APPENDIX.Notes, Illustrations, Various Readings, and Emendations of Text.

FromEssexAnabaptist Laws,And fromNorfolkPlough-tail Laws,[? taws]FromAbigailspure tender Zeal,Whiter than aBrownistsveal,From a Serjeants Temple pickle,And the BrethrensConventicle,From roguish meetings, or Cutpurse hall,AndNew-England, worst of all,Libera nos Domine.From the cry ofLudgatedebters,[p. 39.]And the noise of Prisoners Fetters,From groans of them that have the Pox,And coyl of Beggars in the Stocks,From roar o’ th’Bridge, andBedlamprate,And with Wives met atBillingsgate,From scritch-owles, and dogs night-howling,From Sailers cry at their main bowling,Libera nos Domine.FromFrank Wilsonstrick ofmopping,And her ulcered h... withpopping,From Knights o’ th’ post, and from decoys,FromWhores,Bawds, and roaringBoys,From aBulkerin the dark,AndHannahwith St.TantlinsClark,From Biskets Bawds have rubb’d their gums,And from purging-Comfit plums,Libera nos Domine.FromSue PratsSon, the fair and witty,The Lord ofPortsmouth, sweet and pretty,From her that creeps upHolbournehill,AndMollthat cries,God-dam-mestill,From backwards-ringing of the Bells,From both the Counters and Bridewells,From blindRobbinand hisBess,And from a Purse that’s penniless,Libera nos Domine.From gold-finders, and night-weddings,FromWomenseyes false liquid sheddings,FromRocks,Sands, andCannon-shot,And from a stinking Chamber-pot,From a hundred years old sinner,[p. 40.]And DukeHumphreyshungry dinner,From stinking breath of an old Aunt[,]From Parritors and Pursevants[,]Libera nos Domine.From a Dutchmans snick and sneeing,From a nasty Irish being[,]From aWelchmanslofty bragging,And a Monsieur loves not drabbing,From begging Scotchmen and their pride,From striving ’gainst both wind and tide,From too much strong Wine and Beer,Enforcing us to domineer,Libera nos Domine.

FromEssexAnabaptist Laws,

And fromNorfolkPlough-tail Laws,[? taws]

FromAbigailspure tender Zeal,

Whiter than aBrownistsveal,

From a Serjeants Temple pickle,

And the BrethrensConventicle,

From roguish meetings, or Cutpurse hall,

AndNew-England, worst of all,

Libera nos Domine.

From the cry ofLudgatedebters,[p. 39.]And the noise of Prisoners Fetters,From groans of them that have the Pox,And coyl of Beggars in the Stocks,From roar o’ th’Bridge, andBedlamprate,And with Wives met atBillingsgate,From scritch-owles, and dogs night-howling,From Sailers cry at their main bowling,Libera nos Domine.

From the cry ofLudgatedebters,[p. 39.]

And the noise of Prisoners Fetters,

From groans of them that have the Pox,

And coyl of Beggars in the Stocks,

From roar o’ th’Bridge, andBedlamprate,

And with Wives met atBillingsgate,

From scritch-owles, and dogs night-howling,

From Sailers cry at their main bowling,

Libera nos Domine.

FromFrank Wilsonstrick ofmopping,And her ulcered h... withpopping,From Knights o’ th’ post, and from decoys,FromWhores,Bawds, and roaringBoys,From aBulkerin the dark,AndHannahwith St.TantlinsClark,From Biskets Bawds have rubb’d their gums,And from purging-Comfit plums,Libera nos Domine.

FromFrank Wilsonstrick ofmopping,

And her ulcered h... withpopping,

From Knights o’ th’ post, and from decoys,

FromWhores,Bawds, and roaringBoys,

From aBulkerin the dark,

AndHannahwith St.TantlinsClark,

From Biskets Bawds have rubb’d their gums,

And from purging-Comfit plums,

Libera nos Domine.

FromSue PratsSon, the fair and witty,The Lord ofPortsmouth, sweet and pretty,From her that creeps upHolbournehill,AndMollthat cries,God-dam-mestill,From backwards-ringing of the Bells,From both the Counters and Bridewells,From blindRobbinand hisBess,And from a Purse that’s penniless,Libera nos Domine.

FromSue PratsSon, the fair and witty,

The Lord ofPortsmouth, sweet and pretty,

From her that creeps upHolbournehill,

AndMollthat cries,God-dam-mestill,

From backwards-ringing of the Bells,

From both the Counters and Bridewells,

From blindRobbinand hisBess,

And from a Purse that’s penniless,

Libera nos Domine.

From gold-finders, and night-weddings,FromWomenseyes false liquid sheddings,FromRocks,Sands, andCannon-shot,And from a stinking Chamber-pot,From a hundred years old sinner,[p. 40.]And DukeHumphreyshungry dinner,From stinking breath of an old Aunt[,]From Parritors and Pursevants[,]Libera nos Domine.

From gold-finders, and night-weddings,

FromWomenseyes false liquid sheddings,

FromRocks,Sands, andCannon-shot,

And from a stinking Chamber-pot,

From a hundred years old sinner,[p. 40.]

And DukeHumphreyshungry dinner,

From stinking breath of an old Aunt[,]

From Parritors and Pursevants[,]

Libera nos Domine.

From a Dutchmans snick and sneeing,From a nasty Irish being[,]From aWelchmanslofty bragging,And a Monsieur loves not drabbing,

From a Dutchmans snick and sneeing,

From a nasty Irish being[,]

From aWelchmanslofty bragging,

And a Monsieur loves not drabbing,

From begging Scotchmen and their pride,From striving ’gainst both wind and tide,From too much strong Wine and Beer,Enforcing us to domineer,Libera nos Domine.

From begging Scotchmen and their pride,

From striving ’gainst both wind and tide,

From too much strong Wine and Beer,

Enforcing us to domineer,

Libera nos Domine.

[Following the above comes a group of more than usually objectionable Songs, viz.,JohnandJoan, beginning “If you will give ear” (p. 46); “Full forty times over I have strived to win,” same title (p. 61); The Answer to it, “He is a fond Lover that doateth on scorn” (p. 62); Love’s Tenement, “If any one do want a house” (p. 64); and A New Year’s Gift, “Fair Lady, for your New Year’s Gift” (p. 81). These are all reserved for the Chamber of Horrors.Vide ante, p. 230.]

[p. 103.]

Among the purifidian Sect,I mean the counterfeit Elect:Zealous bankrupts, Punks devout,Preachers suspended, rabble rout,Let them sell all, and out of handPrepare to go toNew England,To build newBabelstrong and sure,Now call’d a Church unspotted pure.There Milk from Springs, like Rivers, flows,And Honey upon hawthorn grows;Hemp, Wool, and Flax, there grows on trees,The mould is fat, it cuts like cheese;All fruits and herbs spring in the fields,Tobacco it good plenty yields;And there shall be a Church most pure,Where you may find salvation sure.There’s Venison of all sorts great store,Both Stag, and buck, wild Goat, and Boar,And all so tame, that you with easeMay take your fill, eat what you please;There’s Beavers plenty, yea, so many,That you may buy two skins a penny,Above all this, a Church most pure,Where to be saved you may be sure.There’s flight of Fowl do cloud the skie,Great Turkies of threescore pound weight,As big as Estriges, there Geese,[p. 104.]With thanks, are sold for pence a piece;Of Duck and Mallard, Widgeon, Teale,Twenty for two-pence make a meale;Yea, and a Church unspotted pure,Within whose bosome all are sure.Loe, there in shoals all sorts of fish,Of the salt seas, and water fresh:Ling, Cod, Poor-John, and Haberdine,Are taken with the Rod and Line;A painful fisher on the shoreMay take at least twenty an houre;Besides all this a Church most pure,Where you may live and dye secure.There twice a year all sorts of GrainDoth down from heaven, like hailstones, rain;You ne’r shall need to sow nor plough,There’s plenty of all things enough:Wine sweet and wholsome drops from trees,As clear as chrystal, without lees;Yea, and a Church unspotted, pure,From dregs of Papistry secure.No Feasts nor festival set daiesAre here observed, the Lord be prais’d,Though not in Churches rich and strong,Yet where no Mass was ever Sung,The Bulls ofBashanne’r met there[;]SurpliceandCopedurst not appear;Old Orders all they will abjure,This Church hath all things new and pure.No discipline shall there be used,[p. 105.]The Law of Nature they have chused[;]All that the spirit seems to moveEach man may choose and so approve,There’s Government without command,There’s unity without a band;A Synagogue unspotted pure,Where lust and pleasure dwells secure.Loe in this Church all shall be freeTo Enjoy their Christian liberty;All things made common, void of strife,Each man may take anothers wife,And keep a hundred maids, if need,To multiply, increase, and breed,Then is not this Foundation sure,To build a Church unspotted, pure?The native People, though yet wild,Are altogether kind and mild,And apt already, by report,To live in this religious sort;Soon to conversion they’l be broughtWhenWarrens Marieryhave wrought,Who being sanctified and pure,May by the Spirit them alure.LetAmsterdamsend forth her Brats,Her Fugitives and Runnagates:Let Bedlam, Newgate, and the ClinkDisgorge themselves into this sink;Let Bridewell and the stews be kept,And all sent thither to be swept;So may our Church be cleans’d and pure,Keep both it self and state secure.

