A very pleasant new Ditty,  
To the Tune of Stand thy ground old Harry.  

 
 

COme Hostess fill the pot,  
for a penny will never undo me.  
If thou has no money to pay the shot,  
my Guest thou art welcome to me.  
Come fill us a dozen of Cans,  
though they be but a pint a piece,  
We swear we'll drink 'em off every man,  
and thou we'll the Tapster fleece,  

For after a while we are here,  
And after a while we are gone:  
And after a while we have money,  
And after a while we have none.    

Suppose a young man spend,  
and then have no money to pay,  
He hath no credit, nor none you'll lend,  
but you will his Castor stay.  
Yet still he will call for Beer,  
with a full courageous note:  
But when the reckoning he doth hear,  
now marry he hath never a groat.  

For after a while we are here, etc.    

Good fellows enrich the house,  
where they do daily use:  
So long as they deal in honest sort,  
and do not the man abuse.  
But we are such fellows grown,  
as day may appear:  
That a Fleming of the female kind  
is ●etter than English Beer.  

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a while, etc.    

We love good liquor well,  
and will not a Can refuse:  
But when the reckoning comes to pay,  
we had rather gain then lose.  
Yet for to gull the Tapster  
we are exceeding loath,  
But the chiefest fault in him we find,  
he doth fill his cans with froth.  

For after a while, etc.    

The Butcher with his wind,  
doth love to puff his meat:  
The Cook doth in his kind  
delight the world to cheat.  
The Tailor with his shears  
will shred a garment small,  
But an honest drunkard still  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

The high-lawyer bravely goes.  
on highways taking rend:  
But often he pawns his ,  
his money being spent.  
Many a man doth cheat,  
till to the Stocks he fall:  
But your honest drunkard still,  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while we are here,  
And after a while we are gone:  
And after a while we have money,  
And after a while we have none.     

The Second Part.  
To the same tune.  
 

Full many that seem precise,  
will now and then be drunk:  
And others thought full wise,  
will spend till they be sunk,  
But 'tis so closely done,  
the fault doth seem but small,  
But your honest drunkard still,  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while we are here.  
And after a while we are gone:  
And after a while we have money,  
And after a while we have none.    

The Maltman with his meals  
doth oft times hoist the prize,  
With mingled stuff he'll deal,  
yet still his grain must rise  
Though the Country sell it cheap.  
his rate shall never fall,  
But yet your honest drunkard still  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

The Courtier will intrude  
to the company of a maid,  
And will her with words deceive,  
if she trust all that's said:  
But let the shot be pais,  
his expenses is but small,  
But your honest drunkard still,  
is the chiefest, fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

Some Tradesman if you please,  
his humour for to try,  
His gain shall still increase,  
or else he will swear and lie.  
But if you nought will buy,  
enraged he then will fall:  
But your honest drunkard still,  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

Your under-officers,  
that so lately were allowed,  
Will in their offices  
be damnably devilish proud,  
For they will abate no fee,  
although the fault be small:  
But your honest drunkard still  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

Some Baker's pure do show,  
although they use false weights:  
And Chandlors well I know,  
have pretty cunning sleights.  
Your cruel Sergeants will  
no pity take at all:  
But your honest drunkard still  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

Your Panders will be proud,  
good fellows not precise:  
Your officers turn woodpeckers,  
when they be styled wise.  
Good-fellowship will stand,  
when as the rest will fall:  
For your honest drunkard still  
is the chiefest fellow of all.  

For after a while, etc.    

Come fill us each man a quart.  
and give us a bottle of Ale:  
I'll pledge thee with all my heart,  
if our liquor be but stolen.  
Let us have thy Tester and mine,  
and so it shall fly all day:  
we'll call and always join,  
though we have no money to pay.  

For after a while we are here,  
And after a while we are gone:  
And after a while we have money,  
And after a while we have none.     
FINIS.   

Printed at London for H. Gosso●