I sing no harme good sooth to any wight, To Lord or foole, Cuckold, begger or knight, To peace-teaching Lawyer, Proctor, or brave Reformed or reduced Captaine, Knave, Officer, Iugler, or Iustice of peace, 5 Iuror or Iudge; I touch no fat sowes grease, I am no Libeller, nor will be any, But (like a true man) say there are too many. I feare not _ore tenus_; for my tale, Nor Count nor Counsellour will redd or pale. 10 A Citizen and his wife the other day Both riding on one horse, upon the way I overtooke, the wench a pretty peate, And (by her eye) well fitting for the feate. I saw the lecherous Citizen turne backe 15 His head, and on his wifes lip steale a smacke, Whence apprehending that the man was kinde, Riding before, to kisse his wife behinde, To get acquaintance with him I began To sort discourse fit for so fine a man: 20 I ask'd the number of the Plaguy Bill, Ask'd if the Custome Farmers held out still, Of the Virginian plot, and whether Ward The traffique of the I<n>land seas had marr'd, Whether the Brittaine _Burse_ did fill apace, 25 And likely were to give th'Exchange disgrace; Of new-built _Algate_, and the _More-field_ crosses, Of store of Bankerouts, and poore Merchants losses I urged him to speake; But he (as mute As an old Courtier worne to his last suite) 30 Replies with onely yeas and nayes; At last (To fit his element) my theame I cast On Tradesmens gaines; that set his tongue agoing: Alas, good sir (quoth he) _There is no doing In Court nor City now_; she smil'd and I, 35 And (in my conscience) both gave him the lie In one met thought: but he went on apace, And at the present time with such a face He rail'd, as fray'd me; for he gave no praise, To any but my Lord of _Essex_ dayes; 40 Call'd those the age of action; true (quoth Hee) There's now as great an itch of bravery, And heat of taking up, but cold lay downe, For, put to push of pay, away they runne; Our onely City trades of hope now are 45 Bawd, Tavern-keeper, Whore and Scrivener; The much of Privileg'd kingsmen, and the store Of fresh protections make the rest all poore; In the first state of their Creation, Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one 50 A righteous pay-master. Thus ranne he on In a continued rage: so void of reason Seem'd his harsh talke, I sweat for feare of treason. And (troth) how could I lesse? when in the prayer For the protection of the wise Lord Major, 55 And his wise brethrens worships, when one prayeth, He swore that none could say Amen with faith. To get him off from what I glowed to heare, (In happy time) an Angel did appeare,