 | Robin Conscience |  |
Heere beginneth Mother Newgise to talk with Robin her Sonne, onely for the ease and pleasvre of this world. Uery necessary to be read and marked of all newfangled women, that they may auoide the desires therof.
Mother.Soone Robert, I heard say that yovr father and yov
Haue had, since yov went, great commvnication
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Yov are of svch a strange holy fashion;
Bvt this shalbe only my preparation,
To liue and goe gentle-like, gallant and gay,
Seeing it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
Mother, like as I said of late vnto my father,
Euen so I say now vnto yov certaine:
I wovld wish yov to desire God's kingdome rather,
Then either welth, ease, pleasvre or gaine;
Mother, beware of apparell, for it is bvt uaine;
Wherfore, good Mother, marke this thing well:
Yet liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell.
Mother.
Sonne, I will liue easily now in mine olde age,
And also goe as gallantly as I can deuise:
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And say, that I goe painted vp like bvtter-flyes,
I will haue my clothes made of the new gise.
To liue and goe gentle like, gallant and gay,
Oh, Sonne, it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
Yet, mother, remember the uertvovs good wiues,
As Sara, Rebecca and Rachell, with many other moe:
Which clothed them-selues all the dayes of their liues
With shamefastnes, chastitie and sobrietie also,
Which contrary to their hvsband's minde wovld not goe;
Wherfor, good mother, marke this thing well,
To liue and goe Christian like after the gospell.
Mother.
Sonne, what thovgh yovr father wovld not haue me goe clad
Now after my minde by him in gorgiovs apparrell:
Shovld I be rvled by him? nay, then I were mad,
Yet had I rather with him pick a qvarrell,
Thovgh I for my labovr had straight of the barrell.
For to liue and goe gentle like, gallant and gay,
By the masse, it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
O mother, ye be now in a wicked minde.
Seeing yov will disobay yovr hvsband for this:
Yov show yovr selfe to be vnnatvrall and vnkinde,
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Yovr act will declare how yov haue doon amisse.
Wherfore, good mother, marke this thing well,
Yet liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell.
Mother.
Sonne, I will liue gentle like and goe at my pleasvre,
Seeing thy father for his svbstance might be a gentleman:
And thovgh he were poore and had bvt little treasvre,
Yet wovld I goe gallantly, say he what he can,
For I wovld borrow, or els pledge pot, kettle or pan,
To liue and goe gentle like, gallant and gay,
Seeing it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
O mother, I think yov are past all shame,
Yov wovld make a right good man to fret:
Think yov by yovr pledging to get yov good name?
Or by bringing yovr hvsband into danger or det?
Fye, that either rich or poore their mindes thvs shovld set,
To maintaine their pride: wherfore marke this thing well:
Liue and goe Christian like after the gospell.
Mother.
Am I past shame, thov peelde apish boy?
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Thov shalt fare the worsse, I swere by Saint Loy,
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Wilt thov be against my estate or degre?
I come of the stocke to goe gallant and gay:
Wherfore it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
Mother, I doo not dispraise yovr stocke,
Nor yet yovr owne person will I discommend,
Bvt I wovld haue yov so liue to be of Christ's flocke,
And so aske God mercy, with pride whom ye offend;
This is the hvrt that I yov pretend.
Wherfore, good mother, marke this thing well,
Liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell.
Mother.
I pray thee, Sonne Robert, tell me no svch tale,
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I will haue my fine Cassockes and my rovnd Uerdingale,
Like one that came of a noble borne blood;
By the masse, to think of it, it dooth my hart good,
To liue and goe gentle like, gallant and gay:
Oh, it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
With Nobilitie, mother, yov may not compare,
Althovgh ye be rich heere in wordly svbstance:
Neither with apparrell nor yet ordinary fare,
To be eqvall with them yov may not yovrselfe inhavnce;
For they haue their uocation, and yov haue bvt yovr chance.
Wherfore, good mother, marke this thing well:
Liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell.
Mother.
Sonne, liue they not Christian like that banket at the wine?
And goeth in their billaments of fine pearle and golde?
Also with broadered haire whervnto they incline,
Spending mvch yeerly this trade to vpholde,
Thvs setting foorth them selues, both yong and olde.
Is not this Christian like, gallant and gay?
Sonne, this doo I cheefly desire alway.
Robin.
Christian like, mother? no, I will not so say,
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Saint Pavle and Saint Peter dooth set foorth the array,
What Christian women shovld take and refvse,
Weare sober apparrell bvt desire no newes.
Wherfore, good mother, marke this thing well:
Liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell.
Mother.
To weare sober apparrell, what meanest thou by that?
My clothes are not drunke, I wovld thou shovldst knowe:
I think thov speakest by my red silk hat,
Bvt and I liue another yeer, I will haue a better showe;
I will not goe thvs slvttishly, I trowe.
To liue and goe gentle like, gallant and gay,
Seeing it is my cheefe desire alway.
Robin.
Mother, the sober apparrell that I do meane,
Is sadnes, wisdome, uertve and learning:
Also yovr bodily apparell is comely to be seene,
For yovr degree euen now in yovr going.
It is not svmptvovs apparrell that is to God's pleasing,
Bvt a decent order; wherfore marke this thing well;
Liue and goe Christian like after the gospell.
Mother.
Sonne, holde thy peace, for thy talke makes me weary;
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If thy father were of thy minde, I covld not be merry,
Nay, I had rather be dead, by sweet Mary milde.
Farwell, if thov proouest not a knaue I am begvilde.
If I do not liue gentle like, to goe gallant and gay,
By the masse, I wovld I were hanged vp ovt of the way.
Robin.
Svch a tree, svch frvte from it dooth proceed.
Fye, mother, fye, that yov wish yov svch ill!
Repent yovr speaking and beware of the deed,
Vnlesse both yovr sovle and body yov doo kill:
I feare that the deuill with yov hath wrovght his will.
Now will I to my Sister to giue her some covnsell,
For she hath many tricks to bring her vnto hell.
Finis.
She deuils are hard to tvrne.
| Robin Conscience | |