Lady Pecunia. OR The praise of Money.

I Sing not of Angellica the faire,
(For whom the Palladine of Fraunce fel mad)
Nor of sweet Rosamond, old Cliffords heire,
(Whose death did make the second Henry sad)
But of the fairest faire Pecunia,
The famous Queene of rich America.

 

2

Goddesse of Gold, great Empresse of the Earth,
O thou that canst doo all Thinges vnder Heauen:
That doost conuert the saddest mind to Mirth:
(Of whom the elder age was quite bereauen)
Of thee Ile sing, and in thy Praise Ile write;
You golden Angels helpe me to indite.

 

3

You, you alone, can make my Muse to speake;
And tell a golden tale, with siluer tongue:
You onely can my pleasing silence breake;
And adde some Musique, to a merry Songue;
But amongst all the fiue, in Musicks Art,
I worst can brooke the Countcr-tenor part.

 

4

the Meane is best, and that I meane to keepe,
So shall I keepe my selfe from that I meane;
Lest with some Others, I be forc'd to weepe,
And cry Peccaui, in a dolefull Scaene.
But to the matter which I haue in hand,
The Lady Regent, both by Sea and Land.

 

5

When Saturne liu'd, and wore the Kingly Crowne,
(And Ioue was yet vnborn, but not vnbred)
this Ladies fame was then of no renown;
(For Gold was then, no more esteem'd then Lead)
then truth and Honesty were onely vs'd,
Siluer and Golde were vtterly refus'd.

 

6

But when the Worlde grew wiser in Conceit,
And saw how men in manners did decline,
How Charitie began to lose her heate,
And One did at anothers good repine,
Then did the Aged, first of all respect her,
And vowd from thence-forth, neuer to reiect her.

 

7

Thus with the World, her beauty did increase,
And many Suters had she to obtaine her:
Some sought her in the Wars; and some in peace;
But few of youthfull age, could euer gaine her:
Or if they did, she soone was gon againe,
And could with them, but little time remaine.

 

8

For why against the Nature of her Sexe,
(That commonly despise the feeble Olde)
Shee, loues old men: but yong men she reiects,
Because to her, their Loue is quickly colde:
Oldemen (like Husbands iealous of their Wiues)
Lock her vp fast, and keepe her as their liues.

 

9

The young man carelesse to maintaine his life,
Neglects her loue (as though he did abhor her)
Like one that hardly doth obtaine a wife,
And when he hath her once, he cares not for her,
Shee, seeing that the yong man doth despise her
Leaues the franke hart, and flyes vnto the miser.

 

10

He entertaines her, with a ioyfull hart,
And seemes to rue her vndeserued wrong:
And from his presence, she shall neuer part,
Or if she doe, he thinkes her absence long:
And oftentimes he sends for her againe,
Whose life without her, cannot long remaine.

 

11

And when he hath her, in his owne possession,
He locks her in an yron-barred chest;
And doubting somewhat, of the like Transgression,
He holds that yron-walled Prison best.
And least some Rusty sicknes should infect her,
He often visits her, and doth respect her.

 

12

As for the yong man (subiect vnto sinne)
No maruell thogh the Diuell doe distresse him;
To tempt mans frailty, which doth neuer linne,
Who many times, hath not a Crosse to blesse him:
But how can he incurre the heauens Cursse,
That hath so many Crosses in his purse?

 

13

He needs not fear those wicked sprights that walke,
Vnder the couerture of Cole-blacke Night;
For why the Diuell still, a Crosse doth baulke,
Because on it, was hangde the Lord of Light:
But let not Mysers trust to Siluer Crosses,
Least in the end, their gaines be turnd to losses.

 

14

But what care they, so they may hoord vp golde?
Either for God, or Deuill, or heauen, or hell?
So they may faire Pecuniaes face behold;
And euerie daie, their Mounts of Money tell.
What tho to count their Coine, they neuer blin,
Count they their coin, & counts not god their sin?

