The Contention bettwyxte Churchyeard and Camell vpon Dauid Dycers Dreame sett out in suche order, that it is bothe wyttye and profytable for all degryes. Rede this littell comunication betwene Churchyarde: Camell: and others mo: Newlye Imprinted and sett furthe for thy profyt gentill Reader |
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| Westerne will to Camell and for hym selfe alone, althoughe hee leudly lust, to knitte vp three in one |
 | The Contention bettwyxte Churchyeard and Camell |  |
Westerne will to Camell and for hym selfe alone, althoughe hee leudly lust, to knitte vp three in one
When
calmely blowes the winde, and seas but lytle moue,
And cloude appereth none, to threaten from aboue
Unwelcomme chaunge of wether, with rage of storms loude,
Be mistes their manteles spreade, the sonne away to shroude,
The Maister idle syttes, & shipboyes stere thee sterne,
The course so rarelesse is, he lust it not gouerne
But when the storme beginnes, to rattle in the skyes
And wallowing waues a loft, like mountaines high to ryse,
And sources roulīg rounde, full thicke in others taile,
Bethynde and eke before, the Crayer ginnes assaile,
Then boyes comme fro the helme, and Maisters setto hande
That better practise haue, the belowes to with stande.
And cloude appereth none, to threaten from aboue
Unwelcomme chaunge of wether, with rage of storms loude,
Be mistes their manteles spreade, the sonne away to shroude,
The Maister idle syttes, & shipboyes stere thee sterne,
The course so rarelesse is, he lust it not gouerne
But when the storme beginnes, to rattle in the skyes
And wallowing waues a loft, like mountaines high to ryse,
And sources roulīg rounde, full thicke in others taile,
Then boyes comme fro the helme, and Maisters setto hande
That better practise haue, the belowes to with stande.
So now with me it fars syth ye begynne to blow,
And thonndre in thee ayre, and sondrie lyghtnynges throw,
And rore ageinst the rockes wher on your water beates
My self to helme am comen to guyde her in these heats
Suffised me a fore, when naught appered but calme
To laughe and looke vpon the queītise of your qualme
As doeth the ydle man, vppon the plaiers game
where parte hym self, hathe none and yeat vppon thee same
His fansie commune wyll, and furtheto other telle
what thing ther semed him good, or other wise then well
But ye no lookers on, in no wyse can abyde
To say their fansyes free, what toys in you they spied
But eche muste haue his parte, when ye begyne to rage.
Ye loue a nombre well, fo furnyshe out the stage
And sithe ye will therfore, that niedes I shal come in,
Thus for my self alone, to answer I beginne:
And thonndre in thee ayre, and sondrie lyghtnynges throw,
And rore ageinst the rockes wher on your water beates
My self to helme am comen to guyde her in these heats
Suffised me a fore, when naught appered but calme
To laughe and looke vpon the queītise of your qualme
As doeth the ydle man, vppon the plaiers game
where parte hym self, hathe none and yeat vppon thee same
His fansie commune wyll, and furtheto other telle
what thing ther semed him good, or other wise then well
But ye no lookers on, in no wyse can abyde
To say their fansyes free, what toys in you they spied
But eche muste haue his parte, when ye begyne to rage.
Ye loue a nombre well, fo furnyshe out the stage
And sithe ye will therfore, that niedes I shal come in,
Thus for my self alone, to answer I beginne:
A man that bendes hym selfe, to sowe thee sedes of payne
No meruaylle thoughe hee reape, suche trauaile for his gaine.
A wicked ploughe it is, that forowes vp a fielde
To marre a pleasaūt patth and no goode fruite to yelde.
who laboureth so to fynde with dygging in the mould
Declareth well a wille, to fynde yf ought he coulde:
And busieth hymself, with matters moe then niedes
And roteth vp good herbes to plante in stynkynge wiedes.
And yeat would counpted be, a sely symple man
That nothing meanes but right, to further as he can
And that ye myght him rue and pitiesome what more
He makes as though he war, but one agaynst a skor
And yet if all be weighed, in balaunce iust vpright,
The chalenge restes in thē, that firste began the fight
But that in diede I heare, ye haue the Beau Lugent.
