The Praise of
Lancashire MEN,
Or, A few Lines which here is pen'd
Wherein they Lancashire Lads commend.
Tune, A Job for a Journey-man Shoomaker.
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YOu Muses all assist my Pen,
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I earnestly require,
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To write the praise of the Young men
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born in Lancashire:
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They are both comely, stout, and tall,
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and of most mild behaviour,
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Fair Maids I do intreat you all
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to yield to them your favour.
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When Lancashire Lads doth feel the dart
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of Cupids Bow and Quiver,
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And aims to take a fair Maids part,
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I'm sure he'l not deceive her:
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Unto their promise they will stand
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which they to you propounded,
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They will not break for house nor land
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if love their hearts have wounded.
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But if a Young man do require,
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in hast for to be bedding,
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Give no consent to his desire,
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before your lawful wedding:
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In such remains no faithful love,
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unto him bear no favour,
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If he a Maid to leudness move,
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his mind will quickly waver.
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There is Knights sons and Gentlemen
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that's born in Lancashire,
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That will be merry now and then,
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if need it do require,
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The Plowman likewise is our friend,
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which doth use Plow and Harrow,
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He freely will his money spend
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when he meets with his marrow,
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In Lancashire there's brisk young Lads
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as are within our Nation,
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Most of them of several Trades
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or some Occupation:
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That their Wives they can well main-tain
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and bring them store of Treasure
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All by their labour and their pain,
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they live with joy and pleasure.
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It is a most delightful thing,
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and pleasure for to hear,
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These Boys their Songs & Catches sing
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when they drink Ale and Beer,
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They will be merry great and small,
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when they do meet together,
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And freely pay for what they call,
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a figg for wind and weather.
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At pleasant sports and Foot-ball play,
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they will be blyth and jolly,
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Their money they will freely lay,
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and cast off melancholly:
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When Lancashire Lads of several trads
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they have a jovial Meeting,
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Each man a glass unto fair Maids,
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will drink unto his sweeting.
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Brave Lancashire men are Souldiers stout
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whose valour have been tryed
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At Sea and Land in many Bout
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when thousands brave men dyed,
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And always scorned for to yield,
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although their foes wer[e] plenty
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If they but ten men on the field,
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they surely will fight twenty.
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Great James our King they will defend
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as well as any Shire,
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To England they will prove a friend,
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if need it do require,
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They Loyal Subjects still hath been,
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and most of them stout hearted,
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Who still will fight for King & Queen
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and never from them started.
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Now to conclude and make an end
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of this my harmless Sonnet,
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I hope no man I do offend
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each man put off his Bonnet,
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And drink a Health to James our King
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and to our English Nation.
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God us defend in everything
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and keep us from Invasion.
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