The lamentation of follie to the tune of New Rogero.

❧ The Lamentation of Follie : To the tune of New Rogero . ALas what meaneth man , with care and greedy paine : To wrest to win a worldly fame which is but vile and vaine . As though he had no cause to doubt , the drift of his desire , Not pleased though he rule the route , but still to couet higher . And wander after will , farre passing his degrée : Not so contented still , but a king himselfe to be . Subuerting law and right , detecting triall true : Wringing euery wight , that all the realme dooth rue . Whose déed and ill desart , compart and false consent : I thinke no Christen heart , can choose but néeds lament . Alas it seemed strange , such thraldome in a realme : Which wealthie was to wast away , by will that was extreame . Sith vertue was profest , most famous franke and frée : Yet men transposed cleane , more vile and worse to be . And such as did pretend to shew themselfe most holie : Haue swarued in the end , and fawned after follie . Whose wordes so disagrée , as waters come and go : Their liuings to be contrary , that should examples showe . And fawning after fame , pursue their owne decay : As though there were no God , to call their life away . What surety is in man , what truth or trust at all : Which frameth what he can , to worke vnworthy thrall . Oppression hath beene frée , the poore alas be spoyled : Maides and wiues be rauished , the simple are beguiled . Lawe is made a libertie , and right is ouerthrowne : Faith is but a foolish thing , falsehood is alone . Pride is counted clenlinesse , and theft is but a slight . Whoredome is but wantonnesse , and waste is but delight . Spoiling is but pleasure , riot is but youth : Slaunder is a laughing game , and lying counted trueth . Mariage is but mochage , the children counted base : Thus right is wronged euery way , in our accursed case . Flatterie is the Forte of Fame , and trueth is troden downe : The innocent do beare the blame , the wicked winne renowne . Thus Sathan hath preuailed long , and we for want of grace : Haue troden vertue vnder foote , and vice hath taken place . But God that is most righteous , hath séene our fatall fall : And spred his mercie ouer vs , to shield vs from the thrall . Whose mercy is so infinite , to such as were oppressed : He hath restored them to right , and hath their care redressed . And though that our vnworthinesse . hath not deserued so : Now let vs cease our wickednesse , and graft where grace may grow . And let vs pray for our defence , our worthy Queene elect : That God may worke his will in her , our thraldome to correct . That God be chiefely serued so , as dooth to him belong : That right may haue his course againe , and vanquish wicked wrong . That we may liue in feare and awe , and truly to intend : And haue the iustice of the lawe , our causes to defend . That truth may take his wonted place , and faith be fast againe : And then repent and call for grace , that wrought our care and paine . That God send vs a short redresse , with wealth and great increase : And to our Quéene , to reigne and rule , in honour , health , and peace . W. E. FINIS .

Imprinted at London by Edward Allde .

