PEDLER

Oh this pack, this pack, this heavy pack, It is so heavy, it hath almost broke my back. Weary, nay I was never so weary, Since I passed Carouse Ferry: Time it is to set it down, Would to God I were near some good Town: A penny for a pot of drink, I shall die for thirst, truly I think. A great way have I gone since I drank, Fourteen mile beyond the Scottish bank. Few Pedlars take such pain: I am feign to buy all my beware in Spain. And because I would have all my beware good, Sometime I pass unto Jasons wood. Under the pool Antarticke there I was, Whereas I spoke with the mighty Atlas. Of whom for money I had a passport, That through Celum Imperium, I might resort. From thence unto Primum Mobily, There bought I a stone called Idake Toy, In the which there is a spirit enclosed, Whom truly when I am disposed, I can tell what is said or done; From under the Constellation of the Moon: Unto the centor of the earth indeed, Whither I purpose to go with all speed. To Celum aquinum, I came from thence, And there bestowed I the most of my pence: Yet to tell you the truth of the matter, I was almost perished with water; Time it was to call for a boat, Three days in the water, I stood up to the throat; Yet as hard as the world went there, To fill up my pack I bought more gear. There bought I a stone called Calbrates, O haphie is he that hath such a stone: I tell you that thousands cannot get one. For this stone gives wisdom, honour and grace, And defendeth from perils in every place. If that with Dyostarydes you could speak, Your mind unto him you might break. Then came I to the firmament, And to pass thence I had commandment. Saturn was angry and very fierce, The causes why, I will not now rehearse: Jupiter could not pacify the cause, Then Mars eased them with stafford laws. Soll engendered such a sort of flies: So that they had almost bitten out mine eyes. Then passed I by Venus, Mercury, & the Moon, From whence I came since yesterday at noon: Yet as hard as the world was there, To fill up my pack I bought more gear. A stone I bought which Tenya they call, This stone hath the best property of all: For it will make him to speak that is dumb, And be able to tell of things to come. This stone I bear under my tongue always, So that I can tell what they do or say. Well up with my pack and get me hence, There is no remedy I must trudge for small pence. Conyskins maids, Conyskins maid, Yonder comes one, I am well apaid. I have indeed, but they be some what deer: Such as will break before they will bow, Not Like unto maidens the truth for to speak, Which before they will break they will bend. I tell you my needles and pins be more worth, Than you are worthy for your fair looks to see: You will not buy, I know so much of your mind, Therefore at this time you shall not have your lust: For if my needles or pins should take any wind, They would canker by and by, and take rust. Where fire is, a man may perceive by the smoke, Think not but that I know a Cat from a Cony: I am acquainted well enough with Hope's lay, Learned I have to know chaff from corn: Before ought you have of me you shall pay, You shall not beguile, and then laugh me to scorn. Maid I pray you, let me have a word or two in your ear, By the same token there stands a fat. So sure as you are a maid and virgin pure, So sure I stood on the pillary. And as sure as you are gentle and demure, I never used enchantment or sorcery, But maid a word or two in your ear again, If it may be it shall be as you said: The same day there fell a great tempest of rain; Stay a while, as hitherto you have stayed. This was said and done, the eighth day of July, You shall have that you had not, and loose that you have. Did you never hear of a maid called Pleias? She had six sisters, and herself made up the seventh These were the daughters of the mighty Atlas, Who by his own power holds up the heaven. But mark what I say, when Hely shall stop her light, Then maids of England, weep, wail, and sorrow For they that go maidens to bed over night, I will not say I, what they shall do on the morrow. I wish you to keep your raised work clean, But in needlework I will be no meddler. By my troth mother you say the truth, By the fruits a man may soon know the tree, There was never seen such idleness in youth, And that in high and low of every degree. For young men to be idle it is intolerable, But maidens to be idle and of any state: Is a thing most pernicious and detestable. For idleness unto all mischief is and open gate. I could rehearse a sort of damsels by name, Which through idleness, learned things not to be spoken, But what was their end they came all to shame: As she did which dance for John Baptists head, by the same token. Without doubt you never spent better, As fine Jenuper as any is in Fangringosse wood, But I pray you let me answer your daughter, Of her I tell you, you may have very great joy, She is yours, and you have dearly bought her, But yet you must bid her beware of one evil toy. Well maid I pray you let me see your hand, I will keep counsel, I swear by mine honesty. I can tell as much by your face and look, As I can tell by looking the lines of your hand: Now surely of late I read in a book, That few maidens shall be left in the land. But to my words