The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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An Inuectiue against the Wicked of the Worlde.
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
5
An Inuectiue against the Wicked of the Worlde.
Why should man loue this wretched world so much,
In which is nothing, but all worse then nought?
Shadowes and shewes of things are nothing such,
While strong illusions haue too weake a thought,
With wicked humors too much ouer-wrought,
The witch of Will and ouerthrow of Wit,
Where gracelesse sinnes doe in their glory sit.
In which is nothing, but all worse then nought?
Shadowes and shewes of things are nothing such,
While strong illusions haue too weake a thought,
With wicked humors too much ouer-wrought,
The witch of Will and ouerthrow of Wit,
Where gracelesse sinnes doe in their glory sit.
Beauty is but a babie's looking-glasse,
While Money eates into the Miser's heart,
And guarded Pride, all like a Golden Asse,
Makes Lechery lay open euery part.
Sloath lies and sleepes, and feares no waking smart,
While froth and fatte in drunken gluttony
The venome shew of Nature's villany.
While Money eates into the Miser's heart,
And guarded Pride, all like a Golden Asse,
Makes Lechery lay open euery part.
Sloath lies and sleepes, and feares no waking smart,
While froth and fatte in drunken gluttony
The venome shew of Nature's villany.
Patience is counted but a poet's fancie,
While Wrath keepes reakes in euery wicked place,
And fretting Enuy falne into a franzie,
While tyrant Murther treades a bloody trace,
And blessed Pitty dare not shew her face:
Pride, power and pence march in such battle ray,
As beares downe all that comes within their way.
While Wrath keepes reakes in euery wicked place,
And fretting Enuy falne into a franzie,
While tyrant Murther treades a bloody trace,
And blessed Pitty dare not shew her face:
Pride, power and pence march in such battle ray,
As beares downe all that comes within their way.
The wealthy Rascall be he ne're so base,
Filthy, ill-fauor'd, vgly to behold,
Moale-eie, plaise-mouth, dogges-tooth, and camel's face,
Blinde, dumbe, and deafe, diseasèd, rotten, olde,
Yet, if he haue the coffers full of golde,
He shall haue reuerence, curtsie, cappe and knee,
And worship, like a man of high degree.
Filthy, ill-fauor'd, vgly to behold,
Moale-eie, plaise-mouth, dogges-tooth, and camel's face,
Blinde, dumbe, and deafe, diseasèd, rotten, olde,
Yet, if he haue the coffers full of golde,
He shall haue reuerence, curtsie, cappe and knee,
And worship, like a man of high degree.
He shall haue Ballads written in his praise,
Bookes dedicated to his patronage,
Wittes working for his pleasure many waies,
Petigrees sought to mend his parentage,
And linkt perhaps in Noble marriage,
He shall haue all that this vile worlde can giue him,
That into pride, the deuill's mouth may driue him.
Bookes dedicated to his patronage,
Wittes working for his pleasure many waies,
Petigrees sought to mend his parentage,
And linkt perhaps in Noble marriage,
He shall haue all that this vile worlde can giue him,
That into pride, the deuill's mouth may driue him.
If he can speake, his wordes are Oracles,
If he can see, his eyes are spectacles,
If he can heare, his eares are miracles,
If he can stand, his legges are pinacles:
Thus in the rules of Reason's obstacles,
If he be but a beast in shape and nature,
Yet, giue him wealth, he is a goodly creature.
If he can see, his eyes are spectacles,
If he can heare, his eares are miracles,
If he can stand, his legges are pinacles:
Thus in the rules of Reason's obstacles,
If he be but a beast in shape and nature,
Yet, giue him wealth, he is a goodly creature.
But, be a man of ne're so good a minde,
As fine a shape as Nature can deuise;
Vertuous and gratious, comely, wise, and kinde,
Valiant, well giuen, full of good qualities,
And almost free from Fancie's vanities:
Yet let him want this filthy worldly drosse,
He shall be sent but to the Beggars Crosse.
As fine a shape as Nature can deuise;
Vertuous and gratious, comely, wise, and kinde,
Valiant, well giuen, full of good qualities,
And almost free from Fancie's vanities:
Yet let him want this filthy worldly drosse,
He shall be sent but to the Beggars Crosse.
The foole will scoffe him, and the knaue abuse him,
And euery rascall in his kinde disgrace him,
Acquaintance leaue him, and his friends refuse him:
And euery dogge will from his doore displace him.
Oh this vile world will seeke so to deface him
That vntill death doe come for to releeue him,
He shall haue nothing heere but that may greeue him.
And euery rascall in his kinde disgrace him,
Acquaintance leaue him, and his friends refuse him:
And euery dogge will from his doore displace him.
Oh this vile world will seeke so to deface him
That vntill death doe come for to releeue him,
He shall haue nothing heere but that may greeue him.
If he haue pence to purchase pretty things,
She that doth loue him will dissemble loue;
While the poore man his heart with sorrow wrings
To see how want doth womens loue remooue,
And make a iack-dawe of a turtle-doue:
If he be rich, worldes serue him for his pelfe,
If he be poore, he may goe serue himselfe.
She that doth loue him will dissemble loue;
While the poore man his heart with sorrow wrings
To see how want doth womens loue remooue,
And make a iack-dawe of a turtle-doue:
If he be rich, worldes serue him for his pelfe,
If he be poore, he may goe serue himselfe.
If he be rich, although his nose doe runne,
His lippes doe slauer, and his breath doe stinke,
He shall haue napkins faire and finely spunne,
Pilles for the rhewme, and such perfumèd drinke
As were he blinde, he shall not seeme to winke:
Yea, let him cough, halke, spit, fart and pisse,
If he be wealthy, nothing is amisse.
