A merry and pleasant Discourse Betwixt Simple-wit, the Tennant, And Mr. Money-love, the Landlord.
To to Tune of,
I am in Love, and cannot tell with whom.
Tennant.
WHen I do call to mind my former life,
considering now the worlds uncertainty
And the true goodness of a loving VVife,
constant unto a man in misery:
VVhen truly on these things I contemplate,
the vainness of this VVorld I hate,
VVishing this comfort for my hearts content
Good loving sir you would not raise my rent.
Landlord.
Thou dost not take a course whereby to live,
if thou dost think to do as thou hast done,
Therefore warning unto thee I do give,
against next Quarter pay or else be gone,
Think not with fair words I can be content,
at Quarter-day I do expect my Rent:
'Tis not for poor men to take foolish ways,
I tell thee fellow I thy Rent must raise.
Tennant
If you my rent should raise I were undone
having a charge of pretty Children small
Pitty my case, and be your Fathers Son,
who was not loving unto one but all,
The poor be pittyed, giving them relief,
they still were sure of Bread, Beer, & Bief,
And few unserved from his Gates they went
Oh, then good Landlord, do not raise my Rent.
Landlord.
Fellow why dost thou tell me of these things,
the world thou know'st is come to that pass,
Pride to maintain, great cost and charges brings
then so to prate, thou art an Asse,
VVhen my Gran-father lived, house-keeping then
was in request amongst the gentlemen
But 'tis not now as twas in former days;
then I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must raise.
Tennant.
Your Fathers Tennant, I was twenty years
and my Fore-father liv'd upon that Land,
VVhen your good aged Granfix living were;
as by my writings I do understand,
My father served your father, were his cloth,
My Tenement to loose I would be loath,
to part from it my sorrows would augment
Oh then good Lanlord, do not raise my Rent.
Landlord.
All this may be, but what is that to me,
as times do alter so mens minds do change:
This is no time for Hospitality,
men love their pleasures & abroad to range,
For to prate so thou art a saucy knavs,
I do intend six Horses for to have,
My Coach to draw to gain immortal praise
then I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must rase.
Tennant.
Your VVor
[...]hips pleasure sir fulfil'd may be,
you have enough the same for to maintain,
Left by your Ancessers of good Degree:
but my old Landlord lov'd for to go plain;
Your Fathers father, that same good old man
to live as he did, happy's he that can;
In good house-keeping still's means he spent
Oh then good Lanlord, do not raise my rent.
Landlord.
I smile to hear thee talk so like a Gull,
to tell me of these things that former were
For in those dayes all things were plentiful,
yet now thou seest that every thing is dear
And though my Granfix went in habbit plain
should I do so it would my credit stain;
I must the Taverns haunt, & sée new Plays:
then I tell thee fellow, I thy Rent must raise.
Tennant.
Swéet sir, why should you not your pleasure take
for your delight being you are so young.
Yet howso'ere sir, me so happy make,
renewing of my Lease to make it strong,
That after my decease my Children may
the same enough as I do at this day,
My land though small which lying is in Kent
kind loving Landlord do not raise my Rent.
Landlord.
Brave Naggs, and Geldings, cheifest can be had
to run in Hide Park, & on Bansted downs,
I mean to keep, my heart for to make glad,
whose fléetness may regain me many crowns
Such must I have, my pleasure it is so,
to maintain this I would have the know,
Great charge requires to kéep them in these dayes,
then I tell thée fellow, I thy Rent must raise.
Tennant.
Heavens bless your worship, wheresoever you go,
let me obtain this favour at your band,
Kind courtecus sir, to safe my heart of VVoe,
that I and mine sir may enjoy that Land
According to the Rent which formerly
my Father pai'd, good sir do not deny,
But that I may enjoy my Tenement;
and I'le be careful still to pay your Rent.
Landlord.
VVell sée thou dost, but if with me thou break
or fail in ought thou here hast promist me,
Believe me in a word what I do speak,
henceforth no more I ere will credit thee,
But learn of those, do their estates devour,
so pitty no man be he nere so poor,
Since for thy faults that thou art penitent,
thy Land enjoy, Ile never raise thy Rent.
London, Printed for W. Thacery, and W. Whitwood.