CERTAIN Selected Histories for christian Recreations with their several Moralizations.  
¶ Brought into English verse, and are to be song with several notes: Composed by Richard Robinson Citizen of London.  
Tempestive, Intempestive.  
Vigilate, Orate & Laudate Dominum.  
Quia solus ille salus hominum.  Recordare, & Red. Simplicitate, & Sinceritate. 
¶ Imprinted at London for Henry Kirkhan, and are to be sold at the little North door of SAINT, Paul's, at the sign of the black Boy.   

To the worshipful master Simon roe, now Master of the worshipful Company of Lethersellers in London, and to the Wardens and whole fellowship of the same, Richard Robinson Citizen and Freeman of the same Company, wisheth the abundance of God's everlasting Grace.  
Recognizing myself in sundry wise a debtor (right worshipful) amongst other considerations, I am moved to remember my duty to wards the good expectations of your worthiness, which I have long time wished that God would enable me any manner of way, to testify my good will towards you. Albeit wanting hitherto that which might best behove me to bring for your better contentation. I have thought it good as time now serveth, to present you with such simple travel, as my barren industry could yield in am of learned and large lucubrations, an● unlearned and little piece of labour▪ for the accomplishing of part of my duty, being a small pamphlet, which I have entitled Certain select Histories, for Christian Recreation, no● only serving for the usual feast o● Christmas, beeit at this time celebrated, but also necessary to be used fo● decent Recreation at all other timer convenient. Every history being composed into several verse, with th● gloze or Moralization thereof aptly applied, and their apt tunes for their use to be song, with the argument of every History prefixed, which as I confess, is but of small value, to respond with your expectations, yet herein as I am to crave pardon for my boldness, in dedicating the same unto you, I have good hope that you will not all together reject my good will, with the simpleness of the work: But dame the best of me, As one that would be glad, in any greater matter to satisfy your worthy good wills at all times. And thus besething your worships, to bear with this my poor beginning, I surcease to trouble you any further. Resting you in the tuition and governance of the almighty. From my Chamber on the south-west side of the Cathedral Church of S. Paul in London, This xxi. day of December. M.D.lxxvi.  
Your worship's poor brother and faithful orator in Christ Richard Robinson,   

¶ Certain selected Histories for Christian Recreation.  

¶ The argument.  
¶ christ being borne, the Angels reveal the same with glad tidings unto the poor shepherds. The star seen in the east. The Sages repair with their presents, to do homage unto the Saviour of the world.  
To the tune of La bonetta.  

IF Angel's voice, did first rejoice  
In spiritus concordia:  
To shepherds poor, singing evermore  
Deo in excelsis gloria.  
Christ God & man, each christian  
Of due, much more this day,  
Aught dedicated, in blissful state,  
Thy birth with glory aye.   

If wisemen three, brought presents free  
Their true love also to declare:  
The first brought gold, the second was bold,  
With Myrrh him to prepare.  
The third Incense, with full pretence,  
They meekly offered thus all three,  
Christ God and man, to worship than,  
In Bethleem borne truly.   

¶ The Moralization.  

OF these gifts thus, we may discuss,  
As skilful writers duly scan:  
Gold first of all, Treasure to call,  
Of wisdom in Christ tokening than.  
Myrrh doth include, a heart endued,  
With true repentance ay.  
Incense eke tells, devotion dwells,  
In mind with steadfast stay.   

In token true, of honour due,  
Their Saviour Christ chief King unto,  
These gifts gave they, whereby we may,  
Our Christian duty show.  
This solemn feast, let every jest,  
Biden in Christ's faith and fear:  
To Christ's birth, new men forthwith,  
In love and life appear.   

Gold, Myrrh, Incense, from conscience,  
Of sin and vice, bore and devoid,  
To Christ our King, thus for to bring,  
Let our care always be employed.  
Let faith steadfast, man which thou haste▪  
Received by Baptism,  
In promise made, never to fade,  
As gold give this to him.   

Let hope of heal, in us prevail,  
By Christ which him in name profess▪  
That he may have, our souls to save,  
This Myrrh give more and less.  
Let love likewise, our due comprise,  
Both towards God, and also man:  
To Christ jesus, we rightly thus,  
Do bring our Incense than.  
Bis.  
With one clear voice, thus to teioyce,  
In Christ's birth then do all we,  
That bear Christ's name, practise the same,  
Henceforth perpetually.  
And let us pray, in faith alway,  
That Christ our Saviour,  
His Church our Queen, & realm from tene  
Preserve may evermore.    
Finis.   