I would have you be attendant, The sin of maidens God hath already so punished, That a man cannot get and honest maid servant, Dead they are I ween, and clean extinguished: But when the dog holds the bull with the golden horns, Then thus it shall come to pass, I dare lay my head: That for money we shall get no new Ale in corns, For all English maids that year shall be dead. Passion of God, now am I put to my trump, Mother, I perceive your daughter hath gone to school: Marry there she paid me home again jump. But mother, I pray you let me ask you one thing, Can your daughter work at times void? Well, to housewifry let her apply her mind: For within a while shall be one Eclipse of the Sun, As by good learning, surely I do find, That then shall be finished that now is begun. Proud looks, stretched out necks, and wanton eyes, Their frolic cheer, thkir fine walks, and tripping: With all their pleasures which they now do devise, Their feasting, disguising, their kissing and clipping, Rich shows, strange funerals, precious abiliments, Golden collers, spangs, bracelets, bonnets, and hoods, Painted and laid out hair, filides, and neither ornaments. Their chains, & sumptuous apparel, that cost great goods, Earing jewels, jems, to set out their faces, Change of garments, cassocks, vales, lanes fine, Needles, glasses, partlets, fillets, and bungraces, With cullours curious to make the face shine. After this your needle work will be nought worth, Therefore some other occupation you must learn: You that intend to set your children forth, Must teach them to labour, their livings to earn. And it had pleased you, you might have gone away rather, But hear you, declare what good you can: Father why suffer you not your daughter to marry: She is old enough to have and husband. Mother, there is a story of King Vertyger, Whither it be true of say or no, I am not able: Eugustus played the partly of a murderer; But some men takes it but for a fable. But this is true, out of the South East, Cain comes before, and shall come again, A strange, horrible, and monstrous beast, By whom all old women shall be devoured plain. The womanhead of your daughter here I do see. I say no more, of mine honesty it is too bade. A stopping morsel anon to you I will give, I will be even with you, I swear by my holy dome. I promise you mother, I do not scoff, Dreadful he is, and horrible to be hold. And hugebeast, and of a marvelous strength, From Dover to Weighed, head, tail, and mouth: We esteem him to be larger in length, And in breadth, from Donwish to Perchmouth, He hath devoured all the old women in Africa, And now he hastes into Drop with all speed: Merchant men can tell you, that use there to traffic, To talk any more of the matter, what shall it needs. Father be these lies that I speak, He shall snatch up the husband with the wife: And because the old man Gods laws do break, In a strange nation he shall end his life. But when this shall come to pass, As it shall come to pass be sure of that, Then father's and mother's shall cry alas, For their own children shall be thrown down flat. True maid, fie for shame, why do you swear? I know more then the priest spoke of on Sunday: Remember you not what I said even now to you in your ear? The matter was broken the six day of May. But when angry Saturn shall have the regiment, And rule again as he did first: Then fair maids shall die through famishment, And young springals shall perish for thirst. Father I have a pair of spectacles in my pack, That will cause you to see as well behind as before: For in your house is played many a knack, Which of my mind you shall know more. Though my spectacles you intend to buy, You shall perceive your own negligence, You suffer your children to swear and lie, And you laugh thereat and have patience, Father's and mother's, kinsfolks and friends, So mordinately do their children love: That they are parents of bodies, but poisoners of minds, As my saying right well here shall prove. But when Phaebus shall enter into the Lion: There shall be such a great burning heat: That shall burn up your children every one. And they that be left on live, strange gotches shall eat. Parents and masters in this most mirth truly, Shall be cant up with a sudden ravishment: Look for this in the month of July, Ramnasia will not delay her punishment. I thank you surely with all my heart, I will go home with you with a good will: Of all that is in my pack you shall have partly, For of physic I tell you, I can good skill. Then I pray you let us have a song, In token that we be friends, and all as one. Then a song of the Pedlar now let us have, You know your rests, and when you shall come in. I can tell what is done at Alexaadry, Say what you will, you shall find me cold. There needs no further declaration, For here your self have obsolued your own sentence. What man think not I am altogether a fool, I know what a man is by his sisnomie, At little Wytham seven years I went to school: And there learned I the science of Morosophie. Wherein by your nose, by the read streamer, Another is, you keep fast your faculties. Father, many times you are in a strange taking, And namely when you should be in quiet: You dream sometime being broad waking: For the bright sunlight, is not for