¶ The fift eclogue of Alexandre Barclay of the citizen and uplondyshman. ¶ Here after followeth the Prologue. IN cold january/ when fire is comfortable And that the fields/ be near intolerable When sheep & pastors/ leaveth field & fold And draw to coats/ for to eschew the cold What time the verdure/ of ground & every tree By first and storms/ is private of beauty And every small bird/ thinketh the winter long Which well appeareth/ by ceasing of their song At this same season/ two herds/ fresh of age At time appointed/ met both in one cottage The first height Faustus/ the second Amyntas Hard was to know/ which better husband was For each of them both/ set more by pleasure Than by abundance/ of riches or treasure Imyntas was tormalle/ and proper in his gear A man on his cloak/ should not espied a here Nor of his clothing/ one wrinkle stood a wry In london he learned/ to go so mannerly High on his bonnet/ stack a fair broche of tin His purses lining/ was simple poor and thin But a lords stomach/ and a beggars pouch Full ill accordeth/ such was this comely slouche In the town and city/ so long getted had he That from thence he fled/ for debt and poverty No wafter/ tavern/ halehous/ or taverner ●o him was there hid/ while he was hostler ●te was he hostler/ and than a wafter Than a coster monger/ and last a taverner About all London/ there was no proper prym But long time had been/ familiar with him But when coyne●ayled no fanour more had he ●●●erfore he roas glad/ out of the town to i'll But shepherd Faustus/ was yet more fortunate For alway was he/ content with his estate Yet nothing he had/ to comfort him in age Save Turrian milk cow/ and a poor cottage The town he used/ and great pleasure had To see the city/ oft-time while he was lad For milk and butter/ he thither brought to cell But never thought he/ in city for to devil For well he noted/ the mad enormity Envy/ fraud/ malice/ and such iniquity Which reign in cities/ therefore he led his life Up land in village/ without debate and strife When these two herds/ were thus together met Having no charges/ nor labour them to let Thryr sheep were all sure/ and closed in a cote themself lay in litter/ pleasantly and hot For costly was fire/ in hardest of the year johan men have most need/ than every thing is dear For passing of time/ and recreation The both delighted/ in communication Family they pleaded/ of the diversity Ofrurall husbands/ and men of the city Fa●tus accused/ and blamed citizens To them imputing/ great faults crime & sins Amyntas blamed/ the rural men again And each of them both/ his quareyl died maintain All worth despised/ all malice and ill will Clean laid a part/ each died rehearse his skill But fsyrste Amyntas/ thus for to speak began As he which counted/ himself the better man ¶ Finis Prologue. ¶ Interlocutoures be Amyntas and Faustus. Amyntas first speaketh. THe winter snows/ all covered is the ground The north wind blowies/ all with a fearful sound The long ice sicles/ at the hewsies hung The streams frozen/ the might is cold and long Where botes rowed/ now carts have passage from yoke the oxen/ be loosed and bondage The ploughman resteth/ avoid of all business Save when he tendeth/ his harms for to dress Mably his wife/ sitteth before the fire All black and smoke/ clothed in rude attire Sething some gruel/ and steering the pulment Of piece or frument/ a noble meet for lent The summer season/ men counteth now laudable Whose fervour before/ they thought intolerable The frosty winter/ and weder temperate Which men than praised/ they now dyspryse & hate Cold they desired/ but now it is present The brawl and grudge/ their minds not content Thus mutable men/ them pleased can not hold At great heat grutchyng/ & grutchyng when it is cold ¶ Faustus. All pleasure present/ of men is counted small Desire obtained/ some counteth naught at all What men hope after/ that seemeth great and dear At light by distance/ appeareth great and clear. ¶ Amyntas. Each time and season/ hath his delight and joys Look in the streets/ behold the little boys How in fruit season/ for joy they sing and hope In lent eachone/ full busy is with his tope And now in winter/ for all the grievous cold All rent and raged/ a man may them behold They have great pleasure/ supposing well to dine When men been busied/ in killing of fat swine They get the bladder/ and blow it great tanned thine With many beans/ or peasen bound within It rattleth/ soundeth/ and shineth clear and fair While it is thrown/ and cast up in the air Echeone contendeth/ and hath a great delight With foot or with hand/ the bladder for to smite If it fall to gronnde/ they lift it up again This wise to labour/ they count it for no pain running and leaping/ they drive a way the cold The sturdy plowmen/ lusty strong and bold overcometh the winter/ with driving the foot ball Forgetting labour/ and many a grievous fall ¶ Faustus. Men labour sorer/ in fruitless vanity Than in fair work/ of great utility In such thryftles/ we labour for damage Work we despise/ which bringeth advantage ¶ Amyntas. touching their labour/ it can not me displease While we be in rest/ and better here at ease In the warm litter/ small pain hath little hire Here may we wallow/ while milk is on the fire If it be crudded/ of breed we need no crome If thou bide Faustus/ thereof thou shalt have some ¶ Faustus. Winter declareth/ hard need and poverty Than men it feeleth/ which have necessity truly Amyntas/ I tell the mine intent We fond young people/ be much improvident We stray in summer/ without thought/ care/ or heed Of such thing as we/ in winter shall have need As soon as we here/ a