And eke that other one, that suche rewarde hath sent
To him that went about, to stille you with decree
As Phebus gaue to Pan, or iudgement like sayes he
No meruaylle thoughe hee reape, suche trauaile for his gaine.
A wicked ploughe it is, that forowes vp a fielde
To marre a pleasaūt patth and no goode fruite to yelde.
who laboureth so to fynde with dygging in the mould
Declareth well a wille, to fynde yf ought he coulde:
And busieth hymself, with matters moe then niedes
And roteth vp good herbes to plante in stynkynge wiedes.
And yeat would counpted be, a sely symple man
And that ye myght him rue and pitiesome what more
He makes as though he war, but one agaynst a skor
And yet if all be weighed, in balaunce iust vpright,
The chalenge restes in thē, that firste began the fight
But that in diede I heare, ye haue the Beau Lugent.
And eke that other one, that suche rewarde hath sent
To him that went about, to stille you with decree
As Phebus gaue to Pan, or iudgement like sayes he
Lo here I bring my boate to rowe ye home to Lynne
But ye suche cōscience haue for punishement of synne
That house and home may sincke, and oxen sterue at plow.
But ye mai some what gete to carry home wit you
woulde ye be glad in diede, to swincke and lyue in rest?
Then haue ye much a wrye begonne to make your neste
And that I trust at ones, in sobre woordes to showe,
Bestirre ye now in beast, ye mariner ginnes to rowe,
But ye suche cōscience haue for punishement of synne
That house and home may sincke, and oxen sterue at plow.
But ye mai some what gete to carry home wit you
woulde ye be glad in diede, to swincke and lyue in rest?
Then haue ye much a wrye begonne to make your neste
And that I trust at ones, in sobre woordes to showe,
Bestirre ye now in beast, ye mariner ginnes to rowe,
A personne of such witte, as ye would sieme to be
Of such fore caste and zeale and of suche grauitie
Before he taketh in hande, against a thing to wryte
And sette the same abroche, to all the peoples sight
Will weight what woords therin, bee not welle sayd or ment
And eke howe farre the sam from dutie doe dissent
which thing if ye so did, in reading of that bille
Then founde ye all thinges well or some thing sounding yll
But if you found them well ye raile and lacke a groūde
But if they siemed so ylle, as ye do make them sounde yle
Then dutie claymeth this, and specially in you
That in your youthe was taught, your dutie well enoughe
To haue race it fro the post and whem ye warned had
The seller, that this dream was daūgerous to be radd
The same in sobre wise, to open vnto those
That lawfull power haue our state, to binde and louse
Of whome you thākes had then deserued for your diede
And taken away ye cause wher of more euil might bried
But this thinge did ye not, wherfore I may conclude
Yf any harme there be, by you the woorte was brued
And ye concealed firste, the faulte ye dyd espie
And iudged it matter mete, your wrāgling witts to trye
Ye dreamed ye smelled a sparke, whiche thoughe it ware right smalle
Ye could by blowīges brīg, and tindre mirt withall
To make a flambe right great, in syght of many a on
which streight way of it self woulde ells haue quenched alone.
But had the dreamer giuen the victory to you
And holde his peace at first all had bene good enough:
The purging of your galle and hongre of a cote
As somme men do affirme, haue chauffed you so hote
Of such fore caste and zeale and of suche grauitie
Before he taketh in hande, against a thing to wryte
And sette the same abroche, to all the peoples sight
Will weight what woords therin, bee not welle sayd or ment
And eke howe farre the sam from dutie doe dissent
which thing if ye so did, in reading of that bille
Then founde ye all thinges well or some thing sounding yll
But if you found them well ye raile and lacke a groūde
But if they siemed so ylle, as ye do make them sounde yle
Then dutie claymeth this, and specially in you
That in your youthe was taught, your dutie well enoughe
To haue race it fro the post and whem ye warned had
The same in sobre wise, to open vnto those
That lawfull power haue our state, to binde and louse
Of whome you thākes had then deserued for your diede
And taken away ye cause wher of more euil might bried
But this thinge did ye not, wherfore I may conclude
Yf any harme there be, by you the woorte was brued
And ye concealed firste, the faulte ye dyd espie
And iudged it matter mete, your wrāgling witts to trye
Ye dreamed ye smelled a sparke, whiche thoughe it ware right smalle
Ye could by blowīges brīg, and tindre mirt withall
To make a flambe right great, in syght of many a on
which streight way of it self woulde ells haue quenched alone.
