XXVII.CORYDON'S DOLEFUL KNELL.

Of Rosamonde that was so faire,Had cause her sorrowes to declare,Then let Jane Shore with sorrowe sing,That was beloved of a king.In maiden yeares my beautye bright5Was loved dear of lord and knight;But yet the love that they requir'd,It was not as my friends desir'd.My parents they, for thirst of gaine,A husband for me did obtaine;10And I, their pleasure to fulfille,Was forc'd to wedd against my wille.To Matthew Shore I was a wife,Till lust brought ruine to my life;And then my life I lewdlye spent,15Which makes my soul for to lament.In Lombard-street I once did dwelle,As London yet can witness welle;Where many gallants did beholdeMy beautye in a shop of golde.20I spred my plumes, as wantons doe,Some sweet and secret friende to wooe,Because chast love I did not findeAgreeing to my wanton minde.At last my name in court did ring25Into the eares of Englandes king,Who came and lik'd, and love requir'd,But I made coye what he desir'd;Yet Mistress Blague, a neighbour neare,Whose friendship I esteemed deare,30Did saye, It was a gallant thingTo be beloved of a king.By her persuasions I was led,For to defile my marriage-bed,And wronge my wedded husband Shore,35Whom I had married yeares before.In heart and mind I did rejoyce,That I had made so sweet a choice;And therefore did my state resigne,To be king Edward's concubine.40From city then to court I went,To reape the pleasures of content;There had the joyes that love could bring,And knew the secrets of a king.When I was thus advanc'd on highe45Commanding Edward with mine eye,For Mrs. Blague I in short spaceObtainde a livinge from his grace.No friende I had but in short timeI made unto a promotion climbe;50But yet for all this costlye pride,My husbande could not mee abide.His bed, though wronged by a king,His heart with deadlye griefe did sting;From England then he goes away55To end his life beyond the sea.He could not live to see his nameImpaired by my wanton shame;Although a prince of peerlesse mightDid reape the pleasure of his right.60Long time I lived in the courte,With lords and ladies of great sorte;And when I smil'd all men were glad,But when I frown'd my prince grewe sad.But yet a gentle minde I bore65To helplesse people, that were poore;I still redrest the orphans crye,And sav'd their lives condemnd to dye.I still had ruth on widowes tears,I succour'd babes of tender yeares;70And never look'd for other gaineBut love and thankes for all my paine.At last my royall king did dye,And then my dayes of woe grew nighe;When crook-back Richard got the crowne,75King Edwards friends were soon put downe.I then was punisht for my sin,That I so long had lived in;Yea, every one that was his friend,This tyrant brought to shamefull end.80Then for my lewd and wanton life,That made a strumpet of a wife,I penance did in Lombard-street,In shamefull manner in a sheet.Where many thousands did me viewe,85Who late in court my credit knewe;Which made the teares run down my face,To thinke upon my foul disgrace.Not thus content, they took from meeMy goodes, my livings, and my fee,90And charg'd that none should me relieve,Nor any succour to me give.Then unto Mrs. Blague I went,To whom my jewels I had sent,In hope therebye to ease my want,95When riches fail'd, and love grew scant:But she denyed to me the sameWhen in my need for them I came:To recompence my former love,Out of her doores shee did me shove.100So love did vanish with my state,Which now my soul repents too late;Therefore example take by mee,For friendship parts in povertie.But yet one friend among the rest,105Whom I before had seen distrest,And sav'd his life, condemn'd to die,Did give me food to succour me:For which, by lawe, it was decreedThat he was hanged for that deed;110His death did grieve me so much more,Than had I dyed myself therefore.Then those to whom I had done good,Durst not afford me any food;Whereby I begged all the day,115And still in streets by night I lay.My gowns beset with pearl and gold,Were turn'd to simple garments old;My chains and gems and golden rings,To filthy rags and loathsome things.120Thus was I scorn'd of maid and wife,For leading such a wicked life;Both sucking babes and children small,Did make their pastime at my fall.I could not get one bit of bread,125Whereby my hunger might be fed:Nor drink, but such as channels yield,Or stinking ditches in the field.Thus, weary of my life, at lengtheI yielded up my vital strength130Within a ditch of loathsome scent,Where carrion dogs did much frequent:The which now since my dying daye,Is Shoreditch call'd, as writers saye[741];Which is a witness of my sinne,135For being concubine to a king.You wanton wives, that fall to lust,Be you assur'd that God is just;Whoredome shall not escape his hand,Nor pride unpunish'd in this land.140If God to me such shame did bring,That yielded only to a king,How shall they scape that daily runTo practise sin with every one?You husbands, match not but for love,145Lest some disliking after prove;Women, be warn'd when you are wives,What plagues are due to sinful lives:Then, maids and wives, in time amend,For love and beauty will have end.150

Of Rosamonde that was so faire,Had cause her sorrowes to declare,Then let Jane Shore with sorrowe sing,That was beloved of a king.

