[Illustration]
There was a jovial Beggar, [119.]
he had a wooden Leg,
Lame from his Cradle,
and forced for to Beg;
_And a Begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go,
And a Begging we will go._
A Bag for my Oatmeal,
another for my Salt,
A little pair of Crutches,
to see how I can halt;
_And a Begging, &c_
A Bag for my Bread,
another for my Cheese,
A little Dog to follow me,
to gather what I leese.
_And a Begging &c_
A Bag for my Wheat,
another for my Rye,
A little Bottle by my side,
to drink when I'm a dry.
_And a Begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go,
And a Begging we will go._
To _Pimlico_ we'll go,
where merry we shall be,
With ev'ry Man, a Can in's hand,
and a Wench upon his knee.
_And a Begging &c_
Seven years I served
my old Master Wild,
Seven years I begged
whilst I was but a Child
_And a begging &c_
I had the pretty knack
for to wheedle and to cry,
By young and by old
much pitied e'er was I.
_And a begging &c_
Fatherless and Motherless
still was my Complaint,
And none that ever saw me
but took me for a Saint.
_And a begging &c_
I begg'd for my Master,
and got him store of Pelf,
But _Jove_ now be praised,
I now beg for myself.
_And a begging &c_
Within a hollow Tree
I live, and pay no Rent,
Providence provides for me,
and I am well content.
_And a begging &c_
Of all occupations
a Beggar lives the best,
For when he is a weary,
he'll lie him down and rest.
_And a begging &c_
I fear no Plots against me,
but live in open Cell;
Why who woud be a King
when a Beggar lives so well?
_And a begging &c._
_Printed for_ R. Brooksby _at the_ Golden Ball _in_ Pye-Corner.
[Footnote 228: For tune, see Appendix.]
[67.] A Company went to an Inne without money, when ye reckoning was
to be pay'd, one called his hostesse, asking her what it was: she said
two shillings. Then he askt her what one should pay for bloodshed:
she answered ten groats. Then, said he, cut my finger and give me y^e
rest[F. 229] againe.
[Footnote 229: _i.e._ give me the change.]
[52.] One _Dromo_, a certaine Tiler, sitting upon a ridge of a House,
laying on certaine roofe tiles, looking backe, and reaching somewhat
too far for a little morter, that lay by him, fell backward and by
good hap, fell upon a man that was sitting under the house, whom with
his fall he bruised to death, but thereby saved his owne life. Not
many dayes after, a sonne of the dead mans, caused this man to be
apprehended for murther, and, having him before the Judge, cried unto
the Judge for justice: who asking the prisoner what hee could say for
himselfe, received this answer. Truly, Sir, I never thought the man
any hurt, neither did I thinke to fall: but since it was my hap to hit
upon him to save my life, if it please your Lordship, I am contented
that he shall have justice; for my selfe, I had no malice to his
father, though I see he hath a great deale to me: but let him doe his
worst, I care not, I aske no favour: let him go up to the top of the
house where I sate, and I will sit where his father sate; let him fall
from the place as cunningly as hee can, and fall upon mee to save his
life, I will bee contented. The Judge seeing the mans innocency,
and how farre he was from intent of any evill to the man whom he
had slaine, willed the complainant to take this course for his
contentment: which he refusing, was dismissed the Court, and the
Prisoner thus by his wity answer released.
[110.] There was a certaine farmer that lost forty pounds betwixt
_Cambridge_ and _London_, and being so great a summe, he made
proclamation in all market Townes there abouts, that whosoever had
found forty and five pounds, should have the five pounds for his
labour for finding it, and therefore he put in the five pound more
than was lost. It was Maister _Hobsons_ fortune to find the same
sum of forty pounds, and brought the same to the baylive of _Ware_ &
required the five pounds for his paines, as it was proclaymed. When
the country farmer understood this, and that he must needs pay five
pounds for the finding, he sayd that there was in the purse five and
forty pounds, and so would hee have his owne mony and five pounds
over. So long they strove, that the matter was brought before a
Justice of the Peace, which was one Maister _Fleetwood_, who after
was Recorder of London; but when Maister _Fleetwood_ understood by the
bayleife that the proclamation was made for a purse of five and forty
pound, he demanded where it was. Here, quoth the baylie, and gave
it him. Is it just forty pound? said Maister _Fleetwood_. Yes truly,
(quoth the bayleife) Here maister _Hobson_, sayd Ma. _Fleetwood_, take
you this mony for it is your owne, and if you chance to find a purse
of five and forty pound, bring it to this honest farmer. That is mine,
quoth the farmer, for I lost just forty pound. You speake too late
(quoth Maister _Fleetwood_). Thus the farmer lost the mony, and
maister _Hobson_ had it according to justice.
