LOoking lately into the customes of this age, & coniecturing the in­ward affections of men, I gather that the world is the house of confusi­on, and the inhabitants thereof set vpon mischiefe, for the seauen Cappitall sins are growne to such a custome, that our eies want no alurements to bewitch, our eares no perswaysions to seduce, nor our sences no subtlety to affect: Which sea­zing [Page]on the hearts of men, haue brought fourth many pernitious children, to the hurt of Nature, some like centaures, be­gotten of clouds: as Ambition, some like Serpents nurrished in dunghils, as Sensu­allity, some like Vapors, raysed vp to be consumed as Flattery, and such like, ge­nerally all dangerous and full of trouble: therefore is it (in the sence of man) most fitting to haue the painting taken off from these foule faces, the couers pulled off from these cups of Poyson, and the co­uert of this bed of Serpents ripped vp, that we may discerne what hath long time bene hidden cunningly.

The first that presents himselfe vpon our stage; will wee call Ambition, catch­ing at nothing but Starres, climing onely for Greatnesse, this is hee, that cunning­ly can inuent strattagems to his owne ouer throw, giuing Pens occation to wright Tragedies, if hee rise from obscu­rity, (as many haue done) hee laboreth [Page]to be skilfull in those things, which are most pleasing to the greater Sort, and tol­lerable among the commons: His study is for prayse, and not for vertue: His lookes like Mansolus roumbe, faire and comly without, but within, nothing but rotten bones, and corrupt practisses, his aparrell increaseth with his Fortune, and as worldly affaires direct him, so suteth hee both fashions and affections, in his studdy hee affecteth singularity, and is proud in being author of a new strata­gem: if hee chance to come into the eie of the World, hee then creepes into the fauour of some great Peersonage, in fee­ding whose humors (to relieue his wants) makes intrusion into some heritage, and matcheth not according to his birth, but to the increase of his fortune, and by that meanes, by hooke or crooke, hee atay­neth to some place in the Court: Then begins hee with guifts to winne hearts, by fayned humillity to a voyd hatred, [Page]by offices of friendship, to bind his e­qualls, by cunning insinuations to worke his superiours, by which meanes hee is held to be worthely a Statesman: being growne to this steppe higher, the authority likes him not, without the stile, wherein if any crosse him, looke for poy­son in his cuppe, or conspiracy in his walkes, yea so pestilent is his nature, that (like fire raked vp in embers) hee neuer sheweth but to consume, both himselfe and others: if hee perceaue any that by ripe Iudgment conceiteth his courses, with him hee ioyneth, as if hee sought his onely protection vnder the wing of his Glory, but the very truth is, hee hath no other intent but this, to clip the wings of his renowne for feare, hee flie beyond him, if the nature of the Noble­man whom hee enuieth be gentle, hee bringeth him in feare, either of his ser­uants in his household, or his familliars that loue his honour, or else some mis­like [Page]bewixt his Prince and him, sworne and confirmed by flatteries and intelli­gences, till the noble looseth either his land, authoitie, or place, and hee attaine both his stile and promotion: yet plaie hee neuer so cunningly, such vncertaine honours beget daily dangers, and makes him carelesse of his soules prospe­ritie: For then there entreth into his mind a delightfull sinne called curiosity, by which to make him more able in o­ther mischiefes, hee giues intertainment to witches and charmers, and consorts him-selfe with nouell mongers, and strange inuenters of banquets, to set lust on fire, and that can deuise confections to besot youth with luxury, that for an irefull man can worke strange reuenges, for a fearefull, a strong tower to keepe him in: to be excellent at poysons, to kill lingringly, like the Italian: But againe to our purpose, to the Ambitius man there is commonly belonging a rustick troup, [Page]of Flaterers, Bauds, A dulterers, Soothers, and such like, that hating al vertue makes sin seeme pleasing, which workes in the flexable heart such a sweet defire of for­bidden pleasures, that it euen surfets and growes sickes, with excesse, Lust and Adul­tery I meane, which I discribe in this ma­ner, it is the most insolent of all things, it troubles the mind and taketh away the empire of liberty, it confounds memory, kills prouidence, and treads downe good councel. offends not he the law, that takes possession of another mans free hold, and makes a common of his neighboures in­closure, Adulterers