%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The praise of Nothing: / Though some doe wonder why I write in praise / Of Nothing, in these lamentable daies, / When they have read, and will my counsell take, / I hope of Nothing something they may make. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1601-1601 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/05/2012 31869

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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

R214563 1 Though I have but a marke a yeare, &c. Gramercy Penny Though I Have But a Mark a Year, etc. THe praise of wisedome some doe write, / and some the praise of money: IN heat of war nothing is safe, / in peace nothing respected, for all must turne to nothing. [with variation] or all will come to nothing. [with variation] Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 263 The praise of Nothing: / Though some doe wonder why I write in praise / Of Nothing, in these lamentable daies, / When they have read, and will my counsell take, / I hope of Nothing something they may make. The praise of Nothing: Though some doe wonder why I write in praise Of Nothing, in these lamentable daies, When they have read, and will my counsell take, I hope of Nothing something they may make. The praise of Nothing: Though some doe wonder why I write in praise Of Nothing, in these lamentable days, When they have read, and will my counsel take, I hope of Nothing something they may make. 1601-1601 H. Gosson

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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 3/5/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice economics/ commerce marriage religious concepts sex/ sexuality Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/5/2012 4:46:58 PM XBallad Lee, Jennifer J Created XML Version of Ballad 3/5/2012 4:46:58 PM Transcription Supervisor Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/5/2012 4:46:58 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/5/2012 4:46:58 PM Transcriptionist Two Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/5/2012 4:46:58 PM Transcriptionist One Ross, Percy Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2011 Checker Victoria Hernandez Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/3/2011 Bibliographer Charlotte Becker Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 2/18/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/17/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The praise of Nothing:</hi></hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Though some doe wonder why I write in praise</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Of Nothing, in these lamentable daies,</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">When they have read, and will my counsell take,</hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">I hope of Nothing something they may make.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">To the tune of, Though I have but a marke a yeare, etc.</hi></seg>
THe praise of wisedome some doe write, and some the praise of money: And every one like Bees to th hive, from something gather hony. But if my Genius doe not faile, To promp me ere I end my tale, Youl finde that nothing will prevaile, for all must turne to nothing. Nothing was first, and shall be last, for nothing holds for ever, [And nothing ever yet scapt death, so cant the longest liver: Nothings Immortall, nothing can, From crosses ever keepe a man, Nothing can live, when the world is gone, for all shall come to nothing. Nothing in all the world we finde, with sorrow more perplexed, Then he that with a scolding wife, eternally is vexed. Whose tongue by nothing can be queld, Although with red hot spincers held For shee will to no reason yeeld, but scold and brawle for nothing.]
Nothing is swifter then the winde, or lighter then a feather, Yet I another thing have found, which quite excelleth either: A harlots love, that every day, Is changd and swiftly blowne away, But whats more light then her, I pray, the wise man answeres nothing. Nothing shall therefore please me more, than women to abandon, For if that I should fall in love, or joyne with such a wanton: Sheed breake my very heart-strings sure, Or I must Vulcans lot indure, And patiently abide the cure, or else be helpd by nothing. Take you heed then unmarried Lads, before you grow a lover, And ere too soone you chuse a wife, with honest patience prove her: For nothing can againe unwed, Nor cure a Cuckolds aking head, Besides once lost a Maiden-head, can be recald by nothing.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second part, To the same tune.</hi></seg>
IN heat of war nothing is safe, in peace nothing respected, But ill got wealth, which to procure, no vice at alls neglected: The sonne doth wish his fathers end, That he may have his wealth to spend, But let such Lads their manners mend, or all will come to nothing. Nothing is safe by Sea or Land, nor alwaies free from danger, Which is committed to the trust, of either friend or stranger. For nothing in the world remaines, But for their private ends or gaines, Theil havt although they break their brains or bring themselves to nothing. Nothing regarded more then gold, but vertues quite decayd, For gold the Usurer sels his soule, which must at last be paid, When nothing from the grave can call Such mizers who their soules inthrall, To gripe and hoord the Devill and all, but better they had nothing. Nothing can from the sight of God, conceale the faults of any, For his cleare eye can search into, the smallest chinke or cranny. He can within thy heart espy, The secretst sinnes which there doe lye, But if you to repentance hie, they shall appeare as nothing.
Nothing therefore hereafter seeke but vertue, vice detesting, With purest robs of sanctity, your humble soule investing: And seeke you after no such thing, Which may your soule to sorrow bring, Or while thou livst thy conscience sting, or else desire nothing. For though but little thou art worth, yet nothing dost desire, Nor covetest thy neighbours goods, nor bove thy selfe aspire. But restest honestly content, With that poore little God hath sent, Thou mayst disperse in merriment, and [say thou wantst for nothing.] When earth-wormes spend [their dayes in care] and nere can rest in quiet. Nor with the feare to lose ther gold, have time to sleepe or dyet: But with a sad and pensive minde Still studying how the poore to grinde, Untill at last with sorrow pinde, themselves are turnd to nothing. And thus you now have heard the praise, of nothing worth a penny: Which as I stand to sing heare now, I hope will yeeld me many. But if that price be held to deare, Or any dislike this counsell here, He may depart with a flea ins eare, for I will give him nothing.
Printed at London for H. Gosson, dwelling upon London-Bridge [nere the Gate.]