God speed the Plow, and bless the Corn-mow.
OR,
A new merry Dialogue between a Plowman and a Servingman.
The Servingman most stoutly doth dispute.
The Husbandman his speeches doth confute
The Servingman sayes his Calling is the best,
The Plowman sayes in that he does but jest,
But in conclusion as I do understand
The Husbandman he got the better hand.
The tune is, The Duke of Norfolk.
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MY noble friends give ear,
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If mirth you love to hear,
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Ile tell you as fast as I can
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A story very true,
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Then mark what doth ensue,
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concerning of a husbandman,
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servingman.
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A Servingman did meet
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A Husbandman tth street,
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and thus unto him he began
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I pray you tell to me
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Of what calling you be
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or if you be a servingman.
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Husbandman.
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Quoth he my brother dear
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The Coast I mean to clear,
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and the truth you shall understand
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I no no one disdain,
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But this I tell you plain,
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I am a Husbandman.
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Servingman.
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If a Husbandman you be,
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Then come along with me
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and Ile help you as soon as I can
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Unto a gallant place
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Where in a little space,
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you may be a Servingman.
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Husbandman.
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SIr for your diligence
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I give you many thanks
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then answered the plowman again
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I pray you to me show
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Whereby that I may know
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what pleasure hath a Servingman
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Servingman.
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A Servingman hath pleasure
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Which passeth time and measure
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when thee Hawk on hi[s] fist doth stan
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His Hood and Uarvils brave
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And other things he have,
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which yields joy to a servingman
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Husbandman.
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My pleasures more then that,
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To see my Oxen fat
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and to prosper well under my hand
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And therefore I do mean
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With my Horses and my Team
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to keep myself a Husbandman.
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Servingman.
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O tis a gallant thing
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In the prime time of the Spring
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to hear the Huntsman now & than
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His Bugle Horn to blow
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And the Hounds run all arow
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that is pleasure for a servingman.
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Servingman.
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To hear the Beagle cry
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And to see the Falcon fly
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and the Hare trip over the plain
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W[h]ile the huntsman and the hound
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Make Hills and Dales rebound.
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that is pleasure for a servingman.
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Husbandman.
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Tis pleasenter you know
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To see the Corn to grow.
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and to grow so well on the Land,
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The plowing and the sowing,
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The reaping and the mowing
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yields pleasure to the husbandman
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Servingman.
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At our Table you may eat
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All sor[t]s of dainty meat,
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Pig Cony, Goose, Capon & Swan
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And with Lords and Ladies fine
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You may drink Beer, Ale and Wine
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that is pleasure for a servingman.
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Husbandman.
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While you eat Goose and Capon
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Ile feed on Beef and Bacon,
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& piece of hard cheese now & than,
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We Pudding have and Souse
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Alwayes ready in the house
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which contents the honest husbandman
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servingman,
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At the Court you may have
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Your Garments fine and brave
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and Cloak and gold lace laid upon
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A shirt as white as milk,
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And wrought with finest silk
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thats pleasure for a servingman.
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Husbandman.
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Such proud and costly Gear,
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Is not for us to wear,
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mongst thee briers & thee brambles many one
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A good strong Russet Coat
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And at your need a groat
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will suffice the honest husbandman
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Husbandman.
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A Proverb here I tell
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Which likes my humor well
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and remember it well I can
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If a Courtier be too bold
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He may want when he is old
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then farewell the servingman.
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Servingman.
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It needs must be confest
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That your Calling is the best
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I no longer discourse with you I can
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And henceforth I will pray
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By night and by day,
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heaven bles the honest husbandman
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Servingman.
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To end my Ditty now
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I say God speed the plow
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for thats the chief stay of our land
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And he that takes the pains
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Deserves to have the gains
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which is the honest husbandman,
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And thus my loving friends
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My Story now it ends,
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according as I first began.
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Theres none that passeth by
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Can say my Songs a lye,
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concerning of the Husbandman.
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