CERTAIN WORTHY MANVscript Poems of great Antiquity Reserved long in the Study of a Norfolk Gentleman. And now first published By J. S.  
1 The stately tragedy of Guistard and Sismond.  
2 The Northern Mother's Blessing.  
3 The way to Thrifte.  
DEUS IMPERAT ASTRIS.  
Imprinted at London for R. D. 1597.   

To the worthiest Poet Master Ed. Spenser.   

THE STATELY Tragedy of Guistard and Sismond in two Books.  

The first Book.  

tancred the noble Prince of Salurne▪  
Flower of Knighthood, and mirror of prowess,  
The which long time his people did govern  
Wittily by benignity and gentleness,  
each man rejoiced of his great noblesse:  
Discreet in all thing that was judicial,  
And evermore Princelike in things imperial.   

His law he kept justly through his Province,  
Rigorous to vice, yet bounteous to all,  
And merciful als as ever was any Prince,  
And shortly as my Doctor makes rehearsal,  
His fame had never spot in all his governal,  
Till hasty cruelness procured in great ire  
The fatal death of twain that love had set on fire.   

A wife he took, which come of blood Royal,  
But of what prince or yet of what lineage,  
What was her name, or what men did her call,  
Nought says mine Author▪ But of high parage  
Men may well know, that thus in marriage  
Was joined with so high a Prince as was tancred:  
Therefore I pass over & take there of none heed.   

This noble Prince tancred had never issue  
In time of all his life to be his heir  
Save only a daughter whom Nature & virtue  
Excellently endued, so was she good and fair.  
But ôcruel destiny that mirth does oft appeyre,  
And after great gladness maketh men to morn!  
Better had tancred been that child had never be borne.   

But all that was full far fro his mind,  
He read not in the book of her destiny,  
Her fatal chance was to him dark and blind;  
Let all this pass: This child was put to noiye,  
Daily she increased in favour and beauté  
So that when her nonage passed and her youth  
Her noble fame & beautè was in ich man's mouth.   

If I should describe this beauteous creature▪  
Nature had her specially in remembrance▪  
For she was well fetured & seemly of stature,  
Her cheer was ruddy according to pleasance,  
Aspere it was to lovers her goodly countenance,  
Her beauty not made be signement ne other gear  
But of her kind as Nature gave to her.   

She excellid in beauté Vlixes Lady fair  
Penelope of Greece, and eke fair Helen:  
Hippolita also, and Emely her sister  
Might not compare with her, nor Polixyne:  
Instedfast love she passed Dido the Queen;  
Faithful and true without dangerous disdain,  
courteous and deboneyre, she was not sullen.   

As for to speak of her pregnant wit,  
Her perfit mind, and her intelligence,  
No thing was so heard, but she conceived it;  
In far sottell casting she had experience:  
What should I say more but shortly in sentence,  
She knew more happily than was expedient  
Unto any woman, or else convenient.   

Like as the unhappy father ofyssue had no more,  
But this child only, so loved he her truly:  
His heart, his mind, his love was set on her so sore,  
That if she were absent him thought he should die;  
So that in his mind he is determined utterly  
Ever to keep his daughter with him in his sight,  
And never to grant her in marriage to no wight:   

though princes royal, to whom of high favour  
Fortune had grauntit great inheritance,  
Desyren this fair Lady to their Paramour  
Ever to be true withouten variance  
And so by matrimony to make Alliance.  
But though Cupid hit them with his fiery dart  
Yet nold her father suffer her to departed.   

So shortly for to tell, this maid fro her desire  
Was also needly compellit to abstain:  
though lusty youth and courage brent her as fire,  
Yet mought she never pleasure of her love attain,  
But ever contemned, still living in pain  
Till many of her lusty years were ago,  
Her own cruel father did her all this woe▪   

It fortund in a time I wots not in what wise  
whether that her father had compassion  
Upon her great woe, or else for some promise  
Of good riches, or of possession,  
But shortly to champain the Duke's son  
He granted his daughter to have in marriage;  
A man of blood royal and of high parage.   

It needith not rehearse the rich Apparel  
Of those two lovers the day of their wedding:  
Or to my purpose what may hit avail  
To tell of the curious feest, and the guiding?  
All this I pass over, and make notarying:  
I speak not of the mirth & melody that was there,  
But for a conclusion, thus wedded they were.   

Of sorrowful morning now is the cloudy night  
By the fire of love driven far away,  
The fervent sun of pleasance shineth now fulbright,  
His fresh lusty beams hath turned night to day,  
Now may she dance & sing now hath she lust to play▪  
For ever after mourning the mirth is the sweeter,  
And after great sorrow the joy shallbe the greater.   

But as lusty Phoebus with his fiery beams  
When his golden Carrehath reached into the west,  
Anon he withdraws his hot brenning streams  
And then appeareth Phoebe out of her cloudynest,  
Then comes the night when all men drawn to rest,  
Until on the morrow that Lucifer appear  
Called the day-star, the days messengere.   

Right so the fervent Sun of her lusty pleasance.  
Was wrapped with weeping of the cloudy rain:  
For within little space of continuance  
After their wedding, Death parted 'em twain,  
I wots not by what mean: her Lord her sovereign  
By sickness or by battle I can no knowlech have,  
But shortly this Duke-is son is deed in his grave.   

Alas departure ground of all heaviness,  
Causing the dark night of cloudy divorce!  
O cruel Death, I mean destruction of gladness  
Disdaining the pleasure of this woeful corpse!  
Why would thou thus with thy malicious force  
Eclipse the clearness of this her joyful day  
Bringing forth the night, and care, and weleaway?   

Falsely thou robbest her of her heart's pleasure  
Taking from her him that she loved best.  
Alas thou art the common thief of Nature  
That hast take from her all ease and hearts rest.  
Would God on thee she mought call a Quest  
Of Lovers▪ and then for all thine art  
Thou shouldyst be do to death with thin own dart.   

What needith it to speak of thine Envy?  
When this woeful woman shall never be the better  
For that hath be the cause of all her Malady  
If it be rehearsed, it makys her woe the greater,  
Wherefore my pen shall write thereof no letter▪  
But thus this woman weepeth, & can none otherrede,  
It helpeth her nothing, for her make is deed.   

How shall she now be ruled, she takis her council  
devoid of comfort, for her lacks her guide:  
Anon she hath conclude within her mind right well  
At home with her father she thinkith to abide,  
And there to leave her sorrow if it would betide  
Whereas all her penance first of all was take;  
So widow to her father she cometh in clothiss black.   

Things artificial that be violent  
Wrought or else made by cause accidental  
May not ever endure▪ for when the cause is shent  
The effect thereof shall soon said and fall.  
Why should this woman then longer, faint, or pall,  
Sith the cause of her mourning is fro her mind ycast  
The death of her Husband is so fer-since past?   

