See here the fruit of health and good successe, It maketh man both proude and insolent: In health we hate the God who hath vs blest, Trouble doth make vs mortall men repent Our former faultes: in sickenesse we be bent To fast and pray, and in aduersitye, To pray to God, is man’s felicitye. 8. And for this fault abusing this our blesse, The _Danes_ with ruth our realme did ouerrunne, Their wrath inwrapte vs all in wretchednesse, There was no sinne from which those men did shunne: By them the commonweale was quite vndonne: They did destroy the state of euery towne, They churches burnt, they pluckt the abbies downe. 9. Yet not content, vs nunnes they did annoy, O cruel deede, our beltes they did vnbynde, With rapine they dyd rauishe and destroy, Deflowring al that euer they could finde: I seeing then what sorrow was assignde To me and mine, my vowed virgines I Did call, then thus I spake with weeping eye: 10. “Alas! alas! my louing ladies all, These harde mishappes doo presse vs too to neare: What shall we do? how may we scape the thrall Which hath destroyde the nunneries euery where? Alas, my feeble fleshe doth quake for feare: Alas, howe shall we scape their cruelties, Which thus be plast amidst extremities? 11. “For if we do their hatefull heastes deny, Then dreadfull death shall presently insue: And if we graunt vnto their villany, Our sinfull soules in hell that deed shall rue: Beleeue me then, my ladies, this is true, Much better twer for vs to dye with fame, Then long to liue, with euerlasting shame. 12. “And for because the face’s forme doth moue With beautie’s beames and comly countenaunce, The minde of man to lust and lawlesse loue, I haue deuizde my honour to aduaunce, With face deformde to trye my hard mischaunce: For these my handes from this my face shall rippe, Euen with this knife, my nose and ouerlippe. 13. “They which will flye reprochfull infamye, To do the like will them beseeme the best, You shal preserue your vowde virginitie Therby, and liue perhappes with quiet rest: My daughters deare, geue eare vnto my hest.” Wherewith, with rasors sharpe, I first, then they, Eche one her nose, and lippe did flea away. 14.