<P 29>
<T Dol Dethe>
~%Poeta $Skelton %Laureatus %Libellum %Suum %Metrice %Alloquitur\
%Ad %dominum %properato %meum, %mea %pagina, $Percy,\
%Qui $Northumbrorum %iura %paterna %gerit;\
%Ad %nutum %celebris %tu %prona %repone %leonis\
%Queque %suo %patri %tristia %iusta %cano.\
%Ast %ubi %perlegit, %dubiam %sub %mente %volutet\
%Fortunam, %cuncta %que %malefida %rotat.\
%Qui %leo %sit %felix, %et $Nestoris %occupet %annos;\
%Ad %libitum %cuius %ipse %paratus %ero.\|
_
<L I>
$Skelton Laureat Upon the Dolorus Dethe\ 
<L I>
and Muche Lamentable Chaunce \
<L I>
of the Mooste Honorable Erle of $Northumberlande\=
<L 1>
I wayle, I wepe, I sobbe, I sigh ful sore\
The dedely fate, the dolefulle destenny\
Of hym that is gone, alas, withoute restore,\
Of the blode royall descendinge nobelly;\
Whos lordshepe doutles was slayne lamentably\
Thorow treson, ageyn hym compassyd and wrought,\
Trew to his prince in word, in dede, and thought.\
Of hevenly poems, O $Clyo, calde by name\
In the college of musis goddes hystoriall,\
Adres the to me, whiche am bothe halt and lame,\
In elect uteraunce to make memoryall!\
To the for succour, to the for helpe I kall,\
Myne homely rudnes and drighnes to expelle\
With the freshe waters of $Elyconys welle.\
Of noble actis auncyently enrolde\
Of famous princis and lordis of astate,\
By thy report ar wonte to be extolde\
Regestringe trewly every formare date;\
Of thy bounte after the usuall rate\
Kyndle in me suche plente of thy nobles,\
Thes sorowfulle ditis that I may shew expres.\
<P 30>
In sesons past who hathe harde or sene\
Of formar writinge by any presidente\
That vilane hastarddis in ther furious tene,\
Fulfyld with malice of froward entente,\
Confeterd togeder of commoun concente +
^commoun] `cominion' Marshe l568^\
Falsly to slo ther moste singlar goode lorde? +
^slo] `slee' Marshe 1568^\ 
It may be regesterde of shamefull recorde.\
So noble a man, so valiaunt lorde and knyght\
Fulfilled with honour, as all the world dothe ken, +
^world] `wold' Marshe 1568^\
At his commaundement whiche had both day and night\
Knyghtis and squyers, at every season when\
He calde upon them, as menyall houshold men:\
Were not thes commones uncurteis karlis of kynd +
^not] `no' }MS Royal 18 D.ii, `not' Marshe 1568^\
To slo ther owne lorde? $God was not in ther mynde!\
And were not thei to blame, I say also,\
That were aboute hym, his awne servauntis of trust,\
To suffre hym slayn of his mortall fo?\
Fled away from hym, let hym ly in the dust,\
They bode not till the rekenyng were discust.\
What, shuld I flatter? What, shulde I glose or paynt?\
Fy, fy, for shame, ther hartis wer to faynt.\
In $Englande and $Fraunce which gretly was redouted,\
Of whom both $Flaunders and $Scotland stode in drede,\
To whome grete astatis obeyde and lowttede,\
A maynny of rude villayns made hym for to blede.\
Unkindly thei slew hym that help them oft at nede. +
^help] `holp' Marshe 1568^\
He was ther bulwarke, ther paves and ther wall,\
{et shamfully thei slew hym; that sham most them befall.\
<L 50>
I say, @e commoners, why wer @e so stark mad?\
What frantyk frensy fyll in @oure brayne?\
Where was @our wit and reson @e shuld have had? +
^your] `ys' }MS Royal 18 D.ii^\
What willfull foly made @ou to ryse agayn\
{our naturall lord? Alas, I kan not fayne.\
{e armed @ou with wille and left @our wit behynd;\
Well may @e be cald commons most unkynd. +
^ye] `you' Marshe 1568^\
He was @our chyfteyne, @our shelde, @our chef defens,\
Redy to assyst @ou in every tyme of nede;\
<P 31>
{our worship depended of his excellence.\
Alas, @e madmen, to far @e did excede.\
{our hap was unhappy, to ill was @our spede.\
What movyd @ou agayn hym to war or to fight?\
What aylde @ou to slo @our lord ageyn all right? +
^slo] `sle' Marshe 1568^\
The grounde of his quarell was for his sovereyn lord,\
The welle concernyng of all the hole lande,\
Demaundinge soche dutes as nedis most acord\
To the right of his prince which shold not be withstand;\
For whos causis @e slew hym with @our awne hande.\
But had his nobillmen donn wel that day\
{e had not ben hable to have saide hym nay.\
Bot ther was fals packinge or els I am begylde,\
Howbeit the mater was evident and playne;\
For @f they had occupied ther spere and ther shelde\
This noble man doutles had not be slayne. +
^be] `bene' Marshe 1568^\
Bot men say thei wer lynked with a double chayn\
And held with the commonns under a cloke,\
Whiche kyndelde the wyld fyre that made all this smoke.\
The commonns renyyd ther taxes to pay\
Of them demaunded and asked by the kynge;\
With one vice importune thei playnly said nay.\
They buskt them on a bushment them#selfe in baile to bringe\
Agayne the kingis plesure to wrastel or to wringe.\
Bluntly as bestis withe boste and with cry\
They saide they forsede not nor carede not to dy.\
The nobelnes of the northe, this valyant lorde and knyght,\
As man that was innocent of trechery or trayne,\
Presed forthe boldly to witstand the myght,\
And lyke marciall $Hector he faught them agayne\
Vigorously upon them with myght and with mayne,\
Trustinge in noble men that wer with hym there;\
Bot all they fled from hym for falshode or fere.\
Barons, knightis, squyers, one and alle,\
Togeder with servauntis of his famuly,\
Turnd ther backis and let ther master fall, +
^backis] `backe' Marshe 1568^\
Of whos [life] they countede not a fly. +
^life] not in }MS Royal 18 D.ii or Marshe 1568^\
<P 32>
Take up whos wolde, for ther they let hym ly.\
Alas his golde, his fee, his annuall rente,\
Upon suche a sort was ille bestowde and spent.\
He was envyronde aboute on every syde\
<L 100>
Withe his enmys that were stark mad and wode;\
{et whils he stode he gave them woundes wyde. +
^Yet] `Ye' Marshe 1568^\
Alas for routhe, what thouthe his mynde wer goode,\
His corage manly, @et ther he shed his bloode.\
All left alone, alas, he fawte in vayne!\
For cruell[y] amonge them ther he was slayne. +
^cruelly] `cruell' }MS Royal 18 D.ii, Marshe 1568^\
Alas for pite that $Percy thus was spylt,\
The famous Erle of $Northumberlande;\
Of knightly prowes the sworde, pomel, and hilt,\
The myghty lyoun doutted by se and sande. +
^sande] `lande' Marshe 1568^\
O dolorous chaunce of Fortuns fraward hande!\
What man, remembring how shamfully he was slayn,\
From bitter wepinge hym#self kan restrayne?\
O cruell $Mars, thou dedly god of war!\
O dolorous $Teusday, dedicate to thi name,\
When thou shoke thi sword so noble a man to mar!\
O grounde ungracious, unhappy be thy fame,\
Whiche wert endiyd with rede blode of the same\
Mooste noble Erle! O fowle mysuryd grounde,\
Wheron he gat his fynall dedely wounde.\
<L 120>
O $Atropos, of the fatall systers %iij,\
$Goddes mooste cruell unto the lyfe of man,\
All merciles in the @s no pite!\
O homycide, whiche sleest all that thou kan,\
So forcibly upon this Erle thow ran,\
That with thy sworde enharpid of mortall drede\
Thow kit asonder his perfight vitall threde.\
Mi wordis unpullysht be nakide and playne,\
Of aureat poems they want ellumynynge;\
Bot by them to knoulege @e may attayne\
Of this lordis dethe and of his murdrynge;\
Whiche whils he lyvyd had fuyson of every#thing,\
<P 33>
Of knightis, of squyers, chef lord of toure and toune,\
Tyll fykkill Fortune began on hym to frowne.\
Paregall to dukis, withe kingis he myght compare,\
Sourmountinge in honour all erlis he did excede;\
To all cuntreis aboute hym reporte me I dare:\
Lyke to $Eneas benygne in worde and dede,\
Valiant as $Hector in every marciall nede,\
Provydent, discrete, circumspect and wyse, +
^Provydent] `Prudent' Marshe 1568^\
Till the chaunce ran ageyne hym of Fortuns double dyse.\
What nedethe me for to extoll his fame\
With my rude pen enkankerd all with rust,\
Whos noble actis shew worsheply his name,\
Transcending f[a]r myne homely Muse that must +
^far] `for' }MS Royal 18 D.ii, Marshe 1568^\
{et sumwhat wright supprisid with hartly lust, +
^hartly] `herty' Marshe 1568^\
Truly reportinge his right noble astate,\
Immortally whiche is inmaculate?\
His noble blode never desteynyd was,\
Trew to his prince for to defende his right,\
<L 150>
Doublenes hatinge fals maters to compas,\
Treytory and treson he bannesht ought of sight.\
With trowth to medelle was all his hole delight,\
As all his kuntrey kan testefy the same:\
To slo suche a lord, alas, it was grete shame. +
^slo] `sle' Marshe 1568^\
If the hole quere of the Musis nyne\
In me all onely wer sett and comprisyde,\
Enbrethed with the blast of influence dyvyne,\
As perfightly as koude be thought or devysyd;\
To me also all thouthe @t wer promysyde\
Of laureat $Phebus holy the eloquence\
All were to litill for his magnyficence.\
O @onge lyon, bot tender @et of age,\
Grow and encrese, remembre thyn astate!\
God the assyst unto thyne heritage,\
And geve the grace to be more fortunate!\
Agayne rebellyonns arme the to make debate;\
And as the lyonne whiche is of bestis kinge\
Unto thy subjectis be kurteis and beningne.\
<P 34>
I pray $God sende the prosperous lyf and long,\
Stabille thy mynde constant to be and fast,\
Right to maynten and to resist all wronge.\
All flatringe faytors abhor and from the kast.\
Of foule detraccion $God kepe the from the blast.\
Let double#delinge in the have no place,\
And be not light of credence in no case.\
Wythe hevy chere, with dolorous hart and mynd,\
Eche man may sorow in his inward thought\
This lordis dethe, whos pere is hard to fynd,\
All gyf $Englond and $Fraunce wer thorow sought.\
All kingis, all princis, all dukis, well thei ought\
Bothe temporall and spirituall for to complayne\
This noble man that cruelly was slayne.\
More specially barons, and thos knightis bold,\
And all other gentelmen with hym enterteynd\
In fee, as menyall men of his houshold,\
Whom he as lorde worsheply manteynd,\
To soroufull weping thei ought to be constreynd,\
As oft as thei call to ther remembrance\
Of ther good lord the fate and dedely chaunce.\
<L 190>
O pereles Prince of hevyn emperyalle +
^O] not in Marshe 1568^\
That with one worde formd all thing of nought;\
Hevyn, hell and erth obey unto thi kall;\
Which to thi resemblance wonderusly has wrought\
All mankynd, whom thou ful dere hast boght,\
With thi blode precious our fenaunce thou dyd pay\
And us redemede from the fendys pray.\
To the pray we as Prince incomperable,\
As thou art of mercy and pite the well,\
Thow bringe unto thy joye etermynable +
^Thow] `how' }MS Royal 18 D.ii^\
<L 200>
The sowle of this lorde from all daunger of hell,\
In endles blis with the to byde and dwell\
In thy palace above the orient,\
Where thow art Lord and $God omnipotent.\
O Quene of mercy, O lady full of grace,\
Maiden moste pure, and $Goddis moder dere,\
To sorowfull harttis chef comfort and solace,\
<P 35>
Of all women O floure withouten pere,\
Pray to thy son above the starris clere,\
He to vouchesaf, by thy mediacioun,\
To pardon thi servant and brynge to savacioun.\
In joy triumphaunt the hevenly *gerarchy, +
^*gerarchy] `gerarchy' }MS Royal 18 D.ii, Marshe 1568, +
`yerarchy' Scattergood^\
With all the hole sorte of that glorious place,\
His soule mot receyve in#to ther company,\
Thorow bounte of hym that formed all solace,\
Well of pite, of mercy, and of grace,\
The $Father, the $Son, the $Holy Goste,\
%In %Trinitate one $God of myghtis moste.\
~%Non %sapit %humanis %qui %certam %ponere %rebus\
%Spem %cupit: %est %hominum %raraque %ficta %fides.\
%Tetrasticon $Skelton %Laureati %ad %magistrum $Rukshhaw %sacre\
%theologie %egregium %professorem\
%Accipe %nunc %demum, %doctor %celeberrime $Rukshaw,\
%Carmina, %de %calamo %que %cecidere %meo;\
%Et %quamquam %placidis %non %sunt %modulata %camenis,\
%Sunt %tamen %ex %nostro %pectore %prompta %pio.\
%Vale %feliciter, %virorum %laudatissime.\|+
<T Man Margery>
~Manerly $Margery Mylk and Ale\|+
<L 1>
Ay, beshrewe @ow! Be my fay\
This wanton clarkis be nyse allway.\
Avent, avent, my popagay!\
`What, will @e do nothyng but play?'\
Tully, valy, strawe, let be I say!\
Gup, $Cristian $Clowte, gup, $Jak#of#the#Vale,\
With manerly $Margery Mylk and Ale.\
`Be Gad, @e be a praty pode,\
And I love @ou an hole cart#lode.'\
Strawe, $Jamys#foder, @e play the fode;\
I am no hakney for @our rode;\
Go watch a bole, @our bak is brode.\
<P 36>
Gup, $Cristian $Clowte, gup, $Jak#of#the#Vale,\
With manerly $Margery Mylk and Ale.\
Iwiss, @e dele uncurtesly;\
What, wolde @e frompill me now? Fy, fy!\
`What, and @e shal be my piggesnye?'\
Be $Crist, @e shall not! No, no, hardely!\
I will not be japed bodely.\
Gup, $Cristian $Clowte, gup, $Jak#of#the#Vale,\
With manerly $Margery Mylk and Ale.\
`Walke forth @our way, @e cost me nought;\
Now have I fownd that I have sought,\
The best chepe flessh that evyr I bought.'\
{et, for his love that all hath wrought,\
Wed me or els I dye for thought!\
Gup, $Cristian $Clowte, @our breth is stale,\
With manerly $Margery Milk and Ale.\
Gup, $Cristian $Clowte, gup, $Jak#of#the#Vale,\
With manerly $Margery Mylk and Ale.\
<T Coystrowne1>
_
<L I>
$Skelton Laureat Agaynste a Comely Coystrowne\
<L I>
that curyowsly chawntyd, and curryshly cowntred,\
<L I>
and madly in hys musykkys mokkyshly made agaynste\
<L I>
the %ix Musys of polytyke poems and poettys matryculat.\=
<L 1>
Of all nacyons under the hevyn,\
These frantyke foolys I hate most of all;\
For though they stumble in the synnys sevyn,\
In pevyshnes @et they snapper and fall, +
^they] `the' }Rastell 1527^\
Which men the %viii dedly syn call. +
^syn] `sins' Marshe 1568^\
This pevysh proud, thys prendergest,\
When he is well, @et can he not rest.\
A swete suger#lofe and sowre bayardys#bun\
Be sumdele lyke in forme and shap,\
<P 37>
The one for a duke, the other for dun,\
A maunchet for morell thereon to snap.\
Hys hart is to hy to have any hap;\
But for in his gamut carp that he can,\
Lo, $Jak wold be a jentyl#man!\
Wyth, `Hey, troly-loly-lo, whip here, $Jak',\
Alumbek sodyldym syllorym ben!\
Curyowsly he can both counter and knak\
Of $Martyn $Swart and all hys mery men.\
Lord, how $Perkyn is proud of hys Pohen!\
To ask wher he fyndyth among hys monacordys\
An holy#water clarke a ruler of lordys.\
He can#not fynd it in rule nor in space:\
He solfyth to haute, hys trybyll is to hy;\
He braggyth of hys byrth, that borne was full bace;\
Hys musyk withoute mesure, to sharp is hys %my;\
He trymmyth in hys tenor to counter pyrdewy;\
Hys dyscant is besy, it is withoute a mene;\
To fat is hys fantsy, hys wyt is to lene.\
He lumbryth on a lewde lewte, `Roty bully joyse',\
`Rumbyll downe, tumbyll downe, hey, go, now, now!'\
He fumblyth in hys fyngeryng an ugly good noyse;\
It semyth the sobbyng of an old sow!\
He wold be made moch of and he wyst how;\
Wele sped in spyndels and turnyng of tavellys,\
A bungler, a brawler, a pyker of quarellys!\
Comely he clappyth a payre of clavycordys;\
He whystelyth so swetely he makyth me to swete;\
His descant is dasshed full of dyscordes;\
A red angry man, but easy to intrete.\
An ussher of the hall fayn wold I get\
To poynte this proude page a place and a rome,\
For $Jak wold be a jentylman, that late was a grome.\
$Jak wold jet and @et $Jyll sayd nay;\
He counteth in his countenaunce to checke with the best:\
A malaperte medler that pryeth for his pray,\
In a dysh dare he rush at the rypest;\
Dremyng in dumpys to wrangyll and to wrest,\
<P 38>
He fyndeth a proporcyon in his prycke#songe\
To drynk at a draught a larg and a long.\
Nay, jape not with hym, he is no small fole;\
It is a solempne syre and a solayne,\
For lordes and ladyes lerne at his scole;\
He techyth them so wysely to solf and to fayne\
That neyther they synge wel prycke#song nor playne.\
Thys Doctor Deuyas commensyd in a cart; +
^Deuyas] `dellias' Marshe 1568^\
A master, a mynstrell, a fydler, a farte.\
What though @e can cownter %Custodi %nos?\
As well it becomyth @ow, a parysh towne#clarke,\
To syng %Sospitati %dedit %egros.\
{et bere @e not to bold to braule ne to bark\
At me, that medeled nothyng with @oure wark.\
Correct fyrst thy#self; walk, and be nought!\
Deme what thou lyst, thou knowyst not my thought.\
A proverbe of old, `Say well or be styll':\
{e are to unhappy occasyons to fynde +
^occasyons] `occasion' Marshe 1568^\
Uppon me to clater or else to say @ll.\
Now have I shewyd @ou part of @our proud mynde;\
Take thys in worth, the best is behynde.\
Wryten at $Croydon by $Crowland in the $Clay,\
On $Candelmas evyn, the kalendas of $May.\
~%Finis\|+
<T Coystrowne2>
~%CONTRA %ALIUM, %CANTITANTEM %ET %ORGANISANTEM %ASINUM,\
%QUI %IMPUGNABAT $SKELTONIDA %PIERIUM, %SARCASMOS\
%Preponenda %meis %non %sunt %tua %plectra %camenis,\
%Nec %quantum %nostra %fistula %clara %tua %est:\
%Sepe %licet %lyricos %modularis %arundine %psalmos,\
%Et %tremulos %calamis %concinis %ipse %modos;\
%Quamvis %mille %tuus %digitus %dat %carmine %plausus,\
%Nam %tua %quam %tua %vox %est %mage %docta %manus;\
%Quamvis %cuncta %facis %tumida %sub %mente %superbus,\
%Gratior %est %Phebo %fistula %nostra %tamen.\
%Ergo %tuum %studeas %animo %deponere %fastum,\
%Et %violare %sacrum %desine, %stulte, %virum.\|
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton, laureat.\=
<P 39>
<T Coystrowne3>
_
<L I>
$Skelton Laureat, uppon a deedmans hed,\ 
<L I>
that was sent to hym \
<L I>
from an honorable Jentyllwoman for a token,\
<L I>
Devysyd this gostly medytacyon in Englysh:\
<L I>
Convenable in sentence, Comendable, Lamentable,\
<L I>
Lacrymable, Profytable for the soule.\=
<L 1>
{oure ugly tokyn
/My mynd hath brokyn
/From worldly lust;\
For I have dyscust
/We ar but dust,\
And dy we must.\
It is generall
/To be mortall:\
I have well espyde\
No man may hym hyde
/From deth holow-eyed,\
With synnews wyderyd,
/With bonys shyderyd,\
With hys worme-etyn maw
/And hys gastly jaw\
Gaspyng asyde,
/Nakyd of hyde,\
Neyther flesh nor fell. +
^nor] `not' Marshe 1568^\
Then by my councell,\
Loke that @e spell
/Well thys gospell;\
For wherso we dwell,\
Deth wyll us quell
/And with us mell.\
For all oure pamperde paunchys,\
There may no fraunchys
/Nor worldly blys\
Redeme us from this.\
Oure days be datyd
/To be chekmatyd,\
With drawttys of deth
/Stoppyng oure breth;\
Oure eyen synkyng,
/Oure bodys stynkyng,\
<P 40>
Oure gummys grynnyng,
/Oure soulys brynnyng!\
To whom then shall we sew
/For to have rescew,\
But to swete $Jesu
/On us then for to rew?\
O goodly chyld
/Of $Mary mylde,
/Then be oure shylde!\
That we be not exylyd\
To the dyne dale 
/Of boteles bale, +
^boteles] `botemles' Marshe 1568^\
Nor to the lake
/Of fendys blake.\
But graunt us grace
<L 50>
/To se thy face,\
And to purchace
/Thyne hevenly place\
And thy palace,
/Full of solace,\
Above the sky
/That is so hy,\
Eternally
/To beholde and se
/The $Trynyte!\
Amen.\
%Myrres %vous %y.\
<T Coystrowne4>
<L 1>
Womanhod, wanton, @e want!\
{oure medelyng, mastres, is manerles;\
Plente of @ll, of goodnes skant,\
{e rayll at ryot, recheles.\
To prayse @our porte it is nedeles;\
For all @our `Draffe' @et and @our `Dreggys',\
As well borne as @e full oft#tyme beggys.\
Why so koy and full of skorne?\
`Myne horse is sold, I wene', @ou say;\
`My new furryd gowne, when it is worne -\
Put up @our purs, @e shall non pay!'\
<P 41>
By Crede, I trust to se the day,\
As proud a pohen as @e sprede,\
Of me and other @e may have nede.\
Though angelyk be @oure smylyng,\
{et is @oure tong an adders tayle,\
Full lyke a scorpyon styngyng\
All those by whom @e have avayle.\
Good mastres $Anne, there @e do shayle!\
What prate @e, praty pyggys-ny?\
I truste to quyte @ou or I dy!\
{oure key is mete for every lok,\
{oure key is commen and hangyth owte;\
{oure key is redy, we nede not knok\
Nor stand long wrestyng there aboute;\
Of @oure doregate @e have no doute.\
But one thyng is: that @e be lewde!\
Holde @oure tong, now, all beshrewde!\
To mastres $Anne, that farly swete,\
That wonnes at the $Key in $Temmys Strete.\
<T Balettys>
_
<L I>
Here folowythe Dyvers Balettys and Dyties Solacyous\
<L I>
devysyd by Master $Skelton Laureat\=
<T Balettys1>
<L I>
With `Lullay, lullay', lyke a chylde,\
<L I>
Thou slepyst to long, thou art begylde!\
<L 1>
`My darlyng dere, my daysy#floure,\
Let me', quod he, `ly in @our lap.'\
`Ly styll', quod she, `my paramoure,\
Ly styll hardely, and take a nap.'\
Hys hed was hevy, such was his hap,\
All drowsy, dremyng, dround in slepe,\
That of hys love he toke no kepe,\
<L R>
With hey, lullay, %&c.\
<P 42>
<L 8>
With `Ba, ba, ba', and `bas, bas, bas',\
She cheryshed hym both cheke and chyn\
That he wyst never where he was;\
He had forgoten all dedely syn.\
He wantyd wyt her love to wyn:\
He trusted her payment and lost all hys pray.\
She left hym slepyng and stale away,\
<L Rub>
With hey, lullay, %&c.\
<L 15>
The ryvers rowth, the waters wan;\
She sparyd not to wete her fete.\
She wadyd over, she found a man\
That halsyd her hartely and kyst her swete.\
Thus after her cold she cought a hete.\
`My lefe', she sayd, `rowtyth in hys bed;\
I#wys he hath an hevy hed,'\
<L Rub>
Wyth hey, lullay, %&c.\
<L 22>
What dremyst thou, drunchard, drousy#pate?\
Thy lust and lykyng is from the gone;\
Thou blynkerd blowboll, thou wakyst to late;\
Behold, thou lyeste, luggard, alone!\
Well may thou sygh, well may thou grone,\
To dele wyth her so cowardly;\
I#wys, powle#hachet, she bleryd thyne I!\
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton laureate.\=
<T Balettys2>
<L 1>
The auncient acquaintance, madam, betwen us twayn,\
The famylyaryte, the formar dalyaunce,\
Causyth me that I can#not myself refrayne,\
But that I must wryte for my plesaunt pastaunce\
Remembryng @our passyng goodly countenaunce,\
{our goodly port, @our bewteous visage,\
{e may be countyd comfort of all corage.\
Of all @our feturs favorable to make tru discripcion,\
I am insuffycyent to make such enterpryse;\
For thus dare I say, without tradiccyon,\
That Dame $Menolope was never half so wyse;\
{et so it is that a rumer begynnyth for to ryse\
How in good horsmen @e set @our hole delyght,\
And have forgoten @our old, trew, lovyng knyght.\
<P 43>
Wyth bound and rebound, bounsyngly take up\
Hys jentyll curtoy[l], and set nowght by small naggys! +
^curtoyl] `curtoyt' }Rastell 1527.1^\
Spur up at the hynder gyrth with, `Gup, morell, gup!'\
With, `Jayst @e, $Jenet of $Spayne, for @our tayll waggys,'\
{e cast all @our corage uppon such courtly haggys!\
`Have in sergeaunt#ferrour, myne horse behynde is bare.'\
He rydyth well the horse, but he rydyth better the mare.\
Ware, ware, the mare wynsyth wyth her wanton hele!\
She kykyth with her kalkyns and keylyth with a clench;\
She goyth wyde behynde and hewyth never a dele:\
Ware gallyng in the widders, ware of that wrenche!\
It is perlous for a horseman to dyg in the trenche.\
Thys grevyth @our husband, that ryght jentyll knyght,\
And so with @our servantys he fersly doth fyght.\
So fersly he fytyth, hys mynde is so fell,\
That he dryvyth them doune with dyntys on ther day-wach.\
He bresyth theyr braynpannys and makyth them to swell,\
Theyre browys all to-brokyn, such clappys they cach;\
Whose jalawsy malycyous makyth them to lepe the hach!\
By theyr conusaunce knowing how they serve a wily py:\
Ask all @our neybours whether that I ly.\
It can be no counsell that is cryed at the cros.\
For @our jentyll husband sorowfull am I;\
Howbei[t], he is not furst hath had a los. +
^Howbeit] `Howbeis' }Rastell 1527.1^\
Advertysyng @ou, madame, to warke more secretly,\
Let not all the world make an owtcry;\
Play fayre-play, madame, and loke @e play clene,\
Or ells with gret shame @our game wylbe sene.\
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton laureat.\=
<T Balettys3>
<L 1>
Knolege, aquayntance, resort, favour, with grace;\
Delyte, desyre, respyte, wyth lyberte;\
Corage wyth lust, convenient tyme and space;\
Dysdayns, dystres, exylyd cruelte;\
Wordys well set with good habylyte;\
Demure demenaunce, womanly of porte;\
Transendyng plesure, surmountyng all dysporte;\
<P 44>
Allectuary arrectyd to redres\
These feverous axys, the dedely wo and payne\
Of thoughtfull hertys plungyd in dystres;\
Refresshyng myndys the Aprell shoure of rayne;\
Condute of comforte and well most soverayne;\
Herber enverduryd, contynuall fressh and grene;\
Of lusty somer the passyng goodly quene;\
The topas rych and precyouse in vertew;\
{our ruddys wyth ruddy rubys may compare;\
Saphyre of sadnes, envayned wyth Indy#blew;\
The pullyshed perle @oure whytenes doth declare;\
Dyamand poyntyd to rase oute hartly care\
Geyne surfetous suspecte the emeraud comendable;\
Relucent smaragd, objecte imcomperable;\
Encleryd myrroure and perspectyve most bryght,\
Illumynyd wyth feturys far passyng my reporte;\
Radyent $Esperus, star of the clowdy nyght,\
Lodestar to lyght these lovers to theyr porte,\
Gayne dangerous stormys theyr anker of supporte,\
Theyr sayll of solace most comfortably clad,\
Whych to behold makyth hevy hartys glad;\
Remorse have I of @oure most goodlyhod,\
Of @oure behavoure curtes and benynge,\
Of @our bownte and of @oure womanhod,\
Which makyth my hart oft to lepe and sprynge\
And to remember many a praty thynge;\
But absens, alas, wyth tremelyng fere and drede,\
Abashyth me, albeit I have no nede.\
{ou I assure, absens is my fo,\
My dedely wo, my paynfull hevynes.\
And if @e lyst to know the cause why so,\
Open myne hart, beholde my mynde expres.\
I wold @ou coud! Then shuld @e se, mastres,\
How there nys thynge that I covet so fayne\
As to enbrace @ou in myne armys twayne.\
Nothynge @erthly to me more desyrous\
Than to beholde @oure bewteouse countenaunce:\
<P 45>
But hatefull absens, to me so envyous,\
Though thou withdraw me from her by long dystaunce,\
{et shall she never oute of remembraunce,\
For I have gravyd her wythin the secret wall\
Of my trew hart, to love her best of all!\
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton laureat.\=
<T Balettys4>
~%Cuncta %licet %cecidisse %putas %discrimina %rerum,\
%Et %prius %incerta %nunc %tibi %certa %manent,\
%Consiliis %usure %meis %tamen %aspice %caute,\
%Subdola %non %fallat %te %dea %fraude %sua:\
%Sepe %solet %placido %mortales %fallere %vultu,\
%Et %cute %sub %placida %tabida %sepe %dolent;\
%Ut %quando %secura %putas %et %cuncta %serena\
%Anguis %sub %viridi %gramine %sepe %latet.\|+
<L 1>
Though @e suppose all jeperdys ar paste,\
And all is done @e lokyd for before,\
Ware @et, I rede @ou, of Fortunes double cast,\
For one fals poynt she is wont to kepe in store,\
And under the fell oft festerd is the sore:\
That when @e thynke all daunger for to pas,\
Ware of the lesard lyeth lurkyng in the gras.\
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton laureat.\=
<T Balettys5>
<L 1>
Go, pytyous hart, rasyd with dedly wo,\
Persyd with payn, bleding with wondes smart,\
Bewayle thy fortune, with vaynys wan and blo.\
O Fortune unfrendly, Fortune unkynde thow art,\
To be so cruell and so overthwart,\
To suffer me so carefull to endure,\
That wher I love best I dare not dyscure!\
One ther is, and ever one shalbe,\
For whose sake my hart is sore dyseasyd;\
For whose love, welcom dysease to me!\
I am content so all partys be pleasyd:\
{et, and $God wold, I wold my payne were easyd!\
<P 46>
But Fortune enforsyth me so carefully to endure,\
That where I love best I dare not dyscure.\
_
<L E>
$Skelton laureat, at the instance of a nobyll lady.\=
<T Bowge>
_
<L I>
Here begynneth a lytell treatyse named The Bowge of Courte\=
<L 1>
In autumpne, whan the sonne %in %Vyrgyne\
By radyante hete enryped hath our corne;\
Whan $Luna, full of mutabylyte,\
As emperes the dyademe hath worne\
Of our pole artyke, smylynge halfe in scorne\
At our foly and our unstedfastnesse;\
The tyme whan $Mars to werre hym dyd dres;\
I, callynge to mynde the great auctoryte\
Of poetes olde, whyche, full craftely,\
Under as coverte termes as coude be,\
Can touche a troughte and cloke it subtylly +
^troughte] `trouth' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe 1568; +
it] not in Marshe 1568^\
Wyth fresshe utteraunce full sentencyously;\
Dyverse in style, some spared not vyce to wrythe, +
^wrythe] `wryte' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe l568^\
Some of moralyte nobly dyde endyte; +
^moralyte] `mortalyte' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, Marshe 1568^\
Wherby I rede theyr renome and theyr fame\
Maye never dye, bute evermore endure.\
I was sore moved to aforce the same,\
But Ignorance full soone dyde me dyscure +
^dyscure] `dysture' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510^\
And shewed that in this arte I was not sure; +
^I] not in }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510^\
For to illumyne, she sayde, I was to dulle,\
Avysynge me my penne awaye to pulle\
And not to wrythe, for he so wyll atteyne, +
^wrythe] `wryte' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe 1568^\
Excedynge ferther than his connynge is,\
His hede maye be harde, but feble is his brayne! +
^his] not in Marshe l568^\
{et have I knowen suche er this;\
But of reproche surely he maye not mys\
That clymmeth hyer than he may fotynge have;\
What and he slyde downe, who shall hym save?\
<P 47>
Thus up and down my mynde was drawen and cast\
That I ne wyste what to do was beste;\
Soo sore enwered that I was, at the laste,\
Enforsed to slepe and for to take some reste,\
And to lye downe as soone as I m[e] dreste, +
^me] `my' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe 1568^\
At $Harwyche Porte, slumbrynge as I laye,\
In myne hostes house called $Powers Keye,\          
Me thoughte I sawe a shyppe, goodly of sayle,\
Come saylynge forth into that haven brood,\
Her takelynge ryche and of hye apparayle;\
She kyste an anker, and there she laye at rode, +
^kyste] `keste' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, `kast'  Marshe 1568^\
Marchauntes her borded to see what she had lode. +
^lode] not in Marshe 1568^\
Therein they founde royall marchaundyse,\
Fraghted with plesure to what @e coude devyse.\
But than I thoughte I wolde not dwell behynde;\
Amonge all other I put myselfe in prece.\
Than there coude I none aquentaunce fynde;\
There was moche noyse, anone one cryed, `Cese!'\
Sharpely commaundynge eche man holde hys pece.\
`Maysters', he sayde, `the shyp that @e here see,\
The Bowge of Courte it hyghte for certeynte. +
^certeynte] `certeynet' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, +
`certayne' WdeW 1510, `certeynte' Marshe 1568^\
<L 50>
The awnner therof is lady of estate,\
Whoos name to tell is Dame $Saunce-Pere.\
Her marchaundyse is ryche and fortunate, +
^Her] `Here' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
But who wyll have it muste paye therfore dere.\
This royall chaffre that is shypped here\
Is called Favore to stonde in her good grace.'\
Than sholde @e see there pressynge in a#pace\
Of one and other that wolde his lady see,\
Whiche sat behynde a tra[v]es of sylke fyne, +
^traves] `tranes' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe 1568^\
Of golde of tessew the fynest that myghte be,\
In a trone whiche fer clerer dyde shyne +
^clerer] `clere' Marshe l568^\
Than $Phebus in his spere celestyne,\
Whoos beaute, honoure, goodly porte,\
I have to lytyll connynge to reporte.\
But of eche thynge there as I toke hede,\
Amonge all other was wrytten in her trone,\
<P 48>
In golde letters, this worde, whiche I dyde rede:\
%Garder %le %fortune %que %est %mauelz %et %bone.\
And as I stode redynge this verse myselfe allone,\
Her chyef gentylwoman, Daunger by her name,\
Gave me a taunte, and sayde I was to blame\
To be so perte to prese so proudly uppe.\
She sayde she trowed that I had eten sause; +
^had] not in }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510^\
She asked @f ever I dranke of saucys cuppe.\
And I than softly answered to that clause,\
That, so to saye, I had gyven her no cause.\
Than asked she me, `Syr, so $God the spede,\
What is thy name?' and I sayde it was Drede.\
`What movyd the,' quod she, `hydder to come?'\
`Forsoth,' quod I, `to bye some of @oure ware.'\
And with that worde on me she gave a glome\
With browes bente, and gan on me to stare\
Full daynnously, and fro me she dyde fare,\
Levynge me stondynge as a mased man;\
To whome there came another gentylwoman.\
Desyre her name was, and so she me tolde,\
Sayenge to me, `Broder, be of good chere,\
Abasshe @ou not, but hardely be bolde,\
Avaunce @our#selfe to aproche and come nere.\
What though our chaffer be never so dere,\
{et I avyse @ou to speke, for ony drede:\
Who spareth to speke, in fayth, he spareth to spede.'\
`Maystres,' quod I, `I have none aquentaunce\
That wyll for me be medyatoure and mene;\
And this an#other, I have but smale substaunce.' +
^And] `But' Marshe 1568^\
`Pece,' quod Desyre, `@e speke not worth a bene!\
{f @e have not, in fayth, I wyll @ou lene\
A precyous jewell, no rycher in this londe:\
%Bone %aventure have here now in @our honde.\
Shyfte now therwith, let see, as @e can,\
<L 100>
In Bowge of Courte chevysaunce to make;\
For I dare saye that there nys erthly man\
But, an he can %Bone %aventure take, 
^an] `and' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe 1568^\
There can no favour nor frendshyp hym forsake.\
<P 49>
%Bone %aventure may brynge @ou in suche case\
That @e shall stonde in favoure and in grace.\
But of one thynge I werne @ou er I goo: +
^werne] `warne' Marshe 1568; er] `or' Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
She that styreth the shyp, make her @our frende.'\
`Maystres,' quod I, `I praye @ou tell me why soo,\
And how I maye that waye and meanes fynde.'\
`Forsothe,' quod she, `how ever blowe the wynde,\
Fortune gydeth and ruleth all our shyppe.\
Whome she hateth shall over the see-boorde skyp. +
^see-boorde] `shyp borde' Marshe 1568^\
Whome she loveth, of all plesyre is ryche\
Whyles she laugheth and hath luste for to playe. +
^laugheth] `laughed' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
Whome she hateth, she casteth in the dyche, +
^hateth] `hatch' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, `hateth' WdeW 1510, +
Marshe 1568^\
For whan she *fronneth she thynketh to make a fray. +
^*fronneth] `frouneth' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe 1568^\
She cherysshe[th] him, and hym she casseth awaye.' +
^`cherysshed' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe 1568; +
casseth] `casteth' WdeW 1510, `chasseth' Marshe 1568^\
`Alas,' quod I, `how myghte I have her sure?'\
`In fayth,' quod she, `by %Bone %aventure.'\
<L 120>
Thus, in a rowe, of martchauntes a grete route\
Suwed to Fortune that she wold be theyre frynde.\
They thronge in fast and flocked her aboute,\
And I with them prayed her to have in mynde.\
She promysed to us all she wolde be kynde;\
Of Bowge of Court she asketh what we wold have,\
And we asked favoure, and favour she us gave.\
_
<L R>
Thus endeth the prologue,\ 
<L R>
and begynneth the Bowge of Courte brevely compyled.\=
~DREDE\|+
<L 127>
The sayle is up, Fortune ruleth our helme,\
We wante no wynde to passe now over all;\
Favoure we have toughther than ony elme, +
^toughther] `tougher' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe 1568^\
That wyll abyde and never frome us fall.\
But under hony ofte#tyme lyeth bytter gall,\
For, as me thoughte, in our shyppe I dyde see\
Full subtyll persones in nombre foure and thre.\
The fyrste was Favell, full of flatery,\
Wyth fables false, that well coude fayne a tale;\
The seconde was Suspecte, whiche that dayly\
<P 50>
Mysdempte eche man, with face deedly and pale;\
And $Harvy $Ha[f]ter that well coude picke a male; +
^Hafter] `Haster' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe 1568^\
With other foure of theyr affynyte:\
Dysdayne, Ryotte, Dyssymuler, Subtylte.\
Fortune theyr frende, with whome oft she dyde daunce:\
They coude not faile, thei thought, they were so sure.\
And oftentymes I wolde myselfe avaunce\
With them to make solace and pleasure;\
But my dysporte they could not well endure:\
They sayde they hated for to dele with Drede.\
Than Favell gan wyth fayre speche me to fede.\
~FAVELL\|+
<L 148>
`Noo#thynge erthely that I wonder so sore\
As of @our connynge, that is so excellent;\
Deynte to have with us suche one in store,\
So vertuously that hath his dayes spente;\
Fortune to @ou gyftes of grace hath lente:\
Loo, what it is a man to have connynge!\
All erthely tresoure it is surmountynge.\
{e be an apte man, as ony can be founde\
To dwell with us and serve my ladyes grace.\
{e be to her, @ea, worth a thousande pounde.\
I herde her speke of @ou within shorte space, +
^shorte] `a shorte' Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
Whan there were dyverse that sore dyde @ou manace.\
And, though I say it, I was myselfe @our frende,\
For here be dyverse to @ou that be unkynde.\
But this one thynge @e maye be sure of me,\
For by that Lorde that bought dere all mankynde,\
I can#not flater, I muste be playne to the.\
And @e nede ought, man, shewe to me @our mynde,\
For @e have me whome faythfull @e shall fynde;\
Whyles I have ought, by $God, thou shalt not lacke,\
And, @f nede be, a bolde worde I dare cracke.\
Nay, naye, be sure, whyles I am on @our syde\
{e maye not fall; truste me, @e maye not fayle.\
{e stonde in favoure and Fortune is @our gyde,\
And, as she wyll, so shall our grete shyppe sayle.\
<P 51>
Thyse lewde cok#wattes shall nevermore prevayle +
^wattes] `witts' Marshe 1568^\
Ageynste @ou hardely; therefore be not afrayde.\
Farewell tyll soone. But no word that I sayde!'\
~DREDE\|+
<L 176>
Than thanked I hym for his grete gentylnes.\
But, as me thoughte, he ware on hym a cloke\
That lyned was with doubtfull doublenes.\
Me thoughte, of wordes that he had full a poke;\
His stomak stuffed ofte#tymes dyde reboke.\
Suspycyon, me thoughte, mette hym at a brayde,\
And I drewe nere to herke what they two sayde.\
`In fayth,' quod Suspecte, `spake Drede no worde of me?'\
`Why? What than? Wylte thou lete men to speke?\
He sayth he can#not well accorde with the.'\
`Twyst,' quod Suspecte, `goo playe; hym I ne reke!' +
^Twyst] `Whist' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, `Twysshe' Marshe 1568^\
`By $Cryste,' quod Favell, `Drede is soleyne freke!\
What, lete us holde him up, man, for a whyle.'\
`{e, soo,' quod Suspecte, `he maye us bothe begyle.'\
<L 190>
And whan he came walkynge soberly,\
Wyth `Whom' and `Ha' and with a croked loke,\
Me thoughte his hede was full of gelousy,\
His eyen rollynge, his hondes faste they quoke;\
And to mewarde the strayte waye he toke.\
`$God spede, broder,' to me quod he than,\
And thus to talke with me he began.\
~SUSPYCYON\|+
<L 197>
`{e remembre the gentylman ryghte nowe\
That commaunde with @ou, me thought, a p[ra]ty space? +
^commaunde] `commened' Wynkyn de Worde 1510; +
`party spake' }WdeW 1499, Marshe 1568, +
`party space' WdeW 1510^\
Beware of him, for, I make $God avowe,\
He wyll begyle @ou and speke fayre to @our face.\
{e never dwelte in suche an#other place,\
For here is none that dare well other truste;\
But I wolde telle @ou a thynge, and I durste.\
Spake he, a fayth, no worde to @ou of me?\
I wote, and he dyde, @e wolde me telle.\
<P 52>
I have a favoure to @ou, wherof it be\
That I must shewe @ou moche of my counselle -\
But I wonder what the devyll of helle\
He sayde of me, whan he with @ou dyde talke -\
By myne avyse use not with him to walke.\
The soveraynst thynge that ony man maye have\
Is lytyll to saye, and moche to here and see;\
For, but I trusted @ou, so $God me save,\
I wolde noo thynge so playne be.\
To @ou oonly, me thynke, I durste shryve me;\
For now am I plenarely dysposed\
To shewe @ou thynges that may not be disclosed.'\
~DREDE\|+
<L 218>
Than I assured hym my fydelyte,\
His counseyle secrete never to dyscure,+
^dyscure] `dysture' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510^\
{f he coude fynde in herte to truste me.\
Els, I prayed hym with all my besy cure,\
To kepe it hymselfe; for than he myghte be sure\
That noo man erthly coude hym bewreye, +
^man] `wan' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
Whyles of his mynde it were lockte with the keye.\
`By $God,' quod he, `this and thus it is';\
And of his mynde he shewed me all and some.\
`Fare#well,' quod he, `we wyll talke more of this.'\
Soo he departed. There he wolde be come,\
I dare not speke; I promysed to be dome.\
But as I stode musynge in my mynde,\
$Harvy $Ha[f]ter came lepynge, lyghte as lynde. +
^Hafter] `Haster' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe l568^\
Upon his breste he bare a versynge#boxe:\
His throte was clere and lustely coude fayne.\
Me thoughte his gowne was all furred wyth foxe. +
^Me] `My' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
And ever he sange, `Sythe I am no thynge playne'.\
To kepe him frome pykynge, it was a grete payne.\
He gased on me with his gotyshe berde;\
Whan I loked on hym, my purse was half aferde.\
<P 53>
~$HERVY $HA[F]TER\|+
<L 239>
`Syr, $God @ou save, why loke @ou so sadde?\
What thynge is that I maye do for @ou?\
A wonder thynge that @e waxe not madde!\
For and I studye sholde as @e doo nowe,\
My wytte wolde waste, I make $God avowe.\
Tell me @our mynde, me thynke @e make a verse,\
I coude it skan and @e wolde it reherse. +
^skan] `stan' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510; +
it] (2nd) not in Marshe 1568^\
But to the poynte shortely to procede,\
Where hathe @our dwellynge ben, er @e cam here?\
For, as I trowe, I have sene @ou in#dede\
Er this, whan that @e made me royall chere.\
<L 250>
Holde up the helme, loke up and lete $God stere:\
I wolde be mery that wynde that ever blowe,\
`Heve and how, rombelow, row the bote, $Norman, rowe.'\
`Prynces of @oughte', can @e synge by rote?\
Or `Shall I sayle wyth @ou' a felashyp assaye?\
For on the booke I can#not synge a note, +
^I] not in }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
Wolde to $God it wolde please @ou some daye\
A balade#boke before me for to laye,\
And lerne me to synge Re my fa sol!\
And whan I fayle, bobbe me on the noll!\
<L 260>
Loo, what is to @ou a pleasure grete\
To have that connynge and wayes that @e have!\
By $Goddis soule, I wonder how @e gete\
Soo greate pleasyre, or who to @ou it gave.\
Syr, pardone me, I am an homely knave\
To be with @ou thus perte and thus bolde;\
But @e be welcome to our housholde.\
And I dare saye there is no man hereinne\
But wolde be glad of @our company.\
I wyste never man that so soone coude wynne\
The favoure that @e have with my lady.\
I praye to $God that it maye never dy.\
It is @our fortune for to have that grace;\
As I be saved, it is a wonder case.\
For, as for me, I served here many a daye,\
And @et unneth I can have my lyvynge;\
<P 54>
But I requyre @ou no worde that I saye!\
For, and I knowe ony erthly thynge\
That is agayne @ou, @ou shall have wetynge;\
And @e be welcome, syr, so $God me save,\
I hope here#after a frende of @ou to have.'\
~DREDE\|+
<L 281>
Wyth that, as he departed soo fro me,\
Anone ther mette with him, as me thoughte,\
A man, but wonderly besene was he.\
He loked hawte; he sette eche man at noughte; +
^hawte] `hawtie' Marshe l568^\
His gawdy garment with Scornnys was all wrought; +
^Scornnys] `storunys' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, +
`scornes' Marshe 1568^\
With Indygnacyon lyned was his hode;\
He frowned as he wolde swere by $Cockes blode.\
He bote the lyppe; he loked passynge coye; +
^the] `his' Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
His face was belymmed as byes had him stounge;\
It was no tyme with him to jape nor toye.\
Envye hathe wasted hys lyver and his lounge;\
Hatred by the herte so had hym wrounge\
That he loked pale as asshes to my syghte.\
Dysdayne, I wene, [t]his comerous car[k]es hyghte. +
^this] `his' editions; carkes] `carbes' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, +
1510, `crabes' Marshe 1568^\
To $Hervy $Ha[f]ter than he spake of me, +
^Hafter] `Haster' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe 1568^\
And I drewe nere to harke what they two sayde.\
`Now,' quod Dysdayne, `as I shall saved be,\
I have grete scorne and am ryghte evyll apayed.'\
`Than,' quod $Hervy, `why arte thou so dysmayde?'\
<L 300>
`By $Cryste,' quod he, `for it is shame to saye,\
To see $Johan $Dawes, that came but @esterdaye,\
How he is now taken in conceyte,\
This Doctour $Dawcocke, Drede, I wene he hyghte.\
By $Goddis bones, but @f we have som sleyte,\
It is lyke he wyll stonde in our lyghte!' +
^our] `your' Marshe 1568^\
`By $God,' quod $Hervy, `and it  so happen myghte!\
Let us, therfore, shortely at a worde\
Fynde some mene to caste him over the borde.'\
`By him that me boughte,' than quod Dysdayne,\
`I wonder sore he is in such conceyte.'\
<P 55>
`Turde,' quod $Ha[f]ter, `I wyll the nothynge layne, +
^layne] `sayne' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, Marshe 1568^\
There muste for hym be layde some prety beyte.\
We tweyne, I trowe, be not withoute dysceyte:\
Fyrste pycke a quarell and fall oute with hym then,\
And soo outface hym with a carde of ten.'\
Forthwith, he made on me a prowde assawte,\
With scornfull loke mevyd all in moode. +
^scornfull] `scorfull' Marshe 1568^\
He wente aboute to take me in a fawte:\
He frounde, he stared, he stampped where he stoode.\
I loked on hym, I wende he had be woode.\
He set the arme proudly under the syde,\
And in this wyse he gan with me to chyde.\
~DISDAYNE\|+
<L 323>
`Remembrest thou what thou sayd @esternyght?\
Wylt thou abyde by the wordes agayne?\
By $God, I have of the now grete dyspyte;\
I shall the angre ones in every vayne!\
It is greate scorne to see suche a hayne\
As thou arte, one that cam but @esterdaye,\
With us olde servauntes such maysters to playe.\
I tell the, I am of countenaunce.\
What weneste I were? I trowe thou knowe not me.\
By $Goddis woundes, but for dysplesaunce,\
Of my querell soone wolde I venged be.\
But, no force, I shall ones mete with the;\
Come whan it wyll, oppose the I shall,\
Whatsomever aventure therof fall.\
Trowest thou, drevyll, I saye, thou gawdy knave,\
That I have deynte to see the cherysshed thus?\
By $Goddis syde, my sworde thy berde shall shave!\
Well, ones thou shalte be chermed, iwus:\
Naye, strawe for tales, thou shalte not rule us;\
We be thy betters, and so thou shalte us take,\
Or we shall the oute of thy clothes shake!'\
<P 56>
~DREDE\|+
<L 344>
Wyth that came Ryotte, russhynge all at ones,\
A rusty gallande, to-ragged and to-rente;\
And on the borde he whyrled a payre of bones,\
`%Quater %treye %dews' he clatered as he wente.\
`Nowe have at all, by Saynte $Thomas of $Kente!'\
And ever he threwe, and kyst I wote nere what;\
His here was growen thorowe#oute his hat.\
Thenne I behelde how he dysgysed was:\
His hede was hevy for watchynge overnyghte,\
His eyen blereed, his face shone lyke a glas;\
His gowne so shorte that it ne cover myghte\
His rumpe, he wente so all for somer lyghte;\
His hose was garded with a lyste of grene,\
{et at the knee they were broken, I wene.\
His cote was checked with patches rede and blewe; +
^checked] `checkered' Marshe 1568^\
Of $Kyrkeby $Kendall was his shorte demye;\
And ay he sange, `In fayth, Decon, thou crewe.'\
His elbowe bare, he ware his gere so nye,\
His nose a-droppynge, his lyppes were full drye; +
^a-droppynge] `droppynge' Marshe l568^\
And by his syde his whynarde and his pouche,\
The devyll myghte daunce therin for ony crowche.\
Counter he coude %O %lux upon a potte.\
An eestryche#fedder of a capons tayle +
^An] `And' Marshe 1568^\
He set up fresshely upon his hat alofte.\
`What, revell#route!' quod he, and gan to rayle\
How ofte he hadde hit $Jenet on the tayle, +
^hadde] `not' Marshe 1568^\
Of $Felyce fetewse and lytell prety $Cate,\
How ofte he knocked at her klycked#gate.\
What sholde I tell more of his rebaudrye?\
I was ashamed so to here hym prate.\
He had no pleasure but in harlotrye.\
`Ay,' quod he, `in the devylles date,\
What arte thou? I sawe the nowe but late.'\
`Forsothe,' quod I, `in this courte I dwell nowe.'\
`Welcome,' quod Ryote, `I make $God avowe.'\
<P 57>
~RYOTE\|+
<L 379>
`And, syr, in fayth, why comste not us amonge\
To make the mery, as other felowes done?\
Thou muste swere and stare, man, aldaye longe,\
And wake all nyghte and slepe tyll it be none.\
Thou mayste not studye or muse on the mone.\
This worlde is nothynge but ete, drynke and slepe,\
And thus with us good company to kepe.\
Plucke up thyne herte upon a mery pyne,\
And lete us laugh a placke or tweyne at nale. +
^placke] `plucke' Marshe 1568^\
What the devyll, man, myrthe was never one! +
^was never one] `is here within' Marshe 1568^\
What, loo, man, see here of dyce a bale;\
A brydelynge#caste for that is in thy male!\
Now have at all that lyeth upon the burde.\
Fye on this dyce, they be not worth a turde!\
Have at the hasarde or at the dosen browne,\
Or els I pas a peny to a pounde! +
^I] not in Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
Now wolde to $God thou wolde leye money downe!\
Lorde, how that I wolde caste it full rounde!\
Ay, in my pouche a buckell I have founde;\
The armes of $Calyce, I have no coyne nor crosse!\
I am not happy, I renne ay on the losse!\
<L 400>
Now renne muste I to the stewys syde\
To wete @f $Malkyn, my lemman, have gete oughte.\
I lete her to hyre that men maye on her ryde;\
Her har[n]es easy ferre and nere is soughte. +
^harnes] `harmes' }W.#de Worde 1499, 1510, `armes' Marshe 1568^\
By $Goddis sydes, syns I her thyder broughte,\
She hath gote me more money with her tayle\
Than hath some shyppe that into $Bordews sayle.\
Had I as good an hors as she is a mare,\
I durse aventure to journey thorugh $Fraunce;\
Who rydeth on her, he nedeth not to care,\
For she is trussed for to breke a launce.\
It is a curtel that well can wynche and praunce; +
^curtel] `curtet' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510^\
To her wyll I nowe all my poverte lege.\
And tyll I come, have, here is myne hat to plege.' +
^is] not in Marshe 1568^\
<P 58>
~DREDE\|+
<L 414>
Gone is this knave, this rybaude foule and leude.\
He ran as fast as ever that he myghte.\
Unthryftynes in hym may well be shewed, +
^Unthryftynes] `Unthryftnes' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510^\
For whome $Tyborne groneth both daye and nyghte. +
^whome] `home' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
And as I stode and kyste asyde my syghte, +
^kyste] `caste' Marshe 1568^\
Dysdayne I sawe with Dyssymulacyon,\
Standynge in sadde communicacion.\
But there was poyntynge and noddynge with the hede,\
And many wordes sayde in secrete wyse;\
They wandred ay and stode styll in no stede.\
Me thoughte alwaye Dyscymular dyde devyse;\
Me, passynge sore, myne herte than gan aryse;\
I dempte and drede theyr talkynge was not good.\
Anone Dyscymular came where I stode.\
Than, in his hode, I sawe there faces tweyne:\
That one was lene and lyke a pyned goost,\
That other loked as he wolde me have slayne. +
^me have] `have me'  Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
And to mewarde as he gan for to coost,\
Whan that he was even at me almoost,\
I saw a knyfe hyd in his one sleve,\
Wheron was wryten this worde, Myscheve.\
And in his other sleve, me thought I sawe\
A spone of golde, full of hony swete,\
To fede a fole, and for to preye a dawe. +
^preye] `preue' Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
And on that sleve these wordes were wrete:\
A false abstracte cometh from a fals concrete.\
His hode was syde, his cope was roset graye;\
Thyse were the wordes he to me dyde saye. +
^he] `that he' Marshe 1568^\
~DYSSYMULATION\|+
<L 442>
`How do @e, mayster? {e loke so soberly!\
As I be saved at the dredefull daye,\
It is a perylous vyce, this envy.\
Alas, a connynge man ne dwelle maye\
In no place well, but foles with hym fraye! +
^hym] not in }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, Marshe 1568^\
But as for that, connynge hath no foo\
Save hym that nought can: scrypture sayth soo.\
<P 59>
I knowe @our vertu and @our lytterkture +
^lytterkture] `lytterature' Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
<L 450>
By that lytel connynge that I have.\
{e be malygned sore, I @ou ensure,\
But @e have crafte @our#selfe alwaye to save.\
It is grete scorne to se a mysproude knave\
With a clerke that connynge is to prate.\
Lete theym go lowse theym, in the devylles date.\
For allbeit that this longe not to me,\
{et on my backe I bere suche lewde delynge.\
Ryghte now I spake with one, I trowe, I see -\
But, what, a strawe! I maye not tell all thynge.\
By $God, I saye, there is a grete herte-brennynge\
Betwene the persone @e wote of, @ou -\
Alas, I coude not dele so with a [J]ew. +
^a Jew] `on @ew' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, `a @ew' WdeW 1510, +
Marshe 1568^\
I wolde eche man were as playne as I.\
It is a worlde, I saye, to here of some - +
^to] `te' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, `to' WdeW 1510, Marshe 1568^\
I hate this faynynge, fye upon it, fye!\
A man can#not wote where to become.\
Iwys I coude tell - but humlery, home, +
^tell] `not tell'  Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
I dare not speke, we be so layde awayte,\
For all our courte is full of dysceyte.\
Now, by Saynte $Fraunceys, that holy man and frere,\
I hate this wayes agayne @ou that they take! +
^this] `these' Wynkyn de Worde 1510^\
Were I as @ou, I wolde ryde them full nere;\
And by my trouthe, but @f an ende they make,\
{et wyll I saye some wordes for @our sake\
That shall them angre, I holde thereon a grote,\
For some shall wene be hanged by the throte.\
I have a stoppynge#oyster in my poke,\
Truste me, and @f it come to a nede;\
But I am lothe for to reyse a smoke,\
{f @e coude be otherwyse agrede;\
And so I wolde it were, so $God me spede,\
For this may brede to a confusyon,\
Withoute $God make a good conclusyon.\
Naye, see where @onder stondeth the teder man!\
A flaterynge knave and false he is, $God wote.\
The drevyll stondeth to herken, and he can.\
<P 60>
It were more thryft he boughte him a newe cote;\
It wyll not be, his purse is not on-flote.\
All that he wereth, it is borowed ware;\
His wytte is thynne, his hode is threde-bare.\
More coude I saye, but what this is @nowe.\
Adewe tyll soone, we shall speke more of this.\
{e muste be ruled, as I shall tell @ou howe.\
Amendis maye be of that is now amys;\
And I am @our, syr, so have I blys,\
In every poynte that I can do or saye. +
^In] `To' Marshe 1568^\
Gyve me @our honde, fare#well and have good daye.'\
~DREDE\|+
<L 498>
Sodaynly, as he departed me fro,\
Came pressynge in one in a wonder araye.\
Er I was ware, behynde me he sayde `Bo!'\
Thenne I, astonyed of that sodeyne fraye,\
Sterte all at ones, I lyked no thynge his playe,\
For @f I had not quyckely fledde the touche,\
He had plucte oute the nobles of my pouche.\
He was trussed in a garmente strayte -\
I have not sene suche anothers page -\
For he coude well upon a casket wayte,\
His hode all pounsed and garded lyke a cage. +
^hode] `body' Marshe 1568^\
Lyghte lyme-fynger, he toke none other wage.\
`Harken,' quod he, `loo here myne honde in thyne;\
To us welcome thou arte, by Saynte $Quyntyne!'\
~DISCEYTE\|+
<L 512>
`But by that Lorde that is one, two and thre,\
I have an errande to rounde in @our ere.\
He tolde me so, by $God, @e maye truste me.\
Par[d]e, remembre whan @e were there, +
^Parde] `Parte' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499, 1510, Marshe 1568^\
There I wynked on @ou - wote @e not where?\
In %A %loco, I mene %juxta %B:\
Woo is hym that is blynde and maye not see!\
<P 61>
But to here the subtylte and the crafte,\
As I shall tell @ou, @f @e wyll harke agayne:\
And whan I sawe the horsons wolde @ou hafte,\
To holde myne honde, by $God, I had grete payne;\
For forthwyth there I had him slayne,\
But that I drede mordre wolde come oute.\
Who deleth with shrewes hath nede to loke aboute!'\
~DREDE\|+
<L 526>
And as he rounded thus in myne ere +
^rounded] `roynded' }Wynkyn de Worde 1499^\
Of false collusyon confetryd by assente,\
Me thoughte I see lewde felawes here and there\
Came for to slee me of mortall entente.\
And as they came, the shypborde faste I hente,\
And thoughte to lepe; and even with that woke,\
Caughte penne and @nke, and wroth this lytell boke. +
^wroth] `wrote' Wynkyn de Worde 1510, Marshe 1568^\
I wolde therwith no man were myscontente;\
Besechynge @ou that shall it see or rede,\
In every poynte to be indyfferente,\
Syth all in substaunce of slumbrynge doth procede.\
I wyll not saye it is mater in#dede,\
But @et oftyme suche dremes be founde trewe.\
Now constrewe @e what is the resydewe.\
_
<L E>
Thus endeth the Bowge of Courte.\=
<T Hauke>
_
<L I>
Here#after foloweth the boke entytuled Ware the Hauke\
<L I>
%per $Skelton laureat\
<L R>
%PROLOGUS $SKELTONIDIS %LAUREATI %SUPER WARE THE HAWKE\=
<L 1>
This worke devysed is
/For suche as do amys,\
<P 62>
And specyally to controule
/Such as have cure of soule,\
That be so far abusyd
/They cannot be excusyd\
By reason nor by law;\
But that they playe the daw\
To hawke, or els to hunt
/From the auter to the funt,\
Wyth cry unreverent,
/Before the sacrament,\
Wythin the holy church bowndis,\
That of our fayth the grownd is.\
That preest that hawkys so,\
All grace is far hym fro.\
He semeth a sysmatyke
/Or els an heretike,\
For fayth in hym is faynte.\
Therefore to make *complaynte +
^*complaynte] `complaynt' Scattergood^\
Of such mysadvysed
/Parsons and dysgysed,\
Thys boke we have devysed,
/Compendyously comprysed,\
No good preest to offend,\
But suche dawes to amend,\
In hope that no man shall 
/Be myscontent withall. +
^Be] `By' Kynge and Marche 1554^\
I shall @ou make relacyon\
By way of apostrofacyon\
Under supportacyon
/Of @our pacyent tolleracyon,\
How I, $Skelton laureat,\
Devysed and also wrate
/Uppon a lewde curate,\
A parson benyfyced
/But nothynge well advysed.\
He shall be as now nameles,\
But he shall not be blameles,\
Nor he shall not be shameles;\
For sure he wrought amys\
To hawke in my church of $Dys.\
<P 63>
This fonde frantyke fouconer,\
Wyth his polutyd pawtenar,\
As preest unreverent,\
Streyght to the sacrament\
He made his hawke to fly,\
With hogeous showte and cry.\
The hy auter he strypte naked;\
<L 50>
There on he stode, and craked;\
He shoke downe all the clothys,\
And sware horryble othes
/Before the face of $God,\
By $Moyses and $Arons rod,\
Or that he thens @ede,\
His hawke shulde pray and fede
/Upon a pigeons maw.\
The blode ran downe raw
/Upon the auter stone.\
The hawke tyryd on a *bonne, +
^*bonne] `bone' Scattergood^\
And in the holy place
/She mutyd there a chase\
Upon my corporas face.\
Such %sacrificium %laudis
/He made with suche gambawdis.\
~%OBSERVATE\|+
<L 66>
His seconde hawke wexyd gery\
And was with flyenge wery.\
She had flowyn so oft,\
That on the rode#loft
/She perkyd her to rest.\
The fauconer then was prest, +
^prest] `priest' Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560^\
Came runnynge with a dow,\
And cryed, `Stow, stow, stow!'\
But she wold not bow.\
He then, to be sure,
/Callyd her with a lure.\
Her mete was very crude, +
^mete] `mere' Kynge and Marche 1554^\
She had not wel endude;\
She was not clene ensaymed,\
She was not wel reclaymed;\
<P 64>
But the fawconer unfayned\
Was moch more febler brayned.\
The hawke had no lyst
/To come to his fyst;\
She loked as she had the frounce; +
^frounce] `fronnce' Kynge and Marche 1554, `fronce' Day 1560^\
Wyth that he gave her a bounce\
Full upon the gorge.\
I wyll not fayne nor forge;\
The hawke with that clap
/Fell downe with evyll hap.\
The church#dores were sparred,\
Fast boltyd and barryd,\
{et wyth a prety gyn
/I fortuned to come in,\
Thys rebell to behold,\
Wherof I hym controld; +
^I hym] `him I' Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
But he sayde that he wolde\
Agaynst my mynde and wyll\
In my church hawke styll.\
~%CONSIDERATE\|+
<L 100>
On Saynt $Johnn decollacyon\
He hawked on thys facyon,\
%Tempore %vesperarum,\
%Sed %non %secundum %Sarum\
But lyke a $March#harum
/His braynes were so %parum.\
He sayde he wold not let
/His houndys for to fet,\
To hunte there by lyberte\
In the dyspyte of me,\
And to halow there the fox.\
Downe went my offerynge#box,\
Boke, bell and candyll,
/All that he myght handyll;\
Cros, staffe, lectryne and banner,\
Fell downe on thys manner.\
<P 65>
~%DELIBERATE\|+
<L 116>
Wyth, `Troll, cytrace and trovy,'\
They rangyd $Hankyn $Bovy
/My churche all abowte.\
Thys fawconer then gan showte, +
^then] not in Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
`These be my gospellers,\
These be my pystyllers,\
These be my querysters
/To helpe me to synge,\
My hawkes to mattens rynge!'\
In thys preestly gydynge +
^In] `Is' }Lant 1545^\
His hawke then flew uppon
/The rode, with $Mary and $Johnn.\
Delt he not lyke a fon?\
Delt he not lyke a daw?\
Or els is thys $Goddis law,\
Decrees or decretals,\
Or holy sinodals,
/Or els provincyals,\
Thus within the wals
/Of holy church to deale,\
Thus to ryng a peale
/Wyth his hawkys bels?\
Dowtles such losels\
Make the churche to be
/In smale auctoryte;\
A curate in specyall\
To snappar and to fall
/Into this opyn cryme;\
To loke on this were tyme.\
~%VIGILATE\|+
<L 145>
But who#so that lokys
/In the offycyallys bokys,\
There he may se and reed +
^he] `her' Marshe 1568^\
That thys is matter indeed.\
How#be#it, mayden Meed
/Made theym to be agreed;\
And so the Scrybe was feed,\
<P 66>
And the Pharasay
/Then durst nothynge say,\
But let the matter slyp,\
And made truth to tryp;\
And of the spyrytuall law
/They made but a gewgaw,\
And toke it oute in drynke,\
And this the cause doth shrynke.\
The church is thus abusyd,
/Reproched and pollutyd;\
Correctyon hath no place,\
And all for lacke of grace.\
~%DEPLORATE\|+
<L 164>
Loke now in %Exodi,\
And %de %archa %Domini,\
With %Regum by and by;\
(The Bybyll wyll not ly)\
How the Temple was kept,\
How the Temple was swept,\
Where %sanguis %taurorum,\
%Aut %sanguis %vitulorum,
/Was offryd within the wallys,\
After ceremoniallys;\
When it was polutyd\
Sentence was executyd,\
By wey of expyacyon 
/For reconcylyacyon. +
^for reconcylyacyon] not in Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
~%DIVINITATE\|+
<L 178>
Then moch more, by the rode,\
Where $Crystis precyous blode
/Dayly offryd is,\
To be polutyd this;\
And that he wysshed withall\
That the dowves donge downe myght fall\
Into my chalys at mas,\
<P 67>
When consecratyd was
/The blessyd sacrament.\
O pryeest unreverent.\
He sayd that he wold hunt\
From the aulter to the funt.\
~%REFORMATE\|+
<L 190>
Of no tyrand I rede,\
That so far dyd excede;\
Neither @et $Dyoclesyan,
/Nor @et $Domysyan;\
Nother crokyd $Cacus, 
/Nor @et dronken $Bacus; +
^Nother] `Nor @et' Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Nother $Olybryus,
/Nor $Dyonysyus;\
Nother $Phalary,
/Rehersyd in $Valery,\
<L 200>
Nor $Sardanapall,
/Unhappyest of all;\
Nor $Nero the worst,
/Nor $Clawdyus the curst;\
Nor @et $Egeas,
/Nor @et Syr $Pherumbras;\
Nother $Zorobabell,
/Nor cruell $Jesabell;\
Nor @et $Tarquinius,\
Whom $Tytus $Lyvyus
/In wrytynge doth enroll;\
I have red theym poll by poll;\
The story of $Arystobell,
/And of $Constantynopell,\
Whych cytie myscreantys wan,\
And slew many a Chrysten man;\
{et the Sowden, nor the Turke,\
Wrought never such a worke,\
For to let their hawkys fly\
In the church of Saynt $Sophy;\
With moch matter more,
/That I kepe in store.\
<P 68>
~%PENSITATE\|+
<L 222>
Then in a tabull playne
/I wroute a verse or twayne,\
Whereat he made dysdayne.\
The pekysh parsons brayne\
Cowde not rech nor attayne\
What the sentence ment.\
He sayde, for a crokyd intent,\
The wordis were parvertyd;\
And this he overthwartyd.\
Of the whych proces
/{e may know more expres,\
If it please @ou to loke\
In the resydew of thys boke.\
~Here#after folowyth the tabull.\|+
<L 235>
Loke on this tabull,
/Whether thou art abull\
To rede or to spell
/What these verses tell.\
%Sicculo %lutueris %est %colo %buraara\
<L 240>
%Nixphedras %uisarum %caniuter %tutates\
%Raterplas %Natabrian %umsudus %itnugenus\
%18. %10. %2. %11. %19. %4. %13. %3. %4. %1 %teualet.\
%Cartula %stet, %precor, %hec %nullo %temeranda %petulco:\
%Hos %rapiet %numeros %non %homo, %sed %mala %bos.\
%Ex %parte %rem %cartae %adverte %aperte, %pone %musam %Arethusam %hanc.\
Wherto shuld I rehers
/The sentens of my vers?\
In them be no scolys
/For braynsycke frantycke folys:\
<L 250>
%Construas %hoc,
/%Domine Daucock!\
Ware the hauke!\
Maister %sophista,
/{e %simplex %silogista,\
<P 69>
[{]e develysh dogmatista, 
/{our hawke on @our fista, +
^Ye] `The' }Lant 1545, Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560, # +
Marshe 1568^\
To hawke when [@ou] lista +
^you] `your' editions^\
/In %ecclesia %ista,\
%Domine %concupisti,
/With thy hawke on thy fysty?\
%Nunquid %sic %dixisti?\
%Nunquid %sic %fecisti?\
%Sed %ubi %hoc %legisti\
%Aut %unde %hoc,\
Doctor $Dawcocke?
/Ware the hawke!\
Doctor %Dialetica,
/Where fynde @ou in %{potetica,\
Or in %Cathagoria
/%Latina %sive %Dorica,\
To use @oure hawkys %forica
/%In %propitiatorio,\
%Tanquam %diversorio?\
%Unde %hoc,\
%Domine $Dawcocke?
/Ware the hawke!\
Say to me, $Jacke $Harys,
/%Quare %accuparis\
%Ad %sacramentum %altaris?\
For no reverens thou sparys +
^reverens] `revens' Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
To shake my pygyons federis\
%Super %arcam %federis:\
%Unde %hoc,\
Doctor $Dawkocke? 
/Ware the hawke! +
^Ware] `Whare' }Lant 1545^\
Sir %dominus %vobiscum,\
%Per %aucupium\
{e made @our hawke to cum
/%Desuper %candelabrum\
%Christi %crucifixi
/To fede uppon @our fisty;\
%Dic, %inimice %crucis %Christi,\
<P 70>
%Ubi %didicisti\
%Facere %hoc,\
%Domine $Dawcoke?
/Ware the hawke!\
Apostata $Julianus
/Nor @et $Nestorianus,\
Thou shalt no#where rede\
<L 300>
That they dyd such a dede,\
To let theyr hawkys fly\
%Ad %ostium %tabernaculi\
%In %quo %est %corpus %Domini;\
%Cave %hoc,\
Doctor $Dawcock!
/Ware the hawke!\
This dowtless @e ravyd,\
$Dys church @e thus depravyd;\
Wherfore, as I be savyd,
/{e ar therfore beknavyd.\
%Quare? %Quia %evangelia,\
%Concha %et %conchelia,\
%Accipiter %et %sonalia,\
%Et %bruta %animalia,\
%Cetera %quoque %talia\
%Tibi %sunt %equalia;\
%Unde %hoc,\
%Domine $Dawkock? 
/Ware the hawke! +
^Ware] `Whare' }Lant 1545^\
%Et %relis %et %ralis\
%Et %reliqualis,\
From $Granado to $Galys,\
From $Wynchelsee to $Walys,
/%Non %est braynsycke %talys,\
%Nec %minus %racionalis,\
%Nec %magis %bestialis
/That synggys with a chalys;\
%Construas %hoc,\
Doctor $Dawcoke!
