Poor man's counsel, or, The married man's guide/Highgate Oath

HIGHGATE OATH.

SIlence, take notice as you’re my ſon,
full on your father look, ſir,
This is an oath you may take as you run,
ſo lay your hand on the horn book, ſir,
Hornaby, thornaby, highgate and horns,
And money by hook or by crook ſir,
Hornaby, thornaby, &c.

Spend not with cheaters or cozeners your life,
nor waſte it on profligate beauty;
And when you are married, be kind to your wife,
and true to all petticoat duty!
Dutiful, beautiful, kind to your wife,
And true from the cap to the ſhoe-tie.&c.

To drink to a man when a woman is near,
you never ſhould hold to be right, ſir,
Nor unleſs 'tis your taſte to drink ſmall for ſtrong beer,
or eat brown bread when you can get white, ſir.
Mannikin, Cannikin, good meat and drink,
are pleaſant at morn, noon, or night, ſir.&c.

To kiſs with the maid when the miſtreſs is kind,
a gentleman ought to be loth, ſir,
But if the maid's ⟨faireſt⟩, your oath does not bind,
or you may, if you like it, kiſs both, ſir,
Kiſs away, both you may, ſweetly ſmack night and day,
If you like it, your bound by your oath, ſir.&c.

When you travel to Highgate, take this oath again,
and again like a ſound man, and true, ſir,
And if you have with you ſome more merry men,
be ſure you make them take it too, ſir.
Bleſs you, ſon, get you gone, frolick and fun,
Old England, and honeſt true blue, ſir.
Bleſs you, ſon, &c.