A good workeman needes never want worke.
If this be true, heres a parsell of ten,
All lustie able well quallified men,
That Scarse have their equals to eate, drinke, and sleepe
And some are farr better to hang then to keepe.
To the tune of the nine maids.
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YOu that good houses keepe
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and would good servants hire,
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With proper men to eate and sleepe,
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Ile furnish your desire,
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My owne experience hath.
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(in a month or little more)
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Tryd all thats mentiond underneath
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in number halfe a skore,
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Marke how they stand in Rancke
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All lusty able men,
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Then you who doe good workmen want,
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come take your choyse of ten.
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Come hither Tospot Tom,
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thou art the first in place,
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This fellow will not stay at home
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above an howres space,
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Heele at the alehouse stay,
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from breakefast time till dinner
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From thence till supper heell be away,
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by this I was a winner.
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O this was one of my men,
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the chiefe of halfe a score,
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All you who want good workemen then
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take choyse among my store.
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The next was Retchgutt Ralph,
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right heire to Wood of Kent,
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A yeareling pigg or else a Calfe
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his stomack will content,
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With eight and fifty Egges
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a lenten meale heele make,
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And yet hee lookes like one that begs,
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so leane as any Rake.
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O this was one of my men
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the chiefe of halfe a score,
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You who do want good workmen then
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take choyce among my store.
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The third was Slippery Will,
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his trade he neede not learne,
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I had two maids and with his skill
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hee got them both with barne,
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And two more in the towne,
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all in a fortnights space,
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The like of him was seldome knowne,
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Hees of a breeding race.
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O this was one of my men,
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the chiefe of halfe a score,
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You who do want good workmen then
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take choyse among my store.
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The fourth was desperate Dicke,
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heed lose his shirt at dice,
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Besides he hath another tricke,
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which hee esteemes no vice,
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What ever he can get
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by cozening or by stealing
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Or running into honest mens debt,
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hee counts it lawfull dealing.
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O this was one of my men,
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the chiefe of halfe a score
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You who do want good workmen then,
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take choyse among my store.
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The sceond part To the same tune.
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THe fifth was Sam a thresher,
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the best I ere did keepe
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Heede worke foure howres every day,
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and the rest heede spend in sleepe.
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If any did him blame,
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For taking so much paines,
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Heede soone make answer to the same
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how can I thresh whent raynes.
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O this was one of my men,
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the chiefe of halfe a score,
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You who doe want good workemen then
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take choyse among my store.
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The sixth was Cogging Wart
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hee usd to lye and flatter
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And Gossip-like heed prate and chat,
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of what it made no matter.
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What ere his fellowes said,
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(though hee Lovd them in show)
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The tel-tale Rascall more ont made,
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And thats a good gift you know.
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O this was one of my men,
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the cheife of, etc.
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The seventh was Kit the Butcher
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for him his sweet heart mournes,
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Heed dresse a Sheepe or a Bullock well,
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and give to his friends the hornes.
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Of all I ere knew in my life,
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hee was a pretty youth,
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Heed with his candell looke his knife,
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when hee had it in his mouth.
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O this was one of my men
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the cheife, etc.
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The eighth was George the Groome,
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a servant good and able,
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Because he would not wear out his broom,
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hee never swept the stable.
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His providence was such,
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to show his honest care,
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Heed never curry the horses much,
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for feare they should lose their haire,
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O this was one, etc.
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The ninth was painefull Pierce,
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my honest Husbandman,
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All his good quallities to rehearse,
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is more then now I can.
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But one thing of great note,
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I here (alone) will tell
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Because my hempe should take deepe root,
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hee cast it in the Well.
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O this, etc.
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The tenth and last was Ned,
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the bailiffe of my land,
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Those tenants that his humor fed,
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he dealt with under hand.
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For bribes and private guifts
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heede let out leases cheape,
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Now Judge my masters by these gifts,
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what benefit I might Reape.
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O this was, etc.
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Imagine now my friends,
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you to a place are come,
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Where halfe a score good fellowes stand
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within a little rome,
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And all doe service crave,
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then doe not them refuse,
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To keepe them I no liking have,
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if I can any way chuse.
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O these are my brave men,
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in number halfe a score,
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You who doe want good workmen then,
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take choyce among my store.
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