THE MOTHER'S blessing.  
Printed at London by T. C. for john Smethick, and are to be sold at his shop in S. Dunston's Churchyard in Fleetstreet. 1602.   

TO THE SPIRIT OF MUCH forwardness, in the inclination to much goodness, in the love of learning, and the honour of virtue: M. Thomas row, son to the Lady Bartley of Stoke, Nich. Breton wisheth with continuance of health, a prosperous achievement of his virtuous desires.  
Sir, my acquaintance with you hath not been little, nor my love, less; which I would be glad to manifest in some better matter than bare words, and yet, since words well weighed, sometime carry matter of good sense; in the words which I write, I pray you weigh the sense of my good will; which if it have not done so well as I wish, bear with it for a little fault, and it may be I will mend it with a greater: but leaving compliments, let me entreat you, in your kindness, to Patronage this child of my best choice, to answer the regard of your good discretion; in whom, though you find not that fineness, that is fitting to fantastic humours, yet it may be you shall note some such matter of contentment, as may be a little worthy entertainment: the best is this; there is a careful mother's blessing to her beloved son: the first I know you have and the second I doubt not you are: who reading what I have written, and remembering what you have read, I am assured will please her that loveth you, and love him that herein hath pleased you: & for that much good that he knoweth in you, will ever love you: but seeing it were better that I rather do so, then tell you so, I will leave my hope to a good occasion to manifest the nature of my affection: And so beseeching God to bless your forwardness in all good actions, and to preserve you from all illusions.  
Yours Irest at command, in what mine own. Nich. Breton.   

To the Reader.  
GEntlemen, there are so many idle Pamphlets under the abused name of Poetry, abroad in the world, that matter of good worth, either moral, or divine, if it be handled in verse, it is almost as ill as virtue; it will not sell almost for any thing: yet among a number, of, no matter for them, I doubt not but there are some will give Reason his right, and Virtue her due; to such only I commend this little tract of moral discipline: which though it be handled in single verse, yet if it please you to peruse it, I hope you will not utterly disdain it: such as it is, I leave it to your discreet censures, and kind corrections; in which, as you shall show the best conditions of dispositions, so shall you give me cause with much tha●●lnesse, to present you hereafter with some better substance: But lest I promise more than I can perform, I pray you take this in as good part, as if it had been a matter of more worth: and so wishing you all that bear good minds, the happy fruits of your best desires: Loath to be too tedious, I rest as I find cause.  
Your friend, N. Breton.   

The Mother's blessing.  

MY son, my son, my best beloved son,  
Hear my dear son, what careful charge I leave thee:  
Take hold of Time, the glass is quickly run,  
Trust not to Fortune, for she will deceive thee:  
What ere thou art, let not the world perceive thee.  
Know God, love him, be governed by his will,  
And have no doubt of good, nor fear of ill.   

Wean lazy Will, from thriftless Idleness:  
Beware the wanton, to abuse thy wit:  
Unbridled Will breeds but unhappiness,  
How ever sorrows Care would cover it:  
Who buys Repentance must pay dear for it.  
Time, Truth, and Trial, will in one agree:  
The fruits of sin, Death, shame, and sorrow be.   

Love not upon the first delightful look:  
Nor hate, upon the first conceived harm:  
Let not the care of Conscience be mistook,  
And fear the force of the Almighty arm:  
Fear not mischance, nor hearken to a charm.  
By graceless means, devise not to enrich thee,  
And let no worlds unworthy love bewitch thee.   

If that thou serve a Thatcher, do him due:  
But if thou canst, subscribe not to the Clown:  
Lest all too late, thou findest it all too true,  
When thou hast thatched the house, he throw thee down,  
But never fret, how ever Fortune ●rowne.  
For what the higher powers of heaven decree,  
There is no ask, why it should so he.   

