FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[BT]Two other epitaphs appear in this collection, on the Earles of Norfolk, with whom I cannot find our author to have had the least connection. A full account of this family may be seen in Blomefield'sHistory of Norfolk, vol. iii. p. 531.[BU]The title was created by Charles the First, July 2, 1629, and, I believe, became extinct at the decease of this person.

[BT]Two other epitaphs appear in this collection, on the Earles of Norfolk, with whom I cannot find our author to have had the least connection. A full account of this family may be seen in Blomefield'sHistory of Norfolk, vol. iii. p. 531.

[BU]The title was created by Charles the First, July 2, 1629, and, I believe, became extinct at the decease of this person.

No. i.

A Caueatfor commen Cvrsetors vulgarely calledUagabones, set forth by Thomas Harman.Esquier. for the vtiliteand proffyt of hysnaturall Countrey. Newly agmentedand Jmprinted Anno Domini.M.D.LXUjj.¶Vewed, examined, and allowed, according vnto theQueenes Maiestyes Iniunctions[Roughly-executed wood-cut, of two persons receiving punishmentat the cart's tail from the hands of a beadle.]Imprintedat London in Fletestret at the signe of theFaulcon by Wylliam Gryffith, and are to besolde at his shoppe in Saynt DunstonesChurche yarde in the West.

[4to. black letter, containing thirty folios, very incorrectly numbered.]

I commence my list ofCharacters, with a volume, which, although earlier than the period I originally intended to begin from, is of sufficient curiosity and interest to warrant introduction, and, I trust, to obtain pardon from the reader for the additional trouble I am thus preparing for him.

Mr. Warton, in hisHistory of English Poetry, (iv. 74.) has given, with some trifling errors, a transcript of the title, and says he has a faint remembrance of a Collection of Epigrams, by the author, printed about 1599: these I have never been fortunate enough to meet with, nor do they appear in the collections of Ames or Herbert, neither of whom had seen a copy of the present work, although they mention Griffith's licence to print it as dated in 1566[BV].

It is dedicated to Elizabeth, countess of Shrewsbury; Mr. Warton thinks "with singular impropriety," although the motive appears at least to justify the measure, if it does not entitle the author to commendation. He addresses this noble lady as a person of extreme benevolence, and "as also aboundantly powrynge out dayly [her] ardent and bountifull charytie vppon all such as commeth for reliefe."—"I thought it good," he continues, "necessary, and my bounden dutye, to acquaynte your goodnes with the abhominable, wycked, and detestable behauor of all these rowsey, ragged rabblement of rake helles, that vnder the pretence of great misery, dyseases, and other innumerable calamites whiche they fayne through great hipocrisye, do wyn and gayne great almes in all places where they wyly wander."—On this account, therefore, and to preserve the kindness and liberality of the countess from imposition, Harman dedicates his book to that lady.

The notorious characters mentioned, are a "ruffler[BW]; a upright man[BX]; a hoker or angglear[BY]; a roge[BZ]; a wylde roge[CA]; a prygger of prauncers; a pallyarde[CB]; a frater[CC]; a Abraham man[CD]; a fresh water mariner, or whipiacke; acounterfet cranke[CE]; a dommerar[CF]; a dronken tinckar[CG]; a swadder or pedler; a jarke man, and a patrico[CH]; a demaunder for glymmar[CI]; a bawdy basket[CJ]; a antem morte[CK]; a walking morte; a doxe; a dell; a kynchin morte; and a kynchen co."

From such a list, several instances of the tricks, as well as specimens of the language of the thieves of the day, might with ease be extracted, did not the limits of my little volume compel me to refrain from entering at large into this history of rogues; a restriction I the more regret, from its containing several passages illustrating the manners of that period, and which would be found of material use towards explaining many of the allusions met with in our early English dramas and now but imperfectly understood.

"¶ Prygger of Prauncers. (Sign. C. iii. b.)

