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81
THE HONOR OF A Souldier.
A Discourse of Gentlemen lying in London, that were better keepe house at home in their Countrey
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL
Sir George Carew, Knight, Lieutenant of the Ordinance
Thomas Churchyard wisheth worldly felicity, and heauenly blessedness.
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I muse
why youth, or age of gentle blood,
Borne vnto wealth, and worldly worship heere:
In London long, consumes both land and good,
That better were, at home to make good cheere.
In London still, they finde all vittells deere,
Hoist vp a height, to bring our purses low,
And send men home with empty bags yee know.
Borne vnto wealth, and worldly worship heere:
In London long, consumes both land and good,
That better were, at home to make good cheere.
In London still, they finde all vittells deere,
Hoist vp a height, to bring our purses low,
And send men home with empty bags yee know.
The streetes with fields, may neuer matched be,
For all sweete aire, at will abroad we finde:
What is it then, in London that they see.
But Countrey yeeldes, and better glads the minde.
Perhaps some say, the people are so kinde:
And curteous to, in stately ciuill Towne.
As men thereby, wins credite and renowne.
For all sweete aire, at will abroad we finde:
What is it then, in London that they see.
But Countrey yeeldes, and better glads the minde.
Perhaps some say, the people are so kinde:
And curteous to, in stately ciuill Towne.
As men thereby, wins credite and renowne.
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First for they seeme, in Citty fresh and fine,
Most gay to eie, and gallant as a rose:
But shall a man, for pleasure of his eien.
And pompe or pride, of painted goodly cloes,
He sees abroad, at home his credite lose.
Our Elders did, not so delight in trashe,
And tempting toyes, that brings a man in lash.
Most gay to eie, and gallant as a rose:
But shall a man, for pleasure of his eien.
And pompe or pride, of painted goodly cloes,
He sees abroad, at home his credite lose.
Our Elders did, not so delight in trashe,
And tempting toyes, that brings a man in lash.
For when they came, to London there to stay,
They sent fat beeues, before them for their store:
And went sometimes, a shooting all the way.
With all their traine, and houshold that is more:
Yet were they not, at no lesse charge therefore:
Kept house in Ins, and fedde the poore thereby.
That in hard world, may now for hunger die.
They sent fat beeues, before them for their store:
And went sometimes, a shooting all the way.
With all their traine, and houshold that is more:
Yet were they not, at no lesse charge therefore:
Kept house in Ins, and fedde the poore thereby.
That in hard world, may now for hunger die.
They taried not, in Towne to card and dice,
Nor follow long, lewd lusts that lothsome are:
Which breedes rebuke, and fosters secrete vice.
And makes tame birds, to fall in Satans snare,
They loude plaine robes, but hated purses bare,
Made much of men, gaue neighbors beefe and bred,
Yet left their aires, great wealth now they are dead.
Nor follow long, lewd lusts that lothsome are:
Which breedes rebuke, and fosters secrete vice.
And makes tame birds, to fall in Satans snare,
They loude plaine robes, but hated purses bare,
Made much of men, gaue neighbors beefe and bred,
Yet left their aires, great wealth now they are dead.
Their care was still, to keepe good house and name,
Spend they might spare, yet spare where cause they found,
And librall be, when bounty purchast fame.
And let floud runne, where water did abound.
Rulde all with wit, and wary Iudgement sound,
Not bent in braues, great hauocke for to make.
But drawne and moude, to spend for vertues sake.
Spend they might spare, yet spare where cause they found,
And librall be, when bounty purchast fame.
And let floud runne, where water did abound.
Rulde all with wit, and wary Iudgement sound,
Not bent in braues, great hauocke for to make.
But drawne and moude, to spend for vertues sake.
Gaue much to poore, that craude an almes at gate,
Kept buttry dore, for straungers open still:
Made neighbours eate, that earely came or late.
By which they wonne, the Countreys great good will,
Could serue the Prince, with coundit men and skill:
With their owne charge, and pors a rare thing now,
That seelde is seene, with loue and power throw.
Kept buttry dore, for straungers open still:
Made neighbours eate, that earely came or late.
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Could serue the Prince, with coundit men and skill:
With their owne charge, and pors a rare thing now,
That seelde is seene, with loue and power throw.
They raisd no rents, to make the tenant whine,
Nor clapt no yoke, on friendly neighbours necke:
Nor made poore folke, find fault with cut throat fine.
But had the hearts, of people at a becke,
As we haue now, our seruants vnder checke.
O how plaine men, would follow Landlord than.
