_I, liber, et propera, regem tu pronus adora;_ _Me sibi commendes humilem Skeltonida vatem:_ _Ante suam majestatem, (per cætera passim,)_ _Inclyta bella refer, gessit quæ maximus heros_ _Anglorum, primus nostra de gente Ricardus,_ _Hector ut intrepidus, contra validissima castra_ _Gentis Agarenæ; memora quos ille labores,_ _Quos tulit angores, qualesque recepit honores._ _Sed_ _Chronica Francorum, validis inimica Britannis,_ _Sæpe solent celebres Britonum compescere laudes._ 10 [600] Nasmith’s _Catal. Libr. Manuscript, quos Coll. Corporis Christi et B. Mariæ Virginis in Acad. Cantabrig. legavit Reverendiss. in Christo Pater Matthæus Parker, Archiepisc. Cantuar._ p. 400. 1777, 4to. THE MANER OF THE WORLD NOW A DAYES.[601] So many poynted caps Lased with double flaps, And so gay felted hats, Sawe I never: So many good lessons, So many good sermons, And so few devocions, Sawe I never. So many gardes worne, Jagged and al to-torne, 10 And so many falsely forsworne, Sawe I never: So few good polycies In townes and cytyes For kepinge of blinde hostryes Sawe I never. So many good warkes, So few wel lerned clarkes, And so few that goodnes markes, Sawe I never: 20 Such pranked cotes and sleves, So few yonge men that preves, And such encrease of theves, Sawe I never. So many garded hose, Such cornede shoes, And so many envious foes, Sawe I never: So many questes sytte With men of smale wit, 30 And so many falsely quitte, Sawe I never. So many gay swordes, So many altered wordes, And so few covered bordes, Sawe I never: So many empti purses, So few good horses, And so many curses, Sawe I never. 40 Such bosters and braggers, So newe fashyoned daggers, And so many beggers, Sawe I never: So many propre knyves, So well apparrelled wyves And so yll of theyr lyves, Saw I never. So many cockolde makers, So many crakers, 50 And so many peace breakers, Saw I never: So much vayne clothing With cultyng and jagging, And so much bragginge, Saw I never. So many newes and knackes, So many naughty packes, And so many that mony lackes, Saw I never: 60 So many maidens with child And wylfully begylde, And so many places untilde, Sawe I never. So many women blamed And rightuously defaimed, And so lytle ashamed, Sawe I never: Widowes so sone wed After their husbandes be deade, 70 Having such hast to bed, Sawe I never.