Ben Jonson - Bartholomew Fayre Act 2. Scene 1 lyrics

Justice Overdoo. Well, in Justice name, and the Kings, and for the Commonwealth! defie all the World, Adam Overdoo, for a disguise, and all story; for thou hast fitted thy self I swear; fain would I meet the Linceus now, that Eagles Eye, that piercing Epidaurian Serpent (as my Quint. Horace calls him) that could discover a Ju- stice of Peace, (and lately of the Quorum) under this covering. They may have seen many a fool in the ha- bit of a Justice; but never till now, a Justice in the ha- bit of a fool. Thus must we do, though that wake for the publick good: and thus hath the wise Magistrate done in all Ages. There is a doing of right out of wrong, if the way be found. Never shall I enough commend a worthy worshipful Man, sometime a capi- tal Member of this City, for his high wisdom in this point, who would take you now the habit of a Porter, now of a Carman, now of the Dog-k**er, in this month of August; and in the Winter, of a seller of Tinder- boxes; and what would he do in all these shapes? mar- ry, go you into every Alehouse, and down into every Celler; measure the length of Puddings, take the gage of Black-pots, and Cans, I, and Custards with a Stick; and their circumference with a Thread; weigh the Loaves of Bread on his middle-finger; then would he send for 'em home; give the Puddings to the Poor, the Bread for the Hungry, the Custards to his Children; break the Pots, and burn the Cans himself; he would not trust his corrupt Officers, he would do't himself. Would all Men in Authority would follow this worthy president. For (alas) as we are publick Persons, what do we know? nay, what can we know? we hear with other Mens Ears, we see with other Mens Eyes. A foo- lish Constable, or a sleepy Watchman, is all our infor- mation, he slanders a Gentleman, by the vertue of his place, (as he calls it) and we by the vice of ours, must believe him. As a while agone, they made me, yea me, to mistake an honest zealous Pursivant, for a Seminary: and a a proper young Batchellor of Musick, for a Bawd. This we are subject to, that live in high place, all our intelligence is idle, and most of our intelligencers Knaves: and by your leave, our selves thought little better, if not errant Fools for believing 'em. I Adam Overdoo, am resolv'd therefore, to spare spy-mony here- after, and make mine own discoveries. Many are the yearly enormities of this Fair, in whose Courts of Pye- poulders I have had the honour, during the three days, sometimes to sit as Judge. But this is the special day for detection of those foresaid enormities. Here is my black Book for the purpose; this the Cloud that hides me; under this Covert I shall see and not be seen. On Junius Brutus. And as I began, so I'll end; in Ju- stice name, and the Kings, and for the Common- wealth.