All this while were trenches cast vp of a great height by the Poldauies to saue them from shot of the walles, whilst Pouerties Pioners had digd at least a quarter of a mile vnder the earth, and the mine with gun powder to blow vp one quarter of the Cittie: But this béeing quickly descryed, was as spéedily preuented by a countermine, so that all that labour tooke not such fire as was expected: yet went the Artillerie off on both sides, wilde fire flew from one to another, like squibs when Doctor Faustus goes to the diuell, arrowes flew faster then they did at a catte in a basket, whe¯ Prince Arthur, or the Duke of Shordich strucke vp the drumme in the field, many bullets were spent, but no breach into Monies quarters could be made: they that fought vnder her cullers were very wary, polliticke strong, and valiant, yet would they not venture forth but on great aduantages, because they had somthing to loose, but Pouerties wild Bandetti, were desperate, carelesse of danger, gréedy of spoile, and durst haue torne the diuell out of his skinne to haue had their willes of Money, but Night (like a surly constable) commanding them to depart in peace, and to put vp their tooles. This assault (which was the first) gaue ouer, euery Captaine retyring to his place, the Desperueines (on Pouerties side) comming off at this time with the most losse.
Few attempts were after made to any purpose: onely certain yong prodigall Heires, who (as voluntaries) maintained themselues in seruice vnder Money, were appointed to be light-horsemen for discouery of the enemies forces (as she lay incamped) who now and then in a few light skirmishes had the honour to issue forth, and to set vpon the Assailants that beleagured the Cittie: but Pouertie still draue them either in to their owne shame, or else had them in execution (euen in despight of the Cittie forces) and put them euer to the worst.
The Gold-beaters (who knew themselues on a sure ground within the walles) lingred of purpose, and would neuer bring it to a battaile, onely to wearie the aduersarie, whom they meant to vndoe by delay, because she could not hold out long for want of victuals. They within cared not though ten thousand diuels amongst them, so Money (their mistresse) whom they worshipped as a God, would not leaue their company, and the rascoll Déere that (without the walles) were euery howre hunted out of breath, vowed to eate vp one another, before they would raise ye Seige, and be hanged vp like Dogs (at the C•ttie gates) for they were now accounted no better then dogs, but they would haue their peniworths out of Money for a number of wro¯gs which by her meanes they had endured, when she hath seene them and their children ready to starue, yet scornd to reléeue their necessities. Thus both their stomacks beeing great, and aswell the defendants as the assailents resolutely confirmed to sta•d vpon their guard, and to stay the vtmost of any miserie that could waite vppon a lingring warre behold the rich-plumde estridges, who had most fethers on their backes, and least cause to murmure, began to mutinie amongst themselues, the imprisoning of Money (their sole soueraigne) so close within stony battlements, did not shew well: they were loyal• subiects to her & would free both her & themselues, vnlesse she might vse her sports and princ•ly pleasures as she had wont Mercers had their shops musty, and their silkes moldie for want of customers, Goldsmiths had t•eir plate hid in cellors, where it lay most richly, but looked more pittifully and with worse cullour, then prisoners lying in the hole. Haberdashers had more hats then they could finde heads to weare them, if they had béene such arrant blockes themselues to haue giuen their wares away, trades had no doings, all the men were out of heart by beeing kept in, and all the women ready to be spoyled for want of walking to th•ir Gardens: Euerie one spent & spent, but who tasted the sweetenes? In stead of selling their wares, they plyed nothing now but getting of children, and scowring of péeces. In stead of what doe you lacke? was heard Arme, Arme, Arme. This géere was to be looked into, and therefore they desi•ed their gratious Empresse (Money) not to lye lasing thus in a chamber, but either that she would be more stirring, that they (her Subiects might haue better stirrings too, and (opening the Cittie gates) to fight it out brauely, or else they vowed there were at least ten thousand (whose names stood now in her Muster booke) that shortly if this world lasted, would shut vp their dores, shew her a faire paire of héeles, and from her fly into the hands of Pouertie their enemie.