The argument.  
Man's prayer is a melody to God, which although it have some good success in the world, yet there is now and then a whistling charmer stirred up to bereave and spoil us of this enjoyed felicity.  
To the tune of La band la shaft.  

Ehovah vouch thy joyful spirit,  
Each Christian heart to joy this day,  
As by a Star thou didst vizite,  
Kings in the east them to display,  
The birth of Christ at Bethleem,  
A Saviour unto mortal men.   

Minerva and you Muses nine,  
Assist me with your sacred aid:  
Some solemn song to frame with time,  
From joyful heart to be conveyed,  
With thankful voice to celebrated,  
Christ's birth now to commemorate.   

Tiberius' Emperor once did reign,  
In Music much delighted he:  
Who hunting on a time certain,  
Did hear a noise of melody.  
A Harper 'twas hard by did play,  
Whereat this prince amazed did stay.   

And turns his horse unto that place,  
Approaching near a river long:  
He did descry where then there was,  
The Musician playing his Harp upon,  
The tenor of whose song was this,  
Man's prayer to God a melody is.   

The Emperor joyful this to hear,  
Demanded the Musician tho,  
Why he so pleasantly played there,  
My Lord saith he that will I show,  
These thirty years and upwards I,  
Have used here this harmony.   

Such grace and virtue in my noise,  
The Gods by fate have granted me:  
That fishes from this river rejoice,  
To come to hand and taken be,  
So that relieve I did with all,  
Myself, my wife, and children small.   

But out alack this Harper says,  
Good sir it hath chaunste contrary:  
Unto my mind within few days,  
A charmer came which cheerfully,  
On the further bank did whistle so,  
That he hath fetched the fish me fro.   

And therefore gracious Lord saith he,  
As you are potent Emperor,  
And sole prince of this empery,  
I humbly crave your good succour,  
For to expel and banish hence,  
The charmer and his evil pretence.   

Tiberius' courteous answer gave,  
Friend by no means but one I may:  
Thy case redress, a hook I have,  
Of gold within this Casket gay,  
●olde here of me the same do take,  
And to this rod with bait fast make.   

Then use the sleight that longs thereto,  
On warbling Harp to play addressed,  
The fishes frisking to and fro,  
Upon the bait themselves will rest.  
And when thou feelest them feed on fast,  
Draw up the fish on land them cast.   

So shalt thou hereby frustrate quite,  
This subtle charmer of his pray,  
If thou demainest thee thus a right,  
Confused he shall walk his way,  
The Harper did this hest fulfil,  
And fetched up fish even at his will,   

A meaning hereof Moral wise,  
My muse in modest manner show,  
Who this Tiberus Emperor is,  
The River and Harper also.  
With Fish and Charmer who they be,  
Described in ancient history.   

¶ The Moralization.  

CHrist to Tiberius is compared,  
Which loveth to hear the melod●●▪  
Of prayer unto him preferred,  
And doth delight hunting to be.  
To save the soul by Satan sought,  
His spoil to make and bring to naught:   

This River with the Fish therein,  
Resembled are the World unto,  
And people fraught with odious sin,  
The poor man playing there also,  
●che Preacher is with sacred lore,  
That draws up fish to heavenly shore.   

But then a Charmer steppeth there,  
The Preachers harp which doth disturbs  
In triple trade doth he appear,  
To cast the souls in sleep absurd,  
And whom to sleep he can not win,  
As janglers vain he hems them in.   

And if he make no janglers vain,  
Envy in him yet vigour hath,  
To lure these souls for to abstain,  
And quite forsake the perfect path,  
That either they become abject,  
Or never the wiser in effect.   

Wherefore needs must the golden hook,  
Be had of every Preacher here,  
●or God's divine grace must they look,  
That they may fish in faith and fear,  
●uche comfortable noise to make,  
Both Charmer and the fish to take.   

Where sith in faith we Christ profess,  
God grant we thereof fruits may give,  
With prayer to him and never cease,  
Elizabeth our Queen long live,  
Us to protect by grace divine,  
And gain celestial joys in fine.    
Finis.   

¶ The Argument.  
¶ Among the children of this world, all are not of one seed and generation, and therefore putting apart the bondwoman and her children, from the free-woman and her issue, they are to be reputed accordingly.  
To the tune of Sondaie Morning.  