Among the purifidian Sect,

I mean the counterfeit Elect:

Zealous bankrupts, Punks devout,

Preachers suspended, rabble rout,

Let them sell all, and out of hand

Prepare to go toNew England,

To build newBabelstrong and sure,

Now call’d a Church unspotted pure.

There Milk from Springs, like Rivers, flows,And Honey upon hawthorn grows;Hemp, Wool, and Flax, there grows on trees,The mould is fat, it cuts like cheese;All fruits and herbs spring in the fields,Tobacco it good plenty yields;And there shall be a Church most pure,Where you may find salvation sure.

There Milk from Springs, like Rivers, flows,

And Honey upon hawthorn grows;

Hemp, Wool, and Flax, there grows on trees,

The mould is fat, it cuts like cheese;

All fruits and herbs spring in the fields,

Tobacco it good plenty yields;

And there shall be a Church most pure,

Where you may find salvation sure.

There’s Venison of all sorts great store,Both Stag, and buck, wild Goat, and Boar,And all so tame, that you with easeMay take your fill, eat what you please;There’s Beavers plenty, yea, so many,That you may buy two skins a penny,Above all this, a Church most pure,Where to be saved you may be sure.

There’s Venison of all sorts great store,

Both Stag, and buck, wild Goat, and Boar,

And all so tame, that you with ease

May take your fill, eat what you please;

There’s Beavers plenty, yea, so many,

That you may buy two skins a penny,

Above all this, a Church most pure,

Where to be saved you may be sure.

There’s flight of Fowl do cloud the skie,Great Turkies of threescore pound weight,As big as Estriges, there Geese,[p. 104.]With thanks, are sold for pence a piece;Of Duck and Mallard, Widgeon, Teale,Twenty for two-pence make a meale;Yea, and a Church unspotted pure,Within whose bosome all are sure.

There’s flight of Fowl do cloud the skie,

Great Turkies of threescore pound weight,

As big as Estriges, there Geese,[p. 104.]

With thanks, are sold for pence a piece;

Of Duck and Mallard, Widgeon, Teale,

Twenty for two-pence make a meale;

Yea, and a Church unspotted pure,

Within whose bosome all are sure.

Loe, there in shoals all sorts of fish,Of the salt seas, and water fresh:Ling, Cod, Poor-John, and Haberdine,Are taken with the Rod and Line;A painful fisher on the shoreMay take at least twenty an houre;Besides all this a Church most pure,Where you may live and dye secure.

Loe, there in shoals all sorts of fish,

Of the salt seas, and water fresh:

Ling, Cod, Poor-John, and Haberdine,

Are taken with the Rod and Line;

A painful fisher on the shore

May take at least twenty an houre;

Besides all this a Church most pure,

Where you may live and dye secure.

There twice a year all sorts of GrainDoth down from heaven, like hailstones, rain;You ne’r shall need to sow nor plough,There’s plenty of all things enough:Wine sweet and wholsome drops from trees,As clear as chrystal, without lees;Yea, and a Church unspotted, pure,From dregs of Papistry secure.

There twice a year all sorts of Grain

Doth down from heaven, like hailstones, rain;

You ne’r shall need to sow nor plough,

There’s plenty of all things enough:

Wine sweet and wholsome drops from trees,

As clear as chrystal, without lees;

Yea, and a Church unspotted, pure,

From dregs of Papistry secure.

No Feasts nor festival set daiesAre here observed, the Lord be prais’d,Though not in Churches rich and strong,Yet where no Mass was ever Sung,The Bulls ofBashanne’r met there[;]SurpliceandCopedurst not appear;Old Orders all they will abjure,This Church hath all things new and pure.

No Feasts nor festival set daies

Are here observed, the Lord be prais’d,

Though not in Churches rich and strong,

Yet where no Mass was ever Sung,

The Bulls ofBashanne’r met there[;]

SurpliceandCopedurst not appear;

Old Orders all they will abjure,

This Church hath all things new and pure.

No discipline shall there be used,[p. 105.]The Law of Nature they have chused[;]All that the spirit seems to moveEach man may choose and so approve,There’s Government without command,There’s unity without a band;A Synagogue unspotted pure,Where lust and pleasure dwells secure.

No discipline shall there be used,[p. 105.]

The Law of Nature they have chused[;]

All that the spirit seems to move

Each man may choose and so approve,

There’s Government without command,

There’s unity without a band;

A Synagogue unspotted pure,

Where lust and pleasure dwells secure.

Loe in this Church all shall be freeTo Enjoy their Christian liberty;All things made common, void of strife,Each man may take anothers wife,And keep a hundred maids, if need,To multiply, increase, and breed,Then is not this Foundation sure,To build a Church unspotted, pure?

Loe in this Church all shall be free

To Enjoy their Christian liberty;

All things made common, void of strife,

Each man may take anothers wife,

And keep a hundred maids, if need,

To multiply, increase, and breed,

Then is not this Foundation sure,

To build a Church unspotted, pure?

The native People, though yet wild,Are altogether kind and mild,And apt already, by report,To live in this religious sort;Soon to conversion they’l be broughtWhenWarrens Marieryhave wrought,Who being sanctified and pure,May by the Spirit them alure.

The native People, though yet wild,

Are altogether kind and mild,

And apt already, by report,

To live in this religious sort;

Soon to conversion they’l be brought

WhenWarrens Marieryhave wrought,

Who being sanctified and pure,

May by the Spirit them alure.

LetAmsterdamsend forth her Brats,Her Fugitives and Runnagates:Let Bedlam, Newgate, and the ClinkDisgorge themselves into this sink;Let Bridewell and the stews be kept,And all sent thither to be swept;So may our Church be cleans’d and pure,Keep both it self and state secure.

LetAmsterdamsend forth her Brats,

Her Fugitives and Runnagates:

Let Bedlam, Newgate, and the Clink

Disgorge themselves into this sink;

Let Bridewell and the stews be kept,

And all sent thither to be swept;

So may our Church be cleans’d and pure,

Keep both it self and state secure.

[p. 106.]

