WHAT then of this talent, while here we remain, But study to yield it to God with a gain; And that shall we do, if by us 't is not hid, But we use and bestow it, as Christ doth us bid. What good to get riches by breaking of sleep, But (having the same) a good house to keep; Not only to bring a good fame to thy door, But also the prayer to win of the poor. A DESCRIPTION OF APT TIME TO SPEND. Of all other doings, house-keeping is chief, Which causeth thy doings the better to speed. Though, hearken to this, we should ever among, A DESCRIPTION OF APT TIME TO SPEND. (THOMAS TUSSER). LET such (so fantastical) liking not this, Nor anything honest that ancient is, Give place to the time, that so meet we do see, At Christmas good husbands have corn in the ground, At Christmas the hardness of winter doth rage, At Christmas, by labour is little to get, CHRISTMAS HUSBANDLY FARE. (THOMAS TUSSER,) GOOD husband and housewife, now chiefly be glad Beef, mutton, and pork, shred pies of the best, What cost to good husband is any of this, Of other the like I do leave out a many, That costeth the husbandman never a penny. Not for our good behaviour, But only of His mercy and love? Great thanks to God to yield for this This did our God for very troth, To train to him the soul of man, To Sarah and to Abraham, than As in due time performed, he would 43 Which wondrously is brought to pass, By sending, as His promise was (To comfort us), His only son, Even Christ, I mean, that virgin's child That lamb of God, that prophet mild, Such was His love to save us all, From dangers of the curse of God, That we stood in by Adam's fall, And by our own deservèd rod. That through his blood and holy name, And fly from sin, and abhor the same, For this glad news, this feast doth bring, Let man give thanks rejoice and sing, From world to world, from coast to coast, For other gifts in many ways, That God doth send: Let us in Christ give God the praise, Till life shall end. Robert Southwell, the writer of the following poem, is chiefly remembered on account of his unfortunate fate. He was educated and trained for the Catholic priesthood, and when but a mere youth, became a member of the Society of Jesus, at Rome. In 1584, at the age of twenty-four, he was sent as a missionary to England. This was at a time when religious persecution was at its height, and Elizabeth seemed bent on rivalling her sister Mary's cruel decrees. Southwell, however, enjoyed an eight years' security, but at the expiration of that time he was arrested, and underwent a long imprisonment, suffered the torture of the rack ten times, and was at length exccuted at Tyburn, on February 21, 1595. |