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.

65

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,
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.

80

Then Westminster-hall was noe place for me;
Good lord! how the Lawyers began to assemble,
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.

Ver. 70, see, MS.—Ver. 76, condicion, MS.-Ver. 77, get a, MS.

Next the Merchants said, 'Counterfeite, get thee

away,

Dost thou remember how wee thee fond?

85

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; 90
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: And at letting their farmes [how 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

95

To husbandmens houses, who greeved right sore, 100
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.
Wee are [all] put to silence, and live upon weeds,
[And hence such cold house-keeping proceeds]:
Our banishment is its utter decay,

105

110

The which the riche glutton will answer one day.'

Ver. 95, And how, MS.-Ver. 101, so sore, MS.-Ver. 109, ill, MS.-Ver. 110, not in MS.

'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 will1 give none.'

Then laid he him down, and turned him away,
And prayd me to goe, and leave him to rest.
I told him, I haplie might yet see the day

For him and his fellowes to live with the best.

120

First,' said he, 'banish Pride, then all England were

blest;

For then those wold love us, that now sell their land,

125

And then good [house-keeping wold revive] out of hand.'

II.

PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE,

This excellent old ballad is preserved in the little ancient miscellany, intitled, '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?

Ver. 119, almes-deeds, MS.-Ver. 126, houses every where wold be kept, MS.

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

Ah! ah! che zmell thee now, man;

25

1 i. e. faithen as in the Midland counties they say housen, closen, for houses,

closes. A.

And every thing was plenty
Among all zorts of men.

TRUTH.

Thou givest me an answer,
As did the Jewes sometimes
Unto the prophet Jeremye,

When he accus'd their crimes:
"Twas merry,' sayd the people,
And joyfull in our rea'me,
When we did offer spice-cakes
Unto the queen of heav'n.'

IGNORANCE.

Chill tell thee what, good vellowe,
Before the vriers went hence,
A bushell of the best wheate

Was zold vor vourteen pence;

And vorty egges a penny,

That were both good and newe; And this che zay my zelf have zeene, And yet ich am no Jewe.

TRUTH.

Within the sacred bible

We find it written plain,

The latter days should troublesome
And dangerous be, certaine;
That we should be self-lovers,

And charity wax colde;
Then 'tis not true religion

That makes thee grief to holde.