The honour of the Gentle-Craft Expressed in three stories: The first o●… Hugh and fair Winifred. The second of Crispin and Crispiannus. The third of Sir simon Eyre, wh●… all professed the Gentle-craft, and were counsellors.  
Newly written.  
With pleasant new songs to be sung on Crispianus nigh●…  
 woodcut of man kneeling before gentlewoman  
●… rinted by A. clerk for T. Passenger on London bridge, 1674   

Of Saint Winifreds Well.  

FAir Winifred a Virgin was,  
Who from the Brittains came,  
Being Daughter to Donwallo, who  
In Flint-shire then did reign.   

All offers she of love refused,  
And to her prayers did return;  
And like a taper of Virgins wax,  
With holy flames did burn.   

And as she lived, so did she die.  
As famed, report, doth tell.  
By that same spring which yet is called,  
Saint Winifreds fair Well.   

Which of her holy virgin life,  
Doth still these tokens show:  
The spring is clear, the moss is sweet  
That round about doth grow.   

Chap. 1. 
Of Sir Hughes love to Winifred;  
Who suffered death like lovers true:  
The reason of the Gentle-Craft,  
And S. Hughes bones you here may view.   

WHen Cupid with his golden bow  
Had shot Sir Hugh unto the heart,  
Then he a lovers grief did know,  
For wounds of love do inward smart;  
But that which did increase his pain,  
Was fair Winifreds disdain.   

For often times he sought her love,  
And by fairest means assayed,  
If that her fancy he might move,  
Who was resolved to live a maid,  
To gain her love Sir Hugh did try,  
But Winifred did still deny.   

Who having but some years before,  
received the Christian faith of late:  
Her former sins she did deplore,  
Forsaking all her fathers state.  
And to her heads and prayers fell,  
Living by a Springing well.   

Which when once Hugh did hear,  
unto the well he did repair,  
And found his Winifred fitting there  
Like an angel bright and fair:  
Whom with these words he did salute,  
And thus began to urge his suite.   

All health to fairest Winifred,  
Have pity on me dearest love,  
Restore my joys which now are fled:  
And of my service now approve,  
Let me not die thus unregarded,  
Love with love should be rewarded.   

But Winifred with angry look,  
From chiding him could scarce refrain,  
And having in her hand a book,  
She mildly thus replied again:  
Sir Hugh, leave off to seek my love,  
Which I have placed on things above,   

And take this answer once for all  
With this sir Hugh to weep began,  
And like a living funeral,  
He went from thence both pale and wan,  
And being full of grief and woe,  
unto the Sea resolves to go.   

And quickly he arrived in France,  
Where traviling on to Italy,  
Fair Ladies did begin to glance  
Vpon sir Hugh with wanton eye.  
But yet he thought their Beauty rare,  
Could not with Winifred compare.   

And when to Venice once he came,  
The courtesans much love did show,  
To raise in him an amorous flamme,  
But they in vain the fire did blow:  
For fitting like a malcontent,  
On Winifred his thoughts he bent.   

Nor could they win him by their art,  
Which onely brought into his mind,  
The love of her to whom his heart,  
Like to a prisoner was confined,  
For still these flames did freshly burn,  
Which made him back again return.   

And being now for England bound,  
The Ship did sail with gentle winds,  
Till by and by they quickly found,  
That raging Neptune was inclined  
To cast the Ship and all away:  
Which made sir Hugh devoutly pray:   

And at the last his prayers were heard,  
For now the day began to clear:  
And Englands chaulky shore appeared,  
So that the Ship did anchor there,  
And here sir Hugh did come to shore,  
At Harwich very weak and poor.   

For all his money being gone,  
You may suppose his heart was sad:  
And to himself he made great moan  
until he met a merry lad:  
Who was a shoemaker by trade,  
Who bid him not to be dismade   

With him sir Hugh had soon agreed.  
Into the Country for to go,  
That he might supply his need,  
For he was loathe himself to show,  
Or in his tattered clothes appear,  
unto his Winifred so dear.   

Who now in Prison did remain.  
For Dioclesian in those dayes,  
Did like a cruel tyrant reign,  
And sought by divers bloody ways,  
The Christian faith how to suppress:  
Which faire Winifred did profess.   

Which when once sir Hugh did hear,  
That with a shoemaker then wrought  
He took his wages for that year,  
And therewith new clothes he bought:  
And so to Flint-shire back he went,  
Where Winifred was resident.   

