Poetry Codex

Metaphysical & Cavalier

John Taylor

1580–1653

John Taylor (1580–1653), known as “the Water Poet”, was a Thames waterman who made himself a prolific pamphleteer and verse-writer. He worked the river as a ferryman and sculler, served the navy in his youth, and later enjoyed the notice of the court of James I.

The Sculler (1612) and The Nipping and Snipping of Abuses (1614), both gathered here, are early miscellanies of satires, epigrams, sonnets and anagrams. They mix anti-Catholic invective, jibes at the manners of the city, and verses of compliment to patrons and fellow writers.

Poems (212)

  1. TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull and worthy fauourer of learning, my singular good Maister, Sir WILLIAM WAAD Knight
  2. To the right worshipfull and my euer respected, Mr. IOHN MORAY Esquire
  3. To my deere respected friend Mr. Beniamin Iohnson
  4. Prologue to the READER
  5. TO TOM CORIET
  6. The Author in his owne defence
  7. Epigram 1: Curse, exorcize, with beads, with booke, &
  8. Epigram 2: Roome, now approaches thy
  9. Epigram 3: When God had all things out of
  10. Epigram 4: How weakely is that weake Religion grounded
  11. Epigram 5: When as our Sauiour to the Temple
  12. Epigram 6: It is a question farre beyond my
  13. Epigram 7: A Prouerb old, where had the Deuill
  14. Epigram 8: Conferring with a Romish Pharisie
  15. Epigram 9: It is an Art beyond the worke
  16. Epigram 10: Religion's scatter'd into diuers sects
  17. Epigram 11: It is no wonder though Romes regall
  18. Epigram 12: Tumulteous thoughts within my breast doth struggle
  19. Epigram 13: Not all the sophistry of Aristotle
  20. Epigram 14: The warlike Emperors before Christ come
  21. Epigram 15: Christs Church in no wayes is the
  22. Epigram 16: O Yes, if any man would know
  23. Epigram 17: The Pope hath charge of heauens immortall
  24. Epigram 18: Who dares affirme the Popes of Rome
  25. Epigram 19: May it be calld intollerable pride
  26. Epigram 20: If it be couetous for gripple gaine
  27. Epigram 21: Is it not sensuall appetite
  28. Epigram 22: He like a God that gouernes in
  29. Epigram 23: He whose fierce Wrath with bloody rage
  30. Epigram 24: Who dares for Gluttony the Pope accuse
  31. Epigram 25: Those Liberall Sciences, in number seauen
  32. Epigram 26: The beliefe of a Romish Catholike
  33. Epigram 27: Like as the Vipers birth's his mothers
  34. Epigram 28: Me thinkes I heare a swarme of
  35. Epigram 29: I That haue rowed from Tyber vnto
  36. To his aproued good friend Mr. Robert Branthwayt
  37. To his well esteemed friend Mr. Maximilian Waad
  38. To my friend Mr. William Sherman
  39. Epigram 1: All you that stedfastly doe fixe your
  40. Epigram 2: Then cause I will not hug my
  41. Epigram 3: Glacus that selfe conceyted critticke foole
  42. Epigram 4: A Skilfull Painter such rare pictures drew
  43. Epigram 5: Vnlearned Azo, a store of bookes hath
  44. Epigram 6: Faire Betrice tucks her coates vp somewhat
  45. Epigram 7: The way to make a Welch-man thirst
  46. Epigram 8: A Gallant Lasse from out her window
  47. Epigram 9: Young Sr. Iohn Puck foyst, and his
  48. Epigram 10: One tolde me flattry was exilde the
  49. Epigram 12: He that doth beate his braines, and
  50. Epigram 12: Arustick swaine was cleauing of a block
  51. Epigram 13: When Caualero Hot-shott goes with Oares
  52. Epigram 14: It was my chaunce once in my
  53. Epigram 15: The Law hangs Theeues for their vnlawfull
  54. Epigram 16: Old Fabian by extortion and by stealth
  55. Epigram 17: What matter ist, how men their dayes
  56. Epigram 18: Lord who would take him for a
  57. Epigram 19: All Bradoes oathes are new-found eloquence
  58. Epigram 20: Signeor Serano, to and fro doth range
  59. Epigram 21: Old Grubsons Sonne a stripling of good
  60. Epigram 22: Great Captaine Sharke doth wonderfully muse
  61. Epigram 23: A Compleat Gallant that hath gone as
  62. Epigram 24: Drusus his portion gallantly hath spent
  63. Epigram 25: Neat Master Scapethrift railes against all riet
  64. Epigram 26: A Greedy Chuffe once being warnd in
  65. Epigram 27: Doctor Donzago one of wondrous learning
  66. Epigram 28: Braue Bragadocio whome the world would threaten
  67. Epigram 29: Walking along the streetes the other day
  68. Epigram 30: Liefetenant Puffe from Cleaueland is returnd
  69. Epigram 31: A Loue-sicke Woer would a Sonnet write
