A WARNING for all Lewd Livers:
By the Example of a Disobedient CHILD, who rioutously wasted
and consumed his Father and Mother's Goods, and also his own, amongst vile
Strumpets, and other lewd Livers, and died most miserably on a Dunghil.
To the Tune of, Sir Andrew Barton, etc.
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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 suchlike steps may tread,
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Nor lead the life which I have led:
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My Father was a Gentleman,
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As many Gallants witness can;
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He had no Son but only I,
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Which made his gold and silver flye,
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Whenas my Father had me sent
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To sell his goods, or 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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God's holy Word I disobey'd,
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I car'd 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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Then acting my ungracious part,
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I broke my aged Father's heart;
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When ghastly Death did on him seize,
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I thought myself in happy ease.
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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 of 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 Soldier's life I held it base,
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And always took it in disgrace.
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And having thus consum'd my store,
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I to my Mother went for more;
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Who sold and mortgaged 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 know'st my Son thy Father's dead,
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No more is left but I and thee,
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Therefore, dear Son, be good to me.
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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 find.
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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 I will tell,
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Lewd Livers seldom dyeth well.
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You disobedient Children all,
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Draw near 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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You Fathers dear, and Mothers kind,
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Bear you this Lesson in your mind,
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Trust not too much a wicked Child,
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For oft times Men are so beguil'd:
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When twigs are geeen you may them ply,
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But let them grow while they be dry,
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They will so stiff and stubborn stand,
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You cannot bend them with your hand.
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So that I 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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Into 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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Thus did I steal my Mother's 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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Whatever I could get or take,
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I thereof straight did mony 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 beg'd relief from door to door:
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No Infidel, nor Pagan wild,
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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 yields relief, when Friends grow scan[t]
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And ease to them 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 lie.
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My dearest Kinsfolks do me chide,
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My dearest 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 along the street,
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As if they should a serpent meet.
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Both old and young, both great and small,
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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 constrain'd in fields to lie.
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In this my extream misery,
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My grief, and my necessity,
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No Creature gave for my relief,
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One peice of bread to ease my grief.
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But like a poor dispised Wretch,
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His latest gasp that he did fetch,
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Was on a dung-hill in the night,
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Whenas 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 days in misery.
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Take warning young Men by this vice,
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Learn to avoid the 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 ways in hand and tongue,
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Then wickedness will not abound,
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But grace in Children will be found.
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