The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #4499   Message #3100535
Posted By: Jim Dixon
22-Feb-11 - 03:06 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req/ADD: Ladies Go A-Thieving/Curious Times
Subject: Lyr Add: ...ONE LAW FOR THE RICH AND ANOTHER....
Here's another broadside from the Bodleian collection, Harding B 11(1741):

In England there is One
LAW FOR THE RICH
And another for the Poor.


Come all you buxom females, and banish care and grief.
All you that has got riches, if you like, may be a thief,
But you that has no money, if you are caught 'twill be a jab.
You will be dragged before the beak and bundled off to quod.

CHORUS: It is the ways of England, and it can't be right, I'm sure.
They make one law to suit the rich and another to crush the poor.

I say, misses Penny Buster, did you hear about a rich lady who lived in Portman Square, called misses Ram Jam? Well, what of her? Why, she went a prigging. Suppose she did. Was she rich? Rich! I believe you she was rich! And what did she get done to? Why nothing. What a shame! Well, there was a poor woman who lived very near her, she went a prigging too! What did she prig? Why a two-penny waistcoat, and she was bundled off to prison like a pig in a poke. Well, so help me, never! I should not think it.

2. The ladies may a thieving go with their gold watch and veil,
But if you are poor, you are frowned on sore and placed within a jail.
The judges and the magistrates and juries seem combined
To let the ladies prigging go and do as they've a mind.

Now do you know that Sally Priggem who lived over the way, sent her little Billy yesterday morning to the chandlers' shop for a farthing's worth of oatmeal, and you know, while he was waiting, he picked off the counter one of the little cakes—sold for a half-penny, dear me, it is really a fact.—Well, they sent away for a great wopping, strapping policeman, about seven times bigger than the Norfolk Giant, and they sent to prison for seven days. What a blazing shame. Yes, they did, and he had two dozen of such stunning wollopers over his poor dear little—

Rumts, bumty, tiddle bum, such things you'll scarce believe,
Rich ladies are allowed to ride about to prig and thieve.
The doctor's lady she got clear. In her carriage she rode home.
But she who took the waistcoat went to jail to weep and mourn.

Well I mean to say misses Penny Buster, that misses Jalap and Jamsbottom, ought to have had the same over her bottom, as the poor boy who prigged the cake had over his poor little rumpt idditty. Oh, so he did prigging sally, and I mean to say it is a downright cursed infernal blue bottle scandalous shame,—if ladies are allowed to go a prigging, I don't see why us poor women should not be allowed to go a thieving. More don't I misses Penny Buster; but you know they make one law for the rich, and another law for the poor, so help my tea, toast and butter, they do. Well, Misses Ram Jam was not hungry, she was a lady, had everything, even to a dose of Jalap; she had carriages, servants, horses, lap dogs, and everything, and she got off; but the poor woman who prigged the paltry waistcoat, she got in and that's the law.

What a thing it is for to be rich, to do just as you like,
And a licence get for to go out a thieving day and night,
So you that's poor be always sure, to keep out of a snare,
You won't so lucky be as Mrs R of Portman Square.

The judge and jury bowed to her. She did not lift her veil,
But if she'd been poor she'd went I'm sure for two long years to jail.

J. Marks, Printer, 206, Brick Lane, Spitalfields.
Hawkers and the Trade Supplied.