¶ A new yorkshire Song, Entitled: York, York, for my money: Of all the Cities that ever I see, For merry pastime and company, Except the City of London.  

AS I came thorough the Northcountrey,  
The fashions of the world to see,  
I sought for merry company,  
to go to the City of London:  
And when to the City of York I came,  
I found good company in the same,  
Aswell disposed to every game,  
as if it had been at London.   

York, York f●r my money,  
Of all the Cities that ever I see,  
For merry pastime and company,  
Except the City of London.   

¶ And in that City what saw I then?  
Knightts, S●●ires, and Gentlemen,  
A sh●o●ing went for Matches ten,  
as if it had been at London.  
And they shot for twenty pounds a Bow,  
Besides great cheer they did bestow,  
I never saw a gallanter show,  
except I had been at London.  
York, york, for my money, etc.   

¶ These Matches you shall understand,  
The Earl of Essex took in hand,  
Against the good Earl of Cumberlande,  
as if it had been at London.  
And agr●ede these matches all shall be,  
For pastime a●d good company,  
At the City of York full merrily,  
as if it had been at London.  
York, york, for my money, etc.   

¶ In York, there dwells an Alderman, which  
,  
I never heard of any such,  
in all the City of London.  
His name is Maltbie, merry and wise,  
At any pastime you can devise,  
But in shooting all his pleasures lies,  
the like was never in London.  
York, york, for my money, etc.   

¶ This Maltbie, for the cities sake,  
To shoot (himself) did undertake,  
At any good Match the Earls would make,  
as well as they do at London.  
And he brought to the field with him,  
One Speck, an Archer proper and trim,  
And Smith, that shoot about the pin,  
as if it had been at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ Then came from Cumberland Archers three,  
Best Bowmen in the North country,  
I will tell you their names what they be,  
well known to the City of London.  
Wamsley, many a man doth know,  
And Bolton, how he draweth his Bow,  
And Ratcliffes shooting long ago,  
well known to the City of London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ And the Noble Earl of Essex came,  
●o the fi●lde himself to see the same,  
Which shallbe had for ever in fame,  
as soon as I come at London.  
For, he showed himself so diligent there,  
To make a Mark and keep it fair:  
●t is worthy memory to declare,  
through all the City of London.  
York, York, etc.   

And then was shooting out of cry,  
●he scantling at a handful nigh,  
●●d yet the wind was very high,  
●s it is sometimes at London.  
They clapped the Clouts so on the rags,  
There was such betting and such brags:  
And galloping up and down with Nags,  
as if it had been at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ And never an Archer gave regard,  
To half a Bow, nor half a yard,  
I never see Matches go more hard:  
about the City ●f London:  
For, fairer play was never played,  
Nor fairer lays was never laid,  
And a week together, they kept this trade,  
as if it had been at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ The Mayor of York, with his company,  
Were all in the fields, I warrant ye,  
To see good rule kept orderly,  
as if it had been at London.  
Which was a dutiful sight to see,  
The Mayor and Aldermen there to be,  
For the set●ing forth of Archery,  
aswell as they do at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ And there was neither fault nor fray,  
Nor any disorder any way:  
But every man did pitch and pay,  
as if it had been at London:  
As soon as every Match was done,  
Every man was pa●● that won,  
And merrily up and ●●●ne did run,  
as if it had been at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ And never a man that went abroad,  
But thought his 〈◊〉 well bestowed:  
And money laid o 〈…〉 eape and load,  
as if it had been a●●ondon.  
And Gentlemen there, so frank and free,  
As a Mint at York again should be,  
Like shooting did I never see,  
except I had been at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ At York, were Ambassadors three,  
Of Russia, Lords of high degree,  
This shooting they desired to see:  
as if it had been at London:  
And one desired to draw a Bow,  
The force and strength thereof to know,  
And for his delight he drew it so,  
as seldom seen in London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ And they did marvel very much,  
There could be any Archer such,  
To shoot so far the clout to touch,  
which is no news to London:  
And they might well consider than,  
An English shaft will kill a man,  
As hath been proved where and when,  
and Chronicled since in London. York, etc.   

¶ The Earl of Cumberlands Archers won,  
Two Matches clear, ere all was done:  
And I made hast apace to run,  
to carry these news to London.  
And Wamsley did the upshot win,  
With both his shafts so near the pin,  
You could scant have put three fingers in,  
as if it had been at London. York, etc.   

¶ I pass not for my money it cost,  
Though some I spent, and some I lost,  
I wanted neither sod nor roast,  
as if it had been at London.  
For there was plenty of every thing,  
red and fallow Deer for a King,  
I never saw so merry shooting,  
since first I came from London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ God save the City of York therefore,  
That hath such noble friends in store,  
And such good Aldermen send them more,  
and the like good luck at London:  
For, it is not little joy to see,  
When Lords and Aldermen so agree,  
With such according Commonalty,  
God send us the like at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ God save the good Earl of Cumberlande,  
His praise in golden lines shall stand.  
That maintains Archery through the land,  
aswell as they do at London.  
Whose noble mind so courteously,  
Acquaintes himself with the Commonalty,  
To the glory of his Nobility,  
I will carry the praise to London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ And tell the good Earl of Essex thus,  
As he is now young and prosperous,  
To use such properties virtuous,  
deserves great praise in London:  
For, it is no little joy to see,  
When noble Youths so gracious be,  
To give their good wills to their Country,  
as well as they do at London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ Farewell good City of York to thee,  
Tell Alderman Maltbie this from me,  
In print shall this good shooting be,  
as soon as I come at London.  
And many a Song will I bestow,  
On all the Musicians that I know,  
To sing the praises where they go,  
of the City of York, in London.  
York, york, etc.   

& God save our Queen, and keep our peace  
That our good shooting may increase:  
And praying to God, let us not cease,  
aswell at York, as at London.  
That all our Country round about,  
May have Archers good to hit the Clout,  
Which England cannot be without,  
no more than York and London.  
York, york, etc.   

¶ God grant that (once) her Majesty,  
Would come her City of York to see,  
For the comfort great of that Country,  
as well as she doth to London.  
Nothing shallbe thought to dear,  
To see her highness Person there,  
With such obedient love and fear,  
as ever she had in London.   

York, york, for my money,  
Of all the Cities that ever I see,  
For merry pastime and company,  
Except the City of London.   From York, by W.E.  

Imprinted at London by Richard jones: dwelling near Holborn Bridge. 1584.