printer of this book. LO 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not my 〈◊〉 Nor such as 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But mine intent is only for to write The misery of such as live in need And all their life in idleness doth lead Whereby doth sue such incōu●…nce That they must end in meschaunt indigence ¶ Chryst in this world right poverty died sue giving us example to follow that degree saying/ beati pauperes spiritu Beati mites/ beati mundo oorde blessed be they that poor in spirit be And been clean in heart/ and meek therewith all For they shall possede the realm celestial ¶ They be not poor that have necessity Except therewith they been right well content Nor they be not rich that have great plenty If that they think that they have competent And ever pleased with that god hath them sent For surely it is our lords ordinance That each should be pleased with suffisance ¶ That man that hath more than sufficient With goods at will/ and daily dyth increase And ever is bare/ hungry and indigent Scraping/ and ●…dgynge/ without any cease Ever coveting the mind hath no pease But liveth by rapine and usury And careth not how he cometh thereby ¶ Eke in distress/ doyngno benefit Letting the poor/ die in great misery His neighbour in prison/ doth not visit Nor yet forgive/ small parcel of duty Weary traveylers'/ in the streets letly The deed bodies/ without any burial His goods/ his god/ a man may full well call ¶ Of such rich men reciteth the gospel Making likeness of Saying that more casyly a great Camel May pass and go through anedyls' eye Than a rich man in heaven for to be For who so miss useth that god hath him sent with cursed Dives in hell shallbe brent. ¶ These tree want beggars begging fro place to place Nor yet these needy of all manner fashion These apprentyces that do run from all grace These hired servants that keep no condition Nor all that feign perfect devotion Nor many other living in need covert Though they lack good/ be not poor of heart. ¶ say not daily of all manner estate How in the law they travers and conject How neighbours do fall at anger and debate Tween man wife eke the life imperfect The father and child/ from quietness abject And all for good/ they make each other smart Which is a sign they be not poor of heart. ¶ If that our prince do ask a subsidy From our e●…emyes us to defend Or if our creditors demand their duty To confess poverty than we do pretend But if our neighbour in aught us offend Than we find money to play overthwart Which is a token we be not poor at heart ¶ How many poor that have little in store. Is content with his small substance But ever they grudge and wish for more To be promoted and have furtherance The very beggars for their pytaunce From bag and staff are loath for to departed Which is a token they be not poor at heart ¶ Of these two estates there be four degrees A rich rich, a poor poor/ aryche poor also A poor rich in all necessities The two can agree/ but the other no A proud heart/ a beggars purse thereto The rich purse/ and the poor spirit May well agree/ and be in one parfyt. ¶ Exhortation of the compiler. ¶ I pray all you, which have enough with grace For the love of god, to do your charity And fro the poor, never turn your face For Chryst saith, what ever that he be That to the least of mine, doth in the name of me Unto myself, I do accept the deed And for reward my realm they shall possede. ¶ Finis. ¶ Here beginneth the casualyte Of the entrance in to hospitality TO write of Sol in his exaltation Of his solstice or declination Or in what sign, planet, or degree As he in course is used for to be Scorpio, pisces, or sagyttary Or when the moon her way doth contrary Or her eclipse/ her wane/ or yet her full It were but lost/ for blockish brains dull But plainly to say/ even as the time was About a fortnight after Halowmas I chanced to come by a certain spittle Where I thought best to tarry a little And under the porch for to take succour To bide the passing of a stormy shower For it had snowen/ and frozen very strong With great ysesycles on the eves long The sharp north wind hurled bitterly And with black clouds/ darked was the sky Like as in winter/ some days be natural With frost and rain/ and storms over all So still I stood/ as chanced to be The porter of the house/ stood also by me With whom I reasoned of many divers things Touching the course of all such wetherynges And as we talked/ there gatered at the gate People as me thought/ of very poor estate With bag and staff/ both crooked/ lame/ and blind Scabby & scurvy/ pocke eaten flesh and tind Lowly and scald/ and pilled like as apes With scantly a rag/ for to cover their shapes Brecheles/ bare footed/ all stinking with dirt with. M. of tatters/ drabbling to the skirt Boys/ girls/ and luskysh strong knaves Dyddering & daddering/ leaning on their staves saying good master/ for your moders blessing give us a halfpenny/ toward our lodging The porter said what need you to crave That in the spittle shall your lodging have Ye shall be entreated/ as ye ought to be For I am charged/ that daily to see The sisters shall do their observance As of the house is the due ordinance. ¶ Copland. ¶ Porter said I/ god's blessing and our lady Have ye for speaking so courteously To these poor folk/ and god his soul pardon That for their sake/ made this foundation But sir I pray you/ do ye lodge them all That do ask lodging in this hospital? ¶ Porter. ¶ Forsooth yea/ we do all such ●…olke in take That do ask lodging for our lords sake And in deed it is our custom and use Sometime to take in/ and some to refuse. ¶ Copland. ¶ Than is it common to every wight How they live all day, to lie here at night ●…s losels/ mighty beggars/ and vagabonds And tree wands that walk over the londs Mychers, hedgecrepers/ fylloks and luskes That all the summer kep●… dyches and busks Lewtring and wandering fro place to place And will not work/ but the by-paths trace And live with Haws, and hunt the blakbery And with hedge breaking make themselves merry But in the winter they draw to the town And will do nothing/ but go up and down And all for lodging that they have here by night Me think that therein ye do no right Nor all such places of hospitality To comfort people of such iniquity. But sir I pray you/ of your goodness and favoue Tell me which yeleave/ & which ye do succour? For I have seen at sundry hospitals That many have lain dead without the walls And for lack of succour have died wretchedly Unto your 〈◊〉 on/ I think contrary Moche people resort here/ and have lodging But yet I marvel greatly of one thing That in the night so many lodge without? For in the watch when that we go about Under the stalls, in porches and in doors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they be thieves or 〈◊〉 ●…ut surely every night there is found ●…ne or other ly●…ng by the pound In the sheep coats/ or in the hay fit And at saint Barthylmews church door full 〈◊〉 And even here always by this brick wall We do them fyud, that do both ●…hyde and ●…rall ●…nd like as beasts/ together they be throng Both lame and seek/ and hole them among And in many corners where that we go 〈◊〉 & wonder greatly why they do so But 〈◊〉 when that they us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do run a great deal faster than we. ¶ Porter. ¶ 〈◊〉 folks be they that we do abject 〈◊〉 are not bound to have ●…o them aspect 〈◊〉 be mychers, that live intre 〈◊〉 Hespytalyte 〈◊〉 them always despise. ¶ Copland. ¶ Sir I pray yo●…, who hath of you 〈◊〉 ¶ Porter. ¶ Forsooth they that be at such mischief 〈◊〉 for their living can do no labour And have no friends to do them socout As old p●…ople/ seek/ and impotent Poor w●…men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have here easement 〈◊〉 men sore wounded by great violence And sore men eaten with pocks and 〈◊〉 And honest folk 〈◊〉 in great poverty By mischance or other infirmity Way faring men, and maimed soldiers Have their relief in this poor house of our●… And all other which we seem good and plain Have here lodging for a night or twain Bedrid fo●…ke/ and such as can not crave In these places/ most relief they have And if they hap/ within our place to die Than are they buried/ well and hones●…ly But not every vuseke stubborn knave For than we should over many have, ¶ Copland. ¶ How say you by these common beggars tha●…●…rye Daily on the world/ and in the high ways lie At westmynster●… and at say●…t Paul's And in all streets they sit as desolate souls Me think it it a very well done deed With devotion such people to feed ¶ Porter. ¶ Where any giveth alms with good intent The reward can not be no wise misspent ¶ Copland. ¶ Ye but sir I will not lie by my soul As I walked to the church of saint Poule There sat beggars: on each side the way two As is seen daily, they be wont to do Sir one there was, a mighty stubborn slave That for the other began to beg and crave Now master, in the way of your good speed To us all four/ behold where it is need And make this farthing worth a halfpenny For the five joys of our blessed lady Now turn again for saint Erasmus sake And on my bare knees here a vow I make Our ladies psalter three times even now Now turn again/ as god shall turn to you Now master, do that no man did this day On yone poor wretch/ that rotteh in the way Now master for him that died on tree let us not die for lack of charity Thus he prated/ as he full well can Till at last an honest serving man 〈◊〉 by the way/ and by compassion Of his words/ did his devotion When he was gone a little fro thence I saw the beggar pull out. xi. pens Saying to his fellows. see what here is Many a knave have I called master for this let us go dine/ this is a simple day By master therewith shall I scantly pay 〈◊〉 these folks hither good master porter? ¶ Porter. ¶ No in sooth/ this house is of no such supporter They have houses/ and keep full ill jesting And to the resort all the hole offspring 〈◊〉 Berbycan/ and in Turnmyll street In Houndesdyche/ and behind the Flete And in twenty places mo than there Where they make trowel and gaudy cheer 〈◊〉 fill the pot fill/ go fill me the can ●ere is my penny/ I am a gentleman 〈◊〉 there they bid/ and fill as doth a gull And when that they have their heads full ●han ●hey fall out/ and make revyiing 〈◊〉 this wise make the drunken reckoning Thou beggarly knave, bag nor staff hast thou none But as I am fain daily to lend the one Thou getteest it no more/ though it lie and rote Nor my long cloak/ nor my new patched cote This ru●…e make they/ every day and night Till like as swine they lie sleeping upright Some beggarly churls to whom they resort Be the maintainers of a great sort Of mighty lubbers/ and have them in seruyc●… Some journey men/ & some to their prentice And they walk to each market and fair And to all places where folk do repair By day on styltes/ or stooping on crowches And so dissimule as false le 〈◊〉 ●…owches With bloody clouts all about their leg And play sters on their skin when they go beg Some counterfeit lepry/ and other some Put soap in their mouth to make it 〈◊〉 And fall down as saint Cornelys evil These dysceyts they use worse than every devil And when they be in their own company They be as hold as either you or I But at