"A prigger of Prauncers be horse stealers, for to priggesignifieth in their language to steale, and a prauncer is a horse, so beinge put together, the matter is plaine. These go commonly in jerkins of leather or of white frese, & carry little wandes in their hands, and will walke through grounds and pasturs, to search and se horses mete for their purpose. And if thei chaunce to be met and asked by the owners of the grounde what they make there, they fayne straighte that they have loste theyr waye, and desyre to be enstructed the beste way to suche a place. These will also repayre to gentlemens houses, and aske theyr charitye, and will offer theyr seruice. And if you aske them what they can doe, they wil saye that they can kepe two or three geldinges, and waite vppon a gentleman. These haue also theyr women that, walkinge from them in other places, marke where and what they see abrode, and sheweth these priggars therof, when they meete, whych is wythin a weeke or two. And loke, where they steale any thynge, they conuey the same at the leaste three score miles of, or more. There was a gentleman, a verye friende of myne, rydynge from London homewarde into Kente, hauinge within three myles of his house busynesse, alyghted of his horse, and hys man also, in a pretye village, where diuers houses were, and looked about hym where he myghte haue a conuenyent person to walke his horse, because he would speak we a farmer that dwelte on the backe side of the sayde village, little aboue a quarter of a myle from the place where he lighted, and had his man to waight vpon hym, as it was mete for his callynge: espieng a priggar there standing, thinkinge the same to dwel there, charging this prity prigginge person to walke his horse well, and that they might not stande still for takynge of colde, and at his returne (which he saide should not be longe,) he would geue him a peny to drinke, and sowente about his busines. Thys peltynge priggar, proude of his praye, walketh hys horses vp and downe, till he sawe the gentleman out of sighte, and leapes him into the saddell, and awaye be goeth a mayne. This gentleman returning, and findyng not his horses, sente his man to the one ende of the village, & he went himselfe vnto the other ende, and enquired as he went for hys horses that were walked, and began somewhat to suspecte, because neither he nor his man coulde neyther see nor fynde him. Then this gentleman diligently enquired of three or foure towne dwellers there whether any such person, declaring his stature, age, apparel, and so manye linamentes of his body as he coulde call to remembraunce. Andvna voce, all sayde that no such man dwelte in their streate, neither in the parish that they knewe of, but some did wel remember that suche a one they sawe there lyrkinge and huggeringe[CL]two houres before the gentleman came thether and a straunger to them. J had thought, quoth this gentleman, he had here dwelled, and marched home mannerly in his botes: farre from the place he dwelt not. J suppose at his comming home he sente such wayes as he suspected or thought mete to search for this prigger, but hetherto he neuer harde any tidinges againe of his palfreys. J had the best gelding stolen out of my pasture that J had amogst others, while this boke was first a printing."

At the end of the several characters, the author gives a list of the names of the most notorious thieves of his day, a collection of the cant phrases used by them, withtheir significations; and a dialogue between anuprighte manand aroge, which I shall transcribe:—

"The vpright Cose canteth to the Roger.The vprighte man spaketh to the roge.

Man.Bene lyghtmans to thy quarromes in what lipkē hast thou lipped in this darkemanes; whether in a lybbege or in the strummell?God morrowe to thy bodye, in what house hast thou lyne in all night whether in a bed, or in the strawe?Roge.J couched a hogeshed in a skypper this darkemans.I laye me down to sleepe in a barne this night.Man.J towre ye strummell tryne vpon thy nabcher & togman.I see the straw hange upon thy cap and coate.Roge.J saye by the Salomon J wyll lage it of with a gage of bene bouse then cut to my nose watch.J sweare by the masse J wyll wash it of with a quart of drinke, then saye to me what thou wilt.Man.Why, hast thou any lowre in thy bouge to bouse?Why, hast thou any money in thy purse to drinke?Roge.But a flagge, a wyn, and a make.But a grot, a penny, and a halfe-penny.Man.Why where is the kene that hath the bene bouse?Where is the house that hath the good drinke?Roge.A bene mort hereby at the signe of the prauncer.A good wyfe here by at the signe of the hors.Man.J cutt it is quyer bouse J bousd a flagge the laste darkemans.J saye it is small and naughtye drynke, J dranke a groate there the last night.Roge.But bouse there a bord, and thou shalt haue beneship.But drinke there a shyllinge, and thou shalt haue very good.Tower ye, yander is the kene, dup the gygger, and maund that is beneshype.Se you, yonder is the house, open the doore, and aske for the best.Man.This bouse is as benshyp as rome bouse.This drinke is as good as wyne.Now J tower that bene bouse makes nase nabes.Now J se that good drynke makes a dronken heade.Maunde of this morte what bene pecke is in her ken.Aske of this wyfe what good meate shee hath in her house.Roge.She hath a cacling chete, a grunting chete, ruff pecke, cassan, and popplarr of yarum.She hath a hen, a pyg, baken, chese and mylke porrage.Man.That is beneshyp to oure watche.That is very good for vs.Now we haue well bousd, let vs strike some chete.Nowe we haue well dronke, let vs steale some thinge.Yonder dwelleth a quyere cuffen it were beneshype to myll hym.Yonder dwelleth a hoggeshe and choyrlyshe man it weare very well donne to robbe him.Roge.Nowe, bynge we a waste to the hygh pad, the ruff-manes is by.Naye, let vs go hence to the hygh waye, the wodes is at hande.Man.So may we happen on the harmanes and cly thejarke, or to the quyer ken and skower quyaer cramprings and so to tryning on the chates.So we maye chaunce to set in the stockes, eyther be whypped, eyther had to prison-house, and there be shackeled with bolttes and fetters, and then to hange on the gallowes.[Rogue.]Gerry gan the ruffian clye thee.A corde in thy mouth, the deuyll take thee.Man.What! stowe you bene cofe and cut benar whydds; and byng we to some vyle to nyp a bong, so shall we haue lowre for the bousing ken and when we byng back to the deuseauye, we wyll fylche some duddes of the ruffemans, or myll the ken for a lagge of dudes.What! holde your peace, good fellowe, and speake better wordes; and go we to London to cut a purse, then shal we haue money for the ale-house, and when we come backe agayne into the countrey, we wyll steale some lynnen clothes of one hedges, or robbe some house for a bucke of clothes."