/Ware the hawke!\
<P 71>
Masyd, wytles smery smyth,\
Hampar with @our hammer upon thy styth,\
And make hereof a syckyll or a saw,\
For though @e lyve a %c. @ere, @e shal dy a daw.\
%Vos %valete\
%Doctor %indiscrete!\
~%SKELTONIS %APOSTROPHAT %AD %DIVUM %JOHANNEM %DECOLLATUM\
%IN %CUIUS %PROFESTO %FIEBAT %HOC %AUCUPIUM\
%O %memoranda %dies, %qua, %decollate %Johannes,\
%Aucupium %facit, %haud %quondam %qoud %fecerit, %intra\
%Ecclesiam %de %Dis, %violans %tua %sacra %sacrorum!\
%Rector %de %Whipstok, %doctor %cognomine %Daucock,\
%Et %dominus %Wodcock; %probat %is, %probat %hic, %probat %hec %hoc.\
%IDEM %DE %LIBERA %DICACITATE %POETICA %IN %EXTOLENDA\
%PROBITATE, %ET %IN %PERFRICANDA %IGNOBILITATE\
%Libertas %veneranda %piis %concessa %poetis\
%Dicendi %est %quecunque %placent, %quecunque %juvabunt,\
%Vel %quecunque %valent %justas %defendere %causas,\
%Vel %quecunque %valent %stolidos %mordere %petulcos.\
%Ergo %dabis %veniam.\|+
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton laureat.\=
<T Phy Sparrow>
_
<L I>
Here#after foloweth the boke of $Phyllyp $Sparowe\
<L I>
compyled by Mayster $Skelton, poete laureate\=
<L 1>
%Pla %ce %bo,
/Who is there, who?\
%Di %le %xi,
/Dame $Margery,
/%Fa, %re, %my, %my.\
<P 72>
Wherfore and why, why?\
For the sowle of $Philip $Sparowe,\
That was late slayn at $Carowe\
Among the Nones Blake.\
For that swete soules sake,\
And for all sparowes soules\
Set in our bede#rolles,\
%Pater %noster %qui,
/With an %Ave %Mari,\
And with the corner of a Crede,\
The more shal be @our mede.\
Whan I remembre agayn
/How mi $Philyp was slayn,\
Never halfe the payne\
Was betwene @ou twayne,
/$Pyramus and $Thesbe,\
As than befell to me.\
I wept and I wayled,\
The tearys downe hayled;\
But nothynge it avayled
/To call $Phylyp agayne\
Whom $Gyb our cat hath slayne.\
$Gyb, I saye, our cat,\
Worrowyd her on that
/Which I loved best.\
It can#not be exprest
/My sorowfull hevynesse,\
But all without redresse;\
For within that stounde,\
Halfe slumbrynge, in a sounde\
I fell downe to the grounde.\
Unneth I kest myne eyes\
Towarde the cloudy skyes;\
But whan I dyd beholde\
My sparow dead and colde,\
No creature but that wolde
/Have rewed upon me,\
To behold and se
/What hevynesse dyd me pange:\
Wherewith my handes I wrange
<P 73>
/That my senaws cracked\
As though I had ben racked,\
So payned and so strayned\
That no lyfe well nye remayned.\
I syghed and I sobbed,\
For that I was robbed
/Of my sparowes lyfe.\
O mayden, wydow, and wyfe,\
Of what estate @e be,
/Of hye or lowe degre,\
Great sorowe than @e myght se,\
And lerne to wepe at me!\
Such paynes dyd me frete\
That myne hert dyd bete,\
My vysage pale and dead,\
Wanne, and blewe as lead:\
The panges of hatefull death\
Well nye had stopped my breath. +
^had] not in Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
%Heu, %heu, %me,
/That I am wo for the!\
%Ad %dominum, %cum %tribularer, %clamavi.\
Of $God nothynge els crave I
/But $Phyllypes soule to kepe\
From the marees depe
/Of $Acherontes well,\
That is a flode of hell;\
And from the great $Pluto,\
The prynce of endles wo;\
And from foule $Alecto,\
With vysage blacke and blo;\
And from $Medusa, that mare,\
That lyke a fende doth stare;\
And from $Megeras edders,\
For rufflynge of $Phillips fethers, +
^For] `From' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
And from her fyry sparklynges,\
For burnynge of his wynges;\
And from the smokes sowre
/Of $Proserpinas bowre;\
And from the dennes darke\
Wher $Cerberus doth barke,\
<P 74>
Whom $Theseus dyd afraye,\
Whom $Hercules dyd outraye,\
As famous poetes say;\
F[rom] that hell-hounde +
^From] `For' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
That lyeth in cheynes bounde,\
With gastly hedes thre;\
To $Jupyter pray we\
That $Phyllyp preserved may be!\
Amen, say @e with me!\
%Do %mi %nus,
/Helpe nowe swete $Jesus!\
%Levavi %oculos %meos %in %montes:\
Wolde $God I had $Zenophontes,\
Or $Socrates the wyse,\
To shew me their devyse\
Moderatly to take
/This sorow that I make\
For $Phyllip $Sparowes sake!\
So fervently I shake,\
I fele my body quake,\
So urgently I am brought
/Into carefull thought.\
Like $Andromach, $Hectors wyfe,\
Was wery of her lyfe,\
Whan she had lost her joye,\
Noble $Hector of $Troye;\
In lyke maner also\
Encreaseth my dedly wo,
/For my sparowe is go.\
It was so prety a fole,\
It wold set on a stole, +
^set] `sit' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
And lerned after my scole\
For to kepe his cut,\
With, `$Phyllyp, kepe @our cut!'\
It had a velvet cap,\
And wold syt upon my lap,\
And seke after small wormes,\
And somtyme white bred#crommes;\
And many tymes and ofte\
Betwene my brestes softe\
<P 75>
It wolde lye and rest -\
It was propre and prest.\
Somtyme he wolde gaspe\
Whan he sawe a waspe;\
A fly, or a gnat,
/He wolde flye at that;\
And prytely he wolde pant\
Whan he saw an ant;\
Lord, how he wolde pry
/After the butterfly!\
Lorde, how he wolde hop
/After the gressop!\
And whan I sayd, `$Phyp, $Phyp,'\
Than he wold lepe and skyp,\
And take me by the lyp.\
Alas, it wyll me slo,\
That $Phillyp is gone me fro!\
%Si %in %i %qui %ta %tes\
Alas, I was evyll at ease!\
%De %pro %fun %dis %cla %ma %vi,\
Whan I sawe my sparowe dye!\
Nowe, after my dome,\
Dame $Sulpicia at $Rome,\
Whose name regystred was\
Forever in tables of bras,\
Because that she dyd pas +
^that] not in Marshe 1568^\
In poesy to endyte
/And eloquently to wryte,\
Though she wolde pretende\
My sparowe to commende,\
I trowe she coude not amende\
Reportynge the vertues all\
Of my sparowe royall.\
For it wold come and go,\
And fly so to and fro; +
^fly] `fle' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
And on me it wolde lepe\
Whan I was aslepe,\
And his fethers shake, +
^fethers] `fether' }Kele 1545.2^\
<P 76>
Wherewith he wolde make\
Me often for to wake\
And for to take him in\
Upon my naked skyn.\
$God wot, we thought no syn -\
What though he crept so lowe? +
^though] `thought' }Kele 1545.2^\
It was no hurt, I trowe.\
He dyd nothynge, perde,
/But syt upon my kne.\
$Phyllyp, though he were nyse,\
In him it was no vyse;\
$Phyllyp had leve to go\
To pyke my lytell too,\
$Phillip myght be bolde\
And do what he wolde;\
$Phillip wolde seke and take\
All the flees blake\
That he coulde there espye\
With his wanton eye.\
%O %pe %ra,\
%La, %soll, %fa, %fa,\
%Confitebor %tibi, %Domine, %in %toto %corde %meo.\
Alas, I wolde ryde and go\
A thousand myle of grounde,\
If any such might be found!\
It were worth an hundreth pound\
Of Kynge $Cresus golde,\
Or of $A[t]talus the olde, +
^Attalus] `Artalus' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
The ryche prynce of $Pargame,\
Whoso lyst the story to se.\
$Cadmus, that his syster sought,\
And he shold be bought
/For golde and fee,\
He shuld over the see\
To wete if he coulde brynge\
Any of the ofsprynge +
^ofsprynge] `sprynge' Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Or any of the blode.\
But whoso understode
/Of $Medeas arte,\
I wolde I had a parte
<P 77>
/Of her crafty magyke!\
My sparowe than shuld be quycke\
With a charme or twayne,\
And playe with me agayne.\
But all this is in vayne\
Thus for to complayne.\
I toke my sampler ones\
Of purpose, for the nones,\
To sowe with stytchis of sylke\
My sparow whyte as mylke,\
That by representacyon
/Of his image and facyon,\
To me it myght importe\
Some pleasure and comforte\
For my solas and sporte.\
But whan I was sowing his beke,\
Me thought my sparow did spek,\
And opened his prety byll, +
^opened] `open' Marshe 1568^\
Saynge, `Mayd, @e are in wyll\
Agayne me for to kyll!\
{e prycke me in the head!'\
With that my nedle waxed red, +
^waxed] `ware' Marshe 1568^\
Me thought, of $Phyllyps blode.\
Myne hear ryght upstode,\
And was in suche a fray\
My speche was taken away.\
I kest downe that there was,\
And sayd, `Alas, alas,\
How commeth this to pas?'\
My fyngers, dead and colde,\
Coude not my sampler holde;\
My nedle and threde\
I threwe away for drede.\
The best now that I maye\
Is for his soule to pray:\
%A %porta %inferi,
/Good Lorde, have mercy\
Upon my sparowes soule,\
Wryten in my bede#roule!\
%Au %di %vi %vo %cem,\
$Japhet, $Cam, and $Sem,\
<P 78>
%Ma %gni %fi %cat,\
Shewe me the ryght path\
To the hylles of $Armony,\
Wherfore the bordes @et cry +
^bordes] `byrdes' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Of @our fathers bote,\
That was sometyme aflote,\
And nowe they lye and rote;\
Let some poetes wryte\
$Deucalyons flode it hyght.\
But as verely as @e be\
The naturall sonnes thre\
Of $Noe the patryarke,\
That made that great arke,\
Wherin he had apes and owles,\
Beestes, byrdes, and foules,\
That if @e can fynde\
Any of my sparowes kynde,\
($God send the soule good rest!)\
I wolde have @et a nest +
^have @et] `yet have'  Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
As prety and as prest\
As my sparowe was.\
But my sparowe dyd pas\
All sparowes of the wode\
That were syns $Noes flode;\
Was never none so good;\
Kynge $Phylyp of $Macedony\
Had no such $Phylyp as I,\
No, no, syr, hardely!\
That vengeaunce I aske and crye,\
By way of exclamacyon,\
On all the hole nacyon\
Of cattes wylde and tame;\
God send them sorowe and shame!\
That cat specyally,\
That slew so cruelly\
My lytell prety sparowe\
That I brought up at $Carowe.\
O cat of carlyshe kynde, +
^carlyshe] `churlyshe' Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
The fynde was in thy mynde\
<P 79>
Whan thou my byrde untwynde!\
I wold thou haddest ben blynde!\
The leopardes savage,
/The lyons in theyr rage,\
Myght catche the in theyr pawes,\
And gnawe the in theyr jawes!\
[The] *serpens of $Lybany +
^The] `These' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568; *serpens] `serpentes' W, Kit, M^\
Myght stynge the venymously!\
The dragones with their tonges\
Might poyson thy lyver and longes!\
The mantycors of the montaynes\
Myght fede them on thy braynes!\
$Melanchates, that hounde\
That plucked $Acteon to the grounde,\
Gave hym his mortall wounde,\
Chaunged to a dere,\
The story doth appere,\
Was chaunged to an harte:\
So thou, foule cat that thou arte,\
The selfe#same hounde
/Myght the confounde,\
That his owne lorde bote\
Myght byte asondre thy throte!\
Of $Inde the gredy grypes\
Myght tere out all thy trypes!\
Of $Arcady the beares\
Might plucke away thyne eares!\
The wylde wolfe $Lycaon\
Byte asondre thy backe#bone!\
Of $Ethna the brennynge hyll\
That day and night brenneth styl,\
Set in thy tayle a blase\
That all the world may gase\
And wonder upon the,\
From $Occyan the great se\
Unto the Iles of $Orchady,\
From $Tyllbery fery
/To the playne of $Salysbery!\
So trayterously my byrde to kyll\
That never ought the evyll wyll!\
<P 80>
Was never byrde in cage
/More gentle of corage\
In doynge his homage
/Unto his soverayne.\
Alas, I say agayne,\
Deth hath departed us twayne;\
The false cat hath the slayne!\
Farewell $Phyllyp, adew;\
Our Lorde thy soule reskew!\
Farewell without restore,\
Farewell for evermore!\
And it were a Jewe, +
^were] `where' }Kele 1545.2^\
It wolde make one rew\
To se my sorow new.\
These vylanous false cattes\
Were made for myse and rattes,\
And not for byrdes smale.\
Alas, my face waxeth pale,\
Tellynge this pyteyus tale,\
How my byrde so fayre,\
That was wont to repayre,\
And go in at my spayre, +
^go in] `often' Kitson 1560.6^\
And crepe in at my gore +
^crepe] `gape' Kitson 1560.6^\
Of my gowne before,\
Flyckerynge with his wynges.\
Alas, my hert it stynges,\
Remembrynge prety thynges!\
Alas, myne hert it sleth\
My $Phyllyppes dolefull deth!\
Whan I remembre it,\
How pretely it wolde syt\
Many tymes and ofte,\
Upon my fynger aloft!\
I played with him tytell-tattyll,\
And fed him with my spattyl,\
With his byll betwene my lippes,\
It was my prety $Phyppes!\
Many a prety kusse\
Had I of his swete musse; +
^his] `this' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553^\
And now the cause is thus,\
<P 81>
That he is slayne me fro,\
To my great payne and wo.\
Of fortune this the chaunce
/Standeth on varyaunce:\
Oft tyme after pleasaunce,\
/Trouble and grevaunce.\
No man can be sure\
All#way to have pleasure.\
As well perceyve @e maye\
How my dysport and play\
From me was taken away\
By $Gyb, our cat savage,\
That in a furyous rage +
^a] not in Marshe 1568^\
Caught $Phyllyp by the head,\
And slew him there starke dead.\
%Kyry, %eleyson\
%Christe, %eleyson\
%Kyry, %eleson!\
For $Phylyp $Sparowes soule +
^Phylyp] `Phyyp' }Kele 1545.2^\
Set in our bede#rolle,\
Let us now whysper
/A Pater#noster.\
%Lauda, %anima %mea, %Dominum!\
To wepe with me loke that @e come,\
All maner of byrdes in @our kynd;\
So none be left behynde.\
To mornynge loke that @e fall\
With dolorous songes funerall,\
Some to synge, and some to say,\
Some to wepe, and some to pray,\
Every byrde in his laye:\
The goldfynche, the wagtayle;\
The janglynge jay to rayle,\
The fleckyd pye to chatter\
Of this dolorous mater.\
And $Robyn Redbrest\
He shall be the preest,\
The requiem masse to synge, 
/Softly warbelynge, +
^Softly] `Loftly' Marshe 1568^\
<P 82>
With helpe of the red sparow\
And the chattrynge swallow,\
This herse for to halow.\
The larke with his longe to;\
The spynke and the martynet also;\
The shovelar with his brode bek;\
The doterell, that folyshe pek;\
And also the mad coote,\
With a balde face to toote;\
The feldefare and the snyte;\
The crowe and the kyte;\
The ravyn called $Rolfe,\
His playne#songe to solfe;\
The partryche, the quayle;\
The plover with us to wayle;\
The woodhacke, that syngeth `chur',\
Horsly, as he had the mur;\
The lusty chauntyng nyghtyngale;\
The popyngay to tell her tale,\
That toteth oft in a glasse,\
Shall rede the gospell at masse;\
The mavys with her whystell\
Shall rede there the pystell.\
But with a large and a longe\
To kepe just playne#songe\
Our chaunters shalbe the cuckoue,\
The culver, the stockedowve,\
With Puwyt the lapwyng,\
The versycles shall syng.\
The *better with his bumpe, +
^*better] `bitter' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
The crane with his trumpe,\
The swan of $Menander,\
The gose and the gander,\
The ducke and the drake, +
^the] not in }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553^\
Shall watche at this wake;\
The pecocke so prowde,\
Bycause his voyce is lowde,\
And hath a glorious tayle,\
He shall syng the grayle;\
The owle, that is so foule, +
^is] not in Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Must helpe us to houle;\
<P 83>
The heron so gaunce, +
^gaunce] `gaunte' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
And the cormoraunce, 
/With the fesaunte, +
^cormoraunce] `cormoraunte' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
And the gaglynge gaunte,\
And the churlysshe chowgh;\
The [kn]oute and the [r]owgh; +
^knout] `route' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568; rowgh] `kowgh' }Kele, Wyght, +
Kitson, Marshe^\
The barnacle, the bussarde,\
With the wylde mallarde; +
^wylde] `wynde' }Kele 1545.2^\
The dyvendop to slepe;\
The wather-hen to wepe;\
The puffyn and the tele, +
^puffyn] `pussyn' }Kele 1545.2^\
Money they shall dele\
To poore folke at large,\
That shall be theyr charge;\
The semewe and the tytmose;\
The wodcocke with the longe nose;\
The threstyl with her warblyng;\
The starlyng with her brablyng;\
The roke, with the ospraye\
That putteth fysshes to a fraye;\
And the denty curlewe,\
With the turtyll most trew.\
At this %Placebo\
We may not well forgo
/The countrynge of the coe;\
The storke also,\
That maketh his nest
/In chymneyes to rest;\
Within those walles\
No broken galles 
/May there abyde +
^No] `Nor' Kitson 1560.6^\
Of cokoldry syde,\
*Or els phylosophy 
/Maketh a great lye. +
^*Or] `Of' Scattergood^\
The estryge, that wyll eate\
An horshowe so great,\
In the stede of meate\
Such fervent heat 
/His stomake doth freat; +
^doth freat] `so great' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6^\
He can#not well fly,
/Nor synge tunably;\
<P 84>
{et at a brayde
/He hath well assayde\
To solfe above E-la - 
/%Fa, lorell, %fa, %fa - +
^Fa] `Ga' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6^\
%Ne %quando\
%Male %cantando,\
The best that we can,\
To make hym our belman,\
And let hym ryng the bellys;\
He can do nothyng ellys.\
$Chaunteclere, our coke,\
Must tell what is of the clocke\
By the astrology
/That he hath naturally\
Conceyved and cought,
/And was never tought\
By $Albumazer
/The astronomer,\
Nor by $Ptholomy,
/Prince of astronomy,\
Nor @et by $Haly;\
And @et he croweth dayly\
And nyghtly the tydes +
^nyghtly] `nyghly' }Kele 1545.2^\
That no man abydes,\
With $Partlot his hen,\
Whom now and then
/He plucketh by the hede\
Whan he doth her trede.\
The byrde of $Araby,\
That potencyally
/May never dye\
And @et there is none
/But one alone;\
A phenex it is
/This herse that must blys\
With armatycke gummes
/That cost great sumes,\
The way of thurifycation\
To make a fumigation +
^a] not in  Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Swete of refla[yre] +
^reflayre] `reflary' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
/And redolent of eyre,\
<P 85>
This corse for to sence
/With greate reverence,\
As patryarke or pope
/In a blacke cope.\
Whyles he senseth [the herse], +
^the herse] not in }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
He shall synge the verse\
%Libe %ra %me,\
In %de, %la, %soll, %re,\
Softly bemole
/For my sparowes soule.\
$Plinni sheweth all
/In his Story Naturall,\
What he doth fynde\
Of this phenyx kynde;\
Of whose incyneracyon
/There ryseth a new creacyon\
Of the same facyon
/Without alteracyon,\
Savyng that olde age\
Is turned into corage\
Of fresshe @outh agayne;\
This matter trew and playne,\
Playne matter indede,
/Whoso lyst to rede\
But for the egle doth flye\
Hyest in the skye,\
He shall be th[e] sedeane, +
^the] `thye' }Kele 1545.2, `thy' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
The quere to demeane,\
As provost pryncypall,
/To teach them theyr ordynall;\
Also the noble fawcon,
/With the gerfawcon,\
The tarsell#gentyll,
/They shall morne soft and styll\
In theyr amysse of gray;\
The sacre with them shall say\
%Dirige for $Phyllyppes soule;\
The goshauke shall have a role\
The queresters to controll;\
The lanners and the marlyons +
^the] not in Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Shall stand in their morning#gounes;\
<P 86>
The hobby and the muskette\
The sensers and the crosse shall fet;\
The kestrell in all this warke\
shall be holy#wather clarke.\
And now the darke cloudy nyght\
Chaseth away $Phebus bryght,\
Taking his course toward the west;\
$God sende my sparoes sole good rest!\
%Requiem %eternam %dona %eis, %Domine.\
%Fa, %fa, %fa, %my, %re,\
%A %por %ta %in %fe %ri,\
%Fa, %fa, %fa, %my, %my.\
%Credo %vydere %bona %Domini,\
I pray $God, $Phillip to heven may fly.\
%Domine, %exaudi %oracionem %meam,\
To heven he shall, from heven he cam.\
%Do %mi %nus %vo %bis %cum,\
Of al good praiers $God send him sum!\
%Oremus.\
%Deus, %cui %proprium %est %miserere %et %parcere,\
On $Phillips soule have pyte!\
For he was a prety cocke,\
And came of a gentyll stocke,\
And wrapt in a maidenes smocke,\
And cherysshed full dayntely,\
Tyll cruell fate made him to dy:\
Alas, for dolefull desteny!\
But whereto shuld I
/Lenger morne or crye?\
To $Jupyter I call,
/Of heven emperyall,\
That $Phyllyp may fly
/Above the starry sky,\
To treade the prety wren
/That is our Ladyes hen.\
Amen, amen, amen!\
{et one thynge is behynde,\
That now commeth to mynde: +
^to mynde] `to mi mynde' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6^\
An epytaphe I wold have
/For $Phyllyppes grave.\
<P 87>
But for I am a mayde,
/Tymerous, halfe afrayde,\
That never @et asayde
/Of $Elyconys well,\
Where the muses dwell:\
Though I can rede and spell,\
Recounte, reporte and tell\
Of the Tales of $Caunterbury\
Some sad storyes, some mery,\
As $Palamon and $Arcet,\
Duke $Theseus, and $Partelet;\
And of the Wyfe of $Bath,\
That worketh moch scath +
^That] `Thay' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6^\
Whan her tale is tolde\
Amonge huswyves bolde,\
How she controlde
/Her husbandes as she wolde,\
And them to despyse\
In the homylyest wyse,\
Brynge other wyves in thought\
Their husbandes to set at nought:\
And though that rede have I\
Of $Gawen, and Syr $Guy,\
And tell can a great pece\
Of the Golden Flece,\
How $Jason it wan,\
Lyke a valyaunt man;\
Or $Arturs rounde table,\
With his knightes commendable,\
And Dame $Gaynour, his quene\
Was somwhat wanton I wene;\
How Syr $Launcelote de Lake\
Many a spere brake
/For his ladyes sake;\
Of $Trystram, and Kynge $Marke,\
And all the hole warke\
Of Bele $Isold his wyfe,\
For whom was moch stryfe;\
Some say she was lyght,\
And made her husband knyght
/Of the comyne hall,\
<P 88>
That cuckoldes men call;\
And of Syr $Lybius
/Named $Dysconius;\
Of %Quater %Fylz %Amund, +
^Amund] `Emund' }Kele 1545.2^\
And how they were sommonde\
To $Rome, to $Charlemayne,\
Upon a great payne,\
And how they rode eche one\
On $Bayarde $Mountalbon;\
Men se hym now and than +
^than] `then' Marshe 1568^\
In the forest of $Arden. +
^of] not in Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
What though I can fram +
^though] `thought' }Kele 1545.2^\
/The storyes by name\
Of $Judas $Machabeus,
/And of $Cesar $Julious;\
And of the love betwene
/$Paris and $Vyene;\
And of the Duke $Hannyball, +
^Hannyball] `of Hannyball' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
That made the Romaynes all 
/For-drede and to quake; +
^That] `What' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553^\
How $Scipion dyd wake\
The cytye of $Cartage,\
Which by his mercyfull rage +
^mercyfull] `unmercifull' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
He bete downe to the grounde:\
And though I can expounde\
Of $Hector of $Troye\
That was all theyr joye,\
Whom $Achylles slew,\
Wherfore all $Troy dyd rew;\
And of the love so hote\
That made $Troylus to dote\
Upon fayre $Cressyde,\
And what they wrote and sayd,\
And of theyr wanton wylles,\
$Pandaer bare the bylles\
From one to the other,\
His maisters love to further,\
Somtyme a presyous thyng,\
An ouche or els a ryng,\
From her to hym agayn;\
Somtyme a prety chayn,\
<P 89>
Or a bracelet of her here,\
Prayd $Troylus for to were\
That token for her sake;\
How hartely he dyd it take\
And moche therof dyd make;\
And all that was in vayne,\
For she dyd but fayne;\
The story telleth playne,\
He coulde not optayne\
Though his father were a kyng;\
{et there was a thyng\
That made the male to wryng; +
^the] `tha' }Kele 1545.2^\
She made hym to syng\
The song of lovers lay;\
Musyng nyght and day,\
Mournyng all alone,\
Comfort had he none\
For she was quyte gone;\
Thus in conclusyon,\
She brought him in abusyon;\
In ernest and in game\
She was moch to blame;\
Disparaged is her fame\
And blemysshed is her name,\
In maner half with shame;\
$Troylus also hath lost\
On her moch love and cost,\
And now must kys the post;\
$Pand[aer], that went betwene, +
^Pandaer] `pandara' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
Hath won nothing, I wene,\
But lyght for somer grene;\
{et for a speciall laud\
He is named $Troylus baud;\
Of that name he is sure\
Whyles the world shall dure:\
Though I remembre the fable\
Of $Penelope most stable,\
To her husband most trew,\
{et long tyme she ne knew\
Whether he were onlyve or ded;\
Her wyt stood her in sted\
<P 90>
That she was true and just,\
For any bodely lust,\
To $Ulixes her make,\
And never wold him forsake.\
Of $Marcus $Marcellus
/A proces I could tell us;\
And of $Anteocus,
/And of $Josephus\
%De %Antiquitatibus;\
And of $Mardocheus,
/And of great $Assuerus,\
And of $Vesca his queene,\
Whom he forsoke with teene,\
And of $Hester his other wyfe,\
With whom he ledd a plesaunt life;\
Of Kyng $Alexander;
/And of Kyng $Evander\
And of $Porcena the Great,\
That made the Romayns to s[wea]t: +
^sweat] `smart' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
Though I have enrold\
A thousand new and old\
Of these historious tales,\
To fyll bougets and males\
With bokes that I have red,\
{et I am nothyng sped,\
And can but lytell skyll\
Of $Ovyd or $Virgyll,
/Or of $Plutharke,\
Or $Frauncys $Petrarke, 
/$Alcheus or $Sapho, +
^Or] `Or of' Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Or such other poetes mo,\
As $Linus and $Homerus,
/$Euphorion and $Theocritus,\
$Anacreon and $Arion,
/$Sophocles and $Philemon,\
$Pyndarus and $[S]ymonides +
^Symonides] `Dymonides' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, +
Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
/$Philistion and $Phorocides;\
These poetes of auncyente,\
They ar to diffuse for me:\
For as I tofore have sayd,\
<P 91>
I am but a @ong mayd,\
And can#not in effect\
My style as @et direct\
With Englysh wordes elect; +
^elect] `clere' }Kele 1545.2, `elect' Wyght 1553, +
Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Our naturall tong is rude,\
And hard to be enneude\
With pullysshed termes lusty;\
Our language is so rusty,\
So cankered and so full\
Of frowardes, and so dull,\
That if I wolde apply 
/To wryte ornatly, +
^ornatly] `ordinately' Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
I wot not where to fynd
/Termes to serve my mynde.\
$Gowers Englysh is olde 
/And of no value told; +
^told] `is tolde' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
His mater is worth gold,\
And worthy to be enrold.\
In $Chauser I am sped,\
His tales I have red;\
His mater is delectable,
/Solacious and commendable;\
His Englysh well alowed,\
So as it is enprowed,\
For as it is enployd,\
There is no Englysh voyd,\
At those dayes moch commended;\
And now men wold have amended\
His Englyssh whereat they barke\
And mar all they warke;\
$Chaucer, that famus clerke,\
His termes were not darke,\
But plesaunt, easy and playne;\
Ne worde he wrote in vayne.\
Also $Johnn $Lydgate\
Wryteth after an hyer rate;\
It is dyffuse to fynde\
The sentence of his mynde,\
{et wryteth he in his kynd,\
No man that can amend\
<P 92>
Those maters that he hath pende;\
{et some men fynde a faute,\
And say he wryteth to haute.\
Wherfore hold me excused\
If I have not well perused\
Myne Englyssh halfe-abused;\
Though it be refused,\
In worth I shall it take,\
And fewer wordes make.\
But for my sparowes sake,\
{et as a woman may,\
My wyt I shall assay\
An epytaphe to wryght\
In Latyne playne and lyght,\
Whereof the elegy
/Foloweth by and by.\
 %Flos %volucrum %formose, %vale!\
%Philippe, %sub %isto\
%Marmore %iam %recubas,\
%Qui %mihi %carus %eras.\
%Semper %erunt %nitido\
%Radiantia %sydera %celo;\
%Impressusque %meo\
%Pectore %semper %eris.\
%Per %me %laurigerum\
%Britanum %Skeltonida %vatem\
%Hec %cecinisse %licet\
%Ficta %sub %imagine %texta.\
%Cuius %eris %volucris,\
%Prestanti %corpore %virgo:\
%Candida %Nais %erat,\
%Formosior %ista %Joanna %est:\
%Docta %Corinna %fuit,\
%Sed %magis %ista %sapit.\
%Bien %men %souvient.\
_
<L R>
THE COMMENDACIONS\=
<L 845>
%Beati %im %ma %cu %la %ti %in %via,\
%O %gloriosa %femina!\
<P 93>
Now myne hole imaginacion\
And studyous medytacion\
Is to take this commendacyon\
In this consyderacion;\
And under pacyent tolleracyon\
Of that most goodly mayd +
^goodly] `godly' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
That %Placebo hath sayd\
And for her sparow prayd
/In lamentable wyse.\
Now wyll I enterpryse,\
Thorow the grace dyvyne\
Of the Muses nyne,\
Her beautye to commende,\
If $Arethusa wyll send\
Me enfluence to endyte,\
And with my pen to wryte;\
If $Apollo wyll promyse\
Melodyously it to devyse\
His tunable harpe#stryngges\
With armony that synges\
Of princes and of kynges\
And of all pleasaunt thynges,\
Of lust and of delyght,\
Thorow his godly myght;\
To whom be the laude ascrybed\
That my pen hath enbybed\
With the aureat droppes,\
As verely my hope is,\
Of $Thagus, that golden flod,\
That passeth all erthly good; +
^all] `all the' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
And as that flode doth pas\
Al floodes that ever was\
With his golden sandes,\
Who#so that understandes\
Cosmography, and the stremys\
And the floodes in straunge remes,\
Ryght so she doth excede\
All other of whom we rede,\
Whose fame by me shall sprede\
Into $Perce and $Mede,\
<P 94>
From $Brytons $Albion 
/To the towre of $Babilon. +
^To] `Bo' }Kele 1545.2^\
I trust it is no shame,\
And no man wyll me blame,\
Though I regester her name\
In the courte of Fame;\
For this most goodly floure,\
This blossome of fresshe coulour,\
So $Jupiter me socour,\
She floryssheth new and new\
In bewte and vertew.\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Retribue %servo %tuo, %vivifica %me!\
%Labia %mea %laudabunt %te.\
But enforsed am I
/Openly to askry\
And to make an outcri +
^an] `a' }Kele 1545.2^\
Against odyous Envi,\
That evermore wil ly
/And say cursedly;\
With his ledder ey,
/And chekes dry;\
With vysage wan, 
/As swart as tan; +
^swart] `wart' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
`swarte' Marshe 1568^\
His bones crake,
/Leane as a rake;\
His gummes rusty
/Are full unlusty;\
His herte withall
/Bytter as gall;\
His lyver, his longe 
/With anger is wronge; +
^longe] `longes' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
His serpentes tonge
/That many one hath stonge;\
He frowneth ever;
/He laugheth never,\
Even nor morow;
/But other mennes sorow\
Causeth him to gryn
<P 95>
/And rejoyce therin;\
No slepe can him catch,\
But ever doth watch,\
He is so bete
/With malyce, and frete\
With angre and @re,\
His foule desyre
/Wyll suffre no slepe\
In his hed to crepe;\
His foule semblaunt 
/All displesaunt; +
^foule] `feule' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, +
`foule' Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Whan other ar glad,\
Than is he sad,
/Frantyke and mad;\
His tong never styll
/For to say @ll,\
Wrythyng and wringyng,
/Bytyng and styngyng;\
And thus this elf
/Consumeth himself,\
Himself doth slo
/With payne and wo.\
This fals Envy
/Sayth that I
/Use great folly\
For to endyte,
/And for to wryte,\
And spend my tyme
/In prose and ryme,\
For to expres
/The noblenes
/Of my maistres,\
That causeth me
/Studious to be\
To make a relation 
/Of her commendation; +
^To] `Bo' }Kele 1545.2^\
And there agayne
/Envy doth complayne,
/And hath disdayne;\
But @et certayne
<P 96>
/I wyll be playne, +
^Be] `me' }Kele 1545.2^\
And my style dres
/To this prosses.\
Now $Phebus me ken
/To sharpe my pen,\
And lede my fyst
/As hym best lyst,\
That I may say
/Honour alway
/Of womankynd!\
Trouth doth me bynd
/And loyalte\
Ever to be
/Their true bedell\
To wryte and tell
/How women excell
/In noblenes;\
As my maistres,
/Of whom I thynk\
With pen and @nk 
/For to compyle 
/Some goodly style; +
^goodly] `godly' }Kele 1545.2^\
For this most goodly floure,\
This blossome of fresh coloure,\
So $Jupyter me socoure,\
She flourissheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Legem %pone %michi, %domina, %in %viam %justificationem %tuarum!\
%Quemadmodum %desiderat %cervus %ad %fontes %aquarum.\
How shall I report\
All the goodly sort
/Of her fetures clere,\
That hath non erthly pere?\
Her favour of her face\
Ennewed all with grace, +
^all with] `with al' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Confort, pleasure, and solace,\
Myne hert doth so enbrace,\
And so hath ravyshed me\
<P 97>
Her to behold and se,\
That in wordes playne\
I cannot me refrayne\
To loke on her agayne. +
^on] `to' Marshe 1568^\
Alas, what shuld I fayne?\
It wer a plesaunt payne\
With her aye to remayne.\
Her eyen gray and stepe\
Causeth myne hert to lepe;\
With her browes bent\
She may well represent\
Fayre $Lucres, as I wene,\
Or els fayre $Polexene,\
Or els $Caliope,
/Or els $Penolope;\
For this most goodly floure,\
This blossome of fresshe coloure,\
So $Jupiter me socoure,\
She florisheth new and new\
In beautye and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Memor %esto %verbi %tui %servo %tuo!\
%Servus %tuus %sum %ego.\
The $Indy saphyre blew
/Her vaynes doth ennew;\
The orient perle so clere,\
The whytnesse of her lere;\
The lusty ruby ruddes\
Resemble the rose#buddes;\
Her lyppes soft and mery\
Emblomed lyke the chery,\
It were an hevenly blysse\
Her sugred mouth to kysse.\
Her beautye to augment\
Dame Nature hath her lent\
A warte upon her cheke,\
Who#so lyst to seke\
In her vysage a skar\
That semyth from afar\
<P 98>
Lyke to the radyant star,\
All with favour fret,\
So properly it is set:\
She is the vyolet,\
The daysy delectable,\
The columbyn commendable\
This jelofer amyable;\
[For] this most goodly floure, +
^For] not in }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
This blossom of fressh colour,\
So $Jupiter me succour,\
She florysheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Bonitatem %fecisti %cum %servo %tuo, %domina,\
%Et %ex %precordiis %sonant %preconia.\
And whan I perceyved
/Her wart and conceyved,\
It cannot be denayd
/But it was well convayd,\
And set so womanly,\
And nothynge wantonly,\
But ryght convenyently,
/And full congruently,\
As Nature cold devyse,
/In most goodly wyse.\
Who#so lyst beholde,\
It makethe lovers bolde\
To her to sewe for grace,\
Her favoure to purchase.\
The sker upon her chyn\
Enhached on her fayre skyn,\
Whyter than the swan,\
It wold make any man\
To forget deadly syn\
Her favour to wyn;\
For this most goodly floure, +
^goodly ] `godly' }Kele 1545.2^\
This blossom of fressh coloure,\
So $Jupiter me socoure,\
She flouryssheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
<P 99>
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Defecit %in %salutare %tuum %anima %mea;\
%Quid %petis %filio, %mater %dulcissima? %Ba %ba!\
Soft, and make no dyn,\
For now I wyll begyn\
To have in remembraunce +
^have] `heue' }Kele 1545.2^\
Her goodly dalyaunce,\
And her goodly pastaunce:\
So sad and so demure,\
Behavynge her so sure,\
With wordes of pleasure\
<L 1100>
She wold make to the lure\
And any man convert\
To gyve her his hole hert.\
She made me sore amased\
Upon her whan I gased,\
Me thought min hert was crased,\
My eyne were so dased;\
For this most goodly flour,\
This blossom of fressh colour, +
^This] `The' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
So $Jupyter me socour,\
She flouryssheth new and new\
In beauty and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Quomodo %dilexi %legem %tuam, %domina!\
%Recedant %vetera, %nova %sunt %omnia.\
And to amende her tale,\
Whan she lyst to avale,\
And with her fyngers smale,\
And handes soft as sylke,\
Whyter than the mylke, +
^the] not in Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
That are so quyckely vayned,\
Wherwyth my hand she strayned,\
Lorde, how I was payned!\
Unneth I me refrayned,\
How she me had reclaymed,\
And me to her retayned,\
Enbrasynge therewithall\
Her goodly myddell small +
^goodly] `godly' }Kele 1545.2^\
<P 100>
With sydes longe and streyte;\
To tell @ou what conceyte\
I had than in a tryce,\
The matter were to nyse,\
And @et there was no vyce,\
Nor @et no vyllany,
/But only fantasy;\
For this most goodly floure,\
Th[is] blossom of fressh coloure, +
^This] `The' editions^\
So $Jupiter me succoure,\
She floryssheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Iniquos %odio %habui!\
%Non %calumnientur %me %superbi.\
But whereto shulde I note\
How often dyd I tote\
Upon her prety fote?\
It raysed myne hert#rote\
To se her treade the grounde\
With heles short and rounde.\
She is playnly expresse\
$Egeria, the goddesse,\
And lyke to her image,\
Emportured with corage,\
A lovers pylgrimage.\
Ther is no beest savage,\
Ne no tyger so wood,\
But she wolde chaunge his mood,\
Such relucent grace
/Is formed in her face;\
For this most goodly floure,\
This blossome of fressh coloure,\
So $Jupiter me succour,\
She flouryssheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Mirabilia %testimonia %tua!\
%Sicut %novelle %plantationes %in %juventute %sua.\
<P 101>
So goodly as she dresses,\
So properly she presses\
The bryght golden tresses\
Of her heer so fyne,\
Lyke $Phebus beames shyne.\
Wherto shuld I disclose\
The garterynge of her hose?\
It is for to suppose\
How that she can were
/Gorgiously her gere;\
Her fresshe habylementes
/With other implementes\
To serve for all ententes,\
Lyke dame $Flora, quene\
Of lusty somer grene;\
For this most goodly floure, +
^For] not in Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
This blossom of fressh coloure,\
So $Jupiter me socoure,\
She florisheth new and new\
In beautye and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Clamavi %in %toto %corde, %exaudi %me!\
%Misericordia %tua %magna %est %super %me.\
Her kyrtell so goodly lased,\
And under that is brased\
Such pleasures that I may\
Neyther wryte nor say;\
{et though I wryte not with @nke,\
No man can let me thynke,\
For thought hath lyberte,\
Thought is franke and fre;\
To thynke a mery thought\
It cost me lytell nor nought. +
^nor] `or' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
Wolde $God myne homely style\
Were pullysshed with the fyle 
/Of $Ciceros eloquence, +
^pullysshed] `publysshed' }Kele 1545.2^\
To prase her excellence!\
For this most goodly floure, +
^For this] `The' }Kele 1545.2, Marshe 1568^\
This blossome of fressh coloure, +
^This] `Thus' }Kele 1545.2^\
So $Jupiter me succoure,\
<P 102>
She flouryssheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina,\
%Principes %persecuti %sunt %me %gratis!\
%Omnibus %consideratis,\
%Paradisus %voluptatis\
%Hec %virgo %est %dulcissima.\
My pen it is unable,\
My hand it is unstable,\
My reson rude and dull\
To prayse her at the full;\
Goodly maystres $Jane,
/Sobre, demure $Dyane;\
$Jane this maystres hyght,\
The lode#stare of delyght,\
Dame $Venus of all pleasure,\
The well of worldly treasure;\
She doth excede and pas
/In prudence dame $Pallas;\
[For] this most goodly floure, +
^For] not in }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, + 
Marshe 1568; this] `the' Wyght, Kitson, Marshe^\
This blossome of fresshe colour,\
So $Jupiter me socoure,\
She floryssheth new and new\
In beaute and vertew:\
%Hac %claritate %gemina\
%O %gloriosa %femina!\
%Requiem %eternam %dona %eis, %Domine!\
With this psalme, %Domine, %probasti %me,\
Shall sayle over the see,\
With, %Tibi, %Domine, %commendamus.\
On pylgrimage to Saynt $Jamys, +
^pilgrimage] `pilgrimages' Marshe 1568^\
For shrympes, and for pranys,\
And for stalkynge cranys; +
^stalkynge] `stalke' }Kele 1545.2^\
And where my pen hath offendyd,\
I pray @ou it may be amendyd\
By discrete consyderacyon\
Of @our wyse reformacyon;\
I have not offended, I trust,\
If it be sadly dyscust.\
<P 103>
It were no gentle gyse\
This treatyse to despyse\
Because I have wrytten and sayd\
Honour to this fayre mayd;\
Wherefore shulde I be blamed\
That I $Jane have named, +
^have] not in Marshe 1568^\
And famously proclamed?\
She is worthy to be enrolde\
With letters of golde.\
%Car %elle %vault.\
%Per %me %laurigerum %Britonum %Skeltonida %vatem\
%Laudibus %eximiis %merito %hec %redimita %puella %est:\
%Formosam %cecini, %qua %non %formosior %ulla %est;\
%Formosam %potius %quam %commendaret %Homerus.\
%Sic %juvat %interdum %rigidos %recreare %labores,\
%Nec %minus %hoc %titulo %tersa %Minerva %mea %est.\
%Rien %que %playsere.\
_
<L E>
Thus endeth the boke of Philip Sparow,\
<L R>
and her foloweth an addicyon made by Maister $Skelton.\=
<L 1268>
The gyse now#a#dayes
/Of some janglynge jayes\
Is to discommende
/That they cannot amend,\
Though they wold spend\
All the wyttes they have.\
What ayle them to deprave
/$Phillip Sparowes grave?\
His %Dirige, her commendacyon
/Can be no derogacyon,\
But myrth and consolacyon\
Made by protestacyon,\
No man to myscontent\
With $Phillyppes enterement.\
Alas, that goodly mayd,\
Why shuld she be afrayde?\
Why shuld she take shame\
That her goodly name,
/Honorably reported,\
Sholde be set and sorted,\
<P 104>
To be matriculate
/With ladyes of estate?\
I conjure the, $Phillip Sparow,\
By $Hercules that hell dyd harow,\
And with a venemous arow\
Slew of the $Epidaures\
One of the $Centaures,
/Or $Onocentaures,
/Or $Hipocentaures;\
By whose myght and mayne\
An hart was slayne
/With hornes twayne\
Of glytteryng gold;\
And the appels of gold
/Of $Hesperides withhold,\
And with a dragon kept\
That never more slept,\
By marcyall strength
/He wan at length;\
And slew $Gerion
/With thre bodyes in one;\
With myghty corage 
/A[d]aunted the rage 
/Of a lyon savage; +
^Adaunted] `Auaunted' editions^\
Of $Dyomedes stable
/He brought out a rable\
Of coursers and rounses\
With leapes and bounses;\
And with myghty luggyng,\
Wrestlyng and tuggyng,\
He plucked the bull
/By the horned skull,\
And offred to $Cornucopia\
And so forth %per %cetera;\
Also by $Ecates bower\
In $Plut[o]s gastly tower; +
^Plutos] `Plutus' editions^\
By the ugly $Eumenides,\
That never have rest nor ease;\
By the venemous serpent,\
That in hell is never brent,\
<P 105>
In $Lerna the Grekes fen,\
That was engendred then;\
By $Chemeras flames,
/And all the dedly names\
Of infernall posty 
/Where soules frye and rousty; +
^rousty] `rosty' Marshe 1568^\
By the Stygyall flood,\
And the streames wood\
Of $Cocitus botumles well;\
By the feryman of hell,\
$Caron with his beerd hore,\
That roweth with a rude ore\
And with his [frownsid] fore#top +
^frownsid] not in }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6,  +
Marshe 1568^\
Gydeth his bote with a prope;\
I conjure, $Phylyp, and call\
In the name of Kyng $Saul;\
%Primo %Regum expresse,\
He [b]ad the $Phitonesse +
^bad] `had' }Kele 1545.2, Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, +
Marshe 1568^\
To wytchcraft her to dresse,\
And by her abusyons,\
And dampnable illusyons\
Of marveylus conclusyons,\
And by her supersticyons,\
And wonderfull condityons,\
She raysed up in that stede\
$Samuell that was dede;\
But whether it were so,\
He were %idem %in %numero,\
The selfe#same $Samuell,\
How#be#it to $Saull dyd he tell\
The $Philistinis shuld hym ascry,\
And the next day he shuld dye,\
I wyll my#selfe dyscharge\
To lettred men at large:\
But $Phylyp, I conjure the\
Now by these names thre,\
$Diana in the woodes grene,\
$Luna that so bryght doth shyne,\
$Procerpina in hell,\
That thou shortly tell,\
<P 106>
And shew now unto me\
What the cause may be
/Of this perplexite!\
%Inferias, %Philippe, %tuas %Scroupe %pulchra %Joanna\
%Instanter %petiit: %cur %nostri %carminis %illam\
%Nunc %pudet? %Est %sero; %minor %est %infamia %vero.\
Than suche as have disdayned\
And of this worke complayned,\
I pray $God they be payned\
No worse than is contayned\
In verses two or thre\
That folowe as @ou may se. +
^you] `ye' Wyght 1553, Kitson 1560.6, Marshe 1568^\
%Luride, %cur, %livor, %volucris %pia %funera %damnas?\
%Talia %te %rapiant %rapiunt %que %fata %volucrem!\
%Est %tamen %invidia %mors %tibi %continua.\
<T Epitaphe1>
~Epitaphe\|+
<L I>
This tretise devysed it is\
<L I>
Of two knaves somtyme of $Dis.\
<L I>
Though this knaves be deade,\
<L I>
Full of myschiefe and queed,\
<L I>
{et, where#so#ever they ly\
<L I>
Theyr names shall never dye.\
<L I>
%Compendium %de %duobus %versipellibus,\ 
<L I>
$John $Jayberd %et $Adam all#a#knave,\ 
<L I>
%deque %illorum %notissima %vilitate.\
_
<L I>
A DEVOUTE TRENTALE FOR OLD $JOHN $CLARKE,\
<L I>
SOMETYME THE HOLY PATRIARKE OF $DIS.\=
<L 1>
%Sequitur %trigentale\
%Tale %quale %rationale,\
%Licet %parum %curiale,\
%Tamen %satis %est %formale,\
%Ioannis %Clerc, %hominis\
%Cuiusdam %multinominis,\
<P 107>
%Ioannes $Jayberd %qui %vocatur,\
%Clerc %cleribus %nuncupatur.\
%Obiit %sanctus %iste %pater\
%Anno %domini %M.D. %sexto.\
%In %parochia %de %Dis\
%Non %erat %sibi %similis;\
%In %malicia %vir %insignis,\
%Duplex %corde %et %bilinguis,\
%Senio %confectus,\
%Omnibus %suspectus,\
%Nemini %dilectus.\
%Sepultus %est amonge the wedes;\
$God forgeve hym his mysdedes.\
<L 19a>
%Dulce %melos\
<L 19b>
%Penetrans %celos.\
<L 20>
%Carmina %cum %cannis\
%Cantemus %festa, %Ioannis\
%Clerke %obiit %vere,\
$Jayberde %nomenquae %dedere;\
%Dis %populo %natus,\
%Clerke %cleribus %estquae %vocatus.\
%Hic %vir %Caldeus,\
%Nequam %vir %ceu %Iebuseus,\
%In %Christum %domini\
%Fremuit %de %more %cameli,\
%Rectori %proprio\
%Tam %verba %retorta %loquendo\
%Unde %resultando -\
%Quae %Acheronta %boando %tonaret.\
%Nunquam %sincere\
%Solitus %sua %crimina %flere;\
%Cui %male %lingua %loquax -\
%Quae %dicax %mendaxquae %fuere,\
%Et %mores %tales\
%Resident %in %nemine %quales;\
%Carpens %vitales\
%Auras, %turbare %sodales\
%Et %cives %socios,\
%Asinus, %mulus %velut, %et %bos.\
%Omne %suum %studium\
<P 108>
%Rubium %pictum %per %amictum\
%Discolor; %et %victum\
%Faciens %semper %maledictum\
%Ex %intestinis %ovium -\
%Quae %boumquae %caprorum;\
<L 50>
%Tendens %adquae %forum,\
%Fragmentum %colligit %horum,\
%Dentibus %exemptis\
%Mastigat %cumquae %polentis\
%Lanigerum %caput %aut %ovis\
%Aut %vacce %mugientis.\
%Quid %petis, %hic %sit %quis?\
$John $Jayberd, %incola %de %Dis;\
%Cui, %dum %vixerat %is,\
%Sociantur %iurgia, %vis, %lis.\
<L 60>
%Iam %iacet %hic starke deed,\
Never a toth in his heed.\
Adieu, $Jayberd, adue.
/I faith, dikkon, thou crue!\
%Fratres, %orate,
/For this knavate,\
By the holy rode,\
Dyd never man good.\
I pray @ou all,\
And pray shall,
/At this trentall\
On knees to fall
/To the foteball;\
With, `Fill the blak bowle
/For $Jayberdes sowle.'\
%Bibite %multum:\
%Ecce %sepultum\
%Sub %pede %stultum\
%Asinum %et %mulum!\
The devill kis his %culum!\
Wit[h], `Hey, howe, rumbelowe,' 
/Rumpopulorum, +
^With] `Wit' Marshe 1568^\
%Per %omnia %secula %seculorum.\
%Amen.\
<P 109>
%Requiem %&c\
%Per %Fredericum %Hely\
%Fratrem %de %Monte %Carmeli,\
%Qui %condunt %sine %sale\
%Hoc %devotum %trigintale.\
%Vale, $Jayberd, %valde %male!\
~% Finis.\|+
<T Epitaphe2>
_
<L I>
$ADAM $UDDERSALE, %ALIAS %DICTUS $ADAM ALL#A#KNAVE,\
<L I>
HIS EPITAPH FOLOWETH DEVOUTLY;\
<L I>
HE WAS SOMTIME THE HOLY BAILLYVE OF $DIS.\=
<L 1>
Of $Dis %Adam %degebat:\
%Dum %vixit, %falsa %gerebat,\
%Namquae %extorquebat\
%Quicquid %nativus %habebat,\
%Aut %liber %natus; %rapidus\
%Lupus %inde %vocatus:\
%Ecclesiamquae %satus\
%De %Belial %iste %Pilatus\
%Sub %pede %calcatus\
%Violavit %nunc %violatus:\
%Perfidus, %iratus,\
%Numquam %fuit %ille %beatus:\
$Uddersall %stratus\
%Benedictis %est %spoliatus,\
%Improbus, %inflatus,\
%Maledictis %iam %laceratus:\
%Dis, %tibi %baccatus\
%Ballivus %predominatus:\
%Hic %fuit %ingratus,\
%Porcus %velut %insaciatus,\
%Pinguis, %crassatus;\
%Velut %Aggag %sit %reprobatus!\
%Crudelisquae %Cacus\
%Baratro, %peto, %sit %tumulatus!\
$Belsabub his soule save,\
%Qui %iacet %hic, like a knave!\
%Iam %scio %mortuus %est,\
%Et %iacet %hic, like a best!\
<P 110>
%Anima %eius\
%De %male %in %peius.\
%Amen.\
~%De %Dis %hec %semper %erit %camena,\
`$Adam $Uddersall %sit %anathema.'\
%Auctore $Skelton, %rectore %de %Dis.\
%Finis %&c. %Apud %Trumpinton %scriptum %per %curatum %eiusdem\
%quinto %die %Ianuarii, %Anno %domini %secundum %computationem\
%Anglie. %M.D. %vij.\
$Adam, $Adam %ubi %es? $Genesis. %Re. %Ubi %nulla %requies, %ubi %nullus\
%ordo, %sed %sempiternus %horror %inhabitat. $Job.\
%Finis.\|+
<T Lawde>
_
<L I>
A Lawde And Prayse Made for Our Sovereigne Lord the Kyng\=
<L 1>
The rose both white and rede\
In one rose now dothe grow;\
Thus thorow every stede\
Thereof the fame dothe blow,\
Grace the sede did sow.\
$England, now gaddir flowris,\
Exclude now all dolowrs.\
Noble $Henry the eight,\
Thy loving sovereine lorde,\
Of kingis line moost streight,\
His titille dothe recorde;\
In whome dothe wele acorde\
$Alexis @onge of age,\
$Adrastus wise and sage.\
$Astrea, justice hight,\
That from the starry sky\
Shall now com and do right,\
<P 111>
This hunderd @ere scantly\
A man kowd not aspy\
That right dwelt us among,\
And that was the more wrong.\
Right shall the foxis chare,\
The wolvis, the beris also,\
That wrowght have moche care,\
And browght $Englond in wo;\
They shall wirry no mo,\
Nor wrote the rosary\
By extort trechery.\
Of this our noble king\
The law they shall not breke;\
They shall com to rekening,\
No man for them wil speke.\
The pepil durst not creke\
Theire grevis to complaine;\
They browght them in soche paine.\
Therfor no more they shall\
The commouns overbace,\
That wont wer over all\
Both lorde and knight to face;\
For now the @eris of grace\
And welthe ar com agayne,\
That maketh $England faine.\
$Adonis of freshe colour,\
Of @owthe the godely flour,\
Our prince of hih honour,\
Our paves, our succour,\
Our king, our emperour,\
Our $Priamus of $Troy,\
Our welth, our worldly joy,\
<L 50>
Upon us he doth reigne\
That makith our hartis glad,\
As king moost sovereine\
That ever $Englond had;\
Demure, sober and sad,\
<P 112>
And $Martis lusty knight;\
$God save him in his right!
/Amen\
~%Bien %men %sovient\
%Deo (21) %gracias\
%Per %me %laurigerum %Britonum %Skeltonida %vatem\|+
<T Calliop>
_
<L I>
Why were @e $Calliope, embrawdred with letters of golde?\
<L I>
$Skelton Laureate, %Orator %Regius, maketh this aunswere %&c.\=
<L 1>
$Calliope,
/As @e may se,\
Regent is she,
/Of poetes al,\
Whiche gave to me
/The high degre\
Laureat to be
/Of fame royall;\
Whose name enrolde
/With silke and golde\
I dare be bolde
/Thus for to were.\
Of her I holde
/And her housholde;\
Though I waxe olde
/And somdele sere,\
{et is she fayne,
/Voyde of disdayn,\
Me to retayne
/Her serviture.\
With her certayne
/I wyll remayne\
<P 113>
As my soverayne
/Moost of pleasure.\
~%Maulgre %touz %malheureux.\
%Latinum %carmen %sequitur.\
%Cur %tibi %contexta %est %aurea %Calliope?\
%Responsio %eiusdem %vatis.\
%Candida %Calliope, %vatum %regina, %coronans\
%Pierios %lauro, %radiante %intexta %sub %auro!\
%Hanc %ego %Pierius %Pierius %tanto %dignabor %honore,\
%Dum %mihi %vita %manet, %dum %spiritus %hos %regit %artus:\
%Quamquam %conficior %senio %marcescoque %sensim,\
%Ipse %tamen %gestare %sua %haec %pia %pignora %certo,\
%Assensuque %suo %placidis %parebo %camenis.\
%Inclita %Calliope, %et %semper %mea %maxima %cura %est.\
 %Haec %Pierius %omni %Spartano %liberior.\
%Calliope, %musarum %excellentissima, %speciosissima, %formosissima,\
%heroicis %preest %versibus.\|+
<T Scot Kynge>
_
<L I>
A Ballade of the Scottysshe Kynge\=
<L 1>
Kynge $Jamy, $Jomy @our joye is all go.\
{e summoned our kynge. Why dyde @e so?\
To @ou no thyng it dyde accorde\
To sommon our kynge @our soverayne lorde.\
A kynge a somner it is wonder;\
Knowe @e not salte and suger asonder?\
In @our somnynge @e were to malaperte,\
And @our harolde no thynge experte;\
{e thought @e dyde it full valyauntolye,\
But not worth thre skyppes of a pye.\
Syr squyer-galyarde @e were to swyfte;\
{our wyll renne before @our wytte.\
To be so scornefull to @our alye\
{our counseyle was not worth a flye.\
<P 114>
Before the Frensshe kynge, Danes and other\
{e ought to honour @our lorde and brother.\
Trowe @e, Syr $James, his noble grace\
For @ou and @our Scottes wolde tourne his face?\
Now @e proude Scottes of $Gelawaye\
For @our kynge may synge welawaye.\
Now must @e knowe our kynge for @our regent,\
{our soverayne lorde and presedent.\
In hym is figured $Melchisedeche,\
And @e be desolate as $Armeleche.\
He is our noble champyon,\
A kynge anoynted, and @e be non.\
Thrugh @our counseyle @our fader was slayne;\
Wherfore I fere @e wyll suffre payne.\
And @e proude Scottes of $Dunbar,\
Parde @e be his homager\
And suters to his parlyment.\
{e dyde not @our dewty therin,\
Wyerfore @e may it now repent.\
{e bere @ourselfe somwhat to bolde,\
Therfore @e have lost @our copyholde.\
{e be bounde#tenauntes to his estate;\
Gyve up @our game, @e playe chek#mate;\
For to the castell of $Norham\
I understonde to soone @e cam,\
For a prysoner there now @e be\
Eyther to the devyll or the trinite.\
Thanked be saynte $Gorge, our ladyes knythe,\
{our pryd is paste, adwe, good nycht.\
{e have determyned to make a fraye,\
Our kynge than beynge out of the waye;\
But by the power and myght of $God\
{e were beten weth @our owne rod.\
By @our wanton wyll, syr, at a worde,\
{e have loste spores, cote#armure and sworde.\
<L 50>
{e had be better to have busked to $Huntley Bankes, +
^be] `bet' }Fakes 1513^\
Than in $Englonde to playe ony suche prankes;\
But @e had some wyl[d] sede to sowe, +
^wyld] `wyle' }Fakes 1513^\
Therfore @e be layde now full lowe.\
{our power coude no lenger attayne\
Warre with our kynge to meyntayne.\
<P 115>
Of the kynge of $Naverne @e may take hede\
How unfortunately he doth now spede;\
In double w[a]lles now he dooth dreme. +
^walles] `welles' }Fakes 1513^\
That is a kynge without a realme.\
At hym example @e wolde none take;\
Experyence hath brought @ou in the same brake.\
Of the out#yles @e rough#foted Scottes\
We have well eased @ou of the bottes.\
{e rowe ranke Scottes and dronken Danes\
Of our Englysshe bowes @e have fette @our banes.\
It is not syttynge in tour nor towne\
A somner to were a kynges crowne.\
That noble erle, the Whyte Lyon,\
{our pompe and pryde hath layde a downe.\
His sone the lorde admyrall is full good,\
His swerde hath bathed in the Scottes blode.\
$God save kynge $Henry and his lordes all\
And sende the Frensshe kynge suche another fall.\
_
<L E>
Amen, for saynt charyte\
<L E>
and $God save noble Kynge $Henry the %viij.\=
<T Ag Scottes>
_
<L I>
$Skelton laureate Agaynst The Scottes\=
<L 1>
Agaynst the prowde Scottys claterynge,\
That never wyll leve theyr tratlynge:\
Wan they the felde and lost theyr kynge?\
They may well say, fye on that wynnynge!\
Lo, these fond sottes
/And tratlyng Skottys,\
How they are blynde
/In theyr owne mynde,\
And wyll not know
/Theyr overthrow
/At $Branxton More?\
They are so stowre,
/So frantyke mad,\
<P 116>
They say they had
/And wan the felde
/With spere and shelde!\
That is as trew
/As blacke is blew
/And grene is gray.\
What#ever they say,
/$Jemmy is ded
/And closyd in led,\
That was theyr owne kynge.
/Fy on that wynnyng!\
At $Floddon hyllys,
/Our bowys, our byllys\
Slew all the floure
/Of theyr honoure.\
Are nat these Scottys
/Folys and sottys,\
Such boste to make,
/To prate and crake,\
To face, to brace,
/All voyde of grace,\
So prowde of hart,
/So overthwart,\
So out of frame,
/So voyde of shame,\
As it is enrolde,
/Wrytten and tolde\
Within this quaire?