old men's diet. But do you dream father, do you say? Lord, Lord, that is a true prophecy: As touching that there is one does invay, And says that a boy of and hundred year old shall die. The eldest that be, were sometime boys, Wherein they followed their own sensual will: If men of great age use the same toys, What are they else but very boys still. Children born of wicked parents says he, Shall be witness of their parents wickedness: For how could the children so mischievous be, Except their parents suffered their unhappiness, But there is much evil seed sown and vpsprong, For lack of moisture and pleasant dews, They shall wither away while they be young, A while they shall tarry here for pleasant shows. But age you do say is right honourable, Which age consisteth in many years and long time, A men wisdom is his age commendable, And his age is a pure life without crime. About the Country with me I do it bear, Store of such gear I tell you I have in my pack. Behold how my pack to the ground does cleave, I would it were on my shoulder, as leefe as forty pence. Who told me that you were a Traveller? And whom all the world could not satisfy? In the devils name you are a merchant venturer, Of your spoils the Barbarians can testify. Conyskins maids, conyskins for old pastes, What lack you? what buy you? any good pins, Knit caps for children, biggens and wastes? Come let us bargain, bring forth your Conyskins. What will you give for a pack of good scarlets, Other will be glad of them you refuse, In faith I mock not, why look you big? What man, I come hither to be merry, In your life time you have not known a livelier twig, I will say nothing that shall make you angry. I spoke it, but I promised it not yet, What will you give for a truss of cloth of Tissue? By my troth you say very truth, The truth with your own mouth is verified, The most of your sort are idle from their youth, Yea, so I say, because they are never well occupied, As touching that in a book of Latin of late I did find, Which does the manner of Travellers publish, The quick Mariner says, that travellers in the East partly of Jude, Through seas and floods they work all the euish. Worse and all this another Poet does say, That merchants, God and his Saints does forswear, So that advantage obtain thereby they may, Worthy to be drowned in hell and to burn there. Think not but that I have such gear in store, I will speak it in Latin at your desire. Pariuratta suo post ponet mittunt lucre mircatur, Stigijs non nisi olignis aquis. Beside this, there is written in the same book, The shamefullest slanders that ever I did see: When you will master Traveller, theron you may look, The devil on the lie, and yet great slanders they be. That unhappy writer, writeth vnreuently, All that I said, I spoke but in sport. He is indeed sir, you will not say the contrary, But he that writ the book somewhat hath seen, He prayeth God, that some of you may soon miscarry, For the whole decay of that you have be, If English pure Coin in other countries, Be but worth and half penny in a shilling more then it is here, You will find means to deceive all degrees, And convey the most partly over in a year. Who should hold with the shoe but the sole? The Mariner and the Traveller are all one: In the realm alteadie you have a fowl hold, Whereof you shall know more of my mind anon. You are not Like to live till you be old, Your fortune is to die upward. Your state will continue but a while, When Juno shall be desorsed from Jupiter, Then for pride, covetousness, excess, and guile, Shall perish every venturing Traveller, There shall not be left one merchant says he, And no man shall buy your merchandise any more, That time will come that thus it shall be, Therefore evil got goods do you again restore. Look what I have said, I will say, and say again, That for pride, covetousness, and excess: All the travellers from Armenia, or the highest mountain In one hour shall loose their substance and riches. Sephyrus with horrible blasts shall blow, The heart of the sea shall ear up your treasure, The huge waves shall all ships overthrow: They shall be drowned and all their pleasures I will tell you also when that shall come to pass, When the daughter of Pluto shall reign over all: Also when the daughter of Alkeron shall guide Midas, Then by and by shall merchants have a great fallen. Words weigh not, but are light, and fly in the wind, But mark when words shall be turned into fire Then words full heavy you are Like to find, For that shall fallen upon you that did upon Tyre. When Bacchus was disposed to sail unto Naxion The Mariners promised to bring him thither, But they returned towards another nation, Purposing of him to make a spoil together. They thought to have sold Bacchus for money, But he being a God, prophesied their treachery, Turned into gall, that they had made bony, And anon justly recompensed their injury. Their Taklings and Cables, they turned into Serpents, Their other Balassing into Tygars, and other beasts else, He reued the Mariners, of their mischievous intents, Threw them into the seas, and turned them into Makerels Therefore the son of man, joineth you together. A garment they say, shall perish with the sleeves, At such a time as you do not consider. I speak not of this Realm, you take me amiss, All my talk is of the noble Ci j of Tyre, There shall not be left a man against the wall to piss, And those that plagues consume not, shall be destroyed with fire, I confess one God the blessed Trinity, God the father, God the son, and God the holy Ghost, This God intends shortly to make a triplicity, Whereby shall be consumed, from the least to the most, But this I say to you master Mariner, You are skilled well you say in Astronomy, Of the state of Charles Wain, you are not to learn, When Art pholos hideth his physiognomy Then of the foresaid gear God does you warn, When Arthur shall be , And go before the great e, Then out of hand comes all this gear forward, Which shortly will come to I fear. The days are come to pass spoken of before, That such as can see, are yet still blind: And they that of knowledge have great store, Yet are they without understanding of the mind. Artificer, artificer, you are and artificer, That is, one living by and occupation, God grant you be better than the Traveller, And better then the conveyer of abomination. What say the most pestelent Leasemongers? If that all the houses in London I were able to let, I would let them all to Alians and strangers, Before in any of them and Englishman I would set For why a stranger will give me what I will require And at his day he will keep touch and pay: And English man in London cannot and house hire Except he be undone for ever and a day. Three parts in London are already Alians, Other mongrels, Alians children, mischievously mixed, And that with the most detestable Barbarians, Which here for ever hath their dwellings fixed: Still you Mariners bring them in daily, So you may have pence, You make your selves rich and go gaily, I would you were as ready to carry them hence. You would bring in the devil for pence and groats: You shall see them one day play their parts gaily, When we think least, they shall cut our throats. O holy Gospel, o tidings of health most pure, Thou art made a cloak to all abomination, Vengeance hangs over your head be you sure, For misusing the word of men salvation, What mischief and outrage hath be wrought, And that under the pretence of the Gospel, There is no heresy, no impiety, no sacrilege on sought, And all painted out, with the colour of the Gospel. Will you have one word for all? Oh that all bankrupts, pirates, and usurers, Ingroses, filthy farmers, and sacrilegers, Burglaries, lease mongers, promoters, false Mariners, Might be examined, with counterfeit Artificers. Conyskins maids, Conyskins for old pastes, What lack you, what buy you, any good pins, Knit caps for children, biggens, and wastes, Come let us bargain, bring forth your Conyskins, I pray you rid my pack you three, I promise you, I will fell you very good cheap, If upon the price we can agree, Of wares for each of you, I have a very great heap. And it will please you to help to sing a ballet before you go I will teach you cunningly to make the water. Behold I have ballet books here, Truly pricked, with your rests, and where you shall come in. Against my coming, provide a purse of pence, For I can fell you a prosperous and a good wind. I have in my pack also another stone, Used with another thing that I do know, Will cause a rough wind soon to be calm anon, And in what quarter you will the wind to blow. Master Mariner for you I have and Adamant, I suppose there is no better in this world wide: Although it be rough and unpleasant, Yet you had never the Like, your needle to guide. Also for the master of a ship I have a Carded, Compiled by A , the first Astronomer If to the valve thereof, you will give me reward, You shall have it before another master Mariner. I will promise you to come the next tied, If for money I can get a whery boat: If not, I will take my nag and ride, I pass not a little for wetting of my coat. To break my promise it were against all reason, Yet a thing for true Artificers I do save, I have in my pack only one tool, Which will serve for all kind of occupations Euclides. the first of Geometrisians school Invented it through marvelous inspirations. Thereon you may make a Sith the grass for to mow, Also a Drappell to join ships together: A Coulter or Share, to plough before they do sow, The rest of the Tales you may now consider. Such a tool it is, I as will endure, Even unto the world's consummation, After I have performed my promise truly, With the Mariner and also the Traveller, I will return again this way duly, And then you shall see my tool, master Artificer. Conyskins maids, conyskins for pins and laces, Wot you what sirrah, I have be at both places; I can tell thee such news as thou never heardst off, Earnest matter, I will neither fable nor scoff, The Mariner hath promised the Traveller To carry him as far as the River Awroer, In the which he shall find the stones whereof I told, Wherewith all thing that they touch, shall be turned to gold. They are Like thereby to have little advantage, For they are Like to perish at the same voyage. To pass through Marybosse Ferry they have chosen, In the which sea, unto death they shall be frozen. The Mariners shall be turned into Makerels, And the Travellers into Pickerels. Pikes they say in the salt water will not