His lippes doe slauer, and his breath doe stinke,
He shall haue napkins faire and finely spunne,
Pilles for the rhewme, and such perfumèd drinke
As were he blinde, he shall not seeme to winke:
Yea, let him cough, halke, spit, fart and pisse,
If he be wealthy, nothing is amisse.
But with his pence, if he haue got him power,
Then halfe a god, that is more halfe a diuell;
Then Pride must teach him how to looke as sower,
As beldam's milke that turnèd with her sneuill;
While the poore man that little thinketh euill,
Though Nobly borne, shall feare the Beggar's frowne,
And creepe and crowch vnto a filthy clowne.
Then halfe a god, that is more halfe a diuell;
Then Pride must teach him how to looke as sower,
As beldam's milke that turnèd with her sneuill;
While the poore man that little thinketh euill,
Though Nobly borne, shall feare the Beggar's frowne,
And creepe and crowch vnto a filthy clowne.
Oh, he that wants this wicked cankred coyne,
May fret to death before he finde reliefe,
But if he haue the cunning to purloyne
And ease the begger of his biting griefe,
Although (perhaps) he play the priuie thiefe:
It is no matter if the bagges be full,
Well fare the wit that makes the world a Gull.
May fret to death before he finde reliefe,
But if he haue the cunning to purloyne
And ease the begger of his biting griefe,
Although (perhaps) he play the priuie thiefe:
It is no matter if the bagges be full,
Well fare the wit that makes the world a Gull.
6
The Chuffe that sits and champes vpon his chaffe,
May haue his mawkin kisse him like a mare;
And on his barne-doore-threshold lye and laugh,
To see the swagg'rer with the beggars share,
Follow the hounds, till he hath caught the hare:
Oh tis the purse that guildes the bullocke's horne,
And makes the shrew to laugh the sheepe to scorne.
May haue his mawkin kisse him like a mare;
And on his barne-doore-threshold lye and laugh,
To see the swagg'rer with the beggars share,
Follow the hounds, till he hath caught the hare:
Oh tis the purse that guildes the bullocke's horne,
And makes the shrew to laugh the sheepe to scorne.
Who hath not seene a logger-headed Asse,
That hath no more wit than an old ioynd-stoole,
Prinking himselfe before a looking-glasse,
And set a face as though he were no foole,
When he that well might set the calfe to schoole,
Must be attentiue to the gander's keake,
Or giue a plaudite, when the goose doth speake.
That hath no more wit than an old ioynd-stoole,
Prinking himselfe before a looking-glasse,
And set a face as though he were no foole,
When he that well might set the calfe to schoole,
Must be attentiue to the gander's keake,
Or giue a plaudite, when the goose doth speake.
Let but a dunce, a dizard, or a dolt
Get him a welted gowne, a sattin coate;
Then though at randon he doe shoote his bolt,
By telling of an idle tale by roate,
Where Wisedome findes not one good word to note:
Yea though he can but gruntle like a swine
Yet to the eight wise men he shall be nine.
Get him a welted gowne, a sattin coate;
Then though at randon he doe shoote his bolt,
By telling of an idle tale by roate,
Where Wisedome findes not one good word to note:
Yea though he can but gruntle like a swine
Yet to the eight wise men he shall be nine.
But for a poore man, be he nere so wise,
Grounded in rules of Wit and Reason's grace,
And in his speeches neuer so precise,
To put no word out of Discretion's place;
Yet shall you see, in shutting vp the case,
A pesant slouen with the purse's sleight,
Will humme and haw him quite out of conceit.
Grounded in rules of Wit and Reason's grace,
And in his speeches neuer so precise,
To put no word out of Discretion's place;
Yet shall you see, in shutting vp the case,
A pesant slouen with the purse's sleight,
Will humme and haw him quite out of conceit.
Looke on a souldier that hath brauely serude
And with discretion can direct a campe;
If he haue nothing for himselfe reserude,
To warme his ioynts when he hath got the crampe;
He shall haue little oyle vnto his lampe,
But in a iacket and a paire of broages
Goe passe among the company of roages.
And with discretion can direct a campe;
If he haue nothing for himselfe reserude,
To warme his ioynts when he hath got the crampe;
He shall haue little oyle vnto his lampe,
But in a iacket and a paire of broages
Goe passe among the company of roages.
But, if he can make money of his men,
And his lieutenant to supply his place,
Although the cocke be of a crauen henne,
And dare not meete a capon in the face;
Yet if he can be garded with gold lace,
And sweare and swagger with a siluer sword,
Who would not feare a stabbe for a foule word?
And his lieutenant to supply his place,
Although the cocke be of a crauen henne,
And dare not meete a capon in the face;
Yet if he can be garded with gold lace,
And sweare and swagger with a siluer sword,
Who would not feare a stabbe for a foule word?
And yet this swappes, that neuer bloodied sword,
Is but a coward, braue it as he list:
And, though he sweare and stare to keepe his word,
He will but loose his armour in the list,
Or take the cuffe, and kindely kisse the fist;
Stolne honour is a iest of chiualry,
And vnto valour open iniury.
Is but a coward, braue it as he list:
And, though he sweare and stare to keepe his word,
He will but loose his armour in the list,
Or take the cuffe, and kindely kisse the fist;
Stolne honour is a iest of chiualry,
And vnto valour open iniury.
