The Age & Life of MAN.  
Here you may see the frailty that's in Men, Till they have run the years threescore and ten.  
Tune of Jane shore  


1. When man is born he in a Cradle hides  
7. At one time seven a Hoby horse bestrides;  
14. At two times seven a book to read withal;  
21. At three times seven a Bandy and a Ball;  
28. At four times seven a wife he seeks and finds  
35. At five times 7 the Horn of strength he winds:  
42. At six times seven, Time standeth by him still,  
49. At seven times seven, his Bag begins to fill:  
56. At eight times seven his house with riches shines,  
63. At nine times seven, he to the Earth inclines:  
70. At ten times seven his Glass & time is run,  
Into the earth man falls, his story's done.    

AS I was wand'ring all alone  
A project than I thought upon:  
The which in my senses ran,  
that I should right the Age of man:  
Man he is Clay, and came from Earth  
and sinners live till day of death  
From one sin to another run,  
and never leaves till he's undone.  
Then fear your God make no delay  
For Time and Tide for none will stay.   

The first of seven years in a Cradle,  
to stand or go he is not able,  
Whiles other creatures making scorn  
tramples him down when he is born:  
So weak he is he cannot go  
and poor is born we all do know.  
Into this world stark naked he came,  
and so shall go out of the same.  
Then fear your &c.   

At two times seven his friends to rule  
provide for keeping him at School:  
That what to him in youth is told  
may do him good when he is old:  
But he so given is to play  
he truants most his time a way:  
When Age comes on, he'll then repent,  
that he his time had so misspent.  
At three times seven he is very idle  
that all his friends cannot him bridle.  
Then fear your God, make no delay,   

His thoughts run wand'ring too & fro,  
persuade him well, you are his foe:  
In other Countries he will room  
and have no mind to stay at home:  
That all his friends are grieved still  
while he pursues his headstrong will.  
Then, etc.   

The Second Part To the same Tune.  

At four times seven a wife he gets,  
using & mustering up his wits  
How he should thrive he takes great pains,  
alas for little or no gains.  
He then to bend his senses, rouse  
things most convenient for his house:  
Which in time wastes & fades away,  
even so must man that is but Clay.  
Then fear, etc.   

At five times seven a charge comes on,  
Which in the world few think upon:  
He labours hard with right good will,  
striving like stones against a hill:  
Or like a fload that swiftly goes  
At one time ebbs, another flows:  
Even so is man that's rich to day  
to morrow God takes all away.  
Then fear, etc.   

At six times seven then he should leave  
and for his former folly grieve:  
His heart is vert with sobs & sighs  
for all his former vain delights  
Good Husbandry he then home takes  
bad husbandry he then forsakes:  
And sober lives, and those defy  
such as do ●●te good husbandry  
Then fear, etc.   

At seven times seven a covetous mind  
is all to which he is inclined  
Covetous he is in himself  
to purchase up all worldly wealth.  
Gathering up that which is but dross  
which may prove once to be a cross.  
Except his talon he improve  
towards the poor by acts of love.  
Then fear your God, make no delay,  
For time and tide for none will stay.   

At eight times seven his cunning skill  
striving with all his worldly will:  
In bargaining & selling then  
making his Children mighty men.  
Leaving behind him that which he  
for it shall never thanked be  
As he did gather and lay it by,  
the Prodigal doth make it fly.  
Then fear, etc.   

At nine times seven he waxes old,  
his limbs benumbed, & veins are cold:  
His children glad with much content,  
their father have so good judgement:  
So knowing is in every cause  
his wit doth make young men to pause:  
Yet all this world he now must leave  
and now prepare himself for grave.  
Then fear, etc.   

At ten times seven his Glass is run,  
and he poor soul can no way shun:  
No, he must leave children & wife,  
to give the world can't save his life.  
Happy is he that liveth here,  
and kéeps his Conscience pure & cléer,  
Although in dust his body lie  
his soul shall mount up to the Sky.  
Then fear, etc.   

Thus have I shown from Stage to Stage,  
the frail condition of man's age,  
From seven to seven we pass, till when  
we reach the years threescore & ten:  
Let us all join with one accord,  
and with due reverence fear the Lord.  
Then may we all rejoice and sing  
Hallelujah to our heavenly King.    By P. Fancy.  

Printed for J. Williamson in Canon street and at the Bible on London-Bridge.