Robin conscience, or, Conscionable Robin his progresse through court, city and countrey: with his bad [en]tertainment at each severall place, &[c.]

ROBIN CONSCIENCE: His Progresse through the Court, City, and Countrey.

I Have bin quite through England wide, With many a faint and weary stride, To see what people there abide, that loves me.

Poore Robin Conscience is my name, Sore vexed with reproach and blame, For all where ever yet I came rep••••ve me.

Few now endure my presence here, I shall be banisht quite I feare, I am despised every-where, and scorned.

Yet 'tis my Fortune now and then To meet some good woman or man. Who have (when they my woes did scan) sore mourned.

To think that Conscience is despised, Which ought to be most highly prized: This trick the Divell hath devised to blind men.

Cause Conscience tells them of their waies, Which are so wicked now a dayes, They stop their eares to what he sayes, unkind men.

I first of all went to the Court, Where Lords and Ladies did resort, My intertainment there was short, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

As soone as ere my name they heard, They ran away full sore afraid, And thought some Goblin had appear'd from hell come.

Consciene quoth one, be gone with speed, The C••u•••• few of thy name doth breed, We of ••hy presence have no need: be walking.

Tho•• tel'st us of our pride and lust Which ••pite of thee we follow must: So out of Court was Conscience thurst, no talking.

Thus vanisht from the Court I went To Westminster incontinent. Where I (alas) was sorely shent for comming,

The Lawyers did against me plead, It was no great matter some there said, If Conscience quite were knockt it'h head, then running

From them I fled with winged haste (They did so threaten me to ••aste,) Thought it was vaine my breath to waste in Counsell.

For Lawyers cannot me abide, Because for falshood I them chide, And he that holds not on their side, must down still.

Vnto the City hyed I then, To try what welcome thers Trads-men Would give poor Robin Conscience, when I came there

The shop kéepers that use deceit D••d come about me and did threat, Vnlesse I would be gone, to beat me lame there

And every one both high and low Held Conscience as a mortall foe

Because he doth ill vices show each minute:

Therefore the City in uprore Against me rose, and me so tore That I am resolv'd Ile never more come in it.

On Friday I to Smithfield went Where being come incontinent The Horse coursers with one consent did chide me:

They said that I was not my selfe And said that I was a pinching else And they could get more store of pelts beside me,

I told them of a cheating trick, Which makes the Horses run and kick, By putting in an Eele that's quick i th belly.

Another which they use full oft To beare their lame Iades heads aloft. And beat their buttocks till they're s••ft, as Ielly.

I told them y^t their wealth would rot, That they be cheating men thus got, But they for this same tale would not abide me,

And charg'd me quickly to be gone, Quod they, of Conscience we use none, Those whom I follow with my mone, out-ride me.

From thence I stept into Long-lane, Where many Brokers doe remains, To try how they would intertaine poor Conscience,

But my name when I them told, The women did begin to scold, The men said they that word did bold ••

For Conscience is so hard a word, That scarce a Broker can afford To read it, for his mouth is stor'd with lying.

He knows not what this Conscience means, That is no cause unto his gaines, Thus I was scorned for my paines, all crying

Away with Conscience from this Lane, For wee his presence do disdaine, They said, if I came there againe, among them,

They said they'd bang me back and side, Being menac'd thus away I hide: Thus worldlings think that when I chide I wrong them.

Among the Butchers then went I, As soone as ere they did me spye, They threatned me most spightfully to kill me.

Quoth one, if Conscience here should dwell Wée were not able to live well, Nor could wée gaine by'th meat we sell, nor will wee

Be bound to follow Conscience nice, Which would confine us to a price, Robin, be rul'd by my advice, quoth he then,

And get thee to some other place, Wee hate to look thée in the face, I hearing this, from thence apace did flye then.

To New gate market went I then, Where Countrey-women, maids and men, Were selling néedfull things, and when they saw me;

•• me one Butter woman railes.

Another comes and with her nailes, did claw me.

The Bakers which stood in a row Began to brawle at me also; And charged me away to goe, because I

Told them that they'd make lesser bread, Did not the Law put them in dread, Ther's some of them would wish them dead might lawes dye.

Thus chid of them my way I took Vnto Pye corner, where a Cook Glaunc't at me as the deele did looke ore Lincolne.

