our selves upright And be no churle vnto our freind Thus doe we live where pleasure springs In our conceit like petty Kings Our hearts with care we may not kill Mans life surpasseth worldly wealth Content surpasseth riches still And fie one knaves that live by stealth This Trade therefore both great and small The Gentle Craft shall ever call When the Iourney-men Shoomakers had heard this Song and the faire Title that Sir Hugh had giuen their Trade they ingraued the same so déepely in their minds that to this day it could neuer be razed out like a remembrance in a â—arbiestâ—ne which continueth time out of mind But not long after came that dolefull day wherein these two Louers must loose their liues who like two méeke Lambes were led to the slaughter the bloody performance thereof was to bée done hard by that faire Fountaine where the Loue despising Lady made her most abode and because she was a Kings daughter the bloody Tyrant gaue her the priuiledge to chuse her owne death to the which she passed with as good a countenance as if she had béen a faire yong Bride prepared for marriage viz. When they were come to the place of execution and mounted vpon the Sâ—affoâ—d they séemed for beauty like two bright Stars Castor and Pollux there they eâ—braced each other with such chaste desires as all those that beheld them admired to see how stedfast and â—â—rme both these Louers were ready in hearts and minds to heauen it selfe At what time the Lady turned herselfe to Sir Hugh and spake to this effect Now doe I find thee a perfect Louer indéed that hauing setled thy affection aboue the Skies art ready to yéeld thy life for thy Loue who in requitall thereof will giue thee life for euer The Loue of earthly creatures is mixed with many miseries and interlaced with sundry sorrowes and here griefe shall abate the pleasures of Loue but â—e well assured that â—â—y shall follow the same Thou didst wooe me for loue and now haue I wonne thee to loue where setling both our loues vpon God his loue we will loue one another and in token of that heauenly loue receiue of mée I pray thee a chaste and louing kisse from my dying lips Faire Winifred quoth he it is true indéed I neuer loued truly vntill thou tà ughtest me to loue for then my loue was full of discontent but now altogether pleasing and more swéet is the thought thereof than any tongue can expresse The thing that I euer before called Loue was but a shadow of loue a swéetnesse tempered with gall a dying life and a liuing death where the heart was continually tossed vpon the Seas of tempestuous sorrowes and wherein the minde had no calme quietnesse and therefore blessed be the time that I euer learned this Loue. With that hée was interrupted by the Tyrant who sayd You are not come â—â—therto talke but to dye and I haue sworne you both shall dye at this instant Thou Tyrant sayd Sir Hugh the very like sentence is pronounced against thy selfe for Nature hath doomed that thou shâ—lt die likewise and albeit the execution thereof be something deferred yet at length it will come and that shortly for neuer did Tyrant carry gray haires to the graue The young Lady desired first to dye saying to Sir Hugh Come deare friend and learne magnanimity of a Maid now shalt thou sée a silly woman scorne death at his téeth and make as small account of his cruelty as the Tyrant doth of our liues and there withall script vp her silken sléeues and committed her slablaster armes into the executioners foule hands hauing made choice to dye in bléeding at what time being prickee in euery veine the scarlet blood sprung out in plentifull sort much like a precious fountaine lately filled with Claret wine And while she thusbled she said Here doe I sacrifice my blood to him that bought mée who by his blood washt away all my sinnes O my swéet Sauiour thus were thy sides pierced for my transgressions and in this sort sprung thy precious blood from thee and all for the loue thou barest to mankinde I féels my heart to saint but my soule receiueth strength I come swéet Christ I come And therewithall her body â—aiâ—ting and the blood failing like a Conduit suddenly drawne dry the young Princesse fell downe dead at what time a pale colour ouer-spread her faire face in such comely sort as if a heape of Roses had béen shadowed with a shéet of pure Lawne But it is to bee remembred that all the while the young Prinsesse bled her blood was receiued into certaine basons which being in that sort saued together the Tyrant caused to be tempered with â—oyson and prepared it to bee the last drinke that Sir Hugh should haue saying That by her loue whom he so dearely loued hée should receiue his death And thereupon incontinently without any further delaying of time hée caused a cup of that most deadly poysoned blood to bee deliuered into his hands who with a louely and chearefull countenance receiued the same and then vttered his minde in this manner O thou cruell Tyrant quoth hée what a poore spite is this to inflict vpon a dying man that is as carelesse how he dies as when he dies Easie it is for thee to glut me with blood although with blood thou art not satisfied Swéet blood quoth he precious pure how faire a colour dost thou cast before mine eyes Swéet I say wast thou before such time as this ill sauoring poyson did infect thee and yet as thou art I nothing despise thee O my deare Winifred full little did I thinke that ouer I should come to drinke of thy heart blood My gréedy eye that glutton-like did féede vpon thy beauty and yet like the Sea was neuer satisfied is now with thy gore bloud fully gorged Now may I quench my thirstie desire with loue that like hot burning coales set my heart in such an extreme heate that it could not be quenched before this time For if faire Winifred could spare any loue from Heauen assuredly she left it in her blood her swéet heart blood I meane that nourished her chaste life sée here is a Caâ—dlâ— to coole my vaine affections Farre bée it that my true Louer should euer taste the like But this punishment haue the iust heauens poured vpon me for the preferring the loue of an earthly creature before the loue of an heauenly Creator Pardon O Lord the â—oule sinnes of superstitious Louers that while they make Idols of their Ladies they forget the honour of thy diuine Maiesty Yet doth it doe my heart much good to thinke that I must bury swéet Winifreds blood in my body whose loue was lodged long agoe in my heart and there withall drinking the first draught he said O Lord me séemeth this potion hath a comfortable taste farre doth it surpasse that Nectâ—r wherewith the gods were nourished Well said the Tyrant séeing it pleaseth
