In "Merry Drollery Complete, or, a Collection of Jovial Poems, Merry Songs, Witty Drolleries, Intermixed with Pleasant Catches, London, Printed for _William Miller_, at the _Gilded Acorn_, in _St. Paul's_ Church-yard, 1661," the _Catch_ which follows will be found. The Rev. J. Woodfall Ebsworth, M.A., Cantab, who has carefully edited and reprinted [1875] "Both Parts"; says in his _Appendix of Notes_:--"Hare-skin and Rabbit-skin collectors, have always been queer characters. This catch is by JOHN FLETCHER, in his 'Beggar's Bush,' act iii., sc. 1, where it is sung by 'Clause' his boy. Clause, the vagabond beggar, was a popular favourite, reproduced in 'Drolls.' We see him represented in the frontispiece of _The Wits_, by Kirkman and Cox." A CATCH. "Bring forth your Cunny skins, fair maids, to me, And hold them fair that I may see Gray, black, and blue; for your smaller skins-- I'll give you Glasses, Laces, Pins: And for your whole Cunny I'll give ready money. "Come, gentle _Jone_, do thou begin With thy black, black, black Cunny skin, And _Mary_ then, and _Kate_ will follow With their silver'd hair'd skins, and their yellow; Your white Cunny skin I will not lay by, Though it be fat, it is not fair to the Eye. "Your gray it is warm, but for my money Give me the bonny, bonny black Coney; Come away, fair maids, your skins will decay, Come take money, maids, put your ware away; I have fine Bracelets, Rings, And I have silver Pins Coney skins, Coney skins, Maids, have you any Coney skins." In the same Collection there is a vigorous song exposing the cheats of mendicants. The hero of which declares:--"_I am a Rogue, and a stout one_." And that among the many cheats, counterfeits, deceits and dodges he has to resort to, at times he may be seen:-- "In _Pauls_ Church-yard, by a pillar, Sometimes you see me stand, Sir, With a writ that shows what cares, what woes I have passed by Sea and Land, Sir, Then I do cry, &c. "Come buy, come buy a Horn-book, Who buys my Pins and Needles: Such things do I in the City cry Oftimes to 'scape the Beadles, Then I do cry, &c." For the counterpart of this Rogue and Vagabond, the reader is referred to Vol. I, No. 42-3 of the Roxburghe Ballads--(British Museum.) Where there is one entitled:-- THE CUNNING NORTHERN BEGGAR. Who all the by-standers doth earnestly pray To bestow a penny upon him to-day. TO THE TUNE OF _Tom of Bedlam_. [Illustration] I am a lusty beggar, And live by others giving! I scorn to work, But by the highway lurk, And beg to get my living: I'll i' the wind and weather, And wear all ragged garments; Yet, though I'm bare, I'm free from care,-- A fig for high preferments! _Therefore I'll cry, &c._ * * * *