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EBBA 22121

Magdalene College - Pepys
Ballad XSLT Template
Mr. MOOR the TRIPE-MAN's
Sorrowful Lamentation
FOR
Clipping and Coyning;
With an Account of his Contrivance at his Country-House at Tripe-Hall
near Hounsloe; where, in his Garden, he had made a Trap-door, whereon grew both
Goosberry-Trees and Currant-Trees to prevent the discovery thereof, but his Tongue
afterwards made known what he had cunningly contrived; wherein was found an En-
gine or Money-Mill for Coyning, for which he was Tryed this Sessions, and found
Guilty thereof.

To the Tune of, The Spinning-Wheel.

AH, Woe is me that I was born,
For I am now become the scorn
Of all that did me once adore,
Nay of the Rich and of the Poor:
They all against the Tripe-Man cry,
For Coyning he deserves to dye.

Oh why did I for Riches crave,
So hastily the same to have.
Had I the Tripe-Trade only known,
And left the Coyning-Trade alone,
Then I no Danger should have run;
But Coyning has me quite undone.

It's true I did great Riches gain,
In Grandure did my self maintain;
Altho' I was of mean degree,
Yet thousands did admire me:
For gold and silver I had store,
But now I never shall Coyn more.

In Peters-street where I did dwell,
My Neighbours all did know full well,
That I had boasted many a time,
To pave the Street with Silver Coyn;
And oftentimes I them had told,
My Yard too I could pave with gold.

My Country-house I call'd Tripe-Hall,
Which was indeed admir'd by all;
Where once a week I still did go,
But for what use there's none did know
Nor had not to this day i'me sure,
Had I not told of the Trap-door.

Under my Garden I had made
A Vault to keep the Coyning-Trade:
A Trap-door in the Garden too,
On which Currans & Goosberys grew,
Where many Neighbours oft have been
And yet this Trap-door ne're was seen.

But now comes all my woe and grief,
I'm fast in Newgate like a Thief;
And at the Bar was fain to stand,
For Coyning I held up my hand.
And of th' indictment guilty found,
Which does my Senses all confound.

Had I the Tripe-Trade us'd alone,
And ne're the Coyning Money known,
Of making Guineas and Half Crowns,
Till I was worth some thousand pounds,
Then I from trouble had liv'd free,
But now for Coyning I must dye.

Now Brother Tripe-Men all take care,
Least Riches draw you in a snare,
I mean Clipping and Coyning too,
As hundreds in this Town does do:
But yet ere many years are past,
There's few but what are caught at last.

Now Clippers, ay, and Coyners all,
Changers of Money, great and small,
Leave off your Trade ere 't be too late,
Least you all share of my hard fate
I once thought none so safe as I,
But now for Coyning I must dye.


Printed and Sold by Charles Barnet.

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