"Our fellow Hartes did late petition frame, To card-makers some better sutes to clayme, And for us all, did speake of all our wronges: Yet they, to whom redresse herein belongs Amend it not, and little hope appeares. I thinke before the conquest many yeares, We wore the fashion which we still retaine: But seeing that our sute is spent in vaine, Weele mend our selves as meanes in time doth grow, Accepting what some other friends bestowe. As now the honest printer hath bin kinde, Bootes and stockins to our legs doth finde, Garters, polonia heeles and rose shooe-strings, Which, somewhat, us two knaves in fashion brings; From the knee downeward, legs are well amended, And we acknowledge that we are befrended, And will requite him for it as we can: A knave some time may serve an honest man. To do him pleasure such a chaunce may fall, Although indeed no trust in knaves at all. He that must use them, take this rule from mee, Still trust a knave no further than you see. Well, other friends I hope wee shall beseech For the great large abhominable breech, Like brewers hop-sackes; yet since new they be, Each knave will have them, and why should not wee? Some laundresse we also will intreate, For bandes and ruffes, which kindnes to be great We will confesse, yea and requite it too, In any service that poore knaves can doe: Scarffes we do want, to hange our weapons by, If any punck will deale so courteously As in the way of favour to bestow them, Rare cheating tricks we will protest to owe them. Or any pander with a ring in's eare, That is a gentleman (as he doth sweare), And will afford us hats of newest blocke, A payre of cardes shall be his trade and stocke, To get his lyving by, for lack of lands, Because he scornes to overworke his handes. And thus ere long we trust we shall be fitted, Those knaves that cannot shift are shallow witted." By a proclamation of Charles I, June, 1638, it was ordered that after the Michaelmas next all foreign cards should be sealed at London, and packed in new bindings, or covers. A few years later, it would appear that the importation of foreign cards was absolutely prohibited; for, in July, 1643, upon the complaint of several poor card-makers, setting forth that they were likely to perish by reason of divers merchants bringing playing-cards into the kingdom, contrary to the laws and statutes, order was given, by a committee appointed by parliament for the navy and customs, that the officers of the customs should seize all such cards, and proceed against the parties offending.[167]