The Gentle Craft A discovrse Containing many matters of Delight, very pleasant to be read: Shewing what famous men have beene Shoomakers in time past in this Land, with their worthy deeds and great Hospitality. Declaring the cause why it is called the Gentle Craft: and also how the Proverbe first grew; A Shoemakers sonne is a Prince borne. T. D. [i.e. Thomas Deloney] |
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The Shoomakers Song on Crispianus night.
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 | The Gentle Craft |  |
The Shoomakers Song on Crispianus night.
Two Princely brethren once there, were,Right Sonnes unto a King.
Whose father tyrant Maximus
Crispianus one was call'd,
the eldest of the two;
Crispine was the others name,
which well had learned to wooe,
These brethren then were after faine,
from fathers house to flie:
Because their foes to spoile their lives
in privy waite did lie:
Into a kinde Shoomakers house,
they suddenly stept in;
And there to learne the Gentle Craft,
did presently begin.
And five yeeres space they lived so,
with great content of minde;
So that the Tyrant could not tell;
whereas he should them finde:
Though every day to Court they came,
with Shooes for Ladies feet;
They were not knowne by their attire,
they us'd themselves so meet,
At length unto the furious warres
was Crispianus prest;
Whereas his knightly prowesse then
he tried above the rest:
But Crispine found him better sport,
would I had Crispine beene;
The Kings faire daughter lov'd him well,
as it was after seene.
The length of this faire Ladies foot,
so well did Crispine know,
That none but he could please her mind,
the certaine truth is so:
Came he by night or else by day,
he was most welcome still;
With kisses sweet she did him pay,
and thankes for his good will,
So oft these Lovers twaine did meete,
by day and eke by night:
she should be shamed quite;
What was the matter tell me true,
that so her sorrow bred?
Her Shoomaker most daintily
had got her Maidenhead.
But he at length so wisely wrought,
as doth the Story tell:
Her fathers right good will he got,
and every thing was well.
And Crispianus came againe
from warres victoriously:
Then Shoomakers made Holiday,
and therefore so will I.
And now for Crispianus sake,
this wine I drinke to thee,
And he that doth this marke mistake,
and will not now pledge me:
He is not Crispianus friend;
nor worthy well I wot,
To have a Lady to his Love,
as Crispine he hath got.
| The Gentle Craft | |