The Booke in meeter of Robin Conscience against his father Couetou[sne]sse, his mother N[ewgise and h]is sister Proud Bea[utye] [very necessar]y to be read and marked of all people that will auoide the dangers thereof, which is unto condemnation.

〈◊〉 way with Gods woord will not agrée . Wherefore good Father in time héere repent : And haue a respect vnto Christs Testament . Father . What Robin me thinks thou hast little wit , Doost thou think scorne to come to promotion : To marry with gentills I trow it is fit , Hauing with them of money a good portion , Beware of extortion What though it be gotten by craft and extortion . By the Masse it is all my delight and pleasure : To haue héere aboundance of worldly treasure . Robin . By extortion Father ? mary God it forefend , That any Christian man therin should delight : Father giue me no stolne goods , my welth to amend , Vnlesse I doo liue by the poore mans right , As I feare that some doo both Lord and Knight . Wherfore 〈◊〉 Father 〈◊〉 time heere repent : And haue a respect vnto Christs Testament . Father . Ah Robin I perceiue now so God me saue , That thou wilt be but a meane gentleman : Séeing you be such a Conscionable knaue , A shameles aunswer for a Parent . Goe séeke thou thy liuing where that thou can , Tush , what care I though the people me ban . By the Masse it is all my delight and pleasure : To haue heere aboundance of worldly treasure . Robin . Oh Father séeke first héere the kingdome of Heauen , And gather you vp of Gods treasure therin to lay : And not wicked Mammon to fulfill the sinnes seuen , for that were a very right damnable way , Remember Father that you be but earth and clay . Wherfore good Father I pray you yet repent : And haue a respect vnto Christs Testament . Father . Robin , wouldst thou not haue me to buy and sell ? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 buy & sell and keepe in store , so it be doon lawfully , and in a right can . Nor yet to kéepe in store for to doo me good ? By the masse if I follow thée or the Gospell , At the length I might chance to lye in my hood , Tush I will be counted heere for a lusty blood . Séeing it is all my delight and pleasure : I will haue aboundance of worldly treasure . Robin . Father you haue enough if you haue not too much , For this I dare be holde héere to auow : You haue ten times more ground and money in your hutch , Then euer had my Grand-sire you will this allow , Yet he kept a better house then euer did you . Wherfore good Father amend and repent : And haue a respect vnto Christs Testament . Father . Tush Robin thy talke is foolish and fond , I know thy minde that thou goest about : Thou wouldst haue me liue only by my land , Be liberal vnto the poore . And to kéepe open house for euery Iack rout , No , I will feast none but the rufling rout . For it is all my delight and pleasure : To haue héere aboundance of worldly treasure . Robin . Father , I would haue you to liue so that God may be pleased And for your good life , God will giue you méede : Father spend your goods so that the poore may be eased , For your riches be lent you to doo such a deede , And do not spend all on the rich , for they haue no néede , Wherfore good Father in time yet repent : And haue a respect vnto Christs Testament . Father . By the masse Robin I think thou art mad , The bread of the needfull , is the life of the poore . Eccle. 3.4 . Should I feast beggers , mary fie for shame : I dare say it would make some gentlemen sad , That all rich men should haue such a name . Yea I my selfe will confesse the same . Séeing it is my whole delight and pleasure :

Heere beginneth Mother Newgise to talke with Robin her Sonne , onely for the ease and pleasure of this world . Very necessary to be read and marked of all newfangled women , that they may auoide the desires therof . Mother . SOone Robert I heard say that your Father and you , Haue had since you went great communication : Concerning our welth which you will not allow , You are of such a strange holy fashion , But this shal be only my preparation , To liue and goe gentle-like , gallant and gay : Séeing it is my chéefe desire alway . Robin . Mother , like as I said of late vnto my Father , Euen so I say now vnto you certaine : I would wish you to desire Gods kingdome rather , Then either welth , ease , pleasure or gaine , Mother beware of apparell for it is but vaine . Wherfore good Mother marke this thing well : Yet liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell . Mother . Sonne I will liue easily now in mine olde age , A wicked desire of new fangled Women . And also goe as gallantly as I can deuise : What though the people doo raile and rage , And say that I goe painted vp like butter-flyes , I will haue my clothes made of the new gife . To liue and goe gentle like , gallant and gay : Oh Sonne it is my cheefe desire alway . Robin . Yet Mother remember the vertuous good wiues , As Sara , Rebecea and Rachell , with many other moe : Which clothed them-selues all the dayes of their liues , With shamefastnes , chastitie and sobrietie also , Which contrary to their husbands minde would not goe . Wherfor good Mother marke this thing well : To liue and goe Christian like after the gospell . Mother . Sonne what though your father would not haue me goe clad Women of an euil condition Now after my minde by him in gorgious apparrell : Should I be ruled by him ? nay then I were mad , Yet had I rather with him pick a quarrell , Though I for my labour had straight of the barrell . For to liue and goe gentle like , gallant and gay ? By the masse it is my chéefe desire alway . Robin . O Mother , ye be now in a wicked minde , Seeing you will disobay your husband for this : You show your selfe to be vnnaturall and vnkinde , And that you haue giuen him many a Iudas kisse , Your act will declare how you haue doon amisse . Wherfore good Mother marke this thing well : Yet liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell . Mother . Sonne I will liue gentle like and goe at my pleasure , Seeing thy Father for his substance might be a gentleman : And though he were poore and had but little treasure , A pointe of an vnthriftye Huswife , Yet would I goe gallantly say he what he can , For I would borrow or els pledge pot , kettle or pan . To liue and goe gentle-like , gallant and gay : Séeing it is my chéefe desire alway . Robin . O Mother I think you are past all shame , You would make a right good man to fret : Think you by your pledging to get you good name ? Or by bringing your husband into danger or det ? Fye that either rich or poore their mindes thus should set . To maintaine their pride , wherfore murke this thing well : Liue and goe Christian like after the gospell , Mother . Am I past shame thou péelde apish boy ? Thou malapert knaue controlest thou me ? Thou shalt fare the woorsse I swere by Saint Loy , The brag of affinity that commeth of Nobility . Or any that are of thy sect or propertie , Wilt thou be against my estate or degree ? I come of the stocke to goe gallant and gay : Wherfore it is my cheefe desire alway . Robin . Mother I doo not dispraise your stocke , Nor yet your owne person will I discommend : But I would haue you so liue to be of Christs flocke , And so aske Godmercy , with pride whom ye offend , This is the hurt that I you pretend . Wherfore good Mother marke this thing well : Liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell . Mother . A proude enterprise of the base sorte of some women now a dayes . I pray thée Soone Robert tell me no such tale , For I will goe frocked and in a french hood : I will haue my fine Cassockes and my round Verdingale , Like one that came of a noble borne blood , By the masse to think of it , it dooth my hart good . To liue and goe gentle like , gallant and gay : Oh it is my chéefe desire alway . Robin . With Nobilitie Mother you may not compare , Although ye be rich héere in worldly substance : Neither with apparrell nor yet ordinary fare , To be equall with them you may not your selfe inhaunce , For they haue their vocation , and you haue but your chance . Wherfore good Mother marke this thing well : Liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell . Mother . Sonne , liue they not Christian like that banket at the wine ? And goeth in their billaments of fine pearle and golde ? Also with broadered haire wherunto they inclne , Spending much yeerly this trade to vpholde , Thus setting foorth them selues both yong and olde . Is not this Christian like , gallant and gay ? Sonne this doo I chéefly desire alway . Robin . Christian like Mother : no I will not so say , But heathen indeed such pompe doo vse : Saint Paule and Saint Peter dooth set foorth the array , Marke well . what Christian women should take and refuse , Weare sover apparrell but desire no newes . Wherfore good Mother marke this thing well : Liue and goe Christian like after the Gospell . Mother . To weare sober apparrell , what me anest thou by that ? My clothes are not drunke I would thou shouldst knowe , I think thou speakest by my red silk hat , But and I liue another yeer I will haue a better showe , I will not goe thus sluttishly I trowe . To liue and goe gentle like , gallant and gay : Séeing it is my cheefe desire alway , Robin . Mother the sober apparrell that I do meane , Apparell for women both holy dayes and woorking dayes . Is sadnes , wisdome , vertue and learning : Also your bodily apparell is comely to be seene , For your degree euen now in your going , It is not sumptuous apparrell that is to Gods pleasing . But a decent order , wherfore marke this thing well : Liue and goe Christian like after the gospell . Mother . Sonne holde thy peace , for thy talke makes me weary , A Robin Robin , thou art a shrowd toward Childe : If thy Father were of thy minde , I could not be merry , The desperat minde of wicked women . Nay I had rather be dead by sweet Mary milde . Farwell , if thou proouest not a knaue I am beguilde . If I do not liue gentle like , to goe gallant and gay : By the masse I would I were hanged vp out of the way . Robin . Such a tree , such frute from it dooth proceed , Fye Mother fye , that you wish you such ill : Repent your speaking and beware of the deed , Vnlesse both your soule and body you doo kill : I feare that the deuill with you hath wrought his will . Now will I to my Sister to giue her some counsell , For she hath many tricks to bring her vnto hell . FINIS . She Deuils are hard to turne .

