An excellent Song, called, The Shooe-makers travell.
To the tune of,
Flying Fame.
AS I through
England travelled,
in Townes of greatest fame,
To heare and see, and view, and learne
the fashions of the same:
I sée the shifts of every Shire,
the Trades of every Towne.
I view'd the steps of old and young,
for most part up and downe.
I see all sorts of men are bent
to get they care not how,
I see that Conscience goesh in rags,
no man regards it now.
I see that Love and Charitie
long since were prest away,
I see that Envie, Wrath and Pride,
are suffered still to stay.
I see, in stead of dealing true,
Defraud and Guile doe grow,
I see Oppression, Rape and Wrong,
the Realme doth over-flow.
I see how fained flatterie
obtaines the largest F
[...]es,
I see how
[...]ruth is tost about,
and tumbled on his knées.
I see how cruell Covetousnesse
accepted is of all,
I see, to Christs poor members true,
Devotion is but small:
I see how lustfull Lecherie
is lov'd in every Towne,
I see that chaste Uirginitie
goes in a thred-bare Gowne.
I see Excesse his paunch doth fill,
with daintie dishes thick,
When
Lazarus can nothing have,
except the Dogs him lick:
I see unfruitfull idlenesse,
how much it doth abound,
I see not one of
Sodomes sins,
but here it may be found.
I saw againe such dolefull sights,
in
England as I went,
Which well I know will bréed our wo,
except we doe repent.
I see some Learned in great fault,
who Livings have at large,
I see they care not for those soules,
whereof they have the charge.
I see among the Merchant men,
such grievous sinnes to raigne,
Whose ventures
[...]ar upon the Seas,
doe bring them mickle gaine.
I see some Lawyers live at ease,
like Foxes in their holes,
I see they might but poore men prove,
if
England were not fooles.
I see how greedie Usurers,
likewise doe flourish so,
Who for a gaine, will take the paine
to begger friend or foe.
The widdow and the fatherlesse,
I see them wel-nigh starved,
I see where need doth most requir
[...],
shall last of all be served.
The Second Part, to the same tune.
I See since Satan sent his Starch
to beautifie our necks,
Good houses are in Hatches lockt,
are poore are sed with che
[...]ks.
I see each man is for himselfe,
and God I trust for all,
I see unlesse we doe repent,
great plagues will us befall.
I see such sundry sorts of sinne,
in every place to be,
That
England may right well be call'd
the Shop of Uanitie.
I see the sacred Sabbath day,
how much it is abused
With Playes & past
[...]mes every way,
all goodnesse quite refused.
I see the lovers of Gods Word
in number grow so small,
That if the world should long remain,
we shall see none at all:
I see Christs words will prove most true,
which want doth grieve my mind,
That when to judgment he doth come,
he little faith shall find.
We shall see then he will not weep
for us, as for the
Jewes;
No, no, let's never looke for that,
he comes with other newes.
But let us then perswaded be,
lest we repent in haste,
To drinke of that most dreadfull woe,
which
Bethsaida did taste.
Or like as
Sodome, which for sinne
was thrown down to the ground.
Whose
[...]arefull end might make us quaile,
that now in sinne abound.
And thus my faithfull friends farewel,
with griefe I have you
[...]old,
What hainous sins throughout the world
I see in young and old.
Now un
[...]o God with humble heart
I wish all Christians pray,
These Weeds of Uice may wasted be,
before that dreadfull day.
And let all loving Subjects true,
which have my travell seene,
Lift up their voyce and say with me,
God save our King and Queene.
FINIS.
London, Printed by E. P. for Edward Wright, dwelling in Gilt-spur-street.