Come hither my own sweet duck,And sit upon my knee,That thou and I may truckFor thy Commodity,If thou wilt be my honey,Then I will be thine own,Thou shall not want for moneyIf thou wilt make it known;With hey ho my honey,My heart shall never rue,For I have been spending moneyAnd amongst the jovial Crew.I prethee leave thy scorning,Which our true love beguiles,Thy eyes are bright as morning,The Sun shines in thy smiles,Thy gesture is so prudent,Thy language is so free,That he is the best StudentWhich can study thee;With hey ho,&c.The Merchant would refuseHis Indies and his GoldIf he thy love might chuse,And have thy love in hold:Thy beauty yields more pleasureThan rich men keep in store,And he that hath such treasure[p. 107.]Never can be poor;With hey ho,&c.The Lawyer would forsakeHis wit and pleading strong:The Ruler and Judge would takeThy part wer’t right or wrong;Should men thy beauty seeAmongst the learned throngs,Thy very eyes would beToo hard for all their tongues;With hey ho,&c.Thy kisses to thy friendThe Surgeons skill out-strips,For nothing can transcendThe balsome of thy Lips,There is such vital powerContained in thy breath,That at the latter hour’Twould raise a man from death;With hey, ho,&c.Astronomers would notLye gazing in the skiesHad they thy beauty got,No Stars shine like thine eyes:For he that may importuneThy love to an embrace,Can read no better fortuneThen what is in thy face.With hey ho,&c.The Souldier would throw down[p. 108.]His Pistols and Carbine,And freely would be boundTo wear no arms but thine:If thou wert but engagedTo meet him in the field,Though never so much inragedThou couldest make him yield,With hey ho,&c.The seamen would reject[Seaman]To sayl upon the Sea,And his good ship neglectTo be aboard of thee:When thou liest on thy pillowsHe surely could not failTo make thy brest his billows,And to hoyst up sayl;With hey ho,&c.The greatest Kings aliveWould wish thou wert their own,And every one would striveTo make thy Lap their Throne,For thou hast all the meritThat love and liking brings;Besides a noble spirit,Which may conquer Kings;With hey ho,&c.WereRosamondon earthI surely would abhor her,Though ne’r so great by birthI should not change thee for her;Though Kings and Queens are gallant,[p. 109.]And bear a royal sway,The poor man hath his Talent,And loves as well as they,With hey ho,&c.Then prethee come and kiss me,And say thou art mine own,I vow I would not miss theeNot for a Princes Throne;Let love and I perswade theeMy gentle suit to hear:If thou wilt be my Lady,Then I will be thy dear;With hey ho,&c.I never will deceive thee,But ever will be true,Till death I shall not leave thee,Or change thee for a new;We’ll live as mild as may be,If thou wilt but agree,And get a pretty babyWith a face like thee,With hey ho,&c.Let these perswasions move theeKindly to comply,There’s no man that can love theeWith so much zeal as I;Do thou but yield me pleasure,And take from me this pain,I’ll give thee all the TreasureHorse and man can gain;With hey ho,&c.I’ll fight in forty duels[p. 110.]To obtain thy grace,I’ll give thee precious jewelsShall adorn thy face;E’r thou for want of moneyBe to destruction hurl’d,For to support my honeyI’ll plunder all the world;With hey ho,&c.That smile doth show consenting,Then prethee let’s be gone,There shall be no repentingWhen the deed is done;My bloud and my affection,My spirits strongly move,Then let us for this actionFly to yonder grove,With hey ho,&c.Let us lye down by those bushesThat are grown so high,Where I will hide thy blushes;Here’s no standers byThis seventh day ofJuly,Upon this bank we’ll lye,Would all were, that love truly,As close as thou and I;With hey ho[,] my honey,My heart shall never rue,For I have been spending moneyAmongst the jovial Crew.

Come hither my own sweet duck,

And sit upon my knee,

That thou and I may truck

For thy Commodity,

If thou wilt be my honey,

Then I will be thine own,

Thou shall not want for money

If thou wilt make it known;

With hey ho my honey,

My heart shall never rue,

For I have been spending money

And amongst the jovial Crew.

I prethee leave thy scorning,Which our true love beguiles,Thy eyes are bright as morning,The Sun shines in thy smiles,Thy gesture is so prudent,Thy language is so free,That he is the best StudentWhich can study thee;With hey ho,&c.

I prethee leave thy scorning,

Which our true love beguiles,

Thy eyes are bright as morning,

The Sun shines in thy smiles,

Thy gesture is so prudent,

Thy language is so free,

That he is the best Student

Which can study thee;

With hey ho,&c.

The Merchant would refuseHis Indies and his GoldIf he thy love might chuse,And have thy love in hold:Thy beauty yields more pleasureThan rich men keep in store,And he that hath such treasure[p. 107.]Never can be poor;With hey ho,&c.

The Merchant would refuse

His Indies and his Gold

If he thy love might chuse,

And have thy love in hold:

Thy beauty yields more pleasure

Than rich men keep in store,

And he that hath such treasure[p. 107.]

Never can be poor;

With hey ho,&c.

The Lawyer would forsakeHis wit and pleading strong:The Ruler and Judge would takeThy part wer’t right or wrong;Should men thy beauty seeAmongst the learned throngs,Thy very eyes would beToo hard for all their tongues;With hey ho,&c.

The Lawyer would forsake

His wit and pleading strong:

The Ruler and Judge would take

Thy part wer’t right or wrong;

Should men thy beauty see

Amongst the learned throngs,

Thy very eyes would be

Too hard for all their tongues;

With hey ho,&c.

Thy kisses to thy friendThe Surgeons skill out-strips,For nothing can transcendThe balsome of thy Lips,There is such vital powerContained in thy breath,That at the latter hour’Twould raise a man from death;With hey, ho,&c.

Thy kisses to thy friend

The Surgeons skill out-strips,

For nothing can transcend

The balsome of thy Lips,

There is such vital power

Contained in thy breath,

That at the latter hour

’Twould raise a man from death;

With hey, ho,&c.

Astronomers would notLye gazing in the skiesHad they thy beauty got,No Stars shine like thine eyes:For he that may importuneThy love to an embrace,Can read no better fortuneThen what is in thy face.With hey ho,&c.

Astronomers would not

Lye gazing in the skies

Had they thy beauty got,

No Stars shine like thine eyes:

For he that may importune

Thy love to an embrace,

Can read no better fortune

Then what is in thy face.

With hey ho,&c.

The Souldier would throw down[p. 108.]His Pistols and Carbine,And freely would be boundTo wear no arms but thine:If thou wert but engagedTo meet him in the field,Though never so much inragedThou couldest make him yield,With hey ho,&c.

The Souldier would throw down[p. 108.]

His Pistols and Carbine,

And freely would be bound

To wear no arms but thine:

If thou wert but engaged

To meet him in the field,

Though never so much inraged

Thou couldest make him yield,

With hey ho,&c.

The seamen would reject[Seaman]To sayl upon the Sea,And his good ship neglectTo be aboard of thee:When thou liest on thy pillowsHe surely could not failTo make thy brest his billows,And to hoyst up sayl;With hey ho,&c.

The seamen would reject[Seaman]

To sayl upon the Sea,

And his good ship neglect

To be aboard of thee:

When thou liest on thy pillows

He surely could not fail

To make thy brest his billows,

And to hoyst up sayl;

With hey ho,&c.

The greatest Kings aliveWould wish thou wert their own,And every one would striveTo make thy Lap their Throne,For thou hast all the meritThat love and liking brings;Besides a noble spirit,Which may conquer Kings;With hey ho,&c.

The greatest Kings alive

Would wish thou wert their own,

And every one would strive

To make thy Lap their Throne,

For thou hast all the merit

That love and liking brings;

Besides a noble spirit,

Which may conquer Kings;

With hey ho,&c.

WereRosamondon earthI surely would abhor her,Though ne’r so great by birthI should not change thee for her;Though Kings and Queens are gallant,[p. 109.]And bear a royal sway,The poor man hath his Talent,And loves as well as they,With hey ho,&c.

WereRosamondon earth

I surely would abhor her,

Though ne’r so great by birth

I should not change thee for her;

Though Kings and Queens are gallant,[p. 109.]

And bear a royal sway,

The poor man hath his Talent,

And loves as well as they,

With hey ho,&c.

Then prethee come and kiss me,And say thou art mine own,I vow I would not miss theeNot for a Princes Throne;Let love and I perswade theeMy gentle suit to hear:If thou wilt be my Lady,Then I will be thy dear;With hey ho,&c.

Then prethee come and kiss me,

And say thou art mine own,

I vow I would not miss thee

Not for a Princes Throne;

Let love and I perswade thee

My gentle suit to hear:

If thou wilt be my Lady,

Then I will be thy dear;

With hey ho,&c.

I never will deceive thee,But ever will be true,Till death I shall not leave thee,Or change thee for a new;We’ll live as mild as may be,If thou wilt but agree,And get a pretty babyWith a face like thee,With hey ho,&c.