APollo with thy sacred lore,  
My slender skill and pen direct,  
The birth of Christ still to adore:  
With solemn sacred song select,  
Dame Pallas with thy Nymphs be pressed,  
To further this my third request.   

A noble king sometimes did reign,  
With wit and wealth, endued was he:  
A Queen he had, with whom certain,  
He lived a time, though vicious she.  
Three sons by strange seed procreate,  
Digressing had, base borne by kind,  
On her the fourth son he begat,  
Moore greater comfort to his mind.   

It chanced that when Atrapos,  
Of fatal life bereft this King:  
The Queen with her sons did dispose,  
The funerals accomplishing.  
In earth with pomp the corpse to say,  
With stately tomb enshrinde for ay.   

Which done behold within short space,  
These sons among them did contend:  
Who should succeed in father's place,  
In fine yet did they condescend.   

Unto an ancient knight to go,  
Which Secretary was of late:  
To the dead King, and him they do,  
Commit their case to arbitrate.   

The knight when he with patience heard,  
Them and their case considered well:  
To them he thus his mind declared,  
My Lords do yield to my council.  
Your purpose then shall well proceed,  
This said they, hereunto agreed.   

My sentence so assign you shall,  
The buried corpse again up take:  
●nd that you 'gree amongst you all,  
Your bows and shafts prepared do make  
To shoot thereat incontinent,  
And who so pierceth deepest in,  
The same I deem by mine assent,  
Both regal crown and realm shall win.   

All four sons hereto did agreed,  
The buried corpse and take from ground,  
They bind it fast unto a tree:  
Each one to give his deepest wound.  
The first the kings right hand did hit,  
Wherefore it was awarded fit.   

That he as only heir and Lord,  
Of Father's land proclaimed should be,  
The seconds shaft with flesh begorde,  
Through father's mouth did pierce truly▪  
Wherefore to have the sovereign sway,  
And chief rule of his Father's land,  
Moore certainly he aught they say,  
Of twain the firmer lot to stand.   

The third his heart did penetrate,  
By reason whereof thought it was,  
That he without strife or debate:  
Should chiefly rule in Father's place,  
But when the fourth son should prepare,  
To shoot he shrieked with woeful care.   

crying alack, this luckless day,  
I do lament, hear thus to see,  
Thy corpse o Father can he say,  
Of thy sons wounded now to be.   

The Gods defend that live or dead,  
My Father's corpse, I perish should:  
This said, him in his Father's stead,  
To reign as King the nobles would.   

The other three sons were dismissed,  
From all and every rule or sway,  
My muse no longer now desist,  
The Moral hereof to display.  
●his King wise noble and wealthy,  
To jesus Christ compared may be: 
Moraliztion.    

which did mankind his spouse ordain,  
But she in time did violate:  
●he sacred bed with whoredoms stain,  
After strange Gods a miscreate.   

conceived and brought forth sons three,  
Pagants, jews and Papist sect:  
●hereof the first did wound truly.  
The kings right hand with shaft infect.   

●hē they (Christ's doctrine which doth sit,  
At right hand of his Father dear:)  
●●d quite forsake his servants smite,  
With sundry wounds upon earth hear.  
As persecuting Pagans' fell,  
Enemies to Christ and his Gospel.   

The second son eke putative,  
The King of Kings more deeply pierced,  
When as the jews to him did give,  
Vinegar and Gall to quench his thirst.   

The third most wicked son of three,  
With poisoned shaft did nothing spare:  
To wound Christ's heart the King most high,  
The Papists do this son declare.   

While they do strive with might and main,  
Christ's faithful flock on earth to quell:  
Which should one corpse and soul contain  
In fruits, in fruits of the Gospel.  
How have they whet their arrows sharp,  
To pierce Christ's & his members heart.   

The fourth son now define I thus,  
That wailed and would not shoot at all:  
Because he saw so mischievous,  
Pretence of sons unnatural.   

Each Christian true the fourth son is,  
Which feareth God and would none ill:  
If he do ill, to sacrifice,  
In righteousness he hath good william.   

Such a one my song doth signify,  
In sacred throne celestial:  
Shall reign with Christ in Majesty,  
At the last day judicial.  
For which in faith and fear let's pray,  
That Christ from ill preserve us may.   

