Oh Gramercy Penny:
Being a Lancashire Ditty, and chiefly penn'd,
To prove that a penny is a mans best friend.
To the tune of, Its better late thrive then never.
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W Hen I call to mind those Joviall dayes,
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which in the Old time were used:
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I feare that their number greatly decayes,
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and that they are greatly abused.
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For when a man once begins to be poore,
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His friends by him then will set little store.
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This Ditty I have now penned therefore,
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Of oh gramercy good penny, good penny,
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Of oh gramercy good penny.
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Amongst all the ranke of my neighbors and friends,
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and in the place of my dwelling,
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I have made a tryall even for my owne ends,
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for that's a thing chiefly excelling.
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For many have promised much indeed,
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Which faile me now when I seeme to have most need,
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And maketh me now for to cry with all speed,
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With oh gramercy good penny, etc.
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If in any Court the Law you would gaine,
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take heed your Fees you spare not,
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For nought without money there can you obtaine,
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though you beg on your knees they care not:
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So long as your money doth make a great show,
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Though your matter be bad, it must forward goe,
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Tis a speciall point in the Law, as you know,
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With oh gramercy good penny, etc.
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Or if that you unto the Ale-house doe goe,
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arayed in Cloathes most finely,
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With money and gold in your fist for to show,
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theyle say you are welcome most kindly:
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They'l say that you are kindly welcome good Sir,
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To taste any banquets that we now have here,
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Tobacco , browne Ale, or strong double Beere.
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But tis gramercy good penny, etc.
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Or if to the Taverne your course you doe bend,
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to laugh, quaffe, and for to be merry.
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With Sugar-plums, dainty Cates, and Muscadine,
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Canary, old Sacke, or browne Sherry.
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A set of Musitians before you shall play,
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From morning till evening, from evening till day,
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Tis all for your money, therefore you may say,
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Oh still gramercy good penny, etc.
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Sometimes you may have a desire to a Wench,
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being willing to doe your duty,
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Perhaps away from you sheele strive for to flinch,
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it standeth upon her beauty.
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But if she your gold and your money did see,
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To fulfill your humour, she straight will agree,
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Oh it is the tricke of each age and degree:
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Then say gramercy good penny, etc.
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In Market or Towne-place, amongst all the rest,
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whereas the rich Merchant espies you,
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With a purse well lined, and gold in your fist,
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oh doe but marke how he eyes you.
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With, What do you lack, you shall be welcome still.
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Come neere-sir, I pray you, and chuse what you will,
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Take it on my word, if you thinke you want skill,
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But oh gramercy good penny, good penny,
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But oh gramercy good penny.
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The second Part. To the same tune.
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W Hen lately my flood seemed to be at an ebbe,
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then I could not meet with any:
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But they said to my face, I had spun a faire web,
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though I had before indeed many.
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They would have walked about a long mile,
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Ere they would have met me in Lane or at Stile,
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Therefore though they seeme now on me to smile.
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Tis oh gramercy good penney, good penny,
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Tis oh gramercy good penny.
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Oh twice gramercy, good penny to thee,
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for thou dost oftimes bestead me,
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For I am debarred all company,
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if once they but know I doe need thee.
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But when they doe know that I have store of chinke,
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With me those laugh, dance, carowse, sing and drinke,
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Have I not good cause then to say doe you thinke
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Oh so gramercy good penny, etc.
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When men for my labour, a penny me lend,
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what reason have I to abuse it,
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Twil make me to drinke when my counterfeit friend,
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to give me one drop will refuse it.
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One penny I more doe esteeme in my Purse,
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Then either Pope Gregories blessing or curse,
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It will be my friend, when all things are at worst,
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Then oh gramercy good penny, etc.
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Whilst I his good company may but injoy,
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may I not make bold for to tarry,
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And with Beere and Victuals expell all annoy,
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at an Inne or an Ordinary:
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Each Victualling-house, and each Taverne will then,
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Say, Show a Roome, welcome you are Gentlemen,
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My Hoste he will give me a Pipe and a Kan,
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But oh gramercy good penny etc.
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If at an Inne-gate, I chance for to peepe,
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and have not a penny about me,
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The Tapster will frowne, and the Chamberlaines sweare,
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and the Ostlers they will flout me.
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My Hoste will then scorne my companion to be,
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My Hostes will looke farre more disdainfully,
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Then tell me ist better to stay or to flye,
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When I have not thee, oh good penny, etc.
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I lite in a company lately by Fate,
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who scornfully me disdained,
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And that they were vext with a monylesse Mate,
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unto my face they complained:
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But when they thought I had money by'th pound,
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To make me most welcome, each of them was bound,
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Entreating me kindly to pledge them one round,
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But oh gramercy good penny, etc.
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All Arts in the world invented have been,
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of which there are now so many,
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In every Region o'th Earth to be seene,
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chifely to obtaine this brave penny.
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For too well it is knowne in every place,
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That the want thereof is the greatest disgrace,
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For never man was in more pittifull case,
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Then he that doth want thee, oh penny, etc.
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Therefore I wish all men in time to take heed,
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before that they feele this Consumption.
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And to spare their Coyne, till the time they doe need,
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lest they repent of their presumption.
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A boy that hath money's, a man of renowne,
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A man that's without it, is counted a Clowne,
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But he's in good case that can say of his owne,
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Oh now gramercy good penny, good penny,
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Oh now gramercy good penny.
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