A NEW BOOK Entitled ❧ The blazing of Bawdry, Daily procured by Beldame B. Principal Broker of all iniquity.  
Given for a newyear's Gift, aswell to all such: in whose charge, the due punishment thereof is committed: As also to all other that may reap commodity by loathing their practices, either by reading, or hearing of the same. (?)  
By R. C. Citizen. 1574.  
¶ To all privy Bawds.  
YOU devilish Drabs, that set your intent,  
Youth to beguile, with your ill counsel  
amend betime, lest that ye be shent,  
And for your labours go to the devil of hell  
Look on this book, which doth your fauts tell,  
All your bawdy revel, & your ill company,  
Naught at all can you save, when ye shall di●.   

¶ A dialogue between the Printer and the Author.  The Printer. 
BRother I marvel how that ye,  
durst against Bawds make relation:  
seeing ye have none authority,  
them to rebuke with reprobation.  The Author 
¶ Every man by charytte is bound  
with words at lest those Queans to reprove  
For surely it doth so much abound:  
That it displeaseth the Deity above.  The Printer. 
¶ That is truth, but yet take heed,  
truth is not always to be said:  
For though that ye know such folks indeed,  
yet slander to you shall be laid.  The Author. 
¶ The more pity, for I name no body  
I do it only for to admonish  
officers, and such as have custody,  
Over all such folk to punish.  The Printer. 
¶ As for that say what ye will,  
ye shall rather hatred attain:  
Spite of your heart they will bide still,  
and you small thank for all your pain.  The Author. 
¶ Fowl of you said, ever speak the best,  
officers that thereto be committed:  
As the Bedelles and Wardmot quest,  
will in no manner take bribes for it.  The Printer. 
¶ I think the same, but I do marvel,  
to my reason they cannot be spared:  
But ever within the franchise they devil  
and be but voided from ward to ward.  The Author. 
¶ God help it is the more pity,  
that such folk be uncorrect:  
But yet I have seen such within this city  
openly punished, and then abject.  The Printer. 
¶ You but not all the whole sect,  
there be other that be much wurs:  
But if they be any time detect:  
they be punished by the Purs.  The Author. 
¶ In hope to amend they have that sufferance  
but I can perceive there amendss but few  
And under colour is their continuance,  
would God I could their demeanours show.  The Printer. 
That hope and favour (me think) is naught  
they should if I might, no time borrow:  
But with shame be openly forth brought  
and for ever to be ovoyde with sorrow.  The Author. 
¶ I have much wonder how they can find,  
provision still for to abide,  
And how they can get any friend,  
their naughty doing so for to hide.  The Printer. 
¶ They make good meals and give gifts,  
haunt with the best where they devil,  
From time to time, make hard shifts,  
cherish Officers and reward them well.  The Author. 
¶ By that saying they have bolsterers  
to bear them out to their naughtiness  
I believe well, for where be receivers:  
thieves may the better do their business.  The Printer. 
¶ Alas (alas) the abomination,  
stinketh afore the face of God:  
Doubtless in many straying fashion,  
he beateth with his violent rod.  The Author 
* Not marvel it is, we be so unkind,  
like br●●●e beasts, disordinate:  
As mad people, clean out of mind,  
and that causeth God us for to castigate.  The Printer. 
¶ Doth not the Mother lead the daughter,  
and be her Bawd too shamefully:  
The Brother also to his Sister.  
and Sister to Sister, this is seen daily.  The Author. 
¶ Yea, the Husband to his own wife,  
and carrieth her from place to place:  
The Father to his child useth this life,  
alas here is default of grace.  The Printer. 
¶ In heads of parishes is great blame,  
to suffer them in their company:  
But they care not of their name nor fame,  
Nor whence they come, make no inquiry,  The Author. 
¶ So they be gay what shall it need?  
boasting and faceing late and early:  
They he taken honest in word and deed,  
so they spend out with them largely.  The Printer. 
¶ But if a poor man lack of his duty,  
to the Church, house rend: or expense:  
Live he never among them so honestly,  
Yet will they be glad to have them thence  The Author. 
¶ Yea, and be arrested or syted to the law  
outlawed, cursed or suspended  
Disdained, punished and kept in awe  
and the other by them ever defended.  The Printer. 
* Thus money maketh the difference,  
the good to be naught, & naught to be good,  
And in them both, is like reverence:  
in money it lieth, by all likelihood.  The Author. 