bagpipe or a drown Than leave we labour/ there is our money go But when the north wind/ with storms violent Hath brought cold winter/ poor wretches to torment And void of leaves/ is every bow and tree That one may clearly/ the empty nests see Than is all our will/ and lambs go and sold We tremble naked/ and die almost for cold Our shoulders all bore/ our hose and shows rend By reckless youth/ thus all is go and spent This cometh for wanting/ of good provision Youth deigneth counsel/ scorning discretion When poverty thus/ hath caught us in his snare Than doth the winter/ our mad folly declare Now truly Amyntas/ I tell the my mate That town dwellers live/ greatly more fortunate And somewhat wiser/ be they also than we They gather treasoure/ and riches in plenty They spoil the lambs/ and foxes of the skin To lap their wombs/ and fat sides therein In lust in pleasure/ and in good abundance Pass they their lives/ we have not suffisance ¶ Amyntas. The men of the earth/ be fools everichone We poor shepherds/ be not to blame alone Moore folly vexeth/ the man of the city I grant us overseen/ they madder be than we Though I long season/ died in the city devil I favour it not/ truth bore I boldly tell Though Cytezyns he/ of living reprovable Yet fortune to them/ is much more favourable Fortune to them/ is like a mother dear As a stepmother/ she doth to us apere Them she exalteth/ to honour and richesse Us she oppresseth/ in care and wretchedness What is bayne fortune/ but thing bytuperable An unhappy madness/ unworthy and unstable ¶ Faustus. No doubt Amyntas/ let me be fortunate And than shall I soon/ become a great estate My coin shall increase/ than shortly shall I be Called to office/ to govern a city All men shall hear me/ and give me credence The commonty bareheed/ shall do me reverent All other rules/ low men and commonty Shall gladly desire/ to have advise of me If I be happy/ and fortune on me smile Thus shall I ascend/ and mount within a while Ask thou of Cornyx/ declare to the he can How coin more than cunning/ exalteth many man ¶ Amyntas. O Faustus Faustus/ thou errs from the way This is not fortune/ full little do she may Though I myself/ rehearsed but lately That fortune hath might/ a man to magnify I keep the opinion/ of witless commonty And grounded myself/ on none authority It is not fortune/ that granteth excellence True honour is won/ by virtue and science If men get honour/ by other policy It is no honour/ but wretched misery God maketh mighty/ god giveth true honour To godly persons/ of godly behaviour God first disposed/ and made diversity Between rude plowmen/ and men of the city And in what manner/ Cornyx thine own mate As we went talking/ recounted to me late ¶ Faustus. What told the Cornyx// tell me I thee pray He had good reason/ such things to convey His wit was pregnant/ no reason died he want But trouche to declare/ his money was but scant But what than/ some man hath pleynte of cunning Which hath of richesse/ small pleynte or nothing ¶ Amyntas. In hearing my tale/ if thou have thy delight Than take some labour/ for now is good respite Faustus arise thou/ out of thy lyttre hot Go se and visit/ our wethers in the cote Arise go and come/ thou art both young and able After grate cold/ heat is more comfortable Go man for shame/ he is a slothful daw Which leaveth profit/ for pleasure of hot straw ¶ Faustus. Think not Amyntas/ that Fastus hath disdain To do thy pleasure/ I shall refuse no pain Look here Amyntas/ lord benedycyte The cold snow reacheth/ moche higher than my knee Scant may the houses/ such burden well sustain Less hurt is tempest/ and sudden storm of 〈◊〉 On top of the chymnaye/ there is an heap of 〈◊〉 So high extending/ our steeple is more low The snow is so whyre/ and the son so bright That plainly Amyntas/ amassed is my sight ¶ Amyntas. give to the beasts/ good rowen in pleynte And stop all the holes/ where thou can faults see Stop them with stubbyll/ este daub them with some clay And when thou hast done than come again thy way Naught is more noisome/ to flock/ cottage/ ne fold Than sudden tempest/ and unprovided cold What now all ready/ friend Faustus here again By short conclusion/ bad work appeareth plain Thy coming again/ me think is all to soon Aught to have mended/ or profit to have done. ¶ Faustus. This cumbrous wether/ made me more diligent I ran all the way/ both as I came and went And there I sped me/ and took the greater pain Because I lightly/ would be with the again After great cold/ it is full sweet god wot To tumble in the straw/ or in the litter hot Now be we Fastus/ in hay up to the chin Fully thy promise/ I pray the now begin Tell the beginning/ of the diversity Between rural men/ and men of the city I know the reason/ and talking of Cornyx But sith I him saw/ be passed years two His socunde jests/ made me oft-time full glad Our first acquaintance/ was when I was a lad Now speak my Faustus/ and I shall hold me still Till thou have ended/ and spoken all thy will ¶ Amyntas. This great difference/ and first diversity Betweve rural men/ and them of the city Began in this wise/ as cornyx me told Which well could common/ of many matters old first when the world/ was formed and created And Adam with Eve/ were set in their estate Our lord conjoined them both/ as man and wife To live in concord/ the season of their life And them commanded/ mankind to multiply By generation/ to get them progeny They both obeyed/ this sweet commandment With faithful hearts/ and labour diligent But would to Ihesu/ they had been wise and ware From that fatal fruit/ which kindled all their care But to my purpose/ first Eve had children two A sone and a daughter/ our lord disposed so And so year by year/ two twins forth she brought When god assisteth/ man worketh not for naught By such manner/ these two died them apply The world to fulfil/ increase and multiply At last our lord/ at end of fifteen year To Eve our mother/ died on a time appear And in what manner/ now here me Amyntas Adam on the field/ forth with his wethers was His flock than he fed/ without all dread and fere Than were no wooers/ him nor his wife to dear He was not troubled/ that time with jelowsy Than was no body/ to do that villainy No horned kids/ were living at that time Long after this/ began this cursed crime Than was no cuckoo/ between the east and west To say wrong eggs/ within a strange nest Than none suspected/ the living of his wife Weclocke was quiet/ and pleasant without strife But after when people/ began to multiply Than first was kindled/ the flame of jelowsy For that man commynteth/ sore dreadeth he again Fraud feareth falsehood/ suspecting often in vain A thief suspecteth all men of felony Brekers' of wedlock/ be full of jolousy And therefore all such/ as with sword do strike Fere to be served/ with the scabbard like Thus while that Adam/ was pitching of the fold Eve was at home/ and sat on the chressholde With all her babies/ and children her about Other on her lap/ within or else without Now had she pleasure/ them colling and bassing And e●te was she busy/ them lousing and kemming And busy with butter/ for to anoint their neck Sometime she mused/ them pleasantly to deck In the mean time/ while she was occypyed Our lord drawing near/ she suddenly espied Anon she blushed/ revolving in her mind That if our lord there/ should all those babies find So soon engendered/ supposing he needs must That it was token/ of to great carnal lust And all ashamed/ as fast as ever she might She hasted and hid/ some of them out of sight Some under hay/ some under straw and chaff Some in the chymnaye/ some in a tub of draff But such as were fair/ and of their stature right As wise and subtile/ reserved she in sight Anon came our lord/ unto the woman near And her saluted/ with sweet and smiling cheer And said woman/ let me thy children see I come to promote/ each after his degree first was the woman/ amassed near for dread At the last she commanded/ the eldest to proceed And gave them comfort/ to have audacyte Though they were bolder/ & doubted less than she God on them smiled/ and them comforted so As we with whelps/ and birds use to do And than at the last/ to the most old of all He said have thou sceptre/ of rome imperial Thou art the eldest/ thou shalt have most honour justice requireth/ that thou be emperor Than to the second/ he said it is seeming That thou be haunsed/ to honour of a king And unto the third/ he gave such dignity To guide an army/ and noble duke to be And said have thou here/ hard iron and armour Be thou in battle/ a heed and a governor And so forth to other/ as they were in degree Each he promoteth/ to worthy dignity Some made he earls/ some lords some barons Some squires/ knights/ some hardy champyos And than brought he forth/ the sceptre and the crown The sword/ the pole-axe/ the helm and the haberiowne The stricter/ standard/ the getton/ and the mace The spear/ & the shield/ now Eve had great solace He gave them armour/ and taught them policy All thing to govern/ concerning chivalry Than made the judges/ mayors and governors merchants/ shreeves/ and other protectors Aldermen/ burgesses/ and other in degree After the custom/ of court/ and of city Thus all the children/ than being in presence He set in honour/ and room of excellence offtime revolving/ and turning in his mind The caduke honours/ belonging to mankind In the mean season/ Eve very joyful was That all these matters/ were brought so well to pass Than flesh in haste/ for to have pleasure more And them presented/ whom she had hid before And unrequired/ presenting them said she O lord these also/ my very children be These be the fruit/ also of my womb Hid for shamefastness/ within my house at home O lord most mighty/ high father cretour With save to grant them/ some office of honour Their here was rugged/ powdered all with chaff Some full of straws/ some other full of draff Some with cobwebs/ and dust were so arrayed That one beholding on them/ might be afraid Black was their colour/ and bad was their figure Uncomely to sight/ misshapen of stature Our lord not smiled on them/ to show pleasance But said to them thus/ with trowbled countenance You smell all smoky/ of stubbyll and of chaff You smell of the ground/ of weeds and of draff And after your sent/ and tedious savour Shall be your rooms/ and all your behaviour None can a pitcher/ turn to a silver piece Nor make goodly silk/ of a goats fleece And hard is also/ to make withouten fail A bright two hand sword/ of a cows tail no more will I make/ how be it that I can Of a vile villain/ a noble gentleman You shall be ploughmen/ and tillers of the ground To pain and labour/ shall ye alway be bound Some shall keep oxen/ and some shall hogs keep Some shall be thrashers/ some other shall keep sheep To dig and to delve/ to hedge and to dyke Take this for your lot/ and other labour like To drudge and to drivel/ in work vile and rude This wise shall ye live/ in endless servitude Wypping/ and mowing/ of father grass & corn Yet shall town dwellers/ oft laugh you unto scorn Yet some shall we grant/ to devil in the city For to make podynges/ or butchers for to be Cobblers/ or tinkers'/ or else costard jaggers Hostelers/ or daubers/ or drowpy water laggers And such other sort/ whose daily business Passeth in work/ and labour of vileness To stoop/ and to sweet/ and subject to become And never to be rid/ from bondage & thraldom Than brought our lord/ to them the cart & harowe The gad/ & the whip/ the matoke & the whelebarow The spade/ the shovel/ the fork and the plough And all such tolls/ than bade he them be tough And never to grudge/ at labonr nor at pain For if they so died/ it should be thing in vain Thus said the father/ and lord omnipotent And than he ascended/ up to the tyrmament Thus began honour/ and thus began bondage And diversity/ ofcyte and village And servile labour/ first in this wise began Demand of Cornyx/ declare the truth he can This told me Cornyx/ which dwelled in the fen I trust his saying/ before a thousand men ¶ Faustus. Is this the matter/ praised of the so sore A straw for fables/ I set by them no store It were a marvel/ if Cornyx matter told To laud of shepherds/ or plowmen to uphold He dwelled in the town/ and held with the city Till need him moved/ as it hath driven the When none of you both/ dare to the town resort Among us shepherds/ yet find ye here comfort So both thou and he/ be greatly for to blame To eat our victual/ and than to hurt our name The young men of towns/ to mock us have a guise Naught else can they do/ save lies to devise This vain invention/ and foolish feigned fable Again rural men/ they have delight to babble And naught they asshame/ as blind wretches unwise Of god almighty/ such leasings to devise This scorfy scofting/ declareth openly Against rural men/ rebuke and injury But thou art so rude/ thy paunch is so fat Again thine ownself/ thou busy art to chat A life this same jest/ is thy rebuke and blame Thy dulled reason/ can not perceive the same But I wall prove thee/ that rural people be Moore wise and noble/ than they of the city And that the city/ is full of fraud and strife When we in village/ have good and quiet life ¶ Amyntas. I pray the Fastus/ herefore be thou not worth To have dyspleasoure of thee/ I were right loath I thought no maugre/ I told it for a board If I had known/ I should have said no word But say thy pleasure/ now tell forth thy sentence And I shall here thee/ with sober patience ¶ Faustus. I shall not deny/ our pain and servitude I know that plowmen/ for the most part be rude Now shall I tell thee/ high matters true & old Which courteous Candydus/ unto me once told Naught shall I forge/ nor of no leasing babble This is true history/ and no surmised fable At the benynning/ of things first of all God made shepherds/ and other men rural But the first ploughman/ and tiller of the ground Was rude and stordy/ disdaining to be bound Rughe and stoborne/ and Cayn died men him call He had no mercy/ and pity none at all But like as the ground/ is dull/ stony/ and tough Stubborn and heavy/ rebelling to the plough So the first ploughman/ was strong and obstinate froward self willing/ and mover of debate But the first shepherd/ was meek & nothing fell Humble as is a lamb/ and called was Abel A sheep giveth milk/ and little hath of gall So this good Abel/ had none ill will at all No shepherd found him/ injurious nor wrong In during his life/ while he was them among And often of his flock/ made he good sacrifice Of calf or lambs/ such as were most of price And of fat wether's/ the best not spared he To honour our lord/ and pease his deity Thus had he favour/ with god omnipotent So pleasing our lord/ that to this time present From first beginning/ of earth and man mortal God hath had favour/ to people pastoral And poor shepherds/ their coats/ field and sheep Angels have come/ for to defend and keep Some shepherds were/ in land of asserye Thiche after have been/ promoted very high So that from coats/ and houses pastoral They have ascended/ to dignity royal charges and labour/ so doth my reason blind That call their names/ can I not unto mind Yet let me study/ avoiding perturbance So mane I call them/ unto my remembrance ●o now I have them/ Abraham/ and I●cob Lot/ Isaac/ younger/ joseph/ and job These now rehearsed/ and all the patriarchs Have not disdained/ poor sheep nor herds work Them hath our lord/ called from humble things And made them princes/ duke's/ other kings So have they changed/ their clothing pastoral With golden garment/ purpur/ and gay pall And than have after by magnanimity Brought noble reyalmes/ in their captivity And have in battle/ been mighty conquerors Wone fame immortal/ and excellent honours Paris was pastor/ the son of Pryamus Pan/ Sylene/ Orphens/ and jolly Tityrus Sawll was shepherd/ so was he in likewise Which would have offered/ his son in sacrifice Moses was shepherd/ and was his flock keeping When he came barefote/ unto the bush flaming Commannded by god/ to leave his flock and go On god's message/ to sturdy Pharaoh Also Apollo was hard/ sometime in Grece nothing disdaining/ to handle ewe and fleece As writeth poets/ he left divine honour Glad among wether's/ to be a governor The blessed angels/ brought to such men as we Message of concord/ of peas/ and unite And song that gloria/ stying in the sky Which our sir Sapson/ doth sing so merely first had shepherds/ sure tiding by message That god was made man/ to buy hamayne lineage And herds instruct/ by voice angelical saw god incarnate/ and brone first of all And this was pleasure/ of god's majesty That simple herds/ him first of all sold see And in their manner/ make unto him offerings Before estates/ as rich and mighty kings The jolly harper/ which after was a king And slew the giant/ so stoutly with his sling Was first a shepherd/ or he had dignity Right so were many/ as stout and bold as he And our lord Ihesu/ our god and saviour Named himself/ a shepherd or a pastor Right so he named/ men meek and patient His flock and his sheep/ for manners innocent Think not these words/ glosed nor in vain They are the gospel/ so saith sir Peter plain I saw them myself/ well painted on the wall Late gazing upon/ our church cathedral I saw great wether's/ in picture and small lambs Dancing/ some sleeping/ some sowking of their dams And some on the ground/ me seemed dying still Than saw I horsemen/ at pendant of an hill And the three kings/ with all their company Their crowns glywering/ bright and oryently With their presents/ and gifts mystical All this beheld I/ in picture on the wall But the poor pastors/ as people innocent first saw the crib/ of our lord omnipotent Thus it appeareth/ god loveth poor pastors Seth he them granted/ to have to great honours Our lord hath favour/ both in the sheep and fold As it appeareth/ by the hostoryes old Our lord is ready/ to succour the village Despysenge towns/ for malice and outrage For god is content/ with simple poverty Pride he despiseth/ and wrongful dignity ¶ Amyntas. In good faith Fastus thy tale is veritable Grounded on learning/ and greatly commendable Lately myself/ to see that picture was I saw the manger/ I saw the ox and ass I well remembered/ the people in my mind Me think yet I see/ the black faces of ynde Me think yet I see/ the herds and the kings And in what manner/ were ordered their offerings As long as I live/ the better shall I love The name of herbs/ and citizens reprove Wherefore mate Fastus/ I pray god give the care If thou the faults/ of any city spare Speke on/ and spare not/ and touch their error Yet may me common/ more than a large hour. ¶ Faustus. Than turn we to talk/ a while of Cysezyns To touch their folly/ and parcel of their sins Think not Amyntas/ that they of the city Live better life/ or wiselier than we All if their clothing/ be doubled for the cold And though they glister/ so gaily in bright gold Shining in silks/ in purpur/ or velvet In furred robes/ or cloaks of scarlet And we poor herds/ in russet cloak and hood It is not clothing/ can make a man be good Better in in rags/ pure living innocent Than a soul defiled/ in sumptuous garment Trust me Amyntas/ myself with these same eyen Have in the city/ such oftentimes seen jet in their silks/ and brag in the market As they were lords/ I often have seen them jet Which are stark beggars/ and live in need at home And often go to bed/ for need with empty womb Naught is more foolish/ than such wretches be Thus with proud port/ to cloak their poverty What is need clohed/ or feigned abundance poverty/ sloth/ and wretched governance What is fair semblance/ with thought and heaviness Forsooth naught else/ but cloaked foolishness And some have I seen/ which is a thing damnable That while they would have/ a living delectable Best at their pleasure/ and far deliciously Have suffered their wives/ defiled wittingly Have sold their daughters/ flower of virginity O deed unworthy/ O blind iniquity Fame honour the soul/ and chastity be sold For wretched living/ oh cursed thirst of gold O damnable deed/ so many for to spill One wretched carks/ and belly for to fill What thing is viler/ what more abominable What thing more foolish/ more falls & detestable. ¶ Amyntas. What if they can not/ to other craft them give Nor find ather way/ or means for to live Need hath no law/ of two ills pard To chose the least ill/ is none iniquity ¶ Faustus. Seth they have as many/ soul's as have we As much of reason/ and hands like plenty Why may they not/ to honest work them give And find other way/ and manner for to live No law permitteth/ nor willeth man pard To commit murder/ for hard neressyte no more should any/ his soul defile nor kill For lust transitory/ or pleasure to fulfil Yet be in cities/ more suenge foolishness weening by craft/ for to have great riches By which crafts/ no man hath riches found sith time that our lord/ first formed man & ground As Alkemysties/ weening by policy Nature to altar/ and coin to multiply Some wash rude metal/ with liquors many fold Of herbs weening/ to turn in to gold All pale and smoky/ by such continual And after labour/ they loose their life and all An other sort is/ to this not moche unlike Which spend their times/ in wretched art magic Thereby supposing/ some treasure to have found Which many years/ is hid within the ground What is more foolish/ more full of vanity Or more repugning/ to faith and probyte Because they wouldest/ good business and pain They use such trifles/ & wretched things vain They prove all things/ because the would do naught Still seeking news/ still troubled in their thought Because they wouldest/ the labour of the land All idle trifles/ such taketh on their hand Still be they busy/ and never come to end To thing profitable/ do few of them intend Some live by rapine/ guile/ fraud and policy Pariury/ oppression/ and some in usury Some gladly borrow/ and never pay again Some keep from servants/ the stipend of their pain Some rest men guiltless/ and cast them in prison Some by strong thieves/ out of the dongyon Some fawn some flatter/ man trust not when they smile Than frame the frauds/ men slily to beguile Some in one hour/ more promise to the will Than all his days/ he thinketh to fulfil By thousand means/ of fraud and craftiness Lie they in wait/ for honour and richesse They feed the rich/ and often let the poor die for pure cold/ and hungres at their door We feed fat oxen/ they Marmosettes keep We feed fat kids/ lambs/ and good sheep And they feed haws/ apes/ also hounds And small is their joy/ save here within our bounds We bring them butter/ eggs/ cheese/ and will Tancardes of mild/ and cream fleeting full All manner flesh/ and all their hole living Without our labour/ truly they have nothing We are the feeders/ of wethers and fat hogs And they of the city/ fede birds/ and great dogs Now judge Amyntas/ which of these seemeth the Of most advantage/ and most nobility ¶ Amyntas. If by your labour/ proceedeth more richesse And most advantage/ as seemeth truth doubtless Than this I marvel/ that they of the city Have so great pleynte/ and we necessity The cause can not I/ call to my remembrance Whereof proceedeth/ their store 〈◊〉 abundance ¶ Faustus. The cause I told thee/ what wouldest thou have more By fraud/ and falsehood/ have they so mickle store Seest thou not plainly/ how they of the city Daily deceiveth/ our poor simplicity With that cruelty/ against us they rage By false oppression/ or fair feigned language They think it pleasoure/ that sorrow on them hap By glossed words/ to take us in trap The most of them all/ count it an alms deed Us herds to fraud/ this is a gentle meed For them we labour/ in heat/ wind/ cold and rain And fraud & deceit/ the pay us for our pain With minds and tongue/ they study and they muse Both day and night/ us herds to abuse Their wit and body/ all hole do they ply For us poor wretches/ to study policy And after their fraud/ guile and deception Than do they laugh us/ unto derision ¶ Amyntas. Now came thou to knowledge/ of this enormity And of these manners/ of them of the city Myself there ●onned/ and there was cowersaunt Of some of these things/ yet am I ignorant ¶ Faustus. Thou could not perceive well/ their enormyte perchance thy manners/ died with their life agree There seldom is seen/ great contradiction Where men accordeth in disposition No fault with morians/ is black dysformyte Because all the sort/ like of their favour be So couth thou not see/ their vices nor them blame Because thy own life/ was filed with the same But how I know them/ now shall I tell to the While I brought butter/ to cell to the city And other victual/ I used milk to cry Than had I knowledge/ with an apothecary Of him I learned/ moche fashode and practise Not to the purpose/ the same to exercise He couth make plasters/ & new commyxcyons In valour scant worth/ a couple of onyens Yet sold he the same/ as it were gold so dear Namely/ if happened/ any infectyfe year I was acquainted/ with many an hucster With a costardemonger/ and with an ostler This thief was crafty/ poor people to beguile None like I suppose/ within a dozen mile Among all other/ his frauds and his crimes He sold one botells/ of hay a dozen times And in the oats/ couth he well drop a candle Well knew he how/ his gests for to handle And in the same In/ there dwelled a pretty prime She couth well flatter/ and gloze with him & him And neck a measure/ her smyrking 'gan her sale She made ten shyling/ of one barrel of ale Whom she beguiled/ in pots she was fain To win them with flesh/ and painted look again And as I remember/ her name was wanton Bess Who least with her dealt/ he thrived not the less What need more process/ no craft of the city Is but is mingled/ with fraunde and subtlety Save only the craft/ of an apotycary That is all fraud/ and guileful policy But all these would swear/ that they were innocent Or they to the city/ died first of all frequent There learned they/ theft and fraud to exercise And man of nature/ is moved soon to vice Some 〈◊〉 also/ which spend their patrimony Which was to them let/ by their old ancestry On queans/ bawds/ in riot and drunkenness Their name defiling/ despising all goodness With cost and pains/ such busuly labour Seeking for shame/ and death before their hour Sa●● where is custom/ of fornication Incest adultery/ and defloration forcing of women/ murder and rapine discord & brawling/ and living like to swine Malice/ envy/ and all iniquity Do these not rain/ in mids of the city All new abusion/ provoking men to sins Had first beginning/ among the citizens Where devil great princes/ and mighty governors Their life despising/ for to have vain honours capitains/ soldiers/ and all like company Which put for money/ their life in jeopardy These devil not upon land/ but haunteth the city Poor herds fight not/ but for necessity For liberty/ life/ and justice to uphold Town dwellers fight/ for vain honour/ & gold We fight/ our friends/ and household to defend They fight for malice/ to riches to ascend Our cause and quarrel/ is to maintain the right But all on self will/ without reason they fight They seek by wounds/ for honour and richesse And drive the wekest/ to hardest business O blind soldier/ why settest thou thy heart For a vain stipend/ again a mortal dart By thousand perils/ thou takest thy passage For a small Lucre/ running to great damage Their sweet life they give/ for a poor stipend And oft lose they both/ and heaven at the end While some contendeth/ and fighteth for his wage His life he spendeth/ than far well advantage What is more foolish/ or liker to madness Than to spend the life/ for glory and richesse What thing is glory/ laud praising or fa●● What honour report/ or what is noble name Forsooth naught but voice of witless commonty And vain opinion/ subject to to vanity Proceste of years/ revolving of season Bringeth all these/ soon in oblivion When life is faded/ all these been out of sight Like as with the son departeth the day light They all be fools/ which meddleth with the see And otherwise might live/ in their own countr● He is but a fool/ which runneth to tempest And might live on land/ in surety and in rest He is but a fool/ which hath of good plenty And it disdaineth/ to use and occupy And he which liveth/ in care and wretchedness His heir to promote/ to lands and richesse Is most fool of all/ to spare in misery With good and lands/ his heir to magnify And he which leaveth/ that thing for to be done Unto his daughter/ executor or sone Which he himself/ might in his life fulfil He is but a fool/ and hath but little skill But all these sorts/ within the city be They want of wisdom/ and sue enormity And also the youth/ in days festival Do naught but follow/ their lusts bestial The week they use them/ in worldly business The sunday serveth/ to follow viciousness What time the shops/ be closed all and shut Than is the market/ with Thays/ Beale/ & Kit On highest days/ such ware in namely sold For naught it waxeth/ if it be once old Npo●●he sunday/ when men should god honour L●● is good labour/ ensued is error offtime the old frere/ that wonned in grenewyche Again such follies/ was boldly wont to preach He said where bawds/ and their abusyone Were wont to abide/ in one vile place alone Now are they sprencled/ and sparkled abroad Like wise as ships/ be docked in a road That hard is to know/ good women from the ill By ill example/ good are in doubt to spill Bawds be suffered/ so where they list to bide That the street fadeth/ upon the water side Cate/ jyll mably/ Phylies/ and feat jeny Because of the city/ now can not get one penny Vile Thays was wont/ in angles for to be Now hath she power/ in all the hole city ¶ Amyntas. Thou pasest measure/ Faustus by god a vow Thou sayest of malice/ right well perceive I now mitigate thy mind/ and tongue for it is shame Men of the city/ thus largely to blame What man is faultless/ remember the village How men uplandish/ on holy days rage Naught can them tame/ they be a beastly sort In sweet and labour/ having most chief comfort On the holy day/ as soon as morn is passed When all men resteth/ while all the day doth last They drink/ they banquet/ they revel and they jet They leap/ they dance/ despising ease and rest If they once here/ a bagpipe or a drone Anon to the elm/ or oak be they go There use they to dance/ to gambaud/ and cor●ge Such is the custom/ and use of the vyllag● When the ground resteth/ from rake plough & wheels Than must they it trouble/ with burden of their heel's To Bacchus they banquet/ no feast is festival They chide and the chat/ they vary and they brawl They rail and they rout/ they revel and they cry Laughing/ and leaping/ & making cups dry ¶ Faustus. What stint thou thy chat/ these words I defy It is to a villain/ rebuke and villainy Such rural solace/ so plainly for to blame Thy words soundeth/ to thy rebuke and shame ¶ Amyntas. Not so friend Faustus/ I spoke it but in game Again to the city/ return in goods name ¶ Faustus. Yet of the city/ more fools tell can I Which ween to number/ the stars of the sky By them supposing/ each destiny to tell But all be fools/ that with this matter mell Yet be they madder/ which fixeth their intent To search the nature/ of god omnipotent And dare be so bold/ to set their mortal sight On incomprehensible/ and pure immortal light Our faith is better/ for they of the city Believe by reason/ with great difficulty Or they will believe/ they brawl with argument Plain speech sufficeth/ us people innocent Again sir Samson/ their quarrel they defend We ask no question/ and use not to contend We light the alters/ and many candles offer When they of the town/ scantly make a proffer Th●●ayth is feeble/ our faith is sure and stable They dare be bold/ with doctors for to babble A worldly merchant/ naught knowing of doctrine Because of his coin/ counteth his reason fine Trust me Antyntas/ no force who heareth me The coin and cunning/ doth not alway agree For some be that have/ great pleynte of that one Which of that other/ have little part or none What should the fools/ that devil in the city Or we seek to know/ of god's privity If it were needful/ the godhead for to know To simple wretches/ here on the ground allow It is in power/ of god omnipotent His very presence/ to us to represent But seeth his knowledge/ is comprehensible Why seeketh fools/ for things impossible And seth god will be/ unknown unto us Why should thine mortal/ of endless thing dyscus And ruyall people/ in alms doth excel Above all the sort/ which in the city devil We give will and cheese/ our wives coin and eggs When freres flatter/ and prise their proper legs For a score of pins/ and needles two or three A gentle cluner/ two cheses had of me Phylys gave coin/ because he did her charm Ever sith that time/ less hath she felt of harm Yet is in the city/ a number incurable pleaders/ and broker's/ a foul and shamefast rabble Merchants of justice/ hunters of riches Cratchers of coin/ delayers of process Prolonging causes/ and making wrong of right And right of plame wrong/ oppuing law with might jailers of justice/ their cursed covetise watereth the plants/ of cruelty and vice ¶ Amyntas. This have I proved/ by plain experience But tell me Fastus/ what causeth this offence ¶ Faustus. The rote and the ground/ of this misgovernance Is favour reward/ and wilful ignorance When coin or favour/ ones dimmeth hath the sight Adieu all justice/ in prison laid is right Yet be in towns/ a rabble fraudelent Murderers of people/ and free of punishment Vaunting and boasting/ themself of medicine And naught perceyning/ of science and doctrine If they be fettered/ with rings and with chains Than may they handle/ and touch privy veins Name all diseases/ and sores at their will Avoid of cunning/ of reason other skill Such ride on mules/ and pages by their side But if they had right/ on asses should they ride As touching rulers/ of all the commonty The more that they have of high authority Of liberty will/ and singular pleasure So much the more/ poor people they devour The hounds sometime/ wont folds for to keep Be now wild wolves/ devouring all the sheep Rulers be robbers/ and pillars be pastors Go is the guiding/ of godly governors O where be rulers/ meynteyners of justice Where be subduers/ and slakers of all vice Where he the friends/ of mercy and pity Sometime well ruling/ not spoiling of the city Whe●●e chaste rulers/ just meek and liberal Changed is fortune/ death hath devoured all The worst remaineth/ go been the meek and Just In stead of virtue/ ruleth free-will/ and lust where be the father's/ right worthy an empire Of whom men counted/ gay talies by the fire Sometime with tallies/ and otherwhile with song So driving a way/ the winter nights long Alas Amyntas/ naught bideth that is good No not my cokers'/ my tabert/ nor my hood All is consumed/ all spent and worn be So is all goodness/ and wealth of the city The temples pilled/ doth bitterly complain Poor people waileth/ and call for help in vain Poor wydous sorrow/ and children fatherless In vain bewaileth/ when wolves them oppress Sin hath no scourge/ and virtue no reward Who loveth wisdom/ his fortune is but hard council and cunning/ now tombles in the dust But what is the cause/ law turned is to lust Lust standeth in stead of law/ and of justice Whereby good living/ subdued is by vice ¶ Amyntas. I tell the Faustus/ this hastiness of the Passeth the bonds/ of right and honest All men thou blamest/ by wroth and hastiness As all citizens/ were full of vycyousnesse What man remember/ some live in innocence Some in the city/ be partles of offence ¶ Faustus. I am not angry/ I say but verity Here me Amyntas/ one clause with brevity As many toads/ as breedeth in Irelonde As many Gripes/ as breedeth in England As many Cockowes'/ as sing in january And nightingalings/ as sing in February And as many whales/ as swimmeth in the fen So many been there/ in cities of good men ¶ Amyntas. A good man is geason/ not easy to be found On land or in city/ or over all the ground Many things long/ unto a perfit man Ask that of Codrus/ declare the truth he 'gan Badness increaseth/ and over fast doth grow Goodness and virtue/ in coming up been slow ¶ Faustus. Thou art mad I trow/ so many foes have we As devil citizens/ in all the hole city They clip us/ they poll us/ they py● us to the skin And what they may get/ that think they well to win To theft they constrain us/ I tell the by all Halows And after by and by/ they send us to the Galows Therefore it is reason/ if aught of theirs hap Or come to our claws/ it privily to trap They us often deceive/ deceive we them again devise we slily/ guile subtle and train But this Amyntas/ to me is greatest grief And doubt for it is ill/ steling from a thief If it be secret/ we may it well deny If it be known/ excuse it craftily prove felony/ though it be used long Is not called theft/ but injury and wrong All that they have/ within these towns plain 〈◊〉 hard labour/ sore travail & great pain ¶ Amyntas. Now thou exeedest/ the mark of equity Thou passest reason/ Faustus I tell to the ¶ Faustus. What than Amyntas/ have patience a while Town dwellers vices/ doth all the world defile The air is corrupt/ by their enormity These summer storms/ whence come they tell thou me lightening/ great winds/ floods/ hail/ & thunder I well remember/ oft-time the ground here under Right sore hath quaked/ and caused houses fall Vice of the city/ is rote and cause of all The son in midday/ oft-time hath lost his light In likewise the moan/ in season of the night Both hath been black/ or else reed as blood This sign Amyntas pretendeth us no good Why grow the weeds/ and cockle in the corn Why is hay and grass/ oft-times all forlorn Why loose we our sede/ our labour and expense Where cometh moryens/ and grievous pestilence All these proceedeth/ by mad enormity And corrupt manners/ of them of the city And worse is likely/ yet after ward to fall If they not reform/ their living bestial Whence came the furor/ of harness and battle Which causeth widows/ their spouses to bewail Which bringeth with it/ all kind of misery As theft/ and murder/ great death/ and penury Forsooth in cities/ this furor first began To the confusion/ of many a doughty man The city is well/ and ground original Both first and last/ of dedelyylles all Bred in the city/ was cruel Lycaon Bred among herbs/ was good Dewra●y● Among shepherds/ nourished was Rennus And also his brother/ the mighty Romulus The cause of the flood/ in city first began Whereby was wasted/ near every best and man Our lord dsteroyed .v. Cytes for outrage Rede where for sins/ he wasted one village I trow when the world/ with fire shall wasted be The cause shall proceed/ and come of some city What shall I touch the savour and the stink Which is in cities/ of gutter and of sink There men be choked/ with vile and deadly ●●nt Here have we odour/ of flowers redolent I count me happy/ which won in the village As undefiled/ with Cytezyns' outrage. ¶ Amyntas. Have done now Faustus/ lay there a straw and Fill we our belly/ with cruds that is best Leave we the city/ and all civil outrage Now it is season/ to torn to the pottage After our dyner/ is best as in my mind The rest to declare/ if aught remain behind. ¶ Finis. ¶ Here endeth the .v. Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezyn/ and uplondysshmen/ Inprynted at London in fleet street/ at the sign of son/ by Wynkyn de word.