Poor out-cast Childrens Song and Cry 'Twixt Joy's and Sorrows extasie. Their past and present state they view, Their old depraise, and praise their new. These father'd fatherless, their Fathers bless, And beg their Blessings, and this Works success.

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SHall we sigh, sing, or do neither;
Mourn, or make melody, or whether,
for our late past, or present blest estate?
Poor starvelings then, though strengthned now,
And Worms did seize us as their due,
when pining, puling under stalls we sate.
Friendless and harborless were we:
And yet what Friends, what Fathers be
so rich, so great, so good as ours indeed!
The mighty GOD, the PARLIAMENT,
Englands Chief CITY with consent,
to Father us have mutually agreed.
In filthy Rags we clothed were;
In good warm Raiments now appear
from Dunghils to
The Ward­robe-house, and Heiden-house, formerly the Kings. A Steward. A School­master. A Matron, Nurses. An Arts-ma­ster.
Kings Palaces transferr'd:
Where Education, wholesom Food,
Meat, Drink, and Lodging, and that's g [...]d
for Soul and Body, are so well pre [...].
Blest be our God, our Parliament,
Our Corporation, President:
we bless your Blessings, and your Blessings crave;
That your adopted Children may,
By you made fit, another day
your Graces, Places, Worth and Wealth to have.
Your Children further you implore,
Oh do not this new Work give o're,
and starve not that, which starvelings thus did cherish!
This will relieve you in that day,
When Health, Wealth, Strength and Life decay,
when Golden Chains, and Scarlet Robes shall perish.
Our ancient Grandsire Lazarus
Hath Children poor and numerous,
who at rich Gluttons gates do fainting lie:
Remove this Scandal from our Land,
And raise them with thy mighty hand,
O Orphans God, regard their watery eye.
Grave Senators, that sit on high,
Let not poor English Children die,
and droop on Dunghils with lamenting notes:
An ACT for Poor's Relief, they say,
Parliament.
Is coming forth; why's this delay?
O let not Dutch, Danes, Devils stop those VOTES!
Right Honorable
Lord Mayor for time being.
President,
And faithful Sir his
John Cutler Esq Deputy-President.
second sent,
with
Mr. Maurice Gething Trea­surer.
Treasurer, and all our Corporation;
Your presence and assistance give
At Courts, Committees, and revive
your former thoughts to prosper this Foundation.
Though you no carnal motives have,
No Badge of Honor, no Green Staves,
no Golden Cords, such purposes to hold:
When dusty Tabernacles fail,
Such Works as these with God prevail
new to provide, and Bags that wax not old.
Common-Councel im­powered by Act of Parlia­ment.
Most worthy Represented City,
We bow to you, and beg for pity.
You friends of Orphans, Orphans now desire,
To make As­sessments for carrying on of this Work.
That Power which God and Man did give
To you, poor Orphans to relieve
improve, and let not this new Work expire.

BEsides the relieving and educating of poor friendless harborless Children in Learning and in Arts, many hundred of poor Families are imployed and relieved by the said Corporation in the Manufactury of Spinning and Weaving: And whosoever doth repair either to the Wardrobe near Black-friars, or to Heiden-house in the Minories, may have Materials of Flax, Hemp or Towe to spin at their own houses, if it be desired, leaving so much money as the said Materials cost, until it be brought again in Yarn; at which time they shall receive money for their work, and more Mate­rials to imploy them; so that a stock of 12 d. or 14 d. will be a sufficient security for any that will be imployed; and every one is paid according to the fineness or coursness of the Yarn they spin: there being a certain rule of Length and Tale to pay every one by, so that none are necessitated to live idly, that are desirous or willing to work. And it is to be wished and desired, That the Magi­strates of this City would assist this Corporation, by enjoyning all Constables to discharge the duty of their Offices According to Statute of 39 Eliz. 4. and 1 Jac. 7. in suppressing of Vagrants and common Beggars (able to work, which come from the out-parts of this City) that do so abound, to the great scandal and dishonor of this City, and hindrance of the Charity of many pious people towards this good Work.

Printed by James Flesher, Printer to the Honorable City of LONDON. 1653.

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