their tongues she was led along whom seuen yéeres after her Sons did neuer sée But as men stand amazed at the sight of Apparitions in the aire as ignorant what successe shall follow euen so were these two Princes agast to sée their owne mother thus led away not knowing what danger would ensue thereof Notwithstanding they thought good to kéepe their seruice as their liues surest refuge at what time they both bent their whole mindes to please their Master and Dame refusing nothing that was put to them to doe were it so wash dishes scoure Bettles or any other thing whereby they thought their Dames fauour might bée gotten which made her the readier to giue them a good report to their Master and to doe them many other seruices which otherwise they should haue missed following therein the admonâ—tion of an old Iourney-man who would alwayes say to the Apprentices Howsoever things doe frame Please well thy Master But chiefly thy Dame Now by that time these two young Princes had truely serued their Master the sâ—ace of foure or fiue yéeres he was growne something wealthy and they very cunning in their trade whereby the house had the nâ—me â—o bréed the best workemen in the Country which report in the end prefer'd their Master to be the Emperours Shoomaker and by this meanes his seruants went to Maximinus Court euery day but Crispianus and Crispine fearing they should haue béene knowne kept themselues from thence as much as they could Notwithstanding at the last perswading themselues that Time had worne them out of knowledge they were willing in the end to goe thither as well to heare tidings of the Queene their Mother as also for to séeke their owne preferment CHAP. VI. How the Emperours faire daughter Ursula fell in love with young Crispine comming with Shooes to the Court and how in the end they were secretly married by a blmd â—rier NOw among all the Shoomakers men that came to the Court with shooes young Crispine was had in greatest regard with the faire Princesse whose Mother being lately dead shee was the onely â—oy of her Father who alwayes sought meanes to match her with some worthy Romane whose renowne might ring throughout the whole world But faire Vrsula whose bright eyes had entangled her heart with desire of the Shoomakers fauour despised all proffers of Loue in reâ—ard of him And yet notwithstanding shée would off checke her owne opinion in placing her loue vpon a person of such low degrâ—â— thus reasoning with herselfe Most aptly is the god of Loue by â—unning Painters drawne blind that â—o equally shoots forth his â—â—ery shafts for had hée eyes to sée it were vnpossible to deale in such sort as in matching faire Venâ—rs with soule Vulcan yoaking the Emperiall hearts of Kings to the loue of beggars as he did to Cofetua and as now in my selfe I finde how mad a thing it would séeme to the eyes of the world that an Emâ—erors daughter should delight in the fauour of a simple Shoomaker O Vrsula take héed what thâ—â—â—â—â—t staine not thy royalâ—y with such indignity O that Crispines birth were agrâ—â—able to his person for in mine eye there is no Prince in the world comparable to him if then while he is clothed in these rags of seruitude he appeare so excellent what would he be were hée in Princely attire O Crispine either thou art not as thou séemest or else Nature in disgrace of Kings hath made thoâ— a Shoomaker In these humours would the Princesse be often especially at Crispines approach or at his departure For as soone as euer hée came within her sight with shooes a sudden blush like a flame of lightning would strike in her face and at his departure an earthly pale colour â—â—â—e to the beames of the bright â—un obscured by coale blacke clouds But after many weary conflicts with Fancy shée fully resolued at his next comming to enter into communication with him but imaâ—ining his stay from Court ouer long on the sudden she sent preâ—ently for him finding great fault in the last shooes hée brought her At which time Crispine most humbly on his knée greatly craued pardon for all such faults as she then had found promising amendment in the next shooes she should haue Nay quoth she I le shew thee they are too low something in the instep also the héele is bad and besides that they are too strait in the â—oes You shall haue a paiâ—e made said he shall â—it you better â—or none shall set a stitch in them but mine owne selfe Doe sayd the Princesse but let me haue them to soone as thou canâ—â— and there with Crispine departed The Princesse then all solitary got her selfe into her Chamber entred there into consideration and found within her selfe great trouble and sorrow while the tongue the hearts aduorate was not suffered to speake At last â—he heard Crispines voyce enquiring of the Ladies in the great Chamber for the Princesse who answered That hauing taken little rest the night before shee was now layd downe to sléepe and therefore they