Here is an Item for you. Or, The Countrimans bill of charges, for his comming vp to London Declared by a Whistle.
To the tune of King Henry, &c.
DIogenes that laugh'd to sée
a Mare once eate a Thistle,
Would surely smile and laugh the while,
to heare me sing my whistle,
For now, tis meant wée must inuent,
a silent way of ringing.
And so for feare lest some should heare,
must whistle stead of singing,
With a hay downe, with a ho downe,
With a hay downe, downe, downe, derry,
since that wee may
nor sing, nor say,
Weele whistle and be merry,
A Country-man to London came
to view the famous Citie,
And here his charge did grow so large,
it made me write this Dittie,
For in a Bill he set downe still,
his charge from the beginning,
Which I did find, and now doe mind,
to whistle stead of singing,
With a hay downe, &c.
Imprimis, comming vnto towne,
and at my Inne alighting
I almost spent a noble crowne
in potting and in piping,
Item, that the Tapster there
my Iugges halfe full did bring in,
I dare not say he was a K.
but Ile whistle stead of singing.
With a hay downe, &c.
Item, that I went abroad,
and had my purse soone picked,
While I did stare on London ware,
by a Pick-purse I was fitted.
Item, that I met a wench,
that put me downe in drinking,
I dare not say what she made me pay,
but Ile whistle stead of singing.
With a hay downe, &c.
Item, that I met withall
a very louing Cosen,
Who néeds would bée of my Countrey
and gaue me halfe a dozen,
And at the last a pare of Cards
they cunningly did bring in,
I will not say what they made me pay
but Ile whistle stead of singing,
With a hay downe, with a ho downe,
With a hay downe, downe, downe, derry,
since that we may,
nor sing nor say.
Weele whistle and be merry,
Item, that I daily went
vnto my Lawyers Chamber,
And hée did say. I should win the day,
without all feare or danger,
But then at last, for charge and cost,
he such a Bill did bring in,
I will not say, what he made me pay,
but Ile whistle stead of singing,
With a hey downe. &c.
Item, that I payed there, for
a bagpipe in a bottle,
Which did begin to hisse and sing
when we did stirre the stople.
Item, that one night I did lye
in the Counter for my drinking,
I will not say, what I paid next day
but Ile whistle in stead of singing.
With a hey downe, &c.
Item, that at last I came
to take my horse againe,
But my poore horse lookt neuer worse,
his belly did complaine,
For he alas for want of hay,
stood ore the manger grinning,
Yet they made me pay for night and day
but Ile whistle stead of singing.
With a hey downe, &c.
The Country-mans going downe into the Country, Declared by a whistle.
To the same tune.
THus hauing got from London once,
he rid full heavy hearted,
For like an honest man he had
from all his mony parted.
His Cloake-bag full of papers was,
in stead of money gingling,
I dare not b [...]st what those papers cost,
but Ile whistle stead of singing.
With a hay downe, with a ho downe,
With a hay downe, downe, downe, derry
since that we may
nor sing, nor say,
Weele whistle and be merry.
Imprimis, comming home, he found,
his good wife Ioane a brewing,
And did not deferre but vnto her
his papers fell to shewing.
But when she saw, nothing but law,
she fell to scold and flinging,
But all that day he kept away,
and whistled stead of singing.
With a hay downe, &c.
Item, then he went to plough
which whiles that he was driuing
Alas sayes he what fooles are we,
in law to fall a striuing,
For now I meane to keepe my [...]éeme,
which shall good profit bring in.
I most driue on my money's gone,
and whistle stead of singing.
With a hey downe, &c.
Item, that his neighbour came
to aske what newes at London,
Alas sayes he, more wiser be,
for feare that you be vndone.
Spend not at Terme what you doe erne,
whil [...] that your wines are spinning,
Which makes me now to driue the plough,
and whistle stead of singing.
with hey downe, &c.
For be it knowne vnto you all,
that I my money spended
Such fooles as I will beggers dye
before their liues are ended.
Therefore beware and haue more car [...]
when that your mony's gingling,
Least when t'is spent you doe repent
and whistle stead of singing.
With a hay downe, &c.
For I so many Items had,
yet could not I beware,
For this and that and I know not what,
this Item brings my care,
Yet let this be to all of you,
an Item which I bring in,
Lest money spent makes you repent,
and whistle stead of singing,
With a hay downe, &c.
Yet one more Item I will add
since that my song is ended
My Item's this, that I would wish,
no man to be offended,
With all my Items but to saue,
his money when t'is gingling,
Least when ti's spent, he doe repent,
and whistle stead of singing,
With a hay downe, with a ho downe,
With a hay downe, downe, downe, derry,
since that we may
nor sing, nor say,
Weele whistle and be merry.
EINIS.
Printed at London by M.F.