void of wit & grace,
They would be much asham'd to shew their face.
They sit to eate and drink, lye downe to sleep,
Rise up to play; this exercise they keep.
In the warme Sun like gnats they play and sing,
And when they've done, they sit them down & sting.
Drunkards for nothing that is good are fit,
In all the world of earth, the barren'st bit.
Like to a dumb Jack in a Virginall,
They have no voice in Commonwealth at all.
They've no more use of them throughout the land,
Then Ieroboam had of his withered hand.
The Serpent's speciall venome, makes these elves
Not only work confusion to themselves;
But makes them wit and grace for to reject,
And take delight others for to infect.
[Page 12] Which for to compasse they great toile will take,
Alehouse and Taverne they their study make.
Where all their practice is before they part,
To drinke the feare of God out of their heart;
Health out o'th' body, wit out of the head,
Strength out o'th' joints, and every one to bed.
All moneys out a purse; drink out o'th' barrels,
Wife, children, out of doors, all into quarrels.
The Devill out on's den, land out of quiet,
Store out o'th' Kingdome, and this is their dyet.
Let but an honest, civill, sober man
Fall once amongst them, it's their glory than
To make him drunk: You could not but admire,
How these infernall swil-bowles will conspire:
Like Babylonish Harlot smooth him up,
Make him taste poison in a golden cup:
And as at the division of a spoile,
They'll sing when they have put him to the foile.
Oh, how they will both glory brag and vapour,
That they have had the snuffing of that tapor.
Oh, how they'll wind men in, do what they can,
By drinking healths, first unto such a man,
Then unto such a woman. Then they'll send
An health to each man's Mistrisse or his friend;
Then to their kindreds or their parents deare,
They needs must have the other jug of beere.
Then to their Captains and Commanders stout,
Who for to pledge they think none should stand out.
Last to the King and Queen they'll have a cruse,
Whom for to pledge they think none dare refuse;
Though he be both unwilling and unable,
And be therewith made drunk, cast under th' table.
And thus these tempters wind and draw men in,
To be partakers of their deadly sinne.
[Page 13] Whom they arest they suffer none to baile,
'Till all their senses, all their members faile;
The most corrupted heart can hardly think,
How they'll triumph o'r others in their drink.
So fast as in a chaine the Devill binds them,
Inthrals, besots, bewitches, and so blinds them;
That they to make each other drunk do strive,
And think themselves the bravest men alive:
It they can prove but Masters of their trades,
And be but call'd and counted gallant blades:
For popular applause in this their strife,
And reputation, is more sweet then life;
Nay, then salvation too: for they had rather
Ride post to hell unto their lully father;
Then of a Puritan to have the name,
So proud they are of basenesse and of shame.
Little regarding, whilst thus o'r their friends
They doe triumph, Satan obtains his ends;
Nor minding how they'r overthrown at last,
Brought under's lash, and into darknesse cast.
And thus they strive in sinne for to excell,
Not having love of heaven, dread of hell:
Spending their time in jollity and laughter,
Not caring what fals here, nor comes hereafter;
Making a trade of sinne, without regard
Of hell to punish, heaven to reward.
They'r never known God's mercy for to crave,
But live as if they had no souls to save.
And thus I have made out, as I do think,
That drunkards not for strength, but lust, do drink.
And that their chiefe delight is to entice
Others to be copartners in their vice.
[Page 14] Making them drink these healths, till like a dog
They vomit up their shame, or like a hog
Tumble i'th' durt, a spectacle most sad
And woefull to all men that are not mad.
For, what more barbarous practice can there be,
Then for to take a pleasure for to see
Others made drunk? as if it were their pride,
The high and mighty God for to deride.
In tempting unto sin they are so bold,
Can fit and temper so unto their mould:
Such stratagems they have to win the field,
Plots, projects such, as hell can scarcely yield.
Their proffers are like to a fowler's scrap,
Cast out not for to feed, but to entrap.
So that if Satan would resigne his place,
'T should be to some of this same cursed race.
Now if by faire meanes they cannot allure
Men to their wicked customs; then be sure
To give weak brains a drench, themselves they'll band,
And strive for to compell by strength of hand.
At least if in their practise they do faile,
They'll censure, scoffe, revile, and at them raile.
Curse, envy, nickname, flander, undermine,
And falsely to accuse they will combine:
Nay if that over-ruling providence
And Justice, were not a strong tower of fence,
If not their souls, their bodies they would kill,
In case they would not work them to their will.
But now I'll passe, and briefly let you see
Their outward bodily deformity.
Swollen and inflamed faces drunkards have,
Beset with goodly chowles, and rubies brave;
Red bleared gogle eies, running with rheums,
Mouths nasty, foaming with offensive fumes.
[Page 15] Rich Roman bottle noses, palsied hand,
Great gouty legs, whereon they scarce can stand.
Foule stinking rotten teeth, and beside these,
All cheeks to th' belly, belly to the knees.
Nay questionlesse if any drunken asse
Would but behold his feature in this glasse,
A man would think his face he should disdaine,
And ne'r be brought to love himselfe againe.
And they'r no more deformed then diseased,
If to beleeve an Artist you'll be pleased.
For saith Hippocrates, the more they are fill'd,
Distempered bodies, the more they are spill'd.
And if from him you further do appeale,
The Prophet Hosea sets to it his seale.
Wine and strong drink drown many: In a word,
More dy by surfets, then dye by the sword.
So that the Drunkard out of that drawes death,
Which doth preserve to other men their breath.
Hee a Cow's belly hath; head of an asse,
Diseases of a horse: So let him passe.
But stay awhile, you have not yet heard all;
To drunkards many fearfull chances fall.
Anacreon, in drinking that surpast,
With the husk of a grape was choakt at last.
Ammon was warme with Wine, and highly fill'd,
When he by's brother Absolon was kill'd.
Symon th' High Priest, and his two sons, were slaine
By their own brother in a drunken veine.
Great Olofernes when he lost his head
By Iudeth's hand, lay drunk upon his bed.
The drunkennesse of Noah, and of Lot,
Those righteous persons, must not be forgot:
[Page 16] That by those instances of former time,
Wee may observe how God abhors the crime.
All ages have recorded stories sad,
I need no more examples for to add.
Moreover, in the nights missing their ground,
In pits & ditches many have been drownd.
Snakes have been known down drunkards throats to creep,
When in the fields they have been laid asleep.
In their cups many of these drunken elves,
Either stab others, or are stab'd themselves.
For who will sooner either kill or slay,
Then Cowards when th' have drunk their wits away.
The Devill puts it into Drunkards heart,
To kisse at meeting, quarrell ere they part.
Their malice so in Tavernes oft they vent,
They are constrain'd at Tyburne to repent.
A Drunkard will with his own shadow play,
And afterward with it will make a fray.
Yea as he fits and nods, do but suppose
He should against some post but hit his nose,
He is in his stupidity so strong,
He'll strike his opposite for that same wrong.
Then for to make them friends, for drink he'll call,
Which friendly cup begets another brawle.
For whilst the hogshead tampers with the barrell,
Whether he chases or laughs he's apt to quarrell.
And let a man admonish him, insooth
He had as good take a wild beare by th' tooth.
This sinne scornes all reproofe; all counsel's bad,
As goads to them that are already mad:
It may them move to choler and to strife,
But never to amendment of their life.
Now as the Drunkard through excesse and strife
Impairs his health, and shortneth his life;
[Page 17] Deforms his body; so it is his fate,
At last for to consume his whole estate.
I might here show how wine it doth deface,
Darken the light of nature, and of grace;
But that I think it labour were in vain,
And to repeat the same things o'r againe.
It is the funerall (as I said before)
Of all good parts; I need to say no more.
Now you may marvell much thus for to heare
The Drunkards odious postures made appeare.
But you might wonder more, in case I should
Prolixly here relate, what might be told.