willed him to come againe some other time Asléepe replied the Princesse I am not a sléepe bid him stay what hasty huswife was that which sent him heâ—ce Call him againe quickly I would aduise you And therewith all changing melancholy into mirth shee arose vp from out of her bed and as a bright â—tarre shooting in the â—lemen she swiftly got her â—â—â—th tp méet the Shoomaker whose faire sight was to her as great a coâ—forâ— as a Sun-shine before a shâ—wâ—â— of raine How now quoth shée â—ast thou brought me a paire of shooes I haue gracious Madam quoth he Then quoth the Princesse come thy selfe and draw them on there with shée sitting downe lifted vp haâ— well proportioned lâ—g vpon his gentle knée Where by that time her shooes were draâ—â—ne on she had prepared a good reward for her shoomaker and giuing him a handfull of gold â—he said Thou â—ast so well pleased mée in making of these shooes that I cannot but reward thee in some good sort therefore shoomaker take this and from henceforth let no man make my shooes but thy selfe But tell me Crispine art thou not in loue that thou dost smâ—g vp thy selfe so finely thou wast not wont to goe so neatly I pray thee tell me what pretty wench is it that is mistresse of thy heart Truely faire Madam quoth he If I should not loue I might be accounted barbarous for by natures coursâ— there is a mutuall loue in all things the Doue and the Peacocke loâ—e intirâ—lâ— so doth the Turtle and the Popiniay she like affection the fish Musculus â—eareth vnto the huge Whale insomuch that 〈◊〉 leadeth him from all danger of stony rocks and as among birds and fishes so amongst plants and trées the like concord is to be found for if the male of palme trées be planted from the female neither of both prosper and being set one neare another they doe flourish accordingly
The Gentle Craft A DISCOVRSE Containing many matters of Delight very pleasant to be read Shewing what famous men have beene SHOOMAKERS in time past in this Land with their worthy deeds and great Hospitality Declaring the cause why it is called the GENTLE CRAFT and also how the Proverbe first grew A Shoomakers sonne is a Prince borne T. D. With gentlenesse judge you At nothing here grudge you The merry Shoomakers delight in good sport What here is presented Be there with contented And as you doe like it so give your report Haud curo invidiam LONDON Printed for ROBERT BIRD 1637. To all the good Yeomen of the GENTLE CRAFT YOu that the gentle craft profess list to my words both more lesse And I shall tel you many things of worthy and renowned Kings And diuers Lords and knights also that were shoomakers long agoe Some of them in their distresse delighted in this businesse And some for whoÌ„ great wait was laid did saue their liues by this same trade Other some in sport and game delighted much to learne the same No other Trade in all the Land they thought so fit vnto their hand For euermore they stil did find that shoomakers bore a gallant mind Men they were of high conceit the which wrought many a merry feat Stout of courage were they still and in their weapons had great skil Trauellers by sea and land each country guise to vnderstand Wrong they wrought not any man with reason al things did they scaâ— Good houses kept they euermore releeuing both the sicke and poore In law no mony would they speÌ„d their quarels friendly wold they end No malice did they beare to any but shew'd great fauour vnto many Offences soone they would forgiue they would not in contention liue Thus in ioy they spent their daies with pleasant songs and roundelaies And God did blesse them with content sufficient for them he sent And neuer yet did any know a shoomaker a begging goe Kind are they one to another vsing each stranger as his brother Thus liu'd shoomakers of old as ancient writers haue it told And thus shoomakers still would be so fame from them shall neuer flee To all courteous Readers health HOw Saint Hugh was sonne vnto the renowned King of Powis a noble Britaine borne who in the prime of his yeares loued the fore Virgin Winifred who was the only daughter of Donwallo which was the last King that euer raigned in Tegina which is now called Flint-shire But she refusing al offers of loue was only pleased with a religious life Her father was sent to Rome dyed whose Lady left her life long before This Virgin therefore for sooke her fathers Princely palace in Pont Varry and made her whole abiding in the most sweet pleasant Vally of Sichâ—aâ—nt and liued there solitarily and carelesse of all companie or comfort It chanced that in Summers heate this faire Virgin being greatly distressed for lacke of drinke and not knowing where to get any there sprung vp suddenly a christall streame of most sweet and pleasant water out of the hard ground whereof this Virgin did daily drinke Vnto the which God himselfe gaue so great a vertue that many people hauing beene washed therein were healed of diuers and sundry infirmities wherewith they were borne Moreouer round about this well where this Virgin did vse to walke did grow a kinde of Mosse which is of a most sweet sauour and the colour thereof is as fresh in Winter as in Summer so that lying thereon you would suppose your selfe to be on a bed of Downe perfumed with most precious odours And what of all this Marry read the booke and you shall know but reade nothing except you reade all And why so Because the beginning shewes not the middle and the middle shewes not the latter end And so farewell The pleasant Historie of S. HVGH and first of all his most constant loue to the faire Virgin WINIFRED COnquering and most imperious Loue hauing seized on the heart of young sir Hugh all his wits were set on worke how for to compasse the loue of the faire Uirgin Winifred whose disdaine was the chiefe cause