164 TIIE COMPLETE ANGLEE. [PART I. 



told them that old father Clause, whom Ben Jonson, in his 

 Beggar's Hush, 1 created king of their corporation, was that 

 night to lodge at an ale-house, called Catch-her-by-the-wa}^ 

 not far from "VYaltham 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 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, 2 

 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 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 : 

 Nor care to get, nor fear to keep, 

 Did every break a beggar's sleep. 



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. 



1 The comedy of the "Royal Merchant, or Beggar's Bush," was written 

 by Beaumont and Fletcher, and not by Ben Jonson. H. 



2 Frank Davison was the eldest son of Secretary Davison, the victim of 

 the mean and cowardly device of Queen Elizabeth, to remove from herself 

 the odium of the murder of Mary, Queen of Scots. SIR H. NICOLAS. 



