The godly Matrone by the hand him beares 2 Forth from her presence, by a narrow way, Scattred with bushy thornes, and ragged breares, 4 Which still before him she remou'd away, That nothing might his ready passage stay: 6 And euer when his feet encombred were, Or gan to shrinke, or from the right to stray, 8 She held him fast, and firmely did vpbeare, As carefull Nourse her child from falling oft does reare. 1 The godly matron by the hand him bears 2 Forth from her presence, by a narrow way her > [Charissa's] 3 Scattered with bushy thorns and ragged briers, 4 Which still before him she removed away, still > continually 5 That nothing might his ready passage stay: That > [So that] ready > straight, direct stay > hinder 6 And ever, when his feet encumbered were, 7 Or began to shrink, or from the right to stray, 8 She held him fast, and firmly did upbear, fast > firmly did > [did him] 9 As careful nurse her child from falling often does rear. 110.36 Eftsoones vnto an holy Hospitall, 2 That was fore by the way, she did him bring, In which seuen Bead-men that had vowed all 4 Their life to seruice of high heauens king Did spend their dayes in doing godly thing: 6 +There+ gates to all were open euermore, That by the wearie way were traueiling, 8 And one sate wayting euer them before, To call +in commers-by+, that needy were and pore. 6 There > Their _1609; cf. 202.30:1, 206.27:9, 211.21:8, 304.41:7, 312.28:1_ 9 in commers-by > in-commers by _1590, 1596_ 1 Eftsoons to a holy hospital, Eftsoons > Forthwith, soon hospital > {Charitable institution for housing and aiding the needy; place of lodging} 2 That was forby the way, she did him bring; forby > hard by, near 3 In which seven beadsmen (that had vowed all beadsmen > holy men; "men of prayer" 4 Their life to service of high heaven's King) 5 Did spend their days in doing godly things: 6 Their gates to all were open evermore Their > Their; _or, conceivably:_ there (see Textual Appendix; though even among the educated the two spellings were occasionally used indifferently) evermore > constantly 7 That by the weary way were travelling, travelling > (Here, especially, includes the sense of "travailing", = "toiling") 8 And one sat waiting ever them before, waiting > keeping watch 9 To call in comers-by that needy were and poor. comers-by > passers-by 110.37 The first of them that eldest was, and best, 2 Of all the house had charge and gouernement, As Guardian and Steward of the rest: 4 His office was to giue entertainement And lodging, vnto all that came, and went: 6 Not vnto such, as could him feast againe, And double quite, for that he on them spent, 8 But such, as want of harbour did constraine: Those for Gods sake his dewty was to entertaine. 1 The first of them, that eldest was and best, best > most kind