Upon the necke of this, came likewise a supplication from certaine troopes of Uintners without the Barres, Inkéepers, common Uictuallers and such like, who plaid y• iackes on both sides, and were indéede Neuters, a linsey-wolsey people, that tooke no part, but stood indifferent betwéene Money, and Pouerty, the tenor of which petition presents it selfe thus to the world.
THE PITTIFULL PETITION OF VINTNERS, VICTUALLERS, INKEEPERS, &C. WITHOUT THE BARRES: TO THE GREAT EMPRESSE OF OLD MENS HARTS, AND YONG MENS PLEASURES, YCLIPPED MONEY.
HVMBLY sueth to you• currant Excellency, your vncustom’d drooping Suppliants, the Vintners, and Innekeepers, and others of the Ale-draperie, that are bard out of the Cittie: Whereas through the extreame deadnesse of time and terme, we all run backward in our condition, hauing great rents to pay, and greater scores, which will neuer bee paid, guests now being glad if they can make vs take chalke for cheese, our wines lying dead vpon our hands, and complaining for want of good doings: we our selues making many signes to passengers, but few comming at vs, and hanging vp new bushes, yet hauing onely beggers hansell, trimming our roomes for no better men then Barbers and Taylors, a rapier scarce beeing seene in a veluet scabert within 40. yards of our precincts.
— Quis talia fando,
Myrmidonum, Dolopumi•e, aut duri miles Vlissi Temperet a lach•imis!
O Neither the Mermaide, no• the Dolphin, not he at mile-end greene, can when he list be in good temper when he lackes his mistres (that is to say Money.)
May it therefore please thee (O thou pay-mistresse to all the fidlers that should haunt our howses, if thou wouldest put them in tune) to send (at least) some of thy Harpers to sound their nine-penie musicke in our eares, but we rather humbly beg it, that thou wouldest enrich vs with thy Angellike-presence, be no longer percullized vp in the Citie, visit the subburbes, against thy comming all her cawseies shall be paued & made euen, how broken soeuer her conscience be left and vnmended. Our houses stand emptie, as if the plague were in them, onely for want of thee, our Drawers cannot be drawne to any goodnesse, nor our Hostlers to deale honestly with horse or man, onely by reason of thee: Issue therefore forth amongst good fellows, that will sooner fight for thee, then those snudges & miserable cormorants that now feede vpon thee.
This lamentable supplication (together with the feare of a mutiny amongst her soldiers) so wrought with the Empresse, that (cleane against the perswasion of her councell) she determined to leaue the Cittie, and to march into the field: hereupon her Army Royall was set in order, to the intent she might take a full view of all her Colonels, Generals, Captaines and men of warre. She went from squadron to squadron, not so much delighting her owne eies wt beholding so many thousands ready to fight in her defence, as they were gréedy to enioy her presence, which with braue encouragement lifted vp the deadest spirit, all swore to follow her, none to leaue her, or if any did, a curse was laid vpon him to die a begger.
The first regiment consisted of Courtiers, some of them being Lords (who came very well prouided) some Knights, (but most of the valiant knights that were true soldiers indéed, serued in the other armie (Councellors at Law gaue directions where to encampe, what ground was best to defend themselues and annoy the foe, by what trickes and stratagems to circumuent her, how to leade the Troopes on, how to come off, and by plaine demonstration shewed how easie it was to put Pouertie to her shifts, and to haue her & her troopes in execution, if Money would be pleased to say the word, and for that purpose they made orations to set the armies together by the eares, which accordingly tooke effect, Attorneys were very busie, and serued as Clarkes to the Bandes, running vp and downe from one rancke to another expressing a kinde of puzled and dizzie distraction in all their businesses.
But that which made the best shew of all, was a lane of Brokers, wh
o handled their Pieces passing well, & were old dog at a marke, they had skill in any weapon, Musket, Caliuer, Petronel, Harguibusse, a Crock, Pollax, Holbert, Browne-hill, Pike, Dimilance, sword, Bow and arrowes, nothing came amisse to them, and which was most strange they fought by the Booke, at a breach none so forward as they, they had beene at the ransacking of many a house, and would vndertake to vndoe all the troopes that were led by Pouertie. These Brokers were armed with thrumd cappes, (but they should haue had Murrions) and those they wore to keepe their wits from taking cold: for they had all diuellish heads, and were suited in sparke of veluet Iackets with out sleeues, tuft taffatie bréeches, close to them like Irish Stroozes, Sattin doublets with sagging bellies, as if •agpuddins had bumbasted them, and huge dutch Aldermens sleeues, armed strongly with back péeces of canuas, dugeon daggers instead of Pistols hanging by their sides, fine p••d silke stockens on their legs, tyed vp smoothly with caddis garters, all which had béene taken as spoiles from the other Armie.
