HELCHIA

¶Fie wife how oft would e thou, thy neighbours grief relieved, And why in this thy own distress, are all thy senses méeued, Dost thou not know our Lord and God is able to make right, The weakest part of simple men, against all Tyrants spite, Dost thou not know how God himself did Toby always aid, And sent him home his son again, for whom he was dismayed, And knowest not eake, how that that God, the more to show his might When Toby had long time be blind, he gave to him his sighed, Remember how the children three for serving God aright, Were thrust into the burning Oven, with Terror and with spite, And how that he defended them, amid the flaming fire, And made the Prince praise him by them, and mitigate his ire, These and a thousand samples more, Gods goodness still does show, That God will guiltless let her die, good wife do not think so. ¶You say right well, and in distress, friends comfort every man, We will go see her heaviness, and ease her if we can. ¶And to her noble counsel Lord, give wisdom and good health, Grant that they do may glory Thee, and mend the common wealth. ¶The lose of goods sometime does move, a man his heart to break, But of his child: Ah, me alas my sobs nill let me speak, These breasts my Spouse, with tender milk, proceeding from my heart Did give her suck, did nourish her, alas most grievous smart, And from my breast until you gave, her to be made a wife, I nourished her in God his fear, and loved her as my life. ¶Peace wife, attempt not God, thou knowest all flesh is frail. ¶Nay then am I good Lord most bound, to yield Thee hearty praise. That haste by helping this my child, prolonged these my days. Sorry I was to hear her fault, more sorry for her death, Her fault was none, and she lives still, what joy like this on earth, To serve Thee still as I have done, it is my whole pretence, Thou art my strength, my hope, my aid, I seek no other defence.