THE BEGGAR'S CURSE
[1608]

[From _Lanthorne and Candlelight_, by THOMAS DEKKER, ed. GROSART
(188 ), iii, 203:--"a canting song, wherein you may learn, how
_this_ cursed _generation_ pray, or (to speake truth) curse
such officers as punish them"].

[Notes]

I

The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harmanbeck,
If we mawnd Pannam, lap, or Ruff-peck,
Or poplars of yarum: he cuts, bing to the Ruffmans,
Or els he sweares by the light-mans,
To put our stamps in the Harmans,
The ruffian cly the ghost of the Harmanbeck
If we heaue a booth we cly the lerk.

[The devil take the Constable's head!
If we beg bread, drink, bacon,
Or milk porridge, he says: "be off to the hedges"
Or swears, in the morning
To clap our feet in the stocks.
The devil take the Constable's ghost