A prince I sayde, a prince, I say agayne, Though not by byrth, by crafty vsurpation: Who doubts but some men princehood do obtayne, By open force, and wrongfull domination? Yet while they rule are had in reputation: Euen so by mee, the while I wrought my feate I was a prince, at least in my conceyte. 9. I dare the bolder take on mee the name, Because of him whom here I leade in hand, _Tychet_ lord _Awdley_, a lorde of byrth[1794] and fame, Which with his strength and powre serude in my band, I was a prince while that I was so mande: His butterfly still vnderneath my shielde Displayed was, from _Welles_ to _Blackeheath_ fielde. 10. But now beholde hee doth bewayle the same: Thus after wits theyr rashnes do depraue: Beholde dismayde hee dare not speake for shame, He lookes like one that late came from the graue, Or one that came forth of _Trophonius_ caue, For that in wit hee had so litle pith, As he a lord to serue a traytour smith. 11. Such is the courage of the noble hart, Which doth despise the vile and baser sort, Hee may not touch that sauers of the cart, Him listeth not with ech jacke lout to sport, Hee lets him passe for payring of his porte: The iolly egles catch not litle flees, The courtly silkes match seelde with homely frees. 12. But surely, _Baldwine_, if I were allowde To say the troth, I could somewhat declare: But clarkes will say: “This smith doth waxe to prowde, Thus in precepts of wisedome to compare:” But smiths must speake that clarkes for feare ne dare: It is a thing that all men may lament, When clarkes keepe close the truth lest they be shent. 13. The hostler, barber, miller, and the smith, Heare of the sawes of such as wisdom ken, And learne some wit, although they want the pith That clarkes pretend: and yet, both now and then, The greatest clarkes proue not the wisest men: It is not right that men forbid should bee To speake the truth, all were hee bond or free. 14. And for because I [haue] vsed to fret and fome, Not passing greatly whom I should displease, I dare be bolde a while to play the mome, Out of my sacke some other’s faults to lease, And let mine[1795] owne behinde my backe to peyse: For hee that hath his owne before his eye, Shall not so quicke another’s fault espye. 15.