HUNNIES' RECREATIONS: Containing four go●… lie and compendio●… 〈◊〉 courses, 〈◊〉 

Adam's Banishment.  
Christ his ●…r●…b.  
The lost Sheep.  
The complaint of old Age.   Whereunto is newly adjoined these two notable and pith●… Treatises: 

The Creation or first Week.  
The life and death of joseph.    
Compiled by William Hunnis, one of the Gentlemen of her majesties chapel, and master to the children of the same.  
Printed by P. S. for W. jaggard, and are to be sold at his shop at the east end of S. Dunston's church. 1595.   

The Muse to her Author.  

W WHy fearest thou this gift to give,  
though gift of gifts be small?  
I If love and zeal thy gift surmount,  
No cause of fear at all.  
〈◊〉 Let love with gift the trial make,  
and so it shall appear,  
I If troth be foreman of the quest,  
wi●… 〈◊〉 i●… passeth clear.  
A And w●…y to whom the gift is given,  
such one as love doth hold,  
M More dear than gem of richest pric●…  
or wall of beaten gold.   

H humble thyself in awful sort,  
and doubtless thou shalt find:  
V Unto thy choice a patron such  
to thy desired mind.  
N Now far thou well be of good cheer  
blush not, ne be afraid,  
N Nor care for frown of frumping so●…  
remember what is said.  
I It may so fall (yer it be long)  
I will be here with speed:  
S Such thing to bring as best shall fit,  
thine humour for to feed.    

●…o the right Honourable sir Thomas Heneage knight, one of ●…ir Majesties privy counsel, Vizechamberlen to her Highness, and treasurer of her majesties chamber, prosperous health, long life, with much increase of honour.  

Where spring is small, great streams may not be ●…ail,  
Yes as it is, do make the owner glad,  
I one me compels, a cup thereof to bring,  
If honour please, to taste of this poor spring.  
And dip your ●…p, a little in the s●…ne,  
My joy were great, though boldness ●…ris blame.   

Hear I present unto your honours view,  
●…timely fruit, as in my orchard grew,  
No better choice therein that I could find,  
Nor other thing that fitted to my mind,  
〈◊〉 better year some better fruit may gr●…w,  
●…uch as shall be are yours, myself also.    

  

The Creation of the World.  

How Heaven and earth the light and sky  
The Sun, the Moon, and stars so high:  
How beasts and fowls, how Fish & Man  
Created was of God, and when.   


The work of the first day.  
Hen God which no beginning had,  
the heaven & earth 'gan frame, 
The spiri●… God mo●… on the wa●…   
●…d void and empty it beheld,  
●…ith darkness on the same.  
●…nd on the waters which he made, 
God sa●●● the light 〈◊〉 go●… did c●… the light da●… and the d●… night. The light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 befor●… the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moon wa●… created.   
●…at then aloft did stand,  
●…d overwhelmed the earth so far,  
●…s yet appeared no land: (forth  
●…en at his word there light came▪  
●…iuided from the shade:  
●…d so the Evening and the morn▪  
●…y him one da●… was made.    


The work of the second day.  
THe firmament he framed and fi●… 
The water in the clouds▪ 〈◊〉 be waters of the sea & rivers. 〈◊〉 That is, the region of the ●…yre and all ●…hat is about us. 〈◊〉 God calleth ●…he dry land ●…he earth, & ●…he gathering ●…ogether of ●…aters, called 〈◊〉 the sea●…. The earth 〈◊〉 b●…d. 〈◊〉 of God ●●ght forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…nd herb: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forth ●…heir fruit 〈◊〉 in their ●…nd, before▪ 〈◊〉 mo●…n 〈◊〉 stars 〈◊〉 created.   
between the waters so,  
As part above * the same did rest,  
the other part * below.  
And gave a name thereto, and said  
it heaven * shall called be:  
The evening and the morning ek●…  
the second day you see.    


The work of the third day.  
THe third day at his holy hest,  
the waters underneath  
Compelled were together go,  
in one place of the earth.  
And then the land appeared dry,  
which * Earth was called tho,  
And bade it should bring forth gr●…  
engendering seed to grow. (* h●…  
And fruitful trees of sundry sor●…  
that seed might still retain,  
And bring forth fruit each after ki●…  
that on the earth remain.  
Thus every thing came so to pass,  
as God before did say: (fruit,  
The earth brought herb & tree with  
that still engender may.    


The work of the fourth day.  
ANd that there should a di●…'rēce be,  
between the days and nights,  
God bade that in the firmament,  
there should be placed * lights. 
These ligh●… were the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉   
which should remain from tim to time  
appointed signs to be,  
●…s day from day, and year from year  
in order as we see:  
The sun he made the day to rule,  
the moon the night to guide,  
●…nd shining stars in heaven he set,  
whose light doth aye abide.    


The work of the 
〈◊〉 Both fis●… and foul 〈◊〉 begin●… wherein 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…fly, the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  fift day.  
THis mighty maker than 'gan say,  
let waters now forth bri●…  
●…ch * creatures as with life may 〈◊〉  
and fowl to fly with wing.  
Upon the earth and in the face  
of heaven or starry sky,  
Straight way both fish & foul was mad●…  
in kind ●…o multiply. 
●…hat is, God ●…ue them po ●…er to increase. ●…n. 8, 12.   
God* blessed both & bade them gr●…  
the fish the sea to fill:  
And feathered foul upon the earth,  
their kind increasing still.    


The work of the sixth Day.  
Now let the earth bring forth said Go●…  
each living thing by kind:  
As cattle, beasts, & worm that creep●…  
his power the same assigned.  
Thus when God saw his handy wo●…  
was good and pleased him well:  
Let us make man like us, said he,  
the rest of all t'xcell:  
To have the rule of fish and soul  
of cattle and the earth:  
And every creeping thing on groū●… 
The cre●…tion Adam, in field of ●…asco, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 same he was ●…ught into ●…se sinned,   
that lives and draweth breath.  
And in the image of himself,  
did* God create 〈◊〉 ●…han,  
Both male and female formed he th●…  
but first he made the man.  
And* blessed them the earth to fill, 
and the same day after midday he was thrust out●…. Method usb The propagation of ma●… is the blessing of God. Gen. 8. 20. 9 God's great liberality to man taketh a●… way all excuses of man's ingratitude.   
their sex still to renew:  
●…nd gave them power upon the earth  
the same for to subdue.  
〈◊〉 And said, behold I have you* given  
of every herb to eat,  
●…nd every tree wherein is fruit,  
likewise to be your meat.  
〈◊〉 Also to every beast on earth,  
and every bird that flies: (have  
●…nd creeping worm green herb shall  
to feed upon likewise.  
〈◊〉 All what he said so came to pass,  
and he the same did see;  
●…ch kind of thing that he had made,  
was good so for to be▪    


The hallowing of the sabbath day,  
The four floods of Paradise gay:  
How in the same man had his seat.  
The tree forbidden him to eat,  
How Adam named Creatures all,  
How Eve was made that first did fall:  
And how that marriage did begin,  
Between them twa●…ne yer they did sin.   