live, Pity it were that Pikes in the water should thrive, For all young Fry in the sea they would eat, So that upon fasting days we should get no meat. Therefore on the sea they shall be turned into Seals, And their wives into Barganders and Teals, Yet among the gods, for their wives was great dissension, But I trust they will soon end their contention. Some made reasons, & would have the women to be Wood cocks, Nay quoth the other, it were meeter they should be Peacocks. To conclude, because they are so tender and nesh, They are Like to be made neither good fish nor good flesh. You are a Landlord and have many Tenants, A great mischance is happened among your servants. Now one of them does another devour. Sir it is a strange thing to see your house, This year there is Like to be good store of souse: Your wife by the stroke of God is turned to a Cow, And your youngest daughter, she is turned to a Sow The rest of your children, a sort of Pretty twigs, Now are they altered, and turned to pigs. To me you may say your pleasure and mind, But as I have said, you are Like it to find. Your Oxen and cattle, are turned to Hedgehogs, And your great multitude of sheep, are turned into Frogs. The greatest wonder it is yet behind, All your Tenants have left their humane kind. Some are turned into Spaniels, and some into Greyhouds, These make not a little ado upon your grounds. That you are a Landlord I do understand, Now to look to this gear, it stands you in hand. Did you never hear of one called Acteon? You are Like to play Acteons partly, For you shall be turned to a wild heart. And the dogs which to keep you were wont, With most cruel death shall you hunt. What will your raised rends help? When you shall be torn of every whelp. Your unsatiable covetousness, your shameful simony, Your sacrilege accursed, by Gods own testimony. These and such other plagues on you shall light, When Tyton Like the Sun, shall shine at midnight. Watch, for within these few it will be, They are alive that these plagues shall see. Why then how shall I fell my beware? Of points in my pack I have and whole gross. But I suppose you cannot tell what points they be: I will come anon, but I am passed care, Sing and be merry, hab or nab, away the mare. It begins, it springs, it flourishes, Woe be unto them that such plants nourishes. I dare lay as much as I am worth, That strange monsters they shall bring forth. Did you never hear of and Island called Thewle? Near to the Orcardes compassed with the sea, Near the same place there is a pleasant land, Wherein is great wonders as I understand. This land was sometime full of men, Such, as one of them were as good as ten: Now are they altered into beasts and fowls, As into Lyons, Bears, Kites, Swine, and Owls. God is able to take from them their beastly heart, And into the shape of men again them convert. Seven years to declare his pomp, He punished the mighty king Nabuchodonozor, If all men had seen these men, as I have seen, And see them at these days, it would make them weep I ween. No man will hear the Painter, but a popish priest. By my faith and troth, so do the Pedlar prophecy, The days are come says he, that Bishops and Priests all, Because they are the beginners of all controversy, In one day they shall be consumed both great and small. Right reverent Interpreter, learned and wise: I suppose that you are of that judgement, That he that uttereth another men vice, Is not therefore partaker of his lewd document: I say no more, but God amend all that is amiss, I thought here more to have said: My words they be not, but they be his, Which to utter truly, I am afraid. Nay sir, he hath not so much of the Clergy spoken, But much more he railed upon Justices: For Gods sake apprehend him, and cause him to open The things he hath spoken of men in their offices. By my troth, even so did the Pedlar speak, Too bade he railed against Justices, It makes the heart in my body to break, To hear his Invectives against all Officers. To utter such lewd talk I am half afraid, Would to God you would go about, him to apprehend. Of Gentlemen he rehearsed a found fable, I wot not how the devil he brought it about: Gentlemen quoth he, that be no Gentlemen born, But such as come up by spiritual spoil: Shall be turned into horses, to eat Hay and corn, And among other beasts compelled to toil. Time it is that such as he were known, For else he and they will cause much hate. The Justices quoth he, to hell quick shall sink, For that they are not hinderers of the verity: But because at other men's matters they do wink, Living themselves Like epicures, in all carnality. Therefore the most of the ̄ says he, shall be turned into moles, Because they are covetous, and in heart blind: Yet some of them shall be turned into black birds, called coals, Them he mean, that be ever gentle and kind. A little man sir, even of my stature, And as touching age, in faith but a lad. Yet sir, saving your advise, Men ought to rail upon authority, For Apostle Paul both godly and wise, Revoked his words spoken with severity: All his talk is not worth a hearing bone, For of many of them I am able to testify, Servingmen quoth he, that wear breeches Like faggots, Which in fleshly idleness consume their lives, Shall be first converted into