If still she bide, and dwell ever still  
In woeful care to continue and endure,  
Within short time she should herself spill:  
For sorrow is a poison which no man may cure,  
It bringeth hearts proud full low unto the lure,  
It maketh strength to faide and also Beautè,  
It is the greatest malady that to man may be.   

So she still bided in her faders' house,  
Young and courageous also in high degree,  
With affluence of all thing that was delicious▪  
But when at last she 'gan perceive and see  
That for love, her father intendeth not that she  
Should never more none other husband have,  
But still to dwell with him to he be dead in grave:   

Thus then hath her father determined utterly  
Never to procure for her no marriage,  
And herself to axe it her seemed villainy,  
She thought therefore to take her best advantage,  
Gife she mought espy a man of good lineage,  
So that he gentle were, to take her own choice,  
And in the election her father should have novoice.   

Now this noble tancred had in his household,  
As in a Prince's Court is wont for to be,  
Both Lords and Knights courageous to behold,  
Some gentlemen, some yeomen, some of low degree,  
Among these she began to look and see  
If she can any find that were to her pleasure,  
Whom she would evermore love while she might endure.   

So daily in her mind she was full diligent,  
For to note each man in his demeanance:  
But Guistard to love is only her intent,  
And he right well knew by the appearance  
Of her cheer and her changed countenance  
That of brenning love she danced in the trace,  
Which hath bound her heart with his goldin lace.   

But where she set her love he witted in no case,  
Till ones he fortuned to stand before this Lady,  
And she beholding him with deadly pale face  
Not speaking o word, she sighed greatly  
And anon with that she can withdraw her eye  
Casting down her look far unto the ground,  
So womanly shamefast she sat a great stound.   

And when this young lover now brought in loves dance  
Of her intent had such experience  
He was not dull of wit, but gave attendance,  
Her to serve and please he did his diligence,  
Cupid hath smitten him with so great fervence  
Of love, that their hearts be together bound,  
Both perished with one dart, two lovers with one wound▪   

Right joyful he was that he stood in such grace  
Of this fair Lady But ever he dread fortune:  
Alas he saith thy where turneth in little space  
Thy double cheer unstable never will continue,  
More variant than is the flitting Lune:  
I fear that thou will cause my Lady sovereign  
Upon my simple birth of danger to disdain.   

Yet know I her heart so true and so steadfast  
And she began also to proffer love,  
Why should I then fear or elliss be aghast  
Or put default in her? O mercy god above!  
For all treasure in earth it would not me behove  
That my heart's joy, my lady hereof witted  
That I should put in her any such mistrist.   

And percase that if she loved me not,  
Yet would I in her service still persever:  
Me nead not by reason argue, for I wots  
Love hath her heart embraced me to love ever,  
What should I shortly say? for they had liefer  
each of 'em die than to part fro other,  
More fervently they loved than sister or brother.   

So between 'em both that loved on this wise  
They desired only for their great pleasance  
By some sottle mean how they mought devise  
For to speak together and have their dalliance,  
They will not put no trist ne no affiance  
To any on live their matter for to tell,  
But ever to themselves they kept it counsel:   

Till it fell on a time of a sudden advise  
The Lady found a mean that was a great cautel,  
As oft it faris that women been soon wise  
And in a sudden case they be right subtle:  
She tells him her intent by wrighting every deal  
And the letter closed in a reed-spyre  
She took it to Guistard for to stur the fire.   

Guistard remembered well that for some privy cause  
The reed was take to him, he did it soon on close,  
And when he saw the letter, made a little pause  
Sitting in a study and anon he rose  
And to read this letter can himself dispose,  
The which the Lady made of her own inditing  
She was her own secretary, it was her own writing.   

The tenor of this letter was this and all the effect:  
I send you greeting with heart & love enter  
Not bold by rehearsal my counsel to detect  
For dreadful shamefastness. Wherefore this messengere  
Shall do this enterprise whose countenance & cheer  
Changeth for no shame; therefore these letters black  
I pray you disdain not to read them for my sake.   

Certefying you all my hearts' pleasance  
All my world's rest, my joy and comforture,  
That my life, my death, as in a balance  
Dependith and hangith only in your cure,  
In you alone is put mine Adventure:  
Wherefore I require you that you be not strange,  
For I ensure you verily my heart shall never change.   

And I trow certain that your gentle heart  
Disdeineth not my love, nor is not dangerous  
Considering your birth, and your great poverty,  
And I a Lady both young and beauteous:  
For Cupid knoweth right well & his mother Venus  
That only for your virtue and your gentleness  
I set my love on you and for no great riches.   

But because also my father hath made an oath  
That I shall never wed while he is living,  
To suffer me departed from him he is loath:  
Yet lusty youth like as the fire brenning  
Hath chose you for my sovereign all my life enduring,  
And also fortune of her high favour  
Hath showed me the mean to save all our honour.   

Remember there is fast by my faders place  
A dungeon deep & strong far under ground  
The which at his entry has no more space  
But an hole above that little is and round,  
And because it is not used ne is found,  
With bushes and briars it is overgrow  
So that the dungeon deep there may no man know.   

Out from thilk pit is there a secret way  
By a postern door that stands full privily  
Strong bars, and posts, both with lock and key  
That leadith to the Chamber where as I  
Am wont of custom in sleeping for to lie,  
And by great disuse this way is out of mind,  
This little door this postern can no man find.   

Till at the last love to whom nought is hid,  
The which for every sore can find a remedy,  
This way into my mind soon hath reducid:  
But shortly I tarried not but hastily did me high  
To unbarre and unlock I can look and spy,  
And at the last with great pain and beesy labour  
I have found all the craft for to undo this door.   

Be myself alone I went into the cave,  
I saw the little hole where is the entering  
How and in what wise ye may yourself save  
Again all manner perils in thither coming,  
The height and the deepness I send you be writing  
So that you need not dread for no misaventure,  
Ye know where & when you may have your pleasure.   

And after this in her inditing  
There was a little clause for a conclusion  
As is the common usage in each writing  
Whose name should be called Subscription;  
She wrote there By your own, and made no mention  
Of her name: till after a great stound  
With sighing sore she added to, Sismond.   

What marvel now if he be not pensive?  
Now he hath rad this letter of comfort  
And from his deadly sorrow turns again to live,  
Sith he has almost reached the lusty port  
Of pleasance, lust▪ solace and of all disport:  
Wherefore he hasteth full busily and hieth  
To meet his Lady as the letter specifieth.   