And as we subjects all are bound,  
For our noble Queen Elizabeth:  
Our prayers to God with joyful sound,  
Let us direct, in health and wealth.  
That it would please the King of Kings,  
Christ our anchor, mark, and stay:  
Her to preserve in all good things,  
And prospero us her subjects ay▪   
Finis.   

The Argument.  
¶ The life present procureth either favour, and grace at the hands of God, if we return in time, either else neglecting time, purchaseth us his heavy indingnation, both now and in the world to come.  
To the tune of Beckinghams' Galliard.  

YOU sacred Nymphs of Helicon,  
By Ioues almight decree:  
Vouchsafe once more to look upon,  
This fourth solemnity.  
Calliope with thy crystal voice my Music adjuvate,  
From joyful heart with  
Thankful mouth, Christ's birth to celebrated   

In time to watch, in time to wake,  
While candle lasts to come,  
Upon this theme, I here do make,  
This admonition,  
Time let us spend, well till the end,  
Of hour glass be out run.   

Live here must we in full pretence,  
To give no liberty:  
To sin by will or negligence,  
Our light to dampnifie.   

As Alexander sometime king of  
Macedonia land:  
Decreed in Court a Candle should  
Be light and burning stand.   

And sent his Heralds to each place,  
And coast where he bore sway:  
With trumpets blast, his will to blaze,  
To subjects all. That they  
Which had tamnsgrest, should come in priest  
To Court without delay,   

If any subject had transgressed,  
'Gainst Alexander king,  
Let him appear, his case redressed,  
Should be in each such thing.   

So that before the king he came,  
While candle light did cast:  
And if he tarried passed that time,  
His labour was but waste.   

And who soever had done offence,  
And came not in due time,  
To him plain death for negligence,  
The kings will did assign,  
Of better and worse, some had recourse,  
Toth' court guilty of crime.   

The story tells a number great,  
Appeared before the king:  
The Candle casting light and heat,  
Had pardon for each thing.   

A number great there were also,  
To come at all refused,  
On those the king the penalty,  
Without redemption used.   

And some that while the Candle burnt,  
In coming stayed so long:  
The Candle out, that they returned,  
With woe and wailing song,  
We Christians here, how to appear,  
Each one may learn among.   

¶ The Moraliziation.  

CHrist is this Alexander King,  
That sways the sacred sword:  
We subjects his here all living,  
If we do fear this Lord.   

As he is favourable, and with  
Mercy full replete:  
So merciful doth he appear,  
To sinners small and great.   

Not limiting a time only,  
Of life to mortal men,  
But lends us sacred lore, whereby  
He may our hearts lighten,  
With Candle light of divine might,  
Let us take due time then.   

And let us come when Christ, doth call  
While Candle light doth last,  
Then pardon we procure us shall,  
Before the time be past.   

So shall we blessed light enjoy,  
And Christ's pardon ay:  
And fear no worldly foes annoy,  
That would seek our decay.   

With humble faithful English heart,  
To Christ pray we each one,  
Our royal Queen for to impart:  
His blessed light upon:  
And us to stand with lamps in hand,  
By him in joyful throne.    
Finis.   

¶ The Argument.  
Man's life is likened to a continual warfare, and conflict with Satan. The Serpent and the Toad fighting together, the Serpent being reserved by help of man, showeth example of gratitude. The Toad that sought the Serpent's destruction, hath in fine his due guerdon.  
To the tune of Flearing fancy, singing the iiii. and u line of every verse alike.  

TO increase in Christ our comfort still,  
Revailed us by sundry means,  
Though scripture fraught with sacred skill,  
Do far surmount all human dreams  
●mongst a sort of pithy themes,  
This profane story merits praise,  
Christ's combat & conquest which bewrays.   

Caesar Augustus living than,  
A noble knight his subject was:  
● valiant worthy gentleman,  
Who riding once as he did pass,  
A Forest through, by hap alas,  
A Toad with Serpent fighting saw,  
Each others blood deadly to draw.   

With tried force a time fought they,  
The Toad having the mastery,  
This gentle knight did strait assay,  
In Serpent's quarrel hap to try.  
Wounded the same Toad grievously,  
But not without a mortal wound,  
Himself escaped and fled the ground.   

The Serpent also thence did flee,  
And when in place this worthy knight,  
Alone thought best his wound to see,  
From stately steed alack did light.  
His inwurde parts with poison dight,  
He found where did increase his grief,  
And homewards rides to have relief.   