I never will deceive thee,

But ever will be true,

Till death I shall not leave thee,

Or change thee for a new;

We’ll live as mild as may be,

If thou wilt but agree,

And get a pretty baby

With a face like thee,

With hey ho,&c.

Let these perswasions move theeKindly to comply,There’s no man that can love theeWith so much zeal as I;Do thou but yield me pleasure,And take from me this pain,I’ll give thee all the TreasureHorse and man can gain;With hey ho,&c.

Let these perswasions move thee

Kindly to comply,

There’s no man that can love thee

With so much zeal as I;

Do thou but yield me pleasure,

And take from me this pain,

I’ll give thee all the Treasure

Horse and man can gain;

With hey ho,&c.

I’ll fight in forty duels[p. 110.]To obtain thy grace,I’ll give thee precious jewelsShall adorn thy face;E’r thou for want of moneyBe to destruction hurl’d,For to support my honeyI’ll plunder all the world;With hey ho,&c.

I’ll fight in forty duels[p. 110.]

To obtain thy grace,

I’ll give thee precious jewels

Shall adorn thy face;

E’r thou for want of money

Be to destruction hurl’d,

For to support my honey

I’ll plunder all the world;

With hey ho,&c.

That smile doth show consenting,Then prethee let’s be gone,There shall be no repentingWhen the deed is done;My bloud and my affection,My spirits strongly move,Then let us for this actionFly to yonder grove,With hey ho,&c.

That smile doth show consenting,

Then prethee let’s be gone,

There shall be no repenting

When the deed is done;

My bloud and my affection,

My spirits strongly move,

Then let us for this action

Fly to yonder grove,

With hey ho,&c.

Let us lye down by those bushesThat are grown so high,Where I will hide thy blushes;Here’s no standers byThis seventh day ofJuly,Upon this bank we’ll lye,Would all were, that love truly,As close as thou and I;With hey ho[,] my honey,My heart shall never rue,For I have been spending moneyAmongst the jovial Crew.

Let us lye down by those bushes

That are grown so high,

Where I will hide thy blushes;

Here’s no standers by

This seventh day ofJuly,

Upon this bank we’ll lye,

Would all were, that love truly,

As close as thou and I;

With hey ho[,] my honey,

My heart shall never rue,

For I have been spending money

Amongst the jovial Crew.

[Followed, in 1661 edition by “Now that the Spring,” &c., and the three other pieces which are to be found in succession, already printed in ourMerry Drollery, Compleatof 1670, 1691, pp. 296-301: The last of these being the Song, “She lay all naked in her bed.” This begins on p. 115, of Part 2nd, 1661; p. 300, 1691. In the former edition it is followed by “The Answer,” beginning “She lay up to,” &c., which, like other extremely objectionable pieces, is kept apart. Next follow, in 1661 edition, The Louse, and the Concealment.]

[p. 149.]

If that you will hear of a DittyThat’s framed by a six-footed Creature,She lives both in Town and in City,She is very loving by nature;She’l offer her service to any,She’l stick close but she’l prevail,She’s entertained by too manyTill death, she no man will fail.Fenneronce in a Play did describe her,How she had her beginning first,How she sprung from the loyns of greatPharaoh,And how by a King she was nurs’d:How she fell on the Carkass ofHerod,A companion for any brave fighter,And there’s no fault to be found with her,But that she’s a devillish backbiter.With Souldiers she’s often comradedAnd often does them much good,She’l save them the charge of a SurgeonIn sickness for letting them blood;Corruption she draws like a horse-leech,[p. 150.]Growing she’ll prove a great breeder,At night she will creep in her cottage,By day she’s a damnable feeder.She’l venture as much in a battelAs any Commander may go,But then she’l play Jack on both sides,She cares not a fart for her Foe:She knows that alwaies she’s shot-free,To kill her no sword will prevaile,But if she’s taken prisoner,She’s prest to death by the naile.She doth not esteem of your rich men,But alwaies sticks close to the poor;Nor she cares not for your clean shifters,Nor for such as brave cloaths wear;She loves all such as are non-suited,Or any brave fellow that lacks;She’s as true a friend to poor Souldiers,As the shirt that sticks close to their backs.She cannot abide your clean Laundress,Nor those that do set her on work,Her delight is all in foul linnen,Where in narraw seams she may lurk:From her and her breed God defend me,For I have had their company store,Pray take her among you[,] Gentry,Let her trouble poor souldiers no more.

If that you will hear of a Ditty

That’s framed by a six-footed Creature,

She lives both in Town and in City,

She is very loving by nature;

She’l offer her service to any,

She’l stick close but she’l prevail,

She’s entertained by too many

Till death, she no man will fail.

Fenneronce in a Play did describe her,How she had her beginning first,How she sprung from the loyns of greatPharaoh,And how by a King she was nurs’d:How she fell on the Carkass ofHerod,A companion for any brave fighter,And there’s no fault to be found with her,But that she’s a devillish backbiter.

Fenneronce in a Play did describe her,

How she had her beginning first,

How she sprung from the loyns of greatPharaoh,

And how by a King she was nurs’d:

How she fell on the Carkass ofHerod,

A companion for any brave fighter,

And there’s no fault to be found with her,

But that she’s a devillish backbiter.

With Souldiers she’s often comradedAnd often does them much good,She’l save them the charge of a SurgeonIn sickness for letting them blood;Corruption she draws like a horse-leech,[p. 150.]Growing she’ll prove a great breeder,At night she will creep in her cottage,By day she’s a damnable feeder.

With Souldiers she’s often comraded

And often does them much good,

She’l save them the charge of a Surgeon

In sickness for letting them blood;

Corruption she draws like a horse-leech,[p. 150.]

Growing she’ll prove a great breeder,

At night she will creep in her cottage,

By day she’s a damnable feeder.

She’l venture as much in a battelAs any Commander may go,But then she’l play Jack on both sides,She cares not a fart for her Foe:She knows that alwaies she’s shot-free,To kill her no sword will prevaile,But if she’s taken prisoner,She’s prest to death by the naile.

She’l venture as much in a battel

As any Commander may go,

But then she’l play Jack on both sides,

She cares not a fart for her Foe:

She knows that alwaies she’s shot-free,

To kill her no sword will prevaile,

But if she’s taken prisoner,

She’s prest to death by the naile.

She doth not esteem of your rich men,But alwaies sticks close to the poor;Nor she cares not for your clean shifters,Nor for such as brave cloaths wear;She loves all such as are non-suited,Or any brave fellow that lacks;She’s as true a friend to poor Souldiers,As the shirt that sticks close to their backs.

She doth not esteem of your rich men,

But alwaies sticks close to the poor;

Nor she cares not for your clean shifters,

Nor for such as brave cloaths wear;

She loves all such as are non-suited,

Or any brave fellow that lacks;

She’s as true a friend to poor Souldiers,

As the shirt that sticks close to their backs.

She cannot abide your clean Laundress,Nor those that do set her on work,Her delight is all in foul linnen,Where in narraw seams she may lurk:From her and her breed God defend me,For I have had their company store,Pray take her among you[,] Gentry,Let her trouble poor souldiers no more.

She cannot abide your clean Laundress,

Nor those that do set her on work,

Her delight is all in foul linnen,

Where in narraw seams she may lurk:

From her and her breed God defend me,

For I have had their company store,

Pray take her among you[,] Gentry,

Let her trouble poor souldiers no more.

[As already mentioned, this is followed, in the 1661 Part Second, page 151, by The Concealment, beginning “I loved a maid, she loved not me,” which is the last of the songs or poems peculiar to that edition. See the end of our Supplement: so paged that it may be either omitted or included, leaving nohiatus. We add, after the Supplement, the title-page of the 1670 edition ofMerry Drollery, Compleat; when reissued in 1691, thesame sheetsheld the fresh title-page prefixed, such as we gave in second Volume. Readers now possess the entire work, all three editions, comprehended in our Reprint: which is the Fourth Edition, but the first Annotated. J. W. E.]

Appendix.

