A Mess of good Fellows: OR,  

The generous spark who roundly,  
doth call, and says for his part,  
Tush, we have and shall have abundance,  
come fill us the other odd quart.   
To the tune of, Ragged and torn.  
 

WEll met my jovial blades,  
Tom, Anthony, Dick, & James  
We have been all merry Comrades,  
as all our acquaintance proclaims:  
Now sith we are all met here,  
Wée'll be merry before we go,  
For paying let's never fear,  
our credit is good we know.  
Here's 4 or five shillings good round ones  
i'll spend them before we part,  
Tush, we have & shall have abundance  
come fill us the other odd quart.   

Wée'll laugh and make good sport,  
and cry a fig for care,  
What though our means grows short,  
the world has enough to spare:  
When either of us was borne,  
we had as much wealth about us  
As those that are rich (I'll be sworn)  
why then should they ieer and flout us?  
& though they have since got ground on's  
it doth nor much grieve my heart:  
Tush, we have etc.   

Let's sing and make a noise,  
as best the time befits,  
We show ourselves merry good boys,  
when the world is beside her wits:  
The Usurer with all his bags,  
is not so content in mind,  
As honest good fellows in rags,  
that are to each other kind.  
Our hearts are all perfect & sound ones,  
we scorn from our friends to start,  
Tush, we have and shall have abundance;  
come fill us the other odd quart.   

The Miser doth daily plod  
how he may his riches increase,  
He maketh his gold his God,  
but we live at better hearts ease:  
Let fortune frown or smile,  
we do not for that much pass.  
The world shall not us beguile,  
with her prospective glass,  
If poverty seek to wound us,  
we'll cureed with the Vintners art,  
Tush, we have etc.   

He that doth enjoy his health,  
and a competent means withal,  
What need he to pine for wealth,  
but take what to him doth befall?  
A contented mind is worth gold,  
it is but a folly to strive,  
We all were at first of one mould,  
yet all are not borne to thrive,  
Then let no ill thoughts confound us,  
let every one bear a good heart,  
Tush, we have and shall have abundance,  
come fill us the other odd quart.    

The second part, To the same tune.  
 

WE scorn to spend money on queans,  
though sometimes we hunt the fox,  
For he that so wasteth his means,  
at last will be paid with a p—  
No surgeon nor any Physician,  
for money their aid shall lend us,  
When drinking hath changed our condition  
a hair o'th' old dog will mend us.  
Grim sorrow can never wound us,  
which maketh curmudgeans to smart,  
Tush, we have, and shall have abundance,  
Come fill us the other odd quart.   

'tis better far to be poor,  
and have a contented mind,  
Then to have abundance of store,  
and with it no rest can find:  
The covetous man is not rich,  
he never is satisfied,  
His money doth him bewitch,  
he thinks upon nothing beside:  
Such puddles shall never drown us,  
we'll be well content with our part,  
Tush, we have etc.   

Some idle companions there be,  
that rather than they will work,  
Upon such good fellows as we,  
the Rascals will live by the shirk,  
At last they are ta'en in the nick,  
(for cheating can ne'er come to good)  
And then they are taught a fine trick,  
to look through a piece of wood:  
And oftentimes when they are found thus  
with pain they do follow the cart  
Tush, we have etc.   

He that hath a generous mind,  
will take any laudable course,  
What fortune to him hath assigned,  
he takes it for better for worse:  
And to recreate his senses,  
when labour hath ta'en off the edge,  
They weigh not a little expenses.  
each other like us they will pledge.  
Let our hearts be true and sound ones,  
though fortune our meanings doth thwart,  
Tush, we have, etc.   

Such merry vagaries we'll play,  
when liquor hath captived our wits,  
We think not how hard the next day  
we must work for these mad merry fits:  
Yet we'll neither quarrel nor chide,  
as fools in these humours do use,  
Such folly we cannot abide,  
if any way we can choose.  
And if any man seek to wrong us,  
we'll one take another's part.  
Tush we have, etc.   

But amongst all our merry cheer,  
- 'twere pity of all our lives,  
If all the while we are here,  
we neglect to drink to our wives.  
Faith that was remembered well,  
'tis better at last then never,  
Though my share do the rest excel,  
it shall go about howsoever.  
Now left too much liquor should drown us  
let's know what's oath score & depart,  
Tush we have, and shall have abundance,  
come give us the other odd quart.   M. P. 
FINIS.   

Printed for Thomas Lambert near the Hospitall-gate in Smithfield.