HANDBOUND
AT THE
-1 — -It-CJ-l— -»»-
EARLY ENGLISH POETRY,
BALLADS,
AND POPULAR LITERATURE
OF THE MIDDLE AGES.
EDITED FROM ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS
AND SCARCE PUBLICATIONS.
VOL. xxvir.
LOxXDON.
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
t:\ Hi(HAi;i:>s. sr. martins lank.
M.DCCC.XLIX.
i^
m
1 1 a/
CONTENTS OF VOL. XXVII.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
EDITED HT T. C. CROKEB, ESQ.
SATIRICAL SONGS AND POEMS ON COSTUME.
EDITED BY 1'. W. l-AIRHQI.T, ESQ.
A
BELIEVE AS YOU LIST:
A TRAGEDY.
WRITTEN BY
PHILIP MASSINGER.
NOW FIRST PRINTED.
EUiTKU BY
T. CROFTON CROKER.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
BY RICHARDS, 100, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
M.DCCC.XLIX.
Cfte IJercp ^on'etp*
President,
THE RIGHT HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A.
CoU7lcil,
THOMAS AMYOT, Esq. F.K.S., FS.A.
WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, Esq.
BOLTON CORNEY, Esq., M.R.S.L.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S A., M.R.I A.
J. H. DIXON, Esq.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FAIRHOLT, Esq. F.S.A.
J. M. GUTCH, Esq., F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S ,
F.S.A., Acting Secretary.
AV. JERDAN, Esq. M.R.S.L.
J. S. MOORE, Esq.
E. RALEIGH MORAN, Esq.
T. J. PETTIGREW, Esq. F.R.S., F.S.A.
JAMES PRIOR, Esq. F.S.A., M.R.I.A.
WILLIAM SANDYS, Esq. F.S.A.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A., F S.A., Treasurer.
id
PREFACE.
The only introduction, to what was supposed to
have been a lost play of Massinger's, that can be
required from me on placing that entitled "Beleeve
as you List " in the hands of the Members of the
Percy Society, is a simple statement of the cir-
cumstances under which the manuscript copy of
it came into my possession.
In the fourth volume of the Montldy Mirror,
(a periodical devoted to theatrical affairs and now
scarcely remembered), New Series, p. 177, for
September 1808, the following passage occurs
with reference to the edition of Massinger's
works produced by the late editor of the Quarterly
BevieiL\ " On reading Mr. Gifford's ])reface to
this author, I felt equally inclined with himself,
and indeed every lover of the drama, to lament
the destruction of those plays which were de-
posited in the care of Mr. Warburton's cook.
Among them is the title of one, Beleeve as you
List, in relation to which Colley Gibber has a
remark, voL ii, p. 203, of the Apology for his
Life. He affirms that he had seen it in manu-
VI
script, with the license of Lord Henry Herbert,
May 6, 1631, and, as a proof of its having been
represented, that it was properly marked through-
out. From the mention of this latter circumstance,
it is most probable that Gibber speaks of the play-
house copy at Drury Lane, where he was then
acting. Unless this were the one which fell
into the hands of Mr. W., the manuscript may
yet be in existence, and if so, could perhaps be
traced by Mr. Glfford, with a result similar to
that of the Parliament of Loce, which appears in
his valuable edition."
Tower Hill* July 8, 1808.
Mr. Gifford, however, failed in tracing the manu-
script of " Beleeve as you List," and I have heard
him (1819) more than once lament the circum-
stance, and doubt its existence. The copy now
first printed of that play, it has been my fortune
to edit from the identical manuscript mentioned
in the Montlily Mirror^ which I received from
Samuel Beltz, Esq., of Fulham, nearly five years
since, with the following note.
Colehill Cottage, April 26th, 1844.
My dear Sir, — In overlooking a short time ago
* No doubt the private mark of the well-kuowu Tom Hill.
vu
some old papers in my possession, my attention
was attracted to the enclosed remarkable manu-
script. Massinger, you are aware, wrote at least
thirty-seven plays for the stage, eleven of which
were never printed, and have always been sup-
posed to have shared the fate of some other
valuable papers of Warburton, the co-temporary
Somerset Herald, whose cook used them for the
purpose of lighting her fires. The play called
" Beleeve as you List," has been repeatedly de-
scribed as being one of the lost pieces; but we
have here a proof that the sins of the poor cook
have been exaggerated.
I have reason to believe that the MS. was
formerly in the hands of David Garrick, in whose
time the merits of Massinger were not highly
appreciated ; and who might not, therefore, have
had the same regard for the missing document,
as it would subsequently have obtained from the
late Mr. Gifford had it fortunately fallen into his
hands.
It has unluckily suffered somewhat from time
and carelessness ; but one leaf only seems to have
been sacrificed in "Warburton's kitchen, if it ever
found its way at all into that den of iniquity.
The title, at least, I believe to be in Massinger's
own hand-writing; and the license, in that of Sir
Henry Herbert, dated 6 May, 1631, proves its
originality. It is well known from other sources
that it was first acted on the following day.
I do not know whether you will be disposed to
read it throughout, which I confess I have not
had sufficient patience to do. To an editor of the
poet it would be acceptable, although the merits
of the piece might be considered inferior to some
jf those which are already known to the public.
At all events you will oblige me by giving it a
place among your other curiosities.
I am, my dear sir, yours faithfully,
Samuel Beltz.
Mr. Beltz subsequently wrote to me on the 6th
June, as follows : —
" Lest there should be any misconception about
the history of the Massinger MS., I wish to
explain that it is only from inference that I have
supposed it was ever in Garrick's possession. My
late brother was entirely unconscious of its
existence. It was concealed in a vast mass of
rubbish which was submitted to my inspection by
a member of my family previous to its intended
destruction ; and the discovery was made only a
few days before I sent the document to you.
The lumber, from which I selected that and other
papers of less interest, had accumulated in the
course of years from many sources; the origin of
IX
some portions I have been wholly unable to
trace."
The manuscript of the play of " Beleeve as you
List", from its commencement to the termination
of the license, was written on forty-eight pages of
foolscap paper in a small hand, sometimes not
easy to be read. Of the second leaf only an in-
considerable portion i^emains, and the top and
bottom of the paper have been injured in some
places by damp. In four additional pages after
the license, the prologue, epilogue and property
directions are jn-eserved. The latter becomes
peculiarly interesting from the researches of Mr.
J. Payne Collier, whose " Memorials of the
principal actors in the plays of Shakespeare",
printed for the Shakespeare Society, have made us
familiar, not only with the names, but the biogra-
phies of Elyard, Swanston, Thomas Pollard,
Joseph Taylor, Richard Robinson, John Lowin,
and Robert Benfeild.
The manuscript is stitched up in a parchment
cover, which appears to have been a cancelled
" Indenture, made the seventh dale of October
in the seven and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of
our Sovereigne L Ireland,
Queen, defender of the falthe, &c. Between
Nicholas Fuller, of London, Esquier — of the one
parte, and Thomas " . . . .as may be after-
wards gleaned, Jones and Judith (his wife)
respecting a " tennament and plott of grounde,
heretofore called Ramsey Corte, and nowe of
late commonly called or knowne by the name of"
. . . . and it is presmned being in the parish
of St. " Giles's without, Criplegate, in the
suburbs of the citie of London." This holding,
it further appears, was to be for thirty years,
and for the payment of " Tenne shillinges." On
the outside page of this parchment, or back of tlie
cancelled indenture, is written the title, in what I
agree with Mr. Beltz in regardino; as Massinger's
autograph, and of which I have had, under
instructions from the Council of the Percy Society,
a fjic-simile carefully prepared. Although Mas-
singer's name is there spelled Massenger, those
who recollect the idle controversy about the
spelling of the name of our immortal bard, his
contemporary, will perhaps thank me for not
saying one word upon the subject beyond merely
calling attention to it, and following Mr. Gifford as
my authority, that he did spell his name Masslnger.
If, however, I at once yield to the popular
reading, or rather spelling, in this matter, I feel
it to be my duty, as an honest editor, to retain
the punctuation of the manuscript as far as I
have been able to do so, being satisfied, from
certain indications in the colour of the inks, and
XI
other circumstances, that Massinger himself must
partially have punctuated it, or corrected and
dictated the punctuation. To this nicety (as it
may be called) my attention was not particularly
directed until after p. 32 had passed from my
hands into those of the printer; when, upon for-
warding the subsequent proof-sheet, I received a
solemn protest from Mr. Richards, the very
zealous, correct, and intelligent printer of all the
books issued by the Percy, and other Archaeolo-
gical Associations, to the effect, that he had
found my " punctuation so much in opposition to
all our modern rules," that he hesitated proceed-
ing without specific directions for his guidance.
I found myself, therefore, called upon to take
"those vile characters," — as my old schoolmaster
used to call them, and, most amusingly, abuse his
pupils accordingly, under the names of stop, full
stop, colon, semi-colon, and comma, — into very
serious consideration.
"The former sheets" (to d), observed Mr.
Richards, "are punctuated as sense directs, but
in the present case I conceive that you follow
the manuscript. Do not all editors (Mr. Dyce,
for example) assist the reader to the sense of
their author ? No one but will imagine that
such errors as full stops where commas are dic-
tated, and vice-versa, originate in the printer's
xu
ignorance. Two-and-twenty, printed two, and
ticenUj, is a blunder not worth retaining."
Sincerely thanking ]\Ir. Richards for his criti-
cism, and after well weighing its probable results
upon his sensitive desire to be considered a
careful and accurate printer, with my own cor-
responding balance as a faithful editor, I deter-
mined to follow, after page 32, the punctuation
of the manuscript, having previously adhered to
the sjime course with regard to the sjDelling.
For the punctuation, generally speaking, I am
therefore alone responsible; and I cannot perceive
that it offers the slightest impediment to the
compreliension of the perfect sense ; while to my
ear (but I may be mistaken) certain unfishionable
pauses greatly enhance the value of the reading.
The conjectural readings, which the injury the
manuscript has sustained have tempted me to
supply, are marked within brackets, [thus]. And
in my transcript I have not thought it desirable
to retain such ordinary contractions as w*^''. for
which, comandes for commands, and s'". for sir.
Xor have the capital letters been strictly adhered
to.
As the Manuscript commences with " Actus
primi, Scaena prima", p. 1, and there is no list of
Dramatis Personw^ they stand thus arranged,
according to the order of their appearance.
Xlll
Antiochus.
Stoicque.
CaUYSALUS I
Syrus r Ungrateful Slaves of Antloclins.
Geta )
Berecinthius, a Flamen.
1 Merchant ]
2 Merchant [ Asiatics.
3 Merchant j
Flaminius, the Roman Ambassador to Carthage.
CaLISTUS 1 n 77 j *
\ 2 rreeamen.*
Demetrius )
Amilcar, Pritice of the Senate of Carthage.
Han NO ]
AsDRUBAL I Senators of Carthage.
Carthalo )
Lentulus.
Titus.
Prusias.
Philoxenus.
Metellus, a Proco7isul of Lusitania.
Marcellus.
Sempronius, a Centurion.
Jailer.
Officer.
Captain.
Queen.
Courtezan.
Cornelia.
Moorish Waiting-Woman.
* So in the M8. ; but at p. 13 it has beeu erroneously
altered to "Free-men."
It only remains on my part to take this oppor-
tunity of expressing to Mr. Beltz my deep and
sincere gratitude for the distinction he has con-
ferred on me, in confiding to my editorial care a
lost play of Massinger's. No one can be better
aware than himself of the numerous and serious
duties which have occupied my time and attention
for the last ten or twelve years, which must plead
as my apology for delay in placing so valuable a
work beyond the risk of loss.
T. C. C.
3, Gloucester Road, Old Brompton.
December ZQlh, 1S48.
I, 0,5 ^^
)^3
Actus Primi, Sc^na Prima.
Antiochus — Stoicque (m Pliilosophers habits) —
Chrysalus [with a ivriting, opens \_it'\ accidenta[^/l//'])
— Syrus — Geta.
Stoicqne. You are now in sight of Carthage, that
greate cittie,
Which in her empires vastnesse rivalls Rome
At her prowde height ; two howers will bringe you
thither.
Make use of what you have learnde in your longe
travayles ;
And from the golden principles read to you
In th' Athenian Academic ; stand resolvde
For either fortune. You must now forget
The contemplations of a private man ;
And put in action that which may compile
With the majestic of a monarch.
Antiochus. How that title ?
That glorious attribute of majestic,
That troublesome, thowgh most triumphant robe,
Designde mee in my birth, which I have worne
With terror, and astonishement to others,
B
2 BELliEVK AS YOU LIST.
Affirights mec now ! O memorie ! mcmorie !
Of what I was once ! when the easterne worlde
With wonder in my May of youth look'd on mee.
Embassadors of the most potent kinges
"With noble aemulation contendinge
To court my freindship, their faire daughters offer'd,
As pledges to assure it with all porape
And circumstance of glorie. Rome, her selfe,
And Carthage, gemulous, whose side I showlde
Confirrae in my protection. O remembrance,
With what ingenious crueltie, and tortures,
Out of a due consideration of
My present, lowe, and desperate condition,
Do'st thou afflicte mee now.
Stoicque. You must oppose
(For soe the Stoicque discipline commandes you)
That wisdome, with your pacyence fortefi'd.
Which holdes dominion over fate, against
The torrent of your passion.
Antiochus. I showlde ;
I doe confesse I showlde, yf I cowlde drincke up
That river of forgetfullnesse poets dreame of.
But still in dreadfull formes, (philosophic wantinge
Power to remove 'em,) all those innocent spirits
Borroweinge againe their bodies, gashde with woundes,
(Which strowde Achaia's bloodie plaines, and made
Rivoletts of gore) appeare to mee exactinge
A stricte accompte of my ambition's follye.
For the exposinge of twelve thowsande soules
( Whoe fell that fatall day) to certaine ruine ;
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 6
Neither the counsaile of the Persian kinge
Prewaylinge with mce, nor the grave advice
Of my wise enemie, Marcus Scaurus, hindriuge
My desperate enterprise to late repented.
Mee thinckes I now looke on my butcher'd armie.
Stoicque. This is meere melancholye.
Antiochus. O 't is more, sir ;
Here, there, and every where, they doe pursue mee.
The genius of my cuntrie, made a slave,
Like a weepinge mother seemes to kneele before mee,
Wringeinge her manacled handes ; the hopefull youth.
And braverie of my kingdome, in their pale
And ghastlye lookes lamentinge that they were
To soone by my meanes fore'd from their sweete beeing:
Old [ ]sper with his fierce beamcs nour[ishing]e
in vaine
Their olives and
Traynde up in all delights, or sacred to
The chaste Diana's rites, compelde to bowe to
The souldier's lusts, or at an outcrie solde
Under the speare, like beasts to bee spurnde, and trod on
By their prowde mistrisses the Roman matrons.
O, sir ! consyder then, yf it can bee
In the constancie of a Stoicque to indure
What nowe I suffer.
Stoicque. Two and twentye yeares
Travaylinge ore the workle, you have pay'd the forfeite
Of this ingagement, shed a sea of teares
In your sorrowe for it ; and now beeinge call'd from
The rigour of a stricte philosopher's life,
b2
4 BKLEKVE AS YOU LIST.
By the cries of your poorc cuntrie, you are bounde,
With an obedient cheerefulhiesse, to follow
The path that you are enterd in, which will
Guide you out of a wildernesse of horror,
To the flourishinge plaines of safetie, the just gods
Smoothinge the way before you.
Antiochus. Thowgh I grant
That all impossibilities are easie
To their omnipotence, gieve mee leave to feare
The more then doubtfull issue. Can it fall
In the compasse of my hopes, the lordlye Romans
Soe longe possessde of Asia, their plea
Made good by conquest, and that ratefide
AVith their relligious authoritie ;
The propagation of the common welth.
To whose increase they are sworue to, will ere part with
A pray soe pretious, and deerelye purchasde ?
A tigresse, circlde with her famish 'd whelpes,
"Will sooner yeelde a lambe, snatchde from the flocke,
To the dumbe oratorie of the ewe,
Then Rome restore one foote of earth that may
Diminishe her wast empire.
Stoicque. In her will
This may bee granted ; but you have a title
Soe stronge, and cleare, that there's noe colour left
To varnishe Rome's pretences. Ad this, sir.
The Asian princes, warn'd by your example
And yet unconquer'd, never will consent
That such a foule example of injustice
Shall to the scandall of the present age,
BELEEVE AS YOU LTST.
Hereafter bee recorded. They in this
Are equallie ingag'd with you, and must,
Thowgli not in love to justice, for their safetie,
In policie assist, garde, and protecte you,
And you may rest assur'd, neither the kinge
Of Parthia, the Gauls, nor big bonde Germans,
Nor this greate Carthage, grovvne alreadie jealous
Of Rome's incrochinge empire, will crie aime
To such an usurpation, which must
Take from their owne securitie. Besides,
Your mother was a Roman ; for her sake.
And the famelies from which shee is deriv'd.
You must finde favour.
Antiochus. For her sake, alas ! sir.
Ambition knowes noe kinred ; right and lawful!
Was never yet founde as a marginall note
In the blacke booke of profit. I am suncke
To lowe to be bouyde up, it beeinge lielde
A foolishe weakenesse, and disease in statists
In favour of a weake man to provoke
Such as are mightie : the imperious waves
Of my callamities [hav]e alreadie fallne
[wi]ll unravell
Note. — The bottom of the first leaf of the MS. has been in-
jured by clamp. Page two ends here, and page one terminates
with lines 15 and 16 as printed in page three. The Editor is
indebted to the perseverance and industry of Mr. Fairholt for
the reading, so far as it has been accomplished, of these im-
perfect lines.
BELEEVE AS XOU LIST,
Nine prevujus lines appear to be wanting.
An
Five lines wanting.
Chr
Gel
Three lines ivanting.
iSyrus.
Five lilies wanting.
Get
iSyr
Geta.
Ttoo lines wanting.
Chrysalus.
Seven lines wanting.
O
w
Syrus. Hav
A k[inge]
Chrysalus. A k[inge]
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Alas
Buried
All
In tr
Tom
This is
Geta. Wee k
Chrysalus. But w
To bee
Noe soon
Shall for
Hee's p
Syrus. All that
Geta. Humph.
Chrysalus. And wher
Your bu
Geta. I am in
And feele in
Chrysalus. A bulls
When you
Make the cur
Syrus. Vv'hat woukle
Geta. Or what doe yo
Chrysahis. To save my se
And what is mo
Not one in supp
Bee wantinjre so
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Note. — Pages six and seven correspond with all that remains
of page three of the MS., and pages eight and nine represent all
that can be read of page four. The wanting lines are calculated
by the space occupied in the writing of the opposite page of the
MS.
BELF.EVE AS YOU LIST. JJ
Note. — Thirty-eight lines appear to he wanting. — By a curious
coincidence the last words on the torn page of the MS. are
"Bee wantinge so;" and the opposite page of the MS., as pre-
served, has " the tome booke" as the tox'mination of the hist line.
e more
Five lines wanting.
t
One line wanting.
\^S~\toicque .*
Two lines icanting.
h forth
Three lines ivanting.
e
Two lines ivanting.
nd malice
de you [ejcil Stoicque.
-urns
e
One line wanting.
Ise
vanishde !
One line wanting.
Syrus
is mischief
is open
the torne booke.
* The pen has been drawn through this word in the MS.
10 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
opes despaire with sable winges
ore my head ; the golde with which
us furnish'd mee to supplie my wants
made my first apparence like my selfe
s disloyall villaines ravish'd from mee,
[Wr]etch that I was to tempt their abject mindes
[Wi]th such a purchase. Can I in this weede,
[Wi]thout gold to fee an advocate,
[To] pleade my royall title, nourishe hope
[0]f a recoverie ? Forlorne majestic,
Wantinge the outward glosse, and ceremonie
To gieve it lustre, meetes noe more respecte
Then knowledge with the ignorant. Ha ! what is
Containde in this wast paper ? 'tis indors'de
To the noe kinge Antioehus ; and subscribde,
Noe more thy servant, hut superior, Chrysahis.
What am I falne to ? there is somethinge writ more.
Why this small peece of silver ? what I read may
Reveale the misterie — Forget thou ivert ever
Calld kinge Antioehus, with this charitie
I enter thee a begger. — To towgh heart,
Will nothinge break thee ? O, that now I stood
On some high pyramid, from whence I might
Be scene by the whole worlde, and with a voice
Lowder then thunder, pierce the eares of prowd
And secure greatenesse with the trewe relation
Of my remarkeable storie, that my fall
Might not bee fruitlessc, but still live the greate
Example of man's frayletie. I, that was
BELEKVE AS YOU LIST. 11
Borne and bred up a kinge, whose frowne or snule
Spake death, or life, my will a law ; my person
Environde with an armie ; now exposde
To the contempt, and scorne of ray owne slave ;
Whoe, in his pride, as a god compar'd with raee,
Bids mee become a begger. But complaynts
Are weake and womanishe. I will, like a palme tree,
Growe under my huge waight ; nor shall the feare
Of death or torture, that dejection bringe.
To make mee live, or dye, lesse then a kinge. Exit.
Actus primi, Sc^na secunda. Berecinthius, a
Flamen. 3 Asian Marchants.
Ent. Berecinthius {^vilh 3 papers) and 3 Marchants.
1 Marchant. Wee are growne soe contemptible hee
disdaines
To give us hearinge.
2 Mercliant. Keepes us of at such distance,
And with his Roman gravitie declines
Our sude for conference, as with much more ease
Wee might make our approches to the Parthnen
Without a present, then worke hym to have
A feelinge of our grievances.
3 Marchant. A statesman ?
The divell I thincke, whoe onlye knowes hym truelyc
Can gieve his character. When hee is to determine
A poynt of justice, his wordes fall in measure,
Like plummets of a clocku, observinge time
And just proportion.
12 BELEEVE AS YOU MST.
1 Marchant. But when hee is
To speake in any cawse concernes hym selfe,
Or Rome's republicque, like a gushinge torrent
Not to be stopp'd in its full course, his reasons,
Deliver'd like a seconde Mercuric
Breake in, and b[reak] d[o\vne] whatsoever is
Oppos'd against 'em.
2 Marchant. When hee smiles, let such
Beware as have to doe with hym, for then,
Sans doubt, hee's bent to mischeife.
Berecinthius. As I am
Cybele's flamen (whose most sacred image,
Drawne thus in pompe, I weare upon my brest) ;
I am priveledgde, nor is it in his power
To doe mee wronge, and hee shall finde I can
Thank, and alowd to, when I am not at
Her altar kneelinge. Mother of the gods, what is hee ?
At his best but a patritian of Rome,
His name, Titus Flaminius ; and speake mine,
Berecinthius, Archfiamen to Cybele, it makes as greate
a sownde.
3 Marchant. Trewe, but his place, sir.
And the power it carries in it as Rome's legate,
Gieves hym preheminence ore you.
Berecinthius. Not an atome.
"When morall honestie and jus gentium faile
To lende reliefe to such as are oppres'd,
Relligion must use her strength. I am perfit
In theis notes you gave mee. Doe they contayne at full
Your grievances and losses ?
RELKEVR AS YOU LIST. 13
Enter Flaminius, Calistus, Demetki.
1 Marchant. Woulde they were
As well redres'd, as they are punctuallie
Deliver'd to you.
Berecinthius, Say noe more, they shall,
And to the purpose.
2 Marchant. Heere he comes.
Berecinthius. Have at hym.
Flaminius. Blowe away theis troublesome and im-
portunate drones,
I have embrious of greater consequence
In my imaginations, to which
I must gieve life and forme, not now vouchsafinge
To heare their idle buzzes.
2 Marchant. Note you that.
Berecinthius. Yes, I doe note it ; but the flamen is
not
Soe light to bee remov'd by a groome's breath ;
I must, and will speake, and I thus confront hym.
Flaminius. But that the image of the goddesse, which
Thou wear'st upon thy brest, pi'otects thy rudenesse.
It had forfeyted thy life. Dost thou not tremble
When an incensed Roman frownes ?
Berecinthius. I see
Noe Gorgon in your face.
Flaminius. Must I speake in thunder
Before thow wilt be awde ?
Bereciiithius. I rather looke
For reverence from thee, yf thou respectest
14 BELEIiVE AS YOU LIST.
Tlie goddesse power, and in her name I charge thee
To gieve mee hearinge. If theis lyons rore,
For thy contempt of her expecte a vengeance
vSutable to thy pride.
Flammius. Thou shalt orecorae :
There 's noe contendinge with thee.
3 Marchant. Hitherto,
The flam en hath the better.
1 Marchant. But I feare
Hee will not keepe it.
Berecinthius. Knowe you theis men's faces ?
Flaminius. Yes, yes ; poore Asiaticqs.
Bei-ecinthius. Poore, they are made soe
By your Roman tyrannic and oppression.
\^Flaminius.'\ . . [deeds]
Yf arrogantly you presume to take
The Roman governement, your goddess cannot
Gieve priveledge to it, and you'l finde and feele
'Tis litle lesse then treason, flamen.
Berecinthius. Truth,
In your pride is soe interpreted ; theis poore men,
Theis Asiaticq marchants, whom you looke on
[W]ith such contempt and scorne, are they to whom
[Ro]me owes her braverie ; their industrious serch
[T]o the farthest Inde, with danger to them selves,
Bringes home securitie to you, to you unthanckefull ;
Your magazines are from their sweat supplide ;
The legions, with which you fright the worlde,
Are from their labour pay'd ; the Tirian fishe,
AViiose blood dies your prowde purple, in the colour
BELEKVE AS YOU LIST. 1.)
Distinguishinge the senator's gardcd robe
From a plebeian habit, their nets catch ;
The diamoncle hewde from the rocke, the pearle
Divde for into the bottome of the sea ;
The saphir, rubie^ jacinth, amber, currall,
And all rich ornaments of your Latian dames
Are Asian spoyles ; they are indeede the nurses
And sinnewes of your war, and without them
What cowlde you doe ? Your handkercher.
Flaminms. Wipe your face,
You are in a sweat. The weather's hot, take heede
Of meltinge your fat kidneys.
Berecinthins. There 's noe heate
Can thaw thy frozen conscience.
Flaminius. To it againe now ;
I am not mov'd —
Berecinthius. I see it ; yf you had
The feelinge of a man, you wowlde not suffer
Theis men, whoe have deserv'd soe well, to sincke
Under the burthen of their wronges. Yf they
Are subjects, why injoy they not the right
And priveledge of subjects ? What defence
Can you alleage for your connivence to
The Carthaginian gallies, whoe forc'd from 'em
The prize they tooke, belongeinge not to them
Nor their confcederates ?
Flaminius. With reverence
To your soe sacred goddesse, I must tell you
You are growne presumptuous, and in your demandes
A rash and sawcie flamen. Meddle with
Ifi BKLEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Your inglinge misteries, and keepe in awe
Your gelded ministers. Shall I yeelde accompe
Of what I doe, to you ?
1 Marchant. Hee smiles in frowne.
2 Marchant. Nay, then, I knowe what foUowes.
3 Marchant. In his lookes
A tempest rises.
Flaminius. How dare you complayne ?
Or in a looke repine ? Our governement
Hath bene to easie, and the yoke which Rome,
In her accustomde lennitie, impos'd
Upon your stubborne neckes begets contempt.
Hath our familiar commerce, and tradinge,
Almost as with our sequalls, tought you to
Dispute our actions ? have you quite forgot
What wee are, and you ought to bee ? Shall vassalls
Capitulate with their lordes ?
2 Marchant. I vow hee speakea
In his owne dialecte.
Flaminius. 'Tis to frequent wretches
To have the vanquish'd hate the conqueror,
And from us needes noe answer. Doe not I knowe
How odious the lordlye Roman is
To the despised Asian ? and that
To gaine your libertie, you woulde pull downe
The altars of your gods, and like the gyants
Rayse a newe war gainst Heaven.
1 Marchant. Terrible.
Flaminius. Did you not give assurance of this, when
Giddie Antiochus died ? and rather then
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 17
Accept US guardians of your orphan kingedome,
When the victorious Scaurus with his sword
Pleaded the Roman title, with our vote
You did exclaime against us, as the men
That sought to lay an unjust gripe upon
Your territories ? nere remembringe, that
In the brasse leav'd booke of fate it was set downe
The earth showlde know noe soveraigne but Rome.
Yet you repinde, and rather chose to pay
Homage, and fealtie to the Parthian,
Th' -Egyptian Ptolomee, or indeede any.
Then bow unto the Roman.
Berecinthius. And perhaps
Our governement in them had bene more gentle,
Since yours is insupportable.
Flaminiits. Yf thou wert not
In a free state, the tongue, that beloheth forth [not
Theis blasphemies showlde bee seai''d. For you presume
To trouble mee heereafter. Yf you doe,
You shall, with horror to your prowdest hopes,
Feele reallie that wee have iron hamers
To pulverize rebellion, and that
Wee dare use you as slaves. Bee you to warn'd, sir.
Since this is my last caution. I have scene
A murmurer, like your selfe, for his attemptinge
To rayse sedition in Rome's provinces,
Hang'd up in such a habit. Ex. Flaminius cion siiis.
Berecinthius. I have tooke
Poyson in at my eares, and I shall burst
Yf it come not up in my replie.
c
18 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
1 Merchant. Hee's gone, sir.
Berecinthius. Hee durst not stay mee. Yf hee had,
had foiinde
I woulde not swallow e my spettle.
2 Marchant. As wee must
Our wronges and our disgraces.
3 Marchant. O, the wretched
Condition that we live in ! Made the anvile
On which Rome's tyrannies are shap'd and fashion'd.
1 Marchant. But our callamities there is nothinge
left us,
"Which wee can call our owne.
2 Marchant. Our wives and daughters
Lye open to their lusts ; and such as showlde bee
Our judges, dare not right us.
3 Marchant. O, Antiochus !
Thrice happie were the men whom fate appointed
To fall with thee in Achocias.
2 Marchant. They have set
A period to their miseries.
1 Marchant. AVee survive
To linger out a taedious life, and death :
TVe call in vaine what flies us.
Berecinthius. Yf relligion
Bee not a meere worde only, and the gods
Ent. Antiochus.
Are just, wee shall finde a deliverie
When least expected.
1 Marchant. 'Tis beyonde all hope, sir.
Berecinthius. Ha ? whoe is this ?
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 19
Aiitiochus. Your charitie to a poore man,
As you are Asians.
2 Marchant. Pray you, observe hym.
3 Marchant. I am amazde !
1 Blerchant. I thunderstrooke !
Berecinthius. What are you ?
Antiochus. The kinge Antiochus.
2 Marchant. Or some deitie
That hath assumde his shajie ?
Berecinthius. Hee only differs
In the colour of his haire and age.
Antiochus. Consider
What two-and-twentye yeares of miserie
Can worke upon a wretch ; that longe time spent to
Under distant zeniths, and the change you looke on
Will not deserve your wonder.
1 Marchant. His owne voice !
2 Marchant. His verye countenance ! his forhead !
eies !
3 Marchant. His nose ! his very lippe !
Berecinthius. His stature — speech !
1 Marchant. \_His verie hand, legge andfoote, on the
lefte side shortiir then on the riqht.'W t '^'^^'\ pass^*?''
•^ 'J -' -I ' IS struck out 111
2 Marchant. The moles upon *'' ^^^ ^
His face and handes.
3 Marchant. The scarres, causde by his hurt.s,
On his right browe and head.
Berecinthius. The hollow nesse
Of his under javve, occasion'd by the losse
Of a tooth pull'd out by his chirurgion.
20 BELEEVE AS TOD LIST.
1 Marchant. To confii-rae us,
Tell us your clierurgion's name, when bee serv'd you.
Antiochiis. You all knewe liym.
As I doe you ; Demetrius Castor.
2 Marchant. Strange !
3 Marchant, But most infalliblie trew.
Berecinthius. Soe many markes
Confirminge us, wee faine in our distrusd
A sacrifice for his safetie.
1 Marchant. May Rome smile.
2 Marchant. And Asia once more flourishe.
3 Marchant. You the meanes, sir.
Antiochus. Silence your showtes : I will gieve
stronger proofes
Then theis exterior markes when I appeare
Before the Carthaginian senators,
With whom I have helde more intelligence
And private counsailes, then with all the kinges
Of Asia, or Affrique : I'le amaze them
With the wonder of my storie.
Berecinthius. Yet untill
Your majestic bee furnishde like your selfe,
To a neighbour village —
Antiochus. Where you please : the omen
Of this encounter promises a good issue :
And our gods pleas'd, oppressed Asia,
When ayde is least expected, may shake of
The insultinge Roman bondage, and in mee
Gayne, and injoy her pristine libertie. Exeunt.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 21
Actus Secundi, [ACT II.] Sc.s;na Prima.
E7it. Flaminius and Calistus.
Flaminius. A man that stiles hym selfe Aatiochus,
say you ?
Calistus. Not alone stilde soe, but as such receav'd,
And honor'd by the Asians.
Flaminius. Two impostors,
For their pretension to that fatall name,
Alreadie have pay'd deere, nor shall this third
Escape unpunnish'd.
Calistus. 'Twill exact your wisdome
With an Herculean arme (the cause requires it)
To strangle this new monster in the birth.
For on my life hee hath delivei''d to
The credulous multitude such reasons why
They showlde beleeve hee is the trewe Antiochus,
That with their gratulations for his safetie,
And wishes for his restitution, many
Offer the hazarde of their lives and fortunes
To doe hym service.
Flaminius. Poore seduced fooles.
However, 'tis a buisnesse of such waight
I must not sleepe in't. Is hee now in Carthage ?
Calistus. Noe, sir, remov'd to a grange some two
miles of;
And there the raalecontents, and such whose wants
22 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
"With forfeyted credits make 'em wish a change
Of the Roman governement, in troopes flocke to hyni,
Flaminius. With one puffe, thus, 1 will disperse
and scatter
This heape of dust. Heere, take my ringe. By this
Inti'eate my freinde Amilcar to procure
A mandate from the Carthaginian senate
For the apprehension of this impostor,
And with all possible speede. Howere, I knowe
Exit Calistus.
The rumor of Antiochus' death uncertaine.
Ent. Demetrius. wm. Pattrick'
It much imports the safetie of great Rome
To have it soe beleevde.
Demetrius. There waite without
Three fellowes I nere sawe before, whoe much
Importune their accesse. They sweare they bringe
Buisnesse alonge with 'em that deserves your eare.
It beeinge for the safetie of the republicque,
And quiet of the provinces. They are full
Of golde : I have felt their bountie.
Flaminius. Such are welcome.
Gieve them admittance. In this various play
\_Ent. Chrisalus, Geta, Syrus, Demetrius.]
Of state and policie, there's noe propertie
But may bee usefuU. Now, freindes, what designe
Carries you to mee ?
Geta. My most honor'd lord
k.
I
Synis. May it please your mightinesse-
Flaminius. Let one speake for all,
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 23
I cannot brooke this discorde.
Chrysalus. As our duties
Commandes us, noble Roman, havinge discover'd
A dreadful! danger with tlie nimble winges
Of speede approchinge to the state of Rome,
"Wee houlde it fit you shoulde have the first notice
That you may have the honor to prevent it.
Flaminius. I thanke you : but instruct mee what
forme weares
The danger that you speake of.
Chrysalus. It appeares
In the shape of King Antiochus.
Flaminius. How, is hee
Rose from the dead ?
Chrysalus. Alas, hee never died, sir.
Hee at this instant lives, the more the pittie
Hee showlde survive, to the disturbance of
Rome's close and politicque counsailes, in the gettinge
Possession of his kingedome, which hee woulde
Recover, simple as hee is, the playne
And downe right way of justice.
Flaminius. Very likelye.
But how are you assur'd this is Antiochus,
And not a counterfaite ? Answer that.
Chrysalus. I servde hym
In the Achaian war, where, his armie routed.
And the warlike Romans hot in their execution.
To shun their furye hee and his mignions were
(Havinge cast of their glorious armor) forc'd
To hide them selves as dead with feare and horror
24 BELEEVE AS lOU LIST.
Amonge the slawghterd carkasses. I lay by them,
And rose with them at midnight. Then retiringe
amiG cfuiiri Unto their shippes, wee sayl'd to Corinth, thence
to sell out.
lo India, where hee spent many yeares
With their gyranosophists. There I wayted on hym,
And came thence with hym. But at length, tyr'd out
With an unrewarded service, and affrighted
Mr. Hobs In my imaorination with the dangers,
call d tip. JO o '
Or rather cerlaiue ruines in pursuinge
His more then desperate fortunes, wee forsooke hym.
Flaminius. A wise and politicque fellow : gieve mee
thy hande.
Thou art sure of this ?
Chrysalus. As of my life.
Flaminius. And this is
Knowne only to you three ?
Chrysalus. There's noe man lives els,
To witnesse it.
Flaminius, The better ; but informe mee,
And as you woulde oblige mee to you, truelye.
Where did you leave hym ?
Syrus. For the payment of
Our longe and taedious travaile, wee made bolde
To rifle hym.
Flaminius. Good !
Geta. And soe disablinge hym
Of meanes to claime his right, wee hope despaire
Hath made hym hange hymselfe.
Flaminius. It had bene safer
Yf you had donne it for hym. But as 'tis,
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 25
You are honest men. You have re veal' J tliis secret
To noe man but my selfe ?
Chrysalus. Nor ever will.
Flaminius. I will take order that you never shall.
{aside.)
And since you have bene trew into the state
He keepe you soe. I am ev'n now consyderinge
How to advance you.
Chrysalus. What a pleasant smile
His honor tlirowes upon us.
Geta. Wee are made.
Flaminius. And nov/ 'tis founde out. That noe
danger may
Come neere you, showlde the robberie bee discover'd,
Which the Carthaginian laAves you knowe call death,
My howse shall bee your sanctuarie.
Syrus. There's a favour !
Flaminius. And that our entertainment come not
short
Of your deservinges, I commit you to
My secretarie's care. See that they want not
Amonge their other delicates
Chrysalus. Marke that.
Flaminius. a sublimated pill of mercurie,
For sugar to their wine.
Demetrius. I understande you.
Flaminius. Attende theis honest men as yf they were
Made Roman cittizens. And bee sure at night
I may see 'em well lodg'd. — Dead in the vault, I meane.
Their golde is thy rewarde.
26 BKLEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Demetrius. Beleeve it donne, sir.
Flaminius. And when 'tis knowne how I have
recompencd
(Though you were trecherous to your owne kinge)
The service donne to Rome, I hope that others
Will followe your example. Enter, freindes,
rie soe pi'ovide, that when you next come forth,
You shall not feare who sees you.
Chrysalus. Was there ever
Soe sweete a temperd Roman ?
Flaminius. You shall finde it. \_Exeunt.'\
Ha ! what's the matter ? doe I feele a stinge heere
For what is donne to theis poore snakes ? my i-eason
Will easilie remove it. That assures mee,
That as I am a Roman, to preserve
And propagate her empire, thowgh they were
]My father's sounds, they must not live to witnesse
Antiochus is in beeinge. The relation
The villaine made, in everie circumstance
Appeer'd soe like to truth, that I began
To feele an inclination to beleeve
What I must have noe faith in. By my birth
I am bounde to serve thee, Rome, and what I doe
Necessitie of state compells mee to. \_Exit.']
(Actus Secdndi, Sc^na Secunda.)
Ent. Amilcar, Hanno, Asolrubal, Carthalo,
[^Roivland, Win. Xayo, Nick.'\
Amilcar. To steere a middle course twixt theis
extreames
Exacts our serious care.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 27
Hanno. I knowe not which way
I showlde incline.
Amilcar. The reasons tliis man urges
To prove hyraselfe Antiochus, are soe pregnant,
And the attestation of his cuntriemen
In every circumstance soe punctuall,
As not to showe hym our compassion were
A kinde of barbarous crueltie.
Carthalo. Under correction.
Gieve mee leave to epeake my thowghts. Wee are
bounde to waigh
Not what wee showlde doe in the poynt of honor,
Swayde by our pittie, but what may bee donne
With the safetie of the state.
Asolrubal. Which is indeede
The maine consyderation ; for, grant
This is the trewe Antioclius, without danger,
Nay almost certaine ruine, to our selves
Wee cannot yeelde hym favour or protection.
Hanno. Wee have fear'd and felt the Roman power,
and must
Expecte, yf wee provoke hym, a returne
Not limitted to the qualitie of the offence.
But left at large to his interpretation,
Which seldome is confind. Whoe knowes not that
The tribute Rome receives fx-om Asia is
Her chiefe supportance. Other provinces
Hardlye defray the charge by which they are
Kepd in subjection ; they in name perhaps
Render the Roman terrible ; but his strength
Za BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
And power to doe hurt without quaestion is
Deriv'd from Asia. And can wee hope then
Tliat such as lende their aydes to force it from 'em
Will bee helde for lesse then capitall enemies,
And as such, pursude, and punuishde ?
Carthalo. I cowlde wishe
AVee were well rid of hym.
Asolrubal. The surest course
Is to deliver hym into the handes
Of bolde Flaminius.
Hanno. And soe oblige
Rome for a matchlesse benefit.
Amilcar. Yf my power
Were absolute, as 'tis but titular,
And that confinde to, beeinge by you elected
Prince of the Senate onlye for a yeare,
I woulde oppose your counsailes, and not labour
With ai'guments to confute 'em : yet however,
Tliowgh a fellow patriot with you, let it not savour
Of usurpation, thowgh in my opinion
I crosse your abler judgements. Call to minde
Our grandsires' glories, (thowgh not seconded
With a due imitation), and remember
With what expence of coyne, as blood, they did
Maintaine their libertie, and kepde the scale
Of empire ev'n 'twixt Cai'thage and proud Rome ;
And thowgh the Punicque faith is branded by
Our enemies, our confa^derates and freindes
Founde it as firme as fate. And seaventeene kinges
Our feedaries, our strengths upon the sea
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 29
Exceedinge theirs, and our laude sowMiers
In number far above theirs, thowgh inferior
In armes and discipline (to our shame wee speake it),
And then for our cavallerie, in the champaigno
Howe often have they brake their piles and routed
Theyr coward legions.
Hanno. This I grant, sir, is not
To bee contradicted.
Amilcar. Yf soe, as wee finde it
In our recordes, and that this state hath bene
The sanctuary to which mightie kinges
Have fled to for protection, and founde it,
Let it not to posteritie bee tolde
That wee soe far degenerate from the race
Wee are deriv'd, as, in a servile feare
Of the Roman power, in a kinds to play the bawdes
To their ravenous lusts, by yeeldinge up a man
That weares the shape of our conftederate
To their devouringe gripe, whose stronge assurance
Of our integritie and impartiall doome,
Hath made this seate his altar.
Cathalo. I joine with you
In this opinion, but noe farther then
It may bee donne with safetie.
Asdrubal. In his mines
To burye our selves, you needes must grant to bee
An inconsyderate pittie, noe way suitinge
With a wise man's reason.
Carthalo. Let us face to face
Heare the accuser and accus'd, and then.
30 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
As either's arguments work on us, determine
As the respecte of our securitie,
Or honor shall invite ws.
Amilcar. From the senate
Intreate the Roman Titus Flaminius
To assist us with his counsaile.
Hanno. And let the prisoner
Bee brought into the court,
Ent. Flaminius. ^Vm^^^^
Amilcar. The gods of Carthage
Directe us to the right way.
Asdrubal. With what gravitie
Hee does approch us.
Carthalo. As hee woulde comraande
Not argue his desires.
Amilcar. May it please your lordship
To take your place.
Flaminius. In civill courtcsie,
As I am Titus Flaminius, I may thancke you ;
But sittinge heere as Rome's embassador,
In which you are honor'd, to instruct you in
Her will, which you are bounde to serve, not argue ;
I must not borrow, that were poore, but take
As a tribute due to her, that's justlye stilde
The mistrisse of this earthlye globe, the boldnesse
To reprehende your slowe progression in
Doeinge her greatnesse right. That shee beleeves,
In mee, that this impostor was subornde
By the conquerd Asiaticques, in their hopes
Of future libertie, to usurpe the name
RELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 31
Of dead AntiocluiP, shoulde satirific
Your scrupulous doubts, all proofes beyonde this beeinge
Meerelye superfluous.
Carthalo. My lord, my lord.
You trench to much upon us.
Asdrubal. Wee are not
Lead by an implicite faith.
Hanno. Nor though wee vvoulde
Preserve Rome's amitie, must not yeelde up
The freedome of our wills and judgements to
Quit or condemne, as wee shall bee appointed
By his imperious pleasure.
Carthalo. Wee confesse not,
Nor ever will, shee hath a power above us :
Carthage is still her gequall.
Amilcar. Yf you can
Prove this man an impostor, hee shall suffm'
As hee deserves; yf not, you shall perceive
You have noe empire heere.
Hanno. Call in the prisoner ;
Then as you please confront hym.
Flaminiics. This neglecte
Heareafter will bee thowght on.
Amilcar. Wee shall stand
The danger howsoever. When wee did,
His cause unheard, at yonv request commit
This kinge or this impostor, you receav'd
More favour then wee owde you.
Officer (within). Roome for the prisoner.
Enter Antiochus, habited like a kinge, Bere-
ciNTHUS, the three Marchants, Garde.
1
32 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Antiochus. This shape that you have put mee in,
suites ill
With the late austerenesse of my life.
Berecinthus. Faire glosse
Wrongs not the richest stuffe, but sets it of;
And let your language, high and stately, speake you,
As you were borne, a kinge.
Antiochus. Health to the Senate.
Wee doe suppose your [ ]ties donne, sit still.
Titus Flaminius, wee remember you ;
As you are a publicque minister from Rome,
You may sit cover'd.
Flaminius. How ?
Antiochus. But as wee are
A potent kinge, in whose court you have waited
And sought our favour, you betray your pride
And the more then sawcie rudenesse of your manner?;
A bended knee, remembringe what wee are
Much better would become you.
Flaminius. Ha !
Antiochus. Wee sayd it,
But fall from our owne height to holde discourse
With a thinge soe far beneath us.
Bereciiithus. Admirable !
Amilcar. The Roman lookes as hee had scene the
wolfe.
How his confidence awes hym.
Asdruhal. Bee hee what hee will,
Hee beares hym selfe like a kinge; and I must tell you
I am amazd to.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
33
Antiochus. Are wee soe trausfoi-rnde
From what wee were, since our disaster in
The Gr^ecian enterprise that yon gaze upon us
As some strange prodegie never seene in AtFricque.
Antiochus speakes to you, the kinge Antiochus.
And challenges a retribution in
His entertainment, of the love, and favours
Extended to you. Call to meniorie
Your trewe freindc, and confajderate, whoe refusde
In his respect to you the proti'er'd amitie
Of the Roman people, flath this vile inchauter
Inviron'd mee with such thicke clowdes in your
Erroneous beleefe, from his report
That I was longe since dead, that beeinge present
The beames of majestie cannot breake throwgh
The foggie mists raysde by his wicked charmes
To lende you light to kuowe mee. I cite you
My lord Amilcar, now I kx^ke on you
As prince of the senate, but when you were lesse
I have seene you in my coui't assisted by
Grave Hanno, Asdrubal, and Carthalo,
The pillars of the Carthaginian greatenesse
I knowe you all. Antiochus nere deserv'd
To bee tlius sleighted.
Amilcar. Not soe. Wee in you
Looke on the figure of the kinge Antiochus,
But without stronger proofes then yet you have
Produc'd to make us thincke soe cannot heare you
But as a man suspected.
Antiochus. Of wliat guilt ?
34 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Flaminius. Of subornation, and imposture.
Antiochus. Silence
This fellowes sawcie tongue. O, majestie
How soone a short eclipse hath made thy splendor
As it had never shinde on theis forgotten.
But you refuse to heare mee as a king
Denie not yet in justice what you grant
To common men, free libertie without
His interruption (havinge heard what hee
Objects against mee) to acquit my selfe
Of that which in his malice I am charg'd with.
Amilcar. You have it.
Antiochus. As my present fortune wills mee
I thancke your goodnesse. Eise thow cursed agent
Of mischiefe, and accumulate in one heape
All engins by the divell thy tutor fashion'd
To ruine innocence ; in poyson steepe
Thy bloudied tongue, and let thy wordes as full
Of bitternes, as malice labour to
Seduce theis noble hearers. Make mee in
Thy coyned accusation guiltie of
Such crimes, whose names my innocence nere knewe.
I'le stande the charge ; and when that thow hast shot
All arrowes in thy quiver fether'd with
Sclanders, and aimde Avith crueltie in vaine.
My truth thowgh yet conceal'd, the mountaines of
Thy glossed fictions in her strength remov'd,
Shall in a glorious shape appeare, and showe
Thy paynted mistrisse falshood, when stripp'd bare
Of borrowed, and adulterate colours in
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 35
Her owne shape, and deformitie.
Berecinthius. I am ravishde !
1 Marchant. O more then royall sir !
Amilcar. Forbeare.
2 Marchant. The monster
Prepares to speake.
Berecinthius. And still that villainous smile
Ushers his followeinge mischiefes.
Flaminius, Since the assurance
From one of my place, qualitie, and rancke.
Is not sufficient with you to suppresse
This bold seductori, to acquit our state
gf'at booke : From the least tyrannous imputation
f Accompt
rrady. I will forget awhile I am a Roman,
Whose arguments are warranted by his sworde
And not filde from his tongue. This creature heeie
That stiles hymselfe Antiochus, I knowe
For an Apostata Jew, thowgh others say
Hee is a cheatiuge Greeke, call'd Pseudolus,
And keepes a whore in Corinth. But I'le come
To reall proofes, reports, and rumors beeinge
Subjects unsutable with my gravitie
To speake, or yours to heare. 'Tis most apparent
The kinge Antiochus was slain e in Greece,
His bodie at his subjects suite deliver'd.
His ashes from the funerall pile rak'd up
And in a golden urne preserv'd, and kep'd
In the royall monument of the Asian kinges.
Such was the clemencie of Marcus Scaurus
The Roman conqueror, whose triuuiphe was
D 2
36 BKLEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Grac'd only with his statue. But suppose
Hee had surviv'd (which is impossible)
Can it fall in the compasse of your reason
That this impostor (yf he M'ere the man
"Which hee with impudence aiJirmes hee is)
Woulde have wauder'd two, and twenty tfedious yeares
Like a vagabond ore the worlde, and not have ti'ied
Eome's uiercie as a suppliant.
Hanno. Shrowde suspitious.
Flammius. A mason of Callipolis heretofore
Presumde as far, and Avas like this impostor
By slavishe Asians foUow'd, and a second
A Cretan, of a base condition did
Maintaine the like. All ages have bene furnish'd
With such as have usurp'd upon the names
And persons of deade princes. Is it not
As evident as the day, this wretch instructed
By theis poore Asians, (sAvorne enemies
To the majestic of Eome) but personates
The dead Antiochus. Hir'd to it by theis
To stirre up a rebellion, which they call
Deliverie or restoringe. And will you,
AVhoe for your wisdome are esteem'd the sages
And oracles of Affricke, meddle in
Th' affaires of this affronter, which noe monarch,
Lesse rashe, and giddie then Antiochus was
Would undertake.
A?itiochus. Would I were dead indeede
Rather then heare this livinge.
Flaminins. I confesse
BELEEVF, AS YOU LIST.
Hee hath some niarkes of kinge Antiochus, but
The most of 'em artificiall. Then observe
What kinde of men they are that doe abett hym.
Proscrib'd. and bannish'd persons, the ringe leader
Of this seditious troope a turbulent flamen
Growne fat with idlenes.
Berecinthms. That's I.
Flaminius. And pulf'd up
With the winde of his ambition,
Berecinthius. AYith reverence to
[Thy place,] thou liest, I am growne to this bulke
By beeinge
Amilcar. I [kisse ?] your goddesse. Shee
Defendes you from a whippinge.
Ilanno. Take hym of
Hee does disturbe the court.
Berecinthius. I shall finde a place yet
Where I will rore my wronges out.
Exeunt officers with Berecinthius.
Flaminius. As you have
In the removinge of that violent foole,
Gievn mee a tast of your severitie
Make it a feast, and perfit your gi-eate justice
In the surrendringe up this false pretender
To the correction of the law, and let hym
Undergce the same punnishement which others
Ha\e justlye sufFer'd that preceded hym
In the same machination.
Antiochus. As you wishe
ob nr.i.i:Evi-: as you list.
A noble memorie to after times
Reserve one eare for my defence and let not
For your owne wisdomes, let not that beleefe,
This subtle fiende woulde plant, bee rooted in you
Till you have heard mee. Woulde you know the truth
And reall cause why poore Antiochus hath
See longe conceal'd hymselfe ? Thowgh in the openinge
A wounde in some degree by time closde up
I shall poure scaldinge oyle, and sulphur in it
I will in the relation of my
To bee lamented storye, punctualie
Confute my false accuser. Pray you conceave,
As far as your compassion will permit
How greate the griefe, and agonie of my soule was
When I consyder'd that the violence
Of my ill reyn'd ambition had made Greece
The fatall sepulchre of soe many thousands
Of brave, and able men, that might have stood in
opposition for the defence
Of mine owne kingedom, and a readie ayde
For my confojderates. After which route
And my retraite in a disguise to Athens
The shame of this disgrace thowgh I then had
The forheade of this man woulde have deter'd mee
From beeinge ever scene where I was kuowne
And such was then my resolution.
Amilccir. This granted, whither went you ?
Antiochus. As a punnishment
Imposde upon my selfe and oequall to
^ly wilfuU follie gievinge ore the vvorlde
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 39
I went into a desert.
Flaminius. This agrees
With the dead slaves' report but I must contemne it.
Amilcar. Wliat drewe you from that austere life ?
Asolrubal. Cleere that.
Antiochus. The counsayle of a grave philosopher,
Wrought on mee to make knowne my selfe the man
That I was borne. And of all potentates
In AfFricque, to determine of the truth
Of my life and condition, I prefer'd
The common welth of Carthage.
Flaminius. As the fittest
To bee abusde :
Antiochtis. This is not faire.
Amilcar. My lord
Yf not intreat I must commande your silence
Or absence which you please.
Flaminius. Soe peremptorie.
Antiochus. To vindicate my selfe from all suspition
Of forgerie, and imposture. In this scrowle
Writ with my royall hande you may peruse
A true memoriall of all circumstances.
Answers, despatches, doubts, and difficulties,
Betwene my selfe, and your embassadors
Sent to negotiate with mee.
Amilcar. Fetch the recordes.
Antiochus. 'Tis my desire you shoulde truth seekes
the light.
And when you have compar'd 'em yf you finde 'em,
Enter Roioland with the hooke of Records.
In any poynt of moment ditferinge
40 BELKKVE -AS YOU LIST.
Conclude niee such a one, as this false man
Presents niee to you. But yf you perceive
Those private passages in my cabinet argude
And but to your embassadors, and my selfe
Conceald from all men, in each poynt agreeinge.
Judge yf a cheatinge Greeke, a Pseudolus
Or an Apostata Jewe coulde ere arrive at
Such deepe, and waightie secrets.
Hanno. To a sillable
They are the same.
Amilcar. It cannot bee but this is
The trew Antiochus :
Flan.inins. A magitian rather
And hath the spirit of Pithon.
Carthalo. Theis are toyes.
