A Caveat Against Cutpurses

Words by Ben Jonson
(Baldwin of Erebor)

   Dm          A7               Dm          A7
My masters and friends and good people draw near,
    F            C           Dm     A7 D
And look to your purses, for that I do say;
    Dm            A7       Dm          A7
And though little money in them you do bear,
   F            C           Dm      A7 D
It cost more to get than to lose in a  day.
    Am       Em   Am             Am        Em  Am
You oft have been told, both the young and the old,
    Am     Em Am      Em  Am       Em A
And bidden be-ware of the cutpurse so bold
     F           C              Dm          A7
Then if you take heed not, free me from the curse,
    F             C           Dm      A7 D
Who both give you warning for and the cutpurse.


Chorus (after every verse):
            F                 C           Dm             A7
     Youth, youth, thou hadst better been starved by thy nurse,
          F          C          Dm      A7 D
     Than live to be hanged for cutting a  purse.

It hath been upbraided to men of my trade
That oftentimes we are the cause of this crime.
Alack and for pity, why should it be said?
As if they regarded or places or time.
Examples have been of some that were seen
In Westminster Hall, yea the pleaders between;
Then why should the judges be free from this curse,
More than my poor self, for cutting a purse?

But oh, you vile nation of cutpurses all,
Relent and repent, and amend and be sound,
And know that you ought not, by honest men's fall,
Advance your own fortunes, to die above ground;
And though you go gay in silks as you may,
It is not the highway to heaven (as they say),
Repent then, repent you, for better, for worse:
And kiss not the gallows for cutting a purse.