tHis book is intituled confessio amantis, that is to saye in englysshe the confessyon of the louer maad and compyled by Iohan Gower squyer ... — Confessio amantis

Author: Gower, John, 1325?-1408.1483

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[Page]tHis book is intituled confessio amantie / that is to saye in englysshe the confessyon of the louer maad and compyled by Iohan Gower squyer borne in walys in the tyme of kyng richard the second which book treteth how he was confessyd to Genyus preest of venus vpon the causes of loue in his fyue wyttes and suum dedely synues / as in thys sayd book al alonge appyereth / and by cause there been comprysed therin dyuers hystories and fables towchyng euery matere / I haue ordeyned a table here folowyng of al suche hystoryes and fables where and in what book and leef they stande in as here after foloweth

Fyrst the prologue how Iohan golde [...] in the xvj yere of kyng rychard the second be [...]n to make thys book and dyrected to ha [...] of lancastre thenne erle of derby folio ij
Of the state of the royames temporally the sayd yere folio iij
Of the state of the clergye the tyme of robert gyllonensis namyng hym self elemente thenne antipope folio iij
Of the estate of the comyn people folio v
How he treteth of the ymage that nabugodonosor save in his sleep hauyng [...]d of [...] / a breste of syluer / a [...]y of [...] / legges of yron / and [...]eet [...] & halfe erthe folio vj
Of the [...]tacion of the dreme / and how the world was fyrst of golde / & after alwey worse & werse folio vj

Thus endeth the prologue

Here begynneth the book [...]

And fyrst the auctor nameth thys book confessio amantis / that is to say the shryfte of the louer / wheron alle thys book shal shel [...]e not onely the loue humayn / but also of alle lyuyng beestys naturally folio ix
How cupydo smote Iohan Gower with a fyry arowe and wounded hym so that venus commysed to hym genyus hyr preest for to here hys confessyon folio x
How Genyus beyng sette / the loue [...] knelyng tofore hym prayeth the sayd confessor to appose hym in his confessyon folio xj
The confessyon of the amant of two of the pryncipal [...]st of his fyue [...]oyttes folio xi
How atheon for lokyng vpon Deane was turned in to an herte folio xj
Of phor [...]eus and hys thre doughters whiche had but one eye / & how phor [...]eus slel [...]e them folio xij
How the serpente that bereth the charbune [...]e stoppeth his one ere wyth hys tayle and that other wyth the erthe whan he is [...]nchaunted folio xij
How vlyxes es [...]ped fro the marma [...] dens by stoppyng of hys eerys folio xij
How foloweth that there ben vij dedely synnes / of whome the fyrste is [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] pryde hauyng dyuerse spices / and the fyrst is ypocresye / [...]hos properte the confessor declareth to the amant folio xiij
Here treateth the confessor with the amant how somme there be that deceyue fraudulently by ypocresye [...]f [...]e Innocente wymmen f [...]o xiiij
How a knyght of Rome named mun [...]us by fayned ypocresye defowled one [...]aulyne the most chaste wyf of rome by the mene of two false preestys folio xiiij
How by [...]e colour of sacrefyse the gre [...]s [...]an [...]r [...]ye in offryng of an hors of [...]ms / by whiche the cyte was dest [...]yed [...] and t [...]yn [...] by tantes sley [...]e / & [...]e vnder fayned ypocresye [...]o xvj
Here [...]e telleth of the second spyce of pryde named Inobedyence / & declareth the nature of this vyce folio xvij
[...] two vyces longyng to Inobedyence whiche serue to hym as secrete mynys [...] / and they ben murmur and com [...] folio xviij
[...] [...] neuewe to the Empereu [...] [...] [...] obedyence deformed the kynges [...] of Secyle / whyche [...] her [...] [...]ad been transformed [...] xviij
Here [...]e speketh of the thyrd spyce of [...] / whiche is surquedrye and declareth it to the amant folio xxj
Of the k [...]yg [...] Campaneus whyche was for his surquedrye [...]ente by fyre [...]m [...]ng fro heuen at the syege of thefes folio xxj
Here he telleth an ensaunmple of a kyng of hungarye whiche humbled hym to [...]oure men / wherof his [...]der rebuked hym / and how the kynge by hys merueylous wysdom chastysed hys [...]der folio xxij
How narasus after his huntyng had grete thyrste / and dranke of a welle wherin he sawe his owne face / on whiche he enamo [...]red wenyng it had ben a nymphe / and how for his beaute [...]e deyed folio xxiij
Here he speketh of the fourth spyce of pryde named auantance / and sheweth the nature of thys vyce folio xxiiij
How albyne kynge of the lombardes after he had sleyne gurmonde a kyng he maad a cuppe of the seulle of hys heed / and toke Rosemunde hys doughter in mariage / and after he maad hyr for to drynke of the cuppe maad of hyr faders s [...]ulle / wherfore he was afterward sleyne folio xxiiij
Here the cōfessor speketh of the fifthe spyce of pryde whyche is called vayne glorye / and sheweth the nature of the vyce in the cause of loue to the amant folio xxvj
How Nabugodonosor beyng in hys moste glorye / god ch [...]s [...]y [...]d his pride and transformed hym in to a bee [...] [...]yng heye / and soo abode seuen yere or he was restored to hys helthe and royame folio x [...]
How a prudent kyng [...] demaunded thre questyons of one of hys knyghtes vpon hys heed / whiche were assoyled by hys doughter / and for her wysdom the kyng wedded hyr folio xxviij

Here endeth the fyrst book

And here foloweth the second book

Here the confessor [...]e [...]th of the synne of enuye / and of his spytes of whiche the fyrste is sorowe of [Page] another mānes wele folio xxxj
How polyphemus for enuye that he sawe A [...] spekynge wyth galathe / threwe and caste on acis a grete roche and slewe hym / and whan he wold haue rauysshed Galathe Neptunus kepte hyr fro polyphem folio xxxj
Of the second spyce of enuye whyche is ioye of other mennes sorowe / and telleth of the nature of the vice in cause of loue folio xxxij
How Iupiter sente his aungel to two enuyous men one couetous and that other enuyous folio xxxij
Of the thyrd spyce of enuye named detraccion folio xxxij
How constaunce the doughter of the emperour was sente to the sowdan of surrye and of her meruaylous aduentures folio xxxiij
Of the enuye and detraccion betwene perseus and Demetryus sones of phelyp kyng of ma [...]edone / and how that one caused that other to be slayne folio xl
Here treteth the confessor of the fourth spyce of enuye / whyche is callyd dy [...] symylacyon and telleth his nature folio xlj
How hercules wyth deyanyra was deceyued of nessus at a ryuer / in beryng aweye Deyanyra / and of the sherte by whiche hercul [...] after had his deth folio xliij
Here he treteth of the fyfthe spyce of [...] called supplantacion and telleth of his nature folio xliiij
Of geta and amphytrion folio xlv
How an emperours sone of rome was supp [...] [...] by his felowe / of the sow dan [...] [...] by tellyng to hym hys [...] [...] xlv
How [...] [...]pe boneface supplanted [...] celestyn his predecessour wherfor afterward he was in grete myserye of hunger and thurste [...] folio xlvij
How Ioab capeteyn of the hoost of dauyd slewe abner / and Achytofel for enuye that he had that c [...]usy was preferred henge hym self folio xlix
How the confessor wryteth the natur [...] of enuye / as wel in loue as after the properte of the vyce folio xli [...]
How the vertu of charite is ageyns [...] enuye / and telleth of constantyn sone of he layn shold haue be heled of hye lepre by blood of chyldren whyche he pardoned / wherfore he was heled b [...] myracle folio xlix

Here endeth the second book

And here begynneth the thyrd book

How the [...]onfessor treteth of the synne of yre / and of hys fyue spy [...] of whyche the fyrst is called malenc [...] colye folio [...]
How macharye sone of kynge Eolus gate his suster Canace wyth chylde wherfore hyr fader Iuged hyr to d [...] folio [...]
How tyresyas for departynge of two serpentes engendryng was transformed in to a woman folio liiij
Here he treteth of the second spyce of yre named cheste or stryf / and telleth his nature and what harme come [...] therof folio liiij
How pacyence is a vertu ageynst vy [...] and telleth how Socrates wyf powded wa [...] vpon hy [...] husbondes [Page] [...]ed and how he suffred pacyently folio lv
Of a questyon bytwene Iu [...]yter and Iuno / whether a man or a woman were moste b [...]n [...]ng in concupyscence and ordeyned [...]yresyas to be Iuge folio lvj
How phebus transformed the crowe which was whyte / in to blacke by cause she tolde hyr ladyes counceyl folio lvj
How Iupyter cut of the tongue of [...]aa [...] / bycause she tolde that he laye by [...]u [...]ne folio lvj
Of the thyrd spyce of yre named hate [...] of his nature folio lvij
How whā palamides was sleyne trai [...]slye of the syege of troyee / Nam [...] in his contre made certeyn signes to deceyue the shyppes of grece [...]myng homeward to auenge hys [...]o [...] de [...] folio lviij
Of the fourth and fyfthe spyces of [...] whiche ben cont [...] & homycyde [...] [...] theyr nature how they kepe not [...] folio lviij
How dyogynes sitiyng in a tonne answerd alexandre folio lix
Of [...]e hystorye of [...]ramus and [...]y [...] be and how eche slewe hym self for loue of eche other folio lx
Of the loue of phe [...]s that he had to daphne / and how the ho [...]er that he loued hyr the co [...] she was folio lxij
Of the vengeaunce of athemas and demephon in theyr contre after they had retorned fro troye / & of the pacyence of kyng nestor folio lxij
How clymes [...]a by the counceyl of egyste slewe Agamenon slepyug in his bedde / and how his sone hor [...]stes toke vengeaunce therof folio lxiij
Here he telleth ageynste the moeuers of warre / whiche is not onely cause of homycyde / but desolacyon of alle the world folio lxv
How the grekes werryd in euery contre that was ryche and fertyle / but archade by cause it was bareyn & poure it abode in pees folio lxv
Of a see rouer taken in the see and brought to alysaundre / whyche sayd yf he were myȝty as he was / he shold be callyd ā conquerour / but for he stale but ly [...]l he was called a theef folio lxvj
Of a byrde hauyng the vysage of a man / whiche whan he hath sleyne by his praye a man / and after seeth in the water that he hath slayn one lyke hym self / anone he deyeth for sorowe folio lxvij
How achylles wyth Thelaphus foughte ageynst Tencer / and whan Tencer was caste doun achylles wold haue slayn hym but thelaphus by his pyte saued hym folio lxvij

Thus endeth the thyrd book

And here begynneth the fourth book

Here the confessor speketh of the syune of slouthe and of hys spyces of whyche the fyrst is latchesse & telleth his propertee folio lxviij
How eneas lefte Dydo b [...]hy [...] hym at cartage / and how she slewe [...]r self folio lx [...]
How Penolope wrote an epystle to vlyxes to troye / blamyng [...] hym for his latches and longe taryeng folio lxix
How an astrologyen had made [...]n Ingenyous werke by the space of vij yere [Page] And for latches of a momente loste it alle folio lxx
And also of the fyue folysshe virgyns for theyr latchesse entred not with the spouse in to weddyng folio lxx
Here he speketh of puyssyllamyte & of his nature folio lxx
How pygmaleon by his contynuall prayers caused an yuory ymage to wexe quycke and to haue flesshe and blood folio lxxj
How kyng lygd [...]s menaced his wyf yf she had a doughter it shold be sleyn and how by the goddesse y [...]s she was transformed in to a man folio lxxj
Of the vyde of forgetyng and of hys nature folio lxxij
Of demophon and phillis / and how phillis henge her self for loue folio lxxiij
Of the vice of negligence and of his nature folio lxxiiij
How phe [...]n sone of the sonne ladde his faders carte & se [...] al the world a fyre / and fyll in the sea and was drowned folio lxxv
Of dedalus and y [...]harus his sone how they fly [...] in thayer / and how ycharus for neclygen [...]e▪ was throwen to the grounde folio lxxv
Here telleth the confessor of that spice of slouthe which is named ydlenesse And sheweth the natur [...] ▪ therof folio lxxv
How the doughter of the kynge of armonye me [...]e on a tyme a companye of the fayrye / and fonde one folowyng be [...]yng the halters of thother fo lxxvj
How [...]epte had auowed to make sacrefyse to god the fyrst that came to welcome hym home / and it was his doughter / whyche desyred to bewayle hir vy [...]ynyte folio lxxviij
How for the cause of loue [...]alyaunce of chyualrye shold not leue hys exercyse folio lxxviij
Here alledgeth the amant for hys excusasyon how achylles for the loue of polyxene lefte to do armes at troye folio lxxix
How vlyxes was taken by the grekes for to goo to troye / where h [...] wold fayne haue abyden wyth penolope his wyf folio lxxx
How prothesalaus settyng his wyues connseyl [...] part had leuer dye by honour at troye / than tabide at home in ydlenes folio lxxx
How kyng saul not wythstondyng samuel and the phit [...]nysse whiche told hym▪ he shold be slayn yf he went to bataylle / yet he preferred the same of chyualrye folio lxxx
How achilles was in his yongthe encoraged by chiro a centaure for to be hardy / & bad hy [...] to take lyōs & suche other bestes / and spare them that fled fro hym folio lxxxj
How hercules conquerd achelous for loue of deyanyre folio lxxxj
How pātasil [...]a quene of amozone cam to troye for loue of hector / And in hyr persone refused not to [...]re armes folio lxxxij
How phylomenys for [...]ame of chyual rye came to troye and gate yerely to haue thre maydens fro the royame of Amozone folio lxxxij
How eneas ouercame tur [...]us in batayle / by whiche he gate the loue of lauyne / & subdued the royame of y [...]alye folio lxxxij
How gentylnes is preferred ofte and what gentilnes is folio lxxxij
Of the dylygence of our predecessours & their doctryne folio lxxxiij
Of the thre stones that the phylosophres made / that is to saye ve [...]et [...] [Page] Anymal / & myneral fo [...]o lxxxiiij
Here he tr [...]teth of sompnolence / whyche is chamberleyn to s [...]outhe / and telleth of his nature & properte folio lxxxv
Of the kyng Ceyx kyng of trocynye and [...]ceon his wyf / & how for loue Alceon lepte in to the see to her husbond and how they were torned in to byrdes fo [...]o lxxxvj
How cerhalus by wakyng gate Auroram his loue & desyred the sonne & the mone to lengthe theyr [...]rs fol [...]o lxxxviij
How yo was transformed in to a [...]w [...] / & [...]ut to the kepyng of argus by [...]uno / but mercuryns brought hym a slepe & slewe hym foli [...] lxxxix
How yphys the sone of Tencer louyd a mayde / and cou [...]e not gete hyr by prayers ne yefdes / hynge hym self at his faders gate / and the goddes torned the mayde therfore in to an harde s [...]one folio lxxxx

Thus endeth the fourth book

Here begynneth the fyfthe book

Here entendeth the confessor to trede of coue [...]yse and aueryce which is rote of al euyls & of his spyces folio lxxxx
How myda kyng of frigye her [...]erowed Cillenum the preest of bachus / wherfore bachus b [...]d hym demaunde what [...] wold / and he shold haue / & vndyscrete [...]y he desyred that alle that he touched shold be golde folio lxxxx [...]
Of the vyce of [...]alousye whyche ene [...] hath suspecyo [...]n & without cause ymagyneth corrupcion folio lxxxxiij
How vulcanus fonde venus a bedde with mars / wherupon he called all the felawshyp of goddes to see them / and they laughed hym to scorne folio lxxxxiiij
Of the false sectes of godde [...] / & how they began by the paynyms / and fyrst of the secte of the caldees fo [...] lxxxxv
The epystle of Dyndymus kynge of bragmans sente to kynge Alysaunder folio lxxxxix
Of the fyrst culture in worshyppyng to ydolles folio lxxxxix
Of the Synagoge / of the hebrewes or [...]ewes / which fayled whā the chirche of crys [...]e began folio C
Of crysten feythe in which is ineffabyly byleued the complement of the mysterye of the holy sacrament / & fundament of our sauacion folio C
How thoas the hygh preest of the temple of mynerue corupte by golde torned his face [...] syde wytyngfy whiles Anthenor toke awey [...] the palladyum folio Cj
Saynt gregore sayth whan pe [...]re shal come with the Iurye / Andrewe wyth achaye / Thomas with ynde / & Paule with the gentyles / what shall we now say [...] folio C j
Here the confessor tredeth on the spyce of aua [...]yce named [...]ouetyse & sheweth it to the amaunt in the cause of loue folio C ij
Of cra [...]us the Emperour for couetyse lete ouerthrowe the myrrour of virgile in which the romayns my [...]t see what hurte shold come to them folio C ij
Of hem that serue in prynces cour [...]es & grutche for theyr rewarde folio C iiij
Of frederyke themperour how he herde two ponre men stryu [...]ng / one sayen [...] that he may be wel ryche whome the kyng wyl / & that other said who that god wyl shal be ryche / & to preue it the kyng made two pastyees f [...] C vj
Here he treteth of the spyce that is [Page] called false wytnesse and periurye / & the nature therof folio C vij
How the [...]ys clothed achylles hir sone in c [...]othyng of a mayde / and s [...]nt hym to kyng lychomede where he laye wyth his doughter and gate hyr wyth chylde folio C viij
How [...]ason gate the golden flees and after falsed medea for loue of crusa / & forsoke hyr and was forsworen folio C ix
How medea made eson his fader yōge ageyn folio C xiij
How the golden flees came fyrst in to colchos folio C xv
Here he treteth of the spyce of Auaryce callyd vsure and of hys nature folio C xvj
How Iuno auengyd hyr on Ec [...] for l [...]r bawdrye folio C xvij
Here he tredeth of the vyce of scarcenes which wyl not departe to god ne to man folio C xvij
How eroceus large and lyberalle deceyued babyon strayte and auaricious of the loue of vyole by hys large y [...]ftes folio C xviij
Here he speketh of the spyce of auarice callyd [...]ngra [...]ytude or vnkyndenesse whiche is in condycyon abhomynable folio C xix
Of adryan s [...]natour whiche fyl in a pytte / and how bardue pulled hym out and also thre bestes / whiche bestes rewarded hym / & how the sayd adrian [...]s vnkynd [...] folio C xix
Of the vnkyndenes of theseus to adryan whiche had saued his lyf / & how he lefte hir and [...]oke phedra her suster folio C xxj
Here he treteth of the spyce of auarice named [...] whos moder is extorcion & of his nature folio Cxxiij
Of proygne and phylomene suster [...] how they were dysceyued by Ter [...]us And of theyr t [...]ansformacyon in to byrdes folio C xxiij
Here speketh of the vyce of auaryce called thefte folio C xxvj
How neptuno wold haue oppressyd a vyrgyn walkyng by the see syde And Pallas delyuerd hyr fro hys handes folio C xxv [...]
How Iupiter in symplitude of a mayde rauys [...]hed by thefte the vyrgynyte of calistone and gate on hyr Archas folio C xxvij
How phirynus the fayrest yong man of rome put out his owne eyen by [...]ause he wold s [...]me abhomynable in the syght of wymmen that desyred hym folio C xxviij
How valentynyan the emperour had more ioye that he had kepte his virgynyte thā of al the conquest that he had subdued to rome folio C xxviij
Here he treteth of the vice called secre [...]e thefte or mycherye / and hys nature folio C xxix
Of lenchotoe whom phebus defloured vnwytyng the moder / wherfore hyr fader dyd do burye hyr quycke / out of whos tombe groweth an [...]be callyd goldes folio C xxx
Of hercules and Eole / and how that eche of them wa [...] others clothes / and how fawnus came to hercules bedde in stode of eole / whom hercule [...] threwe to the grownde folio C xxxj
Here he treteth vpon the laste spyce of coue [...]yse and is called sacrylege which is to stele holy thynges / and in holy places folio C xxxij
Here he telleth of thre sacreleges / one made anthiochus / another nabuzarda [...] & the third nabugodonosor [...]o C xxxij
How parys of troye rauysshed out of the temple heleyn wyfe to kynge [Page] menelaus / wherfore after alle Croye was destroyed folio C xxxij
Here he speketh of the vertu of largesse whiche stondeth bytwene ly [...]e ra [...]te & prodegalite folio C xxxv

Thus endeth the fyfthe book

And bere begynneth the syxthe book

Here the confessor tr [...]teth of the synne of [...]l [...]tonye / and telleth onelye of two his vyces that is dronkenshyp and delycacyr & of theyr nature folio C xxxvj
How Iupyter hath in his selere two [...]unnes / in the fyrst of which is moste sw [...]te lyc [...]ur / and the second is ful of [...]ytder fy [...]ur folio C xxxviij
How at the re [...]u [...]s [...] of ba [...]hus whan became fro a lutayle [...]ut of the orryent and c [...]ude fynde no maner drynke / Iubyter sente hym a weder whiche with hys fode smote the greunde / and there anone sprange a welle folio C xxxviij
Here he telleth how Trystram for the drynke that brangweyn gaue to hym he was as [...]t [...]d & dronken in the loue of [...]le yso [...]de folio C xxx x
How the centauri▪ whan they were dronke wexyd wood / and in theyr woodnes rau [...]sshed [...]potacye fro pyro th [...]s hir husbond folio C xxxix
How galba & vytellus were [...]uged to doth / & chees for to be dronkē when they shold deye teschewe the more the peyne of deth folio C xxxix
Here he treteth on the spyce of glotonye callid dellicacye folio C xlj
Here he telleth the ensaumple of dyues & lazare which is expressid in the gospel of luke folio C xlij
Of the delycacye of new folio C xlij
How the Impressyons ymagyned in the mynde gladeth & maketh the hertes of louers delicate folio C xliij
Here he treteth how detycacye & dronkenesse bryngen a man to the promocion of carnal concupyscence / and causen magyke folio C xliiij
The names of the auc [...]nrs of the bookes of natural & superstycyons magyke & nygroman [...]ye folio C xliiij
How v [...]xes a grete magicyen comyng fro troye ar [...]yued in the ysle of Cylly where the grete wytche circes was / on whom he gate a s [...]ne which afterward slewe his fader folio C xliiij
How neet [...]nalus desc [...]ued olympyas by his crafte / and gate on hyr Alysaūder the grete conquer [...]ur fo C xlvij
How Zoras [...]s the fy [...]ste magycy [...]n laughed at his byrth / wh [...]m the kyng of syrye sl [...]we folio C l

Thus endeth the syxthe book

And here begynneth the seuenth book

In thys vij book thauctor entendeth to telle the doctryne of arystotle which he taughte to Alysaunder touchyng [...] astrologye and phyl [...]sofye / & deuydeth it in to thr [...] partyes / that is th [...]orik / rethoryke & practyke folio C lj
Here he telleth first of theoryke / which is endewed with thre scyences / that is theologye / ffysyke / and methama [...] tyke folio C lj
Of threfold essence folio C lj
The second parte of theorike callyd [...] physyke folio Clj
The thyrd parte of theoryk callyd mathematyke folio C lj
Of musike folio lij
[Page]Of geometrye folio C lij
Of the creacion of the foure elementis and of theyr natures and propyrtees folio C lij
Of the erthe that is the fyrst elemente folio C lij
Of the water whiche is the second elemente folio C lij
Of the a [...]r y^e iij element folio C lij
Of the peryferyes of the aye [...] fo C lij
Of the fyres fleyng in the ayer by nyght & of their names folio C liij
Of the fyre whiche is the fourth elemente folio C liij
How after the nature of the four elementes ben four complexyons in man nes body / whiche ben malencolye fflewme / blood / & colere folio C liij
How the foure complexyons haue iiij mancyons in mannes body fo C li [...]ij
Wherfore the stomake serueth fo C liiij
Here he speketh of the dyuysyon of the erthe whiche was departed after the flood to the thre sones of noe that is asye / affryke & europe folio C liiij
How the see is called the occeane folio C lv
Here he speketh of the fourth spyce of mathematyke / whyche is called astronomye / and his felowe is astro [...]ye / and of the seuen planet [...]s folio C liiij
Here he speketh of the mone the netherest planete folio C lv
The ij is mercurye folio C lvj
The thyrd planete is called Venus folio C lvj
The fourth planete is the sonne of his cours & his apparayl folio C lvj
The [...]yfthe plane [...]e is mars fo C lvj
The syxthe planete is Iupyter fo [...]o C lvij
The vij planete is Saturnus fo C lvij
Of the twelue sygnes and effectys in twelue monethes folio C lviij
Of the doctryne of nectanabus that he taughte to alysaundre of xv pryncypal sterres wyth theyr stones & herbes conuenyent to the natural operacion in arte magyke folio C lx
Of thauctours of astronomy [...] and the bookes therof made folio C lx [...]
Here the confessor speketh of the second parte of phylosophye which is rethoryke and maketh men facounde / and of his two spyces that is gramer and logy [...]ue by whos doctryne the rethour preferreth his wordes folio C lxij
Of the eloquence of Iulyus Cezar in the cause of catelyne ageynst cyllene & other folio C lxij
Here h [...] treteth of the thyrd parte of phylosophy [...] whiche is called practyke And hath thre spyces / that is ethyca / yconomya & polycya folio C lxiij
How after polec [...] / he treteth of fyue artycules by [...]ongyng to the rule of a kyng / and the fyrst is trouthe folio C lxiij
How daryus demaunded his cubyculers / who was strengest / the kyng / the wyne or the woman folio C lxiiij
Of th [...] strengthe of loue whiche was bytwene cirus kyng of perse & apemen doughter of besazys folio C lxiiij
Of the trouthe of alceste wyf of amete which chaas to dey [...] to haue hyr husbond to lyue folio C lxiiij
Here he treteth of the second polecye of the magestee of a kyng whyche is called largesse folio C lxv
How arystotle made exaumple to alysaundre by the exaccions of the kyng of chaldees folio C lxvj
How Iulyus cesar releued suche knyghtes as were noble and valyaunt folio C lxvj
How a kyng shold reward and gyue by dyscrescion folio C lxvj
[Page]H [...]w the state of a kyng ought to be support [...]d of his tre [...]e lyeges folio C lxvi
How prodegalite of a kyng bryngeth in comyn pouerte folio C lxvi
How flaterers in p [...]ynces courtes offende thre manere wyse folio C lxvii
How arisippus repreuyd dyogynes by cause he wold not dwelle in courte and how dyogynes answerd hym folio C lxvii
Here he pu [...]eth an ensa [...]imple ayenst flaterers / and telleth what is said to suche as take theyr tryumphe in rome folio C lxviii
How whan an emperour is jn [...]renony sed in his estate / a masen shal demaunde hym of what stone he wyl haue his tem [...]e made folio C lxviii
Of somme that make them self wyse ben feūde in thende foles folio C lxix
How kyng achab resused trewe prophetes / and byleued slaterers folio C lxix
Here he treteth of the thyrd polecye of a kynge / whiche is called justyce / which [...]ndreth euery man that he ought to haue folio C lxx
An emperours mageste ought not to be deffended ene [...]y [...]y armes / but also [...]y [...]us [...]yce folio C lxx
How maxymyn▪ the [...]mpereur wold knowe the fame of a man or he wold s [...]tte hym in [...]ny offyce folio C lxxi
How gayus fabryaus refused yeftes [...]nd wold not be corupte for golde folio C lxxi
How carmyde tayre for kepyng of his s [...]atute sle [...]e hym self folio C lxxi
How cambyses dyd doo flee a false juge / and made his sone to fytte on his faders skyn to auyse hym how he juged folio C lxxii
Of the names that first made lawes folio C lxxii
Here treteth the confessor of the fourth polecye of a kynge / whiche is named pyte folio C lxxiii
How kyng alysaunder juged a knyght to deth / & he appeled his sentence fro hys yre to hys pyte folio C lxxiii
How a jewe and a saresyn mette / & how the jewe deceyued the paynym wherfore a lyon slewe hym folio C lxxiiij
How cod [...]s kynge of athenes chaas to be sleyne hym self in the batayle for to saue his peple folio C lxxv
How pompeyus after he had taken the kyng of armenye in batayle [...]te hym goo quyte / sayeng it is more noble to make a kyng / thenne to depose a kyng folio C lxxv
How leoncyus [...]ut of the nose & lippes of justynyan / and how it was after auengyd folio C lxxv
How one berillus maad a bulle of bras for the plesure of Syculus the kynge to tormente men therin / & [...]e [...]llus was the fyrst that was tormentyd therin folio C lxxv
How dyonyse yaue [...]his gh [...]s [...]ys to [...]e deueured and eten of his horses / and in syke wyse hercules gaue dyonyse to be eten of the same horses fo C lxxvi
How lychaon gaue mannes fles [...]he to be eten / wherfore he was transformed in to a wulfe folio C lxxvi
How a leon spareth men that lyeth doun prostrate folio C lxxvi
How spertachus spared none / but slewe them that were ouercome / a [...]d in lyke wyse after he was not spared but was drowned in blood folio C lxxvi
Though a prynce ought not be ouer cruel / in lyke wyse he ought not to be [Page] ouer pusillanymous ne [...]ymereus folio C lxxvii
How gedeon with thre hondred men onely ouercame fyue kynges wyth four score and ten thousand men folio C lxxviii
How a kynge is bounden to slee by ryght his aduersaryes somtyme / as it sheweth by Saul bycause he slewe not agag / he was put out of the kyngdom of Israel and his heyres also folio C lxxix
How dauyd commaunded to salamon to slee joab wythout ony remyssyon folio C lxxix
How salamon axed wysdom of god for to rule his people and alle other goodes came to hym wyth alle folio C lxxix
How lucyus the emperour axed of his secrete coūceyllours what men sayd of hym and how they answerd / and what his foole sayd folio C lxxx
How roboas by cause he dyd after his yonge counceyl and refused the coūceyl of olde men loste ten trybus of Israel attones folio C lxxx
A questyon whether hit is better to haue a wyse prynce with euyl counceyl / or a folysshe prynce wyth good counceyl folio C lxxxi
How antonyus by ensaumple of S [...] pyon / had leuer to saue one of hys owne people / than slee an hondred of his enemyes folio C lxxxi
Here treteth Arystotle of the fyfthe polecye of a kynge / whiche is named chastyte / & telleth what clennes it obserueth folio C lxxxi
How sardanapallus became alle feme nyn and lefte for the loue of wymmen the warre / wherfore he loste hys roya me folio C lxxxii
How Dauyd for the loue of wymmen lefte not the werre ne the exerase of armes folio C lxxxii
How cirus kynge of perse coude not ouercome the lyddes / but he dyssymyled / by whiche his enemyes were dysused / and after thenne sodeynly he ranne on them and vaynquys [...]hed them folio C lxxxiii
How amelech sente wynmen to the he brewes / by whome he ouercame them folio C lxxxiii
How salamon for loue of his coucu [...]y nes worshypped false goddes folio C lxxxiii
How achyas the prophete [...]ut his man tel in to twelue partyes / and gaue ten of them to jeroboas fo C lxxxiiii
How Arrous sone of Tarquyne by fal [...]ehede deceyued the gabyens and caused the towne to be taken folio C lxxxiiii
How the said ar [...]ous came to Rome and fraudulently oppressyd Lucresse wyf of collatyn wherfore she slewe hir self folio C lxxxvi
How a knyght vyrgyneus slowe his owne doughter by cause she shold not lese hir vyrgynyte folio C lxxxviii
How [...]the seuen husbondes of Sarra were sleyne the fyrst nyght of theyr maryage / and how thobye was preserued by thaungel folio C lxxxix

Thus endeth the seuenth book

Here begynneth the viii & last book

Here telleth the confessor of them that in loues cause do on ageynst nature as in theyr kynrede and sybrede folio C lxxxx
How calygula laye and rauysshed his owne thre susters / and afterward exyled them folio C lxxxxi
[Page]How amon sone of dauyd rauysshed [...]is suster thamar folio C lxxxxi
How Loth after that his wyf was torned in to a saltstone laye by hys [...]o doughters / and gate on them two s [...]nes / one [...]oab and that other amon folio C lxxxxi
How kyng anthyochus defouled hys doughter / aud of the probleme that he [...]ut forth to them that desyred / and of appellynus answer and his merueylous aduersyt [...]es / and how it torned al wel in thende folio C lxxxxi
How vpon loues cause genyus the confessor enioyned after the confesson made to the amant tho thynges which been meste holsom and expedyente folio CC iii
Here speketh he of the conirauersyes bytwene the confessor and the amant folio CC iiii
The forme of a supp [...]cacōn of thamātes part [...] / delyuerd by Genyus vnto Venue folio CC iiii
Here is shewed how venus after the [...] of the supp [...]cacion of the louer wythout delaye answereth to euery thynge folio CC v
Here is shewed how venus beholdyng [...]e jn [...]mytce of the seek louer exhorted hym by many^e ensaumples to le [...]e hyr courte folio CC v
How the amant was fallen deū as he had ben deed / and cupyde with a grete multitude of l [...]uers came and behelde hym folio CC vi
Of the nam [...]s of them that tofore had loued / somme yonge and somme olde of whom the olde prayed specyally to the god and goddesse of loue for hym folio CC vi
How venus [...]te out fro the amant the fyry crewe / and Venus took a colde ornemente and enoynted hym / and how he sawe in a myrrour hys age and jnhaby [...]te folio CC viii
How venus [...]ad hym to praye for the pees / and hynge aboute his necke a payre of bedes blacke as sable folio CC viii
Here in the ende he treteth that al loue whyche is not in veray charite is of no valewe / for he that abydeth in charyte abydeth in god folio CC ix
The enu [...]ye of his book & fynnss [...]yng of the same folio CC x

Explicit

[Page 2]

Prologue

tOrpor hebes seusus scola ꝑua labor minimus (que) / Causant quo minimus ipse minora canam / Qua tum eugisti lingua canit insula bruti / Anglica carmente metra iuuante loquar / Ossibus ergo carens / que conterit ossa loquelis / Absit et jnterpres stet procul oro malus▪

Hic in principio libri declarat qualiter in Anno Regis Ricardi Secundi Sextodecimo Iohannes Gower presentem litellum conposuit et finaliter compleuit / quem streunuissimo domino suo. Domino Henrico De Lancastria tunc Derbie Comiti cum omni reuerencia sp [...]ialiter destinauit /

oF hem that wryten vs to fore / The bookes duesbe & we therfore Ben taught of y^t was wryten thoo For thy good is that we also / In our tyme amōg vs here. Do wryte of newe somme mater

Ensampled of the old wyse
So that it myght in suche a wyse
Whan we be dede and elles where
Beleue to the worldes ere
In tyme comend after this
But for men seyn & s [...]the it is
That who that al of wysedom wryte
It dulleth ofte a mannes wytte
To hym that shal it al [...]ay rede
For thylke cause yf that ye rede
I wol goo the myddel wey
And wryte a book bytwene the twey
Somwhat of luste / & somwhat of lore
That of the lasse or of the more
Sōme man may lyke of that I wryte
And for that fewe men en dyte
[Page]In oure en glysshe for to make
A book for englondes sake
The yere xvj of kyng Richard
What shal byfalle here afterward
God wote / for now vpon this tyde
Man see the world on euery syde
In sondry wyse so dyuersed
That it wel nygh stant al reuersed
Als for to speke of tyme a goo
The cause why it chaungeth so
It nedeth nought to specyfye
The thyng so open is at the  [...]ye
That euery man it may behold
And netheles by dayes old
Whan that the bookes weren leuer
Wrytyng was byloued euer
Of hem that weren vertuous
For here in erthe among vs
I [...] noman wryte how it stode
 [...]he prys of hem that were good
Shold as who sayth a grete partye
Be lost so for to magnyfye
The worthy prynces that tho were
The bookes shewen here & there
Wherof the world ensampled is
And tho that dyden then ne amys
Though tyrannye & cruelte
Ryght us they stonden in degre
So wa [...] the wrytyng of the werk
Thus I whiche am a borell clerk
Purpose for to wryte a book
After the world that whylome toke
Long tyme in old dayes passyd
But for men seyn it is now lassed
In wers plyght than it was tho
 [...] thenke for to touche also
The world whiche neweth euery daye
So as I can / so as I may
Though I sekenesse haue vpon hond
And long haue had yet wol I fonde
To wryte & do my besynesse
That in som partye so as I gesse
The wyse man may be aduysed
For this prologue is so assised
That it to wysedome al bylongeth
That wyse man that it vnderfongeth
He shal drawe in to remembraunce
The fortune of the worldes chaunce
The whiche noman in his persone
May knowe but the god allone
Whan the prologue is so dispended
The book shal afterward be ended
Of loue whiche doth many a wondre
And many a wise mā hath put vnder
And in this wyse I thenke trele
Toward them that now be grete
Betwene the vertu & the vyce
Whiche longeth vnto this offyce
But for my wyttes ben to smale
To telle euery mannys tale
This book vpon amendement
To stond at his commaūdement
With whome myn hert is of acorde
I send vnto myn owne lord
Whiche of lancastre is henry named
The hyghe god hath hym proclamed
Ful of knyghthode & al grace
So wold I now this werk embrace
With hoole trust & hoole byleue
God graunte I mote it wel acheue

t Empus preteritum presens fortuna beatum. Liquit & antiquas vertit in vrbe vias / Progenuit veterem concors dilectio pacem

Dum facies hominis nuncia mentis erat / Legibus vnicolor tunc temporis aura refulsit / Iustici [...] plane tunc (que) fuere vie / Nunc (que) latens odium vul tum depingit amoris / Pace (que) sub ficta tempus ad arma tegit / Instar & ex varijs mutoble Cameliontis / Lex ge rit & regnis sunt noua iura noius / Climata (que) fuerant solidissima sic (que) per orbem / Soluuntur nec eo centra qⁱ etis habent

E statu regno (que) vt dicunt secundnm temporalia / videlicet tempore Regis Ricardi secundi / Auno Regni sui Sextodecimo

[Page 3]i Shal drawe in to my mynde▪ The tyme passed than I fynde / The world stoode in al his welthe Tho was the lyf of mā in helth / To was plente tho was Ry chesse / Tho was fortune tho was prowesse / Tho was knyghthode in prys by name / Wherof y^e wide worldes fame Wryte in Cronycles is yet withhold Iustyce of lawe tho was holde

The pryuelege of Regalye
Was fast / & al the Baronye
Worshiped was in his astate▪
The Cytees knewe no debate
The peple stood in obeysaunce
Vnder the reule of gouernaunce
And pees with rightwysenesse keste
With charyte tho stood in reste
Of mannys hert the courage
Was shewed thenne in the vysage
The word was lyche to the conceyte
Wtthout semblaunt of deceyte
Tho was ther vnenuyed loue
Tho was vertu set aboue
And vyce was put vnder foote
Now stant the crop vnder the rote
The world is chaunged oueral
And therof moost in specyal
That loue is falle in to discord
And that I take in to record
Of euery▪ lond for his partye
The comyn voys▪ whiche may not lye
Nought vpon one but vpon alle
Is that men now clepe & calle
And seyne that regnes ben deuyded
In stede of loue is hate guyded
The werre wol no pees purchace
And lawe hath take hyr double face
So that Iustyce oute of the way
With ryghtwysenes is gone awey
And thus to loke on euery halue
Men seen the soore without salue
Whiche al the world hath ouertake
Ther is no reygne of al out take
For euery clymat hath his dyele
After the tornynge of the whele
Whiche blyude fortune ouerthroweth
Wherof the certayne noman knoweth
The heuene wote what is to done
But we that duelle vnder the mone
Stond in this world vppon a were
And namely but the power
Of hem that ben the worldes guydes
With good counseylle on euery sides
Ben kept vpright in suche a wyse
That hate breke nought thassise
Of loue whiche is al the chyef
To kepe a reygne oute of meschyef
For al reson wold this
That vnto hym whiche the heued is
The membres buxom shal bo we
And he sholde eke her trouth alowe
With al his hert and make hem chere
For good counseyl is good to here
Al though a man be wyse hym selue
Yet is the wysedom more of tivelue
And yf they stonde both in one
To both it were thenne anone
That god his grace wold sende
To make of thylk werre an ende
Whiche euery day now groweth newe
And that is gretely for to rewe
In specyal for cristes sake
Whiche wold his owne lyf forsake
Amonge the men to yeuen pees
But now men tellen netheles
That loue is from the world departed
So stant the pees vneuene parted
With hem that lyuen now a dayes
But for to loke at al assayes
To hym that wold reson seche
After the comon worldes speche
It is to wonder of thylk werre
In which none wote who hath yt werre
For lond hym self deceyueth
And of dysese his parte receyueth
And yet take men no kepe
But thylk lord whiche al may kepe
To whome no counseyl may be hyd
Vpon the world whiche is be tyd
Amende that wherof men pleynen
[Page]With trewe hertes & with pleyne
And reconsyle loue ayene
As he whiche is kyng souerayne
Of al the worldes gouernaunce
And of his hygh purucaunce
Afferme pees bytwene the londes / 
And take here cause in to his hondes
So that the world may stande appesed
And his godbeede also be plesed

Quas coluit moises vetus aut nouus Ipse Iohannes / Hesternas leges vix colit ista dies / Sic prius ecclesia bina virtute rokta / Nunc magis inculta p [...]llet vtra (que) via / Pacificam petri vagi nam mucro resumens / Horruit [...]d x [...]i verba cruoris Iter / Nūc tamen assiduo gladium de sangiune tinctum / Vi [...]rat auaricia bege repente sacra / Sic lupus [...]t pastor pater hostis mors miscrator / Prede (que) largitor pax & in orbe timor /

d Estatu cleri vt dicunt secundum spiritualia / videlicet tempore Ro [...]th Gilbonensis / qui nomen clemētis [...]tus est sibi tunc Antipape

O thynk vpon the dayes old
The lyf of clerkys to be hold.
Men seyn how yt they were tho
Ensample &  [...] wle of al tho
Which of wysedom the vertue souȝten
Vnto the god fyrst they bysoughten
As to the substaunce of here scole
That they ne shold not be fole
Her witte vpon none erthly werkes
Which were ayene the astate of clerkis
And yt they myghten flee the vyce
Whiche Symon hath in his offyce
Wrerof he takyth gold in honde
For thyke tyme I vnderstōde
The lumbard made none exchaunge
The bisshopryches for to chaūge
Ne yet a letter for to send
For dignyte ne for prouende
Or curyd / or without cure
The chirche kay in aduenture
Of armes & of brigantaylle
Stode no thyng thenne vpon bataylle
To fyght or for to make cheste
Yet thought hem then not honeste
But of symplycyte and pacyence
They maden thenne no defence
The court of worldly regaille
To hem was thenne no bataylle
The veyne honour is nought desyryd
Whiche hath the proud herte fyred
The humylyte was tho withholde / 
And pryde was a vyce holde
Of holy chirche the largesse / 
Yafe thenne & dyde grete almesse
The poure men that had nede
They were eke chast in word & dede
Wherof the peple ensample toke
Her lust was al vpon the boke
Or for to preche or for to pray
To wyse men the ryght waye
Of suche as stoode the trouth vnlered
Lo thus is petrus barge stered
Of hem that ylke tyme were
And thus cam fyrste to mannys ere
The feyth of cryst & al good
Thurgh hem that then ware good
And sobre & chast large & wyse
And now men seyn is other wyse
Symon the cause hath vnder take
The worldes swerd in hond is take
And that is wonder netheles
Whan crist hym self hath bode pees
And set it in his testament
How now that holy chirche is went
Of that her lawe posyzyf
Hath set to make werre & stryf
For wordly goodes which may not
laste / God wote the cause to the last
Of euery ryght & wronge also
But whyle the lawe is rewlyd so
[Page 4]That clerkes to the werre intende /
I not how that they shal amend
The woful world in other thynges /
To make pees bytwene kynges
After the lawe of charyte
Whiche is the propre dewte / 
Belonged vnto the preesthode
But as it thynketh to make manhode▪
The heuen is for the world is nyghe
And vayne glorye is eke to sleygh
Whiche couetyse hath now withhold
That they none other thynge behold
But only that they myghten wynne
And thus the werres they begynne
Wherof the holy chirche is taxed
That in the poynt as it is axed
The dysme goth to the bataylle
As though crist myght not auayle
To do hem ryght by other waye
In to the swerd the chirche kaye
Is torned and the holy bede
In to cursyng and euery stede
Whiche shold stonde vpon the feyth
And to this cause an ere leyth
Astonyd is of the quarell / 
That shold be the worldes heele
Is now men sayn the pestyle nce
Whiche hath expellyd pacyence
Fro the clerge in specyal
And that is shewyd oueral / 
In euery thyng whan they be greuyd
But yf gregory be beleuyd
As it is in the bokes wryte
He doth vs somdele to wete
The cause of thylke Prelacye
Where god is nought of companye
For euery werke as it is foundyd
Shal stonde / or els be confoundid
Who that only for cristes sake
Desyreth care for to take
And nought for pryde of thylk astate
To bere a name of a prelate
He shal by reson do proufyte
In holy chirche vpon the plyte
That he hath set his cōscyence
But in the worldes reuerence
Ther be of suche many gladde
Whan they to sylke astate be made / 
Nought for the meryte of the charge
But for they wold hem self discharge
Of pouerte & become grete / 
And for pompe & for beyete
The scry [...]e & eke the pharysee
Of moyses vpon the see
In the chayre on hygh ben sette
Wherof the feyth is ofte lette
Whiche is bytake hem to kepe
In crystes▪cause al day they slepe
But of the world is nought foryete
For wele is hym that now maye gete
Offyce in court to be honouryd
The strong Coffre hath al deuouryd
Vnder the kaye of auaryce
The tresour of the benefyce
Wherof the poure shulne clothe
And▪ ete & drynke & house bothe
The charyte goth al vnknowe
For they no greyne of pyte knowe
And slouthe kepyth the lybrarye
Whiche longeth to the sayntuarye
To study vpon the worldes lore
Suffisith no [...]ght without more
Delycacye his swete tothe
Hath it suffryd / so that it fordoth
Of abstynence al that ther is
And for to loken ouer this
If ethna brenne in the clergye
Al openly to the mannes eye
At Auynyon they peryence
Therof hath youen an euydence
Of that men seyn hem so deuyded
And yet the cause is nought decyded /
But it is sayd & euer shal
Bytwene twoo stoles lyth the fall
Whan that men wenen best to sytte
In holy chirche of suche a flytte
Is for to rewe vnto vs alle
God graunte it mote wel byfalle
Towardes hym whiche hath ye trouth
But ofte is seen that mochel slouth
Whan men ben drynke of the cuppe
Doth moche harme whā ye fire is vppe
[Page]But yf somwho the flamme staūche
And so to speke vpon this braūche
Which proud enuye hath made to spring
Of scysme causeth for to bringe
This newe secte of lollardye
And also many an heresye
Among the clerkes in hem selue
It were better dyke & delue
And stonde vpon the ryght feyth
Than knowe al yt the byble sayth
And erre as som clerkes do
Vpon an hond to were a sho
And set vpon the foote a gloue
Acordeth not to the behoue
Of resonable mannes vse
If men bebelden the vertuse
That crist in erthe taught hyere
They sholde not in suche maner
Among hem that be hold wyse
The papacye so desguyse / 
Vpon dyuers electyon
Whiche stant after thaffection / 
Of sendry londes al aboute
But whan god wol it shal weve oute
F [...] trouthe mote stande atte last
But yet they argumenten fast
Vpon the pope & his astate
Wherof they fallen in grete debate
This cl [...]rk sayd ye / that other nay
And thys  [...]ey dryue forth the daye
And eche of hem hym self amendeth
 [...] worldes good but none entendeth
To if at whiche comyn proufyte were
They seyen that god is myghty there
And shal ordeyne what he wylle
Ther make they none other skylle
Where is the peryll of the feyth / 
But euery clerke his herte leyth
To kepe his world in specyal
And of the cause general
Whiche vnto holy chirche longeth
Is none of hem that vnderfongeth
To shapen ony resystence / 
And thus the ryght hath noo defence / 
But ther I loue ther I hold
 [...]o thus to broke is Cristes fold
Wherof the flok withoute guyde
Deuoured is on euery syde
In lak of hem that be vnwar
Shepeherdes which her wyttes beware
Vpon the world in other halue
The sharp pryk in stede of salue
They vsen now / wherof the hele
They hurte of that they shold hele
What shepe that is ful of wulle
Vpon his bak they tose & pulle
Whyle ther is ony thyng to pylle
And though there be none other skylle
But only for they wold wynne
They leue nought whan they begynne
Vpon hir acte to procede
Whiche is no good shepeherdes dede
And vpon this also men seyn
That fro the lese / whiche is pleyn
In to the breres they forcatche
Here of for that they wolden lache
With suche duresse and so bereue
That shal vpon the thornes leue
Of wolle whiche the brere hath tore
Wherof the shepe ben al to tore
Of that the herdes make hem lese
 [...]o how they feynen chalk for chese
For though they speke & teche well
They done  [...]em self / therof no dele
For yf the wolf come in the wey
Here goostly staf is thenne aweye
Wherof they shold here flok defende
But yf the poure shepe offende
In ony thyng though it be lyte
They ben al▪redy for to smyte
And thus how euer that they tale
The strokes falle vpon the smale
And vpon other that ben grete
Hem lacketh hert for to bete
So that vnder the clerkes lawe
Men seen the merel al mysdrawe
I wol not saye in general
For ther be somme in specyal
In whome that al vertue duelleth
And tho ben as thappostel telleth
Qiu vocatur a deo tanquam Aaron
That god of his electyon
[Page]Hath cleped to perfectyon
In the maner as Aawn was
They be nothyng in thylk caas
Of Symon whiche the foldes gate
Hath lete & goth in other gate
But they gone in the ryght weye
Ther ben also somme as men saye
That folowen Symon atte heles
Whos carte goth vpon wheles
Of couetyse & worldes pryde
And holy chirche goth besyde
Whiche she weth out ward a vysage
Of that is nought in the courage
For yf men loke in holy chirche
Bitwene the word & that they werche
Ther is a ful grete difference
They prechen vs in audyence
That noman shal his soule empeyre
For al is but a chery feyre
This worldes good so as they telle
Also they fayen ther is an helle
Whiche vnto mannys synne is due
And bydden vs therfor eschewe
That wykked is / and do the good
Who that here wordes vnderstode
It thenketh they wold do the same
But yet bytwene ernest and game
Ful oftyme it torned other wyse
With holy tales they deuyse
How merytory is thylke dede
Of charyte to clothe & fede
The poure folk & for to parte
The worldes good / but they departe
Noo thyng nought / for that they haue
Also they feyn good is to saue
With penaunce & with abstynence
Of chastyte the contynence
But pleynly for to speke of that
I not how that ylke body fat
Whiche with that deynte metes kepe
And leyen it softe for to slepe
Whan it hath elles al his wylle
With chastyte shal stonde stylle
And netheles I can not say
In aunter that I myssay
Touchend of this▪how euer it stonde
I here & wyl nought vnderstonde
For therof haue I nought to done
But he that made fyrst the mone
The highe god of his goodnes
If ther be cause he it redresse
But what as ony man can accuse
This may reson of trouthe excuse
The vyce of hem that ben vngood
Is no repreef to the good
For euery man his owne werkes
Shal bere / and thus as of the clerkes
The good men ben to cōmende
And al these other god amende
For they be to the worldes eye
The myrrour of examplarye
To reulen & taken hede
Bet wene the men & the godbede

Vulgaris populꝰ regali lege subactꝰ Dum iacet vt mitis digna subibit onꝰ Si caput extollat & lex sua frena relax at / Vbi sibi velle iubet rigridis Instar habet / Ignis aqua dominans duo sūt pietate carentes / Ira tamen plebis est violenta magis

dEstatu plebis vt diaint secūdū actidencia mutabilia

nOw for to speke of yt comune
It is to drede of that fortune
which hath bifalle in sōdry lō des /
But ofte for defaute of bondes
Al sodenlyche or it be wyst
A tonue whan his lye aryst
To breken & ronne al aboute
Whiche endles shold nought gone out
And eke ful ofte a lytel skare
Vpon a bank or men be ware
 [...]ete in ye streme which with grete peyn̄
If euery man it shal restreyne
where lawe faylleth / errour groweth
He is not wyse who that ne troweth
For it hath proued ofte er this
And thus the comyn clamour is
[Page]In euery lond where peple duelleth
And eche in his compleynt telleth
How that the world is myswent
And therupon his Iugement
Yeueth euery man in sondry wyse
But what man wold hym self auyse
His conseyence & nought mysuse
He may wel at the fyrst excuse
His god whiche euer stant in one
In hym ther is defaute none
So must it stonde vpon vs  [...]elue
Nought only vpon ten ne twelue
But plenerlyche vpon vs alle
For men is cause that shal byfalle

Nota contra hoc qd aliq [...]a sortem fortune aliqui influenciam planetarū penunt per quod vt dicitur reru [...] euentus necessario contingit / Sed pocius di cendum est / qd ea que nos pros [...]er [...] [...] aduersa in hoc mundo vocamus / secū dum merita et demerita hominum dig no der iudicio proueniunt

aNd netheles somme men wryte
And sayn fortune is to wyte / 
And som men holde oppinion.
That it is constellacion / 
Whiche causeth al that a man dothe
God w [...]te of bothe whiche is sothe /
The world as of his propre kynde
Was euer vntre w & as the blynde
Inproperlyche he demeth fame
He blameth that is nought to blame
And preyfeth that is nought to preyse
Thus whan he shal the thynges peyse
Ther is deceyt in his balaunce
And al is that the varyaunce
Of vs that shold vs better auyse
For after that we falle & ryse
The world aresteth and fallith with al
So that the man is ouer al
His owne cause of wele & wo
That we fortune clepe soo▪
Out of the man hym self it groweth
And who that otherwyse troweth / 
Beholde the peple of Israel / 
For euer whyle they dyden wel
Fortune was hem debonayre
And whan they dyden the contrayre
Fortune was contraryende
So it proueth wele at the ende / 
Why that the world is wonderful
And may no whyle stande ful / 
Though that it seme wel beseyn / 
For euery worldes thyng is vayne
And euer goth the whele about / 
And euer stant a man in doute / 
Fortune stant no while stylle
So hath ther no man his wylle
Als fer as ony man maye knowe
Ther lasteth noo thyng but a throwe

Boecius O qm̄ dul [...]edo humane vite multa amaritudine aspersa est

He world stānt euer vpon debate
So may be syker none astate / 
Now here now ther▪ now to & fro
Now vp now doun the world goth so
And euer hath done & euer shal
Wherof I fynde in specyal
A tale wryten in the byble
Whiche must nedes be credible
And that as in conclusyon / 
Seyth that vpon deuysyon
Stant / why noo worldes thyng maye laste / 
Til it be dryue to the laste
And fro the fyrst regne of al
In to this daye how soo befall
Of that the regnes be meuable
The man hym self hath be culpable
Whiche of his gouernaunce / 
Fortuneth al the worldes chaunce

Prosper & aduersus obliquo tramite versus / Inmūdus mūdꝰ decepit oē genus / Mūdus in euentu versatur vt alea casu. Quā [...]eler in ludis iactat auara manus. Sicut ymago biri variā tur tempora mundi / Stat (que) nichil fir mū preter amare deum

[Page]hIc in Pro [...]ogo tractat de statua illa quam Rex Nabugodonosor viderat in sumpnis cuius caput aureū pectus argenteum / venter eneus / tibe [...] ferree. pedum vero quedam pars ferrea quedam fictilis videbatur / sub qua mē brorum diuersitate secundū Danielis exposicionem huius mundi variacio fi gurabatur

tHe hygh almyȝty purueaūce
In whos eterne remembraūce
From fyrst was euery thyng present / 
He hath his prophecye sent
In suche a wyse as thou shalt here
To danyel of this mater
How yt this world shal torne & wēde
Til it byfalle vnto his ende
Wherof the tale telle I shal
In whiche is bytokned alle

aS Nabugodonosce slepte
A sweuen he toke which he kepte
Til on the morowe he was aryse
For therof he was sore agryse
Til danyel his dreme he told
And prayd hym fayr that he wold
A rede what it tokene may
And seyd a bedde where I lay
Me thought I syghe vpon a stage
Where stood a wonder straūge ymage
His hede with al the neck also
They were of fyne gold bothe two
His breste his shulders & his armes
Were al of syluer / but tharmes
The wombe & al doune to the kne
Of bras they were vpon to see
His legges they were made al of steel
So were his feet also somdele
And somdele part to hem was take
Of erth which men myȝt pottes make
The feble mēged▪ was with the strong
So myght it not stande long

hIc narrat vlteriꝰ de quodam lapide grādi [...] vt in dicto sompnio videbatur ab excelso mōte super statuā corruens ipsam quasi in nichilum penitus contriuit

aNd than me thought yt I syghe
A grete stone from an hylle an hyghe / 
Fylle doun of sodeyne anenture
Vpon the feet of this figure
With whiche stone al to broke was
Gold syluer erthe styel & bras
That was in to pouder brought
And s [...]forth torned in to nought

hIc loquitur de īterpretaciōe sōpnij. & [...]mo dicit de significacione capitis aurei

tHis was the sweuene whiche he had / 
That Danyel anone be rad
And seyde hym that fygure straunge
Betokeneth how ye world shal chaūge
And wax lasse worth & lasse
Til it to nought al ouer passe
The neck & hede that weren gold
He sayd how that betoken shold
A worthy world a noble a ryche
To whiche none after shal be lyche

De pectore argenteo

oF syluer that was ouer forth

Shal ben a world of la [...]se worth

De bentre eneo

aNd after that the wōbe of bras
Token of a wers world it was
The whiche steel he sawe afterward
A world bytokeneth more hard

De tibeis ferreis

bVt yet the werst of euery dele
Is last / yt whan of erth & steell
He sawe the feet departed so
For that bytokeneth moche woo

[Page]De significacione pedum / que ex duabus materijs disco [...]dantibus adinui [...]em diuisi extiterunt

wHan y^t the world deuyded is It mote algate fare amys for erth which menet is with steel / To gydre may not laste w [...]ell But that one that other waste So mo [...]e it nedes falle at the laste

De lapide statua cōfringente

tHe ston̄ which frō ye hully stage
He saw donne falle on ye ymage
And bath it in to poudre broke
That sueuene hath danyel vnloke
And sayde that it is goddes myght
Whiche whan men wene moost vpriȝt
To stonde shal hem ouer caste
And that is of this world the last
And than a newe shal begynne
From which a mā shal neuer twynne
Or al to payne or al to pees
That world shal last endles

h [...] scribit qualiter huius seculi regna var [...]s mutacionibꝰ prout in dicta statua figurabatur secundum temp [...]m distinctioēs sensibiliter hat [...] di [...]nuuntur

 [...]O thus expowned Danyel
The kynges sueuen fair & wel
In Babyloyne the Cyte
Where that the wysest of chaldee
N [...]  [...]uden wyte what it mente
But he told al the hool entent
As in partye it is byfalle
Of gold the fyrst regne of alle

De seculo aureo quod in capite statue designatum est a tempore ipsius Nabugodonosor regis Caldee vs (que) in Regnum Ci [...] regis persarum

wAs in the kynges tyme tho
And last many dayes so
There whiles that the monarchye
Of al the world in that partye
To Babyloyne was subgette
And held hym styll in such a pliȝt
Til that the world bygan dyuerse
And yt was whan the kyng of perse
Whiche Cyrus hight ayene the pees
Forth with his sone cambyses
Of Babyloyne al that Empyre
Ryght as they wold hem self desire
Put vnder in subiection
And toke it in possession
And slayn was baltazar the kyng
Whiche lost his regne & al his thyng

De seculo argenteo quod in pectore designatum est a tempore ipsiꝰ regis Ciri vs (que) in reg [...]um Allexandri Regis Macedonie

aNd thus whan they had it wōne
The world of siluer was bigōne
And that of gold was passed out
And in this wyse it goth aboute
In to the regne of Darius
And than it felle to perse thus
Ther Alysander put hem vnder
Which wrouȝt of ar [...]es many a wō ­der /
So that the monarchye lefte
With g [...]eces & here astate vp lefte
And Persiens gone vnder foote
So suffre they that nedes mote

De seculo en [...]o quod in ventre desig natum est a tempore ipsiue Allexandri vs (que) in regnum Iulij Romanorū Imperatoris /

aNd tho the world bigan of brus
And that of siluer ended was
But for the tyme thus it last
[Page]Til it befelle that at the laste
This kyng whan that his day was
come / with strength of deth was ourcome /
And netheles yet or he dyed
He shope hi [...] regne to deuyde
To knyghtes / whiche hym had serued
And after that they haue deserued
Yaf the conquestys that he wan▪
Wherof grete werre tho bygan
Among hem that the regnes had
Thorugh proud ennye / whiche hem lad
Til it bifell ayene hem thus
The noble Cezar Inlius
Whiche tho was kyng of Rome  [...]ond
With grete bataylle & strong hond
Al Grece / Perse / & Chaldee
Wan▪ & put vnder so that he
Not al only of thoryent
But al the marche of thoccydent
Gouerne [...]h vnder his Empyre
As he that was lord & Syre
And held thorugh his chyualrye
Of al the world the monarchye
And was the fyrst of that honour
Whiche taketh name of the Emperour

De seculo ferreo quod in tibeis de signatum est a tempore Iulij Cesaris vs (que) in Regnum Caros [...] magni Regis Fran [...]orum

wHere Rome than wold assaylle
Ther myȝt no thyng contreua [...]e
But euery contrey must obeye
Tho goth the regne of bras aweye
And comen is the world of steel
And stode aboue vpon the whel [...]
As steel is hardest in his kynde
Aboue al other that men fynde
Of metalles suche was Rome tho
The myghtyest & last so
Longe tyme among the Romayns
Tyl they bycome so vyleyns
That the fals emperour leo
With Constaūce his sone also
The pat [...]mon [...] & the Rychesse
Whiche to syluester in pure Almesse
The fyrst Constantinus lefte
Fro holy chirche they be refte
But Adryan whiche pope was
And sawe the meschyef of this caas
Goth in to Fraūce for to playne
And prayth the grete Char [...]emayne
For Crystes sake & soule hel [...]
That he wold take the quarele
Of holy chirche in his defence
And Charles for the reuerence
Of god / the cause hath vndertake
And with his hoost the waye take
Ouer the Moūtes of Lumbardye
Of Rome & al the Tyrannye
With bbody swerd he ouercome
And the strengthe of the Cyte nome
In suche a wyse & ther he wrought
That holy chirche ayene he brought
In to, Fraunchyse & d [...]thr restore
The popes lust & yaf hym more
And thus whan he his god hath ser­ued /
He toke as he hath wel deseruyd
The dyademe & was  [...]orouned
Of Rome / & thus was abandouned /
Thempyre whiche cam neuer agayne
In to the hon [...] of no Romayn
But a long tyme it s [...]oode stylle
Vnder the Frens [...]he kynges wylle
Til that fortune hir whele so lad
That afterward the lumbardes it had
Nouȝt by ye swerd. but by ye suffraūce
Of hym that was kyng of Fraunce
Whiche Carl Caluu [...] clepyd was
And resygned in this caas
Thempyre of Rome vnto Lowys
His Cosyn whiche a lumbard is
And so it last in to the yere
Of Alberte & of Berenger

De seculo nou [...]ssimis iam temporibus ad similitudinem pedum in discordiam lapso et diuiso quod post decessū ipsius Caroli cum Imperium Roma norum in manus Longobardorum ꝑuenerat tempore Alberti & Berengarij incepit / Nam ob eorum diuisionē contingit vt Almani Imperatoriam adepti sunt Magestatem / in cuius so [...]ū [Page] quenda in principem Theonicum Otho nem nomine sublimari prin [...]tus constituerunt /

bVt than vp [...]n discencion
They felle & in dyuysyon
Amōg hem self that were grete.
So yt they lost ye beyete
Of worship & of Worldes pees
But m prouerbe netheles
Men seyn▪ ful selde is that welthe
Can suffre his owne astate in helthe
And that was in the lumbardes seen
Suche comon stryf was hem bytween
Thorough couetyse & thorugh ennye
That euery man drough his partye
Whiche myght lede ony route
Within Burgh and eke withoute
The comen ryght hath no feloowe
So that the gouernaunce of lawe
Was l [...]st & for necessyte
Of that they stode m suche degre
Al only thurgh deuysyon
Hem nedeth in conclusion
Of straunge londes helpe beside
And thus for they hem self deuyde
And standen oute of re [...]le vneuen
Of Almayne Prynces seuen
 [...] chosen m this condycyon
That vpon her electyon
Thempyre of Rome shold stond [...]
And thus they left it out of honde
For lak of grace and it forsoke
That Almayns vpon hem toke
And to confermen here astate
Of that they stoden in debate
They toke it the possession
After the composicion
Among hem self and therupon
They made an Emperour & that anon
Whos name the Cronycle telleth
Wae Othee / and so for [...] it duelleth
For fro thylk day yet vnto this
Thempyre of Rome hath be & is
To thalamans & in this wyse
As to fore ye hane herde deuyse
How Danyel the sweuene expouneth
Of that ymage whome he foundeth
The world whiche afterward shold falle
Comen is the last token of alle
Vpon the feete of erthe & stele
So stant the world now euery dele
Departed whiche bygan ryght tho
Whan Rome was deuyded so [...]
And that is for to rewe sore
For alwey syth more & more
The world empeyreth euery day
Wherof the soth she we may
At Rome yf we begynne
The walle & the Cyte withynne
Stand m ruyne & in decaas
The feld is where the paleys was
The tonne is wast & ouer that
If we behold thylke astate
Whiche whylome was of ye romayns
Of knyghthode & of Cytezeyne
To peyse now with that byforne
The chaf is t [...]ke from the corne
And for to speke of Romes myght
Vnnethes stant ther ought vpryght
Of worship or of worldes good
As it byfore tyme stode
And why the worship is away
If that a man the sothe say
The cause hath ben deuysyon
Whiche moder of confusyon
Is where she comyth oueral
Nought only of the  [...]mporal
But of the spyrytual also
The dede proueth it ie so
And hath do many a day or this
Thorugh venym which that medled is
In holy chirche of erthely thynge
For Cryst hym self maketh knowle­chyng /
That nomā may to geder serue
God & the world bnt he swerue
Froward that one & stond vnstable
And Crystes word may not be falle
The thyng so open is at the eye
It nedeth nought to specyfye
Or speke ought more in this mater
And in this wyse a man may tere
How that the world is gone aboute
[Page]The whiche wel nyghe is wered oute
After the forme of that fygure
Whiche danyel in his scupture
Expowned as to fore is told
Of bras of syluer & of gold▪
The world is passed & a gone
And now vpon his old tone
It stant of brutel erthe & stele
The whiche acorden neuer a dele
So mote it nedes swerue a syde
A thyng whiche men seen deuyde

Hic dicit secundū apl̄m ꝙ nos sumꝰ In quos fines seculi deuenerunt▪

tHappostel writeth vnto vs alle.
And saith yt vpō vs is falle.
Thende of ye world so may we knowe /
This y­mage is nyghe ouerthrowe
By which this world was sygnefyed
That whysome so was magnyfyed
And now is old feble & vyle
Ful of meschyef & of perylle
And stant deuyded eke also
Lyche to the feet that were so
As I told of the statue aboue
And thus men seyn for lak of loue
Where as the lond deuyded is
It more algace fare amys
And now to loke on euery syde
A man may see the world deuyde
The werres  [...]en-so general
Among the Crystene oueral
That euery man now secheth wreche
And yet these clerkes alday preche
And seyn good dedes may none be
Whiche stant nought vpon charyte
I not how charyte shold stonde
Where dedely werre is taken on honde
But al this wo is cause of man
The whiche that wytte & reson can
And in tokne & in wytnesse
That eche ymage bare lykensse
Of man & none other beeste
Fro fyrst vnto the mannys heste
Was euery creature ordeyned
But afterward & was restreyned
Whan that he felle they fellen eke
Whan he was seke they wexen seke
For as the man hath passyon / 
Of sekenes in comparyson
So suffryn other creatures
Lo fyrst the heuenly fygures

hIc scribit quod ex diuisionis passione singula creata detrimentum corruptibile paciuntur

tHe sonne & the mone eclypsen to the / 
And ben with mannys synne wroth
The purest eyre for synne alofte / 
Hath be & is corrupt ful ofte / 
Ryght now ye highe wyndes blowe.
And anon after they ben lowe
Now cloudy and now clere it is
So maye it wel prouen by this
A mannes synne is for to hate
Whiche maketh the welken to debate
And for to see the properte
Of euery thyng m his degre
Bynethe here among vs here
Al stant a lyche in this mater
The see now ebbeth & now it floweth
The lōd now welketh & now groweth
Now the trees▪ with leues grene
Now they be bare & nothyng sene
Now be ther lusty somer floures
Now be ther stormy wynter shoures
Now be the dayes, now be the nyȝtes
So stant ther no thynge vpryghtes
Now is it lyght now is it derke
And thus stant al the worldes werke
After the disposicion
Of man & his condycyon
For thy Gregory in his, moral
Seyth that a man in specyal
The lasse world is properly
And that he proueth redyly
For a man of soule resonable
Is to an Angel resemblable
And lyche to beste he hath felyng
And lyche to trees he hath growyng
The stones ben & so is he
Thus of his propre qualyte
The man as tellyth the Clergye
[Page]Is a world in his partye
And whan this world mystorneth
The a rete world al ouertorneth
The lond the set the fyrmament
They axen alle jugement
Ayene the man & make hym warre
Ther whyle hym stant al out of harre
The remenaunt wold nought acord
And in this wyse as I record
The man is cause of al woo
Why this world is deuyded so
Dyuysyon the gospel sayth
One hows vpon an other lay [...]h
Tyl that the Reygne ouerthrowe
And thus many a man doth knowe
Dynysyon abouen alle
Is thyng whiche maketh the world
 [...]alle▪And euer hath syth it began
It may fyrst proue vpon a man

Quod ex sue complexionis mate [...] diuisus homo mortalis existat

tHe whiche for his cōplexyon
Is made vpon deuysyon
Of colde hote moyst & drye
He mote by verray kynde deye
For the contrarye of his estate
Stant euermore in suche debate
Tyl that a part be ouercome
Ther may no fynal pees be nome
But  [...]therwyse yf a man were
Made al to geder of one mater
Withoute jnterupcion
Ther shold no corrupcion
Engen dyr vpon that vnyte
But for ther is dyuersyte
Within hym self he may not last
That he ne dyeth at the last
But in a man yet ouer this
Ful grete dyuysyon ther is
Thorugh which that he is euer in strif
Whyle that hym last ony lyf

Quod homo ex corporis & anime condicione diuisus sicut saluacionis ita dampnacionis aptitudinem ingredituz

tHe body & the soule also
Among hem ben deuyded so
That what thyng that the body hateth
The soule loueth & debateth
But netheles ful ofte is sene
Of werre whiche is hem bytwene
The feble bath the vyctorye
And who so draweth in to memorye

Qualiter Adam a statu innocen cie diuisus a Paradiso voluptatis in terram laboris peccator proiectus est

wHat hath bifalle of old & new
He may that werre [...]sore rewe
Whiche fyrst bygā in paradys
For ther was proued what it is
And dysese ther is wrought
For thylke werre tho forth brought
The vyce of al dedly synne
Thorugh whiche dyuysyon cam ynne

Qualiter populi per vniuersum orbem a cultura dei diuisi Noe cum sua sequela duntaxat exceptis dilu [...]io interierunt

aMonge the men in erth here
And was the cause & ye mater
Why god the grete flodes sende
Of al the world & made an ende
But Noe with his felauship
Whiche only was sauf by shyp
And ouer that thorugh synne it come
That Nembroth syth thempyre nome

Qualiter in edificacione Turris Babilonis quam in dei contemptum Nembroth erexit lingua prius hebreica in varias linguas celica vindicta di uidebatur

wHan ye toure babylon hyȝt
Lat make as he yt wold fiȝt
Ayene ye high goddes myȝt
Wherof deuyded anon ryȝt
Was the langage in suche eutent
Ther wyst none what other ment
So that they myght nought procede
And thus it stant of euery dede
Where synne taketh the caas on hond
It may vpryght not long stonde
For synne of hir condycyon
Is moder of al deuysyon

[Page]Qualiter mundus qui in statu diuisionis quali cotidianis presenti tempore vexatur flagellis a lapide superuenien te id est a diuina potencia vs (que) ad resolucionem omnis carnis subito contere tur

aNd tokne whan the world shal fayle / 
For so sayth crist without  [...]nyle.
That nyghe the worldes ende
Pees & acord a wey shal wende
And al charyte shal seace
Among the men & hate encrece
And whan these tokenes falle
Al sodenly the stone shal falle
As Danyel it hath byknowe
Whiche al this world shal ouerthrowe
And euery man shal than aryse
To ioye or elles to iuise
Where that he shal for euer duelle
Or streyt to heuen or streyt to helle
In heuen is pees & al acorde
But helle is ful of suche discorde
That ther may be no loue day
For thy good is whyle a man may
Echone to sette pees with other
And louen as his owne broder
So may he wynne worldes welthe
And afterward his soule helthe

hIc narrat exemplum de concordia et vnitate inter homines pro uocanda / Et dicit quida in Arion̄ uu [...] Citharista ex sui cantus Cithare (que) consonam melodiā tante virtutis extiterat vt ipsum non solum virtum cum viro Sed eciam Leonem cum Cerua. Lupū cum agno / Canem cum lepore jpsum audientes vnanimiter abs (que) vlla discor dia ad inuicem pacificauit

bUt wold god yt now were one
Another suche as Aryone
Whiche had an [...]harp of suche temp [...]ire
And therto of so good mesure
He songe that the bestes wylde
Made of his note tame & mylde
The hynde in pees with the lyon
The wolf in pees with the Moto [...]
The hare in pees stood with the hoūd
And euery man vpon this ground
Whiche Aryon that tyme herde
As wel the lord as the Shepeherde
He brought hem al in good acord
So that the Comon with the lord
And lord with the Comon also
He set in loue bothe two
And put a wey melancolye
That was a lusty melodye
Whan euery man with other louz
And yf ther were suche one nowe
Whiche coude harpe as he dyde
He myght auayle in many a stede
To make pees where now is hate
For whan men thynken to debate
I not what other thyng is good
But where yt wysedom wa [...]eth wood
And reson torned in to rage
So that mesure vpon outrage
Hath set his world it is to drede
For that bryngeth in the comon drede
Whiche stant at euery mannes dore
But whan the sharpnes of the spore
The  [...]hors syde smyteth to sore
It greueth ofte & now no more
As for to speke of this matere
Whiche none but only god may stere
So were it good at this tyde
That euery man vpon his syd [...]
Besought & prayd for the pees
Whiche is the cause of al encrees
Of worship & of worldes welthe
Of hertes reste & soules helthe
Withoute pees stond nothyng good
For thy to cryst which shed his blood
For pees byseketh alle men
Amen / Amen / Amen / Amen

Explicit Prologus

[Page]

Incipit liber primus

nAturatus amor nature legibꝰ orbem. Subdit & vnanimes cō [...]tat esse feras / Huius enim mundi p [...]n [...]eps amore esse vide [...]ur / [...]u [...]s eget diues pauper et omnis o [...]e / Sunt in agone pares amor & for [...] [...] / [...]lebis ad insidias vertit [...] [...]tas / Est amor egra salus vex [...]t [...] [...]uies pius error / Bellica pax vul [...]s du [...]ce suaue malum

[...] in [...]rologo tractatum bat [...]nus existit qualiter hodierne condicionis diuisio cari [...]s dis [...]ctionem superauit / Intendit [...] ad [...]rsens libellum suu▪ cuius noi [...] C [...]fessio Amantis nuna [...]patur [...] de illo amore a quo non solū [...]manum genue sed et cuncta animā [...] naturaliter subiciuntur

j May not stretche vn­to ye heuene /
Myn hōd & set al in euene /
This world which is euer in balaūce /
It stāt not in my suffysaūce /
So grete thynges to compasse
But I mote lete it ouer passe
And treten vpon other thynges
For thy the style of my wrytynges
Fro this day forth I thenke chaunge
And speke of thyng is not so straūge
Whiche euery kynde hath vpon honde
And therupon the world mote stonde
And hath done syth it began
And shal whyle ther is ony man
And that is loue of whiche I mene
To trete as after shal be sene
In whiche ther can noman hym reule
For lawes loue is oute of reule
That of to moche or of to lyte
Wel nyghe is euery man to wyte
And netheles ther is no man
In al this world so wyse that can
Of loue temper the mesure
But as it fallyth in auenture
For wytte ne strengthe may not helpe
And whiche elles wold he hym yelpe
Is rathest throwen vnder foote
Ther can no wyght therof do bote
For yet was neuer suche couyne
That couthe ordeyne a medycyne
To thyng which god in lawe of kynd
Hath sett / for ther may noman fynd
The ryght salue for suche a soore
It hath & shal be euermore
That loue is mayster where he wylle
Ther can no lyf make other skylle
For where as euer hym lyst to sette
Ther is no myght whiche may hym
lette / But what shal fallen at the last
They can no wysedome cast
But as it falleth vpon chaunce
For yf ther euer was in balaunce
Whiche of fortune was gonerued
I may wel leue as▪ I am lerned
That loue hath that balaūce on honde
Whiche wol no reson vnderstonde
For loue is blynde & may not see
For thy may no certeynte
Beset vpon his iugemente
But as the whele aboute wente
He yeueth his graces vndeserued
And fro ye mā which hath hym serued
Ful ofte a wey he hath taken his fees
As he that playeth at the dyes
And therupon what shal byfalle
He not tyll that the chaūce falle
Where he shal lese or he shal wynne
[Page]And thus ful ofte men begynne
That yf they wysten what it ment
They wolde chaunge al her jugement

hIc quast in persona aliorū quos amor alligat fingens se Auctor esse amantes varias eorum passiones varijs huius libri distinctionibus per singula scribere proponit

aNd for to preue it is so
I am my self one of tho
Whiche to the scole am vnderfonge
For it is soth go not longe
As for to speke of this mater
I may yow telle yf ye wol here
A wonder hap whiche me befelle
That was to me both hard & felle
Touchend of loue & his fortune
The whiche me lyketh to comune
And pleynly for to tellen oute
To hem that louers be aboute
Fro poynt to poynt I wol declare
And wryten of my woful care
My wofnl day my woful chaunce
That men may take remembraūce
Of that they shal here after rede
For in good feyth this wold I rede
That euery man ensample take
Of wysedome whiche is hym bytake
That he wote of good appryse
To teche it forth / for suche empryse
Is for to preyse & therfor I
Wyll wryte & shewe al openly
Hou loue & I to gedre mette
Wherof the world ensample fette
May after this whan I am go
Of thylke vnsely iolyf wo
Where r [...]ule stant out of the wey
Now glad & now gladnes awey
And yet it may not be withstonde
For ought that men may vnderstōde

Non ego sampsonis vires non he [...]ulis arma. [...]inco sum sed vt hij victus amore pari / [...]t discant alij docet experiencia facti / Rebus in ambiguis que sunt hēnda via / Deuius orde ducit tēp tata pericula sequentem / Instruit a ter go me simul ille cadat / Me quibus er go venus casus laqucauit amantem Orbis in exemplum scribere cendo pal [...]

hIc declarat materiā dicens qualiter Cupido ignito iaculo sui cordis memoriam graui vlcere perforauit qd Genius percipiens jpsum vt dicit quasi in mortis articulo spasmatum ad confitendum se Genio sacerdoti super amoris causa sic semiuiuum speciali ter commendauit

vPon the poynt that is byfalle
Of loue in whiche yt j am falle
I thynke telle my matere
Now herkne who that wol it here
Of my fortune how it hath ferde
This endyrday as j forth ferde
To walke as you telle maye
And that was in the moneth of maye
Whan euery  [...]ryd hath chose his make
And thēketh his myrthes for to make
Of loue that he hath acheued
But so was I nothynge releued
For I was forther fro my loue
Than erthe is from the heuene aboue
And for to speke of ony spede
So wyst I me none other rede
But as it were a man for fare
 [...]nto the wode I gan to fare
Not for to synge with the byrdes
For whan j was ye wode amyddes
I fonde a soote grene pleyne
And I gan my wo there compleyne
Wysshyng & wepyng al myn one
For other myrthes made I none
So hard me was that ylke throwe
That ofte sythes ouerthrowe
To ground I was withoute breth
And euer I wysshed after deth
Whan I oute of my peyne awoke
[Page]And cast vp many a pytous look
Vnto the heuene & sayd thus
O thou cupyde / O thou venus
Thou god of loue & thou goddesse
Where is pyte where is mekenesse
Now doth me playnly lyue or dye
For certes suche a maladye
As I now haue & long haue had
It myght make a wyse man mad
If that it shold long endure
O venus quene of loues cure
Thou lyf thou lust thou mannes hele
Behold my cause & my quarelle
And yeue me sompart of thy grace
So that I may fynde in this place
If thou be gracious or none
And with that word I saw anone
The kyng of loue & the quene both
But he that kyng with eyen wroth
His chere aweyward fro me cast
And forth he passed at the last
But netheles or he forth went
A fyry dart me thought he sent
And threwe it thorugh myn hert rote
In hym fonde I none other bote
For benger hym lyst no [...] to duelle
But she whiche is the source & welle
Of wele & wo that shal betyde
To hem that louen at that tyde
Abode for to allen here
She cast on me uoo goodly chere
Thus netheles to me she sayde
What art thou sone & I abrayde
Ryght as a man doth oute of slepe
And therof she took ryght good kepe
And bad me [...]nothyng be adrad
But for al that I was nothyng glad
For I ne sawe no cause why
And efte she axed what was I
I sayde a Caytyf that lyeth here
What wolde ye my lady dere
Shal I be hool or elles deye
She sayd telle thy maladye
What is thy soore of whiche thou pley nest / 
Ne hyde it nouȝt for yf thou fey­nest /
I can do the no medycyne
Madame I am a man of thyne
That in thy court haue long serued
And aske that I haue deserued
Som wele after my long wo
And she bygan to loure thoo
And sayd ther be many of yow
Faytours & so may be that thou
Art ryght suche one & by feyntyse
Seyst that thou hast me do seruyse
And netheles she wyst wele
My word stode on an other whele
Withoute ony feyterye
But algate of my maladye
She bud me telle & say her trouthe
Madame yf ye wold haue routhe
Quod I thenne wold I telle yow
Sey forth quod she & telle me hou
She we me thy sekenes euery dele
Madame that I can do wele
Be so my lyf therto wol last
With that her loke on me she cast
And she sayd in aunter yf thou lyue
My wylle is fyrst that thou be shryue
And netheles how that it is
I wote my self but for al this
Vnto my preest whiche cometh anone
I wol thou telle it one & one
Bothe of thy thought & al thy werk
O Genius myn owne clerk
Come forth & here this mannes shryft
Quod venus tho & I vplyft
My hede with that & gan beholde
The self preest whiche as she wolde
Was redy there & set hym doune
To here my confessyon

Confessus Genio si sit medicina salutis / Experiar morbis quos tulit ipsa venus / Lesa quidem ferro medicantur membra saluti / Raro tamen medicum vulnus amoris habet

Ic dicit qualiter Genio pro confessione sedenti prouolutus amās ad confitendum se flexis genibus incuruatur supplicans tamen vt ad sui sē sus informacionē confessor ille in dicē dis opponere sibi benignꝰ dignaretur

[Page]
tHis worthy preest this holy mā
To me spekend thus began
And seyde Benedicite
My sone of the felycyte
Of loue & eke of wo also
Thou shalt be shryue of bothe two
What thou or this for loues sake
Hast felt. lete nothyng be forsake
Telle pleynlyche as it is byfalle
Aud with yt word I gan doun falle
On knees & with deuocyon
And with ful grete contrycyon
I sayd than Domiuus
Myn holy fadre Genius
So as thou hast experyence
Of loue for whos reuerence
Thou shalt me shryne at this tyme
I pray the lete me not mystyme
My shryfte for I am dystourbed
In al myn hert & so conturbed
That I ne may my wyttes gete
So shal I moche thyng foryete
But yf thou wolt my synne oppose
Fro poynt to poynt than I suppose
Ther shal no thyng be left behynde
But now my wyttes be so blynde
That I ne can my self teche
Tho he bygan anone to preche
And with his wordes debonayre
He sayd to me softe & fayre
In this place I am set here
Thy shryfte to oppose & here
By venus the Goddesse aboue
Touchend whos preest I am of loue

Sermo Genij sacerdotis super confessione ad amantem

bVt netheles for certayne skylle.
I mote algate & nedes wylle
Nought only make my spekynges
Of loue / but of other thynges
That touchen to the cause of vyce
For that bylongeth to thoffyce
Of prestes whos ordre that I bere
So that I wol nothyng forbere
That eche vyces one & one
Me shal the shewe euerychone
Wherof thou myght take euydence
To rewle with thy conscyence
But of conclusyon fynal
Conclude I wold in specyal
For loue whos seruaunt I am
And why the cause is that I cam
So thynke I to do bothe two
Fyrste that myn ordre longeth to
The vyces for to telle on rewe
But next abouen al other shewe
Of loue I wol the propyrtees
How that they stond by degrees
After the disposicyon
Of veuus whos condycyon
I must folowe as I am hold
For I with loue am al withholde
So that the lesse I am to wyte
Though I ne conne but a lyte
Of other thynges that be wyse
I am not taught in suche a wyse
For it is nought my comyn vse
To speke of vyces & of vertuse
But al of loue & his lore
For Venus bookes of nomore
Me techen nether text ne glose
But for as moche as I suppose
It syt a preest to be wel the wyd
Aud shame it is yf he be lewed
Of my presthode after the forme
I wol thy shryfte so enforme
That at the last thou shalt here
The vyces & to thy matere
Of loue I shal hem so remeue
That yu shalt knowe what they meue
For what a man shal axe or seyne
Touchend of shryft it mote be pleyne
It nedeth nought to make it queynt
For trouth his wordes wol not peinte
That I wol axe of the for thy
My sone it shal be so pleynly
That thou shalt knowe & vnderstonde
The poyntes of shryfte how they stōde

Visꝰ et auditꝰ fragiles sūt ostia mētis Que viciosa manꝰ claudere nulla pt

[Page]Est ibi largo via graditur qua cordis ad antrum / Hostis & ingrediens fossa talenta rapit / Hec michi confessor Genius pamordia profert / Dum sit in extremis vita remorsa malis / Nunc tn̄ vt potent feminina loquela fateri / Ver ba per os timide conscia mentis agam

hIc confessio amantis cui de duobns precipue quin (que) sens [...]bꝰ / hoc est de visu & auditu confessor pre ceteris opponit

bYytwene lyf & deth I herde
This prestes tale er I āsuerd
And than I prayd hym for to say / 
His wyl & I it wold obeye
After the forme of his appryse
Tho spak he to me in suche a wyse
And bad me that I shold shryue
As couchend of my wyttes fyue
And share that they were amended
Of that I had hem myspended
For tho be properly the gates
Thorugh whiche as to the herte algates
Cometh al thyng vnto the feyre
Whiche may the mānys soule empeyre
And now is this mater brouȝt ynne
My sone I thynk fyrst begynne
To wyce how thyn eye hath stonde
The whiche is as I vnderstonde
The moost princypal of alle
Thorugh whome ye perylle may befalle
And for to speke in loues kynde
Ful many suche a man may fynde
Whiche euer cast about her eye
To loke yf that they myght aspye
Ful ofte thyng which he in ne toucheth
But only that here herte soucheth
In hyndrynge of another wyght
And thus ful many a worthy kynȝt
And many a lusty lady bothe
Hath be ful ofte sythe wrothe
So that an eye is a theef
To loue & doth ful grete meschyef
And also for his owne part
Ful ofte that ylke fyry dart
Of loue which that euery mā brenneth
Thorugh hym in to the hert renneth
And thus a mannes eye first
Hym self greueth alder werst
And many a tyme that he knoweth
Vnto his owne harme it groweth
My sone herkne me now for thy
A tale to be ware therby
Thyn eye for to kepe & warde
See that it passe nought the warde

hIc narrat Confessor exemplum de visu ab illicitis preseruando dicens qualiter Acceon Cadmi Regis Thebarum nepos dum in quadam foresta venacionis causa spaaretur accidit vt ipse quendam fontem nemorosa arborum pulcritudine circū uentum superueniens vidit enim Dia nam cum suis Nimphis nudam in flu mine balncantem / quam diligencius intuens oculos suos a muliebri nudita te nullatenns auertere volebat / vnde indignata Diana ipsum in cerui figuram transformauit

Vyde sayth in his booke
Ensample touchend mysloke
And sayth whilome ther was one
A worthy lord whiche Acceone
Was hote & was Cosyn nyghe
To hym that The bes fyrst on hyghe
Vpset / whiche kyng Cadme hyght
This Acceon as he wel myght
Aboue al other cast his chere
And vsed it from yere to yere
With houndes & with grete hornes
Among the wodes & the thornes
To make his huntyng & his chace
Where hym best thought in euery place
To fyude game in his way
Ther rood he for to hunte & play
So hym by felle vpon a tyde
On his huntyng as he cam ryde
In a forest all one he was
He sawe vpon the grene gras
The fayre fressh flonres sprynge
He herd among the leues synge
[Page]The throstel with the nyghtyngalc
Thus er he wyst in to a dale
He cam wher was a lytel pleyne
Al round about wel beseyn
With bnsshes grene & Cedres hyghe
And ther within he caste his eye
A myddes the pleyne he sawe a welle
So fayr ther myght noman telle
In whiche Dyana naked stood
To bathe & play hyr in the flood
With many a nimphe which her serueth
But he his eye awey ne suerueth
Fro her whiche was naked al
And she was wonder wroth with al
And hym as she whiche was goddesse
Forshoop anone & the lykenesse
She made hym take of an herte
Whiche was to fore his hoūdes sterte
That ronne besylyche aboute
With many an horne & many a route
That maden moche noyse & crye
And at the last vnhappelye
This hert his owne hoūdes slough
And hym for vengeaūce al to drough

lO now my sone what it is
A man to caste his eye amys
Whiche Acceon hath dere abought
Beware for thy & do it nought
For ofte who that hede toke
Better it is to wynke than loke
And for to proue it is so
Ouyde the Poete also
A tale whiche to this matere
Acordeth & sayth als thou shalt here / 

hIc ponit aliud exemplum de eo dē vbi dicit ꝙ quidam princeps nomine Phorceꝰ tres progenuit filias Gorgones a vulgo nuncupatas / que vno partu exorte deformitatem monstrorum serpentinam obtinuerunt qui bus citra in etatem peruenerant talis destinata fuerat natura. ꝙ quicum (que) in eas aspiceret in lapidem subito mutabatur / Et sic ꝙ plures incaute respicientes visis illis perierunt / fed perseus Miles Clipeo palladis gladio (que) mercu rij munitus eas extra montem Athelantis cohabitantes auimo audaci abs (que) sui periculo interfecit

IN Methamor it telleth thus
o How yt a lord which phorcheꝰ
a Ws hote had doughters thre
Bnt vpon her natyuyte
Suche was the Constellacyon
That out of mannes nacyon
Fro kynde they be so myswent
That to lykenes of a serpent
They were bothe & that one
Of hem was cleped stellybone
That other suster Snryale
The thyrd as tellyth in the tale
Me'ousa hyght / & netheles
Of Comon name Gorgones
In euery countrey ther about
As monstres whiche as men doute
Men clepe hem & but one eye
Among hem thre in poure partye
They had of whiche they myght see
Now hath it this / now hath it she
After the cause & nede it lad
By throwes eche of hem it had
A wonder thyng yet more amys
Ther was wherof I telle al this
What man on hem his chere cast
And hem byhelde he was als fast
Oute of a man in to a stone
For shape / and thus many one
Deceyued were of that they wolde
Mysloke where they ne sholde
But Perseus that worthy knyght
Whome pallas of here grete myght
Halpe & took hym a sheld therto
And eke the god mercurye also
Lent hym a swerd he as it felle
Beyonde Athlans the hyghe hylle
These monstres foughte & ther he fond
Dyuerse men of thylk lond
[Page]Thorugh syght of hem mystorned were
Standed as stones here and there
But he whiche wysedome & pro wesse
Had of the god & of the goddesse
The sheld of pallas gan embrace
With whiche he couerd sauf his face
Mercurius swerd oute he drough
And so he bare hym that he slough
These dredeful monstres al thre

Confessor

 [...]O now my sone auyse the
That thou thy syght not mysuse
Case not thyn eye vpon meduse
That thou be torned in to stone
For so wyse man was neuer none
But yf he wol his eye kepe
And take of foule delyte no kepe
That with lust nys ofte nome
Thorugh streugthe of loue & o [...]come
Of myllokyng how it hath ferd
As I haue told now hast thou herd
My good sonne & take good hede
And ouer this yet I the vede
That thou beware of thyne heryng
Whiche to the hert the tydynge
Of many a wnyte hath brought
And tarye with a mannes thonght
And netheles good is to here
 [...] thyng wherof a man maye lere
That to vertu is accordaūt
And toward al the remenaunt
Good is to torne his ere fro
For esses but yf a man do soo
Hym may ful ofte mysbefalle
I rede ensample amonges alle
Wherof to kepe wel an ere
It ought put a man in fere

hIc Confessor exemplum narrat vt non ab auris exaudicione fatua animus deceptus inuoluatur / Et dicit qualiter ille serpens qui aspis wcatur quendam preciosissimum lapidem nomine carbunculum in sue frontis medi o gestās contra verba ī cantantis aurē vnam assigendo promit / et aliam sue caude stimulo firmissime obturat

aSerpent whiche that aspydis
Is cleped of his kynde hath this / 
That he the stone noblest of alle / 
Whiche that mē carbūcle calle
Bereth in his hede aboue on hight
For whiche that a man by sliyghte
The stone to wynne & hym to daunte
With his corecte hym wold enchaūte
Anone as he perceyueth that
He leyth doune his one ere al plat
Vnto the gronnde & hold it fast
And eke the tother als faste
He stoppeth with his taylle so sore
That he the wordes lasse ne more
Of his enchauntement ne heveth
And in this wyse hym self he skyeveth
So that he hath the wordes wayued
And thns his ere is nought deceyued

Aliud exemplum super eodem qualiter Rex vlixes cum a bello Troiano versus Greciam nauigio remearet et prope illa monstra maxima Sirenes nuncupata angelica voce canorano ipsum ventorum aduersitate nauigare oporteret omnium nautarum suorum aures obturari coegit

iN other thyng who yt recordeth
Lyche vnto this sample acordeth
Whiche in the Tale of Troye I fynde
Syrenes of a wonder kynde
Ben monstres as the bookes bellen
And in the greete see they duellen
Of body bothe & of vysage
Lyke to the women of yong age
Vp fro the nauyl on highe they be
And doune bynethe as men may see
They bere of fysshes the fygure
And oner this of suche nature
They be that with so swete a steuene
Lyke to the melodye of heuene
In womens wys they synge
With notes of so grete lykyng
Of suche mesure of suche mysyke
Wherof the shippes they beswyke
That passen by the costes there
[Page]For whan the shipmen lay an ere
Vnto the wyce in here advyce
They wene it be of paradys
Whiche after to hem is an helle
For reson may not with hem duelle
Whan they the grete lustes here
They can not here shippes stere
So besylyche vppon the note
They herkene & in suche wyse assote
That they hyr ryght cours & weye
Foryete / & to here ere obeye
And saylen tyl it so byfalle
That they in to perylle falle
Where as the shippes be to drawe
And they be with the monstres slawe
But fro this perylle netheles
With his wysedom kyng vlyxes
Escapeth and it ouer passeth
For he to fore hyr hand compasseth
That noman of his companye
Hath power vnto that folye
His ere for no lust to cast
For he hem stopped als fast
That none of hem maye here hem syng
So whan they forth come saylyng
There was suche gouernaūce on honde
That they the monstres haue withstōd
And slough of hem a grete partye
Thus was he saut with his nauye
This wyse kyng thorugh gouernaūce

Confessor

wHerof my sone in remembraūce
Thou myght ensample take here
As I haue told & what thou here
Be wel ware & yeue no credence
But yf thou see more euydence
For yf thou woldest take kepe
And wysely couthest warde & kepe
Thyne eye and ere as I haue spoke
Than haddest thou the gates stoke
Fro suche felye as comyth to wynne
Thyn hertes wytte whiche is within
Wherof that now thy loue excedeth
Mesure and many a peyne bredeth
But yf thou couthest sette in rewle
Tho two the thre were ethe to rewle
For thy as for thy wyttes fyue
I wol as now no more shryue
But only of these ylke two
Tel me therfor yf it be so
Hast thou thyne eye ought myschrow▪

Amans

mY fader ye I am bekuowe
I haue hem cast vpon meduse
Therof I may me nought excuse
Myn hert is growen in to stone
So that my lady therupon
Hath suche a prynte of suche a graue
That I can nought my self saue

Opponit Confessor

wHat sayst yu sone as of thyn ere
mY fader I am gyltyf there
For whan I may my lady here
My wyt with that hath lost his steve
I do nought as Ulyxes dede
But falle anon vpon the stede
Where as I see my lady stonde
And ther I do yow vnderstonde
I am so pulled in my thought
So that of reason leueth nought
Wherof that I may me defende

— Confessor

mY good sonne god the amende
For as me thynketh by thy spech
Thy wyttes be ryght for to seche
As of thyn ere & of thyne eye
I wol no more specyfye
But I wol axen ouer this
Of other thynges how that it is

Celsior est aquila (que) leone forcior ille / Quem tumor elati cordis ad alta mouet / Sunt species quin (que) / quibus est superbia ductrix / Clamat et in multis mundus adheret eis / Lauando faciem ficto pallore subornat. Fraudibus Ipocrisis melle verba suis / Sic (que) pios animos ꝙ sepe ruit muliebres / Ex humili verbo sub latitante dolo

hIc loquitur ꝙ septem sunt peccata mortalia / quorum caput superbia vanas species habet et carum prima Ipocrisis dicitur cuius proprietatem secundum vicium Confessor Amanti declarat /

[Page]
mY sone as i shal the enforme
Ther ben yet of another forme
Of dedly vyces seuen applyed
Wherof the herte is ofte plyed
To thyng which after shal hym greue
The [...] fyrst of hem thou shalt byleue
Is pryde whiche is princypal
And hath with hym in especyal
Mynystres syue ful dyuerse
Of whiche the I shal reherce
The fyrst is sayd Ipocrysye
If thou art of his compauye
Telle forth my sone & shryue the clene

Amans

iWote not fadre what ye mene
Bnt this I wold yow beseche
That ye me by somwey teche
What is to ben an Ipocryte
And yf I be for to wyte
I wol beknowe as it is

mY sone an Ypocryte is this
A man whiche feyneth cōseyen
As though it were al innocence
Withoute & is not so within
And doth so for he wold wynne
Of his desyre the wyne astate
And anone whan he come ther at
He she weth than what he was
The corne is torned in to gras
That was a Rose is than a thorne
And he that was a lambe byforne
Is than a wolf & thus malyce
Vnder the colour of Iustyce
As had / & as the peple telleth
These ordres wyten where he duelleth
As he that of her counseyll is
And thylk world whiche they or this
Forsaketh & drawen in ayene
He cloteth ryches as men seyn
Vnder the symplest of pouerte
And doth to seme of grete deserte
Thyng whiche is lytel worth within
He seyth in open fy to synne
And in secreet ther is no vyce
Of whiche that he nys noryce
And euer his chere is sobre & softe
And where he goth he blessyd ofte
Wherof the blynde world he dretcheth
But yet al only he ne stretcheth
His rewle vpon Relygyon
But next to that condicyon
In suche as clepe hem holy chirche
It sheweth eke how he can worche
Among the wyde furred hodes
To gete hem the worldly goodes
And they hem self by thylke same
That setten moost the world in blame
But yet in contrarye of his lore
Ther is nothyng they louen more
So that semed of lyght they werke
The dedes whiche are inward derke
And thus this double ypocrysye
Whiche is deuoute apparancye
A byser set vpon his face
Wherof toward the worldes grace
He semeth to be wel ryght thewed
And yet his herte is al beshrewed
But netheles he stant byleued
And hath his purpoos ofte acheued
Of worship & of worldes welthe
And takyth it as who sayd by stelthe
Thorugh couerture of his fallas
And ryght so in semblable caas
This vyce hath eke his offycers
Among these other seculeres
Of grete men for of the sinale
As for to accompte he set no tale
But they that passe the comune
With suche hem lyke to comune
And where he sayth he wold socoure
The peple there he wol deuoure
For now a day is many one
Whiche speketh of Peter & of Iohn
And thynketh Iudas in his hert
Ther shal no worldes good astert
His hand and yet he geueth Almesse
And fasteth ofte & hereth messe
With mea culpa whiche he seyth
Vpon his breste ful ofte he leyth
His hond & case vp ward his eye
As though Crystes face he syghe
Soo that it semeth at the syght
[Page]As he alone al other myght
Rescue with his holy dede
But yet his hert in other stede
Among his bedys moost deuoute
Goth in the worldes cause aboute
How that he myght his waryson
Encrese / & in cōparyson

hIc tractat confessor cum amā te super illa jpocrisia que sub amoris facie fraudulenter lati tando mulieres ipsiꝰ ficticijs credulas sepissime decepit innocentes

tHer be louers of suche a sort
That feynē hem an hūble port
And al is ypocrysye
Whiche with deceyte & flaterye
Hath many a worthy wyght begyled
For whan he hath his tonge be fyled
With softe speche & with lesyng
Forth with his fals pytous lokyng
He wold make a woman wene
To gone vpon the fayre grene
Whan that she fallyth in the myre
For he may haue his desyre
How so falleth on the remenaunt
He halt no word of couenaunt
But or the tyme that helspede
Ther is no sloygthe in thylk deede
Whiche ony lones faytour may
That he ne put it in assay
As hym belonged for to done
The colour of the reyny mone
With medycyne vpon his face
He set / and than he axeth grace
As he whiche hath sykenes feyned
Whan his vysage was so desteyned
With eye vp cast on her he syketh
And many a contenaunce he pyketh
To bryngen hyr in to byleue
Of thyng whiche that he wold acheue
Wherof he bereth the pale hewe
And for he wold seme trewe
And maketh him seke whā he is heyle
But whan he berest lowest seyle
Than is he swyfeest to begyle
The woman whiche that ylke whyle
Set vpon hym fayth or credence

mY sone yf thou thy conseyence
Entamed hast in such a wyse
In shryfte thou myght the auyse
And telle it me yf it be so

Amans

mYn holy fadre certes no
And for to feyne suche sykenesse
It nedeth nought for this wytnesse
I take to god that my courage
Hath be more seke than my vysage
And eke thus wel I may auowe
So lowe couthe I neuer bo we
To feyne humylyte withoute
That me lyst better to loute
With al the thoughtes of myn herte
For that thyng shal me neuer sterte
I speke as to my lady dere
To make hyr ony feyned chere
God Wote wel ther I lye nought
My chere hath be suche as my thought
For in good feith this leueth wele
My wyll was better a thousand dele
Than ony chere that i couthe
But Syre I haue in my yougthe
Done otherwyse in other place
I put me therof in your grace
For this excusen i ne shal
That I haue elles oueral
To loue and to his companye
Be pleyne withoute ypocrysye
But ther is one whiche that I ser [...]e
Al though I may no thank deserue
To whome yet neuer vnto this daye
I sayd onlyche ye or nay
But yf it so were in my thought
As touchend other say I nought
That I am somdele for to wyte
Of that ye clepe an Ipocryte

Confessor

mY sone it syt wel euery wyght
To kepe his thonȝt in trouth vp ryght / 
Towardes loue in al wyse
For who that wolde hym wel aduyse
What hath byfalle in this matere
He shold nought with feyned chere
[Page]Deceyue loue in no degre
To loue is enery hert fre
But in deceyt of that thou feynest
And therupon thy lust atteynest
That thou hast wonne with thy wyle
Though it be lyke for a whyle
Thou shalt it afterward repente
And for to proue myn entente
I fynde ensample in a Crony (que)
Of hem that loue so beswyke

Quod Ipocrisia sit in amore pericu losa narrat exemplum qualiter sub reg no Tiberij Imperatoris quidam miles nomine Mundns qui Romanorū dux milicie tune prefuit Dominam Paulinam pulcherrimā castitatis [...] famosissimam mediantibus duobus falsis Presbiteris in Templo Isys domini sui se esse fingens sub fic [...]e sauctitatis Ipocrisi nocturno tempore vicia [...]t vn̄ idem dux in exilium presbiteri in mortem ob sui criminis enormitatem damp nati extiterant

IT byfesse by old dayes thus
Whylome the emperour Tiberius
The Monarche of Rome thus lad
Ther was a worthy Romayn had
A wyf & she Pauline hyght
Whiche was to euery mannys syght
Of al the Cyte the fayrest
And as men sayden eke the lest
It is & hath ben euer yet
That so strong is that no mans wyt
Whiche thurgh beaute ne may be with­
drawe / To loue & vnder the lawe
Of thylke frele bore kynde
Whiche maketh the hert eyen blynde
Where no reson may be comuned
And in this wyse so fortuned
This tale of whiche I wol mene
This wyf whiche in her lustes grene
Was fresshe & tendre of age
She may not let the courage
Of hym that wol on hyr assote
Ther was a duk & he was hote
Mundus whiche had in his bayllye
To lede alle the chyualrye
Of Rome & was a worthy knyght
But he was nought of suche myght
The strengthe of loue not to withstōde
That he ne was brought to honde
That maulgry where he wold or no
This yong wyf he loueth so
That he hath put al his assay
To wynne thyng whiche he ne may
Gete of hyr graunt in no maner
By yefte of gold ne by prayer
And whan he sa we that by no mede
Toward her loue he myght spede
By sleyght feyned than he wrought
And therupon he hym bythought
How that ther was in the Cyte
A temple of suche auctoryte
To whiche with grete deuocyon
The noble women of the toune
Most comonlyche on pylgremage
Gone for to pray thylke ymage
Whiche the goddesse of Chyldyng is
And cleped was by name Isys
And in her temple than were
To rewle & to mynystre there
After the lawe whiche was tho
Abouen al other prestes two
This duk whiche thouȝt his loue gete
Vpon a day hem two to mete
Hath bede & they come at his haste
Where they had a ryche feste
And after mete in preuy place
This lord whiche wold his thank pur­
chace / To eche of hem than gaf a gift
And spak soo that by waye of shryfte
He drough hem in to his couyne
To helpe & shape how paulyne
After his lust deceyue myght
And they her trouthes both plyght
That they by nyght her shold wynne
In to the temple & he therynne
Shal haue of hyr al his entent
Thus acorded forth they wente
Now lyste thorugh whiche Ipocrysye
[Page] Ordeyned was the trecherye
Wherof this lady was deceyued
These prestes hadden wel conceyued
That she was of grete holynesse
And with a counterfeyt symplenesse
Whiche hyd was in fals courage
Feyned an heuenly message
They come & sayd to hyr thus
Paulyne the God Anubus
Hath sente vs both prestes here
And sayth he wol to the appere
By nyghtes tyme hym self allone
For loue he hath to thy persone
And therupon he hath vs bede
That we in Isys Temple a stede
Honestly for the purueye
Where thou by nyght as we the seye
Of hym shalt take a vysyon
For vpon thy condycyon
The whiche is chast & ful of feyth
Suche pryce as he vs tolde he leyth
That he wol stonde of thyn acord
And for to bere herof record
He send vs hyder bothe two
Glad was her Innocence tho
Of suche wordes as she herd
With humble chere & thus ansuerd
And seyd that the goddes wylle
She was al redy to fulfylle
That by her housbondes leue
She wold in Isys Temple at eue
Vpon her goddes grace abyde
To seruen hym by nyght tyde
The prestes gone home tho ageyne
And she goth to her souerayne
Of goddes wylle & as it was
She told hym al the pleyne cas
Wherof he was deceyued eke
And bad that she shold her meke
Al hoole vnto the goddes heeste
And thus she whiche was honeste
To god ward after hyr entent
At nyght to the temple went
Where that the fals prestes were
And they receyuen hyr there
With suche a tokue▪ of holynesse
As though they sawen hyr Goddesse
And al within a preuy place
A softe bed a large space
They had made & enterc [...]rteyned
Where she was afterward engyned
But she whiche al honour supposeth
The fals prestes than opposeth
And axeth by what obseruaunce
She myght moost to the plesaūce
Of god that nyghtes reule kepe
And they hyr bydden for to slepe
Lyggend vpon the bed a lofte
For so they sayden al stylle & softe
God Anubus her wold awake
The counseylle in this wyse take
The preestes fro this lady gone
And she that wyst of gyle none
In the maner as it was sayd
Tho to slepe vpon the bed is leyd
In hope that she shold acheue
Thyng which stood than vpon bileue
Fulfylled of all holynesse
But she hath fayled as I gesse
For in a closet fast by
The duk was hyd so pryuely
That she myght not perceyue
And he that thought to deceyue
Hath suche aray vpon nome
That whan he wold vnto hyr come
It shold seme at hir eye
As though she veryly syghe
God Anubus & in suche a wyse
This ypocryyte of his queyntyse
Awayteth euer tyl she slepte
And than oute of his place he crepte
So stylle that she nothyng herde
Aud to the bed stalkynge he ferde
And sodenly or she it wyst
Beclypt in armes he hyr kyst
Wherof in womannysshe  [...]rede
She wooke & nyst what to rede
But he with softe wordes mylde
Comfort her & sayd with child
He wold her make in suche a kynde
That al the world shal haue in mynde
The worship of that ylke sone
[Page]For he shal with goddes wone
And ben hym self a god also
With such wordes & with moo
The whiche he feyneth in his speche
This ladyes wytte was al to seche
As she whiche al trouth weneth
But he that al vntrouthe meneth
With blynde tales so her lad
That al his wyl of her he had
And whan hym thouȝt it was ynouȝ
Agayne the day he hym withdrough
So pryuely that she ne wyste
Where he bycome as he lyste
Oute of the temple be goth his waye
And she bygan to bydde & praye
Vpond the bare ground knelend
And after that made her offrende
And to the prestes yeftes grete
She yafe & home ward in the strete
The dnke her met & sayd thus
The myghty god whiche Annbus
 [...]s hote he saue the paulyne
For thou art of his disciplyne
So holy that no mannes myght
May do that he hath do to nyght
Of thyng whiche thou hast euer esche­
ued / But I his grace haue so pursued
That I was made his lyeutenaunt
For thy by way of couenaunt
Fro this day for ward I was thyne
And yf the lyke to be myne
That stond vpon thyne owne wylle

sHe herd this tale & bare it stylle
And home she went as it bi­felle
In to her chambr [...] & ther she fille
 [...]on hyr bed to wepe & crye
And sayd O derke ypocrysye
Thorugh whos dissimulacyon
Of fals ymagynacyon
I am wykkedly thus deceyued
But that I haue it apperceyued
I thanke vuto the goddes alle
For though it thus byfalle
I shal neuer eft whiles I lyue
And thylk auowe to god I yeue
And thus wepend she compleyneth
Hyr fayr face & al dysteyneth
With woful teres her eye
So that vpon this agonye
Her housbond is in come
And sawe how she was ouercome
With sow we & axeth hyr what hyr ey
leth, And she with yt hir self bewei [...]eth
Wel more than she dyde therfore
And sayd allas wyfhode is love
In me whiche whysome was honeste
I am no more than a beeste
Now am I defouled of two
And as she myght speke tho
Ashamed with a pytous onde
She told vnto her housbonde
The sothe of al the hole tale
And in her speche dede & pale
She swouneth wele nyghe to the laste
And he hyr in armes faste
Vphelde & ofte swore his othe
That he with hyr is nothyng wroth
For wel he wote she maye ther nouȝt
But netheles within his thought
His hert stood in a sory plyght
And sayd he wold of that despyte
Be auengyd how so euer it falle
And sente vnto his frendes alle
And whan they were comen in fere
He told hem vpon this matere
And axed hem what was to done
And they auysed were sone
And sayd it thought hem for the best
To set his wyf fyrst in rest
And after pleyne to the kyng
Vpon the mater of this thyng
Tho was his woful wyf comforted
By al wayes & disported
Tyl that she was somdele amended
And thus they a day or tuo dispēded
The thyrd day she goth to pleyne
With many a worthy Cytezeyne
And he with many a Cytezeyne
When themperour it herd seyne
And knewe the falshede of the vyce
He sayd he wold do Iustyee
And fyrste he lete the prestes take
[Page]And for they shold it not forsake
He put hem in to question
But they of suggestion
Ne coude not one word refuse
Bnt for they wold hem self excuse
The blame vpon the duke they layd
But ther ayene the coūseyl sayd
That they be nought excused so
For he is one & they be two
And two haue more wytte than one
So thylke excusement was none
And ouer that was sayd hem eke
Than whan men wold vertue seke
Men shold it in the prestes fynde
Hir ordre is of so hyghe a kynde
That they be tuterers of the weye
For thy yf ony man forswey
Thorugh hem they be not excusable
And thus by lawe resonable
Among the wyse Inges there
The prestes bothe dampned were
So that the preuy trecherye
Hyd vnder fals ypocrysye
Was than openly shewed
That many a mā hem hath beshrewed
And whan the prestes were dede
The temple of thylke horryble dede
They thoughten purge & thylk ymage
Whos cause was the pylgremage
They drouen out & also fast
Fer in to the Tyber they it cast
Where the Ryuer it hath defyed
And thus the temple puryfyed
They haue of thylke horryble synne
Whiche was that tyme do therynne
Of this poynt was thus aduyse
But of the duk was otherwyse
For he with loue was bestad
His dome was nought so hard lad
For loue put reson awey
And can nought see the ryght wey
And by this cause he was respyted
So that the deth hym was acquyted
But for al that he was exybed
For he his loue had so begyled
That he shal neuer come ayene
For he that is to trouthe vnpleyne
He may not faylen of vengeaunce

aNd to taken remembraunce
Of that ypocrysye hath wrought
On other halue men shal nought
To lyghtly leue al that they here
But than shold a wyseman stere
The shyp when suche wyndes blowe
For fyrst thouh they begynne lowe
At ende they be nought meuable
But al to broke mast & cable
So that the shyp with sodeyne blast
Whan men leste wene is ouer cast
As now fuloften a man may see
And of old tyme how it hath be
I fynde a grete experyence
Wherof to take euydence
Good is and to be war also
Of the perylle or hym be wo

hIc vlterius ponit exemplum de illa eciā Ipocrisia que inter virū & virū decipiēs periculosissima consistit Et narrat qualiter Greci in obsidione ciuitatis Troye cum ipsam vi apprehendene nnllatenns potuerunt fallaci animo cum Troianis vt dicūt ꝓ perpetuo statuebant & super hoc quendam equm mire grossionis de ere fabricatum ad sacrificandum in templo Minerue confingentes

oF hem yt ben so derk wit [...]
At troye also if we begyn [...]
Ipocrysye it hath bytrayd
For whan ye grekes had al assayed /
And fonde that by no bataill
Ne by no syege it myght auayll
The toune to wynne thurgh pro wesse
This vyce feyned of symplesse
Thorugh sleyghte of Calcas & Cryse
It wan by suche a maner wyse
An hors of bras they lete do forge
Of suche entaylle & of suche a forge
[Page]That in this world was neuer man
That suche another werk began
The crafty werkman Epius
It made & for to telle thus
The grekes that thoughten to begyle
The kyng in Troye in thylke whyle
With Anthenor & with Enee
That were bothe of the Cyte
And of the counseylle the wysest
The rychest & the myghtyest
In pryue place so they trete
With fayr byhestes & yeftes grete
Of gold that they haue engyned
To gedre & whan they be couyned
They feynen for to make a pees
And vnder that yet neuertheles
They shopen the destructyon
Bothe of the kynge & of the Towne
And thus the fals pees was take
Of hem of Grece & vndertake
And therupon they fonde awey
Where strengthe myght not awey
That sleyghte shold helpe thanne
And of an ynche a large spanne
By colour of pees they made
And telden how they were glade
Of that they stonden in acord
And for it shal ben of record
Vnto the kyng of Troye sayden
By way of loue & thus they pra yden
As they that wold his thank deserue
A sacryfyce vnto myuerne
The pers to kepe in good entent
They must offre or that they went
The kyng counseyled in the cas
By Anthenor & Eneas
Therto hath youen his assent
So was the pleyne trouthe blent
Thorugh counterfete ypocrysye
Of that they sholden sacryfye
The Grekes vnder the holynesse
Anone with al besynesse
Here hors of bras lete fayr dyghte
Whiche was to seen a wonder syghte
For it was trapped of hym selue
And had of smale wheles twelue
Vpon the whiche men ynough
With craft toward ye Town it drough
And goth glystrend ayenst the sonne
Tho was ther ioye ynough begonne
For Troye in grete denocyon
Came also with procession
Ayenst this noble sacryfyse
With grete honour & in this wyse
Vnto the gates they it broughte
But of here entent whan they soughte
The gates weren al to smale
And therupon was many a tale
But for the worship of Mynerue
To whome they comen for to serue
They of the Towne whiche vnderstode
That al this thyng was do for goode
For pees / wherof they be glade
The gates that Neptunus made
A thousand wynter ther to fore
They haue anon to broke & tore
The strong wallys doune they breke
So that in to the large strete
This hors with grete solempnyte
Was brought within the Cyte
And offred with grete reuerence
Whiche was to Troye an euydence
Of loue & pees for euermo
The Gregoys token leue tho
With al the hole felauship
And forth they wenten in to ship
And crossen sayle & made hem yare
Anone as though they wolden fare
But whan the blak wynter nyght
Withoute Mone or sterre lyght
Bederked hath the water stronde
Al pryuely they gone on londe
Ful armed oute of the nauye
Symon whiche was made her efpye
Within Troye as was cōspyred
Whan tyme was a tokne fyred
And with that theyr wey they holden
And comen ryght as they wolden
There as the gates were to broke
The purpoos was ful take & spoke
Er ony man may take kepe
Whyle that the Cyte was a slepe
[Page xvij]They slowen al that was within
And token what they myght wyn
Of suche good as was suffysaunt
And brenden vp the remenaunt
And thus come oute the trecherye
Whiche vnder fals ypocrysye
Was hyd / and they that wened pees
Tho myghten fynde no relees
Of thylk swerd whiche al deuoured
Fulofte & thus the swete soured
Whan it is knowe to the tast
He spylleth many a worde wast
That shal with suche a peple trete
For whan he weneth most beyete
Than is he shape most to leese
And ryght so yf a woman chese
Vpon the wordes that she hereth
Som mā when he moste trewe appereth
Than is he forthest fro the trouthe
But yet fulofte & that is routhe
They speden that be most vntrewe
And louen euery day a newe
Wherof the lyef is after loth
And loue hath cause to be wroth
But that man that his luste desyreth
Of loue & therupon conspyreth
With weedes feyned to deceyue
He shal not fayle to receyue
His peyne as it is ofte sene

Confessor

For thy my sone as I the mene
It fyt the wel to take hede
That thou eschewe of thy manhede
Ipocrysye & his semblaunt
That thou ne nought be deceyuaunt
To make a woman to byleue
Thyng whiche is not in thy byleue
For in suche feynt Ipocrysye
Of loue is al the trecherye
Thorugh whiche loue is deceyned ofte
For feyned semblannt is so softe
Vnnethes loue may beware
For why sone as I wel dare
I charge the to fle that vyce
That many a womā it hath made nyce
But loke thou dele not with al
Iwys fadre nomore I shal

Confessor

Now sone kepe that thou hast swore
For this that thou hast herd byfore
Is sayd the fyrst poynt of pryde
And next vpon that other syde
To shryne & speke ouer this
Touchend of pryde yet ther is
The poynt second I the behote
Whiche Inobedyence is hote

Flectere ꝙ frāgi meliꝰ reputatur & olle Fictilis ad cacabū pugna valere neqⁱt / Quē neꝪ lex hoīm neꝪ lex diuīa valebit / / Flectere multociēs corde reflectit amor / Quē non flectit amor non flec tendꝰ ab illo / Sed rigor illiꝰ plus ele phante riget / Ded gnatur amor poterit quos scire rebelles / Et rudibꝰ sortē prestat habere rudem / Sed qui spōte sui subicit se cordis amore / Frangit in aduersis omnia fata pius

hIc loquitur de secūda specie suꝑbie que Inobediencia dicitur / Et primo illius vicij naturā simpliciter declarat Et tractat cōsequente▪ super illa obediēcia que in curia Cupidinis exosa amoris cam̄ ex sua ībesillitate sepissime retardat

tis vyce of Inobediencie
Ageyne the reule of cōseyence
Al yt is hūble he disaloweth
That he toward his god ne boweth
After the lawes of his heste
Not as a man but as a beste
Whiche goth vpon his lustes wylde
So goth this proude vyce vnmylde
That he dysdeyneth al lawe
He not what is to be felawe
And serue he may not for pryde
So is he led on euery syde
And is that selue of whome mē speke
Whiche wol not bowe or that he breke
I not yf loue myght hym plye
[Page]For elles for to Iustyfye
His hert I not what myght duayle
For thy my sone of suche entayle
If that thyn hert be disposed
Telle oute & lete it nought be glosed
For yf that thou vnbuxome be
To loue I not in what degre
Thou shalt thy good world acheue

Amans

My fadre ye shal wel byleue
The yong whelpe whiche is affayted
Hath not his mayster better wayted
To couche whan he seyth go lowe
Than I anone as I may knowe
My lady wylle ne bowe more
But other while I grutche sore
Of som thynges that she doth
Wherof tha. I wol telle soth
For of two poyntes I am bethouȝt
That I wold I myght nought
Obeye vnto my lady hest
But I dar make this byhest
Sauf only of that ylke two
I am vnbuxome of no mo

Confessor opponit

What / ben tho two telle on quod he
My fader this is one that she
Cōmaūdeth me my mouthe to close
Aud that I shold nought here oppose
In loue of whiche I ofte preche
But preuelyche of suche a speche
Forbere & suffre her in pees
But that ne myght I netheles
For al this world obeye I wys
For when I am there as she is
Though she my tales nought alowe
Ayene hir wyll yet mote I bowe
To seche yf that I myght haue grace
But that thynge may I not embrace
For ought that I can speke or do
And yet ful ofte I speke so
That she is wroth & sayth be stylle
For I that heest shal fulfylle
And therto ben obedyent
Than is my cause fully shent
For speche les maye noman spede
So wote I not what is to rede
But certes I may nought obeye
That I ne mote algates seye
Somwhat of that I wold mene
For euer it is alyche grene
The grete loue whiche I haue
Wherof I can not both saue
My speche & this obedyence
And thus fulofte my sylence
I breke & is the fyrst poynt
Wherof that I am oute of poynt
In this & yet it is no pryde
Now then vpon that other syde
To telle my disobeysaunce
Ful sore it stant to my greuaunce
And may not synke in to my wytt
For oftyme she me bytt
To leue hyr & chese a newe
And sayth yf I the soth knewe
How fer I stonde oute of her grace
I shold loue in other place
But therof wol I disobeye
For also wel she myght seye
Go take the mone where it sytte
As bryng that in to my wytte
For there neuer roted tre
That stood so fast in his degre
That I ne stonde more fast
Vpon hyr loue & may cast
Myn hert awey as though I wolde
For god wote though I neuer sholde
Seen hyr with eye after this daye
Yet stont it so that I ne maye
Hyr loue oute of my brest renue
This is a wondre retenue
That maulgre where she wol or none
Myn hert is euer more in one
So that I can none other chese
But whether that I wynne or lese
I mote hyr loue tyl I deye
And thus I breke as by that weye
Here hestes & here commaūdynges
But trulyche in none other thynges
For thy my fadre what is more
Touchand to this ylke lore
I yow byseche after the forme
[Page xviij]That ye pleynly me wold enforme
So that I myght myn hert reule
In loues cause after the reule

Murmur in aduersis ita cōcipit ille superbꝰ. [...]ena quod ex bina sorte pur get eum / O bina fortune cum spes in amore resistit / Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans

h Ic loquitur de murmure & plāc tu qui super oēs alios inobediēcie secreciores vt ministre illi deseruiant

tOward the vyce of which we trete / 
Ther be twey of thilk e­strete▪
Here name is murmur & cōpleynt /
Ther can noman here chere peynt.
To set a glad sēblaunt therinne
For though fortune make hem wynne
Yet grutche they & yf they lese
There is no weye for to chese
Wherof they myght stonde appesed
So be they comonlych dysesed
There may no welthe ne pouerte
Attempren hem to the deserte
Of buxomnesse by no wyse
For oftyme they despyse
The good fortune as the badde
As they no mannes reson hadde
Thorugh pryde wherof they be blynde
And ryght of suche a maner kynde
Ther be louers that though they haue
Of loue al that they wold craue
Yet wol they grutche by somme weye
That they wold nought to loue obeye
Vpon the trouthe as doo sholde
And hem lakketh that they wolde
Anone they shal in suche a peyne
That euer vnbuxomly they pleyne
Vpon fortune they curse & crye
That they wold not her hertes plye
To suffre tyll it better falle
For thy yf thou amonges alle
Hast vsed this condycyon
My sone in thy confession
Now telle me pleynly what thou art
My fadre I knowe wel a part
So that ye telle here aboue
Of murmur & compleynt of loue
That for I see no spede comende
Ageynst fortune compleynende
I am as who sayth for euermo
And eke fuloftyme also
Whan so is that I see & here
Or heuy word or heuy chere
Of my lady I grutche anone
But wordes dar I speke none
Wherof she myght be displesyd
But in myn hert I am dysesed
With many a murmour god it wote
Thus drynke I in myn owne swote
And though I make no semblaunt
Myn hert is al disobeysaunt
And in this wyse I me confesse
Of that ye clepe vnbuxomnesse
Now telle what your counseyl is

Confessor

My sone & I rede this
What so byfalle of other weye
That thou to loues lust obeye
As fer as thou it myght suffyse
Fulofte syth in suche a wyse
Obedyence in loue auayleth
Where al a mannes strengthe fayleth
Wherof yf thou lyst to wyte
In a Crony (que) as it is wryte
A grete Ensample thou myght fynde
Whiche is now comen to my mynde

Ic contra amori inobedientes ad cōmendacionē obediencie confessor super eodem Exemplum ponit vbi di at (que) q̄dam Regis Sealie filia in sue iuuentucis floribꝰ pulcherrime ex eius Nouerce Incantacionibus in vetulam turpissimam transformata excitit / Flo rencius tunc Imperatoris Claudi Nepos Miles in armis strennuissimus amorosus (que) legibus intendens ex sua obediencia in pulcritudinem pristinam reformauit

[Page]
tHer was whylom by dayes old
A worthy knyght as men  [...]old
He was neue we to them perour
And of his Court a Courteour
Wyfles he was Florent he hyghte
He was a man that mochel myght
Of armes he was desyrous
Chyualrous & amerous
And fame of worldes speche
Straunge auentures for to seche
He rood the marches all aboute
And felle a tyme whan he was oute
Fortune whiche may euery threde
To breke & knytte of mannes spede
Shope as this knyght rood in a pas
That he by strengthe take was
And to a Castel they hym ladde.
Where that he fewe frendes hadde
For so it felle that ylke stoūde
That he had a dedely wounde
Frghtend his owne handes slayn
Branchus whiche to the Capytayn
Was sone & heyre wherof ben wroth
The fadre & the modre both
That knyȝt Branchꝰ was of his hōde
The worthyest of al his londe
And seyn they wold do vengeaunce
Vpon Florent but remembraunce
That they toke of his worthynes
Of knyghthode & of gentylnes
And how he stood of cosynage
To themperour toke assuage
And durst not sleyn hym for fere
In grete despute son they were
Among hem self that was the best
There was a lady the slyest
Of al that men knewe tho
So old she myght vnnethes go
And was grandame vnto the dede
And with that bygan to rede
And she said she wold bring him ynne
That she shal hym to deth wynne
Al only of his owne graūt
Thorugh strengthe of veray couenaūt
Withoute blame of ony wyght
Anone she sent for this knyght
And of her sone she aleyde
The deth / & thus to hym she seyde
Florent hou so thou be to wyte
Of Branchus deth men shal respyte
As now to take a [...]engement
Be so thou stonde in Iugement
Vpon certeyne condycyon
That thou vnto a questyon
Whiche I shal axe shalt ansuere
And ouer this thou shalt eke swere
That yf thou of the soth fayle
Ther shal none other thyng auayle
That thou ne shalt the deth receyue
And for men shal the not deceyue
That thou therof myght be aduysed
Thou shalt haue day & tyme assysed
And loue saufly for to wende
Be so that at thy dayes ende
Thou come ageyne with thyn auyse
This knyȝt which was worthy & wise
This lady prayeth that he may wyte
And haue it vnder seales wryte
What question it shold be
For whiche he shal in that degre
Stonde of his lyf in Ieopardye
With that she feyneth companye
And sayth Florent on loue it longeth
Al that to myn axyng longeth
What al women moost desyre
This wol I axe & in thempyre
Where thou hast most knoulechyng
Take counceylle of this axyng

Florent this thyng hath vndertake
The tyme was set & day take
Vnder his seal he wrote his oth
In suche a wyse & forth he goth
Home to his emes court ageyne
To whome his auenture pleyne
He told of that hym is byfalle
And vpon that they were alle
The wysest of the lond assent
But netheles of one assent
They myght not acorde plat
One sayde this another that
After the disposicion
Of natural complexyon
[Page xix]To somme woman it is plesaūce
That to another is greuaunce
But suche a thyng in specyal
Whiche to hem al in general
Is most plesaunt & moost desyred
Aboue al other & moost conspyred
Suche one can they not fynde
By Constellacyon ne by kynde
And thus Florent withoute cure
Must stonde vpon his auenture
And is al shape vnto the lyere
And as in defaulte of his ansuere
This knyght hath leuer for to dye
Than breke his trouthe & for to lye
In place where he was swore
And shapith hym gone ayene therfore
Whan tyme come he toke his leue
That lenger wold he not byleue
And prayth his eme he be not wroth
For that is a poynt of his oth
He sayth that noman shal hym wreke
Though afterward here men speke
That he parauenture dye
And thus he went forth his weye
Alone as a knyght auenturous
And in his ryght was curyous
To wyte what was best to do
And as he rode alone so
And cam nyghe ther he wold be
In a forest ther vnder a tre
He sawe where sate a creature
A lothly womannyssh fygure
That for to speke of flessh & bone
So foule yet sawe he neuer none
This knyght byheld hyr redely
And as he wold haue passed by
She cleped hym & bad hym abyde
And he his hors hede a syde
Tho torned & to hyr he rode
And there he houed & abode
To wyte what she wold mene
And she bygan hym to be mene
And sayd Florent by thy name
Thou hast on honde suche a game
That yf thou be not better auysed
Thy deth shapen is & deuysed
That al the world ne may the saue
But yf that thou my counceyl haue
Florent whan he this tale herd
Vnto this old wyght ansuerd
And of her counseyl he her prayd
And she ayene to hym thus sayd
Florent yf I for the so shape
That thou thorugh me thy deth escape
And take worship of thy dede
What shal I haue to my mede
What thyng qd he yt thou wold axe
I byd neuer a better taxe
Quod she but fyrst or thou be sped
Thou shalt me leue suche a wed
That I wol haue thy trouth on honde
That thou shalt be myn husbonde
Nay sayd Florent that may not be
Ryde then forth thy wey quod she
And yf thou go forth withoute rede
Thou shalt be sekerlyche dede
Florent behyght good ynough
Of lond of rent of parke of plough
But al that she compteth nought
Tho felle this knyȝt in mochel thouȝt
Now goth he [...] forth / now cometh ayene
He not what is best to seyne
And thought as he rode to & fro
That chose he mote one of the two
Or for to take hyr to his wyf
Or elles to lese his lyf
And than he cast his auauntage
That she was of so grete an age
That she may lyue but a whyle
And thought to put her in an Ile
Where that noman her shold knowe
Tyl she with deth were ouerthrowe
And thus this yong lusty▪ knyght
Vnto this old lothely wyght
Tho sayd yf that none other chaunce
May make my delyueraunce
But only thylke same speche
Whiche as thou  [...]eyst thou shalt me
teche / Haue here myn hōd I shal ye
Wedde / And thus his trouth he leid to
Wedde [...] With yt she froūceth vp yt browe
This couenaunt wol I alowe
[Page]She sayth yf ony other thyng
But that thou hast of my techyng
Fro deth thy body may respyte
I wol the of thy trouthe acquyte
And elles by none other weye
Now herken me what I shal seye
Whan thou art come in to the place
Where now they maken grete manace
And vpon thy comyng abyde
They wol anone the same tyde
Oppose the of thyne ansuere
I wote thou wolt no thyng forbere
Of that thou wenest be thy best
And yf thou myght so fynde rest
Wel is for than is ther more
And elles this shal be my lore
That thou shalt say vpon this molde
That al women leuest wolde
Be souerayne of mannes loue
For what woman is so aboue
She sayth as who sayth al her wylle
And elles may she nought fulfylle
What thyng were here leuest haue
With this ansuer thou shalt saue
Thy self & otherwyse nought
And whan thou hast thy ende wrouȝt
Come here ayene thou shalt me fynde
And lete nothyng oute of thy mynde

He goth hym forth with heuy chere
As  [...]e that not in what manere
He may this, worldes Ioye atteyne
For yf he dye he hath a peyne
And yf he lyue he mote hym bynde
To suche a wytche of old kynde
Of women the vnsemelyest
Thus wote he not what is the best
But be hym lyef or be hym ▪loth
Vnto the Castel forth he goth
His ful ansuere for to yeue
Or for to dye or for to lyue
Forth with his counseyll cam the lord
The thynges stonden of record
He send vp for the lady sone
And forth she cam that old mone
In presence of the remenaunt
The strengthe of al the couenaunt
Tho was reherced openly
And to Florent she bad par dy
That shal tellen his auys
As he that wote what is the prys
Florent sayth al that euer he couthe
But suche word cam none to mouthe
That he for yefte or for byheste
Myght ony wyse his deth areste
And thus he taryeth long & late
Tyl this lady bad algate
That shal for the dome fynal
Yeue his ansuere in specyal
Of that she had fyrst opposed
And than he hath truly supposed
That he hym may of nothyng yelpe
But yf so be tho wordes helpe
Whiche as the woman hath hym tauȝt
Wherof he hath an hope caught
That he shal be excused so
And told oute pleyne his wylle tho
And whan this matrone herd
The maner how this knyght ansuerd
She sayd treson wo the be
That hast thus told the pryuyte
Whiche al women most desyre
I wold that thou were on fyre
But netheles in suche a plyght
Florent of his ausuer is quyt
And tho bygan his soro we newe
For he mote gone or be vntrewe
To her whiche his trouthe had
But he whiche al shame drad
Goth forth in stede of his penaunce
And taketh the fortune of his chaūce
As he that was with trouth affayted
This olde wyght hym hath awayted
In place where▪ as he her in▪ lefte
Florent his woful hede vp lyfte
And sawe this where that she sytte
Which was the lothest wyghte
That euer man cast on his eye
Here nose [...]baas ▪her browes hyghe
Hyr eyen smal & depe sett
Hyr chekes ben with teres weet
And ryuelyn as in an empty skyn
Hangyng doune vnto the chyn
[Page xx]Her lyppes ben shronken for age
Ther▪ was no grace in her vysage
Hyr front was narwe hir lockes hore
She loketh forth as doth a more
Her neck is short her shulders courbe
That myght a mannes lust distourbe
Here body grete & no thyng small
And shortly for to descryue hyr all
She hath no lyth withoute a lak
But lyche vnto the wolle sak
She profereth hyr vnto this knyght
And bad hym as he behyght
So as she bath by his warrant
That he hyr helde couenaunt
And by the brydel she hym seseth
But god wote how yt she hym pleseth
Of suche wordes as she speketh
Hym thynketh wel nyghe his hert bre
keth / ▪For sorowe that he may fle
But yf he wold vntrewe be

Loke how a seke man for his hele
Taketh baldemony with canele
And with the myrre the sucre
Ryght on suche maner lucre
Stant Florent in this dyete
He drynketh the bitter with the swete
He medleth sorowe with lykyng
And lyueth as who sayth deyng
His thought shal be cast awey
Vpon suche one as that the wey
Is old & lothly oueralle
But nede he mote that nede shalle
He wold algate his trouthe holde
As euery knyght therto is holde
What hap so euer to hym is falle
Though she be foulest of alle
The honour of womanhede
Hym thought he shold take heede
So that for pure gentilnesse
As he couthe hyr best adresse
In ragges as she was to tore
He set hir on his hors to fore
And forth he taketh his weye softe
No wonder though he sygheth ofte
But as an oule fleeth by nyght
Out of al other byrdes syght
Ryght so this knyght on dayes brode
In close hym helde & shope his rode
On nyghtes tyme tyll the tyde
That he come ther he wold abyde
And pryuely withoute noyse
He bryngeth this foule grete coyse
To his Castel in suche a wyse
That noman myght her shap auyse
Tyl she in to chambre came
Where he his preuy counseylle name
Of suche men as he most trust
And told hem that he nedes must
This beste wedde vnto his wyf
For elles he had lost his lyf
The pryue women were assent
That shold be of his assent
Her ragges they anone of drawe
And as it was that tyme lawe
She had bath she had rest
And was arrayed to the best
But with no craft of combes brode
They myght d [...]esse her lockes shode
And she ne wold not be shore
For no counseyl & therfore
With suche a tyre as tho was vsed
Ordeynen that it was excused
And had so crafte lyche aboute
That noman myght seen hem oute
But whan she was fully arrayed
And her a tyre was al assayed
Tho she was fouler vnto se
But yet it may none other be
They were wedded by nyght
So wo begone was neuer knyght
As he was than of Maryage
And she bygan to playe & rage
As who sayth I am wel ynough
But he therof nothyng ne lough
For she toke than chere on honde
And clepeth hym her husbonde
And sayd my lord go we to bed
For I to that entent wedde
For thou shalt be my worldes blisse
And profereth hym with that to kysse
As she a lusty lady were
His body myght wel be there
[Page]But as of thought & memorye
His hert was in purgatorye
But the strengthe of matrimonye
Who myght make none essonye
That he mote algate plye
To gone to bed of companye
And whan they were abed naked
Withoute slepe he was awaked
He torneth on that other syde
For that he wold his eyen hyde
For lokyng on the foule wyght
The chamber was ful of lyght
The curteyne were of sendal thynne
This newe bryd whiche lay withynne
Though it be nought with his acord
In armes she beclypt hyr lord
And prayd as he was torned hir fro
He wold hym torne ayeneward tho
For now she sayd we be both one
But he lay stylle as ony stone
But euer m one she spak & praide
And bad hym thynke on that he sayde
Whan that he toke hyr by the honde

hE herd & vnderstode the bonde
How he was set to his penaūce
And as it were a man in a traunce
He torneth hym al sodenly
And sawe a lady lay hym by
Of eyghtene wynter age
Whiche was the fayrest of vysage
That euer m al this world he syghe
And as he wold haue take hyr nyghe
She put her hande & by his loue
Besought hym that he wold loue
And sayth for to wynne or lese
He mote one of two thynges chese
Where he wol haue suche on nyght
Or elles vpon the dayes lyght
For ye shal not haue bothe two
And he bygan to sorowe tho
In many a wyse & cast his thought
But for al that yet coude he nought
Deuyse hym self whiche was the best
And she that wold his hert rest
Prayth that he shold chese algate
Tyl at the last long & late
He sayd O ye my lynes hele
Saye what ye lyst in my quarele
I not what ansuer I shal yiue
But euer while that I lyue
I wol that ye be my Maystresse
For I can not my self gesse
Whiche is the best vnto my choys
Thus graunte I yow myn hole voys
Chese for vs bothe I yow praye
And what as euer that ye saye
Ryght as ye wol so wol I

mY lord she sayd graunte mercy
For of this word yt ye now sayn
That ye haue made me souerayn
My destyne is ouerpassed
That neuer here after shal be lassed
My beaute whiche I now haue
Tyl I be take in to my graue
Both Nyght & day as I am now
I shal alwey be suche to yow
The kynges doughter of Cecyle
I am / and felle but syth a whyle
As I was with my fader late
That my stepmoder for an hate
Whiche to ward me she hath bygonne
Forshope me tylle I had wonne
The loue & the soueraynte
Of what knyght that in his degre
Al other passeth of good name
As men seyn ye be the same
The dede proueth it is so
Thus am I youre for euermo
Tho was plesaunce & ioye Inough
Echone with other playd & lough
They lyue long & wel they ferde
And Clerkes that this chaunce herde
They wryten it in euydence
To teche how that obedyence
May wel fortune a man to loue
And set hym in his lust aboue
As it byfelle vnto this knyght
fOr thy my sone yf yu do ryght
Thou shalt vnto thy loue obeye
And folowe hyr wylle by all weye

Amans

mYn holy fader so I wylle
[Page xxj]For ye haue told me suche a skylle
Of this ensample now to fore
That I shal euermo therfore
Here after myn obseruaunce
To loue & his obeysaunce
The better kepe & ouer this
Of pryde yf ther ought elles is
Wherof that I me shryue shal
What thyng it is m specyal
My fadre axeth I you pray

Confessor

nOw lest my sone & I shal saye
For yet there is surquedrye
Whiche stant of pryde of companye
Wherof that thou shalt here anone
To knowe yf thou haue gylt or none
Vpon the forme as thou shalt here
Now vnderstonde wel the matere

oMnia scire / putat sed se presumpci o nescit / Nec sibi consimile quem putat esse parem / Qui magis astutus reputat se vincere bellum. In laqueos veneris forcius ipse cadit / Sepe cupido virum sibi qui presumit amātem / Fal lit & in vacuas spes redit ipsa vias

h Ic loquitur de tercia specie super bie que presumpcio dicitur cuius naturam primo secundum vicium confessor simpliciter declarat

s Vrquedrye is thylk vyce
Of pryde which ye third office
Hath in his court & will not knowe / 
The trouthe til he be outhrowe
Vpon his fortune & his grace
Cometh had I wyst ful ofte a place
For he doth al his thyng by gesse
And voydeth al sykernesse
None other coūseyll good hym semeth
But suche as he hym self demeth
For m suche wyse as he compasseth
His wytte al other passeth
And is with pryde so thurgh sought
That he al thre set at nought
And weneth of hym seluen so
That suche as he ther be nomo
And thus he wold bere a pryce
So fayre so semely nor so wyse
Abouen al other & nought for thy
He sayth not ones graunt mercy
To god / whiche al grace sendeth
So that his wyttes he dispendeth
Vpon hym self as though there were
No god whiche myght auayle there
But al vpon his owne wytte
He stant tyl he falle in the pytte
So ferre that he may not aryse

h Ic tractat confessor cum amante super illa saltem presumpcione ex cuius superbia ꝙ plures fatui amantes cum maioris certitudinis m amore spē sibi promittunt inexpediti cicius destituuntur,

a Nd ryght thus in the same wise
The vyce vpon the cause of loue
So proudely set the hert aboue
And doth hym pleynly for to wene
That he to louen ony quene
Hath worthynes & suffysaunce
And so withoute purueannce
Ful ofte he heueth vp so hyghe
That Chyppes fallen in his eye
And eke fulofte he weneth this
There as he nought byloued is
To be loued al ther best
Now sone telleth what so the lest
Of this that I haue told the here

Amans

hA fader be nought in a were
I trowe ther be noman lesse
Of ony maner worthynesse
That halt hym lasse worthy than I
To be byloued & not for thy
I saye in excusyng of me
To al men that loue is fre
And certes that may noman werne
For loue of hym self so derne
It luteth in a mannes herte
But that me shal not asterte
To wene for to be worthy
To louen but in her mercy
But syre of that ye wold mene
[Page]That I shold otherwyse wene
To be byloued than I was
I am beknowe as in that cas

Confessor

My good sone telle me how

Amans

Now lest & I wol telle you
My good fadre how it is
Ful ofte it hath byfalle or this
Thorugh hope & was not certeyne
My wenyng hath be set in veyne
To truste in thyng that helpe me nouȝt
But onlyche of myn owne thought
For as semeth that a belle
Lyke to the wordes that men telle
Ansueryth ryght so nomore ne lesse
To yow my fadre I confesse
Suche wyl my wytte hath euer set
That what so hope me behet
Ful many a tyme I wene it sothe
But fynally no spede it dothe
Thus may I telle as I can
Wenyng begyleth many a man
So hath it me ryght wel I wote
For yf a man wol in a bote
Whiche is withoute botome ro we
He must nedes onerthrowe
Ryght so wenyng hath ferde by me
For whan I wende next haue be
As I by my wenyng cast
Than was I forthest at last
And as a foole my bowe vnbende
Whan al was fayled than I wende
For thy my fadre as of this
That my wenyng hath gone amys
Touchend to Snrquedrye
Yeue me my penaunce or I dye
But yf ye wold in ony forme  [...]
Of this mater a tale enforme
Whiche were ayene this vyce set
I shold fare wel the bet

hIc ponit confessor exemplum cō tra illos qui in suis viribus presumē tes debiliores efficiuntur / Et narrat qualiter ille Capaneꝰ miles m armis probatissimus de sua presumens audacia inuocacionem ad superos tempore necessitatis ex vecordia tamen et non a liter primitus prouenisse asseruit vnde in obsidione Ciuitatis Thebarum cū ipse quodam die coram suis hostibus ad debellan dum se obtulit ignis de celo subito superueniens Ipsum armatum totaliter in Cineres conbussit

mY sone in al maner wyse
Surquedrye is to despyse
Wherof I fynde write thus
The proud knyght Capa­neꝰ /
He was of suche Surquedrye
That he thorugh his chyualrye
Vpon hym self so mochel truste
That to the goddes hym ne lust
In no quarelle to beseche
But sayd it was an ydel speche
Whiche cause was of pure drede
For lak of herte & for nede
And vpon suche presumpcion
He held this proud oppynyon
Tyl at the last▪vpon a day
Aboute Thebes where he lay
Whan it of syege was beleyne
This knyght as the Cromy (que) seyne
In al mannes syght there
Whan he was proudest in his gere
And how nothyng myght hym dere
Ful armed with his sheld & spere
As he the Cyte wold assaylle
God toke hym self the bataylle
Ayene his pryde & fro the sky
A fyry thonder sodenly
He sende & to poudre hym smote
And thus the pryde whiche was hote
Whan he most in his strengthe wende
Was brent & lost withouten ende
So that it proueth wel therfore
The strengthe of man is sone lore
But yf that he it wel gouerne
And ouer this a man may lerne
That eke ful oftyme it greueth
[Page xxij]What that a man hym self beleueth
As though it shold hym wel beseme
That he al other men can deme
And hath foryete his owne vyce
A tale of hem that be so nyce
And feynen hem self to be wyse
I shal telle the in suche a wyse
Wherof thou shalt ensample take
That thou no suche thyng vndertake

hIc loquitur Confessor contra illos qui de sua sciēcia presumentes aliorum condicioues d [...]udicantes indi screte redarguūt / Et narrat Exemplū de quodam principe Regis Hungarie Germano qui cum featrem suum pau peribus m publico vidit humiliatum Ipsum redarguendo in contrarium edocere presumebat / Sed Rex omni sciencia prepollens ipsum sic incaute presumentem ad humilitatis memoriam ter ribili prouidencia micius castigauit

I Fynde vpon Surquedrye
How yt whilom of hūgarye
By old dayes was a kyng
Wyse & honest in al thyng
And so byfel vpon a daye
And that was m the moneth of Maye
As thylk tyme it was vsance
This kyng with noble purueannce
Hath for hym self his chaar arrayed
Wheryn he wold ryde amayed
Oute of the Cyte for to playe
With lordes & grete arraye
Of lusty folk that were yonge
Where somme pleyd & somme songe
And somme gone & som ryde
And somme pryke her hors a syde
And brydlen hem now in now oute
The kyng his eye cast aboute
Tyll he atte last was ware
And sawe comend ageyne his chare
Two pylgryms of so grete age
That lyche vnto a drye ymage
That weren pale & fade hewed
And as a busshe whiche is besnewed
Here berdes be hoore & whyte
Ther was of kynde but a lyte
That they ne semen fully dede
They come to the kyng & bede
Somme of his good pur charyte
And with grete humylyte
Oute of his chare to grounde he lepe
And hem m bothe his armes kepe
And kyst hem bothe foote & honde
Byfore the lordes of his lond
And yaf hem of his good therto
And whan he hath this dede do
He goth in to his chare ageyne
Tho was murmour tho was dysdeyne
Tho was compleynt on euery syde
They sayden of her owne pryde
Echone to other what is this
Oure kyng hath do this thynge amys
So to abesse his Royalte
That euery man it myght se
And humbled hym in suche a wyse
To hem that were of none empryse
Thus was it spoken to & fro
Of hem that were with hym tho
Al pryuely behynde his bak
But to hym self noman spak
The kynges broder in presence
Was thylk tyme & grete offence
He toke therof & was the same
Abouen al other which most to blame
Vpon his lyege lord hath leyd
And hath vnto the lordes seyd
Anone as he can tyme fynde
There shal nothyng be left behynde
That he wol speke vnto the kyng
Now what felle vpon this thyng
They were mery & fayr ynongh
Echone with other playd & lough
And fellen in to tales newe
How that the fresshe floures grewe
And how the grene leues spronge
And how that loue among the yonge
Bygan the hertes than to wake
And euery byrd hath chose his make
And thus the may day to thende
[Page]They lad & home aye ne they wende
The kyng was not so sone come
That whan he had his chambre nome
His broder ne was redy there
And brought a tale vnto his ere
Of that he had suche a shame
In hyndeyng of his owne name
When he hym self wold dretche
That to so vyle a pouer wretche
Hym deyneth shewe suche symplesse
Ageynst the state of his noblesse
And sayth he shal no more vse
And that he mote hym self excuse
Toward his lordes euerychone
The kyng stode stylle as onystone
And to his tale an ere he leyde
And thought more than he seyde
But netheles to that he herde
Wel curtoysly he ansuerde
And told it shold be amended
And thus when yt here tale was ended
Al redy was the bord & cloth
The kyng vnto his souper goth
Among the lordes to the halle
And when they had souped alle
They when leue & forth they go
The kyng bythought hym seluen tho
Hou he his broder may chastye
That he thought his surquedrye
Took vpon hond to dispreyse
Humylyte whiche is to preyse
And therupon yaf suche counseylle
Toward his kyng that was vnheyle
Wherof to be the better lered
Hym thynketh to make hym afered
It felle so that in thylke dawe
Ther was ordeyned by the lawe
A Trompe with a sterne breth
Whiche was cleped the Trompe of deth
And in the Court where ye kyng was
A certeyne man a Trompe of bras
Hath in kepyng & therof serueth
That whan a lord his deth deserueth
He shall this dredefull Trompe blowe
To fore his gate & make it knowe
How that the jugement is yeue
Of deth whiche shal not be foryeue
The kyng when it was nyght anone
This man assent & bad hym gone
To trompen at his broders gate
And he whiche mote done algate
Goth forth & doth the kynges heste
This lord whiche herd this tempeste
That he to fore his gate blewe
Tho wyst he by the lawe & knewe
That he was sekerlyche dede
And as of helpe he wyst no rede
But sende for his frendes alle
And told hem how it is byfalle
And they hym axe cause why
But he the soth not for thy
Ne wyst & ther was sow we tho
For it stode thylk tyme so
This Trompe was of suche sentence
That ther ayene no resystence
They coude ordeyne by no weye
That he ne mote algate deye
But yf so be he may purchace
To gete his lyege lordes grace
Here wyttes therupon cast
And len appoynted at last