Atitiochiis. You see hee will omit noe trifle that
His malice can lay holde of to divert
Your love, and favour to mee. Now for my death
The firmest base on which hee buildes the strength
Of his assertions, yf you please to waigh it
With your accustom'd wisdome you'le perceive
'Tis meerely fabulous. Had they meant fairely
And as a truth woulde have it soe confirmde
To the doubtfull Asians. Why did they not
Suffer the carkase they affirm'd was mine
To bee view'd by such men as were interressed
In the greate cause, that were bred up with mee
And were familiar with the markes I carried
Upon my bodie, and not relye upon
Poore prisoners taken in the war, from whoni
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 41
In hope of libertie, and rewarde, thoy drewe
Such depositions as they knewe woulde make
For their darke endes. Was any tliinge more easie
Then to suppose a bodie, and that, phic'd on
A sollemne herse with funei'all pompe to inter it
In a rich monument, and then proclaime
This is the bodye of Antiochus
Kinge of the lower Asia.
Flaminhis Rome's honor
Is tax'd in tliis of practise, and corruption,
rie heare noe more in your determinations
Consyder what it is to hoUle and keepe her
Your freinde or enemie.
Ainilcar. Wee wishe wee coulde
Receave you as a kinge, since your relation
Hath wrought soe much upon us that wee doe
Incline to that beleefe. But since wee cannot
As such protecte you but with certaine danger
Untill you are by other potent nations
Proclaimde for such. Our fittinge caution
Cannot bee censur'd, thowgh wee doe intreat
You would elswhere feele justice.
Antiochus. Where ? when 'tis
Frighted from you by power.
Amilcar. And yet take comfort
Not all the threates of Rome shall force us to
Deliver you. The short time that you stay
In Carthage you are safe. Noe more a prisoner
You are inlarg'd. With full securitie
Consult of your affaires, in what wee may
42 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Wee are your freindes. Breake up the court.
[_Exeunt Carthaginians.']
1 Marchaiit. Deere sir
Take courage in your libertie, the worlde
Lyes open to you.
2 Marchant. "Wee shall meete with comfort
When most despair'd of by us.
Antiochus. Never, never.
Poore men thowgh falne may rise. But kings like mee
If once by fortune slavde are nere set free. lExeunt the
J etiae of ye
Seconde Act.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 43
[ACT III.] Sc^NE First.
Ent. Flaminius, with 2 letters, [^Calistus^ Mr. IIous
\^Demet}-ius'] and Mr. Rowland.
Flaminius. You gave hym store of gold with the
instructions
That I prescribde hym.
Calistns. Yes my lord, and on
The forfeiture of my credit with your honor
Titus will doe his parts and dive into
Their deepest secrets.
Flaminius. Men of place pay deere
For their intelligence it eates out the profit
Of their imployment. But in a designe
Of such waight, prodigalitie is a vertue.
The fellowe was of trust that you dispatch'de
To Rome with the packetques?
Demetrius. Yes sir. Hee flies not rides.
By this yf his accesse answer his care
Hee is upon returne.
Flaminius. I am on the stage
And yf now in the scoene impos'd upon mee
Soe full of change, nay, a meere labrinth
Of politicque windinges, I showe not my selfe
A Protean actor, vai-ijnge everie shape
With the occasion, it will hardlye poyze
The expectation. I'le soe place my netes
44 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
That if this birde want winges to cariye hym
At one flight out of Affricque, I shall catch hym.
Calistus.
Ca list us. Sir.
Flaminius. Gieve theis at Siracusa
To the proconsull Marcellus. Let another post
To Sardinia with theis. You have the picture
Of the impostor ?
Demetrius. Drawne to the life my lord.
Flaminius. Take it alonge with you. I have com-
manded
In the senates name that they man out their gallies,
And not to let one vessell passe without
A stricte examination. The sea
Shall not protecte hym from mee. I have charg'd to
The garrisons, that keepe the passages
Ent. By lande, to let none 'scape, that come from Carthasre
Leiilu'us, ^ ' r ' o
Mr.Eoh: Without a curious serch. r-E^'^^f'' Lentulus.
with a letU r. >-
Leiitulus. I will excuse
My visit without preparation, feare not.
Flamitnus. Whoe have wee heere ?
Lentuhis. When you have view'd mee better
You will resolve your selfe.
Flaminius. My good lord Lentulus.
Lentulus. You name mee right. The speed that
brought mee hither
As you see accoutred, and without a trayne
Sutable to my rancke, may tell your lordship
That the designe admits noe vacant time
For complement. Your advertisements have bene read
I5ELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 45
In open court. The consulls, and the senate
Are full of wonder, and astonisheinent
At the relation. Your care is much
Commended, and will finde a due rewarde
When what you have soe well begun, is ended.
In the meane time with their perticular thanckes
They thus salute you. You shall finde there that
Their good opinion of mee (far above
My hopes, or meritts) have appointed mee
Your successor in Carthage, and commit
Unto your abler trust the prosecution
Of this impostor.
Flaminius. As their creature ever
I shall obey, and serve 'em. I will leave
My freed man to instructs you in the course
Of my proceedinges. You shall finde hym able
And faithfull on my honor.
Lentulus. I receave hym
At his due valewe. Can you ghesse yet whither
This creature tendes ? Bj' some passengers I met,
I was tolde howere the state deines to yeelde hyni
Enter Titus.
[iJ. Baxt.']
To our dispose, they will not yet incense us
By gievinge hym protection.
Flaminius. Ere longe
I hope I shall resolve you. To my [waye ?]
Heere comes my trew discoverer. Bee briefe,
And labour not with circumstance to indeere
The service thou hast donne mee.
46 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Titus. As your lordship
Commanded mee in this Carthaginian habit
I made my first approches, and deliver'd
The golde was giv'n mee as a private pi'esent
Sent from the lord Amilcar, for his viaticum
To another cuntrie. For I did pretende
I was his maeniall servant.
Flaminius. Very well.
Titus. 'Twas entertain'd almost with sacrifice
And I as one most welcome was admitted
Into their turbulent counsaile. Many meanes
Were there propounded, whither, and to whom
Their kinge Autiochus (for soe they stile hym)
Shoulde flie for safetie. One urg'd to the Parthian,
A seconde into Egipt, and a thirde
To the Batavian. But in conclusion
The corpulent flaraen that woulde goverue all,
And in his nature woulde not gieve allowance
To any proposition that was not
The childe of his owne brayne resolv'd to carry
Their May-game prince, cover'd with a disguise,
To PrusiaS; Kinge of Bithinia. His ojiinion
Carried it, and thither without pause, or stay
To thancke my lord for his bountie, they are gone
Upon ray certaine knowledge for I rid
Two dayes, and nights alonge that I might not builde
Upon suppositions. By this they are
At their journeys ende.
Flaminius. With my thanckes there's thy rewardc.
I will take little rc^t untill I have
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 47
Sowr'd his sweete entertainment. You have bene
In the court of tliis Prusias, of what temper is hee ?
Lentulus. A well-dispos'd and noble gentleman,
And very carefull to preserve the peace
And quiet of his subjects.
Flaminius. I shall finde hym
The apter to bee wrought on. Doe you knowewhoe is
His spetiall favorite ?
Lentulus. One that was his tutor.
A seeminge polititian, and talkes often
The ende of his ambition is to bee
A gentleman of Rome.
Flaminius. I shall fit hym, feare not
Youre travayles ended. Mine begins, and therefore
I will take my leave. Formalitie of manners now is
I longe to bee a horseback. [useless.
Lentulus. You have my wishes
For a faii'e successe.
Flaminius. My care shall not bee wantiuge.
\^Exeunt.'\
(Actus Tertii, Sc^na Secunda.)
Ent. Antiochus and three Marchants.
1 Mar. This ta^dious journey from your Majestie's
Longe discontinuance of ridinge hard
With wearinesse hath duU'd your spirits.
2 Marchant. The flamen
His corpulencie consyder'd hath helde out
Beyonde imagination.
48 BELi:r>vF, as \ou list.
3 Marchant. As often as hee rode downe a hill I
The chininge of his fork. [did expect
Antiochus. I wonder more
How mine sustain'd his burthen. Since the waiglit
That sites on my more heavie heart would cracke
The sinewes of an elephant.
2 Marchant. 'Tis sayd
That beast hath strength to carry six arm'd men
In a turret on his backe.
AtUiochus. Trewe but the sorrowe
Of a wretched, and forsaken kinge like mee
Is far more ponderous.
1 Merchant. part not sir
From your owne strength by yeeldinge to despaire
I am most confident Berecinthius will
From thegreate kinge Prusias, in his goodnesse greate
Bringe comfort to you. [^Florish.
Antiochus. I am prepar'd howev'er
Lower I cannot fall.
Ent. Berecinthius.
3 Marchant. Ha ! theis are signes
Of a glorious entertainment, not contempt.
Berecinthius. Beare up sir. I have donne you
simple service,
I thancke my eloquence, and boldnesse for it.
When would a modest, silent foole effect
AYhat I have donne, but such men are not borne
For great employments. The fox that woulde confer
With a lyon, without feare, must see hym often.
O for a dozen of rubbers, and a bath
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 49
And jet I neede noe tubbe since I drench my selfe
In mine owne balsum.
1 Marchant. Balsamum ! it smells
Like a tallow chandler's shoppe.
Berecinthius. Does it soe, you thinnegut ?
Thou thinge Avithout moysture. But I have noe time
To answer thee. The greate kinge (by my meanes sir
Ever remember that) in his owne person
With his faire consort, and a gallant trayne \_Florish,
Are come to entertaine you.
\_Aiitiochus. Jove, yf thow art
Pleased that it shall bee soe.
Berecinthius. Change not you Jove's purpose.
In your slownesse to receave it. In your carriage
Exorcise your selfe. Theri come.'W + [This passage
I '^ ^ -J J ' IS struck oul in
the MS.]
Erit. Prusias, Queene, Philoxenes.
(Rowl: Wm.Mayo: Mr. Balls : Kick: and Ladij.)
Prusias. The stronge assurance
You gave at Carthage to confirme you are
The kinge Antiochus (for soe much from
My agent there I have heard) commandes mee to
Beleeve you are soe. And however they
Awde by the Roman greatenesse durst not lende you
Aide or protection ; in mee you shall finde
A surer gaixl. I stande on mine owne bases :
Nor shall or threates, or prayers, deter mee from
Doeinge a good deed in it selfe rewarded.
You are welcome to my bosom.
Antiochus. All that yet
I can returne you sir is thanekes, expres'd
K
50 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
In teares of joy, to find heere that compassion
Hath not forsooke the earth.
Queene. Alas ! good kinge
I pittie hym.
Prusias. This ladye sir your servant
Presents her dutye to you.
Antiochus. Pray you forgieve mee
Callamitie my to longe rude companion,
Hath taught mee gratious madam to forget
Civilitie, and manners.
Queene. I were touch'd
But the kinge my husband's lipps, (and as I live
Hee kisses very like hym).
Prusias. Heere is one
I dare present to you for a knovveinge man
In politicque designes. But hee is present
I shoulde say more els.
Antiochus. Your assistance sir
To rayse a trod downe kinge will well become you
Philoxenus. What man can doe that is familiar with
The deepe directions of Xenophon,
Or Aristotle's politicques, besides
Mine owne collections, which some prefer
And with good reason as they say before 'em.
Your highnes may expecte
Prusias. Wee will at leas u re
Consyder of the manner, and the meanes
How to restoi'e you to your owne.
Queene. And till then
Suppose your selfe in your owne court.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 51
Antiochas. The gods
Bee sureties for the payment of this debt
I stande ingagde. Your bounties overwhelme mee.
Florish. Exeunt Prusias, Antiochus,
Queen, Philoxenus, Attendants.
Berecinthius. I raarrie this is as itshoulde bee. Ila!
After theis stormes raysde bj this Roman divell
Titus Flaminius, you knowe whom I meane
Are wee got into the port once. I must purge.
1 Marchant. Not without cause.
Berecinthius. Or my increasinge bellie
Will metamorphose mee into the shape
Of a greats tortoyse, and I shall appeare
A cypher, a rounde man, or what you will.
Now jeere at my bulke, and spare not.
1 Marchant. You are pleasant.
Berecinthius. Farce thy leane ribbes with hope, and
thow wilt growe to
Another kinde of creature. When our kinge is
Eestor'd, let mee consyder, as bee must bee.
And I the principall meanes, I'le first growe rich,
Infinite rich, and builde a strange newe temple
To the goddesse that I worship, and soe binde her
To prosper all my purposes.
2 Marchant. Bee not rap'd soe.
Berecinthius. Prethee doe not trouble mee. First
I will expell
The Romans out of Asia. And soe breakinge
Their reputation in the worlde, wee will
Renewe our league with Carthage. Then drawe to
E 2
52 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Our partye, the ^giptian Ptoloraee
And greate Arsaies' issue. I will bee
The Geiierall, and marche to Rome, which taken,
I'le fill prowd Tiber with the carkasses
Of men, women, and children. Doe not persuade mee,
I'le showe noe mercie.
3 Marchant. Have the power to hurt first.
Bereeinthius. Then by the Senators, whom I'le use
as horses,
I will bee drawnc in a chariot made for my bulke
In triumph to the Capitoll more admir'd
Then Bacchus was in India. Titus Flaminius
Our eneraie lead like a dogge in a chaine,
As I descende or re-ascende in state,
Enter Flaminius and R. Baxter.
Shall serve for my footestoole. \^T will conjure hym,
Yfrevenqe hath any spellsAl, . + Ttis passage
.' -' ./ / -J IS struck out in
Flaminius. Commande the captaine *^^ ^^^•
To waite mee with his galley at the next port
I am confident I shall fraught hym. \_Exit Demetrius.
1 Marcliant. You are conjuringe
And see what you have raysde.
Bereeinthius. Cybele save mee.
I doe not feare thee Pluto thowgh thou hast
Assum'd a shape not to bee matchde in Coej'tus.
Why dost thou followe mee ?
Flaminius. Art thow mad ?
Bereeinthius. Thow comest
To make mee soe. How my jellie quakes ! avant
What have I to doe with thee.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 53
Flaminius. You shall know at leasure
The time is nowe to pretious. \_Exit Flaminius.
Berecinthius. 'Tis vanish'd.
Sure 'twas an apparition.
1 Marchant. I feare
A I'atall one to us.
2 Marchant. Wee may easilie ghesse at
The cause that bringes hym hither.
3 Marchayit. Now yf ever
Confii^me the kinge.
1 Marchant. Against this batterie
New workes are to bee rays'd, or wee are ruinde.
Berecinthius. What thincke you of this rampire ?
'twill holde out
And hee shall shoote throwgh and throwgh it, but
I'le crosse him. \_Exeunt.
Actus Tertii. Sc^na Tertia.
Enter Flaminius and Philoxenus.
Flaminius. What wee have say'd the ConsuUs will
make good,
And the glad senate ratefie.
Philoxenus. They have soe
Obligde mee for this favor, that there is not
A service of that difficultie from which
I woulde decline. In this rest confident
I am your owne, and sure.
Flaminius. You shall doe sir
A noble office in it. And however
Wee thancke you for the courtesie, the profit
And certaine honors, the worlde's terror Rome
54 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
In tbanckefulnesse cannot but shower upon you,
Are whoelje yours. How bappie I esteeme
My selfe in this imployment to meete with
A wise, and provident statesman.
Philoxenns. My good lord.
Flaminius. I flatter not in speakinge truth. You are
And in this prompt alacritie confirme it [see
Since a wise forecast in the managing
Worldlye affaires is the trewe wisdome, rashnesse
The schoolemistrisse of idiots. You well knowe
Charitie begins at home, and that wee are
Neerest unto our selves. Fooles builde upon
Imaginarie hopes, but wisemen ever
On reall certainties. A tender conscience
Like a gloweworme, showes a seeminge fire in darkenesse,
But set neere to the glorious light of honor.
It is invisible. As you are a statseman.
And a master in that art, you must remove
All rubbs (thowgh with a little wronge, sometimes)
That may put by the bias of your counsailes,
From the faire marke they aime at.
Philoxenns. You are read well
In wordlye passages.
Flaminius. I barter with you
Such trifles as I have. But yf you pleasde
You could instruct mee, that philosophie
And policie in states are not such strangers
As men ore curious and precise would have 'em.
But to the poynt. With speede get mee accesse
To the kinge your pupil ; and 'tis well for hym
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 55
That hee hath a such tuter. Rich Bithinia
Was never soe indebted to a patriot
And vigilant watchman for her peace and safetie
As to jour selfe.
Philoxenus. Without boaste I may whisper
I have donne somethinge that way.
Flaminius. All, in all.
Fame fiUinge her lowde trompe with truth proclaimes it.
But when it shall bee understood you are
The principall meanes, by which a dangerous serpent
Warmde in your soveraigne's bosome, is deliverd
To have his stinge, and venemous teeth pull'd out ;
And the mine in a willinge grant avoyded,
Which in detayninge hym falls on the kingedome.
Not Prusias alone, but his sav'd people
Will rayse your providence altars.
Philoxenus. Let mee intreate
Your pacyence some few minutes, I'le bringe the kinge
In person to you.
Flaminius. Doe, and this effected,
Thincke of the ringe you are priveledgde to weare
When a Roman gentleman, and after that
Of provincies, and purple. I must smile now,
\Exit Philoxenus.
In my consideration, with what glibnesse
My flatteries oyld with hopes of future greatenesse
Are swallow'd by this dull pate. But it is not
Enter Prusias and Philoxenus.
Worth th' observation. Most of our seeminge statse-
men
56 BELEEVE AS lOU LIST.
Are couglit in the same nooze. Eeturn'd soe soone
And the kinge with hym ? But his angrie forhead.
Furrow'd with frownes. Noe matter I am for hym.
Prusias. From the people of Rome ? soe quicke !
hath hee brought with hym
Letters of credence, and authoritie,
To treate with us ?
Pliiloocetius. I read 'em.
Prusias. What can hee
Propounde, which I must feare to heare ? I woulde
Continewe in faire tearmes with that warlike nation,
Ever provided I wronge not my selfe
In the least poynt of honor.
Philoxenus. To the full
Hee will instructe your majestic.
Flaminius, Soe may
Faelicitie as a page attende your person
As you embrace the freindly counsaile sent you
From the Roman senate.
Prusias. With my thancks to you
Their instrument, yf the advice bee such
As by this preparation you woulde have mee
Conceave it is, I shall, (and 'twill become mee)
Receave it as a favour.
Flaminius. Know then Rome
In her pious care, that you may still increase
The happinesse you live in ; and your subjectes,
Under the shadowe of their owne vines eate
The fruite they yeeld 'em ; their soft musicall feasts
Continewinge, as they doe j'et, unaffrighted
BELEEVE AS lOU LTST. 57
With the harsh noyse of war, intreates as low
As her knowne power and majestic can descende
You woulde returne with due aequalitie
A willingenes to preserve what shee hath conquer'd
From change, and innovation.
Prusias. I attempt not
To trouble her nor ever will.
Flaminius. Fix there
Or yf for your owne good you will move farther
Make Rome your thanckefull debtor, by surrendringe
Into her handes the false impostor that
Seekes to disturbe her quiet.
Prusias. This I look'd for
And that I shoulde finde mortall poyson wrapde up
In your candied pills. Must I because you say soe
Beleeve, that this most miserable kinge is
A false affronter ? whoe with arguments
Unanswerable and neere miraculous proofes
Confirmes hymselfe the trewe Antiochus.
Or is it not sufficient that you Romans
In your unsatisfied ambition have
Seasd with an unjust gripe on halfe the worlde,
Which you call conquest, yf that I consent not
To have my innocence soylde with that pollution,
You are willingelye smeard ore with.
Flaminius. Pray you lieare mee.
Prusias. I will bee first heard. Shall I for your endes
Infringe my princelye word ? or breake the lawes
Of hospitalitie ? defeate myselfe
Of the certaine honor to restore a kinse
58 BKLRF.VE AS YOU LIST.
Unto his owne ? and what you Romans have
Extorted, and keepe from hym ? Far bee it from mee
I will not buy your amitie at such losse.
Soe it bee to all after times remembred
I held it not sufficient to live
As one borne only for my selfe, and I
Desire noe other monument.
Flaminius. I grant
It is a spetious thinge to leave behinde us
A faire report, thowgh in the other world
Wee have noe feelinge of it, and to lende
A desperate, thowgh fruitlesse ayde, to such
As fate not to bee alter'd hath mark'd out
Examples of callamitie, may appeare
A glorious ornament, but beer's a man
The oracle of your kingedome that can tell you
"When there's noe probabilitie it may be
Eifected 'tis meere madnesse to attempt it.
Philoxenus. A trewe position
Flaminius. Your inclination
Is honorable but your power deficient
To put your purposes into act.
Prusias. My power?
Flaminh.is. Is not to bee disputed yf waigh'd truelye
With the pettie kinges your neighbours but when
ballanc'd
With the globes and scepters of my mistris Rome
Will but I spare comparisons. But you builde on
Your strength, to justifie the fact. Alas
It is a feoble reede, and leaninge on it
BELEEVE AS lOU LIST. 59
Will wounde your hande much sooner then support you
You keepe in pay 'tis true some peace trayn'd troopes
Which awe your neighbours but consyder when
Our egles shall display their sayle stretchde winges
Hoveringe ore our legions, what defence
Can you expecte from yours ?
Philoxenus. Urge that poynt home.
Flaminius. Our olde victorious bandes are ever readie,
And such as are not our confaiderates, tremble
To thincke where next the storme shall fall, with horror.
Philoxenus knowes it. Will you to helpe one
You shoulde contemne, and is not worth your pittie
Pull it on your owne head ? your neighbour, Carthage
Would smile to see your error. Let mee paynt
The danger to you ere it come. Imagine
Our legions, and th' auxiliarie forces
Of such as are our freinds, and tributaries
Drawne up, Bithinia cover'd with our armies.
All places promisinge defence blockde up
With our arm'd troopes ; the siege continewinge ;
Famine within, and force without disablinge
All opposition ; then the armie enter'd
(As victorie is insolent) the rapes
Of virgins, and grave matrons ; reverend old men
With their last grones accusinge you, your cittie,
And pallace sack'd —
Philoxenus. Deere sir.
Flaminius. And you your selfe
Captivde, and after that, chainde by the necke,
Yourmatchlesse queene, your children, officers, freindes
60 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Waitinge as scornes of fortune to gieve lustre
To the victor's triumph.
Philoxenus. I am in a fever
To thincke uppon't.
Flaminius. As a freinde I have deliver'd
And more then my commission warrants mee
This caution to you. But now peace, or war,
Yf the first I entertaine it, yf the later
rie instantlye defie you.
Philoxenus. Pray you say peace sir.
Prusias. On what conditions ?
Flaminius. The deliverie
Of this seductor, and his complices
On noe tearmes els, and suddainelye
Prusias. How can I
Dispense with my faith gieven.
Philoxenus. I'le yeelde you reasons.
Prusias. Let it bee peace then oh. Pray you call in
The wretched man. In the meane time Pie consyder
How to excuse myselfe. \_Exit Philoxenus.
Flaminius. While I in silence
Triumph in ray successe, and meditate
On the reward that crownes it. A stronge armie
Coulde have donne noe more then I alone, and with
Enter Antiochus, Queene, Philoxenus, Berecin-
THius, the 3 Marchants, Demetrius {R. Baxt.),
and Attendants.
A little breath have effected.
Antiochus. Goodnesse garde mee
BELKEVE AS YOU LIST. 61
Whom doe I looke on. Sir come further from hym.
Hee is infectious ; soe swolne with mischiefes
And strange impieties ; his language to
Soe full of siren sorceries, yf you heare hym
There is noe touch of morall honestie
Though rampier'd in your soule but will flie from you.
The mandrake's shrieks, the aspicq's deadly tooth
The teares of crocodiles, or the basiliske's eie.
Kill not soe soone nor with that violence
As hee whoe in his cruell nature holds
Antipathic with mercie.
Pnisias. I am sorrie.
Antiochus. Sorrie ? for what, that you had an intent
To bee a good, and j ust prince ? are compassion,
And charitie growne crimes ?
Prusias. The gods can witnesse
How much I woulde doe for you. And but that
Necessitie of state —
Antiochus. Make not the gods
Guiltie of your breach of faith, from them you finde not
Trecherie commanded, and the state that seekes
Strength from disloyaltie, in the quickesands which
Shee trusteth in is swallow'd. 'Tis in vaine
To argue with you. Yf T am condemnde
Defences come to late. "What doe you ])urpose
Shall fall on poore Antiochus ?
Prusias. For my
Securitie, there being noe meanes left els.
Against my will I must deliver you. \_Enter Garde.
Antiochus. To whom ?
62 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Prusias. To Rome's embassador.
Antiochus. O the furies !
Exceede not liyra in crueltie. Remember
I am a kinge. Your royall ghest. Your right hande
The pawne, and pledge, that should defende mee from
My bloodie enemie. Did you accuse
The Carthaginian senite for denijnge
Ayde, and protection to mee, gievinge hope
To my despairinge fortunes ? or but now
Rayse mee to make my fall more terrible ?
Did you tax them of weakenesse, and will you
Soe far transcende them in a coward feare
Declaimde against by your owne mouth ? O sir
Yf you dare not gieve mee harbor, set mee safe yet
In any desert, where this serpent's hisses
May not bee heard, and to the gods Tie speake you
A prince both wise, and honorable.
Prusias. Alas, it is not in my power.
Antiochus. As an impostor
Take of my head then, at the least soe far
Prove merciefull ; or with any torture ease mee
Of the burthen of a life, rather then yeelde mee
To this politicque state hangeman.
Flaminius. This to mee is
A kind of ravishinge musique.
Queene. I have liv'd
For many yeares sir your obedient handmayde.
Nor ever in a sillable presum'd
To crosse your purposes : but now with a sorrow
As greate almost as this poore kinges, behouldinge
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 63
Your povertie of spirit (for it does
Deserve noe better name) I roust put of
Obsequiousnesse, and silence, and take to mee
The warrant, and authoritie of your Queene,
And as such gieve you counsaile.
Prusias. You displease mee. [bitter.
Quee7ie. The pliisicque promisinge health is ever
Heare mee. Will you that are a man, nay more
A kinge of men, doe that forc'd to it by feare
Which common men woulde scorne ? I am a woman,
A weake, and feoble woman, yet before
I woulde deliver up my bondewoman
And have it tolde I did it by constraynt
I would indure to have theis hands cut of,
Theis pull'd out—
Prusias. I'le heare noe more.
Queene. Doe you then
As a kinge shoulde.
Prnsias. Away with her.
Flaminius. My affaires \_They heare of the Queene.
Exacte a quicke despatch.
Prusias. Hee's yours. Conceave
What I woulde say. Farwell.
\^Exeunt Prusias and Philoxenus.
Antiochus. That I had bene
Borne dumbe. I will not grace thy triumph tyranne.
With one request of favour. \_Exit Antiochus gardecL
Berecinthius. My good lord.
Flaminius. Your will deei'e flamen ?
Berecinthius. I perceave you are like
64 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
To drawe a greate charge upon you. My fat bulke,
And theis my lyons will not bee kepd for a little
Nor woulde wee bee chargeable. And therefore, kissinge
Your houor'd handes I take my leave. [^Enter Garde.
Flaminius. By noe meanes
I have bene busie, but I shall finde leasure
To treate with you in another place.
Berecinthius. I woulde not
Put your lordship to the trouble.
Flami7nus. It will bee
A pleasure rather. Bringe 'em all away.
Berecinthius. The comfort is whither I drowne, or
hange
I shall not bee longe about it. I'le preserve
The dignitie of my famelie. ^j,^^ ^^^
Flatninitis. 'Twill become you. ttirdl^Act.
BKLEEVE AS YOU LIST. 65
Actus Quarti. ACT lA^. Sc^na Prima.
Enter Metelus, a Procunsul of \^Lusitania], and
Sempronius, a Centurion.
Metellus. A revolt in Asia ?
Sempronius. Yes on the report
The longe thowght dead Antiochus lives.
Metellus. I heard
Such a one appear'd in Carthage, but suppresde
By Titus Flaminius my noble freinde
"Whoe by his letters promis'd mee a visit, yf his
designes as I desire they may
Succeeded to his wishes.
Sempronius. Till you behoulde hym
I can bringe your honor yf you please, where you
May finde faire entertainment.
3Ietellus. From whom captaine ?
Sempr07iius. A new rigg'd pinnace that put of from
Corinth,
And is arriv'd amonge us, tite, and yare
Nor comes shee to pay custome for her fraught
But to impose a tax on such as dare
Presume to looke on her, which smocke gamesters offer
Sooner then shee demandes it.
Metellus. Some freshe courtezan
Upon mine honor.
Semp7'o?iius. You are i' the right my lord.
Metellus. And there lies your intelligence.
F
66 BELEEVR AS YOU LIST.
Sempronius. True my good lord
'Tis a discoverie will not shame a captains
"When hee lies in garrison. Since T was a trader
In such commodities, I never saw
Her equall, I was ravish'd with the object
And woulde you visit her I beleeve you woulde write
Your selfe of my opinion.
Metellus. Fye upon thee
I am olde.
Sempronius. And therefore have the greater use
Of such a cordiall. All Medeas drugges
And her charmes to boote that made old ^son younge
Hnb^'t\eiow: Were notliinge to her touch. Your viper wine
ready to open . , i t t n
the trap door So much in practise with gray bearded gallants
for Mr. Taylor.
But vappa to the nectar of her lippe.
Shee hath donne miracles since shee came. A usurer
Full of the gowte. and more diseases then
His crowches coulde support, us'd her rare phisicque
But one short night, and risinge in the morninge
Hee dancde a lawolta.
Metellus. Prethee leave thy foolinge
And talke of somethinge els.
Sempronius. The whole world yeeldes not
Apter discourse. Shee hath all the qualities
Conducinge to the sport ; singes like a syren ;
Dances, as the grosse element of earth
Had noe part in her ; her discourse, soe full
Of eloquence and prevailinge, there is nothinge
Shee askes to bee deni'd her. Had shee desir'd
My captaine's place I had cashier'd my selfe
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 67
A 1.(1 shoulde shee begge your procunsulship, yt" you
beard her, \_Eiiter Flaminius.
'Twere her's, upon my life.
Metellus. Shee shoulde bee damnde first
And her whole tribe. My lord Flaminius welcome
I have longe bene full of expectation
Of your greate designe, and hope a faire successe
Hath crown'd your travaile, in your bringeinge in
This dangerous impostor
Flaminius. At the length
I have hym, and his complices.
Metellus. I'le not, now
Inquire how you atchiev'd hym, but woulde know
Since 'tis refer'd to you what punnishement
Shall fall upon hym.
Flaminius. Yf you please in private
I will acquaint you.
Metellus. Captaine let mee intreate you
To meditate on your woman in the next roome
"Wee may have imployment for you.
Sempi-onius. I had rather
Shee woulde comraaude my service.
Metellus. Pray you sit.
Flaminius. Now my good lord I aske your grave
What course to take. [advice,
Metellus. That in my j udgement needes not
Longe consultation. Hee is a traytor
And his processe fram'd must as a traytor suffer
A death due to his treason.
Flaminius, There's much more
F 2
68 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
To bee consider'd. There beeinge a beleefe
Dispcrsde almost throwgh Asia that bee is
The trewe Antiochus, and wee must decline
The certaine scandall it will drawe upon
The Roman governement, yf hee dye the man
Hee is by the most receav'd to bee, and therefore
Till that opinion bee remov'd, wee must
Use some quaint practise that may worke upon
His hopes or feares to drawe a free confession
That hee was subornde to take on hym the name
Hee still maintaines.
Metelliis. That torture will wrest from hym
I know noe readier way.
Flaminius. Yf you had scene
His carriage in Carthage and Bithinia,
You woulde not thincke soe. Since I had hym in
My power I have us'd all possible meanes that might
Force hym into despaire and soe to doe
A violence on hym selfe. Hee hath not tasted
Theis three dayes any sustenance, and still
Continewes fastinge.
Metelhcs. Keepe hym to that dyet
Some few howers more.
Flaminius. I am of opinion rather
Some competence offer'd hym, and a place of rest
Where hee might spend the remnant of his dayes
In pleasure and securitie, might do more
Then feare of death or torture.
Metellus. It may bee
There are such natui-es, and now I thincke upon 't,
BELEKVE AS YOU LIST. G^J
I can helpe you to a happie instrmnent
To motion it. Your eare.
Flaminius 'Tis wondrous well
And it may prove fortunate.
Metellus. 'Tis but a triall
However I will sende for her.
Flaminius. Pray you doe
Shee shall have ray directions.
Melellus. What botches
Are made in the shoppe of policie.
Flaminuis. Soe they cover
Thenakednesseweemustconceale, itskillsnot. [Exeunt.
Actus Quarti. Scena Secunda.
Fnt. Jaylor; (Wm. Penn,) wit/i poinard and halter.
Jaylor. "Why should I feele compunction for that
Which yeeldes mee profit ha ! a prisoner's teax-es
Shoulde sooner pierce flint or jEgiptian marble,
Then move us to compassion. Yet I knowe not
The sufferinges of this miserable man
Worke strangelye on mee. Some say hee is a kinge
It may bee soe, but yf they holde out thus
I am sure hee is like to dye a begger's death,
And starve for hunger. I am by a servant
Of the lord Flaminius strictely commanded
Before I have raysde hym out of the dongeon
To lay theis instruments in his viewe. To what end
I am not to enquire but I am certaine.
After his longe fast they are viands that
Will hardlye beedigested. Doe you heare sir?
70 BF.LEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Ami {below) Yf thou art my death'sman welcome.
Jaylor. I soe pittie you
That I wishe I had commission as you rise
To free you from all future miserie
To knocke your braines out.
Antiochus. Would thou hadst
Jaylor. You have
The libertie to ayre your selfe, and that
Is all I can aflfoord you. Fast, and bee merrie,
I am els Avhere call'd on. \_Exit Jaylor.
Antiochus. Death as far as faintnesse
Will gieve mee leave to chide thee I am angrie
Thou comest not at mee. Noe attendance ? famine
Thy meagre harbinger flatters mee with hope
Of thy soe wish'd arrivall, yet thy comminge
Is still defer'd. Why ? is it in thy scorne
To take a lodginge heere ! I am a kinge
And thowh I knowe the reverence that waytes
Upon the potent scepter, nor the gardes
Of faithful! subjects ; neither threates, nor prayers
Of freinds, or kinred, nor yet walls of brasse,
Or fire, shoulde their prowde height knocke at the moone
Can stop thy passage, when thou art resolv'd
To force thy entrance, yet a kinge in reason
By the will of fate, sever'd from common men
Shoulde have the priveledge, and prerogative
When hee is willinge to disrobe hym selfe
Of this cobweb garment life, to have thee readie
To doe thy fatall office. What have wee heere ?
Evt. Metellus, Flaminius, and Sempronius
{above).
.hi/or
; at ye
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 71
A poinard, and a halter. From the objects
I am easilie instructed to what end,
They were prepar'd. Either will serve the turne
To ease the burthen of a wretched life
Or thus, or thus in death. I must commende
The Roman courtesie. How, am I gronne
Soe cheape, and vile in their opinion that
T am denide an executioner ?
Will not the losse of my life quit the cost ?
rare frugalitie I Will they force mee to
Bee mine owne hangman. Everie slave that's guiltie
Of crimes not to bee namde receaves such favor
By the judges doome, and is my innocence
The oppresde innocence of a star cros'de kinge
Helde more contemptible. My better angell
Thowgh wantinge power to alter fate discovers
Their hellishe purposes. Yes, yes, 'tis soe.
My bodies death will not suffice, they aimde at
My soules perdition, and shall I to shun
A fewe liowers more of miserie betray her ?
Noe shee is free still, and shall soe returne
From whence it came, and in her pureness triumph
Their tyrannic chainde, and fetterd.
Flaminius. O the divell !
Thou art weake. This will not doe.
Metellus. Marke how hee'le stand
The second charge.
Enter Jailor (ivUk hrowne bread and a wooddcn dishe
of water).
Sempronius. The honor is reserv'd
For the prettie temptinge friende I brought my life on't.
1
72 BELEEVE AS TOU LIST.
Jaylor. Heere sir take this thowgh course it will kill
hunger
It is your daylie pittance yet when you please
Your commons may bee mended.
Antiochus. Showe mee the way
Jaylor. Confesse your selfe to bee a cousinnge knave
The matter's feasible. But yf you will bee
Still kinge of the crickets feede on this, and live ;
You shall not say wee starv'd you. \_Exit Ja'jlor.
Antiochus. Stay I beseech thee.
And take thy cruell pittie backe againe
To hym that sent it. This is a tyrannie
That doth transcende all presidents ! my soule
But even now this lumpe of clay her prison
Of it selfe in the want of nourishement openinge,
Had shooke of her sicke fathers, and prepar'd
Her selfe to make a noble flight, as set
At libertie, and now this reparation
Againe immures. You for whose curious palats
The elements are ransackde looke upon
This bill of fare, by my penurious steward
Necessitie, serv'd to a famishde kinge.
And warnde by my example, when your tables
Cracke not with the waight, of deere, and far fetch'd
dainties
Dispute not with heavn's bounties. What shall I doe ?
Yf I refuse to touch, and taste these course.
And homelye cakes, I hasten my owne fate,
And soe with willingenes embrace a sinne
I hitherto have fled from. Noe I'le eate,
And yf at this poore rate life can continewe
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 73
I will not throwe it of.
Flaminius. I pine with envie
To see his constancie.
Metellus. Bid your propertie enter.
[ The lute strikes, and then the songe.
And use her subtlest magicque.
Sempronius. I have alreadie
Acquainted her with her cue. The musique ushers
Iler personall appearance.
A song.
Antiochus. From what hande,
And voice doe I receave this charitie,
It is unusuall at such a feast. [Enter Courtezan.
But I miscall it. 'Tis some newe founde engin.
Mounted to batter mee. Ha.
Courtezan. Yf I were not
More harsh, and rugged in my disposition
Then thy tormentors, theis eies had outstripp'd
My tongue, and with a shower of teares had tolde you,
Compassion bringes mee hither.
Antiochus. That I coulde
Beleeve soe much (as by my miseries
And oth I dare not breake) I gladlye would.
Pittie mee thinckes I knowe not how appeares
Soe lonely in you.
Courtezan. It beeinge spent upon
A subject in each circumstance deservinge
An universall sorrowe, though 'tis simple
It cannot bee deform'd. May I presume
To kisse your royall hande, for sure you are not
74 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Lesse then a kiiige.
Antiochns. Have I one witnesse livinge
Dares only thincke soe mutcb ?
Courtezan. I doe beleeve it
And will dye in that beleefe, and nothinge more
Confirmes it then your pacyence, not to bee
Founde in a meaner man. Not all the trimme
Of the majestie you were borne to, thoixgh set of
"With pompe, and glorious lustre, showde 3'ou in
Such full perfection, as at this instant
Shines rounde about you, in your constant beariuge
Your adverse fortune, a degree beyonde
All magnoenimitie that ever was
Canonisde by mankinde.
Antiochns. Astonishment
And wonder seases on mee. Pray you what are you ?
Courtezan. Without your pittie neerer to the grave
Then the malice of prevaylinge enemies
Can hurrie you.
Antiochus. My pittie ! I will part with
Soe much from what I have ingros'd to mourne
Mine owne afflictions, as I freelye grant it.
Will you have mee weepe before I know the cause
In which I may serve you.
Courtezan. You alreadie have
Spent to much of that stocke. Pray you first heare mee
And wronge not my simplicitie with doubts.
Of that I shall deliver. I am a virgin.
Sempronins. Yf I had not toyde with her my selfe
I shoulde now beleeve her.
BELEEVK AS YOU LIST. 75
Courtezan. And though not of the egles brood,
descended
From a noble faraelie.
Scmpronius. Her mother solde her
To a Corinthian lecher, at thirteene
As 'tis reported.
MeteUus. Bee silent I commande you.
Antiochits. To bee a virgin, and soe well deriv'd,
In my opinion faire one are not thinges
To bee lamented.
Courtezan. Yf I had not falne
From my clere height of chastetie I confesse it
In my to forwarde wishes [and] that is
A sinne I am guiltie of. I am in love sir
Impotentlye mad in love, and my desires
Not to bee stopp'd in their careex'e.
Antiochus. With whom
Are you soe taken ?
Courtezan. With your owne deere selfe sir.
Beholde mee not with such a face of wonder
It is to sad a truth, the storie of
Your most deplorable fortune at the first warmde mee
Vrith more then modest heates, but since I saw you
I a;n all fire, and shall turne cyndars, yf
You showe not mercie to mee.
Antiochus. Foolishe creature
Yf I coulde suppose this trew, and met your wishes
With equall ardor, as I am, what shadowe
Of seeminge hope is left you to arrive at
The port you longe for.
76 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Courtezan. If you will bee good
Unto your selfe the voiage is accomplishde.
It is but puttinge of a poysond shirt
Which in the wearinge eates into your flesh,
And must against your will bee soone forc'd from yon :
The malice of your enemies tendringe to you
More trew securitie and safetie then
The violence of your freindes, and servants wishes
Coulde heape upon you.
A^itiochus. 'Tis impossible.
Cleere this darke misterie for yet to mee
You speake in riddles.
Courtezan. I will make it easie
To your understandinge. And thus sweeten it offers to
•' ° _ _ kiss him.
In the deliverie. 'Tis but to disclaime
With the continuall cares that w^aite upon it
The title of a kinge.
Antiochus. Divell. Flaminius,
I finde you here. \_asi(le.
Courtezan. Why doe you turne away ?
The counsaile that I offer, yf you please
To entertaine it, as longe wish'd compagnions
In her right hand bringes libertie, and a calme
After soe many stormes. And you noe sooner
Shall to the worlde professe you were subornde
To this imposture (though I still beleeve
It is a truth) but with a free remission
For the offence,-. I as your better Genius,
Will lead you from this place of horror, to
A paradise of delight, to w hich compar'd
belp:kve as you list. 77
Thessalian Tempe, or that garden where
Venus, with her reviv'd Adonis spende
Their pleasant howers, and make from their embraces
A perpetuitie of happinis
Deserve not to bee nam'd. There in an arbor
Of it selfe supported ore a bubblinge springe
With purple hiacinths, and roses cover'd
Wee will injoy the sweetes of life, nor shall
Arithmeticque somme up the varieties of
Our amorous dalliance. Our viandes such
As not alone shall nourishe appetite
But strengthen our performance. And when call'd for
The quiristers of the ayre sliall gieve us musicque ;
And when wee slumber, in a pleasant dreame
You shall beholde the mountaines of vexations
Which you have heapd upon the Roman tyrannds
In your fi-ee resignation of your kingdome.
And smile at their afflictions.
Antiochus. Hence you syren
Courtezan. Are you displeas'd ?
Antiochus. Were all your flatteries
Aimde at this marke ? will not my vertuous anger
Assisted by contempt and scorne, yeelde strength
To spurne thee from mee ? But thow art some whore,
Some common whore, and yf thou hast a soule
(As in such creatures it is more then doubted)
It hath its beeinge in thy wanton valines
And will with thy expense of blood become
Like that of sensuall beastes.
Melcllus. This will not doe.
78 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Antiochus. How did my enemies loose themselves
to tliincke
A painted prostitute with her charmes coulde conquer
What malice at the height coulde not subdue.
Is all their stocke of malice soe consumde
As out of penurie they are forcde to use
A whore for their last agent.
Courtezan. Yf thou wer'et
Ten times a kinge thou liest. I am a ladie
A gamsome ladie of the last edition
And though I phisicque noblemen noe whore.
Metelhis. Hee hath touchd her free hold.
Sempronius. Now let her alone
And shee will worrye hym.
Coxirtezan. Have I liv'd to have
My courtesies refusde ? that I had leave
To plucke thy eies out.
Are you soe coy ? thou art a man of snowe
And thy father got thee in the wane of the moone.
But scorne mee not. 'Tis trew I was set on
By the higher powers but now for all the wealth
In Asia thou shalt not have the favour
Though prostrate on the earth, thou wouldst implore it
To kisse my shooestringe.
Enter Jaylor, and others. {Rowl.)
Flaminius. Wee loose time my lord.
Courtezan. Foh how hee stinckes. I will not weare
a ragge more
That hee hath breath'd on. \_Exit.
RELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 79
Metelhis. "Witliout more adoe
Let hym have his sentence.
Flaminius. Dragge hym hence.
Antiochus. Are you there ?
Nay then.
Flaminius. I will not heare hym speake. My anger
Is lost why linger you ?
Antiochus. Death ends all however. \_Kxit.
Actus Quarti. Sc^na Tertia,
Officers leadings in Berecinthius, and the first
Marchant, with halter.
{Enter Berecinthius, and J. Hony, R. Baxt. and
Gard).
Berecinthius. What a skelliton they have made of
mee. Starve mee first
And hange mee after. Is there noe conscience extant
To a man of my order. They have degraded mee,
Tane away my lyons, and to make mee rore like 'em
They have parde the fleshe of Irom my fingers ends
And then laugh'd at mee. I have bene kep'd in
darkenesse
Theis five longe dayes. Noe visitants but divells
Or men in shapes more horrid comminge at mee.
A chafinge dishe of coles, and a butcher's knife
I founde set by mee. And, inquiringe why ?
I was tolde, that I had fleshe enough of mine owne
And yf that I were hungrie I might freelye
Eate mine owne carbonades, and bee croniclde
For a cannibal never read of.
Officer. Will you walke sir.
80 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Berecinthius. I shall come to soone though I creepe
to such a break efast.
I ever use to take, my portion sittinge
Hangeinge in the ayre 'tis not phisicle.
Officer. Time flies away sir
Berecinthius. Whie let hym flie sir. Or if you please
to stay hym
And binde up the bolde knaves winges, make use of
my collar
There is substance in it I can assure your worship.
And I thancke your wisdome that you make distinction
Betweene mee, and this starvelinge. Hee goes to it
Like a grayhounde for killinge of sheepe in a two-
penny slippe.
But heeres a cable will waigh up an anchor.
And yet yf I may have faire play ere I dye
Ten to one I shall make it cracke.
Officer. What woulde you have sir.
Berecinthius. My ballace about mee I shall nere
sayle well els,
To the other worlde. My barke you see wants stowage
But gieve mee halfe a dozen of hens, and a loyne of
veale
To keepe it steddie, and you may spare the trouble
Of pullinge mee by the leggs, or settinge the knot
Under mine eare. This drumme well brac'd, defies
Such foolish courtesies.
I Marchant. This mirth good flamen
Is out of season. Let us thincke of Elizium
If wee dye honest men, or what wee there
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 81
Shall suffer from the furies.
BerecintJiiiis. Thou ait a foole
To thincke there are or gods, or goddesses,
For the later yf that shee, had any power
Mine beeinge the mother of 'em woulde have help'd nice
They are thinges wee make our selves. Or grant \\wr<\
shoulde bee
A hell, or an Elizium, singe I cannot
To Orpheus harpe in the one, nor dance in the other.
But yf there bee a Cerberus yf I serve not
To make three sopps for his three heades that may serve,
For somthinge more then an ordinarie breakef ist
The cur is divelishe hungrie. Woulde I had
Ran away with your fellowe marchants, I had then
Provided for my fame. Yet as I am
I have one request to make, and that my frcindcs
Concernes my bodie which I pray you grant
And then I shall dye in peace.
Officer. What is it ?
Berecinthius. Marrye
That you woulde bee suitors to the proconsul for niee
That noe covetous Roman after I am dead
IMay begge to have my skinne flayde of, and stuffe it
With strawe like an aligator, and then showc it
In faires, and markets for a monster, thowgh
I knowe the sight will draw more fooles to gape on't
Then a camell or an elephant, afore hande
I tell you, yf you doe my ghost shall haunt you.
Officer. You shall have buriall feare not,
Berecinthius. And roome enough
G
82 BELEEVE AS \0U LIST.
To tumble in I pray you thowgh I take up
More grave then Alexander. I have ill lucke
Yf I stincke not as much as bee, and yeelde the wormes
As large a supper.
First Marcliant. Are you not mad to talke thus ?
Bereeinthius. I came crijnge into the worlde, and
am resolvde
To goe out merrilie, therefore despatch mee. \_Exeunt.
Actus Quarti. vScena Quarta.
Enter Metellus and Flaminius.
Metellus. There was never such constancie.
Flaminius. You gieve it
To faire a name, 'tis foolishe obstinancie
For which bee shall without my pittie suffer.
What wee doe for the service of the republicque
And propagation of Rome's glorious empire
Needes noe defence and wee shall wronge our judgements
To feele compunction for it. Have you given ower
Accordinge to the sentence, that the impostor
Eidinge upon an asse, bis face turn'd to
The hinder part, may in derision bee
Brought through Calipolis.
3IeteUus. Yes. And a paper
Upon bis bead, in which with capitall letters
\_Enter Sempronius.
His faults inscribde, and by three trompeters
Proclaimde before hym, and that donne to have hym
Committed to the gallies. Here comes Sempronius
To whom I gave the charge.
BELEEVE AS YOU LFST 83
Sempronius. I have perform'd it
In every circumstance.
Flami?iius. How doe the people
Receive it ?
Sempronius. As an acte of crueltie
And not of justice. It drewe teares from all
The sad spectators. His demeanor was
In the whole progresse, worth the observation
But one thinge most remarkeable.
Metellus. What was that ?
Sempronius. When the cittie clarke witli a lowde
voice read the cawse
For which hee was coudemnde in takinge on hyni
The name of a kinge, with a setled countenance
The miserable man replied I am soe
But when hee touch'd his beeinge a cheatinge Jewe
His pacyence mov'd with a face full of anger
Hee boldlye sayde 'tis false. I never saw
Such magnanimitie.
Flaminius. Frontlesse impudence I'ather.
Sempro7iius. Or any thinge els you please.
Flaminius. Have you forc'd on hym
The habit of a slave ?
Sempronius. Yes, and in that
Pardon my weakenesse, still there does appeare
A kinde of majestic in hym.
Flaminius. You looke on it
With the eies of foolishe pittie that deceaves you.
Sempronius. This way hee comes, and, I beleeve
when you see hym
G 2
84 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
You'll bee of my opinion.
( Within.) Officer. Make way there.
Enter Officers, leadinge i?i Antiochus, his head
shavde in the habit of a Slave.
Antiochus. Fate! 'tis thy will it shoulde bee thus,
and I
With pacyence obey it. Was there ever
In all precedent mappes of miserie
Callamitie soe drawne out to the life
As shee appeeres in mee ? In all the changes
Of fortune such a metamorphosis
Antiquitie cannot showe us. Men may read there
Of kinges depos'd, and some in triumph lead
By the prowde insultinge Roman. Yet they were
Acknowledgde such, and died soe. My sad fate
Is of a worse condition, and Rome
To mee more barbarous then ere yet to any
Brought in subjection. Is it not sufficient
That the lockes of this oure royall head, are shav'd of.
My glorious robes chang'd to this slavishe habit
This hande that grasp'd a scepter manaclde
Or that I have bene as a spectacle
Expos'de to publicque frowne, yf to make perfit
The cruell reckoninge I am not compelde
To live beyonde this, and with stripes bee forc'd
To stretch my shruncke up sinnewes at an ore
In the company of theeves, and murtherers,
My innocence, and their guilt noe way distinguish'd.
But equall in our sufFringes.
UELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 85
Metellus, You may yet
Redeeme all, and bee happie.
Flaminius. But persistinge
In this imposture thincke but what it is
To live in hell on earth, and rest assur'd
It is your fatall portion.
Antiochns. Doe what you please.
I am in your power but still Antiochus
Kinge of the lower Asia, noe impostor
That fewer, and twenty yeares since lost a battaile
And challenge now mine owne which tyrannous Rome
With violence keepes from mee.
Flaminius. Stoppe his mouth.
Antiochus. This is the very truth, and yf I live
Thrice Nestor's years in torture, I will speake
Noe other language.
Metellus. I begin to melt.
Flaminius. To the galley with hym.
Antiochus. Every place shall bee
A temple to my pcenitence in mee. \_Exeunt.
86 BFLEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Actus Quinti. [ACT V.] Sc^na Prima.
Ent. Mahcellus, with a letter, (proconsul of Sicilie)
2 and 3 Marchant : Wm. Pen, Curt, and Attendants :
Rowland, Mr. Balls, JSick.
Marcellus. Upon your recantation this Gallerien
"Was not Antiochus you had your pardons
Signde by the senate ?
2 Marchant. Yes my lorde
Marcellus. Troth tell mee
And freelie, (I am noe informer) did you
Beleeve, and knowe hym such, or rays'd that rumor
For private endes of your owne.
3 Marchant. May it please your excellence
To understand, the feare of death wrought on us
m the swords ^^ ^ kiude to turne Apostatas : besides
•eadtj. Havinge prov'd our testimonies coulde not helpe hym
Wee studied our safeties.
2 Marchant. A desire to
Of the recoverie of our owne kepd from us
With stronge hand by his violent persecutor
Titus Flaminius, when hee was at Carthage
Urg'd us to seeke redresse, nor was it fit
Wee shoulde oppose greate Eorae.
Marcellus. In worldlye wisdome
You are excusable. But —
3 Marchant. Wee beseech your honor
Presse us noe further.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 87
Marcellus. I doe not purpose it
Doe you knowe what this containes? \_A letter.
2 Marchant. Noe, my good lord.
3 Marchant. Perhaps [\v]ee b[ Jut for our [par]tes
As 'tis sayde of Bellerophon, yet wee durst not
Presume to open it.
Marcellus. 'Twas manners in you
But I'le discharge you of that feare. There is
Noe hurt intended to you.
3 Marchant. Wee thancke your lordsliip.
Marcellus. How is the service of Fiaminius spoke of
In Rome ?
2 Marchant. With admiration, and many
Divine great honors to hym.
Marcellus. The people's voice
Is not oraculous ever. Are you sure
The galley in which your suppos'd kinge is chaindc,
Was bounde for Siracusi ?
3 Marchant. Shee is now
In the port my lord.
Marcellus. Titus Fiaminius in her?
3 Marchant. Upon my certaine knowledge.
Marcellus. Keepe your selves
Conceal'd till you are calde for. When least hop'd for,
You shall have justice.
2 Marchant. Your honor's vassalls ever.
\_Exeunt Marchants.
Marcellus. Here. Here it is apparent that the post
Wrot truth though noe proofe els coulde bee alleag'd
To make it good that though the heavens lay open
88 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST,
To humane wishes, and the fates were bouude
To signe what wee desire, such clowdes of error
Involve our reason, wee still begge a curse
And not a blessinge. How many borne unto
Ample possessions, and like pettie kinges
Disposiuge of their vassals, sated with
The peace, and quiet of a cuntrie life,
Carried headlonge with ambition contend
To weare the golden fetters of imployment.
Presuminge there's noe happinesse but in
The service of the state. But when they have tried
By a sad experience the burthen of 'em.
When 'tis not in their power at any rate
They woulde redeeme their calme securitie
Morgag'd in wantonesse. Alas what are wee
That governe provinces but prayes expos'd
To everie subtle spie, and when wee have
Like spunges, suckde in welth, wee are squeez'd out
By the rough hande of the lawe, and faylinge in
\_Etiter Cornelia and a Moore woman waiting.