For seriously he's like a putrid grave,
The deeper that you dig, more stench you have:
I could you further carry, and still find
More left of him before, then's left behind.
This shall suffice, lest that the more that's said,
Do cause a great deale lesse for to be read.
And now that Drunkards thus have seen their sin
Laid open to their view, let them begin
Their lives for to amend, and to repent,
Or hearken to their grievous punishment.
For by the Lawes of God, and eke of man,
After conviction, there is none that can
Avoid the sentence: After sentence past,
Then execution comes; for sure at last,
If a reprieve, or pardon be not got,
Damning or hanging, is drinks after-shot.
If therefore there be any unto God
Of those Antipodes, that scorn his rod;
That in these lines, as through prospective true,
Of his condition taken hath a view;
[Page 18] Yet neither sting nor prick of conscience feels,
But fixt on earth, casts heaven at his heels.
Or that hath seen in this same glasse most cleare,
The ugly face of his foule heart appeare:
And likewise read, how Satan doth delude him,
And from Gods presence seeks for to exclude him.
Yet notwithstanding, still himselfe doth give,
In brutish sensuality to live;
And sets at light all counsels, threats and terrors,
And doth resolve not to repent his errours.
But stubbornly himselfe therein to cherish;
Let him know this that he shall surely perish.
Thus saith the Lord, your selves you have abused,
For I have called, and you have refused;
You simple things have in your hearts devised,
All my counsels, all my threats despised.
I stretcht my hand, and you would not regard,
Therefore destruction shall be your reward.
And let them know how many severall woes
The word of God pronounceth against those,
That at the wine themselves together link,
And mighty are to poure downe strong drink.
And let them know, the time will surely come,
Christ shall pronounce this fearfull dreadful doom;
Int' everlasting fire depart from me,
Ye cursed workers of iniquity.
Here without thirst they drink; there let them think,
How they shall thirst, and never have no drinke:
Yea though the fire be hot, the thirst be great,
A drop of water, little to the heat.
Know that the fire and thirst they shall abide,
And the least drop of water be deni'd.
L [...]t drunkards know, and knowing eke confesse,
Paul's a true Prophet, Esay is no lesse.
[...][Page 21] Yea it's an ods, that they can never part,
But entertain uncleannesse in the heart.
No man can sort with Heathens, Pagans, Turks,
But he shall frame and learn to do their works.
Consider well Peter his change and fall,
After he came into the high Priest's hall.
Nay, you shall seldome see a fellon die,
Or an offender, but this is his cry:
If I had chanc'd ill company to misse,
(Ah) I am sure, I'd never come to this.
Wherefore as Ioseph hearing's mistresse say,
Come let us lye together, fled away:
Even so take care, that thou away do shrink,
When Drunkards cry, come let us goe and drink.
Beware lest they betray thee with their kisses;
When they speak faire, beleeve the serpent hisses.
Likewise be carefull not for to resort,
To drinking places, for to play or sport.
My tongue would blister, if I should say lesse,
They'r nurseries of riot, and excesse.
I wish I might not say, that many are
The Devil's shops for venting of his ware;
The very sinks of sinne, and common shoares
For drunkards, swearers, murtherers and whores;
Yea Satan's Throne, where he doth Chaire-man sit,
Sequestring each man both from grace and wit.
Their lands, their goods, their cattle and their stocks,
And for their fifts, doth order them the pox.
But what of these, I say I must take heed,
Lest I as Paul at Ephesus doe speed;
And by some one Demetrius, be cry'd down
With grea [...]s Diana, throughout all the Towne.
[Page 22] Sirs, by this craft you know we get our wealth;
Though others (as Delinquents) lose their health.
But thus much I conceive here by the way,
As not incongruous, observe we may:
That in regard th' excesse o'th' trencher's not
So soon perceiv'd as is th' excesse o'th' pot.
And th' outward visible effects with us,
Are not so stupid, or notorious:
Drunk'nesse is more ridiculous then it,
And more declaim'd against in holy Writ:
So that (by use) the word Sobriety,
Doth temp'rance now in drinking signify.
