The Fourth Day 103 



such like questions were proposed and answered, 

 with as much beggarly logick and earnestness as 

 was ever heard to proceed from the mouth of the 

 pertinacious schismatick; and sometimes all the 

 beggars, whose number was neither more nor less 

 than the poets' nine muses, talked all together about 

 this ripping and unripping; and so loud, that not 

 one heard what the other said : but, at last, one 

 beggar craved audience; and told them that old 

 father Clause, whom Ben Jonson, in his Beggar's 

 Bush, created King of their corporation, was to 

 lodge at an ale-house, called " Catch-her-by-the- 

 way," not far from Waltham Cross, and in the high 

 road towards London ; and he therefore desired 

 them to spend no more time about that and such 

 like questions, but refer all to father Clause at night, 

 for he was an upright judge, and in the meantime 

 draw cuts, what song should be next sung, and who 

 should sing it. They all agreed to the motion ; and 

 the lot fell to her that was the youngest, and veriest 

 virgin of the company. And she sung Frank 

 Davison's song, which he made forty years ago; 

 and all the others of the company joined to sing 

 the burthen with her. The ditty was this ; but first 

 the burthen : 



Bright shines the sun ; play, Beggars, play; 

 Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



What noise of viols is so sweet, 



As when our merry clappers ring ? 

 What mirth doth want where Beggars meet? 



A Beggar's life is for a King. 

 Eat, drink, and play ; sleep when we list ; 

 Go where we will, so stocks be mist. 



Bright shines the sun ; play, Beggars, play ; 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



The world is ours, and ours alone ; 



For we alone have world at will ; 

 We purchase not ; all is our own ; 



Both fields and streets we Beggars fill. 