This lord a worthy lady had
Vnto his wyf whiche also drad
Her lordes deth & childre fyue
Bytwene hem two they had on lyne
That weren yong & tendre of age
And of stature & of vysage
Ryght fayr & lusty to see
Tho casten they that he & she
Forth with her childre on the morowe
As they that were full of sorowe
Al naked but of smok & shyrte
To tendre with the kynges herte
His grace shold go to seche
And pardon of deth biseche
Thus passen they that wofull nyght
And erly when it was lyght
They gone hem forth in suche a wyse
As thou to fore hast herd deuyse
All naked but hyr shyrtes one
They wepte & made mochel mone
Hyr here hanged aboute hyr eres
[Page xxiij]With sobbyng & with sory terys
This lord goth then an humble pas
That whylome proud & noble was
Wherof the Cyte sore a flyght
Of hem that sawen that ylke syght
And netheles al openly
With suche wepyng & suche cry
Forth with his children & his wyf
He goth to pray for his lyf
Vnto the court whan thry be come
And men therin hath hyed nome
There was no wyght yf he hem syghe
From water myght kepe his eye
For sow we they maden tho
The kyng supposyth of this wo
And feyneth as he nought ne wyst
But netheles at his vpryst
Men told hym how it ferde
And whan that he this wonder herde
In hast he goth in to the halle
And al attones doune they falle
If ony pyte may be founde
The kyng which seth hem fell to groūde
Hath axed hem what is the fere
Why be ye so dispoylled there
His broder sayd A lord mercy
I wote none other cause why
But only that this nyght ful late
The Trompe of deth was at my gate
In tokene that I shold dye
Thus we be come for to preye
That ye my worldes deth respyte

Ha foole thou thou art for to wyte
The kyng vnto his broder seyde
That thou art of so lytel freyd
That only for a Trompes soune
Hath gone dispoilled thorugh ye toune
Thou & thy wyf in suche manere
Forth with thy children that ben here
In syght of all men aboute
For that thou sayst thou art in doute
Of deth whiche stant vnder the lawe
Of man & man may it withdrawe
So that it may per chaunce faylle
Now shalt thou not for thy meruaylle
That I doune from my chare alyght
When I behelde to fore my syght
In hem that were of so grete age
Myn owne deth thorugh her ymage
Which god hath set by lawe of kynde
Wherof I may no bote fynde
For well I wote suche as they be
Ryght suche am I in my degre
Of flesshe & blood & so shal deye
And thus though I that lawe obeye
Of whiche that kynges be put vnder
It ought be wel the lesse wonder
Then thou whiche art withoute nede
For lawe of lond in suche a drede
Whiche for to accompt is but a iape
As thyng which thou myȝt ouerscape
For thy my broder after this
I rede that sethyn that so is
That thou canst drede a man so sore
Drede god with al thyne hert more
For al shal dye & al shal passe
As wel a lyon as an asse
As wel a begger as a lord
Toward deth in one acord
That shal stonde & in this wyse
The kyng with his wordes wyse,
His broder taught & al foryeue

Confessor

For thy my sone yf thou lyue
In vertu thou must vyce eschewe
And with lowe hert hūblesse sewe
So that thou be not Surquedous

Amans

My fadre I am amerous
Wherof I wold you beseche
That ye me ensample teche
Whiche myȝt in loues cause stonde

Confessor

My sene thou shalt vnderstonde
In loue & other thynges alle
If that Surquedrye falle
It may to hym not wel be tyde
Whiche vseth thylk vyce & pryde
Whiche torneth wysedome to wenyng
And sothfastnesse in to lesyng
Though foule ymagynacyon
And for thyn enformacyon
[Page]That thou thre vyce as I the rede
Esche we shalt a tale I rede
Whiche felle whilome by dayes olde
So that the clerk Ouyde tolde

hIc in specyaali tractat Confessor a [...] in Amante contra illos qui de propri a formositate presumēte amorem Mu hens dedignantur / Et narrat Exemplum qualiter cuiusdam principis filiꝰ Nomine Narcizus estiuo tempore cum ipse venacionis causa quendam ceruū selue cū suis canibus exagitaret in gra uem sitim incurrens necessitate cōpulsus ad bibendum de quodam fonte pro mis inc [...]nauit. vbi Ipse faciem suam pulchirrimam in aqua percipiēs putabat se per hoc illam Nimpham quam Poete Ekko woont in flumine coram suis oculis conspeyisse / de cuius amore confestim laqucatus vt Ipse ad se de fente extra haberet pluri [...]ꝰ blandicijs ad [...]sabatur / sed cum illud nullatenus perfi [...]ere poit pre nimio languore deficiens cōtra lapides ibidem adiacentre caput exuerferans cerebrū effudit

 [...] He: was whilom a lords sōne
Which of his pride a vice wō ­ne /
Hath caught yt worthy to his lyche
To sechen al ye worldes riche
 [...] was no woman for to loue
So  [...]ghe he set hym self aboue
Of stature & of beaute bothe
That hym thought al women lothe
So was there no comparyson
As toward his condycyon
This yong lord Marcizus hyght
No strengthe of loue to we myght
His hert whiche is vnafyled
But at the last he was begyled
For the goddes purueaunce
It felle hym a day per chaunce
That he in al his proud fare
Vnto the forest gan to fare
Among other that ther were
To hunte & disporte hym there
And whan he cam in to the place
Where that he wold make his chace
The hoūdes were within a throwe
Vncoupled & the hornes blowe
The grete hert anone was founde
With swyfte feet set on grounde
And he with spore in hors syde
Hym hasteth fast for to ryde
Tyl al men be left behynde
And as he wod vnder a lynde
Besyde a roche as I the telle
He sawe where sprong a lusty welle
The day was wonder hote with alle
And such a thurst was on hym falle
That he must other dye or drynke
And doune he lyeth & by the brynke
And tyde his hors vnto a braunche
And leyd hym lowe for to staunche
His thurst & as he cast his look
And to the welle & heed took
He sawe the lyke of his vysage
And wende there were an ymage
Of suche a nymphe as tho was say
Wherof his loue his hert assay
Bygan as it after was sene
Of his stoye & made hym wene
It were a woman that he syghe
The more that he the welle cam nyghe
The ner cam she hym ageyne
So wyst he neuer what to seyne
For whan he wepte he sawe hyr wepe
And when he cryed he toke good kepe
The same word she cryed also
And thus bygan the newe wo
That whilome was to hym so straūge
Tho made hym loue & herte eschaunge
To set his herte & to begynne
Thyng which he myght neuer wynne
And euer among he gan to loute
And praith that she to hym come oute
And other while he goth a ferre
And other whyle he draweth nerre
And euer he fond her in a place
He wepeth he cryeth he axeth grace
[Page xxiiij]There as he myght gete none
So that ayene a roche of stone
As he that knewe none other rede
He smote hym self tyl he was deede
Wherof the Nymphes of the welles
And other that ther weren elles
Vnto the wodes bylongend
The body whiche was dede lyggend
For pure pyte that they haue
Vnder graue they be graue
And than oute of his sepulture
There sprong anone parauenture
Of floures suche a wonder syght
That men ensample take myght
Vpon the dedes whiche he dede
And tho was sene in other stede
For in the wynter fressh & fayre
The floures ben whiche is contrayre
To kynde & so was the folye
Whiche felle of his surquedrye

Thus he whiche loue had in disdeyn
Werst of al other was byseyn
And as he set his pryce most hyghe
He was lest worthy in loues eye
And most beiaped in his wyt
Wherof the remembraunce is yet
So that thou myght ensample take
And eke al other for his sake

Amans

My fadre as touchend of me
This vyce I thynke for to flee
Whiche of his wenynge euer tro weth
And namlich of thing which groweth
In loues cause or wel or wo
Yet pryded in me neuer so
But wold that grace sende
That toward me my lady wende
As towardes hyr I wene
My loue shold so bysene
Ther shold go no pryde a place
But I am fer fro thylk grace
As for to speke of tyme now
So mote I suffre and praye yow
That ye wo [...] axe on other syde
If ther be ony poynt of pryde
Wherof it nedeth me to be shryue

Confessor

My sone God it the foryeue
Yf thou haue thyng mysdoo
Touchend of this for euermo
Ther is another yet of pryde
Whiche coude neuer his wordes hyde
That he ne wold hym self auaunt
There may nothynge his tonge daūt
That he ne clappeth as a belle
Wherof yf thou wolt that I telle
It is behouely for to here
So that thou myght thy tonge stere
Toward the world & stande in grace
Whiche lakketh ofte in many a place
To hym that can not sytte stylle
Whiche elles shold haue his wylle

Magnilo (que) propriā minuit iactancia lingue / Famā quam stabilem firmat honore alens / Ipse sui laudem meriti non percipit vnde / Se sua per verba iactat in orbe palam / Est (que) viri culpa iactancia que rubifactas, In muliere reas cansat habere genas

hIc loqⁱtur de quarta specie super bie que iactancia dicitur / ex cuiꝰ natura causatur vt homo de se ipso testi monium perhilens suarum vtrtutum merita de laude in culpam transferre et suam famam cum extollere vellet Illū proprio ore subuertit / Sed & venus in amoris causa de isto vicio maculatos a sua curia super omnes alios abhotrens expellit / vt eorum multiloquiū verecundia detestatur / vnde Confesso: Amanti opponens materiam pleuius declarat

tHe Vyce cleped auauntaūce
With pryde hath take his acque intaūce /
So that his owne pryce he las seth / 
When he suche mesure ouerpasseth
That he his owne herauld is
That fyrst was wel is than amys
[Page]That was thāk worthy is than blame
And thus the worship of his name
Thorugh pryde of his auauntrye
He wineth in to vylonye
I vede how that this pronde vyce
Hath thylk wynde in his offyce
Thorugh which ye blastys yt he b [...]o weth
The mans name he ouerthro weth
Of vertu whiche shold elles sprynge
Vnto the worldes knoulechynge
But he fordeth it al to sore
And ryght of suche manere lore
Ther ben louers for thy yf thou
Art one of hem trlle & say hou
Whan thou hast take ony thyng
Of loues ryght or ouche or ryng
Or take vpon the for the colde
Sōme goodly worde as the w [...]s tolde
Or frendly chere or tokene or letter
Wherof thyn hert was the better
Of that she sent the gretyng
Hast thou for pryde of thy lykyng
Made thyn auannt where the lyst

I Wold fadre that ye wyst
My Conseyence lyeth not here
Yet had I neuer suche matere
Wherof myght myn hert amende
Not of so moche as she sende
By mouthe & said grete hym wele
And thus for that ther is no delo
Wherof to make myn auaunt
It is to reson accordaunt
That may neuer but I lye
Of loue make auauntrye
I wote not what I shold haue do
If that I had encheson so
As ye haue sayd here many one
But I fonde cause neuer none
But daūger whiche me welny slough
Therof I couthe telle ynough
And none other auantaunce
Thus nedeth me no repentaunce
Now axe fadre forther of my lyf
For thewf am I not gyltyf

Confessor

My sone I am wel payd with al
For wyto wel in specyal
That loue of his vevay Iustyce
A louen al other ayene this vyce
At al tymes most debateth
With al his hert & most he hateth
And eke in al maner wyse
Auauntrye is most to despyse
By ensample thou myght wyte
Whiche I fynde in the bokes wryte

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra illos qui de sua in armis probitate vel de suo in amous causa de siderio completo se iactant / Et narrat qualiter Albinus primus Rex Longo bardorum cum ipse quendam alium rege in nomine Gurmundū in bello morientem triumphasset testam capitio de functi au ferens aphum ex ea gemmis & ouw circumligatum in sue victorie memoriam fabricari constituit / insuper & Ipsius Gurmundi filiam Rosemū dam vapiens maritali thoro in coningē sibi copilauit. Vnde Ipso Albino postea coram regni sui nobilibus in suo regasli con [...]o sedente dicti Gurmūdi aphū infuso bino ad se inter epulas of ferri iussit / quem sumptum Vxori sue Regiue porrexit dicens. Bibe cum patre tuo / qd & Ipsa huiusmodi operis ig nara feat. quo facto Rex statim su [...] his que per prius gesta fucrant cunctis au dientibus per singula se iactauit / Regina vero cum talia audisset animo celato factum abhorrens in mordem Dn̄i sui Regis circumspecta Induseria conspiraint / Ipsum (que) auxiliantibus Glodesida & Helmege brew subsecuto tempore inter fecit / cuius mortem Dux Rauenensis tam in corpus Regine (quam) suorum fautorum pestea vindicauit

oF hem that we lūbardes calle
Albinus was the first of alle
Which bare croun of lūbardie
[Page xxv]And was of grete chyualrye
An werre ageynst dyuers kynges
So fell among other thynges
That he that tyme a werre had
With Gurmūd which  [...] Geptees lad
And was a myghty kyng also
But netheles it felle hym so
Albinus slough hym in the felde
There halpe hym notherspere ne shelde
That he ne smote his heed of than
Wherof he toke awey the panne
Of whiche he sayd he wold make
A cuppe for Gurmundes sake
To kepe & drawe in to memorye
Of his bataylle the vyctorye
And when he thus the feld had wōne
The lond anone was ouer ronne
And sesed in his owne honde
There he gurmundes doughter foūde
Whiche mayde Rosamund hyght
And was in euery mans syght
A fayre fressh a lusty one
His hert fylle to hyr anone
And suche a loue on hyr he cast
That he hyr wedded at the last
And after that tyme long in reste
With hyr he dwelte & to the beste
They loue eche other wondre wel
But she which kepeth ye blynde wheel
Venue when they be most about
An al the hottest of her loue
Hyr whele she torneth & they felle
An the maner as I shal telle
This king which stode in al his welth
Of pees of worship & of helth
And felt hym on no syde greued
As he that hath his world acheued
Tho thought he a fest he wold make
And that for his wyues sake
That she the lordes at the feste
That were obeysaunt to his heste
May knowe & so therupon
He lete ordeyne & sent anon
By lettres & by messagyers
And warned al his offycers
That euery thyng be wel arayed
The grete stedes were assayed
For Iustyng & for tornement
And many a perled garnement
Embrouded was ageyne the day
The lordes in here best aray
Be comen at tyme set
One Iusteth wel another bet
And other whyle they torney
And thus they cast care awey
And toke lustes vpon honde
And after thou shalt vnderstonde
To mete in to the kynges halle
They comen as they he beden alle
And when they were set & serued
Than after as it was deserued
To hem that worthy knyghees were
So as they seten here & there
The pryce was spoke & youe oute
Among the herawdes al aboute
And thus bynethe & eke aboue
Al was of armes & of loue
Wherof aboute at boordes
Men had many sondry wordes
That of the myrthe whiche they made
The kyng hym self bygan to glade
Within his hert & took a pryde
And sawe the cuppe stonde a syde
Whiche made was of Gurmūdes hede
As ye haue herd when he was dede
And was with gold & ryche stones
Beset & bounde for the nones
And stood vpon a foote on hyghte
Of borned gold & with grete sleyghte
Of werkemanshyp it was bygraue
Of suche werke as it shold haue
And polysshed was eke so clene
That no sygne of the sculle was sene
But as it were a grypes eye
The kyng bad bere his cuppe aweye
Whiche stood byfore hym on the boord
And fette thylk vpon his word
The sculle is fet & wyn therin
Wherof he bad his wyf hegynne
Drynke with thy fadre dame he seyde
[Page]And she to his byddyng obeyde
And toke the sculle & what her lyst
She drynketh as she nothyng wyst
What cuppe it was & than al oute
The kyng in audyence aboute
Hath told it was hyr fadres sculle
So that the lordes knowe shulle
Of his vataylle a soth wytnesse
And made auaūt thorugh what pro­wesse
He hath his wyues loue wonne
Whiche of the sculle hath so bygonne
Tho was there pryde mochel alofte
They speken as & she was softe
Thynkend thylk vnkynde pryde
Of that hyr lord so nygh her syde
Auaunath hym that he has slayn
And pyked oute hyr fadres brayn
And of the sculle hath made a cuppe
She suffered tyll they be vppe
And tho she hath sekenesse feyned
And goth to chābre & hath cōpleyned
Vnto a mayde whiche she trust
So that none other wyght it wyst
This mayde Glodesyde is hote
To whome this lady hath byhote
Of sadyshyp al that she can
 [...]o auenge hyr vpon this man
Which dyd hyr drynke in suche a pliȝt
Among hem al for despyte
Of hyr & of hyr fadre bothe
Wherof her thoughtes ben so wrothe
 [...] sayd that she shal not be glad
 [...] that she hym so hath bestad
 [...]hat be nomore make auaunt
And thus they felle in couenaunt
 [...]hat they acorden at the last
With suche wyles as they cast
That they wol gete of hyr acord
Som orped knyght to slee this lord
And with this sleyghte they begynne
How they helmege myght wynne
Whiche was the kynges botyler
A proud & a lusty bachiler
And Glodesyde he loueth hote
And she to make hym more assote
Here loue graunted & by nyght
They shape how they to gedre myght
A bedde mete & done it was
The same nyght & in this was
The quene hyr self the nyght seconde
Went in her stede & there she fonde
A chambre derke withoute lyght
And goth to bedde to this knyght
And he to kepe his obseruaunce
To loue doth his obeysaunce
And weneth it be Glodesyde
And she than after lay a syde
And hym axeth what he hath do
And who she was she told hym tho
And sayd I am thy quene
Now shal thy loue wel beseen
Of that thou hast thy wylle wrought
Or it shal sore ben abought
Or thou shalt worche as I the saye
And yf thou wolt by suche a waye
Do my plesaunce & hold it stylle
For euer I shal ben / at thy wylle
Bothe I & al myn herytage
Anone the wyld loue rage
An whiche noman hym can gouerne
Hath made hym that he can not werne
But felle al hool to here assent
And thus the whele is al myswent
The whiche fortune hath vpon honde
For how that euer it after stonde
They shope among hem / suche a wyle
The kyng was dede within a whyle
So slyly come it not aboute
That they ne ben discouered oute
So that it thought hem for the best
To flee for there was no rest
And thus the tresour of the kyng
Tsxy trusse & moche other thyng
And with a certeyne felauship
They fled & went awey by ship
And hel [...] hyr cours from thenne
Tyl that they come to Rauenne
Where they the dukes helpe sought
And he so as they hym besought
[Page xxvj]A place graunteth for to duelle
But after whan he herd telle
Of / the maner how they haue do
The duk lete shape for hem so
That of a poyson whiche they drunke
They hadden that they haue beswūke
And al this made auauut of pryde
Good is therfore a man to hyde
His owne pryce. for yf he speke
He may lyghtelyche his thanke breke
An armes lyeth none auauntage
To hym which thynketh his name
auaunce / And be renomed of his dede
And also who that thynketh to spede
Of loue he may not hym auaunte
For what man thylk vpce haunte
His purpoos shal ofte faylle
In armes he that wol trauaylle
Or elles loues grace attryne
His loue tonge he mote restreyne
Whiche beryth of his honoure the keye
For thy my sone in al weye
Take ryght good hede of this matere
I thanke yow my fadre dere
This scole is of a gentyl lore
And yf ther be ought elles more
Of pryde whiche I shal esche we
Now axe forth & I wol shewe
What thyng that ye me wol enforme

Confessor

My sone yet in other forme
Ther is a vyor of prydes lore
Whiche lyche an hawke & he wyl sore
Fleeth vpon hygh in his delyces
After the lykyng of his vyces
And wol nomans reson knowe
Tyl he doune falle & ouerthro we
This vyce veynglorye is hote
Wherof my sone I the byhote
To trete & speke in suche a wyse
That thou the myght the better auyse

gLoria perpetuos pregnat munda na dolores / Qui tamen est vanus gaudia vana cupit / Eius amiciciam quem gloria tollit inanis. Non sine blā dichis planus habehit homo / Merbis compositis qui sit stagulare fauellum Scandere sellata iura valebit eques Sic in amore magis qui blanda subor nat in ore / Merba per hoc bra [...]um qd nequit alter halebit / Et tamen ornato [...] cantus varios (que) paratus / Let a (que) corda suis legibus optat amor

hIc loquitur de quinta specie superbie que Inanis gloria vocatur Et eiusdem vicij naturam primo delscubens super eodem in a moris causa Confessor amanti consequenter opponit

tHe proud vyce of veinglorye
Remēbreth not of purgatorye
His worldes ioyes be so grete
Hym thynketh of heuen no beyete
This lyues pompe is al his pes
Yet shal he deye netheles
And therof thynketh he but a lyte
For al his lust is to delyte
An newe thynges proud & veyne
As ferforth as he may atteyne
I trowe yf that he myght make
His body newe he wold take
A newe forme & leue his olde
For what thyng that he may beholde
The whiche the comon vse is straunge
Anone his old guyse chaunge
He wol & falle therupon
Lyche vnto the Camelyon
Whiche vpon euery sondry hewe
That he behold he mote newe
His colour & thus vnauysed
Fuloftyme he stant desguysed
More ioylyf than the vytd in May
He maketh hym euer fessehe & gay
And doth al his aray desguyse
So that of hym the newe guyse
Of lusty folk al other take
[Page]And eke he can carolles make
Roundel balade & verelay
And with al this yf that he may
Of  [...]ue ge [...]e hym auauntage
A none he waxt of his corage
So ouer glad that of his end
He thynketh ther is no deth comend
For he hath than at al tyde
Of loue suche maner pryde
Hym thynketh his Ioye is endeles

Confessor

Now shryue the sone in good pees
And of thy loue telle me pleyn
Yf that thy glorye hath so be veyn

Amans

My fadre as touchend of al
I may not wel ne not shal
Of veyne glorye excuse me
That I ne haue for loue be
The better dressyd & arayd
And also I haue ofte assayd
Roundel balades & vyrelay
For hy: loue on whome myn hert lay
Tho to make also & for to peynte
 [...]rollys with my wordes queynte
To set my purpoos alofte
And  [...]yus I long hem forth ofte
In balle  [...] eke in Chambre aboute
And made mery among the  [...]oute
But yet ne ferd I not the bet
 [...]e was my glo: ye in veyn set
I [...] all the  [...]oye that I made
For when I wold with hyr glade
And of  [...]er loue songes make
 [...] sayd it was not for hyr sake
And  [...]e not my songes here
N [...] wyten what the wordes were
So fo: to speke of myn arraye
Yet coude I neuer be so gay [...]
 [...]e so wel make a song of loue
wherof I myght ben aboue
And haue encheson to be glad
But rather I am ofte adrad
For sorowe that she sayth me nay
And netheles I wol not say
That I am glad on other syde
For  [...]ame that can nothyng hyde
Al day wol brynge vnto myn ere
Of that men speken here & there
How that my lady beryth the pry [...]
How she is fayr how she is wyse
How she is womanlyche of chere
Of al this thynge that I may here
What wonder is thaugh I be feyn
And eke when I may here seyn
Tydynges of my lady hele
Al though I may not with hyr dele
Yet am I wonder glad of that
For when I wote of hyr good estat
As for that tyme I dar wel swere
None other sorowe may me dere
Thus am I gladed in this wyse
But fadre of youre lores wyse
Of whicho ye be fully taught
Now telle me yf ye thynke ought
That I thewf am to wyte

Of that ther is I the acquyte
My sone he sayd & for thy good
I wol that thou vnderstood
For I thynke vpon this matere
To telle a tale as thou shalt here
How that ageyne this proud vyde
The hyghe / god of / his Iustyce
Is wrothe & grete vengeaunce doth
Now herken a tale that is soth
Though it be nought of loues kynde
A grete ensample thou shalt fynde
This veyne glorye for to flee
Whiche is so ful of vanyte

hVmani generis cum sit sibi gloria maior. Sepe sub esse solet poox imis ille dolor / Mens elata graues descensus sepe subibit / Mens humilis stabile molle (que) firmat iter / Motibus Innumeris volutat fortuna per orbem / Cum magis alta petit inferiora time /

[Page xxvij]h Ic ponit Confessor Exemplum contra vicium inanis glorie norrans qualiter Rex Nabugodonosor rex Caldeorum cum [...]pse in omni magesta tis sue gloria celsior extitisset deus eius superbiam castigare [...]olens ipsum extra formam hominis in [...]estiam fenū commedentis transmutauit / Et sic perseptennium penitens cum ipse potenaorem se agnouit, misertus dens ipsum in sui Regni so [...]um restituta sanitate emendatum graciosius collocauit

tHer was a king yt moch miȝt
Whiche Nabugdonosor hyght
Of whom yt I spak here to fore
Yet in the byble this name is bore
For al the World in thoryent
Was hoole at his commaundement
Than of kynges to his lyche
Was none so myghty ne so ryche
To his empyre & to his lawes
As who sayth in thylke dawes
Were obeysaunt & trybute bere
As though he god of erthe were
With strengthe he put kynges vnder
And wrought of pride many a wōder
He was so ful of vayne glorye
That he ne had no memorye
That there was ony god but he
For pryde of his pro [...]peryte
Tyl that the hyghe kyng of kynges
Whiche seeth & knoweth al thynges
Whos eye may nothyng asterte
The pryuyt [...]es of mans herte
To speke & sowne in his ere
As though they  [...]oude wyndes were
He toke vengeaunce of his pryde
But for he wold a while abyde
To loke yf he wold hym amende
To hym afore token he sende
And that was in his slepe by nyght
This proude kyng a wonder  [...]yght
Had  [...] his sweuen [...] there he lay
Hym thought vpon a mery day
As he byhelde the world abou [...]
A tre growe he sawe ther out [...]
Whiche in the world amyddes euen
Whos heyght strauȝt vy to the heuen
The leues were fayr & large
The fouyt it  [...]ere so rype a c [...]arge
That al men it myght fede
He sawe also the bowes sprede
Aboue al erthe in whiche were
The kynde of al byrdes there
And eke he thought he sawe also
The kynde of al bestes go
Vnder the tre aboute rounde
And fedden hem vpon the grounde
As he this wonder stond & syghe
He thought he herd a wys on hyghe
Cryend & sayd aboue alle
Hewe doune this tre & lete it falle
The leues lete defou [...]e in hast
And doth feuyt destroye & wast
And lete of shreden euery braunche
But at rote he bete it staunche
Whan al his pryde is cast to grounde
The rote shal be fast bounde
And shal no mans hert bere
But euery lust shal he forbere
Of man & lyche an Oxe his m [...]te
Of gras he shal purchace & ete
Tyl that the water of heuen
Haue wasshen hym by tymes seuen
So that he thorugh knowe aryght
What is the heuenlyche myght
And be made humble to the wylle
Of hym whiche maye al saue & spylle
This kyng out of his sweuene abrayd
And he vpon the mow we it sayd
Vnto the clerkes whiche he had
But none of hem the soth arad
Was none his sweuen couth vndo
And it stood thylk tyme so
This kyng had in subiectyon
Iudee & of affectyon
A bouen al other one Danyel
He loueth for he couthe wel
[Page]Dyuyne that none other couthe
To hym were al thynges couthe
As he it had of goddes grace
He was byfore the kynges face
And sente &  [...]oden that he sholde
Vpon the poynt the kyng of tolde
The fortune of his sweuene expounde
As it shold afterward be founde
Whan Danyel this sweuene herde
He stood long tyme or he ansuerde
And made a wondre beuy chere
The kyng toke hede of his manere
And bad hym telle that he wyst
As he to whome he mochel  [...]yse
And sayd be wold not be wroth
But Danyel was wonder loth
And sayd vpon the so men alle
Syre kyng thy sweuene myght falle
And nethelce touchend of this
I wol the tellen how it is
And what dysese is to the shape
God wote it yf thou shalt escape
The hyghe tree whiche thou hast sene
Whiche leues & f [...]uyt so wel besene
The whiche stood in ye world amyddes
So that the beestes & the byrdes
Gouerned were of hym alone
Syr kyng bytokeneth thy persone
Whiche stōte aboue al erthely thynges
Thus regnen vnder the the kynges
And al the peple vnto the lovoteth
And al the world thy persone douteth
So that with veyne honour deceyued
Thou hast the reuerence weyued
Fro hym which is thy kyng aboue
Thou hast yt thou for drede ne loue
Wolt nothyng kno we of this god
Which now for yu hath made a rod
Thy veyne glorye & thy folye
With grete peynes to chastye
And of the voys thou herdest speke
Whiche bad the bowes for to breke
And bewe & felle doune the tr [...]
That word by [...]ongeth vnto the
Thy Regne shal be ouerthro we
And thou dyspoylled for athro we
But that the rote shal stonde,
Thou shalt wel vnderstonde
Ther shal abyde of thy regne
A tyme ageyne where thou shal regne
And eke of that thou herdest say [...]
To take a mannes hert away [...]
And set there a bestyal
So that lyke an oxe shal
Pasture & that he be reyned
By tymes seuen & sore peyned
Tyl that he kno we his goddes myȝtes
Than shal he stonde ageyne vprightes
Al this bytokeneth thyne estate
Whiche now with god is in debate
Thy mannes forme shal be lassed
Tyl seuen yere be ouer passed
And in the lykenes of a beste
Of gras shal be thy Royal  [...]ste
The wether shal vpon the rayne
And vnderstonde that al this payne
Whiche thou shalt suffre thylk tyde
Is shape al only for thy pryde
Of veyne glorye & of the  [...]ynne
Whiche thou hast long stonde ynne

So vpon this condycyon▪
Thy sweuene hath exposicyon
But or this thyng befalle in dede
Amende the this wold I rede
Yeue & departe thyn almesse
Do mercy forth with ryghtwysenes
Beseche & pray the hyghe grace
For so thou myght thy pees purcha [...]
With god & stonden in good acord
But pryde is loth to lose his lord
And wol not suffre humylyte
With hym to stonde in no deg [...]e
And whan a shyp hath loste his stere
Is none so wyse that may hym stere
Ageyne the wawes in a rage
This proud kyng in his courage
Humylyte hath so forlore
That for no sweuene he sawe to fore
Ne yet for al that Danyel
Hym hath counseylled euery del
He lete it passe oute of his mynde
[Page xxviij]Thorugh veyne glorye & as the blynde
He seeth no weye or hym be wo
And felle within a tyme so
As he in Babyloyne wente
The vanyte of pryde hym hente
His hert aroos of veyne glorye
So that he drough in to memorye
His lordship & his Regalye
With wordes of surquedrye
Whan that he hym moost auaunteth
That lord whiche glorye daunteth
Al sodenly as who sayth treys
Where that he stood in his paleys
He took hym from the mens syght
Was none of hem so war that myght
Set eye where he bycome
And thus was he from his kyngdome
In to the wyld for [...]st drawe
Where that the myghty goddes lawe
Thorugh his power dyd transforme
Fro man in to a bestes forme
And lyke an oxe vndre the foote
He graseth as he nedes mote
To geten his lyues fode
Tho thought hym cold gras goode
That whilome ete the hot [...] spyces
Thus was he torned from delyces
The wyn was wonte to drynke
He took thenne of the welles brynke
Or of the pyt or of the slough
It thought hym then good ynough
In stede of chambres wel arayed
He was than of a busshe wel payed
The hard ground he lay vpon
For other pylowes had he non
The stormes & the raynes falle
The wyndes blowe vpon hym alle
He tormented day & nyght
Suche was the hyghe goddes myght
Tyl seuen yere an ende toke
Vpon hym self tho gan he loke
In stede of mete gr [...]s & treys
In stede of handes long cleys
In stede of man a beste lyke
He sawe & than he gan to syke
For cloth of gold & of perrye
Whiche hym was wonte to magny [...]ye
When he byheld his cote of heres
He wepte & with woful teres
Vp to the heuen he cast his chere
Wepend & thought in this manere
Though he no wordes may wynne
Thus sayd his hert & spak withynne
O myghty god that al hast wrought
And al myȝt brynge ageyne to nouȝt
Now knowe I but al of the
This world hath no prosperyte
In thyn aspect ben al alyche
The poure man & eke the ryche
Withoute the ther may no wyght
And thou aboue al other myght
O myghty lord to ward my vyce
Thy mercy medle with Iustyce
And I wol make a couenaunt
That of my lyf the remenaunt
I shal it by the grace amende
And in thy lawe so dispende
That veyn glorye I shal eschewe
And bowe vnto thyn heste & sewe
Humylyte & that I vowe
And so thenkend he gan doune bowe
And though hym lacke boys & speehe
He gan with his fete areche
And wenend in his beestly steuene
He made his pleynt vnto the heuene
He kneleth in his wyse & brayeth
To seche mercy & assayeth
His god whiche made hym nothyng
straūge. When yt he saw his pride chāge
Anone as he was hūble & tame
He fond toward his god the same
And in a twynkelyng of a look
His mannes forme ageyne he took
And was reformed to the Reygne
In which that he was wont to reygne
So that the pryde of veyn glorye
Euer afterward oute of memorye
He lete it passe & thus it shewed
What is to ben of pryde vnthe wed
Ageyne the hyghe goddes lawe
To whome no man may be felawe
For thy my sone take good hede
[Page]So for to lede thy manhede
That thou be not lyke a beste
But yf thy lyf shal be honeste
Thou must humblesse take on honde
For than myght thou syker stonde
And for to speke in other wyse
A proud man can not assise
For thouȝ a womā wold hym please
His pryde can not ben at ease
Ther may noman to mochel blame
A vyce whiche is for to blame
For thy men shulden nothyng hyde
That myght falle in blame of pryde
Whiche is the worst vyce of alle
Wherof so as it was byfalle
The tale I thynke of a Crony (que)
To telle yf it may the lyke
So that thou myght humblesse sewe
And eke the vyce of pryde eschewe
Wherof the glorye is fals & veyne
Which god hym self hath in dysdeyne
That though it mounte for athrowe
It shall falle doune & ouerthrowe

Est virtꝰ humilis per quam deus altus ad yma / Sed tulit & nostre viscera carnis habet / Sic humibis superest et am [...] sibi subditur omnis / Cuius habet nulla sorte superbus opem / Odit eum tetra celum defecit et ipsum / Sedibus interm stat (que) receptus ibi

hIc narrat Confessor Exēplum contra superbiam / Et dicit ꝙ nuper quidam Rex famose prudencie cuidam Militi suo super questionibus vt inde certitudinis responsionē daret subpena capitalis seutencie terminum pre fixit / Primo quid minoris indigencie ab inhabitantibꝰ orbem auxilium maius obtinuit / Secundo quid maioris valencie meritum continens minoris expense reprisas exigūt. Tercio qⁱd oīa bona diminuens ex sui proprietate nichil penitus valuit / Quarum vero (que)stionnm quedam virgo dicti militis filia nomine patris solucionem aggredi ens taliter Regi respondit / Ad primā dixit quod terra nullius indiget quā tn̄ adiuuare cotidianis laboribꝰ omnes intendunt / Ad secundam dixit ꝙ humi litas omnibus virtutibus preualet q̄ tamen nullius prodegalitatis expensis mēsuram excedit / Ad terciam dixit ꝙ suꝑbia omnia tam corporis qm̄ anime bona deuastans maiorum expensarum excessus inducit

aKing was whilom yōg & wise
The which of his wit set grete pryce
Of depe ymagynacyōs
And straunge Interpretacions
Problemes & demaūdes eke
His wysedom was to fynde & seke
Wherof he wold in sondry wyse
Opposen hem that were wyse
But none of hem it myght vere
Vpon his word to yeue ansuere
Out taken one whiche was a knyght
To hym was euery thyng so lyght
That also sone as he hem herde
The kynges wordes ansuerde
What thyng the kynge axe wolde
Ther anone the trouthe he tolde
The kyng somdele had an enuye
And thouȝt he wold his wyttes plye
To set som conclusyon
Whiche shold be confusyon
Vnto this knyght so that the name
And of wysedome the hyghe fame
To ward hym self he wold wynne
And thus of al his wyt to wynne
The kyng bygan to study & muse
What straunge mater be myght vse
The knyghtes wyttes to confounde
And at last he hath it founde
And for the knyght anone he sent
That he shal telle what he ment
Vpon the poyntes of the mater
[Page xxix]Of questions as thou shalt here

The fyrst poynt of al thre
Was this What thyng in al degre
Of al this World hath nede lest
And yet men helpe it alther mest

The second What most is worth

And of costage is lest put forth

The thyrd is whiche is of most coste
And lest is worth & goth to loste
The kyng these thre demaūdes axeth
To the knyght this lawe he taxeth
That he shal gone & come ageyne
The thyrd weke & telle hym pleyne
To euery poynt what it amounteth
And yf so be that he myscounteth
To make in his ansuere a faylle
Ther shal none other thyng faylle
The kyng sayth that he shal be dede
And lese his goodes & his hede
The knyght was sory of this thynge
And wold excuse hym to the kyng
But he ne wold hym not forbere
And thus this knyght of his ansuere
Goth home to take auyfement
But after his entendement
The more he cast his wytte aboute
Therof he stant the more in doute
Tho wyst he wel the kynges hert
That he the deth ne shold astert
And suche a sow we has to hym take
That gladship he hath forsake
He thought fyrst vpon his lyf
And after that vpon his wyf
Vpon his childee eke also
Of whiche he had doughters two
The yongest of hem had in age
Fourtene yere & of vysage
She was ryght fayre & of stature
Lyche to an heuenlyche fygure
And of maner & of goodly speche
Though men wold al londes seche
They shold not haue founden her lyke
She sawe hir fadre sorowe & syke
And wyst not the cause why
So cam she to hym pryuely
And yt was where he made his mone
Within a gardyn al hym one
Vpon hyr knees she gan doune falle
With humble hert & to hym calle
And sayd O good fadre dere
Why make ye thus heuy chere
And I wote nothyng how it is
And wel ye knowe fadre this
What auenture that yow felle
Ye myght it saufly to me telle
For I haue ofte herd you sayd
That ye suche trust haue on me layd
That to my suster ne to my brother
In al this world ne to none other
Ye durst haue told a pryuete
So wel my fadre as to me
For thy my fadre I you praye
Ne casteth nought that hert awaye
For I am she that wold kepe
Your honour & with that wepe
Hyr eye may not be forbore
She wyssheth for to ben vnbore
Er that her fadre so mystryst
To tellen hyr of that he wyst
And euer among mercy she cryede
That he ne shold his counseylle hyde
From hyr that so wold hym good
And was so nyghe flesshe & blood
So that wepyng at the laste
His chere vpon his child he caste
And sorowfully to that she prayde
He told his tale & thus he sayde
The sorowe doughter whiche I make
Is not al only for my sake
But for the both & for you alle
For suche a chaunce is me befalle
That I shal or this thyrd day
Lese al that euer I lese may
My lyf & al my good therto
Therfore it is I sorowe so
What is the cause alas quod she
My fadre that ye sholden be
Deed & destroyed in suche a wyse
And he bygan the poyntes deuyse
Whiche as ye kyng told hym by mouth
And sayd hyr pleynly that he couth
Ansuere to no poynt of this
[Page]And she that hereth how it is
Hyr counseyl yafe & sayd tho
My fadre syn it is so
That ye can none other weye
But that ye must nedes deye
I wold pray of you a thyng
Late me go with yow to the kyng
And ye shal make hym vnderstonde
Hou ye my wyttes for to fonde
Haue leyd ansuere vpon me
And telle hym in suche degre
Vpon my word ye wol abyde
Tho to lyue or deye what so betyde
For yet per chaunce I maye purchace
With som good word ye kynges grace
Your lyf & eke your good to saue
For ofte shal a woman haue
Thyng which yt a man may not areche
The fadre herd the doughters speche
And thought ther was reson ynne
And sawe his owne lyf to wynne
He reuthe done hym self no cure
So better hym thought in auenture
To put hym & al his good
Than in the maner as it stood
His lyf in certeyne for to lese
And thus thynkend he bygan to chese
To do the counseyll of this mayde
And eke the purpoos whiche she saide
The day was come & forth they gone
Vnto the Court they come anone
Where as the kyng in his Iugement
Was set & hath this knyght asent
Arrayed in the best wyse
This mayden with her wordes wyse
Hyr fadre led by the honde
In to the place where he fonde
The kyng with other whiche he wolde
And to the kyng knelend he tolde
As he enformed was to fore
And prayth the kyng that he therfore
His daughters wordes wol take
And sayth that he wol vndertake
Vpon her wordes for to stonde
Tho was ther grete meritayl on honde
That he whiche was soo wyse a knyȝt
His lyf vpon so yong a wyght
Be set wold in Ieopardye
And many it helde for folye
But at the last neuertheles
The kyng commaunded to be in pees
And to this mayde he cast his chere
And seyd he wold hyr tale here
And bad hyr speke & she bygan
My lyege lord so as I can
Quod she the poyntes whiche I herde
They shal of reson be ansuerde

The first I vnderstond is this
What thyng of al the world it is
Whiche men moost helpe & lest nede
My lyege lord this wold I rede
The erthe it is whiche euermo
With mannys labour is vego
As wel in wynter as in maye
The mannes honde what he maye
To helpe it forth & make it ryche
And for thy men it delue & dyche
And eren it with strengthe of plough
Where it hath of hym self ynough
So his nede is at the lest
For euery man byrd & best
And flour & gras & rote & rynde
And euery thyng by wey af kynde
Shal sterue & erthe it shal bycome
As it was oute of the erthe nome
It shal to erthe torne ageyne
And thus I may by reson seyne
That therthe is most nedeles
And most men helpe it netheles
So that my lord touchand of this
I haue ansuerd how it is

That other poynt I vnderstood
Whiche most is worth & most is good
And costeth a man lest to kepe
My lord yf ye wol take kepe
I say it is Humylyte
Thorugh whiche the hyghe Trynyte
As for deserte of trewe loue
Vnto Mary from aboue
Of that he knewe her humble entent
His owne sone a doune he sent
Aboue al other / & hyr he chese
[Page xxx]For that vertu whiche that bedeth pees
So that I maye by reson calle
Humylyte is most worthyest of alle
And lest it costeth to mayntene
In al the word as it is sene
For who that hath humblesse vn hende
He bryngeth no wer [...]e in to londe
For he desyreth for the best
To set euery man in rest
Thus with youre hyghe reuerence
Me thynketh, that this euydence
As to this poynt is suffysaunt
And touchend of the remenaunt
Whiche is the thyrd of your askynges
What lest is worth of al thynges
And  [...]osteth most I telle it pryde
Whiche may not in the heuene abyde
For Luafer with hym it felle
Bar Pryde with hym in to helle
Ther was pryde of to grete a cost
Whan he for pryde hath heuen lost
And after that in Paradyse
Adam for pryde he lost his pryce
In myddel erthe & eke also
Pryde is the cause of al We
That al the world it may suffyse
So stant of pryde the repryse
Pryde is the heed of al synne
Whiche wasteth all & may not wynne
Pryde is of euery mys the pryk
Pryde is the worst of al wyck
And costeth most & lest is worth
In place where he hath his forth
Thus haue I sayd that I wol sey
Of myn ansuere & to yow prey
Myn lyege lord of your offyce
That ye shal grace & suche Iustyce
Ordeyne for my fadre here
That after this men it here
The world therof may say good

The kyng / whiche reson vnderstood
And hath al herd whiche she hath said
Was inly glad & so wel payd
That al his wrath is ouer go
And he bygan to loke tho
Vpon this mayde in the face
In whiche he founde so mochel grace
That al his pryce on her he  [...]eyde
In audyence & thus he seyde
My fayre mayde wel ye be
Of thyne ansuere & eke of the
Me lyketh & as thou wylt
Foryeue be thy fadre gylt
And yf thou were of suche lygnage
That thou to me were of parage
And that thy fadre were a pere
As he is now a bachylere
Thou sholdest then be my wyf
So syker as I haue lyf
But this I say netheles
That I wol shape thyn encrees
What worldes good that thou wolt
baue / Axe of my yeft & yu shalt haue
And she the kynges wordes wyse
Knelyng thanked in this wyse
My lyege lord god mote yow quyte
My fader here hath but a lyte
Of waryson & that he wende
Had al be lost but now amende
Ye may wel thorugh your noble grace
With yt the kyng ryght in his place
A none forth in the fressh hete
An Erldom whiche than was eschete
Was late falle in to his honde
Vnto the knyght with rente & londe
Hath youe & with his chartre sesed
And thus was al the noyse appesed
This maide which sate vpon hir knees
Byfore the kynges charytees
Comen deth & sayth euermore
My lyege lord ryght now to fore
Ye sayde as it is of record
That yf my fadre were a lord
And pere vnto these other grete
Ye wolden not elles lete
That I ne shold be your wyf
And thus wote enery worthy lyf
A kynges word mote be holden
For thy my lord yf that ye wolden
So grete a charyte fulfylle
God wote it were wel my wylle
For he whiche was a bachilere
[Page]My fadre is now made a pere
So when as euer that I cam
An erles doughter now I am
This yong kyng whiche plesyd alle
Hyr beaute & hyr wyt with alle
As he that wae with loue hente
A none therto yaf his assente
He myght not the mayde asterte
That she nys lady of his herte
So that he took hyr to his wyfe
To holde whyle that he hath lyfe
And thus ye kyng toward this knyȝt
Acordeth to hym as it is ryght
And ouer this good is to wyte
In the Cronyes as it is wryte
This noble kyng of whome I tolde
Of Spayne by tho dayes olde
The kyngdome had in gouernaunce
Aud as the book maketh remembraūce
Alphons was his propre name
The knyght also yf I shal name
Dom Petro hyght / & as men telle
His doughter wyse Petronelle
Was cleped whiche was ful of grace
And that was sene in thylk place
Where she hyr fadre oute of tene
Hath breuȝt & made hyr self a quene
Of that she hath so wel disclosed
The poyntes wherof she was opposed

Confessor

Lo now my sone as thou myght here
Of al this thyng to my matere
But one I take & that is pryde
To whome no grace may betyde
In heuene he felle oute of his stede
And paradys hym was forbede
The good men in erthe hym hate
So that to helle he mote algate
Where euery vertu shal be weyued
Aud euery vyce be receyued
But Humblesse is al other wyse
Whiche moost is worthy & noo repryse
It taketh ageyne both softe & fayre
If ony thyng stant in contrayre
With humble speche it is redressed
Thus was this yong mayd blessyd
The whiche I spak of now to fore
Her fadre lyfe she gat therfore
And wanne with al the kynges loue
For thy my sone yf thou wolt loue
It sytt the wel to loue pryde
And take Humblesse on thy syde
The more of grace thou shalt gete

Amans

My fadre I wol not foryete
Of this yt ye haue told me here
And yf that ony suche manere
Of humble port may loue appaye
Here afterward I thenke assaye
But now ouer I beseche
That ye more of my shryfte seche

Confessor

My good sone it shal be do
Now herkne & lay an ere to
For as tonchand of pryde fayre
Als ferforth as I can declare
In cause of vyce in cause of loue
That thou hast pleyne herd aboue
So that there is nomore to seye
Touchend of that but other weye
Touchend enuye I thynk to telle
Whiche hath by propre kynde of helle
Withoute cause to mysdo
Toward hym self & other mo
Here afterward as I vnderstonde
Thou shalt the spyces as they stonde

Explicit liber primus

[Page xxxj]

Liter secundus

hOw after pryde the second
Ther is which many a wo ful stoūd
To war­des other beryth ā boute
Within hym self & not withoute
For in his thought he brenneth euer
Whan that he wote another leuer
Or more vertuous than he
Whiche passeth hym in his degre
Wherof he taketh his maladye
That vyce is cleped hoote enuye
For thy my sone yf it be so
That ye art or hast ben one of tho
As for to speke in loues cas
Yf euer yet thyn herte was
Seke of other mennes hele
So god auannce my quarele
My fadre ye a thousand sythe
Whan I haue sene another blythe
Of loue & a goodly chere
Ethna whiche brenneth yere byyere
Was than not so hoote as I
Of thylk for whiche pryuely
Myn hertes thought within brenneth
The ship whiche on the wawe renneth
And is forstormed & for blowe
Is not more payned for athrowe
Than I am than whan I se
Another whiche that passeth me
In that fortune of loues yefte
But fadre this I telle in shryfte
That now here but in a place
For who that seche & fynde grace
In other stede it may nought greue
But this ye may ryght wel byleue
Toward my lady that I serue
Though that I wyst for to sterue
Myn hert is ful of suche folye
That I my self may not chastye
Whan I the court see of Cupyde
Approche vnto my lady syde
Of hem that lusty ben & fresshe
Though it auayle hem not a resshe
But only that they ben of speche
My sorowe is than not to seche
But whan they rownen in her ere
Then groweth al my most fere
And namely whan they talen long
My sorowes be than so strong
Of that I se hem wel at ease
I can not telle my dysease
But syre as of my lady selue
Though she haue wowers x or twelue
For no mystrust I haue of hire
Me greueth nonght for certes syre
I trowe in al this world to seche
Nys woman that in dede & speche
Wol better auyse hyr what she doth
Ne better for to sey a soth
Kepe hyr honour at al tyde
And yet gete hyr a thank besyde
But netheles I am be knowe
That whan I see ony throwe
Or elles yf it I may here
That she make ony man good chere
Though I therof haue not to done
My thought wol entermete sone
For though I be my self straunge
Enuye maketh myn hert chaunge
[Page]That I am sorowfully be stad
Of that I se another glad
With hyr but of other alle
Of loue what so may byfalle
Or that he fayle or that he spede
Therof take I but lytel hede
Now haue I sayd my fader alle
And of this poynt in specyal
As ferforthly as I haue wyst
Now axe fadre what yow lyst

Confessor

My sone or I axe ony more
I thynke somdele for thy lore
Telle an example of this mater
Touchend enuye as thou shalt here
Though it be not the houndes kynde
Wryte in Cyuyle this I fynde
To ete chaf yet wol I werne
An oxe whiche cometh to the herne
Therof to take ony fode
And thus who that it vnderstode
It stant of loue many a place
Who that is oute of loues grace
He wold another shold faylle
And may hym self not auaylle
And yf he may put ony lettr
He deth al that he may to lette
Wherof I fynde as thou shalt wyte
To this purpoos a tale wryte

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos saltem qui in amoris causa aliorum gaudijs inuidentes ne [...]ua (quam) per hoc sibi ipsis proficiunt / Et narrat qualiter Mundus Miles noīe Acis quem Galathea Numpha pulcherrima toto corde peramauit cum ipsi sub quadam rupe Iuxta litus maris colloquium ad inuicem habuerunt / Polophemus gigas concussa rupe mag nam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto percipiens Ipsum per inuidiam in terfecit / Et cum ipse super hoc dictam Galatheam rapere voluisset Neptunꝰ gigantem obsistens Ipsam inuolutum salua custodia preseruauit / Sed et dij miserti corpus Acis defuncti in fontē aque dulcissime subito transmutarant

tHer ben of suche mo than xij
That be not able of hem selue
To gete loue & for enuye
Vpon al other they aspye
And for hem lacketh that they wolde
They kepe that none other sholde
Touchend of loue his cause spede
Wherof a grete ensample I rede
Whiche vnto this mater acordeth
As Ouyde in his book recordeth
How Polyphemus whilome wrouȝt
When that he Galathe bysought
Of loue whiche he may not latche
That made hym for to waite & watche
By al weyes how it ferde
Tyl at the last he knewe & herde
How that another had leue
To loue there as he mote leue
As for to speke of ony spede
So that he knewe none other rede
But for to wayten vpon alle
Tyl he may see the chaunce falle
That he hyr myght greue
Whiche by hym self may not acheue
This Galathe seyth the poete
Aboue al other was vnmete
Of beaute that men than knewe
And had a lusty loue & true
A bachyleer in his degre
Ryght suche another as was he
On whome she hath hyr hert set
So that it myght nought be let
For yefte ne for no byhest
That she ne was al at his hest
This yong knyght Acis was hote
Whiche hyr ageynward also hote
Al only loueth & no mo
Herof was polyphemus wo
Thorugh pure enuye & euer aspyede
And wayteth vpon euery syde
When he to geder myght se
[Page xxxij]This yong Acis with / galathe
So long he wayteth to & fro
Tyl at the last he founde hem two
In pryue place where they stood
To speke & haue here wordes good
The place where as he hem syghe
It was vnder a bank nyghe
The grete see & he aboue
Stood & byhelde the lusty loue
Whiche eche of hem to other made
With goodly there & wordes glade
That al his hert hath set a fyre
Of pure enuye & as a fyre
Whiche flyeth oute of a myghty bowe
Awey he fled for a throwe
As he that was for loue wood
Whan that he sawe how it stood
This Polypheme a geaunt was
And when he sawe the soth cas
How Galathe hym hath forsaken
And Acis to here loue taken
His hert may it not forbere
That he ne roreth as a bere
And as it were a wylde beste
In whome no reson myght areste
He ran Ethna the helle aboute
Where neuer yet the fyre was oute
Fulfylled of sorowe & grete dysease
That he sawe Acis wel at ease
Tyl at the last he hym bythought
As he whiche al enuye sought
And torneth to the banke ageyne
Where he with Galathe hath seyne
Acis whome he thought to greue
Though he hym self may not releue
This Geaunt with his rude myght
Part of the bank he shoof doune right
The whiche euen vpon Acis fylle
So that with fallyng of this hylle
This Polyphemus Acys slough
Wherof she made sorowe ynough
And as she fled from the lond
Neptunus toke hyr by the hond
And kepte hyr in so fast a plac
Fro Polypheme & his manace
That he with his fals enuye
Ne myght atteyne hyr companye
This Galathe of whome I speke
That of hyr self may not be wreke
Withouten ony semblaunt feyned
She hath hyr loues deth compleyned
And with hyr sorowe & with hyr wo
She hath the goddis moued so
That they of pyte & of grace
Haue Acis in the same place
There he lay deed vnto a welle
Transformed as the bokes telle
With fressh stremes & with clere
As he whilome with lusty chere
Was fresshe his lust for to queme
And with his rude Polypheme
For his enuye & for his hate
They were wrothe & thus algate

Confessor

My sone thou myght vnderstonde
That yf thou wolt in grace stonde
With loue thou must leue enuye
And as thou wylt for thy partye
Toward thy loue stonde fre
So must thou suffre another be
What so byfalle vpon thy chaunce
For it is a vnwyse vengeaunce
Whiche to none other mannes lefe
And is vnto hym self grefe

Amans

My fader this ensample is good
But how so euer that it stood
With Polyphemus lone as tho
It shal not stonde with me so
To worchen ony felonye
In loue for none suche enuye
For thy yf ther ought elles be
Now axe forth in what degre
It is & I me shal confesse
With shryfte vnto youre holynesse

Orta sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor Dū videt alteriꝰ dampna doloris agit Inuidus obridet hodie fletus, aliorum Fletus cui pro (pri)os crastina fata parēt Sic ī amore pare stat sorte iocosꝰ amā tes. Cū vidit illusos inuidus ille quasi

[Page]Sic licet iuua [...]uum speret tn̄ ipse leuamen / Alterius casu lapsus & ipse simul

hAc [...]quitur confessor de secunda specie In [...]die [...]que gaudium altr [...]us de [...]oris diatur / Et pumo eiusdē vicij materiam tractans amantis consciām super codem vlterius inuestigat

Y good sone yet ther is
 [...] vyce reuers vnto this
Which  [...]nuye taketh his glad­  [...]sse.
Of that he seeth the heuynesse
Of other men for his welfare
Is when he wot [...] another care
Of that another hath a fall [...]
He thynketh hym self aryse with alle
Suche is the gladship of enuye
In worldes thyng & in partye
Ful oftymes & eke also
In toues cause it stant ryght so
If thou my sone hast ioye had
When thou another sawe vnglad
Shryue the thero / my fadre yis
I am vysrno wen to yo w this
Of these louers that lotten streyte
And fo: that poynt which they coucite
Ben pursuaunt [...]s from yere to yere
In soues court when I may fxr [...]
Now that they clymbe vpon the whele
And when they wene al shal be wele
They ben doune throwe at the last
Than am I fed of that I fast
And laughe when I see hem loure
And thus of that▪they brewe loure
I drynke swete & am wel  [...]sed
Of that they wote they ben dysesed
But this whiche I telle here
Is only for my lady dere
That for none other that I knowe
Me reheth not to ouerthrowe
Ne who that stonde in loue vpryght
But be he squyer or be he  [...]nyght
Whiche to my lady ward pursueth
The more he leseth of that he seweth
The more than I thynke wynne
And am the more glad withynne
Of that I wote hym sorowe endute
For euer vpon suche auenture
It is a comfort as men seyn
To see another in his peyn
So that they both may compleyne
Of hem that is so wo beseyne
Where I my self may not [...]auayle
To sene another mannes trauayle
I am ryght glad & he be let
And though I fare not the let
Hie sow we is to myn hert a game
Whan that I knowe it is the same
Whiche to my lady stant enclyned
And hath his loue not termyned
I am ryght ioyeful in my thought
Of suche enuye greueth nought
As I  [...]e knowe me culpable
Ye that be wyse & resonable
My fadre telle youre aduyse

Confessor

My sone enuye to no pryse
Of suche a forme I vnderstonde
Ne myght by no reson stonde
For this enuye hath suche a kynde
That he wol set hym self behynde
To hynder with another wyght
And gladly lese his owne ryght
To make another lese his
And for to knowe▪ how it so is
A tale lyche to this matere
I thenke telle yf thou wolt here
To shewe propyrly the vyce
Of this ennye & the malyce

hIc ponit / Confessor exemplum cō tra▪ illum qui sponte sui ipsius de trim [...]tum in alterius penam maic [...]ein patitur / Et narrat ꝙ cum Iupiter an gelum suum in forma hominis vt homi num condiaones exploraret ab exce [...]o in terram misit / contigit ꝙ ipse angelꝰ duos homines quorum vnus cupidꝰ & alter inuidus erat itinevando spacio [Page xxxij] spacio quasi vniꝰ di [...]i committabatur Et cum sero factum esset Angelus corum se ipsum tun [...] manifestans di [...]it / ꝙ quidquid alter e [...]rum ab ipso dona ri sibi pecierit▪ Illud statim obtinebit / ꝙ & socio suo secum comutanti affixmat duplicādū super quo cupidus impeditꝰ auaricia sperans sibi diiucias carpere duplicatas primo petere recusauit. Od cum inuidꝰ animiaduerteret naturam sui vicij concernens ita vt socius suus vtro (que) lumine pr [...]uaretur se ipsum mo notulum fieri constanter primus ab Angelo postulabat / Et sic vnius inui d [...]a alteriu [...] auariciam maculauit

oF Iubitex thus I find y write
That whilō how he wold wite
Vpon the pleynt which he herd
Among the men how yt it ferd
And of her wrong condycyon
To do Iustyfycacyon
And for that cause doune he sent
An Aungel whiche aboute went
That he the soth knowe may
So it byfelle vpon a day
This angel which hym shold enforme
Was clothed in a mans forme
And ouertook I vnderstonde
Two men that wenten ouer bonde
Thorugh whiche he thought to aspye
His cause & goth in companye
This Aungel with his wordes wyse
Opposeth hem in sondry wyse
Now lowde wordes & now softe
That made hem to desputen ofte
And eche of hem his wason had
And thus with tales he hem lad
With good examynacyon
Tyl he knewe the condycyon
What men they were bothe two
And sawe also wel at the last tho
That one of hem was coueyt [...]us
And his fe lawe was enuyous
And thus whan he hath knowlechyng
Anone he feyned departyng
And sayd he mote algate wende
But herken now what fell at ende
For than he made hem vnderstonde
That he was of goddes sonde
And sayd them for the kyndeship
That they haue done hym felauship
He wold do som grace ageyne
And bad that one of hem shold seyne
What thyng is hym leuest to craue
And he it shal of yefde haue
And ouer that eke forth with al
He sayth that other haue shal
The double that his felawe axeth
And thus to them his grace he taxeth

The concytous was wondre glad
And to that other man he had
And seyth that he fyvst ax [...] sholde
For he supposeth that he wolde
Make his axyng of worldes good
For than he knewe wel how it stood
If that hym self by double wyght
Shal after take & thus by sleyght
By cause that he wolde wynne
He  [...]ad his felawe fyrst begynne
This enuyous though it be late
When that he sawe he mot [...] algate
Make his axynges fyrst he thought
If he worship or proufyte sought
It shal be double to his fere
That wold he chese in no manere
But than he sheweth what he was
Toward enuye & in this  [...]as
Vnto this Angel & thus he seyd
And for his yef [...]e & thus he preyd
To make hym blynde on his owne eye
So that his felawe no thyng syghe
This word was not so sone spoke
That his owne eye was loke▪
And his felawe forth with also
Was blynde on both his eyen two
Tho was that other glad ynough
That one wepte & that other  [...]ough
[Page]And he set his on [...] tye at no cost
Wherof that other two hath lost

Of thylke ensample whiche felle tho
Men telle now ful ofte so
The world empeyreth comonly
And yet wote none the cause why
For it acordeth nought to kynde
Myn owne harme to s [...]che & fynde
Of that I shal my brother greue
I myght neuer wel acheue
What s [...]yst thou sone of my folye
My fadre but yf I shold ly [...]
Vpon the poynt whiche ye haue sayd
Yet was myn hert neuer layd
But in the wyse as I haue told
But ouermore yf that ye wold
Ought elles to my shryft saye
Touchand enuye I wold praye

[...]die pars est detractio p [...]ssima pestem / Qne magis infamein fla [...]bue o [...] agit / [...]ingua venenato sermone reper [...]utit aures / Sic vt in alteteris scandala f [...]ma volat / Morsibus a [...]rge quos inficit ipsa fideles / Vulneris ignoti s [...]pe salute carent / Sed ge ne [...]sue amor [...]nguam cōseruat vt eiꝰ [...]erbum qd loquitur nulla sinistra ge [...]t

hIc Tractat Confessor de tercia spe [...] Iuiudie que detractio dicitur [...] [...] m [...]sus viperos lesa qm̄ sepe fama de [...]langit.

tOn [...]hend of enuyoꝰ brood
I wote not one of al good
But netheles such as they be / 
Yet ther is one & yt is he
Whiche  [...]l [...]ped is detractyon
And to conferme his actyon
He hath with holde male bouche
Whoos tonge neuer crosse ne crouche
May here so that he prouounce
A pleyne good word withoute froūce
O where behynde a mans bak
For though he pr [...]yse he fynt som lak
Whiche of his tale is ay the last
That al the pryce shal ouer cast
And though ther be no cause why
Yet wol he iangle not for thy
As he yt was which hath yt herauldye
Of hem that vsen for to lye
For as the nettle whiche vp renneth
The fresshe rede Rose brenneth
And maketh hym fade & pale of hewe
Ryght so this fals enuyous hewe
In euery place where he duelleth
With fals wordes whiche he telleth
He torneth preysyng in to blame
And worship in to worldes shame
Of suche lesynges as he compasseth
Is not so good that he ne passeth
Byt wene his teth & bakbyted
And thorugh his fals tong endyted
Lyke to the Sharnebyrdes kynde
Of whos nature that I fynde
That in the hotest of the day
When comen is the mery may
He spret his wynge & vp he fleeth
And vnder al aboute he seeth
The fayre lusty floures spryng
But therof hath he no lykyng
Where he seeth of ony beste
The filthe there he maketh his feste
And therupon he wold alyghte
There lyketh hym none other syghte
Ryght so this iangler enuyous
Though he a man se vertuous
And ful of good condycyon
Therof maketh he no mencyon
But elles be it not so ly [...]e
Wherof that he may see a wyte
There renneth he with open mouth
Behynde a man & maketh it couth
But al the vertu whiche he can
That wol he hyde of euery man
And openly the vyce telle
As he whiche of the scole of helle
Is taught & fostred vp with  [...]nuye
Of houshold & of companye
Where that he hath his propre offyce
To set on euery man a vyce
[Page xxxiij]How so his mouth be comly
His word euermore syt on wry
And seyth the werst that he may
And in this wyse nowe a day
In loues court a man may here
Ful ofte pleyne of this matere
That many enuyous tale is stered
Where that it may not be ansuered
But yet ful ofte it is byleued
And many a worthy loue is greued
Thorugh bakbytynge of fals enuye
IF thou haue made suche ianglarye
In loues court my sone or this

hIc in amoris causa huins vicij [...]i men ad memoriam reducens Cōfesfessor amanti super codem plenius opponit

sHryue the therof / My fadre yis
But wyte ye how not openly
But other while priuely
Whan I my dere lady mete
And thynke how I am not mete
Vnto hyr hyghe worthynesse
And ese I see hyr besynesse
Of al this yong busty route
Whiche al day pursueth her aboute
And eche of them his tyme a wayteth
And eche of them his tale affayteth
Al to deceyue an Innocent
Whiche wol not be of her assent
And for men seyn vnknow [...]n vnkist
Hyr thombe she helde in hyr fist
So close with n [...] hyr owne hond
That there may wynne noman lond
She leueth not al that, she hereth
And thus ful ofte hyr self she skereth
And is al ware of had I wyst
But for al that myn herte aryst
When I these comon louers see
That wold not holde hem to thre
But welny louen oueral
Myn hert is enuyous with al
And euer I am adrad of gyle
In aunter yf within ony whyle
They myght here Innocence enhaunte
For thy my wordes ful ofte I haunte
Behynden hem so as I dare
Wherof my lady may be ware
I say what euer cometh to mouth
And wers I wold yf that I couth
For when I come vnto here speche
Al that I may enquere & seche
Of suche deceyte I telle it al
And ay the worst in specyal
So fayne I wolde that she wyst
How lytel they ben for to tryst
And what they wold & what they mēt
So as they be of double encent
Thus toward hem that wykked mene
My wykked word was euer grene
And netheles the soth to telle
In certeyne yf it so byfelle
That  [...]der trewest man y bore
To chese among a thousand score
Whiche were al fully for to tryst
My lady loued & I it wyst
Yet rather than he shold spede
I wold suche tales sprede
To my lady yf that I myght
That I wol al his peyne vnryght
And therto wold I do al my peyne
For certes though I shold feyne
And telle that was neuer thought
For al this world I myght nought
To suffre another fully wynne
There as I am yet to begynne
For be they good or be they bad
I wold none my lady had
And that me maketh fnlof [...]e aspye
And vsen wordes of enuye
As for to make them bere a blame
And that is but of thylk fame
The whiche vnto my lady drawe
For euer on them I renne & gnawe
And hynder hem al that euer I may [...]
And that is sothly for to saye
But only to my lady selue
I celle it nought to & or twelue
Therof I wol me wel auyse
To speke or iangle in ony wyse
That toucheth to my lady name
[Page]The which in ernest & in game
I wold saue to my lady deth
For me had leuer to lakke breth
Than speke of hyr name amys
Now haue ye herd touchend of this
My sndre in Confession
And therfor in detraxyon
In loue that I haue myspoke
Tesse howre wylle it shal be wroke
I am al redy for to bere
My peyne & also for to lere
What thyng that ye wol allowe
For who is hounden he must bowe
So wol I bowe vnto youre best
For I dar make this byhest
That I to yow haue nothyug hyd
But told ryght as it is betyd
And otherwyse of no myspeche
My conseyente for to seche
I can not of enuye fynde
That I myspoke haue ought behynde
Wherof who so euer be myspayd
Now haue ye herd & I haue sayd
What wol ye fadre that I do
My sone do no more so
But euer kepe thy tonge stylle
Thou myȝt the more haue of thy wille
For as thou seyst thy seluen here
My lady is of suche manere
So wyse so ware in al thynges
It nedeth of no bakbytynges
That thou thy lady mys enforine
For when she knoweth al the forme
How that thy self art enuyous
Thou shalt not be gracyous
As thou parauentur sholdest be elles
Ther wol no man drynk of the welles
Whiche as he wote is poyson ynne
Aud ofte suche as men begynne
To wardes other suche as they fynde
That set hem ofte fer behynde
When that they wenen be byfore
My good sone & thou therfore
Be ware & leue thy wycked speche
Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche
To many a man byfore this tyme
For who so wol his handes tyme
They must be the more vncleue
For many a mote shal be sene
That wol not elles eleue there
And that shold euery wyse man fere
For who so wol another blame
He sekyth ofte his owne shame
Whiche elles myght be ryght stylle
For thy yf that it be thy wylle
To stonde vpon amendement
A tale of grete entendemêt
A thynke to telle for thy sake
Wherof thou myght ensample take

hIc loqⁱutur Confessor contra istos in amoris causa detrahentes qui suis obliquijs aliena solacia perturbāt / et nacrat exemplum de Constancia Tibe rij Rome Imperatoris Filia omnium biztutum famosissima ob eius amozem Soldanus tunc Persie vt eam in vxorem ducere posset cristianum se fieri & misit cuius accepta caucione consilio pe lagij tunc pape dicta filia vna cum du obꝰ Cardinalibꝰ aln̄s (que) proceribꝰ in Persiā maritagij cā naiugio honozifice destinata fiut que tamen obloquenaū postea detractionis varijs modis abs (que) sui culpa dolorosa fata multipliater pas sa est

a Worthy knyght in Castes law.
Of grete rome as is ye saw /
The ceptre had for to ryȝt / 
Tybery Constātyn he hyght /
Whos wyf was cleped ytalye
But they to gedre of progenye
No childre hadden but a mayde
And the hyr god so wel apayde
That al the wyde worldes fame
Spake worship of her good name
Constance as the Crony (que) seyth
She hyght & was ful of the feyth
That the grettest of Barbarye
[Page xxxiiij]Of hem whiche vseden marchandye
She hath conuerted as they come
Ther vpon a tyme in Rome
To shewen suche thyng as they brouȝt
Whiche worthely of hem she bought
And ouer that in suche a wyse
She hath hem with her wordes wyse
Of Crystes feyth so wel enformed
That they therto ben al conformed
So that baptysme▪ they receyuen
And al hir fals goddes weyuen
Whan they were of the feyth certeyne
They gone to Barbarye ayene
And ther the Soudan for hem sent
And axrth hem to what eutent
They haue hyr fyrst feyth forsake
And they whiche haue vndertake
The ryght feyth to kepe & holde
The mater of here tale tolde
With al the hool cyrcumstaunce
And when the Sowdan of Constaūce
Vpon the poynt that they ansuerde
The beaute & the grace herde
As he whiche than was to wedde
In al hast his, cause spedde
To send for the maryage
And ferthermore with good courage
He sayth be so he may hyr haue
That Cryst yt cam this world to saue
He wol byleue & recorded
They ben on eyther syde accorded
And therupon to make an ende
The So wdan his hostage sende
To Rome of prynces sones twelue
Wherof ye fadre was glad in hym selue
And with the pope auysed
Two Cardynallyz he hath assised
With other lordes many mo
That with his donghter they shold go
To see the Sowdan be conuerted

qValiter adueniente Constancia in [...]arbariam mater Soldanithuiusmo di nupcias perturbare volens filium fuum vna aim dicta Constancia cardinalibus (que) & alijs Romanis prima die ad conuiuium inuitauit / Et conues centibus illis in mensa Ipsuin Soldanum omnes (que) ibidem preter Constanciam Romanos ab Insidijs latitantibus subdola detractione interfeci procurciurt / Ipsam (que) Constanciam m qua dam na [...] abs (que) gubernaculo positam y oltum mare ventorum flatibuo agitā dam in exilium di [...]gi solam constituit

bVt he which was neu wel herted
Enuye tho bygan to trauayle
In dystourbaunce of hyr spousayle
So pryuely that none was ware
The modre whiche the souldan bare
Was than a lyue & thought this
Vnto hyr self yf it so is
My sone hym wedde in this manere
Then haue I lost my Ioyes here
For myn estate shal so be lassed
Thynkend thus she hath, compassed
By sleyȝte how yt she may begyle
Here sone & fylle that ylke whyle
Bytwene hem two when yt they were
She feyned wordes in his ere,
And in this wyse gan to saye▪
My sone I am by double waye
With al myn hert glad & blythe
For that my self haue ofte sythe
Desyre thou wolt as men seyth
Receyue & take a newe feyth
Whiche shal be forthryng to thy lyf
And eke so worshipful a wyf
The doughter of an Emperour
To wedde it shal be grete honour
For thy my sone I yow byseche
That yf I myght suche grace areche
That I may than in especyal
When that my doughter come shal
So as me thynketh honeste
By thylk whiche the fyrst feste
Shal make vnto hyr welcomyng
The Souldan graunteth hyr axyng
And she therof was glad ynoughe
[Page]And vnder that anone she droughe
With fals wordes that she spak
Couyne of deth behynde his bak
And euer vpon here ordynaunce
She made so that when Constaunce
Was comen forth with the Romaynes
Of Clerkes & of Cytezeynes
A Ryche feste she hem made
Hyr close enuye tho she sprade
And al tho that hadden be
Or in apert or in pryue
Of connseyll of the maryage
She slough hem in a sodeyne rage
Endelong the bord as they be set
So that it myght not be let
Here owne sone was not quyte
But dyed vpon the same plyte
But what the hyghe god wol spare
It may not for no perylle mysfare
This worthy maiden which was there
St [...]de than as who saith nygh dede for
 [...]ere To see the fest how yt it stood
Whiche al was torned in to blood
The dysshe forth with the cuppe & alle
Be bled they weren ouerable
She sawe dye on euery syde
No wonder though she wepte & syde
Makyng many a woful mone
When al was slayn but she al one
This old fende this Sarazyn
Lete take anon this Constancyn
With al the good she thyder broughte
And ordeyned as she thoughte
A naked ship withoute stere
The whiche the good & hyr in fere
Vitaylles ynough for yeres fyue
Where that the wynde it wold dryue
She was put vpon the wawes wyld

Qualiter Nauis cum Constancia in partes Anglie que tune pagana fuit prope humber sub quodam Castello regis qui tunc Allee weabatur post triennium applicuit / quam quidam miles nomine Elda dicti Castelli tūc custes▪ et naiu lete suscipiens vxori sue Hermyngylde in custodiam honoryfice commendauit

bVt he which al thinges may shild
Thre yere to that she cometh to londe
Hyr shyp to stere hath take on honde
And in to Northumberlond arryueth
And happeth than that she dryueth
Vnder a Castel with the stood
Whiche vpon Humber bank stood
And was the kynges owne also
The whiche Allee was cleped tho
A Saxon & a worthy knyght
But he bybeuyd not a ryght
Of this Castel was castelleyne
Elda the kynges chamberlayne
A knyghtly man after his lawe
And when he sawe vpon the wawe
The ship dryuend alone also
He bad anone men sholden go
To see what it bytokene may
This was vpon a somer day
The shyp was loked & she founde
Elda within a lytel stounde
It wyst & / with his wyf anone
To ward this yong lady gone
Where that they founden grete rychesse
But she her wold not confesse
When they her axen what she was
And netheles vpon the cas
Once of the shyp with grete worship
They take her in to felauship
As they that were of hyr glade
But she no maner ioye made
But sow weth sore & that she fond
No Crystendodom in thylk lond
But elles she hath al hir wylle
And thus with them she duellith stille
Dame Hermegylde whiche was the wyf / 
Of Elda lyche her owne lyf

qValiter Constancia Eldam cum vxore sua Hermingylda qui antea cri stiana non extiterat ad fidem Eristi mi raculose conuertit

[Page xxxv]
cOnstaunce loueth & felle so
Spekyng al day bytwene of hem two
Though grace of goddes purueaūce
This mayden taught the creaunce
Vnto this wyf so [...]parfytely
Vpon a day that fast by
In presence of her husbond
Where they go walkyng on the stronde
A blynde man whiche cam ther lad
Vnto this wyf cryend he bad
With both his hondes vp & prayde
To her & in this wyse he sayde
O Hermegylde whiche Crystes feyth
Enformed as Constaunce seyth
Receyued hast yeue me my syght
Vpon this word hir hert aflyght
Thynkyng what was best to done
But netheles the herd his bone
And sayd in trust of Crystes lawe
Which done was on the crosse & slawe
Thou blynde man beholde & se
With that to god vpon his kne
Thankyng / his syght took anone
Wherof they meruayle euerychone
But Elda wondreth most of alle
This open thyng whiche is byfalle
Coucludeth hem by suche a weye
That he the feyth most nedes obeye

Qualiter quidam Iuuenis miles in amozem Constancie exardescens pro co (que) Ipsa consentice no luit eam de mor te Hermyngylde qm̄ ipse noctant interfecit / verbis detractorijs aceusauit, (sed) Angelus domim ipsum sic detrahentem in maxilla subito percuciens non solum pro mendaci comprobauit (sed) ictu morta ll post ipsius confessionem penitus interfecit

nOw lest what fel vpō this thing
This Elda forth vnto the kyng
A morowe took his weye & rode
And Hermegyld at home abode
Forth with Constaunce wel at ese
Elda which thought his kyng to plese
As he that than vnwedred was
Of Constance al the pleyne cas
As goodly as he couthe tolde
The kyng was glad & sayd he wolde
Come thyder in suche a wyse
That he hym myght on her auyse
The tyme appoynted forth with al
This Elda trust in specyal
Vpon a knyght whom fro childhode
He had vp drawe in to manhode
To hym he told al that he thought
Wherof that after hym forthought
And netheles that ylke tyde
Vnto his wyf he bad hym ryde
To make redy al thyng
Ageynst the comyng of the kyng
And sayth that he hym self to fore
Thenketh to come & therfore
That he hym kepe & told hym whan
This knyght rode forth his weye than
And soth was that of tyme passed
He had in al his wyt compassed
How he Constaunce myght wynne
But he sawe tho no spede therynne
Wherof his lust bygan to bate
And that was loue is than hate
Of her honoure he had enuye
So vpon his trecherye
A lesyng in his hert he cast
Tyl he come home he hygheth fast
And doth his lady to vnderstonde
The message of her husbonde
And therupon the long day
They setten thynges in array
That al was as it shold be
Of euery thyng in his degre
And when it cam in to the nyght
This wyf her hath to bed dyght
Where that this mayden with her lay
This fals knyght vpon delay
Hath taryed tyl they be a slepe
As he that wol tyme kepe
His dedely werkes to fulfylle
And to the bed he stalketh stylle
Where that he wyst was the wyf
And in his hond a rasour knyf
He bare with whiche her throte he cut
[Page]And pryuely the knyf he put
Vnder the other beddes syde
Where that Constaunce lay besyde
Elda come home the same nyght
And stylle with a pr [...]uy lyght
As he that wold not awake
His wyf he hath awey take
In to the chambre there lyggende
He fonde his dede wyf bledende
Where that Constaunce fast by
Was falle a slepe so sodenly
He cryed aloude & she awoke
And forth with al she cast a look
And sawe this lady blede there
Wherof swowned deed for fere
She was & stylle as ony stone
She lay & elda therupon
 [...]n to the Castel clepeth oute
And vp stert euery man aboute
An to the chambre forth they wente
But he whiche al vntrouthe mente
This fals knyght among them alle
Vpon the thyng whiche is byfalle
 [...]yth that Constance hath do this dede
And to the bed with that he yede
After the falsh [...]de of his speche
And made hym there for to seche
And fonde the knyf there it sayde
And than he cryed & than he sayde
Lo see the knyf al blody here
What nedeth more in this matere
To  [...]ye & thus her Innocence
He s [...]laundreth there in audyence
With fals wordes whiche he feyneth
But yet for that he compleyneth
Elda no ful credence toke
And har [...]ed that there lay a booke
Vpon the whiche when he it syghe
This knyȝt hath swore & sayd on hyghe
That al men myght it wyte
Now by this book which here is wryte
Constance is gyltyf wel I wote
With that the hond of heuen hym smote
In token of that he was forswore
There he hath both his eyen lore
Oute of his hede the same stoūde
They stert & so they were founde
A wys was herd when that they felle
Whiche sayd O dampned man to helle
Lo thus hath god thy s [...]laūdre wroke
That thou ageyn Cōstance hast spoke
Be knowe the sothe or that thou dye
And he told oute his felonye
And starf forth with his tale anone
In to the ground where al is gone
This dede lady was bygraue
Elda whiche thought his honour saue
Al that he may restreyneth sorowe

Qualitrr Rex All [...]e [...]ad fidem Cristi conuersus baptismnm recepit. & constā stanciam super hoc lew animo desponsauit que tn̄ qualis vel vnde fuit al [...]ui nullo modo fatebatur / Et cum infra breue postea a domino su [...] inpregnata fuisset Ipse ad debellandū scotis iter ar ripuit et ibidem super guerras aliqūt diu permansit

For he the second day at morowe
The kyng cam as they were acorded
And wh [...]n it was to hym recorded
What god hath wrouȝt vpō this chāce
He took it in to remembraunce
And thought more than he sayde
For al his hool hert he layde
Vpon Constaunce & sayde he sholde
For loue of hir yf that she wolde
Baptysme take & crystes feyth
Byleue & ouer that he seyth
He wold hyr wedde & vpon this
Assured eche to other is
And for to make shrot tales
There cam a bysshop oute of wales
Fro Bangor & lucye he hyght
Whiche thurgh ye grace of god almyȝt
The kyng with many other mo
He crystned & bytwene hem two
He hath fulfylled the maryage
But for no lust ne for no rage
She told hym neuer what she was
And netheles vpon this cas
The kyng was glad how so it stood
[Page xxxvj]For wel he wyst & vnderstood
She was a noble creature
The hygh maker of nature
Her hath vysyted in a thro we
That it was openlyche knowe
She was with childe by the kyng
Wherof abouen al other thyng
He thanked god & was ryght glad
And fel that tyme he was bestad
Vpon a werre & must ryde
And while he shold there abyde
He left at home to kepe his wyf
S [...]che as he knewe of holy lyf
Elda forth with the bisshop eke
And he with power goth to seke
Ayene the scottes for to fonde
The werre whiche he toke on honde

Qualiter Regina Constancia infā tem masculum quē in baptismo Mau ricium [...]ocant Rege absente enixa est / Sed inuida mater Regis Domilda super isto facto condolens mendacibus regi certificauit ꝙ vxor sua demoniaci et non humani generis quondam monstruosum fantasma locum geniture ad ortum produxit / huiusmodi (que) detracto [...]ibus aduersus Constanciam procurauit qd ipsa in nauim qua prius venerat iterum ad exilium / vna cum suo par tu remissa desolabatur

tHe tyme set of kynde is come
This lady hath hyr chābre nome
And of a sone borne ful
Wherof that she was ioyeful
She was delyuerd sauf & sone
The bisshop as it was to done
Yaf hym baptysme & Morys calleth
And therupon as it byfalleth
With lettecs wryten of record
They sent vnto her lyege lord
That kepers weren of the quene
And he that shold go bytwene
The messager to knaresburgh
Whiche Towne he shold posse thorugh
Rydend he cam the fyrst daye
The kynges modre there laye
Whos ryght name was Domylde
Whiche after al the cause spylde
For he whiche thanke deserue wolde
Vnto this lady goth & tolde
Of his message & how it ferde
And she with feyned ioye it herde
And yafe hym yeftes largely
But in the nyght al pryuely
She took his lettres whiche he had
Fro poynt to poynt & ouer rad
And she yt was thuruȝ oute vntrewe
And do wryte other newe
In stede of hem & thus they speke

Prima littera in commendacione n Constancie ab episcopo Regi missa per Domildam in contrarium falsata

Oure lyege lord we the beseke

That thou with vs ne be not wroth
Though we suche thyng as is the loth
Vpon oure trouthe certyfye
Thy wyf whiche is of fayrye
Of suche a child delynerd is
Fro kynde whiche stant al amys
But for it shold not be seye
We haue it kepte oute of the weye
For drede of pure worldes shame
A power childe & in the name
Of thylke whiche is so mysbore
We took & therto we be swore
That none but only thou & we
Shal knowe of this pryuete
Morys it hatte & thus men wene
That it was borne of the quene
And of thy owne body gete
But this thyng may not be foryete
That thou ne send vs word anon
What is thy wylle & therupon
This letter as thou hast herd deuyse
Was counterfete in suche a wyse
That no man shold it perceyue
And she whiche thought to deceyue
It leyde where she that other toke
This messager when he awoke
[Page]And w [...]st no thynge how it was
He  [...]oos &  [...]ood the grete pas
And took his lettres to the kyng
And when he saw this wondre thyng
He maketh the messager no chere
But netheles in wyse manere
He wrote ageyne & yaf hem charge
That they ne suffre not at large
His wyf to go but kepe hyr stylle
Tyl they haue herd more of his wylle
This messager was yeftles
But with his letter netheles
 [...] be hym leef or be hym loth
In al hast ageyne he goth
By  [...]na [...]sbu [...]gh & as he went
Vnto the mod [...] his entent
Of that he fond to ward the kynge
He told & she vpon this thyng
Seyth that he shold abyde al nyght
And made hym fest & chere aryght
Feyned as though she coude him thōk
But he with strōg wyn which he drōk
Forth with the trauayle of the daye
Whiche dronke a slepe & whyle he laye
She hath his lettres ouer saye
And formed in another waye
There was a newe letter wryte

Secunda le [...]t [...]ra per Regem Epis [...] missa a Domilda iterum falsata /

wHiche sayth do yow for to wyte
That thorugh the coūseyll of you two
It stonde in poynt to be vndo
As he whiche is a kyng deposed
For euery man it hath supposed
How that my wyf Constance is faye
And yf that I feyne the delaye
To put hyr oute of companye
The worship of my regalye
Is lore & ouer this they telle
Here child shal not amōg yow dwelle
To claymen ony herytage
So can I see none auauntage
But al is lost yf she abyde
For thy to loke on euery syde
Toward the meschyef as it is
I charge yow & byd this
That ye the same ship vytaylle / 
In whiche that she toke arryuaylle
Theryn & putteth both two
Hyr self forth with hyr child also
And so forth brought in to the depe
Be taketh hyr the see to kepe
Of foure dayes tyme set
That ye this thyng no lenger let
So that youre lyf be not forfete
And thus this letter counterfete
The messagyer whiche was vnware
Vpon the kynges halue bare
And where he shold it haue bytake
But when that they hede take
And rad that wryten is withynne
So grete a sorowe they begynne
As they her owne modre seyen
Brenne in a fyre byfore theyr eyen
There was wepyng & ther was wo
But fynally the thyng is do
Vpon the see they haue here brought
But she the cause wyst nought
And thus vpon the flood they wone
This lady with her yong sone
And than her handes to the heuene
She straught & with a mylde steuene
Knelend vpon hyr bare kne
She sayd O hyghe mageste
Whiche seest the poynt of euery trouth
Take of thy woful woman routh
And of thylk childe which I shal kepe
And with yt word she bygan to wepe
Swouned / as dede & there she lay
But he whiche al thynges may
Comforteth hyr & at the last
She loketh & her eyen cast
Vpon hyr child & sayd this
Of me no maner charge it is
What sorowe I suffre but of the
Me thynketh it is grete pyte
For yf I sterue thou shalt deye
So mote I nedes by that weye
For moderhode 7 for tendrenesse
With al myn hole besynesse
[Page xxxvij]Ordeyne me for this offyce
As she whiche shal be thy Noryce
Thus was she strengthed for to stōde
And th [...] she took hyr child on honde
And yaf it souke / but euer amonge
She wepte & other whyle songe
To rokke with hyr child on slepe
And thus her owne child to kepe
She hath vnder the goddes cure

Qualiter nauis Constancie post biennium in partes hispanie superior is inter Saraȝinos iactabatur / In quorum manibus deus ipsam conseruans graciosissime liberauit

aNd so fel vpon auenture
When ylke yere hath made his ende
Hyr ship so as it mote wende
With strēgth of wynd which god hath
yine / Estward was in to spayn dryue
Ryght fast vnder a castel walle
Where that an hethen admyralle
Was lord & he afterward had
One Thelons whiche al was bad
A fals knyght & a renegate
He goth to loke in what estate
The shyp was comen & there he fonde
Forth with a child vpon hyr honde
This lady where she was al one
He took hede on the persone
And sawe she was a worthy wyght
And thought he wold vpon the nyght
Demene hyr at his owne wylle
And in the ship she kepte hyr stylle
That noman sawe hyr not that daye
At goddes wylle & thus she laye
Vnknowe what her shal betyde
And fel so that by nyghtes tyde
This knyght withoute felauship
Hath take a boote & cam to ship
And thought of hir his lust to take
And swore yf she hym daunger make
That certeynly she shold deye
She sawe ther was none other weye
And bad hym for her comforte
That he loke fyrst oute at the porte
That no man were nygh the stede
Whiche myght knowe what they dede
And that he maye do what he wolde
He was ryght glad that she so tolde
And to the port anon he ferde
She prayeth god & he her herde
And sodenly he was out thro we
And dreynt & then bygan to blowe
Wynde meuable fro the londe
And thus the myghty goddes honde
Hyr hath conueyed & defended
And when thre yere ben ful dispended

Qualiter Nauicula Cōstancie quo dam die per altum mare vagans inter copio [...]am nauium multitudinem dilapsa est. quarum Ar [...]ennius Romanorum Consul / Dux▪& Capitaneꝰ Ipsam ignotam suscipiens vs (que) ad Ro mam secum perduxit vbi equalem vx ori sue Elene permansuram reuerenter associauit / Nec non et eiusdem filium Mauricium in omni habundanaa qua si propririum educauit

hIr ship was dryue vpon a daye
Where that a grete nauye laye
Of shyppes al the world at ones
And as god wold for the nones
Hyr shyp goth in among hem alle
And stynt not or it be byfalle
And hath the vessel vnder gete
Whiche mayster was of al the flete
And there it resteth & abode
This grete ship on anker rode
Tho lord come forth & when he syghe
That other lay on borde so nyghe
He wondreth what it myght be
And bad men to go in & se
This lady tho was  [...]rope on syde
Aus she that wold her seluen hyde
For she ne wyst what they were
They sought aboute & hyr fonde there
And brought vp hyr child & here
And therupon this lord to spere
Bygan fro whens that she cam
And what she was / quod she I am
[Page]A woman wofully bestad
I had a lord & thus he had
That I forth with my  [...]ytr [...] sone
Vpon the wawes shold wone
But why the cause wote I nought
But whiche al thynges wrought
Yet ay I thanke hym of his myght
My child & me so kepte vpryght
That we be sauf both two
This lord  [...]xr' axeth eu [...]mo
How she byleued & she seyth
I  [...]ue & trust in Crystes feyth
Whiche dyed vpon the  [...]od  [...]e
What is thy name tho quod he
My name is Cust she hym sayde
But ferthermore for nought he prayde
Of her astate the trouthe pleyne
She wold hym elles nothyng s [...]yne
But of her name whiche she feyned
Al other thynges she restreyned
That a word more she ne told
This lord than axeth yf she wold [...]
With hym abyde in companye
And sayd he cam fro Barbarye
To Rome  [...]ard & home he w [...]nte
Tho she supposeth what it mente
And sayth she wold with hym wende
And duelle to her lyues ende
Yf it so be to his plesaunce
And thus vpon here acqueyntaunce
He told hyr pleynly as it stood
Of Rome how that the gentyl blode
In Barbarye was bytrayed
And therupon he hath assayed
By werre & take suche vengeaunce
That none of thylk allyaunce
By whome the treson was compassed
Is from the swerd a lyue passed
But of Constaunce how it was
That couthe he knowe by noo  [...]s
Where s [...] bycam as he seyde
Hyr ere vnto his word she leyde
But forther made she no che [...]e
And ne [...]h [...]les in this maner [...]
It happed that  [...]lke tyme so
This lord with whome she wold go
Of Rome was the Senatour
And of her fadre the emperour
His broder doughter hath to wyue
Whiche hath hyr fadre eke on lyue
And was Salustes cleped tho
His wyf Eleyne hyght also
To whome Constaunce was cosyne
Thus to the seke a medycyne
Hath god ordeyned of his grace
That forthwith in the same place
This Senatour his trouthe plyght
For euer whyle he lyue myght
To kepe hir in worship & in wele
Be so that god wol gyue hyr hele
This lady whiche fortune hym sen [...]
And by ship thus forth saylende
Her & her child to Rome he brought
And to his wyf thus he sought
To take hyr in to companye
And she whiche couthe of curtosye
Al that a good wyf shold conne
Was  [...]ly glad that she had wonne
The felauship of so good one
Tho twelue yeres were a gone
This Emperours doughter Custe
Forth with the doug [...]ter of Saluste
Was kept / but no man redyly
Knewe what she was & not for thy
They though [...] wel she had be
In hyr estate of hyghe degre
And euery lyf hyr loueth wele

Qualiter Rex Allce inita pace cum S [...]otis a guerris rediens & non inuenta vyore sua causa m exilij diligencius pers [...]rutans cum matre [...] suam Domi [...] da [...] inde culpabilem sciusset [...]psam in igue proiciens conburi fecit

nOw herke thylk vnstable whele
Whiche euer torneth wente aboute
The kyng Alle whiche was oute
As thou to fore hast herd the cas
D [...]ceyued thoruh his modre was
But when that he come home ageyne
He axeth of his Chamberlayne
[Page xxxviij]Aud of the bisshop eke also
Where they the quene had do
And they ansuerd there he bad
And haue hym thylk letter rad
Whiche he hem for warrant
And tolde hym pleynly as it stant
And seyn  [...]t thought he [...] grete pyte
To see so worthy one as she
With suche a child as there was bo [...]e
So sodenly to be forbore
And axeth hem what child it were
And they hym sayd that nowhere
In al the world though men it sought
Was neuer woman that forth brought
A fayrer child then it was one
And than he axeth hem anone
Why they ne hadden wryten so
They to [...]den so they had do
He sayd nay they sayden yis
The letter shewed  [...]ad it is
Whiche they forsoken euery dele
Tho was it vnderscond wele
That there is treson in the thyng
The messager to fore the kyng
Was brought & sodenly opposed
As he whiche no thyng hath supposed
But al wel bygan to saye
That he nowhere vpon the waye
Abode but only in a stede
And cause why that he so dede
Was as he went to & fro
At  [...]naresburgh by nyght [...]s two
The kynges moder dyde hym du [...]lle
And when ye kyng it herd telle
Within his hert he wyst  [...]s fast
The treson whiche his modre cast
And thought he wold not abyde
But forth ryght in the same tyde
He took his [...]hors & rood anone
With hym there ryde many one
To knaresburgh & forth they wente
And  [...]yche the fyre which thōder hence
In suche a rage as s [...]yth the book
His moder sodenlyche took
And sayd vnto her in this wyse
O  [...]este of helle in what gyse
Hast thou deserued for to deye
That thou thus hast put aweye
With treson of thy bakbytyng
The trewest at my knowlechyng
Of wyues & the most honest
But I wol make this byhest
I shal be auengyd or I go
And lete a fyre make tho
And bad men for to cast her ynne
But fyrst she told oute al her synne
And dede hem alle for to wyte
How she the lettres had wryte
Fro poynt to poynt as it was wrouȝt
And tho she was to deth brought
And brunt to fore her sones eye
Wherof these other whiche it syghe
And herden how the cause stood
Seyn [...] that the  [...]ngement was good
Of that her sone her hath so serued
For she it had wel deserued
Thorugh treson of her owne tonge
Whiche thorugh the londe was after
songe. Cōstāce & euery wiȝt cōple [...]neth
But he who al wo dystreyneth
This sorowful kynge was so bys [...]ad
That he shal neuermore be glad
He seyth eftsone for to wedde
Tyl he wyst how that she spedde
Whiche had ben his fyrst wyf
Aud thus his yong vnlusty lyf
He dryueth forth so as he may

qValiter post [...]apsum duodecim anuozum rex Allee absolucionis causa Romam proficiscens vxorem suam Constana [...]m vna cum filio suo diuina prouidencia ibidem letus inuenit

tYl it byfel vpon a day
When he his werres had acheued
And thought he wold be releued
Of soule hele vpon the feyth
Whiche he hath take than he seyth
That he to Rome on pylgremage
Wold go where pope was pelage
[Page]To take his absolucyon
And vpon this condycyon
He made Edwyn his lyeutenaunt
Whiche heyr to hym was apparaunt
That he the bond m absence
Shal rewle & by prouydence
Of al thyng wel bygone
He took his leue & forth is gone
Elda which was with hym tho there
At they fully [...]e at Rome were
Was sent to fore to purueye
And he hys guyde vpon the weye
In helpe to be his herbeg [...]our
Hath ayed who was Senatour
That he his name myght kenne
Of Ca [...]odece he sayd Arcenne
He hyght & was a worthy knyght
To hym goth Elda forth ryght
And told hym of his lord tydyng
And prayd for that his comyng
He wold assygne hym herbergage
And he so dyde of good courage

Whan al is do that is to done
The kyng hym self cam after sone
This Senatour when that he come
To Cust & to his wyf at home
Hath told how suche a kyng Allee
Of grete array to the Cyte
Was come & cust vpon his tale
With hert c [...]se & colour pale
A swoune felle / & he meruaylleth
So sodenly what thyng hyr eyleth
And caught hyr vp & when she woke
She sygheth with a pytoue loke
And feyneth sekenesse of the see
But it was for the kyng Allee
For ioye whiche felle in her thought
That god hym hath to Towne brouȝt
This kyng hath spoke with the pope
And told al that he couthe grope
What greueth in his conscyence
And than he thought in reuerence
Of his estate or that he went
To make a feest anon he sente
Vnto the Senatour to come
Vpon the morowe & other some
To sytte with hym at mete
This tale hath Cust not foryet [...]
But to Morys hyr sone tolde
That he vpon the morowe sholde
In al that euer he couth & myght
Be present in the kynges syght
So that the kynge hym ofte syghe
Morys to fore the kynges  [...]ye
Vpon the morowe where he sat
Ful ofte stood & vpon that
The kyng his chere vpon hym cast
And in his face he thought as fast
He sawe his owne wyf Constance
For nature as in resemblaunce
Of face hym lyketh for to clothe
That they were of one suyte bothe▪
The kyng hath moeued in his thought
Of yt he sawe & knewe it nought
This childe he loueth kyndely
And yett he wote noo cause why
But wel he saw & vnderstode
That he toward Arcenne stode
And axeth hym anone ryght there
Yf that this child his sone were
He sayd ye so I hym calle
And wold it were so byfalle
But it is al in other wyse
And tho gan he to deuyse
How he the childes modre fond
Vpon the see from euery lond
Within a ship was stereles
And how this lady he speles
 [...]orth with hir child he hath forth draw
The kynge hath vnderstonde his saw
The childes name & axeth tho
And what the modre hyght also
That he hym wolde telle he preyde
Moris this child is hote he seyde
His modre hat Cust & this
I not what maner name it is
But Allee wyst wel ynough
Wherof somdele smylend he lough
For Cust in Saxon is to seyn
Constance vpon the word Romeyn
But who that couthe specyfye
What tho was in his fantasye
[Page xxxix]Aud how his wytt aboute renneth
Vpon the loue in whiche he brenneth
It were wondre for to here
For he was neyther there ne here
But clene oute of hym self awey
That he note what to thynk ne sey
So feyn he wold it were she
Wherof his hertes pryuete
Bygan the werre of ye & nay
The whiche in suche balaunce lay
That contenaunce for a throwe
He lost tyl he myght knowe
The soth but in his memorye
The man whiche lyeth in purgatorye
Desyreth not the heuen more
That he ne longeth also sore
To wyte what hym shal betyde
And when the boordes were a syde
And euery man was ryse aboute
The kyng hath weyued al the route
And with the Senatour al one
He spak & prayd hym of a bone
To see this Cust where she duelleth
At home with hym where as he telleth
The Senatour was wel apayd
This kyng no lenger is delayd
To see this Cust goth the kyng
And she was warned of the thyng
And with Eleyne forth she cam
Ayene the kyng & he tho nam
Good hede & he sawe his wyf
Anone with al his hertes lyf
He caught hyr in his armes & kyst
Was neuer wyght that syghe ne wyst
A man that more ioye made
Wherof they weren al glad
Whiche herd telle of this channce
The kyng tho with his wyf Cōstāce
Whiche had a grete part of his wylle
In Rome for a tyme stylle
Abode & made hym wel at case
But so yet coud he neuer please
Of hyr estate the trouthe pleyne
His wyf that she wold hym seyne
Of what conntre that she was bore
Ne what she was & yet therfore
With al his wyt he dyde seke
Thus as they lay in bed & speke
She prayth hym & counseyleth bothe
That for the worship of hem bothe
So as here thought it were honest
He wold an honourable fest
Make or he went in the Cyte
Where the Emperour shal be
He graunted al that she hym prayd
But in that tyme as men sayd
Thylk Emperour from that day
That fyrst his doughter went away
He was than after neuer glad
But what that ony man hym bad
Of grace for his doughter sake
That grace wold he nought forsake
Aud thus ful grete almesse he dede
Wher [...]f she had many a bede

qValiter Constancia que antea per totum tempus exilij sui penes omnes incognitam se celauit tunc [...]mum patri suo Imperatori se ipsam per omnia manifestant / Qd cum Rex Allee sci [...]sset vna cum vniuersa Romanorū multitudine inestimabili gaudio admirances cuuctipotentem laudarunt

tHis Emperour oute of the toune
Within a ten myle e [...]uyroune
Where as it thought hym for the best
Hath sondry places for to rest
And as fortune wold tho
He was duellend at one of tho
The kyng Allee forth with thassent
Of Cust his wyf hath thyder sent
Moryce his sone as he was taught
To Themperour & he goth straught
And in his fadre halue he sought
As he whiche his lordship sought
Tht he of his hyghe worthynes
He wold do so grete mekenes
His owne Towne to come & see
And yeue a tyme in the Cyte
So that his fadre myght hym gete
[Page]That be wosd ones with hym ete
This ford hath graunted his request
And when the day was of the fest
An worship of the Emperour
The kyng & este the Senatour
Forth with her wyues bothe two
With many a lord & lady mo
On hors ryden hym ageyne
Tyl it byfell vpon a pleyne
They syghe where he was comend
With that Constaunce anone preyend
Spak to her lord that he abyde
So that I may to fore ryde
To ben vpon his bien benu
The fyrst whiche shal hym salu
And thus after hyr lordes graunt
Upon a mule whyte amblaunt
Forth with a fewe rood his qu [...]ne
They wondred what she wold mene
But ryden after a softe pas
But when this lady comen was
To themperour in his presence
She sayd aloude in audyence
My lord my fadre wel you be
And of this tyme that I se
Your honour & your good he le
Whiche is the helpe of my quarele
I thanke vnto the goddes myght
For t [...]ye his  [...]rt was aflyght
Of that she told in remembraunce
And when he wyst it was Constaūce
Was neuer fadre half so blythe
Wepend he kyst hyr ofte sythe
So was his hert al ouercome
For though his modre were come
Fro deth to lyf out of the graue
He myght no more wonder haue
Than he hath when he hyr syght
With that hyr owne lord come nyght
And is to themperour obeyed
And when that comfort is be w [...]eyed
How that Constaunce is come aboute
So hard an hert was none oute
That he for pyte tho ne wepte

Arcenius which hyr fonde & kepte
Was than glad of that is falle
So that with ioye among hem alle
They ryden in at Rome gate
This Emperour thought al to late
Tyl that the pope were come
And of tho lordes sende some
To pray hym that he wol hast
And he cam forth in al hast
And when he the tale herd
How wonderly his chaunce ferd
He thanked god of his myracle
To whome may be none obstable
The kyng a noble feste hem made
And thuo they were al glade
A parlement or that they went
They setten vnto this entent
To put Rome in ful espeyre
That morys was apparent heyre
And shold abyde with hym stylle
For suche was al the londes wylle

Qualiter Mauricius cum Impera to [...]e vt heres imperij remansit / Et Rex Allee et Constancia in ang [...]am regres si sunt

wHen euery thing was fully spoke
Of soro we & queynt was al yt smoke
Tho toke his leue allee yt kyng
And with ful many a ryche thyng
Whiche themperour hym had yeue
He hath a glad lyf for to lyue
For he Constance hath in his hond
Whiche was the comfort of his lond
For when that he come home ageyne
There is no tong that myght seyne
What ioye was that ylke stoūde
Whiche  [...]rst was sent of goddes sound
By whome the mysbileue of synne
Was left & Crystes feyth cam ynne
To hem that whilome were blynde

Qualiter Rex All [...] in Ang [...]a post bicnnium humane carnis resolucionem subiens nature debitum persoluit / post cuius obitum Cōstancia cum patre suo Rome se transtulit moraturam

[Page xl]
 [...]t he which hyndreth euery kind
And for no gold may be forlouȝt
The deth comyng or he besought
Toke with this kyng suche acqueyn­taūce
That he with al his retenaūce
Ne myght not defende his lyf
And thus he parteth from his wyf
Whiche than made sorowe ynoughe
And therupon hir herte droughe
To leue Englond for euer
And go where that she had leuer
To Rome whens that she cam
And thus of al the lond she nam
Hyr leue & goth to Rome ageyne
And after that the bokes seyne
She was not there but a thro we
When deth of kynde hath ouerthrowe
Hir worthy fadre whiche men seyde
That bytwene hyr armes deyde
And after ward the yere suend
The god of her hath made an end
And fro this worldes fayrye
Hath take hyr in to companye
Moryce hyr sone was coroned
Whiche so ferforth was abandoned
To Crystes feyth that men hym calle
Morys the Crystnest of alle
And thus the whele meuyng of loue
Was at the last set aboue
And so as thou hast herd to fore
The fals tunges were lore
Whiche vpon loue wold lye
For thy touchend of this enuye
Whiche longeth vnto bakbytyngr
Be ware thou make no lesyng
In hyndryng of another wyght
And yf thou wold be taught aryght
What meschyef bakbytyng doth
By other weye a tale soth
Now myght thou here anone sewend
Whiche to this vyce is acordend

hIc ponit Confesso [...] exemplū cō tra istos detractores qui in afterius bitupeaum mendacia confingentes diffamacom̄ fieri procurauit. Et natrat qualiter Perseus Philippi Regis Macedonij filius Demetrio fratri suo ob eius provitatem inuidens composito detractionis mendacio ipsum apud patrem suum mortaliter accusauit dicens ꝙ ipse non solum patrem sed & totum Macedonij regnū Romanis hostibus proditurie vendidisset. quem super hoc in iudicinm producens testibꝰ (que) judicibns auro subornatis quamuis falsissime morte condempnatum e [...]cit / quo defuncto eciam et pater infea breue postea mortuus est / Et Persio successiue regnante deꝰ huius detractionis iuuidiam abhorrens Ipsum cum bniuersa suorum pugnatorum multitudine extra Dauubij fluuium ab emilio tunc Romanorum Consule euen tu bellico interfeci fortunauit / ita ꝙ ab illo die Macedonij potestas penitus des tructa Romano Imperio subiugata de seruiuit / & eius detractio quam contra a [...]um conspirauerat in sui ipsius diffamacionem pro perpetuo diuulgata consistit

IN'a Crony (que) as thou shalt wyte
A grete ensample I fynd wryte
Whiche I shal telle vpon this thyng
Phelyp of Macedonye the kyng
Two sones had he by his wyf
Whos fame is yet in grece ryf
Demetrius the fyrst broder
Was hote & Perseus that other
Demetrius they sayden tho
The better knyght was of tho
To whome the lond was attendanut
As he whiche heyre was apparaunt
To regne after his fadre day
But that / thyng whiche no water may
Quenche in this world but euer bren­neth.
In to his broder hert renneth
The proud enuye of that he sygh [...]
His broder shold clynne on hyg [...]
And he to hym than mote obeye
That may he suffer by no wey [...]
With strength durst he no thyng stō  [...]
[Page]So took he lesyng vpon honde
When he sygh tyme & spak therto
For it byfelle that tyme so
His fadre grete werres had
With Rome whiche he streyt lad
Thorugh myȝty strength of his māhod
As he whiche hath yuough knygthod
And ofte h [...]m had sore greued
But or the werre were acheued
As he was vpon ordynaunce
At home in grece it felle par chaunce
Demetaus whiche ofte aboute
Rydend was stood that tyme oute
So that this Perse in his absence
Whiche bare the tonge of pestylence
With fals wordes whiche he feyneth
Upen his owne broder pleyneth
In pryuete behynde his bak
And to his fadre thus he spak

My dere fadre I am holde
By wey of kynde as reson wolde
That I fro yow shal no thyng hyde
Whiche myght torne in ony syde
In youre estate to greuaunce
For thy myn hertes obeysaunce
Toward yow I thenke to kepe
For it is good ye take kepe
Upon a thyng whiche is me told
My broder hath vs al sold
To hem of Rome & yow also
For then they behote hym tho
That he with them shal regne in pees
Thus hath he cast for his encres
That youre estate shal go to nought
And thus to proue shal be brought
So ferforth that I vndertake
It shal not wel mow be forsake

The kyng vpon his tale ansuerd
And said yf this thyng whiche he herd
Be soth & may be brought to proue
It shal not be to his behoue
Whiche vs hath shapen so the werst
For he hym self shal be the ferst
That shal be dede yf / that I may
Thus afterward vpon a day
When that Demetrius was come
Anone his fadre hath hym nome
And bad to his broder Perse
That he his tale shal reherce
Of thylk treson whiche he told
And whiche al vntrouthe wolde
Counseylleth that so hyghe a nede
Be treted where as it may spede
In comon place of jugement
The kyng therto yafe his assent
Demetrius was put in holde
Wherof that Perseus was bolde
Thus stood the trouth vnder ye charge
And the falshede goth at large
Whiche thou [...]gh byhest hath ouercome
The grettest of the lordes some
That preuelyche of his acord
They stond as wytnesse of record
The Iuge was made fauourable
Thus was the lawe deceyuable
So ferforth that the fronth fond
Rescouse none & thus the lond
Forth with the kyng deceyued were
The gyliles was dampned there
And deyde vpon acusement
But suche a fals conspyrement
Though it be preuy for a throwe
God wold not it were vnknowe
And yt was after ward wel proued
In hym whiche hath yt deth cōtroued
Of that his broder was so slayn
This Perseus was wondre fayn
As he that▪tho was apparaūt
Upon the regne & expectaūt
Wherof he wax so proud & beyn
That he his fadre in dysdeyn
Hath take & set at none acompte
As he whiche thouȝt hym to surmoūte
That where he was fyrst de bonayr [...]
He was tho rebelle & contrayre
And not as heyr but as a kyng
He took vpon hym in al thyng
Of malyce & of tyrannye
In contempt of Regalye
Lyued his fadre & soo wrought
That when the fadre hym bethought
And sawe to whedyr syde it droughe
[Page xlj]Anone he wyst wel ynough
How Perse his fals tonge
Hath so thenuyous belle ronge
That he hath slayne his owne broder
Wherof as then he knewe none other
But sodenly the Iuge he nome
Whiche corrupt sat vpon the dome
In suche a wyse & hath hym pressed
That he the soth hym hath confessed
Of al that he hath spoke & do
More sory than the kynge was tho
Was neuer man vpon this molde
And thought in certeyne that he wold
 [...]engeaunce take vpon this wrong
But the other party was so strongr
That for the lawe of no statute
There may no ryght be execute
And vpon this dyuysyon
The lond was torned vp so doun
Wherof his herbe is so distraught
That he for pure sorowe hath caught
The maladye of whiche nature
Is queynt in euery creature

And when this kyng is passed thus
This fals tonged Perseus
The regyment hath vnderfonge
But ther may no thyng stond longe
Whiche is not vpon trouthe grounded
For god whiche hath al thyng boūded
And sawe the falshede of his gyle
Hath set hym but a lytel whyle
That he shal regne vpon depose
For sodenly as the rose
So sodenly doune he felle

In thylk tyme it so byfelle
This newe kyng of newe pryde
With strengthe shope hym for to ryde
And sayd he wold Rome waste
Wherof he made a besy haste
And hath assembled hym an hoost
In al that euer he myght most
What man that myght wepen be re
Of al he wold none forbe re
So that it myght not be nombred
The folk whiche was encombred
Thorugh him yt god wold ouerthrowe
Anone it was at Rome knowe
The pompe whiche that Perse lad
And the Romayns that tyme had
A consul whiche cleped was thus
The name Panle Emilius
A noble & a worthy knyght with alle
And he whiche cheef was of alle
This werre on hond hath vndertake
And whan he shold his leue take
Of a yong doughter whiche was his
She wepte & what cause it is
He axeth & she hym ansuereth
That Perseus is dede & he it hereth
And wondreth what she mene wold
And vpon childehode hym told
That Perse his lytel hound is dede
Withethat he pulleth vp his hede
And made ryght a glad vysage
And seyd how that was a presage
Touchend vnto that other Perse
How that fortune hym shald aduerse
He seyth for suche a prenostyke
Moost of an hound was to hym lyke
For as it is an houndes kynde
To berke vpon a man behynde
Ryght so behynde his broders bak
With fals wordes whiche he spak
He hath do slayn & that is routhe
But he whiche hateth al vntrouth
The hyghe god it shal redresse
For so my doughter prophetesse
Forth with hyr lytel houndes deth
Betokeneth & thus forth he geth
Conforted of this euydeuc [...]
With the Romayns in his defence
Ageyne the grekes that be comende
This Perseus as nought semende
This meschyef whiche that hym abode
With al his multitude rode
And prayd hym vpon the thyng
Of that he was bycomen a kyng
And how he had his Royalme gete
That he hath al the ryght foryete
Whiche longeth vnto gouernaunce
Wherof thorugh good ordynaunce
It felle vpon the wynter tyde
[Page]That with his hoost he shold ryde
Oner Dauubye thylke flood
Whiche al be frorn than stood
So hard that he wende wel
To passe but the blynde wheel
Whiche torneth ofte or men beware
Thylk yee whiche hors men bare
To brak so that a grete partye
Was dreynt of the chyualrye
The rereward it took awey
Cam none of hem to lond drey

Paulus the worthy knyȝt romeyn
By his aspye it herd seyn
And hasteth al that he may
So that vpon that other day
He cam where he this hoost byheld
And that was in a large feld
Where the baners ben displayed
He hath anone his men arrayed
And when that he was enbataylled
He goth & hath the feld assaylled
And slough & took al that he fonde
Wherof the Macedonye londe
Which thurgh kyng alisāder is honou­red /
Long tyme stood was than de­uoured /
To Perse & al infortune
 [...]y wyte so that the comune
Of al the lond his heyre exyle
And he dyspeyred for the whyle
Desguysed in a power wede
To Rome goth & ther for nede
The  [...]aft whiche thylk tyme was
To worken in lawn̄ & in bras
He lerneth for his sustenaunce
Suche was the sones purueaunce
And of his fadre it is sayd
In strong pryson that he was layd
In Albe where that he was dede
For honger & for defaulte of brede
The hounde was token of prophecye
That lyche an hound he shold dye
Whiche lyche was of condycyon
Whan he with detractyon
Bark on his broder so behynde

Coufessor

Lo what proufyde a man may fynde
Whiche hyndre wol another wyght
For thy with al thyn hool myght
My sone eschewe thylk vyce.

Amans

My fadre elles were I nyce
For ye therof so wel haue spoke
That it is in myn hert loke
And euer shal but of enuye
If ther be more in his baylye
Towardes loue say me what

My sone as gyle vnder the hat
With sleyghtes of a Tregetour
Is hyd enuye of suche colour
Hath yet the fourth deceyuaunt
The whiche is cleped fals semblaunt
Wherof the mater & the forme
Now herkne & I the shal enforme

Nil bilinguis aget nisi duplo conci tat ore / Dum (que) diem loquitur vox sua vota tegit / Vultus habet lucem tenebras mens sermo salutem / Actus sed morbum dat suus esse grauem / Pox tibi quam spondet magis est prenostica guerre. Comoda si dederit disce subesse dolum / Qnod (que) patet esse fides in eo fraus est (que) positi. P [...]ncipium pacti finis habere negat / O qm̄ condicio talis deformat amantein / Qui magis apparens est in amore nichil /

hIc tractat Confessor super quarta specie Inuidie que dissimulacio dicitur cuius vultus quanto maio ris amicicie apparenciam ostendit tāto subtilioris doli fallacias ad decipien dū mens ymaginatur

oF fals sēblaūt yf I shall telle
Aboue al other it is ye welle
Out of yt which deceyt floweth
There is no man so wyse that knoweth
Of thylkf lood whiche is the tyde
Ne how he shold hym self guyde
To take sauf passage there
And yet the wynd to mans ere
[Page xlij]Is softe & as it semeth oute
It maketh clere weder al aboute
But though it seme it is not soo
For fals semblaunt hath euer moo
Of his counseyl in companye
The derke vntrewe Ipocrysye
Whoos word destroyeth in his thouȝt
For thy they be to gyder brought
Of one couyne of one houshold
As it shal after ward thus be told
Of fals semblaunt it nedeth nought
To telle of old ensamples ought
For al day in experyence
A man may see thylk euydence
Of fayre wordes whiche he hereth
But yet the barge of enuye stereth
And halt it euer from the londe
Whiche fals sēblaūt with oore in hond
It roweth & wol not arryue
But lete it on the wawes dryue
In grete tempest & grete debate
Wherof that loue & his estate
Empeyreth & therfore I rede
My sone that thou flee & drede
This vyce & what that other seyn
Lete thy semblaunt be trewe & pleyn
For fals semblaunt is thylk vyce
Whiche neuer was withoute offyce
Where that enuye thynketh to gyle
He shal byfore that ylke whyle
Of pryue counseylle be messagere
For when his semblaunt is most clere
Than is he most derke in his thought
Though man hym se they knowe hym
nouȝt / But as it sheweth in the glas
Thyng whiche theryn neuer was
So sheweth it in his vysage
That neuer was in his courage
Thus doth al his thyng with sleyght
Now laye thy conscyence in weyght
My good soue & shryue the here
If thou were euer customere
To fals semblaunt in ony wyse

For ought I can me yet auyse
My good fadre certes no
For I for loue haue do so
Now axe I wold pray yow
For elles I wote neuer bow
Of fals semblaūt how yt I haue gy [...]t
My sone & sethyn that thou wylt
That I shal axe gabbe nought
But telle yf euer was thy thought
With fals semblaunt & couerture
To wyte of ony creature
How that he was with loue stad
So wery or sory or he were glad
Whan thou wystyst how it were
Al that he rouneth in thyn ere
Thou toldest forth in other place
To setten hym fro loues grace
Of that woman that hym best lyst
Theryn no man his counseyll wyst
But thou by whome he was deceyue▪
Of loue & from his purpoos weyued
And thoughtest at his dysturbaunce
Thyn owne cause shold auaunce
As who seyth I am so secrete
There may no mans pryuete
Beh [...]led halue so wel as myn
Art thou my sone of suche engyn

Telle on / My good fadre nay
As for the more party I say
But of somdele I am byknowe
That▪I may stonde in thylk rowe
Among hem that saundres vse
I wol me not therof excuse
That I with suche colour ne steyne
When I my best semblaunt feyne
Telle my fela we of that I wote
Al his counseylle both cold & hote
For by that cause I make hym chere
Tyl I his loue knowe & here
And yf so be myn herte soucheth
That ought vnto my lady toucheth
Of loue that he wold me telle
Anone I renne vnto the welle
And cast water in to the fyre
So that his carte amyd the fyre
By that I haue his counseyll knowe
Ful ofte syth I ouerthrowe
When that he weneth best to stonde
But this I do yow to vnderstonde
[Page]Yf that a man loue elles where
So that my lady be nought there
And he me telle he wol it hyde
There shal no word escape asyde
Forth with deceypt of no semblaunt
To hym breke I none couenaunt
Me lyketh not in other place
To let no man of his grace
Ne for to be Inquesyty [...]
To knowe another mans lyf
Where that he loue or loue nought
That toncheth no thyng to my thouȝt
But al it passeth thorugh myn ere
Ryght as a thyng that neuer were
And is foryete & layd asyde
But yf it toucheth ony syde
My lady as I haue er spoken
Myn eres be than nought loken
For certes whan that by tyt
My wyl myn hert & al my wyt
Ben fully set to herken & spere
What ony man wol saye of here
Thus haue I feyned companye
Ful ofte for I wold aspye
What thyng it is that ony man
Telle of my worthy lady can
And for two causes I do this
The fyrst cause wherof is
At that I myght herken & seke
That ony man of her myspeke
I wol excuse hyr so fully
That when she wyst it veryly
Myn hope shold be the more
To hane hyr thank for euermore

That other cause I yow assure
Is why that I see couerture
Haue feyned semblaunt oftyme
To them that passen al day byme
And ben [...] louers as wel as I
For this I wene truly
That there is of hem al none
That they ne louen euerychone
My lady sothelyche I leue
And durst sytten it in preue
Is none so wyse that shold asterte
But he were lustles in his herte
For why & he my lady syghe
Her vysage & her goodly eye
But he her loued or he went
And for that suche is myn entent
That is the cause of myn aspye
Why that I feyne companye
And make folowe ouer al
For gladly wold I knowen al
And hold me couert alway
That I fulofte ye or nay
Ne lyst ansuere in ony wyse
But feynyng semblaunt as the wyse
And herken tales tyl I knowe
My lady louers al on rowe
And when I here how they haue wrought / 
I fare as though I herd it nouȝt.
And as I no word vnderstode
But that is no thynge for her goode
For leueth wel soth it is
That when I knowe it so is
I wol but fordren hem a lyte
But al the werst I can endyte
I telle it to my lady plat
For forthryng of myn owne estat
And hyndre them al that I maye
But for al that yet dar I saye
I fynde vnto my self no bote
Al though myn herte nedes mote
Though of loue al that I here
Dyscouer vnto my lady dere
For in good feyth I haue no myght
To hele fro that swete wyght
If that it toucheth her ony thyng
But this wote wel the heuen kyng
That sythen fyrst this world bygan
Vnto none other strannge man
Ne feyned I semblannt ne chere
To wyte or axe of this matere
Though yt he loueth x or twelue
When it was nought my lady selue
But yf he wold axe ony rede
Al onlyche of his owne hede
How he with other loue ferde
His tales with myn eres I herde
But to myn hert cam it nought
Ne sanke no depper in my thought
[Page xliij]Bnt helde counseylle as I was bede
And told it neuer m other stede
But lete it pass [...]as it come
Now fadre saye what is thy dome
And how thou wolt yt I be peyned
For fals semblan̄t as I haue feyned

My sone yf reson be wel peised
There may no vertu be vp reysed
Ne vyce none be set in pryse
For thy my sone yf thou be wyse
Do no vyser vpon my face
Whiche wol not thyn hert embrace
For yf thou do within a throwe
To another man it shal be knowe
So myȝt thou lightely falle in blame
And lese a grete part of thy name
And netheles in this degre
Ful oftyme thou myght se
Of suche men as now a day
This vyce sette in assay
I speke for no mans blame
But for to warne the thy shame
My sone as I may here talke
In euery place where I walke
I not yf it be so or none
But it is many dayes gone
That I fyrst herd telle this
How fals semblaūt hath be & is
Most comonly from yere to yere
With hem that duelle among vs here
Of suche as we Lumbardes calle
For they be the slyest of alle
So as men seyn in Towne aboute
To feyne & shewe thyng withoute
Whiche is reuers to that within
Wherof that they ofte wyn
Whan they by reson shold lese
They ben the last & yet they chefe
And we fyrst & yet behynde
We gone where as we shuld fynde
The proufyte of our owne lond
Thus gone they fre withoute bond
To done her proufyte al at large
And other men bere al the charge
Of Lumbardes vnto this couyne
Whiche al londes conne engyne
May fals semblaunt in especyal
Br lykened for they euer al
Where that they thynken for to duelle
Among them self so as they telle
Fyrst ben enformed for to lere
A craft whiche cleped is faucrere
For yf faucrere come aboute
Than afterward stant no doute
To voyde with a subtyle honde
The best goodes of the lond
And brynge chaf & take corn
Where as faucrere goth to forn
In al his wey he fynt no let
That do [...]e can none vssher shet
In whiche hym lyst to take entre
And thus the counseyll most secre
Of euery thyng faucrere knoweth
Whiche in to straūge place he bloweth
Whiche he wote it may most greue
And thus faucrere maketh byleue
So that ful ofte he hath deceyued
Er that he may ben apperceyued
Thus is his vyce for to drede
For who these old bokes rede
Of suche ensamples as were ar
Hym ought be the more war
Of al tho that feynen chere
Wherof thou shalt a tale here

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos q̄ sub dissimulate beniuolēcie speculo alios m amore defrau dant / Et narrat qualiter Hercules c [...] Ipse quoddam fluuium cuiꝰ vad [...] non nouit cum Deianyra transmeare proposuit / superueniens Nessus Gigas ob amiciciam Herculis vt dixit Deianyram in vlnas su [...]s suscipiens trans ri pam saluo perduxit / Et statim cum ad litus peruenisset ꝙ cito currere pptuit ipsam tam (quam) propriam in preiudicium Herculis asportare fugiens conabatur Per qd non solum ipsi sed eciam Herculi mortis euentum fortuna post modum causauit

[Page]
oF fals semblaunt whiche is beleued / 
Ful many a worthy
wyght is greued.
And was long tyme or he was bore
To the my sone I wyl therfore
A tale telle of fals semblaunt
Whiche falseth many a couenaunt
And many a fraude of fals coūseylle
There be honged vpon his seylle
And that abouten gylteles
Bothe Deyanyre & hercules
The whiche in grete dysese felle
Thorugh fals semblaūt as I shal telle
When hercules within a throwe
Al only hath his hert throwe
Vpon the fayre Deyanyre
It felle hym on a day desyre
Vpon a ryuer as he stood
That passe he wold ouer the flood
Withoute bote & with hym lede
His loue but he was in drede
For tendrenesse of that swete wyght
For he knewe not the forth aryght
There was a geaunt than nyghe
Whiche Nessus hyght & whan he syghe
This hercules & Deianyre
Within his hert he gan conspyre
As he whiche thought his trecherye
Hath Hercules in grete enuye
Whiche he bare in his herte loke
And than he thought it shal be wroke
But he ne durst netheles
Ayene this worthy Hercules
Falle in debate as for to fyght
But feyned semblaunt al by sleyght
Of frendship & of al good
And cometh where as they both stood
And maketh hem al the chere he can
And sayth that here owne man
He is / al redy for to do
What thyng he may & it fel so
That than vpon his semblaunt tryst
And axeth hem yf that they wyst
What thyng were best to done
So that they myghten sauf & sont
The water passe he & she
And whan Nessus the pryuete
Knewe we of hert what it ment
As he that was double of entent
He made hem ryght a glad vysage
And when he herd of the passage
On hym & hyr he thought gyle
And feyneth semblaunt for a whyle
But he thought al another wyse
To done hem plesaunce & seruyce
This Nessus with his wordes slyghe
Yaf counseylle to fore her eye
Whiche semed outward prouffytable
And was within deceyuable
He bad hem of the stremes depe
That they beware & take kepe
So as they knowe not the compas
But for to helpe in suche a cas
He sayth hym self that for his ease
He wold yf yt it myght hem please
The passage of the water take
And for this lady vndertake
To bere hyr to that other stronde
And sauf to set her vpon the londe
And Hercules may then also
The weye knowe how he shold go
And they therto acorden alle
But what as after shal byfalle
Wel payd was hercules of this
And this Geaunt also glad is
And toke his lady vpon lofte
And set hyr on his shulder softe
And in the flood bygan to wade
And he whiche no grutchyng made
And bare hyr oner sauf & soūde
But when he stood on drye gronnd
And Hercules was ferre behynde
He set his trouthe al oute of mynde
Who so ther be lefe or loth
With Deianyre & forth he goth
As he thought to dysseuer
The companye of hem for euer
When Hercules therof took hede
As fast as euer he myght hym spede
He hyeth after in a throwe
And hapneth that he had a bowe
The whiche in al hast he bende
[Page xliiij]As he that wold an arowe sende
Whiche he to fore had venymed
He hath so wel his shot tymed
That hym thorugh the body smet
And thus the fals wyght he let

But leste now suche a felonye
Whan Nessus wyst he shold dye
He took to Deianyre his shert
Which with the blood was of his hert
Thorugh oute desteyned ouer al
Told how she so [...]t kepe shal
And pryuely to hir entent
That yf her lord his hert went
To loue in ony other place
This shyrt he sayth hath suche a grace
That yf she may so mochel make
That he the shyrte vpon hym take
He shal al other lete in veyn
And torne m to her loue ageyn
Who was so glad but Deianyre
Hyr hert hyr thought was on a fyre
Tyl it was in her Cofer loke
So that therof no word was spoke
The dayes gone the yeres passe
The hertes waxen lasse & lasse
Of hem that be to loue vntrewe
This Hercules with hert newe
His hert hath set on Eolen
And therof speken al men
This Eolen this fayre mayde
Was as men thylk tyme sayde
The kynges doughter of Euryce
And she made Hercules so nyce
Vpon her loue & so assote
That he hym clotheth in hyr cote
And she in his was clothed ofte
And thus feblesse is set alofte
And strengthe was put vnder fote
There can no man therof doo bo [...]e
When Deianyre hath herd this speche
There was no sorowe for to seche
Of other helpe wote she none
But goth vnto hyr coufer anone
With wepeud eye & woful herte
She took oute thylk vnhappy sherte
And as she wend wel to do
And brought hyr werke aboute so
That Hercules this shert on dede
Of suche entent & as she was bede
Of Nessus & as I sayd er
But that therfore was she not ye ner
Aud no fortune may be weyued
With fals semblaunt she was deceyued
Then when she wende best haue wonne
She lost al that she hath bygonne
For thylk shert vnto the bone
His body set a fyre anone
And cleueth so it may not twynne
For the venym that was therynne
And he than as a wyld man
Vnto the hyghe wode ran
And as the clerk Ouyde telleth
The grete trees to the ground he felleth
With strengthe of his owne myght
And made an hughe fyre vpryght
And lept hym self therin at ones
And brente hym bothe flesshe & bones
Whiche thyng cam thorugh fals sēblāt
That fals Nessus the Geant
Made vnto hym & to his wyf
Wherof that he hath lost his lyf
And she also for euermo

For thy my sone or thou be wo
I rede be wel ware therfore
For when so grete a man was lore
It ought to yeue a grete conceypt
To warne al other of suche deceypt
Graunt mercy fader I am ware
So fer that I no more dare
Of fals semblaunt take acqueyntaūce
But rather I wol do penaunce
That I haue feyned chere or this
Now axe forth what so ther  [...]s
Of that bylongeth to my shryfte
My sone yet ther is the fyfte
Whiche is conceyued of enuye
And clepend is supplantarye
Thorugh whos compassement & gyle
Ful many hath lost his whyle
In loue as wel as other wyse
Here after as I shal deuyse

[Page]Inuidꝰ alte riu s [...] supplātator hōris Et tua quo vertat cultura subtꝰ arat Est opꝰ occultū q̄i q̄ latrt āgīs ī herba Qd facit & subita sorte nociuus adest Sic subtilis amās aliū supplātat amāt [...] Et capit occulte qd ne [...]t ipse palam Sepe (que) supplātās in plātā plātat amo [...]s / Quod pntat m proprijs alter ha bere bo [...]us

Hie tractat Confessor de quinta spe cie Inuidie / que supplantacio dicitur cu ius cultor pr [...]us (que) percipiatur aliene dignitatis & officij multociēs intrusor existens

tHe vyce of Supplantacyon
With many a fals collacyon
Which he cōspireth'al vnkno­we.
Ful oftyme hath ouerthrowe
The worship of another man
So wel no lyf awayte can
Ayene his sleyght for to cast
That he his purpoos at the last
Ne hath or that it withset
But moost of al his herte is set
In court vpon these grete offyces
Of dygnytees & benefyces
Thus goth he with his sleyghte about
To hyndre & shoue another out
And stonden with his slyghe compas
In seede there another was
And so to set hym self ynne
He r [...]ebeth not be so he wynne
Of that another man shal l [...]se
And thus ful ofte chalk for chefe
He chaungeth with ful lytel cost
Wherof another hath the lost
And he the proufyt shal receyue
For his fortune is to receyue
And for to chaunge vpon the whele
His woo with other mens wele
Of that another man auayleth
His astate thus vp he hayleth
And taketh the byrd to his beyete
Where other men the busshes bete
My sone & in the same wyse
There be louers of suche empryse
That shapen hem to be relyeued
Where it is wrong to be achyeued
For it is an other mans ryght
Whiche he hath take day & nyght
Ty kepe for his owne store
Toward hym self for euermore
And is his propre by the lawe
Whiche thynge that axeth no felawe
But they that worchen by supplauut
And take a part of thylk plant
Whiche he hath for hym self set
And so fulofte is al vnknet
That som man weneth be ryght fast
For supplaunt with his sly cast
Ful ofte happeneth for to mowe
Thyng which another man hath  [...]owe
And maketh comon of propyrte
With sleyghte & with subtylte
As men may seen from yere to yere
Thus cleymeth he the boot to stere
Of whiche another mayster is

For thy my sone yf thou or this
Hast ben of suche professyon
Dyscouer thy Confessyon
Hast thou supplanted ony man

For ought that I yow telle can
Myn holy fadre as of the dede
I am withouten ony drede
And gilteles but of my thought
My censcyence excuse I nought
For were it wrong or were it ryght
Me lacketh no thyng but myght
That I ne wold longe or this
Of other mans loue  [...]wys
By wey of Supplantacyon
Haue made appropryacyon
And hold that I neuer bought
Though it another man forthought
And al this speke I but of one
For whome I lete al other gone
But here I may not ouerpasse
That I ne mote alwey compasse
 [...]e rought not by what queynty [...]e
So that I myght in ony wyse
Fro suche that my lady serue
[Page xlv]His hert make for to swerue
Withoute ony part of loue
For by thegoddes al aboue
I wold it myght so byfalle
That I alone shold hem alle
Supplante & welde hyr at my wylle
And yt thyng may I nought fnlfylle
And yf I shold strengthe make
And that I dar not vndertake
Thongh I were as was Alysander
For therof myght ryse a sklaunder
And certes that shal I do neuer
For in good feyth yet had I lener
In ony symplesse for to dye
Than worche suche supplantarye
Of other wyse I wol not say
That yf I fond a syker way
I wold as for conclusyon
Worche after supplantacyon
So hyghe a loue for to wynne
Now fadre yf that this be synne
I am al redy to redresse
The gylt of whiche I me confesse

My sone as of supplant
The dar not drede tant ne quant
As for no thyng that I haue herd
But only that thou hast mysferd
Thynkend and me lyketh nought
For god beholt a mans thought
And yf thou vnderstood in soth
In loues cause what it doth
A man to be a supplantour
Thou woldest for thyn honour
By double way take kepe
Fyrst for thyn owne estate kepe
To be thy self so wel be thought
That thou supplanted were nought
And eke for worship of thy name
Towardes other do the same
And suffre euery man haue his
But netheles it was & is
That in wayte at al assayes
Supplant of loue in other wayes
The leef ful ofte for the leuer
Forsaketh & it hath done euer
Ensample I fynde therupon

Qualiter Agamenō de amore Brexeide Achillē & Diomedes de amore Cri seide Troilum supplanta [...]ut /

aT Troye how that Agamenon
Supplanted the worthy knyghte
Achilles for that swete wyghte
Whiche named was Brexeyda
And also of Cryseyda
Whome Troylus to loue ches
Supplanted hath Diomedes

Qualiter Amphitriun socium suam Geta m qui Almaenam peramauit seipsum loco alterius cautelosa supplanta cione substituit

oF Geta & Amphitryone
That whilome were both as one
Of frendship & companye
I rede how that supplantarye
In loue as it betyd tho
Begyled hath one of hem two
That this Geta of whome I mene
To whome the lusty fayr Almene
Assured was by wey of loue
When the best wende to be aboue
And sykerest of that he had
Cupido so the cause lad
That whyle he was oute of the weye
Amphytryon in hast the next weye
Hath take & in this forme hath wrouȝ
By nyght vnto the chambre sought
Where she lay & within a whyle
And counterfeted & dyde do fyle
The voys of Geet in suche a wyse
That made hyr of hyr bed aryse
Wenend that it were he
And lete hym in & when they be
To gyder a bed m armes fast
This Geta cam than at at last
Vndo the dore & sayd vndo
And she ansuerd & bad hym goo
And sayd how that a bedde al warme
Hyr lyef lay naked in hyr arme
She wende that it were soth
Lo what supplaunt of loue doth
[Page]This Get [...] forth beiaped went
And yet ne wyst he what it ment
Amphitryon hym hath supplanted
With sleyghtr of loue & her enchaūtrd
And thus put euery man oute other
The ship of loue hath lost his rother
So that he can no reson stere
And fo: to skepe of this matere
Touchend loue & his supplaunt
A tal [...] whiche is acordaunt
Vnto thyn ere I thynke enforme
Now herken for this is the forme

hIc in amoris causa cōtra fraudē detractionis ponit Confessor exē plum / Et narrat de quodam Romani Imperatoris fillo qui probitates armorum super omnia exercere affectans nescrente patre vltra mare in partes per [...]e ad deseru [...]endū Soldano super guer [...] cum solo Milite tam (quam) socio suo ignotu [...] se transtul [...]t / Et cum Ipsius mi [...]ae fama super alios ibidem accreuisset centigit vt in quodam bello contra [...]aliphum Egipti inito Soldanus a Sagitra mortaliter vulneratu [...] prius (quam) moreretur quendam anulum suum filie sue secretissunū isto Romano tradi [...]t dicens aualiter filia sua sub paterne [...]enedictianis vinculo adiurata est▪ (quam) [...]uicum (que) dictum anulum ei afferret Ipsum in coniugem pre omnibus susciperet / Defuncto autem Sol [...]no ver sus ciuitatem que Lroyre dicitur itinerantes Iste Romanus commilitoni suo huius mistrij secretum reuelaiut / qui [...]octāter a bursa domini sui anulo fur to surripiens / Hec que audiuit vsui proprio falsissima supplātacōne applicuit.

