Pastime in Good Company

As a younger son, Henry VIII was never meant to be king; instead, he was given an education. He wrote a number of songs (but not Greensleeves); this one was written by Henry VIII ca. 1549. It's from Popular Music of the Olden Time (William Chapell, 1859) and sequenced by myself.

Pastime with good company I love, and shall until I die

Grudge who will, but none deny

So God be pleas'd this life will I

For my pastance,

Hunt sing and dance

My heart is set.

All goodly sport

To my comfort,

Who shall me let?

Youth will needs have dalliance

Of good or ill some pastance;

Company me thinketh the best

All thoughts and fantasies to digest,

For idleness

Is chief mistress

Of vices all:

Then who can say

But pass the day

Is best of all?

Company with honesty

Is virtue––and vice to flee:

Company is good or ill

But ev'ry man hath his free will

The best I sue

The worst eschew

My mind shall be

Virtue to use

Vice to refuse

I shall use me.