¶ Then I see well there is small charity,  
and less wisdom in their circumspect:  
It hurteth their Neighbourall honesty,  
I can no more, but God it direct.   

¶ Amen, God grant it, for Christ's sake,  
to open the eyes of them in Authority  
To find out these filths: and such order take  
utterly to weed out the seed of iniquity.   
* FINIS.   

¶ The Author to his Book.  
GO little book unto my masters all  
which have the rule of town or city  
Desire the wardmote quests in special  
And eke the Constables to over see:  
These bawdi hostries full of iniquity  
For better were it to have a brothel  
Common, in the chief place of the city  
Than under their noses so manifest to devil.  
And say that thou dost wonder inwardly,  
that honest men can suffer their presence  
Or with their wives to haunt company  
And among neibors to keep residence  
Seeing by them such inconvenience  
For though the neighbours dare not,  
Reprove such queans openly:  
Yet deem they such of ill reports,  
As daily keep their company.  
¶ FINIS.   

¶ The discovery or blazing of the common practices of beastly Bawds.  

O Wretched world weltering in wickedness  
Given all to mischief and unhappiness:  
Vicious of living, barren of goodness,  
with all vicyousnesse sore infect:  
But one thing there is in special,  
Which grieveth me over all:  
That bawdry is so universal:  
and so many there be of that sect.   

☞ Now a days, what is the cause & why?  
Men have their wives in such jealousy:  
It is none other save only bawdry:  
through the which vicious sufferance  
Many young women as daily we see:  
Break Matrimony and also Virginity,  
And all this cometh througe mother B.  
called a Bawd of the devils alliance.   

¶ Through whose ungracious counsel,  
Much worse than the Devil of Hell  
Who so their tale to them doth tell:  
that many then make to them consent  
Both wy●e 〈…〉  
Would 〈…〉  
But kept the 〈…〉  
Were no● 〈…〉   

¶ For he that is disposed viciously,  
Hunting his appetite to satisfy  
In such a place where that conveniently:  
Himself may not complain.  
Then shall he a bawdy harlot get,  
And promise' her a Scarf of Sarsenet  
A Velvet Hat, or a kirtle of worsted  
His purpose to obtain.   

¶ Then goeth she about full busily  
And handleth her matter full craftily  
Fulfilled all with devilish policy:  
Of nothing standeth she in doubt,  
But tell her tale with spirit bold,  
Like as a bawdy quean should  
That never was good young nor old  
To bring her purpose about.   

¶ Then will she say to this woman quickly,  
Alas good Mistress, it is great pity:  
I hear say ye live not merely,  
Your Husband to you is unkind,  
But if you will do after me?  
I warrant you and your honesty:  
You shall never desteyned be  
And also have a daily friend.   

¶ Also your Husband is often absent  
Wherewith youth is not content.  
And maketh the Woman often to repent,  
As many have done ere this:  
Therefore youth desireth the company  
Of them that be young fresh and lusty:  
To pass away the time pleasantly:  
Therefore take ye time, when it is.   

¶ And one thing I put you in assurance,  
There is a Gentleman of mine acqueintance  
which in you hath put his affiance,  
And loveth you with all his heart:  
Wherefore I beseech you heartily,  
Come one day and keep him company,  
And we will have a chamber secretly,  
And at your pleasure to depart.   

¶ And when she hath showed her intent,  
And seeth the will not to her consent:  
Then sayeth she to her incontinent:  
I would for no worldly treasure:  
Do or say that thing that should sound  
To your dishonestly for a thousand pound  
And yet more over I dare be bound:  
It shall never be to your displeasure.   

Yet some young woman will all Bawds deinye,  
And saith she loveth not the company  
Of those Harlots that use such bawdry  
for many good women they spill:  
O good Mistress, a Bawd not so,  
Says this Bawd again her unto:  
It is one honest woman for another to do:  
In such case their pleasure to fulfil:   

¶ For I know well, the course must be had  
Of this world: both with good and bad,  
And specially, with such as be lad  
In the Chain of their flooryshing youth:  
Wherefore, good Mistress, have no dread,  
For ye shall have me as sure in deed,  
As a trusty friend at every need,  
I promise you for a truth.   

