vpon pleasure and leaue my people in perill Herald quoth hée it is written He that hath a charge must looke to it and so tell thy Lord my King The Message being done the King said My Lords seeing it will bee no other wee will ride vp to the Emperour of Ants that is so carefull in his gouernment At the Kings approach Iacke of Newbery and his seruants put vp all their weapons and with a ioyfull cry flung vp their caps in token of victory Why how now my masters quoth the King is your wars ended Let mée sée where is the Lord Generall of this great Campe With that Iacke of Newbery with all his seruants fell on their knées saying God saue the King of England whose sight hath put our foes to flight and brought great peace to the poore labouring people Trust mee quoth our King here bée pretty fellowes to fight against Butterflies I must commend your courage that dares withstand such mighty gyants Most dread Soueraigne quoth Iacke not long agoe in my conceit I saw the most prouident Nation of the Ants summoned their chiefe Péeres to a Parliament which was held in the famous city Dry Dusty the one and twentith day of September whereas by their wisdomes I was chosen their King at what time also many bills of complaint were brought in against diuers il members in the common-wealth among whom the Moule was attainted of high treason to their State and therefore was banished for euer from their quiet Kingdome so was the Grashopper and the Catterpiller because they were not onely idle but also liued vpon the labours of other men amongst the rest the Butterflie was very much misliked but few durst say any thing to him because of his golden apparell who through sufferance grew so ambitious and malapert that the poore Ant could no sooner get an egge into her nest but he would haue it away and especially against Easter which at length was misliked This painted asse tooke snuffe in the nose and assembled a great many other of his owne coate by windie warres to roote this painefull people out of the land that hée himselfe might bée seated aboue them all These were proud Butterflies quoth the King Whereupon I with my men quoth Iack prepared our selues to withstand them tili such time as your Maiestles royall presence put them to flight Tush said the King thou must think that the force of flies is not great Notwithstanding quoth Iacke their gay gownes make poore men affraid I perceiue quoth Cardinall Wolsie that you being a King of Ants doe carry a great grudge to the Butterflies I quoth Iacke wée bée as great foes as the Foxe and the Snake are friends for the one of them being subtle loues the other for his craft but now I intend to be nolonger a Prince because the maiesty of a King hath eclipst my glory so that looking like the Peacocke on my blacke féet makes mée abase my vaine-glorions feathers and humbly yéeld vnto his Maiesty all my Souereigne rule and dignity both of life and goods casting my weapons at his féete to doe any seruice wherein his Grace shall command me God a mercy good Iack quoth the King I haue often heard of thée and this morning I mean to visite thy house Thus the King with great delight rode along vntill hée came to the Townes end where a great multitude of people attended to sée his Maiesty where also Quéen Katharine with all her traine met him Thus with great reioycing of the Commons the King and Queen passed along to this iolly Clothiers house where the good wife of the house with threescore maidens attending on her presented the King with a Bée-hiue most richly gilt with gold all the Bées therein were also made of gold curiously by Art and out of the top of the same Hiue sprung a flourishing gréen trée which bore golden Apples and at the roote thereof lay diuers Serpents seeking to destroy it whom Prudence and Fortitude trode vnder their féet holding this inscription in their hands Loe here presented to your Roiall sight The figure of a flourishing Common-wealth Where vertuous subiects labour with delight And beate the drones to death which liue by stealth Ambition Enuie Treason loathsome serpents be Which seeke the downefall of this fruitfull tree But Lady Prudence with deep searching eye Their ill intended purpose doth preuent And noble Fortitude standing alwaies nye Disperst their power prepar'd with bad intent Thus are they foild that mount with meanes vnmeet And so like slaues are troden vnder feet The King fauourably accepted this Embleme and receiuing it at the womens hands willed Cardinall Wolsie to look thereon commanding it should be sent to Windsor Castle This Cardinall was at that time Lord Chancellor of England and a wonderfull proud Prelate by whose meanes great variance was set betwixt the King of England and the French King the Emperour of Almaine and diuers other Princes of Christendome whereby the trafficke of those Merchants was vtterly forbidden which bred a generall woe through England especially among Clothiers in so much that hauing no sale for their cloath they were faine to put away many of their people which wrought for them as hereafter more at large shall be declared Then was his Maiesty brought into a great Hall where foure long tables stood ready couered and passing through that place the King and Queene came into a faire and large Parlour hung about with goodly