A Warning to all lewd Livers.
By the Example of a disobedient Child, who riotously wasted and consumed
his Fathers and Mothers goods, and also his own, among strumpets and
other Lewd Livers, and after died most miserably on a Dung-hill.
To the Tune of, Sir Andrew Barton.
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MY bleeding heart with grief and care
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doth wish all young men to beware
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That they no such like steps may tread
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nor lead the life which I have lead.
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My Father was a Gentleman
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as many Gallants witnesse can
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He had no sons but onely I,
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which made his gold and silver flye.
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When as my Father had me sent
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to sell his goods and take up rent
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I did consume and waste the same.
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in drinking or unlawful game.
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The Cards and Dice were my delight,
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I haunted Taverns Day and Night
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Lewd Women were my chiefest Joys
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and my consorts were cut-purse boys.
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Gods holy Word I dis-obeyd
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I card not what the Preacher said
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For quaffing cans of Ale and Beer,
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was all the service I would hear.
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Thus acting my ungracioue part
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I broke my aged fathers heart
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When gashly death on him did seize
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I thought my self in happy case.
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What he had left I thought well got,
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but now the shame falls to my lot
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Five hundred pound in good red Gold,
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for wine and beer I quickly sold.
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Then was I prest to serve the King,
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that might my name to honour bring
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A Souldiers life I hold it base
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and alwaies took it in disgrace.
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And having thus consumd my store,
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I to my Mother went for more
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Who sold and morgagd all her land,
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and put the mony in my hand.
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And then with tears these words she said
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thou knowest my Son thy fathers dead
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No more is left but I and thee
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therefore dear Son be good to mee.
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If that thy love from me should fall
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I have no friend on earth at all
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Therefore good Son to me prove kind
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and thou reward in heaven shalt finde.
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Then on my bended knees fell I
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desiring of the Lord on high
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A shameful death might be his end,
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that would his Mother once offend.
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All you that do no reckoning make
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of swearing when your words you speak
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Give ear to that which Ile you tell
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lewd livers seldome dyed well
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You disobedient children all
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draw neer and listen to my fall.
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Example take, repent in time
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lest that your woes be like to mine
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The second part to the same Tune.
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YOu fathers deer and mothers kinde,
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bear you this lesson in your minde
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Trust not too much a wicked Child,
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for oft times men are so beguild.
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When twigs are green you may them ply
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but let them grow till they be dry
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They will so stiffe and stubborn stand
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you cannot bend them with your hand.
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So I that ran a wicked race
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and to amend had not the grace
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Sixteen score pound in good red gold
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[i]nto my hand my mother told
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But in the compass of one year
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I spent it all as may appear
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And having left no means at all,
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I unto robbing straight did fall
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Then did I steal my mothers Rings,
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her brass, her pewter, and such things,
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The very bed whereon she lay
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I like a villain stole away.
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What ever I could get or take
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I thereof straight would money make
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My flinty heart did feel no grief,
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to see my mother want relief.
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At last she grew exceeding poor
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and begd relief from door to door,
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No Infidel nor Pagan vild
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could bring to light so bad a child.
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At last my mother lost her breath
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as she constrained was by death
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Who yeilds r[e]lief when friends grow
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and easeth those that are in want
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From place to place then was I tost
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by every man and woman crost,
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No harbour could I get whereby
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I might at night in safe-guard lye
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My dearest kinsfolks do me chide
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my nearest friends mock and deride
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Those that were my consorts of late
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their love is turned into hate.
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Those that have feasted many a time
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and fed upon that which was mine
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Despise at me a long the street
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as if they should a Serpent meet.
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Both Old and Young, both great & smal,
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both rich and poor despise me all
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No friend to take my part have I
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but was constraind in field to lie.
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In this my extream miserie,
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my grief, and my necessitie
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No creature gave for my relief
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one peece of bread to ease my grief
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But like a poor despised wretch
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his latest gaspe that he did fetch
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Was on a Dung-hil in the night
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when as no creature was in sight.
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But in the morning he was found,
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as cold as clay upon the ground
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Thus was he born in shame to die
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and end his daies in misery.
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Take warning young men by this vice
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learn to avoid both Cards and Dice
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Lewd womens company forbear
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they are the high-way unto care
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All Parents whilst your babes be young
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look to their waies in hand and tongue
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Then wickednesse will not abound
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but Grace in children may be found.
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