The praise of London: OR,
A delicate new Ditty, which doth invite you to faire London Cit [...]
I cannot rightly speake but in her praise,
Because shee is the flower of earthly ioyes.
To the tune of the second part of Hide Parke.
ALl you that delight in Pastime and Pleasure,
now list to my Ditty wherein I will show;
In London they'l say there is good store of treasure
and that for a certaine there is many doth know,
Great store of siluer and gold you may see,
with all things else pleasing as euer can be:
There are sine shewes and glistering sights,
Then come to the Citie for your delights.
And yet there is many a Countrey Farmer,
perhaps in obiection this Prouerb may say,
The Country fruits they doe helpe to adore her,
and make her séeme like to the flowers in May:
True is the Countrey London doth féed,
with such Commodities as there doth néed:
But as for renowne true honour fights,
So London Towne is the chiefe for delights.
You sée how the chiefest are thither resorting,
and chiefly are there in the cold Winter time:
The Citty in Winter is better for sporting,
than tis in the Country in the Summer prime:
The Lords and the Knights and the Ladies so gay,
may there take their pleasure and go to a Play,
Pleasure it flowes there day and nights,
Then come to the City for your delights.
The Country Gentles and swagering Gallants,
will not spare there mony to sée this braue place,
And if they want means they'l sel their whole talents,
to see this braue City that is of such grace,
With a braue Gelding, a Hawke and a Ho [...]
will brauely come riding into this faire [...]
Meaning to sée all the famous sights,
Thus they come to th' Citty for their delights▪
Likewise there is many a Country Miser,
that will spare an Angell, a Marke or a po [...]
And bring vp his wife with him for to suffice [...]
and happily on her bestow a new Gowne:
From one place to another about they will go [...],
and many braue pleasures his wife he will [...]
This is the humors of country wights
They'l come to the City for their delights.
The Weauer, the Baker, the Brewer, the [...]
the Glouer, the Tanner the Butcher, the [...]
The Ioiner, the Cooper, the Sawyer, the [...]
the Tapster, the Hostler, the Clothier, the [...]
And many more Trades that here I might name,
that heare of braue Londons renowned high fa [...]
All these prepare both day and nights,
To come to the City for their delights.
The Spanish, the French, the Turke, and I [...]
and so doe the Gretians come thither also;
And likewise they do come from al parts of Holl [...]
but seldome there any will back againe goe,
The Germanes come thither to vault and to da [...],
whose names in the City doe highly aduance,
The outlandish Lords with Ladies and Knights,
Doe come to the City for their delights.
The second part. To the same tune.
[...]kewise you haue many that catch some mischances
as they in the Countrey are at their play:
[...]he Maids and the Yongmen they loue to haue dances,
and yet without musicke they'l passe time away:
[...]he Maidens indéed sometimes by mishap,
with playing and toying doe soone catch a clap,
[...]hen to void blame and for their rights,
They come to the City for their delights.
[...]ll well it is knowne such chanses come many▪
the Carriers indeed bring vp Maids to the City,
[...] when they come there it is vnknowne to any,
these Country Lasses, oh they are so witty:
[...]heres enow beside Taylors that serue for a cloke,
and helpe limping Vulkan to beare up the yoke,
[...]apid he binds fast in mens sights,
[...]en come to the City for your delights.
[...] [...]nt kept a Maid and she called her Mary,
and she was beloued of the Miller Tom;
[...] as she went out in an euening with Sary,
this Miller by chance vnto her did come,
[...] the whole night vntill it was day,
Mary and Thomas together did play,
But thought it were night the Moone shined bright,
Whereby Tom and Mary did take their delight.
Within short time after her téeth fell to aking,
and she doubted Thomas had got her with child,
[...] was the poore Lasse in a pittifull taking,
and in her doubt she was no whit beguild,
[...]he safe was deliuered and Thomas he fled,
this Maid was churched and the child was dead,
[...]he scapt all punishment by her fine flights,
[...]nd came to the City for her delights.
My Ladies fine waiting maid met in the darke
with Iohn Bould the Coachman who caused her to stay
And she was inuited by this gallant sparke,
to learne a pretty canceited fine play,
What game they call it I cannot well tell,
but in short time after her belly did swell,
It made her offen fetch grieuous sighes,
Yet she came to the City for her delights.
Thus you sée plainely how that here is many
a gallant yong Lasse to the City doth come,
Although they be broken what is that to any,
there's some Maids come with thē altho a small sum,
They fit for the City as Bels for a Stéeple,
for in London dwelleth many sorts of people,
Then come away you Noble wightes,
Oh come to the City fit for your delights.
Faire London is ready to entertaine many,
you kindly are welcome and so you shall find,
But pray take my counsell and bring with you mony,
and then you shall sée they will proue very kind,
The kind hearted lasses will welcome you all,
and if you haue money to pay what you call;
Come noble hearts where pleasure inuites,
Oh come to the City for your delights.
Thus in my conclusion all you that are willing,
to buy this new Ditty whereby you may learne;
Perhaps you spend many a penny or shilling,
vpon many trifles which little concerne,
Oh London is praised by all that her knowes,
to be a place where ioy and pleasure it flowes;
You that haue wits may liue by your slights,
Then come to the City for your delights.
FINIS.
R. C.