The Map of Mock-begger Hall, with his scituation in
the spacious Countrey, called, Anywhere.
To the tune of It is not your Notherne Nanny: or
Sweet is the Lasse that Loves mee.
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I Reade in ancient times of yore,
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That men of worthy calling
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Build almes houses and Spittles store,
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Which now are all downe falling:
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And few men seeke them to repaire,
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Nor is there one among twenty,
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That for good deeds will take any care,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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Farme houses which their fathers built,
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And Land well kept by tillage,
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Their Prodigall sons have sold for gilt,
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In every Towne and village.
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To th City and Court they doe resort
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With gold and silver plenty,
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And there they spend their time in sport,
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While mock beggers hall stands empty.
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Young Landlords when to age they come,
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Their rents they will be racking,
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The tenant must give a golden sum,
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Or else he is turnd packing,
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Great fines and double rent beside,
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Or else theyl not content be,
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It is to maintaine their monstrous pride,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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Their fathers went in homely frees,
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And good plaine broad-cloath breeches,
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Their stockings with the same agrees,
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Sowd on with good strong stitches.
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They were not then calld Gentlemen,
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Though they had wealth great plenty,
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Now every guls growne worshipfull,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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No gold nor silver parchment lace
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Was worne but by our Nobles,
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Nor would the honest harmlesse face,
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Weare Ruffes with so many doubles,
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Our bands were to our shirts sowne then,
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Yet cloath was full as plenty,
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Now one band hath more cloath than ten,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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Now we are Apes in imitation,
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The more indeeds the pitty,
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The City followes the Strangers fashion,
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The Countrey followes the City,
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And ere one fashion is knowne throughout,
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Another they will invent yee,
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Tis all your gallants study about,
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While mock beggers hall stands empty.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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ME thinks it is a great reproach
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To those that are nobly descended,
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When for their pleasures cannot have a Coach,
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Wherewith they might be attended,
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But every beggerly Jacke and Gill
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That eate scant a good meale in twenty,
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Must thorow the streets be jolted still,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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Theres some are ratled thorow the streets,
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Probatum est, I tell it,
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Whose names are wrapt in parchment sheets,
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It grieves their hearts to spell it,
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They are not able two men to keepe,
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With a coachman they must content be,
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Which at playhouse doores in his box lies asleep,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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Our Gentlewomen whose meanes is nothing
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To that which they make shew of,
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Must use all the fashions in their cloathing,
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Which they can heare or know of,
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They take such care themselves to decke,
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That money is oft so scanty,
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The belly is forcd to complaine of the backe,
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While mock begger hall stands empty.
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It may well be that some will muse,
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Wherefore in this relation,
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The name of Mocke begger I doe use,
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Whithout any explanation,
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To cleare which doubt before I end,
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Because they shall all content be,
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To shew the meaning I doe intend,
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Of mock begger hall still empty.
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Some Gentlemen and Citizens have
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In divers eminent places,
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Erected houses rich and brave,
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Which stood for the owners graces,
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Let any poore to such a doore
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Come, they expecting plenty,
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They there may ask till their throats are sore,
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For mock begger hall stands empty.
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Thus in these times we can perceive
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Small charity comfort yielding,
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For pride doth men of grace bereave,
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Not onely in cloathes but in building,
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Man makes the senselesse stones and bricke
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Which by heavens goodnesse lent be,
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Expresse his pride by those vaine tricks,
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Thus mock begger hall stands empty.
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