Tapistry where was a Table prepared for his Highnesse and the Quéenes Grace All the floore where the King sate was couered with broad cloathes in stead of gréene rushes these were choice péeces of the finest wooll of an Azure colour valued at an hundred pound a cloath which afterward was giuen to his Maiestie The King being set with the chiefest of the Councell about him after a delicate dinner a sumptuous banquet was brought in serued all in glasse the description whereof were too long for mee to write and you to read The great Hall was also filled with Lords Knights and Gentlemen who were attended by no other but the seruants of the house The Ladies of Honour and Gentlewomen of the Court were all seated in another Parlour by themselues at whose table the maidens of the house did waite in decent sort The Seruing men by themselues and the Pages footmen by themselues vpon whom the prentices did attend most diligently During the Kings abiding in this place there was no want of delicates Rhenish wine Claret wine Sarke was as plentifull as small Ale Thus from the highest to the lowest they were serued in such sort as no discontent was found any way so that great commendations redownded vnto the goodman of the house The Lord Cardinall that of late found himselfe galde by the Allegory of the Ants spake in this wise to the King If it should please your Highnesse quoth hée but to note the vain-glory of these Artificers you should finde
no small cause of dislike in many of their actions For an instance the fellow of this house hée hath not stucke this day to vndoe himselfe onely to become famous by receiuing of your Maiesty like Herostratus the Shoomaker that burned the Temple of Diana onely to get himself a name more than for any affection he beares to your Grace as may well be prooued by this Let there be but a simple Subsidie leuied vpon them for the assistance of your Highnesse Warres or any other waightie affaires of the Common-wealth and state of the Realme though it bée not the twentieth part of their substance they will so grudge and repine that it is wonderfull and like people desperate cry out they bée quite vndone My Lord Cardinall quoth the Quéen vnder correction of my Lord the King I durst lay an hundred pound lacke of Newbery was neuer of that minde nor is not at this instant if yée aske him I warrant he will say so My selfe also had a proofe thereof at the Scottish inuasion at what time this man being seased but at sixe men brought at his owne cost an hundred and fifty into the field I would I had moe such subiects said the King and many of so good a minde Ho ho Harry quoth Will Sommers then had not Empson and Dudley béen chronicled for knaues nor sent to the Tower for treason But then they had not knowne the paine of imprisonment quoth our King who with their subtilty grieued many others But their subtilty was such that it broke their neckes quoth Will Sommers Whereat the King and Quéene laughing heartily rose from the Table By which time Iacke of Newbery had caused all his folkes to goe to their worke that his Grace and all the Nobility might sée it so indéed the Queen had requested Then came his Highnesse where hée saw a hundred Loomes standing in one roome and two men working in euery one who pleasantly sung on this sort The Weavers Song WHen Hercules did vse to spin and Pallas wrought vpon the Loome Our trade to flourish did begin while Conscience went not selling Broomes Then loue and friendship did agree To keep the band of vnitie When Princes sons kept sheep in field and Queenes made cakes of wheaten flowre Then men to lucre did not yeeld which brought good cheere in euerie bower Then loue and friendship did agree To hold the bands of amitie But when that Giants huge and hie did fight with speares like Weauers beames Then they in iron beds did lie and brought poore men to hard extreames Yet loue and friendship did agree To hold the bands of amitie Then Dauid took his sling and stone not fearing great Goliahs strength He pierst his braine and broke the bone though he were fifty foote of length For loue and friendship c. But while the Greekes besieged Troy Penelope apace did spin And Weauers wrought with mickle Ioy though little gaines were comming in For loue and friendship c Had Helen then sate carding wool whose beautious face did breed such strife She had not been sir Paris trull nor caus'd so many lose their life Yet we by loue did still agree c. Or had King Priams wanton sonne been making quills with sweet content He had not then his friends vndone when he to Greece a gadding went For loue and friendship did agree c. The Cedar tree indures more stormes than little shrubs that sprout not hie The Weauer liues more void of harmes than Princes of great dignity While loue and friendship doth agree c. The Shepheard sitting in the field doth tune his pipe with hearts delight When Princes march with speare and shield the poore man soundly sleeps all night While loue and friendship doth agree c. Yet this by proofe is daily tride for Gods good gifts we are ingrate And no man through the world so wide liues well contented with his state No loue nor friendship we can see To hold the bands of amitie Well sung good fellowes said our King Light hearts and merry mindes liue long without