Verses upon the order for making Knights of such persons who had £46 _per annum_ in King _James_ I.’s time. _Come all you farmers out of the country,_ _Carters, plowmen, hedgers and all,_ _~Tom~, ~Dick~ and ~Will~, ~Ralph~, ~Roger~ and ~Humfrey~,_ _Leave off your gestures rusticall._ _Bidd all your home-sponne russetts adue,_ _And sute your selves in fashions new;_ _Honour invites you to delights:_ _Come all to Court and be made Knights_. 2. _He that hath fortie pounds ~per annum~_ _Shalbe promoted from the plowe:_ _His wife shall take the wall of her grannum,_ _Honour is sould soe dog-cheap now._ _Though thow hast neither good birth nor breeding,_ _If thou hast money, thow art sure of speeding._ 3. _Knighthood in old time was counted an honour,_ _Which the best spiritts did not disdayne;_ _But now it is us’d in so base a manner,_ _That it’s noe creditt, but rather a staine:_ _Tush, it’s noe matter what people doe say,_ _The name of a Knight a whole village will sway._ 4. _Shepheards, leave singing your pastorall sonnetts,_ _And to learne complements shew your endeavours:_ _Cast of[f] for ever your two shillinge bonnetts,_ _Cover your coxcombs with three pound beavers._ _Sell carte and tarrboxe new coaches to buy,_ _Then, “Good your Worship,” the vulgar will cry._ 5. _And thus unto worshipp being advanced,_ _Keepe all your tenants in awe with your frownes;_ _And let your rents be yearly inhaunced,_ _To buy your new-moulded maddams new gowns._ _~Joan~, ~Sisse~, and ~Nell~ shalbe all ladified,_ _Instead of hay-carts, in coaches shall ryde._ 6. _Whatever you doe, have a care of expenses,_ _In hospitality doe not exceed:_ _Greatnes of followers belongeth to princes:_ _A Coachman and footmen are all that you need:_ _And still observe this, let your servants meate lacke,_ _To keep brave apparel upon your wives backe._ [Additional stanza from Mr. Hunter’s MS.] 7. _Now to conclude, and shutt up my sonnett,_ _Leave of the Cart-whip, hedge-bill and flaile,_ _This is my counsell, think well upon it,_ _Knighthood and honour are now put to saile._ _Then make haste quickly, and lett out your farmes,_ _And take my advice in blazing your armes._ _Honor invites, &c._ (Shakespeare Soc., 1846, pp. 145-6, J. O. Halliwell’s Commentary on Merry Wives of Windsor, Act. ii. sc. 1, “These Knights will hack.” Also his notes in Tallis’s edit., of the same, n. d., pp. 122-3. William Chappell, in _Pop. Music O. T._, p. 327, gives the tune.) Page 72. _The Chandler drew near his end._ Another tolerable Epigram on a Chandler meets us, beginning “How might his days end that made weeks [wicks]?” among the Epitaphs of _Wits Recreations_, 1640-5 (Reprint, p. 271). Page 73. _Farre in the Forrest of Arden._