A Posie of Gilloflowers :: :: University of Virginia Library

VVhen dreadfull death with dint of pearcing darte,
By fatall doome, this corpes of mine shal kill;
When lingring life shall from my life depart,
I thus set downe, my testament and will.
My faythfull friendes executors shall remayne,
To see performde what here I doe ordayne.

To thee (O world) I first of all doe leaue
The vayne delights, that I in thee haue found,
Thy fained shewes wherewith thou didst deceaue,
Thy fickle trust, and promises vnsound.
My wealth, my woe, my ioyes commixt wt care,
Doe take them, all doe fall vnto thy share.

And Satan thou, for that thou wert the cause,
That I in sinne did still mispend my dayes,
I thee defie, and here renounce thy lawes,
My wicked thoughts, my vile and naughty waies,
And eke my vice doe to thy lot befall,
From thee they came, doe take them to thee all,

To thee, O earth, agayne I do restore,
My carrion corpes, which from thee did proceede:
Because it did neglect all godly lore,
Let greedy wormes vpon it alwayes feede;
Let it in filth consume and rot away,
And so remaine vntil the iudgement day.

But my poore soule, whō Christ most deerly bought
Which hated sinne, and loathed to offend,
Together with ech good and godly thought,
Into thy handes, sweete Iesu, I commend.
O sauiour Christ, doe guide my steppes so well,
That after death, she stil with thee may dwell.