"A pleasant new ballad of Tobias wherin is shewed: the wonderfull things which chanced to him in his youth; and how he wedded a young damsell that had had seven husbands and never enjoyed their company: who were all slaine by a wicked spirit." Printed at London : for F. Coules dwelling in the Old-Baily, [ca. 1640]
Ballads are a variety of cheap print that feature gossip, scandalous 'newes' (often of criminals executed) and proverbs set out in object lessons, usually about the conduct of wives, husbands and widows. Merrythought constantly sings snatches from popular songs of this type.
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