 [...]F thylk cyte cheef of alle
Which men ye noble rome calle
Er it was set to crystes feith
There was as the Crony (que) seyth
An Emperour whiche it ladde
In pees that he no werres hadde
There was no thyng dysobeysaunt
Whiche was▪ to Rome appertenaunt
But al was torned in to rest
To som it thought for the best
To som it thought no thyng so
And that was only vnto tho
Whos herte stood vpon knyghthode
But moost of al of his manhode
The worthy sone of the Emperour
Whiche wold ben a werryour
As he that was chyualrous
Of worldes fame & desyrous
Bygan his fadre to beseche
That he the werres myght seche
In straunge marches for to ryde
His fadre sayd he shold abyde
And wold graunte hym no leue
But he whiche wold not byleue
A knyght of his whiche he tryst
Ryght euen as he thought & lyst
He toke & told hym his courage
That he purposyth in vyage
If that fortune with hym stonde
He seyd how that he wold fonde
The grete see to passe vnknowe
And there abyde for a throwe
Vpon the werres to t [...]auayle
And to this poynt withoute fayle
This knyȝt when he hath herd his lord
Is swore & stant of his acord
And they bothe yong were
So that in preny counseyl there
They ben assented for to wende
And therupon to make an ende
Tresour ynough with hem they token
And whan the tyme is best they loken
That sodenlyche in a galey
Fro Rome lond they wente▪ their wey
And londed vpon that other syde
The world felle so that ylke tyde
Whiche euer his happes hath dyuerse
The grete Soldan of Perse
Ayene the Calyphe of Egypt
A werre whiche that hym beclypt
[Page xlvj]Hath in a marche costeraunt
And he whiche was a pursyuaunt
Worship of armes to atteyne
This Romayn anone lete ordeyne
That he was redy euery dele
And when he was arrayed wele
Of euery thyng which hym bylongeth
Strauȝt vnto Kayre his wey he fong­
geth / where he the Sowdan than fond
And axeth that within his lond
He myght hym for the werre serue
As he whiche wol his thank deserue
The Soldan was ryght glad with all
And wel the more in specyall
When that he wyst he was Romayn
But what he was elles incertayn
That myghte he wyte by no wey
And thus the knyght of whome I sey
Toward the Soldan he is be left
And in the marches now & eft
Where that the dedely werres were
He wrought suche knyghthode there
That euery man spak of hym good
And thylke tyme so it stood
This myghty Soldan by his wyf
A doughter hath that in her lyf
Men sayd there was none so feyr
She shold be hyr fadres heyr
And was of yeres rype ynough
Hyr beaute many an herte drongh
To bowe to that ylke lawe
Fro which no lyf may be withdra we
And that is loue whos nature
Set lyf & deth in noo mesure
Of hem that knyghthode vndertake
This lusty peyne hath ouertake
The h [...]rte of this Romayn so sore
That to knyghthode more & more
Pro wesse auaunteth his courage
Lyche to the Lyon in his rage
Fro whome that al bestes fbe
Suche was the knyght in his degre
Where he was armed in the felde
Ther durst none abyde his shelde
Grete pryce vpon the werres he had
But she whiche al the chaunce lad
Fortune shope the marches so
That by thassent of bothe two
The Soldan & the Calyphe eke
Batayll vpon a day they seke
Whiche was in suche awey set
That lenger shold it not be let
They made hem strong on euery syde
And when it drough toward the tyde
That the bataylle shold be
The Soldan in grete prynete
A goldryng of his doughter toke
And made hyr swere vpon a book
And eke vpon the goddes alle
That yf fortune so byfalle
In the bataylle that he dye
That she shal thylk man obeye
And take hym to her housbonde
Whiche thylk same ryng to honde
Hyr shold brynge after his deth
This hath she swore & forth he geth
With al the power of his lond
Vnto the marches where he fond
His enemy ful enbataylled

The Soldan hath the feld assaylled
They that ben hardy sone assemblen
Wherof the dredeful hertes tremblen
That one sleeth / that other sterueth
But abouen all his pryce deserueth
The knyght Romayn where he rode
His dedely swerd no man abode
Ayene the which was no defence
Egypt fled in his presence
And they of Perse vpon the chace
Pursuen but I not what grace
Byfelle on arowe oute of a bowe
Al sodenly that ylke throwe
The Soldan smote & there he lay
The chaas is left for thylke day
And he was bore in a tent

The Souldan syghe how it went
And that he sholde algate dy [...]
And to this knyaht of Romanye
As to hym he most tryst
His doughter rynge anone twyst
He took hym & told hym al the cas
Vpon here othe what token it was
[Page]Of that she shold ben his wyf
When this was sayd the hertes lyf
Of this Souldan departed sone
And therupon as was to done
The dede body wel & fayre
They carye tyl they come at Kayre
Where he was worthelyche bygraue

The lordes whiche as wolden saue
The regne whiche was desolate
To brynge it in to good estate
A parlement they set anone
Now herkne what fel therupon
This yong lord this worthy knyght
Of Rome vpon the same nyght
That they a morowe trete shold
Vnto his bachyler he told
His counseyll & the ryng with  [...]lle
He sheweth thurgh whiche yt he shall
He seyth the kynges doughter wedde
For soo the rynge was leyd to wedde
He told in to hyr fadre honde
That with that man that she it fonde
She shold  [...]ym toke vnto her lord
And thus he seyth stant of record
But no man wote who hath this ring
This bachyler vpon this thyng
His ere & his entent l [...]yde
And thought more than he seyde
And feyneth with a [...]fals vysage
That he was glad but his courage
Was s [...]t in another wyse
These old philosophr [...]s wyse
They wryten vpon thylk whyle
That he may best a man begyle
In whome the man hath most credence
And this byfelle in euydence
Toward this yong lord of Rome
His bachyler whiche he nome
When that his lord by nyght slepte
This ryng whiche his mayster kepte
Oute of his purs awere he dede
And put another in the stede
A morow when the court is set
This yong lady was forth fet
To whome the lordes done homage
And after that of maryage
They treten & axen of her wylle
But she whiche thought to fulfylle
Her fadre hest in this mater
Sayd openly that men may here
The charge whiche hyr fadre bad
Tho was this lord of Rome glad
He droughe toward his purs anone
But al for nought it was a gone
His bachyler hath forth drawe
And axeth therupon the lawe
That she hym hold couenaunt
The tokne was so suffysaunt
That it myght not be forsake
And netheles his lord hath take
Quarelle ayene his owne man
But for no thynge that euer he can
He myght as than nought be herd
So that his clayme is vnansuerd
And he hath of his purpos fayled
This bachiler was soo counsayled
And wedded & of thylk empyre
He was crouned lord & syre
And al the lond hym hath receyued
Wherof his lord whiche was deceyued
A sekenes or the thyrd morowe
Conceyued hath of dedely sorowe
And as he lay vppon his deth
Ther whyle hym lasteth speche & breth
He sende for the worthyest
Of al the londe & eke the best
And told hem al the soth tho
That he was sone & heyre also
Of themperour of grete Rome
And how that they to gyder come
This knyght & he ryght as it was
He told hem al the pleyne cas
And for that he his counseyll tolde
That other al that he wolde
And he hath fayled of his mede
And for the good he taketh none hede
He sayth but only of the loue
Of whiche he wende haue be aboue
And therupon by letter wryte
He doth his fadre for to wyte
Of al this mater how it stood
And than with an bertely mood
[Page xlvij]Vnto the lordes he besought
To telle his lady how he bought
Hyr loue of whiche another gladeth
Aud with that word his hewe fadeth
And sayd a dieu my lady swete
The lyf hath lost his kyndely hete
And he lay dede as ony stone
Wherof was sory many one
But none of al so as she

This fals knyght in his degre
Arested was & put in hold
For openly when it was told
Of the treson whiche is falle
Thorugh oute the lond they sayden alle
If it be soth that men suppose
His owne vntrouth hym shal depose
And for to seche an euydence
With honour & grete reuerence
Wherof they myghten knowe an ende
To themperour anone they sende
The letter whiche his sone wrote
And when that he the soth wote
To telle his sorow is endeles
But yet in hast netheles
Vpon the tale whiche he herde
His styward in to Perse ferde
With worthy Romayns eke
His lyege traytor for to seke
And when they thyder come were
This knyght hym hath confessid there
How falsely that he hath hym bore
Wherof his worthy lord was lore
Tho sayden som he shold deye
But yet they haue foūden suche a weye
That he shal not be dede in Perse
And thus the skyles be dyuerse
By cause that he was coroned
Of that the lond was habandoned
To hym al though it werr vnryght
There is no peyne to hym dyght
But to this poynt & to this ende
They graūten wel yt he shal wende
With the Romayns to Rome ageyne
And thus acorded ful & playne
The quyk body with the dede
With leue take forth they lede
Where that supplaunt hath his Iuyse
Wherof that thou the myght auyse
Vpon this Informacyon
Touchend of supplantacion
That thou my sone do not so
And for to take hede also
What supplaūt doth in other halue
There is no man can fynde a salue
Pleynly to hele suche a sore
It hath & shal be euermore
When pryde is with enuye Ioynt
He suffreth no man in good poynt
Where that may his honoure let
And therupon yf I shal set
Ensample in holy chirche I fynde
How that supplaunt is not behynde
God wote now yf that it be so
For in Crony (que) of tyme a go
I fynde a tale concordable
Of supplaunt whiche is no fable
In the maner as I shal telle
So as whylome the thynges felle

I [...] ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos in causa dignitatis adquirende supplantatores / Et narrat qualiter papa Bonefacius predecessorē suū celestinū a papatu contractata circumuencione fraudulenter supplantauit / Sed qui potentes a sede deponit hu iusmodi supplātacōm fraudem non sus tinens ipsum sic in sublime exaltatum postea in profundi carceris miseriam proici fame (que) siti cruciari nec nō ab hu ius vite gaudijs dolorosa morte supplantari permisit /

aT Rome as it hath ofte falle
The vyker generall of alle
Of hem yt lyeuen cristes feyth
Ists al whiche none with seyth
Hath shett as to the worldes eye
Whos name yf I shal specyfye
He hyght Pope Nycholas
And thus that he passed was
The Cardynals that wold saue
[Page]The forme of lawe in the conclaue
Gone for to chese a newe pope
And after that they couthe agrope
Hath eche of hem sayd his entent
Tyl at the last they assent
Vpon an holy good recluse
Whiche ful was of gostely vertuse
His pacyence & his symplesse
Hath set hym in to hyghe noblesse
Thus was he pope canonysed
With grete honour & intronyced
And vpon channce as it is falle
His name Celestyn men calle
Whiche notyfyed was by bulle
To holy chirche & to the fulle
In al londes magnyfyed
But euery worship is enuyed
And that was thylk tyme sen [...]
For when this pope of whome I mene
Was chose & other set a syde
A Cardynal was thylk tyde
Whiche the papate hath long desyred
And therupon gretely hath conspyred
But when he syghe fortune is fayled
For whiche long tyme had trauayled
That ylke fyre whiche Ethna brēneth
Thorugh his woful hert renneth
Whiche is resembled to enuye
Wherof Supplaunt & trecherye
Engendred is & netheles
He feyneth loue he feyneth pes
Outward he doth the reuerence
But al within his conseyence
Thorugh fals ymagynacyon
He thought Supplantacyon
And therupon a wonder wyle
He wrought for at thylke whyle
It fel so that of his lygnage
He had Clergyon yonge of age
Whome he had in his chamber affaited
This Cardynal his tyme hath waited
And with his wordes sly & queynt
The whiche he couth lyghtely peynt
He shope this clerk of whiche I telle
Toward the pope for to duelle
So that within his chambre a nyght
He lay & was a preuy wyght
Toward the pope on nyghtes tyde
May no man flee that shal be tyde
This Cardynal whiche thought gyle
Vpon a day whan he had whyle
This yong clerk to hym took
And made hym swere vpon a book
And told hym what his wylle was
And forth with al a Trompe of bras
He hath hym take & bad hym this
That shal he saye when tyme is
Awayte & take ryght good kepe
When that the pope was fast a slepe
And that none other man be ny
And than that thou be so sly
Thorugh oute the Trompe in to his ere
Fro heuen as though a voys it were
To sowne of suche prolacyon
That he his medytacyon
Therof may make & vnderstonde
As though it were goddes sonde
And in this wyse thou shalt sex
That he do thylk estate awey
Of pope in whiche he stant honoured
So shal his soule be socoured
Of thylk worship at the last
In heuen whiche shal euer last
This clerk when he hath herd the forme
How ho the pope shold enforme
Toke of the Cardynal his leue
And goth hym home tyl at eue
And pryuely the trompe be hedde
Tyl that the pope was a bedde
And at mydnyght when that he knew
The pope slepte than he blew
Within his Trompe thurgh out yt wal
And told in what maner he shal
His papacye leue & take
His fyrst estate & thus awake
This holy pope hath made thryes
Wherof dyuers fantasyes
Vpon his grete holynesse
Within his hert he gan impresse
The pope ful of Innocence
Conceyueth in his conscyence
That it is goddes wyl he cese
[Page xlviij]But in what wyse he may relese
His hye estate that wote he nought
And thus within hym self he thouȝt
He have it stylle in his memorye
Tyl he cam to the Consistorye
And there in presence of hem alle
He axeth yf it so byfalle
That ony pope chefe sholde
How that the lawe it suffre wolde
They seten al stylle & herde
Was none whiche the poynt ansuerde
For to what purpoos that he ment
There was no man knewe his entent
But only he whiche shope the gyle
This Cardyual the same whyle
Al openly with wo [...]des pleyne
Seyth yf the pope wol ordeyne
That there be suche a lawe wrought
Than myght he chese & elles nought
And as he sayd done it was
The pope anone vpon the cas
Of his papal auctoryte
Hath made & youe the decre
And when the lawe was confermed
In due forme & al affermed
This Innocent whiche was deceyued
His papacye anone hath weyued
Reuounced & resygned eke
That other was no thyng to seke
But vndernethe suche a iape
He hath for hym self so shape
That hou as euer it hym be seme
The myter with the dyademe
He hath thorugh supplantacyon
And in his confyrmacyon
Vpon the fortune of his grace
His name is cleped Boneface
Vnder the vyser of enuye
Lo was hyd the trecherye
Whiche hath begyled many one
But suche counseyll ther may be non
Whiche treson when it is conspyred
That it nys lyke the spark fyred
Vp in the roofe whiche for a throwe
Lyeth hyd tyl whan yt wyndes blowe
It blaseth oute on euery syde
This Boneface whiche can not hyde
The trecherye of his supplaunt
Hath openly made his auannt
How he the papacye hath wonne
But thyng which is with wrong be-
gonne / May neuer stonde wel at ende
Where pryde shal the bowe bende
He sheteth ful ofte oute of the weye
And thus the pope of whome I seye
When that he stode on hyghe the whele
He can not suffre hym self be wele
Enuye whiche is loueles
And pryde whiche is lawebes
With suche tempestes made hym erre
That charyte goth out of herre
So that vpon mysgouernaunce
Agaynst lowys the kyng of fraunce
He toke quarel of his oultrage
And sayd he shold done homage
Vnto the chirche bodely
But he that wyst no thyng why
He shold doo so grete seruyce
After the world in suche a wyse
Withstood the wrong of that demaūd
For nought the pope may commaund
The kyng wol not the pope obeye
This pope tho by al weye
That he may worche of vyolence
Hath sent the bulle of his sentence
With cursyng & enterdyt
The kyng vpon this wrongful plyȝt
To kepe his regne fro seruage
Counseyled was of his baronage
That with myght it shal be withstōde
Thus was the cause take on honde
And sayden that the papacye
They honoure & magnyfye
In al that euer is spyrytual
But of the pryde temporal
Of Boneface in his persone
Ayene that ylke wrong allone
They wolden stonde in debate
And thus the man & nought the state
The frensshe shopen by her myght
To greue & fel ther was a knyght
Syre Gwilliam de langaret
[Page]Whiche was vpon this cause set
And therupon he took a route
Of men of armes & rood oute
So long & in awayte he laye
That he aspyede vpon a daye
The pope was at Auynyon
And sholde ryde oute of the toun
Vnto Ponniforge whiche is
A castel in a prouynce of his
Vpon the weye & as he rood
This knyght whiche houed & abood
Embuysshed vpon horsbak
Al sodenlyche vpon hym brak
And hath hym by the brydel sesed
And sayde O thou whiche hast dysesed
The courte of fraunce be thy wrong
Thou shalt synge another song
Thyn enterdyte & thy sentence
Ayene thyn owne conseyence
Here afcer thou shalt fele & grope
We pleyne nought ageyne the pope
For thylk name is honourable
But thou whiche hast be deceyuable
And trecherours in al thy werke
Thou Boneface thou proude clerke
Mysl [...]der of the papacye
Thy fals body shal abye
And suffre that it hath deserued
Lo thus this supplātour was serued
For they hym lad in to fraunce
And setcen hym to his penaunce
Within a toure of hard bondes
Where he for honger both his hondes
Ece of & dyed god wote how
Of whome the wrytyng is yet now
Regystred as a man maye here
Whiche speketh & sayth in this manere
Thy entre lyke a foxe was slyghe
Thy regne also with pryde on hyghe
Was lyche the lyon in his rage
But at the last at thy passage
Thy deth was to the houndes lyke
Suche is the letter of his Cronyke
Proclamed in the court of Rome
Wherof the wyse ensample nome
And yet as ferforth as I dare
I rede af other men beware
And that they loke wel / algate
That none his owne estate translate
Of holy chirche in no degre
By frāude ne by subtylyte
For thylk Aaron which honour took
Shal none receyue as seyth the book
But he becleped as he was
What shal I thynken in this cas
Of that I here now a day
I not but he whiche can & may
By reson bothe & by nature
The helpe of euery mans cure
To kepe Symon fro the folde

Nota de prophecia Ioachim quanti meranarij sunt in ouile dei tuas aures meis narracionibus fedare nolo

fOr Ioachym thylk abbot tolde
How suche dayes sholden falle
That comonlyche in places alle
The chapmen of suche mercery
With fraude & with supplantary
So many sholden bye & selle
That he ne may for shame teste
So foule a synne in mans  [...]re
But god forbede that it so were
In oure dayes that he seyth
For yf the clerk be ware his feyth
In chapmanhode in suche a feyre
The remenaunt mote nedes empeyre
Of al that to the world bylongeth
For whan that holy chirche wrongeth
I not what other thyng shal be
And netheles at mannes owne eye
Enuye for to be preferred
Hath conscyence so dyfferred
That no man loketh to the vyce
Whiche is the modre of malyce
And that is thylk fals enuye
Whiche causeth many a trecherye
[Page xlix]For where he may another see
That is more gracious than he / 
It shal not stonden in his myght
But yf he hynder suche a wyght
And that is wel nyghe oueral
This vyce is now so general

Qualiter Ioab princeps milicie dauid Inuidie causa Abner subdole inter fecit. Et qualit Achitofell ab hoc qd Cusy in Consilio Absolon preferebatur / attenso Inuidia laqueo se suspēdit

Enuye thylk vnhap in drough
When Ioab by deceypt slough
Abnet for drede he shold be
With kyng dauyd suche as was he
And ennye also it felle
Of thylk fals Achitofelle
For his counseylle was not ach [...]ued
But that be sawe Cusy byleued
With Absolon & hym forsake
He henge hym self vpon a stake

Senec wytnesseth openly
How that enuye propyrly
Is of the court the comon wenche
And halt tauerne for to shence
That drynke whiche maketh an hert to brēne
/ And doth the wytt about rēne
By euery wey to compasse
How that he myght al other passe
As he whiche thorugh vnkyndeshyp
Enuyeth euery falauship
So that thou myght wel knowe & see
There is no vyce suche as he
Fyrst toward god abhomynable
And to mankynde vuprofytable
And that ben worth but a fewe
I shal by reson proue & shewe
Inuidie stumilus sine causa ledit abortus /
Nam sine temptante crimine cri­men habet /
Non est huius opus tempture cupdinis archum /
Dum  (que) facies veneris Ethnica flamina vorat /
Abs (que) rubore gene palles quies fustus obū ­brat /
Frigida nature c [...]a mēbra docēt

Hic describit Confessor naturain inuidie tam in amore (quam) aliter secundum proprietatem vicij

eNuye yf that I shal deseryue
He is not shapely for to wyue
In erthe among the women here
For there is in hym no matere
Wherof he myght do plesaunce
Fyrst for his heuy contenaunce
Of that he semeth euer vnglad
He is not able to be had
And eke he brenneth withynne
That kynde may no proufyte wynne
Wherof he shold his loue please
For thylk blode which shold haue ease
To regne among the moyst veynes
Is drye of thylk vnkyndely peynes
Thorugh whiche enuye is fyred ay
And thus by reson proue I may
That toward loue enuye is nought
And other wyse yf he besought
Vpon what syde as euer it falle
It is the werst vyce of alle
Whiche of hym self hath most malyce
For vnderstonde that euery vyce
Som cause it hath wherof it groweth
But of enuye no man knoweth
Fro whens he cam but oute of helle
For thus the wyse clerkes telle
That no spyryt but of malyce
By wey of kynde but on a vyce
Is tempted & by suche a waye
Enuye hath kynde put a waye
And of malyce hath his sturyng
Wherof he maketh his bakbytyng
And is hym self therof dyseased
So may ther be no kynde pleased
For ay the more that he enuyeth
The more ayene hym self he plenyeth
Thus stant enuyt in good espeyr
To ben hym self the deuels heyr
As he whiche is the next lyche
And forthest from the heuen ryche
For there he may neuer wone

For thy my good dere sone
If thou wold fynde a syker weye
To lone put enuye aweye
Myn holy fadre reson wolde
[Page]That I this vyce esche we shold
But yet to strengthe my courage
If that ye wold in auauntage
Therof set a recouere
It were to me a grete desyre
That I this vyce myght flee

Now vnderstonde my sone & see
There is physyk for the seke
And vertues for the vyces eke
Who that the vyces wold esche we
He mote by reson than sewe
The vertues for by thylk weye
He may the vyces done aweye
For they to gydre maye not duelle
For as the water of a welle
Of fyre abateth the malyce
Ryght so vertu fordoth the vyce
Ayene enuye is charyte
Whiche i [...] the modre of pyte
That maketh a mans hert tendre
That it may no malyce engendre
In hym that is incline therin
For his courage is tempred so
That though he myght hym self releue
Yet wold he not another greue
But rather for to do plesaunce
He bereth hym self the greuaunce
So fayne he wold another case
Wherof my sone for thyn ease
Now  [...] t [...]ne a tale whiche I rede
And vnderstond it wel I rede

hIc ponit Confossor Exemplum de virtute cartatis centra Inuidi am / Et narrat de Constantino E lene filio suo qiu cum Imperij Romani dig nitatem obtinuerat a morbo lepre in [...] fectus medici pro sanitate recuperanda ipsum in sanguine [...] puerorum moseulorum balneare prepe suerant / sed cum in numera multitudo matrum cum filijs huiusmodi medicine causa in circuitu palacij affuisset / Imperator (que) corum gemitus & clamores percepisset caritate motus ingemiscens sic agit. O vere ipse est dominus qui se facit seruum pietatis. Et his dictis statum suum cuncti potentis medele commuttens sui ipsiꝰ morbum pocius quam infancium mor tem benignus elegit / vnde ipse quo an t [...]a paganꝰ & lepresus extiterat ex vnda baptismatis renatꝰ vtrins (que) materie tā corporis (que) anime diuine miraculo consecutus est salutem

IMong the bokes of latyn
I fynde it wryte of Cōstātyn
The worthy emperour of rome
Suche infortunes to hym come
When he was in his lusty age
The lepre caught in his vysage
And so forth ouer al aboute
That he myght not ryden oute
So left he both shelde & spere
As he that myght hym not bestere
And holde hym in his chambre close
Thorugh al the world the fame arose
The grete clerkes ben assent
And come at his commaaundement
To trete vpon this lordes hele
So long they to geder dele
That they vpon this medycyne
Appoynten hem & determyne
That in the maner as it stood
They wold hym bathe in childes blode
Within seuen yere age
For as they sayen that shold a suage
The lepre & al the vyolence
Whiche that they knewe of accidence
And not by wey of kynde is falle
And therto they acorden alle
As for fynal conclusyon
And tolden her oppynyon
To themperour & he anone
His counseyl toke & therupone
With letters & with seales oute
They send in euery lond aboute
The yong children for to seche
Whoos blood they sayd shold be leche
For themperours maladye
There was ynough to wepe & crye
Among the modres when they herd
How wofully this cause ferd
[Page l]But netheles they mote bowe
And thus women ther come ynowe
With children soukend on theyr tete
There were many teres lete
But were hem lyef or were hem lothe
The women & the children bothe
In to the paleys forth be brought
With many a sory hertes thought
Of hem whiche of her body bore
The children had & so forlore
Within a whyle shold see
The modres wepe in her degre
And many of hem a swoune falle
The yong babyes cryeden alle
This noyse arose this lord it herde
And loked oute & how it ferde
He sawe & as who sayd abrayd
Oute of his slepe & thus he sayd
O thou dyuyne purueaunce
Whiche euery man in the balaunce
Of kynde hast formed to be lyche
The pore is bore as is the ryche
And dyeth in the same wyse
Vpon the fool vpon the wyse
Seken esse & hele enter comune
May not eschewe that fortune
Whiche kynde hath in her lawe sett
Her strengthe & beaute ben set
To euery man a lyche fre
That she profereth no degre
As in the dysposycyon
Of bodely complexyon
And eke of soule resonable
The pore child is bore as able
To vertu as the kynges sone
For euery man his owne wone
After the luste of his assaye
The vyce or / vertue chefe maye
Thus stand al men fraunchysed
But in estate they be deuysed
To somme worshyp & rychesse
To some pouerte & dystresse
One lordeth another serueth
But yet as euery man deserueth
The world yeueth not his yeftes here
But certes he hath grete matere
To be of good condycyon
Whiche hath in his subiectyon
The men that ben of his semblaunce
And eke he toke a remembraunce
How that he made lawe of kynde
Wolde euery man to lawe bynde
And bad a man suche as he wold
Toward hym self ryght suche he shold
Toward another done also
And thus this worthy lord al tho
Set in balaunce his owne estate
And with hym self stood in debate
And thought how it was not good
To see so mochel mans blood
Be spylt by cause of hym alone
He sawe also the grete mone
Of that the moders were vnglade
And of the wo the childre made
Wherof that his hert tendreth
And suche pyte within engendreth
And that hym was leuer for to chese
His owne body for to lese
Than see so grete a mordre wrought
Vpon the blood which gylteth nought
Thus for the pyte whiche he toke
Al other leches he forsoke
And put hym oute of auenture
Al only in to goddes cure
And sayth who that wol mayster be
He mote be seruaunt to pyte
So ferforth he was ouercome
With charyte that he hath nome
His counseyll & his offycers
And bad vnto his tresorers
That they his tresour al aboute
Departe among the pouer route
And of wymmen & of chyldren bothe
Wherof they myght hem fede & clothe
And sothly borne home ageyne
Withoute losse of ony greyne
Thorugh charyte thus he dyspendeth
His / good wherof he amendeth
The pouer peple & countreuayleth
The harme that he hem so trauayleth
And thus the woful nyghtes sorow
To ioye is torned on the morowe
[Page]Al was thankyng āl was blyssyng
Whiche erst was wepyng & cursyng
These women gone home glad ynough
Echone of ioye on other lough
And preyd for this lordes hele
Whiche hath relesed the quarele
And hath his owne wyl forsake
In charyte for goddes sake
But now here after thou shalt here
What god hath wrouȝt in this matere
As he that doth al equyte
To hym that wrought charyte
He was ayeneward charytous
And to pyte he was pytous
For it was neuer knowe yet
That charyte geth vnaquit
The nyght when he was leyd to slepe
The hyghe god which wold hym kepe
Seynt peter & seynt Poule hym sende
By whome he wold his lepre amende
They two to hym slepend appere
Fro god & sayd in this manere
O Constantyn for thou hast serued
Pyte thou hast pyte deserued
For thy thou shalt suche pyte haue
That god thorugh pyte wol the sane
Thou shalt so double hele fynde
For the fyrst bodelyche kynde

 [...]nd for thy woful soule also
Thou shalt be hole of both two
And for thou shalt not the despeyre
Thy lepre shal no more empeyre
Tyl thou wylt sende therupon
Vnto the mount of Celyon
Where Syluestre & his clergye
To gyder duellen in companye
For drede of the whiche many a day
Hast ben a foo to Crystes lay
And hast destroyed to mochel shame
The prechours of his holy name
But now thou hast somdele appesed
Thy god & with good dede plesed
That thou thy pyte hast bywaryd
Vpon the blood whiche yu hast spared
For thy to thy saluacyon
Thou shalt haue Informacyon
Suche as Syluestre shal the teche
The nedeth of none other leche
This Emperour whiche al this herd
Graunt mercy lord he ansuerd
I wol do as ye me say
But of one thyng I wold pray
What shal I telle vnto Syluestre
Of youre name or of your estre
And they hym told what they hyght
And forth with al oute offhis syght
They passen vp in to the heuen
And he awoke oute of his sweuen
And clepeth & men come anone
And told his dreme & therupone
In suche a wyse as hem telleth
The mount where Syluestre duelleth
They haue in all hast sought
And foūdē he was & with hem brouȝt
To themperour whiche to them told
His sweuen & elles that he wold
And when Siluestre hath herd ye king
He was ryght ioyeful of that thyng [...]
And hym bygan with al his wyt
To techen vpon holy wryt
Fyrst how mankynde was for [...]ore
And how the hyghe'god therfore
His sone send from aboue
Whiche born was for mannes loue
And after of his owne choys
He toke his deth vpon the / croys
And how in ḡraue he was byloke
And how that he hath helle broke
And toke hem out yt were him lyeue
And for to make vs ful / byloue
That he was veray goddes sone
Ayene the kynde of mannes wone
Fro deth he rose the thyrd day
And when he wold as he wel may
He styghe vp to his fadres euene
With flesshe & blood in to the heuene
And ryght so in the same forme
In flesshe & blood he shal reforme
When tyme cometh the quyk & dede
At thylk woful day of drede
Where euery man shal take his dome
As well the mayster as the groome
[Page xlj]The myghty kynges retenue
That day maye stonde of no value
With worldly strengthe to defende
For euery man mote than entende
To stonde vpon his owne dedes
And leue as other mennes nedes
That day may no counseyl auayle
The pledour & the ple shal fayle
The sentence of that ylke daye
Maye none appele set in delaye
There may no gold the Iuge plye
That he ne shal the soth trye
And fetten euery man vp ryght
As wel the plow man as the knyght
The leud man the grete clerk
Shal stonde vpon his owne werk
And suche as he is fonnde tho
Suche shal he be for euermo
There may no peyue be relesed
There may no Ioye be encresed
But endeles as they haue do  [...]
He shal receyue one of the two
Thus Syluester with his sawe
The ground of al the newe lawe
With grete deuocyon he precheth
Fro poynt to poynt & techeth
Vnto this he then Emperour
And sayth the hyghe creatour
Hath vnder fonge his charyte
Of that he wrought suche pyte
When he the children had no honde
Thus when this lord hath vnderstōde
Of al this thyng how that it ferde
Vnto Syluestre he than ansuerde
With al his hool hert & seyth
That he is redy to the feyth
And so the vessel whiche for blood
Was made Syluestre there it stood
With clene water of the welle
In al hast he lete do felle
And set Constantyn therynne
Al naked vp in to the chynne
And in the whyle it was begonne
A lyght as though it were a sonne
Fro heuen in to the place come
Where that he took his crystendome
And euer among the holy tales
Lyke as they weren fysshes scales
They fellen from hym now & efte
Tyl that ther was no thyng be lefte
Of al his grete maladye
For he that wold hym puryfye
The hyghe god hath made hym clene
So that there left no thyng sene
He hath hym cleused both two
The body & the soule also
Tho knewe this Emperour in dede
That Crystes feyth was for to drede
And sende anone his lettres oute
And lete do cryen al aboute
Vpon peyne of deth that no mā weyue
That he baptysme ne receyue
After his moder quene Eleyne
He send & so bytwene hem tweyne
They treten that the Cyte al
Was Crystned & she forth with al
This Emperour whiche hele hath foūd
Within Rome anone lete found
Two chirches whiche he dyd make
For Peter & for poule sake
Of whome he had a vysyon
And yaf therto possession
Of lordship & of worldly good
But how so that his wylle was good
Toward the pope & his Franchyse
Yet hath it proued other wyse
To see the worchyng of the dede
For in Crony (que) thus I rede
Anone as he hath made the yefte
A voys was herd on hyghe the lefte
Of whiche al Rome was adrad
And sayd this day venym is shad
In holy chirche of temporal
Whiche medleth with the spyrytal
And how it stant of that degre
Yet may a man the soth see
God maye amende it when he wylle
I can therto none other skylle
But for to go ther̄ I bygan
How charyte may helpe a man
To bothe worldes I haue sayd
And yf thou haue an ere layd
[Page]My sone thou myght vnderstonde
If charyte be take on honde▪
 [...]here foloweth after mochel grace
For thy yf that thou wolt purchace
How that thou enuye fle
Acqueynte the with charyte
Whiche is the vertu souerayne

My fadre I shal do my peyne
For this e [...]sample whiche ye told
With al myn hert I haue withold
So that I shal for euermore
Eschewe enuye wel the more
And that I haue or this mysdo
Ye [...]e me my penaunce or I go
And ouer that to my matere
Of shryfte whyle ye sytten here
In pryuete betwene vs tweye
Now axe what ther is I preye

Confessor

My good sone & for thy lore
I wol the telle what is more
Thou shalt so the vyces knowe
For when they be to the ful knowe
Thou myȝt hem wel the better eschewe
And for this cause I thynke sewe
The forme both & the matere
As now sewend thou shalt here
Whiche vyce stant next after this
And whan thou wost what it is
As thou shalt here me deuyse
Thou myght thy self the better auyse

Explicit Liber secundus

Incipit liber Tercius

IRa suis paribus est par fu rijs Acherontis / Quo furo [...] ad tempus nil pi [...]tatis habet / Ira melācolicos ani mos perturbat vt equo. [...]ure sui pondus nulla statera tenet / Omnibus in causis grauat Ira inter amantes / Illa magis facili sorte grauamen agit / Esi vbi vir discors leuiter (que) repugnat amori / Sepe loco ludi fletus ad ora venit

hIc in [...]ercio libro tractat super quin (que) speciebus Ire / quarum prima Melancoli [...] dicitur / cuius Confessor primo describens amanti super eodem consequenter opponit

IF thou the vyces lest knowe / 
My sone it hath not be vnknowe
Fro fyrste that men theyr swerdes groūde
That ther is none vpon ye groūde.
A vyce foreyn fro ye lawe
Wherof that many a good felawe
Hath be dystraught by sodeyn chaū  [...]
And yet to kynde no plesaunce
It doth but where he most acheueth
His pur [...]os most to kynde he greueth
As he whiche outr of conscyence
Is enemy vnto pacyence
And is by name one of the seuene
Whiche ofte hath set the world vneuent
[Page lij]And cleped is the cruel Ire
Whoos herte is euermore on fyre
To speke amys & to do bothe
For his seruauntes ben euer wrothe
My good fadre telle me this
What thyng is Ire. Sone it is
That in oure Englysshe wrath is hote
Whiche hath his wordes ay so hote
That al a mans pacyence
Is fyred of the vyolence
For he with hym hath euer fyue
Seruauntes that helpen hym to seryue
The fyrst of hem Melancolye
Is cleped whiche m companye
An honderd tymes in an oure
Wol as an angry best loure
And no man wote the cause why
My sone shryue the now for thy
Hast thou be malencolyen
My fadre ye by seynt Iulyen
But I vntrewe wordes vse
I may me not therof excuse
And al maketh loue wel I wote
Of whiche myn hert is euer hote
So that I brenne as doth a glede
For wrath that I may not spede
And thus ful ofte a day for nought
Sauf onlyche of myn owne thought
I am so with my seluen wrothe
That how so that the game gothe
With other men I can not glade
But I am wel the more vnglade
For that is other mens game
It torneth me to pure grame
Thus am I with my self oppressed
Of thought whiche I haue impressed
That al wakyng I dreme & mete
That I with hyr alone mete
And prayd ▪ hyr of som good ansuere
But the wol not gladly swere
She seyth me nay withouten oth
And thus waxe I within wroth
That outward I am al affrayed
And so dystempered & so es [...]ayed
A thousand tymes on a day
There sowneth in myn eres nay
The whiche she sayd me to fore
Thus be my wyttes as forlore
And namely whan I begynne
To rekne with my self within
How many yeres ben agone
Syth I haue truly loued one
And neuer took of hyr hede
And euer a lyche for to spede
I am the more fole with hyr dele
So that my hap & al my hele
Me thynketh is ay the lenger the ferre
That bringeth my gladship out of erre
Wherof my wyttes ben empryred
And I as who sayth al dispeyred
For fynally when that I muse
And thynk how she wol me refuse
I a [...] with anger so bestad
For al this world myght I be glad
And for the while that it lasteth
Al vp so doune my ioye it casteth
And  [...]y the forther that I be
When I ne may my lady se
The more I am redy to wrathe
That fo: the touchyng of a lathe
Or for the tornyng of a sere
I wode as doth the wylde see
And am so melancolyous
That ther nys seruaunt in myn hous
Ne none of tho that be aboute
That eche of hem ne stant in doute
And wene that I wold raue
For anger that they see me haue
And so they wondre more & lasse
That they seen it ouerpasse▪
But fadre yf it so betyde
That I approche at ony tyde
The place where my lady is
And than hyr lyketh I wys
To speke a goodly word vntome
For al the gold that is in Rome
Ne couth I after that be wroth
But al myn anger ouer goth
So glad I am of the presence
Of hyr that I al offence
Foryete as though it were nought
So ouer glad is my thought
[Page]And▪ netheles the soth to telle
A  [...]ene word yf it soo byfelle
That I at thylk tyme syghe
On me that she myscast hyr eye
Or that she lyst nought to loke
And I therof good hede toke
Anone in to my fyrst estate
I torne & am with that also mate
That euer it asyche wycke
And thus myn hond ayen the prycke
I hurte & haue do many a day
And go so forth as I goo may
Fulofte bytyng on my lyppe
And make vnto my self a whyppe
With whiche in many a chele & he [...]
My woful hert is so to bete
That al my wyttes ben vnsofte
And am wroth I not how ofte
And al it is melancolye
Whiche groweth on the fantasye
Of loue that me wol not loute
So bere I forth an angry sno wte
Ful many tymes in a yere
But fadre now ye sytten here
In loues stede I yow byseche
That som ensample ye me teche
Wherof I may my self appese

Confessor

My Sone for thyn hertes ese
I shal fulfylle thy prayer
So that thou myght the better ler [...]
What meschyef that this vyce stereth
Whiche in his angre not forbereth
Wherof that after hym for thynketh
When he is sobre that hym thynketh
Vpon the foly of his dede
And of this poynt a tale I rede

Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum cō tra istos qcū vires amoris nō sūt realiter experti contra al [...]os amantes malen [...]ol [...] s [...]ueritate ad iracundiam vindicte prouocantur / Et narrat qualiter rex Eolus filium nomine Marcharium & Filiam nomine can [...]m habuit / qui cum ab infanci [...] [...]s (que) pubertatem inui cem▪ fuerant educati / Cnpi [...]o cum ignito iaculo amborum cordis desideria amo rose penetrauit / I [...]a (que) natura Canacis cooperan [...] a fratre suo inpregnata parturit / super quo pater intollerabilem i [...] uentutis concupiscenci [...]m▪ ignorans ni miam (que) furoris malencolia preuentꝰ dictam filiam cum partu dolorosissimo c [...]su interfeci diiudicauit

 [...]Her was a kyng whiche Eolus
Was hote & it befel hym thus
That he two children had fayre
The sone cheped was Machayre
The doughter Canace hyght
By day both & este by nyght
Whyle they be yong of comon wone
In chāmbre they to geder come
And as they shold pleyd hem ofte
Tyl they be growen vp alofte
In the yongthe of lusty age
When kynde assaylleth the courage
With loue & doth hym for to lowe
That he no reson can allowe
But halt the lawes of nature
For whome that loue hath vnder c [...]re
And he is blynd hym self ryghtso▪
He maketh his  [...]lyent blynde also
In suche maner as I yow telle
As they al day to geder duelle
This broder myght not asterte
That he with al his hoole herte
His loue vpon his suster cast
And soo it fel hem at the last
So that this Machayre with Canace
When they were in a preuy place
Cupyde bad hem fyrst to  [...]rysse
And after she whiche is maystrysse
In kynde & techeth euery lyf
Withoute lawe posytyf
Of whiche she taketh no maner charḡe
But kepeth her lawes al at large
Nature took hem in to lore
And taught hem soo that ouermore
[Page liij]She hath hem in suche a wyse da [...]i [...]d
That they were as who saith enchaū  [...]ed
And as the blynde another ledeth
And tyll they falle nothynge dredeth
Ryght so they had none insyght
But as a byrd whiche wol a lyght
And seeth the mete & not the net [...]e
Whiche in deceyt of hym is set [...]
These yong folk no perylle syghe
But that was lykyng in her eye
In that they felle vpon the chaunce
Where wyt hath lore his remembraūce
So long they to geder assemble
The wōbe a [...]os & she gan to tremble
And held hyr in hir chambre cloos
For drede it shold be discloos
And come vnto hyr fadre ere
Wherof the sone had also fere
And feynend cause for to ryde
For long durst he not abyde
In aun [...]et yf men wol seyn
That he his suster hath forleyn
For yet she had it not be knowe
Whos was the child at thylke throwe
Machayre goth Canace abyt
The whiche was not delynerd yet
But ryght sone after that she was

Now lest & herkne a woful cas
The soth whiche may not ben hyd
Was at the last knowe & kyd
Vnto the kyng how that it stood
And when that he it vnderstood
Anone in to Melenoolye
As though it were a frenesye
He felle as he whiche no thyng couthe
How mayster ful loue is yougthe
And for he was to loue straunge
He wold not his herte chaunge
To be benigne & fauourable
To loue but vnmerciable
Bytwene the wawe of wode & wroth
In to his doughter chambre be goth
And sawe the child was late bore
Wherof he hath his oth swore
That she it shal ful sore abye
And she bygan mercy for to crye
Vpon hyr bar [...] kn [...]s & prayde
And to hyr fadre thus she sayde
Haue mercy fadre thenke I am
Thy child & of thy blode I cam
That I mysdede yongthe it made
And m the flodes bad me wade
Where that I sawe no peryl tho
But now it hath byfalle so
Mercy my fadre do no wreche
And wtth yt word she lost hyr speche
And felle swounend at his fote
As she for sorowe nedes mote
But his▪ horryble cruelte
That myght attempre no py [...]
Oute of her chambre forth he▪ went
And fnl of wrath in his entent
And took the counseyl in his herte
That she shal not the deth asterte
And he whiche is Melan [...]lyen̄
Of pacyence hath no lyen̄
Wherof he may his wrath restreyne
And in this wylde wode peyne
When al his reson was vntame
A knyght he  [...]leped by his name
And toke hym as by wey of sonde
A naked swerd to bere on honde
And sayd hym that he shold go
And telle vnto his doughter so
In the manere as be hym bad
How she that sharp swerdes blad
Receyue shold & do with al
So that she wo [...] where to she shal
Forth in message goth the knyght▪
Vnto this woful yong wyght
This sharp swerde to hyr  [...]e took
Wherof that al her bodye quook
For wel she wyste what it ment
And that it was to thylke entent
That she hyr seluen shold sle
And to the knyght she sayd ye
Now that I wote my fadres wylle
That I shal in this wyse spylle
I wol [...]o [...]eye me ther to
And as he wol it shal  [...]e  [...]
But now this thyng▪ may be none other /
I wol a letter vnto my broder
[Page]Soo as my feble hand may wryte
With al my wofull hert endyte
She took a penne on honde tho
Fro poynt to poynt & al the wo
As ferforth as hyr self it wote
Vnto hyr dedely frend she wrote
And told how that hyr fadre grace
She myght for no thyng purchace
And ouer that as thou shalt here
She wrote & sayd in this manere
O thou my sorowe & my gladnes
O thou my hele & my sekenesse
O thou my wanhope & my trust
O thou my dysese & al my lust
O thou my wele O thou my woo
O thou my frend O thou my foo
O thou my lone O thou my hate
For the more I be dede algate
Thylk deth maye I not asterte
And with al myn hole herte
Whyst that me lasteth ony birth
I wol the loue in to my deth
But of oo thyng I shal the preye
If that my lytel son deye
 [...]ete hym be buryed in my graue
Besyde me so shalt thou haue
Vpon vs both remembraunce
For thus it stondeth of my grenaunce
Now at this tyme as thou shalt wite
With  [...] & with ynke wryte
This letter I haue in car [...] cold
In my ryght hond my penne I hold
And in my left my swerd I kepe
And in my barme ther lyeth to wepe
Thy child & myn whiche sobbeth faste
Now am I come vnto my laste
Fare wel for I shal sone dye
And thynke how I thy loue abye
The pomel of the swerd to gronnd
She set & with the poynt a wound
Thorugh out hyr hert anone she made
And fo [...]th with that al pale & fade
She felle doune dede fro ther she stood
The child lay bathend in her blood
Out rolled fro the modre barme
And for the blood was h [...]te & warme
He basked hym aboute therin
There was no bote for to wynne
For whiche he  [...]an no pyte knowe
The kyng cam in the same throwe
And sawe how that his doughter dyed
And how this baby al blody cryed
But al that myght hym not suffyse
That he ne bad to do  [...]uyse
Vpon the child & bere hym oute
And seche in the fo [...]st aboute
So in wylde place that it were
To cast hym oute of honde there
So that som beste hym may deuou [...]
Where as no man hym shall socoure
Al that he  [...]ad was done in dede
A who herd euer synge o [...] rede
Of suche a thyng as tho was done
But he whiche lad his wrath s [...]ne
Hath knowe of loue but a lyte
But for al that he was to wyte
Thorugh his sodeyn melanoolye
To do so grete a felonye

For thy my sone how so it stond
By this caas thou myght vnderston [...]
That yf thou euer in cause of loue
Shal dem [...] & thou be so aboue
That thou myght lede it at thy wylle
Lete neuer thorugh thy wrath spylle
Whiche enery kynde shold saue
For it syt euery man to haue
Reward to loue & to his myght
Ayenst whos streugthe may no wyght
And syth an herte is so streyned
That reddour ought to be restreyned
To hym that may bet aweye
When he mote to nature obeye
For it is sayd thus oueral
That nedes mote that nedes shal
Of that a lyf doth after kynde
Wherof he may no bote fynde▪
That nature bath set in her lawe
There may no mās myght withdrawe
And who that wor [...]heth there ayen [...]
Ful oftyme it hath  [...]e seyne
There hath byfalle grete vengeaunce
Wherof I fynde a remembraunce

[Page liiij]h Ic narrat qualiter Tiresias in quodam mōte duos serpentes in uenit parite [...] commiscentes quos cum virga percussit▪ [...]ati dij ob hoc (quam) naturam imped [...]uit ipsum contra naturam forma virili in muliebrem transm [...]tarunt

oVyde after the tyme tho
Tolde ensample & sayd soo
How that whilom Tiresias
As he was walkend goth par cas
Vpon an hyghe Mounteyn he syghe
Two serpentes in his weye nyghe
And they so as nature hem taught
Assembled were & he tho caught
A yerde whiche he bare on honde
And thought that he wold fonde
To letten hem & smote hem bothe
Wherof the goddes weren wrothe
And for he hath dystourbed kynde
And was so to nature vnkynde
Vnkyndelyche he was transformed
That he whiche erst a mā was formed
In to a woman was for shape
That was to hym an angry iape
But for that he with angyr wrought
Hys angyr angerlyche he bought

Lo thus my sone Ouyde hath wryte
Wherof thou myght by reson wyte
More is a man than suche a best
So myght it neuer ben honest
A man to wrathen hym to sore
Of that another doth the lore
Of kynde of whiche is no maly [...]
But only this is a vy [...]
And though a man be resonable
Yet after kynde he is m [...]uable
To loue where he wol or none
Thynke thou my sone therupone
And do melanoolye aweye
For loue hath his lust to pleye
A [...] he whiche wold no lyf greue

Amans

My f [...]dre that I may wel byleue
And that ye telle it is skylle
Lete euery man loue as he wylle
Be so it be not my lady
For I shal not be wroth ther by
But that I wrath & fare amys
Alone vpon my self it is
That with bothe loue & kynde
I am soo bestad that I can fynde
No wey how it may asterte
Whiche stant vpon myn owne hert [...]
And toucheth to none other lyf
Sauf only to that swete wyf
For whome but yf it be amended
My glad / dayes ben dispended
That I my self shal not forbere
The wrathe whiche I now bere
For there is none other lyche
Nowa [...]e forth I yow byseche
Of wrathe yf ther ought e [...]es is
Wherof to shryue Sone yis

[...] [...]a mouet [...]tem que lingue frena resoluens / Laxa per infam [...]s [...]rrit vbi (quam) vias / Rixarum nutrix quo [...] educat ista loquaces / Hos venus a latere linquit habere vagos / Sed pacient [...]r agens taciturno qui delet ore / Vincit & optati carpit amoris iter /

hIc tractat Confessor super secunda specie [...]re / que Lis dicitur / [...] cuius comtumefijs innumerosa do [...]orū occasio tam in ainoris causa [...]m̄ a [...]ter in (quam)pluribus sepissime exorta est

oF wrathe. the second is cheste
Which hath the wyndes of tēpest
To kepe & many a sodeyne blast
He bloweth wherof ben agast
That they that desyre pees & reste
He is that ylke vngoodlyeste
Whiche many a lusty hath twynned
For euer he bereth his mouth vnpyn­ned!
So that his lyppes ben vnloke
And his courage is al to broke
That euery thyng which he couth telle
[Page]It spryngeth vp as deth a welle
Whiche may no mā of his stumes hide
But renneth ou [...] on euery syde
So boylen vp the foule sawes
That chest wote of his felawes
For as a Syue kepeth Ale
Ryght so can chest kepe a tale
Al that he wote he wol dys [...]lose
And speke or ony man oppose
As a cyte withoute walle
Where men may go oute oueralle
Withoute ony resystence
So with his croked eloquence
He speketh al that he wote withynne
Wherof men lese more than wynne
For oftyme of his chydyng
He bryngeth to hous suche tydyng
That maketh werre at beddes hede
It is the leueyn of the brede
Whiche soureth al the past aboute
Men ought wel suche oue to doute
For euer his bo we is redy bent
And whome he hyt I telle hym shent
If he maye perce hym with his tonge
And e [...]e so loude his belle is ronge
That of the noyse & of the soune
Men feren him in al the Towne
Wel more than they done of thonder
For that is cause of more wondre
For with ye wyndes which he bloweth
Ful of [...] syth he ouerthroweth
The Cytees & the polycye
That I baue herd the peple crye
And echone sayd in his degre
Ha wykked tonge woo the be
Men sayn that the hard bone
Al though hym self haue none
A tonge breketh al to pyeces
He hath so many sondry spy [...]s
Of vyces that I may not wel
Desc [...]yue hem by a thousand dele
But when that he to cheste falleth
Ful many a wondre thyng byfalleth
For he ne can no thyng forbere
Now t [...]lle my sone of thyn ansuere
If it hath euer so be [...]yd
That thou at ony tyme hast chyd
Tothard thy loue Fader naye
Suche chest yet vnto this daye
Ne made I neuer god forbede
For er I syng suche a crede
I had le [...]er to be lewed
For than were I al beshrewed
And worthy to be put a bak
With al the sorowe vpon my bak
That ony man ordeyne couthe
But I spak neuer yet by mouthe
That vnto chest myght touche
And that I durst ryght wel vouche
Vpon hyr self as for wytnes
For I wote of hyr gentylnes
That she me wold wel excuse
That I no suche thynges vse
And yf it shold so betyde
That I algates must chyde
It myght not be to my loue
For so yet neuer was I aboue
For al this wyde world to wynne
That I durst ony word begynne
By which she myght haue be amoued
And I of cheste also reproued
But rather yf it myght hyr lyke
The best wordes wold I pyke
Whiche I couthe in myn hert chese
And serue hem forth in stede of chose
For that is helpelyche to defye
And wold my wordes plye
That myght wrath in chest auale
With tellyng of my softe tale
Thus dar I make a forward
That neuer vnto my lady ward
Yet spak I word in suche a wyse
Wherof chest sh [...]ld aryse
Thuo say I not that I ful ofte
N [...] haue when I spak most softe
Parcas sayd more than ynough
But so wel halt no man the plough
That he ne balketh other whyle
N [...] so wel can no man affyle
His tonge that somtyme in ia [...]
Hym may som lyght word ouerscape
And yet ne meneth he no ch [...]ste
[Page lv]But then I haue ay [...] hyr hest
Ful ofte spoke I am byknowe
That hou my wylle i [...] that ye knowe
For when my tyme cometh aboute
That I dar speke & say al oute
My long loue of whiche she wote
That neuer in one alyche hote
Me greueth than al my dysese
I telle & though it  [...]er dysplese
I speke it forth & nought ne leue
And though it bebesyde hyr leue
I hope & trowe netheles
That I do not ayene the pees
For though I telle hyr al my thouȝt
She wote wel that I chyde nought
Men maye the hyghe god byseche
And he wol here a mans speche
And be not wroth of that he seyth
So yeueth it me the more seyth
And maketh me hardy s [...]th to sey
That I dar wel the better  [...]y
My lady whiche a woman is
For though that I telle her yt ther is
Of loue whiche me greueth sore
Hyr ought not be wroth therfore
For I withoute noyse or crye
My playnt make al buxoml [...]
To putten al wrath away
Thus dar I say vnto this day
Of cheste in ernest or in game
My lady shal no thyng blame
But oftyme it hath be tyd
That with my seluen I haue chid
That no man couthe better chyde
And that ben at euery tyde
When I  [...]m to my selue allone
Forthan I made a preuy mon [...]
And euery tale by & by
Whiche as spake to my lady
I thenke & p [...]yse in my balaunce
And drawe in to my remembraunce
And than yf that I fynde a lak
Of ony word that I myspak
Whiche was to moche in ony wyse
Anone [...] my wyttes I despyse
And maste a chydyng in myn herte
That ony word me shold asterte
Whiche as I shold haue holden ynne
And so after I begynne
And yf ther was elles ought
To speke & I spak it nought
And yf I may seche & fynde
That ony word be l [...]t behynde
Whiche I shold more haue spoke
I wold vpon my self be wroke
And chyde with my self so
That al my wyt is ouer goo
For noo man maye his tyme lor [...]
Recouer & thus I am therfore
So ouer wroth in my thouyht
That I my self chyde al to nought
Thus for to moche or for to lyte
Ful ofte I am my self to wyte
But al that may me not auayle
With cheste though I me trauayle
But oule on stok & stok on oule
Tho more that a man defoule
Men wote wel whiche hath the werse
And so to me nys worth a  [...]erse
But torneth vnto myn  [...]wne heede
Though that I telle that I were deede
Wold euer chyde in suche a wyfe
Of loue as I to yow deuyse
But fadre ye haue al herd
In this manere how I haue ferd
Of cheste & of dyssencyon
Yeue me your absolucyon

Confessor

My sone yf thou wystest al
That cheste doth in specyal
To loue & to his welwyllyng
Thou woldest fleen his knowlechyng
For who that most can speke fayre
And lerne to be debonayre
Is most acordynge vnto loue
Fayre speche hath ofte brought aboue
Ful many a man as it is knowe
Whiche elles shold haue be ryght lowe
And fayled mochel of / his wylle
For thy hold thy tonge stylle
And lete thy witte thy wille r [...]ste
So that thou falle not in cheste
[Page]Whiche is the soure of grete dystasice
And taste in to thy remembraunce
If thou myght ge [...]e pacyence
Whiche is the seche of al offence
As tellen vs the old wyse
For when nought elles may suffyse
By strengthe ne by mans wyt
Then pacyence is ouer syt
And ouer cometh at the laste
But he maye nen [...] long sast
Whiche wol not bowe or that he brek [...]
Take hede sone of that I speke
My fadre of your goodly speche
And of the wytte whiche ye me teche
I thanke yow with al myn hole hert
For that world shal me neuer astert
That I ne shal your wordes holde
Of pacyence as ye me tolde
As ferforth as myn hert thynketh
And of my wrath it me forthynketh
But fadre yf ye forth with al
Somme good ensample in specyal
Me wolden telle in som C [...]nyste
It shold wel myn hert lyke
Of pacyence for to he [...]
So that I myght in my matere
The more vnto my loue obeye
And putten my dysese aweye

[...]Ic ponit Confessor exemplum de paciencia in amore contra [...]tem habenda / Et narrat qualiter vxor Socratis ipsum quodam die multis sermonibus [...]tigauit / Sed cum ipse abs [...] [...]lla responsione omnia probra pacienter sustulit indignat [...] vxor qm̄dam ydriam plenam aque quam in manu tenebat super caput viri sui subito effudit dicens E [...]gila & loquere, qui respondens tune ait. O bere iam scio & expertus sum (quam) post ventorum rabiem sequuntur vmbres / Et isto modo litis contumeliam sua paciencia deuicit

mY sone a man to bye hym pees
Behoueth suffre as Socrates
Ensample left whiche is wryte
And for thou shalt the soth wy [...]e
Of this ensample that I mene
Al though it be now lytel sene
Among the men thylk euydence
Yet he was vpon pacyence
So set that hym self to assay
In thyng whiche myȝt hym moste
myspay, Desyred & a wykked wyf
He wedded whiche in sorowe & stry [...]
Agaynst his easee was contrayre
But he spak euer softe & fayre
Tyl it byfelle as it is tolde
In wynter when the day is colde
This wyf was fro the welle come
Where that a pot with water nome
She hath &  [...]ought it in to howse
And sawe how hat there sely spouse
Was set & loked on a book
Nygh to the fyre as he whiche  [...]
His ease as for a man of age
And she bygan the wood  [...]ge
And axeth him what deuel he thoug [...]
And bare on hond that hym ne  [...]
What labour she took on honde
And sayth that suche an husbonde
Was to a wyf not worth a stre
He sayd nother nay ne ye
But helde hym stylle & le [...]e hyr  [...]
As she whiche may hyr self not hyde
Bygan within for to swelle
And that brought in fro the welle
The water pot she  [...]ent▪ a [...]f [...]
And badde hym speke & le al softe
Sat stylle & no word ansuerd
And she was wroth that  [...]e so ford
And axrth hym yf he be dede
And al the water on his hede
She poured oute & bad hym wake
But he whiche wol not forsake
His pacyence than fpa [...]
And sayde how he fond no last
In no thyng whiche she had do
For it was wynter tyme th [...]
[Page lvj]And wynter as by wey of kynde
Whiche stormy is as men may fynde
Fyrst maketh the wyndes for to blow
And after that within a throwe
He tryneth & the water gates
 [...]ondoth & thus my wyf algates
Whiche is with reson wel beseyn
Hath made me both wynde & wyn
After the season of the yere
And than he set hym ner the fyre
And as he myght his clothes dryed
That he no more no word ne seyd
Wherof he gat hym somdele reste
For that hym thought was for the best

I not of thylk ensample yet
Acordeth with a mans wyt
To suffre as Socrates dede
And yf it fal in ony seede
A man to  [...]ese so his galle
Hym ought among the women alle
In loues court by Iugement
The name bere of pacyent
To yeue ensample to the good
Of pacyence how that it stood
That other men it myght knowe

And sone yf thou at ony throwe
Be tempted ayenst pacyence
Take hede vpon this euydence
It shal par was the lesse greue

My fadre so as I byleue
Of that shal be no maner nede
For I wol take so good hede
That er I falle in suche assay
I thynke▪ esche we yf that I may
But yf ther be ought elles more
Wherof I myght take lore
I pray yow so as I dare
Now telle that I may beware
Somme other tale of this matere

Sone it is euer good to lere
Wherof thou myght thy word restreyne
Er that thou falle in ony peyne
For who that no counseyl can hyde
He may not fayle of wo besyde
Whiche shal byfalle or he it wy [...]
As I fynde in the bokes wryte

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum ꝙ de alterius lite intromittere cauen dū est / Et narrat qualiter Iupiter cum Iunone super quadam questi one litigabat / videlicet vtrum vir ān mulier in amous concupiscencia feruē cius ardebat super quo Tiresiam eorum Iudicem constituebant / Et quia ille contra Iunonem in dicte litis causa sm̄aȝ diffiniuit irata ipsorum amborum oculorum lumine claritatis abs (que) remis sione priuauit

yEt cam ther neuer good of seryf
To seche in al a mans lyf
Though it begynne on pure game
Ful ofte it torneth in to grame
And doth greuaunce on som syde
Wherof the grete clerk Ouyde
After the lawe whiche was tho
Of Iupyter & of Iuno
Maketh in his bokes mencion
How they felle at dyssencyon
In maner as it were a boorde
As they bygonne for the woorde
Among hem self in pryuete
And that was vpon this degre
Whiche of the two more amorous is
Or man or wyf / & vpon this
They myght not acorde in to one
And took a Iuge therupon
Whiche cleped is Tyresyas
And bad hym deme in the caas
And he withoute auysement
Ayene Iuno gaf Iugement
The goddesse▪ vpon this ansuere
Was wrothe & wold not forbere
But took a wey for euermo
The lyght from both his eyen two
When Iupiter this hurt hath sene
Another benefete ther ayene
He yafe & suche a grace hym doth
That for he wyst he sayd soth
A soth sayer he was for euer
But yet that other had leuer
Haue had the lokyng of his eye
[Page]Than of his word the prophecye
But how so that the soth ment
Strxfe was the cause of that he hent
So grete a peyne bodely

My sone be thou ware ther by
And hold thy ton [...] stylle cloos
For who that hath his word dyscloos
Or he wote what they mene
He is ful ofte nyhe his tene
And leseth ful many tyme grace
Where that he wold his thāk purchace
And ouer this my sone▪ dere
Of other men yf thou myght here
In pryuyte what they haue wrouȝt
Holde counseyle & dyscouer it nought
For cheste can no counseyl hele
Or be it wo or be it wele
And take a tale into thy mynde
The whiche of old ensample I fynde

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum centra illos qui in amoris causa al [...]us consilium reuelare presumunt Et narrat qualiter quedam auis tunc albissima nomine Coruus Consilium [...]mine sue Cornide Phebo denudauit / [...]onde contigit non solum ipsam Cor [...]dem interfeci / sed et Coruum qui an t [...]a tam (quam) my albus fuit in piceum colorem pro perpetuo transmutari

pHebꝰ whiche maketh yt dayes lyght /
A loue he had whiche tho hyȝt / 
Cornide which aboue hem alle
He pleseth but what shal be­falle
Of loue ther is nomā yt knoweth
But as fortune hyr happes thro weth
So it byfel vpon a chaunce
A yong knyght to her acqueyntaunce
And had of her what he wolde
But a fals byrd whiche she hath holde
And kept in chambre of pu [...] youthe
D [...]scoueryth al that euer he couthe
The byrdes name was as tho
Coruus whiche was than also
Wel more whyte than ony swan
And he that shrewe al that he can
Of his lady to Phebus sayde
And for wrath his swerd oute braide
The whiche Cornyde anone be slough
But after hym was woo ynough
And took ful grete repentaunce
Wherof in token & in remembraunce
Of hem whiche vsed wycked speche
Vpon this byrd he toke his wreche
That there he was snowe whyte to fore
Euer afterward cole black therfore
He was transformed as it she weth
And many a man yet hym beshre weth
And clepen hym in to this day
A Rauen yet by whome men may
Take euydence when he cryeth
That som myshap it▪ sygnyfyeth
Beware therfore & say the best
If thou wolt be thy self in rest
My good sone as I the rede

hIc loquitur super eodem Et nar rat qualiter Laar Nimpha de eo ꝙ Iupiter Iuturnam adulterauit [...]unoni Iouis vxori secretnm reuelauit Quapropter Iupiter ira commotus lin gua Laaris prius abscisa ipsam post [...]a in profundum Acherontis exulem ꝓ perpetuo man [...]pauit

For in another place I rede
Of thylk Nymphe whiche Laar hyght
For she the pryuete by nyght
How Iupyter lay by Iuturne
Hath told / god made  [...]yr ouertorne
Hyr tonge he cut & hyr in to helle
For euer he send there for to duelle
As she that was not worthy here
To ben of loue a [...] Chamberere
For she no counseyl couthe hele
And suche a dayes be now fele
In loues court as it is seyd
That lete her tonges gone vnteyd
[Page lvij]My sone be thou none of tho
To li [...]ngle & telle tales soo
And namely that thou ne chyde
For cheste can no counseyl hyde
For wrath said neuer wele
My fadre soth is euery dele
That ye me teche & I wol holde
The reule whiche I am holde
To▪ flee the chest as ye me byd
For wel is hym that neuer chyd
Now telle me forth yf ther be more
As touchyng vnto wrathes lore

Demoui [...] est odium quasi scrib [...] cui dabit ira / M [...]teriam scripti cordis ad antra sui / Non laxa [...]it amor odij que frena restringunt / Nec secreta sui iuris adire sciuit /

Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie ire que odium dicitur cuius natura om̄s ire inimicicias ad mentem reducēs illas vs (que) ad tempꝰ vindicte velut scriba demonis in cordis pappiro commemorandas inserit

oF wrathe yet there is another
Whiche is to chest his owne broder / 
And is by name cle­ped hate /
That suffceth not within his gate / 
That there cam other loue or pes
For he wol make no reles
Of no debate whiche is byfalle
Now speke yf thou art one of alle
That with the vyce hast be witholde
And  [...]yet for ought that ye me tolde

My fadre I not what it is
In good feyth sone I too we yis
My fadre nay but ye me leue
Now lest my sone & thou shalt here

Ha [...] is a wrath not shewend
But of loug tyme gaderend
And duelleth in the hert loken
Tyl he see tyme to be wroken
And than he sheweth his tempest
More sodeyn than the wylde best
Whiche wote no thyng what mercy is
My sone art thou knowen of this
My good fadee as I wene
Now wote I sonidele what ye mene
But I dare saufly make an othe
My lady was me neuer loth
I wol not swere netheles
That I of hate am gylteles
For when I to my lady plye
Fro day to day & mercy crye
And she no mercy on me leyth
But shrote wordes to me seyth
Though I my lady loue algate
Tho wordes mote I nedes hate
And wold they were al dyspent
Or so fer oute of londe went
That I hereafter shold hem not here
And yet loue I my lady dere
Thus is there hate as ye may see
Bytwene my lady word & me
The word I hate & hyr I loue
What so shal me betyde of loue
But forthermore I wol me shryue
That I haue hated al my lyue
These ianglers whiche of her enuye
Ben euer redy for to lye
For with her fals compassement
Ful often they haue made me shent
And hyndred me ful oftyme
When they no canse wyste  [...]yme
But onlyche of hyr owne thought
And thus ful ofte haue I bought
The lye & dranke not of the wyn
I wold her happe were suche as myn
For how so that I be now shryue
Them ne may I not foryeue
Tyl that I see them at debate
With loue & than myn estate
They myghten by her owne deme
And loke how wel it shold hem queme
To hyndre a man that loueth sore
And thus I hate hem euermore
Tyf loue on hem wol do his wreche
For that I shal al [...]cy byseche
Vnto the myghty Cupydo
[Page]That he so moche wolde doo
So as he is of loue a god
To smy [...] with the same rod
With whiche I am of loue smyten
So that they myght knowe & wyten
How hyndryng is a woful peyne
To hym that loue wold at [...]yn [...]
Thus euer on hem I wayte & hope
Tyl I may seen hem lepe a lope
And halten on the same sore
Whiche I do now for euermore
I wold than do my myght
So for to stonden in her lyght
That they ne sholden haue aweye
To that they wolden put aweye▪
I wold hem put oute of the st [...]de
Fro loue ryght as they me dede
With that they spoke of me by mouth
So wold I do yf that I  [...]uth
Of hem & this so god me saue
Is al the hate that I haue
Toward the Ianglers euery dele
I wold al other ferd wele
Thus haue I fader sayd my wylle
Saye forth now for I am stylle

My sone of that thou hast me sayd
I hold me nought fully payd
That thou wolt hat [...]n ony man
To that acorden I ne can
Though he haue hyndred to fore
But this I telle the therfore
Thou myght vpon my benyson
Wel haten the condycyon
Of tho Ianglers as thou me toldest
But forthermore yf that thou woldest
Hem hyndre in ony other wyse
Suche ha [...] is euer to despyse
For thy my sone I wold the rede
That thou drawe in by frendelyhede
That thou ne myght not do by hate
So myght thou gete loue algate
And set the my sone in rest
For thou shalt fynde it for the best
And ouer this so as I dare
I  [...]d [...] that thou be ryght ware
Of other mens ha [...] aboute
Whiche euery wyse man shold doute
For hate is euer vpon a wayte
And as the fyssher on his bayte
Sleeth when he seeth the fysshes fast [...]
So when he seeth tyme at the last
That he may worche an other woo
Shal no man torne hym ther fro
That hate nyl his felonye
Fulfylle & feyne companye
Yet netheles for fal [...] semblaunt
Is toward hym of couenaunt
Witholde so that vnder bothe
The preuy wrath can hym clothe
That he shal seme a grete byleue
But ware the wel that thou ne loue
Al that thou seest afore thyn eye
So as the Gregoys whylome syghe
The book of Troye who so  [...]de
There maye he fyude ensample in dede

hIc ponit Confesso: exemplum [...]ō tra illos qui cum ire sue odiū aꝑte vindicare non possint ficta dissimu [...]acione vindictam subdole assequentur Et narrat ꝙ cum Palamides princep [...] Grecorum in obsidione Troye a quibus dam suis Emulis proditorie interfectꝰ fuisset / pater (que) suus Rex Namplus in patria sua tun [...] existens huiusmodi euentus certitudinem sci [...]usset grecos in sui cordis odium super omnia r [...]llegit / vnde contigit ꝙ cum greci deuicta Troia per altum mare versus Greciam nauigio remeantes obscurissimo noctis tempore nimia ventorum tempestate iac tabantur Rex Namplus in terra sua contra litus maris vbi m [...]ioca saxorū [...]minebant pericula super cacumina mō cium grandissimos noctanter fecit ignes / quos greci aspicientes saluum po [...] tum ibidem inuenire certissime putabant Et terram approxim [...]ntes diru [...] [...]is nauibus magna pars grecorum [...] riclitabatur

[Page lviij]
sOne after the destructyon
When troye was al bete doun
And slayn was  [...]amꝰ ye king
The gregoys whiche of al this thyng
Ben cause tornen home ageyn
There may no man his hop wythseyn
It hath ben seen & felt ful ofte
The hard tyme after the softe
By see forth as they homeward went
A rage of grete tempest hem hent
Iuno lete bende her party bowe
The s [...]y was derk ye wynd gan blowe
The fyry welken bygan to thonder
As though ye world shold al a sonder
From heuen oute of the water gates
The reyny storme fel doune algates
And al her tacle made vnwelde
That noman myght hym selfbyheld [...]
There may men here shipmen crye
That stood in aunter for to dye
He that behynde sat to stere
May not the for sterne here
The ship arose ageyne the wawes
The lodesman hath lost his lawes
The see on bete on euery syde
They nysten what fortune abyde
But setten hem al at goddes wylle
Where he wold hem self saue or spylle
And thylk tyme felle thus
There was a kyng whiche Namplus
Was hote & he a sone had
At Troye whiche the gregoys  [...]ad
As he that was made prynce of alle
Tyl that fortune lete hym falle
His name was palamydes
But thorugh an hate netheles
Of somme of hem his deth was caste
And he by treson ouer caste
His fadee when he herd it telle
He swore yf euer his tyme felle
He wold hym venge yf that he myght
And therto his auowe he hyght
And thus this kyng thurgh preuy
hate / Abode vpon a wayte algate
For he was not of suche empryse
To auengyn hym in open wyse
The fame which goth wyde where
Maketh knowe how yt ye gregois were
Home with al her felaushyp
Fro Troye vpon the see by shyp
Namplus when he this vnderstood
And knewe the tydes of the flood
And sawe the wynd blowe to the lond
A grete deceypt anone he fonde
Of preuy hate as thou shalt here
Wherof I telle al this matere
This kyng the weder he gan beholde
And wyst wel that they moten holde
Her cours endelong the marche ryght
Aud made vpon the derk nyght
Of grete shydes & of blokkes
Gre [...] fyre ageyne the grete rokkes
To shewe vpon the hylles hyghe
So that the flete of grece it syghe
So it fel ryght as he thought
This flete whiche an hauen sought
Tho bryght fyres sawe a ferre
Aud they hem drawen ner & nerre
And wyste wel & vnderstood
How al that fyre was made for good
To shewe where men shold aryue
And thyderward they hasten blyue
And in semblaūt as men seyn is gyle
And that was proued thylk whyle
The ship which wēd hym self accroche
Droof al to pyeces on the roche
And so deden ten or twelue
There myght no man helpe hym selue
For there they wenden deth escape
Withouten help her deth was shape
Thus they that comen fyrst to fore
Vpon the Rokkes ben forlore
But thurgh noyse & theyr cry
The other were al ware therby
And whan they began to rowe
Tho myght they the soth kuowe
That where they wende frendes fynde
They fonde frendship al behynde
The lond was than sone weyued
Where that they hadden be de [...]eyued
And took hem to the hyghe see
Therto they sayden alle ye
[Page]Fro that day forth where they were
Of that they haue assayed there

My sone wherof thou myght auyse
How fraude stant in many wyse
Among hem that gyle thynke
There is no s [...]ryueyne with his ynke
Whiche half the fraude wryte can
That stant in suche a maner man
For thy the wyse men ne demen
That thynges after that they semen
But after that they knowe & fynde
The myrrour sheweth in his kynde
As hath al the word withynne
And is in sothe no thyng withynne
And so fareth hate for a throwe
Tyl a man hath ouerthrowe
Shal no man knowe by his chere
Whiche is auaunt & whiche is ar [...]re
For thy my sone thynke on this

Confessor

My fadre so I wol Iwys
And yf there more of wrathe be
Now axe for charyte
As y [...] by your bokes knowe
And I the soth shal be knowe

hIc cohiberr nequit manum & sic spē [...]ius / Naribus hic populo se timendus erit / Sepius in luctum venꝰ & sua gaudia transf [...]rt / Cum (que) suis [...]mus talis amicus adest / Est amor pl [...]xu non vti (que) alliciendꝰ / Fraudis [...] impetuosa manus▪

hIc tractat Confessor super quar [...] q [...]unta specie Ire / que Impetu ositas & homicidium dicuntur▪ sed primo de impetuositate specialiter intendit [...]ius natura spm̄ in naribus gestando ad omnes ire meciones in vindicta parata pacienciā nullatenus obseruat

mY sone thou shalt vnderstonde
That yet to ward wrath stonde
Of dedely vyces other two
And for to telle her names so
It is conte [...] & homicide
That be to geder on euery syde
Contake so as the bokes seyn
Foolhast hath to his chamberleyn
Whoos counseyl al vnauysed
Is pacyence most despysed
Tyl homycyde with hym mete
Fro mercy they be al vnmete
And thus be they the worst of alle
Of hem whiche vnto wrath falle
In dede bothe & eke in thought
For they acompten theyr wrath nouȝt
But yf ther be shedyng of blood
And thus lyche a best wode
They knowen not the good of lyf
Be so they haue other swerd or knyf
Hyr dedely wrath for to wreke
Of pyte lyst hem not to speke
None other reason they ne songe
But that they haue mygh [...]o stronge
But ware hym wel in other place
Where euery man behoueth grace
But there I trowe it shal hym fayle
To whome no mercy myght auayle
But wron  [...]hten vpon Tyrannye
That no pyte myght hem plye

Now telle my sone / my fader what

If thou hast be culpable of that

My fadre nay cryst me forbede
I speke only for the dede
Of whiche I was neuer culpable
With no cause resonable
But this is not to my matere
Of shryfte why we sytten here
For we be set to shryue of loue
As we begonne fyrst aboue
And netheles I am beknowe
That as touchend of loues throwe
Whan my wyttes ouer wende
Myn hertes contek hath none ende
But euer stant vpon debate
To grete dysese of myn estate
As for the tyme that it lasteth
For when my fortune ouercasteth
[Page lix]Hyr whele & is to me so straunge
And I see she wol not chaunge
Than cast I al the world aboute
And thynke how I at home in doute
Haue al my tyme in veyne fpended
And see not how to be amended
But rather for to be empeyred
As he that is wel nyhe despeyred
For I ne may no thank deserue
And euer I loue & euer I serue
And euer I am a lyche nere
Thus for I stonde in suche a were
I am as who sayth oute of herre
And thus vpon my self I werre
I brynge & put oute al pees
That I fulofte in such a rees
Am wery of myn owne lyf
So that of contek & of stryf
I am byknowe & haue ansuerd
As ye my fadre now haue herd
Myn hert is wonderly begone
Whiche counseyl wherof wyt [...]e is one
Whiche hath reson in companye
I agayn whiche stand partye
Wylle whiche hath hope at acord
And thus these bryngen vp dyscord
Wytte & reson counseylen ofte
That myn herte shold softe
And that I shold wel renue
And put out of retenue
Or  [...]lles holde hym vnder fote
For as they seyne yf that he mote
His owne reule haue vpon honde
There shal no wytte be vnderstonde
Of hope & so they tellen this
That ouer al where that he is
He set the hert in champartye
With wysshyng & with fantasye
And is not tr [...]we of that he seyth
So that in hym there is no feyth
Thus with reson & wyt auysed
Is wyt & hope al day despysed
Reson sayth that I sholde leue
To loue where there is no leue
To spede & wyll sayth ag [...]yn
That suche an hert is to vyleyn
Whiche dar not leue tyl that he spede
Lat hope serue at suche a nede
He seyth eke where an hert syt
Al gouerned after wyt
He hath his lyues lust for lore
Aud thus myn hert is al to  [...]re
Of suche a con [...]ck as they make
But yet I may not wel forsake
That he nys mayster of my thought
Or that I spede or speke nought
Thou dost my sone ageynst the ryght
But loue is of so grete myght
His lawe may noo man refuse
So myght thou the better excuse
And netheles thou shalt be lerned
That wyl shold be gouerned
Of reson more than of kynde
Wherof a tale wryte I fynde

hIc ponit Cōsessoz Exēplū ꝙ oīs Impetuosa volūtas sit discrecionis moderamine gubernanda / Et narrat qua [...]ter Dyogenes qui motus sui ammiracione subiugauerat Regem alexandrum sub isto facto sibi opponente plenins informauit

a Phylosopher whylome men told
That whylome by dayes old
And Dyogenes than he hyght
So old he was that he ne myght
The worldes trauayll & for the best
He shope for to take his rest
And duellyth at home in suche a wyse
That nyhe his hous he lete deuyse
Endelong vp an extre
To set a Tonne in suche degre
He it myght torne about
Wherof an ende was taken out
For therin sytte he shold
And torne hym self as he wold
And take the eyer & see the heuene
And deme of the planetes seuene
As he whiche couthe moche what
And thus ful ofte there he sat
To muse in his philosophye
[Page]Sool withoute companye
So that vpon a morow tyde
A thyng whiche shold so betyde
When he was set where hym lyst
To loke vpon the sonne vpryst
Wherof the propyrtees he syghe
It felle there cam rydynge nyghe
Kyng Alysander with a route
And as he cast his eye aboute
He sawe this Tonne & what it ment
He wold wyte & thyder sent
A knyght by whome he myght know
And he hym self that ylke throwe
Abode & houeth ther stylle
This knyght after the kynges wylle
With spore made his hors to gone
And to the Tonne he cam anone
Where that he fond a man of age
And to hym told the message
Suche as ye kyng hym had bede
And axeth within thylk stede
The Tonne stood & what it was
And he whiche vnderstood the cas
Sat stylle & spak no word ageyne
The knyght bad speke & sayd vyleyne
Thou shalt me telle or that I goo
It is thy kyng which axeth soo
My kyng quod he that were vnryght
What is he than sayd the knyght
Is he thy man that say I nought
Quod he but as I am bythought
My mannes man how that he is
Thou lyest fals chorl Iwys
The knyȝt hym said & was ryȝt wroth
And to the kyng ayene he goth
And told hym how this man ansuerd
The kyng when he this tale herd
Bad that they shold alle abyde
For he hym self wold thyder ryde
And when he cam to fore the Tonne
He hath this tale thus bygonne
Al heyl he seyth what man art thou
Quod he suche one as thou seest now
The kynge whiche had wordes wyse
His age wold not despyse
But sayth fadre I the praye
That thou wolt me the cause saye
How that I am thy mans man
Syre kyng quod he that I can
Yf thou wylt / yes seyth the kyng
Quod he this is the soth thyng
Syth I fyrst reason vnderstood
And knewe that was euyll & good
The wyl whiche of my body moueth
Whos werkes that the god reproueth
I haue restreyned euer more
As hym that stant vnder the lore
Of reson whos subiect he is
So that he may not do amys
And thus by weye of couenaunt
Wyll is my man & my seruaunt
And euer hath be & euer shal
And wyl is thy pryncipal
And the lordship of thy wyt
So that thou couthest neuer yet
Take a day rest of thy laboure
But for to be a Conqueroure
Of worldes good whiche may not last
Thou hyghest euer a lyche fast
Where thou no reason hast to wynne
Thus thy wylle is cause of synne
And is thy lord to whome thou seruest
Wherof thou lytel thank deseruest
The kyng of yt he thus ansuerd
Was no thyng wroth but when he herd
The hyghe wordes whiche he sayde
With gooodly wordes thus he prayde
That he hym wold telle his name
I am quod be thylk same
Whiche men Dyogenes calle
Tho was ye kyng ryght glad with alle
For he had herd ofte to fore
What man he was so that therfore
He sayde O wyse Dyogene
Now shal thy grete wyt be sene
For thou shalt of my yefte haue
What worldes good that yu wolt craue
Quod he than houe out of my sonne
And lete it shyne in to my Tonne
For thou bynemest me thylk yifte
Which lyeth not in thy myȝt to shyfte
None other good of the me nedeth
[Page lx]The kyng whome euery coūtrey dredeth

Lo thus he was enformed there
Wherof my sone thou myght lere
How that thy wylle shal not beleued
Where it is of no wyt releued
And thou hast sayd thy self or this
How there thy wyl thy mayster is
Thorugh whiche thyn hertes thought
within / Is euer of contak to begynne
So that it is gretely to drede
That it no homycyde brede
For loue is of a wondre kynde
And hath his wyttes ofte blynde
That they fro mannes reason falle
But whan that it is so byfalle
That wylle shal the courage lede
In loues cause it is to drede
Wherof I fynde ensample wryte
Whiche is behouely for to wyte

Ic in amoris causa ponit Confes sor Exemplum contra illos qui in sua dampna nimis accelerantes ex impetuositate ipsos multociēs offendūt Et narrat qualiter Piramus cum ipse Tisbe amicam suam in loco inter eosdē deputato tempore aduentus sui promptam non inuenit animo impetuoso se ip sum pre dolore extracto gladio mortaliter transfodit. qui postea infra breue tē pus veniens cum ipsum sic mortuum inuenisset eciam et illa in sui ipsiꝰ mortem impetuose festinans eiusdem gladio cuspide sui cordis intima per mediū penetrauit

I Rede a tale & telle thys
The Cyte whiche Semeramis
Enclosed hath with walle aboute
Of worthy folk with many a route
Was inbabyted here & there
Among the whiche two ther were
Abouen al other noble & grete
Duellyug tho within a strete
So nyghe / to gedre as it was sene
There was no thyng hem bytwene
But wow to wow & walle to wal
This one lord hath in specyal
A sone a lusty bachyler
In al the Towne was none his pyer
That other bad a doughter eke
In al the Towne that for to seke
Men wysten none so fayre as she
And felle so that it shold be
This fayre doughter nye this sone
As they to geder than wone
Cupyde hath so the thynges shape
That they ne myght the hand escape
That his fyre on hem ne cast
And so it felle at the last
To folowe his lore & sewe
Whiche neuer man myghte eschewe
And that was loue as it is shaped
Whiche hath hyr hertes ouerthraped
That they by alle weyes seche
How that they myght wynne a speche
Her woful peyne for to lysse
Who loueth wel it maye not mysse
And namely when ther be two
Of one accord how so it goo
But yf that they som weye fynde
For loue is euer of suche a kynde
And hath his folk so wel affayted
That how so that it be awayted
There may no man the purpoos let
And thus bytwene hem twoo set
An hoole vpon the wal to make
Thorugh whiche they haue hyr coūseil take
/ At al tyme when they myght
This fayre Mayde Tysbe hyght
And he whome she loued hote
Was Piramus by name hote
So long her lesson they recorden
Tyl at the laste they acorden
By nyghtes tyme for to wende
Alone oute from the Townes ende
Where was a welle vnder a tree
And who so cam fyrst be or she
He shold there stylle abyde
So it felle by nyghtes tyde
This mayde whiche desguysed was
[Page]Al pryue [...]y the soft paas
Goth thurugh ye large town vnknow
Tyl that she cam within a throw
Where that she lyked for to duelle
And thylk vnhappy fresshe welle
Whiche was also the forest nyghe
Where she cemyng a lyon syghe
In the felde to take his pray
In hast & fleeth so away
So as fortune shold falle
For feer & lete hyr wympyl falle
Nyhe to the wel vpon therbage
This wylde beest in his rage
A best whiche he found ther oute
Hath slayn & his blody snowte
When he hath eten what he wold
To drynke of the stremes cold
Come vnto the welle where he fond
The wympel whiche oute of her hond
Was falle & he hath to drawe
Be bled aboute & al for gnawe
And he straught hym for to drynke
Vpon the fresshe welles brynke
And after that oute of the playne
He torneth to the wode agayne
And Tysbe durst not remewe
But as a byrd whiche were in mewe
Whiche in a busshe she kepte hyr close
So styl that she not arose
Vnto her self & playneth ay
And fell whyle that she there lay
This Pyramus cam after sone
Vnto the welle & by the mone
He fonde hyr wympyl blody there
 [...]am neuer yet to mannes ere
Tydyng ne to mannes syght
Meruaylle whiche so sore a fryght
At mans herte as it tho dede
To hym whiche in the same stede
With many a woful compleynyng
Bygan his handes for to wryng
As he whiche demeth sykerly
That she be dede and sodeynly
His swerd al naked oute he breyde
In his fool hast & thus he seyde
I am cause of thy felonye
So it is reson that I dye
And she is dede by cause of me
And with that word vpon his kne
He felle & / to the goddes alle
Vnto the heuene he gan to calle
And prayd syn it was done so
That he may not his loue as tho
Haue in this world that of hyr grace
He myght [...] her haue in other place
For here wold he not abyde
He sayth as it shal betyde
The pomel of his swerd to ground
He set & to his hert a wound
He made vp to the hard hylte
And this wyse he hym self spylte
With his fool hast & deth he nam
For she within a whyle cam
Where he laye dede vpon a knyf
So woful yet was neuer lyf
As Tysbe was when she hym syghe
She myght not one word on hygh
Speke for hyr hert shette
That of hyr lyf no prys she sette
But dede swownyng dede there she fel
Tyl afterward it so byfel
That she oute of hyr trauns awoke
With many a woful pytous loke
Hyr eye alweye among  [...] she caste
Vpon her loue & at the laste
She caught breth & sayd thus
O thou whiche cleped art venus
Goddesse of loue & thou Cupyde
Whiche loues cause haste for to guyde
I wote nowe wel that ye be blynde
Of thylk vnhappe that now I fynde
Only bitwene my loue & me
This Piramus whiche I here se
Bledyng what hath he deserued
For he thyn hest hath kept & serued
And was yonge & I bothe also
Allas why do ye with vs soo
Yet set our hertes both on fyre
And made vs suche thyng desyre
Wherof that we noo skyl couthe
But thus oure fresshe lusty youthe
Withoute ioye is al dispended
[Page lxj]Whiche thyng may neuer be amended
For as for me this wol I seye
That me is leuer for to deye
Then haue after this sorowful day
And with this word there as he lay
Hyr loue in armes embraseth
Hyr owne deth & she purchaseth
That now she wepte & now she kyst
Tyl at the laste or she it wyst
So grete a sorowe is to her falle
Whiche ouergoth hyr wyttes alle
And she whiche myght not asterte
The swerdes poynt ayenst hyr herte
She set & felle doune therupon
Wherof that she was dede anone
And thus on a swerd bledende
They were founde dede lyggende

Now yt my sone hast herd this tale
Beware of thyn owne bale
Thou be not cause in thy foolhast
And kepe that thou thy wyt ne cast
Vpon thy thought in auenture
Wherof thy lyues forfeture
Maye falle & yf thou haue so thought
Telle thy tale & hyde it nought

My fad [...]e vpon loues syde
My conscyence I wol not hyde
How that for loue of pure wo
I haue ful ofte be moued so
That my wysshes yf I myght
A thousand tymes I yow plyght
I had storuen in a day
And therof I me shryue may
Though loue fully me ne slow
My wyll to deye was ynow
So am I of my wyl culpable
And yf she be not mercyable
Whiche may me yeue lyf & hele
But that her lyst not with me dele
I wote by whos counseyl it is
And hym wold I long tyme or this
And yet I wold & euer shal
Sleen & destroye in especyal
The gold of nyne kynges londes
Ne shold hym saue fro myn hondes
In my power yf that he were
But yet hym stant at no fere
For nought yt euer I couthe manace
He is the hynderer of my grace
Tyl he be dede I may not spede
So mote I nede taken hede
And shape how that he were aweye
If I therto may fynde a weye

My sone telle me for thy
Whiche is that mortal enemy
That thou manacest to be dede
My fadre it is suche a quede
That where I come he is to fore
Aud doth so that my cause is lore
What is his name he is daunger
Whiche is my lady counseyler
For I was neuer yet so slyghe
To come in a place nyghe
Where as she was by nyght or day
That daunger ne was redy ay
With whome for speche ne for mede
Yet myght I neuer of loue spede
For euer this fynde I soth
Al that my lady sayth or doth
To me daunger shal make an ende
And yt maketh al my world myswēde
And euer I aske helpe but he
May be wel cleped Sauns pyte
For ay the more I to hym bowe
The lesse he wol my tale allowe
He hath my lady so englewed
She wol not that he be remewed
For euer he hongeth on her seyl
And is soo preuy of counseyl
That euer when I haue ought bede
I fynde daunger in her stede
And myn ansuere of hym I haue
But for no mercy that I craue
Of mercy neuer a poynt I had
And thus daunger my fortune lad
That worse myght I neuer be
And thus bytwene daunger & me
I euer werre tyl he dye
But myght I be of suche maystrye
That I daunger myght ouercome
With that were al my ioye come
Thus wold I fonde for noo synne
[Page]Ne yet for al the world to wynne
If that I myght fynde a sleyght
To laye al my state in weyght
I wold hym for the countre deseuer
So that he come ayene ward neuer
Therfore I wysshe & wold fayn
That he were on som wyse slayn
For whyle he stant in thyl [...] place
Ne gete I not my lady grace
Thus hate I dedely thylk vyde
And wold he stood in none offyce
In place where my lady is
For yf he doo I wol wel this
That outher he shal dye or I
Within a whyle & not for thy
On my lady ful of [...]e I muse
How that she may her self exa [...]se
For yf that I dye in suche  [...] plyght
Me thynketh she myght not be quyt
That she ne were an homycyde
And yf it shold so betyde
As god forbede it shold be
By double wey it is pyte
For I with al my wyl & wyt
Haue yeue & euer serued yet
For when I shold in suche a wyse
In towardyng of my seruyse
Be dede me thynketh it were routhe
And ferthermore I telle the trouthe
She that euer hath be wel named
Were worthy than to be blamed
And of reson to be appeled
When with one word she myȝt an heled
A man & suffreth hym for to deye
A who sawe euer suche a weye
A who sawe euer suche a dystresse
Withoute pyte or gentylnesse
Withoute mercy or womanh [...]de
That wol so quyte a man his mede
Whiche hath euer be to loue trewe

My good fadre yf ye  [...]we
Vpon my tale telle me now
And I wol stynte & herkne yow

My sone attempre thy courage
Fro wrath & lete thyn hert assuage
For who so wol hym vnderfonge
He may his grace abyde longe
Or he of loue be receyued
And eke also but yf it be weyued
There myght mochel thyng byfalle
That shold make a man to falle
Fro loue that euer afterward
Ne durst he soke thyderward
In hard weyes men gone softe
And er they clymbe auyse them ofte
And men seen al day that rape reweth
And who so wykked ale breweth
Ful ofte he mote the werse drynk
Bettyr it is to flede than synke
Better it is vpon the brydel chewe
Than yf he fel & ouerthrewe
The hors & stykked in the myre
To cast water in the fyre
Better is than brenne vp al the hows
The man whiche is malycyous
And foolhasty ful ofte he falleth
And selden is when loue hym calleth
For thy better is to suffre a throwe
Than to be wylde & ouer throwe
Suffraunce hath euer be the best
To wysen hym that secheth rest
And thus yf thou wylt loue spede
My sone suffre as I the rede
What may the mous ayene the ca [...]
And for thylk cause I aske that
Who may to loue make a werre
That he ne hath hym self the werre
Loue axeth pe [...]s & euer shalle
And who that fyghteth most of alle
Shal lest conquere of his empryse
For this they tellen that ben wise
Wicke is to seryue & haue the werse
To hasten / is nought / worth a kerse
Thyng that a man maye not acheue
That maye not wel be done at eue
It mote abyde tyll the morowe
Ne hast not thyne owne soro we
My sone & take this in thy witte
He hath not lost that wel abitte
Ensample that it falleth thus
Thou myght wel take of Piramu [...]
When he in hast his swerd out drough
[Page lxij]And on the poynt hym self slough
For loue of Tysbe pytously
For he hye wymple fond blody
And wende a beste had her slayn
Where as hym ought be ryght fayn
For she was sauf ryght besyde
But for he wold not abyde
This meschyef felle for thy be ware
My sone as I the warne dare
Do now no thyng in suche a rees
For sufferaunce is the wel of pees
Though thou to loues court pursewe
Yet syt it wel that thou esche we
That thou the court not ouerhas [...]
For so thou myght thy tyme wast
But yf thyne hap therto shape
It may not helpe for to rape
Therfore attempte thy courage
Foolhast doth none auauntage
But yf it sett a man behynde
In cause of loue & that I fynde
By old ensamples thou shalt here
Touchend of loue in this ma [...]re

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra illos qui in amoris causa nimia festinacione concupiscentes tardius expediunt / Et narrat qualiter pro [...]o (quam) Phebus qm̄dam virginem pulche trimam nomine Da [...]hnem nimi [...] amoris acceleracione insequ [...]batur / [...]ra tus Cupido cor Pheb [...] sagitta aurea ig nita a [...]dencius vulnerau [...]t / Et econtra cor Daphne quadam sagitta plumbea que f [...]igidissima fuit sobrius per [...]orauit / Et sic quanto magts Phebus a [...] dencior in amorem daphnem per [...]ecutꝰ est quanto magis frigidior phe Bi concupiscenciam dedignabatur

aMayden whysom ther was one
Which daphne hyȝt & such was none.
Of beaute than as it was sayd / 
Phebꝰ hio loue hath on hir laid
And therupon to hyr he sought
In his foolhast & so besought
That she with hym no reste had
For euer vpon hyr loue he grad
And she sayd euer vnto hym nay
So it byfelle vpon a day
Cupyde whiche hath euery chaunce
Of loue vnder his gouernaunce
Sawe phebus hasten hym so sore
And for hym shold haste the more
And yet not sp [...]den at the last
A dart thorugh oute his hert he cast
Whiche was of gold & al a fyre
That made hym many fold desyre
Of loue more than he dede
To Daphne eke in the same stede
A dart of leed he cast & smote
Whiche was al cold & no thyng hote
And thus Phebus in lou [...] brenneth
And in hast aboute renneth
To boke yf that be myght wynne
Thus was he euer to begynne
For euer a wey f [...]o hym she fl [...]d
So that he neuer his loue sped
And for to make hym ful byleue
That no foolhase myght acheue
To gete loue in suche degre
This Daphne in to a laurel tree
Was torued whiche is euer grene
In tokne as yet it may be sene
That she shal duelle a mayden stylle
And phebus faylen of his wylle

By suche eusamples as they stonde
My sone thou myght vnderstonde
To basten loue is thyng in veyn
Whan that fortune is ther ageyn
To take where a man may leue
Good is & elles he mote leue
For when a mannes happes faylen
There is no hast may auaylen

My fadre graunt mercy of this
But whyle I see my lady is
No tre but hold her owne forme
There may no man so on forme
To w [...]edyr part fortune wende
That I vnto my lyues ende
[Page]  [...]e wold hyr serue euermo

My sone syth it is so
I / say no more but in this  [...]s
Beware how it with Phebus was
Nought only vpon loues chaunce
But vpon euery gouernaunce
Whiche falleth vnto mannes dede
Foolhast is euer for to drede
And that a man good counseyl take
E [...] he his purpos vndertake
For counseyl put foolhast awey

Now good fadre Iyowprey
That for to wysse the more
Somme good ensample vpon this lore
Ye wold me telle of that is wryte
That I the better myght wyte
How I foolhast sho [...]d esche we
And the wysedome of counseyl sewe

My sone that thou myght enforme
Thy pacy [...]nce vpon the forme
Of old ensamples as they felle
Now vnderstond what I shal telle

[...]Ic ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos qui nimio furo [...] attensi vindictam [...]re sue vltra (quam) decet cons [...]u [...] effectant. Et narrat qualiter Athemas et Demephon Reges cum I [...]s [...] a b [...]o Troiano ad propria remeass [...]nt / Et a [...]us ibidem pacifice receptinon fruss [...]t congregatorū a [...]unde pug nat [...]rum [...]eratu regiones suas non solum vastare incendio sed & om̄s in e [...]sdem habitantes a minimo vs (que) ad ma [...]orem in perpetuam vindicte memor [...]ā gladis interficere feruore iracundie pro pesu [...]run [...] / Sed Rex Nestor qui sen [...] & sapiens fuit fractatꝰ inte [...] ipsos reges & eorum regna inita pace humsmodi impetuosita [...] in miciu [...] pacifica [...]t /

wHen noble Troye was byleyn
And ouercome & home ageyn
The gregoys torned frō ye siege
The kynges fonde her owne lyege
In many places as men seyde
That hem forsoke & dysobeyde
Among the whiche fel this cas
To Demephon & Athemas
That were kynges bothe two
And both were serued so
Here syeges wold not hem receyue
So that they more algates weyue
To seche lond in other place
For there fond they noo grace
Wherof they token hem to rede
And sough [...]n frendes at nede
And eche of hem assureth other
To helpe as to his owne broder
To vengen hem of thylk oultrage
And wynne oyene her herytage
And thus they ryde aboute fast
To geten hem helpe & at the laste
They hadden power suffysaunt
And maden than a couenaunt
That they shold no lyf saue
Ne prest ne clerk ne lord ne knaue
Ne wyf ne child of / that they fynde
Whiche bereth vysage of mankynde
So that no lyf shal be socoured
But with the dedely swerde deuoured
In suche a foolhast here ordynaunce
They shape for to doo vengeaunce
When this purpos was wist & knowe
Amōg theyr hoost tho was ther blowe
Of wordes many a speche aboute
Of yong men the lusty route
Were of this tale glad ynough
There was no care for the plough
As they that were foolhastyf
They ben acorded to the s [...]ryf
And seyn it may not be to grete
To vengen hem of suche forfet
Thus sayth the vnwyse wylde tonge
Of hem that there were yonge
But Nes [...]or whiche was old & hore
The salue sawe to fore the sore
As he that was of counseyl wyse
So that anone by his aduyse
There was a preuy counseyl no [...]e
[Page lxiij]The lordes be to geder come
This Demephon & Anthemas
Her purpoos tolden as it was
They seten al stylle & herde
Was none but Nestor ansuerde
He bad hem yf they wold wynne
They sholden see or they begynne
Here ende & set her fyrst entent
That they hem after ne repent
And axeth hem this questyon
To what fynal conclusyon
They wolden  [...]egne kynges there
If that no peple in  [...]onde were
And seyth it were a wonder wyerd
To seen a kyng bycomen an hyerd
Where no lyf is but only beste
 [...]onder the lygeaunce of his heste
For who that is of man no kyng
The remenauut is as no thyng
He seyth eke yf he the purpoos holde
To slee the peple as they two wolde
When they it myght not restore
Al grece it shold abye ful sore
To see the wylde lestes wone
Where whylome duellyd a mans sone
And for that cause he had hem trete
And stynte of the manaces grete
Better is to wynne by fayr speche
He seyth than suche a vengeaūce seche
For when a man is moost aboue
Hym nedeth moost to gete hym loue

Whan Nestor hath this tole sayd
Arene hym was no word withsayd
It thought hem al he sayd wel
And thus fortune hyr dedely wheel
For werre torneth in to pees
But forth they wenten netheles
But when the Countreyes herd seyn
And how here kynges be beseyn
Of suche a power as they lad
Was none so told that hym nedrad
And for to seche pees &  [...]ryth
They sende & prayd forthwith
So that the kynges ben a [...]esed
And euery mannes hert is esed
Al was forye [...] & not recorded
And thus they  [...]en to geder acorded
The kynges were ayene receyued
And pees was take & wrath weyued
And al thorugh counseyl whiche was good /
Of hym that reson vnderstood

By this ensample sone attempre
Thyn hert & lete no wyl dystempre
Thy wytee & do no thyng by myght
Whiche may be do by loue & ryght
Foolhast is cause of mochel wo
For thy my sone do not so
And as touchend of Homycyde
Whiche toucheth vnto loues syde
Fulofte it falleth vnauysed
Thurgh wil whiche is not wel assised
When wyt & reson ben awey
And that foolhast is in the wey
Wherof hath falle grete vengeaunce
For thy take in to remembraunce
To loue in suche a maner wyse
That thou dese [...]e no iuyse
For wel I wote thou myght not lett
That thou ne shalt thyn hert sett
To loue where thou wolt or none
But yf thy wyt be ouergone
So that it torne in to malyce
There wote noman of thylk vyce
What perylle that there maye byfalle
Wherof a tale amonges alle
Whiche is grete pyte for to here
I thenke for to tellen here
That thou such mordre myȝt withs [...]d
When yu the tale hast vnderstonde

Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum cō tra illos ob sue concupiscencie desid [...]riū homicide efficiuntur Et narrat qualiter Climeston [...]xor Regis Agamen onis cum ipse a bello Troiano domi redisset consi [...]io Egisti quem adulte [...] peramauit sponsum suum in cubili dormientē sub noctis silencio tru [...]dabat. cuiꝰ mor [...]em filius eius Horestes [...]un [...] [...]nioris etatis postea dijs admonitus crudelissi ma seueritate vindicauit

[Page]
OF roTyr at thylk noble toun
Whos fame stāt yet of renoun
And euer shal to mannes ere
The syege last long there
Er that the grekes it myght wynne
While P [...]amus Was kyng withynne
But of the grekes that lyen aboute
Agamenon lad al the route
This thyng is knowen oueral
But yet A thynke in specyal
To telle my mater therupon
An what wyse Agamenon
Thorugh chaunce whiche may not be
werued. Of loue vntrew was deceyued
An old sawe is who that is syhe
An place where he may be nyhe
He maketh the ferre leef loth
Of loue & thus fulofte it goth▪
There whyle Agamenon bataylleth
To wynne Troye & it assaylleth
From home & was long tyme there
Egysius drough his quene nere
And with the leyser whiche he had
This lady at his wylle he lad
Clymestre was her ryght name
She was therof gretely to blame
To loue there it may not laste
But fel to meschyef at the laste
For when this worthy noble knyght
Fro Troye cam the fyrst nyght
That he at home a bed laye
Egistus long or it was daye
And this Clymestre had hym assent
And weren bothe of one assent
By treson slough hym in his bed
But mordre whiche may not ben hed
Sprong oute to euery mans ere
Wherof the lond was ful of fere

Agamenon hath by this quene
A Sone / & that was after seue
But yet as than he was of youthe
A babe whiche no reson couthe
And as god wold it fel hym thus
A worthy knyght Taltabeus
This yong child had in kepyng
And when he herd of this tydyng
Of this treson of this mysdede
He gan within hym self to drede
An aunter yf this fals Egiste
 [...]pon hym come or he it wyst
To take mordre of this malyce
This child whiche he hath to noryce
And for that cause in al hast
Oute of the lond he gan hym haste
And to ye king of grece he goth strauȝt
And hym this yong lord betaught
And prayd hym for his fadre sake
That he this child wold vndertake
And kepe hym tyl he be of age
So as he was of his lygnage▪
And told hym oueral the cas
How that his fadre mordred was
And how egistus as men seyde
Was kyng to whome the lond obeyde
Aud when Adonemeus the kyng
Hath vnderstondyng of this thyng
Whiche that this knyȝt hym had tolde
He made sorowe manyfolde
And took the child vnto his warde
And sayd he wold hym kepe & warde
Tyl that he were of suche a myght
To handle a swerd & be a knyght
To wngen hym at his owne wylle
And thus Horestes duelleth stylle
Snche was the childes ryght name
Whiche after wrought n [...]ochel shame
An  [...]nĝeaunce of his fadre deth
The tyme of yerrs ouer geth
That he was man of brede & lengthe
Of wyt of manhode & of strengthe
A fayre persone amonges alle
And he gan to clepe & calle
As he whiche come was to man
Vnto the kynge of grece than
Prayend that he wold hym make
A knyght & power with hym take
For lenger wold he not byleue
He sayth but prayth the kyng of leue
To gone & cleyme his herytage
And venge hym of thylk oultrage
Whiche was vnto his fadre do
The kyng assenteth wel therto
[Page lxiiij]With grete honour & knyȝt hym ma­keth /
And grete power with hym be­taketh /
And gā his iourney for to case
So that Horestes at the last
His loue he taketh & forth he goth
As he that was in herte wroth
His fyrst pleynt to be mene
Vnto the Cyte of Athene
He goth hym forth & was receyued
So there he was nought deceyued
The dust &  [...]tho that were wyse
They proferen hem to his seruyse
And he them thanketh of theyr profer
And sayd hym self he wol gone offer
Vnto the goddes for his spede
And al men yeue hym rede
So goth he vnto the Temple forth
Of yeftes that be mochel worth
His sacryfyce & his offryng
He made & after his axyng
He was ansuerd yf that he wold
His estate than recouer he sh [...]ld
Vpon his moder do vengeaunce
So crue [...] that the remembraunce
Therof myght euer abyde
As she that  [...]as an Homycyde
And of her o [...]ne lord Mordryce
Horestes whiche of thylk offyce
Was no thyng glad as than ho prayd
Vnto the goddes there & sayd
That they the Augement deuyse
How she shal take the juyse
And therupon he had ansuere
That he hyr pappes shold of t [...]re
Oute of her brest his owne hondes
And for ensample of al londes
With hors she shold be to drawe
Tyl honndes had her bones gnawe
Withoute ony sepulture
This was a woful auenture
And when Horestes hath al herd
How that the goddes haue ansuerd
Forth with the strengthe whiche he lad
The dust & his power he had
And to a cyte forth they gone
The whiche was cheped Cropheone
Where as Phoieu [...] was lord & syre
Whiche profereth hym withouten hyre
His helpe & al that he may do
As he that was ryght glad thert [...]
To greue his mortal enemy
And tolde hym certayne cause why
How that Egyste in maryage
His doughter whylome of ful age
Forlay & afterward forsoke
When he Horestes modre toke

Men seyne old synne newe shame
Thus more & more  [...]rose the blame
Ayene Egyst on euery syde
Horestes with his hoost to ryde
Bygan & Phoieus with hym went
Atro we Egyste shal hym repent
They ryden forth vnto Mycene
There lay Clymestre thylk quene
The whiche Horestes moder is
And when she herd telle of this
The gates were fast shet
And they were of her [...] entre lett
Anone this Cyte was withoute
Beleyn & beseged al aboute
And euer it among assayle
Fro day to nyght & so trauayle
Tyl at last they it wonne
Tho was there ynough begonne
Horestes dyd his modre calle
Anone tofore the lordes alle
And eke to fore the peple also
To her & told his tale tho
And sayd O cruel best vnkynde
Hou myghtest thou thyn herte fynde
For ony lust of loues draught
That thou acordest to the slaught
Of hym whiche was thyne owne lord
Thy treson stant of suche record
Thou myght thy werkes not forsake
So mote I for my f [...]dre sake
Vengeaunce vpon thy body do
As I commaunded am therto
Vnkyndely for thou hast wrought
Vnkyndelyche it shal be bought
The sone shal the modre sl [...]e [...]
For that whylome thou saydest ye
[Page]That thou sholdest nay haue sayd
And he with yt hie honde [...] hath layd
Vpon his mode [...] brest anone
And rent out from the bar [...] bone
Hyr pappes bothe & cast a way
A myddes in the cart way
And after took the dede corps
And le [...] it be drawe awey wyth hors
Vnto the hound & to the Rauen
She was none otherwyse grnuen

Egystus whiche was elles where
Tydynges come to his ere
How that Mycenes was byleyn
But what was more herd he not seyn
With grete manace & mochel bost
He drough power & made an hoost
And cam in the  [...]scous of the Toun
But al the sleyghte of this treson
Hoo [...]stes wyst it by a spy [...]
And of his men a gtr [...] partye
He made abusshement abyde
To wayde on hym in suche a tyde
That he myght her hond escape
And in this wyse as he hath shape
The thyng byfel so that Egyste
Was take or he hym self it wyste
And was forth brouȝt his hōdes bōde
And when men haue a treytour foūde
And tho that were with hym take
Whiche of reson were ouertake
To geder in one sentence falle
But fale Egyst aboue be in alle
Was demed in dyuers peyne
The werst that men couthe  [...]deyn [...]
And soo after by the lawe
He was vnto the gybet drawe
Where he aboue all other hongeth
As to a traytour it bylongeth

The fame of hyr s [...]yft wynges
Aboute fleeth & bare tydynges
And made it couthe in al londes
How that Horestes with his hondes
Clymest [...] his owne modre s [...]ugh
Somme seyn he dede wel  [...]nough
And somme seyn he dyde amys yuers opynyon ther is
That she is dede they spesten alle
But pleynly how it is byfalle
The mater in so lytel thro we
An soth there myght noman knowe
But they that weren at the dede
And comonlyche at euery nede
The worst speche is rathest herd
And leued tyl it be ansuerd
The kynges & the lordes grete
Begonne Horestes for to thre [...]
To putten hym out of his regne
He is not worthy for to regne
The child whiche slough his moder soo
They sayde & therupon also
The lordes of comon assent
The tyme sett of parlement
And to Athenys kyng & lord
To geder [...]come of one acord
To knowe how the sothe was
So that Horestes in this cas
They senden after & they come
Kyng Men  [...]lay the wordes nome
And axeth hym of this matere
And he that al it myght here
Ansuerd & told his tale at large
And how the goddes in his charge
Commaunded hym in suche a wyse
His owne hond to do Iuyse
With this tale a Duk arose
Whiche was a worthy knyght of lose
His name was Menesteus
And sayd vnto the lordes thus
The wreche whiche Horestes dede
At was thyng of the goddes  [...]ed [...]
And no thynge of his ocuelte
And yf there were of ony degre
An al this pla [...] suche a knyght
That wol seyn it was no ryght
I wol it with my body proue
And therupon he cast his gloue
And eke this noble duk Alleyde
Ful many another skylle he seyde
She had wel deserued wreche
Fyrst for the cause of spouse breche
And after wrought in suche a wyse
That al the world it ought agryse
[Page lxv]When that she for so foul a vyce
Was of her owne lord Mordryce
They sytten al stylle & herde
But therto was noman ansuerde
At ought hem alle he sayd skylle
There is noman wythsey it wylle
When they vpon the reson musen
Horestes alle they  [...]cusen
So that with grete solempnyte
He was vnto his dygnyde
Receyned & coroned kyng
And tho byfel a wondre thyng
Egyona when she it wyst
Whiche was the doughter of Egyst
And suster on the modre syde
To thys Horeste at thylā tyde
When she herd ho whis broder sped
For pure sorowe whiche her led
That he had len  [...]xyled
She bath her owne lyf begyled
Anone & henge hyr self tho
At hath & shal be euermo
To mordre who that wol assente
He may not fayle to repente
This fals Egyona was one
Whiche to mordre Agamenone
Yaue her acord & her assent
So that by goddes Augement
Though none other man it wolde
She took her Iuyse as she sholde
And as she to another wrought
Vengeaunce vpon her self she thought
And hath of hyr vnhappy wyt
A mordre with a mordre quyt
Suche is of mordre the vengeaunce

For thy my sone in remembraunce
Of this ensample take good frede
For who that thynketh his loue spede
With mordre he shal with worldes sha­me /
Hym self & eke his loue shame

My fadre of this auenture
Whiche ye haue told A yow assure
Myn herti [...] fory for to here
But only for A Bold here
What is to done & what to leue

And ouer this by your leue
That ye me wold telle A pr [...]y
Af there be leful ony weye
Withoute synne a man to slee

My sone in sondry wyse ye
What man that is of Traytorye
Of mordre or elles Robberye
Atteynt the Iuge shal not bet
But he shal sleen of pure def
And doth grete syune yf that he wōde
For who that lawe hath vpon honde
And spareth for to do Iustyce
For mercy doth not his offyce
That he his mercy so be wareth
When for one shrewe whiche he spareth
A thousand good men he greueth
Which suche mercy as who yt bileueth
To please god he is deceyned
Or elles more reson be weyued
The lawe stood or we were bore
How that a kynges swerd is bore
An sygne that he shal defende
His peple & make an ende
Of suche as wolden hem deuoure
Lo thus my sone to socoure
The lawe & comon ryght to wynne
A man may shee withoute synne
Aud therof a grete almesse
So for to kepe ryght wyseuesse
And ouer this for this contre
An tyme of werre a man is fee
Hym self his  [...]ous & eke his lond
Defende with his owne hond
And slayne yf that he maye no bet
After the lawe whiche is set

Now fadre than A you byseche
Of hem that dedely werres seche
An worldes cause & shed [...]n lobod
Af suche an homycyde is good

Confessor

My sone vpon thy questyon
The trouthe of myn oppynyon
Ale ferforth as my wyt arecheth
And as the pleyn lawe techeth
A wold the telle in euydence
To reule with thy conscyence
[Page]Quod creat iyse deꝰ n [...]eat hoc homicida creatum /
 [...]ltor & humano sanguine s [...] git humum /
Vt pecoris sic est hominis cruor heu hō fusus /
Victa iacet pietas & furo [...] vrget opus /
Angelus in ter­m pax dixit & vltima Cristi.
Verba so nent pacem quam m [...] guerra fugat

Hic sequitur contra [...]oto [...]s guerre que non solum homicidij sed vniuer se mnndi desolacionis mater existit

tHe hyghe god of his iustyce
That ylke foule horryble vyce
Of Homycyde he hath forbede
By Moyses as it was bede
When goddes sone also was bore
He sente his Aungel doune therfore
Whome the shepeherdes herde synge
 [...]es to the men of welwyllynge
In erthe among vs here
So for to speke in this matere
After the lawe of charyte
There shal no dayly werre be
And eke nature it hath defended
And in hyr lawe pees comended
Whiche is the chyef of mannes welthe
Of mannes lyf of mannes helthe
But dedely werre hath this couyne
Of pestylence & of famyne
Of pouerte & of al woo
Wherof this world we blamen so
Whiche now the werre hath vnderfote
Tyl god hym self therof do bote
For al thyng whiche god hath wrouȝt
In erthe werre it bryngeth to nought
The chirche is brent the prest is slayn
The wyf the mayde is the forlayn
The lawe is lord & god vnserued
I not what mede he hath deserued
That suche werres ledeth Inne
If that he do it for to wynne
Fyrst to acompte his grete cost
Forth with the folk that he hath los [...]
As to the worldes rekenyng
There shal he fynde no wynnyng
And yf he do it to purchace
The heuen mede of suche a grace
I can not speke netheles
Cryst hath commaunded loue & pe [...]
And who that worcheth the reuers
I trowe his mood is ful dyuers [...]
And sythen▪ that▪ we fynde
The werres in her owne kynde
Ben toward god of no deserte
And eke they bryngen in pouert [...]
Of worldes good it is merueyle
Among the men what it maye eyle
That they vs a pees ne conne set
I trowe synne be the let
And euery mede of synne is deth
So wote I neuer how it geth
But we that be of one byleue
Among oure self this world I leue
That better it were pees to chese
Than so by double weye lese

I not yf that it now so stonde
But this a man may vnderstonde
Who that these old lokes redeth
That one is Couetyse whiche ledeth
And brought the fyrst werres inne
At grece yf that I shal begynne
There was it proued how it stood
To Perse whiche was ful of good
They maden werre in especyal
An [...] soo they dyden o [...]eral
Where grete rychesse was in lond
So that they left no thyng stond
 [...]n werred but only Archade

Nota ꝙ greci omnem terram de [...]ellabant fertilem sed tantum Archadiā pro eo (quam) pauper et steri [...]s fuit pacifi [...] dimiserunt

For there they no werres made
By cause it was bareyn & pouer
Wherof they myght not recouer
And thus pouerte was forbore
He yt nought had nought▪ hath lore
But yet it is▪ a wondre thyng
When that a ryche worthy kynge
[Page lxvj]Or other lord what so he be
Wol axe & clayme propyrte
In thyng whiche he hath no ryght
But only of his grete myght
For this may euery man wel wyte
That bothe kynde & lawe wryte
Expressely stonde there ageyn
But he mote nedes somwhat seyn
Al though▪ there be no reson ynne
Whiche seche cause▪ for to wynne
For wyt that his wyl oppressed
When couetyse hym hath redressed
And al reson put awey
He can wel fynde suche a wey
To werre where as euer he lyketh
Wherof that he the word entryketh
That many a man of hym cōpleyneth
But yet alwey somme cause he feyneth
And of his wrongful hert hath demed
That al is wel that euer hym semed
Br so he may wynne ynough
For as the trewe man to the plough
Only to the gaygnage entendeth
Ryght so the werryour dyspendeth
His tyme & hath no conscyence
And in this poynt for euydence
Of hem that suche werres make
Thou myght a grete ensample take
How they hyr tyrannye excusen
Of that they wrongful werres vsen
And they stonde of one acord
The S [...]udyour forth with the lord
The poure man forth with the ryche
As of courage they ben lyche
To make werres & to pyle
For lucre & for none other skyle
Wherof a propyr tale I rede
As it whylome byfell in dede

hIc declarat per Exemplum cō tra istos principes seu alios quos cum (que) illicite guerre motores / Et narrat de quodam Pirata in parti [...]ꝰ mari nis spoliatore / qui cum captus fuisset. & in iudicium coram Rege Alexandro productus & de latricinio accusatꝰ dixit / O Alexandre vere quia cum pau cis socijs spoliorum causa naues tantū exploro▪ego latrunculus v [...]oo [...]. tu autē q [...]a cum infinita bellatorum multitu dine vniuersam terram subiugan [...]o spoliasti. Imperator diceres / Ita (quam) sta tus tuus a statu meo differt / sed eodē animo condicionem pa [...]lem habemus Alexander vero eius audaciam in responsione comprobans penes se familiarem retinuit / Et sic bellicosus bellatori compla [...]t

oF hym al this erthe drad
When he the world so ouerlad
Thurgh werre as it fortuned is / 
Kyng Alysaunder I rede this
How in a marche where he lay
It felle par chaunce vpon a day
A Rouer of the see was nome
Whiche many a man had ouercome
And slayn & take her good awaye
This Pylour as the boks saye
A famous man in sondry stede
Was of the werkes whiche he dede
This prysoner afore the kyng
Was brought & therupon this thyng
In audyence was he accused
And he his dede hath nought excused
And praid the kynḡ to done hym ryȝt
And seyd Syre yf I were of myght
I haue an hert lyche vnto thyn
For yf thy power were myn
My wylle is moost in especyal
To ryfle & to gete oueral
The large worldes good aboute
But for I lede a poure route
And am as who sayth at meschyef
The name of Pylour & of thyef I bere / 
& thou whiche Routes grete
Maye lede & take thy beyete
And dost ryght as I wold doo
Thy name is nothyng cleped so
But thou art named Emperour
Oure dedes ben of one colour
And in effect of one deserte
[Page]But thy Rychesse & my pouerte
They be not taken euen lyche
And neth [...]l [...] he that  [...]s ryche
This day to morowe he may by poure
And in contrary also receuer
A pouer man to grete ryches
Men seyn for thy ryghtwysenes
Be peyced euen in the balaunce

The kyng his hardy contenaunce
Behelde & his wordes wyse
And sayd vnto hym in this wyse
Thyne ansuere I haue vnderstonde
Wherof my wyl  [...]e that thou stonde
In my seruyce & stylle abyde
And forth with al the same tyde
He hath hym  [...]me of lyf witholde
The more & for he shal beholde
He made hym knyght & yaf hym lond
Whiche afterward was of his hond
A [...] orped knyght in many a stede
And grete prowesse of armes dede
As the Cronyke it recorden
And in this wyse they acorden
The whiche of one  [...]ndycy [...]n
Be sett vpon destructyon
Suche Capytayne suche retenue
But for to see what yssue
The kyng befallyth at the laste
In his grete wondre what men caste
Her  [...]t vpon suche wrong to wynne
Where no be [...]e may be Inne
And deth dy [...]se on euery syde
But when reson is put a syde
And wylle g [...]nerneth the courage
The fau [...]n with that fleeth ramage
And suffreth no thyng in the weye
Wherof that he may take his preye
Is not more set vpon rauyne
Than ylk man whiche his couyne
Hath set in suche maner wyse
For al the world ne may suffyse
To wyl whiche is not resonable

Wherof ensample concordable
Lyche to this poynt of whiche I mene
Was vpon Alysander sene
Whiche had set al his entent
So as fortune with hym went
That the reson myȝt hym not gouerne
But of his wylle he was so sterne
That al the world he ouer [...]an
And what hym lyst he took & wan
In inde the superyour
When that he was ful conquerour
And had his wylful purpoos wonne
Of al this erthe vnder the sonne
This kyng homeward to Macedoyne
When that he cam to Babyloyne
And wende moost in▪ his empyre
As he whiche was lord & syre
In honour for to be receyued
Moost sodenlyche he was deceyued
And with strong poyson enuenyn [...]d
And as he hath the world mystymed
Not as he shold with his wyt
Not as he wold it was acquyt
Thus was he slayn yt whylome slongh
And he whiche ryche was ynough
This day / to morowe had nought
And in suche wyse as he was wrouȝt
In dysturbaunce of worldes pees
His werre he fonde than endeles
In whiche for euer dyscomfyte
He was▪ lo now for what proufyte
Of werre it helpeth for to ryde
For couetyse & worldes pryde
To slee the worldes men aboute
As bestes whiche gone ther oute
For ony lyf whiche reson can
Ought wel▪ to knowe that a man
Ne shold thorugh no tyrannye
Lyche to these other bestes dye
Tyl kynde wold for hym sende
I not how he it myght amende
Whiche taketh awey for euermore
The lyf that he may not restore
For thy my sone in al weye
Be wel auysed I the preye
Of slaught or that thou be culpable
Withoute cause resonable
My fadre vnderstonde it is
That ye haue sayd but ouer this
I pray you telle me nay or ye
[Page lxvij]To passe oue [...] the grete see
To werre & slee a Saraȝyn
Is that the lawe Sone myn
To preche & suffre for the feyth
That I haue herd the gospel seyth
But for to slee that here I nought
Cryst with his owne deth hath bought
Al other men & made hem fre
In tokne of parfyte charyte
And after that he taught hym selue
When he was dede these other twelue
Of his apostles went aboute
The holy feyth to preche oute
Wherof the deth in sondry place
They suffre & so god of his grace
The feyth of Cryst hath made aryse
But yf they wold in other wyse
By werre haue bought in the creaūce
It had yet stonde in balaunce
And that may prouen in the dede
For what man the Cronykes rede
Fyrst that holy chirche hath weyued
To preche & hath the swerd receyued
Wherof the werres be begonne
A grete partye of that was wonne
Of Crystes feyth stant now myswent
God doo therof amendement
So as he wote what is the best
But sone yf thou wylt lyue in rest
Of conscyence wel assysed
Er that thou slee be wel auysed
For man as tellen vs the clerkes
Hath god aboue al erthely werkes
Ordeyned to be pryncypal
And eke of soule in specyal
He is made lyche to the godhede
So syt it wel to taken hede
And for to loke on euery syde
Er that thou falle in homycyde
Whiche synne is now so general
That it wel nye stant oueral
In holy chirche & elles where
But al the whyle it is so there
The wdorl mote nede fare amys
For when the▪ whele of pyte is
Thorugh couetyse of worldes good
Defouled with shedyng of blo [...]d
The remenaunt of folk aboute
Vnnethe stonden in ony doute
To werre eche other & to slee
So is it al not worth a stre
The charyte wherof we prechen
For we do no thyng as we techen
And thus the blynde conscyence
Of pe [...] hath lost thylk euydence
Whiche cryst vpon the erthe taught
Now may mē see mordre & manslauȝt
Lyche as is by dayes olde
Whan men the synnes bought & solde
In grece afore Crystes feyth
I rede as the Cronyke seyth
Touchend af this mater thus
In thylk tyme how peleus
His owne broder Phocus slough
But he had gold ynough
To them his synne was dyspensed
With gold wherof it was compensed
Achastꝰ whiche with Venus was
Her pryest assoylled in that cas
Al were there no repentaunce
And as the bokes make remembraūce
It tellyth of Med [...]e also
Of that she slough her sones two
Egeus in the same plyte
Hath made hyr of hyr synne quyte
The sone eke of Amphyoras
Whos ryght name Almeus was
His moder slough Eryphele
But Achylo the prest & he
So as the bokes it recorden
For certayne somme of gold acorden
That thylk horryble synful dede
Assoylled was & thus for mede
Of worldes goode it fallyth ofte
That homycyde is set alofte
Here in this lyf but after this
There shal be knowe how that it is
Of hem that suche thynges wyrche
And how also that holy chirche
Lete suche synnes passe quyte
How they wol hem acquyte
Of dedely werres that they make
[Page]For who that wold ensample take
The lawe whiche is naturel
By weye of kynde the weth wel
That homycyde in no degre
Whiche werreth ayene charyte
Among men shold not duelle
For a foer that the bokes telle
To s [...]che in al the world ryche
Men shal not fynde one his lyche
No best that wyl take his preye
And syth kynde hath suche a weye
Than it is wondre of a man
Whiche kynde hath & reson can
That he wol eyther more or lasse
His kynde & reson ouerpasse
And slee that is to hym semblable
So is the man not resonable
He kynde & that is not honeste
When he is worse than a beste

Nota secundum Solinum contra ho [...]iadium de natura cuiusdam aius faci [...]m ad similitudinem humanam habentis qiu cum de preda sua hominem myta flauium occident▪ vident (que) in aqua sunile sibi occisum statim pro delo [...] moritur

aMong the bokes which I finde
Solinꝰ speketh of a wōdre kinde
And seith of foules ther is on
Whiche hath a face of bloood & bone
Whiche to a man in resemblaunce
And yf it falle hym so par chaunce
As he whiche is a foule of pray
That he a man fynde in his way
He wold hym slee yf that he m [...]y
But after ward the same day
When he hath eten al his felle
And that shal be besyde a welle
In whiche he wol drynke take
In whiche visage he seeth the make
That he hath slayne anone he thynketh
Of his mysdede & it forthynketh
So gretely that for pure sorowe
He lyueth not tyl on the morowe
By this ensample it may wel se we
That men shal homycyde eschewe
For euer is mercy good to take
But yf the lawe it hath forsake
And that Iustyce is them ageyne
Fnl oftyme I haue herd seyne
Amonges that werres hadden
That they som whyle her cause ladden
By mercy when they myȝt haue slayn
Wherof that they were after fayn
And sone yf that thou wolt recorde
The vertu of myserycorde
Thou syghe neuer thylk place
Where it was vsed lak grace
For euery lawe & euery kynde
The mannes wyt to mercy bynde
And namely the worthy knyghtes
When they stonde moost vpryghtes
And ben most myghty for to greue
They sholden thenne most releue
Hym whome they myȝten ouerthrowe
As by ensample may men knowe

Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum de pietate contra homicidium / Et narrat qualiter Achilles vna cum Thephalo filio suo contra Regem Mesee qui tunc Theucer vocabatur bellum inicrunt / Et cum Achilles dietum Regem in bello prostratum occidere voluisset / Thephalꝰ pietate motus ipsum Clipeo cooperiens veniam pro Rege a patre postulauit, ꝓ quo facto ipse Rex adhuc viuens Thephalum Regni sui heredem libera volū tate constituit

hE may not faylen of his mede
That hath mercy for this I re­de,
In a Cronyke I fynd thus
Whan Achilles with Telaphus
His sone to ward Troye were
It fel hem or they come there
Ayene Thoucer the kyng of mese
[Page lxviij]To make warre & for to lese
His lond as they that wolde regne
And Theucer pnt oute of his regne
Thus the marches they assaylle
But Theucer yaf to hem bata ylle
They foughten on bothe sydes faste
But so happeth at the laste
This worthy greke Achilles
The kyng among al other ches
As he that was cruel & felle
With swerd on hond on hym he felle
And smote hym with a dethes woūde
That he vnhorced fel to grounde
Achilles vpon hym alyght
And wold anone as he wel myght
Haue slayn hym in the place
But Thephalus his fadre grace
For hym besought & for pyte
Prayth that he wold late hym be
And cast his sheld bytwene hem two
Achilles axeth hym why so
And Thephalus his cause tolde
And seyth that he is mochel holde
For whylome Theucer in a stede
Grete grace & socour to hym dede
And sayth that he hym wold acquyte
And prayth his fadre to respyte
Achilles tho withdrough his hond
But al the power of the lond
When yt they sawe hyr kyng thus take
They fled & hath the f [...]ld forsake
The grekes vnto the chaas falle
And for the moost part alle
Of that countre the lordes grete
They took & wonne a grete beyete
And anone after this vyctorye
The kyng whiche had memorye
Vpon the grete mercy thought
Which the laphus toward hym wrouȝt
And in presence of al the londe
He took hym fayre by the honde
And in this wyse he gan to seye
My sone I mote by double weye
Loue & desyre thyn encrees
Fyrst for thy fadre Achilles
Whylome ful many a day or this
When I shold fare amys
Rescouse dyd in my quarele
And kepte al myn estate in hele
How so ther falle now dystaunce
Among vs yet remembraunce
I haue of mercy whiche he dede
Than▪ & thou now in this stede
Of gentylnes & of fraunchesse
Hast do mercy the same I gesse
So wol I not that ony tyme
Be lost of that thou hast do byme
For how so this fortune falle
Yet stant my trust abouen alle
For the mercy whiche I now fynde
That thou wolt after this  [...]e kynde
And for that suche is myn espeyr
And for my sone & for myn he yre
I the receyue & al my lond
I yeue & sese in to thyn honde
And in this wyse they accorde
The cause was myserycorde
The lordes do her obeysaunce
To Thelaphus & purueaunce
Was made so that he was coroned
And thus was mercy reguerdoned
Whiche he to Theucer dyde to fore

Loo this ensample is made therfore
That thou myght take remembraunce
My sone & when thou seest a chaunce
Of other mens passyon
Take pyte & compassyon
And lete no thynge to the be leef
Whiche to another man is greef
And after this yf thou desyre
To stonde ayene the vyce of Ire
Counseyl the with pacyence
And take in to thy conscyence
Mercy to be thy gouernour
So shalt thou [...]fynde no rancour
Wherof thyn herte shal debate
With homycyde ne with hate
For cheste or melancolye
Thou shalt be softe in companye
Withoute conteck or foolhast
For elles / myght thou long wast
Thy tyme or that thou haue thy wylle
[Page]Of loue for the wedyr stylle
Men preyse & blame the tempestes
My fadre I wol do your hestes
And of this poynt ye haue me tauȝt
Toward my self the better saught
I thenke bewayle whyle that I lyne
But for as moche as I am shryne
Of wrathe & al his circumstaunce
Yeue that ye lyst to my penaunce
And axe forther of my lyf
Yf other wyse I be gyltyf
Of ony thyng that toucheth synne
My sone or we departe a twynne
I shal behynde no thynge leue

Amans

My good fadre with your leue
Than axe forth what you lyste
For I haue in you suche tryste
As ye that be my soule hele
That ye fro me nothyng wol hele
For I shal telle you the trouthe
My sone art thou culpable of slouthe
In ony poynt whiche to hym longeth
My fadre of tho poyntes me longeth
To wyte pleynly what they mene
So that I maye me shryue clene

Now herkne I shal ye pointes deuyse
And vnderstonde wel myn appryse
For shryfte stant of no value
To hym that wol hym not vertue
To leue of vyces the folye
For wynd is word but the maystrye
Is that a man hym self defende
Of thyng whiche is not to comende
Wherof ben fewe now a daye
And netheles so as I may
Make vnto thy memorye knowe
The poyntes of slouthe yu shalt knowe

Explicit liber Tercius

Incipit liber quartus

dIcūt accidiā fore nutri [...]em viaorū / Corpet & in cunctis tarda (que) lenta bonis / Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in ceas / Furato (que) prius hostia clandit equo Poscenti tardo negat emolumēta cupi do / Sed venꝰ in c [...]beri ludit amore viri I [...] in quarto libro loquitur con [...] fessor de speciebus Accidie / qua [...] primam tardacionem vocat / cuius [...]diciouem pertractans Amanti su [...] hoc consequenter opponit

bPon the vyces to procede / 
After the cause ofemānes de­de /
The fyrst poynt of slouthe I calle
Lachesse and is the chyef of alle
Aud hath this properly of kynde
To leuen al thyng behynde
Of that he myght do now here
He taryeth al the long yere
And euermore he sayth to morowe
And so he wol his tyme borowe
And wyssheth after god me sende
Than when he weneth to haue an ende
Than is he forthest to begynne
Thus bryngeth he many meschief Inue
Vnware tyl that he be mescheued
And may not than be releued
[Page lxix]And ryght so nother more ne lesse
It stant ofloue & of lachesse
Somtyme he slouteth on a daye
That he neuer after gete may
Now sone as of this ylke thyng
If thou haue ony knoulechyng
That thou to loue hast done or this

Telle on. my good fadre yis
As of laches I am be knowe
That I may stonde vpon his rowe
As I that am clad of his sute
For when I thought my pursute
To make & therto set a day
To speke vnto the swete may
Lachesse bad abyde yet
And bare on hond it was no wyt
Ne tyme for to speke as tho
Thus with his tales to & fro
My tyme in taryeng he drough
When ther was tyme good ynough
He sayd another tyme is better
Thou shalt now sende here a letter
And par caas wryte more pleyn
Than thou by mouthe durst seyn
Thus haue I lete tyme slyde
For slouthe & kept not my tyde
So that laches with his vyce
Ful of be hath made my wyt so nyce
That what I thought speke or do
With taryeng be  [...]eld me so
Tyl when I wold & myght nought
I not what thyng is in my thought
Or it was drede or it was shame
But euer in ernest & in game
I wote ther is no long tyme passed
But yet is not the loue lassed
Whiche I vnto my lady haue
For though my tonge is slouȝ to ocaue
At al tyme as I haue bede
Myn hert stant euer in one stede
And axe besylyche grace
The whiche I may not yet embrace
And god wote it is maulgre myn
For this I wote ryght wel afyn
My grace cometh so selde aboute
That is the slouthe whiche I doute
More than of al the remenaunt
Whiche is to loue appertenaunt
And thus as touchend of lachesse
As I haue told I me confesse
To yow my fadre E [...]byseche
That ferthermore ye wol me teche
And yf ther be of this matere
Som goodly tale for to lere
How I may do lachesse awey
That ye it wold telle I prey
To wysse the my sonne & rede
Among the tales whiche I rede
An old ensample therupon
Now herkne & I wol telle on

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra Istos qui in amoris causa tardantes delinquunt / Et narrat quali ter Dido Regina Eartaginis Eneam ab Incendijs Troie fugitiuum in amo rem suum gaiusa suscepit / qui cum postea in partes Italie a Cartagine bella turum se transtulit / ninuam (que) ibidem moram faciens tempus redditus sui ad Didonem vltra modum tardauit Ipsa intolieravili gaudio concussa sui cordis intima gladio transfodit

aGeyne lachesse in loues caas
I fynde how whylom Eneas
Whome Anchyses to sone had
With greete nauye which he lad
Fro Troye arryueth at Eartage
Where fo: a while his herbergage
He took & betyd soo
With hyr whiche was quene tho
Of the Cyte his acqueyntaunce
He wan whos name in remembraūce
Is yet & Dydo she was hote
Whiche loueth Eneas soo hote
Vpon the wordes whiche he sayd
That al hyr herte on hym she layd
And dyd al holy what he wolde
But after that as it be sholde
[Page]Fro then he goth to Itayle
By shyp & thew his arryuayle
Hath take & shope hym for to ryde
But she whiche may not long abyde
The hote payne of loues throwe
Anone within a lytel throwe
A setter vnto hyr knyght hath wryte
And dyde hym pseynsy for to wyte
If he made ony tarying
To dretche of his ayene comyng
That she ne myght hym fele & see
She shold stonde in suche degree
As whylome stood a swan to fore
Of that she had hyr make  [...]ore
For sorowe a fether in to her brayne
She shoof & hath hyr self slayn
As kyng Menander in a lay
The soth hath fonde where she lay
Spraulend with her wynges tweye
As she whiche shold than deye
For loue of hym which was her make

And so shal I do for thy sake
This quene sayde wel I wote
Lo to Enee thus she wrote
With many another word of cōpleynt
But he which had his thoughtes feint
Towardes loue & ful of slouthe
 [...]s tyme let & that was routhe
For she whiche loueth hym to fore
 [...] euer more & more
And when she sawe hym tarye so
Hyr hert was so ful of wo
That compleynend manyfolde
She hath hyr owne tale tolde
Vnto her self & thus she spack
A who fonde euer suche a lack
Of slouthe in ony worthy knyght
Now wote I wel my deth is dyght
Thurgh hym whiche shold haue be my
 [...]yf / But for to stynten al this stryf
Thus when she syghe none other bote
Ryght euen vnto her hert rote
A naked sword anone she threste
And thus she got hyr self reste
In remembraunce of al slowe
Wherof my sone thou myght knowe
Hou taryeng vpon the nede
In loues cause is for to drede
And that hath Dydo sore abought
Whoos deth shal euer be bethought
And euermore yf I shal seche
In this maner another speche
In a Cronyke I fynde wryte
A tale whiche is good to wyte

His loquitur super eodem qualiter [...]enolope vlixum maritum suum in obsidione Troie diucius morantem ob ipsius ibidem tardacionem epistola sua redargiut

aT Twye when kyng Vlyxes
Vpon the sege among ye pres
Of hem ye worthy kniȝtes we­re
Abode longe tyme stylle there
In thylke tyme a man may see
Hou goodly that Penolope
Whiche was to hym his trewe wyf
Of his lachesse wa [...] pleyntyf
Wherof to Troye she hym sende
Hyr wylle by letter thus spekende

My worthy loue & lorde alsso
It is & hath be euer soo
That where a woman is alone
At maketh a man in his persoue
The more hardy for to wowe
In hope that she wolde bowe
To suche thyuge as his wylle werr
Whyle that here lord were elles where
And of my self I telle this
For it so long passed is
Syth fyrste that ye from home went
That wele nyhe euery man is went
To come there I am whyle ye be oute
And besyly eche of hem aboute
Whiche loue can / my loue secheth
With grete prayer & me bysecheth
And somme maken grete manace
That yf they myght come in place
Where that they myght here wyl haue
There is no thyng me shold saue
That they ne wold worche thynges
And somme telle me tydynges
[Page lxx]That ye he dede & somme seyn
That certeynly ye be beseyn
To loue a newe & leue me
But holle as euer that it be
I thanke vnto the goddes alle
As yet for ought that is byfalle
May no man do my chekes rede
But netheles it is to drede
That lachesse in contynuaunce
Fortune myght werke suche a [...]chaunce
Whiche noman [...] after shal amende
Loo thus thys lady compleynend
A letter vnto hyr lord hath wryte
And prayd hym that he wold wyte
And thynke how that she was al his
And that he tarye not in this
But that he wold his loue acquyte
To her ayeneward & not wryte
But come hym self in al hast
That he none other paper wast
Soo that he kepe & holde his trouthe
Withoute let of ony slouthe

Vnto her lord & loue lyege
To Troye where the grete syege
Was leyd / this letter was conueyd
And he whiche wysedom hath purueyd
Of al that to reson belongeth
With gentyl hert it vnderfongeth
And when he hath it ouer rad
In part he was ryght Inly glad
And eke in part he was dysesed
But loue his hert hath thorugh sesed
With pure ymagynacyon
That for none occupacyon
Whiche he gan take on other syde
He may not flyt his hert asyde
For that his wyf hym had enformed
Wherof he hath hym self conformed
With al the wyl of his courage
To shape & take the  [...]yage
Homeward what tyme that he may
Soo that hym thynketh one day
A thousand yere tyl he may see
The  [...]ysage of Penolope
Whiche he desyreth moost of alle
And when the tyme was so byfalle
That Troye was destroyed & brent
He made no delayment
But goth hym home in al hyghe
Where that he fond to fore his eye
His worthy wyf in good estate
And thus was seced the debate
Of loue & slouthe was excused
Which doth gret harme where it is bsed
And hyndreth many a cause honest

Nota ad huc de quodam Astrologo super eodem qui quondam opꝰ ingeniosum quasi ad complementum septennius perducens vnius momenti tardacione omnem sui operis diligenciam pe nitus feustrauit /

For of the grete clerk Grostest
I rede how redy that he was
Vpon clergyr an hede of bras
To make & forge it for to telle
Of suche thynges as befelle
And seuen yeres besynesse
He layde but for the lachesse
Of half a mynute of an houre
Fro fyrst that he began laboure
He lost al that he had do

And other whyle it fareth soo
In loues cause who is slowe
That he withoute vnder the wowe
By nyght fue ofte stant a colde
Whiche myght yf that he had wolde
His tyme haue kept haue ben Inne

Nota ad huc contra tardacionem de virginibus fatuis que ni [...]iam morā facientes intrante sponso ad nupa [...]s cum ipso non introterunt

But slouthe may no profyt wynne
But he may synge in his Carole
How late ware come to the dole
Where he no good receyue myght
And that was proued wel by nyght
[Page]Whylome of the maydens fyue
When thylk lord cam for to wyue
For that her oy [...]e was awey
To lyght her lampes in the wey
Here slouthe brought it so aboute
Fro hym that they be shet oute

Wherof my sone that thou beware
As ferforth as I the telle dare
For l [...]u [...] must be awayted
And yf thou be not wel affayted
In loue to esehewe slouthe
My sone for to telle trouthe
Thou myght not of thy self be able
To wynne loue or make it stable
As though thou myȝtest loue acheue

My fadre that I may wel leue
But me was neuer assygned place
Where yet to gete ony grace
 [...]e me was no suche tyme appoynted
For than I wold I were vnioynted
Of euery lyme that I haue
If I ne shold hepe & saue
Myn oure bethe & eke my seede
If my lady it had  [...]de
But she is otherwyse auysed
Than graūt suche tyme assysed
And netheles of my lachesse
There hath be no defaulte I gesse
Of tyme lost yf that I myght
But yf her lyketh not alyght
 [...]pon no lure whiche I fynde & cast
For ay the more I crye fast
The lesse her lyketh for to here
So for to speke of this matere
I seche that I may not fynde
I hast & euer I am behynde
And wote not what it may amounte
But fadre vpon myn acompte
Whiche ye ben set to examyne
Of shryft after the diseyplyne
Say what youre best counseyl is

My sonne my counseyl is this
How so it stonde of tyme a goo
Doo forth thy besynes soo
That no lachesse in the be founde
For slouthe is myghty to confounde
The speed of euery man [...] werke
For many a vyce as sayth the clerke
There hongen vpon slouthes lappe
Of suche as maketh man myshappe
To pleyne & telle of that I wyst
And therupon yf that the lyst
To knowe of slouthes cause more
In specyal yet ouermore
There is a vyce ful greuable
To hym whiche is therof culpable
And stant of al wrtues bare
Here after as I shal declare

Qui nichi [...]attempt [...]t nichil expedit ore (que) muto / Munus amicicie vir sibi caro capit / Est modus in verbis sed et qui parcit amori / Verba referre sua [...]ō fauet vllus amor

Hic loquitur Confessor de quadam specie Accidie que pusillanimitas dicta est cuius Imaginatiua formido ne (que) virtutes aggredi ne (que) vicia f [...]gere au det / sic (quam) vtrius (que) vite tam actiue (quam) cō templatiue premium non attingit

Ouchend of slouth in his degre t
There is yet pusillanymyte
Whiche is to saye in this langage
He that hath lytel of courage
And dare not mans werke legynne
So may he not by reson wynne
For who that dare nought vndertake
By ryght he shal no profyte take
But of this vyce the nature
Dare no thyug set in auenture
Hym lacketh both worth & dede
Wherof he sholde his cause spede
He wol no manhode vnderstonde
For euer he hath drede vpon honde
Al his peryll that he shal saye
Hym thynketh the wolf is in the way
And of ymagynacyon
He maketh his excusacyon
[Page lxxj]And feyneth cause of pure drede
And euer he fayleth at nede
Tyl al be spylt that he with deleth
He hath the sore whiche no man heleth
The whiche is cleped lak of herte
Though euery grace aboute hym sterte
He wol not ones stew his fote
So that by reson lese he mote
That wol not aunter for to wynne

And soo forth sone yf we begynne
To speke of loue & his seruyce
There ben truantes in suche a wyse
That lakken hert vhan best were
They speken of loue & ryght for fere
They wexen dombe & dare not telle
Withoute soune as doth the belle
Whiche hath no claper for to chyme
And ryght so they as for the tyme
 [...]on herteles withoute speche
Of loue & dare no thyng byseche
And thus they lese & wynne nought
For thy my sone yf thou art ought
Culpable as touchend of this slouthe
Shryue the therof & telle me trouthe

My sadee I am al beknowe
That I haue ben one of the slowe
As for to telle in loues  [...]as
Myn hert is yet & euer was
And though the world shold to breke
So ferful that I dar not speke
Of what purpoos that I haue nome
When I toward my lady come
But lete it passe & ouer goo

My sone do no more soo
For after that a man pursueth
To loue so fortune seweth
Ful ofte & yeueth her happy chaunce
To hym whiche maketh contynuaunce
To preyse loue & to byseche
As by  [...]nsample I shal the teche

Hic in [...]moris causa loquitur contra [...] / Et dicit ꝙ Amons pre timore verbis obtumeseere non debet sed concinuando [...] sui amous [...]dia onem tucius prosequ [...]tur / Et ponit cō sessor Exēplum qualiter Pigma [...]ion / pro [...]0 (quam) preces continuauit quandam imaginem e [...]urneam cuius puleritudinis concupiscencia illaque [...]tus extitit in carnem & sanguinem ad latus suum transformatam sencijt

I Fynd hou whilome ther was one
Whos Iname was Pygmalyone
Whiche was a lusty man of youthe
The werkes of entayll he couthe
Aboue al other men as tho
And though fortune fel hym so
As he whome loue shal trauayle
He made an Image of entayle
Lycho to a woman in semblaunce
Of feture & of contynaunce
Soo fayre was neuer fygure
Ryght as alyues creature
She semeth for of yuor whyte
He hath hyr wrouȝt of suche delyte
She was rody on the eheke
And rody vpon hyr lyppes eke
Wherof that he hym self begyleth
For with a goodly looke she smyloth
So that thurgh pure Impressyon
Of his owne Imagynacion
With al the herte of his courage
His loue vpon this faire ymage
He set & hyr of lone he preyde
But she no word ayeneward seyde
The long day what thyng he dede
This Image in the same stede
Was euer by and att mete
He wold hyr serue & prayde her ete
And put vnto her mouthe the cuppe
And when the boord was taken vppe
He hath hyr in to his Chambre nome
And after when the nyght was come
He leyd hyr in his led al naked
He was for wepte he was for wasted
He kyste her colde lyppes ofte
And wyssheth that they were softe
And ofte he ronneth in her ere
And ofte his arme now here & there
[Page]He s [...]yd as he wold hyr embrace
And euer among he axeth grace
As though she wyst what he ment
And thus hym self he gan torment
With suche dysese of loues peyne
That noman myght hym more peyne
But how it were of his penaunce
He made suche contynuaunce
Fro day to nyght & prayd so long
That his prayer is vnderfonge
Whiche Venus of hyr grace herd
By nyght & when that he werst ferd
And it say in his naked arme
The cold ymage he felt warme
Of flessh & bone & ful of lyf

 [...]o thus he wan a lusty wyf
Whiche obeysaunt was at his wylle
And yf he wold haue hold hym stylle
And no thyng spoke he shold haue
faysed / But for he hath his word tra­
uayfed / And durst speke his loue he
spedde / And al that he wold abedde
For or they went than a two
A man childe betwene hem two
They ga [...]e whiche that hyght
 [...]aphus after the whome yet ful ryȝt
A certeyne y [...] whiche paphos
Men clepe & of this name aros

By this ensample thou myȝt fynde
That worde may worche aboue kynde
For thy my sone yf that thou spare
To speke lost is al thy fare
For slouthe bryngeth Inne al wo
And ouer this to loke also
The god of loue is fauourable
To hem that be of loue stable
And many a wondre hath byfalle
Wherof to speke amonges alle
If that ye lyst to taken hede
Wherof a solempne tale I rede
Whiche I shal telle in remembraunce
Vpon the sorte of loues chaunce

Hic ponit exemplum super eodem qualiter Rex Ligdus vxo [...]i sue▪ Thela cuse pregnanti [...]nabatur / (quam) si [...]am pareret Infans occidetetur▪ que tamen postea aim filiam ediderat. Isis de [...] patt [...]s tunc presens▪ Fi [...]am nomine fili [...] Iphi appellari / ipsam (que) more maseu [...] educare admonuit / quam pater Fi [...] credens Ipsam in maritagium fil [...] cuiusdam principis e [...]a [...]e slita copulauit Sed cum Iphis debitum sui co [...]ugij vnde soluere non habnit deos in sui ad iutorium interpellabat / qui super hoc miserti femineum genus in mascu [...]n [...] ob affectum / nature Ip [...]e per omnia transmu [...]runt

tHe kyng Lyg [...]ꝰ vpon a s [...]ryf
Spa [...] vnto Thelacuse his wif
Which than was with chyld [...]
grete▪ He swore it shold not be lete
That yf she had a doughter  [...]ore
That it n [...] shold be forlore
And slayn wherof she sory was
Soo it vyfel vpon this cas
Whan she delyuerd shld be
Isys by nyght in pryne [...]e
Whiche of childyng▪ is the goddesse
Cam for to helpe in that dys [...]r [...]sse
Tyll that this lady was al smal
And had a doughter forth with al
Whiche the goddesse in al weye
Bad kepe & that they shold seye
It were a sone & thus Iphys
They named hym & vpon this
The fadre was made for to wene
And thus in chambre with the qu [...]
This Iphis was forth drawe tho
And clothed and arayed so
Ryght as a kynges sone sholde
Tyl after as fortu [...]e it wolde
When it was of a ten yere age
Hym was bytake in maryage
A dukes doughter for to wedde
Whiche Daun [...]e hyght & ofte a bedde
These children lay she & she
Whiche of one age both be
[Page lxxij]Soo▪ that within tyme of yere [...]
To gede [...] as they ben pley fer [...]s
Lyggend a bed vpon a nyght
Nature whiche doth euery wyght
Vpon her lawe for to muse
Constreyneth hem so that vse
Thyng whiche to hem was al vnknow
Wherof Cupyde thylk throwe
Toke pyte for the grete loue
And lete do set kynde aboue
So that her lawe may be vsed
And they vpon her lust e [...]cused
For loue ha [...]eth no thyng more
Than thyng whiche stant ayenst ye  [...]ore
Of that nature  [...] kynde hath s [...]t
For thy Cupyde hath so beset
His grace vpon this auenture
That he acordaunt to nature
When that he sawe the tyme best
That eche of hem hath other  [...]est
Transformeth Iphe in to a man
Wherof the kynde loue he wan
Of lusty yongthe Iante his wyf
And tho they led a mery lyf
Whiche was to kynde none offence
And thus to take an euydence
It semeth loue is wel wyllend
To hem that be contynuend
With  [...]esy hert to pursue
Thynge whiche is to loue due
Wherof my sone in this matere
Thou myght  [...]nsample taken here
That with thy gre [...]e besynesse
Thou myght at [...]yne to rych [...]sse
Of loue yf that there be no slouth [...]
I dar wel say by my trouth:
As fe [...] as my wyt can seche
My fadre as for lak of speche
But se as I me sh [...]oof to fore
There is none other tyme lore
Wherof ther myght be obstacle
To let [...] loue of his myracle
Whiche I bys [...]ch [...] day & nyght
But fadre so as is ryght
In forme of shryf [...]e to be knowe
What thyng be [...]ngeth to the slowe
Your faderhode I wol prey
If ther be forther ony weye
Touchend vnto this ylk vyce
My sone ye of this offyce
Ther serueth one in specyal
Whiche hath lost his memoryal
So that he can not withholde
In thyng whiche to kepe is holde
Wherof hym self ful ofte agreueth
And who that moost vpon hym leueth
When that his wyttes  [...]en so weyued
He may ful lytel be deceyued

Mentibus oblita alienis labitur i [...]e Quē probat accidia nō meminisse fui Sic amor incautus qui non memoratur ad horas / Perdit & offendit quod [...]pera [...]e nequit.

