Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Room for a Gamester that plays at all he sees

Alexander Brome

“Room for a Gamester that plays at all he sees” as printed in Rump Songs (1662).

Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics Text 32 1662 · historical text
Public domainPolitical songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Rump Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

1.

Room for a Gamester that plays at all he sees,

Whose fickle faith is fram’d, Sir, to fit such times as these;

One that cryes Amen, to ev’ry factious Prayer,

From Hugh Peters Pulpit, to St. Peters Chair:

One that can comply with Crosier and with Crown;

And yet can bouze

A full carouze,

While bottles tumble down,

Dery down.

Verse 2

2.

This is the way to trample without trembling.

Since Sycophants only secure;

Covenants and Oaths are badges of dissembling,

’Tis the Politique pulls down the pure:

To plunder and pray,

To protest and betray

Are the only ready wayes to be great,

Flattering will do the feat:

Ne’re go, ne’re stir

Have ventred farther,

Then the greatest o’ th’ Damme’s in the Town,

From a Copper to a Crown.

Verse 3

3.

I am in an excellent homor now to think well,

And I’me in another humor now to drink well;

Fill us up a Beer-bowl boy,

That we drink it merrily;

And let none other see,

Nor cause to understand,

For if we do, ’tis ten to one we are Trepand.

Verse 4

4.

Come fill us up a brace of Quarts,

Whose Anagram is call’d true hearts;

If all were true as I would hav’t,

And Britain were cured of its humor,

Then I should very well like my fate,

And drink off my Wine at a freer rate,

Without any noise or tumor;

And then I should fix my humor.

Verse 5

5.

But since ’tis no such matter, change your hue,

I may cog and flatter, so may you;

Religion

Is a wigeon,

And reason

Is Treason;

And he that hath a Noble heart may bid the world adieu.

Verse 6

6.

We must be like the Scotish man,

Who with intent to beat down schism,

Brought forth a Presbyterian,

A Canon and a Catechism.

If Beuk wont do’t, then Jockie shoot,

The Kirk of Scotland doth command;

And what hath been, since he come in,

I am sure we ha’ cause to understand.

Credits

Written by Alexander Brome

Words by Alexander Brome. Historical text published in Rump Songs (1662); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Rump Songs (1662), “Room for a Gamester that plays at all he sees”

This 1662 collection (Rump: or an Exact Collection of the Choycest Poems and Songs Relating to the Late Times, 1639-1661) is credited to Alexander Brome (died 1666); every contributor died more than 330 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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