All they that by theyr subtyll artes

"All they that by theyr subtyll artes Hath wylled for to blame maryage, I wyll susteyne that they be bastardes, Or at least wage an evyll courage, For to saye that therein is servage In maryage; but I it reny, For therin is but humayne company.

"Yf ther be yll women and rebell, Shrewed, dispytous, and eke felonyous, There be other fayre, and do full well, Propre, gentyll, lusty and joyous, That ben full of grace and vertuous; They ben not all born under a sygnet: Happy is he that a good one can get."

He adds just afterwards:—

"Galantes, playne ye the tyme that ye have lost, Mary you be tyme, as the wyse man sayth. Tossed I have ben fro pyler to post In commersynge natures werke alwayes. I have passed full many quasy dayes, That now unto good I can not mate, For mary I dyde my selfe to late."