But had the dreamer giuen the victory to you
And holde his peace at first all had bene good enough:
The purging of your galle and hongre of a cote
As somme men do affirme, haue chauffed you so hote
Yet if you so haue founde suche sparckles in this dreame
Go blowe them where they bred, they be without my streame
Although you argue thus, entente will haue effecte
whiche westerne wil vould not, that any should suspecte
wher to I answer thus, ye stomble in the plaine
And wher ye thinck all sure your reasōs are most vaine
Full lytle witte ye haue, if ye cannot espye
this argument to be muche truer contrarrie
For sieldomer entent, atteineth to effecte
Then as ye folishelly, thee other do obiect.
Go blowe them where they bred, they be without my streame
Although you argue thus, entente will haue effecte
whiche westerne wil vould not, that any should suspecte
wher to I answer thus, ye stomble in the plaine
And wher ye thinck all sure your reasōs are most vaine
Full lytle witte ye haue, if ye cannot espye
this argument to be muche truer contrarrie
For sieldomer entent, atteineth to effecte
Then as ye folishelly, thee other do obiect.
I bydde no man to take it as dreame or fantasie
But ther I plainly shewed, that euen so tooke it I
And nothing ells did mean in homely westerne wille
But so to choppe in trenchour termes, as folkes do at the mill
wher eche to other carpes in rude & borrell spieche
Of thinges wher with thēselues, do neither smarte ne itche,
And if you would for this, we learned bothe to dyue
My boate and I toguether god let ye neuer thryue
But god bee thancked euer, that so for vs prouides
More noble hartes & wise, our comōwelth that guyds.
As he them list assigne, that reigneth in the toppe
Our true redoubted kinge, of suche excellent hope
As neuer subiectes had a paterne more expresse
Of kingly vertues all, and learned noblenesse
whose persons are to highe to, stowpe into this rythme
and better nothing said, thē spoken out of time
But ther I plainly shewed, that euen so tooke it I
And nothing ells did mean in homely westerne wille
wher eche to other carpes in rude & borrell spieche
Of thinges wher with thēselues, do neither smarte ne itche,
And if you would for this, we learned bothe to dyue
My boate and I toguether god let ye neuer thryue
But god bee thancked euer, that so for vs prouides
More noble hartes & wise, our comōwelth that guyds.
As he them list assigne, that reigneth in the toppe
Our true redoubted kinge, of suche excellent hope
As neuer subiectes had a paterne more expresse
Of kingly vertues all, and learned noblenesse
whose persons are to highe to, stowpe into this rythme
and better nothing said, thē spoken out of time
To you my pen I turne that iudgen me amysse,
And praye you well to note the parkinge vp of this
Sithe eye so well can racke, the mening of ones mynde
And haue a grace to smelle, that fewe men elles would finde
Content your self a while, and neither fume ne freate
Though with your owne to you I doo like measure meate
And sure I will not chuse the woorst emong the rost
But take the woord wherin you sieme to triomphe most:
And praye you well to note the parkinge vp of this
Sithe eye so well can racke, the mening of ones mynde
And haue a grace to smelle, that fewe men elles would finde
Content your self a while, and neither fume ne freate
Though with your owne to you I doo like measure meate
And sure I will not chuse the woorst emong the rost
But take the woord wherin you sieme to triomphe most:
Because ye woulde bee thought, to reuerence thee powers
(As well becomes vs all, to all our gouernours)
Suche name as they right well contented are to heare
And suche as of it self a maiestie doth beare
Contented are ye not, to vse in your verse
But by the name of goddes ye do them oft reherse
Now if you wille alleage the scripture vseth this
According to your skille: Ego dixi dii estis
Then harken I beseche your goddes howe they agree
To him that wee call God, and one beleue to be,
Lo in your rithmes afore, peruse them who that wyl,
It well appearres, the Godes, whom you them liken till,
ware neither goddes ne mē of cyuyle lyuing good
But fansyes of ydolatres, & dreames of Robinhood,
(As well becomes vs all, to all our gouernours)