the last/ wha●… sickness cometh in deed Than to the spittle house must they come need ¶ Copland. ¶ Ah jesus mercy/ what man could conject The misery of such a wretched 〈◊〉 None honest man, but yet I you heartily pray Tell me of other that come these way Come here any of these maysterles men That every where do go and ren That have served the king beyond these And now that they out of wages be They must beg/ or else go bribe and steal Me think it is a great soul heal To hel●… them till they were purveyed Into som●… service for if they were arrayed Some of them were proper men and tall And 〈◊〉 to go why●… they shall ¶ Porter. ¶ That is troth, but they use one ill thing For they do were 〈◊〉 clothing And so begging 〈◊〉 ●…lke over all For they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most in general 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abide no laborious subjection 〈◊〉 honest persons vader correction For when they be weary they will 〈◊〉 a way And parcha●… carry with them what they may And so when a man would bring them to thry●… They will him rob/ and fro his good him 〈◊〉 ¶ Copland. ¶ Though some so do they do not all so ●…or so●… might chance well as many one do. ¶ Porter. ¶ That is true/ but it hath been seen long agone That many have 〈◊〉 the worse for one 〈◊〉 of these 〈◊〉 two sorts moo●… commonly The one of them 〈◊〉 by open 〈◊〉 ●…gged and lousy with bag/ dish/ and staff 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haunteth among such riff-raff Our time to this 〈◊〉, another to that 〈◊〉 and poaching to get somewhat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 door/ lumps of bread or meat For 〈◊〉 the staff in his hand once catch heat Than farewell labour/ & hath such delight That thrift and 〈◊〉 fro him is quite And in such misery they live day by day That of very need they must come this way ¶ Copland. ¶ Of the other now what is their estate ¶ Porter. ¶ By my faith nightingalings of newgate These been they that daily walks and 〈◊〉 In their hose trussed round to their do dowblett●… And say/ good masters of your charity Help us poor men that come from the se From the 〈◊〉 we were cast to land God it knows as poorly as we stand And sonty me they say that they were take in France And had been there. seven. years in durance In Muttrell/ in Breast/ in Tourney or 〈◊〉 In Morlays/ in Cleremount or in 〈◊〉 And to their countries they hau●… 〈◊〉 to gone And among them all penny have they none Now good menues bodies will they say then For god's sake help to keep us true men Or else they say they have in prison be In newgat/ the kings bench or marchalse As many true men take by suspicion And were quit/ by proclamation And if any axe what co●…ntrey men they be And like your mastership/ of the north all three Or of Cheshire/ or else nigh cornwall Or where they list for to gabbe and rail And may perchance the one is of London The other of york/ and the third of Hampton And thus they lewter in every way and street In towns and churches where as people meet In lanes and paths/ and at each cross/ way There do they prate/ babble lie and pray But if ye be cleanly and haply come alone your purse & clothing may fortune to be gone But at no door for breed/ drink/ nor pottage Nor scoules of meat/ nor no such baggage They none desire/ to put in bag nor male But very white thread/ to sew good ale And when they have gotten what they may Than to their lodging/ they do take their way In to some alley/ lane/ or blind hostry And to some corner or house of bawdry Where as 〈◊〉 solke of their affynyte Brothels/ and other such as they be And there they meet/ and make their gaudy cheer And put on their clothing and other gear ●…heyr 〈◊〉 and boclers/ & their short daggebs And there they revel as unthrifty bragger's 〈◊〉 horrible oaths/ 〈◊〉 as they were wood Arms/ nails/ wounds/ heart soul and blood 〈◊〉/ foot/ mass/ flesh/ bones/ life/ and body With all other words of blasphemy Bostyngethem all in deeds of their mischief And thus pass the time/ 〈◊〉 dance hore/ pipe thief The hang man shall lead the dance at the end For nove other ways they do not pret●…nde An●… when that they can get nothing by begging To maintain such life they fall to stealing And so this way the come at the last 〈◊〉 on the gallows make a tomling cast ¶ Copland. ¶ More pity/ to see our own nation For to behave them on such fashion Surely there is an act of parliament That y fony strong vagabond be hent To be set in a pair of stocks openly Certain days/ with bread and water only And than to be banished from town to town I think that act is not yet put down If it were execute/ as to my reason Men should not see within a little scafon So many of them/ nor idle slouches And mighty beggars/ with their pokes & crouches But they be maintained by this naughty sect That all this land is with them infect I mean these bawdy brybrous knaves That lodgeth them that so poles and shaves It were alms that they were looked on For they be worse than any thief or fellow ¶ But to our purpose/ cometh not this way Of these Rogers? that daily sing and pray With Au●… regina/ or De profundis Quem terra ponthus/ and Stella maris At every door there they toot and frydge And say they come fro Oxford or cambridge And be poor scholars/ and have no manner thing Nor also friends, to keep them at learning And so do lewtre only for crust and crumb with staff in hand/ and fist in bosum Passing time so both day and year As in their legend I purpose shall appear An other time after my fantasy ¶ Porter. ¶ Such folks of troth cometh here daily And aught of right this house for to use In their a●…ge/ for they fully do refuse