The Troubles Of This World

Let honest tradesmen now attend And bear a mournful part with me It is to you these lines I send For to console our misery I See the times which makes me weep There’s nought but poor men’s labour cheap I see the times which makes me weep There’s nought but poor men’s labour cheap The rich they do continually Run down the poor men’s labour still If he’ll not work so straight they cry Begin, we know another will And thus the poor in awe they keep There’s nothing but their labour cheap I see the times which makes me weep There’s nought but poor men’s labour cheap The working man he straight complies Because of his young children small For half a loaf of bread he cries Is better far than none at all Because he hath a charge to keep He’s forced to work and labour cheap Because she hath a charge to keep She’s forced to work and labour cheap Alas too well we understand What causes all our grief and care It is the wars by sea and land Alas, alas who can forbear In these hard times to sigh and weep There’s nought but poor men’s labour cheap I see the times which makes me weep There’s none but poor men’s labour cheap