The Plow-mans Prophesie:
OR,
The Country-mans Calculation.
By this you may perceive when it will be,
None will be covetous, but all men free;
When these things come to pass you'l find it plain,
No covetousness in England will remain,
But in the mean time I am of that mind,
They all will happen when the Devil is blind.
To the tune of, Cook Laurel, or, The Country Miss, etc. With Allowance, Ro. L'Estrange.
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COme listen all you that to mirth are inclin'd,
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And freely i'le tell you a piece of my mind;
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You'l find it as true, and as clear as the Sun,
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When covetousness out of England will run.
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When men beget women, and women get men,
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And men they do bring forth children agen;
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When Coventry steeple cracks Nutts with its Thumb,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Hares sits in th' High-way to pick a mans purse,
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And the Man in the Moon puts his Child out to Nurse,
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And when Shooing-horns learns to beat on a Drum,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Bears they wear Breeches of Silver and Gold,
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And go to the Barbers for to be poll'd;
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And Monkeys do wait on them whilst they have done,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When old-men graft Apple-trees in Elm-stocks,
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And Owls at Noon-day do flye up in flocks,
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When Cuckows at Christmas amongst us do come,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Pauls-Church hath got Wings and Leggs,
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And sits upon London-Stones for to lay Eggs;
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And when Chickens and Capons of that breed do come
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Lawyers are willing to plead without Fees,
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And Pancakes and Fritters do grow upon Trees;
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When Misers their Money lend out by the Tun,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Taylors forget to throw Cabbadge in hell,
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And shorten their bills, that all things may be well,
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And Cats they can speak that have always been dumb,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When a Conjurer's frighted to see a black Cock,
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And wenching young blades, are afraid of the smock;
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When coats of Gray Russet by Ladies are spun,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Millers refuse any tole for to take,
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And Maidens at Midsummer shiver and shake
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And cooks they want victuals as sure as a gun,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Ladies of pleasure turn honest and chaste,
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And scorn by their Gallants for to be imbrac'd;
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And when an Old Bawd is resolv'd to turn Nun,
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then Covetousness out of England will run.
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When Lads marry Madams, and women leave scolding
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And Neighbour to Neighbour shall not be beholding,
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And all is well ended that e're was begun,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Ships they are sailing on Sailsbury-plain,
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And Castles are floating upon the salt main;
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And Milk-Maids at midnight do sleep in the Sun,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Cullies by Wenches no more are trapand,
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And Dwarfs grow as high as the May-pole i'th Strand,
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When Gallants pay Debts without ever a dun,
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Then Covetousness out of England will run.
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When Dogs do wear Doublets and vapour along,
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And Pick-pockets scorn to be seen in a throng,
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And meat to the Market alone it doth come,
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Then covetuosness out of England will run.
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When Serpents in Essex shall flye in the ayr,
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And break through the Clouds like the Man and the mare,
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And tradesmen by trusting shall ne'r be undone,
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Then covetousness out of England shall run.
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When men without money shall purchase estates,
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And boys play at Cudgels without broken pates,
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When Cripples at running great wagers have won,
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Then covetousness out of England will run.
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When Tapsters and Vintners shall wipe out their scores,
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And to all good fellows set open their doors,
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And bid them come drink if it be a whole Tun,
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Then Covetousness out of England shall run.
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When Poets shall Hospitals build for the poor,
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And he that hath much shall desire no more.
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When the Cart to the Horses each morning shall come,
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Then covetousness out of England shall run.
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And when you do find all these things come to pass,
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Then do not you say the Plow-man's an Ass;
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But you may conclude he hath very well sung,
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When covetousness out of England is run.
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