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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,
When this old cap was new.`

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,
When this old cap was new.

A man might then behold,
At Christmas, in each hall,

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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 seemly show ;

We wanted no brawn nor souse,
When this old cap was new.

We took not such delight

In cups of silver fine:

None under the degree of a knight
In plate drank beer or wine :

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

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