The Ragman: OR,  

A Company that fell at odds one day,  
Which of them should carry the Coney skin's away,  
They strove who should have it, but none of them wise,  
For the Usurer and the Devil carry away the przie.   
To the Tune of Upon the highest Mountains, or, The absence of my Mistress  
 
 

THere was a Ragman and a mad man  
As they traveled on a day,  
There came a Beggar and a Bagman  
And stole the Coney skin's away:  
Quoth the mad man  
to the Ragman  
I have it in my brain,  
to make the Beggar  
and the Bagman  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

Then with a cup of fuddle  
The Mad man he did take  
The Bagman on the noddle  
Till his brains began to ache,  
till the Beggar  
he did stagger  
He had drunk himself so blind:  
thus they paid them  
till they made them  
Leave the Coney skin's behind.   

It was a Lock-smith and a Drinker  
As they went forth on a day,  
They met a Blacksmith and a Tinker  
Stole the Coney skin's away?  
quoth the Lock-smith  
to the Drinker  
I will take him o'er the brain,  
I'll make the Blacksmith  
and the Tinker  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

Thou shalt find me as good mettle  
The Drinker he did say,  
As any is in the Kettle  
He beats upon each day:  
quoth the Lock-smith  
(than the Blacksmith)  
Also by me shall find  
I'll so fuddle  
Vulcan's noddle  
Till he leave the Coney skin's behind.   

There was a Cobbler and a Broom-man  
As they did meet one day,  
There came a Carman and a Ploughman  
Stole the Coney skin's away,  
quoth the Cobbler  
to the Broom-man  
W'le so toxicate the brain  
we'll make the Carman  
and the Ploughman  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

We will call them to a parley,  
The Broom-man thus did say,  
How they sow their Dates and Barley.  
And how they cut their Grass and Hay,  
than the Carman  
leg and arm man  
With Barley broth we'll hind,  
we'll not forsake them  
till we make them  
Leave the Coney sknis berhinde.   

〈…〉  
 

IT was a joiner and a Rope maker  
As they went on the way  
There came a Brewer and a Baker  
Stole the Coney skin's away  
quoth the joiner  
to the Rope maker  
'tis in a merry vain.  
make the Brewer  
and the Baker  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

Quoth the joiner to the Brewer  
Though that malt in price do fall  
Yet still he will be sure  
For to make his drink too small  
the Rope maker  
told the Baker  
Your knavery we shall find  
which if we take you  
we shall make you  
Leave the Coney skin's behind.   

It was a Glover and a Weaver  
As they met on the way  
There came a Fiddler and a Pedlar  
Stole the Coney skin's away.  
quoth the Glover  
to the Weaver  
I will take him o'er the brain  
we'll make the Fiddler  
and the Pedlar  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

The Weaver with his Treddle  
So fast about him laid  
Till the Fiddler pulled out's Fiddle  
And then a Lesson played  
whilst the Glover  
with strong liquor  
So well their caps had lined  
which made the Fiddler  
and the Pedlar  
Leave the Coney skin's 〈◊〉   

It was a Broker and a Tailor  
As they met on a day  
Came the Hangman and the Jailor  
Stole the Coney skin's away  
quoth the Broker  
to the Tailor  
we'll take them on the brain,  
and make the Hangman  
and the Jalyor  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

Quoth the Broker, if the Hangman  
I chance withal to meet  
His sides I will so bang (man)  
He shall hardly stand on's feet,  
quoth the Tailor  
with the Jalyor  
No pleasure I can find,  
but if we take them  
we shall make them  
Leave the Coney skin's behind.   

It was a Roister and a Revel  
As they did meet one day,  
Came an Usurer and the Devil  
Stole the Coney skin's away:  
quoth the Roister  
to the Revel  
we'll take them on the brain  
we'll make the Usurer  
and the Devil  
Bring the Coney skin's again.   

The Roister with his Rapier  
At the Devil he did run,  
And at him he did vapour,  
But could not make him shun,  
whilst the Revel  
he did cavil  
Crying out we have foul play  
for the Usurer  
and the Devil  
Bears the Coney skin's away.    
FINIS.   

London Printed for Fr. 〈…〉