It chaunced not long after, that this Gentleman happened to be in the company of his very friend, which at Dyce lost much money: and after his losse, entreated him to write some despightfull Ditty, to diswade him from Cards and Dice: which with much intreaty he graunted, & wrote as followeth.
M Y freend, I saye, if thou be wise,
Use not to much the Cardes and Dyce:
Least, setting all at sincke and syce
Doe make thee know the cost:
T'will make thee weare a thinne light purse,
T'will make thee sweare and ban, and curse:
T'will make thee doo all this and worse.
When once thy Coyne is lost.

Therefore, take heede in time, I say:
For time at Dice runnes fast away.
No time worse spent then at dyce-play
I put thee out of doubt:
And say not, but it was thee tolde:
The nearer that thy purse is polde,
The more still friendship waxeth colde,
Yea all the worlde throughout.

And then, when once thy coyne is gone,
And friends to helpe thee thou hast none
Nor house nor Land to live vpon:
Oh then, what wilt thou say?
Well, once I might haue taken heede
I had a trusty freend in deede,
That tould me true how I should speede
If I did hold this way.

For who continues in this vaine
Of setting still, bothe bye and mayne.
But in the ende he shall be faine
To leaue it, will or nill:
And doe the thing that dooth despight
Most men, though some it dooth delight
To them that play to holde the light,
Full ill against their will.

Leaue therefore (friend) while thou art well
And marke the woordes that I thee tell:
If once thy lande thou fall to sell
Thy credit will impaire:
And care not thou, though Gamsters say —
(These Gamsters, Roysters call I may)
What, Dastard darest thou not play?
Howe reach this man a Chaire.

Well, if he bring it sit thee downe
Or else go out into the towne:
If not, then walke thee vp and downe
And beare a time his scoffe:
And thou shalt see within a while,
How thou mayest finely at him smile:
When he would gladly wish a file
To file his yrons off.

For commonly, such knaues as these
Doe ende their lyves vpon three trees:
Or lye in Prison for theyr fees,
For all their bragging out:
And though one yeare they goe full gaye
And euery day play lusty play:
Yet with a Rope they make a fraye
Ere seuen yeare goe about.

And therefore, say they what they list
Take thou still heede of, had I wist:
And vse not too too much thy fist
To shaking of the Dice:
For fyrst, thy gaine will be but small
The credit lesse, thou gettest with all:
Thy estimation least of all,
Though deare thou buy the price.

Good Lorde was not that man halfe madde
That once a prety lyuing had:
And would not rest, but out must gadde
To Cardes and Dyce in haste:
And vsed them so lustily,
Setting, and throwing carelesly:
Till in shorte space, full foolishly
He spent euen all at laste.

Euen so wilt thou, I promise thee
If thou doe not giue eare to me,
And leaue thy trouling of a Dye,
And that with speede, my friend:
For they that vse so lustily
The Cardes and Dyce most commonly
Are eyther brought to beggery
Or hang else in the ende.

And now, farewell I since that I may,
As now, no longer with thee stay:
My counsaile, therefore beare away
And leaue that vaine delight,
That now thou hast in Cardes and Dyce:
And learne betimes for to be wise:
Once well warnde, is as good as twise:
And so my freend good night.