The Farmer's Reformation:  
OR, a Pattern for all Bad Husbands to Amend their Lives.  
When all is spent, there's no content,  
but Sorrow will attend:  
Before too late, renew thy State,  
and learn thy Life to mend.  
Tune of, the Ladies of London.  

This may be printed,  
R. P.   
 

I Have been such a bad Husband of late,  
that trouble and sorrow's ensuing  
Having consumed a worthy Estate,  
which almost has proved my Ruin.  
Now I resolve to alter my Life,  
that Comforts I may be possessing,  
And will be loving and kind to my Wife;  
there can be no greater a blessing.   

How like a sorrowful Man do I look;  
I troubled am out of measure;  
When I considered the courses I took,  
while I was consuming my treasure:  
Every Day I wasted my store,  
and called a good Husband a Miser;  
But I resolve I will do so no more,  
but leave off, and learn to be wiser.   
 

When to the Market I went with my Corn,  
as soon as I sold it, to Gaming:  
I spent more free than a Gentleman born;  
yet thought I waned worthy of blaming.  
Some I would lend, to others I'd give,  
and they'd be as commonly craving:  
But I will do so no more while I live,  
I'll learn to be Thrifty and saving.   

I from the Alehouse to the Tavern would come,  
with those that would call me their honey:  
All the long night I would seldom come home,  
as long as I had any Money,  
While my poor Wife shed many a Tear,  
to see how I daily did use her:  
But I will now be more kind to my Dear,  
and never no more will abuse her.   

By this my Gaming I soon made a hand  
of what my old Father did leave me,  
As being forced to Mortgage my Land;  
this did of all Comfort bereave me:  
So that I then was near to despair,  
and gave myself to melancholy:  
But at length I resolved to take care,  
now, now, I have seen my own folly.   

While to that ruinous rate I did run,  
I seldom or never repent,  
Till I perceived that I was undone,  
and then I was griev●d and lamented;  
Yet I resolv●d this course I would take,  
for the future time that's ensuing,  
All my bay Company I would forsake;  
I found they had proved my Ruin.   

My Goods and Comforts doth daily increase,  
by Labour I this have obtained,  
And my kind Wife has the blessing of peace,  
since Company I have refrained:  
Yet my old Cronies flout me each day,  
and count me no more than a Miser;  
Yet I'll not value what ever they say,  
I mean to grow older and wiser,   

ev'ry bad Husband take warning by this,  
and count it not as a dead Letter:  
Though by your Folly you have done amiss,  
'tis never too late to grow better:  
If thou hast got a loving kind wife,  
then, then, thou hast reason to prise her;  
Ay and to Love her as dear as thy Life,  
and always grow older and wiser.    

London, Printed for R. Kell, at the Blue Anchor near Pie-corner.