Charles Rickets his recantation.
Warning all good Fellowes to strive,
To learne with him the way to thrive.
To the Tune of his lamentation, or Ile beat my wife no more.
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HE runs farre that ne'r returneth,
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is a Proverbe still in use:
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And hee's unhappy that ne'r mourneth,
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for his former times abuse.
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I therefore,
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who us'd to rore,
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Where-ever I did come or goe,
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do now repent,
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for time ill spent,
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And vow Ile never more doe so.
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All my folly now Ile banish,
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which before possest my minde:
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All ill husbandry shall vanish,
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for I now begin to finde
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that mine owne good
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I have withstood,
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And brought my substance very low,
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but now Ile give
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my mind to thrive,
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Good heavens grant I may doe so.
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I have us'd among the bravest,
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to kee[p]e quarter like a gallant,
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By which meanes my wealth is lavisht,
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for with the best I spent my talent:
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when to a Faire
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to sell my ware,
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Or Market, I did use to goe,
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there was [?]few
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but my name knew,
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I us'd to drinke and fuddle so.
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Who but Charles the Lad of Morton,
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was denoted farre and neere?
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But now alas they shall come short on,
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that which late I did appeare:
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for now I meane
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to abandon cleane,
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Those humors which in me did flow,
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Ile bridle still
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my headstrong will,
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Good heavens grant I may doe so.
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Many times ith'towne of Cambdes,
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where my businesse sometimes lay:
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Among boone Lads, I have been hemb'd i[n]
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and inforced long to stay:
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both day and night
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for my delight,
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I tarri'd still, and would not goe
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to my owne home
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but lov'd to come
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Abroad, but Ile no more doe so.
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At Easam also, and at Shipson,
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I am for a rorer knowne,
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Where many times mad Charles the gipses:
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hath his merry humours showne,
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the stoutest there
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for wine and beere,
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Me in expence could not outgoe,
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for all the day
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I'de call and pay:
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But now I will no more doe so.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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MAny Crotchets have I plaid,
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which in performance cost me deere,
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Whereby my substance it decay'd,
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therefore Ile such tricks casheere:
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my mind was such
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it joy'd me much,
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When I such mad exploits did show,
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my time I lost,
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beside my cost,
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But now I will no more doe so.
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A Taylor once well sok't in Barley,
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profferd to lend me seven pound,
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About the same we two did parley,
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and when he my humour found,
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a shilling hee
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did give to me
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In earnest, his kinde love to shew,
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and I in game
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did take the same,
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Because he sware it should be so.
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Having tane the Taylors shilling,
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a Jugge of beere I cal'd for then:
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I paid for that, and then was willing
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to give him the rest agen:
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but he refus'd,
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and rather chus'd
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To spend the rest ere he did goe,
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then I did call
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and paid for all,
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The Taylors wil'd it should be so.
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This and many more such actions
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have I done to please my humour:
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But now Ile leave all drunken fashions,
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would to God I had done so sooner:
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in merryment
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my time I spent,
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And mony too, which breeds my woe:
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now my mad pranks,
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I give God thankes,
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Are left, and Ile no more doe so.
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I will follow my Vocation
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with industry and regard,
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And maintaine my reputation,
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in this world thats growne so hard,
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Markets are naught,
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Ware is not bought,
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As twas since I the Trade did know,
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tis time therefore
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now to give ore
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Such spending, and no more doe so.
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My wife and children I will tender,
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more then heretofore I us'd,
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Ile be no more so vaine a spender,
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nor will I be with drinke abusde:
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Ile learne at last
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ere hope is past,
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My selfe a civill man to shew,
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and banish quite
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my old delight:
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Good heavens grant I may doe so.
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You that hear my recantation,
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which I purpose to observe:
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When you see this alteration,
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from my rules doe you not swerve:
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through Oxfordshire,
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both farre and neere,
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My resolution I will shew,
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that every one
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which so hath done,
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May mend with me. God grant it so.
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Finis. Charles Rickets.
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