Wades Reformation,
To all good Fellows in this Nation.
Wherein he doth show to'th old and to'th young,
To beware of false hearts, and a flattering tongue,
For they be two evils, and will bring you thither
Where the Devil and the Hostis went together.
But he has spent all and you plainly may see,
That 'tis poverty parts good company.
tune is, the maid is the best that lyes alone; or 'tis old Ale has undone me.
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TOO long have I been a drunken Sot
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And spent my means on the Black Pot,
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Both jugs and flaggons I loved dear,
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For all my delight was in strong Beer,
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Once I had Gold, though now i've none,
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Whilst I had money they'd wait me upon,
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But now 'tis turn'd to Farthings three,
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And 'tis old Ale has undone me.
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My wife full often would me tell
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If I took this course I should ne'r do well,
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For Beer and Tobacco would bring me low,
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And make me so poor that I could not go,
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Quoth she be ruled and i'le show you a way
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How you shall thrive both night and day,
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But I ne'r regarded the words spoke she,
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Until etc.
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For here would I trust and there would I lend,
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And everyone would be my friend,
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Because of my money they saw I was kind,
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And they'l pay me again when the Devil is blind
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In all company still I would lay down
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For one a shilling, another a Crown,
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Thus my kind heart I plainly do see
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And this old etc.
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For my Host and Hostess was not slack
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To bring Tobacco, Beer and Sack,
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They'd bring ten dozen if I it said,
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For they knew that I would see it paid,
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There would I swagger drink and rore,
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When that was out fill as much more,
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If I call'd but for one she'd swear there was three
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So 'tis old Ale etc.
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And still them to please I was so given,
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If they reckon'd but six i'd pay for seven;
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For all my delight it was so still,
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Their minds and humours to fulfill:
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For when drink was in then wit was out,
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Then my head she would lap with a clout,
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But next morning I paid for it soundly;
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So 'tis old etc.
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Then before that I should go away,
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She'd bring me a bit caus'd me to stay
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All the Day-long, maybe night to boot,
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She had so gotten the length of my foot,
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She swore out of doors she'd ne'r me shove,
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But 'twas more for my money than love,
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For whilst I had any full merry i'd be,
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Until etc.
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Then comes her Daughter in a silk Gown,
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The best mans Wife might a wore't in the town
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She was not asham'd in my lap for to sit,
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Until I had lost both my money and wit:
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And what I of her did then require,
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She granted to me my hearts desire,
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Then into a Parlour went I and she,
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But now such doings has undone me.
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And thus my Silver it did fly,
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For none was more esteem'd than I,
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And the best Chamber or the best Room
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Be sure I had when I did come.
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Then the Fidlers to me they did bring;
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And they a new sound Song must sing,
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My Hostis smiling must sit on my knee,
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Until etc.
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But all this while I had not forgot
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How my stock did waste yet dreamed not
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That e're I should come to poverty
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My money so vainly it did fly,
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Its a shame for me to tell it here
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How I spent five hundred pound a year,
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From Cards and Dice I ne'r was free
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Until etc.
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And when I found my stock to wast
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To sell the rest I soon made hast.
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Morgag'd House and sold my Land,
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And so got money in my hand.
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But the same i'd quickly fool'd away,
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And brought myself unto decay,
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Then the Alewifes and I could not agree
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Until etc.
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For I went to a house where I dare swear
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I had spent twenty pound a year,
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I began to call as I did before
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But she straightwayes thrust me out of Door,
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Begon quoth she you saucy jack
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Then she pul'd my Coat from off my back,
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This is all the comfort I got from she
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When that old Ale, etc.
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It grieves my heart and cuts me sore
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To think how well I lived before,
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Now i'me a laughingstock to those
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That I lent money to buy them Cloaths,
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Now they are grown high and im'e grown low
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There former friends they will not know,
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All men let this a warning be
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For tis old ale hath undone me.
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If my wifes counsel I had took
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And not her loving words forsook
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I'de never come to this poverty
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Nor known half so much misery,
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But I her words could not abide
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At my Hostis's Bar I would be try'd
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So I can lay no blame on she
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For [t]is old ale, etc.
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Good fellows all be rul'd in time
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Lest that your woes be like to mine,
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Take not an Alewife for thy friend
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Lest she deceive thee in the end,
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Repose no confidence in them
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That had rather see you sink than swim
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But love thy wife as she loves thee
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For tis old ale, etc.
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So to conclude to young men all
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Councel ile give before they fall
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Dont by no means be led away
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By those that will bring you to decay,
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For times are hard and moneys scant
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And many a man doth come to want:
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For my Gold is come to Farthings three
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And this old Ale has undone me.
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