whom at the first I bred Of th'inward bale of my love-pined hart, And sithens have with sighes and sorrowes fed, Till greater then my wombe thou woxen art, Breake forth at length out of the inner part, In which thou lurkest lyke to vipers brood, And seeke some succour both to ease my smart, And also to sustayne thy selfe with food.

After mentioning the Latin title, he adds "that is to say in Englyshe the golden legende for lyke as passeth golde in vallwe al other metallys, soo thys legende exedeth all other bokes."

ye lykened are the best, Be lyke in mercy as in all the rest.

Her lips did smell lyke unto gillyflowers; Her ruddy cheekes lyke unto roses red; Her snowy browes lyke budded bellamoures; Her lovely eyes lyke pincks but newly spred; Her goodly bosome lyke a strawberry bed; Her neck lyke to a bounch of cullambynes; Her brest lyke lillyes, ere their leaves be shed; Her nipples lyke young blossomd jessemynes.

Syr, remember That all offences are not woorthy deathe: Fellowny, murder, treason and such lyke Of that grosse nature maye be capitall; Not folly, error, trespasse.

Have you the lyke at any time harde?

The pulpit dated 1580 bears the following couplet: "God bless and save our Royal Queen The lyke on Earth was never seen.