“The times are grown hard, more harder than stone,
And therefore the Pedlars may well make their moan,
Lament and complain that trading is dead,
That all the sweet golden days now are fled.
Then maidens and men, come see what you lack,
And buy the fine toys that I have in my pack!
“Come hither and view, here’s choice and here’s store,
Here’s all things to please ye, what would you have more?
Here’s points for the men, and pins for the maid,
Then open your purses and be not afraid.
Come, maidens, &c.

“Let none at a tester repent or repine:
Come bring me your money, and I’ll make you fine;
Young Billy shall look as spruce as the day,
And pretty sweet Betty more finer than May.
Then, maidens, &c.
“To buy a new license your money I crave;
’Tis that which I want, and ’tis that which you have:
Exchange then a groat for some pretty toy,
Come, buy this fine whistle for your little boy.
Come, maidens, &c.
“Here’s garters for hose, and cotton for shoes.
And there’s a gilt bodkin, which none would refuse:
This bodkin let John give to sweet Mistriss Jane,
And then of unkindness he shall not complain.
Come, maidens, &c.
“Come buy this fine coife, this dressing, or hood,
And let not your money come like drops of blood:
The Pedlar may well of his fortune complain
If he brings all his ware to the market in vaine.
Then, maidens, &c.
“Here’s band strings for men, and there you have lace,
Bone-lace to adorn the fair virgin’s sweet face:
Whatever you like, if you will but pay,
As soon as you please you may take it away.
Then, maidens, &c.
“The world is so hard that we find little trade,
Although we have all things to please every maid:
Come, pretty fair maids, then make no delay,
But give me your hansel, and pack me away.
Come, maidens, &c.
“Here’s all things that’s fine, and all things that’s rare,
All modish and neat, all new London ware:
Variety here you plainly may see,
Then give me your money, and we will agree.
Come, maidens, &c.

“We travel all day through dirt and through mire,
To fetch you fine laces and what you desire;
No pains do we spare to bring you choice ware,
As gloves and perfumes, and sweet powder for hair.
Then, maidens, &c.
“We have choice of songs, and merry books, too,
All pleasant and witty, delightful and new,
Which every young swain may whistle at plough,
And every fair milk-maid may sing at her cow.
Then, maidens, &c.
“Since trading’s so dead we must needs complain,
And, therefore, pray let us have some little gain:
If you will be free, we will you supply
With what you do want; therefore, pray come and buy.
The world is so hard, that although we take pains,
When we look in our purses we find little gains.

“Printed for J. Back, at the Black-boy, on London Bridge.”

In “Merry Drollery Complete, or, a Collection of Jovial Poems, Merry Songs, Witty Drolleries, Intermixed with Pleasant Catches, London, Printed for William Miller, at the Gilded Acorn, in St. Paul’s Church-yard, 1661,” the Catch which follows will be found. The Rev. J. Woodfall Ebsworth, M.A., Cantab, who has carefully edited and reprinted [1875] “Both Parts”; says in his Appendix of Notes:—“Hare-skin and Rabbit-skin collectors, have always been queer characters. This catch is by John Fletcher, in his ‘Beggar’s Bush,’ act iii., sc. 1, where it is sung by ‘Clause’ his boy. Clause, the vagabond beggar, was a popular favourite, reproduced in ‘Drolls.’ We see him represented in the frontispiece of The Wits, by Kirkman and Cox.”

A Catch.

“Bring forth your Cunny skins, fair maids, to me,
And hold them fair that I may see
Gray, black, and blue; for your smaller skins—
I’ll give you Glasses, Laces, Pins:
And for your whole Cunny
I’ll give ready money.
“Come, gentle Jone, do thou begin
With thy black, black, black Cunny skin,
And Mary then, and Kate will follow
With their silver’d hair’d skins, and their yellow;
Your white Cunny skin I will not lay by,
Though it be fat, it is not fair to the Eye.
“Your gray it is warm, but for my money
Give me the bonny, bonny black Coney;
Come away, fair maids, your skins will decay,
Come take money, maids, put your ware away;
I have fine Bracelets, Rings,
And I have silver Pins
Coney skins, Coney skins,
Maids, have you any Coney skins.”

In the same Collection there is a vigorous song exposing the cheats of mendicants. The hero of which declares:—“I am a Rogue, and a stout one.” And that among the many cheats, counterfeits, deceits and dodges he has to resort to, at times he may be seen:—

“In Pauls Church-yard, by a pillar,
Sometimes you see me stand, Sir,
With a writ that shows what cares, what woes
I have passed by Sea and Land, Sir,
Then I do cry, &c.

“Come buy, come buy a Horn-book,
Who buys my Pins and Needles:
Such things do I in the City cry
Oftimes to ’scape the Beadles,
Then I do cry, &c.”

For the counterpart of this Rogue and Vagabond, the reader is referred to Vol. I, No. 42-3 of the Roxburghe Ballads—(British Museum.) Where there is one entitled:—