Where long time languishing in pain,  
So that his will and Testament:  
For to be made, he did ordain,  
Prepared to die incontinent,  
Yet when as by the fire fervent,  
For comfort further laid he was,  
And that despair in him had place.   

Even then behold the Serpent late,  
In whose defence this grief he caught,  
Was entered in at this knight's gate,  
And seen by servants, strait they sought  
To show their master thinking naught,  
Of such a hap than did he will,  
The Serpent should be brought him till,   

The knight when he the Serpent saw,  
The same it was did well agnize,  
In whose defence through overthrawe,  
Himself to fight did enterprise,  
Against the Toad though jeopardies,  
Of death thereby his life pursued,  
Yet as he was with wit endued.   

Commanded all his servants there,  
That they should not the Serpent noye,  
saying, danger none I fear,  
He will me do but rather joy.  
The Serpent than did him employ,  
In open presence them among,  
To suck the poison with his tongue,   

Whereof taking satiety,  
Out of the house forthwith he ran,  
And purged his stomach presently,  
Of poison in him taken than,  
And to the wound a fresh he came,  
Six times by course till he did void,  
The poison sucked, the knight emploide.   

Himself Milk to administrate,  
Unto the Serpent, then behold,  
The Toad entered the knight's gate,  
Which late with poison dead and cold,  
Did wound this courteous knight so bold  
In purpose came avenged to be,  
Of knight and Serpent presently.   

The knight when as he hereof heard,  
Unto his servants all did say,  
Sirs naught dismay be not afeard,  
This is the Toad without all nay,  
Whom I did wound this other day,  
In defence of this Serpent hear,  
For whose sake eke my wound I bear.   

So that I will if this Serpent,  
By any means my health restore,  
He shall escape incontinent,  
And if you love my life therefore,  
This Toad destroy withouten more,  
The servants hearing what he said,  
With sword & staves on Toad then laid.   

By means whereof the Toad they killed,  
The Serpent hereat joyful was,  
And thankfully his due fulfilleth,  
As grateful, and touching the case,  
Turned about his feet apace,  
Where thus departing this Serpent,  
The knight was healed incontinent.   

¶ The Moralization.  

THe moral hereof to define,  
First the Emperor here compared,  
To our heavenly Father we assign,  
The same of duty best referde,  
The Knight also whereof you heard,  
Our Saviour jesus Christ doth mean,  
The Toad declares Satan certain.   

The Serpent man is termed well,  
First for the poison of his sin,  
Next for the medicen to expel,  
Poison received himself within,  
As for Christ's Image eke in him,  
For man against the Devil aught fight,  
To vanquish him by divine sleight.   

Because there is none other wight,  
But thou o Christ our Saviour,  
Which in defence of man doth fight,  
Against Satan the Toad therefore,  
When mankind was through sin forlorn,  
Christ sought for us against Satan,  
And in our right him overcame.   

Albeit not in one place only,  
He wounded was but sundry grief,  
As well in himself feel did he.  
As in his members great mischieef,  
He suffered done for their relieefe,  
Man if thou be thankful therefore,  
Have Serpents help for him in store.   

That is to say, thou oughtest vizite,  
Christ in his members grieved here,  
In poverty or other plight,  
Miserable if it appear,  
Them to relieve as needs require:  
And what thou so dost unto them,  
Take it for well rendered again.   

But if the Toad return do make,  
After first sight harm to renew,  
In Christ to thee then courage take,  
And seek the means him to subdue,  
Then certainly each firm virtue,  
In Baptism first received by thee,  
Observed shall bring full remedy.   

So shalt thou Satan vanquish quite,  
And purchase peace perpetual,  
Of body and soul with Angels bright,  
In perren joys celestial,  
Which to enjoy God grant us all,  
That after our combat earthly here,  
conquerors with Christ we may appear.    
Finis.   

The argument.  
¶ Man's life is a waifaring or travilling. To find forth three felicities, but in stead of groping for the sweet, here we taste of the sour, neither attain we our desired port of rest in this life, but in the world to come.  
¶ To the tune of the sturdy rock, singing the iiii. and u line of every verse alike.  

Resign now Muse's all your moan,  
To me amazed silly wight,  
Which wandering long, & far have gone,  
Void of relief, rest and delight,  
Do comfort mine enfeebled spirit,  
Forced in verse to verify,  
No joy on earth of certainty.   

