Good hospitality Was cherish'd then of many; Now poor men starve and die, And are not help'd by any: For charity waxeth cold, And love is found in few; This was not in time of old, Where'er you travell'd then, You might meet on the way Brave knights and gentlemen, Clad in their country grey; That courteous would appear, And kindly welcome you; No Puritans then were, When this old cap was new. Our ladies in those days In civil habit went; Broad cloth was then worth praise, And gave the best content: French fashions then were scorn'd; Fond fangles then none knew ; Then modesty women adorn'd, A man might then behold, 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 We wanted no brawn nor souse, We took not such delight In cups of silver fine: None under the degree of a knight Now each mechanical man Hath a cupboard of plate for a show; Which was a rare thing then, When this old cap was new. Then bribery was unborn, No simony men did use; Christians did usury scorn, Devised among the Jews. The lawyers to be fee'd |