A piece of Friar Bacons brazen-heads prophesie. By William Terilo

A piece of Friar Bacons Brazen-heads Prophesie . Time was , Time is . WHen I was but a Boye And plaide with little Girles : And more esteem'd a toye Then pretious stones , or Pearles , Then Natures loue , that knew no pride , With litle would be satisfide . Then friends would not fall out , But soone fall in againe : When none would goe about To laie a wicked traine : But kindnesse was in such request , That malice knew not where to rest . Content was then a king , Although he ware no Crowne : And t was a wondrous thing Would make a Mayden frowne , When t was no litle grace to Nature For to be call'd a gentle Creature . The Milke-maydes paile was sweete , The Shepheards Cloake was cleane : And when their Loues did meete , They did no falshood meane . While Truth did in their passions try , There could not passe a thought awry . Then obseruation found The passage of those partes : Where Reason laide the ground Of all Experience Artes . While Loue was rulde by Grace , To seeke his spirits resting place . Then praise grew of desert , Desert of true conceit : Whose tongue was in the hart , That could not hide deceit . But he or she , was held a fiend , That would be false vnto a friend . Then Shepheards knew the times And seasons of the yeare : And made their honest Rimes , In mirth , and merry cheare . And Sim and Su , would kindly kisse , When nothing could be ment amisse . Then Sheepes eyes were not watcht , That Lambes did waking keepe : And when the Hen had hatcht , The Chickens might goe peepe . When snares were set , both day & night , To hang the Buzzard , and the Kite . The Henne , the Goose , the Ducke , Might cackle , creake , and quacke : When not an Owle would plucke A feather from her backe : Except she crowed , or would not laie , Then roast her on a holy day . The Butchers then would keepe Their flesh from blowing Flies : And Maidens would not sleepe , But in the morning rise , And hunt a Flea so in the bed , He knew not where to hide his head . Then neither Wolfe nor Foxe , But that did feare the Hound : Nor greatest headed Oxe But to the yoake was bound : Nor drawing Tit , but knew who there , Nor Asse , but did his burthen beare . Then Oates were knowne from Rie , And Barley from the Wheate : A Cheese Cake and a Pie , Were held good country meate . When Ale and Spice , and Curdes , and Creame , Would make a Scholler make a Theame . And then when wooers met , It was a sport to see How soone the match was set , How well they did agree : When that the Father gaue the childe , And then the mother sat and smilde . Delaies were then like death To any kinde desire : When no man spent his breath To be no whit the nigher . But Truth & Trust so deerly loued , That what th' one did , th' other proued . Then Cocke a doodle doo , The houre 's diuided right : And olde to whit to whoo Did watch the winter night . And in the Springs the Nightingale Did tell the woods a merry Tale . Then Beetels could not liue Vpon the hony Bees : But they the Drones would driue Vnto the doted Trees . When he that wrought not till he sweate , Was held vnworthy of his meate . Then were no pitfalls made But in the frost and snowe : Nor Woodcocks in the glade Could by the Springes goe . And not a Bird that bare a winge , But that would stoope vnto his winge . Then Russet cloth and Frize Did walke the world about : And no man would despise The inside for the out : But he that paide for what he spent , Was welcome where so ere he went . Then were there no deuises To draw on fond desires : But Chapmen knew the prices , The sellers and the buyers : And simple Truthe no cunning vsde , How simple Trust might be abusde . The Markets then were seru'd , With good sufficient ware : And Cattell were not staru'de When Mowcher and his Mare Would bring in such a sacke of Rie , As tried the Millers honestie . Then Iohn , and Ioane , and Madge , Were call'd the merry Crew : That with no drinke could fadge , But where the fat they knew . And though they knew who brew'd the Ale , Yet must it stand till it were stale . Then was good fellowship Almost in euery house : She would not hang the lip , He would not knit the browes : But he would smirke , and she would smile , That all the house would laugh the while . Then Handkerchers were wrought , With names , and true loues knots : And not a wench was taught A false stitch in her spots . When Roses in the Gardaines grew , And not in Ribons , on a shoe . Then painting only seru'de , For Paper , Wood , and Cloth : When health was most preseru'de , By labour , not by sloth . When fewe that did of Phisicke heare , But they were striken with a feare . Then he that heard of warre Was in a wofull case : Except it were so farre He could not feare the place . When Peace and Plentie were so sweete , As trode all Fortunes vnder feete . The Taber and the Pipe , The Bagpipe and the Crowde : When Oates and Rye were ripe , Began to be alowde . But till the Haruest all was in , The Moris Daunce did not begin . A Citie from a Towne , Then by his wall was seene : And none did weare a Crowne , But either King , or Queene : And euer vpon Easter day , All Iack a Lents were cast away . Then Cloakes were for the raine , And Feathers but for beddes : Sheepes Russet would not staine , There were no greenes nor reddes : Carnation , Crimson , yealow , blew , Plaine people no such colours knew . The Horse , the Cowe , the Hogge , Were kept for worke and wealth : The Pus-Cat and the Dogge , For safegard from the stealth : Of Rats & Mise , and Wolfe , and Foxe , When fewe had keyes vnto their lockes . Then Owles nor Night Rauens were , No tellers of ill happes : When Faith had neuer feare Of any Thunder-clappes : But looke what weather euer came , Was welcome in Gods holy name . Then Monkies , Baboones , Apes , And such il-fauour'd Creatures , Of such straunge fashion'd shapes Were hatefull to our natures : When who heard tell but of a Beare , But he could scarcely sleepe for feare . No Parat , Pie , nor Dawe , Was idely taught to prate : Nor scarce a man of Lawe Was knowne in all the state . While neighbors so like friends agreede , That one supplide an others neede . The shepheard kept his sheepe , The Goat-heard kept his heard : And in the Sunne would sleepe , When were no Vermin fear'd ; For euery Curre would barke or bite , To put the wicked Foxe to flight . And then a good grey Frocke , A Kercheffe , and a Raile : A faire white flaxen Smocke , A Hose with a good waile . A good strong leatherd winter shoe , Was well Iwis , and better too . Then Iwis , well , goe too , Were words of no small worth : When folkes knew what to doo To bring their meanings forth . And winke , and nod , and hem , & humme , Could bring my finger to my thumbe . No cutting of a Carde , Nor cogging of a Dye : But it was wholy barde All honest company : And faire square plaie with yea and naie , Who lost the game would quickly paie . No matches then were set For yonger brothers landes : Nor Vsurers could get Mens goods into their handes : But such as had their wittes awake , Could smell a Knaue before he spake . And hardly in a yeere A man should meete a Thiefe : When Corne was nere so deere But poore folkes had reliefe : And wickednes was loath'd so much , That no man lou'd the tickle tuch . Then loue went not by lookes , Wherein laie venim hid : Nor words were Angle-hookes , When men knew that they did , But honest hearts , and modest eies , Did make the Louers paradise . But now that world is changde , And time doth alter Creatures : Whose spirits are estrang'de From their owne proper natures : While wofull eyes may weepe , to see How all things are , and what they bee . Now euery idle Boye That sells his land for Pearles : Fsteemes his wealth a toye , To giue to idle girles : While gracelesse loue , in Natures pride , With sinne is neuer satisfide . Now friends do oft fall out , But seelde fall in againe : While many goe about To laie a wicked traine : Where malice is so in request , That kindnes knowes not where to rest . Content is now vnknowne , In either King or Clowne : A sight too common showne , To see a Mayden frowne : When she is held a foolish Creature , That shewes to be of gentle Nature . The Milke-maydes Paile is sowre , The Shepheards Cloake vncleane : Where Loue hath not the power To finde what fancies meane : While Faith doth so much falshood proue , That many lye , which say they loue . Now obseruation findes By all Experience Artes : How Machauilian mindes Do plaie the diuels partes : While loue ( alas ) hath little grace In worshipping a wicked face . Now praise must follow pride , And Flattery wayt on wealth : And tongues to silence tide , Except it be by stealth : While he or she that cannot faine , Must die a friends-ships foole in graine . The seasons of the yeere The Shepheards do not know : While mirth and merry cheere To griefe and sorrow grow : While if a couple kindly kisse , The third thinkes somewhat is amisse . Now sheepes-eies are so watcht , That Lambes can hardly sleepe : For when the Henne hath hatcht , Ere well the Chicken peepe : The Buzzard and the Kite so pray , That halfe the Brood is stolne away . No Butcher now can keepe His flesh from blowing flies : And Maydes will lie and sleepe , That doe