A most excellent Godly new Ballad:
[shew]ing the manifold abuses of this wicked world, the intolerable pride of people, the wantonnesse
[of] women, the dissimulation of flatterers, the subtilty of deceivers, the beastlines of drunkards,
the filthinesse of Whoredome, the unthriftines of Gamesters, the cruelty of Landlords,
with a number of other inconvenciences. To the tune of Greene-sleeves.
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[G]Ood Lord what a wicked world is this,
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[?] every man doth live amisse,
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[?]o regard of conscience is,
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[and su]rely the more is the pittie.
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[Amend] therefore, good people all,
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[?]d speedily for mercie call,
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[Th]at God may blesse both great and small,
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in every Towne and Citty.
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Few men do feare the Lord of might,
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and who regards his word aright,
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They come to Church but for a sight,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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Pride doth beare so great a swaie,
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no man but monsters goe by the way,
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Dressing themselves in foolish array,
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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Wantonnesse walkes in everie place,
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that modesty dares not shew his face:
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Discretion counted a foole in this case,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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Flattery is friended gallantly,
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and beares his countenance verie hie,
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Whose lips are taught to cog and lie,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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Plaine truth is driven out of towne,
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and flattery florisheth in renowne
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Deceit doth walke in a garded gowne,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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Cruelty creepes in every place,
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hatred beares a friendly face,
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And slander seeks his neighbours disgrace,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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Idlenes walks in every coast,
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yet flaunts it in bravery with the most
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Which keepeth Tiborne as hot as a toast:
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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[?]ction lieth sicke in a sweat,
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[?]anton children must not be beate,
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[?] wilfull when they be great
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[and surely the more is] the pitty.
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[Amend, etc.]
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Whoredome is counted a youthfull sport,
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greatly pleasing the letcherous sort,
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Not caring whither their soules shall resort,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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The gaming houses who will shun,
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where tripping vice do daily run,
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Till all their wealth from them be won?
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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And few will learne in reasons schoole,
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which way they may their vices coole,
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But cals good counsell doting foole
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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Usury weares a velvet coate,
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by cutting of his brothers throate,
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Which without gaines will not lend a groat,
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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The Land-lord with his incomes great,
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doth set his house in such a heat,
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The Tenant is driven to lie in the street,
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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Covetousnesse hath taken such root,
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to call and crie there is no boote:
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Although the needy dy at their foote
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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Charity now is choaked with care,
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pittie is caught in cruelties snare,
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And mercy exilde both naked and bare,
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and surely the more is the pitty,
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Amend, etc.
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The Father being of greedy kinde,
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doth force his daughter against her mind
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To marry where she may substance find,
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and surely the more is the pitty.
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Amend, etc.
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What life is led betweene them twaine,
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when one the other doth disdaine?
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Their end must needs be griefe and pai[n]
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and surely the more is the pittie.
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Amend, etc.
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But laying all these things awaie,
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remember well your dying day,
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And how you shall consume to clay,
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if you be wise and wittie,
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Amend, etc.
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