¶ A new A B C paraphrastically applied, as the state of the world doth at this day require.  
Mense marcii. 1557.  
Cum privilegio.   

WHen children first begin to learn,  
Their letters for to know:  
Right their difference to discern  
They learn their Christ cross row.  
Christ his cross be my speed,  
say they,  
And good saint Nycholas,  
In our childhood this did we pray,  
For so the custom was.  
Then in learning we did proceed,  
More knowledge to attain,  
Which knowledge had, we fell in deed  
To follow fancies vain.  
For the first thing that then learned we,  
Was first our lord to know,  
Three persons in the trinity,  
Which faith we late fell fro,  
Then learned we as Christ had taught,  
For what, and how to pray:  
But vice in us such wit hath wrought,  
That few can it well say:  
The proof whereof doth here ensue,  
Let men themselves be judge,  
Wherein if I do tell them true,  
At it let them not grudge.  
But now, or I do further pass,  
Lest some would this disdain,  
For naming here saint Nicholas,  
My meaning is this plain.  
Christ his cross all our children pray,  
In learning them to speed:  
So should all we now at this day,  
In like order proceed.  
We have forgot our cross to take,  
And after Christ to run,  
Therefore all sloth we must forsake,  
And turn where we begun:  
Then shall his cross truly us speed,  
More virtue to attain,  
And grace in us such love will breed,  
Our cross shall us not pain.  
The holy man saint Nycholas  
Our children call for aid:  
I think most men knoweth not the case  
And why it was so said.  
Saint Nicholas a child being  
His cross right soon he bore,  
For his body with much fasting  
He punished full sore:  
To teach both children and old men  
Their cross to take likewise,  
And after Christ to bear it then  
With often exercise.  
And after this, his childhood past,  
A bishop made was he,  
All worldliness from him he cast,  
And walked in charity,  
Whereof he was such a mirror,  
That happy were we all,  
If god by grace, gave bishops power  
To the like life to fall,  
And we to walk in the like trade,  
All sorts both old and young,  
Then mought we hope god would us aid  
And still by grace uphold.  
But now alas my heart both quake,  
To see our misery,  
My cross row now needs must I make,  
To my mind coutrarye.  
The cross of Christ some bears alas,  
Against their wills we see:  
Gove hence is good saint Nicholas  
And eke his charity.  
In this life he did not only,  
His body much chastise  
But with alms much poverty,  
He did relieve likewise,  
As in his life it doth appear,  
Which is mine author plain,  
Whereby to you I make it clear,  
His deeds I do not feign.  
Now for this cause this saint I name,  
To th'end that we might all,  
perceive the cause as I do aim,  
That we his aid did call.  
Therefore sith the world at this day,  
Is turned up side down,  
This A B C hear turn I may,  
In some part wrong to sown,  
But now my will whole to express,  
My wit can not attain,  
Therein I find such feebleness,  
It passeth my weak brain,  
Therefore Christ's cross now be my speed,  
For here I will begin,  
As cause doth move me to proceed,  
Thus do I enter in.  


A Hath first place, which place I must  
As cause of woe to stand,  
Avarice and eke fleshly lust,  
Alone destroyed this land.   

B Baren are we of blessedness  
Blinded with worldly care,  
Boldness in vice we see express,  
Babes can the truth declare.   

C covetousness with crafty deeds  
Can scarcely hence be rid:  
Conspiracy much canker bredes  
Covertly in hearts hid.   

D dread of God and eke his judgement  
driven have we from our hearts,  
Dearth without cause some doth invent  
Devils can play no worfe parts.   

E Envy hath entered in such wise  
Evil men thereby we see  
Enuiouslye good men despise  
Even of mere enmity.   

F Feigned falsehood with flattery  
Faithless folk have found,  
Faininge a face fraudulently  
Friendship for to confound.   

G Greediness great for graceless gain  
Grown is in such degree.  
Ground of our grief which doth us pain  
Granted this needs must be.   

H Horably do they our lord offend  
His poor folk here to starve,  
Having wherewith as god shall send,  
Honestly them to serve.   

I Iniquity so overfloweth,  
I never saw the like,  
Ingratitude so herself showeth.  
justly God must us strike.   