THus was the heavens, the earth, the se●…  
and creatures all therein 
That is the 〈◊〉, the moon ●…he stars, & ●…nets. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Go●… est show 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 troth 〈◊〉 the sin Ad●… the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…as the fulfil 〈◊〉 and per●…tion of all 〈◊〉 wor●…●…if   
In six days made, and in the seventh  
did God our God begin,  
To* rest from all his labours done●…  
and sanctified the same:  
To be a day of rest to man,  
therein to praise his name.  
God made 〈◊〉 plant in field the gro●…  
before 〈◊〉 it was,  
And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before it grew,  
〈◊〉 ●…uery other grass.  
And ●…s before that any rain  
upon the earth was found,  
Or any man to have in use  
the tillage of the ground.  
A mighty mist 〈◊〉 up,  
from off the ea●… 〈◊〉  
Bewatered the 〈◊〉  
the earth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
The man that of the earth was made 
God had 〈◊〉 ended his work in mercy the 7. day & abated h●… hard judgement against mankind for Adam's sin, his work ha●… not been complete ne per●… insomuch as the princip●… creature for whom he mad●… all things w●… lost: for whe●… the final ca●… of any thin●… faileth, the work is not complete 〈◊〉 perf●…t.   
a living soul became,  
By breath of life that God did breath,  
in nostrils of the man.  
And from the first god planted had,  
a garden fair to see:  
Wherein he set this man he made,  
the keeper for to be.  
And from the earth god made to spring  
all fruitful trees so placed,  
As both might well the eye delight,  
and please the mouth in taste.  
Two trees amid this garden grew,  
by power of sacred skill:  
The one of life, the other was  
of knowledge good & ill.  
From Eden went a river forth,  
to moist this garden than:  
Which afterward divided was,  
and in four heads became.  
And Pishon is the first of four,  
which round about doth go,  
The golden land of Havilah,  
where th' Onyx stone doth grow.  
The second head is Gi●…on called,  
which compasseth throughout.  
The land of Ethyopia,  
with water round about.  
The third is named Hidekell,  
that passeth down along  
The east side of Assyria,  
with mighty stream and strong.  
And Euphrates the fourth is called,  
which fruitfulness doth show,  
And in the same doth many gems,  
and precious stones forth grow.  
Almighty God this Adam took  
and in this garden set:  
The same to dress, the same to keep  
and of the fruit to eat.  
Of every tree that therein was,  
God bade him eat his fill,  
Except the tree that's in the midst,  
of knowledge good and ill.  
God said, the day thou eatest thereof  
thou for the same shalt die:  
Therefore see that thou touch it not  
the taste thereof to try.  
It is not good (said God) that ma●…  
should be alone I see:  
I will an helper make to him,  
companion his to be.  
Out of the ground did god then mak●…  
each beast upon the earth,  
And every foul in th'air that flies  
and all that draweth breath.  
And God did bring all beasts and fowls,  
to view of Adam's eye,  
●…hich was to see what kind of name  
he then would call them by.  
And Adam called every beast,  
and every soul by name,  
●…s we do use at this same day  
to nominate the same.  
In slumber than was Adam cast,  
and God a rib did take  
●…om forth his side, & of the same  
a woman did he make:  
●…nd filled the place with flesh again  
and when he did awake:  
This is said he, bone of my bones,  
and flesh of mine I see:  
●…rago, shall she called be,  
as taken out of me:  
And for this cause shall every one  
his parents dear forsake,  
●…nd cleave unto his wife alone,  
and both one flesh shall make.    
FINIS.   

Adam's banishment.  The person of God. 

IAm, and will be, as I was,  
before the world was wrought:  
I made the heavens, the earth &  
●…and all therein of nought. (sea,  
●…nely for thy use (O man)  
these mighty works did frame,  
●…d made thee Lord, and governor,  
●…and ruler of the same.  
●…ae't thee here in Paradise,  
●…and gave thee will to choose,  
●…ether my word thou wouldst obey  
●…or else the same refuse.  
●…t thou unkind, and most unkind,  
through infidelity,  
●…dst taste the fruit I thee forbade,  
of good, and evil to be.  
●…d yet by death I threatened thee,  
that thou therefore shouldst die,  
●…hou presumdst the fruit to eat,  
that I did thee deny.  
●…ere didst thou show thy unbelief,  
●…nd thoughtst my words untrue:  
And thereupon did pride arise,  
and foul ambition grew.  
Ingrateful waist thou found thee●…  
for that thou covetdst more  
than I thee gave: yet for the sam●…  
not thankful waist therefore.  
Dost thou the son of slime and eart●…  
think it a thing but small,  
To make thee like unto ourself?  
but wouldst thou therewithal,  
Be like to us in Deity,  
to know what we do know?  
This moved our wrath from heaven  
our angels down to throw. (bo●…   The person of Adam. 

O Lord give earth and ashes le●…  
with fear to speak to thee:  
Thou knewst before that I should 〈◊〉  
yer time was known to be.  
And yer the angels kind were mad●…  
thou knewst the fall of man:  
And of all things didst see the end,  
yet thou the same began.  
Thou mightst the same prevented ha●…  
if so had been thy will:  
And I in great felicity,  
might have continued still.   God. 

●…as my foreknowledge then the cause  
of this thy wilful fall?  
●…r darest thou yet so proudly think,  
as me the causer call?  
●…hou art thyself both fault & cause.  
and thou the same shalt find,  
●…o be thy disobedience,  
and proud aspiring mind.  
●…hou hadst my law for to observe,  
which law if thou hadst kept:  
●…here had been no transgression made  
nor sin in thee had crept.  
●…ost true it is, I see the end  
of every thing I make,  
before it was: as proof there is,  
when I did undertake,  
●…o fashion thee, and creatures all,  
in heaven and earth that be,  
●…ho than could tell, but I alone,  
and other twain with me?  
●…nd where thou sayst, I might thy fall,  
have helped to the best:  
might not with my justice stand,  
nor with my glory rest.  
●…or I am truth, and truth I speak,  
and truth shall witness be.  
That thou shalt die for eating fruit,  
of the forbidden tree.  
What canst thou say now for thyself  
thou should not judgement have  
And die the death for thine offence,  
as I thee warning gave?   Adam. 