I have been induced, from the curiosity and rarity of this tract, to extend my account of it farther, perhaps, than many of my readers may think reasonable, and shall, therefore, only add a specimen of Harman's poetry, with which the original terminates.

"☞ Thus J conclude my bolde beggar's booke,That all estates most playnely maye see;As in a glasse well pollyshed to looke,Their double demeaner in eche degree;Their lyues, their language, their names as they be;That with this warning their myndes may be warmedTo amende their mysdeedes, and so lyue vnharmed."

Another tract of the same description is noticed in Herbert'sAmes (p. 885.) as printed so early as in 1565. A copy of the second edition in the Bodleian Library, possesses the following title:—"The Fraternitye of Uacabondes. As wel of ruflyng Vacabondes, as of beggerly, of women as of men, of gyrles as of boyes, with their proper names and qualities. With a description of the crafty company of Cousoners and Shifters. Whereunto also is adioyned the xxv orders of Knaues, otherwyse called a Quartern of Knaues. Confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell[CM], &c. Imprinted at London by Iohn Awdeley, dwellyng in little Britayne streete without Aldersgate. 1575." This, although much shorter than Harman's, contains nearly the same characters, and is therefore thus briefly dismissed. An account of it, drawn up by the editor of the present volume, may be found in Brydges'British Bibliographer, vol. ii. p. 12.

It may not be amiss to notice in this place, that a considerable part ofThe Belman of London, bringing to light the most notorious villanies that are now practised in the kingdom, &c.4to. 1608, is derived from Harman'sCaveat. Among the books bequeathed to the Bodleian, by Burton, (4to. G.8. Art. BS.) is a copy of theBelman, with the several passages so borrowed, marked in the hand-writing of the author of theAnatomy of Melancholy, who has also copied thecanting dialoguejust given, and added several notes of his own on the margin.