K Knowledge of God and our estate,  
Kings to obey each one,  
Kunninge our hearts so doth inflate  
knocking for grace is gone.   

L Liberty leapt over this land,  
Lously at his own will,  
Lechery to break wedlocks band  
Likewise doth lust fulfil.   

M Madness of mind money to get,  
Makes some god to forsake:  
Money justice and law can let,  
Much mischief it doth make.   

N Nigardes needles by nigardie  
Never doth any good,  
Not he himself hath joy thereby  
Nor one of the like brood.   

O audible sin such doth commit,  
Offering to God to make  
Of goods got by crafty wit,  
Or bribes falsely to take.   

P Penury pincheth poor men sore,  
Piercing with hunger's grief,  
Pride yet did never reign here more,  
Practice doth make dew proof.   

Q Quickly if we do not amend  
Quenching our sins by grace,  
Questionless God great plagues will send  
Quietness to deface.   

R Riches from plagues will no man save,  
Regard them here who will,  
Rebellious hearts God will deprave  
Rest they never so still.   

S Swear and forswear some do not pass  
Sureness of truth is gone,  
Shame hath got on a face of brass  
Sin they think it is none.   

T Traitorous tongues telling tales untrue,  
Tumults to make thereby,  
Trust this they may if they will view  
Time treason out will try.   

V Usury is so usual  
Virtue they would it make,  
Vile vice it is, as know they shall,  
Vengeance when God will take.   

X Extorsion is purchase right,  
Experience hath taught,  
Expelled is mercy by might  
Extremity so wraughte.   

Y Yockt are we unto misery,  
Yet sin we without fear,  
Yield we will not to charity,  
young nor old, any where.   

Z Zache wrongs did full recompense,  
Zele had he right therefore.  
Zacharies doubtful diffidence,  
We rather follow more.   

& And if God will punish for sin,  
And vengeance on it take,  
And if heaven we intend to win.  
We must our sins forsake.   

con Confess our faults therefore must we,  
Considering our evil estate  
Constrained by god's plagues we be,  
Convert then not to late.   

Tittle though it no letter be,  
In words may truth deface  
A fool set in authority  
Doth justice oft unplace.   

By prayer to God now let us call,  
To procure grace, and then  
After this life, have heaven we shall  
To this say we Amen.    

¶ Our unblessing.  

In nomine of whom do we our works begin:  
Patris, nay God knoweth to much we do sin,  
Et filii his wisdom so small we esteem,  
Et spiritus sancti, his grace eke so little dame,  
Amen, we can not say till we amend, and then  
Being turned, enjoying grace, then may we say Amen.    

The Pater noster.  
PAter noster, to God daily we do call,  
But lord, qui es in coelis, alas fro the we do fall:  
Sanctificetur, If all our livings were,  
Nomen tuum, in more honour should appear.  
Adueniat, say we, but what must it be,  
Regnum tuum, nay lord fro that far be we:  
Fiat, as we lust in our covetousness,  
Voluntas tua, thereby to transgress,  
Sicut fro this world we should never go,  
Our hearts is on earth, and not in caelo:  
Et in terra, covetous hearts are so set,  
That panem nostrum scarcely we can get,  
Quotidianum, great hunger poor folk sustain,  
Da nobis hody they cry, but it is in vain.  
Et dimit nobis, our sins how can we say,  
When debita nostra we force not to pay.  
Sicut et nos, deserve lord reward not us,  
But forgive us our sins more than dimittimus,  
Debitoribus nostris, grant us grace to forgive,  
Et ne nos inducas lord as ourselves would live,  
In tentationem most grievously we fall,  
Sed libera nos by grace, and then we shall,  
A malo, be sure defended to be.  
That God will hear our prayers, amen say we.   

The ave Maria.  
AVe blessed lord, to the we may say,  
Praising thy goodness in our Maria:  
Who gratia plena, did so to us appear,  
That dominus tecum to her we may say clear,  
Benedictatu all men may think plain,  
In mulieribus, that ever here did reign,  
Et benedictus much more thou shalt be,  
If fructus ventris tui borne we may see,  
jesus Christus, grant this we the pray:  
Amen all faithful christian hearts will say.   