O Lord my God, I sorry was,  
when I my fault did see:  
And was surprised with shame & fe●…  
for so offending thee.  
I hide myself among the trees,  
ne durst I be so bold,  
Before thy presence to appear,  
nor yet myself behold.  
Such shame and fear had compassed 〈◊〉  
about on every side:  
I knew not where myself bestow,  
nor where myself to hide.  
If sorrow mine, if shame and fear,  
may not thy favour win:  
Alas, what else to think or speak,  
I know not to begin.   God. 

Such sorrow, fear, & shame as thi●…  
but aggravates mine ire:  
●…ou shouldst have feared before the seltst  
the fruit thou didst desire.  
●…nd yet before thou didst it touch,  
thou hadst committed sin:  
●…cause thou covetdst in thyself,  
more higher to have been.  
●…nce in thy will and choice it lay,  
to leave or else to take,  
●…nd the hast ta'en thou shouldst have left,  
I must for justice sake,  
●…ue sentence on thy sinful deed,  
as I before have said.  
●…st thou ought else more for to say,  
why judgement should be stayed?   ADAM. 

O Lord my God, what shall the pot  
unto the potter say?  
●…ou hast me made of filth and slime,  
of brittle earth and clay.  
●…d as the potter turns his wheel,  
with lump of clay in hand,  
●…ereof to shape a vessel pure,  
before his eye to stand:  
th'end that vessel should be used,  
with juice of grapes the best,  
〈◊〉 thence to drink, such thirst to 〈◊〉,  
as bideth in the breast.  
So Lord, if that abused be,  
and filth therein remain,  
Yet can the potter when he please  
the same make clean again:  
And being clean may be imploy●…  
unto the potter's will,  
To eat or drink in, as shall please  
the cunning potter's skill.  
Yet with all meekness I confess,  
with no less fear I speak,  
If pot the potter he mislike,  
may soon in pieces break.  
But if it would the potter please,  
to prove his power withal,  
And see how weak the vessel is,  
the conquest were but small.   God. 

THe greatest conquest I do ma●…  
my truth is to maintain,  
I am the truth, and only truth,  
for ever to remain.  
The word I speak is verament,  
and may not be denied:  
As I by truth, and thou by fault,  
shalt judged be and tried.  
Adam, Adam, hold up thy hand,  
this is thy judgement day.   Adam. 

O Lord vouchsafe to licence dust,  
a little more to say.  
●…ehold how prostrate I do lie,  
before thy blessed face:  
●…ehold my fearful quivering heart,  
most humbly craving grace.  
●…ehold the sobs & grievous groans,  
my inward soul doth make:  
●…nd let not perish thou hast made,  
for thy great glories sake.  
●…f needs thou wilt thy justice show,  
by judgement to proceed,  
●…hen let the party made th'offence,  
be punished for the deed.  
〈◊〉 was not I the fruit first touched,  
nor plucked it from the tree,  
〈◊〉 was the woman thou me gav'st,  
my helper for to be.  
●…he plucked it off, and tasting it,  
she gave it me, and said,  
●…ehold how fair and sweet it is,  
to eat be not afraid,  
●…he first did eat, and after, I  
did eat thereof also.  
crave with all humility,  
thou wilt no rigour show.   God. 

And wouldst thou now thyself ex●…  
and put on her the blame:  
Whereas you both offenders be,  
and guilty of the same?  
When she a rib was in thy side,  
I gave the charge to thee,  
And bade thee eat of every fruit,  
save only of that tree.  
And now is she bone of thy bone,  
and flesh of thine also:  
Not flesh's twain but both one fl●…  
together for to go.  
So both are guilty of the crime,  
whereof thou art Accused:  
And offspring yours shall in like fo●…  
thereof not be excused.  
But woman, why didst thou this d●…  
yourselves with death to greeu●…   WOMAN. 

O Lord, the serpent me deceived,  
whose words I did believe.   God. 

The Serpent ●…ursed.  
THou subtle guileful serpent th●…  
because thou thus hast done:  
Thou art accursed above all beasts  
that in the fields do won.  
Upon thy belly thou shalt go,  
and dust shall be thy meat:  
And all the days thou hast to live,  
no other thing shalt eat.  
Twixt thee and her of enmity,  
I will the seeds forth sow:  
As that between thy seed and hers  
continual strife shall grow.  
The seed of her shall crush thy head,  
and tread in pieces small:  
And thou shalt tread upon his heel,  
but not prevail at all.   

The Woman's judgement.  
But Woman unto thee I say,  
thy judgement shall be this:  
Because thou hast enticed man,  
by sin to do amiss,  
Thy sorrows will I multiply,  
when thou conceived art:  
●…nd thou thy children shalt bring forth,  
with dolour, pain, and smart:  
●…nd underneath thy husband's power,  
shalt always subject be,  
●…nd he shall have the charge and rule,  
and government of thee.   

ADam, Adam, hold up thy hand,  
this judgement shalt thou have,  
Because thou hast transgressed the law  
that I unto thee gave:  
And bent thine ear unto thy wife,  
to hearken what she said,  
And ta'en and eaten, of the fruit,  
that I to thee denayed:  
I curse the ground even for thy sake,  
and cursed shall it be:  
In sorrow shalt thou eat thereof,  
while life is lent to thee.  
Wild thorn also and thistleweed,  
it shall bring forth and yield:  
And thou shalt feed upon the fruit  
that groweth in the field.  
With painful travel great and strong  
with sweat upon thy face,  
Thy bread shalt eat, till thou return  
to earth thy former place:  
For of the earth, and from the earth,  
thou earth dost still remain:  
And from the earth, unto the earth,  
thou earth shalt go again.   

TO think what piteous more they (ma●…  
what clamours and what cries,  
Such time as God then both drove forth  
from heavenly paradise:  
What wring hadst, what folding arms  
what tears from blubbering eyes:  
How oft they set them down to weep,  
how oft again they rise,  
How oft their heavy heads they rear,  
and faces to the skies:  
How oft each other could embrace,  
in lamentable guise,  
How oft deep sighs the heart sends forth,  
where all the sorrow lies:  
Might urge us all from them that sprang  
to wail with them likewise.  
Again to think how every beast,  
and every fowl withal,  
Which heretofore obedient were,  
and came at Adam's call,  
●…oo now from Adam's presence fly,  
as fearful of his sight,  
●…nd in the woods and deserts wild  
do take their whole delight.  
●…o think whereas he was before,  
each thing did grow by kind.  
●…hich he as then might take at will,  
to pleasure of his mind.  
●…e tree of life to be his meat,  
by death no time to fall,  
And every creature that was made,  
to solace him withal.  
How he likewise devoid of shame,  
might children there beget,  
And woman to bring forth the same,  
without all grief and let:  
Must now with painful travel sore,  
go dig and delve the earth,  
Yer it can yield him any food,  
wherewith to feed his breath:  
To think how many hundred years,  
his travel did him grieve.  
And how each day brought sorrows 〈◊〉  
the time he had to live:  
Might move with ruth a marble mind,  
itself to mollify,  
But even to think or hear of this,  
poor Adam's tragedy.    

