BARNABAS

MY master in my lesson yesterday, Did recite this text of Ecclesiasticus, man is prove, to evil, from ̄ his youth, did he say Which sentence may well be verified in us My self, my brother, and sister Dalila, Whom our parents to their cost to scoole do find I tarry for them here, time passes away, I lose my learning, they ever loiter behind, If I go before, they do me threat, To complain to my mother, she for their sake, Being her tender tidlynges, will me beat: Lord, in this perplexit you, what way shall I take? Fie brother fie, & specially you sister Dalila, Soberness becomes maids always Be you not ashamed the treauandes to play? Losing your time & learning, & that every day Learning brings knowledge of God, & honest living to get Learn a pace sister, and after to spyn and sow, And other honest huswifely points to know. Lewd speaking corrupteth good manners S. Paul doth sai Come, let us go, if you will to scole this day I shall be shent for taryng so long, Barna " goes out What woeful wight art thou? tell me, That here most grievously dost lament, Confess the truth, and I will comfort the, By the word of God omnipotent: Although your time you have mispent, Repent and amend while you have space, And God will restore you to heatlh and grace. Show me your name sister I you pray, And I will help you now at your need, Both body and soul will I fede. Will you spyl your self for your own offence And seem for ever to exclude gods mercy, God does punish you for your negligence: Wherefore take his correction with patience, And thank him heartily, that of his godnes He brings you in knowledge of your trespass. For when my brother & sister were of young age, You saw they were given to idleness and play, Would apply no learning, but live in outrage, And mencomplagned on them every day. You winked at their faults, and tidled them always. By maintenaun e they grew to mischief and ill, So at last gods Justice did them both spill. In that God preseruerued me, small thank to you If God had not given me special grace, To avoid evil, and do good, this is true, I had lived and died in as wretched case: As they did, for I had both sufferance and space, But it is and old prouerke, you have heard it I think That God will have see, shall not wink. Yet in this we may all take comfort, They took great repentance I herd say, And as for my sister, I am able to report, She lamented for her sins, to her ding day: To repent and believe I exorthed her always, Before her death she believed that God of his mercy For Christ's sake, would save her eternally. If you do even so, you need not despair, For God will freely remit your sins all, Christ hath paid the ransom, why should you fear. To believe this and do well, to God for grace call. All worldly cares let pass and fallen, And thus comfort my father, I pray you heartily, Xa ̄ tip oeth oh to, I have a little to say, I will come by and by. Right gentle audience, by this Interlude you mayse How dangerous it is, for the frailty of youth, Without good governance, to live at liberty, Such chances as these, oft happen of truth Many miscarry, it is the more ruth, By negligence of their elders, & not taking pain. In time good learning & qualities to attain. Therefore exhorting all parents to be diligent, In bringing up their children, yea to be circumspect Least they fallen to evil, be not negligent, But chastise them before they be soar infect: Accept their well doing in ill them reject, A young plant you may plot & bow as y will, Where it grows strong, there will it abide Still Even so by children, in their tender age, You may work them Like wax to your own intent But if you suffer them long to live in outrage They will be sturdy and stiff, and will not relent: Oh you children, let your time he well spent, Apply your learning and your elders obey, It will be your profit and other day. Now, for the Queens Royal majesty let us pray, He knee down That God (in whose hands is y e Heart of all Queens,) May endue her highness w to godly puissance alway that her grace may long reign & prosper in all things In gods word & justice may give light to all Queens Let us pray for the honourable council & nobility, that they may always cou ̄ sell in wisdom ̄ w to tram ̄ quility, He make cur esy a goes out ¶God save the Queen, the Realm and commonalty. Well siker, I ever feared you would be nought, your lewd behaviours soar grieve my heart: to train you to goodness, all means have I sought, But in vain, yet will I play a brotherly partly. For y to the soul is more precious, most dearly bought with the blood of Christ, dying therefore: To save it first, a mean must be sought, At gods hand by Christ, man's only saviour. Consider Dalila, gods fatherly godnes, Which for your good, hath brought you in this case. Scourged you with his rod of pure love doubtless. that ones knowing your self, you might call for grace, You seem to repent, but I doubt whater, For your sins, or for the misery you be in: Earnestly repent for your sin rather, For these plagues be but the reward of sin, But so repent that you sin no more, And then believe with steadfast faith: That God will forgive you for evermore, For Christ's sake, as the scripture say. As for your body, if it be curable, I will cause to be healed, or during your life: I will cloth you, and feet you as I am able, Come sister, go with me, you have need of relief. The go