 

15

But what talke I of sinne, to Vsurers?
Or looke for mendment, at a Mysers hand?
Pecunia, hath so many followers,
Bootlesse it is, her Power to withstand.
King Couetise, and warinesse his wife,
The parents were, that first did giue her life.

 

16

But now vnto her praise I will proceed,
Which is as ample as the world is wide:
What great Contentment doth her presence breed
In him, that can his wealth with Wisdome guide?
Shee is the Soueraine Queene of all Delights:
For her the Lawyer pleads, the Souldier fights.

 

17

For her, the Merchant ventures on the Seas,
For her, the Scholler studdies at his booke;
For her, the Vsurer (with greater ease)
For silly fishes, layes a siluer hooke;
For her the Townesman leaues the contry vilage
For her the Plowman giues himselfe to Tillage.

 

18

For her, the Gentleman doth raise his rentes,
For her, the Seruingman attends his mayster:
For her, the curious head new toyes inuents;
For her, to sores, the Surgeon layes his playster.
In fine for her, each man in his Uocation,
Applies himselfe, in euery sev'rall Nation.

 

19

What can thy hart desire, but thou mayst haue it,
If thou haue readie money to disburse?
Then thanke thy Fortune, that so freely gaue it,
For of all friendes, the surest is thy Pursse.
Friends may proue fals, & leaue thee in thy need
But still thy pursse will be thy friend indeed.

 

20

Admit thou come into a place vnknowne,
And no man wots of whence, or what thou art:
If once thy fayre Pecunia, she be showne,
Thou art esteemd a man of great Desart:
And placed at the Tables vpper end,
Not for thine owne sake, but thy trusty friende.

 

21

But if you want your Ladies louely grace,
And haue not wherwithall to pay your shot,
Your Hostis presently will step in Place,
You are a Stranger (Sir) know you not:
By trusting Diuers, I am run in Det;
Therefore of mee, nor meate nor Bed you get.

 

22

O who can then, expresse the worthie praise,
Which faire Pecunia iustly doth desarue?
That can the meanest man, to Honour raise:
And feed the soule that ready is to starue.
Affection, which was wont to be so pure,
Against his golden Siege, may not endure.

 

23

Witnesse the Trade of Mercenarie sinne;
(Or Occupation, if you list to tearme it)
Where faire Pecunia must the suite beginne;
(As common-tride Experience doth confirme it)
Not Mercurie himselfe, with siluer Tongue,
Can so inchaunt, as can a golden Songue.

 

24

When nothing could subdue the Phrygian Troy,
(That Cittie throgh the world so much renowned)
Pecunia did her vtterlie destroy:
And left her fame in darke Obliuion drowned.
And manie Citties since, no lesse in fame,
For Loue of her, haue yeelded to their shame.

 

25

What thing is then so well belov'd as monie?
It is a speciall comfort to the mind;
More faire then women are, more sweet than honie:
Easie to loose, but verie harde to finde.
In fine, to him, whose purse begins to faint,
Golde is a God, and Siluer is a Saint.

 

26

The time was once, when Honestie was counted
A Demie-God, and so esteem'd of all:
But now Pecunia on his Seate is mounted;
Since Honestie in great disgrace did fall.
No state, no Calling now, dooth him esteeme;
Nor of the other ill, doeth any deeme.

 

27

The reason is, because he is so poore:
(And who respects the poore, and needy Creature?)
Still begging of his almes, from Doore to dore;
All ragd, and torne, and eeke deformd in feature.
In countenance so changde, that non can kno him,
So weake that euery vice doth ouerthrow him.

 

28

But fayre Pecunia, (most diuinely bred)
for sundrie shapes, doth Proteus selfe surpasse,
In one Land, she is suted all in Lead,
And in another, she is clad in Brasse;
But still within the Coast of Albion,
She euer puts her best Apparell on.