Our sillable of our commission, with
The losse of what wee got with toyle, wee drawe
What was our owne in qua3Stion. You come timelye
To turne my tir'd thowghts from a sad discourse
That I had with my selfe.
Cornelia. I rather feare sir
I bringe an argument alonge with mee
That will increase, not lessen such conceptions
As I founde with you.
MarceUus. Why sweete ? what's the matter ?
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 89
Cornelia. When I but name Antiocluis;. Tliougli I
spare
To make a briefe relation how hee died,
Oi" what hee is yf hee now live, a sigh.
And seconded with a teare I know must fall
As a due tribute to hym.
Marctllus. Which I pay
Without compulsion ; but why doe you
Lance this old sore ?
Cornelia. Th' occasion coramandes it
And now I woulde forget it I am forcde
In thanckefullnesse to call to raemorie
The favours for which wee must ever owe hym.
You had the honor in his court at Sardis
To bee stilde his freiude an honor Rome, and Carthage
Were ri vails for, and did deserve the en vie
Of his prime mignions, and favorites
His naturall subjectes planted in his favour,
Or rooted up, as your dislike or prayse
Reported 'em ; the good kinge holdinge what
You spake to bee oraculous, and not
To bee disputed. His magnificent guiftes
Confirm'd his trewe affection, which you were
More wearie to receave then hee to gieve,
Yet still hee studied newe ones.
Marcelhis. Pray you noe more.
Cornelia. O 'tis a theme sir I coulde ever dwell
on.
But since it does offende you, I will speake
Of what concernes my selfe. Hee did not blushe
90 BELEEVF, AS YOU LIST.
In the height of lu's fiielicitie, to confesse
Fabritius, my lord, and father for
His much lov'd kinsman, and as such observ'd hym.
You may please to remember to, when at
A publicque sacrifice made to the gods
After a longe infection, in which
The Asian kinges, and queenes were his assistants
"With what respecte, and grace hee did receave mee ;
And at a sollemue tiltinge, when hee had
Put on the richest armor of the worlde,
Smilinge hee sayde. His wordes are still, and shall bee
Writ in the tablet of my heart. Faire cousin
Soe hee began, and then you thought mee faire to,
Since I am turn'd souldier, 'twere a solecisme
In the language of the war to have noe mistrisse,
And therefore as a prosperous omen to
My undertakings, I desire to fight
(Soe you with willingenesse gieve suffi-age to it)
Under your gratious colours ; and then looseninge
A scarfe tied to mine arme, hee did intreate mee
To fasten it on his. O with what joy
I did obey hym, rap'd beyonde myselfe
In my imagination, to have
Soe greate a kinge my servant.
Marcellus. You had to
Some private conference.
Cornelia. And you gave way to it
Withoute a signe of jealousie, and dispensde with
The Roman gravitie.
Marcellus. Woulde I coulde againe
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 1)1
Grant you like opport[Liiiitie .... but . . . ]
Is this remembrecl now ?
Cornelia. It does prepare
A suite I have which you must not denie mee
To see the man, whoe as it is reported
In the exterior parts nature hath drawne
As his perfit coppie. There must bee somethinge in
hym
Remarkeable in his resemblance only
Of kinge Antiochus' features.
Enter Flaminius and R. Baxt.
Mareellus. 'Twas my purpose
And soe much my Cornelia, Flaminius
Shall not denie us,
Flaminius. As my diitie bindes mee
My stay here beeinge but short, I come unsent for
To kisse your lordship's hands.
Mareellus. I answer you
In your owne language sir. And yet your stay here
May bee longer then you thincke.
Flaminius. Most honor'd madam,
I cannot stoope to lowe in tendringe of
My humblest service.
Cornelia. You disgrace your courtship
In overactinge it my lord. I looke not
For such observance.
Flaminius. I am most unhappie
Yf that your excellence make any scruple
Of doubt you may cominande mee.
Cornelia. This assurance
92 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Gieves mee encouragement to intreate a favour
In which ray lord beeinge a suitor with [me ?]
I hope shall finde a grant.
Flaminius. Though all that's mine
Bee comprehended in't.
Marcellus. Your promise sir
Shall not soe far ingage you. In respect
Of some familiar passages betwene
Kinge Autiochus when hee liv'd, and us,
And though it needes it not, for farther proofe
That this is an impostor, wee desire
Some conference with hym.
Flaminius. For your satisfaction
I will dispense a little with the strictnes
Of my commission. Sirrha will the captaine
To bringe hym to the proconsull.
Cornelia. His chaines tooke of
That I intreate to. Since I woulde not looke on
The image of a kinge, I soe much honor'd
Bounde like a slave.
Flaminius. See this greate ladies will
Bee punctuallie obeyde. \_Exit Demetrius.
Marcellus. Your wisdome sir
Hath donne the state a memorable service,
In straugiinge in the birth this dreadfull monster
And though with some your cruell usage of hym
(For soe they call your fit severitie)
May finde a harshe interpretation, wise men
In judgement must applaude it.
Flaminius. Such as are
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 93
Selected instruments for deepe designes
As things unworthie of 'em, must not feele
Or fa[vour]s, or affections. Though I knowe
The ocean of your apprehensions needes not
The rivolet of my poore cautions, yet,
Bolde from my longe experience I presume
(As a symbole of my zeale, and service to you)
To leave this counsayle. When you are my lord
Grac'd or distasted by the state, remember
Your faculties are the state's, and not your owne.
And therefore have a care the emptie soundes
Of freind, or enemie sway you not beyonde
The limits are assignde you. Wee with ease
Swimme downe the streame, but to oppose the torrent
Is dangerous, and to goe more or lesse
Then wee are warranted, fatall.
Marcellus. With my thanckes
For your soe grave advice, J'le put in practise
On all occasions what you deliver
And studie 'em as aphorismes. In the meane time
Pray you accept such entertainment as
Syracusa can present you. When the impostor
Arrives, let us have notice. Pray you walke sir.
\^Exeunt.
Actus Quinti, Sc^na ultima.
Enter Antiochus, Captaine ( Wm. Patt), and
Soldiers.
Captaine. Waite at the pallace gate, there is noe
feare now
94 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Of his escape. I'le bee my selfe his guardian
'Till you heare further from mee.
Antiochus. What new engine
Hath crueltie founde out to rayse against
This poore demolish'd rampire ? it is leveld
With the earth alreadie. Will they triumph in
The ruines they have made ? or is there yet
One masterpeece of tyrannic in store
Beyonde that I have suffer'd ? yf there bee
A viall of affliction not pourde out yet
Upon this sinfull head I am prepar'd,
And will looke on the clowde before it breake
Without astonish ement. Scorne mee not captaine
As a vaine bragart, I will make this good,
And I have strengthe to doe it. I am arm'd
With such varieties of defensive weapons,
Lent to mee from my passive fortitude,
That there's noe torment of a shape soe horrid
Can shake my constancie. Where lyes the sca^ne now?
Thowgh the hangeings of the stage were congeal'd gore
The chorus flintye executioners
And the spectators, yf it coulde bee, more
Inhumane then Flaminius, the cue gieven
The principall actor's readie.
Capta'me. Yf I durst
I coulde shewe my compassion.
Antiochus. Take heede captaine.
Pittie in Roman officers is a crime
To bee punnishde more then murther in colde blood.
Beare up to tell mee where I am I take it
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 95
Is noe offence.
Captaine. You are in Syracusa
In the court of the proconsul.
Antiochus. Whoe ? Marcellus.
Captaine. That noble Roman. By hyni you are
se[nt for]
But to what ende I am ignorant.
Anliochus. Ha. Hee was
My creature ! and in my prosperitie prowde
To holde dependance of mee, though I grac'd hym
With the title of a freinde, and his faire ladye
In courtship stilde my mistrisse. Can they bee
Enter Marcellus, Flaminius, Cornelia, Moore
Woman, and Servants.
\^R. Baxt : Rowl: and otheis ]
Infected with such bai'barisme, as to make mee
A spectacle for their sport ?
Captaine. They are heere, and soone
They will resolve you.
Marcellus. Bee reserv'd and let not
The neere resemblance of his shape transport you
Beyonde your selfe. Though I confesse the object
Does much amaze mee.
Cornelia. You impose my lord
What I want power to beare.
Marcellus. Let my example
Though your fierce passions make war against it
Strengthen your reason.
Antiochus. Have you taken yet
A full viewe of mee ? In what part doe I
96 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Appeare a monster ?
Cornelia. His owne voice !
Marcellus. Forbeare.
Antiochus. Though I were an impostor as this fellowe
Labours you to beleeve, you breake the lawes
Of faire humanitie in addinge to
Affliction at the height, and T must tell you
The reverence you shoulde pay unto the shape
Of Kinge Antiochus may challenge pittie
As a due debt, not scorne. Wise men preserve
Dumbe pictures of their friendes, and looke upon 'em
With feelinge, and affection, yet not holde it
A foolishe superstition. But there is
In thanckefullnesse a greater tye on you
To showe compassion.
Marcellus. Were it possible
Thow couldst bee Kinge Antiochus.
Antiochus. What then ?
Marcellus. I shoulde both say and doe
Antiochus. Nothinge for mee.
(As far as ray persuasion coulde prevent it)
Not suitinge with the qualitie, and condition
Of one that owes his loyaltie, to Rome.
And since it is by the inscrutable will
Of fate determinde that the royalties
Of Asia must bee confer'd upon her
For what offence I knowe not, 'tis in vaine
For men to oppose it. You expresse my lord
A kinde of sorrow for mee, in which madam
You seeme to bee a sharer. That you may
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 97
Have some proofe to defende it, for your mirth sake
rie play the jugler, or more subtle gipsey
And to your admiration reveale
Strange misteries to you, which as you are Romans
You must receive for cunninge trickes, but gieve
Noe farther credit to 'era.
Flaminius. At your perill
You ma[y g]ieve hym hearinge. But to have faith
in hym
Neighbo[urs to] treason. Such an impudent slave
Was never reade of.
Marcellus. I dare stande his charmes
With open eares. Speake on.
Antiochus. Yf soe have at you.
Can you call to your memorie when you were
At Sardis with Antiochus, before
His Grsecian expedition, what hee
With his owne handes, presented you as a favour
Noe third man by to witnesse it ?
Marcellus. Gieve mee leave
To recollecte my selfe. Yes — sure 'twas soe
Hee gave mee a faire swoi'd.
Antiochus. 'Tis trewe, and you
Vow'd never to part from it. Is it still
In your possession ?
Marcellus. The same sword I have
And while I live will keepe.
Antiochus. Will you not say
It beeinge fewer and twentye yeares since you
Were master of that guift, yf now I knowe it
u
98 BELEEVE AS YOU I,IST.
Amonge a thousande others, that I have
The art of memorie ?
3IarceUus. I shall receave it
As noe common sleight. Sirrha. Fetch all the swordes
For mine owne use in my armorie. And doe you heare?
Doe as I gieve directions.
Servant. With all care sir. \_Exit Servant.
Aniiochus. To entertaine the time untill your servant
Returnes. There is noe sillable that pas'de
Betwene you, and Antiochus, which I coulde not
Articulatelye deliver. You must still
Be confident that I am an impostor,
Enter Servant {R. Baxt.), itnth many swords.
Or els the tiicke is nothinge.
Cornelia. Can this bee ?
Antiochus. welcome freind. Most choice and
curious swordes
But mine is not amonge 'em.
Marcellus. Bringe the rest.
Enter another Servant (Rowland) ivith more sivordes.
Antiochus. I, this is it. This is the sword I gave you
Before I went to Greece. Bee not amazde.
Nor let this trifle purchase a beleefe
I am Antiochus. Here is one will assure you
Theis are but juglinge trickes of an affronter.
FJaminius. They are noe more. A contract's scald
betwene
The divell, and this seducer, at the price
Of his damnde soule. And his familiar Daemon
Acquaints hym with theis passages.
IJKLEEVK A.S YOU LIST. ^[)
3Iarcellifs. 1 knowe not
But I am thunderstrooke.
Cornelia. I can containe
My selfe noe longer.
Antiochus. Stay deare madam. Thoiigli
Credulitie bee excusable in your sex,
To take away all colour of guilt in you
You shall have stronger proofes. The scarfe you
gave mee,
As a testimonie you adopted mee
Into your service, I ware on mine armor
When I fought with Marcus Scaurus. And mine eie
Hath on the suddaine founde a pretious Jewell,
You dainde to receave from mee. [The .
Which you weare on your sl[eeve].
Cornelia. I acknowledge
It was the Kinge Antiochus guift.
Antiochus. I will
Make a discoverie of a secret in it
Of which you yet are ignorant. Pray you trust it
For Kinge Antiochus sake into my handes.
I thancke your readines. Nay drie your eies,
You hinder els the facultie of seeinge
The cunninge of the lapidarie. I can
Pull out the stone, and under it you shall finde
My name, and cipher I then usde ingraven.
Cornelia. 'Tis most apparent. I'hough I loose my
life for't,
Theis knees shall pay their dutye.
Antiochus. By noe meanes.
100 BELEEVE AS TOU LIST.
For your owne sake bee still incredulous
Since your faith cannot save mee. I should knowe
This Moorishe woman. Yes. 'Tis shee. Thou weret
One of my laundrie, and thou wast calde Zanthia
While thou weret mine. I am glad thou hast lighted on
Soe gratious a mistrisse.
Moore. Mine owne kinge !
O let mee kisse your feete. What cursed villaines
Have thus transform'd you.
Flaminius. 'Tis not safe my lord
To suffer this.
Marcellus. I am turn'd statue. Or
All this is but a vision.
Antiochus. Your eare madam
Since what I now shall say is such a secret
As is knowne only to your selfe, and mee
And must exclude a third though your owne lord,
From beeinge of the counsaile. Havinge gaynd
Accesse, and privacie with you, my hot blood
(Noe freinde to modest purposes) prompted mee
With pills of poysond language, candied ore
With hopes of future greatenesse to attempt
The ruine of your honor. I inforc'd then
My power to j ustefie the ill and presde you
With mountainous promises of love, and service.
But when the buildinge of your faith, and vertue
Began to totter, and a kinde of grant
Was offer'd. My then sleepinge temperance
Began to rowze it selfe, and breakinge through
The obstacles of lust, when most assurde
BELEEVE AS TOU LIST. 101
To injoy a pleasant hower I let my sute fall
And with a gentle reprehension taxde
Your forwarde pronenesse, but with many vowes
Nere to discover it which heav'n can witnes, I have
and will keepe faithfullie.
Cornelia. This is
The Kinge Antiochus, as sure as I am
The daughter of my mother.
Marcellus. Bee advisde.
Flaminius. This is little lesse then treason.
Cornelia. They are traytors
Traytors to innocence and oppres'd justice
That dare affirme the contrarie.
Marcellus. Pray you temper
The violence of your passion.
[ ]
C\or'\neli\_a'\. [ ] but expresse
Your thanckefulnesse for his soe many [ J
And labour that the senate may restore hLym]
Unto his owne. Tie dye els.
Antiochus. Live longe madam
To nobler, and more profitable uses
I am a fallinge structure, and desire not
Your honors shoulde bee buried in my mines.
Let it suffice my lord you must not see
The sun yf in the policie of state
It is forbidden. With compassion
Of what a miserable kinge hath suifer'd
Preserve mee in your memorie.
Flaminius. You stande as
102 BELKEVK AS YOU LIST.
This sorcerer had bewitchde you. Dragge hym to
His ore, and let his waightie chaines bee doublde.
Marcellus. For my sake let the poore man have
what favour
You can affoord hym.
Flaminius. Sir you must excuse mee.
You have abusde the libertie I gave you.
e ^cady: ye jj^j; villainc vou pav dccrc for't. I will trust
s^^'aarde' "^^^^ executiou of his punuishement
To noe man but my selfe. His cries, and grones
Shall bee my howerlye musicque. Soe my lord
I take my leave abruptlye.
Cornelia. May all plagues
That ever foUow'd tyrannic pursue thee.
Marcellus. Pray you stay a little.
Flaminius. On noe termes
3Iarcellus. Yeelde soe much
To my intreaties.
Flaminius. Not a minute, for
Your governement.
Marcellus. I will not purchase sir
Your company at such a rate. And yet
Must take the boldnesse upon mee to tell you
You must, and shall stay.
Flamifiius. How ?
Marcellus. Nay what is more
As a prisoner, not a ghest. Looke not soe high
rie humble your prowde thoughts.
Flaininius. You dare not doe this
Without authoritie.
BELEEVE AS YOU LIST. 103
Marcellus. You shall fincle I have
Sufficient warrant with detayninge you
To take this man into my custodie
Thowgh 'tis not in my ])ower what ere you are
To doe you further favour I thus free you
Out of this divell's pawes.
Aiitiochus. I take it as
A lesseninge of my torments.
Flaminius. You shall answer
This in another place.
Marcellus. But you shall here
Yeelde an accorapt without appeale, for wha[t]
You have alreadie donne. You may perose
[Does it]
Shake you alreadie ? doe [y]ou finde [I] have
[The warranjt. Call in the Asian marchants.
[ ]t-
Filter the 2 Marchants and a Garde.
[ ] now to bee hangde
[ ]n hym that pities thee.
[ ]c users
[ ] die and will prove that you tooke bribes
Of the Carthaginian marchants ; to detaine
Their lawfuU prize, and for your sordid endes
Abusde the trust committed by the state
To right their vassalls. The wise senate, as
They Avill rewarde your good, and faithfull service
Cannot in justice without punnishement
Passe ore your ill. Guiltinesse makes you dumbe
But 'till that I have leasure, and you finde
104 BELEEVE AS YOU LIST.
Your tongue, to prison with hyra.
Flamimus. I prove to late
As heav'n is mercifull, man's crueltie
Never escapes unpunnishde. \_Exeunt with Flaminius,
Antiochus. How a smile
Labours to breake forth from mee. But what is
Rome's pleasure shall bee donne with mee ?
Marcellus. Pray you thincke sir
A Roman, not your constant freinde that tells you
You are confiude unto the GyariB
\_Enter Garde agen.
With a stronge garde upon you.
Antiochus. Then 'tis easie
To prophecie I have not longe to live
Though the manner how I shall dye is uncertaine.
Nay weepe not since 'tis not in you to helpe mee
Theis showers of teares are fruitlesse. May my storie
Teach potentates humilitie, and instructe
Prowde monarchs, though they governe humane thinges
A greater power does rayse, or pull downe kinges.
THE ENDE.
106 BKLKEVE AS YOU LIST.
[PR]OLOGUE.
[Soe] far our author is from arrogance,
That he craves pardon for his ignorance
In storie, if you pride whats Koman here
Gieacian, or Asiaticque, drawe to nere
A late, and sad example, 'tis confest
Hee's but an English stroller at his best,
A stranger to cosmographie, and mny erre
In the cuntrie's names, the shape and character
Of the person he presents, yet he is bolde
In me to promise ; be it new, or olde.
The tale is worth the hearinge, and may move
Compassion, perhaps deserve your love,
And approbation, he dares not boast
His paynes, and care, or what books he hath tost
And turnde to make it up, the rarietie
Of the events in this strange historic
Now offer'd to you, by his owne confession
Must make it good, and not his weake expression
You sit his judges, and like judges bee
From favour to his cause, or malice free.
Then whether hee hath hit the white or mist.
As the title speaks, Beleeve you as you list.
BELEKVE AS YOU LIST. 107
EPILOGUE.
The end of Epilogues, is to inquire
The conjure of the play, or to desire
Pardon for what's amisse. In his intent.
The maker vowes that hee is innocent,
And for me and my fellowes I protest.
And you may beleeve me, we have donne our best,
And reason to wee should, but whether you
Conceave wee have with care discharg'd what's due
Reste yet in supposition, you may
Yf you please resolve us, yf our fate this day
Prove prosperous, and you to vouchsafe to give
Some signe your pleasure is this worke shall live,
Wee will finde out new wayes for your delight,
And to our power nere faile to doe you right.
[Tlie EpiIof;'ue is pei'fect; but a quarter of the pagi? has been
cut away at the bottom.]
108 BELEKVK AS YOU LIST.
[Act 1.]—^ writing out of the huoke irit/t a small jieecc of
silver for Mr. Sxvamton.
3 notes for Mr. Pollard.
Act 2. — A writing for Mr. Taylor.
Act 3. — A letter for Mr. Robinson.
2 letters for Mr. Loicin.
Act b.— A letter- for Mr. Benfeild.
RICHAKDS, PRINTEK, 100, ST. MARTIN 5 LiM:.
SATIRICAL
SONGS AND POEMS
ON
COSTUME :
FROM THE 13tU TO THE 19tH CENTUjay.
EUITED BY
FREDERICK W. FAIRHOLT, ESQ., F.S.A.
" Pray thee, tell me, fashionei-, what authors
Thou read'st to help thy invention ? Italian pi-ints ?
Or Arras hanginffs ? They are tailors' libraries. "
Ben Jonson's Staple ofNewes.
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY,
BY RICHARDS, 100, ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
MDCCCXr.IX.
€i)t |3errp ^orietp*
President.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A.
Council.
THOMAS AMYOT, Esq. F.R.S., F.S.A.
WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, Esq.
BOLTON CORNEY, Esq., M.R.SL.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq. F.S.A., M.R.I A.
J. H. DIXON, Esq.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FAIRHOLT, Esq. F.S.A.
J. M. GUTCH, Esq., F.S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. F.R.S,
F.S.A., Acting Secretary.
W. JERDAN, Esq. M.R.S.L.
J. S. MOORE, Esq.
E. RALEIGH MORAN, Esq.
T. J. PETTIGREW, Esq. F.R.S., F.S.A.
JAMES PRIOR, Esq. F.S.A., M.R.I.A.
WILLIAM SANDYS, Esq. F.S.A.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A., FS.A., Treasurer.
PREFACE.
In reading history, the mind ahnost instinctively
clothes the personages discoursed of in some garb,
even if it be as vague as Dr. Johnson's boyish
remembrance of Queen Anne: — "a confused, but
somehow a sort of solemn recollection of a lady
in diamonds, and a long black hood." In the
same way we associate Queen Elizabeth with a
monstrous farthingale and ruff; and her unfor-
tunate cousin, Mary of Scotland, with an elegant
cap, still known by her name. It is impossible
to read at all without meeting frequent allusions
to the fashions, transitory and otherwise, which
have been adopted in various ages ; and our ap-
preciation of satirical points, and passing reflec-
tions, made by our older poets and authors,
must depend very greatly upon the knowledge
we possess of costume. It was the intention of
the Editor of this volume to exhibit this more
clearly, by printing original quotations, descriptive
of dress, from manuscripts and rare books, of
the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries inclu-
sive, as an introduction to the ensuing collection ;
but this has been abandoned, in consequence of
the length to which tlie volume has already ex-
tended. He had also intended to append a list
of such caricatures as were particularly devoted
to the subject, many of which are of great rarity
and curiosity : and to show that even numisma-
tology is susceptible of illustration from the same
source, the coin known as "the Bonnet piece"
of James V of Scotland, and the more modern
tradesmen's tokens, frequently exhibit ai'ticles of
costume. The architectural student meets, most
frequently in the buildings of the middle ages,
with corbels, and sculptured enrichments of va-
rious kinds, which exhibit peculiarities (in head-
di'ess particularly) enabling him to fix the date
when they were fabricated, by a knowledge of
the prevailing fashions of epochs alone. Nor is
the literary antiquary less indebted to the same
study, for his guide in dating his author.
The ensuing collection is the result of an ex-
amination of many hundreds of ballads, and almost
as many books, while the Editor was engaged in
compiling a volume bearing the title, and de-
scriptive of — Costume in England. Although inci-
dental notices of fashionable peculiarities are to
be frequently met with, short poems, satires, and
in
songs, expressly devoted to the subject, are far
from common, and it will not be easy to add
many to the selection the reader is here presented
with. Some of them have claims on attention as
pictures of times and manners long since past.
Others are curious from the use that has been
made of some article of dress as "a hinge to
hang a satire on". Some illustrate the allusions
of our great dramatic poets, Shakspere and Ben
Jonson : others allude to historic events : but all
" Catch the living manners as they rise."
The virulence of satire, the ridicule of song,
like the preaching of moralists, have, however, been
in all instances vanquished by the fickle goddess,
Fashion ; whose votaries have been fiithful, al-
though like their mistress, " ever changing, ever
new."" Perhaps their best excuse is in the words
of one who has satirized fashionable follies rather
severely. Gay, in his opera of Achilles. 1733,
makes one of his female characters sing —
'■ Think of dress in every light,
'Tis woman's chiefest duty ;
Neglecting that, ourselves we slight,
And undervalue beauty.
That allures the lover's eye.
And graces every action ;
Besides, when not a creature's by,
'Tis inward satisfaction."
The wood- cuts which appear in this volume
have been selected cliiefly to illustrate such
passages as notes alone could not so clearly elu-
cidate. The curious representation, in the title-
page, of an Elizabethan tailor at work, is copied
from a square of painted-glass in the old Tailors'
Hall at Salisbury.
To the personal friends who have kindly as-
sisted him with communications, it is the Editor's
pleasant duty to return his thanks. To Thomas
Wright, Esq., for the communication of the early
French satirical songs, which form so valuable a
portion of the volume. To J. O. Halliwell, Esq.,
for many references to manuscript stoi'es, and
free access to his extensive and curious collection
of chap-books. To T. Crofton Croker, Esq., for
a similar access to his collection of Irish broad-
sides ; and to Dr. Rimbault, for the communication
of three songs, from his rare music books.
CONTENTS.
pagr
song uron the tailors . . .1
the mercer . . . • • ^
the shoemaker . . . . .10
the weaver . . . . .23
a satire on women's hornfd head dresses . . 29
against the tride op the ladies . . .40
a satire on manners and costume . . .43
the baselard . . . . .49
ballad on the forked head dresses of ladies . . .51
ballad against excess in apparel, especially in the clergy 55
song on serving men . . .57
the garment of good ladies . . . .59
amendis to the tailors and sowtars . . .61
the maner of the world now-a daves . . .64
ane supplication, directit frome schir david lvndksay,
knicht, to the kingis grace, in contemption of syde
taillis, and mussalit faces . . . 69
CONTENTS.
a uossen of points, 81'nt by a gentlewoman to her lover
for a new yeares oifte .
a lamentable complaint of the pore countrymen againstf
create hose, for the losse of their cattelles tails
satire on the toun ladyes
a new courtly sonet, of the lady greensleves
the pedlar
ladies favors
old and new fashions
pride's fall
THE ballad of the CAPS
the ballad of the beard
irish dress . . ,
jockey will prove a gentleman
blew cap fob me .
square-cap for me .
to the ladyes of the new dresse
the ladies answer .
Corbet's reply
COUNTRY lasses TRANSFORMED .
ENGLISH MUTABILITY IN DRESS
A MEDITATION ON THE PRIDE OF WOMEN's APPAREL
WILL BAGNALL's BALLET
DR. smith's ballet .
THE PIIANTASTICK AGE
THE BURSE OF REFORMATION
DIALOGUE BETWEEN CAPTAINE LONGHAIRE AND
SHORT-IIAIRE
ON LOYAL FASHIONS IN DRESS .
ALDERMAN
79
83
90
96
101
102
104
106
115
121
125
127
130
131
136
137
139
ib.
140
143
144
149
155
IfiO
170
172
CONTENTS. HI
UPON A gentlewoman's silke hoode . . . 173
ON THE MYSTIC DESIGN OF THE " DIRGOISES" OR ORNAMENTS OF
PRELATES . . . . . 170
THE cloak's knavery .... 177
AN invocation TO A BEAU .... 182
MUNDUS MULIEBEIS: OR THE LADy's DRESSING-ROOM UNLOCKED . 183
THE VINDICATION OF TOPKNOTS AND COMMODES . . 106
FINE PHILLIS ..... 199
THE beau's CHARACTER .... 201
A SONG ON A DRESSING FOP ... - 203
THE RAMEUE WIG AND MUFFETEE . . 205
THE RIDING-HOOD, OR " NITHISDALE" . . . 207
THE OLD CLOAK . . . . .211
THE BAND ..... 211
THE LIFE OF A BEAU ..... 217
THE BEAU BUTTERFLY .... 219
THE HOOP PETTICOAT .... 220
THE lady's gown ..... 225
HAD AWa' FRAE ME, DONALD .... 226
THE beau's RECEIPT FOR A LADY's DEESS . . . 230
THE lady's RECEIPT FOR A beau's DRESS . ' 232
MONSIEUR A-LA-MODE .... 233
A-LA-MODE. 1754 ..... 235
ADVICE TO A PAINTER .... 236
FEMALE ADVICE TO A PAINTER .... 238
BEAUTY AND FASHION .... 240
THE MOUNTAIN OF HAIR .... 242
STANZAS TO THE LADIES ON THEIR HEAD-DRESSES . . 245
PALTRY PRIDE ..... 247
CONTENTS.
A BKCEIl'T F(IR MDDEHN DKESS
THE MACAKOM
THE FEMALE MACAUU.NI
LONDON FASHIONS
THB MODERN BELLE
MODERN HEAD-DRESS
THE ladies' head-dress
ALL IN THE TASTE
THE SHORTBODY'd GOWN
THE PREVAILING FASHIONS
. 248
. 250
. 252
. 254
. 256
. 258
. 259
. 261
. 263
. 266
SATIRICAL SONGS AND POEMS
ON COSTUME.
SONG UPON THE TAILORS.
This very curious Song is here reprinted vvitli its translation,
from Mr. Wright's Political Songs of England, from the reign of
John to that of Edward II, which forms one of the most vahiable
volumes published by the Camden Society. The original is in
Harleian MS. 978, fol. 99, and is a production of the reign of
Henry HI ; a time when luxury in dress was much satirized,
and not unfreqnently commented upon by the clergy.
In novafert animus mutatas dlcere formas
Corpora, dii cceptis, nam vos mutastis et illas,
Aspirate ineis.
Ego dixi, dii estis ;
Qua3 dicenda sunt in festis
Quare pra3termitterem ?
Translation. — I have said, ye are gods: why should I omit
the service which should be said on festival days ? Gods cer-
B
Z SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Dii, revera, qui potestis
In figuram novae vestis
Traiismutare veterem.
Pannus recens et novellus
Fit vel capa vel mantellus,
Sed secundum tempora
Primum capa, post pusillum
Transmutatur hgec in ilium ;
Sic mutatis corpora.
Antiquata decoUatur,
Decollata mantellatur,
Sic in modum Proteos
Demutantur vestimenta ;
Nee recenter est inventa
Lex metamorphoseos.
Cum figura sexa mutant;
Prius ruptam clam reclutant
Primates ecclesife ;
tainly ye are, who can transform an old garment into the shape
of a new one. — The cloth, while fresh and new, is made either
a cape or mantle ; but, in order of time, first it is a cape, after a
little space this is transformed into the other : thus ye " change
bodies." When it becomes old, the collar is cut off; when de-
prived of the collar, it is made a mantle : thus, in the manner of
Proteus, are garments changed ; nor is the law of metamorphosis
a new discovery. — With their shape they change their sex ; the
primates of the church privately close up again what was before
POEMS ON COSTUME. 3
Nec donatur, res est certa,
Nisi prius sit experta
Fortunam Tiresiag.
Bruma tandem I'evertente,
Tost Wit sur la chape ente
Plerique capucium ;
Alioquin dequadratur,
De quadrato retundatur,
Transit in almuciura.
Si quid restat de morsellis
CfEsi panni sive pellis,
Non vacat oiRcio :
Ex hiis fiunt manuthecge,
Manutheca quidem Grasce
Manuum positio.
Sic ex veste vestem formant,
Engleis, Tyeis, Franceis, ISormant,
Omnes generaliter ;
torn ; nor is it given, assuredly, till it has first undergone the
fortune of Tiresias. — When, at length, winter returns, many
engraft immediately upon the cape a capuce ; then it is squared ;
after being squared it is rounded ; and so it becomes an aumuce. —
If there remain any morsels of the cloth or skin which is cut, it
does not want a use: of these are made gloves; a glove is called
in Greek " the placing of the hands." — This is the general man-
ner they all make one robe out of another, English, Germans.
French, and Normans, with scarcely an exception. Thus cape
B 2
4 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Ut vix nullus excludatur.
Ita capa declinatur,
Sed mantellus aliter.
Adhuc primo recens anno,
Nova pelle, novo panno,
In area reconditui* ;
Recedente tandem pilo,
Juncturarum rupto filo,
Pellis circumciditur.
Sic mantellus fit apella ;
Ci git li (trap, e la pel la,
Post primum divortium ;
A priore separata
Cum secundo reparata
Transit in consortium.
Quid delictum dices majus?
Istud palam est contra jus:
Nam si nupsit alteri,
is declined; but mantle otherwise. — In the first year, while it is
still fresh, the skin and the cloth being both new, it is laid up in
a box ; when, however, the fur begins to be worn off, and the
thread of the seams broken, the skin is circumcised. — Thus the
mantle is made a Jew ; here laj'S the cloth, there the skin, after
the first divorce : being separated from its former husband, after
separation it passes in reparation to marriage with a second
husband. — What will you say is a greater crime? this is
clearly against right ; for if she have married a second, the
POEMS ON COSTUME. O
Conjugium est violatum,
Dum fit novo copulatum
Reclamante veteri.
JV'est de concille, ne de sene,
Deus dras espuser a une pene,
E si mis le juggium ;
Permittunt hoc decreta ? non :
Sed reclamat omnis canon
Non esse conjugium.
Pannus primum circurncisus,
Viduatus et divisus
A sua pellicula,
Jam expertus Judaismum,
Emundatur per baptismum
A quacumque macula.
Circurncisus mundatusque,
Est adeptus utriusque
Legis testimonium ;
marriage is broken, when a new conjunction is made in spite of
the reclamations of the old partner. — It is neither canonic nor
■wise to marry two cloths to one fur, and so we judge it. Do
the decretals permit this? No: on the contrarj^ every canon
declares, that it is no marriage. — The cloth having been first
circumcised, then widowed and separated fi'om its skin, now
having experienced Judaism, is cleansed by baptism, from every
stain (i. e. it is dyed).— Being circumcised and cleaned, and
having obtained the testimony of both laws, he whom baptism
6 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Quern baptismus emundavit,
Cum secunda secundavit
Pelle matrimoniura.
Pilis expers, usu fractus,
Ex Esaii Jacob factus,
Quant li peil en est chaii,
Inversatur vice versa,
Rursus idem ex converse
Ex Jacob fit Esali.
Pars pilosa foris paret,
Sed introrsus pilus caret
Vetustas abscondita ;
Datur tamen, Kil n'i eit perte,
Servienti, yur deserte,
Mantellus liypocrita.
has cleansed, contracts a new marriage with a second skin. —
Being devoid of hair, and worn by use, from Esau having become
Jacob, when tlie hair is fallen from it, the process is inverted,
and again conversely from Jacob it becomes Esau. — The hairy
part is turned out, but the old part, concealed inwardly, is bare
of hairs. Now the hypocritical mantle, in order that there may
bo nothing lost, is given to the servant for his wages.
rOEMS ON COSTUME.
THE MERCER.
This remarkable catalogue i-aisonnte of " a dealer iu small wares"
of the thirteenth century, is repi'inted from a rare pamphlet of
thirty-two pages, privately published in Paris in 1834, entitled
Fabliaux inedits tires du Mauiiscrit de la BiMioihcque du Roi,
No. 1 830 oil 1239, par A. C. 31. Robert, Conservateur de la Bibliolhcque
Roy ale de Sainte- Genevieve. I know of no old poem with greater
claims upon the interest and attention of the lover of old usages;
detailing, as it does, the entire " stock in trade" of one of the
most popular of chapmen in the middle ages, and whom we may
here imagine ourselves listening to, while he recounts his wares
to an admiring crowd, in a country town, on a fair day.
DU MERCIKR.
Moult a 91 bele compaignie,
Merciers sui, si port mercerie
Que ge vendisse volentiers,
Quar ge ai besoing tie deiiiers.
S'or vos plaisoit a escouter,
Bien vos sauroie deviser
La mercerie que ge port ;
Mais le fais sostenir m'est fort.
J'ai les mignotes ceinturetes ;
J'ai beax ganz a damoiseletes ;
J'ai ganz forrez doubles et sangles ;
Translation. — There is here a very fair company: I am a
mercer, and carry mercery, which I would sell willingly, for I am
in want of pence. Now, if it please you to listen, I can easily
describe the mercery that I carry; but I find the weight of
them very heavy, I have pretty little girdles ; I have fine
gloves for little damsels; I have gloves furred double and single;
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
J'ai de bones boucles a cengles :
J'ai chainetes de fer beles :
J'ai bones cordes a violes ;
J'ai les guinples ensaffren6es :
J'ai aiguilles encbarnelees ;
J'ai escrins a metre joiax ;
J'ai borses de cuir a noiax ;
Mais quant les voi pres que ne muir,
Tant les baz, les borses de cuir
Trop ra'ont descreu mon cbetel.
J'ai vif argent, el mont n'a tel,
Que ge mis en cuir de poisson,
En un sac pelu de taisson.
J'ai de bon loutre a peli9ons ;
J'ai hermines a siglatons,
Et orle de porpors de mer.
J'ai polain a secors orler ;
J'ai les tres cointes aguilletes ;
1 have good buckles for girdles; I have fair little chains of steel;
I have good cords for viols; I have wimples dyed in saffron;
I have needles enchased ; I have cases for jewels; I have leather
purses with buttons, but when I see them I am ready to die,
I shake them so much, the leather purse has too much dimi-
nished my goods. I have quicksilver, there is none such in the
world, which I put in fishes-skin, in a hairy sack of badger-skin.
I have good otter-skin for pelisses, and ermine for siglatons,*
and binding of sea porpoise. I have points for sewing; I have
very genteel lace-tags; I have rasps for the skin; I have good
* Gowns of rich stuffs, originally brought from the East. la
the old romance of Partenopex de Blois we are told, " thence the
Alexandrine furs come, aud the good siglaton."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 9
J'ai gratuises a peletes ;
J'ai de bones trosses a seles ;
J'ai braiex et lasnieres beles ;
J'ai les deex a costurieres ;
J'ai les diverses ausmosnieres,
Et de soie et de cordoan,
Que ge vendroi encor oan ;
Et si en ai de plaine toile ;
Et si vendroie bien un voile
A une nonain beneoite ;
J'ai bons fers a metre en saiete j
J'ai bons tornez a trecoers ;
Boucletes a metre en solers ;
Fermaillez a enfanz de peutre.
J'ai beax laz a cbapeax de feutre ;
J'ai beles espingues d'argent,
Si en ai d'archal ensement,
Que ge vent a cez gentix femes.
J'ai beax cuevrecbies a dames,
Et coiffes laceites beles
Que ge vendrai a cez puceles ;
Et de soie par covenant
trusses for saddles; I have good breeches and thongs; I have
thimbles for sempstresses ; I have all sorts of purses, both of silk
and leather, which I would very willingly sell ; and I have some
also of linen; and I would gladly sell a veil to a blessed nun; I
have good iron points for arrows ; and good netting (?) instruments ;
buckles to put on shoes; pewter clasps for children; fair laces
for felt hats ; I have beautiful silver pins, as well as brass ones, that
I sell to the pretty women; I have handsome kerchiefs for ladies;
with ties, that I shall sell to the pretty maids; and of silk to match
10 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
A chapeax d'orfrois par devant ;
S'eu ai de li[n]g a damoiseax,
A floretes et a oiseax,
Bien lichiees et bien polies,
A coiffier devant lor amies.
S'en ai de chanvi*e a cez vilains
Et moffles a metre en lor mains.
J'ai canpeneles de mostiers ;
J'ai buleteax a bolangiers ;
J'ai croissoeres a gasteax.
J'ai laz a sercoz a noiax,
J'ai sonetes de trop beau tor.
J'ai de bons flageus a pastor,
J'ai cuillers de bois et de tremble
Que j'aclietai totes ensanble,
J'ai chauces de Bruges faitices,
Argent-pel por metre en esclices.
J'ai amecons a pescheor ;
J'ai fers d'alenes a suors.
J'ai les hacetes a seignier,
J'ai les pignes a chief pignier,
hats with gold embroidered fronts; I have also some of linen for
young beaux, with flowers or birds, very smooth and well polished,
to coif themselves in presence of their sweethearts ; I have also
hempen ones for the clowns, and muffles for their hands. I
have little bells for monasteries ; I have bolting-cloths for
the bakers; I have rolling-pins for pastry; I have laces for
surcoats with knots; I have little bells of good form; I
have good flageolets for shepherds; I have common wooden
and aspen-tree spoons, that I bought altogether; I have well-
made hose of Bruges; silver-leaf for putting on staves; I have
fish-hooks for anglers; and awls for shoemakers; I have lancets
POEMS ON COSTUME. 1 1
J'ai le bon savon de Paris,
J'ai bons colFres ou il est mis ;
J'ai fermaillez d'archal dorez ;
Et de laiton sor argentez,
Et tant les aime tax de laiton,
Souvent por argent le melon.
N'ai pas tote contee m'ensaigne :
J'ai bon sofTre a garir de taigne,
J'ai couteax charteins et a pointes,
Dont cil bacheler se font cointes.
J'ai beax clareins a metre ;i vaches,
J'ai beax freseax a faire atacbes
A gros botons d'or et de soie :
J'ai mainte ferree corroie
Rouges et verz, blancbes et noires,
Que ge vent moult bien a ces foires.
Si ai bottes de mostier maintes
Netes, polies, et bien paintes ;
Si ai I'enQans et I'en^anssier,
L'orcuel a tote la cuiller.
for bleeding, and combs for the head; I have good soap of
Paris, and good boxes for putting it in ; I have brooches of brass
gilt, and of latten silvered, and so much I like those of latten that
we often substitute them for silver. I have not yet told all my
stock: I have good sulphur for curing scald- heads; I have
knives both blunt and pointed, which the young men are so
vain of; I have nice bells for hanging to cows, and I have fine
tassels for fixing with great buttons of gold or silk ; and I
have store of stamped leather, red and green, white and black,
that 1 sell readily at fairs ; I have also boots for monasteries,
very neat, polished and well shaped; I have also incense and
12 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
J'ai table, greffes et greffiers
Dont ge recois de bons deniers
De ces clers, de bones maailles.
Si ai maintes riche toailles
Que loient, a cez hautes festes,
Sez gentix femes sor lor testes.
Si ai tot I'apareillement
Dont feme fait formement,
Rasoers, forces, guignoeres,
Escuretes et furgoeres,
Et bendeax et crespiseors,
Traineax, pignes, mireors,
Eue rose dont se foi'bissent :
J'ai quoton dont els se rougissent :
J'ai blanchet dont els se font blanches :
J'ai lacez a lacer lor manges :
censers, with the vase and spoons; I have table,* style and
style-case, for which I receive the good pence and half-pence
of the clerks ; I have also store of rich napkins, which genteel
ladies wear on their heads at high feasts ; I have also all the
utensils necessary for a lady's toilette, razors, forceps, looking-
glasses, tooth-brushes and tooth-picks, and bandeaus and crisp-
ing irons, traineaux, combs, mirrors, and rose water with which
they furbish themselves ; I have cotton with which they rouge,
and whitening with which they whiten themselves, and I have
* The old memorandum books, with waxen, ivory, or skin
leaves, upon which they wrote with a pointed style, and which
continued in use till the time of Elizabeth. " My tables: meet it
is I set it down," says Hamlet. Chaucer's friar, in the " Somp-
nour's Tale," has
" A i)au- of lables all of ivory,
And a poiutel jr-iiolished fetisly."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 13
J'ai gingembre, j'ai garingaut,
Qui fait ces clers chanter en baut,
Figues, dates, et alemendes :
J'ai safFren metre a en viandes,
Que ge vent a cez damoiseles
A faire jaunes lor toeles :
J'ai pomes genetes antieres ;
Mais els me sanblent moult cheres,
Et nepourquant g'es sai bien vendre,
Ou I'argent ou le vaillant prendre.
Autres espices ai-ge totes,
Oignemenz a garir de goutes ;
J'ai le poivre, j'ai le comin ;
J'ai fil d'argent a mazelin,
Et d'archal a ceuz de manieres
Qui sont de lignaige a civieres.
J'ai dez du plus, j'ai dez du mains,
De Paris, de Cbartres, de Rains,
Si j'en ai ii, ce n'est pas gaz.
Qui au hochier chieent sor as.
J'ai fermaus d'archal et anieaus,
laces for lacing their sleeves ; I have ginger, and svreet cyperus,
which makes the clerks sing so clear, figs, dates, and almonds ; I
have saffron for seasoning dishes, which I sell to the young
ladies to make their napkins j-ellow ; I have pomegranates whole,
but they seem to me very dear, nevertheless I can easily sell
them, receiving either money or its worth ; I have also other
spices, with ointments to cure the gout ; I have pepper, and
cummin ; I have silvei'-wire for goblets of maple-wood, and brass-
wire for those of an inferior kind (?) ; I have large and small dice,
from Paris, Chartres, and Rheims; and I have two (I am not
joking) which when tossed fall upon the aces. I have brass
14 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Et baudres et fallois moult beaus,
Dont ge doig trois sous por i oef,
II n'a gaires qu'il furent neuf ;
J'ai beax museax a museler,
J'ai beax pesteax a pesteler,
Caboz, torneiz, et pelotes,
Pateniostres a ces viellotes.
Ge ne sai mes que ge vos die,
El monde n'a la mercerie
Que home et feme acheter puissent,
Que tot maintenant ne li truisse.
Une pilote ai (,n pendue
Grosse, pesant, et estendue,
Que ge vendi'ai as charaberieres
A piler en totes manieres.
Bien la porrai vendre en plevine
Qu'il est du rachuel de I'eschine,
Pileron a gros et fachuel,
Qu'il est du neu et du rachuel :
Si ne fait pas a aviller,
Ainz m'en doit-on mielz estimer.
clasps and rings, and very fine belts and fallois, of which I
give three sous for an egg, it is not long since they were new ;
I have good muzzles for muzzling, and good pestles for pound-
ing, whipping-tops, torneis, and pin-cushions, and pater nosters
for the old women. I don't know what I should tell you
more; in the world there is no mercery which men or women
can buy which I cannot now find for them. I have got a pestle
hung here, great, heavy, and large, which I will sell to the cham-
bermaids, to bray in all manners; I could easily sell it, with the
assurance that it is from the root of the spine, it has a great .
; it is not to be despised, therefore I ought to be more
POEMS ON COSTUME. 15
Venez avant, dame, venez,
Venez avant, si m'estrinez
D'euf ou de fer ou de deniers :
Si m'alegera cist paniers.
Et vos, petites meschinetes,
Poeiz revenir as piletes.
Or n'a caienz mil si riclie home
Qui mielz n'amast ime tel some
De mercei'ie s'il I'avoit
Et se bien garder la savoit.
Mais ge n'en puis nul bien avoir ;
Onques n'i conquis point d'avoir,
N'onques en riens que ge portasse,
Ne gaagnai que ge mengasse.
Pour ce veuil jus le panier metre,
Ge ne me vueil plus entremetre :
Ainz revenrai a la bilete
Dont ge mielz me sai entremete :
Proiez Diex qu'en chatel me mete.
EXPLICIT.
esteemed for it. Come forth, dame, come, come forth! pay
with egg, or with iron, or with pence, and so you will lighten
for me this pannier: and you, little maids, may return to
your mortars. Now there is not here any man so rich who
would not love better such a quantity of mercery, if he had it,
and if he could keep it well : but I cannot obtain any good from
it, I never could obtain any property with it, and never from
any thing that I carried did I gain enough to eat. Therefore
will I set my pack down, I will not meddle any more with it.
Thus I return to the hilet* which I know better how to employ.
Do you pray God that he will give me profit.
* Some game of chance used in the middle ages.
16 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
THE SHOEMAKER.
Another interesting example of a trade song, from a manuscript
of the thirteenth century, in the Library at Berne, No. 354,
published by M. Achilla Jubinal in his Lettre au directeur de
r Artiste (a journal so-named) on the subject of its contents, and in
which he has printed five of these inedited poems. M. Jubinal's
work is an octavo pamphlet of forty-eight pages (Paris, 1838)
and is of great rarity, from the small number printed.
DES CORDOANIERS,
Qui bien saroit et faire et dire
Assez porroit trover matire
Du plusor gent qui sent o mont ;
Mais plusor i ont dont je vos cont
Graignor porfit et graignor bien
Qui li autre, ce set-en bien.
Cez qui font les meillors mestiers
Doit-en araer et tenir chiers ;
Li un font .i. et li autre el ;
Mais je voi maint menestrier
Qui sol lou cordoanier ;
Car bien savez, n'est mie gas,
Translation.— He who should know well how to compose or
to recite would find sufficient matter concerning many people
who are in the world : but there are many of whom I tell, who
are less profit and less good than the others, that is well known.
Those who exercise the best trades one ought to love and cherish ;
some exercise one trade and some another; but I see many a
minstrel who praises the shoemakers alone ; for you know well,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 17
II n'est nus hon ne haut nes bas,
Tant soit ne eschars, ne avers,
Que ne li coveigne solers,
S'il n'est de tel relegion
O hermite, o sainz horn,
Qui per Deu voille aler nuz piez :
Que ja nus horn, s'il n'est chaucie,
Ne sambleroit gueres valoir,
Se il avoit, li. son voloir,
Robe cl'escai'late o de soie,
S'il iert nuz piez enmi la voie,
Ne seroit-il ne biax ne gent,
Ne gaires prisiez de la j ant.
Horn san soliers ne vaut noiant ;
En bataille ne en mellee.
Tout ausi bien la teste armee
Et tot lo cors desi qu'au piez
Ne porroit, s'il n'est chauciez,
Faire gaires de grant esfors,
Tant fu grans ne hardis ne fors.
it is no joke, there is no man, neither high nor low, however
greedy or avaricious lie may be, but he must have shoes, unless
he is of such an order of monks, or hermit, or a holy man, who
for the sake of God will go barefooted: for no man who is with-
out shoes would ever carry with him the appearance of much
worth. If he had, at his will, a robe of scarlet or of silk, if
he should be barefoot in the middle of the way, whether he be
handsome or genteel, he would not be valued at all by the
people. A man without shoes is not worth anything; in battle
or in melee, though he had his head armed and all his body
down to his feet, if he had no shoes he could not do any great
C
18 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Ne cuidiez pae que je vOus mante ;
Ne puet aler sanz chaucemante,
Aler en plain ne en bochage,
Ou en lointain pelerinage,
A Saint- Jasque ou outre-mer:
Et por ce doit-en a amer
Et honorer et tenir cher
Et suor et cordoanier.
II ont mestier a mainte gent ;
II vaut moult mialz c'or ne argent ;
Si vos dirai raison por quoi.
II n'a sor ciel prince ne roi,
Borjois, ne clerc, ne chevalier,
Qu'il ne coviegne chaucier
O de cordoan o de vache ;
Et si n'est preste qui en saiche,
Arcediacre ne evesque,
exploits, let him be ever so great, or so bold, or so strong. Do
not believe that I am telling you a falsehood ; he cannot go
without shoes, either in plain, or in wood, or in distant pil-
grimage, to St. James or be^'ond sea: and therefore we ought
to love, and honour, and cherish both souters and cordwainers.*
They have to do with many people : he is much better than
gold or silver, I will tell you the reason why. There is not
under heaven prince or king, burgher, or clerk, or knight, who
nuist not wear shoos, either of cordovan or cow's leather: nor is
* Thus I have endeavoured to note the distinction the author
makes between grades in shoemaking ; the sotder, is one who worked
in common cow-leather; the cordwainer, one who employed the
more costly leather (^cordovan) procured from Cordova, in Spain ;
from the use of which he obtained his name.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 19
Ne chardonax, ne arcevesque,
Ne moine blanc, ne moine noir,
Qui la osast, por nul avoir,
Sacrement fuire en sainte eglise
Ne chanter messe en nule guise,
Se il n'esteit chauciez ain^ois.
Ne cuidiez pas ce soit gabois :
La hom ira nuz piez la voie,
N'ira seurement la voie ;
Ne en guerre, ne en asaut
Nuz hom nu piez gaire ne vaut.
Ne porroie corliue aler,
Ne apres lor seignor troter,
Ne gaires loin aler a piez,
Se il n'estoient bien chauciez.
Ne chevaucher ne pori'oit
Nus prodom s'il nuz piez estoit,
Qui de plusor ne fust gabe
Ainz qu'il fust gaires loin ale.
Que j'ai veu, si com moi sanble,
there priest who is known, archdeacon or bishop, or cardinul, or
archbishop, or white monk, or black monk, who dare on any
account perform the sacrament in holy church, or chant mass in
any manner, if he had not first put shoes on. Don't imagine
this is joking. If a man should go barefoot in the path he would
not go his way in safety : neither in war nor in assault is any
man worth anything barefoot. A courier could not go, nor trot
after his lord, nor go far on foot, if he had not good shoes
on. No gentleman could ride, if he were barefoot, without
being laughed at by many before he had gone very far. For I
have seen, as it appears to me, when the people sit together, and
c 2
20 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Qant cele gent sient ensanble,
Que aucuns passe par la voie,
Ja n'i aura nul qui la voie
Qui ne I'esgart devers les piez
Se il est bien ou mal chaucie.
Por ce di-je, selon mon san,
Que raiaux vaudroit, si con je pans,
Avoir un po mains vesteure
Et avoir bone chauceure.
Car ce sevent grant et petit,
Que I'an dit pieca en resprit :
" Qui bien est chauciez n'est pas nuz."
Jamais horn n'ert si bien vestuz,
S'il est nu piez, qu'il soit a aise,
S'il ne fait tel chaut qui li plaise
Aler nu piez por refroidier ;
Que sans solers ne porroit hom
Durer ne faire grant beson,
Ovrer, foir, ne laborer,
Coper en bois, ne esarter,
some one passes by the way, there will not be one there who
sees him but he looks down towards his feet, to see if he be well
or ill shoed. Therefore, say I, according to my understanding,
that it would be better, as I think, to have a little less clothing
and to have good shoes. For great and little know this, that
they used to saj' in proverb: " who is well shoed is not naked."
No man will ever be so well clothed, that, if he be barefoot, he
will be at his ease, if it is not so hot that he choose to go bare-
foot to cool himself: for without shoes a man could not endure
or do much need. We could not work, or dig, or till, or cut
down wood, or clear underwood, plough the earth, or gain, or
POEMS ON COSTUME. 21
Terre arer, ne gaaignier,
Ne bien semer, ne bien hercher,
Ne pouri'oit-en sanz chauceinante.
Ne cuidiez pas que je vos mante,
Que je ne die de ce voir ;
Et por ce doit-en chier avoir
Et amer cez qui solers font,
Car il servent a toz lo niont.
Nuz ne deuroit sanz chaucemante
En iver quant il noije et vante,
Et i fait fort tans et i pluet,
Que nus horn fors issir ne ])uet ;
Lors puent bien apercevoir
Li mau chaucie, se je di voir,
Qant il vont patoiant la boe,
Et par la noif et par la groe,
Lors sevent-il, se Dex me saut,
Que boenne chauceure vaut,
Qui bien devroit panre en parfont.