Hic tractat Confessor de vicio obliuionis quā mater eius Accidia ad o [...]s virtutum memo [...]ias nec non & in amo ris causa inmemorem constitu [...]t

tO serue Accidie in his offyce
Ther is of slouth another vice
Whiche cleped is foryet ylness [...]
That may not in his hert impresse
Of vertu whiche reson hath sette
So clene his wyttes he foryede
For in the tellyng of his tale
No more his hert than his male
Hath remembraunce of thy [...]k forme
Wherof he shold his wyt enforme
And than yet ne wote he why
Thus is his purpoos nought for thy
Forlore of that he wold abyde
And scarsely yf he seeth the tyde
To loue of that he had ment
Thus many a louer hath be shent
Telle on therfore hast thou be one
Of hem that hath slouthe so begone

Y [...] fader it hath ofte be so
That when I am my lady fro
And thynke vnto ward her drawe
[Page]Then cast I many a newe lawe
And al the world torne vp so doune
And so decorde I my lesson
And wryte in my memoral
That I to her telle shal
For when I come there she is
I haue it al foryete  [...]wy [...]
Of that I thought for to telle
I can not than vnnethes spelle
That I wende alther best haue red
So sore of her I am adred
For as a man that sodenly
A goost byhelde so fare I
So that for fere I can not get [...]
My wyt but I my self foryete
That I wo [...] neuer what I am
N [...] whether I shal ne when I cam
But muse as he that were amased
 [...]yche to the book in whiche is rased
The letter & may no thyng be rad
See ben my wyttes ouer lad
That what as euer I thouȝt haue spo [...]ē
It is oute fro myn hert stoken
And stonde as who sayth dombe & deef
That al nys worth an Iuy leef
Of that I wende wel haue say [...]
And at last I make abrayd
 [...]ast vp myn heede & loke aboute
 [...]ght as a man that were in doude
And wote not where he shal bycome
Thus am I oft al ouercome
There as I wende best for to stonde
But after when I vnderstonde
And am in other place alone
I make many a woful mone
Vnto my self & speke soo
A fool where was thyn hert tho▪
When thou thy worthy lady syghe
Were thou  [...]ferd than of her eye
For of her hond there is no drede
So wel I knowe her womanly de
That in her is no more oul [...]age
Then in a child of thre yere age
Why hast thou drede of so good one
Whome al vertu both begone
That in her is no vyolence
But goodlyhede & Innocence
Withoute spot [...]e of ony blame
A nyce hert Fy for shame
A coward herte of loue vnlered
Wherof art thou so sore afered
That thy  [...]ong thou suffcest frese
And wolt thy goodly wordes lese
When thou hast fonde tyme & space
How sholdest thou deserue grace
When thou thy self darst axe none
But al thou hast foryete anone
And thus despute in loues  [...]ore
But helpe I fynde none the more
But stomble vpon myn owne treyne
And make an akynge of my peyne
For euer when I thynk among
Ho [...] al is on my self along
I say O fool of al fooles
Thou farest as bytwene two stole [...] ▪
That wold syt [...]e & goth to groū  [...]
It was ne neuer it shal be founde
Bytwene foryetylnes & drede
That man shold ony cause spede
And thus myn holy fadre dere
Toward my self as ye may hare
I pleyne of my fo [...]yetylnesse
But elles al the besynesse
That may be take of mans thought
My hert taketh & is thurgh sough [...]
To thynken euer vpon that swe [...]
Withoute slouthe I you byhete
For what so falle or wele or wo
That thought foryete I neuerm [...]
Where so I laugh or where so I loure
Nought half a mynute of an oure
Ne myght I lete oute of my mynde
But yf Itho [...]ght vpon that hende
Therof ne shal no slouthe lette
Tyl deth oute of this world me fet [...]e
Al though I had on suche a ryng
As moyses thorugh his enchauntynge
Somtyme in Ethyope made
When that he Tharbys wedded hade
Whiche ryng bare of oblyuyon
The name and was by reson
That where on a fynger it sate
[Page lxxiij]Anone his loue he so forya [...]e
And that he had it neuer knowe
And so it fel that ylke throwe
When Tharbys had it on her hond
No knowlechyng of hym she fond
But al was clene oute of memorye
As men may rede in his storye
And thus he went quyte aweye
That neuer after thylk day
She thought that ther was suche one
Al was foryete & ouer gone
But in good feyth soo may not I
For she is euer fast by
So that myn herte toucheth
That for no thyng yt slouthe voucheth
I may foryete her leef ne loth
For oueral where as she goth
Myn herte foloweth hyr aboute
Thus may I say withoute doute
For  [...]e [...] for werse for ouȝt for nouȝt
She passeth neuer fro my thought
But when I am there as she is
Myn herte as I you seyd or this
Somtym [...] of hyr is so sore adrad
And somtyme is ouerglad
And once of reule & o [...]e of space
For when I see her goodly face
And thynke vpon hyr hyghe prys
As though I were in paradys
I am so  [...]uesshed on the syght
To speke vnto her I n [...] myght
As for the tyme though I welde
For I ne may my wyt vnfolde
To fynde one word of that I men [...]
But al is it forye [...] clene
And though I stonde ther a myle
Al is foryerte for the whyle
A tonḡe I haue & wordes none
And thus I stond [...] & thynke alone
Of thyng that h [...]lpeth ofte nought
But what I had afore thought
To speke when I come there
It is fory [...] as nought ne were
And stonde  [...]mased & asso [...]ed
That of no thyng which I haue noted
I can not than a note synge
But al is oute of knoulechynge
Thus what for ioye & what for drede
Al is forye [...]e at the nede
So that my fader of this slouth
I haue you sayd the pleyn trouth
Ye may it as ye lyst redresse
For thus stant my foryetylnesse
And eke my pusyllanymy [...]e
Saye now forth what ye lyke to me
For I wol only do by you
My sone I haue wel herd hou thou
Hast sayd & thou must amende
For loue his grace wol not sende
To that man whiche dare axe none
For this we knowen euerychone
A mans thought withoute speche
God wote & yet men byseche
His wyl is for withoute bedys
He dothe his grace but in fewe stedys
And what man that foryete hym selue
Among a thousand be not twelue
That wol hym take in remembraunce
But lete hym falle & take his chaūce
For thy pul vp a besy herte
My sone & lete no thyng aster [...]e
Of loue fro thy besynesses
For touchyng of foryetylnesse
Whiche many a loue hath set behynde
A tale of grete ensample I fynde
Wherof it is py [...]e for to wyte
In the maner as it is wryte

Hic in amoris causa contra obliuiosos ponit Confessor Exemplum / qualiter Demophon versus bellum Troia num itinerando a Philli de Rodepey re gina non tantum in hospicium sed eciā in amorem gandio magno susceptus ē qui postea a [...] ipsa Tro [...] descendens rediturum infra certum tempus fide [...]ss [...] me se compromisit / sed qiua huiusmodi promissiones diem statutū oblitus [...] Phillis obliuionem Demephontis lacrimis primo deplangens tandem cordula collo suo circumligata▪ se mortuā suspendit

[Page]
kYng demophon when he by ship
To Troye ward with felauship
Seylend goth vpon his weye
It hapneth hym at Rodepeyr
As Eolus hym had blowe
To l [...]nd & rested for a throwe
And feste that ylke tyme thus
That the daughter of Lygurgius
Whiche quene was of the countre
Was soiourned in the Cyte
Within a Castel in the stronde
Where Demophon cam vp to the londe
 [...]hylles she hyght & of yong age
And bothe of stature & of  [...]ysage
She had al that hyr best vesemeth
Of Demophon ryȝt wel her quemeth
When he was come she made hym chere
And he that was of suche manere
A lusty knyght ne myght asterte
That he ne s [...]t on hyr his herte
So that within a day or twoo
He thought how euer that he go
He wold assaye the fortune
And gan with this quene comune
With goooly wordes in her ere
And for to put hyr oute of fere
He swore & hath his trouthe plyght
To be for euer hyr owne knyght
And thus with hyr he stylle abode
There whyle his shyp on anker rood
And bad ynough of tyme & space
To speke of loue & seke grace
This lady herd al that he sayde
How he swore & how he prayde
Whiche was an enchauntement
To her that was an Innocent
And though it were trouthe & feyth
She leueth al that euer he seyth
And as her fortune sholde
She graunteth hym al that he wolde
Thus was he for the tyme in ioye
Tyl that he shold go to T [...]o [...]e
But tho she made mochel sorowe
And he his trouth leyd to sorowe
To come & yf that he lyue may
Ageyne within a moneth day
And therupon they kysten bothe
But were hym leef or were hym loth
To shyp he goth & forth he went
To Troye as was his first entēt
The dayes gone the monethe passeth
Her loue encreseth & his lasseth
For hym she lost slepe & mete
And he his tyme hath al foryete
So that this woful yong quene
Whiche wote not what it myght mene
A letter send & prayd hym come
And sayd that she was ouercome
With strengthe of loue in suche a wyse
That she not long may suffyse
To lyuen out of his presence
And put vpon his conseyence
The trouthe whiche he hath  [...]
Wherof she loueth hym so hote
She sayth yf that he lenger lette
Of suche a / day as she hym sette
She shold ste [...]en in his slouthe
Whiche were a shame vnto his trouth
This letter is forth vpon hyr fonde
Wherof somdele comfort on honde
She took as she that wold abyde
And wayteth vpon that ylke tyde
Whiche she hath in her letter wryte

But now is pyte for to wyte
As he dyde erst / so he forgate
His tyme eftsone & forsate
But she whiche myght not do so
The tyde awayteth euermo
And cast hyr eye vpon the se [...]
Somtyme nay somtyme ye
Somtyme he cam somtyme nought
Thus she dysputeth in her thought
And wote not what she thynke may
But fastend al the long day
She was in to the derk nyght
And tho / she hath do set vp lyght
In a lanterne on hyghe  [...]
Vpon a toure where she goth ofte
In hope that in his comyng
He shold see the lyght brennyng
Wherof he myght his weyes ryght
To come where she was by nyght
[Page lxxiiij]But al for nonght she was deceyued
For Venus hath hyr hope weyued
And shewed hyr vpon the sky
How that the day was fast by
So that within a lytel throwe
The dayes lyght she myght knowe
Tho she byhelde the see at large
And when she saw ther was no bar­ge
 [...]e shyp  [...] fer as she may kenne
Doune fro the tour she gan to renne
In to an herber al hyr one
Where many a wōder woful mone
She made that no lyf it wyst
As she whiche al her ioye myst
That now she swouneth now she pleyneth
And her face she dyst [...]yneth
With teres whiche as of a welle
The stremes from her eyen felle
So as she myght & euer in one
She cleped vpon Demephon
And sayd Allas thou slowe wyght
There was neuer suche a knyght
That so thorugh his vngentylnesse
Of slouthe & of foryetylnesse
Ayenst his trouthe breketh his steuene
And tho hyr eye vp to the heuene
She cast & sayde O thou vnkynde
Here shalt thou for thy slouthe fynde
If that the lyst to come & see
A lady dede for loue of the
So as I shal my selue spylle
Whome yf it had be thy wylle
Thou myghtest saue wel Inough
With that vpon a grene bough
A  [...] of syle whiche there she ha d
She knyt & so hyr self she lad
That she aboute hyr whyte swere
Hit dede / & henge hyr self there
Wherof the goddes were amoued
And Demephon was reproued
That of the goddes prouydence
Was shape suche an euydence
Euer afterward ayene the slowe
That  [...]hillis in the same throwe
Was shape in to a note tre
That al men it myght see
And afterward  [...]hyllys  [...]hyllerd
This tre was cleped in the yerd
And yet for Demophon to shame
In to this daye it bereth the name
This woful chaunce & how it ferde
Anone as Demephon it herde
And euery man it had in speche
His sorowe was not tho to seche
He gan his slouthe for to banne
But it was al to late thanne

Lo thus my sone myght thou wyte
Ayene this vyde hou it is wryte
For no man may the harmes gesse
That fallen thurgh foryetylnesse
Wherof that I thy shryft haue herd
But yet of slouthe hou it hath ferd
In other wyse I thenke oppose
If thou haue gylt as I suppose

Dum plantare licet cultor qui n [...]cli git ortum / Si desint feuctus imputat ipse sibi / Preterit ista dies bona nec valebit illa secunda. Hoc caret exemplo lentus amore suo /

Hic tractat Confessor de vicijs necligencie cuius condicio A [...]idiam amplectens omnes artes sciencie tam in [...]mo [...]s cansa quam aliter ignominiosa pretermittens / cum nullum poterit e mi nere remedium sui ministerij diligenciam ey post facto in vacuum attemptare presumit

fVlfylled of slouthes exēplair
Ther is yet one his secretayr
And he is cleped Necligence
Whiche wol not loke his euydence
Wherof he may beware to fore
But when he hath his cause lore
Than is he wyse after the hond
When helpe may no maner bond
Than at fyrst wold he bynde
Thus euermore he stant behynde
When he the thyng may not amende
Than is he ware / and seyth at the ende
[Page]A wold god I had knowe
Wherof beiaped with a mowe
He goth / for when the grete stede
Is stole than he taketh hede
And maketh the stable dore fast
Thus euer he pleyth an after cast
Of al that he shal saye or do
He hath a maner  [...]ke also
Hym lyst not lerne to be wyse
For le sett of no vertu pryse
But as hym lyketh for the whyle
So fayleth he ful ofte gyle
When that he weneth seker to stonde
And thus thou myght wel vnderstōde
My sone yf thou art suche in loue
Thou myght not come at thyn aboue
Of that thou woldest wel acheue▪

Amans

Myn holy fadre as I leue
I may wel with sauf conscyence
Eycuse me of neglygence
Towardes loue in al wise
For though I  [...]e none of the wyse
So truly I am amerous
That I am euer curyous
Of hem that can best enforme
To knowen & wyten al the forme
What falleth vnto loues / craft
But yet ne fond I nought the haft
Whiche myght vnto the blade acorde
For neuer herd I man recorde
What thyng it is that myght auayle
To wynne loue withoute fayle
Yet so ferforth couthe I neuer fynde
Man that by reson ne by kynde
Me conthe teche suche an arte
That he ne fayled of a parte
And as toward myn owne wyt
Contryue I couthe neuer yet
To fynde ony se [...]yrnesse
That me myght other more or lesse
Of loue make me for to spede
For leueth wel withouten drede
That yf ther were suche a weye
As certaynly as I shal deye
I had it lerned long a go
But I wote wel there is none so
And netheles it may wel be
I am soo rude in my degre
And eke my wyttes ben soo dul
That I ne may nought to the ful
Atteyne vnto so hyghe a lo [...]e
But this I dar seye ouermore
Al though my wyt be not strong
It is not on my wyl along
For that is  [...]sy nyght & day
To lerne al that I lern emay
Hou that I myght loue wynne
But yet I am as to begynne
If I wold make an ende
And for I not hou it shal wende
That is to me my moost sorowe
But I dare take god to borowe
As after myn entendemēt
None other wyse neclygent
Than I you saye haue I not be
For thy pur seynt charyte
Telle me my fadre what yow semeth

Confessor

In good feyth sone wel me quemeth
That thou thy self hast thus acquyte
Toward this vyce in whiche noo wyte
A byde may for in an houre
He lost al that he may laboure
The long yere soo that men seyne
What euer he doth it is in veyne
For thorugh the slouthe of neclygēce
There was neuer suche a scyence
Ne vertue whiche was bodely
That nys destroyed & lost therby
Ensample that it hath be soo
In bokes I fynde wryte also

Hic contra vicium necligencie ponit Confessor Exemplum Et narrat ꝙ cum Pheton filius solis currum pa [...]is sui per [...] Regere debuerat ad monitus a patre vt equos ne deuiarent equa manu diligēciꝰ [...] ipse cōs [...] liū pris sua necligēcia pret [...]ēs equos [Page lxxv] curru nimis basse errare permisit / vn de non solum incendio orbem inflammauit / sed & ipsum de curru cadendem in quoddam fluuium demergi ad inte [...]tum causauit

pHebꝰ whiche is ye sōne hote
That shyneth vpon erthe hote
And causeth euery lyues hel­the
He had a sone in al his welthe
Whiche Pheton hyght & he desyreth
And with his modre he conspyreth
The whiche was cleped Clemene
For helpe & counseyl so that he
His fadre cart lede myght
Vpon the fayre dayes lyght
And for this thyng they both prayde
Vnto the fadre & he sayde
He wold wel but forth with al
Thre poyntes he bad in specyal
Vnto his sone in al wyse
That he hym shold wel auyse
And take it as by weye of lore
The first was that he his hors to sore
Ne pryk & after that he told
That he the reynes fast hold
And also that he be ryght ware
In what maner he ledeth his chare
That he mystake not his gate
But vp auysement algate
He shold bere a syker weye
That he to lowe ne to heye
His cart dryue at ony throwe
For drede lest he shold be ouerthrowe
And thus by Phebus ordynaunce
Toke Pheton in to goueruaunce
The sonnes cart whiche he lad
B [...]t he suche veyn glory had
Of that he was set vpon hygh
That he his owne estate ne sygh
Thorugh neglygence & took none hede
So myght he wel not long spede
For he the hors withouten lawe
The cart lete aboute drawe
Where as hym lyketh wantonly
That at the last sodenly
For he no reson wold knowe
This fyry cart he droue to lowe
And fyreth al the world aboute
Wherof they weren al in doute
And to the god for helpe cryden
Of suche vnhappes as betyden
Phebus whyche sawe the neglygence
How Pheton ayene his defence
His chare hath dryue oute of the weye
Ordeyneth that he fel a weye
Oute of the cart in to the flood
And drowned lo now how it stood
With hym that was so neglygent
That fro the hyghe fyrmament
For that he wold goo to lowe
He was anone doune ouerthrowe
In hyghe estate it is a vyce
To goo to lowe & in seruyce
It greueth for to goo to hyghe
Wherof a tale in  [...]eesye

Exemplum super eodem de Icharo filio Didali in carcere minotau [...] existente / cui Dedalus vt inde eu [...]faret alas componens firmite [...] imunxit / ne nimis alte propter solis ardorem ascen deret▪ quod Icharus sua ngligēcia post ponens cum alcius sublimatus f [...]sset subito ad terram corruens expira [...]t

I Fynde how whylome Dedalꝰ
Whiche had a sone / and Icharus
He hyght & though hym thought loth
In suche pryson they were both
With mynotaurus that aboute
They myghten nowher wenden oute
So they bygonnen for to shape
How they the pryson myght escape
This Dedalus whiche fro his youthe
Was taught & many craftes couthe
Of fethers & of other thynges
Hath made to flee dyuers wynges
[Page]For hym & for his sone also
To whome he yafe in charge tho
And bad hym thynke therupon
How that his wynges be set on
With wax & yf he took his flyght
To hyghe al sodenlyche he myght
Make it to melte with the sonne
And thus they haue hyr flyȝt legōne
Oute of the pryson fayre & softe
And they were both alofte
This Icharus gan to mounte
And of the good counseyl none acōpte
He set whiche his fadre taught
Tyl that the sonne his wynges caught
Wherof it melt &  [...]rom the hyght
Withouten helpe of ony flyght.
He felle to hi [...] destructyon
And lych [...] to that condycyon
There fallen oftymes fele
For lok of gouernaunce in wele
Als wel in loue as other weye

N [...]w good fadre I yow preye
If ther be more in the matere
 [...]f s [...]uthe that I myght it here
M [...] sene & for thy dylyg [...]nce
Whiche euery mans comeyence
 [...]y reson shold reule  [...] kepe
And yf that the lyst to take kepe
 [...] the trllen abouen alle
 [...]me no vertu may befalle
Whiche yeueth vnto the vyces rest
And is of sleuthe the slowest

Abs (que) labore vagus vi [...] inutilis [...]a plec [...]eno / Nescio qui [...] [...] vita v [...] bit ei. Non amor in ta [...] nusero [...]i get imme valoris / Qui faciūt opera clamat habere su [...]s /

Hic loquitur Confessor super illa specie [...]ue Ocium dicitur / auus condiao in virtutum cultura nullius occupacionis diligenciam admittene / cuiusaim (que) expe [...]icionem cause non attingit

aMong these other of  [...]louthes
kynde / Whiche al labour set be­hynde.
And hateth al besynes
T [...]re is yet one whiche Idelnes
Is cleped and is the noryoe
In mans kynde of euery vyce
Whiche secheth cases many folde
In wynter doth he nought for colde
In somer may he nought for hete
Soo whether that he feese or swete
Or be he in or be he oute
He wol ben ydel al aboute
But yf he pley ought at the dyes
For who that euer taketh fees
And thynketh worship to deserue
There is no lord whome he wol serue
And for to duelle in his seruyce
But for it were in suche a wyse
Of that he seeth parauenture
That by lordship & by oeuerture
He may the more s [...]onde stylla
And vse his Idelnesse at wylle
For he ne wol no trauaylle take
To ryde for his lady sake
But lyueth vpon al his wysshes
And as a Catt wold ete Fysshes
Without wetyng of his clees
So wold he do but netheles
He fayleth of that he haue wolde

Confessor

My sone yf thou of suche a molde

Art made telle me pleyne thy shryft

Amans

My fadre god I yeue a yift
That toward loue as he may wytt
Al ydel was I neuer yett
Ne neuer shal whyle I may goo

Now sone telle me than so
What hast thou done of besyshyp
To loue & to the ladyshyp
Of hyr whiche thy lady is

My fadre euer yet or this
In euery place in euery stede
What so my lady hath me bede
With al myn herte obedyent
I haue therto be dylygent
[Page lxxvj]And yf so be that she byd nought
What thyng in to my thought
Cometh fyrst of that I may suffyse
I bowe & profre my seruyce
Sōtyme in chambre somtyme in halle
Ryght so as I see the tymes falle
And when she goth to here masse
That tyme shal not me ouerpasse
That I ne approche hyr ladyhede
In aunter yf I may hyr lede
Vnto the chapel and ageyne
Than is not al my wey in veyne
Somdele I may the better fare
When I that may not fele hyr bare
May lede hyr clothed in myn arme
But afterward it doth me harme
Of pure Imagynacyon
For than there a collacyon
I make vnto my seluen ofte
And say O lord how she is softe
How she is round. how she is smal
Now wold god / I hadde hyr al
Withoute daunger at my wylle
And than I syke & sitte ful stylle
Of that I see my besy thought
Is torned Idel in to nought
But for al that lete I ne may
When I see tyme another day
That I ne do my besynes
Vnto my ladyes worthynes
For I therto my wytte affayte
To see the tyme & awayte
What is to done & what is to leue
And so whan tyme is by hyr leue
What thyng she bydde me do I doo
And where she bydde me go  [...] goo
And when hyr lyst to clepe I come
Thus hath she fullyche ouercome
Myn Idelnesse tyl that I sterue
Soo that I mote hyr nedes serue
For as men seyn nede hath no lawe
Thus mote I nedely to her deawe
I serue I bowe I lofte I lowte
Myn eye foloweth hyr aboute
What so she wol so wol I
When she wol syt I knele her by
And when she stōdeth than wol I stōd
But when she taketh hir werk on hōd
Of weuyng or of brouderye
Than can I not but muse & prye
Vpon hyr fyngers long & smale
And now I thynke & now I tale
And now I synge & now I syke
And now my contenaunce I pyke
And yf it falle as for a tyme
Her lyketh nought abyde byme
But occupyeth hyr on other thynges
Than make I other taryenges
To dryue forth the long daye
For me is loth to departe a waye
And than I am so symple of port
That for to feyne somme dysport
I play wyth hyr lytel hounde
Now on the bed now on the ground
Now with the byrdes in the cage
For there is none so lytel page
Ne yet so symple a Chamberere
That I ne make hem alle chere
And al for they shold speke wele
Thus may ye see my besy whele
That goth not ydelyche aboute
A [...] her lyst to ryden oute
 [...] or other stede
I come thus though I be not bede
And take hyr in myn arme alofte
And set hyr in hyr sadel softe
And so forth lede hyr by the brydel
For that I wold not ben ydel
And yf her lyst to ryde in chare
And that I may therof be ware
A none I shape me for to ryde
Ryght euen by the chares syde
And as I may I speke among
And otherwhyle I synge a songe
Whiche Ouyde in his book made
And sayd O what sorowes glade
O what woful prosperyte
Belongeth to the propyrte
Of loue who so wol hym serue
And yet ther fro may no man swerue
That he ne mote his lawe obeye
And thus I ryde forth my weye
[Page] And am ryght besy oueral
With herte & with my body al
As I baue sayd yow here to fore
My good fadre telle me therfore
Of ydelnes yf I haue gylt

My sone but yf thou alle wylt
Ought elles than I may now here
Thou shalt haue no penaunce here
And netheles a man may see
How now a dayes that ther be
Ful many of suche hertes slowe
That wol not besyen hem to be knowe
What thyng that loue is tyl at the last
That he with strengthe hem ouercast
That maulgre hem they mote obeye
And done al ydelshyp aweye
To serue wel & besylyche
But sone than art thou none of suche
For loue shal the wel excuse
But otherwyse yf thou refuse
To loue thou myght so par ca [...]s
B [...]n Idel as somtyme was
A kynges doughter vnauysed
Tyl that Cupyde hyr hath chastysed
Where of thou shalt a tal [...] here
Acordaunt vnto this matere

Hic ponit Confessor Ex [...]mplum [...]os qui in amoris occupacionem omit [...] grauioris infortunij casus expectant / Et narrat de quadam Armennie Regis filia que huiusmodi condicionis in [...]anapio iuuentutis ociosa persistēs micabili postea visione castigata in amoris obseqiuum pre ceteris diligencior efficitur /

oF armenye I rede thus
Ther was a kyng whiche he­rupus /
Was hote & he a lusty mayde.
To doughter had & as men saide
Her name was Rosiphele
Whiche tho was of grete renome
For she was bothe wyse & feyre
And shold be hyr fadre heyre
But she had one defaulte of slouthe
Towardes loue & that was routhe
For so wel couthe noman seye
Whiche myght her set in the weye
Of loues occupacyon
Thorugh none Imagynacyon
That seole wold she not knowe
And thus she was one of the slowe
As of suche hertes besynesse
Tyl when Venus the goddesse
Whiche loues court hath for to reule
Hath brought her in to better reule
Forth with Cupyde & his myght
For they meruayle how suche a wyght
Whiche tho was in her lusty age
Desyreth nouther maryage
Ne yet the loue of peramours
Whiche euer hath ben the comon cours
Among hem that lusty were
So was it shewed after there
For he that hye hertes loweth
With fyry dart whiche he throweth
Cupyde whiche of loue is god
In chastysynge hath made a rod
To dryue awey her wantonnesse
Soo that within a whyle I gesse
She had on suche a chaunce sporned
That al her moo [...] was ouertorned
Whiche fyrste she had of slowe manere
For this it fel as thou shalt here
When come was the moneth of may
She wold walke vpon a day
And that was or the sonne aryst
Of women but a fewe it wyst
And forthe she went pryuely
Vnto the park was fast by
Al soft walkend vpon the gras
Tyl she cam ther the laūde was
Thorugh which there ran a grete riuer
It thought hyr fayr & sayd her
I wol abyde vnder the shawe
And badde hyr women to withdrawe
And there she stood alone stylle
To thynke what was in her wylle
She sawe the swete floures spryng
She herd gladde foules synge
[Page lxxvij]She sawe bestes in her kynde
The buk the doo the hert the hynde
The male go with the femele
And so bygan there a quarele
Bytwene loue & hyr owne hert
For whiche she couthe not astert
And as she cast hyr eye aboute
She sawe clad in one sute a route
Of ladyes where they come ryde
A long vnder the wode syde
On fayre ambulend hors they sete
That were al whyte fat & grete
And they echone ryde on syde
The sadeles were of suche a pryde
With perles & gold so wel begone,
So ryche sawe she neuer none
In kyrtels & in copes ryche
They were clothed al alyche
Departed euen of whyte & blewe
With al lustes that she knewe
They were embroudred oueral
Here bodyes were long & smal
The beaute fayr vpon hyr face
None erthely thyng it may deface
Corownes on theyr hedes they bere
As eche of hem a quene were
That al the gold of Cresus halle
The lest coronal of hem alle
Myȝt not haue bought after the worth
Thus come they rydend forth
The kynges doughter that sawe yt tide
For pure abasshede drewe hyr asyde
And held hyr cloos vnder abough
And lete hem stylle ryde Inough
For as her thought in her auyce
To hem that were of suche a pryce
She was not worthy to axe there
Fro when they come & what they were
Bnt leuer than this worldes good
She wold haue wyst how it stood
And put hyr hede a lytel oute
And as she loked hyr aboute
She sawe comend vnder the lynde
A woman vpon an hors behynde
The hors on which she rood was blak
Al  [...]ene & galled vpon the back
And halted as he were enc [...]oyed
Wherof the woman was annoyed
Thus was the hors in sory plyght
But for al that a sterre lyght
Amyddes in the front she had
Her sadel este was wonder bad
In whiche the woful woman sat
And netheles ther was with that
A ryche brydel for the nones
Of gold & precious stones
Here cote was somdele to tore
Aboute her myddel tweuty score
Of hors halters & wel mo
Ther hangen that tyme tho
Thus when she cam the lady nyghe
Thenne she took better hede & syghe
This woman was fayr of vylage
Fresshe lusty yong & tendre of age
And so this lady there she stood
Bethought hyr wel & vnderstood
To this whiche come rydend tho
Tydynges couthe telle of tho
Whiche as she sawe to fore ryde
And put hyr forth & prayd hyr abide
And sayd O suster lete me here
What ben they that ryden now here
And ben so rychely arrayed

This woman that so cam esmáyed
Ausuerde with ful softe speche
And sayd Madame I shal you teche
These ar of tho that whylome were
Seruauntes to loue & trouthe bere
There as they had theyr hertes sett
Fare wel for I may not let
Madame I go to my seruyor
So must I hast in al wyse
For thy madame yeue me leue
I may not long with you leue
A good suster yet I preye
Telle why ye be so beseye
And with these haltres thus begone

Madame whilome I was one
That to my fadre had a kyng
But I was slowe & for no thyng
Me lyst not to loue obeye
And that I now ful sore obeye
[Page]For I why lome no loue had
My hors is now feble & bad
And al to tore is myn array
And euery yere this fresshe may
These lusty ladyes ryde aboute
And I must nedes sewe her route
In this maner as ye now see
And trusse hyr haltres forth with me
And am but her hors knaue
None other offyce I ne haue
Hem thynketh I am worthy no more
For I was slowe in loues lore
When I was able for to lere
And wold not the tales here
Of hem that couthe loue teche

Now trsse me than I you byseche
Where fore that ryche brydel serueth
With that awey her chere she swerueth
And gan to wepe & thus she told
This ryche brydel whiche ye behold
So ryche vpon myn hors hede
Madame afore or I was dede
When I was in my lusty lyf
There felle in to myn herte a stryf
Of loue whiche me ouercome
So that therof hede I nome
And thought I wold loue a knyght
That last wel a fonrtenyght
For it no lenger myght last
So nyghe my lyf was at the last
But now allas to late ware
That I ne had hym loued are
For deth cam so hast vyme
 [...]r I therto had ony tyme
That it ne myght ben acheued
But for al that I am releued
Of that my wylle was good therto
That loue suffreth it be soo
That I shal suche a brydel were
Now haue ye herd al myn ansuere
To god madame I yow betake
And warneth al for my sake
Of loue that they be nought ydel
And byd hem thynke vpon my brydel
And with that word al sodenly
She passeth as it were a sky
Al clene oute of the lady syght
And tho for fore hyr hert aflyght
And sayd to hyr self Allas
I am ryght in the same caas
But and I lyue after this daye
I shal amende it yf that I maye
And thus homeward this lady went
And chaunged al hyr fyrst entent
Within hyr hert & gan to s [...]bere
That she no haltres wold bere

Lo sone here myght thou take hede
How / Idelnes is for to drede
Namelyche of lone as I haue wryte
For thou myght vnderstond & wyte
Among the gentyl nacyon
Loue is an occupacyon
Whiche for to kepe his lustes saue
Shold euery gentyl hert haue
For as that lady was chastysed
Ryght so the knyght may be auysed
Whiche ydel is & wol not serue
To longe he may per caas deserue
A gretter peyne than she had
When she aboute with her lad
The hors haltres & for thy
Good is to be ware ther by
But for to loken abouen alle
These maydens hou so it falle
They shold take ensample of this
Whiche I haue told forsothe it is

My lady Venus whome I serue
What wommen wol her thank deserue
She may not thylk loue eschelbe
Of peramours but she mote sewe
Cnpydes lawe and netheles
Men seyn suche loue selde in pees
That it nys euer vpon afpye
Of Iange lyuge & of fals enuye
Ful ofte medled with dysese
But thylk loue is wel at ease
Whiche sett is vpon maryage
For that dare shewen the vysage
In alle places openly
A grete meruaylle it is for thy
How that a mayde wol lette
That she her tyme ne besette
[Page lxxviij]To hast vnto thylke feste
Wherof the loue is al honeste
Men may recouer losse of good
But so wyse a man yet neuer stood
Whiche may recouer tyme lore
So may a mayden wel therfore
Ensample take of that she straungeth
Hyr loue & long or that she chaungeth
Hyr herte vpon hyr lustes grene
To maryage as it is sene
For thus a yere two or thre
She left / or▪ that she wedded be
Whyle she the charge myght bere
Of children whiche the wo [...]ld forbere
Ne may but yf it sholde fayle
But mayden that in her spousayle
Wold tarye when she take may
She shal per chaunce an other day
Be let when that her leuest were
Wherof a tale vnto thyn ere
Whiche is culpable vpon this dede
I thenke telle of that I rede

Ic ponit Exemplum super eodē [...] Et narrat de filla Iepte quc aim [...]x sui patr [...]s voto in holocaustum deo oc cidi & offerri deveret ipsa pro eo quod virgo fuit & prolem ad augmētacionē populi dei nondum genuisset. xl. dierū spacium vt cum suis sodalibus virginibus suam defleret virginitatem priusquam moreretur in exemplum aliorum a patre postulauit

 [...] Mong the Iewes as mē told
There was whylome by dayes old▪
A noble duc which Iepte hyght / 
And felle he shold go to fyght
Ageyne Amon the cruel kyng
And for to speke vpon this thyng
within his hert he made a vowe
To god & sayd O lord yf thou
Wol graunte vnto my men vyctorye
I shal in tokne of thy memorye
The fyrst lyf that I may see
Or man or womman where it be
Anone as I come home ageyne
To the whiche art god souereyne
Sleen in thy name & sacryfye
And thus with his chyualrye
He goth hym forth where yt he sholde
when be had wonne what he wolde
And ouercam his fomen alle
May noman knowe that shal falle
This duk a lusty doughter had
And fame whiche the world sprad
Hath brought vnto this ladyes ere
How that her fadre hath do there
She wayteth vpon his comynge
with daunsyng & with carolyng
As she that wold be to fere
Al other & so she was therfore
In masphat at her fadres gate
The fyrst & when he cometh ther ate
And sawe his doughter he to brayde
His clothes & wepend he sayde

O myghty god amonge vs here
Now wote I not in what manere
This worldes ioye may be pleyne
I had al that I couthe seyne
Ayene my fomen by thy grace
So when I cam to ward this place
There was no gladder man than I
But now my lord al sodenly
My ioye is torned in to sorowe
For I my doughter shal to morowe
To he [...]e & brenne in thy seruyce
To louynge of thy sacryfyce
Though myn auowe so as it is

The mayden when she wyst of this
And sawe the sorow hyr fader made
So as she maye with wordes glade
Comforted hym & bad hym holde
His couenaunt as he was beholde
Towardes god as he behyght
But netheles hyr hert aflyght
Of that she sawe hyr deth comend
And than vnto the ground knelend
To fore hyr fadre she is falle
[Page]
 [...][Page lxxviij]
 [...][Page]
And sayth so as it is falle
Vpon this poynt that she shal dye
Of one thyng first she wold hym prey
That fourty dayes of respyte
He wold hyr graunt vpon this plyȝt
That she the while may be wepe
Hyr maydenhede whiche she kepe
So long hath had & not beset
Wherof her youthe is let
That she no children hath forth drawe
In maryage after the lawe
So that the peple is not encreced
But that it myght be releced
That she her tyme hath lore so
She wold by his leue go
With other maydens to compl [...]yne
And after ward vnto the peyne
Of doth she wold come ageyne

The fader herd his doughter seyn
And therupon of one assent
The maydens were anone assent
That sholden with this mayden wende
So for to speke vnto this ende
They gone the dounes & the dales
With wepyng & woful tales
And euery with hyr maydenhode
Compleyneth vpon thilk nede
That she no childer had bore
Wherof she hath hyr youthe lore
Whiche neuer she recouere may
For so fel that hyr last day
Was come in whiche she shold take
Her deth whiche she may not forsake
 [...] thus she deyde a woful mayde
For thylk cause whiche I sayde
As thou hast vnderstonde aboue
My fader as toward the loue
Of maydens for to telle trouthe
Ye haue thylk vyce of slouthe
Me thynketh wonder wel declared
That ye the women haue not spared
Of hem that tary so behynde
But yet it falleth in my mynde
Toward the men hou that ye speke
Of hem that wol no trauayl seke
In cause of loue vpon desert
To speke in wordes so couuert
I not what trauayl that ye ment

My sone & after myn entent
I wol the telle hou that I thought
Hou whilome men her loues bought
Thorugh grete trauail in straūge lōdes
Where yt they wrought with her hōdes
Of armes many a worthy dede
In sondry places as men may rede

Quem probat armorum probitas venus approbat & que in / Torpor habet reprobū reprobat illa virum / Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse venit

Hic loquitur quod in amoris causa milicie probitas ad armorum laboris eyercicium nullatenus torpescat

tHat euery loue of pure kynde
Is fyrst forth drawe wel I fynde / 
But netheles yet ouer this,
Deserte doth so that it is
The rather had▪ in many place
For thy who so seche loues grace
Where that these worthy women ar [...]
He maye not than hym selue spare
Vpon his trauayle for to serue
Wherof that he may thank deserue
These men of armes ther as they be
Somtyme ouer the grete see
So that by lond & eke by shyp
He mote trauayle for worshyp
And make many hasty rodes
Sōtyme in pruys somtyme in Rodes
And somtyme in to Tartarye
So that these herauldes on hym crye
Vaylant Vaylant / lo where he goth
And he yeueth hem gold & clothe
So that his name myght sprynge
And to his lady ere brynge
Somme tydyng of his worthynesse
So that she myght of his prowesse
[Page lxxix]Of that she herd men recorde
The better vnto his loue acorde
And daunger put oute of her mood
When al men recorden good
And that she wote wel for her sake
That  [...] no trauayl wold forsake
My sone of this trauayle I mene
Now shryue the for it shal be sene
If thou art ydel in this cas
My fader ye and euer was
For as me thynketh truly
That euery man doth more than I
And of this poynt & yf so is
That I haue ought done or this
It is so lytel of acompte
As who sayth it may not amonnte
To wynne of loue his lusty yift [...]
For this I telle you in shryft [...]
That me were leuer her loue wynne
Than Prayre & al that is therynne
And for to slee the hethen alle
I not what good ther myght falle
So moche blood though ther were shad
This fynde j so wryten that Cryst bad
That no man other shold sle
What shold I wynne ouer the see
If I my lady left at home
But passe they the salt fome
To whome cryst bad shold preche
To al the world & his feyth teche
But now they rucken in her nest
And resten as hem lyketh best
In al the swetenes of delyces
Thus they defenden vs the vyces
And sytten hem self al amy [...]de
To slee & fyghte they vs bydde
Hem whome they shold as  [...] boke seith
Connerten vnto Crystes feyth
But here of haue I grete meruayle
Hou they wold me byd trauayle
A Sa [...]syn yf I slee shal
I slee the soule forth with al
And that was neuer Crystes lote
But now hoo therof I saye nomore

Hic allegat Amans in sui excusacionem qualiter Achilles apud Troiam propter amorem [...]olixene [...] arma sua per aliquod tempus dimisit

But I wol speke vpon my shri [...]
And to Cupyde I make a yefte
That who as euer pryce deserue
Of Armes I wol loue serue
As though I shold hem bothe kepe
As wel wold I take kepe
When it were tyme to abyde
As for to trauayle & for to ryde
For hou as euer a man laboure
Cupyde hath euer his houre
For I hane herd telle also
Achilles left hs armes soo
Bothe of hym self & of his men
At Troye fro Polyxenen
Vpon hyr loue when he felle
That for no chaunce that be felle
Among the grekes vp or doune
He wold nought ayene the touus
B [...] armed for the loue of her
And so me thynketh leue syr
A man of armes may hym rest
Somtyme in hope for the best
If he may fynde a wey nerre
What shold I than go so ferre
In strannge londes many a my [...]
To ryde & lese at home the whyle
My loue it were a short beyete
To wynne chaf & lese whete
But yf my lady byd wolde
That I for her loue sholde
Trauaylle me thynketh truly
I myght flee thorugh oute the sky
And so thorugh oute the depe see
For al ne sett I not a s [...]re
What th [...]ng that I myght elles gete
What helpeth a man to haue mete
When drynk lakketh on the boord
What helpeth ony mans word
To sey hou I trauayle fast
Where as me fayllith at the last
That thynge whiche I trauaylle fore
[Page]O in good tyme were he  [...]ore
That myght atteyne suche a nede
But certes yf I myght spede
With ony maner besynesse
Of worldes trauayl than I gesse
There shold me none ydelshyp
Departe from hyr ladyshyp
But this I see on dayes now
The blynde god I wote not hou
Cupyde whiche of loue is lord
He set the thynges in dyscord
That they that loue lest attende
Ful ofte he wold hem yeue & sende
Moost of his grace & thus I fynde
That he that shold goo behynde
Goth many a tyme fer to fore
So wot [...] I not ryght wel therfore
On wheder boord that I shal sey [...]e
Thus can I nought my self counseyle
But al I set on auenture
And am as who seyth oute of cure
For ought that I can sey or do
For euermo I fynde it soo
The more besynes that I lay
The more that I knele & pray
With good wordes & with soft [...]
The more I am refused ofte
With besynes & maye not wynne
And in good feyth that is grete synne
For I may sey of dede & thought
That ydel man haue I  [...]e nought
For hou as euer that I be slayde
Yet euermore I haue assayde
But though my besynes last
Al is but ydel at the last
When theffect is ydelnesse
I not what thyng is besynesse
Saye what auayleth al the dede
Whiche helpeth no thyng at nede
For the fortune of euery fame
Shal of his ende lere a name
And for ought that is yet befalle
And ydel man I wol me calle
And after myn entendement
But vpon youre amendement
Myn holy fadre as yen semeth
My reason & my cause demeth
Myn sone I haue herde the m [...]
Of that thou haste the shryn [...]n here
And for to speke of  [...]ydel fare
Me semeth that thou tharst not  [...]
But only that thou myght not spede
And therof sone I wol the rede
Abyde & haste not to faste
Thy dyes ben euery day to caste
Thou nost what chaūce shall bety [...]
Better is to wayte vppon the tyde
Than rowe ayenst the stremes stronge
For though so be ye thynke long
 [...]er caas the reuolucyon
Of heuene and thy condicyon
Ne be not yet of one acord
But I dar make this record
To venus whoos preest that I am
That sythen that I thyder cam
To here as she me bad thy lyf
Wherof thou els be gyltyf
Thou myght herof thy conscyence
Excuse & of greete dylygence
Whiche thou to lone hast so dyspended [...]
Thou oughtest wel to be commended
But yf so be that ther ought fay [...]
Of that thou slouthest to trauaylle
In armes for to be absent
And for thou makest an argument
Of that thou saydest here aboue
Hou achilles thurgh strengthe of loue
His armes left for a throwe
Thou shalt an other tale knowe
Whiche is contrayre as thou shalt wi [...]
For this a man maye fynde wryde
When that knyghthode shal be werred [...]
 [...]ust may nought thenne be preferred
The bed mote than be forsake
And shelde & spere on hond take
Which thing shal make hem after glad
When they worthy kynght [...]  [...]  [...]
Wherof soo as it cometh to honde
A tale thou shalt vnderstonde
Hou that a knyght shalle armes sewe
And for the while hi [...]  [...]ase eschewe

[Page lxxx]Hic dicit [...] [...]moris delectamento posi [...]si [...] miles arn [...] sua preferre defet / Et ponit e [...]emplum de v [...]yxe cum ipse a bello Troiano prop [...]r amorem [...]e [...]o [...] remanere domi voluisset / Nā plus pater Palamides cum tantis sermonibus allocutus est / [...] vlixes thoro sue coningis relicto labores Armorum vna cum alijs Troie magnanimus su [...]t

 [...]on knyȝthode I nede thus
How whylome the kyng Nā plus /
The fader of  [...]alamydes
Cam for to preyen  [...]lyxes
With other Gregoys eke also
That he with hem to Troye goo
Where that the [...]syege▪ shold be
Anone vpon  [...]enelope
His wys whome that he loueth hote
Thynkynde wold not hem behote
But he shope than a wonder wyle
Hou that he sholde hem begyle
So that he myght du [...]lle stylle
At home & weld his loue at wylle
Wherof erly at the morowe day
Oute o [...]his bed where that he lay
When he was vp / he gan to fare
In to the felde & loke & stare
As he whiche feyneth to be wood
He took a plough where that it stood
Wheryn anone in stede of Oxes
He lete do yoken grete Foxes
Aud with grete salt the lond he sewe
But Namplus whiche the cause knew
Ayene the sleyghte whiche he feyneth
Another sleyghte anone ordeyneth
And felle that tyme vlyxes had
A childe to sone & namplus  [...]ad
Hou men that child take shold
And set hym vpon the mold
Where that his fader helde the plough
In thilk forugh whiche  [...]e tho drough
For in suche wyse he thought ossaye
Hou it vlyxes shold paye
If that he were wood or none
The knyghtes for the child forth gone
The lamacus anone was fett
To fore the ylough & euen sett
Where that his fadre shold dryue
But when he sawe his chyld blyue
He droof the plough oute of the weye
And Namplus tho bygan to seye
And hath half in a iape cryed
O vlyxes thou art aspyed
What is al this thou woldest mene
For openlyche it is now sene
That thou hast feyned al this thyng
Whiche is grete shame to a kyng
When that for lust of ony slouthe
Thou wylt a quarel of trouthe
Of armes thylk honour forsake
And duelle at home for loues sake
For better it were honour to wynne
Than loue whiche lykyng is inne
For thy take worshyp vpon honde,
And elles thou shalt vnderstonde
These other worthy knyghtes alle
Of Grece whiche vnto the calle
Towardes the wol be ryght wroth
And greue the per chans both
Whiche shal be to the double shame
Moost for the hyundrynge of thy name
That thou for slouthe of ony loue
Shalt so thy lustes set aboue
And leue of Armes the knyghthode
Whiche is the pryce of thy manhode
And ought fyrst to be desyred
But he whiche had his herte fyred
Vpon his wyf when he this herd
Nought one word there ayeue ansuerd
But torneth hym haluyng ashamed
And within hym self so tamed
His herte that al the soty [...]
Of loue for chyualrye
He left & be hym leef or loth
To Troye with hem forth be goth
That he myght not excuse
Thus stant it yf a knyght refuse
The lust of armes to trauayle
There may no worldes ease auayle
But yf worshyp be with al
[Page]And that shewed hath oueral
For it syt wel in al wyse
A knyght to be of hyghe empryse
And put al drede aweye
For in this wyse I haue herd seye

hIc narrat super eodē qualiter La adomia Regis Prothesalai vxor volens ipsum a bello Troiano secum re [...]inere fatam sibi mortem in portu troie prenunciauit▪ sed ipse miliciam poa [...]e (quam) ocia affectans Troiam adijt. vbi sue mortis pr [...]c [...]o perpetue laudis Troni [...]m ademit

The worthy kyng Prothesalay
On his passage where he lay
Toward Troye thylk syege
She whiche was his owne lyege
 [...]domye his lusty wyf
Whiche for his loue was pensyf
As she whiche al hyr herte he had
Vpon a thyng whiche she [...]drad
A letter for to make hym duelle
Fro Troye send hym thus to telle
Hou she hath axed of the wyse
Touchend of hym in suche a wyse
That they haue done to vnderstond
Toward other hou so it stonde
The destyne it hath so shape
That he shal not the deth escape
 [...]n c [...] that he at [...]yue at Troye
For thy as to theyr worldes ioye
With al hyr herte she hym preyde
And many another cause alleyde
That he with hyr at home abyde
But he hath cast hyr letter a syde
As  [...]e whiche tho no maner hede
Took of hyr wommans drede
And forth he goth as nought ne were
To Troye & was the fyrst there
Whiche  [...]ondeth & took ar [...]yuayle
For hym was leuer in the bataylle
He seyth to deyen as ā knyght
Than for to lyue in al his myght
And be reproued of his name
Lo thus vpon the worldes fame
Knyghthode hath euer yet beset
Whiche with no cowardye is let

Adhn [...] super eodem qua [...]iler Rex Saul non obstante (quam) per Samuelem a Phitonissa suscitatum et coniu [...]atum responsum (quam) [...]pse in bello moreretur. accepisset hostes tamen suos aggredens mi [...]icie famam cunctis huius vite blā dimentis preposuit

oF kyng Saul also I fynde
When samuel out of his kinde
Thorugh yt ye phi [...]nes hath lered /
In Samarye was a [...]ed Long tyme after that he was dede
The kyng Saul hym axeth dede
If he shal goo fyght or none
And Samuel hym sayd anone
The fyrst day of the bataylle
Thou shalt be slayn withoute faylle
And Ionathas thy sone also
But hou as euer it felle soo
This worthy knyght of his courage
Hath vndertake the vyage
And wold nought his knyghthode let
For no perylle he couthe set
Wherof that bothe his sonne &  [...]e
Vpon the Mount of Gel [...]oe
Assemblen with here enemyes
For they knyghthode of suche a prys
By old dayes thenne helden
That they none other thyng beh [...]lden
And thus the fader for worshyp
Forth with his sonne of felaushyp
Thorugh lust of armes weren dede
As men may in the byble rede
There whos knyghthode is yet in mynd
And shal be to the worldes  [...]nde

[Page lxxxj] [...]Ic loquitur ꝙ miles [...] suis primordij [...] ad audaciam prouoc [...]re de [...]et / Et narrat qualitar Cyro Centaurues Athillem qui secum ab infancia in mō tem Pileon educauit vt auda [...] efficeretur primitus edocui [...] / (quam) cum ipse venacionibus insisteret [...]eoues & Tigrides huiusmodi (que) animalia resistencia & nulla alia fugitiua agitaret▪et sic Achilles in iuuentute animatus famosis sime milicie probitate in post [...]odum ad optauit

aNd for to loken ouermore
It hath & shal le euermore
That of knyȝthode yt prowesse
Is grounded vpon hardynesse
Of hym & that he wol vndertake
And who that wold ensample take
Vpon the forme of knyghtes  [...]awe
Hou that Achilles was forth deawe
With Chyro whiche Centaurus hyȝt [...]
Of many a wonder lere he myght [...]
For it stood thylk tyme thus
That this Chyro this Centaurus
Within a large wyldernesse
Where was lyon & Leoness:
The leopard and the Tygre also
With hert / hynd / buk / and doo
Hath his duellyng as tho byfelle
Of Pyleon vpon the helle
Wherof was than mochel speche
There hath Chyro this child to teche
What tyme he was of [...] twelue yere age
Wherfore to maken his courage
The more hardy by other weye
In the forest tho to hunte & pleye
What tyme Achilles walke wold
Cent [...]nrus bad that he ne shold
After no beest make his chaas
Whiche wold fleen oute of his place
As ba [...] doo herte & Hynde
With whiche he may no we [...]e fynde
But tho that wold hym withstonde
There shold he with his dart on honde
Vpon the Tygre and the Lyon
Purchace & take his venyso [...]
As to a knyght is acordaunt
And therupon a couenaunt
This Chyro with Achilles set
That euery day withoute lett
He shold seche a cruel best
Or fle or wounden at the lest
So that he myght a tokne brynge
Of blood vpon his home comyng
Thus that of Chyro hym taught
Achilles suche an herte caught
That he no more a lyon drad
When be his dart on hond  [...]ad
Than yf a lyon were an asse
And that hath made hym for to passe
Al other knyghtes of his dede
When it cam to the grete nede
As it was afterward wel knowe

Confessor

 [...]o thus my sone thou myghte knowe
That the courage of hardyesse
Is of knyghthode the prowesse
Whiche is to loue suffysaunt
Abouen al the remenaunt
That vnto loues court pursu [...]
But who that wold no slouth eschewe
Vpon knyghthode & not trauayle
I not what loue hym shold auayle
But euery labour a [...]eth why
Of somme reward wherof that I
Ensamples couthe telle ynough
Of hem that toward loue d [...]ough
By old dayes as they sholde
My fadre therof here I wold
My sone it wold be resonable
In place whiche is honourable
If that a man his herte sett
That than he for no slouthe le [...]t
To do what longeth to manhode
For yf thou wolt the bokes rede
Of  [...]auncelet & other mo
There myght thou seen how it wa [...] t [...]
Of armes for they wold atteyne
To loue whiche is withouten pe [...]n [...]
May not be gete of Pelnesse
And that I take to wytnesse
[Page]An old Crony [...]e in specyal
The whiche in to memoryal
Is wryte for his loues sake
Hou that a knyght shal vndertake

Hic dicit ꝙ Miles prius (quam) amoris amplexu dignitatis efficiatur euentus bellicos victoriosus amplecteve debet / et narrat qualiter Hercules et achillous propter De [...]anitam Calidonie Regis Filiam singulare duellum ad inuicem [...]merunt▪ a [...]us victor Hercules existen ti [...] armorum me [...]tis amorem virginie [...]audabiliter conquestauit

hHer was a kyng wich O [...]ne [...]
Was hote & he vnder pees
Held Calydonye in his empire
And had a d [...]ughter Deyanyre
M [...]n wyst in thylk tyme none
 [...] f [...]yre a wyght as she was one
 [...] she was a lusty wyght
 [...]  [...]o was than a noble knyght
 [...] mercurye fader was
This  [...]nyght the  [...]o pylers of bras
T [...] whiche yet a man may fynde
Set v [...] in the deserte of Inde
That was the worthy Hercules
Wh [...]s name shal be endeles
For the meruayles whiche wrought
This Hercules the loue sought
Of Deyanyre & of this thyng
Vnto  [...]r fadre whiche was kyng
He s [...]a [...] touchend of maryage
The kyng knowend his hye lygnage
And drad also his myghtes sterne
To hym ne durst his doughter werne
And netheles this  [...]e hym seyde
Hou Achylous or he fyrst preyde
To wedden hyr and in acord
They stood as it was of record
But for al that this he hym graūteth
That whiche of hem that other daūteth
In armes hym she shold take
And that the kyng hath vndertake
This Achy [...]bus was a geaunt
A subtyl man a deceyuaunt
Whiche thorugh magyke & sorcerye
Couthe al the world of Trecherye
And when he this tale herde
How that vpon that the kyng ansuerd
With Hercules he must fyght
He trusteth nought vpon his sleyght
Al only when it cometh to nede
But that whiche voydeth al drede
And euery noble herte steryth
The loue that no lyf forbereth
For his lady whome he desyreth
With hardyesse his herte fyreth
And send hym word withoute fayle
That he wol take the batayle
They setten a day they chosen fesd [...]
The knyghtes couered vnder shelde
To gyder come at tyme sett
And eche one is with other met
It fel they foughten bothe on fote
There was no stone there was no rote
Whiche myght letten hem the weye
But al was voyde & take a weye
They smyten strokes but a fewe
For Hercules whiche wold shewe
His grete strengthe as for the nones
He stert vpon hym al at ones
And caught hym in his armes strong
This geaunt wote he may not long
Endure vnder so hard bondes
And thouȝt he wold oute of his hōdes
By sleyghte in som maner escape
And ās he couthe hym self for shape
In lykenesse of an adder he slypt [...]
Oute of his hond & forth he skypte
And efte as he that fyght wole
He borneth hym in to a bole
And gan to belwe in suche a soune
As though ye world shold al go doune
The ground he sporneth & he traunceth
His large hornes he auaun [...]th
And cast hym here & there aboute
But he whiche stant of hym no doute
A wayteth wel when that he cam
[Page lxxxij]And hym by bothe hornes nam
And al at ones he hym cast
Vpon the grounde & helde hym fast
That he ne myght with no sleyghte
Out of his hond gete on heyghte
Tyl he was ouercome &  [...]olde
And Hercules hath what he wolde
The kyng hy [...] graunted to fulfylle
His axyng at his owne wylle
And she for whome he had serued
Hyr thought he had wel deserued
And thus with grete deserte of armes
He wan hyr to lygge in armes
As he whiche hath hyr dere abought
For otherwyse shold  [...]e nought

Not [...] de pantasilia Ama [...]onie Regina que Hectoris amore colligata contra Pireum Achillis filium apud Tro [...]am arma ferre eciam specialiter non recusauit

And ouer this yf thou wylt here
Vpon knyghthode of this matere
Hou loue & armes ben acqueynted
A man may see bothe wryte & peynted
So ferforth that pantasile
Whiche was the quene of Femyne
The loue of Hector afore to seke
And for thonou [...] of armes eke
To Troye cam with spere & shelde
And rode hyr self in to the felde
With maydens armed al a [...]oute
In rescous of the Towne al aboute
Whiche with the grekes was byleyn

Nota qualiter Pholiphemeꝰ propter mi [...]cie famam a finibuo terre in defensionem Troie veniens tres puellas a Regno Amaz [...]nie quoli [...]et anno perci piendas sibi et heredibus suis imperpetuum ea de causa habere promeruit

Fro paphagonye & as men seyn
Whiche stant vpon the worldes ende
That tyme it lyked eke to wende
Polyphemus whiche was kyng
To Troye & come vpon this thyng
In helpe of thylk noble Towne
And al was that for the renoun
Of worshyp & of worldes fame
Of whiche he wold bere a. name
And so he dede & forth with all
He wan of loue in specyal
A fayr Trybute for euermo
For it felle thylk tyme soo
Pirrus the sone of Achilles
The worthy quene among the pres
With dedely swerd sought oute & fond
And slough hyr with his owne hond
Wherof this kyng of Paphagonye
Pantasile and to Amazo [...]ie
Where she was quene with hym lad
With suche maydens as she had
Of hem that were left alyue
For in this shyp tyl they aryue
Where that the body was bygraue
Wyth worshyp & the women saue
And for the goodnes of this dede
They graunten hym a lusty mede
That euery yere as for truage
To hym & to his herytage
Of maydens fayre he shal haue thre
And in this wyse spedde  [...]e
Whiche the fortune of armes sought
With his trauayle his ease he bought
For other wyse he shold baue fayled
If that he had nought trauayled

Nota pro [...]o ꝙ Eneas Regem Tur num in bello deuicit non folum amor [...] [...]auine / sed et Regnum Italie sibi sub [...]ugatum obtinuit

Eneas eke within Itayle
Ne hadde wonnen the bataylle
And done his myght so besyly
Ayene kyng Turne his enemy
[Page]He had nought soueyne wonne
But for he hath hym ouer ronne
He gat his p [...]ys & wan hyr loue

By this  [...]nsample here aboue
 [...]o now my sone as I haue told
Thou myght wel see who that is bold
And dar trauayle & vndertake
The cause of loue he shal be take
The cather vnto loues grace
For comonly [...]he in worthy place
The wommen louen worthynesse
Of manhood & of gentylnesse
For the gentyls be most desyred

My fader but I were Inspyred
Thorugh low of you I wote no weye
What gentylnesse is for to seye
Wherof to telle I yow beseche

Hic dicit ꝙ Generosi in amoris can s [...] se [...]ius preferuntur super quo querit Amans quid si generositas / cuius veritatem questioni [...] Confessor per singula dissoluit

Th [...] ground my sone for to seche
 [...]n this dyffynycyon
The  [...]ldes constytucyon
 [...]ath sei the name of gentylnesse
 [...]n the fortune of Rychesse
Whiche of long tyme is falle in age
 [...]hat is a man of hyghe lygnage
Af [...]r the fortune as thou myght here
But no thyng of the mat [...]re
For who that reson vnderstonde
V [...]on ryches it maye not stonde
For that is thyng whiche fayleth ofte
For he that stant to day alofte
And al the world hath in his wones
To morowe he fallyth al at ones
Oute of ryches in to pouerte
Soo that therof is no deserte
Whiche gentylnesse maketh abyde
And for to loke on other syde
Hou that a gentylman is bore
Adam whiche was al tofore
With Eue his wyf as of hem two
Al was alyche gentyl tho
So that of generacyon
To make declaracyon
There maye no gentylnesse bee
For to the reson yf we se
Of mans byrthe the mesure
It is so comon of nature
That it y [...]ueth euery man alyche
As wel to the poure as to the ryche
For naked they ben bore bothe
The lord hath no more to clothe
As of hym self that ylk thro we
Than hath the pourest of the rowe
And when they shal bothe passe
I not of hem whiche hath the lasse
Of worldes good but of charge
The lord is more for to charge
When he shal his compte here
For he hath had his lustes here
But of the body whiche shal deye
Al though there be dyuers weye
To deth yet is ther but one ende
To whiche that euery man wende
As wel the begger as the lord
Of one nature of one acord
She whiche oure elder moder is
The erthe bothe that and this
Receyueth & al alyche denoureth
That she to nother part fauoureth
So wote I noo thynge after kynde
Where I may gentylnes fynde
For lak of vertu lak of grace
Wherof Rychesse in many place
When men wene best to stonde
Al sodenly goth oute of honde
But vertu set in the courage
There may noo world be so saluage
Whiche myght it take & done aweye
Tyl when that the bodye deye
Then he shal be ryched soo
So that may fayle neuermo
That it may wel be gentylnesse
Whiche yeueth so grete a sykernesse
For after the condycyon
[Page lxxxiij]Of resonable intencyon
The whiche oute of the soule groweth
And the vertu from vyce knoweth
Wherof a man the vyce escheweth
Withoute slouthe & vertu seweth
That is very gentylman
And no thyng elles whiche he can
Ne whiche he hath ne whiche he maye
But for al that yet now a daye
In loues court to taken hede
The poure vertu shal not spede
That where the ryche vyce woweth
For selde it is that loue alloweth
The gentylman withoute good
Though his condycyon be good
But yf a man of bothe two
Be ryche & vertuous also
Than is he wel the more worth
But yet to put hym self forth
He muse done his besynesses
For nother good ne gentylnesse
May helpen hem whiche ydel be
But who that wo [...] in his degre
Trauayle so as it belongeth
It happeth ofte that he fongeth
Worship & ease both two
For euer yet it hath be so
That loue honest in sondry weye
Profyteth for it doth aweye
The vyce & as the bookes seyn
It maketh curteys of the vyleyn
And to the Coward hardyesse
It yeueth so that very prowesse
Is caused vpon loues reule
To hym that can manhood reule
And eke toward the womanhede
Who that therof wold taken hede
For they the better affayted be
In euery thyng as men may see
For loue both euer his lustes grene
In gentyl folk as it is sene
Whiche thyng ther may no kynde arest
I trowe that there is no best
That he with loue shold acqueynte
That he ne wold make it queynte
As for the whyle that it last
And thus conclude at the last
That they ben ydel as me semeth
Whiche vnto thyng that loue demeth
For slouthen that they shold do
And ouer this my sone also
To speke of loue yf I shal seke
After the vertu moral eke
Among the hooly bokes wyse
I fynde wryte in suche a wyse
Who loueth not is here as dede
For loue aboue al other is hede
Whiche bath the vertues for to lede
Of al that vnto mannes dede
Belongeth for of ydelshyp
He hateth al the felaushyp
For slouthe is euer to despyse
Whiche in dysdeyne hath al appryse
And that acordeth not to man
For he that wyt & reson can
It syt hym wel that he trauayle
Vpon som thyng whiche myȝt auaile
For ydelshyp is not comended
But euery lawe it hath defended
And in ensamples therupon
The noble wyse Salamon
Whiche had of euery thyng insyght
Seyth as the byrdes to the flyght
Be made so the man is bore
To labour whiche is nought forlore
To hem that thynken for to thryue
For we whiche are now alyue
Of hem that besy whylome were
As wel in scoles as elles where
Now euery day ensample take
That yf it were now to make
Thyng whiche fyrst they founden out
It shold not be brought aboute
Her lyues thenne were longg
Here wyttes grete her myghtes strong
Here vertues ful of besynesse
Wherof the worldes redynesse.
In body bothe & in courage
Stant euer vpon his auauntage
And for to drawe in to memorye
Her names bothe & her storye
Vpon the vertu of hyr dede
[Page]In sondry bokes thou myght rede

Expedit in manibus labor vt de cotidiams▪ Actibus et vita viue [...] poseit homo / Sed qui doctrine causa fert men te labores / Preualet et merita perpetu ata parat

Hic loquitur centra [...]ciosos quoscū (que) / et mayime cōtra istos qui excellētis prudencie ingenium habētes abs (que) fructu operum torpescunt / Et ponit exēplū de diligencia predecessorum qui ad toci [...] humani geneis doctrinam et auxi [...]um suis centinuis laboribus & studne gracia mediante diuina artes & sci enc [...]as primitus inuenerunt

oF euery wysedome the parfyt
The hyghe god of his spyryt
Yafe to the men in erthe here
Vpon the forme & the matere
Of that he wolde make h [...]m wyse
And thus cam in the fyrst apryse
Of goodes and of al good
Thorugh hem that whylome vnderstode
The lore whiche to hem was yeue
Wherof these other that now lyue
But euery day to lerne newe
But al the tyme that men sewe
And that the labour forth it brought
There was no corn though mē it souȝt
In none of al the feldes oute
And or the wysedome cam aboute
Of hem that fyrst tho bokes wryte
This may euery wyse man wyte
There was grete laboure  [...]e also
Thus was none ydel of the two
That on the plough hath vndertake
The laboure whiche the lond hath take
That other took to studye & muse
As he whiche wolde not refuse
The labour of his wyttes alle
And in this wyse it is befalle
Of labour what that they bygonne
We be now  [...]ought of that we conne
Here besynes is yet sene
That it stant euer alyche grene
Al be it so the body deye
The name of hem shal neuer aweye
In the Cronyke as I fynde
Cham whos labour is yet in mynde
Was he whiche fyrst the lettres fonde
And wrote in bebrewe with his honde
Of naturel philosophye
He fonde fyrst also the clergye
Cadmus the lettres of gregoys
Fyrst made vpon his owne choys

Theges of thyng that shal byfalle

He was the fyrst angnrre of alle

And Philemenon by the vysage

Fonde to descryue the courage

Cladius Eldras & Sulpyces
Telmegis Panulf & Frigidylles
Menander Epyloquorus
Solius Pandar and Iosephus
The fyrst were of endytours
Of olde Cronyke & eke auctours

And Heredot in his scyence
Of metre / of Ryme and of Cadence
The fyrste was whiche men note

And of Musyke also the note
In mans voys / or softe or sharp
That fende Iubal / & of the harpe
The mery soune whiche is to lyke
That fonde poliꝰ forth with phisike

Zeuers fond fyrst the portrature
And Promotheus the seulpture
After what forme that hem thought
The resemblaunce anone they wronȝt

Tubal in yren and in stele

Fonde the forge & wrought it wele

And Iadael as sayth the book
Fyrst made nette & fysshes took
Of huntyng eke he fonde the chace
Whiche now is knowe in many place
A tente for cold with cord & stake
He set vp fyrst & dyd'it make

Verconius the Coke [...]ye

Fyrst made the delycacye

[Page lxxxiiij]

The craft Myn [...]rae of wolle fonde

And made clothe her owne honde

And Dellora made it of lyne
Tho women were of grete engyne
But thyng which yeueth mete & drink
And doth the labour for to swynk
To tylle the londes & set vynes
Wherof the cornes & the wynes
Ben sustenaunce to mankynde
In old bokes as I fynde

Saturnus of his owne wyt
Hath founde fyrst & more yett
Of chapmenhode he fonde the weye
And eke to coygne the moneye
Of sondry metal as it is
He was the fyrst man of this
But hou that metal cam a place
Thorugh mans wytte & goddes grace
The Route of Philosophres wyse
Contreueden by sondry wyse
Fyrst for to gete it out of myne
And after for to trye & fyne

And also with grete dylygence
They fonde thylk experyence
Whiche cleped is Alconomye
Wherof the syluer multyplye
They made & eke the gold also
And for to telle hou it is so
Of bodyes seuen in specyal
With foure spyrytes ioynt with al
Stant the substaunce of this matere
The bodyes whiche I speke of here
Of the planettes ben bygonne
The gold is tytled to the sonne
The mone of syluer hath his part
And Iren that stond vpon Mart
The leed after Saturne groweth
And Inbiter the  [...]ras bes [...]o weth
The Coper sette is to Venus
And to his part Mercurius
Hath the quyk syluer as it falleth
The whiche after the book it calleth
Is fyrst of  [...]hylk foure named
Of spyrytes whiche ben proclamed
And spyryte whiche is the second
In Sal Armonyak is found
The thyrd spyryt Sulphur is
The fourth sewend after this
Antimonium by name is hote
With blowyng & with fyres hote
In these thynges whiche I say
They wo [...]then by dyuers way
For as the Philosophre tolde
Of gold & syluer they ben holde
Two pryncypal extremytees
To whiche al other by degrees
Of the metalles ben acordyng
And so thorugh kynde resemblyng
That what man couthe awey take
The ruste of whiche they woxen blake
And the sauour of the hardnesse
They sholden take the lykenesse
Of gold & syluer parfytely
But for to worche it sekerly
Bytwene the corps & the spyryte
Ex that the metal be parfyte
In seuen formes it is sett
Of al & yf that one be let
The remenannt may not fayle
But otherwyse it may not auayle
For they by whome this art was foūd
To euery poynt a certayne bound
Ordeynen that a man may fynde
This craft is wrouȝt by wey of kynde
So that there is noo fable  [...]nne
But what man yt this werk legynne
He mote awayte at euery tyde
So that no thyng be left a syde
Fyrst of the dystyllacyon
Forth with the congellacyon
Solucyon Dyssencyon
And kepe in his entencyon
The poynt of sublymacyon
And forth with Calcynacyon
Of very approbacyon
Doo that there be fyxacyon
With temporat letre of the fyre
Tyl be the parfyte Elyxer
Of thylk Philosophres stone
Maye gete of whiche that many one
Of philosophres that whylome write
And yf thou wolt the names wyte
[Page]Of thylk stene with ether two
Whiche as the clarkes maden the
So as the bokes it recorden
The kynde of hem I shal recorden

Nota de tribus lapidibus quos phi lcsophi compesuerunt. quorum primus [...]apis vegetabilis qiu sanitatem conser uat / Secundus dicitur lapis Animalis que membra & virtutes sensibiles fortificat / Tercius dicitur lapis minera [...]s que omnia metalla purificat / et in suum perfectum naturali potencta de [...]ucit /

tHese old Phylosophres wyse
By weye of kynde in sondry
Wise The stones made thurgh clergye
The fyrst I shal specyfye
Was Lapis Vegetabilis
Of whiche the propre vertu is
To mans bele for to serue
As for to kepe & to preserue
The body fro sekenesse alle
Tyl deth of kynde vpon hym falle

The second stone I the behote
Is  [...]apis Animalis hote
Wh [...]s vertu is propre & couthe
For erc and eye nose & mouthe
Wherof a man may here & see
And smelle & taste in his degre
And for to fele & for to go
It helpeth a man of bothe two
The wyttes frue he vnder fongeth
To kepe as it to hym belongeth

The thyrd stone in fpecyal
By name is cleped myneral
Whiche the metals of euery myne
Attempreth tyl that they be fyne
And putteth hem by suche a weye
That al the vyce goth aweye
Of rust of stynk & of hardnesse
Aud when they ben of suche clennesse
This mynetal so as I fynde
Transformeth al the fyrst kynde
And maketh hem able to conceyue
Thorugh his vertu & to receyue
Bothe in substaunce & in fygure
Of gold & syluer the nature
For they two ben thextremytees
The whiche after the propyrtees
Hath euery metal his desyre
With helpe & comfort of the fyre
And with this stone / as it is sayd
Whiche to the sonne & mone is layd
For to the rede & to the whyte
This stone hath power for to profyte
It maketh multyplycacyon
Of gold and the fyxacyon
It causeth and of his habyte
He doth the werke to be [...]parfyte
Of thylk Elyxer whiche men calle
Alconomye as it is byfalle
To hem that whylome were wyse
But now it stant al other wyse
They speken fast of thylk stone
But hou to make it knowe none
After the soth experyence
And netheles grete dylygence
They setten vpon thylk dede
And spyllen more than they spede
For alwey they fynde a lette
Whiche bryngeth in pouerte & dette
To hem that ryche were to fore
The losse is had the lucre is lore
To gete a pound they spend fyu [...]
I not hou suche a craft shal thryue
In the manere as it is vsed
It were better be refused
Than for to worchen vpon wene
In thyng Which stāt not as they went
But not for thy who that knewe
The scyence of hym self is trewe
Vpon the forme as it was founded
Wherof the names yet be grounded
Of hem that fyrste it founded oute
And thus the fame goth at aboute
To suche as soughten besynesse
To vertu and of worthynesse
Of whome yf I the names calle
Hermes was one of the fyrst of alle
[Page lxxxv]To whome this art is most applyed
Geber therof was magnyfyed
And Ortolan and Maryen
Among the whiche is Auycen
Whiche fond & wrote a grete partye
The practyke of Alconomye
Whos bokes pleynly as they stonde
Vpon this craft fewe vnderstonde
But yet to putten in assay
There ben ful many now a day
That knowen lytel what they mene
It is not one to wyte & wene
In forme of wordes they it trete
But yet they faylen of beyete
For of to moche or of to lyte
There is algate found a wyte
Soo that they folowe not the lyne
Of the parfyte medycyne
Whiche grounded is vpon nature
But they that wryten the scrypture
Of Greke Arabe & Caldee
They were of suche auctoryte
That they fyrst founden oute the weye
Of al that thou hast herd me seye
Wherof the Cronyke of her lore
Shal stonde in pryce for euermore
But toward oure marches here
Of the latyns yf thou wolt here
Of hem that whylome vertuous
Were and therto laboryous
Carment made of here engyne
The fyrst lettres of latyne
Of whiche the tonge Romayne cam
Wherof that Arystarchus nam
Forth with Donat and Dyndymus
The fyrst reule of scole & thus
How that latyn shal be compowued
And what wyse it shal be souned
That euery word in his degre
Shal stonde vpon congruyte
And thylk tyme of Rome also
Was Tullyus with Cythero
That wryten vpon Rethoryke
How that men shal the wordes pyke
After the forme of eloquence
Whiche is men seyn a grete prudence
And after that oute of he bre [...]e
Ierome Whiche the langage knewe
The byble in whiche the lawe is closed
In to latyn he hath transposed
And many another wryter eke
Oute of Caldee Arabe & Greke
With grete labour the bokes wyse
Ttanslateden & another wyse
The latyns of hem self also
Here studye at thylk tyme so
With grete trauayl of scole took
In sondry forme for to look
That we may take here euydence
Vpon the lore of the scyence
Of craftes bothe & of clergye
Among the whiche in poesye
To the louers Ouyde wrote
And taught of loue to be hote
In what maner it shold akele

Confessor

For thy my sone yf that thou fele
That loue brynge the tofore
Behold Ouyde & take his lore

My fadre yf they myght spede
My loue I wold his bokes rede
And yf they techen to restreyne
My loue it were an ydel peyne
To lerne a thyng whiche may not be
For lyche vnto a grene tre
If that men took his rote aweye
Ryght so my herte shold deye
If that my loue be withdrawe
Wherof touchend vnto this sawe
There is but only to pursewe
My loue & ydelshyp to esche we

My good sonne soth to seye
If there be syker ony weye
To loue thou hast seyd the best
For who that wol haue al his rest
And doo noo treuayle at nede
It is no reson that he spede
In loues cause for to wynne
For he Whiche dare no thyng begynne
I not what thyng he shold  [...]cheue
But ouer this thou shalt byleue
So as it syt the wel to knowe
[Page]That there ben other vyces slowe
Whiche vnto loue done grete let
Is thou thyn hert vpon hem set

[...]erdit homo causam linquene sua iu [...] seperi / Et quasi dimidtum pars su [...] mortis habet / Est in amore vigil venus et (quam) habet vigilanti / Obsequium thalamis fert vigilata suis

Hic loquitur de Sompnelencia que Ac [...]idie Cameraria dicta est / cuius natura semunortua alicuius negocij vigi l [...]as obser [...]are seperi fero torpere recus [...]r / vnde quatenus amorem concernit Confessor Amanti diligencius opponit

tOward the slowe progenye
There is yet one of Cōpanye
And he is cleped Sōpnole [...]ice
Whiche deth to slouthe his reuerence
 [...] he whiche is his Chamberleyn
That many an honderd tyme hath leyn
To slepe when he sheld wake
He hath with loue tre [...]es take
That wake who so wake wylle
If he may couche a deune his bylle
He hath al what hym lyst
That ofte he goth to bedde vnkyst
And sayth that for no druerye
 [...] wol not leue his sluggardye
For though yt noman it wold allowe
To slepe leuer than to wowe
Is his maner / & thus on nyghtes
When he seeth the lusty knyghtes
Re [...]len where these women are
Awey he seulketh as an hare
And goth to  [...]dde & leyth hym softe
And of his sleuthe  [...]e dremeth ofte
Hou that he siyketh in the myre
And hou he sytteth by the fyre
And claweth on his bare shankes
And hou he clymeth vp the bankes
And fallyth in the slades depe
But than who so taketh kepe
When he is falle in suche a dreme
Ryght as a shyp ageynst the streme
He routeth with a slepy noyse
And brustleth as a monkes froyse
When it is throwe in to the panne
And other whyle selde whanne
That he may dreme a lusty sweuene
Hym thynketh as though he were in
heuene / And as ye world were holy his
And than he speketh of that & this
And maketh his exposycyon
After his dysposycyon
Of that he wolde & in suche a wyse
He doth to loue al his seruyce
I not what thank he shal deserue
But sone but yf thou wolt loue serue
I rede that thou do not so
A good fadre certes noo
I had leuer by my trouthe
Er I were set on suche a slouthe
And bere suche a slepy snoute
Bothe eyen of my hede were oute
For me were better fully dey [...]
Than I of suche sluggardye
Had ony name god me shelde
For when my modre was with chil [...]e
As I lay in hyr wombe cloos
I wold rather Antropos
Whiche is goddesse of deth
Anone as I had ony breth
Me had fro my moder cast
But now I am no thyng agast
I thanke god for lachesys
 [...]e cleto whiche here felawe is
Me shopen no suche destyne
When they at my Natyuyte
My werdes setten as they wold
But they shopen that they shold
Eschewe of slepe the truandyse
Soo that I hope in suche a wyse
To loue for to ben excused
That I no sompnolence haue vsed
For certes fadre Genius
Yet vnto now it hath be thus
At al tyme yf it befelle
[Page lxxxvj]So that I myght come & duelle
In place there my lady were
I was not slo [...]e ne slepy there
For than I dar wel vndertake
That when hyr lyst on nyghtes wake
In chambre as to carole & daunce
Me thynketh it may me more auaunce
If I may gone vpon hyr honde
Than yf I wynne a kynges lond
For when I may h [...]r hond beclyppe
With suche gladnes I daūce & skyppe
Me thynketh I touche not the floor
The Roo whiche renneth on the moor
Is than nought so lyght as I
So mowe ye wyten al for thy
That for the tyme slepe I hate
And than it fallyth other gate
Soo that her lyketh not to daunce
But on the dyes to caste the chaunce
Or axe of loue somme demaunde
Or elles that her lyst commaunde
To rede & here of Troylus
Ryght as she wol or so or thus
I am alredy to consente
And yf so is that I may hente
Somtyme among a good leyser
So as I dar of my desyre
I telle a part but when I preye
Anone she byddeth me go my weye
And seyth it is ferre in the nyght
And I swere it is euen lyght
But as it falleth at the last
There may no worldes ioye last
So mote I nedes fro hyr wende
And of my watche make an ende
And yf she than hede toke
How pytously on hyr I loke
When that I shal my leue take
Her ought of mercy for to slake
Hir daunger whiche sayth euer nay
But he seyth often haue good day
That loth is for to take his leue
Therfor whyle I may byleue
I tary forth the nyght a long
For it is nought on me along
To slepe that I so sone go
Tyl I mote nede algate so
And that I byd god hyr see
And so doune knelend on my knee
I take leue / and yf I shal
I kysse hyr & goo forth with al
And otherwhyle yf that I dore
Er I come fully to the dore
I torne ayene and feyne a thyng
As though I had lost a ryng
Or somwhat elles for I wolde
Kysse hyr eftsones yf I sholde
But selden is that I so spede
And when I see that I mote nede
Departe I departe & thanne
With al my herte I curse & banne
That euer slepe was made for eye
For as me thynketh I mote drye
Withoute slepe to Waken euer
So that I shold not dysseuer
Fro hyr in whome is al my lyght
And than I curse also the nyght
With al the wylle of my courage
And saye awey thou black ymage
Whiche of thy derck cloudy face
Maketh al the worldes lyght deface
And causeth vnto slepe awey
By whiche I mote now gone aweye
Oute of my lady companye
O slepy nyght I the defye
And wold that thou lay in presse
With Proserpyne the goddesse
And with Pluto the helle kyng
For tyl I see the day spryng
I set by slepe not a rysshe
And with that word I syghe & wysshe
And sey why ne were it day
For yet my lady than I may
Beholde though I do no more
And efte I thynke forthermore
To somme man hou the nyght doth ease
When he hath thyng yt may hym please
The long nyghtes by his syde
Where as I fayle & goo besyde
But slepe wherof I not it serueth
Of whiche noman his thank deserueth
To gete hem loue in ony place
[Page]But it is an hynderer of his grace
And maketh hem dede as for a throw
Ryght as a stok were ouerthrowe
And so my fadre in this wyse
The slepy nyghtes I despyse
And euer a myddes of my tale
I thynke vpon the nyghtyngale
Whiche slepeth not by wey of kynde
For loue in bokes as I fynde
Thus at the last I goo to bedde
And yet myn hert lyeth to wedde
With s [...]r  [...]bere as I cam fro
Though I departe I w [...]l not so
There is no bock may shet hym oute
Hym nedeth nought to gone aboute
That perce may the hard wal
Thus is  [...]e with her oueral
That be hyr  [...]ef or be it both
In to hyr bed myn herte goth
And softely taketh hyr in his arme
And feleth hou that she is warme
And wyssheth also his body were
Tho to fele that he felyth there
And thus my self I tormente
Tyl that the dede slepe me hente
But than by a thousand score
Wel more than I was to fore
I am tormented in my slepe
But what I dreme is not on shepe
For I ne thynk on no wulle
But I am dretched to the fulle
Of loue that I haue take to kepe
That now I laugh & now I wepe
And now I lese & now I wynne
And now I ende & now begynne
And otherwhyle I dreme & m [...]te
That I alone with her mete
And that daunger is left behynde
And than I slepe suche ioye I fynde
That I ne bede neuer awake
But after when I heede take
And shal aryse vpon the morowe
Than is al torned in to sorowe
Nought for the cause I shal aryse
But for I mette in suche a wyse
And at the last I am bethought
That al is wyne & helpeth nought
But yet me thynketh by my wylle
I wold haue ley & slepe stylle▪
To meten euer of suche a sweuen [...]
For than I had a slepy heuene

Confessor

My sone & for thou tellyst soo
A man may fynde of tyme ago
That many a sweuene hath be certeyn
Al be it so that som men seyn
That sweuenes be of no credence
But for to shewe in euydence
That they ful ofte soth thynges
By tokne I thynk in my wrytynges
To telle a tale therupon
Whiche felle by old dayes gone

hIc ponit exemplum qualiter pre nostice veritatis quande (que) certitudinē figurant / Et narrat ꝙ cum Ceix Rex Trocinie pro reformacione fratr [...]s sui Dedalionis in Ancipit [...]em transmutati peregre proficiscens m [...]ar [...] lō giue a patria dimersus fucrat / [...]uno mittens [...]ridem nunciam suam in partes Chimerie ad domum sompni iussit ꝙ ipse Alceone dicti Regis vxori huiꝰ rei euentum per sompnia certificaret / Quo facto Al [...]ona rem perscrutans / corpus mariti suij vbi super fluctus mortuꝰ iactabatur inuenit / que pro do lore augustiata cupiens corpus amplec tere in altum mare super Ipsum prosi [...] it, vnde dij miserti amborum corpora in aues que ad huc Alceones dicte sunt / subito conuerterunt

tHis fynde I wryten in poesie
Ceyx the kyng of Trocenye
Had Alceon to his wyfe
Whiche as her owne hertes lyfe
Hym loueth and he hath also
A broder whiche was cleped tho
Dedalyon and he par caas
Fro kynde of man forshape was
In to a goshauk of lykenesse.
Wherof the kyng grete heuynesse
[Page lxxxvij]Hath take &  [...]thought in his courage
To gone vpon a pylgremage
In a straunge Regyon
Where he hath his deuocyon
To done his sacryfyce & preye
If that he myght in ony weye
To wardes the goddes fynde grace
His broders hele to purchace
So that he myght be reformed
Of that he hath ben transformed
To this purpos & to this ende
This kyng is redy for to wende
As he whiche wold go to shyp
And for to done hym felaushyp
His wyf vnto the see hym brought
With al hyr herte & hym besought
That he the tyme her wold seyn
When that he thought come ageyne
Within he sayth two monethis day
And thus in al the hast he may
He took his leue & forth he sayleth
Wepend / & she hyr self bewayleth
And torneth ther she cam fro
For when the monethes were ago
The whiche he set of his comyng
And that she herd no tydyng
There was no care for to seche
Wherof the goddes to byseche
Tho she bygan in many wyse
And to Iuno her sacryfyce
Aboue al other most she dede
And for her lord she hath so bede
To wyte & knowe hou that he ferd
That Iuno the goddes herde
Anone & vpon this matere
She Irys bad h [...]r messagyer
To slepes hous that she shold wende
And byd hym that he make an ende
By sweuene & shewen al the caas
To this lady hou it was
This Irys fro the hyghe stage
Whiche vndertake hath the message
His reyny cope dede vpon
The whiche was wonderly begone
With colours of dyners hewe
An honderd mo than men knewe
The heuene lyche vnto a bowe
She bende / & she cam donne lowe
The god of slepe where that she fond
And that was in a straunge lond
Whiche marcheth vpon Chymery [...]
For there as seyth the poesye
The god of slepe hath made his hous
Whiche of entaylle is meruaylous
Vnder an hylle ther is a caue
Whiche of the sonne may not haue
So yt no man may not knowe ary [...]t
The poynt bytwene day & nyght
There is no fyre there is no spark
There is no dore whiche may chark
Wherof an eye shold vnshet
So that inward there is no let
And for to speke of that withoute
There stant no grete tre nyhe aboute
Wheron ther myght crowe or pye
A lyght for to clepe or crye
There is no cost to crowe day
Ne best none whiche noyse may
The hylle / but al aboute round
There is growend vpon the ground
Popy. whiche bereth the seed of slepe
With other herbes suche an hepe
A stylle water for the nones
Rennend vpon the smal stones
Whiche hyght of  [...]ethes the Ryuer
Vnder the hylle in suche maner
There is whiche yeueth grete appetyte
To slepe & thus ful of delyte
Slepe hath his hous & of his couche
Within his chambre yf I shal touche
Of Hebenus that slepy tre
The boordes al aboute be
And for he shold slepe softe
Vpon a fether bed alofte
He lyeth with many a pylwe of doun
The chambre is strowed vp & doun
With sweuenes many a thousand fold
Thus come Irys in to this hold
And to the bed whiche is blak
She goth & therwith slepe she spak
And in this wyse as she was bede
The message of Iuno she dede
[Page]Ful o [...] her wordes she reherseth
Er she his slepy eres perseth
With moche woo. but at the last
His slomerend eyen he vpcast
And sayd hyr that it shal bedoo
Wherof among a thousand tho
Within his hous that slepy were
In specyal he chese oute there
Thre whiche shold do this dede
The fyrst of hem so as I rede
Was Morpheus the whos nature
Is for to take the fygure
Of what persone that hym lyketh
Wherof that he therof entryketh
The lyf whiche slepe shal by nyght
And Ithecus that other hyght
Whiche hath the voys of euery soune
Theyr chere & theyr condycyoun
Of euery lyf what so is
The thyrd / sewend after this
Is Pantafas which may transforme
Of euery thynge the ryght forme
And chaunge it in another kynde
 [...]on hem thre as I fynde
Of sweuenes stant al thapparence
Whiche otherwhyle is euydence
And other whyle but a iape
But netheles it is so shape
That Morpheus by nyght allone
A wereth vnto Alceone
In lykenesse of her husbond
Al naked dede vpon the stronde
And hou he dreynt in specyal
These other two it she wen shal
The tempest of the blak clowde
The wode see the wyndes loude
All this met she & sawe hym dyen
Wherof that she bygan to cryen
Slepend a bedde there she laye
And with that noyse of hyr affraye
Her women stert vp aboute
Whiche of her were in doute
And axen her hou that she ferde
And she ryght as she sawe & herde
Her sweuen hath told hem euery dele
And they it halsen al wele
And seyn it is a tokne of good
But tyl she wyst hou it stood
She hath no comfort in hyr herte
Vpon the morowe & vp she sterte
And to the see where as she met
The body lay withoute let
She drough & whan that she cam nygh
Stark dede his armes sprad she syghe
Her lord fletend vpon the wawe
Wherof her wyttes be withdrawe
And she whiche toke of deth no kepe
Anone forth lepte in to the depe
And wold haue cauȝt hym in hir arm
This infortune of double harme
The goddes from the heuen aboue
Beheld / & for the trouthe of loue
Whiche in this worthy lady stood
They haue vpon the salt flood
Hyr dreynt lord & hyr also
Fro deth to lyf torned soo
That they be shapen in to byrdes
Swymmēd vpon the wawe amyddes
And when she sawe hyr lord lyuend
In lykenesse of a byrd swymmend
And she was of the same sort
So as she myght do dysport
Vpon the ioye whiche she had
Her wynges both anone she sprad
And hym bothe so as she may suffyse
Be [...]lypte & kyst in suche a wyse
As she was whylome wonte to doo
Her wynges for byr armes tho
She took & for her lyppes softe
Hyr hard bylle & soo ful ofte
She fondeth in hyr byrdes forme
If that she myght hyr self conforme
To do the plesaunce of a wyf
As she dyde in that other lyf
For though she had hyr power lore
Hyr wylle stood as it was to fore
And serueth so as she may
Wherof in to this ylk day
To geder vpon the see they wone
Where many a doughter & a sone
They bryngen forth of byrdes kynde
And for men sholde take in mynde
[Page lxxxviij]This Alceon the trewe quene
Her byrdes as it is sene
Of Alceon the name bere

Lo thus it may the stere
Of sweuenes for to take kepe
For oftyme a man a slepe
May see what after shal betyde
For thy it helpeth at som tyde
A man to slepe as it belongeth
But slouthe noo lyf vnderfongeth
Whiche is to loue appertenaunt

My fader vpon couenaunt
I dare wel make this auo we
That al my lyf in to nowe
As ferforth as I can vnderstonde
Yet took I neuer slepe on honde
When it was tyme for to wake
For though myn eye it wold take
Myn herde is euer there ageyne
But neuertheles to speke it pleyne
Al this that I haue sayd you here
Of my wakyng as ye may here
It toucheth to my lady swete
For otherwyse I you byhete
In straunge place when I go
Me lyst no thyng to wake soo
For when the women lyst to playe
And I her see not in the waye
Of whome I shold myrthe take
Me lyst not longe for to wake
But yf it be for pure shame
Of that I wold eshewe a name
That they ne shold haue cause none
To seye / A loo where suche one
That hath forlore his contenaunce
And thus among I synge & daunce
And feyne lust there none is
Fulofte syth I fete this
Of thought whiche in myn hert falleth
When it is nyght myn hert appallyth
And that is for I see hyr nought
Whiche is the waker of my thought
And thus as tymelyche as I may
Ful ofte when it is brood day
I take of al these other heue
And goo my wey & they byleue
That seen pe [...] caas her loues there
And I goo forth as nought ne were
Vnto my bed so that alone
I may ther lygge syghe & grone
And wysshen al the long nyght
Tyl that I see the dayes lyght
I not yf that be sompnolence
But vpon youre conscyence
Myn holy fader demeth ye

My sone I am wel payd with the
Of shepe that thou the sluggardye
By nyght in loues companye
Esche west hast and thy peyne
So that thy loue dare not pleyne
For loue vpon his lust wakend
Is euer & wolde that none ende
Therof the long nyghte is set
Wherof that thou be ware the bett
To telle a tale I am bethought
How loue & slepe acorden nought

Hic dicit ꝙ vigilia in Amantibus & non sompnolencia laudanda est Et ponit Exemplum de Cephal [...] filio Phebi qui nocturno silencio Auroram amicam suam diligencius amplectens solem & lunam interpellabat ▪ videlicet ꝙ sol in circulo ab oriēte distanciori currum cum luce sua retardaret et ꝙ luna spera sua longissima orbem circuiens noctem continuaret / Ita vt Ipsum Cephalum amplexibus amore volutum prius (quam) illa dies illucesceret suis deliciis adquiescere diucius permittere dignarentur

fOr loue who that lyst to wake
By nyȝt he may ensāyle take
Of Cephalus when yt he lay
With Aurora the swete may
In armes al the longe nyght
But when toward the lyght
That he with in his▪ herte sye
The day whiche was the morowe nyhe
Anone vnto the sonne he preyde
[Page]For lust of loue & thus he seyde

Phebus whiche the dayes lyght
Gouerneth tyl it be nyght
And gladest euery creature
After the lawe of thy nature
But netheles ther is a thyng
Whiche onlyche to thy knoulechyngr
Belongeth / as in pryuete
To loue and to his dute
Whiche oxeth not to ben a part
But in sylence & in couert
Desyreth for to be shadyd
And thus when that the lyȝt is faded
And vesper she weth hym alofte
And that the nyght is long & softe
Vnder the clowdes derste & stylle
Than hath thyng most of his wylle
Fo [...] thy vnto thy myghtos hyghe
As thou whiche art the dayes eye
Of loue & myght no counseyl hyde
Vpon this derk nyghtes tyde
With al myn herte I the byseche
That I plesaunce myght seche
With hyr whiche syeth in myn armes
Withdrawe the baner of thyn armes
And sete thy lyghtas ben vnborne
And in the sygne of Caprycorne
The hous appropred to Saturne
I preye the that thou wolt soiourne
Where ben the nyghtes derk & longe
For I my loue haue vnderfonge
Whiche lyeth here by my syde naked
As she whiche wold ben a waked
And me lyst no thyng for to slepe
So were it good to take kepe
Now at this tyme of my prayer
And that the lyke for to stere
This fyry cart & so ordeyne
That thou thy swyft hors restreyne
Lowe vnder erthe in occydent
That they toward thorrent
By scr [...]le go the long were
And eke to the Dyane I preye
Whiche cleped art of thy noblesse
The nyghtes mone & the Goddesse
That thou to me be gracyous
And in Can [...]eo thyn owne hous
Ayene Phebus in opposyte
Stond al this tyme & in delyte
Byholde Venus with a glad eye
For than vpon Astronomye
Of due coustellacyon
Thou makeste profyfycacyon
And dost that children be begete
Whiche yf that I myght gete
With al myn herte I wolserue
By nyght & thy vygylle obserue
Loo thus this lusty Sephalus
Prayd vnto Phebe & to Phebus
The nyght in lengthe for to drawe
Soo that he myght do the lawe
In thylk poynt of loues heste
Whiche cleped is the nyghtes feste
Withouten slepe of sluggardye
Whiche Venus oute of companye
Hath put awey as thylk same
Whiche lustles fer from game
In chambre doth ful oft woo
A bedde when it falleth so
That loue shold be awayted
But slouthe whiche is euyl affayted
With slepe hath made his retenue
That what thynge is to loue due
Of al his dette he payeth none
He wote not hou the nyght is gone
Ne hou the daye is come aboute
But only for to slepe & route
Tyl hyghe mydday that he aryse
But Sephalus dyd otherwyse
As thou my sonne host herd aboue

Amans

My fader who that hath his loue
A bedde naked by his syde
And wolde than his eyen hyde
With slepe / I not what man is he
But certes as touchend of me
That felle me neuer yet or this
But other whyle when so is
That I may catche slepe on honde
Lyggend alone than I fonde
To dreme a mery sweuene or day
And yf▪ so falle that I may
[Page lxxxix]My thought with such a sweuen plese
Me thynst I am somdele in ese
For I none other comfort haue
Soo nedeth nought that I shal craue
The sonnes carte for to tarye
Ne yet the mone that she carye
Here cours a long vpon the heuene
For I am nought the more in huene
To worldes good in no degre
But in my slepe yet than I see
Sōwhat in sweuene of that me lyketh
Whiche afterward myn hert enteyketh
When that I fynde it otherwyse
So wote I not of what seruyce
What sompnolence to man doth

My sone certes thou sayst soth
But only that it helpeth kynde
Somtyme in Physyk as I fynde
Whan it is take by mesure
But he whiche can no slepe mesure
Vpon the reule as it belongeth
Ful oft of sodeyne chaunce he fongeth
Suche infortune that hym greueth
But who these old bokes leueth
Of Sompnolence hou it is wryte
There maye a man the sothe wyte
If that he wold ensample take
That other whyle is good to wake
W [...]rof a tale in Poesye
I thynke for to specyfye

Hic loquitur in amoris causa cō tra istos qiu sōpnolencie dediti ca que seruare tenentur amittunt / Et narrat [...] cum Yo puella pulcherrima a Iunone in vaccam transformata & in argi custodiam sic deposita fuisset / superuemens mercurius Argum dormientem occidit vt ipsam vaccam a pastura rapiens quo voluit secum perduxit

oVyde thus telleth in his sawes
Hou Iupiter by olde dayes
Lay by a mayde whiche ys
Was cleped wherof that Iuno
His wyf was wrothe & the goddesse
Of yo torned the lykenesse
In to a Cowe to goo ther oute
The large feldes al aboute
And gete hyr mete vpon the grene
And therupon this hyghe quene
Betook hyr Argus for to kepe
For he was seldon wonte to slepe
And yet he had an honderd eyen
And al alyche wel they sym
Now herkne hou he was begyled
Mercurye whiche was al affyled
This Cowe to stele he cam desguysed
And had a pype wel deuysed
Vpon the notes of musyke
Wherof he myght his eres lyke
And ouer that he had affayted
His lusty tales & awayted
His tyme & thus in to the felde
He cam where Argus he beheld
With yo whiche besyde hym went
With that his pype anone he hent
And gan to pype in his manere
Thyng whiche was slepy for to here
And in his pypyng euer among
He told hym suche a lusty song
That he the fool hath brought a slepe
There was none eye that myght kepe
His hede whiche mercurye of smote
And forth with al anone fote hote
He stal the Cowe which Argus kept
And al this fel for that he slept
Ensample it was to many mo
That mochel slepe doth ofte wo
When it is tyme for to wake
For yf a man this vyce take
In sompnolonce & hym delyte
Men shold vpon his dore wryte
His Epytaphe as vpon his graue
For he to spylle & nought to saue
Is shaped / & though he were dede

For thymy sone hold vp thyn heds
And lete no slepe thyne eye englue
But when it is to reason due

My fader as touchend of this
[Page]Ryght so as I you told it is
That ofte a bedde when I sholde
I maye not slepe though I wolde
For loue is euer fast byme
Whiche taketh none hede of due▪ tyme
For when I shal myn eye close
A none my hert he wol oppose
And hold his scole in suche a wyse
Tyl it be day that I aryse
That selde it is when that I slepe
And thus fro sompnolence I kepe
Myn eye / and for thy yf ther be
Ought elles more in this degre

Now axe forth my sone yis
For slouthe whiche as moder is
The forth drawer▪ & the Noryce
To man to many a dredeful vyce
Hath yet another last of alle
Whiche many a mā hath made to falle
Where that he myght neuer aryse
Wherof thou the shalt auyse
Er thou so with thy self mysfare
What vyce it is I wol declare

Nil fortuna iuuat vbi desperacid [...]dit / Quo desiccat humor non viridesat humus / magnanimus sed amor s [...]em ponit & inde salutem▪ Cōsequitur [...] [...] prospera fata fauent

Hic loquitur super vltima specie acadie / que Tristicia siue desperacio dicitur / auus olstinata condicio tocius con solacionis spem deponens alicuius remed [...] quo kberari poterit fortunam sib [...] euenire impossible credit

wHan slouthe doth al yt he may
To dryue forth the long day
Tyl he bycome to the nede
Then at last vpon the dede
He laketh hou his tyme is lore
And is so woo begone therfore
That he within his thought conceyueth
Trystesse & so hym self deceyueth
That he wanhope bryngeth Inne
Where is no comfort to begynne
But euery ioye hym is dylayed
So that within his herte affrayeth
A thousand tyme with one breth
Wepend he wyssheth after deth
When he fortune fynt aduerse
For than he wol his happe reheree
As though the world were al forlore
And sayth Allas that I was lore
How I shal lyue how shal I doo
For now fortune is my foo
I wote wel god me wol not helpe
What shold I than of ioye yelpe
When ther no bote is of my care
So ouer cast is al my welfare
That I am shapen al to stryf
Allas that I neuer of this lyf
Or I be fullyche ouertake
And thus he wol his sorowe make
As god hym myght not auayle
But yet ne wol he not trauayle
To helpe hym at suche a nede
But slouteth vnder suche a drede
Whiche is affermed in his hert
Ryght as he myght nought asterte
The worldes woo whiche he is Inne

Also when he is falle in synne
Hym thynketh he is so fer culpable
That god wol not be mercyable
Soo grete a synne to foryeue
And thus he leueth to be shryue
And yf a man in thylk throwe
Wold hym coūseyle, he wol not knowe
The soth though a [...]man it fynde
For trystesse is of suche a kynde
That for to mayntene his fely
He hath with hym obstynacy
Whiche is within of suche a slouthe
That he forslaketh al trouthe
And wol not to no reson bo we
And yet he can not alowe
His owne skylle / but of hede
Thus dwyneth he tyl he be dede
In hyndryng of his owne estate
For where a man is obstynate
[Page lxxxx]Whan hope foloweth at the last
Whiche may not longe after last
Tyl slouthe make of hym an ende
But god wote whether he shal wende
My sone & ryght in suche manere
There be louers of heuy chere
That sorowen more than it is nede
Whan they be torned of theyr spede
And can not them self rede
But lesen hope for to spede
And stynten loue to pursewe
And thus they faden hyde & hewe
And lustles in her hertes waxe
Herof it is that I wold axe
If thou my sone art one of tho

A good fadre it is soo
Out take a poynt I am be knowe
For elles I am ouerthrowe
In al that euer ye haue seyd
My sorowe is euermore vnteyd
And secheth oueral my veynes
But for to counseylle of my peynes
I can no bote doo therto
And thus withouten hope I goo
Soo that  [...]y wyttes ben empeyred
And I am as who sayd despeyred
To wynne loue of thylke swete
Withoute whome I you behete
Myn herte that is so bestad
Ryght only may neuer be glad
For by my trouthe I shal not lye
Of pure sorowe whiche I drye
For that she sayth / she wol me nought
With dretchyng of myn owne thoughe
In suche a wanhope I am falle
That I ne can vnnethes calle
As for to speke of ony grace
My lady grace to purchace
But yet I say nought for this
That al in myn defaulte it is
For I am neuer yet in stede
When tyme was that I me bede
Ne sayde & as I dorst tolde
But neuer fonde I that she wolde
For ought she knewe myn entent
To speke a goodly word assent
And netheles this dar I seys
That yf a synful wold preys
To god for his foryeuenesse
With half so grete a besynesse
As I haue do to my lady
In lak of axyng of mercy
He sholde neuer come in helle
Aud thus I may you sothly telle
Sauf only that I ceye & byd
I am in trystesse al amydde
And fulfylled of dysperaunce
And therfor yeue me my penaunce
Myn holy fader as you lyketh
My sone of that thy herte syketh
With sorowe myght thou not amende
Tyl loue his grace wol the sende
For thou thyne owne cause empeyrese
What tyme yt thou thy self dyspeyrest
I uot what other thyng auayleth
Of hope when the herte fayleth
For suche a soor is Ina [...]rable
And eke the goddes ben vengeable
And that a man may ryght wel feede
These old bokes who so rede
Of thyng whiche hath byfalle or this
Now here of what ensample it is

Hic narrat qualiter Iphis Re gis Theucri filius ob amore in cuuisdā puelle nomine Araxarathen quam ne (que) donis aut precibus vincere potuit / des perans ante patris ipsiꝰ ianuas noctanter se suspendit / vnde dij comoti dic tam puellam in lapidem durissuuam transmutarunt / quam Rex Theucer vna cum filio suo apud ciuitatem Sala minam in Templo veneris pro perpetua memoria sepeliri & locari fecit

wHylome by old dayes fer
Of mese was ye kyng theucer
Which had a knyȝt to son iphis
Of loue &  [...]e soo mastred is
That he hath set al his courage
As to regard of his lygnage
[Page]Vpon a mayde of lowe astate
But though he were a potestate
Of worldes good he was subgett
To loue & put in suche a plyte
That excedeth the mesure
Of reson that hym self assure
He can nought / for the more he prayd
The lasse loue on hym she layd
He was with loue vn wise cōstreyned
And she with reson was with streyned
The lustes of his herte he seweth
And she for drede shame esche weth
And as she shold toke hede
To saue & kepe hyr womanhede
And the thyng stood in debate
Bytwene his lust & here estate
He yaue / he send / he spak by mouth
But yet for ought that euer he couth
Vnto his spede he fond no weye
So that he cast his hope aweye
Within his hert he gan dyspeyre
Fro day to day & so [...] empeyre
That he hath lost al his delyte
Of lust of slepe of appetyte
That he thurgh strength of sone lasseth
His wyt & reson ouer passeth
As he whiche of his lyf ne tought
His deth vpon hym self he sought
So that by nyght his weye he nam
That wyst none where he bycam
The nyght was derk the mone shone
To fore the gates he cam sone
Where that this yong mayde was
And with this woful word allas
His dedely pleyntes he bygan
So stylle that there was noman
It herde & than he sayde thus
O thou Cupyde / O thou Venus
Fortuned by whoos ordenaunce
Of loue is euery mans chaunce
Ye knowen al myn hole hert
That I ne may your hondes asterte
On you is euer that I crye
And yet you deyneth not to plye
Ne toward me your ere enclyne
Thus for I see noo medycyne
To make an ende of my quarele
My deth shal be in stede of hele

Ha thou my woful lady dere
Whiche duellest with thy fadre here
And slepest in thy bed at ese
Thou wotest no thyng of my dysese
How thou & I be now vnmete
A lord what sweuene shalt thou mete
What dremes hast thou now on hond
Thou slepest there & here I stond
Though I no deth to the deserue
Here shal I for thy loue sterue
Here shal I a kynges sone▪ deye
For loue & for no felonye
Whether thou therof haue ioye or sorow
Here shalt thou me see dede to morowe
O hard hert abouen alle
This deth whiche shal to me falle
For that thou wolt not do me grace
It shal be told in many place
That I am dede for loue & trouthe
In thy defaulte & in thy slouthe
Thy daunger shal to many mo
Ensample be for euermo
When they the woful deth recorde
And with that word he took a corde
With whiche vpon the gate tre
He henge hym self that was pyte

The morowe cam the nyght is gone
Men come oute & syghe anone
Where that this yonge lord was dede
There was an hous withoute dede
For noman knewe the cause why
There was wepyng ther was cry
This mayden when she it herde
And sawe this thyng hou it mysferd
Auone she wyst what it mente
And al the cause hou it wente
To al the world she told it oute
And preyth hem that were aboute
To take of her the wngeaunce
For she was cause of thylk chaunce
Why that this kynges sone is spy [...]t
She taketh vpon hyr self the gylt
And is al redy to the peyne
Whiche ony man hyr wol ordeyne
[Page lxxxxj]But yf ony other wold
She sayth that hyr self she shold
Doo wreche with hyr owne hond
Thorugh oute the world in▪ euery lōd
That euery lyf therof shal speke
Hou she hyr self it shold wreke
She wepeth she cryeth she swouneth oft
She cast hyr eyen vp alofte
And sayd among ful pytously
A god thou wost wel it am I
For Iphis is thus byseyn
Ordeyne so that many may seyn
A thousand wynter after this
Hou suche a mayden dyd amys
And so as I dyde do to me
For I ne dyde noo pyte
To hym whiche for my loue is lore
Doo no pyte to me therfore
And with this word she felle to grosid
A swoune & there she lay astound
The goddes whiche her pleyntes herde
And sawe hou wofully she ferde
Here lyf awey they took anone
And shopen here in to a stone
After the forme of hyr ymage
Of body bothe & of vysage
And for the meruaylle of this thyng
Vnto the place cam the kyng
And eke the quene & many mo
And when they wysten it was foo
As I haue told it here aboue
Hou that Iphys was dede for loue
Of that he had be refused
They helden al men excused
And wondren vpon the vengeaunce
And for to kepe remembraunce
This fayre ymage mayden lyche
With companye noble & ryche
With torches & with grete solempnyte
To Salamyne the Cyte
They lede & carye forth with all
This dede corps & seyn it shall
Besyde thylk Image haue
His sepulture & be begraue
This corps & this Image thus
In to the Cyte to Venus
Where that goddesse her Temple had
To geder bothe forth they lad
Thylke Image as for myracle
Was sette vpon an hyghe pynacle
That al it myght knowe
And vnder that they maden lowe
A tombe ryche for the nones
Of marble & eke of Iaspre stones
Wheryn this Iphys was byloken
That euermore it shal be spoken
And for men shal the sothe wyte
They haue here Epytaphe wryte
As thyng whiche shold abyde stable
The lettres granen in a Table
Of marble were & sayd thys
Here lyeth which slouȝ hym self Iphis
For loue of Araxarathen
And in eusample of tho women
That suffren men to dyen soo
His forme a man may seen also
Hou it is torned flesshe & bone
In the fygure of a stone
He was to nesshe & she hard
Beware for thy here afterward
Ye men & women bothe two
Ensampleth you of that was tho

Loo thus my sone as I the seye
It greueth by dyuers weye
In despeyr a man to falle
Whiche is the last braunche of alle
Of slouthe as thou hast herd deuyse
Wherof that thou thy self auyse
Good is or that thou be deceyued
Wherof the hope of grace is weyued

My fadre hou so that it stonde
Nou haue I pleynly vnderstonde
Of slouthes court the propyrte
Wherof touchend in my degre
For euer I thynk to be ware
But ouer this so as I dare
With al myn hert I yow byseche
That ye me wold enforme & teche
What there is more of youre apryse
In loue als wel as other wyse
So that I may me clene shryue

Confessor

[Page]My sonne whyle thou art alyue
And hast also thy ful mynde
Among the vyces whiche I fynde
There is yet one suche of the seuene
Whiche al this world hath set vneuene
And causeth many tymes wrong
Where he the cause hath vnderfong
Wherof here after thou shalt here
The forme both & the matere

Expliat Liber Quartus

Incipit Liber Quintus

o [...]stat Auaricia nature legibus et que / Largue amor poscit strict [...]e illa vetat / Omne ꝙ est nimium vi c [...]osum dicitur aurū / Vellera sicut oues seruat auarus opes / Non decet vt soli ser [...]abitur os sed amori / Debet homo so lam solus habere suam /

fIrst when the hyghe god begā /
This world and that the kynde of man / 
Was falle in to no grete encrees / 
For worldes good was tho no prees /
But al was set to the comune /
They speken than of no fortune
Or for to lese or for to wynne
Tyl Auaryce brought Inne
And yt was when ye world was woye
Of man of hore of shepe of Oxe
And that men knewen the money
Tho went pees oute of the weye
And werre came on euery syde
Whiche al loue leyd asyde
And of comon his propre made
So that in stede of shouel & spade
The sharp was take on honde
And in this wyse it cam to londe
Wherof that men made dyches depe
And hyghe walles for to kepe
The gold whiche auaryce encloseth
But al to lytel hym supposeth
Though he myȝt al the world purchace
For that thyng that may embrace
Of gold of catel or of lond
Lete it neuer oute of his hond
But gete hym more & halt it fast
As though the world sholde euer last
So is he lyche vnto the helle
For as these bokes telle
What cometh ther in lasse or more
[Page lxxxxj]It shal departe neuermore
Thus when he hath his Cofer loken
It shal not after ben vnstoken
But when hym lyst to haue a syght
Of gold hou it shyneth bryght
That he theron may loke & muse
For other wyse he dare not vse
To take his part or lesse or more
So is the power for euermore
Hym lakketh that he hath Inough
An oxe draweth in the plough
Of that hym self hath no profyte
A shepe ryght in the same plyte
His wulle bereth vpon a day
Another taketh the flees aweye
Thus hath he yt he nought ne hath
For he therof his part ne tath
To seye hou suche a man hath good
Who so that reson vnderstood
It is inproperlyche sayd
That good hath hym & halt hym taid
That he ne gladeth nought with alle
But is vnto his good a thralle
And as a subget thus serueth he
Where that he shold Mayster be
Suche is the kyng of Thauarous

My sone as thou art amerous

Telle yf thou farest of loue soo

My fadre as it semeth no
That auarous yet neuer I was
So as ye setten me the caas
For as ye tolden here aboue
In ful possessyon of loue
Yet was I neuer here to fore
Soo that me thynketh wel therfore
I may excuse wel my dede
But of my wylle withoute drede
Yf I that tresour myght gete
It shold neuer be foryete
That I ne wold faste holde
Tyl god of loue hym selue wolde
That deth vs shold departe a two
For leueth wel I loue her so
That euen with myn owne lyf
If I that swete lusty wyf
Myght ones welden at my wylle
For I wold holde hyr stylle
And in this wyse taketh kepe
If I her had I wold her kepe
And yet no frydaye wold I fast
Though I her kepte & holde fast
Fy on the bagges in the kyst
I had ynough yf I her kyst
For certes yf she were myn
I had her leuer than a myn
Of gold for al this worlde ryche
Ne me myght make so ryche
As she that is so Inly good
I set nought of other good
For myght I gete suche a thynge
I had Tresour for a kynge
And though I wold it faste holde
I were therto mochel byholde
But I myȝt pype now with lasse
And suffre that it ouerpasse
Not with my wyll / for thus I wold
Ben auarous yf that I shold
But fadre I you herd sey
Hou the auarous hath yet somme wey
Wherof he may be glad for be
May when hym lyst his tresour se
And grope & fele it al aboute
But I ful ofte am shet ther oute
There as my worthy Tresour is
So is my lyf lyche vnto this
That me tolden here to fore
Hou that an Oxe his yok hath bore
For thyng that shold hym not auayle
And in this wyse I me trauayle
For who that euer hath the welfare
I wote wel that I haue the care
And I am as who sayth loues knaue
For I am had & nought ne haue
Now deme in your owne thought
Yf this be auaryce or nought

My sone I haue of the no wonder
Thongh thou to serue be put vnder
With loue whiche to kynde acordeth
But soo as euery book recordeth
At is to kynde no plesaunce
That man aboue his sustenaunce
Vnto the gold shal serue & bowe
[Page]For that may no reason auowe
But Auaryce netheles
If he may geten his encrees
Of gold that wold he serue & kepe
For he taketh of nought elles kepe
But for to fylle of his bagges large
And al is to hym but a charge
For he ne parteth nought with al
But kepeth as a seruaunt shal
And thus though that he multyplye
His gold withoute Tresorye
He  [...] / for man is nought amended
With gold but yf it be dyspended
To mans vse wherof I rede
A tale & take therof good heede
Of that byfelle by old tyde
As telleth vs the c [...]erk Ouyde
 [...] Achus whiche is god of wyn
Acordannt to his dyuyn
A preest whiche Cillenus hiȝt
He had & fel so that he by nyght
Th [...] preest was drūke & goth a straid
 [...]rof the men were euyl apayd
 [...] Fryg [...]ond where as he went
 [...] at the last a chorle hym hent
 [...] strengthe of other felaushyp
 [...] that vpon his drunkeshyp
 [...] bounden hym with cheynes fast
And forth they lad hym also fast
 [...]to the kyng whiche hyght Myde
But he that wold his vyce hyde
 [...] curtoys kyng toke of hym hede
And bad that men sholde hym lede
 [...] to a chambre for to kepe
 [...]  [...]e of leyser had a slepe
And tho this preest was sone vnboūd
And vpon a couche fro the ground
To slepe  [...] was le [...]d softe Inough
And when he woke yt kyng hym drouȝ
To his presence & dyd hym chere
So that this preest in suche manere
Wh [...]se yt hym lyketh there he duelleth
And al this he to Bachus telleth
When that he cam to hym ageyne
And when that Bachus herd seyn
Hou myde hath done this curtesye
Hym thynketh it were  [...] vylony [...]
But he reward hym for his dede
So as he myght of his godhede
Vnto this kyng this god appereth
And clepeth & that other hereth
This god to Myde thanketh fayre
Of that he was soo debonayre
Toward his prest & bad hym sey [...]
What thyng it were he wold preye
He shold it haue of worldly good
This kyng was glad & stylle stood
And was of his axyng in doute
And al the world he casteth aboute
What thyng was best for his  [...]state
And with hym self stood at debate
Vpon thre poyntes whiche I fynde
Ben leuest vnto mannes kynde
The fyrst of hem it is delyte
The two ben worshyp & profyte
And than he thought yf that I craue
Delyte though I delyte may haue
Delyte shal passen in my age
That is no syker auauntage
For euery ioye bodely
Shal ende in woo / delyte for thy
Wol I not chese / & yf I worshyp
Axe & of the world lordshyp
That is an occupacyon
Of proude Imagynacyon
Whiche maketh an hert veyn within
There is no certeyne for to wynne
For lorde & knaue is al one weye
When they be bore & when they deye
And yf I profyte axe wolde
I not in what maner I sholde
Of worldes good haue sykernesse
For euery theef vpon rychesse
A wayteth for to robbe & stele
Suche  [...]ood is cause of harmes fele
And also though a man at ones
Of al the world within his wones
The Tresour myght haue euery deele
Yet had he but one mans dele
Toward hym self so as I thynke
Of clothynge of mete of drynke
For more oute take vanyte
[Page lxxxxij]There hath no lord in his degre
And thus vpon the poyntes dyuerse
Dyuersly he gan reherce
What poynt hym thought for the best
But pleynly for to gete hym rest
He can no syker weye cast
And netheles yet at the last
He felle vpon the couetyse
Of gold / & than in sondry wyse
He thought as I haue sayd to fore
How Tresour may be sone forlore
And had an Inly grete desyre
Touchend of suche recouer
Hou that he myght his cause auayle
To gete hym gold withoute fayle
Within his hert & thus he preyseth
The gold & sayth hou that he peyseth
Aboue al other metal most
The gold he sayth may lede an hoost
To make werre ayene a kyng
The gold put vnder al thyng
And set whome hym lyst aboue
The gold can make of hate loue
And werre of pees. & ryght of wrong
And long to short & short to long
Withoute gold may be no fest
Gold is the lorde of man & beste
And may hem both bye & selle
Soo that a man may sothely telle
That al the world to gold obeyeth
For thy this kyng to bachus preyth
To graunte hym gold / but he excedeth
Mesure more than hym nedeth
Men tellen that the maladye
Whiche callyd is Ioropesy [...]
Resembled is to this vyce
By weye of kynde & Auaryce
The more Idropesye drynketh
The more thyrsteth for hym thynketh
That he may not drynke his fylle
Soo that there may no thyng fulfylle
The lustes of his appetyte
And ryght in suche maner plyte
Stant euer Auaryce & euer stood
The more he hath of worsdes good
The more he wolde kepe streyte
And euer more and more coueyte
And ryght in suche condicyon
Wythoute good discrecyon
This kyng with auaryce is smete
That al the worlde it myght wete
For he to Bachus then preyd
That wherupon his honde he leid
It sholde thorugh his touche anone
Become gold / & therupon
This god hym graunteth as he bad
Tho was this kyng of Fryge glad
And for to put it in assaye
With / al the hast that he maye
He toucheth that he toucheth this
And in his hond al gold it is
The stone / the tre / the leef / the gras
The Floure the fruyte al gold it was
Thus toucheth he while he may last
But hongre att the last
Hym took soo that he mote nede
By wey of kynde his hongre fede
The clothe was leyd / the boord was set
And alle was forth byfore hym set
His dissh / his drink / his cuppe his meet
But when he wold drynk or ete
As to his mouth anone cam nyghe
It was al gold & then he syghe
Of Auayrce the folye
And he with that bygnne to crye
And preyde Bachus to foryeue
His gylt & suffre hym for to lyue
And be suche as he was to fore
Soo that he were nought forlore
This god whiche of this greuaunce
Herd / toke routhe vpon his repentaūce
And bad hym goo forth redyly
Vnto a flood was fast by
Whiche paceole than hyght
In whiche as sone as euer he myght
He sholde hym wasshe oueral
And said hym than he shal
Recouere hys fyrst astate ageyn
This kyng right as he herd seyn
In to the flood goth fro the lond
And wesshe hym bothe fote & hond
And so forth al the remenaunt
[Page]As hym was set in  [...]uendunt
And than he sawe meruayles straūge
The flood his coloure gan to chaunge
The grauel with the smal stones
To gold they torne al attones
And he was quyte of that he had
And thus fortune his chaunge lad
And when he sawe his touche gone
He goth hym home ryght forth soone
And lyueth forth as he dyde er
And put al Auaryce a fer
And the ryches of gold despyseth
And seyth that mete & clothe suffyseth
Thus hath this kyng experyence
Hou fooles done the reuerence
To gold whiche of his owne kynde
Is lasse worth than is the rynde
To sustenaunce of mans fode
Then he made lawes goode
And al his thyng set vpon skylle
He lede his people for to tylle
Her l [...]nd & lyue vnder the lawe
And they also shold forth drawe
Bestayl & seche none encrees
 [...]f gold whiche is the breche of pees
For this a man may fynde wryte
To fere the tyme that gold was smyte
In coygne that men the floren knewe
There was wel nyhe noman vntrewe
There was nother shelde ne spere
Ne dedely wepen for to be bere
T [...]o was the toune withoute walle
The whiche now is closed ouer alle
Tho was there no bro [...]ge in lond
Whiche now taketh euery cause on hōd
So may yt man knowe hou the floreyn
Was moder fyrst of malengyn
And brynger in of alle werre
Wherof this world stant oute of herre
Thorugh the counseyl of auary [...]
Whiche of his owne propre vyce
Whiche as the helle wonderful
For it may neuermore be ful
That what as euer cometh therynne
Awey it ne may neuer wynne
But sone myn do thou not so
Late al suche auaryce go
And take thy part of that thou hast
I byd not that thou do wast
But hold largesse in mesure
And yf thou see a creature
Whiche thorugh pouert is falle in nede
Yeue hym somme good for this I rede
To hym that wol not yeuen here
What peyne he shal haue elles where
There is a peyne among al
Bynethe in helle whiche men calle
The woful peyne of Tantaly
Of whiche I shal the redely
Deuyse hou theryn men stond
In helle thou shalt vnderst [...]nd
There is a flood of thylk offyce
Whiche serueth al for auaryce
What man that stonde shal therin
He stant vp euen to the chynne
Aboue his hede also there hougeth
A fruyt whiche to that peyne longeth
And that fruyt toucheth euer in one
His ouerlyppe / and therupon
Suche thyrst & honger hym assayleth
That neuer his appetyte ne fayleth
But when he wende his hongar fede
The fruyt withdraweth hym at nede
And though he haue his hede on hyghe
The fruyt is euer alyche nyghe
So is the honger wel the more
And also though hym thurst sore
And to the water bowe adoune
The flood in suche condycyon
Aualeth that his drynke areche
He may not / loo now whiche a wreche
That mete & drynk is hym so couthe
And yet ther comth none in his mouth
Lyche to the peynes of this flood
Stant Auaryce in worldes good
He hath Inough & yet hym nedeth
For his scarcenes it hym forbedeth
And euer his honger after / more
Trauayleth hym alyche sore
So is he peyned oueral
For thy thy goodes oueral
My sone loke that thou dyspende
[Page lxxxxiij]Wherof thou myght thy self amende
Bothe here & eke in other place
And also yf thou wolt purchace
To be loued thou must vse
Largesse for yf thou refuse
To yeue for thy loues sake
It is no reson that thou take
Of loue that thou woldest craue
For thy yf thou wolt, grace haue
Be gracyous and do largesse
Of Auaryce & the sekenesse
Esche we aboue al other thyng
And take ensample of Myde the kyng
And of the flood of helle also
Where is Inough of al wo
And though there were no matere
But only that we fynden here
Men ought Auaryce esche we
For what man thylk vyce sewe
He gete hym self but lytel rest
For though so that the body rest
The hert vpon the gold trauayleth
Whome many a nyȝt [...]s drede assaileth
For though he lygge a bed naked
His herte is euermore awaked
And dremeth as he lyeth to slepe
Hon besy that he is to kepe
His Tresour that noo theef it stele
Thus hath he but a woful wele

And ryght so in the same wyse
If thou thy self wolt wel auyse
There be louers of suche Inough
That wol vnto reason bough
If so  [...]e they come aboue
When they be maystres of her loue
And that they sholden be most glad
With loue they ben moost bestad
So fayn they wolden it holden all
That hir herte / hir eye is ouerall
And wenen euery man be a theef
To stele awey that hem is leef
Thus thorugh her owne fantasye
They fallen in to Ielousye
Than hath the shyp to broke his cable
With euery wynde & is meuable

Amans

My fader for that ye now telle
I haue herde oftyme telle
Of Ielousye but what it is
Yet vnderstond I neuer or this
Wherfore I wold you byseche
That ye me wold enforme & teche
What maner thyng it myght be

My sone that is hard to me
But netheles as I haue herd
Now herkne & thou shalt be ansuerd

Nota de Ielousia cuius fantastica suspicio amorem quentuis fidelissimū mul t [...]ciens sine causa corruptum Imagina tur /

aMong the men lak of manhod
In maryage vpon wyshode
Maketh that a man hym self deceyueth
Wherof it is yt he conceyueth
That ylke vnesy maladye
The whiche is cleped Ielousye
Of whiche yf I the propyrte
Shal telle after the nyorte
So as it worcheth on a man
A feuer it is cotydyan
Whiche euery day wol come aboute
Where so a a man be in or oute
At home yf that a man wol wone
This feuer is than of comon wone
Moost greuous in a mans eye
For than he maketh hym tote & prye
Where so his loue euer go
She shal not with hyr lytel too
Mysteppe but he seeth al
His eye is walkend oueral
Where that she synge or that she daūce
He seeth the lest countenaunce
If she loke on a man a syde
Or with hym rowne at ony tyde
Or that she laugh or that she  [...]oure
His eye is there at euery houre
And when it draweth to the nyght
If she soo than be withoute lyght
Anone is al the game shente
[Page]For than he set his parlement
To speke it when he cometh to bedde
And sayth yf I were now to wedde
I wold neuermore haue wyf
And so he torneth in to stryf
The lust of loues dute
And al vpon dyuersyte
If she be fresshe & wel arayed
He sayth her baner is dysplayed
To cle [...]e in gestes fro the weye
And yf she be not wel beseye
And that hyr lyst not to be glad
He beryth on hond that she is mad
And loueth not her husbond
And sayth he may wel vnderstond
That yf she wold his companye
She shold than afore his eye
She we al the plesaunce that she myȝt
So that by daye ne by nyght
She not what thyng is best
But lyueth wel oute of al rest
For what as euer hym lyst seyn
She dare not speke one word ageyn
But wepeth & hold hyr lyppes cloos
She may wel wryte Saunce  [...]poos
The wyf whiche is to suche one maryed
Of al women be he waryed
For with his feuer of jelousye
His eche dayes fantasye
Of soro we is euer alyche grene
So that there is no loue sene
Whyle that hym lyst at home abyde
And when so as he wol oute ryde
T [...] hath he redy his  [...]spye
Abydyng in her companye
A jangler an euyl mouthed one
That she ne may no [...]he ther gone
Ne speke one word ne ones loke
But he ne wol it wende & croke
And torne after his owne entent
Though she no thyng but honour ment
When that the lord comth home ageyn
The jangler must somwhat seyn
So what withoute & what withynne
This feuer is euer to begynne
For where he cometh he can not ende
Tyl deth of hym hath made an ende
For though so be that he ne here
Ne see nor wyte in no manere
But al honoure & womanhede
Therof the Ielous taketh none  [...]ede
But as a man to loue vnkynde
He cast his staf as doth the blynde
And fynt defaulte where is none
As who so dremeth on a stone
Hou he is leyd & groneth ofte
When he lyeth on his pylowe softe
So is ther nought but stryf & chest
Where loue shold make his rest
It is grete thyng yf he her kysse
Thuo hath she loste the nyghtes blysse
For at suche tyme he grutcheth euer
And beryth on hond ther is a leuer
That she wold another were
In stede of hym abedde there
And with tho wordes & with mo
Of jelousye he torneth her fro
And lyeth vpon his other syde
And she with that draweth hyr asyde
And ther she wepeth al the nyght
A to what peyne she is dyght▪
That in her thought hath so beset
The bonde whiche may not be vnknet
I wote the tyme is ofte cursed
That euer was the gold vnpursed
The whiche was leyd vpon the book
When that al other she forsook
For loue of hym but al to late
She pleyneth for as than algate
She mo [...]e forbere & to hym /  [...]owe
Though he ne wold it allowe
For man is lord of thylk feyre
So may the woman but empeyre
If she speke ought ageyne thy wylle
And thus she beryth her peyne stylle

But yf this Feuer a woman t [...]ke
She shal be wel the more harde sha [...]
But yf she bothe see & here
And fynde that there is matere
She dare but to her self pleyne
And thus she suffreth double peyne

Loo thus my sone as I haue  [...]ryt [...]
[Page lxxxxiiij]Thou myght of jelousye wyte
His feuer & his condycyon
Whiche is fal of suspectyon
But wherof that this feuer groweth
Who so these olde bokes too weth
There may he fynde hou it is
For they vs teche & telle this
Hou that this Feuer of jelousye
Somdele it groweth of sotye
Of loue and somdele of vntrust
For as sekeman left his lust
And when he may no sauoure gete
He hateth than his owne mete
Ryght so this feuerous maladye
Whiche caused is of fantasye
Maketh the jelous in feble plyght
To leue of loue his appetyt
Thorugh feyned Informacyon
Of his Imagynacyon
But fynally to taken heede
Men may wel make a lykelyhede
Bytwene hym whiche is auarou [...]
Of gold & hym that is Ir [...]us
Of loue for in one degre
They stonde bothe as semeth me
That one wold haue his bagges styl
And nought departen with his wyll
And dare not for the theues slepe
So fayne he wold his tresour kepe
That other maye not wel be glad
For euermore he is adrad
Of these louers that gone aboute
In aunter yf they put hym oute
So haue they bothe lytel Ioye
As wel of loue as of moneye

Now hast thou sone at my techyng
Of Ielousye a knowlechyng
That thou myght vnderstonde this
Fro when he cometh & what he is
And eke to whome that he is lyke
Beware for thy thou be not syke
Of thylk feuer as I haue spoke
For it wol in hym self be wroke
For loue hateth no thyng more
As men may fynde by the lore
Of hem that whylome were wy [...]
Hou they speke in many wyse

My fader sothe is that ye seyn
But for to loke there ageyn
Byfore this tyme hou it is falle
Wherof there myght ensample falle
To suche men as ben Ielous
In what maner it is greuous
Ryght fayn I wold ensample here

My good sone at thy prayere
Of suche ensamples I fynde
Soo as they comen now to mynde
Vpon this poynt of tyme gone
I thynke for to tellen one

hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos maritos quos Ielousia ma [...]la [...]t / Et narrat qualiter vul canus cuins vxor venus extitit suspicionem inter ipsam & martem concipiēs eorum gestus diligencius explorabat / Vnde contigit ꝙ cum ipse quadam vice ambos inter se pariter amplexantes in lecto nudo inuenit / et exclamās omnem cetum deorum et deatum ad tātum spectaculum conuocauit / super quo tamen derisum pocius (quam) remedium a tota cohorte consecutus est

oVyde wrote of many thynges
Among ye whiche in his wry­tinges
He told a tale in poesie
Whiche toucheth in to Ielousye
Vpon a certeyne caas of loue
Among the goddes al aboue
It felle that ylke tyme thus
The god af fyre whiche Vulcanus
Is hote & hath a craft forth with
Assygned for to be the Smyth
Of Iupyter and his fygure
Bothe of vysage & of stature
Is  [...]othly and malgracyous
But yet he hath within his hous
As for the lykyng of his lyf
The fayre Venus to his wyf
[Page]But mars whiche of bataylles is
The god an eye had vnto this
As he whiche was chyualrous
It felle hym to ben amerous
And thought it was grete pyte
To see soo lusty one as she
Be coupled with so hard a wyght
So that his peyne day & nyght
He dyd yf he her wynne myght
And she that had a good insyght
Toward so noble a knyghtly lord
In loue fel of his acord
There lakketh nouȝt but tyme & place
That he ny [...] syker of her grace
But when two hertes fallen in one
So wyse a wayte was neuer none
That at somtyme they ne mete
And thus this fayre lusty swete
With Mars hath ofte companye
But thylk vnkynde Ielousye
Whiche euermore the herte opposeth
Maketh Vulcanus that he supposeth
That it is not wel ouerall
And to hym self he sayde he shal
A s [...]y [...] better yf that he may
And so it felle vpon a day
That he this thyng so slyghly ledde
He fond hem bothe a  [...]edde
Al warme / echone with other naked
And he with craft al redy maked
Of strong cheynes hath hem bounde
As he to geder hem had founde
And lefte hem bothe lygge so
And gan than to crye tho
Vnto the goddes al aboute
And they assembled in a route
Come al at ones for to see
But none amendes had he
Bat was rebuked here & there
Of hem that loues frendes were
And sayd that he was to blame
For yf ther felle hym ony shame
It was thorugh his mysgouernaūce
And thus he lost contenaunce
This god & lete his cause falle
And they to scorne [...]owen  [...]e
And lo [...]en mars oute of his hondes
Wherof these erthely husbondes
For euer myght ensample take
In suche a chaunce hem ouertake
For Vulcanus his wyf bewrayd
The blame vpon hym self ho layd [...]
Wherof his shame was the more
Whiche ought for to be a lore
For euery man that leueth here
To reulen hym in this matere
Though suche an hap of loue asterte
Yet shold he not apoynte his herte
Of Ielousye of that is wrought
But feyne as though he wyst it nouȝt
For yf he  [...]ete it ouerpasse
The sklaunder shal be wel the lasse
And he the more in ese stonde
For this thou myght wel vnderstonde
That where a man shal nedes le [...]
The lasse harme is for to chese
But Ielousye of his vntryst
Maketh that ful many an harme aryst
Whiche elles shold not aryse
And yf a man wold hym auyse
Of that byfelle▪ to Vulcanus
Hym ought of reson thynke thus
That syth a god was therof shamed
Wel shold an erthely man be blamed
To take vpon hym such [...] a vyce
For thy my sone in thyne offyce
Beware that thou be nought Ielous
Whiche oftyme hath shent the hous

My fadre this ensample is bard
Hou suche thyng to the heuen ward
Among the goddes myght falle
For there is one god of alle
Whiche is the lord of heuene [...] helle
But yf it lyke you to telle
Hou suche goddes come a place
Ye myght mochel thank purchace
For I shal be wel taught with alle

Confessor

My sonne it is soo ouerall [...]
With hem that stonden mysbyleu [...]d
That suche goddes  [...]en byleued
In sondry place in sondey wyse
[Page lxxxxv]Among hem whiche be vnwyst
There is bytaken of credence
Wherof that I the dyfference
In the maner as it is wryte
Shal do the pleynly for to wyte

Genti [...]us illusis signantur templade oru [...] / Vnde deos [...]os nacio cecacolit nulla creaturi racio facit esse creatum / Equipa [...]ans (quam) ad huc Iura pagana so nant▪

Quia secundum poetarum fabu [...]a [...] in huiusmodi likelli locis quampluribus nomina et gestus deorum falsorum intitulantur quozum infidelitas vt Cristianis clarius innotescat [...]nten dit de ipsorum origine secundum barias paganorum sectas [...]cribere consequeter / Et primo de secta Ealde [...]um trac tare proponit

oRcrist was  [...]ore amōg b [...] here
Of the byleues that tho were
In four formes thus it was
They of chaldee as in this cas
Had a byleue of hem selue
Whiche stood vpon the sygnes twelue
And eke with the planetes seuene
Whiche as they saw vpon the henen [...]
Of sondry constellacyon
In her Imagyuacyon
With son [...]ry  [...]rerf & portrature
They made of goddes the fygure

In Elementes & eke also
They hadden a byleue tho
And al was that vnresonable
For the elementes ben seruysable
To man for ofte of accydence
As men may see the experyence
They ben corrupt by sondry weye
So may no mans reson seye
That they ben god in ony wyse
And eke yf men hem wel auyse
The sonne & mone eclypsen bothe
Or be hem leef or be hem to the
They suffre & what thynge is passyble
To ben a god is inpossyble

Et ꝙ Nembroth quartus a Noe ignem tanquam deū in Caldea primus adorari decreuit

These elementes ben creatures
So ben these heuenly fygures
Wherof may wel be iustyfyed
That they may not be deifyed
And what taketh awey the honour
Whiche due is to the creatour
And yeueth it to the creature
He doth to grete a forteture
But of Caldee netheles
Vpon this feyth though it be les
They holde affermed the creaunce
So that of helle the penaunce
As folk whiche stant oute of byleue
They shal  [...]ceyue as we byleue

Of the Caldees loo in this wyse
Stant the byleue oute of assyse
But in Egypt worst of alle
The feyth is fals hou so it falle
For they dyuers beestes there
Honoure as though they goddes were
And netheles yit forth with al
The goddes most in specyal
They haue forth with a goddesse
In whome is al her sekernesse
The goddes yet be cleped thus
Orus Cyphon and Isyrus
They were bretheren al thre
And the goddes in here degre
Hyr suster was & Isys hyght
Whome Isyrus forlay by nyght
And helde hyr after as his wyf
So it by felle that vpon stryf
Typhon hath Isire his broder slayn
Whiche had a child to sone Orayn
And he his fader deth to herte
So took that he may not asterte
That he Typhon after ne slough
[Page]Than he was  [...]ype of age Inough
But yet the Egypcyens trowen
For al this errour that they knowen
That these bretheren ben of myght
To sette & kepe Egypt vp ryght
And ouer thurgh yf that hem lyke
But Isys as seyth the Cronyke
Fro Grece in to Egypte cam
And she then vpon honde nam
To teche hem for to sowe &  [...]re
Whiche noman knewe to fore there
And when the Egypcyans syghe
The felde ful a fore here eye
And that the lond bygan to greyne
Whiche whysome had be bareyne
For the erthe bare [...] after the kynde
His due charge this I fynde
That▪ she of byrthe the goddesse
Is cleped / so that in dystresse
The women ther vpon chyldyng
To her clepe and here offryng
They  [...]ere when; that they be lyḡht
Loo hou Egypt al out of syght
Fro reson stant in mysbyleue
For lak of bore as I byleue

De secta Grecorum

Among the grekes out of the weye
As they that reson put aweye
There was as the Cronyke seyth
Of mysbyleue an other feyth
That  [...]ere goddes & here goddesse
As who seyth taken al to gesse
Of suche as weren ful of vyce
To whome they made sacryfyce
 [...]he hyghe god so as they sayde
To whome they worshyp layde

Nota qualiter Saturnus deorū summns appellatur

Saturnus hyght & kyng of Crete
He had be put out of his sete
He was put doune as he whiche stood
In frenesye & was so wood
That fro his wyf whiche Reá hyght
His owne children he to plyght
And ete hem of his comon wone
But Iupyter whiche w [...]s his sone
And of ful age his fader bonde
And kyt of with his owne honde
His genytalles whiche also fast
In to the depe see he cast
Wherof the grekes afferme & seye
Thus when they were cast awey
Cam Venus forth by wey of kynde
And of Saturnus also I fynde
Hou afterward in to an yle
This Iupyter hym dyd exyle
Where that he stood in grete meschyef
Loo what a god they maden cheef
Whiche stood moost in his degre
And sythen that suche one was he
Among the goddes thou myȝt knowe
These other that ben more lowe
Ben lytel worth as it is founde

Iupiter [...]eus deliciarum

For Iupyter was the seconds
Whiche Iuno had vnto his wyf
And yet a lechour al his lyf
He was & in auoutrye
He wrought many a trecherye
And for he was so ful of vyces
They cleped hym god of delyces
Of whome yf thou wolt wyte
Ouyde the poete hath wryte
But yet here sterres bothe twoo
Saturne and Iupyter also
They haue although they be to blame
Attytled to her owne name

Mars deus belli

Mars was another man in that laste
The whiche in trace was forth drawe
Of whome the clerk Vegecius
Wrote in his book & told thus
Hou he in to Italye cam
And fortune there he nam
That he a mayden there oppressyd
Whiche in hyr ordre was professed
As the whiche was the P [...]yo [...]esse
In bestes Temple the goddesse
So was she wel the more to blame
Dame Ilya this lady name
[Page lxxxxvj]Men clepe & she was also
The kynges doughter that was tho
Whiche mynyter by name hyght
Soo that ayene the lawes ryght
Mars thylke tyme vpon hyr that
Remus & Romulus he vygat
Whiche after when they come in age
Of knyghthode & of bessellage
Italye al hoole they ouercome
And foundeden the grete Rome
In armes and of suche empryse
They weren that in thylk wyse
Hyr fader mars for the meruayle
The god was cleped of the batayle
They were his children both two
Though hem he took his name soo
There was none other cause why
And yet a sterre vpon the sky
He hath vnto his name applyed
In whiche that he is  [...]guyfyed

Another god they hadden eke
To whome for counseyl they byseke
The whiche was broder to Venus
Appollo men hym clepe thus
He was an hunte vpon the helles
There was with hym no vertu elles
Wherof that ony bokes carpe
But onlyche that he couthe harpe
Whiche whan he walked ouer lond
Ful of tyme he woke on hond
To gete hym with his sustenaunce
For lak of other purueaunce
And other whyle of his falshede
He feyneth hym to conne a rede▪
Of thyng which afterward shold fall
Wherof among his sleyghtes all
He hath the leude folk receyned
So that the better he was receyued
Loo now thorugh what▪ creacyon
He hath deyfycacyon
To suche as be the foles yet
And cleped is the god of wyt

Another god to whome they sought
Mercurye hyght / & hym ne rought
What thyng he stale ne whom▪ he slouȝ
Of s [...]r [...]rye he couthe ynough
That when he wold hym self transfor­
me / Ful oftyme he toke the forme
Of woman & his owne lefte
So dyde he wel the more thefte
Agrete speker in al thynges
He was also & of lesynges
An Autor that men wyst none
An other suche as he was one
And yet they maden of. this theef
A god whiche was vuto hym leef
And cleped hym in tho vyleues
The god of marchauntes & of theues
But asterre vpon the heuene
He hath one of the planetes senene

But Vulcanus of whome I spa
Ho had a courbe vpon the bak
And therto he was hyppe halt
Of whome thou vnderstonde shalt
He was a shrewe in al his youthe
And he none other vertu couthe
Of vertu to helpe hym self with
But only that he was a smyth
Whiche with Iupyter in his forge
Dyuerse thynges made hym forge
So wote I not for what desyre
To clepe hym the god of fyre

Kyng of Cecyle Ipolytus
A sone had / and Eolus
He hyght of his fader graunt
He helde the weye of couenaunt
The gouernaunce of euery Ile
Whiche was longed vnto Cecyle
Of hem that fro the lond foreyn
Lye vpon to the wynde al pleyn
And fro thylk Iles to the lond
Ful ofte cam the wynd to hond
And after the name of hym for thy
The wynde is cleped Eoly
And is cleped the god of wynd
Loo no whou this byleue is blynd

The kyng of Crete Iupyter
The same whiche I spast of er
Vnto his broder whiche Neptune
Whiche was hote hym lyst comune
Part of his god so that by shyp
He made hym strong of the lordshyp
[Page]Of āl the see in tho partyes
Where that he wrought his tyrannyes
And the straunge Iles al aboute
He wan that euery man hath doute
Vpon his marche for to sayle
For he anone hem wold assayle
And robbe that thyng that they laddē
His sauf conduyt but yf they hadden
Wherof the comon voys aroos
 [...]n euery londe that suche a loos
He caught al nere it worth a stre
That he was cleped of the see
The god by name & yet he is
With hem that so byleue amys
This Neptunꝰ whiche was thylk also
Whiche was the fyrst founder tho
Of noble Troye & he for thy
Was wel the more lete by

The boresman of the shepeherdes
And eke of hem that Netherdes
Was of Archade & hyght pan
Of whome hath spoke many a man
For in the wode of Nouertyne
Enclosed with the trees of pygne
And oute of the mount of parysye
He bade of beestes the baylye
And eke bynethe in the valeye
Where thylk ryuer as men may seye
Whiche Ladon hyght made his cours
He was the cheef of gouernours
Of hem that kepen tame beestes
Wherof they make yet the festes
In the cyte of Stursalydes
And forth with al yet netheles
He taught men the forth drawyng
Of bestaylle & eke the makyng
Of Oxen & of hors the same
Hou men hem shold ryde & tame
Of foules eke so as we fynde
Ful many a subtyle craft of kynde
He fonde whiche noman knewe to fore
Men dyd hym worshyp eke therfore
That he the fyrst in thylk lond
Was / whiche the melodye fond
Of reedes when they were rype
With double pypes for to pype
Therof he yafe the fyrst lore
Tyl afterward men couthe more
To euery crāft of mannes helpe
He had a redy wyt to helpe
Thorugh natural experyence
Thus the nyce reuerence
Of fooles when he was dede
The foote was torned to the hede
And clepen hym god of nature
For so they maden his fygure

Another god so as they fele
With Iupyter vpon Semele
Bygate in his auoutrye
Whome for to hyde his lecherye
That none therof shal take kepe
In a montayne for to kepe
Whiche Dyon hyght & was in Inde
He sente in bokes as I fynde
And he by name Bachus hyght
Whiche afterward when that he myȝt
A wastor was & al his rente
In wyn & bordel he dyspente
But alweye he wonder bad
Among the grekes a name he had
They cleped hym the god of wyne
And thus a gloton was dyuyne

There was yet Esculapius
A god in thylk tyme as thus
His craft stood vpon Surgerye
But for the lust of lecherye
That he to Dayres doughter drough
It fel that Iupyter hym slough
And yet they made hym nouȝt for thy
A god & wyst no cause why
In Rome he was long tyme so
A god among the Romayns tho
For as he sayd in his presence
There was destroyed a pestylence
When they to the yle of Delphos wente
And Appollo with hem sent
This Esenlapius his sone
Among the Romayns for to wone
And there he duelte for a whyle
Tyl afterward in that yle
Fro when he cam ayene he torneth
Where al his lyf that he soiourneth
[Page lxxxxvij]Among the grekes tyl he deyde
And they vpon hym than leyde
His name & god of medycyne
He  [...]at [...]e after that ylk lyne

Another god of Hercules
They made whiche was netheles
A man but that he was so strong
In al this world that brood & long
So myghty was no man as he
Merucyles twelue in his degre
As it was couthe in sondry londes
He dyd with his owne hondes
Ageyne geauntes & monstres bothe
The whiche were horeyble & lothe
But he with strengthe hem ouercam
Wherof so grete a prys he nam
That they hym clepe amonges alle
The god of strengthe & to hym calle
And yet there is no reson Inne
For he a man was fulfylled of synne
Whiche proued was vpon his ende
For in a rage hym self he brende
And suche a cruel mannes dede acord
Acordeth nought to the good lord

They made of goddes yet another
Which Pluto hyght / & was the broder
Of Iupyter / & he fro youthe
With euery word which cam to mouth
Of ony thyng when he was wroth
He wold swere his comon oth
By Lethen and Flageton
By Cocheton and Acheron
The whiche after the bookes telle
Ben the chyef flodes of helle
By Segne & Styge he swore also
That by the depe pyttes twoo
Of helle the moost pryncypal
Pluto these othes oueral
Swore of his comon custumounce
Tyl it felle vpon a chaunce
That he for Iupyters sake
Vnto the goddes late do make
A sacryfyce / & for that dede
One of the pyttes for his mede
In helle whiche I spak of er
Was graunted hym / & thus he ther
Vpon the fortune of this thynge
The name took of helle kynge

Loo these goddes & wel mo
Among the grekes they had tho
And of goddes many one
Whoos names thou shalt here anone
And in what wyse they deceyuen
The fooles whiche her feyth receyuen

Oo as Saturne is souerayn
Of al goddes as they sayn
So is Cybylle of goddesses
The moder whome withoute gesses
The folk preyn honour & serue
As they the whiche her lawe obserue
But for to knowen vpon this
Fro when she cam & what she is
Bethnicia the countre hyght
Where she cam fyrst to mannes syght
And after was Saturnus wyf
By whome thre children in her lyf
She bare & were cleped tho
Iuno Neptunus & Pluto
The whiche of Nyce fantasye
The people wold deyfye
And for her children were soo
Cybelle than was also
Made a goddesse & they hyr calle
The moder of the goddes alle
So was that name bore forth
And yet the cause is lytel worth

A voys vnto Saturne told
Hou that his owne sone hym shold
Oute of his reygne put awey
And he by cause of thylk wey
That hym was shape suche an hate
Cybelle his wyf began to hate
And eke her progenye bothe
And whyle that they were wrothe
By Phyberem vpon a day
In this auoutrye he lay
On whome he Iupyter vygat
And this child was after that
Whiche wrouȝt al yt was prophecyed
As it to fore was specyfyed
[Page]So when that Iupiter of / Crete
Was kyng / a wyf vnto hym mete
The doughter of Sybell he took
And that was Iuno sayth the book
Of his deyfycacyon
After the f [...]ls oppynyon
That haue I told so as I mene
And for this Iuno was the quene
Of Iupyter and suster  [...]ke
The fooles vnto her seke
And seyn that she is the goddesse
Of Regnes bothe & of Ry [...]hesse
And  [...]ke she as they vnderstond
The water Nymphes hath in hond
To leden at her owne heste
And when here lyst the sky tempeste
The Reynbowe is her messagere
Loo whiche a mysbyleue is here
That she goddesse is of the sky
I wote none other cause why

Another goddesse is Myn [...]rue
To whome the gr [...]kes o [...]ye & serue
And she was nyhe the grete lay
Of Tyton fonde where lay
A child for cast / but what she was
There knewe noman the soth cas
But  [...]n Affryke she was leyde
In the maner as I haue seyde
And caryed from that ylke place
In to an Ile for in Trace
T [...] whiche Palene than hyght
Where a Noryce hyr kepee & dyght
And after for she was so wyse
That she fonde fyrst in hyr auyse
To clothe makyng of wolle & lyne
Men sayden that she was deuyne
And the goddesse of sapyence
They clepen hyr in that credence

Of the goddesse whiche pallas
Is cleped sondry speche was
One seyth hyr fader was pallaunt
Whiche in his tyme was a geaunt
A cruel man a batayllous
Another sayth how in his hous
She was the cause why he deyde
And of this pallas eke som seyde
That she Martes wyf was & soo
Among the men that were tho
Of mysbyleue m Ryote
The goddesse of bataylles she hot [...]
Was / and yet she bereth the name
Now loke hou they be not for to bl [...]me

Saturnus after his exyle
Fro Crete cam m grete peryle
In to the londes of Itayle
And there he dyd grete meruayle
Wherof his name duelleth yet
For he fond of his owne wyt
The fyrst craft of plough tyllyng
Of eryng & of corne sowyng
And hou men shold sette [...] vynes
Of the grapes for to make wynes
And this he taught / and it felle soo
His wyf whiche cam with hym tho
Was cleped Ceres by name
And for she taught also the same
And was his wyf that ylke throwe
As it was to the peple knowe
They made of Ceres a goddesse
In whom in their  [...]ilthe yet they blesse
And sayth that Try [...]olynus
Here sone goth among vs
And maketh yt corn good chepe or dere
Ryght as her lyst from yere to yere
So that this wyf bycause of this
Goddesse of corne cleped is

Kyng Iupyter whiche his lykyng
Whilome fulfylled in al thyng
So pryuelyche aboute he lad
His lust that he his wylle had
Of Lat [...]na & of hyr that
Dyane his doughter he bygat
Vnknowen of his wyf Iuno
And afterward she knewe it so
That Latona for drede fled
In to an Ile where she hyd
Hyr wombe whiche of chyld aroos
Thylk Ile was cleped De [...]os
In whiche Dyana was forth brou [...]t
And kepte so that her lakketh nouȝt
And after when she was of age
She took none hede of maryage
[Page lxxxxviij]But oute of mannes companye
She tooke hyr al to lecherye
In forest and in wyldernesse
For there was al here besynesse
By day & eke by nyghtes tyde
With arowes brode vnder the syde
And bo we in hond of which she slough
And took al that she lyked Inough
Of bestes whiche ben chaceable
Wherof the Cronyke of this fable
Sayth that the gentylnes most of alle
W [...]rshyp hyr & to her calle
And the goddesse of hyghe helles
Of grene trees & of fressh [...] welles
They clepen hyr in that byleue
Whiche that no reson may acheue

Proserpyna whiche doughter was
Of Cereres byfel the cas
Whyle she was duellyng m Cecyle
Hee moder in that ylke whyle
Vpon her blyssyng & her hest
Bad that she shold be honest
And lere for to weue & spynne
And duelle at home & kepe her Inne
But she cast al that lore awey
And as she went her oute to pley
To gader floures in a playne
And that was vnder the Montayne
Of Ethna felle the same tyde
That pluto cam that way ryde
And sodeynly or she was ware
He toke hyr vp in to his chaar
And as they ryden in the felde
Hyr grete beaute he byhelde
Whiche was so plesaunt in his eye
That for to hold in companye
He wedded hyr & helde hyr soo
To ben his wyf for euermo
And as thou hast to fore herd telle
How he was cleped god of helle
So is she cleped the goddesse
By cause of hym ne more ne lesse

Lo thus my sone as I the tolde
The grekes whylome by dayes olde
Her goddes had in sondry wyse
And thorugh the lore of hyr apry [...]
The Romayne held  [...]ke the same
And in worshyp of hyr name
To euery god in specyal
They made a Temple forth with al
And eke of hem her yeres day
Attytled had & of array
The temples were then ordeyned
And eke the peple was constreyned
To come & done her sacryfyce
The preestes  [...]ke in her offyce
Solempne made thylk festes
And the grekes thus lyke the beestes
The men in stede of god honoure
Whiche myght hem nought so coure
Whyle that they were alyue here
And ouer this as thou shalt here
The grekes fulfylled of fantasye
Seyne eke that of the helles hye
And the goddes ben in specyal
But of her name in general
They hoten al Satyry
There ben of Nymphes propyrly
In the byleue of hem also
Oreades they sayden tho
Attytled ben to the Montaynes
And for the wodes in demeynes
To kepe tho ben Dryades
Of fresshe welles Nayades
And of the Nymphes of the see
I fynde a tale m propyrte
Hou Dorus whilom the kyng of grece
Whiche had of Infortune a p [...]ce
His wyf forth with his doughter alle
So as the happes sholden falle
With many a gentyl woman there
Dreynt in the salt see they were
Where of the grekes that tyme seyden
And suche a name vpon leyden
Nereydes that they ben ho [...]e
The Nymphes whiche that they note
To reygne vpon the stremes salt
Lo now yf this byleue halt
But of the Nymphes as they tells
In euery place where they duelle
They ben al redy obeysaunt
As Damoyselles attendaunt
[Page]To the goddes whos ser [...]yse
They mot [...] obeye in al wyse
Wherof the grekes to hem beseke
With tho that ben goddes eke
And haue in hem a grete credence
And yet withoute experyence
Sauf only of Illusyon
Whiche was to hem dampnacyon
For men also that were dede
They hadden goddes as I rede
And tho by name Manes hyghten
To whome ful grete honour they diȝtē
So a [...] the grekes lawe seyth
Whiche was ayene the ryght feyth

Thus haue I told a grete partye
 [...]u [...] al the hole progenye
O [...] goddes m that ylke tyme
To longe it were for to ryme
But yet of yt whiche thou has [...] h [...]rd
Of mysbyleue how it hath ferd
There is a grete dyuersyte

My fader ryght soo thynketh me
But yet one thynge I you byseche
Whiche stant in al mennes speche
The god & the goddesse of loue
Of whome ye no thyng here aboue
 [...]aue told ne spoken of hyr fare
That ye me wold now declare
H [...]u they fyrst come to that name

My sonne I haue lefte it for shame
By cause I am her owne p [...]eest
But for they stonden nyhe thy brest
V [...]on the shryfte of thy matere
Thou shalt of hem the soth here
And vnderstonde now wel the caa [...]
Venus Saturnus doughter was
Whiche al daunger put awey
Of loue & fond to lust a wey
So that of her in sondry place
Dyuerse men f [...]lle in to grace
And suche a lusty lyf she lade
That she dyuers children hade
Now one by this now one by that
Of hyr it was that ma [...]s bygat
A childe whiche cleped was Armen [...]
Of hyr also cam Andragene
To whome mercurye fader was
Anchyses bygate Eneas
Of hyr also and Herycon
Byten bygat and therupon
When yt she sawe ther was none other
By Iupyter her owne broder
She lay & he bygat Cupyde
And thylke sone vpon a tyde
When he was come vnto his age
He had a wonder fayr vysage
And fonde his moder amerous
And was also lecherous
So when they wer [...] bothe alone
As he whiche eyen had none
To reson his moder kyst
And she also that nothyng wyst
But yt whiche vnto his lust bylongeth
To ben her loue hym vnder fongeth
Thus was he blynde & she vnwys
But neuertheles this cause it is
Whiche cupyde is the god of loue
For he his moder durst loue
And she whiche thouȝt her lustes fōde
Dyuers loues took on honde
Wel more than I the told here
And for she wold hyr self skere
She made comon that dysport
And set  [...] lawe of suche a port
That euery woman myght take
What man her lyst & nought forsake
To ben as comon as she wold
She was the fyrst also whiche told
That women shold her body selle
Semyramys so as men telle
Of Venus kepte thylk apryse
And so dyde in the same wyse
Of Rome fayre Neabolye
Whiche solde her body to Regolye
She was to euery man felawe
And held the lust of thylk lawe
Whiche Venus of her self began
Wherof that she the name wan
Why men hyr clepen the goddesse
Of loue & eke of gentylnesse
Of worldes lust & of plesaunce

See nowe the foule myscreaunc [...]
[Page lxxxxix]Of grekes in thylk tyme tho
When Venus took her name soo
There was no ca [...]se vnder the mone
Of the whiche they hadden tho to done
Of wel or woo where so it was
That they noo token in that ca [...]
A god to helpe or a goddesse
Wherof to take my wytnesse

Nota de epistola Dindimi Regis Bragmannorum Alexandro magno directa vbi dicit ꝙ Greci tunc ad corpo ris conseruacionem pro singulis membris singulos deds specialiter appropri ari credunt

The kynge of Bragmās Dyndymus
Wrote vnto Alysander thus
In blamyng of the grekes feyth
And of the mysbyleue he seyth
How they for euery membre hadden
A sondry god to whome they spradden
Here armes & of helpe besoughten

Mynerue for the hede they soughten
For she was wyse & of a man
The wytte & reson that he can
As in the celles of the brayn
Wherof they made her souerayn

Mercurye which was in his dawe [...]
A grete speker of fals lawes
On hym the kepyng of the tonge
They layde when they speke or songe

For Bachus was a gloton eke
Hym for the throte they byseke
That he it wolde wasshen ofte
With soote drynkes & with softe

The god of shulders & of armes
Was hercules for he in armes
The myghiyest was to fyght
To hym the  [...]ymmes they behyght

The god whome they cle [...]n mart
The br [...]t to kepe hath for his part
For with the herte in his ymage
That he adresse to his courage

And of the galle the goddesse
For she was ful of hastynesse
Of wrath & lyght to greue also
They made & sayd it was Iuno

Cupyde whiche the brond of fyre
Bare in his hond he was the syre
Of the stomack whiche boyleth euer
Wherof the lustes ben the leuer

To the Goddesse Cere [...]es
whiche of the corne yafe her encrees
Vpon the feyth that tho was take
The wombes cure was betake

And Venus thorugh the lecherye
For whiche they her deyfye
She kept al doune the remenaunt
The whiche be to thylke offyce apperte­nāunt

Nota de prima Idolorum cultura que ex tribus precipue statuis exorta ē quarum prima fuit illa quam in filij sui memoriam quidam Panceps noī [...] Cirophanes a Sculptore Promotheo fabricari constituit

Thus was dyspers in sondry wyse
The mysbyleue as I deuyse
with many an Image of entaylle
Of suche as myght not hem auayle
For they withoute lyues chere
Vnmyghty be to see or here
Or speke or do or elles fele
And yet the fooles to hem knele
whiche is her owne hande werke
A lord hou this byleue is derke
And fer fr [...] resonable wyt
And netheles they done it yet
That was this day a raggyd tr [...]
To morowe vpon his mageste
Stant in the Temple wel beseyne
How myght a mans reson seyne
That suche a stok may helpe or greue
But they be of suche byleue
And vnto suche goddes calle
It shal to hem ryght so byfalle
And fayl [...] hem at moost nede
[Page]But yf the lyst to taken heede
And of the fyrst Image wyte
Petorynu [...] therof hath wryte
And eke Nygagorus also
And they afferme & wryte so
That promotheus was to fore
And fonde the fyrst craft therfore
And Cyre phanes as they t [...]lle
Thurgh coūscil which was take in hell
In remembraunce of his lygnage
Lete setten vp the fyrst Image
Of Cyrophanes seyth the book
That he for sorowe whiche he took
Of that he sawe his sone dede
Of comfort kne we none other rede
But lete do make in remembraunce
A fayre Image of his semblaunce
And set it in the market place
Whiche openly to fore his face
Stood euery d [...]y to dene hym case
And they that than wold please
The fader shold it obeye
When that they comen thylk wey [...]