/Who lyst repayre +
^lyst] `lyst to' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
And therein reed
/Shall fynde indeed\
A mad rekenynge,
/Consydrynge all thynge,\
That the Scottys may synge, 
/`Fy on the wynnynge!' +
^synge] `sin' Marshe 1568^\
_
<L R>
When the Scotte lyved\=
<L 49>
Joly $Jemmy, @e scornefull Scot,\
Is it come unto @our lot\
A solempne sumner for to be?\
It greyth nought for @our degre\
<P 117>
Our kynge of $England for to syght, +
^syght] `fight' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
{our soverayne lord, our prynce of myght.\
{e for to sende suche a cytacyon,\
It shameth all @our noughty nacyon,\
In comparyson but kynge $Koppynge\
Unto our prince, anoynted kyng.\
{e play $Hop#Lobbyn of $Lowdean;\
{e shew ryght well what good @e can;\
{e may be lorde of $Locryan -\
$Chryst sence @ou with a fryinge#pan! - +
^sence] `fence' }Lant 1545^\
Of $Edyngeborrow and Saynt $Jonys towne.\
Adieu, syr sumner, cast of @our crowne!\
_
<L R>
When the Scot was slayne\=
<L 65>
Contynually I shall remember\
The mery moneth of $September,\
With the %ix day of the same,\
For then began our myrth and game.\
So that now I have devysed,\
And in my mynde I have comprised,\
Of the prowde Scot, kynge $Jemmy,\
To write some lytell tragedy,\
For no maner consyderacyon\
Of any sorowfull lamentacyon,\
But for the specyall consolacyon\
Of all our royall Englysh nacyon.\
$Melpomone, O muse tragedyall,\
Unto @our grace for grace now I call,\
To guyde my pen and my pen to enbybe!\
Illumyn me, @our poete and @our scrybe,\
That with myxture of aloes and bytter gall\
I may compounde confectures for a cordyall,\
To angre the Scottes and Irysh keterynges withall,\
That late were discomfect with battayle marcyall.\
$Thalya, my muse, for @ou also call I,\
To touche them with tauntes of @our armony,\
A medley to make of myrth with sadnes,\
The hertes of $England to comfort with gladnes.\
And now to begyn I wyll me adres,\
To @ou rehersyng the somme of my proces.\
<P 118>
King $Jamy, $Jemmy, $Jocky my jo, +
^jo] `joye' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
{e summond our kyng, why dyd @e so? +
^ye] not in Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
To @ou nothing it dyd accorde\
To summon our kyng, @our soveraygne lorde.\
A kyng, a sumner! It was great wonder:\
Know @e not suger and salt asonder?\
{our sumner to saucy, to malapert;\
{our harrold in armes not @et halfe expert.\
{e thought @e dyd @et valyauntly;\
<L 100>
Not worth thre skyppes of a pye.\
Syr skyrgalyard, @e were so skyt,\
{our wyll than ran before @our wyt.\
{our lege @e layd and @our aly,\
{our frantyck fable not worth a fly,\
Frenche kyng, or one or other;\
Regardyd @e shuld @our lord, @our brother. +
^ye] `you' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Trowyd @e, Syr $Jemy, his nobull grace\
From @ou, Syr Scot, wolde turne his face?\
With, `Gup, Syr Scot of $Galaway!'\
Now is @our pryde fall to decay.\
Male#uryd was @our fals entent\
For to offend @our presydent,\
{our soveraygne lorde most reverent,\
{our lorde, @our brother, and @our regent.\
In him is fygured $Melchisedec,\
And @e were disloyall $Amalec.\
He is our noble $Scipione;\
Anoynted kyng, and @e were none.\
Though @e untruly @our father have slayne,\
His tytle is true in $Fraunce to raygne;\
And @e, proud Scot, $Dunde, $Dunbar\
Pardy, @e were his homager,\
And suter to his parlyament.\
For @our untruth now ar @e shent.\
{e bare @ourselfe somwhat to bold;\
Therfore @e lost @our copyehold.\
{e were bonde#tenent to his estate;\
Lost is @our game, @e are checkmate.\
Unto the castell of $Norram,\
I understand, to sone @e came.\
<P 119>
At $Branxton More and $Flodden hylles,\
Our Englysh bowes, our Englysh bylles,\
Agaynst @ou gave so sharpe a shower,\
That of $Scotland @e lost the flower.\
The White Lyon, there rampaunt of moode,\
He ragyd and rent out @our hart#bloode;\
He the White, and @e the Red, +
^ye] `you' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
The White there slew the Red starke ded.\
Thus for @our guerdon quyt ar @e,\
Thankyd be $God in trinyte,\
And swete Saynt $George, our ladyes knyght!\
{oure eye is out; adew, good nyght!\
{e were starke mad to make a fray,\
His grace beyng out of the way;\
But, by the power and myght of $God,\
For @oure owne tayle @e made a rod. +
^owne] not in Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
{e wantyd wyt, sir, at a worde;\
{e lost @our spurrys, @e lost @ou sworde.\
{e myght have buskyd @ou to $Huntley Bankys;\
{our pryde was pevysh to play such prankys:\
{oure poverte cowde not attayne\
With our kyng royall war to mayntayne.\
Of the kynge of $Naverne @e might take heed,\
Ungraciously how he doth speed.\
In double#delyng so he dyd dreme, +
^In] `An' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
That he is kyng without a reme;\
And, for example [@]e wold none take, +
^ye] `he' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
Experiens hath brought @ou in such a brake.\
{our welth, @our joy, @our sport, @our play,\
{our braggyng bost, @our royall aray,\
{our beard so brym as bore at bay,\
{our Seven Systers, that gun so gay,\
All have @e lost and cast away.\
Thus fortune hath tourned @ou, I dare well say,\
Now from a kyng to a clot of clay.\
Out of @our robes @e were shaked, +
^your] not in Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
And wretchedly @e lay starke naked. +
^starke naked] `starke @our naked' Kynge & Marche 1554, # +
Day 1560, `starke all naked' Marshe 1568^\
For lacke of grace hard was @our hap;\
The Popes cur[se] gave @ou that clap. +
^curse] `cures' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
<P 120>
 Of the out iles the rough-foted Scottes,\
We have well eased them of the bottes.\
The rude ranke Scottes, lyke dronken dranes,\
At Englysh bowes have fetched their banes.\
It is not syttyng in tower and towne +
^syttyng] `fytting' Kynge & Marche 1554^\
A sumner to were a kynges crowne.\
Fortune on @ou therfore dyd frowne;\
{e were to hye, @e ar cast downe.\
Syr sumner, now where is @our crowne?\
Cast of @our crowne, cast up @our crowne!\
Syr sumner, now @e have lost @our crowne.\
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton laureate,\
<L E>
oratour to the kynges most royall estate.\
<L E>
%Scotia, %redacta %in %formam %provincie,\
<L E>
%Regis %parebit %nutibus %Anglie:\
<L E>
%Alioquin, %per %desertum %Sin, %super %cherubim,\
<L E>
%Cherubin, %seraphim, %seraphinque, %ergo %etc.\
<L R>
UNTO DYVERS PEOPLE THAT REMORD THIS RYMYNG\
<L R>
AGAYNST THE SCOT $JEMMY\=
<T Ag Scottes2>
<L 1>
I am now constrayned,
/With wordes nothing fayned,\
This invectyve to make
/For some peoples sake\
That lyst for to jangyll
/And waywardly to wrangyll\
Agaynst this my makyng,
/Their males therat shakyng,\
As it reprehendyng,
/And venemously stingyng,\
Rebukyng and remordyng,
/And nothing accordyng.\
Cause have they none other 
/But for that he was brother, +
^have they] `they have' Day 1560, Marshe 1568 +
brother] `hys brother' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Brother unnaturall 
/Unto our kyng royall,\
Agaynst whom he dyd fyght
/Falsly agaynst all right,\
<P 121>
Lyke that untrue rebell
/Fals $Kayn agaynst $Abell.\
Who#so therat pyketh mood, +
^whoso] `but who so' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
The tokens ar not good
/To be true Englysh blood;\
For, if they understood
/His traytourly dispyght,\
He was a recrayed knyght,\
A subtyll sysmatyke,
/Ryght nere an heretyke,\
Of grace out of the state
/And dyed excomunycate.\
 And for he was a kyng,
/The more shamefull rekenyng\
Of him shuld men report,\
In ernest and in sport.\
He skantly loveth our kyng,
/That grudgeth at this thing:\
That cast such overthwartes
/Percase have hollow hartes.\
~%Si %veritatem %dico, %quare %non %creditis %michi?\|+
<T Garnesche1>
~Agenst $Garnesche|+
_
<L I>
$Skelton Lauriate Defender Agenst Master $Garnesche Chalenger,\
<L I>
%et %cetera\=
<L 1>
Sithe @e have me chalyngyd, Master $Garnesche,\
Rudely revilyng me in the kynges noble hall,\
Soche an#odyr chalyngyr cowde me no man wysch,\
But @f @t war Syr $Tyrmagant that tyrnyd without nall;\
For Syr $Frollo de $Franko was never halfe so talle.\
But sey me now, Syr $Satrapas, what autoryte @e have\
In @our chalenge, Syr $Chystyn, to cale me knave?\
What, have @e kythyd @ow a knyght, Syr $Dugles the dowty,\
So curryshly to beknave me in the kynges place?\
<P 122>
{e stronge sturdy stalyon, so sterne and stowty,\
{e bere @ow bolde as $Barabas, or Syr $Terry of $Trac[e].\
^Trace] `Tracy' }MS Harley 367^\
{e gyrne grymly with @our gomys and with @or grysly face.\
But sey me @et, Syr $Satropas, what auctoryte @e have\
In @or chalenge, Syr $Chesten, to calle me a knave?\
{e fowle, fers and felle, as Syr $Ferumbras the ffreke,\
Syr capten of $Catywade, catacumbas of $Cayre,\
Thow @e be lusty as Syr $Lybyus, launces to breke,\
{et @our contenons oncomly, @or face @s nat fayer.\
For alle @our proude prankyng, @or pride may apayere.\
But sey me @et, Syr $Satrapas, wat auctoryte @e have\
In @or chalenge, Syr $Chesten, to cal me a knave?\
Of $Mantryble the $Bryge, $Malchus the $Murryon,\
Nor blake $Baltazar with hys basnet routh as a bere,\
Nor $Lycon, that lothly luske, in myn opynyon,\
Nor no bore so brymly brystlyd @s with here,\
As @e ar brystlyd on the bake for alle @our gay gere.\
But sey me @et, Syr $Satrapas, what auctoryte @e have\
In @or chalenge, Syr $Chesten, to calle me a knave?\
{or wynde-schakyn shankkes, @or longe *lothy legges, +
^*lothy] `lothly' Scattergood^\
Crokyd as a camoke, and as a kowe calfles,\
Bryngges @ow out of favyr with alle femall teggys:\
That mastres $Punt put @ow of, @t was nat alle causeles;\
At $Orwelle hyr havyn @our anggre was laules.\
But sey me @et, Syr $Satrapas, what auctoryte @e have\
In @or chalenge, Syr $Chesten, to calle me a knave?\
I sey, @e solem $Sarson, alle blake @s @or ble;\
As a glede glowynge, @our ien glyster as glasse,\
Rowlynge in @ower holow hede, ugly to see;\
{our tethe teintyd with tawny; @our semely snowte doth passe,\
Howkyd as an hawkys beke, lyke Syr $Topyas.\
Boldly bend @ou to batell, and buske @our#selfe to save.\
Chalenge @or#selfe for a fole, call me no more knave.\
_
<L E>
Be the kynges most noble commandement.\=
<T Garnesche2>
_
<L I>
$Skelton Lauryate Defender Agenst Master $Garnesche Chalangar,\
<L I>
with Gresy, Gorbelyd $Godfrey %et %cetera\=
<P 123>
<L 1>
How may I @our mokery mekely tollerate,\
[{our] gronynge, @or grontynge, @or groinynge lyke a swyne?\
[{our] pride @s alle to peviche, @our porte importunate;\
{ou mantyca[re], @e maltaperte, @e can bothe wins and whyne; # +
^mantycare] `mantyca' }MS Harley 367^\
{our lothesum lere to loke on, lyke a gresyd bote dothe schyne.\
{e cappyd $Cayface copious, @our paltoke on @our pate,\
Thow @e prate lyke prowde $Pylate, beware @et of chek#mate.\
Hole @s @our brow that @e brake with $Deu[ra]ndall @our awne sworde; +
^Deurandall] Deundall }MS Harley 367^\
Why holde @e on @er cap, syr, then? {or pardone @s expyryd.\
{e hobble very homly before the kynges borde;\
{e countyr umwhyle to capcyously, and ar @e be dysiryd;\
{or moth#etyn mokkysh maneres, they be all to-myryd.\
{e cappyd $Cayface copyous, @our paltoke on @our pate,\
Thow @e prate lyke prowde $Pylate, beware of cheke#mate.\
O $Gabionyte of $Gabyone, why do @e gane and gaspe?\
Huf, a galante, $Garnesche, loke on @our comly cors!\
Lusty $Garnysche, lyke a lowse, @e jet full lyke a jaspe;\
As wytles as a wylde goos, @e have but small remorrs\
Me for to chalenge that of @our chalennge makyth so lytyll fors.\
{e capyd $Cayfas copyous, @our paltoke on @our pate,\
Tho @e prate lyke prowde $Pylate, beware of cheke#mate.\
Syr $Gy, Syr $Gawen, Syr $Cayus, for and Syr $Olyvere,\
$Pyramus, nor $Priamus, nor Syr $Pyrrus the prowde,\
In $Arturys auncyent actys nowhere @s provyd @our pere;\
The facyoun of @our fysnamy the devyl in a clowde;\
{our harte @s to hawte, iwys, @t wyll nat be alowde.\
{e capyd $Cayfas copyus, @our paltoke on @our pate,\
Thow @e prate lyke prowde $Pylate, beware of cheke#mate.\
{e grounde @ow upon $Godfrey, that grysly gargons face,\
{our stondarde, Syr $Olifranke, agenst me for to splay;\
Baile, baile at @ow bothe, frantyke folys! Follow on the chase!\
Cum $Garnyche, cum $Godfrey, with as many as @e may!\
I advyse @ow beware of thys war, rannge @ow in aray.\
{e cappyd $Cayfas copyous, @our paltoke on @our pate,\
Thow @e prate lyke prowde $Pylate, beware of cheke#mate.\
Gup, gorbellyd $Godfrey, gup, $Garnysche, gaudy fole!\
To turney or to tante with me @e ar to fare to seke.\
<P 124>
For thes twayne whypslovens calle for a coke#stole.\
Thow mantycore, @e marmset, garnyshte lyke a Greke,\
Wranglynge, waywyrde, wytles, wraw, and nothyng meke.\
{e cappyd $Cayfas copyous, @our paltoke on @our pate,\
Thow @e prate lyke prowde $Pylate, beware of cheke#mate.\
_
<L E>
%Mirres %vous %y,
<L E>
/Loke nat to hy.\
<L E>
By the kynges most noble commaundment.\=
<T Garnesche3>
_
<L I>
$Skelton Lawryate Defender Agenyst Lusty $Garnyche\
<L I>
Welle Be Seyn $Crysteovyr $Chalannger, %et %cetera\=
<L 1>
I have @our lewde letter receyvyd,\
And well I have @t perseyved,\
And @our skrybe I have aspyed,\
That @our mad mynde contryved.\
Savynge @our usscheres rod,\
I caste me nat to be od\
With neythyr of @ow tewyne:\
Wherfore I wryght ageyne\
How the favyr of @our face\
Is voyd of all good grace;\
For alle @our carpet cousshons\
{e have knavyche condycyonns.\
Gup, marmeset, jast @e morelle!\
I am laureat, I am no lorell.\
Lewdely @our tyme @e spende,\
My lyvyng to reprehende;\
And wyll never intende\
{our awne lewdnes to amende.\
{our Englysche lew[d]ly @e sorte, +
^lewdly] `lewly' }MS Harley 367^\
And falsly @e me reporte.\
$Garnyche, @e gape to wyde:\
{ower knavery I wyll nat hyde,\
For to aswage @our pride.\
Whan @e war @onger of age\
{e war a kechyn#page,
/A dyshwasher, a dryvyll,\
In the pott @our nose dedde snevyll;\
<P 125>
{e fryed and @e broylyd,\
{e rostyd and @e boylyd,\
{e rostyd, lyke a fonne,\
A gose with the fete upon;\
{e slufferd up sowse\
In my lady $Brewsys howse.\
Wherto xulde I wryght\
Of soche a gresy knyght?\
A bawdy dyscheclowte,
/That bryngyth the worlde abowte\
With haftynge and with polleynge,\
With lyenge and controlleynge.\
At $Gynys when @e ware
/But a slendyr spere,\
Dekkyd lewdly in @our gere,\
For when @e dwelt there,\
{e had a knavysche cote\
Was skantly worthe a grote;\
In dud frese @e war schrynyd,\
With better frese lynyd;\
The outesyde every day,\
{e myght no better a way;\
The insyde @e ded calle\
{our beste gowne festyvalle.\
{our drapry @e ded wante\
The warde with @ow was skante.\
When @e kyst a shepys#ie,\
..........mastres $Audelby,\
..........gynys upon a gonge,\
..........sat sumwhat to longe;\
..........hyr husbandes hed,\
..........malle of lede,\
..........that @e ther prechyd,\
To hyr love @e nowte rechyd.\
{e wolde have bassyd hyr bumme,\
So that sche wolde have kum\
On to @our lowsy den;\
But sche of all men\
Had @ow most in despyght;\
{e loste hyr favyr quyt!\
{our pyllyd garleke#hed\
<P 126>
Cowde hocupy ther no stede.\
She callyd @ow Syr $Gy of $Gaunt,\
Nosyd lyke an olyfaunt,\
A pykes or a twybyll;\
Sche seyd how @e ded brydell,\
Moche lyke a dromadary;\
Thus with @ow sche ded wary,\
With moche mater more\
That I kepe in store.\
{our brethe @s stronge and quike;\
{e ar an eldyr#steke;\
{e wot what I thynke;\
At bothe endes @e stynke;\
Gret daunger for the kynge,\
Whan hys grace @s fastynge,\
Hys presens to aproche;\
{t @s to @our reproche.\
{t fallyth for no swyne\
Nor sowtters to drynke wyne,\
Nor seche a nody#polle\
A pryste for to controlle.\
Lytyll wyt in @our scrybys nolle\
That scrybblyd @our fonde scrolle,\
Upon hym for to take\
Agennst me for to make,\
Lyke a doctor dawpate,\
A lauryate poyete for to rate.\
{ower termys ar to grose,\
To far from the porpose,\
To contaminate
/And to violate
<L 100>
/The dygnyte lauryate.\
Bolde bayarde, @e are to blynde,\
And grow all oute of kynde,\
To occupy so @our mynde;\
For reson can I non fynde\
Nor good ryme in @ower mater.\
I wondyr that @e smatyr,\
So for a knave to clatyr;\
<P 127>
{e wolde be callyd a maker,\
And make moche lyke $Jake $Rakar;\
{e ar a comly crakar,\
{e lernyd of sum py-bakar.\
Caste up @our curyows wrytyng,\
And @our dyrty endytyng,\
And @our spyghtfull despyghtyng,\
For alle @s nat worthe a myteyng,\
A makerell nor a wyteyng:\
Had @e gonne with me to scole,\
And occupyed no better @our tole,\
{e xulde have kowththyd me a fole.\
But now, gawdy, gresy $Garnesche,\
{our face I wyse to varnyshe\
So suerly @t xall nat tarnishe.\
Thow a Sarsens hed @e bere,\
Row and full of lowsy here,\
As hevery man wele seethe,\
Ful of greet knavys tethe,\
In a felde of grene peson\
{e ryme @et owte of reson;\
{our wyt @s so geson,\
{e rayle all out of seson.\
{our skyn scabbyd and scurvy,\
Tawny, tannyd, and shurvy;\
Now upon thys hete
/Rankely whan @e swete,\
Men sey @e wyll wax lowsy,
/Drunkyn, drowpy, drowsy.\
{our sworde @e swere, I wene,\
So tranchaunt and so kene,\
Xall kyt both wyght and grene:\
{our foly @s to grett\
The kynges colours to threte.\
{our brethe @t @s so felle\
And so puauntely dothe smelle\
And so haynnously doth stynke,\
That naythyr pump nor synke\
Dothe savyr halfe so souer\
Ageynst a stormy shouer.\
<P 128>
Of ladies of bryght colour,\
Of bewte that beryth the flower,\
When $Garnyche cummyth @ow amonge\
With hys brethe so stronge,\
Withowte @e have a confectioun\
Agenst hys poysond infeccioun,\
Els with hys stynkyng jawys\
He wyl cause @ow caste @our crawes,\
And make @ouer stomake seke\
Ovyr the perke to pryk.\
Now $Garnyche, garde thy gummys;\
My serpentins and my gunnys\
Agenst @e now I bynde;\
Thy#selfe therfore defende.\
Thou tode, thow scorpyon,
/Thow bawdy babyone,\
Thow bere, thow brystlyd bore,
/Thou $Moryshe mantycore,\
Thou rammysche, stynkyng gote,\
Thou fowle, chorlyshe parote,\
Thou gresly gargone glaymy,\
Thou swety sloven seymy,\
Thou murrioun, thow mawment,\
Thou fals, stynkyng serpent,\
Thou mokkyshe marmoset, 
/I will nat dy in [thy] det. +
^thy] `they' }MS Harley 367^\
$Tyburne thou me assynyd\
Wher thou xulddst have bene shrynyd;\
The nexte halter ther xall be\
I bequeth @t hole to the.\
Soche pelfry thou hast pachchyd,\
And so thy#selfe hovyr-wachyd\
That ther thou xuldyst be rachchyd\
If thow war metely machchyd.\
{e may wele be bedawyd,\
{e ar a fole owtelauyd;\
And for to telle the gronde,\
Pay $Stokys hys fyve pownd.\
<P 129>
I say, Syr $Dalyrag,\
{e bere @ow bold and brag\
With othyr menys charge;\
{e kyt @our clothe to large,\
Soche pollyng#pajaunttis @e pley,\
To poynt @ow fresche and gay.\
And he that scryblyd @our scrolles,\
I rekyn @ow in my rowllys,\
For %ij dronken sowllys.\
Rede and lerne @e may,\
How olde proverbys say,\
That byrd @s nat honest\
That fylythe hys owne nest.\
{f he wyst what sum wotte,\
The f[r]esche bastyng of hys cote +
^fresche] `flesche' }MS Harley 367^\
Was sowyd with slendyr thre[de]. +
^threde] `thre' }MS Harley 367^\
$God sende @ou wele good spede,\
With `%Dominus %vobyscum',\
$God Latyn for $Jake#a#Thrum,\
Tyll more matyr may cum.\
_
<L E>
By the kynges most noble commaundment.\=
<T Garnesche4>
~%Donum %Laureati %Disticon %contra %Goliardum %Garnishe %et %Scribam %Eius.\
%Tu, %Garnische, %fatuus, %fatuus %tuus %est %mage %scriba:\
%Qui %sapuit %puer, %insanyt %vir, %versus %in %hydram.\|+
<T Garnesche5>
_
<L I>
$Skelton Laureate Defendar Ageinst Lusty $Garnyshe\
<L I>
Well Be Seen $Crystofer $Chalangar, %et %cetera\=
<L 1>
$Garnyshe, gargone, gastly, gryme,\
I have receyvyd @our secunde ryme.\
Thowthe @e kan skylle of large and longe,\
{e syng allway the kukkowe songe.\
{e rayle, @e ryme, with, `Hay, dog, hay!'\
{our chorlyshe chauntyng @s all o lay.\
{e, syr, rayle all in deformite:\
{e have nat red the properte\
<P 130>
Of naturys workys, how they be\
Myxte with sum incommodite,\
As provithe well, in hys rethorikys olde,\
$Cicero with hys tong of golde.\
That nature wrowght in @ow and me,\
Irrevocable @s her decre;\
Waywardly wrowght she hath in the,\
Beholde thy#selfe, and thou mayst se.\
Thow xalte beholde no#wher a warse;\
[Thy] myrrour may be the devyllys ars. +
^Thy] `They' }MS Harley 367^\
Wyth, `Knave, syr, knave, and knave agenne',\
To cal me knave thou takyst gret payne.\
The prowdyst knave @et of us tewyne\
Within thy skyn he xall remayne.\
The starkest knave, and lest good kan,\
Thou art callyd of every man.\
The corte, the contre, wylage, and towne,\
Sayth, from thy to unto thi croune,\
Of all prowde knavys thow beryst the belle,\
Lothsum as $Lucifer lowest in helle.\
On that syde, on thys syde thou dost gasy,\
Thou thynkyst thy#selfe Syr $Pers de $Brasy,\
Thy caytyvys carkes, cours and crasy;\
Moche of thy maneres I ca[n] blasy. +
^can] `cam' }MS Harley 367^\
Of $Lumbardy $Gorge $Hardyson,\
Thow wolde have scoryd hys habarion;\
That jentyll $Jorge the $Januay,\
{e wolde have trysyd hys trowle away.\
Soche pajantes with @our fryndes @e play,\
With trechery @e them betray.\
$Garnyshe, @e gate of $Gorge with gaudry\
Crimsin velvet for @our bawdry.\
{e have a fantasy to $Fanchyrche strete,\
With $Lumbardes lemmanns for to mete,\
With, `Bas me, buttyng, praty $Cys',\
{ower lothesum lypps love well to kyse,\
Slaveryng lyke a slymy snayle.\
I wolde @e had kyst hyr on the tayle!\
Also nat fare from $Bowgy Row,\
{e pressyd pertely to pluk a crow:\
<P 131>
{e lost @our [h]olde, onbende @our bow, +
^holde] `bolde' }MS Harley 367^\
{e wan nothyng there but a mow:\
{e wan nothyng there but a skorne;\
Sche wolde nat of @t thow had sworne.\
Sche seyd @e war coluryd with cole#dust;\
To daly with @ow she had no lust.\
Sche seyd @our brethe stanke lyke a broke;\
With, `Gup, Syr $Gy', @e gate a moke.\
Sche sware with hyr @e xulde nat dele,\
For @e war smery, lyke a sele,\
And @e war herey, lyke a calfe;\
Sche praiid @ow walke, on $Goddes halfe!\
And thus there @e lost @ower pray;\
Get @e anothyr where @e may.\
Dysparage @e myn auncetry?\
{e ar dysposyd for to ly.\
I sey, thow felle and fowle flessh#fly,\
In thys debate I the askry.\
Thow claimist the jentyll, thou art a curre;\
Haroldis they know thy cote-armur;\
Thow thou be a jantyll man borne,\
{et jentylnes in the @s thred-bare worne.\
Haroldes from honor may the devors,\
For harlottes hawnte thyn hatefull cors;\
{e bere out brothells lyke a bawde;\
{e get therby a slendyr laude\
Betweyn the tappett and the walle;\
Fusty bawdyas, I sey nat alle.\
Of harlottes to use soche an harres,\
{t bredth mothys in clothe of $Arres.\
What eylythe the, rebawde, on me to rave?\
A kynge to me myn habyte gave\
At $Oxforth, the universyte,\
Avaunsid I was to that degre;\
By hole consent of theyr senate,\
I was made poete#lawreate.\
To cal me lorell @e ar to lewde;\
Lythe and lystyn, all bechrewde!\
Of the Musys nyne, $Calliope\
Hath pointyd me to rayle on the.\
<P 132>
It semyth nat thy pyllyd pate\
Agenst a poyet#lawreat\
To take upon the for to scryve;\
It cumys the better for to dryve\
A dong#cart or a tumrell\
Than with my poems for to melle.\
The honor of $Englond I lernyd to spelle,\
In dygnyte roiall that doth excelle.\
Note and mark wyl thys parcele;\
I @ave hym drynke of the sugryd welle\
Of $Eliconys waters crystallyne,\
<L 100>
Aqueintyng hym with the Musys nyne.\
{t commyth the wele me to remorde,\
That creaunser was to thy sofre[yne] lorde; +
^sofreyne] `sofre' }MS Harley 367^\
It plesyth that noble prince roiall\
Me as hys master for to calle\
In hys lernyng primordiall.\
Avaunt, rybawde, thi tung reclame!\
Me to beknave thow art to blame;\
Thy tong untawte, with poyson infecte,\
Withowte thou leve thou shalt be chekt,\
And takyn up in such a frame,\
That all the warlde wyll spye @our shame.\
Avaunt, avaunt, thow slogysh......\
And sey poetis no dys.....\
It @s for no bawdy knave\
The dignite lawreat for to have.\
Thow callyst me scallyd, thou callydst me mad;\
Thow thou be pyllyd, thow ar nat sade.\
Thow ar frantyke and lakkyst wyt,\
To rayle with me that the can hyt.\
Thowth it be now ful tyde with the,\
{et ther may falle soche caswelte\
Er thow beware, that in a throw\
Thow mayst fale downe and ebbe full lowe.\
Wherfore, in welthe beware of woo,\
For welthe wyll sone departe the froo.\
To know thy#selfe @f thow lake grace,\
Lerne or be lewde, I shrow thy face.\
<P 133>
Thow seyst I callyd the a pecok;\
Thow liist, I callyd the a wodcoke;\
For thow hast a long snowte,\
A semly nose and a stowte,\
Prickyd lyke an unicorne.\
I wold sum manys bake ink-horne\
Wer thi nose spectacle#case;\
{t wold garnyche wyll thy face.\
Thow demyst my raylyng ovyrthwarthe;\
I rayle to the soche as thow art.\
If thow war aquentyd with alle\
The famous poettes saturicall,\
As $Persius and $Juvynall,\
$Horace and noble $Marciall,\
If they wer lyveyng thys day,\
Of the wote I what they wolde say;\
They wolde the wryght, all with one stevyn,\
The follest sloven ondyr heven,\
Prowde, peviche, lyddyr and lewde,\
Malapert, medyllar, nothyng well thewde,\
Besy, braynles, to bralle and brage,\
Wytles, wayward, Syr Wrag-wrag,\
Dysdaynous, dowble, ful of dyseyte,\
Liing, spying by suttelte and slyght,\
Fleriing, flatyryng, fals and fykkelle,\
Scornefull and mokkyng over to mykkylle.\
My tyme, I trow, I xulde but lese\
To wryght to the of tragydese,\
It @s nat mete for soche a knave.\
But now, my proces for to save,\
I have red, and rede I xall,\
Inordynate pride wyll have a falle.\
Presumptuous pride @s all thyn hope;\
$God garde the, $Garnyche, from the rope!\
Stop a tyd, and be welle ware\
{e be nat cawte in an hempen snare.\
Harkyn herto, @e $Harvy $Ha[f]tar, +
^Haftar] `Hastar' }MS Harley 367^\
Pride gothe before and schame commyth after.\
<P 134>
Thow wrythtyst I xulde let the go pley;\
Go pley the, $Garnyshe, garnysshed gay!\
I care nat what thow wryght or sey;\
I cannat let the the knave to play,\
To dauns the hay or rune the ray;\
Thy fonde face can me nat fray.\
Take thys for that, bere thys in mynde,\
Of thy lewdenes more @s behynde;\
A reme of papyr wyll nat holde\
Of thi lewdenes that may be tolde.\
My study myght be better spynt;\
But for to serve the kynges entent,\
Hys noble pleasure and commandemennt,\
Scrybbyl thow, scrybyll thow, rayle or wryght,\
Wryght what thow wylte, I xall the aquyte.\
_
<L E>
By the kyngys most noble commandemennt.\=
<T Dundas>
~Against $Dundas\
%Vilitissimus %Scotus %Dundas %allegat %caudas %contra %Angligenas.\
%Caudatos %Anglos, %spurcissime %Scote, %quid %effers?\
%Effrons %es, %quoquae %sons, %mendax, %tua %spurcaquae %bucca %est.\
%Anglicus %a %tergo\
%caudam %gerit;\
%est %canis %ergo.\
%Anglice %caudate,\
%cape %caudam\
%Ne %cadat %a %te.\
%Ex %causa %caude\
%manet %Anglica\
%gens %sine %laude.\
%Diffamas %patriam, %qua %non\
%est %melior %usquam.\
%Cum %cauda %plaudis %dum\
%possis, %ad %ostia %pultas\
%Mendicans; %mendicus %eris,\
%Mendaxquae %bilinguis,\
%Scabidus, %horribilis, %quem\
%vermes %sexquae %pedales\
%Corrodent %misere; %miseris\
%genus %est %maledictum.\|+
~%Skelton, %nobilis %poeta.\|+
<P 135>
<L 1>
Gup $Scot,
/{e blot:\
%Laudate
/%Caudate,\
Set in better
/Thy pentameter.\
This $Dundas,
/This Scottishe as\
He rymes and railes
/That Englishmen have tailes.\
 %Skeltonus %laureatus,
/%Anglicus %natus,\
%Provocat %Musas
/%Contra %Dundas\
%Spurcissimum %Scotum,
/%Undiquae %notum,\
%Rustice %fotum,
/%Vapide %potum.\
$Skelton laureat
/After this rate\
Defendeth with his pen
/All Englysh men\
Agayn $Dundas,
/That Scottishe asse.\
Shake thy tayle, Scot, lyke a cur,\
For thou beggest at every mannes dur.\
Tut, Scot, I sey, 
/Go shake th[e], dog, hey! +
^the] `thy' Marshe 1568^\
$Dundas of $Galaway\
With thy versyfyeng rayles
/How they have tayles.\
By $Jesu $Christ,
/Fals Scot, thou lyest:\
<P 136>
But behynd in our hose 
/We bere there a rose\
For thy Scottyshe nose,\
A spectacle#case
/To cover thy face,
/With, %tray %deux %ase.\
A tolman to blot,
/A rough#foted Scot!\
$Dundas, sir knave,\
Why doste thow deprave
/This royall reame,\
Whose radiant beame
/And relucent light\
Thou hast in despite,
/Thou donghyll knyght?\
But thou lakest might,\
$Dundas, dronken and drowsy,
/Skabed, scurvy and lowsy,\
Of unhappy generacion
/And most ungracious nacion.\
$Dundas,
/That dronke asse,\
That ratis and rankis
/That prates and prankes\
On $Huntley bankes,
/Take this our thankes;\
$Dunde, $Dunbar,
/Walke, Scot,
/Walke, sot,\
Rayle not so far.\
<T Ven Tongues>
_
<L I>
Skelton laureate %Oratoris %Regis %tertio\
<L I>
Against Venemous Tongues\
<L I>
enpoysoned with sclaunder and false detractions %&c.\
<L I>
%Quid %detur %tibi %aut %quid %apponatur %tibi %ad %linguam %dolosam?\
<L I>
%Psalm %cxlij.\=
<P 137>
~%Deus %destruet %te, %in %finem %evellet %te,\
%et %emigrabit %te %de %tabernaculo %tuo,\ 
%et %radicem %tuam %de %terra %viventium. %Psal. %lxvii.\|+
<L 1>
Al maters wel pondred and wel to be regarded,\
How shuld a fals lying tung then be rewarded?\
Such tunges shuld be torne out by the harde rootes,\
Hoyning like hogges that groynis and wrotes.\
~%Dilexisti %omnia %verba %precipitationis %lingua %dolosa. %ubi %s. 
%&c.\|+
<L 5>
For, as I have rede in volumes olde,\
A fals lying tunge is harde to withholde;\
A sclaunderous tunge, a tunge of a skolde,\
Worketh more mischiefe than can be tolde;\
That, if I wist not to be controlde,\
{et somwhat to say I dare well be bolde,\
How some delite for to lye, thycke and threfolde.\
~%Ad %sannam %hominem %redigit %comice %et %graphice.\|+
<L 12>
For @e said, that he said, that I said, wote @e what?\
I made, he said, a windmil of an olde mat.\
If there be none other mater but that,\
Than @e may commaunde me to gentil cok#wat.\
~%Hic %notat %purpuraria %arte %intextas %literas %Romanas %in %amictibus+
%post %ambulonum %ante %et %retro.\|+
<L 16>
For before on @our brest, and behind on @our back\
In Romaine letters I never founde lack\
In @our crosse#rowe nor $Christ#crosse @ou spede,\
{our Pater#noster, @our Ave, nor @our Crede.\
Who#soever that tale unto @ou tolde,\
He saith untruly, to say that I would\
Controlle the cognisaunce of noble men\
Either by language or with my pen.\
~%Pedagogium %meum %de %sublimiori %Minerva %constat %esse: %ergo 
%&c.\|+
<L 24>
My scole is more solem and somwhat more haute\
Than to be founde in any such faute.\
~%Pedagogium %meum %male %sanos %maledicos %sibilis %conplosisque
%manibus %explodit %&c.\|+
<P 138>
<L 26>
My scoles are not for unthriftes untaught,\
For frantick faitours half mad and half straught;\
But my learning is of an#other degree\
To taunt theim like liddrons, lewde as thei bee.\
~%Laxent %ergo %antemnan %elationis %sue %inflatam %vento %vanitatis. %li.
%ille %&c.\|+
<L 30>
For though some be lidder, and list for to rayle,\
{et to lie upon me they can#not prevayle.\
Then let them vale a bonet of their proud sayle,\
And of their taunting toies rest with il hayle.\
~%Nobilitati %ignobilis %cedat %vilitas. %&c.\|+
<L 34>
There is no noble man wil judge in me\
Any such foly to rest or to be.\
I care muche the lesse what#ever they say,\
For tunges untayde be renning astray.\
But @et I may say safely, so many wel lettred,\
Embraudred, enlasid together, and fettred,\
And so little learning, so lewdly alowed,\
What fault find @e herein but may be avowed.\
But @e are so full of vertibilite,\
And of frenetyke folabilite,\
And of melancoly mutabilite,\
That @e would coarte and enforce me\
Nothing to write, but hay#the#gy of thre,\
And I to suffre @ou lewdly to ly\
Of me with @our language full of vilany.\
~%Sicut %novacula %acuta %fecisti %dolum. %Ubi %s.\|+
<L 49>
Malicious tunges, though they have no bones,\
Are sharper then swordes, sturdier then stones.\
~%Lege %Philostratum %de %vita %Tyanei %Apollonii.\|+
<L 51>
Sharper then raysors, that shave and cut throtes,\
More stinging then scorpions that stang $Pharaotis.\
~%Venenum %aspidum %sub %labiis %eorum. %Ps.\|+
<L 53>
More venemous and much more virulent\
Then any poysoned tode, or any serpent.\
<P 139>
~%Quid %peregrinis %egemus %exemplis? %Ad %domestica %recurramus, %&c.
%li. %ille.\|+
<L 55>
Such tunges unhappy hath made great division\
In realmes, in cities, by suche fals abusion.\
Of fals fickil tunges suche cloked collusion\
Hath brought nobil princes to extreme confusion.\
~%Quicquid %loquantur %ut %effeminantur %ita %effantur. %&c.\|+
<L 59>
Somtime women were put in great blame,\
Men said they could not their tunges atame;\
But men take upon theim nowe all the shame\
With skolding and sklaundering make their tungs lame.\
~%Novarum %rerum %cupidissimi, %captatores, %delatores, %adulatores,\
%invigilatores, %deliratores, %&c. %id %genus. %li. %ille.\|+
<L 63>
For men be now tratlers and tellers of tales;\
What tidings at $Tot[nam], what newis in $Wales, +
^Totnam] `Totman' Marshe 1568^\
What shippis are sailing to $Scalis $Malis,\
And all is not worth a couple of nut#shalis.\
But lering and lurking here and there like spies,\
The devill tere their tunges and pike out their ies!\
Then ren they with lesinges, and blow them about,\
With, `He wrate suche a bil withouten dout',\
With, `I can tel @ou what such a man said,\
And @ou knew all @e would be ill apayd'.\
~%De %more %vulpino, %gannientes %ad %aurem, %fictas %fabellas %fabricant.
%li. %ille.\
%In %auspicatum, %male %ominatum, %infortunatum %se %fateatur\
%habuisse %horoscopum, %quicunque %maledixerit %vati %Pierio\
%Skeltonidi %Laureato. &c.\|+
<L 73>
But if that I knewe what his name hight,\
For clatering of me I would him sone quight;\
For his false lying, of that I spake never,\
I could make him shortly repent him for ever;\
Although he made it never so tough,\
He might be sure to have shame @nough.\
~%Cerberus %horrendo %baratri %latrando %sub %antro\
%Te %rodatque %voret %lingua %dolosa %precor\|+
<P 140>
<L 79>
A fals double#tunge is more fiers and fell\
Then $Cerberus the cur couching in the kenel of hel;\
Wherof hereafter, I thinke for to write,\
Of fals double#tunges in the dispite.\
~%Recipit %se %scripturum %opus %sanctum, %laudabile, %acceptabile,\
%memorabileque, %et %nimis %honorificandum.\
%Disperdat %dominus %universa %labia %dolosa %et %linguam %magniloquam!\
Magnyfycence
A goodly interlude and a mery devysed and made by
Mayster Skelton, poet laureate late deceasyd.
These be the names of the players:
Felycyte Courtly Abusyon
Lyberte  Foly
Measure  Adversyte
         Poverte
         Dyspare
Magnyfycence  Myschefe

Fansy  Good Hope
Counterfet Countenaunce  Redresse
Crafty Conveyaunce  Cyrcumspeccyon
Clokyd Colusyon  Perseveraunce
[Enter FELYCYTE.]|+
<T Magnyfycence>
<L 1>
<S Fel>
Al thyngys contryvyd by mannys reason,\
The world [envyronn], of hygh and low estate. +
^envyronn] `envyronnyd' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Be it erly or late, welth hath a season.\
Welth is of wysdome the very trewe probate.\
A fole is he with welth that fallyth at debate.\
But men nowe#a#dayes so unhappely be uryd,\
That nothynge than welth may worse be enduryd.\
To tell @ou the cause me semeth it no nede.\
The amense therof is far to call agayne;\
For, when men by welth, they have lytell drede\
<P 141>
Of that may come after; experyence trewe and playne,\
Howe after a drought there fallyth a showre of rayne\
And after a hete oft cometh a stormy colde.\
A man may have welth, but not as he wolde,\
Ay to contynewe and styll to endure.\
But @f prudence be proved with sad cyrcumspeccyon,\
Welthe myght be wonne and made to the lure,\
{f noblenesse were aquayntyd with sober dyreccyon.\
But wyll hath reason so under subjeccyon,\
And so dysordereth this worlde over all,\
That welthe and felicite is passynge small.\
But where wonnys welthe, and a man wolde wyt?\
For Welthfull Felicite truly is my name.\
~[Enter LYBERTE]|+
<S Lyb><L 24>
$Mary, Welthe and I was apoynted to mete,\
And eyther I am dysseyved, or @e be the same.\
<S Fel>
Syr, as @e say. I have harde of @our fame.\
{our name is Lyberte, as I understande.\
<S Lyb>
Trewe @ou say, syr. Gyve me @our hande.\
<S Fel>
And from whens come @e, and it myght be askyd?\
<S Lyb>
To tell @ou, syr, I dare not, leest I sholde be maskyd\
In a payre of fetters or a payre of stockys.\
<S Fel>
Here @ou not howe this gentylman mockys?\
<S Lyb>
{e, to knackynge ernyst what and it preve?\
<S Fel>
Why, to say what he wyll, Lyberte hath leve.\
<S Lyb>
{et lyberte hath ben lockyd up and kept in the mew.\
<S Fel>
In#dede, syr, that lyberte was not worthe a cue.\
How#be#it, lyberte may somtyme be to large,\
But @f reason be regent and ruler of @our barge.\
<S Lyb>
To that @e say I can well condyssende.\
Shewe forth, I pray @ou, here#in what @ou intende.\
<S Fel>
Of that I intende to make demonstracyon\
It askyth lesure with good advert[ence]. +
^advertence] `advertysment' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Fyrst, I say, we owght to have in consyderacyon\
That lyberte be lynkyd with the chayne of countenaunce,\
Lyberte to let from all maner offence;\
For lyberte at large is lothe to be stoppyd,\
But with countenaunce @our corage must be croppyd.\
<P 142>
<S Lyb>
Then thus to @ou - <S Fel>Nay, suffer me @et ferther to say,\
And peradventure I shall content @our mynde.\
<L 50>
Lyberte, I wote well, forbere no man there may;\
It is so swete in all maner of kynde.\
Howe#be#it, lyberte makyth many a man blynde;\
By lyberte is done many a great excesse;\
Lyberte at large wyll oft wax reklesse.\
Perceyve @e this parcell?\
<S Lyb>
{e, syr, passyng well.\
But and @ou wolde me permyt\
To shewe parte of my wyt,\
Somwhat I coulde enferre\
{our consayte to debarre,\
Under supportacyon
/Of pacyent tolleracyon.\
<S Fel>
$God forbyd @e sholde be let\
{our reasons forth to fet.\
Wherfore at lyberte\
Say what @e wyll to me.\
<S Lyb>
Brefly to touche of my purpose the effecte:\
Lyberte is laudable and pryvylegyd from lawe.\
Judycyall rygoure shall not me correcte -\
<S Fel>
Softe, my frende. Herein @our reason is but rawe.\
<S Lyb>
{et suffer me to say the surpluse of my sawe.\
What wote @e where#upon I wyll conclude?\
I say there is no welthe where#as lyberte is subdude.\
I trowe @e can#not say nay moche to this:\
To lyve under lawe, it is captyvyte.\
Where drede ledyth the daunce, there is no joy nor blysse.\
Or howe can @ou prove that there is felycyte,\
And @ou have not @our owne fre lyberte\
To sporte at @our pleasure, to ryn, and to ryde?\
Where lyberte is absent, set welthe asyde.\
~Hic intrat MEASURE.|+
<S Meas><L 81>
$Cryst @ou assyste in @our altrycacyon!\
<S Fel>
Why, have @ou harde of our dysputacyon?\
<S Meas>
I parceyve well howe eche of @ou doth reason.\
<P 143>
<S Lyb>
Mayster Measure, @ou be come in good season.\
<S Meas>
And it is wonder that @our wylde insolence\
Can be content with Measure presence.\
<S Fel>
Wolde it please @ou then -\
<S Lyb>
Us to informe and ken -\
<S Meas>
A, @e be wonders men!\
{our langage is lyke the penne\
Of hym that wryteth to fast.\
<S Fel>
Syr, @f any worde have past\
Me, other fyrst or last,\
To @ou I arecte it, and cast
/Therof the reformacyon.\
<S Lyb>
And I of the same facyon;\
Howe#be#it, by protestacyon\
Dyspleasure that @ou none take\
Some reason we must make.\
<L 100>
<S Meas>
That wyll not I forsake,\
So it in measure be.\
Come of therfore, let se;\
Shall I begynne or @e?\
<S Fel>
Nay, @e shall begynne, by my wyll.\
<S Lyb>
It is reason and skyll\
We @our pleasure fulfyll.\
<S Meas>
Then @e must bothe consent\
{ou to holde content
/With myne argument;\
And I muste @ou requyre\
Me pacyently to here.\
<S Fel>
{es, syr, with ryght good chere.\
<S Lyb>
With all my herte intere.\
<S Meas>
$Oracius to recorde in his volumys olde,\
With every condycyon measure must be sought.\
Welthe without measure wolde bere hymselfe to bolde;\
Lyberte without measure prove a thynge of nought.\
I[n] ponder, by nomber, by measure all#thynge is wrought, +
^In] `I' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
As at the fyrst orygynall, by godly opynyon;\
Whych provyth well that measure shold have domynyon.\
<P 144>
Where measure is mayster, plenty dothe none offence;\
Where measure lackyth, all#thynge dysorderyd is;\
Where measure is absent, ryot kepeth resydence;\
Where measure is ruler, there is nothynge amysse.\
Measure is treasure. Howe say @e, is it not this?\
<S Fel>
{es, questyonlesse, in myne opynyon;\
Measure is worthy to have domynyon.\
<S Lyb>
Unto that same I am ryght well agrede,\
So that lyberte be not lefte behynde.\
<S Meas>
{e, lyberte with measure nede never drede.\
<S Lyb>
What, lyberte to measure then wolde @e bynde?\
<S Meas>
What ellys? For otherwyse it were agaynst kynde;\
If lyberte sholde lepe and renne where he lyst\
It were no vertue, it were a thynge unblyst.\
It were a myschefe, @f lyberte lacked a reyne\
Where#with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest.\
All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne.\
Lyberte without measure is acountyd for a beste;\
There is no surfet where measure rulyth the feste;\
There is no excesse where measure hath his helthe.\
Measure contynwyth prosperyte and welthe.\
<S Fel>
Unto @our rule I wyll annex my mynde.\
<S Lyb>
So wolde I, but I wolde be lothe,\
That wonte was to be formyst, now to come behynde.\
It were a shame, to $God I make an othe,\
Without I myght cut it out of the brode#clothe,\
As I was wonte ever, at my fre wyll.\
<S Meas>
But have @e not herde say that wyll is no skyll?\
Take sad dyreccyon, and leve this wantonnesse.\
<L 150>
<S Lyb>
It i[s] no maystery. <S Fel>Tushe, let Measure procede, +
^is] `it' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
And after his mynde herdely @our#selfe adresse,\
For, without measure, poverte and nede\
Wyll crepe upon us, and us to myschefe lede;\
For myschefe wyll mayster us @f measure us forsake.\
<S Lyb>
Well, I am content @our wayes to take.\
<S Meas>
Surely I am joyous that @e be myndyd thus;\
Magnyfycence to mayntayne, @our promosyon shalbe.\
<P 145>
<S Fel>
So in his harte he may be glad of us.\
<S Lyb>
There is no prynce but he hath nede of us thre -\
Welthe, with Measure and plesaunt Lyberte.\
<S Meas>
Nowe pleasyth @ou a lytell whyle to stande;\
Me semeth Magnyfycence is comynge here at hande.\
~%Hic %intrat MAGNYFYCENCE.|+
<L 163><S Magn>
To assure @ou of my noble porte and fame,\
Who lyst to knowe, Magnyfycence I hyght.\
But Measure, my frende, what hyght this mannys name?\
<S Meas>
Syr, though @e be a noble prynce of myght,\
{et in this man @ou must set @our delyght.\
And, syr, this other mannys name is Lyberte.\
<S Magn>
Welcome, frendys, @e are bothe unto me.\
But nowe let me knowe of @our conversacyon.\
<S Fel>
Pleasyth, @our grace, Felycyte they me call.\
<S Lyb>
And I am Lyberte, made of in every nacyon.\
<S Magn>
Convenyent persons for any prynce ryall.\
Welthe with Lyberte, with me bothe dwell @e shall,\
To the gydynge of my measure @ou bothe commyttynge;\
That Measure be mayster us semeth it is syttynge.\
<S Meas>
Where#as @e have, syr, to me them assygned,\
Suche order I trust with them for to take,\
So that welthe with measure shalbe conbyned,\
And lyberte his large with measure shall make.\
<S Fel>
{our ordenaunce, syr, I wyll not forsake.\
<S Lyb>
And I my#selfe hooly to @ou wyll inclyne.\
<S Magn>
Then may I say that @e be servauntys myne.\
For by measure I warne @ou we thynke to be gydyd;\
Wherin it is necessary my pleasure @ou knowe:\
Measure and I wyll never be devydyd,\
For no dyscorde that any man can sawe;\
For measure is a meane, nother to hy nor to lawe,\
In whose attemperaunce I have suche delyght,\
That measure shall nevere departe from my syght.\
<S Fel>
Laudable @our consayte is to be acountyd,\
For welthe without measure sodenly wyll slyde.\
<S Lyb>
As @our grace full nobly hath recountyd,\
Measure with noblenesse sholde be alyde.\
<P 146>
<S Magn>
Then, Lyberte, se that Measure by @our gyde,\
For I wyll use @ou by his advertysment.\
<S Fel>
Then shall @ou have with @ou prosperyte resydent.\
<S Meas>
I trowe good fortune hath annexyd us together,\
To se howe greable we are of one mynde;\
<L 200>
There is no flaterer nor losyll so lyther,\
This lynkyd chayne of love that can unbynde.\
Nowe that @e have me chefe ruler assyngned,\
I wyll endevour me to order every#thynge\
{our noblenesse and honour consernynge.\
<S Lyb>
In joy and myrthe @our mynde shalbe inlargyd\
And not embracyd with pusyllanymyte.\
But plenarly all thought from @ou must be dyschargyd,\
If @e lyst to lyve after @our fre lyberte.\
All delectacyons aquayntyd is with me;\
By me all persons worke what they lyste.\
<S Meas>
Hem, syr, @et beware of `Had I wyste!'\
Lyberte in some cause becomyth a gentyll mynde -\
Bycause course of measure - @f I be in the way:\
Who county[th] without me is caste to fer behynde +
^countyth] `countyd' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Of his rekenynge, as evydently we may\
S[e] at our eye the worlde day by day. +
^Se] `so' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
For defaute of measure all#thynge dothe excede.\
<S Fel>
All that @e say is as trewe as the crede.\
For howe#be#it lyberte to welthe is convenyent,\
And from felycyte may not be forborne,\
{et measure hath ben so longe from us absent,\
That all men laugh at lyberte to scorne.\
Welth and wyt, I say, be so threde#bare worne,\
That all is without measure and fer beyonde the mone.\
<S Magn>
Then noblenesse, I se well, is almoste undone,\
But @f therof the soner amendys be made;\
For dowtlesse I parceyve my magnyfycence\
Without measure lyghtly may fade,\
Of to moche lyberte under the offence;\
Wherfore, Measure, take Lyberte with @ou hence,\
And rule hym after the rule of @our scole.\
<S Lyb>
What, syr, wolde @e make me a poppynge fole?\
<P 147>
<S Meas>
Why, were not @our#selfe agreed to the same,\
And now wolde @e swarve from @our owne ordynaunce?\
<S Lyb>
I wolde be rulyd and I myght for shame.\
<S Fel>
A, @e make me laughe at @our inconstaunce.\
<S Magn>
Syr, without any longer delyaunce,\
Take Lyberte to rule, and folowe myne entent.\
<S Meas>
It shalbe done at @our commaundement.\
~%Itaque MEASURE %exeat %locum %cum LYBERTATE, %et %maneat MAGNYFYCENCE+
%cum FELICITATE.|+
<S Magn>
It is a wanton thynge, this Lyberte.\
Perceyve @ou not howe lothe he was to abyde\
The rule of Measure, notwithstandynge we\
Have deputyd Measure hym to gyde?\
By measure eche thynge duly is tryde.\
Thynke @ou not thus my frende Felycyte?\
<S Fel>
$God forbede that it other wyse sholde be!\
<S Magn>
{e coulde not ellys, I wote, with me endure.\
<S Fel>
Endure? No, $God wote, it were great payne.\
But @f I were orderyd by just measure,\
<L 250>
It were not possyble me longe to retayne.\
~%Hic %intrat FANSY|+
<S Fan>
Tusche, holde @our pece! {our langage is vayne.\
Please it @our grace to take no dysdayne,\
To shewe @ou playnly the trouth as I thynke.\
<S Magn>
Here is none forsyth whether @ou flete or synke.\
<S Fel>
From whens come @ou, syr, that no man lokyd after?\
<S Magn>
Or who made @ou so bolde to interrupe my tale?\
<S Fan>
Nowe, %benedicite, @e wene I were some hafter,\
Or ellys some jangelynge $Jacke#of#the#Vale.\
{e wene that I am dronken bycause I loke pale.\
<S Magn>
Me semeth that @e have dronken more than @e have bled.\
<S Fan>
{et amonge noble men I was brought up and bred.\
<S Fel>
Now leve this jangelynge and to us expounde\
Why that @e sayd our langage was in vayne.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, upon trouth my reason I grounde,\
That without largesse noblenesse can#not rayne.\
And that I sayd ones @et I say agayne:\
<P 148>
I say, without largesse worshyp hath no place,\
For largesse is a purchaser of pardon and of grace.\
<S Magn>
Nowe, I beseche the, tell me what is thy name?\
<S Fan>
Largesse, that all lordes sholde love, syr, I hyght.\
<S Fel>
But hyght @ou, Largesse, encreace of noble fame?\
<S Fan>
{e, syr, undoubted. <S Fel> Then, of very ryght,\
With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght,\
Sholde be @our dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.\
<S Magn>
{et we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.\
<S Fan>
As in that I wyll not be agaynst @our pleasure.\
<S Fel>
Syr, hardely remembre what may @our name avaunce.\
<S Magn>
Largesse is laudable so it be in measure. +
^`in measure be' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
Largesse is he that all prynces doth avaunce;\
I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.\
<S Fel>
Why have @e hym named and all other refused?\
<S Fan>
For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell used.\
Plucke up @our mynde, syr, what ayle @ou to muse?\
Have @e not welthe here at @our wyll?\
It is but a maddynge, these wayes that @e use.\
What avayleth lordshype, @ourselfe for to kyll\
With care and with thought howe $Jacke shall have $Gyl?\
<S Magn>
What! I have aspyed @e are a carles page.\
<S Fan>
By $God, syr, @e se but fewe wyse men of myne age.\
But covetyse hath blowen @ou so full of wynde\
That %colyca %passyo hath gropyd @ou by the guttys.\
<S Fel>
In fayth, broder Largesse, @ou have a mery mynde.\
<S Fan>
In fayth, I set not by the worlde two $Dauncaster cuttys.\
<S Magn>
{e wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes.\
Though Largesse @e hyght @our langage is to large;\
For whiche ende goth forwarde @e take lytell charge.\
<S Fel>
Let se this checke @f @e voyde canne.\
<S Fan>
In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole,\
But @f I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.\
<L 300>
<S Magn>
Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe when @e shal draw the pole.\
<S Fan>
In fayth, I wyll not say that @e shall prove a fole,\
But ofte#tymes have I sene wyse men do mad dedys.\
<S Magn>
Go shake the, dogge, hay, syth @e wyll nedys!\
<P 149>
{ou are nothynge mete with us for to dwell,\
That with @our lorde and mayster so pertly can prate!\
Gete @ou hens, I say, by my counsell.\
I wyll not use @ou to play with me checke#mate.\
<S Fan>
Syr, @f I have offended @our noble estate,\
I trow I have brought @ou suche wrytynge of recorde,\
That I shall have @ou agayne my good lorde.\
To @ou recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,\
And sendeth @ou this wrytynge closed under sele.\
<S Magn>
This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon!\
Why kepte @ou it thus longe? Howe dothe he? Wele?\
<S Fan>
Syr, thanked be $God, he hath his hele.\
<S Magn>
Welthe, gete @ou home and commaunde me to Mesure.\
Byd hym take good hede of @ou, my synguler tresure.\
<S Fel>
Is there ony#thynge elles @our grace wyll commaunde me?\
<S Magn>
Nothynge but fare @ou well tyll sone -\
And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.\
<S Fel>
{our pleasure, syr shortely shall be done.\
<S Magn>
I shall come to @ou myselfe, I trowe, this afternone.\
~[Exit FELYCYTE]|+
I pray @ou, Larges, here to remayne,\
Whylest I knowe that this letter dothe contayne.\
~%Hic %faciat %tanquam %legeret %litteras %tacite. %Interim 
%superveniat+
%cantando COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE; %suspenso %gradum, %qui %viso+
MAGNYFYCENCE, %sensim %retrocedat; %at %tempus %post %pusillum+
%rursum %accedat COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE %prospectando %et %vocitando+
%a %longe; %et FANSY %animat %silentium %cum %manu.|+
<S Cou><L 325>
What, Fansy! Fansy!\
<S Magn>
Who is that that thus dyd cry?\
Me thought he called Fan[s]y. +
^fansy] `fanfy' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
It was a Flemynge hyght $Hansy.\
<S Magn>
Me thought he called Fansy me behynde.\
<S Fan>
Nay, syr, it was nothynge but @our mynde.\
But nowe, syr, as touchynge this letter -\
<S Magn>
I shall loke in it at leasure better;\
And surely @e are to hym beholde,\
And for his sake ryght gladly I wolde\
<P 150>
Do what I coude to do @ou good.\
<S Fan>
I pray $God kepe @ou in that mood!\
<S Magn>
This letter was wryten ferre hence.\
<S Fan>
By lakyn, syr, it hathe cost me pence\
And grotes many one or I came to @our presence.\
<S Magn>
Where was it delyvered @ou? Shewe unto me.\
<S Fan>
By $God, syr, beyonde the se.\
<S Magn>
At what place, nowe, as @ou gesse?\
<S Fan>
By my trouthe, syr, at $Pountesse.\
This wrytynge was taken me there,\
But never was I in gretter fere.\
<S Magn>
Howe so? <S Fan>By $God, at the see syde,\
Had I not opened my purse wyde,\
I trowe, by our lady, I had ben slayne,\
Or elles I had lost myne eres twayne.\
<S Magn>
<L 350>
By @our soth? <S Fan>{e, and there is suche a wache,\
That no man can scape but they hym cache.\
They bare me in hande that I was a spye;\
And another bade put out myne eye;\
Another wolde myne eye were blerde;\
Another bade shave halfe my berde;\
And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke,\
And wolde have made me Freer $Tucke,\
To preche out of the pylery hole\
Without an antetyme or a stole;\
And some bade, `Sere hym with a marke.'\
To gete me fro them I had moche warke.\
<S Magn>
$Mary, syr, @e were afrayde.\
<S Fan>
By my trouthe, had I not payde and prayde,\
And made largesse, as I hyght,\
I had not been here with @ou this nyght.\
But surely largesse saved my lyfe;\
For largesse stynteth all maner of stryfe.\
<S Magn>
It dothe so sure nowe and than.\
But largesse is not mete for every man.\
<S Fan>
No. But for @ou grete estates\
Largesse stynteth grete debates;\
And he that I came fro to this place\
Sayd I was mete for @our grace.\
<P 151>
And in#dede, syr, I here men talke -\
By the way as I ryde and walke -\
Say howe @ou excede in noblenesse,\
If @ou had with @ou largesse.\
<S Magn>
And say they so in very dede?\
<S Fan>
With @e, syr, so $God me spede.\
<S Magn>
{et mesure is a mery mene.\
<S Fan>
{e, syr, a blaunched almonde is no bene.\
Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall\
But largesse becometh a state ryall.\
What! Sholde @ou pynche at a pecke of [gr]otes +
^grotes] `otes' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
{e wolde sone pynche at a pecke of otes. +
^otes] `grotes' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Thus is the talkynge of one and of oder,\
As men dare speke it hugger#mugger:\
`A lorde a negarde, it is a shame.'\
But largesse may amende @our name.\
<S Magn>
In faythe, Largesse, welcome to me.\
<S Fan>
I pray @ou, syr, I may so be;\
And of my servyce @ou shall not mysse.\
<S Magn>
Togyder we wyll talke more of this.\
Let us departe from hens home to my place.\
<S Fan>
I folow even after @our noble grace.\
~%Hic %discedat MAGNIFICENS %cum FANSY, %et %intrat COUNTERFET+ 
COUNTENAUNCE.[He detains FANSY for a moment.]|+
<S Cou.Cou>
What! I say, herke a worde.\
<S Fan>
Do away, I say, the devylles torde!\
<S Cou.Cou>
{e, but how longe shall I here awayte?\
<S Fan>
By $Goddys body, I come streyte.\
<L 400>
I hate this blunderyng that thou doste make.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Nowe to the devyll I the betake,\
For, in fayth, @e be well met.\
~[%Exit FANSY]|+
Fansy hath cachyd in a flye#net\
This noble man Magnyfycence,\
Of Largesse under the pretence.\
They have made me here to put the stone;\
But nowe wyll I, that they be gone,\
In bastarde ryme, after the dogrell gyse,\
Tell @ou where#of my name dothe ryse.\
<P 152>
For Counterfet Countenaunce knowen am I.\
This worlde is full of my foly.\
I set not by hym a fly\
That can#not counterfet a lye,\
Swere and stare, and byde therby,\
And countenaunce it clenly,\
And defende it manerly.\
A knave wyll counterfet nowe a knyght,\
A lurdayne lyke a lorde to [s]yght, +
^syght] `fyght' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
A mynstrell lyke a man of myght,\
A tappyster lyke a lady bryght:\
Thus make I them wyth thryft to fyght.\
Thus at the laste I brynge hym ryght\
To $Tyburne, where they hange on hyght.\
To counterfet I can by praty wayes:\
Of nyghtys to occupy counterfet kayes;\
Clenly to counterfet newe arayes;\
Counterfet eyrnest by way of playes.\
Thus am I occupyed at all assayes.\
What#so#ever I do, all men me prayse,\
And mekyll am I made of nowe#adays.\
Counterfet maters in the lawe of the lande -\
Wyth golde and grotes they grese my hande,\
In stede of ryght that wronge may stande;\
And counterfet fredome that is bounde;\
I counterfet suger that is but *[s]ounde; +
^*sounde] `founde' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B, +
`sande' Scattergood^\
Counterfet capytaynes by me are mande;\
Of all lewdnesse I kyndell the brande.\
Counterfet kyndnesse, and thynke dyscayte;\
Counterfet letters by the way of sleyght;\
Subtelly usynge counterfet weyght;\
Counterfet langage, %fayty %bone %geyte.\
Counterfetynge is a proper bayte.\
A counte to counterfet in a resayte -\
To counterfet well is a good consayte.\
Counterfet maydenhode may well be borne,\
But counterfet coynes is laughynge to scorne;\
<P 153>
It is evyll patchynge of that is torne.\
Whan the noppe is rughe, it wolde be shorne.\
Counterfet haltynge without a thorne;\
<L 450>
{et counterfet chafer is but evyll corne.\
All#thynge is worse whan it is worne.\
What! Wolde @e wyves counterfet\
The courtly gyse of the newe jet?\
An olde barne wolde be underset.\
It is moche worthe that is ferre fet.\
What! Wanton, wanton, nowe well @met!\
What! $Margery Mylke Ducke, mermoset!\
It wolde be masked in my net!\
It wolde be nyce, thoughe I say nay;\
By crede, it wolde have fresshe aray,\
`And therfore shall my husbande pay'.\
To counterfet she wyll assay\
All the newe gyse, fresshe and gaye,\
And be as praty as she may,\
And jet it joly as a jay.\
Counterfet prechynge, and byleve the contrary;\
Counterfet conscyence, pevysshe pope#holy;\
Counterfet sadnesse, with delynge full madly;\
Counterfet holynes is called @pocrysy;\
Counterfet reason is not worth a flye;\
Counterfet wysdome, and workes of foly;\
Counterfet Countenaunce every man dothe occupy.\
Counterfet worshyp outwarde men may se;\
Ryches rydeth out, at home is poverte.\
Counterfet pleasure is borne out by me;\
$Coll wolde go clenly, and it wyll not be,\
And $Annot wolde be nyce, and laughes, `tehe wehe.'\
{our counterfet countenaunce is all of nysyte,\
A plummed partrydge all redy to flye.\
A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke;\
He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to starke.\
At his cloked counterfetynge dogges dothe barke.\
A carter a courtyer, it is a worthy warke,\
That with his whyp his mares was wonte to @arke;\
<P 154>
A custrell to dryve the devyll out of the derke,\
A counterfet courtyer with a knaves marke.\
To counterfet this freers have lerned me.\
This nonnes nowe and then, and it myght be,\
Wolde take, in the way of counterfet charyte,\
The grace of $God under %benedicite.\
To counterfet thyr counsell they gyve me a fee.\
Chanons can#not counterfet but upon thre.\
Monkys may not for drede that men sholde them se.\
~%Hic %ingrediatur FANSY %properanter %cum CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE,+
%cum %famine %multo %adinvicem %garrulantes; %tandem %viso COUNTERFET+
COUNTENAUNCE %dicat CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE.|+
<Cra.Con>
<L 494>
What! Counterfet Countenaunce!\
<Cou.Cou>
What! Crafty Conveyaunce.\
<S Fan>
What the devyll! Are @e two of aquayntaunce?\
$God gyve @ou a very myschaunce!\
<S Cra.Con>
{es, @es, syr. He and I have met.\
<S Cou.Cou>
We have bene togyder bothe erly and late.\
<L 500>
But Fansy, my frende, where have @e bene so longe?\
<S Fan>
By $God, I have bene about a praty pronge -\
Crafty Conveyaunce, I sholde say, and I.\
<S Cra.Con>
By $God, we have made Magnyfycence to ete a flye.\
<Cou.Cou>
Howe coulde @e do that, and [I] was away? +
^I] not in }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
By $God, man, bothe his pagent and thyne he can play.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Say trouth? <S Cra.Con>{es, @es, by lakyn, I shall the warent,\
As longe as I lyve, thou haste an heyre#parent.\
<S Fan>
{et have we pycked out a rome for the.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Why, shall we dwell togyder all thre?\
<S Cra.Con>
Why, man, it were to great a wonder\
That we thre galauntes sholde be longe asonder.\
<S Cou.Cou>
For Cockys harte, gyve me thy hande.\
<S Fan>
By the masse, for @e are able to dystroy an hole lande.\
<S Cra.Con>
By $God, @et it muste begynne moche of the.\
<S Fan>
Who that is ruled by us, it shalbe longe or he thee.\
<P 155>
<S Cou.Cou>
But I say, kepest thou the olde name styll that thou had?\
<S Cra.Con>
Why, wenyst thou, horson, that I were so mad?\
<S Fan>
Nay, nay. He hath chaunged his, and I have chaunged myne.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Nowe what is his name? And what is thyne?\
<S Fan>
In faythe, Largesse I hyght;\
And I am made a knyght.\
<S Cou.Cou>
A rebellyon agaynst nature -\
So large a man, and so lytell of stature!\
But, syr, howe counterfetyd @e?\
<S Cra.Con>
Sure Surveyaunce I named me.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Surveyaunce! Where @e survey,\
Thryfte hathe lost her cofer#kay.\
<S Fan>
But is it not well? Howe thynkest thou?\
<S Cou.Cou>
{es, syr, I gyve $God avowe,\
Myselfe coude not counterfet it better.\
But what became of the letter\
That I counterfeyted @ou underneth a shrowde?\
<S Fan>
By the masse, odly well alowde.\
<S Cra.Con>
By $God, had not I it convayed\
{et Fansy had ben dysc[r]yved. +
^dyscryved] `dysceyved' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Cou.Cou>
I wote thou arte false @noughe for one.\
<S Fan>
By my trouthe, we had ben gone.\
And @et, in fayth, man, we lacked the\
For to speke with Lyberte.\
<S Cou.Cou>
What! Is Largesse without lyberte?\
<S Cra.Con>
By Mesure mastered @et is he.\
<S Cou.Cou>
What! Is @our conveyaunce no better.\
<S Fan>
In faythe, Mesure is lyke a tetter\
That overgroweth a mannes face,\
So he ruleth over all our place.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nowe therfore, whylest we are togyder -\
Counterfet Countenaunce, nay, come hyder -\
I say, whylest we are togyder in same -\
<S Cou.Cou>
Tushe, a strawe! It is a shame\
<L 550>
That we can no better than so.\
<S Fan>
We wyll remedy it, man, or we go;\
For lyke as mustarde is sharpe of taste\
Ryght so a sharp fansy must be founde\
Wherwith Mesure to confounde.\
<P 156>
<S Cra.Con>
Can @ou remedy for a tysyke\
That sheweth @ourselfe thus spedde in physyke?\
<S Cou.Cou>
It is a gentyll reason of a rake.\
<S Fan>
For all these japes @et that [@]e make - +
^ye] `we' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Cra.Con>
{our fansy maketh myne elbowe to ake.\
<S Fan>
Let se, fynde @ou a better way.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Take no dyspleasure of that we say.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, and @ou be angry and overwharte,\
A man may beshrowe @our angry harte.\
<S Fan>
Tushe, a strawe! I thought none @ll.\
<S Cou.Cou>
What! Shall we jangle thus all the day styll?\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay. Let us our heddes togyder cast.\
<S Fan>
{e, and se howe it may be compast\
That Mesure were cast out of the dores.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Alasse! Where is my botes and my spores?\
<S Cra.Con>
In all this hast whether wyll @e ryde?\
<S Cou.Cou>
I trowe it shall not nede to abyde.\
Cockes woundes! Se, syrs, se, se!\
~%Hic %ingrediatur CLOKED COLUSYON %cum %elato %aspectu,+
%deorsum %et %sursum %ambulando.|+
<S Fan>
Cockes armes! What is he?\
<S Cra.Con>
By Cockes harte, he loketh hye.\
He hawketh, me thynke, for a butterflye.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Nowe, by Cockes harte, well abyden!\
For had @ou not come I had ryden.\
<S Clo.Col>
Thy wordes be but wynde, never they have no wayght.\
Thou hast made me play the %jeu %dehayte.\
<S Cou.Cou>
And @f @e knewe howe I have mused,\
I am sure @e wolde have me excused.\
<S Clo.Col>
I say, come hyder. What are these twayne?\
<S Cou.Cou>
By $God, syr, this is Fansy Small-Brayne;\
And Crafty Conveyaunce, knowe @ou not hym?\
<S Clo.Col>
Knowe hym, syr, quod he. {es, by Saynt $Sym!\
Here is a leysshe of ratches to renne an hare!\
Woo is that purse that @e shall share!\
<S Fan>
What call @e him, this?\
<S Cra.Con>
I trowe that he is -\
<S Cou.Cou>
Tushe! Holde @our pece.\
Se @ou not howe they prece\
<P 157>
For to knowe @our name?\
<S Clo.Col>
Knowe they not me? They are to blame.\
Knowe @ou not me, syrs? <S Fan>No, in#dede.\
<S Cra.Con>
Abyde. Lette me se. Take better hede.\
Cockes harte! It is Cloked Colusyon!\
<S Clo.Col>
A, syr, I pray $God gyve @ou confusyon!\
<S Fan>
Cockes armes! Is that @our name?\
<S Cou.Cou>
{e, by the masse, this is even the same,\
<L 600>
That all this matter must under grope.\
<S Cra.Con>
What is this he wereth? A cope?\
<S Clo.Col>
Cappe, syr. I say @ou be to bolde.\
<S Fan>
Se howe he is wrapped for the colde.\
Is it not a vestment? <S Clo.Col>A, @e wante a rope.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Tushe! It is Syr $Johnn Double-[Cope]. +
^Cope] `cloke' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
Syr, and @f @e wolde not be wrothe -\
<S Clo.Col>
What sayst? <S Fan>Here was to lytell clothe.\
<S Clo.Col>
A, Fansy, Fansy, $God sende the brayne!\
<S Fan>
{e, for @our wyt is cloked for the rayne.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, lette us not clatter thus styll.\
<S Clo.Col>
Tell me, syrs, what is @our wyll?\
<S Cou.Cou>
Syr, it is so that these twayne\
With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne;\
And there they wolde ha[v]e me to dwell. +
^have] `hane' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
But I wyll be ruled after @our counsell.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, so wyll we also.\
<S Clo.Col>
But tell me where aboute @e go.\
<S Cou.Cou>
By $God, we wolde gete us all thyder,\
Spell the remenaunt, and do togyder.\
<S Clo.Col>
Hath Magnyfycence ony tresure?\
<S Cra.Con>
{e. But he spendeth it all in mesure.\
<S Clo.Col>
Why, dwelleth Mesure where @e two dwell?\
In faythe, he were better to dwell in hell.\
<S Fan>
{et where we wonne, nowe there wonneth he.\
<S Clo.Col>
And have @ou not amonge @ou Lyberte?\
<S Cou.Cou>
{e. But he is a captyvyte.\
<S Clo.Col>
What the devyll! Howe may that be?\
<S Cou.Cou>
I can#not tell @ou. Why aske @ou me?\
<P 158>
Aske these two that there dothe dwell.\
<S Clo.Col>
Syr, the playnesse @ou me tell. +
^you me tell] `you tell me' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Cra.Con>
There dwelleth a mayster men calleth Mesure -\
<S Fan>
{e. And he hath rule of all his tresure.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay; eyther let me tell, or elles tell @e.\
<S Fan>
I care not, I. Tell on for me.\
<S Cou.Cou>
I pray $God let @ou never to thee!\
<S Clo.Col>
What the devyll ayleth @ou? Can @ou not agree?\
<S Cra.Con>
I wyll passe over the cyrcumstaunce\
And shortly shewe @ou the hole substaunce.\
Fansy and I, we twayne,\
With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne;\
And counterfeted our names we have\
Craftely all thynges upryght to save:\
His name Largesse, Surveyaunce myne.\
Magnyfycence to us begynneth to enclyne,\
Counterfet Countenaunce to have also,\
And wolde that we sholde for hym go -\
<S Cou.Cou>
But shall I have myne olde name styll?\
<S Cra.Con>
Pease! I have not @et sayd what I wyll.\
<S Fan>
Here is a pystell of a postyke!\
<L 650>
<S Clo.Col>
Tusshe! Fonnysshe Fansy, thou arte frantyke.\
Tell on, syr. Howe then?\
<S Cra.Con>
$Mary, syr, he told us, when\
We had hym founde, we sholde hym brynge,\
And that we fayled not for nothynge.\
<S Clo.Col>
All this @e may easely brynge aboute.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, the better and Mesure were out.\
<S Clo.Col>
Why, can @e not put out that foule freke?\
<S Cra.Con>
No. In every corner he wyll peke,\
So that we have no lyberte;\
Nor no man in courte, but he,\
For Lyberte he hath in gydyng.\
<S Cou.Cou>
In fayth, and without lyberte there is no bydyng.\
<S Fan>
In fayth, and Lybertyes rome is there but small.\
<S Clo.Col>
Hem! That lyke I nothynge at all.\
<S Cra.Con>
But, Counterfet Countenaunce, go we togyder,\
All thre, I say. <S Cou.Cou>Shall I go? Whyder?\
<S Cra.Con>
To Magnyfycence with us twayne.\
<P 159>
And in his servyce the to retayne.\
<S Cou.Cou>
But then, syr, what shall I hyght?\
<S Cra.Con>
{e and I talkyd therof to nyght.\
<S Fan>
{e. My fansy was out of owle#flyght,\
For it is out of my mynde quyght.\
<S Cra.Con>
And nowe it cometh to my remembraunce.\
Syr, @e shall hyght Good Demeynaunce.\
<S Cou.Cou>
By the armes of $Calys, well conceyved.\
<S Cra.Con>
When we have hym thyder convayed,\
What and I frame suche a slyght\
That Fansy with his fonde consayte\
Put Magnyfycence in suche a madnesse\
That he shall have @ou in the stede of sadnesse,\
And Sober Sadnesse shalbe @our name?\
<S Clo.Col>
By Cockys body, here begynneth the game!\
For then shall we so craftely cary\
That Mesure shall not there longe tary.\
<S Fan>
For Cockys harte, tary whylyst that I come agayne.\
<S Cra.Con>
We wyll se @ou shortly, one of us twayne.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Now let us go, and we shall, then.\
<S Clo.Col>
Nowe let se. Quyte @ou lyke praty men!\
~[%Exeunt FANSY, CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE and COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE]+
%Hic %deambulat.|+
To passe the tyme and order whyle a man may talke\
Of one thynge and other to occupy the place,\
Then for the season that I here shall walke,\
As good to be occupyed as up and downe to trace\
And do nothynge. How#be#it, full lytell grace\
There cometh and groweth of my comynge;\
For clokyd colusyon is a perylous thynge.\
Double#delynge and I be all one;\
Craftynge and haftynge contryved is by me;\
I can dyssemble; I can bothe laughe and grone;\
Playne#delynge and I can never agre.\
<L 700>
But dyvysyon, dyssencyon, dyrysyon - these thre\
And I, am counterfet of one mynde and thought,\
By the menys of myschyef to bryng all thynges to nought.\
<P 160>
And though I be so odyous a geste,\
And every man gladly my company wolde refuse,\
In faythe, @et am I occupyed with the best;\
Full fewe that can themselfe of me excuse.\
Whan other men laughe, than study I and muse,\
Devysynge the meanes and wayes that I can,\
Howe I may hurte and hynder every man.\
Two faces in a hode covertly I bere;\
Water in the one hande and fyre in the other.\
I can fede forth a fole and lede hym by the eyre;\
Falshode in felowshyp is my sworne brother.\
By cloked colusyon, I say, and none other,\
Comberaunce and trouble in $Englande fyrst I began.\
From that lorde to that lorde I rode and I ran.\
And flatered them with fables fayre before theyr face,\
And tolde all the myschyef I coude behynde theyr backe,\
And made as I had knowen nothynge of the case -\
I wolde begyn all myschyef, but I wolde bere no lacke.\
Thus can I lerne @ou, syrs, to bere the devyls sacke;\
And @et, I trowe, some of @ou be better sped than I\
Frendshyp to fayne and thynke full lytherly.\
Paynte to a purpose good countenaunce I can,\
And craftely can I grope howe every man is mynded.\
My purpose is to spy and to poynte every man;\
My tonge is with favell forked and tyned.\
By Cloked Colusyon thus many one is begyled.\
Eche man to hynder I gape and I gaspe;\
My speche is all pleasure, but I stynge lyke a waspe.\
I am never glad but whan I may do @ll,\
And never am I sory but whan that I se\
I can#not myne appetyte accomplysshe and fulfyll\
In hynderaunce of welthe and prosperyte.\
I laughe at all shrewdenes, and lye at lyberte.\
I muster, I medle amonge these grete estates;\
I sowe sedycyous sedes of dyscorde and debates.\
<P 161>
To flater and to flery is all my pretence\
Amonge all suche persones as I well understonde\
Be lyght of byleve and hasty of credence;\
I make them to startyll and sparkyll lyke a bronde;\
I move them, I mase them, I make them so fonde,\
That they wyll here no man but the fyrst tale.\
And so, by these meanes, I brewe moche bale.\
~%Hic %ingrediatur COURTLY ABUSYON %cantando.|+
<S Cou.Ab>
Huffa, huffa, taunderum, taunderum, tayne, huffa, huffa!\
<S Clo.Col>
This was properly prated, syrs! What sayd a?\
<S Cou.Ab>
Rutty bully, joly rutterkyn, heyda!\
<S Clo.Col>
%De %que %pays %este %vous?\
~%Et %faciat %tanquam %exuat %beretum %ironice.|+
<S Cou.Ab>
Decke @our hofte and cover a lowce.\
<L 750>
<S Clo.Col>
%Say %vous %chaunter `%Venter %tre %dawce'?\
<S Cou.Ab>
%Wyda, %wyda!\
Howe sayst thou, man? Am not I a joly rutter?\
<S Clo.Col>
Gyve this gentylman rome, syrs. Stonde utter!\
By $God, syr, what nede all this waste?\
What is this, a betell or a batowe or a buskyn lacyd?\
<S Cou.Ab>
What! Wenyst thou that I knowe the not, Clokyd Colusyon?\
<S Clo.Col>
And wenyst thow that I know not the, cankard Abusyon?\
<S Cou.Ab>
Cankard $Jacke Hare, loke thou be not rusty;\
For thou shalt well knowe I am nother durty nor dusty.\
<S Clo.Col>
Dusty! Nay, syr, @e be all of the lusty;\
Howe#be#it of scape#thryfte @our clokes smelleth musty.\
But whether art thou walkynge, in faythe unfaynyd?\
<S Cou.Ab>
$Mary, with Magnyfycence I wolde be retaynyd.\
<S Clo.Col>
By the masse, for the cowrte thou art a mete man;\
Thy slyppers they swap it, @et thou fotys it lyke a swanne.\
<Cou.Ab>
{e, so I can devyse my gere after the cowrtly maner.\
<S Clo.Col>
So thou arte personable to bere a prynces baner.\
By $Goddes fote, and I dare well fyght, for I wyll not start.\
<P 162>
<S Cou.Ab>
Nay. Thou art a man good inough but for thy false hart.\
<S Clo.Col>
Well, and I be a coward, there is mo than I.\
<S Cou.Ab>
{e, in faythe, a bolde man and a hardy.\
<S Clo.Col>
A bolde man in a bole of newe ale in cornys.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Wyll @e se this gentylman is all in his skornys?\
<S Clo.Col>
But are @e not avysed to dwell where @e spake?\
<S Cou.Ab>
I am of fewe wordys. I love not to [crake]. +
^crake] `barke' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Beryst thou any rome? Or cannyst thou do ought?\
Cannyst thou helpe in faver that I myght be brought?\
<S Clo.Col>
I may do somwhat, and more I thynke shall.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE\
<L SD>
poyntyng with his fynger, and sayth,\=
<L 779>
<S Cra.Con>
Hem, Colusyon!\
<Cou.Ab>
Cockys harte! Who is @onde that for the dothe call?\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, come at ones, for the armes of the dyce.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Cockys armys! He hath callyd for the twyce.\
<S Clo.Col>
By Cockys harte, and call shall agayne!\
To come to me I trowe he shalbe fayne.\
<S Cou.Ab>
What! Is thy harte pryckyd with such a prowde pynne?\
<S Clo.Col>
Tushe! He that hathe nede, man, let hym rynne.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, come away, man! Thou playst the cayser.\
<S Clo.Col>
By the masse, thou shalt byde my leyser.\
<S Cra.Con>
Abyde, syr, quod he! $Mary, so I do.\
<S Cou.Ab>
He wyll come, man, when he may tende to.\
<S Cra.Con>
What the devyll! Who sent for the?\
<S Clo.Col>
Here he is nowe, man. Mayst thou not se?\
<S Cra.Con>
What the devyll, man, what thou menyst?\
Art thou so angry as thou semyst?\
<S Cou.Ab>
What the devyll! Can @e agre no better?\
<S Cra.Con>
What the devyll! Where had we this joly jetter?\
<S Clo.Col>
What sayst thou, man? Why dost thou not supplye,\
And desyre me thy good mayster to be?\
<S Cou.Ab>
Spekest thou to me?\
<L 800>
<S Clo.Col>
{e, so I tell the.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Cockes bones! I ne tell can\
Whiche of @ou is the better man,\
Or whiche of @ou can do most.\
<P 163>
<S Cra.Con>
In faythe, I rule moche of the rost.\
<S Clo.Col>
Rule the roste! Thou woldest, @e, +
^Thou woldest, @e] `ye thou woldest' }Rastell & Treveris +
C 1530, B^\
As skante thou had no nede of me.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nede? {es, $Mary. I say not nay.\
<S Crou.Ab>
Cockes ha[r]te! I trowe thou wylte make a fray. +
^harte] `hate' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, in good faythe. It is but the gyse.\
<S Clo.Col>
No; for or we stryke, we wyll be advysed twyse.\
<S Cou.Ab>
What the devyll! Use @e not to drawe no swordes?\
<S Cra.Con>
No, by my trouthe, but crake grete wordes.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Why, is this the gyse nowe#adays?\
<S Clo.Col>
{e, for surety. Ofte peas is taken for frayes.\
But, syr, I wyll have this man with me.\
<S Cra.Con>
Convey @ourselfe fyrst, let se.\
<S Clo.Col>
Well, tary here tyll I for @ou sende.\
<S Cra.Con>
Why, shall he be of @our bende?\
<S Clo.Col>
Tary here. Wote @e what I say?\
<S Cou.Ab>
I waraunt @ou I wyll not go away.\
<S Cra.Con>
By Saynt $Mary, he is a tawle man.\
<S Clo.Col>
{e, and do ryght good servyce he can.\
I knowe in hym no defaute\
But that the horson is prowde and hawte.\
_
<L SD>
And so they go out of the place.\=
<L 825>
<Cou.Ab>
Nay. Purchace @e a pardon for the pose,\
For pryde hath plucked the by the nose\
As well as me. I wolde, and I durste -\
But nowe I wyll not say the worste.\
_
<L SD>
COURTLY ABUSYON alone in the place.\=
<L 829>
What nowe? Let se
/Who loketh on me\
Well rounde aboute.\
Howe gay and howe stout\
That I can were
/Courtly my gere!\
My heyre bussheth
/So plesauntly;\
My robe russheth
/So ruttyngly;\
Me seme I flye,\
<P 164>
I am so lyght
/To daunce delyght;\
Properly drest
/All %poynte %devyse,\
My persone prest
/Beyonde all syse\
Of the newe gyse,\
To russhe it oute
/In every route.\
Beyonde measure
<L 850>
/My sleve is wyde;\
Al of pleasure
/My hose strayte tyde;\
My buskyn wyde,
/Ryche to beholde\
Gletterynge in golde.\
Abusyon
/Forsothe I hyght;\
Confusyon
/Shall on hym lyght\
By day or by nyght\
That useth me.