of his care hauing receiued many infinite sorrowes for her sake but as a streame of water being stopt ouerfloweth the banke so smothered desire doth burst out into a great flame of fire which made this malecontented Louer to séeke some meanes to appease the striâ—e of his contentious thoughts wherevpon he began to incourage himselfe Tush Hugh let not a few froward words of a woman dismay thée for they loue to be intreated and delight to bee wooed though they would make the world beléeue otherwise for their denyals procéed more of nicenesse then niggardlinesse refusing that they would feignest haue What if sometimes Winifred frowne on thée yet her fauours may excéed her frowardnesse The Sunne is sometimes ouercast with clouds so that his brightnesse is not séene In warres the â—orer the fight is the greater is the glory of the victorie and the harder a woman is to be wonne the swéeter is her loue when it is obtained wherefore I le once againe try my fortune and see what successe my sute shall find On this resolution sir Hugh returned to Winifred gréeting her thus Now faire Lady hauing slept away the remembrance of your sharpe answers I come againe in a new concest to reviue an old sute and to sée if the change of the â—ay will yée da change of dolours Truly Sir Hugh quoth she if with the change of the day you haue changed your opinion your dolour will bée driuen away well enough but as touching your sute it shall be nâ—â—dlesse to repeate it because I am not willing to preferre it Stay there quoth sâ—â— Hugh I will preferre it so that you will accept it Now quoth she I will accept it if you will preferre it in sending it backe to the place from whence it procéeded and I would to God I could send you away as soone as your sute Why then belike I am not welcome said sir Hugh Yes quoth she as welcome to me as a storme to a distressed Mariner I muse greatly that reason will not rule you nor words win you from your wilfulnesse if you were as weary to wooe as I am wearie to heare you I am perswaded that long since you would haue ceased your vaine sute You thinke by these perswasions to turne my opinion but as well you may thinke that you may quench fire with oyle therefore I pray you good sir Hugh be not so tedious vnto me nor troublesome to your selfe Come come quoth he all this will not serue your turue ponder with thy selfe Winifred that thou art faire O that thou wert as fauorable thy beauty hath bound me to be thy seruant and neuer to cease till I sée another obtaine thée or my selfe be possessed of my hearts content Thou art a Kings daughter and I a princes sonne staine not the glory of
Winifreds fauour it may be quoth he that it is the nature of this gentle soyle to bréed as kind creatures as the Country of Brittaine bréeds câ—y dames Undoubtedly had my loue first taken life in this kind and curteous Climate shée would haue béene as kind as they If I mis-iudge not of their gentlenesse because I haue alwayes béen inured to scornfulnesse me thinkes they are too faire to be harlots and too bold to bee honest but as they haue no cause to hate me that neuer hurt them so haue they little cause to loue me being a far stranger borne to them a man altogether vnknowne But it may be that this time of the yeare is onely vnfortunate for loners as it is certainly known to al men that euery season of the yeare brâ—â—ds a sundry commodity for Roses flourish in Iune Gilliflowers in August and neither of them both doe so in the cold winter Such as seeke for fruit on the saplesse trées in the month of Ianuary lose their labors as well as their longing then why should I couet to gather fruits of loue when I sée that loue is not yet ripe Now let me obserue the season that yéelds the swéetest comfort to loue sicke persons and so I may reape the ioyfull fruits of hearts content I will therefore returne to my former loue hoping now to find her as freindly as at my departure she was froward I will once againe intreat her and speake her excéeding faire for with many drops the hardest stone is pierced so also with many importunate intreaties a â—â—inty hart may be moued to some remorse I take no pleasure at al in any place but only in her presence with the which she continually graceth a running streame farre be it from her mind to kisse her owne shadow in the chryst all spring to be in loue with her own similitude for so she might be spoiled as Narcissus was for it is commonly séene that sudden danger followes fond opinions so with this and the like thoughts he droâ—e out the night till the Suns bright eye began to péepe at his chamber window at what time dressing himself he went to the water side where he found a ship ready to transport rich merchandise into the Westerne Ilands in the which â—ir Hugh became a passenger But when they were put off to sea there arose so sudden a storme and of long continuance that no man looked for life but expected euery moment present death so that the Mariners quite forsooke the tackle and the Master the helme committing themselues to God and their ship to the mercy of the swelling â—eas by whose â—urious waues they were somtime tossed vp towards heauen anon throwne downe to the deepe of hell in which extremity sir Hugh made this lamentation O vnhappy man how eagerly doth mischance pursue me at my hâ—â—les for betwixt my loue on the land and danger of life 〈◊〉 the sea it hath made me the wretchedst man breathing on earth Here we may sée that miseries haue power ouer men and not men ouer miseries Now must I die farre from my friends and be drenthed in the déepe where my body must feed the fishes that swim in the rich bottome of the Sea Therefore faire Winifred the chiefe ground of my grieâ—es here will I sacrifice my last teares vnto thee and powre forth my complaints Oh how