%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> VVit's never good till tis bought: / OR, / Good counsell for improvident men, / Fit to make use of now and then. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1633-1633 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/25/2011 30307

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

S102190 6 UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN Basses Carreere Basse's Career Basses Carreer the same tune Basse's Career The Same Tune ONce musing alone, / upon things many & one, IN company base, / that are voyd of all grace, That true wit's never good till 'tis bought. [with variation] Thus wits never good till 'tis bought. [with variation] Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 456 1: 457 VVit's never good till tis bought: / OR, / Good counsell for improvident men, / Fit to make use of now and then. Wits never good till ‘tis bought: OR, Good counsell for improvident men, Fit to make use of now and then. Wit's never good till it is bought: OR, Good counsel for improvident men, Fit to make use of now and then. 1633-1633 Thomas Lambert

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic The New World travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/ crass humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/25/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice economics/ commerce vice Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/25/2011 1:50:33 PM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 4/25/2011 1:50:33 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/25/2011 1:50:33 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/25/2011 1:50:33 PM Transcriptionist Two Hehmeyer, Paxton Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/25/2011 1:50:33 PM Transcriptionist One Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/18/2008 Bibliographer Giles Bergel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/16/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/5/2008 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/15/2010 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/14/2010 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/14/2010 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Wits never good till tis bought:</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Good counsell for improvident men,</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Fit to make use of now and then.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of <hi rend="bold">Basses Carreere.</hi></hi></seg>
ONce musing alone, upon things many a one, Well observd and knowne by my selfe, especially how, that which late did flow, I have wasted and now I want pelfe: this vexed me sore, and made me deplore, That I had not before of it thought, from experience I learnd, what I since have discernd, That true wits never good till tis bought. Full many a time, when I was in my prime, My ambition to climbe honors hill, did me forward pricke, but my jade did so kicke, And dame fortune a trick found to kill, my hope in the bloome, and debased my plume: I did further presume than I ought, then I wisht I had stayd, at my owne proper trade, But true wits never never good till tis bought. To fight and to brawle, and to quarrell with all, And my betters miscall, I have usd, but with woe I did find, all are not of one minde, Though I oft in some kinde was excusd, yet sometimes I got, a knocke with a pot, When to speake and when not, thus Ime taught, now where ever I come, Ile keepe peace in the roome, Thus true wits never good till tis bought.
I used to roare, and to drinke on the score, And I never thought more on the shot come Tapster said I, one tooth still is dry, Then fills (by and by) tother pot, I cald still apace, but within a short space, Into a strong place, was I bought, then for eight houres wast, foure dayes I must fast, Thus true wits never good till tis bought. I once had command, of houses and Land, Thus my case well did stand, among men: but moved with pride, and contention beside, I would wrangle or chide, now and then: if a horse I but found, to leape into my ground, Straight away to the pound, he was brought: now I wish I had still, kept my neighbours good will, But true wits never good till tis bought. This rancor and spleene, my ruine hath beene, As may plainly be seene, by my state: contention in Law, did my purse empty draw, Which I never saw fore til tis too late, upon every slight thing, I my action would bring, But my hands now I wring, with the thought: now I wish I had that, which hath made others flat. But ttue wits never good till tis bought.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second part, To the same tune.</hi></seg>
IN company base, that are voyd of all grace, I came often in place, by meere chance, but being with them, whom alone Ide condemne, Ide in presence esteeme, and advance: but being apart, catechising my heart, It much sorrow & smart hath me brought: then with sad melancholly, I weepe for my folly. Thus wits never good till tis bought. Besides now and then, I have hapned with men, That too cunning have bin, at the catch: And then in my drinke, I with paper and inke, Have made I did thinke, a good match: but after when I, more deliberately, The businesse to try-all had brought, I have foynd my selfe cheated, and basely defeated, Thus wits never good till tis bought. Moreover I have, told my mind to a knave, Thinking him truly grave, truly just: I my heart have exposd, and my secrets disclosd, As a friend I reposed, on his trust: but the Rascall ignoble, his heart being double, Mee much woe and trouble hath wrought but Ive learnd ere since that, to take heed of my chat, Thus true wits never good till tis bought.
When I was a Lad, a good service I had, Then my minde was to gadding full bent, though I nothing did lacke, nor for belly nor backe, Yet I was not with that well content, but upon small distaste, my selfe I displast, Thus my downfall in haste then I sought, since I wisht to obtaine, what I oft did disdaine, Thus true wits never good till tis bought. Too willing I was my owne credit to passe, Now I find it alas, to my paine, that with setting my hand, to another mans band, For to sell house and Land, I was faine, I have passed my word, for what others have scord, And I oft like a bird have bin caught, in the prison to stay, where I sung Lachrima, Thus true wits never good till tis bought. If any of those, that are (causelesse) my foes, Should so rashly suppose, in their hearts, that all in this song, to my selfe doth belong, Their conjecture is wrong, for their part, whoever they be, where they something may see, By which every degree, may be taught, what eres thy profession, thou maist learne this lesson, That wits never good till tis hought.
Printed at London for Thomas Lambert. FINIS.