This worlde is ful of stablenesse,

Ther is therinne no variaunce;

But trowth, feith, and gentlenesse,

Secrenesse and assuraunce,

Plente, ioye, and al plesaunce —

Be ensample who can have rewarde,

Variably by resemblaunce

Right as the crab goth forewarde.

Ther is now founde no falsnesse,

Right is so myghty of puissaunce;

Feith hath exiled dowblenesse;

Fortune chaungeth not hir chaunce.

Byhest abideth on constaunce;

Frendship is founde no coward.

Light with derke hath accordaunce

Right as the crabbe goth foreward.

Princes sustene Rightwesnesse;

Knyghthode in trouth hath whet his launce.

Law hath putte mede in grete distresse

And avoyded hir acqueyntance.

Periurye in Engelond and in Fraunce

Is fled beyonde Mount Godarde;

Iurours with trouth hath aliaunce

Right as the crab goth forewarde.

Sergeantis, pleders of feithfulnesse,

Man made on guerdon a diffiaunce;

Consistories for holynesse

Betwene hem and mede is gret dystaunce.

Flaterie hath lost his contenaunce;

Plente is founde non nygarde.

Scarsitee is gon vnto myschaunce

Right as the crabbe goth forewarde.

Eche man hath ynowe richesse;

Pore folke fele no greuaunce.

Presthode lyveth in perfitnesse,

Kan in litel have suffisaunce.

Religion hath non attendaunce

Vnto the worlde, but al vpwarde

To the ensample in substance,

Right as the crab goth forewarde.

Take hede also by avysenesse —

Wymmen fro Cartage to Custaunce

Ibanshed have newfanglenesse,

Put in a place perseueraunce.

In clergie is perfite governaunce;

Mesoure with marchaunts is a chef stewarde;

Wight halt trewly ther balaunce,

Right as the crab goth forewarde.

Princes, the reuerence to expresse

Of euery thing by contenaunce —

Endendement double is chef maistras,

FaIs compassing by disseyvaunce,

Which causeth alwey grete disturbance,

French, English, Narman and Picard.

The heuenly signe maketh demonstraunce

Right as the crab goth forewarde!