"He brought with him three, whose names thus they call
That is Covetousnes, Lecherye, Usury, beside:
They never prevail'd, till they had wrought my downe-fall;
So Pride was entertained, but Conscience decried,
And now ever since abroad have I tryed
To have had entertainment with some one or other;
But I am rejected, and scorned of my brother.
"Then went I to the Court the gallants to Winn,
But the porter kept me out of the gate:
To Bartlemew Spittle to pray for my sinne,
They bade me goe packe, it was fitt for my state;
'Goe, goe, threed-bare Conscience, and seeke thee a mate!'
Good Lord, long preserve my king, prince, and queene,
With whom evermore I esteemed have been.
"Then went I to London, where once I did dwell:
But they bade away with me, when they knew my name;
'For he will undoe us to bye and to sell!'
They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for shame:
They lought at my raggs, and there had good game
'This is old threed-bare Conscience, that dwelt with Saint Peter;'
But they wold not admitt me to be a chimney-sweeper.
"Not one wold receive me, the Lord he doth know;
I having but one poor pennye in my purse,
On an awle and some patches I did it bestow;
For I thought better cobble shooes than doe worse.
Straight then all the coblers began for to curse,
And by statute wold prove me a rogue, and forlorne,
And whipp me out of towne to seeke where I was borne.
"Then did I remember, and call to my minde,
The Court of Conscience where once I did sit:
Not doubting but there I some favor shold find,
For my name and the place agreed soe fit;
But there of my purpose I fayled a whit,
For thoughe the judge us'd my name in everye commission,
The lawyers with their quillets wold get my dismission.
"Then Westminster-hall was noe place for me;
Good lord! how the lawyers began to assemble,
And fearfull they were, lest there I shold bee!
The silly poore clarkes began for to tremble;
I showed them my cause, and did not dissemble;
Soe they gave me some money my charges to beare,
But swore me on a booke I must never come there.
"Next the Merchants said, 'Counterfeite, get thee away;
Dost thou remember how wee thee fond?
We banisht thee the country beyond the salt sea,
And set thee on shore in the New-found land;
And there thou and wee most friendly shook hand,