YORKE, YORKE FOR MY MONIE.[133]

YORKE for my monie: Of all the citties that ever I see, For mery pastime and companie, Except the cittie of London. As I came through the north countree, The fashions of the world to see, I sought for my mery companie, To go to the cittie of London: And when to the cittie of Yorke I came, I found good companie in the same, As well disposed to every game, As if it had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And in that cittie what saw I then? Knightes, squires, and gentlemen, A shooting went for matches ten As if it had been at London. And they shot for twentie poundes a bowe, Besides great cheere they did bestowe, I never sawe a gallanter showe, Except I had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. These matches you shall understande, The earle of Essex took in hande, Against the good earle of Cumberlande, As if it had been at London. And agreede these matches all shall be For pastime and good company, At the cittie of Yorke full merily As if it had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. In Yorke there dwells an alderman, which Delights in shooting very much, I never heard of any such In all the cittie of London. His name is Maltbie,[134] mery and wise, At any pastime you can devise, But in shooting all his pleasure lyes, The like was never in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. This Maltbie for the cittie sake, To shoot (himself) did undertake, At any good match the earls would make, As well as they do at London. And he brought to the fields with him, One Specke, an archer, proper and trim, And Smith, that shoote about the pin, As if it had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. Then came from Cumberlande archers three, Best bowmen in the north countree, I will tell you their names what they be Well known to the cittie of London. Walmsley many a man dothe knowe, And Bolton how he draweth his bowe, And Ratcliffe's shooting long agoe, Well knowne to the cittie of London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And the noble earle of Essex came To the fielde himselfe to see the same, Which shal be had for ever in fame, As soone as I come at London. For he showed himself so diligent there, To make a marke and keepe it faire: It is worthie memorie to declare Through all the cittie of London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And then was shooting out of crye, And skantling at a handfull nie, And yet the winde was very hie, As it is sometimes at London. They clapt the cloutes so on the ragges, There was such betting and such bragges, And galloping up and down with nagges, As if it had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And never an archer gave regarde To halfe a bowe and halfe a yarde, I never see matches goe more harde About the cittie of London. For fairer play was never plaide, For fairer layes was never laide And a week together they kept this trade, As if it had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. The maior of Yorke,[135] with his companie, Were all in the fields, I warrant ye, To see good rule kept orderly, As if it had been at London. Which was a dutifull sight to see, The maior and alderman there to bee, For setting forth of archerie, As well as they do at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And there was neither fault nor fray, Nor any disorder any way, But every man did pitch and pay, As if it had been at London. As soon as every match was done, Every man was paid that won, And merily up and downe dide ronne, As if it had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And never a man that went abroade, But thought his monie well bestowde, And monie laide in heap and loade, As if it had been at London. And gentlemen there so franke and free, As a mint at Yorke again should bee; Like shooting did I never see, Except I had been at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. At Yorke were ambassadours three, Of Russia—lordes of high degree, This shooting they desirde to see, As if it had been at London. And one desirde to draw a bowe, The force and strength thereof to knowe, And for his delight he drew it so As seldom seen in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And they did marvaile very much, There could be any archer such, To shoote so farre the cloute to tutch, Which is no news to London. And they might well consider than, An English shaft will kill a man, As hath been proved, where and whan, And chronicled since in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. The earle of Cumberlande's archers won Two matches cleare, ere all was done, And I made haste a pace to ronne, To carrie these news to London. And Walmsley did the upshot win, With both his shafts so near the pin, You could scant have put three fingers in, As if it had been in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. I passe not for my monie it cost, Though some I spent and some I lost, I wanted neither sod nor roast, As if it had been in London. For there was plentie of every thing, Redd and fallowe deere, for a king, I never saw so mery shooting, Since first I came from London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. God save the cittie of Yorke, therefore, That hath such noble friends in store, And such good aldermen send them more, And the like good luck at London. For it is not little joye to see, When lords and aldermen so agree, With such according cummunaltie, God send us the like in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. God save the good earle of Cumberlande, His praise in golden lines shall stande, That maintains archerie through the land, As well as they do at London. Whose noble minde so courteously Acquaintes himself with the communaltie, To the glory of his nobilitie, I will carie the praise to London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. And tell the good earle of Essex thus, As he is now young and prosperus, To use such properties vertuous, Deserves great praise in London. For it is no little joy to see, When noble youths so gracious bee, To give their good willes to their countrie, As well as they do at London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. Farewell good cittie of Yorke to thee, Tell alderman Maltbie this from mee, In print shall this good shooting bee, As soone as I come at London. And many a song will I bestow, On all the musitians that I know, To sing the praises where they goe, Of the cittie of Yorke, in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. God save our queen, and keep our peace, That our good shooting may increase, And praying to God let us not cease, As well at Yorke as at London. That all our countree round about May have archers good to hit the cloute, Which England cannot be without, No more than Yorke or London. Yorke, Yorke, &c. God graunt that (once) her majestie Would come, her cittie of Yorke to see, For the comfort great of that countree, As well as she doth at London. Nothing shall be thought too deare, To see her highness' person there, With such obedient loue and feare, As ever she had in London. Yorke, Yorke, &c.