The Gentle Craft A discovrse Containing many matters of Delight, very pleasant to be read: Shewing what famous men have beene Shoomakers in time past in this Land, with their worthy deeds and great Hospitality. Declaring the cause why it is called the Gentle Craft: and also how the Proverbe first grew; A Shoemakers sonne is a Prince borne. T. D. [i.e. Thomas Deloney] |
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[Of Craft and Crafts-men more and lesse] |
 | The Gentle Craft |  |
[Of Craft and Crafts-men more and lesse]
Of Craft and Crafts-men more and lesse,
The Gentle Craft I must commend:
Whose deeds declare their faithfulnesse,
And hearty loue unto their freind:
The Gentle Craft in midst of strife,
Yeelds comfort to a carefull life.
The Gentle Craft I must commend:
Whose deeds declare their faithfulnesse,
And hearty loue unto their freind:
The Gentle Craft in midst of strife,
Yeelds comfort to a carefull life.
A Prince by Birth I am indeed,
The which for Love forsooke this Land:
And when I was in extreme need,
I tooke the Gentle Craft in hand,
And by the Gentle Craft alone,
Long time I liu'd, being still unknowne,
The which for Love forsooke this Land:
And when I was in extreme need,
I tooke the Gentle Craft in hand,
And by the Gentle Craft alone,
Long time I liu'd, being still unknowne,
Spending my dayes in sweet content,
With many a pleasant sugred Song:
Sitting in pleasures complement,
Whilst we recorded Louers wrong:
And while the Gentle Craft we us'd,
True Love by vs was not abus'd.
With many a pleasant sugred Song:
Sitting in pleasures complement,
Whilst we recorded Louers wrong:
And while the Gentle Craft we us'd,
True Love by vs was not abus'd.
Our shooes we sowed with merry notes,
And by our mirth expell'd all mone:
Like Nightingales, from whose sweet throats.
Most pleasant tunes are nightly blowne;
The Gentle Craft is fittest then,
For poore distressed Gentlemen.
And by our mirth expell'd all mone:
Like Nightingales, from whose sweet throats.
Most pleasant tunes are nightly blowne;
The Gentle Craft is fittest then,
For poore distressed Gentlemen.
Their minds doe mount in courtesie,
And they disdaine a niggards feast:
Their bodies are for Chivalrie,
All cowardnesse they doe detest.
For Sword and Sheild, for Bow and Shaft,
No man can staine the Gentle Craft.
And they disdaine a niggards feast:
Their bodies are for Chivalrie,
All cowardnesse they doe detest.
For Sword and Sheild, for Bow and Shaft,
No man can staine the Gentle Craft.
Yea sundry Princes sore distrest,
Shall seeke for succour by this Trade:
Whereby their greifes shall be redrest,
Of foes they shall not be afraid.
And many men of fame likewise,
Shall from the Gentle Craft arise.
Shall seeke for succour by this Trade:
Whereby their greifes shall be redrest,
Of foes they shall not be afraid.
Shall from the Gentle Craft arise.
If we want money ouer night,
Ere next day noone, God will it send,
Thus may we keepe our selves upright,
And be no churle vnto our freind:
Thus doe we live where pleasure springs,
In our conceit like petty Kings.
Ere next day noone, God will it send,
Thus may we keepe our selves upright,
And be no churle vnto our freind:
Thus doe we live where pleasure springs,
In our conceit like petty Kings.
Our hearts with care we may not kill,
Mans life surpasseth worldly wealth,
Content surpasseth riches still,
And fie one knaves that live by stealth:
This Trade therefore both great and small,
The Gentle Craft shall ever call.
Mans life surpasseth worldly wealth,
Content surpasseth riches still,
And fie one knaves that live by stealth:
This Trade therefore both great and small,
The Gentle Craft shall ever call.
| The Gentle Craft | |