Sta [...]nda siatua fuit ill [...] [...]uā ad sui patris [...]eli culture in Rex Ninus [...]eri et adorari decreuit / Etsic de nomīe [...]li posica Bel & Belzebub Idolum [...]uit

And of Ninus kyng of Assyvr
Arede hou that in his Empyre
 [...]e was noet after the second
Of hem that fyrst Images found
For he ryght in semblable caas
Of Belus whiche hyr fader was
From Nembroth in the ryght lyne
Lete make of gold & stones fyne
A precyous Image ryche
After his fader evenlyche
And therupon a lawe he sette
That euery man of pure dette
With sacryfyce & with truage
Honour shold thylk Image
So that within tyme it felle
Of Belus cam the name of Belle
Of Bel can Belsabub & so
The mysbyleue went tho

Tercia statua fuit illa que ad honorem Apis Regis Grecorum sculpta fu it / cui nomen postea Scrapis inponentes quasi deum pagani coluerunt

The thyrd Image next to this
When the kyng of Grece Apys
Was dede they made a fygure
In resemblaunce of his stature
Of this kyng Apys seyth the book
That Serapys his name took
In whome thorugh long contynuaūce
Of mysbyleue a grete creaunce
They hadden and the reuerence
Of sacryfyce and of encence
To hym they made & they telle
Among the wondres that byfelle
When Alexander fro Candace
Cam rydend in a wylde place
Vnder an hylle a caue he fond
And Candalus whiche in that lond
was bore / & was Candaces sone
Hym told hou that of comon wone
The goddes were in thylk caue
And he that wold assaye & haue
A knoulechyng yf it be soth
Lyght of his hors & in he goth
And fond therin that he sought
For thoruȝ ye fendes sleyȝt hym thouȝt
Among other goddes mo
That Scrapys spak to hym tho
whome he sawe there in grete aray
And thus the fende from day to day
The worshyp of Idolatrye
Trough forth vpon the fantasye
Of hem that were than blynde
And couthen nought the trouthe fynde

Thus hast thou herd in what degre
Of Grece Egypte & Chaldee
The mysbylene whylome stood
[Page C]And hou so they be not good
Ne trewe yet they sprongen oute
Wherof the wyde world aboute
His part of mysbyleue took
Tyl soo by felle as seyth the book
That god a peple for hym selue
Hath chose of the lygnages twelue
Wherof the sothe redyly
As it is wryten in Genesy
I thynke telle in suche a wyse
That it shal be to hym a pryse

De Hebreorum seu Iudeorum secta quorum Sinagoga coclesia Cristi superueniente defecit

aFter the flood fro whiche Noe
Was sauf ye world in his degre
Was made as who seyth new agein
Of flour of fruit of gras of grein
Of beest of byrde & of mankynde
Whiche euer hath be to god vnkynde
For not with stondynge al the fare
Of that this world was made so bare
And afterwarde it was restored
Amōg the men was nothyng mored
Toward god of good lyuyng
But al was torned to lykyng
After the flesshe so that foryete
Was he whiche yafe hem lyfe & mete
Of heuene & erthe creatour
And thus cam forth the grete errour
That they the hyghe god ne knewe
But maden other goddes newe
As thou hast herd me sayd to fore
There was no man that tyme bore
That be ne bad after his choys
A god / to whome he yafe his voys
wherof the mysbyleue cam
In to the tyme of Abraham
But he fond oute the ryght weye
How only men shold obeye
The hyghe god whiche weldeth al
And euer hath done & euer shal
In heuen / in erthe / & eke in helle
There is no thyng his myght may telle
This Patryarche to his lygnage
Forbad that they to none Image
Enclyne shold in no wyse
But her offrend & sacryfyse
With al the hoole hertes loue
Vnto the myghty god aboue
And they shold hym & no mo
And thus in thylk tyme tho
Bygan the feyth vpon the erthe
Whiche of byleues was the ferthe
Of ryghtwysenes it was conceyued
So must it nedes be receyued
Of hym that al ryght is Inne
The hyghe god whiche wold wynne
A people vnto his owne feyth
On Abraham the ground he leyth
And made hym for to multyplye
In to so grete a progenye
That they Egypte al ouer sprad
But Pharao with wrong hem lad
In seruytude ayene the pees
Tyl god lete sende Moyses
To make the delyueraunce
And for his peple grete vengeannce
He took / whiche to here a wonder
The kyng was slayn ye lōd put vnder
God bad the reed see deuyde
Whiche stood vpryght on euery syde
And yafe vnto his people a weye
That they on foote it passed dreye
And gone so forth in to desert
Where for to kepe hem in couert
The dayes when the sonne brent
A large cloude hem ouer went
And for to wyssen hem by nyght
A fyry pyler hem alyght
And when that they for hongre pleyn
The myghty god began to reyne
Manna fro heuen doune to grounde
Wherof that eche of hem hath fonnde
His fode suche ryght as hym lyst
And for they shold vpon hym tryst
Right as who set a tonne a broche
And perced the hard roche
And spronge oute water al at wille
[Page]That man & beste hath bronke at wyll
And afterward he yafe the lawe
To moyses that hem withdrawe
They shold not fro that he bad
And in this wyse they be lad
Tyl they took in possessyon
The lond of promyssyon
Where that Caleph and Iosue
The marches vpon suche degre
Departen after the lygnage
That eche of hem as herytage
His pourpartye hath vnderfonge
And thus stood this byleue longe
Whiche of prophetes was gouerned
And they had eke the peple lerned
Of grete honour that sholde hem falle
But at moost nede of alle
They fayleden when Cryst was bore
But hou that they her feyth haue lore
It nedeth nought to tellen al
The mater is soo general
When Luafer was best in heuene
And ought moost haue stond in euene
Towardes god he took debate
And for that he was obstynate
And wold nought to trouthe enclyne
He fel for euer in to ruyne
And Adam eke in paradys
When he stood moost in al his prys̄
After the state of Innocence
Ayene the god brake his defence
And fell out from his hye place a wey
And ryght by suche maner weye
The Iewes in her best plyght
When they shold moost parfyght
Haue stonde vpon the prophecye
Tho fellen they to moost folye
And hym whiche was frō heuen come
And of a mayde his flesshe hath nome
And was amonge hem born & fed
As men that wold nought be sped
Of goddes sone with one voys
They henge & slough vpon the croys
Wherof the parfyte of her lawe
Fro then forth was forth drawe
So that they stonde of no meryte
Bnt in truage as folk subgect
Withoute propyrte of place
They lyuen oute of goddes grace
Dyspers in al londes oute
And thus the feyth is come about [...]
That whylome in the Iewes stood
Whiche is nonght parfytely good
To speke as it is now be falle
There is a feyth abouen alle
In which the trouthe is comprehended
Wherof that we ben al amended

De fide Cristiana in qua perfecte le gis complementum summi [...]isterij sacramentum nostre (que) saluacionis fundamentum infallibiliter consistere credimus

tHe hyghe Almyghty mageste
Of ryght wysenes & of pyte
The synne / whiche that Adam wrouȝt
When he sawe tyme than he souȝt
And sende his sone fro ye heuene
To sette mans soule in euene
Whiche than was so forfalle
Vpon the poynt whiche was so byfalle
That he ne myght hym self aryse
Gregorye sayth in his apryse
It helpeth nought a man be bore
If goddes sone were vnbore
For than thurgh the fyrst synne
Which whilom Adam brouȝt vs Inne
There sholden al men be lost
But Cryst restoreth thylk lost
And bought it with his flesshe & blood
And yf we thynken hou it stood
Of thylk raunson whiche he payd
As seynt gregorye it wrote & sayd
Al was behouely to the man
For that wherof his woo bygan
Was after cause of al his welthe
When he whiche is the welle of helthe
The hyghe creatour of lyf
Vpon the nede of suche a stryf
So wold for his creature
[Page Cj]Take on hym self the forfeture
And suffre for the mans sake
Thus may no reson wel forsake
That Ilke synne orygynal
Ne was the cause in specyal
Of mans worshyp at the last
Whiche shal withouten ende last
For by that cause the godhede
Assembled was to the manhede
In the vyrgyne where he nome
Oure flesshe & very man become
Of bodely fraternyte
Wherof the man in his degre
Stondeth more worthy as I haue told
Then he dyd erst a thousand fold
Thorugh baptysme of the newe lawe
Of the whiche Crist is lord & felawe
And thus the hyghe goddes myght
Whiche was in the vyrgyne alyght
The mans soule hath reconsyled
Whiche had long ben exyled
So stant the feyth vpon the byleue
Withoute whiche may no man acheue
To gete hym paradys ageyn
But this byleue is so certeyn
So ful of grace & of vertu
That what man that clepeth to Ihesu
In clene lyf forth with good dede
He may not faylen of heuen mede
Soo that it stonde vppon byleue
That euery man may wel acheue
The whiche taken hath the ryght feyth
For elles as the gospel seyth
Saluacyon ther maye be none
And for to preche therupone
Thus Cryst bad to his Apostles alle
Whos power as now is falle
On vs that be of holy chirche
If we the good dedes do wirche
For feyth only suffyseth nought
But good dede also be wrought
Now were it good that thou for thy
Whiche thorugh baptysme propyrly
Art vnto Crystes feyth professed
Be wa [...]e that thou be not oppressed
With Antecrystes lollardye
For as the Iewes prophecye
Was set of god for auauntage
Ryght so this newe tapynage
Of lollardye goth aboute
To sette Crystes feyth in doute
The sayntes that were vs to fore
By whome the feyth was first vp bore
That holy chirche stood releued
They oughten better be byleued
Than these whiche men knowe
Not holy though they feyne & blowe
Here lollardye in mannes ere
But yf thou wylt lyue oute of fere
Suche newe lore I rede eschewe
And hold forth the ryght weye & sewe
As thyn Auncestres dyde or this
So that thou byleue nought amys
Cryst wrought fyrst / & after taught
Soo that the dede his word araught
He yafe ensample in his persone
And we the wordes haue alone
Lyke to the tree with leues grene
Vpon the whiche no fruyt is sene

Nota ꝙ cum Anthenor palladium Troie a Templo Minerue abstulit Tho as ibidem summꝰ sacerdos auro corruptus oculos auertit / et sic malum quasi non videns scienter fieri permisit

The preest Thoas whiche of Mynerue
The Temple had for to serue
And the palladyon of Troye
Kepte vnder keye for moneye
Of Anthenor whiche he hath nome
Hath suffred Antherior to come
And the palladyon to stele
Wherof the worshyp & the wele
Of the Troians ben ouerthrowe
But Thoas at the same throwe
When Anthenor the Iewele took
Wynkend cast awey his look
For a deceyte and for a wyle
As he that shold hym self begyle
[Page]He hyd his eyen fro the syght
And wende wel that he so myght
Excuse his fals conseyence
I wote not yf thylk euydence
Now at this tyme in here estates
Excuse myght the prelates
 [...]nowend hou the feyth dyscresyth
And al moral vertu  [...]cyth
Wherof that they the keyes bere
But yet hem lyketh not to stere
Here goos [...]ly eye for to see
The world in his aduersyte
They wol no labour [...] vndertake
To kepe that hem is bytake
Cryst dyed hym self for the▪ feyth
But now oure ferful prelate seyth
The lyf is swete & that he kepeth
So that the feyth vnholpe slepyth
And they vnder hyr ease entende
And in her lust her syf dyspende
And euery man do what hym lyst
Thus stāt this world fulfylled of mis [...]
That noman seeth the ryght weye
The wardes of the chirche keye
Thorugh myshandelyng be mys wreynt
The worldes wawe hath ny dreynt
The shyp whiche Peter hath to stere
The forme is kept but the matere
Transformed is in other wyse
But yf they were gostly wyse
And that the prelates weren good
As they by old dayes stood
It were than lytel nede
Among the men to taken hede
Of that they here pseudo telle
Whiche now is come for to duelle
To sowe Cokkyll with the corn
So that the tylthe is nere hand lo [...]n
Whiche Cryst sewe fyrst his own hond
Now stant the Cokkylle in the lond
Where stood whylome the good greyne
For the prelates now as men seyne
For slouthen that they shold tylle
And that I tro we be the skylle
When there is lak in hem aboue
The peple is straunged fro the loue
Of trouthe in cause of Ignorance
For where there is no pnrueaunce
Of lyght men arn in the derk
But yf the prelates wolde werk
Vpon the feyth whiche they ve t [...]c [...]
Men sholde nought her weye seche
Withoute lyght as now is vsed
Men see the charge al day refused
Whiche holy chirche hath vndertake

Gregorius Quando Petrus cum Iudea / Andreas cum Achaia / Thomas cum Iudea / et Paulus cum gente venient / quid dicemus nos Moderni quorum fossum talentum pro nichi [...] computabitur

But who that wold ensample take
Gregorye vpon his Omelye
Ageyne the slouthe of Prelacye
Compleyneth hym & thus he seyth
When Peter fader of the feyth
At Domesday shal with hym bryng
Iudeam whiche thorugh his prechyng
He wan & Andrew with Achay
Shal come his dette for to pay
And thomas este with his beyete
Of ynde & poule the routes grete
Of sondry londes shal presente
And we fulfylled of lond & rente
Whiche of this world we holden here
With voyde hondes shal appere
Touchend oure cure spyrytual
Whiche is oure charge in specyal
I not what thyng it may amounte
Vpon thylk ende of oure acompte
Where Cryst hym self is audytour
Which taketh none hede of wyn honour
The offyce of the Chauncellery
Or of the kynges tresorye
Ne for the wryt ne for the wyll
To warant may not then auayle
The world which now so wel we  [...]row
Shal make vs than but a mowe
Soo passe we withoute mede
[Page Cij]That we none otherwyse spede
But as we rede that he spedde
The whiche his  [...]o [...]des besauntes he dde
And therupon gat none en [...]rees
But at this tyme netheles
What other man his thanke deserue
The world so lusty is to serue
That we with hym ben al acorded
And that is wyst & wel recorded
Thorugh oute this erthe m al londes
Late knyȝ [...]es wynne with her hondes
For oure tonges shal be stylle
And stonde vpon the Flesshes wylle
It were a trauayl for to preche
The feyth of Cryst as for to teche
The folk paynem it wol not be
But euery prelate holde his see
With al suche as he may gete
Of lusty drynk & lusty mete
Wherof the body fatt & ful
Is vnto gostely labour dull
And slough to handel thylk plough
But elles we be swyft Inough
Toward the worldes auaryce
And that is as a sacryfyce
Whiche after the Apostel seyth
Is openly ayene the feyth
Vnto the Idoles youe & graunted
But netheles it is now haunted
And vertu chaunged in to vyce
So that largesse is Auaryce
In whos chapytre mowe we trete

My fader this mater is bete
So fer that euer whyle I lyue
I shal the bet heed yeue
Vnto my self by many weye
But ouer this now wold I prey [...]
To wyte what the braunches are
Of Auaryce & hou they fare
Als wel in loue as other wyse

My sone & I the shal deuyse
In suche a maner as they stonde
So that thou shalt hem vnderstonde

aGros iūgit aḡris cupidus domibus (que) domos (que) / Possideā [...]tam sic quasi solus humum / Solus & innumeros mulierū spirat amores / Sacra millenis sit sibi culta Menus

Hic tractat Confessor super illa specie Auaricie que cupiditas dicitur quā in amoris causa pertractans amanti super hoc opponit

dAme Auarice is nouȝt soleyn
Which is of gold the capiteyn
But of her court in sōdry wise
After the scole of her apryse
She hath of seruauntes many one
Wherof that couetyse is one
Whiche with the large world aboute
To seche vauntages oute
Where that he may profyte wynne
To Auaryce and bryngeth inne
That one halt & that other draweth
There is no day whiche hem bedaweth
Nomore the sonne than the mone
When there is ony thyng to done
And namely with couetyse
For he stant oute of al assyse
Of resonable mans fare
Where h [...] purposeth hym to fare
Vpon his lucre & his beyete
The smal pathe the large strete
The furlong & the longe myle
Al is but one for thylk whyle
And for that he is suche one holde
Dame auaryce hym hath withholde
As he whiche is the pryncypal
Outward for he is oueral
A purueon [...] and a spye
For ryght as an hungry pye
The storue beestes ben awayted
Ryght so is c [...]uetyse affayted
To loke where he may purchace
For by his wylle he wold enbrace
Al that this wyde world beelyppeth
But euer somwhat he ouer hyppeth
That he may nought al fulfylle
[Page]The lustes of his gredy wylle
But where it falleth in a londe
That couetyse in myghty hond
I [...] s [...]t / it is ful hard to fede
For than he taketh none other hede
But that he may purchace  [...] gete
 [...] conscyence hath he al foryete
And not what thyng it may amounte
That he shal afterward c [...]mpte
But as the Luce in his degre
Of tho that lesse ben thanhe
The fysshes gretely deuoureth
So that no water hem socoureth
Ryght soo no lawe may rescowe
Fro hym that wol not ryght allowe
For where that suche one is of myght
His wylle shal stonde of ryght
Thus be the men destroyed ful ofte
Tyl that the grete god alofte
Ayene so grete a couetyse
Redresse it in his owne wyse
And in example of altho
I fynde a tale wryte soo
The whiche for it is good to lere
 [...]afterward thou shalt here

Hic ponit Confessor Exemplum cō [...] mognates [...]pidos, Et narrat de [...]sso Romanorum Imperatore / qui [...] in qua speculum virgiln Ro [...] [...]titerat dolosa circumuentꝰ [...]ditate euertit / vnde non solum sui [...]s [...]s [...]erdicionem sed tocius ciuitatis intollerabilem dampnum cōtingere cau sauit

wHen Rome stode  [...] noble plite
Virgile which was tho parfite
A myrrour made of his cler­  [...] /
And set it in the To wnes eye
Of marble vpon payler withoute
That they by thyrty myle aboute
By day & eke also by nyght
In that my [...]our beholde myght
 [...]yr enemyes yf ony▪ were
With al here ordynaunce there
Whiche they ayene the cyte cast
Soo that whyle thylk myrrour last
Ther was no lond whiche myȝt acheue
With werre Rome for to greue▪
Wherof was grete enuye tho
And felle thylk tyme soo
That Rome had werres strong
Ageyne Cartage & stonde long
The two cytees vpon debate
Cartage sawe the stronge astate
Of Rome in thylk myrroure stonde
And thought al pryuely to fonde
To ouerthrowe it by somme wyle
And hanybal was thylk whyle
The prynce & leder of Cartage
Whiche had set al his courage
Vpon knyghthode in suche a wyse
That he be worthy & be wyse
And by none other was counseyled
Wherof the world is yet merueyled
Of the maystryes that he wrought
Vpon the marches whiche he sought
And fel in thylke tyme also
The kyng of puyle whiche was tho
Thought ayene Rome to rebelle
And thus was take the quarelle
Hou to destroye this Emperour
Of Rome that tho was gouernour
Crassus whiche was so couetous
That he was euer desyrous
Of golde to gete the pyllage
Wherof that puyle & eke Cartage
With philosophres wyse & grete
Begynne▪of this mater trete
And at last in this degre
There were Philosophres thre
To doo thys thyng whiche vndertake
And therupon they ▪ with hem toke
A grete tresour of gold in cofres
To Rome & thus these philosophres
To gedre in companye went
But noman wyse what they ment
When they to Rome come were
So pryuely they duelt there
As they that thoughten to deceyne
[Page Ciij]Was none that myȝt of hem perceyue
Tyl they in sondry stedes haue
Her gold vnder the erthe begraue
In tresours that to be holde
They sheld seme as they were gold
And so forth thenne vpon a day
Al openly in good array▪
To themperour they then presente
And tolden it was her entente
To duelle vnder his seruyse
And he hem axeth in what wyse
And they hym told in suche a plyte
That eche of hem had a spyryt
The whiche sle [...]end a nyght appereth
And hem by sondry dremes lereth
After the world that hath betyd
Vnder the ground yf ought be hyd
Of olde tresour at ony throwe
They shal it in sweuene knowe
And vpon this condycyon
They▪seyn what gold vnder the toun
Is hyd of Rome they wol it fynde
There shal nought be left behynde
Be soo that he haluen dele
Hem graunteth & he assenteth wele
And thus cam sleyghte for to duelle
With couetyse as I the telle
This emperour bad redyly
That they be lodged fast by
Where he his owne bodye lay
And when it was at morow day
That one of hem sayth that he mette
Whele he a gold hoord shold fette
Wherof this Emperour was glad
And therupon anone he had
His  [...]nours for to goo & myne
And he hym self of that couyne
Goth forth with al & at his hond
The tresour redy there he fond
Where as they sayd it shold be
And who was than glad but he

Vpon this other day second
They haue another gold hoord found
Whiche the second mayster took
Vpon his sweuene & vndertook
And thus the sothe  [...]peryence
To themperour yafe suche credence
That al his trust & al his feyth
So sekyrlyc [...]e on hem he leyth
Of that he fond hym so releued
That they be parfytely beleued
As though they were goddes thre
Now herkne the subtylyte

The thyrd mayster shold mete
Whiche as they saiden shold mete
Aboue hem al & couthe moost
And he withoute noyse or bost
Al pryuelycho so as he wolde
Vpon the morowe his sweuene tolde
To themperour ryght in his ere
And said hym that he wist where
A Tresour was soo plentyuous
Of gold & eke so precious
Of Iewelles & ryche stones
That vnto al his hors at ones
It were a charge suffisaunt
This lord vpon this couenaunt
Was glade & axeth where it was
The maister saide vnder the glas
He told hym eke as for the myne
He wolde ordeyne suche engyne
That they the werk shold vndersett
With timbre & withoute lett
Men maye the Tresour sauely delue
Soo that the myrrour by hym selue
Withoute empeirement shal stonde
And thus the maister vpon honde
Hath vndertake in al weye
This lord whiche had his wit alweye
And with couetise blent
Anone therto yafe his assent
And thus to myne forth with a [...]
The tymbre sette vp oueral
wherof the pyler stood vp ryght
Til it byfelle vpon a nyght
These clerkes whan they were ware
Hou that the Tymbre only bare
The piler where the myrroure stood
Here sleight no man vnderstood
They go by nyght vnto the myne
with pitche with sulphir & with  [...]syne
And when the cyte was a slepe
[Page]A wylde fyre in to the depe
They cast among the tymbre werk
And so forth whyle the nyght is derk
Desguysed in a pouer array
They passeden the Towne or day
And when they comen vpon an helle
They sawen hou the myrrour felle
Wherof they made ioye ynough
And eche of hem with other lough
And sayd / Loo what Couetyse
May do with hem that be not wyse
And that was proued afterward
For euery lond to Rome ward
Whiche had be subgett to fore
When that myrrour was forlore
And they the wonder herd seye
Anone begonne dysobeye
With werres vpon euery syde
And thus hath Rome lost his pryde
And was defouled oueral
For this I fynde of Hanybal
That he of Romayns in a day
When he hem oute of away
So grete a multytude slough
That of gold rynges whiche he drouȝ
Of gentyle handes that ben dede
Busshellys ful thre I rede
He feld / and made a brydge also
That he myght ouer Tyber goo
Vpon the corps thāt dede were
Of the Romayns whiche he slouȝ there

But now to speke of the Iuyse
The whiche after the couetyse
Was take vpon this Emperour
For he destroyed the myrrour
It is a wonder for to here
The Romayns made a chayere
And set her Emperour therin
And sayden for he wold wynne
Of gold the superfluyte
Of gold he shold plente
Receyue tyl he sayde ho
And with gold whiche they had tho
Boylend hote within a panne
In to his mouthe they poure thanne
And thus ye thirst of / gold was queint
With gold whiche had ben atteynt

Wherof my sone thou myght here
When couetyse hath lost the stere
Of resonable gouernaunce
There falleth ofte grete greuaunce
For there may be no werse thyng
Then couetyse aboute a kyng
If it in his persone be
It doth the more aduersyte
And yf it in▪his counseyl stond
It bryngeth al day meschyef to hond
Of comon harme & yf▪it growe
Within his court it wol be knowe
For than shal the kyng be▪pyled
The man whiche hath his lond tyled
Awayteth nought more redyly
The heruest than they gredely
Ne maken thenne warde & watche
Where they the profyte myȝten catche
And yett ful ofte it falleth soo
As men may seen among hem tho
That he whiche moost coueyteth fast
Hath lest auauntage at last
For when fortune is ther ageyne
Though he coueyte it is in veyne
The happes ben nought al alyche
One is made pouer another ryche
The court to som it doth profyte
And som ben euer in one plyte
And yet they both alyche sore
Coueyte but fortune is more
Vnto that one part fauourable
And though it be nought resonable
This thyng may a man seen al day
Wherof that I the telle may
After ensample in remembraunce
Hou euery man maye take his chaūce
Or of Rychesse or of pouerte
Hou so it stonde of the deserte
Here is nought▪euery thyng aguyte
For ofte a man may see this yet
That who best doth lest shal haue
It helpeth nought the worlde to craue
Whiche oute of / reule & of mesure
Hath euer stand in auenture
As wel in court as elles where
[Page Ciiij]And hou in al dayes there
It stood so as the thynges felle
I thynke a tale for to telle

Ic ponit [...]xhemplum contra illos qui in domibns Regum seruientes pro eo (quam) ipsi secundum eorum cupidita tem promoti non existunt de Regio ser uicio Puis in e [...]nm defectu indiserete murmurant

IN a Cronyke this I rede
Aboute a kyng as must nede
Therof was knyghtes & squyers
Grete route & eke offycers
Som of long tyme hym had seruyd
Ano thouȝten that they haue deseruid
Auauncement & gone withoute
And som also ben of the route
That comen but a whyle agone
And they auaunced were anone
These old men vpon this thyng
So as they durst ageyn the kyng
Among hem self compleynen ofte
But there is no thynge sayd so softe
That it ne cometh oute at last
The kyng it wyst & als fast
As he whiche was of hyghe prudence
He shope therfore an euydence
Of hem that pleynen in that cas
To knowe in whos defaute it was
And al within his owne entent
That noman wyst what it ment
Anone he bete two cofres make
Of one semblaunce of one make
So lyche that no lyf thylk throwe
That one may fro that other knowe
They were in to his Chambre brought
But noman wote why they be brouȝt
And netheles the kyng hath bede
That they be set in pryue stede
As he yt was of wysedome sly
When he therto his tyme sygh
Al pryuelyche that none it wyst
His owne hondes that one kyst
Of fyn gold & fyne perrye
The whiche oute of his tresorye
Was take anone he feld ful
That other cofre of strawe & mull
With stones meuyd he feld also
Thus be they ful bothe twoo
So that erlyche vpon a day
He bad within there he lay
There shold to fore his bed
A boord vp set & fayre spred
And than he lete the cofres fette
Vpon the boord & dyde hem sette
He knewe the names wel of tho
The whiche ayene hym grutched so
Bothe of his chambre & of his halle
Anone & sente for hem alle
And sayd to hem in this wyse
There shal no man hym despyse
I wote wel ye haue long serued
And god wote what ye haue deserued
But yf it is on long on me
Of that ye bnauaunced be
Or elles yf it be long on yow
The soth shal be preued now
To stoppe with your euyl word
Loo here two Cofres on the boord
These whiche you lyst of bothe two
And wyteth wel that one of tho
As with Trosour so ful bygone
That yf ye happe therupone
Ye shal be ryche men for euer
Now chese & take whiche you is leuer
But be wel ware or that ye take
For of that one I vndertake
There is no maner good therin
Wherof ye myghten profyte wynne
Now goth to gyder of one assent
And maketh youre auysement
For but I you this day auaunce
It stant vpon youre owne chaunce
Al only in defaulte of grace
So shal be shewed in this place
Vpon you alle wel ofyne
That no defaute shal be myn
They knelen al & & with one voys
[Page]The kyng they thanken of this choys
And after that they vp aryse
And gone asyde & hem auyse
And at last they acorde
Wherof her tale to recorde
That to what yssu they befalle
A knyght shal speke for hem alle
He kneleth doune to the kyng
And sayth that they vpon this thyng
Or for to wynne or for to lese
Ben al auysed for to chese
Tho toke this knyhht a yerd on hond
And goth there as the cofres stond
And with thassent of eueryehone
He leyd his yard vpon one
And seyth the kyng hou thylk same
They chese in reguerden by name
And preyth hym yt they myȝt it haue
The kyng whiche wold his honour saue / 
When he hath herd the comon voys
Hath graunteth hem her owne choys
And toke hem therupon the keye
But for he wold it were seye
What good they haue as they suppose
He bad anone the cofre vnclose
Which was fulfilled of straw & stones
Thus be they serued al at ones
This thyng than in the same stede
Anone that other Cofre vndede
Where as they sawen grete Rychesse
Wel more than they couthen gesse
Loo serth the kyng now maye ye see
That there is no defaute in me
For thy my self I wol acquyte
And bereth ye your owne wyte
Of that fortune hath refused
Thus was this wyse kyng excused
And they left of here cuyl speche
And mercy of here kyng byseche

Nota hic de diuiciarum accidencia vbi narrat qualiter Fredericus Imperator Romanorum duos pauperrs auditut litigantes, quorum vnus dixit / bene potest ditari quem Rex vult ditare Et alius dixit quem deus vult ditare diues erit / que Rex cum ad experimentum postea probata fuisset ille qui deum inuocabat pastellum auro plenum sortitus est, alius vero caponis pastellum sorte preelegit

sOmdele to this mater lyke
I fynde a tale hou frederyk
Of Rome that tyme emperour
Herde as he wente a grete clamour
Of twoo beggers vpon the weye
That one of hem bygan to seye
A lord wel may the man be Ryche
Whome that a kyng lyst to ryche
That other sayd no thyng soo
But he is ryche & wel begoo
To whome that god wol sende wele
And thus they maden wordes fele
Wherof this lord hath hede nome
And dyde hem both for to come
To the paleys where he shal ete
And bad ordeyne for her mete
Two pasteyes whiche he lete do make
And a capon in that one was bake
And in that other for to wynne
Of floreyns al that▪ may within
He lete do put a grete Rychesse
And euen as lyche as myght gesse
Outward they were bothe two
This begger was commaunded tho
He that whiche held hym to the kyng
That he fyrst chese / vpon this thyng
He saw hem but he felt hem nought
Soo that vpon his owne thought
He chese the capon & forsoke
That other / whiche his felawe toke
But when he wyst hou that it ferde
He seyth aloude that men it herde
Now am I certaynly conceyued
That he may lyghtly be deceyued
That trysteth vnto mans helpe
But wel is hym that god wol helpe
For he stant on the syker syde
Whiche elles shold goo besyde
I see my felawe wel recouer
[Page Cv]And I mote duelle stylle pouer
Thus spak the begger his entent
And pouer he cam & pouer he went
Of that he hath Rychesse sought
His infortuue it wold nought
Soo may it shewe in sondry wyse
Betwene fortune and couetyse
The chaunce is cast vpon a dee
But yet a man may ful ofte see
Inowe of suche netheles
Whiche put hem self euer in pres
To gete hem good / & yet they faile

And for to speke of this entayle
Touchend of loue in thy matere
My good sone as thon myght here
That ryght as with tho men stood
Of infortune of worldes good
As thou hast me herd telle aboue
Ryght so ful ofte it stant by loue
Though thou coueyte it euermore
Thou shalt haue noo dele the more
But only that whiche the is shape
The remenaunt is but a iape
And netheles I nowe of tho
There ben that now coueyte soo
That where as they a woman see
Ye ten or twelue though ther be
The loue is now so vnauysed
That where the beaute stant assysed
The mannes herte anone is there
And rouneth tales in her ere
And seyth how that he loueth streyte
And thus he sette hym to coueyte
An honderd though he sawe a day
So sholde he more than he may
But for the grete couetyse
Of sotye & fool empryse
In eche of hem he fynt somwhat
That pleseth hym or this or that
Some one for she is whyte of kyn
Some one for she is noble of kyn
Some one for she hath a rody cheke
Some one for that she semeth meke
Some one for she hath eyen greye
Some one for she can laugh & pleye
Some one for she is long & smal
Some one for she is lyte & tal
Some one for she is pale & bleche
Some one for she is softe of speche
Some one for that she is camused
Some one for that she hath not be vsed
Some one for she can dauuce / & synge
So that some thyng to his lykyuge
He fynt & though no more he fele
But that she hath a lytel hele
It is Inough that he therfore
Hyr loue & thus an honderd score
Whyle they be newe he wold he had
Whome he forsaketh she shal be bad
The blynde man no colour demeth
But al is one ryght as hym semeth
Soo hath his lust no iugement
Whom couetyse of loue blent
Hym thynketh that to his couetyse
How al the world ne may suffyse
For by his wylle he wold haue alle
If that it myght so byfalle
Soo is he comon as the strete
I set nought of his beyete

My sone hast thou suche couetyse
Nay fader suche loue I despyse
And whyle I lyue shal done euer
For in good feyth yet had I leuer
Than to coueyte in suche a weye
To ben for euer tyl I deye
As poure as Iob & loueles
Out taken one for haules
His thankes is noman a lyue
For than a man shold al vnthryue
There ought no wyseman coueyte
The lawe was not set so streyte
For thy my self with al to saue
Suche one ther is I wold haue
And noue of al these other mo

My sone of that thou woldest soo
I am nought wroth bnt ouer this
I wol the telle hou it is
For there be men whiche otherwyse
Ryght ouly for the couetyse
Of that they see a woman ryche
There wol they al hyr loue affyche
Nonght for the beaute of her face
[Page]Ne yet for vertu ne for grace
Whiche she hath elles ryght Inough
But for the park & for the plough
And other thynges whiche therto lō ­geth /
For in none otherwyse ther lon­geth /
To loue but yf they profyt fynde
And yf the profyte be behynde
Hyr loue is euer lesse & lesse
For after that she hath rychesse
Here loue is of proporcyon
If thou hast suche condycyon

My sone telle ryght as it is
Myn holy fader nay Iwys
Condycyon suche haue I none
For truly fader I loue one
So well with al myn hertes thouḡht
That certes though she had nought
And were as poure as Medea
Whiche was exyled for Creusa
I wold hyr nought the lesse loue
Ne though she were at hyr aboue
As was the Ryche quene Canda [...]e
Whiche to deserue loue & grace
To Alysander that was kyng
Yofe many a worthy ryche thyng
Or elles as Pantasylee
Whiche was the quene of Femyne
And grete Rychesse with hyr nam
When she for loue of Hector cam
To Troye in rescous of the toune
I am of suche condycyon
That though my lady of hyr selue
Where also ryche as suche twelue
I couthe not though it were so
No better loue hyr than I do
For I loue in so pleyne a wyse
That for to speke of couetyse
As for pouerte or for rychesse
My loue is nouther more ne lesse
For in good feyth I tro we this
So couetous no man is
For why & he my lady syghe
That he thorugh lokyng of his eye
Ne sholde haue suche a stroke withyn
That for no gold he myght wyn
He shold nought hyr loue asterte
But yf he lefte there his herte
Be so it were suche a man
That couthe-skylle of a woman
For there be men so rude some
When they among the women come
They gone vnder protectyon
That loue & his affectyon
Ne shal not take hem by the sleue
For they ben oute of that byleue
Hem lusteth of no lady cheere
But euer thynkend here & there
Where as the gold is in the Cofte
And wol none other loue profre
But who so wote what loue amoūteth
And by reson trulyche acompteth
Then may he knowe & taken hede
That al the lust of womanhede
Whiche may ben in a lady face
My lady hath & eke of grace
If men shold yeuen here apryse
They maye wel seye hou she is wyse
And sobre & symple of contenaunce
And al that to good gouernaunce
Belongeth of a worthy wyght
She hath pleynly for thylk nyght
That she was bore as for the nones
Nature set in hyr al at ones
Beaute with bounte so byseyn
That I maye wel afferme & seyn
I sawe yet neuer creature
Of comlyheede & of feture
In ony kynges Regyon
Be lyche hyr in comparyson
And therto as I haue you told
Yet hath she more a thousand fold
Of bounte and shortely to telle
She is pure heede & welle
And myrroure & ensample of good
Who so hyr vertues vnderstood
Me thynketh it ought ynough suffyse
Withouten other couetyse
To loue suche one & to serue
Whiche with hyr chere can deserue
To be byloued better ywys
Than she par cas that rychest is
And hath of gold a mylyon
[Page Cvj]Suche hath be myn opynyon
And euer shal / & neuertheles
I saye nought she is haueles
That she nys ryche & wel at ese
And hath Inough where with to plese
Of worldes good whome that hyr lyst
But one thyng I wold wel ye wyst
That neuer for no worldes good
Myn hert vnto hyr ward stood
But only ryght for purr loue
That wote the hyghe god aboue
Now fader what ye say therto

Confessor

My sone I saye it is wel doo
For take of this ryght good byleue
What man that wol hym self releue
To loue in ony other wyse
He shal wel fynde his couetyse
Shal sore greue hym at last
For suche a loue may not last
But now men seyn oure dayes
Men taken but a fewe assayes
But yf the cause be rychesse
For thy the loue is wel the lesse
And who that wold ensamples telle
By old dayes as they felle
Than myght a man wel vnderstond
Suche loue may not long stonde
Now herkne sone & thou shalt here
A grete ensample of this matere

Hic ponit Exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt! Et narrat de quodam Regis Apubic Senescalla qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit / sed eciam pecunie come [...]cis vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit

tO trete vpon the cas of loue
Soo as we tolden here aboue
I fynde wryte a wōder thyng
Of puyle whysome was a kyng
A man of hyghe complexyon
And yong but his affectyon
After the nature of his age
Was yet not falle in his courage
The lust of women for to knowe
Soo it betyd vpon a throwe
This lord felle in to grete sekenes
Phisyk hath done the hesynes
Of sondry cures many one
To make hym hoole & therupon
A worthy mayster whiche ther was
Yafe hym counseyl vpon this cas
That yf he wold haue parfyte heele
He shold with a woman dele
A fresshe a yong a lusty wyght
To done hym compauye a nyght
For than he sayd hym redely
That he shal be al hole ther by
And otherwyse he knewe no cure

This kyng which stode in auenture
Of lyf & deth for medycyne
Assented was & of couyne
His styward whome he trusteth wel
He took & told hym euery del
Hou that this mayster hath seyd
And therupon he hath hym prayd
And charged vpon his lygeaunce
That he do make purueaunce
Of suche one as be couenable
For his plesaunce & delytable
And bad hym hou that euer it stood
That he shal spare for no good
For his wylle is ryght wel to paye
The styward seyd he wold assaye
Bnt now here after thou shalt wyte
As I fynde in the bokes wryte
What couetyse in loue doth
This styward for to telle soth
Amonges al the men on lyue
A lusty lady hath to wyue
Whiche netheles for gold he took
And nouȝt for loue as seyth the book
A ryche marchaunt of the lond
Hyr fader was & hyr fond
So worthely / & suche Rychesse
Of worldes good & suche largesse
With hyr he yafe in maryage
That only for thylk auauntage
[Page]Of gold the styward hath hyr take
For lucre & nought for loues sake
And that was in the stiward wel sene
Now herkne what it wol mene

The styward in his owne herte
Sowe that his lord may not asterte
His maladye but he haue
A lusty woman hym to saue
And though he wold yeue Inough
Of his tresour wherof he drough
Grete couetyse in to his mynde
And set his honour fer behynde
Thus he whome gold hath ouerset
Was trapped in his owne net
The gold hath made his wyttes lame
Soo that sechend his owne shame
He rouneth in the kynges ere
And seyd that he wyste where
A gentyl & a lusty one
Tho was & thyder wolde he gone
But he mote yiue yeftes grete
For but yf it be thurgh grete beyete
Of gold he seyd he shold not spede
The kyng hym bad vpon the nede
That take an honderd pound he shold
And yeue it where that he wolde
Be so it were in worthy place
And thus to stonde in loues grace
This king his gold hath habandouned
And when this tale was ful rouned
The Styward toke the gold & went
Within his hert & many a went
Of couetyse than he cast
Wherof a purpoos at the last
Ayene loue & ayene his ryght
He toke & sayd hou thylk nyght
His wyf shal lygge by the kynḡ
And goth thynkend vpon this thyng
Toward his Inne tyl he ca in home
In to the chambre & there he nome
His wyf & told hyr al the cas
And she whiche rede for shame was
With both hyr handes hath hym praid
 [...]enelend / and in; this wyse sayd
That she to reson & to skylle
In what thyng that he bydde wylle
Is redy for to done his heste
But this thyng were not honest
That he for gold her shold selle
And he tho with his wordes felle
Forth with his gastely contenaunce
Seyth that she shal done obeysaunce
And folowe his wylle in euery place
And thus thurgh strengthe of his ma
nace / Her Innocence is ouerlad
Wherof she was so sore adrad
That she his wylle mote nede obeye
And therupon was shape a weye
That he his owne wyf by nyghte
Hath oute of al mennes syght
So pryuely that none it wist
Brouȝt to the kyng which as hym list
May doo with hyr what he wolde
For when she was there as she sholde
With hym a bedde vnder the cloth
The styward took his leue & goth
In to the chambre fast by
But hou he slepte that wote not I
For he sawe cause of Ielousye

But he whiche hath the companye
Of suche a lusty one as she
Hym thought that of his degre
There was noman so wel at ese
She doth al that she may to plese
Soo that al / his hert she had
And thus this kyng his ioye lad
Tyl it was nyhe vpon the day
The Styward than where she lay
Cam to the bedde & in his wyse
Hath bede she shold aryse
The kyng sayd nay she shold not go
His styward sayd ageyne nought soo
For she mote gone er it be knowe
And so I swore that ylke throwe
When I her fette to you here
The kyng his tale wold not here
And seyth hou that he hath hir bouȝt
For thy she shal departe nought
Tyl the bryght day be holde
And in his armes he gan hyr folde
As he whiche lyst for to pleye
And bad his styward gone aweye
[Page Cvij]And soo he dyd ayene his wylle
And thus his wyf a bedde stylle
Lay with the king the long nyght
Tyl that it was hyghe sonne lyght
But who she was he knewe no thyng

Tho cam the styward to the kyng
And prayd hym that withoute shame
In sauyng of her owne name
He myght leden home ayene
This lady & told hym pleyne
Hou that it was his owne wyf
The kyng his ere vnto his stryf
Hath leyd & when that he it herde
Wel nyhe oute of his wyt he ferde
And sayd A caytyf moost of al
Where was it euer or this byfalle
That ony Coward in this wyse
Betoke his wyf for conetyse
Thou hast hyr & me begyled
And eke thyne owne estate reuyled
Wherof that buxome vnto the
Here after shal she neuer be
For this auowe to god I make
After this day yf I the take
Thou shalt be honged & to drawe
Now loke anone thou be withdrawe
Soo that I see the neuer more
This Styward that drad hym sore
With al the hast that he may
And fled awey the same day
And was exyled oute of lond

Loo there a nyce hysbond
Whiche thus his wif hath lost for euer
But netheles she had a leuer
The kyng hyr weddeth & honoureth
Wherof hyr name she secoureth
Whiche erst was lost thurgh couetyse
Of hym that lad hyr other wyse
And hath hym self also forlore

My sone be thou ware therfore
Where thou shalt loue in ony place
That thou no couetyse embrace
The whiche is not of loues kynde
But for al that a man may fynde
Now in this tyme of thylk rage
Ful grete dysese in maryage
When venym medleth with the sucrē
And maryage is made for lucre
Or for the lust or for the hele
What man that shal with other dele
He may not fayle to repente

My fader suche is myn entente
But netheles good is to haue
For good may oftyme saue
The loue whiche shold elles spylle
But god which wote my hertes wille
I dar wel take to wytnesse
Yet was I neuer for Rychesse
Be sett with maryage none
For al myn herte is vpon one
So frely that in the persone
Stant al my worldes ioye alone
I axe nother park ne plough
If I hyr had it were Inough
Hyr loue shold me suffyse
Withouten other couetyse
Loo now my fader as of this
Touchend of me ryght as it is
My shryfte I am be knowe pleyn
And yf yr wol ought elles seyn
Of couetyse yf ther be more
In loue agropeth oute the sore

Fallere cum nequeat propria vir fraude subornat / Testes sic (que) eis vera retorta fides / Sicut Agros cupidus dū querit amans mulieres / Vult testes falsos falsus habere suos / Non sine vi dicta periurus abibit in eis / Visu qui cordis intima cuncta videt / Fallere per iuro non est laudanda puella in / Glori a set falso condicionis opus

hIc tractat super illis auaricie speciebus que falsum testimonium et periurum nūcupantur quorum fraudulenta circumuencio tam in cupiditatis (que) in amoris causa sui desiderij propositum quam sepe fallaciter attingit

[Page]
mY sone thou shalt vnderstonde
Hou couetyse hath yet on hōde
In specyal two coūseyllours
That ben also his procurours
The fyrst of hem is fals wytnesse
Whiche euer is redy to wytnesse
What thyng his maister wol hym hote
Periure is the second hote
Whiche spareth nought to swere an oth
Though it be fals & god be wroth
That one shal fals wytnes bere
That other shal the thyng for swere
When he his charged on the booke
So what with hepe & what with croke
They make here mayster ofte wynne
And wol not know what is the sinne
Of couetyse & thus men seyn
They make many a fals barḡeyn
There may no trewe quarel aryse
In thylk queste & thylk assyse
Where as they two the people enforme
For they kepe euer one maner forme
That vpon gold here conscyence
They founde & take here euydence
And thus with fals wytnes & othes
They wynne hem mete drynk & clothe [...]
Ryght so there be who that hem knewe
Of these louers ful many vntrewe
Now may a woman fynde ynowe
That eche of hem when he shal wowe
Anone he wold his hand doune leyn
Vpon a book & swere & seyn
That he wol feyth & trouthe bere
And thus he profereth hym to swe [...]e
T [...] se [...]uen euer tyl he deye
And al is very trecherye
For when the soth hym self tryeth
The more he sw [...]reth the more he lyeth
When he his feyth maketh al ther m [...]st
Then may a woman truste hym lest
For tyl he may his wylle acheue
He is no l [...]nger for to leue
Thus is the trouthe of loue exyled
An [...] ma [...]y a good woman begyled

And eke to speke of fals wytnesse
There be now suche many I g [...]sse
That lyche vnto the prouysours
They make hem her preuy procura­
tours To telle hou there is suche a man
Whiche is worthy to loue & can
Al that a good man sholde conne
Soo that with lesyng he hath bygōne
The cause in whiche he wol procede
And also syker as the crede
They make of that they knowen fals
And thus ful ofte aboute the hals
Loue is of fals men embraced
But loue whiche is so purchaced
Come afterward to lytel pryse
For thy my sone / yf thou be wyse
Now thou hast herd this euydence
Thou myght thyne owne conscyence
Oppose yf thou hast be suche one

Nay god wote fader I am none
Ne neuer was / for as men seyth
When that a man shal make his feyth
His herte & tonge must acorde
For yf so be that they dyscorde
Then is he fals & elles nought
And I dare say as of my thought
In loue it is not dyscordable
Vnto my word but a [...]ordablo
And m this wyse fader I
May ryght wel swere & saufly
That I my lady loue wel
For that acordeth euery del
It nedeth nought to my soth sawe
That I wytnesse shold drawe
In to this day for neuer yett
Ne myght it synke in to my wyt
That I my counseyl shold seye
To ony wyght or me bewreye
To sechen helpe in suche manere
But only of my lady dere
And though a thousand men it wys [...]
That I her loue & than  [...]em lyst
With me to swer [...] & to witnesse
Yet were that no fals wytnesse
For I dare vnto this trouthe dwelle
I loue her more than I can telle
Thus am I fader gylteles
As ye haue herd / and nethele [...]
[Page Cviij]In your dome I put it al

My sone wyte in specyal
It shal not comonlyche fayle
Al though it for a tyme faylle
That fals wytnesse his cause spede
Vpon the poynt of his falsheede
It shal afterward be kyd
Wherof so as it is betyd
Ensample of suche thynges blynde
In Cronyke wryte I fynde

Hic ponit Exemplum de illis qui falsum testificantes amoris Innocenciam circumu [...]niunt / Et narrat qualiter The [...]is Achillem filium suum adolescē tem muliebri vestitum apparatu asserens esse puellam inter Regis Lichomedis filias ad educandum produxit / Et si [...] Achilles d [...]cepto Rege filie sue Deidamie socia et cubicularia effectus super Ipsam Pir [...]um geniut▪ qui poste a mire probitatis mil̄iciam assecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam Polix ene Tirannice vindicauit

tHe goddesse of the see Thetis
She had a sone & his name is
Achilles whom to kepe & warde
Whyle he was yong & in to ward
She thought hym saufly to be take
As she whiche drad for his sake
Of that was sayd in prophecye
That he at Troy [...] shold dye
When that the cyt [...] was byleyn
For thy so as the bokes seyn
She cast hyr wyt in sondry wyfe
Hou she hym myght so desguyse
That no man shold his body knowe
And so byf [...]lle that ylke throwe
Whyle that she thou [...]t vpon this dede
There was a kyng whiche Lychomede
Was hote / & he was wel begone
With fayre doughters many one
And duelt f [...]r oute in an yle

Now shalt thou here a wonder wyle
This quene whiche the moder was
Of Achilles vpon this cas
Hyr s [...]e as a mayden were
Lete cloth [...] in the same gere
Whiche longeth vnto womanhede
As he was yong a toke no [...] hede
But suffreth al  [...]hat she hym dede
Wherof she hath hyr women bede
And chargeth by her othe [...] alle
Hou so it afterward byfalle
That they dyscouer nought this t [...]ng
But feyne & make a knoulechyng
Vpon the counseyl whiche was nom [...]
In euery place where they come
To telle & to wytnesse this
How he hyr lady doughter is
And ryght in suche a maner wise
She bad they shold done her seruyse
So that Achilles vnderfongeth
As to a yong lady belongeth
Honoure seruyce & reuerence
For Thetys with grete dylygen [...]
Hym hath so taught & affayted
That hou so  [...] were awayted
With sobre & go [...]tely contenaunce
He shold his womanhede auaunce
That none the soth knowe myght
But that in euery mans syght
He shold seme a pure maide
And m suche wise as she hym saide
Achilles whiche that Ilke while
Was yong vpon hym to smyle
Bigan when he was so besein
And thus after the bokes sein
With frette of perle vpon his hede
Al fresshe bitwene the white & rede
As she whiche tho was tendre of age
Stood the colour in his visage
That for to loke vpon his cheke
And seen his childy maner eke
He was a woman to beholde
And than his moder to him tolde
That she him had soo begone
By cause that she thought gone
To Lichomede at thilke tyde
[Page]Where that she sayd he shold abyde
Among his doughters for to duelle
Achilles herd his moder telle
And wyst nonght the cause why
And netheles ful buxo [...]ly
He was redy to that s [...]e bad
Wherof his mode [...] was ryght glad
To Lychomede & forth they went
And whe [...]  [...]he kyng knewe her entent
And s [...]we this youg doughter there
And that it cam vnto his ere
Of suche record of suche wytnesse
He had ryght a grete gladnesse
Of that he soth sawe & herde
And he that wote not hou it ferde
Vpon the counseyl of the nede
But for al that kyng Lychomede
Hath toward hym his doughter take
And for Thetys his moder sake
He put hyr in to companye
To duelle with Deydamye
His owne doughter the eldest
The fayrest & the comlyest
Of al his doughters whiche he had

Loo thus Thetys the cause lad
And left ther Achilles feyned
As he whiche hath hym self restreyned
In al that euer he may & can
Oute of the maner of a man
And took his womannyssh chere
Wherof vnto his bedfere
Deydamye he hath by nyght
Where kynde wold hym selue  [...]yght
After the Philosophers seyn
There may no wyght be ther ageyn
And that was thylk tyme sene
The long nyghtes hem bytwene
Nature whiche may not forbere
Hath made hem bothe for to stere
They kyssen fyrst / & ouermore
The hyghe wey of loues lore
They gone & al was done in dede
Whorof lost is the maydenhede
Aud that was afterward wel know
For it byfel that ylk throwe
As at Troye where the syege lay
Vpon the cause of Menelay
And of his quene Dame Eleyn [...]
The greg [...]ys hadden moche p [...]yne
Al day to fyght and to assayle
But for they myght nought auayle
Soo noble a cyte for to wynne
A pryue counseyll they begynne
In sondry wyse where they tret [...]
And at last among the grete▪
They fellen vnto his acord
That Phor [...]eus of his record
Whiche was an Astronomyen
And eke a grete magycyen▪
Shold of his calculacyon
Serche after constellacyon
Hou they the cyte myghten gete
And he whiche had nought foryet [...]
Of that belongeth to a clerk
His study set vpon this werk
So long aboute his wytte he cast
Tyl that he fond oute [...]at last
But yf they hadden Achylles
Here [...]werre shal be endeles
And oner that he told hem pleyn
In what manere he was byseyn
And in what place he shal be founde
Soo that within a lytel stounde
Vlyxes forth with Dyomede
Vpon this poynt to Lychomed [...]
Agamen on to geder sent
But vlyxes or he forth went
Whiche was one of the moost wyse
Ordeyned hath in suche a wyse
That he the moost rychest aray
Wherof a woman may be gay
With hym he took manyfolde
And ouermore as is told
An harnoys for a lusty knyght
Whiche burued was as syluer bryght
Of swerde of plate & eke of mayle
As though he shold doo batayle
He took also with hym by shyp
And thus to geder in felaushyp
Forth this Dyomede & he
In hope tyl they myghten see
The place where Achylles is
[Page Cix]The wynde stood not than  [...]mys
But euery topseyle cole it blewe
Tyl Vlyxes the marches knewe
Where Lychomede his regne had
The styresman so wel hym lad
That they be comen sauf to londe
Where they gone oute vpon the stronde
In to the burgh where that they foūd
The kyng / & he whiche hath facounde
Vlyxes dyd the message
But the counseyl to his courage
Why that he cam he told nought
But vndernethe he was bethought
In what maner he myght aspye
Achilles from Deydamye
And fro these other that there were
Ful many a lusty lady there

They pleyd them there a day or two
And as it was fortuned so
It fel that tyme in suche a wyse
To Bachus that a sacryfyce
These yong ladyes shold make
And so the straunge mennes sake
That come fro the syege of Troye
They maden wel the more ioye
There was reuel there was daunsyng
And euery lyf whiche couthe syng
Of lusty women in the route
A fresshe carolle hath songe aboute
But for al this netheles
The grekes vnknowe of Achilles
So weren that m no degre
They  [...]outhen wyte whiche was he
Ne by his voys ne by his paas
Vlyxes than vpon this caas
A thyng of high prudence hath wrouȝt
For thylk aray whiche he hath bouȝt
To yeue among the women there
He let [...] do fetten al the gere
Forth with a knyghtes harnoys eke
In al a countre for to seke
Men sholden nought a fay [...]er see
And euery thyng in his degre
Endelong vpon a boorde he leyde
To Lychomede & than he preyde
That euery lady ches [...] sholde
What thyng of al that she wold
And take it as by wey of yefte
For they hem self it shold shefte
He sayde after her owne wylle
Achylles than stood nought stylle
When he the bryght hel [...]e beheld
The swerde the hauberk & the shelde
His hert felle therto anone
Of al▪ that other wold he none
The knyghtes ge [...]e he vnderfongeth
And thylk array whiche that belōgeth
Vnto the women he forsoke
And in this wyse as seyth the booke
They knowen than whiche he was
For he goth forth the grete paas
In to the chambre where he lay
Anone & made no delay
He armeth hym in knyghtely wyse
That better can no man deuyse
And as fortune sholde falle
He cam forth to fore hem alle
As he whiche tho was glad Inough
But Lychomede no thyng lough
When that he sawe how that it ferde
And than he wyst wel & herde
His doughter had be forleyn
But that he was so / ouerseyn
The wonder ouergoth his wyt
For in Cronyke is wreton yet
Thyng whiche shal neuer be foryete
Hou that Achilles hath byge [...]e
Pyrrus vpon Deydamye
Wherof cam oute the trecherye
Of fals wytnes when they sayde
Hou Achylles was a mayde
But that was no thyng sene tho
For he is to the syege go
Forth with Vlyxes and Dyoinede

Loo thus was proued m the dede
And fully spoke at thylk whyle
If one woman another begyle
Where is there ony sekyrnesse
When Thetys whiche was the goddesse
Deydamye hath so beiaped
I not hou it shal ben escaped
With tho women whos Innocence
[Page]Is now al day thorugh suche credence
Deceyued ofte as it is sene
With men that suche vntrouthe mene
For they ben slye in suche a wyse
That they by sleyghte & by queyntyse
Of fals wytnesse bryngen Inne
That doth hem ofte for to wynne
Where they be not worthy therw

For thy my sone doo not soo
My fader as of fals wytnesse
The trouthe & the maner expresse
Touchend of loue hou it bath ferd
As ye haue told I haue wel herd
But for ye sayden otherwyse
Hou thylk vyce of couetyse
Hath yet periure of his acord
If that thou lyst of som record
To telle another tale also
In loues cause of tyme ago
What thyng it is to be forswore
I wolde preye you therfore
Wherof I myght ensample take

My good sone & for thy sake
Touchand of this I shal fulfylle
Thyn axyng at thyne owne wylle
And the matere I shal declare
How the women deceyued are
When they so tender herbe be re
Of that they here men so swere
But when it cometh to thassay
Ther fynde it fals another day
As Iason dyde to Medee
Whiche stant yet of auctoryte
In tokne & in memoryal
Wherof the tale in specyal
Is in the book of Troye wryte
Whiche I shal do the for to wyte

hIc in amoris causa ponit exemplum contra perinros Et narrat qualiter Iason prius (quam) ad Insulam col chos pro aureo vellere ibidem conquestando transmearet in amorem & couiugium Regis Othonis filie iuramento firmius se astrinxit / sed suo postea completo negocio cū ipsā secū nauigio ī greciā perduxisset vbi illa senectā patris sui Esonis in floridam iuuentutem mirabili sciencia reformauit Ipse Iason fidei sue ligamento alijs (que) beneficijs post positis dictam Medeam pro quadam causa Regis Creontis filia periurus dereliquit

IN grece whylome was a kyng
Of whom the fame & knoule­chyng
Byleueth yet & peleus
He hyghte but it felle hym thus
That his fortune hyr whele so lad
That he no chylde his owne had
To regne after his decesse
He had a broder netheles
Whos ryght name was Eson
And he hath the worthy knyght Iason
Bygoten / in whiche in euery lond
Al other passed of his hond
In armes so that he the best
Was named & the worthyest
He sought worshyp oueral
Now herkne & I the telle shal
An auenture that he sought
Whiche afterward ful dere he bought

There was an Ile whiche Colchos
Was cleped & therof awos
Grete speche in londe aboute
That suche meruayle was none oute
In al the wyde world nowhere
As tho in that Ile there
There was a shepe as it was told
The whiche his flees bare al of gold
And so the goddes had it sette
That it ne myght a wey be fette
By power of no worldes wyght
And yet ful many a worthy knyght
At had assayed as they dorst
And euer it fel hem to the worst
But he that wold it nought forsake
But of his knyghthode vndertake
To doo what thyng therto belongeth
This worthy Iason sore alongeth
[Page Cx]To see the straunge regyons
And knowe the condycyous
Of other / marches where he went
And for that cause his hoole entent
He set Colchos for to seke
And therupon he dyde▪ speke
To Peleus his eme the kyng
And he wel payd was of that thyng
And shope anone for his passage
Suche as were of his lygnage
With other knyghtes whiche he chees
With hym he toke & Hercules
Whiche ful was of chyualrye
With Iason wente in companye
And that was in the moneth of may
When colde stormes were away
The wynd was good ye shyp was yare
They took hyr leue & forth they fare
Toward Colchos but on the weye
What hem byfelle is long to seye
Hou Lamedon the kyng of Troye
Whiche ought wel haue made hem ioyr
When they to rest a whyle hym preide
Oute of his lond he hem congeyde
And so felle the dyssencyon
Whiche afterward was destructyon
Of that cyte as men may here
But that is not to my matere
But thus this worthy folk gregoys
Fro that kyng which was not curtois
And fro his land with seyl vpdrawe
Then̄e went hem forth & many a sawe
They made & many a grete manace
Tyl at last in to that place
Whiche as they sought they arryue
And stryken seyle & forth as blyue
They senten vnto the kyng & tolden
Who were there & what they wolden
Oetes whiche than was kyng
When that he herd this tydyng
Of Iason whiche was comen there
And of these other what they were
He thought done hem grete worshyp
For they anone come oute of shyp
And strayt vnto the kyng they went
And by the hand Iason he hent
And that was at the paleys gate
So fer on the kyng cam on his gate
Toward Iason to done hem chere
And he whom lakketh no manere
When he the kyng sawe in presence
Yafe hym ageyn suche reuerence
As to a kynges state belongeth
And thus the kyng hym vnderfongeth
And Iason in his arme he caught
And forth in to the halle he straught
And there they sat & speke of thyngis
And Iason told hym tho tydyngys
Why he was come & fayre hym prayde
To haste his tyme & the kyng sayde
Iason thou art a worthy knyght
But it lyeth in no mans myght
To done that thou art come fore
There hath be many a knyght forlore
Of that they wolden it assaye
But Iason hym wold not esmaye
And / seyd of / euery / worldes cure
Fortune stant in auenture
Parauenter wel parauenter woo
But hou as euer that it goo
It shal be with myn hond assayed
The kyng tho helde hym not wel paid
For he the grekes sore dredde
In aunter yf Iason ne spedde
He myght therof here a blame
For tho was al the worldes fame
In Grece as for to speke of armes
For thy he drad hym of his harmes
And gan to preche hym & to preye
But Iason wold not obeye
But sayd he wold his purpoos holde
For ought that ony man hym tolde
When the kyng these wordes herde
And sawe how that the knyȝt ansuerde
Yet for he wold make hym glad
After Medea gone he had
Whiche was his doughter & she cam
And Iason whiche good hede nam
When he hyr sawe ageyn hyr goth
And she which was hym nothing loth
Welcomed hym in to that londe
And softe took hym by the honde
[Page]And doune they seten bothe same
She had herd spoke of his name
And of his grete worthynes
For thy she gan hyr eye inpresse
Vpon his face & his stature
Aud thought hou neuer creature
Was so welfarend as was he
And Iason ryght in suche degre
Nc myght not withholde his look
But so good hede on hyr he took
That hym ne thouȝt vnder the heuene
Of beaute saw he neuer hyr euene
With al that felle to womanhede
Thus eche of other took hede
Though there was no word of record
Here hertes bothe of one acord
Ben set to loue but as tho
There myghten be no wordes mo
The kyng hym made grete joye & fest
To al his men he yaf an hest
So as they wol his thank deserue
That they sholde al Iason serue
Whyle that he wold there duelle
And thus the day shortely to telle
With many myrthes is dyspent
Tyl nyght was come & tho they went
Echone of other took his leue
When they no lenger myghten leue
A not hou Iason that nyght slepe
But wel I wote that of the shepe
For whiche he cam in to that yle
He thought but a lytel whyle
Al was medea that be thought
Soo that m many wyse he thought
His wyt wakend or it was daye
Somtyme ye somtyme nay
Somtyme thus somtyme so
As he was styred to & fro
Of loue & eke of his conquest
As he was holde of his heste
And thus he roos vp by the morowe
And took hym seynt Iohn to borow
And sayd he wold fyrst begynne
At loue & after for to wynne
The flees of gold for whiche he come
And thus to hym good hert he nome

Medea ryght in the same wyse
Tyl day cam that she must ryse
Lay & bythought hyr al the nyght
Hou she that noble worthy knyght
By ony weye myght wedde
And wel she ne wist yf he ne spedde
Of thyng whiche he had vndertake
She myght hyr self noo purpoos take
For yf he deyde of his bataylle
She most than algate fayle
To geten hym when he were dede
Thus she vygan to sette rede
And torne aboute her wyttes al
To loke hou it myght falle
That she with hym bad a leyser
To speke & telle of his desyre
And soo it felle the same day
That Iason with that swete may
To gyder sette & hadde space
To speke & he besought hyr grace
And she his tale goodly herd
And afterward she hym ansuerd
And seyd Iason as thou wylt
Thou myȝt be sauf thou myȝt be spilt
For wyte wel that neuer man
But yf he couthe that I can
Ne myght that fortune acheue
For whiche thou comest but as I loue
If thou wolt holde couenaunt
To loue of al the remenaunt
I shal thy lyf & honour saue
That thou the flees of gold shalt haue
He sayd al at your owne wylle
Madame I shal truly fulfylle
Youre hest whyle my lyf may last
Thus long he prayd & at last
She graunteth & hyght hym this
But when nyȝt cometh & it tyme is
She wold hym sende certeynly
Suche one that shold hym pryuely
A lone in to hyr chambre brynge
He thanketh hyr of that tydyng
For of that grace is hym begonne
Hym thynketh al other thinges wōne

The day made ende & lost his lyght
And comen was the derk nyght
[Page Cxj]The Whiche al the dayes eye blent
Iason took leue & forth he went
And when he cam out of the prees
He took to cound [...] Hercules
And told hym how it was betyd
And praid hym it shold wel be hed
And that he wold loke about
The whyles that he shold be out
Thus as he stood and hede name
A mayden fro Medea came
And to Chambre Iason ledde
Where that he fond redy the ledde
The fayrest and the wysest eke
And she with symple cheere and meke
When she hym sawe was al ashamed
Then was hyr tale nowe entamed
For sykernesse of mariage
She set forth a ryche ymage
The which was the fygure of Iubites
And Iason swore and said there
That also wys god shold hym help
That yf Medea dyd hym help
That he his purpoos myght wynne
They shold neuer parte a twynne
But euer whyle hym last lyf
He wold hir hold for his wyf
And with that word they kyssed both
And for they shold hem vnclothe
There come a maide in hyr wyse
She dyde hem both ful seruyse
Tyl that they were in fed naked
I wote that nyght was wel a waked
They had loth what they wold
And than at loyser she hym told
And gan fro poynt to poynt enforme
Of this batuyle and al the forme
The whiche that he / shold fynde there
When he to that ybe come were
She said at the entre of the paas
How More that god of armes was
Hath set two oxen sterne and stoute
That casten fyte and flamme aboute
 [...] al month and at the nas [...]
Soo that they syttin al & bbose
What  [...]  [...] that passeth hem bytwene
And fer the [...]ore vppon the grene
There goth the  [...]is of gold to kepe
A serpent the whiche may neuer slepe
Thus who that shold it wyn
The fire to stoppe he must begyn
The whiche that the fyers beestes cast
And daunce he mote hem at the last
So that he may yokke and dryur
And therupon he must as bylyue
The serpent with suche strength assails
That he may slee hym in bataile
Of the whiche he must ye teeth outdraw
As it longeth to that lawe
And than he must the oxen yoke
Til yt they haue with a plowe to broke
A forowe of londe whiche of the Iowe
The teeth of the serpent he muste so we
And there shall arise knyghtes
Armed wel at al ryghtes
Of hem is nought to take hede
For eche of hem in hasty hede
Shalle other slee with dethes wounde
And thus when they be leid to groūde
And go so forthe / and take his pray
Then must he to the goddes pray
But and he faile in ony wyse
Of that he haue herd my deuyse
There may be sette none other weye
That he ne must algates deye
Now haue I told the perille all
And will yow telle now forth with al
Quod Medea to Iason tho
That ye shal knowe er ye goo
Ageyne the venym and the fyre
What shall be recouere
But for it is nygh day
Arise vp soo that I may
Delyuer yow what thyng I haue
That maye youre lif & honoure saue
They were both loth to rise
But for they were bothe wyse
Vp they rysen at the last
Iason his clothes on hym cast
And made hym redy ryght anon
And she hir serke dyde vpon
And cost on hir a mantee close
Withouten more and than aroos
[Page]Than tooke she forth a ryche tye
Made of gold and of perrye
Oute of the whiche she took a ryng
The stone was worth al other thyng
She said whyles he wold it were
There myght no perylle hym dere
In water maye he not be drenchyd
Where as it cometh ye fyre is quenchid
It ouercometh also cruel beste
There may none aduersite yt man areste
Where soo he be on see or londe
That hath this rynge vppon his honde
And ouer that she gan seyne
That yf a man wylle not beseyne
Within his honde close the stone
And he maye inuysyble gone
This ryng to Iason she  [...]ytaught
And so forth after she hym taught
What sacryfice he shold make
And gan oute of hyr Cofre take
Hym thought a heuenly figure
The whiche al by charme & by coniure
Was wrought and also was ful writ
With names the whiche he shold wyt
As she hym taught than to rede
And bad hym as he wold spede
Without rest of ony whyle
When he were londed in that yle
He shold make his sacryfise
As  [...]de his carecte in the wise
And she hym tauȝt on knees doun bēt
Th [...]e si [...]hes toward the oryent
For so shold he the goddes plese
And wynne hym self mochel ese
And whan he had thryes radde
To open a boxe she hym  [...]adde
That she there toke hym in present
And was ful of suche oynement
That there was fyre ne venym none
That shold fasten hym vpone
When that he were anoynted with a [...]
For thy she taught hym how he shall
Enoyn [...]e his arines al aboute
And for he shold no thyng doute
She took hym than a maner of a glu [...]
The whiche was of so huge vertue
That where a m [...]n it wolde caste
It shold bynd anone so faste
That no man myght it doo aw [...]y
And that she bad by al wey
He shold in to the mowthes throwe
Of these two oxen that fire so blowe
Therof to stoppe the malyce
The glewe shal serue of that se [...]yce
And ouer that hyr oynement
Hyr ryng and hyr enchauntement
Ageyne the serpent shold hym were
Tille he hym slewe with sheld & spere
And than he may sau [...]ly ynough
His oxen yoke in his plough
And the teeth sowe in suche a wyse
Tyl he the knyghtes see aryse
And  [...]chone on other doune be layd
In suche a maner as I haue said
Loo thus Medea for Iason
Ordeyneth and prayeth therupon
That he no thyng forgete shold
And also she prayd hym that he wold
When he had al his armes done
To the grounde knele & thonke anone
The goddes and so forth by ese
The flees of gold he shold seese
And when he had sesed so
That then he were sone go
Withoute ony taryeng
When this was seid vnto wepyng
She felle as she yt was thorugh nom [...]
With loue and so forth ouercomen
That all her world on hym she s [...]te
But when she sawe there was no bette
That he ne must nedes parte her fro
She took hym in her armes two
A honderd tymes & gan hym kysse
And said O al my worldes blisse
My tryst / my lust my lyf my hel [...]
To be thy help in thy quarele
I praye vnto the goddes alle
And with yt word she gan doune falle
On swounyng / & he hir vp name
And forthwith the maiden came
And ther to bed anone hyr brouht
And than Iason hyr besought
[Page Cxij]And to hyr said in this manere
My worthy lusty ladyes dere
Comforteth yow / for by my trou [...]h [...]
It shall not fayle in my slouthe
That I ne wylle thurgh oute fulfille
Youre comaūdement & your own wille
An [...] yet I hope to yow to bryng
Within a whyle suche tydyng
The whiche shall make vs bothe ga [...]
But for he wold kepe hyr name
When that he wyst it was nyhe day
He said adyeu my swete may
And forth with hym he took his ge [...]
The whiche she bad take hym there
And streyght vnto his chambre he wēt
And gothe to  [...]ed / & a slepe hym hen [...]
And lay that no man hym awoke
For Hercules hede of hym toke
Tyl it was vnder of the day & more
And than he ganne to syke sore
And sodenly abrayed of slepe
And than they took of hym kepe
His chamberleyns  [...]en soone there
And make redy al his gere
And he awos / and vnto the kyng
He went and said how to that thyng
For whiche he cam / he wold go
The kyng therfore was wonder woo
And for he wold hym fayn withdraw
He told hym many a dredeful saw
But Iason wold it not recorde
And at the last they were accorde
When that he wold not abyde
A  [...]ote was redy at the  [...]yde
In yt which this worthy knyȝt of gre [...]
Ful armed vp / at euery pece
To his batayle that belongeth
Toke other on hond & sore him longeth
Till he the water passid were
And whan he cam to that y [...] there
He set hym on his knee doun strauȝl
And his carecte as he was taught
He rad & made his sacryfyce
And sythen anoynced hym m [...] wys [...]
As Medea hym hath  [...]ede
And than he arose hym fro the  [...]
And with the glewe the fi [...]e he qu [...]ynt
He anone after gan ateynt
The grete serpent and hym slough
But erst he had sorowe ynough
For that serpent made hym to trauaile
So hard and sore of his batayle
That now he stood / & now he felle
For long tyme so [...] it be felle
Th [...]t with his swerd ne with his spere
He myght not that serpent dere
It was so shelled al aboute
It spyld al edge tole withoute
He was soo rude and hard of skyn
There myght no thyng goo ther in
Venym and fire to geder he cast
That he  [...]ason greued sore with blast
And yf it had not ben his oynement
His rynge & his enchauntement
The whiche Medea took hym beforn
He had with that worm be lorn
But thurgh ye vertu that therof ca [...]
Iason the dragon ouercam
And he anone the tethe oute drowe
And set his oxen in a plowe
With the whiche he brake a pece of  [...]ond
And sewe hem with his owne  [...]ond
Than myght he grete merueyle see
Of euery tooth in his degre
Sprāg vp a knyȝt with spere & sheld
Of the whiche ryght anon  [...] the feld
Echone slough other / & with that
Iason not Medea forgat
On bothe his knees he gan doune fall
And ga [...] thankyng to the goddes all
The flees he took & gothe to the bote
The sonne shyneth bryght & hote
The flees of gold shone forth with all
The water glystered oueralle
Medea weped / and syghed ofte
And stode vppon a to wre aloft
Al pryuely within hir self
There herd it not ten or twelf
She prayd and said god hym spede
The knyght that hath my maidenhede
And dy she loked toward the yle
And when she sawe within a whyle
[Page]The flees glisteryng  [...]geyn the sonne
She said O lord al is wonne
My knyght the feld hath ouereomen
Now wold god that he were comen
O lord god I wold he were in londe
But I dare take this on honde
If that she had wynges two
She wold haue flowen to hym tho
Streyte there he was vnto the  [...]ote
The day w [...]s clere the sonne was hote
The grekes were in grete doute
The whyle that hyr lord was oute
They wise not what shold betyde
But waited vpon the tyde
To see what ende shold falle
There stood also the nobles alle
Footh with the comyn of the Towne
And as they loked vp & doune
They were ware within a throwe
Where as cam ye bote / as they wel know
And saw how  [...]ason brought his prey
And than they gan al to sey
And  [...]yden of with one sreuen
O where was euer vnder heuen
So noble a knyght as Iason is
And wel ny [...]e al saiden this
That Iason was a fayre knyght
 [...]t was neuer of mans myght
The  [...]es of gold so for to wynne
And thus to talk they begynne
 [...] that the kyng forth anone
 [...] sawe the flees how that shone
And when Iason cam to the londe
The kyng hym self took his honde
And kyssed hym▪ and greete ioyr made
 [...]he grekes were wonder glade
And of ye thyng right mery thought
And forth with hym yt flees they broȝt
And euery man gan prece in
For well was hym that myght wyn
To see there of the propyrte
And thus they passen the Cyte
And gone vnto the place straught
Medea the whiche forgate hyr naught
Was redy there and sai [...] anone
Welcome O worthy knyght Iason
She wold haue kyst hym wōder fayne
But shame borned hyr agayne
It was not the maner as tho
For thy she durst not do so
She took hyr leue. and Iason wen [...]e
In to his chambre / & she hym sente
Hyr maide to see how he ferd
The whiche whan she sawe and herd [...]
How that he had faren oute
And that it stood wel al aboute
She told hyr lady what she wist
And she for ioye hyr mayden kyst
The bathes were than arrayd
With herbes tempred and assayd
And Iason was vnarmed soon [...]
And dyde as it befelle to done
In to his bathe he went anone
And wysshe hym clene as ony  [...]one
He took a soppe / and oute he came
And on his best array he name
And kempt his hede when he was glad
And goth hym forth al mery & glad
Ryght streyght in to the kynges hall [...]
A [...]pmg the grete lordes alle
And made hym glad welcomyng
And he hem told the tythyng
Of this & that how it befelle
When that he wan the shepes felle
Medea when she was after sent
Came soone to that parlement
And when she myght Iason see
Was none so glad of al as she
There was no ioye for to seche
Of hym made euery man a speche
Som men said one / somme saide other
But though he were goddes broder
And myght make fire and thonder
There myght be no more wonder
Then was of hym in that Cyde
Eche man taught other this is he
That hath in his power within
That al the world myght not wyn
Lo here the best of al goode
Thus seid they that there stood
And also that walked vp and doune
Bothe of the Court & of the towne

[Page Cxiij]
The tyme of souper cam anone
They wysshen & therto they gone
Medea was with Iason set
Tho was there many a deynte fet
And set to  [...]ore hem on the boord
But none soo lykyng as the word
Which was ther spoke amōg hem two
So [...] as they dorst speke tho
But though they  [...]adden lytyl space
Yet they acorden in that place
How Iason shold come at nyght
When euery torche & euery lyght
Were oute / & than of other thynges
They speken a loude for supposynges
Of hem that stoden there aboute
For loue is euermore in doute
If that it be wysely gouerned
Of hem that be of loue lerned
When al was doo that dysshe & cuppe
And clothe & bord &  [...]l was vppe
They  [...]ake whyle hem lyst to wake
And af [...]r that they leue take
And gone to  [...]edde for to reste
And when hym thought for the beste
That euery man was fast a slepe
Iason that wold his tyme kepe
Both forth stalkend al pryuely
Vnto the chambre & redyly
There was a mayde whiche hym kepte
Medea wook & nothyng slepte
But netheles she was a bed
And he with al hast hym spedde
And made hym naked & al warme
Anone he took hyr in his arme
What nede is for to speke of ese
Hem lyst eche other for to plese
Soo that they hadden ioye ynough
And tho they setten when & hou
That she with hym awey shal stele
With wordes such [...] & other fele
When al was treded to an ende
Iason took  [...]eue & gan forth wende
Vnto his owne chambre in pees
There wyst it none but Hercules

He slepte & w [...]s when it was tyme
And when it fel toward pryme
He took to  [...]ym suche as he tryste
In secre that none other wyste
And told hem of his counseyl there
And sayde that his wylle were
That they to shyp had al thyng
So pryuelyche in theuenyng
That noman myght here dede aspye
But that were of companye
For he wol goo withoute leue
And  [...]enger wol he nought byleue
But he ne wold at thylk throwe
That kyng or quene shold it knowe
They sayde al thys shal be doo
And Iason trust wel therto

Medea in the mene whyle
Whiche thought hyr fader to begyle
The Tresour whiche hyr fader had
With hyr al pryuely she lad
And with Iason at tyme sett
Awey she stal and fonde no let
And straught she goth hyr in to shyp
Of grece with that felaushyp
And they anone drough vp the sey [...]e
And al that nyght this was coūseylle
But erly when the sonne shone
Men seen hou that they were gon [...]
And come vnto the kyng & told
And he the soth knowe wold
And axeth where his doughter was
There was no word but out alas
She was a goo / the moder wepte
The fader as a wood man lepte
And gan the tyme for to warye
And swore his othe he wol not tarye
That with Calyphe & with galeye
The same cours the same wey [...]
Whiche Iason took he wold take
If that he myght hym ouertake
To this they sayden al yee
Anone they weren at the see
And al as who sayd at one word
They gone within shyppes boord
The seylle goth vp & forth they strauȝt
But none exployt therof they cauȝt
And so forth they tornen home ayene
For al that laboure was in  [...]eyn
[Page]Iason to grece with his prey
Goth thorugh the see the ryght weye
When he ther come & men it told
 [...]i [...]y made ioye yong & old
Eson when he wyse of this
How that his sone comen is
And hath acheued that he soughte
And home with hym medea broughte
In al the wyde world was none
So glad a man as he was one
To geder ben these louers tho
Tyl they had sones twoo
Wherof they weren bothe glade
And olde Eson greete ioye made
To seen the encrees of his lygnage
For  [...] was of so grete an age
That men away [...]n euery day
When that he shold gone away
Iasen whiche sawe his fader old
 [...]en medea made hym bold
Of art magy [...]e whiche she couth
And prayth hyr that his fader youth
She wold make ayeneward newe
And she that was toward hym trewe
Behyghte hym that she wold it do
When that she tyme sawe therto
But what she dede in that matere
It is a wonder thyng to here
But yet for the nouelrye
I  [...]ynke tellen a grete partye

N [...]t [...] qiubus medica mentis Esonē s [...]n [...]tute decrepitum ad sue iuuentutis adolescenciam prudens Medea reduxit▪

Thus it byfel vpon a nyght
When there was nought but sterre liȝt
She was banysshed ryght as hyr lyst
That no wyght but hyr seluen it wyst
The world was stylle on euery syde
And that was at mydnyght tyde
With open  [...]xede & foote al bare
Here here to sprad she gan to fare
Vpon hyr clothes gyrt she was
Al specheles & on the gras
She glode forth as an adder doth
None otherwyse she ne goth
Tyl she cam to the fresshe flood
And there a whyle she withstood
Thryes she torned hyr aboute
And thryes eke she gan doune loute
And in the flood she w [...]et hyr here
And thryes on the water there
She gaspeth with a dretchyng onde
And tho she took hyr speche on honde
Fyrst she began to clepe & calle
Vpward vnto the sterres alle
To wynde to ayre to see to  [...]ond
She preyd & held vp hyr hond
To Echates & gan to crye
Whiche is the goddesse of Sorcerye
She seyde helpeth at this nede
And as ye maden me to spede
When Iason cam the flees to seche
So helpe me now I you byseche
With that she loketh & was ware
Doune fro the sky there cam a chare
The whiche / dragons aboute drough
And tho she gan hyr hede doune bough
And vp she styghe & fayre & wel
She drofe forth both chare & wheel
Aboue in the ayer among the skyes
The lond of Crete & tho partyes
She sought & gan fast hyr hyghe
And therupon the hulles hyghe
Of Othryn and Olymphe also
And eke of other hulles moo
She fonde & gade [...]eth herbes soute
She pulleth vp som by the rote
And many with a knyf she shereth
And alle in to hyr chaar she  [...]ere [...]
Thus when she hath the hulles sought
The flodes there forya [...] she nought
Erydyan and Amphrydos
 [...]eneye [...] & eke Sperceydos
To hem she went & there she nome
Bothe of the water & of the f [...]m [...]
She fond & eke the smal stones
Whiche al she chese oute for the nones
And of the rede see a part
[Page Cxiiij]That was behouelycke to hyr art
She took / & afterward aboute
She sought sondry sedes oute
In feldes & in many greues
And eke a part she took of leues
But thyng which myȝt hyr most aua [...]yle /
She fond in Crete & in thessayle

In dayes & in nyghtes nyne
With grete trauayl & grete pyne
She was purueyed of euery pece
And torned homward in to grece
Byfore the gates of Eson
Hyr chare she lete awey to gone
And took oute fyrst that was therin
For tho she thought to begyn
Suche thyng as semeth impossyble
And made hyr self inuysyble
As she that was with a pre enclosed
And myght of no man be dysclosed
She took of turues of the lond
Withoute helpe [...] of mans honde
Aud heled with the grene gras
Of whiche an Aulter made there was
Vnto Echates the Goddesse
Of art magyke and sorceresse
And eft another to iuuente
As she whiche dyde here hole entente
Tho took she felwood & berueyne
Of herbes be not better tweyne
Of whiche anone without  [...]ett
These aulters ben aboute set
Two sondry pyttes fast by
She made / & with that hastely
A wether whiche was blak she  [...]ouȝ
And oute therof she the blood drough
And dyde in to the pyttes twoo
Warme mylk she put also therto
With hony meynt, & in suche wyse
She gan to make hyr sacryfyce
And cryde & prayde forth with al
To pluto the god infernal
And to the quene proserpyne
Aud so she sought oute the lyne
Of hem that longen to that craft
Behynd was noman laft
And praid hem alle as she was couth
To graunte Eson his fyrst youth
This old Eson brought forth was tho
A wey she bad al other goo
Vpon peryl that myght falle
And with that word they wenten alle
And leften there them two alone
And tho she began to gaspe & gone
And made sygnes many one
And sayd hyr wordes therupone
So that with spellyng & hir charmes
She took Eson in bothe hyr armes
And made hym for to slepe fast
And hym vpon hir herbes cast
The blak wether tho she took
And hewe the flesshe as doth a Cook
On eyther aulter part she leyde
And with the charmes that she seyde
A fyre doune from the sky alyght
And made it for to brenne lyght
And when Medea sawe it brenne
Anone she gan to sterte & renne
The fyry aulters al aboute
There was no beste whiche goth oute
More wylde than she semeth there
Aboute hyr sholders henge hyr here
As though she were oute of her mynde
And torned in to another kynde
Tho lay there certeyn wode clefte
Of whiche the peces now & efte
She made hem in the pyttes wete
And put hem in the fyry hete
And toke the brond with al the blase
And thryes she bygan to rase
Aboute Eson there as he slepte
And efte with water whiche she kepte
She made a cercle aboute hym thryes
And eke with fyre of sulphyr twyes
Ful many another thyng she dede
Whiche is not wryten in the stede
But she can vp so & doune
She made a wonder soune
Somtyme lyche vnto the cok
Somtyme vnto the lauerok
Somtyme cacleth as an henne
Somtyme speketh as done menne
And ryght so as hir  [...]argon straūgeth
[Page]In sondry wyse hyl forme chaungeth
She semeth fayre & no woman
Forth with the craft that she can
She was as who seith a goddesse
And what hyr lyst more or lesse
She dyde in bokes as we fynde
That passeth ouer mannes kynde
But who that wol wondres here
What thyng she wrouȝt in this matere
To make an ende of that she gan
Suche meruayle herd neuer man
A poynted in the newe mone
When it was tyme for to done
She sett  [...] cauldron on the fyre
In whiche was al the hoole a tyre
Where on the medycyne stood
Of Iuse of water & of blood
And lete it boyle in suche a plyte
Tyl that she sawe the spume whyte
And tho she cast in rynde & roote
And seed & floure that was for bote
With many an herbe & many a stone
Wherof she hath there many one
And eke the Cympheyus the serpent
To hyr hath al hyr scales lent
 [...]he  [...]ydre hyr yafe his adders skyn
And she to boyle cast hem in
And part eke of the horned oule
The whiche men here on nyghtes houle
And of a Rauen whiche was told
Of nyne honderd wynter old
She took the heed with al the bylle
And as the medy [...]yue it wylle
She took therafter the bowele
Of the see wolf & for the hele
Of Eson with a thousand mo
Of thyngis that she had tho
In that caldron to gyder as blyue
She put & took than of olyue
A drye braunche hem with to ster [...]
The whiche anone gan floure & bere
And weye al fresshe & grene ageyn
When she this vertue herd f [...]yn
She lete the lest drope of alle
Vpon the bare flore doune falle
Where as the droppe falle was
Anone there spronge floure & gras
And waye anone al mede we grene
So that it myght wel be sene
Medea than knewe and wyst
Hyr medycyne is for to tryse
And goth to Eson there he lay
And took a swerd was of assay
With whiche a wounde vpon his syde
She made that ther out may slyde
The blood within whiche was old
And seke & trouble feble & coldr
And tho she took vnto his vse
Of herbes al the best Iuse
And poured it in to his wounde
That made his beynes ful & sounde
And tho she made his woundes close
And took his hond vp he wse
And tho she yafe hym drynk a drauȝt
Of whiche his youthe agayn be caught
His heed his hert & his bysage
Lyche vnto twenty wynter age
And lyche vnto the fresshe may
His hore heres were away
When passed ben the cold shoures
Ryght so recouereth he his floures

Loo what myght ony man deuyse
A woman shewe in ony wyse
More hertely loue in ony stede
Than medea to Iason dede
Fyrst she made hym the flees to wyn
And from alle her kyth & kyn
With grete tresour with hym she stal
And to his fader forth with al
His elde hath torned in to youthe
Whiche thyng none other man couth
But hou it was to hyr a [...]uyt
The remembraunce duelleth yet

Kyng Peleus his eme was deed
Iason bare coroune on his beede
Medea hath fulfylled his wylle
But when he shold of ryght fulfylle
The trouthe whiche to hyr afore
He had in the  [...]le of Colchos swore
Tho was medea moost deceyued
For he hath another receyued
Whtch [...] doughter was to kynge Creon
[Page Cxv]Creusa she byght, & thus Iason
As he that was to loue vntrewe
Medea left & toke a newe
But that was afterward sore abought
Medea with hyr art hath wrought
Of cloth of gold a mantel ryche
Whiche semeth worth a kynges ryche
And that was vnto Creusa sent
In name of yeft and of present
For susterhood was hem bytwene
And when the yong fresshe quene
That mantyl lappyd hyr aboute
A none therof the fyre sprang oute
And brent hyr bothe flesshe & bone
Tho cam Medea to Iason
With both his sones on here hond
And sayd O thou of euery lond
The moost vntre we creature
Loo this shal be thy forfeture
With that she bothe his sones slough
Byfore his eye & he oute drough
His swerd & wold haue slayn hyr tho
But fare wel she was a goo
Vnto Pallas the court aboue
Where as she pleyneth vpon loue
As she that was with that goddesse
And he was left in grete dystresse
Thus myȝt thou see what sorow it doth
To swere an othe whiche is not soth
In loues cause namely
My sone be wel ware for thy
And kepe that thou be not forswore
For this whiche I haue told tofore
Ouyde telleth euery dele

My fader I may leue it wele
For I haue herde it ofte seye
Hou Iason toke the flees aweye
Fro Colchos for yet herd I nought
By whom it was fyrst thyder brouȝt
And for it were good to here
If that thou lyst at my prayere
To telle I wold you byseche

My sone who that wol it seche
In bokes he may fynde it wryte
And netheles yf thou wolt wyte
In the maner as thou hast preyde
I shal the telle hou it is seyde

Nota qualiter aureum vellus in pardes Insule Colchos primo deuenit Athemas Rex philen habiut coniugem [...] qua Faxum genuit et Hellen / Mortua autem Hellen Athemas Iunonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea [...] vxorem dnxit / que more Nouerce di [...]tos infā tes in tantum recollegit odi [...] (que) ambos in mari proici penes Regem procurauit / Vnde Iuno compaciens quemdam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauit [...] super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit / vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cū suo vellere prout in alijs canitur [...]coni [...]is sub a [...]ta custodia collocauit

tHe fame of thylk shepes felle
Which in Colchos as it bifelle
was al of gold shal neuer deye
Wherof I thynke for to seye
Hou he cam fyrst in to that Ile
There was a kyng in thylk whyle
To wardes grece and Athemas
The Cronyke of his name was
And had a wyf whiche Phylen hyght
By whome so as fortune it dyght
He had of chyldren yong two
Fay [...]s the fyrst was of tho
A man chylde ryght fayre with all
A doughter eke whiche men call
Hellen he hade by this wyf
But for ther may no mans lyf
Endure vpon this erthe here
This worthy quene as thou myȝt here
Er that the chyldren were of age
Took of her ende the passage
With grete worshyp & was bygraue
What thyng it lyketh god to haue
[Page]It is grete reason to ben his
For thy thys kyng so as it is
With grete suffraūce it vnderfongeth
And afterward as hym belongeth
When it was tyme for to wedde
A newe wyf he toke to bedde
Whiche Iuo hyght & was a mayde
And eke the doughter as men sayde
Of Cadme whiche a kyng also
Was holde in thylke dayes tho
When Iuo was the kynges make
She cast hou that she myght make
These chyldre to hyr fadre loth
And shope a wyle ayene hem both
Which vnto the kyng was at vnknow
A yere or two she sete doo sowe
The lond with soden whete aboute
Wherof no corn may spryngen oute
And thus by sleyghte & by couyne
Aroos the derthe & the famyne
Thorugh oute the lond in suche a wyse
Soo that the kyng a sacryfyce
Vpon the poynt of this dyserrsse
To Ceres whiche is the goddesse
Of corne hath shape hym for to yeue
To loke yf it may be foryeue
The meschyef whiche was in his lond
But she whiche knewe to fore the hond
The cyraimstaunce of al thys thyng
Ageyn the comynge of the kyng
In to the Temple hath shape soo
Of hyr acord that al tho
Whiche of the Temple prestes were
Haue sayd & ful declared there
Vnto the kyng but yf so be
That he desyuer the countre
Of Fryxus & of hellen bothe
With whome the goddes ben so wrothe
That whyle tho chyldre ben within
Suche tylthe shal no man begyn
Wherof to gete hym ony corn
Thus was it sayd thus was it sworn
Of al the prestes that there are
And she whiche causeth al this fare
Seyd eke therto what that she wolde
And euery man than after tolde
Soo as the quene had hem preyd

The kyng whiche bath his ere leyd
And leueth al that euer he herde
Vnto here tale thus ansuerde
And seyth that leuer is hym to chese
His chyldren bothe for to lese
Than hym & al the remenaunt
Of hem whiche are apperdendunt
Vnto the lond whiche he shal kepe
And bade his wyf to take kepe
In What manere is best to done
That they delyuerd were sone
Oute of the world & she anone
Two men ordeyneth for to gone
But fyrst she made hem for to swere
That they the chyldren shold here
Vnto the see that none it knowe
And hem therin both throwe
The children to the see ben lad
Where in the wyse as Yuo bad
These men be redy for to doo
But the goddesse whiche Iuno
Is hote / appereth in the stede
And hath vnto the men forbede
That they the chyldren not ne slee▪
But bad hem loke in to the see
And taken hede of that they syghen
There swam a sheepe to fore hyr eyen
Whoos flees of burned gold was al
And this goddesse forth with al
Comaundeth that withoute let
They shold anone the chyldre set
Aboue vpon the shepes bak
And al was do ryght as she spak
Wherof the men gone home ageyne
And felle so as the bokes seyne
Hellen the yong mayden tho
Whiche of the see was wo bego
For pure drede hyr hert hath lore
That fro the shepe whiche hath hyr bore
As she that was swounend feynt
And felle & hyr self deeynt
Frixus & this shepe forth swam
Tyl he to the Ile of Colchos cam
Where Iuno the goddesse he fond
Whiche toke the shepe to the lond
[Page Cxvj]And s [...]tte it there in suche a wyse
As thou to fere hast herd deuyse
Wherof cam [...]after al the wo
Why Iason was forswore soo
Vnto mede [...] as it is spoke

My fader who that hath to broke
His trouth as ye haue here told about
He is not worthy for to loue
Ne be beloued as me semeth
But euery loue ne we quemeth
To hym whiche newe fangle is
And netheles now after this
If that thou lyst to taken hede
Vpon my shryfte to procede
In loues cause ayene the vyce
Of couetyse and Auoryce
What there is more I wold wyte

My sone this fynde I wryte
There is yet one of thylk brood
Whiche only for the worldes good
To make a Tresoure of moneye
Put al conscyence a weye
Wherof in thy Confessyon
The name and the condycyon
I shal here afterwarde declare
Whiche maketh one ryche another bare

Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur et illud / Fraude colocata sepe latenter agit / Sic amoz excessus quam sepe suos vt cuarus / Spirat et viuus tres capit ipse loco

Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie que vsura dicitur / cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plus quam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri ad auget

 [...]Pon the benche syttend on hyȝ
With auaryce vsure I syghe
Ful clothed of his owne sute
Whiche after good maketh chase & sute
With his brocours that renne aboute
Lyche vnto ratches on a route
Suche lucre is none aboue ground
Whiche is not of the ratches founde
For where they see beyete sterte
That shal hem in no wyse asterde
But they it dryue in to the net
Of lucre whiche vsure hath set
Vsure with the ryche duelleth
To al that euer he byeth & selleth
He hath ordeyned of his sleyghte
Mesure [...] double & double weyghte
Outward he selleth by the lasse
And with the more he maketh his tasse
Wherof his hous is ful withynne
He retcheth nought be soo he wynne
Though that he lese ten or twelue
His loue is al toward hym selue
And to none other but he see
That he may wynne suche thre
For where he shal ought yeue or lene
He wol ayene ward take a bene
There he hath lent the smal pese
And ryght so ther be many of these
Louers that though they▪ loue a lyte
That scarsely wold it weye a myte
Yet wold they haue a pound ageyne
And doth vsure in his bargeyn
But certes suche vsure vnlyche
It falleth more vnto the ryche
Als wel of loue as of beyete
Than vnto hem that be not grete
And as who sayth be symple & pouer
For selden is when they recouer
But yf it be thorugh greete deserte
And netheles men see pouerte
With pursute & contenaunce
Ful ofte make a grete cheuaunce
And take of loue his auauntage
For with the helpe of his brocage
That maken seme where it is nought
And thus ful ofte is loue bought
For lytel what and mochel take
With fals weyghtes that they make

Now sone of that I sayd aboue
Thou wost what vsure is of loue
Telle me for thy what so thou wylt
[Page]If thou therof host ony gylt

My fader nay for ought I here
For of tho poyntes ye tolden here
I wol you by my trouth assure
My weyghte of loue & my mesure
Hath be more large & more certeyn
Than euer I took of loue ageyne
For so yet couthe I neuer of sleyghte
To take ageyne by double weyghte
Of loue more than I haue yeue
For also wys mote I be shryue
And haue remyssyon of synne
And soo yet couthe I neuer wynne
Ne yet soo mochel soth to seyn
That euer I myght haue half ageyn
Of so ful loue as I haue lent
And myn hop were so wel went
That for the hoole I myght haue half
My thynketh I were a goddesse half
For where vsure wold haue double
My conscyence is not trouble
I byd neuer as to my dele
But of the hole an haluen dele
That is none excesse as me thynketh
But netheles it me forthynketh
For wel I wote that wol not be
For euery day the better I see
That ho [...] so euer I yeue or lene
My loue in place there I mene
For ought that euer I axe or craue
I can nothyng ayeneward haue
But for that I wol not lete
What so befalle of my beyete
That I ne shal yeue & lene
My loue & al my thought soo clene
That toward me shal nougt byleue
And yf she of hyr good leue
Rewarde me wold nought ageyn
I wote the last of my bargeyn
Shal stonde vpon so grete a lost
That I may neuer more the cost
Recouer in this world tyl I dye
Soo that touchend of this partye
I may me wel excuse & shal
And for to speke forth with al
If ouy brocour for me went
That poynt cam neuer in myn entent
Soo that the more me meruayleth
What thyng it is my lady eyleth
That al myn herte & al my tyme
She hath / & doo no better byme

I haue herd sayd that thouȝt is fre
And netheles in pryuete
To you my fader that ben here
Myn hole shryfte for to here
I dar myn hert wel dysclose
Touchend vsure as I suppose
Whiche as ye tellen in loue is vsed
My lady may not ben excused
That for one lokyng of hyr eye
Myn hool herte hath tyl I deye
With al that euer I may & can
She hath me wonne to hyr man
Wherof me thynketh good reson wolde
That she somdele rewarde sholde
And yeue a part there she hath al
I not what falle herafter shal
But in to now yet dare I seyne
Hyr lyst neuer yeue ageyne
A good word in suche a wyse
Wherof myne hope myght aryse
My greete loue to compense
I not hou she hyr conscyence
Excuse wol of this vsure
By large weyghte & grete mesure
She hath my loue & I haue nought
Of that whiche I haue dere abought
And with myne herte I haue it payde
But al this is asyde layde
But I go loueles aboute
Hyr ought stonde in ryght grete doute
Tyl she redresse suche a synne
That she wol al my loue wynne
And yeueth me not to lyue by
Nought also moche as graunt mercy
Hyr lyst to seye of whiche I myght
Some of my greete peyne alyght
But of this poynt lo thus I fare
As he that payeth for his Chaffare
And byeth it dere & yet hath none
So mote he nedes pouer gone
Thus bye I dere & haue no loue
[Page Cxvij]That I ne may come aboue
To wynne of loue none encrece
But I me wylle neuer the lese
Touchend vsure of loue acquyte
And yf my lady be to wyte
I pray to god suche grace hyr sende
That she my tyme it must amende
My sone of that thou hast answerd
Touchend vsure / I haue al herd
How thou of loue hast wonnen smale
But that thou tellest in thy tale
And thy lady therof accusist
Me thynketh thy wordes thou mysusist
For by thyne owne knowlechyng
Thou saist that she for one lokyng
Thy hole herte fro the she took
She may be suche that hyr one look
Is worth the herte many fold
And than hast thou thy herte wel sold
Whan thou hast that is more worthy
And also that thou tellest for thy
How that hyr weyght of loue vneuen
Maye to thy semyng vnder heuen
Stonde euer euen in that balaunce
The which stondeth in loues gouernāce
Suche is the statute of this lawe
That though thy loue more drawe
And peyse in the balaunce more
Thou may not aske ageyn ther fore
Of doubte / but all of grace
For loue is lord in euery place
There may no lawe hym Iustyfye
By  [...]eddour ne by companye
That he ne wylle after his wylle
Whom that hym liketh to spede or spille
To loue a man may wel begynne
But whether he shalle lese or wynne
That wote no man till at the last
And therfore coueyte not to fast
My sone / but abyde thyn ende
Per c [...]as al may to good wende
But that thou hast me told and said
Of one thyng I am ryght wel payd
That thou by sleyghte ne by gyle
Of no brocoure hast other whyle
Engyned loue for suche dede
Is more venged as I rede

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos marituss ▪ qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores / ad noue voluptatis in crementum. alias mulieres superflue lu crari non verentur / Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam in Ecco lucris adquirendis de consilio mariti Iouis me diatrix exstiterat

bRokers of loue that deceyuen
No wōder though they receyuen
After the wrong that they deserue
For somtyme they goo and serue
And doo plesaunce for a whyle
Yet at the last her owne gyle
Vppon hyr owne hede descendeth
The whiche god of his vengeāce sēdeth
As by ensample of tyme a goo
A man may fynde / it hath be so
It felle somtyme as it was sene
The hygh goddes and the quene
Iuno than had in company
A mayden ful of trechery
For she was euer in one acord
With Iubiter that was hyr lord
To gete hym other loues newe
Thorugh suche brocage / & was vntrew
Al other wyse than hym nedeth
But she the whiche no shame dredeth
With queynt wordes and with slye
Blynded in suche a wise her ladyes eye
As she to whome Iuno tryst
So that ther of she no thyng wyst
But so pryuely may be no thyng
That it ne cometh to knowlechyng
For thyng yt is done on the derk nyȝt
Is after knowen whan the day is liȝt
So it befelle at the last
Al that this slyghe mayden cast
Was ouer cast and ouerthrowen
For as the soothe must be knowen
To Iuno it was done vnderstonde
In what manere hyr husbonde
With fals brocage hath taken vsure
Of loue more than his mesure
Whan he took other than his wyf
[Page]Wherof this mayden was gyltyf
The whiche hath ben of his ass [...]t
And thus was all the game shent
She suffred hym as she must nede
But the broucore of his mysdede
She that hir counceylle gaf therto
On hyr is the vengeaunce doo
For Iuno with hyr wordes bryg [...]t
This mayden whic [...]e Tito hyght
Reproueth and saith in this wyse
O traitresse of suc [...]e seruyse
Hast thou thyne owne lady ser [...]ed
Thou hast grete peyne wel deserued
Thy slygh wordes for to peynte
With flaterye that is so queynt
Towards me that am thy quene
Where thorugh thou madest me to went
That my housbond trewe were
When that he loueth els where
Al be it soo / hym nedeth n [...]ught
But vppon the it shall be bought
The whiche arte pryue to these doynges
And me ful oft of thy besynges
Deceyued hast now is the day
That I the whyle wel quyte. may
And for thou hast to me counceyled
That my lord hath with other deled
I shalle the set in suche a kynde
That euer vnto the worldes ende
Al that thou herest / thou shalt telle
And clappe it oute as doth a belle
And with that word she was for shape
There may no vyce her mouthe escape
What man that in the world cryeth
Withouten faile Hecco replyeth
And what word that hym lust to say [...]
The same word she saith agayn
Thus she that somtyme had leue
To be at large / is now morow & eue
In woodes & on hylles bothe
For suche brocage is wyues lothe
The whiche doth lordes herte & chaunge
And loue in other places straunge
For thy / yf euer it soo befalle
That thou herafter in chambre or hall [...]
Me wedded man hold that thou hast
For thy al other loue is wast
One wyf shal wel to the suffys [...]
And that yf tho [...] for couetyse
Of loue wold aske more
Thou sholdest done ageyne the lod [...]
Of all men that trewe be
My fader as in this degre
My conscyence is not accused
For I no suche brocage haue vsed
Where thorugh yt loue of lust is wōn [...]
For thy speketh forth / as ye begonne
Of auaryce vppon my shryft
My sonne I shal the braunches s [...]yft
By ordre as they ben set
Of whome no good is wel beset

Pars verbis verba munus pro munere reddi / Conuenit vt pondus [...]qu [...] statera ger [...]t / Preterea cupido non da [...] sua dona cupido / Nam qui nulla [...]eri [...] gramina nulla metet

Hic tractat Auctor super illa specie Auaricie que parcimonia dicitur. cuius natura tenax aliqualem sue substancie porcionem / aut deo aut hominibus par ticipare nullatenus consentit

bLynd  [...]uaryce of his ly [...]nage
For counceylle / & for co [...]nage
To withhold ageyne largesse
H [...]th one the whos name is scarceness [...]
The whiche is kepat of his howe
And is so thorugh auarous
That he no good will lete out of hond
Though god hym self shold fonde
Of gyft shold he no thyng haue
And yf a man it wold craue
He must than fayle at nede
Wherof hym self may not spede
And thus scarcenes in euery place
By reason may no thyng purcha [...]
[Page Cxviij]And  [...] in his  [...]egre
Aboue al other most priu [...]
With Aua [...]y [...] he stondeth se
That he is euermore in wo
In his estate of his offyce
After the rewle of that vyce
He taketh his lepis he hoppeth he blent
That lyght is to slee the flent
That gede of hym ne hard ne nesshe
Only the valewe of a Resshe
Of good in helpyng of another
Ne though be were his owne broder
And in the  [...]as of gyft and loue
S [...]ndeth euery man for hym aboue
Thynketh of his vnkyndeship
That hym nedeth noo felauship
So that the bagge and he acorde
Hym rekketh not what man recorde
Of hym were it euyl or good
For all his trust is on his good
And so allone he falleth ofte
When he best weneth to stond on lofd [...]
As wel in loue as other wyse
For loue is euer of somme repryse
To hym that wol his lone holde
For thy my sone as thou art holde
Tonchend of this telle me thy shry [...]
Hast thou be searse of large gyft
Vnto thy loue to whom thou serues [...]
For after that thou wel deseruest
Of gyft thou myght be the bett [...]
F [...] that good I wyl be sette
For yt whiche thou myȝt yu better fa [...]
Thenne is no wysedom for to spare
For thus men seyn in euery nede
He was wyse that fyrst made mede
For where as mede may not spede
I not what helpeth other dede
Ful of [...] he faileth of his game
That wylle with ydel hond reclame
His hawke / as many a nyce man doth
For thy my sone telle the sooth
And saye the t [...]outhe / yf thou haue be
 [...]on [...] thy  [...]ue scorse o [...] fro
My fader it hath sto [...]den thus
That yf the  [...]ou [...] of  [...]resus
With alle the goood of Oc [...]auian
And the ryches of Indyan
Of perles and of ryche stones
Were al to geder myn at ones
I set it at no maner acounte
Than wold bare sted amounde
To gyue it hyr al on a day
Soo that to that swete may
It myght lyke more or lesse
And thus the cause of my largesse
Ye may vnderstonde and leue
That I shall not the better acheue
The purpoos whiche is in my thought
But yf that I gaf hyr neuer nought
Ne therto durst a profre make
For wel I wote she wylle not take
And gyue wylle she not also
She is escheweng of bothe two
And thus I trowe be the skylle
Towardes me▪ for she ne wylle
That cause I haue of hope
Nought as moche as a drope
But toward other / as I may see
She gyueth and taketh in suche degre
That as by the wey of frendelyhede
She can soo kepe hyr womanhede
That euery man speketh of hyr wele
But she wylle take of me no dele
And yet she wote wel that I wold
Gyue & doo bothe what I shold
To pl [...]se hyr in al my myght
By reson this wote euery wyght
For that may by no wey asterte
There she is mayster of the hert [...]
She must be mayster of the goode
For god wote wel / that al my mode
And al my good whyles I haue ouȝt
And al my herte & al my thought
As frely as god hath it me gyue
It shal be hirs whyles I lyue
Ryght as hyr lyst hyr selue commāde
So that it nedeth no demaunde
To aske of me yf I haue be scarse
To loue / for I to that parse
Wylle answere and sey no
My sone that is ryght wel doo
[Page]For of tyme  [...]  [...]rcenesse
It hath ben sene that fore the lesse
Is lost the more as thou shalt  [...]e [...]e
A tale lyke to this matere

Hic loquitur contra istos qui auaricia stricti largitans beneficium in amo ris causa confundunt / Et ponit exemplum qua [...]cer Croseus largu [...] et hilaris babionem auarum et tenacione de amore viole qui pulcherrima fuit / dono largissimus circumuenit

 [...] Carcenes & loue acord neuer
ffor euery thyng is wel yt leue [...]
When yt a mā hath bouȝt it dere
And for to speke in this matere
For sparyng of a lytel cost
Ful oftyme a man is lost
The large cote for the hode
What man that scarse is of his gode
And wylle not gyue he shall not take
With gyfte a man may vndertak [...]
The hyghe god to plese & queme
With gyft a man the world may deme
For euery creature y bore
If thou yeue hym is glad therfore
And euery gladship as I fynd [...]
Is comfort vnto loues kynde
And causes of man to sped [...]
So was he wise that first gaf me [...]
For mede kepeth loue in hows
But when the men ben couetou [...]
And space to gyue a parte
They knowe not of Cupides a [...]
For his fortune and his apryse
Deceyueth al couetyse
And hateth al negardry
And for to loke on this party [...]
A sooth ensample that it is s [...]
I fynde wryten of Babeo
That had a loue of his menage
There was no fayter of hyr age
And hyght vyota by name
The whiche ful of youthe & of game
Was of hyr seft large and fre
But suche another Chynche as  [...]e
Men wise not m al the londe
And had afaited to his honde
His seruaunt whiche Spodius
Was called / and in this wise thus
The worldes good of suffysaunce
Was had but lykyng & plesaun [...]
Of that that longeth to Ryc [...]esse
Of loue stood in grete dystresse
Soo that this yong lusty wyght
Of the thyng that felle to lou [...]s right
Was euer serued ouerall
That she was so begone with al
Tyl that Cupyde and  [...]oenus e [...]e
A medycyn for to seke
Ordeyne wold in this c [...]s
Ryght as fortune than was
Of loue vp [...]on the d [...]stene
It felle ryght as it shold b [...]
A fresshe a fre lusty man
That nought of auary [...] can
The whiche crocius by name hyght
And was lyberall al oute ryght
And ther as she was he cam in presence
She sawe hym large of his dispense
And amerous and glad of there
So that hyr lyked wel to here
The goodly wordes that he said
And therupon of loue he prayd
It was of loue al that he m [...]nt
And for that she shold to loue ass [...]
He gaf hyr gyftes euer among
But for men seyen that mede is strong
Hit was wel sene that same tyde
For as it shold of ryght  [...]etyde
This vpol [...] largesse bath take
And the negard she dyde forsake
Of bic [...]us she wyll no more
For he was gratchyng and euer more
[Page Cxix]There was with hym none other fare
But for to pynche & for to spare
Of worldes mukke to gete encrees
So goth the wretche loueles
Beiaped for his scarcyte
And he that large was and free
And set his herte to dispend
This Crocius his to we hath bende
The which Venus took him for to hold
And shot as oft as he wold
Loo thus departeth loue his al we
That what man wol not be felawe
To gyue & spend as I the telle
He is not worthy for to dwelle
In loues Courte to be releued
For thy my sone yf I be leued
Thou shalt be large of thy dispence
My fader in my conscyence
If there be ony thyng amys
I wylle amend it after this
Toward my loue namely
My sone wel & redyly
Thou saist so yt wel paid with al
I am / and ferthermore I shall
Vnto thy shryft specyfye
Of auary [...] the progenye
That vyce sueth after this
Thou shalt haue wonder how hit i [...]
Among the folk in many Regne
That suche a vyce myght regne
That is comune to alle assayes
As men may fynde now a dayes

Cuncta creatum deus / et qui cuncta c [...] [...]uit / Dampnant ingrati dicta (quam) facto viu / Non dolor a longe stat quo si [...]i t [...]is ami [...]am / Traxit et in fine deserit esse suam

Hic [...]quitur super illa aborta specie auaricie que ingratitudo dicta es [...] cuius cōdicioni non [...]lum creator / sed it cuncte creature abhominabilem detestantur

tHe vyce lyke vnto the fende
That neuer yet was mās frēde
And cleped is vnkyndeship
Of Couyne & of felauship
With auaryce he is witholde
And thynketh that he shold be bolde
Vnto the moder that hym bare
Of hym may neuer man be [...] are
He wol not haue the meryte
For that he wold not acquyte
That in this world is moche vsed
And fewe ben there excused
To telle of hym is endeles
And thus I saye neuertheles
Where as this vyce cometh to sonde
There taketh no mā his thōke o [...] hōde
Though he with al his myghtes serue
He shall of hem no thyng deserue
He taketh what ony man may gyue
But whyle he hath one day to lyue
He wylle nothyng reward ag [...]yne
He grutcheth to gyue ageyne
Where he hath a berne fulle
That maketh a kynde herte dulle
To sey his trust in suche frendship
There as he fyndeth no kyndeship
And for to speke wordes pleyne
Thus here I many a man compleyne
That now on dayes thou shalt fynde
At nede fewe frendes kynde
In what thou hast done for hem bifore
It is forgeten as it were lore
The bookes speken of this vyce
And tellen how that god of his Iustice
By wey of kynde & also of nature
And euery lyuynge creature
And the lawe also who that it can
[Page]They dampne an vnkynde man

Ars et natura Cristus sit omnia iura Dampnāt ingratum lamentantur fore natum

Hit is all one to s [...]y vnkynde
A [...]  [...]hynge that done is ageyne kynde
For it with kynde neuer stood
A man to yelde euylle for goode
For he that wold take hede
A beste is glad of a goood dede
And loueth that creature
After the lawe of his nature
The whiche doth hym ese & for to se [...]
Of this mater auctoryte
Ful oftyme it hath befalle
W [...]rof a tale among vs alle
The whiche of old  [...]samplary [...]
I thynke it for to specyfye

Hic narrat quod bestie in suis benefi [...]ns hominem ingratum naturaliter prece [...]unt▪ Et ponit Exemplum de a [...]no Rome senature qui in quadam for [...]sta venacionis insistens / dum predicta inseaucretur in cisternam profū [...] nestia familia cor [...]uit / vbi perueniēs auidam pauper nomine Bardus in [...]ssa cordula putans hominem extrax [...] primo Simeam extraxit / Secundo serpentem / Tercio Adrianum / qui paup [...]rem despiciens aliquid pro benefacto reddere recusabat. Sed tam serpens quā S [...]mea gratuita beniuolencia ipsum sin gulis d [...]nis sufficienter remnnerant

tO speke of an vnkynde man
I fynde how somtyme Adryan
Of rome that a grete lord was
 [...]pon a day as he per  [...]as
To the woode in his huntyng went
It happeth at a sodeyne went
After the chase as he pursueth
Thorugh happe that no man escheweth
He felle vnware in to a pyt
Where as it myght not be let
The pytte was depe & he felle lowe
That of his men none myght knowe
Where he bicame / for none was so nygh
That of his falle the meschyef syghe
And thus alone there he lay
Clepend and cryend all the day
For secoure & delyueraunce
Til ageyne eue it felle per chaunce
A whylo or it bicam to nyght
A poure man that Bardus hyght
Come forth walkend with his Asse
And had gadred hym a tasse
Of grene stykkes & of drye▪
To selle whome that wold hem bey [...]
As he that had no lyuelode
But when he myght suche a loode
To towne with his asshe carye
And as it felle hym for to tarye
That same tyme nyhe the pytte
And had his trusse fast knyt [...]
And herd a voyce that cryed dymme
And he his ere to the brymme
Hath leyd & herd it was a man
That seid O help Adryan
And I wylle geue al my good
The poure man this vnderstood
As he that wold gladly wyn
And to this lord that was within
He spak & said yf I the saue
What sikernes shalle I haue
Of couenaunt that afterward
Thow wilt me gyue suche reward
As thou behyghtest now beforne
That other hath his othe sworne
By heuen & by goddes alle
If that it myght so bifalle
That he hym oute of the pytt brought
Of all the goodes that he ought
He shal haue euen haluendele
This bardus seid he wold wele
[Page Cxx]And with this word his asse anon [...]
He did vntrusse & therupon
Doune goth the co [...]d in to the pyt
To the whiche he hath an ende knyt
A staf wherby he said he wold
That Adryan hym shold hold
But it was thenne per  [...]as fallen
In to that pytte was so fallen
An ape the whiche at that throwe
Whan that the rope doune cam lowe
And sodenly therto he skypte
And it in bothe his armes clypte
And bardus with his asse anon
Hym hath vpdrawen & is gone
But when he sawe it was an ape
He wend all had ben  [...] iape
Of fayry & sore hym dradde
And Adryan eftsones gradd [...]
For help & cryed fast
And he eftsones his cord cast
But whan it come vnto the grounde
A grete serpent it hath bewound [...]
The whiche bardus anon vp drough
And than hym thought wel ynough
Hit was but fanton b [...]t yet he herd
The voyce & therto he answerd
What arte thou in goddes name
I am quod Adryan the same
The whiche good thou shalt haue euen
half / Od bardus than a gods half
The thyrd tyme assay I shall
And caste his cord forth with all
In to the pytte / & when it came
To hym this lord of Rome it nam [...]
And therupon hym hath dressid
And with his hond ful ofte blessi [...]
And than he bad Bardus hale
And he that vnderstood his tale
Bitwene hym & his Asse al softe
Hath drawen & set hym vp a lofte
Without [...] harme all esyly
And he said not ones graunt mercy
But forth hym went to the Cyte
And lete this poure bardu [...] be
And neuertheles this symple m [...]
His couenaunt so as he ca [...]
Hath asked & ye other answerd & said
That yf so were yt he hym vp braide
Of ought that hath be spoken or done
It shall he wroken on hym soone
That hym were better to be dede
And he can none other rede
But on his asse ageyne he cast
His trusse & hyed hym homeward fast
And when that he cam home to bedde
He told his wyf how he spedde
But fynally to speke ought more
 [...]nto this lord dradde hym sore
So that one word he durst not sey [...]
And so vpon the morowe ageyne
In the maner as I recorde
Forth with his asse & with his cord
To gader woode as he did er
He goth / & when he cometh ther
 [...]nto the place where that he wold
He gan his ape anone behold
The whiche had gadred al aboute
Of stykkes here & there a rowte
And leyd hem redy to his hond
Wherof he made his t [...]isse & bonde
Fro day do day. & in this wyse
Thus profered he his seruyse
So that he had of woode ynough
And vpon a tyme as he drough
Toward the woode he sawe beside
The grete gastly serpent glyde
Til that she came to his presence
And in hir kynd a reuerence
She hath hym done & forth with all
A stone more bryght than a Castalle
Oute of hir mouthe in his way
She lete doune falle & went hir way
For that he shold not be adrad
Thenne was this poure bardus gladde
Than [...]end god & to the stone
He goeth & taketh it vp anone
And hath grete wonder in his wytte
How that the beest hym hath quytte
Where that the man hath failed
For whome he had moost trauayled
But all he put in goddes honde
And torn [...]d home & what he fond
[Page]  [...]nto his wyf he hath it shewde
And they that were bothe lewd [...]
A [...]den that he shold it selle
And he no l [...]nger wold dwelle
But forthe anone vpon the tale
The stone he profereth to the sale
And ryght as hym self he sette
The  [...]wler anone hym fette
The gold and made his payement
Therof was none delayement
Thus when this stone was boȝt & sold
Homeward with ioye many fold
This bardus goth. & when he came
Home to his hows and that he nam [...]
His gold oute of his purse within
He fond also his stone therin
Wherfor for ioye his hert playd
And to his wyf thus he said
 [...] here my gold / loo here my ston [...]
His wyf had wonder therupon
And asked hym how it myght be
Now by my trouthe quod he
But I dare swere vpon a book
That to my marchaunt I it took
And he it had when I went
So knowe I not to what entent
It is now here but thurgh gods grace
For thy to morow in other place
 [...] wyl assay it for to selle
And yf it wol not with hym dwelle
But  [...]pe in to my purse ageyne
Than dare I sauely swere & seyn [...]
 [...]t is the vertue of the stone
The morowe cam / & he is gone
To  [...] aboute in other stede
His stone to selle & so he dede
And left it with his chapman the [...]
But whan that he cam e [...]s where
In presence of his wyf at home
Oute of his p [...]rs anone he nome
His gold & fond his stone with a [...]
And thus it felle hym o [...]ral
Where he it sold in dyuerse place
Suche was the fortune & the grac [...]
But so wel maye no thyng b [...] hyd
That it ne is at the last kyd
This fame goth aboute Rome
 [...]o ferforth that the wordes come
To the Emperour Iustynyan
And he lete send for that man
And asked hym how that it was
And bardus told hym all the  [...]s
How that the serpent & eke the bes [...]
Al though they made none biheste
His trauaylle had wel quyt
But he that had a mannes wyt
And made his couenaunt by mouthe
And swore therto al that he couthe
To parte & gyue halue his good
Hath now forgeten how that it stood
As he that wold no trouthe holde
This Emperour al that he tolde
Hath herd & that vnkyndenesse
He seid he wold hym self redress [...]
And thus in Courte of Iugement
This Adryan was after sent
And the quarell in a [...]dyence
Declared was in his presence
Of the Emperour & many moo
Wherof was moche speche tho
And grete wōdryng among the p [...]s [...]
But at the last neuerthelese
For the party whiche hath pleyned
The lawe hath demed & ordeyned
By hem that were auysed webe
That he shall haue the haluendel [...]
Thorugh oute of Adryans good
And thus of that vnkynde blode
Stondeth the memorye vnto this day
Where thorugh yt euery wyse mā may
Ensamplyn hym & took in mynde
What shame it is to be vnkynde
Ageyne the whiche reson debateth
And euery creature it hateth
For thy my sone in thy offyce
I rede thou flee that ylke vyce
For right a [...] the Cronycle s [...]y [...]
How Adryan he his feyth
Forgate for worldes cou [...]fys [...]
Ful oft in suche a maner wys [...]
Of louers now a man may see
Ful many that vnkynd  [...]
[Page Cxxj]For wel to promyse & euyl to las [...]
That is here lyf for at the last
Whan that they haue hir  [...]ylle done
Hir loue is gone after soone
What saist thou soone to this  [...]as
My fader I wol saye allas
That euer was suche a man borne
That  [...]hen he hath his trouthe sworn [...]
And hath of loue what he wold
That he ony tyme shold
Euer in his berde after fynd [...]
To be fals or to be vnkynde
But fader as touchend of me
I may not stonde in that degre
For I took neuer of loue why
That I  [...]e may goo therby
And doo my profi [...]e els where
For ony spede I fynd there
I may wel thynk al about [...]
But I dare not speke it ou [...]
And yf I durst I wold pleyn [...]
That she for whome I suffre peyn [...]
And loue euer hyr y lyche hot [...]
That nother gyft nother byhote
In rewardyng of my seruyce
Hit lyst hyr in no maner wyse
I wylle not sey that she is kynde
And for to seye that she is vnkynde
That dare I not but god aboue
The whiche demeth e [...]ry herte of loue
He wote that on myn owne side
Shall not vnkyndenes abyde
If that I shall with my lady dwell [...]
Therof dare I no more telle
Now good fader as it is
Telle me what ye thenke of this
My sone of that vnkyndeship
The whiche toward thy ladyship
Thou pleynest for she wyll the nought
Thou arte to blame in that thought
For it may be that thy desyre
Though it brenne euer as doth the fir [...]
 [...]r  [...]as to hir honoure mysset
Or els tyme cometh not yet
The whiche stondeth vpon thy destyne
For thy my sone I rede the
Thynke wel what euer the bifalle
For no man hath his lustes alle
But as thou toldest me biforne
That thou to loue art not forsworn
And hast do no vnkyndenysse
Thou myght therof thy grace blysse
And leue not for thy contenannce
Forther may be no suche g [...]uaunce
To loue as it is vnkyndeship
Wherfore to kepe thy worship
So as the olde bokes tale
I shalle the telle a  [...]dy tale
Now her [...]en & be wel ware therby
For I wyl  [...] it openly

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos [...]i [...]os amo [...] ingratoe. Et narrat qualiter Theseus cadani filius consilio suffultus Adriane Regis Mynos filie in domo qd [...]a [...]orinthus dicitur Minotaurum vincit / vnde Theseus Adriane sponsalia certissime p [...]omittens ipsam vna cum fedra sorore sua a Creta secum nauigio duxit / S [...]d statim postea oblito gratitudinis beneficio Adrianam ipsum saluantem in insula chion spretam post tergum reliquit. & fedrā A the nis sibi sponsatam ingratis coronauit

in Ynos as telleth the poete
The wiche was sōtyme kynge of Crete / A sone he had & an­droche / He hyght and so befell [...] that he
 [...]nto Athenis for to  [...]ere
Was sent / & so he bare hym there
For that he was of his lygnage
Suche pryde he tooke in his courage
That  [...] forgeten hath the scoles
And in ryote among fooles
[Page]He dyd many thynges wrong
And vsed that lyf so long
Til at the last of that be wrought
He fond the meschyef yt whiche he souȝt
Where thorugh he felle yt he was slayn
His fader the whiche it herd sayn
Was wrothe / & all that euer he myght
Of men of armes he hym dyght
A strong power & forth he went
Vnto Athenis where he brent
The pleyne countre al about
The Cytees stode of hym in doute
As they no defence hadde
Ageyne the power that he ladde
Egeus that was there kyng
His coūceylle took vppon this thynge
For he was than in the Cyte
Soo that of pees in to trete
Bitwene mynos and Egeus
They fele & ben acorded thus
That kyng mynos fro yere to yere
Receyue shal as thou shalt here
Oute of Athenys for truage
Of men that were of myghty age
Persones nyne. of whiche he shall
His wyll doo in special
For vengeaunce of his sonnes deth
None other grace there ne geth
But for to take the Iuyse
And for that was done in suche a wyse
The whiche stood in a wonder ca as
For that tyme so it was
Wherof that men yet rede and synge
Kyng mynos had in his kepyng
A cruel monstre as seith the geste
For he was half man & half beeste
And mynotaurus he was hote
The whiche was bigoten in a ryote
Vppon Phasyfe his owne wyf
Whiles he was oute vpon the strif
Of that greete syege of Troye
But she that lost hath al ioye
When that she sawe this moustre bore
Bad men ordeyne another fore
And it felle that same tyme thus
There was a Clerk one Dedalus
That had ben of hir assent
Of that hir world hath myswent
As he that made of his owne wyt
Wherof the remembraunce is yet
For mynotaure suche a hows
That was so strong & merueylous
That what man within went
There was soo many a dyuerse went
That he ne shall come oute
But go amasyd al aboute
And in this hows to loke & warde
Was mynotaurus put in warde
That what lyf that therm cam
Man or beest he ouercam
And slewe and fedde hym therupon
And in this wise many one
Of Athenys for truage
Deuoured were in that rage
For euery yere they shopen hem so
They of Athenys or they go
Toward thylke woful channce
As it was set in ordynaunce
Vpon fortune her lot they caste
Til that Theseus at the last
The whiche was ye kynges sonne there
Amonges other that there were
In that there as it be felle
The lot vppon his chaunce felle
He was a knyght worthy with al
And whan he sawe his chaunce falle
He ferd as though he took no hede
But al that euer he myght spede
With hym & with his felauship
Forth in to grece he goth by ship
Where that the kyng mynos he sought
And profereth al that hym is ought
Vpon the poynt of hir acorde
This sterne kyng / this cruel lorde
Toke euery day one of the nyne
And put hym in to disciplyne
Of mynotaure to be deuoured
But Theseus was so fauoured
That he was kepte till at the last
And the mene whyle he cast
What mene thyng hym were best to do
And felle that Adryane tho
[Page Cxxij]The whiche was the douȝter of mynos
And had herd the worthy los
Of Theseus and of his myght
And sawe that he was a lusty knyght
For hole herte on hym she layd
And he that also of loue hir prayd
So ferforth that they were alone
And ordeyned that anone
In what maner he shold hym saue
And shope so that she dyd hym haue
A clewe of threde the wiche withynne
Fyrst at-the dore he shal begynne
And when he wold ageyn ward wende
With hym to take that one ende
He  [...]t go the same wey
And ouer this so as I sey
Of speche she tooke hym a pelot
The whiche he shold in to the throte
Of mynotaure cast ryght
Suche wepen also for hym she dyght
That he by reson may not fayle
To make an ende of his batayle
For she hym taught in dyuerse wyse
Tyl he was cōnyng of that enpryse
How he this best shold kylle
And thus shortely for to telle
So as this mayden hym had taught
Theseus with his monstre faught
And smote of his hede ye which he nam
And by the thred so as he cam
He gothe ageyne til he were oute
Than was grete wonder al aboute
Mynos the tribute hath rebeced
And so the werre was al seced
Bitwene Athenis & hem of Crete
But now to speke of that swete
The whos beaute was withoute wane
This fayre mayden Adryane
When she saw Theseus sounde
Was neuer yet vppon this grounde
A gladder wyght than she was tho
Theseus dwellyd a day or two
With this mayden spak & rowned
That she to hym was abandouned
In all that euer she couthe
So that of hyr lusty youthe
Al pryuely bytwene hem twey
The first floure he took awey
For he so fayre hyr than behyght
That euer whyle he lyue myght
He shold hyr take for his wyf
And as his owne hertes lyf
He shold hyr loue & trouthe hyr bere
And she that myght not forbere
So sore loueth hym ageyne
That what as euer he wold seyne
With al hir hert she it leuyth
And thus his purpoos he acheuyth
So that assured of his trouthe
With hym she went & that was routhe
Fedra hir yong suster eke
A lusty mayden sobre and meke
Fulfilled of al curtosye
For susterhode and companye
Of loue / the whiche was hem bytwene
To see hir suster be made a quene
Hir fader lefte & forth she went
With hym that al his first entent
Forgate within a litel throwe
So that it was al ouerthrowe
When that she wend that it shold stonde
The ship was blowen fro the londe
Wherin they lay sailend there
This Adryan had mochel fere
Of that the wyndo so lowde blewe
As she that of the see ne knewe
And praid for to reste a whyle
And so felle that vpoon an yle
That this nyght they ben dreue
Where he to hyr leue hath yeue
And she shall londe & take hir rest
But that was nothyng for hir best
For when she was to londe brought
The whiche at yt tyme thought nouȝt
But al trouthe & took no kepe
Hath layd hir doune to slepe
As she that long hath ben forwatched
But certes she was euyl matched
And fer from all loues kynde
For more than the best vnkynde
Theseus the whiche no trouthe kept
While that this yonge lady slept
[Page]Fulfylled of his vnkyndeship
Hath forgeten al godeshyp
The whiche Adryan had hym done
And he bad the shypmen soone
Hale vp the saile & not abyde
But forth he gothe the same tyde
Toward Athenys & there on londe
He left his lady in the stronde
Slepend til that she awoke
But whan that she cast vp hyf loke
Toward the stronde and saw no wyȝt
Hyr herte than was sore aflyght
That she ne wyst what to thynke
But drowe hyr to the water bryncke
Where so she biheld the see at large
She sawe no ship / she sawe no barge
As ferforth as she myght kenne
O lord she said suche a synne
As al the world shal after here
Vppon this woful woman here
This worthy knyȝt hath done & wroȝt
I wend I had his loue bought
And so deserued at nede
When that he stode vppon his drede
And also the loue he me behyght
It is grete wondre how he myght
Towardes me now be vnkynde
And soo to lete out of his mynde
Thyng that he said his owne mouthe
But after this whan it is couthe
And drawen to the worldes fame
It shalle be hynderyng for his name
For wel he wote and soo wote I
He gaf his trouth bodyly
That he my honoure shold kepe
And with that word she gan wepe
And sorowed more than ynough
Hyr fair tresses she to drough
And with hyr self she took suche a strif
And she bitwene the deth & the lyf
Swounend lay ful oft among
And all was this on hym long
The whiche was to loue vnkynd so
Wherof the wrong shall euermo
Stonde in Cronycle of remembraunce
And also it asketh a vengeaunce
To be vnkynde in loues cas
So as theseus than was
Al though he were a noble knyght
For he the lawe of loues ryght
Forfeyted hath for alwey
That Adryane he putt awey
The whiche was a grece vnkynde dede
And after that so as I rede
Fedra the which her suster is
He took in stede of hyr and this
Fel afterward to mekel tene
For that vyce of whiche I mene
Vnkyndeship whore it falleth
The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth
That he can no good dede acquyte
So may he stonde of no meryte
Towardes god and also
Men calle hym the worldes soo
For he no more than the fende
Vnto another mannes frende
But al toward hym self alone
For thy my sone in thy persone
This vyce aboue all other flee
My fader as ye teche me
I thynk to doo in this matere
But ouer this I wold fayn here
Wherof I shal me shryue more
My good sonne and for thy lore
After the reule of couetyse
I shalle the propyrte deuyse
Of euery vyce by & by
Now herken & be wel ware thervp

Viribus ex clara res tollit luce rapina / Floris et iuncta virgine mella ca pit

Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Rapina nuncupatur / cuius mater extorcio ipsam ad deseruiendum magnatum curijs specialius commendauit /

[Page Cxxiij]
I  [...] the lygnage of Audry [...]
My sone yet there is a vyce
His ryght name is Rauyne
The whiche hath a route of his couyne
Rauyne among the maystres dwelleth
And with his seruaūtes as men telleth
Extorcion is now witholde
Rauyne of other mennes folde
Maketh his lord & payeth nought
For where as euer it may be sought
In his hows ther shall no thyng lack
And that ful ofte abyeth the pack
Of poure men that dwellen aboute
Thus stōdeth the comyn peple in doute
The whiche can doo none amendement
For whan hym fayleth payment
Rauyne maketh none other skyle
But taketh by strengthe what he will
So ben other in the same wyse
Louers as I shal deuyse
That whan not els may auayle
Anone with strengthe they assayle
And gete of loue the sesyne
When they see the tyme by Rauyne
Of loue / Certes fader no
For I my lady loue soo
For though I were as was Pompey
That al the world me wold obey
Or els suche as Alisandre
I wold not do suche a sclaundre
He is no good man that soo doth
In good feyth sone thou seyst sooth
For he that wol of purueannce
By suche a weye his lust auaunce
He shal it after sore abye
But yf these old examples lye
Now good fader telle me one
So as they conne many one
Touchend of loue in this matere
Now lysten my sone / & thou shalt here
So as it hath befallen or this
In loues cause how that it is
A man to take the Rauyne
The pray the whiche is femenyne

Hic ponit Exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores / Et narrat qualiter Pandyon Rex Athenensis du as filias progne autē Regi Tracie terres desponsata contigit quod cum Tereus ad instanciam vxoris sue Philomenam de Athenis in Traciam sorore visitacionis causa secum quadam vice perduceret in concupiscenciā Philoment tanta seueritate in Itinere dilapsus est quod non solum ipse violencia sue rapine virginitatē oppressit / sed et ipsiue linguam non factum detegeret forpice intulauit / vnde imperpetue memorie cro nicam tanti raptoris postea vindicarūt

tHer was a ryal noble kyng
A ryche of al worldes thyng
The whiche of his propre enherytāce
Athenis had in gouernaunce
And who so thynketh therupon
His name was kyng Pandyon
Two doughters had he by his wyf
The whiche he loued as his lyf
The first doughter proygne hyght
The second as she wel myght
Was called faire philomene
To whom felle after moche tene
The fader of his purueaunce
His doughter Proygne wold auance
And gaf hir vnto maryage
A worthy kyng of his lygnage
A noble knyght also of his honde
So was he kyd in euery lond
Of Trace he hyght Thereus
The Clerk Ouyde telleth thus
This thereus his wyfe home ladde
A lusty lyf with hir he hadde
Till it be felle vppon a tyde
This Proygne as she lay hym besyde
Bethought hyr how that it myght be
That she hir suster myght see
And to hyr lord hir wylle she said
[Page]With goodly wordes & hym praid
That she to hyr myghe goo
And yf it lyked hym not so
That than he wold hym self wende
Or els by somme other sende
The whiche myght hir d [...]re sufter grete
And shape how they myght mete
Hir lord anone to that he herd
Gaue his acord / & thus answerd
I wille he said for youre sake
The wey after youre suster take
My self and bryng hir yf I may
And she with that there as she lay
 [...]igan hym in hir armes to clyppe
And kyssed hym with hyr softe lyppe
And said syre graunt mercy
And he sone after was redy
And tooke his leue for to go
In sory tyme dyd he soo
This thereus goth forth to shippe
And with hym his felaushippe
By see the right cours he nam
In to the Countrey til he cam
Where Philomene was dwellyng
And of hyr suster the tydyng
He told & than they were glade
And mochel ioye of hym they made
The fader and the moder bothe
To leue hir doughter they were lothe
But yf they were in presence
And neuertheles at the reuerence
Of hym that wolde hym self trauaile
They wold not that he shold faile
Of that he praid to gyue hir leue
And she that wold not behynde leue
In al hast made hir  [...]are
Toward hir suster for to fare
With Thereus and forth she went
And be with his hole entent
When she fro hir frendes is gone
So sottith hym on hyr loue anone
That his eyen myght he not witho [...]
That he ne must on hyr behold
And with the sight he gan desyre
And set his owne herte a fyre
And fire when it to towe approchet [...]
To hym anone the strengthe  [...]rocheth
Till with his hete it be deuoured
The towe ne may be succoured
And so that Tiraunt rauener
When that she was in his power
And he therto sawe tyme and space
And he that lose hath al grace
Forgate he was a wedded man
And in a rage on hir he ran
Ryght as a wolf that taketh his pray
And she bygan to  [...]ye & pray
O my fader and moder dere
Now help. but they ne myght it here
And she was of to lytel myght
Defence ageyne so rude a knyght  [...]
To make when he was so woode
That he no reson vnderstoode
But helde hir vnder in suche a wyse
That she myght not arise
But say oppressid and dysesed
And yf a Goushauke had seysed
A byrd the whiche durst not for f [...]
Remeue / and thus this Tiraunt the [...]
By [...]aft suche thyng as men seyn
May neuer more be yolden ageyn
And that was the Vyrgyny [...]
Of suche  [...]auyn was py [...]
But when she to her self came
And of meschyef hede name
And knewe how that she was no maid
With woful herte thus she said
O thou of al men the werse
Where was there euer man that ders [...]
Doo suche a dede as thou hast do
That day shall falle I hope soo
That I shalle telle oute my fylle
And with my speche I shall fulfille
The wyde world in  [...]rede and lengthe
That thou hast done to me with str [...]gth
And yf that I among the peple dwelle
Vnto the peple I shall it telle
And yf I be with in walle
Of stones closed than I shalle
Vnto the stones clepe and  [...]y [...]
And telle hem al the felonye
And yf I to the wodes wende
[Page Cxxiiij]There shalle I  [...]le  [...]ll [...] a [...] en [...]
And crye it to the byrdes oute
That they shall here it al aboute
For I so lowde shall reherse
That my voyce shall the heuen perce
That it shalle sowne in goddes er [...]
O fals man where is thy fere
O more  [...]uel than ony beest
How shalt thou hold thy byheste
The whiche thou vnto my suster mades [...]
O thou that al loue vngladese
And arte ensample of al vntrewe
Now wold god my suster knewe
Of thyn vntrouthe how that it stood
And he than as a lyon wode
With his vnhappy hondes stronge
He caught her by the tresses longe
With the whiche he bond hir armes
That was a feble dede of armes
And to the grounde anone hyr case
And oute he clyppeth also fase
Hir tong with a payre of sheres
So yt what with blode & what with  [...]e­res /
Oute of hir eyen & of hir mouthe
He made hir fayr fa [...]e vncouthe
She lay swownyng vnto the deth
There was vnnethe ony birth
But yet when he hir tong reft
A lytel parte yet he left
But she no word with al may sowne
But chi [...]e & as a bird iargowne
And neuertheles that woode hounde
Hyr body hent vp fro thr ground
And put her in a towre strong
Where that for right or for wronge
He pur [...]osed that for alway
She shold abyde to hir deyng day
But neuertheles now taketh h [...]d [...]
What after felle of this mysdede
When al this meschyef was befalle
This Thereus that fowle hym befalle
When he was comen his palays ner [...]
His wyf anon with mylde chere
With al reuerēce honourably hym kept
And when he hit sawe / anon he wept
And that he did for dissey [...]
For she bigan to oske streyte
Where is my suster / & he said
That she was dede &  (quam)  [...]igue ab [...]id
As she that was a woful wyf
And stood bitwene hir deth & lyf
By cause she herd this tydyng
But for she sawe hir lord wepyng
She wende not but al trouthe
And had wel the more routhe
The perles were than forsaken
To hir & black clothes taken
As she that was gentil & kyn [...]e
In worship of hir susters mynde
She made a ryche entyerement
For she found none amendement
To syghe sobbe or sorowe more
So was there gyle vnder the gore
Now leue we this kyng & quene
And torne we ageyne to philomene
As I bigan to telle erste
When she cam to pryson ferst
It thought a kyngis donghtet straūge
To make so sodeyne a chaunge
Fro welthe vnto so grete a wo
And she began to thynk tho
Though she by mouthe no thyng praid
Within hir herte thus she said
O thou almyghty Iubyter
That bye sittest & lokest fer
Thou suffrest many a wrongful doyng
And yet it is not thy wyllyng
To the there may no thyng be hid
Thou knowest how it is betid
I wold I had not ben borne
For than I had not forlorn
My speche and my vyrgynyte
But good lord all is in the
Whan thou therof wil do no vengeāce
And shape my delyueraunce
And euer among this lady wept
And thought that she neuer kept
To be a worldes woman more
And that she wysshed euermore
But of [...] vnto her sufter dere
Hir her [...] speketh on this manere
And said O suster & ye knewe
[Page]Of myn estate ye wold rewe
I trowe and my delyueraunce
Ye wold shap and d [...]o vengeaun [...]
On hym that is so fals a man
And neuertheles so as I can
I wpf you send somme tokenyng
Wherof ye shal haue som know bechyng
Of thyng I wote shal yow lothe
The whiche you toucheth & me lothe
And than within a whyle as T [...]
She wafe a clothe of sylke al whyte
With letters and ymagery
In the whiche was al the foly
That T [...]r [...]us to hir had done
And lopped it to gedre sone
And set hir signet therupon
And sent it to proygne anon
The messager that forth it bare
What it amounted was not ware
And neuertheles to proygne he goth
And pryuely taketh hir the clothe
And went ageyne ryght as he cam
The Courte of hym no herde nam
When Proygne of Philomene herd
She wold knowe how it ford
And opened that the man had brouȝt
And wo [...] ther by what hath be wrouȝt
And what meschyef there is befalle
In swoune she gan doune falle
And efte aroos and gan to stonde
And efte she taketh the clothe on hond
And by [...]ld the letters & the ymages
But at the last oute of suche outrages
She said to wepe is no bote
And swereth yf that she leue mote
It shall be ven [...]ed otherwise
And with that she gan hir auyse
How fyrst she myght vnto hyr wyn
Hir suster that no man with [...]
But only they that were swore
It shold knowe & shope therfore
That Thereus no thyng it wyst
And yet ryght as hir seluen lyst
Hir suster was delyuerd soone
Oute of the pryson & by the mone
To Proigne she was brouȝt by nyght
And when  [...]he of other had a syght
In Chambre there they were alone
They made many a pit [...]us mone
But Proigne most of sorowe made
The whiche sawe hir suster pale & fade
And specheles and dishonoured
Of that she had ben de [...]oured
And also vpon hir lord she thought
Of that he so vntruely wrought
And had his spousede broken
She made a vowe / it shold be wroken
And with that word she kneled doune
Wepyng in grete deuocion
Vnto Cupide and Venus
She praid and than said thus
O ye to whome no thynge asterde
Of loue may for euery herte
Ye knowe as ye that ben aboue
The god and the goddesse of loue
Ye wyte wel that euer yet
With all my wylle and al my wyt
Sith first ye shope me to wedde
That I lay with my lord in bedde
I haue ben trewe in my degre
And euer thought for to be
And neuer to loue in other place
But al only the kyng of Trace
The whiche is my lord & I his wyf
But now allas this woful strif
That I hym thus ageynward fynde
The most vntre we & the most vnkynde
That euer in lady armes lay
And well I wote that ne may
Amend it▪ his wrong is so grete
For ful lytel of me he lete
When he myne owne suster tooke
And me that am his wyf forsoke
Loo thus to Venus and Cupyde
She praid / & ferthermore she cryde
Vnto A [...]ollo the hyhest
And said O myghty god of rest
Thou doo vengeaunce on this debate
My suster and al hir estate
Thou knowest▪ & how she hath forlore
Hyr mandenhede / and I therfore
In al the world shall here a blame
[Page Cxxv]Of that my suster hath a shame
That Thereus to hir I sent
That wel thou knowest that myn entēt
Was al for worshyp and for good
O lord that geuest lyues fode
To euery wyght I pray the here
The woful susters that ben here
And late vs not to the be lothe
We ben thyn owne women lothe
Thus playneth proigne & asketh wre­che /
And though hir suster tack speche
To hym that al thyng wote
Hir sorowe is not the lesse hote
But he that than herd hem two
Hym ought to haue sorowed euermo
For sorowe that was hem bitwene
With signes pleyneth philomene
And Proigne seith she shall it wreke
That all the world therof shall speke
And Proigne than sykenes feyned
Wherof vnto hir lord she pleyned
And praid she myght hir chambre kepe
And as hir lysteth wake or slepe
And he hir graunted to be so
And thus to gedre be they two
That wold hym but a lytell good
Now herken herafter how it stood
O woful auentures that be felle
These susters that ben bothe felle
And that was not on hem alonge
But only on the grete wronge
The whiche Thereus had hem done
They purpose to venge hem soone
This Thereus by proigne his wyf
A sone had that as his lyf
Beloued / and this he hyght
And his moder wyst wel she myght
Do T [...]reus no more greue
Than slee his child that was so leue
Thus she yt was as who said madde
Of wo / the whiche hath her ouerladde
Withoute insight of moderhede
Forgate pyte & lost drede
And in hir chambre pryuely
That child withoute noyse or cry
She slewe & hewe hym al to peces
And after with dyuerse spyeces
The flesshe when it was hewe
She taketh & made therof a sewe
And the fader at his mete
She serued & he gan hym ete
That he ne wist how it stood
But thus his owne flesshe & blood
Hym self deuoured ageyne kynde
To hym that was to fore vnkynde
And than or that he can vp ryse
For that his herte shold agryse
To shewe hym his child was dede
This Philomene took vp the hede
Bitwene two disshes and al wrothe
So cam forth the susters bothe
And setten it on the borde
And proigne than began the word
And said O werst of all wykke
Of conseyence whome no prykke
May stere / loo what thou hast doo
Lo here ben now we susters two
O Rauener loo here thy praye
With whome so falsely on the way
Thou hast thy Tirannye wrought
Lo now it is somdele bought
And better it shall for thy dede
The world shall euer synge & rede
In remembraunce of thy defame
For thou to loue hast done suche shame
That it shall neuer be forgete
With that he sterte vp fro the mete
And shoue the boord in to the flore
And caught a swerd anone & swore
That they shold of his hondes deye
And they vnto the goddes crye
Bigan with so lowde a steuene
That they were herd vp to heuene
And in the twynkelyng of an eye
The goddes that the meschyef seye
Here formes chaunged al thre
Eche of hem in his degre
Was torned in to a birdes kynde
Delyuerly as men may fynde
After the seate that they were ynne
Her formes were set a twynne
And as it telleth in the tale
[Page]The first in to a nyghtingale
Was shapen & that was Philomene
The whiche in the wynter is not sene
For than be the leues falle
And naked  [...]en the busshes alle
For after that she was a byrde
Hir wylle was euer to be hyd
And for to dwelle in pryue place
T [...]t noman shold see hir face
For shame that myght not be lassid
Of thyng that was before passid
Whan that she lost hir maydenhede
For euer vpon hir womanhede
Though that the gods wold hir chāge
She thynketh / & is the more straunge
And holdeth hir cloos the wynter day
But whan the wynter goth awey
And that nature the goddesse
Wylle of hir owne fre largesse
With herbis & with floures bothe
Tse feldis & the medowes clothe
Also the woodes & the greues
Ben hylled all with grene leues
So that a byrd hir hyde may
Bitwene mars Apryl & may
S [...]e that the wynter held cloos
For pure shame & not aroos
Whan that she sawe the bowes thyck
And that there is no bare styck
But  [...] is hyd with leuys grene
To wode cometh this Philomene
And maketh hir playnte nyght & day
Say [...]ng as euery man here may
O why ne were I yet a mayde
For soo this old wyse said
The whiche vnderstoode what she ment
Hir notes ben of suche entent
And eke they said how in her songe
She maketh grete ioye & myrthe amōg
And said now I am a bird
And now my face may be hyd
Though I haue lost my maydenhede
Shal no man see my chekes rede
Thus medleth she with ioye wo
And with hir sorowe myrthe also
Soo that of loues maladye
She maketh dynerse melo [...]ye
And said loue is a woful blysse
A wysdom that can no man wysse
A lusty feuer a wounde soft
This note she reherceth ofte
To hem that vnderstond her tale
Now haue I of this nyghtyngale
The whiche erst was cleped Philomene
Told al that euer she wold mene
Bothe of hir forme & of hir note
Wherof men may the story note
And of hir suster Proigne I fynde
How she was torned oute of kynde
In to a swalowe swyft of wynge
That also in wynter lyeth sowyng
There as she may no thyng be sene
But when the world is woxen grene
And comen is the somer tyde
Then flyeth she forth & begyn to chyde
And chatereth oute in hir langage
What falshede is in maryage
And telleth in a maner speche
Of termes the spouse breche
She wol not in woodes dwelle
For she wold openly telle
And also for that she was a spouse
Amōg the folkes she cometh in howse
To doo these wyues vnderstonde
The falshede of hir husbonde
That they be ware of hem also
For there be many vntrewe of tho
Thus ben these susters byrdes asthe
And ben to ward the men so lothe
That they ne wylle for pure shame
To no mans honde be tame
For euer it dwelleth in hir mynde
Of that they fond a man vnkynde
And that was fals Thereus
If suche one be among vs
A note but his condycyon
Men saye in euery Regyon
Within to wne & eke withoute
Now regneth comonly aboute
And namely in remembraunce
I wyll declare what vengeaunce
[Page Cxxvj]The goddes had hym ordeyned
Of that the susters had pleyned
For anoue he was chaunged
And from his owne kynde straunged
A lapwenche made he was
And thus he hoppeth on the gras
And on his hede stondeth vp ryght
A crest in token he was a knyght
And yet vnto this day men seith
The lapwenche hath lost his feyth
And is the byrd ful [...]est of alle

Confessor

Be ware my sone or that ye so falle
For yf thou  [...] of suche couyne
To gete of loue the Rauyne
Thy lust it may falle the thus
As it befelle of Thereus

Amans

My fader god forbede
Me were leuer be fortrede
With wyld horses & to drawe
Er I ageyne loue & his lawe
Dyd ony thyng or lowde or stylle
The whiche were not my ladyes wylle
Men seyen that euery loue hath drede
So foloweth it that I hir drede
For I hir loue / & who so dredeth
To plese his loue & serue hym nedeth
Thus maye ye knowe by what skylle
That no rauyn doo I wyll
Ageyne hir wylle by suche a weye
But whyle I lyue I wylle obeye
Abydynge on hir curtosye
If ony mercy wold hyr ply [...]
For thy my fader as of this
I wote not that I haue doo amys
But ferthermore I shalle byseche
Thou that som other poynt ye me teche
And asketh forth yf there be ought
That I may be the better taught

[...]iu [...]t vt ex spolijs grandi quam sepe tumultum / Quo graditur p [...]pul [...]s latro perurget iter / Sic amor ex [...] su poterit quo carpere predam / Si locus est aptus cetera multa timet

Hic loquitur super cupiditatis specie. quam furtum vocant / cuius ministri alicuius legis offensam non metutes tam in amoris causa quā ali [...]r saam quam sepe conscienciam offendunt /

WHan Couetyse in poure estate
Stondeth with hym self vpon debate / 
Thurgh lack of mysgouernaunce /
That he vnto his sustenaūce
Ne can none other wey fynde
To gete hym good than as the blynde
The whiche seeth not what shalle after
falle / That ylke vyce / yt which mē calle
Of Robbery he taketh on honde
Where thorugh the water & the londe
Of thyng that other men forswynke
He geteth hym clothe mete & drynke
Hym retcheth not what to do he begyn
Though theft soo that he may wyn
For thy to make his purchaas
He lyeth waytyng on the paas
And what thyng yt he seeth ther passe
He taketh his paas more & lasse
If it be ought worth for to take
He can the pakkes wel rensake
So pryncly bereth none about
His gold ne be it fyndeth oute
Or other  [...]ewel what it be
He taketh it as his propyrte
In wodes & in feldes eke
Thus Robbery goth to seke
Where as he may / his purpoos fynde
And right so in the same kynde
My good sone as thou myght here
To speke of loue in this matere
And make a veray resemblaunce
Right as a thefe maketh his cheuesāce
[Page]And robbeth mennes goodes aboute
In woode in feld where he goth oute
So ben there of these louers some
In wylde stedes where they come
And fynd there a woman able
And therto space couenable
Withoute let or that they fare
They take a parte of that chaffare
Ye though she were a shepeherdesse
Yet wold the lord of wantonnesse
Assay all though he be v [...]mete
For other mennes good is swe [...] ▪
But therof wote nothyng the wyf
At f [...]me / the whiche loueth as hir lyf
Hir lord and sytteth alwey wysshyug
After hir lordes home comyng
But whan he cometh home at eue
Anone he maketh his wyf to leue
For she not els shold knowe
He telleth hir how his hūte gan blowe
And how his houndes haue wel ronne
And how there shone a mery sonne
And how his hawkes flowen wele
But  [...]e wold telle hir neuer a dele
How  [...]e to loue vntrewe was
Of that  [...]e robbed in the pas
And tooke his lust vnder the shawe
Ageyne loue & ageyne his lawe
The which thyng my sene I the forbede
For it i [...] an vngoodly dede
For who that taketh by Robberye
His loue  [...]e may not  [...]ustyfye
His cause & so ful oft sythe
For onye that he hath ben blythe
He shall be after sory thryes
Examples for suche robberyes
I fynde wryten as thou shalt here
Acordynge vnto this matere

Hic loquitur contra istos in amō [...]s causa predones / qui cum suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant / fortuna in contra [...]ū operatur / Et narrat quod cum Neptunus quandam virginem no mine Cornicem solam inxta more deā bulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset / superueniens pallas ipsam de manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius l [...] bera [...]it

I Rede how whilome w [...]s a m [...]id
The fairest as Ouyde said
That was in hir tyme tho
And she was of the chambre also
Of  [...]allas that is the goddesse
Wyfe to mars / of whome the prowesse
Is gyuen to these worthy knyghtes
For he is of so grete myghtes
That he gouerneth the bataile
Withoute hym may not auayle
The strong honde but he it helpe
There maye no knyght of armes yelpe
But he fyght vnder his banere
But now to speke of my matere
This faire fresshe lusty may
Alone as she went on a day
Vpon the stronde for to play
There cam Neptunus in the way
The whiche hath the see in gouernaūce
And in his herte suche plesaunce
He tooke when he this maiden sygh
That all his hert aroos on hyghe
For he so sodenly vnware
Beheld the beaute that she bare
And cast anone in his herte
That she shall hym no wey asterte
But yf he take in auauntage
From that mayden some  [...]l [...]ge
Not of no broches ne of no thynges
But of somme other smale thynges
He thought to haue parte or yt she wēt
And hir in bothe his armes hent
And put his hond toward the Cofre
Wherfor to robbe he made a profere
That lusty tresour for to stele
The whiche passeth other goodes fe [...]
[Page Cxxvij]That called is the may [...]enhede
The which is the floure of womanhede
This mayde that C [...]nyx by name
Was cleped dredyng al shame
Sawe that she myght not debate
And wel she wyst he wold algate
Fulfylle his lust of Robberye
Anone began to wepe & crye [...]
And said O pallas noble quene
Shewe now thy myght & late be sent
To kepe and saue myn honoure
Help that I lese not my floure
The whiche now vnder key is loken
That worde was not so soone spoken
When pallas shope recouyre
After the wylle & the desyre
Of hir the whiche a mayden w [...]s
And sodenly vpon this cas
Oute of hir womans kynde
In to a byrdes lykenes I fynde
She was transformed forth with all
So that Neptunus no thyng stall
Of thyng that he wold haue stole
With federes black as ony cole
Oute of his armes in a throwe
She flewe before his eyen a crowe
The whiche was to hir more delyte
To kepe hir maydenhede whyte
Vnder the wede of fethers blake
Than in perlys whyte to forsake
That no lyf may restore ageyne
But thus Neptune his hert in veyn
Hath vppon robbery set
The byrd was flowen & he was let
The fayr mayde is fro hym scaped
So that for euer le was  [...]ei [...]ed
And sco [...]d of that  [...]e hath  [...]ore
My sone  [...]e thou ware therfore
That thou no maydenhede stele
Wherof men see dyseses fele
Al day befalle in dyuerse wyse
So as I shal the yet deuyse
Another tale therupon
That felle by old  [...]yes gone

Hic ponit ex [...]plū cōtra istos in causa virginitatis lese predonis et narrat qd cum Calistona Regis Lichoantis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem D [...]ane conseruare castissima [...] voluisset. Et in s [...]luam que tegea dicitur inter alias [...]hidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulit▪ [...]ubiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens quendam filium qui postea Archas nominatus ē ex ea genuit / vnde Iuno in Calistonā semel eius pulcritudinem in vrse tur pissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit

KYn [...] Lychaon vpon his wyf
A doughter had a goodely lif
And cleue mayden of worthy fame / 
Calystona whoos right name
Was cleped & of many a lorde
She was besought / but hyr acorde
To loue myght no man wyn
As she that had no lust therin
But swore in hyr herte & said
That she wold euer be a maid
Wherfor to kepe hir self & pees
With suche as amadryades
Were clexed were maydens tho
And with the Nymp [...]es eke also▪
Vpon the spryng of fresshe welles
She shope to dwelle & nowhere ell [...]
And thus cam this Calistona
In to the wode to Tegea
Where she vyrgynyte behyght
Vnto Dyane & therto plygh [...]
[Page]Hir trouthe vpon the bowes g [...]ne
To kepe hir maydenhede clene
The whiche afterward vpon a day
Was pryuely stolen away
For Iubiter thorugh his queyntyse
From hir it toke in suche a wyse
That sodenly forth with alle
Hyr wombe aroos / & she to swalle
So that it myght not be hydde
And therupon it is betydde
That Dyane the whiche it herd telle
In pryue place vnto a welle
With Nymphes al a companye
Was comen and in aragerye
She said that she bathe wold
And bad that euery mayden shold
With hyr al naked bathe also
And than began the preuy woo
C [...]listona wex rede shame
But they that knewe not the game
To whome suche thyng was befalle
A none they made hem naked alle
As they no thyng wold hyde
But she withdrewe hir euer asyde
And netheles in the flode
Where that Dyana hir selue stood
She thought to come vnperceyued
But therof she was all deceyued
For when she cam a lytell nyghe
And that Dyana her wombe seygh
She said awey thou fowle beest
For thyn estate is not honeste
This chast water for to touche
For thon hast had suche a touche
The whiche neuer may be hole ageyne
And thus goth she that was forleyn
With shame & the Nymphes fledde
Til when that nature hir spedde
That of a sonne that hyght Archas
Was named she delyuerd was
And Iuno that was the wyf
Of Iubiter wrothe and hastyf
In purpoos for to doo vengeaunce
Came forth vpon that chaunce
And to Calistona she spakke
And set vpon hyr many a lacke
And said a now thou arte take
That thou thy werk may not forsake
A thou vngoodly ypocryte
Thou arte gretely for to wyte
But now thou shalt fnl sore abye
That ylke stelthe and mycherye
That thou hast bothe take & doo
Wherof thy fader Lychao
Shall not be glad when he it wote
Of that his doughter was soo hote
That she hath broken hir chast vowe
But I the shall chastyse now
Thy grete beaute shal be torned
Thorugh whiche yt thou hast be mystor­ned
Thy large fronte thy eyen gray
I shall hem chaunge in other way
And of the feture of thy face
In suche a wyse I shall deface
For euery man the shal forbere
And forth with the lykenes of a fer [...]
She took and was forshapen anon
And within a tyme therupon
Byfelle that with a bowe in honde
To hunte and gamen for to fonde
In to that woode gothe for to playe
Hir sone Archas and in his waye
He happed that this here came
And when that she good hede name
Where that he stood vnder a bowe
She knewe hym well & to hym drowe
For though she had hir forme lore
The loue was not lost therfore
The whiche kynde hath set vnder his
lawe / When she vnder the woode shawe
Hyr child belhed she was so glade
That she with both hir armes sprade
And though she were in womanhede
Toward hym come & took no hede
How that he bare a bowe bente
And he with that an arowe sente
And gan to tyse it in his bowe
As he that can none other knowe
But that it was a beest wylde
But Inpiter that wold shylde
The moder and the sone also
Ordeyned for hem bothe so
[Page Cxxviij]That they for euer were saue
But thus my sone thou myght haue
Ensample how it is to flee
To robbe the vyrgynyte
Of a yong Innocent awey
And euer this by ouy wey
In old bookes as I rede
Sache robberye is for to drede
And namely of that goode
The whiche euer woman that is goode
Desyreth for to kepe & hold
As somtymes was by dayes old
For yf thou here my tale wel
Of that was than thou may somde [...]
Of old ensample take heede
How that the floure of maydenhed [...]
Was that tyme holden in prys
And so it was and so it is
And so it shall for euer stonde
And for thou shalt it vnderstonde
Now herkene the tale next sewend
How maydenhede is to commend

Hic loquitur de virginitat [...] comm [...] dacione vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores obstanti status dignitatem virginibus sedebant in via

oF Rome amōg the gestes old
I fynde how Valery told
That what man so euer were
emperour / Of rome he shold do honoure
To a vyrgyn & in the weye
Where he hir mete he shold obeye
In worshyp of vyrgynyte
That was than of grete dignyte
And not only of the women tho
But of the chaste men also
It was commended ouerall
And to speke therof in special

Hic loquitur qualiter Phirinus iu uenū rome pulcherrimus vt ill [...]sā suā virginitatem conseruaret ambos oculos [...]ruens vulti sui decorem abhominabilem constituit

tOuchend of men ensāple I fynd
Phirinus yt was of mās kynd
Aboue al other the fayrest
Of Rome & also the comlyest
That well was hyr that myght
Behold & haue of hym a syght
Thus was he tempted ofte sore
But for the wold be no more
Among the women so coueyted
The beaute of his face streyted
He hath & threst oute bothe his eyen
That all wymmen that hym seyn
Than afterward of hym ne rought
And thus his maydenhede he bonght
So may I proue wil for thy
Aboue al other vnder the sky
That maydenhede is for to preyse
Who that the vertues wold peyse
The which as the apocalipsis recordeth
To Cast in heuen best acordeth

Hij sequntur Agnum quocumqȝ [...]erit

So may I shewe wel therfore
As I haue told it bere a fore
In heuen & in erthe also
It is except bothe two
Oute of his flesshe a man to leuen
Gregory hath this ensample geuen

In carne preter carnem viuere pocius
vita angelica est quam humana
[Page]And Ierom seyth it shall rather be told
Lyker to an Angel many fold
Than to the lyf of mans kynde
There is no reson for to fynde
But only thorugh the grace aboue
In flesshe withoute flesshely loue
And man to lyue chast here
And neuertheles a man may here
Of suche as haue ben or this
And yet there ben / but for it is
A vertu that is selden wonne
Now I this mater haue begonne
I thynke to telle therof more
The whiche my sone for thy lor [...]
If that the lyst to take hede
To trete vpon maydenhede

Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta / Vt filij flores cespite plura valēt S [...]c sibi virgiuitas carnis spōsalia vin cit / Eternos fetus que sine lahe parit

The bookes seyn that a māns lyf
Vpon knyghthode in werre & strif
Is set among his enemyes
Right so the freel flessh whos nature is
Ay redy for to spurne & falle
The fyrst foman is of alle
For that werre is redy ay
It werreth nyght / it werreth day
So that a man hath neuer rest
And therfore is that knyght the best
Thorugh myght & grace of gods sonde
The whiche that bataill may withstōde
Wherof it dwelleth the memorye
Of hem that somtyme the vyctorye
Of that dedely werre hadden
The hyhe prowesse ye which they hadd [...]
Where thorugh ye sowle stood amended
Vpon this erthe is yet commended

Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator ipse octogenarius plures prou [...]ncias Romano Imperio belliger sub iugauit / dixit se super ōnia magis gaudere de eo quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam op [...]nuisset / nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit /

aN Emperour by old dayes
There was / & he at al assayes
A worthy knyȝt was of his
honde / There was no suche in all the lōd
But yet for all his vassellage
He stood vn wedded al his age
And in Cronycle as it is told
He was an honderd wynter old
But when men wold his dedes peyse
And his knyghthode of armes preyse
Of that he did with his hondes
When he the kynges & the londes
To his subiection put vnder
Of all that pryce had he no Wonder
For he it set at none acounte
And seid  [...]ll that myght not amounte
Ageyn one poynte that he hath nomen
That his flesshe he hath ouercomen
He was a virgyn as he sayde
On that batayle his prys he laid
Lo now my sone auyse the
Fader all this may wel be
But and al other did soo
The world of men were sone ag [...]
And in the lawe men may fynde
How god to man the lawe of kynde
Hath set the world to multyplye
And who that wylle hym Iustyfye
It is not to doo the lawe
And neuertheles youre good sawe
Is good to kepe who so may
I wol not there ageyne seye nay
My sone take it as I say
If maydenhede be taken away
Withoute lawes ordynaunce
It may not fayle of vengeauuce
And yf thou wylt the sooth wyten
[Page Cxxix]Behold a tale the whiche is wryten
How that the kyng of Agamenon
When he the Cyte of L [...]sbon
Had wonuen / a mayden there he fond
That was the fairest of the londe
In that tyme that men wyst
And he had of hir what hym lyst
Wherof that she was daungerous
Of ye thyng yt whiche was most preci­ous
This fayre mayden cleped is
Creseyde the doughter of Crysys
The whiche was that tyme speciall
Of that tyme bisshop pryncipal
Where Phebus had his sacryfyce
So was it wel the more vyce
Agamenon was than in way
To Troyward and tooke a way
This mayden that he with hym ladde
And grete lust in hir he hadde
But Phebus yt whiche had grete dis­deyne
For yt this maiden was forleyn
Anone as he to Troye came
Mengeaunce vpon this dede name
Aud sent a comune pestylence
They sought than hir euydence
And made calculacion
To knowe in what condicyon
This deth cam in sodenly
And at the last redyly
The cause & also the man they fonde
And forth with all the same stounde
Agamenon opposed was
The whiche hath knowleched all ye cas
Of the foly that he hath wrought
And therupon mercy they sought
Toward the god in dyuerse wyse
With prayer & with sacryfyce
And the mayden home they sende
And gafe hir gold ynough to spende
For euer whyles she wold lyue
And thus the syn was forgyue
And all the pestylence seced
Loo what it is to be encrecid
Of loue whiche is ylle wonne
It were letter be vnbegonne
Than take a thyng withoute leue
Whiche thou must after nedes leue
And yet haue maugre forth with all
For thy to robben ouerall
In loues cause yf thou begynne
I not what ease thou shalt wynne
My fader so wyl I wys
My sone be wel ware of this
But now youre examplarye
In loue is cause of Robberye
I haue it right wel vnderstonde
But ouer this how so it stonde
Yet wol I wyte of youre apryse
What thynge is more of Couetyse

In [...]idiando latens tempus rimatur et horam / Fur quibus occulto tempore furta parat / Sic amor insidijs vacat et sub tegmine laudes / Prēdere furtiuos nocte fauente queat.