I read Ganterus so by name,  
Did wish a place of endless joy,  
When on a day to pass it came,  
Early to walk he did employ,  
And so far went without anoie,  
Till he entered a land into,  
Whose king deceased but lately tho.   

It chanced there after short time,  
The Nobles had intelligence,  
Of his manhood, and do incline,  
Their councils all with diligence,  
Him as their Prince of excellence.  
To choose in royal seat to reign,  
Whereat Ganterus joyed certain.   

The night come on his servants weight,  
With due attendance in degree,  
And brought him to a chamber straight,  
Where stood a bed bedecked richly,  
At the head whereof he then did see,  
A Lion laid, and at the foot,  
A Dragon dreadfully which looked.   

Upon the right side of that bed,  
An ugly Bear was couched low,  
And on the left side, down were laid,  
Serpents and Toads in loathsome show,  
Hereat Ganterus masde, would know,  
Of those his servants then present,  
What by these strange beasts here was meant.   

saying, is this bed ordained me,  
Yea sovereign Lord they answered so,  
For tofore this our kings truly,  
Here lodged and died long ago,  
Devoured by these beasts here lo,  
Hereat Ganterus grudging said,  
This I mislike all ill apaied.   

Your king will I not be therefore,  
And so departed from that place,  
Arriving to an other shore,  
Where eke to rule he chosen was,  
The night aprochte, then in like case,  
He was conduct to take his rest,  
Where was a bed with sharp swords dressed.   

Whereat he casting up his eyes.  
Demanded if he should lie there,  
Yea Lord, each servant certefies,  
Our kings in this bed lodged were▪  
Bereft and are of life so dear,  
saith he all save this likes me well,  
Your king to be I list naught mell.   

Yet tarrying in those coasts that night,  
Not sooner was Aurora seen,  
But he prepared in pensive plight,  
To leave that land and Lordship clean,  
And languishing three days in teen,  
At length it was his luck to spy,  
An old man in the way to lie.   

This old man had in his right hand,  
A staff, and seeing Ganterus come,  
Required of him to understand,  
Whence, and whither he would in some  
And who he was to give reason,  
I come from countries far saith he,  
My name Ganterus height truly.   

And whether saith the old man tho,  
Dost thou intend to take thy way,  
Ganterus said, I must now go,  
Three things to find, which I ne may,  
What three be those? th'old man can say,  
Ganterus answered his request,  
Thus as to him it seemed best.   

The first abundance without want,  
The second joy without distress,  
The third is light not anoyant,  
With irksome and loathsome darkness,  
The old man heard him thus express,  
And said my friend, this staff do take,  
By this way strait thy journey make.   

Then shalt thou see before thy face,  
A hill both tedious, huge and high,  
Toth' top whereof is a foot pace,  
Which doth contain seven. steps only,  
Upon the same thy travel try,  
And when tooth top thou dost attain,  
Thou shalt behold, and see there plain.   

A Palace princely edified,  
There rest, and ere thou further try,  
With staff at gate three times applied,  
Do knock. The Porter by and by,  
Will answer thee, and then pardie,  
Show him this staff, and say to him.  
That I do crave thine entrance in,   

And if he than grant thee ingress,  
There shalt thou find thy hearts desire,  
Then Ganterus did so doubtless,  
As he was willed of this old sire,  
And to the Porter coming nigher,  
His staff once seen, received he was,  
Where he found all things brought to pas.   

¶ The Moralization.  

Explain now must the meaning here,  
Who this Ganterus called may be,  
Each Christian good may well appear,  
Like to Ganterus, which simply,  
Despiseth worldly vanity,  
And is from time to time inclined,  
These three things to seek for and find;   

The first abundance as is said,  
Withouten want or penury,  
The second, joy nothing delayed,  
The third light from all darkness free,  
And these obtained can not be,  
But in the life of lasting joy,  
Our toil thereto we must employ.   

O man therefore like journey make,  
With Ganterus for three days space,  
By Prayer first do undertake,  
By Fasting next, this pilgrims race.  
thirdly, by Almose in any case,  
These three days travel till thou come,  
Unto the first supposed Kingdom.   

Some mundaine joys there shalt thou find  
And people thee to entertain,  
There worldly pleasures are inclined,  
To choose thee, as a prince to reign,  
Puffing thy heart with pride annoyed,  
But look about thy chamber well,  
There stands a bed, its death to tell.   