While he that ventures landes, and goods, and life,
To shew the vertue of a valiant heart,
And leaues his house, his children and his wife,
And from his countrie's quiet will depart,
To passe the pikes of Danger's deadly smart;
He is the souldier, be he ne're so poore,
May write disgrace vpon the coward's doore.
To shew the vertue of a valiant heart,
And leaues his house, his children and his wife,
And from his countrie's quiet will depart,
To passe the pikes of Danger's deadly smart;
He is the souldier, be he ne're so poore,
May write disgrace vpon the coward's doore.
But for the Lords and Generals of fields,
The serieant-maiors, colonels, and such,
Marshalls and captaines, that in Vertue's shields
Doe beare the trueth of Valour's honours' tuch;
In good of them I cannot say too much,
If all their armour were of pearle and gold,
That by desert the due of knighthood hold.
The serieant-maiors, colonels, and such,
Marshalls and captaines, that in Vertue's shields
Doe beare the trueth of Valour's honours' tuch;
In good of them I cannot say too much,
If all their armour were of pearle and gold,
That by desert the due of knighthood hold.
Take an odde Vicar in a village-towne,
That onely prayes for plenty and for peace;
If he can get him but a threed-bare gowne,
And tithe a pigge, and eate a goose in grease,
And set his hand vnto his neighbour's lease,
And bid the clearke on Sondayes ring the bell,
He is a church-man fits the parish well.
That onely prayes for plenty and for peace;
If he can get him but a threed-bare gowne,
And tithe a pigge, and eate a goose in grease,
And set his hand vnto his neighbour's lease,
And bid the clearke on Sondayes ring the bell,
He is a church-man fits the parish well.
But, if he get a benefice of worth,
That may maintaine a good hospitality,
And in the pulpit bring a figure forth,
Of faith and workes with a formality,
And tell a knaue of an ill quality;
If with his preaching he can fill the purse,
He is a good man, God send nere a worse.
That may maintaine a good hospitality,
And in the pulpit bring a figure forth,
Of faith and workes with a formality,
And tell a knaue of an ill quality;
If with his preaching he can fill the purse,
He is a good man, God send nere a worse.
But yet this simple idle-headed asse,
That scarce hath learnd to spell the Hebrew names,
Sir Iohn Lack-latine with a face of brasse,
Who all by roate his poore collations frames,
And after seruice falles to ale-house games,
How ere his wit may giue the foole the lurch,
He is not fit to gouerne in the Church.
That scarce hath learnd to spell the Hebrew names,
Sir Iohn Lack-latine with a face of brasse,
Who all by roate his poore collations frames,
And after seruice falles to ale-house games,
How ere his wit may giue the foole the lurch,
He is not fit to gouerne in the Church.
While he that spends the labour of his youth,
But in the Booke of the eternall blisse,
And can and will deliuer but the trueth,
In which the hope of highest comfort is,
That cannot leade the faithfull soule amisse:
Howeuer so his state of wealth decline,
Deserues the title of the true diuine.
But in the Booke of the eternall blisse,
And can and will deliuer but the trueth,
In which the hope of highest comfort is,
That cannot leade the faithfull soule amisse:
Howeuer so his state of wealth decline,
Deserues the title of the true diuine.
I doe not speake of bishops nor of deanes,
Nor learnèd doctors in diuinity;
For they are men that rose by godly meanes,
Who with the world haue no affinity,
But in the worship of the Trinity,
Their times, their brains, their loues, and liues do spend,
To gaine the honour that shall neuer end.
Nor learnèd doctors in diuinity;
For they are men that rose by godly meanes,
Who with the world haue no affinity,
But in the worship of the Trinity,
Their times, their brains, their loues, and liues do spend,
To gaine the honour that shall neuer end.
Take but a petti-fogger in the Law
That scarce a line of Littleton hath read,
If he hath learnd the cunning how to claw
His clients back and bring a foole to bed,
With beating toyes and trifles in his head;
His golden fees will get him such a grace
A better lawyer shall not crosse his case.
That scarce a line of Littleton hath read,
If he hath learnd the cunning how to claw
His clients back and bring a foole to bed,
With beating toyes and trifles in his head;
His golden fees will get him such a grace
A better lawyer shall not crosse his case.
But be a Poore man neuer so well read
In all the quirkes and quiddities of Law,
And beate his braines and weary out his head
Till he haue prou'd a dunce to be a daw;
Yet will his skill be held not worth a straw,
And he perhaps in pleading of his case
With floutes and scoffes be shouldred out of place.
In all the quirkes and quiddities of Law,
And beate his braines and weary out his head
Till he haue prou'd a dunce to be a daw;
Yet will his skill be held not worth a straw,
7
With floutes and scoffes be shouldred out of place.
But let that pidling petti-fogging Iacke,
That faine would seeme a lawyer at the least,
Be ne're so busie in a begger's packe,
And light vpon the carde that likes him best,
Yet shall you see in setting vp his rest:
In all the game who so doe loose or saue,
His luck will allwaies fall vpon the knaue.
That faine would seeme a lawyer at the least,
Be ne're so busie in a begger's packe,
And light vpon the carde that likes him best,
Yet shall you see in setting vp his rest:
In all the game who so doe loose or saue,
His luck will allwaies fall vpon the knaue.
While he that hath the honest case in hand,
And learnedly can iudge twixt right and wrong,
And doth vpon the care of conscience stand,
And knowes that sorrow's the afflicted's song;
Bids Iustice not the poore man's griefe prolong,
But hateth bribes to heare the trueth approoued;
He is the lawyer worthy to be loued.
