THE Arraigning and Indicting OF Sir John Barleycorn, Knt. Newly Composed By a Well Wisher to Sir John, and all that love him.

"All you that be good fellows, Come listen unto me, If that you love the alehouse And merry company. "Attend unto my story, It makes my heart full sorry, Which I fear is too true And many doth it rue. "'Tis of a gallant noble Knight, Which many know full well, An honest man, I witness can, If I the truth may tell. "His name is Sir John Barleycorn, Who makes both beer and bread, What would do all that now are born, If Barleycorn was dead? "For as I abroad did walk, I heard a piteous cry, And many a man did talk That Barleycorn must die, "His enemies increase so fast, At board, and eke at bed, I fear their malice will not cease, Till they cut off his head. "For Smut the honest blacksmith, With many tradesmen more; And Snip the nimble Taylor, Doth vow that he shall die. "And Will the Weaver doth complain, With many thousands more; I hope their labour is in vain, Therefore they may give o'er. "Yet now awhile give ear, You that are standers by, And you presently shall hear Sir John condemned to die. "All you that love poor Barleycorn, A good word for him give, And he that speaks against him, I wish he may not live."

"A pleasant new Ballad to Sing both Even and Morne, Of the bloody Murther of Sir John Barleycorne.

"As I went through the North Countrey, I heard a merry greeting, A pleasant toy, and full of joy, two noble men were meeting. "And as they walked for to sport, vpon a Sommers day, Then with another noble man they went to make a fray. "Whose name was sir John Barleycorne he dwelt down in a dale; Who had a kinsman dwelt him nigh they cal'd him Thomas Goodale. "Another named Richard Beere, was ready at that time; Another worthy Knight was there, call'd sir William White Wine. "Some of them fought in a blacke Jacke, some of them in a Can; But the chiefest in a blacke pot, like a worthy noble man. "Sir John Barleycorne fought in a Boule who wonne the victorie; And made them all to fume and sweare that Barleycorne should die. "Some said kill him, some said drowne, others wisht to hang him hie; For as many as follow Barleycorne shall surely beggers die. "Then with a plough they plowed him vp and thus they did deuise, To burie him quicke within the earth and swore he should not rise. "With horrowes strong they combed him and burst clods on his head: A joyfull banquet then was made, when Barleycorne was dead. "He rested still within the earth till raine from skies did fall Then he grew vp in branches greene, which sore amazed them all. "And so grew vp till Midsommer, which made them all afeard; For he was sprouted vp on hie and got a goodly beard. "Then he grew till S. James tide his countenance was wan, For he was growne vnto his strength, and thus became a man. "With hookes and sickles keene, into the field they hide, They cut his legs off by the knees, and made him wounds full wide. "Thus bloodily they cut him downe from place where he did stand, And like a thiefe for treachery, they bound him in a band. "So then they tooke him vp againe according to his kind; And packt him vp in seuerall stackes to wither with the wind. "And with a pitchfork that was sharpe, they rent him to the heart, And like a thiefe for treason vile they bound him in a cart. "And tending him with weapons strong, vnto the towne they hie, And straight they mowed him in a mow and there they let him lie. "Then he lay groaning by the wals, till all his wounds were sore; At length they took him vp againe and cast him on the floore. "They hyred two with holly clubs, to beat on him at once, They thwacked so on Barlycorne that flesh fell from the bones. "And then they tooke him vp againe to fulfill womens mind They dusted and they sifted him, till he was almost blind. "And then they knit him in a sacke which grieued him full sore; They steep'd him in a Fat, God wot, for three dayes space and more, "Then they tooke him vp againe, and laid him for to drie, They cast him on a chamber floore, and swore that he should die. "They rubbed and they stirred him and still they did him turne, The Malt man swore that he should die his body he would burne. "They spightfully tooke him vp againe And threw him on a kill: So dried him then with fire hot, and thus they wraught their will. "Then they brought him to the mill, and there they burst his bones, The Miller swore to murther him betwixt a pair of Stones. "Then they tooke him vp againe, and seru'd him worse than that For with hot scalding liquor score they washt him in a Fat. "But not content with this, God wot, that did him mickle harme, With threatning words they promised to beat him into barme "And lying in this danger deep for feare that he should quarrell, They took him straight out of the fat and tunn'd him in a barrell. "And then they set a tap to him, euen thus his death begun; They drew out euery drain of blood, whilst any drop would run, "Some brought iacks vpon their backs some brought bill and bow, And euery man his weapon had, Barlycorne to overthrow. "When sir John Goodale heard of this he came with mickle might And there he took their tongues away, their legs or else their sight. "And thus sir John in each respect so paid them all their hire, That some lay sleeping by the way some tumbling in the mire— "Some lay groning by the wals, some in the streets down right, The best of them did scarcely know what they had done ore night. "All you good wiues that brew good ale God turne from you all teen, But if you put too much water in the devill put out your eyne.