happy should I count my selfe if those fishes which shall liue on my bodies food might be meate for my Loue it grieueth mée much to thinke that my poore bléeding heart wherein thy picture is ingrauen should be rent in péeces in such greedy sort but thrice accursed be that fish that first setteth his nimble fâ—â—th thereon except hée swimme there with vnto my Loue and so deliuer it as a present token from me Had my troubled starres allotted me to leaue my life in the pleasant valley of Sichnant then no doubt but my Loue with her faire hands would haue closed vp my dying eyes and perhaps would haue rung a peale of sorrowfull sighes for my sake By this time was the weather beaten Barke driuen vpon the shore of Sicilie where the men had safety of their liues although with losse of their ships and spoyle of their goods but they had no sooner shaken off their dropping wet garments on the shore but that they were assaulted by a sort of monstrous men that had but one eye a piece and that placed in the midst of their foreheads with whom the tempest heaten souldiers had a fierce fight in which many of them were slaine and diuers of them fled away to saue themselues so that in the end sir Hugh was left alone to Fortune in a double Fray and hauing at last quite ouercome all his aduersaries he went his way and so passing vp the country in darke night in the end he lost his way and was so farre entred into the darke wildernesse that hee could not deuise with himselfe which way ha should take to get out where he was so cruelly affrighted with the dreadfull cry of fierce Lyons Beares and wilde Bulls and many thousand more of other dangerous cruell rauenous beasts which with gréedy mouthes ranged all about for their prey in which distresse sir Hugh got him vp to the top of a trée and being there brake out into this passion O Lord quoth he hast thou preserued me from the great perill and danger of the Sea deliuered me out of the cruell hands of monstrous men and now suffer me to be deuoured of wild beasts Alas that my soule sins should bring so many sundry sorrowes on my head But for all this may I thanke vnkind Winifred whose disdaine hath wrought my destruction Woe worth the time that euer my eyes beheld her be witching beauty But hereby we may sée that the path is smooth that leadeth to danger But why blame I the blamelesse Lady Alas full little did she know of my desperate courses in trauell But such is the fury that hants franticke Louers that neuer feare danger vntill it fall and light vpon their owne heads But by that time that the day began to appeare he perceiued an huge Elephant with stiffe ioynts stalking towards him and presently after came a fâ—ery tongue Dragon which suddenly assaulted the peacefull Elephant in whose subtile encounter the wrathfull Dragon with his long wringing taile did so shackle the hinder féet of the Elephant together that like a prisoner fast fettered in irons he could not stirre a â—oot for his life what time the furious Dragon neuer left till hée had thrust his stender head into the Elephants long hâ—ked nose out of which he neuer once drew it vntill by sucking the Elephants blood he had made him so féeble and so weake that he could stand no longer vpon his féet at which time the fainting Elephant with a grieuous cry fell downe dead vpon the Dragon so with the fall of his weighty body burst the Dragon in péeces
and so killed him whereby their bloods being mingled together it stained all the ground where they both lay changing the gréene grasse into a rich scarlet colour This strange sight betwixt these two beasts caused good sir Hugh to iudge that nature had planted bewixt them a deadly hatred the fire whereof could not be quenched but by shedding of both their hearts blood Now when sir Hugh saw that grim Death had ended their quarrell and perceiuing no danger néere he came downe from the tree and sought to find out some inhabited towne but being intangled in the woods like the Centaure in his Labyriâ—th he could by no meanes get out but wandred in vnknowne passages leading him to many perils At last another Elephant met him who according to his kinde nature neuer left him till he had conducted him out of all danger and brought him out of the Wildernesse into the way againe whereby sir Hugh at the length came in sight of a Port-towne where in foure dayes after hee imbarked himselfe in a ship bound for Brittaine and at last obtained the sight of his natiue Country where hée arriued in safety though in very poore sort comming on shoare at a place called Harwich where for want of money he greatly lamented and made much â—â—oane But méeting with a merry Iourney-man Shoomaker dwelling in that towne and after some conference had together they both agreed to trauell in the Country where we will leaue them and speake of Winifred and of her great troubles and calamities CHAP. II. How faire Winifred was imprisoned and condemned to dye for her Religion and how sir Hugh became a Shoomaker and afterward came to suffer death with his Love shewing also how the Shoomakers tooles came to be called Saint Hughes bones and the trade of Shoomaking The Gentle Craft A Non after that the Doctrine of Christ was made knowne in Brittaine and that the worship of heathen Idols was forbidden yet many troubles did the Christians endure by diuers the outragious blood-shirstinesse of woluish Tyrants that by the way of inuaâ—ion set fâ—â—ting in this Land as it fell out in the dayes of Dioclesian that with bloudy mindes persecuted such as would not yéeld to the Pagan law amongst which the Uirgin Winifred was one who for that shée continued constant in faith was long imprisoned During which time Sir Hugh wrought in a Shoomakers shop hauing learned that trade through the coueteous directions of a kind