The poore man payes for all.
This is but a dreame which here shall insue:
But the Author wishes his words were not true.
To the tune of In slumbring sleepe I lay.
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AS I lay musing all alone,
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upon my resting bed,
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Full many a cogitation
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did come into my head:
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And waking from my sleepe, I
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my dreame to mind did call,
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Me thought I saw before mine eyes,
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how poore men payes for all.
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I many objects did behold,
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in this my frightfull Dreame,
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A part of them I will unfold: and though my present Theame
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Is but a fancy you may say,
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yet many things doe fall
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Too true alas: for at this day
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the poore man payes for all.
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Me thought I saw (which causd my care)
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what I wish were a fable,
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That poore men still inforced are
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to pay more then they are able:
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Me thought I heard them weeping say,
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their substance was but small,
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For rich men will beare all the sway,
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and poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I saw how wealthy men
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did grind the poore mens faces,
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And greedily did prey on them,
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not pittying their cases:
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They make them toyle and labour sore
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for wages too too small:
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The rich men in the Tavernes rore:
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but poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I saw an Usurer old,
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walke in his Fox-furd gowne,
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Whose wealth and eminence controld
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the most men in the Towne:
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His wealth he by extortion got,
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and rose by others fall,
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He had what his hands earned not,
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but poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I saw a Courtier proud
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goe swaggering along,
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That unto any scarce allowd
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the office of his tongue:
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Me thought, wert not for bribery,
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his Peacocks plumes would fail,
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He ruffles out in bravery,
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but poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I met (sore discontent)
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some poore men on the way,
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I asked one whither he went
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so fast and could not stay?
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Quoth he, I must goe take my Lease,
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or else another shall:
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My Landlords riches doe increase,
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but poore men pay for all.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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ME thought I saw most stately wives,
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goe jotting on the way,
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That live delightfull idle lives,
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and go in garments gay,
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That with the moon their shapes doe change
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or else theil chide and brawle,
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Thus women goe like monsters strange,
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and poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I was ith Countrey,
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where poore men take great paines,
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And labour hard continually.
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onely for-rich mens gaines,
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Like th Israelites in Egypt,
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the poore are kept in thrall:
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The task-masters are playing kept.
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but poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I saw poore Tradesmen
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ith City and else-where,
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Whom rich men keepe as beads-men,
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in bondage care and feare:
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Theil have them worke for what they list,
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thus weakest goe to the wall,
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The rich men eate and drinke the best,
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but poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I saw two Lawyers base
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one to another say.
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We have had in hand this poore mans Case,
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a twelve-month and a day.
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And yet weel not contented be
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to let the matter fall,
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Beare thou with me & Ile beare with thee,
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while poore men pay for all.
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Me thought I saw a red-nose Oast,
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as fat as he could wallow,
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Whose carkasse, if it should be roast,
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would drop seven stone of tallow,
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He growes rich out of measure,
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with filling measure small,
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He lives in mirth and pleasure,
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but poore men pay for all.
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And so likewise the Brewer stout,
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the Chandler and the Baker,
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The Mault-man also without doubt,
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and the Tobacco-taker,
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Though they be proud and stately growne,
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and beare themselves so tall,
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Yet to the world it is well knowne,
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that poore men pay for all.
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Even as the mighty Fishes still,
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doe feed upon the lesse;
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So rich men, might they have their will,
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would on the poore men ceaze:
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It is a proverbe old and true,
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that weakest goe to th wall,
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Rich men can drinke till th sky looke blue,
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but poore men pay for all.
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But now, as I before did say,
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this is but a Dreame indeed,
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Though all dreames prove not true, some m[ay]
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hap right as I doe reade.
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And if that any come to passe,
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I doubt this my Dreame shall:
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For still tis found too true a case,
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that poore men pay for all.
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