Where being come he heard by famed,  
How Winifred inprisoned was:  
And cause he did extol by name,  
Her Virgin faith which did surpass:  
Sir Hugh with this beauteous Maid,  
In a Prison strong was laid.   

And condemned was to die,  
With Winifred to suffer death.  
Who both did show much constancy,  
Meaning to resign their breath,  
Like loving Martyrs, that their love,  
Might be crwoned in heaven above   

And while these faithful Lovers lay,  
In the Prison both together:  
The counsellors came every day,  
And in kindness did present,  
yielding them so great relief,  
As did much assuage their grief.   

The counsellors most faithfully,  
Did come unto him in distress,  
And while he did in prison lie,  
Much kindness to him did profess.  
Thus the counsellors were true  
And faithful ever to Sir Hugh.   

Who their kindness to require,  
Gentlemen did name them all,  
And their trade, to do them right,  
The Gentle-Craft he then did call,  
And in this song before his end,  
The Shoo makers he did commend.   


THe counsellors I needs must praise,  
Who ready were at all assays,  
To help me at my want and need,  
Such friends are true friends indeed.   

For when I was most cast down,  
And fortune seemed on me to frown.  
The Gentle-craft I took in hand,  
And thereby I my living gained.   

Our shoes we sowed, and merry were,  
Our Land lords rent we did not fear.  
And now to raise the counsellors famed,  
The Gentle-Craft I will it name.    

ANd this same title they keep still,  
Which unto them sir Hugh then gave,  
And ever mor● continue will:  
For in their mi●● they did engrave  
The memory of good sir Hugh:  
Who to the trade much love did flew.   

But now the dismal day was come,  
That Winifred and sir Hugh must die:  
Who like the Lambs received their doom.  
The Tyrants thirst to satisfy.  
And so unto that spring they came,  
Which retaineth still her name:   

There a Scaffold raised was,  
On which these prisoners mounted were:  
She in beauty did surpass,  
He with a countenance most clear,  
No thine could their hearts dismay:  
It seemed to them a marriage day.   

Kindly then they did embrace.  
Being full of chased desires,  
Fear could never them deface,  
While their love to heaven aspires,  
And having so with earth made even.  
They kist in hopes to meet in heaven.   

Then Winifred her love to show,  
Desired that she first might die:  
And did desire her friend sir Hu●h,  
To learn of her true consta●●y,  
And learn how to resign his breath,  
Who like a Lamb there bled to death.   

Tyrant, saith she, I sacrifice  
My blood to wash away my sins,  
And I see even with these eyes,  
When life doth end then joy begins;  
With that she began to faint,  
And as She lived died like a Saint,   

And all the while that she did bleed,  
Her blood in basins they did keep:  
And with it poison with all speed,  
Was mixed to bring eternal sleep,  
unto sir Hugh who there did die,  
Like to a Martyr constantly.   

And greedily he drank a cup  
Of Winifreds sweet crimson blood:  
And then another he drank up,  
until he reeld whereas he stood:  
For now the poison did inflame,  
And cruelly burn in each vain.   

Thou cruel tyrant, then says he,  
To Winifred I sacrifice  
My life by thy soul cruelty:  
And with those words he forthwith dies,  
And now they are called being dead,  
Saint Hugh and Saint Winifred,   

But Saint Hughes body did remain,  
Hanging up even in that place,  
Which the counsellors did claim.  
And finding him in so bare a case,  
The counsellors without delay,  
Did steal Saint Hughes bones away   

And all of them to show their love,  
They and Saint Hugh while he did live,  
His bones from thence they did remove  
Which he to them before did give:  
And their tools they for his sake,  
Of Saint Hughes bones did make.   

And now when they do go abroad,  
Into the country to and fro,  
They travail with a little load,  
For S. Hughes bones must with them go,  
And if you would their numbers know,  
red these verses here below.   


A drawer, a dresser, two Wedges, and a heel-block  
squared like a die, whereon we may knock,  
A hand-leather,& thumb-leather, to pull out shoo-thred:  
Of needle and thimble we must too be sped,  
The pincers, the pricking aule, and rubbing ston,  
The aule, steel, and tacks, and sow-haires well grown,  
The Whetstone, stoping stick, and paring knife  
Do all belong to a Journey mans life,  
And in our apron, made of Lambs leather,  
We shrowd S. Hughes bones from all whither.    

