〈◊〉 ●ew Ballad of Tobias: Wherein is showed the wonderful things which 〈◊〉 to him in his youth; and how he wedded a young Damsel that had had seven Husbands, and never enjoyed their company: Who were all slain by a wicked Spirit.  
 

●N Ninive old Toby dwelled,  
an aged bran and blind was he,  
●o much affliction he had felt,  
●hich brought him unto poverty.   

〈…〉 had by Anna his true wife,  
〈…〉 only son and eke no more,  
●hich was the comfort of his life,  
●nd he by him did set great store.   

〈◊〉 brought him up most virtuously,  
〈◊〉 true obedience and awe,  
●nd every day he did apply,  
〈◊〉 fear the Lord and keep his Law.   

●n a time it come to pass,  
●e called him his son with speed,  
thus to him his words did frame  
●●n quoth he, thou know'st my need   

〈◊〉 must unto Gabael go,  
〈◊〉 ●aguels house in Media Land,  
〈◊〉 ●id lend him long ago,  
●…ents on his only band.   

〈◊〉 dear, Tobias said,  
〈◊〉 command strait will I go,  
〈◊〉 I get the money paid  
●●…e man I did ne'er know:   

●●●…e the writings than quoth he,  
〈◊〉 is sufficient being seen,  
〈…〉 a guide to go with thee,  
〈◊〉 that way hast never burn.   

〈◊〉 ●●●ias son had got,  
〈…〉 in the shape of man,  
〈…〉 he did not know, God wots,  
●●d did so appoint it than.   

●●●●as with his blessed guide,  
●●nt on his journey then with speed,  
〈…〉 they came to Tigris side  
〈◊〉 ●●at fair flood they did abide,   

Tobias would go wash him there,  
by reason of the Summer's heat,  
A mighty fish put him fear,  
which leapt out of the waters great,   

Cut up the fish, the Angel said,  
but keep the Liver, Heart, and Gall,  
To do the same be not afraid,  
great cures there shall be done withal.   

When this was done, away they went,  
and coming near their journeys' end:  
we'll lodge to night the Angel said,  
with Raguel thy father's friend.   

He hath a daughter fair of face,  
and also of a virtuous life,  
And when we come into that place,  
I'll speak that she may be thy wife.   

Why Azarias then, quoth he  
so Toby did the Angel call;  
I wis she is no wife for me,  
swift death doth to her Lovers fall.   

Seven men have to her married been,  
which in her love did take delight,  
When her bedchamber they have seen,  
they have not liv●d out half the night.   

A wicked spirit loves her so,  
he will not suffer any man,  
With her into the bed to go,  
but works his death do what he can.   

The Angel said good courage take,  
for so it shall not be with thee  
For such perfumes I will thee make,  
the wicked Spirit away shall flee.   

To Raguels' house away they went  
where Sara met them fair and bright,  
And after salutations done,  
she brought him to her Parent's sight.   
 

GReat cheer they made, & down they sat  
and all for young Tobias sake,  
And after long and pleasant chat,  
belwixt these two a match they make.   

By Moses law they married were,  
the Bride's bed chamber prepared likewise,  
When young Tobias came in there,  
the tears fell down from Sara's eyes.   

A Pan of Coals he brought with him,  
the Fish's Heart and Liver there,  
Which in that fire he did cast in,  
which cast a sabour every where.   

And by that sweet and precious smell,  
the wicked spirit was displaced,  
Within that room he could not dwell,  
whereout away he went in haste.   

In bed they laid the beauteous Bride,  
the chamber door they shut therefore,  
Young Toby lay down by her side,  
whom he did think to see no more,   

And therefore Raguel in the night,  
for him before had made a grave,  
And to his wife he wept and sa●d,  
there is no means his life to save.   

One of the Maidens send quoth he,  
to see how all the matter stands,  
If it be so that dead he be,  
he shall be buried by my hands.   

The Maiden joyful news did bring,  
Tobias is alive quoth she,  
When Raguel then heard of this thing,  
he did rejoice exceedingly.   

For joy he made a solemn feast,  
the Bridal fourteen days he kep●  
Thereto came many a friendly gue●●  
in sorrow now no more they sle●●   

Then Azaris went strait way,  
and to the feast Gabael brought,  
Rejoicing at this marriage day,  
did pay the money which he ought,   

But yet old Toby and his wife,  
did all the time in sorrow dwell,  
They thought their son had lost his life,  
and nothing could their grief expel.   

His aged mother every day,  
did watch long the highway side.  
And for his welfare oft did pray,  
no meat nor drink she could abide.   

But when the wedding ended was,  
young Toby with his lovely Bride,  
To Ninive did homeward pass,  
with goods and cattles on each side.   

But Toby and the Angel bright,  
before his wife made haste to go,  
For to prepare all things aright,  
his lovely Bride to welcome tho.   

His mother watching in the way,  
full soon espied her tender son,  
Rejoicing at the happy day,  
she told her husband he was come.   

Whereat old Toby stumbled out  
for he was blind and could 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Young Toby with the fish●● 〈◊〉  
rubbed both his eyes 〈◊〉   

Whereat the whit●●●●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
incontinent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
So that befo●● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
  

 
 
 
  
〈◊〉   

London Printed by F. 〈…〉