SERIES THE SECOND.-BOOK III. I. THE COMPLAINT OF CONSCIENCE. I SHALL begin this Third Book with an old allegoric satire, entitled The Complaint of Conscience-a manner of moralizing which, if it was not first introduced by the author of Pierce Plowman's Visions, was at least chiefly brought into repute by that ancient satirist. The kind of verse used in this ballad has a strong affinity with the peculiar metre of that writer. The following song, entitled The Complaint of Conscience, is printed from the Editor's folio manuscript. Some corruptions in the old copy are here corrected; the corrections are placed between inverted "commas.' " For nothing was passed betweene foe Then went I to London, where once I did and friend, But Conscience was called to bee at "the" end. Noe bargaines, nor merchandize merchants wold make But I was called a witnesse therto: No use for noe money, nor forfett wold take, But I wold controule them, if that they did soe: "And" that makes me live now in great woe, For then came in Pride, Sathan's disciple, That is now entertained with all kind of people. He brought with him three, whose names "thus they call," 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 To have had entertainment with some one or other; "dwell:" But they bade away with me, when they knew my name; For he will undoe us to bye and to sell! They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for shame : 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, 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, But I am rejected, and scorned of my The Court of Conscience where once I brother. 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. did sit : And there thou and wee most friendly Why then, I said to him, methinks it shook hand, were best And we were right glad when thou To goe to the Clergie; for dailye they didst refuse us; For when we wold reape profitt here thou woldst accuse us. 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 : preach And at letting their farmes "how always Then laid he him down, and turned him : |