[Come buy this new Ballad, before you doe goe:]
If you raile at the Author, I know what I know.
To the Tune of, Ile tell you but so.
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IT is an old saying,
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that few words are best,
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And he that sayes little,
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shall live most at rest:
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And I by experience
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doe finde it right so,
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Therefore ile spare speech,
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but I know what I know.
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Yet shall you perceive well,
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though little I say,
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That many enormities
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I will display:
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You may gusse my meaning,
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by that which I show,
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I will not tell all,
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but I know etc.
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There be some great climbers,
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compos'd of ambition,
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To whom better-borne men
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doe bend, with submission:
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[P]roud Lucifer climbing,
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was cast very low,
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Ile not slay these men,
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but I know etc.
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There be many Foxes
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that goe on two-legges,
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They steale greater matters
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then Cocks, Hennes, and Egges,
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To catch many Guls
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in Sheepes cloathing they goe,
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They might be destroy'd,
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but I know etc.
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There be many men
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that Devotion pretend,
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And make us beleeve,
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that true Faith they'le defend:
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Three times in one day
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to Church they will goe,
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They cozen the world,
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but I know etc.
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There be many rich men,
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both Yeomen and Gentry,
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That for their owne private gaine
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hurt a whole Countrey,
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By closing free Commons,
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yet they'le make as though
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Twere for common good,
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but I know etc.
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There be divers Papists,
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that to save their Fine,
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Come to Church once a moneth,
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to heare Service Divine,
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The Pope gives them power,
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as they say, to doe so,
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They save money by't too,
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but I know etc.
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There be many Upstarts
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that spring from the Cart,
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Who gotten to th'Court,
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play the Gentlemans part:
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Their fathers were plaine men,
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they scorne to be so,
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They thinke themselves brave,
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but I know etc.
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There be many Officers,
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men of great place,
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To whom if one sue
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for their favour and grace,
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He must bribe their servants,
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while they make as though
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They know no such thing,
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but I know etc.
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THere be many Women
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that seeme very pure,
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A kisse from a stranger
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they'le hardly endure,
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They are like Lucretia,
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modest in show,
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I will accuse none,
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but I know etc.
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Likewise there be many
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dissembling men,
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That seeme to hate Drinking
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and Whoring, yet when
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They meet with a Wench,
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to the Taverne they'le goe,
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They are civill all day,
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but I know etc.
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There be many Batchelors,
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that to beguile
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Beleeving kind Lasses,
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use many a wile,
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They all sweare that they love,
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when they meane nothing so,
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And boast of these trickes,
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but I know etc.
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There's many an Usurer,
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that like a Drone
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Doth idly live
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upon his moneys Lone,
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From Tens unto Hundreds
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his money doth grow:
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He sayes he doth good,
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but I know etc.
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There be many Gallants
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that goe in gay Rayment,
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For which the Taylor
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did never receive payment,
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They ruffle it out
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with a gorgeous show,
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Some take them for Knights,
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but I know etc.
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There be many Rorers
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that swagger and rore,
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As though they in th'warres had be
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seven yeeres and more,
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And yet they never lookt
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in the face of a Foe:
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They seeme gallant Sparkes,
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but I know etc,
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There's many, both Women
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and Men, that appeare
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With beautifull Out-sides,
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the Worlds eyes to bleare:
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But all is not Gold
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that doth glister in show,
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They are fine with a Pox,
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but I know etc.
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There's many rich Trades-men
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who live by Deceit,
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And in Weight and Measure
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the poore they doe cheat,
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They'le not sweare an Oath,
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but indeed, I, and No,
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They truely protest,
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but I know etc.
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There be many people
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so given to strife,
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That they'le goe to L[a]w
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for a two-penny Knife:
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The Lawyers nere aske then,
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why they doe so,
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He gets by their hate,
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but I know etc.
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I know there be many
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will carpe at this B[all]et,
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Because it is like
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sowre Sawce to [their Pallet:]
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But he, shee, or the[y,]
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let me tell ere [I goe,]
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If they speake [against this Song,]
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I know w[hat I know.
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