%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> 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 harmelesse, free from all distaste, / And 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 03/08/2012 32040

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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 MY Masters all giue eare a while / Ile doe the best to make you smile, VVHen Taylors will not use a hell, / And travellers no lyes will tell, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 402 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 harmelesse, 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 pend, Which when these things alter, the times will amend: It's merry and harmelesse, 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 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 3/8/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America crime economics/ commerce urban life vice virtue Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/8/2012 2:44:16 PM XBallad Halsey, Nicholas Created XML Version of Ballad 3/8/2012 2:44:16 PM Transcription Supervisor Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2012 2:44:16 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2012 2:44:16 PM Transcriptionist Two Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/8/2012 2:44:16 PM Transcriptionist One Lee, Jennifer J Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/1/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 4/1/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 4/1/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/8/2011 Checker Mackenzie Doss Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/16/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The worst is past.</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">OR,</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">A merry new <hi rend="bold">S</hi>ong 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 harmelesse, 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 a while Ile doe 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 growne chast, Why then I hope, etc. When Land-Lords doe leave taking rent, And with good words will be content, And mizers turne good fellowes in hast, Why then I thinke, 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 high way robbers will refuse To take a purse, knowing what ensues, And recantation make in haste, Why then I thinke, etc.
When all will live by honest meanes, Hating Dice, Cards, and cozening queans, And all eschew ill waies in haste, Why then I thinke, etc. Now Sea-men are brave fellowes all, Theyl drink the strong and leave the small, And when the reckonings paid at last, Why then I hope, etc. When northern cloth gives over shrinking, And all good fellowes leave off drinking, And Brewers all have brewd their last, Why then I hope, etc. When Paritors will take no fee, And foe with foe 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 thinke the worst is past. Thus wishing all may mend apace, Let all are ill turne from the race, And learne with speed to mend in haste, And then w are sure the worst is past.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Second Part. To the same tune.</hi></seg>
WHen Taylors will not use a hell, And travellers no lyes will tell, And alls that spoke, prove true at last, Why then I thinke the worst is past. When some inquirers after newes, Whose eares doe itch for what ensues, Will be content to know at last, Why then I thinke the worst is past. When knights o th post will sweare no lye, And truth is known from flattery, Then need no Pillories up be plact, For then I thinke the, etc. When as Joane slatterne cleanly growes, Doth cut her nailes, and pare her toes, And will turne cleanly at the last, Why then I thinke the worst is past. When Prodigals will save their coyne, And will at once but two pence joyne, And crosse the Mercers books in hast, Why then I thinke, etc. When Gossips to no feast will range, Nor some like to the Moone still change, Then tatling tales will all lye all waste, And then I thinke, 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 thinke etc.
When Gallants in their drinke not sweare, And all poore men are free from care, And spend not all in lustfull wast, Why then I thinke, etc. When theeves leave off their stealing trade, And Cheats to rooke men are afraid, And are inclinde to good at last, Why then I think the worst is past. When Brokers will refuse a pawne, And Parasites will leave to fawne, And Bankerouts pay all men in hast, Why then I hope, etc. When horse-coursers will leave to sweare, And theeves to Newgate none repaire, And Doctor Stories Cap stands wast, Why then I thinke, etc. When Mistrisse midnight-walkct will Turne from her courses which are ill, And roame no more unto mens wast, Why then I thinke, etc. And thus for to conclude in haste, Hoping none vertuous is distast, When all our reckonings paid at last, Why then I hope the worst is past.
FINIS. LONDON, Printed for Richard Harper in Smithfield.