In maiden yeares my beautye bright5Was loved dear of lord and knight;But yet the love that they requir'd,It was not as my friends desir'd.

My parents they, for thirst of gaine,A husband for me did obtaine;10And I, their pleasure to fulfille,Was forc'd to wedd against my wille.

To Matthew Shore I was a wife,Till lust brought ruine to my life;And then my life I lewdlye spent,15Which makes my soul for to lament.

In Lombard-street I once did dwelle,As London yet can witness welle;Where many gallants did beholdeMy beautye in a shop of golde.20

I spred my plumes, as wantons doe,Some sweet and secret friende to wooe,Because chast love I did not findeAgreeing to my wanton minde.

At last my name in court did ring25Into the eares of Englandes king,Who came and lik'd, and love requir'd,But I made coye what he desir'd;

Yet Mistress Blague, a neighbour neare,Whose friendship I esteemed deare,30Did saye, It was a gallant thingTo be beloved of a king.

By her persuasions I was led,For to defile my marriage-bed,And wronge my wedded husband Shore,35Whom I had married yeares before.

In heart and mind I did rejoyce,That I had made so sweet a choice;And therefore did my state resigne,To be king Edward's concubine.40

From city then to court I went,To reape the pleasures of content;There had the joyes that love could bring,And knew the secrets of a king.

When I was thus advanc'd on highe45Commanding Edward with mine eye,For Mrs. Blague I in short spaceObtainde a livinge from his grace.

No friende I had but in short timeI made unto a promotion climbe;50But yet for all this costlye pride,My husbande could not mee abide.

His bed, though wronged by a king,His heart with deadlye griefe did sting;From England then he goes away55To end his life beyond the sea.

He could not live to see his nameImpaired by my wanton shame;Although a prince of peerlesse mightDid reape the pleasure of his right.60

Long time I lived in the courte,With lords and ladies of great sorte;And when I smil'd all men were glad,But when I frown'd my prince grewe sad.

But yet a gentle minde I bore65To helplesse people, that were poore;I still redrest the orphans crye,And sav'd their lives condemnd to dye.

I still had ruth on widowes tears,I succour'd babes of tender yeares;70And never look'd for other gaineBut love and thankes for all my paine.

At last my royall king did dye,And then my dayes of woe grew nighe;When crook-back Richard got the crowne,75King Edwards friends were soon put downe.

I then was punisht for my sin,That I so long had lived in;Yea, every one that was his friend,This tyrant brought to shamefull end.80

Then for my lewd and wanton life,That made a strumpet of a wife,I penance did in Lombard-street,In shamefull manner in a sheet.

Where many thousands did me viewe,85Who late in court my credit knewe;Which made the teares run down my face,To thinke upon my foul disgrace.

Not thus content, they took from meeMy goodes, my livings, and my fee,90And charg'd that none should me relieve,Nor any succour to me give.

Then unto Mrs. Blague I went,To whom my jewels I had sent,In hope therebye to ease my want,95When riches fail'd, and love grew scant:

But she denyed to me the sameWhen in my need for them I came:To recompence my former love,Out of her doores shee did me shove.100

So love did vanish with my state,Which now my soul repents too late;Therefore example take by mee,For friendship parts in povertie.

But yet one friend among the rest,105Whom I before had seen distrest,And sav'd his life, condemn'd to die,Did give me food to succour me:

For which, by lawe, it was decreedThat he was hanged for that deed;110His death did grieve me so much more,Than had I dyed myself therefore.

Then those to whom I had done good,Durst not afford me any food;Whereby I begged all the day,115And still in streets by night I lay.

My gowns beset with pearl and gold,Were turn'd to simple garments old;My chains and gems and golden rings,To filthy rags and loathsome things.120

Thus was I scorn'd of maid and wife,For leading such a wicked life;Both sucking babes and children small,Did make their pastime at my fall.

I could not get one bit of bread,125Whereby my hunger might be fed:Nor drink, but such as channels yield,Or stinking ditches in the field.

Thus, weary of my life, at lengtheI yielded up my vital strength130Within a ditch of loathsome scent,Where carrion dogs did much frequent:

The which now since my dying daye,Is Shoreditch call'd, as writers saye[741];Which is a witness of my sinne,135For being concubine to a king.