¶ Will ye not see this harlot bawdy?  
H●w she calleth all this honesty?  
●o entice a woman to live viciously,  
Is not this a piteous case?  
But if she should have her true hire,  
●●●nt should she be in a hot fire,  
〈◊〉 each all other how they desire  
An honest woman to a bawdy place.   

¶ Thus will this strumpet, with fair words feed  
This good young woman, which is in dread,  
For to consent to any such deed,  
Were it not for such Harlot's enticement:  
Whereby she is brought into this folly,  
Regarding nothing her own honesty,  
But makes her a promise firm & faithfully,  
To come to her at leisure convenient.   

Yet will not this Bawd ieave her babbling  
Till she have got from her somthyng,  
Either her Bracelets, or else a Ring,  
This will she of her be sure:  
Then she goeth thence, as merry as a Pie,  
Home to her hospital of Bawdry,  
And showeth the man all the matter plainly  
How she hath brought her to lure.   

¶ But who be they that those Bawds be?  
Be they the poor old women (trow ye?)  
Nay, nay: they be of a higher degree,  
They be of the gorgeous sort:  
They be those that can themself paint,  
No man by their countenance can then attaint,  
For they look as smooth as it were a Saint,  
Sad both of countenance and of port.   

¶ Yea (perhaps) she wear a Hood of Velvet,  
A Kyrttell of Grograyne, or fine Worstet,  
Of Satin, Damask, or Chamlet,  
Begarded & fringed, as a woman of substance  
That no man living, but he would trust,  
His wife to go, where ever she lust,  
With this Strumpet false and unjust,  
In whom is no grace nor affiance.   

¶ Whereby oftentimes, men are beguiled,  
And their wives honesty clean exiled,  
And many young Maidens be get with child  
through their subtle ungracious counsel,  
But I would every man would consent,  
That they might have condign punishment  
For if their tongues were from their mouths rend  
yet were they served but too well.   

¶ O ye Bawds abominable,  
Shameless wretches most miserable:  
Amend your lives vituperable:  
But sure I think ye be past remedy,  
Wherefore except ye do amend  
I fear ye shall allow descend:  
With the devil of hell to make your end.  
And there to reign perpetually.   

¶ The devil in you hath taken such place,  
That ye be passed all shame and grace:  
So that ye may get money apace,  
Or else some other reward:  
You care not how many ye bring to naught  
In every corner, ye shall be sought,  
For the devil in you so deep hath wrought  
That nothing God ye regard.   

¶ O ye young women in your youth lusty,  
Which have taken upon you matrimony  
Whereby ye be bound and that only  
Your husband all other above:  
To love and please in special  
And not to be universal,  
Nor have affection to any at all,  
But only him to love.   

¶ Also beware ye young Maidens, I say,  
You may see how that every day  
Many take leave and ren a way  
as great as they may wag:  
Wand'ring abroad, all over the country,  
Compelled to steal or run away  
Or else to that, the best of three,  
To go with a Staff and a Bag.   

¶ Wherefore, take heed, ye do not incline  
To any of these Bawds, neither course nor fine  
In any wise follow not their line  
But let them sit with ill rest,  
Stop taste your ears, hear not their tale,  
For if ye do: ye set on sale  
Good name and honesty, for ever to fail:  
Wherefore, trust not to their false behest.   

¶ Their words be honey, their counsel is gall,  
A great strong poison infernal,  
That poisoneth body, soul and all,  
Such is their operation:  
For, that which the devil with all his power  
May not obtain, (though he conioure)  
They will bring it to pass within an hour,  
With their sweet communication.   

¶ O ye men, the which maintain,  
Such bawdy queans, thus for to reign:  
Men said I? nay that I lie plain:  
But vile wretches abominable?  
You will not stick to spend quickly  
Twenty mark, to do your neighbour injury,  
But for God's sake, to spend an halfpenny,  
ye think it is right chargeable.   