/He can#not thee.\
A very fon,
/A very asse
/Wyll take upon
/To compasse\
That never was
/Abusyd before.\
A very pore
/That so wyll do,\
He doth abuse
/Hym#selfe to to;\
He dothe mysse#use
/Eche man to [akuse], +
^akuse] `take a fe' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
To crake and prate.\
I befoule his pate.\
<P 165>
This newe fonne jet\
From out of $Fraunce\
Fyrst I dyd set;\
Made purveaunce
/And suche ordenaunce,\
That all men it founde
/Through#out $Englonde.\
All this nacyon
/I set on fyre;
/In my facyon\
This theyr desyre,
/This newe atyre.\
This ladyes have,
/I it them gave.\
Spare for no coste;\
And @et in#dede\
It is coste loste\
Moche more than nede\
For to excede
/In suche aray.\
Howe#be#it, I say,\
A carlys sonne
/Brought up of nought\
<L 900>
Wyth me wyll wonne\
Whylyst he hath ought.\
He wyll have wrought\
His gowne so wyde\
That he may hyde\
His dame and his syre\
Within his slyve;\
Spende all his hyre\
That men hym gyve.\
Wherfore I preve,\
A $Tyborne checke
/Shall breke his necke.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in FANSY craynge `Stow, stow!'\=
<L 912>
All is out of harre\
<P 166>
And out of trace,\
Ay warre and warre
/In every place.\
But what the devyll art thou\
That cryest `Stow, stow'?\
<S Fan>
What! Whom have we here, $Jenkyn Joly?\
Nowe welcom, by the $God holy!\
<S Cou.Ab>
What! Fansy, my frende! Howe dost thou fare?\
<S Fan>
By $Cryst, as mery as a $Marche#hare.\
<S Cou.Ab>
What the devyll hast thou on thy fyste? An owle?\
<S Fan>
Nay. It is a farly fowle.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Me thynke she frowneth and lokys sowre.\
<S Fan>
Torde! Man, it is an hawke of the towre.\
She is made for the malarde fat.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Methynke she is well becked to catche a rat.\
But nowe what tydynges can @ou tell? Let se.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, I am come for the. <S Cou.Ab>For me?\
<S Fan>
{e, for the, so I say.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Howe so? Tell me, I the pray.\
<S Fan>
Why, harde thou not of the fray\
That fell amonge us this same day?\
<S Cou.Ab>
No, $Mary; not @et.\
<S Fan>
 What the devyll! Never a whyt?\
<S Cou.Ab>
No, by the masse. What! Sholde I swere?\
<S Fan>
In faythe, Lyberte is nowe a lusty spere.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Why, under whom was he abydynge?\
<S Fan>
$Mary, Mesure had hym a whyle in gydynge,\
Tyll, as the devyll wolde, they fell a chydynge\
With Crafty Convayaunce. <Cou.Ab>{e, dyd they so?\
<S Fan>
{e, by $Goddes sacrament; and with other mo.\
<S Cou.Ab>
What neded that, in the dyvyls date?\
<S Fan>
{es, @es. He fell with me also at debate.\
<S Cou.Ab>
With the also? What! He playeth the state?\
<S Fan>
{e. But I bade hym pyke out of the gate;\
By $Goddes body, so dyd I.\
<S Cou.Ab>
By the masse, well done and boldely.\
<S Fan>
Holde thy pease! Measure shall frome us walke.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Why? Is he crossed than with a chalke?\
<S Fan>
Crossed? {e, checked out of consayte.\
<P 167>
<S Cou.Ab>Howe so? <S Fan>By $God, by a praty slyght,\
As here#after thou shalte knowe more.\
But I must tary here; go thou before.\
<S Cou.Ab>
With whom shall I there mete.\
<S Fan>
Crafty Conveyaunce standeth in the strete\
Even of purpose for the same.\
<S Cou.Ab>
{e, but what shall I call my name?\
<S Fan>
Cockes harte! Tourne the; let me se thyne aray.\
Cockes bones! This is all of $Johnn de $Gay.\
<S Cou.Ab>
So I am poynted after my consayte.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, thou jettes it of hyght.\
<S Cou.Ab>
{e, but of my name let us be wyse.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, Lusty Pleasure, by myne advyse,\
To name thyselfe. Come of, it were done.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Farewell, my frende. <S Fan>Adue tyll sone.\
~[%Exit COURTLY ABUSYON]|+
Stowe, byrde, stowe, stowe!\
It is best I fede my hawke now.\
There is many evyll#faveryd, and thou be foule!\
Eche thynge is fayre when it is @onge; all hayle, owle!\
Lo, this is
/My fansy, iwys;\
Nowe $Cryst it blysse!\
It is, by $Jesse,\
A byrde full swete,\
For me full mete.\
She is furred for the hete
/All to the fete;\
Her browys bent,
/Her eyen glent;\
From $Tyne to $Trent,\
From $Stroude to $Kent,\
A man shall fynde
/Many of her kynde,\
<P 168>
Howe standeth the wynde\
Before or behynde;\
Barbyd lyke a nonne\
For burnynge of the sonne;\
Her fethers donne;
/Well faveryd bonne!\
Nowe let me se about\
In all this rowte\
{f I can fynde out\
So semely a snowte\
Among this prese -
/Even a hole mese -\
Pease, man, pease!
/I rede we sease.\
So farly fayre as it lokys!\
And her becke so comely crokys!\
Her naylys sharpe as tenter-hokys!\
I have not kept her @et thre wokys,\
And howe styll she doth syt!\
Teuyt, teuyt!
/Where is my wyt?\
The devyll spede whyt!\
That was before I set behynde;\
Nowe to curteys, forthwith unkynde;\
Somtyme to sober, somtyme to sadde;\
Somtyme to mery, somtyme to madde;\
Somtyme I syt as I were solempe prowde;\
Somtyme I laughe over lowde;\
Somtyme I wepe for a gew gaw;\
Somtyme I laughe at waggynge of a straw,\
With a pere my love @ou may wynne,\
And @e may lese it for a pynne.\
I have a thynge for to say,\
And I may tende therto for play;\
But, in faythe, I am so occupyed\
On this halfe and on every syde\
That I wote not where I may rest.\
Fyrst to tell @ou what were best:\
<P 169>
Frantyke Fansy-Servyce I hyght;\
My wyttys be weke, my braynys are lyght;\
For it is I that other whyle\
Plucke down lede and theke with tyle;\
Nowe I wyll this, and nowe I wyll that -\
Make a wyndmyll of a mat -\
Nowe I wolde - and I wyst what -\
Where is my cappe? I have lost my hat!\
And within an houre after,\
Plucke downe an house and set up a rafter,\
Hyder and thyder, I wote not whyder;\
Do and undo, bothe togyder;\
Of a spyndell I wyll make a sparre;\
All that I make forthwith I marre;\
I blunder, I bluster, I blowe, and I blother;\
I make on the one day, and I marre on the other.\
Bysy, bysy, and ever bysy,\
I daunce up and downe tyll I am dyssy.\
I can fynde fantasyes where none is;\
I wyll not have it so, I wyll have it this.\
~%Hic %ingrediatur FOLY %quatiendo %crema %et+
%faciendo %multum, %feriendo %tabulas, %et %similia.|+
<S Fol>
Maysters, $Cryst save everychone!\
What, Fansy! Arte thou here alone?\
<S Fan>
What, fonnysshe Foly! I befole thy face.\
<S Fol>
What, frantyke Fansy, in a foles case?\
What is this, an owle or a glede?\
By my trouthe, she hathe a grete hede.\
<S Fan>
Tusshe! Thy lyppes hange in thyne eye; +
^eye] `eyen' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
It is a Frenche butterflye.\
<S Fol>
By my trouthe, I trowe well;\
But she is lesse a grete dele\
Than a butterflye of our lande.\
<S Fan>
What pylde curre ledest thou in thy hande?\
<S Fol>
A pylde curre? <S Fan>{e, so I tell the, a pylde curre.\
<S Fol>
{et I solde his skynne to $Mackemurre,\
In the stede of a budge#furre.\
<S Fan>
What! Fleyest thou his skynne every @ere?\
<S Fol>
{es, in faythe, I thanke $God I may here.\
<P 170>
<S Fan>
What! Thou wylte coughe me a dawe for forty pens?\
<S Fol>
$Mary, syr, $Cokermowthe is a good way hens.\
<S Fan>
What! Of $Cokermowth spake I no worde.\
<S Fol>
By my faythe, syr, the frubyssher hath my sworde.\
<S Fan>
A, I trowe @e shall coughe me a fole.\
<S Fol>
In faythe, trouthe @e say, we wente togyder to scole.\
<S Fan>
{e, but I can somwhat more of the letter.\
<S Fol>
I wyll not gyve a halfepeny for to chose the better.\
<S Fan>
But, broder Foly, I wonder moche of one thynge,\
That thou so hye fro me doth sprynge,\
And I so lytell alway styll.\
<S Fol>
By $God, I can tell the; and I wyll.\
Thou art so feble-fantastycall,\
And so braynsyke therwithall,\
And thy wyt wanderynge here and there,\
That thou cannyst not growe out of thy boyes gere;\
And as for me, I take but one folysshe way,\
And therfore I growe more on one day\
Than thou can in @erys seven.\
<S Fan>
In faythe, trouth thou sayst nowe, by $God of heven!\
For so with fantasyes my wyt dothe flete\
That wysdome and I shall seldome mete.\
Nowe, of good felowshyp, let me by thy [d]ogge. +
^dogge] `hogge' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fol>
Cockys harte! Thou lyest; I am no [h]ogge. +
^hogge] `dogge' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
Here is no man that callyd the hogge nor swyne.\
<S Fol>
In faythe, man, my brayne is as good as thyne.\
<S Fan>
The devyls torde for thy brayne!\
<S Fol>
By my syers soule, I fele no rayne.\
<S Fan>
By the masse, I holde the madde.\
<S Fol>
$Mary, I knewe the when thou waste a ladde.\
<S Fan>
Cockys bonys! Herde @e ever syke another?\
<S Fol>
{e, a fole the tone, and a fole the tother.\
<S Fan>
Nay, but wotest thou what I do say?\
<S Fol>
Why, sayst thou that I was here @esterday?\
<S Fan>
Cockys armys! This is a warke, I trowe.\
<S Fol>
What! Callyst thou me a donnyshe crowe?\
<S Fan>
Nowe, in good faythe, thou art a fonde gest.\
<S Fol>
{e, bere me this strawe to a dawys nest.\
<S Fan>
What! Wenyst thou that I were so folysshe and so fonde?\
<S Fol>
In faythe, ellys is there none in all $Englonde.\
<P 171>
<S Fan>
{et for my fansy sake, I say,\
Let me have thy dogge, what#soever I pay.\
<S Fol>
Thou shalte have my purse, and I wyll have thyne.\
<S Fan>
By my trouth, there is myne.\
<S Fol>
Nowe, by my trouth, man, take, there is my purse; +
^my] `myne' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
And I beshrowe hym that hath the worse.\
<S Fan>
Torde, I say! What have I do?\
Here is nothynge but the bockyll of a sho,\
And in my purse was twenty marke.\
<S Fol>
Ha, ha, ha! Herke, syrs, harke!\
For all that my name hyght Foly,\
By the masse, @et art thou more fole than I.\
<S Fan>
{et gyve me thy dogge, and I am content;\
And thou shalte have my hauke to a botchment.\
<S Fol>
That ever thou thryve, $God it forfende!\
For, $Goddes cope, thou wyll spende!\
Nowe take thou my dogge and gyve me thy fowle.\
<S Fan>
Hay, chysshe, come hyder! <S Fol>Nay, torde! Take hym be#tyme.\
<S Fan>
What callest thou thy dogge? <S Fol>Tusshe! His name is $Gryme.\
<S Fan>
Come, $Gryme! Come, $Gryme! It is my praty dogges.\
<S Fol>
In faythe, there is not a better dogge for hogges,\
Not from $Anwyke unto $Aungey.\
<S Fan>
{e. But trowest thou that he be not maungey?\
<S Fol>
No, by my trouthe. It is but the scurfe and the scabbe.\
<S Fan>
What! He hathe ben hurte with a stabbe?\
<S Fol>
Nay, in faythe, it was but a strype\
That the horson had for etynge of a trype.\
<S Fan>
Where the devyll gate he all these hurtes?\
<S Fol>
By $God, for snatchynge of puddynges and wortes.\
<S Fan>
What! Then he is some good poore mannes curre?\
<S Fol>
{e. But he wyll in at every mannes dore.\
<S Fan>
Nowe thou hast done me a pleasure grete.\
<S Fol>
In faythe, I wolde thou had a marmosete.\
<S Fan>
Cockes harte! I love suche japes.\
<S Fol>
{e, for all thy mynde is on owles and apes.\
But I have thy pultre, and thou hast my catell.\
<S Fan>
{e. But thryfte and we have made a batell.\
<S Fol>
Remembrest thou not the japes and the toyes -\
<P 172>
<S Fan>
What, that we used whan we were boyes?\
<S Fol>
{e, by the rode, even the same.\
<S Fan>
{es, @es! I am @et as full of game\
As ever I was, and as full of tryfyls -\
%Nil, %nichelum, %nihil - %anglice nyfyls.\
<S Fol>
What! Canest thou all this Latyn @et,\
And hath so mased a wandrynge wyt?\
<S Fan>
Tushe, man! I kepe some Latyn in store.\
<S Fol>
By Cockes harte, I wene thou hast no more.\
<S Fan>
No? {es, in faythe; I can versyfy.\
<S Fol>
Then I pray the hartely,\
Make a verse of my butterfly;\
It forseth not of reason, so it kepe ryme.\
<S Fan>
But wylte thou make another on $Gryme?\
<S Fol>
Nay, in fayth, fyrst let me here thyne.\
<S Fan>
$Mary, as for that, thou shalte sone here myne.\
~%Versus|+
<S Fan>
%Est %[suavis %vago] with a shrewde face %vilis %imago. +
^suavis vago] `snaui snago' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fol>
$Grimbaldus gredy snatche a puddyng tyl the rost be redy.\
<S Fan>
By the harte of $God, well done!\
<S Fol>
{e, so redely and so sone!\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE.\=
<L 1158>
<S Cra.Con>
What, Fansy! Let me se who is the tother.\
<S Fan>
By $God, syr, Foly, myne owne sworne brother.\
<S Cra.Con>
Cockys bonys! It is a farle freke.\
Can he play well at the hoddypeke?\
<S Fan>
Tell by thy trouth what sport can thou make.\
<S Fol>
A, holde thy peas! I have the tothe#ake.\
<S Cra.Con>
The tothe#ake! Lo, a torde @e have.\
<S Fol>
{e, thou haste the four quarters of a knave.\
<S Cra.Con>
Wotyst thou, I say, to whom thou spekys?\
<S Fan>
Nay, by Cockys harte, he ne reckys;\
For he wyll speke to Magnyfycence thus.\
<S Cra.Con>
Cockys armys, a mete man for us!\
<S Fol>
What? Wolde @e have mo folys, and are so many?\
<S Fan>
Nay, offer hym a counter in stede of a peny.\
<S Cra.Con>
Why, thynkys thou he can no better skyll?\
<S Fol>
In fayth, I can make @ou bothe folys, and I wyll.\
<S Cra.Con>
<P 173>
What hast thou on thy fyst? A [k]esteryll? +
^kesteryll] `besteryll' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fol>
Nay, iwys, fole. It is a doteryll.\
<S Cra.Con>
In a cote thou can play well the dyser.\
<S Fol>
{e, but thou can play the fole without a vyser.\
<S Fan>
Howe rode he by @ou? Howe put he to @ou?\
<S Cra.Con>
$Mary, as thou sayst, he gave me a blurre.\
But where gatte thou that mangey curre?\
<S Fan>
$Mary, it was his, and nowe it is myne.\
<S Cra.Con>
And was it his, and nowe it is thyne?\
Thou must have thy fansy and thy wyll,\
But @et thou shalt holde me a fole styll.\
<S Fol>
Why, wenyst thou that I cannot make the play the fon?\
<S Fan>
{es, by my faythe, good Syr $Johnn.\
<S Cra.Con>
For @ou bothe it were inough.\
<S Fol>
Why, wenyst thou that I were as moche a fole as thou?\
<S Fan>
Nay, nay. Thou shalt fynde hym another maner of man.\
<S Fol>
In faythe, I can do mastryes, so I can.\
<S Cra.Con>
What canest thou do but play cocke#wat?\
<S Fan>
{es, @et he wyll make the ete a gnat. +
^Yes, @et] `Yet @es' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fol>
{es, @es, by my trouth. I holde the a grote\
That I shall laughe the out of thy cote.\
<S Cra.Con>
Than wyll I say that thou hast no pere.\
<S Fan>
Nowe, by the rode, and he wyll go nere.\
<S Fol>
Hem, Fansy! %Regardes, %voyes %[vous].\
_
<L SD>
Here FOLY maketh semblaunt to take a lowse\
<L SD>
from CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE showlder.\=
<L 1198>
<S Fan>
What hast thou founde there? <S Fol>By $God, a lowse.\
<S Cra.Con>
By Cockes harte, I trowe thou lyste.\
<S Fol>
By the masse, a Spaynysshe moght with a gray lyste!\
<S Fan>
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!\
<S Cra.Con>
Cockes armes! It is not so, I trowe.\
_
<L SD>
Here CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE putteth of his gowne.\=
<L 1203>
<S Fol>
Put on thy gowne agayne, for thou hast lost nowe. +
^thou ...#nowe] `nowe thou hast lost' }Rastell & Treveris C +
1530, B^\
<S Fan>
Lo, $Johnn a $Bonam, where is thy brayne?\
Nowe put on, fole, thy cote agayne.\
<S Fol>
Gyve me my grote, for thou hast lost.\
_
<L SD>
Here FOLY maketh semblaunt\
<L SD>
to take money of CRAFTY<P 174> CONVEYAUNCE, saynge to hym,\=
<L 1207>
Shyt thy purse, dawe, and do no cost.\
<S Fan>
Nowe hast thou not a prowde mocke and a starke?\
<S Cra.Con>
With, @es, by the rode of $Wodstocke Parke.\
<S Fan>
Nay, I tell the, he maketh no dowtes\
To tourne a fole out of his clowtes.\
<S Cra.Con>
And for a fole a man wolde hym take.\
<S Fol>
Nay, it is I that foles can make;\
For be he cayser or be he kynge,\
To felowshyp with foly I can hym brynge.\
<S Fan>
Nay, wylte thou here nowe of his scoles,\
And what maner of people he maketh foles?\
<S Cra.Con>
{e. Let us here a worde or twayne.\
<S Fol>
Syr, of my maner I shall tell @ou the playne:\
Fyrst I lay before them my bybyll\
And teche them howe they sholde syt @dyll\
To pyke theyr fyngers all the day longe;\
So in theyr eyre I synge them a songe\
And make them so longe to muse\
That some of them renneth strayght to the stuse.\
To thefte and bryboury I make some fall,\
And pyke a locke and clyme a wall.\
And where I spy a nysot gay\
That wyll syt @dyll all the day\
And can#not set herselfe to warke,\
I kyndell in her suche a lyther sparke\
That rubbed she must be on the gall\
Bytwene the tap[pet] and the wall. +
^tappet] `tap' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Cra.Con>
What, horson! Arte thou suche a one?\
<S Fan>
Nay, beyonde all other set hym alone.\
<S Cra.Con>
Hast thou ony more? Let se, procede.\
<S Fol>
{e, by $God, syr. For a nede,\
I have another maner of sorte\
That I laugh at for my dysporte;\
And those be they that come up of nought -\
As some be not ferre and @f it were well sought -\
Suche dawys, what#soever they be,\
That be set in auctorite.\
Anone he waxyth so hy and prowde,\
He frownyth fyersly, brymly browde.\
<P 175>
The knave wolde make it koy, and he cowde;\
All that he dothe muste be alowde;\
And, `This is not well done, syr; take hede';\
And maketh hym besy where is no nede.\
He dawnsys so long, `hey, troly, loly',\
That every man lawghyth at his foly.\
<S Cra.Con>
By the good Lorde, truthe he sayth.\
<S Fan>
Thynkyst thou not so, by thy fayth?\
<S Cra.Con>
Thynke I not so, quod he. Ellys have I shame,\
<L 1255>
For I knowe dyverse that useth the same.\
<S Fol>
But nowe, forsothe, man, it maketh no mater;\
For they that wyll so bysely smater\
So helpe me $God, man, ever at the length\
I make hym lese moche of theyr strength;\
For with foly so do I them lede\
That wyt he wantyth when he hath moste nede.\
<S Fan>
Forsothe, tell on. Hast thou any mo? +
^mo] `more' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fol>
{es. I shall tell @ou or I go\
Of dyverse mo that hauntyth my scolys.\
<S Cra.Con>
All men beware of suche folys!\
<S Fol>
There be two lyther, rude and ranke,\
$Symkyn $Tytyvell and $Pers $Pykthanke.\
Theys lythers I lerne them for to lere,\
What he sayth and she sayth to lay good ere,\
And tell to his sufferayne every whyt;\
And then he is moche made of for his [wyt]; +
^wyt] `whyt' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
And, be the mater @ll more or lesse,\
He wyll make it mykyll worse than it is;\
But all that he dothe, and @f he reken well\
It is but foly every dell.\
<S Fan>
Are not his wordys cursydly cowchyd?\
<S Cra.Con>
By $God, there be some that be shroudly towchyd.\
But, I say, let se and @f thou have any more.\
<S Fol>
I have an hole armory of suche haburdashe in store;\
For there be other that foly dothe use\
That folowe fonde fantasyes and vertu refuse.\
<S Fan>
Nay, that is my parte that thou spekest of nowe.\
<S Fol>
So is all the remenaunt, I make $God avowe;\
For thou fourmest suche fantasyes in theyr mynde\
That every man almost groweth out of kynde.\
<P 176>
<S Cra.Con>
By the masse, I am glad I came hyder\
To here @ou two rutters dyspute togyder.\
<S Fan>
Nay, but fansy must be eyther fyrst or last.\
<S Fol>
And whan foly cometh, all is past.\
<S Fan>
I wote not whether it cometh of the or of me,\
But all is foly that I can se.\
<S Cra.Con>
$Mary, syr, @e may swere it on a boke.\
<S Fol>
{e, tourne over the lefe, rede there, and loke\
Howe frantyke fansy fyrst of all\
Maketh man and woman in foly to fall.\
<S Cra.Con>
A, syr, a, a! Howe by that?\
<S Fan>
A peryllous thynge, to cast a cat\
Upon a naked man and @f she scrat.\
<S Fol>
So how, I say, the hare is squat!\
For, frantyke Fansy, thou makyst men madde;\
And I Foly bryngeth them to %qui %fuit gadde;\
With %qui %fuit brayne#seke I have them brought;\
From %qui %fuit %aliquid to shyre shakynge nought.\
<S Cra.Con>
Well argued and surely on bothe sydes.\
But, for the, Fansy, Magnyfycence abydes.\
<S Fan>
Why, shall I not have Foly with me also?\
<S Cra.Con>
{es, perde, man, whether that @e ryde or go.\
{et for his name we must fynde a [slyght]. +
^slyght] shyfte }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
By the masse, he shall hyght Consayte.\
<S Cra.Con>
Not a better name under the sonne;\
With Magnyfycence thou shalte wonne.\
<S Fol>
$God have mercy, good godfather.\
<S Cra.Con>
{et I wolde that @e had gone rather;\
For as sone as @ou come in Magnyfycence syght\
All mesure and good rule is gone quyte.\
<S Fan>
And shall we have lyberte to do what we wyll?\
<S Cra.Con>
Ryot at lyberte russheth it out styll.\
<S Fol>
{e. But tell me one thynge. <S Cra.Con>What is that?\
<S Fol>
Who is mayster of the masshe#fat?\
<S Fan>
{e, for he hathe a full drye soule.\
<S Cra.Con>
Cockes armes! Thou shalte kepe the brewhouse boule.\
<S Fol>
But may I drynke therof whylest that I stare?\
<S Cra.Con>
When Mesure is gone, what nedest thou spare?\
Whan Mesure is gone, we may slee care.\
<S Fol>
<P 177>
Nowe then goo we hens. Away the mare!\
~[%Exeunt Fansy and Foly.]|+
_
<L SD>
CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE alone in the place.\=
<L 1326>
<S Cra.Con>
It is wonder to se the worlde aboute,\
To se what foly is used in every place;\
Foly hath a rome, I say, in every route;\
To put where he lyst, foly hath fre chace;\
Foly and fansy all where every man dothe face and brace.\
Foly fotyth it properly, fansy ledyth the dawnce,\
And next come I after, Crafty Conveyaunce.\
Who#so to me gyveth good advertence\
Shall se many thyngys donne craftely.\
By me conveyed is wanton insolence;\
............\
Pryvy poyntmentys conveyed so properly;\
For many tymes moche kyndnesse is denyed\
For drede, that we dare not ofte, lest we be spyed.\
By me is conveyed mykyll praty ware -\
Somtyme, I say, behynde the dore for nede;\
I have an hoby can make larkys to dare;\
I knyt togyther many a broken threde.\
It is great almesse the hung[re] to fede, +
^hungre] `hunger' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
To clothe the nakyd where is lackynge a smocke -\
Trymme at her tayle or a man can turne a socke.\
`What howe! Be @e mery! Was it not well conveyed?'\
`As oft as @e lyst, so honeste be savyd.\
Alas, dere harte, loke that we be not perseyvyd!'\
Without crafte nothynge is well behavyd.\
`Though I shewe @ou curtesy, say not that I crave[d]; +
^craved] `crave' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
{et convey it craftely, and hardely spare not for me' -\
So that there knowe no man but I and she.\
Thefte also and pety brybery\
Without me be full ofte aspyed.\
My inwyt#delynge there can no man dyscry.\
Convey it be crafte, lyft and lay asyde.\
Full moche flatery and falsehode I hyde;\
<P 178>
And by crafty conveyaunce I wyll, and I can,\
Save a stronge thefe and hange a trew man.\
But some man wolde convey, and can#not skyll,\
As malypert tavernars that checke with theyr betters,\
Theyr conveyaunce weltyth the worke all by wyll;\
And some wyll take upon them to conterfet letters,\
And therwithall convey hymselfe into a payre of fetters;\
And some wyll convey by the pretence of sadnesse\
Tyll all theyr conveyaunce is turnyd into madnesse.\
Crafty conveyaunce is no chyldys game;\
By crafty conveyaunce many one is brought up of nought;\
Crafty Conveyaunce can cloke hymselfe frome shame,\
For by crafty conveyaunce wonderful thynges are wrought.\
By convayaunce crafty I have brought\
Unto Magnyfycence a full ungracyous sorte,\
For all hokes unhappy to me have resorte.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in MAGNYFYCENCE with LYBERTE and FELYCYTE.\=
<L 1375>
<S Magn>
Trust me, Lyberte, it greveth me ryght sore\
To se @ou thus ruled and stande in suche awe.\
<S Lyb>
Syr, as by my wyll, it shall be so no more.\
<S Fel>
{et Lyberte without rule is not worth a strawe.\
<S Magn>
Tushe! Holde @our peas; @e speke lyke a dawe.\
{e shall be occupyed, Welthe, at my wyll.\
<S Cra.Con>
All that @e say, syr, is reason and skyll.\
<S Magn>
Mayster Survayour, where have @e ben so longe?\
Remembre @e not how my lyberte by mesure ruled was?\
<S Cra.Con>
In good faythe, syr, me semeth he had the more wronge.\
<S Lyb>
$Mary, syr, so dyd he excede and passe,\
They drove me to lernynge lyke a dull asse.\
<S Fel>
It is good @et that lyberte be ruled by reason.\
<S Magn>
Tushe! Holde @our peas; @e speke out of season.\
<P 179>
{ourselfe shall be ruled by lyberte and largesse.\
<S Fel>
I am content so it in measure be.\
<S Lyb>
Must mesure, in the mares name, @ou furnysshe and dresse?\
<S Magn>
Nay, nay; not so, my frende Felycyte.\
<S Cra.Con>
Not and @our grace wolde be ruled by me.\
<S Lyb>
Nay. He shall be ruled even as I lyst.\
<S Fel>
{et it is good to beware of `had I wyst'.\
<S Magn>
Syr, by lyberte and largesse I wyll that @e shall\
Be governed and gyded; wote @e what I say?\
Mayster Survayour, Largesse to me call.\
<S Cra.Con>
It shall be done. <S Magn> {e, but byd hym come away\
<L 1400>
At ones, and let hym not tary all day.\
_
<L SD>
Here goth out CRAFTY CONVAYAUNCE.\=
<L 1401>
<S Fel>
{et it is good wysdome to worke wysely by welth.\
<S Lyb>
Holde thy tonge, and thou love thy helth.\
<S Magn>
What! Wyll @e waste wynde and prate thus in vayne?\
{e have eten sauce I trowe, at the $Taylers Hall.\
<S Lyb>
Be not to bolde my frende; I counsell @ou, bere a brayne.\
<S Magn>
And what so we say, holde @ou content withall.\
<S Fel>
Syr, @et without sapyence @our substaunce may be smal;\
For where is no mesure, howe may worshyp endure?\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in FANSY.\=
<L 1409>
<S Fan>
Syr, I am here at @our pleasure.\
{our grace sent for me, I wene. What is @our wyll?\
<S Magn>
Come hyther Largesse; take here Felycyte.\
<S Fan>
Why, wene @ou that I can kepe hym longe styll?\
<S Magn>
To rule as @e lyst, lo, here is Lyberte.\
<S Lyb>
I am here redy. <S Fan> What! Shall we\
Have welth at our gydynge to rule as we lyst?\
Then fare#well thryfte, by hym that crosse kyst!\
<S Fel>
I truste @our grace wyll be agreabyll\
That I shall suffer none impechment\
By theyr demenaunce, nor loss repryvable.\
<P 180>
<S Magn>
Syr, @e shall folowe myne appetyte and intent.\
<S Fel>
So it be by mesure I am ryght well content.\
<S Fan>
What! All by mesure, good syr, and none excesse?\
<S Lyb>
Why, welth hath made many a man braynlesse.\
<S Fel>
That was by the menys of to moche lyberte.\
<S Magn>
What! Can @e agree thus and appose?\
<S Fel>
Syr, as I say, there was no faute in me.\
<S Lyb>
{e, of $Jacke#a#Thrommys bybyll can @e make a glose.\
<S Fan>
Sore sayde, I tell @ou, and well to the purpose.\
What sholde a man do with @ou? Loke @ou under [k]ay? +
^kay] `bay' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fel>
I say it is foly to gyve all welth away.\
<S Lyb>
Whether sholde welth be rulyd by lyberte,\
Or lyberte by welth? Let se, tell me that.\
<S Fel>
Syr, as me semeth, @e sholde be rulyd be me.\
<S Magn>
What nede @ou with hym thus prate and chat?\
<S Fan>
Shewe us @our mynde then, howe to do and what.\
<S Magn>
I say that I wyll @e have hym in gydynge.\
<S Lyb>
Mayster Felycyte, let be @our chydynge;\
And so as @e se it wyll be no better,\
Take it in worthe suche as @e fynde.\
<S Fan>
What the devyll, man, @our name shalbe the greter;\
For welth without largesse is all out of kynde.\
<S Lyb>
And welth is nought worthe @f lyberte be behynde.\
<S Magn>
Nowe holde @e content, for there is none other shyfte.\
<S Fel>
Than waste must be welcome, and fare#well thryfte.\
<S Magn>
Take of his substaunce a sure inventory,\
And get [@]ou home togyther; for Lyberte shall byde +
^you] `thou' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
And wayte upon me. <S Lyb> And @et for a memory,\
Make indentures how @e and I shal gyde.\
<S Fan>
I can do nothynge but he stonde besyde.\
<S Lyb>
Syr, we can do nothynge the one without the other.\
<S Magn>
Well, get @ou hens than and sende me some other.\
<S Fan>
Whom? Lusty Pleasure or mery Consayte?\
<S Magn>
Nay, fyrst Lusty Pleasure is my desyre to have;\
And let the other another [time] awayte. +
^time] not in }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Howe#be#it, that fonde felowe is a mery knave.\
But loke that @e occupye the auctoryte that I @ou gave.\
_
<L SD>
Here goeth out FELYCYTE, LYBERTE and FANSY.\
<P 181>
<L SD>
MAGNYFYCENCE alone in the place.\=
<L 1457>
For nowe, syrs, I am lyke as a prynce sholde be;\
I have welth at wyll, largesse and lyberte.\
Fortune to her lawys can#not abandune me;\
But I shall of Fortune rule the reyne.\
I fere nothynge Fortunes perplexyte.\
All honour to me must nedys stowpe and lene.\
I synge of two partys without a mene.\
I have wynde and wether over all to sayle;\
No stormy rage agaynst me can pervayle.\
$Alexander, of $Macedony kynge,\
That all the oryent had in subjeccyon,\
Though al his conquestys were brought to rekenynge,\
Myght seme ryght wel under my proteccyon\
To rayne, for all his marcyall affeccyon;\
For I am prynce perlesse, provyd of porte,\
Bathyd with blysse, embracyd with comforte.\
$Syrus, that soleme syar of $Babylon,\
That $Israell releysyd of theyr captyvyte,\
For al his pompe, for all his ryall trone,\
He may not be comparyd unto me.\
I am the dyamounde dowtlesse of dygnyte.\
Surely it is I that all may save and spyll,\
No man so hardy to worke agaynst my wyll.\
$Pocenya, the prowde provoste of $Turky lande,\
That ratyd the $Romaynes and made them @ll rest,\
Nor $Cesar $July, that no man myght withstande,\
Were never halfe so rychely as I am drest.\
No, that I assure @ou; loke who was the best:\
I reyne in my robys, I rule as me lyst,\
I dryve downe these dastardys with a dynt of my fyste.\
Of $Cato the counte, acountyd the cane,\
$Daryus, the doughty cheftayn of $Perse -\
I set not by the prowdest of them a prane,\
Ne by non other that any man can rehersse.\
I folowe in felycyte without reversse;\
<P 182>
I drede no daunger; I dawnce all in delyte:\
My name is Magnyfycence, man most of myght.\
$Hercules the herdy, with his stobburne clobbyd mase,\
That made $Cerberus to cache, the cur dogge of hell,\
And $Thesius, th[at] prowde was $Pluto to face - +
^that] `the' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
It wolde not become them with me for to mell;\
For of all barones bolde I bere the bell;\
Of all doughty I am doughtyest duke as I deme;\
To me all prynces to lowte man bese[m]e. +
^beseme] `be sene' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
$Cherlemayne, that mantenyd the nobles of $Fraunce,\
$Arthur of $Albyan, for all his brymme berde,\
Nor $Basyan the bolde, for all his brybaunce,\
Nor $Alerycus, that rulyd the $Gothyaunce by swerd,\
Nor no man on molde can make me aferd.\
What man is so maysyd with me that dare mete,\
I shall flappe hym as a fole to fall at my fete.\
$Galba, whom his galantys garde for agaspe,\
Nor $Nero, that nother set by $God nor man,\
Nor $Vespasyan, that bare in his nose a waspe,\
Nor $Hanyball, agayne $Rome gates that ranne,\
Nor @et $[C]ypyo, that noble $Cartage wanne, +
^Cypyo] `Typyo' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Nor none so hardy of them with me that durste crake,\
But I shall frounce them on the foretop and gar them to quake.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in COURTLY ABUSYON, doynge reverence and courtesy.\=
<L 1515>
<S Cou.Ab>
At @our commaundement, syr, wyth all dew reverence.\
<S Magn>
Welcom, Pleasure, to our magnyfycence.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Plesyth it @our grace to shewe what I do shall?\
<S Magn>
Let us here of @our pleasure, to passe the tyme withall.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Syr, then, with the favour of @our benynge sufferaunce,\
To shewe @ou my mynde myselfe I wyll avaunce,\
If it lyke @our grace to take it in degre.\
<S Magn>
{es, syr, so good man in @ou I se,\
<P 183>
And in @our delynge so good assuraunce,\
That we delyte gretly in @our dalyaunce.\
<S Cou.Ab>
A, syr, @our grace me dothe extole and rayse;\
And ferre beyond my merytys @e me commende and prayse.\
Howe#be#it, I wolde be ryght gladde, I @ou assure,\
Any#thynge to do that myght be to @our pleasure.\
<S Magn>
As I be saved, with pleasure I am supprysyd\
Of @our langage, it is so well devysed;\
Pullyshyd and fresshe is @our ornacy.\
<S Cou.Ab>
A, I wolde to $God that I were halfe so crafty\
Or in electe utteraunce halfe so eloquent,\
As that I myght @our noble grace content!\
<S Magn>
Truste me, with @ou I am hyghly pleasyd;\
For in my favour I have @ou feffyd and seasyd.\
He is not lyvynge @our maners can amend;\
$Mary, @our speche is as pleasant as though it were pend,\
To here @our comon, it is my hygh comforte.\
Poynt#devyse, all pleasure is @our porte.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Syr, I am the better of @our noble reporte;\
But of @our pacyence under the supporte,\
If it wolde lyke @ou to here my pore mynde -\
<S Magn>
Speke, I beseche the. Leve nothynge behynde.\
<S Cou.Ab>
So as @e be a prynce of great myght,\
It is semynge @our pleasure @e delyte,\
And to aqueynte @ou with carnall delectacyon;\
And to fall in aquayntaunce with every newe facyon,\
And quyckely @our appetytes to sharpe and adresse;\
To fasten @our fansy upon a fayre maystresse\
That quyckly is envyved with rudyes of the rose,\
Inpurtured with fetures after @our purpose,\
The streynes of her vaynes as asure Inde#blewe,\
Enbudded with beautye and colour fresshe of hewe,\
As lyly whyte to loke upon her [l]eyre, +
^leyre] `heyre' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Her eyen relucent as carbuncle so clere,\
Her mouthe enbawmed, dylectable and mery,\
Her lusty lyppes ruddy as the chery -\
Howe lyke @ou? {e lacke, syr, suche a lusty lasse.\
<S Magn>
A, that were a baby to brace and to basse!\
<P 184>
I wolde I had, by hym that hell dyd harowe,\
With me in kepynge suche a $Phylyp $Sparowe.\
I wolde hauke whylest my hede dyd warke,\
So I myght hobby for suche a lusty larke.\
These wordes in myne eyre, they be so lustely spoken,\
That on suche a female my flesshe wolde be wroken.\
They towche me so thorowly and tykyll my consayte,\
That weryed I wolde be on suche a bayte.\
A, Cockes armes! Where myght suche one be founde?\
<S Cou.Ab>
Wyll @e spende ony money? <S Magn>{e, a thousande pounde.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Nay, nay; for lesse I waraunt @ou to be sped,\
And brought home and layde in @our bed.\
<S Magn>
Wolde money, trowest thou, make suche one to the call?\
<S Cou.Ab>
Money maketh marchauntes, I tell @ou, over all.\
<S Magn>
Why, wyl a maystres be wonne for money and for golde?\
<S Cou.Ab>
Why, was not for money $Troy bothe bought and solde?\
Full many a strong cyte and towne hath been wonne\
By the meanes of money without ony gonne.\
A maystres, I tell @ou, is but a small thynge.\
A goodly rybon, or a golde rynge,\
May wynne with a sawte the fortresse of the holde.\
But one thynge I warne @ou, prece forth and be bolde.\
<S Magn>
{e, but some be full koy and passynge harde#harted.\
<S Cou.Ab>
But, blessyd be our Lorde, they wyll be sone converted.\
<S Magn>
Why, wyll they then be intreted, the most and the lest?\
<S Cou.Ab>
{e, for %omnis %mulier %meretrix %si %celari %potest.\
<S Magn>
A, I have spyed @e can moche broken sorowe.\
<S Cou.Ab>
I coude holde @ou with suche talke hens tyll to#morowe.\
<P 185>
But @f it lyke @our grace more at large\
Me to permyt my mynde to dyscharge,\
I wolde @et shewe @ou further of my consayte.\
<S Magn>
Let se what @e say. Shewe it strayte.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Wysely let these wordes in @our mynde be wayed:\
By waywarde wylfulnes let eche thynge be convayed;\
What#so#ever @e do, folowe @our owne wyll,\
Be it reason or none, it shall not gretely skyll;\
Be it ryght or wronge, by the advyse of me,\
Take @our pleasure and use free lyberte;\
And @f @ou se ony#thynge agaynst @our mynde,\
Then some occacyon or quarell @e must fynde,\
And frowne it and face it, as thoughe @e wolde fyght;\
Frete @ourselfe for anger and for dyspyte;\
Here no man what#so#ever they say\
But do as @e lyst and take @our owne way.\
<S Magn>
Thy wordes and my mynde odly well accorde.\
<S Cou.Ab>
What sholde @e do elles? Are not @ou a lorde?\
Let @our lust and lykynge stande for a lawe.\
Be wrastynge and wrythynge, and away drawe.\
And @e se a man that with hym @e be not pleased,\
And that @our mynde can#not well be eased -\
As @f a man fortune to touche @ou on the quyke -\
Then feyne @ourselfe dyseased, and make @ourselfe seke.\
To styre up @our stomake @ou must @ou forge,\
Call for a ca[u]dell and cast up @our gorge, +
^caudell] `candell' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
With, `Cockes armes! Rest shall I none have\
Tyll I be revenged on that horson knave.\
A, howe my stomake wambleth! I am all in a swete.\
Is there no horson that knave that wyll bete?'\
<S Magn>
By $Cockes woundes, a wonder felowe thou arte!\
For ofte#tymes suche a wamblynge goth over my harte;\
{et I am not harte#seke, but that me lyst.\
For myrth I have hym coryed, beten, and blyst,\
Hym that I loved not, and made hym to loute;\
I am forthwith as hole as a troute.\
For suche abusyon I use nowe and than.\
<S Cou.Ab>
It is none abusyon, syr, in a noble man.\
<P 186>
It is a pryncely pleasure and a lordly mynde.\
Suche lustes at large may not be lefte behynde.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in CLOKED COLUSYON with MESURE\=
~[to whom he speaks first.]|+
<L 1629>
<S Clo.Col>
Stande styll here, and @e shall se\
That for @our sake I wyll fall on my kne.\
~[MESURE waits at the door.]|+
<S Cou.Ab>
Syr, Sober Sadnesse cometh. Wherfore it be?\
<S Magn>
Stand up, syr. {e are welcom to me.\
<S Clo.Col>
Please it @our grace at the contemplacyon\
Of my pore instance and supplycacyon,\
Tenderly to consyder in @our advertence -\
Of our blessyd Lorde, syr, at the reverence -\
Remembre the good servyce that Mesure hath @ou done,\
And that @e wyll not cast hym away so sone.\
<S Magn>
My frende, as touchynge to this @our mocyon,\
I may say to @ou I have but small devocyon.\
Howe#be#it, at @our instaunce I wyll the rather\
Do as moche as for myne owne father.\
<S Clo.Col>
Nay, syr. That affeccyon ought to be reserved,\
For of @our grace I have it nought deserved.\
But @f it lyke @ou that I myght rowne in @our eyre,\
To shewe @ou my mynde I wolde have the lesse fere.\
<S Magn>
Stande a lytell abacke, syr, and let hym come hyder.\
<S Cou.Ab>
With a good wyll, syr, $God spede @ou bothe togyder.\
<S Clo.Col>
Syr, so it is: this man is here by,\
That for hym to laboure he hath prayde me hartely;\
Notwithstandynge to @ou be it sayde\
To trust in me he is but dyssayved;\
For, so helpe me $God, for @ou he is not mete.\
I speke the softlyer because he sholde not wete.\
<S Magn>
Come hyder, Pleasure; @ou shall here myne entent.\
Mesure, @e knowe wel, with hym I can#not be content;\
And surely, as I am nowe advysed,\
I wyll have hym rehayted and dyspysed.\
Howe say @e, syrs? Herein what is best?\
<S Cou.Ab>
By myne advyse, with @ou in fayth he shall not rest.\
<P 187>
<S Clo.Col>
{et, syr, reserved @our better advysement,\
It were better he spake with @ou or he wente,\
That he knowe not but that I have supplyed\
All that I can his matter for to spede.\
<S Magn>
Nowe, by @our trouthe, gave he @ou not a brybe?\
<S Clo.Col>
{es. With his hande I made hym to subscrybe\
A byll of recorde for an annuall rent.\
<S Cou.Ab>
But for all that he is lyke to have a glent.\
<S Clo.Col>
{e, by my trouthe, I shall waraunt @ou for me,\
And he go to the devyll, so that I may have my fee,\
What care I? <S Magn> By the masse, well sayd.\
<S Cou.Ab>
What force @e, so that [@]e be payde? +
^ye be] `he be' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Clo.Col>
But @et, lo, I wolde, or that he wente,\
Lest that he thought that his money were evyll spente,\
That he wolde loke on hym, thoughe it were not longe.\
<S Magn>
Well cannest thou helpe a preest to synge a songe.\
<S Clo.Col>
So it is all the maner nowe#a#dayes\
For to use suche haftynge and crafty wayes.\
<S Cou.Ab>
He telleth @ou trouth, syr, as I @ou ensure.\
<S Magn>
Well, for thy sake the better I may endure\
That he come hyder, and to gyve hym a loke\
That he shall lyke the worse all this woke.\
<S Clo.Col>
I care not howe sone he be refused,\
So that I may craftely be excused.\
<S Cou.Ab>
Where is he? <S Clo.Col> $Mary, I made hym abyde\
Whylest I came to @ou, a lytell here besyde.\
<S Magn>
Well, call hym, and let us here hym reason;\
And we wyll be comonynge in the mene season.\
<S Cou.Ab>
This is a wyse man, syr, where#so#ever @e hym had.\
<S Magn>
An honest person, I tell @ou, and a sad.\
<S Cou.Ab>
He can full craftely this matter brynge aboute.\
<S Magn>
Whylest I have hym, I nede nothynge doute.\
~%Hic %introducat COLUSION MESURE, MAGNYFYCENCE %aspectante+
%vultu %elatissimo.|+
<S Clo.Col>
By the masse, I have done that I can,\
And more than ever I dyd for ony man.\
<P 188>
I trowe @e herde @ourselfe what I sayd.\
<S Meas>
Nay, indede, but I sawe howe @e prayed,\
And made instance for me be lykelyhod.\
<S Clo.Col>
Nay, I tell @ou, I am not wonte to fode\
Them that dare put theyr truste in me;\
And therof @e shall a larger profe se.\
<S Meas>
Syr, $God rewarde @ou as @e have deserved.\
But thynke @ou with Magnyfycence I shal be reserved?\
<S Clo.Col>
By my trouth, I can#not tell @ou that.\
But, and I were as @e, I wolde not set a gnat.\
By Magnyfycence nor @et none of his;\
For go when @e shall, of @ou shall he mysse.\
<S Meas>
Syr, as @e say. <S Clo.Col> Nay, come on with me.\
{et ones agayne I shall fall on my kne\
For @our sake, what#so#ever befall;\
I set not a flye and all go to all.\
<S Meas>
The Holy Goost be with @our grace.\
<S Clo.Col>
Syr, I beseche @ou let pety have some place\
In @our brest towardes this gentylman.\
<S Magn>
I was @our good lorde tyll that @e beganne\
So masterfully upon @ou for to take\
With my servauntys, and suche maystryes gan make,\
That holly my mynde with @ou is myscontente;\
Wherfore I wyll that @e be resydent\
With me no longer. <S Clo.Col> Say somwhat nowe, let se,\
For @our#selfe. <S Meas> Syr, @f I myght permytted be,\
I wolde to @ou say a worde or twayne.\
<S Magn>
What! Woldest thou, lurden, with me brawle agayne?\
Have hym hens, I say, out of my syght!\
That day I se hym I shall be worse all nyght.\
_
<L SD>
Here MESURE goth out of the place.\=
<L 1725>
<S Cou.Ab>
Hens, thou haynyarde, out of dores fast!\
~[%Exit COURTLY ABUSYON]|+
<S Magn> Alas! My stomake fareth as it wolde cast.\
<P 189>
<S Clo.Col>
Abyde, syr, abyde. Let me holde @our hede.\
<S Magn>
A bolle or a basyn, I say, for $Goddes brede!\
A, my hede! But is the horson gone?\
$God gyve hym a myscheffe! Nay, nowe let me alone.\
<S Clo.Col>
A good dryfte, syr, a praty fete!\
By the good Lorde, @et @our temples bete.\
<S Magn>
Nay, so $God me helpe, it was no grete vexacyon;\
For I am panged ofte#tymes in this same facyon.\
<S Clo.Col>
Cockes armes, howe Pleasure plucked hym forth!\
<S Magn>
{e, walke he must; it was no better worth.\
<S Clo.Col>
Syr, nowe me thynke @our harte is well eased.\
<S Magn>
Nowe Measure is gone, I am the better pleased.\
<S Clo.Col>
So to be ruled by measure, it is a payne.\
<S Magn>
$Mary, I wene he wolde not be glad to come agayne.\
<S Clo.Col>
So I wote not what he sholde do here.\
Where mennes belyes is mesured, there is no chere;\
For I here but fewe men that gyve ony prayse\
Unto measure, I say, nowe#a#days.\
<S Magn>
Measure? Tut, what the devyll of hell!\
Scantly one with measure that wyll dwell.\
<S Clo.Col>
Not amonge noble#men, as the worlde gothe.\
It is no wonder, therfore, thoughe @e be wrothe\
With Mesure. Where#as all noblenes is, there I have past:\
They catche that catche may, kepe and holde fast,\
Out of all measure themselfe to enryche;\
No force what thoughe his neyghbour dye in a dyche.\
With pollynge and pluckynge out of all measure,\
Thus must @e stuffe and store @our treasure.\
<S Magn>
{et somtyme,parde, I must use largesse.\
<S Clo.Col>
{e, $Mary, somtyme - in a messe of vergesse,\
As in a tryfyll or in a thynge of nought,\
As gyvynge a thynge that @e never bought.\
It is the gyse nowe, I say, over all -\
Largesse in wordes - for rewardes are but small.\
To make fayre promyse, what are @e the worse?\
Let me have the rule of @our purse.\
<S Magn>
I have taken it to Largesse and Lyberte.\
<S Clo.Col>
Than is it done as it sholde be;\
But use @our largesse by the advyse of me,\
<P 190>
And I shall waraunt @ou welth and lyberte.\
<S Magn>
Say on; me thynke @our reasons be profounde.\
<S Clo.Col>
Syr, of my counsayle this shall be the grounde:\
To chose out %ii., %iii., of suche as @ou love best,\
And let all @our fansyes upon them rest.\
Spare for no cost to gyve them pounde and peny;\
Better to make %iii. ryche than for to make many.\
Gyve them more than @noughe, and let them not lacke;\
And as for all other, let them trusse and packe;\
Plucke from an hundred, and gyve it to thre;\
Let neyther patent scape them nor fee;\
And where#soever @ou wyll fall to a rekenynge,\
Those thre wyll be redy even at @our bekenynge;\
For the[m] shall @ou have at lyberte to lowte. +
^them] `then' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Let them have all, and the other go without;\
Thus joy without mesure @ou shall have.\
<S Magn>
Thou sayst truthe, by the harte that $God me gave!\
For as thou sayst, ryght so shall it be,\
And here I make the upon Lyberte\
To be supervysour, and on Largesse also;\
For as thou wylte, so shall the game go;\
For in Pleasure and Surveyaunce and also in the,\
I have set my hole felycyte,\
And suche as @ou wyll shall lacke no promocyon.\
<S Clo.Col>
Syr, syth that in me @e have suche devocyon,\
Commyttynge to me and to my felowes twayne\
{our welthe and felycyte, I trust we shall optayne\
To do @ou servyce after @our appetyte.\
<S Magn>
In faythe, and @our servyce ryght well shall I acquyte;\
And therfore hye @ou hens, and take this oversyght.\
<S Clo.Col>
Nowe $Jesu preserve @ou, syr, prynce most of myght.\
_
<L SD>
Here goth CLOKED COLUSYON awaye,\
<L SD>
and leveth MAGNYFYCENCE alone in the place.\=
<L 1797>
<S Magn>
Thus, I say, I am envyronned with solace.\
I drede no dyntes of fatall desteny.\
Well were that lady myght stande in my grace,\
Me to enbrace and love moost specyally.\
A, Lorde, so I wolde halse her hartely!\
So I wolde clepe her! So I wolde kys her swete!\
<P 191>
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in FOLY.\=
<L 1803>
<S Fol>
$Mary, $Cryst graunt @e catche no colde on @our fete!\
<S Magn>
Who is this? <S Fol> Consayte, syr, @our owne man.\
<S Magn>
What tydynges with @ou, syr? I befole thy brayne#pan.\
<S Fol>
By our lakyn, syr, I have ben a hawkyng for the wylde swan.\
My hawke is rammysshe, and it happed that she ran -\
Flewe, I sholde say - in#to an olde barne\
To reche at a rat - I coude not her warne.\
She pynched her pynyon, by $God, and catched harme.\
It was a ronner; nay, fole, I warant her blode warme.\
<S Magn>
A, syr, thy jarfawcon and thou be hanged togyder!\
<S Fol>
And, syr as I was comynge to @ou hyder,\
I saw a foxe sucke on a kowes @dder;\
And with a lyme#rodde I toke them bothe togyder.\
I trowe it be a frost, for the way is slydder;\
Se, for $God avowe, for colde as I chydder.\
<S Magn>
Thy wordes hange togyder as fethers in the wynde.\
<S Fol>
A, syr, tolde I not @ou howe I dyd fynde\
A knave and a carle and all of one kynde?\
I sawe a wethercocke wagge with the wynde!\
Grete mervayle I had, and mused in my mynde.\
The houndes ranne before, and the hare behynde.\
I sawe a losell lede a lurden, and they were bothe blynde.\
I sawe a sowter go to supper, or ever he had dynde.\
<S Magn>
By Cockes harte, thou arte a fyne mery knave.\
<S Fol>
I make $God avowe @e wyll none other men have.\
<S Magn>
What sayst thou? <S Fol> $Mary, I pray $God @our mastershyp to save.\
I shall gyve @ou a gaude of a goslynge that I gave,\
The gander and the gose bothe grasynge on one grave.\
<P 192>
Than $Rowlande the reve ran, and I began to rave,\
And wyth a brystell of a bore his berde dyd I shave.\
<S Magn>
If ever I herde syke another, $God gyve me shame.\
<S Fol>
$Sym $Sadylgose was my syer, and $Dawcocke my dame.\
I coude, and I lyst, garre @ou laughe at a game:\
Howe a wodcocke wrastled with a larke that was lame;\
The bytter sayd boldly that they were to blame;\
The feldfare wolde have fydled, and it wolde not frame;\
The crane and the curlewe therat gan to grame;\
The snyte snyveled in the snowte and smyled at the game.\
<S Magn>
Cockes bones! Harde @e ever suche another?\
<S Fol>
Se, syr, I beseche @ou, Largesse my brother.\
_
<L SD>
Here FANSY cometh in.\=
<L 1843>
<S Magn>
What tydynges with @ou, syr, that @ou loke so sad?\
<S Fan>
When @e knowe that I knowe, @e wyll not be glad.\
<S Fol>
What, brother braynsyke, how farest thou?\
<S Magn>
{e, let be thy japes, and tell me howe\
The case requyreth. <S Fan> Alasse, alasse, an hevy metynge!\
I wolde tell @ou and @f I myght for wepynge.\
<S Fol>
What! Is all @our myrthe nowe tourned to sorowe?\
Fare#well tyll sone; adue tyll to#morowe.\
_
<L SD>
Here goth FOLY away.\=
<L 1851>
<S Magn>
I pray the, Largesse, let be thy sobbynge.\
<S Fan>
Alasse, syr, @e are undone with stelyng and robbynge!\
{e sent us a supervysour for to take hede;\
Take hede of @our#selfe, for nowe @e have nede.\
<S Magn>
What! Hath Sadnesse begyled me so?\
<S Fan>
Nay. Madnesse hath begyled @ou and many mo;\
For Lyberte is gone, and also Felycyte.\
<S Magn>
Gone? Alasse, @e have undone me!\
<S Fan>
Nay. He that @e sent us, Clokyd Colusyon,\
And @our payntyd Pleasure, Courtly Abusyon,\
And @our demenour with Counterfet Countenaunce,\
And @our Su[rvay]our, Crafty Conveyaunce, +
^Survayour] `supervysour' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<P 193>
Or ever we were ware, brought us in adversyte,\
And had robbyd @ou quyte from all felycyte.\
<S Magn>
Why, is this the largesse that I have usyd?\
<S Fan>
Nay. It was @our fondnesse that @e have usyd.\
<S Magn>
And is this the credence that I gave to the letter?\
<S Fan>
Why, coulde not @our wyt serve @ou no better?\
<S Magn>
Why, who wolde have thought in @ou suche gyle?\
<S Fan>
What? {es, by the rode, syr. It was I all this whyle\
That @ou trustyd, and Fansy is my name;\
And Foly, my broder, that made @ou moche game.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in ADVERSYTE.\=
<L 1873>
<S Magn>
Alas, wh[o] is @onder that grymly lokys? +
^who] `why' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Fan>
Adewe, for I wyll not come in his clokys.\
~[%Exit Fansy.]|+
<S Magn>
Lorde, so my flesshe trymblyth nowe for drede!\
_
<L SD>
Here MAGNYFYCENCE is beten downe\
<L SD>
and spoylyd from all his goodys and rayment.\=
<L 1876>
<S Adv>
I am Adversyte, that for thy mysdede\
From $God am sente to quyte the thy mede.\
Vyle velyarde, thou must not nowe my dynt withstande;\
Thou must not abyde the dynt of my hande.\
Ly there, losell, for all thy pompe and pryde;\
Thy pleasure now with payne and trouble shalbe tryde.\
The stroke of $God, Adversyte, I hyght.\
I plucke downe kynge, prynce, lorde, and knyght;\
I rushe at them rughly and make them ly full lowe;\
And in theyr moste truste I make them overthrowe.\
Thys losyll was a lorde and lyvyd at his lust;\
And nowe lyke a lurden he lyeth in the dust.\
He knewe not hymselfe, his harte was so hye;\
Nowe is there no man that wyll set by hym a flye.\
He was wonte to boste, brage, and to brace;\
Nowe dare he not for shame loke one in the face.\
All worldly welth for hym to lytell was;\
Nowe hath he ryght nought, naked as an asse.\
Somtyme without measure he trusted in golde;\
And now without measure he shal have hunger and colde.\
<P 194>
Lo, syrs, thus I handell them all\
That folowe theyr fansyes in foly to fall.\
Man or woman, of what estate they be,\
I counsayle them beware of adversyte.\
<L 1900>
Of sorowfull servauntes I have many scores:\
I vysyte them somtyme with blaynes and with sores;\
With botches and carbuckyls in care I them knyt;\
With the gowte I make them to grone where they syt;\
Some I make lyppers and lazars full horse;\
And from that they love best some I devorse;\
Some with the marmoll to halte I them make;\
And some to cry out of the bone#ake;\
And some I vysyte with brennynge of fyre;\
Of some I wrynge of the necke lyke a wyre;\
And some I make in a rope to totter and walter;\
And some for to hange themselfe in an halter;\
And some I vysyte [with] batayle, warre, and murther, +
^with] `to' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
And make eche man to sle other;\
To drowne or to sle themselfe with a knyfe -\
An all is for theyr ungracyous lyfe.\
{et sometyme I stryke where is none offence,\
Bycause I wolde prove men of theyr pacyence.\
But nowe#a#dayes to stryke I have grete cause,\
Lydderyns so lytell set by $Goddes lawes.\
Faders and moders that be neclygent,\
And suffre theyr chyldren to have theyr entent,\
To gyde them vertuously that wyll not remembre,\
Them or theyr chyldren ofte#tymes I dysmembre;\
Theyr chyldren, bycause that they have no mekenesse,\
I vysyte theyr faders and moders with sekenesse;\
And @f I se therby they wyll not amende,\
Then myschefe sodaynly I them sende;\
For there is nothynge that more dyspleaseth $God\
Than from theyr chyldren to spare the rod\
Of correccyon, but let them have theyr wyll.\
Some I make lame, and some I do kyll,\
And some I stryke with a franesy;\
Of some of theyr chyldren I stryke out the eye;\
<P 195>
And where the fader by wysdom worshyp hath wonne,\
I sende ofte#tymes a fole to his sonne.\
Wherfore, of adversyte loke @e be#ware;\
For when I come, comyth sorowe and care;\
For I stryke lordys of realmes and landys\
That rule not be mesure that they have in theyr handys,\
That sadly rule not theyr howsholde men.\
I am $Goddys preposytour; I prynt them with a pen;\
Because of theyr neglygence and of theyr wanton vagys,\
I vysyte them and stryke them with many sore plagys.\
To take, syrs, example of that I @ou tell,\
And beware of adversyte by my counsell,\
Take hede of this captyfe that lyeth here on grounde.\
Beholde howe Fortune o[n] hym hath frounde. + 
^on] `of' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
For though we shewe @ou this in game and play,\
{et it proveth eyrnest, @e may se, every day.\
For nowe wyll I from this caytyfe go,\
And take myscheffe and vengeaunce of other mo\
That hath deservyd it as well as he.\
Howe, where art thou? Come hether, Poverte.\
Take this caytyfe to thy lore.\
~[Exit ADVERSYTE.] |+
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in POVERTE.\=
<L 1955>
<S Pov>
A, my bonys ake! My lymmys be sore!\
Alasse, I have the cyatyca full evyll in my hyppe!\
Alasse, where is @outh that was wont for to skyppe?\
I am lowsy and unlykynge and full of scurffe;\
My colour is tawny, colouryd as a turffe;\
I am Poverte that all men doth hate.\
I am baytyd with doggys at every mannys gate;\
I am raggyd and rent, as @e may se;\
Full fewe but they have envy of me.\
Nowe must I this carcasse lyft up.\
He dynyd with delyte, with poverte he must sup.\
Ryse up, syr, and welcom unto me.\
<P 196>
~%Hic %accedat %ad %levandum MAGNYFYCENCE, %et %locabit %eum %super %locum+
%stratum.|+
<S Magn>
<L 1967>
Alasse! Where is nowe my golde and fe?\
Alasse, I say, where to am I brought?\
Alasse, alasse, alasse! I dye for thought.\
<S Pov>
Syr, all this wolde have bene thought on before.\
He woteth not what welth is that never was sore.\
<S Magn>
Fy, fy, that ever I sholde be brought in this snare!\
I wenyd ones never to have knowen of care.\
<S Pov>
Lo, suche is this worlde! I fynde it wryt,\
In welth to beware; and that is wyt.\
<S Magn>
In welth to beware @f I had had grace,\
Never had I bene brought in this case.\
<S Pov>
Nowe, syth it wyll no nother be,\
All that $God sendeth, take it in gre;\
For thoughe @ou were somtyme a noble estate,\
Nowe must @ou lerne to begge at every mannes gate.\
<S Magn>
Alasse that ever I sholde be so shamed!\
Alasse that ever I Magnyfycence was named!\
Alasse that ever I was so harde happed\
In mysery and wretchydnesse thus to be lapped!\
Alasse that I coude not myselfe no better gyde!\
Alasse in my cradell that I had not dyde!\
<S Pov>
{e, syr, @e; leve all this rage,\
And pray to $God @our sorowes to asswage.\
It is foly to grudge agaynst his vysytacyon.\
With harte contryte make @our supplycacyon\
Unto @our maker that made bothe @ou and me;\
And whan it pleaseth $God, better may be.\
<S Magn>
Alasse! I wote not what I sholde pray.\
<S Pov>
Remembre @ou better, syr. Beware what @e say,\
For drede @e dysplease the hygh deyte.\
Put @our wyll to his wyll, for surely it is he\
That may restore @ou agayne to felycyte,\
And brynge @ou agayne out of adversyte.\
Therefore poverte loke pacyently @e take,\
And remembre he suffered moche more for @our sake;\
Howe#be#it of all synne he was innocent,\
And @e have deserved this punysshment.\
<P 197>
<S Magn>
Alasse! With colde my lymmes shall be marde.\
<S Pov>
{e, syr, nowe must @e lerne to lye harde,\
That was wonte to lye on fetherbeddes of downe;\
Nowe must @our fete lye hyer than @our crowne.\
Where @ou were wonte to have cawdels for @our hede,\
Nowe must @ou monche mamockes and lumpes of brede;\
And where @ou had chaunges of ryche aray,\
Nowe lap @ou in a coverlet, full fayne that @ou may;\
And where that @e were pomped with what that @e wolde,\
Nowe must @e suffre bothe hunger and colde.\
With curteyns of sylke, @e were wonte to be drawe; +
^curteyns of sylke] `courtely sylkes' }Rastell & Treveris 1530B^\
Nowe must @e lerne to lye on the strawe.\
{our skynne that was wrapped in shertes of $Raynes,\
Nowe must be storm#ybeten with showres and raynes.\
{our hede that was wonte to be happed moost drowpy and drowsy,\
Now shal @e be scabbed, scurvy, and lowsy.\
<S Magn>
Fye on this worlde, full of trechery,\
That ever noblenesse sholde lyve thus wretchydly!\
<S Pov>
Syr, remembre the tourne of Fortunes whele,\
That wantonly can wynke and wynche with her hele.\
Nowe she wyll laughe, forthwith she wyll frowne;\
Sodenly set up and sodenly pluckyd downe;\
She dawnsyth varyaunce with mutabylyte,\
Nowe all in welth, forthwith in poverte;\
In her promyse there is no sykernesse,\
All her delyte is set in doublenesse.\
<S Magn>
Alas! Of Fortune I may well complayne.\
<S Pov>
{e, syr, @esterday wyll not be callyd agayne.\
But @et, syr, nowe in this case\
Take it mekely, and thanke $God of his grace;\
For nowe go I wyll begge for @ou some mete.\
It is foly agaynst $God for to plete.\
I wyll walke nowe with my beggers#baggys,\
And happe @ou the whyles with these homly raggys.\
~%Di[sce]dendo %dicat %ista %verba.|+
<P 198>
A, howe my lymmys be lyther and lame!\
Better it is to begge than to be hangyd with shame.\
{et many had lever hangyd to be\
Then for to begge theyr mete for charyte.\
They thynke it no shame to robbe and stele;\
{et were they better to begge, a great dele;\
For by robbynge they rynne to %in %manus %tuas quecke;\
But beggynge is better medecyne for the necke.\
{e, $mary, is it. {e, so mote I goo.\
A, Lord $God, how the gowte wryngeth me by the too.\
_
<L SD>
Here MAGNYFYCENCE dolorously maketh his mone.\=
<L 2048>
<S Magn>
O feble fortune, O doulfull destyny!\
O hatefull happe, O carefull cruelte!\
O syghynge sorowe, O thoughtfull mysere!\
O rydlesse rewthe, O paynfull poverte!\
O dolorous herte, O harde adversyte!\
O odyous dystresse, O dedly payne and woo!\
For worldly shame I wax bothe wanne and bloo.\
Where is nowe my welth and my noble estate?\
Where is nowe my treasure, my landes, and my rent?\
Where is nowe all my servauntys that I had here a late?\
Where is nowe my golde upon them that I spent?\
Where is nowe all my ryche abylement?\
Where is nowe my kynne, my frendys, and my noble blood?\
Where is nowe all my pleasure and my worldly good?\
Alasse my foly! Alasse my wanton wyll!\
I may no more speke tyll I have wept my fyll.\
~[Enter LYBERTE.]|+
<S Lyb>
With @e, $mary, syrs, thus sholde it be:\
I kyst her swete, and she kyssyd me;\
I daunsed the darlynge on my kne;\
I garde her gaspe, I garde her gle,\
With daunce on the le, the le!\
I bassed that baby with harte so free;\
<P 199>
She is the bote of all my bale.\
A, so! That syghe was farre#fet!\
To love that lovesome I wyll not let;\
My harte is holly on her set;\
I plucked her by the patlet;\
At my devyse I with her met;\
My fansy fayrly on her I set;\
So merely syngeth the nyghtyngale!\
In lust and lykynge my name is Lyberte.\
I am desyred with hyghest and lowest degre.\
I lyve as me lyst, I lepe out at large;\
Of erthely thynge I have no care nor charge.\
I am presydent of prynces; I prycke them with pryde.\
What is he lyvynge that lyberte wolde lacke?\
A thousande pounde with lyberte may holde no tacke.\
At lyberte a man may be bolde for to brake;\
Welthe without lyberte gothe all to wrake.\
But @et, syrs, hardely one thynge lerne of me:\
I warne @ou beware of to moche lyberte,\
For %totum %in %toto is not worth an hawe -\
To hardy, or to moche, to free of the dawe,\
To sober, to sad, to subtell, to wyse,\
To mery, to mad, to gyglynge, to nyse,\
To full of fansyes, to lordly, to prowde,\
To homly, to holy, to lewde, or to lowde,\
To flatterynge, to smatterynge, to to out of harre,\
To claterynge, to chaterynge, to shorte, and to farre,\
To jettynge, to jaggynge, and to full of japes,\
To mockynge, to mowynge, to lyke a jackenapes -\
Thus %totum %in %toto groweth up, as @e may se,\
By meanes of madnesse and to moche lyberte.\
For I am a vertue @f I be well used,\
And I am a vyce where I am abused.\
<S Magn>
A, woo worthe the, Lyberte, nowe thou sayst full trewe;\
That I used the to moche sore may I rewe.\
<S Lyb>
What, a very vengeaunce, I say! Who is that?\
What brothell, I say, is @onder bounde in a mat?\
<P 200>
<S Magn>
I am Magnyfycence, that somtyme thy mayster was.\
<S Lyb>
What! Is the worlde thus come to passe?\
Cockes armes, syrs, wyll @e not se\
Howe he is undone by the meanes of me?\
For @f Measure had ruled Lyberte as he began,\
This lurden that here lyeth had ben a noble man.\
But he abused so his free lyberte,\
That nowe he hath loste all his felycyte;\
Not thorowe largesse of lyberall expence,\
But by the way of fansy insolence.\
For lyberalyte is most convenyent\
A prynce to use with all his hole intent,\
Largely rewardynge them that have deservyd;\
And so shall a noble man nobly be servyd.\
But nowe#adayes as huksters they hucke and they stycke,\
And pynche at the payment of a poddynge#prycke;\
A laudable largesse, I tell @ou, for a lorde,\
To prate for the patchynge of a pot#sharde!\
Spare for the spence of a noble that his honour myght save,\
And spende %C %s. for the pleasure of a knave.\
But so longe they rekyn with theyr reasons amysse +
^they] `theyr' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
That they lose theyr lyberte and all that there is.\
<S Magn>
Alasse, that ever I occupyed suche abusyon!\
<S Lyb>
{e, for nowe it hath brought the to confusyon;\
For where I am occupyed and usyd wylfully,\
It can#not contynew long prosperyously;\
As evydently in retchlesse @outh @e may se\
Howe many come to myschefe for to moche lyberte;\
And some in the worlde, theyr brayne is so @dyll\
That they set theyr chyldren to rynne on the brydyll,\
In @outh to be wanton, and let them have theyr wyll -\
And they never thryve in theyr age, it shall not gretly skyll.\
Some fall to foly, them#selfe for to spyll,\
And some fall prechynge at the Toure Hyll;\
Some hath so moche lyberte of one thynge and other,\
That nother they set by father and mother;\
Some have so moche lyberte that they fere no synne,\
<P 201>
Tyll, as @e se many tymes, they shame all theyr kynne.\
I am so lusty to loke on, so freshe, and so fre,\
That nonnes wyl leve theyr holynes and ryn after me;\
Freers, with foly I make them so fayne\
They cast up theyr obedyence to cache me agayne;\
At lyberte to wander and walke over all,\
That lustely they lepe somtyme theyr cloyster wall.\
~%Hic %aliquis %buccat %in %cornu %a %retro %post %populum.\|+
{onder is a horson for me doth rechate;\
Adewe, syrs, for I thynke leyst that I come to late.\
~[Exit LYBERTE]|+
<S Magn>
O good Lorde, howe longe shall I indure\
This mysery, this carefull wrechydnesse?\
Of worldly welthe, alasse, who can be sure?\
In Fortunys frendshyppe there is no stedfastnesse;\
She hath dyssayvyd me with her doublenesse.\
For to be wyse all men may lerne of me,\
In welthe to beware of herde adversyte.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in CRAFTY CONVEYAUNCE [and] CLOKYD COLUSYON\
<L SD>
with a lusty laughter.\=
<L 2160>
<S Cra.Con>
Ha, ha, ha! For laughter I am lyke to brast.\
<S Clo.Col>
Ha, ha, ha! For sporte I am lyke to spewe and cast.\
<S Cra.Con>
What hast thou gotted, in faythe, to thy share?\
<S Clo.Col>
In faythe, of his cofers the bottoms are bare.\
<S Cra.Con>
As for his plate of sylver and suche trasshe,\
I waraunt @ou I have gyven it a lasshe.\
<S Clo.Col>
What! Then he may drynke out of a stone cruyse.\
<S Cra.Con>
With @e, syr, by $Jesu, that slayne was with Jewes!\
He may rynse a pycher, for his plate is to wed.\
<S Clo.Col>
In faythe, he may dreme on a daggeswane for ony fether#bed.\
<S Cra.Con>
By my trouthe, we have ryfled hym metely well.\
<S Clo.Col>
{e, but thanke me therof every dele.\
<S Cra.Con>
Thanke the therof, in the devyls date!\
<S Clo.Col>
Leve thy pratynge or els I shall lay the on the pate.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, to wrangle, I warant the, it is but a stone-caste.\
<S Clo.Col>
By the messe, I shall cleve thy heed to the waste.\
<P 202>
<S Cra.Con>
{e, wylte thou clenly cle[v]e me in the clyfte with thy nose? # +
^cleve] `clene' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Clo.Col>
I shall thrust in the my dagger - <S Cra.Con>Thorowe the legge in#to the hose.\
<S Clo.Col>
Nay, horson, here is my glove. Take it up and thou dare.\
<S Cra.Con>
Torde! Thou arte good to be a man of warre.\
<S Clo.Col>
I shall skelpe the on the skalpe; lo, seest thou that?\
<S Cra.Con>
What! Wylte thou skelpe me? Thou dare not loke on a gnat.\
<S Clo.Col>
By Cockes bones, I shall blysse the and thou be to bolde.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay. Then thou wylte dynge the devyll and thou be not holde.\
<S Clo.Col>
But wottest thou, horson? I rede the to be wyse.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nowe I rede the beware. I have warned the twyse.\
<S Clo.Col>
Why, wenest thou that I forbere the for thyne owne sake?\
<S Cra.Con>
Peas, or I shall wrynge thy be in a brake.\