(NOW FIRST ADDED.)

Arranged in Four Parts:—1.—Choyce Drollery, 1656.2.—Antidote against Melancholy, 1661.3.—Westminster-Drollery, 1674.4.—Merry Drollery, 1661; and Additional Notes to 1670-1691 editions: with Index.

Arranged in Four Parts:—

1.—Choyce Drollery, 1656.

2.—Antidote against Melancholy, 1661.

3.—Westminster-Drollery, 1674.

4.—Merry Drollery, 1661; and Additional Notes to 1670-1691 editions: with Index.

Readers, who have accompanied the Editor both in text and comment throughout these three volumes of Reprints from theDrolleries of the Restoration, can scarcely have failed to see that he has desired to present the work for their study with such advantages as lay within his reach. Certainly, he never could have desired to assist in bringing these rare volumes into the hands of a fresh generation, if he believed not that their few faults were far outweighed by their merits; and that much may be learnt from both of these. Every antiquary is well aware that during the troubled days of the Civil War, and for the remaining years of the seventeenth century,books were printed with such an abundance of typographical errors that a pure text of any author cannot easily be recovered. In the case of all unlicensed publications, such as anonymous pamphlets,facetiæ, broad-sheet Ballads, and the more portableDrolleries, these imperfections were innumerable. Dropt lines and omitted verses, corrupt readings and perversions of meaning, sometimes amounting to a total destruction of intelligibility, might drive an Editor to despair.

In regard to theDrolleries-literature, especially, if we remember, as we ought to do, the difficulties and dangers attendant on the printing of these political squibs and pasquinades, we shall be less inclined to rail at the original collector, or “author,” and printers. If we ourselves, as Editor, do our best to examine such other printed books and manuscripts of the time, as may assist in restoring what for awhile was corrupted or lost from the text (keeping these corrections and additions clearly distinguished, within square brackets, or in Appendix Notesto each successive volume), we shall find ourselves more usefully employed than in flinging stones at the Cavaliers of the Restoration, because they left behind them many a doubtful reading or an empty flaggon.

We have given back, to all who desire to study these invaluable records of a memorable time, four completeunmutilated works (except twenty-seven necessarily dotted words): and we could gladly have furnished additional information regarding each and all of these, if further delay or increased bulk had not been equally inexpedient.

1.—InChoyce Drollery, 1656, are seen such fugitive pieces of poetry as belong chiefly to the reign of Charles 1st., and to the eight years after he had been judicially murdered.

2.—InMerry Drollery, 1661, and in theAntidote against Melancholyof the same date, we receive an abundant supply of such Cavalier songs, ballads, lampoons or pasquinades, social and political, as may serve to bring before us a clear knowledge of what was being thought, said, and done during the first year of the Restoration; and, indeed, a reflection of much that had gone recently before, as a preparation for it.

3.—In suchadditionalmatter as came to view in theMerry Drollery, Compleat, of 1670 (N.B., precisely the same work as what we have reprinted, from the 1691 edition, in our second volume); and still more in the delightfulWestminster-Drolleriesof 1671, 1672, and 1674, we enjoy the humours of the Cavaliers at a later date: Songs from theatres as well as those in favour at Court, and more than a few choice pastorals and ditties of much earlier date, lend variety to the collection.

We could easily have added another volume; but enough has surely been done in this series to show how rich are the materials. Let us increase the value of all, before entering in detail on our third series of Appendix Notes, by giving entirely the deeply-interesting Address to the Reader, written and published in 1656 (exactly contemporary with ourChoyce Drollery), by Abraham Wright, for his rare collection of University Poems, known as “Parnassus Biceps.”

It is “An Epistle in the behalfe of those now doubly-secluded and sequestered Members, by one who himselfe is none.”[Sheet sig. A 2.]“To the IngenuousREADER.SIR,These leaves present you with some few drops of that Ocean of Wit, which flowed from those two brests of this Nation, theUniversities; and doth now (the sluces being puld up) overflow the whole Land: or rather like those Springs of Paradice, doth water and enrich the whole world; whilst the Fountains themselues are dryed up, and that Twin-Paradise become desart. For then were these Verses Composed, whenOxfordandCamebridgewere Universities, and a Colledge [A 2,reverso] more learned then a Town-Hall, when the Buttery and Kitchin could speak Latine, though not Preach; and the very irrational Turnspits had so much knowing modesty, as not to dare to come into a Chappel, or to mount any Pulpits but their own. Then were these Poems writ, when peace and plenty were the best Patriots and Mæcenasses to great Wits; when we could sit and make Verses under our own Figtrees, and be inspired from the juice of our own Vines: then,when it was held no sin for the same man to be both a Poet, and a Prophet; and to draw predictions no lesse from his Verse then his Text. Thus you shall meet here St.PaulsRapture in a Poem, and the fancy as high and as clear as the third Heaven, into which [A. 3] that Apostle was caught up: and this not onely in the ravishing expressions and extasies of amorous Composures and Love Songs; but in the more grave Dorick strains of sollid Divinity: Anthems that might have becomeDavidsHarpe, andAsaphsQuire, to be sung, as they were made, with the Spirit of that chief Musitian. Againe, In this small Glasse you may behold your owne face, fit your own humors, however wound up and tuned; whether to the sad note, and melancholy look of a disconsolate Elegy, or those more sprightly jovial Aires of an Epithalamium, or Epinichion. Further, would you see a Mistresse of any age, or face, in her created, or uncreated complexion: this mirrour presents you with more shapes then a Conjurers [verso] Glasse, or a Limner’s Pencil. It will also teach you how to court that Mistresse, when her very washings and pargettings cannot flatter her; how to raise a beauty out of wrinkles fourscore years old, and to fall in love even with deformity and uglinesse. From your Mistresse it brings you to your God; and (as it were some new Master of the Ceremonies) instructs you how to woe, and court him likewise; but with approaches and distances, with gestures and expressions suitable to a Diety [Deity]; addresses clothed with such a sacred filial horror and reverence, as may invite and embolden the most despairing condition of the saddest gloomy Sinner; and withall dash out of countenance the greatest confidence of the most glorious Saint: and not with that blasphemous familiarity [A. 4] of our new enlightened and inspired men, who are as bold with the Majesty and glory of that Light that is unapproachable, as with their ownignes fatui; and account of the third Person in the blessed Trinity for no more then their Fellow-Ghost; thinking him as much bound to them for their vertiginous blasts and whi[r]le-winds, as they to him for his own most holy Spirit. Your Authors then of these few sheetsare Priests, as well as Poets; who can teach you to pray in verse, and (if there were not already too much phantasticknes in that Trade) to Preach likewise: while they turn Scripture-chapters into Odes, and both the Testaments into one book of Psalmes: makingParnassusas sacred as MountOlivet, and the nine Muses no lesse religious then a Cloyster of Nuns. [verso.] But yet for all this I would not have thee,Courteous Reader, pass thy censure upon those two Fountains of Religion and Learning, theUniversities, from these few small drops of wit, as hardly as some have done upon the lateAssembliesthree-half-penny Catechisme: as if all their publick and private Libraries, all their morning and evening watchings, all those pangs and throwes of their Studies, were now at length delivered but of a Verse, and brought to bed onely of five feet, and a Conceit. For although the judicious modesty of these men dares not look the world in the face with any ofTheorau JohnsRevelations, or those glaring New-lights that have muffled the Times and Nation with a greater confusion and darknes, then ever benighted [A. 5] the world since the first Chaos: yet would they please but to instruct this ignorant Age with those exact elaborate Pieces, which might reform Philosophy without a Civil War, and new modell even Divinity its selfe without the ruine of either Church, or State; probably that most prudent and learned Order of the Church ofRome, theJesuite, should not boast more sollid, though more numerous Volum[e]s in this kind. And of this truth that Order was very sensible, when it felt the rational Divinity of one singleChillingworthto be an unanswerable twelve-years-task for all their English Colledges in Chrisendome. And therefore thatSocietydid like its selfe, when it sent us over a War instead of an Answer, and proved us Hereticks by the Sword: which [verso] in the first place was to Rout theUniversities, and to teach our two Fountains of Learning better manners, then for ever heareafter to bubble and swell against theApostolick Sea. And yet I know not whether the depth of their Politicks might not have advised to have kept those Fountains within their ownbanks, and there to have dammd them and choakd them up with the mud of the Times, rather then to have let those Protestant Streams run, which perchance may effect that now by the spreading Riverets, which they could never have done through the inclosed Spring: as it had been a deeper State-piece and Reach in that Sanedrim, the great Councell of the Jewish Nation, to have confined the Apostles toJerusalem, and there to have muzzeld them [A 6] with Oaths, and Orders; rather then by a fruitful Persecution to scatter a few Gospel Seeds, that would spring up the Religion of the whole world: which had it been Coopd within the walls of that City, might (for all they knew) in few years have expired and given up the ghost upon the sameGolgothawith its Master. And as then every Pair of Fishermen made a Church and caught the sixt part of the world in their Nets; so now every Pair of Ce[o]lledge-fellows make as many several Universityes; which are truly so call’d, in that they are Catholick, and spread over the face of the whole earth; which stand amazed, to see not onely Religion, but Learning also to come from beyond theAlpes; and that a poor despised Canton and nook of the world should contain as much of each [verso] as all the other Parts besides. But then, as when our single Jesus was made an universall Saviour, and his particular Gospel the Catholick Religion; though that Jesus and this Gospel did both take their rise from the holy City; yet now no City is more unholy and infidel then that; insomuch that there is at this day scarce any thing to be heard of a Christ atJerusalem, more then that such a one was sometimes there, nor any thing to be seen of his Gospel, more then a Sepulcher: just so it is here with us; where though both Religion and Learning do owe their growth, as well as birth, to those Nurseryes of both, the Universityes; yet, since the Siens of those Nurseryes have been transplanted, there’s little remaines in them now (if they are not belyed) either of the old [A 7] Religion and Divinity, more then its empty Chair & Pulpit, or of the antient Learning & Arts, except bare Schools, and their gilded Superscriptions: so far have webeggard our selves to enrich the whole world. And thus,Ingenuous Sir, have I given you the State and Condition of thisPoetick Miscellany, as also of theAuthors; it being no more then some few slips of the best Florists made up into a slender Garland, to crown them in their Pilgrimage, and refresh thee in thine: if yet their very Pilgrimage be not its selfe a Crown equall to that of Confessors, and their Academicall Dissolution a Resurrection to the greatest temporall glory: when they shall be approved of by men and Angels for a chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a peculiar People. In the interim let this [verso] comfort be held out to you,our secluded University members, by him that is none; (and therefore what hath been here spoken must not be interpreted as out of passion to my self, but meer zeal to my Mother) that according to the generally received Principles and Axioms of Policy, and the soundest Judgment of the most prudential Statesmen upon those Principles, the date of your sad Ostracisme is expiring, and at an end; but yet such an end, as some of you will not embrace when it shall be offered; but will chuse rather to continue Peripateticks through the whole world, then to return, and be so in your own Colledges. For as that great Councell ofTrenthad a Form and Conclusion altogether contrary to the expectation and desires of them that procured it; so our great Councels ofEngland[A 8] (our late Parliament) will have such a result, and Catastrophe, as shall no ways answer the Fasts and Prayers, the Humiliations, and Thanksgivings of their Plotters and Contrivers: such a result I say, that will strike a palsie through Mr.Pimsashes, make his cold Marble sweat; and put all those several Partyes, and Actors, that have as yet appeard upon our tragical bloudy Stage, to an amazed stand and gaze: when they shall confess themselves (but too late) to be those improvident axes and hammers in the hand of a subtleWorkman; whereby he was enabled to beat down, and square out our Church and State into a Conformity with his own. And then it will appeare that the great Worke, and the holy Cause, and the naked Arme, so much talked of for [verso] these fifteen years, were but the work, and thecause, and the arme of thatHand, which hath all this while reached us over theAlpes; dividing, and composing, winding us up, and letting us down, untill our very discords have set and tuned us to such notes, both in our Ecclesiastical, and Civill Government; as may soonest conduce to that most necessary Catholick Unison and Harmony, which is an essential part of Christs Church here upon Earth, and the very Church its selfe in Heaven. And thus far,Ingenuous Reader, suffer him to be a Poet in his Prediction, though not in his Verse; who desires to be known so far to thee, as that he is a friend to persecuted Truth and Peace; and thy most affectionate Christian Servant,Ab: Wright.”(FromParnassus Biceps: or, Severall Choice Pieces ofPoetry, composed by the bestWitsthat were in both the Universities before theirDissolution. London: Printed forGeorge Eversdenat the Signe of theMaidenheadin St.PaulsChurch-yard, 1656.)

It is “An Epistle in the behalfe of those now doubly-secluded and sequestered Members, by one who himselfe is none.”

[Sheet sig. A 2.]

“To the IngenuousREADER.

