I would you never had said so,  
To the tune of upon the Meadow brow.  
 

TWo loving Friends once meeting  
by chance upon the way:  
In kindness gave each other,  
the good time of the day:  
And the one desired the other,  
along with him to go:  
The other denayed, and to him said,  
I would you had not said so.   

Being demanded why,  
that he that wish desired?  
Why sir quoth he my reason is,  
because I am almost tired?  
And are you tired quoth he,  
'tis more than I did know?  
Then truly since with all my heart,  
I would you had not said so.   

But seeing you are weary,  
now let us take repose:  
here let us sit and rest us,  
and to you I'll disclose:  
Some Vices in the Country,  
amongst us daily grow:  
If you'll attend good Sir quoth he,  
I would you had not said so.   

For truly in the City,  
from whence I came are more:  
More hateful vices, name you one,  
I'll name you half a score:  
Is't possible (quoth he)  
the City so should flow?  
With Vice in such abundance,  
I would you had not said so.   

But now sir for the Country,  
because I must begin?  
I'll first speak of the Miser,  
that lump, that heap of sin:  
This urchin is a Farmer,  
whom many men do know:  
He scrapes and hoards the Devil and all  
I would you had not said so.   

Though Barnes and Racks be full,  
though Chists be crammed with Coin:  
And though he nothing wanteth,  
yet must he needs purloin:  
His tenants Rents he'll raise,  
his Neighbours he'll undo:  
By removing of their Land marks,  
I would you had not said so.   

And if a Neighbour hath,  
near him a pee● of ground:  
he'll never leave by right nor wrong,  
till it to him be bound:  
If true means cannot get it,  
he then to Law will go:  
And wrong a poor man for his own,  
I would you had not said so.   

The Second part.  
To the same Tune.  

THere are some in our Parish,  
that too much are to blame:  
For in a year scarce once,  
they to the Church ere came:  
But doth the Alehouse haunt,  
and so themselves undo:  
O Lord sure quoth the other again,  
I would you had not said so.   

O sir I could reveal quoth he,  
of truths a number more:  
Which shame makes me conceal,  
but yet I grieve therefore:  
For many do offend,  
which hear I may not show:  
Truly replied the other then,  
I would you had not said so.   

Then hear me (qv.) the Townsman  
for fearless I'll begin:  
Apparently to tell you,  
now of the cities sin:  
There's all the acts of Roguery,  
or aught that longs thereto:  
Before tend it quoth the Countryman,  
I would you had not said so.   

The Courtiers proud, and Lawyers,  
doth knavish cunning use:  
The Trade's man by his buying,  
doth many men abuse:  
All the Informers are turned knaves,  
they little good do do:  
The sergeant cruel, sir quoth he,  
I would you had not said so.   

The Broker in the Hundred takes:  
good man but Four score:  
His Conscience is so upright,  
he will not ask for more:  
The Bawd she will turn honest,  
when whores she doth forego:  
That will be never, sir quoth he,  
I would you had not said so.   

The Curtiz●us shall vertious prove,  
when all their faults are fled:  
And Punks shall surely honest live,  
when Panders all are dead:  
The Tailor he ●●ll steal no more,  
when he hath no work to do:  
He cannot then the other said,  
I would you had not said so.   

The Brother 'gainst his brother,  
and Father 'gainst the Son:  
The son against the Father goes,  
till they are all undone:  
And Wives against their Husbands,  
do make to much a do:  
Sir this quoth th'other grieves me most,  
I would you had not said so.   

Most men so impious are,  
that they devise all evils:  
And in their dealings worse prove,  
then do incarnate Devils,  
The City Wives fantastic prove,  
yet make a modest show:  
Their wiles they'll have the other said,  
I would you had not said so.   

Their Scycophanting Parrazites,  
their Mistress humours smooth,  
And eke the cheating vasse Decoy,  
poor country men do sooth:  
Till by their Cheating tricks,  
they quite do them undo:  
Quoth he this case is pitiful,  
I would you had not said so.   

Thus have you heard what news,  
is now within the City:  
How all do practise villainy,  
without remorse or pity:  
Let us now having rested,  
upon our journey go,  
Where to, though loath he 'greed, yet said  
I would you had not said so.   

Trust me it is great pity,  
to hear this bad report:  
Of Country, and of City,  
how all men do extort:  
I would they would reform,  
and think what's best to do:  
That Countryman nor Citizen,  
Might never 'gainst them say so.    
FINIS.   

Printed at London for T.L.