Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/389

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TIME'S ALTERATIONS.
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Black Jacks to every man Were filled with wine and beer,No pewter pot, nor can, In those days did appear:Good cheer in a nobleman's house Was counted a seemly show;We wanted no brawn nor souse When this old cap was new.
We took not such delight In cups of silver fine;None under degree of a knight In plate drank beer or wine:Now each mechanical man Hath a cupboard of plate for a show,Which was a rare thing then When this old cap was new.
Then bribery was unborn, No simony men did use,Christians did usury scorn, Devised among the Jews:The lawyers to be fee'd At that time hardly knew;For man with man agreed When this old cap was new.
No captain then caroused, Nor spent poor soldier's pay;They were not so abused As they are at this day;Of seven days they make eight, To keep them from their due;Poor soldiers had their right When this old cap was new.
Which made them forward still To go, although not prest;And going with goodwill, Their fortunes were the best;Our English then in fight Did foreign foes subdue,And forced them all to flight When this old cap was new.

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