The time of virtuous 〈◊〉 whereby they should unto honour arise ¶ Copland. ¶ Sir yet there is another company Of the same sect/ that live more subtilely And be in manner as master wardayns To whom these Rogers obey as captains And be named ●…lewners, as I here say ¶ Porter. ¶ By my sooth all false harlots be they And 〈◊〉 of people overall In the country most of them find ye shall They say that they come fro the university And in the scoles have taken degree Of priesthood/ but friends have they none To give them any exhibition And how that they forth would pass To their 〈◊〉/ and sing their first mass And there pray for their benefactors And serve god all times and hours And so they lewtre in such rogations Seven or eight years walking their stations And do but gull/ and follow beggary Feigning true doing by hypocrisy As another time shallbe showed plain ¶ But yet there is of a like manner train Of false brybours, deceitful and fraudelent That among people call themselves sapient These ride about in many sundry wise And in strange array/ do themselves disguise Sometime in manner of a physician And another time as a heathen man Countrefayting their own tongue and speech And hath a knave that doth him english teach With, me non speak englis by my faith My servant speak you what me say't And maketh a manner of strange countenance With admirations his fallnes to advance And when he cometh there as he would be Than will he feign marvelous gravity And so chanceth his hosts or his host To demand, out of what strange land or coast Cometh this gentleman: forsooth hostess This man was borne in hethennesse Saith his servant. and is a cunning man For all the seven sciences surely he can And is sure in Physyk and Palmistry In augury, sothsay●…ng, and vysenamy So that he can right soon espy If any be disposed to malady And therefore can give such a medicine That maketh all accesses to decline But surely if it were known that he Should meddle with any infirmity Of common people, he might get him hate And lose the favour of every great estate Howbeit of charity/ yet now and then He will minister his cure on poor men No money he taketh, but all for gods love Which by chance ye shall see him prove ¶ Than saith he/ qui speak my hostess Grand malady make a great excess Dys infant rumpre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By got he ala mort/ tuk under thum What saith he? saith the good wife Nostesse he sweareth, by his soul and life That this child is vexed with a bag In his stomach, as great as he may wag So that or two or three days come about It will choke him withouten doubt But than he saith/ except ye have his read This child there with will suddenly be dead Alas saith she/ if she love it well Now sweet master/ give me your counsel For gods sake I ask it, and our lady And here is twenty shillings by and by Quid est, saith he? Forsooth she doth offer Uiginti solid●…, poor fournir vostre coffer To do your help/ saith this false seruyture Non point dargent lay he/ par deu ie non cure He will no money/ hostess I you prompt For gods sake/ he doth it each whit Than calleth he anon for his casket That f●…antly is worth a rotten basket And taketh out a powder of experience That a cart load is not worth two pence And in a paper he doth fair fold it up Fasting three days/ he biddeth that to sup Than for a space he taketh licence God wots as yet he paid for none 〈◊〉 And so departeth and on the next day One of his fellows will go the same way To bolster the matter of his false 〈◊〉 He sitteth down/ and maketh good 〈◊〉 Which in like wise looketh on the child Saying/ that heavenly virgin undefiled Our lady Mary, preserne this child now For it is seek/ hostess I tell it you For or three days/ but our lord him save I ensure you it willbe in a grave Good sir saith she/ alas and weleaway Here was a gentleman even yesterday That told the same access and disease Hostess saith he/ if that it woid you please What manner man was it? I pray you tell Good sir she saith/ in sooth I know not well But english speech/ in deed he can none And is a Jewe/ his man told us eachone Yea was, saith he/ I know him well in de●… I would I had spoke with him or he ye●…. But hostess, in faith took he any thing By my troth saith she/ not one fart●…yng I wot saith he/ but I marvel that he wol●… But of charity, in such a mean household Do say so moche/ for yfgreat estates it knew His company than would they all eschew Good sir saith she/ yet of your gentleness Help this poor child, of this said sekene And hereiss. xx. shillings for your pain And your expense for a week or twain Well hostess saith he. I will do more than 〈◊〉 For you. but I shall tell you what For my labour I ask nothing at all But for the drugs/ that occupy he shall The which be dear/ and very precious And surely I will never out of your house Till he be hole as either you or I Than gooth his knave to a town to buy These drugs that be not worth a turd And there they lie/ at fourtenyght at board With these good folks/ and put them to cost Both meat and money clearly have they lost Yet god wot what waste they made and revel So at the last departeth this javel With the money/ and straight rideth he Where the thief his fellow/ and divers other 〈◊〉 And there they prate/ and make their avaunt Of their deceits/ and drink adieu taunt As they live/ I pray god them amend Or as they be/ to bring them to an end For the spittle is not for their estate Howbeit they come daily by the gate ¶ Copland. ¶ A shrewd sort by our lady/ and a cumbrous Jesus keep them out of every good man's house But cometh any pardoners this way? ¶ Porter. ¶ Yea sir, they be our proctors/ & fain they may Chyrs●…y sith their false popery was known And their bullish indulgence overthrown They be all nought/ reckon each with other subtilty is their father/ & falsehood their mother For by l●…ttres they name them as they be P. 