I say haue no spirits to goodnes, nor will they be by any coun­cell moued to godlines, for their felicity is in the surfets of the flesh, and the plea­sures thereof bring nothing but too deare repentance, the Adulterer spights him most that examines his proceedings, and plots his ouerthrow that doth but touch [Page]his infirmities, Oh! what an enemy is it to Vertue, the onely wrake of wealth, and plaine high way to pouerty. The Adulterer is so blinded in heart, and so hardened withall, that hee can hard­ly looke vp towards Heauen to behold Gods iust Iudgements: yea so iust and sure they are, that in all ages this vile sinne hath beene seuerely punished, as by the example of Iudas, iustice on Tha­mat, Dauids Adultery with Vrias Wife, punished in his Sonne Absolon, thousands of men died in the fields of Moab for this fault, threescore thousand of the children of Israell were put to the sword for the rauishing onely a Leuits Wife, of all sins it is in nature the most odious, and brings with it the greatest shame vnto mankind: it is a sinne that hath made the Earthe drunke with blood, to the confusion of many Townes and Cities, Sodome and Gomorah were consumed with fire for [Page]Incest and Adultery: Troy a proud City made a plow-land for the same sinne: It was the onely adulteries of the French that caused a massaker of fourescore thousand, by the ringing of one bell: Let not the Strumpits eye, saies one of the sages of Greece, shine vpon the coun­tenance of young men, least with the Basaliske, it pearce vnto the death: for her malice is as lightning, and more ragine then the she Beare, vpon her at­tends malitious hatred, whose felicity is onely to reioyce at the harmes of others, giuing more affliction to them that are most troubled with affliction, where if a­ny offend her, she admitts no reconcilia­tion, but liues as a partiall Iudge in her owne cause, if she heares the aduance­ment of vertue then growes she pensiue, & if she want credit amongst the mighty then falls shee working with the meaner sort, shee smiles not vppon any man [Page]but to be tray him, nor giue him coun­tenance but to vndoe him, nor con­triue, any stratagems without Murder, nor dwels by any neighbour but to hurt him, and if shee be but crossed in her will, she euer frets her selfe away in anger, and after in Hate and Malice becomes infamous, for her loue is a minet, but her spight euerlassing, her hand being once dipt in mischiefe, shee neuer walks abroad but in suspition, fearing to bee accused by Vertue, and still liues in dread of her good Fortune, yet by na­ture is shee such, that shee hath courage enough to aduenture on any sinne, an Ambitious woman shewes her selfe to bee a troublesome disturber of the world, powerfull to make smale things great, and great, monstrous, enuy by na­ture is greeued at the Prosperity of o­thers, hee enuyeth the Great in that hee cannot Equall them, hee enuieth [Page]the weake, dreading they should com­pare themselues with him: hee enuyeth his Equalls because they should not be­come his Companions: in Kingdomes, Common-Wealths, Princes Courtes and Ambitious mens Houses he is still work­ing, no Man hunteth after Honor but hee affronts him, onely the miserable man hee enuies not, because (beeing kept in Prison) hee feares not his ri­sings, yet hath hee a scorne ouer him: Machiuell knowing the venome of this vice, gaue his sonne this last and not least instruction: that hee should not bee enui­ous, but to doe (saith hee) such deeds that others may enuy thee, for to bee enuied is the token of good desert, but to be en­uious the signe of a foolish nature, which verefies the saying of Marcus Tullius the Orator, that the most florishing for­tune is most enuied at: But now to bee more familiar in my Discourse, where [Page]Ambition, Adultery, Pride, Enuy, Malice, and such like Capitall Sinnes haue set in foote, there cannot chose but follow Mnrder and confusion, and where the foundation is layd with blood, there can bee a building but of small continuance, but where Honors haue a true beginning, a ground of vertue springing vp by noble deserts, con­tinued by Wisedome and maintayned with Care, there cannot choose but follow a fruitfull haruest, and a plen­tifull Winter: contrariwise to obtaine sodaine Honors begets Pride and Vaine­glory, Pride and Vaine-glory are the cherishers of Enuy and Mallice, En­uy and Mallice the Nurses of Blood­shed and Murder, in which whoso­euer dippeth but the tippe of his sin­ger, giues to his Soule a scarlet siaine, which neuer can bee cleared vntill the dissolution of the Body, and then well [Page]are they that can wash it away with the true teares of repentance.

