Times Alteration:OR,
The Old Mans rehearsall, what brave dayes he knew
A great while agone, when his Old Cap was new.
To the Tune of, Ile nere be drunke againe.
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WHen this Old Cap was new,
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tis since two hundred yeere,
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No malice then we knew,
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but all things plentie were:All friendship now decayes,
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(beleeve me, this is true)
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Which was not in those dayes,
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when this old Cap was new.
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The Nobles of our Land
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were much delighted then,
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To have at their command
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a Crue of lustie Men,
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Which by their Coats were knowne,
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of Tawnie, Red, or Blue,
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With Crests on their sleeves showne,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Now Pride hath banisht all,
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unto our Lands reproach,
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When he whose meanes is small,
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maintaines both Horse and Coach:In stead of an hundred Men,
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the Coach allowes but two;
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This was not thought on then,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Good Hospitalitie
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was cherisht then of many;
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Now poore men starve and die,
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and are not helpt by any:For Charitie waxeth cold,
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and Love is found in few:This was not in time of old,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Where ever you traveld then,
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you might meet on the way
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Brave Knights and Gentlemen,
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clad in their Countrey Gray,
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That courteous would appeare,
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and kindly welcome you:No Puritans then were,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Our Ladies in those dayes
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in civill Habit went,
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Broad-Cloth was then worth prayse,
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and gave the best content:French Fashions then were scornd,
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fond Fangles then none knew.
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Then Modestie Women adornd,
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when this old Cap was new.
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The Second Part. To the same Tune.
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A Man might then behold,
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at Christmas, in each Hall,
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Good Fires, to curbe the Cold,
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and Meat for great and small:The Neighbors were friendly bidden,
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and all had welcome true,
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The poore from the Gates were not chidden,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Blacke Jackes to every man
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were filld with Wine and Beere,
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No Pewter Pot nor Kanne
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in those dayes did appeare:Good cheare in a Noble-mans house
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was counted a seemely shew,
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We wanted no Brawne nor Sowse,
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when this old Cap was new.
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We tooke not such delight
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in Cups of Silver fine,
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None under the degree of a Knight,
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in Plate drunke Beere or Wine:Now each Mechanicall man
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hath a Cup-boord of Plate, for a shew,
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Which was a rare thing then,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Then Briberie was unborne,
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no Simonie men did use,
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Christians did Usurie scorne,
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devisd among the Jewes,
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Then Lawyers to be Feed,
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at that time hardly knew,
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For man with man agreed,
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when this old Cap was new.
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No Captaine then carowst,
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nor spent poore Souldiers Pay,
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They were not so abusd,
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as they are at this day:Of seven dayes they make eight,
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to keepe from them their due:
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Poore Souldiers had their right,
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when this old Cap was new.
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Which made them forward still
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to goe, although not prest:
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And going with good will,
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their fortunes were the best.
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Our English then in fight
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did forraine Foes subdue,
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And forst them all to flight,
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when this old Cap was new.
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God save our gracious King,
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and send him long to live,
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Lord, mischiefe on them bring,
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that will not their Almes give[,]
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But seeke to rob the Poore
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of that which is their due:
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This was not in time of yore,
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when this old Cap was new.
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