You wanton wives, that fall to lust,Be you assur'd that God is just;Whoredome shall not escape his hand,Nor pride unpunish'd in this land.140

If God to me such shame did bring,That yielded only to a king,How shall they scape that daily runTo practise sin with every one?

You husbands, match not but for love,145Lest some disliking after prove;Women, be warn'd when you are wives,What plagues are due to sinful lives:Then, maids and wives, in time amend,For love and beauty will have end.150

FOOTNOTES:[739]After the death of Hastings, she was kept by the marquis of Dorset, son to Edward IV.'s queen. In Rymer'sFœderais a proclamation of Richard's, dated at Leicester, Oct. 23, 1483, wherein a reward of 1000 marks in money, or 100 a year in land is offered for taking "Thomas late marquis of Dorset," who, "not having the fear of God, nor the salvation of his own soul, before his eyes, has damnably debauched and defiled many maids, widows, and wives, andlived in actual adultery with the wife of Shore." Buckingham was at that time in rebellion, but as Dorset was not with him, Richard could not accuse him of treason, and therefore made a handle of these pretended debaucheries to get him apprehended. VideRym. Fœd.tom. xij. pag. 204.[The Rev. Mark Noble writes as follows of the charge made by Richard of Dorset's living in adultery with Jane Shore.—"It could not be before she was taken by Edward; it could not be during that king's life; it could not be afterwards, by Richard's own account, for by his proclamation she then was the mistress of Hastings to the night preceding his being put to death. It could not be after that catastrophe, for ever after then Richard kept her either in the Tower or in Ludgate a close prisoner."—Brayley'sGraphic and Historical Illustrator, 1834, p. 55.][740]These words of Sir Thomas More probably suggested to Shakespeare that proverbial reflection inHen. VIII.act iv. sc. 2."Men's evill manners live in brass: their virtuesWe write in water."Shakesp. in his play ofRich. III.follows More'sHist.of that reign, and therefore could not but see this passage.[741]But it had this name long before; being so called from its being a common Sewer (vulgarly Shore) or drain. See Stow.[Weever states that it was named from the Lord of the Manor. Sir John de Sordig was Ambassador from Edward III. to the Pope, to remonstrate with his Holiness on his claim to present foreigners to English livings.]

[739]After the death of Hastings, she was kept by the marquis of Dorset, son to Edward IV.'s queen. In Rymer'sFœderais a proclamation of Richard's, dated at Leicester, Oct. 23, 1483, wherein a reward of 1000 marks in money, or 100 a year in land is offered for taking "Thomas late marquis of Dorset," who, "not having the fear of God, nor the salvation of his own soul, before his eyes, has damnably debauched and defiled many maids, widows, and wives, andlived in actual adultery with the wife of Shore." Buckingham was at that time in rebellion, but as Dorset was not with him, Richard could not accuse him of treason, and therefore made a handle of these pretended debaucheries to get him apprehended. VideRym. Fœd.tom. xij. pag. 204.[The Rev. Mark Noble writes as follows of the charge made by Richard of Dorset's living in adultery with Jane Shore.—"It could not be before she was taken by Edward; it could not be during that king's life; it could not be afterwards, by Richard's own account, for by his proclamation she then was the mistress of Hastings to the night preceding his being put to death. It could not be after that catastrophe, for ever after then Richard kept her either in the Tower or in Ludgate a close prisoner."—Brayley'sGraphic and Historical Illustrator, 1834, p. 55.]

[The Rev. Mark Noble writes as follows of the charge made by Richard of Dorset's living in adultery with Jane Shore.—"It could not be before she was taken by Edward; it could not be during that king's life; it could not be afterwards, by Richard's own account, for by his proclamation she then was the mistress of Hastings to the night preceding his being put to death. It could not be after that catastrophe, for ever after then Richard kept her either in the Tower or in Ludgate a close prisoner."—Brayley'sGraphic and Historical Illustrator, 1834, p. 55.]

[740]These words of Sir Thomas More probably suggested to Shakespeare that proverbial reflection inHen. VIII.act iv. sc. 2."Men's evill manners live in brass: their virtuesWe write in water."Shakesp. in his play ofRich. III.follows More'sHist.of that reign, and therefore could not but see this passage.

[740]These words of Sir Thomas More probably suggested to Shakespeare that proverbial reflection inHen. VIII.act iv. sc. 2.

"Men's evill manners live in brass: their virtuesWe write in water."

Shakesp. in his play ofRich. III.follows More'sHist.of that reign, and therefore could not but see this passage.

[741]But it had this name long before; being so called from its being a common Sewer (vulgarly Shore) or drain. See Stow.[Weever states that it was named from the Lord of the Manor. Sir John de Sordig was Ambassador from Edward III. to the Pope, to remonstrate with his Holiness on his claim to present foreigners to English livings.]