Iourney-man where he remained the space of one whole yeere in which time hâ—â— had gotten himselfe good appatell and euery thing comely and decent Not withstanding though hée were now contented to forget his birth yet could hée not forget the beauty of his Loue who although she had vtterly forsaken him yet could he not alter his affection from her because indéed affections alter not like a palefaced coward The wildest Bull quoth he is tamed being tied to a Fâ—g-trée and the â—oyest Dame in time may yéeld like the stone Charchaedoâ—â—s which sparkles like fire and yet mâ—lts at the touch of soft war Though Roses haue prickles yet they are gathered and though women séeme froward yet will they shew themselues kinde and friendly Neither is there any ware so hard but by often tempering is made apt to receiue an impression Admit she hath heretofore bâ— nâ— cruell yet now may she be courteous A true hearted Louer forgets all trespasses and a smile cureth the wounding of a frowne Thus after the manner of â—ond Louers he flattered himselfe in his owne follyâ— and in the praise of his faire Lady hée sung this pleasant Ditty herâ— following THe pride of Brittaine is my hearts delight My Lady liues my true loue to requite And in her life I liue that else were dead Like withered Leanes in time of winter shead She is the ioy and comfort of my mind She is the Sunne that clearest sight doth blind The fairest flower that in the world doth grow Whose whitenes doth surpasse the driuen snow Her gentle words more sweete then hony are Her eyes for clearnes dimmes the brightest star O were her heart so kind as she is faire No lady might with my true love compare A thousand greifes for her I haue sustained While her proud thoughts my humble sute disdained And though she would my hart with torments kill Yet would I honour serue and loue her still Blest be the place where she doth like to live Blest be the light that doth her comfort give And blessed be all creatures farre and neare That yeeld reliefe unto my Lady deare Neuer may sorrow enter where she is Neuer may she contented comfort misse Neuer may she my proffered loue for sake But my good will in thankfull sort to take Thus feeding his fancy with the swéet remembrance of her beauty being neuer satisfied with thinking and speaking in her praise at length he resolued himselfe to goe into Flint-shire where he might sollicite his suite anew agains but comming néere to the place of her residence and hearing report of her troubles he so highly commended her faith and constancy that at length he was clapt vp in prison by her and in the end he was condemned to receiue equall torment for a triall of his owne truth But during the time that they lay both in prison the Iourney men Shoomakers neuer left him but yéelded him great reliefe continually so that hee wanted nothing that was necessary for him in requitall of which kindnesse he called them Gentlemen of the Gentle Craft aâ—â— a few dayes before his death he made this Song in their dâ—e commendations OF Craft and Crafts-men more and lesse The Gentle Craft I must commend Whose deeds declare their faithfulnesse And hearty loue unto their freind The Gentle Craft in midst of strife Yeelds comfort to a carefull life A Prince by Birth I am indeed The which for Love forsooke this Land And when I was in extreme need I tooke the Gentle Craft in hand And by the Gentle Craft alone Long time I liu'd being still unknowne Spending my dayes in sweet content With many a pleasant sugred Song Sitting in pleasures complement Whilst we recorded Louers wrong And while the Gentle Craft we us'd True Love by vs was not abus'd Our shooes we sowed with merry notes And by our mirth expell'd all mone Like Nightingales from whose sweet throats Most pleasant tunes are nightly blowne The Gentle Craft is fittest then For poore distressed Gentlemen Their minds doe mount in courtesie And they disdaine a niggards feast Their bodies are for Chivalrie All cowardnesse they doe detest For Sword and Sheild for Bow and Shaft No man can staine the Gentle Craft Yea sundry Princes sore distrest Shall seeke for succour by this Trade Whereby their greifes shall be redrest Of foes they shall not be afraid And many men of fame likewise Shall from the Gentle Craft arise If we want money ouer night Ere next day noone God will it send Thus may we keepe
Canterbury or the Court of Kentishmen hauing at that time two young Sons sought all the meanes she could possible to kéepe them out of the Tyrants claweâ— and in this manner she spake vnto them My deare and beloued sonnes the ioy and comfort of my age you sée the danger of these times and the stormes of a Tyrants raigne who hauing now gathered together the most part of the young Nobility to make them slaues in a forraigne Land that are frée borne in their owne Country séeketh for you also thereby to make a cleare riddance of all our borne Princes to the end he might plant strangers in their stead Therefore my swéet sons take the counsell of your mother and séeke in time to preuent ensuing danger which will come vpon vs suddenly as a storme at sea and as cruelly as a Tyger in the wildernesse therfore suiting your selues in honest habites séeke some poore seruice to sheild you from mischance séeing necessity hath priuiledged those places from Tyranny And so my sons the gracious Heauens may one day raiss you to deserued dignity and honour The young Lads seeing their mother so earnest to haue them gone fulfilled her commandement and casting ofâ— their attire put homelie garments on and with many bitter teares took leaue of the Quéene their mother desiring her before they went to bestow her blessing vpon them O my sonâ— quoth she stand you now vpon your ceremonies had I leasure to giue you one kisse it were somthing The