Sir, what tidings hear ye now on the sea?
We met of ships a great navy, Full of people that would into Ireland; And they came out of this country: They will never more come to England.
Whence were the ships of them? knowest thou none?
Harken, and I will show you their names each one: First was the _Regent_, with the _Michael_ of Brikilse; The _George_, with the _Gabriel_, and the _Anne_ of Fowey; The _Star_ of Saltash, with the _Jesus_ of Plymouth; Also the _Hermitage_, with the _Barbara_ of Dartmouth, The _Nicolas_ and the _Mary Bellouse_ of Bristow, With the _Ellen_ of London and _James_ also: Great was the people that was in them, All true religious and holy women: There was Truth and his kinsmen, With Patience, Meekness, and Humility, And all true maidens with their virginity, Royal preachers, sadness and charity, Right conscience and faith, with devotion, And all true monks that keep their religion, True buyers and sellers, and alms-deed doers, Piteous people, that he of sin destroyers, With just abstinence and good councillors, Mourners for sin, with lamentation, And good rich men that helpeth folk out of prison, True wedlock was there also, With young men that ever in prayer did go, The ships were laden with such unhappy company, But at the last God shope[129] a remedy, For they all in the sea were drowned, And on a quicksand they strake to ground; The sea swallowed them everychone, I wot well alive there scaped none.
Lo, now my heart is glad and merry; For joy now let us sing "Derry, derry."
Fellows, they shall never more us withstand; For I see them all drowned in the Rase of Ireland.
Yea, but yet hark, Hickscorner, What company was in your ship, that came over?
Sir, I will aid[130] you to understand, There were good fellows above five thousand, And all they been kin to us three: There was falsehood, favell,[131] and jollity, Yea, thieves, and whores, with other good company, Liars, backbiters, and flatterers the while, Brawlers, liars, jetters, and chiders, Walkers by night, with great murderers, Overthwart guile[rs] and jolly carders, Oppressors of people, with many swearers, There was false law with horrible vengeance, Froward obstination with mischievous governance, Wanton wenches, and also michers, With many other of the devil's officers; And hatred, that is so mighty and strong, Hath made a vow for ever to dwell in England.