THE PRACTICE practised by the Pope and his prelate's. which they have used since they came to their estates.  

ALas alas, what shall I now do:  
My kingdom is like, no longer to stand:  
These English men, will me undo:  
And drive me quite out of their land,  
I may to them, hold up my hand,  
And say a due, my friends all,  
But specially, my priests of Ball,   

Yet at the first, when that I hard,  
How that my pilgrimages, were put down,  
And that my pardons, they did not regard,  
Nor cared not for my triple crown,  
All this, little minished my renown:  
Hoping to have it up again all,  
By the crafty conveyance, of my priests of Ball.   

And as for Scala celi, my Mass,  
with idle holidays in the year,  
For the loss of them, I did not pass,  
Because they were, but slender gear,  
I have men lying. every where:  
That can make them new again all,  
By the wicked counsel, of my priests of Ball.   

And than again, for my Peter pence,  
The which came yearly to my purse.  
They have little bated my expense,  
Nor made my coffers, little the worse,  
And though they do not regard my curse,  
Nor yet my blessing, amongst them all,  
yet this will be recovered, by my priests of Ball.   

And as for all my abbeys and cells,  
with Charter houses and Monasteries,  
That were thrust down. with hallowed wells,  
Therein to wash, for fear of feryes,  
All this, my kingdom little weryes,  
Not doubting to have it up again all,  
By the wicked counsel, of my priests of Ball.   

My fat headed Monks, with my four orders of Friars  
My stout cannons, and wympeled nuns,  
which were driven out, as sellers and buyers,  
All this with other, in again comes,  
For I have store enough, in other kyngdommes,  
And also in England, when so ever I call,  
As knoweth full well, my priests of Ball.   

And as for the name of Supreme head:  
For that, I do not greatly care:  
So long, as by my laws they are lead:  
Let them despise me, and not spare,  
All this can not make, me worse to far.  
Hoping to have it, up again all,  
By the devise, of my priests of Ball.   

But I may myself, both curse and ban:  
And tear my clothes, for very madness:  
That when I was, with every man,  
Regarded much, in earnest sadness:  
Then used I, such open badness:  
That the people, fled from me all:  
Saving, my loving priests of Ball.   

I had no measure, in selling of my wares:  
But made them pay, I cared not what,  
Which was the beginning, of all my cares:  
But now to repent, it is to late,  
I used such a geynfull common rate,  
That the people, fled from me all,  
Saving, my loving priests of Ball.   

Also my Bishops, I trow they were mad,  
That when they saw the abbeys put down,  
And that the King, their treasure had,  
All this, minished little their renown,  
But one, as with his shaven crown,  
Took counsel, with his fellows all.  
Insurrection to make, by my priests of Ball   

And when they saw, their evil chance:  
How in that, they were over come:  
Then sent they one, unto the King of France,  
To carry him word, they were undone,  
desiring him, with all and some:  
That he would help. his subjects all:  
To set up again, the priests of Ball.   

And then an other, into Scotland was sent:  
That they, on the other side should be doing:  
So that, their subtle intent,  
Must go forward, in every thing,  
Continual wars, they did bring:  
Which was to stop, God's truth with all:  
By the customed practice, of my priests of Ball:   

And when these men, were set on work.  
Having mind of nothing but battle:  
Then did my men, together lurk,  
Thinking, on their purpose to prevail:  
devising a beast, with vi heads and a tail,  
desiring the King, with his counsel all,  
To licence my beasts, the priests of Ball.   

And when that licence, than was granted.  
They began to brag, in every place:  
And the new gospelers, by them were taunted:  
Thinking their by, the truth to defase:  
Alas there is an heavy case.  
For down I must, with my baggage all:  
Sparing not me, nor my priests of Ball.   

Still doth the King, continue in war:  
And hath almost spent, the riches of the abbeys:  
This gear, I fear me, will us clean mar:  
Gathering of money, my power decays:  
Colleges, and chantries, in their rich arrays:  
They are like now, to go down all:  
And thus decays, my priests of Ball.   

And when the riches, of them is wasted,  
Then, have at the bishops lands:  
And Cathedral churches, shallbe tasted:  
The which, full gorgeously now stands:  
I may lament, and wring my hands:  
giving up the soul titles all:  
And take my leave, of my priests of Ball.   

By this my darlynges, shall be made so poor:  
That they shall not be able, to do me good:  
But shall go beg, from door to door:  
With sad countenance, and careful mood:  
To chafe, fret, or to be wood:  
It will not help, nothing at all.  
But farewell, my nointed priests of Ball.   

Farewell matins, with tunable notes:  
Farewell evensong, done at night.  
Farewell Diriges, with trental groats:  
Farewell Idols, now put to flight:  
Farewell, my great god of might:  
Farewell once again, my god of all:  
Farewell good night, my priests of Ball.   

Farewell Pax, Pascalls, and Palms:  
Farewell Altar, Ashes: and ave maries:  
Farewell Portuous, Pystelles and Psalms:  
Farewell Anteme of Alys: and Annes:  
Farewell commendations, and also mortuaries:  
Farewell my copes, and vestiments all.  
Farewell my shaven priests of Ball.   

A dew my holybread, in housel stead.  
Adieu my holy water, for venial sins:  
Adieu my creeping, to the cross at need.  
Adieu my bells, with all their gins.  
Adieu cusshyons, kneelings, and crouchings:  
Adieu my sensores, and cruets all.  
Adieu my full trust, in the priests of Ball.   

Commend me to my seven sacraments.  
But specially, to my good darling white cote,  
And show to him, that my good intentes.  
The christians, nothing regard or note:  
God's word, a 'mongst them is so hot.  
That down I must, with my baggage all,  
Sparing not me, nor my priests of Ball.   

And as for the vi Gardiner's Gospels.  
They are even suddenly, now decayed.  
And also my vi Articles.  
This maketh me in deed, to be afraid,  
I have but small trust, in fresh aid.  
For surely my ceremonies: will go down all.  
That out alas, my priests of Ball.   

Thus with evil will, I take my flight.  
Departing a way, with woeful cheer.  
Nevermore in England, to come in sight:  
How say Lawyers, to this gear:  
I wis I helped you, this many year,  
With keeping the people in blindness all,  
But we trust no more to the priests of Ball.   

Leave of your binding of heavy burdens,  
Upon men's shouldres, to oppress them down:  
lest you and I, like idle lurdens,  
Go labour about, from town to town,  
I say trust no more, to my shaven crown,  
But minister truly, amongst you all,  
And have no more trust in the priests of Ball.   

Now masters, you that did here:  
The pitiful complaint, of my song.  
Would very gladly, see it appear:  
Thinking the time, to be very long:  
This prossesse of mine, will not prolong.  
For the breath of God, will down with all:  
shortly not to see, a priest of Ball.   

God save the King, his noble grace,  
And send him to spy, the subtlety of the bishops  
And that he may in any case,  
Once thrust down, these forked tops:  
For as long as the pie, in the Kings chamber hops,  
The silly sheep, and lambs all,  
Are like to be devoured, with the priests of Ball.   

Do not think here, that I discommend,  
Any of the sacraments, that Christ did institute:  
For I did never so pretend,  
My mind was, nothing but to confute,  
The abuses of things, therein to dispute,  
Which I would were taken away in general,  
No more to be maintained, by the priests of Ball.   
Finis.  
William Samuel.   

Imprinted at London by Humphrey powel, dwelling above Holborn conduit.  
And are to be sold by Hugh Syngleton, at the sign of saint Augustine, in Paul's church yard.