 

29

Siluer and Golde, and nothing else is currant,
In England, in faire Englands happy Land,
All baser sortes of Mettals, haue no Warrant,
Yet secretlie they Slip, from hand to hand.
If any such be tooke, the same is lost,
And presently is nailed on a Post.

 

30

Which with Quick-siluer, being flourisht ouer,
Seemes to be perfect Siluer, to the show:
As Woemens paintings, their defects doe couer,
Vnder this false attire, so do they go.
If on a wollen Cloth, thou rub the same,
Then wil it straight beginne to blush, for shame.

 

31

If chafed on thy haire, till it be hot,
If it good Siluer be, the scent is sweet:
If counterfeit, thy chafing hath begot
A ranke-smelt sauour; for a Queene vnmeete:
Pecunia is a Queene, for her Desarts,
And in the Decke, may go for Queene of harts.

 

32

The Queene of harts, because she rules all harts;
And hath all harts, obedient to her Will:
Whose Bounty, fame vnto the World imparts;
And with her glory, all the World doth fill:
The Queene of Diamonds, she cannot be;
There was but one, Eliza, thou wast shee.

 

33

And thou wast she, O Sacred Soueraigne;
Whom God did ayde with his Al-mighty hand:
Blessing thy People, with thy peacefull raigne;
And made this little Land a happy Land:
Thy peace on earth begun, in heauen made pure,
There cround with lasting ioy: � ioy most sure!

 

34

The time was once, when faire Pecunia, here,
Did basely goe attyred all in Leather:
But in Elizaes raigne, it did appeare,
Most richly clad; in Golde, or Siluer either:
Nor reason is it, that her Golden raigne
With baser Coyne, eclipsed should remaine.

 

35

And as the Coine shee did repurifie,
From baser substance, to the purrest Mettels:
Religion so, did shee refine beside,
From Papistrie, to truth; which dayly settles
Within the Peoples harts; though some there be,
That cleaue vnto their wonted Papistrie.

 

36

No flocke of sheepe, but some are still infected:
No peece of Lawne so pure, but hath some fret:
All buildings are not strong, that are errected:
All Plants proue not, that in good ground are set:
Some tares are sown; amongst the choicest seed;
No garden can he cleans'd of euery Weede.

 

37

But now more Angels then on Earth yet weare
Her golden Impresse; haue to Heauen attended
Hir Virgin-soule; now, now she soiornes there,
Tasting more ioyes then may be comprehended.
Life, she hath changde for life (oh countlesse gaine)
An earthlie rule, for an eternall Raigne.

 

38

Such a Successor leauing in her stead,
So peerelesse worthie, and so Royall wise;
In him her vertues liue, though she be dead:
Bountie and Zeale, in him both soueranize.
To him aloue, Pecunia doth obay,
He ruling her, that doth all others sway.

 

39

Bounty, that when she sickned, cras'd and fainted,
And when she left the earth had almost died;
Hoping with her, in heauen to haue bin sainted,
And mongst the rest an Angels place supplyed:
This King hath cherisht, and his life assured,
And of a long consumption, Bounti's cured.

 

40

Plenty and Peace vpon his Throne attend,
Health and Content, vpon his person wait:
Conquest and Fame, his Royaltie defend,
May all good Planets smile vpon his state.
By whom all-drooping-vertues are reuiued,
And dying-Bounty, made againe long liued.

 

41

The hand of Heauen still take him to his keeping,
Him, in no danger, in no doubt forsaking;
A thousand of his Angels guarde him sleeping,
And all the hoast of heauen protect him waking.
That he in safety, peace and rest, may raigne,
whilst the two Poles, the frame of heuen sustain

 

42

But now to her, whose praise is here pretended,
(Diuine Pecunia) fairer then the morne:
Which cannot be sufficientlie commended;
Whose sun-bright Beautie doeth the worlde adorne.
Adorns the world, but speciallie the Pursse;
Without whose presence, nothing can be worse.