not loue to rise : While euery bedde so swarmes with fleas , I wonder how they lie at ease . How neither Wolfe nor Foxe , But can beguile the Hound : Nor gallant headed Oxe , Will to a yoake be bound : Nor drawing Tit , but skornd who there , Nor Asse , that will his burthen beare . Wheate , Barly , Oates , and Rie , So like are in the blade : That many a simple eye , May Soone a foole be made : While Curdes , and Creame , and Ale , and Spice , Will bring out but a poore deuice . Now Cockes dare scarcely Crow , For feare the Foxe doe heare : Nor shriche-Owle but will show , That Winter time is neare : And Philomens amid the spring , So feares the worme , shee cannot sing . And now when Louers meete , It is a griefe to see : How heauily they greete , And how they disagree : While that the fathers eies are blinde , And that the mother is vnkinde . Delaies to neere disdaine , Doe feede vpon desire : And breath is spent in vaine , Where hopes are nere the nigher : While Truth and Trust haue too much proued They hardly find wher to be loued Now humble Bees can liue Vpon the hony Bees : That not a Drone dare driue , Vnto the doted trees : While he that workes not for his meate , Will liue vpon anothers sweate . Now pitfalls are so made , That small birdes cannot know them : No Woodcockes in a Glade , But Netts can ouerthrow them : And not a paltry carrion Kite , But braues a Faulcon in his flight . Now veluet , cloth of gold , And silkes of highest price : Doth make the good free-holde , Chaung title with a trice : While he that spends and will not pay , Is welcome , when he is away . Now wordes of strange deuises , Doe cheate vpon desires : While cunning sellers prices , Doe cosen simple buiers : While truth is all so sildome vsed , That honest trust is much abused . The markets now are saru'de With much vnsauery ware : And cattell often staru'de , When that the Millers Mare Can scarcely bring a sacke of Rie , That one may be a sauer by . Now Iohn and Ioane , and Madge , Can make no merry Crue : The baily with his badge , So braues it in his blue : None dare discharge a Carier , For feare of maister officier . And now from euery house Good fellowship is gone : And scarce a silly mouse , Findes crummes to feede vpon : While , lowre , and poute , and chafe and champe , Brings all the household in a dampe . Now clockes are for the Sunne , And feathers for the winde : Sheepes Russet to home spunne , While a fantasticke minde Must haue a colour strange and rare , To make a mad man stand and stare . The Horse , the Cowe , the Hogge , Are chiefely kept for breed : The Puscat , and the Dogge , To keepe the plough-mans feede : While not a locke but hath a kay : For feare the Cupboord runne away . Now Owles and night-Rauens are Ill fortunes prophecies : When faithlesse spirits stare , If any storme arise : And if the weather be not faire , Why fooles are almost in dispaire . Now Monkies , Baboones , Apes , Are taught to pranke and prance : While many a Wizard gape , To see a monster dance : And not a woman that will feare , To see the baiting of a Beare . Now Parats , Pies and Dawes , Are finely taught to prate : And worldes of men of lawe , Are needfull in the state : Where Neighbours liue so vnlike friends , That men would iudge them to be fiends . And now a Satten gowne , A petticoate of silke : A fine wrought bugle Crowne , A Smocke as white as milke : A colour'de hose , a pincked shooe , Will scarcely make a Tit come too . Now as God Iudge my soule , Besides my faith , and troth : On euery wassell bowle , Is thought a simple Oth : While stampe and stare , and clapping handes , Will scarce make vp a beggers bandes . Now Sempsters few are taught , The true sticht in their spots : And names are sildome wrought , Within the true loues knots : And Ribon Roses take such place , That Garden Roses want their grace . Now painting serues for faces , To make the fowle seeme faire : And health in many places , Must not abide the Aire : And few that haue bene bit with fleas , But runne to phisicke for their ease . Now warre makes many rich , That else had bene but poore : And makes a souldiour itch , Till he haue scratcht a Boore : For peace and plenty breed such pride , As poore mens fortunes cannot bide . The Taber and the Pipe , Are now out of request : And ere the Rie be ripe , The bird will leaue the nest : And Moris dances doe begin , Before the haruest halfe be in . Now many a Townes mud wall , Doth put a Citty downe : And Mistresse Finicall , Doth weare a Bugle Crowne : And many a Rascall Mall-content , Will make his Easter day in Lent . Now cogge and foist that list , Who will that wit gaine