gray haires But quoth Will Sommers seldome without red noses Well said the King there is a hundred angells to make chéere withall and looke that euery yeare once you make a feast among your selues and frankly euery yeare I giue you leaue to fetth foure Buckes out of Dunington Parke without any mans let or controwlment O I beséech your Grace quoth Will Sommers let it be with a condition What is that said our King My Liege quoth hée that although the Kéeper will haue the skins that they may giue their wiues the hornes Goe to said the Quéene thy head is fuller of knauery than thy purse is of crownes The poore workemen humbly thanked his Maiesty for his bountifull liberality and euer since it hath béen a custome among the Weaners euery yeare presently after Bartholmewride in a remembrance of the Kings fauour to méet together and make a merry feast His Maiesty came next among the spinsters and carders who were merrily a working whereat Will Sommers fell into a great laughter What ailes the foole to laugh said the King Marry quoth Will Sommers to sée these maidens get their liuing as Buls doe eate their meate How is that said the Queen By going still backward quoth Will Sommes and I will lay a wager that they that practise so well being maides to goe backward will quickly learne ere long to fall backward But sirra said the Cardinall thou didst fall forward when thou brokest thy face in master Kingsmills seller But you my Lord sate forward quoth Will Sommers when you sate in the stockes at Sir Amie Paulets Whereat there was greater laughing than before The King and Quéene and all the Nobility héedfully beheld these women who for the most part were very faire and comely creatures and were all attired alike from top to toe Then after due reuerence the maidens in dulcet manner chaunted out this Song two of them singing the Ditty and all the rest bearing the burden The Maidens Song IT was a Knight in Scotland borne follow my loue leap ouer the strand Was taken prisoner and left forlorne euen by the good Earle of Northumberland Then was he cast in prison strong follow my loue leap ouer the strand Where he could not walke nor lye along euen by the good Earle of Northumberland And as in sorrow thus he lay follow my loue come ouer the strand The Earles sweet Daughter walkt that way and she the faire flower of Northumberland And passing by like an Angell bright follow my loue come ouer the strand This prisoner had of her a sight and she the faire flower of Northumberland And lowd to her this knight did cry follow my come ouer the strand The salt teares standing in his eie and she the faire flower of Northumberland Faire Lady he said take pitty on me follow my loue come ouer the strand And let me not in prison dye and you the faire
flower of Northumberland Faire Sir how should I take pitty on thee follow my loue come ouer the strand Thou being a foe to our Country and I the faire flower of Northumberland Faire Lady I am no foe he said follow my loue come ouer the strand Through thy sweet loue here was I staid for thee the faire flower of Northumberland Why shouldst thou come here for loue of me follow my loue come ouer the strand Hauing wife and children in thy Countrie and I the faire flower of Northumberland I sweare by the blessed Trinitie follow my loue come ouer the strand I haue no wife nor children I nor dwelling at home in merrie Scotland If courteously you will set me free follow my loue come ouer the strand I vow that I will marry thee so soon as I come in merry Scotland Thou shalt be Lady of Castles and Towres follow my loue come ouer the strand And sit like a Queen in princely bowers when I am at home in faire Scotland Then parted hence this Lady gay follow my loue come ouer the strand And got her fathers ring away to help this sad knight into faire Scotland Likewise much gold she got by sleight follow my loue come ouer the strand And all to help this forlorne knight to wend from her father to faire Scotland Two gallant steeds both good and able follow my loue come ouer the strand She likewise took out of the stable to ride with this knight into faire Scotland And to the Iaylor she sent this ring follow my loue come ouer the strand The knight from prison forth to bring to wend with her into faire Scotland This token set this prisoner free follow my loue come ouer the strand Who straight went to this faire Lady to wend with her into faire Scotland A gallant steed he did bestride follow my loue come ouer the strand And with the Lady away did ride and she the faire flower of Northumberland They rode till they came to a water cleere follow my loue come ouer the strand Good sir how should I follow you here and I the faire flower of Northumberland The water is rough and wonderfull deep follow my loue come ouer the strand And on my saddle I shall not keep and I the faire flower of Northumberland Feare not the foord faire Lady quoth he follow my loue come ouer the strand For long I cannot stay for thee and thou the faire flower of Northumberland The Lady prickt her wanton steed follow my loue come ouer the strand And ouer the riuer swom with speed and she the faire flower of Northumberland From top to toe all wet was she follow my loue come ouer the strand This haue I done for loue of thee and I the faire