The Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield/The Isham MS./There is a thinge yt much is vsd
There is a thinge yt much is vsd
tis caulled loue, by men abusd:
they write and sigh and sweare they die
when all is done they know they lie,
but when they sweare by faith & troth
ile sweare they care not for an othe.
They firste muste haue a mistres faire
and then a fauor for to weare
and then they go to flattries skoole
and call her wise they knowe a foole
but let them sweare by faith and troth
ile sweare they care not for an othe.
It is a practise in this age
to lay theire creditts vnto gage,
by wit by vowes by neate attire
to conquer that they most desire
but let them sweare by faith and troth
ile sweare they care not for an othe.
FINIS.