<S Clo.Col>
Holde thy hande, dawe, of thy dagger, and stynt of thy dyn;\
Or I shal fawchyn thy flesshe and scrape the on the skyn.\
<S Cra.Con>
{e, wylte thou, hangman? I say, thou cavell!\
<S Clo.Col>
Nay, thou rude ravener, rayne#beten javell!\
<S Cra.Con>
What! Thou $Colyn Cowarde, knowen and tryde!\
<S Clo.Col>
Nay, thou false#harted dastarde! Thou dare not abyde.\
<S Cra.Con>
And @f there were none to dysplease but thou and I,\
Thou sholde not scape, horson, but thou sholde dye.\
<S Clo.Col>
Nay, iche shall wrynge the, horson, on the wryst.\
<S Cra.Con>
$Mary, I defye thy best and thy worst.\
~[Enter COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE.]|+
<S Cou.Cou>
What a very vengeaunce nede all these wordys?\
Go together by the heddys, and gyve me @our swordys.\
<S Clo.Col>
So he is the worste brawler that ever was borne.\
<S Cra.Con>
In fayth, so to suffer the, it is but a skorne.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Now let us be all one, and let us lyve in rest;\
For we be, syrs, but a fewe of the best.\
<S Clo.Col>
By the masse, man, thou shall fynde me resonable.\
<P 203>
<S Cra.Con>
In faythe, and I wyll be to reason agreable.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Then trust I to $God and the holy rode,\
Here shalbe not great sheddynge of blode.\
<S Clo.Col>
By our lakyn, syr, not by my wyll.\
<S Cra.Con>
By the fayth that I owe to $God, and I wyll syt styll.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Well sayd. But, in fayth, what was @our quarell?\
<S Clo.Col>
$Mary, syr, this gentylman caled me javell.\
<S Cra.Con>
Nay, by Saynt $Mary, it was @e called me knave.\
<S Clo.Col>
$Mary, so ungoodly langage @ou me gave.\
<S Cou.Cou>
A, shall we have more of this maters @et?\
Me thynke @e are not gretly acomberyd wyth wyt.\
<S Cra.Con>
$Goddys fote! I warant @ou I am a gentylman borne;\
And thus to be facyd, I thynke it great skorne.\
<S Cou.Cou>
I can#not well tell of @our dysposycyons;\
And @e be a gentylman, @e have knavys condycyons.\
<S Clo.Col>
By $God, I tell @ou, I wyll not be out#facyd.\
<S Cra.Con>
By the masse, I warant the, I wyll not be bracyd.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Tushe, tushe! It is a great defaute;\
The one of @ou is to proude, the other is to haute.\
Tell me brefly where#upon @e began.\
<S Clo.Col>
$Mary, syr, he sayd that he was the pratyer man\
Then I was in opynynge of lockys;\
And I tell @ou, I dysdayne moche of his mockys.\
<S Cra.Con>
Thou sawe never @et but I dyd my parte,\
The locke of a casket to make to starte.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Nay, I know well inough @e are bothe well handyd\
To grope a gardevyaunce, though it be well bandyd.\
<S Clo.Col>
I am the better @et in a bowget. <S Cra.Con>And I the better in a male.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Tushe! These maters that @e move are but soppys in ale;\
{our trymynge and tramynge by me must be tangyd,\
For had I not bene, @e bothe had bene hangyd,\
When we with Magnyfycence goodys made chevysaunce.\
<S Magn>
And therfore our Lorde sende @ou a very wengaunce!\
<S Cou.Cou>
What begger art thou, that thus doth banne and wary?\
<S Magn>
{e be the thevys, I say, away my goodys dyd cary.\
<S Clo.Col>
Cockys bonys! Thou begger, what is thy name?\
<P 204>
<S Magn>
Magnyfycence I was, whom @e have brought to shame.\
<S Cou.Cou>
{e, but trowe @ou, syrs, that this is he?\
<S Cra.Con>
Go we nere and let us se.\
<S Clo.Col>
By Cockys bonys, it is the same.\
<S Magn>
Alasse, alasse, syrs, @e are to blame!\
I was @our mayster, though @e thynke it skorne;\
And nowe on me @e gaure and sporne.\
<S Cou.Cou>
Ly styll, ly styll nowe, with @ll hayle!\
<S Cra.Con>
{e, for thy langage can#not the avayle.\
<S Clo.Col>
Abyde, syr, abyde; I shall make hym to pysse.\
<S Magn>
Nowe gyve me somwhat, for $God sake, I crave.\
<S Cra.Con>
In faythe, I gyve the four quarters of a knave.\
<S Cou.Cou>
In faythe, and I bequethe hym the tothe#ake.\
<S Clo.Col>
And I bequethe hym the bone#ake.\
<S Cra.Con>
And I bequethe hym the gowte and the gyn.\
<S Clo.Col>
And I bequethe hym sorowe for his syn.\
<S Cou.Cou>
And I gyve hym $Crystys curse\
With never a peny in his purse.\
<S Cra.Con>
And I gyve hym the cowghe, the murre, and the pose.\
<S Clo.Col>
{e, for %requiem %eternam groweth forth of his nose.\
But nowe let us make mery and good chere.\
<S Cou.Cou>
And to the taverne let us drawe nere.\
<S Cra.Con>
And from thens to the halfe strete,\
To get us there some freshe mete.\
<S Clo.Col>
Why, is there any store of rawe motton?\
<S Cou.Cou>
{e, in faythe; or ellys thou arte to great a glotton.\
<S Cra.Con>
But they say it is a queysy mete;\
It wyll stryke a man myschevously in a hete.\
<S Clo.Col>
In fay, man, some rybbys of the motton be so ranke\
That they wyll fyre one ungracyously in the flanke.\
<S Cou.Cou>
{e, and when @e come out of the shoppe,\
{e shall be clappyd with a coloppe\
That wyll make @ou to halt and to hoppe.\
<S Cra.Con>
Som be wrestyd there that they thynke on it forty dayes,\
For there be horys there at all assayes.\
<S Clo.Col>
For the passyon of $God, let us go thyther.\
~%Et %cum %festinacione %discedant %a %loco.|+
<P 205>
<S Magn>
Alas, myn owne servauntys to shew me such reproche!\
Thus to rebuke me and have me in dyspyght!\
So shamfully to me, theyr mayster, to aproche,\
That somtyme was a noble prynce of myght!\
Alasse! To lyve longer I have no delyght;\
For to lyve in mysery, it is herder than dethe.\
I am wery of the worlde, for unkyndnesse me sleeth.\
~%Hic %intrat DYSPARE.|+
<S Dys>
Dyspare is my name, that adversyte dothe f[o]lowe; +
^folowe] `felowe' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B, +
Douce Fragment d.7^\
In tyme of dystresse I am redy at hande;\
I make hevy hertys, with eyen full holowe.\
Of farvent charyte I quenche out the bronde;\
Faythe and good hope I make asyde to stonde.\
In $Goddys mercy, I tell them, is but foly to truste;\
All grace and pyte I lay in the duste.\
What! Lyest thou there lyngrynge, lewdly and lothsome?\
It is to late nowe thy synnys to repent.\
Thou hast bene so waywarde, so wranglyng, and so wrothsome,\
And so fer thou arte behynde of thy rent,\
And so ungracyously thy dayes thou hast spent,\
That thou arte not worthy to loke $God in the face.\
<S Magn>
Nay, nay, man. I loke never to have parte of his grace;\
For I have so ungracyously my lyfe mysusyd,\
Though I aske mercy I must nedys be refusyd.\
<S Dys>
No, no; for thy synnys be so excedynge farre,\
So innumerable, and so full of dyspyte,\
And agayne thy maker thou hast made suche warre,\
That thou canst not have never mercy in his syght.\
<S Magn>
Alasse, my wyckydnesse, that may I wyte!\
But nowe I se well there is no better rede,\
But sygh, and sorowe, and wysshe my#selfe dede.\
<S Dys>
{e, ryd thy#selfe rather than this lyfe for to lede.\
The worlde waxyth wery of the; thou lyvest to longe.\
~%Hic %intrat MYSCHEFE.|+
<S Mys>
And I, Myschefe, am comyn at nede,\
Out of thy lyfe the for to lede.\
<P 206>
And loke that it be not longe\
Or that thy#selfe thou go honge\
With this halter good and stronge;\
Or ellys with this knyfe cut out a tonge\
Of thy throte#bole, and ryd the out of payne.\
Thou arte not the fyrst hymselfe hath slayne.\
Lo, here is thy knyfe and a halter, and or we go ferther,\
Spare not thy#selfe, but boldly the murder.\
<S Dys>
{e, have done at ones without delay.\
<S Magn>
Shall I myselfe hange with an halter? Nay,\
Nay; rather wyll I chose to ryd me of this lyve\
In styckynge my#selfe with this fayre knyfe.\
_
<L SD>
Here MAGNYFYCENCE wolde slee hymselfe with a knyfe.\=
<L 2323>
<S Mys>
Alarum, alarum! To longe we abyde!\
<S Dys>
Out harowe! Hyll burneth! Where shall I me hyde?\
~%Hic %intrat GOOD HOPE, %fugientibus DYSPARE and MYSCHEFE, %repente GOOD+
HOPE %surripiat %illi %gladium %et %dicat:|+
<S Go.Ho>
Alas, dere sone, sore combred is thy mynde,\
Thyselfe that thou wolde sloo agaynst nature and kynde.\
<S Magn>
A, blessyd may @e be, syr! What shall @ou I call?\
<S Go.Ho>
Good Hope, syr, my name is; remedy pryncypall\
Agaynst all [s]autes of @our goostly foo. +
^sautes] `fautes' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B, +
Douce Fragment d.7^\
Who knoweth me, hymselfe may never sloo.\
<S Magn>
Alas, syr! So I am lapped in adversyte\
That dyspayre well nyghe had myscheved me;\
For had @e not the soner ben my refuge,\
Of dampnacyon I had ben drawen in the luge.\
<S Go.Ho>
Undoubted @e had lost @ourselfe eternally.\
There is no man may synne more mortally\
Than of wanhope thrughe the unhappy wayes,\
By myschefe to brevyate and shorten his dayes.\
But, my good sonne, lerne from dyspaire to flee;\
Wynde @ou from wanhope and aquaynte @ou with me.\
A grete mysadventure, thy maker to dysplease,\
Thyselfe myschevynge to thyne endlesse dysease!\
<P 207>
There was never so harde a storme of mysery,\
But thrughe good hope there may come remedy.\
<S Magn>
{our wordes be more sweter than ony precyous narde,\
They molefy so easely my harte that was so harde.\
There is no bawme ne gumme of $Arabe\
More delectable than @our langage to me.\
<S Go.Ho>
Syr, @our fesycyan is the grace of $God,\
That @ou hath punysshed with his sharpe rod.\
Good Hope, @our potecary, assygned am I,\
That $Goddes grace hath vexed @ou sharply\
And payned @ou with a purgacyon of odyous poverte,\
Myxed with bytter alowes of herde adversyte.\
Nowe must I make @ou a lectuary softe -\
I to mynyster it, @ou to receyve it ofte -\
With rubarbe of repentaunce in @ou for to rest;\
With drammes of devocyon @our dyet must be drest,\
With gommes goostly of glad herte and mynde,\
To thanke $God of his sonde; and comforte @e shal fynde.\
Put fro @ou presumpcyon and admyt humylyte,\
And hartely thanke $God of @our adversyte;\
And love that Lorde that for @our love was dede,\
Wounded from the fote to the crowne of the hede:\
For who loveth $God can ayle nothynge but good.\
He may helpe @ou. He may mende @our mode.\
Prosperyte [by] hym is gyven solacyusly to man; +
^by] `to' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Adversyte to hym therwith nowe and than;\
Helthe of body his besynesse to acheve;\
Dysease and sekenesse his conscyence to dyscryve;\
Afflyccyon and trouble to prove his pacyence;\
Contradyccyon to prove his sapyence;\
Grace of assystence his measure to declare;\
Somtyme to fall, another tyme to beware:\
And nowe @e have had, syr, a wonderous fall,\
To lerne @ou hereafter for to beware withall.\
Howe say @ou, syr? Can @e these wordys grope?\
<S Magn>
{e, syr, now am I armyd with good hope,\
And sore I repent me of my wylfulnesse;\
I aske $God mercy of my neglyge[sse], +
^neglygesse] `neglygence' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<P 208>
Under good hope endurynge ever styll,\
Me humbly commyttynge unto $Goddys wyll.\
<S Go.Ho>
Then shall @ou be sone delyvered from dystresse,\
For nowe I se comynge to @ouwarde Redresse.\
~%Hic %intrat REDRESSE.|+
<S Redr>
$Cryst be amonge @ou, and the $Holy $Goste!\
<S Go.Ho>
He be @our conducte, the Lorde of myghtys moste!\
<S Redr>
Syr, is @our pacyent any#thynge amendyd?\
<S Go.Ho>
{e, syr, he is sory for that he hath offendyd.\
<S Redr>
How fele @ou @our#selfe, my frend? How is @our mynde?\
<S Magn>
A wrechyd man, syr, to my maker unkynde.\
<S Redr>
{e, but have @e repentyd @ou with harte contryte?\
<S Magn>
Syr, the repentaunce I have no man can wryte.\
<S Redr>
And have @ou banyshed from @ou all dyspare?\
<S Magn>
{e, holly to good hope I have made my repare.\
<S Go.Ho>
Questyonlesse he doth me assure\
In good hope alway for to indure.\
<S Redr>
Than stande up, syr, in $Goddys name!\
And I truste to ratyfye and amende @our fame.\
Good Hope, I pray @ou with harty affeccyon\
To sende over to me Sad Cyrcumspeccyon.\
<S Go.Ho>
Syr, @our requeste shall not be delayed.\
~%Et %exiat.|+
<S Redr>
Now, surely, Magnyfycence, I am ryght well apayed\
Of that I se @ou nowe in the state of grace.\
Nowe shall @e be renewyd with solace.\
Take nowe upon @ou this abylyment,\
And to that I say gyve good advysement.\
~MAGNYFYCENCE %accipiat %indumentum.|+
<S Magn>
To @our requeste I shall be confyrmable.\
<S Redr>
Fyrst, I saye, with mynde fyrme and stable\
Determyne to amende all @our wanton excesse;\
And be ruled by me, whiche am called Redresse.\
Redresse my name is, that lytell am I used\
As the worlde requyreth, but rather I am refused.\
Redresse sholde be at the rekenynge in every accompte,\
And specyally to redresse that were out of joynte.\
<P 209>
Full many thynges there be that lacketh redresse,\
The whiche were to longe nowe to expresse;\
But redresse is redlesse and may do no correccyon.\
Nowe welcome, forsoth, Sad Cyrcumspeccyon.\
_
<L SD>
Here cometh in SAD CYRCUMSPECCYON sayenge.\=
<L 2419>
<S Cyrc>
Syr, after @our message I hyed me hyder streyght,\
For to understande @our pleasure and also @our mynde.\
<S Redr>
Syr, to accompte @ou, the contynewe of my consayte\
Is from adversyte Magnyfycence to unbynde.\
<S Cyrc>
How fortuned @ou, Magnyfycence, so far to fal behynde?\
<S Magn>
Syr, the longe absence of @ou, Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,\
Caused me of adversyte to fall in subjeccyon.\
<S Redr>
All that he sayth of trouthe dothe procede;\
For where sad cyrcumspeccyon is longe out of the way,\
Of adversyte it is to stande in drede.\
<S Cyrc>
Without fayle, syr, that is no nay:\
Cyrcumspeccyon inhateth all rennynge astray,\
But, syr, by me to rule fyrst @e began.\
<S Magn>
My wylfulnesse, syr, excuse I ne can.\
<S Cyrc>
Then @e of foly in tymes past @ou repent? +
^`Then @e repent @ou of foly in tymes past' }Rastell & +
Traveris C 1530, B^\
<S Magn>
Sothely to repent me I have grete cause;\
Howe#be#it, from @ou I receyved a letter [sent], +
^sent] not in }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Whiche conteyned in it a specyall clause\
That I sholde use largesse. <S Cyrc>Nay, syr, there a pause.\
<S Redr>
{et let us se this matter thorowly ingrosed.\
<S Magn>
Syr, this letter @e sent to me at $Pountes was enclosed.\
<S Cyrc>
Who brought @ou that letter? Wote @e what he hyght?\
<S Magn>
Largesse, syr, by his credence was his name.\
<S Cyrc>
This letter @e speke of never dyd I wryte.\
<S Redr>
To gyve so hasty credence @e were moche to blame.\
<S Magn>
Truth it is, syr; for after he wrought me moch shame,\
And caused me also to use to moche lyberte,\
And made also mesure to be put fro me.\
<P 210>
<S Redr>
Then welthe with @ou myght in no wyse abyde.\
<S Cyrc>
A ha, fansy and foly met with @ou, I trowe.\
<S Redr>
It wolde be founde so @f it were well tryde.\
<S Magn>
Surely my welthe with them was overthrow.\
<S Cyrc>
Remembre @ou, therfore, howe late @e were low.\
<S Redr>
{e, and beware of unhappy abusyon.\
<S Cyrc>
And kepe @ou from counterfaytynge of clokyd colusyon.\
<S Magn>
Syr, in good hope I am to amende.\
<S Redr>
Use not then @our countenaunce for to counterfet.\
<S Cyrc>
And from crafters and hafters I @ou forfende.\
~%Hic %intrat %PERSEVERAUNCE.|+
<S Magn>
Well, syr, after @our counsell my mynde I wyll set.\
<S Redr>
What, brother Perceveraunce, surely well met!\
<S Cyrc>
{e com hether as well as can be thought.\
<S Pers>
I herde say that adversyte with Magnyfycence had fought.\
<S Magn>
{e, syr, with adversyte I have bene vexyd;\
But good hope and redresse hath mendyd myne estate,\
And sad cyrcumspeccyon to me they have annexyd.\
............\
<S Redr>
What this man hath sayd, perceyve @e his sentence?\
<S Magn>
{e, syr. From hym my corage shall never flyt.\
............\
............\
............\
<S Cyrc>
Accordynge to treuth they be well devysyd.\
<S Magn>
Syrs, I am agreed to abyde @our ordenaunce -\
Faythfull assuraunce with good peradvertaunce. +
^Faythfull] `Faythfully' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
<S Pers>
{f @ou be so myndyd, we be ryght glad.\
<S Redr>
And @e shall have more worshyp then ever @e had.\
<S Magn>
Well, I perceyve in @ou there is moche sadnesse,\
Gravyte of counsell, provydence, and wyt;\
{our comfortable advyse and wyt excedyth all gladnesse;\
<P 211>
But frendly I wyll refrayne @ou ferther, or we flyt:\
Whereto were most metely my corage to knyt?\
{our myndys I beseche @ou here#in to expresse,\
Commensynge this processe at mayster Redresse.\
<S Redr>
Syth unto me formest this processe is erectyd,\
Herein I wyll aforse me to shewe @ou my mynde:\
Fyrst, from @our magnyfycence syn must be abjectyd;\
In all @our warkys more grace shall @e fynde;\
Be gentyll, then, of corage, and lerne to be kynde;\
For of noblenesse the chefe poynt is to be lyberall,\
So that @our largesse be not to prodygall.\
<S Cyrc>
Lyberte to a lorde belongyth of ryght,\
But wyfull waywardnesse muste walke out of the way;\
Measure of @our lustys must have the oversyght,\
And not all the nygarde nor the chyncherde to play.\
Let never negarshyp @our noblenesse affray;\
In @our rewardys use suche moderacyon\
That nothynge be gyven without consyderacyon.\
<S Pers>
To the increse of @our honour then arme @ou with ryght,\
And fumously adresse @ou with magnanymyte;\
And ever let the drede of $God be in @our syght,\
And knowe @our#selfe mortal for all @our dygnyte;\
............\
Set not all @our affyaunce in Fortune full of gyle;\
Remember this lyfe lastyth but a whyle.\
<S Magn>
Redresse, in my remembraunce @our lesson shall rest;\
<P 212>
And Sad Cyrcumspeccyon I marke in my mynde;\
But, Perseveraunce, me semyth @our probleme was best;\
I shall it never forget nor leve it behynde,\
But hooly to perseveraunce my#selfe I wyll bynde,\
Of that I have mysdone to make a redresse,\
And with sad cyrcumspeccyon correcte my vantonnesse.\
<S Redr>
Unto this processe brefly compylyd,\
Comprehendynge the worlde casuall and transytory,\
Who lyst to consyder shall never be begylyd,\
{f it be regystryd well in memory;\
A playne example of worldly vaynglory,\
Howe in this worlde there is no seke[r]nesse, +
^sekernesse] `sekenesse' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
But fallyble flatery enmyxyd with bytternesse.\
Nowe well, nowe wo, nowe hy, nowe lawe degre;\
Nowe ryche, nowe pore, nowe hole, now in dysease;\
Nowe pleasure at large, nowe in captyvyte;\
Nowe leve, nowe lothe, nowe please, nowe dysplease;\
Now ebbe, now flowe, nowe increase, now dyscrease;\
So in this worlde there is no sykernesse,\
But fallyble flatery enmyxyd with bytternesse.\
<S Cyrc>
A myrrour incleryd is this interlude,\
This lyfe inconstant for to beholde and se:\
Sodenly avaunsyd, and sodenly subdude;\
Sodenly ryches, and sodenly poverte;\
Sodenly comfort, and sodenly adversyte;\
Sodenly thus Fortune can bothe smyle and frowne,\
Sodenly set up, and sodenly cast downe.\
Sodenly promotyd, and sodenly put backe;\
Sodenly cherysshyd, and sodenly cast asyde;\
<P 213>
Sodenly commendyd, and sodenly fynde a lacke;\
Sodenly grauntyd, and sodenly denyed;\
Sodenly hyd, and sodenly spyed;\
Sodenly thus Fortune can bothe smyle and frowne,\
Sodenly set up, and sodenly cast downe.\
<S Pers>
This treatyse, devysyd to make @ou dysporte,\
Shewyth nowe#adayes howe the worlde comberyd is,\
To the pythe of the mater who lyst to resorte:\
Today it is well, tomorowe it is all amysse;\
Today in delyte, tomorowe bare of blysse;\
Today a lorde, tomorowe ly in the duste:\
Thus in this worlde there is no erthly truste.\
Today fayre wether, tomorowe a stormy rage;\
Today hote, tomorowe outragyous colde;\
Today a @oman, tomorowe made of page;\
Today in surety, tomorowe bought and solde;\
Today maysterfest, tomorowe he hath no holde;\
Today a man, tomorowe he lyeth in the duste:\
Thus in this worlde there is no erthly truste.\
<S Magn>
This mater we have movyd, @ou myrthys to make,\
Precely purposyd under pretence of play,\
Shewyth wysdome to them that wysdome can take:\
Howe sodenly worldly welth dothe dekay;\
How wysdom thorowe wantonnesse vanysshyth away;\
How none estate lyvynge of hymselfe can be sure,\
For the welthe of this worlde can#not indure.\
Of the terestre [t]rechery we fall in the flode, +
^trechery] `rechery' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Beten with stormys of many a frowarde blast,\
Ensor[b]yd with the wawys savage and wode; +
^ensorbyd] `ensordyd' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
Without our shyppe be sure, it is lykely to brast,\
{et of magnyfycence oft made is the mast:\
<P 214>
Thus none estate lyvynge of hym[selfe] can be sure, +
^hymselfe] `hym' }Rastell & Treveris C 1530, B^\
For the welthe of this worlde can#not indure.\
<S Redr>
Nowe semyth us syttynge that @e then resorte\
Home to @our paleys with joy and ryalte.\
<S Cyrc>
Where every#thyng is ordenyd after @our noble porte.\
<S Pers>
There to indeuer with all felycyte.\
<S Magn>
I am content, my frendys, that it so be.\
<S Redr>
And @e that have harde thys dysporte and game,\
$Jhesus preserve @ou frome endlesse wo and shame.\
AMEN.\
<P 214><T El Rummynge>
~<L Tit>
Here#after foloweth the boke called $Elynour $Rummynge\|+
_
<L I>
The Tunnyng of $Elynour $Rummyng %per $Skelton Laureat.\=
<L 1>
Tell @ou I chyll,\
If that @e wyll
/A whyle be styll,\
Of a comely gyll
/That dwelt on a hyll;\
But she is not gryll,\
For she is somwhat sage\
And well worne in age,\
For her vysage
/It woldt aswage
/A mannes courage.\
Her lothely lere
/Is nothynge clere,\
But ugly of chere,\
Droupy and drowsy,
/Scurvy and lowsy;\
<P 215>
Her face all bowsy,\
Comely crynklyd,
/Woundersly wrynklyd,\
Lyke a rost pygges#eare,\
Brystled with here.\
Her lewde lyppes twayne,
/They slaver, men sayne,\
Lyke a ropy rayne,
/A gummy glayre.\
She is ugly fayre:\
Her nose somdele hoked
/And camously croked,\
Never stoppynge
/But ever droppynge;\
Her skynne lose and slacke, 
/Greuyned lyke a sacke; +
^Greuyned] `Grained' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
With a croked backe.\
Her eyen gowndy
/Are full unsowndy,\
For they are blered;\
And she gray-hered;\
Jawed lyke a jetty;\
A man wolde have pytty\
To se howe she is gumbed, 
/Fyngered and thumbed,\
Gently joynted,
/Gresed and anoynted
/Up to the knockles:\
The bones [of] her huckels +
^of] not in }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568; huckels] `buckels' Day, Marshe^\
Lyke as they were with buckels
/Togyder made fast.\
Her @outh is farre past;\
Foted lyke a plane, 
/Legge[d] lyke a crane; +
^Legged] `Legges' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
And @et she wyll jet,
/Lyke a joyly fet\
In her furred flocket,
/And graye russet rocket,\
With symper-the-cocket.\
Her huke of Lyncole#grene,\
It had ben hers, I wene,
<P 216>
/More then fourty @ere;\
And so doth it apere, +
^doth it] `it dothe' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
For the grene bare threde +
^For] `And' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
/Loke lyke sere wedes,\
Wyddered lyke hay,
/The woll worne away.\
And @et I dare saye
/She thynketh her#selfe gaye\
Upon the holy#daye,
/Whan she doth her aray,\
And gyrdeth in her gytes
/Stytched and pranked with pletes;\
Her kyrtell $Brystowe#red,\
With clothes upon her hed 
/That wey a sowe of led, +
^That wey] `That they wey' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
Wrythen in wonder wyse 
/After the Sarasyns gyse, +
^in] `in a' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
With a whym-wham
/Knyt with a trym-tram\
Upon her brayne-pan, 
/Lyke an Egypcyan 
/Lapped about. +
^Lapped] `Capped' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Whan she goeth out
/Her#selfe for to shewe,\
She dryveth downe the dewe\
With a payre of heles
/As brode as two wheles.\
She hobles as she gose 
/With her blanket hose +
^she gose] `a gose' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Over the falowe,\
Her shone smered wyth talowe,\
Gresed upon dyrt
/That baudeth her skyrt.\
~%Primus %passus\|+
<L 91>
And this comely dame,\
I understande, her name
/Is $Elynour $Rummynge,\
At home in her wonnynge;\
And, as men say,
<P 217>
/She dwelt in $Sothray,\
In a certayne stede
/Bysyde $Lederhede.\
She is a tonnysh gyb;\
The devyll and she be syb.\
But to make up my tale,\
She breweth noppy ale,\
And maketh thereof port-sale +
^port-sale] `pore sale' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560^\
To travellars, to tynkers,
/To sweters, to swynkers,\
And all good ale#drynkers,\
That wyll nothynge spare,\
But drynke tyll they stare\
And brynge them#selfe bare,\
With, `Now away the mare,\
And let us sley care!'\
As wyse as an hare!\
Come who#so wyll
/To $Elynoure on the hyll,\
With, `Fyll the cup, fyll!'\
And syt there by styll,
/Erly and late.\
Thyther cometh $Kate,\
$Cysly and $Sare,
/With theyr legges bare,\
And also theyr fete
/Hardely full unswete;\
Wyth theyr heles dagged,
/Theyr kyrtelles all to-jagged,\
Theyr smockes all to-ragged,
/Wyth tytters and tatters,\
Brynge dysshes and platters,\
With all theyr myght runnynge
/To $Elynour $Rummynge,\
To have of her tunnynge.\
She leneth them on the same, +
^on] `of' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
And thus begynneth the game.\
Some wenches come unlased, 
/Some huswyves come unbrased, +
^unlased] `unbrased' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Wyth theyr naked pappes,
/That flyppes and flappes,\
<P 218>
It wygges and it wagges
/Lyke tawny saffron#bagges;\
A sorte of foule drabbes
/All scurvy with scabbes.\
Some be flybytten,
/Some skewed as a kytten;\
Some with a sho#clout
/Bynde theyr heddes about;\
Some have no herelace,\
Theyr lockes aboute theyr face,\
Theyr tresses untrust,
/All full of unlust;\
Some loke strawry,
/Some cawry-mawry;\
Full untydy tegges,
/Lyke rotten egges.\
Suche a lewde sorte
/To $Elynour resorte\
From tyde to tyde.\
Abyde, abyde,
/And to @ou shall be tolde\
Howe hyr ale is solde
/To mawte and to molde.\
~%Secundus %passus\|+
<L 160>
Some have no mony
/That thyder commy,\
For theyr ale to pay;\
That is a shreud aray!\
$Elynour swered, `Nay,\
{e shall not bere awaye 
/Myne ale for nought, +
^myne] `my' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
By hym that me bought!'\
With, `Hey, dogge, hay, 
/Have these hogges away!' +
^hogges] `dogges' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
With, `Get me a staffe,
/The swyne eate my draffe!\
Stryke the hogges with a clubbe,\
They have dronke up my swyllyng#tubbe!'\
For, be there never so moche prese,\
These swyne go to the hye dese,\
<P 219>
The sowe with her pygges;\
The bore his tayle wrygges,\
His rumpe also he frygges
/Agaynst the hye benche.\
With, `Fo, ther is a stenche!\
Gather up, thou wenche.\
Seest thou not what is fall?\
Take up dyrt and all, 
/And bere out of the hall.' +
^dyrt] `drit' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
$God gyve it @ll prevynge,\
Clenly as @vell chevynge!\
But let us turne playne,
/There we lefte agayne.\
For, as @ll a patch as that,\
The hennes ron in the mashfat;\
For they go to roust,
/Streyght over the ale-joust,\
And donge, whan it commes,
/In the ale#tunnes.\
Than $Elynour taketh\
The mashe#bolle, and shaketh\
The hennes donge awaye,\
And skommeth it into a tray +
^into] `in' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Where#as the @eest is,\
With her maungy fystis.\
And somtyme she blennes\
The donge of her hennes
/And the ale togyder,\
And sayth, `Gossyp, come hyder,\
This ale shal be thycker,\
And floure the more quycker;\
For I may tell @ou,
/I lerned it of a Jewe,\
Whan I began to brewe,\
And I have found it trew.\
Drinke now whyle it is new;\
And @e may it broke,\
It shall make @ou loke
/{onger than @e be\
{eres two or thre,\
For @e may prove it by me.'\
<P 220>
`Behold,' she sayd, `and se\
How bright I am of ble!\
Ich am not cast away,
/That can my husband say,\
Whan we kys and play
/In lust and in lykyng.\
He calleth me his whytyng, 
/His mullyng and his [m]ytyng, +
^mytyng] `nytyng' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, +
`nittinge' Day 1560, `nittine' Marshe 1568^\
His nobbes and his conny,
/His swetyng and his honny,\
With, `Bas, my prety bonny,\
Thou art worth good and monny.'\
This make I my falyre fonny,\
Tyll that he dreme and dronny;\
For, after all our sport,\
Than wyll he rout and snort;\
Than swetely togither we ly, 
/As two pygges in a sty.' +
^Than swetely] `Thus swete' 1521 Fragment^\
To cease me semeth best,\
And of this tale to rest,\
And for to leve this letter,
/Bicause it is no better;\
And bicause it is no swetter,\
We wyll no farther ryme
/Of it at this tyme.\
But we wyll turne playne
/Where we left agayne.\
~%Tertius %passus\|+
<L 244>
In stede of coyne and monny
/Some brynge her a conny,\
And some a pot with honny,\
Some a salt, and some a spone,\
Some their hose, some their shone;\
Some ranne a good trot
/With a skellet or a pot;\
Some fyll theyr pot full
/Of good $Lemster woll.\
An huswyfe of trust
/Whan she is athrust,\
<P 221>
Suche a webbe can spyn,\
Her thryfte is full thyn.\
Some go streyght thyder,
/Be it slaty or slyder;\
They holde the hye#waye,\
They care not what men saye!\
Be that as be maye;\
Some lothe to be espyde,\
Some start in at the backe syde,\
Over the hedge and pale,\
And all for the good ale. +
^ale] `all' }Lant 1545^\
Some renne tyll they swete,\
Brynge wyth them malte or whete,\
And Dame $Elynour entrete\
To byrle them of the best.\
Than cometh an#other gest;\
She swered by the Rode of Rest,\
Her lyppes are so drye,\
Without drynke she must dye;\
Therefore, `Fyll it by and by\
And have here a pecke of ry.'\
Anone cometh another,
/As drye as the other,\
And with her doth brynge\
Mele, salte or other thynge,\
Her hernest gyrdle, her weddynge#rynge, +
^hernest] `haruest' Day 1560, 1521 Fragment^\
To pay for her scot\
As cometh to her lot.\
Some bryngeth her husbandis hood,\
Bycause the ale is good;\
Another brought her his cap\
To offer to the ale#tap,\
With flaxe and with towe;\
And some brought sowre dowe:\
With, `Hey,' and with, `Howe,
/Syt we downe arowe\
And drynke tyll we blowe,
/And pype tyrly-tyrlowe!'\
Some layde to pledge
/Theyr hatchet and theyr wedge,\
<P 222>
Theyr hekell and theyr rele,\
Theyr rocke, theyr spynnyng#whele.\
And some went so narrowe\
They layde to pledge theyr wharrowe,\
Theyr rybskyn and theyr spyndell,\
Theyr nedell and theyr thymbell:\
Here was scant thryft
/Whan they made suche shyft.\
Theyr thrust was so great,\
They asked never for mete\
But, `Drynke,' styll, `Drynke,
/And let the cat wynke!\
Let us wasshe our gommes
/From the drye crommes!'\
~%Quartus %passus\|+
<L 309>
Some for very nede
/Layde downe a skeyne of threde,\
And some a skeyne of @arne.\
Some brought from the barne
/Both benes and pease;\
Small chaffer doth ease
/Sometyme, now and than.\
Another there was that ran
/With a good brasse pan -\
Her colour was full wan -\
She ran in all the hast
/Unbrased and unlast,\
Tawny, swart and sallowe, +
^sallowe] `swallowe' Kynge & M.#1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Lyke a cake of tallowe;\
I swere by all#hallowe\
It was a stale to take 
/The devyll in a brake. +
^stale] `stale' 1521 Fragment, `stare' }Lant 1545, +
Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
And than came haltyng $Jone\
And brought a gambone
/Of bakon that was resty;\
But, $Lorde, as she was testy,
/Angry as a waspy!\
She began to @ane and gaspy, +
^began] `gan' 1521 Fragment^\
And bad $Elynour go bet,\
And fyll in good met; +
^met] `meate' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
<P 223>
It was dere that was far fet!\
Another brought a spycke
/Of a bacon#flycke;\
Her tonge was very quycke\
But she spake somwhat thycke,\
Her felowe dyd stammer and stut,\
But she was a foule slut,\
For her mouth fomyd
/And her bely groned:\
$Jone sayde she had eten a fyest.\
`By $Chryst,' sayde she, `thou lyest.\
I have as swete a breth\
As thou, wyth shamefull deth!'\
Than $Elynour sayde, `{e calettes,\
I shall breke @our palettes,
/Wythout @e now cease!'\
And so was made the peace. +
^the peace] `the drunken peace' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche +
1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Than thydder came dronken $Ales\
And she was full of tales,\
Of tydynges in $Wales,\
And of Saynte $James in $Gales,\
And of the Portyngales;\
Wyth, `Lo, gossyp, iwys,\
Thus and thus it is,\
There hath ben greate war\
Betwene Temple Bar
/And the Crosse in $Chepe,\
And thyder came an hepe 
/Of mylstones in a route.' +
^thyder] `there' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
She spake thus in her snout, +
^spake thus] `speketh this' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, +
Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Snevelyng in her nose,
/As though she had the pose.\
`Lo, here is an olde typpet,\
And @e wyll gyve me a syppet
/Of @our stale ale,\
$God sende @ou good sale!'\
And, as she was drynkynge,\
She fyll in a wynkynge
/With a barlyhood;\
She pyst where she stood.\
Than began she to wepe,\
<P 224>
And forthwith fell on slepe.\
$Elynour toke her up\
And blessed her with a cup
/Of newe ale in cornes.\
Ales founde therin no thornes,\
But supped it up at ones,\
She founde therein no bones. +
^bones] `bornes' Day 1560^\
~%Quintus %passus\|+
<L 382>
Nowe in cometh another rabell;\
First one wyth a ladell,\
Another with a cradell,\
And with a syde-sadell;\
And there began a fabell,\
A clatterynge and a babell +
^babell] `batell' 1521 Fragment^\
Of [a] foles fylly 
/That had a fole with $Wylly, +
^a] not in }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568; fylly] `silly' Marshe 1568^\
With, `Jast @ou, and gup, gylly,\
She coulde not lye stylly!'\
Then came in a genet,\
And sware by Saynt $Benet,\
`I dranke not this sennet
/A draught to my pay.\
$Elynour, I the pray,\
Of thyne ale let us assaye,\
And have here a pylche of graye;\
I were skynnes of conny,\
That causeth I loke so donny.'\
An#other than dyd hyche her, +
^hyche] `hye' 1521 Fragment^\
And brought a pottell-pycher,\
A tonnell and a bottell,\
But she had lost the stoppell.\
She cut of her sho-sole,\
And stopped therewith the hole.\
Amonge all the blommer,\
Another brought a skommer,\
A fryenge pan, and a slyce.\
$Elynour made the pryce
/For god ale eche whyt.\
Than sterte in made $Kyt,
<P 225>
/That had lytell wyt;\
She semed somdele seke,\
And brought a peny#cheke 
/To Dame $Elynour +
^brought] `brought up' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
For a draught of her lycour. +
^her] not in }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560,+
Marshe 1568^\
Than $Margery $Mylkeducke
/Her kyrtell she dyd uptucke\
An @nche above her kne,\
Her legges that @e myght se; +
^ye] `he' 1521 Fragment^\
But they were sturdy and stubbed, +
^stubbed] `stubbled' Kynge & M.#1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
Myghty pestels and clubbed,\
As fayre and as whyte
/As the fote of a kyte.\
She was somwhat foule, 
/Crokenebbed lyke an oule; +
^Crokenebbed] `Croke necked' }Lant 1545, Kynge & +
Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
And @et she brought her fees,\
A cantell of $Essex chese\
Was well a fote thycke,\
Full of magottes quycke;\
It was huge and greate,\
And myghty stronge meate\
For the devyll to eate;\
It was tart and punyete.\
Another sorte of sluttes:\
Some brought walnuttes,\
Some apples, some peres,\
Some brought theyr clyppyng#sheres,\
Some brought this and that,\
Some brought I wote nere what,\
Some brought theyr husbands hat,\
Some podynges and lynkes,\
Some trypes that stynkes. +
^stynkes] `stynges' Kynge & Marche 1554^\
But of all this thronge
/One came them amonge,\
She semed halfe a leche,\
And began to preche\
Of the Tewsday in the weke\
Whan the mare doth keke;\
Of the vertue of an unset leke;\
[And] of her husbandes breke. +
^And] not in editions^\
<P 226>
With the feders of a quale\
She could to $Burdeo[u] sayle; +
^Burdeou] `burde on' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, +
Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
And with good ale#barme
/She could make a charme\
To helpe withall a stytch;\
She semed to be a wytch.\
Another brought two goslynges\
That were noughty froslynges;\
She brought them in a wallet; +
^She] `Some' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
She was a cumly callet.\
The goslenges were untyde;\
$Elynor began to chyde,\
`They be wretchockes thou hast brought, +
^They] `The' Day 1560^\
They are shyre shakyng nought!'\
~%Sextus %passus\|+
<L 467>
$Maude $Ruggy thyther skypped:\
She was ugly#hypped,
/And ugly thycke-lypped\
Like an onyon syded,
/Lyke tan ledder hyded.\
She had her so guyded\
Betwene the cup and the wall,\
That she was therewithall
/Into a palsey fall;\
With that her hed shaked
/And her handes quaked.\
Ones hed wold have aked
/To se her naked.\
She dranke so of the dregges, +
^dregges] `dragges' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560^\
The dropsy was in her legges;\
Her face glystryng lyke glas,\
All foggy fat she was;\
She had also the gout\
In all her joyntes about;\
Her breth was soure and stale\
And smelled all of ale.\
Such a bedfellaw
/Wold make one cast his craw.\
But @et, for all that,\
She dranke on the mash#fat.\
<P 227>
There came an old rybybe;\
She halted of a kybe,\
And had broken her shyn\
At the threshold comyng in,\
And fell so wyde open\
That one might se her token.\
The devyll thereon be wroken!\
What nede all this be spoken?\
She @elled lyke a calfe!\
`Ryse up, on $Gods halfe,'\
Sayd $Elynour $Rummyng,\
`I beshrew the for thy cummyng!'\
And as she at her dyd pluck, +
^And] not in Day 1560, Marshe 1568; pluck] `pulck' }Lant 1545^\
`Quake, quake,' sayd the duck
/In that lampatrams lap.\
With, `Fy, cover thy shap +
^thy] `the' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
With sum flyp-flap,\
$God gyve it @ll hap!'\
Sayd $Elynour, `For shame!'\
Lyke an honest dame.\
Up she stert, halfe lame,\
And skantly could go
/For payne and for wo.\
In came another dant,
/With a gose and a gant.\
She had a wyde wesant; +
^wyde] `wyse' Kynge & Marche 1554^\
She was nothynge plesant;\
Necked lyke an olyfant;\
It was a bullyfant,
/A gredy cormerant.\
Another brought her garlyke#heddes;\
Another brought her bedes
/Of jet or of cole,\
To offer to the ale-pole.\
Some brought a wymble,\
Some brought a thymble,\
Some brought a sylke lace,\
Some brought a pyncase,\
Some her husbandes gowne,\
Some a pyllowe of downe,\
Some of the napery;\
<P 228>
And all this shyfte they make\
For the good ale sake.\
`A strawe,' sayde $Bele, `stande utter,\
For we have egges and butter,\
And of pygeons a payre.'\
Than sterte forth a fysgygge\
And she brought a bore#pygge.\
The fleshe thereof was ranke,\
And her brethe strongely stanke,\
{et, or she went, she dranke,\
And gat her great thanke\
Of $Elynour for her ware,\
That she thyder bare
/To pay for her share.\
Nowe truly, to my thynkynge,\
This is a solempne drynkynge.\
~%Septimus %passus\|+
<L 549>
`Soft,' quod one hyght $Sybbyll, +
^hyght] `high' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
`And let me with @ou bybyll.'\
She sat downe in the place,\
With a sory face
/Whey-wormed about;\
Garnysshed was her snout\
With here and there a puscull,\
Lyke a scabbyd muscull.\
`This ale,' sayd she, `is noppy;\
Let us syppe and soppy,
/And not spyll a droppy,\
For so mote I hoppy, 
/It coleth well my croppy.' +
^croppy] `coppy' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
`Dame $Elynour,' sayde she,\
`Have here is for me,
/A clout of $London pynnes.'\
And wyth that she begynnes\
The pot to her plucke,\
And dranke a good lucke.\
She swynged up a quarte 
/At ones for her parte. +
^swynged] `swinge' Marshe 1568^\
Her paunche was so puffed\
<P 229>
And so with ale stuffed,\
Had she not hyed apace,\
She had defoyled the place.\
Than began the sporte
/Amonge that dronken sorte.\
`Dame $Elynour,' sayde they,\
`Lende here a cocke of hey,\
To make all thynge cleane;\
{e wote well what we meane.'\
But, syr, amonge all
/That sate in that hall,\
There was a prycke-me-denty,
/Sat lyke a seynty,\
And began to paynty
/As though she would faynty.\
She made it as koye 
/As a lege-de-moy; +
^lege-de-moy] `lege moy' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554^\
She was not halfe so wyse\
As she was pevysshe nyse.\
She sayde never a worde,\
But rose from the borde\
And called for our dame,
/$Elynour by name.\
We supposed, iwys,
/That she rose to pys;\
But the very grounde
/Was for to compound\
With $Elynour in the spence,\
To paye for her expence.\
`I have no penny nor grote\
To paye,' sayde she, `$God wote,\
For wasshyng of my throte;\
But my bedes of amber.\
Bere them to @our chamber.'\
Than $Elynour dyd them hyde
/Within her beddes#syde.\
But some than sate ryght sad\
That nothynge had
/There of their awne,\
Neyther gelt nor pawne.\
<P 230>
Suche were there menny\
That had not a penny,\
But, whan they shoulde walke,\
Were fayne with a chalke
/To score on the balke,\
Or score on the tayle.\
$God gyve it @ll hayle,\
For my fyngers @tche. +
^fyngers] `fynger' Kynge & Marche 1554^\
I have wrytten so mytche\
Of this mad mummynge
/Of $Elynour $Rummynge.\
Thus endeth the gest
/Of this worthy fest.\
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton Laureat.\=
~%LAUREATI %SKELTONIDIS %IN %DESPECTU %MALIGNANTIUM\
%DISTICHON\
%Quamvis %insanis, %quamvis %marcescis %inanis,\
%Invide, %cantamus: %hec %loca %plena %jocis,\
%Bien %men %souvient.\
%Omnes %feminas, %que %vel %nimis %bibule %sunt, %vel %que %sordida %labe\
%squaloris, %aut %qua %spurca %feditatis %macula, %aut %verbosa\
%loquacitate %notantur, %poeta %invitat %ad %audiendum %hunc %libellum,\
%etc.\
%Ebria, %squalida, %sordida %femina, %prodiga %verbis,\
%Huc %currat, %properet, %veniat! %Sua %gesta %libellus\
%Iste %volutabit: %Pean %sua %plectra %sonando\
%Materiam %risus %cantabit %carmine %rauco.\
%Finis\|+
_
<L E>
Quod $Skelton Laureat\=
_
<L I>
Speke $Parott\=
~%Lectoribus %auctor %recipit %opusculy %huius %auxesim\
%Crescet %in %immensem %me %vivo %pagina %presens;\
%Hinc %mea %dicetur %Skeltonidis %aurea %fama.\
$PAROT\|+
<T Speke Parott>
<P 231>
<L 1>
My name @s $Parott, a byrde of $Paradyse,\
By Nature devysed of a wonderowus kynde,\
Deyntely dyetyd with dyvers delycate spyce,\
Tyll $Eufrates, that flodde, dryvythe me into ${nde,\
Where men of that contre by fortune me fynde,\
And send me to greate ladyes of estate; +
^to greate ladyes] `to grece to lordys' }MS Harley 2252^\
Then $Parot moste have an almon or a date.\
A cage curyowsly carven, with sylver pynne,\
Properly payntyd to be my coverture;\
A myrrour of glasse, that I may tote therin;\
These maydens full meryly with many a dyvers flowur +
^a] not in }MS Harley 2252^\
Fresshely they dresse and make swete my bowur,\
With, `Speke, $Parott, I pray @ow,' full curteslye they sey,\
`$Parott @s a goodlye byrde and a pratye popagay.' +
^and] not in Lant 1545, Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560,# +
Marshe 1568^\
Wythe my beke bente, and my lytell wanton iye, +
^and] not in Lant 1545, Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
My fethyrs fresshe as @s the emerawde grene,\
Abowte my necke a cerculett lyke the ryche rubye,\
My lytell legges, my fete bothe fete and clene,\
I am a mynyon to wayte apon a quene; +
^a (2)] `the' Lant 1545, Kynge & M.#1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
`My propyr $Parott, my lytell pratye fole.'\
With ladyes I lerne and goe with them to scole.\
`Heghe, ha, ha, $Parott, @e can lawghe pratylye!'\
`$Parott hathe not dyned of all this long day;'\
`Lyke owur pus#catt $Parott can mewte and crye.' +
^owur] `your' Lant 1545, Kynge & M. 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
{n Latyn, in Ebrue, and in Caldee, +
^and] `Araby and' Lant 1545, Kynge and Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
In Greke tong $Parott can bothe speke and sey,\
As $[Per]cius, that poete, dothe reporte of me, +
^Percius] `precius' }MS Harley 2252^\
%Quis %expeduit %psitaco %suum %Chyre?\
Dowche Frenshe of $Paris $Parot can lerne,\
Pronownsyng my purpose after my properte,\
With, `%Parlez %byen, $Parott, %ow %parles %ryen.'\
With Dowche, with Spaynyshe, my tonge can agree;\
In Englysshe to $God $Parott can supple: +
^supple] `shewe propyrlye' }MS Harley 2252^\
`$Cryste save Kyng $Herry the %viiith, owur royall kyng,\
The red rose in honour to flowrysshe and sprynge!'\
`With $Kateryne incomporabyll, owur royall quene also,\
That pereles pomegarnat, $Cryste save hyr nobyll grace!'\
<P 232>
$Parott %saves %habeler %Castylyano,\
With %fidasso %de %cosso in $Turke and in $Trace;\
%Vis %consilii %expers, as techythe me $Orace,\
%Mole %ruit %sua, whose dictes ar pregnaunte -\
`%Souentez %foyz, $Parot, %en %sovenaunte.'\
My lady mastres, Dame Phylology, +
^mastres] `maysters' Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, +
Marshe 1568^\
Gave me a gyfte in my neste when I lay, +
^I] `he' }MS Harley 2252^\
To lerne all langage and hyt to speke aptlye.\
Now %pandes %mory, wax frantycke som men sey; +
^mory] `mery' }MS Harley 2252; men] `mad' }MS Harley 2252^\
Phronessys for frenessys may not hold her way.\
An almon now for $Parott, delycatelye dreste;\
In %Salve %festa %dyes, %toto @s the beste. +
^ys the] `theyr doth' Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, +
Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
<L 50>
%Moderata %juvant but %toto dothe exede;\
Dyscrecion @s modyr of nobyll vertues all;\
%Myden %agan in Grekys tonge we rede,\
But reason and wytte wantythe theyr provynciall,\
When wylfulnes @s vicar#generall.\
`%Hec %res %acu %tangitur, $Parrott, %par %ma %foye - '\
`%Tycez-vous, $Parrott, %tenes-vous %coye.'\
Besy, besy, besy, and besynes agayne!\
`%Que %pensez-voz, $Parrot? What meneth this besynes?'\
%Vitulus in $Oreb troubled $Arons brayne;\
$Melchisedeck mercyfull made $Moloc mercyles.\
To wyse is no vertue, to medlyng, to restles;\
In mesure is tresure, %cum %sensu %maturato:\
%Ne %tropo %sanno, %ne %tropo %mato.\
$Aram was fyred with $Caldies fyer called $Ur;\
$Jobab was brought up in the lande of $Hus; +
^Jobab] `Iob' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
The lynage of $Lot toke supporte of $Assur;\
$Jereboseth is $Ebrue, who lyst the cause dyscus. +
^cause] `law' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
`Peace, $Parrot, @e prate as @e were %ebrius!'\
Howst the, %lyuer %god %van %hemrik, %ic %seg;\
In $Popering grew peres, whan $Parrot was an eg.\
`What is this to purpose?' Over in a whynnymeg!\
$Hop#Lobyn of $Lowdeon wald have e byt of bred;\
The $Jebet of $Baldock was made for $Jack $Leg;\
A narrow unfethered and without an hed,\
A bagpype without blowynge standeth in no sted: +
^bagpype] `bagbyte' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554^\
<P 233>
Some run to far before, some run to far behynde,\
Some be to churlysshe, and some be to kynde.\
%Ic %dien serveth for the estrych fether, +
^the] not in Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
%Ic %dien is the language of the land of $Beme;\
<L 80>
In $Affryc tongue %byrsa is a thonge of lether;\
In $Palestina there is $Jerusalem.\
%Collustrum now for $Parot, whyte bred and swete creme!\
Our $Thomasen she doth trip, our $Jenet she doth shayle;\
$Parrot hath a blacke beard and a fayre grene tayle.\
`$Moryshe myne owne shelfe,' the costermonger sayth;\
`Fate, fate, fate, @e Irysh water-lag.'\
In flattryng fables men fynde but lyttyl fayth;\
But %moveatur %terra, let the world wag,\
Let Syr Wrig-wrag wrastell with Syr Delarag:\
Every man after his maner of wayes,\
%Pawbe %une %aruer, so the Welche#man sayes.\
Suche shredis of sentence, strowed in the shop\
Of auncyent $Aristippus and such other mo,\
I gader togyther and close in my crop,\
Of my wanton conseyt, %unde %depromo\
%Dilemata %docta %in %pedagogio\
%Sacro %vatum, whereof to @ou I breke;\
I pray @ou, let $Parot have lyberte to speke.\
`But ware the cat, $Parot, ware the fals cat!'\
<L 100>
With, `Who is there? A mayd?' Nay, nay, I trow!\
Ware, ryat, $Parrot, ware ryot, ware that!\
`Mete, mete, for $Parrot, mete I say, how!'\
Thus dyvers of language by lernyng I grow:\
With, `Bas me, swete $Parrot, bas me, swete swete;'\
To dwell amonge ladyes, $Parrot, is mete.\
`$Parrot, $Parrot, $Parrot, praty popigay!'\
With my beke I can pyke my lyttel praty too;\
My delyght is solas, pleasure, dysporte and pley;\
Lyke a wanton, whan I wyll, I rele to and froo.\
$Parot can say, `%Cesar, %ave,' also;\
But $Parrot hath no favour to $Esebon;\
Above all other byrdis, set $Parrot alone.\
<P 234>
%Ulula, $Esebon, for $Jeromy doth wepe!\
$Sion is in sadness, $Rachell ruly doth loke;\
$Madionita $Jetro, our $Moyses kepyth his shepe;\
$Gedeon is gon, that $Zalmane undertoke,\
$Oreb %et $Zeb, of $Judicum rede the boke.\
Now $Geball, $Amon and $Amaloch - `Harke, harke,\
$Parrot pretendith to be a bybyll#clarke!'\
O $Esebon, $Esebon, to the is cum agayne\
$Seon, the regent %Amorreorum,\
And $Og, that fat hog of $Basan, doth retayne +
^of] `or' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
The crafty %coistronus %Cananeorum;\
And %assilum, whilom %refugium %miserorum,\
%Non %phanum, %sed %prophanum, standyth in lytyll sted:\
%Ulula, $Esebon, for $Jepte is starke ded!\
$Esebon, $Marybon, $Wheston next $Barnet;\
A trym-tram for an horse-myll it were a nyse thyng,\
Deyntes for dammoysels, chaffer far-fet;\
Bo-ho doth bark wel, Hough-ho he rulyth the ring;\
From $Scarpary to $Tartary renoun therein doth spryng,\
With, `He sayd,' and `We said.' Ich wot now what ich wot,\
%Quod %magnus %est %dominus $Judas $Scarioth.\
$Tholomye and $Haly were cunnyng and wyse\
In the volvell, in the quadrant and in the astroloby,\
To pronostycate truly the chaunce of fortunys dyse;\
Som trete of theyr tirykis, som of astrology,\
Som %pseudo-propheta with ciromancy:\
{f fortune be frendly, and grace be the guyde,\
<L 140>
Honowre with renowne wyll ren on that syde. +
^on] `of' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
<L 140a>
`%Monon %Calon %Agaton,'\
<L 140b>
Quod $Parato\
<L 140c>
%In %Greco.\
<L 141>
Let $Parrot, I pray @ou, have lyberte to prate,\
For %aurea %lyngua %Greca ought to be magnyfyed,\
{f it were cond perfytely, and after the rate,\
As %lyngua %Latina, in scole#matter occupyed;\
But our Grekis theyr Greke so well have applyed,\
That they cannot say in Greke, rydynge by the way,\
`How, hosteler, fetche my hors a botell of hay!'\
<P 235>
Neyther frame a silogisme in %phrisesomorum\
%Formaliter %et %Grece, %cum %medio %termino:\
<L 150>
Our Grekys @e walow in the washbol %Argolycorum;\
For though @e can tell in Greke what is %phormio,\
{et @e seke out @our Greke in %Capricornio;\
For [@e] scrape out good scrypture, and set in a gall: +
^ye] `they' }Lant 1545, Kynge & M. 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
{e go about to amende, and @e mare all.\
Some argue %secundum %quid %ad %simpliciter,\
And @et he wolde be rekenyd %pro %Ariopagita;\
And some make distinctions %multipliciter,\
Whether %ita were before %non, or %non before %ita,\
Nether wise nor wel lernid, but like %hermaphradita:\
Set %Sophia asyde, for every $Jack $Raker\
And every mad medler must now be a maker.\
In %Achademia $Parrot dare no probleme kepe,\
For %Greci %fari so occupyeth the chayre,\
That %Latinum %fari may fall to rest and slepe,\
And %silogisari was drowned at $Sturbrydge Fayre;\
Tryvyals and quatryvyals so sore now they appayre,\
That $Parrot the popagay hath pytye to beholde +
^the] `that' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
How the rest of good lernyng is roufled up and trold. +
^roufled] `roulled' Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
$Albertus %De %modo %significandi\
And $Donatus be dryven out of scole;\
$Prisians hed broken now, handy-dandy,\
And %Inter %didascolos is rekened for a fole;\
$Alexander, a gander of $Menanders pole,\
With, `%Da %causales,' is cast out of the gate,\
And `%Da %racionales' dare not shew his pate.\
$Plaut[us] in his comedies a chyld shall now reherse,\
And medyll with $Quintylyan in his %Decla[m]acyons, +
^Declamacyons] `Declaracyons' }Lant 1545, Kynge & Marche 1554, +
Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
That %Pety %Caton can scantly construe a verse,\
With, `%Aveto' in %Greco, and such solempne salutacyons,\
Can skantly the tensis of his conjugacyons;\
Settyng theyr myndys so moche of eloquens,\
That of theyr scole#maters lost is the hole sentens.\
Now a nutmeg, a nutmeg, %cum %gariopholo,\
For $Parrot to pyke upon, his brayne for to stable,\
Swete synamum styckis and %pleris %cum %musco!\
<P 236>
In $Paradyce, that place of pleasure perdurable,\
The progeny of $Parrottis were fayre and favorable;\
Nowe %in %valle $Ebron $Parrot is fayne to fede:\
`Cristecrosse and Saynt $Nycholas, $Parrot, be @our good spede!'\
<L 190>
The myrrour that I tote in, %quasi %diaphonum,\
%Vel %quasi %speculum, %in %enigmate,\
%Elencticum, or ells %enthimematicum,\
For logicions to loke on, somwhat %sophistice;\
Retoricyons and oratours in freshe humanyte,\
Support $Parrot, I pray @ou, with @our suffrage ornate,\
Of %confuse %tantum avoydynge the chekmate.\
But of that supposicyon that callyd is arte,\
%Confuse %distrybutyve, as $Parrot hath devysed,\
Let every man after his merit take his parte;\
<L 200>
For in this processe, $Parrot nothing hath surmysed,\
No matter pretendyd, nor nothyng enterprysed,\
But that %metaphora, %alegoria withall,\
shall be his protectyon, his pavys and his wall.\
For $Parot is no churlish chowgh, nor no flekyd pye,\
$Parrot is no pendugum, that men call a carlyng,\
$Parrot is no woodecocke, nor no butterfly,\
$Parrot is no stameryng stare, that men call a starlyng;\
But $Parot is my owne dere harte, and my dere derling. +
^dere] (2nd) not in Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
$Melpomene, that fayre mayde, she burneshed his beke:\
I pray @ou, let $Parrot have lyberte to speke.\
$Parrot is a fayre byrd for a lady;\
$God of his goodnes him framed and wrought;\
When $Parrot is ded, he dothe not putrefy; +
^he] `she' }Lant 1545, Kynge & M. 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
{e, all#thyng mortall shall torne unto nought\
Except mannes soule, that $Chryst so dere bought;\
That never may dye, nor never dye shall:\
Make moche of $Parrot, the popegay ryall. +
^the] `that' Kynge & Marche 1554, Day 1560, Marshe 1568^\
For that pereles prynce that $Parrot dyd create,\
He made @ou of nothynge by his magistye;\
Poynt well this probleme that $Parrot doth prate,\
And remembre amonge how $Parrot and @e\
Shall lepe from this lyfe, as mery as we be.\
Pompe, pryde, honour, ryches and worldly lust,\
$Parrot sayth playnly, shall tourne all to dust.\
<P 237>
Thus $Parott dothe pray @ow,\
With herte moste tendyr,\
To rekyn with thys recule now 
^now] not in }MS Harley 2252^\
And hyt to remembyr.\
%Psitacius, %ecce, %cano, %nec %sunt %mea %carmina %Phebo\
%Digna %scio, %tamen %est %plena %camena %deo.\
%Secondum %Skeltonida %famigeratum,\
%In %Piereorum %cathalogo %numeratum.\
<L 232a>
%Itaque %consolamyni %invicem %in %verbis %istis, %etc.\
<L 232b>
%Candidi %lectores, %callide %callete, %vestrum %fovete %Psitacum, %etc.\
~$GALATHEA\|+
<L 233>
Speke, $Parotte, I pray @ow, for $Maryes saake,\
Whate mone he made when $Pamphylus loste hys make.\
~$PARROTTE\|+
<L 235>
My propir $Besse,
/My praty $Besse,\
Turne ons agayne to me;\
For slepyste thou, $Besse,\
Or wakeste thow, $Besse,\
Myne herte hyt @s with the.\
My deysy delectabyll,
/My prymerose commendabyll,\
My vyolet amyabyll,
/My joye inexplicabill,\
Nowe torne agayne to me.\
I wyl be ferme and stabyll,
/And to @ow servyceabyll,\
And also prophytabyll,
/{f @e be agreabyll,\
<L 250>
My propyr $Besse,
/To turne agayne to me.\
Alas, I am dysdayned,
/And as a man halfe-maymed,\
My harte is so sore payned,\
<P 238>
I pray the, $Besse, unfayned,
/{et com agayne to me!\
Be love I am constreyned
/To be with @ow retayned,\
Hyt wyll not be refrayned:\
I pray @ow be reclaymed,\
My propyr $Besse,
/And torne agayne to me!\
<L 262a>
Quod $Parot, thy popagay royall. +
^Quod] `Quid' }MS Harley 2252^\
%Marcialis %cecinit %carmen; %fit %michi %scutum:\
%Est %michi %lasciva %pagina, %vita %proba.\
~$GALATHEA\|+
<L 265>
Now kusse me, $Parot, kus me, kus, kus;\
$Goddes blissyng lyght on thy lytell swete musse!\
%Vita %et %Anima\
%Zoe %ke %psiche.\
%Concumbunt %Grece. %Non %est %hic %sermo %pudicus.\
<L 269a>
%Ergo\
<L 270>
%Attica %dictamina\
%Sunt %plumbi %lamina,\
%Vel %spurea %vitulamina:\
%Avertat %hec %Urania.\
<L 273a>
%Amen\
%Amen, %Amen,\
%Amen, %Amen,\
<L 275>
And sette to a D, 
/And then hyt @s `Amend', +
^to] not in }MS Harley 2252^\
Owur new-founde A.#B.#C.\
<L 277a>
%Candidi %lectores %calide %callete; %vestrum %fovete %Psitacum.\
<L Rub>
%Lenvoy %primere\
<L 278>
Go, litelle quayre, namyd the $Popagay,\
Home to resorte $Jerobesethe perswade;\
For the cliffes of $Scaloppe they rore wellaway,\
<P 239>
And the sandes of $Cefas begyn to waste and fade, +
^Cefas] `Tefas' }MS Harley 2252^\
For replicacion restles that he of late ther made;\
Now $Neptune and $Eolus ar agreed of lyclyhod,\
For $Tytus at $Dover abydythe in the rode;\
$Lucina she wadythe among the watry floddes,\
And the cokkes begyn to crowe agayne the day;\
%Le %tonsan %de %Jason is lodgid among the shrowdes;\
Of $Argus revengyd, recover when he may,\
$Lyacon of $Libyk and $Lydy hathe cawghte hys pray:\
Goe, lytyll quayre, pray them that @ow beholde,\
In there remembraunce @e may be inrolde.\
{et some folys say @e arre furnysshyd with knakkes,\
That hang togedyr as fethyrs in the wynde;\
But lewdlye ar they lettyrd that @our lernyng lackys,\
Barkyng and whyning lyke churlysshe currys of kynde,\
For whoo lokythe wyselye in @our warkys may fynde\
Muche frutefull mater. But now for @our defence,\
Agayne all remordes arme @ow with paciens.\
<L Rub>
%Monosticon\
<L 299>
%Ipse %sagax %eque %ceu %verax %nuncius %ito.\
<L 300>
%Merda! %puros %mal %desires!\
<L 300a>
%Penultimo %die %Octobris, %33*\
<L Rub>
%Secunde %Lenvoy\
<L 301>
Passe forthe, $Parotte, towardes some passengere;\
Require hym to convey @ow ovyr the salte fome;\
Addressyng @our#selfe, lyke a sadde messengere,\
To owur soleyne Seigneour Sadoke, desire hym to cum home,\
Makyng hys pylgrimage by %Nostre %Dame %de %Crome:\
For $Jerico and $Jerssey shall mete togethyr as sone\
As he to exployte the man owte of the mone.\
With porpose and graundepose he may fede hym fatte,\
Thowghe he pampyr not hys paunche with the grete seall;\
We have longyd and lokyd long tyme for that,\
Whyche cawsythe pore suters have many a hongry mele;\
As presydent and regente he rulythe every deall.\
Now pas furthe, good $Parott, Owur Lorde be @our s[t]ede, +
^stede] `spede' }MS Harley 2252^\
In this @our journey to prospere and spede.\
<P 240>
And thowe sum dysdayne @ow and sey how @e prate,\
And howe @our poemys arre barayne of polyshed eloquens,\
There is none that @our name woll abbrogate\
Then nodypollys and gramatolys of smalle intellygens:\
To rude @s there reason to reche to @our sentence;\
Suche malyncoly mastyvys and mangye curre dogges\
Ar mete for a swyne#herde to hunte after hogges.\
<L Rub>
%Monosticon\
<L 322>
%Psitace, %perge %volans, %fatuorum %tela %retundas.\
%Merda! %puros %mall %desers!\
<L 323a>
%In %diebus %Novembris\
<L 323b>
%34.\
<L Rub>
%Le %dereyn %lenveoy\
<L 324>
Prepayre @ow, $Parrot, brevely @our passage to take,\
Of $Mercury undyr the trynall aspecte,\
And sadlye salute owur solen Syre $Sydrake,\
And shewe hym that all the world dothe conjecte,\
How the maters he mellis in com to small effecte;\
For he wantythe of hys wyttes that all wold rule alone;\
Hyt @s no lytyll bordon to bere a grete mylle#stone.\
To bryng all the see into a cheryston#pytte,\
To nombyr all the sterrys in the fyrmament,\
To rule %ix realmes by one mannes wytte,\
To suche thynges @mpossybyll, reason cannot consente;\
Muche money, men sey, there madly he hathe spente;\
$Parott, @e may prate thys undyr protestacion,\
Was nevyr suche a senatour syn $Crystes Incarnacion.\
Wherfor he may now come agayne as he wente,\
%Non %sine %postica %sanna, as I trowe,\
From $Calys to $Dovyr, to $Caunterbury in $Kente,\
To make reconyng in the resseyte how $Robyn loste hys bowe,\
To sowe corne in the see-sande, ther wyll no crope growe.\
Thow @e be tauntyd, $Parotte, with tonges attayntyd,\
{et @our problemes ar preignaunte and with loyalte acquayntyd.\
<L Rub>
%Monasticon\
<L 345>
%I, %properans, %Parrote, %malas %sic %coripe %linguas.\
%Merda! %puros %mall %desires!\
<L 346a>
%15 %Kalendis %Decembris\
<P 241>
<L 346b>
%34.\
<L Rub>
%Dysticon %miserabill\
<L 347>
%Altior, %heu, %cedro, %crudelior, %heu, %leopardo;\
%Heu, %vitulus %bubali %fit %dominus %Priami!\
<L Rub>
%Tetrasticon\
<L 349>
%Non %annis %licet %et %Priamus %sed %honore %voceris:\
<L 350>
%Dum %foveas %vitulum, %rex, %regeris, %Britonum;\
%Rex, %regeris, %non %ipse %regis, %rex %inclite, %calle;\
%Subde %tibi %vitulum %ne %fatuet %nimium.\
$God amend all,
/That all amend may!\
Amen, quod $Parott,
/The royall popagay.\
<L 356a>
%Kalendis %Decembris\
<L 356b>
%34.\
<L Rub>
%Lenvoy %royall\
<L 357>
Go, propyr $Parotte, my popagay,\
That lordes and ladies thys pamflett may behold,\
With notable clerkes; supply to them, I pray,\
{our rudeness to pardon and also that they wolde\
Vouchesafe to defend @ow agayne the brawlyng scolde\
Callyd $Detraxion, encankryd with envye,\
Whose tong @s attayntyd with slaundrys obliqui.\
For trowthe in parabyll @e wantonlye pronounce,\
Langagys divers; @et undyr that dothe reste\
Maters more precious than the ryche jacounce,\
Diamounde, or rubye, or balas of the beste,\
Or eyndye sapher with oryente perlys dreste: +
^perlys] `prelys' }MS Harley 2252^\
Wherfor @our remorders ar madde or else starke blynde, +
^remorders] `remordes' }MS Harley 2252^\
{ow to remorde erste or they know @our mynde.\
<L Rub>
%Disticon\
<L 371>
%I, %volitans, %Parrotte, %tuam %moderare %Minervam:\
%Vix %tua %percipient, %qui %tua %teque %legent.\
<L Rub>
%Hyperbaton\
<L 373>
%Psitacus %heu %notus %seu %Percius %est, %puto, %notus,\
<P 242>
%Nec, %reor, %est %nec %erit, %licet %est %erit %undique %notus.\
%Maledite %soyte %bouche %malheurewse!\
<L 375a>
%34.\
<L Rub>
%Laucture %de %Parott\
<L 376>
O My $Parrot, %O %unice %dilecte, %votorum %meorum\
%omnis %lapis, %lapis %preciosus %operimentum %tuum!\
~$PARROTT\|+
<L 377>
%Sicut %Aron %populumque,\
%Sic %bubali %vitulus,\
%Sic %bubali %vitulus,\
%Sic %bubali %vitulus.\
Thus myche $Parott hathe opynlye expreste;\
Let se who dare make up the reste.\
<L 382a>
%Le %Popagay %sen %va %complayndre\
Helas! I lamente the dull abusyd brayne,\
The enfatuate fantasies, the wytles wylfulnes\
Of on and hothyr at me that have dysdayne.\
Som sey they cannot my parables expresse;\
Som sey I rayle att ryott recheles;\
Some say but lityll and thynke more in there thowghte,\
How thys prosses I prate of, hyt @s not all for nowghte.\
O causeles cowardes, O hartles hardynes,\
O manles manhod, enfayntyd all with fere,\
O connyng clergye, where @s @our redynes\
To practise or postyll thys prosses here and there?\
For drede @e darre not medyll with suche gere,\
Or elles @e pynche curtesy, trulye as I trowe,\
Whyche of @ow fyrste dare boldlye plucke the crowe.\
The skye is clowdy, the coste is nothyng clere;\
$Tytan hathe truste up hys tressys of fyne golde;\
$Jupyter for $Saturne darre make no royall chere;\
<L 400>
$Lyacon lawghyth thereatt and berythe hym more bolde;\
$Racell, rulye ragged, she is like to cache colde;\
<P 243>
$Moloc, that mawmett, there darre no man withsay;\
The reste of suche reconyng may make a fowle fraye.\
%Dixit, quod $Parrott, the royall popagay.\
~$PARROTTE\|+
<L 405>
%Jupiter %ut %nitido %deus %est %veneratus %Olimpo;\
%Hic %coliturque %deus.\
%Sunt %data %thura %Jovi, %rutilo %solio %residenti;\
%Cum %Jove %thura %capit.\
%Jupiter %astrorum %rector %dominusque %polorum;\
%Anglica %sceptra %regit.\
~$GALATHEA\|+
<L 411>
I compas the conveyaunce unto the capitall\
Of owur clerke $Cleros. Whythyr, thydyr and why not hethyr?\
For passe-a-Pase apase @s gone to cache a molle,\
Over $Scarpary %mala %vy, Monsyre $Cy-and-sliddyr.\
Whate sequele shall folow when pendugims mete togethyr?\
Speke, $Parotte, my swete byrde, and @e shall have a date,\
Of frantycknes and folysshnes whyche @s the grett state?\
~$PAROTTE\|+
<L 418>
Difficille hit @s to ansswere thys demaunde;\
{et, aftyr the sagacite of a popagay,\
Frantiknes dothe rule and all#thyng commaunde;\
Wylfulnes and Braynles no[w] rule all the raye. +
^now] `no' }MS Harley 2252^\
Agayne Frentike Frenesy there dar no man sey nay,\
For Frantiknes and Wylfulnes and Braynles ensembyll,\
The nebbis of a lyon they make to trete and trembyll,\
To jumbyll, to stombyll, to tumbyll down lyke folys;\
To lowre, to droupe, to knele, to stowpe and to play cowche-quale;\
To fysshe afore the nette and to drawe polys.\
He maketh them to bere babylles, and to bere a lowe sayle;\
He caryeth a kyng in hys sleve, @f all the worlde fayle;\
He facithe owte at a flusshe with, `Shewe, take all!'\
Of Pope $Julius cardys, he @s chefe Cardynall.\
<P 244>
He tryhumfythe, he trumpythe, he turnythe all up and downe,\
With, `Skyre-galyard, prowde palyard, vaunte-parler, @e prate!'\
Hys wolvys hede, wanne, bloo as lede, gapythe over the crowne:\
Hyt @s to fere leste he wolde were the garland on hys pate,\
Paregall with all prynces, farre passyng hys estate;\
For of owur regente the regiment he hathe, %ex %qua %vi,\
%Patet %per %versus %quod %ex %vi %bolte %harvi.\
Now, $Galathea, lett $Parrot, I pray @ow, have hys date -\
{ett dates now are deynte, and wax verye scante,\
For grocers were grugyd at and groynyd at but late;\
Grete reysons with resons be now reprobitante,\
For reysons ar no resons but resons currant -\
Ryn $God, rynne $Devyll! {et the date of Owur $Lord\
And the date of the $Devyll dothe shurewlye accord.\
%Dixit, quod $Parrott, the popagay royall.\
~GALATHEA\|+
<L 447>
Nowe, $Parott, my swete byrde, speke owte @et ons agayn,\
Sette asyde all sophysms, and speke now trew and playne.\
~$PAROTTE\|+
<L 449>
So many morall maters, and so lytell usyd; +
^many] `many many'  }MS Harley 2252^\
So myche newe makyng, and so madd tyme spente;\
So myche translacion into Englyshe confused;\
So myche nobyll prechyng, and so lytell amendment;\
So myche consultacion, almoste to none entente;\
So myche provision, and so lytell wytte at nede -\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde there can no clerkes rede.\
So lytyll dyscressyon, and so myche reasonyng;\
