[Dice, wine and women.]
OR
The unfortunate Gallant gull'd at London.
To the tune of Shall I wrastle in despaire.
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F Rom Cornwal mount to London faire,
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to trie all fashions did I repaire,
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Soone came I to a Cornish Chuffe,
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Left by my father rich enough,
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Yet riches could not me content,
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Untill at London all was spent.
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The causes why I am so poore,
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Are Dice, Strong-waters, and a whore.
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First did I come to Charing-crosse,
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Where was such smoking none could passe,
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Brave Gallants there my sight opposes,
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Fum'd hospitalitie from their noses:
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To trie those fashions that were there,
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Five angels cost that day was deere.
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The causes, etc.
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From thence unto the new Exchange
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My purse and I did freely range,
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Whereas a new beginner sold
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Strong waters new, and Tobacco old:
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With him at Doublets did I play,
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Till five more Angels flew away.
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The causes, etc.
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Then thinking London for to see,
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within the Strand I chanc't to spie
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Two lovely lasses faire and bright,
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whom I do guesse were painted white:
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These did I court, and they gave leave,
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But they at last did me deceive.
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The causes, etc.
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At Temple-barre I chanc't to spie
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Brave guilded glasses that pleasd mine eye,
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What t'was, I askt the next I did meet,
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Who told me it was strong waters sweet
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All the varietie did I taste:
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That day I full five pound did waste.
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The causes, etc.
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Form thence next day to Fleet-street brave,
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where I espied many a knave:
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One among the rest I spied than,
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who swore he was my country man:
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With him to Taverne did I goe:
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But dice & cards there wrought my woe.
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The causes, etc.
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Then the old Baily did I trace,
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where I did meet full face to face
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A Cheater pleading povertie,
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who askt, if a gold ring I would buy:
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Five silver tagges, which I poore asse,
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Bought that for good which prov'd but brasse.
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The causes, etc.
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Then thinking for to see a play.
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I met a Pander by the way:
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Who thinking I had money store,
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Brought me to Turnboll to a whore:
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Ere from that house I rid could be,
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It cost ten pound my setting free.
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The causes, etc.
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Most of my money being spent,
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To S. Johns street to the Bull I went,
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Where I the roaring Rimer saw,
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And to my face was made a daw:
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And pressing forth among the folke,
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I lost my purse, my hat and cloke.
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The causes, etc.
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The Second Part.
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T Hen into Smithfield did I hie,
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where I Strong-waters did espie:
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From that same shop I could not part:
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For I loved strong waters with my hart:
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Going to pay, my purse was gone,
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For which groat shot my shirt's in pawn.
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The causes, etc.
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Then to Long-lane I went poore man,
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And so from thence to Barbican:
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Money was spent, and my credit scant,
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And no-body there would releeve my want,
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Then did I trace to Whitecrosse street,
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wondred at by all I meet.
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The causes, etc.
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Wandring along this lucklesse day,
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In a noted house by chance I lay:
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Where as a wench both faire and fine,
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Lov'd me in hope I had store of coine:
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But when she perceiv'd me poore,
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She stript, and beat me out of doore.
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The causes, etc.
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Thus all along in piteous plight
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walkt I along till twelve at night:
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Each one did barre their churlish doore,
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None would regard me being poore:
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The watch being set, and I in sight,
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was sent to new Bridewell that night.
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The causes, etc.
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There was I set to worke full hard:
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From meae and drinke & pleasure hard:
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I could have no strong-waters there:
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Nor scarce a draught of good small beere,
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I wrought at mill by my fatall sisters,
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Till both my hands were ful of blisters.
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The causes, etc.
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There lay I long in griefe and woe,
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For by no meanes I thence could goe:
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No friend would speake in this my plight,
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Till I was there a full fortnight:
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At length a friend I chanc't to see,
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who wrought the meanes to set me free.
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The causes, etc.
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Now to my countrey doe I hie:
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London and fashions I defie:
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Farewell damd dice, & strong waters cleere:
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Farewell all punkes and double beere:
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I am for Cornwall freely bound:
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For London doth my state confound:
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There by these three I was made poore:
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The Dice, Strong waters, and a whore.
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