HEN this old cap was new,
'Tis fince two hundred year,
No malice then we knew,
But all things plenty were:
All friendship now decays,
(Believe me this is true)
Which was not in those days,
When this old cap was new.
The nobles of our land
Were much delighted then,
To have at their command
A crew of lufty men,
Which by their coats were known
Of tawny, red, or blue,
With crefts on their fleeves fhown,
When this old cap was new.
Now pride hath banish'd all,
Unto our lands reproach,
When he whofe means is fmall,
Maintains both horfe and coach:
Inftead of an hundred men,
The coach allows but two; This was not thought on then, When this old cap was new.
Good hofpitality
Was cherish'd then of many; Now poor men ftarve and die,
And are not help'd by any: For charity waxeth cold,
And love is found in few; This was not in time of old, When this old cap was new.
Whereever you travell'd then,
You might meet on the way,
Brave knights and gentlemen,
Clad in their country grey,
That courteous would appear,
And kindly welcome you:
No puritans then were,
When this old cap was new.
Our ladies, in those days,
In civil habit went;
Broad-cloth was then worth praise,
And gave the best content:
French fashions then were fcorn'd,
Fond fangles then none knew,
Then modefty women adorn'd,
When this old cap was new.
A man might then behold,
At Christmas, in each hall;
Good fires to curb the cold,
And meat for great and small:
The neighbours were friendly bidden,
And all had welcome true,
The poor from the gates were not chidden,
When this old cap was new.
Black jacks to every man
Were fill'd with wine and beer,
No pewter pot, nor can,
In those days did appear:
Good chear in a noblemans house
Was counted a feemly fhew,
We wanted no brawn nor fouse,
When this old cap was new.
None under the degree of a knight
In plate drunk beer or wine: Now each mechanical man
Hath a cupboard of plate for a fhew, Which was a rare thing then,
When this old cap was new.
Then bribery was unborn,
No fimony men did use,
Christians did ufury scorn,
Devis'd among the Jews:
The lawyers to be feed,
At that time hardly knew,
For man with man agreed,
When this old cap was new.
No captain then carous'd,
Nor spent poor foldiers pay,
They were not fo abus'd,
As they are at this day;
Of feven days they make eight,
To keep them from their due;
Poor foldiers had their right,
When this old cap was new.
Which made them forward ftill
To go, although not preft;
And going with good will,
Their fortunes were the beft.
Our English then, in fight,
Did foreign foes fubdue,
And forc'd them all to flight,
When this old cap was new.
God fave our gracious King,
And fend him long to live;
Lord, mifchief on them bring,
That will not their alms give;
But feek to rob the poor
Of that which is their due:
This was not in time of yore,
When this old cap was new.
'N good King Charleses golden days
When loyalty no harm meant,
A zealous high-church man I was,
And fo I got preferment:
To teach my flock I never mifs'd,
Kings are by God appointed,
And damn'd are thofe that do refift,
Or touch The Lords Anointed.
And this is law I will maintain
Until my dying day, fir,
That whatfoever king fhall reign,
I'll be the vicar of Bray, fir.
When Royal James obtain'd the crown,
And popery came in fashion,
The penal laws I hooted down,
And read the Declaration :
The church of Rome I found would fit
Full well my conftitution;
And had become a Jesuit,
But for the Revolution.
And this is law, &c.
When William was our King declar'd,
To eafe the nations grievance ;
With this new wind about I steer'd,
And fwore to him allegiance:
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