Like swarmes of Bees, when any warres began.
Nor clapt no yoke, on friendly neighbours necke:
Nor made poore folke, find fault with cut throat fine.
But had the hearts, of people at a becke,
As we haue now, our seruants vnder checke.
O how plaine men, would follow Landlord than.
Like swarmes of Bees, when any warres began.
Yea glad was he, that might with maister goe,
Though charge and wife, be left at home behinde,
In this fine world, the manner is not so.
Hard handling makes, men shew another minde,
Then loyall loue, made mens affection blinde.
Now can they see, and will doe what they list.
Cast of like Hawkes, comes when they please to fist.
Though charge and wife, be left at home behinde,
In this fine world, the manner is not so.
Hard handling makes, men shew another minde,
Then loyall loue, made mens affection blinde.
Now can they see, and will doe what they list.
Cast of like Hawkes, comes when they please to fist.
What change finde you, yong maisters in these daies,
What hath drawn backe, the forward minds of men:
What makes somtime, prest souldier run his waies.
What makes this world, much worse then world was then.
I dare not now, expresse the cause with pen.
But lay your hands, vppon your brest and winke.
And you shall gesse, what of these thinges I thinke.
What hath drawn backe, the forward minds of men:
What makes somtime, prest souldier run his waies.
What makes this world, much worse then world was then.
I dare not now, expresse the cause with pen.
But lay your hands, vppon your brest and winke.
And you shall gesse, what of these thinges I thinke.
Gay golden robes, and garments pownced out,
Silke laide on silke, and stitched ore the same:
Great losse and play, and keeping reuell route,
With grosser knackes, I list not now to name.
Hath by abuse, brought world cleane out of frame.
And made them rich, and prowd, that borne were bare.
Yet liues by lust, and sale of paltry ware.
Silke laide on silke, and stitched ore the same:
Great losse and play, and keeping reuell route,
With grosser knackes, I list not now to name.
Hath by abuse, brought world cleane out of frame.
And made them rich, and prowd, that borne were bare.
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Our fathers wore, good frees to keepe them warme,
And kendall greene, in sommer for a show:
Might better to, take trifles for a farme.
Then these that now, in silkes and veluets goe,
The former age, made tenants duety know:
To Landlords all, and so their cates they sold,
As much for loue, as now they sell for golde.
And kendall greene, in sommer for a show:
Might better to, take trifles for a farme.
Then these that now, in silkes and veluets goe,
The former age, made tenants duety know:
To Landlords all, and so their cates they sold,
As much for loue, as now they sell for golde.
Now is the case and custome altered cleane,
The tenant he, in deede will part from nought:
For landlords weale, nor lose by him a beane,
Nor sell him thing, that is not dearely bought,
At tenants hand, what euer may be sought,
Beares double price, as though the farmer might,
Liue on himselfe, and set his Landlord light.
The tenant he, in deede will part from nought:
For landlords weale, nor lose by him a beane,
Nor sell him thing, that is not dearely bought,
At tenants hand, what euer may be sought,
Beares double price, as though the farmer might,
Liue on himselfe, and set his Landlord light.
This breedes contempt, in vassall past all cry,
And makes the Lord, racke vp his rents a height:
And take great fines, you see wherefore and why.
And lode the backes of Farmers with great weight.
This makes wise men, vse many a craft and sleight.
To punish churles, and pinch them neere the bone,
That doth small good, yet all would haue alone.
And makes the Lord, racke vp his rents a height:
And take great fines, you see wherefore and why.
And lode the backes of Farmers with great weight.
This makes wise men, vse many a craft and sleight.
To punish churles, and pinch them neere the bone,
That doth small good, yet all would haue alone.
Why plead they want, where plenty is great store,
And God hath blest, the earth with fruite and graine:
They say because, they charged are so sore.
To pay such rent, and take such toile and paine.
Well well there doth, a fault in both remaine.
The one will not, let nought in market fall,
The other still, in London spendeth all.
And God hath blest, the earth with fruite and graine:
They say because, they charged are so sore.
To pay such rent, and take such toile and paine.
Well well there doth, a fault in both remaine.
The one will not, let nought in market fall,
The other still, in London spendeth all.
Like one that flings, more water in the seas,
Or casts away, his gold where it is lost:
The Gentleman, is seldome well at ease.
Till that he ride, to London all in post.
And vp and downe, the dice and cards be tost.
When he a while, about the streets doth rome,
He borrowes pence, at length to bring him home.
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The Gentleman, is seldome well at ease.
Till that he ride, to London all in post.