Christ his Crib.  

WHat fury haunteth us,  
that we so much delight,  
To stand & gaze on monuments,  
of ancient former sight?  
Of pleasure what find we,  
in sumptuous buildings new:  
●…uch as our ancestors before,  
the like near saw nor knew?  
●…ehold the time is such,  
vanity beareth sway:  
●…nd fancy fond the wit doth rule,  
till both come to decay.  
●…or every private man,  
a modull takes in hand,  
●…here wit and will, and wealth do meet,  
are many platforms scanned.  
●…ome costly buildings rear,  
and pull them down again:  
●…nd othersome altar and change,  
as fancy feeds the brain.  
●…nd some foundation lays,  
and yer the work be done:  
Doth take his leave and goeth his way,  
and leaves it to his son.  
The son doth much mislike  
the work the father wrought,  
And yet his fancy can be fed,  
consumes himself to nought.  
Of other some there be,  
having of treasure store:  
Which when a work they finished have,  
yet still deviseth more.  
What pleasure now have such,  
in am of cost and pain,  
For only but to seed the eye,  
is vanity most vain.  
But if you feign would see,  
a monument indeed:  
Then go with me, and run apace,  
the better shall we speed.  
I will you show a sight,  
more worth to view and see:  
Then all the buildings on the earth,  
what ever so they be.  
And such a sight it is,  
as all the father's old:  
And ancestors before their time,  
the like did near behold.  
And all that live this day,  
and on the earth remain:  
Nor any after age that comes,  
shall see the same again.  
Behold lo here it is,  
a Cabin poor God knows:  
Beerent and torn, a rusty thing,  
unfurnished with shows,  
Of outward sight to see,  
a simple thatched cot:  
Where ●…leet & snow, and rain drives in,  
a ruined place God wots.  
And yet within the same,  
a blessed babe doth lie:  
Which yieldeth forth as infants do,  
many a tender cry.  
This babe, even at whose beck,  
the thunder makes to quake:  
The earth beneath in trembling sort,  
and lofty sky to shake.  
Even here this insant doth  
(being a mighty prince:  
And sovereign ruler of the world,  
that shall his foes convince)  
Suck milk from tender breast,  
of blessed Mary sure:  
Being his mother and a wife,  
and yet a virgin pure.  
〈◊〉 am no whit afraid,  
comparison to make:  
This homely Cabin to prefer,  
for this sweet Babies sake,  
Before the buildings great  
of stately Temples all,  
And sumptuous courts and palaces,  
of princes great and small.  
This stable doth surmount,  
the costly Temple wrought,  
With curious work by Solomon,  
which (as of right it ought)  
Must yield and base itself,  
and stoop this place unto,  
In which was borne the son of God,  
as was his will to do.  
So must that glorious court,  
of that high potentat,  
King Croesus he of Lydia,  
stand back to this estate.  
And let the Capitols  
that dedicated were,  
In old time passed with Idols theirs,  
Unto Dan jupiter.  
Which though they garnished were  
most magnificently:  
With fine and curious workmanship,  
of marble imagery:  
Now yield this stable to,  
as subjects bond and thrall,  
As no whit to compared be,  
to this in aught at all.  
Let Lady Rome strike sail,  
and under hatches go,  
With stately turrets of defence,  
her walls and gates also.  
And let her capitol,  
with glass and gold arrayed:  
And temple Olavitrium  
now shake and be afraid.  
And let her house of gold,  
bedecked with precious stone,  
Give place with all humility,  
to this poor cot alone.  
●…or now is fallen to ground,  
the Image made of gold:  
●…n likeness to king Romulus,  
which should together hold,  
And stand for evermore,  
until such time a child  
●…hould forth proceed and so be borne,  
of virgin meek and mild.  
The image made o●… brass,  
in woman's portraiture:  
●…o high, so great, and huge was,  
for ever to endure.  
Which now is likewise fallen,  
even at the artsman said:  
Yet still shall stand until a child  
proceedeth from a maid.   

ALl Hail most royal house,  
possessor of all grace:  
That was so highly dignifide,  
to be the only place  
Of such an holy birth,  
whereby thou art to see,  
More happy than the heaven itself  
by this Nativity.  
And neither may this cot  
be thought a whit the less,  
Meet to receive the Saviour  
of all our trespasses.  
For that the walls thereof,  
were broken or berent:  
Subject to wind and weather such,  
as storms and tempest sent.  
Neither for that it was  
without all furniture:  
As sheets and other-needfull things,  
as daily be in ure.  
Having but only this,  
which there by chance they found,  
Offtebble rough, and thistle hay,  
that lay upon the ground.  
And notwithstanding this,  
as you have heard before:  
Did yet receive this little babe,  
so soon as it was borne.  
For such an homely crib,  
and stable poor and thin,  
Did well become our saviour Christ,  
for to be borne therein.  
As he that to the world,  
came hither purposely:  
To give example unto us,  
of great humility.  
And to condemn dame pride,  
and thrust her under foot:  
Which is of sin and vices all,  
both branches, tree, and root  
In this poor thatched house,  
here is no rich array:  
As hangings fair of purple hue,  
nor cloth of arras ga●…e.  
In this poor silly cot,  
there is no stus●…e at all,  
No chamber great, nor parlour sruas,  
no kitchen, ne no hall.  
Within this homely cell,  
there was not to be seen,  
Of any fuel, wood or coal,  
a ●…ier for to teen.  
There is not in this cooch,  
expected for to see,  
Of delicates and junkets fine,  
nor dainty cheer to be.  
Within this cabin poor,  
ye shall not here behold,  
Great troops of men for to attend,  
in silver, silk, ne gold.  
Nor yet the childwife lie,  
in soft and stately bed:  
With quilts of silk to keep her warm,  
nor pillow for her head.  
No, no, but here doth lie,  
in manger hard and cold:  
An amiable in fant sweet,  
more sweet than may be told.  
Bewrapt and leapt in clouts,  
both poor and bare God wots,  
And swathed in such swathing clothes,  
as then there might be got.  
And though that he now borne,  
in homely sort thus lay,  
Yet was his divine majesty  
declared that same day.  
For to the Shepherds came,  
that watched their flocks by night,  
The angel of the most high God,  
shining with beams so bright,  
As made them so afraid,  
they stood in doubtful stay,  
●…till the angel of the Lord,  
●…hus wise to them could say:  
●…re not, behold, I bring  
●…o you such gladsome news,  
〈◊〉 all the world shall joy thereat,  
●…eaue off therefore to muse.  
〈◊〉 unto you this day  
〈◊〉 saviour Christ is borne:  
●…u shall him find in manger laid,  
●…he walls be rend and torn.  
●…orthwith with th'angel was  
〈◊〉 maru'lous multitude  
●…heauenly fouldiors praising God,  
●…n this sort to conclude:  
●…orie to God on high,  
●…nd peace on earth below,  
●…d unto men rejoicing great,  
●…hat this believe and show.  
after came to pass,  
When th'angels went away,  
〈◊〉 into heaven from whence they came;  
●…he shepherds than did say:  
〈◊〉 us to Bethleem go,  
●…hese tidings to behold,  
●…d so went out, and when they came,  
●…hey found as th'angel told:  
●…e babe in manger laid,  
●…nd joseph that good man,  
Was hard him by who prostrately,  
this work of God to scan:  
'Gan with a lowly heart  
and humble spirit most mild,  
Fall on his knees, and worshipped  
his new borne softer child.  
The shepherds seeing this,  
did publish unto all,  
What th'angel said, and they had se●…  
each thing as did befall:  
And back again they went,  
and praised God on high,  
That they had seen the son of Go●…  
in manger thus to lie.  
Then with their warbling pipes,  
they want to play upon,  
Before their several flocks of shee●…  
together as they gone.  
Do chant it now aloft  
with sound of shepherds lay,  
And thus with joy solemnize they,  
this blessed babes birthday.  
The virgin so likewise,  
that jesus mother was,  
Which first was brought into a mus●…  
how it might come to pass:  
That she a child should bear,  
and knew no man at all:  
〈◊〉 now agnize the work of God.  
●…nd let her eye down fall  
●…n her little babe  
●…hich God to her had sent,  
●…e her saviour, and of all  
●…ho ever do repent.  
〈◊〉 then she took her babe,  
●…nd dandled it a while:  
●…ther while she gave it suck,  
●…is crying to beguile.  
〈◊〉 many kiss it gave  
〈◊〉 it lay in her arm:  
〈◊〉 them with clothes, such as they were,  
●…elapt it well and warm.  
〈◊〉 while the breast she gives,  
●…e quieter to keep:  
●…ther while she lulleth it,  
●…d husheth it asleep.  
〈◊〉 thus in most sweet guise,  
●…d amiable sort:  
〈◊〉 time they pass with mirth and joy,  
●…d many another sport.    