Suche name as they right well contented are to heare
And suche as of it self a maiestie doth beare
Contented are ye not, to vse in your verse
But by the name of goddes ye do them oft reherse
Now if you wille alleage the scripture vseth this
According to your skille: Ego dixi dii estis
To him that wee call God, and one beleue to be,
Lo in your rithmes afore, peruse them who that wyl,
It well appearres, the Godes, whom you them liken till,
ware neither goddes ne mē of cyuyle lyuing good
But fansyes of ydolatres, & dreames of Robinhood,
But graunt that they ware goddes of olde gentilitie
Yet muste we take them suche, as they them wryte to bee
Then ponder well my friēd sithe ye the latten knowe,
what tales in them be tolde of Iupiter arowe,
And what a worthi clue, ye wynd vp of this threade
when ye thee magistrates, conioyne to such a heade:
And here if I would bring, extent to haue effect
I coulde make some beleue ye ware to be suspecte:
Ye mean them honour least wher most ye do them glose
And vse suche termes, as might be made a shipmans hose:
I could ye heare paynt out, a rable of those Goddes
Betwixst he whiche & Magistrates, I trow ye should put oddes
But that I do auoide, and feare also in diede,
That people in my rithmes suche thinges vnfytt would riede
I am not yet so bold, to talk at large of them
whome alwayes I haue feared, if they but wink or hem
But vse in you hathe bred, suche skylle bi sondry chāge
That happen what so wyl, it sieldome semeth straunge
wher practise small is had, in any kynde offeate
To suche it often happes, that tryfile seme them greate
But stomacke so are your, by trauaille in your trade
with many a wandring course, from post to pyllour made
That nothinge mountes so highe, ne semethe of suche, wayte
That ye will not attempte if ones ye wynde the baite.
Yet muste we take them suche, as they them wryte to bee
Then ponder well my friēd sithe ye the latten knowe,
what tales in them be tolde of Iupiter arowe,
And what a worthi clue, ye wynd vp of this threade
when ye thee magistrates, conioyne to such a heade:
And here if I would bring, extent to haue effect
I coulde make some beleue ye ware to be suspecte:
Ye mean them honour least wher most ye do them glose
And vse suche termes, as might be made a shipmans hose:
I could ye heare paynt out, a rable of those Goddes
Betwixst he whiche & Magistrates, I trow ye should put oddes
But that I do auoide, and feare also in diede,
That people in my rithmes suche thinges vnfytt would riede
I am not yet so bold, to talk at large of them
whome alwayes I haue feared, if they but wink or hem
But vse in you hathe bred, suche skylle bi sondry chāge
That happen what so wyl, it sieldome semeth straunge
wher practise small is had, in any kynde offeate
To suche it often happes, that tryfile seme them greate
But stomacke so are your, by trauaille in your trade
with many a wandring course, from post to pyllour made
That ye will not attempte if ones ye wynde the baite.
Thus far I am content, to waste ye on the waye
And as for all the rest, that you to other saye
Let them the aunswer make to whome it apperteignes
For I haue some what elles to occupye my braynes
And for your lesson, lo by Christ I lyke it well
And suche a lyke I wiene, doth Pierce the ploughman tell,
But yeat leaue out this clause, to spreade it on thee floore
It was enough to haue it written on the doore
For if it comme so low, to lye vppon the grounde
I feare that many fiete, will make it full vnsound
And treade it all to durte, in sorte I you assure
That ye may happe forgette to put the thinges in vre.
And as for all the rest, that you to other saye
Let them the aunswer make to whome it apperteignes
For I haue some what elles to occupye my braynes
And for your lesson, lo by Christ I lyke it well
And suche a lyke I wiene, doth Pierce the ploughman tell,
But yeat leaue out this clause, to spreade it on thee floore
It was enough to haue it written on the doore
For if it comme so low, to lye vppon the grounde
I feare that many fiete, will make it full vnsound
And treade it all to durte, in sorte I you assure
That ye may happe forgette to put the thinges in vre.
W. Watreman.
| The Contention bettwyxte Churchyeard and Camell | |