〈◊〉 pardoner. Clewner a. C. B. a Roger. A an jurium/ and a sapient. S. Thus they know each other doubtless But when their juggling oores do fail They run ashore/ and here strike sail ¶ Copland. ¶ By my sooth I am weary to here of their living Wherefore I pray you/ if ye be pleasing Tell me shortly of all folk in general That come the high way to the hospital ¶ Porter. IT is tedious/ but for your mind As nigh as I can/ I will show the kinds Of every sort/ & which by lykelynes To the spittle his way doth address But as for order I promise none to keep For they do come as they were scattered sheep wandering without reason/ rule/ or guide And for other lodging do not provide ¶ But to our purpose. there cometh in this viage They that toward god have no courage And to his word give none advertence Eke to father and mother do not reverence They that despise folk in adversity They that seek strife and iniquity They that for themselves do keep nothing And such as hate other in their well doing They may be sure or ever they die Lest they lack lodging here for to lie. ¶ Preestes and clerks that live viciously Not caring how they should do their duty Unruly of manners/ and slack in learning Ever at the alehous for to sit bybing Neglecting the obedience to them dew And unto Christ'S flock take none avew But like as wolves that ravish the fold These people do this right way hold ¶ young heirs that enjoy their heritage ruling themselves/ or they come to age occupying unthrifty company Spending up their patrimony Whiles they be young, & use dissolute plays Of very need they must come these ways ¶ All such people as have little to spend Wasting it, till it be at an end And when they be seek/ and have nothing Toward the spittle than they be coming ¶ They that have small lands and tenements wearing daily costly garments That at the last they must be fain To sell their rents/ themselves to sustain Which is a token of very experience This way for to come by consequence ¶ bailiffs, stewards, cators, and renters Pay masters, creditors, and receivers That beneclygent to make reckonings delivering and trusting without wittings Uncaring for to run in ar●…rage By this way they must need make passage ¶ Landlords that do no reparations But leave their lands in desolations ' Their housing unkept wind and water tight Letting the principals rot down right And suffereth their tenants to run away The way to our house we can them not denay ¶ They that sew/ in the court daily For little business and spendeth largely With great gifts and yet their labour lost This way they come to seek for their cost ¶ farmers and other husbandmen that be In great fermes/ and doth not over see Their housbondry/ but letteth their corn rote Their hay to must/ their sheep die in the cot●… Their land untyld/ undunged/ and unsown Their meadows not defenced and unmowen Their fruit to perish/ hanging on the trees Their cattles scatter/ and lose their honey bees ¶ All young heirs borne in a rich estate And would live still after the same rate Being young brethren of small possibility Not having where with to maintain such degr●… But make shifts/ and borrow overall Such trace prison to be their hospital ¶ Selfwylled people that can not be in rest But in the law do ever writhe and wrest And will not fall to any agreement Till in their necks is laid by judgement The costs and charges/ & so are made full bare Lodging for such folk we do ever spare ¶ People that always will be at distance And on their neighbours evertake vengeance Being avenging on every small wrong From this way they cannot be long ¶ They that will meddle in every man's matter And of other folks deeds doth always clatter maintaining their own saying to be true And is no●… believed/ they can not eschew But they must needs come hitherward For by moche meddling their credence is marred ¶ Merchants that beyond the see buy dear A●…d lend it good cheap when they be here A●…d be never paid/ but by the law Her●… have no bedding/ but lie on the straw ¶ They that sell good cheap in despite Letting all their gains for to go quyt●… buying ware dear/ and s●…ll for a little They be very gests to lie in our spittle ¶ Crafts men that do work day and night Having great charge and their gains light Wasting their tools/ and can them not renew Full well may say/ farewell good thrift adieu ¶ He that winneth moche/ & when he hath done with waste and games spendeth it soon Leaving not wherewith again to begin In this high way he hasteth to run ¶ He that hath a good occupation And will live on the courtly fashion 〈◊〉 weening for to live more ●…asyly Sometime doth make an unthrifty change With bag & staff in our park to range ¶ Rufflers/ and masterless men that can not work And sleepeth by day/ and walketh in the dark And with delicates/ gladly doth feed Swearing and craking an easy life to lead With common women daily for to haunt Making revel and drink a dieu taunt saying make we merry as long as we can And drink a pace/ the d●…uyll pay the malt man Wine was not made for every haskerde But bear and ale/ for every dasterde And when their money is gone and spent Than this way is most convenient ¶ Taverners that keep bawdry and polling Marring wine with brewing & rolling ¶ Inholders that lodge whores an●… thieves Seldon their getting any way preves So by reason/ their gayves be geason This way they run many a