FOOTNOTES:[BV]In the epistle to the reader, the author terms it "thissecondimpression."[BW]Arufflerseems to have been a bully as well as a beggar, he is thus described in theFraternitye of Vacabondes; (see p.228.) "A ruffeler goeth wyth a weapon to seeke seruice, saying he hath bene a seruitor in the wars, and beggeth for his reliefe. But his chiefest trade is to robbe poore way-faring men and market-women." InNew Customea morality, 1573, Creweltie, one of the characters, is termed aruffler. See also Decker'sBelman of London. Sign. C. iv.[BX]"Anupright manis one that goeth wyth the trunchion of a staffe, which staffe they cal a Flitchmā. This man is of so much authority, that meeting with any of his profession, he may cal them to accompt, and comaund a share or snap vnto himselfe of al that they have gained by their trade in one moneth."Fraternitye of Vacabondes.[BY]This worthy character approaches somewhat near to a shop-lifter. Decker tells us that "their apparele in which they walke is commonly freize jerkins and gallye slops."Belman.Sign. C. iv.[BZ]A rogue, says Burton, in his MS. notes to Decker'sBelman of London, "is not so stoute and [hardy] as the vpright man."[CA]A person whose parents were rogues.[CB]"These be called alsoclapperdogens" and "go with patched clokes." Sign. C. iv.[CC]AFraterand aWhipiacke, are persons who travel with a counterfeite license, the latter in the dress of a sailor. SeeFraternitye, Belman, &c.[CD]"AnAbraham-manis he that walketh bare-armed, and bare-legged, and fayneth hymselfe mad, and caryeth a packe of wool, or a stycke with baken on it, or such lyke toy, and nameth himselfe Poore Tom."Fraternitye of Vacabondes.[CE]A person who asks charity, and feigns sickness and disease.[CF]One who pretends to be dumb. In Harman's time they were chiefly Welsh-men.[CG]An artificer who mends one hole, and makes twenty.[CH]Ajarke mancan read and write, and sometimes understands a little Latin. Apatricosolemnizes their marriages.[CI]These are commonly women who ask assistance, feigning that they have lost their property by fire.[CJ]A woman who cohabits with anupright man, and professes to sell thread, &c.[CK]"Theseantem mortesbe maried wemen, as there be but a fewe: forantem, in their language is a churche—" &c.Harman. Sign. E. iv. Awalking morteis one unmarried: adoxe, adell, and akynchin morte, are all females; and akynchen cois a young boy not thoroughly instructed in the art ofcantingandprigging.[CL]In Florio'sItalian Dictionary, the worddinascosois explained "secretly, hiddenly, inhugger-mugger." See also Reed'sShakspeare, xviii. 284.Old Plays, 1780. viii. 48.[CM]Herbert noticesCock Lorelles Bote, which he describes to be a satire in verse, in which the author enumerates all the most common trades and callings then in being. It was printed, in black letter, Wynken de Worde, 4to. without date.History of Printingii. 224, and Percy'sReliques, i. 137, edit. 1794.

[BV]In the epistle to the reader, the author terms it "thissecondimpression."

[BW]Arufflerseems to have been a bully as well as a beggar, he is thus described in theFraternitye of Vacabondes; (see p.228.) "A ruffeler goeth wyth a weapon to seeke seruice, saying he hath bene a seruitor in the wars, and beggeth for his reliefe. But his chiefest trade is to robbe poore way-faring men and market-women." InNew Customea morality, 1573, Creweltie, one of the characters, is termed aruffler. See also Decker'sBelman of London. Sign. C. iv.

[BX]"Anupright manis one that goeth wyth the trunchion of a staffe, which staffe they cal a Flitchmā. This man is of so much authority, that meeting with any of his profession, he may cal them to accompt, and comaund a share or snap vnto himselfe of al that they have gained by their trade in one moneth."Fraternitye of Vacabondes.

[BY]This worthy character approaches somewhat near to a shop-lifter. Decker tells us that "their apparele in which they walke is commonly freize jerkins and gallye slops."Belman.Sign. C. iv.

[BZ]A rogue, says Burton, in his MS. notes to Decker'sBelman of London, "is not so stoute and [hardy] as the vpright man."

[CA]A person whose parents were rogues.

[CB]"These be called alsoclapperdogens" and "go with patched clokes." Sign. C. iv.

[CC]AFraterand aWhipiacke, are persons who travel with a counterfeite license, the latter in the dress of a sailor. SeeFraternitye, Belman, &c.

[CD]"AnAbraham-manis he that walketh bare-armed, and bare-legged, and fayneth hymselfe mad, and caryeth a packe of wool, or a stycke with baken on it, or such lyke toy, and nameth himselfe Poore Tom."Fraternitye of Vacabondes.

[CE]A person who asks charity, and feigns sickness and disease.

[CF]One who pretends to be dumb. In Harman's time they were chiefly Welsh-men.

[CG]An artificer who mends one hole, and makes twenty.

[CH]Ajarke mancan read and write, and sometimes understands a little Latin. Apatricosolemnizes their marriages.

[CI]These are commonly women who ask assistance, feigning that they have lost their property by fire.

[CJ]A woman who cohabits with anupright man, and professes to sell thread, &c.

[CK]"Theseantem mortesbe maried wemen, as there be but a fewe: forantem, in their language is a churche—" &c.Harman. Sign. E. iv. Awalking morteis one unmarried: adoxe, adell, and akynchin morte, are all females; and akynchen cois a young boy not thoroughly instructed in the art ofcantingandprigging.

