POVERTY/PROSPERITY

That will I never do while I live let him do his best I had lever say all my good to pledge To get a write of pryueldge So may I gy by his nose at large Spite of his teeth who so ever say nay yet the knave shall not have his intent. I see thou holdest on his opinion yet I set not by you both a rysshe And I meet the knave I shall hew his flesh Help him thou old churl and thou can Marry avant long precious horson I set not by the nor him, I make God avow I am as good a man as thou for all thy good Let it be tried by ma ̄ Hod, and thereto I give the my glove No good sir, what then. The victory is got by discretion I pray you sir show me this lesson How to come to richesse, for that is all my care For I am ever in great necessity Meat and drink with me is scarsyte No man will trust me of a penny And also my clothes are but bore Good sir what say you therein. I am nam Impatient poverty Show me that now in this place And thereto I will agree Nay by God there ho What is he in all this place That will do as this man said Show me or I go if a man do you a great offence Will you keep your patience Nay be God not so I put case I break your head Will you suffer that in very deed. Then pacyfye it with benign resystaunce Sir gramercy, y to you have brought me to this estate By your aduertisme ̄ to I am willing to live in christ's law There as I have offended him both early & late I served him not for love nor for awe Therefore now right well I know That poverty and misery that I my life in lead that is but only punishment for my mysdeade Oh Jesu what may this mean My goods are spent and wasted away Also my men are from me clean I see them not this seven nights day As long as I might spend and pay They held me up with false dyssimulacion And now they forsake me in my most tribulation Alas Collhassarde hath won all my good And left me never a groat Abide Still with me gentle charity Oh to whom should I sew, to whom should I plete Oh mortal worm wrapped all in woe As a man all mortyfyed, and mased in my wit I a captyfe in captyuite, lo fortune is my foe I am in endless sorrow, alas what shall I do these captives thorough their cou ̄ cel & false imaginacio ̄ Have brought me to nought y to was of great reputacio ̄ Woe worth the time that I them knew I may well sighs, and say alas For now I find these wodes full true That peace showed me here in this place I regarded not his council, I lacked grace wherefore needy poverty on me does blow his horn That every man and woma ̄ does laugh me to scorn Example to all young men when they take in hand To occupy in the world for your behoof Look wisely before, and also understand Evil company destroyeth man, on me you see the proof Make a sure foundation, or you set up the rofe Of a good & virtuous begi ̄ ni ̄ g comes a good endi ̄ g And evermore beware of unmeasurable spending. I pray you tell me wherefore By my troth I have not one myte By my troth I slander no man I thank God and you I am in felicity Sir therewith I hold me well apaid As you have commanded me it shall be done I thank God as well as any man may you call me wrong my name In prosperity I say go hence and make no more strife I set not by such a poor haskarde I know the not by Saint Iame. I prraye you heartily it may be so A little season I will from you go To solace me with some recreation Exit Sir you be welcome, give me your hand And show me what is your name By my truth I may say to thee Syte I to him did assent Had I never merry day But lived in fear and dread alway Nothing to mine entente Another while I will me sport Sing and dance to my comfort. And thou shalt see me bounce above the ground Heigh with revel dash What devil of hell hast thou to do Shall I not make merry when me list. Avant lorden, and take this for a canclusion These men from me thou shalt not separate Go out of my sight or by coxs passion I shall say the fast in Newgate Shortly have him out of my sight A little while give me respite Now by my troth my heart is glad Some minstrel now I would we had To revel and dance, for by Saint had I am so light me think I flee. I pray thee tell at one word Is he a gentleman boar. Now by the bred that God brake I think long till I him see Mirth go before and ordain a good dish One of flesh another of Fish Whatsoeur I was let that matter pass And take me as I am. Avant I tell the, I am a gentleman boar If I here the report such words anymore Thou shalt be punished like a knave. Thou and I are not of one affinyte. Shall we have more a do yet thou knave I charge the never know me for thy kin Say on shortly then have I do As before that I was to blame I knew you not, be not angry you are welcome to me cousin charity I am content after your prouysion In every thing let it be done As you think most expedient At your request I am content Such a prete man for me were expedient And of his counsel fain would I here. Peace hath forbidden me y e outrage Go hence or in faith I shall make you. What man is he Then let us go our way I fit on thorns till I come there Shall I love him that loves not me? Those that trouble & rebuke me shamefully That will I never do while I live. Sir I thank you, for your ghostly instruction Unto your saying, I can make no delayaunce I put me under your gouernacion And for my misdeeds, I take great repentance God save all this honourable company Go set him in a pair of stocks That I him no more see. Now by my troth and Colhassard will fit I will play as l nge as and hundredth pound will last By my troth even as you say you marry now am I well apaid Me thinketh I am properly arayde if I had a proper trul she should be asaid In the worship of the new year A knave would have rested me I owe him but .xl pence He shall abide by gods dear blessed. No old fool, thou hast thy might For in age is nought else but cowardice Jesus that is both steadfast and stable Ever perseverant and never mutable He save this congreacion. Cousin I would fain do the best Because you are never of my blood I am your master, know you not me There will no man say so but you Why say you so you be to blame I am your master prosperytie That shall I know by gods bread. Keep keep for coxs face. What will it do