A Statute for Swearers and Drunkards,
OR
Forsake now your follies, your booke cannot save you,
For if you sweare and be drunke, the Stockes will have you.
To the tune of When Canons are roaring.
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YOu that in wicked wayes
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long time have ranged;
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Now must be with the times,
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turned and changed.
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The Realmes carefull keepers
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such Lawes have ordained,
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By which from your vices base,
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you must be weaned.
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Let high and low, rich and poore,
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strive for to mend all;
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And forbeare for to sweare,
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curse, drinke, and spend all:
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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You that doe swim in silkes,
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in gold and bravery;
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Thinke not, your gawdy clothes
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can hide your knavery:
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You that consume your states,
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by debosht courses;
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Riding the Turnbole Jades,
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like hackney horses:
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Banish your now base trickes,
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your drinking and drabbing,
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Your cursing, your swearing,
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your roring and stabbing:
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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You that thinke, he's no man
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of reputation,
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That cannot sweare and be drunke,
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and do't in fashion;
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You that doe thinke your selves
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ne're better graced;
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Then when 'mongst drunkards you
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are set and placed:
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You do that brag, and say,
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your braines are stronger,
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Then shallow pates, who at pots
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cannot hold longer.
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Forsake now your follies
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the stockes will have you.
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You that cry, Kergo, boyes,
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hang up all sorrowe;
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Drinke stiffe, our Landlord shall
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stay till to morrow:
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Then reeling out of dores
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into the kennell;
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Yet sweare, you sweeter smell
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then does the Fennell:
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You that lie bathing
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from morning till twilight,
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In Taverne and Tipling house,
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to cleare the eye-sight.
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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You that will whoot at him,
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as at some wonder,
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That will not rap out othes
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lowd as the Thunder;
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You that familiarly
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use in your talking,
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Prophanely for to sweare,
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sitting or walking:
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And you that deeme them not
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men of good fashion;
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That has not learnt the rules
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of Prophanation.
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you,
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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The second Part. To the same tune.
Be warned by me you Swearers and Drunkards for I first broke the Statute
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YOu that sweate our your life
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in beastly drinking;
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Untill your bodies
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and breaths be stinking:
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You that sit sucking still
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at the strong barrell,
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Till into tatters rent
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turnes your apparell:
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You that by guzling
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transforme your best features,
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Changing your selves from men,
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to swinish creatures:
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the stockes will have you.
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You that doe scorne abroad
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for to be scanting,
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Though to your wife at home,
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bread may be wanting.
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And your poore children eke
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likely to perish:
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Whilst you with Taplash strong
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your corps doe cherish:
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Crying still, let them starve,
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tush, 'tis no matter.
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With drinke ile stuffe my guts,
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let them drinke water.
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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You that at midnight can
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outsweare the watchmen;
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And brave a Constable,
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that stands to catch men,
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You that with giddie braines
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by the wall holdeth,
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And ith' darke every post
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in his armes foldeth.
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And you that in the durt,
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thrust deepe your noses;
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There sleeping sweetly as
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in beds of Roses:
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Forsake now your follies,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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You that in dregs of drinke
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so drowne your reason;
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That you are loth to leave
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in timely season:
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But drinke still following,
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neglect your vocation;
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Till you have nor meanes left,
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nor habitation,
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You that will spend as much,
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just at one sitting;
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As would a weeke yours keepe
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with victuals fitting,
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Forsake now your follie,
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your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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the Stockes will have you.
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You that desire to dwell
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In heaven hereafter,
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Must not of this device
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Make jest or laughter:
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But must shake off these crimes,
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With much distasting,
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If you hope to enjoy
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Life everlasting.
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To honest men let this be
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Sound admonition,
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To bewaile their past sinnes
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With sad contrition,
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Forsake now your follies,
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Your booke cannot save you:
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For if you sweare and be drunke,
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The Stockes will have you.
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