The GOOD-FELLOWS Resolution: OR,
The Bad Husbands Return from his Folly,
Being a Caveat for all Spend-Thrifts to beware of the Main Chance.
Here in this Ballad you may see,
The vain-ness of bad Husbandry:
Good Advice here is to be found,
The which may save you many a Pound.
To the Tune of, The Plow-Mans Honour made known. By T. Lanfiere.
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I Have been a bad Husband this full fifteen year,
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And have spent many pounds in good Ale, & strong beer
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I have Ranted in Ale-houses day after day,
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And wasted my time and my Money away:
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But now ile beware, and have a great care,
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Lest at the last Poverty falls to my share:
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For now I will lay up my Money in store,
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And I never will play the bad Husband no more.
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Too long I have lived in this idle course,
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In spending my money, which hath made me the worse;
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When as I had got Silver plentifully,
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I did not regard how fast I let it flye:
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For sometimes ide spend, and sometimes ide Lend,
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But the longest day now I see must have an end:
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For now, etc.
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Sometimes in the Ale-house a week I would sit,
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If I with Good-fellows did chance for to meet;
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Until all my Money was wasted and gone,
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Then it was high time to turn out and go home:
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My proud Hostis she, would look scornful on me,
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And tell me she did not love such Company:
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But now, etc.
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Doll Cleanly that lives in the middle of the Town,
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Hath first and last of me had many a Crown;
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If then I did come to her and bring store of Money,
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And call apace for Drink, on me shed look bonny:
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Both Early and Late a Boozing I have sat,
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But my Hostis and I now is in great Debate:
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For now, etc.
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Too much unto Gameing my self I would use,
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There was no kind of Exercise I did Refuse;
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A Crown or an Angel I have lost on a day,
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Which would have been better kept then thrown away:
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Then Beer it was plenty, no Flaggons stood empty,
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Sometimes on the Board stood full eighteen or twenty:
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But now, etc.
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Such idle courses I usd always to take,
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For little account of my Money ide make;
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I would call for strong tipple, and make my heart merry,
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But now of such actions truly I am weary:
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Though thred-bare I went, with my cloaths torn & rent
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Yet I to the Ale-house would always frequent:
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But now, etc.
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My Landladys they would seem loving to be,
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If that they saw Money was plenty with me;
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But if that I had none at all for to show,
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They would look coy on me, as if they did not me know,
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And if so be that I was never so dry,
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To trust me a Flaggon some Whores would deny:
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But now I will lay up my Money in store,
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And I will never play the bad Husband no more.
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I Went to an Hostis where I usd to resort,
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And I made her believe that money was short;
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I askt her to trust me, but she answered nay,
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Enough of such Guests I can have every day:
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Then quoth she, pray forbear theres no staying here,
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Except you have money you shall have no Beer.
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But now, etc.
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I pulld out a handful of Money straightway,
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And shewd it unto her, to hear what shed say:
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Quoth she, you shall have Beer and ale of the best,
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You are kindly welcome, I did speak but in jest:
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O no, no, said I, your words I defie,
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Ile see you hangd ere with you ile spend a penny:
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But now, etc.
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Thus here you may see and observe it full plain,
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The Ale-wives and inn-keepers all are for gain;
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If a man on them spends all that ere he hath got,
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He shall have no thanks, but be counted a Sot:
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To you theyl seem kind, whilst you can them Cash find,
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But when you have spent all they will change their mind
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But now, etc.
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If I had but savd half the money I have spent,
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How it would rejoyce my heart with much content;
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But since tis all gone, farewel unto it,
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Henceforth im resolved for to learn more wit:
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My folly I see, in spending so free,
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The Ale-wives no more my Purse-bearers shall be:
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For now, etc.
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Then bad Husbands of the main chance have a care,
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Lest Poverty comes on you ere you are aware:
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Take heed how idly your Money you spend,
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Make much of that little which God doth you lend.
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Endeavour always your stock for to raise,
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Then of honest people you will have the praise:
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Strive for, etc.
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To conclude, take my counsel do not it refrain,
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Youl find it will be for your profit and gain,
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Whilst you are young and lusty strive to get and save,
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Then things necessary in old age youl have:
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Be sure do not waste, lest you want at last,
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Those that plays in Summer in Winter must fast:
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Then learn for to lay up your money in store,
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Resolve for to play the bad Husband no more.
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