THE OVERTHREW OF the Gout/ Written in Latin verse, by Doctor Christopher Balista.  
IMPRINTED AT London by Abraham Veal dwelling in Paul's Church yard at the sign of the Lamb. 1577.   

TO THE RIGHT Worshipful, his very good Friend M. RICHARD masters Doctor in Physic, and Servant to her excellent Majesty.  
SIR, I SAND you here a short treatise of the Gout, written by one Balista a Frenchman, and dedicated to a great Physician in France.  
It came by Fortune (being as I think not any where else to be had) into my hands, which for the benefit of diverse my friends troubled with that disease, and partly for mine own recreation, that was something delighted with the writer (in as good manner as I could) I Englished. The verse in Latin is not very eloquent, and therefore no marvel though the translation be rude and unpleasant.  
But sure his Method and order is not in mine opinion to be disallowed, but rather much to be commended. I have noted him in such places as I thought convenient, and would have farther augmented him but that I thought it not good to be to curious in an other man's work.  
Such as it is: I sand it you and commit it to your good allowance and protection.  
Your very loving friend. B. G.   

❧ The Overthrow of the GOUT.  

AGainst the Gout with all her force  
my mind desires to go:  
And with a valiant hand to fling,  
my darts at this my foe.  
Long time this beast hath now presumed,  
her wicked force to bend:  
Against that good old man that doth,  
the Sedun flock defend,  
Diseased sore he lies and able,  
not to stir a limb:  
So hath the wretch benomd his Joints  
and so hath plagued him.  
That still he is enforced to keep his house,  
as doth the Snaill:  
O piteous hap and great mischance,  
that each man aught to wail.  
It grieves me to the heart to see,  
the torments that he bears:  
Her cruelty Constraineth me,  
to stain my cheeks with tears  
My sorrows doth command the doubtful hap  
of Mars to try:  
Why stand I still? I will assail,  
the monster presently.  
Draw near O sweet Redeemer of,  
the World before undone:  
Of that most glorious majesty,  
the true and only son.  
Vouchsafe to give thy spéeding darts,  
in this my quarrel just:  
And cause that I with them may throw  
this monster in the dust.  
And thou O noble Philip, by all  
the Gods above that be:  
I thee require to show thyself,  
a man in each degree.  
Hope well for hope availeth much,  
In driving grief away:  
I doubt no whit, but shortly thou  
shalt see a fairer day.  
Moore happeneth in an hour sometime,  
then in a thousand year:  
And many great commodities,  
in smallest time appear.  
I trust to drive the Gout unto  
the loathsome pit of hell:  
And that thou shalt good Philip have  
thy feet again full well.  
Do you no more but bear in mind,  
the words that I shall say:  
And these my lessons that I give,  
do carry well away.  
The subtle shackles that this Beast,  
doth bind the feet withal:  
Podagran all the learned of Gréece,  
have ever used to call.  
Hence sprang at first the hateful name,  
of this so painful grief:  
That suddenly the feet unwares,  
assaileth like a thief.  
At first it rageth in the joints,  
and then assaults the toes:  
And strait from thence with hasty course  
unto the héel it goes.  
And sometimes to the buckle bones,  
where as it swells and shows:  
With pain while as abundance great,  
of humours thither flows.  
Sometime the Cod beside, that both  
the stones encloseth round:  
Doth swell withal and hanging low,  
it oftentimes is found.  
The causer of this great disease,  
not evermore is one:  
Often times the parents are the cause  
it falls the Child upon.  
When as the séed but feeble is,  
whereof the fruit is wrought:  
For since the root such weakness hath,  
the plant must needs he naught.  
Besides to vehement exercise,  
the Gout doth often breed:  
Of service long in Venus' court,  
it likewise doth proceed.  
The very frame of all the limbs,  
is shaken with this game:  
Each Sinow eke enfeebled is  
by using of the same.  
And Bacchus thou that wunted art,  
the spirits to revive:  
Dost use to hurt the feet of such,  
as in thy service strive.  