Hic tractat super illa cupiditatis specie que secrum latrocinium dicitur / cuius natura custodire rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per n [...]c tem absqȝ strepitu clauculo fnratur /

wYth Couetyse yf I fynde
A seruaunt of the same kynd
Which steleth is hote & myche
 [...]ye. With hym is euer in companye
Of whome yf I shall telle sooth
He stalketh as a Pecok doth
And taketh his pray soo couerte
That no man wote it in aperte
And wote the lord at home
Than wold he stalke aboute & come
And what thyng he fynt in his way
When that he sawe the men away
He steleth it & goth forth with al
That therof no man knowe shal
And eke  [...]uf oft he goth a nyght
Withouten mone or sterre lyght
And with his craft the dore vnpykyth
And taketh therin what hym lyketh
[Page]And yf the dore be so shet
That he be of his entre lette
He wylle at the wyndowe in crept
And whyle the lord is fast a slepe
He steleth what thyng hym best lyst
And goth his wey or it be wyst
Ful ofte also by lyght of day
Yet wold he stele & make assay
Vnder the cete his hond he put
And with a knyf his purs he cut
And receyueth what he fynde therin
And thus he auntreth hym to wyn
And bereth an horne & not bloweth
For no man of his counceyll knoweth
That he may gete of his mychyng
It is al bylle vnder the wyng
And as an hound goth to fold
And hath there taken what he wold
His mouth vppon the gras he wypeth
And so with feyned chere hym slyketh
And what as euer of shepe he strangle
There is no man therof shall iangle
As for to knowe who it dede
Ryght so doth stelthe in euery stede
Where as hym lyst his pray take
He can so wel his cause make
And so wel feyne / & so wel glose
That there ne shalle no man suppose
But that he were an Innocent
And thus a mannes eye he blent
So that this craft he may vse
Withoute helpe of ony refuse
There ben louers of that degre
With all hir lust in pryuete
As who sey geten al by stelthe
And ther of atteynen to grete welthe
And for the tyme that it lasteth
For loue awayteth euer & casteth
How he may stele & catche his pray
When he therto may fynde a way
For be it nyght or be it day
He taketh his parte when he may
And yf he may no more doo
Yet wol he stele a kysse or two
Telle yf thou euer dydest so
In ony wyse thy lady vnto
My fader how my sone thus
If thou haue stolen ony kus
Or other thyng that therto longeth
For no man suche theues hongeth
Telle on for thy & sey the trouthe
My fader nay / & that is routhe
For by wylle I am a thefe
But she that is to me moost lef [...]
Yet durst I neuer in pryuete
Mot ones take byr by the kne
To stele of hir or this or that
And yf I durst I wote wel what
And netheles but yf I lye
By stelthe ne by robberye
Of loue whiche felle in my thought
To hir dyd I neuer nought
But as mē seyn where herte is fayled
There shalle no castel be assayled
But though I had hertes ten
And were as strong as all men
If I be not myn owne man
I dare not vsen that I can
I may my self not recouere
Though I be man neuer so pouere
I bere an herte / aud it is
Soo that me faileth wyt in this
How that I shold of myn acorde
The seruaunt lede ayenst the lord
For yf my foote wold owhere go
Or that my hondes wold els do [...]
When that my herte is there ageyne
The remenaunt is all in veyne
And thus me lacketh al weele
And yet ne dare I not steele
Of thyng whiche longeth vnto loue
And eke it is so hie aboue
I may not wel therto areche
But so be at tyme of speche
Ful seld yf that I stele may
A word or two & go my way
Betwyxt hir / his estate & me
Comparyson there may none be
So that I fele & wel wote
Al is to heuy & to hote
To set on hond withoute loue
[Page Cxxx]And thus I mote algate leue
To stele that I may not take
And in this wyse I mote forsake
To  [...]en a thefe ageyne my wylle
Of thyng whiche I may not fulfylle
For that serpent whiche neuer slepte
The flees of gold so wel ne kepte
In Colchos as the tale is told
That my lady a thousand folde
Is bet [...]er yemed and bewaked
Where she be clothed or be naked
To kepe hir body nyght and day
She hath a wardey [...]  [...]dy ay
Whiche is so wonderful a wyght
That hym no mans myght
With swerde ne wepen may daunte
Ne with no sleyghte of charme enchāt [...]
Wherof he myght be made tame
And daunger is his right name
Whiche vnder lock & vnder key
That no man may hyr stele awey
And al the tresoure vnderfonge
That vnto loue may be longe
The lest lokyng of hir eye
That mote be stole yf he it seye
And who so grutcheth for so lyte
He wold sone set a wyte
On hym that wold stelle more
And that me greueth wonder sore
For this prouerbe is euer newe
That straunge lokes maken  [...]trewe
A [...] that wolden stele and pyke
For so wel can no man syke
By hym nether by no other mene
To whome daunger wold  [...]eue or lene
Of that tresoure he hath to kepe
So though I wold stalke or crepe
And wayte on eue & eke on morowe
Of daunger shall I no thyng borowe
And stele I wote wel may I nouȝt
And thus I am right wel bethought
While daunger stondeth in his offyce
Of stelthe whiche he clepeth a vyce
I shall be gylty neuermo
Therfore I wold he were ago
So fet that I neuer of hym hert [...]
How so afterward it ferd
For than I myght afterward perca [...]
Of loue make somme purchaas
By stelth or by somme other way
That now stont fro me fer away
But fader as ye told aboue
Who steleth goth a nyght for loue
I maye not wele that poynte forsake
That oftymes I ne wake
On nyghtes when that other slepe
But how I pray you take kepe
When I am loked in suche a wyse
That by nyght I may aryse
At somme wyndowe loken oute
And see the howsyng al aboute
So that I may the chambre knowe
In whiche my lady as I trowe
Lyeth in hir bedde & slepeth softe
Than is my hert a thefe ful ofte
For there I stonde to behold
The long nyghtes that ben cold
And thynk on hyr that lyeth here
And than I wysshe that I were there
As wys as was Nectanabus
Or  [...]ls as was Protheus
That couthen both of nygromance
In what lykenes in what semblaūce
Ryght as hem lyst hem self transforme
For yf I were of suche a forme
I saye that I wold flee
In to hir chambre for to see
If ony grace wold falle
So that I myght vnder the palle
Somme thyng of loue pyke or stele
And thus I thynke thoughtes fele
And though therof no thyng be sooth
Yet case as for a tyme it doth
But at the last whan I fynde
That I am falle in to my mynde
And sce that I haue stond long
And haue no profyte vnderfonge
Than stalk I to my bed within
And there to thynke I begyn
Of loue whan I shall by nyght
My wylle is good / but my myght
Me lacketh bothe & of my grace
[Page]For what soo that my thought enbrace
Yet haue I not the better ferde
My fader /  [...]oo now haue ye herde
What I by stelthe of  [...]oue haue doo
And how my wylle hath be therto
If I be worthy to penaunce
I put it vnto youre ordynaunce
My sone for stelthe I the byhete
Though it be for a tyme swete
At ende it doth but lytell good
As by ensample how that it stood
Whilome I maye the telle now
I pray yow fader telle me how
My sone of hym whiche gothe by day
By wey of stelthe to assay
In loues cause & taketh his pray
Ouyde said as I shal say
And in his methamor he tolde
A tale whiche is good to holde

Hic in amoris causa super isto latelcinio quod dietim contingit ponit exem p [...]m / Et narrat quod cum Linchotor Orchanni filia in camer [...]s sub Archa mat [...]s custodia virgo conseruabatur / Phebus eiue pulchritudinem concupis hens in conclaue domus clara luce sub [...]ntrans virginis pudiciciam matre absente deflorauit / vnde ipsa inpregnata [...]ratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendū [...]ua effodit ex cuius tumulo florem sol sequium vocant / dicunt consequenter primitus accreuisse

tHe poete vpon this matere
Of si [...]lth wrote in this manere
Venus which hath ye law in hāde
Of thyng whiche may not be withstād [...]
As she with the tresour toward
Of loue hath within hyr ward
Phebus to loue hath so constreyned
That he withoute reste is payned
With all his herte to coueite
A mayde whiche was warded streyte
Within chambre & kepte so cloos
That selden was whan she discloos
Goth with hir moder for to play
Lenchoter so as men say
This mayden hyght / & Orc [...]anus
Hir fader was. and befelle thus
This doughter that was kept so dere
And had ben bifore yere to yere
Vnder hir moder discyplyne
A clene malden and a vyrgyne
Vpon the whoos natyuyte
Of comelyhede & of beaute
Nature hath set al that she may
That lyche vnto the fresshe may
With eyther monethes of the yere
Sourmounteth so withoute pere
Was of this mayden the feiture
Wherof phebus oute of mesure
Hyr loueth on euery syde
A waiteth yf so may betyde
That he thorugh ony sleygthe myght
Hir lusty maydenhede vnright
The whiche were al his worldes welth
And thus lurkyng vpon his stelthe
In his awayte so longe he lay
Till it befelle vppon a day
That he thorugh out hir chambre wall
Came in al sodenly & stalle
That thyng that was to hym so lyefe
But woo the whyle yt he was a thefe
For Venus whiche was enemy
Of thylk loues mycherye
Discouerith all the playne caa [...]
How it befelle & how it was
Toward phebus his concubyne
And she to lete the Couyne
Of thylk loue dedely  [...]brothe
To pleyne vpō this mayde he goth
And told hir fader how it stood
Wherof for sorowe well nyhe woode
Vnto hir moder thus he said
[Page Cxxxj]Loo what is to kepe a mayd
To Phebus dare I no thyng speke
But vpon this I shall be wreke
Soo that these maydens after this
Mowe take ensample what it is
To suffre her maydenhede to be stole
Where that she the deth may thole
And bad with that / go make a pytte
Wherin he hath his doughter sette
As he that wold no pyte haue
So that she was al quyck be graue
And deed anone in his presence
But Phebus for the reuerence
Of that she had ben his loue
Hath wrouȝt thoruȝ his power aboue
That she sprong vp oute the molde
In to a floure was named gold
Whiche stonte gouerneth of the sonne
And thus when loue is euyll wonne
Ful ofte it cometh to repentayle
My fader that is no meruayle
When that the counceyll is be wreyed
And oftyme loue hath pleyed
And stole many a pryue game
Whiche neuer yet cam to blame
What that he thynketh weren hydde
But in youre tale as betydde
Venus disturbed all the caas
And eke also brode daye it was
When Phebus suche a fylthe wrought
Wherof the maide in blame brought
That afterward she was so fore
But for ye seyden now to fore
How stelth of loue goth by nyght
And doth his thynges oute of syght
Therof me lust also to here
A tale lyche to the matere
Wherof I myght ensample take
My good sone & for thy sake
So as it befelle by dayes olde
And so as the poete it told
Vpon the nyghtes mycherye
Now herken a tale of Poesye

Hic ponit [...]yemplum super eodem quod de notte contingit▪ Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eola in quadam spelunca nobili Thophis dicta sub mō te thimolo ibi silua bachi ē hospicio pernoctarunt / Et cum ipsi varijs lectis seperatim iacentes dormi [...]runt / contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectum qȝ Eole pelle leonis contra Hercules induebatur operari super quo fobnns a silua descendeus speluncam subintrauit temptans si forte cum Eola sue concupiscencie voluptatem. nesciente Hercules furari posset / Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset putans Eolam fuisse cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur quem senciens Hercules manibus apprehēsum ipsum ad terrā ita fortiter al lisit vt inpotens sui corporis effectus vsaȝ mane ipsum requieuit / vbi Saba cum Nymphis siluestribus superue niens ipsum sic illusum deridebat

tHe myghtyest of all men
When hercules with Eolen
Whiche was ye loue of his courage /
To geder vpon a pylgremage
Toward Rome sholden goo
It felle hem by the way so
That they vpon a day the caue
Within a roche founden haue
Whiche was ryall & gloryous
And of entayle curious
By name & Thopis it was hote
The sonne shone tho wonder hote
As it was in somer tyde
This Hercules whiche by his syde
Hath Eolen his loue there
When they at thylk caue were
He seid it thought it for the best
That she three for hir reste
[Page]All thylk day and thylke nyght
And she that was a lusty wyght
In euery thyng to hym obeyd [...]
 [...]it lyketh hir al that he seide
The long day / & so befelle
This caue was vnder the hylle
Of thymolus whiche was  [...]growe
With wet [...]es / & at thylk throwe
Fanus with Saba the goddesse
And other Nimphus of hir kyndenesse
In thylke tyme stood gouerned
Were in a place as I am lerned
Nyghe by whiche bachus woode hyȝt
This fanus took a grete insight
Of c [...]len that was nyghe
For whan th [...]t he hir beaute syghe
 [...]ute of his wyt he was assoted
And in his herte he hath so noted
That he forsoke the Nymphes alle
And said he wold how so it falle
Assay another for to wynne
So that his herte thought withynne
He set & cast how that he myght
Of loue pyke aw [...]y by nyght
That be by day in other wyse
To stele myght not suffyse
And therupon his tyme he wayt [...]th
Now take gode b [...]de how loue affa [...]teth
Hym which is with loue al oueroome
Faire Eolen when she was come
With Hercules in to the caue
S [...] said that so [...] wold haue
His  [...] of & fire bothe
And ech [...] of hem sheld other clothe
And all was doo right as she bade
He hath hir in his clothes clade
And cast on hir his gypyon
Whiche of the skyn of a lyon
Was made & he vpon the wey
It slough & euer thus to pley
She took his grete mace also
And knytted at hir gyrdel the
So was she lyche to man awyd
And Hercules hath than assayd
To clothen hym in her array
And thus they iape forth the day
Till that hir souper redy we [...]
And when they hadden souped there
They shopen hem to goo to rest
And as it thought hem for the best
They bad as for thylke nyght
Two sondry beddes shold be dyght
For they  [...]e geder lygge nold
By cause that they offre wold
Vpon the morowe hir sacryfice
The seruaunte & dyn her offyce
And sondey beddes made anon [...]
Where in that they to rest gone
Eche by hem self in sondry place
Fair Eolen hath set the mace
Besides her beddes bede aboue
And with the clothes of hir loue
She hylled all hir bedde aboute
And he whiche had of no thyng douts
Hir wympel wonde aboute his chek [...]
Hir kyrtel & hir mantell eke
Abrode vpon his bedde spredde
And thus they slepen bothe a bedde
And what of trauayle & what of wyn
The seruaunt lyke to a dronken swyn
Bygan for to rowte fast
This Fanus whiche his stelthe cast
Was than comen to the caue
And fonde they were al saue
Withoute noyse & in he went
The derk nyght his syght blent
And yet it happed hym to god
Where Eolen a bed tho
Was leyd alone for to slepe
But for he wold take kepe
Whoos bed it was he made assay [...]
And of a lyon where he lay
The cote he found & eke he feleth
The mace / & than his herte ke [...]eth
That there durst he not abyde
But stalketh vpon euery side
And sought aboute with his hond [...]
That other bed till he fond
Where lay wympled a vysage
Tho was he glad in his courage
For he hyr kyrtell fonde also
And eke hir mantell bothe two
[Page Cxxxij]Bespred  [...]pon a  [...]ed a [...]oft
He made hym naked than soft
In the bed vnware he crepte
Where Hercules that tyme slept
And wende well it were she
And thus in stede of Eole
Anone be profereth hym loue
And he whiche felt a man aboue
This Hercules hym threwe to ground
So sore that they haue hym fond
Lyggend therupon the morowe
And tho was not a lytel sorowe
That fanus of hym self made
 [...]nt els they were al glade
And loghen hym to scorne aboute
Saba with Nymp [...]s all the route
 [...]am doune to loke how that he ferd
And when that they the sooth herde
He was beiaped oueral
My sone be thou ware with al
To vse suche mycheryes
But yf thou haue the better aspy [...]
In aunture yf the so betyde
As fanus did thylke tyde
Wherof thou myght be shamed so
My holy fader certes no
But yf I had right good leue
Suche mycherye I thynke leue
Myn faynt herte wol not serue
For maugre wylle I not deserue
In thylke place where I loue
But for ye tolden here aboue
Of Couetyse & his pyllage
If there be more of that lygnage
Whiche toucheth to my shuft I pray
That therof ye me wold assay
So that I may the vyce eschewe
My sone thou hast herd me shewe
The vyces how they stont on rowe
Of Cou [...]yse thou shalt knowe
There is yet one whiche is the last
That is sacrylege be thou fast
For he with god hym self debateth
Wherof that a [...]e the henen hym hatet [...]

Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat. Vt sibi sint agri sic domus a [...]ma dei / Nec locus est in quo nō temptat amans quod amat / Si que posse nequit carpere [...]elle capit

Hic tractat super vltima Cupidita [...]is specie que sacrilegium dicitur / cuius fructum ea (quam) altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans [...]lesie tantum spolijs insidiatu [...]

tHe hyhe god with all good
Purueyeth hath for mans fode
Of clothes of mete & drynke
Bade Adam that he shold swynke
To geten hym his sustenaunce
And eke be set in ordynaunce
Vpon lawe of Moyses
That though a man be haueles
He shall not by theft stele
But now a dayes ther be fele
That wol no labour vndertake
But what they maye by stelthe take
They hold it sykerlyche wonne
And thus the lawe is ouercome
Whiche god hath set / & namely
With hem that soo vntrewe [...]y
The goddes robbe of holy chirche
The theft whiche they than wyrch [...]
By name is cleped sacrylege
Ayene whome I thynke allege
Of his condicion to telle
Whiche rifeleth both book & belle
So forth with all the remenaunt
To goddes hows appertynaunt
Where that he shold  [...]ydd [...] his bede
He doth his theft in holy stede
And taketh what he fynt therin
For when he seeth that he may wyn
[Page]He wendeth for no cursidnesse
That he ne briketh the holynesse
And doth to god no reuerence
For he hath lose his conscyence
That though the prest therfor to corse
He seyth he fareth not the worse
And for to speke it otherwyse
That man that lasseth the fraunchyse
And taketh of holy chirche his pray
I note what bedes he shall pray
When he frō god the which hath yeue al
The propirte in speciall
Whiche vnto Crist hym self is due
Bynemeth / he may not wel eschewe
The payne comyng afterward
For he hath made his forward
With sacryl [...]ge for to dwelle
Whiche hath his herytage in helle
And yf we rede of the old lawe
I fynde wryte in thylke dawe
Of prynces there were thre
Comparable al in this degre
And one of hem was cleped thus
The prowde kyng Antyochus
That other Nabuzardon hyght
Whiche enforced with al his myght
The temple for to destroye & waste
And so  [...]e dyde in al hast
The thyrde whiche was after shamed
Was Nabogo donoser named
And he Ierusalem put vnder
Of sacrylege & many a wonder
There in the holy Temple he wrought
Wiche Balthasar his heyre abought
When mane techel Phares wryt
Was on the walle as thou myȝt wyt
 [...]o as the byble hath declared
But for all that  [...]t is not spared
Yet now a day that men it pylle
And maken argument & skylle
To sacrylege as it belongeth
For what man that therafter longeth
He taketh no hede what he doth
And right so for to telle sooth
An loues cause yf I shall trete
There ben of suche smale & grete
If they no leyser fynde els
They wyll not leten for the belles
Ne though they see the preest at masse
That wol they leten ouerpasse
If that they fond her loue there
They stande & telle in her ere
And aske of god none other grace
Whyle that they ben in hooly place
But or they go somme ananntage
There wylle they haue & some pyllage
Of goodly wordes & of byheste
Or els they take at the lest
Oute of hir hond a ryng or gloue
So nyhe the weder they wyl shoue
And as she said she shall not forgete
Now I this token of hir can gete
Thus halowe they the hye feste
Suche thefte may no chirche areste
For al is leful that hem lyketh
To whome that els it myslyketh
And eke right in the self kynde
In grete Cytees men may fynde
This lusty folk that make hem gay
And wayte vpon the holy day
In chirches & in mynstres eke
They gone the women for to seke
And where that suche one gooth about
To sore the fayrest of al the route
Where as they sytten al a rewe
There wylle he his body most shewe
His croked keyned & theron set
An ouche with a chapelet
Whiche late come out of the greues
Or els one of the grene leues
And all for he shold seme fresshe
And thus he loketh on the flesshe
Ryght as an hauke whiche hath a siȝt
Vpon the fowle where he shall lyght
And as he were a fayrye
He she weth hym to fore her  [...]ye
 [...] hooly place where they sytte
Al for to make hir hertes flytte
His eye nowhere wol abyde
But loke & pry on euery side
On here & her as hym hest lyketh
And otherwhyle among he syketh
[Page Cxxxij]Thynketh of hem that was for me
And so ther thynken two or thre
And yet he loueth none at alle
But where as euer his chaunce falle
And netheles to sey soothe
The cause why he so doeth
Is for to stele an herte or two
Ouce of the Chirche or that he go
And as I said it here aboue
It is a sacrylege of loue
For wel may be that he steleth away
That he neuer after yelde may
Telle me for thy my sone anon
Hast thou doo sacrylege or none
As I haue said in this manere
My fader as of this matere
I wylle yow telle redyly
What I haue doo bnt truly
I maye excuse myn entent
That I neuer to chirche went
In suche maner as ye me shryue
For no man that is on lyue
The cause why I haue it last
May be / for I vnto that craft
Am no thyng able for to stele
Though there were neuer so fele
Bnt yet wylle I not sey this
When I am there my lady is
In whome lyeth hooly my quarelle
And she to chirche or to Chappelle
Goo to matens or to masse
That tyme I wayte wel & passe
To chirche I come & there I stonde
And though I take a look in hond [...]
My contenannce is on the look
Bnt toward hyr is al my loke
And yf so falle that I pray
Vnto my god & somwhat say
Of pater noster & of Crede
Al is for that I wold spede
So that my bede in holy chirche
There myght somme myracle wirche
My lady berte for to chaunge
Whiche euer to me hath be straunge
So that all my deuocion
And al myn contemplacion
With al my herte & my courage
Is only set on hyr ymage
And euer I wayte vpon the tyde
If she loke ony thyng a syde
That I me maye on hir auyse
Anone I am with Couetyse
So smyt [...] that me were leef
To be in holy chirche a theef
But not to stele a vestyment
For that is no thyng my talent
But I wold stele yf that I myght
A glad word or a goodly syght
And euer my seruyce I profere
And namely when she goth offre
For her I lede then yf that I may
For somwhat wold I stele away
When I beclyppe hir on the wast
Yet at the last I stele a tast
And other whyle graunt mercy
She seith▪ & so wynne I therby
A lusty touche a good word eke
But al the remenannt to seke
Is fro my purpoos wonder ferre
So may I say as I said erre
In hooly chirche yf that I wowe
My conscyence yet wold I allowe
Be soo that vpon amendement
I myght gete assignement
Wherfore I spede in other place
Suche sacrylege I hold a grace
And thus my fader sooth to sey
In chirche right as in the wey
If I myght ought of loue take
Suche hansell haue I not forsake
But fynally I me confesse
There is in me no holynesse
Whyle I hir see in ony stede
And yet for onght that euer I dede
No sacrylege of hyr I took
But as it were a word or looke
Or els yf that I herd frede
When I toward offryng hir lede
Take therof what I take may
For els  [...]ere I nought away
For though I wold ought  [...]ls haue
At other thynges ben so saue
[Page]And kepte with suche a pryuelege
That I may doo no sacrylege
God wote my wylle netheles
Though I must nedes kepe pees
And in all gree sone myn lete it passe
My wyl therto is not the lasse
For I myght otherwyse awey
For thy my fader I yow prey
Telle what thou thynkest therupon
If I therof haue gylt or none
Thy wylle my sone is for to blame
The remenaunt is but a game
That I haue the told as yet
But take this lere in to thy wyt
That all thyng hath tyme & stede
The whiche serueth for the bede
 [...]e Chambre is of another speche
But yf thou wystest of the wreche
How sacrylege it hath abought
T [...]ow sholdest vse it ryght nought
And for thou shalt the more amende
A tale on the I wol dispende

Hic in amoris causa super istius vi [...] articulo ponit exemplum Et narrat pro [...]o quod paris pr [...]ami Regis filius [...]nam menelai vxorem in quadā g [...]at Insula a templo veneris sacrile [...]s abduxit / illa Troye famosissima [...]sidie per vniuersum orbis climita di nulgata precipue causabat / ita qd huiusmodi sacrilegium non solum ad ipsius Regis patriam omnium az suorū interitum / Sed ad perpetuam vrbis de solacionem vindicem fomitem ministrabat

tO al men as who saith know
It is & in ye world thoruȝ blow
How that of Troye lamedon
To Hercules and to Iasen
When toward Colchos oute of gr [...]
By see seylyng vpon a pece
Of londe of Troye reste preyde
But he wrongfully conueyde
And for they found hym so vyleyne
When they cam in to grece ageyne
With power that they gete myght
Towardes Troye they haue hem dyght
And they took suche vengeaunce
Wherof stant yet in remembraunce
For they destroyed kyng & alle
And leften but the brent walle
The grekes of Troyes many slowe
And prysoners they took ynowe
Among the whiche there was one
The kynges doughter lamedone
Esyona the fayre thynge
Whiche vnto the lamon the kyng
By Hercules and by the assent
Of all the hole parlement
Was at his wylle yeue & graunted
And thus hath grete Troye dannted
And hym to torne in suche manere
But after this now shalt thou here
The cause why the tale I telle
Vpon the chaunces that bifelle
Kyng lamedon whiche dyed thus
He had a sone one priamus
Whiche was not thylke tyme at home
But when he herd of this he come
And fond how the Cyte was falle
Whiche he bygan vpon the walle
And made there a Cyte newe
That they whiche other londes knewe
Tho se [...]den that of lyme & stone
In all the world so fayre was none
And on that one side of the towne
The kyng lete make ylyowne
That hye toure that strong place
Whiche was adrad of no manace
Of quarell none nor of engyne
And though men wold make a myne
No mans craft it myght approche
For it was set vpon a roche
The walles of the Towne aboute
Hem stode of al the world no doute
[Page Cxxxiij]And after the proporcyon
Syx gates were there of the toun
Of suche enforme / of suche entayle
That hem to see was grete meruayl [...]
The dyches were brode & depe
And fewe men it myght kepe
From al the world as semeth tho
But yf the goddes weren foo
Grete prees vnto that Cyte drowe
So that there was of peple ynowe
Of burgeys that therin dwellen
There may no mans tong tellen
How that Cyte was ryche of good
When all was made & all wel stood
Kyng Pry [...]mus tho hym bethought
What they of grece whylome wrought
And what was of hir swerd deuoured
And how his suster dishououred
With thelamon awey was ladde
And he thynkyng he wex vnglad
And set anone a parlement
To whiche the lordes were assent
In many a wyse there was spoke
How that they myghten ben awroke
But at the last netheles
They seid al acord and pees
To setten eyther party in rest
It thought hem al for the best
With resonable amendement
And thus was Anthenor forth sent
To aske Esyona ageyne
And wyte what they wold seyne
So passeth he the see by barge
To grece for to sey his charge
The whiche he said redyly
Vnto the lordes by and by
But where he spak in grece aboute
He herd not but wordes stoute
And namelyche of Thelamon
The mayden wold he not for gone
He said for no maner thynge
And bad hym gone home to his kyng
For there gate he none amende
For ought he couthe doo or sende
This Anthenor ayene goth home
Vnto his kyng / & when he come
He told in grece what that he herd
And how that thelamon answerd
And how they were at hir aboue
That they wol neyther pees ne loue
But euery man shall done his best
But for men seyen that nyght hath rest
The kynge bythought hym all ye nyȝt
And erly when the day was lyght
He took his counceyll of this matere
And they acord in this manere
That he withouten ony let
A certeyne tyme shold set
A parlement to ben auysed
And in this wyse it was anysed
Of parlement he set a day
And that was in the moneth of may
This priamus had in his sight
A wyf & Hecuba she hyght
By whome that tyme she & he
Sones fyue had & doughters thre
Beside two and thyrty mo
And weren knyghtes al tho
But not vpon his wyt bygete
But els where he myght hem get:
Of whiche he had knowe
Suche was the world that ylk throwe
And so he was of children ryche
And therof was no man hym lyche
Of parlement the day was come
There ben the lordes al & some
Tho was prouounced & purposed
And all the cause hem was disclosed
How Anthenor in grece ferde
They sytten ay stylle and herde
And tho spak euery man aboute
There was alledged many a doute
And many a prowde word spoke also
But for the moost partye as tho
They wysten not what was the best
Or for to werre or for to rest
But he that was withoute fere
Hector among the lordes there
His tale told in suche a wyse
And said lordes ye ben wyse
Ye knowen this as wel as I
Aboue al other moost worthy
[Page]Stant now in grete manhode
Of worthynes and of knyghthode
For who so will it wel agrope
To hem bylongeth al Europe
Whiche is the thyrd parte euen
Of alle the world vnder the heuen
And we be but folke a fewe
So were it reson to eschewe
The perylle or we falle therin
Better is to leue than to bygyn
Thyng whiche may not be acheued
He is not wyse that fynde hym greued
And doth so that his greue be more
For who that loketh all to fore
And wylle not see what is behynde
He may ful ofte his harmes fynde
Wyck is to strif & haue the worse
We haue encheson for to corse
This wote I wel / & for to hate
The grekes / but or we debate
With hem that ben of suche a myght
It is ful good that euery wyght
Be of hym self ryght wel bythought
But as for me thus sey I nought
For whyle that my lyf may stonde
If that ye taken werre in honde
Falle it to the best or to the werst
I shall my seluen be the ferst
To greue hem what euer I may
I stylle not ones say nay
To thyng which yt your coūceil demeth
For vnto me more wel it quemeth
The werre certes than the pees
But this I say netheles
As me belongeth for to say
Now shape ye the best way
Whan Hector had said his deuyse
Next after hym tho spak paryse
Whiche was his broder and alyed
When hym best thought thus he seid
Strong thyng it is to suffer wrong
And suffre shame is more stronge
But we haue suffred both the two
And for al that yet haue we doo
What soo we myght to reforme
This wrong & shame in better forme
Sente Anthenor as ye wel knowe
And they hir grete wordes blowe
Vppon hir wrongfull dedes eke
And who that wol not hym self meke
To pees & lyst no reson take
Men seyn Reson wyll hym forsake
For in the multitude of men
Is not the strengthe / for with ten
It hath be sene in trewe quarele
Ayene an honderd haluendele
And hath the better by goddes grace
Thus hath befalle in many place
And yf it lyke vnto yow alle
I wylle assay how so it bifalle
Oure enemy yf I may greue
For I haue caught a grete byleue
Vpon a pleyne poynt I wol declare
This yonder day as I gan fare
To hunte vnto the grete herte
Whiche was to fore my houndes sterte
And euery man went on his syde
Hym to pursewe and I to ryde
Bigan to chase / & sooth to say
Within a whyle oute of my way
I rode / & nyst where I was
And slope me caught & on the grasse
Beside a welle I leyd me doune
To slepe and in a vysyoun
To me the god Mercurye came
Goddesses thre with hym he name
Mynerue Venus and Iuno
And in his hond an Appel tho
He held of gold with lettres wryte
And thus he dyd me to wyte
How that they put hem vpon me
That to the fayrest of hem thre
Of gold that Appel shold I gyue
With eche of hem I was shryue
And echone faire me behyght
But Venus said yf that she myght
That Appel of my gyfte gete
She wold it neuermore forgete
And said how that in grece londe
She wold brynge in to my honde
[Page Cxxxiiij]Of al this erthe the fayrest
So that me thought it for the best
To hyr and yaf that appel tho
Thus hope I well yf that I goo
But she for me wylle so ordeyne
That they matere for to pleyne
Shal haue or that I come ageyne
Now haue ye herd that I wold seyne
Saye ye what stont in youre auyse
And euery man tho said his
And sondry causes they recorde
But at the last they acorde
That parys shall to grece wende
And thus the parlement took an ende

Cassandre when she herd of this
The whiche to parys suster is
Anone she gan to wepe and wayle
And said alas what may vs ayle
Fortune with hir blynd whele
Ne wylle not lete vs stonde wele
For this I dare wel vndertake
That yf parys his wey take
As it is seid that he shal doo
We ben euer than fordoo
This mayden Cassandre hyght
In al the world as it bereth syght
In bookes as men fynde wryte
Is that Sybell of whome ye wyte
That al men yet clepen sage
Whan that she wyst of this vyage
How Parys shold to grece fare
No woman myght werse fare
Ne sorowe more than she dyde
And ryght so in the same stede
Ferd Helenus whiche was hir broder
Of prophecy / and suche another
And al was holde but a iape
So that purpoos whiche was shape
Or were hem leef or were hem lothe
Was holde / and in to grece goth
This parys with his retenaunce
And as it felle vpon his chaunce
Of grece he londeth in an yle
And hym was told that same whyle
Of folk whiche he began to freyne
Tho wás in that yle quene Eleyne
And eke of countrees there aboute
Of ladyes many a lufty rowte
With mochel worthy peple also
And why they comen thedertho
The cause stood in suche a wyse
For worship and for sacryfyse
That they to Venus wold make
As they to fore had vndertake
Some of good wyll & some of biheste
For than was hir hyhe feste
Within a Temple whiche was there
Whan parys wyst what they were
Anone he shope his ordynaunce
To gone te done his obeysaunce
To Venus on hir hooly day
And dyd vpon his best aray
With grete rychesse he hym behongeth
As it to suche a lord longeth
He was not armed netheles
But as it were in londe of pees
And thus he gothe oute of ship
And taketh with hym his felauship
In suche maner as I yow say
Vnto the temple he hold his way
Tydyng whiche gothe oueral
To grete & smal forth with all
Come to the quenes ere & told
How parys come & that he wold
Doo sacryfyce vnto Venus
And whan she herd telle thus
She thought how that euer it be
That she wylle hym abyde and see
Forth cometh parys with glad vysage
In to the temple on pylgremage
Where vnto Venus the goddesse
He yeueth & offreth grete rychesse
And prayeth hyr that he pray wold
On that other syde he gan behold
And see where this lady stood
And forth in his fresshe mode
Goth where she was & made hyr chere
As he wel couthe in his manere
That of his worldes suche plesaunce
She took that al hir acqueyntaunce
[Page]As ferforth as the herte lay
He stale or that he went away
So goth he forth & took his leue
And thought anon as it was eue
He wold done his sacrylege
That many a man shal abyge
When he ayene to ship was come
To hym he hath his counceyll nome
And all deuised the matere
In suche a wyse as thou shalt here
Within nyght al pryuely
His men he warneth by and by
That they be armed redy soone
For certeyn thyng which was to done
And they anon be redy alle
And eche on other gan calle
And wente hem oute vpon the stronde
And took her purpoos there on londe
Of what thyng they wold doo
Towards the temple / & forth ther go
So fyl it that of deuocion
Heleyn in contemplaaon
With many another worthy wyght
Was in the temple and woke al nyght
To byd & pray to the ymage
Of venus as was than vsage
So that parys ryght as hym lyst
In to the temple or they wyste
Came with his men al sodenly
And al at ones set a skrye
On hem whiche in the temple were
Fr tho was moche peple there
Bnt of defence was no bote
So suffre they that suffre mote
Parys vnto the quene went
And hir in both his armes hent
With hym & with his felauship
And forth they bere her in to ship
Vp goth the sayle / & forth they went
And suche a wynd fortune hem sent
Till they the hauen of Troy caught
Where oute of ship / anon they strauȝt
And gone hem forth toward the toun
The whiche cam with procession
Ayene Parys to sene his pray
And euery man began to say
To parys and to his felauship
Al that they couthen of worship
Was none so lytel man in Troye
That he ne made myrthe and ioye
Of that Parys had wonnen Eleyn
But al that nyght is sorowe & peyn
To Helenus and to Cassandre
For they it token shame & sklaundre
And losse of al the comon grace
That Parys oute of hooly place
By stelthe hath take a mans wyfe
Wherof he shall lose his lyf
And many a worthy man therto
And the Cyte before doo
Whiche neuer shall be made ayene
And so it felle ryght as they seyne
The sacrylege whiche he wrought
Was cause why the grekes sought
Vnto the towne. & it belay
And wolden neuer parte away
Tyl what by sleyght & what by strēgth
They had it wonnen in brede & length
And brent and slayn that was therin
Now so my sone suche a syn
Is sacrylege in hooly stede
Beware therfore / & byd thy bede
And doo no thyng in holy chirche
But that thou myght by reson wyrche
And eke take hede of Achilles
When he vnto his loue chees
Polixena that was also
In hooly temple of Appollo
Whiche was the cause that he dyede
And al his lust was leyd asyde
And Troylus vpon Creseyde
Also his first loue leyde
In hooly place & how he ferde
As who seyth al the world it herde
Forsake he was for Dyomede
Suche was of lust his last mede
For thy my sone I wold rede
By this ensample as thou myght rede
Seche elles where thou wylt thy grace
And ware the wel in hooly place
What thou to loue do or speke
In aunter yf it be so wreke
[Page Cxxxv]As  [...]ou hast herd me telle to fore
And take good hede also therfore
Vppon what forme of Anaryce
More than of ony other vyce
I haue deuyded in partyes
The braunches whiche of companyes
Through oute the world in general
Lyke as ye now here shall
Of Couetyse and periurye
Of fals brocage and of vsurye
Of scarcenes and vnkyndeship
Whiche neuer drough to felouship
Of Robbery and of pryue stelthe
Whiche done is for the worldes welth
Of Rauyn and of sacrylege
Whiche take the conscyence of a grege
Al though it may rychesse atteyne
It floureth / bnt it shal not greyne
Vnto the swete of rightwysenesse
But who that wold doo largesse
Vpon the reule as it is yeue
So myght a man with thought leue
Toward his god / & eke also
Toward the world / for by the two
Largesse a wayteth as belongeth
To neyther parte that he wrongeth
He kepeth hym self & kepeth his fren­des
So stonte he sauf to both his endes
In suche wyse that he be sure
That he excedeth no mesure
Wherof my sone thou shalt wyte
So as Philosophre hath wryte

Prodegus et parcus duo sunt extrema (quam) largus / Est horam medins pl [...] [...]s in ore bonus

Nota hic de virtute largitatis que ad oppositum auoricie inter duo extrema videlicet percimoniam et prodegalitem specialiter consistit /

 [...]E [...]ix the two extremytres
Of vyce stont the propyrtees
Of v [...]rtu and to pr [...]ue it so
Take auaryce and take also
The vyce of prodegalyte
Betwix hem lyberalyte
Whiche is the vertu of largesse
Stant & gouerneth his noblesse
For tho two vyces in discord
Stant euer as I fynd of record
So that bitwene debate
Largesse ruleth his estate
For in suche wyse as Auaryce
As I to fore haue told the vyce
Thorugh streyte holdyng & scarsenesse
Stant in contrarye to largesse
Right so prodegalyte
Reuers but not in suche degree
For so as Auaryce spareth
And for to kepe his tresoure careth
That other al his owne & more
Ayene the wysemans lore
Yeueth and dispendeth here and there
So that hym retcheth neuer where
Whyle he may borugh he wol dispende
Til at the last he seith I wende
But that is spoken al to late
For than is pouerte at the yate
And taketh hym euen by the sleue
For  [...]rst wylle he no wysedom leue
And ryght as auaryce is synne
That wolde his tresoure kepe & wynne
Ryght so yonre prodegalyte
But of largesse in his degre
Whiche euen stant bitwene the two
The hyghe god & the man also
The vertu eche of hem commendeth
For he hym seluen fyrst amendeth
That ouer al his name spredeth
And to al other where it nedeth
He yaf his good in suche a wyse
That he maketh many a man ryse
Whiche els shold falle lowe
Largesse may not be vnknowe
For what lond he regneth in
It may not  [...]ayle for to wyn
[Page]Of his deserte loue and grace
Where it shall fayle in other place
And thus bitwene to moche & lyte
Larges [...]e whiche is not to wyte
Holdeth euer forth the myddel way
But who that wol torne a way
Fro that to prodegalyte
Anone he leueth the propyrte
Of vertu / & goth to the vyce
For in suche wyse as Auaryce
Lefte for scarsenes his good name
R [...]g [...]t soo that other is to blame
Which  [...]rgh his wast mesure excedeth
For no mā wote what harme it bedeth
But mochel ioye ther leueth
Where that largenesse an herte gydeth
For  [...]o m [...]sur [...] is so gouerned
 [...]t he to be the par [...]y [...]s is lerned
To god and to the world also
He doth Reson to both the two
The poure folk of his almesse
Releued ben in distresse
Of thurst / of honger & of colde
The yeft of hym was neuer solde
But frely yeue and netheles
The myghty god of his encrces
Reward hym of double grace
The  [...]uen  [...]e doth hym to purchace
And yeueth hym eke ye worldis good
And thus the cete for the hoode
 [...]orgesse taketh / & yet no synne
 [...]  [...]th bow so that euer he wynne
What man hath horse men yeue hors
And who none hath / of hym no for [...]
For he may than on foote goo
T [...]e world hath euer stond so
But for to loken of the twey
A man to go the syker wey
Better is to yeue than to take
With yeft a man may frendes make
But who yt taketh outher grete or small
He taketh a charge forth with all
And stant not fre till it be quyte
So for to deme in mannes wyt
It helpeth more a man to haue
His owne good for to craue
Of other men / and make hym bonde
Where els he may stonde vnbonde

Seneca / Si res tue tibi non sufficiunt fac vt rebus tuis sufficias

Seneca counceyled in this wyse
And seyth but yf thy good suffyce
Vnto the lykyng of thy wylle
Withdrawe thy lust and hold the stylle
And be to thy good suffysaunt
For that thynge is appertynaunt
To trouthe & causeth to be fre
After the rule of charyte
Whiche first begynneth of hym self
For thou richest other twelf
Wherof thou shalt thy self be pouer
I not what thonk thou myght recoue [...]
Whyle that a man hath good to ye [...]e
With grete rentes he may leue
And hath his frendes oneral
And eueryche of hem telle shall
The whiche he hath his ful pak
They say a good felawe is Iack
And whan it foyleth at the last
Anone his pryce they ouercast
For than is there none other lawe
But Iak was a good felawe
Whan they hym poure and nedy se [...]
They lete hym passe & fare wel he
Al that he wende of companye
Is than torned to folye
But now to speke in other kynde
Of loue a man may suche fynde
That where they come in euery row [...]
They cast and wast hir loue aboute
Tyl all her tyme is ouergone
And than haue they loue none
For who that loueth oueral
It is no reson that he shal
Of loue haue ony propyr [...]e
For thy my sone auyse the
If thou of loue hast ben to large
For suche a man is not to charge
[Page Cxxxvj]And yf so be that thou hast
Dyspended al thy tyme in wast
And set thy loue in sondry place
Though thou the substaūce of thy grace
Lese at the last it is no wonder
For he that put hym seluen vnder
As who saith comyn ouer alle
He leseth the loue specialle
Of ony one yf she be wyse
For loue shal not bere the pryse
By reson when it passeth one
So haue I sene many one
That were of loue wel at ese
Whiche after felle in grete dysese
Thorugh wast of loue that they spent
In sondry places where they went
Ryght so my sone I aske of the
If thou with prodegalyte
Hast here or there thy loue wasted
My fader nay / but I haue tasted
In many a place where I haue goo
And yet loue I neuer one of tho
But for to dryue forth the day
For leueth well my herte is ay
Withouten mo for euermore
All vpon one for I no more
Desyre but hir loue allone
So make I many a pryue mone
For wel I fele I haue dispended
My long loue & not amended
My spede for ought I fynde yet
If this be wast to youre wyt
Of loue and prodegalyte
Now good fader demeth ye
But of one thyng I wyll me shr [...]
That I shal for no loue thryue
But yf hir self wyl me releue
My sone that may wel I leue
And netheles me semeth so
For ought that thou bast yet mysdo
Of tyme whiche thou hast myspendyd
It may with grace be amendyd
For thyng which may be worth the co [...]
Per chaunce is newther wast ne lo [...]
 [...] what thyng stont in auenture
That can no worldes creature
Telle in certeyne how it shall ende
Tyl he there of may see an ende
So that I note as yet therfore
If thou my sonne hast wonne or lore
For oftyme as it is sene
Whan somer hath lost al his grene
And is with wynter wast & bare
That hym is left no thyng to spare
Al is recouerd in a throwe
The cold wynter is ouer blowe
And styl ben the sharp showres
And sodenly ayenst his flowres
The somer happeneth & is ryche
And so per caas thy grace lyche
My sone though thou be now pouer
Of loue yet thou myght recouer
My fader certes graunt mercy
Ye haue me taught so redyly
That euer whyle I lyue shall
The better I may beware with all
Of thyng whiche ye haue said or this
But euermore how that it is
Toward my shryft as it belongeth
To wyte of other poyntes me longeth
Wherof that ye me wolden teche
With all my herte I yow byseche

Explicit liber quintus Sequitur liber Sextus

[Page]

Incipit [...]iter Sextus

[...] St gula (quam) nostr [...]m maculauit pama p [...]tum / Ex veti to pomo / quo do let omnis home / Hec agit vt corpus anime cont [...]ana spirat / Quo cawsit crassa sp [...]tuat [...]Ꝫ ma [...]r. Intus & exterins si que vir tutis habentur / Potibus ebrietas conuia [...]ta [...]uit▪ Mersa sapore lebis que ba [...]s inebriat hospes / Indignata venus oscula caro premit /

hIc in sextu libro tractare intendit de illo capitali vicio quod gu la dicitur / ne [...] nen et eiusdem duabus solū modo speciebns / videlicet ebrietate & delicacia / ex quibus humane concupis [...]nae oblectamentum habūdancius argumentatur

tHe grete synne orygenal / Whiche euery mā in gouernal / Vpon his byrthe hath enemyed / In paradys it was mystymed

When Adam of thylk Appel bote
His swete morcelle was so hote
Whiche dedely made the kynde
In the bookes as I fynde
This vyce whiche so oute of rule
Hath set vs al is cleped gule
Of the whiche the braūches ben so grete
That of hem all I wol not irete
But only as touchyng to two
I thynke to speke of no mo
Wherof the fyrst is dronkeship
Whiche bereth the cuppe felauship
Ful many a wonder doth that vyce
He can of a wyseman make a nyce
And of a foole that hym shal seme
That he can al the lawe deme
And yeue euery Iugement
Whiche longeth to the fyrmament
Bothe of the sterre [...] & of the mone
And▪ thus [...] maketh a gret clerk soone
Of hym that is a lewde man
There is no thyng that he ne can
Whyle he hath dronkeship on honde
He knoweth the see / he knoweth ye lōde
He is a noble man of armes
And yet no strengthe is in his armes
There he was strong ynowe to fore
With dronkeship it is forlore
And al is chaunged his estate
And wexeth anone soo feble and ma [...]e
That he may nether go ne come
But al to geder he is benome
The power bothe of honde & foote
So that algate abyde he mote
And al his wyttes be foryete
The whiche is to hym suche a lete
That he note neuer what he doth
Ne whiche is fals / ne whiche is sooth
Ne whiche is day ne whiche is nyght
And for ye tyme he knoweth no wyȝt
That he ne wote so moche as this
What maner thyng hym seluen is
Or he be man or he be best
That hold I ryght a sory fest
When he that Reson vnderstood
So sodenlyche he is wexe woode
Or els lyche the dede man
Whiche nother go ne speke can
Thus oft he is to bed brought
And where he lyeth he reteheth nought
Tyl he aryse vpon the mow we
And than he seith / O which a sorowe
It is a man to be drynkeles
[Page Cxxxvij]So that half dronke in suche a rees
With drye mouthe he stert hym vppe
He sayth bayleȝ sa the cuppe
That made hym lese his wytte ageyne
Is than a morow al be leyne
The cuppe is al that euer hym pleseth
And also that moost hym dyseseth
It is the cuppe whome he serueth
Whiche al care from hym herueth
And al balys to hym bryngeth
In ioye wepeth / in soro we he syngeth
It may no whyle stont in vers
For dronkenshyp is so dyuers
He drynketh the wyn / but at the last
The wyn drynketh hym & bynt hym
Fast / And leyth hym drōke by ye walle
As hym whiche is his bonde thrall [...]
And al in his subiection
And lyche to suche condycyon
As for to speke it otherwyse
It falleth that the most wyse
B [...]n other whyle of loue adoted
And so bywhapped and assoted
O [...] dronken men / & neuer yet
Was none whiche half so lost his wytt
Of drynke as they of suche thynges do
Whiche cleped the  [...]olyf wo
And wexen of hir owne thought
So dr [...]nk that they ne knewe nought
What reson is more or lesse
Suche is the kynde of that sykenesse
And that is not for lack of brayne
But loue is so grete a mayne
That where he taketh a herte on honde
There may no thyng his myȝt withstōd
With whiche Salamon was nome
And strong Sampson ouercome
The knyghtly Dauyd hym ne myght
Rescue that he with the syght
Of Bersabe ne was bestad
 [...]yrgyly also was ouerlad
And Aristotiles was put vnder
For thy my sone it is no wonder
Yf thou he dronke of loue amonge
Whiche is aboue al other strong
And yf so is that thou so be
Telle me thy shryft in prynyte
It is no shame of suche a thewe
A yong man to be dronkelewe
Of suche Phisyk as I can a parte
And as me semeth in that arte
Thou sholdest by phisonomye
Be shapen to that melodye
Of louedronke / and that is routhe
A holy fader that is trouthe
That ye me telle I am beknowe
That I with loue am so bythrowe
And al my herte is so thorugh sonkr
That I am verylyche dronke
And yet I may bothe speke & goo
But I ouercome so
And torned fro my self so clene
That oft I wote not what I mene
So that excusen I ne may
My herte fro the first day
That I am to my lady hythe
I was neuer yet sobre sythe
Where I hir see or see hir not
With musyng of my thought
Of loue whiche my herte assayleth
So dronk that my herte fayleth
And all my brayne is ouertorned
And my maner so my [...]torned
That I foryete all that I can
And stonde lyke a mased man
That oft whan I wold play
It maketh me drawe oute of the way
In soleyn place by my self
As doth a laborer to delf
Whiche can no gentylmans chere
Or els as a lewde frere
When he is put to his penaunce
Ryght so lese I my contenaunce
And yf it nedes so vetyde
That I in company abyde
Where as I must daunce & synge
The houe daunce and carolynge
Or for to goo the newe fote
I may not wel heue vp my foote
If that she be not in the way
For than is al myrthe away
And weye anone of thought so full
[Page]Wherof my lymmes ben so dull
I may vnnethes goo a pas
For thns it is / & euer hit was
When I on suche thoughtes muse
The lust and myrth that men vse
Whan I see not my lady byme
Al is foryete for the tyme
So ferforth that my wyttes chaungen
And al lustes fro me straungen
That they seyn al truly
And swore that I am not I
For as the man whiche ofte drynketh
The wyn that in his stomake synketh
Wexeth dronke & wytles for a throwe
Right so my lust is ouerthrowe
And of myn owne thought so mate
I wexe / that to myn estate
There is no lyme wylle me ser [...]e
But as a dronk man I swerue
And suffre suche a passyon
That men haue grete compassyon
And eueriche by him self merueyleth
What thyng it is what one eyleth
Suche is the maner of my wo
Whiche tyme that I am hurte soo
T [...]l efte ageyne that I hir see
But than it were a nycete
To telle yow how that I fare
For whan I may vpon hir stare
Hyr woman he de hir gentylnesse
My herte is ful of suche gladnes
That ouerpasseth so my wyt
That I wote nowhere where it syt
But am so dronken of that sight
Me thynketh that for the tyme I myȝt
Ryght streyte thorugh the hole walle
And than I may wel yf I shalle
Bothe synge and daunce & lepe aboute
And hold forth the lusty rowte
But netheles it falleth soo
Ful ofte that I fro hyr gos
Ne may but as it were a stake
I stonde auysement to take
And loke vpon hir fayre face
That for the whyle oute of the place
For all the world ne myght I wen [...]e
Suche lust cometh than to my mynde
So that withoute mete & drynke
Of lustes thoughtes whiche I thynke
Me thynketh I myght stonde euer
And so it were to me leuer
Than suche a syght for to leue
For wel is me that I haue leue
To haue so mochel of my wylle
And thus thynkyng I stond stylle
Withoute blemysshyng of myn eye
Ryght as me thought that I sye
Of paradys the moost ioy
And soo there whyle I me reioy [...]
In to my herte a grete desyre
The whiche is hoter than the fire
Al sodenlyche vpon me renneth
That all my thought within brenneth
And am so ferforth ouercome
That I note where I am bycome
Soo that amonge the hertes strong
In stede of drynke I vnderfonge
A thought so swete in my courage
That neuer pyement ne vernage
Was half so swete for to daynke
For as I wold than I thynke
As though I were at myn aboue
For so thorugh dronke I am of loue
That all that my soty demeth
Is soothe as than it to me semeth
And whyle I may the thoughtrs kepe
Me thynketh as though I were a slepe
And that I were in goddes barme
But when I see myn owne harme
And that I sodenlyche awake
Oute of my thought & hede take
How that the sooth stant in dede
Than is my sykernes in drede
And ioye torneth in to woo
Soo that the hete is al ago
Of suche soty as I was ynne
And than Inward I begynne
To take of loue a newe thurst
Whiche me greueth all there worst
For than cometh the blanche Feuer
With chele and make me to cheuer
And so it coldeth at my hert
[Page Cxxxviij]That wonder is how I asterte
In suche a poynt that I ne deye
For certes there was neuer keye
Ne frosen is vppon the walle
More Inly cold than I am alle
And thus I suffre the hote chele
Whiche passeth other poyntes fele
In Cold I brenne and feese in hete
And than I drynk a bytter swete
With drye lyppe & eyen wete
Loo thus I tempre my dyete
And take a draught of suche relees
That al my wyt is herteles
And al my herte therin syt
Is as who saith withoute wyt
So that I preue it by reson
In makyng of comparyson
There may no difference be
Bytwyx a dronke man & me
But al the werst of euerychone
Is euer that I thurst in one
The more that my herte drynketh
The more I may so me thynketh
My thurst shall neuer be acqueynte
God sheld that I be not dreynte
Of suche a superfluyte
For wele I fele in my degre
That al my wyt is ouercast
Wherof I am the more agast
That in defante of ladyship
Per chaunce in suche a dronkeship
I may be cede or I beware
For certes fader this I dare
Beknowe & in my thyrst telle
But I a draught haue of a welle
In whiche my deth is and my lyf
My ioye is torned in to staf
That sobre shall I neuer worthe
But as a dronken man for worthe
So that in londe where I fare
The lust is lore of my welfare
As he that may no bote fynde
But this me thynketh a wonder kynd
As I am dronk of that I drynk
Of these thoughtes that I thynke
Of whiche I fynd no relees
But yf I myght netheles
Of suche a drynke as I coueyte
Soo as me lust haue one receyte
I shold assobre and fare wele
But so fortune vpon hir whele
On he me deyneth not to sette
For euermore I fynd a lette
The botyler is not my frende
Whiche hath the key by the bende
I may wysshe and that I waste
For wel I wote so fresshe a taste
But yf my grace be the more
I shall assay neuermore
Thus am I dronke of that I see
Forcastyng is forfendyd me
And I can not my seluen staunche
So that my fader of this braunche
I am gytlyf to telle trouthe
My sone that me thynketh routhe
For loue dronke is the meschyef
Aboue all other the moost chyef
If he no lusty thought assay
Whiche may his sory thurst alay
As for the tyme that it lesseth
To hym whiche other ioye mysseth
For thy my sone aboue alle
Thynke well how so it befalle
And kepe the wyttes that thou hast
And late hem not be dronke in wast
But netheles there is no wyght
That may withstonde loues myght
But why the cause is as I fynde
But that there is dyuerse kynde
Of loue dronke why men pleyneth
After the Coūtrey whiche al ordeyneth
I wylle the telle the manere
Now lyst my sone / & thou shalt here

Hic narrat secundū poetam qualiter in suo cellario duo dolia jubiter hci bet / quorum primum liquoris dulassimum / secundum amarissimum plenū consistit / ita quod ille cui portata est pro spenta [...] de dula potabit / Alter bero cui adnersabitur poculum gustabit amarum

[Page]
fOr the fortune of euery chāce
A f [...]r the goddes purueaunce
To man it groweth frō aboue
So that the spede of euery loue
Is shape there or it befalle
For  [...]er abouen alle
Whiche is of goddes soueraynt
Hath in his seller as men saynt
Two tonnes ful of loue drynke
That maketh many a herte synke
And many an herte also to flete
Or of the fowre or of the swete
That one is ful of suche pyement
Whiche passeth al entendement
Of eny man yf he it taste
And maketh a ioylyf herte in hast
That other bytter as the galle
Whiche maketh a mannes herte palle
Whoos dronkeship is a sykenesse
Thorugh felyng of the bytternesse
Cupyde is boty [...]r of bothe
Whiche to the leefe & to the lothe
Yeueth of the swete & of the soure
That somme laugh & somme loure
But for so moche as he blynde is
Ful oftyme be aoth amys
And  [...] the badde for the good [...]
Whiche hyndreth many mans fode
Withoute cause & fortheteth eke
So ben there of loue somme seke
Whiche ought of reson to ben hole
And somme comen to the dole
In  [...]e & as hem self lyst
 [...]ynke vndeserueth of the best
And thus this blynd botiler
To suche as comen there
Yeueth of the swetee in stede of truble
L [...] how he can the hertes trouble
And maketh dronke al vppon chaūce
Withoute lawe or gouernaunce
I [...] he drawe of the swete tonne
Thenne is the sorowe al ouercome
Of loue drynke & shall not greue
So to the dronke euery eue
For alis than but a game
But when it is not for the same
And he the bytter tonne draweth
Suche dronkeshyp an hert gnaweth
And febleth al a mans thought
That better him were haue drōk nouȝt
And of his brede haue eten drye
For than he leseth his lusty wey
With dronkeship & wote not whyder
To go the weyes ben so slyder
In whiche he may par caas so falle
That he shal breke his wyttes alle
And in this wyse men ben dronke
After the drynk that they haue drōke
But all men drynke not y lyke
For somme shall syng & som shal sike
So that it me no thyng merueyleth
My sone of loue that the assayleth
For  [...]el knowe by thy tale
That thou hast dronke of the dwale
Whiche bitter is / til god the sende
Suche grace that thou myght amende
But sone thou shalt bydde & pray
In suche wyse as I shal say
That thou thy lust wel atteyne
Thy woful thurstes to restreyne
Of loue and mayst the swetenesse
As Bachus dyd in his distresse
When bodeliche thurst hym hent
In straunge londes where he went

Nota hic qualiter potus allquando scicienti precibus adquiritur / Et narrat Exēplum quod cum Bachus de quodam bello ad Orientem repatrians in quibusdam libie partibus alicuius generis potum non inuenit / fusis ad [...]ouem precibus a [...]aruit / & sic potum pe tenti peticio preualuit

tHis Bachus sone of  [...]ubiter
Was hote / & as he went fer
By his faders assignement
To make a werre in the Oryent
And grete power with hym he ladde
So that the hyher hond he hadde
And vyctorye of his enemye
[Page Cxxxix]And torneth homethard with his prys
In suche a Countrey which was dreye
A meschyef felle vpon the weye
As he rode with his companye
Nygh to the strondes of lumbardye
There myght they no drynk fynde
Of water ne of other kynde
So that hym self & al his hoost
Were for defaute of drynk almost
Destwyed▪ and than bachus prayd
To Iubiter▪ and thus he said
O hyghe fader that seest alle
To whome is reson that I shalle
Byseche and pray in euery nede
Byhold my fader and take hede
This woful thurst that we ben ynne
To staūche and graūte vs for to wynne
And sauf vnto the Countrey fare
Where that oure lusty loues are
Waytyng vpon our home comyng
And with the voyce of his prayng
Whiche herd was to the goddes heye
He sawe anone to fore his eye
A wether whiche ye groūd hath spur­ned.
And where he hath it ouerturned
There sprong a welle fresshe & cleve
Wherof his owne  [...]otylere
After the lustes of his wylle
Yaue euery man to drynk his fylle
And for this ylke grete grace
Forth with in the same place
A ryche temple lete he arere
Whiche euer shall sto [...]de there
To thursty men in remembraunce
For thy my sone after thy chaunce
It syt the well to take hede
So for to pray vpon the nede
As Bachus prayd for the welle
And thynk as thou hast herd me  [...]
How grace he grad & grace he had [...]
He was no foole that fyrst so radde
For  [...]elden gete a domme man londe
Take that prouerbe and vnderstonde
That wordes ben of vertues grete
 [...] thy to speke thou ne lete
To aske and pray erly and late
Thy thurst to quenche & thynk algate
The  [...]otyler whiche bereth the keye
As blynde as thou herest me seye
And yf it myght so betyde
That he vpon the blynde syde
 [...]er caas the swete tonne raught
Than shalt thou haue a swete draught
And wexe of loue dronke sobre
And thus I rede thou assobre
Thyn herte in hope of suche a grace
For dronkeship in euery place
To whether side that it torne
Doth harme & make a man to sporne
And falle of in suche a wyse
Where he per caas may not aryse

Hic de amoris ebrietate ponit exemplum qualiter [...]ristrans ad potum que Brangweyne in manu ei porrexit de a more bello Isolde inebriatus extitit

aNd for to loke in euydence
Vpon the sooth in experyence
So as it hath befalle or this
In euery mans mouthe it is
How  [...]rystram was of loue dronke
With Beal Isawde when they dronke
The drynk whiche Brangueyn hym
bytoke / Er ye kyng Mark his eme hir
toke / To wyf as it was after knowe
And eke my sone yf thou wylt knowe
As it hath fallen euermore
In lones cause and what is more
Of dronkeshyp afore to drede
As it whysome befelle in dede
Wherof thou myght the better eschewe
Of dronken men that thou sewe
The company in no manere
A grete e [...]sample thou shalt here

Hic [...]e [...]lis ebrietatis causa in amore contingentibus narrat quod cū pirotheus illā pulcherrimaa ypotaciam in [...]em duceret quosdam qui [Page] Centari vocabantur inter alios vici [...]os ad nupcias inuitauit qui vino in in [...]br [...]ati nupte formasitatem aspicien [...]s [...]plici ebrietatis a mensa ypotaciam a [...]irotheo marito suo impetu rapuerunt

tHis fynde I wryte in poe [...]ye
Of thylk fayre Ipotasye
Of whoos beaute there as she
Was / Spake euery man & felle per cas
That Pyrotheus so hym spedde
That he to wyf hir shold wedde
Wherof that he grete ioye made
And for he wold his loue glade
Ageyne the day of maryage
By mouthe bothe & by message
His frendes to the fest he praid
With grete worship & al men said
He hath this yong lady spoused
And whan yt they were al day honsed
And set and serued at mete
There was no wyn which may begete
That there ne was plente ynough
But Bachus thylke tonne drough
Wherof by way of dronkeship
The gretest of the felauship
Were oute of reson ouertake
And Venus whiche also hath take
The cause moost in special
Hath yeue hem drynk forth with al
Of thylke cuppe whiche exciteth
The lust wherin a man delyteth
And thus by double wey dronke
Of lust that ylk  [...]yry fonke
Hath made hem as who seith half wod [...]
That they no reson vnderstoode
Ne to none other thyng they seyen
But hir whiche to fore hir exen
Was wedded thylk same day
That fresshe wyf that lusty may
On  [...]ir it was al that they thoughte [...]
And so ferforth his lusstes sough [...]
That they whiche named were
Centauri at the feste there
Of one assent / of one acord
This yong wyf maugre hir lorde
In suche a rage forth ladden
As they none insight hadden
But only to her dronken fare
Which many a man hath made mysfare
In loue as wel as other wey
Wherof yf I shal more sey
Vpon the nature of this vyce
Of customme & of excercyse
The mannes grace how it fordoth
A tale whiche was whylome sooth
Of fooles that so dronken were
I shal reherce vnto thyn ere

[...] I [...] loquitur specialiter contra vicium illorum qui nimia potacione ex consuetudine chriosi efficiantur / Et narrat exemplum de Gabba & vitello qui potentes in hispania principes fuerunt / sed ipst cotidiane ebrietatis potibus assueti tanta vicinus intulerant enormia quod tandem toto conclamante populo pena sētencie capitalis in eos in dicialiter diffinita est / qui p [...]usquam morerentur vt penā mortis alleuiarent spontanea vim ebrietate sopiti quasi porci semimort [...] gladio perierunt

i Rede in  [...] Cronycle thus
Of Gabba and of vi [...]llus
The which of spayn both were
The grettest of al other there
And bothe of one condicion
After the disposicion
Of glotony & of dronkeship
That was a sory felauship
For this thou myght wel vnderstonde
That man may not wel long stonde
Whiche is wyndronk of comyn vse
For he hath lore the vertuse
Wherof Reson shold hym clothe
And that was sene vpon hem lo [...]
 [...]  [...]ayn there is no euydence
[Page Cxxxx]Wherof to knowe a difference
Bitwene the dronk & the wode
For they be neuer neyther goode
For where that wyn doth wyt awey
Wysedom hath  [...]oft the ryght wey
That he no maner vyce dredeth
No more than a blynde man thredeth
His nedel by the sonne lyght
No more is Reson than of myght
When he with dronkeship is blent
And in this poynte they were shent
This gabba bothe & eke  [...]lle
Vpon the cause as I shall telle
Wherof good is to taken hede
For they two with hir dronkenhede
Of wytles ex [...]tacion
Oppresseden al the  [...]acion
Of Spayne for a fowle vsaunce
Whiche done was of coutynuaunce
Of hem whiche al day dronken were
There was no wyf ne mayden there
What so they were fayre or fowle
That they ne wolden defoule
Wherof the lond was often wo
And  [...]ke in other thynges mo
They wroughten many a sondry  [...]
But how so that the day be longe
The derke nyght cometh at the los [...]
God wold not they sholden last
And shope the lawe in suche wyse
That they by the dome to the Iuyse
Be dampned for to ben lore
But they that hadden be to fore
Encly [...]ed to al dronkenesse
Here ande than  [...]are wytnesse
For they in hope to aswage
The payne of deth vppon the rage
That they the lesse sholde fele
Of wyn le [...]e fulfylle a mele
And  [...]  [...]ill so was bifalle
Th [...] her the strengthes loften alle
With [...]te wy [...] of ony brayne
And thus they  [...]en dede holf slayne
That hem ne gr [...]ueth but a lyde
My  [...] if thou be for to wyde
In ony poynt whiche I haue seide
Wherof thy wyttes ben vntey [...]
I rede the clepe hem home ayene
I shal do fader as ye seyn
As ferforth as I may suffyse
But wel I wote that in no wyse
The dronkeship of loue awey
I may remeue in no wyse
It stont not vpon my fortune
But yf thou lyst to comune
Of the second glotonye
Whiche cleped is delycacye
Wherof ye spak here to fore
Byseche I wold you therfore
My sone as of that ylke vyce
Whiche of all other is the noryce
And stant vpon the retenue
Of Venus so as it is due
The propyrte how that it fareth
The  [...]ook herafter now declareth

Delicie cum diuicijs sunt i [...]ra potē [...]um / [...]n quibus orta Venus excitat ora gule / Non sunt delicie tales (quam) corpora pascunt / Ex quibus impletus gau dia venter agit / Qui completus amor maiori munere gaudet / Cum data delicijs mens in amante fatur /

Hic narrat super illa specie gule que delicacia nuncupatur / cuius mo [...]icijs voluptuose carni in personis precipue potentibus que (quam) complacencia corporaliter ministrauit /

oF this Chapiter in whiche I trete / 
There is yet one of suche dyete. To which no power may  [...].
For al is paast of peindemayn
And sondry wyn and sondry drynke
Wherof that he wyll ete or drynke
His  [...] ben for hym affayted
So that his body is a wayted
That hym shal lacke no delyte
[Page]As ferforth as his appetyte
Suffyseth to the metes hote
Wherof this lusty vyce is hote
Of gule the delycacye
Whiche all the hole progenye
Of lusty folk hath vndertake
To fele whyles that he may take
Rychesse / wherof to be founde
Of abstynence he wote no bounde
To what proufyte it shold serue
And yet ph [...]sik of his conserue
Maketh many a restauracion
Vnto his recreacion
Whiche wold be to Venus leef
Thus for the poynt of his releef
The Cooke whiche shall his mete aray
But he the better his mouthe assay
His lordes thonk shall oft lese
E [...] he be serued to the chese
For ther may lacke not soo lyte
That he ne fynt anone a wyte
For but his lust be fully serued
There hath no wyȝt his thonk deserūed
And yet for mannes sustenaunce
To kepe and hold in gouernaunce
To hym that wylle his hele gete
Is none so good as comon mete
For who so loketh on the bookes
It seyth confexion of Cookes
A man hym shold wel auyse
How he it took and in what wyse
For who that vseth that he knoweth
Ful seldom sykenes in hym groweth
And who that vseth metes straunge
Though his nature empayre & chaūge
It is no wonder lyef sonne
Whan that he doth ayene his wonne
For in sykenes this I fynde
Vsaunce it is second kynde

Philosophus / Consuetudo est alter [...] natura

And right so chaunged his estat [...]
He that of loue is delycate
For though he had to his honde
The best wyf of al the londe
Or the fayrest loue of alle
Yet wold his herte on other falle
And thynk hem more delycious
Than he hath in his owne hou [...]
Men seyn it is now ofte so
Auyse hem wel they that so do
And for to speke in other way
Ful oftyme I haue herd say
That he whiche hath no loue acheued
Hym thynkth he is not releued
Though that his lady make hym chere
So as she may in good manere
Hir honoure & hir name saue
But yf he the surplus myght haue
No thyng withstondyng hir estate
Of loue more delycate
He set hir chere at no delyte
But he haue all his appetyte
My sone yf it be with the so
Telle me my hooly fader no
For delycate in suche a wys [...]
Of loue as ye me deuyse
Ne was I neuer yet gyltyf
For yf I had suche a wyfe
As ye speke of what shold I more
For than I wold neuermore
For lust of ony womanhede
My herte vpon none other fede
And yf I dyd it were a waste
But all withoute suche repaste
Of suche as ye me told aboue
Of wyf or yet of other loue
I faste and may no foode gete
So that for lack of deynte mete
Of whiche an herte may be fedde
I go fastyng to my bedde
But myght I geten as I told
So mochel that my lady wold
Me fede with hir glad semblannt [...]
Though me lacke all the remenaunt
Yet shold I somdele be abesshed
And for the tyme wel refresshed
But certes fader she ne doth
For in good feyth to tellen sooth
[Page Cxxxxj]I trowe though I shold ser [...]ue
She wold not his eye swerue
My herte with one goodely looke
To fede / & thus for suche a Cooke
I may goo fastyng euer mo
But yf so is that ony woo
May fede a mans herte wele
Therof I haue at euery mele
Of plente more than ynough
But that is of hym self so cough
My stomak may not it defye
Loo thus is the delycacye
Of loue whiche my herte fedeth
Thus haue I lack of that me nedeth
But for al this yet netheles
I sey not I am gyltles
That I somdele am delycate
For els were I fully mate
But yf that I somme lusty stound [...]
Of comforte & of ese founde
To take of loue somme repast
For though I with the ful taste
The lust of loue may not stele
My honge [...] otherwyse I kele
Of smale lustes whiche I pyke
And for a tyme yet they lyke
If that ye wysten what I mene
Now good sone shryue the clene
Of suche dayntees as ben good
Wherof thou takest thyn hertes foode
My fader I shall yow reherce
How that my foodes ben dyuerse
So as they fallen in degre
If fedyng is of that I see
Another is of that I here
The thyrd as I shalle telle here
It groweth of myn owne thought
And e [...]es shold I  [...]eue nought
For who that fayleth foode of herde
He may not wel the deth asterte

Not [...]i qualiter visus in amore se cō tinet de [...]

Of syght is al my fyrst foode
Tho [...]ugh whiche my eye of al goode
Hath that to hym is acordaunt
A lusty foode suffysaunt
When that I go toward the place
Where I shall see my ladyes face
Myn eye whiche is loth to fast
Begynneth to hongre anon as fast
That hym thynketh of one houre thre
Tyll I there come and he hir see
And than after his appetyte
He taketh a foode of suche delyte
That hym none other deynte nedeth
Of sondry sightes he hym fedeth
He seeth hir face of suche coloure
That fressher is than ony floure
He seeth hir fronte is large & pleyne
Withoute froūce of ony greyne
He seeth hir eyen lyche an heuen
And seeth her nose streyte & euen
He seeth hir rude vpon hir cheke
And seeth hir reed lyppes eke
Hyr chynne acordeth to the face
And that he seeth is full of grace
He seeth hir necke round & whyte
And al this thyng withoute wyte
He may see naked at the lest
So is it wel the more feste
And wel the more delycacye
And to the fedyng of the eye
He seeth hir shap forth with all
Hir body round / hir myddel small
So wel bigone with good array
Whiche passeth all the lust of may
When he is moost with soft showres
Ful clothed in lusty floures
With suche sightes by and by
Myn eye is fedde fnll fynally
When he the porte & the manere
Seeth of hir womanlyche chere
Than hath he suche delyte on honde
He thynketh he myght stylle stonde
And that he hath full suffysaunce
Of lyue [...]de and of sustenaunce
And to his parte euermo
And yf it thought all other so
Fro then wold he neuer wende
But there vnto the worldes ende
He wold abyde yf that he myght
[Page]And feden hym vpon the syght
For though I myght stonde ay
In to the tyme of domes day
And looke vpon hir euer in one
Yet whan I shold fro hir gone
Myn eye wold as though he faste
Ben honger storuen also fast
Til efte ayene that he hir sye
Suche is nature of myn eye
There is no lust so deyntefull
Of whiche a man shold not be full
Of that the stomak vnderfongeth
But euer in one myn eye longeth
For loke how that a goushauk tyreth
Ryght so doth he whan he pyreth
And tutyth on hir womanhede
For he may neuer fully fede
His lust but euer y lyche sore
Hym hongreth so that he the more
Desyreth to be fedde algate
And thus my eye is made the gate
Thugh which ye deyntees of my thouȝ [...]
Of lust ben to myn herte brought
Ryght as my eye with his look
Is to myn herte a lusty Cook
O [...] loues fede delycate
Ryght so my ere is in his estate
Where as my eye may not serue
Can wel myn eres thonk deserue
And feden hym fro day to day
With suche fode as he may
For thus it is that oueral
Where that I come in special
I may here of my lady pryce
I here one sey that she is wyse
Another seith that she is good
And somme men seyn / of worthy blood
That she is one / & is also
So fayre that there is none soo
And some preise hir goodly chere
Thus euery thyng that I may here
Whiche sowneth to my lady good
Is to my herte a lusty foode
And eke my ere hath ouer this
A deynte feste when so is
That I maye here hir selum speke
For than anone my fast I breke
On suche wordes as she seyth
That ful of trouthe & ful of feith
They ben and of so good disporte
That to my ere grete comforte
They done as they that ben delices
For al the metes and al the spyce [...]
That ony Lumbard couthe make
Ne be so lusty for to take
Ne so ferforth restauratif
I seye as for myn owne lif
As ben the wordes of hir mouthe
For as the wyndowes of the southe
Ben moost debonaire of all debonair [...]
So when hir lust to speke faire
The vertu of hir goodly speche
Is verily my hertes leche
And if it so bifalle among
That she carole vpon a songe
When I it here I am so fedde
That I am fro my lyf so ledde
As though I were in paradys
For certes as to myn auys
When I here of hir vois the steu [...]
Me thynketh it is a blysse of heu [...]
And eke m other vois also
Ful oftyme it falleth so
Myn ere with a good petaunce
Is fed of redyng & of romaunce
Of Ydome and of Amadas
That whilome were in my cas
And eke of other many a store
That loueden long or I was bode
For when I of hir loues redde
Myn ere with the tale I fedde
And with the lust of hir storye
Somtyme I drewe it to memorye
How sorowe maye not euer last
And so cometh hope in at the last
When I none other foode knowe
And that endureth but a throwe
Right as it were a chery feste
But for to counten at the lest
As for the while yet it eseth
And somdele of my herte appeseth
For what thyng to my ere spredeth
[Page Cxxxxij]Whiche is plesaunt somdele it eseth
With wordes suche as she may gete
My lust in stede of other mete
Loo thus my fader as I sey
Of lust the whiche my eye hath sey
And eke of that my ere hath herd
Ful ofte I haue the better ferd
And the two bryngen in the thyrd
The whiche hath in my herte amydde
His place take to aray
The lusty foode whiche assay
I mete and namelyche on nyghtes
When that me lacketh al sightes
And that my heryng is awey
Then is he redy in the wey
My rere souper for to make
Of whiche my hertes fode I take
This lusty Cookes name is hoote
Thought whiche hath euer his pottes
hote / Of loue boylyng on the fyre
With fantasye and with desyre
Of whiche full ofte or this she fedde
My herte when I was a bedde
And than he set vppon my lorde
Bothe euery sight & euery word
Of lust whiche I haue herd or seyn
But yet is not my fest all pleyn
But all of wordes and of fisshes
Therof I haue my full disshes
But as of felyng and of taste
Yet myght I neuer haue one repaste
And thus as ye haue herd to forn
I lycke hony on the thorne
And as who seith vpon the brydell
I chewe so that all is ydell
As in effecte the fode I haue
But as a man that wold hym saue
When he is syke by medycyn
Ryght so of loue the famyn
I fond m all that euer I may
To fede and drynke forth the day
Til I may haue the gretter feste
Whiche al my honger myght areste
Loo suche ben my lustes thre
Of that I thynke and here and see
I take of loue my fedyng
Withoute tastyng or felyng
As the poure doeth of the heyre
I lyue and am in good espyer [...]
That for none suche delycacye
I trowe I do no glotenye
And netheles to youre auys
My hooly fader that ben wys
I recommaunde myn estate
Of that I haue ben delycate
My sone I vnderstonde well
That thou hast told I here euerydele
And as me thynketh by thy tale
It ben delytes wonder smale
Wherof thou takest thy loues foode
But sone yf that thou vnderstood
What is to ben delycious
Thow woldest not be curyous
Vpon the lust of thyn estate
To ben to fore delycate
Wherof that thou reson excede
For in the bookes thou myght rede
If mannes wysedome shall be shewed
It ought wel to ben eschewed
In loue as wel as other wey
For as these hooly bookes sey
The bodely delyces alle
In euery poynt how so they falle
Vnto the sowle done greuaunce
And for to take in remembreunce
A tale acordaunt vnto this
wiche of grete vnderstondyng is
In mans soule resonable
I thynke to telle / & is no fable

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos de licatos / Et narrat de diuite et Laȝaro / quorum gestns m euangelio lucasuidencius describit.

oF Cristes worde who wil it rede
How yt this vyce is for to drede
In the euangely it telleth pleyne
wiche must algate be certeyne
For crist hym self bereth wytnesse
And though the clerk & the clergesse
In latyn tong it rede and synge
[Page]Yet for the more knowlechyng
Of trouthe whiche is good to wyte
I shall declare as I it wr [...]te
In Englys [...]he / for thus it bigan
Crist seith there was a ryche man
A myghty lord of grete estate
And he was eke so delycate
Of his clothyng that euery day
Of purpir / & bice he made hym gay
And ete and drank to his fylle
After the lustes of his wylle
As he whiche stood al in delyce
And took no hede of thylk vyce
And as it shold so betyde
A poure Laȝar vpon a tyde
Came to the gate & axeth mete
But there myght he no thyng gete
His dedely honger for to staunche
But he whiche had his ful paunche
Of all lustes at the bord
Ne deyneth not to speke a word
Onlyche a Cromme for to yeue
Wherof the peure myght leue
Vpon the yeft of his almesse
Thus lay this poure in grete distresse
Ac [...]lde & hongred at the gate
For whiche he myght goo no gate
So was he woful besene
That there as he lay on the grene
The houndes comen fro the halle
Where that this sike man was falle
And as he lay there for to dye
The woundes of his maladye
They lyeken for to done hym ese
But he was full of suche dysese
That he may not the deth escape
But as it was that tyme shape
The so wle fro the body passeth
And he whome no thyng ouerpasseth
The hyghe god vp to the heuen
Hym took where he hath set hym euen
In Abrahams barme on hyghe
Where he the heuens ioyr sighe
And had all that he haue wold
And felle as it befalle shold
This ryche man this same throwe
With sodeyne deth was ouerblowe
And forth withouten ony went
In to helle streyght he went
The fende in to the fire hym drough
Where that he had peyne ynough
Of flamme whiche that euer brenneth
And as his eye aboute renneth
Toward the heuen he cast his loke
Where that he sawe & hede tooke
How Laȝar set was in his see
As ferre as euer he myght see
With Abraham / & than he prayde
Vnto the patriarke and sayde
Sende Laȝar doune fro thylk sete
And doo that he his fynger wete
In water / so that he may droppe
Vpon my tonge for to stoppe
The grete hete in whiche I hrenne
But Abraham auswerd thenne
And seid to hym in this wyse
My sone thou the myght auyse
And take in thy remembraunce
How Lalar had grete penaunce
Whyles he was in that other lyf
But thou in al thy lusty iolyf
The bodely delytes soughtest
For thy so as thou than wroughtest
Now shalt thou take to thy reward
Of dedely payne herafter ward
In helle whiche shall ener last
And this Laȝar now at the last
The worldes payne is ouer ronn [...]
In heuen he hath his lyf begonne
Of ioye whiche is endeles
But that thou praydest neuertheles
That I shal Laȝar to the sende
With water on his fyngers ende
Thyne hote tonge for to kele
Thou shalt not suche graces fele
For in that folble place of synne
For euer in whiche thou shalt ben Inne
Cometh none out of this place thidder
Ne none of yow maye come hydder
Thus be ye parted now a two
The ryche ayeneward cryed tho
O Abraham sith hit soo is
[Page Cxxxxiij]That laȝar may not doo me this
Whiche I haue axed in this place
I wold pray another grace
For I haue yet of bretheren fyue
That with my fader ben alyue
To geder dwellen in one hows
To whome as thou arte gracious
I pray that thou woldest sende
Laȝar so that he myght wende
To warne hem how the world is wēt
That afterward they be not shent
Of suche peynes as I drye
Loo this I pray / & this I crye
That they may hem self amende
The patriarke anone sende
Of his prayer answer nay
And said hym how that euery day
His bretheren myght knowe & here
Of moyses in erthe here
And of prophetes other mo
What hem was best & he said no
But yf there myght a man aryse
From deth to lyf in suche a wyse
To tellen hem how that it were
He seyd thenne of pure fere
They sholden than beware therby
Quod Abraham / nay sikerly
For yf they now wylle not obeye
To suche as teche hem the wey
And al day preche & al day telle
How that it stont of heuen & helle
They wylle not than taken hede
Though it befelle so in dede
That ony dede man so arered
To ben of hym no better lered
Than of another man on lyue
If thou my sone canst descryue
This tale as Cryst hym self told
Thou shalt haue cause to be hold
To see so grete an euydence
There of the sooth experyence
Hath shewed openlyche at the eye
That bodely delycacye
Of hym whiche yeueth no almesse
Shal after falle in grete distresse
And that was sene vpon the riche
For he ne wold vnto his lyche
A crōme yeuen of his brede
Than afterward when he was dede
A droppe of water hym was werned
Thus may a mannes wytte be lerned
Of hem that so delytes taken
When they with deth ben ouertaken
That erst was swete is than sowre
But he that is gouernoure
Of worldes good yf he be wyse
Within his herbe he set no pryce
Of al the world / & yet he vseth
The good that he nothyng refuseth
As he whiche lord is of the thynges
The ouches & the ryche thynges
The clothe of gold & the perrye
He taketh.& yet the delycacye
He leueth though he were all this
The best mete that there is
He eteth & drynketh the best drynke
And taketh none hede to thynke
Delycacye to put awaye
As he whiche goth the right waye
Not only for to fede & clothe
His body / but his sowle bothe
But they that taken otherwyse
Her lustes ben none of the wyse
And that whylome was shewed eke
If thou these old bookes seke
As wel by reson as by kynde
Of old ensamples as men fynde

Hic loquitur de desicacia Newnis / qui corporalibus delicijs magis adherens spiritualia gaudia minus obtinuit /

tHat man yt wold hym wel auise
Delycacye is to despyse
Whan kynde acordeth not with all
Wherof ensample in special
Of new whylome may be told
Whiche ayens kynde many fold
His lustes took till at the last
That god hym wold all ouercast
[Page]Of whome the Cronyke is so pleyne
Me lust no more of hym to seyne
And netheles for glotonye
Of bodely delycacye
To knowe his stomak how it ferd
Of that no man to fore herd
Whiche he wythin hym self bethought
A wonder subtyle thyng be wrought
Thre men vpon election
Of age and of complexion
Lyche to hym self by al way
He toke to wardes hym to play
And ete and drank as wel as he
Therof was no dyersyte
For euery day whan that they ete
Tofore his o [...]ne borde they sete
And of suche mete as he was serued
Al though they had it not deserued
They token seruyce of the same
But afterward at thylk game
Was in to woful ernest torned
For when they were thus soiourned
Within a tyme at after mete
Nero whiche had not foryete
The lustes of his freel estate
As he whiche al was delycate
To knowe thylke experyence
The men lete come in his presence
And to that one the same tyde
A Courser that he shold ryde
In to the felde anone he bad
Wherof this man was wonder glad
And goth to pryke and daunce aboute
That other whyle that he was oute
He leyd vpon his bed to slepe
The thyrd whiche he wold kepe
Within his chambre fayre and softe
He gothe now vp now doune ful oft
Walkyng a pace that he ne slepte
Tyl he whiche on the Courser lepte
Was comen fro the felde ageyne
New than as bookes seyne
These men dyde done take al thre
And slewe hem for he wold see
Whoos stomake was best defyed
And when he hath the sooth tryed
He found that he whiche goth the pas
Defyed best of al was
Whiche afterward he vsed ay
And thus what thyng vnto his pay
Was moost plesaunt he left none
With ony lust he was bygone
Wherof body myght glade
For he no abstynence made
But moost of al erthely thynges
Of women vnto the lykynges
Nero set al his hole herte
For lust shold hym not asterte
When he the thurst of loue hym caught
Where that hym lust to take a draught
He spareth neyther wyf ne mayde
That suche another as men saide
In al this world was neuer yet
He was so dronke in al his wyt
Thorugh sondry lustes whiche he toke
That euer whyle ther is a book
Of New men shal rede and synge
Vnto the worldes knowlechyng
My good sone as thou hast herd
For euer yet it hath so ferd
Delycacye in loues cas
Withoute reson it is and was
For where that loue his herte set
Hym thynketh / it myght be no bet
And though it be not fully mete
The lust of loue is eure svete
Loo thus to geder of felauship
Delycacye and dronkeship
Wherof reson stant oute of herre
Haue made full many a man to erre
In loues cause moost of alle
For than how so that euer it falle
Wytte can no reson vnderstonde
But late the gouernannce stonde
To wylle whiche than wexeth so wild
That he can not hym self shyld
Fro the perylle but oute of fere
The way he secheth here and there
Hym retcheth not vppon what fyde
For oftyme he goth besyde
And doth suche thyng withoute drede
Wherof hym ought wel to drede
[Page Cxxxxiiij]But whan that loue assoted sore
It passeth all mens lore
What lust it is that he ordeyneth
Ther as no mannes myght restreyneth
And of god taketh he none hede
But lawes withoute drede
His purpoos for he wol acheue
Ayenst the poyntes of byleue
He tempteth heuen & erthe & helle
Here afterward as I shal telle

Dum stimulatur amor quicquid iubet ordo voluptas / Audet et aggredi tur nulla timenda timens / Omne quod astra quem herbarum siue potestas / Seu vigor inferni singula temptat amans / Quod nequit ipse deo mediante parare sinistrum / Demonis hec magica credulus arte parat. Sic sibi non curat ad opus que recia tendit. Dūmodo nudatam prendere posset auem /

Hic tractat qualiter ebrietas et deticacia onus pridicicic contrarium insti tantes inter alia ad carnalis concupiscencie promocionem sacrilegio magicā requirunt

WHo dare do thyng whiche loue ne dare / 
To loue is euery lawe vn­ware /
But to the lawes of his best
The fisshe. the fowle / the man / the beest
Of al the worldes kynde loutith
For loue is he whiche no thyng dou­teth▪
In mannes herte where he sytte
He cometh not toward his wytte
The woo nomore than the wele
No more the hete than the chele
No more the wete than the drye
No more to lyue than to dye
So that to fore ne behynde
He seeth no thyng but as the blynde
Withoute insight of his courage
He doth mecuayles in his rage
To what thyng that he will hym draw
There is no god there is no lawe
Of whome that he taketh heede
But as baiard the blynde stede
Tille he falle in the dyche a mydde
He goth ther no man wyll hym bydde
He stant so ferforth oute of rewle
There is no wytte that may hym reule
And thus to telle hym the sooth
Ful many a thyng he doeth
That were better to be laft
Among the whiche is suche craft
That somme men clepen sorcerye
Whiche is for to wynue his drewry
With many a circumstaunce he vseth
There is no poynte whiche he refuseth
The craft whiche Saturnus founde
To make prykes in the sounde
That Geamaunce cleped is
Ful ofte he vseth amys
And of the flood his Idromaunce
And of the fyre the romaunce
With questions echone of tho
He tempteth ofte. & eke also
Acremaunce in Iugement
To loue he bryngeth of his assent
For these craftes as I fynde
A man may doo by wey of kynde
Be so / it be to good entent
But he goth al another went
For rather than he shold faile
With nygromancye he wold assayle
To make his incantacion
With hote subfumygacion
Thilk arte whiche spatula is bote
And vsed is of comon rote
Among painēs whiche that craft eke
Of whiche his auctor Thoseȝ the greke
He wercheth one & one by rowe
Rachell is not to hym vnknowe
Ne Salamon Candarye
His Ideote his entonye
The figure and the howe with all
Of balachame and of Genball
The selle and therupon chymage
Of the byth for his auauntage
He taketh. and somwhat of Gy [...]ere
[Page]Whiche helpend is to the matere
Babilla with hir sonnes seuen
Whiche heth renounced to the heuen
With ceornes bothe square & round
He grateth efte vpon the grounde
Makyng his inuocacion
And for ful informacion
The s [...]ole whiche hono [...]us
Wr [...]te / he pursueth / and loo thus
Magyke he vseth for to wyn ne
His loue & spareth for no synne
And ouer that of his soty
Ryght as he seeth sorcerye
Of hem that ben magycyens
Ryght so of the naturyens
Vpon the sterres from aboue
His wey he secheth vnto loue
As ferre as he hem vnderstondeth
In many a sondry wyse he fondeth
He maketh ymage he maketh seulpture
He maketh writyng / he maketh figure
He maketh his cala [...]lacions
He maketh his demonstracions
His houres of Astronomye
He kepeth as for that partye
Whiche longeth to the inspectyon
Of loue and his affection
He wold now in helle seche
The deuyll hym self for to byseche
If that he wyst for to spede
To gete of loue his lusty mede
Wherof that he hath his herte set
He lede neuer to fare bet
Ne wyte of other heuen more
My sone yf thou of suche a lore
Hast ben or thie I rede the leue

Amans

My holy fader by youre leue
Of al that ye haue spoken here
Whiche t [...]uchith vnto this matere
To telle the soothe right as I wene
I wote not one word what ye mene
I wille not sey yf that I couthe
That I nold in my lusty youthe
Binethe in helle & eke aboue
To wyn with my lady loue
Done al that euer that I myght
For therof haue I none insight
Where afterward that I bycome
So that I wynne & ouercome
Hir loue whiche I coueyte
My sone that gothe wonder streyte
For this I may wel telle soothe
There is noman whiche so doth
For al the craft that he can cast
That he ne byeth it at the last
For ofte he that wol begyle
Is gyled with the same gyle
And thus the gylour is begyled
I fynde in a book compyled
To this matere an old hystorye
Whiche cometh now to memorye
And is of grete ensamplerye
Ageynst the vyce of sorcerye
Wherof none ende may be good
But whylome how therof stood
A tale whiche is good to knowe
To the my sone I shal beknowe

Nota hic contra istos ob amoris causam sortologos / vbi narrat Exemplum quod cum Vlixes a subuersione Troie repatriare nanigio voluisset ipsum in Insula Cilli vbi illa expertissima ma ga nomine Cyrces regnauit cōtigit applicuisse / quem vt in sui amoris concupiscenciam exardesceret. Circes ōnibus suis incātacionibus vincere conabatur Vlixes tamen Magica potencior ipsam in amore subegit / Ex qua filium nomine thelogonum genuit / qui postea patrem suum interfecit / et sic contra fidei naturam ge [...]tus contra generacionis naturam patricidium operatus est /

 [...] Mōges whiche at Troye were
Vlixes at the syege there
Was one by name in special
Of whome yet the memoryall
Abydeth / for whyle ther is a mouthe
[Page Cxxxxv]For euer his name shal be couthe
He was a worthy knyght and kyng
And clerk knowyng of euery thyng
He was a grete rethoryen
He was a grete magycyen
Of tullius the Rethoryk
Of kyng Zorastes the magyke
Of tholome the Astronomye
Of plato the philosophye
Of danyel the slepy dremes
Of neptune eke the water stremes
Of Salamon the prouerbis
Of mater at the strengthe of herbes
And the phisike of ypocras
And lyche vnto pyctagoras
Of surgerye he knewe the cures
But somwhat of his auentures
Whiche to my mater shal acorde
To the my sone I wylle recorde
This kyng of whiche yu hast herd seyne
From Troye as he goth home ageyne
By ship he found the see dyuerse
With many wyndy storme reuerse
But he thorugh wysedom yt he shapeth
Ful many grete perylle he escapeth
Of whiche I thynk telle one
How that mangre the nedel & stone
Wynde dryue he was al sodenly
Vpon the strondes of Cylly
Where that he must abyde a whyle
Two quenes weren in that yle
Calypha named aud Cyrces
And when they herd how Vlixes
Is londed therupon the Ryue
For hym they senden also blyue
With hym suche as he wold name
And to the Courte to hem he came
The quen [...]s weren as two goddesses
Of art magyke sorceresses
That what lord cometh to that ryuage
They make hym loue in suche a rage
That vpon hem assote soo
That they wol haue o [...] that he go [...]
Al that he hath of worldes good
 [...]lixes wel this vnderstood
They couthe moche he couthe more
They shape & cast ayenst hym sore
And wrought many a subtyle wyle
But yet they myght hym not  [...]egy
But of the men of his nauye
They two forshope a grete partye
May none of hem withstond her hestes
Some parte they shopen in to beestes
Some parte they shopen in to fowles
To beres tygres apes and oules
Or els by some other way
There myght no thyng hem disobeye
Suche crafte they had aboue kynde
But that arte couthe they not fynde
Of whiche Vlixes was deceyued
That he ne hath hem all weyued
And broughte hem in to suche a rote
That vpon hym they both assote
And thurgh the scyences of his arte
He took of hem so wel his parte
That he bigate Cyrces with childe
He kept hym sobre & made hym wyld
He set hym self so aboue
That with hir good & with hir loue
Who that therof be leef or lothe
Al quyte in to his ship he gothe
Cyrces to swelle bothe sides
He lefte & wayted on the tydes
And streyght thorugh the salt fome
He taketh his cours & cometh home
Where as he fonde penelope
A better wyf there may none be
And yet there ben ynowe of good
But who hir goodlyship vnderstood
Fro first she wyfehode tooke
How many loues she forsoke
And how she bare hir al aboute
Ther whyles that hir lord was oute
S [...]e myght take grete auaunt
Amonges all the remenaunt
That she was one of all the rest
Wel myght he set his herte in rest
This kyng whan he foūd hir al in bele
For as he couthe in wysedom dele
So couthe she in womanhede
And when she sawe withoute drede
Hir lord vpon his owne ground
[Page]That  [...]e was come sauf and sonude
In al the world ne myght be
A gladder woman than was she
The fame whiche may not be hydde
Thorugh oute the lond is sone kydde
 [...]ir kyng is come home ageyne
There may no man the ful seyne
How that they weren al glade
So mech [...]  [...]oye of hem they made
T [...]  [...] euery day  [...]e newed
He was with gyftes al be sewed
The peple was of hym so glade
T [...]t  [...]ugh none other mā hym bade
T [...]ge vpon hem self they sette
And as it were of pure dette
T [...]y y [...]ue her goodes to the kyng
This was a glad welhome comyng
Thus both Vlyxes what he wold
His wyf was suche as she sholde
His peple was to hym subiect
As they shold be withoute lette
But fortune is of suche a sleyght
That whan a man is moost of myght
S [...] maketh hym rathest for to falle
There no man wote what shall befalle
The happes ouer mann [...] hede
B [...] hanged with a tendre threde
That proued was on Vlyxes
For whan he was moost in his p [...]s
For  [...] sone gan to meke hym werre
And set hie welthe oute of herre
Vpon a day as he was mery
As  [...] there myȝt hym no thynge
 [...] / when nyght was come▪ he goth to
 [...]dde / with sl [...]pe & bothe his  [...]yen fedde
And whyle he slepte / he met a sweuen
Hym thought he sawe a statue euen
Whiche bryghter than sonne shen [...]
A man it semeth was it none
But as it was in fygure
Moost lyche to mannes creature
But as of beaute henenlyche
It was moost to an Aungel lyche
And thus bytwene Angel and man
Beholden it this kyng began
And suche a lust took of the syght
That fayne he wold yf that he myght
The forme of that figure embrace
And goth hym forth toward the place
Where he sawe that ymage tho
And taketh in his armes two
And it embraceth hym ageyne
And to the kyng thus gan it seyne
Vlixes vnderstood wel th [...]s
The token of oure acqueyntaunce is
Here afterward to mochel tene
The loue that is vs bitwene
Of that we now suche ioye make
That one of vs the deth shal take
When deth cometh of destyne
It may none other wyse be
Vlixes tho began to praye
That this figure wold hym saye
What wyght he is that seyth hym so
This wyght vpon a spere tho
A pensel whyte was wel bigone
Enbrowdred shewed hym anone
Thre fysshes all of one coloure
In manere as it were a toure
Vpon the pensel were wrought
Vlixes knewe this token nought
And praid to wyte in somme party [...]
What thyng it myght  [...]ygnyfye
A signe it is whiche answered
Of an empyre / and forth it ferd
Al sodenly when he that said
Vlyxes oute of slepe he brayd
And that was ryght ayene the day
That lenger slepen he ne may
Ayene a man hath knowlechyng
Saue of hym self of all thyng
His owne chaunce no man knoweth
But as fortune it on hym throweth
Was yet neuer so wyse a Clerke
Whiche myght knowe al goddes werk
Ne the secrete whiche god hath sette
Ayene a man may not be lette
Vlyxes though that he be wyse
With all his wytte in his auyse
The more that he his sweuen acounteth
The lesse he wote what it amounteth
For all his calculacion
[Page Cxxxxvj]He seeth none demonstracion
Al pleynly for to knowe an ende
But netheles how so it wende
He drad hym of his owne sone
That maketh hym wel ye more astone
And shope therof anone with all
So that within a castel walle
Thelamon his sone he shette
Tyl he myght knowe the bette
The sooth / for there he ne knewe
Til that fortune hym ouerthrewe
But netheles for sykernesse
Where that he myght wyte & gesse
A place strengest in his londe
There lete he make of lyme & sonde
A strengthe where he wold dwelle
Was neuer man yet herd telle
Of suche another as it was
And for to strengthe hym in that cas
Of al his  [...]onde the sykerest
Of seruanntes and of the worthyest
To kepe hym within ward
He charged hem they sholden harde
And make suche an ordynaunce
For loue ne for acqueyntaunce
That were it erly / were it late
They shold bete in at the yate
No mauer man what so betydde
But it so were hym self it bydde
But al that myght hym not auayl [...]
For whome fortune wyll assayle
There may be no resistence
Whiche myght a man make defence
That al shall be must fal algate
This Cyrces whiche I spake of tate
On whome Vlyxes hath bigete
A childe though he it haue foryete
When tym [...] came as it was wonne
She was delyuerd of a sonne
Whiche cleped is thelogonus
The child when he was bore thus
Aboute his moder to ful age
That he can reson and langage
In good estate was drawe forth
And when he was so mochel w [...]th
To stonde in a mannes stede
Circes his moder hath hym bede
That he shall to his fader go
And told hym al to geder tho
What man he was that hym bega [...]
And when  [...]lelogonus herd that
Was ware & had ful knowlechyng
How that his fader was a kyng
He prayd his moder fayre this
To go where that his fader is
And she hym graunted that he shall
And made hem redy forth with all
It was that tyme suche vsaunce
That euery man the cong [...]ysaunce
Of his Countre bare in his honde
When he went in to straunge londe
And thus was euery man therfore
Well knowe where that he was bore
For espyall or myst [...]o wynges
They dyde than suche thynges
That euery man may other knowe
S [...]o it bifelle in that throwe
Thelogonus as in this cas
Of his Contre the signe was
Thre fisshes whiche he sholde bere
Vpon the pynon of a spere
And when he was thus arrayd
And had his harneys all assayd
That he was redy euerydele
His moder bad hym fare wele
And said hym that he shold s [...]ythe
His fader grete a thousand  [...]ythe
Thelogonus his moder ky [...]
And took his leue & where he wyst
His fader was / the way he name
Til he vnto Nachare came
Whiche of that lond the chyef Cyte
Was cleped / & there asketh he
Where was the kyng / & how he ferde
And when that he the sooth herde
Where that the kyng Vlix [...]s was
Alone vpon his ho [...]s grete paas
He rood [...] hym forth & in his honde
He bare the signall of his londe
With fisshes thre as I haue told
And thus he went in to that hold
Where that his owne fader dwelleth
[Page]The cause why he came he telleth
Vnto the kepars of the gate
And wold haue cemen in ther ate
But shortely they hym said nay
And as fayre as euer he may
Besought & told hem of this
How that the kyng his fader is
But they with proude wordes grete
Biganne to manace and threte
But he go fro the gate fast
They wold hym take and set fast
Fro wordes vnto strokes thus
They felle so that Thelogonus
Was sore hurte & wel nyhe dede
But with his sharp speres hede
He maketh defence how so it falle
And wan the yate vpon hem alle
And hath slayne of the best fyue
And they aseryeden as belyue
Thorugh oute the castel al aboute
On euery syde men came oute
Wherof the kynges herte aflyght
And he with al the hast yt he myght
A spere caught / & oute he goeth
As he that nyhe was woode & wroth
He sawe the yates ful of blood
Thelogonus & where he stood
He sawe also but he ne knewe
What man he was and to hym threwe
His spere / & he sterte oute asyde
But desteny whiche shold betyde
Befelle that ylke tyme so
Thelogonus knewe no thyng tho
What man it was that to hym cast
And whyles his owne spere last
With al the signe therupon
He cast vnto the kyng anone
And smote hym with a dedely woūde
Vlix [...]s felle anone to grounde
Tho euery man the kyng the kyng
Began to crye & of this thyng
Thelogonus whiche sawe the caas
On knees felle / & seid alas
I haue myn owne fader slayn
Now I wold deye wonder fayn [...]
Now slee me who that euer wylle
For certes it is right good skylle
He cryeth he wepeth / he seid therfore
Alas that euer was I bore
That this vnhappy destyne
So wofully cometh in by me
This kyng which yet hath life ynoug [...]
His herte ayene vnto hym drough
And to that voyce an ere he leyd
And vnderstood all that he seid
And gan to speke & said on hyghe
Bryng me this man & whan he syghe
Thelogonus his thought he set
Vpon the sweuen whiche he met
And axeth that he myght see
His spere / on whiche the fysshes thre
He sawe vpon a pensel wrought
Tho wyst he wel / it faileth nought
And bad hym that he telle shold
Fro whens he came & what he wold
Thelogonus in sorowe & woo
So as he myght told tho
Vnto Vlixes all the caas
How that Cyrces his moder was
And so forth seid hym euery dele
How that his moder grete hym wele
And in what wyse she hym sent
Tho wist Vlixes what it ment
And tooke gym in his armes softe
And al bledyng kyst hym ofte
And said sone whyles I lyue
This infortune I the foryeue
After his other sone in hast
He sente & he bigan hym has [...]s
And cam vnto his fader ty [...]e
But when he saw hym in suche plyte
He wold haue ronnen vpon that other
Anone & slayne his owne broder
Ne had ben that Vlixes
Bitwene hem made acord & pe [...]s
And to his heyre thelamacus
He had that he Thelogonus
With al his power shold kepe
Till he were of his woundes depe
Al hole and than he shold hym y [...]
Londe where vpon to lyue
Thelamacus when he this herde
[Page Cxxxxvij]Vnto his fad [...] he answerd
And said he wold done his wylle
So dwellen they to geder stylle
These bretheren and the fader sterueth
Lo wherof sorcery serueth
Thorugh sorcerye his lust he wan
Thorugh sorcery his wo bygan
Thorugh sorcerye his loue he chese
Thorugh sorcerye his lyf he lese
The child was get [...] in sorcerye
Whiche dyd all this felonye
Thyng which was ayene kynde wroȝt
Vnkyndely it was bought
The child his owne fader slough
That was vnkyndeship ynough
For thy take heede how that it is
So for to wynne loue amys
Whiche endeth  [...]l his ioye in wo
For al this arte I fynde also
That hath be do [...] for loues sake
Where thou myght ensample take
A grete Cronycle Emperyall
Whiche euer in memoryall
Among the men how so it wende
Shal dwelle vnto the worldes ende

Hic n [...]rr [...]t Exemplum qu [...]ter Nectanabus ab Egipt [...] in Macedoniam fugiti [...]s Olimpiadem philippi re gis ibidem tunc absentis vxorem arte magi [...] decip [...]ens c [...]m ipsa concubuit [...] magnum (quam) ex ea Alexandrum sortelogus genuit / qui natus p [...]stea cum ad erudiendum sub custodia Nectanabi patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam percipiens interfecit / Et sic sortil [...]gus ex suo sortilegio infortunij sortem sortitus est

tHe hye Creatoure of thynges
Whiche is kyng of al kynges
Ful many worldes chaunce
L [...]te slyde vnder his sufferaunce
There wote noman the cause why
But he whiche is al myghty
And that proued whilome thus
When that the kyng Nectanabus
Whiche had Egypte for to lede
But for he sey before the dede
Thorugh magyke of his sorcerye
Wherof he couthe a grete partye
His enemyes to hym comende
Fro whome he myght not hym defende
Oute of his owne londe he fledde
And in the wyse as he hym dredde
It felle for al his wytchecraft
So that Egypte was hym beraft
And he desguysed fledde awey
By ship / & held the ryght wey
To Macedoyne where that he
Ar [...]yueth at the chyef Cyte
Thre yomen of his Chambre there
All only for to serue hym were
The whiche he trusteth wonder wele
For they were trewe as ony stele
And hapneth that they with hym lad
Parte of the best good he had
They toke lodgyng in the towne
After the disposicioun
Where as hym thought best to dwelle
He axeth than & herd telle
How that the kyng was oute go
Vpon a werre he had tho
But in that cyte than was
The quene whiche Olympias
Was hoote & with solempnyte
The feste of hir natyuyte
As it be fell was than holde
And for hir lust to biholde
And prayd of the people aboute
She shope hir for to ryde oute
And after mete al openly
Anone were al men redy
And that was in the Monethe of may
This lusty quene on good aray
Was set vpon a mule whyte
To sene it was a grete delyte
The ioye that the Eyte made
With fresshe thynges & with glade
The noble t [...]une was al behonged
[Page] And euery wyght was sore alonged
To s [...]e this lusty lady ryde
There was grete myrthe on euery side
Where as passeth by the strete
Th [...]re was full many tymbre bete
And many a mayde carolyng
And thus thurgh out yt t [...]un playeng
This quene vnto a pleyne rode
Where that she houed and abode
To see dyuerse g [...]me pley
The lusty folk Iust and torney
And so forth euery other man
Whiche play couthe /  [...]is playe bigan
To plese with this noble quene
Nectanabus came to the grene
Amonges other & drough hym nyghe
But when that he this lady syghe
And of hir beaute hede tooke
He  [...]uthe not withdrawe his loke
To see nought elles in the felde
But stood / & only hir biheld
Of his clothyng & of his chere
He was al vnlyche other there
So that it hapneth at the last
The quene vpon hym hir eye cast
And knewe that he was s [...]raūge anone
But he biheld hir euer in one
Withoute blemysshyng of his cheere
She took good  [...]ede of h [...]s manere
And wondreth why he dyd so
And bad men sheld for hym goo
He came & dyd hir reuerence
And she axeth in sylence
From whome he came & what he wold
And he with sobre wordes told
And seyth madame a Clerke I am
To yow and in message I cam
The whiche I may not tellen here
But yf it lyke yow to here
It must be said al pryuely
Where none shal be but ye and I
Thus for the tyme he tooke his leue
The day goth forth till it was eue
That euery man mote lete his werk
And she thought euer vpon this clerk
What thyng it is that he wold mens
And in this wyse abode the quene
It passeth ouer thylk nyght
Till it was on the moro we lyght
She send for hym and he came
With hym his Astrolahe he name
Whiche was of fyne gold precious
With poyntes and cercles merueylous
And eke the heuenly fygures
Wronght in a book full of peyntures
He took this lady for to shewe
And told of eche of hem by rewe
The cours and the condycyon
And she with grete affectyon
Sate stylle & herd what he wold
And thus when he seeth tyme he told
And feyneth with his wordes wyse
A tale and seyth in suche a wyse
Madame but a whyle agoo
Where I was in Egypte tho
And radde in scole of this scyence
It felle in to my conscyence
That I in to the temple went
And there with all my hole entent
As I my sacryfice dede
One of the goddes hath me  [...]ed [...]
That I yow warne pryuely
So that ye make yow redy
And that ye be no thyng agaste
For he suche loue hath to yow cast
That ye shall ben his owne dere
And he shall be youre bedfere
Til ye conceyue & be with child
And with that word▪ she wex al myld [...]
And somdele bicame for shame
And axrth hym that goddes name
Whiche so wol done her companye
And he seid amos of luby
And she said that may I not leue
But yf I see a better preue
Madame quod Nectanabus
In token that it shal be thus
This nyght for enformacion
Ye shall hane a vysyon
That Amos shall to yow appere
To she we and teche in what maner [...]
The thyng shall afterward befalle
[Page Cxxxxviij]Ye oughten wel abouen alle
To make ioye of suche a lord
And when ye be of one acord
He shall a sone of yow begete
Which with his swerd shal wyn & gete
The wyde world in lengthe & brede
Al erthely kynges shall hym drede
And in suche a wyse I yow behote
The god of the erthe he shall be hote
If this be sooth tho quod the quene
This nyght thou se [...]st it shall be sene
And yf it falle in to my grace
Of god Amos that I purchace
To take of hym so grete worship
I wol doo the suche ladyship
Wherof thou shalt for euermo
Be ryche / & he thanked hyr tho
And took his leue / & forth he went
She wist lytel what he ment
For it was gyle and sorcerye
Al that she took for prophecye
Nectanabus thorugh oute the day
When he cam home where he lay
His chambre with hym self tooke
And ouertorneth many a book
And thorugh the craft of arte mage
Of wex he forgeth an ymage
And loketh his equacions
And eke the constellacions
He loketh the con [...]unctions
He loketh the recepcions
His signes his houre his ascendent
And dr [...]weth fortune of his assent
The name of the quene Olimpias
In thylk ymage wryten was
A myddes in the fronte aboue
And thus to wyn his lust of loue
Nectanabus this werk hath dyght
And whan it came within nyght
That euery wyght is falle a slepe
He thought he wold his tyme kepe
As he whiche hath his houre apoynted
And than first he hath anoyn [...]eed
With sond [...]y herbes that figure
And therupon he gan coniure
So that thorugh his enchauntement
This lady whiche was Innocent
And wyst no thyng of this gyle
Mette as she slepte thylke whyle
How fro the heuen cam a lyght
Whiche al hir chambre made lyght
And as she loked to and fro
She sey hir thought a dragon tho
Whoos scherdes shynen as the sonne
And hath his soft paas begonne
With al the chere that he may
Toward the hed there she lay
Til he cam to the beddes syde
And she lay stylle & no thyng cryde
For he did al his thynges fayre
And was curtoys and debonayre
And as he stoode hir fast by
His forme he thaunged sodenly
And the figure of man he nome
And to hir in to hir bedde he come
And suche thyng ther of loue he wroȝt
Wherof so as hir than thought
Thorugh lykyng of this god Amos
With childe anone hir wombe  [...]roos
And she was wonder glad with alle
Nectanabus whiche causeth alle
Of this metred the substaunce
When he seeth tyme his nygromance
He stynt & no thyng more seide
Of his carecte & she abreyde
Oute of hir slepe and leueth wele
That it is sooth than enery dele
Of that this Clerke hir had told
And was the gladder many fold
In hope of suche a glad metrede
Whiche after shalle befalle in dede
She longeth sore after the day
That she hir sweuen telle may
To this gylour in pryuete
Whiche knewe it as wel as she
And netheles on the morow soone
She lefte all other thynges to done
And for hym sent & all the caas
She told hym pleynly as it was
And said how than wel she wyst
That she his wordes myght tryst
For she fond hir auysyon
[Page]Ryght after the condycyon
Whiche he hir had told tofore
And prayd hym hertely therfore
That he hir hold couuenaunt
So forth of all the remenaunt
That she may thorugh his ordynaunce
Toward the god doo suche plesaunce
That she wakyng myght hym kepe
In suche wyse as she met in slepe
And he that couthe gyle ynough
When he this herd for ioye he lough
And said madame it shall be doo
But this I warne yow therto
This nyȝt when that he cometh to play
That there be no lyf in the way
But I that shall at his lykynge
Ordeyne so for his comyng
That ye ne shall of hym fayle
For this madame I yow conusaile
That ye it kepe so pryue
That no wyght els but we thre
Haue knowlechyng how that it is
For els myght it fare amys
If ye dyd ought that shold hym greue
And thus he maketh hir to bileue
And fayneth vnder gyle feyth
But netheles all that he seyth
She troweth. and ayene the nyght
She hath within hir chambre dyght
Where as this gyloure fast by
Vpon this god shal pryuely
Awayte as ye make hir to wene
And thus this noble gentyl quene
When she moost trust was deceyued
The nyȝt cam the chambre is weyued
Nectanabus hath take his place
And when he sawe tyme of space
Thorugh deceyte of his magyke
He put hym oute of mans lyke
And of a dragon took he the forme
As he whiche wold al conforme
To that she sawe in sweuen or this
And thus to chambre comen he is
The quene lay a bed and syghe
And hopeth euer as he cam nyghe
That he god of luby were
So that she the lesse fere
But for he wold hir more assure
Yet efte he chaunged his figure
And of a wether the lykenesse
He took in fygure of his noblesse
With large hornes for the nones
Of fyne gold & precious stones
A Corowne on his hede he bare
And sodenlyche or she was ware
As he whiche all gyle can
His forme he turneth in to man
And cam to bed / & she lay stylle
Where as she suffred all his wylle
And she whiche wende not mysdo
But netheles it hapned soo
Al though she were in parte deceyued
Yet for all that she hath conceyued
The worthyest of al the kythe
Whiche was euer to fore or sithe
Of conquest & of Chyualrye
So that thorugh gyle & sorcerye
There was that noble knyght begōne
Whiche al the world hath after wōne
Thus felle the thyng which falle shold
Nectanabus hath that he wold
With gyle he hath his loue spedde
With gyle he cam in to the bedde
With gyle he goth hym oute ageyne
He was a shrewed chambyrlayne
So to begyle a worthy quene
And that on hym was after sene
But netheles the thyng is do
This fals god was soone goo
With his deceyte & helde hym cloos
Tyl morow cam that he aroos
And tho when tyme of leyser was
Tho quene told hym al the cas
As she that gyle none supposeth
And of two poyntes she hym opposeth
One was yf that this god nomore
Wyll come ayene and euermore
How she shal stonden in acord
With kyng philip hir owne lord
When he cometh home & seeth hir grone
Madame he seyth lete me alone
As for the god I vndertake
[Page Cxxxxix]That whan it lyketh yow to take
His company at ony throwe
If I a day to fore it knowe
He shall be with yow on the nyght
And he his wylle of suche a myght
To kepe yow from al blame
For thy comforte yow madame
There shal none other cause be
Thus took he leue / & forth goth he
And tho began he for to muse
How he the quene myght excuse
Toward the kyng of that is falle
And fonnd a crafte amonges alle
Thurgh which he hath a sefoul dasited
With his magyke & so enchaunted
That he flewe forth when it was nyȝt
Vnto the kynges tent ryght
Where that he lay amyddes his hoost
And when he was a slepe moost
With that the sefoull to hym brought
Another charme whiche he wrought
At home within his chambre stylle
The kyng he turneth at his wylle
And maketh hym for to dreme & see
The dragon and the pryuete
Whiche was bytwene hym & ye quene
And ouer that he made hym wene
In sweuen how that the god Amoo
Whan he from the quene aroos
Toke forth a rynge wherin a stone
Was set & graue therupon
A sone in whiche whan he cam nyght
A lyon with a swerd he syght
With a prente as he tho mette
Vpon the quenes womhe he sette
A seall & goth hym forth his way
With that the sweuen went his waye
And tho bygon the kyng a wake
And sighed for his wyues sake
With that he lay within his tent
And hath a greete wōder what it ment
With that he hasted hym to ryse
Anone and sent after the wyse
Among the whiche there was one
A Clerk his name is Amphyone
When he the kynges sweuen herd
What it bytokeneth he answerd
And said as sykerly as the lyf
A god hath leyn by thy wyf
And gete a sone whiche shall wynne
The world & al that was withynne
As the lyon is kyng of beestes
So shalle the world obeye his heestes
Which with his swerd shal all be wōne
As ferre as shyneth ony sonne
The kyng was doutif of this dome
But netheles when that he come
Ageyne in to his owne londe
His wyf with child grete he founde
He myght not hym self stere
That he ne made hir heuy chere
But he whiche couthe of all sorowe
Nectanabus vpon the morow
Thorugh the deceyte of Nygromaunce
Toke of a dragon the semblaunce
And where the kyng sat in his halle
Came in rampyng among hem alle
With suche a noyse and suche a rore
That they agast were all so sore
As though they shold deye anone
And netheles he greueth none
But goth toward the deyse on hye
And when he quene nyghe
He stynt his noyse and his wyse
To hir he profered his seruyce
And leyd his honde vpon hir barme
And she with goodly chere hir arme
Aboute his neck ayeneward leyde
And thus the quene with hym pleyde
In sight of al men aboute
And at the last he gan to loute
And obeysaunce vnto hir make
And he that wold his leue take
And sodenly his lothely forme
In to an egle he gan transforme
And flewe and set hym on a rayle
Wherof the kyng had grete meruayle
For there he plumeth hym & pyketh
As doeth an hawke when hym wel
liketh And after that him self he shoke
Wherof that all the halle quoke
As it a terremote were
[Page]They saiden alle god was there
In suche a rees and forth he flygh
The kyng whiche al this wonder sighe
When he cam to his chambre alone
Vnto the quene he made his mone
And of foryeuenes he hir prayd
For than he knewe wel as he said
She was with child than with a god
Than was the kyng withoute rod
Chastysed & the quene excused
Of that she had ben accused
And for the gretter euydence
Yet after that in the presence
Of kyng philip and of other mo
Whan they roode in the feldes tho
A fesaunte came before her cye
The whiche anone as they hir seye
Fleyng lete an egge doune falle
And it to brake among hem alle
And as they token therof kepe
They sawe oute of the shelle crepe
A lytel serpent oute of the ground
Whiche rampeth al aboute round
And in ayene it wol haue wonne
But for the brennyng of the sonne
It myght not / & so he deyde
And therupon the clerkes seide
As the serpent when it was oute
Went enuyroun the shelle aboute
And myght not torne in ageyne
So shall it falle in certeyne
This child the world shal enuyroune
And aboue all to bere the Crowne
Hym shalle befalle in his yong age
He shall desire in his courage
When all the world is in his honde
To turne ageyne in to the londe
Where he was bore and in his weye
Home ward he shalle with poyson deye
The kyng whiche al this sawe & herd
Fro that day forth how so it ferd
His Ielousye hath all foryete
But he whiche hath the child beḡete
Nectanabus in pryuete
The tyme of his natyuyte
Vpon the constellacion
A wayteth and relacion
Maketh to the quene how she shalle d [...]
And euery houre appoynteth so
That no mynute therof was lore
So that in due tyme is bore
This child & forth with therupon
There fell wondres many one
Of terremote vnyuersell
The sonne took coloure of the stele
And left his lyght / the wyndes blewe
And many strengthes ouerthrewe
The see his propre kynde chaunged
And al the world his forme chaūged
The thonder with his fyry beuen
So cruel was vpon the heuen
That euery erthely creature
Tho thought his lyf in auenture
The tempest at the last seceth
The child is kepte his age encreceth
And Alysaunder his name is hote
To whome Calystre and Arystote
To techen hym philosophye
Endenden and Astronomye
With other thynges whiche he couthe
Also to teche hym in his youthe
Nectanabus took vpon honde
But euery man may vnderstonde
Of sorcerye how that it wende
It wylle hym self proue at the ende
And namely for to begyle
A lady whiche withoute gyle
Supposeth all that she hereth
But often he that euyll stereth
His ship is dreynte therin a mydde
And in this caas ryght so betydde
Nectauabus vpon a nyght
When it was fayre & sterre bryght
This yong lord lad vpon hyghe
Aboue a towre where as he syghe
The sterres suche as he acounteth
He seeth what eche of hem amounteth
And though he knewe of al thynge
Yet hath he no knowlechyng
That shall vnto hym self befalle
When he hath told his wordes alle
This yong lord than hym opposeth
[Page Cl] And asketh yf that he supposeth
What deth he shall hym self deye
He seith or fortune is aweye
And euery sterre hath lost his wonne
Or els of myn owne sonne
I shall be slayn I may not fle
Thought Alysandre in pryuyte
Herof this old dotard lyeth
And or that other ought aspyeth
Al sodenlyche his old bones
He shoof ouer the wal for the nones
And seyth hym / lye doune there a part
Wherof now serueth al thyn art
Thou knowest al other mennes chaūce
And of thy self hast ygnoraunce
That thou hast said amonges alle
Of thy persone it is not befalle
Neccanabus whiche hath his deth
Yet whyles hym lasteth lyf or brethe
To Alysander he spak and seyd
That he w [...]th wrōg blame on hym leid
Fro poynt to poynt & al che cas
He told how he hie sonne was
Tho he whiche sory was ynough
Oute of the dyche his fader drough
And told his moder how it ferde
In counceyl / & when she it herd
And knew the tokenes whiche he told
She nyst what she sey shold
But stoode abasshed as for the whyle
Of his magyke and of his gyle
She thought how she was deceyued
That she hath of a man conceyued
And wend a god it had be
But netheles suche degree
So as she myght hir honoure saue
She shope the body was begraue
And thus Nectanabus abought
The sorcery whiche he wrought
Though vpon the creatures
Thorugh his carectis and figures
The maystry and the power had
His creatour to nought hym lad
Ageyne whos law his crafde he vseth
When he for lust his god refuseth
And tooke hym to the deuyls  [...]aft
Lo what profyte is hym belaft
That thyng thurgh which he wēde ha­ue
stōde / First hym exiled out of londe
Whiche was his owne / & frō a kyng
Made hym to be an vnderlyng
And sythen to deceyue a quene
That torneth hym to mochel  [...]ne
Thorugh lust of loue he gate hym hate
That ende couthe he not abate
His old sleyghtes whiche he cast
Yong Alisander hyn ouercast
His fader whiche hym mysbigat
He slewe / a grete myshappe was that
But for one mys another mys
Was yolde / and so ful oft is
Nectanabus his craft myswent
And so it mysfell hym or that he went
I note what helpeth that clergy
Whiche maketh a man to doo foly
And namelyche of Nygromaunce
Whiche stont vpon the mysereaunce

Nota qualiter rex Zorastes statim cū ab vtero matris sue nasceretur gaudio magno risit, in quo prenosticum doloris subsequentis signum figurabatur Nam et ipse detestabilis artis magica primus fuit inuentor / quem postea rex Surrie dira morte trucidauit. & sic opus operarium consumpsit

aNd for to see more euydence
Zorastes which that experyence
Of arte Magyke first forth drough▪
Anon as he was bore he lough
Whiche token was of woo sewyng
For of his owne contreuyng
He found Magyke / & taught it forth
But al was hym lytell worth
For of surry a worthy kyng
Hym slewe / and that was his endyng
But yet thurgh hym this craft is vsed
And he thorugh all the world accused
For it shal neuer wel acheue
[Page]Thei stont not ryght with the byleue
But lyche to wulle is euyl sponne
Who leseth hym self hath lytell wonne
And the ende proueth euery thyng
Saul whiche yt was of Iewes kyng
Vpon peyne of deth forbede this arte
And yet he took therof his parte
The phitonysse in Samary
Yafe hym counceyll by sorcery
Whiche after felle to moche srowe
For he was slayn vpon the morowe
To conne moche it helpeth
But of to moche no man yelpeth
So for to loke on euery side
Magyk may not wel betyde
For thy my sone I wol the rede
That thou of these ensamples drede
That for no lust of erthely loue
Thou seche so to come aboue
Wherof as in the worldes wonder
Thou shalt euer be put vnder
My good fader graunte mercy
For euer I shall beware therby
Of loue what so euer me bifalle
Suche sorcery abouen alle
Fro this day forth I wyll eschewe
That so ne wylle I not pursewe
My lust of loue for to seche
But this I wold yow byseche
 [...]eside that me stant of loue
As I yow herd speke aboue
How Asysandre was betaught
Of Arystotle and so wel taught
Of all that to a kyng belonged
Wherof my herte sore longeth
To wyte what it wold mene
For by reson I wold wene
That yf I herd of thynges straunge
Yet for a tyme it shold chaunge
My peyne & lesse me somdele
My good sone thou shalt wele
For wysedom how that euer it stonde
To hym that can it vnderstond
Doth grete preue in sondry wyse
But touchyng of so hyghe a pryse
Whiche is not vnto Venus knowe
I may it not my self knowe
Whiche of her courte am al forth draw
And can no thyng but of hir lawe
But netheles to knowe more
As wel as thou / me longeth sore
And for it helpeth to comune
Of euery thynge in comune
The scole of the philophye
Yet thynk I for to specyfye
In bookes as it is comprehended
Wherof thou myghtest be amended
For though I be not al connyng
Vpon the forme of his wrytynge
Somme parte / therof yet I hane herde
In this mater how it hath ferd

Explicit liber sextus

Sequitur Liber septimus

[...] Mnibus in causis sapiens doctrina salutē / Cōsequitur nec habet quis nisi dectus opem / Naturam superat doctrina viro quod et ortus / Ingenij docilis non dedit ipsa dabit / Non ita discretus hominū per climata regnat / Quā magis vt sapiat indiget ipse scole /

Quia omnis doctrina bona huma no regno salutem confert / in hoc septi mo libro ad instanciam amantis lang uēdi intendit genius illam ex qua philosophi et Astrologi philosophie doctrinā regem Allexandrum inbucrunt secun [...] dū aliquid declarare / diuidit enim philosophiam in tres partes / quarum prima Theorica / secunda / Rethorica / Tercia practica nuncupata est / de quarum condicionibus subsequenter per singula tractabit

[Page Clj]

Incipit liber Septimus

I Genius the preest of loue
My sone as yu hast praid aboue
That I the scole shal declare
Of Aristotle and eke the fare
Of Alysaundre how he was taught
I am somdele therof distraught
For it is not the matere
Of loue why we sytcen here
To shryue as Menus bad
But nenertheles for it is glad
So as thou seest for thyn apryse
To here of suche thynges wyse
Wherof thou myght the tyme blysse
So as I can I shall the wysse
For wysedom is at euery throwe
Aboue al other thyng to knowe
In loues cause & els where
For thy my sone vnto thyn ere
Though it be not in the Regystre
Of Venus / yet of that Calystre
And Aristotle whylome wryte
To Alysander thou shalt wyte
But for the lores ben dynerse
I thynk fyrst to the reherce
The nature of the philosophy
Whiche Aristotle of his clergy
Wyse and experte in the seyence
Declared thylke intellygence
As of the poyntes in pryncipalle

Wherof the first in specialle
Is Theoryk / whiche is grounded
On hym whiche al ye world hath foūded
Whiche comprehended al that lore
And for to loken ouermore
Next of seyence the second
Is Rethoryk whoos facounde
Aboue al other is eloquent
To telle a tale in Iugement
So wel can no man speke as he

The last seyence of the thre
Is practyke whoos offyce
The vertu tryeth fro the vyce
And techeth vppon good thewes
To slee the company of shrewes
Whiche stant in disposicion
Of mannes fre election
Practyke enformeth eke the rewle
How that a worthy kyng shal rule
His realme bothe in werre and pees
Lo thys done Aristotles
These thre scyrncrs hath deuyded
And the nature also decydeed
Wherof that eche of hem shall serue

The first whiche is conserue
And kepar of the remenaunt
And that whiche is moost suffysaunt
And chyef of the philosophye
If I therof shall specyfye
So as the philosophre told
Now herken / & kepe that thou it holde

Prima creatorem dat scire sciencia summi. Qui capit agnoscit sufficit illud ei▪ Plura vires quādoqȝ iuuat nescire set illud / Qd videt ex pediens sobrius ille sapit /

Hic tractat de prima parte philosophie que theorica dicitur / cuius natura triplici dotata est sciencia / scilicet Theologia / Phisica et Mathematica / Set primo illam partem Theoryce declarabit

t F Theoryk pryncipalle
The philosopher in specialle
The propyrtees hath determy­ned /
And thylk whiche is enlumyned
Of wysedom & of hyhe prudence
Abone al other in his scyence
And stant experte vpon thre
The first of whiche in his degree
Is cleped in philosophye
The scyence of Theologye
That other named is phisik
The thyrd is seid Mathematyk
Theologye is that scyence
Whiche vnto man yeueth euydence
Of thyng whiche is not bodely
Wherof men knowen redyly
The hyhe almyghty trynyte
[Page]Whiche is one god in vnyte
Withouten ende and begyunyng
And creatoure of al thyng
Of heuen of erthe / and eke of helle
Wherof as olde bookes telle
The philosophre in his reson
Wrote vpon his conclusion
And of his wrytynge in a clause
He cleped god the first cause
Whiche of hym self this ylke goode
Withouten whome / is nothyng good
Of whiche that euery creature
Hath his beyng & his nature
After the beyng of the thynges
There ben the formes of beynges

Nota qd triplex est essencia / prima temporalis que incipit et desinit / Secunda perpetuo que incipit et nō desinit Tercia sempiterna que nec incipit nec desimt /

Thyng whiche bygan and ende shal
That thyng to cleped temporall
There is also by other wey
Thyng which bigan & shall not deye
As sowles that ben spirituell
Here beyng is perpetuel
But there is one aboue the sonne
Whoos tyme was neuer bigonne
And endeles shal euer be
That is the god / whoos mageste
Al other thynges shall gouerne
And his beyng is sempyterne
The god / to whome al honoure
Belongeth / he is creatoure
And other ben his creatures
The god commaunded the natures
That they to hym obeyen alle
Withouten hym what soo bifalle
Here myght is none / & he may alle
The god was ener & euer shalle
And they begonne of his assent
The tymes al be present
To god and to hem al vnknowe
But what hym lyketh that they know
Thus bothe an Angel and man
The whiche of al that god hygan
Be chyef & obeyen to goddes myght
And he stont endeles vp ryght
To this seyence ben pryue
The clerkes of dyuynyte
The whiche to the peple prechen
The feythe of hooly chirche and techen
Whiche in one caas of bileue
Stant more than they conne preue
By wey of argument sensyble
But netheles it is credyble
And doth a man grete mede haue
To hym that thynketh hym self to saue
Theology in suche a wyse
Of hyhe seyence and hyhe pryse
Aboue al other stant vnlyke
And is the first of theoryk

Nota de secunda parte Theoryce / que Phisica dicitur ▪

Phisike is after the second
Thurgh which ye philosophre hath fōde
To techen sondry knowbechynges
Vpon the lodelyche thynges
Of man of beest of erthe / of stone
Of fisshe of fowle of euerychone
That ben of dedely substaunce
The nature and the circumstaunce
Thorugh this scyence it is ful softe
Which vaileth not & which vaileth ofte

Nota de tercia parte Theorice que Mathematica dicitur / cuius condicio quatuor in se continet intelligencies / scilicet Ausmetricam / Musicam / Geometriam et Astronomiam / Sed primo de Ausmetrice natura dicere intendit

tHe third poynt of Theoryk
Whiche cleped is Mathematyk
Deuyded is in soudry wyse
[Page Clij]And stant vpon dyuerse appryse
The first of whiche is ars metryk
And the second is said Musik
The thyrd is eke gemetrye
Also the fourth astronomye
Of ars metryk the matere
Is that of whiche a man may lere
What Algarysme in nombre amoūteth
When that the wyse man acompteth
After the formuel propyrte
Of Algarysmes A / b / c
By whiche mnltyplycacion
Is made and deuysyon
Of sommes by experyence
Of this arte / & this scyence▪

Nota de Musica que secunda pars artis Mathematice dicitur

The second of Mathematyk
Whiche is the scyence of Musik
That techeth vpon armony
A man to make melody
By voyce soune and Instrūment
Thorugh notes of acordement
The whiche men pronounce alofte
Now sharp notes & now softe
Now hye notes & now lowe
As by gammuth a man may knowe
Whiche techeth the prolacion
Of note and the condycion

Nota de tercia specie artis Mathematice quam geometriam vocant

Mathematik of his scyence
Hath the thyrd ntellygence
Ful of wysedom and of clergy
And cloped is Geometye
Thorugh which a mā hath thylk sleiȝt
Of length of brede of depth & of heyȝt
To knowe the proporcion
Of very calculacion
Of this scyence in this wyse
As these old philosophres deuyse
Of al this worldes erthe round
How large / how thyk was the groūd
Contryued by this experyence
The Cercle and the circumference
Of euery thyng vnto the heuen
They setten poynte & mesure euen
Mathematik aboue the erthe
Of hye scyence aboue the ferth
Whiche speketh vpon Astronomye
And techeth of the sterres hyhe
Begynnyng vp ward fro the mone
But first as it was for to done
This Aristotles in other thyng
Vnto this worthy yong kyng
The kynde of euery element
Whiche stonden vnder the firmament
How it is made / and in what wyse
Fro poynt to poynt he can deuyse

Quatuor omnipotens elementa creauit origo. Quatuor et venti partibus ora dabat / Nostra q [...] quadruplici cō plexis sorte creatur / Corpore sic qy suo stat variatus homo

Hic interim tractat de creacione qua tuor elementorum / scilicet terre / Aque / aeris et ignis. Nec non et eorum naturis nam et sinḡulis proprietates singule attribuuntur

tO fore the creācion
Of ony worldes stacion
Of heuē of erth & eke of helles
So as these olde bookes telles
As sone to fore the songe is set
And yet to geder knyt
Ryght so the hyghe purueaunce
Tho had vnder his ordynaunce
A grete substaunce a grete matere
Of whiche he wold in his manere
This other thyng make and forme
For yet withouten ony storme
[Page]Was that mater vnyuersall
Whiche his ylem in special
Of Ilem as I am enformed
These elementes ben made & fourmed
Of ylem elementes they hote
After the scole of Aristote
Of whiche yf more I shal reherce
Foure elementes there ben dyuerse

Nota de terra quod est primum elementum

The first of hem erthe men calle
Whiche is the lowest of them alle
And in his forme is shape round
Substancialle / stronge / sadde / & sounde
As that whiche made is suffysaunt
To bere alle the remenaunt
For as the poynte in a compas
Stant euen amyddes ryght so was
This erthe set & shal abyde
That it may swerue to no side

Philosophus Vnumquod (que) naturaliter
appetit suum censum
And hath his Centre after the lawe
Of kynde to that Centre drawe
Desyreth euery worldes thyng
If there were no lettyng

Nota de aqua quod est secundum elementum

Aboue the erthe kepeth his bounde
The water whiche is the second
Of elementes and al aboute
It vywneth ther withoute
But as it sheweth not for thy
This subtyle water myghtely
Though it be of hym self softe
The strengthe of erthe passeth ofte
For right as veynes ben of bloode
In man right so the water in floode
The erthe of his cours maketh dyuerse
veynes / As wel ye hylle as ye pleynes
And that a man may see at the eye
For where the hylles be moost hye
There may men wel stremes fynde
So preueth it by wey of kynde
The water lyghter than the londe
And ouer this now vnderstoude

Nota de aera quod est tercium elementum

Ayer is the thyrd of elemente
Of whoos kynde his asperimente
Taketh euery lyues creature
Whiche shal vpon the erthe endure
For as the fysshe yf it be drye
Must in defaute of water dye
Ryght so withoute eyer on lyue
No man ne beest myght pryue
The whiche is made of flesshe & bone
There is oute take of al none

Nota quod aer in tribus periferijs diuiditur

This ayer in periferijs thre
Deuyded is of suche degre
Bynethe is one / and one amydde
And aboue is set the thyrdde
Of whiche vpon deuysyons
There ben dyuerse oppressions
Of moyst & eke of drye also
Whiche by the sonne both two
Ben drawe and haled vpon hye
And maken clowdes in the skye
As shewed is at mannes sight
Therof by day and eke by nyght
After the tyme of the yere
Among vs vpon erthe here

De prima aeris periferia

In sondry wyse thynges falle
The first peryfery of alle
Engendreth myst and ouermore
The dewes & the frostes hore
After thylk insterticion
In whiche they take inpression

[Page Cliij]

De secunda aeris periferia

Fro the second as the lookes seyn
The moost droppes of the reyn
Descenden in to myddel erthe
And tempereth it to sede and e [...]the
And doth to spryng gras & floure
And ofte also the grete sho [...]re
Oute of suche place it may be take
That it the forme shal forsake
Of reyne / & in to snowe be torned
And eke it may be so soiourned
In sondry places vp alof [...]
 [...]hat in to hayle / it torneth ofte

De tercia aeris periferia

The thyrd of ayer after the lawe
Thorugh suche matere as vp is drawe
Of drye thyng as it is ofte
Among the clowdes vpon lofte
And is so close it may not oute
Than is it chased sore aboute
Tyll it to fyre and leyte it falle
And it breketh the clowdes alle
The whiche of so grete noyse craken
That they the f [...]rfull noyse maken
The thonder stroke smyte or it lyght
And yet men sene the fire ful ryght
The thonder stroke or that men here
So may it wel be proued here
In thyng whiche shewed is fro f [...]r [...]
A mans eye is there ne [...]
Than is the second to mannes  [...]
And nethe [...]es it is grete fere
Bothe of the stroke & of the fire
Of whiche is no recouyre
In place where that they descende
But yf god wold his grace sende

Nota qualiter ignes quos no [...]antu [...] in [...]ere diseu [...]ere videmus secundum varias apparentes formas varia gestant nomina quorum primus / Assub Secuudus Capra saliens / tercius / eges Et quartus daali libus philosophorum nuncupatus est /

 [...] No for to speken ouer this
In this parte of the ayer it is
That men ful ofte seen by nyȝt
The fyre in sondry forme alyght
Somtyme the fire drake it semeth
And the lewde peple it demeth
Somtyme it semeth as it were
After whiche that glydeth there
But it is nether of the two
The philosophre telleth so
And seith that of Impressions
Thorugh dyuerse exaltacions
Vpon the cause and the matere
Men sene dyuerse forme appere
Of fyre whiche hath sondry name
Assub he said is thylke same
The whiche in sondry place is founde
When it is downe to the grounde
So as the fire it hath anheled
Lyke vnto slyme whiche is congeled
Of exaltacions I fynde
Fyre kendeleth of the same kynde
But it is in another forme
Wherof I shall conforme
The fygure vnto that it is
These old clerkes tellen this
For it is lyke a gote skyppyng
And for it is suche semyng
It is hote Capra saliens
And these Astronomyens
Another fire also by nyght
Whiche sheweth hym to mans fight
They clepen eges / the whiche brenneth
Lyke to the curraunt fire it renneth
Vpon a corde as thou hast sene
When it with powdre was so besene
Of sulphur / & thre thynges mo

There is another fire also
Whiche semeth to a mannes eye
By nyghtes tyme as though ther f [...]y [...]
A dragon brennyng in the sky
And that is cleped propyrly
[Page]Baasy / wherof men sene fallen ofte
 [...]o where the fyry drake alofte
Fleeth vpon the eyer / & soo they semen
But why the fires so semen
Of sondry formes to beholde
The wyse philosophre tol [...]
So as the fore it hath  [...]en herd
 [...]o thus my sone how it ferd
Of ayre the due propyrte
In sondry wyse thou myght see
And how vnder the firmament
It is  [...]ke the thyrd element
Whiche enuyronned bothe the two
The water and the sonde also

Nota de igne quod est quartum elementum

And for to telle ouer this
Of elementes the whiche the fourth is
That is the fire in his degre
The whiche enuyroneth the other thre
And is withoute moyste al drye
But lyst now what seyth the clergye
For vpon hem that I haue seyd
The c [...]atour hath set & leyd
The kynde and the complexion
Of al mennes nacion
Foure elementes sondry ther be
Lyche vnto whiche in that degre
Among the men ther ben also
Complexions foure and no mo
Wherof the philosophre treteth
That he no thyng behynde leteth
And seyth how that they ben dyuerse
So as I shall to the reherce

Nota hic aualiter secundum naturā quatuor elemētorum quatuor in humano [...]rpore complexionis scilicet Melencolica / Fleuma / Sangnis et colera naturaliter constituuntur / vnde primo de melencolica dicendum est

 [...] E whiche natur [...]d euery kynde
The myghty god so as I fynde
Of man whiche is his creature
Hath so deuyded the nature
That none ty [...] other wel acordeth
And by this cause it so discordeth
The lyf whiche feleth the sykernesse
May stonde vpon no sykernesse
Of the erthe whiche is cold & drye
The kynd of man Melencolye
Is cleped / & that is the first
The moost vngoodlyest & the werst
For vnto loues werke on nyght
Hym lacketh bothe wylle and myght
No wondre is in lusty place
Of loue though he lese grace
What man hath that complexion
Is ful of ymagynacion
Of dedes & of wrongful thought
He fretyth hym self al to nought
The water whiche is moyst & colde
Maketh fleume whiche is many fold

De complexione Fleumatis

Foryeteful slowe and wery soone
Of euery thyng whiche is to done
He is of kynde suffisaunt
To hold loue his couenaunt
But to hym lacketh appety [...]
Whiche longeth vnto suche delyte
What man yt taketh his kynd o [...] ye ay [...]
He shal be lyght / he shall be f [...]yre

De complexione sanguinis

Fyrst his complexion is bloode
Of al there is none so good
Forth he hath bothe wylle & myght
To plese and pay loue his right
Where he hath loue vndertake
Wrong is yf he be forsake
The fire of his condicion
Appropreth the complexion
Whiche in a m [...]n is cold hote
Whoos propirt [...]s ben drye & hote
[Page Cliiij]It maketh a man to be engynous
And swyfte of foote &  [...]ke yrous
Of conteke &  [...]ke ful of hastynesse
He hath a ryght grete besynesse
To thynk on loue and lytel m [...]y
Though he be hote wel  [...] day
On nyght when that he wol assay
He may ful euyll his dette pay

Nota qualiter quatuor complexionis quatuor in homine hūacōnes diui [...]m possident

After the kynde of the element
Thus stant a mannes kynde went
As touchyng his complexion
Vpon sondry dyuysyon
Of drye of moyst / of colde of hete
And eche of hem his owne sete
Appropred hath within a man
And first to telle as I began

Splen domus est melancolie

The splen is to Melencolye

Assigned for herborgery

Pulmo domus est fleumatis

The moyste fleume the whiche is cold
Hath in the longes for his holde
Ordeyned hym a propre stede
And dwelleth there as he is bede

Epar domus est sanguiuis

To the sanguyne complexion
Nature of his inspection
A propre hows hath in the lyuer
For his dwellyng made delyuer

Fel domus colere

The fourth coloure with his het [...]
By wey of kynde his propre sete
Hath in the g [...]lle where he dwelleth
So as the philosophre telleth

Nota de stom [...]cho qui vna cum alijs specialius deseruit

Now ouer  [...]s is for to wyte
As it is in phisike wryte
Of lyuer / longe / of galle / of splene
They al vnto the herte bene
Seruanntes and eche in his offyce
Entendeth to doo hym seruyce
As whiche is lord aboue
The lyuer maketh hym for to loue
The longes gyue hym wey of speche
The galle serueth to doo wreche
The splene doth hym to laugh & play
Whan al vnclennes is away
Loo thus hath eche of hem in dede
To suffren hem and fede
In tyme of recreacion
Nature hath increacion
The stomake for a comune koke
Ordeyneth so as seith the booke
The stomak / Cook / is for the halle
And boyleth mete for hem alle
To make hem myghty for to serue
The herte that he shall not sterue
For a kyng in his empyre
Aboue al other is lord & syre
So is the herte pryncipall
To whome reson in special
Is yeue as for the gouernaunce
And thus nature his purueaunce
Hath for man to lyuen here
But god the whiche the sowle de [...]
Hath formed it in other wyse
That can no man pleynly deuyse
But as Clerkes vs enforme
That lyche to god it hath a forme
Thorugh whiche forme and lykenesse
The sowle hath many an hye noblesse
Appropred to his owne kynde
But of hi [...] wyt be made blynde
Al onlyche of this ylk poynte
That hir abydyng is conioynte
For with the body for to dwelle
That one desireth toward the helle
That other vpward vnto heuen
So shold they neuer stond in en [...]n
[Page]But yf the flesshe be ouercome
And that the sowle haue hooly nome
The gouernaunce and that is selde
Whyle that the  [...]esshe may he welde
Al crthely thyng whiche god began
Wao only made to serue man
But the sowle al only made
Hym seluen for to serue and glade
And other beestes that men fynde
They serue vnto hir owne kynde
But to reson the sowle serueth
Wherof the man his thonke deserueth
And gete hym with his werkes good
The perdurable syues foode

hIc loquitur vlterius de diuisione terre. [...]ue post deluuium t [...]bus filijes Noe in tres partes seilicet Asiam / aff [...]cam & Europam diuidebatur

oF that mater it shall be told
A tale lyketh many fold
The better yf it be spoke pleyne
Thus  [...] I for to torne ageyne
And telle pleynly therfore
Of the erthe / wherof now to fore
I spake and of the waters eke
So as these old clerkes speke
And set propyrly the bounde
After the forme of mappamounde
Thorugh which ye greūd in partyes
Departed is in thre partyes
That is Asye / Affryke / Europe
The whiche vnder the heuen cope
Beg [...]ypeth al this erthe rounde
As serre as stretcheth ony grounde
But after that the hyhe wreche
The water weyes lete oute feche
And ouer goo the hylles hye
Whiche euery kynde made dye
That vpon myddel erthe stood
Oute take Noe / & his bloode
His sone & his doughters thre
They were saue / & so was he
Her names who that rede ryght
Sem / Cam / Iaphet / the bretheren hyȝt
And when thylk almyghty honde
Withdre we the water fro the londe
And al the rage was away
And erthe was the mans weye
The sones thre / of whiche I told
Ryght after that them self wold
This world departe they begonne
Asia the whiche lyeth to the sonne
Vpon the marche of Oryent
Was graunted by a comune assent
To whome whiche was sone oldest
For that partye was the best
And double as moche as other two
And was that tyme bounded soo
Wher as ye flode whiche mē nyle calleth
Departed fro his cours & falleth
In the see Alle [...]andryne
There taketh Asye first sesyne
Towards the west. & ouer this
Of Cana hym where the flood is
In to the grete see rennende
Fro that in to the worldes ende
After Asy it is algates
Till that men comen vnto the gates
Of paradys and there hoo
And shortely for to speke it so
Of Oryent in generall
Within his bounde Assy hath all [...]

