Pastime with good Company by Henry VIII

January 4, 2012 by Natalie

Henry VIII was an accomplished musician and the words of the song he wrote soon after being crowned, sum up his youthful ideals.

Henry VIII after his coronation in 1509

Pastime With Good Company by Henry VIII

Pastime with good company
I love and shall unto I die;
Grudge who list, but none deny,
So God be pleased thus live will I.
For my pastance
Hunt, song, and dance.
My heart is set:
All goodly sport
For my comfort,
Who shall me let?

Youth must have some dalliance,
Of good or illé some pastance;
Company methinks then best
All thoughts and fancies to dejest:
For idleness
Is chief mistress
Of vices all.
Then who can say
But mirth and play
Is best of all?

Company with honesty
Is virtue vices to flee:
Company is good and ill
But every man hath his free will.
The best ensue,
The worst eschew,
My mind shall be:
Virtue to use,
Vice to refuse,
Shall I use me.

[British Library Additional Ms. 31922, ff.14v-15]