Therefore the Glutton's sin is now in lesse
Disreputation, then is Drunkennesse;
Yet as to each th' affection stands; in all
Th' intemperance alike is criminall.
Yet one word more I will presume to add,
Which (if it take effect) my heart will glad.
To you Church-Wardens, Constables and others,
That love the Lord, the Church, the State, your brothers,
Your selves, your sons, the people of the land,
Put forth against this sin your helping hand.
Help, help the Lord, the lawes, some ground to win,
Against I say, against this mighty sinne.
Use all meanes possible for to prevent it,
And if you cannot, faile not to present it.
Say not that he which herein doth offend,
Is such a Gentleman, or such a friend:
But know that he who is offended's dearer,
Greater and better, and unto you nearer.
[Page 23] Or if you needs the Gentleman will free,
Take care, the Drunkard (He) presented be.
Or if you please for to let slip your friend,
Be sure the Drunkard to the stocks you send.
But most of all they are to be desired,
And in the name of God strictly required;
Within Commission of the Peace that be,
That they their Countries peace preserved see;
And all their wil, skill, strength and power bend,
This many headed monster for to rend.
Draw these loose teeth (that it may gather health)
Out of the mandable of the Commonwealth.
You may, if you these To res but disband,
Of infinite distempers cure the land.
Make known your love to God, hatred to sinne,
The zeale and courage that you have within.
Balke none, forbeare with none that do offend,
Untill their sinfull lives they do amend.
Now you have heard the thing that I do aske,
Arise up then, be doing of your taske;
Which if you do, to pray I will not cease,
That you in grace and wisdome may increase:
And know that this to do, if you neglect,
Even he that hath of persons no respect,
Will surely in his fury and his rage
Your negligence reward with Ahab's wage.
I wish that all men would beware in time,
Of this so odious detestable crime;
Or it will prove at length, they may be sure,
Like to a desperate plague that knowes no cure.
[Page 24] And yet let Drunkards know sins are remitted
Upon repentance, as if not committed.
Peter, his Master Christ did thrice deny;
Paul persecuted him exceedingly
(As thou dost in his members) yet they twaine
Upon repentance mercy did obtaine.
Manasses, Mary Magdalen, the thiefe
Witnesse, true sorrow never wants reliefe.
Repent, and do not from his precepts range,
And God he will his dreadfull sentence change.
It is a truth to be beleev'd and read,
The womans seed shall bruise the serpent's head.
And thou O Father, that alone canst give
Life to the dead, unto their souls say, Live.
To thee nothing is hard; thou canst of stones
Make, and raise children to thy holy ones.
Send down thy heavenly spirit, and thereby
Those dead and stony hearts so mollify,
That they henceforth all deadly sinne may shun,
And be made members of thine onely Son.
And now who e'r thou art; this book is thine,
If use it, if abuse it, it is mine.
Do not thou with the name a quarrell pick,
If that the nature thou doe not dislike.
Books are (as children) oft not fitly nam'd,
For which their God fathers are to be blam'd.
And though the mold it's cast in may be new,
It brings thee nothing but whats old and true.
I am not mad, to think this book should passe
Without aspersion from some drunken asse:
Some will (no doubt) as Lyons hunger-bit,
Open their mouths against both me and it.
[Page 25] But read, consider well, and thou shalt finde
An Antidote for body and for minde:
And if thy shared soule do chance
To be invited unto temperance;
Let not the jeeres or taunts, or scoffs of men,
Cause thee returne to thy ill course againe:
Know that the Devil's Mastives, they will fawne
No longer then they have thy soule at pawn:
But if thou chance out of their fold to scape,
Then they'll begin to bite, to bark and gape.
The poore diseased creeple, it appears,
Lay at the pool full eight and thirty yeares;
And not a man that past in all that time,
Check'd or rebuk'd him for the smallest crime.