maggots, And afterwards turned to drones, and live in hives. A fellow he is most unconstant and unstable, And such a one as will you right soon beguile: And told a tale of the Prophcie of Jeremy: When God bade hide by the River Euphrates, I wot not what he meant by that Prophecy, For anon he was in hand with Socrates. Not one word talketh he of this religion, Neither of Queen, Council, Lord, Knight, nor Squire: All his talk is of a land called Ilion, And of a City far of, called Tyre. Marry thus he says, though Princes themselves be good, Yet are they Like at Gods hand to be punished: For at their hands, God will require their subjects blood, Which through their sufferance into sin hath perished. He says the world is so ill it cannot be amended. And that we sin daily against the holy Ghost, Marry one thing comes now to my remembrance, He cries out upon suppressed lands: The abuse of them cries to God for vengeance, For most of them are come into wicked men's hands. When the Pedlar told this tale, truly he wept: Alas, alas, quoth he, how are the poor Tenants handled? They which through their labors good houses kept, Now are they thrown out, their goods wasted & mangled. Of them to me he told a great proces, Would to God quoth he, they had been reserved to the crown, They would have maintained the Princes with riches, And have kept wealthy Tenants, in every Town. Now truly my Lord, I never liked his conversation, Yet to know his mind, I held him up with yea and nay: Nay my Lord, if I should speak all that he have said, I might chance to get my self displeasure: Your honour knoweth that words are not weighed, Where the tongue uses no reasonable measure. All Judges quoth he, love rewards, and follow gifts, They pervert justice, and equal judgement: To save malefactors, they make fowl shifts, And some receive money to condemn the innocent. He cryeth out of strangers and free Denisons, Which are devourers of this Realm: Not only devour they Like monstrous Chameleons, But also steal, and send over by the stream. He says that for money they are made free, And one of these panch-bellied Alians, Devour more, then ten men of our country, Worse then Dogs, Epicures, and Arrians. Of all his talk thus he did conclude, Since men upon the earth was first create, Of Enchanters and Conjurers, there was never such a multi tude, Both of young and old, of every estate: So many says he, be in the said Ilion, That all of whom we have spoken of here, Shall be altered and changed by evil spirits delusion, Into beasts, fowls, and fish, within a year: So that Ilion, and the populous City Tyre, Shall be filled with monsters, fierce and hugious: Insomuch that from heaven God shall send fire, To destroy those wicked and religious. I have business to do and must needs depart, But because I have the Pedlars words here recited: I ask pardon, with most lowly and penitent heart, Beseeching your honours, that nothing be required. You shall know more of my mind anon Whist, peace a while, till they be gone. A sirrah, was not this a pretty cast of a Pedlar? I had none other way but this my matters to open: Henceforth I intend to be no meddler, But let them mark well what I have spoken. See and foresee, look within, and look without: Though it be far off, yet it will come: See the third time and look about, Not without, but within, see you, see some. And when you have seen that you shall see, You will think upon the Pedlar I ween: He will be a Drone that now is a Be, I say no more, but God save our Queen. Be ready at midday, and also at midnight, Go forward apace, and also look back: And heavy purse makes a men heart light, There is no remedy, I must again to my pack. Forty thousand enemies to the Crown, The deadly poison of hell, Mark what I have said, and hereto will I I leave to speak of that which a way , I mean coin, and by fraud, craft, and guile, I will not speak of all, fear least I do vary, But God will recompense it within a while Jews, Ruffians, Moors, Turks, and Tartarians. With these you have mixed the virgins people, Anabaptists, Libertines, Epicurians and Arians, Infinite of these, your country to enfeeble, The maidens, men, may go learn to pick a salad: Houses for money they can none get, Poor Crafts men are compelled to take bag and wallet But for your great sins, Tyre shall shortly sink. Go to then, the Pedlar says that all preachers & priests Shall be turned into Swallows the next year, And the new unlearned Ministers, into Robin Redbrests, They shall keep the wood, and sing no more in the quere. He telleth the cause why are never at a stay, For look as in garments they do varry, So do they in ministration day by day, Therefore in the Church they are not Like to tarry. But Like as the Swallow hath a new pleasant voice, Yet the summer is near she does signify, So at their words certain men do rejoice, For a truth to come they do testify: But when that comes that indeed shall come, That more for love then for lucre men shall teach, The Swallows in holes, shall sleep as things dumb, For Eunock and Ely in sackcloth shall preach. These and other things he does prophecy, And namely against them that leave their vocation, Intruding themselves as he says, most unworthy, Into that office of preaching and ministration.