John Hammon, M.A., to whom the following “Exhortation” is addressed, was instituted to the rectory of Bibbesford and chapel of Bewdley in Worcestershire the 2d of March 1614, on the presentation of sir William Cook. The new zeal with which he was inspired arose most probably from the intrusion of the “Book of Sports,” by James, in 1618[71], in which the king’s pleasure is declared, “that, after the end of divine service, our good people be not disturbed, letted or discouraged from any lawfull recreation; such as dauncing, either men or women; archerie for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmlesse recreation; nor from having of May games, Witson ales, and Morris dances, and the _setting up of Maypoles and other sports therein used_; and that women shall have leave to carry rushes to the church for the decoring of it, according to their old custome.” AN EXHORTATION TO MR. JOHN HAMMON, MINISTER IN THE PARISH OF BEWDLY, _For the battering downe of the Vanityes of the Gentiles, which are comprehended in a Maypole_. Written by a Zealous Brother from the Black-fryers. The mighty zeale which thou hast new put on, Neither by prophet nor by prophetts sonne As yet prevented, doth transport mee so Beyond my selfe, that, though I ne’re could go Farr in a verse, and all rithmes have defy’d Since Hopkins and old Thomas Sternhold dy’de, (Except it were that little paines I tooke To please good people in a prayer-booke That I sett forth, or so) yet must I raise My spirit for thee, who shall in thy praise Gird up her loynes, and furiously run All kinde of feet, save Satans cloven one. Such is thy zeale, so well dost thou express it, That, (wer ’t not like a charme,) I’de say, Christ blesse it. I needs must say ’tis a spirituall thing To raile against a bishopp, or the king; Nor are they meane adventures wee have bin in, About the wearing of the churches linnen; But these were private quarrells: this doth fall Within the compass of the generall. Whether it be a pole painted, and wrought Farr otherwise, then from the wood ’twas brought, Whose head the idoll-makers hand doth croppe, Where a lew’d bird, towring upon the topp, Lookes like the calfe at Horeb; at whose roots The unyoak’t youth doth exercise his foote; Or whether it reserve his boughes, befreinded By neighb’ring bushes, and by them attended: How caust thou chuse but seeing it complaine, That Baalls worship’t in the groves againe? Tell mee how curst an egging, what a sting Of lust do their unwildy daunces bring? The simple wretches say they meane no harme, They doe not, surely; but their actions warme Our purer blouds the more: for Sathan thus Tempts us the more, that are more righteous. Oft hath a Brother most sincerely gon, Stifled in prayer and contemplation, When lighting on the place where such repaire,