THE bad Husband's Information of ill Husbandry;
Or, He goes far that never turns.
SHEWING,
How a Good-fellow spent most of his Estate,
But did repent before it was too late:
Wishing all others to take warning by this,
And strive in time to mend what is amiss,
To the Tune of, Digby's Farewel: Or The Jovial Crew.
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YOu bonny boon blades that are company keepers,
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Come hither and listen unto this my Song,
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All you that strong Liquor do love for to tipple,
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'Tis unto you that these Verses belong:
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'Tis known a bad Husband I have been all my life,
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But now i'le be loving and kind to my Wife?
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For surely I thought it would never be day.
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Until I had brought my Estate to decay.
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I have spent all my treasure, and wasted my time;
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In keeping of Company both night and day,
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And my loving Wife she would often come to me,
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Saying Thomas come hither and here what I say:
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But I ne'r regarded the words that she told,
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So long as my Money and Credit would hold:
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For surely I thought etc.
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Sometimes to the Market I would go and sell
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A Quarter of Barley. or Wheat of the best,
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And when that my pockets with money were fill'd,
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My hart and my mind could take little rest;
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But unto the Ale-house I straight would away,
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And there peradventure all night I would stay:
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For surely I thought etc.
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And when that I unto my Hostis did come,
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I would call for a Flaggon and a private room;
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Then her daughter Katherine would wait me upon,
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And instead of a Flaggon she brings me a Gun:
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My Hostis she presently smil'd in my face,
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For she knew I would call for my Liquor apace,
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I would pay for it roundly and down with my Dust,
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For I found that my Landlady car'd not to trust.
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IN singing and dancing was all my delight,
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And there I would tarry from morning till night;
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I would have the Musick unto me to play,
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And thus I did tipple my money away:
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I should have a Girl to sit on my knee,
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O such foolish fancies have beggered me:
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For surely etc.
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But my Wife and Children I left them at home,
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Still waiting and wailing when I did come,
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To bring them provision, or Cloaths to their back,
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For I knew very well that such they did lack;
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But thouhg I did know it, I never took care,
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Tho their bellies did pinch & their backs did goe bare;
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So I had but Liquor to fill up my skin,
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I never regarded what case they were in.
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And when that I late came home in the night.
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With my wife and my children straight would I fight
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And as soon as I put my feet in the door:
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I should out with my purse and call my wife Whore;
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At these urging speeches she would sit and cry,
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The more silly Rascal and Drunkard was I:
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For to abuse her that was my best friend,
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But now I'm resolved in time for to mend.
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For I see if a man do spend all that he have,
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At last they will count him but a drunken Knave;
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They will point their fingers as he doth pass by,
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Saying there goes a Drunkard, and so he will dye;
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Therefore all bad Husbands take warning by me,
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Lest that you do bring your selves to poverty:
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For surely I thought, etc.
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For the other day as I past up the Town,
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I met with my Hostis in her silken Gown,
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With the Knees of my breeches and elbows burst out
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But she was so ready to give me aflout,
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I could not get a Flagon of Beer at her hands,
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Tho with her I had spent my house, goods & lands:
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It made me to sigh and am ready to cry,
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O what an ill Husband and Drunkard was I;
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But if I had been rul'd by my Wife at the first,
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I might have had silver and gold in my Purse,
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To maintain good house-keeping, & children at nurse,
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But I hope it will mend when it is at the worst;
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I am resolv'd now to lead a new life,
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And ever be loving and kind to my Wife:
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For it makes me to sigh and am ready to cry,
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O what an ill Husband and Drunkard was I;
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Now I am resolv'd a new life to begin,
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The Ale-wife shall, card and her daughter shall spin,
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Before I will be any more such a Mome,
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I'le be a good Husband, and tarry at home;
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'Tis not their fair speeches that shall me entice,
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Nor bring me again into Fools Paradise:
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For it makes me to sigh and am ready to cry,
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O what an ill Husband and Drunkard was I?
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Young-men and had Husbands take warning by me
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Lest that you do bring your selves to poverty;
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And in your expences pray be not to bold,
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But lay up your Mony against you are old;
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Be sure do not spend your Money in vain,
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But keep it in your Purse your charge to maintain:
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Then you will not be forc'd to sigh and to cry,
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O what an ill Husband and Drunkard was I.
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Concluding these Verses, which here I have pen'd,
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I hope that no honest Man here I offend:
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Then read them, and buy them, and bear them away,
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And like to me do not wander astray;
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The price is a Penny, and it is not dear,
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For there's many a Penny spent worse in the year;
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And if that you chance to take warning by it,
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I think you've an excellent penni-worth of Wit,
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FINIS
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