The Honest Age,
O R
There is honesty in all Trades;
As by this Ditty shall appeare,
Therefore attend and give good eare.
To the tune of the Golden age.
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YOu Poets that write of the ages that's past,
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I pray stay your hand and write not too fast,
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Ile write of an age that for ever shall last,
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Plaine dealing in Country and City is plac't.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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Some people at these strange tidings will muse,
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And some will be joyfull to heare such rare newes,
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Then list to my Ditty for it briefly shewes,
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No man Ile offend, then let no man refuse,
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To heare of this honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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And first to goe forw[a]rd as now I intend,
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I heare that the Broker his money will lend
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To any poore Neighbour his estate to amend,
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How well is that man that hath got such a friend.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Chandler that keepes coles and fewel to sell,
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Doth top heape his measure and soundly it fill,
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For S[ope] Starch, and Candle he wayeth so well,
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That of his plaine dealing his neighbors can tell.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Taylor doth scorne to deceive any friend,
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But unto plaine dealing his mind he doth bend,
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If once he were false he hath sworne to amend,
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No more cloth, nor silke, lace, to hell he will send.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Cookes in Pye-corner deceit will not use,
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In rosting meat three times their trade to abuse,
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They'l rather both custome and money refuse,
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Than use a man falsely if that they can chuse.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Tapster is willing to give men content.
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To sell them full measure his humour is bent
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If a man score a dozen he will not repent,
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Nor take of you hate for the beere which is spent.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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I heare this of Bakers in sizing of bread,
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Tho some think that conscience from Bakers is fled
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Since one through the Pillery put forth his head,
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No more of their company will be misled.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The second part. To the same tune:
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ALso the Butcher so joviall and bold,
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is turn'd a plaine dealer as you may behold,
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They'l put forth no [tainted] meat for to be sold
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To wrong any Neighbour for silver nor gold,
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Miller that used too deepe to take tole,
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Is now in great feare to endanger his soule,
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Of late Robin Conscience tooke him by the pole.
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And charg'd him to flye those offences so foule.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Brewer that made his beere very small,
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Hath changed his hand since Malt had a fall,
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And by this meanes gained the love of them all,
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The rich and the poore, the great and the small.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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And the neat Shooemaker who merrily sings,
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Whose predecessors were heires unto Kings,
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To such good perfection all matters he brings,
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That throughout all Europe his credit rings,
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Weaver, the Glover, the Mason also,
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The Painter that makes such a gorgious show,
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The Pewterer, the Plummer with other trades mo
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Will use no false dealing where ever they goe.
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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The Cooper, the Blacksmith the ancient translater
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The Copper-nos'd tinker with his wife that kind creture
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And that swaggering Sowgelder & Jack that great eater
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Hath sworne to his wife that he never will beat her
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O this is a quiet age,
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This is a plane dealing age.
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The Spendthrift that used in Taverns to rore,
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With wine and Tobacco and sometimes a whore
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Say's now hee'l live honest and doe so no more.
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If he have spare money hee'l give it to the poore,
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O this is an honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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All this honest company which I have nam'd,
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I trust will like of it I shall not be blam'd,
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For this rare new Ditty in love I have fram'd,
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I know no plaine dealing man will be asham'd.
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To heare of this honest age,
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This is a plaine dealing age.
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Thus here you see honesty flyes up and downe,
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through Citty, through Country through Village & Town,
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Amongst other vertues it merits renown,
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By this for example that it may be knowne,
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That this is the honest age,
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The best and honstest age.
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