Heere Prowd Beautye beginneth to talke with Robin her Brother , for her proud fancye and wanton dallying : Very necessary to be read and marked of all Maydens that seeke the vaine glory of this world , and the vncomly trickes therin , that they may auoide the dangers therof : for feare of condemnation . The Maide . The name of Gods woord to the blasphemie therof . BRother Robert , yesterday as I vnderstand , With my Father and Mother you were offended : With her for her apparell , and with him for his land , Thou wouldst by the gospell haue them amended , Mary I with my selfe haue thus pretended . To be faire and feate , nice and neate , is a gay thing : To colly and kis , my pleasure it is , for all your new learning . Robin . New learning Sister ? what you be very bolde , Thus disdainfully to giue it such a name : Gods woord indéed is both new and olde , To set a woorke all things in right frame , But you boast of knackes that will bring you to shame . Wherfore measure your pleasure by Gods woord and will : And you shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . What whorish ▪ you knaue , by the blessed masse Whore I am thus to sweare , God giue thée sorrow , Euill woorde corrupt good maners . Dout not if I can bring my maisters to passe , I will haue knacks indeed ( you knaue ) by tomorrow , Yet will I for them neither beg , steale nor horrow . Oh to be faire and feate , nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kis , my pleasure it is for all your new learning . Robin . Sister , it becommeth maides to be gentle of speach , Both to man , wife and childe , whersoeuer they gee : That your woords and woorkes your children may teache , To liue in the feare of God héerafter also , Would you be and doo as you li●● no sister no. But measure your pleasure by Gods woord and will : And you shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . Iack sauce ( I say ) thou lout , thou hoddie peake , I defie thy teaching I would thou know : Doost thou take vpon thee to learne me speake , By the masse but for shame thou shouldst beare me a blow , As I am of person so my behauiour shall show . Oh to be faire and feate , nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kis my pleasure it is for all your new learning . Robin . Salomon declareth this by the beautifull rout , A faire woman without discrete manners ( saith he ) Is like a ring of golde on a Swines snout , The which is a thing sister vncomely to see , And now surely by you it well may spoken be . If you measure your pleasure by Gods woord and will : You shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . By my troth for a knaue I will thée allow , All the dayes of thy life thou shalt be none other : Doost thou liken me and my maners vnto a sow ? Mary I defie thée though thou art my brother , Sir my fashions doo please my Father and Mother . Oh to be faire and feate , nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kis , my pleasure it is for all your new learning . Robin . Sister , can you be fayrer then God hath you made , Feater or neater , by policye or wit ? I aske you because your coulour oft dooth fade , And your clothes very grossely about you do sit , If you vse any thing not honest and fit , Then measure your pleasure , by Gods woord and will : And you shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . The practises and motions of Sathan and are vsed of those that be his fathers darlings now a dayes . If God make my face as browne as a berry , I can painte it white and ruddish withall : And if God make me looke as red as a Cherry , I can drie vp my blood with Chalke in a wall , If God make me grosse , I can pent my selfe small To be faire and feate nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kisse my pleasure it is , for all your new learning Robin . Oh what a damnable euill , that either Christian or Turke . Should trans-forme them selues from their first creation : What Lucifer woman will amend Gods woorke , They farre excell the Sodomites in this abomination , O pride out of measure , O sathans generation , Measure this pleasure by Gods woord and will : And you shall finde that your mind is whorish and ill . Maide . Tush I can dye my haire be it neuer so black , I can make it shine like golde in a little space : The workes of the euill . Also to tire vp my head I haue such a knack , That some maides will delight to follow my trace , I can lay out my haire to set out my face . Oh to be faire and feate , nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kisse my pleasure it is for all your new learning Robin . To dye and to fleare your haire so abroad , Surely sister you doo it shamfully vse : For with the Scriptures it dooth not accord , That maides nor wiues their haire should so abuse , Couer it for shame it is the vse of the 〈◊〉 Wherfore measure your pleasure vp Gods woord and 〈◊〉 And you shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . The decking and balming of proud liuing Idols . Brother thou art but a foole me thus so checke , For I will haue my Pomande is of 〈…〉 smell : Also my Chaines of golde to hang about my necke , And my broadered haire while I at home dwell , Stomachers of golds becommeth me well . To be faire and feate , nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kis my pleasure it is , for all your new learning . Robin . Sister , in the third of Esay the Lord saith plaine , For your broadered haire you shall haue baldnes : For your Chaines of golde you shall haue halters certaine , For your Pomanders and muske , you shal haue stink doutles And for your stomachers , sack-cloth this he dooth confes . Wherfore measure your pleasure by Gods woord and will : And you shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . If the Lord plague all those that so leade their liues , With halters and stinkings and with baldnes of head : Great shame it will be both for maidens and wiues , Feare and shame , much fin doth tame That so tire them selues dayly till they goe to bed , To be thus plagued , marry I had rather to be dead . To be faire and feate , nice and neate is a gay thing : To colly and kis my pleasure it is for all your new learning . Robin . Sister , your colling and kissing will haue an euill end , To clatter and flatter is no maidenlike way : Your gladnes and madnes dooth God sore offend , To intice men to vice is all your chéefest play , In their sight your delight is for to goe gay . Wherfore measure your pleasure by Gods woord and will : And you shall finde that your minde is whorish and ill . Maide . I perceiue that thou wouldst haue me liue like a mome , I will talke no 〈…〉 I must depart By the 〈…〉 My 〈…〉 If thou be thy talk● 〈…〉 Father conuert Then 〈…〉 Were 〈…〉 Robin . Sister 〈◊〉 haue you and sa●e you● if it be his pleasure , And present to 〈…〉 your life is now euill ▪ Look in 〈…〉 to haue heauenly treasure , There 〈◊〉 to be med● your proud har● to kill , Make haste for to taste of Gods holy will . 〈◊〉 it is he 〈…〉 to those that be penitent : Wherfore yet euermore 〈…〉 Christs Testament . FINIS . To talke well with some women dooth as much good : As a sicke man to eate vp a loade of greene wood .