Break not thy word, that well thou mayst perform,  
For words are weighed by men of worthy mind:  
Take heed of those, that falsehoods do inform,  
And strike not ●aile, for every blast of wind▪  
Nor do thy spirit to thy body bind.  
Give not a Miser's liberality,  
And fear the fruit of prodigality.   

Hear all men speak, but hearken to the wise,  
Learn of the learned, and the virtuous love▪  
And let no pride thy blessed soul surprise,  
That may discretion from thy mind remove:  
Humility is graced with God above.  
And Courtesy, with honours carriage,  
Twixt Love, and Beauty, makes a marriage.   

Be kind to those, that kindly do deserve,  
Cruel to none, a Tyrant is a Devil:  
Have special care, thy health for to preserve,  
And keep thee from the Epicurian evil,  
Love not the eye that squints, nor lips that drevill.  
Beware the Pander, and the Parasite,  
And do not leave a Falcon for a Kite.   

Give not thine ear to every Idle tale,  
And trust no more, than what of needs thou must:  
Set not the secrets of thy heart to sale,  
For fear, they throw thine honour in the dust,  
And do not love the treasure that will rust.  
Make it thy day, but when the Sun doth shine,  
And joy in soul but in the love divine.   

Place not thy learning in a Library,  
Yet reed, and mark, remember, and apply:  
And till thou art a perfect Antiquary,  
Stand not too much upon antiquity:  
Let virtue note the best Nobility.  
Be wise in all things, that thou dost intend,  
A good beginning makes a blessed end.   

Stand not on terms with persons of estate,  
Be truly loyal in thy life and love:  
Know what belongs unto a Magistrate,  
Who hath his office from the heau●ns above:  
Nor make a Gaunlet of a hedging glove.  
Let Bounty ever be the fruit of thrift,  
For borrowing is too near the beggars shift.   

Look into Nature with Discretions eye,  
And sort thyself with understanding spirits●  
Build not thy Castle of conceit too high,  
Nor let thy hopes be grounded but on Merits,  
While heedless Coneys fear the hunter's Ferits.  
Give none abuse, nor basely take disgrace,  
Nor love that mind, that hath a brazen face.   

A blessed Colour is a maiden blush,  
And settled Countenance is a comely sight:  
Stand not too long in beating of a bush:  
For fear the Bird beguile thee with her ●light,  
In idle follies, never take delight.  
Travail, but tolle not, painful is the pleasure,  
Where lack of care, in labour hath no measure.   

If God have blest thee with an inward good,  
Be joyful of his blessing, but not proud:  
For, be the Ph● a 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 a Blood,  
Nature doth wond● in her work house shroud  
The Sun itself, sometime is in a cloud.  
Concealed comforts are the kindest sweets,  
Where, love, and honour, with discretion meets.   

A boasting tongue is like a heard man's hor●e,  
Which makes a noise, 〈◊〉 nothing worth the hearing:  
And bragging 〈◊〉 are no● to be borne,  
Though fools of choice, stime are worth the cheeering,  
Yet in the points of wisdoms true appearing;  
Presumptuous fools, and 〈◊〉 religious jews,  
Among the Noble● sort should never use.   

Know how to love, but know not how to hate  
T'one half a heaven, the ●other half a hell▪  
Learn what belongs to 〈◊〉▪ and to Fate,  
And trust not all, that Idle stories tell:  
And do not reed, before you learn to spell.  
But keep thy spirit with that special care,  
That Truth may show thee, where her honours are.   

Offend not God, with 〈◊〉 the fair,  
In higher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fit their 〈◊〉:  
And look 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the ●ire,  
That 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirit 〈◊〉,  
And let no 〈◊〉 so thy soul perplex,  
But that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 remove,  
That may be ●full to thy happ●e love.   

Regard thy followers in a kind, as friends,  
But 〈◊〉 a difference in th●e eyes affect:  
〈◊〉 use their 〈◊〉 in such careful kinds,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speak of thy respect,  
And well 〈◊〉 rewards do not neglect.  
For ●s the hand, that 〈◊〉 the service bind,  
Although the spirit 〈◊〉 command the mind.   

〈◊〉 Reason by the rules of Grace,  
And ch● 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 in virtues choice:  
In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, dwell not on the Base,  
And let thine 〈◊〉 be pleased in the voice  
That sounds the song, that makes the soul 〈◊〉.  
Avoid all substance of the souls annoy▪  
And only jesus be thy spirits joy.   

If honour fall upon thee 〈◊〉,  
Note how it comes, and how it may begun:  
And guide thy 〈◊〉 with such inward 〈◊〉▪  
Thy ground may still be sure to build upon,  
But needle's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 study on.  
For Time is 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  
And brings the 〈◊〉 soul to Paradise.   

Follow the wars but in a worthy cause,  
And Court it but for ability,  
Be not a Rebel unto honours laws:  
For 'tis a maim to true Gentility,  
In all the notes of true Nobility.  
So use thy sword in field, at home thy pen,  
Thou mayst be both beloved, and feared of men.   

Let not a Sha●t, a Bowl▪ a Card, nor Die,  
Take up thy Rent a year before the day:  
A Parats feather, nor a 〈◊〉 cie,  
Make thee too fast, to throw thy wealth away,  
Lest bade I wist do keep fools holly day.  
Esteem a horse, according to his pace,  
But lose no wagers on a wild goos● chase.   

Tear not thy throat with hollowing to hounds,  
Nor ride thy horse to death, to seek a Hawk:  
Spoil not thine eyes with leveling of grounds,  
Nor bar thine honest neighbour of his walk,  
But take no pleasure with a fool to talk.  
But hearken to the shepherds what they sane,  
Both of the Sun shine, and a shower of rain.   

Feed not too gross, and drink not over much,  
The sparing diet is the spirits feast▪  
The Pitch and Tar, are dangerous to touch,  
And want of reason makes a man a beast:  
Of forced evils ever choose the least.  
Be warned by a little, from the more,  
And take heed of an inward breeding sore.   

Wound not the conscience of a woeful heart,  
Nor take delight in doing injury:  
But ease the sick in his consuming smart,  
And help the poor man in his misery:  
So live, so die, so live, and never die.  
Relieve thy friend, but not with all thou hast,  
Lest thou be driven to seek to him as fast.   

Importune not a Prince in any suit,  
Nor do a suitor long delay his hope:  
In cause of justice, be not over mute,  
But in a malice, do no secrets open:  
But keep thy care within discretion's scope.  
Smile at the bird, whose bill is overlong,  
But never listen to the Cuckoos song.   

Lose not thy pains, to teach an Owl to speak,  
Nor strive to wash an Ethiopian white:  
Make it no triumph to subdue the weak,  
But use thy force, to put the proud to flight,  
And in renown, give every man his right.  
Begin no more, than so thou meanest to finish,  
As of thine honour, may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diminish.   

Travail to learn diversity of Natures,  
But keep at home, the care of thy content:  
And ever have respect unto those creatures,  
That have their talents in thy service spent:  
And love the soul that is to virtue bend.  
For ever keep this point of nobleness,  
Let no man note thee of unthankfulness.   

Deprave not any that do well deserve,  
No● magnify an idle headed wit:  
Nor let thy will from wisdoms order serve,  
How ever humours disallow of it:  
Manage affection with discretion's bit.  
For time will teach thee in true reasons creature,  
A fool, is but the weak effect of nature.   

In Prince's Courts, do never press too fast,  
Nor shrink a foot from thy desert of fame:  
And slip no time, for once the humour past,  
A pleasing fancy may be out of frame:  
eat all occasions of deserved blame.  
〈◊〉 i●●nwares, thou happen to offend,  
Let wit● excuse the care of will commend▪   

〈◊〉 not too great, for fear of envies fig▪  
Yet joy in all that virtue may advance:  
Make not thy music of a country jig,  
But leave the Lou●, to tread the Moris-dance:  
And keep thy senses from Narcissus trance.  
And follow not Actaeon to the wood,  
For fear Diana, do thee little good.   

