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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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
[That I would not perswaded be]
An other time, not long after, he chaunced to be in his friends and betters house: being in his bed about midnight, by chaunce awake, heard in the next chamber a Page of the Ladyes of the house, lamenting, as he laye in his bed, very sore his vnhappie estate: which as he could well beare away in the morning, put it in verse only for his owne reading, to laugh at: but being by his friend intreated, put it, as you see, among his Toyes (as one not the least), which was as followeth.
That I would not perswaded be,
in my yong rechlesse youth:
By plaine experience I see,
that now it prooueth truth:
It is Toms song, my Ladyes Page,
That seruice is no heritage.
in my yong rechlesse youth:
By plaine experience I see,
that now it prooueth truth:
It is Toms song, my Ladyes Page,
That seruice is no heritage.
I hard him sing this other night,
as he lay all alone:
Was never Boie in such a plight,
where should he make his mone?
Oh Lord, quoth he, to be a Page,
This seruice is none heritage.
as he lay all alone:
Was never Boie in such a plight,
where should he make his mone?
Oh Lord, quoth he, to be a Page,
This seruice is none heritage.
30
Mine Uncle told me tother day,
that I must take great paine:
And I must cast all sloath away,
if I seeke ought to gaine:
For sure, quoth he, a painefull Page
Will make seruice an heritage.
that I must take great paine:
And I must cast all sloath away,
if I seeke ought to gaine:
For sure, quoth he, a painefull Page
Will make seruice an heritage.
Yea sure, a great commoditie,
if once Madame he doe displease:
A cuffe on the eare, two or three
he shall haue, smally for his ease.
I would, for me he were a Page,
For to possesse his heritage.
if once Madame he doe displease:
A cuffe on the eare, two or three
he shall haue, smally for his ease.
I would, for me he were a Page,
For to possesse his heritage.
I rubbe and brush almost all day,
I make cleane many a coate:
I seeke all honest meanes I may,
how to come by a groate:
I thinke I am a painefull Page,
Yet I can make no heritage.
I make cleane many a coate:
I seeke all honest meanes I may,
how to come by a groate:
I thinke I am a painefull Page,
Yet I can make no heritage.
Why? I to get haue much a doe
a Kirtle now and than:
For making cleane of many a shooe,
for Ales, or Mistresse Anne.
My Ladies Maides will wipe the Page,
Alwayes of such an heritage.
a Kirtle now and than:
For making cleane of many a shooe,
for Ales, or Mistresse Anne.
My Ladies Maides will wipe the Page,
Alwayes of such an heritage.
The wēches they get Coifes and Cawles,
Frēchhoods & partlets eeke:
And I get naught but checks and brawles,
a thousand in a weeke:
These are rewardes meete for a Page,
Surely a goodly heritage.
Frēchhoods & partlets eeke:
And I get naught but checks and brawles,
a thousand in a weeke:
These are rewardes meete for a Page,
Surely a goodly heritage.
My Ladies maides too, must I please,
but chiefly mistresse Anne:
For else, by the Masse, she will disease
me vily, now and than.
Faith, she will say, you whorson Page,
Ile purchase you an heritage.
but chiefly mistresse Anne:
For else, by the Masse, she will disease
me vily, now and than.
Faith, she will say, you whorson Page,
Ile purchase you an heritage.
And if she say so, by the roode,
'tis Cock I warrant it:
But God he knowes, I were as good
to be without[en] it.
For all the gaines I get, poore Page,
Is but a slender heritage.
'tis Cock I warrant it:
But God he knowes, I were as good
to be without[en] it.
For all the gaines I get, poore Page,
Is but a slender heritage.
I haue so many folkes to please,
and creepe and kneele vnto:
That I shall neuer liue at ease,
what euer so I doe:
Ile therefore be no more a Page,
But seeke some other heritage.
and creepe and kneele vnto:
That I shall neuer liue at ease,
what euer so I doe:
Ile therefore be no more a Page,
But seeke some other heritage.
But was there euer such a patch,
to speake so lowde as I:
Knowing what hold the Maides will catch,
at euery fault they spie:
And all for spight at me, poore Page,
To purchase me an heritage.
to speake so lowde as I:
Knowing what hold the Maides will catch,
at euery fault they spie:
And all for spight at me, poore Page,
To purchase me an heritage.
And if that they may heare of this,
I were as good be hangde:
My Lady shall know it, by Gis,
and I shall sure be bangde:
I shall be vsed like a Page,
I shall not loose myne heritage.
I were as good be hangde:
My Lady shall know it, by Gis,
and I shall sure be bangde:
I shall be vsed like a Page,
I shall not loose myne heritage.
Well, yet I hope the time to see,
when I may run as fast,
For wandes for them, as they for me,
ere many dayes be past:
For when I am no longer Page,
Ile give them vp mine heritage.
when I may run as fast,
For wandes for them, as they for me,
ere many dayes be past:
For when I am no longer Page,
Ile give them vp mine heritage.
Well, I a while must stand content,
till better happe doo fall:
With such pore state, as God hath sent,
& giue him thankes for all:
Who wyll, I hope, send me, poore Page,
Then this, some better heritage.
till better happe doo fall:
With such pore state, as God hath sent,
& giue him thankes for all:
Who wyll, I hope, send me, poore Page,
Then this, some better heritage.
With this, with hands and eyes
lift vp to heauen on high:
He sighed twise or thrise,
and wepte to, piteously.
Which when I saw, I wisht the Page
In faith, some better heritage.
lift vp to heauen on high:
He sighed twise or thrise,
and wepte to, piteously.
Which when I saw, I wisht the Page
In faith, some better heritage.
And weeping thus, good God, quoth he,
haue mercy on my soule:
That ready I may be for thee,
when that the bell dooth knoule:
To make me free of this bondage,
And partner of thine heritage.
haue mercy on my soule:
That ready I may be for thee,
when that the bell dooth knoule:
To make me free of this bondage,
And partner of thine heritage.
Lord, graunt me grace so thee to serue,
that at the latter day:
Although I can no good deserue,
yet thou to me mayest say:
Be thou now free, that werte a Page,
And heere in heauen haue heritage.
that at the latter day:
Although I can no good deserue,
yet thou to me mayest say:
Be thou now free, that werte a Page,
And heere in heauen haue heritage.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |