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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PASQVILS
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
10
PASQVILS Prognostication.
When that a churle doth grow so prodigal,
He cares not how he throw away his coyne,
And a wise man growes so fantasticall,
As with a foole will for his counsell ioyne,
And that a Fencer layes away his foyne,
And a yong spend-thrift falles to purchase land:
I feare that Doomes day will be hard at hand.
He cares not how he throw away his coyne,
And a wise man growes so fantasticall,
As with a foole will for his counsell ioyne,
And that a Fencer layes away his foyne,
And a yong spend-thrift falles to purchase land:
I feare that Doomes day will be hard at hand.
When that a Lawyer leaues to take a fee,
And that a trades man will not sell for gaine,
When euery Iudge will so indifferent be,
Euen as he sees to shew the matter plaine,
When that the world is growne to such a vaine:
My muse doth feare in her best ayming markes,
The skie will fall, and then we shall haue Larkes.
And that a trades man will not sell for gaine,
When euery Iudge will so indifferent be,
Euen as he sees to shew the matter plaine,
When that the world is growne to such a vaine:
My muse doth feare in her best ayming markes,
The skie will fall, and then we shall haue Larkes.
When humblenesse is praisde, and pride abated,
Vertue is honourd, and foule vice defaced,
Goodnesse beloued, wickednesse is hated,
Wisedome aduanced, folly is displaced,
Truth is esteem'd and falshood is disgraced,
The rich men giue their treasure to the poore:
I feare me Doomes day will be at the doore.
Vertue is honourd, and foule vice defaced,
Goodnesse beloued, wickednesse is hated,
Wisedome aduanced, folly is displaced,
Truth is esteem'd and falshood is disgraced,
The rich men giue their treasure to the poore:
I feare me Doomes day will be at the doore.
When filthy Dowdes will leaue to paint their faces,
And Iacke an Apes leaue ietting like a man,
And Brokers debters feare no Sergeants maces
Nor Geese will take the riuer with the Swan,
Nor greedie turne-spittes licke the dripping pan,
Nor that a knaue will giue a foole the scoffe:
I feare me doomes day will be not farre off.
And Iacke an Apes leaue ietting like a man,
And Brokers debters feare no Sergeants maces
Nor Geese will take the riuer with the Swan,
Nor greedie turne-spittes licke the dripping pan,
Nor that a knaue will giue a foole the scoffe:
I feare me doomes day will be not farre off.
When giddie heads lay by their idle humors,
And wicked wittes will leaue their villanie,
And gracelesse tongues will cease vnciuill Rumors,
And yong men follow no il companie,
Nor maides be sicke of the sweete Timpanie,
But constant hearts for very loue will die:
I feare me doomes day will be then too nie.
And wicked wittes will leaue their villanie,
And gracelesse tongues will cease vnciuill Rumors,
And yong men follow no il companie,
Nor maides be sicke of the sweete Timpanie,
But constant hearts for very loue will die:
I feare me doomes day will be then too nie.
When idle louers leaue for to dissemble,
And faithfull friends are worthily regarded,
And Vertue's beautie doth the sunne resemble,
While clowdie mistes are vtterly disswaded,
And carefull seruice kindly is rewarded,
While honor liues, where loue can neuer die:
I feare me doomes day will be very nigh.
And faithfull friends are worthily regarded,
And Vertue's beautie doth the sunne resemble,
While clowdie mistes are vtterly disswaded,
And carefull seruice kindly is rewarded,
While honor liues, where loue can neuer die:
I feare me doomes day will be very nigh.
When old men liue til they be yong againe,
And yong men fal in age before their time,
When Poets Muses leaue to frump and faine,
And blossomes loose the beautie of their prime,
And no man falls that takes in hand to clime,
And he that may be rich will needes be poore:
I feare me Doomes day then is at the doore.
And yong men fal in age before their time,
When Poets Muses leaue to frump and faine,
And blossomes loose the beautie of their prime,
And no man falls that takes in hand to clime,
And he that may be rich will needes be poore:
I feare me Doomes day then is at the doore.
When that a beggar braues it with a King,
And that a coward puts a souldier downe,
And that a Waspe is bred without a sting,
And that a Knight must creepe vnto a Clowne,
And heart sicke Honor falls into a swowne,
And careful hearts for lacke of comfort die:
I feare me doomes day wil be then too nie.
And that a coward puts a souldier downe,
And that a Waspe is bred without a sting,
And that a Knight must creepe vnto a Clowne,
And heart sicke Honor falls into a swowne,
And careful hearts for lacke of comfort die:
I feare me doomes day wil be then too nie.