[CL]In Florio'sItalian Dictionary, the worddinascosois explained "secretly, hiddenly, inhugger-mugger." See also Reed'sShakspeare, xviii. 284.Old Plays, 1780. viii. 48.

[CM]Herbert noticesCock Lorelles Bote, which he describes to be a satire in verse, in which the author enumerates all the most common trades and callings then in being. It was printed, in black letter, Wynken de Worde, 4to. without date.History of Printingii. 224, and Percy'sReliques, i. 137, edit. 1794.

ii.Picture of a Puritane, 8vo.1605. [Dr. Farmer'sSale Catalogue, page 153, No. 3709.]

iii."A Wifenovvthe Widdow of Sir Thomas Overbvrye. Being a most exquisite and singular Poem of the Choice of a Wife. Wherevnto are added many witty Characters, and conceited Newes, written by himselfe and other learned Gentlemen his friends.

Dignum laude virum musa vetat mori,Cælo musa beat. Hor. Car. lib. 3.

London Printed for Lawrence Lisle, and are to bee sold at his shop in Paule's Church-yard, at the signe of the Tiger's head. 1614."[CN]

[4to. pp. 64, not numbered.]

Of Sir Thomas Overbury's life, and unhappy end, we have so full an account in theBiographia, and the various historical productions, treating of the period in which he lived, that nothing further will be expected in this place. HisWifeandCharacterswere printed, says Wood, several times during his life, and the edition above noticed, was supposed, by the Oxford biographer, to be the fourth or fifth[CO]. Having neverseen a copy of the early editions, I am unable to fix on any character undoubtedly the production of Overbury, and the printer confesses some of them were written by "other learned gentlemen." These were greatly encreased in subsequent impressions, that of 1614 having only twenty-one characters, and that in 1622 containing no less than eighty.

A COURTIER,—(Sign. C. 4. b.)

To all men's thinking is a man, and to most men the finest: all things else are defined by the understanding, but this by the sences; but his surest marke is, that hee is to bee found onely about princes. Hee smells; and putteth away much of his judgement about the scituation of his clothes. Hee knowes no man that is not generally knowne. His wit, like the marigold, openeth with the sunne, and therefore he riseth not before ten of the clocke. Hee puts more confidence in his words than meaning, and more in his pronuntiation than his words. Occasion is his Cupid, and hee hath but one receipt of making loue. Hee followes nothing but inconstancie, admires nothing but beauty, honours nothing but fortune. Loues nothing. The sustenance of his discourse his newes, and his censure like a shot depends vpon the charging. Hee is not, if he be out of court, but, fish-like, breathes destruction,if out of his owne element. Neither his motion, or aspect are regular, but he mooues by the vpper spheres, and is the reflexion of higher substances. If you finde him not heere, you shall in Paules with a pick-tooth in his hat, a cape cloke, and a long stocking.

FOOTNOTES:[CN]In 1614 appearedThe Husband, aPoeme, expressed in a compleat man. SeeCensura Literaria, v. 365. John Davies, of Hereford, wroteA Select Second Hvsband for Sir Thomas Overbvries Wife, now a matchlesse widow. 8vo. Lond. 1616. And in 1673 was published,The Illustrious Wife, viz. That excellent Poem, Sir Thomas Overbvrie's Wife, illustrated by Giles Oldisworth, Nephew to the same Sir T. O.[CO]It was most probably the fifth, as Mr. Capel, who has printed theWife, in his very curious volume, entitledProlusions, 8vo. Lond. 1760, notices two copies in 1614, one in 8vo. which I suppose to be the third, and one in 4to. stated in the title to be the fourth edition: the sixth was in the following year, 1615; the seventh, eighth, and ninth were in 1616, the eleventh in 1622, twelfth in 1627, thirteenth 1628, fourteenth, 1630, fifteenth, 1632, sixteenth, 1638, and Mr. Brand possessed a copy, the specific edition of which I am unable to state, printed in 1655.Catalogue, No. 4927.

[CN]In 1614 appearedThe Husband, aPoeme, expressed in a compleat man. SeeCensura Literaria, v. 365. John Davies, of Hereford, wroteA Select Second Hvsband for Sir Thomas Overbvries Wife, now a matchlesse widow. 8vo. Lond. 1616. And in 1673 was published,The Illustrious Wife, viz. That excellent Poem, Sir Thomas Overbvrie's Wife, illustrated by Giles Oldisworth, Nephew to the same Sir T. O.