Of Martial acts in stately style,  
did Ennius always writ:  
And in his cups did blaze the deeds,  
of many a worthy knight.  
Yet of the Gout at last he died,  
nor could his verses save:  
(With all the sweetness that they had)  
their master from the grave.  
Great hurt beside unto the joints,  
doth evermore arise:  
Of cold, excessive Idleness,  
and to much exercise.  
The heart with fury once inflamed,  
doth kindle presently:  
And fireth all the humours strait,  
that in the body lie.  
Whereby unbridled all, they roam  
and range in every place:  
And paining all the Senous sore,  
they vex in piteous case.  
Often times of thick and clammy phlegm,  
this vile disease doth breed:  
Sometime again, of both the sorts  
of Choler doth proceed.  
And too much blood while as it doth,  
the tender joints oppress:  
Is many times the only cause,  
of this unquietness.  
Most grieved with this disease are men.  
the women not so much:  
The cause is plain and evident,  
who listeth it to touch.  
One reason is because that heat,  
in man doth more exceed:  
Which causeth that the humours pierce,  
the sinews more with speed.  
Most subject to the gout are those,  
that greatest age have seen:  
And such as with some sickness great,  
have long tormented been.  
And cares of mind and sorrows great,  
do breed this grievous sore:  
And want of wunted exercise,  
as hath been said before.  
Let this suffice to show the spring,  
of such a ●●●lish spirit:  
Now time it is my weapons for,  
to show and fall to fight.  
And first I will begin with herb,  
with Juice and metals bright:  
And then of stones that serve the turn,  
I crave the aid and might.  
Then Beasts and Birds I set in rank,  
and 'cause them to restore:  
The weak and wearish limbs of those  
that lamed were before.  
And last of all my Tables do  
I spread with meat and Wine:  
And there the perfect diat for  
this sickness do assign.  
¶ First Toutsane unto thee I give, 
Not our common Toutsane but Dioscorides his Panacaea reed Mathiolus.   
the chiefest place before:  
That dost derive thy worthy name,  
of bealing every sore.  
Thou beaten small and mingled well  
with reasons good and sweet:  
In plaster made applied well,  
dost heal the feeble feet.  
An herb there is that in the Sun, 
Marry golds.   
doth woundrously delight:  
And after him doth evermore,  
direct her course aright.  
That when be once begins to rise,  
doth spread and open wide:  
And mourning hangeth down her head,  
when Westwards he doth slide.  
This meddled well with suet of  
a Goat, doth drive away.  
The Gout, the like doth Balm stamped  
if to the feet you lay.  
And Ueruen sod in water doth  
the feet from sickness save:  
Which herb the noble Romans wont  
in great account to have.  
The altar fair of jupiter,  
with this they used to swéep:  
And therewith every corner of  
their houses sprinkled deep.  
Beside the Herald when he gave,  
defiance to his foe:  
Commanded was with Garland all  
of Ueruen clad to go.  
Coleworts in this disease are good,  
being sodden specially:  
The broth whereof refuse not thou,  
to drink for remedy.  
Put Coliander to the Coal,  
and Salt and rue beside:  
And flower fine of Barley that,  
by grinding small is tried,  
A Pultise made of these, if to  
the aching joints ye lay:  
It greatly doth the pains assuage,  
and drives the Gout away.  
And if the Gout be such as in  
his rage it doth not swell:  
The Radish root will help, if that  
in Wine you seeth it well.  
The noble Radish that our father's  
old, did greatly love:  
And did indeed the same esteem,  
all other meats above.  
At Delphus was it then decreed,  
it should be graved in Gold:  
The Be't in silver to be framed,  
the Raape in leaden mould.  
This to the Gout is to be laid,  
the juice of woodbine thick:  
And mingle there withal the meal  
or Flower of Fenugrick.  
And Nettel roots well bruised in  
the strongest Uinager:  
The leaves beside being pouned with 
The leaf & the seed with Beres Grease.   
the tallow of a Bear.  
And stinking Assa faetida,  
in sponges well applied:  
Will like wise help the grievous Gout,  
and Fever sore beside.  