  70. Epigram 32: Looke how yon I etchers Legs are
  71. Epigram 33: Light fingerd Francis begging in the Iayle
  72. Epigram 34: Mounsieur Luxurio hath bene with a Puncke
  73. Epigram 35: There chanst to meet together in an
  74. Epigram 36: Though Death do Vsurers of life depriue
  75. Epigram 37: Miraculos wonders in the Brittish clime
  76. Epigram 38: For Gods loue tell what gallant Gull
  77. Epigram 39: A Famous house in poasting hast is
  78. Epigram 40: A Worthy Knight there is of antient
  79. Epigram 41: Hunting is all this Gentlemans delight
  80. Epigram 42: Falling a sleepe, and sleeping in a
  81. Epigram 43: A French and English man at dinner
  82. Epigram 44: A Dead dead bargaine is a quicke
  83. Epigram 45: Omus sits mumming like an Elfe
  84. Epigram 46: Reader, if any thing this Booke did
  85. Satire: Thou that hast euer bene a rouing
  86. Satire: This childish Anticke, doating pie-bald world
  87. Pastorall Equinocks, or a Shepheards complaint
  88. Epitaph: Heere lies ingrau'd whose life fell death
  89. Sonnet: In trust lies treason
  90. Death with the foure Elements
  91. Epilogue: Good Reader, if my harshe vnlearned rimes
  92. You that the Sculler right doth vnderstand
  93. To the Sacred Maiesty of King IAMES
  94. The Authors thanks to all those that haue written in his Commendations
  95. To all in generall on whose names I haue Anagrammatized
  96. The Authors description of a Poet and Poesie, with an Apollogie in defence of Naturall English Poetrie
  97. To the Kings most excellent Maiestie
  98. To the high and mighty Prince, Charles Stuart
  99. To Anna Queene of Great Britaine
  100. These lines are to be read, the same backeward as they are forward
  101. Loues laborinth, with the description of the seuen Plannets
  102. Sonnet: Like a decrepit wretch, deform'd and lame
  103. Plutoes Proclamation concerning his Infernall pleasure for the Propagation of Tobacco
  104. Certaine verses written in the Barbarian tongue, dropt out of a Negroes pocket, which I thought good to insert…
  105. To the Right Hon: Lord. WILLIAM Earle of Pembrooke.
  106. Satyre: When I but think, the daies we
  107. To the Right honourable Iohn, Lord Viscount Haddington, Iohn Ramsey
  108. To the Honourable Kinght, Sir Dauid Moraye
  109. To King IAMES
  110. To the Noble Gentleman Mr. Iohn Moraye Gentleman of his Maiesties Honourable Bedchamber
  111. The 10. of March, the Sunne enters into Aries, or the signe of the Ram March 10. Aries
  112. To the Noble Gentleman and my approued good friend Sr. Iames Moray Knight.
  113. The 11. of Aprill he comes into Taurus, or the Signe of the Bull. Taurus
  114. To the Right worshipfull the Recorder of London, and Serieant to the Kings Majesties: Sir HENRY MONTAGVE
  115. The 12. of May the Sunne enters into Gemini, or the Twinnes. Gemini, May
  116. To my approued good friend Mr. Robert Branthwayte
  117. The 12. of Iune the Sunne enters into Cancer or the Crabbe. Cancer. Iune
  118. To my especiall friend Master SAMVELL CALVERTA
  119. The thirteenth of Iuly the sunne enters into Leo, or the Lion. Leo, Iuly
  120. To the Right worshipfull Sir Iohn Swinarton, late Lord Maior of London.
  121. The foureteenth of August the sunne enters into Virgo. Or the Virgin. Virgo. August
  122. To the worthy Gentleman Master SAMVEL DANIEL
  123. The thirteenth of September the sunne enters into Libra, Or the Ballance. Libra. September
  124. To the diuine Poet and my worthy friend Mr. IOSHVAH SYLLVESTER
  125. The foureteenth of October the sunne enters into Scorpio. Scorpio. October
  126. To the Noble Gentleman, and my much honoured friend, Robert Caluert Esquire, of Mount Caluert in Ireland
  127. The eleuenth of Nouember, the sunne enters into Sagittarius, Or the Archer. Sagittarius; Nouember
  128. To the honourable Gentleman Master William Ramsaye, one his of Maiesties Bed-chamber.
  129. The eleuenth of December, the sunne enters into Capricorne, Or the Goate. Capricornus. December
  130. To the Noble Gentleman my especiall good friends Sir William Moray, Lord of Abercany.
  131. The tenth of Ianuary the sunne enters into Aquarius, Or the signe of the Waterbearer. Aquarius. Ianuary
  132. To the Noble Gentleman Master Robert Haye, one of the Gentlemen of his Maiesties honourable bed-chamber
  133. The ninth of February, the sunne enters into Pisces, Or the signe of the two fishes. Pisces. February