The Inuader vnderstanding that the quarrell would be decided in a pitcht field, and that crackt crownes would be both giuen and taken on either side, grew excéeding ioyfull: and therefore calling for Sharker (one of her boldest & wittiest Heralds) him she sent to Money, to know where the Rendeuous should be made for both armies to meete in, and what péece of ground should be best famous to posterities by their battaile. Money tooke aduice vpon this, most of her old beaten Captaines, laboured earnestly to haue it at Bagshot, but all the gallants cryed baw waw at him that named Bagshot, so that for a quarter of an hower, none could be heard to speake, there was such a Baw wawing. The Herald Sharker, in name of his Mistresse, who sent him, requested it might be at beggers bush. But euery soldier swore that was a lowzy place, and so for a day or two, it rested vncertaine and vndetermined.
In which Interim, a murmuring went vp and downe that not onely Pouerty had maintained this terrible Siege against the City, but that Dearth also, Famine and the Plague, were lately ioyned with the same Army, besides many strange and incurable diseases were crept into the camp, that followed Money: for Ryot her minion, was almost spent, and lay in a consumption. A hundred in a company were drowned in one night in French bowles: fiue times as many more were tormented with a terrible gnawing about their consciences. All the Usurers in the Army had hung themselues in chaines, within lesse then three howers, and all the Brokers, being their Bastards, went crying vp and downe, The Diuell, the Diuell, and thereupon because they should not disquiet the rest of the Soldiers, they were fetched away. These and such other vnexpected mischifes, put Money into many feares, doubts and distractions, so that she inwardly wished that these vnlucky warres had either neuer béene begun, or else that they were well ended by the conclusion, if it might be, of some honourable peace.
And as these stormes of misery fell upon Money and her troopes, so was the army of Pouerty plagued as much, or more on the other side: nothing could be heard amongst the Souldiers but cries, complaints, cursings, blasphemies, Oathes, and ten thousand other blacke and damned spirits, which euer hawnted them and their Generall herselfe. Want pinched them in the day, and wildnesse and rage kept them waking and raueing all the night. Their soules were desperate, their bodies consumed, they were weary of their liues, yet compelled to liue for furder miseries, and nothing did comfort them but a foolish hope they had to be reuenged vpon Money. So that so many plagues, so many diseases, so many troubles and inconueniencies following both the armies (by meanes of the tedious Siege) a perpetuall truce, league and confederacy was confirmed by Money and Pouerty, and the councellors on either part: that in euery Kingdome, euery Shire, and euery City, the one should haue as much to doe as the other: that Pouerties subiects should be euer in a redinesse (as the Switzers are for pay) to fight for Money, if she craued their aid, & that Money againe should help them whensoeuer they did néede: and that sithence they were two Nations so mighty and so mingled together, and so dispersed into all parts of the world, that it was impossible to seuer them. A presently enacted, that Fortune should no longer bee blinde, but that all the Doctors and Surgeons should by waters, and other helpe her to eies, that she might see those vpon whom shee bestowes her blessings, because fooles are serued at her doale with riches, which they know not how to vse, & wise men are sent away like beggers from a misers gate with empty wallets.
The Armies hereupon brake vp, the Siege raised, the Citty gates set wide open. Shop keepers fel••• their old, What doe you lacke: The rich men feast one another (as they were w•nt) and the poore were kept poore in pollicy, because they should doe no more hurt.
FINIS.
FOURE BIRDS OF NOAHS ARKE
Viz.
1. THE DOVE.
2. The EAGLE.
3. The PELLICAN.
4. The PHOENIX.
The Doue bringeth Comfort.
The Eagle bringeth Courage.
The Pellican bringeth Health.
The Phoenix bringeth Life.