Lord blesse you get you gone away away make hast I say let not swift time oâ—erâ—â—ip you for the Tyrant is hard by with that shee pushed them out of a backe doore and then set herselfe downe to wéepe The two young Princes which like pretty lambes went straying they knew not whether at length by good fortune came to Feversham where before the dayes péepe they heard certaine Shoomakers singing being as pleasant as their notes as they saâ—e at their businesse and this was their Song VVOuld God that it were Holiday hey dery downe downe dery That with my love I might goe play with woe my heart is weary My whole delight is in her sight would God I had her company her company Hey dery downe downe a downe My Love is fine my Love is faire Hey dery downe downe dory No maid with her may well compare in Kent or Canterbury From me my Love shall never move would God I had her company her company Hey dery downe downe a downe To see her laugh to see her smile hey dery downe downe dery Doth all my sorrowes cleane beguile and make my heart full merry No griefe doth grow where she doth goe would God I had her company c. Hey dery downe downe a downe When I doe meet her on the greene hey dery downe downe dery Me thinkes she lookes like beauties Queene which makes my heart full merry Then I her greet with kisses sweet would God I had her company c. Hey dery downe downe a downe My love comes not of churlish kinde hey dery downe downe dery But beares a gentle courteous minde Which makes my heart full merry She is not â—oy she is my joy would God I had her company c. Hey dery downe downe adowne Till Sunday come farewell my deare hey dery downe downe dery When we doe meet wee le have good cheare and then I will be merry If thou love me I will love thee and still delight thy company thy company Hey dery downe downe adowne The young Princes perceiuing such mirth to remaine in so homely it cottage iudged by their pleasant Notes that their hearts were not cloyed with ouer many cares and therfore wished it might be their good â—ap to be harboured in a place of such great content But standing a long time in dothâ— what to doe like two distressed strangers combating twixt hope and feare at length taking courage Crispianus knocked at the doore What knaue knockes there quoth the Iourney man and by and by downe he â—akes his quarâ—er staffe and opens the doore â—being as ready to strike as â—oâ—ake saying What lacke you To whom Crispianus made this answer Good sir pardon our holdnesse and measure not our truth by our rudenesse we are two poore boyes that want seruice stript from our friends by the fury of these warres and therefore are wée enforced succourlesse to craue â—eruite in any place What haue you no friends or acquaintance in these parts to goe to said the Shoomakers by whose meanes you might got preferment Alas sir sayd Crispianus necessity is despised of euery one and misery is trodden downe of many but seldome or neuer relieued yet notwithstanding if our hope did not yéeld vs some comfort of 〈◊〉 happe wée should grow desperate through distresse That were â—â—at pitty said the Shoomaker be content for as our Dame often â—els our Master A patient man is better than a strong man Stay a while and I will call our Dame to the doore and then you shall heare what â—hée will say With that he went in and forth came his Dame who be holding the sayd youths sayd Now alas poore boyes how comes it to passe that you are out of seruice What would you be Shoomakers and bearne the Gentle Craft Yes forsooth said they with all our hearts Now by my â—roth quoth she you doe looke with honest true faces I will entreat my husband for you for wée would gladly haue good boyes and if you will be iust and true and serue God no doubt you may doe well enough Come in my lads come in Crispianus and his brother with great reuerence gaue her thankes and by that time they had stayed a little while downe came the good man and his wife hard by his héeles saying Sée husband these bée the youths I told you of no doubt but in time they will be good men Her husband looking wishtly vpon them and conceiuing a good opinion of their fauours at length agréed that they should dwell with him so that they would be bound for seuen yéeres The youths being contented the bargaine was soone ended and so set to their businesse where at they were no sooner setled but that great search was made for them in all places and albeit the officers came to the house where they dwelt by the reason of their disguise they knew them not hauing also taken vpon them borrowed names of Crispianus and Crispine Within a few dayes after the Quéene their mother was by the Tyrant taken and for that she would not confesse where her Sonnes were shee was layd in prison in Colchester Castle whereunto shee went with as chearefull a countenance as Cateratus did when hée was led captine to Rome and comming by the place where her son tes sate at worke with a quicke eye she had seene espied them and looke how a dying coale reuâ—ues in the wind eâ—en so at this sight she became suddenly red but making signes that they should hold