The Crede.  
CRedo that plagues from us shall not pass,  
Till covetous men in deum doth set their solasse:  
Patrens they call God as they his children were,  
But omnipotentem that they grant not clear,  
Creatorem of all things for man they be confessors,  
But coeli et terrae they would here be possessors.  
Et in jesum Christum their faith is they cry off,  
But eachone filium eius on earth would set aloft,  
unicum on avarice they so set their delight,  
That dominum nostrum fro them they banish quite:  
Qui conceptus est, of the flesh that they follow so,  
They regard not the works de spiritu sancto,  
Natus was Christ only for our sake,  
And ex Maria virgine our nature did take.  
Passus doth Christ's membres almost asmuch woe,  
As Christ did himself sub pontio Pilato:  
Crucifixus was Christ of the jews rigorous,  
So do they for hunger strike many mortuus:  
Et sepultus is charity fro many men so low,  
That dissēditad inferna, here he makes small show  
Tertia die, nay the third year god grant this,  
We may say that charity resurrexit a mortuis.  
Ascendit up is Christ to th'end that we,  
Ad coelos might come by faithful charity,  
Sedet ad dexteram in the substance divine,  
Patris omnipotentis as faith doth define,  
Ind certainly when think lest we shall,  
Venturus est in glory with his angels all,  
judicare upon earth all people in all parts,  
Vivos & mortuos both after their deserts.  
Credo some thinks that day will never be  
In spiritum sanctum very few sets their felicity.  
Sanctam ecclesiam while we do despise,  
Catholicam charity shall never arise.  
Sanctorun we thought great scorn to be taught,  
Communionem till they in vutruly brought.  
Remissionem I pray God grant unto them all  
Peccatorum wherein God suffereth them to fall,  
Carnis they did, and doth take such carefulness,  
Resurrectionem from sin they think nothing less,  
Et vitam which Christ bought for them so dear,  
They regard not, eternam they hope to live here,  
Amen, god forbidden I should say to this,  
Yet I fear covetousness will bide where it is.   

¶ The psalm of venite wherein god calleth us from covetousness as I apply it.  
VEnite worldly people, and with one mind  
Exultemus in virtue as god hath assigned  
in domino we should trust, and not in richesse  
iubilemus for his gifts which we do possess,  
Deo lift we our hearts from all vanity,  
Salutari nostro eke most loving let us be,  
Praeoccupemus to him then shall we be sure,  
Faciem eius to behold for ever to endure  
in confession of his glorious majesty,  
Et in Psalmis his name for ever magnify,  
iubilemus and set we all vice a side,  
ei we should run, but the flesh saith abide.  
Quoniam worldly riches our hearts we set upon,  
deus magnus we make of that wicked mammon,  
dominus, of all sins hateth most that kind,  
et rex magnus in punishment they shall him sure find,  
super all his creatures honoured he will be,  
omnes deos beside him are but vanity.  
Quoniam this covetousness god doth threat sore,  
non repellet doth man tho, one whit the more,  
dominus grant his grace to turn covetous men  
plebem suam for hunger so starve shall not then,  
Quia though wicked men will be wicked still,  
in manu eius it is to amend all at his will,  
sunt omnes so set not on the soul's health  
fines terrae they seek out for their worldly wealth.  
et altitudines if they might here attain,  
montium of gold to themselves should ragne  
ipse yet our lord above raigninge I do mean,  
conspicit their madness & will confound it clean,  
Quoniam ipsius is the earth & all worldly goods,  
His est mare and all other water floods,  
et ipse fecit illud: for the love of mankind,  
et aridam for all men's wealths he also assigned,  
fundaverunt tho, our common wealth in a wretched case  
in manus eius the evil man would wealth alone enbrase  
venite from covetousness our lord again calleth us  
adoremus his majesty, and fly works vicious.  
et procidamus with repentance true,  
ante deum then, our sins we shall not rue  
ploremus it is time, expirience hath us taught  
coram dno was never more wickedness wrought.  
Quia fecit nos not in sinful life to live,  
Quia ipse est dns whihch is life for us did give:  
deus noster by grace and creation is he,  
nos autem populus eius alas in mean degree  
et oves in few men's hands still do remain,  
pascui eius poor men small pleasure shall attain.  
hody and many God, on us doth call  
si vocem can pierce your ears, to more charity fall  
eius whose voice but gods hath called you from sin  
audieritis, but to amend when will ye begin?  
nolite obdurare as ye have done many a day  
corda vestra against god, running from him astray  
sicut ye forced not for gods anger one whit  
in exacerbatione o man beware of it.  
secundum thou art warned in time to amend  
diem of death thou knowest not how soon god will sand  
Tentationis towards god man be not to bold,  
In deserto as ye know the jews were of old.  
Vbi tentaverunt me, saith god, by your infidelity,  
Patres vestri were despised & that displeased me,  
Probaverunt & viderunt as far as was meet,  
Opera mea yet they denied as men undiscrete,  
Quadraginta annis with xv. hundredth & more,  
Proximus fui to us (he saith) as I never was before,  
Generationi huic my church, to which I promyst plain,  
Et dixisemper eke, I would with it remain.  
Hi errant cord where I to the jews did say,  
Ipsi vero did not err like some at this day,  
Non cognoverunt all things as I showed to you,  
Vias meas to be like yours, yet some of you avow  
Quibus iuravi that for this infidelity,  
In ira mea revenged of it I will be  
Non introibunt with that corrupt judgement  
In requiem meam unless they repent.  
Gloria give we with one heart and mind,  
Patri who to us most loving lord we find  
Et filio which here our base nature did take  
Et spiritui sancto proceeding fro them for man's sake.  
Sicut erat before that all worlds were wrought,  
In principio which passeth all men's thought,  
Et nunc serve we him as doth become us best,  
Et semper let our faith by our deeds be expressed,  
In secula seculorum then truly reign we shall,  
With god in the joys which are perpetual. Amen.   

