Satirical Verses on North Riding Gentry

ff [1–2v]

England it seemes thou swelst with pride when in a bitt of yorkshire side Northriding hight, dwels twise 12 knightes thou must on such vnwonted sightes

Our older Scipio was esteemed by those yat kindly of him dremd

But since his fayth he now hath chaungd

from Prince and Courte he is estrangde/

Scipio is honorable, vertuous wise

ffrendly familiar to none precise

Where thou protestest be more sounde

Then vertues all in the abounde/

Little Nanie or pritty Pigmy

that with bravinge gott thy Lady

now with mouldwarpes spendes thy tyme

man or no man, both or none

Alas poore Lady all is one

But lett him pas, hees full of awe

nothinge in him but all Lawe/

Guyson thy worth doth meritt well

Thy valour doth thy witt excell

thy wenchinge and thy pottinge vayne

Consumes thy brayne Lande makes weake thy brayne/.

If I shoulde picture misery

Then Lelio sure it shoulde be the

yett some will say I iudge amis

his body big and face swolne is

yett bringe him to a Capon fatt

O Lorde how he will hugge att that

Lett out thy girdle but an inche

and from good meate thou shall not flinch

He that will Liue must folowe tyme

so sayth Linus in my ryme

speake fayre but with this evasion

that beinge called will shun occasion./

Punctelio so witty is

He thinkes he neuer doth amis

Leave selfe conceyte and thou mayste be

as rich in Loue as dignity/

The gowty Curio swolne with payne

Can hardly yett from play refrayne

His London iournyes coste him deare

In cardes and Bath it may appeare/

Miso is rich yett not in hair

hath much in witt but scalpe is Bare

giue youth the stage for thou maiste say

I lived and loved the meriest play |

Kenricke though though art well discended

with hyghe with Lowe with all befrended

yett doste thou Liue still discontent

for halfe thy Lande which thou haiste spente/

Calander keeps meate drink and doges

and in his hall burnes huge greate clogges

hees playne in all his actions

well I do like oulde fashions

Milo a souldier raysed thy state

to rise by armes, noe worthyer fate

in a better howse thou shouldest dwell feare not thy wife she'll vse the well./

Younge Kenricke yowle eche cause debate

yore wisest in your owne conceyte

Wag not your head hould still your hande

ittes woordes not huch⸢sig⸣nes men vnderstande./

your ffathers hardnes doth relente

pluck vp your hand Sir Malecontent

Incerteynty Doth the devide.

withhich faulte came by the surer syde/

My Little Calfe a Bull calfe is

Breakes over hedge pales and quicksett hedge/

The Cow that neuer helde before

hath brought a Calfe and may have more

Lawson your name as I suppose

may be derived from your nose./

ffor if this w.i. Did Lacke./

Then nose all you may spelder backe/

Truely and by my fayth and creditt.

Thy Curtesy excells thy witt

What though thy Lady rules the roste

Yett sometyme Looke amongst the most./

And Sir Iohn flatt Cap makes all bare.

his trayne they vayle both gatt and hayre

hees cheife in Courte though baisly borne.

and thinkes that place he doth adorne/ |

Liver I hope your spreete is gone

I have ⸢‸heard⸣ your wife can conger⸢iure⸣ one

Looke that it Come not in your purse

and for yt ... spreete youle neare be worse/

Dromos fayme⸢me⸣ doth fitt the stage/

his Lady scornes a single page

ffrom Adam he can prove his race,

yf it be true he is not base/.

Puffet amonge Knightes woulde gladly passe

and yett he lookes most like an asse.

yett since his Honour hath gott armes

His Creast shalbe a payre of Hornes./

But whether Dragon lost or won. alles one to goodman Harrison./

He feares her Ladyships estate

will not maynteyne this runninge rate/

A downe lookd swayne that dares out giue

a London 200^li and Live

What if a Knightship cost the deare

A Knightship maketh most men feare

Thy wives neare Kin must pay for all.

match thou with those that will not call/.

Gibson or the son of ould Gib.

yett son from gib I cannot Lib.

Well/. Gib is father to Gibson/

That serves for a distinction/

Sure good man francke was greasd ith Hande/

when to his name he added Lande/

Yett he coulde he no way clayme by right/

this Land shoulde make his son a Knight/

|

°A Lybell of ye

Northrydding

knyghts./°