THE MERCENARY soldier.  
 

I  
NO money yet, why then let's pawn our swords,  
And drink an health to their confusion,  
Who do instead of money send us words?  
Let's not be subject to the vain delusion  
Of those would have us fight without our pay,  
While money chinks my Captain I'll obey.   

II  
I'll not be slave to any servile Groom,  
Let's to the Sutlers and there drink and sing,  
My Captain for a while shall have my room,  
Come hither Tom, of Ale two dozen bring,  
Placed Ranke and File, Tobacco bring us store,  
And as the pots do empty, fill us more.   

III  
Let the Drum cease, and never murmur more,  
Until it beat, warning us to repair,  
Each man for to receive of Cash good store,  
Let not the Trumpet shrill, ere rend the air,  
Until it cite us to the place where we  
May heaps of silver for our payment see.   

IV  
I came not forth to do my country good,  
I came to rob; and take my fill of pleasure,  
Let fools repel their foes with angry mood,  
Let those do service while I share the treasure:  
I do not mean my body ere shall swing  
Between a pare of crutches, tottering,   

V  
Let thousands fall, it ne'er shall trouble me,  
Those puling fools deserve no better fate,  
They mirths Apposers were, and still would be,  
Did they survive, let me participate,  
Of pleasures, gifts, while here I live, and I  
Care not, although I mourn eternally.   

VI  
I laugh to think how many times I have  
Whiles others fighting were against the foe,  
Within some Thicket crouched myself to save,  
Yet taken for a valiant soldier tho,  
When I amongst them come, for I with words  
Can terrify, as others can with swords.   

VII  
Damn me you Rogue, if thou provoke my wrath,  

* Canes qui multum latrant raro mordent.  I'll carve thee up, and spit thee, joint by joint,  
There's none that tasted of my fury hath,  
But fear and tremble lest I should appoint  
A second penance for them, when my brow  
Is bent, mark how the rascals to me bow.   

VIII  
Thus menacing I'm taken for to be  
A man indeed, when I should fear to fight  
With coward Thersites, and if that he  
Were my Antagonist, but I delight  
To fight, and to pash dame 
* All manner of Victuals.  Ceres' treasure,  
To quaff 
* Wine  Lyens' blood I take great pleasure.   

IX  
Proceed ye brethren, do each other hate,  
And fight it to the last, I wish the Wars  
May ever until doomsday properate,  
And time ne'er see a period of the jars:  
For I before like to a slave did live,  
Now like unto a 
* An ignominious name given the Danes, by English men, for their slothful and lasic living.  Lurdain do I thrive.   

X  
Fill us more Ale, methinks thy lazy gate  
Is slower than the Tortoise, make more speed,  
An tha've a Female of an easy rate  
Let's see her, for my flesh doth tumults breed:  
Run on, thou'lt wish when that day comes thou must  
Give an account, that thou hadst been more just.