season Bakers & brewer's/ that with musty grain Serve their customers, must take it again And many times have they no vtteraun●… For their weight & measure is of no substance And lose both their credence and good Come this way by all likelihood For they do infect that should be man's food. And will pay more than they of right be set for to be named a man 〈◊〉 And in manner he hath 〈◊〉 at all Such folly 〈◊〉 facers when their good is spent To the spittle ward they run incontinent ¶ young folk that wed or they be wise And always charges on their haud doth rise House rend and children/ and every other thing And can do nothing for to get their iyving And have no friends them for to sustain To come this way/ at last they must be fain They that sell away all their rents and lands And bestoweth it for to be merchants And aventreth till then have all lost And turmoileth always fro pillar to post And ever loseth all that they go about Cometh this way among the other rout ¶ They that in hope to have their friends die Will do nothing/ but live wanton Trusting to have the treasure that is left But many times it is them bereft And have nothing and nothing can do Such come this way with other to ¶ They that doth to other folks good deed And hath themself of other folk more need And quencheth the fire of another place And leaveth his own, that is in worse ca●…e When it is 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 not where to 〈◊〉 To the spittle than must he needs high ¶ They that will not suffer their cloth hole But iag and cut them with many a hole And payeth more for making than it cost When it is made/ the garment is but lost Patching them with colours like a fool At last they be ruled after our school ¶ They that do make to much of their wives Suffering them to be nought of their lives Letting them have overmuch of their will Clothing them better than they can fulfil Letting them go to feasts/ dances/ and plays To every bridal/ and do nothing on days And giveth them all the sovereignty Must needs come this way/ for they cannot pthe ¶ Copland. ¶ Come hither any of these woeful creatures That before wounded/ and moche woe endures With a shrewd wife/ and is never quiet Because that she would have all her diet But bralle and ●…hyde/ babble/ cry and fight Ever uncontented both day and night ¶ Porter. ¶ C●…ine this way quoth a: yes I warrant you Of them always come this way enough We have chambers purposely for them Or else they should be lodged in Bedlam ¶ Copland. ¶ Marry god forbid it should be as ye tell ¶ Porter. ¶ By good faith, the very devil of hell I trow to my mind hath not much more pain One were in a manner as good be slain For there is no idye/ but ever anguish On both sides they do always languish For the one gooth hither, and the other thither Both they spend, and lie nothing together So at the last of very necessity Hither they come/ to ask lodging of me ¶ Copland. ¶ I do know it is the right fashion A realm striving in itself gooth to desolation God amend all/ I have herd what it is Tell of some other/ I am weary of this ¶ Porter. ¶ Ill masters that let their servants play Feeding them deyntyly every day And doth cloth and pay them as they should be Being ne●lygent their work to oversee Suffering them waste/ and their good spill In their presence to do their lewd will And all those that pay not their hire vengeance of god it doth desire Th●se on both parts do each other wrong This way they come with a great throng ¶ All such servants as be negligent In their service/ and wylnot be content To do their work/ but slack their business Bribe and convey fro master and masters Changing masters, and ren fro town to town And are late rising/ and betime lie down playing by night/ and try 〈◊〉 by day Of righteousness they do here stay ¶ Such folk as take on them great rent In soils for them inconvenient Unto their faculty, and often do remove Entreprysing that they cannot achieve Doing curious labours, and have small wage Unto our house they come for hostage ¶ They that borrow on their garments and 〈◊〉 And do not fetch them again shortly But let them be worn/ and than pay the some In to our high way they be far come. ¶ They that borrow, and purpose not to pay Tyll●…n prison they spend all away And do forswear that is their dew ¶ They that law for a debt untrue And receiveth money in another man's name Not being content to restore the same ¶ They that forget that to them is aught They that strive with all folk for 〈◊〉 ¶ And they that lend/ and set no time to pay Reason will drive them to come this way ¶ Old folks that all their goods do give Keeping nothing whereon to live And put fro their house when they have need Toward our house fast do they speed ¶ They that give children money to spend And causeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at they 〈◊〉 attend But doth 〈◊〉 them in their lewdness And f●…o sign will them not 〈◊〉 In idle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them to be Nor teach them virtuous faculty Are the cause that wha●… they be old To take the way toward our household ¶ They that evermore have a delight To feed, and make feasts at their appeiyte With costly dishes, and dainty drink Letting their stock evermore shrink Making a great port, and be little worth To come hither they come straight forth ¶ They that take no heed to their household But let their implements mould Their hangyngs rot, their nappery unclean Their furs and woollen not overseen Their vessel mar/ and their goods decay Cannot choose/ but needs come this way ¶ Lechours/ for●…ycatours/ and adulterers Incestes/ harlot's/ bawds/ and bolsterers