HANNEKE

As God does bless the earth with great increase, And in great measure sends us ten for one: So must those blessings carefully be kept, And not with wretchless heed, let run at large, For so huge heaps of wealth consume to nought, And Like fair buildings vnrepayrde, decay. Yet must not beastly miching niggardise, Cause us forget our selves, and those that want, But give relief from our abundant store: We have enough, our charge it is not great, One daughter she's bestowed richly, and Her portion paid, no penny more in debt, Two sons beside, and they provided for; The youngest at School, the other trails a Pike, And for preferment looks each day, each hour: What friendship fails, his father's purse supplies; He does not want, nor shall, nor have too much To please the fancies of unbridled youth: Mine husband bids him use his means, no doyt That he will send him, but alas poor I, Must lick my cream-pots, shake my winnow sheet And all for coin, and often send him some. Mine husband sees and knows, yet nothing says, But is content with what he thinks I do; My man plays fast and lose, I see it too, And nothing say, for why, the knave is true, And wrongs us not one cross, but what he gets Is for my sons, not for himself, I am sure. I see, but see not, give him oft a shilling, Because to do for mine, he is so willing. What Hans ? Your servant at command, To run, to ride, to go by day or night. How now sir sauce, your tonge so early glyb; What though the days be short, theres time enough Ere night to make your pate ring noon. Well sir, then be gone, Make haste, dispatch, and get you to the town; Look to your business, what you buy and fell; But ere you go, take that and give my son. The heavens bless you mistress, that sayre hand, Once more for the See ieant. God bless my son from such base foolery, As to delight in drink, a beastly sin, Yet with a friend, to drink a cup or more, I'll not find fault, the times are now grown such. What then? his nature, education, Composed him otherwise, you did your partly To give him learning, which will make him know The good from evil: but his blooming youth May be corrupted by bade company; But that he seeks not, loves not, flies as much As in him lies, I heard't with comfort too, Else would I not. Alas poor souls, we women must bear all We weaker vessels must abide your frumps: But 'tis no matter, while they break no skin, Our backs were made to bear. Our children do you mean? thats Gyptia ̄ Like: For so they bear them, in their slats or sheets; If otherwise, my modest cheeks would blush To answer you. Away you Knave, Take that Dutch shilling, drink amongst your Comrades. Talk you no more of martial exercise, Good Sir, but take you to your Country Farm, Keep you at home, leave that to younger bloods, Your son is young enough, let him go forth, And prove his fortune amongst those armed troops, I am contented, God his will be done. Not I sweet Sir, for God is God at sea, And land, a God always omnipotent; He can defend him from the gaping jaws Of roaring Canons mouth, that dreadful flash Cannot come near him, if it be his will; Yet if he die, ti's honours lofty bed That shall entomb him, then I care the less. How now my Love, what do you Court me still? This Phrase befits not, betwixt a man and wife, 'Tis time for you to leave such courting terms, Offend not then (my Spouse) I counsel you, But leave the mighty to their best contents, And pass in silence, what they have to do; Let us not meddle with the Magistrate, But see, unseen, and hope for whats the best. What if you do? The elder Priest forgets that he was Clerk, When you were young, you did as he now does. Because I will not. What else? Sometimes we know more then our husbands think, And give advise worthy to be followde, Not to be scorned, or to be contemnde In weighty matters, matters of estate, As wife to great ; and Nero;s mother too, Another Agrippina, less virtuous, But wise and politic, one that knew much, And that great Queen, the Queen of Caria, Nausolus wife, the wonder of her time. And she whom former times never paralleled, She whom you nam but now. Why not? 'tis recreation, Sometime for company, always at home; It makes it loathsome, duls the brain and sense: We must not think on profit always, win, Spend now and then, though not to please our selves For others sakes. I speak not before his face, Nor do I Like in him, what you dislike: My will is yours; but should I say as you We should not reason, so to pass the time; For when I speak, and speak the same you do; You'll not reply, then both our tongues are still; But if I cross you, though it be not much, I hear more of you, sometime learn more wit Be there such women? O sir, those studies are but fopperies, They are conjectures, theres no certainty, Scarce warrantable, by the word of God, Yet Scholars use them, if not good, the more, Their fault, my fancy tells me so. I will not tell you. Now sir, you are welcome home, this idle chat Hath shortened our way: I'll to my Dayerie; I must spare time to see my house wifery. Shall I not have a pleasant journey on't Think you, that must take such provision With me: a Tankard full of Spanish Wine Like those in London Water-bearers use; The which the Merchant sends to his Father A baked Swan, and two huge Turky-cockes; Two bottles of French Wine, the Sergeant sends And M. Flutterkin. I am their man Must do their business, must haste on a before, While they take leisure: Nay I'll get two more To wait on me, and row me in a boat With this my luggage: when I am dry, I'll drink, And taste a bit: but that the Pies are whole; Oh theres the grief: but yet I'll have a trick Shall serve my turn, ere I will starve for meat. Three English miles, and neither drink nor eat? It is too great a journey, I shall scarce hold out Without refreshing, something by the way, Will do me good, but for mine honest men; I'll keep them sober, give them never a drop Till they come there, unto the Younkers house, Where they shall have enough; too much I doubt Without more heed; yet none will force them drink; But if they'll takte, their Buttery is so free. A drunkard will be catched, before he's beware; There's Hans his man, that rascal Beere-pot, He will be doing, though he gets the worst; And when his head flies light, why then he runs To look to his horse, and there he falls a sleep Over ears in litter; but I'll watch him now. I'll keep him from the Stable; then I am sure To nog him soundly; I'll eorroborate My Peare-pot bravely; I'll buffticulate, And counter-ieere him with my terms of Art; Ribrost his downs, fling up my Gallants heals; Make him take heed hereafter: be he wise To deal with Soldiers in a drinking prize. But time hastes on, and I must hence with speed; What's left with me in trust, I'll doo't indeed. Burston dantmarden, calaminthay pindara toekson, Marnuta maltalton, tintima marra tolon. I brought with me great store of Barbary gold; But all is gone, my parrell quite worn out; And in this fashion am ashamed to go, For fear my father would not look on me; But if good fortune furnish me again. With your free wills I'll run from hence to Spain. Here may you see how fortune turns her wheel: I that before did many men command; Am now constrainde to serve my Master's man; For Fortune I care not, that fickle Whore; I will be merry still, though near so poor.