Our ladies in those days

In civil habit went;

Broad-cloth was then worth praise,
And gave the best content:
French fashions then were fcorn'd,
Fond fangles then none knew;
Then modefty women adorn'd,
When this old cap was new.

A man might then behold,
At Christmas, in each hall,
Good fires to curb the cold,

And meat for great and small:
The neighbours were friendly bidden,
And all had welcome true,

The poor from the gates were not chidden,
When this old cap was new.

Black Jacks to every man

Were fill'd with wine and beer;

No pewter pot nor can

In those days did appear:

Good cheer in a nobleman's house
Was counted a feemly fhew;
We wanted no brawn nor foufe,

When this old cap was new.

We took not fuch delight

In

cups of filver fine;

None under the degree of a knight

In plate drunk beer or wine: Now each mechanical man

Hath a cupboard of plate for a fhew; Which was a rare thing then, When this old cap was new.

Then bribery was unborn,
No fimony men did use;
Chriftians did ufury scorn,
Devis'd among the Jews.
The lawyers to be fee'd

At that time hardly knew;
For man with man agreed,
When this old cap was new.

No captain then carous'd,

Nor spent poor foldier's pay;
They were not fo abus'd,
As they are at this day:
Of feven days they make eight,
To keep from them their due;
Poor foldiers had their right,
When this old cap was new.

Which made them forward ftill

To go, although not preft; And going with good will, Their fortunes were the beft. Our English then in fight Did foreign foes fubdue, And forc'd them all to flight, When this old cap was new.

God fave our gracious king, And fend him long to live; Lord, mifchief on them bring, That will not their alms give, But feek to rob the poor

Of that which is their due: This was not in time of yore, When this old cap was new.

FINIS.