En devroit cez qui solers font
sow seed well, or reap well, without shoes. Don't imagine that
I tell you false, or that I do not say the truth in this; and there-
fore we ought to cherish and love those who make shoes, for
they are of service to everybody. No one could endure without
shoes in winter, when the snow falls and the wind blows, and it
is tempestuous weather and rains, that no man can go out ; then
those who have not good shoes are easily perceived, if I say
true, when they go paddling in the mud, and through the snow
and through the dirt, then they know, as God save me, what
good shoes are worth, which ought to hang well below. We
ought therefore to cherish and honour much those who make
22 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Moult chier servir et enorer,
Que eanz aus ne puet-eii durer
Nus horn qui soit ne pres ne loin,
Chascun jor a-en d'ax besoin,
Et dues et princes, roi et conte.
Por ce que oil qui fist cest conte
De toz cordoaniers qui sont
A toz suor prie et semont
Qu'il soient vaillant et cortois ;
Qant il orront lo servautois
Dire, por Deu et por enor,
Doignent aucune rien do lor,
De coi il face refaitier
Ses solers, s'il en a mestier.
CI FENIT DES COEDOANIERS.
shoes, for without them no man could endure, far or near.
Every day people have need of them, both dukes and princes,
kings and earls. Because he, who made this story of all who
are cordwaicers, prays and requests of all souters that they
be worthy and courteous: when they hear auy one say satii-es
against them, for the sake of God and for their honour, let them
give him nothing of theirs with which he can cause his shoes to
be mended, if he have need of it.
Here finishes about the Shoemakers.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 23
THE WEAVERS.
Another curious trade song, reprinted from the same collection
as the preceding one.
DES TISSERANZ.
Tel gent i a qui oient,
Et entandent et oient,
Et si ne sevent quoi ;
Mais cist qui ot et voit,
N'an rien ne se conoist,
Ne en ce ne an quoi,
Cist s'an vaut autretant
Com cil qui chace et rien nc prerit.
Mais jo icho senefie.
Que garde me sui pris
De mainte gent qui sont,
Que par droit estovoir
Vos doi faire savoir
Cez qui plus de bien font.
Je di, selon mou sen,
Translation. — There are some people who hear, and under-
stand, and see, and yet do not know what ; but he who hears,
and sees, and is knowing in nothing, neither in one thing or the
other, he is worth just about as much as he who goes hunting
and catches nothing. But this I mean that I have made observa-
tion of many that exist, that by right duty I ought to make you
know those who do most good. I say according to my under-
24 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Que de 91 jusqu'au San
Ne porroit-on trover
Jant qui aient mestier
Plus grant que li tissier.
Je le voldrai prover
Par raison, se je puis,
Que nule home ne truis,
Due, ne prince, ne roi.
Qui de dras ne se veste
A liaut jor et ji feste,
Tant soit plain de desjoi.
Je di que li tissier
Ont lo plus bel mestier
Que horn faire lo poroit ;
Et avoec la biaute
A-il tant de bonte,
Nus dire ne 1' porrroit ;
Car je di, par les dras
Est un horn haut et bas.
Quant il en a plante.
Ja home est chier tenuz,
Ou que qui soit venuz,
standing, from here to the Seine one could not find people who
are more necessary than the weavers, I will prove it by argu-
ment, if I can, that I find no man, duke, or prince, or king, who
does not dress himself in clothes on high days and feasts, be he
ever so full of sorrow. I say that the weavers have the most
beautiful avocation that any man could exercise ; and as well as
beauty it has so much goodness, as no one could recount, for I
say that by clothes is a man high or low, according as he has
plenty of them. A man is ever cherished, let him be sprung from
POEMS ON COSTUME. 25
Qui de dras ait lasto.
II n'a nul si prodome
De si j usque en Rome,
S'il estoit ore nuz,
Et fust en leu venuz
Ou ne fu coneuz,
Qui ja fust chier tenuz
La ou ne vindroit rien.
Nonains et abeesses,
Raines et contesses,
Ne puent sans drapiax ;
Clercs, borjois, ne vilain,
San dras, soient certains,
Ne seroit gaires biax.
Si sai a esciant,
N'a si boen marcheant
De 9i jusques a Troies,
Si en voit samedi
Ou marchie, ce vous di,
O enmi cele voie,
Nuz piez o san soler,
Ne fust mal conreez ;
where he may, if he be well furnished with clothes. There is
no so great gentleman between here and Rome, that if he were
naked, and were come into a place where he was not known,
would ever be cherished where he should go without any thing.
Nuns and abbesses, queens and countesses, could not be without
clothes; clerks, burghers, or peasants without clothes, you may be
sure, would not be very handsome. I know for certain there is no
merchant ever so good, between here and Troyes, if he should
go on a Saturday to market, this I tell you, or in the public way,
26 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Si bargnignast avoir,
Se ja home trovast
Qui biau li apelest,
Don lo poez savoir.
Et soiez bien certain,
N'a si mauvais vilain
Ne si endureste,
Se il avoit biaux dras,
Cliascuns ne I'apelast
Et diroit : " achetez."
For ce les tissiers pris,
Lor mestier met en pris.
Que je ne voi chenoigne,
Ne randu, ne nul moine
De nul relegion,
Ne hermite, ne preste,
Qui de dras ne se veste.
Tant soit ores sainz bom.
Nus prodom ne porroit
Aler, se dras n'avoit,
A marchie n'a mostier,
Ovrer ne laborer,
barefoot, or without shoes, but he would be ill rewarded; if he
bargained for goods he would not find a man who would give
him a fair word ; of this you may be sure. And you may be
very certain that there is no peasant so wretched, nor so clownish,
but if he had beautiful clothes every one would call to him, and
would say: "buy." For this reason, I value the weavers, and I
hold their avocation in esteem, because I see neither canon, nor
lay -brother, nor any monk of any order, nor hermit, nor priest, who
does not dress himself in clothes, however holy a man he may be.
No honest man could go without clothes to market or to church,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 27
Ne foil' ne ovrer,
Ne faix'e nul mestier.
JSus hom ne dux-eroit,
S'il drap vestu n'avoit,
En iver par les froiz.
Quant il pluet et il noye,
Et i vante et il grele,
Qui li tanz est destroiz.
Cil qui sont en chemise
Au vent et a la bise,
Se Dame Diex me saut,
Puent bien percevoir,
S'il ont tant de savoir,
Que boene robe vaut.
Nus hom ne puet savoir
Que robe puet valoir
Que toz jors a en aise ;
Mais cil lo sevent bien
Qui mainte foiz n'ont rient,
Ainz ont eu mesaise.
Je di que li tisiers
Ont si tres haut mestiers,
to work or to till the ground, or to dig, or to do any other
labour, or to do any business. No man would endure if he had
not clothes to put on in the cold in winter, when it rains and
snows, and the wind blows, and the hail comes down, that the
weather is wretched. They who are in their shirt in the wind
and the gale, as God may save me, may well perceive, if they
have any power of perceiving, the worth of a good robe. No
man can know what a robe may be worth who is always at his
ease: but they know it well who are often destitute of every
thing, and thus arc ill at case. I say that the weavers have
28 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Soz ciel n'a roi ne conte,
Ne nul si liaut seignor,
Qui do drap n'ait enor,
Ne nus horn qui peust
Tant faire qu'il seust
A dire u'a conter
La gent qui de tissier
Ont mainte foiz raestier.
Moult les doit-en amer
Et roi et due et conte ;
De toz tissier qui sont,
For Deu. lor dit et cent,
Et lor pri et seraont,
For Dieu et por enor,
Aucune rien dou lor ;
Venuz est li mestiers,
Car je ne sai aler
Ne tolir ne enbler
Autrement sanz tisier.
CI FINIT DES TISSERANZ.
such very high avocation, that under heaven there is neither
king nor saint, nor any so high lord who does not derive honour
from their cloth, nor au}^ man who could do so much as to be
able to tell and to relate the number of people who have often
need of the weaver. People ought to love them much, both
king, and duke, and earl. Of all who are weavers, for God's
sake, I tell and relate to them, and pray and ask them, for God
and for honour, something of theirs: mj' need is come, for I can
neither go, nor take, nor steal without a weaver.
Here Jinishes of the J'eavcrs.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 29
A SATIEE ON WOMEN'S HORNED HEAD DRESSES.
This very curious satii'e is taken from a manuscript in the
Bibliothoque Royale at Paris, written, as M. Paiilin-Paris informs
us, within the first ten years of the fourteenth century. It is here
printed from M. Jubinal's work, entitled Jongleurs et Trouveres,
ou choix de Saluts, Epitres, Reveries, et autres pieces Uteres, des xiii
et xiv siecles. Paris, 1835. Jehan de Meun, who completed the
Romance of the Rose, speaks of this fashion: he describes the
gorget, or neck-cloth, as being twisted several times round the
neck, and pinned up to the horns — his words are; —
" La gorge et li goiti-ons sont hors de la touelle,
Ou il n'a que .iij. toiu's a la tourne-bouelle ;
Mais il y a trespiiigles plus de demie escuelle
Fichiees es .ij. comes et entoui- la rouelle."*
After observing, that these horns appear to be designed to
wound the men, he adds: —
" Je ne say s'on appelle potences ou corbiaux
Ce qui soiistient leurs cornes, que tant tiennent a biaux ;
Mais bjen vous ose dii-e que sainte Elysabiaux
N'est pas en Paradise pour porter tiex babiaux.
Encores y font elles un gi-ant harriboiuras,
Car entre la touelle, qui n'est pas de bouiTas,
Et la temple et les cornes, pourroit passer un ras
Ou la gi-eigneui- moustelle qui soit jusques An'as."+
* The breast and the throat are out of the towel (gorget), where there are
but three turns (some texts have trous, i. e., three holes) to the neck-kerchief;
but there is more than half a basin full of pins stuck in the two horns and
about the circular pai-t.
+ I know not whether they call gibbets, or corbels, that which sustains
their hems, which they consider so fine ; but I venture to say that SL Eliza-
beth is not in Pai-adise for ha\-ing caiTied such baubles. Moreover they
make a gi-eat incumbrance; for between the towel (gorget), which is not of
coarse linen, and the temple and the horns, may pass a rat, or tlie largest
weasel on this side Arras.
30
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
This fashion of wearing the hair was also alluded to as " le
bossu;" and it is the resemblance that these bosses, at each side
of the head, bore to the close-curled horns of a ram, that made
the Bishop of Paris incite persons, by promise of pardon for
sin, to cry, " Hurte, belier," and "push, i-am!" as described in the
ensuing satire. The head here engraved
from an effigy of a lady of the Ryther family,
in Ryther church, Yorkshire, is a good illus-
tration of this fashion; great pads of false
hair appear on each side of her head; and it
"is hooped, with a band," as described in the
ensuing satire. The gorget also appears
pinned up to it, as Jehan de Maun describes
it; allowing a space between that and the
bosses for a rat to creep. The way in which
the heads were bandaged and secured in a
golden net-caul, termed, crestine,'creton, crespine,
and crespinette, may be seen in our second cut, from a drawing in
Royal MS., 15, D. 2 (temp, Edward I), This preposterous
fashion took a more extravagant turn, after suffering a short
decadence, and in the reign of Henry IV reappeared with the
horns pointed like a crescent over the forehead, which increased
as the fashion grew older, until the reign of Henry VI, when an
enormous pair of horns rose on each side the head of a lady.
We must refer to Lydgate's Satire, on a future page, for the
illustration of this fashion.
DES CORNETES.
Li evesques parisiens
Est devins et naturieds,
Si se prent garde
Translation. — The Bishop of Paris is a theologian and a
philosopher; he observes that a woman is too foolish a hussey
POEMS ON COSTUME. 31
Que fame est trop fole musarde,
Qui forre son chief et se farde
Por plere au monde.
Fame n'est pas de pechie monde,
Qui a sa crine noire ou blonde
Selonc nature,
Qui i met s'entente et sa cure
A aj ouster .i. forreure
Au lone des treces.
L'evesques connoist lor destreces ;
De lor orgueil de lor nobleces
Si les chastie,
Et commande par aatie,
Que chascun " hurte, belin" die.
Trop i tardon ;
" Hurte, belin" por le pardon.
Se des fames ne nous gardon,
Ocis serommes.
Cornes ont por tuer les hommes.
D'autrui cheveus portent granz sommes,
Desus lor teste.
who puts a false hair on her head and paints herself to please
the world. A woman is not free from sir, who has her hair
dark, or blonde, according to nature, when she places her in-
tention and care in fixing the false hair along on her tresses.
The bishop knows their failings, and he chastises them for their
pride in their finery; and commands, in scorn, of them that
each person cry out: "push, ram." We are too slow about it;
" Push, ram," for the pardon. If we do not take care of ourselves
from the women we shall be slain. They have horns to kill the
men; they carry great masses of other people's hair upon their
heads.
32 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
L'en doit bien redouter tel beste ;
II n'est ne foudre ne tempeste
Que je tant doute,
Qu'ele art et point, et fiert et boute :
Tout le plus sage n'i voit goute
A s'en defFendre.
Des lors vout fame a mal entendre
Qu'ele fist en enfer descendre
Le premier pere.
Fame qui ainsi son chief pere,
Ne cuidiez pas que ne Tcompere
S'el ne s'araende.
N'ai pas paor que teste fende.
Qui est ferree de tel bende
Et de cerciaus.
Et si ont fet cols toz noviaus.
Sor lor cols metent lor joiaus,
Et lor crespines :
We may well be afraid of such a beast; there is neither thun-
der nor tempest which I fear so much, when she fimies, and
pricks, and strikes, and pushes : the wisest man that is does not
see at all how to defend himself against them. Woman began
to turn herself to evil from the time she caused our first father
to descend into hell. A woman who thus adorns her head,
don't you believe but what she will pay for it, if she does not
amend herself of it. I have no fear of a head splitting which is
hooped with such a band and %vith circles: and they have made
collars quite new; on their necks they put their jewels and their
crespines,* And they make collars of the end of the eschines,
* Golden net-work ; thus in the Lat/ of Sir Launfal, we ai-e told of two
ladies that —
" Their kerchevys were well schyre
An-ayed with ryche jrold wyre.'
POEMS ON COSTUME. 33
Et font cols du bout des eschines,
Et font cornes de lor poitrines.
C'est grant viltance
Que fame est de tel contenance.
Je n'ai point de bone esperance
En tel posnee.
Robe ainsinques escoletee
Semble le treu d'une privee,
Ne plus ne mains ;
L'en lor puet bien veoir es sains,
L'en i metroit bien ses .ij. mains
Ou une miche.
Tels bobanz ne vaut pas la briche.
II n'est si bele ne si riche,
Ne tant soit fiere,
and they make horns of their breasts.* It is a great shame
that a woman is of such behaviour. I have no hope in such
gaudiness.
A robe also open at the neck seems like the hole of a privy;
neither more nor less. One maj^ easily see into their breasts;
and one might easily put there his two hands, or a small loaf.
Such pi'ido is not worth any thing. There is not one so fair,
nor so rich, nor proud as she may be, that if she were to-morrow
* This passage, which is in some degree obscure, may mean :
"they stiffen their collars with whalebone, which makes the
breast project like a horn." At the commencement of the next
stanza we are told that a loaf might be hidden in the open space
thus formed.
C
34 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
S'ele estoit demain en la biere,
Que Ten besast pas en la chiere,
Ce set-on bien,
Plus que Ten feroit .i. mort chien.
Tout ce boban ne vaudra rien
Apres la mort.
Fole est fame qui s'i amort.
Tel cointise maint homme a mort
Et deceu.
L'evesque I'a aperceu ;
Si ne s'en puet estre teu,
Ainz en sermone,
Et a toz eels .x. jors pardone,
Que crieront a tel personne,
" Hurte belin !"
on h'er bier, one would kiss her in the face (it is well-known),
more than one wonld do it to a dead dog. All this pride will
be worth nothing after death. The woman is mad who bites at
it. Such quaint fashions* have brought many a man to death,
and deceived him. The bishop perceived it, and he could not
keep silence, but he preached about it, and he gives ten days
pardon to all those who will cry out at such a person, " push, ram."
* Coirdise, or <pieintise : literally signifying, anything quaint or
fanciful in dress; is used in that sense by Chaucer, who de-
scribes the dress of one of the characters, in his translation of
77(6 Romaunt of the Rose, thus: —
" Wrought was his robe in strange guise.
And al to-slyttered (cut to pieces) for quentyse."
The scarf worn on the heads of ladies was, in the fourteenth
centurj^ termed a cointoise, and also that worn by knights on
their tilting helmets ; the edges being frequently cut and jagged,
and, sometimes, taking the shape of a series of leaves.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 35
Foi que je doi saint Mathelin,
De chanvre ouvre on de lin
Se font cornues,
Et contrefont les bestes mues,
Qui vuelent estre conneues
Des preudes dames.
Miex lor venist pensser des ames,
Ansi com font les preudes fames,
De simple afere,
Qui ne se vuelent pas deffere,
Ne lor char raoustrer por atrere
Les lecheors.
Qui font les hommes trop piors,
Trop plus fols et plus pecheoi's,
Par lor atret ;
La fole contenance atret
Tel qui s'en fust ore retret,
Je n'en dout mie.
Si croi, se Diex me beneie,
Que fame qui ainsi se lie
Et se desguise
By the faith I owe St. Mathurin! they make themselves
horned with worked hemp, or flax, and counterfeit dumb beasts;
who will be known for worthy ladies. It would be more lo
their advantage to think of their souls ; as do the worthy women
of simple manners, who will not make a display of themselves,
nor shew their flesh, to attract libertines. They make men
muc)> worse, greater fools, and greater sinners, by their entice-
ment; this foolish behaviour entices those who would, long ago,
have kept out of temptation, I do not doubt. And I believe, as
God may bless me, that a woman who thus decorates herself,
c 2
36 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Et son chartois tant aime et prise,
N'est pas de grant bonte esprise
Dedenz le cuer.
Je ne le croiroie a nul fuer,
S'ele ert ma cousine ou ma suer,
Que ne fust fole.
De lor cornes est grant parole,
Genz s'en gabent, n'est pas frivole,
Parmi la vile.
Tel cointise est a Dieu trop vile :
C'est aussi voir comme evangile,
Et n'est pas fable ;
Mes je croi bien que le deable
Les veut asseoir a sa table,
Qui leur ensaingne
Que n'i ait nule qui se faingne
De porter de pechie I'ensaingne
Desus son chief.
Hurte, belin, tout de rechief,
and disfigures herself, and loves and values so much her flesh,
is not much occupied with goodness within her heart. I would
not believe, on any terms, even if she were my cousin, or my
sister, but that she is a foolish woman.
There is great talk about their horns ; people mock them (I
am not joking) throughout the town. Such a foolish whim is
too vile in the sight of God — it is as true as gospel, and no
fable : but I believe well that the devil intends to seat them at
his table ; who teaches them so, that there is not one who does
not hasten to carry the standard of sin above her head. Push,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 37
Por le pardon. C'est grant meschief
Que la vermine
Mengera ce que je devine,
Et que tres bel pel d'ermine
Cuevre et aorne ;
Et Tame sera triste et morne
En enfer, dont nus ne retorne
Tant en i voise.
C'est uns leus ou nus ne s'envoise ;
N'i a fors plains et criz et noise,
Paine et dolor.
Celes n'en ont pas grant solor
Qui tant vuelent metre du lor
En fol usage,
Et enluminent lor visage,
Et nous font tendre le musage
Por esgarder.
ram, immediately for the pardon.^ It is a very lamentable thing
that vermin will eat I know what, which a very fair skin of ermine
covers and adorns; and the soul will be sad and sorrowful in
hell, from which no one returns when they have once gone
there. It is a place where no one enjoys himself; there is
nothing there but complaints, and cries, and noise, suffering
and grief. Those women have no great consolation in view,
who will put so much of their property in foolish use, and make
bright their countenance, and lay out snares for us to look at
them.
* A sixdden ejaculation by the poet; who cries: "Hurte
belin," for the promised pardon of the Bishop of Paris, when
speaking of the ladies' follies; and his condemnation of them.
3S SATIRICAL SONGS AND
II les en venist miex garder ;
Moquier s'en font et regarder
En mainte place.
II n'est pas droiz, ja Dieu ne place,
Que tel cointise honor lor face
Mes grant despit.
N'iront pas, je les en respit,
Ou repos qui tout sanz respit
Est otroie
A celes qui bien emploi^
Ont lor tens, et ont Dieu proie
Por lor pechie
Et out si lor cheveus trechie,
Qu'autre chose n'i ont drecie
Ne ajouste.
Mult a or le monde ajute
Cele, qoi qu'il li ait couste,
Qui puet venir
El repos qui est sanz fenir.
Por ce se fet-il bon tenir
De bobancier.
It would be more profitable for them to take better care;
they cause themselves to be mocked and despised in many a
place. It is not right, now may God please, that such quaint
fashions should do them no honour, but rather great despite.
Tliey will not go, I promise them, to the repose which, without
any doubt, is given to those who have well employed their time,
and who have prayed God for their sin, and have dressed their own
hair, and have not decorated it, or added to it any other thing.
Now the world has been very profitable to her, whatever it may
have cost her, who may be able to arrive at the repose, which
is without end. Therefore it is good to refrain from finery,
rOKMS ON COSTUME. 39
Et de jengler et de tencier.
Mes je croi bien que vendengier
Se veut et vendre
Fame qui ainsi veut entendre
A soi cointir, por plus esprendre
Cil qui la voit ;
La cointise les genz decoit,
Et tout le cuer de I'omme trait.
Lors si cliancele,
Et si pensse, j'araerai eele,
Tout ne soit-ele mie bele,
S'est-ele cointe.
Ainsi li fols la fole acointe,
Et ceste biaute est ajointe
Contre reson.
Atant des fames nous teson,
Et fin en cast ditie feson.
EXPLICIT DES CORNETES.
and from squabbling, and quarrelling. But I believe well, that
a woman wishes to make a harvest of herself, and offer herself
for sale, who is thus employed in making herself gay, to catch
the attention of him who sees her. These quaint fashions de-
ceive people, and seduce a man's heart; then he wavers, and
he thinks, I will love her, although she may not be handsome,
yet she is gay. Thus the foolish man joins himself to the foolish
woman, and this beauty gets the better of his reason. Now let
us say no more about women, and let us make an end of this
ditty.
40 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
VI.
AGAINST THE PRIDE OF THE LADIES.
The following song appears to be directed against the gay
fashions in ladies' clothing, which had become so prevalent as to
be aped by the middle and lower classes. In occurs in the
Harleian MS. No. 2253, and is here reprinted from Mr. Wright's
Political Songs of England, p. 153; published by the Camden
Society. He considers it a production of the reign of Edward I.
The satire is chiefly directed against the ladies' head-dresses,
and the illustrations given on p. 30 will sufficiently illustrate the
fourth stanza ; the bout and barhet, noticed in the following one,
are not so clear ; but the latter may be the barbe, or linen covering
for the neck and chin, visible in one of the cuts just alluded to : and
which became, idtimately, an exclusive fashion, adopted only by
widows as mourning, or by religious women in the cloister.
Lord that lenest us lyf, ant lokest uch an lede,
For te cocke with knyf nast thou none nede ;
Bothe wepmon ant wyf sore mowe drede,
Lest thou be sturne with strif, foi* bone that thou bede,
in wunne
That monku[n]ne
Shulde shilde hem from sunne.
Translation.— Lord, that givest us life, and regardcst every
people, — to with knife thou hast no need ; — both man
and woman sorely may dread, — lest thou be stern with wrath,
for the boon that thou askedst, — in joy — that mankind — should
shield themselves from sin.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 41
Nou hath priule the pris in everuche plawe ;
By mony wymmon un-wis y sugge mi sawe,
For 3ef a ledy lyne is leid after hiwe,
Uch a strumpet that ther is such drahtes wil drawe ;
in prude
Uch a screwe wol hire shrude
Thah he nabbe nout a smoke hii'e foule ers to hude.
Furmest in boure were boses y-broht,
Levedis to honoure ichot he were wroht ;
Uch gigelot wol loure, bote he hem habbe soht ;
Such shrewe fol ^oure ant duere hit hath a-boht ;
in helle
With develes he shule duelle,
For the clogges that cleveth by here chelle.
Nou ne lacketh hem no lyn boses in to beren ;
He sitteth ase a slat swyn that hongeth is eren.
Now pi'ide hath the prize in every play ; of many unwise
women I say my saw, — for if a lady's linen is laid after law, —
every strumpet that there is such draughts will draw ; — in pride
— every shrew will clothe herself, — though she have not a smock
to hide her dirty tail.
First in bower were bosses brought, — to honour ladies I wot
they were wrought; — every giglot will lour, unless she have
them sought; — such shrew full sourly and dearly hath bought
it; — in hell — with devils they shall dwell, — on account of the
clogs which hang by their jowls.
Now they want no linen to bear bosses in ; — they sit like a
sUt swine which hangs its ears. — Such a justUng contrivance
42 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Such a joustynde gyn uch wrecche wol weren,
Al hit Cometh in declyn this gigelotes geren ;
upo lofte
The devel may sitte softe,
Ant holden his halymotes ofte.
3ef ther lyth a loket by er outher 656,
That mot with worse be wet for lat of other leje ;
The bout and the barbet wyth frountel shule feje ;
Habbe he a fauce filet, he halt hire hed heje,
to shewe
That heo be kud ant knewe
For strompet in rybaudes rewe.
every wretch will wear, —that these giglots' gear all comes to
nothing;— on high — the devil may sit soft, — and hold his sab-
baths often.
If there lies a locket by ear or eye, — that may with worse be
wet, for lack of other lye ; the but and the barbel with frontlet
shall quarrel ; — if she have a false fillet, she holds her head high,
— to snow — that she is famous and well known— for a strumpet in
the ribalds' ranks.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 43
A SATIRE ON MANNERS AND COSTUME.
This curious poem, written in the latter part of the fourteenth
century, is given from a copy in Harleian IMS. No. 536. Another
is in MS. No. 941, the variations in which are given as foot-notes
in italics. The allusion to the long pointed toes, which came into
fashion in the extravagant reign of the foppish and •weak
monarch Richard II, is sufficient to fix the date of this composi-
tion. These long toes were termed cracowes, from the city of
Cracow, from whence they were originally im-
ported; and they were sometimes fastened to
the knees of the wearer with chains of gold and
silver. A curious manuscript in the Royal Col-
lection, marked 20. b. 6., represents the uncles
of Richard II with such fashionable inconveni-
ences, which if bent upward would certainly
reach to the knee; and there is the appearance of a chain, for
securing them, hanging from the garter of one of these noblemen,
here engraved of the same size as the original. This fashion
continued to the middle of the reign of Edward TV, notwith-
standing sumptuary laws to restrain their length. They were
stuffed with tow and moss, to make them curl upwai'ds, soon
after their introduction; probably to prevent inconvenience in
walking, and thence were termed "Devil's claws," by the
satirists. Mr. C. R. Smith has, in his Museum of London
Antiquities, some of these shoes of the time of Edward IV, and
the toes of others six inches in length, with stamped ornaments
upon them; they are stuffed with moss, as described by con-
temporary writers, and were discovered in excavations at White-
friars. For the convenience of such fashionables a long -toed
patten was introduced ; and I must refer to my volume on
44 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Costume in Enyland, pp. 190, 194, 449, 450, for engravings illus-
trative of all the varieties then worn.
Stng I wolde, but, alas! desccndiint prospera grata;
In Ynglonde sumtyme was regnonmi gemma vocata ;
Of manhode the flowre ihi quoque quondam jlondt omnis;
Now goo* is that tour, tradnntur talia sompnu.
Lechery, slouthe, and pride, hil sunt qidbus Anglia paret ;
Sith trouthe is set asyde^f die qualiter Anglia staret.
Whiche oure frendis were, nostri Jient inimici,
With bowe, sheld, and spere, poterunt en talia did.
Ofte tymes have we herd tnala nobis essefutura ;
But ever we| desired a nobis commercia plura.
Lo! within oure loud insurgunt nndique guerre ;
But God put to his bond, fiet destrnctio terre.
On water and on londe, que quondam nos timuerunt,
Now many a thousand nos parvo j^er mare querunt.
The drede of God is vvent,§ humanus sed timor astat ;
Who seytjl trowtbe is shent,^ regnum violencia vastat ;
Rowners* and flaterers, hii regno sunt nocituri ;
Wolde God soche claterers sua suhdant colla securi.
Ingelonde, awake now, consurgunt jugiter Jiostes,
And good hede take ihow,fac hostia, dirige postes.
The ryche makej mery, sed vulgus collacrimatur ;
The people is wery, que ferine depopulatur.
The chirche is greved, quia spiritualia cadunt :
* Gone. j" Sethyn treweth was sett o syde. J We have.
§ Want. II Sayth the. ^ Confounded. * Whisperers,
t Maketh.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 45
Som bethe* myschevyd, plm dampni crescere credunt.
Inloncl goith to noughte, plus fecit homo viciosus ;
To lust man is broughth, )ii)nis est homo deliclosm.
Goddisf halydays non observantur honeste.
For unthryfty pleyis| in eis regnant manifeste.
Unthrifte and wombe§-joye, steriles et luxuriosi,
Jentelys,|| gromys,^ and boyes, socii sunt atque gulosi.
Sojettys* and sovereyns imo quasi fune trahuntnr ;
Put thei be to peyne, in eos quicunque loquuntur.
At Westmynster halle ler/is sunt valde scientes ;
Nevertheles for hem all,f ihi vincuntur jura potentes ;
That never herd the ci\.?L?,,\ jurameato tunc meditahunt.
Than the mater woll thei face, etjustum, dampnificahunt.
And an obligacion, de jure satis valitura,
Thurgh§ cavelacion| erit effecturn caritura.
His owne caas many a man jam judicat et moderatur ;
Lawe helpith not hem,^ ergo heu ! lex evacuatnr.
Manslawghter and thefte crucis ad votum redimuntur ;*
Warej of evel-spon waste, quia pravos prava seq^mntur.
Jurrourswith peynted slevys, inopesfamididominorum,
This hurtyth and grevyth, novit Dens ipse deorum.
Gret hurt to this londe est nsurpata potestas ;
Therfore put to his bond regis metuenda majestas
* And some bene. t God i/s dere.
X An allusion to the performance of mysteries and miracle
plays, on Corpus Christi, and other great feasts. § Wombes.
II Gentlefolks. ^ Grooms. * Subjects. f Noc/ht ellys
before thayme all. % Case. § Thrn(jh a fals. \\ Cavelling.
^ Then. * This means, that bribery was used; and the
phrase, redemption by the cross, alludes to the cross that univer-
sally appeared on the reverse of the coinage. "f Be warre.
46 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
For liarmes that mow* falle nonnuUa statiita jKiraiitur ;
The kyng knowith not alle, non sunt qui vera loqxntntur.
Hee and hee seyth welle, et sermo placere videtur ;
The cattes necke to the bellej hie et ille ligare veretur.
What is the cause of this ? vera violencia legis ;
Amende that is amys, poterit clemencia regis.
Now without a jacke^jattci metuunt renianere ;
Som hath hem on here backe, sed bursa mallent habere.
Good Jacke, where is John ? tibi gratia nunc reguiescit?
Jacke, now grace is gon. ad regna remota recessit.
Jacke noble with him is, iter insimul arripuernnt ;
Of bothe is gret mys, illos multi modo qua:runt.
Galauntes purs penyles per vicos esse vagantur ;
Yf it be as I gesse, viah solvent quod mvtuantur.
Oon wit anodir anon satagit convertere guerram. ;
Now is here, now goon, destruxit ut advena terram.
Freshestf of the newe towche, incedunt ridiculosi,
Lytel or nowth in heer pouch, pascunt deliciosi.
Brodder than ever God made humeris sunt arte tumentcs;
Narugh thei be, though thei, seme brod, nova sunt
/actio gent is.
Thei here a new faccion,§ humeris in pectore tergo ;
Goddes plasmacion|| nan illis comjdacet ergo.
Wyde colers^ and hygh, gladio sunt colla parata ;
* Will. f The medieval fable, modernized by La Fontaine,
of the rats in council, proposing to hang a bell round the neck of
the cat, is here alluded to. It was very popular in the middle
ages ; but is nowhere better told than in Pier's Plowmans Vision ;
which must have contributed greatly to spread the knowledge
of this excellent satire in this country. J Freshe and.
§ FasJiinn. \\ Making, creating. ^ Collars.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 47
"Ware* the prophecy contm tales recitata.
Long sporresf on here heles, et rost ra fovent ocriarum;
Thai thinke it doith welle, non sicut recjiila Sarum.
A strecte bendej hath the hose, Jaqneantur a corpore
crura ;
Thai may not, I soppose, cnrvare genu sine nira ;
Whan other§ kneelis, p-o Christo rata ferentes,
Thei stonde on here helis, sed non cnrvare vajentes.
For hurtyng of here hose, non inclinare lahorant ;
I trow, for her longe toes, dum stant ferialiter orant.
Many men|| thei lette et tiirbant ad sacra stando ;
Cristes curse thei gete, nisi Dens ivstat aliquando.
Wantounly^ brestes procedunt arte ptrophana ;
Prechour ne prestes possunt hac p)eUere vana.
With poyntes full stronge caligas de more sigillant,
Now shorte and now longe, ut venter ecce vacillant.
Now* knokelyd elbowes manace laqueant lacerale ;
In frost andf snowes, ut aves spectant laqueatce.
Whan frost awakis, et string unt frig ore gentes,
Than ther teth quakis, sed se quasi concutientes.
Ful ofte tyraes, i-wys, gelido fervent in amove,
Ther special when thei kis, distillant nasus in ore.
Huf a galaunt thee atowch,J unguentum stillat amoris,
I wold ful were here pouche tanti dulcedine roris !
Lo! this for a gret nede, sua myssent ora libenter,
Whosoever take hede, manet loquor irreverenter.
" Vive la hcleP^ thei cv\, fragrantia viva bihentes,
* TF/(er'er. t Spurs. J Slruyt bond.
§ Other men, || A num. ^ Womnnhj * Theycr.
f And in. J If a gallant touch thee.
48 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Thei drynke til thei* drye, lingua sensuqiie carentes.
Thei crye, "fiUe the bolleslf honm est liquor, hie
mancamus !
For al cristyn soulys, dion durant vasa, bihamits /"
Wlian men reste takis, noctis sompno recreati,
Suche felowes wakis, ad dainpna iMtranda parati.
Armes, sydis, and blode, horinn quidam recitabit ;
Yit whan he is most wode, hunc sermo hlaiidiis domabit.
Paraventure at an houre jjoscunt liii tempora plausis,
A contre tenourj cantabit carcere clausis.
Of the chirche that I write, non forte placet sibipsalmus;
Now§ sey I, for this dispite, si me Deus adjuvat alnms,
Alas, and wele away ! decits ecclesia tenebrassit ;
Lyght wol fayle, I dar say, sanctus nunc spiritus assit.
Syraon, the that fals man decus nocet ecclesiarum ;1|
Moche sorue^ he began, virus diffndit amarum ;
And than, false avarise, satis ecclesiam laqueasti.
With many* evyl vice Christi sponsam violasti.
Here myght I more sey,f tamen ordo vetat seriarum ;
Of soche more se ye may iu libris ecclesiarum.
The lanterne of lyght non fidget luce serena ;
Yt is not al aryght, populus bibit ecce venena.
Oure kyng and oure lord servet, regat, et teneatur ;
God that with his honde ccelum terrani moderatur ;
In age as hee growith, sua crescat gratia fructu ;
Ful litle hee knowith, quanta dolet Anglia luctu.
* Tltey be. t Bowls. t Counter-tenor.
§ Noght. II Alluding to simonj-. ^ SoiTOw.
* Other. f Here mekyl more myght. I say.
POEMS ON COSTUxME. 49
THE BASELARD.
The baselard was a kuife, with an ornamental handle, and a
decorated sheath, worn in the centre of the girdle in the four-
teenth century, and which continued in use until the reign of
Elizabeth. That it was worn by those more remarkable for their
foppery than their courage the ensuing satirical ballad seems to
show. It is given from Sloano MS., No. 2593 (compiled in
the reign of Henry V, or earlier) ; it possesses much humour,
and shows how unchangeable human nature has ever been with
swaggering fashionables. The love that all young fellows had
for such decorative portions of costume is alluded to in the old
French song, on p. 11. Priests were strictly forbidden their use:
yet so strong was their love for such articles that Piers Plowman,
speaking of Anti-christ, says : —
" Proude preestes coome with hym
Mo tlian a thousand,
In paltokes and pyked shoes,
And pisseris longe knyves."
The paltocks being short clokes, unfitting the gravity ot men of
religion ; the peaked shoes, an extravagant folly of the day ; and
the knives, still more unfitting the clerical character ; the same
author advises them to carry a pair of beads in their hands,
instead of their baselardes, for now he adds :
" Sh'e Johan and sire Geffrey
Hath a girdel of silver,
A baselard, or a ballok-knyf.
With botons over gilte."
The following song has been printed by Mr. Wright in his little
volume of Songs and Carols, published by Pickering, 1836.
50
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Preneganl, jivenefjard, thus here 1 myn haselard.
Lestenit,* lordyngs, I you beseke,f
Ther is non man worth a leke,
Be he sturdy, be he make,
ButJ he here a baselarcl.
Myn baselard hath a shethe of red,
And a clene loket of led.
Me thinkit I may here up myn hed,
For I here myn baselard.
My baselard hath a wrethen hafte,§
Quhan I am ful of ale cawte,|
It is gret dred of man slawte,^
For then I bere, &c.
My baselard hath a sylver schape,*
Therfore I may both gaspe and gape,
Me thinkit I go lyk non knape,"!"
For I bere a baselard.
My baselard hath a trencher:]: kene,
Fayr as rasour scharp and schene,
Evere me thinkit I may be kene.
For I bere, &c.
As I gede up in the streete,
With a cartere I gan mete ;
" Felaw," he seyde, " so mot I the,§
Thou shalt forgo| thi baselard."
* Listen. t Beseech. J Unless.
§ Twisted ; platted. || Caught. 5[ Slaughter.
* Chape, the cross-bar, or guard. f Lad ; clown.
X Blade. § So may I thrive. || Let go
POEMS ON COSTUME. 51
The cartei'e his qvvyppe* began to take,
An al niyn fleychf began to qvvake,
And I was lefe| for to escape,
And there I left mju baselard.
Quan I cam forth onto myn damme§
Men hed was brokyn to the panne, ||
Che seyde I was a praty raanne,
And wel cowde bere myn baseh\rd.
IX.
BALLAD ON THE FORKED HEAD-DRESSES
OF LADLES.
This satirical production of "Dan John Lydgate," the chief
poet of the reign of Henry V ; one of the most prolific of versi-
fiers, and, as Warton observes, "not only the poet of his
monastery, but of the world in general"; is given from MS.
Oxon. Laud. d. 31, N. 683, Bernard, 798, as printed in Mr.
Halliwell's Selection from Lydgate's Minor Poems. The fashion
satirized by our poet was one that had -previously called for con-
demnation, as this volume already pi'oves ; but we meet with no
pictured instance then, equalling the monstrosity of those now
worn ; and of which an example is given from an illumination in
the Royal MS. 15, e. iv. Monstrelet notices, in his Chrmiicles,
that a certain friar, named Thomas Conecte, cari'ied his opposi-
* Whip. t Flesh. X Glad.
§ Dame. • || The brain-piin, an old term for the skull.
E 2
52 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
tion to this fashion so far, as lo travel through Flanders, preach-
ing against it: "he was so vehement against them, that no
woman thus dressed dared to appear in his presence ;
for he was accustomed, when he saw any of them
with such dresses, to excite the little boys to tor-
ment and plague them, giving them certain days of
pardon for so doing, and which, he said, he had the
power of granting. He ordered the boys to shout
after them, au hennin, au hennin! even when the
ladies wei'C departed from him, and from hearing
his invectives ; and the boys pursuing them, endeavoured lo pull
down these monstrous head-dresses, so that the ladies were
forced to seek shelter in places of safety. Many altered their
head-tire," he saj'S, " and others gave them to the preacher to
burn before his pulpit; but this reform lasted not long, for like
as snails, when any one passes by them, draw in their horns,
and when all danger seems over put them forth again, — so these
ladies, shortly after the preacher had quitted their country, for-
getful of his doctrine and abuse, began to resume their former
colossal head-dresses, and wore them even higher than before."
It will be observed that this enthusiastic preacher adopted the
plan of the Bishop of Paris, mentioned on p, 30, in nick-naming
the head-dress, and promising pardons to all who insulted the
wearers. It is impossible to suppose that Lydgate's Satire could
have had more effect than Conecte's preaching.
HERE GYNNETH A BYTE OF WOMENHIS HORNYS.
Off God and kynde procedith al bewte ;
Crafft may shewe a foreyn apparence ;
But nature ay must have the sovereynte.
Thyng countirfeet hath noon existence.
Tween gold and gossomer is greet dj^fFerence ;
Trewe metalle requeiytli noon allay ;
Unto purpos by cleer experyence,
Eeute wol shewe, thogh hornys wer away.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 53
Ryche attyres of stonys and perre,
Charbonclys, rubyes of moost excellence,
Shewe in dai-knesse lyght where so they be,
By ther natural hevenly influence.
Doublettys of glass yeve a gret evydence,
Thyng counterfeet wol fayler at assay ;
On this mater concludyng in sentence,
Beute wol shewe, thogh homes were away.
Aleyn remembreth, his compleynt who lyst see,
In his book of famous elloquence ;
Clad al in flours and blosmes of a tre
He sauhe nature in hir moost excellence.
Upon hir hed a kerche of Valence,
Noon other richesse of counterfet array ;
T'exemplyfie by kyndely provydence,
Beute wol shewe, thogh homes were away.
Famous poetis of antyquyte,
In Grece and Troye renomed of prudence,
Wrot of Queen Heleyne and Penelope,
Of PoUycene, with hir chast innocence ;
For wyves trewe calle Lucrece to presence ;
That they wer faire ther can no man sey nay ;
Kynde wrouht hem with so gret dyllygence,
Ther beute kouth hornys wer cast away.
Clerkys recorde, by gret auctoryte.
Homes wer yove to bestys for dyffence ;
A thyng contrarye to femynyte.
To be maad sturdy of resystenee.
54 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
But arche wives, egre in tlier vyolence,
Fers as tj^gres for to make affray,
They have despit, and ageyn concyence,
Lyst nat of pryde, then homes cast away.
l'envoye.
Noble princessis, this litel schort dyte,
Rudely compyled, lat it be noon offence
To your womanly mercifulle pyte,
Though it be rad in your audyence ;
Peysed every thyng in your just advertence,
So it be noon dysplesaunce to your pay ;
Under support of your pacyence,
Yeveth example homes to cast away.
Grettest of vertues ys humylyte,
As Salamon seith, sonne of sapyence,
Most was accepted onto the Deyte,
Taketh heed herof, yevethe to "his wordis credence,
How Maria, whiche hadde a premynence
Above alle women, in Bedlem whan she lay.
At Crystys birthe no cloth of gret dispence,
She wered a kovercheef, homes wer cast away.
Off birthe she was hihest of degre,
To whom alle angellis dyd obedyence ;
Of Davidis lyne wich sprang out of Jesse,
In whom alle vertues by just convenyence,
Maad stable in God by gostly confydence,
This rose of Jericho, ther grewh non suyche in May,
Pore in spirit, paifit in pacyence.
In whom alle homes of pride wer i)ut away.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 55
Modyr of Jhesu, myroui' of chastyte,
In woord nor tliouht that nevere dyd offence ;
Trewe examplire of virgynytc,
Hed spryng and welle of parfit contynence ;
Was never clerk by rethoryk nor scyence
Koude all hir vertues relierse onto this day ;
Noble pryncessis of meek benyvolence,
Be example of hir your homes cast away.
X.
BALLAD AGAINST EXCESS IN APPAREL,
ESPECIALLY IN THE CLERGY.
From Harleian MS. No. 372. It is written on a little slip of
paper, and was composed about the middle of the fifteenth cen-
tury, says Strutt, in his History of Dress. Mr. Planche, in his
Notes to the last edition of that work (vol. ii, p. 140) says, " that
from the mention of the high caps, and letting the hair grow
into the eyes, the date should not be later than 1467," when
Monstrelet notes this change in costume; and Paradin says:
" they sufi'ered their hair to grow after the Nazarene fashion ;
and to such a length as to obstruct their sight, and cover the
greater part of the face." The lines which commence this ballad
are evidently paraphrased from those which the Scots made in
the reign of Edward III, and which ran thus : —
"Xongbeirds hertUess,
Peynted hood witless,
Gay cotes graceless,
Maketh Englonde thriftlesse."
56 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And which are said to have been chaunted in their derision,
and affixed to the door of St. Peter's church, at Stangate. The
excesses of the clergy met with many notices from the writers
of medieval times, who attack them for their, fondness for the
fashionable fopperies of the laity. The luxuriousness of the
church apparel, rivalling that of royalty, was not to them so ex-
ceptionable as their love for short dresses, cut and trimmed at
the edges into the form of leaves; for jewelled girdles and daggers
at their side ; for hawks, hounds, and sports unsuited to decorum
or their sacred character. Chaucer's Jliller is loud in liis
condemnation, and so is Piers Plowman, see p. 49; and Staunton,
in his Visions of Purgatory, describes vain prelates, who had worn
such clothing, tormented with serpents, snakes, and other
reptiles, to which the "jagges and dagges" of their vain-
glorious clothing had been transformed for their punishment.
Ye prowd galantts hertlesse,
With your hygh cappis witlesse,
And your schort gownys thriftlesse,
Have brought this lend in gret hevynesse.
With your long peked shone,
Therfore your thrifte is almost don j
And your longe here in to your eyen,
Have brought this lond to gret pyne.
Ye poope holy* prestis full of presomcion,
With your wyde fueryd hodes,t voyd of discrecion ;
Un to your owyn prechyng of contrary condition,
Whech causeth the people to have lesse devocion.
* Hypocritical. t Furred hoods.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 57
Avauncid by symony in cetees and townys,
Make sliortei" your taylis, and brodcr your crow nys,
Leve your short stuffede dowblettes and your pleytid
gownys,
And kepe your owyn howsyng, and passe not your
boundis.
Repreve not other men, I shall tell you whye,
Ye be so lewyd your selfe there setteth no man you bye.
Yt is not but a schame, ye wold be called holly,*
For worse dysposyd people levyth not under the skye.
Ffirst make fre yourselfe, that now to synef be bounde,
Leve syne and drede, than may ye take on hande
Other to repreve, and that I understonde,
Ye may amende all other, and bryng pese to londe.
SONG ON SEEVING MEN.
From Sloane MS. No. 1584; a small thick volume, partly paper,
and partly parchment, containing a heterogeneous mass of sub-
jects; some considerably older than others. Ritson has printed
it in his Ancient Songs, p. 91, and says that the book was the
manual of a priest in the time of Henry VIII, who wrote many
of the pieces. The ensuing song appears to be as old as the
reign of Edward IV. The burthen was exceedingly popular,
* Holy. t Sin.
58 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
and is mentioned in the Vision of Piers Plowman as a country
chorus.
" And thanne seten hemme,
And songen at nale,
And holpen ere tliis half acre
With hey, trolly loUy."
So well js me be gone. Troly, lole lo.
Well ys me be gone. Troley, loley.
Off sei'vyng men I wyll begyne. Troley, loley.
For they goo mynyon trym. Troley, loley.
Off mete, and dryuk, and feyr clothyng. Troley, loley.
By dere God I want none. Troley, loly.
His bonet is of fyne scarlett. Troly, loley.
With here as black as geitt.* Troly, lolye.
His dublett ys of fyne satyne. Troly, lolye.
Hys shertt well mayd and tryme. Ti'oly, lolye.
Hys coytt-j- itt is so tryme and rownde. Troly, loly.
His kysse is worth a hundred pounde. Troly, lolye.
His hoysse| of London black. Troly, lolye.
In Lyme there ys no lack. Troly, lolye.
His face yt ys so lyk a man. Troly, lolye.
Who can butt love hym than. Troly, lolye.
Whersoever he be he hath my heart. Troly, lolye.
And shall to deth depart. Troly, lolye.
So well ys me be gone, Troly, loly.
So well ys me be gone. Troly, lolye.
* Jet. t Coat. • X Hose.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 59
THE GARMENT OF GOOD LADIES.
This elegant poem is given from the Ancient Scottish Poems,
published from the manuscript of George Bannatyne, 1568,
(edited by Lord Hailes, Edin. 1770); it is the work of one of the
most graceful of the minor Scottish poets, Robert Henrysoun,
who flourished about the middle of the fifteenth century, but of
whom little more is recorded than that he was a preceptor of
youth in the Benedictine convent, at Dunfermling; and is
alluded to by Dunbar, in his Liamentfor the deth of the Makkaris
(or poets) ; where, speaking of death, he says : —
" In Dmifeiinling he lias tane Broun,
With gude Mr. Robert Henrysoun."
He appears to have deserved the epithet affixed to his name by
his brother poet, equally with " the moral Gower." His works
have much of beauty and simplicity in them, and are free of the
licentiousness too often indulged in by his contemporaries. He
is best known to English readers by his beautiful pastoral
" Robin and Makyne," in Percy's Reliques. Lord Hailes, in his
notes on the following poem, calls it " a sort of paraphrase of
1 Tim. ii, 9-11." Ellis, in his Specimens of the Early Enylish
Poets, says that the idea was previously conceived by Olivier
de la Marche, who, in a poem entitled, Le triomphe ou Parement
lies Dames dlionneur, recommends to the ladies, slippers of humi-
lity, shoes of diligence, stockings of perseverance, garters of
determination, a petticoat of chastity, a pincushion of patience, &c.
THE GARMENT OF GUDE LADYIS.
Walb my gud lady lufe me best.
And wirk after my will,
I suld ane garment gudliest
Gar mak hir body till.*
* Cause to be made for her.
60 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Of he* honour suldf be her hud,:^
Upoun hir heid to weir,
Garnei3t§ with governance so gud,
Na demyng suld hir deir. 1|
Hir sark^ suld be hir body nixt,
Of chestitie so quhyt,*
With schame and dreid togidder mixt,
The same suld be perfyt.f
Hir kirtill suld be of clene Constance,!
Lasit with lesum lufe,§
The mailyeisll of continwance^
For nevir to remufe.
Her gown suld be of gudliness,
Weill ribband with renowne,
Purfillit* with plesour in ilkf place,
Furrit:{ with fyne fassoun.§
Hir belt suld be of benignitie,
About her middill meit ;
Her mantill of humilitie,
To tholl|| bayth wind and weit.
* High, f Should. J Hood. § Garnished. || No opinion
should dismay her; i. e., she should have no cause to fear censure.
% Shift. * White, f reriect. J Coustancj'. § Loyal love.
II Net-work ;Fr.hereit means theeylet-holes for lacinghcrkirtle.
% Continence. * Purfile; Fr. fringed, or bordered, t Each.
X Furred. § Fashion. || Bear.
roKMS ON rosTLMK. Gl
Ilii- Ii:it siilil bo of fair having,
And her tipat* of trewtli,
Ilir patok'tf of gmle pansingij
Ilir lials-iibbaiie o{ ro\vtli.§
llir slevis suUl be of espcrauce,
To kcip Ilir fra ilispair;
Ilir gluvisjl of the giul govirnanco.
To Ii3'(l hir f3-ngoaris fair.
Hir schoue suld be of sickernes,^
In syne that scho nocht slyil ;
Ilir hois* of honostie, I ges,
I snlil for hir provyd.
Wakl sohoj put on this gariiiond gay,
I durst swcir by my s(.'ill,|
That scho \voir§ nevir grono nor gray
That set hirll half so wcill.
XIII.
AMENDIS TO THE TAn.ORS AND SOWTARS.
FnoM Laiiig's edition of llio poems of William Dunbnr, (hom
about 14G0, died about 1520) 2 vols., 8vo., Edin., 1834; in liis
" Justis lietuix tlie Tailyeour and Sowtar," ho had treated both
* Tippet. t l'iii"li'l<'t ; a neekerehief, or gorget.
t Thinking. § Her neek-ribbon of truth.
II Gloves. % Seeinil.y: steadiness. * Ilose.
f She. X Filieity. § Wore. || BecauK- in r.
62 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
trades with sarcasm. This poem occurs both in the Bannatyne
MS., written in 1568, and the Maitland MS., nearly coeval.
Mr. Laing remarks, that "the old Scottish poets seem to have
had an especial antipathy to the two professions of tailor and
shoemaker."
Betuix twell liouris and ellevin,
I dreraed ane angell came fra lievin,
With plesand stevin, sayand on hie,
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
In hevin hie ordand is your place,
Aboif all Sanctis in gret solace,
Nixt God, grittest in dignitie :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
The cause to yow is nocht unkend.
That God mismakkis ye do amend,
Be craft and grit agilitie :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
Sowtaris, with schone weill maid and meit,
Ye mend the faltis of ill maid feit.
Quhairfoir to hevin your saulis will flie :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
Is nocht in all this fair a flyrok,*
That has upoun his feit a wyrok,f
KnowU tais,| nor mowlis,§ in no degrie,
But ye can hyd thame : blist be ye.
* Deformed person. t Corn, or bony excrescence on the foot.
X Toes swelled at joints § Chilblains.
POEMS ON COSTUME, 63
And tailyeouris with weil maid clais,
Can mend the wox'st maid man that gaiss,
And mak him semely for to se :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
Thocht God mak ane misfassonit man,
Ye can him all schaip new agane,
And fassoun him better be sic thre :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
Thocht a man haif a broken bak,
Haif ye a gude crafty tailyeour, quhat-rak,
That can it cuer with craftes slie !
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
Off God grit kyndness may ye claime,
That helpes his peple fra cruke and lame,
Supportand faltis with your supplie :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
In erd ye kyth sic mirakilles heir,
In hevin ye sal be Sanctis full cleir,
Thocht ye be knaves in this cuntre :
Tailyeouris and sowtaris, blist be ye.
64 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
XIV.
THE MANER OF THE WORLD NOW-A-DAYES.
A BALLAD with this title was given in the first volume published
by the Percy Society — The Old Ballads, edited by Mr. Collier,
It was thence reprinted by the Rev. A. Djce, in his edition of
The Poetical Works of John Skelton, vol. i, p. 148; but, in a note
vol. ii, p. 199, he says: "In ginng this poem a place among our
author's undoubted productions, I now apprehend that I deferred
too much to the judgment of my friend, IMr. J. P. Collier, who
had recently reprinted it, without suspecting its genuineness. It
may, after all, be Skelton's ; but at any rate it is only a rifacimento
of the following verses, — found in MS. Sloane, 747, fol. 88 (the
Register of the Abbey of Missenden, Berks), and very difficult
to decipher." It may be worth remarking, that the concluding
speech in Skelton's Speke Parrot is conceived in a similar strain.
The Sloane MS. may be a corrupt version of Skelton's poem, it
is, certainlj', the work of a bungler. The " Generall Satyre,"
of the old Scottish poet, Dunbar, is evidently the protot3'pe of
the following lines, which are conceived in a similar strain, even
to the phraseology adopted.
