¶ 
A Supplication to Eldertonne, for Leaches unlewdnes:  
Desiring him to pardon, his manifest unrudenes.   

GOod gentle master Eldertonne,  
may I not you entreat?  
To pardon leech that he hath done,  
and not with him to frete?   

For I confess and know the same,  
It was for lack of lewdness:  
That he so blazed abroad your name,  
therefore forgive his rudeness.   

For you may see he is in deed,  
an unrude simple man:  
Therefore of him take you no heed,  
sith nurture none he can.   

A silly simple man he is,  
as proof may well be made:  
For no more wit he hath iwis,  
but to call a spade, a spade.   

Therefore though that your filthy rhymes,  
he filthy name to be:  
Accuse him not I say of crimes,  
you hear his quality.   

It was no doubt unhomely done,  
to challenge in such case:  
So fine a fellow as Eldertonne,  
that hath so fair a face.   

But though your face be never so rich,  
so precious or so gay:  
Yet will he scratch it if it itch,  
the pains for to delay.   

Wherefore you ought him thanks to give,  
that worketh you such good:  
And not to shake him by the sleeve,  
to wreak your angry mood.   

I may well muse and marvel much,  
what might be your intent:  
Sith that you prove yourself one such,  
as truth cannot content.   

You show that leech you do contemn,  
even by the self same reed:  
Wherein you do yourself condemn,  
I wish you would take heed.   

You bind it up with oaths enough,  
in faith, in faith, say ye:  
But by such fruits a man may know,  
the goodness of the tree.   

A shame it is that you should bring,  
the rample of Christ I say:  
And eke forthwith the self same thing,  
so sore to disobey.   

For with the breach of charity,  
you do him sharply charge:  
And by and by outrageously,  
you rail on him at large.   

Thus Satan also for his turn,  
the scriptures can out pike:  
And as you well his lesson learn,  
so are your deeds a like.   

Your heart is vain and bend to evil,  
your tongue also is nought:  
How can it be then but the devil,  
must rule both tongue and thought.   

But hereby men may easily spy,  
how you do leech abuse:  
Sith that your quarrel for to try,  
by scripture you refuse.   

Therefore you go about I see,  
the scripture set apart:  
Unto your toys and vanity,  
his pen for to convert.   

And if in deed you could him cause,  
from scripture for to fly:  
No doubt for sooth but clause by clause,  
much bravery should we see.   

Then would you leek then would you laugh,  
as you do make report:  
Then would you answer every staff,  
and that in sugared sort.   

In sugared sort? nay poisened then,  
I might it better call:  
Although it sugared seems to men,  
which are in sinful thrall.   

A worthy work it is doubtless,  
and full of learned skill:  
Whereby appeareth your shameless,  
and wilful wicked will.   

And where you writ that secretly,  
your fault he should have told;  
That might not be sith openly,  
yourself did it uphold.   

And where as he full skilfully,  
takes scriptures for his stay:  
You say in deed that wickedly,  
he useth them alway.   

It is not straight way proved so,  
when that you have it said:  
Except you bring a proof thereto,  
which cannot be denayed.   

As if, that I should say in deed,  
you were an honest man:  
All wise men might me then deride,  
sith prove it not I can.   

I would now wish you should forget,  
his science to deface:  
For honestly a man may get,  
his living in that race.   

Much better than the wit to spend,  
a Parasite to play:  
The bad to please, the good to offend,  
and play the fool all day.   

And him me thinks you should not blame,  
that can well shape a hose:  
For he may likewise cut and frame,  
a case for your rich nose.   

To make a hose is no such shame,  
to leech in his degree:  
As is your nose a glorious fame,  
upon your face to see.   

It doth become you very ill,  
to talk so of your tail:  
But you shall there your tongue hold still,  
as fit for tongues that rail.   

And if you still thus do deny,  
your knavery to forbear:  
You shall therein have victory,  
the garland you shall wear.   

But here I must full sore lament,  
the counsel you still give:  
To your vile Joan, not to repent,  
but beastly still to live.   

O wicked man dar'st thou be bold,  
such sinful seed to sow?  
And eke the same for to uphold,  
in sinful hearts to grow?   

Oh Lord shall whoredom thus prevail?  
shall men thus sin maintain?  
Is this a christian common weal,  
and can such filth sustain?   

O magistrates play Phinehes part,  
towards such be not to mild:  
Which may procure most grievous smart,  
to many a mother's child.   

The whoredom of one heretofore,  
Great plagues to many hath brought:  
Although the lord eftsoons therefore,  
in him repentance wrought.   

What shall our lot be then Oh Lord?  
which foster such foul swine:  
As live a life to be abhorred,  
yet glory and joy therein?   

Repent (O wretch) and call for grace,  
leave of these wicked toys:  
Lest Satan reach thee sour sauce,  
to these thy pleasant joys.   

Now sir, if leech, as you do tell,  
seems fond things to knit:  
It is because you cannot well,  
them home with reason hit.   

A homely cloak would serve full well,  
is there none to be had?  
If Eldertonne of none hear tell,  
I doubt he will go mad.   

But if as you do threaten, so  
you fall for to be wood:  
You shall straight ways to Bedlam go,  
to tame your madding mood.   

Now Eldertonne I must desire,  
you to hold leech excused:  
For that no reason doth appear,  
why he should so be used.   

And sith that I thus courteously,  
for leech do you entreat:  
Your frenzy so to satisfy,  
you need no more to fret.   

Wherefore gentle Mayst Elderton,  
as I may do you pleasure:  
Grant this my supplication,  
which is not out of measure.   

And thus subscribed,  
The first day of June:  
At which time you said,  
Beginneth your fume.   
ꝙ. William Fulwod.   

¶ Imprinted at London at the Long shop adjoining unto Saint Mildred's Church in the poultry by John Alde.