[741]But it had this name long before; being so called from its being a common Sewer (vulgarly Shore) or drain. See Stow.

[Weever states that it was named from the Lord of the Manor. Sir John de Sordig was Ambassador from Edward III. to the Pope, to remonstrate with his Holiness on his claim to present foreigners to English livings.]

Thislittle simple elegy is given, with some corrections, from two copies, one of which is inThe golden garlandof princely delights.

The burthen of the song,Ding Dong, &c. is at present appropriated to burlesque subjects, and therefore may excite only ludicrous ideas in a modern reader; but in the time of our poet it usually accompanied the most solemn and mournful strains. Of this kind is that fine aërial Dirge in Shakespear'sTempest:

"Full fadom five thy father lies,Of his bones are corrall made;Those are pearles that were his eyes;Nothing of him, that doth fade,But doth suffer a sea-changeInto something rich and strange:Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell,Harke now I heare them, Ding dong bell.""Burthen, Ding Dong."

I make no doubt but the poet intended to conclude the above air in a manner the most solemn and expressive of melancholy.

My Phillida, adieu love!For evermore farewel!Ay me! I've lost my true love,And thus I ring her knell,Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong,5My Phillida is dead!I'll stick a branch of willowAt my fair Phillis' head.For my fair PhillidaOur bridal bed was made:10But 'stead of silkes so gay,She in her shroud is laid.Ding, &c.Her corpse shall be attendedBy maides in fair array,Till the obsequies are ended,15And she is wrapt in clay.Ding, &c.Her herse it shall be carriedBy youths, that do excell;And when that she is buried,I thus will ring her knell,20Ding, &c.A garland shall be framedBy art and natures skill,Of sundry-colour'd flowers,In token of good-will[742]:Ding, &c.And sundry-colour'd ribbands25On it I will bestow;But chiefly black and yellowe[743]:With her to grave shall go.Ding, &c.I'll decke her tomb with flowers,The rarest ever seen,30And with my tears, as showers,I'll keepe them fresh and green.Ding, &c.Instead of fairest colours,Set forth with curious art[744],Ding, &c.Her image shall be painted35On my distressed heart.And thereon shall be gravenHer epitaph so faire,"Here lies the loveliest maiden,That e'er gave shepheard care."40Ding, &c.In sable will I mourne;Blacke shall be all my weede;Ay me! I am forlorne,Now Phillida is dead!Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong,My Phillida is dead!46I'll stick a branch of willowAt my fair Phillis' head

For my fair PhillidaOur bridal bed was made:10But 'stead of silkes so gay,She in her shroud is laid.Ding, &c.

Her corpse shall be attendedBy maides in fair array,Till the obsequies are ended,15And she is wrapt in clay.Ding, &c.

Her herse it shall be carriedBy youths, that do excell;And when that she is buried,I thus will ring her knell,20Ding, &c.

A garland shall be framedBy art and natures skill,Of sundry-colour'd flowers,In token of good-will[742]:Ding, &c.

And sundry-colour'd ribbands25On it I will bestow;But chiefly black and yellowe[743]:With her to grave shall go.Ding, &c.

I'll decke her tomb with flowers,The rarest ever seen,30And with my tears, as showers,I'll keepe them fresh and green.Ding, &c.

Instead of fairest colours,Set forth with curious art[744],Ding, &c.Her image shall be painted35On my distressed heart.

And thereon shall be gravenHer epitaph so faire,"Here lies the loveliest maiden,That e'er gave shepheard care."40Ding, &c.

In sable will I mourne;Blacke shall be all my weede;Ay me! I am forlorne,Now Phillida is dead!Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong,My Phillida is dead!46I'll stick a branch of willowAt my fair Phillis' head

FOOTNOTES:[742]It is a custom in many parts of England, to carry a flowery garland before the corpse of a woman who dies unmarried. [For further note on this custom, seeThe Bride's Burial, vol iii. Book II. No. 13.][743]See above, preface to No. XI. Book II.[744]This alludes to the painted effigies of alabaster, anciently erected upon tombs and monuments.

[742]It is a custom in many parts of England, to carry a flowery garland before the corpse of a woman who dies unmarried. [For further note on this custom, seeThe Bride's Burial, vol iii. Book II. No. 13.]

[743]See above, preface to No. XI. Book II.

[744]This alludes to the painted effigies of alabaster, anciently erected upon tombs and monuments.

THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK.

RELIQUES OF ANCIENT POETRY, ETC.

SERIES THE SECOND.