displeased yet Haunce had her heart still and in processe of â—â—ne obtained great fauour the matter was growne â—o forward that the performance of their marriage was forthwith aâ—â—ointed which they intended should bée celebrated at the Abbey of Grace 〈◊〉 Tower Hill Notwithstanding this matter was not 〈◊〉 so close but that their secret dealings were knowne and Nicholas puâ—â—oâ—â—ng to deceiue the Dutchman made John Frenchman prâ—â—â— thereâ—nto saying John it is so that this night at midnight â—â—sse Florence and Haunce doe intend secretly to be married and they haue appointed the Frier to doe it so soone as the Tapers are all puâ—out because they will not be seene of any Therefore John iâ— no◠〈◊〉 will be my friend â— doe not doubt but to marry her my selfe 〈◊〉 so to giue the Dutchman she â—â—â—mpam and â—ore him through â—â—â—â—se with a 〈◊〉 Hâ— quoth John be Gâ—t me shall doe as you sea and therefore Nicholas tell a mée what you doe Marry John quoth hée you know the Dutchman louetâ— to drinke well and by that he loueth wée le cause him to lose his Loue â—or we will get him out to the â—â—uerne and there cause him to be disguised that hée shall neither be able to stand nor goe and while hee lies parbreaking his minde I le goe and marry the Maide The Frenchman hearing this scratcht his head and rubbing his elbow sayd Maâ—foy Nicholas â—â—s be de fâ—ne tricke how shall wée get him forth adoores Excellent well quoth Nicholas for there is a new â—ourney man come to Towne with Sir Hughes bones at his backe and you know that wée being of the Gentle Craft must goe giue him his welcome and I will tell Haunce thereof who being now very â—ocund by reason that his marriage is so néere will not deny to come I know Therefore you and the strange Iourney-man shall goe before to the Tauerne and then I will goe fetch him Abâ—ene content content said John And so to the Tauerne hee hasted with the strange man Anone comes Nicholas and Haunce and with them two or thrée Iourneymen more and all to the new Iourney-man sitting downe they get Haunce in the midst called for wine lustily and such varieties us the Dutchman was soone set packing for euery one sought to ouercharge him and being himselfe of a good kinde to take his liquor spared not to pledge euery man At what time in the midst of his cups being well whitled his tongue ran at randome as wine is the bewrayer of secrets so it proued by him for there he opened to his companions all his whole minde saying My hearts for all I sit here I must bée a married man ere morning God giue you ioy quoth they but who shall you marry sayd Nicke Florence Yea Florence sayd the Dutchman that is the Lasse that I doe loue and all the world cannot deceiue mee of her now I am the man that must haue her Maidenhead and this night wée must bée married at the Abbey of Grace and if you be good fellowes goe with me to Church will yoâ— goe with me Will we geâ— with thée sayd John Frenchman that we will O John said Haunce haue wiped your nose and Nickes too you must weare the willow Garland Well what remedy quoth they it is the better for you but in faith Haunce séeing it is so quoth Nicke wée le haue one â—ottle of wine more that wée may drinke to the health of your faire Bride I le pledge her if it be a gallon quoth Haunce Be my set and trot said John wée le haâ—e â— gallon Hea Drawer where be you I pray you bring me agalloâ—â— of the best Claret and a gallon of de best Seck shall make merry I set what Florence bee merry and I no know â—ut by the time this Wine was drunke Haunce was layd vp for walking any more that night When Nicke perceiued that he stole suddenly out of the Tanerne and went to meete Florence at the appointed place but Iohn quickly missing him knew straight whereabout he went got â—â—n presently to thâ— Constable of the â—osterne Gate and told him that Nicke had layd a man for dead in Tower stréet and that he was gone to saue himselfe vnder the prfuâ—ledge of the Abbey of Grace but quoth he if you will goe along I shall bring him out with faire words vnto you and then I desire you to clap him vp to answer this matter in the morning But where dwell you said the Constable I doe dwell with Master Alderman Eyer quoth Iohn and there you shall haue mee at all times The Constable did as Iohn bade him and committed Nicholas to prison In the meane space Florence and an old woman of Tower stréete sayd that they did goe to a womans labour and by that meanes they passed along by the Watch and to the Abbey of Grace they came They had not long beene there but that Iohn Frenchman méeting them sayd Florence well met here is a fit place to finish that I haue long looked for Iohn quoth â—he thou art like an euill spirit that must bée contured out before a body shall get any quietnesse vrge not me vpon any such matters for you be not the man I looke for and therefore as taking little pleasure in your presence as of your proffers I would be very glad to sée your backe What sayd Iohn haue you no compassion vpon a poore man you be hard hearted indeed But as hee was vttering these speeches it was his wifes chance to heare his â—onâ—ue being newly come from the Barge at Billingsgate and at that time going towards Saint Katharines to sée if shée could mée te with some of her Country folkes that could tell her any tidings of her husband but as I sayd hearing his tongue and knowing him by his speech she sayd What Iohn Denevale my husband Iohn Denevale What make you wed pretty wence hea At which words Iohn was stricken into such a dump that hee wist not what to say notwithstanding hearing Florence to aske if shee was his wife hée answered and sayd Yea. O thou dissembling fellow quoth shée it is â—uen so Didst thou say thou wast a Batcheller séeking to marry me and hast a wife aliue now â—â—e on thée O good Lord how was I bleâ—â— to eâ—â—ape him nay now I sée that Haunce may haue a wife 〈◊〉 Flaunders too although he be here and therefore by the grace of God I will not marry a stranger O quoth John I thought my wife had béene dead but seeing â—he is aliue I will not lose her for twenty thousand crownes So Florence departed and left John with his wife Now Haunce neuer waking vntill it was next day at noone whâ—râ— he saw he had ouersâ—ept himselfe being very sorry hee went home not knowing how to excuse his folly to Florence whom shée now vsterly forsóoke as well in regard of his drunkennesse as for that being a stranger he might like John Frenchman haue