A floorish vpon fancie As gallant a glose vpon so triflinge a text, as euer was written. Compiled by N.B. Gent. To which are annexed, manie pretie pamphlets, for pleasant heads to passe away idle time withal. By the same authour.

¶ An other tyme not long after, he chaunced to be in his friendes and betters house: being in his bed aboute midnight, by chaunce awake, heard in the next chamber a Page of the Ladyes of the house, lamenting as he lay in his bed, verye sore his vnhappy estate: which as he could well bea••e away in the morning, put it in verse only for his own reading, to laugh at, but being by his friend intreated, put it as you see among his Toyes (as one not the least) which was as followeth.

THat I would not perswaded bée, In my yong rechlesse youth: By playne experyence I sée, That now it proueth truth. It is Toms song, my Ladyes Page, That seruice is no heritage.

I hard him syng this other night, As he ••ay all alone: Was neuer Boye in such a plight, Where should he make his mo••e. Oh Lord quoth he, to be a page, This seruice is none heritage.

Myne Uncle tolde me tother day, that I must take great paine: And I must cast all sloath awaye, If I séeke ought to gaine. For sure quoth he, a painefull Page, Will make seruice an heritage.

Yea sure, a great commoditie, If once Madame he doe displease: A cuffe on the eare, two or thrée, He shall haue, ••inally for his ease. I would for me he were a Page, For to possesse this heritage.

I rubbe and brush almost all day, I make cleane many a coat••: I séeke all honest meanes I may, How to come by a groate. I thinke I am a painefull Page, Yet can I make no heritage.

Why? I to get haue much a doe, A Kirtle nowe and than: For making cleane of many a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, For Ales, or Mistresse Anne. My Ladies Maydes will 〈…〉〈…〉 Page, Alwayes of such an heri••••••••.

The wenches they get Coyf••s and Cawles, Frenchhoodes and Partlets ••••ke: And I get nought but checks and braw••••s, A thousande in a wéeke. These are rewardes méete for a Page, Surely a goodly heritage.

My Ladies maydes to must I please, But chiefely Mistresse Anne: For else by the Masse she will disease, Me vyly now and than. Fayth she will say, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Page, Ile purchase you an heritage.

And if she say so by the ••••de, Tis Cock I warrant i••: But God he knowes, I were as good, To be without it: For all the gaynes I get ••oor•• Page, Is but a slender Heritage.

I haue so many folkes to please, And créepe and kneele vnto: That I shall neuer liue at ease, What euer so I doe: Ile therefore be no more a Pag••, But séeke some other heritage.

But was there euer such a pa••••••, To speake so lowde as I: Knowing what hold the mayde•• will c••tch, At euery fault they spye: And all for 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ore ••age, To purchase me an heritage.

And if that they may h••••re 〈…〉〈…〉, I were as good be ••angde: My Lady shall kno•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, And I shall sure be bangde: I shall be vsed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Page, I shall not loose mine heritage.

Well yet I hope the tyme to s••e, When I may run as fast: For wandes for them, as they for me, Eare many dayes be past: For when I am no longer Page, Ile geue them vp m••••e heritage.

Well, I a whyle must stand content, Till better happe doe fall: With such pore state as God hath sente, And geue him thankes for all. Who will I hope, sende me pore Page Then this, some better heritage.

With this, with handes and eyes, Lifte vp to heauen on high: He sighed twise or thrise, And wepte to piteously. Which when I saw, I wisht the Page, In fayth some better heritage.

And wéeping thus good God quoth he, Haue mercy on my soule: That ready I may be for thée, When that the bell doth knoule. To make me frée of this bondage, And partner of thine heritage.

Lord graunt me grace so thée to serue, That at the latter day: Although I can no good deserue, Yet thou to me mayest say. Be thou now frée, that werte a Page. And heare in heauen haue heritage.

Finis.