Now he a forfeiture doth pay,  
That cannot reckon his tools in rhyme:  
Sir Hughes bones unto this day,  
The counsellors do still enshrine  
In their aprons thereby to show  
Their faithful love unto sir Hugh.    

Chap. 2.  
How the Emperours daughter Ursula,  
with crispin fell in love,  
And were married by a friar:  
and how the Emperour at last  
Did of her choice approve?  
and granted their desire  
And how the counsellors with delight,  
do sing on Chrispianus night.  

WHen Maximinus ruled here,  
Then crispin and his brother  
Young Crispianus counseled were  
By their most tender mother,  
To travail forth into the Land,  
That they might scape the Tyrants hand,   

So being from their Mother gone,  
The two young Princes went together,  
Like two pretty Lambs alone,  
Straying on they knew not whethet:  
until at last by chance they came,  
unto a Town called Feversham.   

But as they travelled on the way,  
Being now come unto the Town:  
Some Shoemakers by peep of day  
unto their work were now set down,  
Who merrily did sit and sing,  
As their work they did begin.   

These brothers knocked at the door,  
And for a service they did ask:  
Telling them they were true but poor  
For poverty is like a mask.  
Which did their princely beauty hid,  
Or else they would have been descried.   

The shoemaker both and his wife,  
Did like the pretty boyes right well:  
And asked them of their former life,  
While they a feigned tale did tell:  
But at the last short work to make,  
They for their servants did them take.   

Thus they unto their work did frame,  
And pleased their Master so,  
That he these brothers did maintain,  
That they no want did know.  
Who in a little time did learn,  
The trade, and did their living earn.   

And now their masters famed was spread,  
His shoes was sent for far and near:  
And t'was reported that he bread  
His journeymen with love and fear:  
So that he did often use,  
unto the Court to sand his shoes.   

It happened that young crispin came,  
To bring some shoes unto the Court:  
Where the Emperors daughter soon became  
In love with him in earnest sort:  
For Cupid with a powerful shaft.  
Did mean to grace the Gentle-craft.   

And having wounded thus her breast,  
Fair Ursula did now begin,  
●o be with pangs of love oppressed:  
But yet she knew not how to win  
crispin to her hearts desire,  
Who durst not to her Love aspire.   

Yet love did make her now grow bold,  
And when he came with shoes again  
Her love to him she did unfold:  
Which quickly did his heart inflame,  
Yet at the first he was amazed,  
While he on her beauty gazed.   

But yet at last he thus replied,  
Madam, stuce you are inclined,  
To make yourself poor Crispines bride  
I shall be glad to please your mind;  
And here my faith to you I bow:  
If my service you allow.   

This being said they both agreed,  
That they should meet within the park,  
Where a blind friar with all speed,  
Should mary them in the dark  
The friar this knot had quickly tide,  
Thus Uusula was Crispines bride.   

And so the friar they did dismiss  
And royally they did him pay:  
That the poor friar he did wish  
All joy unto their wedding day,  
And that they might be a happy pair,  
Free from sad annoy and care.   

But now the place did them invite,  
Being in the Park thus met,  
For to taste of loves delight:  
And while they were together set,  
Vpon her Virgin wax he sealed  
The band of Love, which time revealed.   

But now these lovers partend were,  
Fair Ursula was pleased well:  
But crispin coming home did hear  
The journeymen begin to tell:  
How Crispianus was lately prest,  
To be a soldier with the rest,   

For Maximinus hath sent to France,  
An army of stout men and tall,  
In war to try their doubtful chance,  
Against the Persian General,  
Who meeting bravely in the field.  
Both sides scorned much to yield,   

How Crispianus get much famed,  
And when the Prince of Gaules did fight,  
With brave Iphricrates by name,  
Who rescued him there in their fight,  
And by his valour bore away,  
All the glory of the day,   

Thus nine moneths he abroad did spend,  
But when once that time expired,  
Fair Ursula did to crispin sand,  
To have his counsel she required:  
For now Ursula did feel  
A Timpany with a double heel.   

But crispin with his dame did plot,  
Entreating her for secrecy:  
And so at last a place they got,  
Where she might delivered be,  
And here the Lady was brought a bed,  
Who from her Fathers anger fled,   

And just unto the christening day,  
Come Crispianus back again,  
Who long in France had been away,  
And there had gotten endless famed.  
Thus every thing did hit out right,  
To increase joy and delight.   