And vp and downe, the dice and cards be tost.
When he a while, about the streets doth rome,
He borrowes pence, at length to bring him home.
O saieth the boy, or girle that keepes the barre,
This man is free, and francke where ere he goes,
And spends as much, as doth a man of warre,
That comes from spoile, and conquest of his foes,
Cries fill the pot, the ebbing water flowes.
The chencks are here, we haue inough to spend,
Set all agog, vntill bad world amend.
This man is free, and francke where ere he goes,
And spends as much, as doth a man of warre,
That comes from spoile, and conquest of his foes,
Cries fill the pot, the ebbing water flowes.
The chencks are here, we haue inough to spend,
Set all agog, vntill bad world amend.
O Lord how soone, a man is ore his shooes,
That wades and steps, in streame or water deepe:
How soone from towne, in countrey we haue newes,
That some spends all, for they can nothing keepe,
If such lads were, at home in bed a sleepe.
Twere better sure, then lie in London thus,
Uppon the score, or like banckrouts iwus.
That wades and steps, in streame or water deepe:
How soone from towne, in countrey we haue newes,
That some spends all, for they can nothing keepe,
If such lads were, at home in bed a sleepe.
Twere better sure, then lie in London thus,
Uppon the score, or like banckrouts iwus.
Fine shops and sights, fine dames and houses gay,
Fine wares fine words, fine sorts of meat is there,
Yea all is fine, and nothing grosse they say.
Fine knaks costs much, costs spoils vs euery where
Spoile is a worme, that wealth away will weare,
A cancker crept, in Court for some mens crosse,
That eates vp lands, and breeds great lacke and losse.
Fine wares fine words, fine sorts of meat is there,
Yea all is fine, and nothing grosse they say.
Fine knaks costs much, costs spoils vs euery where
Spoile is a worme, that wealth away will weare,
A cancker crept, in Court for some mens crosse,
That eates vp lands, and breeds great lacke and losse.
Expense and spoile, waits hard on braueries heeles,
With daily debt, and daunger of disgrace:
A crue of Dickes, as world went all on wheeles,
With swashing Tom, and goodman Maple face,
In sundry cloakes, and thred bare liueries bace,
That neuer ware, ne badge, nor signe of thrift.
But certaine signes and showes they liue by shift.
With daily debt, and daunger of disgrace:
A crue of Dickes, as world went all on wheeles,
With swashing Tom, and goodman Maple face,
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That neuer ware, ne badge, nor signe of thrift.
But certaine signes and showes they liue by shift.
And in the necke, of al this retchles band,
Comes thought and care, in sad and mourning weeds,
And sore forethinkes, that he hath sold his land.
Or laide to gage, good leases and old deedes.
No better fruite, we reape of ill sowne seedes,
But heauy sighes, or pricking thistels bare,
That doth destroy, good ground where ere they are.
Comes thought and care, in sad and mourning weeds,
And sore forethinkes, that he hath sold his land.
Or laide to gage, good leases and old deedes.
No better fruite, we reape of ill sowne seedes,
But heauy sighes, or pricking thistels bare,
That doth destroy, good ground where ere they are.
Spoile brings home plagues, to wife & children both,
When husband hath, at play set vp his rest:
Then wife and babes, at home a hungry goeth,
(Thrice euery weeke) where seld good meat is drest.
With rusty broach, the houshold all are blest.
For potched egs, in good howre be it spoke:
Must for a shift, make kitchin chimney smoke.
When husband hath, at play set vp his rest:
Then wife and babes, at home a hungry goeth,
(Thrice euery weeke) where seld good meat is drest.
With rusty broach, the houshold all are blest.
For potched egs, in good howre be it spoke:
Must for a shift, make kitchin chimney smoke.
A fine deuise, to keepe poore kaett in health,
A pretty toy, to mocke an Ape withall:
No matter much, though wife hath little wealth.
Shee hath for neede, a messe of creame at call,
A trim young boy, to tosse and tirle the ball,
A [illeg.], and pretty pus or catte,
And at a pinch, a great deale more then that,
A pretty toy, to mocke an Ape withall:
No matter much, though wife hath little wealth.
Shee hath for neede, a messe of creame at call,
A trim young boy, to tosse and tirle the ball,
A [illeg.], and pretty pus or catte,
And at a pinch, a great deale more then that,
Gay gownes and geare, God wot good store inough,
And faire milke maids, as dainty as a Doe,
That fares as well, as hob that holds the plough,
Yea cheere in bowles, they haue sometime ye know:
Sweete whay and cruds, a bancket for a Croe,
Such rule shee keepes, when husband is farre of,
Whiles children weeps, that feeds on hard browne lofe.