SIR,

These leaves present you with some few drops of that Ocean of Wit, which flowed from those two brests of this Nation, theUniversities; and doth now (the sluces being puld up) overflow the whole Land: or rather like those Springs of Paradice, doth water and enrich the whole world; whilst the Fountains themselues are dryed up, and that Twin-Paradise become desart. For then were these Verses Composed, whenOxfordandCamebridgewere Universities, and a Colledge [A 2,reverso] more learned then a Town-Hall, when the Buttery and Kitchin could speak Latine, though not Preach; and the very irrational Turnspits had so much knowing modesty, as not to dare to come into a Chappel, or to mount any Pulpits but their own. Then were these Poems writ, when peace and plenty were the best Patriots and Mæcenasses to great Wits; when we could sit and make Verses under our own Figtrees, and be inspired from the juice of our own Vines: then,when it was held no sin for the same man to be both a Poet, and a Prophet; and to draw predictions no lesse from his Verse then his Text. Thus you shall meet here St.PaulsRapture in a Poem, and the fancy as high and as clear as the third Heaven, into which [A. 3] that Apostle was caught up: and this not onely in the ravishing expressions and extasies of amorous Composures and Love Songs; but in the more grave Dorick strains of sollid Divinity: Anthems that might have becomeDavidsHarpe, andAsaphsQuire, to be sung, as they were made, with the Spirit of that chief Musitian. Againe, In this small Glasse you may behold your owne face, fit your own humors, however wound up and tuned; whether to the sad note, and melancholy look of a disconsolate Elegy, or those more sprightly jovial Aires of an Epithalamium, or Epinichion. Further, would you see a Mistresse of any age, or face, in her created, or uncreated complexion: this mirrour presents you with more shapes then a Conjurers [verso] Glasse, or a Limner’s Pencil. It will also teach you how to court that Mistresse, when her very washings and pargettings cannot flatter her; how to raise a beauty out of wrinkles fourscore years old, and to fall in love even with deformity and uglinesse. From your Mistresse it brings you to your God; and (as it were some new Master of the Ceremonies) instructs you how to woe, and court him likewise; but with approaches and distances, with gestures and expressions suitable to a Diety [Deity]; addresses clothed with such a sacred filial horror and reverence, as may invite and embolden the most despairing condition of the saddest gloomy Sinner; and withall dash out of countenance the greatest confidence of the most glorious Saint: and not with that blasphemous familiarity [A. 4] of our new enlightened and inspired men, who are as bold with the Majesty and glory of that Light that is unapproachable, as with their ownignes fatui; and account of the third Person in the blessed Trinity for no more then their Fellow-Ghost; thinking him as much bound to them for their vertiginous blasts and whi[r]le-winds, as they to him for his own most holy Spirit. Your Authors then of these few sheetsare Priests, as well as Poets; who can teach you to pray in verse, and (if there were not already too much phantasticknes in that Trade) to Preach likewise: while they turn Scripture-chapters into Odes, and both the Testaments into one book of Psalmes: makingParnassusas sacred as MountOlivet, and the nine Muses no lesse religious then a Cloyster of Nuns. [verso.] But yet for all this I would not have thee,Courteous Reader, pass thy censure upon those two Fountains of Religion and Learning, theUniversities, from these few small drops of wit, as hardly as some have done upon the lateAssembliesthree-half-penny Catechisme: as if all their publick and private Libraries, all their morning and evening watchings, all those pangs and throwes of their Studies, were now at length delivered but of a Verse, and brought to bed onely of five feet, and a Conceit. For although the judicious modesty of these men dares not look the world in the face with any ofTheorau JohnsRevelations, or those glaring New-lights that have muffled the Times and Nation with a greater confusion and darknes, then ever benighted [A. 5] the world since the first Chaos: yet would they please but to instruct this ignorant Age with those exact elaborate Pieces, which might reform Philosophy without a Civil War, and new modell even Divinity its selfe without the ruine of either Church, or State; probably that most prudent and learned Order of the Church ofRome, theJesuite, should not boast more sollid, though more numerous Volum[e]s in this kind. And of this truth that Order was very sensible, when it felt the rational Divinity of one singleChillingworthto be an unanswerable twelve-years-task for all their English Colledges in Chrisendome. And therefore thatSocietydid like its selfe, when it sent us over a War instead of an Answer, and proved us Hereticks by the Sword: which [verso] in the first place was to Rout theUniversities, and to teach our two Fountains of Learning better manners, then for ever heareafter to bubble and swell against theApostolick Sea. And yet I know not whether the depth of their Politicks might not have advised to have kept those Fountains within their ownbanks, and there to have dammd them and choakd them up with the mud of the Times, rather then to have let those Protestant Streams run, which perchance may effect that now by the spreading Riverets, which they could never have done through the inclosed Spring: as it had been a deeper State-piece and Reach in that Sanedrim, the great Councell of the Jewish Nation, to have confined the Apostles toJerusalem, and there to have muzzeld them [A 6] with Oaths, and Orders; rather then by a fruitful Persecution to scatter a few Gospel Seeds, that would spring up the Religion of the whole world: which had it been Coopd within the walls of that City, might (for all they knew) in few years have expired and given up the ghost upon the sameGolgothawith its Master. And as then every Pair of Fishermen made a Church and caught the sixt part of the world in their Nets; so now every Pair of Ce[o]lledge-fellows make as many several Universityes; which are truly so call’d, in that they are Catholick, and spread over the face of the whole earth; which stand amazed, to see not onely Religion, but Learning also to come from beyond theAlpes; and that a poor despised Canton and nook of the world should contain as much of each [verso] as all the other Parts besides. But then, as when our single Jesus was made an universall Saviour, and his particular Gospel the Catholick Religion; though that Jesus and this Gospel did both take their rise from the holy City; yet now no City is more unholy and infidel then that; insomuch that there is at this day scarce any thing to be heard of a Christ atJerusalem, more then that such a one was sometimes there, nor any thing to be seen of his Gospel, more then a Sepulcher: just so it is here with us; where though both Religion and Learning do owe their growth, as well as birth, to those Nurseryes of both, the Universityes; yet, since the Siens of those Nurseryes have been transplanted, there’s little remaines in them now (if they are not belyed) either of the old [A 7] Religion and Divinity, more then its empty Chair & Pulpit, or of the antient Learning & Arts, except bare Schools, and their gilded Superscriptions: so far have webeggard our selves to enrich the whole world. And thus,Ingenuous Sir, have I given you the State and Condition of thisPoetick Miscellany, as also of theAuthors; it being no more then some few slips of the best Florists made up into a slender Garland, to crown them in their Pilgrimage, and refresh thee in thine: if yet their very Pilgrimage be not its selfe a Crown equall to that of Confessors, and their Academicall Dissolution a Resurrection to the greatest temporall glory: when they shall be approved of by men and Angels for a chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a peculiar People. In the interim let this [verso] comfort be held out to you,our secluded University members, by him that is none; (and therefore what hath been here spoken must not be interpreted as out of passion to my self, but meer zeal to my Mother) that according to the generally received Principles and Axioms of Policy, and the soundest Judgment of the most prudential Statesmen upon those Principles, the date of your sad Ostracisme is expiring, and at an end; but yet such an end, as some of you will not embrace when it shall be offered; but will chuse rather to continue Peripateticks through the whole world, then to return, and be so in your own Colledges. For as that great Councell ofTrenthad a Form and Conclusion altogether contrary to the expectation and desires of them that procured it; so our great Councels ofEngland[A 8] (our late Parliament) will have such a result, and Catastrophe, as shall no ways answer the Fasts and Prayers, the Humiliations, and Thanksgivings of their Plotters and Contrivers: such a result I say, that will strike a palsie through Mr.Pimsashes, make his cold Marble sweat; and put all those several Partyes, and Actors, that have as yet appeard upon our tragical bloudy Stage, to an amazed stand and gaze: when they shall confess themselves (but too late) to be those improvident axes and hammers in the hand of a subtleWorkman; whereby he was enabled to beat down, and square out our Church and State into a Conformity with his own. And then it will appeare that the great Worke, and the holy Cause, and the naked Arme, so much talked of for [verso] these fifteen years, were but the work, and thecause, and the arme of thatHand, which hath all this while reached us over theAlpes; dividing, and composing, winding us up, and letting us down, untill our very discords have set and tuned us to such notes, both in our Ecclesiastical, and Civill Government; as may soonest conduce to that most necessary Catholick Unison and Harmony, which is an essential part of Christs Church here upon Earth, and the very Church its selfe in Heaven. And thus far,Ingenuous Reader, suffer him to be a Poet in his Prediction, though not in his Verse; who desires to be known so far to thee, as that he is a friend to persecuted Truth and Peace; and thy most affectionate Christian Servant,

Ab: Wright.”

(FromParnassus Biceps: or, Severall Choice Pieces ofPoetry, composed by the bestWitsthat were in both the Universities before theirDissolution. London: Printed forGeorge Eversdenat the Signe of theMaidenheadin St.PaulsChurch-yard, 1656.)

The subscribed initials, “R. P.” are those of Robert Pollard; whose name appears on the title-page (which we reproduce), preceding his address. Excepting that he was a bookseller, dwelling and trading at the “Ben Jonson’s Head, behind the Exchange,” in business-connection with John Sweeting, of the Angel, in Pope’s Head Alley, in 1656; and that he had previously issued a somewhat similar Collection of Poems to theChoyce Drollery(successful, but not yet identified), we know nothing more of Robert Pollard. The books of that date, and of that special class, are extremely rare, and the few existing copies are so difficult of access (for the most part in private possession, almost totally inaccessible except to those who know not how to use them), that information can only be acquired piecemeal and laboriously. Fiveyears hence, if the Editor be still alive, he may be able to tell much more concerning the authors and the compilers of theRestoration Drolleries.

We are told that there is an extra leaf toChoyce Drollery, “only found in a few copies, containing ten lines of verse, beginningFame’s windy trump, &c. This leaf occurs in one or two extant copies ofEngland’s Parnassus, 1600. Many of the pieces found here are much older than the date of the book [viz., 1656]. It contains notices of many of our early poets, and, unlike some of its successors, is of intrinsic value. Only two or three copies have occurred.” (W. C. H.’s Handb. Pop. Lit. G. B., 1867, p. 168.) “Cromwell’s Government ordered this book to be burned.” (Ibid.) On this last item see ourIntroduction, section first. J. P. Collier, who prepared the Catalogue of Richard Heber’s Collection,Bibliotheca Heberiana, Pt. iv., 1834 (a rich storehouse for bibliographical students, but not often gratefully acknowledged by them), thus writes ofChoyce Drollery:—“This is one of the most intrinsically valuable of theDrolleries, if only for the sake of the very interesting poem in which characters are given of all the following Poets: Shakespeare, Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, Massinger, Chapman, Daborne, Sylvester, Quarles, May, Sands, Digges, Daniel, Drayton, Withers, Brown, Shirley, Ford, Middleton, Heywood, Churchyard, Dekker, Brome, Chaucer, Spencer, Basse, and finally John Shank, the Actor, who is said to have been famous for a jig. Other pieces are much older, and are here reprinted from previous collections” [mostly lost]. P. 90.

