The Good-fellowes Advice:
Shewing what favour a man shall have while he hath meanes,
But being in want, then all Friendship ends.
To the tune of; Upon a Summertime.
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FArewell good company,
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now I must leave you all:
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It hath bred my misery,
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and brought me into thrall.
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But now I will refraine
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and drink strong Ale no more,
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Ile seeke to purchase gaine,
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and quite forsake a Whore.
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Good-fellowes great and small,
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pray let me you advise,
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To have a care withall,
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tis good to be merry and wise.
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Now I have spent my meanes,
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and have no money to pay,
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Im quite bereft of friends,
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which breeds my sad annoy:
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But while I had silver and gold
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to pay for them and me,
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Then many have me told
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I was brave company.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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But now they me despise,
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and aske what make you here:
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Therefore Ile now grow wise,
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and will live void of feare:
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I can get money enough
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when I doe seeke for it,
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Wert not for drink and snuffe,
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that robs me of my wit.
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Good-fellowes etc.
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Strong drinke I will refuse,
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for it hath done me wrong,
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It hath made me abuse
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my selfe with hand and tongue,
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When I have beene in drinke
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I had no care at all,
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Nor did I ever thinke
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upon my owne downefall.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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I still crid fill the Pot,
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whilst all my mony was gone,
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And did pay many a shot
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for others as tis well knowne:
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And they gave me faire words,
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whilst I could still doe so:
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But now their tongs are swords,
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from whence envie doth flow.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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My good will is repaid
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with envie, hate, and spite,
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Some of them snares have laid
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to take me with deceit,
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They laugh at my downefall,
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as plainely I doe prove,
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Scarce any of them all
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repay me any love.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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Had I knowne this before.
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while I had money and means,
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I had kept some in store,
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but I was shallow braines.
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For which some call me Asse,
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to spend my meanes away:
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Now I may feed on grasse,
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or freely fast and pray.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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The time hath beene that I
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could not have past by th doores,
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But as I walked by
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such company as rores,
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Would cause me to sit downe,
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and welcome should be made:
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But many times a crowne,
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for such welcomes I payd.
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Good-fellowes great and small,
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pray let me you advise,
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To have a care withall,
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tis good to be merry and wise.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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TObacco, Ale, and Beere,
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for me was brought amaine,
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With Wine and dainty cheere,
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servd in with Venus traine.
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Looke what I wished to have,
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they did fulfill my minde,
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Most dainty words they gave,
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which made me think them kind.
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Good-fellowes great and small,
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pray let me you advise,
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To have a care withall,
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tis good to be merry and wise.
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But now the proverbs true,
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twas money was my friend,
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For having none I rue,
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theres none will give nor lend.
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They say the world is hard,
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and that I finde indeed,
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For none doe me regard,
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now I am in most need.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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If I to th Alehouse goe,
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and call for Ale or Beere,
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My Hostesse soone will know
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my stock for shes in feare.
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If I call but two pots,
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and pay not presently,
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Then quickly for her shots,
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she will begin to cry.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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But I doe know her mind,
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tis money she would see,
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And then she will prove kind,
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or else a Divell is she.
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For those that have no money
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shall be thrust out of doores,
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For such poore men as I
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sheel not trust on the scores.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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When I had money good store,
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and had no need at all,
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Then I might freely score,
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what-ever I did call.
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But now I am in want
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of Money, Bread, and Beere,
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At me sheel loudly taunt,
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and aske, What make you here:
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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Now I repent too late,
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I cannot call againe
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My money and estate,
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that I have spent in vaine:
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I must take an new course,
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and seeke to get some more,
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But yet sometimes of force,
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my miseries I deplore.
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Good-fellowes great, etc.
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Some wonder now at me,
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and say I am growne strange,
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But they shall plainely see
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that I my life will change.
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For Ile not spend a peny
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amongst the drunken crue,
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O I have spent too many,
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that makes me have so few.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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Had I done so in time,
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I ner had knowne such want,
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But I with each would joyne,
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theres nothing could me daunt.
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I never tooke no care
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what ere my friends did say:
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But whats falln to my share,
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even griefe and sad annoy.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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But now I will amend
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my lewd lascivious life,
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For now I doe intend
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to be ruled by my Wife.
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O shes a loving soule,
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as ever poore man had,
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For her the Bell did toule,
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and I vile knave was glad.
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Good-fellowes, etc.
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But now shes well againe,
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and will not die this fit,
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She shall have to maintaine
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her, all that I can get.
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To conclude, Ile take paines,
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next Munday Ile begin,
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This Song it appertaines
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to Women, and to Men.
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Good-fellowes great and small,
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pray let me you advise,
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To have a care withall,
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tis good to be merry and wise.
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