G. F. O Virtuous Life, God rest you merry, To you am I come for to attend. V. L. Good Fame, ye are welcome heartily. I pray you, who did you hither send? G. F. Even God's Promise hath sent me unto you, Willing me from you not to depart: But always to give attendance due, And in no wise from you to start. For God of his promise hath most liberally Sent me Good Fame to you Virtuous Life; Whereby it may be seen manifestly, God's great zeal to virtue both in man and wife. For why they may be sure, that I, Good Fame, From the virtuous life will never stray: Whereby honour and renown may grow to their name, And eternal salvation at the latter day. V. L. God is gracious and full of great mercy To such as in virtue set their whole delight: Pouring his benefits on them abundantly. O man, what, meanest thou with thy Saviour to fight? Come unto him, for he is full of mercy, The fountain of virtue and of godliness the spring: Come unto him, and thou shall live everlastingly; He doth not require thee any price to bring. _Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati Estis, et ego refossilabo vos._ Come unto me, ye that travail (say'th he) And such as with sin are heavily loden: And of me myself refreshed you shall be. Repent, repent, your sins shall be downtrodden-- Well, Good Fame, sith God of his goodness Hath hither sent you on me to attend, Let us give thank to him with humbleness, And persuade with all men their lives to amend. G. F. Virtuous Life, I do thereto agree, For it becometh all men for to do so. _Intrat_ GOD'S PROMISE, _and_ HONOUR _with him_. But, behold, yonder cometh God's Promise, as seemeth me; And Honour with him cometh also. V. L. Such godly company pleaseth me very well; For vicious men from our company we should expel. G. P. God rest you merry both, and God be your guide. HONOUR. We are now come to the place where we must abide. For from you, Virtuous Life, I Honour may not slide. G. P. I am God's Promise, which is a thing eterne, And nothing more surer than his promise may be: A sure foundation to such as will learn God's precepts to observe: then must they needs see Honour in this world, and at last a crown of glory; Ever in joy and mirth, and never to be sorry. Wherefore, O Virtuous Life, to you we do repair, As messengers from God, his promise to fulfil; And therefore sit you down now in this chair, For to endue you with honour is God's promise and will. [VIRTUOUS LIVING _sitteth down in the chair_.