All things be dear but poor men's Labour; 
 Or, The sad Complaint of Poor People.  
Being a true Relation of the dearness of all kind of Food, to the great Grief and Sorrow of many Thousands in this Nation.  
Likewise, the uncharitableness of Rich Men to the Poor. This Song was begun at Worcester, the middle at Shrewsbury, the end at Coventry.  By L. W. 
To the Tune of, Hold Buckle and Thong together.  
 

KInd Countrymen listen I pray  
unto this my harmless Ditty,  
Observe these words which I shall say  
for it is true the more's the pity;  
But chief to those that stand me by,  
whether stranger, or my neighbour  
I think here's none that can deny.   

all things are dear but poor man's labour,   

We find that Breadcorn now is dear,  
in every Town throughout this Nation,  
The Rich now poor men will not bear  
because Charity's out of fashion,  
Poor men do work all day and night  
for that which in it hath small savour  
A Loss of six pence is but 〈◊〉.   

  

Béef and Mutton is so dear  
a man's weeks wages cannot buy it,  
There's great complaints in every place,  
all things are dear who can deny it,  
But poor men's labour is too cheap,  
and trading dead which makes times harder  
That all their pains wont find them meat   

all things, etc.   

Cheese and Butter is so dear  
you know it better than I can tell ye  
'twould grieve a stony heart to hear  
the poor complain thus for their belly.  
And 〈…〉 dead,  
〈…〉 t find them bread   

  
 
 
 
 
 

I'll makes my very heart to ache,  
to hear poor people thus complaining,  
For all their care and pains they take,  
rich men the poor are still disdaining,  
But let Rich Misers consider well  
the poor, and show to them some favour  
Or else their Souls will hang in Hell,   

all things, etc.   

In it not sad for Parents now,  
to hear their Children for bread crying,  
And has it not for them to give  
although for food they lie a dying,  
Poor little Babies they must fast,  
although it grieves Mother and Father,  
A bit of bread they cannot taste,   

all things, etc.   

To hear the many sad Complaints,  
as I have heard in Town and City,  
I think youd cry as well as I,  
the Rich has for the Poor no pity  
For if they work now for Rich men,  
there's some will keep their Wages from them  
And make them run to and again,  
Which makes the Poor cry fie upon them.   

Farmer's so covetous now they be,  
their Corn they'll hoard for better profit  
Although the Poor do fast we see,  
their grain they'll keep what ere comes of it  
Whole Ricks of Corn stands in their yards  
and scorns to show the Poor some favour  
For some do swear they do not care,   

if things be dear, but poor man's labour.   

A Rich man there was in Stafford-shire,  
which is a Knave, i'm sure no better  
He hoped to sell his Corn so dear  
ere long as Grocers do their Pepper.  
When Wheat was sold for shillings ten  
he would not Thrash, Fan, nor yet rake it  
Let poor despair, he oft did swear.   

heed keep it for a better market.   

Too many their is of such base men,  
all England round in Town and City,  
They'll see the poor starve at their door  
before they'll show them any pity;  
For some will make poor men to work,  
all day and night for little favour,  
For Rich men be, cruel we see,   

all things be dear but poor men's labour.   

But thanks to God ' Corn falls apace,  
and all things else that's for the belly,  
Yet still it doth go bad with some  
although they work full hard I tell you,  
sixpence a day, is now the pay  
for a days work, and held a favour,  
This must maintain Wife and Babes,   

all thing be dear, etc.   

So to conclude, le's be content  
with what the Lord doth please to send us,  
Let us our evil lives repent,  
then in our woes God will defend us:  
And let rich men be merciful  
unto the poor stranger or neighbour,  
For all do know, unto their woe   

all things be dear but poor men's labour.    

Printed for I Clerk at the Bible and Harp in West-smithfield.