Study the law, but to maintain thy state,  
Divinity, to keep thy soul in peace:  
Logic, but only questions to debate,  
Arithmetic, but knowledge to increase:  
How numbers may both multiply and cease.  
Philosophy, to judge of Nature's best,  
And Physic, but gross humours to digest.   

And Rhetoric, to speak in tune and sense,  
Music, but to remove melancholy:  
Astrology, to know circumference,  
For Architecture, learn Geometry,  
And for thy travail, learn Cosmography.  
For recreation, scorn not Poetry:  
But for discourses, study History.   

To have a kind of superficial sight,  
In hawks and hounds, and horse, and fowl, & fish:  
Is not amiss, but let thy heart's delight  
Be never settled in an idle dish,  
Nor show thy folly in a wanton wish.  
Be silent to thyself, what ere thou thinkest,  
And take good heed, with whom, & where thou drinkest.   

Learn for instruction, Reed for exercise;  
Practise for knowledge, and for gain remember:  
In worldly pleasures make no paradise;  
Know that thou art of Christ his church a member,  
And do not make thine April in September.  
Unto thy God, in youth direct thy ways,  
And he will bless thee in thine aged days.   

Let Conscience know the title of a crown;  
Yet know withal, there is a king of kings:  
Who hoisteth up, and headlong tumbleth down;  
And all the world doth cover with his wings,  
While heaven and earth but of his glory sings.  
To whom discharge the love thou daily owest,  
And he will bless th● where so ere thou goest.   

Wink at the world 〈◊〉 though thou saw'st it not,  
And all earth's treasure, but as trash despise:  
Let not thy folly lose ●hat wit hath got,  
Nor lose an Art, by lack of exercise:  
Yet let no labour, honour prejudice.  
Be wisely sparing, but not miserable,  
And rather die, then be dishonourable.   

Fear not a Giant, for his monstrous shape,  
The devil cannot go beyond his bounds:  
Nor learn to play the Monkey with an Ape,  
But keep thyself within discretions bounds,  
And keep thee from the worm the conscience wounds.  
Thus in thy way, let wisdom ever guide thee▪  
And be assured, no evil can betide thee.   

Do not awake the Lion in his den,  
Nor think the Fox a fool before you try him:  
Nor put an Eagle in a Capon's pen,  
Nor trust a Wolf, if that you come too nigh him;  
But come not near him, if you can go by him.  
For ravening beasts, have wonderful wide laws,  
And spoil what ever comes within their claws.   

Beat not the air with hammers in thy head,  
Whose dreaming labours, will but dull thy wit:  
And do not put thy silver into lead,  
Except thou make a double gain of it,  
And ever do that may thine honour fit.  
Know trades & traffic, merchants & their wares,  
But spend thy spirit in more noble cares.   

Be not condemned for a common Lover,  
I mean, love maker, to a world of women:  
For care can hardly credit lost recover,  
And who are bound, can never well be free men:  
Beauty hath cunning in her eyes to see men.  
For where she leads the heart unto her eyes,  
She leads it finely to fools paradies.   

Boast not upon the bravery of youth,  
Nor sco●ethe weakness of decrepit age:  
But hold this for a principle of truth,  
Death hath a part upon this worldly stage,  
Where none can scape the fury of his rage:  
A Tragedy, where old and young are slain,  
But spite of death, the virtuous live again.   

Spend not thy ●res upon a self conceit,  
In grieving for that never can be had▪  
Nor let thy wit an idle will await,  
Where giddy humours are inclined to gad;  
And let not melancholy make thee mad.  
For better shut thine eyes from such a light,  
Then have thy heart tormented by the sight.   

Spare to discourse upon experience,  
And always rather answer then demand:  
And let no passion show impatience▪  
But make entreaty where thou mayst command:  
And never be with flatterers overfawnd.  
Nor stand too much upon thine own opinion,  
How ever Pallas mark thee for her minion.   