When cankred coine a Kingdom may command,
And many thousands die for one mans ease,
And that a poore man may not right demand,
And honest hearts must wicked humors please,
Til sorrow too much on the soule do ceaze:
When thus the world with woe is ouergone,
I feare that Doomes day will be coming on.
And many thousands die for one mans ease,
And that a poore man may not right demand,
And honest hearts must wicked humors please,
Til sorrow too much on the soule do ceaze:
When thus the world with woe is ouergone,
I feare that Doomes day will be coming on.
When Cockes of game begin to leaue their fight,
And old fooles will not with yong bables play,
The stately Eagle loose her lofty height,
And wise men fall to keepe fooles holiday.
When that the world doth grow to such a stay,
It makes me feare that much about that yeere,
The day of Doome wil sure be very neere.
And old fooles will not with yong bables play,
The stately Eagle loose her lofty height,
And wise men fall to keepe fooles holiday.
When that the world doth grow to such a stay,
It makes me feare that much about that yeere,
The day of Doome wil sure be very neere.
When that the Lion doth begin to roare,
The wolfe to houle, the snarling curre to barke,
The buzzard Kite too neere the Sunne to soare,
The Bunting striue to mount aboue the Larke:
My Muse doth find in her best aiming marke,
That neere vpon that yeare she feares to see,
The comming of the day of Doome wil be.
The wolfe to houle, the snarling curre to barke,
The buzzard Kite too neere the Sunne to soare,
The Bunting striue to mount aboue the Larke:
My Muse doth find in her best aiming marke,
That neere vpon that yeare she feares to see,
The comming of the day of Doome wil be.
When that a flie vpon a galde horse backe,
Can make fooles laugh to see how he can sit,
And when a pedler in a beggars packe,
Can carrie ware, for his poore trade vnfit,
And with his purse can go away with it,
And Epicures will leaue their belly-cheere:
I feare me then the day of Doome is neere.
Can make fooles laugh to see how he can sit,
And when a pedler in a beggars packe,
Can carrie ware, for his poore trade vnfit,
And with his purse can go away with it,
And Epicures will leaue their belly-cheere:
I feare me then the day of Doome is neere.
11
When Iohn a Noddes will be a Gentleman
Because his worship weares a velvet coate,
And euery Piper, a Musitian,
Because he hits vpon an idle noate,
And Beggars care not for the King a groate,
When that the foole will giue himselfe the scoffe:
I feare me Doomes day cannot be farre off.
Because his worship weares a velvet coate,
And euery Piper, a Musitian,
Because he hits vpon an idle noate,
And Beggars care not for the King a groate,
When that the foole will giue himselfe the scoffe:
I feare me Doomes day cannot be farre off.
When children teach their parents how to speake,
And seruants learne their masters to command,
When strong men will be guided by the weake,
And Rascall driue the male Deere downe the lawnde,
And Beggars fill the misers emptie Mawnd,
And dead men rise aliue out of the Beere:
I feare me Doomes day wil be very neere.
And seruants learne their masters to command,
When strong men will be guided by the weake,
And Rascall driue the male Deere downe the lawnde,
And Beggars fill the misers emptie Mawnd,
And dead men rise aliue out of the Beere:
I feare me Doomes day wil be very neere.
When conies hunt the dogges out of the warren,
And partridges beate hawkes out of the field,
And deinty faulcons feede on filthy carren,
And souldiers take the penne, and leaue the field,
And that a prince will to his subiects yeeld:
Then by some rules my Muse doth vnderstand,
She biddes me feare that doomes day is at hand.
And partridges beate hawkes out of the field,
And deinty faulcons feede on filthy carren,
And souldiers take the penne, and leaue the field,
And that a prince will to his subiects yeeld:
Then by some rules my Muse doth vnderstand,
She biddes me feare that doomes day is at hand.
When such as loue their eies will needes be blind,
And such as heare will seeme to stoppe their eares,
And fathers to their children are vnkind,
Because they thinke that they are none of theirs,
When they haue wiues, and other make their heires:
When such hard pointes the world doth stand vpon,
I feare me doomes day will be comming on.
And such as heare will seeme to stoppe their eares,
And fathers to their children are vnkind,
Because they thinke that they are none of theirs,
When they haue wiues, and other make their heires:
When such hard pointes the world doth stand vpon,
I feare me doomes day will be comming on.
When that the world is set vpon a will,
And purses carie matters as they list,
When all the grace is in the golden skill,
And few or none that cares for had I wist,
And each one thinkes he walketh in a mist:
When all these courses fall out in a yeere,
I feare me Doomes day will be very neere.
