A Description of Old England, Or,
A true Declaration of the times.
Old England of late days it is grown new,
As many by experience finds it true;
Throughout the Land, in Country, City, and in Town,
The times are harder then ere they were known;
Observe these Verses which below are pend,
And let us pray that these bad times may mend.
To a pleasant new tune, Or, is not old England grown new.
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WAs ever the like in any age known,
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Old Englands grown New, and turned upside down,
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The times they are hard both in Country and town,
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Then is not old England grown new, grown new,
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Then is not old England grown new.
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Old England was once a stately brave place,
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When traffiqueing everywhere went on a pace,
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But now trading is dead, and monys grown scarce,
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Then is not, etc.
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In days heretofore gold and silver did flye,
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Then rich men upon their means livd gallantly,
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But the land now is over-run with poverty.
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then is not, etc.
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Where is all the treasure that in England did flow,
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That with rich men and poor men did make a brave show
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The times they now harder and harder doth grow,
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then is not, etc.
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Where are your old souldiers with slashes and scars
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That never feard drinking in old time of wars
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Nor shedding of blood in mad drunken jars,
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then is not, etc.
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Where are your old Courtiers that used to ride,
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With forty blew coats and foot-men beside,
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It is turnd to six horses a Coach and a guide,
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Then is not old England grown new, grown new,
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Then is not old England grown new.
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The second part, to the same Tune.
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WHat is become of your old fashioned cloaths,
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Your long-sleevd doublets, & your trunk hose,
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It is turnd to French fashion, and other fine shews,
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then is not old England grown new, grown new,
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then is not old England new.
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For now theres new fashions comes up every day,
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With costly attire and sumptuous array,
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It is Pride in the Kingdom doth bear all the sway.
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then is not, etc.
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New triking, new triming, new measures, new paces,
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For the men they have new heads, and women new faces
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And several new tricks more to hide their base cases;
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then is not, etc.
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Theres new fashiond Caps, and new-fashiond Locks,
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And new fashiond heads for the old pated blocks,
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With twenty diseases, besides the french-P----
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then is not old, etc.
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In former days men loved one another,
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They always were faithful and true to each other,
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But now a man scarcely can trust his own brother,
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then is not old, etc.
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It was a brave time when men lived in fear,
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And usd not themselves so much to curse and swear,
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But now dam ye and sink ye is usd ery where,
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then is not, etc.
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There was not so much deceit usd hertofore,
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Cheating and couzening men they did abhor.
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But now plain-dealing is turnd out of door.
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then is not, etc.
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Most rich men were charitable formerly,
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And shewd pitty to the poor in misery,
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But their hearts now are hardned with cruelty,
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then is not, etc.
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Envy and malice now raigneth too much,
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In the hearts of some persons both poor and rich,
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To see one another live many doth grutch.
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then is not, etc.
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And thus you may see how the times they do go,
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Both in town and City, and in Country to,
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I think there is none of you all but doth know,
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that old England is grown new, grown new,
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that old England is grown new.
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