Well met Neighbour: OR,  
A dainty discourse betwixt Nell and Sisse,  
of men that do use their wives amiss:  
Then all you good women their cases pity,  
the cause you shall hear if you list to this ditty.  

To the tune of Ragged and torn.  

whither away good neighbour,  
what makes you to trudge so fast?  
I'm going to Margeryes Labour,  
I'm sent for in very great hast:  
Yet for all this your speed,  
I pray you go softly a while,  
For I have a thing in my head  
that will hold us talking a mile:  
Heard you not lately of Hugh,  
how soundly his wife he bangd,  
He beat her black and blue  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

Is't possible neighbour Sisse,  
that they do no better agree?  
Nay I have more news than this  
of others as bad as he:  
And seeing we both go one way,  
we'll give to our haste some scope,  
Though you from the labour do stay  
she'll do well enough I hope:  
Know you not Laurence the Miller.  
O he is as good as ere twanged,  
His wife says he threatens to kill her,  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

O fie on these dastardly knaves,  
for those that will beat their wives  
They dare not with swords or staves  
Meet men in the field for their lives:  
But if that my husband should  
not use me so well as he ought,  
My hands I should hardly hold  
for i'd give him as good as he brought:  
But know you not Kett the Baker  
o he is as good as ere twanged,  
He threatens his wife to forsake her.  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

Why what is his reason for that?  
in troth neighbour I do not know,  
But when he's drunk as a Rat,  
then she'll act the part of a shrew:  
Tush, that's such a catching disease  
few women their silence can keep,  
Let every one say what they please  
but a shrew's better than a sheep:  
But know you not Ralph the plumber,  
I he is as good as ere twanged:  
He walks with a wench every summer  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

What does his poor wife the mean while?  
at home she doth sadly remain,  
And at his return she will smile,  
and lovingly him entertain:  
In troth then he serves her but right,  
but if that it were my case,  
The wench that he kept but one night,  
should go with no nose on her face:  
But know you not Sam the Turner,  
o he is as good as ere twanged,  
He throws his wife i'th' fire to burn her  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.    

The second part,  
To the same tune.  

I Pray you how happened that,  
what should be the cause of this strife?  
A man brought a new beaver hat,  
Unto his next neighbour's wife,  
And she spoke unto her good man,  
to buy such another for her,  
Which made him to curse and to ban,  
and thus began all the stir.  
But know you not Frank the glover,  
o he is as good as ere twanged,  
His wife says he doth not love her,  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

But what do you thinks the occasion  
that separates them in affection?  
he's led by a quean's persuasion  
to bring his poor wife in subjection,  
Should my good man use me thus  
I'd feritt both him and his minion,  
To love them that love not us  
is folly in my opinion:  
But know you not Ned the painter?  
o he is as good as ere twanged,  
he's turned a great tavern haunter  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

This seems a great wonder to me,  
and a thing which I hardly can think  
For lately so strict was he,  
that you hardly could get him to drink  
Tush, that's a thing commonly seen,  
there's many that seem so civil:  
In a place convenient have been  
as bad as who's most evil:  
But know you not Stephen the weaver  
o he is as good as ere twanged,  
Has deceived my maid, now héel leave her  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

Why neighbour I hope you but jest,  
has he your maid Nan beguiled?  
'tis true neighbour Nell I protest,  
and I doubt now she will run wild:  
'tis pity that maids are so kind  
to trust them that are so fickle,  
For now you may well understand  
she is left in a very bad pickle:  
But know you not George the fell-monger  
o he is as good as ere twanged,  
He let his first wife die for hunger,  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.   

In sadness neighbour Sisse  
you have made me my time oreslip,  
If Margery should do amiss  
'twould make me to bite my lip:  
And therefore in haste farewell.  
o Margery now I come,  
Adieu sweet neighbour Nell,  
hush, say no more but mum.  
For staying from Madge 'tis true,  
I confess I deserve to be bangd:  
And this is all long of Hugh,  
O such a Rogue would be hanged.    
M. P.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Thomas Lambert.