The parlament of byrdes This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A09014 of text S120797 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 19304). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 17 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A09014 STC 19304 ESTC S120797 99855990 99855990 21503 2240891566

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A09014) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 21503) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 122:12) The parlament of byrdes [14] p. [By J. Awdley] for Antony Kytson], [Imprinted at London : [ca. 1565] In verse. Imprint from colophon; printer's name and conjectured publication date from STC. Another edition of STC 19303.7, published in ca. 1520. Signatures: A⁴ B³. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. eng eebo The parlament of byrdes [no entry] 1565 16 2684 11 0 0 0 0 0 40.98 D The rate of 40.98 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2010-01 Assigned for keying and markup 2010-02 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2010-03 Sampled and proofread 2010-03 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2010-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
❧ The Parlament of Byrdes . THis is the parlyament of byrdes For hye and lowe and them amyddes To ordayne a meane how it is best To keepe among them peace and rest For muche noyse is on euery syde Agaynst the hauke so full of pride Therfore they shall in bylles bryng , Theyr complaints to the Egle theyr kyng And by the kynge in parlyament Shall be sette in lawful Iudgement . The Grype . The great Grype was the fyrst that spake , And sayd owne is owne , who can it take . For thyne and myne , make much debate , Wyth great and small in euery estate . The Cuckow . I synge sayd the Cuckowe euer one song That the weake taketh euer the wrong For he that hath wyth vs most myght , Taketh his wyll , as reason is ryght . The Fawcon . Than answered the Fawcon to that same , That pleaseth a Prynce , is iust and law , And he that can no song but one , Whan he hath song , his wytte is gone . The Commons . Than all the byrdes that could speake Said , the Hauke doth vs great wreake , Of them so many diuers there be , That no Foule nor byrde may fro them flye . The hauke The hauke answered the prating pye Where is many wordes the trouth goeth by And better it were to seace of language sone than speake and repent whan thou hast done . The sterlyng . Than sayd the sterlynge verament Who sayth so shal be shent , No man maye nowe speake of trouth , But his heade be broke , and that is routh . The hauke . The Hauke swore by his heade of graye , All soothes be not for to saye , It is better some be lefte by reason Than trouth to be spoken out of season . The Popyniay . Than spake the Popyniay of paradyse , Who sayth lytell he is wyse , For lytle money is soone spende And fewe wordes are soone amend The hauke . The hauke bad for dreade of payne Speake not to much of thy souerayne For who that will forge tales new , Whan he weneth least his tale may he rewe , The commons . Than desyred al the Byrdes great and smal to mewe the hauke for good and all A place alone we woulde he had For his counsell to vs was neuer glad . The Hauke . The Hauke answered , ye tail , ye fail al witte , It is no tyme to mewe haukes yet . Commons , of haukes can but lyttle skyll , They shall not rule them as they wyll . The Nightyngale . Anone than sang the Nyghtyngale , With notes many great and smale . That byrde that can well speake , and synge , Shall be cheryshed with quene and kynge . The Hauke , The Hauke aunswered with great fury , The songe is nought that is not mery , And who so no better synge can , Maketh litle chere to any man . The Doue Than tombled the Doue for her lot , Folke may be mery and syng not , And who so hath no good voyce , Must make mery with little noyse . The Hauke . Whan this reason was forth shewed , Lerne ( quod the Hauke ) or ye be lewed , For the byrde that can not speake nor syng , Shall to the kytchyn to serue the kynge . The Fesaunt . Than crowed the Fesaunt in the wood , Domme men he sayde getteth lytle good , Woode nor water nor other foode , It fleteth from hym as doeth the floode , The Hauke sayd whan all is sought , Great crowers were neuer ought , For I swere by my foly , He is not most wyse that is most ioly . The moore Cocke . Than crowed agayne the More Cocke , The Hauke bringeth much thing out of nock , The Osyll whysteleth and byrdes blacke , He must haue a do , that a do doth make , The Hauke . I must sayd the Hauke , buy all my belles , Say for my selfe , for none wyll elles , He is not greatly to repreue , That speaketh with his soueraynes leue . The Byttur . Than blushed the Byttur in the fenne , The Cote , the Bobchick , and the water Hen , The Hauke that doeth vs all this dere , We woulde be were soused in the myre . The Hauke The Hauke sayd wysshers want wyll , Whether they speake loude or styll , Whan all this done was sayde and lafte , Euery man must lyue by his crafte . The Malarde . Than creked the Malarde and the Goose , They may best flye that are lose , He is well that is at large , That nedeth not the Kynges great charge . The hauke . The hauke sayd , though they flye lose , they must obeye they maye not chose Who hath a maister or a make , He is tyed by the stake . The Heron. Than creeped the Heron and the Crane Great trouble make wittes lame He is well aduysed that can beare hym low , And suffer euery wynde to ouer blow . The hauke . The hauke sayd , who can blow to please , Long neckes done great ease , For the commons that hath no rest Meaneth not euer with the best . The Patryche , Quayle and Larke . The Patryche Quayle and Larke in fielde Said , her may not auayle but spere and sheld the hauke with vs maketh great battayle . In euery countrey , where he maye auayle . The hauke . The hauke sayd who so wilfully wyll fyght May make hym wrong soone of ryght Lawe is best I vnderstande , To ryght all in euery lande . The Rodyn and the Wren . Than chydde the Robyn and the Wren , And all small byrdes that beare penne , Against the hauke the commons must aryse And helpe them selfe in theyr best wyse . The hauke . The Hauke made the Wrenne his answer Small power may lyttle dere . And who wyll liue in rest louge . Maye not be besy with his tonge . The commons . Than prayed all the common house . That some myght the hauke souse . For foule nor byrde by water nor lande , He wyll leaue a lyue , and he myght stande . In his nest maye none abyde In country where he doth glyde . Theyr fethers he plucketh many a folde , And leaueth them naked in full great colde . We thinke therfore by reason good . To distroy the Hauke and all his blood . The Kyng and his Lordes . The King and his lordes answered anone , States may not the hauke forgone . Nor by no lawe his kinde destroye . Nor deme him selfe for to dye . Nor put him to none other distresse . But kepe him in a payre of Iesse . That he flye not to no byrde about , Except his keeper let him out . The Cornysh dawe . Than sayde the Cornyssh daw . Lytle money lytle lawe . For here is nought els with friende nor foe , But go bet peny go bet go . The Hauke . Thou Cornysshe quod the Hauke by thy wil Say well , or holde thee styll , Thou hast harde of many a man , A tonge breaketh bone , and it selfe hath none The Kynge . Then answered the king , & the birds a row Why cometh not to the parliament the Crow For good counsell refourmeth euery mysse , And it betokeneth where it is . The Hauke . The Hauke sayde it is not lesse , Counsell is good in warre and peace , But the Crow hath no brayne , For to gyue counsell but of the rayne , The Night Wale . Than said the night whale with his hed gay , He shameth vs with his parlament aray , It is a terme with Iohn and Iacke , Broken sleue , draweth arme a backe . The Hauke . The Hauke sayde he shall thryue fullate , that looketh to keepe a great estate , And can not wyth all his wisedome , Gette hym selfe an hole gowne , The Pecoke and the Swanne . Than sayde the Pecoke and the Swanne , Who no good hath , no good canne , And lytle is his wytte let by , That hath not to beare out company . The Hauke . The Hauke sayde he is worse than wood , That maketh him fresh with other mens good , Or ought wyll borowe and neuer paye , Or with wronge getteth gallant araye . The Specke . Than in his hole sayd the Specke , I woulde the hauke brake his necke . Or brought vnto some myscheuous dale , For of euery byrde he telleth a tale . The Hauke . The Hauke said though thy castel be in the tre Buylde not aboue thy degree , For who so heweth ouer hye , The chippes wyll fall in his eye . The Kynge . Then sayde the Kyng it is our entent , To amende the Crowes rayment , And all the Byrdes sayde anone , Of eche of our fethers be shall haue one . The Hauke The Hauke said he may sone come to honest● ▪ That euery man helpeth in his poste , For as teacheth vs the learned clerke Many handes maketh lyght werke . The Tytyffer . I say sayd the Tytyfer we kentysshe men , We may not geue the Crow a penne , For with them that