And learnedly can iudge twixt right and wrong,
And doth vpon the care of conscience stand,
And knowes that sorrow's the afflicted's song;
Bids Iustice not the poore man's griefe prolong,
But hateth bribes to heare the trueth approoued;
He is the lawyer worthy to be loued.
But for the Lords and Iudges of the Law,
They looke into the matter not the men:
They know the mettall if they see the flaw,
And iudge the marish if they see the fenne:
They know both what, and how, and where, and when,
And are as gods on earth to the distressed,
To giue the right, and see the wrong redressed.
They looke into the matter not the men:
They know the mettall if they see the flaw,
And iudge the marish if they see the fenne:
They know both what, and how, and where, and when,
And are as gods on earth to the distressed,
To giue the right, and see the wrong redressed.
But for our gentle Iustices of Peace,
That but the chaire of charity doth keepe,
By whose great wisedome many quarrels cease,
And honest people doe in quiet sleepe,
While their command both watch and ward doth keepe:
I say no more, but God preserue their health,
They are good members in a Common-wealth.
That but the chaire of charity doth keepe,
By whose great wisedome many quarrels cease,
And honest people doe in quiet sleepe,
While their command both watch and ward doth keepe:
I say no more, but God preserue their health,
They are good members in a Common-wealth.
Say coyne can make a painter draw a face,
He cannot giue it life, doe what he can:
And though that coyne can giue an outward grace,
It cannot make a knaue an honest man,
It cannot turne the cat so in the pan:
But he that hath his eyes may easily finde
The difference twixt the body and the minde.
He cannot giue it life, doe what he can:
And though that coyne can giue an outward grace,
It cannot make a knaue an honest man,
It cannot turne the cat so in the pan:
But he that hath his eyes may easily finde
The difference twixt the body and the minde.
Take him that is disfigurèd in the face,
And worse in minde and euery where to blame;
He shall be but the subiect of disgrace:
How euer fortune doe his shadow frame,
And in Loue's triumph but a laughing game:
For neuer mastiffe curre will be a beagle,
Nor euer owle will grow to be an eagle.
And worse in minde and euery where to blame;
He shall be but the subiect of disgrace:
How euer fortune doe his shadow frame,
And in Loue's triumph but a laughing game:
For neuer mastiffe curre will be a beagle,
Nor euer owle will grow to be an eagle.
Looke on a fellow with a filthy face,
Snow on his head and frost vpon his beard,
And euery where so furnisht with disgrace
As well might make a selly foole afeard,
And like a smith with sea-coale all besmeard;
Yet if he haue his working toole of golde,
Venus will helpe to strike, if Vulcan holde.
Snow on his head and frost vpon his beard,
And euery where so furnisht with disgrace
As well might make a selly foole afeard,
And like a smith with sea-coale all besmeard;
Yet if he haue his working toole of golde,
Venus will helpe to strike, if Vulcan holde.
Let but a fellow in a fox-furd gowne,
A greasie night-cap and a driueled beard,
Grow but the baliffe of a fisher-towne,
And haue a matter fore him to be heard;
Will not his frowne make halfe a streete afeard?
Yea, and the greatest Codshead gape for feare
He shall be swallowed by this vgly beare.
A greasie night-cap and a driueled beard,
Grow but the baliffe of a fisher-towne,
And haue a matter fore him to be heard;
Will not his frowne make halfe a streete afeard?
Yea, and the greatest Codshead gape for feare
He shall be swallowed by this vgly beare.
Looke but on beggars going to the stockes,
How master constable can march before them,
And while the beadle maketh fast the lockes,
How brauely he can knaue them, and be-whore them,
And not afford one word of pitty for them,
When it may be poore honest seely people,
Must make the church make curtsie to the steeple.
How master constable can march before them,
And while the beadle maketh fast the lockes,
How brauely he can knaue them, and be-whore them,
And not afford one word of pitty for them,
When it may be poore honest seely people,
Must make the church make curtsie to the steeple.
Note but the beadle of a beggars Spittle,
How (in his place) he can himselfe aduance,
And will not of his title loose a tittle,
If any matter come in variance,
To try the credite of his countenance:
For whatsoeuer the poore beggars say,
His is the word must carry all away.
How (in his place) he can himselfe aduance,
And will not of his title loose a tittle,
If any matter come in variance,
To try the credite of his countenance:
For whatsoeuer the poore beggars say,
His is the word must carry all away.
Why let a begger but on cock-horse sit,
Will he not ride like an ill-fauourd king?
And will it not amaze a poore man's witte,
That cuckoes teach the nightingale to sing?
Oh, this same wealth is such a wicked thing,
T'will teach an owle in time to speake true latine,
And make a frier forsweare our Ladie's mattine.
Will he not ride like an ill-fauourd king?
And will it not amaze a poore man's witte,
That cuckoes teach the nightingale to sing?
Oh, this same wealth is such a wicked thing,
T'will teach an owle in time to speake true latine,
And make a frier forsweare our Ladie's mattine.
Take but a peasant newly from the cart,
That only liues by puddings, beanes, and pease,
Who neuer learnèd any other arte,
But how to driue his cattle to the leas,
And after worke, to sit and take his ease:
Yet put this asse into a golden hide,
He shall be groome vnto a hansome bride.
That only liues by puddings, beanes, and pease,
Who neuer learnèd any other arte,
But how to driue his cattle to the leas,
And after worke, to sit and take his ease:
Yet put this asse into a golden hide,
He shall be groome vnto a hansome bride.