But when he was in body and in soule,
By Christ our Saviour cleansed and made whole;
And went resolved for to sinne no more,
Lest worse befell him, then had done before;
It is not lawfull, then the Jewes could say,
Thy bed to carry on the sabbath day.
Likewise we read the Pharisees did scorne
The poore distressed man that blind was borne:
No sooner was he cur'd, but out they sent,
And him and's parents both they did convent.
Whilst Magdalen did in her lewdnesse live,
Word of reproofe none unto her did give:
But when with tears Christ's feet she washt, & came
With pretious ointment to anoint the same;
Then for to murmure she a Simon kenn'd,
And eke a Iudas, her to reprehend:
Yea, it's the Devil's drift, and of his flock,
To dash our little ones against a rock:
[Page 26] Vertue to blast i'th' budd, and to devoure
Before it grow either to fruit or flower.
Thus Pharaoh plotted th' Hebrews for to spill,
When he gave order all their babes to kill.
Thus Herod (when himselfe he mocked knew)
Sent forth to Bethlehem, all their children slew.
Children of men, their tongues like arrowes are,
And with sharp blades their teeth you may compare,
The Devils murthering pieces for to spoile,
And persecute those that from him recoile.
But they that do their journey leave for such,
Affrighted horses do resemble much;
Which start at shadowes, trembling for feare,
When that there is no just occasion neare.
It's not for us, for to regard detractions,
Malice of men, against our selves or actions;
And so like Moon calfes at a shadow start,
Setting the service of our God apart.
When as we do into God's service enter,
Upon a rough profession we adventure:
We are engag'd the world to set at light,
And all its pleasures to abandon quite.
The friendship of this world is meerely gall,
And enmity with God, so saith St Paul.
Therefore we nothing can expect but blame,
At those mens hands, that friends are to the same.
It is observ'd that when a thiefe intends
To rob an house; to bring about his ends,
He first puts out the lights, that so he may
The more securely seize upon the prey:
Even so the Devil's imps with one accord,
When as they see the spirit of the Lord,
[Page 27] In those that once were darknesse, do begin
To rouze themselves, and to advance for sin;
Seeking all good mens vertues to disgrace,
By throwing mire and dirt into their face.
What can be lookt for? or what can we find,
But cankred hatred, and depraved mind
In impious lapsed persons, that do turne
Their spite against almighty God, and spurne
Against his image? For it is most sure,
Those that doe turne to God, they must endure,
To come much like a grape into the presse,
Be squees'd, and crusht, they can expect no lesse.
They must not think to come out of the Whale,
And sit with Ionah in the shade; but shall
Have some foul worm to gnaw the gourd asunder,
It is a truth, needs not beget a wonder.
Wherefore, who ever entred have a course
Of vertuous life; let them resist the force
Of all temptations; knowing certainly,
The Devill never can with such agree,
But still will plot and seek them to devoure,
Although he smil'd, whilst they were in his power.
Whilst in his pawes the Lyon hath his prey,
With it he will both dally, sport and play;
But if it offer to escape his pawes,
Then in the flesh forthwith he'll fix his clawes.
Laban began to be most cruell-hearted
'Gainst Iacob, when from him he was departed▪
Pharaoh did fiercely th' Israelites pursue,
When they to Aegypt were to bid adieu;
Our enemy with malice most doth swell,
When us he seeth against him to rebell.
[Page 28] He cares but little those for to molest,
Of whom he finds himselfe fully poffest.
Great Olofernes. ne'r did evill thing
To them that willing were to serve his King:
Such as are void of vertue, are not barr'd
From egresse regresse through the Devil's guard.
But such as treasure grace, and do begin
For to decline the waits of death and sin;
Such as against his fierce encounters sence,
He doth assault with all his violence;
His battery he plants against that foe,
And all his engines him to overthrow.
Courage your selves, his bullets they may clatter;
But all his engines are too weak to batter.
The Lord he will a Moses still befriend,
And against Aaron, Miriam him defend.