The lost Sheep.  

Sigh that the heaven of heavens  
where God and angels be,  
Is made the seat whereon I sit,  
by mightiest power decree:  
●…d that the Earth beneath,  
where herb and grass doth grow,  
●…ere men and beasts and living things  
do creep thereon and go:  
●…or my foot the stool,  
ordained long before,  
●…r world was wrought, or angel made,  
or aught else less or more.  
●…th I am Lord thereof,  
and all these things be mine,  
●…en tell me man what moveth thee,  
from me thus to decline?  
●…nd seekest other ways,  
these things for to obtain:  
〈◊〉 fond and frantic is thy wit,  
so feeble is thy brain.  
Which way thou carest not how,  
rather than come to me:  
Being the well and fountain spring,  
of all good things that be.  
I also ready am,  
on thee for to bestow,  
Each good that is, if thou but ask,  
I must my kindness show.  
Such is my love to thee,  
not changeable, but sure,  
I loved thee before thou wast,  
which love shall still endure.  
When thou a sinner wert,  
and wickedness didst use,  
To give my blood and life for thee,  
the same did not refuse.  
Thou art now justified,  
by shedding of my blood,  
And reconciled by my death:  
wherein thou art made good.  
For I that knew not sin,  
was yet made sin for thee:  
That thou mightst be the righteousne●…  
of th'only God in me.  
And I do thee assure,  
it did me greatly please,  
To bear thy sin and wickedness,  
thy weakness and disease.  
●…ou but trust in me,  
●…d steadfastly believe:  
●…re shall no torment, pain, or smart,  
●…r any sin thee grieve.  
〈◊〉 through my special grace,  
●…nd mercies great in store,  
●…omise thee I will henceforth,  
●…inke on thy sin no more.  
〈◊〉 in the deep allow,  
●…nd bottom of the Sea,  
●…ue all thine iniquities,  
●…or ever thrown away.  
●…y dost thou toil and moil,  
●…nd after shadows run?  
●…d shun'st the way that leads to me,  
●…hich am Gods only son?  
〈◊〉 the giver sure,  
●…f true felicity:  
●…d yet for it be very few,  
●…hat seeketh unto me.  
●…utie allureth much,  
●…nd ravisheth the mind:  
●…d draws unto it flocks of men,  
that loving seem and kind.  
●…dlo, behold and view,  
nothing more fair to see  
●…an I, and yet not one there is,  
will be in love with me.  
In honourable styles,  
do many take delight,  
And of ancient nobility,  
do claim descents by right.  
And yet nothing there is,  
of ancient high degree,  
In title, style, or chief descent,  
that goeth before me.  
For while I am the son  
of God most glorious,  
And mother mine a virgin was,  
and my name is jesus.  
Which name was given to me,  
not unadvisedly:  
Nor at adventure, and by chance,  
as names are commonly.  
Nor was it given by man,  
but by an angel sent  
To tell of my Nativity,  
the purpose and intent.  
And under heaven there is  
none other name but this:  
Given unto men their souls to save  
from all their trespasses.  
How happeneth it therefore,  
that scarcely on the ground,  
Can any one that willing is  
to join with me be found.  
●…his society  
●…hich I so much desire:  
〈◊〉 not for me, but for your good,  
●…hat I the same require.  
〈◊〉 the Monarch cheese,  
of heaven, of earth, & all,  
●…y then are you so loath and shamed,  
to come when I you call?  
●…m most rich indeed,  
and ready for to give  
●…th great and many benefits,  
to all in saith that live.  
●…reatly do desire,  
and very feign would have  
●…titions made, that I might give,  
to such as on me crave.  
●…t now alas behold,  
not one that understands  
●…ow for to ask nor come to me,  
to crave aught at my hands.  
●…m the wisdom called,  
of God my father dear:  
●…nd so I am in very deed,  
and yet for love ne fear,  
●…ill any mortal wight,  
vouchsafe to seek me out,  
●…o ask me counsel of that thing  
whereof he is in doubt,  
I am the brightness great,  
of father's glory mine,  
And of his heavenly majesty,  
the image most divine.  
And yet no man thereby,  
of what estate or gree,  
The more to honour moved is,  
nor yet to reverence me.  
I am a pleasant friend,  
a trusty friend also,  
To him that willing is to be  
my friend, and with me go.  
I do bestow my wealth,  
my riches and my store,  
On them I love with willing mind,  
what can be asked more?  
And yet none goes about  
to enter in with me:  
To this sweet amiable league,  
of friendship's high degree.  
I am the only way,  
that unto heaven doth lead,  
And yet but very few there be,  
that use my paths to tread.  
Why do the ignorant  
b●…tred people blind,  
Not trust in me, seeing I am  
the only truth to find?  
〈◊〉 then dost thou refuse,  
●…y promise to believe:  
●…e is so saithful as I am,  
●…d none may more thee grieve.  
〈◊〉 scythe I am of life  
●…e author, and of breath:  
●…t mean you then, by leaving me,  
〈◊〉 follow after death.  
〈◊〉 your only light,  
〈◊〉 darkness is in me:  
〈◊〉 yet will wilful foolish men,  
〈◊〉 darkness rather be.  
〈◊〉 the perfect rule  
〈◊〉 living righteously,  
〈◊〉 than dost thou seek other forms,  
〈◊〉 square thy life thereby?  
●…ely am alone,  
●…e pleasure sweet and true,  
●…hout all gall or bitterness,  
●…iected yet of you.  
〈◊〉 the peace of mind,  
●…nd comforter likewise,  
●…ll afflicted consciences,  
●…hen stormy troubles rise.  
●…y then do not these men  
●…hat vexed be in mind,  
●…e unto me for their relief,  
●…hich they are sure to find?  
If lions wild and dumb,  
themselves can thankful show  
To such as any benefit  
upon them did bestow.  
Or if the Dragon's fierce,  
have grateful learned to be,  
Or mastiff curs their masters know  
and fawn when they him see.  
If Eagles love return  
to such as keep them well:  
And Dolphins likewise kindness 〈◊〉  
as you yourselves can tell:  
If other beasts likewise,  
depri'ud of reason's sense,  
Can to their benefactors use  
both love and reverence:  
Why wilt thou then (o Man)  
thyself set forth to be,  
More brutish than the savage beast●…  
denying love to me?  
Seeing that to thy use,  
and only for thy sake,  
All things that be, yea thou thyself  
of nothing did I make.  
And with my precious blood,  
redeemed thee have I,  
From sin, from death, from hell & p●…  
and that most willingly.  
And if the ox doth know,  
his owner that him sed,  
The ass likewise his masters crib,  
that standeth him in stead:  
Why dost not thou unkind,  
and churlish man to me,  
Acknowledge me to be the same,  
that hath redeemed thee?  
am alone to thee,  
all things that thou would have:  
And I alone will furnish thee,  
with all things thou canst crave.  
Why runnest thou about,  
gadding from place to place,  
To seek elsewhere thy benesit,  
distrusting of my grace:  
Why busiest thou thyself,  
in many needless ways,  
And dost frequent the company,  
of scornful wicked strays?  
As I am merciful,  
so easy to entreat:  
Thou wretched man seek unto me,  
despair not though I threat.  
Yea sith I am the just  
revenger of thy sin:  
Why therefore art thou not afraid,  
me to offend therein?  
I can even with a beck,  
cast down thy soul to hell,  
And yet my judgements searest not,  
nor all the thrents I tell.  
Wherefore thou foolish man,  
if thou so wilful be,  
Headlong to run unto thy death,  
by thy forsaking me:  
Blame but thy self therefore,  
and blame not me at all,  
For thou thyself the author art,  
of thy decay and fall.  
For what can I do more?  
seeing th'excessive love,  
That I thee bare with tender care,  
can no whit thee remove.  
O flinty hearted man,  
with rocky stony breast:  
Which cannot be with love reclaimed,  
nor mercies mine expressed.  
Nor will persuaded be,  
with such an hope assured,  
Of heavenly joys and riches great,  
ready for thee procured:  
Nor can awaked be,  
with promises divine:  
Not any whit be terrified,  
with severe sentence mine:  
Nor be admonished,  
with any shame of sin:  
But rather so egregiously,  
persever stiii therein:  
That thou dost far surmount,  
the savage beasts in kind,  
And dost possess an iron heart,  
more hard than steel to find.  
What can pity prevail,  
alas, in such a place,  
In such a perverse froward heart,  
becankred void of grace?  
To save one 'gainst his will,  
and rid him from distress,  
Doth neither stand with wisdom's law,  
nor yet with righteousness.    

