The synne of Sodom foule and nat natural The Pryde of rome, whiche was so excellent The offence of Dauyd Prophete and kynge royal The furour of Pharao fyers and violent Haue nat escaped the rightwyse punysshment Of God aboue, the celestial and highe Justice Which fyrst, or last punyssheth euery vyce. Remember Richarde lately kynge of price In Englonde raynynge vnrightwisely a whyle. Howe he ambycion, and gyleful Couetyse With innocent blode his handes dyd defyle But howbeit that fortune on hym dyd smyle Two yere or thre: yet god sende hym punysshment By his true seruant the rede Rose redolent. Therfore remember that god omnypotent Oft suffreth synners in theyr iniquyte Grauntynge them space and tyme of amendement And nat to procede in their enormyte But those synners that byde in one degre And in this lyfe their synne wyll nat refrayne God after punyssheth with infernall payne As I haue sayde (therfore) I say agayne Though god be of infynyte pety and mercy His fauour and grace passynge all synne mundayne Yet iustice is with hym eternally. Wherfore I aduyse the to note intentifly Though pyte wolde spare, iustyce wyll nat so But the here rewarde, els with infernal we. ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS. Syghe synners, syghe, for your mysgouernance. Lament, mourne, and sorowe for your enormyte. Away with these Clowdes of mysty ignorance Syn nat in hope of goddys hyghe petye And remember howe ye daily punysshed be With dyuers dyseases both vncouthe and cruel And all for your synne, but suche as escapeth fre And styl lyue in syn, may fere the peynes of helle * * * * * Of the folisshe begynnynge of great bildynges without sufficient prouision. [Illustration: Come nere folys and rede your ignorance And great losse procedynge of your owne foly Whiche without gode and discrete purueaunce Any great werke wyll bylde or edefye. All suche ar folys what man wyll it deny For he that wyll bylde before he count his cost Shall seldome well ende, so that is made is lost.] Who euer begynneth any worke or dede Of byldynge or of other thynge chargeable And to his costes before taketh no hede Nor tyme nat countyth to his worke agreable Suche is a fole and well worthy a babyll For he that is wyse wyll no thynge assay Without he knowe howe he well ende it may. The wyse man counteth his cost before alway Or he begyn, and nought wyll take in honde Wherto his myght or power myght denay His costes confourmynge to the stynt of his londe Where as the fole that nought doth vnderstonde Begynneth a byldynge without aduysement But or halfe be done his money clene is spent.