〈…〉 new Ballad of the Mery Miller of Mansfield was lodged in the Millers house , and of their pleasant communication . To the tune of the French Lau●… HEnry our roiall King would goe on hunting , To the greene forrest most pleasant and faire : 〈◊〉 ●aue the ●art chaced , the dainty Does tripping , 〈…〉 merry Sherwood his nobles repaire . 〈…〉 and ●●●●● , was vabound , all things prepar'd , ●or the same , to the game with good regard . Al a long Summers day , rode the King pleasantly , ●ith all his princes and nobles each one : basing the Hart and Hind , and the Bucke gallantly , Al the darke euening inforst them turne home . then at last riding fast he had lost quite , all his Lords in the woods , late in darke night . I ●andring thu● wearily , all alone vp and downe , ●ith a rude Miller be met at the last : ●●king the ready way vnto faire Nottingham . " quoth the Miller your way you haue l●st . yet I thinke , what I thinke truth for to say , you doe not lightly goe but of your way . say what dost thou thinke of me quoth our king merily ●●uing thy iudgement vpon me so breefe : 〈◊〉 ●ood faith quoth the Miller I meane not to flatter , 〈◊〉 gesse thee to be but a gentleman theefe . 〈…〉 and thee backe in the darke ●ight not a downe , 〈◊〉 east that I presently cracke thy knaues crowne . Thou dost abuse me much ( quoth our king ) saying thus , 〈…〉 a gentlem●n , lodging I lacke : you hast quoth the miller not a grote in thy purse , ●ll thy inheritaince hangs on thy backe . I haue gold to discharge all that I call , If it be fortie pence I wil pay all . ●f thou doest a true man then answered the miller , I swear by my tole dish i le lodge thee all night , ●eres m● hand quoth our King that I was euer : ●ay soft quoth the miller thou mayst be a sprite . better i le know thee ere hands I will shake , 〈…〉 none but with honest men hands I will take . Thus they went al along vnto the millers house Where they were seething of Puddings and souse : ●he miller fi●st entred in after him went the king : ●euer came he in so smokie a hous● . now quoth he let me see h●ere what you are , quoth our king looke your fill , and doe not spare . 〈◊〉 like well thy countenance thou hast an honest face , With my sonne Richard th●s night thou shalt lye : Quoth his wife by my troth t is a good hansome youth ▪ ●et is it best husband to deale warily art thou not run away , pray thee youth tel , shew vs thy pasport and al shal be wel . Then our king presently making low curtesie , ●ith his hat in his hand , thus he did say : I haue no pasport nor neuer was seruiture , ●ut a poore courtier ro●e out of my way . and for your kindnes now proffered to me , I will require it in euery degrée . Then to the miller his wife whispered secretly , Saying it seemeth this youth's of good kinne : Both by his apparel and eke by his manners , to turne him out certainly were a great sinne . 〈…〉 quoth he , you may see , he hath some grace , ●hen he speakes vnto his betters in place . Wel quoth the millers wife , yong man welcome b● And though I say it , wel lodged shalt thou be : Fresh strawe I wil haue , laide in your bed so brau● Good browne hempen sheets , likewise quoth she . I quoth the goodman and when that is done . you shall lye with no worse then with mine owne Nay first quoth Richard good fellow tell me true , Hast thou no creepers in thy gay hose , Or art thou not troubled with the scrubado ? I pray you quoth our king what things be those ? Art thou not lousie , or scabbed quoth he ? If thou beest , surely thou lyest not with me . This causde our King sodainely laugh out most h● til the teares trickled downe from his face : then vnto supper were they set orderly , W●th hot bagpudding , and good applepies . Nappyale good and stale in a blacke boule , which did about all the boorde merily troule . Here quoth the Miller ▪ good fellow I drinke to●t and to all courtnoles that curteous be , I pledge thee quoth our King , and thanke thee ha●… For me good welcome in euery dear●r . and here in like manner I drinke to thy son , do so quoth Richard and quicke let it come . Wife quoth the miller now fetch me foorth light●… that we of his sweetnes a little may taste : A faire Venson pastie then brought she foorth pres●… Eate quoth the miller , but sir make no waste . Her is good light foot , in faith quoth our King , I neuer eate so daintie a thing . Ywis said Richard no dainte at all it is . For we do eate of it euerie daie , In what place said our king maie be bought like ● We neuer pay pennie for it by my faye : from merie Sherwood we fetch it home here , now and then we make bolde with the Kings d●… Then I thinke quoth our King that it is venison , Each foole quoth Richard ful wel may see that Neuer are we without two or three 〈◊〉 the raffe , Very wel fleshed and excelent fat . but pre thee say nothing where euer thou goe , we would not for two pence the King should it k●… Doubt not quoth our King my promised secrecie , the King shall neuer know more on 't for me , a cup then of lamps wool they drunke strait vnto and so to their beds they past presently : the nobles next morning went al vp and downe for to seeke out the King in euery towne . at last at this millers house some did espy him pl●… as he was mounting vpon his faire steed : to whom they ran presently falling downe on th●… 〈◊〉 Which made the millers heart wofully bleed , shaking and quaking before him he stood , thinking he should haue been hangd by the rood The King perceiuing him fearful and trembling Drew out his sword , but nothing he sed : The miller down did fall crying before them all Doubting the King would haue cut of his head . but he his kinde curtesie strait to requite , gaue him great liuing , and dubbd him a K●●●●●