Against a Iudas Christ he will engage,
And on him take Magdalen's patronage.
If men oppresse them, creatures without sence,
Will witnesse truth, and fight in their defence.
If the Israelites before a Pharaoh fly,
The sea'le divide, and make a passage dry:
The Lyons hunger-bit, cruell and fell,
Meek lambs will prove unto a Daniel;
And God will send an Angell for to shut
Their mouths, when he into their den is put.
Ravens will feed Elijah: God will blesse
The widowes meale and oile from being lesse;
Him and her selfe, and son for to maintain,
Untill the Lord be pleas'd to send down raine.
Although the King command to bind and throw
A Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego
Into the fiery furnace, yet they shall
In presence of the King and Nobles all,
[Page 29] Walke in the flame, and them it shall not touch,
The Angell of the Lord preserveth such.
Be valiant then, in righteousnesse begun,
And thou shalt shine in brightnesse like the Sun.
So unto thee this book thus rudely penn'd,
And it and thee to God I do commend.
Deus tibi se: Tu te Deo. J. Rigbye.
To my much esteemed Friend and Parishioner, Major Ioseph Rigbye, upon his sober Satyre against the Epidemicall vice of Drunkennesse.
SOme old Philosophers did say
One Soule inspires each lump of Clay;
Yours and grave Withers's parallell veine,
Their dead conceipt revives againe.
Great Brittain's lost remembrancer
May find his voice new ecchoing here?
His verse the plague's pale visage drawes,
And yours soule drunkennesse the cause:
And truth to say, 'tis hard to guesse
Which plague's the greater, which the lesse;
Which of the two's contagious breath,
Has more betrai'd to grisly death.
Then seeing two Christian sons of warre,
Are met in one from distance farre;
Cashier'd the sword, embrac'd the pen,
In pity to the souls of men;
To free by pious exhortation,
The sin-sick Captives of this Nation
[Page] From Hell's devouring jawes, or make
Pure soules their company forsake.
Let but our vice-Antagonist,
Enter with fortunate arms the list
'Gainst this foule monster's first borne son,
Mad swearing: (Who it first begun)
Was Tavern-Bedlam, Lord or Knight,
In drunken mood and beastly plight;
And his vile flatterer man or swain,
To please him swore and curst amaine:
Thus worshipping the calfe of gold,
T' affront th' high'st rude men are bold.
Let but our Christian Champion slay
This proud Orgoglio; then we'll say,
Let the great Alexander cease
T' extoll his conquests, lesse then these:
Let Caesar's proud triumphant Bayes
Bow down, while we your trophies raise:
Let Hercules labors silent be,
Yours live to immortality.
Ch. Hotham.
To my much Honoured Friend Major Ioseph Rigbye, Upon his Drunkard's Prospective or Burning-Glasse.
MEthinks in this prospective I doken
A troop of Monsters, not of Christian men.
Monsters, such as all Africk never bred,
Men and yet beasts, living and yet stark dead.
Wast thou Apelles scholar, or e'r saw
The Prince of Painters his quaint pieces draw;
That thus the Drunkard's shape unto our eye,
In lively pourtraicture thou dost descry?
Was thou e'r at Lacedemonian Feasts,
Where slaves us'd to be made as drunk as beasts,
On purpose that their children they might fright
With th' odious view of such an ugly sight?
Or didst thou live when as the Roman State,
Their Bacchanalia us'd to celebrate?
Or where e'r sawst thou drunkards feature, that
Thine active pencill it should hit so pat?
It is a paradox that dead men, Thou
Shouldst set out to the life thus; I avow:
And it is rare how the same draught should be
A night and day-piece both, as this we see.
Did old Rome flourish, or the Spartan glory,
Thy name should be eterniz'd in their story,
[Page] For thus chastifing with thy nipping pen,
The shame of Nations, bane of mortall men?
Is't not most shamefull Christians should strive,
Painim and Pagan Gods for to revive?
Bacchus an Idol old and exolete,
Is now become a Diety compleate.
