VIRTUOUS LIVING

¶ O gracious God how wonderful are thy works? how highly art thou of all men to be praised? Of Christians, Sarasins, Jews and also Turks, thy glory ought to be erected and raised What joys hast thou prepared for the virtuous life, And such as have thy name in love and awe? thou hast promised salvation to man, Child and wife, that thy precepts observe and keep well thy law. And to the virtuous life what doth ensue? Vertutis premium honour Tully doth say: Honour is the guerdon for virtue endue, And eternal salvation at the latter day. How clear in conscience is the virtuous life? the vicious hath consciences so heavy as led: their conscience and their doings is always at strife: And although they live: yet in sin they are dead. ¶ God bless you also both now and always. I pray you with me have you any acquaintance? ¶ I fit be so I marvel very much, That the dulness f my wit should be such. That you should be altogether out of my memory, tell me your name I pray you heartily. ¶ I will never acquaint me with such in any place, As are ashamed of their names by Gods grace. ¶ My friend marry I do thee defy, And all such company I do deny. For thou art a companion for roisters and ruffians, And not fit for any virtuous companions. ¶ Indeed thou sayest true it must needs be so, For Like will ever to Like go. And my conditions and thine so far do disagree, That no familiarity between us may be. For thou nourishest vice both day and night, My name is virtuous life and in virtue is my delight. So vice and virtue cannot together be united, But the one the other hath always spighted. For as water quenches fire and the flame doth suppress, So virtue hates vice and seeks a redress. ¶ O wicked that have such delig to, In evil conversation wicked and And from virtues lo withdraw yourselves quite, And lean to vice most and worser testam le. How prove and to ensue, How defe we be good to hear? How strange we make it our would ts to be never? How little we have Gods threats in fear? Saint Augustine says in his 5. book de civitate Dei, Coniunctam sunt edes Vertutis et honoris (says he) The house of Virtue and Honour joined together be. And so the way to Honours house is disposed, that through virtues house he must needs pass: Or else from honour he shall soon be deposed, and brought to that point that he before was. But if through virtue honour be attained: The path to salvation may soon be gained. Some there be that do fortune prefer, Some esteem pleasure more then virtuous life: But in mine opinion all such do err, For virtue and fortune be not at strife. Where virtue is, fortune must needs grow: But fortune without virtue hath soon the overthrown. Thrice happy are they that do virtue embrace, For a Crown of glory shall be their reward: Sa han at no time may him any thing deface, For God over him will have such regard. That his foes he shall soon tread under his foot: And by Gods permission, pluck them up by the root. It boots not vice against virtue to stir, For why vice is feeble and of no force: But Vi tus eternam preclaraque habentur. wherefore I would all men would have a remorse. And eschew evil company vile and pernicious. And as the end of virtue is honour and felicity, So mark well the end of wickedness and vice: Shame in his world and pain eternally, Wherefore you that are here learn to be wise. And the end of the one, with the other way: By that tune you have herd the end of this play. But why do I thus much say in the praise of Virtue? Sith the thing praise worthy needs no praise at all: It praiseth it self sufficiently this is true, Which chases away sin as bitter as gall. And where Virtue is, it needs not to be praised: For the renown thereof shall soon be raised. Intrat good fame ¶ Good Fame you are welcome heartily, I pray you who did you hither send? ¶ God is gracious and full of great mercy, To such as in virtue set their whole delight: Powering his benefits upon them abundantly: O man what meanest thou with saviour to fight? Come unto him for he is full of mercy. The fountain of virtue and of godliness the spring, Come unto me and thou shalt live everlastingly: He doth not require thee any price to bring, Come unto me you that travail (says he, And such as with sin are heuily laden: And of my self refreshed you shall be. Repent, repent, your deeds shall be down trodden, Well Good Fame sith God of his goodness, Hath hither sent you on me to attend: Let us give thanks to him with humbleness, And persuade with all men their lives to amend. ¶ Such godly company liketh me very well: for vicioꝰ me ̄ from ̄ our continued ̄ pany we would expel ¶ And I also with you thereto do agree. A Pleasant noise to Gods ears it must needs bring: That Gods promise, Honour, and Virtuous life do sing. Trim merchandise trim trim, trim merchandise trim trim, He may sing this as oft as he thinketh good. ‡ O worthy Diadem o jewel most precious. O virtue which doth all worldly things excel: How worthy a treasure thou art to the virtuous thy praise no pen can write ne tongue tell. For I who am called virtuous life, Have in this world both honour and dignity: Immortal fame of man, child and wife, Daily waits and attends on me. The commodity of virtue in me you may behold, the enormities of vice you have also seen: Therefore to make and end we may be bold, And pray for our noble and virtuous Queen. ¶ What heart can think: or what tongue can express? The great goodness of God which is almighty: Who seeth this, and seeks not vice to suppress, Honour, good fame, yea and life everlastingly. Thy name be praised o Lord therefore: And to thee only be glory and honour. ¶ Oh Lord of hosts, o K ng almighty, Pour down thy grace upon our noble Queen: Vanquish her foes Lord that daily and nightly, through her thy laws may be sincerely seen.