Me thought I was i' th' countrey where poore men take great paines, And labour hard continually, onely for rich mens gaines: Like th' Israelites in _Egypt_, the poore are kept in thrall, The task-masters are playing kept, _but poore men pay for all_. Me thought I saw poore Tradesmen i' th' City and else where, Whom rich men keepe as beads-men, in bondage, care, and feare: Thei'l have them worke for what they list, thus weakest goe to the wall, The rich men eate and drinke the best _but poore men pay for all_. Me thought I saw two Lawyers base one to another say, We have had in hand this poore mans Case, a twelvemonth and a day; And yet wee'l not contented be to let the matter fall, Beare thou with me, & Ile beare with thee _while poore men pay for all_. Me thought I saw a red-nose Oast, as fat as he could wallow, Whose carkasse, if it should be roast, would drop seven stone of tallow: He grows rich out of measure, with filling measure small, He lives in mirth and pleasure, _but poore men pay for all_. And so likewise the Brewer stout, the Chandler and the Baker, The Mault man also without doubt, and the Tobacco taker, Though they be proud and stately growne, and beare themselves so tall, Yet to the world it is well knowne, _that poore men pay for all_. Even as the mighty fishes still, doe feed upon the lesse; So rich men, might they have ther will would on the poore man ceaze[F. 83] It is a proverbe old and true, that weakest goe to th' wall, Rich men can drinke till th' sky looke blue, _but poore men pay for all_. But now, as I before did say, this is but a Dreame indeed, Though all dreames prove not true, some may hap right, as I doe reade. And if that any come to passe, I doubt this my Dreame shall; For still tis found too true a case, _that poore men pay for all_. FINIS. Printed at London for H. G. [Footnote 82: Strutting.] [Footnote 83: Seize.] _A Witty answer of a Countrey fellow._ [52.] A Country fellow walking London Streets, and gazing up and down at every sight he saw, some mockt him, others pulled him by the Cloake, in so much he could not passe in quiet. He having as much wit, as the boyes knavery, thought hee would requite them for their kinde salutations, with something to laugh at, and to try their wits; and, comming to Paul's gate, where they sell pinnes and Needles, the boyes being very saucie, pulled him by the cloake, and one said. What lacke you friend? another, What lacke you Countryman? Quoth the fellow, minding to make himself some sport, I want a hood for a Humble Bee, or a payre of Spectacles for a blinde Beare: which so amazed the boy, that he had nothing to reply, and the Countrey Man went laughing away. [32.] What is that which 20 will goe into a Tankard, and one will fill a Barn?