If thereunto you put the War,  
that is from Cypress brought:  
And see that with the suet of  
a Goat it well be wrought.  
Plantain being pouned well with salt,  
and Lens with 
* Pap made with Barley  Polent good:  
The water Betany, besides  
Hemp roots, and Sothernwood.  
The Juice of Henbane mixed with meal,  
that from the Mil doth fly:  
And war, with Gum Armoniac  
in equal quantity.  
And boiled well in Uinagre.  
the branch of Poplar small:  
With Herb that bears his name of Age,  
that Grounsil we do call.  
To this it needful is to put,  
the grease of fatted Boar:  
And mingle wax with Willow leaves,  
that well have sod before.  
An Herb there is that in the Sea, 
Phicus marina Sea weed.   
doth always wind about:  
Which (if it be not over dry)  
will heal the painful Gout.  
Who would believe that heaps of Corn,  
should drive the Gout away,  
And bring the feeble foot his force,  
to stand without a stay?  
As Sextus searching of the Barns, 
Sextus Pompeius   
was taken with the Gout:  
He laid him down in heaps of Wheat,  
that closed him round about.  
When suddenly he felt himself,  
aswell as any man:  
And rising up with joyful heart,  
to walk about began.  
For all the humour out was drawn,  
and dried by this relief:  
That was the head, the fountain and  
the cavie of all this grief.  
For such a force is in the Wheat,  
as that it hath been seen:  
The vessels full in shortest time  
to draw and dry up clens  
To Elder leaves. the Suet of  
a Goat put orderly:  
This laid unto the feet will be  
a present remedy.  
Forget not that same herb beside  
that green doth always grow: 
Houseleek or Singre.   
It healeth those same angry Goutsses,  
that read and fiery show.  
The Gourd that groweth wild his rind,  
is thought to do the same:  
Which also helps the head that doth  
with fiery humours flame.  
The like being sod in Uinagre 
The wild Cocumber.   
the Cocumber will do:  
So will the Coal, the surging Seas  
that groweth near unto. 
Sea Colwort it groweth under the clifts besides Seaforde in Sussex   
And Purslain pounded well with Salt,  
doth heal this painful rage:  
And likewise doth the fiery heat  
of shingles soon assawge.  
'tis very strange that rust of Iron,  
will heal the grievous Gout:  
The wound beside with Lancel made,  
will let the poison out.  
When Telephus with staff of fierce  
Achilles wounded was:  
And never a Surgeon there about:  
could bring the cure to pass.  
They took advisement of their Gods,  
Apollo answered thus:  
Achilles Sword (quoth he) shall save,  
the life of Telaphus.  
With joyful mind went Telephus,  
to meet his enemy:  
Who striking gave him with his wound,  
a present remedy.  
The treacle good beside, that cures  
the deadly poison strong:  
Is sovereign to be used against  
the Gout retained long.  
What should I here of Salt entreat  
Nature that all things spun:  
Created nothing needful more  
for man then Salt and sun.  
With salt we savour all our meat,  
and do preserve our food:  
Take Salt away our banquets loss,  
no Uiands seemeth good.  
Salt maketh strong and lusty Joints,  
example good may be: 
A Bag of Salt beaten small wet in boiling wine and laid to the feet. Or salt very fine beaten with Oil of Camomile made in an Ointment.   
The tough and sturdy limbs of horn,  
in Fishers that we see.  
Salt with his fretting force, doth enter,  
pierce and thorough spring:  
Dissolveth, eateth, burneth up  
and fineth every thing.  
With Honey, Oil, and meal being mixed  
and beaten as it aught:  
It maketh good the feet again,  
that feeble were and naught.  
And if you list my poor advise,  
in this disease to take:  
Go get you to the Sea and bathe,  
your feet when they do ache.  
'tis good in Brimstone baths sometime  
to wash yourself beside:  
Which will refresh your crazed limbs,  
and stop a stormy tide.  
Take water with Salt peter mixed  
and Brimstone, let them boil:  
And wash your legs, or if you list,  
with lees of sodden Oil.  
