The worst is past. Or, A merry new song that lately was pend vvhich when these things alter, the times will amend: it's merry and harmlesse, free from all distaste, vnd [sic] when these changes come, the worst is past. To a pleasant new tune. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A15725 of text S102218 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 25998). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 6 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A15725 STC 25998 ESTC S102218 99838015 99838015 2372 2240916938

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A15725) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 2372) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1055:13) The worst is past. Or, A merry new song that lately was pend vvhich when these things alter, the times will amend: it's merry and harmlesse, free from all distaste, vnd [sic] when these changes come, the worst is past. To a pleasant new tune. 1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. printed for Richard Harper in Smithfield, London : [ca. 1640] Verse - "My masters all give eare awhile". Publication date estimated by STC. In two parts; woodcuts at head of each part. Imperfect; torn, affecting imprint. Reproductions of the original in the British Library. eng Ballads, English -- 17th century. A15725 S102218 (STC 25998). civilwar no The worst is past. Or, A merry new song that lately was pend, vvhich when these things alter, the times will amend: it's merry and harmlesse [no entry] 1640 2 842 15 0 0 0 0 0 178 F The rate of 178 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2006-01 Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
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 harmlesse , free from all distaste , Vnd when these changes come , the worst is past . To a pleasant new Tune .

MY masters all give eare awhile I le do 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 Precistans are grown chast , Why then I hope , &c , When I and lords do leave taking rent , And with good words will be content , And millers turn good fellows in haste , Why then I think , &c. When Turnbull-stréet has ne're a whore , And theeves their stealing trade give ore , And wanton wenches all live chaste , Why then I hope , &c. When higw-way robbers will refuse To take a purse , knowing what ensues , And recantation make in haste , Why then I think , &c. When all will live by honest means , Hating dice , cards , and cozening quean , And all eschew ill wayes in haste , Why then I hope , &c. Now Sea-men are brave fellows all , They 'l drink the strong and leave the smal And then the reckonings paid at last , Why then I hope , &c. When northern cloth gives over shrinking And all good fellows leave off drinking , And Brewers all have brewd their last , Why then I hope , &c. When Paritors will take no fée , And fo with fo will all agrée , And spend no coyne in Law at waste , Why then I hope , &c. 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 think the worst is past . Thus wishing all may mend apace , Let all are ill turn from the race , And learn with spéed to mend in haste , And then w' are sure the worst is past .
The second part to the same tune .

WHen Tailors will not use a bell , And travellers no lies will tell , And all 's that spoke , prove true at last , Why then I think the worst is past . When some inquirers after news , Whose eares do itch for what ensues , Will be content to know at last , Why then I think the worst is past . When Knights o' th post will swear no lie . And truth is known from flattery . Then néed no Pillories up be plac't , For then I think , &c. When as Ioan slattern cleanly growes , Doth cut her nails , and pare her toes , And will turn cleanly at the last , Why then I think the worst is past , When Prodigals will save their coyne , And will at once but two pence joyne , And crosse the Mercers book in haste , Why then I think , &c. When Gossips to no feast will range , Nor some like to the Moon still change , Their tatling tales will all lie waste , And then I think . &c. And when new fashions are not used , And in some trades truth 's not abused , Then we shall sée good dayes at last , And surely think , &c. When Gallants in their drink not sweare , And all poor men are frée from care , And spend not all in lustfull waste , Why then I think , &c , When théeves leave off their stealing trade , And Cheats to rook men are afraid , And are inclinde to good at last , Why then I think the worst is past When Brokers will refuse a pawn , And Parasites will leave to fawn , And Bankerouts pay all men in haste , Why then I hope , &c. When horse couriers will leave to sweare , And theeves to Newgate none repaire , And Doctor Stories Cap stands waste , Why then I think &c. When Mistris midnight-walker will Turn from her courses which are ill , And rome no more unto mens waste , Why then I think , &c. And thus for to conclude in haste , Hoping none vertuous in distaste , When all our reckonings paid at last , Why then I hope the worst is past . FINIS

LONDON , Printed for Richard Harper in Smithfield