At Katewade in Suffolke this booke first deuised.
15
As in this booke, who list to looke,
Of husbandrie, and huswiferie,
There may he finde more of my minde,
concerning this:
To [carke][6] and care, and euer bare,
With losse and paine, to little gaine,
All this to haue, to [cram] sir knaue,
what life it is.
Ipswich commended.
16
When wife could not, through sicknes [got],
More toile abide, so nigh Sea side,
Then thought I best, from toile to rest,
and Ipswich trie:
A towne of [price],[E499] like paradice,
For quiet then, and honest men,
There was I glad, much friendship had,
a time to lie.
The deth of his first wife.
17
There left good wife this present life,
And there left I, house charges lie,
For glad was he, mought send for me,
good lucke so stood:
In Suffolke there, were euerie where,
Euen of the best, besides the rest,
That neuer did their friendship hid,
to doo me good.
Newe maried in Norfolk.
18
O Suffolke thow, content thee now,
That hadst the [praies] in those same daies,
For Squiers and Knights, that well delights
good house to keepe:
For [Norfolke wiles], so full of [giles],[E500]
Haue caught my toe, by wiuing so,
That out to thee, I see for mee,
no waie to creepe.
Mistres Amie Moone.
19
For lo, through gile, what haps the while,
Through Venus toies, in hope of ioies,
I chanced soone to find a Moone,[7]
of cheerfull hew:
Which [well a fine] me thought did shine,
Did neuer change, a thing most strange,
Yet kept in sight, hir course aright,
and compas trew.