So propre cappes,
So lytle hattes,
And so false hartes,
Saw y never.
So wyde gownes,
In cytees and townes,
And so many sellers of bromys,
Say I never.
POEMS ON COSTUME. G'*)
Suche garded huoes,*
Suche playted shoes,t
And suche a pose,
Say y never.
Dowbletes not ( ?) syde,
The syde so wyde,
And so moche piyde,
Was never.
So many ryven shertes,;}:
So well appareld chyrehes,
And so many lewed clerkes,
Say I never.
So fayre coursers,
So godely trappers,
And so fewe foluers.
Say y never.
So many fayere suerdes,
So lusty knyghtes and lordes,
And so fewe covered hordes,
Say I never.
So joly garded clokes.
So many clyppers of grotes.
And go vntyde be the throtes,
Say I never.
* Hose, trimmed with lace or binding. Stubbes, in the reign
of Elizabeth, speaks of "Gaily hosen, made very large and wide,
reaching down to the knees, only with three or four guardes
a-piece, laid down along either hose."
I It was customary to wear shoes at this time very broad at
the toes, and pleated and slashed like the doublet, sliowing the
coloured hose within. J Ornamented with slashes.
F
66 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
So many wyde pu(r)ces,
And so fewe gode horses,
And so many curses,
Say I never.
Suclie bosters and braggers,
And suche new facyshyont daggers,
And so many cursers,
Say I never.
So many propere knyffes,*
So well apparelld wyfes.
And so evyll of there lyfes.
Say I never.
The stretes so swepynge.
With wemen clothynge.
And so moche swerynge,
Say I never.
Suche blendynge of legges,
In tounes and hegges,
And so many plegges.
Say I never.
Of wymen kynde,
Lased be hynde,"f
So lyke the fende,
Say I never.
* Knives which were worn at the girdle; sometimes in richly
chased scabbards of goldsmith's work.
•f This fashion of lacing the gown behind appears to have
come into use in the reign of Henry VII. I must refer to my
work on Costume, p. 236, for a good engraved example.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 67
So many spyes,
So many lyes,
And so many thevys,
Say I never.
So many wronges,
So few mery songges,
And so many ivel tonges,
Say I neuer.
So moche trechery,
Symony and vsery,
Povei-te and lechery,
Say I never.
So few 6 sayles.
So lytle avayles,
And so many jayles,
Sawe y never.
So many Esterlynges,
Lombardes and Fiemynges,
To bere away our wynynges,
Sawe I never.
Be there sotyll weys,
All Englande decays,
For such false Januayes,
Sawe I never.
Amonge the ryche,
Where frenship ys to seche,
But so fayre glosynge speche,
Sawe I never.
So many poore,
Comynge to the dore,
p2
68 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And so litle socour,
* Sawe I never.
So prowde and say (gay?),
So joly in aray,
And so little money,
Sawe I never.
So many sellers,
So fewe byers.
And so many Marchaunt Taylors,
Sawe I never.
Executores, liavynge mony and ware.
Than havynge so little care,
How the pore sowle shall fare,*
Sawe I never.
So many lawersf vse
The truthe to refuse.
And such falsehed excuse,
Sawe I never.
"Whan a man ys dede,
His wiffe so shortely wed.
And havynge suche hast to bed,
Sawe I never.
So many maydens blamed,
"Wrongefully not defamed.
And beyenge so lytle ashamyd,
Sawe I never.
* For a curious illustration of this stanza I must refer to my
notes to Barclay's Eclogue (Percy Society, 1847), p. 45.
t Lawyers.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 69
Relygiouse in cloystere closyd,
And prestes and large* losed,
Beyenge so evyll disposyd,
Sawe I never.
God save our sovereynge lord the kynge,
And all his royal sprynge,
For so noble a prince reyny(n)ge,
Sawe I never.
XV.
ANE SUPPLICATION,
DIRECTIT FR03IE SCHIR DAVID LYNDESAT, KNICHT,
TO THE KINGIS GRACE,
In contemptiounf of SydeJ Taillis, and Mussalit faces.
Sir David Lyndesay of the Mount, Lord Lyon king-at-arms,
was born, says Chalmers, probably about 1490, and was alive in
1555, but he believes he died about 1557, though some say he
lived till 1567. The satire here reprinted is given, with the
notes, from Chalmers' edition of his works, vol. ii, p. 190, and is
remarkable for its rude strength, in condemnation of that super-
fluity of cloth in dress which had again become fashionable in
the reign of Richard II, and is incorrectly said by Camden, to
* Query, "at large?" but it is by no means certain that
" large" is the reading of the manuscript,
t Contempt.
X Syde, side, in the A. S. of Somner is long, large.
70 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
have been introduced by his queen, Anne of Bohemia; but the
fashion was much older, and may be traced to the Normans.
During the reign of Edward I, a monkish satirist gave us the
following story " of a proud woman" (here translated from Mr.
Wright's Collection of Latin Stories, published by the Percy
S iciety) — " I have heard of a proud woman, who wore a white
dress, with a long tail;* which trailing behind her, raised a
dust, even as i'ar the altar and the crucifix. But, as she left the
church, and lifted up her train on account of the dirt, a certain
holy man saw a devil laughing; and having adjured him to tell
why he laughed, the devil said: 'a companion of mine was just
now sitting on the train of that woman, using it as if it were his
chariot, but when she lifted her train up, my companion was
shaken off into the dirt: and that is why I was laughing.'" The
custom continued until the reign of Edward IV, when the ladies
even exceeded their previous doings, and an enormous quantity
of cloth was used to widen and lengthen the gown. Clialmors
says : — " The parliament of James II did all that men could do
to regulate dress, and to restrain the tails of women, as we know
from Robertson's Parliamentary Records. Dunbar drew his
sharpest pen against the ladies' /art/iiw^iafV/is ; and reproves with
wittiest indignation —
' Hxefowl taillis to sweep the calsay ctene ;
The (lust upskaillis mony a fillock."
Lyndesay seems to have had his eye on this sumptuary satire
of Dunbar, when he sat down to pen his ' Supplication against
Syde Taillis,' Yet, did our poet express his contemption in vain.
In his ' Monarchies' he again attacks fcmnle fashions; he arraigns
the ladyis with a sort of profane mixture of seriousness and
levity, at the judgment-seat of final retribution:—
' Ye wautoun ladyis, and biirgis wyvis,
Tliat now for sydest taillis sti-yvis :
Flappaud the filth among yoiu- i'eit,
* Cauda — literally tails; the tails of a gown.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 71
Boisiug the dust into the struit ;
That day, for all yotu- pomp and pryJc,
Your taillis sail nocht yoiir hippes hyde.'
' The'Supplication against Syde Taillis' seems to have been written
during the year 1338."
ScHiR, thocht your grace lies put gret ordour,
Baith in the hieland, and the bordour ;*
Yit mak I supplicatioun,
Till have sum reformatioun
Of ane small fait, quhilk is nocht ti'essoun,
Thocht it be contrarie to ressoun :
Because the mater bene so vyle,
It may nocht have ane ornate style :
Quhairfor, I pray your excellence,
To heir me with greit patience:
Of stinkand weidis maculate,f
Na man may make ane rois chaiplate4
Soverane I mene of thir syde taillis,
Quhilk throw the dust, and dubbis§ traillis,
Three quarteris lang behynd thair heillis,|l
* This reform took place in 1529,
■{■ Maculate; stained, tainted. The English have the verb, to
maculate, but not the adject, or subst. maculate. Shakespeare has
muculation,
" I will throw my glove to death himself,
That there's no maculation in thy heart"
X Eose chaplet.
§ Mire, dirt. Dub ; a pool of water, says Kersay.
II The tails trailed three-quarters of a yard behind their heels,
against the good of the community.
72 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Express agane all common weillis.
Thoclit bischoppis, in thair pontificallis,
Have men for to beir up thair taillis,
For dignitie of thair office ;
Richt so ane quene, or ane emprice ;
Howbeit thay use sic gravitie,
Conformand to thair majestic,
Thocht thair robe royallis be upborne,
I think it is ane verray scomie,
That every lady of the land
Suld have hir taill so syde trailland ;*
Howbeit thay bene of hie estait,
The quene,t thay suld nocht counterfait :
Quhare ever thay go, it may be sene.
How kirk, and calsay, thay soup clene,;]:
The imagis into the kirk
May think of thair syde taillis irk :§
For quhen the wedder bene maist fair,
The dust fleis hiest in the air.
And all thair facis dois begarie,||
Gif thay culd speik, thay walde thame warie,1i
To se I think ane plesand sicht,
Of Italic the ladyis bricht,
In thair clething maist tryumphand,
* Trailing so long behind them.
■f The queen must have been Mary of Guise, the consort of
James V.
J The kirk, and causey, the sweep clean.
§ Irk moans pain, uneasiness: it is here inappropriately used
for the rhyme. || Besmeur. ^ Revile.
POEMS ON COSTUMR. 73
Above all other Christin land :
Yit, quhen thay travell throw the townis,
Men seis thair feit beneth thair govvnis,
Four inche aboue thair pi'oper heillis,
Circular about, als round as quheillis *
Quhare throw thare dois na poulder ryis,
Thair fair quhyte lymmis to suppryis ;
Bot, I think maist abusioun,
To se men of religioun,
Gar beir thair taillis throw the streit,
That folkisf may behald thair feit,
I trow Sanct Bernard, nor Sanct Blais,
Gart never man beir up thair clais,|
Peter, nor Paule, nor Sanct Androw,
Gart never beir up thair taillis, I trow :
Bot, I lauch best to se ane nun,
Gar beir hir taill aboue hir bun,§
For no thing ellis, as I suppois,
Bot for to schaw lillie quhyte hois,||
In all thair rewlis, thay will nocht find
Quha suld beir up thair taillis behind :
Bot I have maist into despyte.
Pure claggokis^ cled in roploch quhyte,*
* As round as wheels.
■f Folkis; folk: Lyndsay gives plurals to collective nouns.
% Clothes.
§ Cause bear her tail above her bum: bun, for the rhyme.
II Lilly-white hose.
^ Draggle tails. * Cloth made of wool in its natural colour.
74 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Quhilk hes skant twa markis for thair feis,*
Will have twa ellisf beneth thair kneis ;
Kittock,! that clekkit was yestrene,§
The morne, will counterfait the quene :
Ane mureland Meg,| that milkis the yowis,
Claggit with clay abone the howis,1[
In barn, nor byir, scho will nocht byde,
Without hir kirtill taill be syde :
In burrowis, wantoun burges wyvis,
Quha may have sydest tailis stryvis,*
Weill bordourit with velvoifj" fyne,
But following thame it is ane pyne:
In somer quhen the streittis dryis,
Thay rais the dust abuve the skyis ,
Nane may ga neir thame at their eis,
Without thay cover mouth and neisjj
Frome the powder to keip thair ene,
Consider gif thair cloiffis be clene.
Betwixt thair cleving, and thair kneis,
* Who have barely two marks for their yearly wages; 26s. 8cf.
Scots money, during the reign of James V, were equal to 8s. 8d.
at present. — Bud. Introd. Dipl. Scotice.
+ Two ells; i, e., two yards and two inches.
J Kittock ; a wench. With the kittock of the Scottish poetry,
and the French catin, there seems to be a near connection. —
Diet, Comique, in vo. § That was hatched last night.
II A Moorland Meg; Peg, the familiar name of Margaret.
^ Bedraggled above the houghs.
* He again, in the fourth book of Monarchies, attacks the
wanton burges' wives; for striving who may have sydest, or
longest tails. f Velvet. X Nose.
POEMS ON COSTUMK, 75
Quha micht behakl tliair sweitie tlieis,
Begairit* all with dirt and dust.
That wer aneuch to stanche the lust
Of any man, that saw thame naikit,
I think sic giglottisf are hot glaikit:|
Without profite to have sic pryde,
Hailand thair claggit taillis so syde § :
I wald thae borrowstounis barnis had breikkis,||
To keip sic mist fra Malkinnis cheikkis :
I dreid that Malkin die for drouth,
Quhen sic dry dust blawis in hir mouth.
I think maist pane after ane rane,
To se thame tukit up agane ;
Than, quhen thay step furth throw the streit,
Thair faldingis flappis^ about thair feit,
Thair laithlie lyning furthwart flypit,*
Quhilk hes the muk, and midding, wypit.f
Thay waist mair claith, within few yeiris,
Nor wald cleith fyftie score of peiris :*
Quhen Marioun from the midding gois,
* Besmeared.
t Giglet, and kittock, equally signify a romping wench : ghjht
is often used by Shakespeare: —
" Yoiuig Talbot was not born
To be the pillage ota ffi;/!fl wencli."
J Foolish. § Dragging their clotted tails so long.
II He wishes, that the towns-women had breeches, to prevent
the effect of the dust. ^ Foldings flap.
* Their loathsome lining outward turned,
f Which has the dirt and diing-hill wiped.
J This is the comjihiint of the />a>-son in Chaucer.
76 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Frome hir morneturne,* scho strypis the nois,
And all the day, quhare ever scho go,
Sic liquour scho likkith up also :
The turcumisf of hir taill, I ti*ow,
Mich be ane supper till ane sow.
I ken ane man, quhilk swoir greit aithis,
How he did lift ane kittokis claithis,
And wald have done, I wat nocht quhat ;
But sone remeid of lufe he gat,
He thocht na schame to mak it wittin,J
How hir syde tayle was all beschitten,
Of filtli sic flewer straik till his hart,
That he behovit for till depart ;
Quod sclio, gude schir, me think ye rew ;
Quod he, your taill makis sic ane stew,
That, be Sanct Bryde, I may nocht byde it,§
Ye war nocht wyse, that wald nocht hyde it.
Of taiUis I will no more indyte.
For dreid sum duddroun|| me dispyte:
Nochtwistanding, I will conclude,
That of syde taillis can cum na gude,
Syder nor may thair hanclethis hyde,^
The remanent proceidis of pryde,
And pryde proceidis of tlie devill,
Thus alway they proceid of evill.
Ane uther fault, schir, may be sene,
* Morn darg in Sibbald. t Collections, gatherings.
J Known. § I cannot abide it. || Slut-
% Longer than is required to hide their ancles.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 77
Thay hyde thair face all hot the ene,
Quhen gentill men biddis thame gude day.
Without reverence thay slyde away,
That none may knaw, I yovv assure,
Ane honest woman, be ane hure,
Without thair naikit face I se,
Thay get no mo gude dayis of me.
Hail* ane Frence lady quhen ye pleis,
Scho wil discover mouth, and neis ;
An with ane humill countenance.
With visage bair, mak reverence.
Quhen our ladyis dois ryde in rane,
Suld no man have thame at disdane,
Thocht thay be coverit mouth and neis.
In that case thay will nane displeis.
Nor quhen thay go to quiet places,
I thame excuse, to hyde thair faces,
Quhen thay wald mak collatioun,
With any lustie companyeoun,
Thocht thay be hid than to the ene,
Ye may considder quhat I mene ;
Bot, in the kirk,| and market placis,
* Hail; sahite.
t The sumptuary of James II ordains: — "That na woman
cum to the kirk, nor meicat, with her face mussaled, that scho
may nocht be kend, under the pane of escheit of the
curchie." A muffler of the time of Henry VIII is
here given, from the paintings of his French expedi-
tions, formerly at Cowdray. They are noticed in
The Cobler's Prophesie, 1594, where the variable
78 SATIRICAL S0NG3 AND
I think tliay suld nocht hide thair facis :
Without thair faltis be sone amendit,
My tiyting, schir, sail never be endit ;
Bot wald your grace my counsall tak,
Ane proclamatioiin ye suld mak,
Baith throw the land, and borrowstounis,
To schaw thair face, and cut thair gounis,
Nane suld fra that exemptit be.
Except the quenis majeste.
Because this mater is nocht fair.
Of rethorik it maun be bair :
Wemen will say, this is na bourdis,*
To wryte sic vyle and filthie woi'dis ;
Bot, wald thay clenge thair filthy taillis,
Quhilk ovir the myris, and middingis taillis
Than, suld my wryting clengit be,
None other mendisf thay get of me ;
The suith| suld nocht be haldin clos,
Veritas non querit angulos.
I wait gude wemen that bene wyse,
This rurall ryme will nocht dispryse ;§
None will me blame, I yow assure,
Except ane wanton glorious hure,
nature of women's fashions are ridicr.led: —
" Now is she barefaceil to be seen, straight on her muffler goes ;
Now is she htifi't up to the croune, sti-aiglit musled to the nose."
Such a muSier, it will be remembered, forms a very esseutial
part of Falstaff's disguise as " the fat woman of Brentford."
* Jests. I Satisfiiction. J The truth.
§ Dispi'aisc.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 79
Quhais flyting I feir nocht ane fle :
Fair weill ! ye get na mair of me.
Quod Lyndesay, in contempt of the syde taillis,
That duddrounis, and duntibouris* throw the dubbis
traillis.
xvr.
A DOSSEN OF POINTS, SENT BY A GENTLEWOMAN
TO HER LOVER FOR A NEWE YEARES GIFTE.
From Sloane MS. No. 1896; a collection of moral poems, and
mirrative ballads, "written by Robert Smith and others, sufferers
in Queen Mary's days," mixed with some of later date.f The
following appears to be a production of the early part of Eliza-
beth's reign. I believe it to be the very ballad alluded to by
Ben Jonson, in his comedy of Bartholomew Fayre (act ii, sc. 4);
where Nightingale, the ballad-singer, rehearsing the titles of his
wares, mentions three of these moralizations: —
" A dozen of divine points, and the godly garters,
The fairing of good counceU, of an ell and three quarters."
The fondness which the puritans ultimately imbibed for such
far-fetched conceits may be illustrated from a passage of Jasper
Mayne's play. The City Match, 1639, from which it appears they
* Sluts and harlots.
t A poem written by the Earl of Essex, late deceased, l.')76, is
amone; them.
80 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
literally moralized dress, bj' working religious sentences upon it:
" Nay, sir, she is a Puritan at her needle too :
She works religious petticoats ; for flowers
She'll make church histories : besides
My smock-sleeves have such holy embroideries,
And are so learned, that I fear in time
All my apparel wUl be quoted by
Some pure instructor. "
Nor is this a solitary notice of the custom, for in Beaumont and
Fletcher's Custom of the Country, Rutilio says of another gen-
tleman: —
" Having a mistress, sure you should not be
Without a neat historical shirt."
As I on a new yeares day
Did walcke amidst the streate,
My restlesse eyes for you, my hart,
Did seke a fayring mete.
I sercht throughout the faire,
But nothing coulde I fynde :
No, no, of all ther was not one
That would content my mynde.
But all the boothes were filled
With fancy es fond attyre,
And trifling toyes were set to sale,
For them that would requyre.
Then to myse'.fe quoth I,
What meanes theise childish knacks ;
Is all the faire for children made,
Or fooles that babies lackes ?
Are theise the goodly gifts,
The new yeare to beginne ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 81
Which friends present unto their friends,
Their fayth and love to winne ?
I se I came in vayne,
My labour all is lost,
I will departe and kepe my purse,
From making any cost.
But se my happy chaunce,
Whilest I did hast away :
Dame Vertue doth display her booth,
My hasty feete to stay.
Ijoyfull of the sight.
Did preace* unto the place.
To so the trickej and trimmed tent.
For suche a ladyes grace.
And after I had viewed
Eache thing within her seate,
I found a knotte of peerlesse points^
Beset with posyes§ neate.
* Press; go hastily. f Neat, elegant.
J Metal tags, at the end of ribbons, used for securing the dif-
ferent parts of dress: "his points being loosened, down fell his
hose." — Shakespere"s Henry IV, part i, act ii, sc. 4.
§ Short rhyming sentences, most usually inscribed on rings,
but sometimes on brooches, and even on stirrups. In Wits
Recreations, 1640, are many of these couplets, such as: —
" May God above
Encrease oui' love."
And similar innocent jingles. Cokes, in Ben Jonson's Bartho-
lomew Fayre, speaking of the " delicate brooches for the bride-
men," he will prepare for his wedding, says : — " I'le ha' this
poesie put to ^ em: for the best grace, meaning mistress Grace — my
wedding poesie!"
G
82 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Theise points in number twelve,
Did shew them selves to be :
The sence wherof by poets skil,
I will declare to the.
1 . With meate before the set,
Suffise but nature's scant ;
2. Be sure thy tongue at table tyme,
Noe sober talke doe want.
3. Lfet word, let thought, and dede,
In honest wise agree :
4. And loke the pore in tyme of nede.
Thy helping hand may see.
5. When foes invade the realme.
Then shew thy might and strength ;
6. Tell truth in place wher thou dost corr.c,
For falshed failes at length ;
7. Be fast and firme to freinde.
As thou wouldest him to be :
8. Be shamefast there wher shamfuU dedes.
Be offred unto the.
9. Weare not suche costly clothes.
As are not for thy state :
10. Heare eache man's cause as thoh he wer
In wealth thine equall mate.
11. In place thy maners shewe,
In right auJ comly wyse :
1 2. From the let peace and quietnesse,
And wars from others ryse.
With theise twelve vertuous points,
Se thou do tye thee round.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 83
And lyke and love this simple gifte,
Till better may be found.
Yet one point thou dost lacke,
To tye thy hose before :
Loi-^e me as I love the, and shall,
From hence for evermore.
Farvvell.
XVII.
A LAMENTABLE COMPLAINT OF THE PORE
COUNTRYMEN AGAINSTE GREAT HOSE,* FOR
THE LOSSE OF THEIR CATTELLES TAILS.
From a collection of papers on various subjects originally bo-
longing to Jobn Stow (Harleian MS., No. 367). The fashion
satirized was the extravagant one of stuffing the breeches with
wool, tow, or hair, to make them of a most preposterous size.
In Harleian MS., No. 980, is the following: — "Memorandum,
that over the seats in the parliament house there were certain
holes, some two inches squai-e, in the walls; in wliich were
placed posts, to uphold a scaffold round about the house within,
* The original word for the modern breeches, which being
originally in one piece to the ancle, became separated in the six-
teenth century: the upper part being termed hose; the lower, or
leg covering — nether stock, or stocking; and what we sho)ild
now term breeches and stockings, being called the " upper stock
and neather," as' in Thj'nne's Dtbate between Pride and Lowliness ;
and "to stock the hose," was simplj' to affix the lower part, or
stockings, to the breeches above.
G 2
84
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
for them to sit upon who used the •wearing of great breeches,
stuffed with hair like wool-sacks; which fashion being left the
eighth year of Elizabeth, the scaffolds were taken down, and,
never since put up." Bulwer, in his Artificiall ChangeUng, 1653
gives the accompanying representa-
tion of them; saying: — "At the time
when the fashion came up of wearing
trunk hose, some young men used so
to stuflfe them with rags, and other
like things, that you might find some
that used such inventions to extend
them in compasse, with as great
cagernesse as the women did take
to weare great and stately verdin-
gales, for this was the same aftectation, being a kind of verdin-
gale breeches." He then goes on to tell of a gallant, in whose
immense hose a small hole was torn by a nail of the chair he sat
upon, so that, as he turned and bowed to pay his court to the
ladies, the bran poured forth as from a mill; and of a thief who
carried oft' an immense quantity of linen, and other things, con-
cealed in the same spacious receptacle. Wright, in his Pasxums
of the Minde, 1601, says: — "they are almost capable of holding a
bushel of wheate; and if they be of sack cloth they would serve
to carry mawlt to the mill." They were sometimes wrought
with needlework, or overlaid with lace, until they became very
expensive, and justify the remark of Harrison, in his Description
of Britain :—" we, men, doe secme to bcstowe most cost upon
our a 's, and much more than upon all the rest of our bodies."
Who so dotli longe and lyst to here
What ncwes I bringe to towne
Shall nnderstande that as of late
I walked up and doune,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 85
Alone my self to recreate,
My stiulyc cast asyde,
I hai'de a voyce which me aniased,
A suddaynelye I spyed
A silly wretche in poore araye,
And bare for to behoulde ;
Who cryed, alas! now dye I shall,
For hunger and for coulde ;
Because noe meate nor clothe I have,
My neade for to sustayne ;
But woo worthe them that art the cause
Of this my pytius payne.
For proude and paynted parragones
And monstrus breched beares.
This realme almost hath cleane distroyed,
Which I reporte with teares.
The greater sorte doth so delyte
To paynte there bodyes gaye,
With howses ffiyre, and curyus chere,
That eateth all awaye.
Of chymneyes choise, noe smoke therein,
There howses fare and wide ;
Noe menne, noe meate, noe place at all.
For poore men to abyde.
The meaner sorte as servinge men.
And those that lyves by arte,
Do still consume there wealth with pryde,
The pore can have noe parte.
And chefely those of cache degree
Who monstruse hose delyghte.
86 SATIUICAL SONGS AND
As niounstcrs fell have done to vs
Most grevus burte and spyte ;
For they doo not so grevus wronge
In wastinge those alone,
Althoughe thearein they fare exceade
Seinge the poore have none.
As now of kite in lesser thinges.
To fiirnyshe forthe theare pryde ;
AVith woole, with flaxe, with hare also,
To make thear bryohes wyde.
"What burte and damage doth ensew
And fall upon the poore,
For want of woll and flax of late
Which mounstrus hose devore,
I will not speake, for that I think
Eache man doth knowe the same,
And cbeafely thouse that till the growend,
The husband menne by name.
But beare* hath so possessed of late
The bryche of every knave.
That nout one beast nor horse can tell
Wbicbe waye bis tale is savfe.
For now in cuntrey rownde aboute,
Noe geldinge, horse, nor mare,
Nor other beast of any pryse,
, Put forthe all nyght wee dare.
Notbinge so fearde we are of theves,
Whiche ofte are layde in jayles,
» Hair.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 87
As now we are of mychinge knaves,*
That cut of horses tayles.
This marchandies is growen so great,
And doth require suche speade,
That ropers all and hearre makers,|
And others shall have neade.
Who use with heare to make suche thinges
As wee see commonlye ;
The husbanmen, and other eake,
Are wont to occupye,
For all the heare of killnes decayd
Cannot be well repared,
Ffor from twoo pence, to twelfe a pounde,
The pryce of heare is rased ;
So that the foresayd ropers all,
And heare makers eache one,
And mault makers, may well geve up
There occupacion.
Wheareas before one tyme of yearc
Ffor suche necessyte.
The husbanmen weare wont to cutt
Theare horses maynes onlye,
But now noe mayne, nor tayle of beaste.
Can longe time here abyde,
Therefore great neade wee have in time
Some healpe for to provide,
* Sly, skulking thieves. " How like a micher he standes, as
though he had trewanted from honesty." — Lilly's 3Tother Bomhic,
1594. Falstaff asks: "Shall the blessed son of heaven prove a
micher^ and eat blackberries?" — Henry IV, part i, act ii, sc. 4.
t Ilair-makers.
88 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And that with speade, to take awaye
Great bryches, as the cause
Of all this hurte : or ealse to make
Some sharpe and houlsome lawes
To remydye theise earksome illes,
Eare that the tyme be past ;
Or elsse our horse and mayres shal be
All taylesse at the last.
O, that the selye beasts coulde speak e,
As Izop made them all ;
Then, doute I not, they wolde complayne,
And still for justice call.
Ffor now the horse hath noe defence
Agaynst the furyus flye,
"Who doth assault the sely beast
Wheare ever he doth lye ;
And also in the winter time,
The horse sustaynes moche harme,
His jorney done, his tayle untyed,
Was wonte to keape him warme,
Besydes theise thinges which him conserves
His master hath a payne,
Ffor when the horse defaced is
Abated is the gayne.
Ffor that a horse both bryght of blee,*
And furnished a ryght,
His tayle cut off, a curtail is.
And for a jade is dight.
* Good-looking; the phrase, " that bird so bright of bleo," is
oflon applied to the heroine of medieval romances.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 89
So that the losse is very great,
Sustayned many wayes ;
As well of horse as other beast,
In theise our dulfull dayes.
As wee of layte have often scene,
And perfyte proufe have hadd ;
Ffor when a drover came this way,
His harte was made fidl sadd,
To see his beastes whiche over nyght,
He leafte in perfyte state,
And in the raorninge to see them cutt
And shorne in ruthfull rate ;
So that when as he mayde his counte
Of his harde gotten gayne,
Noe lesse then losse of twentye poundes
Hereby he did sustayne.
Alasse ! good man, his hapjie was hardde,
Thus comynge out of Wayles,
Wheare he had hasarded his beafFes,
And here to lose theare tayles !
And all to stufFe and furnyshe foi-the
Our foule disgeysed hose.
Which never ganed any mannc,
But makethe manye lose ;
Vnlesse that Tyburne have the gayne,
Wheare on dooe many ryde,
Ffor stealynge to raayntayne theare hose,
As tyme full well hath tryde.
Which facion fyrst the devill devised
As many doe suppose,
90 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
For that so fowle enormytes
Onely by them arose.
For fyrst the spojle of clothe they make.
Which pynche and powle the poore,
And then the fylchinge of the heare
Doth vexe them more and more.
So that in tyme the charytie
Whiche chrysten men shoulde have,
By dyvers wayes is blemyshed
To boulster breaches brave.
But now for that noe remydye
As yet cann wel be founde,
I wolde that suche as weare this heare,
Weai'e well and trewly bouude
With every heare a louse to have,
To stuffe tlieare breyches oute ;
And then I trust they wolde not weare
Nor beare suche baggs aboute.
FINIS.
XVIII.
SATIRE ON THE TOUN LADYES.
Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, the author of the ensuing
satire, was born in 1496, and died in 1586, at the age of ninety.
Pinkerton, who has printed the ensuing poem in his Ancient
Scottish Poems, vol. ii, p. 326, says: "he does not seem to have
POEMS ON COSTUME. 91
■written a line or poetry till he had reached his sixtieth year."
To him we are indebted for the largest and most curious col-
lection of ancient Scottish poems in existence, known as the
]\Iaitland MSS. ; from these Pinkerton compiled the two volumes
above-named, and says of them: — "The prodigious influ-
ence, and great and universal acquaintance of Sir llichai-d
Maitland, joined to his being a tolerable poet, and a man of
curiosity and taste himself, afforded his collection every possible
advantage." This collection passed from Maitland's family into
that of Pepys, whose diary has made him immortal; and from
him to the Pepysian Library at Cambridge.
Sum wyfis of the burroustouii*
Sa wondii' vane ar, and wantoun,
In warld tliay wait not quhat to weir ;
On claytliis tliay wair monye a croun ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
Tliair bodyes bravelie thay attyir,
Of carnal lust to eik the fyir.
I fairlief quhy thai have no feir
To gar men deirae quhat thay desyre ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
Thair gouns [fou] coistlie trimlie traillis ;
Barrit with velvous, J sleif, "nek, taillis.
And thair foirskirt of silkis seir :
Of fynest camroche§ thair fuk saillis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
* The borough town. t Wonder. { Velvet.
§ Cambrij.
92 SATIRICAL SONOS AND
. And of I'yne silk thair furrit cloikis,
With liingeaml slevis, lyk geill poikis,*
Na preicliing will gar tliame foirbeir
To weir all thing that sinne provoikis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
Thair wylie coitsf man weill be hewit,!
Broudrit richt braid, with pasraents§ sewit,
I trowj quha wald the matter speir,
That thair gudmen had cans to rew it,
That evir thair wyfes wair sic geii*.
Thair wovin hois of silk ar schawin,
Burrit abone with tasteis drawin :||
"With gartens^ of ane new maneir ;
To gar thair courtlines be knawin ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
Sumtyme thay will beir up thair gown,
To schaw thair wylecot hingeand down ;
And sumtyme bayth thay will upbeir.
To scaw thair hois* of blak or broun ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
Thair collars, cai'cats,"j" and hals beidis^ ! —
AVith velvet hats heicht§ on thair heidis,
* Jelly bags. t Uncler-potticoats. J Cut.
§ A kind of lace. || Gathered in bunches, with tassels.
^ Garters. * Hose. f Carcanets; necklaces.
J Throat-beads. § Raised.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 93
Coirdit* with gold lyik ane youidiier,
Brouditf about with gokliu threidis ;|
And all for nevvfangilnes of geir.
Thair schone of velvet, and thair niuillis§ ! -
In kirk thai ar not content of stuillis,
The sermon quhen thay sit to heir ;
Bot caryis cuschings|| lyik vaine fuillis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
I raein of nane thair honour dreidis. —
Qidiy sould thay not have honest weidis,
To thair estait doand effeir ?^
I mein of thame thair stait exceidis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
For sumtyme wyfes sa grave lies bein,
Lyik giglets* cled wald not be sein. —
Of burges' wyves thoch I speik heir,
Think weil of all wemen I niein
Of vaneties that waistis geir.
Thay say wyfes ar so delicat
In feiding, feisting, and bankat,
Sum not content ar with sic cheir
As Weill may suffice thair estait,
For newfangilnes of cheir, and geir.
* Corded. f Embroidered. f Threads.
§ Embroidered slippers; mules, Fr. \\ Cushions.
^ Appearance. * Giddy, worthless women.
94 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And sum will spend mair, I heir say,
In spyice and droggis, on ane day,
Nor wald thair mothers in ane yeir.
Quliilk will gar monye pak decay,
Quhen thay sa vainlie waist thair geir.
Thairfoir, young wyfis speciallie.
Of all sic faultis hald yow frie :
And moderatly to leif now leir
In meit, and clayth accordinglie ;
And not sa vainlie waist your geir.
Use not to skift athort the gait ;
Nor na mum chairtis, air nor lait,
Be na dainser,* for this daingeir
Of Yow be tane an ill confait
That ye ar habill to waist geir.
Hant ayf in honest cumpanie ;
And all suspicious places flie.
Lat never harlot cum yow neir ;
That wald yow leid to leicherie.
In houp to get thairfoir sum geii*.
My counsell I geve generallie
To all wemen, quhat ever thay be ;
This lessoun for to quin per queir ;|
Syne keip it weill continuallie.
Better nor onye warldlie geir.
* Dancer. f Ever be. J Lfiirn to sing
POEMS ON COSTUME. 93
Leif, burges men, or all be loist,
On your wyfis to mak sic cost,
Quhilk may gar all your bairnis bleir. —
Scho that may not want wyne and roist.
Is abill for to waist sum geir.
Betwene thame, and nobils of blude,
Na difference bot ane velvous huid !*
Thair camroche curcheisf ar als deir ;
Tair uther claythis ar als guid ;
And thai als coistlie in uther geir.
Bot, wald grit ladyis tak gud heid
To thair honour, and find remeid ;J
Thai suld thole na§ sic wyfes to weir,
Lyk lordis wyfis, lady's weid.
As dames of honour in ther geir.
I speik for na despyt trewlie,
(Myself am not of faultis frie,)
Bot that ye sould not perseveir
Into sic folische vanitie.
For na newfangilnes of geir.
Of burges wyfes thoch I speik plaine,
Sum landwart|| ladyis ar als vain.
As be thair clething may appeir ;
"Werand gayer, nor thame may gain ;
On ouir vaine claythis waistand geir.
* Velvet hood. "j" Ciimbric kerchiefs.
X Remedy. § Suffer not. jj Country.
96 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
A NEW COURTLY SONET, OF THE
LADY GREENSLEVES.
From " a Handfiill of Pleasant Delites, containing' sundrie new
Sonets, and delectable histories, in divers kinds of meeter; by
Clement Robinson, and divers others." London: printed by
Richard Jhones, etc., 1584. It embraces a capital description of
the wardrobe of a lady in the time of Elizabeth; and is directed
"to be sung to the new tune of greensleves;" a tune which
acquired an extraordinary degree of popularity, and which is
alluded to by Shakespeare in his Merry Wives of Windsor, act v,
sc. 5. The music is given in Chappell's Old English Melodies.
Greensleevks was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight :
Greensleeves was my hart of golJ,
And who but Lady Greensleeves.
Alas, my love, ye do me wrong.
To cast me off discourteously :
And I have loved you so long,
Delighting in your company !
Greensleeves, &c.
I have been ready .at your hand.
To grant whatever you would crave ;
I have both waged life and land,
Your love and good- will for to have.
Greensleeves, &c.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 97
I bought three kerchers to thy head,
That were wrought fine and gallantly :
I kept them, both at board apd bed,
Which cost my purse well-tavour'dly.
Greensleeves, &c.
I bought thee petticoats of the best,
The cloth so fine as fine might be :
I gave thee jewels for thy chest ;
And all this cost I spent on thee.
Greensleeves, &c.
Thy smock of silk both fair and white.
With gold embroider'd gorgeously :
Tliy petticoat of sendall* right ;
And this I bought thee gladly.
Greensleeves, &c.
Thy girdle of gold so red.
With pearls bedecked sumptuously,
The like no other lasses had :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, 8fc.
Thy purse, and eke thy gay gilt knives,t
Thy pin-case, gallant to the eye :
* A thin silk. See Du Cange, voce cendalum.
t Purses have been worn, by ladies, at the girdle from the
earliest times ; knives were added in the sixteenth century, and
were contained in chased and jewelled cases of much value.
Dr. Dibdin has engraved the very beautiful knife and case of
H
98 SATIRICAL SONGS ANU
No bettei' wore the burgess' wives :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeyes, &c.
Thy crimson stockings, all of silk,
With gold all wrought above the knee ;
Thy pumps, as white as was the milk :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
Thy gown was of the grassy green,
Thy sleeves of satin hanging by ;*
Which made thee be our harvest queen :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
Diaua of Poitiers; and Doucecontributed a paper to the ^rcAao%?a,
vol. xii, noticing the custom of presenting brides with them, as
illustrative of Juliet's threat, to use her's should the poison fail.
" See, at my girdle hang my wedding knives,"
exclaims the lady in Dekker's play of Match
me in London, 1599; and Bellafront, in the
Honest Whore, threatens to stab her servant
with one she wears. In Ross Church, Here-
fordshire, is a monument of a lady of the Euddle
family, temp. Henry "ViU, and she wears the
purse and knives, here engraved from a sketch
I recently made there.
* Sleeves were anciently a separate article of dress, of another
colour and quality, frequently, than the garment to which they
were attached. " A paire of truncke sleeves of redde cloth of
gold," are mentioned in an inventory of Henry VIH's wardrobe,
as well as many other " pairs of sleeves." They were affixed by
points, or laces, with aiguillettes.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 99
Thy garters fringed with the gold,
And silver aglets* hanging by ;
Which made thee blithe for to behold :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
My gayest gelding I thee gave,
To ride wherever liked thee ;
No lady ever was so brave :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Gi'eensleeves, &c.
My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee ;
All this was gallant to be seen :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
They set thee up, they took thee down.
They serv'd thee with humility ;
Thy foot might not once touch the ground :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
For every morning, when thou rose,
I sent thee dainties, orderly ;
To cheer thy stomach from all woes :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
* Aiglets {aiymllette), a lace with tags.
H 2
100 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
But still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music, still to play and sing :
And yet thou wouldest not love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
And who did pay for all this gear.
That thou didst spend when pleased thee ?
Even I that am rejected here,
And thou disdainest to love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
Well ! I will pray to God on high,
That thou my constancy mayst see.
And that, yet once before I die.
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
Greensleeves, now farewel ! adieu !
God I pray to prosper thee !
For I am still thy lover true :
Come once again and love me !
Greensleeves, &c.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 101
THE PEDLAR.
From John Dowland's Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, 1600.
The resemblance Autolycus's song in the Winter s Tale (acted,
Mr. Collier believes, in the summer of 1611), bears to it, will
interest the reader; this, of a more philosophic kind, was probably
sung in a court-mask. Dowland was celebrated for his skill
by Fuller, who calls him " the rarest musician that his age did
behold": but it is to Shakespeare's notice that he owes his chief
immortality, who thus mentions him in his Passionate Pilgrim,
1599:—
" Dowland to thee is dear, whose heavenly touch
Upon the Ivite, dolli ravish human sense. '*
In his Second Hook of Songs, 1600, he styles himself "Lutenist
to the King of Denmark" (Christian IV); who had taken a
liking to him, when visiting James I in England, and at whose
request the English monarch most unwillingly parted with
Dowland, who is supposed to have died at Copenhagen, in 1615.
Fine knacks for ladies, cheape, clioise, brave, and new,
Good penniwortlis, but mony cannot move ;
I keepe a faier, but for the faier to view,
A beggar may bee liberall of love,
Though all my wares be trash the hart is true.
* Mr. Collier, however, conceives it "more than likely that
the sonnet in which this passage is found was by Barnfield, and
not by Shakespeare."
102 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Great gifts are guiles, and looke for gifts againe ;
•My trifles come, as treasures from my minde ;
It is a precious Jewell to bee plaine ;
Sometimes in shell the orienst peai'les we finde,
Of others take a sheafe, of mee a graine.
Within this packe, pinnes, points, laces, and gloves.
And divers toies, fitting a country faier ;
But my hai't, where duety serves and loves,
Turtels and twins, courts brood, a heavenly paier,
Happy the hart that thincks of no removes.*
XXI.
LADIES FAVORS.
From Ayeres, or Phantastique Spirttes, for three voices, made, and
newly puLUshed by, Thomas Weelkes, 1608. The affectation of
wearing ladies favors, alluded to in the ensuing song, is fre-
quently noticed by other authors and satirists of the Elizabethan
* Pedlars' songs were very popular: here is one from "Catch
that catch can, or a choice collection of catches, rounds, and
cannons, for three or four voyces," 1652, which more closely
resembles that of Autolycus.
" Come, pretty maydens, what is't you buy?
See, what is't you lack ?
If you can find a toy to your mind,
Be so kind view the pedlar's pack:
Here be laces, and masks for your faces ;
Corall, jet, and amber,
Gloves made of thread, and toyes for youi- head.
And rich perfumes for a ladies chamber.
Come and buy, come buy for youi- loving hony.
Some pretty toy
To please the boy,
I'll sell you worth your money."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 103
era. During the middle ages they were frequently attached to
the knightly helmet in the tournament j a custom alluded to by
Marlow, in his Edward II, 1599:—
" Nodding and shaking of thy spangled crest,
Where women's favors hung like labels down."
Shakespeare's Prince Henry boasts that he will " pluck a glove
from the commonest creature, and fix it in his helmet"; and
Drayton, in his Battle of Agincourt, describes: —
" The noble youth, the common rank above,
On their coiu-vetting coui-sers mounted fair;
One wore his misti-ess garter, one her glove.
And he a lock of his deir ladys hair;
And he her colottrs whom he most did love —
There was not one but did some favor wear."
Lord, when I thinke, what a pahiy thing
Is a glove, or a ring,
Or a top of a fan, to brag of ;
And how much a noddy
Will triumph in a buske point,*
Snatch'd with the tagge of;
Then I say,
Well fare him,
That hath ever used close play.
And when I see what a pittifull grace
Hath a frowne in the face.
* Lace-tags, securing the end of the busk, or principal support
of the stays in front.
104 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Or a no in the lips of a lady,
And when I had wist,
Shee would be kist,
"When she away did go,
With hey hoe,
I end so,
Never trust any woman more then you know.
XXII.
OLD AND NEW FASHIONS.
From "The third and fourth booke of Ayrcs: composed by
Thomas Campian," London (1612). The word composed does
not in this instance relate only to the music; as Campian, in his
" address to the reader," says, the words are all " mine own." —
See Rimbault's Bibliotkeca Madrigaliana, 1847, p. 36.
Ev'ry dame affects good fame,
"What ere her doings be ;
But true prayse is Vertues bayes.
Which none may weare but she.
Borrow'd guise fits not the wise,
A simple look is best :
Native grace becomes a face,
Though ne'er so rudely drest.
Now such new-found toyes are sold
These women to disguise.
That before the yeare growes old
The newest fashion dyes.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 105
Dames of yore, contended more
In goodnesse to exceede,
Then in pride to be envi'd
For that which least they neede :
Little lawne then serv'd the pavvne,*
If pawne at all there were ;
Home-spun thread and household bread
Then held out all the yeare :
But th' attyres of women now
Weare out both house and land,
That the wyves in silkes may flow,
At ebbe the good-men stand.
Once agen, Astrasa, then,
From heav'n to earth descend,
And vouchsafe, in their behalfe.
These errours to amend :
Aid from heav'n must make all eev'n.
Things are so out of frame ;
* Nares, in his Glossary, does not notice the signification of
the word pawn. But he quotes a curious poetical dialogue, 'Tis
merry when gossips meet, 1 609 ; in which the wife says : —
" In ti-oth (kind cousse) my coinmiiig's from the pawne.
But I protest I lost my labour there :
A gentleman promist to give me lawue,
And did not meet me, which he well shall heai-e."
The Rev. A. Dyce, in his edition of Webster's Works (vol. iii,
p. 35), appends this stanza, in a note, to the phrase, " you must
go to the pawn, to buy lawn"; adding, " I believe it is not known
what, or where, the pawn was." It was, probably, a place where
articles of apparel were sold, similar to those for the disposal of
the " unredeemed pledges" of our own day.
106
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
For let man strive all he can,
He needes must please his dame.
Happy man, content that gives,
And what he gives enjoyes ;
Happy dame, content that lives,
And breakes no sleepe for toyes.
PRIDE'S FALL:
OR, A WARNING FOR ALL ENGLISH WOMEN, BY THE EXAMPLE OF
A STRANGE MONSTER LATELY BORN IN GERMANY, BY A
merchant's proud wife, AT GENEVA.
Tune of — " All you that love good fellows ."
AuTOLYCUs's celebrated admonitory ballad, "to a very doleful
tune, how a usurer's wife was
brought to bed of twenty money-
bags at a burden; and how she
longed to eat adders heads, and
toads carbonadoed"; is not more
absurd than the ensuing one, which
was compiled, in all seriousness, to
warn the proud against excess in
apparel. la order to give the
narrative greater reality the ac-
companying picture of the monster
was cut on wood, and headed the
ballad ; of which there are three
copies in the British Museum. It
is in black-letter, and is " printed
by and for W. 0. (William Onley),
POEMS ON COSTUME. 107
and sold by J. Blare, at the Looking-glass, on London Bridge."
Blare was living there in 1688 ; but this ballad (with its cut) is evi-
dently a production of the time of James I, and the copies
alluded to, but reprints of what appears to have been a very
popular " wai'ning-picce."
England's fair dainty dames,
See here the fall of pride,
Wantounness leave in time.
That God may be your guide :
I was a Dutch-land frow,
Shining in beauty bright ;
And a brave merchants wife
In whom he took delight.
All things I had at Avill,
My heart could wish or crave ;
My diet, dainty fare,
My garments, rich and brave ;
No wife in Germany,
Where I in pleasure dwell'd,
For golden bravery
My person so excell'd.
My coaches richly wrought,
And deckt with pearl and gold,
Carried me up and down.
Whereas my pleasure would :
108 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
The earth I deem'd too base
My feet to tread upon ;*
My blooming crimson cheeks
Felt neither wind nor sun.
My beauty made me think
IMyself an angel bright,
Framed of heavenly mould,
And not an earthly wight.
For my soule's liappiness
God's holy Bible book,
I had my looking-glass,
"Wherein I pleasure took.
There was no fashion found,
That might advance my pride,
But in my looking-glass
My fancy soon espy'd :
Every vain foolish toy
Changeth my wanton mind ;
And they best pleased me
That could new fashions find.
* The use of coaches, in the early part of the seventeenth
century, met with so much reprobation that they were popularly
termed "hell carts," and were most violently hated by the populace ;
they were declared to obstruct the streets of London, hinder busi-
ness, and endanger the lives and limbs of passengers; and in 1631
the inhabitants of Blackfriars petitioned the Privy Council against
the number resorting to the theatre there. To understand the
virulence of the feeling excited against them we must refer to
John Taylor's "World runnes on Wheeles," or to the ballad,
called " The Coaches overthrow," in Collier's Roxhvrghe Ballads.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 109
Yet all these earthly joys
Yielded me small content,
In that dame Nature had
Ne'er a child to me sent ;
That makes my heart to bleed,
For which oiFence to God,
He hath most greviously
Scourged me with His rod.
And in my tender womb,
Of so pure flesh and blood,
Created He, strange to see,
A most deformed brood ;
That women of wanton pride
May take example by,
How they in fashion fond
Offend the Lord on high.
When the babe came to light.
And I brought to my bed,
No cost was spared that night,
To stand me in my stead ;
My nurses, young and fair.
Fit for a royal queen,
Gave all attendance there,
As it was daily seen.
Never had merchant's wife
Of ladies such a train
That came in gentle sort.
At the hour of my pain :
110 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
But when my swelling womb
Yielded up nature's due,
Such a strange monster then,
Surely man never knew.
For it affrighted so
All the whole companj'-,
That ev'ry one said in heart,
Vengeance now draweth nigh.
It had two faces strange,
And two heads painted fair.
On the brows, curled locks,
Such as our wantons wear.
One hand held right the shape
Of a fair looking-glass,
In which I took delight,
How my vain beauty was :
Right the shape of a rod.
Scourging me for my sin.
The other seem'd to have
Perfectly seen therein.
These womens wantonness,
And their vain foolish minds.
Never contented are
With that thing God assigns :
Look to it, London dames,
God keepeth plagues in store ;
And now the second part
Of this song sheweth more.
POEMS ON COSTUME. Ill
SECOND PART.
Grief and care kills my heart,
Where God offended is,
As the poor merchant's wife
Did worldly comforts miss :
Strange were the miseries
That she so long endur'd,
No ease by womens help
Could be as then procur'd.
Hereupon speaks the child,
With a voice fearfully,
" Mother, your wanton pride
Brings this your misery ;
Let your life soon amend,
Or else the mighty God
Will scourge your wantonness.
With a more sharper rod."
About his neck a flaunting ruff,
It now had gallantly,
Starched with white and blew,*
Seemly unto the eye :
* Yellow starch was that most used in England ; and it greatly
excited the wrath of the satirists, Philip Stubbes, in his Anatomif
of Abuses, 1588, is particularly indignant at " tlie liquor which
they call starch, wherin the devil hath willed them to dye theii'
ruffes; and this starch they make of divers colours and hues;
white, I'ed, blue, purple, and the like."
112 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
With laces long and broad,
As now are womens bands,*
Thus heavy, wanton pride
First in God's anger stands.
The breast was plated ore,
As still the merchants be,
Now as lewd women wear.
To hide adultery :
Every part, every limb,
Had not true nature's frame.
But to shew to the world,
This, my great sin and shame.
From the head to the foot.
Monster-like was it born,
Every part had the shape
Of fashions daily worn :
On the feet pinkedf shooes,
Insteps had roses red,:^
Which in silk now is us'd,
So vainely are we led.
* The band is the broad, flat collar of linen, or cambric, edged
with lace, and worn by the monster at the head of this ballad,
on the right side of its neck ; the pleated ruff, on the left side,
will sufficiently mark its distinctive appearance.
t The edges of the upper leather cut into ornamental forms.
J The ties of the shoes, which were of silk, edged with rich
lace, were spread out like a rose, until they nearly covered the
foot. This expensive fashion is alluded to by Taylor, the Water
Poet, when speaking of those who
"Wear a farm in shoe-strings edged witli gold."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 113
Thus hath my flesh and blood
Nourisht now near my heart,
Put me in mind of sin,
And bid me now convert:
O let all women then,
Take heed of wanton pride,
Angels have fallen from heaven.
And for that sin have dy'd.
No sooner brought to light
Was this fruit of my youth.
But to the counsel-house
It was brought for a truth:
When to the magistrates,
In a most fearful sort,
It began aloud to speak.
And these wordes did report :
' I am a messenger
Now sent from God on high.
To bid you all repent,
Christ's coming draweth nigh ;
Repent you all with speed.
This is a message sure.
The world seems at an end.
And cannot long endure.
Pride is the prince of sin,
Which is our chief delight.
Mankind repent Avith speed.
Before the Lord doth smite :
114 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
This is my last adieu,
Repentance soon provide."
These were his latest words,
And so the monster dy'd.
Great was the fear of those
That these same speeches heard,
God grant all christians may
Have their minds well prepar'd,
With a true repentance
God's mercy to implore,
That never womankind
May bring such fruit forth more.
And you, fair English dames,
That in pride do excel,
This woful misery,
In your hearts print full well;
Let not pride be your guide,
For pride will have a fall ;
Maid and wife, let my life
Be a warning to you all.
(
POEMS ON COSTUME.
115
THE BALLAD OF THE CAPS.
Reprinted from Collier's Book of Roxhurghe Ballads, 1847 ;
who says of it: — "This spirited and humorous song seems to
have been founded, in some of its points, upon the 'Pleasant
Dialogue, or Disputation, betweene the Cap and the Head,'
which prose satire went through two editions, in 1564 and 1565
(see the Bridgwater Catalogue, p. 46). It is, however, more
modern, and certainly cannot be placed earlier than the end of
the reign of Elizabeth. It may be suspected, that it underwent
some changes, to adapt it to the times when it was afterwards
reprinted; and we finally meet with it, but in a rather corrupted
state, in a work, published in 1656, called Sportive Wit: the
Muses Merriment, a new Spring of lusty Drollery, etc' The
broadside we have used was one of the many ' printed for John
Trundle,' but it has no date." It is also printed in D'Urfey's
collection, entitled " Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melan-
choly;" the variations in them being printed as foot-notes, in
italics, some of them being improvements. Our cut exhibits the
principal caps alluded to in the ballad. No. 1 is the Monmouth-
cap, as worn by the
celebrated soldier, Sir
"William Stanley,temp.
Henry VIH. No. 2,
the physick-cap, from
a cut of a physician
1541. No. 3 is the
lawyer's-eap, from the
effigy of Richard
Harper, one of the
Justices of Common -
Pleas, temp. Edw. VI,
116 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
in Swarkestone Church, Derbyshire. No. 4 is " the cap divine,"
from a portrait of Cranmer. The jester's-cap may be seen in
Donee's, or any illustrated Shakespeare; the London "cap of
maintenance" is equally familiar. No. 5, " the sickly-cap," is
copied from a cut dated 1641; and a rude representation of the
devil, " fallen sick, by reason of this present parliament," pub-
lished at the same time, exhibits his Satanic majesty in the same
head-dress. No. 6, "the furred and quilted cap of age," is
worn by a figure, emblematic of old age, in an engraving after
Holbein.
The wit hath long beholding been
Unto the cap to keep it in,
But now the wits flie out amaine,
"With praise to quit the cap againe :
The cap, that owns the highest pai't,
Obtain'd that place by due desert :
For any cap, whate're it be.
Is still the signe of some degree.
The cap doth stand, each man can show,
Above a crown, but kings below :
The cap is neerer heaven than we,
A greater sign of majestic.
When off the cap we chance to take
Both head and feet obeysance make ;
For any cap, whate're it bee,
Is still the signe of some degree.
The Monmouth-cap, the saylors thrum.
And that wherein the tradesmen* come,
* This is D'Urfey's reading. It reads sailors in Mr. Collier's
book, which is evidently a mistake of the old printer.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 117
The physick, lawe, the cap divine,
The same* that crowns the muses nine,
The cap that fools do countenance.
The goodly cap of maintenance,
And any cap, whate're it bee,
Is still the signe of some degree.
The sickly cap, both plaine and wrought.