Applesquyers/ entycers/ and ravysshers These to our place have daily herbegers ¶ Copland. ¶ No marvel of them/ and happy they be If they do end in so honest degree For surely their ending is fairest If that with poverty they be 〈◊〉 For I do find written of adultery That these five sorrows ensueth thereby ¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 patietur quisquis 〈◊〉 Aut erit hic pauper/ hic aut subito morietur Aut aliquod 〈◊〉 casu vulnere perdet Aut erit infamis/ per quod sit carcere vinctus. ¶ Either they shall be poor/ or die suddenly Or lose by wound/ some member of the body Or to be s●…launored to suffer sharp prison Therefore poverty is fairest by reason And yet beside that/ they be so beaten That with great pocks their limbs be eaten ¶ Now say ye by these horrible swearers These blasphemers/ and these god terers Come there any this way to have succour? ¶ Porter. ¶ Do they? yea/ I warrant every hour All rotten and torn/ arms, heads, & legs They are the most sort that any where begs And be the people that most annoy us. ¶ Copland. ¶ I believe well, for I find wrytenthus ●…ir multum iurans replebitur iniquitate, & a do: moeius non recedet plaga. 〈◊〉, xxii. ¶ A great swearer is full of iniquity And fro his house the plague shall never be In the commandments is written plain Thou shalt not take the name of god in vain For who sow doth use it customably The stroke of god can not eschew truly. That be so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and lither That care not how the world doth go Neither holidays/ nor working days also But lie in bed till all masses be done Lew●…ryng their work till it pas noon And so enjoy to linger and to sleep And to their living they take no manner keep ¶ Porter. ¶ These folks come in so great number That all the ways they do encumber And with them doth come all these folk that spare To assay their friends for their d●…vne welfare But follow their own minds always Nor to their fr●…ndes in no wise will obey And of their promesses/ they be no more set by But to this way they must them needs apply ¶ Copland. ¶ And how by these people so full of covetise That all the worlds good can them not suffice But by usury/ rapine/ and extortion Do poull●… the poor folk of their portion And they that 〈◊〉 news by tyranny Upon poor men's lands fraudulently And like as wolves the sheep doth take and tease For their own lucre/ and to live in ease And day by day/ in every 〈◊〉 degree They do prolong their 〈◊〉 ¶ Porter. ¶ As for with them we have to do nothing Unto the law it is all be longing Now be it if they chance to be poor Then often in deed they do come by our door ¶ Copland. ¶ But then I pray you how say ye by these That break this precept (Non furtum facies) thieves & murderers/ & these watchers of ways That rob & steal/ both by nights and days And that delight in murder and in theft Whose conditions in no wise can be left Do not they oft times come hither by you? ¶ Porter. ¶ Of them there cometh daily enough But they be led/ and commonly fast bound Because their lodging may sooner be found And been conveyed by men of charity Where that they have hospitality And been well kept/ and wrapped surely And when time cometh that they must die They be buried aloft in the air Because dogs shall not on their graves repair. ¶ Copland. ¶ almighty jesus of his mercy defend Every good man's child from such and end And how say ye by all these great drunkards That sup all of/ by pots and tankardes Till th●…y ●…e so drunk/ that they can not ●…rande That is but 〈◊〉 used in this land Except it be among Dutch folk or flemings For english men know not of such reckonings ¶ Porter. No do: yes yes. I ensure you hardly They can do it as well as any body With double bear/ be it wine or ale They cease not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An ortkyn/ or an half 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea rather than fail 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With fill the pot ones again round about give us more drink/ for sparing of bread Till their caps be wiser than their head And so sit they/ and spend up all their thrift And after come here/ they have no other 〈◊〉 ¶ Copland. ¶ How say ye by these folks full of ire That brene in wrath/ hotter than fire And never be quiet/ but chide and brawl With wrath and anger freting heart and gall Way ward/ wood/ furious/ and fell For where they be/ quietness cannot dwell But always strife/ mistrust/ and great disease And in no wise none man can them please ¶ Porter. ¶ Hither they come/ and I will tell you why None can live by them/ well nor quietly But with each one they fall out and make bate Causing people them for to hare And will suffer them to dwell nowhere But are fain for to remain here ¶ Copland. ¶ It may well be so, for where is none agree Neither 〈◊〉 nor welfare cannot be But I 〈◊〉 it be not between man and wife 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 pity/ and 〈◊〉 a sorry life For 〈◊〉 is no peace at bed nor at board I 〈◊〉 their thrift is not worth a turd But of these people that 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 That in wealth and woe bear it so out That pride will not suffer them for to fall Me think this way they come not all ¶ Porter. ¶ O yes yes/ god wot of them be not few For here all day they assemble in a rue And here they crack/ babble and make great boast And among all other would rule the ro●…te With stand back thou lewd villain beggarly knave I will that thou know my wife and I have Spent more in a day with good honest Than thou in thy life ever was like to be For I tell the I have kept or