The Good-fellows Advice:  

Showing what favour a man shall have while he hath means,  
But being in want, than all Friendship ends.   
To the tune of, Upon a Summer time.  

 

FArewell good company,  
now I must leave you all:  
It hath bred my misery,  
and brought me into thrall.  
But now I will refrain  
and drink strong Ale no more,  
I'll seek to purchase gain,  
and quite forsake a Whore.  

Good-fellows great and small,  
pray let met you advise,  
To have a care withal,  
'tis good to be merry and wise.    

Now I have spent my means,  
and have no money to pay,  
I'm quite bereft of friends,  
which breeds my sad annoy:  
But while I had silver and gold  
to pay for them and me,  
Then many have me told  
I was brave company.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

But now they me despise,  
and ask what make you here:  
Therefore I'll now grow wise,  
and will live void of fear:  
I can get money enough  
when I do seek for it,  
Were't not for drink and snuff,  
that robs of my wit.  

Good-fellows etc.    

Strong drink I will refuse,  
for it hath done me wrong,  
It hath made me abuse  
myself with hand and tongue,  
When I have been in drink  
I had no care at all,  
Nor did I ever think  
upon my own downfall.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

I still cried fill the Pot,  
whilst all my money was gone,  
And did pay many a shot  
for others as 'tis well known:  
And they gave me fair words,  
whilst I could still do so:  
But now their tongs are swords,  
from whence envy doth flow.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

My good will is repaid  
with envy, hate, and spite,  
Some of them snares have laid  
to take me with deceit,  
They laugh at my downfall,  
as plainly I do prove,  
Scarce any of them all  
repay me any love.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

Had I known this before.  
while I had money and means,  
I had kept some in store,  
but I was shallow brains.  
For which some call me Ass,  
to spend my means away:  
Now I may feed on grass,  
as freely fast and pray.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

The time hath been that I  
could not have passed byth' doors,  
But as I walked by  
such company as rores.  
Would cause me to sit down,  
and welcome should be made:  
But many times a crown,  
for such welcomes I paid.  

Good-fellows great and small.  
pray let me you advise,  
To have a care withal,  
'tis good to be merry and wise.     

The second part  
To the same tune.  
 
 
 

TObacco, Ale, and Beer,  
for me was brought amain,  
With Wine and dainty cheer,  
served in with Venus' train.  
Look what I wished to have,  
they did fulfil my mind,  
Most dainty words they gave,  
which made me think them kind.  

Good-fellows great and small,  
pray let me you advise,  
To have a care withal,  
'tis good to be merry and wise.    

But now the proverbs true,  
'twas money was my friend,  
For having none I rue,  
there's none will give nor lend.  
They say the world is hard,  
and that I find indeed,  
For none do me regard,  
now I am in most need.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

If I toth' Alehouse go,  
and call for Ale or Beer,  
My Hostess soon will know  
my stock for she's in fear.  
If I call but two pots,  
and pay not presently,  
Then quickly for her shots,  
she will begin to cry.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

But I do know her mind,  
'tis money she would see,  
And then she will prove kind,  
or else a Devil is she.  
For those that have no money  
shall be thrust out of doors,  
For such poor men as I  
she'll not trust on the scores.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

When I had money good store,  
and had no need at all,  
Then I might freely score,  
 I did call.  
But now I am in want  
of Money, Bread, and Beer,  
At me sh●e'l loudly taunt,  
and ask, What make you here?  

Good-fellows, etc.    

Now I repent too late,  
I cannot call again  
My money and estate,  
that I have spent in vain:  
I must take an new course,  
and seek to get some more,  
But yet sometimes of force,  
my miseries I deplore.  
Good-fellows great, etc.   

Some wonder now at me,  
and say I am grown strange,  
But they shall plainly see  
that I my life will change.  
For I'll not spend a penny  
amongst the drunken crew,  
O I have spent too many,  
that makes me have so few.  
Good-fellows, etc.   

Had I done so in time,  
I ne'er had known such want,  
But I with each would join.  
there's nothing could me daunt.  
I never took no care  
what e'er my friends did say:  
But what's fallen to my share,  
even grief and sad annoy.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

But now I will amend  
my lewd lascivious life,  
For now I do intent  
to be ruled by my Wife.  
O she's a loving soul,  
as ever poor man had,  
For her the Bell did toll,  
and I vile knave was glad.  

Good-fellows, etc.    

But now she's well again,  
and will not die this fit,  
She shall have to maintain  
her, all that I can get.  
To conclude, I'll take pains,  
next Monday I'll begin,  
This Song it appertains  
to Women, and to Men.  

Good-fellows great and small,  
pray let me you advise,  
To have a care withal,  
'tis good to be merry and wise.     By Charles Records. 
FINIS   

London, Printed for J. Wright junior, dwelling at the upper end of the Old Bailie.