The fuddling-cap, however bought ;
The quilted, f furr'd, the velvet, satin.
For which so many pates learn latin.
The crewell cap, the fustian pate.
The perriwig, the cap of late ;
And any cap, whate're it bee.
Is still the signe of some degree.
The souldiers that the Monmouth wear.
On castle-tops their ensignes rear,
The saylors with their thrums doe stand
On higher place than all the land ;
The tradesman's cap aloft is born.
By 'vantage ofij: (some say) a horn.
Thus any cap, whate're it bee.
Is still the signe of some degree.
The physick-cap to dust may bring,
Without controuU the greatest king ;
The lawyer's cap hath heavenly might,
To make a crooked cause aright ;
* And that which, f Worsted. J A stately.
118 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Which, being round and endless, knows
To make as endless any cause.*
So any cap, whate're it bee.
Is still the signe of some degree.
Both east and west, and north and south,
Where'er the Gospel findsf a mouth,
The cap divine doth thither look ;
'Tis square, like scholars and their booke ;
The rest are round, but this is square.
To shew that they:}: more stable are :
For any cap, whate're it bee.
It still the signe of some degree.
The motley-man§ a cap doth weare,
Which makes him fellow to|| a peere,
And 'tis no slender part^^ of wit,
To act the fool where great men sit ;
For folly is in such request
That each man strives to do his best.*
Thus any cap, whate're it bee.
Is still the signe of some degree.
* " To make a crooked action straight;
And if you'll line him in the fist.
The cause hell warrant as he list."
j" Hath. X Their wits.
§ The jester he. || For. ^ Fiece.
* " Sut, oh, the cup of London town,
I wis, 'tis like a goodly crown."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 119
The sick man's cap, not wrought with silk,
Is like repentant, white as milk ;
When hats in chm-ch drop ofl" in haste,
This cap ne'er leaves the head uncaste.*
The sick man's cap, if wrought, can tell,
Though he be ill, his state is well.|
So any cap, whate're it bee,
Is still the signe of some degree.
The fuddling cap, by Bacchus' might,
Turns night to day, and day to night ;
Yet spenders 'it prefer to more,
Seeming to double all their store.
The furr'd and quilted cap of age,
Can make a musty proverb sage ;|
And any cap, whate're it bee,
It is the signe of some degree.
Though fustian-caps be slender ware,
The head is of no better gear.
* " The sickly-cap, tho' wrought with silk.
Is like repentance, white as milk;
When caps drop off at health apace.
The cap doth then your head uncase.^'
"f " Tho' he be sick, his cap is well."
X The lust four lines are thus in D'Urfey : —
'• We know it makes proud hearts to bend.
The lowly feet for to ascend;
It makes men richer than before,
By seeing doubly all their store."'
120 SATIRICAL SONCS AND
The crewell cap is knit like hose,
For them whose zeale takes cold i' th' nose
Whose purity doth judge it meete,
To clothe alike both head and feete.
This cap would faine, but cannot bee,
The onely cap of no degree.
The satin and the velvet hive,
Unto a bishoprick doe drive ;
Nay, when a file of caps you're seen in,
A square cap this, and then a linen,
This treble cap may raise some hope,
If fortune smile, to be a pope.*
Thus any cap, whate're it bee.
May raise a man to some degree.
The perriwig, oh! that declares
The rise of flesh, though fall of hairs ;
And none but graduatesf can proceede
In sinne so far till this they neede.
* The two stanzas are thus condensed by D'TJrfey :-
" Thefurrd and quilted cap of age.
Can make a mouldy proverb sage;
The sattin and the velvet hive,
Into a bishoprick may thrive;
The triple-cap may raise some hope.
If fortune serve, to be a pope.
For any cap, whate're it bee,
Is still the signe of some degree.''
t Gransirs.
POEMS ON COSTUME.
121
Before the Prince none covered are,
But those that to themselves go bare :*
This cap, of all the caps that bee.
Is now the sigue of high degree.
THE BALLAD OF THE BEARD.
This very curious ballad is reprinted from the collection of
poems, entitled Le Prince cC Amour, 1660; but it is evidently a
production of the time of Charles I, if not earlier. The varied
form of beard, which characterized the profession of each wearer,
is amusingly descanted on, and is a curious fact in the chronicle
of male fashions, during the first half of the seventeenth century.
Taylor, the Water Poet, has alluded to the custom at some
length; and other writers of the day have so frequently men-
tioned the same thing, as to furnish materials for a curious (pri-
vately-printed) pamjihlet, by J. A. Repton, F.S.A., on the
various forms of the beard and mustachio. The beard, like
" the Roman T," mentioned in the following ballad, is exhibited
in our cut — Fig. 1, from a portrait of G. Raigersperg, 1649, in
" Before the king, who cover' d are,
And only to themselves are bare."
122 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Mr. Repton's book. The Stiletto-beard, as worn by Sir Edward
Coke, is seen Fig. 2. The needle-beard was narrower and
more pointed. The soldier's, or spade beard, Fig. 3, is from a
Dutch porti-ait, also in Mr. Repton's book. The stubble, or
close -cropped beard of a judge, requires no pictorial illustration.
The bishop's-beard. Fig A, is given from Randle Holmes' Heraldry,
who calls it " the broad, or cathedral beard, because bishops, and
grave men of the church, anciently did weare such beards."
Cranmer, Knox, and others, are seen with them. " The beard
of King Harry" may be seen in any portrait of King Henry VIH,
and the amusing accuracy of the description tested. The
clown's-beard, bushy, and not subject to any fashionable trimming,
is sufficiently described in the words of the song.
The beard, thick or thin, on the lip or chin,
Doth dwell so near the tongue,
That her silence in the beard's defence,
May do her neighbour wrong.
Now a beard is a thing that commands in a king,
Be his sceptres ne'er so fair :
Where the beard bears the sway, the people obey,
And are subject to a hair.
'Tis a princely sight, and a grave delight.
That adorns both young and old ;
A well thatcht face is a comely grace.
And a shelter from the cold.
When the piercing north comes thundering forth,
Let a barren face beware ;
For a trick it will find, with a razor of wind,
To shave a face that's bare.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 123
But there's many a nice and strange device,
That doth the beard disgrace ;
But he that is in such a foolish sin,
Is a traitor to his face.
Now of the beards there be such a company,
And fashions such a throng,
That it is very hard to handle a beard,
Tho' it be never so long.
The Roman T, in its bravery,
Doth first itself disclose.
But so high it turns, that oft it burns
With the flames of a torrid nose.
The stilletto-beard, oh ! it makes me afeard.
It is so sharp beneath,
For he that doth place a dagger in's face,
What wears he in his sheath ?
But, methinks, I do itch to go thro' stitch
The needle-beard to amend,
Which, without any wrong, I may call too long,
For a man can see no end.
The soldier's-beard doth march in sheai''d.
In figure like a spade,
With which he'll make his enemies quake,
And think their graves are made.
124 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
The grim stubble eke on the judge's cheek,
Shall not my verse despise ;
It is more fit for a nutmeg, but yet
It grates poor prisoners' eyes.
What doth invest a bishop's breast
But a milk-white spreading hair ?
Which an emblem may be of integrity,
Which doth inhabit there.
I have also seen on a woman's chin
A hair or two to grow,
But, alas, the face it is too cold a place,
Then look for a beard below.
But, oh ! let us tarry for the beard of King Harry,
That grows about the chin,
With his bushy pride, and a grove on each side.
And a champion ground between.
Last, the clown doth rush, with his beard like a bush.
Which may be well endur'd ;
For tho' his face be in such a case,
His land is well manui''d.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 123
IRISH DRESS.
From D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth, vol. iv, p. 199, where the tune is
given. It is called "The Irish Hallaloo"; and appears to be
one of those party songs which do no credit to anybody. With
regard to the peculiarities of Irish costume, given in this song,
it may be sufficient to notice that Walker, in his History of the
Irish Bards, has engraved the barrad, or Irish
conical-cap, mentioned in stanza two, as worn by
O'More, a turbulent Irish chieftain, copied from a
map of the taking of the Earl of Ormond, in 1600.
Our cut is copied from the head of an Irishman
given in Bulwer's Artificiall Changeling, 1653.
The high-topped English boots, mentioned in stanza four, would
seem to fix the date of this ballad to the early part of the seven-
teenth century; the brogues, with which they are contrasted,
were a peculiar manufacture; for information on which subject,
and for a cut of one, I must refer the reader to Hall's Ireland,
vol. i, p. 189, or to Mi*. Crofton Croker's Kerry Pastoral, vol. vii
of the Percy Society's publications.
Instead of our buildings, and castles so brave,
Into our caverns we're forc'd for to crave,
When we are driven along the bogs,
We root up potatoes like the wild hogs.
Instead of their beavers, and castors so good,*
In their picked caps they are forc'd to the wood :
* Beaver hats were considered as an extravagant luxury in
the time of Ehzabeth. Stubbes speaks of them in terms of in-
126 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And when they are driven along the passes,
They Ve nothing but tatters to hang on their
Instead of their mantles lined with plush,
They're forced to seek rags off every bush ;
When they have gotten a very good cantle,*
They go to the botchers, and there make a mantle.
Instead of their boots, with tops so large,
I'm sure they are rid of that same charge ;
Now they have gotten a thin pair of brogues,
And into the woods among the wild rogues. f
dignation, and says they cost twenty, thirtj', and forty shillings
each, " and were fetched from beyond the seas, from whence a
great sort of other vanities do come besides." In a curious col-
lection of household documents, formerly belonging to Nell
Gwj'nne, now in the possession of Mr. Crofton Croker, is the sub-
joined hatter's bill, which shows the price of these articles at
that time. The page seems to have owned the castor.
Sould to Maddam Gwin, April ye 24, 1675.
Imp. for 5 French hatts, for ye footmen, at 10s. a-piece 2 10
It.for4Englishhatts,foryeothermen,at7s.&6da-piece 1 10
It. for a bl. castor, for ye page - - - 10
It. for buttons and loopes for them - - - 3
4 13
* A rouglily dissevered piece.
t The last verse, alluding to their cattle and wives, has been
omitted, on account of its witless indelicac}'.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 127
JOCKEY WILL PROVE A GENTLEMAN.
Reprinted from The Archaologist, a journal of antiquarian
science, edited by Mr. Halliwell, who prefaces this ballad by
saying: — "This satire was, doubtlessly, levelled against the
numerous train of Scotch adventurers who wisely emigrated to
England, in the time of James I, in the full expectation of being
distinguished by the particular favour and patronage of their
native sovereign. The realization of these hopes, and perhaps
some disappointment of his own, excited the gall of the unknown
satirist, and produced this efiFusion. It is of extreme rarity, and
.Mr. Evans printed a copy of it, from the only one then known,
in his Old Ballads, vol. i, p. 107-9. Sanderson, however, in his
diary, in the British Museum, MS. Lansd. 241, has preserved a
more complete copy, and a much better version, which we insert
here, as being well worthy of publication. Ritson, at one time,
questioned its existence." Evans's version has some consider-
able variations from -the following one.
A songe of a fine Skott, giveyi me hy Sir H. Boyce.
How now, Joky, whither away ?
A wourd or twoe, 1 pray thee stay,
For thou art, in thy rich aray.
Most like a gallant, fresh and gay !
By my fay and by Saint Ann,
Joky will prove a gentillman.
Thy showes* thow had when thow went to plowe,
Was made of the hide of some ould cowe,
* Shoes.
128 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Is turmi to Spanish lether nowe,
Bedect with roses, I knowe not howe.
By my fay, 8ic.
Thy stockynges made of the northern hew,
Which scarce cost xijrf. beinge newe,
Is turned nowe to silken blewe,
Which semeth strange unto my vewe.
By my fay, &c.
Thy garters made of the list full gray.
Which thou frome the taylour didst steale each day,
Is turned nowe to silke full gay,
With tassells of gould and silvre, I say.
By my fay, &c.
Thy hose and thy dublett which were full plaine,
Wherof great store of lice containe,
Is turned nowe ; well fare thy braine.
That can by begginge this maintayne !
By my fay, &c.
Thy jerkin made of the northerne gray,
Which thow hast wore this many a day,
Is turned nowe to spruce full gay,
More sweeter then the flowres in May.
By my fay, &c.
Thy gerdill made of the whitt lether whange,*
Which thow has wore God knawes howe longe.
* " White-leather thong." — Evans. A whang, is a thin slice
of any thing.
POEMS ON COSTUME, 129
Is turned nowe to velvet iinbrethered* strange,
With gould and pearle amange.
By my fay, &c.
Thy band which thow did use to weare,
"Which was scarce washd iij. times a yeare,
Is turnd nowe to cambricke clears,
With broad bonelace up to the eare.
By my foy, &c.
Thy blewe bonnett when thow came hether,
Which kept thy pate from wind and wether,
Is throwne away, and who can tell whether ?
And thowe art in thy bever and fether.
By my fay, &c.
Thy breakfast thowe gott every day
Was but pease bread and kelj full gray,
Is turned nowe to chere full gay,
Served to thy table in riche aray.
By my fay, &c.
Thy diner thow [ate] at xij. a clock.
For wante of meat went twise to the pott.
Is turned now ; most happy lott
That suche good lucke lightes one a Skott !
By my fay, &c.
* Embroidered. t Kail; broth made of greens.
K
130 SATIKICAL SONGS AND
When supper time did come at night,
Thou went to bed with stomake Hght ;
But nowe a second couerse in sight
Is sene uppon thy table right.
By my fay, &c.
But yf thy hap doe still indure,
Ingland at length will growe full poore :
Therefere, good Kinge, graunt them no more,
For it afflicts thy subjectes sore !
Yf this be trewe, by swete Ann,
Joky wil be no gentillman.
BLEW-CAP FOR jME ;
OK,
A Scottish lasse her resolute chusing,
Shee'l have bonny Blevv-cap, all other refusing.
This song, so humorously descriptive of the costume of many
nations, is printed in Evans' Old Ballads, vol. iii, p. 245, from a
black-letter copy, printed by T. Lambert, and is directed to be
sung " to a curious new Scottish tune, called Blue-cap," which
appears to have been very popular. The ballad seems expressly
designed as an antidote to the last, and a compliment to Scotsmen.
Come hither, the merriest of all the Nine,
Come sit thee down by me, and let us be jolly,
And in a full cup of Apollo's wine
"We'll dro\vn our old enemy, mad Melancholy ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 131
Which when we have done, we'll between us devise
A dainty new ditty with art to comprise ;
And of this new ditty the matter shall be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me.
There lives a blith lass in Faukeland town.
And she had some suitors, I wot not how many ;
But her resolution she had set down,
That she'd have a Blew-cap, gif ere she had any.
An Englishman, when our good king was there,
Came often unto her, and loved her dear ;
But still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
A Welchman that had a long sword by hur side.
Red pritches, red tublet, red coat, and red peard.
Was make a great shew with a great deal of pride,
And tell hur strange tale that the like was ne'er heai'd.
Was reckon her pedigree, long before Prute,
No body was by hur that can her confute :
But still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
A Frenchman that largely was booted and spurr'd.
Long lock't with a ribbon,* long points and breeches,
* An allusion to the long lock of hair allowed to hang upon
the breast, ornamented with a ribbon, and which was termed a
French lock; it having originated in that country. In Green's
Quip for an Upstart Courtier, 1592, a barber asks, "will you be
Frenchified, with a love-lock down to your shoulders, in which
you may weave your mistress's favour."
k2
132 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
He's ready to kiss her at every word,
And for further exercise his fingers itches :
" You be pritty wench, mitris, par ma foy ;
Begar me doe love you, then be not you coy :"
But still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
An Irishman, with a long skeane in his hose,*
Did think to obtain her it was no great matter,
Up-stairs to her chamber so lightly he goes,
That she ne'er heard him until he came at her :
Quoth he, " I do love you, by fate and by trote,
And if you will have me, experience shall shote ;"
But still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
SECOND PART.
A dainty spruce Spaniard, with hair black as jet.
Long cloak with round cape, a long rapier and
poignavd.
He told her, if that she could Scotland forget,
He'd shew her the vines as they grow in the vineyard.
" If thou wilt abandon this country so cold,
I'll shew thee fair Spain, and much Indian gold."
But still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
* The skeane was a peculiarly national Irish weapon, and is
alluded to by Fi-oissart. It was a long, pointed dagger, sharp
on both edges, with which Irish women are said to have been
armed, as well as the men.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 133
A haughty high German of Hamborough town,
A proper tall gallant, with mighty raustachoes :
He weeps if the lass upon him do but frown,
Yet he's a great fencer that comes to o'ermatch us.
But yet all his fine fencing could not get the lass ;
She denied him so oft, that he wearied was :
For still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
A Netherland mariner there came by chance,
Whose cheeks did resemble two roasting pomwaters;*
To this canny lass he his suit did advance,
And as taught by nature he cunningly flatters :
" Jack will make thee," said he, " sole lady o' the sea ;
Both Spaniards and Englishmen shall thee obey :"
But still she replied, " Sir, I pray let me be ;
Gif ever I have a man, Blew-cap for me."
These sundry suitors of several lands.
Did daily solicit this lass for her favour,
And every one of them alike understands.
That to win the prize they in vain did endeavour ;
For she had resolved (as I before said)
To have bonny Blew-cap, or else die a maid.
Unto all her suppliants still replied she,
" Gif ever I have man, Blew-cap for me."
At last came a Scottish man (with a blew cap).
And he was the party for whom she had tarried,
* A kind of apple.
134 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
To get this blith bonny lass 'twas his gude hap,
They gang'd to the kirk and were presently married ;
I ken not weel whether it were lord or leard,
They caude him some sike a like name as I heard,
To cliuse him from all she did gladly agree,
And still she cried, " Blew-cap, th' art welcome to me."
XXIX.
SQUARE-CAP FOR ME.
From The Cambridge University Garland, 12mo. n. d., in the pos-
session of J. 0. Ilalliwell, Esq. This ballad is constructed after
the model of that last given; but intended as a special compli-
ment to universit}'-men. Its author was the celebrated royalist
John Cleveland.
Come hither, Apollo's bouncing girl.
And in a whole Hippocrene of sherry
Let's drink a round till our brains do whirl.
Tuning our pipes to make ourselves merry.
A Cambridge lass, Venus-like, born of the froth
Of an old half-filled jug of barley broth ;
Tho' she's my mistris, her suitors are many.
But shee'U have Square-cap, if e'er she have any.
And first, for the plush-sake, the Monmouth-cap* comes,
Shaking his head, like an empty bottle,
* See the "Ballad of the Caps," page 115.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 135
With his new-fangled oath, " by Jupiter's thumbs,"
That to her health he'll begin a pottle.
He tells her, that, after the death of his grannum,
He shall have two hundred pounds per annum.
But still she replies, " Good sir, la-bee ;*
If ever I have a man, tlien Square-cap for me."
Then calotf leather-cap strongly pleads.
And fain would derive the pedigree of 's fashion ;
The Antipodes wear their shoes on their heads.
And why may not we in their imitation ?
Oh ! how tliis foot-ball noddle would please,
If it were but well tost on St. Thomas his lease ?J
But still she replies, " Good sir, la-bee ;
If ever I have a man, Square-cap for me."
Next comes the Puritan, in a wrought cap,
With a long-waisted conscience towards a sister.
And making a chapel of ease of lier lap :
First he said grace, and then he kiss'd her.
" Beloved," quoth he, " thou art my text" ;
Then falls he to use, and application next.
But then she reply 'd, " Your text, sir, I'll be,
For then, I'm sure, you'll nei'e handle me."
But see, where Satin-cap scouts about.
And fain would this wench in his fellowship marry;
* A contraction for " let me be."
t A kind of skull-cap, or any plain coif.— iV'ares.
% An allusion to the custom of foot- ball playing on St.
Thomas's day, December 21.
136 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
He told her how such a man was not put out,
Because his wedding he closely did carry.
He'll purchase Induction, by Simony,
And offers her money, her incumbent to be.
But still she replies, " Good sir, la-bee ;
If ever I have a man, Square-cap for me."
The lawyer's a sophister, by his round-cap,
Nor in their fallacies are they divided ;
The one milks the pocket, the other the tap,
And yet this wench he fain would have bridcd.
" Come leave these thread-bare scholars," quoth he,
" And give me livery and seizin of thee."
" Peace, peace, John a Nokes, and leave your oration.
For I never will be your iynpropriation.
I pray you, therefore, good sir, la-bee ;
For if ever I have a man, Square-cap for me !"
TO THE
LADYES OF THE NEW DRESSE ;
THAT WEARE THEIR GORGETS & RAYLESDOWN TO THEIR WASTES.
This and the two following poems are by the witty Dean Corbet
(born 1582, died 1635), and are here given from the edition of
his works, by Octaviiis Gilchrist, E.S.A., 1807.
Ladyes, that weare black cipress-vailes,*
Cipress was a fine kind of crape, or gauze.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 137
Turn'd lately to white linnen-rayles ;*
And to jour girdle weare your bands, |
And shew your armes, instead of hands.
What can you doe in Lent so meet
As, fittest dress, to weare a sheet ?
'Twas once a band, 'tis now a cloake,
An acorne one day proves an oke :
Weare but your linnen to your feet,
And then your band will prove a sheet.
By which devise, and wise excesse,
You'l doe your penance in a dresse ;
And none shall know, by what they see,
Which lady's censui''d, and which free.
XXXI.
THE LADIES ANSWER.
(Harl. MS. No. 639G.)
Blacke Cypresse vailes arc shroudes on night,
White linnen railes are raies of light.
Which, though we to the girdles weare,
We've hands to keep your hands off there.
* The rayle was the ncckercliief; "Eayle for a woman's
necko; crevechief, en quarttre doubles." — Palsgrave. Tlie gorget
was so very similar that the terms are nearly synonymous.
■f Alluding to the great length of the falling hand, which was
allowed to hang down upon the shoulders, and was not supported
by any underprops, as is the band seen in the cut on p. 106.
138 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
A fitter dresse we have in Lent,
To shew us trewly penitent.
"VMioe makes the band to be a cloke,
Makes John-a-style of Jolin-an-oake.
We weare our garments to the feet,
Yet need not make our bandes a sheet :
The clergie weare as long as we.
Yet that implies couformitie.
Be wise, recant what you have writt.
Least you do pennance for your witte ;
Love's charm hath power to weare a stringe,
To tye you as you tied your ringe ;*
There by love's sharpe, but just decree.
You may be consured, we go free.
* In a ludicrous ballad, describing James I's visit to Oxford
and Woodstock, in 1621, when Corbet, in his office of chaplain,
preached before the king, he is thus spoken of: —
" The reverend dean,
With his band starch'd clean,
Did preach before the king ;
A ring was his pride.
To his band-strings tied.
Was not this a pretty thing?
" The ring, without doubt,
Was the thing put him out,
And made him forget what was next;
For every one there
Will say, I dare swear.
He handled it more than his text."
POEMS ON COSTUMR. 139
XXXII.
CORBET'S REPLY.
(Aslimole's Museum, A. 38, fol. 60.)
Yff nought but love-eliarmes powers have
Youi- blemisht creditt for to save ;
Then know your champion is blind,
And that love-nottes are soon untwinde.
But blemishes are now a grace,
And add a lustre to your face ;
Your blemisht credit for to save,
You needed not a vayle to have ;
The rayle for women may be fitte,
Because they daylie practice ytt.
And seeing counsell can you not reforme,
Read this reply — and take it not in scorne.
COUNTRY LASSES TRANSFORMED.
From Heywood's Rape o//yMcrece (fifth edition, 1638).
O YES, room for the cryer,
"Who never yet was found a liar.
O ye fine smug country lasses,
That would for brooks change crystal glasses.
140 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And be transhap'd from foot to crown,
And straw beds change for beds of down
Your partlets* turn into rebatoes,f
And stead of carrots eat potatoes ;
Your frontlets lay by, and your rails,|
And fringe with gold your daggl'd tails.
Now your hawk-noses shall have hoods
And billements§ with golden studs :
Straw hats shall be no more bongraces,||
From the bright sun to hide your faces,
For hempen smocks to help the itch,
Have linen sewed with silver stitch ;
And wheresoe'er they chance to stride,
One bare before to be their guide.
O yes, room for the cryer.
Who never yet was found a liar.
ENGLISH MUTABILITY IN DRESS.
From the same play as the preceding song. The fondness of
the English for adopting new fashions, had long before this
been satirized, and Andrew Borde, in his Introduction to Know-
ledge, has given the quaint cut here copied, with the following
satirical verses: —
" I atn an Englishman, ami naked I stand here,
Musinge in my mynde, what rayment I shall were,
For now I will were this, and now I will were that,
Now I will were I cannot tell what."
* Ruffs. t Falling collars. % Cloaks, or loose gowns.
§ Habiliments. || Projecting bonnets to defend the complexion.
POEMS ON COSTUME.
141
The whimsical traveller, Coryat, in his Crudities, observes : —
" We weare more fantastical
fashions than any nation under
the sun doth, the French only
excepted ; which hath given oc-
casion to the Venetian, and othtr
Italians, to brand the English-
man with a notable mark of levity,
by painting him stark naked,
with a pair of shears in his hand,
making his fashion of attire
according to the vain conception
of his brain-sick head, not to comeliness and decorum."
The Spaniard loves his ancient slop,
The Lombai'd his Venetian,
And some like breechless women go,
The Russ, Turk, Jew, and Grecian :
The thrifty Frenchman wears small waist.
The Dutch his belly boasteth.
The Englishman is for them all,
And for each fashion coasteth.
The Turk in linen wraps his head,
The Persian his in lawn too.
The Russ with sables furs his cap,
And change will not be drawn to :
The Spaniard's constant to his block.
The French inconstant ever.
But of all felts that can be felt,
Give me your English beaver.
142 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
The German loves his coney-wool,
The Irishman his shag too,
The Welch his Monmouth loves to wear,
And of the same will brag too.
Some love the rough, and some the smooth,
Some great, and others small things ;
But, oh, your lecherous Englishman,
He loves to deal in all things.
The Russ drinks quass ; Dutch, Lubeck beer.
And that is strong, and mighty ;
The Briton he metheglin quaffs,
The Irisli aqua vitte ;
The French affects the Orleans' grape.
The Spaniard tastes his sherry.
The English none of these can 'scape,
But he with all makes merry.
The Italian in her high chopine,*
Scotch lass, and lovely Frow too,
The Spanish Donna, French Madam,
He will not fear to go to ;
Nothing so full of hazard dread,
Nought lives above the centre.
No fashion, health, no wine, nor wench.
On which he dare not venture.
* These were shoes elevated " as high as a man's leg," says
Eaymond in his Voyage through Italy, 1648. They are mentioned
by Shakspere (Hamlet, act ii, scene 2), and were occasionally
worn in England, but not of so great an altitude. See Douce's
lllustratioyis of Shahsperc,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 143
XXXV.
A MEDITATION ON THE PRIDE OF WOMEN'S
APPAREL.
From A New Spring of Divine Poetrie, by James Day, 1637. A
thin quarto of melancholy morality and pointless attempts at
religious wit, after the fashion of Quarles. For example, he ends
his " meditation on a windmill,'' with the lines —
" Lord drive me with thy spirit, then lie be
Thy windmill, and will grind a grist for thee."
See how some borrow d ofF-cast vaiiie attire,
Can puff up pamper'd clay and dirty mire :
Tell me, wlience hadst thy cloaths that make thee fine,
Was't not the silly sheep's before 'twas thine ?
Doth not the silk-worm, and the oxe's hide.
Serve to maintain thee in thy cheefest pride ?
Do'st not thou often with those feathers vaile
Thy face, with which the ostridge hides her taile?
What art thou proud of, then ? me thinks 'tis fit
Thou shouldst be humble for the wearing it :
Tell me, proud madam ; thou that art so nise,
How were thy parents clad in Paradise?
At first they wore the armour of defence.
And were corapleatly wrapt in innocence :
Had they not sin'd, they ne're had beene dismaid,
Nor needed not the fig-tree's leavy ayde !
Whatever state, Lord, thou place me in,
Let me not glory in th' efTect of sin.-
144 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
WILL BAG N ALL'S BALLET.
First printed in Musarum Delicia, 1655, and afterwards in Wit
Restord, 1658, where it was " supplied of what was left out in
Musarum DelicicB," and which consisted of the sixth, eleventh and
thirteenth stanzas. It was evidently written during the reign of
Charles I. But I am unable to fix its date precisely, or to say
who " Will Bagnall " was ; but from the familiarity with which
he is named, he was no doubt a gay and well-known frequenter
of the court, and mixed with the wits of the day. Edmund
Gayton, the author of Festivioiis notes to Don Quixote, etc., wrote a
tract called " WilBagiiaVs Ghost, or the Merry Devil of Gadmanton,
in his peramlndation of the Prisons of London, a poem, with
characters of a prison," quarto, 1655 ; a work not mentioned in
Bliss's account of books descriptive of character, appended to his
edition of Hall's Microcosmographi/ ; nor have I seen a copy of it.
In Spentie's Anecdotes of Books and Men, p. 22, Bagnall is mentioned
as the author of the once famous poem The Counter Scuffle.
A BALLET, a ballet! let every poet,
A ballett make with speed :
And he that has wit, now let him shew it,
For never was greater need :
And I that never made ballett before,
Will make one now, though I never make more.
Oh women, monstrous women,
What do you mean to doe ?
It is their pride, and strange attire,
Which binds me to this taske ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 145
Which king, and court, did much admire,
At the last Christmas maske.
But by your entertainment then,
You should have smal cause to come there agen.
Oh women, &c.
You cannot be contented to go.
As did the women of old :
But you are all for pride and show,
As they were for weather and cold.
women, women ! fie, fie, fie,
1 wonder you are not ashamed, I.
Oh women, &c.
Where is the decency become
Which your fore-mother had ?
With gowns of cloth, and capps of thrum.
They went full meanly clad.
But you must jett it in silkes and gold ;
Your pride, though in winter, is never a cold.
O women, &c.
Your faces trick'd and painted bee,
Your breasts all open bare ;*
* The fondness of ladies for painting their faces and exposing
the bosom, was severely reprimanded by the divines and
satirists in the eai'ly part of the seventeenth century. Dr. John
Hall, in an appendix to his small volume against long hair,
discoursed in unmeasured terms on " the vanities and exorbitances
of many women, in painting, patching, spotting, and blotting
L
146 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
So fan- that a man may almost see
Unto your lady ware :
And in the church, to tell you true,
Men cannot serve God for looking on you.
O women, &c.
And at the devill's shopps you buy,
A dresse of powdered hayre,*
On which your feathers flaunt and fly ;
But I'de wish you have a care.
Lest Lucifer's selfe, who is not prouder,
Do one day dresse up your haire with a powder.
O women, &c.
themselves," declaring it to be " the badge of an luirlot ; rotten
posts are painted, and gilded nutmegs are usually the worst."
The portraits of noble ladies, in the reign of James I, which
may be seen in Nicholls' account of the Progresses of that monarch,
will sufficiently show how obtrusively immodest the fashion of
exposing the naked breast had become. While a ruff, or band,
of immoderate size stretched forth from the neck, the front of the
dress was cut away immediately beneath it, nearly to the waist;
which made the fashion more noticeable, as all the other part of
the bust was over-cloathed, while the bosom was perfectly bare.
* This is a curious and rather early notice of hair powder,
which, although used by tlie Romans and Saxons, does not appear
to have prevailed in the middle ages, until the ladies began to
use false hair in great quantities at the time when this ballad was
written. The greatest use of powder was during the reign of
Charles II, for the enormous wigs of the beaux. Blue hair-
powder was worn in the time of George II. (See a notice of
Fox's juvenile dress in the Monthly Mirror for 1806).
POEMS ON COSTUME. 147
And many there are of those that go
Attyr'd from head to heele,
That them from men you cannot know*
Unlesse you do them feele ;
But, oh, for shame, though they have none,
'Tis better believe, and let them alone.
O women, &c.
Both round and short they cut their hayre,
Whose length should women grace ;
Loose, like themselves, their halts they weare ;
And when they come in place.
Where courtshipp and complements must bee,
They do it like men with cappe and knee.
O women, &c.
They at tlieir sides, against our laws.
With little ponyards go ;f
Which surely is, I thinke, because
They love men's w^eapons so ;
Or else it is they'le stabb all men.
That do refuse to stabb them agen.
O women, &c.
Doublets, like to men, they weare,
As if they meant to flout us,
* Alluding to the douhlcts and vests worn with the petticoat
in riding and walking,
t (See note at p. 97.)
L 2
148 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Trust round with poynts,* and ribbons fayre,
But, I pray, lett's look about us ;
For since the doublett so well doth fitt 'um,
They will have the breeches, and if they can get 'um.
O women, &c.
Nor do they care what a wise man saith,
Or preachers in their defame,
But jeer, and hold him an asse; but i' faith
They'd blush if they had any shame :
For citty and countrey do both deride 'em,
And our king, God blesse him, cannot abide 'em.
O women, &c.
And when the maske was at the court,
Before the king to be showne,
They got upon seats to see the sport,
But soon they were pull'd down ;
And many were thrust out of dores,
Their coats well cudgel'd, and they call'd whores.
king, relligious king,
God save thy majestic.
And so with prayers to God on high,
To grant his highnesse peace.
Wee hope we shall finde remedie
To make this mischiefe cease :
See note at p. 81.
POEMS ON COSTUME, 149
Since he in court hath tane so good order,
The citty leave to the maior and recorder.
O king, relligious king,
God bless thy majestic.
And women, all whom this concerns,
Though you offended be ;
And now in foule and rayling teafras
Do swagger and scold at me ;
I tell you, if you mind not your waies,
The devil will fetch you all, one of these days.
O women, monstrous women.
What do you mean to do ?
xxxvir.
DR. SMITH'S BALLET.
This "ballet" is the offspring of the preceding one, and also first
appeared in the Musarum Delicia. Dr. Smith " had so great a
hand in that book," says Anthony Wood, " that he is esteemed
the author of almost half of it." He was a great writer of light
poetry, and lived intimately with the poetical wits of the early
part of the seventeenth century, by whom he was much esteemed,
most particularly by Philip Massinger, who called him his son.
He and Sir John Mennis were also engaged together on the other
volume of Facetice, already noticed, — Wit Restored, " which book,"
says Wood, " is mostly of our author Smith's composition." He
was matriculated as a member of Christ Church, Oxford, in Lent
term, 1622, at the age of eighteen years. He became chaplain
150 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
to the Earls of Holland and Cleaveland, held a benefice in
Lincolnshire, and ultimately settled at King's Nimphton, in
Devonshire, " where he resided during all the changes of govern-
ment, by compliance with the power that was uppermost." On
the king's return he got many promotions, and died at his
rectory, at Alphyngton, Devon, June 20th, 1667. His ^vritings
are remarkably free, in the fullest acceptation of the term, but
Lascivia est nobis patina, vita proha est : he lived in cheerless times,
when mirth was considered sin, and he must occasionally have
had much trouble to conform with the stringent sourness of those
in power. The editor of Longman's reprint of these poems (1817),
remarks, " it is strange that he had the hardihood to publish his
poems during the usurpation ; but the restoration was at hand,
when such a muse could breathe freely, in an atmosphere
perfectly congenial to her."
Will women's vanities never have end,
Alack, what is the matter !
Shall poets all their spirits spend,
And women yet never the better ?
Will Bagnall's ballet hath done no good
To the head that is hid in the taffety hood,
Which makes the vertuous chew the cud.
And I till now their debtor.
I once resolved to be blinde,
And never set pen to sheet,
Though all the race of woraankinde
Were mad, I would not see't.
But now my heart is so big it struts,
And hold I cannot for my guts ;
With as much ease as men crack nuts
My rimes and members meet.
POEMS ON COSTUME. lol
And first I will begin to touch
Upon their daubing paint ;
Their pride that way it is so much,
It makes my muse grow faint.
And when they are got into a new suit,
They look as though they would straiglit go to't.
The divell's in't, and 's dam to boot,
'Twould anger any saint.
Their soaring thoughts to book advance,
'Tis odds, it may undoe 'um,
For ever since dame Eve's mischance.
That villainous itch sticks to 'um.
And when they have got but a little smack,
They talk as if nothing they did lack.
Of Withers, Drayton, or Balzack :
'Twould weary a man to wooe 'um.
Their faces are besmear'd and pierc'd.
With severall sorts of patches,*
As if some cuts their skins had flead
With scarres, half-moons, and notches.
Prodigious signes there keep their stations,
And meteors of must dreadful! fashions ;
Bookerf hath no such prognostications :
Now out upon them, wretches !
With these they are disguised so.
They look as untoward as elves.
Sec cut on p. ICO. f The famous Almanac-maker.
152 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Their husbands scarce their wives can know,
Nor they sometimes themselves.
And every morn they feed their chaps,
With caudles, broths, and honey-sops :
And lap it up as thick as hops,
Ne're think on him that delves.
Sometimes I thinke them quite subdu'd,
They let me use such freedome,
And by and by they call'd me rude,
And such a word makes me dumbe ;
They are so fickle and shy, God save 'um,
That a man can never tell where to have 'um ;
I would we were all resolv'd to leave 'um,
"While we hearafter need 'um.
Their kind behaviour is a trap
For men, wherein to catch 'um.
With sugared words they lye at snap,
But I'le be sure to watch 'um ;
And when with every quaint devise.
They get us into fooles paradise,
They laugh, and leave us in a trise ;
The fiend will one day fetch 'um.
Sometimes they in the water lurk.
Like fish with silver finns ;
And then I wish I were a Turk,
And these my concubines.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 153
But to tell you the truth without any erring,
They are neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring :
And when so'ere you find them stirring,
They will put you in minde of your sins.
A Syren once had got a drone.
And she began to chatter ;
Quoth she, " Sweet-heart, I am thine own,"
But i' faith 'twas no such matter.
But when he thought her as sure as a gun.
She set up her tail and away she run,
As if she did mean to outstrip the sun ;
The devil could never have set her.
Or if some women mean good sooth,
And purpose lawfuU marriage,
'Tis ten to one they have ne're a tooth.
And then poor man must forage.
Who is so sped, is matcht with a woman.
He may weep without the help of an onyon.
He's an oxe, and an asse, and a slubberdeguUion,
That wooes, and does not bar age.
Your zealous lecturers often preach,
And homilies eke expound,
But women, as if they were out of their reach,
Persevere, and stand their ground.
They may preach as well to the walls, or roof,
There's not one amongst ten that are sermon proof.
Their hearts are as hard as a horse's hoof,
And as hollow, but not so sound.
154 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
And when do you think this geare may mend,
And come to a better passe ?
In truth, I tliinke it will never have end. —
What, never ? then, out, alas !
They hold such wicked counsells between 'um.
We can doe little else but make ballads against 'um,
Ten thousand furies I think are in 'um.
Is not this a pittiful case ?
I think it were not much amisse,
To bring them into a play,
There's matter enough, and enough I wisse,
And I'le have the second day ;
Where some shall be attir'd like pages,
The rest shall be as they are, baggages ;
He that sets them a work will pay them their wages.
Troth that's the only way.
And now we have brought them upon the stage.
All sorts of people among ;
I'le there expose them like birds in a cage.
To be gap'd on in midst of the throng.
Nay, now I have got them within my clutches,
I'le neither favour lady, nor dutches,
Although they may think this over-much is,
They are no more to me then those that goe on
crutches.
1 made this staffe too longe.
Now Lord preserve our gracious queen,
That gives her cautions ample,
POEMS ON COSTUME. loO
Yet they, as if it never had been,
On all good precepts trample.
But here's the spite, it would anger a stone,
That a woman should go to heaven alone :
But it will never be by hope, that's bred in the bone
They'l never mend by example.
THE PlIANTASTICK AGE;
OR, THE ANATOMY OF ENOLANDS VANITY,
"In wearing the fashions
Of severall nations.
With good exhortations
Against transmutations."
From the Roxbwghe Collection of Ballads, now in the British
Museum, volume i. It is "printed for Thomas Lambert," and
directed to be sung " to the tune of O women, monstrous, ^c."
The song in page 144, seems to have originated the following,
which is little more than its amplification, by an author wdio
wished to rival " Will Bagnall's Ballet."
Audience, audience, gallants all,
For here, as on a stage,
rie shew the postures admirall
Of this phantastick age,
Wherein both sexes are grown strange,
And, Phebe-like, they often change.
O monsters,
Neutrall monsters.
Leave these foolish toyes.
156 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Chamelion-like, themselves they change,
To any colour scene ;
How many severall fashions strange
Hath here observed beene
Within the circuit of few yeares,
As by experience truth appeares.
O monsters, &c.*
An English man or woman now,
(Tie make excuse for neither,)
Composed are, I know not how.
Of many shreds together :
Italian, Spaniard, French, and Dutch,
Of each of these they have a touch.
O monsters, &c.
The German, and the drunken Dane,
The Persian, and Polonian ;
The sun-burnt Ethiopian,
The Russian, and Slavonian ;
Our English imitate in cloathes,
In drinking, drabbing, and strange oathes.
O monsters, &c.
When meeknesse bore in Eiigland sway.
And pride was not regarded,
Then vertue bore the bell away.
And goodnesse was rewarded ;
* The burden is the same to the eml, except that " foolish
toyes " is changed into " apish toyes " throughout.
POEMS ON COSTUME. lo7
Now our phantastick innovations,
Doe cause prodigious transmutations.
O monsters, &c.
Our men were in precedent dayes
To manly actions bent,
They did not seek their names to raise
By cloathes, and complement.
Now he's the man whose brave apparel
Defends him in a tavernc quarrell.
O monsters, &c.
Mee thinks the taylors should not chuse
But grow exceeding rich,
. Yet from them I heare no such newes,
Though they goe thorow stitch :
The reason's this, new cloathes are made
Before the old bill is defraide.
O monsters, &c.
THE SECOND PART, TO THE SAME TUNE.
Now many of both sexes goe
Each afternoone to th' play,
Their rich acoutrements to shew,
And doe even what they may ;
To note, if they can any spy.
That put them down in bravery.
O monstei's, &c.
158 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
The women will not be at quiet,
Their mindes will still be crof!t,
Til husbands, friends, or fathers buy it.
What ever price it cost.
Thus wide mouth'd pride insatiately,
Devoures all thoughts of piety.
O monsters, &c.
And men that should more wisdom have
Then the frayle female sex,
As many fond inventions have,
Kay, rather they'l annexe
Unto the story of their shame,
A higher style than women claime.
monsters, 84c.
Ungirt, unblest, the proverb sayes,
And they to prove it right.
Have got a fashion now-a-dayes.
That's odious to the sight,
Of those who love civility,
And hate this idle foppery.
O monsters, &c.
Like Frenchmen, all on points they stand,
No girdles now they weare,
To spread this fashion thro' the land
The hangman, as 1 hearo,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 159
When at foure gates hee hang'd foure men,
Did weave just such a dublet then.*
O monsters, &c.
If any thing may give them liglit
To see their vanity,
In my conceit that object miglit
Make wise men to defie
A fashion that is held so base,
"Worne by the hangman in disgrace.
O monsters, &c.
Nowe to conclude, with all my heart
I wish that every one
Would study on some better art,
And let vaine pride alone :
Be as your good forefathers were.
And let not vice thus domineere.
O monsters, 8fc.
* A humoi-ous poetical version of this story, by S. Rowlands,
is given in the introduction to that writer's Four Ktiaves, published
by the Percy Society, 1843, as follows :
" A giddy gallant that beyond the seas
Sought fashions out, his idle pate to please,
lu travelling did meet upon the way
A fellow that was suited richly gay ;
No lesse than crimson velvet did him grace,
All garded and re-,garded with gold lace.
His hat was feather'd like a lady's fan.
Which made the gallant think him some great man,
And vayl'd unto him with a meek salute.
In reverence of his gilded velvet sute.
'Sir,' quoth his man, 'your worship doth not kni>w
What you have done, to wrong your credit <o ;
This is the bewle in Dutch, in English plain
The rascal hangman, whom all men disdain;
I saw him tother day, on Ca.stle-green,
Hang fom- as proper men as e'er were seen.' "
160
SATIKICAL SONGS AND
What you profusely doe let fly,
In pride, in drinke, and gaiue ;
Spend in good hospitality,
'Twill elevate your fame :
The prayers and prayses of the poore
Shal cloathe your mindes for evermore.
O monsters, &c.
XXXIX.
THE BURSE OF REFORMATION.
This curious semi-political satire on the fashions and times, is
also from Wit Restored, in severall select poems not formerly puhlisKt,
(1658). It is very likely to be the production of Dr. James
Smith, whose style and feeling it embodies.
The many allusions throughout to various articles of costume
sold at the mercer's shop, who, after the first stanza, appears to be
addressing his customer, invest this ballad with interest, even
when viewed in the light of an illustration of manners alone.
In the Roxhurghe Ballads, is a woodcut representing a mercer in
his shop, addressing his
customers ; which, as it
affords a curious illustration
of the ballad before us, is
copied on a reduced scale.
He holds a black mask
edged with lace in his right
hand ; a black lace scarf is
hung over his arm. Over his
left arm is a hank of laces,
and in that hand a feather
fan. The many patches of
^
1
4
^B~^:
K%.
m
SHBl^^vT'^js^^
POEMS ON COSTUME. 1 (j 1
fanciful form exhibited on his face, will explain the alkisions
to these fantastic ornaments in the ballad. Bulvver, in his
Artificiall Chanyeling, 16.53, says, "Our ladies here have lately
entertained a vaine custome of spotting their faces, out of an
affectation of a mole, to set off their beauty, such as Venus liad,
and it is -well if one black patch will serve to make their faces
remarkable, for some fill their visages full of them, varied into
all manner of shapes and figures."
We will go no more to the Old Exchange^
There's no good ware at all :
Their bodkins, and their thimbles too,
"Went long since to Guildhall.
But we will go to the New Exchange,
AVhere all things are in fashion ;
And we will have it henceforth call'd
The Burse of Reformation.*
Come lads and lasses, what do you lack ?
Heare is weare of all prices ;
Here's long and short, here's w^ideand straight ;
Here are ihino-s of all sizes.
Madam, you may fit yourselfe
"With all sorts of good pinus,
Sirs, hei'e is jett, and here is hayre,
Gold and cornelian rings ;
* "Brittain's Burse" was the name first given by E'izabetli to
Greshara's building. The New Exchange was erected in 1008
on the site of the stabling of Durham House, in the Strand.
M
162 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Here is an English conny furr,
Eushia hath no such stuffe,
Which for to keep your fingers warrae,
Excells your sable muffe.
Come lads, &c .
Pray you madam sitt, i'le show good ware,
For crowding nere fear that.
Against a stall, or on a stool,
You'l nere hurt a ci'evatt.
Heer's childrens bawbles, and men's too,
To play with, for delight.
Heer's round-heads, when turn'd every way
At length will stand upright.
Come lads, &c.
Heer's dice and boxes, if you please
To play at in and in ;
Heer's homes for brows, and browes for homes,
Which never will be seen.
Heer is a sett of kettle pinns.
With bowle at them to rowle :
And if you like such trundling sport
Here is my ladyes hole.
Come lads, &c.
Heer's shaddow'd ribbon, of all sorts,
As various as your mind ;
And heer's a wind-mill, like your selfe,
Will turn with every wind.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 163
And lieer's a church of the same stuffe,
Cutt out in the new fashion ;
Hard by is a priest, stands twice a day,
Will serve your congregation.
Come lads, &c.
Heer are some Presbyterian things,
Falne lately out of fjishion ;
Because we hear that Prester John
Doth circumsize his nation.
And heer are Independent knacks,
Rais'd with his spirits humor;
And beer's cheap ware was sequestred
For a Malignant tumor.
Come lads, &c.
Heer patches are of every ait,
For pimples, and for scarrs ;
Heer's all the wandring planett signes.
And some o' th' fixed stairs,
Already gumm'd, to make tbem stick.
They need no other sky,
Nor Starrs, for Lilly for to vew,
To tell your fortunes by.
Come lads, &c.
To eject powder in your hayre,
Here is a pritty puff;
Would for clister case serve too.
Were it fil'd with such stuffe.
M 2
164 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Madam, here are pistachie nutts,
Strengthening oringo roots ;
And heer's a preserv'd apiicock,
With the stones pendant too't.
Come hids, &c.
Here are pei'rivviggs will fit all hayres,
False beards for a disguise ;
T can helpe lasses which are bare
In all parts, as their thighs.
If you'l engage well, here you may
Take u]) fine Holland smocks ;
We have all things that women want,
Except Italian locks.
Come lads, &e.
Here are hot boyes have backs like bulls.
At first sight can leap lasses ;
And bearded ladds hold out like goats ;
And here are some like asses.
Here are gallants can outdo
Your usher, or your page;
You need not go to Ludgate more
'Till threescore yeares of age.
Come lads, &c.
Madam, here is a Politicus
Was Pragmaticus of late ;*
* Mercurius Politicus, and Mejcurius Pragmaticus, were no«s-
piipers, both of which emanated from a famous journalist,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 165
And here is an Klentichus,*
That fallacies doth prate.
Here is the Intelligencer too,t
See how "oout liim they throng
Marchmont Needham. In bis Fragmaticus he had exposed
Charles I, and had suffered a short imprisonment for that offence ;
but having made most humble submission to the court, he changed
sides, and galled the Presbyterians in his paper by ridicule oF
the most unmerciful kind. "When the king's fortunes failed,
Bradshaw found little trouble in purchasing his ready pen ; and
he began the Mercurius Potiticus, abandoning his old paper and
its politics, and becoming a still more virulen t Presbyterian, lashing
the Royalist party so unmercifull}-, that, upon the Kestorution,
be deemed it safest for his neck to fly to Holland, until he
could purchase a pardon through the venality of a court favourite;
when he returned to England, but was much despised.
* Mtrcury was the favourite prenomen for the newspapers of
tiiose times, with another to indicate the party from whom each
emanated. No. 1 of Mercurius Elmticus, contained news from
January 31 to February 7, 1G48, "communicating the un-
paralleled proceedings at AYestminster, the head quartets, and
other places, discovering their designs, reproving the crimes, and
adnsing the kingdom." Its politics may be judged from the
following stanzas printed in it : —
" To kill the kirie; eight years agon,
Was counted highest treason :
But now 'tis deemeil just, and done
As consonant to reason.
* * * * * »
Both prince and people lived in peace.
The laiiii with wealth aboiuided :
But now thes^e blessings fade and cease,
Thankes to the curbed Round-head. "
t There were several newspapers bearing the name of In-
telligencers at this time ; taking their titles, as The Su;edish
Intelligencer, ^-e , from the countries whose news they principally
furnished. The Kingdom's Intelligencer, commenced in 1G62, bore
]66 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Whilst Mellancholicus alone*
Walkes here to make a song.
Come h^ds, &c.
Then lett's no more to the Old Exchange,
There's no good ware at all ;
Theh" bodkins, and their thimbles too,
Went long since to Guildhall.f
But we will to the New Exchange,
Where all things are in fashion ;
And we will have it henceforth call'd
The Burse of Reformation.
Come lads and lasses, what do you lack ?
Here is weare of all pi-ises ;
Here's long and short, here's wide and straight;
Here are things of all sizes.
the most resemblance to a modern paper, being the first to give
notices of law courts, proceedings in parliament, obituary, &c.
* Mercurius Mdlancholicus ; or news from Westminster, was first
published in September, 1647 , it was a Royalist paper, and its
name denoted the unfortunate aspect the king's cause was taking
and its effect on loyal minds ; it has this strong couplet in its
first number : —
" Woe is me,uiidoue, witli blasts the flowers doe fade,
The chrystal siirings by swine are puddle made."
f An allusion to the general contribution of plate towards
aiding the Parliamentary army. The poorer persons brought
many trifling articles, like those mentioned in this ballad, which
gave reason for its being named " the thimble and bodkin army."
POEMS ON COSTUME, 167
THE ANSWER.
We will go no more to the New Exchange,
Their credit's like to fall,
Their money and their loyalty
Is gone to Goldsmiths' Hall.*
But we will keep our Old Exchange,
Where wealth is still in fashion.
Gold chaines and ruffes shalt beare the bell,
For all your reformation.
Look on our walls, and pillars too,
You'l find us much the sounder :
Sir Thomas Gresham stands upright,
But Crook-back was your founder.
There you have poynts, and pinns, and rings,
With such -like toyes as those,
There patches, gloves, and ribons gay.
And our money goes.
But when a faramily is sunck.
And titles are a-fading,
Some merchant's daughter setts you up.
Thus great ones live by trading.
Look, &c.
Marke the nobility throughout,
Moderne and antient too ;
You'l see what power the citty had,
And how much it could do.
* The place appointed for the reception of lines imposed upon
the Koyalists; and for loans, etc., to the Puritanic part}'.
168 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Not many houses you'l observe
Of honour, true or seeming,
But have received from the Burse
Creation or redeeming.
Look, &c.
Our wonted meetings are at twelve,
Which all the world approves,
But you keep off till candle-time,
To make your secret loves.
Then you come flocking in amaine.
Like birds of the same feather,
Or beasts repayring to the arke,
Uncleane and cleaue together.
Look, &c.
Wee strike a bargaine in the Exchange,
But make it good elsewhere ;
And your pi'oceedings are alike,
Though not so good, I fear.
For your commodities are nought,
However you may prize them ;
Then corners, and darke holes are sought,
The better to disguise them.
Look, &c.
We walke o're cellars richly fili'd
With spices of each kind,
You have a taverne underneath,
And so you're undermin'd.
POEMS ON COSTUMI;;. 169
If such a building long endure
All sober men may wonder,
When giddy and light heads prevaile,
Both above ground and under.
Look, Sec.
Wee have an office, to ensure
Our shipps and goods at sea :
No tempest, rock, or pyrat, can
Deprive us of that plea.
But if your ladies spring a leake,
Or boarded be, and taken,
Who shall secuz'e your capitoll,
And save youre heads from aking ?
Look, &c.
Then we'll go no more to the New Exchange,
Their credit's like to fall.
Their money and their loyalty
Is gone to Goldsmiths' Hall.
But we will keep our Old Exchange,
Where wealth is still in fashion,
Gold chaines and ruffes shall bear the bell.
For all your reformation.
Look on our walls and pillars too,
You'l find us much the sounder:
Sir Thomas Gresham stands upright.
But Crook-back was your founder.
170 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
DIALOGUE BETWEEN CAPTAIXE LOXG-HAIRE
AND ALDERMAN SHORT-HAIRE.
This characteristic dialogue, a parody on a popular amatory
poem, is printed from a copy in Harleian MS., No. 6396.
The great outward distinction between the Puritans and
Cavaliers, was the length of hair indulged in hj the latter, and
the close cropping of the former, who from that obtained the
name of round heads. A song printed in 1641, entitled The
Character of a Roundhead, commences thus : —
" What creatiire's this ? with his short hairs,
His little band, and huge long ears,
That this new faith has founded?
The Pui-itaiis were never such,
The saints themselves had ne'er so much, —
Oh such a knave's a Rjundhead ! "
It is recorded that these men guessed the moralit}- of a man by
the length of his hair, as Butler describes them to have done by
his cap.
" black caps overlaid with white.
Gave outward sign of inward light."