So myche hardy-dardy, and so lytell manlynes;\
So prodigall expence, and so shamfull reconyng;\
So gorgyous garmentes, and so myche wrechydnese,\
So myche portlye pride, with pursys penyles;\
So myche spente before, and so myche unpayd behynde -\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde there can no clerkes fynde.\
So myche forcastyng, and so farre an after-dele;\
So myche poletyke pratyng, and so lytell stondythe in stede;\
<P 245>
So lytell secretnese, and so myche grete councell;\
So manye bolde barons, there hertes as dull as lede;\
So many nobyll bodyes, undyr on dawys hedd;\
So royall a kyng, as reynythe uppon us all -\
Syns $Dewcalions flodde, was nevyr sene nor shall.\
So many complayntes, and so smalle redresse;\
So myche callying on, and so smalle takyng hede;\
So myche losse of merchaundyse, and so remedyles;\
So lytell care for the comynweall, and so myche nede;\
So myche dowghtfull daunger, and so lytell drede;\
So myche pride of prelattes, so cruell and so kene -\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde, I trowe, was nevyr sene.\
So many thevys hangyd, and thevys neverthelesse;\
So myche presonment, for matyrs not worth a hawe;\
So myche papers weryng for ryghte a smalle exesse;\
So myche pelory#pajauntes undyr colowur of good lawe;\
So myche towrnyng on the cooke-stole for every guy-gaw;\
So myche mokkyshe makyng of statutes of array -\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde was nevyr, I dar sey.\
So braynles calvys#hedes, so many shepis#taylys;\
So bolde a braggyng bocher, and flesshe sold so dere;\
So many plucte partryches, and so fatte quaylles;\
So mangye a mastyfe curre, the grete greyhoundes pere;\
So bygge a bulke of brow-auntleres cabagyd that @ere;\
So many swannes dede, and so small revell -\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde, I trow, no man can tell.\
So many trusys takyn, and so lytyll perfyte trowthe; +
^perfyte] `profyte' }MS Harley 2252^\
So myche bely-joye, and so wastefull banketyng;\
So pynchyng and sparyng, and so lytell profyte#growth;\
So many howgye howsys byldyng, and so small howse-holdyng;\ 
Suche statutes apon diettes, suche pyllyng and pollyng -\
So @s all#thyng wrowghte wylfully withowte reson and skylle.\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde the world was never so @ll. +
^the world] `the world the world' }MS Harley 2252^\
So many vacabondes, so many beggers bolde,\
So myche decay of monesteries and relygious places;\
<L 500>
So hote hatered agaynste the Chyrche, and cheryte so colde;\
So myche of my lordes grace, and in hym no grace @s;\
So many holow hartes, and so dowbyll faces;\
<P 246>
So myche sayntuary#brekyng, and prevylegidde barryd -\
Syns $Dewcalyons flodde was nevyr sene nor lyerd.\
So myche raggyd ryghte of a rammes#horne;\
So rygorous revelyng, in a prelate specially;\
So bold and so braggyng, and was so baselye borne;\
So lordlye of hys lokes, and so dysdayneslye;\
So fatte a magott, bred of a flesshe-flye;\
Was nevyr suche a fylty gorgon, nor suche an epycure,\
Syn $Dewcalyons flodde, I make the faste and sure.\
So myche prevye wachyng in cold wynters nyghtes;\
So myche serchyng of loselles, and @s hym#selfe so lewde;\
So myche conjuracions for elvyshe myday#sprettes;\
So many bullys of pardon publysshed and shewyd;\
So myche crossyng and blyssyng and hym all be shrewde;\
Suche pollaxis and pyllers, suche mulys trapte with gold -\
Sens $Dewcalyons flodde, in no cronycle @s told.\
_
<L E>
%Dixit, quod $Parrot\
%Crescet %in %immensem %me %vivo %Psitacus %iste;\
%Hinc %mea %dicetur %Skeltonidis %inclita %fama.\
Quod $Skelton Lawryat\
%Orator %Regius\
%34.\=
<T Collyn Clout>
~Here#after foloweth a lytell boke called $Collyn $Clout\
compyled by Mayster $Skelton, Poete Laureate\
%Quis %consurget %mihi %adversus %malignantes, %aut %quis %stabit\
%mecum %adversus %operantes %iniquitatem? %Nemo, %Domine!\|+
<L 1>
What can it avayle
/To dryve forth a snayle,\
Or to make a sayle
/Of a herynges tayle?\
To ryme or to rayle,
<P 247>
/To wryte or to indyte,\
Other for delyte 
/Or elles *to desyte? +
^Other] `Eyther' Kele 1545.1; `to desyte' MS Harley 2252, +
`despyte' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Or bokes to compyle
/Of dyvers maner style,\
Vyce to revyle
/And synne to exyle?\
To teche or to preche
/As reason wyll reche?\
Sey this and sey that:\
`His heed is so fat\
He wottyth never what
/Ne whereof he speketh.'\
`He cryeth and he creketh  
/He pryeth and he preketh, +
^preketh ] `peketh' Kele 1545.1, `prekythe' MS Harley 2252^\
He chydeth and he chatters, 
/He prayeth and he patters; +
^prayeth] `prates' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `pratythe' +
MS Harley 2252^\
He clyttreth and he clatters,
/He medleth and he smatters,\
He gloseth and he flatters.'\
Or @f he speke playne,
/Than he lacketh brayne:\
`He is but a foole;
/Let hym go to scole!\
A thre-foted stole
/That he may downe sytte,\
For he lacketh wytte.'\
And @f that he hytte
/The nayle on the hede\
It standeth in no stede:\
`The devyll,' they say, `is dede,
/The devyll is dede.'\
It may well so be,\
Or elles they wolde se 
/Otherwyse,\ and fle 
/From worldly vanyte +
^worldly] `wordly' Kele 1545.1^\
And foule covytousnesse
/And other wretchednesse,\
Fyckell falsenesse,
/Varyablenesse,
/With unstablenesse.\
<P 248>
And @f @e stande in doute
/Who brought this ryme aboute,\
My name is $Collyn $Cloute.\
<L 50>
I purpose to shake oute
/All my connynge bagge,\
Lyke a clerkely hagge.\
For though my ryme be ragged,
/Tattered and jagged,\
Rudely rayne-beaten, 
/Rusty and mothe-eaten, +
^mothe] `moche' }Godfray 1531, `moughte' Kele 1545.1, `mothe' +
MS Harley 2252^\
{f @e take well therwith 
/It hath in it some pyth. +
^take] `talke' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
For, as farre as I can se,\
It is wronge with eche degre;\
For the temporalte
/Accuseth the spirytualte;\
The spirytualte agayne\
Dothe grudge and complayne
/Upon the temporall men.\
Thus eche of other blother
/The tone against the tother.\
Alas, they make me shoder,\
For in hoder-moder
/The churche is put in faute.\
The prelates ben so haute
/They say, and loke so hye\
As though they wolde flye 
/Aboute the sterry skye. +
^Aboute] `Above' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, MS Harley 2252^\
Laye#men say, in#dede,\
Howe they take no hede
/Theyr sely shepe to fede,\
But plucke away and pull
/Theyr fleces of wull.\
Unneth they leve a locke
/Of wolle amongest theyr flocke.\
And as for theyr connynge,
/A glommynge and a mommynge,\
And make therof a jape!\
They gaspe and they gape
/All to have promocyon:\
There is theyr hole devocyon,\
<P 249>
With money, @f it wyll happe
/To catche the forked cappe.\
For sothe, they are to lewde
/To say so, all beshrewde!\
What trowe @e they say more
/Of the bysshoppes lore?\
Howe in matters they ben rawe,\
They lumber forth the lawe\
To herken $Jacke and $Gyll
/Whan they put up a byll;\
And judge it as they wyll,
/For other mens skyll,\
<L 100>
Expoundynge out theyr clauses,
/And leve theyr owne causes.\
In theyr pryncypall cure
/They make but lytell sure,\
And meddels very lyght
/In the churches ryght.\
But %ire and %venyre,\
And %sol %fa so %alamyre +
^sol fa] `so fa' }Godfray 1531, `solfe' MS Harley 2252^\
That the premenyre
/Is lyke to be set afyre\
In theyr jurysdictyons,\
Through temporall afflictyons.\
Men say they have prescrypcyons\
Agaynst the spirytual contradictyons,\
Accomptynge them as fictyons.\
And whyles the heedes do this,
/The remenaunt is amys\
Of the clergye all,
/Bothe great and small.\
I wote never howe they warke,\
But thus the people carke,\
And surely thus they sey:\
`Bysshoppes, @f they may,\
Small housholdes woll kepe,\
But slombre forth and slepe,\
And assay to crepe
/Within the noble walles\
Of the kynges halles,\
<P 250>
To fatte theyr bodyes full,\
Theyr soules lame and dull;\
And have full lytell care\
Howe evyll theyr shepe fare.'\
The temporalte say playne\
Howe bysshoppes dysdayne
/Sermons for to make,\
Or suche laboure to take.\
And, for to say trouth, 
/A great parte is for slouth; +
^for] `full' }Godfray 1531, `for' MS Harley 2252^\
But the greatest parte
/Is for they have but small arte\
And ryght slender connynge
/Within theyr heedes wonnynge.\
But this reason they take:\
Howe they are able to make
/With theyr golde and treasure\
Clerkes out of measure,\
And @et that is a pleasure.\
Howebeit, some there be,\
Almoost two or three,
/Of that dygnyte,\
<L 150>
Full worshypfull clerkes,\
As appereth by theyr werkes,\
Lyke $Aron and $Ure,\
The wolfe from the dore\
To wary and to kepe
/From theyr goostly shepe,\
And theyr spyrytuall lambes
/Sequestred from rambes\
And from the berded gotes
/With theyr heery cotes;\
Set nought by golde ne grotes,
/Theyr names @f I durst tell.\
But they are lothe to mell,\
And lothe to hange the bell\
Aboute the cattes necke,\
For drede to have a checke.\
They are fayne to play deuz decke.\
<P 251>
Howebeit they are good men,\
Moche herted lyke an hen.\
Theyr lessons forgoten they have\
That Saynt $Thomas of $Canterbury gave. +
^`That becket them gave' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
$Thomas %manum %mittit %ad %forcia,\
%Spernit %dampna, %spernit %opprobria,\
%Nulla %Thomam %frangit %iniuria.\
But nowe every spirytuall father,\
Men say, they had rather\
Spende moche of theyr share\
Than to be combred with care.\
Spende? Nay, but spare!\
For let se who that dare\
Shoo the mockyssh mare;\
They make her wynche and kycke,\
But it is not worth a leke.\
Boldenes is to seke
/The churche for to defende;\
Take me as I entende,\
For lothe I am to offende\
In this that I have pende.\
I tell @ou as men say.\
Amende whan @e may,\
For, %usque %ad %montem %Sare,\
Men say, @e can#nat appare;\
For some say @e hunte in parkes +
^ye] `they' }Godfray 1531, `ye' MS Harley 2252; +
in parkes] `partrykes' }G^\
And hauke on hobby#larkes\
And other wanton warkes
/Whan the nyght darkes.\
What have laye#men to do\
The gray goos for to sho?\
Lyke houndes of hell,
/They crye and they @ell\
<L 200>
Howe that @e sell
/The grace of the Holy Goost.\
Thus they make theyr boost
/Through every coost,\
Howe some of @ou dothe eate
/In lenton season flesshe#meate,\
<P 252>
Fesauntes, partryche and cranes;\
Men call @ou therfore prophanes.\
{e pyke no shrympes nor pranes,\
Saltfysshe, stockfyssh nor herynge,\
It is nat for @our werynge,\
Nor in holy lenton season\
{e wyll neyther beanes ne peason.\
But @e loke to be let lose\
To a pygge or to a goose,\
{our gorge nat endued
/Without a capon stued,\
Or a stewed cocke\
Under her surfled smocke\
And her wanton wodicocke.\
 And howe whan @e gyve orders\
In @our provyncyall borders,\
As at %Sicientes,\
Some are %insufficientes,\
Some %parum %sapientes,\
Some %nichil %intelligentes,\
Some %valde %negligentes,\
Some %nullum %sensum %habentes,\
Some bestyall and untaught.\
But whan they have ones caught\
%Dominus %vobiscum by the hede,\
Then renne they in every stede,\
$God wote, with dronken nolles.\
{et take they cure of soules, +
^cure] `cures' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
And wotteth never what thei rede,
/Paternoster nor crede;\
Construe nat worth a whystell\
Neyther gospell nor pystell,\
Theyr matyns madly sayde,
/Nothynge devoutly prayde,\
Theyr lernynge is so small,\
Theyr prymes and houres fall\
And lepe out of theyr lyppes\
Lyke sawdust or drye chyppes.\
I speke nat nowe of all,\
But the moost parte in generall.\
Of suche %vacabundus
<P 253>
/Speketh %totus %mundus:\
Howe some synge %letabundus
/At every ale#stake,\
<L 250>
With, `Welcome, hake and make!'\
By the breed that $God brake,\
I am sory for @our sake!\
I speke nat of the good wyfe,\
But of her apostels lyfe. +
^her] `theyr' Kele 1545.1, `ther' MS Harley 2252^\
%Cum %ipsis %vel %illis\
%Qui %manent %in %villis\
%Est %uxor %vel %ancilla.\
`Welcom $Jacke and $Gylla!'\
`My prety $Petronylla,\
And @ou wyll be stylla,\
{ou shall have @our wylla!'\
Of suche paternoster#pekes
/All the worlde spekes.\
In @ou the faute is supposed\
For that they are nat apposed\
By juste examynacyon
/In connynge and conversacyon.\
They have none instructyon\
To make a trewe constructyon.\
A preest without a letter,\
Without his vertue be greatter,\
Doutlesse were moche better +
^were] `where' Kele 1545.1^\
Uppon hym for to take
/A mattocke or a rake.\
Alas, for very shame,\
Some can#nat declyne theyr name!\
Some can#nat scarsly rede,\
And @et he wyll nat drede\
For to kepe a cure,\
And in nothynge is sure.\
This %dominus %vobiscum\
As wyse as $Jacke-a-Thrum, +
^Jacke] `Tom' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
A chaplayne of trust,
/Layth all in the dust.\
Thus I, $Collyn $Cloute,\
As I go aboute,\
<P 254>
And wandrynge as I walke,\
I here the people talke.\
Men say, for sylver and golde,\
Myters are bought and solde;\
Theyr shall no clergye appose\
A myter nor a crose,\
But a full purse.\
A strawe for $Goddes curse!\
What are they the worse?\
For a symoniake
/Is but a hermoniake;\
And no more @e make\
Of symony, men say,\
<L 300>
But a chyldes play.\
Over this, the foresayd lay\
Reporte howe the pope may\
An holy anker call +
^An] `a' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Out of the stony wall,\
And hym a bysshop make,\
{f he on hym dare take\
To kepe so harde a rule,\
To ryde upon a mule\
With golde all betrapped,\
In purple and paule belapped;\
Some hatted and some capped,
/Rychly bewrapped,\
$God wotte, to theyr great paynes,\
In rotchettes of fyne raynes,\
Whyte as mares#mylke; +
^mares] `morowes' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `marys' Harley 2252^\
Theyr tabertes of fyne sylke;\
Theyr styrops of myxt golde begared, +
^begared] `begarded' Marshe 1568, `be gloryd' MS Harley 2252^\
There may no cost be spared;\
Theyr moyles golde dothe eate,\
Theyr neyghbours dye for meate.\
What care they thoughe $Gyll swete,\
Or $Jacke#of#the#Nocke?\
The poore people they @oke\
With sommons and citacyons
/And excommunycacyons\
<P 255>
Aboute churches and market.\
The bysshop on his carpet\
At home full softe doth sytte.\
This is a farly fytte +
^farly] `fearfull' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, +
`ffarly' MS Harley 2252^\
To here the people jangle.\
Howe warely they wrangle!\
Alas, why do @e nat handle\
And them all to-mangle? +
^to-mangle] `mangle' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Full falsely on @ou they lye,\
And shamfully @ou ascrye,\
And say as untrewly
/As the butterfly,\
A man myght say in mocke,\
Ware the wether#cocke
/Of the steple of $Poules.\
And thus they hurte theyr soules,\
In sclaundrynge @ou for truthe.\
Alas, it is great ruthe!\
Some say @e sytte in trones,\
Lyke %princeps %aquilonis, +
^princeps] `prynces' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `prinopes' +
MS Harley 2252^\
And shryne @our rotten bonys\
With perles and precyous stonys.\
But howe the commons gronys,
/And the people monys,\
<L 350>
For prestes and for lonys
/Lent and never payde,\
But from daye to daye delayde,\
The communewelth decayde.\
Men say @e are tonge-tayde,\
And therof speke nothynge\
But dyssymulynge and glosynge,\
Wherfore men be supposynge\
That @e gyve shrewed counsell\
Agaynst the communewell,\
By pollynge and pyllage
/In cytes and vyllage;\
By taxynge and tollage,\
{e make monkes to have the colerage +
^make] `haue' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `make' MS Harley 2252; +
colerage] `culerage' Kele 1545.1, `colerage' +
Harley 2252^\
For coverynge of an olde cottage\
That commytted is a collage\
In the charter of dottage\
<P 256>
%Tenure %par %service %de %sottage,\
And nat %par %service %de %socage,\
After olde seygnours,
/And the lernynge of $Lytelton %Tenours\
{e have so overthwarted,\
That good lawes are subverted\
And good reason perverted.\
Relygyous men are fayne
/For to tourne agayne\
%In %secula %seculorum,\
And to forsake theyr %corum\
And %vacabundare %per %forum,\
And take a fyne %meritorum,
/%Contra %regulam %morum,\
%Aut blacke %monacorum,\
%Aut %canonicorum,\
%Aut %Bernardinorum,\
%Aut %Crucifixorum,\
And to synge from place to place,
/Lyke apostataas.\
And the selfe#same game\
Begon, and now with shame,\
Amongest the sely nonnes.\
My lady nowe she ronnes,\
Dame $Sybly our abbesse,\
Dame $Dorothe and Lady $Besse,\
Dame $Sare our pryoresse,\
Out of theyr cloyster and quere
/With an hevy chere,\
Must cast up theyr blacke vayles\
And set up theyr fucke#sayles +
^fucke sayles] `flucke sayles' }Godfray 1531, `fulke saylys' +
MS Harley 2252^\
To catche wynde with theyr ventayles.\
What, $Collyn, there thou shayles!\
<L 400>
{et thus with @ll hayles\
The lay#fee people rayles.\
And all the faute they lay +
^the faute] not in Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
In @ou prelates, and say +
^In] `On' Marshe 1568, `In' MS Harley 2252^\
{e do them wronge and no ryght +
^them] not in Marshe 1568^\
To put them thus to flyght;\
No matyns at mydnyght,\
<P 257>
Boke and chalys gone quyte;\
Plucke away the leedes
/Over theyr heedes,\
And sell away theyr belles\
And all that they have elles.\
Thus the people telles,
/Rayles lyke rebelles,\
Redes shrewdly and spelles, +
^redes] `rede' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
And with foundacyons melles,\
And talkes lyke tytyvylles +
^talkes] `talke' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Howe @e breke the dedes wylles,\
Turne monasteries into water#mylles,\
Of an abbey @e make a graunge - +
^ye] `they' Kele 1545.1, `to' MS Harley 2252^\
{our workes, they say, are straunge -\
So that theyr founders soules\
Have lost theyr bedde#roules; +
^bedde] `beade' Kele 1545.1, `bede' MS Harley 2252^\
The money for theyr masses\
Spent among wanton lasses;\
Theyr dyriges are forgotten, +
^Theyr dyriges]  `The Diriges' Kele 1545.1, `the dyrige' +
MS Harley 2252^\
Theyr founders lye there rotten;\
But where theyr soules dwell,\
Therwith I wyll nat mell.\
What coude the Turke do more\
With all his false lore -\
Turke, Sarazyn or Jewe?\
I reporte me to @ou.\
O mercyfull $Jesu,\
{ou supporte and rescue, +
^rescue] `rescite' Marshe 1568^\
My style for to dyrecte,\
It may take some effecte!\
For I abhorre to wryte\
Howe the lay#fee despyte\
{ou prelates, that of ryght\
Shulde be lanternes of lyght.\
{e lyve, they say, in delyte,
/Drowned %in %deliciis,\
%In %gloria %et %deviciis,\
%In %o %admirabili %honore\
%In %gloria %et %splendore\
%Fulgurantes %haste,\
%Viventes %parum %caste.\
<P 258>
{et swete#meate hath soure sauce,\
For after %gloria, %laus,\
<L 450>
$Chryst by cruelte
/Was nayled upon a tre;\
He payed a bitter pencyon
/For mans redempcyon,\
He dranke eysell and gall\
To redeme us with all.\
But swete @pocras @e drynke,\
With, `Let the catte wynke!\
Iche wotte what @che do thynke!' +
^yche do] `eche other' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Howebeit, %per %assimile,
/Some men thynke that @e\
Shall have penalte
/For @our iniquite.\
%Nota what I say +
^`Note well what to say' MS Lansdowne 762 `Note whayte I say' +
MS Harley 2252^\
And bere it well away.\
{f it please nat theologys +
^nat theologys] `the not onely' MS Lansdowne 762 `not +
theologi' MS Harley 2252^\
It is good for astrologys,\
For $Tholome tolde me\
The sonne somtyme to be\
%In %Ariete 
/Ascendent a degre. +
^a degre] `ad dextram' MS Lansdowne 762, `a dextre' MS Harley +
2252^\
Whan Scorpyon descendynge,
/Was so then pretendynge\
A fatall fall for one +
^A fatal] `All' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `Affatuall' MS +
Lansdowne 762^\
That shall sytte in a trone +
^shall sytte] `syttys nowe' MS Lansdowne 762 `shuld sytte' +
MS Harley 2252^\
And rule all thynges alone.\
{our teth whett on this bone +
^whett on] `whetten' }Godfray 1531, `whette on' MS Harley 2252^\
Amongest @ou everychone\
And let $Collyn $Clout have none +
^have none] `alone' MS Lansdowne 762, `alon' MS Harley 2252^\
Maner of cause to mone.\
Lay salve to @our owne sore,\
For elles, as I sayd before,\
After %gloria, %laus,
/May come a soure sauce.\
Sory therfore am I,\
But trouth can never lye.\
With language thus poluted\
Holy churche is bruted
/And shamfully confuted.\
<P 259>
My penne nowe wyll I sharpe,\
And wrest up my harpe\
With sharp twynkyng trebelles\
Agayne all suche rebelles\
That laboure to confounde\
And brynge the churche to the grounde.\
As @e may dayly se
/Howe the lay#fee\
Of one affynyte
/Consent and agre\
Agaynst the churche to be,\
<L 500>
And the dygnyte 
/Of the bysshoppes [s]ee. +
^see] `fee' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
And eyther @e be to badde,\
Or elles they are madde\
Of this to reporte.\
But under @our supporte,\
Tyll my dyenge day\
I shall bothe wryte and say,\
And @e shall do the same,\
Howe they are to blame\
{ou thus to dyffame.\
For it maketh me sad\
Howe the people are glad\
The churche to deprave.\
And some there are that rave,\
Presumyng on theyr owne wytte, +
^owne] not in Marshe 1568^\
Whan there is never a whytte,\
To maynteyne argumentes
/Agaynst the sacramentes.\
Some make epylogacyon
/Of hygh predestynacyon;\
And of resyde[v]acyon 
/They make enterpretacyon +
^resydevacyon] `resdenacyon' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, +
Marshe 1568^\
Of auquarde facyon,\
And of the prescyence 
/Of divyne assence +
^assence] `essence' Marshe 1568^\
And what ipostacis
/Of $Chrystes manhode is.\
Suche logyke men woll choppe,\
And in theyr fury hoppe,\
<P 260>
Whan the good ale#soppe
/Dothe daunce in theyr foretoppe;\
Bothe women and men,\
Suche @e may well knowe and ken\
That agaynst preesthode 
/Theyr malyce sprede abrode, +
^agaynst] `agayn' Marshe 1568^\
Raylynge haynously
/And dysdaynously\
Of preestly dygnytes 
/By theyr malygnytes. +
^By] `But' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
And some have a smacke
/Of $Luthers sacke,\
And a brennynge sparke
/Of $Luthers warke,\
And are somewhat suspecte
/In $Luthers secte.\
And some of them barke,
/Clatter and carpe\
Of that heresy arte 
/Called Wytclyftista, +
^Wytclyftista] `Wicleuista' Marshe 1568^\
<L 550>
The devylyshe dagmatista.\
And some be Hussians,\
And some be Arryans,\
And some be Pollegyans,\
And make moche varyans\
Bytwene the clergye
/And the temporaltye:\
How the churche hath to mykell\
And they have to lytell,\
And brynge in materyalytes +
^in materyalytes] `him in maierialites' Marshe 1568^\
And qualyfyed qualytes
/Of pluralytes,\
Of tryalytes,
/And of tot#quottes;\
They commune lyke sottes, +
^sottes] `scottes' Marshe 1568, `sottes' MS Harley 2252^\
As cometh to theyr lottes,\
Of prebendaries and deanes,\
Howe some of them glenes\
And gathereth up in store +
^gathereth] `gathered' Marshe 1568^\
For to catche more and more:\
<P 261>
Of parsons and vycaryes
/They make many outcryes:\
`They can#nat kepe theyr wyves\
From them for theyr lyves!'\
And thus the loselles stryves,\
And lewdely sayes by $Chryst\
Agaynst the sely preest.\
Alas, and wellaway,
/What eyles them thus to say?\
They mought be better advysed\
Then to be so dysgysed.\
But they have enterprysed
/And shamfully surmysed\
How prelacye is solde and bought\
And come up of nought;\
And where the prelates be
/Come of lowe degre\
And set in majeste
/And spirytuall dygnyte,\
Farewell benygnyte,
/Farewell symplycyte,\
Farewell humylyte,
/Farewell good charyte!\
{e are so puffed with pryde,\
That no man may abyde\
{our hygh and lordely lokes.\
{e caste up then @our bokes\
And vertue is forgotten,\
For then @e wyll be wroken\
Of every lyght quarell,\
And call a lorde a javell.\
A knyght a knave @e make. +
^ye] `to' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `ye' MS Harley 2252^\
{e boost, @e face, @e crake,\
And upon @ou take\
To rule kynge and kayser.\
And @f @e may have layser, +
^ye] `you' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `ye' MS Harley 2252^\
{e wyll brynge all to nought,\
And that is all @our thought.\
For the lordes temporall,\
Theyr rule is very small,\
Almoost nothynge at all.\
<P 262>
Men say howe @e appalle\
The noble bloode royall\
In ernest and in game.\
{e are the lesse to blame,\
For lordes of noble bloode,\
{f they well understode +
^understode] `understand' Marshe 1568^\
Howe connynge myght them avaunce,\
They wolde pype @ou another daunce.\
But noble#men borne,
/To lerne they have scorne,\
But hunte and blowe an horne,\
Lepe over lakes and dykes,\
Set nothynge by polytykes.\
Therfore @e kepe them base,\
And mocke them to theyr face.\
This is a pyteous case:\
To @ou that over the whele\
Lordes must crouche and knele, +
^crouche] `couch' Marshe 1568, `cruche' MS Harley 2252^\
And breke theyr hose at the kne,\
As dayly men may se,\
And to remembraunce call;\
Fortune so tourneth the ball\
And ruleth so over all\
That honoure hath a great fall.\
Shall I tell @ou more? {e, shall.\
I am lothe to tell all;\
But the communalte @e call\
{dolles of $Babylon,
/%De %terra $Zabulon,\
%De %terra $Neptalym;\
For @ou love to go trym,\
Brought up of poore estate,
/With pryde inordynate,\
Sodaynly upstarte
/From the donge#carte,\
The mattocke and the shovll\
To reygne and to rule;\
And have no grace to thynke\
Howe [@e] were wonte to drynke +
^ye] `thy' }Godfray 1531, `they' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, +
MS Harley 2252^\
<L 650>
Of a lether bottell
/With a knavysshe stoppell,\
<P 263>
Whan mammockes was @our meate,\
With moulde brede to eate -\
{e coude none other gette +
^coude] `wolde' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `cowde' +
MS Harley 2252^\
To chewe and to gnawe +
^gnawe] `grawe' }Godfray 1531, `gnawe' MS Harley 2252^\
To fyll therwith @our mawe -\
Lodged in the strawe,\
Couchynge @our drousy heddes\
Somtyme in lousy beddes.\
All this is out of mynde. +
^All] `Alas' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `All' MS  Harley 2252^\
{e growe nowe out of kynde.\
Many one @e have untwynde +
^ye have untwynde] `have but wynde' }Godfray 1531, +
Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
And make the commons blynde.\
But %qui %se %existimat %stare,\
Let hym well beware\
Leste that his fote slyppe,\
And have suche a tryppe,\
And fall in suche decay, +
^fall] `false' Kele 1545.1, `fall' MS Harley 2252^\
That all the worlde myght say,\
`Come downe, on the devyll way.' +
^devyll] `deuils' Marshe 1568, `devyll' MS Harley 2252^\
{et over all that,\
Of bysshoppes they chat,\
That though @e rounde @our heere\
An @nche above @our eere,\
And have %aures %patentes\
And %parum %intendentes,\
And @our tonsors be croppyd, +
^tonsors be croppyd] `coursers betrapped' }Godfray 1531, +
Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
{our eeres they be stopped!\
For Mayster %Adulator,
/And Doctour %Assentator,\
And %Blandior %Blandiris,\
With %Mentior %Mentiris,\
They folowe @our desyris,\
And so they blere @our eye\
That @e can#nat espye\
Howe the male dothe wrye. +
^wrye] `wryte' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `wrye' MS Harley 2252^\
Alas, for $Goddes wyll,\
Why syt @e prelates styll\
And suffre all this @ll?\
{e bysshoppes of estates\
Shulde open the brode gates\
<P 264>
For @our spirytuall charge,\
And com forthe at large, +
^com forthe] `conforte' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Lyke lanternes of lyght,\
In the peoples syght,\
In pulpyttes autentyke, +
^autentyke] `attentyke' Kele 1545.1, `antentike' Marshe 1568^\
For the wele#publyke
/Of preesthode in this case;\
And all wayes to chase\
<L 700>
Suche maner of sysmatykes
/And halfe#heretykes,\
That wolde intoxicate, 
/That wolde conquinate, +
^intoxicate] `intoxicall' }Godfray 1531, `intrixicate' +
MS Harley 2252^\
That wolde contemminate, 
/And that wolde vyolate, +
^contemminate] `contaminate' Marshe 1568, MS Harley 2252^\
And that wolde derogate,\
And that wolde abrogate\
The churche hygh estates,\
After this maner rates;\
The whiche shulde be
/Bothe franke and free,\
And have theyr lyberte,\
As of antyquyte 
/It was ratyfyed, +
^As] `And' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
And also gratyfyed
/By holy synodalles\
And bulles papalles,\
As it is %res %certa\
Conteyned in %Magna %Carta.\
But mayster $Damyan,
/Or some other man\
That clerkely is, and can
/Well scrypture expounde\
And hys textes grounde - +
^hys] not in Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
His benefyce worth ten pounde,\
Or scante worth twenty marke,\
And @et a noble clerke -\
He must do this werke;\
As I know aparte\
Some maysters of arte,\
Some doctours of lawe,\
Some lerned in other sawe,
<P 265>
/As in divynyte,\
That hath no dygnyte\
But the poore degre
/Of the universyte;\
Or elles frere $Frederyk,\
Or elles frere $Dominyk,\
Or frere $Hugulinus,\
Or frere $Augustinus,\
Or frere $Carmellus,\
That goostly can heale us;\
Or elles @f we may\
Gette a frere gray,\
Or elles of the order\
Upon $Grenewytche border
/Called Observaunce,\
And a frere of $Fraunce,\
Or elles the poore Scot,\
<L 750>
It must come to his lot\
To shote forthe his shot;\
Or of $Babvell besyde $Bery\
To postell upon a kyry,\
That wolde it shulde be noted\
How scrypture shulde be coted,\
And so clerkely promoted,\
And @et the frere doted!\
But men say @our auctoryte +
^But men say] `Men say but' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, +
Marshe 1568^\
And @our noble se 
/And @our dygnyte +
^se] `fee' Marshe 1568, `see' MS Harley 2252^\
Shulde be imprynted better\
Then all the freres letter.\
But @f @e wolde take payne\
To preche a worde or twayne,\
Though it were never so playne,\
With clauses two or thre,\
So as they myght be
/Compendyously conveyed,\
These words shuld be more weyed, +
^These words] `Those words' Marshe 1568, `This' MS Harley 2252^\
And better perceyved,
/And thankefullyer receyved,\
And better shulde remayne
/Amonge the people playne,\
<P 266>
That wolde @our wordes retayne\
And reherse them agayne,\
Than a thousande thousande other\
That blaber, barke, and blother,\
And make a Welchmans hose\
Of the texte and the glose.\
For protestacyon made\
That I wyll nat wade\
Farther in this broke,\
Nor farther for to loke\
In devysynge of this boke,\
But answere that I may,
/For myselfe alway\
Eyther %analogice,
/Or elles %cathagorice,\
So that in divynyte\
Doctours that lerned be\
Nor bachelers of that faculte\
That hath taken degre
/In the unyversyte\
Shall nat be objected by me. +
^by] `for' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `at by' MS Harley 2252^\
But doctour %Bullatus
/%Parum %litteratus,\
%Dominus %doctoratus\
At the Brode %gatus,\
Doctour Daupatus,
<L 800>
/And bacheler %Bacheleratus,\
Dronken as a mouse
/At the ale#house,\
Taketh his pyllyon and his cappe\
At the good ale#tappe,\
For lacke of good wyne;\
As wyse as $Robyn $Swyne,\
Under a notaries sygne +
^a] `an' Kele 1545.1, `a' MS Harley 2252^\
Was made a divyne;\
As wyse as $Waltoms calfe,\
Must preche a $Goddes halfe\
In the pulpyt solempnely -\
More mete in a pyllory -\
For, by saynt $Hyllary,\
<P 267>
He can nothynge smatter\
Of logyke nor scole#matter,\
Neyther %sylogysare, 
/Nor of %[enthymemar]e; +
^enthymemare] `emptymeniare' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, +
Marshe 1568, `entimemare' MS Harley 2252^\
Nor knoweth not his elenkes, +
^elenkes] `eloquens' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Nor his predicamentes;\
And @et he wyll melle\
To amende the gospell,\
And wyll preche and tell\
What they do in hell.\
And he dare nat well neven\
What they do in heven;\
Nor how farre Temple Barre is\
From the seven sterrys!\
Nowe wyll I go\
And tell of other mo,\
%Semper %protestando\
%De %non %impugnando\
The foure ordres of freres,\
Though some of them by lyres. +
^lyres] `lyers' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `lyars' +
MS Harley 2252^\
As limyters at large\
Wyll charge and dyscharge,\
As many a frere, $God wote,\
Preches for his grote,\
Flatterynge for a newe cote\
And for to have his fees,\
Some to gather chese\
Lothe they are to lese\
Eyther corne or malte,\
Somtyme meale and salte,\
Somtyme a bacon#flycke
/That is thre fyngers thycke\
Of larde and of grece,\
Theyr covent to encrease.\
I put @ou out of dout,\
This can#nat be brought about\
<L 850>
But they theyr tonges fyle,\
And make a pleasaunt style\
To $Margery and to $Maude\
Howe they have no fraude. +
^fraude] `faude' }Godfray 1531, `fawte' MS Harley 2252^\
<P 268>
And somtyme they provoke\
Bothe $Gyll and $Jacke#at#$Noke\
Theyr dewtyes to withdrawe,\
That they ought by the lawe\
Theyr curates to content\
In open tyde and in lent. +
^open tyde] `open tyme' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `Ester tyde' +
MS Harley 2252^\
$God wotte, they take great payne\
To flatter and to fayne,\
But it is an olde sayd sawe +
^it] not in Kele 1545.1^\
That nede hath no lawe.\
Some walke about in melottes,\
In gray russet and heery cotes;\
Some wyl neyther golde ne grotes;\
Some plucke a partryche in remotes,\
And by the barres of her tayle +
^of] `if' Marshe 1568, `of' MS Harley 2252^\
Wyll knowe a raven from a rayle,\
A quayle, the rayle, the olde raven.\
%Sed %libera %nos %a %malo. %Amen.\
And by %Dudum, theyr $Clementyne,\
Agaynst curates, they repyne, +
^They] not in Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `They' MS Harley 2252^\
And say properly thei are sacerdotes\
To shryve, assoyle, and to reles\
Dame $Margeres soule out of hell.\
But whan the frere fell in the well\
He coude nat synge hymselfe therout\
But by the helpe of Christen $Clout.\
Another $Clementyne also:\
Howe frere $Fabian with other mo\
%`Exivit %de %paradiso...'\
When thei agayn thyder shal come,\
%De %hoc %petimus %consilium.\
And through all the worlde thei go\
With %Diryge and %Placebo.\
But now my mynde @e understande,\
For they must take in hande\
To preche, and withstande\
All maner of abjections;\
For bysshoppes have protections,\
They say, to do corrections,\
But they have no affections +
^affections] `afflictions' Kele 1545.1, `affeccions' +
Harley 2252^\
To take sadde dyrections. +
^sadde] `the sayd' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
<P 269>
In suche maner of cases,\
Men say, they bere no faces\
To occupye suche places,\
To sowe the sede of graces. +
^sowe] `save' }Godfray 1531, `sowe' MS Harley 2252^\
Theyr hertes are so faynted,\
<L 900>
And they be so attaynted\
With covytous ambycyon 
/And other superstycyon, +
^ambycyon] `and ambycyon' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, +
`ambyssyon' MS Harley 2252^\
That they be deefe and dum,\
And play scylence and glum,\
Can say nothynge but `mum'.\
They occupy them so
/With syngynge %Placebo,\
They wyll no farder go.\
They had lever to please\
And take theyr worldly ease\
Than to take on hande\
Worshypfully to withstande +
^worshypfully] `worshyp' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, +
Marshe 1568^\
Suche temporall warre and bate\
As now is made of late\
Agaynst holy churche estate,\
Or to maynteyne good quarelles.\
The lay#men call them barelles\
Full of glotony
/And of @pocrysy,\
That counterfeytes and payntes\
As they were very sayntes.\
In matters that them lyke\
They shewe them polytyke,\
Pretendynge gravyte
/And seygnyoryte,\
With all solempnyte,
/For theyr indempnyte;\
For they wyll have no losse\
Of a peny nor of a crosse\
Of theyr predyall landes,\
That cometh to theyr handes;\
And as farre as they dare set,\
All is fysshe that cometh to the net: +
^to the net] `to net' Marshe 1568, `to nett' MS Harley 2252^\
Buyldynge royally
/Theyr mancyons curyously,\
<P 270>
With turrettes and with toures,\
With halles and with boures,\
Stretchynge to the sterres,\
With glasse wyndowes and barres;\
Hangynge about the walles\
Clothes of golde and paules,\
Arayse of ryche aray,\
Fresshe as flours in May;\
With Dame $Dyana naked;\
Howe lusty $Venus quaked,\
And howe $Cupyde shaked
/His dart, and bent his bowe\
For to shote a crowe
/At her tyrly#tyrlowe;\
<L 950>
And howe $Parys of $Troy 
/Daunced a lege#moy, +
^lege moy] `lege de moy' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Made lusty sporte and joy\
With Dame $Helyn the quene.\
With suche storyes bydene\
Theyr chambres well sene,\
With tryumphes of $Cesar\
And of his $Pompeyus warre,\
Of renowne and of fame\
By them to gette a name.\
Howe all the worlde stares\
Howe they ryde in goodly chares,\
Conveyde by olyfauntes\
With lauryat garlantes,\
And by unycornes
/With theyr semely hornes;\
Upon these beestes rydynge,\
Naked boyes strydynge,\
With wanton wenches wynkyng!\
Nowe trewely, to my thynkyng,\
That is a speculacyon\
And a mete meditacyon\
For prelates of estate,\
Theyr courage to abate\
From worldly wantones,\
Theyr chambre thus to dresse\
<P 271>
With suche perfytenesse\
And all suche holynesse.\
Howebeit they let downe fall\
Theyr churches cathedrall.\
Squyre, knyght and lorde\
Thus the churche remorde.\
With all temporall people\
They renne agaynst the steple,\
Thus talkynge and tellynge\
Howe some of @ou are mellynge.\
{et softe and fayre for swellynge,\
Beware of a quenes @ellynge!\
It is a besy thynge\
For one man to rule a kynge +
^kynge] `gyng' Kele 1545.1, `kyng' MS Harley 2252^\
Alone, and make rekenynge\
To governe over all\
And rule a realme royall\
By one mannes wytte.\
Fortune may chaunce to flytte,\
And whan he weneth to sytte\
{et may he mysse the quysshon!\
For I rede a preposycyon: +
^rede a] `reda' Marshe 1568, `rede by' MS Harley 2252^\
%Cum %regibus %amicare\
%Et %omnibus %dominare\
<L 1000>
%Et %supra %te %gravare;\
Wherfore he hath good ure\
That can hymselfe assure\
How fortune wyll endure.\
Than lette reason @ou supporte,\
For the communalte reporte +
^reporte] not in Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `dothe reporte' # +
MS Harley 2252^\
That they have great wonder\
That @e kepe them so under; +
^ye] `we' Kele 1545.1, `ye' MS Harley 2252^\
{et they mervayle so moche lesse,\
For @e play so at the chesse,\
As they suppose and gesse,\
That some of @ou but late\
Hath played so checkmate\
With lordes of great estate\
After suche a rate,\
That they shall mell nor make,\
<P 272>
Nor upon them take,\
For kynge nor kayser sake,\
But at the pleasure of one\
That ruleth the rest alone.\
Helas, I say, helas!\
Howe may this come to pas,\
That a man shall here a masse,\
And nat so hardy on his hede +
^nat] `not in' Marshe 1568, `not' MS Harley 2252^\
To loke on $God in fourme of brede,\
But that the parysshe#clerke\
Therupon must herke,\
And graunte hym at his askynge\
For to se the sacrynge?\
And howe may this accorde,\
No man to our sovereygne lorde\
So hardy to make suete,\
Nor to execute
/His commaundement,\
Without the assent
/Of @our presydent;\
Nor to expresse to his parson,\
Without ... +
^....] blank in }Godfray 1531, `your consentacyon' Kele 1545.1, +
`your assentacion' Marshe 1568, `george +
gascone' Harley 2252^\
Graunte hym his lycence\
To prease to his presence;\
Nor to speke to hym secretly,
/Openly nor prevyly,\
Without his presydent be by,\
Or elles his substytute\
Whome he wyll depute?\
Neyther erle ne duke\
Permytted? By saynt $Luke, +
^Permytted] `Permed' }Godfray 1531, `Now' MS Harley 2252^\
And by swete saynt $Marke,\
This is a wonderous warke!\
That the people talke this,\
<L 1050>
Somwhat there is amysse!\
The devyll can#nat stop their mouthes\
But they wyl talke of suche uncouthes,\
All that ever they ken\
Agaynst all spirytuall men.\
Whether it be wronge or ryght\
Or elles for despyght,\
<P 273>
Or howeever it hap,\
Theyr tonges thus do clap;\
And through suche detractyon\
They put @ou to @our actyon.\
And whether they say trewly\
As they may byde therby,\
Or elles that they do lye,\
{e knowe better than I.\
But nowe %debetis %scire
/And groundly %audire\
In @our %convenire
/Of this premenyre,\
Or elles in the myre\
They say they wyll @ou cast.\
Therfore stande sure and fast.\
Stande sure and take good fotyng,\
And let be all @our motynge,\
{our gasynge and @our totynge\
And @our parcyall promotynge\
Of those that stande in @our grace.\
But olde servauntes @e chase\
And put them out of theyr place.\
Make @e no murmuracyon\
Though I wryte after this facyon;\
Though I, $Collyn $Clout,\
Amongest the hole rout\
Of @ou that clerkes be,\
Take upon me 
/Thus copyously to wryte, +
^Take upon me] `Take now upon' Kele 1545.1, `I take now uppon' +
MS Harley 2252^\
I do it nat for no despyte. +
^it for] `it not for' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Wherfore, take no dysdayne\
At my style rude and playne,\
For I rebuke no man
/That vertuous is.\ Why than
/Wreke @e @our anger on me?\
For those that vertuous be\
Have no cause to say +
^have] `hath' }Godfray 1531, `have' MS Harley 2252^\
That I speke out of the way.\
Of no good bysshop speke I,\
Nor good preest I escrye, +
^I escrye] `of the clargy' Marshe 1568, `askrye' Harley 2252^\
Good frere, nor good chanon,\
<P 274>
Good nonne, nor good canon,\
Good monke, nor good clerke,\
Nor of no good werke;\
But my recountynge is
/Of them that do amys\
In spekynge and rebellynge\
In hyndrynge and dysavaylynge\
Holy churche our mother,\
One agayne another.\
To use suche despytynge +
^despytynge] `despysyng' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `dysputyng' +
MS Harley 2252^\
Is all my hole wrytynge;\
To hynder no man
/As nere as I can,\
For no man have I named.\
Wherfore shulde I be blamed? +
^be] not in Marshe 1568^\
{e ought to be ashamed\
Agaynst me to be gr[am]ed, +
^gramed] `greved' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, # +
MS Harley 2252^\
And can#nat tell no cause why +
^can nat] `can' Marshe 1568, MS Harley 2252^\
But that I wryte trewly.\
Then @f any there be\
Of hygh or lowe degre\
Of the spirytualte
/Or of the temporalte,\
That doth thynke or wene\
That his conscyence be nat clene,\
And feleth hymselfe sycke,\
Or touched on the quycke,\
Suche grace $God them sende\
Themselfe to amende;\
For I wyll nat pretende\
Any man to offende.\
Wherfore, as thynketh me,\
Great @deottes they be,\
And lytell grace they have\
This treatyse to deprave;\
Nor wyll here no prechynge,\
Nor no vertuous techynge,\
Nor wyll have no resytynge\
Of any vertuous wrytynge;\
<P 275>
Wyll knowe none intellygence\
To refourme theyr neglygence,\
But lyve styll out of facyon,\
To theyr owne dampnacyon.\
To do shame, they have no shame;\
But they wolde no man shuld them blame.\
They have an evyll name,\
But @et they wyll occupye the same.\
With them the worde of $God\
Is counted for no rod;\
They counte it for a raylynge\
That nothynge is avaylynge;\
The prechers with evyll haylynge:\
<L 1150>
`Shall they taunt us prelates, +
^taunt] `daunt' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `teche' MS +
Harley 2252^\
That be theyr prymates?\
Nat so hardy on theyr pates!\
Harke, howe the losell prates
/With a wyde wesaunt!\
Avaunt, Syr $Gye of $Gaunt!\
Avaunt, lewde preest, avaunt!\
Avaunt, syr doctour $Deuyas! +
^Deuyas] `Denyas' }Godfray 1531, `dyvers' Marshe 1568, +
`Devias' MS Harley 2252^\
Prate of thy matens and thy mas,\
And let our matters pas! +
^matters] `matter' Kele 1545.1, `maters' Marshe 1568, +
`medlyng' MS Harley 2252^\
How darest thou, daucocke, mell?\
Howe darest thou, losell,\
Allygate the gospell\
Agaynst us of the counsell?\
Avaunt to the devyll of hell!\
Take him, wardeyn of the Flete,\
Set hym fast by the fete!\
I say, lieutenaunt of the Toure,\
Make this lurdeyne for to loure;\
Lodge hym in Lytell Ease,\
Fede hym with beanes and pease!\
The Kynges Benche or $Marshalsy,\
Have hym thyder by and by!\
The vyllayne precheth openly\
And declareth our vyllany;\
And of our fee#symplenes 
^fee] `fre' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, not in MS Harley 2252^\
He sayes that we are recheles,\
<P 276>
And full of wylfulnes,\
Shameles, and mercyles,
/Incorrigible and insaciate;\
And after this rate\
Agaynst us dothe prate.\
At $Poules Crosse, or elswhere,\
Openly at $Westmynstere\
And Saynt $Mary $Spytell\
They set nat by us a shyttell; +
^shytell] `whystell' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `shetyll'  +
MS Harley 2252^\
And at the Austen Fryars\
They counte us for lyars;\
And at Saynt $Thomas of $Akers\
They carpe of us lyke crakers;\
Howe we wyll rule all at wyll\
Without good reason or skyll;\
And say howe that we be
/Full of parcyallyte;\
And howe at a pronge\
We tourne ryght into wronge,\
Delay causes so longe\
That ryght no man can fonge.\
They say many matters be borne\
By the ryght of a rambes#horne.\
<L 1200>
Is nat this a shamfull scorne\
To be tered thus and torne?\
Howe may we thus endure?\
Wherfore we make @ou sure,\
{e prechers shall be @awde:\
Some shall be sawde,\
As noble $[Isaias], +
^Isaias] `Ezechyes' }Godfray 1531, Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, +
`I say was' MS Harley 2252^\
The holy prophet, was; +
^was] `Ozeas' MS Harley 2252^\
And some of @ou shall dye
/Lyke holy $Jeremy;\
Some hanged, some slayne,\
Some beaten to the brayne;\
And we wyll rule and rayne,\
And our matters mayntayne,\
Who dare say there agayne,\
Or who dare dysdayne,\
At our pleasure and wyll. +
^our] `your' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `owur' MS Harley 2252^\
For, be it good, be it @ll,\
<P 277>
As it is, it shall be styll,\
For all maister Doctour of Cyvyll\
Or of Divynyte, or Doctour Dryvyll, +
^Divynyte] `Divine' Marshe 1568, `deuynite' MS Harley 2252; +
Dryvyll] `oryll' MS Harley 2252^\
Let him cough, rough or snevyll!\
Renne god, renne devyll,\
Renne who may renne best,\
And let take all the rest!\
We set nat a nutte#shell\
The way to heven or to hell!'\
Lo, this is the gyse noweadayes!\
It is to drede, men sayes,\
Lest they be Seduces, +
^Seduces] `Saducies' Marshe 1568,  `Adusayes' MS Harley 2252^\
As they be sad sayne, +
^sad] `sayd' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568^\
Whiche determyne playne\
We shulde nat ryse agayne\
At dredfull Domesday.\
And so it semeth they play,\
Whiche hate to be corrected\
Whan they be infected,\
Nor wyll suffre this boke\
By hoke ne by croke\
Prynted for to be,\
For that no man shulde se\
Nor rede in any scrolles,\
Of theyr dronken nolles,\
Nor of theyr noddy#polles,\
Nor of theyr sely soules,\
Nor of some wytles pates\
Of dyvers great estates,\
As well as other men.\
Nowe to withdrawe my pen,\
And now a whyle to rest,\
<L 1250>
Me semeth it for the best.\
The forecastell of my shyppe\
Shall glyde and smothely slyppe\
Out of the wawes wodde\
Of the stormy flodde,\
Shote anker, and lye at rode,\
And sayle nat farre abrode,\
Tyll the coost be clere\
<P 278>
That the lodesterre appere.\
My shyp nowe wyll I stere +
^stere] `pere' Kele 1545.1, Marshe 1568, `stere' MS +
Harley 2252^\
Towarde the porte#salue
/Of our Savyoure $Jesu,\
Suche grace that he us sende\
To rectyfye and amende\
Thynges that are amys,\
Whan that his pleasure is.\
~Amen\
%In %opere %imperfecto,\
%In %opere %semper %perfecto,\
%Et %in %opere %plusquam %perfecto.\
%Colinus %Cloutus, `%Quanquam %mea %carmina %multis\
%Sordescunt %stulte, %sed %pneumata %sunt %rara %cultis,\
%Pneumatis %altisoni %divino %flamine %flatis.\
%Unde %mea %refert %tanto %minus, %invida %quamvis\
%Lingua %nocere %parat, %quia, %quanquam %rustica %canto,\
%Undique %cantabor %tamen %et %celebrabor %ubique,\
%Inclita %dum %maneat %gens %Anglica. %Laurus %honoris,\
%Quondam %regnorum %regina %et %gloria %regum,\
%Heu, %modo %marcescit, %tabescit, %languida %torpet!\
%Ah, %pudet! %Ah %miseret! %Vetor %hic %ego %pandere %plura\
%Pro %gemitu %et %lacrimis; %prestet %peto %premia %pena.'\|+
<T Why Come Ye>
_
<L I>
Here#after foloweth a lytell boke,\
<L I>
which hath to name Why Come {e Nat to Courte?\
<L I>
compyled by Mayster $Skelton, Poete Laureate\=
<L 1>
All noble men of this take hede, +
^of this] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And beleve it as @our crede.\
To hasty of sentence,\
To ferce for none offence,\
To scarce of @our expence,\
To large in neglygence,\
<P 279>
To slacke in recompence,\
To haute in excellence, 
/To lyght intellegence, +
^lyght] `lyght of' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And to lyght in credence;\
Where these kepe resydence,\
Reson is banysshed thence,\
And also dame Prudence,
/With sober Sapyence.\
All noble men of this take hede,\
And beleve it as @our crede.\
Than, without collusyon,\
Marke well this conclusyon:\
Through suche abusyon,
/And by suche illusyon,\
Unto great confusyon\
A noble man may fall,\
And his honour appall.\
And @f @e thynke this shall\
Not rubbe @ou on the gall, +
^you] `hym' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Than the devyll take all!\
All noble men of this take hede,\
And beleve it as @our crede.\
%Hec %vates %ille\
%De %quo %loquntur %mille.\
Why come @e nat to court?\
For age is a page\
For the courte full unmete;\
For age can#nat rage,\
Nor basse her swete swete.\
But whan age seeth that rage\
Dothe aswage and refrayne,\
Than wyll age have a corage\
To come to court agayne.\
<L 40>
But 
/Helas! sage overage 
/So madly decayes, +
^So] `To' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
That age for dottage
<P 280>
/Is reconed nowadayes. +
^reconed] `recovered' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Thus age, (a %graunt %domage) +
^a] not in Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
/Is nothynge set by,\
And rage in arerage\
Dothe rynne lamentably.\
So
<L 50>
/That rage must make pyllage\
To catche that catche may,\
And with suche forage
/Hunte the boskage,\
That hartes wyll ronne away,\
Bothe hartes and hyndes\
With all good myndes.\
Farewell, than, have good day!\
Than have good daye. Adewe!\
For defaute of rescew,\
Some men may happely rew,\
And some theyr hedes mew. +
^some] not in Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
The tyme dothe fast ensew\
That bales begynne to brew.\
I drede, by swete $Jesu,\
This tale will be to trew:\
`In faythe, $Dycken, thou krew,\
In fayth, $Dicken, thou krew, %etc.'\
$Dicken, thou krew doutlesse!\
For trewly to expresse,\
There hath ben moche excesse:\
With banketynge braynlesse,\
With ryotynge rechelesse,\
With gambaudynge thryftlesse,\
With, `Spende,' and wast witlesse,\
Treatinge of trewse restlesse,\
Pratynge for peace peaslesse.\
The countrynge at $Cales +
^The] `They' }Kele 1545.3, Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Wrang us on the [m]ales! +
^males] `wales' }Kele 1545.3, Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, + 
Marshe 1568^\
Chefe counselour was carlesse,\
Gronynge, grouchyng, gracelesse,\
And to none entente,\
<P 281>
Our talwod is all brent,\
Our fagottes are all spent.\
We may blowe at the cole!\
Our mare hath cast her fole,\
And, `Mocke hath lost her sho;\
What may she do therto?'\
An ende of an olde song:\
`Do ryght and do no wronge.' +
^do no] `no' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
As ryght as a rammes#horne!\
For thrifte is threde#bare worn,\
Our shepe are shrewdly shorn,\
And trouthe is all to-torne;\
Wysdom is laught to skorne,\
$Favell is false forsworne,\
$Javell is nobly borne;\
$Havell and $Harvy $Hafter,\
$Jack $Travell and $Cole $Crafter,\
We shall here more herafter!\
<L 100>
With pollynge and shavynge,\
With borowynge and cravynge, +
^cravynge] `cravyne' }Kele 1545.3^\
With revynge and ravynge,\
With swerynge and starynge,\
There vayleth no resonynge;\
For Wyll dothe rule all thynge,\
Wyll, Wyll, Wyll, Wyll, Wyll!\
He ruleth alway styll.\
Good Reason and good Skyll,\
They may garlycke pyll,\
Cary sackes to the myll,\
Or pescoddes they may shyll,\
Or elles go rost a stone!\
There is no man but one\
That hathe the strokes alone;\
Be it blacke or whight\
All that he dothe is ryght.\
As right as a cammocke croked!\
This byll well over loked,\
Clerely percevye we may\
There went the hare away;\
The hare, the fox, the gray,\
<P 282>
The harte, the hynde, the buck.\
God sende us better luck!\
God sende us better lucke, %etc.\
Twit, $Andrewe! Twit, Scot! +
^Scot] `scote' }Kele 1545.3^\
Ge heme! ge scour thy pot,\
For we have spente our shot!\
We shall have a tot#quot\
From the Pope of $Rome\
To weve all in one lome\
A webbe of lylse#wulse,\
%Opus %male %dulce!\
The devyll kysse his cule! +
^his] `hes' }Kele 1545.3^\
For whyles he doth rule,\
All is warse and warse.\
The devyll kysse his arse!\
For whether he blesse or curse,\
It can#not be moche worse.\
From $Baumberow to $Bothombar +
^Bothombar] `Bothambar' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
We have cast up our war,\
And mad a worthy trewse. +
^mad] `made' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
With, `Gup, levell#suse!'\
Our mony madly lent, +
^lent] `sent' Marshe 1568^\
And mor madly spent.\
From $Croydon into $Kent +
^into] `to' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Wote @e whyther they went?\
From $Wynchelsey to $Rye\
And all nat worth a flye,\
From $Wentbridge to $Hull,\
Our armye waxeth dull,\
With, `Tourne all home agayne!'\
And never a Scot slayne!\
{et the good Erle of $Surray,\
The Frenche#men he doth fray,\
And vexeth them day by day\
With all the power he may.\
The French#men he hath faynted,\
And mad theyr hertes attaynted.\
Of chevalry he is the floure;\
Our lorde be his soccoure!\
The French#men he hathe so mated,\
<P 283>
And theyr courage abated,\
That they are but halfe#men;\
Lyke foxes in theyr denne,\
Lyke cankerd cowardes all,\
Lyke urcheons in a stone wall, +
^urcheons] `heons' }Kele 1545.3, Marshe 1568^\
They kepe them in theyr holdes\
Lyke hen-herted cokoldes.\
But @et they over-shote us\
Wyth crownes and wyth scutus;\
Wyth scutis and crownes of golde\
I drede we are bought and solde.\
It is a wonders warke.\
They shote all at one marke:\
At the Cardynals#hat.\
They shote all at that!  +
^They] `Thy' }Kele 1545.3^\
Oute of theyr stronge townes\
They shote at him with crownes.\
With crownes of golde enblased\
They make him so amased,\
And his eyen so dased,\
That he ne se can\
To know $God nor man.\
He is set so hye
/In his ierarchy\
Of frantycke frenesy
/And folysshe fantasy,\
That in the Chambre of Sterres\
All maters there he marres,\
Clappyng his rod on the borde.\
No man dare speke a worde,\
For he hathe all the sayenge
/Without any renayenge.\
He rolleth in his recordes,\
He sayth, `How saye @e, my lordes?\
Is nat my reason good?'\
Good evyn, good $Robyn $Hode!\
Some say `@es', and some\
Syt styll as they were dom.\
<L 200>
Thus thwartyng over thom,\
He ruleth all the roste\
<P 284>
With braggynge and with bost,\
Borne up on every syde\
With pompe and with pryde,\
With, `Trompe up!' `Alleluya!'\
For Dame $Philargerya
/Hathe so his herte in holde,\
He loveth nothyng but golde;\
And $Asmodeus of hell\
Maketh his membres swell\
With $Dalyda to mell, 
/That wanton damosell. +
^that] `the' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Adew Philosophia,
/Adew Theologia.\
Welcome dame Simonia,
/With dame Castrimergia,\
To drynke and for to eate\
Swete @pocrus and swete#meate.\
To kepe his flesshe chast\
In lent, for a repast,\
He eateth c[a]pons stewed, +
^capons] `copons' }Kele 1545.3^\
Fesaunt and partriche mewed,\
Hennes, checkynges, and pygges.\
He foynes and he frygges;\
Spareth neither mayde ne wyfe.\
This is a postels lyfe.\
Helas, my herte is sory\
To tell of vayne#glory;\
But now upon this story\
I wyll no further ryme
/Tyll another tyme;\
Tyll another tyme %etc.\
What newes? What news?\
Small newes that true is\
That be worth %ii kues.\
But at the naked stewes\
I understande how that\
The Sygne of the Cardynall#Hat,\
That inne, is now shyt up,\
With, `Gup, hore, gup! Now gup,\
<P 285>
Gup, $Guilliam $Travillian!'\
With, `Jast @ou, I say, $Jullian!\
Wyll @e bere no coles?'\
A mayny of marefoles\
That occupy theyr holys;\
Full of pocky molys.\
What here @e of $Lancashyre?\
They were nat payde their hyre.\
They are fel as any fyre!\
<L 250>
What here @e of $Chesshyre?\
They have layde all in the myre.\
They grugyd and sayde\
Theyr wages were nat payde.\
Some sayde they were afrayde\
Of the Scottysshe hoost.\
For all theyr crack and bost, +
^crack] `crake' }Kele 1545.3, Toy 1553, Marshe 1568^\
Wylde fyre and thonder;\
For all this worldly wonder,\
A hundred myle asonder\
They were, whan they were next. +
^they] `the' }Kele 1545.3^\
This is a trew text!\
What here @e of the Scottes?\
They make us all sottes,\
Poppynge folysshe dawes.\
They make us to pyll strawes;\
They play their olde pranckes
/After $Huntley Bankes.\
At the streme of $Banockesburne\
They dyd us a shrewde turne,\
Whan $Edwarde of $Karnarvan\
Lost all his father wan. +
^all his] `al that his' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
What here @e of the lorde $Dakers?\
He maketh us $Jack $Rakers;\
He sayes we ar but crakers;\
He calleth us $England men\
Stronge-herted lyke an hen.\
<P 286>
For the Scottes and he,\
To well they do agre,\
With, `Do thou for me,\
And I shall do for the.'\
Whyles the red hat doth endure,\
He maketh himselfe cock#sure.\
The red hat with his lure\
Bryngeth all thynges under cure.\
But as the worlde now gose,\
What here @e of the lord $Rose?\
Nothynge to purpose\
Nat worth a cockly fose!\
Their hertes be in thyr hose!\
The Erle of $Northumberlande\
Dare take nothynge on hande.\
Our barons be so bolde,\
Into a mouse#hole they wolde\
Rynne away and crepe;\
Lyke a mayny of shepe\
Dare nat loke out at dur +
^at] `a' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
For drede of the mastyve cur,\
For drede of the bochers dogge\
Wold wyrry them lyke an hogge.\
<L 300>
For and this curre do gnar,\
They must stande all afar\
To holde up their hande at the bar.\
For all their noble blode,\
He pluckes them by the hode,\
And shakes them by the eare,\
And brynge[s] them in suche feare. +
^brynges] `brynge' }Kele 1545.3, Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, +
Marshe 1568^\
He bayteth them lyke a bere,\
Lyke an oxe or a bull;\
Theyr wyttes, he saith, are dull;\
He sayth they have no brayne\
Theyr astate to mayntayne;\
And maketh them to bow theyr kne 
/Before his majeste. +
^maketh them] `make' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Juges of the kynges lawes,\
He countys them foles and dawes;\
<P 287>
Sergyantes of the $Coyfe eke,\
He sayth, they are to seke\
In pletynge of theyr case\
At the Commune Place,\
Or at the Kynges Benche.\
He wryngeth them suche a wrenche,\
That all our lerned men\
Dare nat set theyr penne\
To plete a trew tryall\
Within $Westmynster Hall.\
In the Chauncery where he syttes,\
But suche as he admyttes,\
None so hardy to speke.\
He sayth, `Thou huddy#peke!\
Thy lernynge is to lewde,\
Thy tonge is nat well thewde,\
To seke before our grace.'\
And openly in that place\
He rages and he raves,\
And cals them cankerd knaves.\
Thus royally he dothe deale\
Under the kynges brode seale;\
And in the Checker he them cheks,\
In the Ster#Chambre he noddis and beks,\
And bereth him there so stowte\
That no man dare rowte;\
Duke, erle, baron, nor lorde,\
But to his sentence must accorde.\
Whether he be knyght or squyre,\
All men must folow his desyre. +
^must] not in Marshe 1568^\
What say @e of the Scottysh kynge?\
That is another thyng.\
He is but an @onglyng,\
A stalworthy stryplyng. +
^stalworthy] `tall worthy' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
<L 350>
There is a whyspring and a whipling +
^There] `Her' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
He shulde be hyder brought;\
But and it were well sought,\
I trow all wyll be nought,\
Nat worth a shyttel-cocke,\
Nor worth a sowre calstocke.\
<P 288>
There goth many a lye\
Of the Duke of $Albany,\
That of shulde go his hede,\
And brought in quycke or dede,\
And all $Scotlande owers\
The mountenaunce of two houres.\
But, as some men sayne,\
I drede of some false trayne\
Subtelly wrought shall be\
Under a fayned treatee.\
But within monethes thre\
Men may happely se\
The trechery and the prankes\
Of the Scottysshe Bankes.\
What here @e of Burgonyons\
And the Spainyardes onyons?\
They have slain our Englisshmen\
Above threscore and ten.\
For all @oure amyte,\
No better they agre!\
God save my Lorde Admyrell!\
What here @e of $Mutrell?\
Therewith I dare nat mell.\
{et what here @e tell\
Of our graunde counsell?\
I coulde say some#what,\
But speke @e no more of that,\
For drede of the red hat\
Take peper in the nose;\
For than thyne heed of gose.\
Of! by the harde arse!\
But there is some travarse\
Bytwene some and some\
That makys our syre to glum.\
It is somewhat wronge\
That his berde is so longe.\
He morneth in blacke clothynge.\
<P 289>
I pray $God save the kynge.\
Where#ever he go or ryde\
I pray $God be his gyde.\
Thus wyll I conclude my style,\
And fall to rest a whyle;\
And so to rest a whyle %etc.\
Ones @et agayne
<L 400>
/Of @ou I wolde frayne\
Why come @e nat to court?\
To whyche court?
/To the kynges courte?\
Or to $Hampton Court?\
Nay, to the kynges court!\
The kynges courte
/Shulde have the excellence;\
But $Hampton Court
/Hath the preemynence!\
And ${orkes Place,
/With, `My lordes grace',\
To whose magnifycence
/Is all the conflewence,\
Sutys, and supplycacyons,\
Embassades of all nacyons.\
Strawe for lawe canon,\
Or for lawe common,\
Or for lawe cyvyll;\
It shall be as he wyll.\
Stop at lawe tancrete,\
An abstract or a concrete, +
^abstract] `obstract' }Kele 1545.3^\
Be it soure, be it swete!\
His wysdome is so dyscrete\
That in a fume or an hete,\
`Wardeyn of the Flete,\
Set hym fast by the fete!'\
And of his royall powre\
Whan him lyst to lowre,\
Than, `Have him to the Towre
/%Saunz %aulter remedy!\
Have hym forthe by and by
<P 290>
/To the $Marshalsy,\
Or to the Kynges Benche!'\
He dyggeth so in the trenche\
Of the court royall\
That he ruleth them all.\
So he dothe undermynde,\
And suche sleyghtes dothe fynde,\
That the kynges mynde\
By him is subverted;\
And so streatly coarted\
In credensynge his tales,\
That all is but nutshales\
That any other sayth,\
He hath in him suche fayth.\
Now @et all this myght be\
Suffred and taken %in %gre\
If that that he wrought\
To any good ende were brought.\
<L 450>
But all he bringeth to nought,\
By $God that me dere bought! +
^By] `But' Marshe 1568^\
He bereth the kyng on hand\
That he must pyll his lande\
To make his cofers ryche;\
But he laythe all in the dyche,\
And useth suche abusyoun,\
That in the conclusyoun\
All commeth to confusyon.\
Perceyve the cause why:\
To tell the trouth playnly,\
He is so ambicyous,\
So shamles and so vicyous, +
^and] `an' }Kele 1545.3^\
And so supersticyous,\
And so moche oblivyous\
From whens that he came,\
That he falleth into %Acidiam, +
^into] `in' Marshe 1568; Acidiam] `Acisiam' }Kele 1545.3, +
Kitson 1560.7, Marshe^\
Whiche, truly to expresse,
/Is a forgetfulnesse,\
Or wylfull blyndnesse,\
Wherwith the $Sodomites
<P 291>
/Lost theyr inward syghtes.\
The $Gommoryans also
/Were brought to deedly wo,\
As scrypture recordis
/%A %cecitate %cordis,\
In the Latyne synge we,\
%Lybera %nos %domine!\
But this madde $Amalecke,\
Lyke to a $Mamelek, +
^a Mamelek] `Amamelek' }Kele 1545.3, Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, +
Marshe 1568^\
He regardeth lordes
/No more than potshordes.\
He is in suche elacyon
/Of his exaltacyon,\
And the supportacyon\
Of our soverayne lorde,\
That, $God to recorde,\
He ruleth all at wyll\
Without reason or skyll.\
How#be#it the primordyall +
^the] `they be' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Of his wretched originall,\
And his base progeny,\
And his gresy genealogy,\
He came of the sank#royall\
That was cast out of a bochers stall!\
But, however he was borne,\
Men wolde have the lesse scorne\
If he coulde consyder\
His byrth and rowme togeder,\
And call to his mynde\
<L 500>
How noble and how kynde\
To him he hathe founde\
Our soverayne lord, chyfe grounde\
Of all this prelacy,\
And set hym nobly
/In great auctoryte\
Out from a low degre,\
Whiche he can#nat se.\
For he was, parde,\
No doctor of devinyte,\
<P 292>
Nor doctor of the law,\
Nor of none other saw;\
But a poore maister of arte!\
God wot, had lytell parte\
Of the quatrivials,\
Or @et of trivials;\
Nor of philosophy,
/Nor of philology,\
Nor of good pollycy,
/Nor of astronomy;\
Not acquaynted worth a fly
/With honorable $Haly,\
Nor with royall $Ptholomy,
/Nor with $Albumasar,\
To treate of any star\
Fyxt or els mobyll.\
His Latyne tonge dothe hobbyll,\
He doth but cloute and cobbill\
In $Tullis faculte
/Called humanyte.\
{et proudly he dare pretende\
How no man can him amende!\
But have @e nat harde this,\
How an one-eyed man is\
Well-syghted when
/He is amonge blynde men?\
Than, our processe for to stable,\
This man was full unable\
To reche to suche degre,\
Had nat our prynce be\
Royall $Henry the eyght,\
Take him in suche conceyght\
That he set him on heyght,\
In exemplyfyenge
/Great $Alexander the kynge,\
In writynge as we fynde\
Whiche, of his royall mynde\
And of his noble pleasure\
Transcendynge out of mesure,\
Thought to do a thynge\
<P 293>
That perteyneth to a kynge,\
To make up one of nought,\
And made to him be brought\
A wretched poore man\
Whiche his lyvenge wan\
With plantyng of lekes\
By the dayes and by the wekes.\
And of this poore vassall\
He made a kynge royall,\
And gave him a realme to rule\
That occupyed a showell,\
A mattoke and a spade,\
Before that he was made\
A kynge, as I have tolde,\
And ruled as he wolde.\
Suche is a kynges power\
To make within an hower,\
And worke suche a myracle,\
That shall be a spectacle\
Of renowme and worldly fame\
In lykewyse now the same
/Cardynall is promoted,\
{et with lewde condicyons cotyd +
^cotyd] `noted' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
As herafter ben notyd:\
Presumcyon and vayne#glory,\
Envy, wrath, and lechery,
/Covetys and glotony;\
Slouthfull to do good,\
Now frantick, now starke wode!\
Shulde this man of suche mode\
Rule the swerde of myght?\
How can he do ryght?\
For he wyll as sone smyght\
His frende as his fo!\
(A proverbe longe ago.)\
Set up a wretche on hye,\
In a trone triumphantlye,\
Make him a great astate,\
And he wyll play checke#mate
/With ryall majeste\
<P 294>
Counte himselfe as good as he;\
A prelate potencyall
/To rule under $Bellyall,\
As ferce and as cruell\
As the fynd of hell!\
His servauntes menyall\
He doth revyle and brall\
Lyke $Mahounde in a play.\
No man dare him withsay.\
He hath dispyght and scorne\
<L 600>
At them that be well borne;\
He rebukes them and rayles,\
`{e horsons, @e vassayles,\
{e knaves, @e churles sonnys,\
{e rebads nat worth two plummis!\
{e raynbetyn beggers rejagged,\
{e recrayed ruffyns all ragged!'\
With, `Stowpe, thou havell!
