A Brewer may put on a noble face, And come to the wars with such a grace, That he may obtain a Captains place; _Which nobody can deny_. A Brewer may speak so learnedly well, And raise such stories for to tell, That he may be come a Colonel; _Which &c_ A Brewer may be a Parliament man, For so his knavery first began, And work the most cunning plots he can; _Which &c_ A Brewer may be so bold a Hector, That when he has drunk a cup of Nectar He may become a Lord Protector; _Which &c_ A Brewer may do all these things, you see, Without controul, nay he may be Lord Chancellor of the University: _Which &c_ A Brewer may sit like a Fox in his cub, And preach a Lecture out of a tub, And give the world a wicked rub; _Which &c_ But here remaines the strangest thing, How he about his plots did bring, That he should be Emperour above a King; _Which no body can deny, deny; Which no body dares deny._ [Footnote 234: A satire on Oliver Cromwell.] [17.] Two Gentlemen riding from _Shipton_ to _Burford_ together, and seeing the Miller of _Burford_ riding softly before on his sacks, resolved to abuse him; so one went on one side of him, and t'other on the other, saying Miller, now tell us, which art thou, more Knave or Fool? Truly, says he, I know not which I am most but I think _I am between both_. [105.] On a time as _Scogin_ was riding to the Abbot of Bury, hee asked of a Cowheard how far it was to Bury. The Cowheard said twenty miles. May I, said _Scogin_, ride thither to night: yea, said the Cowheard, if you ride not too fast, and also if you ride not a good pace, you will be wet ere you come halfe waye there. As _Scogin_ was riding on his way, he did see a cloud arise that was blacke, and being afraid to be wet, he spurred his horse and did ride a great pace, and riding so fast, his horse stumbled and strained his leg, and might not goe. _Scogin_ revolving in his mind the Cowheards words, did set up his horse at a poore mans house, and returned to the Cowheard, supposing that he had beene a good Astronomer, because hee said, if you ride not too fast, you may be at Bury tonight, and alsoe if you doe not ride fast you shal be wet ere you come there. _Scogin_ said to the Cowheard, what shall I give thee to tell mee, when I shall have raine or faire weather? There goeth a bargain, said the Cowheard: what wilt thou give me? _Scogin_ said, Twenty shillings. Nay, said the Cowheard, for forty Shillings I will tell you and teach you, but I will be paid first. Hold the money, said _Scogin_. The Cowheard said, Sir, doe you see yonder Cow with the cut tail? Yea, said _Scogin_. Sir, said the Cowheard, when that she doth begin to set up her rumpe, and draw to a hedge or bush, within an houre after we shall have raine: therefore take the Cow with you, and keepe her as I doe, and you shall ever be sure to know when you shall have faire weather or foule.