THE CITY ASSE
WAs ever Asse so serv'd as I
Am serv'd, and fitted, but for why
I do not know, unlesse because
I love my Master and his Cause,
And know his Crib, and do him owne,
And other Masters will have none:
Alas and alas my back will burst,
To bear such burdens I'm accurst.
Am I your Asse, or am I not,
Have you my service quite forgot,
Or was I wont for to complain
Of any labour, or of pain:
No, I did bear all quietly,
But now these burdens makes me cry,
Alas and alas, &c.
If I'm your Asse, pray what are you?
If I be none, then take your due:
Are you not fooles, to make an Asse
Of me; for so tis come to passe,
The Foole and Asse are met together,
They did wander none knowes whether,
Alas and alas, &c.
I beare and carry all thats laid
Upon my back, and more tis said
I must and shall, be it right or wrong,
Great loades upon me they will throng;
Yet must not speak a word at all,
Which if I do they me miscall.
Alas and alas, &c.
And every foole he will me ride,
Although that me he can't abide:
And one my backe and one my tayle,
They will get up without all faile:
To be the first they all do strive
And being up, as mad they drive.
Alas and alas, &c.
Ruffe riders they be, without care,
So they be up they will not spare
To beat and bounce my back and sides,
With long rould spurs the Foole so rides
That
I am gal'd; my sides are sore
That I cannot bear a burden more.
Alas and alas, &c.
Your Asse I have been thrice seven yeares,
But six of these you still my eares,
Have pluckt so oft, that nought remaines
But very stumpes for all my paines;
And now my tayle you seek to have,
To kisse, or else make me your slave.
Alas and alas, &c.
About my neck a halter they
Will put, if I them disobey,
And will go hang me on a tree,
Or else they will imprison me,
And there I shall be like to sterve,
This is the way they use to serve.
Alas and alas, my back will burst,
To bear such burdens I
'm accurst.
And if I would have liberty,
I must compound (or for a Spy
They will me take, and Martiall Lawes
Shall seize on me about the jawes)
If I but come to see my Mate
From whence I came, oh this is hate.
Alas and alas, &c.
I twenty parts did gentily beare,
And I did tend at you know where
Each day this 6 yeares, least the dead
Should rise and frighten, as twas sed
Out of their Tombes, such was their feare
Who rob'd the dead, lay buried there.
Alas and alas, &c.
Unto the Tower was I led
Neer to the place where some a head
Dis lose, and I was in great feare
I should lose mine, if I came there:
But it fell out, that I went in
To watch the Armour kept so cleane.
Alas and alas, &c.
To
Kenton also they led me,
And
Newbury also I did see,
And other places I do think,
Where I did want both meat and drink,
And yet I fasted once a week,
And for my straw I did go seek.
Alas and alas, &c.
From other things I did then part,
Which griev'd me much unto the heart,
I plunder'd was of what I had,
That I their
Asse was almost mad;
They not content, did me nick-name
In every place, they did me shame.
Alas and alas, &c.
Then was I forc't to covenant
Against my Master, and to taunt
My Tutors, all that did me teach,
And other friends I must impeach,
And gave unto my Brethren deare
To recompence them for their gere.
Alas and alas, &c.
Out of my Oates, and Hay, Excise,
They made me pay, or else tis lyes,
My nose unto the grind-stone they
Did tye, That for my drink I pay;
Yet I was tame enough before,
But this was done to keep me lower.
Alas and alas, &c.
And I poor Asse they say serv'd Mammon,
Because I loved that call'd Common,
And then my Book they took away,
And said I should without Book pray:
Then did I falter in my tongue,
Pleading my case, doing them no wrong.
Alas and alas, &c.
Lo what an asse they made of me,
When I did think we should agree:
I did them entertain in love,
And let them in: but how dost prove:
My Master he is left behind,
And this is much against my mind.
Alas and alas, &c.
And now I thought I should be free,
And have an asses libertie:
A priviledge which doth belong,
Vnto our charter very strong:
But now I find they change their words.
And use my Armour Guns and Swords.
Alas and alas, &c.
And seeing that its come to passe,
That I'me made their very Asse,
And have no thanke for all my pain,
I am resolved once again
To shake it off, and pray good fellowes
Do not believe what ere they tell us
Alas and alas my backe will burst,
To beare such burthens I'm accurst.
O helpe I pray and that with speed
For never was there greater need
For me their asse a foole they make
But ile my master not forsake
Ile kicke and winch and throw all downe
That seeks to hurt my foot or crown
Alas and alas my backe will burst,
To beare such burthens I'm accurst.
FINIS.