This worthy Franklin bore a Purse of Silk,
Fixt to his Girdle, white as Morning Milk.
Knight of the Shire, first Juftice at th' Affize,
To help the Poor, the Doubtful to advise.
In all Employments, generous, just he prov'd;
Renown'd for Courtefie, by all belov'd.

The Seaman.

Then came a Dartmouth Seaman far from Weft, A very awkard Rider at the best.

A coarfe Cloth Gown he wore, not long, nor wide,
His Dagger in a Lace adorn'd his Side.

He knew thofe fultry Climates, where the Sun
Turn'd his Complexion to a dusky Brown.
To Company and Mirth he did incline,

Had fwallow'd many a Draught of Burdeaux Wine.
Kept an obedient Seaman's Confcience,
Held borrowing from his Owners no Offence.

If

If 'twas his Fate to take a lucky Prize,

(For ftoutly he would fight) he was fo wife To pick the best, which fent by Parcels home, Little of worth did to the Office come.

A perfect Master of the Compass he,

Cou'd fhun each Rock and Shallow in the Sea; Had weather'd Tempefts, in Engagements been, Scap'd many Dangers, many Countries feen. Knew every Creek and Harbour on the Main, Of England, Scotland, and the Coast of Spain, In many Fights his Frigate much was fam'd; The Magdalene of England it was nam’d.

The Doctor of Phyfick

The Doctor next; a Foe to all Excefs; Who travell'd more for Health than Holiness. In nice Anatomy well skill'd was he,

And not a Stranger to Aftronomy.

He

He knew to wire-draw a Distemper well,
And Cures by Magic Natural foretel;

A deep Aftrologer, that cou'd with eafe
Caft the Nativity of each Disease,

Show at what punctual Hour it fhou'd expire,
In Terms which Knaves invent, and Fools admire.

The Cause of every Malady he knew, Whether of Cold, Heat, Moift, or Dry, it grew. Told which of thofe engender'd the Disease; 'Twas but removing That, and you'd have Ease, Th' Apothecary waited his Command; Druggs and Electuaries were still at hand. Whatever one prefcrib'd, the other made, And each by turns advanc'd the mutual Trade. He'd tell the Wonders wrought by *Phabus Son,

What Fame the great Hippocrates had won.

Efculapius.

Well

Well read in Galen, Celfus, Avicen,

In Diofcorides and Damafcen.

These Names, and many more, he had by rote,
Which, to th' Unlearn'd, he never fail'd to quote,
No Bible on his Pagan Shelves had he,
It was prohibited the Layety.-

In Diet fingular; young tender Meat,
And eafie of Digeftion, he would eat.
At a rich Patient's Table, bold and free;
But at his own, he prais'd Frugality.

Of Scarlet Perfian Silk his Habit was,
And neatly lin❜d with Taffety, or Gause.

Great were his Gains, but mod'rate his Expence;

He flourish'd in a time of Pestilence.

Gold's the best Cordial; yet he lov'd to fee

Coyn'd Aurum, rather than Potabile.

The

The Wife of Bath.

A merry Wife of Bath comes next in place,
But fomewhat deaf, with an Autumnal Face.
By Trade a Weaver, one who scorn'd to grant
Her Work outdone at Ipres, or at Gaunt.
No Matron could with greater Zeal incline
To pay her Offering at the Martyr's Shrine.
She neither patient, nor devout could be,
If any rival'd her in Charity.

In her own Parish the wou'd take the Wall,
Before the proudest Matron of 'em all:
Upon a Sunday ever trimly dreft,

She flaunted forth, the Envy of the reft.
Large were her Kerchiffs, yet more gorgeous made
[weigh'd
With her own Work, and full three Pound they

Scarlet her Hofe, her gloffy Shooes were new;
Bold was her Face, and ruddy was its Hue.

Not