'Tis money makes a man: or, The good-fellows folly. Here in this song good fellow that mayst find, how money makes a man, if thou'rt not blind? Therefore return e're that it be too late, and don't on strumpets spend thy whole estate, for when all is gone, no better thou wilt be: but laught to scorn in all thy poverty. To a pleasant new tune: Bonny black Bess: or, Digby. / By J. Wade.

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Title
'Tis money makes a man: or, The good-fellows folly. Here in this song good fellow that mayst find, how money makes a man, if thou'rt not blind? Therefore return e're that it be too late, and don't on strumpets spend thy whole estate, for when all is gone, no better thou wilt be: but laught to scorn in all thy poverty. To a pleasant new tune: Bonny black Bess: or, Digby. / By J. Wade.
Author
Wade, John, fl. 1660-1680.
Publication
[London] :: Printed for F[rancis]. Coles, T[homas]. Vere, J[ohn]. Wright, J[ohn]. Clarke,
[between 1674-1679]
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Subject terms
Broadsides -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800.
Money -- Poetry -- Early works to 1800.
Ballads -- England -- 17th century.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/B06565.0001.001
Cite this Item
"'Tis money makes a man: or, The good-fellows folly. Here in this song good fellow that mayst find, how money makes a man, if thou'rt not blind? Therefore return e're that it be too late, and don't on strumpets spend thy whole estate, for when all is gone, no better thou wilt be: but laught to scorn in all thy poverty. To a pleasant new tune: Bonny black Bess: or, Digby. / By J. Wade." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/B06565.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 21, 2025.

Pages

Page [unnumbered]

'Tis Money makes a Man:
OR, The Good-Fellows Folly.

Here in this Song Good-Fellow thou mayst find, How Money makes a Man, if thou'rt not blind? Therefore return e're that it be too late, And don't on Strumpets spend thy whole estate, For when all is gone, no better thou wilt be: But Laught to scorn in all thy poverty.
To a pleasant new Tune: Bonny black Bess: Or, Digby.

[illustration]

OO what a madness 'tis to borrow or lend, Or for strong Liquor thy Money to spend; For when that is wanting thy courage to cool, Thou most stad Cap in hand to every fool: but if thy pockts can sing & they will take thy word Oh then thou art company for Knight or yet Lord: Then make much of a Penny as near as you can, For if that be wanting thou'rt counted no man.
Then listen a while and i'le tell you in brief, The most of my sorrow, my care, and my grief; I had an estate Ile make it appear, Besides all my stock, was worth fifty a year: But so soon as I to drinking then fell, My Land I then Morgaged, my Cattle did sell; No sooner the money I for them had took, But it went to the Ale-house i'le swear on a book.
Thus in a short time my money did waste, And I found my self not a pin better at last; Whilst other Tradesmen were working full hard, I fom an Ale-house could not be debar'd: There would I sit tipling day after day, And my Wife she unto me full often would say, Make much of a Penny as near as you can, For if that be wanting thou'lt be counted no man.
But the words that she spoke i'd regard not a straw But would kick her, & beat her, & kéep her in awe; My children at home might eat the bare wall, Whilst I in an Ale-house for strong liquor did call: And my Hostis forsooth must needs sit on my knée though my wife she hath twice more beauty then she Yet that would not please my letcherous mind, Because for my Money my Hostis was kind.
But in the conclusion here comes all my care, My back it grew thin, and my pockets grew bare; Then I told my Hostis my pittiful tale, In hopes that my sorrows she would be wail: But she turn'd up her nose, and she looked a squoy, You might have been wiser she straight did reply; This was all the comfort that I got from she, That always pretended my friend for to be.

[illustration]

[illustration]

[illustration]

THerefore all young-men that loves the Ale-bench Some counsel i'le give them before they go hence; If thou sit'st day and night, & drink'st never so fast Yet thou'lt find thy own home is the best at last; It is but for your money they wait you upon, And when that is wanting you'r lightly look't on; If she sees but two-pence you run on the score, She'l swear by her troth she will trust you no more
hen have a care young-men, be ruled in time, Lest drink overcome thee, in old days you pine; For you see Good-fellows how thread-bare they go And what good-husbandry brings a man to; For some lives most bravely tho means they have small, And some that has hundreds do quickly spend all; Then make much of a penny as near as you can, For if that be wanting thou'rt counted no man.
'Tis money you see makes a Lord, or yet Eal, 'Tis money you see that sets out a young Girl; Likewise 'tis money makes the Lawyer to prate, & tis money doth make the man love his wife Kate And 'tis money bréeds love where never was none, Although she be old, yet money makes her young: A Knight or a Begger, whatever they be If they have but money they'r welcome to me.
Thus money you see, and do well understand, If a poor man can but get it, he buys house and land But it must not be those that works hard all day, And at night in an Ale-house doth throw it away. Nay, that will not serve, but twice as much more, If his word it will pass, he runs on the score; Then all the week after, though then he don't eed He wanteth bread-corn his poor children to feed,
Therefore he advised boon Companions all, For you see the worlds so they laugh at a mans fall With speed your old haunts pray begin for to shun, Take warning by others the which are undone: You'l say a good fellow it is a brave name, But many a man doth pay dear for the same: The which hath all spent, now in Goal he doth lye, And none will relieve him in his poverty.
But some men have got such a spark in their throat That I would not be him that should quench't for a groat; All the fair words his wife can him give, Yet he'l not be ruled though poor he doth live: Hang money he cys, till all ••••'t is gone; As for house nd Land I mean to buy none; I must see my Hostis to go neat and fine, Although that my family doth starve and pine.
And thus have I told you the conditions of some, That all long of strong liquor will never keep home His stock it dcays, although his wife cries, And in the conclusion a begger he dies: but a good husband's means you see doth increase He maintains his houshold in joy and in peace; Then make much of a penny as near as you can, For if that be wanting, thou'lt be counted no man
FINIS.
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