And now for stones, let three suffice,  
the Jet as one of those:  
From whence a stinking sulphur asre,  
ascendeth to the nose.  
The smell whereof do Serpents shun,  
wherewith what soever you writ:  
In brittle vessel made of Earth,  
will never out of sight.  
Lay this unto your Gout, the stone  
that Iron up doth take:  
Doth tame this mad unruly beast,  
and quickly out doth shake.  
Beaten small a Medstone, mix it with  
the Milk of such a wight:  
As at her first delivery brings  
a pretty Boy to light.  
This will assuage the Gout, if that  
you lay it thereunto:  
And bring the sinews to their force,  
to do as they should do.  
You worthy creatures that have life,  
with haste yourselves address,  
And let me have your helping hands,  
in this my business.  
The bones of man to ashes burnt,  
and made in powder sine:  
Being drunk, is not of little force,  
against this foe of mine.  
And woman's milk, if that you join  
the Humlock therewithal:  
Applied to the feet doth heal,  
the raging torments all.  
Put Goosegrece hereunto and add  
green Isop to the same:  
Or Opium wherewithal you may,  
a perfect medicine frame. 
Opium the Juice or Gum of black poppy.   
With grece of swine, join woman's hear  
and this shall do you good:  
Being laid unto the aching feet,  
that rage with angry mood.  
Refuse not thou to bathe thy feet,  
with Urinal of a man:  
Provided that the party be,  
as healthy as ye can.  
The right foot of an Eagle, to  
your right foot look you lay:  
And to your left leg lay the left,  
to drive the gout away.  
Sometime again with Horseleeches,  
beset your feet about:  
That Blood suckers are termed of  
the rude and common rout.  
These never will forsake the legs,  
whereto they cleave and pull:  
(So great desire they have to blood)  
till all their skin be full.  
But all the vilest humours that,  
they in those parts do find:  
Which were the causers of this grief,  
they drink with greedy mind.  
And when they once have fiid themselves,  
as full as they may be:  
They leave the place and fall away,  
as beasts that drunken be.  
But if they chance to cleave to fast,  
and will not leave their hold,  
Then sprinkle beaten Salt thereon  
burnt wool or ashes cold.  
It wholesome is beside to open in  
thy feet some bleeding vain:  
Whereby the humour passeth out,  
that breedeth all thy pain.  
An aged Cock well stewed in broth,  
being drunk doth pleasure great:  
In filling all the joints and limbs  
with sweet and pleasant heat.  
The milk of Asses drunk doth heal,  
the gout with raging mood:  
So doth the flesh thereof if that,  
you uss it for your food.  
The Owl that hath a body fat,  
you seeth in water stall:  
And often eat the tender flesh  
and drink the broth withal.  
The Grece of Swine, with Ashes mixed  
of dung that Gates do make:  
Is very sovereign, if therewith 
goat's dung mingled with Barley flower and Uinagre, a good Pultis. So is the root of marsh mallows mingled with Duck's grease, for old swelling gouts   
you anoint the feet that ache.  
O worthy Grease of Swine that dost,  
deserve so great a praise:  
What good unto the joints of man,  
thou bringest sundry ways.  
When as the limbs and members all,  
with cold congealed be:  
Their natural heat again, and warmth  
they strait receive from thee.  
Thou supplest stiffened parts and such  
as weak and feebled be:  
Restorste to health and sores dost heal  
that loathsome are to see.  
Thou drivest the Gout from hand and foot,  
what should I utter more?  
In few words will I speak at once,  
thou healest every sore.  
Such force to thee the healthful roots,  
of noble herbs do give:  
Wherewith the wandering herds of Swine  
in pleasant pastures live.  
The Romans, that by valour all  
the world did once subdue:  
Had thee in honour great for this,  
thy virtues that they knew.  
With thee the gladsome Bride, when as  
the house she enter should  
Of her new married mate, the posts  
and thresholds cover would.  
Here of the wife first took her name,  
because in times before:  
The charge to her committed was  
of anointing of the door.  
For they supposed this Grease would put  
all troubles unto night:  
And that for ever after, no  
misfortune enter might.  