Let not a Princess favour make thee proud,  
No● g●ue too much upon a small disgrace:  
Be● 〈◊〉 affection to a filthy dowd,  
No●●ake an Idol of a painted face:  
No● love a colt but of a courser's race.  
No● vow thy service to mistaken Saints,  
Whose truest titles are but honours Saints.   

Wear not a feather in a shower of rain,  
Nor swagger with a Swiser for his swill:  
Put not thy spirit unto too much pain,  
In searching secrets far above thy skill:  
And know a halberd from a hedging bill.  
And ever note those noble points of nature,  
That truly make an honourable creature.   

Forbear thy fury on a sudden rage,  
Yet in thy right be ever resolute:  
And let true patience choler so assuage,  
That honours quarrel may be absolute:  
Lest rashness too much reason overshute.  
For careful valour in a cause of strife,  
Strengthens the heart, and gives the spirit life.   

Fly Machivile his vile instructions,  
Which are but poisons to a princely mind:  
And noted well, are but destructions,  
That do the world with wicked humours blind:  
And do the soul to hellish service bind.  
Where nothing for gain must be forbidden,  
While devils in the shape of men are hidden.   

Note what is done, by whom, and how, and when,  
And mark what issue grows of each event:  
If by the sword, the purse, or by the pen,  
And where the honour of the action went:  
And how to take it for a precedent.  
For many things have many times been done,  
That had been better, near had been begun.   

Know all the courses that thou canst attain,  
But follow only that may do thee good:  
In questions always make thy meaning plain,  
Obscured thoughts are hardly understood,  
But let not choler overheate thy blood.  
So shall thy fear of fortunes force be small▪  
And thou shalt stand when other men do fall▪   

Take heed my son, thy soul be not deceived  
With any strange, or all too strong illusion:  
For cares best wit cannot be misconceived,  
Which sees the force of follies close intrusion,  
While heedless will brings wit unto confusion.  
Be wise my son, in heavenly wisdoms book,  
And thou shalt angle with no devils hook.   

Love not a jester, nor a hackney jade,  
Time is but lost in either of their trial:  
Rather regard the mattock and the spade,  
And take the sun to be thy truest dial:  
Where thou shalt see the fool a knavish espial.  
Shake off the louse that hangs upon thy clothes,  
And hate the swearer that is full of oaths.   

The ru●ian, 〈◊〉- by, and the rascal fly,  
But love the virtuous, valiant, and the kind▪  
Look towards heaven, and let the world go buy,  
And make thy body subject to thy mind:  
How ere thou winkest, be not wilful blind.  
But look into the glory of that grace,  
That makes the faithful spit in satans face.   

Confound the devil with the word of God,  
Look to thy soul, it is the special part:  
And love the life that death hath overtrod,  
And to thy Saviour wholly give thy heart:  
Who saves his servants from ●fernall smart.  
And when thy greatest sorrow doth assails thee,  
Trust in his mercy, that will ●er fail thee.   

Mine own dear son, I am no deep divine,  
But what my God hath taught me, that I teach thee:  
Beseeching him to bless that soul of thine,  
That no illusion ever overreach thee;  
Nor wilful sin of lack of grace impeach thee.  
Nor faithless thought may ever so deface thee,  
But that his mercy ever will embrace thee.   

But for my notes of nature's observations,  
By long experience to my pains revealed▪  
Where truths constructions made those 〈◊〉▪  
That too much proof hath for assurance 〈◊〉▪  
Which private care hath from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
To thee my son, and for thy good I hope,  
I do this casket of my jewels open.   

Esteem them richer than a mass of gold,  
And part not with them for a world of wealth:  
For such a treasure is not to be sold,  
As is both for the soul and body's health▪  
Then leave them not unto unworthy 〈◊〉▪  
But in thy bosom, lock them as their 〈◊〉,  
Till good occasion bid thee 〈◊〉 the● 〈◊〉.   

