196 ([return])
[ Ruggles on the Poor.]
197 ([return])
[ See, in Thurloe's State Papers, the memorandum of the Dutch Deputies dated August 2-12, 1653.]
198 ([return])
[ The orator was Mr. John Basset, member for Barnstaple. See Smith's Memoirs of Wool, chapter lxviii.]
199 ([return])
[ This ballad is in the British Museum. The precise year is not given; but the Imprimatur of Roger Lestrange fixes the date sufficiently for my purpose. I will quote some of the lines. The master clothier is introduced speaking as follows:
"In former ages we used to give,
So that our workfolks like farmers did live;
But the times are changed, we will make them know.
"We will make them to work hard for sixpence a day,
Though a shilling they deserve if they kind their just pay;
If at all they murmur and say 'tis too small,
We bid them choose whether they'll work at all.
And thus we forgain all our wealth and estate,
By many poor men that work early and late.
Then hey for the clothing trade! It goes on brave;
We scorn for to toyl and moyl, nor yet to slave.
Our workmen do work hard, but we live at ease,
We go when we will, and we come when we please.">[