[CO]It was most probably the fifth, as Mr. Capel, who has printed theWife, in his very curious volume, entitledProlusions, 8vo. Lond. 1760, notices two copies in 1614, one in 8vo. which I suppose to be the third, and one in 4to. stated in the title to be the fourth edition: the sixth was in the following year, 1615; the seventh, eighth, and ninth were in 1616, the eleventh in 1622, twelfth in 1627, thirteenth 1628, fourteenth, 1630, fifteenth, 1632, sixteenth, 1638, and Mr. Brand possessed a copy, the specific edition of which I am unable to state, printed in 1655.Catalogue, No. 4927.

iv. "Satyrical Essayes, Characters, and others, or accurate and quick Descriptions, fitted to the life of their Subiects.των ηθων δη φυλαττεσθαι μαλλον δει ἡ τους ἑχεισ. Theophras.

Aspice et hæc, si forte aliquid decoctius audis,Judevaporata Lector mihiferucataure. IUUEN.

Plagosus minime Plagiarius.

John Stephens. London, Printed by Nicholas Okes, and are to be sold by Roger Barnes, at his Shop in St. Dunstane's Church-yard. 1615."

[8vo. pp. 321. title, preface, &c. 14 more.]

In a subsequent impression of this volume, 8vo. in the same year, and with a fresh title page, dated 1631[CP], we find the author to be "John Stephens the younger, of Lincoln's Inn:" no other particulars of him appear to exist at present, excepting that he was the author of a play entitled,Cinthia's Revenge; or, Mænander's Extasie. Lond. for Barnes, 1613, 4to. "which," says Langbaine, "is one of the longest plays I ever read, and withal the most tedious." Ben Jonson addressedsome lines[CQ]to the author, whom he calls "his much and worthily esteemed friend," as did F. C. G. Rogers, and Thomas Danet.

Stephens dedicates his book to Thomas Turner, Esq. For the sake of a little variety I give one of his "three satyricall Essayes on Cowardlinesse," which are written in verse.

ESSAY I.

"Feare to resist good virtue's common foe,And feare to loose some lucre, which doth growBy a continued practise; makes our fateBanish (with single combates) all the hate,Which broad abuses challenge of our spleene.For who in Vertue's troope was euer seene,That did couragiously with mischiefes fight,Without the publicke name of hipocrite?Vaine-glorious, malapert, precise, deuout,Be tearmes which threaten those that go aboutTo stand in opposition of our timesWith true defiance, or satyricke rimes.Cowards they be, branded among the worst,Who (through contempt of Atheisme), neuer durstCrowd neere a great man's elbow to suggestSmooth tales with glosse, or Enuy well addrest.These be the noted cowards of our age;Who be not able to instruct the stageWith matter of new shamelesse impudenceWho cannot almost laugh at innocence;And purchase high preferment by the waies,Which had bene horrible in Nero's dayes.They are the shamefull cowards, who contemneVices of state, or cannot flatter them;Who can refuse advantage, or denyVillanous courses, if they can espyeSome little purchase to inrich their chestThough they become vncomfortably blest.We still account those cowards, who forbeare(Being possess'd with a religious feare)To slip occasion, when they might erectHornes on a tradesman's noddle, or neglectThe violation of a virgin's bedWith promise to requite her maiden-head.Basely low-minded we esteeme that manWho cannot swagger well, or (if he can)Who doth not with implacable desire,Follow revenge with a consuming fire.Extortious rascals, when they are alone,Bethinke how closely they have pick'd each bone,Nay, with a frolicke humour, they will brag,How blancke they left their empty client's bag.Which dealings if they did not giue delight,Or not refresh their meetings in despight,They would accounted be both weake, vnwise,And, like a timorous coward, too precise.Your handsome-bodied youth (whose comely faceMay challenge all the store of Nature's grace,)If, when a lustfull lady doth inuite,By some lasciuious trickes his deere delight,If then he doth abhorre such wanton ioy;Whose is not almost ready to destroyCiuility with curses, when he hearesThe tale recited? blaming much his years,Or modest weaknesse, and with cheeks ful-blownEach man will wish the case had beene his own.Graue holy men, whose habite will implyNothing but honest zeale, or sanctity,Nay so vprighteous will their actions seeme,As you their thoughts religion will esteeme.Yet these all-sacred men, who daily giueSuch vowes, wold think themselves vnfit to liue,If they were artlesse in the flattering vice,Euen as it were a daily sacrifice:Children deceiue their parents with expence:Charity layes aside her conscience,And lookes vpon the fraile commodityOf monstrous bargaines with a couetous eye:And now the name ofgenerosity,Ofnoble cariageorbraue dignity,Keepe such a common skirmish in our bloud,As we direct the measure of things good,By that, which reputation of estate,Glory of rumor, or the present rateOf sauing pollicy doth best admit.We do employ materials of wit,Knowledge, occasion, labour, dignity,Among our spirits of audacity,Nor in our gainefull proiects do we careFor what is pious, but for what we dare.Good humble men, who haue sincerely laydSaluation for their hope, we callafraid.But if you will vouchsafe a patient eare,You shall perceiue, men impious haue most feare."