 

43

Not faire Haesione (King Priams sister)
Did euer shew more beautie in her face,
Then can this louelie Lady, if it list her
To shew her selfe; admyr'd for comely grace:
Which neither Age can weare, nor Tyme conclude
For why, her Beautie yearlie is renude.

 

44

New Coine is yearlie stamped in the Tower,
But these faire daies of ioy, addes alteration:
In faire Elizaes raign, none had that power;
But kingly glorie, clothes her new in fashion,
Ads beautie to her beames, by adding more
Then grayest haires in life, ere saw before.

 

45

Stand forth who can and tell, and truelie saie
When England, Scotland, Ireland and France,
He euer saw Pecunia to displaie
Before these daies; O wondrous happie chance.
Nor doth Pecunia onelie please the eie,
But charmes the eare, with heauenlie harmony.

 

46

Like to another Orpheus can she plaie
Vpon her treble Harpe, whose siluer sound
Inchants the eare, and steales the hart awaie,
That hardlie the deceit thereof is found.
Although such Musicke, some a shilling cost,
Yet is it worth but Nine-pence, at the most.

 

47

But Ireland alone, this Musicks sound
Being clad in Siluer, challenge for their coine,
What though amongst vs much thereof be found,
Authoritie, no subiect dooth inioyne
Aboue his worth to countenance the same,
Then men, not coin, are worthy of that blame.

 

48

Had I the sweet inchaunting Tongue of Tully,
That charmed the hearers, like the Syrens Song;
Yet could I not discribe the Prayses fully,
Which to Pecunia iustly doth belong,
Let it suffice, her Beauty doeth excell;
whose praise no Pencan paint, no Tongue can tel.

 

49

Then how shall I describe, with artlesse Pen,
The praise of her, whose prais, al praise surmounteth?
Breeding amazement, in the mindes of men;
Of whom, this present Age so much accounteth.
Varietie of Words, would sooner want,
Then store of plentious matters, would be scant.

 

50

Whether yee list, to looke into the Citty,
(Where money tempts the poore beholders eye)
Or to the Countrey Townes, deuoyde of Pitty;
(Where to the poore, each place doth almes denie)
All things for money now, are bought and sold,
That either hart can thinke, or eie behold.

 

51

Nay more for money (as report doth tell)
Thou mayst obtaine a Pardon for thy sinnes:
The Pope of Rome, for mony will it sell;
(Whereby thy soule, no small saluation winnes)
But how can he (of Pride the chiefe Beginner)
Forgiue thy sinnes, that is himselfe a sinner?

 

52

Then, sith the Pope is subiect vnto sinne,
No maruell tho, diuine Pecunia tempt him,
With her faire beauty; whose good-will to winne,
Each one contends; and shall wee then exempt him.
Did neuer mortall man, yet looke vpon her,
But straight way he became, enamourd on her.

 

53

Yet would I wish, the Wight that loues her so,
And hath obtain'd, the like good-will againe,
To vse her wisely, lest she proue his foe;
And so, in stead of Pleasure, breed his paine.
She may be kislt; but she may not be clipt,
Lest such delight in bitter gall be dypt.

 

54

The ioyce of grapes, which is a souerai gne Thing
To cheere the hart, and to reuiue the spirits;
Being vsde imoderatly (in surfetting)
Rather Dispraise, then commendation merits,
Euen so Pecunia, is, as she is vsed:
Good of her selfe, but bad if once abused.

 

55

With her the Tenant payes the Landlords rent:
On her depends the stay of euery state;
To her, rich Pressents euery day are sent:
In her, it rests to end all dire Debate;
Thrugh her, to wealth, is raisd the Country Boor;
From her, proceeds much profit to the poore.

 

56

Then how can I sufficiently commend,
her Beuties worth which maks the world to wonder?
Or End her praise, whose praises haue no End?
Whose absence brings the stoutest stomack vnder,
Let it suffice, Pecunia hath no peere,
No wight, no Beauty held more faire, more deere.

 

FINIS.