Nota hic de Affrica et Europa

And than vpon that other side
Westward as it felle thylk tyde
The brother whiche hyghte cam
Vpon his parte Affryke nam
Iaphet Europe tho took he
Thus par [...]d they the world in thr [...]
But yet ther ben of londes fele
In occident as for the chele
In oryent as for the hete
Whiche of the peple be forlete
As londe deserte that is vnable
For it may not be erable

[Page Clv]Nota de mare quod magnum Occeanum diatur

The water eke hath sondry bounde
After the londe where it is founde
And taketh his name of thylk londes
Where that it renne on the strondes
But thylke see whiche no wane
Is cleped the grete Occeane
Oute of whiche aryse and come
The hye floodes al and some
Is none so lytell wel spryng
Whiche there ne taketh his begynnyng
Lyche a man that haleth brethe
By wey of kynde so it gethe
Oute of the see / and in ageyne
The water as the bookes seyne

Nota hic secundum philosophum de quinto elemento quod omnia sub celo creata infra suū ambitum continet cui nomē orbis specialiter appropriatū ē

oF elementes the propyrtees
How yt they stōden vy degrees
As I haue told now myȝt yu here
My good soone al the matere
Of erthe / of water ayre and fire
And for thou seist that thy desire
Is for to wyten ouermore
The forme of Aristotles lore
He seeth in his entendement
That yet there is an element
Aboue the foure / & is the fyfthe
Set of the hyghe goddes yefte
The whiche that orbis cleped is
And therupon he telleth this
That as the shelle hole and sounde
Encloseth al aboute rounde
What thyng within an eye belongeth
Right so this orbis vnderfongeth
These elementes euerychone
Whiche I baue spoke of one & one
But ouer this now take good hede
My sone for I wol procede
To speken vpon Mathematyst
Whiche grounded is on Theoryk
The scyence of Astronomye
I thynke for to specyfye
Withoute whiche to telle pleyne
Al other scyence is in veyne
Toward the scole of crthely thynges
For as an egle with his wynges
Fleeth aboue that al men fynde
So doth this scyence in his kynde

Lege planetarum magis magis in feria reguntur / Ista sed incedum regu la fallit opus / Vir mediante deo sapi [...] ̄s dominabitur astris / Fata nec inmerit [...] quod nouitatis agunt /

Hic loquitur de artis Mathematice quarta specie que astronomia nuncupatur / cui eciam Astrologia socia connumeratur / Sed primo de septē planetis que inter astra potenciores existunt Incipiendo a linea seorsum tractare intendit

bynethe vpon this erthe here
Of al thynges the matere
As tellen vs they yt ben lerned
Of thyng aboue it stonte gouerned
That is to seyen of the planetes
The cheles bothe and eke the hetes
The chambre of the world also
That we fortune clepen soo
Among the mennes nacion
All is thorugh constellacion
Wherof that somme man hath the wele
And somme men haue dyseses fele
In loue as wel as other thynges
The state of reames & of kynges
In tyme of pees / in tyme of werre
It is conceyued of the sterre
And thns saith the naturyen
Whiche is an Astronomyen
But the dyuyne seith other wyse
That yf men were good and wyse
And plesaunt vnto the godhede
They shold not the sterres drede
For one man yf hym wel befalle
[Page]Is more worth than they be alle
Towards hym that weldeth alle
But yet the lawe orygenalle
Whiche he bath set in the natures
More worchen in creatures
That therof may be none obstacle
But yf it stant vpon myracle
Thorugh prayer of somme hooly man
And for thy so as I bigan
To speke vpon astronomye
As it is wryte in the clergye
To telle how the planetes fare
Somme parte I thynke to declare
My sone vnto thy audyence
Astronomye is the seyence
Of wys [...]dom and of his connyng
Which maketh a mā haue knowleching
Of sterres in the firmament
Fygure  [...]res [...] and mocment
Of eche of h [...]m in sondry place
And what  [...]irwene hem is of space
 [...] so the mone stant fast
 [...] at the laste
 [...] with Astronomye
I  [...] that  [...] Astrologye
 [...] whiche in jugement acompteth
T [...]  [...] what euery sterre amounteth
And  [...] they causen many a wonder
To the clymates that stant vnder
And for to telle it more pleyne
T [...]s [...]  [...]  [...] philosophres seyne
That  [...] whiche I spak of er
 [...] that whiche the erthe a fer
 [...]t and fi [...]ament it calle
In whiche the sterres stonden alle
Among the whiche in speaalle
Plenctes seuen pryncipalle
There ben that manues sight demeth
But thorugh oute as vs semeth
And also ther ben signes twelue
Which haue these clerkis by hem selue
Compassed in the  [...]odyak
In whiche they haue hir places take
And as they stonden in degre
Here cercles more or lesse be
Made after the proporcion
Of the erthe whoos condicion
Is set to be fundament
To susteyne vp the firmament
And by this skylle a man may know
The more that they stonden lowe
The more ben the Cercles lasse
That canseth why that somme passe
Her due cours to fore another
But now my lyeue dere broder
As thou desivest for to wyte
What I fynde in the bookes wryte
To telle the of planetes seuen
How that they stond vpon the heuen
And in what poynte that they ben in
Take hede for I wylle begyn
So as the philosopher it taught
To Alysander and he it raught
Wherof that he was ful betaught
Of wysedom whiche was hym betauȝt

Nota hic de prima planeta que alnes inferior luna dicitur

Bynethe al other stont ye mone
Which hath with ye see to done
Of stoodes hyghe &  [...]bbes lowe
Vppon his chaūge it shal be knowe
And euery fysshe whiche hath a schelle
Mo [...]e in his gouernaunce dwelle
To weye & wane in his degre
As by the mone a man may see
And al that stont vpon the grounde
Of his moysture it must be founde
Al other sterres as men fynde
By shynyng of hir owne kynde
Oute take only the mone lyght
Whiche is not of hym self bryght
But as he taketh it of the sonne
And yet he hath not al full wonne
His lyght that he nys somdele derke
But what the let is of that werk
In all mageste it telleth this
The mones Cercle soo lowe is
Wherof the sonne oute of stage
He seeth hym not with full vysage
[Page Clvj]For he with grounde so shaded
That the mone is somdele faded
And may not fulle shyne clere
But what man vnder his powere
Is bore / he shall his places chaūge
And seche many londes straunge
And of his condycyon
The mones disposicion
Vpon the londe of Almayne
Is set and eke vpon britayne
Whiche now is cleped Englond
For they trauayle in euery lond

De secunda planeta que Mercurius diciture

Of the planetes the second
Aboue the mone hath take his bond
Mercurye and his nature is this
That vnder hym who that bore is
In book he shall be studyous
And in wrytyng curyous
And slouthe & lustles in trauayle
In thyng whiche els myght auayle
He loueth ese he loueth reste
So is he not the worthyest
But yet with somdele besynesse
His herte is set vpon rychesse
And as in this condycion
The effect and disposicion
Of this planete of his chaunce
Is moost in Burgoyne & in Fraunce

De tercia planeta que Venus dicitur

Next to Mercurye as wylle befalle
Stant the planets whiche men calle
Venus whoos constellacion
Gouerneth al the nacion
Of loues whether they spede or none
Of whiche I trowe thou be one
But whether ward thy happes wende
Shall this planete she we at ende
As it hath do to many mo
To somme wele / to somme woo
And netheles of this planete
The moost party is softe and swete
For who that therof taketh his byrthe
He shall desire ioye and myrthe
Gentyl curtoys and debonayre
To speke his wordes softe and fayre
Snche shalle he be by wey of kynde
And ouerall where he may fynde
Plesaunce of loue his herte loueth
With al his myȝt / and ther he woweth
He is so ferforth amerous
He note what thyng is vycyo [...]s
Touchyng for that lawe
There may no maner man withdrawe
The whiche Veneryen is bore
By wey of kynde / and therfore
Venus of loue the goddesse
Is cleped but of wantonnesse
The clymate of hir lecherye
Is moost comune in lumbardye

Nota de sole qui medio planetaram residens Astrorum principatum obtinet

Next vnto the planetes of loue
The bryght sonne stont aboue
Whiche is the hynderer of the nyght
And f [...]rthereth of the dayes lyght
As he whiche is the worldes  [...]ye
Thorugh whome the lusty companye
Of fowles by the morol [...]e synge
The fresshe floures sprede and spryng
The hye tree the ground beshadeth
And euery mans herte gladeth
For it is the hede planete
Now that he sytteth in his sete
Of what rychesse and what nobleye
These bookes telle and thus they seye

Nota de curru solis necnon de eius dem apparatu /

[Page]
oF gold glispering spole & whele
The sonne his carte hath fayr & wele / 
In which he sytteth & is coroned
With bryght stones enuyroned
Of whiche yf that I speke shal
There be to fore in specialle
Set in the frounte of his corone
H [...] stones whiche no persone
Hath vpon erthe / and the fyrst is
By name cleped Lycuthis
That other two ben cleped thus
Astryces and Seramyus
In his Corone also behynde
By old bookes as I fynde
There ben of worthy stones thre
Set eche of his degre
Wherof a Cristal is that one
Whiche that Coroune it set vpone
The second is an admaunt
The thyrd is noble and aduenaunt
Whiche cleped is ydryates
And ouer this yet netheles
 [...]o [...]n the sydes of the werk
After the wrytyng of the clerk
There syt /  [...] / stones  [...]o
The smaragdyne is one of tho
 [...]os [...]s and Elithropius
And dendydes and Iacinctus
Loo thus the Corowne is byset
Wherof it shyneth wel the bet
And in suche wyse his lyght to sprede
Syt with his Dyademe on his hede
The sonne shynyng in his carte
And for to lede hym swythe & smarte
After the bryght dayes lawe
There ben ordeyned for to drawe
Four horses his chare & hym with all
Wherof the names telle I shall
Ertheus the first is hote
The whiche is tede shynyng hote
The second acteos the bryght
Lampes the thyrde hors hyght
And philogeus is the ferth
That bryngeth lyght in to this erthe
And gone so swyft vpon the heuen
In foure & twenty houres euen
The carte with the bryght sonne
They drawe so that ouer ronne
They haue vnder the Cercles hyghe
Al myddel erthe in suche an hyghe
And thus the sonne is oueral
The chyef planete Imperiall
Aboue hym / and bynethe hym thre
And thus bitwene tweyne renneth he
As he that hath the myddel place
Among the seuen & of the face
Be glad al erthely creatures
And taken after the natures
Here ease and recreacion
And in his Constellacion
He that is bore in speciall
Of good wylle & of lyberall
He shalle  [...]e founde in al place
And also stonden in myddel grace
Toward the lordes for to serue
And grete profyte & thonke deserue
Aud ouer that it causeth yet
A man to be subtyle of wytte
To worche in gold to be wyse
In euery thyng that is of pryse
But for to speken in what Coost
Of al this erthe he regneth moost
As for wysedom it is in grece
Where is appropred thylke spece

Nota de quinta planeta que mars dicitur

Mars the planete batayllous
Next to the sonne glorious
Aboue stant & doth meruaylles
Vpon the fortune of batayles
The Conquerours by dayes olde
Were vnto this planete holde
But who that his natyuyte
Hath taken vpon the propyrte
Of Martes disposicion
By weye of constellacion
He shall be fers and ful hastyf
And desirous of werre and strif
But for to telle redyly
[Page Clviij]In what clymate moost contynuelly
That this planete hath his affect
Said is that he hath his aspect
Vpon the hooly londe so cast
That there is no pees stedfaste

Nota de sexta planeta que Iubiter dicitur

Aboue mars vpon the heuen
The sixthe planete of the seuen
Stant Iubiter he delycate
Whiche causeth pees and no debate
For he is cleped that planete
Whiche of his kynde cold & heete
Attempreth all that to hym longeth
And whom this planete vnderfongeth
To stonde vpon his rayment
He shall be meke and pacyent
And fortunate to marchaundye
And lusty to delycacye
In euery thyng whiche he shal d [...]
This Iubiter is cause also
Of the scyence of highe werkes
And in this wyse tellen clerkes
He is the planete of delyces
But in Egypt of his offices
He renneth moost in specialle
For there be lustes oueralle
Of al that to this lyf befalleth
For there no stormy weder falleth
Whiche myght greue man or beest
And  [...]e the londe is so honest
That it is plentyuous and pleyne
There is no ydell ground in veyne
And vpon suche felycite
Stant Iubiter in his degre

De septima planeta que reliquis celcior Saturuus dictus est

The hyest and abouen alle
Stant the planete whiche men calle
Saturnus whos complexion
Is cold and his condicion
Causeth malyce and cruelte
To hym whoos natyuyte
Is set vnder his gouernaunce
For al his werkes ben greuaunce
And enemy to mans hele
In what degre that he shalle dele
His clement is the oryent
Where that he is moost vyolent
Of the planetes by & by
How that they stonde vpon the sky
Fro poynt to poynt as thou myȝt here
Was Alysander made to lere
But ouer this touchyng his lore
Of thyng that they hym taught more
Vpon the scoles of Clergy
Now herken the philosophy

Postquam dictum est de septem planet [...]s quibus sigule septimane dies sin gulariter attitulantur dicendum est [...]ā de duodecim signis / per quem duodecim mēses anni varijs temporibus effectus varijs assecuutur

He whiche departed day fro nyght
That one derk / & that other lyght
Of seuen dayes made a wyke
A moneth of foure wekes eke
He hath ordeyned in his lawe
Of monethes xij & eke forth drawe
He hath also the long yere
And as he sette of his powere
Accordaunt to the dayes seuen
Planetes seuen vpon the heuen
As thou to fore host herde deuyse
To speke right in suche a wyse
To euery moneth by hym selue
Vpon the heuen of signes twelue
He hath after his ordynalle
Assigned one in specialle
Wherof so as I shall reherce
The tydes of the yere dyuerse
But pleynly for to make it knowe
[Page]How that the signes set arowe
Eche after other by degre
In substaunce and in propyrte
The ydyote comprehendeth
Within his Cercle it appendeth

Nota hic de primo signo quod Aries diatur / cuius mēsis specialiter mar [...] appropriatus est / Quo deus in primo produxit adesse creata

The whiche of the fyrst netheles
By name is cleped Aryes
Whiche lyche a wether of stature
Resembled is in his figure
And as it is seyd in almageste
Of sterres twelue vpon the beste
Bene set / wherof in his degre
The w [...]e hath two / the hede hath thre
The tayle hath seuen / and in this wyse
As thou myght here me deuyse
S [...]nt Aryes whiche hote & drye
 [...] of hym self and in partye
 [...]s the receyte & the howse
Of myghty mars the bataylouse
And euermore  [...]ke as I fynde
The creatonre of al kynde
V [...]on  [...] is si [...] ne first bygan
The world when that he made man
And of his constellacion
The very operacion
Auayleth yf a man therin
The purpoos of his werke bigyn
For than he hath of propyrte
Good spede and felycyte
The twelue monethes of the yere
Attytled vnder the powere
Of these twelue signes stonde
Wherof that thou shalt vnderstonde
This Aryes one of the twelue
Hath marche attitled for hym selue
Whan euery byrd shall chese his make
That euery Adder and euery, suake
And euery reptyle whiche may moue
His myght assayeth for to proue
To crepen oute ageynst the sonne
Whan vere his season hath begonne

Secundum signū dicitur [...]aur [...]s cuiu [...] mensis est Apr [...]s Quo prius occulta [...] inuenit herba vi [...] as /

Caurus the second after this
Of signes whiche fygured is
Vnto a boole is drye and cold
And as it is in bookes told
He is the hows appertynaūt
To Venus somdele discordaunt
This boole is eke with sterres sette
Thurgh which he hath his hornes knee
Vnto the tayle of Aryes
So is he not there sterreles
Vpon his brest eyghten
He hath & eke as it is sene
Vpon his tayle stante there other moe
His monethe assigned eke also
Is aureel whiche of show [...]es
Mynystreth wey vnto the floures

Tercium signum dicitur gemini c [...] [...]us mensis mayus est Quo volucrum cantus gaudet de floribus cetis

The thyrd signe is gemyny
Whiche is figured redyly
Lyche to the twynnes of one kyn [...]e
That naked stonden / and as I fynde
They ben with sterres wel y goo
The hede hath parte of thylke two
That shyne vpon the booles tayle
So ben they bothe of one paray [...]e
But of the womle of gemini
Ben fyue sterres not for thy
And eke vpon the feete ben tw [...]
[Page Clix]And so these olde bookes seye
That wyse tholemeus wrote
His propre monthe wel I wote
Assygned is the lusty maye
Whan euery brydde vpon his laye
Emonge the grene leues syngeth
And loue of his poynture styngeth
After the lawes of nature
The yongthe of euery creature

Quartum signum cancer dicitur cuius mensis iunius est / Quo falcat pra [...]is pabula tonsor equis

Cancer after the rule of space
Of signes holde the fyrst place
Lyke to the crabbe he hath resemblaūce
Aud hath vnto his retynaunce
Xvj sterres wherof ten
So as these olde wyse men
Discr [...]ueth bereth on hym tofore
And in the myddel two ben bore
And iiij he hath vpon his ende
Thus goeth he sterred in his kynde
And of hym self is moyste & colde
And he is the propre hows & holde
Whiche apperteyneth to the mone
And doeth what longeth hym to done
The monthe of Iune vnto this signe
Thou shalt after the rule assygne

Quintum signum leo dicitur cuius mensis Iulius est

The fyfthe signe is leo hote
Whos kynde is shape bothe drye & hote
In whom the sonne hath herbegage
And the semblaunce of his ymage
Is a lyon whiche in bayllye
Of stertes hath his purpartye
The four whiche as cancer hath
Vpon his ende leo tath
Vpon his heed & than nexte
He hath eke four vpon his breste
And vpon his tayle behynde
In olde bookes as we fynde
His propre month is Iule by name
In which men playen many a game

Sextum signum virgo dicitur cuius mensis augustus dicitur / Quo vacuata prius pubes replet horrea messis

After leo virgo nexte
Of signes cleped is the sexte
Wherof the fygure is a mayde
And as the phylosophre sayde
She is the welthe and the rysyng
The lust the ioye & the lykyng
Vnto mercurye & sothe to saye
She is with sterres wel besaye
Wherof leo hath lente hir one
Whiche sette on hye hir heed vpon
Hir wombe hath v / hir feet also
Haue other fyue and euer mo
Towchyng as of complexyon
By kyndely dysposycion
Of drye & colde this mayden is
And for to tellen ouer this
Her monthe thou shalt vnderstonde
Whan euery felde hath corne on honde
And many a mā his backe hath plied
Vnto this signe is august aplyed

Septimum signum libra dicitur cuius mensis septembris est, Vinea quo bachum pressa liquore colit

After virgo to rekene euen
Libra syt in the nombre of heuen
Whiche hath figure & resemblaunce
Vnto a man whiche a balaunce
Bereth in his honde as for to weye
In book as it may be seye
Dyuers sterres to hym longeth
Wherof he vnderfongeth
First thre & eke his wombe hath two
And doun benethe viij other to
The signe is hote & moyste bothe
[Page]The whiche thynges be not lothe
Vnto Venus so that a lofte
She resteth in his hows ful ofte
And eke saturnus often hyed
Is in the sygne and magnefyed
His propre monthe is said septembre
Whiche yeueth men cause to remembre
If ony sore be lefte behynde
Of thyng whiche greue may by kynde

Octau [...]m signū soorpio dicitur cuius mensis octobris est / Floribus [...]xclusis yemps qui [...]auitor extat

Amonge the signes vpon heyghte
The signe whiche nombred is eyghte
Is soorpyo whiche as felon
Fygured to a soorpyon
But for al that neuerthelesse
Is soorpyo yet not sterlesse
For libra graunteth hym his ende
Of vin sterres where he wende
T [...] whiche vpon his heed assysed
He bereth & thre eke ben deuysed
Vpon his wombe sterres thre
And v [...] vpon his tayle hath he
Whiche of kynde is moyste & colde
And vnbehouely many a folde
He ba [...]meth venus and empe [...]reth
But mars vnto his hows repeyreth
But ware whā they to gyder dwellen
His propre monthe is as men t [...]llen
O [...]to [...] re whiche bryngeth the kalende
Of wynter that cometh nexte suende

Nonum signum sagittarius dicitur cu [...]us mensis nouembris est. Qui mustū libulo linquit sua nomina vino

Th [...]  [...]  [...]ne in nouembre also
Whiche foloweth after scorpio
Is eleped sagittarius
Whos figure is marked thus
A monstre with a bowe in honde
On whom that sondry sterres stonde
Thylke v [...]i [...] of whiche I spake tofore
The whiche vpon the tayle be lor [...]
Of scorpyo the heed al fayre
Be spredden of the sagittayre
And vii [...] of other stonden euen
Vpon his wombe & other seuen
There stonden vpon his tayle behynde
And he is hote & drye of kynde
To jubyter his hows is free
But to marcurye in his degree
For they be not of one assent
He wercheth grete empeyrement
This signe to his properte
A month whiche of his deute
After the seson that befalleth
The plough oxe in wynter stalleth
After fyre in to the halle it bryngeth
And  [...]ke of whiche men syngeth
He torneth must in to the wyne
Than is the larde of the swyne
That is nouembre whiche I mene
Whan that the leef hath loste his grene

Decimum signū capricornius vicitur cuius mensis decembris est ipse diem nauo nectem que giganti figurat

The x signe drye and colde
The whiche is capricornus colde
Vnto a ghoot hath resemblaunce
For whos loue & acqueyntaunce
Within his hows to sorourne
It liketh vnto satourne
But vnto the mone it liketh nought
For no prouffyte is there wrought
The signe as of his propyrte
Vpon his heed hath sterres thre
And eke vpon his wombe two
And two vpon his tayle also
Decembre after the yeres forme
So as the bookes vs enforme
 [...]yth dayes shorte & nyghtes longe
This ylke signe hath vnderfenge

[Page clx]Vndecimū signū aquarius dicitur cuius mensis [...]anuarius est / Quo ianus vultum dup [...] conuertit in annum

Of two that si [...]ten vpon the heuen
Of signes in the nombre enleuen
Aquarius hath take his place
And stante wel in saturnus grace
Whiche dwelleth in his berbegage
But to the sonne he doth outrage
This signe is berayly resembled
Like to the man which hath assembled
In eyther honde a water spoute
Wherof the stremes rennen out
He is of kynde moyste and hote
And he that of the sterres wote
Seyth that he hath of sterres twoo
Vpon his heed & ben of  [...]ho
That capricorn hath on his ende
And as the bokes maken mynde
That tholomeus made hym self
He hath eke on his womle twelf
And two vpon his ende stonde
Thou shalt also vnderstonde
Tho frosty colde ryuere
Whan comen is the newe yere
That  [...]anus wyth double face
In his chayer hath take his place
And loketh vpon bothe sydes
Somme dele toward the wynter tydes
Somme dele to ward the yere suyng
That is the monthe bylongyng
Vnto this sygne & of his dole
Ye yeueth the fyrst prymerole

Duo decimum signum psicis dicitue cuius mensis februarius est▪ Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes

The xi [...] signe is laste of alle
Of signes pisces men it calle
The whiche is as telleth the scripture
Beteth of two fysshes the fygure
So is he colde and moyste of kynde
And eke wyth sterres as I fynde
Beset in son [...]ry wyse as thus
Two of his ende aquarius
Hath lente vnto his heed & two
This signe hath of his owne also
Vpon his wombe & ouer this
Vpon his ende also there is
A nombre of xx sterres righte
Which is to seen wonder sight
Toward this signe in to his hous
Cometh  [...]ubyter glorious
And venus eke with hym accordeth
To dwellen as the book recordeth
The month but to this signe ordeyneth
Is february which be reyned
And with londe flodes in his rage
That fordes letteth the passage
Now hast thou herde the properte
Of signes but in this degree
Albumazare yet ouer this
Seyth so as the erthe parted is
In four right so ben deuysed
The signes twelue and stonde assised
That eche of hem in his partye
Hath his clymate to  [...]ustefye
Wherof the first regyment
Toward the parte of orryent
From antioche and that contre
Gouerned is of signes thre
That is cancer virgo leo
And toward thoc [...]dent also
From Armenye as I am lerned
Of capricorn it stant gouerned
Of piscis and aquarius
And after hem I fynde thus
Southward fro alisaunder forth
Tho signes whiche moste ten worth
In gouernaunce of that dayayre
Librn they ben and sagittayre
With soorpyo whiche is conioynt
With hem & stante vpon the poynt
Of constantynople the cyte
So as the bookes tallen me
The last of this dyuysion
Stant outward septemtryon
Where as by weye of pourue [...]un [...]e
[Page]Aryes hath the gouernaunce
Forth with Taurus and gemini
Thus ben the signes propirly
Deuyded as it is  [...]hersed
Wherof the londes ben dyuersed
Loo thus my sone as thou myght here
Was Alysander made to lere
Of hem that werken for his lore
But now to loken ouermore
Of other sterres how they fare
I thynke herafter for to declare
So as kyng Alysander in youthe
Of hem that suche thynges couthe
Enformed was tofore his eye
By nyght vpon the sterres hyhe

Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi / dum ipse Iuuenem Allexandrum instruxit de illis precipue quindecim stellis vna eorum lapidibus et herbis [...]ue ad artis Magice naturalis operaci onem specialius conueniunt

vPon sondry creacion
Stant sondry operacion
Some worth this some worth
that / The fire is hote in his estat
And brenneth what he may attryne
The water may the fire restreyne
The whiche is cold and moyst also
Of other thyng it fareth also
Vpon the erthe among vs here
And for to speke in this manere
Vpon the heuen as men may fynde
There sterres ben of sondry kynde
And worchen many sondry thynges
To be that ben hir vnderlynges
Among the whiche forth with alle
Nectanabus in specialle
Whiche was an Astronomyen
And eke a grete magycyen
And vndertake hath thylke empryse
To Alysander in his appryse
As of magyke naturele
To knowe enformed hem somdele
Of certeyne sterres what they mene
Of whiche he seith th [...] ben fyftene
And sonderly to euerychone
A gras belongeth and a stone
Wherof men worchen many a wonder
To set thyng lothe vp and vnder

Prima stella vocatur Alde [...]oran / cuius carbunculus et herba anabulla est

To telle right as he bigan
The first sterre Alde [...]oran
The clerest and the moost of alle
By right name men it calle
Whiche is of condicion
To mars and of compleyion
To Venus and hath therupon
Carbuncle his propre stone
His herbe is anabulla named
Whiche is of grete vertu proclamed

Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu pliades cuins lapis cristallum et herba funiculus est

The second is not vertules
Clota or els plyades
Is hote and of the mones kynde
He is and also this I fynde
He taketh of mars complexion
And lyche to suche condicion
His stone appropred is Cristalle
And eke his herbe in specialle
The vertuous Fenel it is
The thyrdde whiche cometh after this

Tercia stella vocatur Algol▪ cuius la pis Diamans et herba Eleborum nigrum est

Is hote Algol the clere rede
Whiche of Saturne as I may t [...]de
His kynde taketh and eke of Io [...]e
Complexion to his beloue
His propre stone is Dyamant
[Page Clxj]Whiche is to hym moost acordaunt
His herbe whiche is hym betake
Is hote E [...]pum the blake

Quarta stella vocatur Alhaiot / cuius lapis [...]aphi [...]s et herba maribium est

So as it falleth vpon  [...]tte
The fourthe sterre is Albaiotte
Whiche in the wyse as I said et
Of saturne and of  [...]ubiter
Hath take his kynde and therupon
Saphire is his propre stone
Ma [...]bium his herbe also
The whiche acorden to the two

Quint [...] stella vocatut canis mator cu­
ius lapis ber [...]us et herba sauina est
And canis maior in his lyke
The fifth sterre is of magyke
The whoos kynde is veneryen
As seith this Astronomyen
His propre stone is said beryll
But for to worche and to fulfylle
Thynge whiche to this scyence falleth
There is an herbe whiche men calleth
Saueyne / and that he behoueth nede
To hym that wol his purpoos spede

Sexta stella vocatur canis minor cuius lapis Arc [...]ates et herba primula est

The sixth sewyng after this
By name canis minor is
The whiche sterre is mer [...]ryall
By wey of kynde and forth with all
As it is wryten in the carte
Complexion he taketh of marte
His stone and herbe as seith the scole
B [...] Achat [...]s and prymerole

Septima stella vocatur A [...]a [...] / cuius lapis garg [...] & herba c [...]idonia est

The ryght sterre in speciall
Of this seyence is Ariall
Whiche sondry nature vndersongeth
The stone whiche propre vnto hym lō ­geth /
Gargonaza propyrly it hyght
His herbe also whiche he shall ryght
Vpon the worchyng as I mene
Is selidone fresshe and grene

Octaua stella vocatur Ala corui cuius lapis honochinus et herba lappacia est

Sterre ala corui vpon heyght
Hath take his place in nōbre of eyght
Whiche of his kynde must performe
The wylle of marte and of saturne
To whome  [...]appacia the grete
Is herbe but no beyete
His stone is Honochinus hote
Thorugh which mē worchen grete ryote

Nona stella vocatur Alaezel / cuius lapis Smaragdis et herba salgea est

The nynthe sterre faire and wele
By name is hote Alaezele
Whiche taketh his propre kynde thus
Bothe of mercurye and of Venus
His stone is grene Emerawde
To whome is gyuen many a laude
Soulge is his herbe appertynaunt
Abouen alle the remenaunt

Decima stella Vocatur Almareth cuius lapis Iaspis est et herba plantago est /

The tenthe sterre is Almareth
Whiche vpon lyf and vpon deth
Thorugh kynde of Iubiter & of marte
He doth what longeth to his parte
His stone is  [...]asper and of plantayne
He hath his herbe souerayne

[...]ndecima stella vocatur venenas cuius lapis adamans et herba ci [...]o [...]a [...]

The  [...]euenth storre is venenas
[Page]The whoos nature is as it was
Take of Venus and of the mone
In thynge whiche he hath for to done
Of Adamaunt is that perrye
In whiche he worcheth his maystrye
Thylke herbe also which hym befalleth
Cicorea the booke it calleth

Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta cu ius lapis topasyon et hetha rosamari na est▪

Alpheta in the nombre syt
And is the twelft sterre yet
Of Scorpio whiche is gouerned
And taketh his kynde as I am lerned
And hath his vertue in the stone
Whiche cleped is Topasione
His herbe his propre rosemaryne
Whiche shapen is for his couyne

Tercia decima stella vocatur cor scorpionis / cuius lapis Sardis et herba as trilogie est

Of these sterres whiche I mene
Cor Scorpionis is the thyrtene
The whoos nature marte and Ioue
Haue youen vnto his behoue
His herbe is Astrologye
Whiche foloweth his Astronomye
The stone whiche that this sterre allo­weth /
Is Sardys whiche to hym lo­weth /

Quarte decima vocatur botercadent cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba saturea est

The sterre whiche stant next to the last
Nature of hym this name cast
And cleped hym botercadent
Whiche of his kynde is obedyent
Vnto Mercurye and to Venus
His stone is called Crisolitus
His herbe is cleped Satureye
So as these old bookes seye

Quinta decima stella vocatur cauda scorpionis / cuius lapis calcidonia et herba maiorana dicitur

But now the last sterre of alle
The tayle of scorpio men calle
Whiche to Mercurye and to Saturne
By wey of kynde mote returne
After the preparacion
Of due constellacion
The calcidome vnto hym longeth
Whiche for his stone he vnderfongeth
Of maioron his herbe is founded
Thus haue I said how they be groūded
Of euery sterre in specialle
Whiche hath his herbe & stone with all
As Hermes in his lookes old
Witnesse bereth of that I told

Nota hic de auctoribus illis qui ad Astronomie scienciam pre ceteris studi oflus intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt

The scyence of Astronomye
Whiche pryncipalle is of clergy
To denie bitwene wo and wele
In thynges that ben naturele
They had a grete trauaill on honde
That made it first he vnderstonde
And they also whiche euermore
Her study set vpon this lore
They worden gracious and wyse
And worthy for to bere a pryse
And whome hit lyketh for to wyte
Of hem that this scyence wryte
One of the first whiche it wrote
After Noe it was Nembrote
To his disciple Ychonyton
And made a book forth therūpon
The whiche magastre eleped was
Another Auctor in this cas
Is Arachell the whiche men note
Whiche a clerke knowe mote
[Page Clxij]Dane tholome is not the leest
Whiche maketh the booke of alma [...]est
And Affraganus dothe the same
Whoos book Cathenus by name
Gebus and Alpetragus eke
Of palmesta whiche men seke
The bookes made / & ouer this
Ful many a worthy clerke is
That wryten vpon the clergy
The bookes of Aldemetry
Pal nestry and eke also
Whiche as belongynge both two
So as they ben naturyens
Vnto these Astronomyens
Men seyn that Abraham was one
Bnt whether that he wrote or none
That fynde I not and Moyses
Eke was another but Hermes
Aboue al other in this scyence
He had a grete experyence
Thoaigh hym were many a sterre assi­sed /
Whoos bookes ben yet auctorysed
I may not knowen all tho
That wryten in the tyme tho
Of this scyence / but I fynde
Of Iugement by wey of kynde
That in one poynt thry al accorden
Of sterees whiche they recorden
That men may see vpon the heuen
There ben a thousand sterres euen
And two and twenty to the sight
Whiche ben of hem self soo bryght
That men may deme what they be
The nature and the propyrte
Now bast thou herd in suche a wyse
These noble philosophres wyse
Enformed this yong kyng
And made hym haue a knowlechyng
Of thyng whiche first the partye
Belongeth of philosophye
Whiche Rethoryke cleped is
As thou to fore hast herd or this
But now to speke of the second
Whiche Aristotle bath so fonde
'And techeth how to speke faire
Whiche is a thyng full necessaire
The counterpeyse the balaunce
Where lacketh other suffisaunce

Compositi pulcra sermones verba placere / Principio poterunt vera qȝ fine placent, Herba lapis sermo tria sūt virtute plato Vis tamen ex verbi pon dere plura facit

Hic tractat de secunda parte philosophie / cuius nomen Rethorica facundos efficit / loquitur eciam de eiusdem duabus speciebus / scilicet gramatica logica quacum doctrina Rethorica sua verba perornat

Aboue all erthely creatures
The whiche maker of natures
The world to man hath gyuen alone
So that the speche of his persone
Or for to lese or for to wyn
The hertes thought whiche is within
May shewe what it wold mene
And that is nowhere els sene
Of kynde with none other beest
So shold he be the more honest
To whome god hath so grete gyft
And loke well that he ne shyft
His wordes to noue wycked bse
For worde the techer of vertuse
Io cleped in philosophy
Wherof touchyng this party
Is Rethoryke the scyence
Appropred to the reuerence
Of wordes that ben resonable
And for this arte shalle be vaylable
With goodly wordes for to lyke
It hath grammer / it hath logyke
That seruen bothe vnto the speche
Gramer hath first for to teche
To speke vpon congruyte
Logyke hath eke in his degre
Bitwene the trouthe and the falshede
The pleyne wordes for to shede
So that no thynge shal goo beside
That he the right shall not decyde
Wherof full many a grete debate
[Page]Reformed is to good estate
And pees susteyned vpon lofte
With easy wordes and with softe
Where strengthe shold lete it falle
The philosophre amonges alle
For they commenden this scyence
Whiche hath the rewle of eloquence
In stone and gras vertu ther is
But yet the bookes tellen this
That worde about al erthely thynges
Is vertuous in his doynges
Where so it be euylle or good
For yf the wordes semen good
And ben wel spoke at mannes ere
Whan that there is no trouthe there
They done ful ofte ful grete deceyte
For when the word to the conceyte
Discordeth in so double wyse
Suche Rethoryke is to despyse
In euery place and for to drede
For Plyxes thus I rede
And in the booke of Troye is founde
His eloquence and his faconde
Of goodly wordes whiche he told
Hath made that Anthenor hym sold
The towne whiche he with treson wan
Worde hath begyled many a man
With word the wyld beest is daūted
With worde the serpent is enchaunted
Of worde amonge the men of armes
Ben woundes heled with the charmes
Wordes ben vertuous and fyne
Where lacketh other medycyne
Of sorcery the carectes
The wordes ben of sondry sectes
Of euylle and eke of good also
The wordes maken frende and foo
Of foo a frende and pees of werre
And werre of pees and oute of herre
The word the worldes cause entryketh
And reconcyleth whome hym lyketh
The word vnder the cope of heuen
Set euery thynge or odde or euen
With word the hyhe god is plesyd
With worde the worldes ben apesed
The softe worde the lowde stylleth
Where lacketh good yt word futfylloth
To make amendes for the wronge
Whan wordes medlen with the songe
It doth plesaunce wel the more
But for to loke vpon this lore
How Tullius his Rethoryke
Compouneth there a man may pyke
How that he shalle his wordes set
How he shalle loose how he shall knet
And in what wyse he shall pronounce
His tale pleyne withoute frounce
Wherof ensample yf thou wylt seche
Take hede and rede whi [...]ome the speche

Nota de eloquencia Iulij in causa Cateline contra Tilenum et alios tunc vrbis Romane continentes

oF Iulius and Cithero
Which consul was of rome tho
Of Caton eke and Tillene
Beholde the wordes hem bit wene
When the treson of Catelyne
Discouered was and the couyne
Of hem that were of his assent
Was knowe and spoke in parlement
And asked how and in what wyse
Men shold done hem to Iewyse
Cillenus first his tale tolde
And as he was to trouthe beholde
The comyn proufite for to saue▪
He said treson shold haue
A cruel deth▪ and thus they speke
The consull bothe & Caton eke
And saiden that for suche a wronge
There may no peyne be to strong
But Iulius with wordes wyse
His tale told al other wyse
As he whiche wold his deth respite
And foundeth how he myght excyte
The Iuges thorugh his eloquence
Fro dethe to torne the sentence
And set hir hertes to pyte
Now tolde they / now cold he
[Page Clxiij]They speken playne after the lawe
But he the wordes of his sawe
Coloured in another wey
Spekyng / and thus bitwene the swey
To trece vpon this Iugement
Made eche of hem his argument
Wherof the tales for to lere
There may a man the scole here
Of Rethoryke the eloquence
Whiche is the second of scyence
Touchyng to philosophye
Wherof a man shalle justifye
His wordes in disputacion
And knytt vpon conclusion
His argument in suche a forme
Which may the pleyne trouth enforme
And the subtile cautele abate
Whiche euery trewe man shalle debate

Peacticat quemqȝ statum pars tercia philosophie / Ad regimen recte donec in orbe vie / Set quanto maior rex est / tanto magis ipsum▪ Ex scola concernit qua sua regna regat /

Hic tractat de tercia parte philosophie que practica vocatur▪ cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Ethica Iconomia et policia / quarum doctrina regia inagestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur

tHe first whiche theoryk
And the second Rethoryke
Scyences of philosophy
I haue hem tolde as in party
So as the philosophre it told
To Alysander and now I wold
Telle of the thirdde what it is
The whiche practyke cleped is
Practyke stant vpon thre thynges
To ward the gouernaunce of kynges
Wherof the first Etyke is named
The whoos seyence stant proclamed
To trehe of vertu thylke rule
How that a kynge hym self shal rule
Of his moral condicion
With worthy disposicion
Of good lyuyng in his persone
Whiche is the chyef in his corone
It maketh a kyng also to lerne
How he his body shall gouerne
How he shalle wake how he shall slepe
How that he shalle his hele kepe
In mete in drynke in clothynge eke
There is no wisedome for to seke
As for the reule of his persone
Whiche this scyence al one
Ne techeth as by wey of kynde
That there nothyng leue behynde
That other poynt whiche to practyke
Belongeth to Iconomyke
Whiche techeth thylke honeste
Thorugh whiche a kynge in his degre
His wyf and child shalle rule & gy
So ferforth all the company
Whiche in his houshold shold abyde
And his estate on euery syde
In suche manere for to lede
That he his houshold not myslede
Practyke hath yet the thyrdde appryse
Whiche techeth how and in what wyse
Thorugh hyhe purueyed ordynaunce
A kynge shalle set in gouernannce
His reame. and that is pollycye
Whiche longeth vnto regalye
In tyme of werre / in tyme of pees
To worship and to god encrees
Of clerke of knyght of Marchaunte
And so forth of the remenaunt
Of all the comyn peple aboute
Within borgh and eke withoute
Of hem that ben artificers
Whiche vsen craft and mysters
Whoos arte is cleped Mathematyke
And though they be not all lyke
Yet neuertheles how so it falle
One lawe mote gouerne hem alle
Or that they lese or that they wyn
After the state that they ben in

[Page]
Loo thus the worthy yong kyng
Was fully laught of euery thyng
Whiche myght yeue entendement
Of good rule and of good regem [...]t
Is suche a worthy prynce as he
But of verry necessite
The philosophre hym hath bitake
Fyue poyntes which he hath vnderta­  [...]e /
Toke and hold in obseruaunce
 [...]fore the worthy gouernaunce
Whiche longeth to his regalye
After the rule of polycye

Moribus ornatus regit hic qui reg [...] moderna / Tercius exspectat / cep [...] ntura peli / Et quia vetita virtus su [...]rem [...]n [...]t omnes▪ Regis ab ore bo [...] abu [...]a nulla sonat

Hic secundum policiam tractare in [...]dit precipue super quiuqȝ regula [...]ū a [...]ticu [...]s que ad principis regimen ob [...]ruande spe [...]alius [...]stat / quarum pri [...] ventas nun [...]patur▪per quam ve [...]dicus sit sermo regie ad omnes

 [...]O euery man behoueth lore
But to no man belōgeth more
Than to a kyng which hath to  [...] /
The peple for his knyghthede
He may hem bothe saue and spylle
And for it stont vpon his wylle
It syt hym wel to be auysed
And the vertues whiche ben assised
Vnto a kynges regement
To take his entendement
Wherof to tellen as they stonde
Herafterward now wol I fonde
Among the vertuce one is chyef
And that is trouthe which [...] is lyef
To god and eke to man also
And for it hath ben euer so
Taught Aristotle as it is couthe
To A [...]sandre as he wel couthe
He shold of trouthe thylke grace
with all his herte enbrace
So that his hert be trewe and pleyne
Toward the world and so certeyne
That in hym he no double speche
For yf men shold trouthe seche
And fynde it not within a kynge
It were full vnsyttynge thynge
The worde is token of that within
There shalle a worthy kynge begyn
To kepe his tonge and to be trewe
So shall his pryce ben euer newe
Auyse hym euery man to fore
And be wel ware or he be swore
For afterward it is to late
If that he wold his worde debate
For as a kyng in speciall
A [...]ue all other in pryncipal
Of his power so sholde he be
Moost vertuous in his degre
And that may be wel signefyed
By his croune and specifyed

Not [...] super hijs que Corona Regis designatur

The gold betokeneth excellence
That men shold done hym reuerence
A [...] to hir lyege souerayne
The stones as the bookes sayn [...]
Commended ben in trouble wyse
Firste they ben hard and thylke assise
Betokeneth a kyngis constaunce
Soo that there shall no varyaunce
Be founde in his condtcion
And also by descripcion
The vertue whiche is in the stones
A very sygne is for the nones
Of that a kynge shall be honest
And holde trewe his byheste
Of thyng which longeth to knygthede
The bryght coloure as I rede
whiche is in the stones shynyng
Is in fignre betokenyng
The Cronyke of his worldes fame
whiche stant vpon his good name
[Page Clxiij]The Ce [...]le whiche is rounde aboute
Is token of all the  [...]onde without [...]
Whiche stant vnder his Ierarchye
That he it well shalle kepe & guye
And for that trouthe how it falle
Is vertu souerayne oue [...]alle
That longed vnto regyment
A tale whiche is euydent
Of trouthe in commendacion
Toward thyn  [...]formacion
My sone herafter thou shalt here
Of a Cronyke in this ma [...]r [...]

As the Cronyke it doth wherce
A soldan whi [...]me was of perse
Whiche daryes hyght and y [...]aspis
His fader was and soothe it is
Of hie lygnage and by discente
The regne of thylke empyre he hent
That thorugh wisedom & hy [...]e prudence
More than by other reuerence
And for he was hym self wyse
The wyse men he held in pryse
And sought hem oute on euery side
That toward hym they shold abyde
Among the whiche thre ther were
That must seruyce vnto hym bere
As they whiche in his chambre leyn [...]
And al his counceylle herd and seyne
Here names ben of straunge note
Arphages was the first hote
And Monachas was the second
Zorababel as it is founde
In the Cronyke was the thyrdde
This Soldan what so hym betyde
To hem he tri [...]t moost of all [...]
Wherof the cause is soo bifalle
This  [...]ord / whiche hath conceytes depe
Vpon a nyght when he shold slepe
As he which hath his wyttes disposed
Touchynge a poynt hem hath opposed

Hic na [...]at qualiter Darius filius Itaspis soldanus percie a tribus suis cubicularibus / qu [...]um nomina A [...] phag [...]s / Monachas et Zorobabel / dicta sunt nomine questionis singillatim in terrogauit vtrum rex aut mulier / aut vinum maioris fortitudinis vim opti neret ipsis / Vero varias opiniones respondentibus Zorobabel vltimis asseruit qd mu [...]er sui amoris complacencia tam regis quam vini potenciam excellit / addidit eciam pro finali conclusione dicens quod veritas super ōnia vincit. cuius responsio ceteris laudabilior a [...]cepta [...]atur

tHe kynges question was this
Of thynges which strengest is
The wyn the womā or yt kyng
And that they shold vpon this thyng
Of her answere auysed be
He gaf hem dayes fully thre
And hath bihote hem by his feyth
That who so best reson seith
He shalle receyue a worthy mede
Vpon this thyng they token hede
And studyed on disputacion
That they by dyuerse opynyon
Of argumentes that they holde
Arphages first his tale tolde
And said how yt the strength of kynges
Is myghtyest of al thynges
For kyng hath power ouer man
And man is whiche reson can
As he whiche is of his nature
The moost noble creature
Of all tho that god hath wrought
And by that skylle it semeth nought
He seith that ony  [...]rthely thyng
May be so myghty as a kyng
A kyng may spylle a kynḡe may saue
A kyng may make a lord a knaue
And of a knaue a lord also
The power of a kynge stondeth soo
That he the lawes ouer passeth
What he wylle make lasse he it lasseth
What he wol make more he moreth
He sleeth that no man it restoreth
But he alone al other tameth
[Page]Who hym displeseth he grameth
And stant hym self of lawe fre
Loo this is a kynges myght seith he
So as his reson can argue
Is strengest and of moost valewe
But Monachas seith other wyse
That wyne is of the more empryse
And that he sheweth by this wey
The wyne full ofte taketh awey
The reson fro the mannes herte
The wyn can make a crepul stert [...]
And  [...]lyuer man vnwylde
It maketh a blynde man to behylde
And a bryght eye somtyme derke
It maketh a lewde man a clerke
And fro the clerkes the clergy
I [...] taketh awey and cowardy
It torneth in to hardynesse
Of Auaryce it maketh largesse
The wyne maketh eke the good bloode
In whiche the sowle whiche is good
Hath chosen hir a restyng place
While that the lyf her wylle enbrace
And by this skylle Monachas
Answerd hath vpon this was
And seith that wyn by w [...]y of stynde
Is thyng which may the hertes blynde
Well more than the regalye
Zorobabell for his partye
Seid as hym thought for the best
That women ben the myghtyest
The kyng and the vynour also
Of women comen bothe two
And eke he seid how that manhede
Thorugh strengthe vnto womanhede
Of loue whether he wylle or none
Obeye shall▪ and therupone
To shewe of women the maistry
A tale whiche he sawe with eye

Nota hic de vigote amoris qui inter Cirum Regem persarum et apemen ba zasis fi [...]am ipsius regis concubinam spectan [...]e tota curio experiebatur

aS for ensample he told this
How Apem [...]n of basasis
Whiche doughter was  [...] the pal [...]is /
Sittyng vpon his deys
Whan he was hottest in his yre
Toward the grete of his empyre
Cirus the kyng ti [...]aunt she took
And only by hir goodly loke
She made hym de [...]onaire and meke
And by the chyn and by the cheke
She logged hym right as hir lyst
That now she  [...]ped & now she kys [...]
And dothe with hym what euer hir liketh / 
When yt she loureth than he si­keth /
And when she gladeth he is glad
And thus the kyng is ouerlad
With hir whiche his lemman was
Among the men is no solas
If that there he no woman there
For but yf that the woman were
This worldes ioye were awey
This is trouthe that I yow seye
To knyghthode and to  [...]ldes same
They make a man to drede shame
And honour for to be desired
Thorugh the beaute of hem is desyred
The dar [...]e whiche Cupide throweth
Wherof the iolyf peyn [...] groweth
Whiche all the worlde  [...]oth vnderfo [...]
A woman is the manne [...]  [...]ote
His lyf / his deth his woo his we [...]
And this thyng may be she wed we [...]
How that wymmen ben good & kynde
For in ensample thus I fynde

Nota de fide [...]tate coniugis qua [...]te [...] A [...]cesta vx [...] Ameti vt maritum su [...] viuificaret seipsam m [...]ti spontance subegit

wHen that the duke Ametus [...]ay
Seke in his  [...]ed that euery day
Men waiten whan he shold day
Alcest his▪wyf goth for to prey
Deuoutely pray [...]g for to w [...]
[Page Clxiij]with sacryfyce vnto Myn [...]e
To wy [...] answere of the goddesse
How that h [...]r lord of his sykenesse
Wherof he was soo  [...]o  [...]isene
Recouer myght his hele  [...]y [...]ne
Loo thus she cryed  [...]o thus she praid
Tille at the last a voys hir said
That yf she wold for his sake
The malady suffre and take
And dye hir self he shalle lyue
Of this answere Alceste hath yeue
Vnto Mynerue grete thankyng
She that hir deth and his lyuyng
She chese with all hir hoole entent
And thus acorded home she went
In to the chambre and when she came
Hir houshold anone she name
In bothe hir armes and hym kyst
And spak vnto hym what her lyst
And therupon within a throwe
She lay doune seke all ouerthrowe
And dyed and he was hoole in hast
So may a  [...]n by reson tast
How next after the god aboue
The trouthe of woman and the loue
In whome that al grace is founde
Is myghtyest vpon the grounde
And moost behoue [...]y many fold
Loo thus Zorobabel hath told
The tale of his oppynyon
But for finall conclusion
What strengest is of erthely thynges
The wyn the wymmen or the kynges
He seith that trouthe aboue hem all [...]
Is myghtyest how euer it falle
The trouthe how so euer it come
May for nothyng ben ouercome
It may well suffre for a throwe
But at the last it shall be knowe
The prouerbe is who that is trewe
He shalle his whyle neuer rewe
For how so that the cause wende
The trouthe is shameles at the ende
But thyng that i [...] troutheles
It may not we [...] be shameles
And shame hyndereth euery wyght
So pryuely there is no myght
Withoute trouthe in no degre
And thus for trouthe of his degre
Zorobabel was moost commended
Wherof the question was ended
And receyued hath his mede
For trouthe whiche to mannes nede
Is moost behouelyche ouer all
For thy was trouthe in speciall
The first poynt in obseruaunce
Be take vnto the gouernaunce
Of Alysander as it is seid
For therupon the grounde was leyd
Of euery kynges regyment
As thyng whiche moost conuenyent
Is for to set a kyng in euen
Both in this world▪and eke in heuen

Absit auaricia tangat regia corda Cuius enim spolijs excoriatur humus Fama colit largum voluntas per secu la regem / Dona tamen licitis suut moderanda modis

Hic tractat de regi [...] magestatis secunda policia▪ quam Aristotiles largitatē vocat / cuius virtute non solum propulsata auaricia regis nomen magnificum extollatur sed et sui subicionum diuiciarum habundancia i [...]cundiores ef ficiuntur

nExt after trouthe the second
In polycye as it is found
Whiche serueth to the worldes fame / 
In worship of a kynges name
Largesse it is whoos pryuelege
There may no auaryce abrege
The worldes good was first comune
But afterward vpon fortune
Was thylk comyn proufite cesed
But when the peple stode encresed
As the lygnage we [...]en grete
Anone for singuler beyete
[Page]With sacrefye vnto mynerue
To wyte answere of the goddesse
How that hir lord of his sekenesse
Wherof he was so woo bysene
Recouer myght his hele ayene
Lo thus she cryed / lo thus she prayed
Tyl at the last a voys hir sayed
That yf she wold for his sake
The maladye suffre and take
And dye hir self he shal lyue
Of this answer alcest hath yeue
Vnto mynerue grete thonkyng
She that hir deth & his lyuyng
These with al her hole entente
And thus accorded home she wente
In to the chambre & whā she came
Hir busbond anone she name
In bothe hir armes & hym kyste
And spake vnto hym what hir liste
And there vpon within a thro we
The good wyf was ouerthrowe
She deyed & he was hole in haste
So may a man by reson taste
How nexte after the god aboue
The trouthe of woman & the loue
In whome that al grace is founde
Is myghtyest vpon the grounde
And most behouely many folde
Lo thus Zorobabel hath tolde
The tale of his opynyon
But for fynal conclusyon
What strengest is of erthely thynges
The wyne the wymmen or the kynges
He seyth that trouthe aboue hem alle
Is myghtyest how euer it falle
The trouthe how so ener it come
May for no thynge ben ouercome
It may wel suffre for a throwe
But at the last it shal be knowe
The prouerhys is who that is trewe
He shal his whyle neuer rewe
For how so that the cause wende
The trouthe is shameles atte ende
But thynge that is trouthlesse
It may not wel be shamelesse
And shame hyndereth euery wyght
So pryuely there is no myght
With out trouthe in no degree
And thus for trouthe of his degree
Zorobabel was moste commended
Wherof the questyon was ended
And he receyued hath his mede
For trouth whiche to mannes nede
Is moste behouelyche ouer al
For thy was trouthe in specyal
The first poynte in obseruaunce
Be take vnto the gouernaunce
Of alysaunder as it is sayed
For ther vpon the groūde was layed
Of euery kynges regymente
As thynge whiche moste conuenyente
Is for to sette a kynge in euen
Bothe in this world & eke in heuen

Absit auaricia tangat regia corda Cuius enim spolijs excoriatur humus Fama colit largum voluntas per secula regem / Dona tames licitis sunt moderanda modis

Hic tractat de regie magestatis secunda policia quam aristotiles largita tem vocat cuius virtute non solum propulsata auaricia regie nomen magnificum extollatur sz et sui subditi om niū dunciarum habundancia iocundi ores efficiuntur /

nExte after trouthe the second
In polecye as it is founde
Which serueth to the worldes fame
In worshyp of a kynges name
Largesse it is whos preuylege
There may no auarice abrege
The worldes good was first comune
But afterward vpon fortune
Was thylke comyn prouffyt cesed
But Whan the peple stode encresed
As the lygnages wexen grete
Anone for synguler byȝ [...]e
Drewe euery man to his partye
[Page Clxiij]Wherof comyn the fyrst enuye
With grete debate & warees stronge
And laste emōge the men so longe
Tyl no man wyst who was who
Ne which was frende ne whiche foo
Whyl atte laste in euery londe
Within hem self the peple fonde
That it was good to make a kynge
Whiche myght appesen al this thynge
And yeue ryght to the lignages
In partyng of her heritages
And eke of al the other good
And thus aboue hem al stood
The kyng vpon his regalye
As he whiche hath to iustefye
The worldes good for couetyse
So syt it wel in al wyse
A kyng betwene more and lesse
To sette his herte vpon largesse
Toward hym self & eke also
Toward his peple & yf not so
That is to say yf that he be
Toward his self large and free
And of his peple take and pylle
Largesse by no weye of skylle
It may be said but auarice
Which in a kyng is a grete vyce
A kyng hehoueth eke to flee
The vpce of prodegalyte
That he mesure in expence
So kepe that of indygence
He may be saufe fro who that nedeth
In al his werke the wers he spedeth

Nota super hoc qued aristotilus ad Alexandrium exemplificauit de exactionibus Regis chaldeorū /

aS aristotle vpon caldee
Ensaumple of grete auctorite
Vnto alisaunder taughte
Of thylke folke that were vnsaughte
Toward hir kyng for his pyllage
Wherof he hade in his corage
That he vnto thre poyntes entende
Where that he wold his good dyspende
Fyrst shold he loke how that it stood
That al were of his owne good
The yeftes whiche he wold yeue
So myght he the better leue
And eke he must taken hede
Yf there be canse of ony nede
Whiche oughte to be deffended
Or that his goodes ben dyspended
He mote eke as it is befalle
Amonge other thynges alle
Se the decertes of his men
And after they ben of ken
And of estate and meryte
He shal hem largely acquyte
Or for the werre or for the pease
That none honoure falle in dyscreast
Whiche myght torne in to deffame
But that he kepe his good name
So that he be not holde vnkynde
For in cronycle a tale I fynde
Whiche speketh som dele of this matere
Here afterward as thou shalt here

Hic secundum gesta Iulij exemplū ponit qualiter Rex suorum militum quos probos agnouerit indigenciam largitatis sue beneficijs releuare tenetur / ▪

In rome to pursue his right
There was a worthy poure knyght
Whiche came allone for to seyne
His cause when the courte was pleyne
Where Iulyus was in presence
And for hym lacketh of his dyspēce
There was with hym none aduocate
To make plee for his estate
But though hym lacke for to plede
Hym lacketh nought of manhede
He wist wel his purse was pouer
But yet he thought his right receuer
And o penly pouerte aleyed
To the emperour & thus he seyed
O Iulyns lord of the lawe
[Page]Behelde my counceyl is withdrawe
For lacke of golde to thyn offyce
After the lawe of Iustyce
Helpe that I had counceyl here
Vpon the trouthe of my matere
And Iulyus with that anone
Assygned hym a worthy one
But he hym self no worde spáke
This knyght was wroth & fonde lake
In the emperour & said thus
O thou vnkynde Iulyus
Whan thou in thy batayle were
Vpon aufrik & I was there
My might for the rescue I dyd
And that no man in my stede
Thou wotest woundes there I had
But for I fynde the so bad
That the ne list speke one worde
Thyn owne mowthe or of thy horde
To yeue a floreyn me to helpe
How shold I than me be yelpe
Fro this forth of my largesse
Whan suche a grete vnkyndenesse
Is founde in suche a lord as thou
This Iulyus knewe wel y now
That al was sothe which he hym tolde
And for he wold not ben holde
Vnkynde he toke his cause on honde
And as it were of goddes sonde
He yaue hym good ynough to spende
For euer vnto his lyues ende
And thus shold euery worthy kyng
Take of his knyghtes knowlechyng
Whan that he sawe they had nede
For euery seruyce axeth mede
But other whiche haue not deserued
Thorugh vertu but of  [...]apes serued
A kyng shal not deserue grace
Though he be large in suche a place

Hic ponit exemplum de rege antigo no qualiter dona regia secundum mame et minus & equa discrecione moderanda sunt

iT sitteth wel euery kyng to haue
Discressyon whan men hym craue
So that he may his gyfte wyte
Wherof I fynde a tale wryte
How Ciuichus a power knyght
A somme whiche was ouer myght
Prayed of his kyng antygonus
The kyng answerd to hym thus
And said how suche a yefte passeth
His power estate and than he lasseth
And axeth but a lytel peny
Yf that the kyng wold yeue hym ony
The kyng answerd it is to smalle
For hym that is a lord ryalle
To yeue a man so lytel thynge
It were vnworshyp in a kyng
By this ensaumple a kyng may lere
That for to yeue is in manere
For yf a kyng his tresour lasseth
Without honoure & thankelesse passeth
Whan he hym self wyl so begyle
I note who shal compleyne his whyle
Ne who by right hym shal releue
But nethelesse this I beleue

Nota hic qd regis status a suis fidelibȝ omni fauore supportandus est

The whiche with his owne londe
Behoueth euery mannes honde
To sette vpon necessyte
And eke his kynges ryalte
Mote euery lyege man comforte
With good & body to supporte
Whan they see cause resonable
For who that is not entendable
To holde vp right his kynges name
Hym ought for to be to blame

Nota hic secundum aristotelem qua liter principum prodigalitas pauperta tem induat co [...]nne [...]

Of polecye & euer more
To speke in this matere more
So as the phylosophre tolde
[Page Clxvij]A kyng after the rule is holde
To modefye & adresse
His yeftes vpon suche largesse

Seneca sit alijs benefacito vt tibi non no [...]gs

That the mesure not excede
For yf a kyng shal in to nede
It causeth ofte sendry thynges
Which ben vngoodly to the kynges
What man wyl not hym self mesure
Men secth ful ofte that mesure
Hym hath forsake & so doth he
That vseth prodygalite
Which is the moder of pouerte
Wherof the londes ben deserte
And namely whan that ylke vyce
Aboue a kynge stante in offyce
And hath with holde of his partye
The cenetous flaterye
Which many a worthy kyng deceyueth
Or he the fallace perceyueth
Of hem that seruen to the glose
For they that can plese & glose
Ben as men tellen the norice
Vnto the fosteryng of the vyce
Wherof ful ofte netheles
A kyng is blamed gyltles

Nota qualiter principum curijs adula tores triplice grauitate offendunt

A philosophre as thou shalt here
Spake to a kyng of this matere
And said hym wel how that flaterours
Coulpable were of thre errours
One was toward the goddes on hye
That weren wroth of that they syghe
The myschyef whiche befalle shold
Of that the fals flaterour tolde
Toward the kyng another was
Whan they by sleyght & by fallas
Of feyned wordes make hym wene
That blacke is whyt & blew is grene
Touchyng of his condicion
For whan he doeth extorcion
With many another vyce moo
Men shul not fynde one of tho
To grutche or speke there ageyn
But holden vp his oyle & sayn
That al is wel what euer he doth
And thus of fals they maken soth
So that the kynges eye is blente
And wote not how the world is went
The third errour is harme comune
with which the peple mote comune
Of wronges that they bryngen ynne
Aud thus they werchen treble synne
That ben flaterours aboute a kynge
There myght be no werse thynge
Aboute a kynges regalye
Than is the vyce of flaterye
And nethelesse it hath ben vsed
That it was neuer yet refused
As for to speke of courte ryalle
For there it is most specialle
And many longe before bore
But whan this vyce of hem is bore
That shold the vertuous forth brynge
And trouth is torned in to lesynge
It is as who sayth ageynst kynde
Wherof an olde ensaumple as I fynde

Hic contra vanitates adulandum loquitur et narrat quod cum arisippus de cartagine philosophus scole studium relinquens sui principio obsequio in magnis adulacionibus pre ceteris carior asistebat / Accidit vp ipse quodam die Dioginem philosophum uuper socium suum virum tam moribus quam probatissimum herbas ad olera sua collectas lauantem ex casu ad ripam inuenerat / Cui ait o diogene scito sicut et ego principi tuo placere scires huiusmodi herbas aut celligere aut non lauare indigeres O arisippe certe si tu olera tua lauare

[Page]scires be in blan [...]icijs et adulacioni [...]us principi tuo seruire non oporteret

 [...]Mouge these olde tales wyse
Of phylosophres in this wyse
I trde how whilom two there were
And to the soole for to lere
Vnto athenis fro cartage
Her frendes whan they were of age
Hem sente & there they stoden longe
Tyl they suche lore haue vnderfonge
That in her tyme they surmounte
Al other men that to accounte
Of hem two was grete fame
The first of hem his right name
Was drogenes than hote
In whom was founde no ryote
His felowe arisippus hyght
Whiche moche coude & myght
But atte last sothe to sayne
They bothe torned home agayne
Vnto cartage & soole lete
This dyogynes no beyete
Of worldes good lasse or more
Ne sought for his longe lore
But toke hym onely for to dwelle
At home & as the bookes telle
His hows was nygh to the ryuere
Besyde a bridge as thou shalt here
There dwelled he toke his reste
So as it thought hym for the beste
To studye in his philosophye
As he whiche so wold defye
The worldes pompe on euery syde
But arisippe his bookes a syde
Hath leyed & to the courte he wente
Where many a wyle & many a wente
With flaterye & wordes softe
He caste & hath compasse [...] ofte
How he his prynce myght plese
And in this wyse he gate hym  [...]ase
Of veyne honour & worldes good
The londes rule vpon hym stode
The kyng of hym was wonder glad
And al was do what thynge he bad
Bothe in the courte & eke with out
With flaterye he brought about
His purpoos of the worldes werke
Which was ageyn the state of clerke
So that the philosophye he lefte
And to the riches hym self vp lefte
 [...]o thus had arisippe his wylle
But dyogenes dwellyd stylle
At home & loked on his boke
He sought not the worldes croke
For veyn honour ne for richesse
But al his herdes besynesse
He set to be vertuous
And thus within his owne hows
He lyueth to the suffysaunce
Of his hauyng & fyl perchaunce
This dyogynes vpon a day
And that was in the monthe of māy
That whan these herbes ben holsom
And walked for to gader som
In his gardyn in whiche his iolytes
He thought to haue & thus aboutes
Whā he hath gadred what hym liketh
He set hym doun than & pyketh
And wysshe his herbes in the flode
Vpon which his gardyn stode
Nygh to the bridge as I tolde ere
And happeneth whyle he sitteth there
Came arisippes by the strete
With many hors & routes grete
And streyght vnto the bridge he rode
Where that he houed & abode
For as he caste his eye nygh
His felowe dyogenes he syghe
And what he dyd he sawe also
Wherof he sayd to hym tho
O diogenes god the spede
It were certes lytel nede
To sit here & wortes pyke
If thou thy prynce coudest lyke
[Page Clxviij]So as I am in my degree
O arisippe ageyn quod he
If that thou coudest so as I
Thy wortes pyke truly
It were as lytel nede or lesse
That thou yt so worldly wold compasse
With flaterye for to serue
Wherof thou thynkest to dysserue
Thy prynces thanke & to purchace
How thou myght stonde in his grace
For getyng of a lytel good
If thou wold take in to thy mood
Reson thou myght by reson deme
That so thy prynce for to queme
Is not to reson accordaunt
But it is gretely discordaunte
Vnto the sooles of athene
 [...]o thus answerd diogene
Ageyn the clerkes flaterye
But men seen the assemplarye
Of arisippe is wel receyued
And thylke of dyogene is weyued
Offyce in courte & golde in coffre
Is now men sayn the philosophre
Whiche hath the worshyp in the halle
But flaterye passeth alle
In chaūbre when the courte  [...]uaūceth
For vpon thylke lotte it chaunceth
To be byloued now a daye
I note yf it be ye or nay
How dante the poete answerde
To a flaterour / the tale I herde
Vpon a stryf betwene them two
He sayd hym ther ben many mo
Of thy seruauntes than of myn
For the poete of his couyne
Hath none that wyl hym clothe & fede
But a flatour may rule & lede
A kyng with al his londe aboute
So stante the wyse man in doute
Of hem that to folye drawe
For suche is now the comyn lawe
And as comune boece it telleth
And where that flaterye dwelleth
In ony londe vnder the sonne
There is ful many thynge begonne
Whiche were better to be lefte
That hath he shewed now & efte
But yf a prynce wold hym rule
Of the romayns after the rule
In thylke tyme it was vsed
This vyce shold be refused
Wherof the poyntes ben assoted
But where the playn trouth is noted
There may a prynce wel conceyue
That he hym self deceyue
Of that he hereth wordes pleyne
Of hym that nought by reson pleyne
That warned is or hym be woo
And that was fully pre [...]yd tho
Whan rome was the worldes chyef
 [...]he sooth sayer tho was leef
Which wold not the trouthe spare
But with his worde playn [...] & bare
To themperour his sothes tolde
As in cronyke is yet withholde
Here afterward as thou shalt here
Accordyng vnto this matere

Hic narrāt super eodem qualiter nuper Romanorum Imperator cum ipso triumphator in hostes a bello rome rediret / Tres sibi laudes in signum sui triumphi precipue debebantur primo quatuor equi abbissimi currum in quo sedebat veherent Secundo tunica Iouis pro tunc indueretur Tercio sui captiui prope currum ad viriusque latus cathena ti deambularent Set ne tanti honoris adulacio eius animum in superbiam extolleret quidam scurra linguosus iuxta ipsum in curru sedebat qui quasi contumatis vocibus improperando Notheos hoc est noscete ipsum quia & hodie fortunata sibi prospera sunt cras forte versa rota mutabilis aduersabitur

[Page]
O see this olde ensaumplerye
That whilom was no flaterye
Toward the prynces wel I fynde
Wherof so as cometh to mynde
My sone a tale vnto thyn ere
While that the worthy princes were
At rome I thynke for to tellen
For whan the chaunces so byfellen
That ony emperour as tho
Victorye vpon his foo
And so came forth to rome ageyn
Of treble honour he was certeyne
Wherof that he was magnefyed
The first as it is specefyed
Was whan he came that ylke tyde
The chare in whiche he shold ryde
Four whyt stedes shold it drawe
Of Iubyter by thilke lawe
The cote he shold were also
His prisoners eke shold goo
Endlonge the chare on eyther honde
And al the noblesse of the londe
To fore &  [...]after with hym come
Rydyng & broughte hym to rome
In token of his chyualrye
And for none other flaterye
And that was she wed forth with al
Where he satte in his chare ryalle
Besyde hym was a rybaud set
Which had his worde so beset
To themperour in al his glorye
He said take in thy memorye
For al this pompe & al this pride
Lete no iustice goo a syde
But knowe thy self what so befalle
For men seen oftymes falle
Thynges which men wende siker stōde
Though thou victorye haue in honde
Fortune may not stonde alwey
The whiche perchaunce another day
May turne & thou myght ouer throwe
Ther lasteth no thynge but a throwe
With these wordes & with moo
This ribaulde which sat with hym the
To themperour hys tale tolde
And euermore after what be wolde
Or were it euyl or were it good
So playnly as the trouth stood
He spareth not but be speketh oute
And so myght euery man aboute
The day of that solempnyte
His tale telle as wel as he
To themperour al openly
And al was this cause why
That while he stode in that noblesse
He shold his vanyte represse
With suche wordes as he herde
Lo now how thylke tyme it ferde
Toward so hygh a worthy lorde
For this I fynde eke of recorde
Whiche the cronycle hath auctorized
What emperour was Intronyzed

Hic eciam contra adulacionem narrat qd primo die quo nuper Imperator intronisatus extitit latonij sui ab ipso constanter peterent de quali lapide sue sepulture tumulum fabricarent vt sic futuram mortem commemorans vani tates huius seculi transitonas facilius reprimeret

tHe first day of his corone
Where he was in his ryal trone
And helde his feste in the paleys
Sittyng vpon his hye deys
With al the lust that may be gete
Whan he was gladdest at his mete
And euery mynstral had played
And euery gestour had sayed
What moste was plesaunt to his ere
Atte laste came in there
His masons for they shullen craue
Where that he wold be bygraue
And what stone his sepulture
They sholden make & what scripture
He wold ordeyne there vpon
Tho was there flatrrye none
[Page Clxix]The worthy prynce to beiape
The kyng was otherwyso shape
With good counceyl & other wyse
They were hem self than wyse
And vnderstoden wel & knewen
Whan suche softe wyndes hlewen
Of flaterxe in to her ere
They setten nought her hertes there
But whan they herde wordes feyned
The pleyne trouthe it hath disdeyned
Of hem that weren so dyscrete
So toke the flaterer no beyete
Of hym that was his prynce tho
And for to proue that it is so
A tale which I fynde in dede
In a cronycle of rome I rede

Hic inter alia gesta cesaris narrat vnum exemplū precipue contra illos qui cum in aspectu principis alijs sapi enciores apperere vellent quando que tamen similitate sapiencie talia comittunt per que ceteris stulciores in fine comprobantur

cEsar vpon his ryal trone
Where that he satte in his persone
And was hyest in al his pryse
A man whiche wold make hym wyse
Fyldoun knelyng in his presence
And dyd hym suche a reuerence
As though he hygh god were
Men had grete meruayle there
Of the worshyp which he dede
This man aroos fro thylke stede
And forth withal the same tyde
He goeth hym vp & by his syde
He set hym doun as there a pere
And said yf thou that sittest here
Arte god whiche al thynges myght
Than I haue doo worshyp a right
As to the god & otherwyse
Yf thou he not of thylke assyse
Bnt arte a man suche as am I
Than may I syt the faste by
For we be bothe of one kynde
Cesar answerd & said o blynde
Thou arte a fole it is wel sene
Vpon thy self yf thou wene
If I be a god thou doest a mys
To sit where thou seest that god is
And I be a man also
Thou hast a grete foly do
Whan thou to suche one as shal deye
The worshyp of thy god alweye
Hast yeuen so vnworthely
Thus may I preue redely
Thou arte not wyse & that herde
How wysely that the kyng answerde
It was to hem a newe lore
Wherof they dreden hym the more
And brought no thynge to his ere
Bnt yf it treuth & reson were
So ben there many in suche a wyse
That faynen wordes to be wyse
And al is veray flaterye
To hym whiche can it wel aspyr

Nota qualiter ista circa principem adultores potius a curia expelli quam ad regie magestatis munera acceptan policia suadente delerent

tHe kynde flatour can not loue
But for to brynge hym self aboue
For how that euer his mayster fare
So that hym self stonde out of care
He retcheth nought & thus ofte
Deceyueth with wordes softe
The kynges that ben Innocent
Where as for thastement
The wyse phylosophre seyed
What kyng that so his tresour leyed
Vpon suche folke he hath the lesse
And yet no doeth he no largesse
 [...]nt harmeth with his owne honde
Hym self & eke his owne londe
[Page]And that by many a sondry weye
Wherof yf that a man shal seye
As for to speke in generalle
Where suche thynge falleth ouer al
That ony kyng hym self mysrule
The phylosophre vpon this rule
In speaal a cause sette
Whiche is & euer hath be the bette
In gouernaunce aboute a kyng
Vpon  [...] myselyef of the thyng
And that he seyth is sla [...]ye
Wherof to fore as in partye
What that vyce is I haue declared
For who that hath his wytte bywared
Vpon a flaterer to beleue
Whan that he weneth best acheue
His god worde it is moste fro
And for to preuen it is so
Exaumples ther ben many one
Of whiche yf thou wylt knowe one
It is behouely for to here
What whylom fyl in this matere

hIc loquitur vlterius de consilio adusantum quorum fabulis principes aures organiȝate veritatis auditum ca [...]ere nequeunt / Et narrat exemplū de rege achab oui pro eo qd ipse prophe a [...]s fidelis Michee recu auit blandiaas oue adulantis ȝedechye adhesit Rex Sir [...]e benedab in campo bellator ipsum diuino Iudicio deuictum interfecit

 [...]Monge the kynges in the byble
I fynde a tale & is credyble
Of one that whylom achab hyght
Whiche had al Israel to ryght
But who that coude glose softe
And  [...]latre which he sette on lofte
In arete estate and made hem ryche
But they that wroten wordes lyche
To trouthe & wold it not forbere
For hem was none estate to be [...]
The contre of suche toke none here
Tyl atte laste vpon a nede
That benadab the kyng of surry
Of Israel a grete partye
Which ramoth coloath was hote
Hath seced & of that  [...]yote
He toke counceyl in sondry wyse
But not of hem that weren wyse
And nethelesse vpon this caas
To strengthe hym for Iosaphas
Whiche thenne was kyng of Iudee
He sende for to come as he
Whiche thorugh frendshyp & alliaūce
Was nexte to hym of acqueyntaunce
For Ioram sone of Iosaphath
Achabbes doughter wedded hath
Whiche hyght fayr goodelye
And thus came in to samerye
Kyng Iosaphath & he founde there
The kyng achab & whan they were
To gyder spekyng of this thynge
This Iosaphath saith to the kynge
How that he wold gladly here
Somme trewe prophete in this matere
That he his counceyl myght yeue
To what poynte it shal be dreue
And in that tyme so befelle
That there was suche one in Israel
Whiche sette hym al to flaterye
And he was cleped sedechye
And after hym achab hath sente
And he at his cōmaundement
To hym came & by a sleyghte
He hath vpon his heed on heyght
Two large hornes sette of bras
And he which a flaterour was
And goeth rampyn [...] as a lyon
And cast his hornes vp & doun
And bad men ben of good espeyre
For as the hornes persen the eyre
He saith withouten resistence
So wist he wel of his science
That benadab is discomfyte
Whan sedechye vpon this plyte
Hath tolde this tale vnto this lord
[Page Clxx]Anone they were of one accorde
Prophetes false many m [...]
To bere vp oyle and altho
Affermed that whiche he hath tolde
Wherof the kyng achab was bolde
And yaue hem yeftes al aboute
But Iosaphath was in grete doubte
He helde fantasme al that he herde
Prayeng achab how so it ferde
Yf there were ony other man
The whiche of prophecye can
To here hym speke or that théy gone
Quod achab than there is one
A brothel which mycheas hyght
But he ne cometh in my syght
For he hath longe in pryson leyen
Hym lyked neuer yet to sayen
A goodely word to my plesaunce
And nethelesse at thyn instaūce
He shal come out & than he may
Say as he hath said many a day
For yet he said neuer wele
Tho Iosaphath gan somme dele
To gladen hym in hope of trouthe
And bade hym withouten slouthe
That men hym shold f [...]tte anone
And they that were fro hym gone
Whan that they came where he was
They tolden vnto mycheas
The manere how that sedechye
Declared hath his prophecye
And therupon they praye hym fayre
That he wyl say no contrayre
Wherof the kyng may be dysplese [...]
For so shal euery man be esed
And he may helpe hym self also
Mycheas vpon trouthe tho
His herte sette & to hem seyth
Al that belongeth vnto his feyth
And of none other feyned thynge
That wyl he telle vnto the kynge
As ferre as god hath yeue hym grace
Thus came this prophete in to ye place
Where he the kynges wylle herde
And he therto anone answerde
Vnto hym in this wyse
My lyege lord for my fernyse
With treuth stonde hath euer yet
Thou hast me with pason aquyt
But for al that I shal not glose
Of trouthe after as I suppose
And as touchyng of this batayle
Thou shalt not of the soth sayle
For yf it lyke the to here
As I am taught in that matere
Thou myght it vnderstonde sone
But what is afterward to done
Auyse the of this I seye
I was tofore the trone on heye
Where al the world me thought stode
And there I herde & vnderstode
The voyce of god with wordes clere
Axyng & said in this manere
In what wyse may I best begyl [...]
This kyng achab & for a whyle
And vpon this poynte they speke fast
Tho said a spyrit atte last
I vndertake this empryse
And god hym axeth in what wyse
I shal qd he deceyue and lye
With flateryng prophecye
In suche mowthes as he leueth
And he whiche al thynge acheueth
Bad hym goo forth and do right so
And ouer this I say also
This noble peple of Israel
Dispers as sheep vpon an hylle
Without a kepar vn arayed
And as they wente aboute & strayed
I herde a voys vnto hem seyn
Goeth home in to your hows ageyn
Tyl I for you haue fetter ordeyned
Quod sedechye thou hast feyned
This tale in angeryng of the kyng
And in a wrath vpon this thynge
He smote mychee vpon the cheke
The kyng hym hath rebuked eke
And euery man vpon hym cryed
Thus was he shente on euery syde
Ageyn in to pryson ladde
For so the kyng hym self badde
The trouthe myght not be herde
[Page]But afterward as it hath ferde
The dede proueth his entente
Achab to the batayle wente
Where benadab for al his shelde
Hym slewe so that vpon the felde
His peple goeth aboute a straye
But god whiche al thynge may
So doth that they no myschyef haue
Her kyng was deed & they be saue
And home ageyn in goddes pees
They wente & al was founde lees
That s [...]chye hath sayd tofore
So sit it wel a kyng therfore
To loue theym that trewe mene
For atte laste it wyl be sene
That flaterye is no thynge worthe
But now to my matere forth
As for to speken ouer more
After the phylosophers lore
The third poynte of polecye
I thynke for to specefye

Propter transgressores leges statuuntur in o [...]be / Vt vn [...]āt iusti regis honore v [...] ▪ / Lex sine Iusticia populum sub principis vmbra / Deuiat vt rectum nemo videbit it [...]r

Hic tractat de tercia principum legie policia que iusticia nominata est [...]us condicio legibus incorupta vniuiaue qd suum est cquo pondere distribuit

wHat is a londe there men be none
What ben the men that are allone
Without a kynges gouernaunce
What is a kyng in his lygeaunce
Where that there is no lawe in londe
What is to take lawe on honde
But yf the Iuges ben trewe
These olde worldes with the newe
Who that wyl take in euydence
There may he se experience
What thynge it is to kepe lawe
Thorow which wronges be withdrawe
And rightwysnes stande cōmended
Wherof the regnes ben amended
For where the lawe may commune
The lordes forth with the comune
Eche hath his propre deute
And eke the knyghtes ryalte
Of bothe his worshyp, vnderfongeth
To his estate as it bylongeth
Whiche of his worthynesse
Hath to gouerne rightwysnesse
As he whiche shal the lawe guyde
And neuerthelesse vpon sōme syde
His power stante aboue the lawe
To yeue bothe and to drawe
The forset of the mannes lyf
But thynges whiche are excessyf
Ageyn the lawe he shal not doo
For loue ne for hate also

Imperatoriam magestatem non solum armis sȝ eciam legibus oportet esse armatam

b The myghtes of a kyng be grete
But yet a worthy kyng shal  [...]et [...]
Of wronge to done al that he myght
For he whiche shal the peple right
Yt sitteth wel to his regalye
That he hym self fyrst Iustefye
Toward god in his degree
For his estate is elles fre
Toward al other in his persone
Saue onely to the god allone
Whiche wyl hym self a kyng chastyse
Where that none other may suffyse
So were it good to taken hede
That fyrst a kyng his owne dede
Betwene the vertu and the vyce
Redresse & than his iustyce
So sette in euen the balaunce
Towardes other in gouernaunce
That to the powre & to the ryche
His lawes myght stonde in lyche
He shal excepte no persone
[Page Clxxj]But for he may not al hym one
In sondry place to Iustyce
He shal of his ryal offyce
With wyse consyderacion
Ordeyne his dysputacion
Of suche Iuges as ben lerned
So that his peple be gouerned
By hem that trewe ben & wyse
For yf the lawe of couetyse
Be set vpon Iuges honde
Woo is the peple of thylke londe
For wronge may not hym self hyde
But allas on that other syde
Yf lawe stonde with the right
The peple is glad & stonte vp right
Where as the lawe is meuable
The comyn peple stante resonable
And yf the lawe torne a mys
The peple also mystorned is

Nota hic iusticia maximinj imperato ris qui cum alicuius prouincie custodē sibi constituere volebat primo de sui nominis sama proclamacione facta ipsius condicionem diligencius inuesti gabat

aNd in ensaumple of this matere
Of maxymyn a man may here
Of Rome Whiche was emperour
That whan he made a gouernour
By weye of substytucion
Of prouynce or of regyon
He wold fyrst acquyre his name
And lete it openlye proclame
What man he were or euyl or good
And vpon that his name stode
Enclyned to vertu or to vyce
So wold he sette hym in offyce
Or ellis put hym al a weye
Thus helde the lawe the right weye
Whiche fonde no lette of couetyse
The world stode than vpon that wyse
By ensaumple thou myght rede
And holde in thy mynde I rede

Hic ponit exemplum de iudicibus incorruptis & narrat qualiter Gaius Fabricius nuper Rome consul aurum a sampnitibus sibi oblatum remi [...]t dicens qd nobilius est aurum possidentes domino subuigare quam ex auri cupidi tate dominij libertacem am [...]tere

IN a cronyque I fynde thus
How that gayus fabricius
Whiche whylom was consul of rome
By whom the lawes yede & come
Whan the sampnytes to hym brought
A somme of golde & hym besought
To done hym fauour in the lawe
Toward the golde he gan hym drawe
Wherof in al mennes loke
A parte in to his honde he toke
Whiche to his mowthe in al haste
He put it for to smelle and taste
And to his eye & to his lere
But he ne foude no comforte there
And than he began it to despyse
And tolde vnto hem in this wyse
I note what is wyth golde to thryue
Whan none of al my wyttes fyue
Fynde sauour ne delyte therin
So it is but a nyce synne
Of golde to be couetouse
But he is ryche and gloriouse
Whiche hath in his subieccion
Tho men whiche in pocessyon
Ben riche of golde & by this skylle
For he may al day whan he wylle
Or be hym lefe or be hym lothe
Iustyce doon vpon hem bothe
Lo thus he said & with that worde
He threwe tofore hym vpon a borde
The golde out of his honde anone
And said theym that he wold none
So that he kepte his lyberte
To doo Iustyce and equyte
With lucre of suche rychesse
Ther ben now fewe of suche I gesse
[Page]For it Was thylke tyme vsed
That euery Iuge was refused
Whiche was not frende to comyn right
But they that wolden stonde vp right
For trouthe onely to Iustyce
 [...]referred were in thylke offyce
To deme & Iuge comyn lawe
Whiche now mē sayn is al with draw
To sett [...] a lawe and kepe it nought
There is no comune prouffyt sought
But abeue al nethelees
The lawe whiche is made for pees
Is good to kepe for the beste
For that setteth al men in reste

Hic n [...]rrat de iusticia nuper conrar [...]i imperatoris cuius tempore alicuius reuerencia persone aliqua seu precum in [...]ruencione quacunqȝ vel auri redempcione legum statuta cōmutari seu r [...]d [...]i nullatenus potuerunt

tHe rightful emperour conr [...]de
To kepe pees suche a lawe made
That none within the cyte
In dysturbaunce of vnyte
Durst ones meuen a matere
For in his tyme as thou myght here
What poynte that was for lawe sette
It sheld for no good be lette
To what persone that it were
And this brought in the comyn fere
Why ony man the lawe dradde
For ther was none which fauour had

Nota exemplum de constancia judicis vbT narrat de carunidotiro rome nuper cōsule aui cum sui statuti legem nes ciens offendisset Romani que super hee penam sibi remittere noluissēt ipē propria manu vbi nullns alius in ipsum vnidex fuit sui criminis vindic tam ex [...]cutus est

sO as these olde lookes sayn
I fynde write where a romayn
Whiche consul was of pretoyre
Whos name was caromydot [...]yre
He sette a lawe for the pees
That euery man be Wepenlees
That came in to the counceyl hows
And elles as malicious
He shal ben of the lawe dede
To that statute & to that rede
Accorden al it shal be so
For certeyn cause whiche was tho
Now here what fyl herafter sone
This consul had for to done
And was in to the feldes ryden
And they hym longe abyden
That lordes of the couuceyl were
And bad hym come and he came there
With swerde y gyrde and had foryete
Tyl he was in the couuceyl sete
Was none of hom that made speche
Tyl he hym self it wold seche
And fonde out the defaute hym self
And said vnto the twelfe
Whiche of the senate weren wyse
I haue deseruyd the juyse
In haste that it were I do
And they hym sayden al no
For wel they wyst it was no vyce
Whan he ne thought no malyce
But onely of a lytel slouthe
And thus they leften as for routhe
To do justyce vpon his gylte
For that he shold not be spylte
And whan in the maner how
They wold hym saue he made a vowe
With manful herte & thus he sayed
That rome shold neuer abrayed
His heyres whan he was of dawe
That her auncetour brake the lawe
For thy that they weren ware
Forthwyth the same swerde he  [...]are
The statute of his lawe he kepte
So that al rome his deth be wepte

[Page Clxxij]Nota [...]d fals [...] iudices mortis pen [...] pu [...]iendi sunt / narrat enim qualiter cambices Rex persarum quemdam iudicem coruptum excori [...] viuum fecit eius que pelle cathedram iudicialem ope [...] cōstituit [...]ta qd filius suus supe [...] pat [...]s pellem poste [...] pro tribunali sessurus iudicij equitatem euiden [...]ius me [...]oraretu:

 [...]N other places also I rede
Where that a Iuge hys owne dede
Ne wil not venge his lawe broke
The kyng it hath hym self y wroke
The grete kyng whiche cambises
Was ho [...]e a juge lawles
He fonde and to remembraunce
He dyd vpon hym suche vengeaunce
Out of his skyn he was befloyne
Al quycke & in that wyse slayne
So that his skyn was shape al met [...]
And nayled vpon the same set [...]
Where that his sone shold sitte
Auyse hym yf  [...]e wold flitte
The lawe of couetyse
There sawe he redy his juyse
Thus in defaulte of other juge
The kyng mote other while inge
To holden vp the right lawe
And for to speke of the olde dawe
To take ensaumple of that was tho
I fynde a tale wryten also
How that a worthy prynce is hol [...]
The lawes of his londe to helde
First for the hygh goddes sake
And for that hy [...] is betake
The peple for to guyde & lede
Whiche is the charge of his kynghe [...]

Hic ponit exemplum de principi [...]u [...] illis qui non solum legem statuentes illam conseruant. Set [...]t comune bonum adaugeant propriam fatultate in diminuunt / Et narrat qd cum liguri us atheum princeps in omni prosperitatis habundancia diues & vnanimes congruis legibus stare fecisse volens ad vtilitatem reipub [...]e leges il las firmius obs [...]ruari pe [...]gri prof [...]ssi se fuixit set prius iuramentū solempne a leges suis sub hac forma exegit qd ipsi vsque in reditum suū leges suas milla [...]enus infringerent quibus miratis pere g [...]nacionem suam in exiliū [...]bsque redditu perpetuo delegauit

IN a cronycle I rede thus
Of the rightful lygurgyus
Whiche of athenes prynce was
How he the lawe in euery was
Wherof he shold his peple rule
Hath sette vpon so good a rule
In al this world that cite none
Of lawe was so wel begone
Forthwith the trouthe of gouernaūce
There was emonge hem no distannce
But euery man hath his encrees
There was without werre pees
Without enuye loue stood
Richesse vpon the comune good
And not vpon the synguler
Ordeyned was & the power
Of hom that weren in estate
Was sauf wherof vpon debate
There stode no thynge so that in reste
Myght euery man his herre reste
And whan this noble rightful kyng
Saw how it ferde of al this thynge
Wherof the peple stode in ese
He whiche for euer wold plese
The hye god whos thonke he soughte
A wonder thynge than he bethought [...]
And shope how that it myght be
How that his lawe in the cite
Myght afterward for euer laste
And there vpon his witte he caste
What thynge hym were beste to sayen
That his purpoos myght atteyne
A parlemente & thus he sette
His wysdom  [...]here that he be sette
[Page]In audience of grete & smale
And in this wyse he tolde a tale
God wote & so ye woten alle
Here afterward how so it falle
Yet to now my wylle hath be
To do iustyce and equyte
In ferderyng of the comyn proffyt
Suche hath ben euer my delyte
But of one thynge I am beknowe
The wh [...]les my wylle is that ye knowe
The l [...]e whiche I toke on honde
Was al to gyder of goddes sonde
And no  [...]ynge of myn owne wit
So mote it nede endure yit
And shal do lenger yf ye wyl
For I wyl trlle you the skyl
The god mercurius & no man
He hath me taught al that I can
Of suche lawes as I made
Wherof that ye ben al glade
It was the god & no thynge I
Which dyd al this & now for thy
He hath cōmaunded of his grace
That I shal come in to a place
Whiche ferre out in an yle
Where I moto tarye for a whyle
Wich hym to speke as he hath bede
For as be saith in thylke stede
He shal me suche thynges telle
That euer while ye world shal dwelle
A [...]nes shal the better fare
But fyrst or that I thyder fare
For that I wold that my lawe
Amonges you ne be withdrawe
The whiles that I shal be oute
For thy to setten out of doubte
Bothe you & me thus wil I praye
That ye me wold assure & saye
With suche an othe as I wyl take
That eche of you shal vndertake
My lawes for to kepe & holde
They sayden al that they wold
And there vpon they swere theyr othe
That fro that tyme that he gothe
Tyl he to hem be come ageyn
They shullen his lawe wel & pleyne
In euery poynte kepe & fulfille
Thus hath lygurius his wylle
And toke his leue & forth he wente
But here now wel to what entente
Of rightwysnes he dyd so
For after that he was a goo
He shope hym neuer to be founde
So that athenes whiche was founde
Neuer after shold be releced
Ne thylke good lawe seced
Which was for comune prouffyt souȝt
The kyng his owne estate ne rought
To do prouffyt to the comune
He toke of exyle the fortune
And lefte of pryuely thylke offyce
Onely for loue & for justyce
For whiche he thoughte yf yt he myȝt
For euer after his deth to right
The cite which was hym betake
Wherof men ought ensaumple take
With hem whiche vnder gouernaunce
The good lawes to auaunce
And who that wold take kepe
The lawes haue for to kepe
Of hem that first the lawes founde
As ferre as lasteth ony grounde
Of londe her names yet be knowe
And yf it lyke the to knowe
Sōme of their names how they stonde
Now herken & thou shalt vnderstonde

Hic ad eorum laudem qui iusticie causa leges statuerunt aliquorum nomina specialius commemorat

oF euery benefete the meryte
The god hym self it wyl acquyte
And eke ful ofte it falleth so
The world it wyl acquyte also
But that may not be euen syche
To god he yeueth the heuen ryche
The world yeueth onely but a name
Which stante vpon the good fame
Of hem that done the good dede
And in this wyse double mede
[Page Clxxiij]Receyuen that done wel here
Wherof yf that thou list to here
After the fame as it is blowe
Ther myght thou wel the soth knowe
How thilke honest besynesse
Of hem that first of rightwysnesse
Emonge the men the lawes made
May neuer vpon this erthe fade
For euer while there is a tonge
Her name shal be redde & songe
And hole in the cronyke write
So that the men shullen wyte
To speke good as they wel oughten
Of hem that first the lawes soughten
In forderyng of the worldes pees
Vnto thebrewes was moyses
The first & the Egypciens
Mercurius & to troiens
First was ne wma pompilius
To athenes ligurius
Yaue first the lawe vnto gregoys
Foroneus hath thylke voyce
And romulus of romayns
For suche men as ben vylayns
The lawe in suche a wyse ordeyneth
That what man the lawe pleyneth
By so the juge stonde vp right
He shal be serued of his right
And so ferforth it is befalle
That lawe is comune emonge vs alle
God lene it mo [...]e wel be holde
As euery kyng therto is holde
For thynge whiche is of kynges sette
With kynges ought it not to be lette
What kyng of lawe taketh no kepe
By lawe he may no royame kepe
Do lawe aweye what is a kynge
Where is the right of ony thynge
If that there be no lawe in londe
This ought a kyng wel vnderstonde
As he which is to lawe sworne
That yf the lawe be forlorne
Withouten execusyoun
Hit maketh a londe torne vp so dou n
Which is vnto the kyng & sclaundre
For thy vnto kyng alisaundre
The wyse philosophre hadde
That he hym self first be ladde
Of lawe & than forth with alle
To doo justyse in generalle
That al the wyde londe aboute
The iustyce of his lawe doubte
And than shal he stonde in reste
For therto lawe is one the beste
Aboue al other erthely thynge
To make a liege drede his kynge
But how a kyng shal gete hym loue
Toward the hygh god aboue
And eke a man in erthe
This nexte poynte whiche is the ferthe
Of aristotles lore it techeth
Wherof who the soole secheth
What polecye that it is
The book reherceth after this

Nil racionis habens vbi vel tirāni [...] regna / Stringit amor populi transiet exul ibi / Set pietas regnum que conseruabit in euum / Non tantum po pulo / set placet illa deo

Hic tractat de quarta principum re giminis policia que pietatis dicta est per quam principes erga populum mi serioordes effecti misericordiam altissimi consecuntur

iT nedeth not that I debate
The prynce which preised is algate
And hath ben euer & euer shal
Wherof to speke in special
It is the vertu of pyte
Thorough which the hye mageste
Was sterred whan his sone alyght
And in pyte the world to right
Toke of the mayde flesshe & blood
Pyte was cause of thylke good
Wherof that we ben all saue
Wel oughte a man pyte to haue
And the vertu to sette in price
[Page]Whan he hym self which is al wyse
Hath shewed why it shal be preysed
Pyte may not be counterpeysed
Of tyrannye with no peyse
For pyte maketh a man curteyse
Bothe in his worde & in his dede
It sit wel euery liege to drede
His kyng & to his heste obeye
And right so by the same weye
It sit a kyng to be pytous
Toward his peple & gracious
Vpon the rule of gouernaunce
So that he worche no vengeauuce
Whiche may be cleped cruelte
Iustyce which doth equyte
Is dredeful for he no man spareth
But in the l [...]nde where pyte fareth
The kyng may neuer fayle of loue▪
For pyte thorough the grace aboue
So as the phylosophre affermeth
His reygne in good estate confermeth
The appostle iames in this wyse
S [...]yth what man that shold do iuyse
And hath not pyte forth wyth all
The dome of hym whiche demeth all
He may hym self ful sore drede
That hym shal lacke vpon the nede
To fynde pyte whan he wolde
For who that pyte wyl beholde
It is a poynte of cristes love
And for to loken ouermore
It is behouely as we fynde
To reson & to lawe of kynde
Tassyodre in his aprise telleth
The royame is sauf where pite dwelleth
And tullyus this tale auoweth
And saith what kyng to pite boweth
And with pyte stonte ouercome
He hath that shelde of grace nome
Which [...] vnto kynges yeueth victory [...]
Of alisannder in his hystorye
I rede how a worthy knyght
Of sodeyn wrath & not of right
Foriuged bath & he appeleth
And with yt word the kyng quareleth
And said none is aboue me
That wote I wel my lord ad he
Fro thy lordshyp appele I nought
But fro thy wrath in al my thouȝt
To thy pyte stante myn appele
The kyng which vnderstode hym wele
Of pure pyte gaue hym grace
And eke I rede in another place

Constantinus imperator ait vere se dominum esse ▪comprobat qui seruum pietatis se facit

Thus said whilom constantyne
What emperour that is enclyne
To pyte for to be seruaunte
Of al the worldes remenaunte
He is worthy to ben a lorde
In olde bookes of recorde

Trai [...]nus ait qd cum ipse subditos suos solite pietatis fauore magis quā austeritatis rigore regere corum que be neuolenciam pocius quam timorem penes se attractare proponebat

tHis fynde I write of ensaūplayr
Traian the worthy debonayr
By whome that rome stode gouerned
Vpon a tyme as he was lerned
Of that he was to famulyer
He said vnto that counceller
That for to be an emperour
His wylle was not for veyne honour
Ne yet for reddour of Iustyce
But yf he myght in his offyce
His lord & his peple plese
Hym thought it were a grete ease
With loue her hertes to hym drawe
Than with the drede of ony lawe
For whā a thynge is done for doubte
Ful ofte it cometh the wers aboute
But where a kynge is pytous
He is the more gracious
That mykel thrist hym shal leiyde
Whiche ellis shold torne a syde

[Page Clxxiiij]Qualiter Iudeus predester cum pa [...] gaue equitante itinerauit per desertum et ipsum de fide sua interrogauit

tO do pite supporte & grace
The phi [...]sophre vpon a place
In his writyng of dayes olde
A tale of grete ensaumble tolde
Vnto the kyng of macedoyne
How bytwene cayr & babyloyne
Whan comen is the somer hete
It happened two men for to mete
As they shold entre in to a paas
Where that the wyldernes was
And as they wente forth spekende
Vnder the large wodes ende
That one man axeth of that other
What man art thou my lyef broder
Which is thy creaunce & thy feyth

I am a paynym that other seyth
And by the lawe which I vse
I shal not in my feyth refuse
To louen al men y liche
The poure bothe & eke the riche
Whan they be glad I shal be glad
And sory whan they ben bestad
So shal I lyue in vnyte
With euery man in his degre
For right as to my self I wolde
Right so toward al other I sholde
Be gracious & debonayr
Thus haue I tolde the softe & f [...]y [...]
My feyth my lawe & my creaunce
And yf the lyst for acqueyntaunce
Now telle what manere man thou art
And he answerd vpon his part
I am a Iewe / & by my lawe
I shal to no man be felawe
To kepe hym trouth in worde ne dde
But yf he be without drede
A veray Iewe right as am I
For ellis I may truly
Bereue hym bothe lyf & good
The paynym herde & vnderstood
And thought it was a wonder lawe
And thus vpon their sondry sawe
Talkyng bothe forth they wente
The day was hote the sonne brente
The paynym rode vpon an asse
And of his catel more & lasse
With hym a riche trusse he ladde
The Iewe which al vntrouth hadde
And went vpon his feet besyde
Bethought hym how he myght ryde
And with his wordes slye & wyse
Vnto the paynym in this wyse
He said / o now it shal be sene
What it is thou woltest mene
For yf thy lawe be certeyn
As thou hast tolde I darwel seyn
Thou wylt beholde my distresse
Which am so ful of werynesse
That I ne may vnnethe goo
And lete me ryde a myle or two
So that I may my body ese
The paynym wold hym not dysplese
Of that he spake but in pytee
It list hym for to knowe & see
The pleynte whiche that other made
And for he wold his herte glade
He light & made hym no thyng straūge
Thus was ther made a newe chaūge
The paynym the Iewe a lofte
Was sette / vpon his asse softe
Soo goon they forth carpend faste
On this / on that / tyl on the laste
The paynym myght goo nomore
And prayed vnto the Iewe therfore
To suffre hym ryde a lytel whyle
The Iewe which thouȝt hym to begyle
Anone rode forth the grete paas
And to the paynym in this caas
He seid thou hast do thy right
Of that thou haddest me behyght
To do socour vpon my nede
And that accordeth to the dede
As thou arte to the lawe holde
[Page]And in suche wyse as I the tolde
I thynke also for my partye
Vpon the lawe of Iewrye
To werche & do my duete
Thyn asse shal goo forth with me
With al thy good whiche I haue sesed
And that I wote thou arte dysesed
I am right glad & not myspayed
And whan he hath these wordes sayed
In al haste he rode aweye
The p [...]nym wote none other weye
But on the grounde he kneleth euen
His hondes vp vnto the heuen
And said / o hye sothfastnes
That louest al rightwysnes
Vnto thy dome lord I appele
Beholde & deme my quarele
With humble herte I the beseche
The mercy bothe & the wreche
I set al in thy Iugement
And thus vpon his marrement
This paynym hath made his prayere
And thenne he was with drery chere
And goeth hym forth & in his gate
 [...]e caste his eye aboute algate
The Iewe yf that he myght see
But for a tyme it may not bee
Tyl atte last ageyn the nyght
So as god wold he wente a right
As he whiche helde the hye weye
And thēne he sawe in a valeye
Where that the Iewe liggend was
Al blody deed vpon the gras
Which strangeled was of a leon
And as he boked vp & doun
He fonde his asse fast by
Forthwith his harneys redely
Al hool & sounde as he it lefte
Whan that the Iewe it hym byrefte
Wherof he thanked god knelende
 [...]o thus a man may knowe at ende
How the pytous pyte deserueth
For what man that to pyte serueth
As aristotle it bereth wytnesse
God shal his foomen so represse
That they shal ay stonde vnderfote
Pyte men sayn is thylke rote
Wherof the vertues spryngen alle
What infortune that befalle
In ony londe / lacke of pyte
Is cause of thylke aduersite
And that alday may shewe at eye
Who that the world discretely syhe
Good is that euery man therfore
Take hede of that is said tofore
For of this tale & other y nowe
These noble princes whylom drowe
Her euydence and her appryse
As men may fynde in many wyse
Who that these olde bookes rede
And though they ben in erthe dede
Her good name may not deye
For pyte which they wold obeye
To doo the dedes of mercy
And who this tale redely
Remembre as aristotle it tolde
He may the wylle of god beholde
Vpon the poynte as it was ended
Wherof the pyte stood comended
Which is to charite felawe
As they that kepen bothe one lawe

Nota hic de pietate principis erga populum vbi narrat quod [...]odius rex atheuis contra dorences bellum gere re deberet consulto prius appoline respō sum accepit quod vnum de duobus v [...] [...]e [...]cet seipsum preli [...] interfeci et populum saluari aut seipsum saluum fi [...]ri [...] populum interfeci eligere oport [...] ret / Super quo rex pietate mot [...] plebis que sui magis quā proprij corporis salutem affectans mortem sibi▪ preelegit / Et sic bellum aggrediēce provita multorum solus incerijt

[Page Clxxv]
oF pyte for to speke playne
Which is with mercy wel besayn
Fuf ofte hym self he wold peyne
To kepe another fro the peyne
For charite the moder is
Of pyte which no thynge a mys
Can suffre yf he it may amende
It sitteth to euery man lyuende
To be pytons but none so wel [...]
As to a kyng which on the whele
Fortune hath set abouen alle
For in a kyng yf so befalle
That his pyte be ferme & stable
To al the londe it is vaylable
Onely thorugh the grace of his persone
For the pyte of hym allone
May al the large royame saue
So sit it wel a kyng to haue
Pyte / of this valere tolde
And said how that by dayes olde
Godrus which was in hys degree
Kyng of athenes the cyte
A werre he had ageynst dorrence
And for to take his euydence
What shal lefalle of the batayle
He thouȝt he shold hym self counceyl
With appollo in whom he triste
Thorough whos answer thus he wyste
Of two poyntes that he myght chese
Or that he wold his body lese
And in batayle hym self deye
Or ellis the second weye
To seen his peple dyscomfyte
But he which pyte hath persyte
Vpon the poynte of his byleue
The peple thought to releue
And chese hym self to be dede
Where is now suche another hede
Which wold for the lymmes deye
And nethelesse in somme parteye
It ought a kynges herte stere
That he his lyege men forbere
And eke toward his enemyes
Ful ofte he may deserue prise
To take of pyte remembraunce
Where that he myght do vengeaunce
For whan he hath the victorye
And than he drawe in to memorye
To do pyte in stede of wreche
He may not fayle of thylke speche
Wherof ariseth the worldes fame
To yeue a prynce a worthy name

Hic ponit exēplum de victoriosi principis pietate erga aduersarios suos / Et narrat qd cum pompeiu [...] Roma norū Imperator regem armonie aduersariū suum in bello victum cepisset captum (quam) vinculis alligatum Rome tenuisset tirannidis iracundie stumilos post ponens pietatis māsuetudinē operatus est dixit enim qd nobilius [...] ̄ regem facere quam deponere suꝑ quo dictum regem abs (quam) ulla redempcione non solum a vinculis abso luitsz ad sui regni culmen gratuita uoluntate coronatum restituit

iRede whylom that pompey
to whom that rome must obey
A werre had in Iupartye
Ageynste the kynge of ermonye
Which of long tyme had hym greued
But atte last it was acheued
That this kyng dyscomfyte hadde
And forth with hym to rome ladde
As prisoner where many a day
In sory plyte & power he laye
The crowne of his heed deposed
Within walles faste enclosed
And with ful grete humylete
He suffreth his aduersite
Pompeye sawe his pacyence
And toke pyte with conscience
So that vpon his hygh deys
Tofore al rome in his paleys
As he that wolde vpon hym rewe
Lete yeue hym his corone newe
And his estate ful & playn
And restored of his reygne ageyn
[Page]And said it was more goodely thyng
To make than to vndone a kyng
To hym which power had of bothe
Thus they weren longe wrothe
Accorden hem to fynal pres
And yet Iustyce nethelees
Was kepte & in no thynge offended
Wherof pompeye was commended
There may no kyng hym self excuse
But yf Iustyce be kepte & vse
Which for to esch we cruelte
He mote attempre with pyte
Of cruelte the felonye
Engendred is of tyrannye
Ageyn to whos condycion
God hym self the champyon
Whos strengthe may no man withstōde
For euer yet it hath so stonde
That god a tyraunt ouer ladde
But where pyte the reygne ladde
Ther myght no fortune laste
Which was greuous atte laste
The god hym self it hath redressed
Pyte is thylke v [...]rtu blessed
Which neuer lete his maister falle
But cruelte though it so befalle
That it may reyne for a throlbe
God wold it shold be ouerthrowe
Wherof ensaumples ben y nowe
Of hem that thylke mer [...]ll drowe

Hic loquitur contra illos qui tirāni [...] potestate principatum optinentes ini [...]uitatis sue mal [...]cia gloriatur / Et narrat exemplum qualiter leoncins tirā nus pium iuscinianum non solum [...] sl [...]o imꝑa [...]orie magestatis fraudulentur expulit sed vt ipē inhabilis ad reg nū in aspectu plebis efficiretur [...]aso et labris absasis ipm̄ tirānice mutilauit deus tamen qui suꝑ omiā pius est tibe [...]io suꝑueniente via cū adiutorio Terbel Bulgarie regis iustianinum inter fecto leoncio ad Imperium restitui mise ricorditer proturauit

F cruelte I rede thus
Whan the tyraunt leoncyus
Was to thempyre of rome aryued
Fro which he hath the strength priued
Of the pyt [...]us Iustynian
As he which was a cruel man
His nose of & lyppes bothe
He  [...]ut for he wold hym bothe
Vnto the peple & make hym vnable
But he which is al merciable
The hygh god ordeyneth so
That he within a tyme also
Whan he was strengest in his yre
Was shouen out of his empyre
Tyberius the power hadde
And rome after his power he ladde
And for leonce in suche a wyse
Ordeyneth that he toke Iuyse
Of nose & lyppes bothe two
For that he dyd another so
Which more worthy was than he
Lo which a falle hath cruelte
And pyte was sette vp ageyn
For after that the bookes s [...]yn
Terbellis kyng of bulgarye
With helpe of his chyualrye
Iustynyan hath vnprisonned
And to thempyre ageyn coroned [...]

Hic boquitur ulterius de [...]rude [...]f [...]te Situly necnon et de berillo eiusdem consiariō qui ad tormentū populi qu [...]dam taurum eneum tirānic [...] coniectura fabritari constituit in quo tamen ipse prior ꝓprio crīe illud exigente vsqȝ ad sui interitus expiracionem iudicia [...]iter torquebatur

I [...] a cronycle I fynde also
Of siculus which was eke so
A cruel kyng lyke the tempest
To whom no pyte myght areste
He was the first as bokes s [...]ye
Vpon the see which fonde galeye
[Page Clxxvj] And  [...]ete hem make for the werre
As he which was al out of herre
Fro pyte and mysericorde
For therto coude he not accorde
But whom he myght s [...]een he slough
And therof was he glad y nough
He had of counceyl many one
Emonge the which there was one
By name which brillus hyght
And he bythought hym how he myȝt
Vnto the tyrannt do lykyng
And by his owne ymagenyng
Lete forge & make a tonne of bras
And on the syde cast there was
A dore where a man may in
And he his payne shal begyn
Of fyre which that men putten vnder
And al this dyd he for a wonder
That whan a man for payne cryed
The bull of bras which gapeth wyde
It shal seme as though it were
Al belewyng in a mannys ere
And not the cryeng of a man
But he which al sleyghtes can
The deuyl that lyeth in helle faste
Hym that this made hath ouercaste
That for a trespace which he dede
He was put in the same stede
And was hym self the fyrst of alle
Whiche was in to the peyne falle
That he for other men ordeyneth
Ther was no man yt hym compleyneth
Of tyrannye & cruelte
By this ensaumple a kyng may see
hym self & eke his counceyl bothe
How they be to mankynde bothe
And to the god abhomynable
Ensaumples that ben couenable
I fynde of other prynces moo
As thou shalt here of tyme ago

Nota hic de diomisio tirāno qui mire crude [...]atis seueritate eciam hospites suos ad deuorādū equis suis tribuit cui hercules tandem super venientes victum impium in impietate sua pari morte conclusit

The grete tyraunt dyonys
Which mānes lyf set at no prys
Vnto his hors ful o [...]te he yafe
The men in stede of corne & chafe
So that the h [...]rs of thylke stode
Deuoureden the maunes bloode
Tyl fortune atte laste came
That hercules hym ouercame [...]
And he right in the same wyse
Of this tyraunt toke the Iuyse
As he tyl other hath do
The same deth he deyed also
That no pyte hym hath socoured
Tyl he was of his lyf deuoured

Nota hic de consimil [...] lichaontis tirānia qui carnes hoim̄ hoībȝ in suo hospicio ad vescendum dedit cuius formam condicioni similem qualiter coequās ipm̄ in lupum transformauit

oF lychaan also I fynde
How he ageyn the law of kynde
His hoost slewe in to mete
And made her bodyes to be e [...]e
With other men within his hows
But Iubyter the glorious
Which was meued of this thynge
Vengeaunce vpon this cruel kyng
So toke that he fro mānes forme
In to a wolf he lete transforme
And thus the cruelte was kyd
Which of longe tyme he had hyd
A wolfe he was than openlye
By whos nature pryuelye
He had in his condycion
And vnto this conclusion
That tyraunt is to dyspryse
I fynde ensaumple in sondry wyfe
And namelyche of hem ful ofte
To whom fortune hath set a [...]ofte
[Page]Vpon the warres for to wynne
But how so that the wronge begynne
Of tyrannye it may not laste
But suche as they done atte laste
To other men suche on hem falleth
For ageyn suche pyte calleth
Vengeaunce to the god aboue
For who that hath no tender loue
In sauyng of a mannys lyfe
He shal be founde so gyltyfe
That whan he wold mercy craue
In tyme of nede he shal none haue

Nota qualiter beo homībȝ stratis ꝑcit

Of the nature thus I fynde
The fiers lyon in his kynde
Which goeth rampyng after his praye
Yf  [...]e a man fynde in his waye
He wil hym slee yf he withstonde
But yf the man coude vnderstonde
To falle anone tofore his face
In signe of mercy and of grace
The lyon shal of his nature
Restreyne his yre in suche mesure
As though it were a beste y tamed
And torne aweye halfyng ashamed
That be the man shal no thyng greue
How shold than a prynce acheue
Th [...] worldes grace yf that he wold
D [...]r [...]ye a m [...]n whan he is yolde
And stante vpon his mercy alle
But for to speken in specialle
There haue be suche & suche there be
Tyrauntes whos hertes ne pyte
May to no poynte of mercy plye
That they vpon her tyrannye
Ne gladen hem the men to slee
And as the ractes of the see
Ben vnpytous in the tempeste
Right so may no pyte reste
Of cruelte the grete vltrage
Which the tyraunt in his corage
Engendreth hath wherof I fynde
A tale now which cometh to mynde

Hic loquitur contra tirānos illos qui cū in bello vicere possūt huāni sāguinis effusio [...] saturare nequeūt et narrat in exemplū de quodam ꝑsa [...] rege cuiꝰ nomen sꝑtachus erat qui pre ceberis tūc in oriente bellicosus & victoriosus quoscūqȝ gladio vincere poterat absqȝ pietate interfeci cōstituit / Set tandem sub manu thamaris marsegittarū regine in bello captus (quam) a diu quesiuit seueritatem ꝓ seueritate final [...]t inuenit nam & ipā quoddm̄ has de sanguine ꝑsarū plenū ante se offerre decreuit in quo capud tiranni vsqȝ ad mortē mergens dixit / O tirānarū crude [...]ssime semper esuriens sanguinem sicisti ecceiam ad saturitatem sanguinem bibe

I Rede in olde bokes thus
Ther was a due which spertachus
Men cleped & was a wetrour
A cruel man a conquerour
With stronge power which he ladde
For this condicion he hadde
That where hym happeneth the victorye
His lust & al his glorye
Was for to slee & not to saue
Of raūson wold he no good haue
For sauyng of a mānys lyfe
But al goeth to the swerde & knyfe
So beef hym was mannys blood
And nethelesse thus it stod [...]
So as fortune aboute wente
He fyl right heyre as by dyssent
To pers & was crowned kynge
And whā the worship of this  [...] ynge
Was falle & he was kyng of pers
If that they weren fyrst dyuers
[Page Clxxvij]Hath shape for vpon a tyde
Whan he was hyest in his pryde
In his rancour & in his hete
Ageyn the quene of mersagete
Which thamaris that tyme hyght
He made werre al that he myght.
And she which wolde hir londe defēde
Hir owue sone ageyn hym sende
Which the deffence hath vndertake
But he dyscomfyte was & take
And whā this kyng hym had in honde
He wold no mercy vnderstonde
But dyd hym slee in his presence
The kyng of his vyolence
Whan it came to the moders ere
She sende a [...]one ay wyde where
To suche frendes as she had
A grete power tyl that she lad
In sondre wyse & tho she caste
How she this kyng may ouercaste
And atte last accorded was
That in the daunger of a paas
Thorugh which this tyraūt shold pas
She shope his power to compas
By strengthe of men by suche a weye
That he shal not escape aweye
And whan she had thus ordeyned
She hath hir owne body feyned
For fere as though she wold flee
Out of hir londe & when that he
Hath herde how that thys lady fledde
So fast after the chase he spedde
That he was founde out of araye
For it betyd vpon a day
In to the paas whan he was falle
The enbusshementes to breke alle
And hym beclypte on euery syde
That fle ne myght he not a syde
So that there were dede & take
Two hondred thousand for his sake
That weren with hym of his hoost
And thus was leyed the grete boost
Of hym & of his tyrannye
Hit helpeth not mercy for to crye
To hym which whilom dyd none
For he vnto the quene anone
Was brought & when that she hym sye
This word she spake & leyed on hye
O man which out of mannes kynde
Reson of man hath lefte behynde
And lyued wors than a beste
Whom pyte myght not areste
The mannys blode to shede & spylle
Thou haddest neuer yet thy fylle
But now the last tyme is come
That thy malyce is ouercome
And thou tyl other hast mys do
Now shal be do to the right so
Tho bad this lady that men shold
A vessel brynge in which she wolde
See the vengeaunce of his Iuyse
Which she began anone deuyse
And toke the princes whiche she ladde
By whom his chyef counceyl he hadde
And while hem lefte ony brethe
She made hem blede to the dethe
In to the vessel where it stode
And whan it was fulfilled of blode
She caste the tyraunte therin
And said to thus myght thou wynne
The lustres of thyn appetyte
In blode was whylom thy delyte
Thou shalt now drynke al thy fylle
And thus onely of goddes wylle
He which that wold hym self siraūge
To pyte fonde mercy so straunge
That he without grace is bore
So may it wel shelbe therfore
That cruelte hath no good ende
But pyte how so that it wende
Maketh that god is merciable
If there be cause resonable
Why that a kyng shal be pytous
But ellys yf he be doubtous
To sleen in cause of rightwysnesse
It may be sayd no pytousnesse
But it is pusillanymyte
Which euery prynce shold flee
[Page]For yf pyte mesure excede
Kynghode may not alwey procede
To do Iustyse vpon right
For it belongeth to a knyght
As gladly for to fyght as reste
To sette his liege peple in reste
Whan that the warre vpon hem falleth
For them he mote as it befalleth
Of his knyghthode as a lyon
Be to the peple a champyon
Without vny pyte fayned
For yf manhode be restreyned
Or be it pees or be it werre
Iustyce goeth out of herre
So that knyghthode is set behynde
Of aristotles lore  [...] fynde
A kyng shal m [...] ke good vysage
That no man knowe of his corage
But al honour & worthynesse
For yf a kyng shal vpon gesse
Without v [...]r [...]y cause drede
He may be lyke to that I rede
And though that it be lyke a fable
The ensaumple Is good & resonable

Hic loquitur secundum philosophū di [...]ns ad sicut non decet principes ti [...]ānia [...] esse c [...]deles ita nec [...]t [...]mo [...]osa pusillamitate esse vecor [...]

