Sir! Our master shall have a gown
That all the gallants, in this town,
Shall on the fashion wonder:
It shall not be sewed but with a lace
Betwixt every seam, a space
Of two handful asunder.
Then a doublet of the new make;
Close before, and open on the back,
No sleeve upon his arm;
Under that a shirt as soft as silk,
And as white as any milk
To keep the carcase warm.
Then shall his hosen be striped
With corselets of fine velvet, sliped
Down to the hard knee;
And, from the knee downward,
His hosen shall be freshly gard
With colours two or three.
And when he is in such array—
"There goeth a rutter," men will say;
"A rutter, huffa gallant!"
Ye shall see these fools on him gaze,
And muse as it were on a maze
New brought into the land.
Wor. Aff. Ha, ha, ha! now, by the Mary Virgin!
This will set him on a merry pin,
Even as it should be.
But ever I am in great fear
That Reason will whister him in the ear,
And turn his mind clean from this gear:
This thing feareth me!
Pride. Reason! nay, nay, hardely!
He is forsaken utterly
Sith I came to his company;
He would not once appear.
Nevertheless, for a surety,
Worldly Affection, I advise thee
As shortly as ever it may be
For speed of the matter,
To bring him shortly in acquaintance
With all the company of mine affiance;
And let them give continual attendance,
Every man busily,
After the property of his office;
Then shall ye see him utterly despise
Reason's counsel, on warrantise,
And forsake him, utterly.
Sens. Nay, nay, sirs! care ye nothing
That matter is sped well and fine.
Pride. Is it so?
Sens. Yea, by heaven king!
Even as we sat together at the wine.
Wor. Aff. Thou shalt have God's blessing and mine—
But is it true?