University of Virginia Library

The grieuous complaint of him that had the hap to marie his mistresse.

When youthfull yeres did prick me forth
in stature for to growe
A tall yong man, and towardnes,
(to call) by sight to shew,
I did request in heart to be
a seruing man a space,
Whereto my freends dyd condiscend,
and wished me their grace.
A master meete my parents chose,
as best they thought in minde,
That should in seruice me retayne,
sith I thereto was clynd,
A gentleman of antike stocke
by alliance very good,
By pedigree and iust discent
he came of gentle blood:
And striken deep in yeres, this wight
a wife he had before,
A passing dame, a pleasant wench,
of beutie which had store.
They did continue many yeres,
in vertues wayes most pure
With faithful loue and amitie,
and frendships lore most sure.
In so much that there was cause gin
to neighbors round them by,
To blaze this bruite in euery place,
by fame both farre and nie,
Happy to be that aged soule,
and luckie for to stand,
That had by Gods appointed him
a wife to lead in hand,
That aye dame beuties baner braue
displaied in such wise
Withall, for vertue in no place
her like might once arise:
Wel, to ensue, dame Atropos
can shread his web in twaine,
Leauing no issue him behind
as his heire to remaine.
Whereby the right of land and lease
of siluer and of golde,
Descended solely vnto her,
for euer it to holde.
Then was this widow often sought,
in mariage league to wend,
But she refusing offers large,
to none would condiscend,
Then I remembring many times
her vertues manifold,
The seemely port, the comely grace
which she by sight did hold
But cheefly aye the worldly wealth
and riches pleasant store,
That by her husband was her left
surrounding aye the flore.
Was moued much by Cupid blinde
for to attempt with maine,
If that I might this passing wight
by any meanes obtaine.
And being daily conuersant
I wrought the matter so,
That in short time my hearts desire
I obtainde so my woe.
The mariage made, most ioyfull I
in heart did aye remaine
I neuer knewe what sorrow meant
ne felt what thing was paine.
Ah pleasantly we dyd consume
two moneths and no more,
In pleasant wyse then dyd I thinke,
to sue to get some store,
Of gold if that I myght,
I knew she had the same,
And fruitful bagges, but in no wise,
I could one crowne reclayme:
And as request was made of me,
this answere by and by,
Was gin of hir in crooked wyse,
and aye most frowardly,
Good sir, I wedded not for that,
aduauncement ne you gaue
To the intent that any store
of myne you should thus craue,
And thinke to be your owne, but this
much I do to you say,
If that you stand to my reward,
your labor ile repay:
And what I giue you take,
myne offer ne refuse,
I was your mistresse tyll I gaue,
you licence me to vse.
Such as is yours is myne,
and myne is sure myne owne:
Then none ye haue, ne none ye get,
vnlesse frendship be showne.
But I with rage and choler mooued,
ne could my selfe refrayne,
To me it was a present death,
and earst a piercyng payne,
That I shoulde be a womans thrall,
that I should be a slaue,
That I in place of husband, should
none of her substance haue.
It mooued me in deed, so that
though cleane agaynst my vow,
I was constraynd by fury fell
some blowes for to bestow,
But out alas, her freends forthwith
gan giue her freendly ayde,
Wherby I troden downe to ground
in mynd was aye dismayde:
And she puft vp by passyng pryde,
her head was growne so hye
Aboue my pate, that able she
was it with nayles to clye,
With pot, with candlesticke, and eke
with bedstaffe of huge weight,
Both stoole and forme flang at my face,
with care thus I was freyght.
On euery fide, oh miser most:
oh caytyfe borne to payne,
Oh diuels drudge, oh frantike foole,
that marry wouldst for gayne:
When I in stable serude the horsse,
Then was I wearier aye,
On bench with clownes whole peny vp,
at treygobet to play
Than I am now beside all this,
and which doth greeue me more,
Of hornes by hir vile whoredome strong,
accrueth to me store.
No remedy I finde the while,
for still before my face,
Roysters, ruffins, she retaynes
in bed, my rightfull place.
Wherefore a thousand tymes I wayle
my state and mysery,
A thousand tymes I call for death,
yet naythelesse can dye:
I shall liue longer than I would,
in thrall with mickle shame,
Oh God what hap had I, when first
I wedded home my dame.