are sober and good , A byrde in hande is worth two in the wood , The Hauke . The Hauke sayde I take me to my crede , Who so will spende with you he may speede , Lytle ye gyue but ye wote whye , Ye make the blynde eate many a slye . The Crowe . Than the Crowe was put in his araye , I am not nowe as I was yesterdaye . I am able without offence , To speake in the Kynges presence . The Hauke The Hauke sayd to the commons by dene , Enuy and pryde would fayne be sene , He is worthy none audience to haue , That can not saye but knaue knaue . The Commons . Than asked the byrdes by aduysement , Who is that taketh to vs no tent , He presumeth before vs all to flye , To the Kynges hyghe maiesty . The Hauke . The Hauke answered to the white seamew It is the sory blacke Crowe , And for him fareth no man the better , Let hym crowe therfore neuer the greater . The Lordes . Than sayde the Lordes euerychone , We wyll aske of the Kynge abone , That euery byrde shall resume , Agayne his fether and his plume . And make the crowe agayne a knaue . For he that nought hath nought shal haue , The Hauke . Than sayd the Hauke as some sayne , Borowed ware wyll home agayne , And who wyll herken what euery man doose Maye go helpe to shoo the goose . The Cormoraunt . For the Crowe spake the Cormoraunt , And of his rule made great auaunt , Such worship is reson that euery man haue As the Kynges highnes vouchsaue . The Hauke . It is so the sayd the hauke that thou doest say Whan all turneth to sporte and playe , Thou mayst leste speake for the crowes pelfe For all thinge loueth that is lyke it selfe . The hole parlyment . Than prayed the hole parlyament , To the Kynge with one assent , That euery byrde her fether myght , Take from that proude knyght . The Kynge . The kynge sayde ye shall leue haue , A knyght shoulde neuer come of a knaue , All thynge wyll shewe fro whence it come . Where is his place and his home . The Hauke . Nowe trewly sayde the Hauke than , It is a great comforte to all men , Or the Kynges great prosperity , Whan the Kynge ruleth wel his communalty Than was plucked from the Crowe anon , All his fethers by one and by one , And lef●e a●l bi●cke in ●eede of red , And called him a page of the fyrst head . The Hauke . Quod the Hauke the Crowe is nowe as he shuld be A ●●nde knaue in his degree , And he that weneth no byrde is hym lyke , W●en his fethers are pluked he may him go pike The Commons . T●an made the Commons great noyse , And asked of the Lordes with one voyce , That they woulde the hauke exyle , Out of this lande many a myle , Neuer to come agayne hyther , But the kynge sente to him thether , Hym to trust we haue no theson , For it is proued in trust is treason , And sythe ye saye he shall not dye , Plucke of his hokes and let hym flye , The Lordes . To that sayde the Lordes we pretende , This statute and other to amende , So in this that ye accorde , To put all to our souerayne Lorde . The Commons . The commons sayde it is greate skyll , All thynge to be at the kynges wyll , And vnder the hande of his greate myght , By grace the people to seke theyr ryght . The Hauke . Than sayde the Hauke nowe to , now fro , Thus goeth the worlde in well and wo , The Kynge . Than sayd the Kynge in his maiestye , We wyll disseuer this greate sembly , He commaunded his chauncelere , The best statutes to rede that he myght here Thus the fynall Iudgemente , He redde of the byrdes parlyment , Whether they be Whyte or blacke None shall others fethers take , Nor the Rauyn plucke the Pecokes tayle , To make him fresshe for his auayle , For the Commons fethers want , For wyth some they be right skant . The Iaye . Thus sayeth the chosen of the Iaye , That none shall vse others araye , For who so mounteth wyth Egle an hye , Shall fayle fethers whan he woulde flye . Sapiencia . Be not gredy glede to gader , For good fadeth and foules fether , And though thy fether be not gaye , Haue none enuye at the Swannes aray , Concludent . For thoughe an astryche may ease nayle , Wrath wyll pluckt his winge and tayle , And yf thou lye in swalowes nest , Let not ●●oush in thy fethers rest , Be trewe as turtyll in thy kynde , For lust wyll part as fethers in wynde , And he that is a glotonous gull , Death wyll soone his fethers pull , Thoughe 〈◊〉 be as hasty as a wype , And the fethers ●●●ght rype , Loke thy fethers and wrytyng be dene , What they saye and what they mene , For here is none other thynge , But fowles fethers and wrytyng , Thus endeth the byrdes parlyment , By theyr kynges commaundement .

Imprinted at London for Antony Kytson .