The complaint of Old-Age.  

IN search of secret such,  
as is beneath the sun: find)  
Each thing by kind his course doth  
by nature's skill to run.  
We see the stricken dear,  
hath caught a bleeding wound:  
And yet by eating of an herb,  
becometh whole and sound.  
The hound a hurt receives,  
that grieveth him with pain  
By only licking with his tongue,  
himself doth heal again.  
And if he sickly be,  
with inward grief or sore:  
He eateth grass himself to purge,  
which doth his health restore.  
The merlings and wood doves,  
the Partridges and jays:  
Do purge their superfluity,  
with only herb of Bays.  
The Pigeon and the Hen,  
the Turtle Dove also:  
Themselves doth cure with pellitor,  
that on the wall doth grow.  
The wild and savage Boar,  
by eating Cedria,  
Do help themselves, and so do bears,  
with herb Mandragora.  
The loathsome Snake with age,  
both feeble is & blind:  
Who slowly slides from place to place,  
some narrow strait to find,  
Through which he strains himself,  
thereby his skin to cast:  
And so new health with strength & sight,  
he purchaseth at last:  
The Lizard in his age,  
doth change and cast his skin:  
And sits open eyed against the East,  
the sun may enter in:  
The heat whereof doth dry,  
the humour of his eyes:  
By which his sight again he takes,  
in corner where he lies.  
The Eagle being weak,  
much grievous moan doth make:  
Because his bill is grown so long  
he can no sust'nance take:  
Yet nature hath him taught,  
some rock or stone to find,  
Against the which his bill beats off,  
and so gets health by kind.  
When as the Pelican  
behols her birds late slain:  
〈◊〉 poison that the Serpent shed,  
tormented is with pain.  
●…nd then doth with her bill,  
her tender breast berent:  
●…nd so her birds revine again,  
by blood upon them sprent.  
●…he Lapwing being old,  
to see nor fly she may,  
●…ntill her birds such feathers pluck  
as causeth her decay:  
●…nd then with juice of herbs,  
her eyes do rid from pain,  
●…nd hide her underneath their wings,  
till she be whole again.  
●…he Swallow in like sort  
perceives her younglings eyes  
●…o be deprived of their sight,  
forth from the nest she flies,  
●…nd findeth out an herb  
that Celedoni hight,  
●…nd doth return, and with the same  
restores to them their sight,  
●…hus do we see and know,  
that nature beareth sway,  
〈◊〉 creatures such as reason wants,  
to help them what she may.   