now such report That all my neyghtbours did to me resort And have or now kept a great household And had enough of silver/ and of gold In all our parish was none better decked And I think 〈◊〉 for to be thus checked Of such lewd persons that never had good And eke I am borne of as good a blood As any in this town/ and a gentleman But if I had as much as I wist when I should make a meinie of these poor carls to know What manner thing a gentleman is I trow ¶ Copland. ¶ Lo here one may see that there is none worse Than is a proud heart and a beggars purse great boost and small roost/ this is 〈◊〉 For a proudo heart well never be shent ¶ But good porter I pray you be so kind To tell me of them out of mind As for the envious I let them dwell For their hospital is the deep pit of hell ¶ Porter. ¶ How say ye by this lewd Ipocrysy? That is used so superstycyously I cry god mercy if I make any lie Of them that devout prayers see me to occupy As if god fro the cross by them should be undone And sit in the church till it be noon Never speaking in any folks presence But it soundeth to virtue and reverence Yet when they be moved to anger and wrath 〈◊〉 we to my mind/ that other folk hath Not half the spite, vengeance and rigour As they will have to their poor neighbour For some of them/ if they might be a lord Would hang another/ they be of such discord And where they once take hatred or enmity During their life have never charity And who that hath no charity nor love Can never please the amity above And so this way they be fain to come. ¶ Copland. ¶ I believe well/ for truly there be some That neither have love to one nor other For I beneyfit if it were sister or brother They would no more pity them nor rue (They be so fell)/ than on a thief or jew For when ye to have them most in reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their hearts full of deadly poison 〈◊〉 in their fury they be so violent That they will bring one to an exegent. And never pardon/ nor no man forgive Till their neighbour hath nothing on to live And so they make by their own conscience Between god and the devil no dyffrence ¶ But hay alas/ do none this way trace That 〈◊〉 take wives of small 〈◊〉 Which cannot get/ bestow/ nor yet save And to go gay they will spend and crave Making men 〈◊〉 that they love them alone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 falls unto them eachone 〈◊〉 their goods without any care Without good gowns/ but not of hoods 〈◊〉 ¶ Porter. ¶ They must come hither/ for they cannot choose For they that will themself so use The one to 〈◊〉/ and the other spend And when all is brought to an end 〈◊〉 they come to have comfort Sir I beshrew all the hole sort Such 〈◊〉 keepeth many one low Their husbands must obey as dog to bow Alas 〈◊〉 men●…ye are ill at ease These dainty housewives for to feed and please For so they sit and sew half an hour on a clout Their hole days work is patched out And so by their 〈◊〉 and living nought With other means they be hither brought ¶ Copland. ¶ Well good porter/ I pray you let them alone Fyr happy is he that hath a good one I pray you show me of other gests For against women I love no jests the shower is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉/ and I have fer to go Come none of these peddlers this way also With pak on back/ with their bouzy speech jagged and ragged/ with broken hose & breach ¶ Poster. ¶ I now, enough/ with bouzy cove maund nace Coure the patring cove in the darkman case Docked the dell for a copper meek His watch shall feng a prounces nobchete Cyarum by salmon/ and thou shalt pek my iere In thy gan-for my watch it is nace gear For the b●…ne bouse/ my watch hath a win And thus they babble till their thrift is thine I wot not what/ with their peddling french But of the spittle/ they have a party stench And with them comes gatherers of coney skins That chop with laces/ points/ needles/ & pin's ¶ Copland. ¶ Come any mariners hither of cock lorels boat ¶ Porter. ¶ Every day they be always a float We must them receive/ & give them costs free And also with them the fraternity Of vnthryf●…es/ which do our house endue And never fail with brethren always new ¶ Also here is kept/ and holden in degree With in our house the orders. viii. time three Of knaves only/ we can them not keep out They swarm so thick as bees in arout And chief of all that doth us encumber The order of fools/ that be without number For daily they make such preas and cry That scant our house 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ Copland ¶ yet one thing I wonder that ye do not tell Come there no women this way to dwell? ¶ Porter. ¶ Of all the sorts that be spoke●… of afore I warrant women ynow●…n store That we are weary of them every day They come so thick that they stop the way The systerhod of drabs/ sluttes and callet's Do here resort/ with their bags and wallets And be partners of the confrary Of the maintainers of ill husbandry ¶ Copland. ¶ Alewd sort is of them of a surety Now master porter/ I thank you heartily Of your good talking/ I must take my leave The shower is done/ and it is toward eve Another time/ and at more leaser I will for you do as great a pleaser ¶ Porter. ¶ There be a. M. more than I can tell But at this time I bid you farewell. ¶ lenvoy of the author. _●…O little quayre to every degree And on thy matter desire them to look desiring them for to pardon me That am so bold to put them in my book To eschew vice, I the undertook I were to blame y●… I 〈◊〉 forsook None in this world or wel●…h can be sure. ¶ 〈◊〉 ¶ 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 at the Rose garland, 〈◊〉 Robert Copland.