¶ But what soever your Bawds will crave,  
She need but a●ke, and she shall have  
Though other therefore, ye poll and shave  
(Mendoza thinks) this thing, full ill doth frame:  
For body and goods, ye consume in waste,  
That the devil, will have ye all at the last,  
Without ye take t●me, ere time be past,  
For to repent, and amend for shame.   

¶ And if ye must needs satisfy,  
The devilish appetite of your body  
Take a wife of your own in matrimony,  
And none other man to beguile.  
But ye regard not what wretched life,  
What shame and woe, what daily strife,  
You make between the man and the wife,  
so ye obtain your purpose vile.   

¶ And ye that have the Gift, to live chaste,  
Look ye spend not your goods in waste,  
●easte God take vengeance of you in haste,  
And withdraw from you his grace:  
relieve the same, and the blind that ye see,  
Bestow well your talon, after your degree,  
So that your living may not, a stumbling Block be  
To hinder other in this case.   

¶ But now for a conclusion final  
These Bawds are the cause of mischiefs all,  
That I pray God, foul might they fall,  
Except they shortly amend:  
For my mind is not able to express,  
Half their mischief and unhappiness  
That I beseech God of his goodness,  
All virtuous people from them defend.   

¶ O ye women that virtuous be  
Ladies and Gen ill women, of every degree,  
I pray you heartily to pardon me,  
If I have written, or said amiss,  
But all my purpose is only  
Your worship to save and honesty,  
Wherefore I promise you faithfully,  
I have not said, but as it is.   

¶ And if I have in any condition  
Spoken that, that displeaseth any good person,  
I commit me to their correction,  
beseeching God of his infinite grace:  
Whereas we have lived viciously,  
We may amend through his great mercy,  
And with him to reign eternally,  
In his celestial place.   
¶ Finis.   

An Exclamation of the Auctor, against the secret Bawds.  

O Wicked traitors deceitful as devils  
And wurs than devils by very reason  
The devil can never utter his evils  
In this case, but by your encheason:  
Promoters of Hell at every season,  
Proctors of Pluto, Attornets of Satan,  
withdrawers from god, the perfect soul of man   

Most shameful brokers & helpurueiours  
Porters of mischief, drabs damnable  
Enquestours of death, of sin Arbytrours,  
audible counsellors, of God reprovable:  
Merchants of misery most detestable  
Summoners of sorrow, Ostlers infernal:  
The devil, death & bell, to 〈◊〉 are paregal.   

¶ Unhappy earth how canst thou sustain,  
These hell hounds fro thy profundytie?  
How art thou nourished with the heavenly rain?  
Suffering on thee, their great enormity  
Why standeth the Walls of Town or city?  
Compassing them: & doth not overthrow,  
Why doth any Food, for them breed or grow▪   

Margery Curson, the chief of bawds all  
Which at stewsyde, long time kept residēc●  
A bawd indeed, by right men did her cal●  
Yet by her came not half thincōuenienc●  
For all openly was done her insolence:  
But of previ bawds, no person can beware  
O cursed spirits, too shameful is your snare   

¶ O ribald thieves, how can ye procure  
To have the favour of honest living me●  
How can your Ruffians life be sure?  
To haunt the company of honest wome●  
Your Aplesquiers, do daily trace & ren●  
Among fisgigs. and bawdy knaves,  
subjecting them in manner as your slave   

All manner states within your trap is take●  
Your wrinching gins, scantly can be withstand  
No fish, nor frogs, by you is forsaken.  
Goth one & other falleth into your hand  
Gentleman, serving man: wife & husband  
Widow, Maid, Bachelor & Apprentice,  
With bawdy council, ye do to lin entice.   

You maintain by your rotten bawdry,  
Vices of lechery and detestation,  
Incest, rape, sacrilege and advontery:  
Theft, murder, swearing: & defloration,  
Drunkenness, picking, and defamation  
Feighting, brawling, hordome & shame,  
●ll these be Assistants, to your bawdy name.   
¶ FINIS.   

Imprinted at London, in the upper end of Fleetlane: at the Sign of the spread Eagle. by Richard Ihones.