But to my Gout again, The Dung  
of Kites and ashes fine:  
Of Snails and Wesel burned both  
will heal this Gout of thine.  
Let Legs that thus diseased be,  
be bathed with Wesels blood:  
The Suet like wise of a Calf,  
for this is very good:  
To this may also added be,  
the flesh of fearful Dear:  
And there withal the Broth wherein, 
A For flayed cut in small Gobbets distilled with Oil of Camomile, Oil of Rew, oil of worms, of each 〈◊〉. ounces, a quantity of Aqua vite. A good water to 'noint the joints.   
the Hare hath boiled clear.  
With case of crafty Fox let all  
thy foot well wrapped be:  
And for to 'noint them with the Grease,  
of Reynard helpeth thee.  
And good it is in skins of D●gs,  
to keep and wrap them well:  
And with the grease of them to 'noint,  
the painful feet that swell.  
Moreover take a Crow and quick  
put him in Horsedung deep:  
And close him so that he may have,  
no place away to creep.  
When four days once be full expired,  
go take him from his grave:  
And burn him strait, then mingle Wax  
with the Ashes that you have.  
This laid unto the feet, doth drive  
this monster quite away:  
And makes the poor diseased man,  
to go without a stay.  
And juno's bird, the Peocock helps  
if that his dung you take:  
And plaster wise apply it to,  
the lamed limbs that ache.  
Anoint thy feet with drippings hot  
of greasy roasted Cat:  
And take the Beavers stones beside,  
and mingle well with that.  
To Ashes burn the Mullets head,  
that in the sea doth swim:  
With pleasant Honey mingle it,  
and 'noint thy crazed limb.  
Go take the crauking Frog, and with  
thy knife, go quarter out  
His members all, and lay his feet  
unto the painful Gout.  
So that the right do touch the right  
and that the left do lie:  
Upon the left, so shalt thou find  
a present remedy.  
¶ But leaving now these creatures here,  
though many more there be:  
Of like effect, for who can writ  
of all in each degree?  
I will thee strait ways show how thou,  
thy table shalt prepare:  
And in what sort for thine avail,  
thou shalt appoint thy fare.  
Great Gluttony and surfeiting,  
the limbs doth quickly lanie:  
And therefore would I soberly,  
thy diet thou shouldst frame.  
First see thy bread be baked well,  
that thou at Table hast:  
And neither black nor yet to white,  
but pleasant in the taste.  
All trifles banish from thy board,  
and meal with honey made:  
As Custards, Pies and Florentines,  
and other of this trade.  
All Salt and slimy meats, and flesh  
that long doth powdered lie:  
And fish in Salt preserved, all such  
I warn thee for to fly.  
Both Garlic, Rue and Onions sour  
expel them far from thee:  
Although the fond Egyptians do:  
suppose them Gods to be.  
Abstain from Pepper, Raapes & Grapes  
that in the spring time be:  
From Apples, Pears, and such like fruit  
as winter giveth thee.  
Nor suffer thou the deadly Beans  
to come upon thy board:  
Which once the wise Pythagoras  
condemned by his word.  
With this the holy Priests durst never  
deal in all their rites:  
It longeth unto Goblins and  
to black and fearful sprights.  
It doth the sense and wit of man,  
both dull and dampish make:  
And raiseth in the night such dreams,  
as makes the heart to quake.  
Both Peason, Nuts and Chestnuts gross  
despise thou in this case:  
And take thou heed that at thy board,  
no Cheese have any place.  
Let these suffice for food, the Hen  
and Chanticleer the bold:  
The Weather and the lusty Steer,  
who never yet was cold.  
The Coney, Hare, the Partridge, and  
the Egg that's roasted rear:  
And all the smallest Birds beside  
that tender limbs do bear.  
Such Fishes small I like, as in  
the running rivers fleet:  
And such as have no scales, for to  
refuse I think it meet.  
The Lamperns shun, that licking of  
the rock was wont to lie:  
And therewithal the Crab that sidling  
seeks herself to wry.  