This bed man's life is likened to,  
Where in a short time he doth lie,  
Near to which lurcks a Lion lo,  
Satan, 'gainst us his force to try,  
A Dragon eke we shall espy.  
And by him couched an ugly Bear,  
Which wait (as death) on us each-where.   

Toads and Serpents there also are,  
Thone shows, man's guilty conscience,  
The other doth his sins declare,  
To accuse and condemn negligence,  
Of these having intelligence,  
We may do well quick speed to make,  
This world our Kingdom to forsake.   

Then come we to the second land.  
Where carnal pleasures bear the sway,  
(To whom consenting) out of hand,  
Sons of perdition us make they,  
Then to our chamber taking our way,  
Lett's look tooth bed, there shall we see,  
The same even hell itself to be.   

The sharp sword there do represent,  
(For careless glutton's carl) prepared,  
Who tastes in hell endless torment,  
To late repenting afterward,  
The handling of poor Christ so hard,  
If we well way this lodging place,  
Haste us from carnal Kingdom apace.   

Then if we will further to try,  
These three things we desire to find,  
Lett's walk on till th'old man we espy,  
Even jesus Christ guide of mankind,  
With staff of faith for us assigned,  
To give us that repentance pure,  
Which had) shall our desires procure.   

The foot pace then we may ascend,  
Which leadeth us to life sincere,  
Seven steps it hath, if we pretend,  
To find those three we sought well ear,  
Go we up these steps (which appear,  
The works of mercy seven to be,  
Our desires then obtain shall we.   

These shall conduct us to that place,  
Which we look for. But coming then  
Toth' gate where is all this solace,  
We must knock thrice with staff in hand  
That is, thus much to understand,  
Contrition, Confession and satissisance,  
Must then help us in thentrance.   

The Porter then to us will step,  
God's divine goodness doth he mean,  
Who after this our travel great,  
Thus furnished will not us disdain,  
But gladly us will entertain,  
In wealth withouten want, in joy,  
And light, that last void of all noye.   

For which the Lord in mercy guide,  
Our goings and doings to direct,  
That from his fear we never slide,  
But that to our steps we so respect,  
That his gracious gates we may amplecte,  
And with Christ entertained be,  
To rest in endless felicity.    
Finis.   

¶ The constant course in spiritual combat and turneiment of each faithful Christian, against Antichrist our malignant adversary obtaineth in fine condign reward of tranquil felicie in this world, and in the world to come, perpetual felicities inspeakable.  
¶ To the tune of jocundarie.  

March now my muse with martial might,  
In spiritual combat conquering:  
Condign reward doth ever light,  
On virtuous worthy travelling.   

Declare of Adonias king,  
That pretty History,  
In wealth who sometime flourishing:  
Delighted much to see,  
His knights at tourney practising,  
The feats of chivalry.   

It happened that upon a day,  
By Proclamation made there:  
His knights in armour should array,  
Themselves each with shield and spear.   

Then by decree he did ordain,  
What knight so ever could,  
Himself with prows best demain,  
Have worthy hire he should:  
This known of knights a noble train,  
Came tourney for to hold.   

The day of their appearance come,  
And their assembly made so:  
The king did will of those knights some,  
In one part should aside go.   

The other half of them there,  
He made themselves divide,  
The first part chosen straight to bear,  
Their armour did provide:  
To lait in place of purpose where,  
The tourney should be tried.   

Then gave the king commandment,  
Who on the part contrary:  
With spear to do his best was bend,  
To touch, away take, and carry.   

The armour so that down was laid,  
The owner thereof presently,  
Out of the troop should be conveyed:  
To tourney with his enemy,  
And for the purpose was a maied,  
Ordained to arm him readily.   

●hat done encounter should her knight,  
'Gainst him that touched the armour late,  
Whom if he foiled or put to flight,  
That day he should be decorate.   

With royal crown and placed be,  
At table with the king,  
A certain knight with valiancy:  
Conditions these hearing,  
With diligence about looked he,  
Every shield beholding.   

Amongst them all he marked one,  
With apples three gilt garnished:  
In great desire that shield alone,  
His greedy mind had ravished.   

And that same shield he touched with spear,  
Strait way the other knight,  
Who aught it, of the maid there:  
Did make himself be dight,  
And entereth lists withouten fear,  
Against the other wight.   

In tourney which lo he that aught,  
The armour touched by prowess,  
Behaded him that so had sought,  
To carry away his harness.   

And as the king commanded it,  
Of late, the conqueror,