Who now but this Guistard with his diligence  
To this pleasant journey spedith him apace:  
Every hour that he is out of her presence,  
Him seemeth for to be a thousand year of space:  
But though the sluggish carcase be far fro her face  
Yet with the flighty wings of amorous desire  
He is ever in her service brenning as the fire.   

A cord he let adown anon of great length,  
And fast unto a Bough above he did it tie  
Fret all full of knots sufficient of strength  
By which into the pit he mought himself convey,  
To close himself in leather also he did purvey  
From bushes and fro briars to keep him sewer:  
And thus towards the pit he went in this armour.   

The bright eye of the world when that the shining day  
Withdrawith, and also Titan with his sparkling light,  
Then this young lover taketh his journey  
Towards the foresaid pit: abiding there all night  
Till on the morrow Aurora shone full bright;  
When some haukith, some huntith, some to their labour,  
Then 'gins this Lady to come out from her tower.   

Remembering her well, when the night was gone,  
Of their covenants made by just appointment,  
All her gentylmen and maidens everichone  
To her gardent to sport and play she sent  
Feigning her to be sick, and for that intent  
She said to her chamber again she would forth right  
To taken rest and sleep if she might.   

The doors & the windows she closed anon full sure,  
Then towards the dungeon took she the right way  
Where she found Guistard her hearts' pleasure:  
joyfully they kissed, Then she 'gan to say,  
Gramercy fortune that I may see this day  
To speak with him that is my worldly pleasance,  
In whom is all my trust and affiance.   

She brought him to her chamber this Lady beauteous,  
Her fresh apparel full Lusty was and gay,  
Her surcoat of gold furred with Ermine precious,  
A fair mirror of Love her beauty and ary:  
So shortly▪ for to tell, I can no more say;  
But construe if ye can, lovers, what they did,  
For I can no more, but long they there abide.   

And when them seemed best they parted in sunder,  
Not long they tarry, ne daily their sports use,  
For daily coming maketh men to wonder,  
And eke long tarriance maketh men to muse,  
But chiefly women's shrewd tongues will accuse  
Your noble fame, and say your life is nought,  
though never ye do offend in word ne thought.   

Wisely they provided to eschew infamy,  
And for all thing secret mought be kept  
Into the garden went she full hastily,  
Where that her maidens pleyd thinking she slept,  
And at night Guistard out of the pit crept:  
So coming thus, and by night parting away,  
Continued they their pleasure till after many a day,   

That fortune alas by treason falsely compassed,  
Bewrayed all their counsel of misaventure,  
All their lusty pleasance turned at the last  
Into cruel death at their departing:  
O thou false fortune that ever is on sure,  
Bringing hearts light to woe when they be well,  
It seem is thou art not able for to rule thy wheel!   

It is next in our process to speak of tancred  
The noble Prince her father, which of great frequency  
Of tender love & jealousy more than need,  
So he delighted in her speech and eloquence,  
That he used of custom under cares pretence  
To come unto the Chamber of his daughter fair,  
And after they had talkyd, again home to repair.   
Explicit Liber primus.   

THE SECOND book of Guistard and Sismond.  

IN the merry season of Summer fair and hot,  
When every thing reneweth by course of nature,  
And winter with his frosty beard and f●iesed cote  
Is put into exile and may no longer dure,  
Then Summer giveth his livery with busy cure,  
New clothing all the Earth in a lusty green  
All browderid full of flowers right freshly to seen.   

Sterring hearts light in gardens to walk,  
So did this Lady Sismond for her pleasance  
In this fresh season, plucking flowers fro their stall▪  
She made her garland wherewith she thought to dance:  
But in the mean while, alas the unhappy chance,  
Her father, of a Custom as he was wont to do,  
Only to talk with her is to her garden go.   

But when he perceivit she was in her disport,  
Right loath he was to let her recreation,  
He would for nothing his daughter discomfort,  
Neither disquiet her till she had all done,  
Forth into the chamber entered he full soon  
The curtains were draw by the bed side,  
He sat behind the curtain his daughter to abide.   

And as he sat still, sleep did him encumbre,  
He waxed all unlisty and also somnolent,  
Then to the bed leaned he began to slumbre.  
O thou untristie fortune what is thine intent?  
To destroy this Lady it seemith thou hast meant.  
Where thou may bewray, it is not kept counsel;  
That should be counsel kept, thou tellest every deal.   

O princes daughter Sismond infortunate by birth,  
O hour unhappy when thou began to so journey  
With Love in his Palace: The pleasant Sun of mirth  
Is coming to his highest, & beginneth to turn.  
O slow malicious meever, thou cursed Saturn,  
I trow by some envy or malicious aspect  
Of all this fervent love thou hast broken the affect.   

Poor Sismond thinking no deceit ne guile  
Partid fro her maidens & to her chamber went,  
And so forth to the pit: where in a little while  
She found her Guistard all ready present,  
For a little before (alas) for him she sent:  
And when they were in coming, they put no mistrist,  
They know no body there, they did what they list.   

Now when her father see the abominable Crime  
After he was out of his sleep awake  
He thought have cried: but for a little time  
It seemed him best to let his anger slake  
And easily within himself this pain to take:  
He made no stirring, but sat ever still  
Till they had done their pleasure at their own will.   

And after that departed as before,  
Guistard to the pit, and she to her women▪  
Her woeful father would tarry there no more,  
But home he went in haste, and called for his men,  
Of which he sent a certain to the den  
For to take Guistard when he should go hence,  
And so to present him to the King's presence.   

When this man come up, anon they him arrest,  
With dread and pale visage for dread he shook,  
All they had ruth on him both most and least,  
But forth in that Array they there him took,  
They brought him to the Prince, & he did on him look,  
For great wrath and anger very pale of cheer,  
saying unto Guistard as ye shullen after hear:   

Guistard, he said, my love and tender favour,  
The meekness & gentle heart that I have showed to you  
Hath nothing deserved so great a dishonour  
To me and mine as ye have do right now,  
Seing myself all thing, what ye did and how:  
That truly so I mought my worship keep and save,  
I would I were deed and buried in my grave.   

This great rebuke and contumely went even to the heart  
Of Guistard that for shame cannot speak o word,  
Till at the last with courage forth he start,  
Saying no more but this▪ Remembreth well my Lord,  
Experience I trow will to my sentence accord:  
The mighty power of Love is a stronger bond  
Than other ye or I am able to withstand.   

But all his excuse was evin samfayll,  
So was his mind with malice and Ire obumbrate.  
Alas where malice reigneth may non excuse avail,  
A great abusion is a ruler to be passionate.  
O ye princes therefore to whom of high estate,  
The guiding is committed of noble nations,  
Well ought ye take heed to rule your passions.   

