The praise of Brotherhood: OR. 
A description of Hoods writ in Verse, not in Prose  
Showing which best becomes the Nose.   
To the tune of Abington Fair.  

 
 

TO Fashions strange the world is bend,  
one fashion gives not all content,  
For some with masks there faces hide,  
and some their breasts lay open wide.  
Some go with curled locks of hair  
and some fine hoods like hawks do were,  
Then choice of hoods I will disclose,  

And show which best becomes the nose.    

He that through storms and tempests doth ride  
hath need of a hood his head for to hide,  
To keep off each blast of the Northern wind  
for to much cold comfort I know is unkind,  
When tempests rise and winds do blow,  
and sturdy storms their fury show,  
A Close hood is good, when cold the wind blows,  

Yet brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

He that will have the world to his mind  
must search well his wits new fashions to find.  
And study new fangles to pleasure fond fools,  
for wantoness are willing to follow bad rules.  
Deceit is unseemly it blinds the eyes,  
plaindealing is pleasing which fools do despise,  
Keep peace in thy bosom, show love to thy foes,  

For brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

For brotherhood most I must commend,  
the virtue thereof so fare doth extend,  
True love and peace and charity,  
in brotherhood do hidden lie,  
He that true brotherhood hath possessed,  
shall liu● well beloved and die double blessed,  
Great hopes there in I do repose  

For brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

An days of old when I was but a boy,  
than Brotherhood went for a fashion each day,  
But brotherhood now is out of request  
and other hoods are accounted best,  
For now strange tricks and trifles they use,  
which makes the poor man to stand in a muse,  
I do say no more than all the world knows,  

For brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

Priesthood is an order divine,  
let them that attain it in glory so shine,  
That poor men unlearned may find out the way  
which leads unto Rest, that shall never decay,  
This priesthood was unto the learned ordained,  
O blessed is the man that true wisdom hath gained  
To secure the needy and pray for his foes,  

For brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

Knighthood proceeds from honour and fame  
when men try there Valour to win them a name  
With undaunted force to fight in the field,  
to purchase renown with sword and with shield:  
He that fights in field with might and with main,  
deserves well the honour of Knighthood to gain,  
Thus poor men by Valour to honour have rose,  

For brotherhood best becomes the nose.     

The Second Part  
to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
 
 

Manhood I'll praise the best that I can,  
for he that wants manhood is counted no man  
And he that wants manners is counted an ass,  
A dunce, or a fool, but for that let it pass.  
Manhood is more than some men have possessed,  
yet he that hath manhood is a man at the least,  
And a man is a man, where so ever he goes  

Yet brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

Womanhood next I in order apply,  
in good sooth gossipe, I'll tell you no lie,  
A beautiful woman from womanhood free,  
is like a fair Image made of an old tree.  
A modest woman is accounted wise  
and a shameless woman is a grief to the eyes,  
A woman that's shameless her shame will disclose  

Then brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

Neighbourhood next doth follow in rank  
but men are not now so free and so frank,  
So frank, and so free, So loving and kind,  
for neighbourhood now is quite worn out of mind  
Each man for himself now, and God for us all:  
for neighbourhood now among men is but small,  
Yea those that are friends live as if they were foes,  

Though brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

The French-hood is a fashion of old,  
in France well respected as I have been told  
For it so well becomes the Crown,  
that it is held in high renown,  
Old women do think it is wonderful rare,  
as if that none with them might compare,  
But for all that I do depose,  

that brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

Yet cause the French-hood doth make a fine show,  
therefore I'll speak of it as much as I know,  
For sure the French-hood much honour doth gain,  
it holds all the wit that comes in the brained  
Give love the French-hood and she will appear  
to look like a Lady all times of the year.  
For hoods are deceitful which makes me suppose,  

That brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

Childhood, is a wonderful simple thing,  
Yet time and old age more wisdom will br●…  
Yet some men in age are so Childish groan  
as if that true manhood they had never kno●●…  
Let childhood alone for children to use,  
and when they are old they will it refuse▪  
As a child grows in age so in wisdom he grows,  

Yet brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

But yet there's one hood which I have not expressed  
and that is called falsehood more worse than the rest,  
For falsehood breeds folly in a●●… man's heart:  
that doth so unwisely from virtue depart  
He that two faces bears under a hood,  
his deeds are deceitful they can't be withstood,  
It will make true friends to be mortal foes,  

Then brotherhood best becomes the nose.    

I would that the world to love were inclined  
that each man might have a brotherly mind,  
For brotherhood than would come in request  
and poor men find comfort which are much oppre●●…  
He that hath purchased much wealth and much gold  
and sets his poor brother to starve in the cold.  
I respect such a friend but as one of my foes▪  

For brotherhood best becomes the nose.     
I. D  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for R. Harper.