A newe Ballad, composed in commendation of the Societie,
or Companie of the Porters. TO the tune of, In Edenbrugh, behold .
At the first went we, as here you see. But since our Corporation, on this fashion. And to our Hall, thus we goe all.
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THrise blessed is that Land
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where King and Rulers bee,
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and men of great Command
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that carefull are to see,
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that carefull are to see,
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the Commons good mantainde
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by friendly unitie,
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the proppe of any land.
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Then blessed is this Land
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by our dread soveraignes raigne,
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whose prudence in command,
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doth all estates maintaine:
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[?] to comfort all
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is unto all extended
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rich, poore, both great and small,
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are by his care defended.
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As plainly doth appeare,
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by that was lately done,
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for them that burthens beare,
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and doe on businesse runne:
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the Porters of this Cittie,
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some being men of Trade,
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but now the more, the more the pitty
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by crosses are decayde.
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Yet bearing honest mindes,
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their charge for to maintaine,
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as Gods command them bindes,
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with travell and with paine:
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they all have wisely joyned,
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for that they have effected,
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their company to binde
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and make it more respected.
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Now they that were before
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of meanest estimation,
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by suite have salvde that sore,
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and gainde a Corporation:
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excludes, and shuts out many
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that were of base esteeme,
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and will not suffer any
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such person bide with them.
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But such as well are knowen,
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and honest Acts imbrace:
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among them theile have none
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(as neare as they can finde)
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but such as well are knowen
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to beare an honest minde.
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For now unto their hall
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they pay their quarteridge downe,
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attending maisters call,
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and fearing maisters frowne,
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there seeking for redresse
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and right if they have wrong,
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there, they that doe trangresse
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have that to them doth long.
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If there be any one
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of them, a burthen takes,
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and with the same be gone:
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their hall, the owner makes
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sufficient satisfaction
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for that, that he hath left:
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the theefe without redemption,
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out of their numbers crost.
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It is a better order
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then that they had before,
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when as the malefactor
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was on a coultstaffe bore:
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for th'owner tis much better,
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but for th'offender worse,
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to taste this newe made order,
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then ride a wooden horse.
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That shame was soone slipt over,
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soone in oblivion drownde,
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and then againe, another
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would in like fault be found:
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not caring for their credit,
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and trust another time,
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this orders therefore as a bit
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to hold them from that crime.
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They that are rash, and rude,
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and obstinately runne
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as their owne willes conclude,
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and cannot well be wonne
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to condescend, and stand
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to orders they have made,
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by the Rulers out of hand,
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have fines uppon them laide.
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All jarres and braules are bard
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that mongst them might arise,
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first commer, first is servde,
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where as a burthen lyes,
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if one be ready there
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he must his profite take:
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all other must forbeare
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and no resistance make.
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Such as have long bin knowen
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to use this bearing trade,
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and into yeares are growen,
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(so that their strengths decayde)
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they can no longer labour
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as they have done before,
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the Companie doth succour
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and maintaine evermore.
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These and a many moe
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good orders they have, sure,
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to make rude fellowes know
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their stoutnesse, doth procure
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but their owne detriment
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and losse, if they could see't:
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and likewise so augment
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their generall good, there meete.
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For great is the number
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of this Societie:
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and many without order
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can never settled bee,
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but things will be amisse,
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as oft it hath bin knowen,
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the number of them is,
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a thousand fortie one.
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They all mette together,
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most hansomely arayde,
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at Christ church , to heare there
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a sermon, for them made.
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There markes of Admittaince
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made out of tinne, they bare
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about their neckes in ribbons:
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the chiefe, of silver weare.
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To have seene them so, you'd wonder,
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so many should maintaine
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themselves, by such a labour,
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but that, thats got with paine,
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God doth increase and blesse:
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for good himselfe hath sed,
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with paine and wearinesse,
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we all should get our bread.
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Thus therefore I conclude,
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more happie men are they,
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then many that delude
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the world, and beare away
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the sweete of poore mens labour
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their chests to cram and stuffe,
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nor caring for Gods favour,
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so they have golde enough.
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Our royall King and Queene
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thou King of Kings defend,
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as thou to them hast beene
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most mercifull and kinde:
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thy love to them increase,
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blesse all they undertake:
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His Counsels counsell, blesse,
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Even for thy deare sons sake.
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