The rigid Puritans, who left this country for America in the
early part of the reign of Charles I, published a manifesto against
long hair in their new colony, in which the}- call it " an impious
custom, and a shameful practice, for any man who has the least
care for his soul to wear long hair"; and they therefore enact
that it shall be rigidly cropped, and not allowed to be worn in
churches, so that "those persons, who, notwithstanding these
rigorous prohibitions, and the means of correction that shall be
used on this account, shall still persist in this custom, shall have
both God and man at the same time against them."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 1 7 1
C. L. Ask me no more why I do waire
My haire so far below mine eare ;
For the first man that e'er was made
Did never know the barber trade.
A. S. Aske me no more where all the dav,
The foolish owle doth make her stay ;
'Tis in your locks, for, tak't from me,
She thinks your haire an ivy-tree.
C. L. Tell me no more that length of haire,
Can make the visage seem less fair ;
For know, howe'er my hair doth sit,
I'm sure that yours comes short of it.
A. S. Tell me no more men wear long haire
To chase away the coldest ayre ;
For by experience we may see.
Long hair will but a backwind be.
C. L. Tell me no more that long hair can
Argue deboystness in a man ;
For 'tis religious, being inclined,
To keep the temples from the wind.
A. S. Tell me no more that roarers waire
Their hair extent below their ear:
For having morgaged theyr land
They'd faine obscure th' appearing band.
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
C. L. Ask me no more why hair may be,
Til' exjiression of gentility ;
'Tis that which, being largely grown,
Derives its pedigree from the crown.
XLI.
ON LOYAL FASHIONS IN DRESS.
Fkom Ashmole's MS., 36, 37, art. 97. It appears to have been
occasioned by some Puritanic objection to the wearing of the
blue riband in hat or shoe roses, that being " the king's colour."
Alas, what take you pepper in your noses,
To see K. Charles his coUour worne in i-oses ?
'Twas but an ornament to grace the hat,
Yet must we have an ordnance 'bout that !
Oh ! serious worthyes, how could you dispence
With soe much tyme to draw a grevance hence ?
But you doe very well to make it knowne,
When others loyaltyes surmounts your owne ;
You can, and will suppresse it ; well, you may
Doe what you list, when we must needes obey.
I hope youle shortly take the taylors trade,
And vote how our apparrell must be made ;
So women may by your brave orders see,
How wide their smocks and pettycoates must be ;
For 'tis all one, to tell us what we weare.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 173
And what we must not, this is pretty geare.
Yf it contynue, faith, be harbors too,
And cutt our hayres to that same length you doe
You owne, and make it noe less cryme then treason,
To weare, or doe, or els speake ought with reason.
As for the king, hees king youle say, 'tis true ;
But he would rule himself, and not let you.
TThat, would he soe ? hees very much to blame.
And meritts your displeasure for the same ;
He will not graunt that you, his friends, 'tis true,
Should rule two kingdoms as the third rules you.*
Least from a ribbon there should spring a faction,
'Twas wisely done to stopp its growth to action ;
Yet in despight of him that dares controU,
rie weare my soveraignes collours in my soule.
XLII.
UPOX A GENTLEWOMAN'S SILKE HOODE.
From the same MS. as the preceding; art. 169. Hollar's four
female half-lengths, emblematic of the seasons, and engraved
in 1641, exhibit the fashions alluded to in the following poem,
to the minutest point.
Is there a sanctity in love begun,
That every woman veyles, and turnes lay nun ?
* An allusion to the great influence the Scotch possessed over
the army and the Purliamcnt, in the early part of the civil
war.
174 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Alas ! your guilt appeares still through this dresse,
You doe not soe much cover as confesse ;
To me 'tis a memoriall, I beginne
Forthwith to thinke on Venus and the ginne,
Discovering in these vayles, soe sutelj sett,
At least the upper parts caught in a nett.
Tell me, whoe tought you to give soe much light,
As may entice, not satisfle the sight ?
Betraying what may cause us to admire,
And kindle only, but not quench desire.
Among your other subtiltyes, this is one,
That you see all, and yet are seene of none.
'Tis the darke lanthorne to the face, oh ! then
I may conclude there's treason against men ;
Whiles thus you only doe expose the lippes,
'Tis but a faire and wantoner ecclipps ;
Mean't how you will, at once to shew and hide,
At best is but the modesty of pride ;
Either unvayle you then, or veyle quite or'e,
Beauty deserves not so much, foulenesse more !
But I profaine, like one whose strange desires
Bringe to Love's altar foule and drossie fires ;
Sinke those words to your cradles, for I know,
Foule as you are, your byrth came from beloAV.
My fancie's now all hallowed, and I finde
Pure vessells in my thoughts, priests in my minde.
Soe Jove appeares, when breaking out his way.
From the darke chaos, he first sheds the day ;
Newly awak'd out of the budds, soe shewes.
The halfe seene, halfe hidd, glory of the rose.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 17o
As you doe through your vayles ; and I may swcare,
Viewing you soe that beauty doth budde there.
Soe truth Lay under fables, that the eye
Might reverence the mystery, not discrye ;
Light being soe proporcioned that noe more
Was scene, but what might cause them to adore.
Thus is your dresse soe ordered, soe contrived.
As 'tis but only poetry revived.
Such doubtfull light had sacred groves, whear rodds
And twiggs at last did shoote up into gods.
Wheare then a shade darkens the beauteous face,
Shall not I pay her reverence to the place.
Soe under water glymering starrs appeare,
As those, but neerer starrs your eyes doe heere ;
Soe deityes darkened sitt, that we may finde,
A better way to see them in our minde.
Noe bold Ixion then, be heere allow'd.
Where Juno dares her selfe be in the cloude.
Me thinks the fii'st age comes againe, and we
See a revival of symplicitye.
Thus lookes the country virgin, whose browne hew
Hoods hei", and makes her shew even vyle as you.
Bless them, that checks our hopes and spurres our feare,
Whilst all doth not lye hid, nor all appeare ;
O feare you noe assaults from bolder men,
When they assayle be this your armor then ;
A silken helmet may defend those parts,
Where softer kisses are the only darts.
176 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
ON THE MYSTIC DESIGN OF THE "DISGUISES"
OR ORNAMENTS OF PRELATES.
From Ashmole's MS., No. 48, art. 73. The Reformed Church
retained but little of the sj^mbolic dress of the priesthood, and
that little was much opposed by the Calvinistic party, and
upheld by Laud. The following short poem, descriptive of the
dress of a Protestant prelate, was probably written to shew how
little there was to object to in its signification.
The albe and surplisse white doth note,
A life withouten stayne or spot ;
The horned miter represents,
Full knowledge in both testaments ;
The gloves that beene all newe and white,
Handlinge the sacraments arighte ;
The crosyer staffe most playnly showes,
Redusinge of their strayed ewes ;
The crosse, books, scripture, do portend.
Of men's desires tlie doubtfull end.
Behold what trust and deepe devises
Theis prelates have in their disguises.
POEMS ON COSTUMK. 177
THE CLOAK'S KNAVERY.
This capital old sonj^, to the equally goocl old tuno of " Pagging-
ton's Pound," is a loyal effusion of the reign of Charles II ;
satirically descriptive of the doings of the Protectorate. It is
printed in D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth. A copy, with the music,
occurs as a broadside in the Roxburghe collection. The allusion to
the popish plot in the last stanza, will help to fix its date. But as
the copy alluded to is said to be " reprinted, corrected, revised,
and enlarged by the author," it very probably made its original
appearance in an abbreviated form some years earlier. Thomas
Jordan, the city poet laureate, has, in " a poetical parley with
a threadbare cloak," (reprinted in Nichols's Select collection of
Poems, 1781, vol. vii, p. 62), concluded with some lines which
may have suggested the ballad : —
" these, are no times for thee,
Thick cloaks are only fit for knavery:
The only cloaks that now are most in fashion,
Are Liberty, Religion, Refoi-mation ;
All these ai-e fac'd witli zeal, and buttou'd down
With jewels dropp'd from an imi erial crown
*******
How canst thou hope for entertainment when
Women make cloaks even of committee-men."
Come buy my new ballet,
I have't in ray wallet,
But 'twill not, I fear, please every pallat ;
Then mark what ensu'th,
I swear by my youth,
That every line in my ballet is truth :
N
178 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
A ballet of wit, a brave ballet of worth,
'Tis newly printed, and newly come forth.
'Twas made of a Cloak that fell out with a gown,
That crampt iill the kingdom, and crippl'd the crown.
I'll tell you in brief,
A story of grief,
Which happen'd when cloak was commander-in-chief;
It tore common prayers,
Imprison'd lord mayors,
In one day it voted down prelates and players :
It made people perjur'd in point of obedience,
And the covenant did cut off the oath of allegiance.
Then let us endeavour to pull the Cloak down.
That cramp'd all the kingdom and crippl'd thecrown.
It was a black Cloak,
In good time be it spoke.
That kill'd many thousands, but never struck stroke ;
With hatchet and rope,
The forlorn hope,
Did joyn with the devil to pull down the pope :
It set all the sects in the city to work.
And rather than fail 'twould have brought in the Turk.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
It seiz'd on the Tow'r guns.
Those fierce demi-Gorgons,
It brought in the bagpipes, and puU'd down theorgans;
The pulpits did smoak.
The churches did choak,
POEMS ON COSTUME. l79
And all our religion was turn'd to a cloak ;
It brought in lay-elders could not write nor read,
It set ptiblie faith up, and puU'd down the Creed.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
This pious impostor,
Such fury did foster.
It left us no penny, nor no pater noster ;
It threw to the ground
Ten Commandments down.
And set up twice twenty times ten of its own :
It routed the king, and villains elected
To plunder all those whom they thought disaffected.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
To blind peoples eyes,
This Cloak was so wise.
It took off ship-money, but set up excise :
Men brought in their plate,
For reasons of state,
And gave it to Tom Trumpeter, and his mate :
In ])amphlets it writ many specious epistles,
To cozen poor wenches of bodkins and whistles.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
In pulpits it moved,
And was much approved.
For crying out — Fight the Lord's battles, beloved:
It bobtayl'd the gown,
Put prelacy down,
N 2
180 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
It trod on the mitre to reach at the crown :
And into the field it an army did bring,
To aim at the council, but shot at the king.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
It raised up states,
Whose politick pates
Do now keep their quarters on the City gates ;
To father and mother,
To sister and brother,
It gave a commission to kill one another :
It took up men's horses at very low rates,
And plunder'd our goods to secure our estates.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
This Cloak did proceed
To a damnable deed,
It made the best mirror of majesty bleed ;
Tho' Cloak did not do't,
He set it on foot,
By rallying and calling his journeyman to't ;
For never had come such a bloody disaster
If Cloak had not first drawn a sword at his master.
Then let us endeavour, &c.
Though some of them must hence,
By sorrowful sentence,
This lofty long Cloak is not mov'd to repentance ;
But he and his men.
Twenty thousand times ten,
POEMS ON COSTUME. 181
Are plotting to do their tricks over again :
But let this proud Cloak to authority stoop,
Or Dim* will provide him a button and loop.
Then let us endeavour to pull the Cloak down,
That basely did sever the head from the crown.
Let's pray that the king,
And his Parliament,
In sacred and secular things may consent ;
So righteously firm,
And religiously free,
That papists and atheists suppressed may be ;
And as there's one Deity doth over-reign us,
One faith, and one form, and one church may con-
tain us.
Then peace, truth, and plenty, our kingdom will
crown.
And all popish plots, and their plotters shall down.
* The name of the hangman at this period. He was succeeded
by one who bequeathed his name to that officer until the present
day ; and of whom the earliest notice I can find is in the follow-
ing title, " The Plotter's Ballad ; being Jack Ketch's incom-
parable receipt for the cure of traytorous recusants. Licensed
December the 2nd, 1678."
182 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
AN INVOCATION TO A BEAU.
In a MS. copy of a comedy called The Humorous Lovers, by the
Duke of Newcastle, among the Harleian MSS., 7367, the follow-
ing song, (not given in the printed copy of the play, 1677)
occurs at the beginning of the fourth act.
I CONJURE thee, I conjure thee,
By the ribands in thy hatt,
By thy pretty lac'd cravat,
By the ribands round thy bum,
Which is brac'd much like a drum,
By thy dangling pantaloons,
And thy ruffling port cannons,*
By thy friezeld perriwigge,
Which does make thee look so bigg.
By thy sword of silver guilt,
And the riband at thy hilt ;
Apeare, apeai*.
* Cannons are so called because they are like cannons of
artillery, or cans or pots — Minshieu. Nares calls them " boot hose
tops"; they were single or double rolls of puffed ribbons sur-
rounding the knee.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 183
MUNDUS MULIEBRIS:
OR, THE LADIES DRESSING ROOM UNLOCKED, AND HKR
TOILETTE SPREAD.
This very curious satirical poem was published as a quarto
tract of twenty-two pages in 1690. I know of no equally minute
description of the contents of a lady's boudoir, and the fanciful
names given to the various articles of dress. To it is appended
a Fop-Dictionary, describing the derivation and character of them
all, M'hich have been appended as foot-notes to our repi-int, to
which some few more explanatory ones have been added. The
author, in his Preface, gives a striking picture of the simplicity
of ladies in the " good old times," contrasting it with the extra-
vagance and affectation of those in his own day ; and he says
he has compiled this poem, that all those who would venture on
the voyage of matrimony, may see what equipments modern
luxury had then made necessary.
He that will needs to Many-land
Adventure, first must understand
For 's bark, what tackle to prepare,
'Gainst wind and weathei', wear and tare :
Of Point d'Espagne a rich cornet,*
Two night-rails,"[ and a scarf beset
* The upper Pinner, dangling about the cheeks like hound's ears.
f A body dress, unconfined at the waist and closed only round
the neck — literally night gowns, — which the ladies adopted as a
184 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
With a great lace, a coUeret.*
morning dress. Walker, in his Historical Memoirs of the Irish
Bards, 1818, says: "Amongst other ridi-
culous fashions which prevailed in this
countrj', since the reign of Queen Anne,
was that of the ladies wearing bed gowns
in the streets, about forty j'ears ago. The
canaille of Dublin were so disgusted with
this fashion, or perhaps deemed it so
prejudicial to trade, that they tried every
expedient to abolish it. They insulted in
the streets and public places those ladies
who complied with it, and ridiculed it in
ballads. But the only expedient that
proved effectual, was the prevailing on an
unfortunate female, who had been condemned for a murder, to
appear at the place of execution in a bed gown." A very rare
print in the editor's collection of such as illustrate costume,
represents a lady placed in the stocks for wearing one: beneath
is inscribed : —
" The night Eaile, 'tis a cunning subtle tiling,
In Slimmer its coole, in winter heat doth bilng.
What same thing hot and cold ; strange Pai^adox,
Can that he thick that's thin, 'tis heterodox,
Yet will this lady have it orthodox ;
Wherefore wee'l fairly put her in the stocks.
Ladies beware .' from pride this errour came,
So sure as chalk and dieese ai-e not the same."
In front of the lady stands a little girl, whose figure is en-
graved above, as it exhibits this peculiar fashion so well. The lady
appeals to her; " Little miss, what say'you?'' She is too young to
conceal discomfort for fashion's sake, and honestly answers :
" Madam, my night-raile gives no heate,
You say yours does, 'tis but a cheate,
Therefore, pray Madam, keep your seat."
* A sort of gorget.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 185
One black gown of rich silk, which odd is
Without one colour'd, erabroider'd bodice :
Four petticoats for page to liold up,
Four short ones nearer to the crup :
Three manteaus, nor can madam less
Provision have for due undress ;
Nor demy sultane,* spagnolet,t
Nor fringe to sweep the Mall forget :
Of under bodice three neat pair
Embroider'd, and of shoos as fair :
Short under petticoats pure fine,
Some of Japan stuff, some of Chine,
AVith knee-high galoonj bottomed.
Another quilted white and red ;
With a broad Flanders lace below :
Four pair of bas de soy§ shot through
With silver, diamond buckles too.
For garters, and as rich for shoo.
Twice twelve-day smocks of Holland line.
With cambric sleeves, rich point to joyn,
(For she despises colbertine).||
* A gown trimmed with buttons and loops.
■f A kind of narrow -sleeved gown, a I'Espagnole.
X A kind of worsted lace ; the pattern of which was after-
wards adopted in ridier materials for the gentry.
§ Silk stockings with gold or silver thread wove into the clock.
II A lace resembling net-work, of the fabric of Monsieur
Colbert, superintendent of the French king's manufactories.
Randle Holme describes it as "an open lace with a square
grounding." It ultimately became cheap, and consequently
unfashionable.
186 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Twelve more for night, all Flanders lacVl,
Or else she'll think herself disgrac'd :
With same her night-gown must adorn,
The two point wastcoats for the morn :
Of pocket mouchoirs, nose to drain,
A dozen lac'd, a dozen plain :
Three night-gowns of rich Indian stuff.
Four cushion-cloths are scarce enough.
Of point, and Flanders, nor forget
Slippers embroidered on velvet :
A manteau gii-dle, ruby buckle,
And brillant diamond rings for knuckle :
Fans painted, and perfumed three ;
Three muffs of sable, ermine, grey ;
Nor reckon it among the baubles,
A palatine also of sables.*
A saphire bodkin for the hair.
Or sparkling facet diamond there :
Then turquois, ruby, emrauld rings
For fingers ; and such petty things
As diamond pendants for the ears.
Must needs be had ; or two pearl pears,
Pearl neck-lace, large and oriental.
And diamond, and of amber pale ;
For oranges bears every bush,
Nor values she cheap things a rush.
Then bracelets for her wrists bespeak,
* Formerly called sables, or tippet, because made of the tails of
that animal.
POEMS ON COSTUiME. 187
(Unless her heart-strings you will break) ;
AVith diamond croche* for breast and bum,
Till to hang more on there's no room.
Besides these jewels you must get
CufF buckles, and an handsom set
Of tags for palatine, a curious hasp
The manteau 'bout her neck to clasp :
Nor may she want a ruby locket,
Nor the fine sweet quilted pocket ;
To play at ombre, or basset,
She a rich pulvilf purse must get.
With guineas fill'd, on cards to lay,
With which she fancies most to play :
Nor is she troubled at ill fortune.
For should the bank be so importune.
To rob her of her glittering store.
The amorous fop will furnish more.
Pensive and mute, behind her shoulder
He stands, till by her loss grown bolder.
Into her lap rouleau | conveys,
The softest thing a lover says :
She grasps it in her greedy hands,
Then best his passion understands ;
* The hook to which are cbiiined the ladies watch, seals,,
intaglios, &c.
t The Portugal term for the most exquisite powders and
perfumes.
I Rouleau is forty-nine guineas made up in a paper roll, which
Monsieur F , iSir J , and Father B lend to losing
gamesters, that are good men, to have fifty in return.
188 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
When tedious languishing has fail'd,
Rouleau has constantly prevail'd.
But to go on where we left off,
Though you may think what's said enough ;
This is not half that does belong
To the fantastick female throng :
In pin-up ruffles now she flaunts,
About her sleeves are engageants :*
Of ribbon, various echelles,f
Gloves trimm'd, and'lac'd as fine as Nells.
Twelve dozen Martial,^ whole, and half,
Of jonquil, tuberose (don't laugh),
Frangipan, orange, violett.
Narcissus, jassemin, ambrett :
And some of chicken-skin for night.
To keep her hands plump, soft, and white :§
Mouches|| for pushes, to be sure.
From Paris the tre-fine procure,
* Deep double ruffles hanging down to the wrists.
"f A pectoral, or stomacher laced with ribbon, like the rounds
of a ladder.
J The name of a famous French perfumer, emulating the
Frangipani of Rome.
§ Chicken gloves were of the most delicate materials and
thinnest skin, and were worn in bed to keep the hands white, as
late as the middle of the reign of George III, even by gentlemen
as well as ladies. To perfume gloves was a common practice
from the time of Elizabeth ; and it was not until gloves became
cheap and in common use that it was discontinued.
II Flics, or, black patches.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 189
And Spanish paper," lip, and cheek,
With spittle sweetly to belick :
Nor therefore spare in the next place,
The pocket sprunking'' looking-glass ;
Calembuc*^ combs in pulvil case,
To set, and trim the hair and face :
And that the cheeks may both agree,
Plumpers'' to fill the cavity.
The settee,*^ cupee,^ place aright,
Frelange,^ Fontagne,'' favorite ;'
Monte la hautj-i and palisade,'^
Soi-ti,' flandan,™ (great helps to trade)
" " A beautiful red colour, which the ladies, &c., in Spain paint
their faces withal." It was made up into little books, and a leaf
was torn out, and rubbed upon the cheeks, the Vermillion powder
which covered it being transferred to the face. It was in use at
the end of the last century,
*• A Dutch term for pruning, tiiSng, trimming, and setting
out, by the glass, or pocket mirror.
*^ A certain precious wood, of an agreeable scent, brought from
the Indies.
'' Certain very thin, round, and light balls, to plump out and
fill up the cavities of the cheeks, much used by old court-
countesses.
® The double pinner, ^ A kind of pinner.
s Bonnet and pinner together.
*» The top knot, so called from Mademoiselle Fontange, one of
the French king's mistresses, who first wore it.
' Locks dangling on the temples.
J Certain degrees of wire to raise the dress.
^ A wire sustaining the hair next to the dutchess, or first knot.
* A little knot of small ribbon, peeping out between the pinner
and bonnet. ™ A kind of pinner joining with the bonnet.
190 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Burgoigne," jardine,'' cornett,
FrilaP next upper pinner set,
Round which it does our ladies please
To spread the hood call'd rayonnes i"^
Behind the noddle every baggage
Wears bundle choux/ in English cabbage.
Nor cruches*^ she, nor confidents,"
Nor passagers,*" nor bergers' wants ;
And when this grace nature denies.
An artificial tour^ supplies ;
All which with meurti'iers'' unite.
And creve-cceurs' silly fops to smite,
Or take in toll at park or play ;
Nor holy church is safe, they say.
" The first part of the dress for the head next the hair,
*" The single pinner next the bourgogne.
•^ Borders of ornamental ribbon ; it is still preserved in the
vulgar saying of dressing with " fine fal-lals."
^ An upper hood, pinned in a circle, like the sunbeams.
® The great round boss, or bundle of hair, worn at the back of
the head, and resembling a cabbage, from whence the French
gave it that name.
^ Certain smaller curls, placed on the forehead.
s Smaller curls near the ears.
^ A curled lock next the temples.
• A plain small lock (a la shepherdesse) turned up with a puff.
J An artificial dress of hair in the forehead.
'' Murderers, a certain knot in the hair, which ties and unites
the cui'ls.
1 Heart-breuJiers, the two small curled locks at the nape of the
neck.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 191
Where decent veil was wont to hide
The modest sex religious pride:
Lest these yet prove too great a load,
'Tis all compris'd in the commode ;*
Pins tipt with diamond, point and head,
By which the curls are fastened.
In radiant firmamentf set out,
And over all the hood snr-tout.
Thus, face that e'rst near head was plac'd
Imagine now about the wast,
For tour on tour, and tire on tire.
Like steeple Bow, or Grantham spire,
Or Septizonium,! once at Rome,
(But does not half so well become
Fair ladies head) you here behold
Beauty by tyrant mode controll'd.
The graceful oval, and the round,
This horse tire does quite confound ;
And ears like satyr, large and raw,
* A frame of wire, covered with silk, on which the whole
head-tire is adjusted at once upon a bust, or property of wood
carved to the breasts, like that which porruque makers set upon
their stalls.
■{■ The firmament was an encircling ornament for the hair, of
diamonds or other precious stones, heading the pins which they
stick in the tour, and hair, like stars.
I A very high tower in Rome, built by the Emperour Severus,
of seven ranks of pillars, set one upon the other, and diminishing
to the top, like the ladies new dress for their heads, which was
the mode among the Eoman dames, and is exactly described by
Juvenal in his sixth satyr.
192 SATTHTCAT, SONGS AND
And bony face, and hollow jaw ;
This monstrous dress does now reveal
"Which well plac'd curies did once conceal.
Besides all these, 'tis always meant
You furnish her appartement,
With Moreclack tapistry,* damask bed,
Or velvet richly embroidered :
Branches, brasero.f cassolets,^
A cofre fort,§ and cabinets,
Vasas of silver, porcelan, store
To set, and range about the floor :
The chimney furniture of plate,
(For iron's now quite out of date :)
Tea-table, skreens, trunks, and stand.
Large looking-glass richly japan'd,
An hanging shelf, to which belongs
* A manufactory of tapestry was founded at iMortlake, in
Surrey, by Sir Francis Crane, in 1619, under the patronage of the
king, who gave ^£2,000 towards it. Francis Cleyne, the Flemish
artist, was engaged to furnish designs, and was granted a pension
of £100 per annum and a house to live in. The works were
seized by the Parliament, but on the Restoration were again set
going by Charles II, who engaged Verrio to fiu-nish designs ;
but the manufactory was soon discontinued. The corrupt mode
of spelling the name of Mortlake in our text, gives a clue to the
real locality of Armin's play, The two Maides of More-clacke.
f A large vessel, or moving hearth of silver for coals, trans-
portable into any room, much used in Spain.
X Perfuming pot or censer.
§ A strong box of some precious or hard wood, &c., bound
with gilded ribs.
rOEMS ON COSTUME. 193
Romances, plays, and amorous songs ;
Repeating clocks, the hour to show
When to the play 'tis time to go,
In pompous coach, or else sedan'd
With equipage along the Strand,
And with her new beau foppling mann'd.
A new scene to us next presents.
The dressing-room, and implements,
Of toilet plate, gilt and emboss'd,
And several other things of cost :
The table miroir, one glue pot.
One for pomatum, and what not ?
Of washes, unguents, and cosmeticks,
A pair of silver candlesticks ;
Snuffers, and snuflf-dish, boxes more,
For powders, patches, waters store,
In silver flasks, or bottles, cups
Cover'd, or open, to wash chaps ;
Nor may Hungarian queen's* be wanting,
Nor store of spirits against fainting :
Of other waters rich, and sweet.
To sprinkle handkerchief is meet ;
D'Ange, orange, mill-fleur, myrtle,
Whole quarts the chamber to bequirtle:
Of essence rare, and le meilleure
From Rome, from Florence, INIontpellier,
In filgran casset,f to repel
* Hungary water was a famous perfume and restorative, much
used at this period.
■]■ A dressing box ofJi/Hgree, or "silver wire-work."
194 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
When scent of gousset does rebel,
Though powder'd allom be as good
Well strew'd on, and well understood ;
For vapours that offend the lass,
Of sal-armoniack a glass :
Nor brush for gown, nor oval salver,
Nor pincushion, nor box of silver,
Baskets of fil' gran, long and round,
Or if japonian to be found,
And the whole town so many yield,
Calembuc combs by dozens fill'd
You must present, and a world more.
She's a poor miss can count her store.
The working apron too from France,
With all its trim apurtenance ;
Loo masks,* and whole, as wind do blow.
And miss abroad's dispos'd to go :
Hoods by whole dozens, white and black,
And store of coiffs she must not lack,
Kor velvet scarfs about her back,
To keep her warm ; all these at least
In amber'd skins, or quilted chest
Richly perfum'd, she lays ; and rare
Powders for garments, some for hair,
Of Cyprus, aad of Corduba,
And the rich polvill of Goa ;
* Loo masks are half masks, covering the face to the nose
onl^' ; and were worn in calm, as whole masks were in windy
weather.
• POEMS ON COSTUME. 19o
Nor here omit the bob of gold
Which a pomander* ball does hold,
This to her side she does attach
With gold crochet, or French pennache,t
More useful far then ferula,
For any saucy coxcomb's jaw :
A graceful swing to this belongs,
Which he returns in cringe, and songs,
And languishings to kiss the hand,
That can perfumed blows command.
All these and more in order set,
A large rich cloth of gold toilet
Does cover, and to put up rags,
Two high embroidered sweet bags,
Or a large perfum'd Spanish skin.
To wrap up all these trinkets in.
But I had almost quite forgot,
A tea and chocolate pot,
With molionet,! and caudle cup,
Restoring breakfast to sup up :
Porcelan saucers, spoons of gold.
Dishes that refin'd sugars hold :
Pastillios de Bocca§ we
In box of beaten gold do see,
* The pomander was a perforated ball of precious metal, con-
taining scent, which hung to the girdle, and was first used by
the nobility in the sixteenth century.
t Any bunch or tassel of small ribbon.
J The instrument used to mingle chocolate with the water.
§ Perfumed lozenges, to improve the breatli.
o 2
196
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Incliasd with diamonds, and tweeze
As rich and costly as all these,
To which a bunch of onyxes,
And many a golden seal there dangles,
Mysterious cyphers, and new fangles.
Gold is her toothpick, gold her watch is.
And gold is every thing she touches ;
But tir'd with numbers I give o're,
Arithmetick can add no more,
Thus rigg'd the vessel, and equipp'd,
She is for all adventui-es shipp'd,
And portion e're the year goes round,
Does with her vanity confound.
THE VINDICATION OF TOP KNOTS
AND COMMODES.
Tuis ballad, "to the tune of London Top Knots," is reprinted
from a small collection of songs consisting of four leaves only,
in the three volumes of old ballads pre-
served in the British Museum. It is enti-
tled, "Mustek a-la-mode: or the Youvg Maid's
Delight; containingfive excellent new songs,
sung at the drolls in Bartholomew-fair.
London, printed in the year 1691." There
is a small wood-cut in the title-page, here
copied of the original size, repi-esenting a
lady with a commode, and in the fashion-
able dress of the day; with a fan in one
hand and a black mask in the other. In
POEMS ON COSTUMK. 197
the Cambridge Jests, these monstrous head-dresses, which were
also called Towers, are thus alluded to: — "A Cantabrigian
being one day deeply engaged in discourse with a gentlewoman,
who condemned the weakness of her sex ; ' No, madam,' replied
the scholar, ' not so, for if I mistake not, it is easy to prove your
sex stronger than ours, ior Sampson being the strongest, carried
only the gates of the city away ; but now-a-days, every female
stripling carries a tower on ber head.' "
The fops and the fools, like silly night-owls,
They prate, and they talk of our top- knots :
We are their discourse, when they drink oif their bowls,
And make themselves drunk with their drani-pots.
Their hats were once higher than now are our tow'rs.
Because they were then in the fashion ;
Then they were more rogues than now we are w 's,
Then let them lay by their fond passion.
The fair queen of Egypt she wore a commode,
On the top of it was a lac'd Amber,
Which caused Mark Anthony, tho' it was odd,
At night to come to her bed-chamber :
Our masks, and our vails, with our bonny night rails,
Which all our deformities covers.
Make us frisk up our tails, and hoise our fine sails.
And anchor at night with our lovers.
The cuckolds wear horns, with pates that are bare,
There's many such beasts in the nation ;
198 SATIRICAL SONdS AND
Why may we not likewise make use of our hair,
And raise it in their imitation.
Our laces and rings, witli other such things,
We use to obtain the affection
Of all, but of kings, for riches take wings.
But a husband's a woman's protection.
The fumbling old fellows of threescore and ten,
They perriwigs wear to our sorrow :
We take them and wed them, and think they're young
men.
Which makes us oft instruments borrow.
Why may we not then (for where is the odds)
Trappan an old fool in his folly ?
And make him believe that old Joan, in commodes,
Is young, to divert melancholy.
There's many short women that could not be match 'd.
Until the top-knots came in fashion ;
Tho' they wore their shoes high, both painted and patch 'd,
And humour'd the tricks of love's passion :
But now by the help of our rousing commodes.
They wheedle young men to come nigher ;
For a wench that is short, in bed, can make sport.
As well as one twenty yards higher.
Then silly old fops, that kiss but like popes,
And call us night walkers and faries,
Go fumble old Joan, and let us alone,
And never come near our canary's :
POEMS ON COSTUMK. 199
"We'll wear our breasts bare, and curl up our hair,
And shew our commodes to the people ;
But, as I'm a w , if that you talk more,
We'll raise them as high as Bow-steeple.*
XLVIII.
FINE PHILLIS.
From Fine Phillis's Garland, 12mo., Sheffield, 1745, in the
possession of J. O. Halliwell, Esq. The ballad is evidently nuieh
earlier than this date, and as old as the preceding one.
Of a tine young lady
'Tis my meaning to tell :
Her name it is Phillis,
As is known well.
Of all her gay toys
Here I'll make known,
* TTie Virgin's complaint for want of a Husband, in the same rare
collection, commences with an allusion to this fashionable
costume : —
" I'm a lass both brisk and fair,
Sparkling eye, and coal-black hair ;
Fine lac'd shoes, and top-knots rare,
Yet no man comes to woo me."
In D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy, is a song called Dcil tah
the Wars, in which a girl says : —
" Ou my head a huge commode sat sticking,
Which made me shew as tall again."
200 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
When she stares at the boys
All over the town.
She's a fine lady,
When she's got her things on :
On the top of her head
Is a fine burgogon*
A crutchf then on the side,
To show her off neat,
And two little confidants,\
To make it corapleat.
Her shabbarons§ next I'll show,
Her sortie, II and patches of black —
Her pinners, and commodes^ so fine,
Of nothing she's got any lack.
No tower, or peruke has she,
Bnt a very fine coUeret,*
And her gloves so shiny look,
The best of all she can get.
But how did she get
These things so fine,
Her sparkling dress
Fit for the nine ?
* Bourgoigne,S9e note at p. 190. f Cruche,sQQ notL- at p. 190.
X See note at p. 190.
§ A corruption of Chaperon, the hood.
(I A hood to wear in walking.
^ See note at p. 191. * See nolo at p. 184.
POEMS ON OOSTUMK. 201
She got all these toys,
Here I'll tnake known,
To please the bail boys
All over the town.
XLIX.
THE BEAU'S CHARACTER.
Fkom D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth; or, Pills to Purge Melancholi/,
vol. V, p. 206 ; where it is described as " set and sunj-- by Mr.
Raniondon, in the comedy called Hampstead Henth," wiiich was
written by Mr. Thomas Baker, and published in 1706.
A WIG that's full,
An empty scull,
A box of burgamot ;
A hat ne'er made
To fit his head,*
No more than that to plot.
A hand that's white,
A ring that's right,
A sword-knot, patch and feather ;
A gracious smile.
And grounds and oyl,
Do very well together.
* It was the fashion at this time tor the beaux to wear tlio
hat under the arm, so that the large powdered perriwifj; migiit
be uninjured.
202 SATIRICAL SON(!S AND
A smatch of PVench,
And none of sense,
All conquering airs and graces ;
A tune that thrills,
A leer that kills,
Stol'n flights and borrovv'd phrases.
A chariot gilt.
To wait on jilt,
An awkward pace and carriage ;
A foreign tour,
Domestick wh ,
And mercenary marriage.
A limber ham,
G d ye, m'am,
A smock-face, tho' a tann'd one ;
A peaceful sword,
Not one wise word,
But state and prate at random.
Duns, bastards, c 's,
And am'rous scraps
Of Ccelia and Amadis ;*
Toss up a beau.
That grand ragou,
That hodge-podge for the ladies.
* Two fasbionable French romances, as much read and
quoted at this period, as were the Arcadia and Euphues in the
reign of Elizabeth.
roEMS ON COSTUMK 203
A SONG ON A DRESSING FOP.
This song is by Tom D'Urfey, and was set to music by Dr.
Croft, and sung in the third act of his comedy called The modern
Prophets; or, New Wit for an Husband, (quarto, 1709). The
Companion to the Playhouse, 1764, speaking of the play, says:
"this piece is an excessive bad one; having no kind of merit
but the exposing, with some little humour, a set of absurd en-
thusiasts, who made their appearance at this time under the title
of the French prophets." He has published both song and
music in his extensive collection, Wit and Mirth : or. Pills to
Purge 31elancholy (six vols. 12mo. Lond. 1719). The Prologue
to his comedy of the French Coquet, contains the following excel-
lent picture of the fashionables of the day. Speaking of French
fops he says: —
" lu apish modes they natiu-aUy shiae,
Which we ape alter them to make us fine,
The hite hlue feather was chai-maute, divine ;
Next then the slouching sledo, and our huge button,
And now our coats, flanck broad, like shoulder mutton :
Fac'd with fine coloui-s, scarlet, green and sky,
With sleeves so large, they'll give us wings to fly ;
Next year I hope they 11 cover nails and ail.
And every button like a tennis ball."
The enormous wigs which became fashionable after the
Restoration, and point the satire in the ballad annexed, are
constantly alluded to by writers of the end of the seventeenth
and beginning of the eighteenth century. In D'Urfey's collection
above noticed (vol. i, p. 5), is an allusion to the fashionable
haunters of theatres.
" beau's that in boxes
Lye smuggling their doxies.
With wigs that hang down to their Imms."
And it was the custom with them to comb and arrange their
204 SATIRICAL SONGS AMD
wigs at all public places in order to attract attention. In
Wycherley's play, Love in a Wood, or St. James's Park, 1G72:
an exquisite says, " If she has smugg'd herself up for me, let
me prune, and frounce my pen-uque a little for her ; there's ne're
a young fellow in the town but will do as much for a mere
sti'anger in a play-house." In act i, scene 3, of Killigrew's
Parsons Wedding, 1663, the stage direction for a group of
fashionable gentlemen, is, " they comb their heads and talk." Tom
Brown, in his Letters from the Dead to the Living, has given an
excellent description of a beau, who " made a most magnificent
figure : his perriwig was large enough to have loaded a camel,
and he bestowed upon it, at least, a bushel of powder, I warrant
ye!" A curious satirical work, attributed to the same author.
An E.^say in defence of the Female Sex, 1696, has for a frontispiece
an amusing picture, the complete beau under the hands of his barber,
to which I must refer the reader, as an excellent examj^le of the
costume of the day: his wig reaches literally to his waist, and
he is adjusting it at the glass while the barber powders it.
I HATE a fop that at his glass
Stands prinking half the day ;
With a sallow, frowzy, olive-colour'd face,
With a powder'd peruke hanging to his wast;
Who with ogling imagines to possess.
And to shew his shape doth cringe and scrape,
But nothing has to say ;
Or if the courtship's fine,
He'll only cant and whine,
And in confounded poetry.
He'll goblins make divine ;
I love the bold and brave,
I hate the fiiwniug slave,
POEMS ON COSTUME.
That quakes, and cryes,
And sighs, and lyes,
Yet wants the skill,
With sence to tell
What 'tis he lon^s to have.
20.:
THE RAMILIE WIG AND JIUFFETEE.
The battle of Ramilies, fought on the 23rd of May, 1706, gave
name to a new fashioned wig, invented by some enterprising
makei', which immediately became the height of fashion. It was
worn bushy at the sides, with a plaited tail, which was tied ^yith
a large bow at top, and another at bottom, and
was the origin of the pig-tail. The hat had a
particular turn of brim, known as the Ramilie
cock. Our illustration shews one of these,
as exhibited in Hogarth's 3Iodern Midnight
Conversation, hanging against the wall. The
rautt'etees were small muffs (which appear to
have been dyed of various colours), and which
were carried by beaux at this period. The
following ballad is called The Ladies Answer to one ridiculing
their " black hats and capuchins," or large hoods. This ballad
I have been unable to meet with. The ensuing is printed from
The 3Jufftiee's Garland, one of the many in the cuinous collection
of J. 0. Halliwell, Esq.
I WONDER what the men can mean,
To trouble their heads with our caiiuehins,
206 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Let 'em mind their ruffles and muffetees.
Pray, what harm in our black hats is found,
To make them so much with scandal abound ?
Why can they not let the women alone,
When idler fashions they have of their own ?
With ramelie wigs and muffetees.
For the finical beaux we care not a fig,
At us the fribbles may strut and look big,
In their spencers, bobs, and ramelies ;
Their wigs alter their fashion as well as our hats.
Which shews they are full as fantastical fops ;
Then cease at the women any longer to rail,
As your whimsical notions are often frail,
With ramelie wigs and muffetees.
He is a blockhead that cannot fare well,
And be contented, but must kiss and tell,
With ramelie wigs and muffetees :
Men for kissing girls are blam'd,
But a woman, if once her virtue is stain'd,
Is afterwards slighted, and held in scorn.
By that very deceiver who made her forlorn,
With his wheedling words and muffetees.
We'll not mind the beaux altho' they look big,
And strut along in their ramelie wigs,
With their long ruffles and muffetees.
And we, in our turn, will laugh at them,
To see such fops and finical men ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 207
And see them folded up like a letter,
And strutting forth like a crow in a gutter,
With their long ruffles and muffetees.
The girls can't have a bit of fun.
But your game on them you must run,
With your scarlet and saxon-green muffetees ;
Talking in private was never a crime,
But when we ai'e catch'd it is the first time ;
If he that deceived us should us disdain,
We quickly pass for good maids again.
And marry some fop with his muffetees.
THE EIDING-HOOD, OR " NITHISDALE."
This song was composed on occasion of one of the most heroic
acts of conjugal love and fidelity, and one of the most cleverly
conducted and successful escapes on record. William Maxwell,
Earl of Nithsdale, the descendant of a family who had alwaj's
been celebrated for unshaken fidelity to the house of Stewart,
joined the rebel forces in 1715; he was taken prisoner at Preston,
tried, and sentenced to decapitation: — but by the extraordinary
ability and admirable skill of his countess, he escaped out of the
Tower on the evening before his sentence was to be executed, and
died at Rome in 1744. A circumstantial account of his escape
was afterwards written by the countess to her sister. Lady Lucy
Herbert, abbess to the Augustine nuns at Bruges, dated Palais
Royal de Rome, IGth April, 1718, which in 1810 was in the
208 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
possession of Constable Maxwell, Esq., a descendant of the noble
house of Nithsdale, and was publislied entire in the Appendix to
Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and GaUotcay Songs (8vo., Lond.
1810). It was also edited hy Sheffield Grace, Esq., and privately
printed in royal Svo. 1827. The countess, despairing of saving
her husband's life, visited the Tower the night before his exe-
cution was appointed to take place, and taking two female
friends, she adroitly managed to change the dress of one, and
put her in clothes conveyed by the other to the prison, while
the earl dressed in those she wore, and passed out safely; the
countess soon after, appearing to take her farewell, shutting the
jn-ison door, and getting away unobstructed. The large hoods
worn b}' the ladies at this time, and one of which was worn by
Mrs. Mills, the ladj' whom the earl per-
sonated, contributed in no small degree to
defy detection, and the interest which the
public took in this extraordinary adventure
induced them to apply to this article of
dress the name Nithisdale for some time
after. Our representation of one of them
is copied from a print of the period.
This song is reprinted from D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth, 1719
(vol. ii, p. 320), where it has the following title:— "The Nithis-
dale: vulgarly call'd a Riding Hood. A poem, on the sudden,
timely, and incomparable purpose of the Countess of Nithisdale;
who frustrated the dreadful judgment and sentence of the Lord
High Steward, and sav'd her husband's neck from the block,
February 2.5th, 1715."
Oh every tuneful bard that sings,
Of ladies wits and ladies things ;
Of moulding face, or teeth, or hair,
Design'd to make 'em young and fair ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 20U
Let iron hoops not made for show,
Nor whalebone fardingales below,
No more in praise be understood,
But now exalt the Riding-hood.
Our hats with feathers they inclose,
Our coats they wear, and ride like beaus,
Our breeches too they'll quickly find.
And set up then to ape mankind :
But since to take they are so bold
Our cloaks, that shade from rain and cold,
I'll study now the nation's good,
And thus expose the Riding-hood.
It first does cleanliness decay.
And proves a thousand sluts a-day ;
I'heir linnen too all ill may be,
They hide it so as none can see ;
Then let the husband, who with strife
Perceives a gallant loves his wife,
Think 'tis for cuckold-making good.
No cover like a Riding-hood.
Thus in our days of life 'twill raise
A hundred tricks a hundred ways ;
And now my story to pursue.
You'll see what it in death can do :
'Tis call'd a Nithisdale, since fame
Adorn'd a countess with that name ;
Whose wit surmounting, firmly stood
All creatures with a Riding-hood.
210 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Her lord for treason all deter,
Who had been dead were't not for her ;
King, lords, and commons doom'd his fate,
The Tower his gaol, the warders set,
Petitions could no mercy draw,
And ladies tears impeach'd the law ;
All this the heroine withstood,
And baffled by a Riding-hood.
Saturnia gave, with closing light.
The criminal his last good night.
When th' sprightly countess did the deed,
She weep't, she had all in her head.
She dress'd her lord, inform'd his mind.
Made soldiers dumb, and warders blind ;
And all the nation prais'd her mood.
For the inchanted Riding-hood.
In spite of ears, in spite of eyes.
Of power and wealth, that crowns our joys.
This rarity of women's mould,
With female Jerking then controwl'd
The great lieutenant bold and gay,
That has good judgment as some say.
Must think his prudent part not good,
Out-witted by a Riding-hood.
Observe this rule, you that have power,
From Newgate's mansion to the Tower,
No more ingage with female wit.
Nor seek to find out their deceit;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 211
Foi' take this grave advice from mc,
You shall not hear, you shall not see,
'Till they their rare designs make good,
As now they've done the Riding-hood.
Let traitors against kings conspii'e,
Let secret spies great statesmen hire,
Nought shall be by detection got.
If women may have leave to plot :
There's nothing clos'd with bars or locks,
Can hinder nightrayls, pinners, smocks,
For they will every one make good,
As now they've done the Riding-hood.
Oh thou, that by this sacred wife
Hast saved thy liberty and life,
And by her wits immortal pains,
With her quick head hast sav'd thy brains ;
Let all designs her worth adorn,
Sing her anthem night and morn.
And let thy fervent zeal make good,
A reverence for the Riding-hood.
LIII.
THE OLD CLOAK.
This salirical ballad is upon a similar plan to that given on
page 177, — but it belongs to Irish history -, and is one of those
political songs of which so many were published in the early part
p2
212
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
of the last century ; and to which Dean Swift contributed not a
few. It is obtained from the large and curious collection of these
broadsides now in the pos-
session of T. Crofton Croker,
Esq., who believes it to have
been originally formed by the
Dean himself. The dates of
the purchase of the ballads
have been put in by the ori
ginal owner, and this is so
dated 1728. It has a wood-
cut of the cloak, which is here
reduced in size, but in no
other way altered. The two short lines, which commence our
reprint, are in the original printed beneath this cut, and form
the only title of the song.
A merry ne^o joke,
On Josephs old Cloak.
Tins cloak was cut in old Oliver's days. Fa, la,
AVhen zeal and religion were lost in a maze. Fa,
'Twas made by an elder of Lucifer's club. Fa.
"Who botch'd on a shop-board, and whin'd in a tub.
'IVas vampt out of patches, unseemly to name.
'Twas hem'd with sedition, and lin'd with the same.
This cloak to no party was yet ever true. Fa.
The inside was black, and the outside was blue.
'Twas smooth all without, and rough all within.
A shew of religion, a mantle to sin. Fa, la, 8cc.
"When virtue was ravish'd, and honesty baffled,
And Charles was led like a lamb to the scaffold.
&c.
Fa.
Fa.
Fa.
Fa.
Fa.
Fa.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 213
Wlien treason was high, and loyalty low,
This cloak was a screen to the damnable blow ;
When nothing but anarchy then was in vogue,
And he was most pious that most was a rogue ;
When Charles the Second retreated to France,
And zeal and religion were left in a trance ;
The gowns and the cassocks were broken to shreds,
And politick cloaks set up in their steads :
This cloak was as ajjt as the rest of the cloaks,
To stifle religion, and blind-fold the folks ;
The owner would pass for a Moses or Aaron,
Tho' falser than Judas, and fouler than Charon ;
Tho' Judas despair'd, we find he repented,
But none ever heard that this traytor relented.
When the king was restor'd, and the kingdom in peace.
And traytors and villains found favour and grace ;
He then thought it proper to varnish his crimes,
And alter his cloak to agree with the times.
New trimmings he straight got, to make up a suit,
And chang'd his long cloak to a double sur-tout :
He flatter'd and cog'd, to be thought of the king's side,
And turn'd his blue doublet from out-side to in-side :
Yet all was not able to wash ofi" the guilt,
The treason he wrought, and the blood he had spilt ;
For that was beyond his fanatical study,
His fore-head was black, and his doublet was bloody ;
This doublet, when dying, demurely he throws off.
And so he bequeaths it unto his son Joseph :
AVhen Joseph receiv'd it the fashion he broke.
And so he converts it again to a cloak,
214 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Which now, by the vamping and turning, did grow as
Short as that old cloak which Paul pledg'd at Troas.
When Joseph betook unto him then a wife,
The cloak he bestow'd unto her for her life.
As being too short, not reaching his ankle.
And so she converted the cloak to a mantle.
This mantle when dying she left Father Chop
As being but little, and here let it stop.
When Ch n receiv'd it, to mend the abuse,
He converts it again to its primitive use ;
The synod approv'd on't, and so did the godly,
But the cloak was too little, and he lookt but oddly ;
At which, being fretted, he ript out the stitches.
Resolving to have it cut out into breeches ;
The breeches were made, but too short for his a ,
Which turn'd all the matter again to a farce ;
At last he conckuled to make it a bonnctt,
'Twas made, and it fitted, and I end my sonnet.
THE BAND.
From the same collection as the preceding song. It is stated to
be " printed at Silver-court, in Castle-street," (1728). It alludes
to the introduction in Ireland of the new English fashion of
wearing plain bands, or neckcloths, in place of the old laced
cravat ; and which, being brought over by one of the court party,
was of course unpopular on the other side ; and made odious in
POEMS ON COSTUME. 21o
a song called The Band Ballad, which imputed a want of national
love to all who adopted the fashion. The pr(;sent song, An
Answer to the Band Ballad; by a Man Milliner, shews the folly
of making the thing a party question to quarrel about. The
J n B s, of the third stanza, who introduced the fashion,
was John Bowes (afterwards Baron Bowes of Clonlyon, Lord
Chancellor of Ireland). Serjeant at Law, 4th May, 1727.
Solicitor General, 23rd October, 1730. Attorney General, ] Itli
September, 1739. Chief Baron, 15th January, 1742. Lord
Chancellor, 6th February, 17G1. He died at his house near
Drumcondra, 22nd July, 1767. He appears to have been a
fashionable man, for in a ballad entitled A View of the Irish Bur,
Dublin, printed in the year 1729-30. The fourth verse runs
thus: —
" There's B s, a great beau,
Tbat here makes a shew,
And thinks all about him are fools, sir ;
He winks and he speaks,
His brief and fee takes,
And quotes for it Enijlish rules, su'."
The town is alarm'd and seems at a stand,
As if both the pope and the devil would land,
To devour this whole isle in the shape of a band.
Which nobody can deny, deny, which nobody can deny.
In a lawyer's band too, it is dreaded they'll come,
But I've heard it affirm'd, most devoutly, by some,
That they will with great art the whole lawyer assume.
Which, &c.
216 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Thus it oftentimes has been proclaim'd very loud,
By priest-ridden women, and fools in a crowd,
That their Chevalier St.* would come in a cloud.
Which, 8fc.
But if you would know whence their clamour arose,
And why a plain baud has met many foes,
'Tis because it was first introduc'd by J — n B — s.
Which, &c.
Why should we exclaim against him in a passion,
And his judgment arraign, for beginning a fashion,
Since he fairly appeals in them both to the nation.
Which, &c.
When liberty reigns, then justice takes place,
And true merit never will sink in disgrace.
Nor affection or favour e'er vary the case.
Which, &c.
This pretty new fashion indulge him to wear.
There's no law in bands, I may venture to swear,
But they set off an old fashion face I declare.
Which, &c.
All men who impartially judge must despise
A dwarf, who with gyants presumptuously vies,
And with a false glare would dazzle their eyes.
Which, &c.
* The Chevalier St. George, " the old Preteiuler," and son of
King James II.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 217
The comraonest prudence most plainly commands
Our tongues to be silent, and peaceful our hands,
Least instead of soft cambricks we wear harder bands.
Which, &c.
If at English examples 'tis our duty to spurn.
We must wear our old brogues, and our shoes we
must burn.
Damn dear eighty-nine, and savages turn.
Which, &c.
Or if you'd be reckon'd tight Irish lads.
Throw ofFyour cravats and bands, and tie on your gads,*
And then you'll resemble your primitive dads.
Which, &c.
We may fret, foam, and bellow, with powerfuU sense.
Like bulls in a bull-ring, which cost us some pence,
But our bulls against lyons can make no defence.
Which, &c.
LV.
THE LIFE OF A BEAU.
From the dramatic performance by the Rev. J. Miller, called
The Coffee House, produced at Drury Lane Theatre in 1737. The
play met with bad success, as it was believed that the author
intended to satirize a particular coffee-house keeper and her
" A withe, twisted twig, or osier." O'Reilly'' s Irish Dictionary.
218 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
customers ; this song was, however, more popular, and was set
to music by Harry Carey, forming one of the curious illustrated
sheets in Bickham's Musical Entertainer. It was sung by the
famous Kitty Clive, who played the part of Kitty, and introduced
the song with " O foh ! I hate a beau — a smooth, insipid, tawdry,
humming, loitering, do-nothing thing ! He would be onlj' fit to
be set up in one's chamber like a china-image for show."
How brim-full of nothing's the life of a beau !
They've nothing to think of, they've nothing to do ;
Nor they've nothing to talk of, for — nothing they know :
Such, such is the life of a beau.
For nothing they rise, but to draw the fresh air ;
Spend the morning in nothing but cui'ling their hair ;
And do nothing all day but sing, santer, and stare :
Such, such is the life of a beau.
For nothing at night to the playhouse they croud,
For to mind nothing done there they always are prond.
But to bow, and to grin, and talk — nothing aloud :
Such, such is the life of a beau.
For nothing they run to th' assembly and ball j
And for nothing at cards a fair partner call,
For they still must be beasted who've — nothing at all :
Such, such is the life of a beau.
For nothing on Sundays at church they appear.
For they've nothing to hope, nor they've nothing to fear.
They can be nothing no where, who — nothing are here :
Such, such is the life of a beau.
roKMS ON COSTUME. 219
THE BEAU BUTTERFLY.
This " moral ballad," from a broadsheet of music, and words
published in the year 1737, resembles in sentiment the last of our
songs; and it shews how continually coffee houses were fre-
quented by the beaux of the day. They were the general ren-
dezvous for the idle and the qtdd-nunc, for proof of which I may
refer to the curious song, The Coffee House, in The Civic Garland,
published by the Pex'cy Society.
A coFEEE-HOUSE, a parrot-cage,
Holds many a glaring bird,
That prattles all its trifling age
Without a meaning word.
A chaos of disjointed things,
Still roving in its brain,
Now talks of countesses and kings ;
Of asses milk and Spain.
Of fashions, France, and Flanders mares,
Assemblys, cards, and plays ;
Of setting dogs, and solitaii'es,*
Intrigues, and wedding days.
* The solitaire -wSiS a broad band of ribbon or silk, worn loosely
round the neck, and which continued in fashion for half a century.
Anstey notices it in his New Bath Guide : —
" Bag-wig, and laced ruffles, and black solitaire.
*****
What can a man of true fashion denote,
Like an ell of good ribbon tied under the throat ?"
220 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
All ! pretty prattling, empty thing,
Neglect thy gnudy dress.
Adorn thy mind the more within,
And prune thy person less.
