Times Alteration:
OR,
The Old Mans rehearsall, what braue dayes he knew
A great while agone, when his Old Cap was new.
To the Tune of, Ile nere be drunke againe.
VVHen this Old Cap was new,
tis since two hundred yeere,
No malice then we knew,
but all things plentie were:
All friendship now decayes,
(beleeue me, this is true)
Which was not in those dayes,
when this old Cap was new.
The Nobles of our Land
were much delighted then,
To haue at their command
a Crue of lustie Men,
Which by their Coats were knowne,
of Tawnie, Red, or Blue,
With Crests on their sleeues showne,
when this old Cap was new.
Now Pride hath banisht all,
vnto our Lands reproach,
When he whose meanes is small,
maintaines both Horse and Coach:
In stead of an hundred Men,
the Coach allowes but two;
This was not thought on then,
when this old Cap was new.
Good Hospitalitie
was cherisht then of many;
Now poore men starue and die,
and are not helpt by any:
For Charitie waxeth cold,
and Loue is found in few:
This was not in time of old,
when this old Cap was new.
Where euer you trauel'd then,
you might meet on the way
Braue Knights and Gentlemen,
clad in their Countrey Gray,
That courteous would appeare,
and kindly welcome you:
No Puritans then were,
when this old Cap was new.
Our Ladies in those dayes
in ciuill Habit went,
Broad-Cloth was then worth prayse,
and gaue the best content:
French Fashions then were scorn'd,
fond Fangles then none knew,
Then Modestie Women adorn'd,
when this old Cap was new.
The Second Part.
To the same Tune.
A Man might then behold,
at Christmas, in each Hall,
Good Fires, to curbe the Cold,
and Meat for great and small:
The Neighbors were friendly bidden,
and all had welcome true,
The poore from the Gates were not chidden,
when this old Cap was new.
Blacke Iackes to euery man
were fill'd with Wine and Beere,
No Pewter Pot nor Kanne
in those dayes did appeare:
Good cheare in a Noble-mans house
was counted a seemely shew,
We wanted no Brawne nor Sowse,
when this old Cap was new.
We tooke not such delight
in Cups of Siluer fine,
None vnder the degree of a Knight,
in Plate drunke Beere or Wine:
Now each Mechanicall man
hath a Cup-boord of Plate, for a shew,
Which was a rare thing then,
when this old Cap was new.
Then Briberie was vnborne,
no Simonie men did vse,
Christians did Vsurie scorne,
deuis'd among the Iewes,
Then Lawyers to be Feed,
at that time hardly knew,
For man with man agreed,
when this old Cap was new.
No Captaine then carowst,
nor spent poore Souldiers Pay,
They were nor so abus'd,
as they are at this day:
Of seuen dayes they make eight,
to keepe from them their due;
Poore Souldiers had their right,
when this old Cap was new.
Which made them forward still
to goe, although not prest:
And going with good will,
their fortunes were the best,
Our English then in fight
did forraine Foes subdue,
And forst them all to flight,
when this old Cap was new.
God saue our gracious King,
and send him long to liue,
Lord, mischiefe on them bring,
that will not their Almes giue▪
But seeke to rob the Poore
of that which is their due:
This was not in time of yore,
when this old Cap was new.
M. P.
FINIS.
Printed by the Assignes of Thomas Symcocke.