Aftet this same day was past,  
Being spent in mirth and sport,  
Crispianus did make hast,  
With his letters to the Court,  
Which when the Emperour did view,  
With wonder he astonished grew.   

And Crispianus he did commend,  
Taking a jewel from his neck,  
Which he only did intend,  
That he himself therewith might deck:  
Thus it was Crispianus chance,  
That the wars should him advance.   

But this being past and done:  
News was to the Emperour brought,  
That his daughter was newly come,  
For whom before they had so sought:  
And gave the Emperour to understand  
That a shoemaker lead her by the hand,   

The Emperour did them welcome make,  
And welcomed crispin too by name  
Bidding young Crispianus take  
His daughter to advance his famed.  
But Ursula did the same deny,  
And to her Father thus reply.   

crispin says she deserves my love,  
Although a shoemaker be seem,  
Of him I always will approve,  
And now to mary him I mean,  
Dear father look upon this boy,  
Which I do hope will prove your joy.   

And so Crispines Dame did bring  
Within her arms the pretty child,  
And dandling it began to sing,  
While that the Infant sweetly smiled,  
Yet though it looked with cheerful eyes,  
The Emperour did the have despise.   

But when that once he knew,  
His Daughter was the Mother:  
And that crispin then in view  
Was Crispianus brother,  
The Emperour greatly did rejoice,  
And confirmed his daughters choice.   

Then there was joy and triumph great,  
And the story here doth say,  
The counsellors did leave their seat,  
And did make it holiday.  
And Poets did new masks invent,  
For the Emperors merriment.   

And afterward still every year,  
Vpon that day at night,  
The counsellors do make great cheer,  
With solace and delight,  
This day doth light still in October  
The counsellors are then scarce sober.   

The counsellors song on Crispianus night.  

YOu that the Gentle-craft profess,  
unto my song give ear,  
You shall the story of crispin,  
and Crispianus hear.   

They were the sons unto a King,  
of Logria by name,  
Whom Maximinus put to death  
and cruelly had slain.   

The sons now fearing to partake,  
of his sad tyranny,  
Were by their Mother most disguised  
who bid them for to fly.   

Unto a shoemaker they came,  
and entertained were:  
Whereby the Gentle-craft  
much graced did appear.   

These Princes were of this same trade,  
who both grew up in famed:  
For Crispianus went to the Wars,  
and Crispin to Court came.   

And so it happened Ursula,  
the Emperours daughter fair,  
Did fall in love with crispin young,  
which bread her grief and care.   

For not long after Ursula  
with child by him did prove,  
Such are the fruits which always do  
proceed from stolen love.   

But he at length by help of friends,  
the Emperours love did gain:  
And Crispianus from the wa●s,  
did back return with famed   

Then let us all be merry here,  
with solace and delight:  
And drink a health unto them both,  
on Crispianus night.     

Chap. 3.  
How Sir Simon Eyre,  
a shoemaker by trade:  
A feast for all the Prentices,  
upon Shrove-Tuesday made.  

our English Chronicles do declare  
A story worthy to be known  
Of one by name sir Simon Eyre,  
Who in a short time full rich was grown,  
His parentage mean, yet his name  
Liveth still in lasting famed.   

This man came young out of the North,  
And here he was a apprentice bound,  
unto a shoemaker of good worth:  
His Master no dislike yet found,  
With his apprentice but all was well,  
And afterwards it thus befell.   

Simon with other Prentices more,  
Vpon a Sunday morning went,  
As they had often done before,  
To eae some pudding-pyes was their intent.  
But when the shot came once to pay,  
Simon thus to them did say,   

My Masters and friends here all,  
Of my empty purse take pitty;  
And I do vow if it so befall,  
That I am Lord mayor of this City,  
If you my word will now but take,  
A breakfast for you I will make.   

The other Prentices took his word,  
And for that time they paid the shot:  
But afterward it was restored,  
For he such wealth and treasure got,  
That in short time this Simon Eyre,  
Was made Sheriff, and after mayor.   

His promise then he kept in mind,  
So that a breakfest he did make,  
For all the Prentices he could find,  
Who kept it holiday for his sake.  
And that his love might be expressed,  
Vpon Shrobe Tuesday did them feast.   

And afterward Sir Simon Eyre,  
Did build up Leaden-Hall:  
That counsellors might so repair  
unto the Tanners stall.  
Thus for counsellors he did provide,  
And afterwards in honour died.    
FINIS.