A Description of Old England, 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 than e'er they were known;  
Observe these Verses which below are penned,  
And let us pray that these bad times may mend.  
To a pleasant new tune, Or, is not old England grown new.  
 
 

Was ever the like in any age known,  
Did England's grown New, and turned upside down,  
The times they are hard both in Country and town,  
Then is not old England grown new, grown new,  
Then is not old England grown new.   

Old England was once a stately brave place,  
When trastiqueing every where went on a pace,  
But now trading is dead, and money's grown scarce,  
Then is not, etc.   

In days heretofore god and silver did fly,  
Then rich-men upon their means lived gallantly,  
But the land now is overran with poverty.  
then is not, etc.   

Where is all the treasure that in England did flow,  
That with rich men and poor men did make a brave show  
The times they now harder and harder doth grow,  
then is not, etc.   

Where are your old soldiers with slashes and scars  
That never feared drinking in old time of wars  
Nor shedding of blood in mad drunken jars,  
then is not, etc.   

Where are your old Courtiers that used to ride,  
With forty blue coats and footmen beside,  
It is turned to six horses a Coach and a guide,  
Then is not old England grown new, grown new,  
Then is not old England grown new.   

The second part,  
to the same Tune.  

What is become of your old fashioned clothes,  
Your long-sleeved doublets, & your trunk hose,  
It is turned to French fashion, and other fine shows,  
then is not old England grown new, grown new,  
then is not old England new.   

For now there's new fashions comes up every day,  
With costly attire and sumptuous array,  
It is Pride in the Kingdom doth bear all the sway.  
then is not, etc.   

New triking, new triming, new measures, new paces,  
For the men they have new heads, and women new faces  
And several new tricks more to hide their base cases;  
then is not, etc.   

There's new fashioned Caps, and new-fashioned Locks,  
And new fashioned heads for the old pated blocks,  
With twenty diseases, besides the french-P—  
then is not old, etc.   

In former days men loved one another,  
They always were faithful and true to each other,  
But now a man scarcely can trust his own brother,  
then is not old, etc.   

It was a brave time when men lived in fear,  
And used not themselves so much to curse and swear,  
But now damn ye and sink ye is used ev'ry where,  
then is not, etc.   

There was not so much deceit used heretofore,  
Cheating and cozening men they did abhor,  
But now plain-dealing is turned out of door.  
then is not, etc.   

Most rich men were charitable formerly,  
And showed pity to the poor in misery,  
But their hearts now are hardened with cruelty,  
then is not, etc.   

Envy and malice now reigneth too much,  
In the hearts of some persons both poor and rich,  
To see one another live many doth grudge.  
then is not, etc.   

And thus you may see how the times they do go,  
Both in town and City, and in Country to,  
I think there is none of you all but doth know,  
that old England is grown new, grown new,  
that old England is gorwn new.    
FINIS.   

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke.