%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> Few words are best. / Come buy this new Ballad before you doe goe, / If you raile at the Author, I know what I know. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1647-1647 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 02/28/2012 31831

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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

R177033 IT is an old saying, / that few words are best, but I know what I know. Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 123 Few words are best. / Come buy this new Ballad before you doe goe, / If you raile at the Author, I know what I know. Few words are best. Come buy this new Ballad before you doe goe, If you raile at the Author, I know what I know. Few words are best. Come buy this new Ballad before you do go, If you rail at the Author, I know what I know. 1647-1647 W. Gilbertson

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas 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 groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 2/28/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America labor/ craft religious groups trickery/ deceit vice Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 2/28/2012 3:57:51 PM XBallad Halsey, Nicholas Created XML Version of Ballad 2/28/2012 3:57:51 PM Transcription Supervisor Murphy, Jessica Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/28/2012 3:57:51 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Reese, Ryan Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/28/2012 3:57:51 PM Transcriptionist Two Jiminez-Justiniano, Jose Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/28/2012 3:57:51 PM Transcriptionist One Andrews, B. Sharkey Transcription of ballad manuscript 2/20/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/2/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/19/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/22/2011 Checker Megan Palmer Browne Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Few words are best</hi>.</seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Come buy this new Ballad before you doe goe</hi>,</seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">If you raile at the Author, I know what I know</hi>.</seg> <lb/> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of, I tell you but so</hi>.</seg>
IT is an old saying, that few words are best, And he that sayea little, shall live most at rest, And I by experence, doe find it right so, Therefore Ile spare speech, but I know what I know. Yet shall you perceive well, though littele I say, That many enormities, I will display, You may guesse my meainug, by that which I show. I will not tell all. but I know, etc. There be some great climbers composd of ambition. To whom better borne m[e]n: doe bend with submission, Proud Lucifer climbing, was cast very low: Ile not stay these men. but I know, etc. There be many Foras, that goe on two legs, They steale greater matters. then Cocks, Hens, and Egs, To catch many Guls, in sheeps clothing they goe: They might be destroyd. but I know, etc. There be many men, that Devotion pretend. And makes us beleeve, that true fatih theyl defend,
Three times in one day, to Church they will goe. They cozen the world, but I know. etc, There be many rich men, both Yeoman and Gentry, That for their owne private gain hurt a whole Cuntry By clothing free common. yet theyl make as though. Twere for commons good, but I know, etc. There be divers Papists, that to save their Fine, Come to Church once a month to heare Service Divine, The Pope gives them power, as they say to doe so, They save money byto, but I know, etc. There be many upstarts, that spring from the Cart, What gotten to the Court, play the Gentlemans part: Their fathers were plain-men, they scorue to be so, They thinke themselves brave, but I know, etc. There be many Officers, men of greate place, To whome if one sue, for their favour and grace, He must bribe their servants, while they make as though, They know no such thing, but I know. etc.
THere be many woman, that seeme very pure, A kisse from a stranger, theyl hardly endure: They are like Lucrecia, modest in show; I will accuse none, but I know what I know. Likewise there be many, dissembling men, That seeme to hate Drinking, and Whoring yet when They meet with a Wench, to the Taverne theyl goe; They are civill all day, but I know, etc. There be many Batchelours, that so beguile, Beleeving kind Lasses, use many a wile, They all swear that they love, when they meane nothing so, And boast of these tricks, but I know, etc. Theres many an Usurer, that like a Drone, Doth idely live, upon his moneys lone, From tens unto hundreds, his mony doth grow: He sayes he does good, but I know, etc. There be many Gallants, that goe in gay rayment, For which the Taylor, did ner receive payment, They rufle it out, with agorgeous show, Some take them for Knights, but I know, etc.
There be many Rorers, that swagger and rore, As though they i thwarre had, bin, seven yeares and more. And yet they ner lookt in the face of a Foe: They seeme gallant Sparkes, but I know, etc. Theres many both women, and men that appeare. Wiih beautifull out sides, the worlds eyes to bleare: But all is not gold, that doth glitter in show, They are fine with a pox, but I know, etc. There is many rich Tradesmen who live by deceit, And in weight and measure, the poore they doe cheat, Theyl not sweare an oath, but indeed I and no, They truely protest, but I know, etc. There be many people. so given to strife, That theyl goe to law, for a two penny knife. The Lawyer ner askes them, why they doe so, He gets by their Hate, but I know, etc. I know there be many, will carpe at this Ballad, Because it is like, sowre sawce to their Paliat: But he, she, or they, let me tell ere I goe, If they speak against this song, I know what I know.
Finis. London Printed for W. Gilbertson, in Gilt-spur-street.