Permit not your wilful Sensualitè,  
Geinst wisdoms council for to put restreant:  
Be not ruled only by your voluntè,  
Oppressing by power him that is weak and faint,  
Whereby your noble fame is hurt and attaint:  
It causeth your people also in time of your distress  
To withdraw their favour and hearty faithfulness.   

To every glozing tale give no credence,  
Let not hasty cruelness guide your judgement:  
Remember well or ye define your sentence,  
What shallbe the end and what the hole intent:  
Rule yourself discretely by good avisement:  
Remember the proverbial seying long ago,  
A cruel hasty man shall never lack of woe:   

Preeved wellby Tancredes cruel hastiness,  
Committing Guistard anon to close preson,  
Putting him in Irons and in great distress,  
As a traitor guilty of false prodition,  
And afterwards alas again all reason  
This innocent was do to death so cruelly,  
That each man abhorreth to here that tyranny.   

What man of his wit is so dull and herd,  
That cannot think hereby of sorrow augmentation?  
The great thought this Lady had for her Guistard  
Sore troubled in her sleep by fearful vision,  
Her mind was set on him with such oppression,  
That both of we'll and woe all his adventure  
Was showed her in sleep by a feigned figure.   

I trow she see full dreadful visions and dreamis  
When her love was prisoned in that woeful night,  
In weeping her eyen waterid like two streemis,  
And ever she thought Guistard stood in her sight  
Holding a cup of gold, with an heart all bloody dight,  
Himself eke sprent with blood did her salve,  
saying: Farewell Sismond, this is my last adieu.   

She thought her answer was to him anon,  
Alas will ye so soon make a departure,  
And void of comfort leave me thus alone?  
Ye shall not so dear heart: For certain I ensure,  
I shall but once drink and do my busy cure  
To go with you ever: how so your journey turn  
Mine heart and yours shall ay together sojourn.   

And suddenly with that out of her sleep she start  
As a woman from herself, she was so sore dismayed,  
She thought of very death the sword went to her heart,  
And thus weeping by herself she prayed:  
O mirror of all women Marry she said,  
From all shame and velony my love & me defend,  
And help that my dream to me none pretend.   

All these and many more thing is conventurall  
May well be imagined by persuasion▪  
But all this is feigning as dream fantastical,  
And thereof mine Author maketh no mention,  
So that I think to make no manner digression,  
Increasing any thing that is not pertinent  
To my first purpose or to mine intent.   

Wherefore I will proceed to speak of Sismond,  
Which of Guistards' duresse had no notice  
Save only by her dreams, till after a great stound  
tancred to her chamber come as was his old guise,  
And she anon with reverence did again him rise  
Welcoming her father with obeisant lowliness,  
The which said unto her as I shall express:   

Daughter Sysmond, he says, your womanly Ap port,  
Your virtuous talk and careful demenaunce,  
Your steadfast heart and guidance gave me such comfort  
Trusting in your heart with hole affiance,  
That ye of voluptuous Venus the lusty pleasance  
Without assent given, I mean of marriage,  
Would not have take yourself leave for all your courage.   

But well I see my wit was dull and blind,  
For sure I would have demid the great occasion  
Should sooner have dried flaming again kind,  
Then ye would ever have thought to be a mis-woman▪  
For had I not seen the deed in what place & when,  
Should never man have causit me have supposaill  
Ere that you would so done but in your spousaill.   

Remember well what hurt therefore and damage  
Ye did unto your birth and blood royal,  
When ye like women of brothel and prostrage  
Took what come to hand as the chance would fall:  
It seem is ye put no difference twixt Get & Crystal:  
All one to you a flint and a Diamond,  
Peasin as good as pearls orient and round.   

From all womanhood you be degeneraunt,  
Which of whorships soverance is ever desperous;  
But ye pervert all this, ye be so vigilant,  
Taking in steed of worship, lust voluptuous,  
And sikerly the offence were not so grievous  
Hadye taken such as had be commendable,  
To your noble birth or elis convenable.   

But in all this region yt seemith by your choice,  
Lord, knight, ne squire was none to your pleasure  
Of royal blood, in whom ye couth rejoice,  
Save only poor Guistard, whose birth & adventure  
Fortune of disdain hath take no thing in cure:  
Which for great poverty in time of misery,  
Without my relief had died for penury.   

So that my crevell death daily doth renew,  
Death? nay more than death I may call it truly  
Piercing my breast ay fresh, new and new,  
By the shamefast sword rebuke and velony,  
Which you have do Sismond to all our Ancetry,  
Choosing such one to be my Londs inheritaunt  
As is by birth ignoble and poor mendicant.   

Wherefore I verily purpose to repress  
His great enhanced pride and great presumption  
Condemning for his ●yot in pain and duresse,  
Intending the law shall have due execution,  
Shortly shall he die, this is the conclusion  
Utterly I am determined for his great offence:  
But of you Sismond I give yet no sentence.   

For I may resemble as in my ragious mind,  
A ship without anckre, lacking stern also  
In stormy rage of every furious wind,  
It is a thing unstable waning to and fro,  
Semblable now am I one of thoo▪  
My doubtful mind is brought in perplexité,  
And cast fro side to side twixt justice and pité   

Furst justice moveth me to do correction,  
Rewarding every wight to their desert,  
Some love, some pain with great affliction,  
But faderly pity so stirrith my tender heart  
That it sufferith me not see nor advert  
Your criminal offence, but rather doth it excuse;  
So that twixt both I stand a man confuse.   

And forth with anon he fell to weeping,  
As a young infant sore scourged and bet,  
In all worldly pleasance rejoiced he nothing  
Sorrow and shame so by the heart him fret,  
saying nothing thus sat he still and muet:  
Daughter he said give ye will axe mercy,  
To pardon your offence forsooth I am ready.   

But when Sismond saw how her love Guistard  
In preson was entreated kept in iron strong,  
That fortune to her also was so cruel and hard  
To publish her council that secret was so long,  
With gentiles and rurals it was a comen song,  
That every man within the country round  
Spoke of the unhappy Guistard and Sismond.   

Wherefore she plunged so far in pit of sorrow deep,  
That I trow each heart that gentle is & tender  
If I should tell her pain would also moon & weep:  
Full oft she wrung her fingers long and slender,  
saying; all worldly pleasance here I surrendre:  
For since my love Guistard is judged for to die,  
I will do the same, I think not to abye.   

Wherefore o cursed Fortune with thy double cheer  
All thy great malice wholly I defy,  
Setting no thing by thy deynous danger,  
Thou shall us not departed for all thine envy,  
For our love together shall dwell perseverantly▪  
And returned to her father with courage and boldness,  
saying as in this book mine Author doth witness:   

tancred, she said, father if I should ye call,  
Nother will I deny it, nor prey you of favour▪  
The furst it will help me nothing at all,  
Sith ye have full knowledge of my Paramour▪  
But for the second, to axe grace or succour,  
I will not axe no grace for that in no wise,  
Nor of your grace and favour ask no benefice.   