Take but a rascall with a rogish pate,
Who can but onely keepe a counting-booke,
Yet if his reckning grow to such a rate,
That he can angle for the golden hooke,
How-euer so the matter he mistooke,
If he can cleerely couer his deceite,
He may be held a man of deepe conceite.
Who can but onely keepe a counting-booke,
Yet if his reckning grow to such a rate,
That he can angle for the golden hooke,
How-euer so the matter he mistooke,
If he can cleerely couer his deceite,
He may be held a man of deepe conceite.
Finde out a Villaine, borne and bred a knaue,
That neuer knew where honesty became,
A drunken rascall and a doggèd slaue,
That all his wittes to wickednesse doth frame,
And onely liues in infamy and shame;
Yet let him tinke vpon the golden pan,
His word may passe yet for an honest man.
That neuer knew where honesty became,
A drunken rascall and a doggèd slaue,
That all his wittes to wickednesse doth frame,
And onely liues in infamy and shame;
Yet let him tinke vpon the golden pan,
His word may passe yet for an honest man.
Why, take a Fidler but with halfe an eye,
Who neuer knew if Ela were a note,
And can but play a Round or Hey-de-gey,
And that perhaps he onely hath by roate,
Which now and then may hap to get a groate;
Yet if his Crowde be set with siluer studdes,
The other minstrels may goe chew their cuddes.
Who neuer knew if Ela were a note,
And can but play a Round or Hey-de-gey,
And that perhaps he onely hath by roate,
Which now and then may hap to get a groate;
Yet if his Crowde be set with siluer studdes,
The other minstrels may goe chew their cuddes.
8
Giue mistris Fumkins (Iohn Anods his wife,—
The filthiest queane in fifteene countrey townes,
Who neuer had good thought in all her life)
But one fring'd kertle, and two wosted gownes,
And fill her leather powch with a few crownes,
She shall haue more fine suters for her marish,
Then all the fairest maidens in the parish.
The filthiest queane in fifteene countrey townes,
Who neuer had good thought in all her life)
But one fring'd kertle, and two wosted gownes,
And fill her leather powch with a few crownes,
She shall haue more fine suters for her marish,
Then all the fairest maidens in the parish.
Olde Gillian Turne-tripe Iacke an Apes his trull
That scarce can chew a peece of new made cheese,
Swelld with the dropsie, foule and farting full,
With feeding on the fatte of scullions fees;
Yet if she haue the golden hony-bees,
She shall be kept as cleanly, fine, and fresh
As if shee were a sweeter peece of flesh.
That scarce can chew a peece of new made cheese,
Swelld with the dropsie, foule and farting full,
With feeding on the fatte of scullions fees;
Yet if she haue the golden hony-bees,
She shall be kept as cleanly, fine, and fresh
As if shee were a sweeter peece of flesh.
Let prinking Parnell with a paire of Thumbes
That well might serue a Miller's tolling dish;
Who thicks her pottage but with brown-bread crummes,
And neuer car'd for butter to her fish,
Haue but the mettall of the miner's wish;
Twenty to one, but she shall quickly marry,
When finer wenches will be like to tarry.
That well might serue a Miller's tolling dish;
Who thicks her pottage but with brown-bread crummes,
And neuer car'd for butter to her fish,
Haue but the mettall of the miner's wish;
Twenty to one, but she shall quickly marry,
When finer wenches will be like to tarry.
Looke on old Betresse with her beetle browes,
Begot betwixt a tinker and his Tibbe,
And but of late a silly coblers spouse;
If she haue playde the thrifty prowling scribbe,
To purchase grasse to greaze the bullocke's ribbe;
She shall be fedde with fine and dainty fare,
And woo'd and wedded, ere she be aware.
Begot betwixt a tinker and his Tibbe,
And but of late a silly coblers spouse;
If she haue playde the thrifty prowling scribbe,
To purchase grasse to greaze the bullocke's ribbe;
She shall be fedde with fine and dainty fare,
And woo'd and wedded, ere she be aware.
But for a poore wench, be she nere so fayre,
Gratious and vertuous, wise and nobly borne,
And worthy well to sit in Honor's chaire;
Yet, if her kertile, or her gowne be torne,
All her good gifts shall be but held in scorne,
And she (poore soule) in sorrow and disgrace,
Be forc'd to giue a filthy baggage place.
Gratious and vertuous, wise and nobly borne,
And worthy well to sit in Honor's chaire;
Yet, if her kertile, or her gowne be torne,
All her good gifts shall be but held in scorne,
And she (poore soule) in sorrow and disgrace,
Be forc'd to giue a filthy baggage place.
So that by all these consequents I see,
It is the money makes or marres the man;
And yet where iudges will indifferent be,
The hobby-horse best fittes Maide-Marrian,
While greedy dogges may licke the dripping pan;
For though that money may doe many thinges,
Yet Vertue makes the truest Queenes and Kings.
It is the money makes or marres the man;
And yet where iudges will indifferent be,
The hobby-horse best fittes Maide-Marrian,
While greedy dogges may licke the dripping pan;
For though that money may doe many thinges,
Yet Vertue makes the truest Queenes and Kings.
Oh what a world it is to see what wiles,
A silly foole will finde to gather wealth:
And how he laughes, when he himselfe beguiles,
With getting of the cukoes note by stealth,
And thinke all well, it is a signe of health:
When Patience hath the vaine to gather pence,
It is a fault to trouble conscience.
A silly foole will finde to gather wealth:
And how he laughes, when he himselfe beguiles,
With getting of the cukoes note by stealth,
And thinke all well, it is a signe of health:
When Patience hath the vaine to gather pence,
It is a fault to trouble conscience.
