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CERTAINE LETTERS
The house that hath no god or paynted saint within,
Is not to be resorted too—that roofe is full of sinne.
Besides their priuate gods, in open places stand
Their crosses, unto which they crooch, and bless themselves with hand;
Devoutly downe they ducke with forehead to the ground,
Was neuer more deceit in ragges and greasie garments found.
Almost the meanest man in all the countrie rides;
The woman eke, against our use, her trotting horse bestrides:
In sundry colours they, both men and women goe,
In buskins all, that money haue on buskins to bestoe.
Eche woman hanging hath a ring within her eare,
Which all of auncient vse, and some of very pride doe weare;
Their gate is very brave, their countenance wise and sadde,
And yet they follow fleshly lustes, their trade of living badde.
It is no shame at all accounted, to defile
Anothers bedde, they make no care their follies to concile;
Is not the meanest man in all the land but hee,
To buy her paynted colours, doth allow his wife a fee,
Wherewith she deckes herselfe, and dyes her tawnie skinne,
She prankes and paints her smoakie face, both browe, lippe, cheeke, and chinne.
Yea those that honest are, if any such there be
Within the land, doe use the like; a man may plainely see
Upon some womens cheekes the paynting how it lies,
In plaister sort for that too thick, her face the harlot dies.
But such as skilfull are, and cunning dames indeed,
By daily practise doe it well, yea sure they doe exceede;
They lay their colours so, as he that is full wise,
May easly be deceiv’d therein, if he doe trust his eyes.
I not a little muse, what madnes makes them paint
Their faces, waying how they keepe the stoove by meere constraint;
For seldome when, vnlesse on church or marriage day,
A man shall see the dames abroade that are of best aray;
The Russie meanes to reape the profit of her pryde,
And so he mewes her to be sure she lye by no mans side.
Thus much, friend Dancie, I did meane to write to thee,
To let thee weete in Russia land what men and women bee.
Hereafter I perhaps of other things will write
To thee, and other of my friendes, which I shall see with sight;
And other stuffe besides, which true report shall tell,
Meanewhile I ende my louing lines, and bid thee now farewell.
Is not to be resorted too—that roofe is full of sinne.
Besides their priuate gods, in open places stand
Their crosses, unto which they crooch, and bless themselves with hand;
Devoutly downe they ducke with forehead to the ground,
Was neuer more deceit in ragges and greasie garments found.
Almost the meanest man in all the countrie rides;
The woman eke, against our use, her trotting horse bestrides:
In sundry colours they, both men and women goe,
In buskins all, that money haue on buskins to bestoe.
Eche woman hanging hath a ring within her eare,
Which all of auncient vse, and some of very pride doe weare;
Their gate is very brave, their countenance wise and sadde,
And yet they follow fleshly lustes, their trade of living badde.
It is no shame at all accounted, to defile
Anothers bedde, they make no care their follies to concile;
Is not the meanest man in all the land but hee,
To buy her paynted colours, doth allow his wife a fee,
Wherewith she deckes herselfe, and dyes her tawnie skinne,
She prankes and paints her smoakie face, both browe, lippe, cheeke, and chinne.
Yea those that honest are, if any such there be
Within the land, doe use the like; a man may plainely see
Upon some womens cheekes the paynting how it lies,
In plaister sort for that too thick, her face the harlot dies.
But such as skilfull are, and cunning dames indeed,
By daily practise doe it well, yea sure they doe exceede;
They lay their colours so, as he that is full wise,
May easly be deceiv’d therein, if he doe trust his eyes.
I not a little muse, what madnes makes them paint
Their faces, waying how they keepe the stoove by meere constraint;
For seldome when, vnlesse on church or marriage day,
A man shall see the dames abroade that are of best aray;
The Russie meanes to reape the profit of her pryde,
And so he mewes her to be sure she lye by no mans side.
Thus much, friend Dancie, I did meane to write to thee,
To let thee weete in Russia land what men and women bee.
Hereafter I perhaps of other things will write
To thee, and other of my friendes, which I shall see with sight;
And other stuffe besides, which true report shall tell,
Meanewhile I ende my louing lines, and bid thee now farewell.