The second edition possesses the following title—"New Essayes and Characters, with a new Satyre in defence of the Common Law, and Lawyers: mixt with reproofe against their Enemy Ignoramus, &c. London, 1631." It seems not improbable that some person had attacked Stephens's first edition, although I am unable to discover the publication alluded to. I suspect him to be the editor of, or one of the contributors to, the later copies of Sir Thomas Overbury'sWife, &c.: since one of Stephens's friends, (a Mr. I. Cocke) in a poetical address prefixed to hisNew Essayes, says "I am heere enforced to claime 3 characters following the Wife[CR]; viz. theTinker, theApparatour, andAlmanack-maker, that I may signify the ridiculous and bold dealing of an vnknowne botcher: but I neede make no question what he is; for his hackney similitudes discouer him to be the rayler above-mentioned, whosoeuer that rayler be."

FOOTNOTES:[CP]Coxeter, in his MSS. notes to Gildon'sLives of the Eng. Dram. Poets, in the Bodleian, says that the second edition was in 8vo. 1613, "Essays and Characters, Ironical and Instructive," but this must be a mistake.[CQ]"Who takes thy volume to his vertuous hand,Must be intended still to vnderstand:Who bluntly doth but looke vpon the same,May aske,what author would conceale his name?Who reads may roaue, and call the passage darke,Yet may, as blind men, sometimes hit the marke.Who reads, who roaues, who hopes to vnderstand,May take thy volume to his vertuous hand.Who cannot reade, but onely doth desireTo vnderstand, hee may at length admire.B. I."[CR]These were added to the sixth edition of theWife, in 1615.

[CP]Coxeter, in his MSS. notes to Gildon'sLives of the Eng. Dram. Poets, in the Bodleian, says that the second edition was in 8vo. 1613, "Essays and Characters, Ironical and Instructive," but this must be a mistake.

[CQ]"Who takes thy volume to his vertuous hand,Must be intended still to vnderstand:Who bluntly doth but looke vpon the same,May aske,what author would conceale his name?Who reads may roaue, and call the passage darke,Yet may, as blind men, sometimes hit the marke.Who reads, who roaues, who hopes to vnderstand,May take thy volume to his vertuous hand.Who cannot reade, but onely doth desireTo vnderstand, hee may at length admire.B. I."

"Who takes thy volume to his vertuous hand,Must be intended still to vnderstand:Who bluntly doth but looke vpon the same,May aske,what author would conceale his name?Who reads may roaue, and call the passage darke,Yet may, as blind men, sometimes hit the marke.Who reads, who roaues, who hopes to vnderstand,May take thy volume to his vertuous hand.Who cannot reade, but onely doth desireTo vnderstand, hee may at length admire.B. I."

[CR]These were added to the sixth edition of theWife, in 1615.

v.Caracters upon Essaies, morall and diuine, written for those good spirits that will take them in good part, and make use of them to good purpose. London: Printed by Edw. Griffin for John Guillim, and are to be sold at his shop in Britaines Burse.1615. 12mo.

[Censura Literaria, v. 51. Monthly Mirror, xi. 16.]

vi.The Good and the Badde, or Descriptions of the Worthies and Vnworthies of this Age. Where the Best may see their Graces, and the Worst discerne their Basenesse. London, Printed by George Purslowe for Iohn Budge, and are to be sold at the great South-dore of Paules, and at Brittaines Bursse.1616.