Who doth not see what villanies are wrought,
To gather wealth, the ground of wickednesse:
How many scholers Machauell hath taught,
To fill the earth with all vngodlinesse,
While Witte doth onely worke for wealthinesse:
Who liues in ebbes, and may let in the floods,
But will betray his father for his goods?
To gather wealth, the ground of wickednesse:
How many scholers Machauell hath taught,
To fill the earth with all vngodlinesse,
While Witte doth onely worke for wealthinesse:
Who liues in ebbes, and may let in the floods,
But will betray his father for his goods?
But what auailes vnto the world to talke?
Wealth is a witch that hath a wicked charme,
That in the mindes of wicked men doth walke,
Vnto the heart and soule's eternall harme,
Which is not kept by the Almighty arme:
Oh, tis the strongest instrument of ill
That ere was knowne to worke the deuill's will.
Wealth is a witch that hath a wicked charme,
That in the mindes of wicked men doth walke,
Vnto the heart and soule's eternall harme,
Which is not kept by the Almighty arme:
Oh, tis the strongest instrument of ill
That ere was knowne to worke the deuill's will.
An honest man is held a good poore soule,
And kindenesse counted but a weake conceite,
And loue writte vp but in the wood-cocke's sowle,
While thriuing Wat doth but on wealth awaite,
He is a fore-horse that goes euer streight:
And he but held a foole for all his wit,
That guides his braines but with a golden bit.
And kindenesse counted but a weake conceite,
And loue writte vp but in the wood-cocke's sowle,
While thriuing Wat doth but on wealth awaite,
He is a fore-horse that goes euer streight:
And he but held a foole for all his wit,
That guides his braines but with a golden bit.
A Virgin is a vertuous kind of creature
But doth not coine command virginitie?
And Beautie hath a strange bewiching feature,
But golde reads so much world's diuinitie,
As with the heauens hath no affinitie;
So that where Beautie doth with Vertue dwell,
If it want money yet it will not sell.
But doth not coine command virginitie?
And Beautie hath a strange bewiching feature,
But golde reads so much world's diuinitie,
As with the heauens hath no affinitie;
So that where Beautie doth with Vertue dwell,
If it want money yet it will not sell.
The market doth not serue to looke on mindes,
Tis mony makes the way with euery thing;
Coyne alters natures in a thousand kinds,
And makes a begger thinke himselfe a king,
The carter whistle and the cobler sing:
Money, oh God, it carries such a grace
That it dare meet the diuell in the face.
Tis mony makes the way with euery thing;
Coyne alters natures in a thousand kinds,
And makes a begger thinke himselfe a king,
The carter whistle and the cobler sing:
Money, oh God, it carries such a grace
That it dare meet the diuell in the face.
And he that wants this wicked kinde of drosse,
May talke of nuttes but feede vpon the shales;
Insteede of grasse be glad to gather mosse,
And steed of hilles be glad to keepe the dales,
With chilling blasts insteede of blessed gales:
Valour, wit, honor, vertue, beautie, grace,
All little worth if wealth be out of place.
May talke of nuttes but feede vpon the shales;
Insteede of grasse be glad to gather mosse,
And steed of hilles be glad to keepe the dales,
With chilling blasts insteede of blessed gales:
Valour, wit, honor, vertue, beautie, grace,
All little worth if wealth be out of place.
The golden tale is euer soonest heard,
The golden suter soonest hath dispatch,
The golden seruant hath the best regard,
And what such marriage as the golden match?
And who so wise as is the golden patch?
Sweet musicke soundes it in a golden vaine,
The sweetest stroke is in the golden straine.
The golden suter soonest hath dispatch,
The golden seruant hath the best regard,
And what such marriage as the golden match?
And who so wise as is the golden patch?
Sweet musicke soundes it in a golden vaine,
The sweetest stroke is in the golden straine.
And yet for all this, by your leaue awhile,
Examine all and giue each one his right,
Let not selfe-will a better wit beguile,
To take a candle for the sunny light:
There is a diffrence twixt the day and night,
So is there twixt the riches of the minde,
And the base drosse in beggar-thoughts to finde.
Examine all and giue each one his right,
Let not selfe-will a better wit beguile,
To take a candle for the sunny light:
There is a diffrence twixt the day and night,
So is there twixt the riches of the minde,
And the base drosse in beggar-thoughts to finde.
The wealthy beggar with his golden bagges,
Is yet a beggar, maugre all his golde;
And noble Vertue, though it be in ragges,
May well deserue a better place to holde
Then many a one that is for money solde:
And tis not wealth can make an ape a man,
Cut out his coate the best way that you can.
Is yet a beggar, maugre all his golde;
And noble Vertue, though it be in ragges,
May well deserue a better place to holde
Then many a one that is for money solde:
And tis not wealth can make an ape a man,
Cut out his coate the best way that you can.
9
Wealth will not make an old man yong againe,
Howeuer so elixers do abuse him,
Nor wealth can take out a dishonest staine,
Howeuer kindnesse for a time excuse him,
Wealth can make the wise but to refuse him:
Wealth cannot sweeten an old stincking breath,
Nor saue a miser from the dart of Death.
Howeuer so elixers do abuse him,
Nor wealth can take out a dishonest staine,
Howeuer kindnesse for a time excuse him,
Wealth can make the wise but to refuse him:
Wealth cannot sweeten an old stincking breath,
Nor saue a miser from the dart of Death.