¶ The collect. Oremus. Let us pray.  
DEus a quo all grace doth proceed,  
Sancta desideria lord give us we have need,  
Recta concilia we ought here to elect  
justa sunt opera which with thee takes effect,  
Da servis tuis in this isle of England,  
illam which is wicked by grace to withstand,  
Quam mundus loveth most, that do we ensue  
Dare our souls for it we force not, this is true  
Non potest which loveth this world, leave his covetousness,  
Pacem sith he seeketh to have in his wicked riches  
 et, in this world we may live pleasantly,  
Corda nostra that to win wholly we apply.  
Mandatis tuis alas lord men should have a love,  
Dedita to the flesh are they, as lust doth them move.  
Et hostium their sore assaults though they mighty be,  
Sublata by thy grace lord, most happy than are we  
Formidine of which enemies being so put away,  
Tempora sint after spent, as best please thee may.  
Tua protectione than we doubt not, but certainly  
Tranquilla we shall have here, and eke eternally,  
Per Christum procured for us it is plain,  
Dominum nostrum give us grace his peace to obtain. Amen.   

¶ Another collect for the clergy and all other people.  
OMnipotens and undivided trinity  
Sempiterne deus all honour be to thee,  
Qui facis that by reason can not be thought,  
Mirabilia magna for us thou hast wrought,  
Solus of these works thou art worker we see  
Pretend so thy grace now of thy benignity,  
Super famulos tuos (for great is the need)  
pontifices to excite thereby thy flock well to feed  
et super cunctas persons of all degrees,  
congregationes having as all men sees  
illis commissas with error spotted sore  
spiritum gratiae lord send them all therefore  
salutaris heavenly to have the possession  
et ut thou wilt keep them from thy laws transgression  
in veritate of faith also and errors to destroy,  
tibi complacient then and after heaven enjoy,  
perpetuum eye thy glory shine shall  
rorem of thy grace, if thou on them let fall,  
benedictionis in heaven that we may be assured,  
infunde out thy grace, which for us is procured,  
per Christum of his great benignity,  
dominum nostrum therefore ever praised mought be. Amen.   

¶ The Author.  
Thus end I this mine A B C,  
Requiring all that shall it read  
Sith thus it is applied by me,  
Well to accept my will and deed.  
For as experience doth lead,  
I to the time doth it apply  
Sin reproving which still doth breed  
Therefore for grace let us all cry.  
Finis  ꝙ miles Huggard.   

Imprinted at London, by Robert Caly, within the precinct of the late dissolved house of the grey Freers, now converted to an Hospital, called Christ's Hospital.