Proper new Ballad in praise of the gallant Weavers.
To its own proper new Tune.
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[?] Gentlemen, and listen well
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[?] to a Song I'm to endite,
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[?] Praise of all the Weavers
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how much do I delight?
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[?]o speak forth what I think of them,
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for they deserve the praise,
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And of their works these Garments are,
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which makes pride now a days.
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2. Oh all you Trades and Callings,
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to offend you I am loath;
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But if the Weavers be not fine,
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from whence comes the fine Cloath?
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What is't that makes us gallent?
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comes not from that Ingine?
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Who works the Silks and Satins,
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Strips, Stuffs, and Cloath so fine.
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[3]. Is't not the gallant Weavers?
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to praise them I am glad;
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Were not their work, full of Ingine,
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sure I would go unclade.
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Come here ye peeping Rascals
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that Weavers discommends;
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Were't not their handy work, Sirs,
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you'd go with naked Lends.
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4. The Dyer says, we colour Cloath,
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and the Tailor sayes we sew,
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Through Weavers hands it must first come
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ere it get Seam or Hew.
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Fair fall the gallant Weavers,
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that is of such Ingine,
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Whose works to be commended,
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there Cloath it is so fine.
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5.Forth comes some others, reasonless,
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Thief Webster they will cry;
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Hold ye your tongue my Neighbours,
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you'r obliged, so am I,
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No thieves for to esteem them,
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but honest men they are;
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Your Mothers Reel may prove o're short,
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their measure it may marr.
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6. I pray, good Wives. if ye do think
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your Yarn they do steale,
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Keep it at Home beside your Pose,
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and then ye will do weel.
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These things that are most necessar,
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folks uses to think best;
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'Mongst such wee'll place the Weavers:
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to overcome the rest.
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[7.] If ye can work your Yarn at home,
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wee'll Weavers nought esteem,
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But it's the thing ye cannot do,
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so hold your tongue good Deem,
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And with me praise the Weavers,
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whose work ye cannot want,
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And cease from all ignominy
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when ye begin to rant.
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8. Then comes one forth without a cause,
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them creashie he will call.
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And silly man he mindeth not
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his Minnies fault at all.
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How she must Oyl and Butter have,
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though all the rest should want,
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To creash her Wool ere it be spun,
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then he begins to rant,
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9. And calls the Weavers creashie,
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when she the same begins;
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For all that if it were not Creashr,
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her Wool much the worse spins.
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There's no Creash that he uses
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may make you raise this name,
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On him who makes his work right tight,
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when ye do creash your Wame.
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10. I pray you hold your tongue, Sir,
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and speak no more to me
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He had better strive to mense his work,
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than Creash his Womb like thee:
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The Creash that he makes use of,
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upon his work is seen:
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But making use as thou does,
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it is devoured clean.
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11. How should I praise the Weaver,
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whose worth cannot be told?
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Whose work is the most usefull,
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therefore they may be bold
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To kyth themselves to be Work-men,
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when others hold their tongue:
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And he that discommends him,
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I'd beat him with a Rung.
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12. I held my tongue and heark'ned
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when some more fit than I
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Should have mark'd these abuses
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which so reproachfully
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Did overcome the Weaver,
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that's an industrious man,
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But negligent I found them,
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so I at last began
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13. The Weavers Commendation
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not able to make end,
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Because they are so commodious,
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the half cannot be Penn'd
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Pry pardon me brave Weavers,
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when me far short ye see
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Of your Deserts that's matchless,
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it is the veritie.
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14. The [We]avers Work I do desire
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so long as I may live,
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An worthy Estimation
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I of these Work-men have:
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Now all my gallant Weavers,
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my leave I take of you,
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And wisheth you to prosper,
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so fair a while Adieu.
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