flower of Northumberland Thus rode she all one winters night follow my loue come ouer the strand Till Edenborow they saw in sight the chiefest towne in all Scotland Now chuse quoth he thou wanton flower follow my loue come ouer the strand Whither thou wilt be my Paramour or get thee home to Northumberland For I haue wife and children fiue follow my loue come ouer the strand In Edenborow they be aliue then get thee home to faire England This fauour shalt thou haue to boote follow my loue come ouer the strand I le haue thy horse goe thou a foote goe get thee home to Northumberland O false and faithlesse knight quoth she follow my loue come ouer the strand And canst thou deale so bad with me and I the faire flower of Northumberland Dishonour not a Ladies name follow my loue come ouer the strand But draw thy sword and end my shame and I the faire flower of Northumberland He took her from her stately Steed follow my loue come ouer the strand And left her there in extreme need and she the faire flower of Northumberland Then sate she downe full heauily follow my loue come ouer the strand At length two knights came riding by two gallant knights of faire England She fell downe humbly on her knee follow my loue come ouer the strand Saying curteous Knights take pitty on me and I the faire flower of Northumberland I haue offended my father deere follow my loue come ouer the strand All by a false knight that brought me here from the good Earle of Northumberland They took her vp behind him then follow my loue come ouer the strand And brought her to her fathers againe and he the good Earle of Northumberland All you faire maidens be warned by me follow my loue come ouer the strand Scots were neuer true nor neuer will be to Lord to Lady nor faire England FINIS After the Kings Maiesty and the Quéene had heard this song swéetly sung by them hee cast them a great reward and so departing thence went to the Fulling-mils and Dye-house where a great many were also hard at worke and his Maiesty perceiuing what a great number of people were by this one man set on worke both admired and commended him saying further that no Trade in all the Land was so much to bée cherished and maintained as this which quoth hée may well be called The life of the poore And as the King returned from this place with intent to take horse and depart there met him a great many of children in garments of white silke fringed with gold their heads crowned with golden Bayes and about their armes each one had a scarfe of gréen sarcenet fast tied in their hands they bore siluer bowes and vnder their girdles golden arrowes The foremost of them represented Diana Goddesse of Chastity who was attended on by a traine of beautifull Nymphes and they presented to the King foure prisoners The first was a sterne and grisly woman carrying a frowning countenance and her forehead full of wrinkles her hayre as blacke as pitch and her garments all bloudy a great sword shee had in her hand all stained with purple gore they called her name Bellona Goddesse of warres who had thrée daughters the first of them was a tall woman to leane and il fauoured that her théeke bones were ready to start out of the shinne of a pale and deadly colour her eyes sunke into her head her legges so féeble that they could scantly carry the body all along her armes hands through the skinne you might tell the sinewes ioints and bones her téeth were very strong and sharpe withall she was so gréedy that shée was ready with her téeth to teare the skinne from her owne armes her attyre was blacke and all torne and ragged she went barefooted and her name was Famine The second was a strong and lusty woman with a looke pittilesse and vnmercifull countenance her garments were all made of Iron and Stéele and she carried in her hand a naked weapon and she was called the Sword The third was also a cruell creature her eyes did sparkle like burning coales her hayre was like a flame and her garments like burning brasse she was
answered My Lord was busie and could not be spoke withall or else he was asleepe they durst not wake him or at his study and they would not disturbe him or at his prayers and they durst not displease him and still one thing or other stood in the way to hinder them At last Patch the Cardinals foole being by their often repaire thither well acquainted with the Clothiers came vnto them and said What haue you not spoken with my Lord yet No truly quoth they we heare say he is busie and wee stay till his grace bee at leasure Is it true said Patch and with that in all haste he went out of the hall and at last came in againe with a great bundle of straw on his backe Why how now Patch quoth the Gentlemen what wilt thou doe with that straw Mary quoth he I will put it vnder these honest mens feete lest they should freeze ere they finde my Lord at leasury This made them all to laugh and caused Patch to beare away his straw againe Well well quoth hee if it cost you a groates worth of faggets at night blame not me Trust me said Iacke of Newbery if my Lord Cardinalls father had béene no hastier in killing of Calues than hee is in dispatching of poor mens sutes I doubt he had neuer worne a Myter This hée spake betwixt themselues softly but yet not so softly but that he was ouer-heard by a flattering