Let not the Eel thy Table touch,  
a clamy humour still:  
Doth from this fish proceed, that all  
the joints of man doth fill.  
The Lamprey long agone was had,  
in estimation great:  
And taken for his dainty taste,  
to be a Prince's meat.  
Antonia (Drusus wife) was wont,  
the Lamprey for to feed:  
And set her out with rings of gold,  
the farther to exceed:  
A Lampry dead Hortensius did  
bewail with many a tear:  
Such was the favour of the great  
goodwill that he did bear.  
But meddle not with it whosoever  
thou art that hast the gout:  
For why, it doth increase thy pains,  
and brings thy grief about.  
In few words for to make an end,  
For who can all things touch:  
In this disease much helthsomer  
is flesh, than fish by much.  
Take for your drink the mildest wine,  
and clearest you can get:  
And mingle it with water well,  
the fume away to fet.  
What quantity you aught to drink,  
I need not here define:  
Your own discretion herein best,  
a measure may assign.  
But this I only warn you of,  
that when you leave your meat:  
You leave with some desire to drink,  
and some desire to eat.  
Then feed on Coliander seeds,  
when thus you well have fed:  
To make a merry heart and keep  
the vapours from the head.  
Give not thyself to too much sleep,  
nor watch not all the night:  
And let some distance be betwixt,  
thy sleep and supper light.  
Lie not upon the back for this  
is for the body naught:  
But very seldom use to ride,  
take never any thought.  
Sometime it shall be good awhile,  
to pass the time away:  
To hear the pleasant instrument,  
of such as well can play.  
Nothing then Music, more our grief  
and sorrows banish can:  
It glads the mind, and merry mind  
doth make a healthy man.  
Far from thee look thou ever have▪  
all grim and solemn Syers.  
All louring lumpish looks that loath,  
bequeath them to the Friars.  
Make choice of such companions, as  
be wise and sweet withal:  
Whose talk delightful is to hear,  
and void of any gall.  
Whose gravity is powdered with,  
an honest pleasant mind:  
Not tedious to the hearer, nor  
vain waster of his wind.  
Take such into thy company,  
eschew the fleering mate:  
The flatterer, and such as where  
they come do so we debate.  
Use alwaes wholesome exercise,  
thy feet to walk assay:  
This exercise consumes and wastes  
the humours ill away.  
For long and slothful Idleness,  
decays the members all:  
And doth disgrace the body quite,  
And causeth it to fall.  
And like as Iron rusteth strait,  
with loathsome Canker vile:  
If that you suffer it to rest  
and use it not a while.  
So are our bodies strait defiled,  
and unto mischief fall:  
If that we let them idle be,  
and work them not at all.  
Beside a piteous sight it is,  
a lamentabie case:  
In see the King of Creatures all  
lie lame and not have grace.  
Nor will to exercise himself,  
but Idle still to be:  
And through his own great fault & blame,  
to want his liberty.  
By little and little try thy strength,  
with certain rule and rate:  
Which force with labour will increase,  
so it be moderate.  
Avoid the air that flameth still,  
with overscorching heat:  
And that which overcolde the members all  
doth il entreat.  
If these my rules you do observe  
I trust you soon shall see:  
This cruel raging Gout, as she  
deserves destroyed to be.  
Enough now have we tried the field,  
the Trumpet bids retire:  
Here stands the bounds of mine exploit  
and end of my desire.  
❧ Soli Deo honour et Gloria.   
FINIS.   

A Dialogue betwixt the Gout and Cri. Balista.  Gout. 
ALas poor wretch alas, which way  
now shall I turn my sight:  
while as so great a storm of darts  
do full upon me light?  
O hapless wretch whom Iews aspects,  
of hateful stars have torn:  
Accursed be the loathsome day:  
that ever I was borne.  
All pierced with darts I am and know  
not how myself to save:  
My joints are all benumbed so,  
and never a foot I have:  
What favour more hath nature showed,  
to beasts then unto me:  
That hath ordained them a mean  
to keep their liberty?  