It is also known to J. O. Halliwell-Phillips; (but, truly, what isnotknown to him?) SeeShakespeare Society’s Papers, iii. 172, 1847.

In our copy ofEngland’s Parnassus(unindexed, save subjects), 1600, we sought to find “Fame’s windy trump.” [We hear that the leaf was inE. P.at Tite’s sale, 1874.]

As we have never seen a copy ofChoyce Drollerycontaining the passage of “ten lines,” described as beginning “Fame’s Windy Trump,” we cannot be quite certain ofthe following, fromEngland’s Parnassus, 1600, being the one in question, but believe that it is so. Perhaps it ran, “Fame’s Windy Trump, whatever sound out-flies,” &c. There are twenty-seven lines in all. We distinguish the probable portion of “ten lines” by enclosing the other two parts in brackets:—

FAME.[A Monster swifter none is under sunne;Encreasing, as in waters we descrieThe circles small, of nothing that begun,Which, at the length, unto such breadth do come,That of a drop, which from the skies doth fall,The circles spread, and hide the waters all:So Fame, in flight encreasing more and more;For, at the first, she is not scarcely knowne,But by and by she fleets from shore to shore,To clouds from th’ earth her stature straight is growne.There whatsoever by her trumpe is blowne,]The sound, that both by sea and land out-flies,Rebounds againe, and verberates the skies.They say, the earth that first the giants bred,For anger that the gods did them dispatch,Brought forth this sister of those monsters dead,Full light of foote, swift wings the winds to catch:Such monsters erst did nature never hatch.As many plumes she hath from top to toe,So many eyes them underwatch or moe;And tongues do speake: so many eares do harke.[By night ’tweene heaven she flies and earthly shade,And, shreaking, takes no quiet sleepe by darke:On houses roofes, on towers, as keeper made,She sits by day, and cities threates t’ invade;And as she tells what things she sees by view,She rather shewes that’s fained false, then true.][Legend of Albanact.] I. H.,Mirror of Magist.

FAME.

[A Monster swifter none is under sunne;Encreasing, as in waters we descrieThe circles small, of nothing that begun,Which, at the length, unto such breadth do come,That of a drop, which from the skies doth fall,The circles spread, and hide the waters all:So Fame, in flight encreasing more and more;For, at the first, she is not scarcely knowne,But by and by she fleets from shore to shore,To clouds from th’ earth her stature straight is growne.There whatsoever by her trumpe is blowne,]

[A Monster swifter none is under sunne;

Encreasing, as in waters we descrie

The circles small, of nothing that begun,

Which, at the length, unto such breadth do come,

That of a drop, which from the skies doth fall,

The circles spread, and hide the waters all:

So Fame, in flight encreasing more and more;

For, at the first, she is not scarcely knowne,

But by and by she fleets from shore to shore,

To clouds from th’ earth her stature straight is growne.

There whatsoever by her trumpe is blowne,]

The sound, that both by sea and land out-flies,Rebounds againe, and verberates the skies.They say, the earth that first the giants bred,For anger that the gods did them dispatch,Brought forth this sister of those monsters dead,Full light of foote, swift wings the winds to catch:Such monsters erst did nature never hatch.As many plumes she hath from top to toe,So many eyes them underwatch or moe;And tongues do speake: so many eares do harke.

The sound, that both by sea and land out-flies,

Rebounds againe, and verberates the skies.

They say, the earth that first the giants bred,

For anger that the gods did them dispatch,

Brought forth this sister of those monsters dead,

Full light of foote, swift wings the winds to catch:

Such monsters erst did nature never hatch.

As many plumes she hath from top to toe,

So many eyes them underwatch or moe;

And tongues do speake: so many eares do harke.

[By night ’tweene heaven she flies and earthly shade,And, shreaking, takes no quiet sleepe by darke:On houses roofes, on towers, as keeper made,She sits by day, and cities threates t’ invade;And as she tells what things she sees by view,She rather shewes that’s fained false, then true.]

[By night ’tweene heaven she flies and earthly shade,

And, shreaking, takes no quiet sleepe by darke:

On houses roofes, on towers, as keeper made,

She sits by day, and cities threates t’ invade;

And as she tells what things she sees by view,

She rather shewes that’s fained false, then true.]

[Legend of Albanact.] I. H.,Mirror of Magist.

This beautiful little love-poem re-appears, as Song 77, inWindsor Drollery, 1672, p. 63. (There had been aprevious edition of that work, in 1671, which we have examined: it is not noted by bibliographers, and is quite distinct.) A few variations occur. Verse 2. arewrack’d; 3. Inloveis not commended;onlysweet, All praise,nopity; whofondly; 4.Shall shortlyby dead Lovers lie;hallow’d; 5.Hewhichall othersels excels, Thatare; 6.Will, though thou; 7.theBellsshallring;Whileall toblack is; (last line but two in parenthesis;) Making, like Flowers, &c.

ByRichard Brome, in his “Northerne Lasse,” 1632, Act ii., sc. 6. It is also given inWestminster-Drollery, 1671, i. 83 (the only song in common). But compare with it the less musical and tender, “Nor Love, nor Fate can I accuse of hate,” in same vol. ii. 90, with Appendix Note thereunto, p. lxiii.

This remarkable and little-known account of “The Time-Poets” is doubly interesting, as being a contemporary document, full of life-like portraiture of men whom no lapse of years can banish from us; welcome friends, whom we grow increasingly desirous of beholding intimately. Glad are we to give it back thus to the world; our chief gem, in its rough Drollery-setting: lifted once more into the light of day, from out the cobwebbed nooks where it so long-time had lain hidden. Our joy would have been greater, could we have restored authoritatively the lost sixteenth-line, by any genuine discovery among early manuscripts; or told something conclusive about the author of the poem, who has laid us under obligation for these vivid portraits of John Ford, Thomas Heywood, poor old Thomas Churchyard, and Ben’s courageous foeman, worthy of his steel, that Thomas Dekker who “followed after in a dream.”

In deep humility we must confess that nothing is yet learnt as to the authorship. Here, in the year 1656,almost at fore-front ofChoyce Drollery, the very strength of its van-guard, appeared the memorable poem. Whether it were then and there for the first time in print, or borrowed from some still more rare and now-lost volume, none of us can prove. Even at this hour, a possibility remains that our resuscitation ofChoyce Drollerymay help to bring the unearthing of explanatory facts from zealous students. We scarcely dare to cherish hope of this. Certainly we may not trust to it. For Gerard Langbaine knew the poem well, and quoted oft and largely from it in his 1691Account of the English Dramatick Poets. But he met with it nowhere save inChoyce Drollery, and writes of it continually in language that proves how ignorant he was of whom we are to deem the author. Yet he wrote within five-and-thirty years behind the date of its appearance; and might easily have learnt, from men still far from aged, who had read theDrolleryon its first publication, whatever they could tell of “The Time-Poets:” if, indeed, they could tell anything. Five years earlier, William Winstanley had given forth hisLives of the most famous English Poets, in June, 1686; but he quotes not from it, and leaves us without anOpen Sesame. Even Oldys could not tell; or Thomas Hearne, who often had remembered whatever Time forgot.

As to the date: we believe it was certainly written between 1620 (inclusive) and 1636; nearer the former year.

We reconcile ourselves for the failure, by turning to such other and similar poetic groupings as survive. We listen unto Richard Barnfield, when he sings sweetly his “Remembrance of some English Poets,” in 1598. We cling delightedly to the words of our noble Michael Drayton—whose descriptive map of native England,Polyolbion, glitters with varie-coloured light, as though it were a mediæval missal: to whom, enditing his Epistle to friend Henry Reynolds—“A Censure of the Poets”—the Muses brought each bard by turn, so that the picture might be faithful: even as William Blake, idealist and spiritual Seer, believed of spirit-likenesses in his own experience. And, not without deep feeling (marvelling,meanwhile, that still the task of printing them with Editorial care is unattempted), we peruse the folio manuscripts of that fair-haired minstrel of the Cavaliers, George Daniel of Beswick, while he also, in his “Vindication of Poesie,” sings in praise of those whose earlier lays are echoing now and always “through the corridors of Time:”—

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