The poor man, the Merchant, and the King; OR, The King's brother, his wise Sentence for the poor Man.  
To the Tune of King and poor northern Man.  

IT was my chance as I did walk  
a history for to read,  
Solomon wise, when he reigned King,  
did many a worthy deed   

Many a Statute be caused ●o be made,  
and this was one amongst them all,  
It's treason for a man to find out a man's loss,  
and not to restore it to the right owner again.   

As it chanced there was a rich Merchant,  
as he was riding to the market town;  
It was his fortune to lose his purse,  
and in it there was an hundred pound.   

Proclamation becaused to be made  
if any man could find it plain,  
Restore to him without any doubt.  
and they should have twenty pound for their pain.   

As it chanced there were a sill● poor man  
with too sheep skins on ●is back to sell,  
It was his fortune to fi●d this purse  
and he took i● up and he liked it well.   

When he had took it up into his hand  
he needs must see what in it he w●uld,  
The sum of money he could not understand,  
because there was n●ught in the purse but gold.   

Thou whoreson villain than said the Merchant  
I think it is thou that hast found m● purse,  
Why wilt thou not restore it to me ag●in.  
which if thou do not thou shalt far the worse   

My liegh quoth be I found such a pu●se,  
and gladly to you I'll make it known,  
You may have it again it is never the worse,  
pay me for the finding and that's my own.   

Let me see what's in it then said the M●rchant  
he found an hundred pound and no more,  
Thou whoreson villain thou hast paid thyself  
for in my purse there was full six score.   

But before the King thou shalt be brought,  
I warrant you when I come before our King,  
He w●ll not reward me of with nought  
as you yourself thought to have done.   

As they were leading him towards the King,  
and as ●hey were going on the way,  
There they did meet with a gallant Knight  
and with him was his Lady gay.   

With hugging and tugging this silly poor man  
his Leather skins they began to crack,  
The g●●ding was wanton and leap●d●ss●●,  
and cast the fair Lady quite on her b●ck.   

The Lady fell down and got a great ●●ones,  
no ●o● in at all the poor man did mean,  
The Lady did light upon the ground▪  
and a ●ub hath struck out one of her ●yne.   

The Knight would needs upon him have been,  
now stay quoth the Merchan● & that is a wrong,  
I have an action already against him  
to go the King and he is sure to hang.   

As they were leading him towards the King,  
the poor man he liked not of being le● double  
But at a sea cleft he had thought to have scaped,  
a●d to have saved both himself and them trouble.   

As he was leaping at the Sea cleft  
thinking no harm at all, Go● wor,  
He met two fisher's bou●d to Sea  
and the leap broke one of their necks in the boat.   

The other would needs upon him have been,  
now stay quot● the M●rchant that is w●ang,  
We have two actions already against him  
and to go to the King he is sure to be hanged.   

As they were leading him towards the King,  
and as they went to the gallery gay,  
Here is such a villain than said the Merchant.  
as came not before you this many a day.   

It was my chance to lose my purse,  
and in it was there p unds full six score,  
The villain will not give me an hundred again  
unless I woold give twenty more.   

I have worse and that then said the Knight,  
I know not what the villain did me●●,  
He caused my golding to fling my Lady  
and a s●ub hath struck out one of her eyen.   

I have worse and that than saith the Fisher,  
I may sigh and say alas God wor,  
He met with me & my brother was bound to the sea  
and the leap broke my brother's neck in the boat.   

Solomon wise he turned him about  
he was not advised in every thing,  
Never such three actions came before me  
never since I was crowned King.   

Marquis his brother he was there,  
I pray you good brother these three you do sea●,  
I pray you good brother turn them over to me  
and their causes I soon will c●ear.   

The second Part to the same Tune.  

With all my heart said Solomon the wise.  
You may h●ve the judgement of them yet,  
He turned them over t● Marquis his brother,  
unto f●iner of them I would have them be quit.   

Marquis heard their judgements all,  
and every one set up his will,  
Come hither po●r man, nome hither to me,  
and let me hear what thou canst say for thyself.   

My Leech quoth the poor man, then touching this matter  
As I was bound to the market town,  
It was my fortune to find this purse  
and in it there was an hundred pound.   

A proclamation be caused to be made  
if any man could find it again,  
Restore it to him without any doubt  
& they should have twenty pounds for their pains.   

Where is thy witness said the Marquis?  
I pray you let u● hear him soon?  
Here is the M●rchant's own man,  
and carries the message from town to town.   

The Merchant's man than he was called,  
he swore there was an hundred pound & no more;  
And how his Master proffered twenty pound,  
to any that would to him his purse restore.   

Saith Marquis this shall be my judgement strait  
yea, and perhaps you will think it strange,  
Thou shalt follow him in the héels every day,  
until thou do find such a bill of Exchange.   

And then keep it to thyself & never give't him again  
now God forbidden then quoth the Merchant,  
How should I find a hundred pawned of this  
that never had a hundred greats to lose.   

I had rather give him twenty more,  
if so betide you would let me stay,  
Pay down the mon●y than quoth the Marquis,  
so mayst thou quietly go thy way.   

Now poor man how hind'rest thou this Knight?  
thou must needs make him amends I win,  
This is against all Laws and Kights,  
the Lady lack the one of her eyes.   

Hast thou not a wife at home with two ey●s plain,  
yea my Liege ●n honest poor woman,  
And for her living doth take great pains,  
as any one doth in all the town,   

This shall be my judgement strait,  
yea and perhaps you will think it strange;  
The wife with two eyes and the Lady with one  
and as thou hall dressed her thou shalt exchange.   

Now God forbidden then quoth the Knight  
that ever so bad should be my choice,  
I had rather give him an hundred pound,  
then to be troubles with his damned wife.   

Pay down thy money then quoth the Marquis,  
so mayst thou be going within a while,  
The Fisher for fear he should be called,  
he was run away half a quarter of a mile;   

Was not there a third man than said the Marquis?  
I pray let us hear what he can say?  
My Liege quoth they he was here even now,  
but as fast as he can he is run away.   

I pray let him be called b●ck again,  
if so betide he be in the fight;  
It's never be said you came before me,  
but every man shall have his right.   

Now Fisher what made thee to run away?  
my Liege quoth he I had a great way home;  
And I thought it was time to pack away,  
having spent the most of my coin.   

Saith this shall be thy judgement strait,  
yea and perhaps you will think it strange;  
Thou shalt set thy beat in the same stead,  
and thou shalt leap at him by way of Exchange.   

So mayst thou quit thy brothtrs death,  
now God forbidden then quoth the Fisher;  
That ever so bad should be my chance,  
I shall either be drowned or it will cause me swoon   

I had rather give him twenty pounds,  
I am sorry my Liege that I came hither:  
Pay down thy money then quoth the Marquis,  
so may you be packing all fools together.   

These three they could not well agree,  
but each fell out with one another,  
They said they would never come before our King,  
as long as he was in company of Marquis' brother.   

The poor man he was well content,  
and well pleased in every thing;  
He said he cared not how oft he came  
before the Majesty of our King.    
FINIS.   

London, Printed for Charles Tyus on London-Bridge.