And faire milke maids, as dainty as a Doe,
That fares as well, as hob that holds the plough,
Yea cheere in bowles, they haue sometime ye know:
Sweete whay and cruds, a bancket for a Croe,
Such rule shee keepes, when husband is farre of,
Whiles children weeps, that feeds on hard browne lofe.
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Thinke you these things, nips not the pye crost neere,
And rubs the gaule, that neuer will be whole:
The maister may, keepe reuell all the yeere,
And leaue the wife, at home like silly soule
What recke of that, who lists may blow the cole,
Though some doe starue, and pine away with want.
Young lusty lads, abroad liues all aflant.
And rubs the gaule, that neuer will be whole:
The maister may, keepe reuell all the yeere,
And leaue the wife, at home like silly soule
What recke of that, who lists may blow the cole,
Though some doe starue, and pine away with want.
Young lusty lads, abroad liues all aflant.
Some come to Court, to breake vp house at home,
Such keepes a cloake, vntill a rainy day:
Some weaues their yarne, and cloth in other loeme.
At tabling house, where they may freely play:
Some walk to Pauls, wher some maks many a fray
The greatest summe, are sworne to spend and spoile,
And royot runne, at large in euery soile.
Such keepes a cloake, vntill a rainy day:
Some weaues their yarne, and cloth in other loeme.
At tabling house, where they may freely play:
Some walk to Pauls, wher some maks many a fray
The greatest summe, are sworne to spend and spoile,
And royot runne, at large in euery soile.
Great cheere is turnd, at home to empty dishe,
Great bounty lookes, like bare foote beggers bag,
Great hardnes brings, to boord ne flesh nor fishe,
Great hast to giue, comes limping lame and lag.
Great shew men make, of house but thats a brag.
For if ten daies, at home they keepe great fare,
Three months abroad, for that they absent are.
Great bounty lookes, like bare foote beggers bag,
Great hardnes brings, to boord ne flesh nor fishe,
Great hast to giue, comes limping lame and lag.
Great shew men make, of house but thats a brag.
For if ten daies, at home they keepe great fare,
Three months abroad, for that they absent are.
England was cald, a librall countrey rich,
That tooke great ioy, in spending beefe and bred:
In deede this day, the countrey spendeth mich,
But that expense, stands poore in little sted:
For they finde nought, where hounds and hawks are fed,
But hard colde posts, to leane at in great lacke:
Who wants both foode, and clouts to cloth their backe.
That tooke great ioy, in spending beefe and bred:
In deede this day, the countrey spendeth mich,
But that expense, stands poore in little sted:
For they finde nought, where hounds and hawks are fed,
But hard colde posts, to leane at in great lacke:
Who wants both foode, and clouts to cloth their backe.
Almes deedes are dead, and conscience waxeth cold,
World scrats and scrapes, pluckes flesh and fell from bone,
What cunning heads, and hands can catch in hold,
That couetous mindes, doth seeke to weld alone,
The poore complaynes, and makes a greeuous mone.
The ritch heares all, and keepes all safe in fist,
As all were his, to spend it as he list.
World scrats and scrapes, pluckes flesh and fell from bone,
What cunning heads, and hands can catch in hold,
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The poore complaynes, and makes a greeuous mone.
The ritch heares all, and keepes all safe in fist,
As all were his, to spend it as he list.
Well spend on still, a reckning must bee made,
When hee doth call, that sendes you all the store:
You will be taught, to vse another trade,
Or in the end, full dearly paie therefore
I wish you well, you can desire no more.
Waie all my wordes, as you haue reason still,
I find no fault, but speakes this of good will.
When hee doth call, that sendes you all the store:
You will be taught, to vse another trade,
Or in the end, full dearly paie therefore
I wish you well, you can desire no more.
Waie all my wordes, as you haue reason still,
I find no fault, but speakes this of good will.
And you deare friend, that in Rocksauage dwell,
For whom I haue, these verses heere set down:
To you no peece, of this Discourse I tell,
For you lie not, at charge so long in towne,
As others doe, that are of like renowne.
Your house at home, you hold in better sort,
Then thousands doe, the world doth so report.
For whom I haue, these verses heere set down:
To you no peece, of this Discourse I tell,
For you lie not, at charge so long in towne,
As others doe, that are of like renowne.
Your house at home, you hold in better sort,
Then thousands doe, the world doth so report.
FINIS.
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