Ishall begin this third book with an old allegoric Satire; a manner of moralizing, which, if it was not first introduced by the author ofPierce Plowman'sVisions,[745]was at least chiefly brought into repute by that ancient Satirist. It is not so generally known that the kind of verse used in this ballad hath any affinity with the peculiar metre of that writer, for which reason I shall throw together some cursory remarks on that very singular species of versification, the nature of which has been so little understood.[746]

The following Song, intitled,The Complaint of Conscience, is printed from the Editor's folio Manuscript: Some corruptions in the old copy are here corrected; but with notice to the Reader, wherever it was judged necessary, by inclosing the corrections between inverted 'commas.'

[This poem entitledConscienceis printed in Hales and Furnivall's edition of the Percy folio MS. (vol. ii. p. 174), with a long preface by Mr. Furnivall, on the earnest side of Early English literature.It will be seen from the foot-notes that Percy left many of his corrections unnoticed.]

It will be seen from the foot-notes that Percy left many of his corrections unnoticed.]

As I walked of late by 'an' wood side,[747]To God for to meditate was my entent;Where under a hawthorne I suddenlye spyed[748]A silly poore creature ragged and rent,With bloody teares his face was besprent,[749]5His fleshe and his color consumed away,[749]And his garments they were all mire, mucke, and clay.[750]This made me muse, and much 'to' desireTo know what kind of man hee shold bee;I stept to him straight, and did him require10His name and his secretts to shew unto mee.His head he cast up, and wooful was hee,My name, quoth he, is the cause of my care,And makes me scorned, and left here so bare.Then straightway he turn'd him, and pray'd 'me' sit downe,[751]15And I will, saithe he, declare my whole greefe;My name is calledConscience:—wheratt he did frowne,He pined to repeate it, and grinded his teethe,'Thoughe now, silly wretche, I'm denyed all releef,'[752]'Yet' while I was young, and tender of yeeres,[753]20I was entertained with kinges, and with peeres.There was none in the court that lived in such fame,[754]For with the kings councell 'I' sate in commission;[755]Dukes, earles, and barrons esteem'd of my name;And how that I liv'd there needs no repetition:25I was ever holden in honest condition,For howsoever the lawes went in Westminster-hall,When sentence was given, for me they wold call.No incomes at all the landlords wold take,But one pore peny, that was their fine;30And that they acknowledged to be for my sake.The poore wold doe nothing without councell mine:I ruled the world with the right line:For nothing was passed betweene foe and friend,[756]But Conscience was called to bee at 'the' end.[757]35Noe bargaines, nor merchandize merchants wold make[758]But I was called a wittenesse therto:No use for noe money, nor forfett wold take,But I wold controule them, if that they did soe:'And' that makes me live now in great woe,40For then came in Pride, Sathan's disciple,That is now entertained with all kind of people.[759]He brought with him three, whose names 'thus they call'[760]That is Covetousnes, Lecherye, Usury, beside:They never prevail'd, till they had wrought my downefall;45Soe Pride was entertained, but Conscience decried,[761]And 'now ever since' abroad have I tryed[762]To have had entertainment with some one or other;But I am rejected, and scorned of my brother.Then went I to the Court the gallants to winn,50But the porter kept me out of the gate:[763]To Bartlemew Spittle[764]to pray for my sinne,[765]They bade me goe packe, it was fitt for my state;[766]Goe, goe, threed-bare Conscience, and seeke thee a mate.Good Lord, long preserve my king, prince, and queene,55With whom evermore I esteemed have been.[767]Then went I to London, where once I did 'dwell':[768]But they bade away with me, when they knew my name;For he will undoe us to bye and to sell!59They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for shame;They lought[769]at my raggs, and there had good game;This is old threed-bare Conscience, that dwelt with saint Peter:But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-sweeper.Not one wold receive me, the Lord 'he' doth know;[770]I having but one poor pennye in my purse,65On an awle and some patches I did it bestow;[771]'For' I thought better cobble shooes than doe worse.[772]Straight then all the coblers began for to curse,[773]And by statute wold prove me a rogue, and forlorne,[774]And whipp me out of towne to 'seeke' where I was borne.[775]70Then did I remember, and call to my minde,The Court of Conscience where once I did sit:[776]Not doubting but there I some favor shold find,[777]For my name and the place agreed soe fit;But there of my purpose I fayled a whit,75For 'thoughe' the judge us'd my name in everye 'commission,'[778]The lawyers with their quillets[779]wold get 'my' dismission.[780]Then Westminster-hall was noe place for me;Good lord! how the Lawyers began to assemble,[781]And fearfull they were, lest there I shold bee!80The silly poore clarkes began for to tremble;I showed them my cause, and did not dissemble;Soe they gave me some money my charges to beare,[782]But swore me on a booke I must never come there.Next the Merchants said, Counterfeite, get thee away,[783]85Dost thou remember how wee thee found?We banisht thee the country beyond the salt sea,And sett thee on shore in the New-found land;And there thou and wee most friendly shook hand,[784]And we were right glad when thou didst refuse us;[785]For when we wold reape profitt here thou woldst accuse us.[786]91Then had I noe way, but for to goe on[787]To Gentlemens houses of an ancyent name;Declaring my greeffes, and there I made moane,'Telling' how their forefathers held me in fame:[788]95And at letting their farmes 'how always I came'.[789]They sayd, Fye upon thee! we may thee curse:'Theire' leases continue, and we fare the worse.[790]And then I was forced a begging to goeTo husbandmens houses, who greeved right sore,100And sware that their landlords had plagued them so[791]That they were not able to keepe open doore,Nor nothing had left to give to the poore:[792]Therefore to this wood I doe me repayre,[793]Where hepps and hawes, that is my best fare.105Yet within this same desert some comfort I haveOf Mercy, of Pittye, and of Almes-deeds;Who have vowed to company me to my grave.Wee are 'all' put to silence, and live upon weeds,[794]'And hence such cold house-keeping proceeds':[795]110Our banishment is its utter decay,[796]The which the riche glutton will answer one day.Why then, I said to him, me-thinks it were bestTo goe to the Clergie; for dailye they preachEche man to love you above all the rest;[797]115Of Mercye, and Pittie, and Almes-'deeds', they teach.O, said he, noe matter of a pin what they preach,[798]For their wives and their children soe hange them upon,[799]That whosoever gives almes they will[800]give none.[801]Then laid he him down, and turned him away,120'And' prayd me to goe, and leave him to rest.I told him, I haplie might yet see the day[802]For him and his fellowes to live with the best.[803]First, said he, banish Pride, then all England were blest;[804]For then those wold love us, that now sell their land,[805]125And then good 'house-keeping wold revive' out of hand.[806]

This made me muse, and much 'to' desireTo know what kind of man hee shold bee;I stept to him straight, and did him require10His name and his secretts to shew unto mee.His head he cast up, and wooful was hee,My name, quoth he, is the cause of my care,And makes me scorned, and left here so bare.

Then straightway he turn'd him, and pray'd 'me' sit downe,[751]15And I will, saithe he, declare my whole greefe;My name is calledConscience:—wheratt he did frowne,He pined to repeate it, and grinded his teethe,'Thoughe now, silly wretche, I'm denyed all releef,'[752]'Yet' while I was young, and tender of yeeres,[753]20I was entertained with kinges, and with peeres.

There was none in the court that lived in such fame,[754]For with the kings councell 'I' sate in commission;[755]Dukes, earles, and barrons esteem'd of my name;And how that I liv'd there needs no repetition:25I was ever holden in honest condition,For howsoever the lawes went in Westminster-hall,When sentence was given, for me they wold call.

No incomes at all the landlords wold take,But one pore peny, that was their fine;30And that they acknowledged to be for my sake.The poore wold doe nothing without councell mine:I ruled the world with the right line:For nothing was passed betweene foe and friend,[756]But Conscience was called to bee at 'the' end.[757]35

Noe bargaines, nor merchandize merchants wold make[758]But I was called a wittenesse therto:No use for noe money, nor forfett wold take,But I wold controule them, if that they did soe:'And' that makes me live now in great woe,40For then came in Pride, Sathan's disciple,That is now entertained with all kind of people.[759]

He brought with him three, whose names 'thus they call'[760]That is Covetousnes, Lecherye, Usury, beside:They never prevail'd, till they had wrought my downefall;45Soe Pride was entertained, but Conscience decried,[761]And 'now ever since' abroad have I tryed[762]To have had entertainment with some one or other;But I am rejected, and scorned of my brother.

Then went I to the Court the gallants to winn,50But the porter kept me out of the gate:[763]To Bartlemew Spittle[764]to pray for my sinne,[765]They bade me goe packe, it was fitt for my state;[766]Goe, goe, threed-bare Conscience, and seeke thee a mate.Good Lord, long preserve my king, prince, and queene,55With whom evermore I esteemed have been.[767]

Then went I to London, where once I did 'dwell':[768]But they bade away with me, when they knew my name;For he will undoe us to bye and to sell!59They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for shame;They lought[769]at my raggs, and there had good game;This is old threed-bare Conscience, that dwelt with saint Peter:But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-sweeper.