And purses carie matters as they list,
When all the grace is in the golden skill,
And few or none that cares for had I wist,
And each one thinkes he walketh in a mist:
When all these courses fall out in a yeere,
I feare me Doomes day will be very neere.
When idle quarrels breede vngodly warres,
And subtil peace deceiues a simple heart,
When men do shoote their arrowes at the starres
And neuer thinke of death his sodaine dart:
When thus the world doth take the foolish part,
When all good thoughts are flung vpon the floore,
I feare me Doomes day will be at the doore.
And subtil peace deceiues a simple heart,
When men do shoote their arrowes at the starres
And neuer thinke of death his sodaine dart:
When thus the world doth take the foolish part,
When all good thoughts are flung vpon the floore,
I feare me Doomes day will be at the doore.
When he that puts himselfe into good ragges,
Thinkes himselfe halfe a prince for his apparrell,
When he that hath the chest of golden bagges
Beleeues he hath the world within a barrell:
When folly thus with better wit will quarrell
While wisedome in the world hath much disgrace,
I feare me Doomes day will come on apace.
Thinkes himselfe halfe a prince for his apparrell,
When he that hath the chest of golden bagges
Beleeues he hath the world within a barrell:
When folly thus with better wit will quarrell
While wisedome in the world hath much disgrace,
I feare me Doomes day will come on apace.
When lands and bagges do marry wealth to wealth,
And want and vertue must go downe the wind,
When few or none regard the spirites health,
While wicked humors leade away the mind:
When the poore world is in this pitteous kind,
While hellish spirits in their pride do stand,
I feare me Doomes day will be hard at hand.
And want and vertue must go downe the wind,
When few or none regard the spirites health,
While wicked humors leade away the mind:
When the poore world is in this pitteous kind,
While hellish spirits in their pride do stand,
I feare me Doomes day will be hard at hand.
When Charing crosse and Paules do meete,
And breake their fast in Friday streete,
And Ware and Waltam go to Kent,
To purchase lands and gather rent,
And Easter falles afore the Lent:
Then if my Table doe not lie,
The day of doome will sure be nie.
And breake their fast in Friday streete,
And Ware and Waltam go to Kent,
To purchase lands and gather rent,
And Easter falles afore the Lent:
Then if my Table doe not lie,
The day of doome will sure be nie.
When woodcockes build in dawcockes nestes,
And Robin Hood is rise againe,
And misers churles make merry feasts,
And merchants loose that they may gaine:
When once the world is in that vaine,
Then do not thinke but nigh that yeere,
The day of doome is very neere.
And Robin Hood is rise againe,
And misers churles make merry feasts,
And merchants loose that they may gaine:
When once the world is in that vaine,
Then do not thinke but nigh that yeere,
The day of doome is very neere.
When euery child his father knowes,
And euery man will loue his wife,
And women sweare to be no shrowes,
But husbands leade a quiet life,
While kindnesse cuts off euery strife:
Then without doubt this build vpon,
The day of doome is comming on.
And euery man will loue his wife,
And women sweare to be no shrowes,
But husbands leade a quiet life,
While kindnesse cuts off euery strife:
Then without doubt this build vpon,
The day of doome is comming on.
When Newgate is without a knaue,
And Bridewell found without a whoore,
A galley found without a slaue,
A Farmers barne without a floore,
And not a beggar at the doore:
Then let both time and reson trie,
And if that doomes day be not nie.
And Bridewell found without a whoore,
A galley found without a slaue,
A Farmers barne without a floore,
And not a beggar at the doore:
Then let both time and reson trie,
And if that doomes day be not nie.
When theeues begin to leaue to steale,
And Iades will leaue their kicking trickes,
And fooles their secrets will conceale,
And maides will vse no setting stickes,
Nor blacke thorne carrie pointed prickes:
Then do not thinke but in that yeere,
The day of doome will sure be neere.
And Iades will leaue their kicking trickes,
And fooles their secrets will conceale,
And maides will vse no setting stickes,
Nor blacke thorne carrie pointed prickes:
Then do not thinke but in that yeere,
The day of doome will sure be neere.
When old men care not for their health,
And faire yong women wish to die,
And rich men throw away their wealth,
And Rascalls leaue their beggarie,
And Knaues will leaue their knauerie:
Then thinke as I haue said before,
The day of Doome is at the doore.
And faire yong women wish to die,
And rich men throw away their wealth,
And Rascalls leaue their beggarie,
And Knaues will leaue their knauerie:
Then thinke as I haue said before,
The day of Doome is at the doore.
