A Proper New ballad of the briber Geheste. Taken out of the fourth book of Kings the .v. Chapter.  
To the tune of King Solomon.  

WAs not the briber Gehezie  
Rewarded justly of the Lord,  
Which for example verily,  
The holy Scripture doth record  
If this be true, as true it was,  
Of his reward:  
Why should not christan men alas,  
Than have regard.   

¶ When that the Prophet Elizae  
Had cleansed from the Leprosy,  
Naaman of Assiria,  
Thorough the works of God on high:  
Then Naaman would him constrame  
To take reward:  
But Elizae from that refrainde,  
And had regard.   

¶ But Gehezie of falsehood mind,  
When Naaman did pass away.  
Did high him fast that was behind,  
And unto Naaman did say:  
Behold my master hath me sent  
For a reward,  
To prophets children he is bent  
To have regard.   

¶ With right good will said Naaman,  
Him to reward, and did proceed,  
And Gehezie conveyed it then  
So privily in very deed,  
For getting that the Prophet tho,  
Of his, reward  
Can by the spirit of God it know,  
And have regard,   

¶ Alas how was thou Gehezie,  
Ravished in worldy gaint?  
How was thou brought to mizerie,  
Of God appointed for thy pain,  
And all thy of springe after thee,  
For thy reward,  
The Lord that hateth Bribery,  
Hath his regard.   

¶ Then Gehezie deceitfulie  
To fore the Prophet took his way,  
Who said to him, o Gehezie,  
Went not my heart with thee I say,  
When Naaman from charet came,  
Thee to reward:  
And thou hast falsely hid the same,  
without regard.   

¶ (Gehezie) is it now a time  
Thy bribes (he said) for to receive?  
Behold for this thy wicked crime  
That leproseie to thee shall cleave,  
The which was upon Naaman,  
For thy reward,  
And to thy seed thee after than,  
To have regard.   

Incontinent then Gehezie  
Departed from his presence so,  
As the Text doth verify,  
A Leper white as is the snow,  
Example to such bribers all,  
To have regard,  
With Geheziè at length they shall  
Have their reward,   

¶ If they do not their faults confess  
detesting of their Bryberie,  
Else God will spy their wickedness  
Though they it cloak with Genezie:  
And can them pay accordingly,  
The like reward,  
As he hath done to jehezie,  
O have regard.   

¶ The Lord he is that same God still  
That he was than undoubtedly,  
Such Gehazies he punish will,  
That Bribes receive so wickedly,  
Though they so privily do hide  
their false reward.  
Yet of the Lord it will be spied,  
Who hath regard.   

¶ O Lord us guide in all our ways  
That we may lead our lives a right  
to deal with truth at all assays,  
Give unto us thy holy spirit:  
And that our Queen & her Council  
May have regard,  
In this Land Bribers to expel  
that take reward.   
¶ Finis.  
ꝙ. George Mell.   

Imprinted at London in Fletestreate beneath the Conduit, at the sign of S. john Evangelist, by Thomas Colwell.