The Merry BEGGARS
of Lincolns-Inn-Fields.
OR, The Beggers Art to get Money.
Shewing all the Pranks and Tricks they use, to make people believe they are Poor. Also,
How a Gentleman served two Beggers that stood on the High-way craving his Charity,
whereby their Roguery was discovered.
The Begger all the day makes moan,
at night is brisk and jolly;
And spends his gains upon good Beer,
to drown his Melancholly.
To the Tune of, A begging we will go.
This may be Printed, R.P.
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THree Beggars met together,
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that used Lincolns-Inn,
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To take off their good Liquor,
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and tell where they had been.
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And so merry we will be,
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we'l be, we'l be,
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And so merry we will be.
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Let's drink our Liquor Harry,
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although that we do beg,
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I've got good store of Silver
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and by my wooden Leg.
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And so, etc.
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Good Master spare a farthing,
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it is my daily cry,
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Bur when I'm at the Alehouse,
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no man so great as I.
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And so, etc.
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Pray cease thy tattle Harry,
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for I tye up my Leg,
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And get by my wry face Sir,
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good money when I beg.
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And so merry we will be,
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we'l be, we'l be,
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And so merry we will be.
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The Second Part, to the same Tune.
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Sometimes my arm is wrapped
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up in a Linnen clout,
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Sometimes I use my Crutches
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as though I had the Gout.
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And so, etc.
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Sometimes I use my Pattens,
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and crawl upon all four,
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And when my Babes I mention;
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I then do get the more.
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And so, etc.
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My Wife she lies a dying,
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three infants like to starve;
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And I am lame, and helpless,
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some pitty I do crave.
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And so, etc.
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We make such moan, and clutter,
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In Lincolns-Inn brave fields;
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That every one that passeth,
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some comfort to us yields.
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And so, etc.
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Sometimes we take our Crutches,
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and travel to White-Hall,
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There's no one can deny us,
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so manfully we bawl.
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And so, etc.
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And then among the Coaches
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with weariness we groan,
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And getting store of Silver,
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then we go merry home.
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And so, etc.
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Sometimes we play the Seaman,
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our Ship is cast away,
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By which we get good money.
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our Hostess for to pay.
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And so, etc.
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Sometimes our eyes are blinded,
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and cover'd so by Art,
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The lame men they do guide us,
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we all do act our part.
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And so, etc.
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When Harry went a begging
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and tyed up his leg;
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Most bitterly we did complain,
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and mournfully did beg.
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Now so, etc.
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A Gentleman mistrusted,
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and took us to be Cheats,
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He drew his sword and scar'd us
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from all our cunning feats.
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Now so, etc.
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I threw away my pattens
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to save my life so sweet;
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And Harry cut his string too,
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and quickly found his feet.
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And so, etc.
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We nobly did out run-him,
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for we were strong and stout,
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And though we lost our Crutches,
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we could go home without.
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And so, etc.
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Then here's a Bumper Harry,
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it is not always so:
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There's no man can out-face us,
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a begging we will go.
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And so, etc.
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When we have spent our money,
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then we will work for more,
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And we will beg to Morrow,
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to pay our drunken Score.
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And so merry we will be,
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we'l be, we'l be,
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And so merry we will be.
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