When wanton eies breede wicked minds,
And wilfull heads breede wofull hearts,
While indiscretion nature blinds,
To scorne the rules of Reasons Artes,
And headlong fall into foule partes,
Til had-I-wist make folly crie:
Then thinke the day of Doome is nie.
And wilfull heads breede wofull hearts,
While indiscretion nature blinds,
To scorne the rules of Reasons Artes,
And headlong fall into foule partes,
Til had-I-wist make folly crie:
Then thinke the day of Doome is nie.
When women will no malice shew
And men are free from envies fault,
Who may be high, wil be below,
And beefe keepe sweete that hath no salt,
And Beere is brewed with musty Malt:
Then do beleeue that truth will trie,
The day of Doome will sure be nie.
And men are free from envies fault,
Who may be high, wil be below,
And beefe keepe sweete that hath no salt,
And Beere is brewed with musty Malt:
Then do beleeue that truth will trie,
The day of Doome will sure be nie.
12
When Gamsters at Primero rests,
Will put out all their purses eie,
And warres do grow to be but iests,
Where many fight, and few do die,
A spider will not eate a flie:
Then by my rule I vnderstand,
The day of Doome will be at hand.
Will put out all their purses eie,
And warres do grow to be but iests,
Where many fight, and few do die,
A spider will not eate a flie:
Then by my rule I vnderstand,
The day of Doome will be at hand.
When Souldiers led into a field,
Do see their leaders runne at a stay,
The valiant to the coward yeeld,
That doth his honour steale away:
When the world is at such a fray,
I say but as I said before,
Thinke Doomes day will be at the doore.
Do see their leaders runne at a stay,
The valiant to the coward yeeld,
That doth his honour steale away:
When the world is at such a fray,
I say but as I said before,
Thinke Doomes day will be at the doore.
When that a Cocke wil craue his hen,
Because shee is not of his breede,
And boies will be as good as men,
When schollers teach their Masters reade,
An hearb is spoilèd by a weede:
Then by my rules experience,
That day of Doome is not farre hence.
Because shee is not of his breede,
And boies will be as good as men,
When schollers teach their Masters reade,
An hearb is spoilèd by a weede:
Then by my rules experience,
That day of Doome is not farre hence.
When no good nature can amend ill manners,
Nor daily preaching draw the world to God,
But sinne and shame display their open banners,
While he on earth begins to make abode,
When holy thoughts are wholy ouertrode,
While faith and troth do feare to shew their face:
I feare me Doomes day will come on apace.
Nor daily preaching draw the world to God,
But sinne and shame display their open banners,
While he on earth begins to make abode,
When holy thoughts are wholy ouertrode,
While faith and troth do feare to shew their face:
I feare me Doomes day will come on apace.
When that a man must seeke to please his wife,
For feare the cuckoe sing vpon his head,
A women will be wearie of her life,
Because she cannot bring a foole to bed,
When siluer thus must be exchangde for led:
By such true rules as I haue rightly scand,
I feare me Doomes day will be hard at hand,
For feare the cuckoe sing vpon his head,
A women will be wearie of her life,
Because she cannot bring a foole to bed,
When siluer thus must be exchangde for led:
By such true rules as I haue rightly scand,
I feare me Doomes day will be hard at hand,
When wicked minds will in their humors dwell,
And sinne is not ashamde to shew her face,
And Atheists are resolude to go to hell,
Because they haue no feeling thought of Grace:
When that the world is in this wofull case,
And death and sorrow do begin their song,
I feare the day of Doome will not be long.
And sinne is not ashamde to shew her face,
And Atheists are resolude to go to hell,
Because they haue no feeling thought of Grace:
When that the world is in this wofull case,
And death and sorrow do begin their song,
I feare the day of Doome will not be long.
When men and women gree like dogges and cats,
Because the world is full of wicked natures,
And euery towne is full of mice and rattes,
That do deuoure the foode of better creatures,
While fooles make idolls of ill-fauoured features:
When we are thus poore, people to beg on vs,
I feare me doomes day will come stealing on vs.
Because the world is full of wicked natures,
And euery towne is full of mice and rattes,
That do deuoure the foode of better creatures,
While fooles make idolls of ill-fauoured features:
When we are thus poore, people to beg on vs,
I feare me doomes day will come stealing on vs.
When that a cat will eate no milke,
And that a fox the goose forsakes,
And courtiers leaue their wearing silke,
And snow doth leaue to fall in flakes,
And one man marres that other makes:
Then doth my Table say that yeere,
The day of Doome will sure be neere.