So that I knowlich plainly all mine intent,  
My love is set on Guistard, & hath be many a day▪  
And shallbe when my spirit and soul is went  
From the brotle mansion of this body's clay:  
If nature would me help mean to purvey  
That I mought execute mine affection and will,  
Yet would I after my death ever love him still.   

And if ye think this Love so great a crime,  
Forsooth the cause thereof was your negligence  
When in youth and courage my lusty prime  
The brenning fire of love with so great fervence,  
Persid mine heart: And yet your cruel insolence  
Would not me suffer for all my great pain  
After mine husband's death be married again.   

Hadye well learned the doctrine of prudence,  
Ye would remember your substance material,  
I trow it should be imprinted in your advertence,  
That you been made of matter freale and carnal,  
Right so am I your daughter by virtue seminal;  
I am neither of stone iron ne brass,  
But of flesh and blood more brekill than the glass.   

Although your head be white snowid for age,  
Your frosty limbs eke be unwieldy and cold,  
The heat nigh extinct of your lusty courage,  
Right well ought ye forsooth consider & behold  
How hot is youth with brenning pricking manifold  
Assailing each man be he never so haute  
With many a fiery dart and hot brenning assault.   

Above all thing ye should have memory,  
though ye have spent most of your lusty season  
In arms of knighthood and of chivalry,  
Yet should ye not foryet, as seemis by reason,  
Ease, rest, and delicates what great incheason  
They give to star a man to courage hot fervent,  
As well in crooked age as lusty Iwent.   

All these occasions I had and many more  
By which I moved was so greatly desirous,  
Borne by Nature's course of flesh and blood also,  
Of courage lusty young and amorous,  
Fosterid also in pleasance and meats delicious:  
And that that stirred most, & was my chief motife,  
The experience thereof sith I was a wife.   

But all this is far fro your remembrance,  
Ye think not your youth which is past & go,  
Ye may well resemble him in your demeanaunce  
Which fell into the water with others one or two,  
But after he was delivered of his care and woe  
Thought nothing at all where he had been before,  
His fellows he rebukith, laughing them to scorn.   

And if ye haply couth rule your passions  
Nor set nought by their force and violence,  
Yet mought not my frailté geinst such occasions  
Make no champarty nor no great defence,  
My heart was not so big to make resistance:  
So at last woundid, at last with loves fiery lance  
I was subdued as prisoner to Castle of pleasance.   

Nevertheless with devour I put my diligence  
All sklaunders and infamy to avoid and eschew,  
And fortune of her favour gave us assistance  
Our lusty sport oft times for to renew▪  
We thought her promise had be steadfast & true,  
Blandeshing us ever with countenance and cheer  
As though the sun of pleasance should shine ever clear.   

But now I see right well she ginneth for to change,  
Sith ye of all our counsel have plainly notice,  
Such is false fortune, ay variant and strange:  
But how ye come to knowledge or in what wise  
My wit is rude and dull, I can it not devise;  
Whether by experience or by information,  
By force prestigious, or some superstition.   

And would God your knowlech were certain & true  
Not moved ne made by false suggestion,  
Ye would not then your daughter thus pursue  
Seeing that I err in mine election  
Taking no sad guiding or direction▪  
But let my revel ren at the hole chance,  
I nas not so foolhardy without deliberance.   

For I set not my love ne my fatal intent  
Of sudden hap as a comen velayne,  
But with deliberation and avisement  
I gave my love to Guistard as my sovereign,  
And truly to no more, this is, certain:  
Wherefore ye be to blame father, it seemeth me,  
To say my love was to each in like free.   

As to the great reprieve also contrived,  
Which alder first again me ye object▪  
Seing of pleasance my ship was arrived  
In a port that was ignoble and despect,  
I mean that Guistard was poor and deject  
Having no part of noblesse by descent,  
Which maketh my fault greater after judgement:   

But as in this ye follow the unstable vulge  
Clacking and blasting, variant as the wind  
As fame the flying messenger can divulge  
Their rude opinions ignorant and blind,  
Seing it is a proverb sufficient and kind  
He that is not borne to abundance of good  
But needy for poverty, is not of gentle blood.   

Thus by fond reasons daily talking they err  
Not thinking how fortune fro her unstable centre  
plungeth down Estates fro her wheel afar  
When she list of danger to frown & repent her▪  
But would they first weigh the original enter  
Of our common birth in all our first beginning  
Brought forth into this world poor naked & weeping,   

Then should they remember who were of noblesse,  
Who might entitle him to the blood royal▪  
They should see how Nature which her business,  
Brings forth her effect & wondrous gifts all,  
Being as in her birth to every man equal:  
For as naked is a King borne as I understand  
As is the lowist borne that never had house ne land.   

For when our mother Eve brought forth A bell and Cain,  
Who couth prefer himself for birth or lineage,  
Or of these two infants who couth the title claim  
Of gentle blood of noblesse or parage?  
That time no difference was twixt gentle & page,  
But every one was fain to endeavour  
His living to get with sweat and with labour.   

Of all this time was none bond in servage,  
Was none by service under subjection,  
Till that the people 'gan to rule and rage  
Guiding hemselfes by will and not by reason  
Offending their laws by their transgression▪  
Then of right and justice they must be correct  
Of one their sovereign, and they to him subject.   

But he that should be ruler and have regency  
May not of right be such as a transgressor:  
Again all due order of nature is it truly  
That vice should sit above as governor:  
But when that virtue gentleness doth honour  
He is of right provided sovereign,  
Although his birth is poor, this is certain.   

Of this wife was Moses and Gedeon also,  
The noble duke josuah of God himself elect,  
And scripture rehearseth eke of many more,  
Which though for their birth were poor & deject,  
Yet were they for their virtue choosed to direct  
And guide the people. So shortly it is true,  
There is no gentleman save only by virtue.   

Then father tancred in all your great household  
Remember well your gentles in their gesture,  
The guidance eke of Guistard if you list behold,  
His lowly demeanance with all his haviour,  
I trow ye affirm that madam nature  
Hath granted more to him than many of though  
Which ye call gentlemen, though all they be not so.   

And truly I heard never such relation  
In praise and laud of Guistards' noblesse,  
As I have often heard by your assertion  
Commending his Virtues and his gentleness,  
Yet was his virtue more than the name doubtless:  
He that saith Guistard is no gentleman,  
Forsooth he saith untrue and little good can.   

