So I that have of debtors such a swarm, Good they might do me, and themselves no harm, To none but those that can, and will not pay : To me they're rotten trees, with beauteous rinds, Or like dispersed flocks of scattered sheep, Some wildly skipping into unknown grounds, Stray into foreign and forbidden bounds; Where some through want, some through excess have got The scab, the worm, the murrain, or the rot. But whilst they wander guideless, uncontrolled, I'll do my best to bring them to my fold; In defence of Adventures upon returns. ORASMUCH as there are many, who either out of pride, malice, or ignorance, do speak harshly, and hardly of me and of divers others, who have attempted and gone dangerous voyages by sea with small wherries or boats, or any other adventure upon any voyage by land, either riding, going, or running, alledging that we do tempt God by undertaking such perilous courses, (which indeed I cannot deny to be true) yet not to extenuate or make my faults less than they are, I will here approve that all men in the world are adventurers 22 A KICKSEY WINSEY; OR upon return, and that we do all generally tempt the patience and long suffering of God, as I will make it appear as followeth. Whosoever is an idolator, a superstitious heretic, an odious and frequent swearer, or liar, a griping usurer, or uncharitable extortioner, doth tempt God, adventure their souls, and upon return, lose heaven. Whosoever is a whore-master, doth adventure his health, and wealth, and his returns are endless misery, beggary, and the pox. Whosoever doth contrive, plot, or commit treason, doth adventure his soul to the devil and his body to the hangman. Whosoever doth marry a young and beautiful maid, doth adventure a great hazard for a blessing or a curse. Whosoever goes a long journey, and leaves his fair wife at home, doth most dangerously adventure for horns, if she be not the honester. He that sets his hand to a bond, or passes his word for another man's debt, doth adventure a great hazard to pay both principle and interest. Probatum est. That pastor who is either negligent or uncharitable in his function, doth adventure more than he will ever recover. A merchant doth adventure ship, and goods, amongst flats, shoals, deeps, pirates, shelves, rocks, gusts, storms, flaws, tempests, mists, fogs, winds, seas, heats, colds, and calms, and all for hope of profit, which often fails. That tradesman that daily trusts more ware than he receives money for, doth adventure for Ludgate, a breaking, or a cracking of his credit. He or she who are proud either of beauty, riches, wit, learning, strength, or any thing which is transitory, and may be lost, either by fire, water, sickness, death, or any other casualty, do adventure to be accounted vain-glorious, and ridiculous coxcombs. He that puts confidence in drabs, dice, cards, balls, bowls, or any game lawful or unlawful, doth adventure to be laughed at for a fool, or die a beggar unpited. He that eats and drinks till midnight, and fights and brawls till day-light, doth adventure for little rest that night. To conclude, I could name and produce abundance more of adventurers; but as concerning adventuring any more dangerous voyages to sea, with wherries, or any extraordinary means, I have done my last, only my frailty will now and then provoke me to adventure upon some of those |