MORE DIRECTIONS 



schismatic ; 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 that night 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 to refer all to father 

 Clause at night, for he was an upright judge, and in the mean 

 time 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 when 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 miss'd. 



Bright shines the sun, play Beggars, play, 



Here's scraps enough to serve to day. 



The world is our's and our's alone, 

 For we alone have world at will ; 

 We purchase not, all is our own, 

 Both fields and streets we Beggars fill : 



Bright shines the sun, play Beggars, play, 



Here's scraps enough to serve to day. 



A hundred herds of black and white 

 Upon our gowns securely feed; 

 And yet if any dare us bite, 

 He dies therefore as sure as creed : 

 Thus Beggars lord it as they please, 

 And only Beggars live at ease: 



Bright shines the sun, play Beggars, play, 



Here's scraps enough to serve to day. 



78 



