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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.
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