For then came in Pride, Sathan's disciple,

That is now entertained with all kind of people.

He brought with him three, whose names

call,'

• thus they

That is Covetousnes, Lecherye, Usury, beside:
They never prevail'd, till they had wrought my

downe-fall:

Soe Pride was entertained, but Conscience decried, And now ever since' abroad have I tryed

45

To have had entertainment with some one or other; But I am rejected, and scorned of my brother.

50

Then went I to the Court the gallants to winn,
But the porter kept me out of the gate:
To Bartlemew Spittle to pray for my sinne,
They bade me goe packe, it was fitt for my state;
Goe, goe, threed-bare Conscience, and seeke thee a

mate.

Good Lord, long preserve my king, prince, and

queene,

With whom evermore I esteemed have been.

55

Then went I to London, where once I did 'dwell' : But they bade away with me, when they knew my

name;

For he will undoe us to bye and to sell!

V. 43, they be these. MS.
V. 53, packe me. MS.

V. 46, was derided. MS.

V. 57, wonne. MS.

They bade me goe pack me, and hye me for shame : 60 They lought at my raggs, and there had good game: This is old threed-bare Conscience, that dwelt with saint Peter:

But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-sweeper.

Not one wold receive me, the Lord 'he' doth know: I having but one poor pennye in my purse, 65 On an awle and some patches I did it bestow; 'For' I thought better cobble shooes than doe worse. Straight then all the coblers began for to curse,

And by statute wold prove me a rogue, and forlorne, And whipp me out of towne to seeke' where I was borne.

Then did I remember, and call to my minde,
The Court of Conscience where once I did sit :
Not doubting but there I some favor shold find,
For my name and the place agreed soe fit;

But there of my purpose I fayled a whit,

70

75

For thoughe' the judge us'd my name in everye

' commission,"

The lawyers with their quillets wold get 'my' dismission.

Then Westminster-hall was noe place for me:
Good lord! how the lawyers began to assemble,

V. 70, see. MS. V. 76, condicion. MS. V. 77, get a. MS.

80

And fearfull they were, lest there I shold bee!
The silly poore clarkes began for to tremble;
I showed them my cause, and did not dissemble;
Soe they gave me some money my charges to beare,
But swore me on a booke I must never come there.

Next the Merchants said, Counterfeite, get thee 85

away,

Dost thou remember how wee thee fond?

We banisht thee the country beyond the salt sea,
And sett thee on shore in the New-found land;
And there thou and wee most friendly shook hand,
And we were right glad when thou didst refuse us;
For when we wold reape profitt here thou woldst

accuse us.

91

Then had I noe way, but for to goe on

To Gentlemens houses of an ancyent name;

Declaring my greeffes, and there I made moane,
'Telling' how their forefathers held me in fame: 95
And at letting their farmeshow always I came.'
They sayd, Fye upon thee! we may thee curse:
Theire' leases continue, and we fare the worse.

And then I was forced a begging to goe

To husbandmens houses, who greeved right sore, 100

V. 95, And how. MS.

And sware that their landlords had plagued them so,
That they were not able to keepe open doore,
Nor nothing had left to give to the poore:
Therefore to this wood I doe me repayre,
Where hepps and hawes, that is my best fare.

Yet within this same desert some comfort I have
Of Mercy, of Pittye, and of Almes-deeds;
Who have vowed to company me to my grave.

105

Wee are all' put to silence, and live upon weeds, And hence such cold house-keeping proceeds;' 110 Our banishment is its utter decay,

The which the riche glutton will answer one day.

Why then, I said to him, me-thinks it were best
To
goe to the Clergie; for dailye they preach
Eche man to love you above all the rest;

115

Of Mercye, and Pittie, and Almes-' deeds,' they teach. O, said he, noe matter of a pin what they preach,

For their wives and their children soe hange them upon,

That whosoever gives almes they will* give none.

Then laid he him down, and turned him away, 120 And prayd me to goe, and leave him to rest.

V. 101, so sore. MS. V. 109. ill. MS.

V. 119, almes-deeds. MS.

V. 110. not in MS.

* We ought in justice and truth to read 'can.'

I told him, I haplie might yet see the day

For him and his fellowes to live with the best.

First, said he, banish Pride, then all England were blest:

For then those wold love us, that now sell their

land,

125

And then goodhouse-keeping wold revive' out of hand.

V. 126, houses every where wold be kept. MS.

II.

Plain Truth, and Blind Egnorance.

This excellent old ballad is preserved in the little ancient Miscellany, entitled The Garland of Goodwill. Ignorance is here made to speak in the broad Somersetshire dialect. The scene we may suppose to be Glastonbury Abbey.

TRUTH.

GOD speed you, ancient father,
And give you a good daye;
What is the cause, I praye you,
So sadly here you staye?
And that you keep such gazing

On this decayed place,
The which, for superstition,
Good princes down did raze?

5