Not one wold receive me, the Lord 'he' doth know;[770]I having but one poor pennye in my purse,65On an awle and some patches I did it bestow;[771]'For' I thought better cobble shooes than doe worse.[772]Straight then all the coblers began for to curse,[773]And by statute wold prove me a rogue, and forlorne,[774]And whipp me out of towne to 'seeke' where I was borne.[775]70

Then did I remember, and call to my minde,The Court of Conscience where once I did sit:[776]Not doubting but there I some favor shold find,[777]For my name and the place agreed soe fit;But there of my purpose I fayled a whit,75For 'thoughe' the judge us'd my name in everye 'commission,'[778]The lawyers with their quillets[779]wold get 'my' dismission.[780]

Then Westminster-hall was noe place for me;Good lord! how the Lawyers began to assemble,[781]And fearfull they were, lest there I shold bee!80The silly poore clarkes began for to tremble;I showed them my cause, and did not dissemble;Soe they gave me some money my charges to beare,[782]But swore me on a booke I must never come there.

Next the Merchants said, Counterfeite, get thee away,[783]85Dost thou remember how wee thee found?We banisht thee the country beyond the salt sea,And sett thee on shore in the New-found land;And there thou and wee most friendly shook hand,[784]And we were right glad when thou didst refuse us;[785]For when we wold reape profitt here thou woldst accuse us.[786]91

Then had I noe way, but for to goe on[787]To Gentlemens houses of an ancyent name;Declaring my greeffes, and there I made moane,'Telling' how their forefathers held me in fame:[788]95And at letting their farmes 'how always I came'.[789]They sayd, Fye upon thee! we may thee curse:'Theire' leases continue, and we fare the worse.[790]

And then I was forced a begging to goeTo husbandmens houses, who greeved right sore,100And sware that their landlords had plagued them so[791]That they were not able to keepe open doore,Nor nothing had left to give to the poore:[792]Therefore to this wood I doe me repayre,[793]Where hepps and hawes, that is my best fare.105

Yet within this same desert some comfort I haveOf Mercy, of Pittye, and of Almes-deeds;Who have vowed to company me to my grave.Wee are 'all' put to silence, and live upon weeds,[794]'And hence such cold house-keeping proceeds':[795]110Our banishment is its utter decay,[796]The which the riche glutton will answer one day.

Why then, I said to him, me-thinks it were bestTo goe to the Clergie; for dailye they preachEche man to love you above all the rest;[797]115Of Mercye, and Pittie, and Almes-'deeds', they teach.O, said he, noe matter of a pin what they preach,[798]For their wives and their children soe hange them upon,[799]That whosoever gives almes they will[800]give none.[801]

Then laid he him down, and turned him away,120'And' prayd me to goe, and leave him to rest.I told him, I haplie might yet see the day[802]For him and his fellowes to live with the best.[803]First, said he, banish Pride, then all England were blest;[804]For then those wold love us, that now sell their land,[805]125And then good 'house-keeping wold revive' out of hand.[806]

FOOTNOTES:[745][The correct title isWilliam's Vision of Piers Plowman. It is William (the author) who has the vision of Piers Plowman.][746][This essay is printed as an Appendix.][747]Ver. 1. one, MS.[748][V. 3. espyed, MS.][749][Between vv. 5, 6 the MS. has this line, "with turning and winding his bodye was toste."][750][After v. 7, the MS. has the following lines:—"good lord! of my liffe deprive me, I prayfor I silly wretch am ashamed of my name!my name, "quoth hee," is the cause of my care,and I cursse my godfathers that gave me the same!"Percy omits three of these, and transfers the third line to v. 13.][751]V. 15. him, MS.[752]V. 19. not in MS.[753][V. 20.forin place ofyet, MS.][754][Ver. 22. in all the court.][755]V. 23. he sate, MS.[756][V. 34. that was passed.][757]V. 35. an end, MS.[758][V. 36. Noe merchandize nor bargaines the merchants wold make.][759][V. 42. now is.][760]V. 43. they be these, MS.[761]V. 46. was deride, MS.[762][V. 47. Yet still abroad have I tried.][763][Ver. 51. gates.][764][St. Bartholomew's Hospital.][765][V. 52. sinnes.][766]V. 53. packe me, MS.[767][V. 56. have esteemed.][768]V. 57. wonne, MS.[769][laughed.][770][V. 64. the Lord God doth.][771][V. 66. of an.][772][V. 67. I thought better to cobble shoes than to doe worse.][773][V. 68. all they cobblers.][774][V. 69. and by statute thé wold prove me I was a rouge and forlorne.][775][V. 70. And they whipt me out of towne to see where I was borne.][776][Ver. 72. they Court.][777][V. 73. some favor I.][778][V. 76. did use my name in everye condicion.][779][quibbles.][780][V. 77. for lawyers get a.][781][V. 79. good god.][782][V. 83. soe then they.][783][V. 85. then the merchants.][784][V. 89. hands.][785][V. 90. verry glad ... did ...][786][V. 91. wold.][787][V. 92. goe an.][788][V. 95. and how ... had held, MS.][789][Ver. 96. and in letting of their ffarmes I always used the same.][790][V. 98. they have leases.][791][V. 101. who sware ... so sore.][792][V. 103. thé had.][793][V. 104. doe repayre.][794]V. 109. ill, MS.[795]V. 110. not in MS.[796][V. 111. their utter.][797][V. 115. of pittie and of almes they doe teach.][798][V. 117. doe preach.][799][V. 118. hangs.][800]We ought in justice and truth to read 'can[801]V. 119. almes-deeds, MS.[802][Ver. 122. I might happen to see.][803][V. 123. to have him.][804][V. 124. you must banish pride and then.][805][V. 125. and then ... sells their lands.][806]V. 126. houses every where wold be kept, MS.