Had ye him called poor ye had not greatly erred;  
And yet forsooth it is great velony  
To be with you a gentleman unpreferred,  
Such one as tends on your service daily,  
A gentle master bids not his man needy,  
And though needy poverty take fro a man riches  
Yet reves it not nurture nor gentleness.   

As for your doubtful ambiguity  
What doom to give of me, or what sentence,  
Be not in doubt thus nor perplexity,  
Dye he, I die with cruel violence:  
For I was root and cause of this offence.  
For thy, if you will not my death complish,  
These cruel honds my life shall soon finish.   

For justice knoweth with her equal balance,  
Which rightwise judge is unto every wight,  
My fault is more than his in ponderaunce:  
Why then should not her sword me sharply smite  
Sith that in my person is all the wit?  
Reason would that I should have correction,  
Which was the very cause & the occasion.   

And if your pleasure be at my request  
To change his mortal fait with merciful pardon,  
I for your finance give that ye love best,  
Mine own life I mean I give you to guerdon:  
For slay ye Guistard, this is the conclusion,  
Let your foolish hastiness your daughter slay also:  
For if ye do it not, myself soon shall it do.   

The prince her father anon perceived well  
Her cheer nought abashed, her heart not feminine:  
Yet thought her not so tigrous and cruel  
To procure her own death, and her mortal fine:  
He thought her loves fervence world decline,  
If the fire were not kindled ay new and new  
By the sight of Guistard comfort of her hue.   

Wherefore tancred meaning his ire to complish,  
Sent forth his men by night so privily  
To slay Guistard. Oh tancred thou might wish  
Sismond had not be borne: for her noble glory  
Is macculate by this thy tyranny,  
Commanding the bloody heart with violent force  
Furiously be rend from his dead murdered corpse.   

Tancred hath closed this heart sprent with blood round  
In a cup of gold in stead of sepulture,  
And by a messenger sent it to Sismond,  
Which doth her diligence with busy cure  
Intending her own death for to procure,  
Of herbs and roots to make a potion  
Mixed in a viol with venomous poison.   

And what the bearer said shortly to express,  
Madam, he said, your father hath you sent  
This woeful donative to your nobleness,  
The thing you loved best he sends you to present,  
Telling you that it is his whole intent  
To give you of Guistard such joy and comforture,  
As ye gave him of Sysmond. This was his pleasure.   

When Sismond saw the heart closed in gold,  
She understood her sovereign was deed:  
Alas now been deaths Calendars so cold  
Entered this Lady, now can she no read,  
Now is she won the flower of woman head  
That sometime was the mirror of fairness,  
The orient margarite of all gentleness.   

Void of all comfort sat she still dismayed,  
Till at the last with bold hardy courage  
Beholding the messenger, thus to him she said,  
It were again reason to put you in damage  
Only for the doing of your message:  
But for my father I give you in witting,  
Ye shall on my behalf be are him no greeting.   

For he resembleth more in his wood rage  
A tyrant than a prince ay thirsting for vengeance,  
Which no whit couth his passion assuage,  
Nor all his life himself could advance  
To such worship, as when his violence  
Let this heart be shrined in a tomb of gold,  
And in this only his goodness may be told.   

And when she list no longer talk continue,  
Viewing the bloody heart in woeful sepulture,  
She 'gan his Exequy with piteous intune,  
Saying with faint sprite; o piece so pure,  
Hostage of lowly lust, very port of pleasure,  
Cursed might he be and waried eternally  
Which causeth the be seen with mortalleye.   

Sufficient was to me and eke more pleasant.  
To view the with my mind with thy lusty sight,  
Of true love ay steadfast and not variant,  
It is too much to see thee thus in light:  
But now thy course is done, thy counts are quite,  
Thus Fortune hath complished thy fatal fine  
Buried in gold in stead of Lybitine.   

I trow no lack was of what should behove  
To deadly faite and service funeral,  
Save teerling tears of her that was thy love,  
For weeping should be at departing mortal:  
Wherefore I trow my father at thy bane fatal  
Hath sent thee to my chamber of full remembrance  
That I should bewail thy dethper solving all observance.   

And I shall fulfil with my power and might  
All thing requisite to thy mortuary:  
And after all is done by custom and right  
I shall yield myself to death tributary,  
Suing thy fearful trace: for sooth I shall not tarry,  
But among other in deaths woeful dance,  
Following next thy hand as is my fatal chance.   

In whose fellowship, or whose comitive,  
Might I better pass that painful journey,  
Than in his whom I loved most on live?  
And also he tarrieth for me I dare well say:  
Wherefore sith his partner was always  
Of pleasure; I shall take part of his pain,  
Death shall not us dissever thus in twain.   

And anon with that her cheer she 'gan to turn,  
Her eyen in weeping ran like showers ofrayne,  
Till she had washed the heart filling the urn  
By the stilling water of her eyen twain:  
And after she had ceased weeping again  
Beholding the heart again with deadly cheer,  
With sobbing voice she said as ye shall here.   

O joyful heart, o amiable mirror!  
Now lacks there nought required of duty  
Unto deadly fine and funeral honour  
Save only this that I might follow thee.  
But for it seemith that death disdaineth me,  
I shall therefore myself with violent force  
Dissever my spirit fro his woeful corpse.   

Alas my woeful pen sorroweth to write,  
That lamentable end of this Tragedy,  
Who couth without weeping this matter indite,  
To see so fair a creature die so wretchedly,  
Of beauty surmounting and well of courtesy?  
She took alas the viol with the potion,  
That she had made afore, & drank up the poison.   
After she had drunk that pestiferous drought.  
Desunt nonnulla.   


So came he in with pale affrighted cheer,  
Saying sweet Sismond be of good sembland,  
If ye thus mourn it will bring me to despair:  
Thus he supposed to lose her of her band  
With his words of comfort, but death was at hand  
Crampesing her limbs, and gone was her sight,  
Yet she answered again her father as she might,   

And said, tancred bestow better, if thou can,  
Thy tears, for they stand me in no effect:  
Thou resemblest him that first slew the man,  
And after him repenting sore bewept:  
Had it not be better him to have kept  
Thy sorrowful daughter with joy then living  
At her own pleasure secretly a man loving,   

Than to see by thy cruel execution  
Her hard death to thine endless languor?  
The which death shall be a direction,  
Giving open knowledge of this error  
The which was secret, but now the rumour  
Shall make the thing which was not fully known  
Through all the wide world to be over sown.   

And in so much she might no longer speak  
Nor throws of death no longer would delay,  
She holds the cup till her heart 'gan to break,  
Yielding up her spirit to God ever and aye▪  
There was but Alas, Alas and wellaway,  
Some wept & cried and some fell in sound,  
It was a piteous sight and a piteous sound.   

