Ayreheart feat. Sarah Pillow “Pastime with Good Company” by King Henry

“Pastime with Good Company” by King Henry VIII (1491-1547) performed by Ronn McFarlane & Ayreheart with Sarah Pillow - guest vocalist

Ayreheart:
Ronn McFarlane - lute
Will Morris - colascione
Mattias Rucht - percussion

This is an English folk song attributed to “The Kynge H.viii.” Henry was held in high esteem as a composer and musician, and this became a popular song in England. The early years of Henry VIII’s reign exhibited a distinct spirit of exuberance and overindulgences in the English court. The song, penned during this period, reflects general praise to all these entertainments and diversions, depicting a general state of mind of leisure and unconcern that prevailed in court at the time. The text simultaneously provides a moral justification for all this merriment: company is preferable to idleness, for the latter breeds vice. It was probably written for Catherine of Aragon. ~Michael Spencer

Song Text:

Pastime with good company
I love and shall until I die
Grudge 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.

Company with honesty
is virtue vices to flee.
Company is good and ill
But every man has his free will.
The best ensue
The worst eschew
My mind shall be.
Virtue to use
Vice to refuse
Thus shall I use me.