THE SONG of a CONSTABLE: Made by JAMES GYFFON, Constable of Alburye [in Surry], Anno 1626

I A constable haue tooke myne oath; By which shall plaine appeere The troth and nothing but the troath, Whoseuer my song will heere. One greate constable of Ingland was, Another late should haue ben; But litle ones now is found will serue, So they be but honnest men. A constable must be honest and just; Haue knowledge and good reporte; And able to straine with bodie and braine, Ells he is not fitting for 't.

Some parish puttes a constable on, Alas! without vnderstanding, Bycause they'd rule him when they haue done, And haue him at their commaunding, And if he commaunds the poore they'le grutch, And twit him with partial blindnes; Againe, and if he commaunds the rich, They'le threaten him with vnkindnes: To charge or compell 'um, hee's busie they'le tell 'um; In paying of rates they 'le brawle, Fall he but vnto, do that he should do, Ile warnt you displease them all.

Whip he the roagues they'le raile and they'le curse: Soldiers as rude cause they are Sent to the treasurer with their passe, And my not beg euery where. If warrantes do come, as often they do, For money, then he it demaundes, To eu'yre one with 's rate he does go, Wherein they are leuied by landes: They 'le say then he gaters vp money of others, To put to vse for increase; Ells he gathers it vp, to run awaye wu't: What terrible wordes be these!

Hearing a presse for souldiers theyle start, Ells hide them selues when we come; Their wiues then will saye, to presse wee yee maye: Our husbands are not at home. Coyne for magazens sent for in hast; Much ado was eare they yeilded, Yet's gather'd and paid; and I am afraid They will not in hast be builed. The justices will set vs by the heels If wee do not do as we should; Which if we performe the twonsmen will storme; Some of them hang's if they could,

The constable's warnde to th' sessions then, Vnwilling some goes, alas! Yet there may wit and experience lerne, If that he be not an asse. There shall he see the justices set, Here three of O yeses, and Then shall he here the commission read, Though little he vnderstand. Our free landed men are called for in then, To be of the great inquest, The chief of our townes, with hoare on their crownes, That what should be done knowes best.

Choice men of euerye towne in the sheire, Three juries their must be more, Cald vnto the booke with "here, sir, here!" The wisest of twentye before; Then there shall he see whom hath transgrest Punished for his offence, There shall he here a number amerc't, Along of their negligence: What things are amisse, what doings there is, Justices charge them enquier, Fore clarke of the peace and baylies at least A dozen besides the crier.

Verdicts must come from these juries then, But howsoeare they endite them, Theyle not be tooke till next day by ten, Vnlesse that their clarkes do wright them. Ruff wordes or smooth are all but in vaine, All courts of proffit do savour, And though the case be neuer so plaine, Yet kissing shall go by fauour: Theyle punish the leastest, and fauour the greatest, Nought may against them proceede, And who may dare speak against one that is great, Lawe with a powlder indeede!

But now my constableship's neare done: Marke hearers, sayers and singers, There is not an officer vnder the sunne But does looke through his fingers. Yet where I see one willing to mend, Not prating nor making excuses, Such a one if I can Ile befreind; And punish the grosse abuses. My counsel now vse, you that are to chuse, PUT ABLE MEN EUER IN PLACE; FOR KNAUES AND FOOLES IN AUTHORITYE DO BUT THEMSELUES AND THEIR COUNTRIE DISGRACE