The woeful father so sorry in that stound  
Seing his most joy in this world ygon  
He made a great shriek falling to the ground,  
No more words spoke he, but dead as any stone;  
Thus was there grief on grief, & moon upon moan.  
Wherefore it hath be spoken long ago  
That an hasty creature wanted never woe.   

Upon this Prince thus may be verified,  
Which was too hasty and furious certain,  
Without judgement causing the man that he died,  
Whose cruel death hath his daughter slain,  
And for her death he took such sudden pain,  
He dawed never good day, but he was dead,  
And all the world wondereth at his folyhede.   

Ensample of this every wise man take  
What it is to be cruel in violence,  
And of a secret thing a wonder to make  
Through hasty ire wanting of providence:  
Every man remember his own negligence,  
And vice into virtue to plant or to root:  
For truly against love there is no manner boot.   

For certes it is of true lovers the guise,  
When their vexation is most sharp and sore  
Then love they each other in most hearty wise  
An hundred fold more than they did before:  
Youth will to youth, love will to love evermore,  
And shortly in my mind this process to conclude,  
Each thing will draw to his similitude.   

As betwixt these lovers plainly did appear,  
Which were both young and in flowering age▪  
For their great trouble they loved better yfere,  
And passed of death the dreadful voyage:  
Alas the letting of their marriage  
Was cause of this mischief and their fall:  
Lo what it is to be again spousal!   

Wherefore that prince standeth in great peril,  
That to the law of wedlock nold incline▪  
But as a tyrant over fierce and fell  
Caused Guistard be put in mortal fine:  
Of whose soul if I should determine,  
I trust to God his faithful intention  
Hath furthered him to his salvation.   

For why? he thought none harm of earthly wight,  
But to the will of Sismond did assent,  
notwithstanding that I trust to God almight  
Shall be to his soul none impediment;  
For to have be married was their intent:  
Then reckon the sorrow she had withal  
And great contrition to her end final.   

That as I trust she is in bless celestial,  
As of faith and troth all lovers surmounting,  
See was a mirror unto women all,  
Example of true and steadfast love giving:  
Wherefore I beseech him that is of all thing▪  
Lord and governor, and comfort again bale,  
Grant all lovers joy. And thus endeth my tale▪   
Explicit Guistard and Sismond.   
FINIS.   

THE NORTHERN MOTHER'S BLESSING. The way of Thrift.  
Written nine years before the death of G. Chaucer.  
DEUS IMPERAT ASTRIS.  
LONDON, Printed by Robert Robinson for Robert Dexter. 1597.   

The Northern Mother's Blessing.  

GOD would that every wife that wonnyth in this land  
Would teach her daughter as ye shall understand,  
As a good wife did of the North countré  
How her daughter should lere a good wife to be:  
For lack of the moders reaching  
Makes the daughter of evil living,  
My leave dear child.   

My daughter give thou be a wife, wisely thou work,  
Look ever thou love God and the holy Kirke,  
Go to Kirke when thou may, and let for no rain,  
And then shall thou far the bet, when thou God has say:  
Full well may they thrive  
That serven God in their liue,  
My leave dear child.   

Gladly give thou thy tithes and thine offerings both  
To the poor at thy gate, be thou never loathe;  
Give 'em of thy good, and be not over hard;  
Seldom is that house poor there God is steward:  
For that is best I spend,  
That for Gods love I lend.  
My leeve dear child.   

When thou sits in the Kirke thy Bedes shalt thou bid,  
Therein make no jangling with friend ne sib,  
Laugh not to scorn no dir old ne young,  
Be of good bearing and have a good tongue:  
For after thy bearing,  
So shall thy name spring,  
My leeve dear child.   

Give any man with worship desire to wed thee,  
Wisely him answer, scorn him not what he be,  
And tell it to thy friends and hide thou it nought,  
Sat not by him nor stand not that sin mow be wrought:  
For give a slander be once raised,  
It is not so soon stilled,  
My leeve dear child.   

What man that shall wed the fore God with a ring,  
Look thou love him best of any earthly thing,  
And meekly him answer and not too snatching;  
So may thou slake his ire and be his darling:  
Fair Words slaken ire,  
Suffer and have thy desire,  
My leave dear child.   

Sweet of speech be thou and of mild mood,  
True in word and deed, so bids our Lord God,  
And keep the ever daughter fro velony and shame  
That men for thy doing speak the no blame:  
Good life ends weal,  
Be true ever as the steel,  
My leave dear child.   

Be of fair sembland and of good manner,  
Change not thy countenance for aught thou can here,  
Ne far not as a giglot what ever thee betide,  
Laugh not too loud ne gape not too wide▪  
Maidens should laugh softly  
That men here not they be.  
My leave dear child.   

When thou goes by the gate go not too fast,  
Ne bridle not with thy head, ne thy shoulders cast,  
Be not of money words ne swear not to great,  
All evil vices my daughter thou foryet:  
For give thou have an evil name,  
It will turn the to grame.  
My leave dear child.   

Go not oft to the town as it were a gaze  
Fro one house to odir for to seek the maze,  
Ne go not to market thy barrel to fill,  
Ne use not the Tavern thy worship to spill:  
For who the Tavern usis  
His thrift he refusis,  
My leave dear child:   

Give thou be in place where good drink is on fit,  
whether that thou serve or thou sit soft,  
Mesurely take thou, and get the no blame;  
Give thou be drunken it turns the to shame.  
Who so loves measure and skill,  
He shall oft have his will,  
My leeve dear child.   

Go not to the wrestling, ne shooting the cock,  
As it were a strumpet or a giglot:  
Be at home daughter and thy things tend,  
For thine own profit at the latter end:  
Merry is own thing to see,  
My dear daughter I tell it thee,  
My leave dear child.   

Acquaint the not with every man goes by the street,  
When folks thee bespeaken courteously hem great,  
Let 'em not by the weigh, nor by hem do not stand,  
That they with velony make not thine heart bond:  
For all men are not tristy,  
Give they speak to thee gaily,  
My leave dear child.   

Of lief men daughter gift thou none take,  
But thou wot weal how soon it forsake:  
Men with their gifts women o'ergone  
Give▪ they of hearts be herd as stone:  
Bounden is he or she  
That gifts takis securely,  
My leave dear child▪   

In odur men's houses make thee no mastery,  
Ne blame thou nothing thou sees with thine eye,  
Daughter I the prey bear thee so weal  
That all men may say thou art true as steel:  
For wise men and old  
Sayne good name is worth gold,  
My leave etc.   

Be thou no chider ne of words bold,  
To missay thy neighburs neder young ne old,  
Be thou not too proud ne too envious▪  
For thing that may betide in odir men's house:  
For an envious heart  
Procures much smart,  
My leave etc.   