[67.] Mr. French the King's Fisher, beeing a Widower, married a young
woman, and shortly died, on whom one made this distich.
By fish hee liv'd, by fish hee thriv'd,
He touched y^e flesh, and so hee died.
[103.] An Alderman of _Norwich_, having a Maid servant Married
from his House, went two or three Years after to see her, and ask'd
(amongst other things) how many Children she had? Truly Sir, says she,
none. O Lord, replys he, what should be the reason of that? I don't
know, says the Woman. Alas! adds the Old Fellow, now I remember me,
your Mother had none.
[105.] After a while _Scogin_ came to London, hee married a young
woman, taking her for a maid, as other men doe. At last he thought to
prove his wife, and fained himselfe sicke. Oh good wife, saies he, I
will shew you a thing, and if you will promise me to conceale it. She
said, Sir, you may tell mee what you will, I were worse than accursed,
if I should disclose your counsell: O wife, said _Scogin_, I had a
great pang to day in my sicknesse, for I did parbrake,[F. 230] and
cast out a Crow. A Crow? said shee. Yea, said _Scogin_, God helpe
me. Be of good comfort said she, you shall recover and doe well. Well
wife, said _Scogin_, goe to Church and pray for me: shee went to the
Church, and by & by one of her gossips met with her and asked how her
husband did. I wis,[F. 231] said she, a sore sick man he is, and like
to die, for there is an evill signe and token in him. What is that,
Gossip? said shee. Nay, by gisse,[F. 232] I will not tell it to any
man alive. What, said the woman, you may tell me, for I will never
bewray your counsell. By gisse, said _Scogin's_ wife, if I wist
that you wold keep my counsel, I wold tel you. Then said the woman,
whatsoever you doe tell, I will lay it dead under my feet. Oh, said
_Scogins_ wife, my husband parbraked two Crowes. Jesus, said the
woman, I never heard of such a thing. This woman as she did meet
with another gossip of hers, shewed that _Scogin_ had parbraked three
Crowes. So it went on from one gossip to another, that ere Mattens
were finished, all the parish knew that _Scogin_ had parbraked twenty
Crowes. And when the Priest was ready to goe into the Pulpit, one came
to request him and all the Parish to pray for _Scogin_, for he had
parbraked twenty Crowes. The Priest blessed him and said to the
Parishioners, I doe pray you pray for Scogin, for he is in perill
of his life, and hath parbraked 21 Crowes. By and by one went to
_Scogin_, and said, Sir, is it as it is spoken in the Church of you?
What is that, said _Scogin_. The Priest said in the Pulpit that you
parbraked 21 Crowes. Said _Scogin_, what a lie is this? By & by the
bels were told for sacring, and _Scogin_ hied him to Church, lustily
and merry, and when the men and women did see him in the Church, they
looked upon one another, and marvelled of this matter. After Masse,
_Scogin_ asked what were they that they should bring such a tale upon
him. At last the matter was so boulted out, that the original of the
cause began at Scogins wife.
[Footnote 230: Or parbreak, to vomit.]
[Footnote 231: Suppose or think.]
[Footnote 232: An oath, a corruption of _Jesus_.]
[17.] A poor Countrey Boy came up to _London_ to be an Apprentice to
a Cobler, and seeing the Lord Mayors show, and hearing that Sir _Simon
Eyre_ who formerly was Lord Mayor, had been apprentice to a Shoemaker;
one said to him, Is not this a brave show: I, says the Boy, _'tis this
we must all come to_.
[4.] A silly old fellow meeting his God son, ask'd whither he was
going? To School, said the Boy: That's well, said he, there's a Penny
for you; Be a good Boy, and mind your Book, and I hope I shall live to
hear thee Preach my Funeral Sermon.
[94.] It was said by one, that a Hangman had a contemplative
Profession, because he was never at work, but he was put in minde of
his own end.
[94.] Why do Ladies so affect slender wastes, said one? 'Tis (replied
another) because their Expences may not be too great.
[67.] John Hall, beeing in a sheete (of printing, or writing) called,
Knave, is said to have Carried it to y^e Vice Ch.(ancellor) Dr Gouch
to complaine, who beeing walking in his garden, and vexed that hee
would trouble him w^{th} such a frivolous matter, tare y^e sheete &
cast it abroad. John gathers up all ye pieces: y^e D^r demanded why?
Hee answered, I would bee loth to leave y^e Knave in your worship's
garden.
[94.] One commending a Taylor for his dexterity in his Profession;
another standing by, ratified his opinion, saying, _Taylors had their
business at their fingers ends_.