Brittle is that greatnes that fadeth in a moment, and vaine the ioy that is vn­wisely lost, hee that hath a sodaine rise and can wisely stand, is a most happy Worldling, but he that forgets himselfe on the Pinacle of prosperity is besotted with arrogancy: therefore let him that hunts for honors in Princes Courts, wan­der in an euen passage, for dangerous are the proceedings and busines of a States­man, take this for an example: suppose that a yong man from the lowest ebbe of worldly chance haue the aduancement of greatnes laid vppon his shoulders, will it not for a time seeme a heauy burthen, and a great trouble to his new transfor­med fortunes? will not the pride of his heart swell to a full Sea; euen ready to burst ouer the bankes of his Honour­giuer? Then rightly may the Picture [Page]of Ingratitude bee imprinted in his fore­front; playing the Viper to his high for­tunes first beginner.

Beeing thus intituled with State Offi­ces, hath he not many soothers in sinne, personages of base condition attending him, hemming him round with perswa­sions of selfe conceit, which for a need will venture their liues to gaine him the commands of his will: what becomes of such follies, but a sorrowfull repentance, and no recouery. All you that haue your hearts pierced with sad considerations, take this for a remembrance of greefe, that is: That when a Woman of noble Parentage, placed on the mountaine of smiling chance, hauing the dignity of Greatnesse shining on her fore-head, should humble her selfe to base conditi­ons, giuing her whole mind to malicious hatred, secret consents of iniquity, selfe­will and wicked proceedings, neuer pa­cifie [Page]till the end of damned performan­ces. Oh was not this Woman created for a deep sorrow to her Aliance, a great greefe vnto her Country, and a foule staine vnto her owne reputation? Is it not also a lamentable example, for a Gen­tleman of good birth and calling, placed in dignity, in high office and charge for his Country, to giue way by consent to a bloody stratagem, and for feare of the displeasures of Greatnes intangles him­selfe in the snares of reproch? will not this also be a continuall remembrance to his posterity, and a barre of disgrace branding the coat Armes of his house, to haue the common course of iustice passe vppon him in the eye of the multitude. Is it not also great pitty that for want of grace some of a seruile (yet an obseruing condition) should from the golden meane of low estate wait at the elbow of Great­nes, and bring fuell to their fire of iniqui­ty, [Page]wherein at the length they themselues are likewise consumed. Oh, wherefore should simplicity thus blind vp their eyes of vunderstanding, to bee thus the instru­ments of such dangerous drifts, that aymes at nothing but grudge & mallice? if with Solons saying, they had sealed vp their hearts, Remember the end, this had neuer beene: then how are they led away with amisse, that hauing the guifts of art and experience, the secrets of the simples of Phisick, ordained by God for mans good vse, should by the Diuell and them be conuerted thus to malignant purposes, if the feare of God had shined in their hearts, it would haue been a light to haue led them from all those darke practises, which hath now spotted the foreheads of their reputations with the marks of black infamy, shame cannot choose but be the reward of such enterprisers, that for the fauors of Greatnes, will dip their hands [Page]in the blood of Innocents, and enen as it were worke against nature: Oh more then sauage minded Creatures, in the very deepenesse of your blacke and bloody immaginations, (imboldened by whomsoeuer) this might haue been your Memento, in which I conclude, that strange and wonderfull are Gods indge­ments, that in these fore-passed strata­gems haue shined in great glory, say you then, that blood innocently shed, is layd vp in Heauens Treasury, not one droppe of it can bee lost, but lent out to Vsury: water poured forth, sinkes downe quietly into the earth, but blood spilt on the ground, sprinkles vp to the Firma­ment, Murder is wide mouthed, and will not let GOD rest till hee grant re­uenge, not onely the blood of the slaugh­tered, but the soule of the Innocent assen­ding to his throne, crying out and ex­claiming for Iustice, which (the Lord bee [Page]praysed) hath beene, and will bee care­fully followed by the learned and worthy Magistrates of this King­dome, whom the Lord God prosper and protect in all their proceedings, to which let all true hearts say. Amen.