But now to you my friends,  
that Physic do profess:  
Which by your skill and learning gre●…  
do many griefs redress.  
And with the same we know,  
you often bring to pass,  
Sweet health again for to restore,  
where dangerous sickness was.  
Ofhealth to write the praise,  
I wish he could that can:  
Health is one of the goodliest gifts,  
that God hath lent to man.  
Health listeth up the mind,  
and makes the body light:  
Health doth bedew the face with blou●…  
that fresh is to the sight.  
Health makes the sinews strong,  
more travel to endure:  
And health unto the man that's wise,  
great comfort doth procure.  
What profit health doth bring  
to those that students be:  
No tongue can tell, but such as suck,  
the Nectar from the tree.  
By health the husbandman  
both tills and sows the land:  
Without the which no prince may say,  
he able is to stand.  
And every man beside,  
that lives in common wealth,  
As some by skill, and some by strength,  
through power of noble health,  
The same likewise supports,  
in order as they ought:  
And but for health all governments  
to ruin come and nought.  
If health be done away,  
than life is worse than death,  
For death makes end of sorrows all,  
by stopping of the breath.  
Of earthly treasures all,  
health is to be preferred  
Before all things that eye hath seen,  
or ear hath ever heard.   

A Question would I ask,  
thereby not to offend:  
What is the cause that physics art,  
cannot old age defend?  
By cunning and by skill,  
great cures ye do each day:  
But age will not removed be,  
nor yet kept at a stay.  
No physics art ne drug,  
nor potion can ye make:  
Can force old age for to exchange,  
the place that he doth take.  
Age stealeth on us so,  
yet ye can do us good:  
That suddenly it quails the strength,  
and doth forestall the blood.  
Whereby the humour fresh  
is brought unto decay:  
And gallant vigour of the mind,  
is forced to fly away.  
And look what lusty age,  
in younger years brought forth,  
The same old age hath clean defaced,  
and made it nothing worth.  
A thousand maladies  
upon old age depend:  
Which piecemeal wise away do pluck●…  
what fragrant youth did send.  
Beauty is worn away,  
fresh blood is turned to black:  
Wit is made dull, the memory lost,  
and liveliness doth lack.  
Age makes our sleeps unsure,  
our eyesight for to fail:  
Our courage and activity,  
our strength and all to quail.  
The vital heat is cold,  
delights are driven to shore:  
Nourishing juice and breathing sweet,  
are gone for evermore.  
All merriments and sports,  
conceits, else what ye will:  
●…nd to be short, man from himself  
age takes and wasteth still.  
●…ge leaveth unto man  
only of man the name:  
●…r what man was in times forepast,  
now nothing like the same.  
●…en tell me this I pray,  
whether it may be called  
●…ld age: or rather living death,  
that thus man's life hath thralled?   

O Who is he can tell  
the thing that dealeth thus:  
●…at with such posting speed can steal,  
our chiefest time from us?  
●…d that so hastily,  
can taint our golden years:  
●…ith groaning griefs and great annoy,  
provoking bitter tears?  
●…hat dealing may this be,  
it is unegal sure,  
●…at flowering age so so one should end,  
no longer to endure?  
●…d that before we know,  
the goodness of the thing:  
●…ey ready are us to forsake,  
by flight of speedy wing.  
And sooner than we knew  
or felt the life we crave:  
We are forbidden by and by,  
a longer life to have.  
Yet beasts of sundry kinds,  
and fowls aloft that fly,  
Above two hundred years do live,  
before that they do die.  
The stag, the buck, the Raven,  
the Elephant also,  
So long do live in lusty plight,  
and healthfully do show.  
But man, alas poor man,  
before that he may climb  
To fifty years, his bodily strength,  
doth very much decline.  
And if that he may reach  
to threescore years or more:  
His waning wit and memory  
is weaker than before.  
The Thebans held a law,  
who threescore years did live:  
If after that he then fell sick,  
none might him physic give.  
That age obtained, say they,  
himself ought not to bend,  
Longer to live, but hasten forth,  
unto his journeys end.  
Experience doth confirm,  
and proveth this too true:  
That lately such as lusty were,  
in valour, strength, and hue,  
Are now through age become,  
all crooked to behold:  
Their heads with white bespeckled are,  
their heat is turned to cold.  
The frost their beards hath caught,  
which maketh them to think,  
How that the spring of their green age,  
is past and still doth shrink.   

OFlitting youth adieu,  
age makes all things decline:  
O too too short a fading flower,  
of transitory time:  
Which by no way nor art,  
can be repaired again:  
The winter cold the heat hath nipped,  
and ransacked every vain.  
O green and sprouting years,  
o gallant youth that's past:  
What sweet and pleasant merry days,  
were spent while you did last?  
O happy time of life,  
how slily doth it pass:  
And steals away making exchange  
for purest gold but brass.  
How closely is it gone,  
and not perceived at all:  
And glides away as do the streams,  
which down a river fall?  
More swift it may be said,  
than empty clouds that fly  
By force of winds that toss them roun●…  
in compass of the sky.  
Like dreams that pass away,  
within our sleeps we see:  
When we awake nothing there is,  
of that we dreamt to be.  
The sweet and fragrant rose,  
now delicate in sight:  
Within short time all withered is,  
and turned as day to night.  
And so likewise of man,  
from child to man doth grow:  
From man again a child becomes,  
old age will have it so.   

WHile that the little boy,  
with top and scourge 'gan plaie●…  
And while the stripling goes to school●…  
his grammar part to say.  
While those of further years,  
philosophy do read,  
And cull the blooms of Rhetoric,  
and figures finely spread.  
While they themselves delight,  
〈◊〉 in poets fables vain:  
●…nd while they range in arguments;  
〈◊〉 which Logic can maintain.  
●…hile they the time employ,  
〈◊〉 to publish matters small:  
●…hough of no weight) by eloquence  
〈◊〉 to show their skill withal.  
●…hile like the be they skip,  
〈◊〉 from bloom to blossom blown:  
●…nd for their purpose suck the fruit,  
〈◊〉 by sundry authors sown.  
●…hile they disposed so,  
〈◊〉 by study to attain,  
●…e knowledge of the liberal arts,  
〈◊〉 no labour do refrain.  
●…d while that without end,  
〈◊〉 their troubled brains they beat,  
〈◊〉 find out every faculty,  
〈◊〉 grafted in science seat.  
●…ile they the Greek translate,  
〈◊〉 in Latin for to go:  
●…d Latin into Greek likewise,  
〈◊〉 their cunning forth to show.  
●…ile foreign tongues they seek,  
〈◊〉 their knowledge to maintain:  
●…d fear not to transfret the seas,  
〈◊〉 and Alps to climb with pain.  
●…ile they themselves acquaint,  
with countries that be strange,  
With foreign courts, with things vnkn●…  
and other things of change.  
While they thus busy be,  
stifle age comes stealing in,  
And lays his crutch upon their bac●…  
and doth the mastery win:  
So much that they be driven,  
to marvel and to muse:  
How that their strength so suddenly,  
should them fail or refuse.  
And though the same they feel,  
yet not persuaded are:  
That lusty gallant youth of theirs,  
should be removed so far.   

