The praise of London:
OR,
A delicate new Ditty, which doth invite you to faire London City
I cannot rightly speake but in her praise,
Because shee is the flower of earthly joyes.
To the tune of the second part of Hide Parke.
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ALl you that delight in Pastime and Pleasure,
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now list to my Ditty wherein I will show;
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In London they'l say there is good store of treasure
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and that for a certaine there is many doth know,
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Great store of silver and gold you may see,
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with all things else pleasing as ever can be:
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There are fine shewes and glistering sights,
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Then come to the Citie for your delights.
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And yet there is many a Countrey Farmer,
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perhaps in objection this Proverb may say,
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The Country fruits they doe helpe to adore her,
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and make her seeme like to the flowers in May:
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True is the Countrey London doth feed,
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with such Commodities as there doth need:
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But as for renowne true honour fights,
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So London Towne is the chiefe for delights.
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You see how the chiefest are thither resorting,
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and chiefly are there in the cold Winter time:
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The Citty in Winter is better for sporting,
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than tis in the Country in the Summer prime:
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The Lords and the Knights and the Ladies so gay,
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may there take their pleasure and go to a Play,
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Pleasure it flowes there day and nights,
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Then come to the City for your delights.
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The Country Gentles and swagering Gallants,
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will not spare there mony to see this brave place,
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And if they want means they'l sel their whole talents,
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to see this brave Ciy that is of such grace,
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With a brave Gelding, a Hawke and a Hound,
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will bravely come riding into this faire Town
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Meaning to see all the famous sights.
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Thus they come to th' Citty for their delights.
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Likewise there is many a Country Miser,
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that will spare an Angell, a Marke or a pound,
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And bring up his wife with him for to suffice her,
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and happily on her bestow a new Gowne:
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From one place to another about they will goe,
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and many brave pleasures his wife he wil show
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This is the humors of country wights
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They'l come to the City for their delights.
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The Weaver, the Baker, the Brewer, the Miller,
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the Glover, the Tanner, the Butcher, the Barber
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The Joiner, the Cooper, the Sawyer, the Turner,
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the Tapster, the Hostler, the Clothier, the Taylor
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And many more Trades that here I might name,
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that heare of brave Londons renowned high fame
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All these prepare both day and nights,
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To come to the City for their delights.
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The Spanish, the French, the Turke, and Italian
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and so doe the Gretians come thither also;
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And likewise they do come from al parts of Holland
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but seldome there any will back againe goe,
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The Germanes come thither to vault and to dance,
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whose names in the City doe highly advance,
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The outlandish Lords with Ladies and Knights,
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Doe come to the City for their delights.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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LIkewise you have many that catch some mischances
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as they in the Countrey are at their play:
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The Maids and the Yongmen they love to have dances,
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and yet without musicke they'l passe time away:
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The Maidens indeed sometimes by mishap,
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with playing and toying doe soone catch a clap,
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Then to void blame and for their rights,
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They come to the City for their delights.
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Full well it is knowne such chances come many,
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the Carriers indeed bring up Maids to the City,
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And when they come there it is unknowne to any,
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these Country Lasses, oh they are so witty:
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Theres enow beside Taylors that serve for a cloke,
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and helpe limping Vulkan to beare up the yoke:
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Cupid he binds fast in mens sights,
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Then come to the City for your delights.
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My Aunt kept a Maid and she called her Mary,
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and she was beloved of the Miller Tom;
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And as she went out in an evening with Sary,
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this Miller by chance unto her did come,
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All the whole night untill it was day,
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Mary and Thomas together did play,
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But thought it were night the Moone shined bright,
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Whereby Tom and Mary did take their delight.
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Within short time after her teeth fell to aking,
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and she doubted Thomas had got her with child,
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Thus was the poore Lasse in a pittifull taking,
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and in her doubt she was no whit beguild,
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She safe was delivered and Thomas he fled,
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this Maid was churched and the child was dead,
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She scapt all punishment by her fine flights,
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And came to the City for her delights.
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My Ladies fine waiting maid met in the darke
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with John Bould the Coachman who caused her to stay
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And she was invited by this gallant sparke,
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to learne a pretty canceited fine play,
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What game they call it I cannot well tell,
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but in short time after her belly did swell,
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It made her offen fetch grievous sighes,
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Yet she came to the City for her delights.
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Thus you see plainely how that here is many
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a gallant yong Lasse to the City doth come,
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Although they be broken what is that to any,
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there's some Maids come with them altho a small sum,
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They fit for the City as Bels for a Steeple,
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for in London dwelleth many sorts of people,
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Then come away you Noble wightes,
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Oh come to the City fit for your delights.
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Faire London is ready to entertaine many,
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you kindly are welcome and so you shall find,
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But pray take my counsell and bring with you mony,
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and then you shall see they will prove very kind,
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The kind hearted lasses will welcome you all,
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and if you have money to pay what you call;
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Come noble hearts where pleasure inivites,
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Oh come to the City for your delights.
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Thus in my conclusion all you that are willing,
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to buy this new Ditty whereby you may learne;
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Perhaps you spend many a penny or shilling,
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upon many trifles which little concerne,
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Oh London is praised by all that her knowes,
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to be a place where joy and pleasure it flowes;
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You that have wits may live by your slights,
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Then come to the City for your delights.
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