This argues but my greate good will,
as farre as duetie goes:

Or may be cald for chaunge of spetch,
a foile that vertue shoes.

4 Of him whose natuer from the Nurs,
hath bin so noblie bent:

That with his life both staetly courte,
and country stands content.

And sayth that heer we haue to few,

or noen like him at all:

In sondry pointes of honour suer,

that we most noble call.

*

Then follows a chasm, of what length is uncertain.

5 If enuye barke at well wonne faem,
it calls mens acts to minde:
And still reuieus the lamp with oyle,
that els would waest with wind.

If world but wist, what good doth ries,
throw enuies deepe disdaine:

With bieting words it would not seęke,
mans credite to distaine.

6 Who clipps renowme, is lieke a foole,
that faine would robb the Sunne :
Or one that sporns and kieks at Faeni,
that worthies well haue wunne.

Twear better striue to win like lawds
by blotles life in deede :

Than shaek the head or bend the brow,

7 Of others prayse, but God be thankt,
the hatefull are so weake:

(And uoyde of stregth) the happy needs
not caer what babblars speake.

The learned hath a mortall foe,
of him that knothing knoes:
The floure is malliest by a weede,
that for no purpose groes.

8 Well: whear that noble nature dwells,
and parfait honour is:

Thear vertue harbreth in the hart,
and rests the God of blis.

Take wel in worth my Nueyeares gift,

for whiells your vertues liue :
And I maye write, I minde like verse,
to you or yours to giue.

Finis q goodwill.

This is all in black letter, and forms two fly leaves to Neville "de furoribus Norfolciensium Ketto duce." In the possession of the Rev. Mr. White, of Lichfield.

THE

THE DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK.

THE following curious old Ballad has never appeared in any collection, and seems well worthy of being preserved. It was originally printed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

"THE MOST RARE AND EXCELLENT HISTORY OF THE DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK, AND HER HUSBAND, RICHARD BERTIE'S CALA

MITIES.

To the tune of "Queen Dido."

I.

When God had taken, for our sin,

That prudent Prince King Edward away,

Then bloody Bonner did begin

His raging malice to bewray;

All those that did God's word profess,

He persecuted more or less.

II.

Thus while the LORD on us did low'r,
Many in prison he did throw,
Tormenting them in Lollards' Tower,

Whereby they might the truth forego,

Then Cranmer, Ridley, and the rest,

Were burning in the fire, that CHRIST profess'd.

HI.

Smithfield was then with faggots fill'd,
And many places more beside;
At Coventry was Saunders kill'd,

At Worcester eke good Hooper died;

And to escape this bloody day,

Beyond-sea many fled away.

T

IV.

Among the rest that sought relief,
And for their faith in danger stood,
Lady Elizabeth was chief,

King Henry's daughter of Royal Blood;

Who in the Tower did prisoner lie,
Looking each day when she should die.

V.

The Dutchess of Suffolk seeing this,
Whose life likewise the Tyrant sought,
Who in the hopes of heavenly bliss,
Within God's word her comfort wrought;

For fear of death was forc'd to fly,
And leave her house most secretly.

VI.

That for the love of GoD alone,
Her land and goods she left behind;
Seeking still that precious stone,

The word and truth so rare to find
She with her husband, nurse, and child,
In poor array their sighs beguil'd.

VII. Thus

VII.

Thus thro' London they pass'd along,
Each one did take a several street;
Aud all along escaping wrong,

At Billingsgate they all did meet :
Like people poor, in Gravesend barge,
They simply went with all their charge.

VIII.

And all along from Gravesend town,
With journey short, on foot they went;
Unto the sea-coast came they down,

To

pass the seas was their intent; And GoD provided so that day,

That they took ship, and sail'd away.

IX.

And with a prosp'rous gale of wind
In Flanders they did safe arrive;
This was to them great ease of mind,

And from their hearts much woe did drive;

And so, with thanks to GOD on high,

They took their way to Germany.

X.

Thus as they travel'd still disguis'd,
Upon the highway suddenly,
By cruel thieves they were surpris'd,
Assaulting their small company;
And all their treasure, aud their store,
They took away, and beat them sore.

XI. The