say , That learnes fooles had I wist : That will and cannot play , While faire , and square , and pitch , and pay : The gamster calls fooles holy-day . Now worldes of Matches set , For elder brothers landes : And vsury doth get , Great wealth into her hands : While he that will not watch a knaue , May bring a begger to his graue . Now hardly in a day , But one shall meete a thiefe : Where wealth is hid away , And poore haue no reliefe : And wickednes is vsde so much , As who but loues the tickle tuch . Now loue goes so by lookes , Men know not what they doo : And wordes are poisned hookes , That catch , and kill men too : While wicked hartes and wanton eies Make hell in steed of paradice . Now surely thus it is , It is a wonderfull change : Where all goes so amisse , Or else my dreame is strange : That shew'de me such a world of wo ▪ But God forbid it should be so . For dreames are idle things , And surely so is this : For true apparance brings , No proofe of such amisse : But euery thing in such good course , As God forbid it should be worse . For Louers must be kinde , And Neighbours must be friends : And when the folkes haue dinde , Set vp the puddings ends : For t is an ancient rule in truth , That thristines is good in youth . Olde men must haue their saying , And rich men must haue place : Sutors must bide delaying , And children must say grace : And thiefes must hang and knaues must shift , And silly fooles must haue the lift . And Lawe must speake , Wit iudge , Men liue vntill thy die : And Snot must be a snudge , And loue haue leaue to lie : And wretches worke , and wantons play , And who can holde that will away ? And wagges must sing , and dance , And gamsters plot for gaine : Who likes not of his chance , Take by to helpe the maine : For he that walkes without a head , May quickly bring a foole to bed . Women must haue their wills , Though men would say them nay : Some are such needfull ills , They cannot be away : And he that giues the humme a hemme , Will sometimes fall aboord with them . The Horse must haue his hay , The Dogge must haue a bone : The Ducke must haue a Bay , The Hawke must haue a stone ▪ And Ihon must not be kept from Ioane , For Loue can neuer liue alone . And therefore thus in briefe , Let peace endure no strife : Let no man offer griefe , Vnto his neighbours wife : Let faire play passe through euery hand , And let him fall that cannot stand . Let God be seru'd , obai'd , The King both seru'd and lou'de : Church honoured , duties paide , Mallice from mindes remou'de : And it may hap to come to passe , To be as well as ere it was . And blessed were the daies , If so the world did goe : That wit a thousand waies , Might reasons comfort knowe . Whil birds might sing , & men might speak , And malice might no musicke breake . That eyes might looke their fill , Words might be vncontrold : And art might haue the skill , To find the stone for gold : And Iealous eyes might all be blinde , That ouerlooke an honest minde . That wealth should haue her grace , In liberalitie : And honour giue a place , To euery qualitie : While panders , iesters , fooles , and knaues , Might walke about like silly slaues . A word might be a band , Where needles were an Oth : While yea and nay might stand , In steed of faith and troth : And tuch , and take , and pitch , and pay , Might driue all cunning tricks away . A winke , a nod , a smile , Might shew the iudgement iust , Where Truth could not beguile , Her honest meaning Trust : But one in two , and two in one , Might make the merry world alone . That quarrels might not grow Of swaggering , nor quaffing : But who begins heigh ho ! Might set the house a laughing : When not a thought of villany Might come in honest company . And Gossips might be merry And tattle when they meete : And cheekes as red as cherry , Might shew the wine is sweete : When Louers are in talke so sad , As if thy were alreadie had . Power should be fearde for Grace , And Lawe obeyd for loue : And Vertue take her place , In highest hopes behoue : And Wisedome only honour God , And so should sinne be ouertrod . Nought should be scornde but Folly , Nor in regard but Reason : And nothing lou'de , but holy , And nought in hate but Treason : And nought but slaunder banged , And nought but Murther hanged . And then the world were well , But when will it be so ? ( Alas ) I cannot tell , And therefore let it goe : And as God will , so let it bee , It shall be as it list for mee . Let euery man mend one , And I will not be out : And Lohn be good to Ioane , Or else he is a Lout : And Peter weaue , what Parnell spunne , Good night Iohn Line , and I haue donne . FINIS .