¶ A godly Ballad declaring by the Scriptures the plagues that have ensued whoredom.  

REfrain of youth thy vain desire.  
subdue thy lusts inordinate:  
Suppress the sparks lest if the fire,  
to quench them it willbe to late.   

Thou know'st not what a poison strong  
thou lettest breed within thy breast,  
Which if thou keep within thee long,  
will cause thee care and much unrest.   

Though it seem sweet in thy conceit,  
beware thou never nourish it:  
The Fish is by a pleasant bait,  
constrained to the deadly bit.   

Like as the woorm in Africa bred.  
whose sting descendeth with venem cold:  
Is not so noisome to be fled,  
as lust that reigneth uncontrolled.   

If reason cannot rule thy wil  
but vice will reign through appetite:  
Then let thy harms that happen still,  
(through lusts) refrain thy fond delight.   

Remember eke that in noah's days,  
when vice through lust was rifly grown:  
The whole world by such wicked ways,  
by rage of Rain was overthrown.   

The King of Egypt Pharaoh,  
was he not plagued of God most just:  
Both he and all his house also,  
only for he gave place to lust.   

So read we of Abimelech,  
the mighty King of Gerera:  
That God gave him a grievous check,  
for lusting after Saraa.   

Lust did destroy the Sodomites,  
as is in Scripture manifest:  
For lust were slain the Sichamites,  
when Sichem Dina had oppressed.   

Lust did the wits so much enchant.  
of Putipher thegyptians wife:  
That jofeph for he would not grant,  
her suit she brought nigh from his life.   

Bethsaba naked in bath,  
bewitched so King David's brain:  
That guiltless he procured hath,  
her husband Vry to be slain.   

The chief among the Israelites,  
for naughty lust and eke offence:  
Wrought by the means of Moabites,  
were hanged up by God's sentence.   

For lust Zimry the Israelite,  
as witnesseth Gods holy word:  
And Cosby eke the Madianite,  
perished both through Zimphas sword,   

The Israelites through fleshly lust,  
towards their enemies daughters were:  
Alluerd by them false Gods to trust,  
which all their thraldoms caused clear.   

Samson the son of Monoa,  
that mighty judge in Israel:  
For lust he had to Dalila,  
himself to kill grief did compel.   

Lo, him that none could foil in fight,  
whose puissant arm the Lion slew:  
Whose strength put thousands unto flight,  
by lust one woman overthrew.   

Lust in the tribe of Benjamin.  
cast twenty thousand down and five:  
So that in all for that one sin,  
were but six hundred left on live.   

If Ammon's lust had not defiled,  
his sister Thamar with incest:  
He had not of his life been spoiled,  
at Absalon his brother's feast.   

If lust had not impaird the name,  
of Solomon that witty King:  
He had not lost his royal fame,  
nor fallen to Idols worshipping.   

If Herod in his sinful life,  
had not by lust been sore misled:  
He had not kept his brother's wife.  
nor stricken of john Baptists head.   

¶ Now what be these but tokens sure,  
that God will plague all those that use:  
To lead their lives in lust unpure,  
and with out fear themselves abuse▪   

But some do think God doth not see,  
to each man's doing in all things,  
Because some seem full safe to be,  
and prosper still in ill livings.   

But if such will give ear unto,  
God's word which doth the truth us tell:  
Shall soon perceive those that live so,  
shall suddenly go down to hell.   

Therefore to God now let us pray,  
that he will guide our hearts a right:  
To flee from filthy lusts always,  
and him to please with all our might.   

And also for our gracious Queen,  
that God long prosper her and then:  
Good days among us may be seen,  
which unto us he grant. Amen.   
Finis.  
A. I.   

¶ Imprinted at London at the long Shop adjoining unto Saint Mildred's Church in the Poultry by john Allde. Anno Domini 1566. Novembris. 25.