/Rynne thou javell!\
Thou pevysshe pye pecked,\
Thou losell longe#necked!'\
Thus dayly they be decked,
/Taunted and checked,\
That they are so wo\
They wot not whether to go.\
No man dare come to the speche\
Of this gentell $Jack $Breche,\
Of what estate he be
/Of spirituall dygnyte;\
Nor duke of hye degre,\
Nor marques, erle, nor lorde;\
Whiche shrewdly doth accorde!\
Thus he, borne so base,\
All noble men shulde outface,\
His countynaunce lyke a kayser.\
`My lorde is nat at layser.\
Syr, @e must tary a stounde,\
Tyll better layser be founde;\
And syr, @e must daunce attendaunce,\
And take pacient sufferaunce,\
For my lordes grace\
<P 295>
Hath nowe no tyme nor space\
To speke with @ou as @et.'\
And thus they shall syt -\
Chuse them syt or flyt,\
Stande, walke, or ryde -\
And his layser abyde,\
Parchaunce halfe a @ere;\
And @et never the nere!\
This daungerous dowsypere
/Lyke a kynges pere!\
And within this %xvi @ere\
He wolde have ben ryght fayne\
To have been a chapleyne,\
And have taken ryght gret payne\
With a poore knyght,
/Whatsoever he hyght!\
The chefe of his owne counsell,\
They can#nat well tell\
Whan they with hym shulde mell,\
<L 650>
He is so fyers and fell.\
He rayles and he ratis,\
 He calleth them doddy#patis;\
He grynnes and he gapis\
As it were $Jack#Napis!\
Suche a madde bedleme\
For to rewle this reame,\
It is a wonders case: +
^wonders] `wonderous' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
That the kynges grace\
Is toward hym so mynded,\
<L 660>
And so farre blynded,\
That he can#nat parceyve\
How he doth hym disceyve.\
I dought, lest by sorsery\
Or suche other loselry\
As wychecraft or charmyng;\
For he is the kynges derlyng\
And his swete hart#rote,\
And is governed by this mad kote! +
^And] not in Marshe 1568^\
For what is a man the better\
<L 670>
For the kynges letter?\
<P 296>
For he wyll tere it asonder!\
Wherat moche I wonder\
Now suche a hoddy#poule\
So boldely dare controule\
And so malapertly withstande\
The kynges owne hande,\
And settys nat by it a myte!\
He sayth the kynge doth wryte,\
And writeth he wottith nat what. +
^wottith] `wot' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
And @et, for all that,\
The kynge his clemency\
Despensyth with his demensy.\
But what his grace doth thinke,\
I have no pen nor inke\
That therwith can mell.\
But wele I can tell\
How $Frauncis $Petrarke,
/That moche noble clerke,\
Wryteth how $Charlemayn\
Coude nat himselfe refrayne,\
But was ravysht with a rage\
Of a lyke dotage.\
But how that came aboute,\
Rede @e the story oute,\
And @e shall fynde surely\
It was by nycromansy,\
By carectes and conjuracyon\
Under a certayne constellacion,\
And a certayne fumygacion\
<L 700>
Under a stone on a golde ryng\
Wrought to $Charlemayn the king,\
Whiche constrayned him forcebly\
For to love a certayne body\
Above all other inordinatly.\
This is no fable nor no lye;\
In $Acon it was brought to pas,\
As by myne auctor tried it was.\
But let mi masters mathematical\
Tell @ou the rest; for me they shal.\
<P 297>
They have the full intellygence,\
And dare use the experyens\
In there absolute consciens\
To practique suche abolete sciens. +
^practique] `practyve' }Kele 1545.3^\
For I abhore to smatter\
Of one so devyllysshe a matter.\
But I wyll make further relacion\
Of this isagogicall colation,\
How maister $Gaguine, the crownycler\
Of the feytis of war\
That were done in $Fraunce,\
Maketh remembraunce
/How Kynge $Lewes of late\
Made up a great astate\
Of a poore wretchid man,\
Wherof moche care began.\
$Johannes $Balua was his name\
(Myne auctor writeth the same);\
Promoted was he
/To a cardynalles dygnyte\
By $Lewes the kyng aforesayd,\
With hym so wele apayd\
That he made him his chauncelar\
To make all or to mar,\
And to rule as hym lyst;\
Tyll he cheked at the fyst,\
And agayne all reason
/Commyted open trayson\
And against his lorde soverayn!\
Wherfore he suffred payn,\
Was hedyd, drawen, and quarterd,\
And dyed stynkingly marterd.\
Lo, @et for all that\
He ware a cardynals#hat;\
In hym was small fayth,\
As myne auctor sayth.\
Nat for that I mene\
Such a casuelte shulde be sene\
Or suche chaunce shulde fall
/Unto our cardynall!\
<L 750>
<P 298>
Allmyghty $God, I trust,\
Hath for him dyscust\
That of force he must\
Be faythfull, trew and just\
To our most royall kynge,\
Chefe rote of his makynge.\
{et it is a wyly mouse\
That can bylde his dwellinge#house\
Within the cattes eare\
Withouten drede or feare!\
It is a nyce reconynge\
To put all the governynge,\
All the rule of this lande,\
Into one mannys hande;\
One wyse mannys hede\
May stande somwhat in stede.\
But the wyttys of many wyse\
Moche better can devyse\
By theyr cyrcumspection,\
And theyr sad dyrection,\
To cause the commune weale\
Longe to endure in heale.\
$Christ kepe King $Henry the Eyght\
From trechery and dysceyght,\
And graunt him grace to know\
The faucon from the crow,\
The wolfe from the lam;\
From whens that mastyfe cam.\
Let him never confounde\
The gentyll greyhownde.\
Of this matter the grownde\
Is easy to expounde,\
And soone may be perceyvid\
How the warlde is conveyed.\
But harke, my frende, one worde\
In ernest or in borde:\
Tell me nowe in this stede,\
Is maister $Mewtas dede,\
The kynges Frenshe secretary\
And his untrew adversary?\
<P 299>
For he sent in writynge\
To $Fraunces the French kyng\
Of our maisters counsel in everithing.\
That was a peryllous rekenyng!\
Nay, nay, he is nat dede.\
But he was so payned in the hede\
That he shall never ete more bred.\
Now he is gone to another stede\
With a bull under lead,\
By way of commissyon\
To a straunge jurisdictyon
/Called $Dymingis Dale,\
Farre by @onde $Portyngale,\
And hathe his pasport to pas\
%Ultra %Sauromatas\
 To the devyll Syr $Sathanas,\
To $Pluto and Syr $Bellyall,\
The devyls vycare#generall,\
And to his college conventuall,\
As well calodemonyall
/As to cacademonyall,\
To purvey for our cardynall
/A palace pontifycall\
To kepe his court provyncyall\
Upon artycles judicyall,
/To contende and to stryve\
For his prerogatyve,
/Within that consystory\
To make sommons peremtory\
Before some prothonotory,
/Imperyall or papall.\
Upon this matter mistycall\
I have told @ou part, but nat all.\
Herafter perchaunce I shall\
Make a larger memoryall +
^larger] `large' Marshe 1568^\
And a further rehersall\
And more paper I thinke to blot\
To the court why I cam not,\
Desyring @ou above all thynge\
To kepe @ou from laughynge\
<P 300>
Whan @e fall to redynge\
Of this wanton scrowle.\
And pray for $Mewtas sowle;\
For he is well past and gone.\
That wolde $God everychone
/Of his affynyte\
Were gone as well as he!\
Amen, amen, say @e\
Of @our inward charyte;\
Amen,
/Of @our inward charyte.\
It were great rewth\
For wrytynge of trewth\
Any man shulde be
/In perplexyte
/Of dyspleasure;\
For I make @ou sure,\
Where trouth is abhorde,\
It is a playne recorde\
That there wantys grace\
<L 850>
In whose place,
/Dothe occupy,\
Full ungracyously,\
Fals flatery, 
/Fals trechery, 
/Fals brybery, +
^flatery] `flatteryng' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Subtyle $Sym $Sly 
/With madde foly. +
^Sym Sly] `Symonye' }Kele 1545.3^\
For who can best lye, +
^best] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
He is best set by! +
^best] `most' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Than farewell to the, 
/Welthfull Felycite; +
^Welthfull] `Welthe full of felycyte' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
For prosperyte
/Away than wyll fle.\
Than must we agre
/With poverte;\
For mysery
/With penury
/Myserably
/And wretchydly\
<P 301>
Hath made askrye 
/And outcry +
^outcry] `doute cry' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Folowynge the chase\
To dryve away grace.\
{et sayst thou, per#case\
We can lacke no grace,\
For, `my Lordes grace',\
And, `my ladies grace',\
With, `%trey %duse %ase',
/And, `ase in the face'.\
Some haute and some base.\
Some daunce the trace\
Ever in one case.\
Marke me that chase +
^me] `well' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
In the tennys play,\
For, `%Synke %quater %trey' 
/Is a tall man. +
^tall] `toll' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
He rod, but we ran. +
^`He rode not but he ran' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Hay#the#gye and the gan!\
The gray gose is no swan; +
^no] `a' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
The waters wax wan,\
And beggers they ban,\
And they cursed $Datan +
^they cursed] `the course'  MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
%De %tribu %Dan\
That this warke began\
%Palam %et %clam\
With $Balak and $Balam,\
The golden ram
/Of flemmynge dam,\
$Sem, $Japheth, or $Cam.\
<L 900>
But howe comme to pas\
{our cupbord that was\
Is tourned to glasse,\
From sylver to brasse,\
From golde to pewter
/Or els to a newter,\
To copper, to tyn,
/To lede, or alcumyn?\
A goldsmyth @oure mayre:\
But the chefe of @our fayre\
Myght stande now by potters, +
^Myght] `most' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
<P 302>
And such as sell trotters, 
/Pytchars, potshordis. +
^potshordis] `pouchers' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
This shrewdly accordis
/To be a cupborde for lordys!\
My lorde now and syr knyght, +
^now] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Good evyn and good nyght!\
For now, Syr $Trestram,\
{e must weare bukram,\
Or canves of $Cane,\
For sylkes are wane.\
Our royals that shone,\
Our nobles are gone\
Amonge the Burgonyons\
And Spanyardes onyons,\
And the Flanderkyns.\
$Gyll swetis and $Cate spynnys! +
^Cate] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
They are happy that wynnys,\
But $Englande may well say\
Fye on this wynnyng allway! +
^this] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Now nothynge but `pay, pay!'\
With, `laughe and lay downe,\
Borowgh, cyte, and towne!'\
Good Sprynge of $Lanam\
Must counte what became\
Of his clothe#makynge.\
He is at suche takynge,\
Though his purs wax dull,\
He must tax for his wull\
By nature of a newe writ.\
My lordys grace nameth it\
A `%quia %non %satisfacit!'\
In the spyght of his tethe\
He must pay agayn\
A thousande or twayne\
Of his golde in store.\
And @et he payde before\
An hunderd pounde and more, +
^An] `And' }Kele 1545.3^\
Whiche pyncheth him sore!\
My lordis grace wyll brynge\
<L 950>
Downe this hye sprynge;\
<P 303>
And brynge it so lowe\
It shall nat ever flowe. +
^nat ever flowe] `neuer ouer flowe' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Suche a prelate, I trowe,
/Were worthy to rowe\
Thorow the streytes of $Marock +
^of] not in Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
To the gybbet of $Baldock.\
He wolde dry up the stremys\
Of %ix kinges realmys, +
^realmys] `realme' Marshe 1568^\
All ryvers and wellys,\
All waters that swellys;\
For with us he so mellys\
That within $Englande dwellys.\
I wolde he were somwhere ellys;\
For els by and by\
He wyll drynke us so drye, +
^so] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And suck us so nye,\
That men shall scantly
/Have peny or halpeny.\
God save his noble grace,\
And graunt him a place\
Endlesse to dwell
/With the devyll of hell!\
For and he were there,\
We nede never feere +
^`We nedyd never to feyre' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Of the fendys blake;\
For I undertake
/He wolde so brag and crake\
That he wolde than make
/The devyls to quake,\
To shudder and to shake\
Lyke a fyer#drake, +
^fyer] `fyrye' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And with a cole#rake\
Brose them on a brake, +
^Brose] `bruse' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
And bynde them to a stake,\
And set hell on fyer +
^hel] `all' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
At his owne desyer.\
He is suche a grym syer,\
And suche a potestolate, +
^And] `And make' MS Rawl.C.813; +
potestate] `prostrate' Toy 1553, Kitson +
1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
And suche a potestate,\
<P 304>
That he wolde breke the braynes\
Of $Lucyfer in his chaynes, +
^Lucyfer] `Lucyfers' }Kele 1545.3^\
And rule them echone
/In $Lucyfers trone.\
I wolde he were gone;\
For amonge us is none\
That ruleth but he alone,\
Without all good reason.\
And all out of season!\
For $Folam peason
<L 1000>
/With him be nat geson;\
They growwe very ranke\
Upon every banke
/Of his herbers grene,\
With, `my lady bryght and shene'.\
Of theyr game it is sene\
They play nat all clene,\
And it be as I wene.\
But as touchynge dystrectyon, 
/With sober dyrectyon +
^dystrectyon] `dyscrecyon' Marshe 1568, MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
He kepeth them in subjectyon.\
Non can have protectyon +
^Non can have] `They can have no' }Kele 1545.3, Toy 1553, +
Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
To rule nor to guyde,\
But all must be tryde,\
And abyde the correctyon\
Of his wylfull affectyon. +
^his] `him' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
For as for wytte,\
The devyll spede whitte!\
But braynsyk and braynlesse,
/Wytles and rechelesse,\
Careles and shamlesse, 
/Thriftles and gracelesse +
^Careles] `Marcyles' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Together are bended, 
/And so condyscended, +
^bendyd] `wendyd' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
That the commune#welth\
Shall never have good helth;\
But tatterd and tuggyd, 
/Raggyd and ruggyd, +
^tatterd] `taxed' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Shavyn and shorne,
/And all threde#bare worne!\
<P 305>
Suche gredynesse,
/Suche nedynesse,\
Myserablenesse,
/With wretchydnesse,\
Hath brought in dystresse, +
^in] `muche' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And moche hevynesse, 
/And great dolowre +
^dolowre] `dullness' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
$Englande the flowr 
/Of relucent honowre, +
^Englande] `To Englande' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
In olde commemoracion
/Most royall Englyssh nacion.\
Now all is out of facion,
/Almost in desolation.\
I speke by protestacion:\
$God of his miseracyon
/Send better reformacyon!\
Lo, for to do shamfully +
^Lo] `Soo' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
He jugeth it no foly;\
But to wryte of his shame\
He sayth we ar to blame!\
<L 1050>
What a frensy is this,\
No shame to do amys;\
And @et he is ashamed\
To be shamfully named! +
^named] `name' Marshe 1568^\
And ofte prechours be blamed +
^ofte] `the' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Bycause they have proclamed\
His madnesse by writynge,\
His symplenesse resytynge,
/Remordynge and bytynge,\
With chydyng and with flytynge, +
^flytynge] `fiting' }Kele 1545.3, Marshe 1568^\
Shewynge him $Goddis lawis.\
He calleth the prechours dawis.\
And of holy scriptures sawis,\
He counteth them for gygawis;\
And putteth them to sylence\
And with wordis of vyolence,\
Lyke $Pharao, voyde of grace,\
Dyd $Moyses sore manase +
^sore] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And $Aron sore he thret,\
The worde of $God to let. +
^worde] `wordis' MS Rawlinson C.#813; to] `he' Rawl.C.813^\
<P 306>
This maumet in lyke wyse\
Against the churche doth ryse.\
The prechour he dothe dyspyse\
With crakynge in suche wyse,\
So braggynge all with bost\
That no prechour almost\
Dare speke for his lyfe\
Of my lordis grace nor his wyfe!\
For he hath suche a bull,\
He may take whom he wull,\
And as many as him lykys, +
^him] `he' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
May ete pigges in lent for pikys\
After the sectes of heretykis!\
For in lent he wyll ete +
^wyll] `doeth' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
All maner of flesshe#mete\
That he can onywhere gete,\
With other abusyons grete;\
Wherof for to trete +
^for] not in Kele 1545.3, Marshe 1568^\
It wolde make the devyll to swete! +
^`The devyll wold swete' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
For all privileged places\
He brekes and defaces,\
All placis of relygion\
He hathe them in derisyon,\
And makith suche provisyon\
To dryve them at divisyon,\
And fynally, in conclusyon,\
To bringe them to confusyon -\
Saint $Albons, to recorde,\
Wherof this ungracyous lorde\
Hathe made himselfe abbot\
<L 1100>
Against their wylles, $God wot.\
All this he dothe deale +
^`Thys now he dothe meale' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Under strength of the great seale, +
And by his legacy,\
Whiche madly he dothe apply
/Unto an extravagancy,\
Pyked out of all good lawe, +
^of] not in Marshe 1568^\
With reasons that ben rawe.\
{et whan he toke first his hat, +
^first] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
He said he knew what was what.\
<P 307>
All justyce he pretended:\
All thynges sholde be amended,\
All wronges he wolde redresse,\
All injuris he wolde represse,\
All perjuris he wolde oppresse.\
And @et, this gracelesse elfe, +
^gracelesse] `ungratyous' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
He is perjured himselfe.\
As playnly it dothe appere,\
Who lyst to enquere,\
In the regstry
/Of my lorde of $Cantorbury,\
To whom he was professed\
In thre poyntes expressed:\
The fyrst, to do him reverence,\
The seconde, to owe hym obedyence,\
The thirde, with hole affectyon\
To be under his subjectyon.\
But now he maketh objectyon, +
^But] `And' MS Rawlinson C.#813; objectyon] `dyrectyon' Rawl.^\
Under the protectyon 
/Of the kynges great seale, +
^great] `brode' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
That he setteth never a deale\
By his former othe,\
Whether $God be pleased or wroth.\
He makith so proude pretens,\
That in his equipolens\
He jugyth him equivalent 
/With $God omnipotent. +
^him] `hymselfe' MS Rawlinson C.#813; +
equivalent] `equypolent' Rawlinson C.#813^\
But @et beware the rod\
And the stroke of $God!\
The apostyll $Peter 
/Had but on pore myter +
^apostyll] `wholly apostle' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And a poore cope\
Whan he was creat pope
/First in $Antioche.\
He dyd never approche\
Of $Rome to the see
/Weth suche dygnyte.\
Saynt $Dunstane, what was he?\
`Nothynge,' he sayth, `lyke to We. +
^to we] `to mee' Toy 1553, Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568, +
`we' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
There is a dyversyte\
<P 308>
Bytwene him and me;\
We passe hym in degre\
As %legatus %a %latere.'\
%Ecce %sacerdos %magnus\
That wyll hed us and hange us,\
And streitly strangle us\
And he may fange us. +
^And] `That' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568^\
Decre and decretall,
/Constytucyon provincyall,\
Nor no lawe canonicall\
Shall let the preest pontyficall\
To syt in %causa %sanguinis.\
Nowe $God amende that is amys;\
For I suppose that he is\
Of $Jeremy the whyskynge rod,\
The flayle, the scourge of Almighty $God. +
^The flayle] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
This $Naman $Sirus, 
/So fell and so irous, +
^Sirus] `tyrus' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
So full of malencoly,\
With a flap afore his eye, +
^afore] `before' Kitson 1560.7, Marshe 1568, MS Rawl.#C.#813^\
Men wene that he is pocky, +
^wene that] `say' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Or els his surgions they lye;\
For as far as they can spy +
^they] `the' }Kele 1545.3^\
By the craft of surgery,\
It is %manus %Domini.\
And @et this proude $Antiochus,\
He is so ambicious,
/So elate and so vicious,\
And so cruell#hertyd, 
/That he wyll nat be convertyd; +
^That] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
For he setteth $God apart.\
He is nowe so overthwart, +
^nowe] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And so payned with pangis,\
That all his trust hangis +
^trust] `harte' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
In $Balthasor, whiche heled\
$Domingos nose that was wheled. +
^was] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
That $Lumberdes nose meane I\
That standeth @et awrye;\
It was nat heled alderbest,\
It standeth somwhat on the west;\
I meane $Domyngo $Lomelyn
<P 309>
/That was wont to wyn\
Moche money of the kynge\
At the cardys and haserdynge.\
$Balthasor, that helyd $Domingos nose +
^nose] `pose' Marshe 1568^\
From the puskylde pocky pose, +
^puskylde] `pusky' MS Rawl. C.#813; pose] `nose' Kitson 1560.7^\
Now with his gummys of $Araby +
^gummys] `gynnys' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Hath promised to hele our cardinals eye.\
{et sum surgions put a dout\
Lest he wyll put it clene out,\
<L 1200>
And make him lame of his neder limmes.\
$God sende him sorowe for his sinnes!\
Some men myght aske a question, +
^aske] `make' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
By whose suggestyon 
/I toke on hand this warke, +
^suggestyon] `subjectyon' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Thus boldly for to barke?\
And men lyst to harke,\
And my wordes marke,\
I wyll answere lyke a clerke:\
For trewly and unfayned,\
I am forcebly constrayned
/At $Juvynals request\
To wryght of this glorious gest, +
^glorious] `gromys' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Of this vayne#gloryous best,\
His fame to be encrest\
At every solempne feest,\
%Quia %difficile %est\
%Satiram %non %scribere.\
~%Contra %quendam %doctorem\
%Suum %calumpniatorem.\|+
<T Why Come Ye2>
<L 1>
Now mayster doctor, howe say @e,\
Whatsoever @our name be?\
What though @e be namelesse,\
{e shall nat escape blamelesse, +
^escape] `be' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Nor @et shall scape shamlesse. +
^shall] not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Mayster doctor, in @our degre,\
{ourselfe madly @e overse!\
Blame $Juvinall, and blame nat me.\
Maister doctor %decretorum,\
%`Omne %animi %vicium...'\
<P 310>
As $Juvinall dothe recorde,\
A small defaute in a great lorde,\
A lytell cryme in a great astate,\
Is moche more inordinate,\
And more horyble to beholde +
^horyble] `dyshonorable' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Than any other a thousand#folde. +
^any] `yn any' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
{e put to blame @e wot nere whom. +
^nere] `nott' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
{e may weare a cockes#come,\
{our fonde hed in @our furred hode! +
^your] (2nd) `a' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
Holde @e @our tong, @e can no goode. +
^ye] (1st) not in MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
And at more convenyent tyme\
I may fortune for to ryme\
Somwhat of @our madnesse;\
For small is @our sadnesse\
To put any man in lack\
And say @ll behynde his back,\
And, my wordes marke truly, +
^`And espetyally to make a lye' MS Rawlinson C.#813^\
That @e can#nat byde thereby.\
For %smigma %non %est %sinamomum\
But %de %absentibus %nil %nisi %bonum.\
Complayne or do what @e wyll,\
Of @our complaynt it shal nat skyl.\
This is the tenor of my byl,\
A daucock @e be, and so shal be styll!\
~%Sequitur %epitoma\
%De %morbilloso Thoma.\
%Nec %non %obsceno\
%De %Poliphemo, %etc.\
%Porro %perbelle %dissimmulatum\
%Illud %Pandulphum, %tantum %legatum,\
%Tam %formidatum %nuper %prelatum,\
%Ceu %Naman %Sirum %nunc %elongatum,\
%In %solitudine %iam %commoratum,\
%Neapolitano %morbo %gravatum,\
%Malagmate %cataplasmate %stratum,\
%Pharmacopole %ferro %foratum,\
%Nihilo %magis %alleviatum,\
%Nihilo %melius %aut %medicatum,\
%Relictis %famulis %ad %famultatum,\
%Quo %tollatur %infamia.\
%Sed %major %patet %insania.\|+
~%A %modo %ergo %ganea\
%Abhoreat %ille %ganeus,\
%Dominus %male %creticus,\
%Aptius %dictus %tetricus,\
%Phanaticus %freneticus,\
%Graphicus %sicut %metricus\
%Autumat.\
%Hoc %genus %dictaminis\
%Non %eget %examinis\
%In %centiloquio,\
%Nec %centimetro\
%Honorati\
%Grammatici\
%Mauri.\
%Decastichon %virulentum\
%In %galeratum\
%Licaonta %marinum, %etc.\
%Progh %dolor, %ecce %maris %lupus %et %nequissimus %ursus,\
%Carnificis %vitulus, %Britonumque %bubulcus %iniquus,\
%Conflatus %vitulus, %vel %Oreb, %vel %Salmane, %vel %Zeb,\
%Carduus, %et %crudelis %Asaphque %Datan %reprobatus,\
%Blandus %et %Acchitiphel %regis, %scelus %omne %Britannum;\
%Ecclesias %qui %namque %Thomas %confundit %ubique,\
%Non %sacer %iste %Thomas, %sed %duro %corde %Goleas,\
%Quem %gestat %mulus. %Sathane, %cacet, %obsecro, %culus\
%Fundens %aspaltum! %Precor, %hunc %versum %lege %cautum;\
%Asperius %nichil %est %misero %quum %surget %in %altum.\
%Apostropha %ad %Londini %cives, (%citante %mulum %asino %aureo\
%galerato), %in %occursum %aselli, %etc.\
%Excitat, %en, %asinus %mulum, %mirabile %visu,\
%Calcibus! %O %vestro %cives %occurite %asselo\
%Qui %regnum %regemque %regit, %qui %vestra %gubernat\
%Predia, %divitias, %nummos, %gasas, %spoliando!\
%Dixit %alludens, %immo %illudens, %parodoxam %de %asino %aureo\
%galerato.\
xxxiiii.\
%Hec %vates %ille\
%De %quo %loquntur %mille.\|+
<P 312>
<T Garlande>
_
<L I>
A ryght delectable tratyse\
<L I>
upon a goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell\
<L I>
by Mayster $Skelton, Poete Laureat,\
<L I>
studyously dyvysed at $Sheryfhotten Castell,\
<L I>
in the foreste of $Galtres,\
<L I>
wherein ar comprysyde many and dyvers\
<L I>
solacyous and ryght pregnant allectyues of syngular pleasure,\ 
<L I>
as more at large it doth apere in the proces folowynge.\=
~%Eterno %mansura %die %dum %sidera %fulgent,\
%Equora %dumque %tument, %hec %laurea %nostra %virebit:\
%Hinc %nostrum %celebre %et %nomen %referetur %ad %astra,\
%Undique %Skeltonis %memorabitur %alter %Adonis.\|+
<L 1>
Arectyng my syght toward the zodyake,\
The sygnes %xii for to beholde a farre,\
When $Mars retrogradant reversed his bak,\
Lorde of the @ere in his orbicular,\
Put up his sworde, for he cowde make no warre,\
And whan $Lucina plenarly did shyne, +
^plenarly] `plenary' }Fakes 1523, Marshe 1568^\
$Scorpione ascendynge degrees twyse nyne;\
In place alone then musynge in my thought\
How all#thynge passyth as doth the somer flower,\
On every halfe my reasons forthe I sought, +
^On] `One'  }Fakes 1523^\
How oftyn fortune varyeth in an howre,\
Now clere wether, forthwith a stormy showre;\
All#thynge compassyd, no perpetuyte,\
But now in welthe, now in adversyte.\
So depely drownyd I was in this dumpe,\
Encraumpysshed so sore was my conceyte,\
That, me to rest, I lent me to a stumpe\
Of an oke, that somtyme grew full streyghte,\
A myghty tre and of a noble heyght,\
Whose bewte blastyd was with the boystors wynde,\
His levis loste, the sappe was frome the rynde.\
Thus stode I in the frytthy forest of $Galtres,\
Ensowkid with sylt of the myry [w]ose, +
^sylt] `fylt'  }Fakes 1523; wose] `mose' }Fakes 1523^\
Where hartis belluyng, embosyd with distres,\
<P 313>
Ran on the raunge so longe, that I suppose\
Few men can tell where the hynde#calfe gose. +
^tell] `telle now' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Faire fall that forster that so well can bate his hownde! +
^well] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
But of my purpose now turne we to the grownde. +
^purpose] `proces'  MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Whylis I stode musynge in this medytatyon,\
In slumbrynge I fell and halfe in a slepe;\
And whether it were of @magynacyon,\
Or of humors superflue, that often wyll crepe\
Into the brayne by drynkyng over depe,\
Or it procedyd of fatall persuacyon,\
I can#not tell @ou what was the occasyon. +
^not tell] `not wele tell' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
But sodeynly at ones, as I me advysed,\
As one in a trans or in an extasy,\
I sawe a pavylyon wondersly disgysede,\
Garnysshed fresshe after my fantasy,\
Enhachyde with perle and stones preciously,\
The grounde engrosyd and bet with bourne golde,\
That passynge goodly it was to beholde:\
Within that, a prynces excellente of porte; +
^that] `it' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
But to recounte her ryche abylyment,\
And what estates to her did resorte,\
Therto am I full insuffycyent;\
As goddesse inmortall she dyd represente;\
As I harde say, Dame $Pallas was her name,\
To whome supplyed the royall Quene of Fame.\
_
<L R>
The Quene of Fame to Dame $Pallas\=
<L 50>
`Prynces moost pusant, of hygh preemynence,\
Renownyd lady above the sterry hevyn,\
All other transcendyng, of very congruence\
Madame regent of the scyence sevyn +
^scyence] `sciences' Marshe 1568^\
To whos astate all noblenes most leven, +
^leven] `lene'  }Fakes 1523, MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
My supplycacyon to @ou I arrect,\
Whereof I beseche @ou to tender the effecte.\
Not unremembered it is unto @our grace,\
How @ou gave me a ryall commaundement +
^you] `ye' Marshe 1568, MS Cotton Vitellius E.x; +
a] `in' MS Cot. Vit. E.x^\
That in my courte $Skelton shulde have a place,\
<P 314>
Bycause that he his tyme studyously hath spent +
^he his tyme] `his tyme he' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
In @our servyce; and, to the accomplysshement\
Of @our request, regestred is his name\
With laureate tryumphe in the courte of Fame.\
But, good madame, the accustome and usage\
Of auncient poetis, @e wote full wele, hath bene\
Them#selfe to embesy with all there holl corage,\
So that there workis myght famously be sene,\
In figure wherof they were the laurell grene. +
^they were the] `the were they' }Fakes 1523^\
But, how it is, $Skelton is wonder slake,\
And, as we dare, we fynde in hym grete lake: +
^grete] `a' Marshe 1568^\
For, ne were onely he hath @our promocyon,\
Out of my bokis full sone I shulde hym rase;\
But sith he hath tastid of the sugred pocioun\
Of $Elyconis well, refresshid with @our grace, +
^Elyconis] `Elycoms' }Fakes 1523, `Heliconis' Marshe 1568^\
And wyll not endevour hymselfe to purchase\
The favour of ladys with wordis electe,\
It is sittynge that @e must hym correct.'\
_
<L R>
Dame $Pallas to the Quene of Fame\=
<L 78>
`The sum of @our purpose, as we ar advysid,\
Is that our servaunt is sum#what to dull; +
^that] `for that' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Wherin this answere for hym we have comprisid,\
How ryvers rin not tyll the spryng be full;\
Bete a dum mouthe than a brainles scull; +
^Bete] `Better' Marshe 1568, MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
For if he gloryously publisshe his matter,\
Then men wyll say how he doth but flatter.\
And if so hym fortune to wryte true and plaine, +
^so] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
As sumtyme he must vyces remorde,\
Then sum wyll say he hath but lyttil brayne,\
And how his wordes with reason wyll not accorde.\
Beware, for wrytyng remayneth of recorde!\
Displease not an hundreth for one mannes pleasure.\
Who wryteth wysely hath a grete treasure.\
Also, to furnisshe better his excuse,\
$Ovyde was bannisshed for suche a skyll,\
And many mo whome I cowde enduce;\
<P 315>
$Juvenall was thret, parde, for to kyll\
For certayne envectyfys, @et wrote he none ill, +
^certayne envectyfys] `that he enveiyd' MS Cotton Vit.E.x^\
Savynge he rubbid sum on the gall. +
^on] `upon' Marshe 1568^\
It was not for hym to abyde the tryall. +
^abyde] `byde' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
In generrall wordes, I say not gretely nay,\
<L 100>
A poete somtyme may for his pleasure taunt,\
Spekyng in paroblis, how the fox, the grey,\
The gander, the gose, and the hudge oliphaunt,\
Went with the pecok ageyne the fesaunt;\
The lesarde came lepyng, and sayd that he must,\
With helpe of the ram, ley all in the dust.\
{et dyverse ther be, industryous of reason, +
^ther] `that' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Sum#what wolde gadder in there conjecture +
^conjecture] `convecture' }Fakes 1523^\
Of suche an endarkid chapiter sum season.\
How#be#it, it were harde to construe this lecture;\
Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture;\
Another manes mynde diffuse is to expounde;\
{et harde is to make but sum fawt be founde.'\
_
<L R>
The Quene of Fame to Dame $Pallas\=
<L 113>
`Madame, with favour of @our benynge sufferaunce,\
Unto @our grace then make I this motyve:\
Whereto made @e me hym to avaunce\
Unto the rowme of laureat promotyve?\
Or wherto shulde he have the prerogatyve, +
^the] `that' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
But if he had made sum memoryall,\
Wherby he myght have a name inmortall?\
To pas the tyme in slowthfull @delnes,\
Of @our royall palace it is not the gyse,\
But to do sumwhat iche man doth hym dres\
For how shulde $Cato els be callyd wyse,\
But that his bokis, whiche he did devyse,\
Recorde the same? Or why is had in mynde\
$Plato, but for that he left wrytynge behynde, +
^that] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
For men to loke on? $Aristotille also,\
Of phylosophers callid the princypall,\
Olde $Diogenes, with other many mo,\
<P 316>
$Dymostenes, that oratour royall,\
That gave $Eschines suche a cordyall, +
^That] `Whiche' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
That banisshed was he by his proposicyoun, +
^by] `through' Marshe 1568^\
Ageyne whom he cowde make no contradiccyoun?'\
_
<L R>
Dame $Pallas to the Quene of Fame\=
<L 134>
`Soft, my good syster, and make there a pawse. +
^my good syster] `goode my sister' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
And was $Eschines rebukid as @e say?\
Remembre @ou wele, poynt wele that clause,\
Wherfore then rasid @e not away\
His name? Or why is it, I @ou praye,\
That he to @our courte is goyng and commynge,\
Sith he is slaundred for defaut of konnyng?'\
_
<L R>
The Quene of Fame to Dame $Pallas\=
<L 141>
`Madame, @our apposelle is wele inferrid,\
And at @our avauntage quikly it is\
Towchid, and hard for to be barrid. +
^barrid] `debarrid' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
{et shall I answere @our grace as in this,\
With @our reformacion, if I say amis,\
For, but if @our bounte did me assure,\
Myne argument els koude not longe endure.\
As towchyng that $Eschines is remembred,\
That he so sholde be, me semith it sittyng, +
^it] `it is' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
All be it grete parte he hath surrendred\
Of his onour, whos dissuasyve in wrytyng\
To corage $Demostenes was moche excitynge,\
In settyng out fresshely his crafty persuacyon,\
From whiche $Eschines had none evacyon.\
The cause why $Demostenes so famously is brutid\
Onely procedid for that he did outray\
$Eschines, whiche was not shamefully confutid\
But of that famous oratour, I say,\
Whiche passid all other; wherfore I may\
Among my recordes suffer hym namyd,\
For though he were venquesshid, @et was he not shamyd: +
^For] `Sithe' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
As $Jerome, in his preamble %Frater $Ambrosius,\
Frome that I have sayde in no poynt doth vary,\
<P 317>
Wherein he reporteth of the coragius +
^Wherein] `Where' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Wordes that were moch consolatory\
By $Eschines rehersed to the grete glory\
Of $Demostenes, that was his utter foo.\
Few shall @e fynde or none that wyll do so.'\
_
<L R>
Dame $Pallas to the Quene of Fame\=
<L 169>
`A thanke to have, @e have well deservyd,\
<L 170>
{our mynde that can maynteyne so apparently;\
But a grete parte @et @e have reservyd +
^But...parte] `Bot @it a grete parte' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Of that most folow then consequently,\
Or els @e demeane @ou inordinatly;\
For if @e laude hym whome honour hath opprest,\
Then he that doth worste is as good as the best.\
But whome that @e favoure, I se well, hath a name,\
Be he never so lytell of substaunce,\
And whome @e love not @e wyll put to shame.\
{e counterway not evynly @our balaunce;\
As wele foly as wysdome oft @e do avaunce, +
^ye do] `tyme @e' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
For reporte ryseth many deverse wayes. +
^For] not MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Sume be moche spokyn of for makynge of frays;\
Some have a name for thefte and brybery;\
Some be called crafty that can pyke a purse; +
^pyke] `kit' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Some men be made of for the mokery; +
^the] `their' Marshe 1568^\
Some carefull cokwoldes, some have theyr wyves curs;\
Some famous wetewoldis, and they be moche wurs;\
Some lidderons, some losels, some noughty packis;\
Some facers, some bracers, some make great crackis; +
^some] `and sum' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
<L 190>
Some dronken dastardis with their dry soules;\
Some sluggysh slovyns, that slepe day and nyght;\
Ryot and Revell be in @our courte#rowlis;\
Maintenaunce and Mischefe, theis be men of myght;\
Extorcyon is counted with @ou for a knyght;\
Theis people by me have none assignement,\
{et they ryde and rinne from $Carlyll to $Kent. +
^they ryde and rinne] `ryde they and ryn they' MS Cotton +
Vitellius E.x^\
But lytell or nothynge @e shall here tell +
^ye shall] `shall @e' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Of them that have vertue by reason of cunnyng,\
Whiche soverenly in honoure shulde excell;\
<L 200>
<P 318>
Men of suche maters make but mummynge, +
^but] `but a' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
For wysdome and sadnesse be out a sunnyng; +
^be out] `be set out' Marshe 1568, MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
And suche of my servauntes as I have promotyd,\
One faute or other in them shalbe notyd.\
Eyther they wyll say he is to wyse, +
^wyll] `shall' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Or elles he can nought bot whan he is at scole;\
`Prove his wytt', sayth he, `at cardes or dyce,\
And @e shall well fynde he is a very fole; +
^well fynde] `fynde wele' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Twyse! set hym a chare, or reche hym a stol +
^Twyse] `Twyshe' Marshe 1568, MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
To syt hym upon, and rede $Jacke#a#thrummis bybille, +
^hym] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
For truly it were a pyte that he sat @dle'.\
_
<L R>
The Quene of Fame to Dame $Pallas\=
<L 211>
`To make repugnaunce agayne that @e have sayde,\
Of very dwte it may not well accorde,\
But @our benynge sufferaunce for my discharge I laid,\
For that I wolde not with @ou fall at discorde.\
But @et I beseche @our grace that good recorde +
^good] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
May be brought forth, such as can be founde,\
With laureat tryumphe why $Skelton sholde be crownde.\
For elles it were to great a derogacyon\
Unto @our palas, our noble courte of Fame,\
That any man under supportacyon\
Withoute deservynge shulde have the best game.\
If he to the ample encrease of his name\
Can lay any werkis that he hath compylyd,\
I am content that he be not exylide\
Frome the laureat senate by force of proscripcyon.\
Or elles, @e know well, I can do no lesse\
But I most bannysshe hym frome my jurydiccyon,\
As he that aquentyth hym with @dilnes.\
But if that he purpose to make a redresse,\
What he hath done, let it be brought to syght.\
Graunt my petycyon, I aske @ou but ryght.'\
_
<L R>
Dame $Pallas to the Quene of Fame\=
<L 232>
`To @our request we be well condiscendid;\
Call forthe, let se where is @our clarionar,\
<P 319>
To blowe a blaste with his long breth extendid;\
$Eolus, @our trumpet, that knowne is so farre, +
^that] `whiche' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
That bararag blowyth in every mercyall warre,\
Let hym blowe now, that we may take a vewe +
^a] `the' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
What poetis we have at our retenewe.\
To se if $Skelton wyll put hymselfe in prease +
^wyll] `dare' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Amonge the thickeste of all the hole rowte,\
Make noyse enoughe; for claterars love no peas.\
Let se, my syster, now spede @ou, go aboute. +
^you] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Anone, I sey, this trumpet were founde out,\
And for no man hardely let hym spare\
To blowe bararag tyll bothe his eyne stare.' +
^bararag] `bararag brag' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
_
<L R>
$Skelton %Poeta\=
<L 246>
Forthwith there rose amonge the thronge\
A wonderfull noyse, and on every syde\
They presid in faste; some thought they were to longe;\
Sume were to hasty and wold no man byde;\
Some whispred, some rownyd, some spake, and some cryde,\
With hevynge and shovynge, `have in' and `have oute';\
Some ranne the nexte way, sume ranne abowte.\
There was suyng to the Quene of Fame;\
He plucked hym backe, and he went afore.\
`Nay, holde thy tunge,' quod another, `let me have the name.'\
`Make rowme,' sayd another, `@e prese all to sore,'\
Sume sayd, `Holde thy peas, thou getest here no more.'\
A thowsande thowsande I sawe on a plumpe.\
With that I harde the noyse of a trumpe,\
That longe tyme blewe a full timorous blaste,\
Lyke to the boryall wyndes whan they blowe,\
That towres and townes and trees downe caste,\
Drove clowdes together lyke dryftis of snowe.\
The dredefull dinne drove all the rowte on a rowe;\
Some tremblid, some girned, some gaspid, some gasid,\
As people halfe pevysshe, or men that were masyd.\
Anone all was whyste, as it were for the nonys,\
And iche man stode gasyng and staryng upon other.\
With that there come in wonderly at ones\
<P 320>
A murmer of mynstrels, that suche another\
Had I never sene, some softer, some lowder;\
$Orpheus, the $Traciane, herped meledyously\
Weth $Amphion, and other musis of $Archady\
Whos hevenly armony was so passynge sure,\
So truely proporsionyd, and so well did gree,\
So duly entunyd with every mesure,\
That in the forest was none so great a tre\
But that he daunced for joye of that gle.\
The huge myghty okes them#selfe dyd avaunce,\
And lepe frome the hylles to lerne for to daunce;\
In so moche the stumpe, whereto I me lente\
Sterte all at ones an hundrethe fote backe.\
With that I sprange up towarde the tent\
Of noble Dame $Pallas, wherof I spake;\
Where I sawe come after, I wote, full lytell lake\
Of a thousande poetes assembled togeder.\
But $Phebus was formest of all that cam theder;\
Of laurell#levis a cronell on his hede,\
With heris encrisped @alowe as the golde, +
^encrisped] `enscrisped' }Fakes 1523^\
Lamentyng $Daphnes, whome with the darte of lede\
$Cupyde hath stryken so that she ne wolde\
Concente to $Phebus to have his herte in holde,\
But, for to preserve her maidenhode clene, +
^maidenhode] `maydenheed' Marshe 1568^\
Transformyd was she into the laurell grene.\
Meddelyd with murnynge the moost parte of his muse, +
^murnynge] `murmynge' }Fakes 1523^\
`O thoughtfull herte,' was evermore his songe!\
`$Daphnes, my derlynge, why do @ou me refuse?\
{et loke on me, that lovyd @ou have so longe,\
{et have compassyon upon my paynes stronge.'\
He sange also how, the tre as he did take\
Betwene his armes, he felt her body quake.\
Then he assurded into his exclamacyon +
^his] `this' Marshe 1568^\
Unto $Diana, the goddes inmortall,\
`O mercyles madame, hard is @our constellacyon,\
So close to kepe @our cloyster virgynall,\
Enhardid adyment the sement of @our wall!\
Alas, what ayle @ou to be so overthwhart,\
To banysshe pyte out of a maydens harte?\
<P 321>
Why have the goddes shewyd me this cruelte,\
Sith I contryvyd first princyples medycynable?\
I helpe all other of there infirmite,\
But now to helpe myselfe I am not able.\
That profyteth all other is nothynge profytable\
Unto me; alas, that herbe nor gresse +
^gresse] `gras' }Fakes 1523^\
The fervent axes of love can#not represse!\
O fatall Fortune, what have I offendid?\
Odious Disdayne, why raist thou me on this facyon?\
But sith I have lost now that I entended,\
And may not atteyne it by no medyacyon,\
{et, in remembraunce of $Daphnes transformacyon,\
All famous poetis ensuynge after me\
Shall were a garlande of the laurell tre.'\
This sayd, a great nowmber folowyd by and by\
Of poetis laureat of many dyverse nacyons;\
Parte of there names I thynke to specefye:\
Fyrst, olde $Quintiliane with his Declamacyons; +
^Declamacyons] `declynacyons' }Fakes 1523^\
$Theocritus with his bucolycall relacyons;\
$Esiodus, the iconomicar, +
^iconomicar] `icononucar' }Fakes 1523, Marshe 1568^\
And $Homerus, the fresshe historiar;\
Prynce of eloquence, $Tullius $Cicero,\
With $Salusty ageinst $Lucius $Catelyne,\
That wrote the history of $Jugurta also;\
$Ovyde, enshryned with the musis nyne;\
But blessed $Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne,\
Of closters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis +
^flotis] `droppes' }Fakes, `flotis' Marshe 1568^\
These orators and poetes refresshed there throtis.\
$Lucan, with $Stacius in $Achilliedos;\
$Percius presed forth with problemes diffuse;\
$Virgill the Mantuan, with his $Eneidos;\
$Juvenall satirray, that men makythe to muse;\
But blessed $Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne,\
Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotes\
These orators and poetes refreshed their throtes.\
There $Titus $Lyvius hymselfe dyd avaunce\
With decadis historious, whiche that he mengith\
With maters that amount the Romayns in substaunce;\
$Enyus that wrate of mercyall war at lengthe;\
<P 322>
But blessyd $Bachus, potenciall god of strengthe,\
Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy [flotis] +
^flotis] `droppes' }Fakes 1523, `dropes' Marshe 1568^\
<L 350>
Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis.\
$Aulus $Gelius, that noble historiar;\
$Orace also with his new poetry;\
Mayster $Terence, the famous comicar, +
^comicar] `conucar' }Fakes 1523^\
With $Plautus, that wrote full many a comody; +
^full] not in Marshe 1568^\
But blessyd $Bachus was in there company,\
Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy [flotis] +
^flotis] `dropis' }Fakes 1523, `dropes' Marshe 1568^\
Their orators and poetis refresshed there throtis.\
$Senek full soberly with his tragediis; +
^with] `wit' }Fakes 1523^\
$Boyce recounfortyd with his philosophy;\
And $Maxymyane, with his madde ditiis,\
How dotynge age wolde jape with @onge foly;\
But blessyd $Bachus most reverent and holy,\
Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy [flotis] +
^flotis] `dropis' }Fakes 1523, `dropes' Marshe 1568^\
Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis.\
There came $Johnn $Bochas with his volumys grete;\
$Quintus $Cursius, full craftely that wrate +
^Cursius] `Cursus' }Fakes 1523^\
Of $Alexander; and $Macrobius that did trete\
Of $Scipions dreme what was the treu probate;\
But blessyd $Bachus that never man forgate,\
Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy [flotis] +
^flotis] `dropis' }Fakes 1523, `dropes' Marshe 1568^\
These orators and poetis refresshid ther throtis.\
$Poggeus also, that famous $Florentine,\
Mustred ther amonge them with many a mad tale;\
With a frere of $Fraunce men call Sir $Gagwyne,\
That frownyd on me full angerly and pale;\
But blessyd $Bachus, that bote is of all bale,\
Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy [flotis] +
^flotis] `dropis' }Fakes 1523, `dropes' Marshe 1568^\
Theis orators and poetis refresshid there throtis.\
$Plutarke and $Petrarke, two famous clarkis;\
$Lucilius and $Valerius $Maximus by name;\
With $Vincencius %in %Speculo, that wrote noble warkis;\
$Propercius and $Pisandros, poetis of noble fame;\
But blissed $Bachus, that mastris oft doth frame,\
Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy [flotis] +
^flotis] `dropis' }Fakes 1523, `dropes' Marshe 1568^\
Theis notable poetis refresshid there throtis.\
<P 323>
And as I thus sadly amonge them avysid\
I saw $Gower, that first garnisshed our Englysshe rude,\
And maister $Chaucer, that nobly enterprysyd\
How that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed; +
^ennewed] `a meude' }Fakes 1523^\
The monke of $Bury then after them ensuyd,\
Dane $Johnn $Lydgate. Theis Englysshe poetis thre,\
As I @magenyd, repayrid unto me,\
Togeder in armes, as brethern, enbrasid;\
There apparell farre passynge beyonde that I can tell;\
With diamauntis and rubis there tabers were trasid, +
^tabers] `taberdes' Marshe 1568^\
None so ryche stones in $Turkey to sell;\
Thei wantid nothynge but the laurell;\
And of there bounte they made me godely chere\
In maner and forme as @e shall after here.\
_
<L R>
Mayster $Gower to $Skelton\=
<L 400>
`Brother $Skelton, @our endevorment\
So have @e done, that meretoryously\
{e have deservyd to have an enplement\
In our collage above the sterry sky,\
Bycause that @e encrese and amplyfy +
^ye] not in }Fakes 1523^\
The brutid Britons of $Brutus $Albion,\
That welny was loste when that we were gone.' +
^welny] `welnere' Marshe 1568^\
_
<L R>
Poeta $Skelton to Maister $Gower\=
<L 407>
`Maister $Gower, I have nothyng deserved\
To have so laudabyle a commendacion:\
To @ow thre this honor shalbe reserved\
Arrectinge unto @our wyse examinacion\
How all that I do is under refformation,\
For only the substance of that I entend,\
Is glad to please, and loth to offend.'\
_
<L R>
Mayster $Chaucer to $Skelton\=
<L 414>
`Counterwayng @our besy delygence\
Or that we beganne in the supplement,\
Enforcid ar we @ou to recompence,\
<P 324>
Of all our hooll collage by the agreament,\
That we shall brynge @ou personally present\
Of noble Fame before the Quenes grace,\
In whose court poynted is @our place.'\
_
<L R>
Poeta $Skelton answeryth\=
<L 421>
`O noble $Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquence\
Oure Englysshe rude so fresshely hath set out,\
That bounde ar we with all deu reverence,\
With all our strength that we can brynge about,\
To owe to @ow our servyce, and more if we mowte!\
But what sholde I say? {e wote what I entende,\
Whiche glad am to please, and loth to offende'\
_
<L R>
Mayster $Lydgate to $Skelton\=
<L 428>
`So am I preventid of my brethern tweyne\
In rendrynge to @ou thankkis meritory,\
That welny nothynge there doth remayne +
^welny] `welnere' Marshe 1568^\
Wherwith to geve @ou my regraciatory,\
But that I poynt @ou to be prothonatory\
Of Fames court, by all our holl assent\
Avaunced by $Pallas to laurell preferment.'\
_
<L R>
Poeta $Skelton answeryth\=
<L 435>
`So have @e me far passynge my meretis extollyd,\
Mayster $Lidgate, of @our accustomable\
Bownte, and so gloryously @e have enrollyd\
My name, I know well, beyonde that I am able,\
That but if my warkes therto be agreable,\
I am elles rebukyd of that I intende,\
Which glad am to please, and lothe to offende.'\
So finally, when they had shewyd there devyse,\
Under the forme as I sayd tofore, +
^tofore] `before' Marshe 1568^\
I made it straunge, and drew bak ones or twyse,\
And ever they presed on me more and more,\
Tyll at the last they forcyd me sore, +
^sore] `so sore' Marshe 1568^\
That with them I went where they wolde me brynge,\
Unto the pavylyon where $Pallas was syttyng.\
<P 325>
Dame $Pallas commaundid that they shold me convay\
Into the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame:\
`There shal he here what she wyl to hym say +
^wyl to hym] `to hym will' Marshe 1568^\
When he is callid to answere to his name.'\
A cry anone forthwith she made proclame,\
All orators and poetis shulde thider go before,\
With all the prese that there was lesse and more.\
Forthwith, I say, thus wandrynge in my thought,\
How far it was, or ellis within what howris, +
^far] not in }Fakes 1523^\
I can#nat tell @ou, but that I was brought\
Into a palace with turrettis and towris,\
Engolerid goodly with hallis and bowris, +
^Engolerid] `Engalared' Marshe 1568^\
So curiously, so craftely, so connyngly wrowght,\
That all the worde, I trowe, and it were sought, +
^worde] `worlde' Marshe 1568^\
Suche an#other there coude no man fynde;\
Wherof partely I purpose to expounde,\
Whyles it remanyth fresshe in my mynde.\
With turkis and grossolitis enpavyd was the grounde;\
Of birrall enbosid wer the pyllers rownde;\
Of elephantis tethe were the palace gatis,\
Enlosenged with many goodly platis\
Of golde, entachid with many a precyous stone;\
An hundred steppis mountyng to the halle,\
One of jasper, another of whalis#bone;\
Of dyamauntis pointed was the wall; +
^the] `the rokky' Marshe 1568^\
The carpettis within and tappettis of pall;\
The chambres hangid with clothes of arace;\
Envawtyd with rubies the vawte was of this place.\
Thus passid we forth walkynge unto the pretory\
Where the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy#blew,\
Englasid glittering with many a clere#story;\
Jacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew.\
Unto this place all poetis there did sue,\
Wherin was set of Fame the noble Quene,\
All other transcendynge, the most rychely besene,\
Under a gloryous cloth of astate,\
Fret all with orient perlys of garnate,\
Encrownyd as empresse of all this wordly fate, +
^wordly] `worldly' Marshe 1568^\
So ryally, so rychely, so passyngly ornate,\
<P 326>
It was excedyng byyonde the commowne rate.\
This hous envyrowne was a myle about;\
If %xii were let in, %xii hundreth stode without.\
Then to this lady and soverayne of this palace\
Of pursevantis ther presid in with many a dyverse tale: +
^a] not in Marshe 1568^\
Some were of $Poyle, and sum were of $Trace,\
Of $Lymerik, of $Loreine, of $Spayne, of $Portyngale,\
Frome $Napuls, from $Navern, and from $Rouncevall,\
Some from $Flaunders, sum from the se#coste,\
Some from the mayne#lande, some fro the Frensche hoste;\
With, `How doth the north?' `What tydingis in the sowth?'\
`The west is wyndy.' `The est is metely wele.'\
<L 500>
It is harde to tell of every mannes mouthe:\
`A slipper holde the taile is of an ele'\
And `He haltith often that hath a kyby hele.'\
Some shewid his salfe#cundight, some shewid his charter, +
^salfe cundight] `safeconduct' Marshe 1568; +
charter] `chart' Marshe 1568^\
Some lokyd full smothely, and had a fals#quarter, +
^quarter] `quart' Marshe 1568^\
With, `Sir, I pray @ou, a lytyll tyme stande backe,\
And lette me come to delyver my lettre.'\
Another tolde how shyppes wente to wrak.\
There were many wordes smaller and gretter,\
With, `I as good as thou, ifayth, and no better.'\
Some came to tell treuth, some came to lye,\
Some came to flater, some came to spye.\
There were, I say, of all maner of sortis,\
Of $Dertmouth, of $Plummouth, of $Portismouth also;\
The burgeis and the ballyvis of the %v portis,\
With, `Now let me come', and `Now let me go.'\
And all tyme wandred I thus to and fro,\
Tyll at the last theis noble poetis thre\
Unto me sayd, `Lo, syr, now @e may se\
Of this high courte the dayly besines;\
From @ou most we, but not longe to tary.\
Lo, hither commyth a goodly maystres,\
Occupacyon, Famys regestary,\
Whiche shall be to @ou a sufferayne accessary,\
With syngular pleasurs to dryve away the tyme,\
And we shall se @ou ageyne or it be pryme.'\
<P 327>
When they were past and wente forth on there way,\
This gentilwoman, that callyd was by name\
Occupacyon, is ryght goodly aray,\
Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game;\
I sawe hir smyle, and I then did the same. +
^I then] `than I' Marshe 1568^\
With that on me she kest her goodly loke.\
Under her arme, me thought, she hade a boke.\
_
<L R>
Occupacyoun to $Skelton\=
<L 533>
`Lyke as the larke, upon the somers day,\
Whan $Titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght,\
Mountith on hy with her melodious lay,\
Of the soneshyne engladid with the lyght,\
So am I supprysyd with pleasure and delyght\
To se this howre now, that I may say,\
How @e ar welcome to this court of aray.\
Of @our acqueintaunce I was in tymes past,\
Of studyous doctryne when at the port#salu\
{e fyrste aryvyd; whan broken was @our mast +
^Ye] `The' }Fakes 1523^\
Of worldly trust, then did I @ou rescu;\
{our storme#dryven shyppe I repared new,\
So well entakeled, what wynde that ever blowe, +
^that] `so' Marshe 1568^\
No stormy tempeste @our barge shall overthrow.\
Welcome to me as hertely as herte can thynke!\
Welcome to me with all my hole desyre!\
And for my sake spare neyther pen nor @nke;\
Be well assurid I shall aquyte @our hyre,\
{our name recountynge beyonde the lande of $Tyre,\
From $Sydony to the mount $Olympyan,\
Frome $Babill towre to the hillis $Caspian.' +
^Caspian] `Gaspian' }Fakes 1523^\
_
<L R>
$Skelton %Poeta answeryth\=
<L 554>
I thanked her moche of her most noble offer,\
Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunce\
For her pleasure to make a large profer,\
Enpryntyng her wordes in my remembraunce,\
To owe her my servyce with true perseveraunce.\
<P 328>
`Come on with me,' she sayd, `let us not stonde';\
And with that worde she toke me by the honde.\
So passyd we forthe into the forsayd place,\
With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde;\
And then she sayd, `Whylis we have tyme and space\
To walke where we lyst, let us somwhat fynde\
To pas the tyme with, but let us wast no wynde.\
For @dle jangelers have but lytill braine;\
Wordes be swordes, and hard to call ageine.'\
Into a felde she brought me wyde and large,\
Enwallyd aboute with the stony flint,\
Strongly enbateld, moche costious of charge.\
To walke on this walle she bed I sholde not stint;\
`Go softly,' she sayd, `the stones be full glint.'\
She went before, and bad me take good holde;\
I sawe a thowsande @atis new and olde.\
Then questionyd I her what thos @atis ment; +
^thos] `these' Marshe 1568^\
Wherto she answeryd, and brevely me tolde\
How from the est unto the occident,\
And from the sowth unto the north so colde,\
`Theis @atis,' she sayd, `which that @e beholde,\
Be issuis and portis from all maner of nacyons';\
And seryously she shewyd me ther denominacyons.\
They had wrytyng, sum Greke, sum Ebrew,\
Some Romaine letters, as I understode;\
Some were olde wryten, sum were writen new,\
Some carectis of $Caldy, sum Frensshe was full good;\
But one gate specyally, where#as I stode,\
Had gravin in it of calcydony a capytall A.\
`What @ate call @e this?' And she sayd, `Anglea'. +
^yate] `gate' Marshe 1568^\
The beldynge therof was passynge commendable;\
Wheron stode a lybbard, crownyd with golde and stones,\
Terrible of countenaunce and passynge formydable,\
As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones,\
As gastly that glaris, as grimly that gronis,\
As fersly frownynge as he had ben fyghtyng,\
And with his forme foote he shoke forthe this wrytyng:\
<P 329>
%Formidanda %nimis %Jovis %ultima %fulmina %tollis:\
%Unguibus %ire %parat %loca %singula %livida %curvis\
%Quam %modo %per %Phebas %nummos %raptura %Celeno;\
%Arma, %lues, %luctus, %fel, %vis, %fraus, %barbara %tellus;\
%Mille %modis %erras %odium %tibi %querere %Martis;\
%Spreto %spineto %cedat %saliunca %roseto.\
Then I me lent, and loked over the wall:\
Innumerable people presed to every gate.\
Shet were the gatis; thei might wel knock and cal,\
And turne home ageyne, for they cam al to late.\
I her demaunded of them and ther astate.\
`Forsothe,' quod she, `theys be haskardis and rebawdis, +
^haskardis] `hastardis' }Fakes 1523^\
Dysers, carders, tumblars with gambawdis,\
Furdrers of love, with baudry aqueinted,\
Brainles blenkardis that blow at the cole,\
Fals forgers of mony, for kownnage atteintid, +
^kownnage] `coynnage' Marshe 1568^\
Pope holy @pocrytis, as they were golde and hole,\
Powle#hatchettis, that prate wyll at every ale#pole, +
^wyll] `well' Marshe 1568^\
Ryot, reveler, railer, brybery, theft,\
With other condycyons that well myght be left.\
Sume fayne themselfe folys, and wolde be callyd wyse,\
Sum medelynge spyes, by craft to grope thy mynde,\
Sum dysdanous dawcokkis that all men dispyse,\
Fals flaterers that fawne the, and kurris of kynde\
That speke fayre before the and shrewdly behynde.\
Hither they come crowdyng to get them a name,\
But hailid they be homwarde with sorow and shame.\
With that I herd gunnis russhe out at ones,\
Bowns, bowns, bowns! that all they out cryde.\
It made sum lympe-legged and broisid there bones;\
Sum were made pevysshe, porisshly pynk#iyde,\
That ever more after by it they were aspyid;\
And one ther was there, I wondred of his hap,\
For a gun#stone, I say, had all to-jaggid his cap, +
^to-jaggid] `to lagged' Marshe 1568^\
Raggid, and daggid, and cunnyngly cut;\
The blaste of the brynston blew away his brayne;\
Masid as a Marche#hare, he ran lyke a scut.\
And, sir, amonge all me thought I saw twaine,\
<P 330>
The one was a tumblar, that afterwarde againe\
Of a dysour, a devyl way, grew a jentilman,\
$Pers $Prater, the secund, that quarillis beganne;\
With a pellit of pevisshenes they had suche a stroke,\
That all the dayes of ther lyfe shall styck by ther rybbis.\
Foo, foisty bawdias, sum smellid of the smoke.\
I saw dyvers that were cariid away thens in cribbis,\
Dasyng after dotrellis, lyke drunkardis that dribbis;\
Theis titi[v]yllis with taumpinnis wer towchid and tappid; +
^titivyllis] `titinyllis' }Fakes 1523, `titiuls' Marshe 1568^\
Moche mischefe, I hyght @ou, amonge theem ther happid.\
Sometyme, as it semyth, when the mone#light\
By meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowde\
Sodenly is eclipsid in the wynter night,\
In lyke maner of wyse a myst did us shrowde;\
But wele may @e thynk I was no thyng prowde\
Of that aventuris, whiche made me sore agast.\
In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last\
The clowdis gan to clere, the myst was rarifiid;\
In an herber I saw, brought where I was,\
There birdis on the brere sange on every syde,\
With alys ensandid about in compas,\
The bankis enturfid with singular solas,\
Enrailid with rosers, and vinis engrapid;\
It was a new comfort of sorowis escapid.\
In the middis a coundight, that coryously was cast,\
With pypes of golde engusshing out stremes;\
Of cristall the clerenes theis waters far past,\
Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis and bremis,\
Whose skales ensilvred again the son#beames\
Englisterd, that joyous it was to beholde.\
Then furthermore aboute me my syght I revolde,\
Where I saw growyng a goodly laurell#tre,\
Enverdurid with levis contynually grene;\
Above, in the top, a byrde of $Araby,\
Men call a phenix; her wynges bytwene\
She bet up a fyre with the sparkis full kene\
With braunches and bowghis of the swete olyve,\
Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preservatyve\
<P 331>
Ageynst all infeccyons with cancour enflamyd, +
^cancour] `rancour' Marshe 1568^\
Ageynst all baratows broisiours of olde,\
It passid all bawmys that ever were namyd,\
Or gummis of $Saby so derely that be solde.\
There blew in that gardynge a soft piplyng colde\
Enbrethyng of $Zepherus with his pleasant wynde;\
All frutis and flowris grew there in there kynde. +
^and] not in }Fakes 1523^\
Dryades there daunsid upon that goodly soile,\
With the nyne Muses, $Pierides by name; +
^with] `wit' }Fakes 1523^\
$Phillis and $Testalis, ther tressis with oyle\
Were newly enbybid; and rownd about the same\
Grene tre of laurell moche solacyous game\
They made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene;\
And formest of all dame $Flora, the quene\
Of somer, so formally she fotid the daunce.\
There $Cintheus sat twynklyng upon his harpe#stringis;\
And $Iopas his instrument did avaunce,\
The poemis and storis auncient inbryngis\
Of $Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis,\
Of wandryng of the mone, the course of the sun,\
Of men and of bestis, and whereof they begone,\
What thynge occasionyd the showris of rayne,\
Of fyre elementar in his supreme spere,\
And of that pole artike whiche doth remayne\
Behynde the taile of $Ursa so clere;\
Of $Pliades he prechid with ther drowsy chere,\
Immoysturid with mislyng and ay droppyng dry,\
And where the two $Trions a man shold aspy, +
^Trions] `Troons' }Fakes 1523^\
<L 700>
And of the winter days that hy them so fast,\
And of the wynter nyghtes that tary so longe,\
And of the somer days so longe that doth last,\
And of their shorte nyghtes; he browght in his songe\
How wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge;\
There was counteryng of carollis in meter and verse +
^and] `and in' Marshe 1568^\
So many, that longe it were to reherse. +
^it] `in' Marshe 1568^\
_
<L R>
Occupacyon to $Skelton\=
<L 707>
`How say @e? Is this after @our appetite?\
<P 332>
May this contente @ou and @our mirry mynde?\
Here dwellith pleasure, with lust and delyte;\
Contynuall comfort here @e may fynde,\
Of welth and solace no#thynge left behynde;\
All#thynge convenable here is contryvyd +
^convenable] `convenably' Marshe 1568^\
Wherewith @our spiritis may be revyvid.'\
_
<L R>
%Poeta $Skelton answeryth\=
<L 714>
`Questionles no dowte of that @e say;\
$Jupiter hymselfe this lyfe myght endure;\
This joy excedith all wordly sport and play, +
^wordly] `worldly' Marshe 1568^\
Paradyce this place is of syngular pleasure.\
O wele were hym that herof myght be sure,\
And here to inhabite and ay for to dwell!\
But, goodly maystres, one thynge @e me tell.'\
_
<L R>
Occupacyon to $Skelton\=
<L 721>
`Of @our demawnd shew me the content,\
What it is, and where#upon it standis;\
And if there be in it any#thyng ment,\
Wherof the answere restyth in my handis,\
It shall be losyd ful sone out of the bandis\
Of scrupulus dout. Wherfore, @our mynde discharge,\
And of @our wyll the plainnes shew at large.'\
_
<L R>
%Poeta $Skelton answeryth\=
<L 728>
`I thanke @ou, goodly maystres, to me most benynge,\
That of @our bounte so well have me assurid;\
But my request is not so great a thynge,\
That I ne force what though it be discurid.\
I am not woundid but that I may be cured.\
I am not ladyn of liddyrnes with lumpis,\
As dasid doterdis that dreme in their dumpis.'\
_
<L R>
Occupacyon to $Skelton\=
<L 735>
`Now what @e mene, I trow I conject.\
Gog gyve @ou good @ere, @e make me to smyle.\
<P 333>
Now, by @our faith, is not this theffect +
^by] `be' }Fakes 1523^\
Of @our questyon @e make all this whyle\
To understande who dwellyth in @one pile, +
^yone] `yonder' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
And what blunderar is @onder that playth didil#diddil?\
He fyndith fals mesuris out of his fonde fiddill.' +
^fals mesuris out] `owght fals mesuris' MS Cotton Vit.E.x^\
~%Interpolata, %que %industriosum %postulat %interpretem,\
%satira %in %vatis %adversarium.\
%Tressis %agasonis %species %prior, %altera %Davi:\
%Aucupium %culicis, %limis %dum %torquet %ocellum,\
%Concipit, %aligeras %rapit, %appetit, %aspice, %muscas!\
%Maia %queque %fovet, %fovet %aut %que %Juppiter, %aut %que\
%Frigida %Saturnus, %Sol, %Mars, %Venus, %algida %Luna,\
%Si %tibi %contingat %verbo %aut %committere %scripto,\
%Quam %sibi %mox %tacita %sudant %precordia %culpa!\
%Hinc %ruit %in %flammas, %stimulans %hunc %urget %et %illum,\
%Invocat %ad %rixas, %vanos %tamen %excitat %ignes,\
%Labra %movens %tacitus, %rumpantur %ut %ilia %Codro.\
17. 4. 7. 2. 17. 5. 18.\
18. 19. 1. 19. 8. 5. 12.\|+
<L 752>
His name for to know if that @e lyst,\
Envyous Rancour truely he hight.\
Beware of hym, I warne @ou; for and @e wist +
^and] `if' Marshe 1568^\
How daungerous it were to stande in his lyght, +
^were to stande in his lyght] `is to stop up his sight' MS +
Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
{e wolde not dele with hym, thowgh that @e myght, +
^though] `thought' Marshe 1568, `thowth' MS Cotton Vit.E.x^\
For by his devellysshe drift and graceles provision\
An hole reame he is able to set at devysion:\
For when he spekyth fayrest, then thynketh he moost @ll;\
Full gloryously can he glose, thy mynde for to fele;\
He wyll set men a feightynge and syt hymselfe styll, +
^set] `stir'  MS Cotton Vitellius E.x; +
a#feightynge] `to brawlyng' MS Cot.Vit.^\
And smerke, lyke a smythy#kur, at sperkes of steile;\
He can never leve warke whylis it is wele.\
To tell all his towchis it were to grete wonder;\
The devyll of hell and he be seldome asonder.'\
Thus talkyng we went forth in at a postern#gate. +
^forth] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Turnyng on the ryght hande, by a windyng#stayre, +
^a] not in }Fakes 1523^\
She brought me to a goodly chaumber of astate, +
^to] `into' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Where the noble Cowntes of $Surrey in a chayre\
<P 334>
Sat honorably, to whome did repaire\
Of ladys a beve with all dew reverence: +
^a beve] `aboue' }Fakes 1523^\
`Syt downe, fayre ladys, and do @our diligence!\
Come forth, jentylwomen, I pray @ou,' she sayd,\
`I have contryvyd for @ou a goodly warke,\
And who can worke beste now shall be asayde;\
