[THE authorship of this song is attributed to Richard Brome—(he who once ‘performed a servant’s faithful part’ for Ben Jonson)—in a black-letter copy in the Bagford Collection, where it is entitled _The Beggars’ Chorus in the_ ‘_Jovial Crew_,’ _to an excellent new tune_. No such chorus, however, appears in the play, which was produced at the Cock-pit in 1641; and the probability is, as Mr. Chappell conjectures, that it was only interpolated in the performance. It is sometimes called _The Jovial Beggar_. The tune has been from time to time introduced into several ballad operas; and the song, says Mr. Chappell, who publishes the air in his _Popular Music_, ‘is the prototype of many others, such as _A bowling we will go_, _A fishing we will go_, _A hawking we will go_, and _A fishing we will go_. The last named is still popular with those who take delight in hunting, and the air is now scarcely known by any other title.] THERE was a jovial beggar, He had a wooden leg, Lame from his cradle, And forced for to beg. And a begging we will go, we’ll go, we’ll go; And a begging we will go! A bag for his oatmeal, Another for his salt; And a pair of crutches, To show that he can halt. And a begging, &c. A bag for his wheat, Another for his rye; A little bottle by his side, To drink when he’s a-dry. And a begging, &c. Seven years I begged For my old Master Wild, He taught me to beg When I was but a child. And a begging, &c. I begged for my master, And got him store of pelf; But now, Jove be praised! I’m begging for myself. And a begging, &c. In a hollow tree I live, and pay no rent; Providence provides for me, And I am well content. And a begging, &c. Of all the occupations, A beggar’s life’s the best; For whene’er he’s weary, He’ll lay him down and rest. And a begging, &c. I fear no plots against me, I live in open cell; Then who would be a king When beggars live so well? And a begging we will go, we’ll go, we’ll go; And a begging we will go! * * * * * THE END. * * * * * FOOTNOTES. {24} This is the same tune as _Fortune my foe_.—See _Popular Music of the Olden Time_, p. 162. {51} This word seems to be used here in the sense of the French verb _mettre_, to put, to place. {61} The stall copies read ‘Gamble bold.’