Often times the Stag doth laugh to scorn  
the Hunter and his Hound:  
The Boar doth laugh and every beast,  
that in the woods are found.  
And why? for trusting to their feet  
they scape the dangers all:  
Good feet doth many times prevent,  
great mischiefs that would fall.  
But I alas more slowly move,  
than any Tortoise great:  
And lame and feeble as Ilye,  
the darts upon me beaten.  
What now remains? but that to hell  
pale death me down doth cast:  
And make an end of this my life,  
that may no longer last.  
Alas and shall I die?  B. 
Thou shalt.  G. 
Whone do I hear?  B. 
Me.  G. 
Whom?  B. 
Thy greatest fo.  G. 
What is thy name?  
what Region camest thou from?  B. 
My name Balista is.  G. 
Why dost  
thou shoot thy shaftꝭ at me?  B. 
To make thee die.  G. 
I not deserve  
so great extremity.  B. 
A thousand Gallows thou dost,  
a thousand Fires with all:  
A thusand racks, a thousand wheels,  
and after death doth fall.  
A thousand Helles thou dost deserve,  
I have not long to tell:  
The sundry sorts of torments that  
thou hast deserved well.  G. 
Tell me the cause.  B. 
The cause is this  
that men of worthy fame:  
Thou with thy mischievous disease,  
hast plagued and stricken lame.  G. 
Whom have I plagued?  B. 
Whone? it were  
to much for me to tell:  
Alas I am not able for  
to stay from weeping well.  
Besides a number that thou wretched  
beast, baste lamed quite:  
While in tormenting of their joints,  
thou shewds thy cruel spite.  
The good Sedunian Bishop thou  
hast caused down to fall:  
And overcome, dost keep him yet  
in prison, as thy thrall.  
Whose worthy life doth glister like,  
the Sun with blazing beams:  
Him hast thou in thy shackles shut,  
and tied up in thy teams.  
And therefore die thou shalt.  G. 
For pity yet  
show favour unto me:  B. 
That can I not.  G. 
Thou art no steel,  B. 
I will be unto thee.  G. 
O spare me yet I thee beseech,  
thy Philip shall be free:  
And well shall have his health again,  
and walk at liberty.  B. 
I more demannd.  G. 
What's that?  B. 
That thou  
foul beast, do never touch:  
The limbs of any virtuous man,  
nor trouble any such.  G. 
To this I grant.  B. 
I warn thee look,  
thou keep thy promise well:  
Thy members else asunder will,  
I tear and sand to hell.  G. 
Whom will thou licence me, with  
shackles sharp to take and bind?  B. 
For that these words that I shall say  
to thee lay up in mind.  
First set thy shackles upon such,  
as always fight and brawl:  
And murder on an other still,  
for every trifle small.  
Whose feet are ever forward, for  
to roam unto the sword:  
Contrary to the sweet decree,  
of Christ our saviours word.  G. 
But may I be so bold to touch,  
the feet of mighty Kings?  B. 
Yea hardly for thence the roof,  
of all this mischief springs.  
what Region can you find where Mars,  
his Banner hath not spread?  
What Country now that is not with  
the blood of Christians read?  
For what so ever the ambitious minds,  
of Princes forth doth bring:  
Lisander we poor souls that feel the smart,  
'tis we that only wring.  
Go fetter thou their feet with bolts,  
that never will away:  
Except they cease their madness soon,  
and from their follies stay.  G. 
And whom beside shall I attempt?  B. 
The burston bellied lout:  
To him that scarce for fat can bear,  
his loathsome guts about.  G. 
I never meddle with the paunch,  B. 
The paunches such I call:  
As feed themselves until they be,  
as fat as Ox in stall.  
And neither feed with word nor life,  
the sheep they aught to serve:  
But slothful beasts do leave their flock  
for hunger like to starve.  G. 
And shall I touch no more but these?  B. 
Yes, such as use to swear:  
Whorehunters, thieves and surfetters,  
their joints in sunder tear.  
And for avoiding many words,  
I thus conclude with thee:  
For bear the virtuous and the good,  
plague those that wicked be.  
FINIS.