A pleasant new Ballad of Tobias, wherein is showed the wonderful things that chanced unto 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.  
To a new tune  
 
 

IN Ninivy old Toby dwelled,  
an Aged man and blind was he,  
And much afflictions he had felt,  
which brough him unto poverty:  
He had by Anna his true Wife,  
one only Son and eke no more,  
Which was the comfo●t of his life,  
●nd he by him did set great store.   

〈◊〉 ●●ought him up most virtuously,  
〈◊〉 ●rue obedience and in awe,  
〈◊〉 ●very day he did apply  
〈◊〉 fear the Lord and keep his Law.  
Upon a time it came to pass,  
he called his Son to him with speed.  
And thus to him these words did frame,  
my son quoth he thou know'st my need   

Thou must unto Gabael go,  
to Raguel's house in Media Land,  
For I did lend him long ago,  
ten Talents on his only Band.  
My father dear Tobias said,  
at your command straight will I go.  
How shall I get the money paid,  
Seeing the man I ne'er did know.   

Take here the Writings then quoth he,  
which is sufficie●t being seen,  
And get a guide to go with thee,  
since thou the way hast never been.  
A guide Tobias soon had got,  
An angel in the shape of man.  
Which thing he did not know God Wot,  
the Lord did so appoint it then.   

Tobias with his blessed guide,  
went on his journey then with speed,  
Until they came to Tigris side,  
At the fair flood they did abide:  
Tobias would go with him ●●er●  
by reason of the summer's heat,  
A mighty fish put him in fear,  
which leapt out of the waters great,   

Cut up the fish the angel said,  
and 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 journy's end,  
Wée'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 unto that place,  
I'll speak that she may be thy wife,  
Why Azarius then quoth he,  
for so they did the Angel call,  
I wis she is no Wife for me,  
swift death doth all her Lovers fall.   

Seven men to her have married been,  
which in her love did take delight:  
When her bed chamber they had seen,  
they have not lived 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 Raguel's home away they run,  
where Sara met them fair and bright,  
And after Salutations done  
she brought them to her parent's sight.   
 
 

GReat cheer they made & down they sat)  
& all for young Tobias sake  
And after long and pleasant chat,  
betwixt these two a match they make.  
By Moses Law they married were,  
the bride 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 fishes heart and liver there,  
Within the fire he did cast in,  
which cast a savour everywhere,  
And by that sweet and precious smell,  
the Wicked Spirit was displaced,  
Within that room he could not dwell,  
Where out away he went in haste,   

In bed they laid this 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 said,  
there is no means his life to save,   

One of the Maidens send quoth be.  
to see how all the matter stands  
And if it be so that dead he be,  
he shall be buried by my hands.  
This maiden joyful news did bring,  
Tobias is alive quoth she.  
When Raguel heard then of this thing,  
he did rejoice exceedingly,   

For joy he made a solemn feast  
the bridal fourteen days he kept,  
There to came many a friendly guest,  
in sorrow now no more they slept.  
Azarias went straightway,  
unto the feast Gabriel brought,  
Rejoicing at his marriage day,  
did pay the money that he ought,   

But yet old Toby and his Wife  
did all the time in so●●ow dwell,  
They thought their Son had lost his life,  
and nothing could their grief expel.  
His Aged mother every day.  
did watch 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 Niniveh did homewards pass.  
with goods and cattle on each side,  
But Toby and the angel bright  
before his Wife made haste to go,  
For to prepare all things arright,  
his lovely bride to welcome ho,   

His mother watching in the Way,  
full soon espied her tender son,  
Rejoicing at that happy day.  
she told her husband he was come,  
Whereat old Toby stumbled out,  
for he was blind and could not see,  
Young Toby with the fishes gall,  
Rubed both his eyes immediately.   

Whereat the whiteness of his eye,  
incontinent did fall out quite,  
So that before he did arise,  
he had again his perfect sight.  
Great joy there was on every side,  
young Toby told his father all,  
Who went to meet his lovely bride,  
With joy and mirth that was not small    

Printed for F. Coles J. Wright T. Vere, W. Gilbertson.