See how he's worshipt, see how his throng train,
Each where do cry him up, their God amaine.
Taverns his Temples, daily multipli'd,
While great Iehovah's would be set aside.
Tables, his Altars, Indian thus perfumes,
I meane Tobacco: While each one presumes,
God's sacred Incense to extinguish quite,
And make it yield to their Idolothyte.
And his Church-musick, filthy blattering songs,
Still canted out by the unhallowed tongues
Of drunken rimers; men profane forlorne,
God's sacred praise in Psalms must be forborne.
His tallow tapers burn both night and day,
Gods must go out: And most men dare to say,
They are but dead and uselesse stinking snuffe,
Preachers I meane: Is not here goodly stuffe?
Flat Atheisme sure doth farre excell
This Deity, call'd back from th' lowest hell.
Well acted then friend the Lay-Preachers part,
To lance this pest with lines so sharp and tart.
Herbert. This versing may him catch that sermons flies,
And turne delight into a sacrifice.
And of all gifted brethren thou shalt have
By my consent, the Laurell to thy grave.
Thus pithily Gods cause to plead and cleare
By exercise, out of the Preachers spheare.
When I behold a bezeling dead drunk crew
Of Miscreants; methinks ther's in my view
[Page] The liveliest emblem of the lowest pit,
That can be seen except one goe to it.
God's wrath is stil'd wine of astonishment,
Which on condemned souls hath its full vent.
The Drunkards wine when it doth so inflame,
Doth it not clearely represent the same?
When as I see them swell on the Ale-bench,
Bellow, blaspheme, and wallow in the stench.
Hell's nothing else I think: Or if not it,
Yet sure it leades to that infernall pit.
Well may we then conclude, the drunken sot
Must pledge himselfe in fire and brimstone hot.
It is most sad, and yet most true, they'll find
Two hels; one here, another yet behind.
May this thy burning glasse the conscience scorch
Of Drunkards, while they are yet in the porch
Of hell; and so most happily suspend
Direfull infernall flames world without end. Amen.
So singeth and prayeth Your respectfull friend, Iohn Tilsley, Pastor of Deane Ch. Lancashire.
To my worthily esteemed Friend, Mr Joseph Rigby, upon his Drunkards Prospective.
Sir,
TO need no friends, t'have friends in need,
Both good: for This y' have friends indeed:
This will immortalize, when read,
Your fame; advance your blisse when dead.
This will I hope the grave controll,
And prove yours is an heaven-born soule.
In this glasse purblind eyes may see
Drunkards not men, but monsters be.
Dead, yet alive; of humane kind
The scab, the shame: Also I find,
Them voluntary Daemons stil'd;
Even hell it selfe's with them defil'd.
Thither their souls ride post to burne,
Leaving their partners in the urne:
I may enlarge my creed, and tell
My flock, the world; Beasts go to hell.
Chris. hom. 57, 58. [...].
Patmos for such ordained is,
Or Philip's Poneropolis.
Could they command that Golden ore
On Tagus or Pactolus shore,
Most pretious pearles, the Indian Mine,
Or those rich Diamonds that shine
[Page] As starrs of the first M. These elves
Would gulch all downe, and damne themselves.
What vice more vile, speak if thou canst,
That beastiates and so much unmans?
Ethnicks abhor it, and shall I
Tipple, like German sots, then dye.
Our age (like Augustines) Synods needs
T'extir pate these pestiferous weeds.
This may conduce much to suppresse
These Swetian Ierss and drunkennesse.
From which the Apostate Angels be
(Spirits they are and therefore) free.
Zeno, Anacreon, Childerick,
And that Rovergnian Catholick.
Alexander, Philostrates,
Bonolus and Cleomenes,
Were they alive to read this book,
On sparkling cups would ne'r more look.
In war, your fortitude and skill
Appear'd; in peace your learned quill
Proclaims with lively voice your parts
Not meane: scope good, good lives and hearts.
Lessius his rules for temperance,
Him to eternity advance.
