A good workman needs never want work.  
If this be true, here's a parsell of ten,  
All lusty able well qualified men,  
That Scarce have their equals to eat, drink, and sleep  
And some are fair better to hang then to keep.   
To the tune of the nine maids.  

 

YOu that good houses kéeps  
and would good servants hire,  
With proper men to eat and sleep,  
I'll furnish your desire,  
My own experience hath.  
(In a month or little more)  
Tried all that's mentioned underneath  
in number half a score,  
Mark h●w they stand i● Ra 〈…〉 e  
All lusty a●le m●n,  
Then you w 〈…〉 good workmen want,  
come take you● choice of ten.   

Come hither Toss-pot Tom.  
thou art the first in place.  
This fellow will not stay at home  
above an hour's space,  
He●le at the alehouse stay,  
from breakfast time till dinner  
From thence till supper he'll be away,  
by this I was a winner.  
O this wa● 〈◊〉 of my men,  
the chief of half a score,  
All 〈…〉 good workmen then  
〈…〉 my state.   

The next was Retchgutt Ralph,  
right he●…e to Wood of Kent,  
A yeareling pig or else a Calf  
his stomach will content,  
With eight and fifty Eggs  
a lenten meal he'll make,  
And yet he looks like one that begs,  
so lean as any Rake.  
O this was one of my men  
th● chief of half a score▪  
You who do want good workmen than  
take choice among my store.   

The third was Slippery Will,  
his trado he need not learn,  
I had two maids and with his skill  
he got them both with barn,  
And two more in the town,  
all in a fortnight's space,  
The like of him was seldom known,  
he's of a breeding race.  
O this was one of my men,  
the chief of half a score,  
You who do want good workmen than  
take choice among my store.   

The fourth was desperate Dick  
heed loss his shirt at dice,  
Besides he hath another trick,  
which he esteems no vice,  
What ever he can get  
by cozening or by stealing  
Or running into honest men's debt,  
he counts it lawful dealing.  
O this was one of my men,  
the chief of half a score  
You who do want good workmen then,  
take choice among my store.    

The second part  
To the same tune.  
 

THe fifth was Sam a thresher,  
the best I ere did keep  
Heed work four hours every day,  
and the rest heed spend in sleep.  
If any did him blame,  
For taking so much pains,  
Heed soon make answer to the same  
how can I thresh when't rain,  
O this was one of my men,  
the chief of half a score,  
You who do want good workmen than  
take choice among my store.   

The sixth was Cogging Watt  
he used to lie and flatter  
And Gossip-like he'd prate and that,  
of what it made no matter,  
What ere his fellows said,  
(though he ●●ou'd them in show)  
The tell-tale Rascal more on 't made,  
And that's a good gift you know.  
O this was one of my m●n,  
the chief of, etc.   

The seventh was Kit the Butcher  
for him his sweet heart mourns.  
Heed dress a Sheep or a Bullock well,  
and give to his friends the horns.  
Of all I ere knew in my life,  
he was a pr●tty youth,  
he'd with his candle look his knife,  
when he had it in his mouth.  
O this was one of my men  
the chief, etc.   

The eighth was George the Groom,  
a servant good and able,  
Because he would not wear out his broom.  
he never swept the stable.  
His providence was such,  
to show his honest care.  
Héeed never curry the horses much,  
for fear they should lose their h●●●●  
O this was one, etc.   

The ninth too is painful Pierce,  
my honest Husbandman,  
All his good qualities to 〈…〉,  
to more th●n now I can.  
But one thing of great note,  
I here (alone) will tell  
Because my hemp sheule take ●●●pe 〈◊〉,  
he cast it in the Well,  
O this, etc.   

The tenth and last was N●d,  
the bailiff of my land,  
Those tenants that his 〈◊〉 fed,  
he dealt with under hand.  
For bribes and private guilts  
heed let out leases cheap,  
Now judge my masters by these 〈◊〉,  
what benefit I might Reap.  
O this was, etc.   

Imagine now my friends,  
you to a place are come.  
Where half a score good fellows stand  
within a little room,  
And all do service crave,  
then do not them refuse,  
To keep them I no liking have,  
If I can any way choose.  
O these are my brave m●n,  
in number half a score,  
You who do want good workmen then,  
take choice among my store.    
M. P.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Francis Grove. and are to be so●ld on Snow hill by the Saracens head.