"Pastime with Good Company", also known as "The King's Ballad" (The Kynges Balade), is an English folk song written by King Henry VIII in the first years of the 16th century, shortly after being crowned.
Past time with good company I love, and shall until I die Grutch who lust, but none deny So God be pleased, thus live will I For my pastance Hunt, sing and dance My heart is set; All goodly sport For my comfort Who shall me let? Youth must have some dalliance Of good or ill some pastance Company methinks then best All thoughts and fancies to digest For idleness is chief mistress Of vices all; then who can say But mirth and play Is best of all? Past time with good company I love, and shall until I die Grutch who lust, but none deny So God be pleased, thus live will I For my pastance Hunt, sing and dance My heart is set; All goodly sport For my comfort Who shall me let? 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 Thus shall I use me...