For their wives and their children foe hange them upon, That whosoever gives alms they will * give none.

120

Then laid he him down, and turned him away,
And prayd me to goe, and leave him to rest.
I told him, I haplie might yet fee the day
For him and his fellowes to live with the best.
First, said he, banish Pride, then England were bleft;
For then those wold love us, that now fell their land, 125
And then good house-keeping wold revive out of hand.

* We ought in juftice and truth to read 'can'.

II.

PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE.

This excellent old ballad is preferved in the little ancient mifcellany intitled, "The Garland of Goodwill."—IGNORANCE is here made to speak in the broad Somersetshire dialect. The fcene we may fuppofe to be Glaftonbury Abbey.

TRUTH.

OD speed you, ancient father,

G°

And give you a good daye;

What is the cause, I praye you,
So fadly here you staye?

And

Ah! ah! che zmell thee now, man;

Che know well what thou art;

20

25

Chill tell thee what, good vellowe,

Before the vriers went hence,

A bufhell of the best wheate

Was zold vor vourteen pence;

And vorty egges a penny,

That were both good and newe;

And this che zay my zelf have zeene,

And yet ich am no Jewe.

40

45

TRUTH.