Wat Williams Will.
Well-wishing Williams Will and Testament,
Which to the Ballad-singer he hath sent,
To be dispersd to all good people kinde,
That would doe well, and beare an honest minde.
To the tune of, Then let us to Virginia goe.
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I Wish for no mans riches,
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yet would I were more wealthy;
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And those that are both sicke and lame
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I would they were more healthy:
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I wish to be contented
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with that which God doth send me,
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And take his blessings in good part,
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of all that he doth lend me.
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I wish all cruell Landlords
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would not be stony hearted,
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That to their Tenants which are poore
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some Rent be back imparted,
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Then sure their Heires would prosper,
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and not so soone consume it,
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As some with Dice, and Drabs, and Drinke,
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and Indian-weede perfume it.
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I wish all Christian people
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in peace to live together,
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And not for trifles goe to law,
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or wagging of a feather:
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The Lawyers they make rich,
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unto their owne undoing,
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As too too many in this Land
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doe wring their hands with wooing.
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I wish all Shop-keepers
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would use true waight and measure,
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And not with slight and rotten Wares
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get such a deale of Treasure;
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With yea, and nay, and truely,
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and verily, deere Brother,
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I cannot sell under that price
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if twere unto my Mother.
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I wish Artificers
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and handy-crafty Trades-men,
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Would make no slight and rotten Wares,
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in which they so deceive men;
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Their Stuffe are naught and rotten,
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and will not hold the wearing,
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I wish that Quack-salvers
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and Mountebanks so busie,
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That kills so many with their Drugges,
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and live in corners privie,
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They had some better skill,
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and not so many murther,
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Those private faults they doe commit
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the earth doth quickly smother.
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I wish that Farmers rich
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that hordeth Corne in corners,
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And those that buyes the Bread of life,
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and hides it in their Garners,
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It might from them be tooke,
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who makes such scarce of plenty,
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Ere it doth rot, as some hath done,
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and given to Poore thats empty.
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Would Bakers all were honest;
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and Colliers sell true measure,
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Nor shrinke their Sackes to wrong the poore,
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twould doe them mickle pleasure:
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Would Souters use good Leather,
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and Taylers leave their stealing,
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The needy sort should better live,
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if all usd honest dealing.
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I Wish all Tapsters eke,
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their liquor not to spill it,
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Nor yet to bumbast up their Jugges
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and Pots, with froth to fill it;
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You neede not call for drinke,
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if you have money plenty,
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Heel fill your braines and belly full,
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but soone your pockets empty.
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I wish all Ostlers eke
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to leave their double dealing,
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Nor use to grease their Horses teeth,
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nor yet their Oates be stealing;
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Theyl cheat you to your face,
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strewing Oates on the pecks bottome,
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The second part, To the same tune.
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WOuld drunkards leave such drinking,
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and Gallants leave their roaring:
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Would desperate Dick forbeare to stab,
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and Leachers leave their whoring:
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If there were no Pick-pockets,
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nor Theeves in corners lurking,
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The Hangman might goe hang himselfe,
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or starve, for want of working.
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I doubt some money-mongers
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that useth great extortion,
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Which maketh Dice of poore mens bones,
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they shall have Dives portion:
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I wish that Jaylers eke
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of Country and of Citie,
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Would not use Prisoners poore like dogges,
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but take of them some pitie.
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I wish all men were honest,
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and all did love true dealing,
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Nor runne in debt good mindes to cheate,
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nor any bent to stealing;
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Would there no cheating were,
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no cogging, nor no lying:
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Would there were no deceit at all
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in selling or in buying.
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Would some receive no bribes,
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nor double Fees be taking,
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Some Clyents on the surer side
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would not have hearts so aking,
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And Termers might keepe home,
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being ruld by honest Neighbours,
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As many which were wise have done,
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and savd their Coyne and labours.
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I wish no strifes nor jarring
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twixt married couples happen,
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And then each thing will prosper well,
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their children well wil batten:
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All things will well encrease,
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by Gods Almighty power,
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In discord doe not spend your dayes.
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nor on each other lower.
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Likewise I wish all Parents
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their Children wel to nourish,
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And in Gods word to traine them up,
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which like to Vines wil flourish:
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And Children have a care
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to please your Parents truly,
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Then long you shal enjoy the land,
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and have all things most duly.
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I wish true amity
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mongst Neighbours may be common;
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And that no honest minded man
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be matcht with a bad woman:
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Nor that an honest wise
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doe with a mad man marry,
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Being so yoakt, theres naught but strife,
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and all things seeme to varie.
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I wish all wicked Traytors,
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and such like bloudy fellowes,
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That doe their King and Countrey hate,
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were hanged on the Gallowes.
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I wish that peace and plenty
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may in our Kingdome flourish,
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And that the Gospels heavenly light
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we may embrace and nourish.
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And all wisht happinesse
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unto my King I render,
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That long amongst us he may raigne,
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in glory and in splendor:
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Our gracious Queene God blesse,
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and Royall Progenie,
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Long let them live, and after death
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place them in Heaven most hie.
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I wish the Clergie well,
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the Nobles, and the Gentrie,
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The Laymen, and the Commons all,
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poore men Ile not exempt yee;
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Lord send us charity,
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let us our lives be mending,
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And give thee thanks for all thy gifts
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thou still to us art sending.
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Thus now my Testament
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I fully have concluded,
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And wish you well to use these lines
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which here you have perused:
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This is my Legacie
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which unto all is given:
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The Lord preserve you every one,
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And send your soules to heaven.
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