A knaue in graine can take none other hue,
The counterfeit will quickly shew his kinde,
A traitor in his heart cannot be true,
The weather-cocke goes euer with the wind,
He hath no eies that can no colours finde:
Fooles may be blinded with a wilfull mist
But wise men will beware of had-I-wist.
The counterfeit will quickly shew his kinde,
A traitor in his heart cannot be true,
The weather-cocke goes euer with the wind,
He hath no eies that can no colours finde:
Fooles may be blinded with a wilfull mist
But wise men will beware of had-I-wist.
For he that were as rich as Crœsuc was,
Yet if he haue a pare of Midas' eares,
He shall be counted but a Golden Asse,
Whateuer worship in the world he beares:
For Truth herselfe by all her triall sweares
In all the rules where reason hath his right,
A shadow doth but onely mocke the sight.
Yet if he haue a pare of Midas' eares,
He shall be counted but a Golden Asse,
Whateuer worship in the world he beares:
For Truth herselfe by all her triall sweares
In all the rules where reason hath his right,
A shadow doth but onely mocke the sight.
While he that hath a manly comely feature
And wisedome's grace to guide the spirite's will,
And with the outward ornaments of Nature,
To heauenly comfort bends his inward skill,
Although he cannot clime the golden hill,
How bare soeuer here be his abode
He shall be gratious in the sight of God.
And wisedome's grace to guide the spirite's will,
And with the outward ornaments of Nature,
To heauenly comfort bends his inward skill,
Although he cannot clime the golden hill,
How bare soeuer here be his abode
He shall be gratious in the sight of God.
He that walkes wanton vith his head aside,
And knowes not well how he may see his feete;
And she that minceth like a maiden bride,
And like a shadow slideth through the streete;
Howeuer so their mindes in money meete,
Measure their humours iustly by the middle,
He may be but a foole and she a fiddle.
And knowes not well how he may see his feete;
And she that minceth like a maiden bride,
And like a shadow slideth through the streete;
Howeuer so their mindes in money meete,
Measure their humours iustly by the middle,
He may be but a foole and she a fiddle.
She that hath a round table at her breech,
And like a puppet in her 'parrell dight;
He that is all formalitie in speech,
And like a rabbet that is set vpright;
Howeuer so their purses be in plight,
He may be wise, but in his owne opinion,
And she accounted but an idle minion.
And like a puppet in her 'parrell dight;
He that is all formalitie in speech,
And like a rabbet that is set vpright;
Howeuer so their purses be in plight,
He may be wise, but in his owne opinion,
And she accounted but an idle minion.
He that with fat goes wallowing like a beare,
And puffes and blowes, and gapes to gather ayre;
She that all day sittes curling of her hayre,
And paints her face to make the fowle seeme faire;
Howeuer so their wealth encrease, or paire,
He may be held for a butcher's weather,
And she a bird but of an idle feather.
And puffes and blowes, and gapes to gather ayre;
She that all day sittes curling of her hayre,
And paints her face to make the fowle seeme faire;
Howeuer so their wealth encrease, or paire,
He may be held for a butcher's weather,
And she a bird but of an idle feather.
He like a crane that stalkes along the streete,
And ouer-lookes the moone, and all the starres;
She that doth softly striue to set her feete,
As though her ioynts had lately been at iarres;
How-e're their purses breede their peace or warres,
He may be counted but the sonne of pride
And she perhaps haue an vnwholesome hide.
And ouer-lookes the moone, and all the starres;
She that doth softly striue to set her feete,
As though her ioynts had lately been at iarres;
How-e're their purses breede their peace or warres,
He may be counted but the sonne of pride
And she perhaps haue an vnwholesome hide.
He that doth set his wicked wittes to worke,
To coosen and to cony catch his friend;
And she that doth in secret corners lurke,
To bring young humours to a wicked end;
Howeuer so their purses paire or mend
She may hap prooue as good as euer twangd
And he a rascall, worthy to be hangd.
To coosen and to cony catch his friend;
And she that doth in secret corners lurke,
To bring young humours to a wicked end;
Howeuer so their purses paire or mend
She may hap prooue as good as euer twangd
And he a rascall, worthy to be hangd.
He that doth bring men into bonds of dept,
And feede their humors with a card of tenne;
She that can mump, and mince, and ierke, and iet
As though she were old chaunteclers chiefe hene;
How ere their purses build the golden penne,
In the best rules that wit and reason haue,
She may be thought a queane and he a knaue.
And feede their humors with a card of tenne;
She that can mump, and mince, and ierke, and iet
As though she were old chaunteclers chiefe hene;
How ere their purses build the golden penne,
In the best rules that wit and reason haue,
She may be thought a queane and he a knaue.
He that can fleere, and leere, and looke aside,
As though he studied on some weighty case;
She that can kindely counterfet the bride,
On working dayes to make a Sondaye's face;
Howeuer so their purses be in case,
He may perhaps haue but a knauish wit,
And she perhaps be but a foolish tit.
As though he studied on some weighty case;
She that can kindely counterfet the bride,
On working dayes to make a Sondaye's face;
Howeuer so their purses be in case,
He may perhaps haue but a knauish wit,
And she perhaps be but a foolish tit.
He that will drinke, and sweare, and stabbe, and kill,
And will be brought vnto no better stay;
She that will brawle, and scold, and haue her will,
In spight of whosoeuer dare say nay;
Howe're their wealth do beare the world away,
He may be fit to keepe the diuels court,
And she a match to make a mad-man sport.
And will be brought vnto no better stay;
She that will brawle, and scold, and haue her will,
In spight of whosoeuer dare say nay;
Howe're their wealth do beare the world away,
He may be fit to keepe the diuels court,
And she a match to make a mad-man sport.