Vigilate & Orate.
LONDON, Printed by H. B. for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop neere S. Austins Gate. 1609.
The Pellican.
The Pellican a figure of Christ vpon the Crosse.
fol. 1.
Christ the Pellican dies to kill sinne.
fol. 6.
1 A Prayer for the morning.
fol. 13.
2 A Prayer against pride.
fol. 16
3 A Prayer against enuie.
fol. 22
4 A Prayer against wrath.
fol. 26.
5 A Prayer against sloth.
fol. 29.
6 A Prayer against couetousnes.
fol. 33.
7 A Prayer against gluttony.
fol. 37.
8 A Prayer against lust.
fol. 40.
9 A Prayer against the temptation of the Diuel.
fol 65.
10 A Prayer for the euening.
fol. 69.
FINIS.
The Phoenix.
THe Phoenix a figure of Christ.
1. A Thankesgiuing for all those benefits which wee reape by the death of Christ.
fol. 1.
2. A Thankesgiuing for all those benefits which wee reape by the buriall of Christ.
fol. 8.
3. A Thankesgiuing for all the benefits which wee reape by the resurrection of Christ.
fol. 14.
4. A Thankesgiuing for all those benefits which wee reape by the ascension of Christ.
fol. 19.
5. A Thankesgiuing for all those benefits which we are to receiue by Christs comming in glorie.
fol. 24.
Also, other short and pitihe sentences, fit to be applied to those purposes for which the former Prayers are made.
FINIS.
The Eagle.
1. A Prayer made by the late Queene Elizabeth.
fol. 1.
2. A Prayer for the King.
fol. 4.
3. A Prayer for Qu. Anne.
fol. 8.
4. A Prayer for Prince Henry, Prince of Wales.
fol. 12.
5. A Prayer for the Counsell.
fol. 16.
6. A Prayer for the Nobilitie.
fol. 18.
7. A Prayer for the Church.
fol. 20.
8. A Prayer for the Clergie.
fol 22
9. A Prayer for the Iudges of the land.
fol. 25.
10. A Prayer for the Court.
fol. 27.
11. A Prayer for the Citie.
fol. 29.
12. A Prayer for the Countrie.
fol. 32.
13. A Prayer for a Magistrate.
fol. 34.
14. A Prayer for a Lawyer.
fol. 37.
15. A Prayer for the 2. Vniuersities.
fol. 39
16. A Prayer for confusion of traitors
fo. 42.
17. A Prayer in time of ciuill
warre.
fol. 45.
18. A Prayer to stay the pestilence.
fol. 48.
19. A Prayer in time of Famine.
fol. 51.
20. A Prayer in the time of persecution.
fol. 53.
FINIS.
To the Religious, Vertuous, and noble Gentleman, Sir Thomas Smith Knight; the happines of both worlds, this present, and that to come.
SIR, I present vnto your view, a book of prayers; not that you neede my weake instructions: for you are knowne to be a good proficient in Gods Schoole, and haue more of this heauenly language in you by heart, then I can teach you by precept. The tree of sound Religion flourisheth in your bosome, and beareth (both in the eie of man (outwardly) and (inwardly) to God) much, and very much good fruit. You thereby proue your selfe a confirmed Christian: and shall giue further testimonie of your being so, if you incourage others (that are weake) to feed vpon this milke for babes, by tasting of it your selfe. They (by you) shall be led into the path of goodnes, if you but vouchsafe to walk out before them, and commend the way. Foure Birds (of Noahs Arke) haue taken foure seueral flights. The Doue (which is the first) flies to your hand; not by chance, but vpon good choice, as knowing you to be a Doue your selfe. The badge which a Doue weares, is innocence: and by wearing that Christian Armor, you defended your selfe, and returned safe out of the Lions denne with Daniel, whe¯ it was thought you should haue bin deuoured. God hath since heaped Graces on your head, and by the hands of his Anointed hath rewarded you with deserued honours, in the selfe same place, into which you were throwne to be swallowed vp by destructio¯. Receiue therfore (I beseech you) a Doue, sithence her harmeles & spotles wings haue caried you ouer such great danger to so great happines.
Complete Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker Page 219