¶ A new ballad Entitled, Daniels sifting in these our days: aptly applied to the true Pray cheers of the Gospel.  
¶ What God hath willed us, to that good ear give:  
For Daniels are abroad: sifting with their sieve.  

GOOD Daniels sifting, in God's church about,  
The footsteps out finding: or those as be stout.  
Against God's word divine, which all ●ught to know  
In their own mother tongue: what duty they owe.   

To God alone justly, to serve him with love,  
For all are not trusty: as his word doth prove.  
Now if God we obeyed, as be hath us taught,  
Then were our saith stayed: in him that us bought.   

¶ By Daniels, the Preachers: so this understand,  
Which do preach Christ truly: in every land.  
Without Pope or popery, our souls for to save,  
By faith in Christ only, of whom we it crave.   

¶ And God's book this Séeve is, that they in hand take,  
And his word the Ashes, there out for to shake.  
In Temples and Churches, where people resort,  
To have for their soul's health: the food of comfort.   

¶ The people is the ground, on whom now doth fall,  
Those high divine Ashes: that makes the true trial.  
Whose footsteps shall appear without trawde or guile,  
Of young and old people: now mark well this style.   

¶ By these footsteps I mean, the whole life of man,  
And of all women kind: these things now well scan.  
Who so in these Ashes, now treadeth awry,  
Their steps shallbe well known: to God & man's eye.   

¶ As was in Bells Temple, a God without life,  
Whereas footing was found: of Man, Child, & Wife.  
Who eat up the victuals, from that false God Bell,  
And deceived the King: as the text d●th tell.   

¶ But Daniel by sifting, all them to light brought,  
And also Bells priests: that wickedly wrought.  
Even so now our Sisters, that siftes at this day,  
With God's word shall find out: those in the broad way.   

¶ When they hear the law read, unto them full plain,  
As God hath commanded: so to be certain.  
The which law and Gospel, receive in good part,  
And out of the broad way▪ betimes took ye start.   

¶ The footsteps that Adam, and Eve first did trace,  
To the forboden tree: brought them in woe case.  
And all we by their fall in bondage be set,  
Day by day masked still in Satan's great net.   

¶ The first bloty footsteps, that Cain did commit,  
To his brother Abel: remains in some yet.  
As in Ruffians and Rogges, that desperate be,  
Whose footsteps from much sin cannot scape free.   

¶ The pride of great Nemrode, that in him did rain,  
Was known by his footsteps, and all his whole train.  
So likewise shall theirs do, that buildeth excess,  
In any kind of trade: abusing Richesse.   

¶ Queen jezabel that did, God's true Prophets kill,  
Her footeing was found out: against her own will.  
The Dogs her blood lapped in jezrael,  
This sore grievous plague: was cast on jezabel.   

¶ So likewise the footsteps of God's enemies,  
Shall well be spied: when as his will is.  
And have their reward due, for shedding of blood,  
Of God's elect people: when the Lord thinks it good.   

¶ Remember how Pharaoh, though he was a King,  
His footsteps were found out: of persecuting.  
He with his whole army, of men drowned were,  
In midst of the read sea: God did them not spare.   

¶ Even so from time to time, you may read and see,  
How God plagueth tyrants: for their iniquity.  
He is the same God still, sinners to correct,  
Except they repent now: he will them reject.   

¶ Sodom and Gomorra, their footing was found,  
What ways they then walked: upon the Lord's ground.  
They lived to themselves in the sink of sin,  
Till fire and brimstone: thereby they did win.   

¶ Let this be a warning, so now in like case,  
To whores and whore mongers: that yet lacketh grace.  
Whose close tripping footsteps, will shortly appear,  
By our daniel's sifting: they can not scape clear.   

¶ The coveiteous footsteps, of Ahabs great spite,  
To have Nabaoths viniard: did come unto light.  
For the which the Lord, with Abab was wroth,  
And sent to him Elyah: who told him the troth.   

¶ Now the Lord would plague him and all his household,  
For the death of Nobaoth: as Elyah him told.  
Beware now by Ahab, to get worldly muck,  
For many one thereby: hath had but ill luck.   

¶ Sir Rapax, sir Capar and sir Tenax also,  
And you master Usurers: that now in wealth flow.  
Be not imps of Ahab, common wealth to annoy,  
I cast you with your footsteps: the Lord do destroy.   

¶ The Scribes, the Pharasies', and Lawyers likewise,  
Their footing was well known: of their enterprise.  
How they came unto Christ, to take him in a trip,  
But be ever came them: and gave them the slip.   

¶ So Lawyers that wrist law, and matters prolong,  
Their footsteps will appear of making right wrong.  
Woe be to such sayeth Christ, whose sentence is great,  
Wherefore repent in time: and for mercy entreat.   

¶ Thus for to conclude now, let all men repent,  
And to lead a new life: by God's Testament.  
Ere death steal upon us, our footsteps to find,  
Contrary to Gods will: and to nature's kind.   

¶ Wherefore sifting daniel's, now ply your vocations,  
Declare God's word truly, unto all nations.  
God is your head Captain, your shield and defence,  
Without fear or parcialytie, now do your diligence.   

¶ By sifting and sorting, the good from the bad,  
Then God will be pleased: and his people glad.  
To hear what God willeth, to that good ear give,  
And to all such Preachers, as use well the Séeve.   
¶ FINIS.   

Imprinted at London, by Richard johnes: dwelling in the upper end of Fleetlane, at the sign of the spread Eagle. And are to be sold: at his Shop joining to the Soutwest Door of Saint Paul's Church. The xxij day of October. 1572.