Conscience, quoth he thou shewst no wit In comming to this place unfit. Ile run thee thorow with a spit: then think on

These words to thee which I have said I cannot live well by my trade, If I should still require thy aide in selling,

Sometimes one joynt I must cost thrice, Ere I can sell it at my price, Then here's for thee (who art so nice) no dwelling,

Perforce he drave me backwards still Vntill I came unto Snow-hill, The Sale-men there with voices shrill fell on me:

I was so irksome to their sight That they conjured me to flight, Or else they swore (such was their spight) they'd stone me.

At Turn-againe-Laine the Fish wives there And wenches did so raile and swears. Quoth they no Conscience shall come here▪ we hate him: 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Their Bodges which for half pecks goe, They vowed at my head to throw: No Conscience they were bred to know but prating.

Away thus feighted by those Scoulds, To Fleet street streight my love it holds Where men whose tongues were made in moulds of flattery,

Did cry what lack you Countrey man? But séeing me away they ran, As though the enemy had began his battery:

One said to others, Sir ill newes, Here Conscience comes us to abuse, Let us his presence all refuse together,

And boldly stand against him all, We nere had use of him, nor shall He live with us, what chance did call him hither?

The Haberdashers that sell hats, Hit Robin Conscience many pats, And like a company of Cats, they seracht him

Quoth they why com'st thou unto us: We love not Conscience ruffling thus, They gave him words opprobrious, and matcht him.

The Mercers and Silke men also That live in Pater-noster-row Their hate against poor Conscience shew, and when I

Came to that place, they all did set On me cause I their gaine would let Who will both swear and lye to get one penny.

From thence unto Cheapsside I past, ••here words in vaine 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉

Out of the place I soone was chas'd, Quoth one man,

Conscience, for thy presumption base, Intruding to this golden place, Thou death deserv'st, therefore apace be gone man.

Dost think that we have so much gold Before our eyes still to behold, Will thus by Conscience be control'd and curbed?

Oh no, poore fellow, halfe away, For if long in this place thou stay, Thou shalt be (I le be bold to say) disturbed.

From thence I turned down Bread-street, A Cheese monger I there did meet, He hyed away with winged feet to shun me.

How now quoth I, why run you so? Quoth he, because I well doe know, That thou art Conscience my old foe, thou'st done me

Great wrong, while I made use of thée And dealt with all men honestly, A rich man I could never be; but since then

I banisht have thy company, And us'd deceit with those that buy, I thrive, and therefore Robin hie thée hence then.

I left him with his had intent And into Fish-street straight I went, Among those Lads who wish that lent were all yeare:

As soone as ere they me espied, They all at once upon me cride, And swore that Conscience should not guide 〈…〉〈…〉 there

I séeing things thus séeming strange, That all men did from goodnesse range Did hie me straight to the Exchange, a Merchant

Was so affrighted when I came, But presently he blusht for shame, His countenance did shew the same in searchant.

Quoth he friend Robin, what dost thou Here among us Merchants now, Our businesse will not us allow to use thée.

For we have trafficke without thée And thrive best if thou absent be: I for my part will utterly refuse thée.

I being thus abus'd below Did walke up stairs where on a row Brave shops of ware did make a show most sumptuous.

But when the shop-folke me did spy They drew their darke light instantly And said in comming there was I presumptuous.

The gallant Girles that there sold knacks VVhich Ladies and brave women lacks, VVhen they did sée me they did waxe in choller.

Quoth they, we nere knew Conscience yet, And if he comes our gains to let We'll banish him he'll here not get one Scholler.

I being feered thus and scorned, VVent down the staires, & sorely mourned, To think that I should thus be turn'd a begging.

To Gracious-street I went along, Where dwell a 〈…〉〈…〉

That will deceive both old and young, with cogging:

As Drapers, Poulterers, and such Who thinke they never get too much The word Conscienc to them is Dutch, or Spanish.

And harder too, for speech they'll learne With all their heart to serve their turne: But Conscience (when they him discerne) they banish.

I seeing all the City given To use deceit in spight of Heaven, To leave their company I was driven perforce then.

So over London-bridge in haste, I hist and scoft of all men, past, Then I to South w••rk tooke at last, my course then.

When I came there, I hop'd to find Welcome according to my mind, But they were rather more unkind then London:

All sorts of men and women there, Askt how I durst to them appeare, And swore my presence they would cleare abandon.

I being sore a thirst, did goe Vnto an Ale-house in the row, Meaning a penny to bestow, in strong Béere.

But cause I for a quart did call, My host is swore she'd bring me small Or else I should have none at all, thus wrong'd there,

I bad her on her Licence looke, Oh sir, quoth she, you are mistook, I have my Lesson without booke, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

If I my Licence should observe, And not in any point to swe••ve, Both I and mine alas would starve, not surfet

In stead of the quart pot of Pewter, I all small iug••, and need no tutor: I Quartridge give to the Geometer most duely,

And he will see, and yet will be blind, A knave made much on will be kinde; If you be one, Sir tell your minde, no truly.

