A good workeman needes neuer want worke.
If this be true, heres a parsell of ten,
All lustie able well quallified men,
That Scarse haue their equals to eate, drinke, and sleepe
And some are fair better to hang then to keepe.
To the tune of the nine maids.
YOu that good houses kéeps
and would good seruants hire,
With proper men to eate and sleepe,
Ile furnish your desire,
My owne experience hath.
(In a month or little more)
Try'd all that's mention'd vnderneath
in number halfe a skore,
Marke h [...]w they stand i [...] Ra [...]e
All lusty a [...]le m [...]n,
Then you w [...] good workmen want,
come take you [...] ch [...]yse of ten.
Come hither Tospot Tom.
thou art the first in place.
This fellow will not stay at home
aboue an houres space,
He [...]le at the alehouse stay,
from breakef [...]st time till dinner
From thence till supper heell be away,
by this I was a winner.
O this wa [...] [...] of my men,
the chief of halfe a score,
All [...] good workemen then
[...] my state.
The next was Retchgutt Ralph,
right he [...]e to Wood of Kent,
A yeareling pigg or else a Calfe
his stomack will content,
With eight and fifty Egges
a lenten meale heele make,
And yet hee lookes like one that begs,
so leane as any Rake.
O this was one of my men
th [...] chi [...]fe of halfe a score▪
You who do want good workmen then
take choyce among my store.
The third was Slippery Will,
his trado he néede not learne,
I had two maids and with his skill
hée got them both with barne,
And two more in the towne,
all in a fortnights space,
The like of him was seldome knowne,
Hée's of a bréeding race.
O this was one of my men,
the chiefe of halfe a score,
You who do want good workmen then
take choyse among my store.
The fourth was desperate Dicke
heed loss his shirt at dice,
Besides he hath another tricke,
which hee esteemes no vice,
What euer he can get
by cozening or by stealing
Or running into honest mens debt,
hee counts it lawfull dealing.
O this was one of my men,
the chiefe of halfe a score
You who do want good workmen then,
take choyse among my store.
The second part
To the same tune.
THe fifth was Sam a thresher,
the best I ere did keepe
Heede worke foure howres euery day,
and the rest héede spend in sleepe.
Yf any did him blame,
For taking so much paines,
Heede soone make answer to the same
how can I thresh when't raynes,
O this was one of my men,
the chiefe of halfe a score,
You who doe want good workemen then
take choyse among my store.
The sixth was Cogging Watt
hée us'd to lye and flatter
And Gossip-like hee'd prate and that,
of what it made no matter,
What ere his fellowes said,
(though hee [...]ou'd them in show)
The tel-tale Rascall more on t made,
And that's a good gift you know.
O this was one of my m [...]n,
the cheife of, &c.
The seuenth was Kit the Butcher
for him his sweet heart mournes.
Héed dresse a Sheepe or a Bullock well,
and giue to his friends the hornes.
Of all I ere knew in my life,
hee was a pr [...]tty youth,
Hee'd with his candell l [...]oke his knife,
when hee had it in his mouth.
O this was one of my men
the cheife, &c.
The eighth was George the Grome,
a seruant good and able,
Because he would not wear out his broom.
hee neuer swept the stable.
His prouidence was such,
to show his honest care.
Hée'd neuer curry the horses much,
for feare they should lose their h [...]
O this was one, &c.
The ninth to is painefull Pierce,
my honest Husban [...]man,
All his good quallities to [...],
to more th [...]n now I can.
But one thing of great note,
I here (alone) will tell
Because my hempe sheule take [...]pe [...],
hee cast it in the Well,
O this, &c.
The tenth and last was N [...]d,
the bailiffe of my land,
Those tenants that his [...] fed,
he dealt with vnder hand.
For bribes and priuate guilts
heede let out leases cheape,
Now Iudge my masters by these [...],
what benefit I might Reape.
O this was, &c.
Imagine now my friends,
you to a place are come.
Where halfe a score good fellowes stand
within a little rome,
And all doe seruice craue,
then doe not them refuse,
To keepe them I no liking haue,
If I can any way chuse.
O these are my br [...]ue m [...]n,
in number halfe a score,
You who doe want good workmen then,
take choyse among my store.
M. P.
FINIS.
Printed at London for Francis Groue. and are to be so [...]ld on Snow hill by the Sarazens head.