So that I can see I finde myselfe deceiued,
To thinke that mony should monarch it so;
Although I thinke I might be well conceiued,
To thinke that money make a goodly show,
Vnto a minde that doth not mettall know;
But he that knowes the flower from the mosse,
Will finde it but a necessary drosse.
To thinke that mony should monarch it so;
Although I thinke I might be well conceiued,
To thinke that money make a goodly show,
Vnto a minde that doth not mettall know;
But he that knowes the flower from the mosse,
Will finde it but a necessary drosse.
But he that can with conscience and with kindnesse,
From a small mole-hil to a mountaine rise;
And she that will not with Discretion's blindenesse
Lead a poore friend into Foole's Paradise;
Let crownes and angels follow them like flies.
If they get golde, on God's name let them weare it,
He hath a peeuish humour cannot beare it.
From a small mole-hil to a mountaine rise;
And she that will not with Discretion's blindenesse
Lead a poore friend into Foole's Paradise;
Let crownes and angels follow them like flies.
If they get golde, on God's name let them weare it,
He hath a peeuish humour cannot beare it.
But let him yet acknowledge what he is,
That by his wealth his onely worship getteth;
And let her that is such a misteries,
Thinke her but fond that so herselfe forgetteth,
As labour's lucre euen with honor setteth.
Let them, I say, confesse but what they be,
And they shall be stil as they are for me:
That by his wealth his onely worship getteth;
And let her that is such a misteries,
Thinke her but fond that so herselfe forgetteth,
As labour's lucre euen with honor setteth.
Let them, I say, confesse but what they be,
And they shall be stil as they are for me:
But if King Pippin ouer-looke his basket,
I wish a rotte among his apples fall;
And if dame Laundresse doe forget her flasket,
I wish her losse her crippin, or her cawle,
I can not make a parlour of a halle:
Let euery rabbet to her borough runne,
And then the hunting will be quickly done.
I wish a rotte among his apples fall;
And if dame Laundresse doe forget her flasket,
I wish her losse her crippin, or her cawle,
I can not make a parlour of a halle:
Let euery rabbet to her borough runne,
And then the hunting will be quickly done.
10
But if the hildings care not how they rome,
Nor where they range in fetching of their feede;
If they be met with in their going home,
I can not pitty their vnhappy speede;
Who cuttes their fingers must abide them bleede,
Who wilfully will venture for a smart,
I can not helpe them, if it breake their heart.
Nor where they range in fetching of their feede;
If they be met with in their going home,
I can not pitty their vnhappy speede;
Who cuttes their fingers must abide them bleede,
Who wilfully will venture for a smart,
I can not helpe them, if it breake their heart.
Then let a knaue be knowne to be a knaue,
A theife a villaine, and a churle a hogge;
A minkes a menion, and a rogue a slaue,
A trull a tit, an vsurer a dogge,
A lobbe a loute, a heauy loll a logge:
And euery birde goe rowst in her owne nest,
And then perhaps my Muse will be at rest.
A theife a villaine, and a churle a hogge;
A minkes a menion, and a rogue a slaue,
A trull a tit, an vsurer a dogge,
A lobbe a loute, a heauy loll a logge:
And euery birde goe rowst in her owne nest,
And then perhaps my Muse will be at rest.
But if a Iacke will be a gentleman,
And mistris Needens lady it at least,
And euery goose be saucy with the swanne,
While the asse thinkes he is a goodly beast,
While so the foole doth keepe ambition's feast;
My Muse in conscience that cannot be quiet,
Will giue them this good sawce vnto their diet.
And mistris Needens lady it at least,
And euery goose be saucy with the swanne,
While the asse thinkes he is a goodly beast,
While so the foole doth keepe ambition's feast;
My Muse in conscience that cannot be quiet,
Will giue them this good sawce vnto their diet.
But I doe hope I am but in a dreame,
Fooles will be wiser then to loose their wittes;
The countrey wench will looke vnto her creame,
And workemen see, but where their profite fits,
And learne fantastickes to their idle fits:
Pride shall goe downe, and vertue shall encrease,
And then my Muse be still, and hold her peace.
Fooles will be wiser then to loose their wittes;
The countrey wench will looke vnto her creame,
And workemen see, but where their profite fits,
And learne fantastickes to their idle fits:
Pride shall goe downe, and vertue shall encrease,
And then my Muse be still, and hold her peace.
But if I see the world will not amend,
The wealthy beggar counterfeite the king,
And idle spirites all their humours spend,
In seeking how to make the cuckoe sing;
If Fortune thus doe daunce in Follie's ring,
When contraries thus go against their kindes,
My Muse resolues to tell them what she findes.
The wealthy beggar counterfeite the king,
And idle spirites all their humours spend,
In seeking how to make the cuckoe sing;
If Fortune thus doe daunce in Follie's ring,
When contraries thus go against their kindes,
My Muse resolues to tell them what she findes.
For she cannot be partiall in her speech,
To smooth, and flatter, to cologue and lie;
She cannot make a breast-plate of a breech,
Nor praise his sight that hath but halfe an eie,
She cannot doe herselfe such iniurie;
For she was made out of so plaine a molde,
As doth but Trueth for all her honor holde.
To smooth, and flatter, to cologue and lie;
She cannot make a breast-plate of a breech,
Nor praise his sight that hath but halfe an eie,
She cannot doe herselfe such iniurie;
For she was made out of so plaine a molde,
As doth but Trueth for all her honor holde.
FINIS.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |