Learn to Read or Take a Beating

[item 33]

    of an a.b.c.
This a.b.c. you do read
    but little do prevail
vnless y^t you take heede
    well whipt shalbe your tail.

Steven W. May, Henry Stanford's Anthology: an Edition of Cambridge University Library Manuscript Dd.5.75 (New York; London: Garland, 1988), p. 44.

Written by Henry Stanford for Robin Carey (later Sir Robert) the eldest son of Sir Edmond Carey, third surviving son of Henry Carey Lord Hunsdon. From a group of poems written to assist Tudor children in learning to write poetry in poulter’s metre. Poem dated 1 Jan 1586/87.