And when thou find● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mind,  
And leads thee to the ground 〈◊〉 of thy good:  
Go forward still, and further seek to find,  
How best the substance may be understood;  
That after purging breeds the lively blood.  
And thou shalt feel such pleasure in thy pain,  
As idle spirits have no power to gain.   

And ere I grow too fast unto an end,  
Let me a little furthermore advise thee:  
Be careful in affecting of a friend,  
Lest subtle kindness cunningly surprise thee:  
And let thus much for such respect suffice thee.  
Let honour, valour, truth, and wit allure thee,  
Or never of a faithful friend assure thee.   

For parentage affect equality,  
For l●●ing, virtue joined with eloquence:  
For bounty, wisdoms liberality,  
For valour, resolution's patience:  
For pro●, ●bour with experience.  
For ho●our, virtues inclination,  
For spirit, grace's inspiration.   

Th● ch●● fried, if thou wil● favour any;  
For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that cannot alter nature▪  
But favour few, for if thou mak'st of many,  
Thou wilt be held a simple witted creature:  
Take heed therefore of a dissembling feature.  
Sound the condition, and approve it ●ound,  
Before thy faith be to thy favour bound.   

But if thou findest a mind of that true worth,  
That is not matched in all the broker's shops:  
Whence thou canst draw, that true loves liquor forth,  
Which is not seasoned with unsavoury hops:  
While faiths strong pillars need no underprops.  
All as a Phoenix, do esteem that friend,  
With whom thy life with thy affection end.   

But if a smoothing tongue, a fleering face,  
A capping knee, with double diligence,  
By close colloging creep into thy grace,  
To make an use of thy magnificence;  
Know he will but abuse thy patience.  
Away with such, and from thy care discard them,  
They purchase burr disgrace that regard them.   

And if he seek to undermine thy thought,  
And go about thee with a bad invention:  
And do deny thy due desire in aught  
That may perform the truth of his intention:  
Or stand on ●ermes in causes of contention;  
Then do thus much for thy assurance know,  
A hollow friend is but a hellish foe.   

And now for knowing of thine enemy,  
Let this suffice for reasons true direction:  
Who doth intrude into thy company,  
And make a show of too too much affection▪  
Such nimble wits have ever in rejection.  
And by a serpent's hiss, and beare-whe●pes eye,  
Mistrust the treason of an enemy.   

If he persuade thee to disloyal thought,  
Imagine him a villain in the height;  
If that he have with wanton humours wrought,  
Know that an Idol is the devils bait:  
And if he cheat thee with a gaming sleight,  
In cares discretion leave his company,  
And hold him for a cunning enemy.   

If he importune thee with borrowing,  
Or careless live upon thy purses spending:  
Or daily put thee off with morrowing,  
Till want do make thee weary of thy lending,  
Then in the care of better thrifts commending,  
Shake o● a varlet in his villainy,  
And hold him for an inward enemy.   

But leaving more of friends, or foes to speak,  
The one too few, the other all too many:  
So many friends, their friendships daily break,  
That few are faithful, if that few be any:  
The Sun so soon, the painted f●e wil● tawny.  
Tha● he that hath the world well overgone,  
Find▪ foes too many, friends, but few or none.   

〈◊〉 when thou wilt a servant fitly choose,  
Have great regard unto his quality:  
Lest lack of care, thy kindness do abuse:  
Allow no counterfeit formality;  
No prigging theft, nor prodigality.  
No pot companion, nor no prating knave,  
Not lazy Rascal, nor uncomely slave.   

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●ggard, nor sheep-biter dog,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉, nightwalker, nor game player:  
〈◊〉 ●ing copesmate, nor no grunting hog;  
〈◊〉▪ swearer, brabbler, nor way layer:  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jester, nor soothsayer.  
No da●ie tooth, nor double diligence;  
Nor him that hath a world wide conscience.   