ALas why should we then,  
so carefully appear:  
As to consume our golden age,  
with search of trifles here:  
As pearls and gems of price,  
of gold and silver pure:  
Of scarlet, silk, and cloth of gold,  
which may not long endure:  
And wast fully consume,  
and wilfully to spend  
Our golden years in vanities,  
and all to no good end?  
Again, if that those things,  
which transitory be:  
●…re lost or stolen or burnt with fire,  
there is a mean we see.  
●…e same may be in time,  
recovered again:  
●…hou as poor as Codrus were,  
●…or Irus did remain:  
●…t hope to be as rich,  
●…as Crassus heretofore:  
〈◊〉 that thy substance and thy wealth,  
may match with Croesus' store.  
●…t as for creeping age,  
when Clotho hath begun:  
●…on her clew thy thread to wind,  
that Lachesis had spun,  
●…n never be revoked,  
again to be untwined:  
●…no enchantment, charm, or force,  
that wit of man can find.   

NOt Circe's with her charm,  
nor Mercury with his rod:  
●…or yet Medea with her drugs,  
can stay this work of God.  
jupiter himself,  
thy belly full would fill,  
●…ith Nectar and Ambrosia,  
which some of learned skill  
●…aue writ that by such things,  
youth still they might maintain:  
And banish old age in exile,  
for ever to remain.  
No, no, it will not be,  
though that Aurora fair,  
Would day by day thy body bath,  
with dew of heavenly air.  
No, though ten thousand times,  
sweet Venus for to please,  
Thou pain thyself as Phao did,  
to ferry Chios seas.  
No, though Chiron himself,  
should unto thee apply,  
All sovereign herbs that spring or 〈◊〉  
on earth beneath the sky.  
Nothing there is can stop,  
the course of years that slide:  
Nor keep them from our weary back  
but must the same abide.  
In deed of tales we read,  
and fables have been told:  
How Orpheus and Amphion,  
with other poets old,  
Have by their magic art,  
made rivers still to stay:  
And to return unto those springs,  
backward another way.  
Diana stopped her coach,  
Phoebus his steeds so stayed:  
●…ade his chariot still to stand,  
〈◊〉 listen what they said.  
〈◊〉 let these idle tales  
〈◊〉 thought upon no more: (wrought  
●…f they could such things have  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is said before:  
〈◊〉 might they bring,  
●…e age thou once possessed,  
keep thee in the age thou art,  
●…ile life is in thy breast.  
〈◊〉 yet the sun goes down,  
●…d takes his beams away:  
doth arise most gloriously,  
●…e next ensuing day.  
moon a waning hath,  
●…t afterward a change:  
〈◊〉 doth receive her former light,  
●…d revolution strange.  
●…er grows young again,  
〈◊〉 frosty cold once spent:  
●…er turned into a spring,  
●…at doth us well content.  
yet the state of age,  
●…at flits away so fast:  
〈◊〉 when the summer time thereof,  
〈◊〉 once consumed and passed:  
〈◊〉 that the winter sharp,  
●…th hoary frost and cold:  
〈◊〉 the head and withered face,  
with snow hath taken hold:  
No hope is then at all,  
for any spring to cry,  
Nor yet for any Ver to come,  
where root and stock is dry.   

THere resteth now but this,  
of remedies the best:  
Which is, that death those evils shal●…  
and set the soul at rest.  
We learn for to be wise,  
too late when youth is gone:  
And do begin to muse thereof,  
when remedy is none.  
We then bewail our life  
in vanity misspent:  
And do detest those wilful ways,  
we did in youth frequent.  
We curse that now in age,  
which youth delighted in:  
And that which then most sweet did●…  
is now most bitter sin.  
The thoughts thereof torment  
our guilty conscience sore,  
With grief and pain we do lamen●…  
our youth abused before.  
And to ourselves 'gan say,  
what treasure have we spilled:  
And reaped thereby unto ourselves,  
〈◊〉 sorrow, death, and guilt?  
life God knows is short,  
●…certaine of the same:  
●…inke on time so vainly spent,  
●…ight make us blush with shame.  
〈◊〉 sleep let us awake,  
●…d rise from sin at last,  
〈◊〉 time it is for to repent,  
●…r former follies past.  
youth hath taken horse,  
●…d posteth day by day,  
●…ite and summon pale face death,  
●…th speed to come away.  
●…th is the true refuge,  
●…e only perfect health:  
doth deserve to be embraced,  
●…fore all worldly wealth.  
●…th is the thing most dear,  
●…e best thing to be had:  
a thing that God hath given,  
●…herewith to make us glad.  
●…an with his estate  
●…ntented is we see:  
〈◊〉 those that lie asleep in grave,  
●…ey well contented be.  
grave is a strong fort,  
●…herein ourselves we shut,  
〈◊〉 the assaults of irksome life,  
●…d broils of Fortunes cut.  
The dead we know do rest,  
as in a haven of ease:  
Where those that live do sail in●…  
of rough and raging seas.  
Death is unto the evil,  
a whip of smarting pain:  
And to the good a sweet reward,  
of everlasting gain.   

THe common custom is,  
to flatter them that live:  
And of the dead reproachful words,  
and ill reports to give.  
But sure the fault is great,  
to speak ill of the dead,  
Who harm them not but quietly,  
do rest within their bed.  
As no man is so good,  
but better might have been:  
So no man lives that is so bad,  
but worsser name might win.  
For as there is some cause,  
a man for to dispraise:  
So in the same some virtue dwells  
that his renown might raise.  
And therefore of the dead,  
I wish to speak the best:  
And praise the virtues which they 〈◊〉  
and let their vices rest.  
●…s our course direct,  
●…ile perfect mind we have:  
set our compass toward Christ,  
●…o only must us save.  
●…im from henceforth now  
●…r only study be,  
pleasant muse, our cheese delight,  
●…r joy and liberty.  
●…s not care at all,  
●…r worldly matters vain:  
for the body, so the soul  
●…th jesus Christ remain.  
●…e soul and body both,  
●…ll at the judgement day,  
●…ed be and sentence hear,  
●…ich Christ himself shall say.  
●…h grant o father dear,  
〈◊〉 Christ his sake thy son,  
●…e unto our endless joy,  
life that is to come.   
Amen.  
FINIS.