A warning for all lewd livers, By the example of a disobedient Childe, who riotously wasted and consumed his Fathers and Mothers goods, and also his own, among strumpets, and other lewd-livers, and after dyed most miserably on a dung-hill.
To the tune of Sir Andrew Barton.
MY bléeding heart with griefe and care,
doth with all young men to beware,
That they no such like steps may tread,
nor leade the life that I haue led.
My Father was a Gentleman,
as many gallants witnesse can,
He had no sonne but onely I,
which made his gold and siluer fly.
When as my Father hath me sent,
to sell his goodes or take up rent,
I did consume and waste the same
in drinking and vnlawfull game.
The Cards and Dice were my delight,
I haunted tauernes day and night,
Lewd women were my chiefest ioyes,
and my consorts were cutpurse boyes.
Gods holy word I disobey'd,
I cared not what the Preacher said,
For quaffing cans of Ale and Béere,
was all the seruice I would heare,
Thus acting my vngratious part,
I broke my aged Fathers heart,
When gastly death did on him ceaze,
I thought my selfe in happy case.
What he had left I thought well got,
but now the shame falls to my lot,
Fiue hundred pound in good red gold,
for Wine and Béere I quickly sould.
Then was I prest to serue the King,
that might my name to honour bring,
A Souldiers life I held it base,
and alwaies tooke it in disgrace.
And hauing thus consum'd my store,
I to my Mother went for more;
Who fould and morgag'd all her land,
and put the money in my hand.
And with these words with teares she said
thou knowest my Son thy father's dead
No more is left but I and thée,
therefore deare Sonne be good to mée.
If that thy loue from mée should fall,
I haue on earth no friend at all,
Therefore good Son, to me proue kind,
and thou in Heauen reward shalt find.
Then on my bended knées fell I,
desiring of the Lord on high,
A shamefull death might be his end,
that would his Mother once offend.
All you that doe no reckoning make,
of swearing when your words you speake,
Giue eare to this which will you tell,
lewd liuers seldome died well.
You disobedient children all,
draw neare and listen to my fall,
Example take, repent in time,
least that your woes be like to mine.
You Fathers deare and Mothers kinde,
beare you this lesson well in minde,
Trust not too much a wicked child
for oftentimes men are beguild.
When twigs are gréene you may them ply
but let them grow till they be dry,
They will so stiffe and stubborne stand,
you cannot bend them with your hand.
So I that can a wicked race,
to mend my life had not the grace,
Sixtéene score pound in ready gold,
into my hand my Mother told.
But in the compasse of one yeare,
I spent it all as may appeare,
And hauing left no meanes at all,
I unto robbing straight did fall.
THen did I steale my Mothers rings,
her brasse, her pewter, & such things,
The very bed whereon shée lay,
I like a villaine sould away.
What euer I could get or take,
I thereof straight would money make,
My flinty heart did féele no griefe,
to see my Mother want reliefe.
At last shée grew excéeding poore,
and beg'd her bread from doore to doore,
No Infidell nor Pagan vild,
could bring to light so bad a child.
At last my Mother lost her breath,
as she constrained was by death,
Who yéelds reliefe whē friends grow scant
and easeth those that are in want.
From place to place I then was tost,
by euery man and woman crost,
No harbour could I get, whereby
I might at night in safegard lye.
My dearest kinsfolkes doe me chide,
my nearest friends mocke and deride,
Those that were my conforte of late,
their loue is changed into hate.
Those that haue feasted many a time,
and fed vpon that which was mine,
Despise at me along the stréet,
as if they should a Serpent méet.
Both old and young both great and small,
both rich and poore, despise me all,
No friend to take my part had I,
but was constrain'd in fields to lye.
In this my extreme mysery,
my griefe and my necessity,
No creature gaue for my reliefe,
one péece of bread to ease my griefe.
But as a poore despised wretch,
his latest gaspe that he did fetch,
Was on a dounghill in the night,
when as no creature was in sight.
But in the morning he was found,
as cold as clay upon the ground:
Thus was he borne in shame to die,
and end his dayes in misery.
Take warning young men by this vice,
learne to auoid the Cards and Dice:
Lewd womens company forbeare,
they are the high way vnto care.
All Parents while your babes be young,
looke to their waies in hand and tongue,
Then wickednesse will not abound,
but grace in children may be found.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Thomas Lambert, and are to be sold in Smithfield, at the Hospitall gate.
L.P.