  134. To the Honourable Sir Thomas Ridgewaye Knight Barronet, Treasurer at Warres in Ireland, &c.
  135. Sonnet on the Fall of Troy: When Hellen was for Priams sonne a mate
  136. To the noble Gentleman Sir Oliuer Saint-Iohn
  137. Sonnet on the Fall of Troy: With raging madnesse and with fury fell
  138. To the noble Gentleman, Sir EDVVARD BLAINEYE Knight, Gouernor of Monnaahan in the North of Ireland.
  139. Sonnet on the Fall of Troy: Had Priams Queene in Cradle slaine her
  140. To the worthy Gentleman, Sir HENRY FOLIOT Gouernour of Balishannon in the North of Ireland.
  141. Sonnet on the Fall of Troy: Troyes fruitfull Queene did many Children bare
  142. To the Right worshipfull and worthy Gentleman, Sir Simon Weaston of Litchfield in the County of Stafford Knight…
  143. Sonnet on the Fall of Troy: Ten weary yeeres these bloody broyles did
  144. To the truely vertuous Ladie, MARIE WESTON wife to Sir Simon Weston Knight.
  145. Sonnet 1: True Nobilitie
  146. To the Noble Gentleman, Sir ROBERT RIDGEVVAY Knight, son and Heire to Sir Thomas Ridgeway Knight Barronet.
  147. Sonnet on the Fall of Troy: Lo thus the burden of Adultrous guilt
  148. To the worthy and vertuous Ladie, the Lady Elizabeth Ridgeway, wife to Sir Rob. Ridgewaye.
  149. Sonnet 2: Enuy and Honour
  150. To the noble Knight, Sir Francis Willoughby, sonne and heire to Sir Perciuall Willoughby, Knight of Wollerton in the…
  151. Sonnet 3: Beauties luster
  152. To the Vertuous Lady, and wife to Sir Francis Willoughby Knight.
  153. Sonnet 4: Hope and Despaire
  154. To the Right worshipfull Master George Caluert Esquire, one of the Clarkes of his Maiesties priuy Connsell.
  155. Sonnet 5: Three blinde Commanders
  156. To the worthy Gentleman Captaine Arthur Basset in Ireland.
  157. Sonnet 6: Another of the praise of musicke
  158. To the worshipfull Master Francis Ansleye of Dublinne in Ireland Esquire.
  159. Sonnet 7: The Map of Misery
  160. To the Right worshipfull and worthy Gentleman Master Henry Cooley of Carbye in the County of Kiluare, in Ireland
  161. To the Noble and vertuous Lady, the Lady Cecillia Ridgeway, wife to the honourable Knight Sir Thomas Ridgeway Knight…
  162. Sonnet 8: In praise of musicke
  163. To the worthy Gentleman, and my very good friend, Master Iohn Blencowe, of Greies Inne.
  164. A Cataplasmicall Satyre, composed and compacted of sundry simples, as salt, vinegar, wormewood, and a little gall…
  165. To the right Worshipfull and my euer good friend, Sr. ROVVLAND COSTON Knight
  166. To my very good Friends Master Alexander Glouer, Mr. Iohn Rowdon, and Mr. Iohn Burges
  167. To Mistresse Rose.
  168. To my approued good friend Mr. ROBARTE CVDDNER
  169. Epigram 1: Fortune
  170. Epigram 2: Loue
  171. Epigram 3: Death
  172. Epigram 4: Fame
  173. Epigram 5: Time
  174. Epigram 6: Kame, kathee
  175. Epigram 7: Solus
  176. Epigram 8: Selfe conceit
  177. Epigram 9: A couple
  178. Epigram 10: Bacchus and Apollo
  179. Epigram 11: Of translation
  180. Epigram 12: Natures counterfeite
  181. Epigram 13: The deuill take bribery
  182. Epigram 14: The deuill is a knaue
  183. Epigram 15: Kissing goes by fauour
  184. Epigram 16: Deere, no Venison
  185. Epigram 17: Euerything is pretty when it is little
  186. Epigram 18: One ask'd me, what my Melancholy meanes
  187. Epigram 19: Faith without workes
  188. Epigram 20: Partiallity
  189. Epigram 21: A keeper of honesty
  190. Epigram 22: All's one, but on's not all
  191. Epigram 23: Mistresse fine bones
  192. Epigram 24: A supposed Construction
  193. Epigram 25: Death is a Iuggler
  194. Epigram 26: Mistresse Grace onely by name
  195. Epigram 27: Prudence
  196. Epigram 28: Mercy
  197. Epigram 29: Faith
  198. Epigram 30: Vpon my selfe
  199. Epigram 31: A Rope for Parrat
  200. Epigram 32: Constants
  201. Epigram 33: Vpon the burning of the Globe
  202. Epigram 34: Late Repentance
  203. Epigram 35: Not so strange as true
  204. Epigram 36: A Wordmonger
  205. Epigram 37: Plaine dunstable
  206. Epigram 38: Reason
  207. Epigram 39: Out of the pan into the fire
  208. Epigram 40: A Poets similitude
  209. Epigram 41: Macanas Epitaph
  210. An Apologie for Watermen
  211. My unwilling farewell to POETRIE
  212. Epilogue to those that knowes what they haue read, and how to censure

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