AS nature doth me bind,
Because thou art my blood,
According to my kind,
To give thee of my good.
That thou mayst have in mind
How I have run my race,
Although thou stayest behind
But for a little space.
I give thee here a pearl,
The price of all my good,
For which I leave my life,
To buy it with my blood▪
Mor• worth than a•• the world,
Or aught that I can note,
Although it be be-••ad
In such a simple coat.
For when I had obtained
This pearl of such a price,
Then was I sure I gained
The way for to be wise.
It taught me how to fight.
My flesh for to despise,
To stick unto the light,
Also to leave the lies▪
In sending out my seed,
With bonds and bitter tears,
That I might reap with joy,
In everlasting years.
And have for all my loss
My travel and my pain,
A thousand times and more,
Of better goods again.
And for because the good,
That hath been got and gained,
And that the Lord's elect,
Hath ever more obtained,
Is closed in this book
Which I do give to thee,
Wherein I have my part,
As thou thyself mayst see.
In which I hope thou hast
A stock also in sto•e:
And will not cease to fail,
Till God hath made it more.
I will thee to beware,
Be sure thou keep it well:
For if thou do it lose,
Thy part shall be in hell.
And here I testify
Before the living God,
That I detest to do
The things that are forbid.
And as my judgment is,
My body to be burnt,
My heart is surely set,
Therewith to be content.
And since it is his will,
To put me in his power,
Upon his holy hill
To fight against this whore;
Full well I am content,
If he allow it so,
To stand with all my might,
The whore to overthrow.
Even with a willing mind,
The death I will outface:
And as I am assured,
The battle to embrace.
That they which hear the truth
How I have past the pike,
May set aside their youth,
And learn to do the like.
And though it be my lot,
To let her suck my blood,
⟨p. 760⟩Yet I am well assured,
It shall do her no good.
For she is set to kill
The things she thinks accurst,
And shall not have her fill
Of blood until she burst.
And when thou shalt perceive,
Or hear of my decease,
Pray to the living God,
That I may sleep in peace.
And when I am at rest,
And rid out of my pain;
Then will I do the like,
For thee to God again.
And to my woeful wife,
And widow desolate,
Whom I do leave behind,
In such a simple state;
Encompassed with tears,
And mournings many a one;
AS nature doth me bind,
Because thou art my blood,
According to my kind,
To give thee of my good.
That thou may'st have in mind
How I have run my race,
Although thou stay'st behind
But for a little space.
I give thee here a pearl,
The price of all my good,
For which I leave my life,
To buy it with my blood▪
Mor• worth than a•• the world,
Or aught that I can note,
Although it be be-••ad
In such a simple coat.
For when I had obtain'd
This pearl of such a price,
Then was I sure I gain'd
The way for to be wise.
It taught me how to fight.
My flesh for to despise,
To stick unto the light,
Also to leave the lies▪
In sending out my seed,
With bonds and bitter tears,
That I might reap with joy,
In everlasting years.
And have for all my loss
My travel and my pain,
A thousand times and more,
Of better goods again.
And for because the good,
That hath been got and gain'd,
And that the Lord's elect,
Hath ever more obtain'd,
Is closed in this book
Which I do give to thee,
Wherein I have my part,
As thou thyself may'st see.
In which I hope thou hast
A stock also in sto•e:
And will not cease to fail,
Till God hath made it more.
I will thee to beware,
Be sure thou keep it well:
For if thou do it lose,
Thy part shall be in hell.
And here I testify
Before the living God,
That I detest to do
The things that are forbid.
And as my judgment is,
My body to be burnt,
My heart is surely set,
Therewith to be content.
And since it is his will,
To put me in his power,
Upon his holy hill
To fight against this whore;
Full well I am content,
If he allow it so,
To stand with all my might,
The whore to overthrow.
Even with a willing mind,
The death I will outface:
And as I am assur'd,
The battle to embrace.
That they which hear the truth
How I have past the pike,
May set aside their youth,
And learn to do the like.
And though it be my lot,
To let her suck my blood,
⟨p. 760⟩Yet I am well assur'd,
It shall do her no good.
For she is set to kill
The things she thinks accurst,
And shall not have her fill
Of blood until she burst.
And when thou shalt perceive,
Or hear of my decease,
Pray to the living God,
That I may sleep in peace.
And when I am at rest,
And rid out of my pain;
Then will I do the like,
For thee to God again.
And to my woful wife,
And widow desolate,
Whom I do leave behind,
In such a simple state;
Encompassed with tears,
And mournings many a one;