[745][The correct title isWilliam's Vision of Piers Plowman. It is William (the author) who has the vision of Piers Plowman.]

[746][This essay is printed as an Appendix.]

[747]Ver. 1. one, MS.

[748][V. 3. espyed, MS.]

[749][Between vv. 5, 6 the MS. has this line, "with turning and winding his bodye was toste."]

[750][After v. 7, the MS. has the following lines:—"good lord! of my liffe deprive me, I prayfor I silly wretch am ashamed of my name!my name, "quoth hee," is the cause of my care,and I cursse my godfathers that gave me the same!"Percy omits three of these, and transfers the third line to v. 13.]

[750][After v. 7, the MS. has the following lines:—

"good lord! of my liffe deprive me, I prayfor I silly wretch am ashamed of my name!my name, "quoth hee," is the cause of my care,and I cursse my godfathers that gave me the same!"

Percy omits three of these, and transfers the third line to v. 13.]

[751]V. 15. him, MS.

[752]V. 19. not in MS.

[753][V. 20.forin place ofyet, MS.]

[754][Ver. 22. in all the court.]

[755]V. 23. he sate, MS.

[756][V. 34. that was passed.]

[757]V. 35. an end, MS.

[758][V. 36. Noe merchandize nor bargaines the merchants wold make.]

[759][V. 42. now is.]

[760]V. 43. they be these, MS.

[761]V. 46. was deride, MS.

[762][V. 47. Yet still abroad have I tried.]

[763][Ver. 51. gates.]

[764][St. Bartholomew's Hospital.]

[765][V. 52. sinnes.]

[766]V. 53. packe me, MS.

[767][V. 56. have esteemed.]

[768]V. 57. wonne, MS.

[769][laughed.]

[770][V. 64. the Lord God doth.]

[771][V. 66. of an.]

[772][V. 67. I thought better to cobble shoes than to doe worse.]

[773][V. 68. all they cobblers.]

[774][V. 69. and by statute thé wold prove me I was a rouge and forlorne.]

[775][V. 70. And they whipt me out of towne to see where I was borne.]

[776][Ver. 72. they Court.]

[777][V. 73. some favor I.]

[778][V. 76. did use my name in everye condicion.]

[779][quibbles.]

[780][V. 77. for lawyers get a.]

[781][V. 79. good god.]

[782][V. 83. soe then they.]

[783][V. 85. then the merchants.]

[784][V. 89. hands.]

[785][V. 90. verry glad ... did ...]

[786][V. 91. wold.]

[787][V. 92. goe an.]

[788][V. 95. and how ... had held, MS.]

[789][Ver. 96. and in letting of their ffarmes I always used the same.]

[790][V. 98. they have leases.]

[791][V. 101. who sware ... so sore.]

[792][V. 103. thé had.]

[793][V. 104. doe repayre.]

[794]V. 109. ill, MS.

[795]V. 110. not in MS.

[796][V. 111. their utter.]

[797][V. 115. of pittie and of almes they doe teach.]

[798][V. 117. doe preach.]

[799][V. 118. hangs.]

[800]We ought in justice and truth to read 'can

[801]V. 119. almes-deeds, MS.

[802][Ver. 122. I might happen to see.]

[803][V. 123. to have him.]

[804][V. 124. you must banish pride and then.]

[805][V. 125. and then ... sells their lands.]

[806]V. 126. houses every where wold be kept, MS.

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