No, no, quoth I, I au•• no Knave No fellowship with such I have, My name is Robin Conscience brave, that wander

From place to place, in hope that some Will as a servant give me roome: But all abuse me where I come, with slander.

Now when my hostesse heard me fell, My name, she swore I should not dwell With her, for I would make her sell full measure.

She did conjure me to depart: Hang Conscience, sates she, give me art, I have not got by a penny a quart my treasure.

So out o'th doors I went with speed; And glad she was to be thus fréed, Of Conscience, that she might spéed in frothing

Into the Kings Bench I needs would goe, The Iaylor did me backwards throw; Quoth he, for Conscience here you know is nothing

Through Black-manstreet I went where Stood gazing 〈…〉〈…〉

There two or thrée bawdes against me rores most lowdly,

And bad me get me hence apace, Or else they'de claw me by the face: They swore they scorn'd me and all grace most proudly.

I walkt in S. Georges Field Where ••ooking Rascalls I beheld That all the yeare their hopes do build on cheating:

They were close playing at nine pins. I came and told them of thes•• sins: Then one among the rest begins, intreating,

That I would not torment them so: I ••••ld them that I would not goe: Why then▪ quoth he, I let thée know, we care not

And yet we'll banish thee perforce: Then he began to sweare and curse And said, prat on til thou art hearse and spare not,

I left them in their wickednesse, And went along in great distresss Bewailing of my bad successe, and spied

A windmil standing there hard by, Towards the same then passed, But when the Miller did me spie he cryed,

Away with Conscience I'le none such, That smell with honesty so much, I shal not quickly fill my hutch by due tole.

I must from every bushel of meale, A peck, if not thrée gallons steale, Therefore with thee I will no deale thou true soul.

Then leaving City, skirts and all, Where my welcome it was but small, I went to try what would befall ith Countrey.

There thought I to be entertain'd: But I was likewise there disdain'd, A long time bootlesse I complain'd toth' Gentry.

And yet no service could I have, Yet if I would have play'd the Knave I might have had maintenance brave among them.

Because that I was Conscience poore, Alas they thrust me out of doore, For Conscience many of them swore, did wrong them.

Then went I to the Yeomanry, And Farmers of the Countrey, Desiring them most heartily to take me;

I told them I would sell their corne, Vnto the poor: but they did turne Me out of doores and with great scorne, forsake me,

One said he had no use of me, To sell his corne, for I quoth he Must not be onely rul'd by thée in selling.

If I shall Conscience entertaine, Hee'd make me leave ingressing gaine, Here is for thée I tell the plaine, no dwelling.

Thus from the rich men of the world, Poor Conscience up and down is hurl'd Like angry Curs at me they snarl'd and checkt me,

Alas what shall I doe, thought I, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Robin must I starve and 〈◊〉〈◊〉

I that I must, if no body respect me.

At last I to my self bethought, Where I must goe: and heaven brought Me to a place where poore folks wrought, most sorely.

And there they entertain'd me well, With whom I ever meane to dwell, With them to stay, it thus befell though poorly.

Thus people that do labour hard, Have Robin Conscience in regard; For which they shall have their reward, in Heaven.

For all their sorrow here on Earth, They shall be filled with true mirth, Crownes shall to them at second birth be given.

And all those Caitiffs that deny'd To entertain him for their guide, When they by Conscience shal be tride, and judged,

Then will they wish that they had us'd Poore Conscience whom they have resus'd, Whose company they have abus'd, and grudged.

Thus Robin Conscience that hath had Amongst most men but welcome bad, He now hath found to make him glad, abiding.

Mongst honest folks that have no lands, But got their living with their hands, These are his friends that to him stands, and's guiding.

These still kéep Conscience from grim death And neer gainsay what ere he saith, These lead their lives so here beneath, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

They may ascend from poverty, To Glory and great Dignity, Where they shall live and never dye, while frying

In hell the wicked lye, who would Not use true Conscience as they should, This is but for a morall told, you in it.

He that observes, may some-what spye, That savours of divinity, For conscionable folks do I begin it.

And so I'le bring all to an end, It can no honest man offend, For those that Conscience doe defend, it praises.

And if that any gal'd Iade kick, The Author hath devis'd a trick To turn him loose i'th fields to pick up Daisies,

FINIS.