To my good friend, Rich Rauenscroft Esquire

A Croft I made my wife, which bare to me
A croppe of care, and Barne the same to inne:
But thou art Rauens-croft, and rauens bee
Spoilers of crofts, and cropps that are therin:
But if the crofts containe but croppes of cares,
They do but well to spoyle them in the growing:
For better were it they should beare but tares
Then beare but that that is lesse worth the mowing
If thou be Rauens-croft then, clens'd is thy croft
From all that hurtfull is; for lawes correct
Those that do kill them, sith they beare aloft
That which the aire below doth but infect
Then sith my half's a Croft, as is thy name,
For that I loue, but more for thy good fame.