THE Jovial Beggars Merry Crew.  

When Beggars that have coin good store,  
yet still like Vagrants live,  
They do but onely Cheat the Poor,  
'tis pitty them to give,   
Tune of, A fig for France.  
 depiction of beggar with wooden leg  depiction of crippled beggar in circle of people  depiction of man watching lame dog  

THere was a jovial Beggar bold,  
Who often lodged in the could;  
He framed himself a Wooden Leg,  
Which pitty moved as he did Beg;  
And mournfully he did complain,  
That from his Cradle he was Lame:  

But tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars Trade's the best of all.    

And several sorts of Bags have we,  
To serve us in Necessity:  
There's one for Bread,& one for Salt,  
When Cripple-like we seem to Halt:  
A Bag for Bread, and one for Cheese,  
While we do eat of what we please:  

And tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars Trade's the best of all.    

And when we see a Spark go by,  
O Lord preserve you Sir, we cry;  
Take pitty on the Fatherless,  
That God Almighty may you bless:  
My broken Limbs good Sir, behold,  
e'en killed with hunger, starved with could  

But tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars Trade's the best of all.    

'tis long since my poor Parents died,  
That for me used to provide;  
And Charity so could is grown  
The like before was never known:  
Oh pray Sir, pitty my destress,  
I'm Lame, half Blind, and Motherless;  

Then let the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars Trade's the best of all.    
 depiction of woman begging with two infants  depiction of two children used for begging  

If some will not pull out their Purse,  
In heart we oft lend them a Curse;  
Tho' we like Beggars seem to live,  
We have more coin than some that give  
If some kind hearts did know our store,  
They never woul● relieve us more:  

And tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars, &c.    

And some that do like Cripples lie,  
Have got the art to whine and Cry;  
Both Old and Young that do pass by,  
Take pitty on our Poverty:  
Some do us pitty, and are willing,  
To give us sixpence or a shilling:  

And tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars, &c.    

I was brought up to'th Begging Trade,  
And I full many a face have made,  
Whereby I got my Master store,  
But now for him I'll Beg no more;  
I am set up for my own self,  
By Begging get good store of Pelf:  

And tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars, &c.    

Sometimes in Farmers Barns lie we,  
And sometimes in a Hollow three;  
No Rent we pay, nor none we mean,  
Each Mort with us lives like a ●… een,  
And when the Sun at Night do●… ●hine,  
We go to telling of our coin:  

Then let the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars, &c.    

No Plots against us can there be,  
Who Objects seem of Charity;  
But should the honest Givers think,  
How we like Swine sometimes do Drink  
Their Charity they would forbear,  
Which sometimes fills our hearts with care;  

And tho' the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars, &c.    

Other Folks Children we do take,  
And for them beg for pittys sake;  
But such deceitful Knaves we be,  
We speak not one word true in three:  
And tho' like Beggars we do live,  
Our lives to us Contentment give:  

Then let the world us Beggars call,  
A Beggars life the best of all.    
FINIS.   

Printed for I. Deacon at the Angel in Guilt-spur-street; without Newgate.