XXXIV

Wherein his weaker wandring steps to guide,
  An auncient matrone she to her does call,
  Whose sober lookes her wisedome well descride:  300
  Her name was Mercie, well knowne over all,
  To be both gratious, and eke liberall: 
  To whom the carefull charge of him she gave,
  To lead aright, that he should never fall
  In all his wayes through this wide worldes wave, 305
That Mercy in the end his righteous soule might save.

XXXV

The godly Matrone by the hand him beares
  Forth from her presence, by a narrow way,
  Scattred with bushy thornes, and ragged breares,
  Which still before him she remov’d away, 310
  That nothing might his ready passage stay: 
  And ever when his feet encombred were,
  Or gan to shrinke, or from the right to stray,
  She held him fast, and firmely did upbeare,
As carefull Nourse her child from falling oft does reare. 315

XXXVI

Eftsoones unto an holy Hospitall,
  That was fore by the way, she did him bring,
  In which seven Bead-men[*] that had vowed all
  Their life to service of high heavens king,
  Did spend their dayes in doing godly thing:  320
  Their gates to all were open evermore,
  That by the wearie way were traveiling,
  And one sate wayting ever them before,
To call in commers by, that needy were and pore.

XXXVII

The first of them that eldest was, and best, 325
  Of all the house had charge and governement,
  As Guardian and Steward of the rest: 
  His office was to give entertainement
  And lodging, unto all that came, and went: 
  Not unto such, as could him feast againe, 330
  And double quite, for that he on them spent,
  But such, as want of harbour did constraine: 
Those for Gods sake his dewty was to entertaine.

XXXVIII

The second was as Almner of the place,
  His office was, the hungry for to feed, 335
  And thristy give to drinke, a worke of grace: 
  He feard not once him selfe to be in need,
  Ne car’d to hoord for those whom he did breede: 
  The grace of God he layd up still in store,
  Which as a stocke he left unto his seede; 340
  He had enough, what need him care for more? 
And had he lesse, yet some he would give to the pore.

XXXIX

The third had of their wardrobe custodie,
  In which were not rich tyres, nor garments gay,
  The plumes of pride, and wings of vanitie, 345
  But clothes meet to keepe keene could away,
  And naked nature seemely to aray;
  With which bare wretched wights he dayly clad,
  The images of God in earthly clay;
  And if that no spare cloths to give he had, 350
His owne coate he would cut, and it distribute glad.