And that a fox the goose forsakes,
And courtiers leaue their wearing silke,
And snow doth leaue to fall in flakes,
And one man marres that other makes:
Then doth my Table say that yeere,
The day of Doome will sure be neere.
When fishes leaue to play with baites,
And buzzards leaue to beate the wind,
And knaues will leaue with cunning sleights,
For to deceiue a simple mind:
When that the world is in this kind,
Be sure this note to build vpon,
The day of Doome is comming on.
And buzzards leaue to beate the wind,
And knaues will leaue with cunning sleights,
For to deceiue a simple mind:
When that the world is in this kind,
Be sure this note to build vpon,
The day of Doome is comming on.
When morrice dancers leaue their bells,
The foole his bable by will lay,
And oisters breede without their shells,
And that the mice with cattes will play,
While wise men make fooles holy day:
Then tell me if my table lie,
That saies that doomes day will be nie.
The foole his bable by will lay,
And oisters breede without their shells,
And that the mice with cattes will play,
While wise men make fooles holy day:
Then tell me if my table lie,
That saies that doomes day will be nie.
When that a Kite the Chicken feares,
The wolfe will not come neere the Lamb,
The frogs will be as big as Beares,
The Ewe will not abide the Ramme,
A Calfe wil leaue to sucke the Damme:
Then do I by my table find,
That doomes day is not farre behind.
The wolfe will not come neere the Lamb,
The frogs will be as big as Beares,
The Ewe will not abide the Ramme,
A Calfe wil leaue to sucke the Damme:
Then do I by my table find,
That doomes day is not farre behind.
When youth will not the wantons play,
And age hath sworne he will not dote,
And wil and wit are at a fray,
While beggarie is not worth a groate:
It is a certaine rule to note,
That very much upon that yeere,
The day of doome approcheth neere.
And age hath sworne he will not dote,
And wil and wit are at a fray,
While beggarie is not worth a groate:
It is a certaine rule to note,
That very much upon that yeere,
The day of doome approcheth neere.
When that a beggar braues a King,
And fishes swimme without their finnes,
An Owle wil teach a Larke to sing,
And fishers leaue to lay their ginnes,
When puddings creepe out of their skinnes:
Then thinke as I haue said before,
The day of doome is at the doore.
And fishes swimme without their finnes,
An Owle wil teach a Larke to sing,
And fishers leaue to lay their ginnes,
When puddings creepe out of their skinnes:
Then thinke as I haue said before,
The day of doome is at the doore.
When Swallowes leaue to feede on Flies,
And Asses looke into the ayre,
And Mowles begin to ope their eies,
And two fooles do not make a paire,
And Basenesse sits in Honors chaire,
And the Lord be seruant to a Groome:
Then thinke vpon the day of doome.
And Asses looke into the ayre,
And Mowles begin to ope their eies,
And two fooles do not make a paire,
And Basenesse sits in Honors chaire,
And the Lord be seruant to a Groome:
Then thinke vpon the day of doome.
When fire begins to leaue his heate,
No coolenesse in the water is,
The hungry will refuse their meate,
And louers leaue to coll and kisse,
And all is well that was amisse:
Then doth my perfect rule descrie,
The day of doome wil sure be nigh.
No coolenesse in the water is,
The hungry will refuse their meate,
And louers leaue to coll and kisse,
And all is well that was amisse:
Then doth my perfect rule descrie,
The day of doome wil sure be nigh.
When couetousnesse can infect a King,
And pride is set vpon a beggars heart,
And too much want the honest mind doth wring,
While helplesse sorrow breedes the spirits smart:
When thus the diuell ginnes to play his part,
To fill the world with such unhappy fare,
I feare doomes day before we be aware.
And pride is set vpon a beggars heart,
And too much want the honest mind doth wring,
While helplesse sorrow breedes the spirits smart:
When thus the diuell ginnes to play his part,
To fill the world with such unhappy fare,
I feare doomes day before we be aware.
When furies flie like sparkles in the ayre,
With fire and sword, to fil the world with bloud,
And feareful soules are neere vnto despaire,
While gracelesse hearts can see no hope of good,
But endlesse sorrow is the sinners food:
When thus the diuell in the world doth sit,
Doomes day wil come, although it be not yet.
With fire and sword, to fil the world with bloud,
And feareful soules are neere vnto despaire,
While gracelesse hearts can see no hope of good,
But endlesse sorrow is the sinners food:
When thus the diuell in the world doth sit,
Doomes day wil come, although it be not yet.
FINIS.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |