❧ The Plagues of Northomberland.  
To the tune of Appelles.  
 

WHen that the Moon, in Northomberland,  
After the change, in age well con,  
Did rise with force, then to with stand,  
The light and bright beams of the Son  
The sorrowful dolers soon began,  
Through Percies pride to many a man.   

But then a none the Westmere Bull,  
Beheld the rising of this Moon,  
Thinking that she had been at full,  
He hasted then a none full soon,  
With horse, and Arms, and all his might,  
From perfect day, to uncertain light.   

When they in one, consent were pight,  
With them was many an ignorant man,  
The romish Laws, they would redyght  
Through council of some blind Sir john,  
Who never knew gods verity,  
But to Rebellion then did a gree.   

For if they would of god's word known.  
Long. thirty. years they have had time,  
Rebellion then had not been sown,  
To bring their country in such crime,  
Their poison now, all men may see,  
That under Sugar long did lie.   

¶ What mischief moved the Percies' heart,  
This enterprise to take in hand,  
This for to play a Rebels' part,  
In raising up Northomberland,  
But look what seed, by him is sown,  
With sharp scythes down it was soon mown.   

¶ That country is, in full sore plight,  
That doth a 'gainst their Prince contend,  
Seeking their own dreams to redyght,  
The Pope's precepts for to defend,  
Like brutish perversed ignorant men,  
That seeks before a law to ten.   

¶ This venom long a breeding was  
Which in the Percies' breast did grow,  
The Bull in bellinge did not cease,  
Till that the poison out did flow  
So far a broad the streams did run,  
That back a gain could not return.   

¶ This hateful poison long was hide,  
Under the cloak of amity,  
The outward treason was not spied,  
But covered with all courtesy,  
Their close unlawful conspitation,  
Hath brought them to great dysolation.   

¶ The hope unsure was transitory,  
The which was in that cloudy Moon,  
Her false eclypes with all the glory,  
Her joy unstable was ended soon  
Her sudden change now tells us all,  
That Sugar sweet was blended with Gall.   

¶ What state now may himself assure,  
Long here to live in quietness,  
What worldly toy may here in dure,  
In those where is no stableness,  
Where Lords, and Yerles, in wealth doth flow  
From their high state must fall down low.   

¶ Now by their fall learn to be wise,  
Both high and low in each degree,  
Let no false light deceive your eyes,  
As it hath done of late you see.  
The false beams of the glystringe Moon,  
Now many a man it hath undone.   

¶ For in the north the did shine long,  
But now eclypsyd is her light,  
The Westmere Bull that held so strong,  
He is deprived of his might,  
For many tongues of them will tell,  
How these to Yerles false did Rebel.   

And many a man more as I hear,  
That with these Rebels did take part,  
Which can not think themselves now clear  
That in breast bears a double heart,  
But as you have be gone to brew,  
So are you found Rebels untrue.   

¶ The country clean you have undone,  
The Lord grant thersome better stay,  
Or else will many a mother's son,  
For this curse you another day,  
You leave your wives and children dear,  
lamenting in most woeful cheer.   

¶ Now let us pray as we are bound,  
All for our Queen's high majesty,  
That she her enemies may confounded,  
And all that to Rebels agree,  
And plant true men up in their place,  
The Lord from heaven now give her grace.   
Finis.  
qd. john Barker,   

¶ Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet beneath the conduit, at the sign of saint, john Evangelist, by Thomas Colwell.