Yours you: I 'ave read, practis'd, and find
A healthfull body, and sound mind.
As Grotius vers'd at eight years old,
So you at Eaton (as I'm told)
Where Chrysostom's tome to presse you writ,
As Savile had collected it.
Your straine is plaine; sweeter to me,
Nutmegs gilded rotten I see.
Magnetick vertue sure here lies,
It so attracts my heart and eyes.
[Page] Whilst some are toxicate with wines,
I'm jealous lest I with your lines.
As Bellarmine of Kempis said,
As often new as it is read.
Every morne grave Seneca,
Deem'd the world new, with the new day;
And I your work; the drunkards cup
And character, This Glasse makes up.
Salvius Otho had a glasse
(Sueton reports) in which his face
Each houre he view'd, to keep it free
From spots: This ours from Anomie.
'Tis writ that Boleslaus King
Of Poland, ever had a thing,
His fathers portraicture in's eye,
Which kept him from Ebriety.
Let this your (Vade mecum) bee
Bequeath'd to your vive progeny,
With your paternall blessing; then
They'll not prove monsters, but good men.
Better enough then all: 'tis such,
Lesse were too little, more too much.
I'll say no more; I could no lesse,
Writer, reader, writ heavens blesse.
So prayeth Your reall and cordially respective Friend, James Livesay, Minister at Chow-bent Lancashire.
To my Noble Colonell; Joseph Rigbye, Now Clerke of the Peace, for our County Palatine of Lancaster.
THY worth for to set forth, I do forbeare,
I knowthou lov'st not thine own praise to hear;
This truth I hope will not offend to tell
Thou'st been my Captaine, Major, Colonell.
And I my selfe have seen thy manly parts,
Strike courage into all thy souldiers hearts.
This Glasse revives thy fame; and still makes us
Call thee our Magnus, Major, Maximus.
For here thou pictur'st nothing with thy pen,
But what thy cane did print upon thy men.
Long mai'st thou live in Peace, who hast so far
Adventured thy selfe in time of war.
And let him lose the love of Iohn a Gant,
That shall unjustly seek thee to supplant.
Thy meanest, yet faithfull Servant, expecting (as heretofore) but the word of command, Humphrey Maulebone.
To his his true beloved Friend and Kinsman Mr Ioseph Rigbye.
IN spite of envy and illiterate pride,
Thou stand'st by noble judgements justifi'd.
Behold, the sword extols thee, and the pen
Of honoured, learned, young and ancient men,
Rings forth thy praise; That more for to relate
Their suffrages were to prejudicate.
Observe the order of thy spirituall guide,
And make mad swearing his drunk fyre bestride,
And stagger both to hell; and with the club
Thou bang'd the fyre, cudgell that ugly cub;
He's ramping mad to see his fyre thus bang'd,
And swears he'll kill and stay, though he be hang'd,
Nay damned too: And in this bloudy rage,
He dares thee to the clod for to engage.
Charge this Orgoglio, drunken Cyclop's son,
Dash out his brains, and then thy work is done.
Advance I say once more, resume thy Club,
And send both brat and fyre to Belzebub:
There let them roar and swear, and drink and spew,
Such as their Grand-dam Proserpin doth brew.
The task's not great, if thou'l but add a will
To thine approv'd ability and skill.
Thine in any expedition against impiety, Ja. Rigbie:
To his worthily honoured Friend, Colonell Joseph Rigby.
Colonell,
BEhold thy burning Glasse casts such a light,
That Drunkards daz'led run and lose their sight;
But thy Prospective shews men how to shun
The D [...]unken rout which way so e't they run.
I once rejoic'd with thee to serve the state,
And now thy works to read and contemplate.
In war thy flying colours they did shew,
The way to vanquish and subdue the foe.
I peace, thou strik'st alarums to the times,
To purge the earth of its most horrid crimes.
March on then Major, and my prayer shall bee,
In chase of vice great troopes may follow thee.
Ch. Carr.
FINIS.