A pleasant new ballad of Tobias wherin is shewed: the wonderfull things which chanced to him in his youth; and how he wedded a young damsell that had had seven husbands and never enjoyed their company: who were all slaine by a wicked spirit.

A pleasant new Ballad of Tobias : wherin is shewed the wonderfull things which chanced to him in his youth ; and how he wedded a young Damsell that had had seven husbands and never enjoyed their company : who were all slaine by a wicked spirit .

IN Ninivie old Toby dwelt , an aged man and blind was he , And much affliction he had felt , which brought him unto poverty . He had by Anna his true wife , one onely sonne and eke no more , Which was the comfort of his life , and he by him did set great store . He brought him up most vertuously , in true obedience and awe , And every day he did apply , to feare the Lord and kéepe his Law . Upon a time it came to passe , he call'd to him his sonne with spéed , And thus to him his words did frame , my sonne , quoth he thou knost my nééd . Thou must unto Gabael goe , at Raguels in Media land , For I did lend him long agoe , ten talents on his only band . My father deare Tobias said , at your command straight will I goe , How shall I get the money paid , séeing the man I did never know ? Take here the writing then , quoth he , which is sufficient being séene , And get a guide to goe with thée . sith thou that way hast never béene . A Guid Tobias sonne had got , an Angell in the shape of man , Which thing he did not know God wot , the Lord did so appoint it than . Tobias with his blessed guide , went on his iourney then with spéed : Untill they came to Tigris side , at that faire flood they did abide . Tobias would wash him there , by reason of the Summers heat , A mighty fish put him in feare , which leapt out of the waters great . Cut up the fish , the Angell said , but kéep the Liver , Heart , and Gall , To doe the same be not afraid , great cures there shall be done withall . When this was done , away they went , and comming néere their iourneys end , Wée 'll lodge to night the Angell said , with Raguel thy fathers friend . He hath a daughter faire of face , and also of a vertuous life , And when we come into that place , I le speake that the may be thy wife . Why Azarias , then quoth he , so Toby did the Angell call , I wis the is no mate for me , swift death doth to her Lovers fall . Seven men have to her married béen . which in her love did take delight . When her bed chamber they have séen . they have not liv'd out halfe the night . A wicked spirit loves her so . he will not suffer any man , With her into the bed to goe , but works his : death do what he can . The Angell said , good courage take , for so it shall not be with thée , For such perfumes I will thee make , the wicked spirit away shall flée . To Raguels house away they came ▪ where Sara met them faire and bright , And after salutations done , she brought him to her Parents sight .

The second part , to the same tune .

GReat chéere they made & downe they sat , and all for young Tobias sake ; And after long and pleasant chat , betwixt these two a match they made . By Moses Law they married were , the Brides chamber prepar'd likewise : When young Tobias came in there , the teares fell downe from Sara's eyes . A pan of coales he brought with him , the fishes heart and liver there Within that fire did he cast in , which cast a savour every where . And by that swéet and precious smell , the wicked spirit was displac't , Within that roome he could not dwell , where out away he went in hast . In bed they laid the beauteous Bride , the chamber doore they shut therefore , young Toby lay downe by her side ▪ whom he did thinke to sée no more . And therefore Raguel in the night for him before had made a grave ; And to his wife he wept , and said , there is no meanes his life to save . One of the maidens send , quoth he , to sée how all the matter stands ▪ If it be so that dead he be , he shall be buried by my hands . The maiden ioyfull newes did bring , Tobias is a live , quoth she , When Raguel heard of this thing , he did reioyce excéedingly . For ioy he● a solemne feast , the Bridell 〈◊〉 ●●ye● he kept , Thereto c 〈…〉 a friendly guest : in sorrow now no more they slept . Then Azarias went straight way , and to the feast Gabael brought , Reioycing at this marriage day , did pay the mony which he ought . But yet old Toby and his wife did all the time in sorrow dwell , They thought their sonne had lost his life , and nothing could their griefe expell ▪ His aged mother every day did watch along the high way side , And for his welfare oft did pray , no meat nor drinke she could abide . But when the wedding ended was , young Toby with his lovely Bride , To Ninivy did home ward passe , with goods and cattell on each side . But Toby and the Angell bright , before his Wife made haste to go , For to prepare all things aright his lovely Bride to welcome tho . His mother watching in the way , full soone espy'd her tender sonne , Reioycing at the happy day , she told her husband he was come . Whereat old Toby stumbled out , for he was blind , and could not sée : Young Toby with the fishes Gall rub'd both his eyes immediatly . Whereat the whitenesse of his eyes incontinent did fall out quite : So that before he did arise ▪ he had againe his perfect sight . Great ioy was then on every side , young Toby told his father all : Who went to méet his lovely Bride , with ioy and mirth that was not small ▪

Finis .