The worst is past.
OR,
A merry new Song that lately was pend,
Which when these things alter, the times will amend:
Its merry and harmelesse, free from all distaste,
And when these changes come, the worst is past.
To a pleasant new tune.
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MY Masters all give eare a while
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Ile doe the best to make you smile,
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Hoping to give no man distaste,
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But tell them when the worst is past.
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And therefore now to please you all,
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To pen and inke I did befall,
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And casting up my summe at last,
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I told them how the worst is past.
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When Merchants they leave over buying,
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And Lawyers some give over lying,
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And all Precisians are growne chast,
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Why then I hope, etc.
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When Land-Lords doe leave taking rent,
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And with good words will be content,
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And mizers turne good fellowes in hast,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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When Turnball street has nere a whore,
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And theeves their stealing trade give ore,
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And wanton wenches all live chaste,
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Why then I hope, etc.
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When high way robbers will refuse
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To take a purse, knowing what ensues,
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And recantation make in haste,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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When all will live by honest meanes,
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Hating Dice, Cards, and cozening queans,
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And all eschew ill waies in haste,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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Now Sea-men are brave fellowes all,
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Theyl drink the strong and leave the small,
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And when the reckonings paid at last,
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Why then I hope, etc.
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When northern cloth gives over shrinking,
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And all good fellowes leave off drinking,
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And Brewers all have brewd their last,
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Why then I hope, etc.
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When Paritors will take no fee,
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And foe with foe will all agree,
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And spend no coyne in Law at waste,
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Why then I hope, etc.
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When Tapsters will not thrive by froth,
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And to score two for one are loth,
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And all old scores are paid in haste,
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Why then I thinke the worst is past.
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Thus wishing all may mend apace,
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Let all are ill turne from the race,
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And learne with speed to mend in haste,
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And then w are sure the worst is past.
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The Second Part. To the same tune.
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WHen Taylors will not use a hell,
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And travellers no lyes will tell,
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And alls that spoke, prove true at last,
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Why then I thinke the worst is past.
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When some inquirers after newes,
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Whose eares doe itch for what ensues,
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Will be content to know at last,
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Why then I thinke the worst is past.
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When knights o th post will sweare no lye,
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And truth is known from flattery,
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Then need no Pillories up be plact,
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For then I thinke the, etc.
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When as Joane slatterne cleanly growes,
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Doth cut her nailes, and pare her toes,
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And will turne cleanly at the last,
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Why then I thinke the worst is past.
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When Prodigals will save their coyne,
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And will at once but two pence joyne,
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And crosse the Mercers books in hast,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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When Gossips to no feast will range,
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Nor some like to the Moone still change,
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Then tatling tales will all lye all waste,
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And then I thinke, etc.
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And when new fashions are not used,
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And in some trades truths not abused,
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Then we shall see good dayes at last,
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And surely thinke etc.
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When Gallants in their drinke not sweare,
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And all poore men are free from care,
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And spend not all in lustfull wast,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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When theeves leave off their stealing trade,
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And Cheats to rooke men are afraid,
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And are inclinde to good at last,
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Why then I think the worst is past.
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When Brokers will refuse a pawne,
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And Parasites will leave to fawne,
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And Bankerouts pay all men in hast,
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Why then I hope, etc.
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When horse-coursers will leave to sweare,
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And theeves to Newgate none repaire,
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And Doctor Stories Cap stands wast,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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When Mistrisse midnight-walkct will
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Turne from her courses which are ill,
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And roame no more unto mens wast,
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Why then I thinke, etc.
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And thus for to conclude in haste,
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Hoping none vertuous is distast,
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When all our reckonings paid at last,
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Why then I hope the worst is past.
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