Boast not that thus you outward shine.
At Folly's vain expense ;
Lament the fate that made thee fine,
And did not give thee sense.
Then wisely learn thyself to know,
Past, t]-ifling hours recall,
And let thy talk from reason How,
Or do not talk at all.
LVII.
THE HOOP PETTICOAT.
Gay has celebrated this portion of female costume in one of his
poems. But the ballad-makers made it the subject of many of
their effusions. One of the earliest of these songs, written about
1733, thus commences:
" What a line thing have I seen to-day !
O mother, a hoop '.
I must have one, you cannot say nay ;
O mother, a hoop !
For husbands are gotten this way to be sure,
Men's eyes and men's hearts they so neatly allure,
mother a hooj), a hoop, O mother, a hoop ! "
The hoop may be considered as the legitimate descendant of
the farthingale of the days of Elizabeth ; and hooj/s are mentioned
POEMS ON COSTUME.
221
by Gosson and others as early as 1598. About 1711 they rc-
appeai-ed ; and gave the hidies' gown an appearance similar to a
bell or pyramid. About 1745 they increased enormously, and
attracted universal attention. Both satirists and caricaturists
ridiculed the fashion to the ut-
most, but without effect. There
is a curious print, called The
Review, published at this time,
from which we select a figure,
as a good specimen of this
fashion. The print exhibits the
inconvenience of the hoop petti-
coat in a variety of ways, and
how to remedy it. One of the
most ingenious, is that of af coach
with a moveable roof, and a
frame and pullies to drop the
ladies in from the top, to avoid decomposing the hoop, which
necessarily attended their entrance by the door. Our ballad is
reprinted from a collection named The Female Fancy s Garland, iu
the possession of J. O. Halliwell, Esq., and is entitled, " The
wonderful vertues and comical conveniencies of the new fashion
hoop'd petticoats " — to the tune of Oh ! brave Popery, S^c.
You beautiful ladys, that follows the mode,
AYhere ever you live, or take up your abode,
Pray what is the reason you wear such a load
As hoop'd petticoats ; monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids ?
Black patches, and towers of powdered hair,
Which long time you have been accustoin'd to wear.
222 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
I think on my conscience could never compare
With hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
So strange and fantastick young ladys are grown,
Not only miss Madam, but Gillian and Joan,
They must have such petticoats never was known ;
Large hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
When ever they walk thro' the streets or the fields,
Supported along by a light pair of heels.
Their coats takes the compass of coach or cart-wheels ;
Large hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
I cannot compare this new mode of the town.
To nothing more like, tho' I know they will frown.
Than to a large hog-tub that's turn'd up-side down ;
Large hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
When ever they pass through the midst of a throng,
The people cries out, least they suffer much wrong.
Make room for the madams now trudging along,
With hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
Now some of the vulgar are apt to reproach
Those ladies, tho' young, and as sound as a roach.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 223
With wonder, how they can crowd into a coach,
"With hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
"When men have said all by the way of abuse,
They shall not be left quite without an excuse ;
Hoop'd petticoats they are of excellent use,
Large hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
I tell you they was not invented for pride,
For when a young miss has a chub by her side,
Should there come a search, straight her spark slie
can hide
Under her petticoats ; oh, the hoop'd petticoats, mon-
sterous petticoats, maids.
The bodys of men they are button'd and loop'd.
Thus in their strong coats they are lustily coop'd :
"Women are weak vessels, and ought to be hoop'd,
In large petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
As they are weak vessels, and subject to crack.
They are of great use, therefore stand to the tack.
For why should young women such petticoats lack ;
Large hoop'd petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
224 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
There's Madam Trugmallion, of Mock Beggai's Hall,*
She sets her hoop'd petticoats under a wall,
And lets it sometimes for a cobler's stall ;
Oh, rare petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
Two bailiffs one morning pursu'd little Will,
He whipt under one, and was glad to lye still,
As safe and secure as a thief in a mill ;
Oh, brave petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
This Will was a barber, distressed and poor,
He got from the bailiffs, they've ne'er seen him more,
These are the best petticoats ever were wore ;
Oh, brave petticoats, monsterous petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids.
These was not found out in our forefathers days.
But finding them useful in sundry ways.
Pray let us all sing in the petticoats praise,
Large hoop'd petticoats, delicate petticoats, bouncing
hoop'd petticoats, maids !
* This was a fanciful name for the residence of thoughtless
prodigals. In Collier's Roxhuryhe Ballads is a curious satirical
song, entitled " Mock -beggar's Hall, with its situation in the
spacious country called Anywhere."
POEMS ON COSTUME. 225
LVIII.
THE LADY'S GOWN.
This humorous exhibition of vanity in a Scottish country farmer's
wife, is printed in Buchan's Ancient Ballads and Songs of the
Xorih of Scotland, vol. ii, p. 225. It seems to belong to tlie
middle of the last century-, when hoops of extraordinry dimensions
predominated.
I'll gar my gudeman trow
That I'll sell the ladle,
Cause he winna buy to me
A gude riding saddle,
To ride to the kirk, and frae the kirk,
And even thro' the town ;
Then stan' about, ye fisher jades.
And gie my gown rowm.
I had a bonny brauit cow.
That gae a cann o' milk ;
And I hae saul' my branit cow,
And bought a gown o' silk.
There's three raw o' fringes uj),
And three raw down ;
Then stan' a little you by,
And gie my gown rowm.
Syne I'll gar my gudeman trow
That I hae taen the flings,
Because he winna buy to me
Sax gowd rings ;
226 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Anc on ilka linger,
And twa iipo' my thum ;
Then Stan' a little you by.
And gie my gown rowm.
LIX.
HAD AW A' FRAE ME, DONALD.
This excellent sample of Highland courtship, including an
inventory of articles then considered as desirable for per-
sonal adornment, is given from Herd's Ancient and Modern
Scottish Songs, vol. ii, p. 161, Edinburgh, 1776. The first edition
was published in 1760. The dates of the original composition
of the ballads in the volumes are not given, but this one is
certainly as old as our preceding song, if not older. No notes,
glossarial or otherwise, assist us to the meaning of the phraseology
of the song here printed, but a Highland friend, R. Mac Ian, Esq.
says, " it is evidently written by a lowlander, who has put his
version of what he considers to be Gaelic, into the mouth of his
highlander. I can make this apparent by pointing out the
curious mistakes which even Sir Walter Scott has made upon
similar occasions; for instance, in Rob Roy, when the assembled
highlanders are wailing for the supposed apprehension of their
chief, Scott makes them cr^' Ochone a Bigh, which being trans-
lated, means " Woe's me for the king," instead of making thera
say Ochone a chridhe, or " woe's my heart." Again, he calls the
Duke of Argyle Maccallum More, or the son of Malcolm the
great, instead of Mac Caillain More, the son of Colin the great."
The ensuing song presents difficulties of the same kind ; the
notes, however, have been carefully collected to obviate errors
as much as possible.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 221
O WILL you hae ta tartan plaid,
Or will you hae ta ring, Mattam ?
Or will you hae ta kiss o' me ?
And dats ta pretty ting, Mattam.
Had aw a', bide aw a'.
Had awa' frae me, Donald ;
I'll neither kiss nor hae a ring,
Nae tartan plaids for me, Donald.
O see you not her ponny progues,*
Her fecketf plaid, plew, creen, Mattam ?
Her twa short hose, and her twa spoigs,J
And a shoulter-pelt apeen,§ Mattam ?
Had awa', bide awa'.
Had awa', frae me, Donald ;
Nae shoulter-belts, nae trinkabouts,
Nae tartan hose for me, Donald.
Hur can peshaw a petter hough ||
Tan him wha wears ta crown, Mattam ;
Hersell hae pistol and claymore
To flie ta lallant lown,^ Mattam.
Had awa', had awa'.
Had awa' frae me, Donald ;
For a' your houghs and warlike arms,
You're no a match for me, Donald.
* The highland brogue was made of the untanned hide with
the hair outside, and drawn over the foot with thongs, t Checked.
J Spoils are " feet, claws, or ugly legs." § Above.
I! I can shew a better thigh. % To scare the lowland loon.
Ci2
228 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Hursell hae a short coat pi pote,
No trail my feets at rin, Mattam ;*
A cutty sark of good liarn slieet,f
My mitter| he be spin, Mattam.
Had aw a', had aw a',
Had awa' frae me, Donald ;
Gae hame and hap )^our naked houghs.
And fash nae mair wi' me,§ Donald,
Ye's neir pe pidden|| work a turn
At ony kind o' spin, Mattam,
But shug your lenno in a scull,
And tidel highland sing, Mattam.if
Had awa', had awa'.
Had awa' frae me, Donald ;
Your jogging sculls and highland sang
Will sound but harsh wi' me, Donald.
In ta morning when him rise
Ye's get fresh whey for tea, Mattam ;
Sweet milk an ream,* as much you please,
Far cheaper tan pohea, Mattam.
* I have bought a short coat that will not entangle my feet in
running.
■f Short shirt of strong liren. { Mother.
§ Trouble yourself no more with me. || Told to.
^ This may mean sug (suckle) your leanabh (child) in the
sffail (shade), and sing a highland song to amuse it.
* Cream.
POEMS ON CQSTUME. 229
Had awa', had awa',
Had awa' frae me, Donald ;
I winna quit my morning's tea,
Your whey will ne'er agree, Donald.
Haper Gallic* ye's be learn,
And tats ta ponny speak, Mattam ;
Ye's get a cheese, an putter-kirn,
Come wi' me kin ye like, Mattam.
Had awa', had awa',
Had aw^a' frae me, Donald ;
Your Gallic and your highland chear
Will ne'er gae down wi' me, Donald.
Fait ye'se pe ket a silder proch
Pe pigger than the moon,f Mattam ;
Ye's ride in currochi stead o' coach,
An wow put ye'll pe fine, Mattam.
Had awa', had awa'.
Had awa' frae me, Donald ;
For a' your highland rarities
You're not a match for me, Donald.
What's tis ta way tat ye'il pe kind
To a protty man like me, Mattam ?
* Lochaber Gaelic, the best spoken.
f These large circular brooches of silver are still worn in the
Highlands, and are of great antiquity as a female adornment.
J The curroch is a light boat of wicker work, covered with a
hide, which was used for traversing the lochs, before roads were
made in the Highlands.
230 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Sae langs claymore pe 'po my side,
I'll nefer marry tee, Mattam.
come awa', run awa',
O come awa' wi' me, Donald ;
1 wadna quit my highland man ;
Frae lallands* set me free, Donald.
LX.
THE BEAU'S EECEIPT FOR A LADY'S DRESS.
This excellent epitome of fashionable costume in 1753, first ap-
peared in the Salisbury Journal of that year, and was copied
thence into the Magazines. It was also printed as a song in
stanzas of four lines each, and sung " to the tune oiDerry Down."
A copy of this, and the answer ensuing, is preserved in the
Roxburghe collection of ballads.
Hang a small bugle cap on, as big as a crown,
Snout it oif with a flower vulgo diet, a pompoon \\
Let your powder be grey, and braid up your hair
Like the mane of a colt, to be sold at a fair.
A short pair of jumps, half an ell from your chin,
To make you appear just like one lying-in ;
* Lowlanders.
f Pompoons were globular flowers formed of floss silk, or
feathers, and frequently worn in the hair.
rOEMS ON COSTUME. 231
Before, for your breast, pin a stomacher-bib on,
Ragout it with cutlets of silver and ribbon.
Your neck and your shoulders both naked shouW be,
Was it not for Vandyke,* blown with chevaux-de-frize ;
Let your gown be a sacque,^ blew, yellow, or green,
And frizzle your elbows with ruffles sixteen ;
Furl ofF3^our lawn apron, with flounces in rows,
Puff, and pucker up knots on your arms and your toes;
Make your petticoats short, that a hoop eight yards wide
May decently show how your garters are ty'd ;
With fringes of knotting your Dichcy cabod,|
On slippers of velvet, set gold a-la-daube ;
But mount on French heeis§ when you go to a ball,
'Tis the fashion to totter, and shew you can fall ;
Throw modesty out from your manners and face,
A-la-mode de Frangois, you're a bit for his Grace.
* Jagged edgings, or fringes to the dress, of a triangular form,
which were a revival of a fashion occasionally seen in Vandyke's
portraits, from which they were named.
f The sacque was a silken appendage to a gown of the same
material, which fell from the neck behind to the ground and
formed a train ; the gown being worn open in front to shew the
petticoat.
f Edge your Dicky ; or habit shirt.
§ The high small heels which were cut away to an incli
breadth beneath the foot.
232 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
LXI.
THE LADY'S RECEIPT FOR A BEAU'S DRESS.
This answer to the foregoing satire, is from the London Magazine
of 1753.
Since, sir, yon have made it your study to vex,
And audaciously laugh at the dress of our sex,
Pray don't be so blind to the faults of your own,
But let 'em, I say, in the next lines be shewn.
Instead of small caps, you must add small wigs,
The tail of which mostly resembles a pig's ;
Put a hat upon that, and point it up high,
As if 'twas an arrow that's aim'd at the sky.
At the corner of which, I pray don't forget,
Hang a tassel of silver, to make it complete ;
Let the stock be well plaited, in fanciful forms,
Whilst a fine diamond heart the shirt bosom adorns.
Let the sword-hilt be cover'd with ribbon, good store.
Lest the roughness around make the tender hand sore;
Tho' there's no need for that, for they'll certainly fly
The place where they think any danger is nigh.
His coat is to be but a foot from his waist,
And fix'd as tight too, as if it were lac'd ;
In his pockets a housewife and pincushion place.
Not forgetting a glass to admire his sweet face.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 233
With stockings of silk, nothing less can such please,
Bind his legs round with silver an inch above knees.
Hang a tassel to that, or else it won't do,
And in length it must reach half way to his shoe.
His bright buckles of stone, of five guineas price.
To adorn his neat feet, and make hira quite nice :
Thus drest and equipt, 'tis plain to be seen,
He's not one jot better than Monsieur Pantin.*
MONSIEUR A-LA-MODE.
A satirical effusion on the male fashions, also elicited by
The Beau's Receipt, and which is here reprinted from the
London 3Iagazine of 1753.
Take a creature that nature has form'd without brains,
Whose skull nought but nonsense and sonnets contains;
* A pantin was a puppet of pasteboard strung togethei*, so that
by pulling a string it was thrown into a variety of grotesque
attitudes. From 1 748, when it was first introduced into England,
until after the period of our song, it was in vogue among the
beau monde as a diverting plaything ; which was the subject of
many satirical ballads and caricatures. They are still sold under
other names at the toy shops, but are now properly confined to
very j-oung children.
234 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
With a mind where conceit with folly's allj'd,
Set off by assurance and unmeaning pride ;
With common-place jests for to tickle the ear
With mirth, where no wisdom could ever appear ;
That to the defenceless can strut and look brave,
Although he to cowardice shews he's a slave.
And now for to dress up my beau with a grace,
Let a well frizzled wig be set off from his face ;
With a bag quite in taste, from Paris just come,
That was made and ty'd up by Monsieur Frisson ;
With powder quite grey, then his head is complete ;
If dress'd in the fashion, no matter for wit ;
With a pretty black beaver tuck'd under his arm.
If plac'd on his head, it might keep it too warm ;
Then a black solitaire his neck to adorn,
Like those of Versailles by the courtiers there worn;
His hands must be cover'd with fine Brussels lace,
With a sparkling brilliant his finger to grace ;
Next a coat of embroidery from foreigners come,
'Twou'd be quite unpolite to have one wrought at home;
With cobweb silk stocking his legs to befriend.
Two pair underneath, his lank calves to amend ;
With breeches in winter would cause one to freeze.
To add to his height, must not cover his knees ;
A pair of smart pumps made up of grain'd leather ;
So thin he can't venture to tread on a feather ;
His buckles like diamonds must glitter and shine,
Should they cost fifty pounds they wou'd not be too fine;
A repeater by Graham, which the hours reveals,
Almost over-balanc'd with knick-knacks and seals ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 235
A mouchoir with musk bis spirits to chear,
Though he scents the whole room, that no soul can
come near ;
A gold-hilted sword with jewels inlaid,
So the scabbard's but cane, no matter for blade ;
A sword-knot of ribband to answer his dress,
Most completely ty'd up with tassels of lace ;
Thus fully equipp'd and attir'd for show,
Observe, pray, ye belles, that fam'd thing call'd a beau.
LXIU.
A-LA-MODE. 175*.
This clever description of a lady's most fashionable costume,
is from the Universal Magazine for 1754.
The dress in the year fifty-three that was worn
Is laid in the grave, and new fashions aie born ;
Then hear what our good correspondents advance,
'Tis the pink of the mode, and 'tis dated from France;
Let your cap be a butterfly, slightly hung on,
Like the shell of a lapwing just hatch'd, on her crown;
Behind, like a coach horse, short dock'd, cut your hair.
Stick a flower before, screw, whiff", with an air ;
A Vandyke in frize your neck must surround.
Turn your lawns into gauze, lot your Brussels be blond.
236 SATIUICAL SONGS AND
Let your stomacher reach from shoulder to shoulder,
And your breast will appear much fairer and bolder ;
"Wear a gown, or a sacque, as fancies prevail,
But with flounces and furbelows ruffle your tail ;
Set your hoop, show your stockings and legs to your
knees,
And leave men as little as may be to guess :
For other small ornaments do as before,
Wear ribbands a hundred, and ruffles a score ;
Let your talk, like your dress, be fantastick and odd,
And you'll shine at the Mall; 'tis taste a-la-mode.
LXIV,
ADVICE TO A PAINTER.
Waller, Denham and Marvel have made use of the above title
to construct a satire, and so made the mode popular. This capital
description of female costume, is from the London Magazine
for July 1755. It originally appeared in the Salisbury Journal;
as an " imitation of the twenty-eighth ode of Anacreon, by Oxon."
Best of painters, shew thy art,
Draw the charmer of my heart,
Draw her as she shines away
At the rout and at the play ;
Carefully each mode express ;
Woman's better part is dress.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 237
Let her cap be mighty small,
Bigger just than none at all ;
Pretty, like her sense ; and little ;
Like her beauty, frail and brittle.
Be her shining locks confin'd,
In a three-fold braid behind ;
Let an artificial flower
Set the frisure off before ;
Here, and there, weave ribbon pat in,
Ribbon of the finest sattin.
Circling round her ivory neck,
Frizzle out the smart Vandike ;
Like the rulF that heretofore
Good Queen Bess's maidens wore ;
Happy maidens, as we read,
Maids of honour, maids indeed !
Let her breast look rich and bold,
With a stomacher of gold ;
Let it keep her bosom warm,
Amply stretch'd from arm to arm ;
Whimsically travers'd o're,
Here a knot, and there a flow'r,
Like her little heart that dances,
Full of maggots, full of fancies.
Flowing loosely down her back.
Draw with art the graceful sack ;
Ornament it well with gimping,
Flounces, furbelows, and crimping ;
Let of ruffles many a row,
Guard her elbows, white as snow ;
238 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Knots below, and knots above ;
Emblems of the tyes of love.
Let her hoop, extended wide,
Shew what petticoats should hide ;
Garters of the softest silk,
Stockings whiter than the milk ;
Charming part of female dress.
Did it shew us more, or less.
Let a pair of velvet shoes
Gently press her pretty toes.
Gently press, and softly squeeze ;
Tott'ring like the fair Chinese,
Mounted high and buckled low,
Tott'ring every step they go.
Take these hints, and do thy duty.
Fashions are the tests of beauty :
Features vary and perplex.
Mode's the woman, and the sex.
LXV.
FEMALE ADVICE TO A TAINTER.
Froji the London Magazine, August 1755.
Painter, once more shew thy art;
Draw the idol of my heart;
Draw him as he sports away,
Softly smiling, sweetly gay ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 239
Carefully each mode express,
For man's judgment is his dress.
Cock his beaver neat and well,
(Beaver size of cockleshell) ;
Cast around a silver cord,
Glittering like the polish'd sword.
Let his wig be thin of hairs,
(Wig that covers half his ears.)
Be his frock quite alamode ;
Short, lest his steps it incommode ;
Short as his waistcoat was of yore,
When dull men long garments wore.
Let the ruffle grace his hand,
Ruffle, pride of Gallic land ;
Be his waistcoat blue or yellow.
That befits a pretty fellow ;
Let it be well trimm'd with lace,
Adding lustre, adding grace.
Make his breeches of nankein,
Most like nature, most like skin ;
Let a ribband deck the knees,
Dangling ribbands always please ;
With stockings of the finest silk.
Soft and shining, white as milk.
Let him wear the nice-made shoes.
Buckling just above the toes;
Buckles of a fashion new,
Bigger almost than the shoe ;
Thus equipt he'll far excel
Every beau, and charm each belle,
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POEMS ON COSTL'ME. 241
For my part, I can never tell where to find you ;
Now drest in a cap, now naked in none,
Now loose in a mob, now close in a Joan ;
Without handkerchief now, and now buried in ruff,
Now plain as a Quaker, now all of a puff ;
Now a shape in neat stays, now a slattern in jumps,
Now high in French heels, now low in your pumps ;
Now monst'rous in hoop, now trapish, and walking
"With your petticoats clung to your heels, like a maulkin ;
Like the cock on the tower, that shews you the weather,
You are hardly the same for two days together."
Thus Beauty begun, and Miss Fashion reply 'd :
" Who does most for the sex ? — Let it fairly be try'd,
And they that look round 'em will presently see,
Tliey're much less beholden to you than to me ;
I grant it, indeed, mighty favours you boast,
But how scanty your favours, how scarce is a toast ?
A shape, a complexion, you confer now and then,
But to one that you give, you refuse it to ten ;
In one you succeed, in another you fail.
Here your rose is too red, there your lilly's too pale ;
Or some feature or other is always amiss :
And pray, let me know when you finish'd a piece
That I was not oblig'd to correct, or touch over,
Or you never would have either husband or lover ?
For I hope, my fair lady, you do not forget.
Though you find the thread, that 'tis I make the net ;
And say what you please, it must be allow'd,
That a woman is nothing unless a-la-mode ;
Neglected she lives, and no beauty avails,
R
242 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
For what is a ship without rigging or sails :
Like the diamonds when rough, are the charms you
bestow,
But mine is the setting and polishing too.
Your nymphs, >vith tlieir shapes, their complexions,
and features,
What are they without me, but poor awkward creatures?
The route, the assembly, the playhouse will tell,
'Tis I form the beau, and I finish the belle ;
' Tis by me that these beauties must all be supply'd ;
Which time has withdrawn, or which you have deny'd ;
Impartial to all, did not I lend my aid.
Both Venus and Cu))id might throw up their trade,
And even your ladyship die an old maid."
THE MOUNTAIN OF HAIR.
From a collection of songs called The Mountain of Hairs Garland,
in the possession of J. O. Halliwell, Esq. About 1760 the
fashion of dressing the head in a quantity of large curls, and
gradually elevating it, was introduced, and
for twenty years it continued on the increase,
until in 1782 it reached the extraordinary
size depicted in our engraving. In consisted
of a heap of tow and pads, over which false
hair was arranged, and hung with ropes of
peai-ls, gauze-trimming, ribbons, feathers,
and artificial flowers; until it added two or
three feet to the stature of the fair wearers.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 243
Such heads, requiring so elaborate and expensive a mode of
decoration, were dressed only once a month : and as there was a
quantity of pomatum and powder used, insects bred in it, and
the description of " opening a lady's head," when it would " keep
no longer," given in the magazines of the day, are anything but
pleasant, but that they were true is abundantly proved by the
recipes, given in works on hair-dressing at this time, for kilhng
insects. Satire and caricature were levelled at this fashion most
unsparingly: in one instance the head is laid out like a dustman's
ground; a heap of cinder sifters occupy the summit, a sow and
pigs nestle in the curls, and the dust-cart " winds its slow way
along" the side. In another instance a Ridotto alfresco is going
on, as if in an ornamental garden, and lovers are enshrined in the
ample bows, as if in so many green-houses."" The American
war offered new subjects, and in 1776 some caricatures were
published representing the battle of Bunker's Hill (converted
into Bunters Hill) and other engagements; with each upper lock
of the hair turned into a fortress, the level part in front covered
with tents, soldiers marching with cannon in ambuscade up the
curls, and ships ensconced in the club behind.
You maids, wives, and widows of Britain draw near,
I'll sing you a ditty will tickle your ear ;
* A lady friend informs me that these things were really
worn; and are not such fanciful satires as I had imagined them.
She perfectly remembers her mother's wearing a sow and pigs
in the curls of her high head-dress. They were made of blown-
glass, and all sorts of strange things of the kind were stuck upon
the hair of that material. Mr. Adey Repton, in his curious
paper on head-dresses in the Archccohgia, mentions " a coach,"
and " a chair and chair-men," worn upon a lady's head as an
ornament, and gives an engraving of one who carries a waggon
in place of a cap.
R 2
244 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
How maids, wives, and widows now fashion tlieir hair,
With fine lappets behind, and mountains of hair.
Fa, la, &c.
My lady she goes to the ball and the play,
She rambles all night and she sleeps all the day,
And then in the evening to church does repair.
With her lappets behind, and mountains of hair.
And Miss Sally also, her own servant-maid,
Who keeps up the jest to keep up her trade ;
She shews her white breast, and her bosom quite bare,
With her fine lappets behind, and mountains of hair.
There's millers', bakers', and shopkeepers' wives.
They'll have their hair dress'd to keep up their pride.
The landlady sits dress'd up in a chair.
Her head she can't move for the weight of her hair.
Then in comes the farmer's wife 'mongst all the rest,
" A barber this minute, my hair must be drest ;
And if you don't dress it a yard high, I do swear.
The devil may pay you for dressing my hair."
Then in comes the butcher's wife, greasy and fat.
She will have her hair dress'd and what of all that ;
A fine leg of mutton, or shoulder, I swear.
She gives to the barber for dressing her hair.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 24.')
Miss Jenny, they tell me, is breeding a child,
And Molly is left in the same state I find,
And when the young babes comes into theii- care.
They'll curse their lappets, and d their false hair.
Behold the smart quaker that looks in the glass.
Her hair doth all other companions surpass ;
You defoi'm your sweet faces, I vow and declare.
You should cut off your lappets, and burn your false hair.
Believe me, dear ladies, you're all in the wrong,
I tell you : and that makes an end of the song ;
When your hair's finely dress'd, I plainly do see,
You look like an owl in an old ivy-tree.
LXVIII.
STANZAS TO THE LADIES ON THEIR
HEAD-DRESSES.
From the Universal Magazine of" 1768.
Have ye never seen a net.
Hanging at your kitchen door,
StufF'd with dirty straw, beset
With old skewers o'er and o'er ?
If ye have, it wonder breeds
Ye from thence should steal a fashion.
And should heap your lovely heads
Such a deal of filthy trash on.
246 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
True, your tresses wreath'd with art
(Bards have said it ten times over)
Form a net to catch the heart
Of the most unfeeling lover.
But thus robb'd of half your beauty,
Whom can ye induce to sigh ?
Or incline for love to sue t'ye
By his nose, or by his eye ?
When he views (what scarce I'd credit
Of the sex so sweet and clean,
But that from a wench I had it
Of all Abigails the queen), —
When he views your tresses thin,
Tortur'd by some French friseur.
Horse-hair, hemp, and wool within,
Garnish'd with a di'mond skewer.
When he scents the mingled steam
Which your plaster'd heads are rich in,
Lard and meal, and clouted cream, —
Can he love a walkine; kitchen ?
POEMS ON COSTUME. 247
LXIX.
PALTRY PRIDE.
This " new song" is from a collection of ballads in the possession
of J. M. Gutch, Esq. of Worcester; and is " printed by J. Butter
of High Street" in that city. It is a good specimen of a popnlar
country satire on the enormity of London fashions, so constantly
the subject of provincial nioralization.
Good people of England give ear
To what I'm going to relate,
Concerning these ladies' high heads,
They are got to a terrible rate ;
There's pomatum and powder you see,
A great bag of hair hangs behind.
And curtains all over their faces,
Just like a horse with the blinds.
There's Mrs. Nancy you see,
She has a most delicate air.
The devil can't touch her for pride,
As she walks thro' the streets, I declare
Tho' she is but fourteen years old.
She thinks herself fit for a man ;
Come wed me, young Jemmy," she says,
" And my dear I will do what I can."
There's the ladies of fashion you see.
They'll all have a turn at this pride.
They must have cork rumps, I declare.
And a head as biff as a bee-hive.
248 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
With a great tod of wool on each hip,
To make them look much in the fashion,
And a bag hanging down to their waist,
I think the devil ought to fetch them.
The farmers' young daughters you see,
In every village beside,
They must have a great detil of hair.
On purpose to keep up their pride ;
And when to the market they come.
They cut a most terrible show.
With a bonnet as big as a hay-rick ;
We pay for this pride you must know.
Now to make an end of my song,
To tell you the truth I do mean,
I'm sure 'tis a damnable shame.
That their pride should be maintain'd ;
For so much as the street-walking hussies
They will have their hair drest you see,
And when they are powder'd and curl'd
They look like an owl in a tree.
LXX.
A RECEirT FOR MODERN DRESS.
This satirical description of male follies in dress is from the
Gentlemans Magazine for December 1772.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 249
To describb;, in its dressing, tlie taste of the time,
(To answer your purpose, and till up my rliime)
Your choice must be made, for a figure exemplar,
Of a captain, a cit, maccaroni, or templar.
Let his figure be slender, and lounging, and slim.
Confoundedly formal, and awkwardly trim.
Hang a hat on his head, let it squint fiercely down.
And be cut, slash'd, and scollop'd, and par'd to the crown.
Behind this strange head a thick queue you must tye on.
Like a constable's bludgeon, or tail of a lion ;
And before, when you tiy to embellish his hair.
Let your fingers be quick, and your powder be fair ;
Be-friz it, and paste it, and cut it, and curl it.
Now slope it in ranges, in rollers now furl it.
For the head of a fribble or beau (without doubt)
Having nothing within, should have something without.
For a coat, give him something so outr6 in shape,
So awkward, so strange — 'twould disfigure an ape ;
A thing, nor a coat, nor a frock, nor a jacket —
All waist to the bottom, at bottom all pocket ;
What the brain of a Frenchman alone could produce,
Without grace, without ornament, beauty, or use.
For taste, if you mean to display your regard,
Let his breeches be spotted like panther or pard :
Which will prove what old ^Esop oft us'd to express,
That an ass may look fierce in a — masquerade dress,
Nor forget that his breeches be roomy between 'em :
'Twill shew that a great deal is wanting within 'em.
Let his shoes be cut forward as far as his toe ;
And his buckles be small, and as round as an O.
250
SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Tlius equipp'd, turn hiin out to the park or the street,
He will toss with his head, he will sprawl with his feet,
Be as arrant a puppy as S n or RoUi,
And vie with the blockheads at Arthur's in folly.
THE MACAROXI.
The Macaronis were a class of fops who introduced a particular
style of dress in the year 1772. A number of young men of
fashion, who had visited Italy, formed an association called the
Macaroni Club, in contradistinction to the Beefsteak Club of
London, As the fashion at this time was to wear long waistcoats,
and coats with wide and heavy skirts,
they wore theirs exceedingly short ; and
the whole dress of very close cut. Their
wigs were remarkable for an enormous
club, or turned-up bunch of hair behind.
They had little cocked hats; swords
dangling about their heels at the end of
long straps, and sticks with large tassels.
Their stockings were covered with co-
loirred spots; and their dress generally
piebald in the same manner. In 1772-3
an alteration took place in their dress,
consisting chiefly in elevating the hair
to an enormous height, with large curls
ranged on each side of it; and wearing
immense bunches of flowers at the breast. They attracted much
attention during the few j-ears of their existence. Our specimen
of the genus is copied from a print published in 1773, — our song
from a sheet of music, " the words by Mr. Oakman," printed in
1772.
POEMS ON COSTUME. £51
Ye belles and beaus of London town,
Come listen to my ditty ;
The muse, in prancing up and down,
Has found out something pretty,
With little hat, and hair dress'd high.
And whip to ride a pony ;
If you but take a right survey,
Denotes a Macaroni.
Along the street to see them walk,
With tail of monstrous size, sir,
You'll often hear the grave ones talk,
And wish their sons were wiser ;
With consequence they strut and grin.
And fool away their money.
Advice they care not for, a pin,—
Aye;— that's a Macaroni !
With boots, and spurs, and jockey-cap.
And breeches like a sack O ;
Like curs, sometimes they'll bite and snap.
And give their whip a smack ;
When this you see, then think of me,
My name is Merry Crony ;
I'll swear the figure that you see
Is call'd a Macaroni.
Five pounds of hair they wear behind,
The ladies to delight, O ;
Their senses give unto the wind
To make themselves a fright, O ;
252 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
This fashion who does e'er pursue
I think a simple-tony,
For he's a fool, say what you will,
Who is a Macaroni.
THE FEMALE MACARONI.
The introduction of the Macaroni style of costume was quite the
rage with the town. Every thing that was fasliionable was a la
Macaroni. Even the clergy had their wigs combed, their clothes
cut, "their delivery refined," a la
Macaroni. The shop windows were
filled with caricatures, and other prints
of this new tribe: there were portraits
of " Turf Macaronis," " Parade Ma-
caronis," with " Macaroni Parsons,"
and " Macaroni Scholars," and a vari-
ety of other species of this extensive
genus. Ladies set up for female
Macaronis; and our cut represents
one, from a print dated 1772. Their
costume was scarcely so striking and
distinctive as that of the men ; it was
chiefly known by the high head-dress,
and large bunch of flowers, and an
exceedingly wide and spreading sleeve, hanging with deep
ruffles from the elbow.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 253
Thalia, leave the tree-topp'd hill,
And kindly lend your aid ;
Let Humour guide the grey goosequill.
While Folly is display'd j
Among the modern fair we'll stray.
And mark the dress in fashion.
For at each auction, ball, or play,
Each shews her darling passion.
No ringlets now adorn the face,
Dear nature yields to art ;
A lofty head-dress must take place,
Absurd in ev'ry part.
Patch, paint, perfume, immodest stare.
You find is all the fashion ;
Alas, I'm sorry for the fair
Who thus disgrace the nation.
In days of yore, as I have heard.
The ladies' chiefest pride
Was still, with prudence and with caie,
What could provoke to hide ;
But now, — a different mode j^revails
Most singularly new.
The females, with top-gallant sails.
Bring all they can to view.
But let not censure wait the fair.
Old England's joy and pride,
Whose charms may with the best compare,
P^'en all the world beside.
254 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
A hint may serve : — from one, their friend,
To those more sweet than honey,
Or they'll be laugh'd at in the end.
Each female Macaroni.
LXXIII.
LONDON FASHIONS.
From Garriok's musical farce called May-day, or the Little Gypsey,
acted at Drury Lane in 1775. It embodies a countryman's ideas
of London enormities in fashion.
What 's a poor simple clown
To do in the town ?
Of the freaks and vagaries I'll none ;
The folks I saw there
Two faces did wear,
An honest man ne'er has but one.
Let others to London go roam,
Whilst I and my neighbour
Can sing and can labour
To me there is nothing like country and home.
The ladies I vow,
I cannot tell how.
Were now white as curd, and now red.
Law, how you would stare
At the huge crop of hair,
'Tis a hay-cock at top of their head.
Let others, &c.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 255
Then 'tis so 'dizend out,
And with trinkets about,
With ribbands and fiippets between ;
They so noddle and toss,
Just like a fore horse,
With tassels and bells in a team.
Let others, &c.
Then the i'ops are so fine,
With lank-waisted chine.
And a skimp bit of a hat.
Which from sun, wind, or rain.
Will not shelter their brain,
Though there's no need to take care of that.
Let others, &c.
Would you these creatures ape,
In looks, or in shape,
Teach a calf on his hind legs to go.
Let him waddle in gait,
A skim dish on his pate.
And he'll look all the world like a beau.
Let others, 8cc.
To keep my brains right,
My bones whole and tight,
To speak nor to look would I dare ;
As they bake they shall brew —
Old Nick and his crew,
At London keep vanity fair.
Let others, &c.
256 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
LXXIV.
THE MODERN BELLE.
From the Universal Magazine, July 1776.
Muse begin the comic lay,
Sing the female of to-day,
Yet to person be confin'd,
Do not meddle with her mind,
Lest the strange investigation
Cause thee trouble and vexation.
'Twere to seek, alas-a-day !
Needles in a stack of hay ;
Void of talents, sense, and art,
Dress is now her better pai't.
Sing her daub'd with white and red ;
Sing her large terrific head,
Nor the many things disguise.
That produce its mighty size ;
And let nothing be forgot,
Carrots, turnips, and what not ;
Curls and cushions for imprimis,
Wool and powder for the finis ;
Lace and lappets, many a flag,
INIany a party-colour'd rag,
Pendent from the head behind,
Floats and wantons in the wind ;
Many a gem, and many a feather,
A fine farrago all together,
By whose wool and wire assistance
(Formidable at a distance.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 257
As the elephants of jore
A fam'd queen to battle bore)
They with terror and surprise
Strike the poor beholder's eyes.
What a quantity of brain
Must he think such heads contain !
Tho' it prove a false alarm,
Feather brains can do no harm ;
Plats that only shew the chin,
And the mouth's bewitchino- m-jn
As intended for a shield
To the caput thus conceal'd :
Surely 'tis an useful art
Well to guard the weakest part.
Shoes that buckle at the toe ;
Gowns that o'er the pavement flow,
Or.festoon'd on either side,
With two yellow ribbons ty'd :
While a peak-like pigeon's rump
Shews behind she's not too plump ;
Heels to bear the precious charge,
More diminutive than lar^-e,
Slight and brittle, apt to break,
Of the true Italian make ;
For women of bon ton, observ'ye,
Like sugar-loaves turn'd topsy-turvy,
(As their heaviest part 's o'top)
Rest upon a feeble prop,
And, that all mankind may know it,
This about their heads to shew it.
2o8 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
MODERN HEAD-DRESS.
This " Humorous Description of a modern head-dress" is by
Anstey, the witty author of the New Bath Guide, and was pub-
lished in 1776. He had ridiculed the fashion in the work just
named ; but in TJie Election Ball he very humorously describes
the mode in which a countr}' girl supplied herself with one of
these fashionable monstrosities. Her father, who is supposed to
be relating the circumstance, says, — she
" With presence of mind flying up to the garrett,
Brought dOAvn my old wig, that's as red as a carrot,
And to it she went, dear, ingenious sweet soul.
Drawing up the old caul till it fitted her poll.
Then with dripping and flour did so baste it and frizzle.
The hair all became of a beautiful gi-izzle ;
Those cui-ls, which a barber would \-iew with despair,
She did coax, twist, and twine, with such skill and such care,
With combs, pins, and jiaste, make such frequent attacks on.
She triumph'd at length, and subdu'd the old caxon;
Which done, she the front in a cushion did wrap,
'Till the fore-top stood up like a grenadier's cap."
The whole is concluded by seizing the dunghill cock, and ob-
taining from his tail the plume to crown the ingenious erection!
Absurd as all this seems, it is little less so than the fashion it
ridicules.
A CAP like a bat,
(Which was once a cravat)
Part gracefully platted and pinu'd is ;
Part stuck upon gauze,
Eescrables mackaws.
And all the fine birds of the Indies.
POEMS ON COSTUME. 259
But above all the rest,
A bold Amazon's crest
Waves, nodding from shoulder to shoulder ;
At once to surprise,
And to ravish all eyes,
To frighten and charm the beholder.
In short, head and feather,
And wig all together,
With wonder and joy would delight ye ;
Like the picture I've seen.
Of th' adorable queen
Of the beautiful blest Otaheite.
Yet miss at the rooms
Must beware of her plumes,
For, if Vulcan her feather embraces,
Like poor Lady Laycock,
She'll burn like a hay-cock.
And I'oast all the loves and the graces.
LXXVI.
THE LADIES' HEAD-DRESS.
This clever satire first appeared in the London Magazine iov 1777.
It was afterwards copied into nearly every magazine and
periodical of the day. It was sung at places of amusement, and
appears under the title of " Ladies' head and tail dress" in a col-
260 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
lection of songs called Summer's Atnusement, or Songs sung at
VauxhaU and Ranelagh; the name, Chloe, being altered to Betty,
and the words adapted to a popular air.
Give Chloe a bushel of horse-hair and wool,
Of paste and pomatum a pound,
Ten yards of goy ribbon to deck her sweet skull,
And gauze to encompass it round.
Of all the bright colours the rainbow displays
Re those ribbons which hang on her head,
Be her flounces adapted to make the folks gaze,
And about the whole work be they spread.
Let her flaps fly behind, for a yai'd at the least ;
Let her curls meet just under her chin ;
Let these curls be supported, to keep up the jest,
With an hundred, instead of one pin.
Let her gowai be tuck'd up to the hip on each side ;
Shoes too high for to walk, or to jump ;
And, to deck the sweet creature complete for a bride,
Let the cork-cutter make her a rump.
Thus finish'd in taste, while on Chloe you gaze.
You may take the dear charmer for life ;
But never undress her — for, out of her stays
You'll find you have lost half your wife.*
* The above atlai-k upon the ladies produced, as usual, a
POKMS ON COSTUME. 261
LXXVII.
ALL IN THE TASTE.
From " The Niyhtinguk, Part I, being a choice collection of
songs printed and sold in Aldermary Churchyard"; without date,
but evidently the production of the hitter part of the eighteenth
century. It is in the large collection of these popular garlands
and chap books formed by J. O. Halliwell, Esq.
Ye beaus and ye belles of the city,
"Who strive for to ogle the taste,
Give eai' to a comical ditty,
In which Lady Fashion is plac'd.
For I'll show you some taste a-la-mode.
So we'll term it a lecture on heads ;
And step into Steeven's road,
In spite of all critical dreads.
rejoinder; and the following appeared in the supplement to the
Universal Mayazine for the same year.
RECEIPT TO WAKE A MODERN FOP.
Two tuns of pride aiid impudence,
One scruple next of modesty and sense,
Two grains of ti-uth ; of falsehood and deceit,
And insincerity, an hundred weight.
Infuse into the skull, of flashy wit
And empty nonsense quantum sufBcit.
To make the composition quite complete,
Throw in the appearance of a grand estate,
A lofty cane, a sword with silver hilt,
A ring, two watches, and a snufl'-box gilt,
A gay effeminate embroidor'd vest.
With suitable attire. Probation est.
262 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
First observe the good lady of ftishion,
Pray mark but her porcupine head,
AVith her brains she can settle the nation,
While the poor are a-starving for bread.
Observe but her turkey cock'd-hat,
Pray see how it dwells on her nose.
Which makes her as blind as a bat,
And behind all for nothing she shows.
Miss Polly, just come from her school.
In the fashion must cut a strange figure,
For no more she'll be reckon'd a fool,
When her head it is made something bigger.
And stay-making John play'd his part,
For he's so well fitted her shape.
So she's fairly resigu'd him her heart.
And has borrow'd the form from an ape.
Next a man of Bob Derry comes in.
For he, sir's a man of the town,
With an eagle court raark'd on his chin,
And at Dutf — elds all dulness he'll drown.
With a wig of the bull forehead kind.
Whereon Stevens once made a comment,
And opened the eyes of the blind.
And sold wit at twenty per cent.
Pray look at the tub-bottom hat,
See the vertues of Wetherby there.
For the lamp-breaker's magics in that,
You may see it quite plain, I declare.
POEMS ON COSTUMK. 263
But leave off, my good, trusty Robin,
For with taste you are always intriguiii<T,
Or by chance you may get a good mobbing,
By the help of young master O'Figgin.
LXXVIII.
THE SHORT BODY'D GOWN.
Froim a collection of eight pages 12mo., printed at Glasgow by
J. and M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1801. This ballad, which is
devoted to a fashion which was the principal novelty at the
close of the last century, alludes to the sudden change made in
ladies' waists in 1794, which from reaching nearly to the hips
were now carried to the arm-pits; and a caricatuie represents a
lady suckling her baby beneath the waist. The popular ballad
of the "Banks of Banna" was parodied with
" Shepherds I have lost my waist,
Have you seen my body."
Ye lads and ye lasses of country and city,
I pray you give ear to my humorous ditty,
Concerning the fashion just come from town,
A whimsical dress call'd the short body'd gown.
This humorous dress that's now call'd the mode,
Surpasses all fashions that e'er was in vogue,
There's not a young miss in the country all round,
But must be stuff'd up in a short body'd gown.
264 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Last Midsummer-day Sally went to the fair,
For to sell her yarn. Oh, how she did stare !
Both wives, maids, and widows, in every shop round,
They all were dress'd up in a short body'd gown !
So home in the evening Miss Sally she hies,
And told it her mother with greatest surprize.
Saying, " Two hanks a-day I will spin the week round,
Until I can purchase a short body'd gown."
The mother surpriz'd, only thought it a jest,
Saying, " Sally, your old fashion'd gown fits you best.
So leave this new fashion to folks in the town,
And don't waste your cloth in a short body'd gown."
" mother, you are a bad judge of the size.
The length that it takes, it would you surprize.
For the breadth of the waste is three inches all round ;
That's just the full size of a short body'd gown."
There is Nancy Towlsack, that lives at the Mill,
She told her old mother she would try her skill ;
So on her grey mare she rode into the town,
And there got a man in her short body'd gown.
Both maids, wives, and widows, you'd think were all wild,
And all look as if they were got with child ;
Neither baloons, nor turbans, or all fashions round.
Will fit them, unless they've a new body'd gown.
roEMS ON COSTUMK. 2().'
THE PREVAILING FASIIIOXS.
This general satire, ou the ladies' fashions at tlu" close df the lust
ecnturv, is i;iven from a small collection of popular sonjjs,
printed at Glasgow in 1805 by J. and M. Robertson, who were
great printers of penny merriments and popular chiip-books ;
they wei-e the Pitts and Catnachs of Scotland; and supplied
hawkers with these welcome "wee bulks" for the peasantry.
The short-waisted gowns were fertile sources of satire; which
was sometimes not of the most refined nature ; and the spencers
(worn by both sexes) came also in for a fair share of ridicule.
In March, 1796, a caricature was published representing a group
of jjersons wearing spencers, looking at some dancing dogs simi-
larly dressed, the master of whom exclaim};: —
" Don't think my pui>i)ics staml alone ;
If you will make the search, sii-,
Puppies at the bar you'll find,
And puppies in the church, sir I
Halt'-coat pups, and booted pups.
And pups without tlieir liair, sir :
Puppies deck'd in square-cut coats,
And puppies light as air, sir.
Then dance away, my little dogs.
Of mirtli the gay dispensers.
Cock your tails at brother pups.
And sport your little spencers."
The Modesty, mentioned in stanza four, was a gauze neckerchief,
made to come close round the neck, and set out round the breast
like " a pouting pigeon."
Goon people all, I pray draw near,
In countiy and in town, sir,
For pride is got to such a pitch,
The world's turn'd upside down, sir ;
266 SATIRICAL SONGS AND
Tliej are contriving ever day,
Their pretty shapes to spoil, sir,
Since short waisted gowns they all do wear,
Their hurap-backs for to hide, sir.
So ladies of the fashion now,
Adhere unto my censures,
I have short waisted gowns to sell.
And very pretty spencers.
The servant girls they imitate
The pride in every place, sir,
And if they wear a flow'red gown,
They'll have it made short waist, sir;
They'll have it rumped all behind,
It hangs just like a wallet,
With a scull-cap on their heads.
Just like a Scotchman's bonnet.
It was in London you shall hear,
Upon a certain day, sir,
A lady she was dressed up,
And going to the play, sir.
The blust'ring winds did blow so hard,
Blew oiT her cap and wig, sir,
AVith her muil'and tippet round her neck,
She look'd like a hairy pig, sir.
Those low-heel'd slippers they do wear.
Their gouty legs to shew, sir ;
■ Their petticoats are fringed round.
They cut a tempting shew, sir ;
POEMS ON COSTUME. 267
And when their bosoms you do view,
The truth I do declare, O,
A modesty they all must have,
If ne'er a smock they wear, O.
The farmers' daughters every where,
The truth I do lay down, sir,
They dress as grand, I do dechire,
As ladies of renown, sir :
A cap and feather they must have,
And mask all o'er their faces.
Let's hope their pride it will come down,
To linsey woolsey dresses.
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€in perrp ^on'ftiu
At a General Meeting of the Percy Society, held
in the Rooms of the Royal Society of Literature, on
the 1st of May, 1849,—
The Right Hon. Lord Braybrooke, President, in
the Chair, —
The Treasurer read the Report of the Council, dated
the 1st of May, whereupon it was —
Resolved — That the Report be received and adopted, and the
thanks of the Society be given to the Council for their
services.
The Report of the Auditors, dated the 30th April,
was then read, whereupon it was —
Resolved — That the Report of the Auditors be received and
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them for their services.
The Meeting then proceeded to the election of
Officers and Council, when —
The Rt. Hon. LORD BRAYBROOKE, FSA.
was elected President.
THOMAS AMYOT, Esq.. F.RS, F.S.A.
WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, Esq
T. CROFTON CROKER, Esq., F.S.A. , M.R.I.A.
J. H. DIXON, Esq.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FAIRHOLT, Esq F.S.A.
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W. JERD.\N, Esq, M.R.S.L.
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RICHARD JOHN SMITH, Esq.
THE REV. J. REYNELL WREFORD, F.S.A.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Esq. M.A., F.S.A., Treasurer.
were elected Council of the Society, and Jolin Crooraes,
Esq., W, D. Haggard, Esq. F.S.A., and W. Wansey,
Esq. F.S.A., were elected Auditors for the ensuing
year.
Tlie thanks of the Society were then voted to the
editors of the Publications of the past year ; to Thomas
Wright, Esq., for his services as Treasurer and Secre-
tary; to the Royal Society of Literature, for the use
of their Rooms for the Anniversary Meeting; and to
the President, for the warm interest which he has
always taken in the proceedings of the Society.
KEPOKT OF THE COUNCIL
TO THE
NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS,
Mmj \st, 1849.
In submitting the Ninth Annual Report to the members
of the Percy Society, the Council are happy to congratu-
late them on the continued prosperity of the Society,
and the interest taken in its publications. The Society
has recently passed through times which have materially
affected most institutions of a similar nature, yet its
numbei's have not only not decreased, but an accession
of more than thirty members (including several of the
nobility and gentlemen of literary distinction) during the
session now concluded, has more than counterbalanced the
loss by deaths and withdrawals. The Council neverthe-
less beg to observe that the limited number of members is
not yet filled, and trust that the members of the Society
generally will assist in the completion of the number,
which would enable them to carry out the object of the
Society still more efficiently.
The value set upon the Society's publications is apparent,
from the increasing prices given for them, when they
find their way into the market. Complete back sets can
no longer be supplied to new members, the first year
being already so much exhausted, that no more than five
of its publications can now be supplied, A set of the first
year's publications have sold during the past year for more
than double the sum originally paid by members.
The Council have to regret that the numerous avoca-
tions of Mr. Wright during the past year have hitherto
prevented the completion of his edition of Chaucer. The
third and last volume, however, of this valuable work will,
they confidently expect, be ready for delivery to the
members during the ensuing year: but they need scarcely
observe how unsatisfactory it would be to hurry through
the press a work of so much interest, which has effected so
valuable an improvement in the text of that great poet.
The Council cannot omit to mention the publication
issued to the members in January, — a play by Massinger,
long supposed to be lost, called, " Beleeve as you List,"
now first edited from the original manuscript by Mr. T.
Crofton Croker. It is one of the most important uses of
literaiy associations to produce copies of valuable manu-
scripts in private hands, which, but for the establishment
of such bodies, would perhaps never have been made ac-
cessible to the public ; and the Council feel sure the mem-
bers will join them in the expression of their obligations
to Mr. Croker for this interesting contribution.
The publications during the past year have been,
1 . The Autobiography of Mary Countess of Warwick. Edited
by T. C. Croker, Esq.
2. Festive Songs of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries.
Edited by W. Sandys, Esq., F.S.A.
3. Westward for Smelts, written by Kinde Kit of ICingstono, 1620.
An early and curious collection of tales, several of which have
been employed by our early dramatists in the construction of
their plots. Edited by J. O. Halliwell, Esq.
4. Popular English Histories. Edited by J. O. Ilulliwell, Esq.
5. Beleeve as 3'ou List, a lost Play, by Massiiiger. Edited from
the orii^nal Manuscript, by Thomas Crofton Croker, Esq.,
F.S.A., M.R.I.A.
6. Satirical Soni^s and Poems on Costume : from the thirteenth
to the nineteenth century. Edited by F. W. Fairholt, Esq.,
F.S.A.
The following works are preparing for publication, or
liave been suggested to the Council for that purpose.
1. A Collection of Military Ballads, as a Companion to the Col-
lection of Naval Ballads already published by the Society.
2. A Selection from the Roxburghe Ballads now in the British
IMuseum. Edited by J. H. Dixon, Esq.
3. Curious Satirical Tract of the Seventeenth Century, entitled
" The Man in the Moon," to be edited by J. O. Halliwell, Esq.
4. A new edition of Barclay's Eclogues.
5. The early poem of " John the Gardener," a metrical treatise
on Domestic Gardening, in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Centuries.
6. A Collection of Old Ballads, relating to the Processions of the
Irish Trades.
7. A new edition of Lord Cork's " True Remembrances," with
Notes by T. Crofton Croker, Esq..
8. The Poems of Hoccleve. To be edited by W. H. Black, Esq.
9. A Collection of Ballads relating to the Persecutions of the
Roman Catholics in the North of England, during the Reign
of Elizabeth.
10. An Edition of Heywood's " Dialogue, contayning in effect the
number of al the Proverbes in the English Tongue compact in
a matter concerning two marriages."'
11. A Collection of Ballads, in old French and English, relating
to Cocaygne. To be edited by T. Wright, Esq.
12. A Collection of Jacobite Ballads and Fragments, many of
them hitherto unpublished. To be edited by William Jerdan,
Esq., M.R.S.L.
13. A Collection of Charms, illustrative of English superstitions
in former days. From early manuscripts.
14. " Rede me and be nott wrothe." A Satire on Cardinal Wolscy,
b}' William Roy.
15. Tho Minor poonis of Drayton. To be edited by Bolton Cor-
noy, Esq.
1 6. History of the Office of Poet Laureate in England, with Notices
of the existence of similar offices in Italy and Germany. By
James J. Scott, Esq.
17. Historical Ballads, in the Scottish Dialect, relating to events
in the years 1570, 157 I, and 1572 ; from the copies preserved
in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries, London. To be
edited by David Laing, Esq., F.S.A. Sc.
18. A Selection from the Poems of Taylor, the Water-Poet.
19. A Continuation of the Collection of Ballads, by J. Payne
Collier, Esq., F.S.A.
The Council may be allowed to repeat the invitation
made in its former Eeports to Members of the Society
and others, to suggest new works for consideration. The
Society is obliged to all gentlemen who may contribute
rare tracts or ballads from private collections ; as well as
to the different Editors, by whose zeal and gratuitous
labours they may be ushered into the world.
T. CROFTON CROKER, Chairman.
J. O. HALLIWELL, Secretary.
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Early English poetry
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