A merry and pleasant Discourse Betwixt Simple-wit, the Tenant, And Mr. Money-love, the Landlord.  
To to Tune of, I am in Love, and cannot tell with whom.  
 
 

Tenant.  
WHen I do call to mind my former life,  
considering now the world's uncertainty  
And the true goodness of a loving Wife,  
constant unto a man in misery:  
When truly on these things I contemplate,  
the vainness of this World I hate,  
Wishing this comfort for my hearts content   

Good loving sir you would not raise my rent.   

Landlord.  
Thou dost not take a course whereby to live,  
if thou dost think to do as thou hast done,  
Therefore warning unto thee I do give,  
against next Quarter pay or else be gone,  
Think not with fair words I can be content,  
at Quarter-day I do expect my Rent:  
'Tis not for poor men to take foolish ways,   

I tell thee fellow I thy Rent must raise.   

Tenant  
If you my rent should raise I were undone  
having a charge of pretty Children small  
Pity my case, and be your Father's Son,  
who was not loving unto one but all,  
The poor be pitied, giving them relief,  
they still were sure of Bread, Beer, & Beef,  
And few unserved from his Gates they went   

Oh, then good Landlord, do not raise my Rent.   

Landlord.  
Fellow why dost thou tell me of these things,  
the world thou knowst is come to that pass,  
Pride to maintain, great cost and charges brings  
then so to prate, thou art an Ass,  
When my Grandfather lived, house-keeping then  
was in request amongst the gentlemen  
But 'tis not now as 'twas in former days;   

then I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must raise.   

Tenant.  
Your Father's Tenant, I was twenty years  
and my Forefather lived upon that Land,  
When your good aged Granfix living were;  
as by my writings I do understand,  
My father served your father, were his cloth,  
My Tenement to lose I would be loath,  
to part from it my sorrows would augment   

Oh then good Lanlord, do not raise my Rent.   

Landlord.  
All this may be, but what is that to me,  
as times do alter so men's minds do change:  
This is no time for Hospitality,  
men love their pleasures & abroad to range,  
For to prate so thou art a saucy knaus,  
I do intend six Horses for to have,  
My Coach to draw to gain immortal praise   

than I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must raze.   

Tenant.  
Your Worship's pleasure sir fulfilled may be,  
you have enough the same for to maintain,  
Left by your Ancessers of good Degree:  
but my old Landlord loved for to go plain;  
Your Father's father, that same good old man  
to live as he did, happy's he that can;  
In good house-keeping still's means he spent   

Oh then good Lanlord, do not raise my rent.   

Landlord.  
I smile to hear thee talk so like a Gull,  
to tell me of these things that former were  
For in those days all things were plentiful,  
yet now thou seest that every thing is dear  
And though my Granfix went in habit plain  
should I do so it would my credit stain;  
I must the Taverns haunt, & see new Plays:   

then I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must raise.   

Tenant.  
Sweet sir, why should you not your pleasure take  
for your delight being you are so young.  
Yet howsoever sir, me so happy make,  
renewing of my Lease to make it strong,  
That after my decease my Children may  
the same enough as I do at this day,  
My land though small which lying is in Kent   

kind loving Landlord do not raise my Rent.   

Landlord.  
Brave Naggs, and Geldings, chiefest can be had  
to run in Hide Park, & on Bansted downs,  
I mean to keep, my heart for to make glad,  
whose fléetness may regain me many crowns  
Such must I have, my pleasure it is so,  
to maintain this I would have the know,  
Great charge requires to keep them in these days,   

than I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must raise.   

Tenant.  
Heavens bless your worship, wheresoever you go,  
let me obtain this favour at your band,  
Kind courtecus sir, to safe my heart of Woe,  
that I and mine sir may enjoy that Land  
According to the Rent which formerly  
my Father paid, good sir do not deny,  
But that I may enjoy my Tenement;   

and I'll be careful still to pay your Rent.   

Landlord.  
Well see thou dost, but if with me thou break  
or fail in aught thou here hast promised me,  
Believe me in a word what I do speak,  
henceforth no more I ere will credit thee,  
But learn of those, do their estates devour,  
so pity no man be he ne'er so poor,  
Since for thy faults that thou art penitent,   

thy Land enjoy, I'll never raise thy Rent.    

London, Printed for W. Thacery, and W. Whitwood.