%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Worst is past. / OR, / A merry new Song that lately was pend, / VVhich when these things alter, the times will amend: / It's merry and harmlesse, free from all distaste, / Vnd when these changes come, the worst is past. 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 04/26/2011 30309

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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

S102218 2 a pleasant new Tune UNKNOWN A Pleasant New Tune the same tune UNKNOWN The Same Tune MY masters all give eare awhile / Ile do the best to make you smile, VVHen Tailors will not use a bell, / And travellers no lies will tell, But tell them when the worst is past. [with variation] Why then I think the worst is past. [with variation] Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 458 1: 459 The Worst is past. / OR, / A merry new Song that lately was pend, / VVhich when these things alter, the times will amend: / It's merry and harmlesse, free from all distaste, / Vnd when these changes come, the worst is past. The Worst is past. OR, A merry new Song that lately was pend, Which when these things alter, the times will amend: It’s merry and harmlesse, free from all distaste, And when these changes come, the worst is past. The Worst is past. OR, A merry new Song that lately was penned, Which when these things alter, the times will amend: It’s merry and harmless, free from all distaste, And when these changes come, the worst is past. 1633-1633 Richard Harper

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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 4/26/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America crime economics/ commerce urban life vice virtue Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/26/2011 10:38:36 AM XBallad Meyer, Shannon Created XML Version of Ballad 4/26/2011 10:38:36 AM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/26/2011 10:38:36 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/26/2011 10:38:36 AM Transcriptionist Two Hehmeyer, Paxton Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/26/2011 10:38:36 AM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte 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
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Worst is past.</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A merry new Song that lately was pend,</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Which when these things alter, the times will amend:</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Its merry and harmlesse, free from all distaste,</hi></seg> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">And when these changes come, the worst is past.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="7" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To a pleasant new Tune.</hi></seg>
MY masters all give eare awhile Ile do the best to make you smile, Hoping to give no man distaste, But tell them when the worst is past. And therefore now to please you all, To pen and inke I did befall, And casting up my summe at last, I told them how the worst is past. When Merchants they leave over-buying, And Lawyers some give over lying, And all Precisians are grown chast, Why then I hope, etc. When Land lords do leave taking rent, And with good words will be content, And millers turn good fellows in haste, When then I think, etc. When Turnball-street has nere a whore, And theeves their stealing trade give ore, And wanton wenches all live chaste, Why then I hope, etc. When higw-way robbers will refuse To take a purse, knowing what ensuse, And recantation make in haste, Why then I think, etc.
When all will live by honest means, Hating dice, cards, and cozening quean, And all eschew ill wayes in haste, Why then I hope, etc. Now Sea-men are brave fellows all, Theyl drink the strong and leave the smal And then the reckonings paid at last, Why then I hope, etc. When northern cloth gives over shrinking And all good fellows leave off drinking, And Brewers all have brewd their last, Why then I hope, etc. When Paritors will take no fee, And fo with fo will all agree, And spend no coyne in Law at waste, Why then I hope, etc. When Tapsters will not thrive by froth And to score two for one are loth, And all old scores are paid in haste, Why then I think the worst is past. Thus wishing all may mend apace, Let all are ill turn from the race, And learn with speed to mend in haste, And then ware sure the worst is past.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second part to the same tune.</hi></seg>
WHen Tailors will not use a hell, And travellers no lies will tell, And alls that spoke, prove true at last, Why then I think the worst is past. When some inquirers after news, Whose eares do itch for what ensues, Wilt be content to know at last, Why then I think the worst is past. When Knights oth post will swear no lie, And truth is known from flattery. Then need no Pillories up be plact, For then I think, etc. When as Joan slattern cleanly growes, Doth cut her nails, and pare her toes, And will turn cleanly at the last, Why then I think the worst is past, When Prodigals will save their coyne, And will at once but two pence joyne, And crosse the Mercers book in haste, Why then I think, etc. When Gossips to no feast will range, Nor some like to the Moon still change, Then tatling tales will all lie waste, And then I think, etc. And when new fashions are not used, And in some trades truths not abused,
Then we shall see good dayes at last, And surely think, etc. When Gallants in their drink not sweare, And all poor men are free from care, And spend not all in lustfull waste, Why then I think, etc. When theeves leave off their stealing trade, And Cheats to rook men are afraid, And are inclinde to good at last, Why then I think the worst is past. When Brokers will refuse a pawn, And Parasites will leave to fawn, And Bankerouts pay all men in haste, Why then I hope, etc. When horse coursers will leave to sweare, And theev[e]s to Newgate none repaire, And Doctor Stories Cap stands waste, Why then I think etc. When Mistris midnight-walker will Turn from her courses which are ill, And come no more unto mens waste, Why then I think, etc. And thus for to conclude in haste, Hoping none vertuous in distaste, When all our reckonings paid at last, Why then I hope the worst is past.
FINIS LONDON, Printed for Richard Harper in Smithfi[eld]