[4to. containing pp. 40, title, dedication "to Sir Gilbert Houghton, Knight," and preface six more. A second edition appeared in 1643, under the title ofEngland's Selected Characters, &c.]

The author of these characters[CS]was Nicholas Breton, who dedicates them to Sir Gilbert Houghton, of Houghton, Knight.Of Breton no particulars are now known, excepting what may be gained from an epitaph in Norton church, Northamptonshire[CT], by which we learn that he was the son of Captain Breton, of Tamworth, in Staffordshire, and served himself in the Low Countries, under the command of the Earl of Leicester. He married Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Legh, or Leigh, of Rushell, Staffordshire, by whom he had five sons and four daughters, and having purchased the manor of Norton, died there June 22, 1624[CU].

Breton appears to have been a poet of considerable reputation among his contemporaries, as he is noticed with commendation by Puttenhem and Meres: Sir Samuel Egerton Brydges declares that his poetical powers were distinguished by a simplicity, at once easy and elegant. Specimens of his productions in verse, may be found in Percy'sReliques, Ellis'sSpecimens, Cooper'sMuses' Library, Censura Literaria; and an imperfect list of his publications is given by Ritson, in theBibliographia Poetica, which is augmented by Mr. Park, in theCens. Lit.ix. 163[CV].

A WORTHIE PRIUIE COUNCELLER.

A worthy priuie counceller is the pillar of a realme, in whose wisedome and care, vnder God and the king, stands the safety of a kingdome; he is the watch-towre to giue warning of the enemy, and a hand of prouision for the preseruation of the state: hee is an oracle in the king's eare, and a sword in the king's hand, an euen weight in the ballance of justice, and a light of grace in the loue of truth: he is an eye of care in the course of lawe, a heart of loue in the seruice of his soueraigne, a mind of honour in the order of his seruice, and a braine of inuention for the good of the common-wealth; his place is powerful, while his seruice is faithfull, and his honour due in the desert of his employment. In summe, he is as a fixed planet mong the starres of the firmament, which through the clouds in the ayre, shewes the nature of his light.

AN VNWORTHIE COUNCELLER.

An vnworthie counceller is the hurt of a king, and the danger of a state, when the weaknes of judgement may commit an error, or the lacke of care may give way to vnhappinesse:he is a wicked charme in the king's eare, a sword of terror in the aduice of tyranny: his power is perillous in the partiality of will, and his heart full of hollownesse in the protestation of loue: hypocrisie is the couer of his counterfaite religion, and traiterous inuētion is the agent of his ambition: he is the cloud of darknesse, that threatneth foule weather, and if it growe to a storme, it is feareful where it falls: hee is an enemy to God in the hate of grace, and worthie of death in disloyalty to his soueraigne. In summe, he is an vnfit person for the place of a counceller, and an vnworthy subject to looke a king in the face.

AN EFFEMINATE FOOL.

An effeminate foole is the figure of a baby: he loues nothing but gay, to look in a glasse, to keepe among wenches, and to play with trifles; to feed on sweet meats, and to be daunced in laps, to be inbraced in armes, and to be kissed on the cheeke: to talke idlely, to looke demurely, to goe nicely, and to laugh continually: to be his mistresse' servant, and her mayd's master, his father's love, and his mother's none-child: to play on a fiddle, and sing a loue-song, to weare sweet gloues, and look on fine things: to make purposes and write verses, deuise riddles, and tell lies: to follow plaies, and study daunces, to heare newes, and buy trifles: to sigh for loue, and weepe for kindnesse, and mourne for company, and bee sicke for fashion: to ride in a coach, and gallop a hackney, to watch all night, and sleepe out the morning: to lie on a bed, and take tobacco, and to send his page of an idle message to his mistresse; to go vpon gigges, to haue his ruffes set in print, to picke his teeth, and play with a puppet. In summe, hee isa man-childe, and a woman's man, a gaze of folly, and wisedome's griefe[CW].

"THE CHESSE PLAY."

Very aptly deuised by N. B. Gent.

[From "The Phœnix Nest. Built vp with the most rare and refined workes of Noble men, woorthy Knights, gallant Gentlemen, Masters of Arts, and braue Schollers," &c. "Set foorth by R. S. of the Inner Temple, Gentleman." 4to. London, by Iohn Iackson, 1593, page 28.]

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