Gifthy neighburs have rich instore or tire  
Therefore make thou no strife ne bren not as fire,  
But thank God of goods he has thee yeven,  
And so shalt thou daughter good life liven.  
For oft at ease he is  
That loves peace I wis,  
My leave etc.   

Huswifely shall thou go on the werkday,  
Pride, rest, and idleness put 'em clean away,  
And after on the holiday well clad shalt thou be  
The holiday to worship, God will love the,  
More for worship of our lord  
Than for pride of the world.  
My leave etc.   

Mekill shame daughter shall that wife tied  
That maken poor their husband with their great pride:  
Therefore daughter be housewife good,  
After the wren has veins men may let blood.  
For their thrift wexis thin  
That spend more than they win,  
My leave dear child.   

Wisely look thy household thy meinie,  
To bitter ne to boner with hem ne be,  
And look what need is best to be done  
And thereto set thy meiney soon:  
Before done deed  
Another may speed  
My leave etc.   

Look to thy meinie and let them not be idle,  
Thy husband out, look who does much or little  
And he that does well quite him his meed  
And gifhe do amiss amend thou him bid,  
And gifthe work be great and the time straight  
Set to thy hand, and make a housewives brayed  
For they will do better gifthou by them stand,  
The work is sooner done there as is many hand  
My leave etc.   

And look what thy men done, & about 'em wend,  
At every deed done be at the tone end  
And gifthou find any fault soon it amend,  
Eft will they do the better and thou be near hand  
Mikell him behoves to do  
A good house that will look to.  
My leave etc.   

Look all thing be well when they work leaven,  
And take thy keys to the when it is even  
Look all thing be well, and let for no shame  
And gifthou so do, thou gets thee the lass blame.  
Trust no man bet than thyself  
Whilst thou art in thy health:  
My leave etc.   

Borrow not too gladly, ne take not to trest  
But the more need it make or the more breast  
Make the not rich of oder men's thing  
The bolder to spend the worse thriving  
For at the ending  
Home will the borrowed thing  
My leave etc.   

Give thy meiney their hire at the terme-day  
whether they abiden, or else gone away  
Be wise ever daughter of their doing  
That thy friend may have joy of thy proving  
Lose not the love of thy friend,  
For a little that thou might'st spend.  
My leave etc.   

Now have I taught the daughter, so did my mother me  
And therefore do thereafter gifthou think to the  
Look or thou wed any man, that he have a good name  
True of hand and tongue without any blame:  
For better it is a child to be unborn,  
Than for unteaching to be forlorn.  
My leave etc.   

Sat not at even too long at gaze with the cup  
For to wassail and drink all up,  
So to bed betimes, at morn rise believe  
And so may thou better learn to thrive:  
He that will a good house keep  
Must ofte-times break asleep.  
My leave etc.   

Give it betide daughter thy friend fro the fall  
And god send the children that for bread will call,  
And thou have much need, help little or none,  
Thou must then care and spare hard as the stone:  
For evil that may betide,  
A man before should dread,  
My leave etc.   

Of all thing daughter look thou think,  
Give men would for worship set thee on the benk  
Be not too stately daughter noder young ne old,  
Forsome folk are now poor that sometime aware gold▪  
Many folk for pride  
After weren a naked side.  
My leave etc.   

Gifthou be a rich wife be not over hard  
Welcome thy neighbours that come the toward,  
Give 'em meat and drink, the more is thy meed  
Each body to his state should give the poor at need:  
For thing that may thee betide  
Love well thy neighbour thee beside  
My leave etc.   

Take heed to thy children which thou hast born  
And wait well to thy daughters that they be not forlorn  
And put 'em betime to their marriage  
And give them of thy good when they be of age.  
For maidens been lovely,  
But they been untrusty.  
My leave etc.   

Give thou love thy children hold thou hem low  
And give any of 'em misdo ban 'em not ne blow  
But take a good smart rod and beat 'em arrow  
Till they cry mercy and their guilts be know.  
For give thou love thy children we'll  
Spare not the yard never a deal.  
My leave etc.   

Now look thou do daughter as I have taught thee  
And thou shalt have my blessing the better may thou the  
And every maiden that good wife would be  
Do as I have taught you for saint charity:  
And all that so will do God give 'em his blessing  
And send 'em all heaven at her last ending.   
Explicit.  
AMEN.   

THE WAY TO Thrift.  

LOrd God what is this worlds weal,  
Riches, revel and great array?  
Nothing to spare, and all day to spill,  
Full soon it wastes and wears away.   

When plenty may no longer pay  
What wight with him would then abide?  
A careful man both night and day  
With heavy heart his head must hide,   

And all is for default of grace,  
That God grudges against our governance  
When measure may not meddle in place▪  
What is it to a man more grievance,   

Than suddenly fro manhood for to fall  
In pride his simple purveyance  
There poverty is stewardin hall:  
But he that can in some season   

Gedder and keep or that he grind  
In winter time by way of reason  
He shall not be far behind.  
For there as measure is in mind   

Good rule may not long fail,  
Yet beware to be over kind  
For skoring in the comiter tail;  
But weal and worship with welfare  
Mickle wastes with little win  
Full soon brings a householder bare,  
With large spending both out and in,  
Then be advised or thou begin  
That thou have none need to plain  
Think what a state thou standest in  
For Poverty is a privy pain,  
And if thou have hope of help and trist  
Of lords and ladies with her pleasance  
And yet beware of Had I witted  
For old envy makes new distance  
In pride and poverty is great penance  
And yet is danger most disease  
Here is a cumberrouse acquaintance  
When noder of 'em oder please  
For Had I witted comes ever too late  
When there lacks both lock and key,  
What need is then to spare the that  
When nothing is leaved in the way  
With a penniless purse for to pay  
How can he then his people please  
Many a man had a leave die,  
As long to live in such disease,  
A bare beard may soon be shaven  
There as is none heir about  
It fareth as a man that much would haven  
And is not else but poor and proud,  
But ever ready in ilke rout  
And lay to wed both pot and pan  
When the fire clean is blown out  
Where shall we go dine than?  
What need is it to delve deep,  
There as is no seed to sow?  
The pot is easy for to keep  
When all the fat is overblowe,  
Noder for the kite ne for the crow.   

Encumber not thine own nest  
Too much bend will break thy bow  
When the game is alder best  
Ensample men may see all day.   

Yet keep I no man to defend  
High household and great array  
Is Lord's life and Lady's game,  
When gladshippe grows into grame   

And for need must beg and borrow,  
First comes pride and after shame,  
And from solace turns to sudden sorrow.   
FINIS.