But sober, honest, witty, thrifty, kind,  
Good shape, good face, expert, and laborious,  
Good hand, good heart, good spirit, & good mind,  
Discreetly careful, but not covetous:  
Faithful and firm, in perfect truths approving,  
And think that servant kindly worth the loving.   

Now if thy sernant unawares offend,  
In secret give him reprehension:  
But if you see he care not to amend,  
Nor of advice take better apprehension,  
Mistrust his spirit of some ill intention.  
Away with him, and turn him to disgrace,  
And seek to put a better in his place.   

But last of all, and not the least in charge,  
I wish thee look into thy loves consort:  
For when the heart hath left the eye at large,  
Venus commands where Cupid scales the fort:  
As all too many, all too true report.  
Be careful therefore in thy thoughts affection,  
That they be governed by a good direction.   

Beauty with virtue, honour joined with kindness,  
Wit with some wealth, and person without pride:  
True nobleness, without ambitious blindness,  
Fair haired, strait bodied, sweet countenance, and clear ●ide;  
A spirit where no poison doth abide.  
Where these sweet birds do all in one bush sing,  
Who would not spend his life in such a spring?   

But if she be ilfavoured, blind, and old,  
A prattle basket, or an idle slut:  
A sleepy housewife, or a hateful scold,  
Or such a sparrow as will not keep cut:  
Spoil not thy teeth with cracking such a nut.  
For in the world there is no greater hell,  
Then in a house with such a hag to dwell.   

Or if complexion with condition meet,  
A Croidon sanguine, and a currish nature:  
A mind that treads good manners under feet,  
A sorrel foretop, and a sowish feature:  
God bless thee son, from such a wicked creature.  
And let thee rather lead a single life,  
Then kill thyself, to live with such a wife.   

Learn then to choose the best, and leave the worst,  
And choosing well, make much of such a choice:  
And thou shalt see while other live accursed,  
Thy heart and soul shall inwardly rejoice:  
Oh hearty love is such a heavenly voice,  
As he that know it, or doth kindly hear it,  
Will find no music in the world come near it.   

But I will leave thee to the heavens direction,  
Beseeching God of his high heavenly grace▪  
To settle so the care of thy affection,  
It take no root in an unworthy place:  
But that a virgin's eye, and Angels face,  
So make thee joyful of thy happy chain,  
That fancy bound, would not be free again▪   

But that this course, and every other care,  
May purchase and continue thy content:  
And that thy soul may live, where virtues are,  
The happy souls eternal ornament:  
To him that framed the highest firmament.  
Thy heart and soul in love all humbly bow,  
And to his will, thy service truly vow.   

At morn, at noon, at evening, day, and night,  
Unto his mercy do confess thy sin:  
And beg of him, to clear thy blinded sight,  
And teach thy spirit how it may begin  
To find the way that gracious love may win.  
Pray, weep, and cry, until thou hast obtained  
Into his service to be entertained.   

And when thou feelest the spirit of that grace  
That rules the heavens, come down into thy heart:  
And so thy thoughts in order all to place,  
That virtue do dispose of every part:  
When thus thou feelest that thou blessed art,  
Pray for continuance of that comforts bliss,  
That keeps the soul, it cannot go amiss.   

And when thou feelest the loathing of that sin,  
That long misled, that mournful soul of thine:  
And the true way of grace art entered in,  
That doth the soul to sacred love incline,  
And doth assure thee of the love divine,  
Then let thy heart, thy mind, and spirit sing,  
An Halleluiah to thy heavenly King.   

Begin with glory to his majesty,  
Proceed with glory to his holy name:  
Coutinue glory to his Deity,  
And end with glory to his worthy fame:  
And endless be the glory of the same.  
Begin, proceed, continue, end his story,  
Without beginning, never ending glory.   

O highest glory, in the heavens above,  
O brightest glory, of theau'ns behove:  
O purest glory, before heavens to prove,  
O blessed glory, above heavens to love:  
O lovely glory, that all love doth move.  
O gracious glory, that all grace beginneth,  
O glorious glory, that all glory winneth.   

Thus my dear son, sing unto God thy Lord,  
And sing in tune, that heavens may joy to hear:  
And let thy tongue, thy heart, and soul accord,  
To chant it out with such a joy full cheer,  
That heavens may see, thou hold'st their master dear.  
And thy true faith may in thy spirit prove,  
The living comfort of thy heavenly love.   

But if thou dost not serve thy God aright,  
And humbly fear his holy majesty:  
Thy clearest day will turn to darksome night,  
Thy wealth to want, thy wit to vanity:  
Thine ease to pain, joy to calamity.  
Thy sweetest music to a mournful quell,  
Thy life to death, thy hope of heaven to hell.   

For though a while he suffer thee to thrive,  
And find on earth a feigned paradies:  
Yet death will come, who quickly will deprive,  
Thy senses of the pleasures of thine eyes:  
Wherein th'illusion of thy spirit lies.  
And thou wilt be within thy soul so torn,  
As thou wouldst wish, thou never hadst been borne.   

A world of woes will overwhelm thy heart,  
And fearful dreams affright thee in the night:  
A thousand torments will increase thy smart;  
And dreadful visions will thy soul affright:  
Thou shalt be bard from the eternal light.  
And in the darkness, where all horrors dwell,  
Thy soul shall burn in everlasting hell.   

Where thou shalt see the mizer-minded-dogge,  
Fry in the furnace of his molten gold▪  
The glutton monster, and the drunken hog,  
Gnawing their bones, with hunger, thirst, and cold:  
The murderer in pains not to be told.  
The lecher so bedight in beastliness,  
As kills his soul to see his filthiness.   

The tyrant tortured with those ugly spirits,  
That fed his humour with the thirst of blood:  
The traitor followed with those hungry ferits,  
That only fed upon the poisoned food  
Of damned souls, that never did man good.  
The thief tormented with the shameless liar,  
The swearers mouth, all in a flame of fire.   

The pander and the wicked parasite,  
Shall sup the broth of hellish beastliness:  
The heretic in wilful oversight,  
Shall feed upon the froth of foolishness:  
Boiled in the fire of all unfaithfulness.  
The Atheist so shall feel God's vengeance on him,  
That all the plagues of hell shall fall upon him.   

The unjust judge, at least if there be any,  
The bribing client of ill conscience:  
The perjured witness whereof are too many,  
The plotting pate of sinful pestilence;  
The wrathful spirit of impatience:  
All these shall justly all their torments bear,  
But God bless thee from seeing of them there.   

But if thou rightly serve thy Lord and God,  
And day and hour do sue to him for grace:  
When faithful Truth this world hath overtrod,  
Thy soul shall fly unto afairer place;  
Where thou shalt see thy Saviour in the face;  
And in that face, that everlasting bliss,  
In which the brightness of all glory is.   

There shalt thou see from high the daylight springing,  
Which darksome night hath never power to shade:  
There shalt thou hear the Saints & Angels singing,  
And all their ditties to his glory made;  
There shalt thou feel the joys that never fade.  
There shall thy soul more perfect joys possess,  
Then tongue, or heart, or spirit, can express.   

There shalt thou see the bounteous richly crowned,  
The gracious Prince in Angels arms embraced:  
The virtuous soldiers with the Saints renowned;  
The judge of justice, in high honour placed:  
The faithful witness, in Truths favour graced.  
The virgins singing, in the Angel's quire,  
How patient hopes unto their heaven aspire.   

There shalt thou feel the blessed joy of peace,  
Wherein the life of holy love doth rest:  
There shalt thou hear the Music never cease,  
Where Angels voices ever are addressed,  
In their best tunes to sound his glory best,  
Where every one a blessed part doth bear,  
God bless thee son, to set them ever there.   
Amen.  
FINIS.