Fellow that stood by who made it knowne to some of the Gentlemen and they straight certified the Cardinall thereof The Cardinall who was of a very high spirit and a loftie aspiring minde was maruellously displeased at Iacke of Newbery wherefore in his rage hée commanded and sent the Clothiers all to prison because the one of them should not sue for the others releasement Foure dayes lay these men in the Marshalsey till at last they made their humble Petition to the King for their release but some of the Cardinalls friends kept it from the kings sight Notwithstanding the Duke of Sommerset knowing thereof spake with the Lord Cardinall about the matter wishing hée would spéedily release them lest it did bréed him some displeasure for you may perceiue quoth the Duke how highly the King estéemes men of that Faculty Sir quoth the Cardinall I doubt not but to answer their imprisonment well enough being perswaded that none would haue giuen mee such a quip but an Heretike and I dare warrant you were this Iacke of Newbery well examined hée would bée found to be infected with Luthers spirit against whom our King hath of late written a most learned Booke in respect whereof the Popes holinesse hath intitled his Maiesty Defender of the Faith therefore I tell you such fellowes are fitter to be faggots for fire than Fathers of Families notwithstanding at your Graces request I will release them Accordingly the Cardinall sent for the Clothiers afore him to White hall his new built house by Westminster and there bestowing his blessing vpon them said Though you haue offended mée I pardon you for as Steuen forgaue his enemies that stoned him and our Sauiour those sinfull men that crucified him so doe I forgiue you that high trespasse committed in disgrace of my birth for herein doe men come néerest vnto God in shewing mercy and compassion But sée hereafter you offend no more Touching your sute it is granted and tomorrow shall be published through London This being said they departed and according to the Cardinalls words their businesse was ended The Stillyard Marchants ioyfull hereof made the Clothiers a great banquet After which each man departed home carrying tydings of their good successe so that within short space Clothing was againe very good and poore men as well set on worke as before CHAP. VII How a yongue Italian Marchant comming to Iack of Newberies house was greatly inamoured of one of his maidens and how he was serued AMong other seruants which Iacke of Newbery kept there was in his house thréescore maidens which euery Sunday waited on his wife to Church and home againe who had diuers Offices Among other two were appointed to kéepe the beames and waights to waigh out wooll to the Carders and Spinsters and to receiue it in againe by waight One of them was a comely maiden faire and louely borne of wealthy Parents and brought vp in good qualities her name was Ione so it was that a yongue wealthy Italian Marchant comming oft from London thither to bargaine for cloath for at that time Clothiers most commonly had their cloth bespoken and halfe paid for afore hand This Master Benedicke fell greatly inamoured of this maiden and therefore offered much courtesie to her bestowing many gifts on her which she receiued thankefully and albeit his outward countenance shewed his inward affection yet Ione would take no knowledge thereof Halfe the day sometime would hée sit by her as shée was waighing wooll often sighing and sobbing to himselfe yet saying nothing as if hée had béen tonguelesse like the men of Coromandae and the loather to speake for that hée could speak but bad English Ione on the other side that well perceiued his passions did as it were triumph ouer him as one that were bondslaue to her beauty and although shée knew well enough before that shee was faire yet did shée neuer so highly estéeme of her selfe as at this present so that when shée heard him either sigh or sob or groane shée would turne her face in a carelesse sort as if shée had béen borne like the woman of Taprobana without eares When Master Bennedicke saw shée made no reckoning of his sorrowes at length hée blabored out this broken English and spake to her in this sort Metressa Ione be me tra and fa mee loue you wod all mine hart and if you no shall loue me againe me know mee shall die sweet Mistresse loue a me by my fa tra you shal Iack noting First me wil giue you de silke for make you a Frog Second de fin fin Camree for make you ruffes and the turd shal be for make fin handkercher for wipe your nose Shée mistaking his spéech began to be collericke wishing him to kéepe that bodkin to picke his téeth Ho ho Metresse Ione quoth hee be Got you be angry Oh Metresse Ione bee no chafe with you friene for noting Good sir quoth she kéepe your friendship for them that cares for it and fixe your loue on those that can like you as for mée I tell you plaine I am not minded to marry Oh t is no matter for marrye if you will come in my chamber beshit my bed and let mee kisse you The Maide though she were very much displeased yet at these words shée could not forbeare laughing for her life Ah ah Metresse Ione mee is very glad to see you merrie holde Metresse Ione holde your hand I say there is foure Crowne because you laugh on mee I pray you Sir keepe your