Money is my Master:
Yet once it was a servant unto mee,
But now for want of Money I am in misery,
Yet I doe hope to find some remedy.
To the tune of, Better late thrive then never.
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I Have bin the Master of money good store,
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but now alas tis nothing so,
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For now I am growne very exceeding poore,
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and cannot well tell what to doe:
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Tis want of this money for that was my friend,
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And when I had store I it lewdely did spend,
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I thought I should never of it seene an end,
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This money is many mens master their master,
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Tis money is now growne my master.
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Perhaps some will say it is but as drosse,
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but I say it is a fine mettall,
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For he that wants money is possest with a crosse,
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and is like to enjoy but a ltittle:
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For hee that hath money may have what hee will,
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Looke what he desireth his mind to fullfill,
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With brave entertainement and kind welcome still,
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Tis money is many mens master their master,
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This money, etc.
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Whereas I had store of silver and gold,
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then I was respected with Gallants,
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But now I have none their love is growne cold,
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and Im more rejected then valliants.
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Those that I have feasted with wine & good cheare
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From me stand a loft & will not come mee neare,
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Because I want meanes it puts me in feare.
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Tis money is many mens master their Master,
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Tis money, etc.
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Thus lack of this money makes all men foregoe me,
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as if they nere saw me before,
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But if I had mony im sure they would know me
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and I should have company store:
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They would come unto me with tales and with lyes,
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And many brave projects they soon would devise,
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But let men be carefull, such are cunning spies,
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Tis money is many mens master their master,
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Tis money, etc.
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Now I all alone may sit like an asse,
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whilst others are frollickly drinking,
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And freely carrowsing the cup and the glasse,
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I to my selfe sadly am thinking,
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How they are in danger to fall in the snare.
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Wherein I am tangled with griefe & with care,
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Therefore I advise you such lewdnesse forbeare,
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Tis money is many mens master their master,
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Tis money, etc.
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This moneys a servant likewise I may say,
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to them that doe carefully use it,
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But it is uncertaine and soone runns away,
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and specially if once you abuse it:
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I meane if you wast it in drinking and pride,
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At Cards Dice and whores full fast it will slide,
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Leave off all such follies for thus I have trid,
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That money becometh my master my master,
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Tis money that now is my Master.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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LIkewise there are some to money are slaves,
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and doe esteem it as their God,
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Then more that they have the more stil they crave
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but those are most impudent bad:
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For money was made for to passe to and fro,
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As for them that hord it twill turne to their woe,
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But for my owne part I did never doe so.
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For money is now grown my master my master,
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Tis money is now growne my master.
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This money is growne such a conquerer,
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as Alexander was never greater,
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He gaind all his credit and honour by warre
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But money now wins it more better:
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There are many brave sparkes march in silver & gold,
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That the face of a foe they did scarce ere behold,
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It is their great maintenance that makes them bold
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And these are right masters of mony of mony,
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O these are, etc.
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This fine Master Money is growne such a man,
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that many would faine enter in it,
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But nere since those witches from Lancaster came,
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could I have the fortune to gaine it:
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Twill one day be better but certaine nere worse,
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If ere I get Money againe in my purse,
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Ile lay a gray groat Ile take a better course,
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And seeke to be a master of money of money,
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I faine would, etc.
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This lack of this Money doth trouble my mind,
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that I am full sorely tormented,
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I have much a doe a kind Hostis to find,
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that will with me now be contented:
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Quoth she give me Money for I will not score,
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She saies she hath chalke enough behind the dore,
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But I must intreat her to set up some more,
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Till I can be, etc.
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Now he that hath Money thouht be but a boy,
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he shall be made welcome most friendly,
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The love of brave Gallants he soone may enjoy,
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and he shall be used most kindly:
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Theres no age nor wit no strength can prevaile,
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Tis Money may dot for it is a sure baile,
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and he that hath it can seldome times faile,
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This money, etc.
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Now thus to conclude and so end my ditty,
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you that have money make good use ont,
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For friendship is cold in Country Towne & Citty
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if once you be driven to want,
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Therefore now bee warned, for here you may see
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The griefes & the sorrowes that now possesse me,
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And this was all long of my bad husbandrie.
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Tis money is many mens master their master,
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Tis money is now growne my master.
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