Michaelmas Term:
The Cittizens Kind Welcome to Country-men, that from all
parts of the Land come hither about their needless occasions (needful I mean) with a description of the
seasons and manners of people therein imployed. To the tune of, The Rambling Clerk.
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COme hither my Muse if that thou be'st cold,
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And warm thy self well with Promethian Fire,
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Which when thou hast done let me be bold,
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In matter of moment thy aid to require.
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My mind is resolved to write on a Theam,
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The which my expression I hope shall confirm,
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Those men that do rome from all parts of the Realm
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I bid them all welcome to Michaelmans Term.
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The Tradsman of London with long Expectation,
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Have lookt for the coming of this happy time,
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They are sick at the heart of the tedious vexation,
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But now on a sudden they'l be in their prime.
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They think themselves happy; especially some,
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If Michaelmas rent and their dyet they earn,
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But now they are glad for their harvest is come,
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The Country brings mony to Michaelmas Term.
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The Inholders, Vintners, Victualers, and Cooks,
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through want of imployment make grievus complaint
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In all this long season they were off o'th books,
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But now their red Lettice they do new paint,
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Some set up new signes or new florish the old,
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And mend their old houses if they be infirm,
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To venture their mony they dare well be be bold,
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In hope to regain it in Michaelmas Term.
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The Tapsters Ostlers, and Chamberlains all,
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Chiefly about Holborn, Fleet-street and the Strand,
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Since Trinity Term had takings but small,
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Which caus'd many of them to run behind hand.
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But now they are jovial and take heart a grace,
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And both nimble gestures and speeches they learn,
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Their gains now come tumbling in a great pace,
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Long time they have wished for Michaelmas Term.
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Some Atturnies and some that solicite Law cases,
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That all the Vacation in the Country plods,
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They like to King Janus can use double faces,
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And strive to set Neighbour with Neighbour at ods,
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Now hither they come with their bags full of Law,
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But the profits they all to themselves do confirm
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Although it be but for a Truss of Rye straw,
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The case must be try'd at Michaelmas Term.
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The rambling Clerks that for lodging and dyet
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Have run on the Ticket with Vitlers and Cooks,
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Besides now and then for some overplus royot,
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Some of them have pawn'd their gowns & their books
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O now they are frollick and sing care away,
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For Country Clients about them do swarm,
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Now all their old scores they'l be able to pay,
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Their hands are so nimble in Michaelmas Term.
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The three-penny Ordinaries are so full throng'd,
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That there you can scarce get one bit of meat,
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Your country men proudly do scorn to be wrong'd,
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And yet their own bellies they basly will cheat.
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The Lawyers hands are still itching for fees,
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Which makes the plain husbandman let out his farm
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To come up to London to eat bread and cheese,
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While Lawyers eat Rost-meat in Michaelmas Term.
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The second Part[,] To the same Tune.
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THe dainty fine Girls that keep shop in Change
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Against this quick season have been exercis'd,
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To furnish their coffers with fashions all strange,
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The finest and rarest that can be devis'd,
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They keep their old Ditty, Sir what is't you lack,
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Which Country people are greedy to learn,
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The husband must carry the wife some new knack
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Or else he's not welcome from Michaelmas Term.
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The jovial Watermen trim up their Botes,
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And to be more pliant in plying their fares,
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With strong beer & Ale they do licker their throats
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For which they will wander to thee Alehouse by pairs
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And if the frost do not their labour prevent,
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Abundance of mony they daily will earn,
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Which in the vacation will freely be spent,
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And then they will think upon Michaelmas Term.
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The feather-heeld wenches that live by their own,
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Who long have been needy for want of good trading,
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For when all the gallants are gone out o'th town,
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Oh then these fine Pinaces lack their due lading:
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Therefore the vocation they rue like the rest,
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Because neither dyet nor cloathes they can earne,
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But now they'r in hope well to feather their nest,
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They looke for good doings in Michaelmas Term.
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Pick-pockets & Cheaters with Knights of thee Post,
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Doe long for the Term-time like hencster men,
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Where concourse of people is, they doe get most,
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With rooking exploits which they use now & then:
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And yet if they chance to be got in the nick,
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Thee hang-man next sessions will teach them a charm
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Will cure their disease be they never so sick,
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Oh then will they think on Michaelmas Term.
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The Court and the City, the Country withall
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If you will behold a part of all three,
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Then come at this time to Westminster-hall,
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Where people from all parts assembled be:
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And thus Ile conclude as at first I begun,
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Experience all this for truth will confirm,
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I hope I have given distaste to no man
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For I bid them all welcome to Michaelmas Term.
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