V

Nor will any go to law, With a maunder for a straw, All which happiness he brags, Is only owing to his rags.

"Now swear him"--

I crown thy nab with a gage of ben bouse, And stall thee by the salmon into clowes, To maund on the pad, and strike all the cheats, To mill from the Ruffmans, Commission, and slates, Twang dells i' th' stiromel, and let the Quire Cuffin And Harman Beck strine and trine to the ruffin.

[1: beggar] [2: constables] [3: magistrates] [4: I pour on thy pate a pot of good ale] [5: And install thee, by oath, a rogue] [6: To beg by the way, steal from all,] [7: Rob hedge of shirt and sheet,] [8: To lie with wenches on the straw, so let all magistrates and constables go to the devil and be hanged!]

THE HIGH PAD'S BOAST [b. 1625]

[Attributed to JOHN FLETCHER--a song from a collection of black-letter broadside ballads. Also in New Canting Dict. 1725.]