A cronell of lawrell with verduris light and darke\
I have devysyd for $Skelton, my clerke;\
For to his servyce I have suche regarde,\
That of our bownte we wyll hym rewarde:\
For of all ladyes he hath the library,\
Ther names recountyng in the court of Fame;\
Of all gentylwomen he hath the scruteny,\
In Fames court reportyng the same;\
For @et of women he never sayd shame,\
But if they were counterfettes that women them call,\
That list of there lewdnesse with hym for to brall.'\
With that the tappettis and carpettis were layd,\
Whereon theis ladys softly myght rest,\
The saumpler to sow on, the lacis to enbraid;\
To weve in the stoule sume were full preste,\
With slaiis, with tavellis, with hedellis well drest;\
The frame was browght forth with his wevyng#pin.\
$God geve them good spede there warke to begin!\
Sume to enbrowder put them in prese,\
Well gydyng ther glowtonn to kepe streit theyr sylk, +
^ther] `the' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Sum pirlyng of goldde theyr worke to encrese\
With fingers smale, and handis whyte as mylk; +
^whyte] `as white' Marshe 1568^\
With, `Reche me that skane of tewly sylk';\
And, `Wynde me that botowme of such an hew', +
^an] `a' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Grene, rede, tawny, whyte, purpill, and blew. +
^whyte] `whyght blak'  MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Of broken warkis wrought many a goodly thyng,\
In castyng, in turnynge, in florisshyng of flowris,\
With burris rowth and bottons surffillyng, +
^rowth] `rowgh' Marshe 1568^\
In nedill#wark raysyng byrdis in bowris, +
^byrdis in bowris] `bothe birddis and bowres' MS Cotton +
Vitellius E.x^\
With vertu enbesid all tymes and howris;\
And truly of theyr bownte thus were they bent\
To worke me this chapelet by goode advysemente.\
<P 335>
_
<L R>
Occupacyon to $Skelton\=
<L 808>
`Beholde and se in @our advertysement\
How theis ladys and gentylwomen all\
For @our pleasure do there endevourment,\
And for @our sake how fast to warke they fall:\
To @our remembraunce wherfore @e must call\
In goodly wordes plesauntly comprysid,\
That for them some goodly conseyt be devysid,\
With proper captacyons of benevolence,\
Ornatly pullysshid after @our faculte,\
Sith @e must nedis afforce it by pretence\
Of @our professyoun unto umanyte,\
Commensyng @our proces after there degre,\
To iche of them rendryng thankis commendable,\
With sentence fructuous and termes convenable.'\
_
<L R>
%Poeta $Skelton answeryth\=
<L 822>
Avaunsynge my#selfe sum thanke to deserve,\
I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen,\
Devoutly arrectyng my prayer to $Mynerve,\
She to vowchesafe me to informe and ken;\
To $Mercury also hertely prayed I then,\
Me to supporte, to helpe, and to assist,\
To gyde and to governe my dredfull tremlyng fist.\
As a mariner that amasid is in a stormy rage, +
^amasid] `masid' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Hardly bestad and driven is to hope +
^and] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Of that the tempestous wynde wyll aswage +
^tempestous] `tempeous' }Fakes 1523, `tempestuows' MS Cotton +
Vitellius E.x^\
In trust wherof comforte his hart doth grope,\
From the anker he kuttyth the gabyll#rope,\
Committyth all to $God, and lettyth his shyp ryde;\
So I beseke $Jhesu now to be my gyde.\
_
<L R>
To the ryght noble Countes of $Surrey\=
<L 836>
After all duly ordred obeisaunce,\
In humble wyse as lowly as I may,\
Unto @ou, madame, I make reconusaunce,\
My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say,\
<P 336>
Recount, reporte, reherse without delay\
The passynge bounte of @our noble astate,\
Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date:\
Lyke to $Argyva by just resemblaunce,\
The noble wyfe of $Polimites kynge;\
Prudent $Rebecca, of whome remembraunce\
The Byble makith; with whos chast lyvynge\
{our noble demenour is counterwayng,\
Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate,\
Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.\
The noble $Pamphila, quene of the $Grekis londe,\
Habillimentis royall founde out industriously;\
$Thamar also wrought with her goodly honde\
Many divisis passynge curyously;\
Whome @e represent and exemplify,\
Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate,\
Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.\
As dame $Thamarys, whiche toke the kyng of $Perce,\
$Cirus by name, as wrytith the story;\
Dame $Agrippina also I may reherse\
Of jentyll corage the perfight memory; +
^perfight] `profight' }Fakes 1523^\
So shall @our name endure perpetually,\
Whos passyng bounte, and ryght noble astate,\
Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.\
_
<L R>
To my Lady $Elisabeth $Howarde\=
<L 864>
To be @our remembrauncer, madame, I am bounde,\
Lyke to $Aryna, maydenly of porte,\
Of vertu and konnyng the well and perfight grounde; +
^and] (1st) not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Whome dame Nature, as wele I may reporte,\
Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte\
Of womanly feturis, whos florysshyng tender age\
Is lusty to loke on, plesaunte, demure, and sage:\
Goodly $Creisseid, fayrer than $Polexene,\
For to envyve $Pandarus appetite;\
$Troilus, I trowe, if that he had @ou sene,\
In @ou he wolde have set his hole delight.\
Of all @our bewte I suffyce not to wryght:\
<P 337>
But, as I sayd, @our florisshinge tender age\
Is lusty to loke on, plesaunt, demure, and sage.\
_
<L R>
To my Lady $Mirriell $Howarde\=
<L 878>
Mi litell lady I may not leve behinde,\
But to do @ou servyce nedis now I must; +
^to do @ou] `do her' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Beninge, curteyse, of jentyll harte and mynde,\
Whom fortune and fate playnly have discust\
Longe to enjoy plesure, delyght, and lust:\
The enbuddid blossoms of roses rede of hew +
^The enbuddid blossoms of] `Enbuddid blossome with' MS Cotton +
Vitellius E.x^\
With lillis whyte @our bewte doth renewe. +
^With lillis] `The lylly' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Compare @ou I may to $Cidippes, the mayd,\
That of $Aconcyus whan she founde the byll\
In her bosome, lorde, how she was afrayd! +
^how] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
The ruddy shamefastnes in her vysage fyll,\
Whiche maner of abasshement became her not @ll;\
Right so, madame, the roses redde of hew\
With lillys whyte @our bewte dothe renewe.\
_
<L R>
To my Lady $Anne $Dakers of the Sowth\=
<L 892>
$Zeuxes, that enpicturid fare $Elene the quene,\
{ou to devyse his crafte were to seke;\
And if $Apelles @our countenaunce had sene,\
Of porturature which was the famous $Greke,\
He coude not devyse the lest poynt of @our cheke;\
Princes of @owth, and flowre of goodly porte,\
Vertu, conyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.\
Paregall in honour unto $Penolepe,\
That for her trowth is in remembraunce had;\
Fayre $Diianira surmowntynge in bewte;\
Demure $Diana womanly and sad,\
Whos lusty lokis make hevy hartis glad;\
Princes of @outh, and flowre of goodly porte,\
Vertu, connyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.\
_
<L R>
To mastres $Margery $Wentworthe\=
<L 906>
With margerain jentyll,
/The flowre of goodlyhede,\
<P 338>
Enbrowdred the mantill 
/Is of @our maydenhede. +
^maydenhede] `maydenhode' }Fakes 1523^\
Plainly, I can#not glose,\
{e be, as I devyne,\
The praty primrose,
/The goodly columbyne.\
With margerain jantill,
/The flowre of goodlyhede,\
Enbrawderyd the mantyll
/Is of @owre maydenhede.\
Benynge, corteise, and meke,
/With wordes well devysid;\
In @ou, who list to seke,\
Be vertus well comprysid.\
With margerain jantill,
/The flowre of goodlyhede,\
Enbrawderid the mantill
/Is of @owr maydenhede.\
_
<L R>
To mastres $Margaret $Tylney\=
<L 926>
I @ou assure,
/Ful wel I know\
My besy cure
/To @ow I owe;\
Humbly and low
/Commendynge me
/To @owre bownte.\
As $Machareus
/Fayre $Canace,\
So I, iwus,
/Endevoure me\
{owr name to se
/It be enrolde,
/Writtin with golde.\
$Phedra @e may
/Wele represent;\
Intentyfe ay
<P 339>
/And dylygent,
/No tyme myspent;\
Wherfore delyght
/I have to whryght.\
Of $Margarite,
/Perle orient,\
Lodesterre of lyght, 
/Moche relucent; +
^Lodesterre] `Lede sterre' }Fakes 1523^\
Madame regent
/I may @ou call
/Of vertuows all.\
_
<L R>
To maystres $Jane $Blenner-Haiset\=
<L 954>
What though my penne wax faynt,\
And hath smale lust to paint?\
{et shall there be no restraynt\
Cause me to cese,
/Amonge this prese,\
For to encrese
/{owre goodly name.\
I wyll my#selfe applye,\
Trust me, ententifly,\
{ow for to stellyfye;\
And so observe
/That @e ne swarve\
For to deserve 
/Inmortall fame. +
^Inmortall] `The courte of' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Sith mistres $Jane $Haiset\
Smale flowres helpt to sett\
In my goodly chapelet,\
Therfore I render of her the memory\
Unto the legend of fare $Laodomi.\
_
<L R>
To maystres $Isabell $Pennell\=
<L 973>
By saynt $Mary, my Lady,\
{our mammy and @our dady\
Brought forth a godely babi!\
<P 340>
My mayden $Isabell,\
Reflaring rosabell,
/The flagrant camamell;\
The ruddy rosary,
/The soverayne rosemary,\
The praty strawbery;\
The columbyne, the nepte,\
The jeloffer well set,
/The propre vyolet;\
Enuwyd @our colowre 
/Is lyke the dasy flowre +
^your] `her' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
After the Aprill showre;\
Sterre of the morow gray,\
The blossom on the spray,\
The fresshest flowre of May;\
Maydenly demure,
/Of womanhode the lure;\
Wherfore, I make @ou sure, +
^I make @ou sure] `I @ow assure' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
It were an hevenly helth,\
It were an endeles welth,\
A lyfe for $God hymselfe\
To here this nightingale,\
Amonge the byrdes smale,\
Warbelynge in the vale\
<L 1000>
Dug, dug,
/Jug, jug,
/Good @ere and good luk,\
With chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk.\
_
<L R>
To maystres $Margaret $Hussey\=
<L 1004>
Mirry $Margaret,
/As mydsomer flowre,\
Jentill as fawcoun
/Or hawke of the towre;\
With solace and gladnes,\
Moche mirthe and no madnes,\
<P 341>
All good and no badnes,\
So joyously,
/So maydenly,
/So womanly\
Her demenyng
/In every#thynge,\
Far, far passynge
/That I can endyght,\
Or suffice to wryght\
Of mirry $Margarete,
/As mydsomer flowre,\
Jentyll as fawcoun
/Or hawke of the towre,\
As pacient and as styll,\
And as full of good wyll, 
/As fayre $Isaphill; +
^fayre] `the fayre' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Colyaunder,
/Swete pomaunder,
/Good $Cassaunder;\
Stedfast of thought,
/Wele made, wele wrought;\
Far may be sought\
Erst that @e can fynde +
^that] `than' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
So corteise, so kynde\
As mirry $Margarete, 
/This midsomer flowre, +
^This] `The' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Jentyll as fawcoun
/Or hawke of the towre.\
_
<L R>
To mastres $Geretrude $Statham\=
<L 1038>
Though @e wer hard#hertyd,\
And I with @ou thwartid\
With wordes that smartid,\
{et nowe doutles @e geve me cause\
To wryte of @ou this goodli clause,\
Maistres $Geretrude,
/With womanhode endude,\
With vertu well renwde.\
I wyll that @e shall be
/In all benyngnyte\
<P 342>
Lyke to Dame $Pasiphe;\
For nowe dowtles @e geve me cause\
To wryte of @ow this goodly clause,\
Maistres $Geretrude,
/With womanhode endude,\
With vertu well renude.\
Partly by @our councell,\
Garnisshed with lawrell\
Was my fresshe coronell;\
Wherfore doutles @e geve me cause\
To wryte of @ou this goodly clause,\
Maistres $Geretrude
/With womanhode endude,\
With vertu well renude.\
_
<L R>
To maystres $Isabell $Knyght\=
<L 1062>
But if I sholde aquyte @our kyndnes,\
Els saye @e myght\
That in me were grete blyndnes,\
I for to be so myndles,\
And cowde not wryght
/Of $Isabell $Knyght.\
It is not my custome nor my gyse
/To leve behynde\
Her that is bothe womanly and wyse, +
^womanly] `maydenly' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
And specyally which glad was to devyse\
The menes to fynde
/To please my mynde,\
In helpyng to warke my laurell grene\
With sylke and golde.\
$Galathea, the made well besene,\
Was never halfe so fayre, as I wene,\
Whiche was extolde
/A thowsande#folde\
By $Maro, the Mantuan prudent,\
Who list to rede.\
But, and I had leyser competent,\
I coude shew @ou suche a presedent +
^you] not in MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
<P 343>
In very dede
/How @e excede.\
_
<L R>
Occupacyon to $Skelton\=
<L 1086>
`Withdrawe @our hande, the tyme passis fast.\
Set on @our hede this laurell whiche is wrought.\
Here @ou not $Eolus for @ou blowyth a blaste? +
^you] `ye' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
I dare wele saye that @e and I be sought.\
Make no delay, for now @e must be brought\
Before my ladys grace, the Quene of Fame,\
Where @e must brevely answere to @our name.'\
_
<L R>
$Skelton %Poeta\=
<L 1093>
Castyng my syght the chambre aboute,\
To se how duly ich thyng in ordre was,\
Towarde the dore, as he were comyng oute,\
I sawe maister $Newton sit with his compas,\
His plummet, his pensell, his spectacles of glas, +
^of] `with' }Fakes 1523^\
Dyvysynge in pycture, by his industrious wit,\
Of my laurell the proces every whitte.\
Forthwith upon this, as it were in a thought,\
$Gower, $Chawcer, $Lydgate, theis thre\
Before remembred, me curteisly brought +
^me curteisly] `kurteisly me' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Into that place where#as they left me,\
Where all the sayd poetis sat in there degre.\
But when they sawe my lawrell rychely wrought,\
All other besyde were counterfete they thought +
^All ... counterfete] `that they ware were counterfettis' MS +
Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
In comparyson of that whiche I ware.\
Sume praysed the perle, some the stones bryght.\
Wele was hym that thereupon myght stare.\
Of this warke they had so great delyght,\
The silke, the golde, the flowris fresshe to syght,\
They seyd my lawrell was the goodlyest\
That ever they saw, and wrought it was the best.\
In her astate there sat the noble Quene\
Of Fame. Perceyvynge how that I was cum,\
She wonderyd, me thought, at my laurell grene;\
<P 344>
She loked hawtly, and gave on me a glum.\
There was amonge them no worde then but mum, +
^amonge them no worde] `not a worde amonge them' MS Cotton +
Vitellius E.x^\
For eche man herkynde what she wolde to me say; +
^wolde to me] `to me wold' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Wherof in substaunce I brought this away.\
_
<L R>
The Quene of Fame to $Skelton\=
<L 1121>
`My frende, sith @e ar before us here present\
To answere unto this noble audyence,\
Of that shalbe resonde @ou @e must be content; +
^you] not in Marshe 1568^\
And for as moche as, by the hy pretence\
That @e have now by the preemynence +
^by the] `thorow' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
Of laureat triumphe, @our place is here reservyd, +
^triumphe] `promocioun' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
We wyll understande how @e have it deservyd.'\
_
<L R>
$Skelton %Poeta to the Quene of Fame\=
<L 1128>
`Ryght high and myghty princes of astate,\
In famous glory all other transcendyng,\
Of @our bounte the accustomable rate\
Hath bene full often and @et is entendyng\
To all that to reason is condiscendyng, +
^To all that to] `to all tho that' }Fakes 1523^\
But if hastyve credence by mayntenance of myght\
Fortune to stande betwene @ou and the lyght.\
But suche evydence I thynke for to enduce, +
^for to] `for me to' MS Cotton Vitellius E.x^\
And so largely to lay for myne indempnite,\
That I trust to make myne excuse\
Of what charge so ever @e lay ageinst me;\
For of my bokis parte @e shall se,\
Whiche in @our recordes, I know well, be enrolde,\
And so Occupacyon, @our regester, me told.'\
Forthwith she commaundid I shulde take my place.\
$Caliope poynted me where I shulde sit.\
With that, Occupacioun presid in a#pace;\
`Be mirry,' she sayd, `be not afferde a whit,\
{our discharge here under myne arme is it.'\
So then commaundid she was upon this\
To shew her boke; and she sayd, `Here it is.'\
<P 345>
_
<L R>
The Quene of Fame to Occupacioun\=
<L 1149>
`{owre boke of remembrauns we will now that @e rede; +
^boke] `bokes' }Fakes 1523^\
If ony recordis in noumbyr can be founde,\
What $Skelton hath compilid and wryton in#dede,\
Rehersyng by ordre, and what is the grownde,\
Let se now for hym how @e can expounde;\
For in owr courte, @e wote wele, his name can#not ryse\
But if he wryte oftenner than ones or twyse.'\
_
<L R>
$Skelton %Poeta\=
<L 1156>
With that, of the boke losende were the claspis.\
The margent was illumynid all with golden railles\
And byse, enpicturid with gressoppes and waspis,\
With butterfllyis and fresshe pecoke taylis,\
Enflorid with flowris and slymy snaylis,\
Envyvid picturis well towchid and quikly.\
It wolde have made a man hole that had be ryght sekely,\
To beholde how it was garnysshyd and bounde,\
Encoverde over with golde of tissew fyne;\
The claspis and bullyons were worth a thousande pounde;\
With balassis and charbuncles the borders did shyne;\
With %aurum %musicum every other lyne\
Was wrytin; and so she did her spede,\
Occupacyon, immediatly to rede.\
_
<L R>
Occupacyoun redith and expoundyth\
<L R>
sum parte of $Skeltons bokes and baladis with ditis of plesure,\
<L R>
in as moche as it were to longe a proces\
<L R>
to reherse all by name that he hath compylyd, %&c.\=
<L 1170>
`Of @our oratour and poete laureate\
Of $Englande, his workis here they begynne:\
%In %primis the Boke of Honorous Astate;\
Item the Boke how Men Shulde Fle Synne;\
Item Royall Demenaunce Worshyp to Wynne;\
Item the Boke to Speke Well or be Styll;\
Item to Lerne {ou to Dye When @e Wyll; +
^to] `do' }Fakes 1523^\
Of Vertu also the soverayne enterlude;\
The Boke of the Rosiar; Prince $Arturis Creacyoun;\
<P 346>
The False Fayth that Now Goth, which dayly is renude;\
Item his Diologgis of {magynacyoun;\
Item A[u]tomedon of Loves Meditacyoun; +
^Automedon] `Antomedon' }Fakes 1523, Marshe 1568   MS Cotton +
Vitellius E.x^\
Item New Gramer in Englysshe compylyd;\
Item Bowche of Courte, where Drede was begyled;\
His commedy, Achademios callyd by name;\
Of Tullis Familiars the translacyoun;\
Item Good Advysement, that brainles doth blame;\
The Recule ageinst Gaguyne of the Frenshe nacyoun;\
Item the Popingay, that hath in commendacyoun\
Ladyes and gentylwomen suche as deservyd,\
And suche as be counterfettis they be reservyd;\
And of Soveraynte a noble pamphelet;\
And of Magnyfycence a notable mater,\
How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get\
With Crafty Conveyaunce dothe smater and flater,\
And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater\
With Courtely Abusyoun; who pryntith it wele in mynde\
Moche dowblenes of the worlde therin he may fynde.\
Of Manerly $Margery Maystres Mylke and Ale; +
^Margery Maystres] `maistres Margery' Marshe 1568^\
To her he wrote many maters of myrthe;\
{et, thoughe I say it, therby lyith a tale, +
^I] `ye' }Fakes 1523^\
For $Margery wynshed, and breke her hinder girth;\
Lorde, how she made moche of her gentyll birth!\
With, `Gingirly, go gingerly!' Her tayle was made of hay;\
Go she never so gingirly, her honesty is gone away.\
Harde to make ought of that is nakid nought;\
This fustiane maistres and this giggisse gase\
Wonder is to wryte what wrenchis she wrowght,\
To face out her foly with a midsomer mase;\
With pitche she patchid her pitcher shuld not crase;\
It may wele ryme, but shroudly it doth accorde,\
To pyke out honesty of suche a potshorde.\
~%Patet %per %versus\|+
<L 1212>
%Hinc %puer %hic %natus; %vir %conjugis %hinc %spoliatus\
%Jure %thori, %est %fetus %Deli %de %sanguine %cretus;\
%Hinc %magis %extollo, %quod %erit %puer %alter %Apollo;\
%Si %queris %qualis? %meretrix %castissima %talis;\
%Et %relis, %et %ralis, %et %reliqualis.\
<P 347>
A good herynge of thes olde talis;\
Fynde no mo suche fro $Wanflete to $Walis.\
~%Et %reliqua %omelia %de %diversis %tractatibus.\|+
<L 1219>
Of my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun,\
Owt of Frenshe into Englysshe prose.\
Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun,\
He did translate, enterprete, and disclose;\
The Tratyse of the Triumphis of the Rede Rose,\
Wherein many storis ar brevely contayned\
That unremembred longe tyme remayned.\
The Duke of ${orkis creauncer whan $Skelton was,\
Now $Henry the viij, Kyng of $Englonde,\
A tratyse he devysid and browght it to pas,\
Callid %Speculum %Principis, to bere in his honde,\
Therin to rede, and to understande\
All the demenour of princely astate,\
To be our kyng, of $God preordinate.\
Also the Tunnynge of $Elinour $Rummyng,\
With $Colyn $Clowt, $Johnn $Ive, with $Joforth $Jack;\
To make suche trifels it asketh sum konnyng,\
In honest myrth, parde, requyreth no lack;\
The whyte apperyth the better for the black,\
And after conveyauns as the world goos,\
It is no foly to use the $Walshemannys hoos.\
The umblis of venyson, the botell of wyne,\
To fayre maistres $Anne that shuld have be sent,\
He wrate therof many a praty lyne,\
Where it became, and whether it went,\
And how that it was wantonly spent;\
The Balade also of the Mustarde Tarte.\
Suche problemis to paynt it longyth to his arte.\
Of one $Adame all a knave, late dede and gone -\
%Dormiat %in %pace, lyke a dormows -\
He wrate an Epitaph for his grave#stone,\
With wordes devoute and sentence agerdows,\
For he was ever ageynst $Goddis hows;\
All his delight was to braule and to barke\
Ageynst Holy Chyrche, the preste, and the clarke.\
<P 348>
Of $Phillip $Sparow the lamentable fate,\
The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,\
Dyvysed by $Skelton after the funerall rate;\
{et sum there be therewith that take grevaunce\
And grudge therat with frownyng countenaunce;\
But what of that? Hard it is to please all men;\
Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne.\
For the gyse nowadays\
Of sum jangelyng jays\
Is to discommende
/That they can#not amende,\
Though they wolde spende\
All the wittis they have.\
 What ayle them to deprave
/$Phillippe $Sparows grave?\
His %dirige, her commendacioun
/Can be no derogacyoun;\
But myrth and consolacyoun,
/Made by protestacyoun,\
No man to myscontent
/With $Phillippis enterement.\
Alas, that goodly mayd,\
Why shulde she be afrayd?\
Why shulde she take shame\
That her goodly name,
/Honorably reportid,\
Shulde be set and sortyd,
/To be matriculate\
With ladyes of astate?\
I conjure the, $Phillip $Sparow,\
By $Hercules that hell did harow,\
And with a venomows arow\
Slew of the $Epidawris\
One of the Centawris,
/Or $Onocentauris,
/Or $Hippocentauris;\
By whos myght and maine\
An hart was slayne\
With hornnis twayne
/Of glitteryng golde;\
<P 349>
And the apples of golde
/Of $Hesperides withholde,\
And with a dragon kepte\
That never more slepte\
By merciall strength
/He wan at length;\
And slew $Gerione
/With thre bodys in one;\
With myghty corrage
/Adauntid the rage
/Of a lyon savage;\
Of $Diomedis stabyll
/He brought out a rabyll\
Of coursers and rounsis\
With lepes and bounsis; +
^with] `wit' }Fakes 1523^\
And with myghty luggyng,
/Wrastelynge and tuggyng,\
He pluckid the bull
/By the hornid scull,\
And offred to $Cornucopia;\
As so forthe %per %cetera;\
Also by $Hecates powre +
^powre] `bowre' Marshe 1568^\
In $Plutos gastly towre;\
By the ugly $Eumenides,\
That never have rest nor ease;\
By the venemows serpent\
That in hell is never brente,\
In $Lerna the Grekis fen\
That was engendred then;\
By $Chemeras flamys,
/And all the dedely namys\
<L 1325>
Of infernall posty,
/Where soulis fry and rosty;\
By the $Stigiall flode,\
And the stremes wode\
Of $Cochitos bottumles well;\
By the feryman of hell,\
$Caron with his berde hore,\
That rowyth with a rude ore,\
And with his frownsid fortop\
Gydith his bote with a prop.\
<P 350>
 I conjure, $Phillippe and call,\
In the name of Kyng $Saull;\
%Primo %Regum expres,
/He bad the Phitones\
To witchecraft her to dres,\
And by her abusiouns,
/And damnable illusiouns\
Of mervelous conclusiouns,
/And by her supersticiouns\
Of wonderfull condiciouns +
^Of] `And' Marshe 1568^\
She raysed up in that stede\
Samuell that was dede.\
 But whether it were so,\
He were %idem %in %numero,\
The selfe#same $Samuell,\
How#be#it to $Saull he did tell\
The Phillistinis shulde hym askry,\
And the next day he shulde dye,\
I wyll myselfe discharge\
To letterd men at large.\
 But, $Phillip, I conjure the\
Now by theys names thre,\
$Diana in the woddis grene,\
$Luna that so bryght doth shene,\
$Proserpina in hell,\
That thou shortely tell,\
And shew now unto me\
What the cause may be
/Of this perplexyte.\
%Inferias, %Philippe, %tuas %Scroupe %pulchra %Johanna\
%Instanter %petiit: %cur %nostri %carminis %illam\
%Nunc %pudet? %Est %sero; %minor %est %infamia %vero.\
Then such that have disdaynyd +
^that] `as' }Fakes 1523^\
And of this worke complaynyd,\
I pray $God they be paynyd\
No wors than is contaynyd +
^than] `and' }Fakes 1523^\
In verses two or thre\
That folowe as @e may se:\
%Luride, %cur, %livor, %volucris %pia %funera %damnas?\
%Talia %te %rapiant %rapiunt %que %fata %volucrem!\
%Est %tamen %invidia %mors %tibi %continua.\
<P 351>
The Gruntyng and the Groynninge of the Gronnyng Swyne; +
^and the] `a' }Fakes 1523; of the] not in }Fakes 1523^\
Also the Murnyng of the Mapely#Rote; +
^Murnyng] `murmyng' }Fakes 1523^\
How the grene coverlet sufferd grete pine;\
Whan the flye#net was set for to catche a cote,\
Strake one with a birdbolt to the hart#rote;\
Also a Devoute Prayer to $Moyses Hornis,\
Metrifyde merely, medelyd with scornis; +
^scornis] `stormis' }Fakes 1523^\
Of Pajauntis that were played in $Joyows $Garde;\
He wrate of a muse throw a mud wall;\
How a do cam trippyng in at the rerewarde,\
But, lorde, how the parker was wroth with all.\
And of Castell Aungell the fenestrall,\
Glittryng and glistryng and gloryously glasid,\
It made sum mens eye dasild and dasid;\
The Repete of the Recule of %Rosamundis bowre,\
Of his pleasaunt paine there and his glad distres\
In plantynge and pluckynge a propre jeloffer#flowre;\
But how it was, sum were to recheles,\
Notwithstandynge it is remedeles;\
What myght she say? What myght he do therto?\
Though $Jak sayd nay, @et $Mok there loste her sho;\
How than lyke a man he wan the barbican\
With a sawte of solace at the longe last;\
The colour dedely, swarte, blo and wan\
Of $Exione, his limbis dede and past, +
^his limbis] `her lambis' }Fakes 1523, `her lambe is' Marshe +
1568^\
The cheke and the nek but a shorte cast;\
In fortunis favour ever to endure,\
No man lyvyng, he sayth, can be sure;\
How Dame $Minerva first found the Olyve Tre, she red\
And plantid it there where never before was none, unshred +
^it there where] `yet wher' Marshe 1568^\
An hynde unhurt hit by casuelte, not bled\
Recoverd whan the forster was gone, and sped\
The hertis of the herd began for to grone, and fled\
The howndes began to @erne and to quest; and dred\
With litell besynes standith moche rest; in bed\
His Epitomis of the Myller and his joly Make;\
How her ble was bryght as blossom on the spray,\
A wanton wenche and wele coude bake a cake;\
The myllar was loth to be out of the way,\
<P 352>
But @et for all that, be as be may,\
Whether he rode to $Swaffhamm or to $Some, +
^Swaffhamm] `Swasshamm' }Fakes 1523, Marshe 1568^\
The millar durst not leve his wyfe at home.\
With Wofully Arayd and Shamefully Betrayd;\
Of his makyng devoute medytacyons;\
%Vexilla %regis he devysid to be displayd;\
With %Sacris %Solempniis, and other contemplacyons,\
That in them comprisid consyderacyons;\
Thus passyth he the tyme both nyght and day,\
Sumtyme with sadnes, sumtyme with play.\
Though $Galiene and $Diascorides,\
With $Ipocras and mayster $Avycen,\
By there phesik doth many a man ease,\
And though $Albumasar can the enforme and ken\
What constellacions ar good or bad for men,\
{et whan the rayne rayneth and the gose wynkith\
Lytill wotith the goslyng what the gose thynkith.\
He is not wyse ageyne the streme that stryvith.\
Dun is in the myre, dame, reche me my spur.\
Nedes must he rin that the devyll dryvith.\
When the stede is stolyn, spar the stable#dur.\
A jentyll hownde shulde never play the kur.\
It is sone aspyed where the thorne prikkith.\
And wele wotith the cat whos berde she likkith.\
With $Marione $Clarione, %sol, %lucerne,\
%Graund %juir, of this Frenshe proverbe olde,\
How men were wonte for to discerne\
By $Candelmes day what wedder shuld holde;\
But $Marione $Clarione was caught with a colde colde, +
^a colde colde] `a colde' Marshe 1568^\
And all overcast with cloudis unkynde,\
This goodly flowre with stormis was untwynde.\
This jeloffer jentyll, this rose, this lylly#flowre,\
This primerose pereles, this propre vyolet,\
This columbyne clere and fresshest of coloure,\
This delycate dasy, this strawbery pretely set,\
With frowarde frostis, alas, was all to-fret!\
But who may have a more ungracyous lyfe +
^a] not in Marshe 1568^\
Than a chyldis birde and a knavis wyfe?\
<P 353>
Thynke what @e wyll
/Of this wanton byll;\
By $Mary $Gipcy,
/%Quod %scripsi, %scripsi;\
%Uxor %tua, %sicut %vitis,\
%Habetis %in %custodiam,\
%Custodite %sicut %scitis,\
%Secundum %Lucam %&c\
Of the Bonehoms of $Ashrige besyde $Barkamstede,\
That goodly place to $Skelton moost kynde,\
Where the sank#royall is, $Crystes blode so rede,\
Whereupon he metrefyde after his mynde;\
A pleasaunter place than $Ashrige is, harde were to fynde, +
^were] `where' }Fakes 1523^\
As $Skelton rehersith, with wordes few and playne,\
In his distichon made on verses twaine. +
^distichon] `distincyon' }Fakes 1523^\
%Fraxinus %in %clivo %frondetque %viret %sine %rivo,\
%Non %est %sub %divo %similis %sine %flumine %vivo.\
The Nacyoun of Folys he left not behynde.\
Item $Apollo that whirllid up his chare,\
That made sum to snurre and snuf in the wynde; +
^snurre] `surt' }Fakes 1523^\
It made them to skip, to stampe, and to stare,\
Whiche, if they be happy, have cause to beware\
In ryming and raylyng with hym for to mell,\
For drede and he lerne them there A#B#C to spell.'\
_
<L R>
Poeta $Skelton\=
<L 1477>
With that I stode up, halfe sodenly afrayd,\
Suppleyng to Fame, I besought her grace,\
And that it wolde please her, full tenderly I prayd,\
Owt of her bokis $Apollo to rase.\
`Nay, sir' she sayd, `what so in this place\
Of our noble courte is ones spoken owte,\
It must nedes after rin all the worlde aboute.'\
$God wote, theis wordes made me full sad;\
And when that I sawe it wolde no better be,\
But that my peticyon wolde not be had,\
What shuld I do but take it in gre?\
For, by $Juppiter and his high mageste,\
<P 354>
I did what I cowde to scrape out the scrollis, +
^scrape] `scarpe' Marshe 1568^\
$Apollo to rase out of her ragman#rollis.\
Now hereof it erkith me lenger to wryte,\
To Occupacyon I wyll agayne resorte,\
Whiche redde on still, as it cam to her syght,\
Rendrynge my devisis I made in disporte\
Of the Mayden of $Kent callid Counforte,\
Of Lovers Testamentis and of There Wanton Wyllis,\
And how $Iollas lovyd goodly $Phillis;\
$Diodorus $Siculus of my translacyon\
Out of fresshe Latine into owre Englyshe playne,\
<L 1500>
Recountyng commoditis of many a straunge nacyon;\
Who redyth it ones wolde rede it agayne;\
Sex volumis engrosid together it doth containe.\
But when of the laurell she made rehersall,\
All orators and poetis, with other grete and smale,\
A thowsande, thowsande, I trow, to my dome,\
`%Triumpha, %triumpha!' they cryid all aboute.\
Of trumpettis and clariouns the noyse went to $Rome;\
The starry hevyn, me thought, shoke with the showte;\
The grownde gronid and tremblid, the noyse was so stowte.\
The Quene of Fame commaundid shett fast the boke,\
And therwith, sodenly, out of my dreme I woke. +
^dreme] `slepe' Marshe 1568^\
My mynde of the grete din was somdele amasid.\
I wypid myne eyne for to make them clere.\
Then to the hevyn sperycall upwarde I gasid,\
Where I saw $Janus, with his double chere,\
Makynge his almanak for the new @ere;\
He turnyd his tirikkis, his volvell ran fast,\
Good luk this new @ere, the olde @ere is past.\
%Mens %tibi %sit %consulta, %petis? %Sic %consule %menti;\
%Emula %sit %Jani, %retro %speculetur %et %ante.\
~%Skeltonis %alloquitur %librum %suum\|+
<L 1521>
%Ite, %Britannorum %lux %O %radiosa, %Britannum\
%Carmina %nostra %pium %vestrum %celebrate %Catullum!\
%Dicite, %Skeltonis %vester %Adonis %erat;\
<P 355>
%Dicite, %Skeltonis %vester %Homerus %erat.\
%Barbara %cum %Latio %pariter %jam %currite %versu;\
%Et %licet %est %verbo %pars %maxima %texta %Britanno,\
%Non %magis %incompta %nostra %Thalya %patet,\
%Est %magis %inculta %nec %mea %Caliope.\
%Nec %vos %peniteat %livoris %tela %subire,\
%Nec %vos %peniteat %rabiem %tolerare %caninam,\
%Nam %Maro %dissimiles %non %tulit %ille %minas,\
%Immunis %nec %enim %Musa %Nasonis %erat.\
~%Lenvoy\|+
<L 1533>
Go, litill quaire,
/Demene @ou faire.\
Take no dispare,\
Though I @ou wrate
/After this rate\
In Englysshe letter.\
 So moche the better\
Welcome shall @e
/To sum men be;\
For Latin warkis
/Be good for clerkis,\
{et now and then
/Sum Latin men\
May happely loke
/Upon @our boke,\
And so procede
/In @ou to rede,\
That so indede
/{our fame may sprede\
In length and brede.\
But then I drede +
^then] `that' Marshe 1568^\
{e shall have nede 
/{ou for to spede +
^Ye] `You' Marshe 1568^\
To harnnes bryght,
/By force of myght,\
Ageyne envy,
/And obloquy.
/And wote @e why?\
 Not for to fyght
<P 356>
/Ageyne dispyght,\
Nor to derayne
/Batayle agayne
/Scornfull disdayne,\
Nor for to chyde,
/Nor for to hyde
/{ou cowardly;\
 But curteisly
/That I have pende
/For to deffend,\
Under the banner
/Of all good manner,\
Under proteccyon
/Of sad correccyon,\
With toleracyon
/And supportacyon
/Of reformacyon,\
If they can spy 
/Circumspectly +
^they] `thy' }Fakes 1523^\
Any worde defacid
/That myght be rasid,\
 Els @e shall pray
/Them that @e may\
Contynew still
/With there good wyll.\
~%Ad %serenissimam %Majestatem %Regiam, %pariter %cum %Domino\
%Cardinali, %Legato %a %latere %honorificatissimo %&c\
%Lautre %Envoy\|+
<L 1587>
%Perge, %liber, %celebrem %pronus %regem %venerare\
%Henricum %octavum, %resonans %sua %praemia %laudis.\
%Cardineum %dominum %pariter %venerando %salutes,\
%Legatum %a %latere, %et %fiat %memor %ipse %precare\
%Prebendae, %quam %promisit %mihi %credere %quondam,\
%Meque %suum %referas %pignus %sperare %salutis.\
%Inter %spemque %metum.\
Twene hope and drede
/My lyfe I lede,\
But of my spede
/Small sekernes;\
<P 357>
Howe#be#it I rede\
Both worde and dede
/Should be agrede
/In noblenes:\
Or els %&c\
~%ADMONET %SKELTONIS %OMNES %ARBORES %DARE %LOCUM\
%VIRIDI %LAURO %JUXTA %GENUS %SUUM\|+
<L 1>
%Fraxinus %in %silvis, %altis %in %montibus %ornus,\
%Populus %in %fluviis, %abies, %patulissima %fagus,\
%Lenta %salix, %platanus, %pinguis %ficulnea %ficus,\
%Glandifera %et %quercus, %pirus, %esculus, %ardua %pinus,\
%Balsamus %exudans, %oleaster, %oliva %Minerve,\
%Juniperus, %buxus, %lentiscus %cuspide %lenta,\
%Botrigera %et %domino %vitis %gratissima %Baccho,\
%Ilex %et %sterilis %labrusca %perosa %colonis,\
%Mollibus %exudans %fragrancia %thura %Sabeis\
%Thus, %redolens %Arabis %pariter %notissima %mirrha,\
%Et %vos, %O %corili %fragiles, %humilesque %miricae,\
%Et %vos, %O %cedri %redolentes, %vos %quoque %mirti,\
%Arboris %omne %genus %viridi %concedite %lauro!\
%Prennees %en %gre The Laurelle.\
~%EN %PARLEMENT %A %PARIS\|+
<L 1>
%Justice %est %morte,\
%Et %Veryte %sommielle;\
%Droit %et %Raison\
%Sont %alez %aux %pardons.\
%Lez %deux %premiers\
%Nul %ne %les %resuelle;\
%Et %lez %derniers\
%Sount %corrumpus %par %dons.\
~OUT OF FRENSHE INTO LATYN\|+
<L 1>
%Abstulit %atra %dies %Astraeam; %cana %Fides %sed\
%Sompno %pressa %iacet; %Jus %iter %arripuit,\
%Et %secum %Racio %proficiscens %limite %longo:\
%Nemo %duas %primas %evigilare %parat;\
<P 358>
%Atque %duo %postrema %absunt, %et %munera %tantum\
%Impediunt, %nequiunt %quod %remeare %domum.\
~OWT OF LATYNE INTO ENGLYSSHE\|+
<T Garlande2>
<L 1>
Justyce now is dede;\
Trowth with a drowsy hede;\
As hevy as the lede,\
Is layd down to slepe,\
And takith no kepe; +
^takith] `bidythe' Marshe 1568^\
And Ryght is over the fallows +
^over the] `ever' Marshe 1568^\
Gone to seke hallows,
/With Reason together,\
No man can tell whether.\
No man wyll undertake\
The first twayne to wake;\
And the twayne last
/Be withholde so fast\
With mony, as men sayne,\
They can#not come agayne.\
 %A %grant %tort\
 %Foy %dort.\
_
<L E>
Here endith a ryght delectable tratyse\
<L R>
upon a goodly Garlonde or Chapelet of Laurell,\
<L R>
dyvysed by Mayster $Skelton, Poete Laureat.\=
<T Couplet>
~A Couplet on $Wolsey's Dissolution\
of the Convocation at St $Paul's\|+
<L 1>
Gentle $Paule lie doune thy sweard,\
For $Peter of $Westminster hath shaven thy beard.\
<P 359>
<T Albany>
_
<L I>
$Skelton Laureate %etc\
<L I>
Howe the Douty Duke of $Albany\
<L I>
lyke a cowarde knyght, ran awaye shamfully\
<L I>
with an hundred thousande tratlande Scottes\ 
<L I>
and faint#harted Frenchemen:\ 
<L I>
beside the water of $Twede, %etc\=
<L 1>
Rejoyse, $Englande,
/And understande\
These tidinges newe,\
Whiche be as trewe
/As the gospell:\
This Duke so fell
/Of $Albany,
/So cowardly\
With all his hoost\
<L 10>
Of the Scottyshe coost,\
For all theyr boost,\
Fledde lyke a beest.\
Wherfore to jeste
/Is my delyght\
Of this cowarde knyght,\
And for to wright
/In the dispyght\
Of the Scottes ranke\
Of $Huntley banke,
<L 20>
/Of $Lowdyan,
/Of $Locryan,\
And the ragged ray
/Of $Galaway.\
$Dunbar, $Dunde,
/{e shall trowe me,\
False Scottes are @e.\
{our hartes sore faynted,\
And so attaynted,
/Lyke cowardes starke,\
<L 30>
At the castell of $Warke,\
By the water of $Twede,\
{e had evill spede.\
<P 360>
Lyke cankerd curres
/{e loste @our spurres;\
For in that fraye
/{e ranne awaye\
With, `hey, dogge, hay.'\
 For Sir $William $Lyle
/Within shorte whyle,\
<L 40>
That valiaunt knyght,
/Putte @ou to flyght
/By his valyaunce.\
Two thousande of $Fraunce\
There he putte backe\
To @our great lacke
/And utter shame\
Of @our Scottysshe name.\
 {our chefe cheftayne,
/Voyde of all brayne,\
<L 50>
Duke of $Albany,
/Than shamefuly\
He reculed backe,
/To his great lacke,\
Whan he herde tell
/That my Lorde Amrell\
Was comyng downe
/To make hym frowne\
And to make hym lowre,\
With the noble powre\
Of my Lorde $Cardynall,\
As an hoost royall\
After the auncient manner\
With Sainct $Cutberdes banner\
And Sainct $Williams also.\
{our capitayne ranne to go,\
To go, to go, to go,\
And brake up all his hoost.\
For all his crake and bost,\
Lyke a cowarde knyght\
He fledde and durst nat fyght;\
He ran awaye by night.\
But now must I
/{our Duke ascry
<P 361>
/Of $Albany\
With a worde or twayne
/In sentence playne.\
 {e Duke so doutty,
/So sterne, so stoutty,\
In shorte sentens,
<L 80>
/Of @our pretens
/What is the grounde\
Brevely and rounde
/To me expounde.\
 Or els wyll I
/Evydently
/Shewe as it is:\
For the cause is this,\
Howe @e pretende
/For to defende\
The @onge Scottyshe kyng,\
But @e meane a thyng\
And @e coude bryng
/The matter about\
To putte his eyes out\
And put hym downe,\
And set hys crowne
/On @our owne heed\
Whan he were deed.\
 Suche trechery
<L 100>
/And traytory
/Is all @our cast.\
Thus @e have compast\
With the Frenche kyng\
A fals rekenyng\
To envade $Englande,
/As I understande.\
But our kyng royall\
Whose name over all\
Noble $Henry the Eyght\
Shall cast a beyght,\
And sette suche a snare\
That shall cast @ou in care,\
Bothe Kyng $Fraunces and the,\
That knowen @e shall be\
<P 362>
For the moost recrayd
/Cowardes afrayd,\
And falsest forsworne
/That ever were borne.\
O @e wretched Scottes,
/{e puaunt pyspottes,\
It shalbe @our lottes\
To be knytte up with knottes\
Of halters and ropes\
About @our traytours throtes.\
 O Scottes parjured,
/Unhaply ured,\
{e may be assured
/{our falshod discured\
It is, and shal be\
From the Scottish se
/Unto $Gabione.\
For @e be false echone,\
False and false agayne,\
Never true nor playne,\
But flery, flatter and fayne;\
And ever to remayne\
In wretched beggary
/And maungy misery,\
In lousy lothsumnesse,
/And scabbed scorffynesse,\
And in abhominacion
/Of all maner of nacion,\
Nacion moost in hate,
/Proude and poore of state.\
Twyt, Scot, go kepe thy den.\
Mell nat wyth Englyshe#men.\
Thou dyd nothyng but barke\
At the castell of $Warke.\
 Twyt, Scot, @et agayne ones,\
<L 150>
We shall breke thy bones\
And hang @ou upon polles\
And byrne @ou all to colles,\
With, `twyt Scot, twyt Scot, twyt.'\
Walke, Scot, go begge a byt\
<P 363>
Of brede at @lke mannes hecke.\
The fynde, Scot, breke thy necke.\
`Twyt, Scot,' agayne I saye,\
`Twyt, Scot, of $Galaway.\
Twyt, Scot, shake th[e] dogge, hay. +
^the] `thy' }Marshe 1568^\
Twyt, Scot, thou ran away.'\
 We set nat a flye\
By @our Duke of $Albany.\
We set nat a prane\
By suche a dronken drane.\
We set nat a myght\
By suche a cowarde knyght,\
Suche a proude palyarde,
/Suche a skyrgaliarde,\
Suche a starke cowarde,\
Suche a proude pultrowne,\
Suche a foule coystrowne,\
Suche a doutty dagswayne.\
Sende him to $F[r]aunce agayne +
^Fraunce] `Faunce' }Marshe 1568^\
To bring with hym more brayne\
From Kynge $Fraunces of $Frauns.\
God sende them bothe myschauns!\
{e Scottes all the rable,\
{e shall never be hable,\
With us for to compare.\
What though @e stampe and stare?\
$God sende @ou sorow and care!\
With us, whan ever @e mell\
{et we bear away the bell,\
Whan @e cankerd knaves\
Must crepe in#to @our caves\
{our heedes for to hyde\
For @e dare nat abyde.\
Sir Duke of $Albany,
/Right inconvenyently\
{e rage and @e rave,
/And @our worshyp deprave:\
Nat lyke Duke $Hamylcar\
With the Romayns that made war,\
Nor lyke his sonne $Hanyball,\
Nor lyke Duke $Hasdruball\
<P 364>
Of $Cartage in $Aphrike;\
{et somwhat @e be lyke\
In some of their condicions,\
And their false sedycions,\
<L 200>
And their dealyng double,\
And their weywarde trouble.\
But @et they were bolde\
And manly manyfolde,
/Their enemyes to assayle\
In playn felde and battayle.\
But @e and @our hoost,\
Full of bragge and boost,\
And full of waste wynde,\
Howe @e wyll beres bynde\
And the devill downe dynge,\
{et @e dare do nothynge\
But lepe away lyke frogges\
And hyde @ou under logges,\
Lyke pygges and lyke hogges\
And lyke maungy dogges.\
What an army were @e?\
Or what actyvyte
/Is in @ou, beggars braules,\
Full of scabbes and scaules,\
Of vermyne and of lyce\
And of all maner vyce?\
Syr Duke, nay, syr ducke,\
Syr drake of the lake, sir ducke\
Of the donghyll, for small lucke\
{e have in feates of warre.\
{e make nought but @e marre.\
{e are a fals entrusar,
/And a fals abusar,\
And an untrewe knyght.\
Thou hast to lytell myght\
Agaynst $Englande to fyght.\
Thou art a graceles wyght\
To put thy#selfe to flyght.\
A vengeaunce and dispight
/On the must nedes lyght\
That durst nat byde the sight\
<P 365>
Of my Lorde Amrell,\
Of chivalry the well,\
Of knighthode the floure\
In every marciall shoure,\
The noble Erle of $Surrey,\
That put the in suche fray.\
Thou durst no felde derayne,\
Nor no batayle mayntayne,\
Against our st[r]onge captaine; +
^stronge] `stonge' }Marshe 1568^\
But thou ran home agayne\
For feare thou shoulde be slayne\
Lyke a Scottyshe keteryng\
That durst abyde no reknyng;\
<L 250>
Thy herte wolde nat serve the.\
The fynde of hell mot sterve the!\
No man hath harde
/Of suche a cowarde,\
And such a mad @mage\
Caried in a cage,
/As it were a cotage,\
Or of suche a mawment
/Caryed in a tent.\
In a tent? Nay. Nay.\
But in a mountayne gay,\
Lyke a great hill,\
For a wyndmil
/Therin to couche styll\
That no man hym kyll;\
As it were a gote
/In a shepe#cote,\
About hym a parke
/Of a madde warke,\
Men call it a toyle.\
Therin, like a royle,\
Sir $Dunkan, @e dared.\
And thus @e prepared\
{oure carkas to kepe,
/Lyke a sely shepe,\
A shepe of $Cottyswolde,\
From rayne and from colde,\
<P 366>
And from raynning of rappes,\
And such after-clappes.\
Thus in @our cowardly castell\
{e decte @ou to dwell;\
Suche a captayne of [h]ors +
^hors] `fors' }Marshe 1568^\
It made no great fors\
If that @e had tane\
{our last deedly bane\
With a gon#stone,
/To make @ou to grone.\
But hyde the, Sir $Topias,\
Nowe into the castell of $Bas,\
And lurke there lyke an as\
With some Scotyshe [l]as, +
^las] `as' }Marshe 1568^\
With dugges, dugges, dugges.
/I shrewe thy Scottishe lugges,\
Thy munpynnys, and thy crag,\
For thou can#not but brag\
Lyke a Scottyshe hag.\
Adue, nowe, Sir Wrig-wrag!
/Adue, Sir Dalyrag!\
Thy mellyng is but mockyng.\
Thou mayst give up thy cocking.\
<L 300>
Gyve it up, and cry, `creke',
/Lyke an huddy#peke.\
Wherto shuld I more speke\
Of suche a farly freke,\
Of suche an horne#keke\
Of suche an bolde captayne\
That dare nat turne agayne,\
Nor durst nat crak a worde,\
Nor durst nat drawe his swerde\
Agaynst the lyon white,\
But ran away quyte?\
He ran away by nyght\
In the owle#flyght\
Lyke a cowarde knyght.\
Adue, cowarde, adue!
/Fals knight and mooste untrue,\
I render the fals rebelle\
To the flingande fende of helle.\
<P 367>
 Harke @et, Sir Duke, a worde\
In ernest or in borde.\
What have @e, villayn, forged,
/And virulently dysgorged\
As though @e wolde parbrake
/{our avauns to make,\
With wordes enbosed,
/Ungraciously engrosed,\
Howe @e wyll undertake\
Our royall kyng to make\
His owne realme to forsake?\
Suche lewde langage @e spake.\
 Sir $Dunkan, in the devill waye,\
Be well ware what @e say.\
{e saye that he and @e -\
Whyche he and @e? Let se;\
{e meane $Fraunces, French kyng,\
Shulde bring about that thing.\
I say, thou lewde lurdayne,\
That neyther of @ou twayne\
So hardy nor so bolde\
His countenaunce to beholde.\
If our moost royall $Harry\
Lyst with @ou to varry\
Full soone @e should miscary,\
For @e durst nat tarry\
With hym to stryve a stownde.\
If he on @ou but frounde\
Nat for a thousande poun[de] +
^pounde] `pouned' }Marshe 1568^\
{e durst byde on the grounde.\
{e wolde ryn away rounde\
And cowardly tourne @our backes\
<L 350>
For all @our comly crackes.\
And for feare %par %case\
To loke hym in the face\
{e wolde defoyle the place\
And ryn @our way apace.\
Thoughe I trym @ou thys trace\
With Englyshe somwhat base,\
{et, %sav[e] %voster %grace, +
^save] `sava' }Marshe 1568^\
Therby I shall purchace
<P 368>
/No displesaunt rewarde,\
If @e wele can regarde\
{our cankarde cowardnesse
/And @our shamfull doublenesse.\
Are @e nat frantyke madde,
/And wretchedly bestadde,\
To rayle agaynst his grace\
That shall bring @ou full bace\
And set @ou in suche case\
That bytwene @ou twayne\
There shalbe drawen a trayne\
That shalbe to @our payne?\
To flye @e shalbe fayne\
And never tourne agayne.\
 What, wold $Fraunces, our friar,
/Be suche a false lyar,\
So madde a cordylar,
/So madde a murmurar?\
{e muse somwhat to far;\
All out of joynt @e jar.\
$God let @ou never thrive!\
Wene @e, daucockes, to drive\
Our kyng out of his reme?\
Go heme, ranke Scot, ge heme,\
With fonde $Fraunces, French kyng.\
Our mayster shall @ou brynge,\
I trust, to lowe estate\
And mate @ou with chek#mate.\
 {our braynes are @dell;\
It is time for @ou to brydell\
And pype in a quibyble,\
For it is impossible\
For @ou to bring about\
Our kyng for to dryve out\
Of this, his realme royall
/And lande imperiall,\
So noble a prince as he
/In all actyvite\
Of hardy merciall actes,\
Fortunate in all his *faytes. +
^*faytes] `fayctes' Scattergood^\
<P 369>
 And nowe I wyll me dresse\
<L 400>
His valiaunce to expresse,\
Though insufficient am I\
His grace to magnify\
And laude equivalently.\
Howe#be#it, loyally\
After myne allegyaunce\
My pen I will avaunce\
To extoll his noble grace\
In spyght of thy cowardes face,\
In spyght of kyng $Fraunces,\
Devoyde of all nobles,\
Devoyde of good corage,\
Devoyde of wysdome sage,\
Mad, frantyke and savage.\
Thus he dothe disparage\
His blode with fonde dotage.\
 A prince to play the page\
It is a rechelesse rage,\
And a lunatyke overage.\
What though my stile be rude?\
With trouthe it is ennewde.\
Trouth ought to be rescude;\
Trouthe should nat be subdude.\
But nowe will I expounde\
What noblenesse dothe abounde,\
And what honour is founde\
And what vertues be resydent\
In our royall regent,\
Our perelesse president,\
Our kyng most excellent.\
 In merciall prowes
/Lyke unto $Hercules,\
In prudence and wysdom
/Lyke unto $Salamon,\
In his goodly person
/Lyke unto $Absolon,\
In loyalte and foy
/Lyke to $Ector of $Troy,\
And his glory to incres
<P 370>
/Lyke to $Scipiades,\
In royal mageste
/Lyke unto $Ptholome,\
Lyke to Duke $Josue
/And the valiaunt $Machube,\
 That if I wolde reporte\
All the roiall sorte
/Of his nobilyte,\
His magnanymyte,
/His animosite,\
His fr[u]galite,
<L 450>
/His lyberalite, +
^frugalite] `fragalite' }Marshe 1568^\
His affabilite,
/His humanyte,\
His stabilite,
/His humilite,\
His benignite
/His royall dignyte,\
My lernyng is to small\
For to recount them all.\
 What losels than are @e\
Lyke cowardes as @e be\
To rayle on his astate
/With wordes inordinate?\
He rules his cominalte
/With all benignite.\
His noble baronage
/He putteth them in corage\
To exployte dedes of armys\
To the domage and harmys\
Of suche as be his foos\
Where#ever he rydes or goos.\
His subjectes he dothe supporte,\
Maintayne them with comforte\
Of his moste princely porte,\
As all men can reporte.\
 Than @e be a knappishe sorte\
%Et %faitez %a %luy %grant %torte,\
With @our enbosed jawes\
<P 371>
To rayle on hym lyke dawes.\
The fende scrache out @our mawes!\
 All his subjectes and he
/Moost lovyngly agre\
With hole hart and true mynde,\
They fynde his grace so kynde;\
Wherwith he dothe them bynde\
At all houres to be redy\
With hym to lyve and dye,\
And to spende their hart#blode,\
Their bodyes and their gode,\
With hym in all dystresse,
/Alway in redynesse\
To assyst his noble grace,\
In spyght of thy cowardes face,\
Moost false attaynted traytour,\
And false forsworne faytour.\
 Avaunt, cowarde recrayed!
/Thy pride shalbe alayd,\
With Sir $Fraunces of $Fraunce\
We shall pype @ou a daunce\
Shall tourne @ou to myschauns.\
<L 500>
 I rede @ou, loke about;\
For @ou shalbe driven out\
Of @our lande in shorte space.\
We will so folowe in the chace\
That @e shall have no grace\
For to tourne @our face;\
And thus, Sainct $George to borowe,\
{e shall have shame and sorowe.\
~Lenvoy\|+
<L 508>
Go, lytell quayre, quickly.\
Shew them that shall @ou rede\
How that @e are lykely\
Over all the world[e] to sprede. +
^worlde] `worlds' }Marshe 1568^\
The fals Scottes for dred,\
With the Duke of $Albany,\
Beside the water of $Twede\
They fledde full cowardly.\
<P 372>
Though @our Englishe be rude,\
Barreyne of eloquence,\
{et, brevely to conclude,\
Grounded is @our sentence\
On trouthe under defence\
Of all trewe Englyshemen,\
This mater to credence\
That I wrate with my pen.\
_
<L E>
$Skelton Laureat: %obsequious %et %loyall.\
<L E>
To my Lorde Cardynals right noble grace %etc\
%Lenvoy\=
<L 523>
Go, lytell quayre, apace,\
In moost humble wyse,\
Before his noble grace\
That caused @ou to devise\
This lytel enterprise;\
And hym moost lowly pray,\
In his mynde to comprise,\
Those wordes his grace dyd saye
/Of an ammas gray.\
%Je %foy %enterment %en %sa %bone %grace.\
<T Replycacion>
<P 373>
_
<L I>
A Replycacion Agaynst Certayne {ong Scolers Abjured of Late,\ %Etc.\=
~%Argumentum\
%Crassantes %nimium, %nimium %sterilesque %labruscas,\
%Vinea %quas %Domini %Sabaot %non %sustinet %ultra\
%Laxius %expandi, %nostra %est %resecare %voluntas.\
%Cum %privilegio %a %rege %indulto.\|+
_
<L I>
Protestacion alway canonically prepensed, professed,\
<L I>
and with good delyberacion made,\
<L I>
that this lytell pamphilet, called the Replicacion\
<L I>
of $Skelton laureate, %orator %regius,\
<L I>
remordyng dyvers recrayed and moche unresonable errours\
<L I>
of certayne sophystycate scolers\
<L I>
and rechelesse @onge heretykes lately abjured, %etc.\
<L I>
shall evermore be, with all obsequious redynesse,\
<L I>
humbly submytted unto the ryght discrete reformacyon\
<L I>
of the reverende prelates and moche noble doctours\
<L I>
of our mother Holy Churche, %etc.\=
~%Ad %almam %Universitatem %Cantabrigensem, %etc.\
%Eulogium %consolationis\
%Alma %parens %O %Cantabrigensis\
%Cur %lacrimaris? %Esto %tui %sint\
%Degeneres %hi %filioli, %sed\
%Non %ob %inertes, %O %pia %mater,\
%Insciolos %vel %decolor %esto.\
%Progenies %non %nobilis %omnis,\
%Quam %tua %forsan %mamma %fovebat.\
%Tu %tamen %esto %Palladis %alme\
%Gloria %pollens %plena %Minerve,\
%Dum %radiabunt %astra %polorum:\
%Iamque %valeto, %meque %foveto,\
%Namque %tibi %quondam %carus %alumnus %eram.\|+
_
<L I>
Howe @ong scolers nowe#a#dayes enbol[n]ed +
^enbolned] `enbolmed' }Pynson 1528^\
<L I>
with the flyblowen blast\
<L I>
of the moche vayne#glorious pipplyng wynde,\
<L I>
whan they have delectably lycked a lytell\
<L I>
of the lycorous electuary of lusty lernyng,\
<L I>
in the moche studious scolehous of scrupulous philology,\
<L I>
countyng them#selfe clerkes <P 374>exellently enformed\
<L I>
and transcendingly sped in moche high connyng,\
<L I>
and whan they have ones superciliusly caught\=
<L 1>
A lytell ragge of rethorike,\
A lesse lumpe of logyke,\
A pece or a patche of philosophy,\
Than forthwith by and by\
They tumble so in theology,\
Drowned in dregges of divinite,\
That they juge them#selfe able to be\
Doctours of the chayre in the Vyntre\
At the Thre Cranes,\
<L 10>
To magnifye their names.\
But madly it frames,\
For all that they preche and teche\
Is farther than their wytte wyll reche.\
Thus by demeryttes of their abusyon,\
Finally they fall to carefull confusyon,\
To beare a fagot, or to be enflamed.\
Thus are they undone and utterly shamed.\
_
<L I>
%Ergo\
%Licet %non %enclitice,\
%Tamen %enthymematice,\
%Notandum %in %primis,\
%Ut %ne %quid %nimis\
%Tantum %pro %primo.\
<L I>
Over this, for a more ample processe\
<L I>
to be farther delated and contynued,\
<L I>
and of every true Christen man laudably to be enployed,\
<L I>
justifyed, and constantly mainteyned;\
<L I>
as touchyng the tetrycall theologisacion of these demy divines,\
<L I>
and stoicall studiantes, and friscajoly @onkerkyns,\
<L I>
moche better bayned than brayned,\
<L I>
basked and baththed in their wylde burblyng and boyling blode,\
<L I>
fervently reboyled with the infatuate flames\
<L I>
of their rechelesse @outhe and wytlesse wontonnese,\
<L I>
enbrased and enterlased with a moche fantasticall frenesy\
<L I>
of their insensate sensualyte,\
<L I>
surmysed unsurely in their perihermeniall principles,\
<L I>
to prate and to preche proudly and leudly, and loudly to lye;\
<L I>
and @et they were but febly enformed\
<L I>
in maister $Porphiris problemes,\
<L I>
and have waded but weakly in his thre maner of clerkly <P 375>workes,\
<L I>
analeticall, topicall, and logycall:\
<L I>
howbeit they were puffed so full\
<L I>
of vaynglorious pompe and surcudant elacyon,\
<L I>
that popholy and pevysshe presumpcion provoked them to publysshe\
<L I>
and to preche to people imprudent perilously,\
<L I>
howe it was idolatry to offre to @mages of our blessed lady,\
<L I>
or to pray and go on pylgrimages,\
<L I>
or to make oblacions to any @mages of sayntes,\
<L I>
in churches or elsewhere.\
<L I>
Agaynst whiche erronyous errours,\
<L I>
odyous, orgulyous and flyblowen opynions %etc.,\=
<L 18>
In the honour of our blessed lady,\
And her most blessed baby,\
I purpose for to reply\
Agaynst this horryble heresy\
Of these @ong heretikes, that stynke unbrent,\
Whom I nowe sommon and con[v]ent,\
^convent] `content' }Pynson 1528^\
That leudly have their tyme spent,\
In their study abhomynable,\
Our glorious lady to disable,\
And heynously on her to bable\
With langage detestable;\
With @our lyppes polluted\
Agaynst her grace disputed\
Which is the most clere christall\
Of all pure clennesse virgynall,\
That our Savyour bare,
/Whiche us redemed from care.\
I saye, thou madde Marche#hare,\
I wondre howe @e dare\
Open @our janglyng jawes,\
To preche in any clawes,\
Lyke pratynge poppyng dawes,\
Agaynst her excellence,
/Agaynst her reverence,\
Agaynst her preemynence,
/Agaynst her magnifycence,\
That never dyde offence.\
{e heretykes recrayed,
/Wotte @e what @e sayed\
<P 376>
Of $Mary, mother and mayed?\
With baudrie at her @e brayed;\
With baudy wordes unmete\
{our tonges were to flete;\
{our sermon was nat swete;\
{e were nothyng discrete;\
{e were in a dronken hete.\
Lyke heretykes confettred,\
{e count @our#selfe wele lettred:\
{our lernyng is starke nought,\
For shamefully @e have wrought,\
And to shame @our#selfe have brought.\
Bycause @e her mysnamed,\
And wolde have her defamed,\
{our madnesse she attamed;\
For @e were worldly shamed,
/At $Poules Crosse openly,\
All men can testifye.\
There, lyke a sorte of sottes,\
{e were fayne to beare fagottes;\
At the feest of her concepcion\
{e suffred suche correction.\
%Sive %per %equivocum,\
%Sive %per %univocum,\
%Sive %sic, %sive nat so,\
{e are brought to, `Lo, Lo, Lo!\
Se where the heretykes go,\
Wytlesse wandring to and fro!'\
With, `Te#he, ta#ha, bo#ho, bo#ho!'\
And suche wondringes many mo.\
Helas, @e wreches, @e may be wo!\
{e may syng weleaway\
And curse bothe nyght and day,\
Whan @e were bredde and borne,\
And whan @e were preestes shorne,\
Thus to be laughed to skorne,\
Thus tattred and thus torne,\
Thorowe @our owne foly,\
To be blowen with the flye
/Of horryble heresy.\
<P 377>
Fayne @e were to reny\
And mercy for to crye,\
Or be brende by and by,\
Confessyng howe @e dyde lye
/In prechyng shamefully.\
{our#selfe thus @e discured\
As clerkes unassured,
/With ignorance obscured:\
{e are unhappely ured.\
In @our dialeticall
/And principles silogisticall,\
If @e to remembrance call\
Howe %syllogisari
/%Non %est %ex %particulari,\
%Neque %negativis,\
%Recte %concludere %si %vis\
%Et %cetera %id %genus,\
{e coude nat %corde %tenus,
/Nor answere %verbo %tenus,\
Whan prelacy @ou opposed.\
{our hertes than were hosed,
/{our relacions reposed;\
And @et @e supposed
/%Respondere %ad %quantum,\
But @e were %confuse %tantum,\
Surrendring @our supposycions,\
For there @e myst @ou[r] quosshons. +
^your] `you' }Pynson 1528^\
<L 114>
Wolde $God, for @our owne ease,\
That wyse $Harpocrates
/Had @our mouthes stopped,\
And @our tonges cropped,
/Whan @e logyke chopped,\
And in the pulpete hopped,\
And folysshly there fopped\
And porisshly forthe popped\
{our sysmaticate sawes
/Agaynst $Goddes lawes,\
And shewed @our#selfe dawes!\
{e argued argumentes,
/As it were upon the elenkes,\
<P 378>
%De %rebus %apparentibus\
%Et %non %existentibus.\
And @e wolde appere wyse\
But @e were folysshe nyse.\
{et be meanes of that vyse\
{e dyde provoke and tyse,\
Oftnar than ones or twyse,\
Many a good man
/And many a good woman,\
By way of their devocion\
To helpe @ou to promocion,\
Whose charite wele regarded\
Can#nat be unrewarded.\
I saye it for no sedicion,\
But under pacient tuicyon,\
It is halfe a supersticyon\
To gyve @ou exhibycion\
To mainteyne with @our skoles,\
And to prove @our#selfe suche foles.\
Some of @ou had ten pounde,\
Therwith for to be founde
/At the unyversyte,\
Employed whiche myght have be\
Moche better other wayes.\
But, as the man sayes,\
The blynde eteth many a flye.\
What may be ment hereby,\
{e may soone make construction\
With right lytell instruction;\
For it is an auncyent brute,\
Suche apple#tre, suche frute.\
What shulde I prosecute,\
Or more of this to clatter?\
Retourne we to our matter.\
{e soored over hye
/In the ierarchy
/Of $Jovenyans heresy,\
{our names to magnifye,\
Among the scabbed skyes
/Of $Wycliffes flesshe#flyes.\
<P 379>
{e strynged so $Luthers lute\
That @e dawns all in a sute\
The heritykes ragged ray,\
That bringes @ou out of the way\
Of Holy Churches lay.\
{e shayle %inter %enigmata\
And %inter %paradigmata,\
Marked in @our cradels\
To beare fagottes for babyls.\
And @et some men say,\
Howe @e are this day,\
And be nowe as @ll,\
And so @e wyll be styll,\
As @e were before.\
What shulde I recken more?\
Men have @ou in suspicion\
Howe @e have small contrycion\
Of that @e have myswrought;\
For, if it were well sought,\
One of @ou there was\
That laughed whan he dyd pas\
With his fagot in processyon.\
He counted it for no correction,\
But with scornefull affection\
Toke it for a sporte,\
His heresy to supporte;\
Whereat a thousande gased,\
As people halfe amased,\
And thought in hym smale grace\
His foly so to face.\
Some juged in this case\
{our penaunce toke no place,\
{our penaunce was to lyght;\
And thought, if @e had right,\
{e shulde take further payne
/To resorte agayne\
To places where @e have preched,\
And @our lollardy lernyng teched,\
And there to make relacion
/In open predycacion,\
<P 380>
And knowledge @our offence
/Before open audyence,\
Howe falsely @e had surmysed,\
And devyllysshely devysed 
/[The] people to seduce, +
^The] `to' }Pynson 1528^\
And chase them thorowe the muse\
Of @our noughty counsell,\
To hunt them into hell,\
With blowyng out @our hornes,\
Full of mockysshe scornes,\
With chatyng and rechatyng,\
And @our busy pratyng.\
Of the gospell and the pystels\
{e pyke out many thystels,\
And bremely with @our bristels\
{e cobble and @e clout
/Holy scripture so about,\
That people are in great dout\
And feare leest they be out\
Of all good Christen order.\
Thus all#thyng @e disorder\
Thorowe#out every border.\
It had ben moche better\
{e had never lerned letter,\
For @our ignorance is gretter,\
I make @ou fast and sure,\
Than all @our lytterature.\
{e are but lydder %logici,
/But moche worse %isagogici,\
For @e have enduced a secte\
With heresy all infecte.\
Wherfore @e are well checte,\
And by Holy Churche correcte,\
And in maner as abjecte,
/For evermore suspecte,\
And banysshed in effect\
From all honest company,\
Bycause @e have eaten a flye,\
To @our great vyllony,\
That never more may dye.\
<P 381>
Come forthe, @e pope holy,
/Full of melancoly!\
{our madde ipocrisy,
/And @our idiosy,\
And @our vayne#glorie\
Have made @ou eate the fly,\
Pufte full of heresy,\
To preche it idolatry,\
Who#so dothe magnifye\
That glorious mayde $Mary;\
That glorious mayde and mother,\
So was there never another,\
But that princesse alone,\
To whom we are bounde echone\
The @mage of her grace\
To reverence in every place.\
I saye, @e braynlesse beestes,\
Why jangle @ou suche jestes,\
In @our divynite
/Of $Luthers affynite,\
To the people of lay#fee,\
Raylyng in @our rages\
To worshyppe none @mages,
/Nor do pylgrymages?\
I saye, @e devyllysshe pages\
Full of suche dottages,\
Count @e @our#selfe good clerkes,\
And snapper in suche werkes?\
Saynt $Gregorie and saynt $Ambrose,\
{e have reed them, I suppose,\
Saynt $Jerome and saynt $Austen,\
With other many holy men,\
Saynt $Thomas de $Aquyno,\
With other doctours many mo,\
Whiche %de %latria do trete.\
They saye howe %latria is an honour grete,\
Belongyng to the Deite.\
To this @e nedes must agre.\
But, I trowe, @our#selfe @e overse\
What longeth to $Christes humanyte.\
<P 382>
If @e have reed %de %hyperdulia,\
Than @e know what betokeneth %dulia:\
Than shall @e fynde it fyrme and stable,\
And to our faithe moche agreable,\
To worshyppe @mages of sayntes.\
Wherfore make @e no mo restrayntes,\
But mende @our myndes that are mased;\
Or els doutlesse @e shalbe blased,\
And be brent at a stake,\
If further busynesse that @e make.\
Therfore I vyse @ou to forsake\
Of heresy the devyllysshe scoles\
And crye $God mercy, lyke frantyke foles.\
~%Tantum %pro %secundo.\
%Peroratio %ad %nuper %abjuratos %quosdam %hipothiticos %hereticos, %etc.\
%Audite, %viri %Ismelite, %non %dico %Isrelite;\
%Audite, %inquam, %viri %Madianite, %Ascolonite;\
%Ammonite, %Gabionite, %audite %verba %que %loquar.\
%Opus %evangelii %est %cibus %perfectorum;\
%Sed %quia %non %estis %de %genere %bonorum,\
%Qui %catechisatis %categorias %cacodemoniorum,\
%Ergo\
%Et %reliqua %vestra %problemata, %schemata,\
%Dilemata, %sinto %anathemata!\
%Ineluctabile %argumentum %est.\|+
_
<L R>
A confutacion responsyve, or an inevytably prepensed answere\
<L R>
to all waywarde or frowarde altercacyons\
<L R>
that can or may be made or objected\
<L R>
agaynst $Skelton laureate, devyser of this Replycacyon, %etc.\=
<L 300>
Why fall @e at debate
/With $Skelton laureate,\
Reputyng hym unable
/To gainsay replycable\
Opinyons detestable
<L 305>
/Of heresy execrable?\
{e saye that poetry
/Maye nat flye so hye\
<P 383>
In theology,
/Nor analogy,\
Nor philology,
/Nor philosophy,\
To answere or reply
/Agaynst suche heresy.\
Wherefore by and by
/Nowe consequently\
I call to this rekenyng\
$Davyd, that royall kyng,\
Whom $Hieronymus,
/That doctour glorious,\
Dothe bothe write and call\
Poete of poetes all,
/And prophete princypall.\
Th[i]s may nat be remorded +
^This] `Thus' }Pynson 1528^\
For it is wele recorded\
In his pystell %ad %Paulinum,\
%Presbyterum %divinum,\
Where worde for worde @e may\
Rede what $Jerome there dothe say/\
~%David, %inquit, %Simonides %noster, %Pindarus, %et %Alceus, %Flaccus\
%quoque, %Catullus, %atque %Serenus, %Christum %lyra %personat, %et %in\
%decachordo %psalterio %ab %inferis %excitat %resurgentem. %Hec\
%Hieronymus.\|+
_
<L R>
The Englysshe\=
<L 329>
Kyng $David the prophete, of prophetes principall,\
Of poetes chefe poete, saint $Jerome dothe wright,\
Resembled to $Symonides, that poete lyricall +
^Symonides] `Symphonides' }Pynson 1528^\
Among the $Grekes most relucent of lyght,\
In that faculte which shyned as $Phebus bright;\
Lyke to $Pyndarus in glorious poetry,\
Lyke unto $Alcheus, he dothe hym magnify.\
$Flaccus nor $Catullus with hym may nat compare,\
Nor solempne $Serenus, for all his armony\
In metricall muses, his harpyng we may spare;\
For $Davyd, our poete, harped so meloudiously\
Of our savyour $Christ in his decacorde psautry,\
That at his resurrection he harped out of hell\
Olde patriarkes and prophetes in heven with him to dwell.\
<P 384>
_
<L R>
Returne we to our former processe.\=
<L 343>
Than, if this noble kyng,\
Thus can harpe and syng\
With his harpe of prophesy
/And spyrituall poetry,\
And saynt $Jerome saythe,\
To whom we must gyve faythe,\
Warblynge with his strynges\
Of suche theologicall thynges,\
 Why have @e than disdayne
/At poetes, and complayne\
Howe poetes do but fayne?\
{e do moche great outrage,\
For to disparage
/And to discorage\
The fame matryculate
/Of poetes laureate.\
For if @e sadly loke,\
And wesely rede the Boke\
Of Good Advertysement,\
With me @e must consent\
And infallibly agre
/Of necessyte,\
Howe there is a spyrituall,\
And a mysteriall,
/And a mysticall,
/Effect energiall,\
As Grekes do it call,\
Of suche an industry
/And suche a pregnacy,\
Of hevenly inspyracion
/In laureate creacyon,\
Of poetes commendacion,\
That of divyne myseracion\
God maketh his habytacion\
In poetes whiche excelles,\
And sojourns with them and dwelles.\
By whose inflammacion
/Of spyrituall instygacion\
And divyne inspyracion\
<P 385>
We are kyndled in suche facyon\
With hete of the Holy Gost,\
Which is $God of myghtes most,\
That he our penne dothe lede,\
And maketh in us suche spede\
That forthwith we must nede\
With penne and @nke procede,\
Somtyme for affection,\
Sometyme for sadde dyrection,\
Sometyme for correction,\
Sometyme under protection
/Of pacient sufferance,\
With sobre cyrcumstance,
/Our myndes to avaunce\
To no mannes anoyance.\
Therefore no grevance,
/I pray @ou, for to take,\
In this that I do make\
Agaynst these frenetykes,
/Agaynst these lunatykes,\
Agaynst these sysmatykes,
/Agaynst these heretykes,\
Now of late abjured,
/Most unhappely ured;\
For be @e wele assured,\
That frensy nor jelousy\
Nor heresy wyll never dye.\
~%Dixi\
%iniquis, %Nolite %inique %agere; %et %delinquentibus, %Nolite exaltare\
%cornu.\
%Tantum %pro %tertio.\
%De %raritate %poetarum, %deque %gimnosophistarum, %philosophorum,\
%theologorum, %ceterorumque %eruditorum %infinita %numerositate,\
%Skeltonidis %Laureati %epitoma\
%Sunt %infiniti, %sunt %innumerique %sophiste,\
%Sunt %infiniti, %sunt %innumerique %logiste,\
%Innumeri %sunt %philosophi, %sunt %theologique,\
<P 386>
%Sunt %infiniti %doctores, %suntque %magistri\
%Innumeri; %sed %sunt %pauci %rarique %poete.\
%Hinc %omne %est %rarum %carum: %reor %ergo %poetas\
%Ante %alios %omnes %divine %flamine %flatos.\
%Sic %Plato %divinat, %divinat %sicque %Socrates;\
%Sic %magnus %Macedo, %sic %Caesar, %maximus %heros\
%Romanus, %celebres %semper %coluere %poetas.\|+
_
<L E>
Thus endeth the Replicacyon of $Skelton Laureate, %etc.\=