 [...] S [...] by olde dayes felle
I rede whylom that an helle
Vp [...]n the lo [...]des of arc [...]de
A wonder dredeful noyse made
For so it fyl that ylke day
This hylle on his chyldyng lay
And when the th [...] wes on hym come
His  [...]oyse like the day of dome
Was fereful in mannys thought
Of thynges which that they see nouȝt
But wel they herden al aboute
The  [...]oyse of which they were in doute
As they that wenden to be lore
Of thynge which thēne was vubore
The nere this hylle was vpon chaunce
To taken his delyueraunce
The more vnbuxumlyche he cryed
Euery man fledde a syde
For drede & lefte his owne holbs
And atte laste it was a molbs
The which was lore & to notice
Bytake & tho they helde hem nyce
For they withouten cause dradde
Thus yf a kyng his herte ladde
With euery thynge that he shal here
Ful ofte he shold chaunge his chere
And vpon fantasye drede
Whan that ther is no cause of drede

Nota hic secundum oracium de mag nanimo [...]a [...]de & pusillanime thersite

Orace to his prynce tolde
That hym were l [...]uer that he wold
Vpon knyghthede achylles sewe
In tyme of warre than eschewe
So as thersites dyd at troye
A chilles al his hole ioye
Set vpon armes for to fyght
Thersytes sought al that he myggt
Vnarmed for to stonde and reste
But of the two it was the beste
That achilles vpon the nede
Hath do wherof that his knyghthede
Is yet commended ouer alle
Kyng salamon in specialle
Saith as there is a tyme of pees
So is a tyme nethelees
Of werre of which a prynce algate
Shal for the comyn right debate
And for hs owne worshyp eke
But it behoueth not to seke
Onely the werre for worshyp
But to the right of his lordship
Which he is holde to deffende
Mote euery worthy prynce entende
Betwene the symplyesse of pyte
And the fole hast of cruelte
Where stante the hardynesse
Therupon a kyng his herte adresse
[Page Clxxviij]Whan it is tyme for to forsake
And whan tyme is also to take
The godely werres vpon honde
That he shal for no drede wonde
If rightwisnes be withal
For god is myghty ouer al
To forther euery mānes trouthe
But it le thorugh his owne slouthe
And namely the kynges nede
It may not fayle for to spede
For he stante one for hem alle
So mote it wel the better falle
And wel the more god fauoureth
When he the comune right socoureth
And for to▪ see the soth in dede
Beholde the byble & thou myght rede
Of grete ensaumples many one
Wherof that I wyl telle one

Hic dicit qd princeps iusticie causa bellum modo timere debet Et narrat qualiter dux gedeon cum solis [...]ercentis viris quinque Reges scilicet Madianitharum amalichitarum amortanrum Amor [...]orum & [...]buseorum cum eorū excercitu qui [...]d nonaginta milia numeratus est gracia cooperante diuina victoriose infugam conuertit

uPon a tyme as it byfelle
Ayenst Iude of Israelle
Whan sondry kynges come were
I [...] purpoos & to destroye the [...]e
The peple whiche god kepte tho
And stode m thylke dayes so
That gedeon which shold lede
The goddes folke toke hym to rede
And sende m al the londe aboute
Tyl be assembled hath a route
With xxx thousand of deffence
To fyght & make resystence
Ageyn the which he wold assayle
And nethelesse that one batayle
Of thre that were enemyes
Was double more than was al his
Wherof that gedeon hym drad
That he so litel peple had
But he which al thynge may helpe
Where that ther lacketh mānes helpe
To gedeon his aungel sente
And bad or that he forther wente
Al openlye that he do crye
That euery man in his partye
Which wold after his owne wylle
In his delyte abyde stylle
At home in ony maner wyse
For purchace or for couetyse
For lust of loue & lacke of he [...]te
He shold not aboute sterte
But holde hym stylle in pees
Wherof vpon the morowe he lees
Wel xx thousand men & mo
Which after the crye ben goo
Thus was with hym but onely lefte
The thyrd parte & yet god efte
His aungel sende & said this
To gedeon yf it so is
That I thyn helpe shal vndertake
Thou shalt yet lesse pexle take
By whom my wyl is that thou spede
For thy to morowe take good hede
Vnto the flode whan ye be come
What man that hath the water nome
Vpon his hande & lappeth so
To thy parte chese out al  [...]o
And hym which wery is to swynke
Vpon his Wombe & lyeth to drynke
Forsake & put hem al albeye
For I am myghty al weye
Where as me lyse my helpe to sewe
In good men though they be fewe
This gedeon a wayteth welle  [...]
Vpon the morowe & euery delle
As god hym bade right so he dede
And thus they laften in that stede
With hym thre hondred & no moo
The remenaunte was al a goo
Wherof that gedeon merueyleth
And therupon with god counceylleth
Pleynyng as ferforth as he dare
[Page]
And god that wold  [...]e were ware
That he shal spede vpon his right
Hath bede hym goo the same nyght
And toke a man to hym to here
What shal be spoke in this matere
Amonge the hethen enemyes
So may he be the more wyse
What afterward hym shal befalle
This gedeon  [...]monges alle
Phara to whom he tryst moste
By nyght toke toward thylke hooste
Whiche lodged was in a valeye
To here what they wolden seye
Vpon his fote & as he ferde
Two sareȝyns spekyng he herde
Quod one arede my sweuen a right
Which I met in my sweuen to nyght
Me thought I sawe a barley cake
Which fro the hyll his weye hath take
And came rollyng doun at ones
And as it were for the nones
Forth in his cours as it ran
The kynges tente of madyan
Of amalech of amareye
Of amon & of Iebuseye
And many another tente mo
With grete ioye as me thought tho
It threwe to grounde & ouercaste
And al his hoost so sore agaste
That I woke for pure drede
This sweuen can I wel arede
Qd the other sareȝyn anone
The barly cake is Gedeon
Which fro the hylle doun sodeynlye
Shal come & set suche a skrye
Vpon the kynges & vs bothe
That it shal to vs al lothe
For in suche drede he shal vs brynge
That yf we hadden flight of wynge
The weye of fote in dyspayre
We shul leue & flee in the ayre
For ther shal no thyng hym withstōde
Whan gedeon hath vnderstonde
This tale he thanked god of alle
And pryuelye ageyn he stalle
So that no lyf hym bath perceyued
And than he hath fully conceyued
That he shal spede & there vpon
The nyght sewyng he shope to gone
This multitude to assayle
Now shalt thou here a grete meruayle
With what wysdom that he wrought
The lytel peple which he brought
Was none of hem that he ne hath
A potte of erthe which he tath
A light brennyng in a cresset
And eche of hem eke a trompet
Bare in his honde eke besyde
And thus vpon the nyghtes tyde
Du [...] gedeon whan it was derke
Ordeyneth hym vnto his werke
And parted than his folke in thre
And chargeth than that they ne fle
And taught hem how they shold askrye
Al in one wyse par companye
And what word they shold eke speke
And how they shold her pottes breke
Eche one with other whan they herde
That he hym self so first ferde
For whan they came in to the stede
He bad hem do right as he dede
And thus stalkyng forth a pa [...]s
This noble duc whan tyme was
His pot he brake & loude ascryed
And tho they brake on euery syde
The trompe was not tho to seke
He blewe & so they blewen eke
With suche a noyse emonge hem alle
As though the heuen shold falle▪
The hylle vnto her voys auswerde
This hoste in the valey it herde
And saith how that the hylle a light
So what of heryng & of syght
They caught suche a sodeyn fere
That none of hem be lefte there
The tentes hooly they forsoke
That they none other good toke
But onely with her body bare
They fledde as doeth the wylde hare
And euer vpon the hylle they blewe
Tyl that they sawe tyme & knewe
That they be fled vpon the rage
[Page Clxxix]And whan they wyst th [...]ir auaūtage
They fyl anone vnto the chace
Thus myȝt thou see how goddes grace
Vnto the good auayleth
But, ellis oftyme it faylleth
To suche as be not wel disposed
This tale nedeth not to be glosed
For it is openlye shewed
That god to hem that ben wel thewed
Hath yeue & graūted the victorye
So that thensaumple of this hystarye
Is good for euery kyng to holde
First in hym self that he beholde
If he be good of his lyuyng
And yt the folke which he shal brynge
Be good also for than he may
Be glad of many ā mery day
In what that euer he hath to done
For he which sitte aboue the mone
In al thynge may spylle & spede
In euery caas & euery nede
His good kyng so wel he dresseth
That al his foo men he represseth
So that ther may no man hym dere
And also wel he can forbere
And suffre a wicked kyng to falle
In handes of his foon alle

Hic dicit qd vbi et quando causa & tempus requirunt princeps illos sub potestate sua quos iusticie aduersarios suo [...] agnouerit occidere de iure tenetur Et narrat exemplum qualiter pro eo qd saul regem agag in bello deuincit iuxta samuelis consiliū occidere nolu it ipse diuino iudicio non sosum a regno israel priuatus set & heredes sui pro perpetuo exhereditati sunt

n ow ferthermore yf I shal seyn
Of my mater & torne ageyn
To speke of iustyce & pyte
After the rule of ryalte
This may a kyng wel vnderstonde
 [...]enyghthode mote be take on honde
Whan that it stonte vpon the nede
He shal no rightful cause drede
No more of werre than of pees
If he wyl stonde blameles
For suche a cause a kyng may haue
Better it is to slee than saue
Wherof thou myght ensaumple fynde
The hygh maker of mankynde
By samuel to saul bade
That he shal no thyng be ad [...]ad
Ageyn kyng agag for to fyght
For this the godhede hym behyght
That agag shal be ouercome
And whan it is so ferforth come
That saul hym hath dyscomfyte
The god bad make no respyte
That he ne shold hym slee anone
But saul lete it ouer gone
And dyd not the goddes heste
For agag made a grete beheste
Of raunsom which he wold gyu
Kyng saul suffreth hym to lyue
And fayneth pyte forth withal
But he which sawe & knewe alle
The hye god of that he feyneth
To samuel vpon hym pleyneth
And sende hym worde for that he l [...]f [...]e
Of agag that ne by refte
The lyf he shal not onely deye
Hym self but fro his regalye
He shal be put for euer mo
Nought but eke his eyre also
That it shal neuer come ageyn
Thus myght thou see the sothe pleyne

Hic narrat vl [...]erius super eodem qualiter dauid in extremis iusticie caus [...] vt Ioab occideretur absque vlla remissione filio suo Salamoni iniunxit

tHat of to moche & of to ly [...]
Vpon the prynces stante ye wy [...]
[Page]But euer it was a kynges right
 [...]o do the dedes of a knyght
For in the hondes of a kynge
The deth & lyf is al o thynge
After the lawes of Iustyce
To sl [...]en it is a dedely vyce
But yf a man the deth deserne
And yf a kyng the lyf preserue
Of hym which ought for to deye
He sh [...]weth not the ensaumplerye
Which in the byble is euydente
How  [...]yd in his tes [...]amente
Whan he no lenger myght leue
Vnto his sone in cherge hath geue
That he Ioab sheld slee algace
And whan dauyd was gone his gate
The yonge wyse salamone
Hi [...]  [...]ders heste dyd anone
And slewe Ioab in suche a wyse
That they that herden the Iuyse
Euer after dredden hym the more
And god was eke wel payed therfore
That he so wold his herte plye
The lawes for to iustefye
And yet he kepte forth with al
 [...]yt [...] a [...] a prynce shal
That he ne tyrannye wrought
He fonde the wysdom which he sought
And was so rightful nethelees
That al his lyf  [...]e s [...]ode in pees
That he no dedely warres hadde
For euery man his wysdom dradde
And as he was hym self wyse
Right so the worthy men of pryse
He hath of his counceyl withholde
For that is euery prynces holde
To make of suche his retenue
Which wyse ben & renewe
The fooles for there is no thynge
That may be better aboute a kynge
Thā the oc [...]ceyl which is the substaūce
Of al a bynges gouernaunce

Hic dicit qd pepulum sibi cōmissu bene re [...]ere super omnia principi laudabilius est Et narrat in exemplum qualiter pro eo qd salamon vt populū bene regeret ab altissimo sapienciam specialius postulauit omma bona pariter cum illa sibi habundancius aduerunt

iN salamon a man may see
What thynge of moste necessyte
Vnto a worthy kynge bylongeth
Whan he his kyngdom vnderfengeth
God bad hym chese what he wolde
And said hym that he haue sholde
What he wold aske of a thynge
And he which was a noble kynge
For ther vpon his bone prayed
To god & in this wyse sayed
O thynge by whome that I shal regne
Yeue me wisdom that in my regne
Forth with the peple which I haue
To thyn honour may kepe & saue
Whan salamon with loue hath taxed
The god of that which he hath axed
Was ryght wel payed & graunted sone
Not al onely that he his bone
Shal haue of that but of richesse
Of bele of pees & of hye noblenesse
For with wysdomes at his axynges
Which stant [...] aboue al erthly thynges

Hic dicit secundum Salamonem qd regie magestatis imperium ante omiā sano consilio dirigendum est

Vt what kyng wil his reygne saue
First hym behoueth for to haue
After thy god & his beleue
Snche counceyl which is to byleue
Fulfilled of trouth & rightwysnes
But aboue al in his noblenes
Bytwene the reddour & pyte
A kyng shal do suche equyte
And set the balaunce in euen
So that the hygh god in heuen
[Page Clxxx]And al the peple of his nobleye
Longe vnto his name seye
For moste aboue al erthely good
Where that a kyng hym self is good
It hel [...]th for in other weye
Yf so be that a kyng forsueye

Quidquid delirant reges plectuntur achiui

Vl of be it hath be seyn
The comyn peple is ouerleyn
And hath the kynges synne abought
Al though the peple agylte nought
Of that the kyng his god mysserueth
The peple taketh that he deserueth
Here in this world but ellis where
I note how he shal stonde there
For thy good is a kynge to triste
First to hym self as he ne wyste
None other helpe but god allone
So shal the rule of his persone
Within hym self thorugh prouidence
Ben of the better conscience
And for to fynde ensaumple of this
A tale I fynde & soth it is

Hic de lucio imperatore exemplum ponit qualiter princeps sui nominis famam a secretis consiliarijs sapienter inuestigare debet et siquid in ea sinistrū inuenerit prouisa discrecione ad dexteram conuertat

iN a cronycle it telleth thus
The kyng of rome lucyus
Within his chambre vpon a nyght
The steuard of his hows a knyght
Forthwith his chamberleyn also
To counceyl had bothe two
And stoden by the chymne
To gyder spekyng al thre
And happeth that the kynges fole
Sat by the fyre vpon a stole
As he that with his bable played
But yet he herde al that they sayed
And therfore toke they no hede
A kyng hem axeth what to rede
Of suche matere as came to mowthe
And they hym tolde as they couthe
Whan al was spoke of that they ment
The kyng with al his hole entente
Thenne atte laste hem axeth this
What kyng men tellen that he is
Emong the folke touchyng his name
Or be it pris or be it blame
Right after that they herde sayn
He bad hem for to telle it playne
That they no peynte of soth forbere
By thylke feyth that they hym bere
The stuard first vpon this thynge
Gafe his answer vnto the kynge
And thought glose in this matere
And said as ferre as he can here
His name is good & honourable
Thus was the steward fauourable
That he the trouth p [...]yne ne tolde
The kyng than axeth as he sholde
The chamberleyn of his auyse
And he that was subtyl & wyse
And somdele thouȝt vpon his feythe
Hym tolde how al the peple seyth
That yf his counceyl were trewe
They wyst than wel & knewe
That of hym self he shold be
A worthy kyng in his degree
And thus the counceyl he accuseth
In partye & the kyng excuseth
The fole which herde of al this caas
That tyme as goddes wylle was
Se [...]th that they sayden not ynough
And hem to scorne bothe lough
And to the kyng he sayd tho
Syr kyng yf it were so
Of wysdom in thyn owne mode
That thou thy self were good
Thy counceyl shold not be bad
The kyng therof merueyle had
[Page]Whan that a fole so wysely spacke
And of hym self fonde out the lacke
Within his owne conscience
And thus he felith euydence
Which was of goddes grace  [...]nspyred
Maketh yt good counceyl was desired
He put awey the vycious
And toke to hym the vertuous
The wrongful lawes ben amended
The londes good is wel dyspended
The peple was nomore opressed
And thus stood euery thyng redressed
For where a kyng is propre wyse
And hath suche as hym self is
Of his counceyl it may not fayle
But euery thynge shal anayle
The vyces than goeth aweye
And euery thynge holdeth his waye
Wherof the hye god is plesed
And al the londes folke esed
For yf the comyn peple crye
And that a kyng list not to plye
To here what the clamor wolde
And otherwyse than he shold
D [...]s [...]ayneth for to done hem grace
It hath be seen in many place
There hath be falle grete contrarye
And that I fynde of ensaumplerye

Hic dicit qd seniores magis experti ad principis cousilium admittendi poci us e [...]istuut / Et narrat qualiter pro co qd roboas salomonis filius & heres senium sermouibus renuncians dicta iunenum preelegit de duodecim tribus israel a domino sud decem penitus ami sit & sic cum duabus tautūmodo il [...]usus postea regnauit

aFter the  [...]eth of salamone
Whan this wise kyng was gone
 [...]n [...] roboas in his persone
Re [...]ryue shold the corone
The peple vpon a parlement
Auysed were of one assent
And al vnto the kyng they preyden
With comune voys & thus if  [...] seyd [...]
Our hege lord we the byseche
That thou receyue our humble speche
And graunte vs whiche ye reson wyl
Or of thy grace or of thy skyl
Thy fader whyle he was on lyue
And myght bothe graunte & pryue
Vpon the werkes whiche he had
The comyn peple streyte ladde
Whan he the temple made newe
Thyng which men neuer tofore knewe
He brought vp than of his t [...]llage
And al was vnder the vsage
Of werkes whiche he made tho
But now it is befalle so
That al is made right as he seyed
And he was riche whan he deyd
So that it is nomore nede
If thou therof wylt taken hede
To pillen of the peple more
Which longe hath be greued sore
And in this wyse we the seye
With tender herte we the preye
That thou relese thylke det [...]
Which vpon vs thy fader sette
And yf the lyke to done so
We ben thy men for euer mo
To gone & comen at thyn he [...]e
The kyng which herde this requeste
Saith that he wyl ben aduysed
And hath therof a tyme assysed
And in the which  [...]s he hym thouȝt
Vpon this thynge counceyl he sought
And first the wyse knyghtes olde
To whom that he his tale tolde
Counceyllen hym in this manere
That he with loue & with glad chere
Foryeue & graunte al that is axed
Of that his fader had taxed
For so he may his reygne acheue
[Page Clxxxj]With thyng which shal hym litel greue
The kyng hem herde & ouer passeth
And with this other his wit cōpasseth
That yonge were & no thynge wyse
And they that these olde men despys [...]
And saiden sit it shal be shame
For euer vnto thy worthy name
If thou ne kepe not thy right
While thou arte in thy yonge myght
Which that thyn olde fader gate
But say vnto the peple plate
That whyle thou lyuest in thy londe
The leste fynger of thyn honde
It shal be strenger ouer al
Than was thy fader body alle
And thus also shal be thy tale
If he hem smote with roddes smale
With scorpyons thou shalt hem smyte
And where thy fader toke a lite
Thou thynkest to take mychel more
Thus shalt thou make hem drede sore
The grete herte of thy corage
So for to holde hem in seruage
This yong kyng hym hath cōformed
To done as he was laste enformed
Which was to hym vndoyng
For whan it came to the spekyng
He hath the yonge counceyl holde
That he the same wordes tolde
Of al the peple in audyence
And whan they herde the sentence
Of his malyce & the manace
Anone tofore his owne face
They haue hym entyerly refused
And with ful grete reproue accused
So they began for to raue
That he hym self was fayne to saue
For as the wylde wode rage
Of wyndes maketh the see sauage
And yt was calme bryngeth to wawe
So for defaute & grace of lawe
This peple is stered al at ones
And forth they goo out of his wones
So that of the lignage twelfe
Two tribus onely by hem selfe
With hym abyden & no moo
So were they for euer moo
Of no retorne without espryre
Departed fro the rightful heyre
Al Israel with comyn voyce
A kyng vpon her owne choyce
Amonge hem self anone they make
And haue her yonge lord forsake
A polber knyght jeroboas
They toke & lefte roboas
Which rightful heyre was by dyssent
Thus the yonge cause wente
For that the counceyl was not good
The reygne fro the rightful blood
Euer afterward deuyded was
So may it prouen by this caas
That yonge coūceyl which is to warme
Or men be ware dothe ofte harme
Olde age for the counceyl serueth
And lusty yongth his thonke deserueth
Vpon the traueyle which he dothe
And bothe for to say a sothe
By sondry cause for to haue
If that he wyl his wygne saue
A kyng behoueth euery day
That one can & that other may
Be so the kyng bothe rule
Or ellys al goeth out of rule

Nota questionem cuiusdam philosophi vtrum regno conueniencius foret principem optare sapientem quam cum sano consilio ipsum eligere insipientem

aNd vpon this matere also
A questyon betwene the two
Thus writen in book I fonde
Whether it be better for the londe
A kyng hym self to be wyse
And so to bere his owne pryse
And that his counceyl be not good
Or other [...]kse yf it so stode
A kyng yf he be vycious
[Page] And his counceyl be vertuous
It is answered in suche a wyse
That better it is that they be wyse
By whom the counceyl shold gone
For they be many & he but one
And rather shal an onely man
With f [...]ls counceyl for ought he can
From his wysdem be made to falle
Than he allone shold hem alle
Fro vyces vnto vertues chaunge
For t [...]t is wel the more straunge
For thy the  [...]onde may wel be glad
Wh [...]s kyng with good coūceyl is lad
Which sette hym vnto rightwysnes
So that his hygh worthynes
Betwene the reddeur & pyte
D [...]th mercy forth with equyte
A kyng is holden ouer alle
To pyte and in specialle
To  [...]m where he is moste beholde
Thy shold his pite most beholde
That b [...]n the  [...]ges of the  [...]onde
For they ben euer vnder his honde
A f [...]r the go [...]des ordenaunce
To stonde vnder his gouernaunce

Nota ad [...]u [...] precipue de principis [...]ga suos subditos debita pietate legitur [...]nim ouabter anthonius a scipion [...] exemplificatus dixit quod mallet vnum de populo sibi commisso virū sa [...]uare [...]uam centum ex hostibus a [...]enigenis in be [...]lo perdere

oF the emperour anthonyus
I fynde h [...]w he sayd thus
That leuer hym were for to saue
One of his lieg [...]s than to haue
Of enemyes an hundred dede
As thus he lerned as I rede
Of Cypyo which had be
Consul of Rome & thus to see
Dru [...]rs ensaumples how they stonde
A kyng which hath  [...] charge on honde
The comyn peple to gou [...]rne
If that he wyl be may wel lerne
Is none so good to the plesaunce
Of god as is good gouerna [...]e
And euery gouernaunce is due
The pyte thus I may argue
That pyte is the foundemente
Of euery kynges reygnemente
If it be medlyd wyth iustyce
They two remeu [...]n al vyce
And be of vertu moste vaylable
To make a kynges royame stable
Lo thus the foure poyntes tofore
In gouernaunce as they be bore
Of trouth first & of laregsse
Of pyte forth with rightwisnesse
I haue hem tolde & ouer this
The first poynte so as it is
Set of the rule of polecye
Wherof a kyng shal modefye
The flesshly lus [...]es of nature
Now thynke I telle of suche mesure
That bothe kynde shal be serued
And eke the lawe of god obserued

Corporis et mentis regem decet omnis honestas / Nominis vt famam nulla libido r [...]at / Omne qd est hominis effe minat illa voluptas / Sit n [...]si magnanimi cordis vt obstat ei

Hic tractat secundum aristotilem de quinta principum xegiminis pol [...]cia (quam) castitatem concernit cuius honestas im pudicicie motus obtemporans tam cor poris quam anime mundiciciam specialius pres [...]rnat

tHe male is made for the femele▪
But where as one desyreth fele
That nedeth not by weye of kynde
[Page Clxxxij]For whan a man may redy fynde
His owne wyf what shold he s [...]che
In straunge places to beseche
To borowe another mānes plough
When he hath grete good yuough
Affayted at his owne heste
And is to hym wel more honeste
Than other thynge which vnknowe
For thy shold euery good man knowe
And thynke how that in maryage
His trouth plyte lyeth in morgage
Which yf he breke it is falsehede
And that discordeth to manhede
And namely toward the grete
Wherof the bookes al trete
So as the phylosophre techeth
To alysaunder & hym bytecheth
The lore how that he shal mesure
His body so that no mesure
Of flesshly lust he shal excede
And thus forth I shal procede
The first poynte as I sayd ere
Is chastyte which selde where
Cometh now a dayes in to place
But nethelesse but it be grace
Aboue al other in specialle
Is none that chaste may ben alle
But yet a knyghtes hygh estate
Which of his order as a prelate
Shal be enoynted & scifyed
He mote be more magnefyed
For dygnyte of his corone
Than shold another lowe persone
Which is not of so hygh empryse
Therfore a prynce▪ hym shold aduyse
Or that he falle in suche ryote
And namely that he ne assote
To chaunge for the womanhede
The worthynesse of his manhede

Nota de doctriua aristotiles quasi ter princeps vt animi sui iocundita t [...] prouocet mulieres formosas c [...]bro aspicere debet caueat tamen ne mens vo luptuosa torpesceus ex carnis fragilita te in vicium dilabatur

F aristotle I haue wel radde
How he to alysaunder badde
That for to gladen his corage
He shold beholden the vysage
Of wymmen when that they ben fayre
But yet he set an exaumplayre
His body so to guyde & rule
That he ne passe mote the rule
Wherof that he hym self begyle
For in the wymmen is no gyle
Of that a man hym self bywapeth
Whan he his owne wytte by iapeth
I can the woman wel excuse
But what man wyl vpon hym muse
After the folyssh Impressyon
Of his ymagynacion
Within hym self the fyre he bloweth
Where of ye woman no thyng knoweth
So may she no thynge be to Wyte
For yf a man hym self excite
To drenche & wyl it not forbere
The water shal no blame bere
What may ye golde though men coueite
Yf that a man wyl lyue streyte
The woman hath hym no thyng boūde
Yf he his owne herte wounde
She may not lette the folye
And though so fyl of companye
That he myght ony thynge purchace
Yet maketh a man the first chace
The woman fleeth & he purseweth
So that by the weye of skyl it sueth
The man is cause how so befalle
That he ful ofte sythe is falle
Where that he may not wel aryse
And netheles ful many wyse
Befooled hath hem self or this
As now a dayes yet it is
Emonge the men & euer was
[Page]The s [...]ronge is febelest in this caas
It syt a man by were of kynde
To loue but it is not kynde
A man for loue his wyt to lese
For yf the month of Iuyle shal frese
And that decembre shal be hote
The yere mystorneth wel I wow
To seen a man fro his estate
Thorugh his soty eff [...]mynate
And leue that a man shal do
It is  [...]s hose aboue the shoo
To man which ought not to be vsed
But yet the world hath ofte accused
Ful grete prynces of this dede
How they for loue hem self myslede
Wherof manhode stode behynde
Of olde ensaumples as I fynde

Hic ponit exemplum qualiter pro [...]o [...]d Sardanapallus assiriorū prin [...]ps m [...]eri oblectamento effeminatꝰ f [...]e concupiscencie torp [...]rem quasi ex c [...]nsuetudine adhibebat a barboro Rege [...]dorū super h [...]c insidiante in sui feruo ris maiori voluptate subitis mutacioni bus ext [...]nctus est

These olde gestes tellen thus
That whylom Sordanapallus
Which helde al hole in his empyre
The grete kyngdom of assyre
Was thorugh the slouth of his corage
Falle in to the ylke fyry rage
Of loue which the man assoteth
Where of hym self so ryot [...]th
And wexeth so ferforth womannysshe
That ageyn kynde as a fysshe
A byde wolde vpon the londe
In wymmen suche a luste he fonde
That he dwelt euer in chambre stylle
And onely wrought after the wylle
Of wymmen so as he was bede
That seldom whan in other stede
If that he wolde wenden oute
To seen how that it stod [...] aboute
But there he kyste & there he played
They taughten hym a lace to  [...]ayed
And weue a purs & to enfyle
A perle and fyl thylke whyle
One barbar [...]s the prynce of mede
Seeth the kyng in womanhede
Was falle fro chyualrye
And gate hym helpe & companye
And wrought so that atte laste
This kynge out of his reygne he caste
Which was vndoon for euer moo
And yet men speken of hym so
That it is shame for to here
For thy to loue is in manere

Nota qualiter dauid amans muli [...]re [...] propter hoc probitat [...]m armorum non minus excercuit

kYng dauid had many a loue
But nethelesse alweye aboue
Knyghthode he kepte in suche a wyse
That for no flesshly couetyse
Of luste to lygge in lady armes
He lefte not the luste of armes
For where a prynce his lus [...]s sueth
That he the werre not purseweth
whan it is tyme to been armed
His contre stante ful ofte harmed
Whan the enemyes be wexe bolde
That they deffence none beholde
Ful many a londe hath so be lore
As men may rede ofte tyme tofore
Of hem that so her  [...]ases soughten
Which after they ful dere aboughten

Hic locuit [...]r qualiter regnum lasa ui [...] voluptatibus deditum de facili vin [...]t [...]r Et ponit exemplum de ciro rege [Page Clxxxiij] persarum qui cum [...]ddo [...] mirū probita tis strenuissimos sibiqȝ in [...]llo aduer sant [...]s nullo modo vincere potuit cum ipsis tandem pacis tractatum dissimilans [...]ordiam finalem stabilre finx it superquo [...]ddi postea per aliquod t [...]mpus armis insoluti sub pacis tempore voluptatibus intendebant Quod cir [...] percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit ipsos que indefensibiles vincens sub imperio tri [...]tarios subiugauit

tO mochel ease is no thynge worth
For it setteth euery vyce forth
And euery vertu put a backe
Wherof price torneth in to lacke
As in a cronyke I may reherce
Which telleth how the kyng of pers [...]
That cyrus hyght a werre hadde
A geynst the people which he dradd [...]
Of a courte which lyddos hyght
But yet for ought that he do myght
As in batayle vpon the werre
And had o [...] hem alwey the werre
And whan he sawe & wyst it wele
That he by strengthe wan no dele
Thenne atte laste he caste a wyle
This worthy peple to begyle
And toke with hem a fayned p [...]e [...]
Which shold laste endelees
So as he sayd in wordes wyse
But he thought al in otherwyse
For it btyd vpon the caas
Whan that this peple in reste was
They token ese many folde
And worldes  [...]se as it is tolde
By waye of kynde is the noryce
Of euery luste which toucheth vyce
Thus whan they were in lustes falle
The werres ben forgeten alle
Was none which wold the worshyp
Of arme [...] but in ydelshyp
They putten besynesse aweye
And toke hem to daunce and pleye
But moste aboue al other thynges
They token hem to the lykynges
Of flesshly lustes that chastyte
Receyued was in no degree
But euery man doth what hym lyste
And whan the kyng of pers it wyste
That they vnto folye entenden
With his power whā they leste wēden
More sodeynly than doeth the thonder
He came & put hem vnder
And thus hath lecherye lore
The londe which had be tofore
The beste of hem that were tho
And in the byble I fynde also

Nota hic qualiter facta belli luxus infortunat Et narrat qd cum Rex amolech hebreis sibi insultantibus resis tere nequijt consilio balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherimas in castro hebre orum misit qui ab ipsis conta [...]inath graciam statim an [...]iserunt Et [...]c ab amalech deuicti in magna multituine gladio [...]aderunt

a Tale lyke vnto this thynge
How amalech the payen kynge
Whan that he myght by no weyr
Defende his londe & put albeyr
The veray peple of Israel
This sarasyn as it byfelle
Thorough the counceyl of balaam
A rowte of fayre women nam
That lusty were & yonge of age
And bad hem goo to the lynage
Of these ebrewes & forth they wente
With eyen greye & brolbes bente
And wel arayed euery chone
And whan they comen were anone
Emong the brethes was none in syght
But catche who that catche myght
[Page] And eche of hem his sustes sought
Which after they ful dere bought
For grace anone began to fayle
That whan they  [...]men to batayle
Than after that in se [...]y plyte
They were take and dyscomfyte
So that wythin a l [...]tel throwe
The myght of hem was ouerthrowe
That whylom were wonte to stonde
Tyl ph [...]nces the cause on honde
Hath take this vengeaunce laste
But than it c [...]sed atte laste
For god was poyed of that he dede
For where be fonde vpon a stede
A  [...] which mysferred so
 [...]te hem bothe two
 [...]ge in mennys eye
 [...] which hem sye
Ensaumyled hem vpon the dede
And  [...]ra [...]ed vnto the godhede
Her olde synnes for to amende
And he which wold his mercy sende
M [...]s [...]o [...]ed hem to newe grace
This may it shewe in sondry place
Of chas [...]yte how that clennesse
Accordeth to worthynesse
Of men of armes ouer alle
But moste of alle in specialle
This verta a  [...]yng  [...]ylongeth
For vpon his fortune it hongeth
Of that his bonde shal spede or spylle
For thy but yf a kyng his wylle
Fro  [...]ustes of his flesshe restreyne
Ageynst hym self he maketh a treyne
In to the which yf that he slyde
Hym were better goo besyde
For eurye man may vnderstonde
How for a tyme that it stonde
It is a sory luste to lyke
Wh [...]s ende maketh a man to syke
And torneth ioyes in to sorowe
The  [...]r [...]ght sonne by the morowe
Beshyueth not the derke nyght
The lusey yongthe of mannes myght
In age but it stonde we [...]e
Mystorneth al the laste whe [...]e

Hic boquitur qualiter principum irre gulat [...] voluptas eos et semita recta multociens deuiare compellit / Et narrat exemplum de salamone qui ex sue carnis concupiscencia victus mu [...]ierum blandimentis in sui scandalum deos a [...]enos colore presumebat

tHat euery worthy prynce is holde
Within hym self hym self beholde
To see the state of his persone
And thynke how ther be ioyes none
Vpon this erthe made to laste
And how the flessh shal atte laste
The lustes of his lyf forsake
Hym ought a grete ensaumple take
Of salamon whos appetyte
Was hooly set vpon delyte
To take of wymmen the plesaunce
So that vpon his ygnor [...]unce
The wyde world meruayleth yet
That he which al mennes wyt
In thylke tyme hath ouerpassed
With flesshly lustes was so cassed
That he which had vnder lawe
The peple of god hym self withdrawe
He hath fro god in suche a wyse
That he worshyp & sacrefyse
For sondry loue in sondry stede
Vnto the false goddes dede
This was the wyse ecclesiaste
The fame of whome shal euer laste
That he the myghty god forsoke
Ageyn the lawe whan he toke
His wyues & his concubynes
Of hem that were sarazyns
For which he dyd ydolatrye
For this I rede of his sotye
O she of sydone so hym ladde
[Page Clxxxiiij]That he knelyng his fader spradde
So strat [...]h [...]n with grete humblesse
Which of her bonde was the goddesse
And she that was of moabyte
So ferforth made hym to delyte
Thorugh lust which al his wyt deuou
reth / That he chamos hir god honou
reth / And other amonyt also
With loue hym hath assoted so
Hir god moloche that wyth encence
He sacreth & doeth reuerence
In suche a wyse as she hym badde
Thus was the wysest ouerladde
With blynde lustes which he sought
But he it afterward abought

Nota hic qualit achias ꝓpheta in fig nū qd regna pest mortem sabomonis ob eiꝰ peccatum a suo herede dimuneretur pallu [...] suum in duodecim partes scidit vnde decē partes Ieroboe filio nabul qui regnaturus postea successit precep to dei tribuit

fOr achyas soleuytes
Which was prophete or his deces
Whyle he was in his lustes alle
Betokeneth what shal after falle
For on a day when that he mette
Ieroboam the knyght he grette
And bad hym that he shold abyde
To here what hym shal betyde
And forth with al achyas caste
His mantel of & also faste
He cut it in to py [...]ces twelfe
Wherof two partyes toward hym selfe
He kepte & al the remenaunte
As  [...]od hath sette his couenaunte
He toke vnto Ioroboas
Of nab [...]l which the sone was
And of the  [...]ynges courte a knyȝt
And said hym suche is goddes myȝt
As thou hast seen departed here
My mantel in suche manere
After the deth of salamon
God hath ordeyned therupon
This reygne than he shal deuyde
Which tyme thou shalt eke abyde
And vpon that dyuysyon
Thy reygne as in proporcion
As thou hast of my mantel take
Thou shalt receyue I vndertake
And thus the sone shal abye
The lustes and the lecherye
Of hym which now his fader is
So for to taken hede of this
It sit a kyng wel to be chaste
For ellys he may lighlly waste
Hym self & eke his reygne bothe
And that ought euery kyng to bothe
O which one synne vyolente
Wherof a kyng was shente
That the vengeannce of his persone
Was not Inough to take alone
But afterward whan he was passed
It hath his heritage  [...]assed
As I more openly tofore
The tale tolde & thus tofore
The phylosophre vpon this thynge
Write & counseyld to a kynge
That he the forfete of luxure
Shal tempre and rule of suche mesure
Which be to kynde suffyciaunte
And eke to reson accordaunte
So that the lustes ygnoraunce
By cause of mysgouernance
Thorugh which that he be ouerthrowe
As he that wyl no reson knowe
For but yf a mānys wyt be swerued
Whan kynde is dulyche serued
It ought of reson to suffyse
For yf it fyl hym otherwyse
He may the lustes sore drede
For of anthony thus I rede
Which of seuerus was the sone
That he his lyf of comune wone
[Page]Yaue holy vnto thylle vyce
And ofte tyme he was so nyce
Wherof nature hath hir compleyned
Vnto the god which hath disdeyued
The werkes which anthony wrouȝt
Of lustes which he ful sore abought
For god his forfete hath so wroke
That in cron [...]ke it is yet spoke
But for to toke r [...]men  [...]r [...]unce
Of specyal mysg [...]uernaunce
Thorugh c [...]uetyse and  [...]niustyce
Forth with the remenaunt of vyce
And namesye of lecherye
I fynde write a grete partye
In a tale as thou shalt here
Which is the saumple of this matere

Hic b [...]quitur de tarquino nuper Rome [...]patore necnō & de eiusdem filio noiē arr [...]us [...] oim̄ vicierū vari [...]ta [...] repleti tā in h [...]ēs (quam) in muli [...]res innumera sc [...]le ra ꝓpetrauīt set specialif suꝑ hijs oue contra gabinos fraudulenter operati sunt tractare intendit

SO as these olde gestes seyn
The proude tyrauntee Romayn
T [...]rquynus which was thēne kynge
And wrouȝt many a wrōgful thyng
Of so nes he had many one
Emenge the which arrous was one
 [...]y [...]e to his fader of maners
So that within fewe yeres
With treson and with tyrannye
They wonne of londe a grete partye
And token hede of no Iustyce
Which dewe was to her offyce
Vpon the rule of gouernaunce
But al that euer was  [...]lesaunce
Vnto the flesshes luste they toke
And fyl so that they vndertoke
A werre which was not acheued
But ofte tyme he had hem greued
A [...]eyn the folke which than hyght
The gabyens & al by nyght
Thus arrous whan he was at home
In rome a pryup place he nome
Within a chaumbre & bete hym selfe
And made hym woūdes x or twelfe
Vpon the bakke as he was sce [...]
And so forth with his hurtes grene
In al the haste that he may
He rode & came that other daye
Vnto gabye the cyte
And in he wente & whan that he
Was know anone the yates was shet
The lordes al vpon hym set
With drawen swerdes in honde
And arrous wold hem not withstonde
And said I am here at your wylle
As lecf it is that ye me spylle
As yf myn owne fader dede
And forth within that same stede
He prayed hem that they wold see
And tolde hem in what degre
His fader & his bredern bothe
Which he said weren wrothe
Hym had beten & reuyled
And out of rome for euer exyl [...]d
And thus he made hem to beleue
And said yf that he myght a [...]heue
His purpoos it shal wel be yolde
By so that they hym helpe wolde
Whan that the lordes herde sayn
How wooful he was besayn
They toke pyte of his greue
And yet it was hem wonder  [...]eue
That rome hym had exyled so
This Gabyens by coun [...]yl tho
Vpon the goddes made hym swere
That he shold to hen [...] trouthe bere
And strengthe hem with al his myght
And they also hym hath b [...]hyght
To helpen hem in his ouar [...]le
They shopen thenne for his h [...]le
That he was bathed & anoynte
Tyl that he was in lusty poynte
And what he wold than he hadde
That he al hole the cyte ladde
Right as he wold hym self deuyse
[Page Clxxxv]And than he thought hym in ye whse
He myght his tyrannye shewe
And toke to his counceyl a shrewe
Whom to his fader forth he sente
And in his message he tho wente
And prayed his fader for to saye
By his auyse he fynde a weye
How they myght the cite wynne
Whyle he stode so wel therin
And whan the messenger was come
To rome & hath in counceyl nome
The kyng it felle perchaunce so
That they were in a gardyn tho
This messager forth with the kyng
And whan he had tolde the thyng
In what maner that it stode
And that turquynus vnderstode
By the message how that it ferde
Anone he toke in honde a yerde
And in the gardyn as they gone
The lyly croppes one and one
Where that they were sprongen oute
He smote of as they stode aboute
And said vnto the messengere
Lo this thynge which I do now here
Shal be in stede of thyn answere
And in this wyse as I me bere
Thou shall vnto my sone telle
And he no lenger wold dwelle
But toke his leue & goeth with alle
Vnto his lorde & tolde hym alle
How that his fader had do
Whan arrous herde hym telle so
Anone he wyst what it mente
And therto set al his entente
Tyl he thorugh fraude & trechery [...]
The prynces h [...]edes of gabye
Hath smyten of & al was wonne
His fader came t [...]fore the sonne
In to the towne with the romeyns
And toke & slewe the cyteseyns
Without reson or pyce
That he no spareth no degre
And for the spede of this conqueste
He lete do make a ryche feste
With a solempne sacrefyse
In phebus temple & in this wyse
Whan the romayns assembled were
In presence of hem al there
Vpon the auter when al was dygkt
And that the fyres were a lyght
From vnder the auter sodeynly
An hydous serpent openlye
Came out & hath deuoured [...] alle
The sacrefyse & eke with alle
The fyres queynte & forth anone
So as he came so is he gone
In to the depe grounde ageyn
And euery man began to s [...]yn
A lord what may this sygnefye
And therupon they praye & crye
To phebus that they myȝt knowe
The cause & he the same throwe
With gastely voys that al it herde
The romayns in this wyse answerde
And said how for the wickednesse
Of pride & of vnrightwysnesse
That tarquyne & his sone hath do
The sacrefyse is wasted so
Which myght not ben axceptable
Vpon suche synne abhomynable
And ouer that yet he hem wysseth
And saith which of hem first kysseth
His moder he shal take wreche
Vpon the wronge & of that speche
They ben within her hertes glade
Though they no semblaunce made
Ther was a knyȝt which buitꝰ hyght
And he with al the haste he myght
To groūde fyl & there kyste
But none of hem the cause wyste
But wende that he had sporned
Perchaūce & so was torned
But brutus al another mente
For he knewe wel in his entente
How therthe of euery mānes kynde
Is moder but they weren blynde
And sawe not so ferre as he
[Page]But whan they leften the cyte
And comen home to rome ageyn
Than euery man which was romeyn
And moder hath to hir he bende
And kyst & eche of hem wende
To be the first vpon the chaunce
Of torquyne for to do vengeaunce
So as they herden phelus seyn
But euery tyme hath his certeyn
So must it nedes thenne abyde
Tyl afterward vpon a tyde

Hic narrat qd cum tarquinus in obsidione ciuitatis ardee vt eam destru eret intentus fuit Arrous filius eius romam secreto adiēs in domo collatini hespitatus est vbi de nocte illam castis simam dominam secrete lucreciam yma ginata fraude vi oppressit vnde illa pre dolore mortua ipse cum tarquino patri suo tota clamante Roma impꝑm̄ exilium delegati sunt

tArquinus made vnskylfully
A werre which was fast by
Ageyn a towne with walles stronge
Which ardea was cleped longe
And caste a sege there aboute
That there may no man passe out
So it befyl vpon a nyght
Arrous which had his souper dyght
A parte of the chyualrye
With hym to sowpe in companye
Hath bede & whan they comen were
And sette at sowper there
Emonge her other wordes glade
Arrous a grete spekyng made
Who had tho the beste wyf
Of rome & there began a stryf
For arrous saith he hath the beste
So iangle they withouten reste
Tyl atte laste one collatyne
A worthy knyght & was cosyne
To arrous said hym in this wyse
It is qd he of none emprise
To speke a word but of the dede
Therof it is to take hede
Anone for thy this same tyde
Lepe on thy hors & lete vs ryde
So may we knowe bothe two
Vnwarely what our wyues do
And that shal be a trewe assaye
This arrous saith not ones nay
On horsbacke anone they lepte
In suche manere & no thynge slepte
Rydyng forth tyl that they come
Al pryuelye within rome
In straūge place & doun they lyght
They toke a chambre out of syght
They ben dysgysyd for a throwe
So that no lyfe shold hem knowe
And to that paleys first they souȝt
To see what thynge this lady wrouȝt
Of which arrous made a vaunte
And they hir sawe al glad semblaūt
Al ful of myrthes & of bordes
But emonge al other wordes
She spake not of hir husbond
And whan they had al vnderstonde
Of thylke place what hem lyste
They gone hem forth that none it wist
Besyde thylke yate of bras
Collacea which cleped was
Where collatyn hath his dwellyng
There founden they at home sittyng
Lncrece his wyf al enuyronned
With women which were abandoned
To werche & she wrought also with al
And bade hem haste & sayth it shal
Before my husbondes were
Which with his swerde & his spere
Lyeth at siege in grete dysese
And yf it shold hym not dysplese
Now wold god I had hym here
For certes tyl that I may here
Sōme good tydyng of his estate
[Page Clxxxvj]My herte is euer vpon debate
For so as al men wytnesse
He is of suche an hardynesse
That he▪can not hym self spare
And that is al my moste care
Whan they the walles shold assayle
But yf my wysshes myght auayle
I wold it were a groundeles pytte
By so the siege were vnknytte
And I my husbond sye
With that the water in her eye
Aroos that she ne myght stoppe
And as men seen the dewe bedroppe
The leues & the floures eke
Right so vpon her whyt cheke
The wooful salte teeris felle
Whan collatyn hath herde hir telle
The menyng of her trewe herte
A none with that to hir he sterte
And said loo my good dere
Now is he come to yon here
That ye most bouen as ye sayn
And she with goodely chere ageyn
Byclypte hym in her armes smale
And the colour which erste was pale
To beaute than was restored
So that it myght not be mored
The kynges sone which was nyghe
And of this lady herde & syghe
The thynges as they ben befalle
The reson of his wyttes alle
Hath loste for loue vpon his parte
Came than & his fyry darte
With suche a woūde hym hath y smyte
That he must nedes fele & wyte ▪
Of thylke blynde maladye
To which no cure of surgerye
Can helpe but yet nethelees
At thylke tyme he, helde his pees
That he no countenaunce made
But openlye with wordes glade
So as he coude in his manere
He spake & made frendely chere
Tyl it was tyme for to goe
And collatyne with hym also
His leue toke so that by nyght
With al the haste that they myght
They ryden to the syege ageyn
But arous was so woo byseyn
With thouȝtes which vpon hym rōne
That he al by the brode sonne
To bedde goeth not for to reste
But for to thenke vpon the beste
And the fayrest forth with alle
That euer he sawe or euer shalle
So as hym thought in his corage
Where he portreyed her ymage
Fyrst the fetures of hir face
In which nature had al grace
Of womanlye bewte bysette
So that it myght not be bette
And how hir yelow here was tressed
And hir atyre so wel adressed
And how she wepte al this he thouȝt
And how she spake & how she wrouȝt
That he foryeten hath no dele
But al it aketh hym so wele
That in worde or in dede
Hir lacked nouȝt of womanhede
And thus this tyrānysshe knyght
Was soupled but not halfe a right
For he none other hede toke
But that he myght by somme croke
Al though it were ageyn hir wylle
The lustes of his flessh fulfylle
Which loue was not resonable
For where honour is remeuable
It ought wel to ben aduysed
But he which hath his luste assysed
Wyth medlyd loue & tyrānye
Hath founde vpon his trecherye
A weye which he thynketh to holde
And saith fortune vnto the bolde
Is fauourable for to helpe
And thus within hym self to yelpe
As he which was a wylde man
Vpon his treson he began
And vp he sterte & forth he wente
[Page]On horsbacke but his entente
There knewe no wyglt & he name
The nexte day tyl he came
Vnto cellocea the yate
Of rome & yt was somdele late
Right euen vpon the sonne sette
As he which had shape his nette
Hir Innocence to berrappe
And as it shold so myshappe
As pryu [...]lye as euer he myght
He rode & of his hors alyght
Tofere cellatynes Inne
And al frendeliche he goeth hym in
As he that was cosyn of house
As she which is the good sponse
Lucrece when that she hym syghe
With goodely chere drewe hym nyghe
And she which al honour supposeth
And hym so as she dare opposeth
How it stode of hir busbond
And he tho dyd hir vnderstonde
With tales feyned in his wyse
Right as he wold hym self deuyse
Wherof he myght hir herte glade
That she the better chere made
Whan she the glad wordes herde
How that hir busbond ferde
And thus the trouthe was deceyued
With shye treson which was perayued
To hir which mente al good
For as the festes than stode
His souper was right wel arayed
But yet he hath no worde assayed
To speke of loue in no degre
But with couert subtylte
His frendely speches he affayteth
As the tygre his tyme awayteth
In hope for to catche his  [...]raye
When that the herdes were aweye
Whan they haue souped in the halle
He sayth that slepe is on hym falle
And prayeth he mote goo to bedde
And he with al haste spedde
So as hir thought it was to done
That euery thynge was redy sone
She brought hym to his chambre tho
Ann toke hir liue & forth is goo
In to hir owne chambre by
And she that wende certeynly
Had had a frende & had a foo
Wherof fyl after mochel woo
This tyraunt though he lye softe
Out of his bedde he roos ful ofte
And goeth aboute & leyed his ere
To herken tyl that al were
To bedde goon & sleped faste
And than vpon hym self he caste
A mantel & his swerde al naked
He toke in honde & she vnwaked
A bedde laye but what she mette
God wote for he the dore vnshette
So pryue lye that none it herde
The softe paas & forth he ferde
Vnto the bedde where that she slepte
Al sodeynlye & in he crepte
And hir in bothe his armes toke
With that this worthy wyf awoke
Which for tendernesse of womanhede
Hir voyce hath loste for pure drede
That one worde speke she ne dare
And eke he bad hir to be ware
For yf she made noyse or crye
He sayd his swerde laye fast bye
To slee hir & hir folke aboute
And thus he brought hir in doubte
That lyke a lambe whan it is cesed
In wolues mowth so was she sesed
Lucrece which he naked fonde
Wherof she swouned in his honde
And as who saith laye dede oppressed
And he which al hym had adressed
To lust toke than what hym lyste
And goeth his were that none it wist
In to his owne chambre ageyn
And cleped out his chamberleyn
And made hym redy for to ryde
And thus this lecherous pryde
To hors lepte & forth he rode
[Page clxxxvij]And she which in her bedde abode
Whan that she wyst he was a gone
She cleped after lyght anone
And vp aroos longe or the day
And kyst aweye hir fresshe araye
As she which hath the world fors [...]
And toke vpon the clothes blake
And euer vpon contynueng
Right as men see a welle sprynge
With eyen ful of wooful treas
Hir here hangyng aboute hir eerys
She wepte & no man wyst whye
For yet emonge ful pytouslye
She prayed that they nolden dretche
Hir husbond for to fetche
Forthwyth hir fader eke also
Thus they comen bothe two
And brutus came with collatyne
Which to lucrece was cosyne
And in they wenten al thre
To chambre where they myght see
The woofullest vpon this molde
Which wepte as she to water sholde
This chambre dore anone was stoke
Or they haue ought vnto her spoke
They see hir clothes al dysgysed
And how she hath hir self despysed
Hir heer hangyng vnkempt aboute
But nethelesse she gan to lowte
And knele vnto hir husbonde
And he wold fayne haue vnderstonde
The cause why she fared soo
With softe wordes axeth tho
What may you he my good swete
And she which thouȝt hir self vnmete
And the leste worthe of wymmen alle
Her wooful chere lete doun falle
For shame & coude vnnethes loke
And they therof good hede toke
And prayden hir in al weye
That she ne spare for to saye
Vnto hir frendes what hir ayleth
Why she so sore hir self bewayleth
And what the sothe wold mene
And she which hath hir sorowe grene
Hir woo to telle thenne assayeth
But tendre shame her worde delayeth
That sondry tymes as she mente
To speke vpon the poynte she stente
And they hir beden euer in one
To telle forth & there vpon
Whan that she sawe she moste nede
Hir tale bytwene shame & drede
She tolde not without peyne
And he which wold hir wo [...] restreyne
Hir husbond a sory man
Comforteth hir al that he can
And swore & eke hir fader bothe
That they with hir be not wrothe
Of that is do ageynst hir wylle
And prayden hir to be stylle
For they to hir hane al foryeue
But she which thought not to leue
Of hem wyl no foryeuenesse
And said of thylke vnkyndenesse
Which was to hir body wrought
Al were it so she myght it nonght
Here afterward the world ne shalle
Reprouen hir & forth with alle
Or ony man therof be ware
A naked knyf the which she bare
Within her mantel priuelye
Betwene hir hondes sodaynlye
She toke & thorugh hir herte it thrōge
And fyl to groūde & euer amonge
Whan that she fyl so as she myght
Hir clothes with hir honde she right
That no man dounward fro the knes
Shold ony thynge of hir see
Thus laye this wyf honestlye
Al though she deyed woofullye
Tho was no sorowe for to seke
Hir husbond & hir fader eke
A swoune vpon the body felle
There may no mannes tonge telle
In which anguysshe that they were
But brutꝰ which was with hem there
Toward hym self his herte he kepte
[Page]And to successe anone he lep [...]
The blody swerde & pulleth out
And swere the goddes al aboute
That he therof shal do venge [...]unce
And she tho made a c [...]untenaunce
H [...] b [...]dely eye and atte loste
In th [...] kyng as it were vp caste
And so he helde hym in the wyse
While she to boke may suffyse
And brutus with a manly herte
Hir husbond hath made vp stert [...]
Forthwyth hyr fader eke also
In al haste & said than th [...]
That they anone without lette
A bere for the body fet [...]
 [...]uc [...]ce & there vpon bledyng
He l [...]y [...]d & so forth without cryeng
He goeth vnto the market place
Of rome & in a litel space
Thorugh crye the cyte was assembled
And euery mānes herte trembled
Whan they the soth herde of the ca [...]s
And there vpon the counceyl was
Take of the grete & of the smale
And brutus tolde hem al the tale
And thus came in to remembraunce
Of synne of the contynnaunce
Which arrous had do tofore
And eke longe tyme or he were low
 [...]f that his fader had do
The  [...]ronge came in to the place th [...]
Of that the comyn clamour tolde
The newe shame of synnes olde
And al the towne began to crye
Aweye aweye the tyrannye
Of lecherye & of couetyse
And atte laste in suche a wyse
The fader in the same whyle
Forthwith the sone they exyle
And taken better gouernaunce
But yet another remembraunce
That rightwisnes & lecherye
Accorden not in companye
With hym that hath ye lawe on honde
That may a man wel vnderstonde
As by a tale thou shalt wy [...]e
Of olde ensaumple as it is write

Hic ponit exemplum super eod [...]m [...]ua [...]ter huius virginen [...] dux ex [...] [...]tus remanc [...]m vnicam fikam pulcherimam habens cum quodam neb [...]i vi [...] nomine [...]cio vt i [...]m in vxorem du [...]ret fina [...]ter concord [...]uit / Set interim apius claudius tune [...]n perator virginis formesitatem vt eam violaret concupiscens occasiones quiꝰ matrimonij impedire ipsam que ad sui [...]um apprehendere posset s [...]bdola censpiracione fieri coniect [...]uit et cum propositum sui desiderij productis falsis t [...]stibus in [...]udicio [...]mperator habere de [...]uisset pater tunc ibidē presens exi [...]e to gladio filie sue pectus mortali vulnere per medium transfobit dicens [...]a [...] michi de filia mea virginem habere mortuam quam in scandalum meretri cem reseruare uiuentem

aT Rome whan apyus
Whos other name was claudius
Was gouerrnour of the cyte
There fyl a wonder to se
Touchyng a gentyl mayde as thus
Whom lyuyus vyrgyneus
Begeten had vpon his wyfe
Men sayden that so fayre a lyfe
As she was not in al the towne
This fame goeth vp and doune
And to claudius came in his ere
Wherof his thought anone was there
Which al his herte hath sette a fyre
That he began the flo [...]e desyre
Which longeth vnto mayden [...]de
And sent yf that he myght spede
The blynde lustes of his wylle
[Page Clxxxviij]But that thynge he myght not fulfil
For he stode vpon maryage
A knyght of ful grete  [...]gnage
Ilyaus which than hyght
Accordeth in hir faders syght
Was that he shold his douȝter wedde
But or the cause were fully spedde
Hir fader which in romanye
The leder of the chyualrye
In gouernaunce hath vndertake
Vpon a werre which was take
Goeth out with al ye strengthe he had
Of men of armes which he had
So was the mariage lefte
And stode vpon accorde tyl efte
The kyng which herde telle of this
How that this mayde ordeyned is
To mariage thought another
And had thylke tyme a broder
Which marcus claudius was hote
And was a man of grete ryote
Right as the kyng hym self was
They two to gyder vpon this caas
In coūceyl founden out this weye
That marcus claudius shal saye
How she by weye of couenaunte
To his seruyce apurtenaunte
Was hool & to none other man
And there vpon he saith he can
In euery poynte wytnesse take
Sy that s [...]e s [...]al it not forsake
Whan that they had shape so
After the lawe which was tho
While that hir fader was absent
She was somned and assent
To come in presence of the kynge
And stode in answer of this thynge
Hir frendes wysten al wele
That it was falsehede euery dele
And comen to the kyng and sayden
 [...]pon the comune lawe and prayden
So as this noble worthy knyght
Hir fader for the comune right
In thylk tyme as was be falle
Lay for the profit of them alle
Vpon the wilde feldes armed
That he shold not be harmed
Ne shamed while that he were oute
And thus they preyden al aboute
For al the clamour that he herde
The kyng vpon his luste answerde
And yaue hem onely dayes two
Of respyte for he wente tho
That in so s [...]orte a tyme appere
Hir fader myght in no manere [...]
But as therof he was deceyued
For lyuyus had al conceyued
The purpoos of the kynge tofore
And thought to be there therfore
In al haste he came rydyng
And lefte vpon the felde lyggyng
His ooste tyl that he came ageyn
And thus this worthy capteyn
Appered redy at his daye
Where al that euer reson maye
By lawe in audyence he doth
So that his doughter vpon soth
Of that marcus hir had accused
He hath tofore the courte excused
The kyng which saw his purpose faile
And that  [...]o sleyght myȝt auayle
In combred of his lustes blynde
To lawe torned out of kynde
And half in wrath as though it were
In presence of hem al there
Deceyued of concupiscence
Yaue for his broder the sentence
And bad hym that he shold cese
His doughter & make hym wel at ese
But al within his owne entent
He wyst how that the cause went
Of that his broder hath the wyte
He was hym self for to wyte
But thus this mayden had wronge
Whiche was vpon the kynge alonge
But ageyn hym was none appele
And that his fader wyst wele
Wherof vpon the tyrannye
[Page]That for the luste of lecherye
His doughter shold be dysceyued
And that illicius was weyued
Vntaily fro the mariage
Right as a lyon fro the rage
Which of no drede sette no counte
And note what pyte shold amounte
A naked s [...]e [...]de he  [...]ulled oute
The which amonges al the route
He th [...]ste thorugh his doughter syde
And al alowde thus he cryed
Lo take hir there ye wrongful kynge
For me is leuer vpon this thynge
To be  [...]e fader of a mayde
Though she be d [...]de than men sayde
That in her lyf she were shamed
And I therof were euyl named
Tho bade the kyng men shold a [...]ste
His body but of thylke heste
Lyke to the chaced wylde h [...]re
The houndes whan he feleth sore
To proueth & goeth forth his weye
In suche a wyse for to saye
This worthy knyȝt with swerd in hōde
His weye made & they hym wonde
That none of hem his strokes kepte
And thus vpon his hors bylepte
And with his swerd droppyng of blode
Which within his doughter stode
He came there as the power was
Of rome & tolde hem al the caas
And said hem that they myght here
Vpon the wronge of this matere
That better it were to redresse
At home the grete vnright [...]isnesse
Than for to warre in straunge place
And lefte at home hir owne grace
For thus stant [...] euery mannys lyf
In i [...]partye for his wyf
Or for his doughter yf they be
Passyng another in beute
Of this meruayle which they sy [...]
So apurtenaunte afore hir eye
Of that the kyng hath hym mysbor [...]
Her othes they haue al sw [...]t [...]
That they wyl stonde by the ryght
And thus of one acorde vp right
To rome at ones home ag [...]n
They torne & shortely for to sayn
This tyrannye came to mowthe
And euery man saith what he couthe
So that the pryuy trecherye
Set was vpon lecherye
Came openlye to mannes ere
And that brought in the comyn fire
That euery man perylle dradde
Of hym that so hem euerladde
For thy or it were worse falle
Thorugh comyn counceyl of h [...]m alle
They haue her wronge kyng deposed
And hem in whom it was supposed
The counceyl stode of his ledynge
By lawe vnto the d [...]me they brynge
Where they re [...]yuen the penaunce
That longeth to suche gouernaunce
And thus the vnchaste was chastised
Wherof they myght ben aduysed
That shold afterward gouerne
And by this euydence lerne
How it is good a kyng eschewe
The luste of vyce & vertu sewe

Hic inter al [...]a castitatis regimen con [...]rnencia loquitur quomodo matromonium cuius status sacramentum [...]uasī continenciam equirerans eciam honeste delectacionis regimine moderari decet / Et narrat in exemplum [...]ualiter p [...]o eo quod illi septem viri qui sat [...]e raguelis fille magis propter concupis tēciam quam propter matrimonium voluptuose nups [...]unt vnus post a [...]um omnes prima nocte a demone asmodeo singillatim ingulati interierunt

[Page Clxxxix]
tO make in this partye
Which toucheth to the polecye
Of chasty [...]e in specialle
As f [...] conclusion fynalle
That euery luste is to eschewe
By grete ensaumple I may argewe
How in  [...]ages a towne of mede
Ther was a mayde & as I rede
Sarra she hyght & raguelle
Hir fader was & so byfelle
Of body bothe & of vysage
Was none so fayre of the lygnage
To seche emonge hem al as she
Wherof the ryche of the cyte
Of lusty folke that couden loue
Assot [...]d were vpon hir loue
And axen hir for to wedde
One was which laste spedde
And that was more for lykyng
To haue his luste than for weddyng
As he within his herte caste
Which hym repenteth atte laste
For it fyl the fyrst nyght
Whan he was to the bedde dyght
As he which no thynge god  [...]esecheth
But al onely his lustes secheth
A bedde for he was fully warme
He toke hir in his arme
Asmode a fende of helle
And serueth as the bookes telle
To t [...]mpte a man in suche a wyse
Which redy there & thylke empryse
Which he hath set in suche delyte
He vengeth than in suche a plyte
That he his nec [...]e hath wronge a two
This yonge wyf was woo tho
Which wyst no thynge what it men [...]
And nethelesse yet thus it wente
Not onely of this fyrst man
But after this th [...]re began
Syx other of hir husbondes
Asmode has take in to his hondes
So that they al a bedde deyden
Whan yt they hande toward hir leyde [...]
Nought for the lawe of maryage
But for that ylke fyryrage
 [...]n which they wyl the lawe excede
For who that wyl take hede
What after fyl in this matere
Ther myght he wel the sothe here
Whan she was wedded to thobye
And raphael in companye
He taught hym how to be honeste
Asmode wan nought at thylke fe [...]te
And yet th [...]by his wylle h [...]
For he his luste so goddely ladde  [...]
That bothe lawe & kynde is serued
Wherof he hath hym self preserued
That he fyl not in the sentence
O which another euydence
Of this ensaumple a man may see
That whan lykyng degre
Of mariage may forsuey
Wel ought than in other weye
Of lust to be the better aduysed
For god the lawe hath as [...]ysed
As wel to reson as to kynde
But he the bestes wold bynde
Onely to lawes of nature
But to the mannes creature
God gaue hym reson forth with alle
Wherof that he nature shalle
Vpon the causes modefye
That he shal do no lecherye
And yet he shal his lustes haue
So ben the lawes bothe saue
And euery thyng put out of sclaūdre
As whilom to kyng al [...]sanndre
The wyse phylosophre taughte
Whan he his first bore caughte
Not onely vpon chastyte
But onely vpon al honeste
Wherof a kyng hym self may taste
How trewe how large iust & chast [...]
Hym ought of reson for to be
Forthwyth the vertu of pyte
Thorugh whiche thonke deserue
Toward his god that he preserue
[Page]Hym & his peple al in welthe
Of his richesse henour & helthe
Here in this world & ellis where eke
My sone as we tofore speke
In shrifte so as thou me saydest
And for thyn ese as thou me preydest
Thy louethro [...]bes for to asse
That I the wold telle & wysse
The forme of aristotiles lore
I haue it sayd & somdele more
Of other ensaumples for to assaye
Yf  [...] thy paynes myght a laye
Thorugh ony thynge that I can say
Do weye my fader I you praye
Of that ye haue to me tolde
I thanke you a thousand folde
The tales founden in myn ere
But yet my herte is elly [...] where
I may my self not restreyne
That I nam euer in loues peyne
Suche lore coude I neuer gete
Which myght make me foryete
O  [...]o [...]nte but yf so were I slepte
That I my tydes ay ne kepte
To thynke on loue & on his lalbe
That  [...]erte can I not withdrawe
For thy my good fader dere
 [...]ue & speke of my matere
 [...]uc [...]yng of loue as we begonne
Yf that ther be ought ouer ronne
 [...] ought foryete or lefte behynde
Which falleth vnto loues kynde
Wherof it nedeth to be shryue
Now axeth so that whyle I lyue
I myght amende that is amys
My good dere sone yis
Thy shryfte for to make pleyne
There ie yet nomore for to sayne
Of loue which is vnaduysed
But for thou shalt be wel aduysed
Vnto thy shryfte as it bylongeth
A poynte which vpon loue hongeth
And is the laste of al tho
I wyl the slewe and than ho

Explicit liber septimus

Incipit Liber octau [...]

Que fauet ad vicium vetus he [...] modo regula coufert / Nec non econtra qui docet ordo placet / Ce [...]us amor dudum non dum sua lumina cepit / Quo venus impos [...]tū deuia fallit iter

pOst quam ad instanciam amantis confessi confessor Genius suy hijs que aristotiles regem Aloxandrum edocint vna cum aliarum cronicarū exemplis seriose tractauit Iam vltimo in isto oc cauo voluminead confessionem in amoris causa regrediens tracttare ꝓponit super hoc qd non vlli premordia nature ad [...]ibitum voluptuose consequentes nullo humane racionis arbitrio sen ecclesie legum imposicione a suis excessi bus debite resrenantur vnde quatenus amorem conceruit amantis conscienciā pro finali sui confessionis materia genius rimari conatur

[Page Clxxxx]
tHe myȝty god which vnbegon
Stante of hym self & hath begon
Al other thynges at his wylle
The heuen he lyste to fulfille
Of al the ioye where as he
Syt entronysed in his see
And hath his aungels hym to serue
Suche as hym lyketh to preserue
So that he note forueye
But lucyfer he put albeye
With al the route apostasyed
Which ben to hym alyed
Which out of heuen in to helle
From aungels in to fendes felle
Where that there nys no ioye of light
But derke as ony nyght
The paynes shal be endelesse
And yet of paynes nethelesse
There is plente but they ben blake
Wherof no syght may be take
Thus whan the thynges ben by falle
That lucyfers courte was falle
Where dedely pryde hem hath conceyued
A none forthwyth it was purueyed
Thorugh hym which al thynges may
He made adam the sixt day
In paradyse & to his make
Hym lyketh one also to make
And bade hem crece & multeplye
For of the mannes progenye
Which of the woman shal be  [...]ore
The nōbre of aūgels which was lore
Whan they out fro the blysse felle
He thought to restore & felle
In hauen thylke holy place
Which stode tho wyde vpon his grace
But as it is wel wyst & knowe
Adam & eue but a throwe
So as it shold of hem betyde
In paradyse at thylke tyde
Ne dwelten & the cause why
Is wryte in the book of genesye
As who so al men haue herde
How raphael the fyry swerde
In honde toke & droue hem out
To gete her lyues foode aboute
Vpon this wooful erthe here
Metodre saith to this matere
As he by truelacion
It had vpon a vysyon
How that adam &  [...]ue also
Vyrgynes comen bothe two
In to the world & were ashamed
Tyl that nature hem hath reclamed
To loue & taught hem thylke lore
That fyrst they kyst & ouermore
They done that is to kynde dewe
Wherof they had fayr yssue
A sone was the fyrst of alle
Caym by name they hym calle
A bell was after the seconde
And in the geste as it is fonde
Nature so the cause ladde
Two doughters Eue had
The fyrst cleped calmona
Was / & that other delbora
Thus was mankynde to begynne
For thy that tyme it was no synne
The suster for to take her broder
Whan that there was of choyce none
other / To caym was calmana bytake
And delbora hath abel take
Of whom was gete nethelees
The worldes fyrst encrees
Men sayn that nede hath no lawe
And so it was by thylke dawe
And laste vnto the second age
Tyl that the grete water rage
Of noe which was said the flode
The world which than in synne stode
Hath dreynte out take lyues eyght
Tho was mankynde of litel weyght
Sem Cam Iaph [...]t of thyse thre
That ben the sones of noe
The world of mannes nacion
In to multiplicacion
Was tho restored newe ageyn
So ferforth as the bookes seyn
[Page]That of hem  [...]re & of her yssue
Ther was so large a retynue
Of nacyons seuenty & two
In sondry places eche one of tho
The wyde world haue e [...]h [...]byted
But as nature hath than excyted
They toke than litel hede
The broder to the suster yede
To wedde wyues tyl it came
In to the tyme of abraham
Whan the third age was bygonne
That nede it was ouer ronne
For ther was peple ynough in londe
Thenne alte fyrst it came to honde
That systerhode of mariage
Was torned in to cosynage
So after that the right lyne
The  [...]syn wedded the cosyne
For abraham or that he deyed
The charge vpon his seruaunt leyed
To hym in this wyse spake
That he his sone ysaak
Do wedde for no worldes good
But onely to his owne blood
Wherof the seruaunt as he  [...]adde
Whan he was dede his sone hath ladde
To ba [...]huel where he rebecke
Hath wedded with the whyt necke
For she wyst wel & syghe
Was to the chylde  [...]syn nyghe
And thus as abraham taught
Whan ysaak was god bytaught
His sone Iacob dyd also
And of bulam the doughters two
Which was his eme he toke to wyfe
And gate vpon hem in his lyfe
Of hir fyrst which hyght lye
Sy [...] senes of his progenye
And of rachel two sones eke
The remenaunt was for to seke
That is to sayn of four moo
Wherof he gate on bala two
And of zelpha he had eke twey
And these twelue as I the sey
Thorough the prouydence of god hym
self / Ben said the patriarkes twelf
Of whome as afterward byfelle
The tribus twelf of Israel
Engendred were & ben the same
That of hebrues tho hadden name
Which of sy [...]red in alyaunce
For euer kepte thylke vsaunce
Moost contynuelly tyl cryst was bore
But afterward it was folore
Emonge vs that ben buptyzed
For of the lawe canonyzed
The pope hath bode to the men
That none shal wedden of his kyn
Ne the second ne of the thyrd
But yf holy chyrche it bydde
So to restreyne mariage
There ben yet vpon loues rage
Ful many of suche now a day
That taken where they take may
For loue of which is  [...]nbeseyn
Of al reson as men sayn
Thorugh sotye & thorugh nycete
Of his voluptuosite
He spareth no condycyon
Of kynne ne of religyon
But as a cock emonge the hennes
Or  [...]s a stalon in the fennes
Which goes emonge al. the stode
Right so can he nomore good
But taketh what cometh next to hōde
My sone thou shalt vnderstende
That suche delyte is for to blame
For thy yf thou hast ben the same
To loue in ony suche manere
Telle forth therof & shryue the here
My fader nay god wote the sothe
My feyre is not of suche a bothe
So wylde a man yet was I neuer
That of my kynne or leue or leuer
Me lust loue in suche a wyse
I note eke for what empryse
I shold assote vpon a nonne
For though I had hir loue wonne
[Page Clxxxxj]It myght in to no pryce amounte
So therof set I none acouute
Ye may wel axe of this & that
But sothely for to telle plat
Iu al this world there is but one
The which my herte hath ouergone
I am toward al other fre
Fnl wel my sone now I see
Thy word stonte euer vpon a place
But yet therof thou hast a grace
That though the myght so wel excuse
Of loue suche as somme men vse
So as I spake of now tofore
For al suche tyme of loue is lore
And lyke vnto the bytter swete
For though it thynke a mā first swete
He shal wel felen atte laste
Thai it is soure & may not  [...]aste
For as a morc [...]l enuenymed
So hath suche loue his lust mystymed
And grete ensaumples many one
A man may fynde therupon

Hic loquitur contra istos quos [...] nus sui desiderij feruore inflammar ita incestuosos efficit vt ne (quam) preprijsororibus parcunt Et narrat exemplū qualiter pro eo qd Gayus Caligula tres sorores suas virgines coitu illicito oppressit deus tanti sceleris peccatum impium non ferens ipsum non solum ab imꝑio set a vita iusticia vindice preliauit / Narrat eciam aliud exemplum super eodent qualiter amon filius dauid fatui amoris concupiscenciam preuentus sororem suam thamar a sue virginitatis pudicicia inuitam deflora uit propter qd et ipse a fratre suo ab solon postea interfectus peccatum sue mortis precio inuitus dedemit

Trome fyrst yf we begyn
Ther shal I fynde how of this syn
An emperour was for to blame
Gayus Caligula by name
Which of his owne susters thre
Byrefte the vyrgynyte
And whan he had hem so forleyn
As he which was al vylayn
He dyd hem out of londe exyle
But afterward within a whyle
God hath byrefte hym in his yre
His lyf & eke his large emp [...]ro
And thus for lykyng of a throwe
For euer his loue was ouerthrowe
Of this soty also I fynde
Amon his suster ageyn kynde
Which hyght thamare he forley [...]
But he that lust another day
A bought whan that absolon
His owne broder there vpon
Of that he had his suster shente
Toke of that synne vengemente
And slewe hym with his owne hond
And thus the vnkynde vnkynde fond

Hic narrat qualiter loth duas filias suas ipsis concencientibus carna [...] copu la cognouit duos que ex eis filios sci licet moab & Amon progenuit quorum postea generacio pratia & exasperans contra populum dei in terra saltim promissionis vario grauamine quā sepius insultabat

aNd for to see more of this thyng
The byble maketh knowlechyng
Wherof thou myght take euydence
Vpon the soth experience
Whan bothes wyf was ouergone
And shape vnto the salte stone
As it is spoke vnto this day
By bothe his doughters than he lay
With chylde he made hem bothe grete
[Page]Tyl that nature wold hem lete
And so the cause aboute ladde
That eche of hem a sone hadde
Moab the first & the second
Amon of which as it is fonde
Came afterward to grete encrece
Two nacions & nethelece
For that the stockes were not good
The traunches myght not be good
For of the false moabytes
Forthwith the strengthe of amonytes
Of that they were fyrst mysgete
The peple of god was ofte vpsete
In Israel and in Iudee
As in the byble a man may see

Lo thus my sone as I the say
Thou myght thy self be besay
Of that thou haste of other herde
For euer yet it hath so ferde
Of loues lust yf so byfalle
That it in other places falle
Than it is of the lawe set
He which his loue hath so bysette
Mote afterward repente it sore
And euery man is other lore
Of that befyl in tyme or this
The present tyme which now is
May be enformed how it stode
And take that hym thynke good
And leue that which is not so
But for to loke of tyme a goo
How lust of loue excedeth lawe
It ought for to be withdrawe
For euery man it shold drede
And namelyche in his sybrede
Which torneth ofte to vengeauuce
Wherof a tale in remembraunce
Which is a longe processe to here
I thynke for to tellen here

Omnibus est communis amor sed et immoderatus / Qui facit excessus non reputatur amans / Sors tamen vnde venus attractat corda videre / Que rationis erunt non ratione sinit

Hic loquitur adhuc contra incestuosos amantum coitus / Et narrat mirabile exemplum de [...]gno rege antiocho qui vxore mortua propriam filiam violauit et quia filie matrimonium penes alios Impedire voluit tale ab eo exiit edictum quod si quis eam in vxorem peterit nisi quoddam proble nia questionis quam ipse rex proposu erat veraciter solueret capitali sentencia puniretur super quo veniens tādem discretus iuuenis princeps tiri appolinus questionem soluit / Nec tamen filiam habere potuit sed rex indignatus ipsum propter hec in mortis odium recollegit / Vnde appolinus a facie regis fugiens quamplura prout inferius intitulatur propter amorem pericula passus est

oF a cronycle in dayes gone
The which is cleped pant [...]one
In loues cause I rede thus
How that the grete aniyochus
Of whom that antioche took
His first name as saith the bock
Was coupled to a noble quene
And had a doughter them bytwene
But which fortune came to honde
That dethe which no kyng may with stonde
/ But euery lyf it mote obeye
This worthy quene toke aweye
The kyng which made mochel mone
Tho stode as who saith hym allone
Without wyf but nethelees
His doughter which was peerlees
Of bewete dwelte aboute hym stylle
But whan a man hath welth at wyl
The flesshe is freel & falleth ofte
And that this mayde tendre & softe
Which in hir faders chambre dwelte
Within a tyme wyst & felte
[Page Clxxxxij]For lykyng of concupiscence
Withouten insyght of conscyence
The fader so with lustes blente
That he caste al his entente
His owne doughter for to spylle
The kyng hath leyser at his wylle
With strengthe & whan he tyme seye
The yonge mayden he forleye
And she was tendre & ful of drede
She coude not hir maydenhede
Defende / & thus she hath forlore
The floure whiche she hath longe bore
It helpeth not though she wepe
For they that shold hir body kepe
Of wymmen were absent as than
And thus this mayden goeth to man
The wylde fader thus deuoureth
His owne flessh which none secoureth
And that was cause of mochel care
But after this vnkynde fare
Out of the chambre goeth the kynge
And she laye styl & of that thynge
Within hir self suche sorowe made
Ther was nouȝt that myght hir glade
For fere of thylke horryble vyce
With that came in the norice
Which fro chyldehode hir had kepte
And axed hir yf she had slepte
And why hir chere was vnglad
But she which hath be ouer lad
Of that she myght not be wreke
For shame coude vnnethys speke
And nethesse mercy she prayed
With wepyng eye & thus she sayed
Alas my suster wel away
That euer I sawe this ylke day
Thyng which my body firsst begat
In to this world onelych that
My worldes worshyp hath byrefte
With that she swowneth now & efte
And euer wissheth after deth
So that welny she lacketh breth
That other which hir wordes herde
In comfortyng of hir answerde
To lete hir faders foule desyre
She wyst no recouryre
Whan thynge is do ther is no lote
So suffren they that suffren mote
Ther was none other which hym wist
So hath this kynge al that he lyste
Of his lykyng & of his plesaunce
And last in suche a contynuunce
And suche delyte he toke there in
Hym thought it was no syn
And she durst hym no thyng withsey
But fame which goeth euery wey
To sondry royames aboute
The grete bewte telleth out
Of suche a mayde of hye parage
So that for loue of mariage
The worthy princes come & sende
As they which al honour wende
And knew no thyng how that it stode
The fader whan he vnderstode
That they his doughter thus lysought
With al his wyt he caste & sought
How that he myght fynde a lette
And suche a statute thenne he sette
And in this wyse his lawe taxeth
That what man his doughter axeth
But he coude his questyon
Assoyle vpon sugestyon
Of certeyn thynges that byfelle
The which he wold vnto hem telle
He shold in certeyn lese his hede
And thus there were many dede
Her hedes stondyng on the gate
Tyl atte laste longe & late
For lacke of answer in the wyse
The remenaunte that weren wyse

De aduentu appo [...]oni in autiochiam vbi ipse filiam regis antioche in vxorem postulauit

Escheweden to make assay
[Page]Tyl it befyl vpon a day
Appollynus the prynce of tyre
Which hath to loue a grete desyre
As be which in his hygh mode
Was lykyng of his h [...]te blode
A yonge a fresshe a lusty knyght
As he laye musyng on a nyght
Of the tydynge whiche he herde
He thought to assay how that it ferde
He was with worthy companye
A rayed & with good nauye
To shyp  [...]e goeth the wynde hym dry­ueth /
And saileth tyl that he ariueth
Saufe in the porte of antyoche
He londeth & goeth to approche
The kynges courte & his presence
Of euery natural science
Which ony clerke hym coude teche
He coude ynough & in his speche
Of wordes he was eloquent
And whan he sawe the kyng present
He prayeth he must his doughter haue
The kyng ageyn began to craue
And tolde hym the condycyon
How fyrst vnto his questyon
He mote answere & fayle nought
Or with his heed it shal be bought

Questio regis antiochi s [...]lere vehor materna ca [...]ne v [...]soo [...] quero patrem me um matris mee virū vxoris mee filiū

aNd he hym axeth what it was
The kyng declareth hym the caas
With sterne lock & st [...]rdy chere
To hym & said in this manere
With felonye I am vp bore
I ete & haue it not forbore
My modrs flessh whos husbond
My fader for to seche I fonde
Which is the sene eke of my wyf
Herof I am inquysytyf
And who that can my tale saue
Al quyte he shal my doughter haue
Of his answer yf he fayle
He shal be deed without fayle
For thy my sone qd the kyng
Be wel aduysed of thie thyng
Which hath by lyf in Ieopartye
Appol [...]ynus for his partye
When he this ou [...]s [...]yon had herde
Vnto the kyng he hath answerde
And hath reherced one & one
The poyntes & said therupon
The questyon which thou hast spoke
Yf thou wylt that it be vnl [...]ke
It toucheth al the pryuyte
Betwyxte thyn owne chylde & the
And stante al vpon you two
The kyng was wonder sor [...]tho
And theuȝt yf that he said it oute
Thenne were he shamed al aboute
With sly wordes & with felle
He said my sone I shal the telle
Though thou be lytel of wytte
It is no meruayle as yet
Thyn age may it not suffyse
But loke wel thou not despyse
Thyn owne lyf for of my grace
Of thyrty dayes ful of space
I graunte the to ben aduysed
And thus with loue & tyme assysed
This yonge prynce forth he wente
And vnderstood wel what it mente
Within his herte as he was lered
That for to make hym afered
The kyng his tyme hath so deloyed
Wherof he drad & was amayed
Of treson that he deye shold
For he the kyng trouth tolde
And sodeynly the nyght tyde
The morowe wold he not abyde
Al pryuelye his barge he hente
And home ageyn to tyre he wente
[Page Clxxxxiij]And in his owne witte he sayed
For drede yf he the kyng bewrayed
He knewe so wel the kynges herte
That deth ne shold he asterte
The kyng wold hym so pursewe
But he that wold his deth eschewe
And knewe al this tofore the honde
Forsake he thought his owne londe
For there wold he not abyde
For wel he knewe on somme syde
This tyraunt of his felonye
By somme manere of trecherye
To greue his body wyl not leue
For thy with outen takyng leue
As pryuelyche ashe myght
He geeth to the see by nyght
In shippes that ben with whete laden
Her takyl redy tho they maden
And haleth the sait [...] & forth they fare
But for to telle of the care
That they of tyre began tho
Whan that they wyst he was agoo
It is a pyte for to here
They loste lust they loste chere
They took vpon hem suche penaunce
Ther was no songe ther was no daūce
But euery myrthe & melodye
To them was thenne a maladye
For vnlust of that auenture
Ther was no man which toke tonsure
In dredeful clothes they them clothe
The bathes & the stewes bothe
They shyt in by euery weye
Ther was no lyf which lust to pleye
Ne take of ony ioye kepe
But for hir liege lord to wepe
And euery wyght saith as he couthe
Alas the lusty floure of youthe
Our prynce our hede our gouernoure
Thorugh whom we stonden in honoure
Without the conoune assent
Thus sodeynly is from vs went
Suche was the clamour of hem alle
But see now what is befalle

Qualiter thaliartus miles vt appolinum veneno intoxicaret ab anti [...] oche in tirum missus ipse ibidem non Inuento antiochiam rediit

vpon the fyst tale playn
And torne we thereto agayn
Antiochus the grete syre
Which ful of rancour & of yre
His herte bereth so as he herde
Of that this prynce of tyre answerde
He had a felowe bacheler
Which was his pryuy counceyller
And thaliart by name he hyght
The kyng a strong poyson hym dyȝt
Within a boxe & golde therto
In al haste & bad hym goo
Strayte vnto tyre & for to coste
Ne spare tyl he had loste
The prynce which he wold spylle
And whā ye kyng hath said his wylle
This talyart in a galeye
With al haste he toke his weye
The wynde was good / they seyled
blyue / Tyl he toke londe vpon ye ryue
Of tyre & forth with al anone
In to the borough he gan to gone
And toke his ynne & bode a throwe
But for he wold not be knowe
Dysgysed thenne he goeth hym oute
He sawe the wepyng al aboute
And axeth what the cause was
And they hym tolde al the caas
How sodeynly the prynce was goo
And whan he sawe that it was so
And that his labour was in veyn
A none he torneth home ageyn
And to the kyng whan he came nyghe
He tolde hym that he herde & syghe
How that the prynce of tyre was fled
So was he comen ageyn vnsped
The kyng was sory for a whyle
But whan he sawe that with no wile
He myght acheue his cruelte
He stynte his wrath & lete hym be

[Page]Qualiter apoollinus in portu tharsis appl [...]cauit vbi in hospicō cuiusdā magni vin nomine strangulionis hospitatus est

bVt ouer this now for to telle
Of aduentures that byfelle
Vnto this prynce of whom I tolde
He hath his right cours forth holde
By stone & nedyl tyl he came
To tharse & there londe he name
A bourgeys ryche of golde & fee
Was thylke tyme in that cyte
Which cleped was stranguyllyo
His wyf was dyonysye also
This yonge prynce as sayth the book
With hym his herbegage took
And it befyl that cyte so
Bef [...] tyme & thenne also
Thou [...]gh stronge famyn which he lad
Was none that ony whete had
Appollynus when that he herde
The myschyef how that the cyte ferde
Al frelyche of his owne gyfte
His whete emonge hem for to shyfte
The which by shyp he had brought
He yaue & toke of hem right nought
But sythen fyrst this world began
Was neuer yet to suche a man
More ioye made than they hym made
For they were al of hym so glade
That they for euer in remembraunce
Made a fygure in resemblaunce
Of hym & in comyn place
They set it vp so that his face
Myght euery maner man beholde
So that the cyte was beholde
It was of laton ouer gylte
Thus was his face nouȝt spylte

Qualiter hellicanus ciuis tiri tharsim Veniens apollinum de insidijs anthiochi [...]rrminiuit

vPon a day with a route
This lord to pleye goeth hym oute
And on his weye of tyre he mette
A man which on knees hym grette
And hellican by name he hyght
Which prayed his lord to haue insyȝt
Vpon hym self & said hym thus
How that the grete antyochus
Aweyteth yf that he myght hym spyl
That other thought & helde hym styl
And thanked hym of his warnyng
And bad hym telle for no thynge
Whan he to tyre came home ageyn
That he in tharse hym had seyn

Qualiter appolinus portū tharsis relin quens cum ipse per mare nauigio securiorem quesiuit superuenieute tempestate nauis cum omnibus preter ipsum solum in eadem contentis iuxta pentapolim periclitabatur

fOrtune hath euer be muable
And may no whyle stonde stable
For now it hyeth & now it loweth
Now stāte vp right now ouerthroweth
Now ful of blysse now ful of bale
For now as in tellyng of my tale
Here afterward a man may here
Which is grete routhe for to here
This lord which wold done his beste
Within hym self hath lytel reste
And thouȝt he wold his place chaūge
And seke a contre more straunge
Of tharsyens his leue anone
He toke & is to shyp gone
His cours he name with sayle vp drawe / 
Where as fortune doth ye lawe
And sheweth as I shal reherce
How she was to the lord dyuerce
The which vpon the see she ferketh
The wynde aroos the weder derketh
[Page Clxxxxiiij]It blewe & made suche tempeste
That none anker myȝt the shyp arest
Which hath broken al his gere
The shypmen stood in suche a fere
Was none that myght bestere
But euer awayte vpon the lere
Whan yt they shold drenchen al atones
Ther was ynough within the wones
Of wepyng & of sorowe tho
The yonge kyng maketh moche woo
For to see the shyp trauayle
But al that myght no thynge auayle
The mast to brake the seyle to roof
The shyp vpon the wawes droof
Tyl that they see the londes coste
Tho made a vowe leste and moste
By that they myghten come a londe
But he which hath the see on honde
Neptunus wold not accorde
But he al to brake cable & corde
Or they to londe myght approche
The shyp to claue vpon a roche
And al goeth doun in to the depe
But he which al thyng may kepe
Vnto this lord was mercyable
And brought hym saue vpon a table
Which to the londe hath hym bore
The remenaunte was al forlore
Therof he made mochel mone
Thus was this yonge lord allone

Qualiter appollinus nudus superlitus iactabatur vbi quidam piscator ipsum collobio suo vestiens ad vrtem pentapolim direxit

aL naked in a poure plyte
His colour which was whylom whyt
Was than of water fade & pale
And eke be was so sore a cale
That he hym self wyst of no bote
It helpe no thynge for to mote
To gete ageyn that he hath lore
Which she that hath his deth forbore
Fortune though he wold not yelpe
Al sodeynly hath sente hym helpe
Whan hym thought al grace aweye
There came a fyssher in the weye
And sawe there a naked man stonde
And whan that he hath vnderstonde
The cause of hym he hath grete routhe
And onely of his power trouthe
Of suche clothes as he hadde
With grete pyte this lord he cladde
And he hym thonketh as he sholde
And saith hym that it shold be yolde
If euer he gete his state ageyn
And prayeth that he wold seyn
Yf nyghe were ony towne for hym
He sayd ye / pentopolym
Where bothe kyng & quene dwellen
This tale herde he tellen
He gladeth hym and gan beseche
That he the weye hym wold teche
And he hym taughte & forth he wente
And to god with good entente
To sende hym ioye after his sorowe
It is not passed yet mydmorowe

Qualiter appollinus pentapolim adue niente ludus a giguasij ꝑ vrbem publice proclamatus est

tHan thyderward his weye he nam
Where sone vpon the none he came
He ete suche as he myght gete
And anone forth as he had ete
He goeth to see the towne aboute
And came there as he fonde a ronte
Of yonge lnsty men with alle
And as it shold tho byfalle
That day was set of suche assyse
That they shold in the londes gyse
As he herde of the peple seye
Her comune game thenne pleye
And cryed was that they shold come
[Page]Bothe to the game al & somme
Of hem that ben delyner & wyght
To do suche mastrye as they myght
They made hem naked as they shold
For so that ylke game wold
And it was the custome & the vse
Amonges hem was none refuse
The floure of al the towne was there
And of the courte also there were
And that was in a large place
Ryght euen before the kynges face
Which artestraches thenne hyght
The pleye was pleyed right in his siȝt
And who moste worthy was of dede
Reayue he shold his mede
And in the cyte bere a pryce
Appolynus which was ware & wyse
Of euery game he coude an ende
He thought to assay who so it wende

Qualiter appollinus ludum gignasij v [...]n [...]ens in aula regis ad cenam ho [...]on [...]ice receptus est

aNd fyl emonge hem vnto game
And wan hym there suche a name
So as the kyng hym self accounteth
That he al other men surmounteth
And ba [...]e the pryce aboue hem alle
The kyng bad that in to his halle
At souper tyme he shal be brought
And he came than & lefte it nought
Without companye allone
Was none so semelyche a persone
Of vysage & of lymmes bothe
If that he had what to clothe
At souper tyme nethelese
The kyng amyddes al the prese
Lete clepe hem vp emonge hem alle
And bad his marchal of his halle
To setten hym in suche degre
That he vpon hym myght see
The kyng was sone sette and serued
And he which hath his prise deserued
After the kynges owne worde
Was made begyn a myddel borde
That bothe kyng & quene hym sye
He sette & caste aboute his eye
And sawe the lordes in estate
He with hym self wexe in debate
Thynkyng what he had lore
And suche a sorowe he toke therfore
That he satte euer stylle & thought
As he which of no mete rought

Qualiter appollinus in cena recum [...]ens nichil comedit set dolo roso vultu capite maxime ingemescebat qui tandem a filia regis confortatus citheram plectens cunctis audientibus citherando vltra modum complacuit

tHe kyng behelde his heuynrsse
And of his grete gentylnesse
His doughter which was fayre and
 [...]ood / And atte borde byfore hym stode
As it was thylke tyme vsage
He bad to goo on his message
And fonde to make hym glade
And she dyd as hir fader bade
And goeth to hym the softe paas
And axeth whan & what he was
And prayeth he shold his thouȝtes leue
He saith madame by your leue
My name is hote appolynus
And of my ryches it is thus
Vpon the see I haue it lore
The contre where as I was bore
Where that my londe is & my rente
I lefte at tyre whan that I wente
The worshyp there of which I ought
Vnto the god I there betought
And thus to gyder as they speke
The teeris ranne doun by his cheke
The kyng which toke therof good kepe
[Page Clxxxxv] Had grete pyte to see hym wepe
And forth his doughter sende ageyn
And prayed hir fayr & gan to sayn
That she wold no lenger dretrhe
But that she wold anone forth fetche
Hir harpe & done al that she can
To glade with that sory man
And she to done hir faders heste
Hir harpe fette & in the feste
Vpon a chayer which they fette
Hir self nexte to this man she sette
With harpe bothe & eke with mowthe
To hym she dyd al that she couthe
To make hym chere & euer be sygheth
And she hym axeth how hym lyketh
Madame certeys wel he sayed
But yf ye the mesure played
Which yf you list I shal you lere
It were a gladde thynge for to here
A leue syr sayth she
Take the harpe & lete me see
Of what mesure that ye mene
Tho prayeth the kyng & the quene
Forthwith the lordes al arewe
That he somme myrthe wold shewe
And taketh the harpe & in his wyse
He tempreth & of suche assyse
Syngyng he harpeth forth with alle
That as a voy [...]e cel [...]styalle
Hem thought it sowned in her here
As though it an aungel were
They gladen of his melodye
But moste of al the companye
The kynges douȝter which it herde
And thouȝt eke and that he answerd
Whan that it was of hir apposed
Within her herte hath wel supposed
That he his grete gentylnesse
His dedes ben therof wytnesse
Forthwyth the wysdom of his lore
It nedeth not to s [...]che more
He myght not haue suche manere
Of gentyl blood but yf he were
Whan he hath harpyd al his fylle
The kynges heste to fulfylle
Awey goeth dysshe aweye goeth cup
Doun goeth ye borde the cloth was vp
They rysen & goon out of halle
The kyng his chamberleyn lete calle
And bad that he by al weye
A chambre for this man purueye
Which nygh his owne chambre be
It shal be do my lord qd he

Qualiter appollinus cum rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est

aPpollynus of whom I mene
Tho toke his leue of kyng & quene
And of the worthy mayde also
Which prayed vnto hir fader tho
That she myght with the yonge man
Of tho sciences which he can
His lore haue in this wyse
The kyng hir graunteth hir apprise
So that hym self therto assent
Thus was accorded or they went
That he with al that euer he may
This yonge fayr fresshe may
Of that he coude shold enforme
And ful assented in this forme

Qualiter filia regis appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit / Et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quam pluriꝰ famulialiter intendebat / Vnde placata puella in amorem appolini exazdescens infirmab [...]tur

tHey toke lette as for that nyght
And whan it was on morow right
Vnto this yonge man of tyre
Of clothes and of good attyre
With golde & syluer for to spende
This worthy yonge lady sende
[Page]And thus she made hym wel at ease
And he with al that he can plese
Hir serueth wel & fayr ageyn
He taughte hir tyl she thas certeyn
Of harpe of cytole & of rote
With many a tewne & many a note
Vpon musyque vpon mesure
And of hir harpe the temprure
He taughte hir wel as he roel couthe
But as men sayn that frele is youthe
With le [...]er & contynuaunce
This mayde fyl vpon a chaunce
That loue hath mad hym a quarele
Ageynst yongthe fressh & frele
That mangre wheder she wyl or nouȝt
She mote with al her hertes thought
To loue & to his loue obeye
And that she shal ful sore obeye
For the wote not what it is
But euer emonge she feleth this
Towchyug this man of tyre
Hir herte is hote as ony fyre
And other whyle it is a cale
Now is she reed now is she pale
Right after the condycyon
Of hir ymagynacyon
But euer emonge her thoughtes alle
Hir thought what may befalle
Or that she laughe or that she wepe
She wold hir good name kepe
For fere of womannysshe shame
But what in ernest & in game
She stante for loue in suche a plyte
That she hath loste al appetyte
Of mete of drynke of nyghtes reste
As she that note what is the beste
But for to thynke al hir fylle
She holde hir ofte tymes stylle
Within hir chambre & goeth not oute
The kyng was of hir lyf in doute
Which wyst no thynge what it mente
But fyl a tyme as he out wente
tO walke of prynces sones thre
There came & fyl to his knee

Qualiter tres filij principum filiam regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularent

And eche of hem in sondry w [...]se
Bysought & proferith his seruyse
So that he myght his doughter haue
The kyng which wold hir honour saue
Saith she is seek & of that speche
Tho was no tyme to beseche
But eche of hem do make a bylle
He bad & wrytc his owne wylle
His name his fader & his good
And whan she wyst how that it stood
And had hyr lylles ouer seyn
They shold haue answer ageyn
Of this counceyl they were glad
And wrote as the kyng hem bad
And euery man his owne bock
In to the kynges honde bytook
And he it to his doughter sende
And prayed hir for to make an ende
And wrote ageyn hir owne honde
Right as she in her herte fonde

Qualiter fitia regis omnibus alijs retictis appollinum in maritu [...] preclegit

tHe bylles were wel receyued
But she hath al hir loues weyued
And thouȝt yt thā was tyme & space
To put hir in her faders grace
And wrote ageyn & thus she sayd
The shame which is in a mayde
With speche dare no [...] be vnloke
But in wryfyng it may be spoke
So wryte I fader to you thus
But yf I haue apollynus
Of al this world what so besyde
I wyl none other man abyde
And certes yf I of hym fayle
I wote right wel without fayle
Ye shal for me be faderles
This lettre came & there was prese
[Page Clxxxxvj]Tofore the kyng there as he stode
And whan that he it vnderstode
He yaue hem auswer by & by
But that was do pryuelye
That  [...]e  [...]f other counceyl wyste
They toke her leue & where hem lyste
And wente forth vpon theyr weys
The kyng wold not bewreye
The counceyl for no maner hye
But suffreth tyl he tyme sye

Qualiter rex & regina in maritagium filie sue cum appolino consencierunt

And whan that he to chambre is come
His counceyl therto hym nome
This man of tyre & lete hym see
The lettre & al the pryuyte
The which his doughter to hym sente
And he his knee to grounde bente
And thonked hym and hyr also
And or they wente thenne a two
With good herte & good corage
Of ful loue and ful mariage
The kyng & he be hole accorded
And after whan it was recorded
Vnto the doughter how it stode
The yefte of al the worldes good
Ne shold haue made hir halfe so blythe
And forth with al the kyng asswithe
For he wyl haue hir good assent
Hath for the quene hir moder sente
The quene is comen & when she herde
Of this matere how that is ferde
She sawe debate she sawe dysese
But yf she wold hir doughter plese
And is therto assented ful
Which is a dede wonderful
For no man knewe the soth  [...]as
But he hym self what man he was
And nethelesse so as hym thought
His dedes to the sothe wrought
That he was come of gentyl blood
Hym lacketh but worldes good
And as therof is no dyspeyre
For she shal be hir faderes heyre
And he was able to gouerne
Thus wyl they not the loue werne
Of hym & hyr in no wyse
But al accorded they deuyse

Qualiter appollinus filie regies nup [...] sit et primo nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam inpregnauit

tHe day of tyme of mariage
Where loue is lorde of corage
Hym thynketh longe or that he spede
But atte laste vnto the dede
The tyme is come & in her wyse
With grete offryng & sacrefyse
They wedde & make a grete feste
And euery thynge was right he neste
Within hows & eke without
It was so done that al aboute
Of grete / worshyp & grete noblesse
There cryed many a man a largesse
Vnto the lordes hygh & loude
The knyghtes that be yonge & prowde
They Iuste fyrst & after daunce
The day is goo the nyghtes chaunce
Hath derked al the bright sonne
The lord which hath his loue wonne
Is goo to bed with his wyf
Where as they lede a lusty lyf
And that was after somdele sene
For as they pleyden hem bytwene
They gete a chylde betwene hem two
To whom fyl after mochel woo

Qualiter amtassiatores a tiro in quodam naui pentapolim veniētes mortem regis antiochi Appollino nūciauerūt

Now haue I tolde of the spousayles
But for to speke of the meruayles
Which afterward to hem byfelle
[Page]It i [...] a wonder for to telle
It fyl a day they rode out
Kyng & quene & al the route
To pleye hem vpon the seconde
Where as they seen toward the londe
A shyp saylyng of grete araye
To knowe what it mene may
Tyl it be come they abyde
Than sawe they stonde on euery syde
Endlong the shyppes borde to shewe
Of the penonnes a ryche rewe
They ax [...]d whan the shyp is come
Fro tyre anone answerd somme
And ouer this they sayden more
The cause is they comen fore
Was for to seche & for to fynde
Appollynus which of kynde
Hir lyege lord & he appereth
And of the tale which he hereth
He was riȝt glad for they hym tolde
That for vengeaunce as god it wolde
Antyochus as men may wyte
With fire & lyghtenyng is al to smyte
His doughter hath the same chaunce
So ben they bothe in one balaunce
For thy our lyege lord we the seye
In name of al the londe and preye
That lefte al other thynge to done
It lyke you to come sone
And see your owne lyege men
With other that ben of your ken
That lyuen in longyng & desyre
Tyl ye be come ageyn to tyre
This tole after the kyng it had
Pentapolyn al ouer it sprad
There was no ioye for to seche
For euery man it had in speche
And sayden al of one acoorde
A worthy kyng shal ben our lorde
That thouȝt vs first an heuynesse
Is shape vs now to grete gladnesse

Qualiter appollino cum vxore sua imprignata a pentapoli versus tyrum nauigantiꝰ contigit vxorem mortis artia [...] angustiatam in naui filiam que postea thaysies vocabatur patere

tThus goeth the tydyng ouer al
But nede he must that nede shal
Appollynus his leue took
To god he al that bonde bytook
With al the peple longe & brode
That he no lenger there abode
The kyng & quene sorow made
But yet somdele they were glade
Of suche thynge as they herde tho
And thus bytwene the wele & woo
To shyp he goeth his wyf with childe
The which was euer meke & mylde
And wold not departe hym fro
Suche loue was bytwene hem two
Lycho rida for hir offyce
Was take which was a norice
To wende with this yonge wyf
To whom was shape a wooful lyf
Within a tyme as it betyd
When they were in the see amyd
Out of the northe they see a cloude
The storme awos the wyndes loud
They blewen many a dredesul blaste
The welken was al ouer caste
The derke nyght the sonne hath vnder
Ther was a grete tempest of thondre
The mone & eke the sterres bothe
In blacke clowdes they hem clothe
Wherof their bright loke they hyde
This yonge lady wepte & cryde
To whom no comforte myght auayle
Of chylde she began to trauayle
Where she laye in a caban choos
This wooful lord fro hir awos
And that was longe or ony morowe
So that in anguysshe & in sorowe
She was delyuerd al by nyght
And dede in euery mannes syght
[Page Clxxxxvij]But nethelesse for al this woo
A mayde chylde was boren tho

Qualiter appollinus mortem vxoris sue planxit

Appollynus when he thys kuewe
A swowne he hym self ouerthrewe
That no man wyst in hym no lyf
And when he woke he said a wyf
My ioye my lust my desyre
My welth & my recoueryre
Why shal I lyue & thou shalt dye
Ha thou fortune I the defye
Now hast thou do to me thy werste
A herte why ne wyl thou breste
That forth with hir I myght passe
My paynes were moche the lasse
In suche wepyng & suche crye
His dede wyf which laye hym bye
A thousand sythes he hir kyste
Was neuer man that sawe ne wyste
A sorowe to his sorowe lyche
Was euer emonge vpon the lyche
He fyl swownyng as he that thouȝt
His owne deth which he besought
Vnto the goddes al aboue
With many a pytous worde of loue
But suche wordes as tho were
Herde neuer no mannes eere
But onely thylke which he sayed
The mayster shypman came & prayed
With other suche as ben therin
And sayn that he may no thyng wyn
Ageyn the deth but they hym rede
He be wel ware & take hede
The see by weye of his nature
Receyue may no creature
Within hym self as for to holde
The which is dede for thy they wolde
As they counceyllen al aboute
The deed body casten oute
For better it is they sayden alle
That it of hir so byfalle
Than yf they sholden al spylle
The kyng which vnderstode her wylle
And knewe her counceyl was trewe
Began ageyn his sorowe newe
With pytous herte & thus to seye
It is al reson that ye preye

Qualiter suadentibu [...] nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam cista plumbo et ferro obtusa & circumligata apoolinus cum magno thesauro vna cū quadam littera sub eius capite scripta reludi in mari proiti fecit

IAm ad he but one allone
So wold I not for my persone
There fel suche aduersite
But whan it may no better be
Doth than thus vpon my worde
 [...]ete make a coofere stronge of borde
That it be fyrme with lede & pytche
Anone was made his coofre suche
Al redy brought vnto his honde
And whan he sawe & redy fonde
This cooffre made & wel englued
The deed body was besewed
In cloth of golde & leyed therin
And for he wold vnto hir wyn
Vpon somme coste a sepulture
Vnder hir heed in aduenture
Of golde he leyed sommes grete
And of Iuels stronge byyete

Copia littere capiti vxoris sue supposite

Forthwith a lettre & said thus
Kyng of tyre Appollynus
Doeth al men to wyte
That heereth & seeth this lettre wryte
That helpeles without rede
Here l [...]eth a kynges doughter dede
And who that happeth hir to fynde
[Page]For charite take in his mynde
And do so that she begraue
With that tresour that she haue
Thus whan the lettre was ful spoke
A none they haue the coofre / s [...]oke
And bounden it with yron faste
So that it may with wawes laste
And stoppen it by suche a wey [...]
That it shal be within dreye
So that no water myght it greue
And thus in hope & good beleue
Of that the corps s [...]l n [...]l ary [...]e
They caste it ouer borde as blyue

Qualiter appo [...]ꝰ vxoris sue cor [...]e in [...]are proiecto Tirum re [...]nguens cursū [...]um versus tharsim nauigio dolens arripuit

The shippes forth on the wawes went
The prynce hath chaunged his entent
And saith he wyl not come at tyre
As thenne but al his desyre
Is first to saylen vnto tharse
The wyndy storme began to scarse
The sonne aryseth the weder clereth
The sh [...]man which behynde stereth
Whan that he sawe the wyndes softe
Toward tharse his cours he sought

Qualiter cor [...]us predicte deffun [...]e super [...]ttus apud ephesim quidem medicus nomine Cerimon cum a [...]au [...] [...]us suis dscipul [...]s inuenit quod in hospicium [...]ortans et extra cistam [...] [...] nēs spir [...] cu [...]o vite in ca inuento ipsam plene sanitati restituit

b [...]t now to my matere ag [...]yn
To telle as olde bookes seyn
This dede corps of which ye knowe
With wynde & water was forthrowe
Now here now there tyl atte laste
At ephesym the see vp caste
The cooffre & al that was therin
Of grete meruayle now begyn
May h [...]re who that s [...]te stylle
That god wyl saue may not spylle
Right as ye corps was throwe on lōde
There came walkyng by the stronde
A worthy clerke & surgyen
And eke a gr [...]te physycien
Of that londe the wysest one
Which hyght mayster Ci [...]mone
Ther was of his dysaples somme
This maistre is to the  [...]offre come
He poyseth ther was somwhat in
And bade hym bere it to his ynne
And goeth hym self forth with alle
Al that shal falle / falle shalle
They comen home & tary nought
This cooffre in to his chābre is brouȝt
Which th [...]t they fynde faste st [...]ke
But they with crafte it hath vnl [...]ke
They looken in wh [...]re as they founde
A body dede which was y bounde
In cloth of golde as I said ore
The tresour eke they founden there
Forth with the lettre which they rede
And tho they token better hede
Vnsowed was the body sone
And he that knewe what was to done
This noble clerke with al hoste
Began the veynes for to taste
And sawe hir age was of youthe
And with the craftes which he couthe
He sought & fonde a signe of lyf
With that this worthy kynges wyf
Honestlye they token oute
And maden fyres al aboute
They leyed hir in a couche softe
And with a shete warmed ofte
Hyr colde breste began to hete
Hir herte also to flacke & bete
This maiste [...] hath hir euery ioynte
[Page Clxxxxviij]With certeyn oyle & balsam anoynte
And put a lycour in her mowthe
Which is to fewe clerkes cowthe
So that she couereth atte laste
And first hir eyen vp she caste
And whan she more of strengthe cauȝt
Hir armes bothe forth she straught
Helde vp hir honde & pytouslye
She spake & sayd where am I
Where is my lorde what  [...]onde is this
As she that wote not how it is
But cerymon the worthy leche
Answerd anone vpon hir speche
And said madame y [...] b [...]n here
Where ye be saue as ye shal here
Here afterward for thy as now
My counceyl is comforteth you
For trysteth wel without fayle
Ther is nothyng which shal you faile
That ought of reson for to be do
Thus passen they a day or two

Qualiter vxor appolini sanata domū religionis peciit vbi sacro velamine munitam cast [...] omni tempore se vouit

They speke of nought as for an ende
Tyl she began somdele amende
And wyst hir self what she mente
Tho for to knowe hir hole entente
This mayster axeth al the caas
How she came there & what she was
How I came here wote I nought
Qd she but wel I am bethought
Of other thynges al aboute
Fro poynte to poynte & tolde hym out [...]
As ferforthly as she it wyste
And he hir tolde how in a chyste
The see hyr threwe vpon the  [...]onde
And what tresour with hir he fonde
Which was al redy at hir wylle
And he that shope hym to fulfylle
With al his myght what he shold [...]
She  [...]honked hym that so he wolde
And al hir herte she dyscloseth
And saith hym what she supposeth
Hir lord be dreynt hir chylde also
So sawe she nought but al woo
Wherof as to the world nomore
N [...] wyl she torne & prayeth therfore
That in somme temple of the cyte
To kepe & holde hir chastyte
She myȝt emonge the wymmen dwell
Whan he this tale herde tell
He was riȝt glad & made hir knowen
That he a doughter of his owen
Hath which he wyl vnto hir yeue
To serue whyle they bothe lyue
In stede of that which she hath loste
Al onely at his owne coste
She shal be rendred forth with hyr
She sayth graunte mercy leue syr
God quyte it you for I ne may
And thus they dryue forth the day
Tyl tyme was that she was hole
And tho they toke her counceyl hole
To shape vpon good gouernaunce
And made a worthy purueaunce
Ageyn the day whan they be veyled
And thus whan they be counceylled
In black clothes they them clothe
The doughter & the lady bothe
And yelde hem to religyon
The feste & the professyon
After the rule of that degre [...]
Was made with grete solempnyte
Where as dyane is sanctifyed
Thus stant this lady  [...]ustyfyed
In ordre where she thynketh to dwelle
But now ageynward for to  [...]elle
In what p [...]te that hir  [...]ord stode ynne
He sayleth tyl he may wynne
The hauen of tharse as I sayd ere
And whan he was aryued there

Qualiur appolinus tharsim nauigās filiam suam thaysim strangulioni [Page] & dionisie vxori sue edu [...]n [...]am cōmen d [...]uit [...] dein de tirum adijt vbi cum in es [...]imabi [...] gaudio a suis receptus est

tHo it was thorugh the cyte knowe
Men myght see within a throwe
As who saith al the towne attones
That come ageyn for the nones
To yeuen hym the reuerence
So glad they were of his  [...] resonce
And though he were in his a rage
 [...]ysesed yet with glad vysage
He made h [...]m there & to his ynne
Where he whylom soiorneth in
He goeth hym s [...]reyte & was  [...]ceyued
And whan ye pr [...]es of peple is weyued
He toke his hoost vnto hym tho
And saith my s [...]nde s [...]rangulyo
 [...]o thus & thus it is byfalle
And thou thy self arte one of alle
Forthwith thy wyf which I must trist
For thy yf you it bothe lyste
My doughter thayse by your leue
I thynke shal with you bleue
As for a tyme & thus I praye
That she be kepte by al weye
And whan she hath of age more
That she be set to book  [...]ere
And thys au [...]we to god I make
That I shal ueuer for  [...]ir sake
My berde for lykyng sh [...]ue
 [...]yl it befa [...]le that I haue
In coueuable tyme of age
Beset hir vnto mar [...]age
Thus they accorden at his wylle
And for to resten hym somdele
As for a whyle ther be soiourneth
A [...]d than he taketh his leue & torneth
To shyp & goeth hym home to tyre
Where euery man with grete desyre
A wayteth vpon his comyng
But whan the shyp came in saylyng
And they perceyuen it is he
Was neuer yet in n [...] cite
Suche ioye made as they tho made
His herte also began to glade
Of that he seeth his peple glad
Lo th [...]s fortune his happe hath ladd [...]
In sondry wyse he was traueyled
But how so euer he be assayled
His latter ende shal be good
And for to speke how that it stood
Of thayse his dou [...]ter where she dwel­leth /
In tharse as the cronycle t [...]lleth
She was wel kept she was wel  [...]oked
She was wel taughte & wel  [...]oked
So wel she sped hir in hir yout [...]e
That she of euery wysdom couthe
That for to seche in euery  [...]onde
So wyse another no man fonde
Ne so wel taught at mannes eye
But euer woo worth false enuye

Qualiter thai [...]s vna cum phi [...]otenna s [...]rangulionis et dionisie fil [...]a omnis sciencie & h [...] nestatis doctrina imb [...]ta [...]st Set [...]aisis phi [...]t [...]nnam pr [...] llens in odium mortale pe [...] inuidiam a dio [...]ia recollecta est

fOr it befyl that tyme so
A doughter had strangulyo
Which was cl [...]ped phy [...]t [...]nne
But fame which wyl euer renne
Came al day to hir moders  [...]ere
And saith where euer hir douȝter were
With thaise set in ony place
The comyn voyce the comyn grace
Was al vpon that other mayde
And of hir doughter no man sayde
Who was wroth but dyonyse than
Hir thought a thousand yere tyl than
She myght be of thaise wreke
Of that she herde folke so speke
And fyl that ylke same tyde
That deed was trewe lecheryde
Which had be seruaunt of thaise
So that she was the wors at ease
For she hath thenne no seru [...]se
[Page Clxxxxix]But onely thorugh this dyonyse
Which was hir dedely enemye
Thorugh pure treson and enuye
She that of al sorowe can
Tho spake she vnto hir bondeman
Which c [...]eped was theo phylus
And made hym swere in coūceyl thus
That he suche tyme as she hym sette
Shal come thayse for to fette
And lede hir out of al syght
Where that no man hir helpe myght
Vpon the stroude nygh the see
And there he shal this mayden slee
This chorles herte is in a traunce
As he which drad hym of vengeaun [...]
Whan tyme cometh another day
But y [...] durst he not say n [...]y
But swore & said he shold fulfille
Hir hestys at hir owne wylle

Qualiter dionisia thaisim vt occideret theopho [...]o s [...]ruo suo [...]radidit qui cū nocturnanter [...]ongius a [...] v [...]be ipsam ꝓpe [...]itꝰ maris īterficere ꝓposuerat pirate i [...]id latitātes thaisim de manu car nificis erupuerūt ipsam [...] vs [...] ciuitatem mitelenā ducentes cuid leonino scortorum ibid magistro vēdiderūt

aNd treson & the tyme it shape
So fel it that the chorles knape
Hath lad this mayden where he wold
Vpon the s [...]ronde & what she shold
She was a drad &  [...]e oute brayde
A rusty s [...]berd & to hir sayde
Thou shalt  [...] dede alas  [...]d she
Why shal I soo  [...] thus quod he
My lady dionise hath bede
Thou shalt be murdred in this stede
This mayde tho for sere shryght
And  [...]or the  [...]e of god al myght
She pr [...]th that for a litel stouude
She myȝ [...] knele vpon the grounde
Toward the heuen for to c [...]aue
Hir wooful sow [...] for to saue
And with noyse & with this crye
Out of a barge fast by
Which hyd was there on scomer fare
Men sterten out & were  [...] ware
Of this fe [...]on & he to goo
And she began to crye tho
A [...] mercy helpe for goddes sa [...]e
In to the barge they hir take
As theues shold & forth they wente
Vpon the se [...] the wynde hem hente
And malgre where they wold or none
Tofore the weder forth they gone
Ther helpe no sayle ther helpe none oore
Forstormed & forblowen sore
In grete  [...]ryl so forthe they dryue
Tyl atte laste  [...]ey aryue
At Myte  [...]ne the cytee
In hauen  [...]auffe & whan they be
The mais [...]r shypman made hym boun
And goeth hym in to the toun
And proffereth thayse for to selle
One leonyum it herde telle
Which mayster of the  [...]ordel was
And bad hym goo a redy paas
To fetchen hir & forth he went
And thayse out of his barge he hent
And to this borde [...]er he hir solde
And that he by hir body wolde
Take auauntage lete do crye
That what man wold his lecherye
Atempte vpon hir maydenhede
Laye doun the golde & he shold spede
And thus whan he hath cryed hi [...] oute
In syght of al the peple aboute

Quater leoninus [...]haisi ad lupa n [...]r destinauit vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus viola [...]e po tuit

He lad hir to the bordel tho
No wondre is though she be woo
Clo [...]s in a chambre by hir self
Eche after other ten or  [...]welf
[Page]Of yonge men in to hir wente
But suche a grace god hath hir sente
That for the sorowe which she made
Was none of hem which power hade
To done hir ony vylanye
This leonyum l [...]t [...] euer espye
And wayteth after grete beyete
But al for nought she was forle [...]
That no man wolde there come
Whan he therof had hede nome
And knewe that she was yet a mayde
Vnto his owne man he sayde
That he with strengthe ageyn hir leue
So shold hir maydenhode byreue
This man went in but so it ferde
Whan he hir wooful ple yntes herde
And he therof hath take grete k [...]pe
Hym lyst better for to wepe
Than do cught  [...]llys to the game
And thus she kept hir self fro shame
And knelyd doun to therthe & prayed
Vnto this man & thus she sayed
Yf so be that thy mayster wold
That I his golde encrece shold
It may not falle by thys weye
But suffre me to goo my weye
Out of this hows where I am in
And I shal do hym for to wyn
In somme place here of the towne
By so it be of relygyowne
Where that honest wymmen dwelle
And thus thou myȝt thy mayster telle
That whan I haue a chambre there
Lete hym do crye al wyde where
What bord that hath his doughter dere
And is in wylle that she shal lere
Of suche a scole that is trewe
I shal hir t [...]che of thynges newe
Which that none other woman can
In al this londe & tho this man
Hir tale hath herde he goeth ageyn
And tolde vnto his mayster pleyn
That she hath said & therupon
Whan that he sawe byyete noon
At bordel bycause of hir
He bad his man g [...]o and spyr
A place where she myght abyde
That he may wynne vpon somme syde
By that she can but atte leste
Thus was she saufe of this tempeste

Qualiter thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata inter sacras mulieres hospiciū habens scie [...]cias quib [...] edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat

He hath hir fro the bo [...]dell take
But that was not for goddes sake
But for the lucre as she hym tolde
Now com [...]n tho that comen wolde
Of wymmen in her lusty youthe
To here & set what thynge she couthe
She can the wysdom of a clerke
She can of ony lusty werke
Which to a gentyl woman longeth
And sōme of hem she vnder fongeth
To the cytole and to the harpe
And whome it lyketh for to carpe
Prouerbes & demaundes slye
And other which they neuer sye
Which that scyence so wel taught
Wherof she grete yeftes raught
That she to lyonyum hath wonne
And thus hir name is so begonne
In sondry thynges that she techeth
That al the londe vnto hir secheth
Of yonge wymmen for to lere
Now lete we this mayden here
And speke of dyonyse ageyn
And of theophyle the vyleyn
Of which I spake of now tofore
Whan thayse shold haue be forlore

Qualiter theophilus ad dyonisiam mane rediens affirmauit se thaisim occidisse super quo dionisia vna cū stran gu [...]one marito suo dolorem in publico [Page CC] confingentes ex [...]quias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola con [...]ectacione fieri constituerunt

His false chorle to his lady
Whan he came home pryuely
He sayth madame sleyn I haue
This mayde thayse & is bygraue
In pryuy place as ye me bede
For thy madame taketh hede
And kepe counceyl how so it stonde
This fende which hath this vnderstōde
Was glad & weneth it be sothe
Now herken herafter how she dothe
She wepeth she soroweth & cōpleyneth
And of sekenes which she feyneth
She saith that thayse sodaynly
By nyght is deed as she and I
To gyder lyen nygh my lorde
She was a woman of recorde
And al is leued that she seyth
And for to yeue a more feyth
Hir husbond & eke she bothe
In blacke clothes they hem clothe
And made a grete enterement
And for the peple shal be blente
Of thayse as for the remembraunce
After the ryal olde vsaunce
A tombe of laton noble & ryche
With an ymage vnto hyr lyche
Lyggyng aboue therupon
They made aud sette it vp anon
Hir epytaffe & good assyse
Was wryte aboue & in this wyse
It spake /  [...] ye that this beholde
Lo here lyeth she which was holde
The fayrest & the floure of alle
Whos name thayse men calle
The kyng of tyre appollynus
Hir fader was now she lyeth thus
Fourtene yere she was of age
Whan deth hir toke to hir vyage

Qualiter appolinus in regno suo apud tirum existens parliamentum fieri constituit

Thus was this false treson hyd
Which afterward was wyde kyd
As by the tale a man shal here
But to declare my matere
To tyre I thynke to torne ageyn
And telle as the cronycles seyn
Whan that the kyng was comen home
And hath lefte in the salte fome
His wyf which he may not foryete
For he somme comforte wold gete
He lete sommone a parlement
To which the lordes weren assent
That of the tyme he hath ben ou  [...]e
He seeth the thynges al aboute
And tolde hem eke how he hath fare
Whyle he was out of bonde fare
And prayed al to abyde
For he wold atte same tyde
Do shape for his wyues mynde
As he that wold not be vnkynde
Solempne was that ylke offyce
And ryche was the sacrefyce
The feest ryally was holde
And therto was he wel beholde
For suche a wyf as he had one
In thylke dayes ther were none

Oualiter appolinus post ꝑliamentū tharsim ꝓ thaise filia sua quereda adiit qua ibid non inuenta abinde nauigio recessit

Whā this was done thā he hym thouȝt
Vpon his doughter & bysought
Suche of his lordes as he wolde
That they with hym to tharse sholde
To fette his doughter thayse there
And they anone al redy were
To shyp they gone & forth they went
Tyl they the hauen of tharse hente
They bonde & fayle of that they seche
[Page]By couertour & sleyght of speche
This false man strangulyo
And dyonyse his wyf also
That he the better trowe myght
They ladde hym to hane a syght
Where that hir tombe was arayed
The lasse yet he was myspayed
And nethelesse so as he durste
He curseth & saith al the worste
Vnto fortuue as to the blynde
Which can no syker weye fynde
For hym she neweth euer emouge
And medleth sorowe with his songe
But sythe it may no better be
He thonketh god & forth goeth he
Saylyng toward tyre ageyn
But sodeynly the wynde & reyn
Began vpon the see debate
So that he suffre mote algate

Qualiter nauis appollini ventis agi ta [...] pertum v [...]bis metelene in die quo fe [...]a neptuni [...]elebrari cōsu [...]ūt applicu it sz [...]pse pre dolore thaisis fike sue quā mortuam reputabat in fundo nauis obs [...]uro [...]a [...]ns lumen videre noluit

The lawe which neptune ordyneth
Wherof  [...]ul ofte tyme he pleyneth
And helde hym wel the more esmayed
Of that he hath tofore assayed
So that for pure sorowe & care
Of that he seeth this world so fare
The reste he leueth of his caban
That for the counceyl of no man
Ageyn therin he nolde come
But hath bynethe his place nome
There he wepyng allone lay
There as he sawe no lyght of day
And thus tofore the wynde they dryue
Tyl longe & late they arryue
With grete distresse as it was sene
Vpon this towne of mytelene
Which was a noble cite tho
And happeneth thylke tyme so
The lordes bothe & the commune
The hygh festes of neptune
Vpon the stronde atte ryuage
As it was custome & vsage
Sole pnely they he syghe
When they this straunge vessel syghe
Comen & hath his sayle aualed
That one therof hath spoke & tal [...]d

Qualiter athana goras vrbis metelene princeps nauim appolini īuestigans ipsū sic contr [...]statum nichil que respōdente consola [...] satage [...]at

tHe lorde which of that cyte was
Whos name is at [...]nagoras
Was there & said he wold see
What shyp it is & who they be
That ben therin & after sone
Whan that he sawe it was to done
His large was for hym arayed
And he goeth forth & he assayed
He founde the shyp of grete aray
But what thyng yt it mownte may
He sawe they maden heuy chere
But wel hym thynketh by ye manere
That they ben worthy men of blood
And axeth of hem how it stood
And they hym tellen al the caas
How that her lord fordryue was
And which a sorowe that he made
Of which ther may no mā hym glade
He prayeth that he hir lord may see
But they hym tolde it may not be
For he lyeth in so d [...]rk [...] a place
That there may no wyght see his face
But for al that though hym be lothe
He fonde the ladder & doun he gothe
And to hym spake but none answere
Ag [...]yn of hym ne myght he here
For ought that he can do or seyne
And thus he goeth hym vp ageyn

Qualiter precepto principis ut appollnū consolaretur thaisis cū cithe [...] [Page CCj] sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis vbi iacebat producta est

Thus was spoke in many a wyse
Emongest hem that weren wyse
Now this now that but atte laste
The wysdom of the towne thus caste
That yonge thayse was assent
For yf ther be a mendement
To glad with this wooful kynge
Whiche can so moche of euery thynge
That she shal glade hym anone
A messager for hir is gone
And she came with hir harpe in honde
And said hem that she wold fonde
By al the weyes that she can
To glad wyth this sory man
Bur what he was she wyst nought
But al the shyp hir hath bysought
That she hir wytte on hym dyspende
In aunter yf he myght amende
And sayn it shal be wel aquyt
Whan he hath vnderstonden it
She goeth hir doun there as he laye
Wher that she harpeth many a laye
And lyke an aungel songe with alle
But he nomore than the walle
Toke hede of ony thynge he herde
And whan she sawe that he so ferde
She falleth with hym vnto wordes
And telleth hym of sondry lordes
And axeth hym demaundes straunge
Wherof she made his herte chaunge
And to hir speche his erre he leyde
And hath meruayle of that she seyde
For in the prouerbe & in probleme
She spake & bad he shold deme
An many a subtyl questyon
But he for no subiestyon
Which toward hym she coude sterr
He wold not one word answere
But as a mad man otte laste
His heed wepyng aweye he caste
And halfe in wrath he bad hir goo
But yet she wold not do so
And in the derke forth she goeth
Tyl she hym towcheth & thā he wroeth
And after hir with his honde
He smote & thus whan she hym fonde
Dysesed courteysly she sayd
Do way my lorde I am a mayde
And yf ye wyst what I am
And out of what lygnage I cam
Ye wold not be so saluage
With that he sobreth his corage

Qualiter sicut deus destinauit patri filiam inuentam recognouit

And put aweye his heuy chere
But of hem two a man may here
What is to be so feble of blood
None wyst of other how it stood
And yet the fader atte laste
His herte vpon this mayde caste
That he hir loueth kyndely
And yet he wyst neuer why
But al was knowe or yt they went
For god which wote her hole entent
Her hertes bothe anone dyscloseth
The kyng vnto the mayde opposeth
And axeth first what is hir name
And where she lerned al this game
And of what kyn she was come
And she that hath his wordes nome
Answereth & seith my name is thayse
That was somtyme wel at ayse
In tharse I was withdrawe & fedde
There I lernyd tyl I was spedde
Of that I can my fader eke
I note where I shold hym seke
He was a kynge men tolde me
My moder dreynte was in the see
Fro poynte to poynte to hym tolde
That he hath longe in herte holde
And neuer durst make hir mone
But onely to this lorde allone
To whome hir herte can not hel [...]
[Page] Terned to woo torned to wele
Torne it to good torne it to harme
And he tho took hir in his arme
But suche a ioye as she tho made
Was neuer seen thus ben they glade
That forth hadden be toforne
Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn
To set hym upward on the wh [...]le
So goeth the world now woo now wele

Qualiter allenag [...]ras appollinum de n [...] in he spiaum henorifice recollegit & tha [...]sim patre consenciente in vxorem [...]uxit

tHis kyng hath founde newe grace
So that out of his derke place
He g [...]eth hym vp in to the lyght
And with hym came that swete wyȝt
His doughter thayse & forth anone
They bothe in to the caban gone
Which was ordeyned for the kynge
And there he dyd of al his thynge
And was arayed ryally
And cut he came al openlye
Where a [...]enagoras he fonde
Which was lorde of al the bonde
He prayeth the kyng to c [...]me & see
The castel bothe & his cyt [...]
And thus they goon forth al in fere
T [...]ie kyng this bord this mayden dere
Thie lord tho made hym ryche feste
With euery thynge that was honeste
To these with this worthy kynge
Ther lacketh hym no manere thynge
But yet for al this nolle araye
Wyu [...]les he was vnto that day
As he that yet was of yonge age
So fyl there in to his corage
The lusty woo the glad payne
Of loue which no mā may restrayne
Yet neuer myght as now tofore
This lord thynketh al this world lore
But yf the kyng wyl done hym grace
He wayteth tyme he wayteth place
Hym thouȝt his herte wold to lreke
Tyl he may to this mayde speke
And to hir fader eke also
For maryage & it fyl so
That al was done right as he thouȝt
His purpoos to an ende he brought
She wedded hym as for hir lorde
Thus ben they al of one accorde

Qualiter appolinus vna cum filia & eius marito nauim ingredi [...]tes a metilena vsqȝ thars [...]n ꝓposuerūt / sȝ appolinus in sompnis amoitus versus [...] phesim vt ibid in t [...]plo diane sacrificaret vela per mare diuertit

Whn̄ al was done riȝt as they wolde
The kyng vnto his sone tolde
Of tharse thylke trayterye
And said how now in his companye
His doughter & hym seluen eke
Shal goo vengeaunce for to seke
The shyppes were redy sone
And whan they sawe it was to done
Without  [...]ette of ony went
With sayle vp drawe forth they went
Towarde tharse vpon the tyde
But he that wote what shal betyde
The hye god which wold hym kepe
Whan that this kyng was fast a slepe
By nyghtes tyme he hath hym bede
To seke vnto another stede
To ephesym he bad hym drawe
And as it was that tyme lawe
He shal do there his sacrefyse
And  [...]ke he bad in al wyse
That in the temple emongest alle
His fortune as it is befalle
To w [...]hyng his doughter & his wyf
He shal be knowe vpon his lyf
The kyng of this auysyon
Hath grete ymagynacion
What thynge it sygnefye may
Ande nethelesse whan it was day
[Page CCij]He bad cos [...]e anker & abode
And whyle that he on anker rode
The wynde that was to fore straunge
Vpon the poynte began to chaunge
And torneth thyder as it sholde
Tho knewe he wel that god it wolde
And  [...]ud the maister make hym yare
Tofore the wynde for he wolde fare
To ephesym & so he  [...]ede
And whan he came in to the stede
Where as he shold londe he londeth
With al the haste he may & fondeth
To shapen hym in suche a wyse
That he may by the morowe aryse
And done after the commaundement
Of hym which hath hym thider sent
And in the wyse that he thought
Vpon the morowe so he wrought
His doughter & his sone he nome
And forth to the temple he come
With a grete rowte in companye
His yeftes for to sacrefye
The cyteȝeyns tho herden seye
Of suche a kyng that came to praye
Vnto dyane the goddesse
And lefte al other besynesse
And camen thyder for to see
The kynge and the solempnyte

Qualiter appolinꝰ ephesym in tem plo dyane sacrifi [...]ns vxorē suam ibid velatam inuenit qua secum assumpta nauim versus tirum regressus est

With worthy knyghtes enuyroned
The kyng hym setf hath abandoned
To the temple in good entente
The dore is vp & in he wente
Where as with grete deuocioh
Of holy contemplacion
Within his herte he made his shryfte
And after that a ryche yefte
He offreth with grete renerence
And there in open audyence
Of hem that stoden al aboute
He tolde hem & declareth oute
His happe suche as is hym byfalle
Ther was no thynge foryete of alle
His wyf as it was goddes grace
Which was professed in the place
As she that was abbesse there
Vnto his tale hath leyrd hir eere
She knewe the voys & the vysage
For pure ioye as in a rage
She straught to hym al at ones
And fyl a swowne vpon the stones
Wherof the temple flore was paued
She was anon with water laued
Tyl she came to hir self ageyn
And than she began to seyn
A blessyd be the hygh sonde
That I may see my husbonde
Which whylom he & I were one
The kyng with that knewe hir anone
And toke hir in his arme & kyste
And al the towne this sone wyste
Tho was there ioye many folde
For euery man this tale hath tolde
As for myracle & weren glade
But neu [...]r man suche ioye made
As doth the kyng which hath his wyf
And when men herde how that hir lyf
By hym saued & by whome it was
They wondred al of suche a caas
Thorugh al the londe aroos the speche
Of mayster Cyrymon the leche
And of the cure which he dede
The kyng hym self this hath hym bede
And eke the quene forth wyth hym
That he the towne of ephesym
Wyl leue & goo where that they be
For neuer man of his degre
Hath do to hem so mychel good
And he his prouffyt vnderstood
And graūteth with hem for to wende
And thus they maden there an ende
And token leue & went to shyp
With al the fayre felawshyp

[Page]Qualiter appolliuus vna cum vxere [...]t fi [...]ia sua tirum applicuit

This kyng which now hath his desire
Sayth he wold holde his co [...]rs to tyre
They h [...]dden wynde atte wylle tho
With topsayle cool & forth they goo
And stryken neuer tyl they come
To tyre where as they haue nome
And  [...]nden hem with mochel blysse
Th [...]re was many a mowthe to kysse
Echone  [...]elcometh other home
But whan the quene to londe come
And thayse hir deughter by hir syde
The  [...]ye was t [...]ylke tyde
Ther may no mannes tunge telle
They sayden al here cometh the welle
Of al womanlye grace
The kyng hath take his ryal place
The quene is in to chambre goo
There was grete feste arayed tho
Whan tyme was they goon to mete
Al olde sawes ben foryete
And gladen hem with ioyes newe
The dyscolered peple hewe
Is now become a  [...]ddy cheke
Ther was no myrthe for to s [...]ke

Qualiter appollinus anthenogo [...]m cum tharse vxore sua super tyrum c [...]rona [...] fe [...]t

But euery man hath what he wolde
The kyng as he wel  [...]ude & shelde
Maketh to his peple right good there
And after sone as thou shalt here
A parlement he had somoned
Where he his doughter hath coroned
Forthwyth the lord of metelene
That one is kyng that other quene
And thus the faders ordenaunce
This londe hath sette in gouernaunce
And said that he wold wende
To tharse for to make an ende
Of that his doughter was betrayed
Wherof were al men wel payed
And said how it was for to done
The shyppes weren redy son [...]

Qualiter appollinus a tiro y mare versus tharsim iter axipiens vindictam contra strangulionem et dionisiam vx orem suam pro inuiria quam ipī thaysi filie sue intuler [...]nt iudicialiter assecutus est

aStronge power with hym he toke
Vpon the skye he toke his loke
And sawe the wynde was couenable
They hale vp ancre with the calle
The seyle on hye the stere in honde
And seylen tyl they come on londe
At tharse nygh to the cyte
And whan they wysten it was he
The towne hath doo hym reuerence
He telleth hem the vyolence
Which the traytour strangulyo
And dyonyse hym had doo
Tow [...]lyng his doughter as he herde
And whan they wyst how it ferde
As he which pe [...]s & loue sought
Vnto the towne thus he bysought
To done hym right in jugement
Anone they weren bothe assente
With strengthe of men & cemen sone
And as hym thought it was to done
Atteynt they were by the lawe
And demed to be honged & drawe
And brent & with wynde to blowe
That al the world it myght knowe
And vpon this condycyon
The dome in execucion
Was put anone without fayle
And euery man hath grete meruayle
Which herde telle of this chaunce
And thonked goddes purueaunce
Which doth mercy with iustyce
Slayn is the mordrer & the mor [...]
[Page CCiij]Thorugh very trouth of rightwysnesse
And thorugh mercy saue is symple­nesse /
Of hir whom mercy preserueth
Thus hath he wel that wel deserueth

Qualiter artestrate pentapolim rege mortuo ipsi de regno epistolas su [...] hoc appolino direxerunt / Vnde appolinus vna cum vxore sua ibidem aduenientes ad decus imperij cum magno gaudio coronati sunt

When al this thyng is goo & ended This kyng which loued was & frended / A letter hath which came to hym By shyp fro pentapolym

In which the londe hath to hym write
That he wyl vnderstonde & wyte
How in good mynde & in good pees
Deed is kyng arestrates
Wherof they al of one accorde
Hym prayden as her lyege borde
That he the letter wyl conceyue
And come his reygne to receyue
Which god hath yeue hym & fortune
And thus besought hym the comune
Forth with the grete lordes alle
This kyng sawe how it is befalle
Fro tharse & in prosperyte
He toke his l [...]ue of that cyte
And goeth hym in to shyp ageyn
The wynde was good yt see was pleyn
Hem nede not a ryff to slake
Tyl they pentapolym haue take
The londe which herde of that tydyng
Was wonder glad of that comyng
He resteth hym a day or two
And toke his counceyl to hym tho
And set a tyme of parlement
Where al the londe of one assent
Forthwith his wyf hath hym c [...]roned
Where al good hym was forsoned
Lo what it is to be wel grounded
For he hath first his loue founded
Honestlye as for to wedde
Honestly his loue he spedde
And had chyldren with his wyf
And as hym lyst he ledde his lyf
And in ensaumple his lyf was wryte
That al louers myghten wyte
How atte last it shal be sene
Of loue what they wolden mene
For see now on that other syde
Antyochus with al his lewde pryde
Which sette his loue vnkyndely
His ende had sodeynly
Set ageyn kynde vpon vengeaunce
And for his lust hath his penaunce

Confessor ad amantem procedendo

Lo thus my sone thou myght lere
What it is to loue in good manere
And what to loue in other wyse
The mede aryseth of the seruyse
Fortune though she be not stable
Yet at somtyme is fauourable
To hem that ben of loue trewe
But certes it is for to rewe
To see loue ageyn kynde falle
For that maketh a man sore to falle
As thou myght tofore rede
For thy my sone I wyl the rede
To lete al other loue aweye
But yf it be by suche a weye
As loue & reson wyl accorde
For ellis yf that thou discorde
And take luste as doeth a leste
Thy loue may not be honeste
For by no skyl that I fynde
Suche luste is not of loues kynde

Confessio amantis vnde pro finali conclusione consiliū confessoris impetrat

mY fader how so that it stonde
Your tale is herde & vnderstonde
[Page]As thynge which worthy is to here
Of grete ensaumple & grete matere
Wherof my fader god you quyte
But in this poynte my self acquyte
I may right wel that neuer yet
I was assoted in my wyt
But onely in that worthy place
Where al luste and al grace
Is set that yf daunger ne were
But that is al my moste fere
I note what the fortune acounte
But what thyng daunger may amoū
te / I wote wel for I haue assayed
For whan my herte is beste arayed
And I haue al my wyt thorugh souȝt
Of loue to beseche hir ought
For al that euer I syke may
 [...] am concluded with a nay
That one syllable hath ouerthrowe
A thousand wordes in a rowe
Of suche as I best speke can
 [...]us am I but a l [...]ude man
But fader for ye ben a clerke
Of loue  [...] this matere is derke
And I can euer lenger the lasse
But yet I may not lete it passe
Your hole counceyl I beseche
That ye me by somme weye teche
What is my beste as for an ende
My  [...]ne vnto the trouthe I wende
Now wel I for the loue of the
 [...]te al other tryfles be

hIc super amoris causa finita confessione Confessor Genius ea que sibi salubrius expediunt sano cousilio finaliter iniungit

The more that the nede is hye
The more it nedeth to be slye
To hym which hath the nede on honde
I haue wel herde & vnderstonde
My sone al that thou hast me s [...]yed
And eke of that thou hast me prayed
Now at this tyme that I shal
As for conclusyon fynal
Counceyl vpon the nede sette
So thynke I fynally to knette
Thy cause where it is to  [...]ke
And make an ende of that I spoke
For I  [...]ehyght the that gyfte
First whan yu come vnder my shryfte
That though I toward venus were
Yet spake I suche wordes there
That for the preesthode which I haue
Myn ordre & myn estate to saue
I said I wold of myn offyce
To vertu more than to vyce
Enclyne & teche the my lore
For thy to speken ouermore
Of loue which the may auayle
Take loue where it may auayle
For as of this which thou arte in
By that thou seest it is a synne
And synne may no pryce deserue
Without pryce & who shal serue
I note what prouffyt myght auayle
This foloweth it yf thou trauayle
Where thou no prouffyt hast in pryce
Thou arte toward thy self vnwyce▪
And sythe thou myghtest lust atteyne
Of euery lust the ende is peyne
And euery peyne is good to flce
So it is wonder thynge to see
Why suche a thynge shal be desyred
The more that a stocke is fyred
The rather in to asshes it torneth
The fote which in the weye sporneth
Fuf ofte his heed hath ouerthrowe
Thus loue is blynde & can not knowe
Where that he goeth tyl he be falle
For thy but yf it so byfalle
With good counceyl that he be ladde
Hym ought for to le [...]n a dradde
For counceyl it passeth al thynge
To hym which thynketh to be a kynge
Aud euery man for his partye
A kyngdom hath to iustyfye
[Page CCiiij]That is to sayn his owne dome
If he mys [...]ule that kyngdome
He leseth hym self & that is more
Than yf he lost shyp or  [...]ore
And al the▪ worldes good with alle
For what man that in specialle
Hath not hym self he hath not ellys
No more the perles than the shelles
Al is to hym of one valewe
Though he had of his retynewe
The wyde world right as he wolde
Whan he his herte hath not withholde
Toward hym self al is in veyne
And thus my sone I wold seyne
As I sayd or thou aryse
Or that thou falle in suche a wyse
That thou ne myght thy self recouer
For loue which blynde was euer
Maketh al his seruaūtes blynde also
My sone & yf thou haue ben so
Yet is it tyme to withdrawe
And set thy herte vnder that lawe
The which of reson is to be gouerned
And not of wylle & to be lerned
Ensaumple thou hast many one
Of now & eke of tyme a gone
That euery lust is but a whyle
And who that wyl hym self begyle
He may the rather be dysceyued
My sone now thou hast conceyued
Somme of that I wold mene
Here afterward it shal be sene
Yf that thou leue vpon my  [...]ore
For I can do to the no more
But t [...]che th [...] the right weye
Now chese yf thou wylt lyue or deye

Hic [...]quitur de contrauersia que inter confessorem & amantem in fine confessiomis versabatur

My fader so as I haue herde
Your tale but yf it were answerde
I were mochel for to blame
My wo to yow it is but game
That feleth not of that I fele
The felyng of a mannys hele
May not be likened to the herte
I note though I wold asterte
And ye be fre from al the peyne
Of loue wherof I me compleyne
It is right easy to commaunde
The herte whiche free goeth on ye laūde
Not of an oxe what hym ey [...]eth
It falleth ofte a man▪merueyleth
Of that he seeth another fa [...]
But yf he knewe hym self the fare
And felte it as it is in sothe
He shold done right as he dothe
O [...] ellis wors in his degree
For wel I wote & so do [...] ye
That loue hath euer ben yet vsed
So mote I nede ben excused
But fader yf ye wold thus
Vnto cupyde and venus
Ben frendel y toward my quarele
So that my herte were in hele
Of loue which is in my breste
I wote wel than a better preste
Was neuer made to my behoue
But al the whyle that I houe
In none certeyn betwene the two
I note where I to wele or wo [...]
Shal torne that is al my drede
So that I note what is to rede
But for fynal conclusyon▪
I thynke a supplicacion
With pleyne wordes & expresse
Wryte vnto venus the goddesse
The which I praye you to bere
And brynge ageyn a good answere
Tho was betwene my preest & me
Debate & grete perplexyte
My reson vnderstood hym wele
And knewe it was soth euery dele
That he hath said but not for thy
My wylle hath no thynge set therby
For towchyng vnto a wyse aporte
[Page]It is vnto loue no dysporte
Yet myght neuer man beholde
 [...]esen where loue was withholde
They be not of one gouernaunce
And thus we fellen in dystaunce
My preest & I / but I spake fayre
And thorugh my wordes debonayre
Than atte laste we accorden
So that he sayth he wyl accorden
To speke & stonde on my syde
To venus bothe & to cupyde
And bad me wryte what I wolde
And said me truly that he shold
My letter l [...]re vnto the quene
And I sat doun vpon the grene
Fulfilled of loues fantasye
And with the t [...]erys of myn eye
In stede of ynke I gan to wryte
The wordes which I wold end [...]te
Vnto  [...]pyde & to Venus
And in my letter I said thus

Hic tractat formam cuiusdam supp [...] [...]onis quam ex parte amantis genij S [...]rdot [...]s sui Venus sibi porrectam acceptabat

The wooful payn of leues maladye
Ag [...]yn the which no physyke anayle
My he [...]te hath so be wapped with soty [...]
That where that I reste or trauayle
I fynde it euer redy to assayle
My reson which▪ can not hym deffende
Thꝰ s [...]che I helpe wherof I myȝt amēde

First to nature yf that I me compleyn
There fynde I how that euery creature
Sōtyme a yere hath loue in his demeyn
So that the btel wrenne in his mesure
Haue of kynde loue vnder his cure
And I  [...]ut one desyre which I mys
So  [...]ut I / hath euery kynde his blys

The reson of my wytte it ouerpasseth
Of that nature techeth me the weye
To loue & yet no certeyn she compasseth
How shal I spede thꝰ betwene yt tw [...]y
I stōde & note where I shal lyue or dey
For though resō ageyn my wyl debate
I may not flee yt I ne loue algate

Vpon my self this ylke tale come How whilō Pan which is the god of kynde / with s [...]ue wrestled and was euercome / For euer I wrasile & euer I am behynde / That I no strengthe in al my herte fynde / wherof I may ston den ony trowe / Soo ferre my wytte with loue is ouerthrowe

Whom nedeth helpe he mote helpe craue Or helpeles he shal his nede spylle Pleynly & thorugh sought my wyttes al I haue / But none of hem can helpe after my wylle / But also wel I myght sitte stylle / As praye vnto my lady of ony helpe / Thus wote I not wherof my self to helpe

Vnto the grete Ioue & yf it byd To do me grace of thylke swete tonne which vnder key in his s [...]lere a [...]yd Lyeth couched y^t fortune is ouercōme But of the bitter cuppe I haue begēne I note how ofte & thus I fynde no game / For euer I aske & it is y^e same

I see the world stōdeth vpō [...]schaūge Now wynde lowde & [...]ow the weder softe / I may see eke the grete mone chaunge / And thynge whiche now is lowe is [...]fto in [...]ofte / The dredeful wer res in to pees ful ofte / They torne & euer is daunger in one place / whiche wil not chaūge his wil to do me grace

But vpon this grete clerke ouyde / Of loue when he maketh his remembraūce

[Page CCv]He saith ther is the blynde cupide The which hath loue vnder his gouernaunce / And with his hande many a fyry launce / He woundeth ofte there he wyl not h [...]e / And that somdele is cause of my quarele

Ouyde sayth eke y^t loue to parfourme Stante in y^e ho [...]de of venus y^e goddesse But whan she taketh hir counceyl with satourne / There is no grace and in that tyme I gesse / Began my loue of which myn heuynesse / Is now & euer shal but I spede / So wote I not my self what is to rede

For thy to you cupyde & venus bothe with al my hertes obeysaunce I praye If ye were atte fyrst tyme wrothe whan I began to loue I you say Now stynte & do thilke fortune away So that daunger whiche stondeth of retynewe / wyth alle my lady hys place may renewe

O thou cupyde god of loues lawe That with thy darte brennyng hast sette a fyre / My herte so that wounde wythdrawe / Or yeue me salue suche as I desyre / For seruyce in thy courte wythouten hyre / To me whiche euer yet hath kepte thyn heste / May neuer be to loues lawe honeste

O thou gentyl venus loues kynde quene / without gylte thou doest o [...] me thy wreche / Thou wotest my peyn is euer elyche grene / For loue & yet I may it not areche / Thus wolde I for my laste word, byseche / That thou my loue acquyte as I deserue Or ellys do me playnly for to sterue

Hic loquitur qualiter venus accepta amantis supplicacione indilate ad singula respondit

wHen I thys supplicacion
With good deliberacion
In suche a wyse as ye now wyte
Had after myn enteute wryte
Vnto cupyde & venus
This preest which hyght Genyus
It toke on honde to presente
On my message & forth he wente
To venus for to wyte hir wylle
And I bode in the place stylle
And bode there but a lytel whyle
Not fully the mountenaūce of a myle
Whom I behelde & sodeynly
I sawe where venus stode me by
So as I myght vnder a tree
To grounde I felle vpon my kne [...]
And preyed hir for to do me grace
She cast hir chere vpon my face
And as it were haluyng a game
She axeth me what was my name
Madame I said Iohan gower
Now Iohan qd she in my power
Thou must as of thy loue stonde
For I thy wylle haue vnderstonde
In which to cupyde & to me
Somdele thou hast compleyned the
And somdele to nature also
But that shal stonde emonge ye two
For therof haue I not to done
For nature is vnder the mone
Maystresse of euery lyues kynde
But yf so be that she may fynde
Sōme holy man that wil withdrawe
His kyndely lust ageyn her lawe
But selde whan it falleth so
For fewe men ther ben of tho
But of thyse other ynough there be
Which of her owne nycete
Ageyn nature & hir offyce
Delyten hem in sondry wyse
[Page]Wh [...]rof that she ful ofte hath pleyned
And eke my courte it hath dysdeyned
And euer shal for it rec [...]yueth
None suche that kynde so dysceyueth
For al onely [...]he on genty  [...]loue
My court stont / al courtes aboue
And taketh not in to [...]retinewe
But thynge whiche is to kynde delbe
For ellys it shal be refused
Wherof I holde the excused
For it is many dayes gone
That thou emonge hem were oue
Which of my courte hast be withholde
So that the more I am beholde
For thy dyscase to comune
And to renewe that fortune
Which many dayes hath the greued
But of my counceyl may be leued
Thou shalt be esed or thou goo
Of thylke vnsely ioly woo
Wherof than sayest thyn herte is fyred
But of that thou hast desyred
After the sentence of thy bylle
Th [...]u must  [...]o therof at my wylle
And I therof me wyl aduyse
And be thou hole it shal suffyse
My medecyn is not to seke
T [...] which is holsem to the seke
Not al perchaunce as ye it wolde
But so as ye by reson sholde
Accordaunt vnto loues kynde
For in the plyte which I the fynde
So as my courte it hath awarded
Thou shalt be duely rewarded
And yf thou woldest more craue
It is no right that thou it haue

Qui cupit id quod habere nequit sua tempora perdit / Est vbi non posse b [...]lle salute caret / Non estatis opus ge [...]dis hirsuta capillos / Cum calor abc [...]ssit equiparabit hiemps / Sicut habet mayus non dat natura decembri / Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutū

Sic neqȝ decrepita senium iuuenile vo luptas / Floret in obsequium quod venus ipsa petit / Coueniens igitur foret nec qd [...]ua senectus / Attigit veterius corpora casta col [...]nt /

Hic cōtra quoscūqȝ viros inue teratos amoris concupiscenciam affectans loq̄ tur venus huius qȝ amantis confessi suppstcationem quasi deridens ipsum ꝓ eo qd senexit debilis est multis exortutionibus insufficientem redargu it

vEnꝰ which stonte with out lawe
In none certeyn but as men drawe
Of ragman vpon the chaunce
She leyeth no peyse in the balaunce
But as hir lyketh for to weye
The trewe man ful ofte alle weye
She put which hath hir grace bede
And sette an vntrewe in his stede
Lo thus blyndely ye world she demeth
In loues cause as to me semeth
I note what other men shold seyn
But I algate am so beseyn
And stonde as one emongest alle
Which am out of his grace falle
It nedeth take no wytnesse
For she which said is the goddesse
To whether parte of loue it we [...]de
Hath set me for a fynal ende
The poynte wherto that I shal holde
For whan she hath me wel beholde
Haluyng of scorne she sayd thus
Thenne wyst thou that I was venus
Which al onely my lustes seche
And wel I wote though thou beseche
My loue lustes ben there none
Which I may take of thy persone
For loues lust & lockes hore
In chambre accorden neuer more
And though thou feyn a yonge corage
It sheweth wel by thy vysage
[Page CCvj]That olde grysel is no foole
Ther ben ful many yerys stole
With the & suche other moo
That outeward thought so
And beth within of power assaye
My herte wold & I ne maye
Is nought loued now a dayes
Or thou make ony suche assayes
To loue & falle vppn the fete
Better is to make a beaw retrete
For though thou myȝtest lone atteyne
Yet were it but an ydel peyne
Whan thou arte not suffysaunte
To helde loue his couenaunte
For thy take home thy h [...]rte ageyn
That thou traueyle not in veyn
Wherof my courte may be dysceyued
I wote & haue it wel conceyued
How that thy wylle is good ynough
But more behoueth to the plough
Wherof the lacketh as I trowe
So s [...]t it wel that thou be knowe
In feble estate or thou begyn
Thyng where yu myght none ende wyn
What bargeyn shold a man assayr
Whan that hym lacketh for to paye
My sone yf that thou wel bethought
This toucheth the foryete it nought
The thynge is torned in to was
The which was whylom grene gras
Is  [...]elowed hey as tyme now
For thy my counceyl is that thou
Remembre wel how thou arte olde
Whan venus hath hir tale tolde

Qualiter super derisoriam veneris exhortacione cōtristatus amans quasi mortuus in terram corru [...]t vbi vt sibi videbatur cupidinem cum in numera multitudine nuper amantum varijs turmis assistenaum conspicicbat

Whan I bethought was al abowte
And wyst wel withouten doubte
That ther was no recouyre
And as a man by blase of fyre
With water quencheth so fare I
A colde me caught sodeynly
For sorowe that my herte made
My dedely fare pale & fade
Bycome in swowne I fyl to grounde
And as I laye the same stounde
Ne fully quycke ne fully deed
Me thought I sawe tofore myn heed
Cupyde with his bowe bente
And lyke vnto a parlement
Which were ordeyned for the [...] nones
With hym arme & al ye world attones
Of gentyl folke that whylom were
Louers I sawe hem al there
Forth with cupyde in sondry rowtes
Myn eye I caste al aboutes
To knowe emonge hem who was who
I sawe where lusty yongthe th [...]
As he which was a capetayn
Before al other vpon the playn
Stode with his rowte wel begon
Her heedes kempte & therupon
Garbondes not of one coloure
Sōme of the leef & somme of ye floure
And somme of the grete perles were
The newe guyse of beme was there
With sondry thynges wel deuysed
I see wherof they be quentysed
It was al lust that they with ferde
Ther was no songe that I ne herde
Of loue to loue touchyng
Of Pan & al that was lykyng
As in pypyng of melodye
Was herde in thylke companye
So loude that on euery syde
I thought that al the heuen cryde
In suche accorde & suche a soun
Of bumbard & of claryoun
With cor [...]emuse & shalmele
That it was halfe a mannes hele
So glad a noyse for to here
And as me thought in this matere
[Page]Al fresshe I sawe hem sprynge & daūce
And do to loue her entendaunce
After the luste of yongthes heste
Ther was ynough of ioye & feste
For euer emonge they loughe & pleye
And put care out of the weye
And he with hem ne sat ne stode
And ouer this I vnderstood
So as myn  [...]re myght areche
The moste matere of her speche

De nominibus illerum nuper aman tum spasinoto aliqui inuenes aliqui se nes apparuerūt Senes autem precipue tam erga deum quam deam amoris ꝓ sauitate a mantis recuperanda multiplicatis precibus misericorditer instabant

It was▪ of knyghthode & of armes
And what it is to lygge in armes
With loue whan it is acheued
Ther was tristrā which was fyleued
With bele Isolde & lancelote
Stode with gūnor & galahote
With his lady & as me thought
I sawe where Iason with hym brouȝt
His loue which creusa hyght
And hercules with mochel myght
Was there beryng his grete mace
And moste of al in thylke place
He payneth to make chere
Wyth Eolen which was hym dere
Theseus though he were vntrewe
To loue al wymmen knewe
Yet was he there nethelese
And phedra whiche to loue he chese
Of grece eke there was thelamon
Which fro the kyng lameodon
At troye his doughter refte aweye
Eseonen as for his preye
Which take was when Iason came
Fro colcos & the cy [...]e name
In vengeaunce of the fyrst hate
That made hem after to debate
When pryamus the newe towne
Hath made & in auysyowne
Me thought that I sawe also
Ector forth with his brethe [...]n two
Hym self stood with panrasylee
And nexte to hym I myght see
Where paryse stood with fayre helayn
Which was his ioye souerayn
And troylus stood with Crys [...]yde
But euer emonge though he pleyde
By semblaunce he was heuy chered
For dyomede as hym was lered
Claymeth to be his partynere
And thus ful many a bachelere
A thousand moo than I can seyn
With yongthe I sawe there wel beseyn
Forth with her loues glad & blythe
And somme I sawe which ofte sythe
Compleynen them in other wyse
Emonge the which I sawe narcyse
And pyramus that sory were
The worthy grekes also were there
Achylles which for lone deyed
Agamenon eke as men seyed
And menelay the kynge also
I sawe with many another moo
Which had by fortune sore
Loues cause & ouer more
Of wymmen in the same caas
With hem I sawe where dyd [...] was
Forsake which was with enee
And phylles eke I myght see
Whom demephon dysceyued had
And adryane hir sorowe lad
For theseus hir syster toke
And hir vnkyndely forsoke
He sawe there eke emonge the prees
Compleynyng vpon hercules
His fyrst loue dya [...]yre
Which set hym afterward a fyre
Medea was there eke & compleyneth
Vpon Iason for that he feyneth
Without cause & toke a newe
[Page CCvij]She sayd  [...]ye on al vn [...]we
I sawe there deya [...]ye
Which [...] had loste companye
Of ach [...]lles whan dyomede
To  [...]ye hym fette vpon the nede
Emonge thyse other vpon the grene
I sawe also the wooful quene
Cleopa [...]s within a grane
With serpentes hath hir self bygra u [...]
Al quyche & so she was to tore
For sorowe of that she had tore
Antony which hir loue hath be
And forth with I sawe hir thysbe
Which vpon the sharpe swerdes poynte
For loue deyed in sory poynte
And as myn ere it myght knowe
She sayd wo worth al slowe
 [...] pleyne of proygne & phylomene
 [...] herde I what it wold mene
How  [...]us & his vntrouthe
Vndyd hem bothe & that was couthe
And nexte to hem I sawe can [...]ce
Which maychayr hir faders grace
Hath loste & deyed in wooful plyte
And a [...] I sawe in my spyryte
Me thought emonge other thus
The doughter of kyng pryamus
Po [...]x [...]na whom pyrrus slough
Was there & made sorow y nough
As she which deyed gyltelis
For  [...]oue & yet was loueles
And for to take the dysporte
I sawe there somme of other porte
And that was Circes & calypse
That coude done the mone clypse
Of m [...]n & chaunge the sykenesse
Of ar [...]emagique sorceresse
They helde in honde many one
To loue whether they wold or none
But aboue al wōmen yt there were
Of wommen  [...] sawe foure there
Whos name be here moost cōmended
By hem the courte stode al amended
Forth were they come in presence
Men dyd theym the reueremce
As though they had ben goddesses
Of al the world or empresses
And as me thought an ere I leyde
And herd how that this other seyde
Lo thyes ben the foure wyues
Whos fey [...]h was proued in h [...]r lyues
For in ensaumple of al goode
With mariage so they stode
That fame which no grete thing hideth
Yet the cronyke of hem abydeth
Penolope the oone was hate
Whom many a knyght had loued hote
Whyle that hir lorde vlyxes lay
Ful many a yere and many a day
Vpon the grete syege of troye
But she which had no worldes ioye
But onely of hir husbond
Whyle that her lorde was out of londe
So wel she kept her womanhede
That al the world therof toke hede
And namelyche of them in grece
That other woman was lucrece
Wyfe to the romayn collatyne
And she constreyned of tarquyne
To thyng which was ayenst hir wyll
She wold not hir seluen styll
But deyed only for drede of shame
In kepyng of hir goode name
As she which was one of the beste
The thyrd wyfe was hote alceste
Which whan ametus shold dye
Vpon his grete maladye
She prayed vnto the goddes so
That she resceyueth al the wo
And deyed hir self to gyue hym lyfe
So was this thenne a noble wyfe
The fourrth wyfe which I there syghe
I herde of them that were nyghe
How she was clered alsione
Which to seix hir lorde allone
And to no mo hi [...] body kept
And whā she saw hym drēche she lepte
Vnto the wawes where he swam
[Page] And there a sce foul she becam
And with hir wynges she hym besp [...]d
For loue that she to hym had
Loo thyse foure weren tho
Which I sawe as me thought tho
Emonge the grete companye
Whiche loue had for to gye
But yongthe whiche in special
Of loues courte was marchal
So  [...]sy was vpon his laye
That he none hede where he laye
Hath take & than as I behelde
Me thought I sawe vpon the feld [...]
Where  [...]lde came a softe pa [...]
Toward venus there as she was
With hym grete companye he ladde
But not so fele as yongthe had
The moste parte were of grete age
And that was sene in her vysage
And not for thy so as they myght
They made hem yongely to the syght
But yet I herde no pypers there
To make myrthe in mannes  [...]
But the  [...]nsyque I myght knowe
For olde men which solbned lolbe
With harpe & lute &  [...]ytole
The houe daunce & the ca [...]le
In suche a wyse as loue hath bede
A softe paas they daunce & trede
And with the wymm [...]n otherwhyle
With sobre there  [...]monge they smyle
For laughter was there none on hye
And nethe [...]es ful wel I sye
That they the more queynte it made
For loue in whom they weren glade
And there me thought I myght see
The kyng dauyd with bersale
And salamon was not without
Passyng an hundreth in a route
Of wyues & of concubynes
Iewesses eke and sarazyns
To hym I sabe al Intendaunt
I note where he was suffysaunt
But neth [...]lees for al his wytte
He was attached with that writte
Which loue with his honde  [...]nse [...]eth
From whom none erthly mā appe [...]eth
And ouer this as for a wonder
With his l [...]on whiche he put vnder
With dalyda sampson I knewe
Whos loue his strength al ouerthr [...]w [...]
I sawe there arystotle also
Whom that the quene of grece so
Hath brydeled that in thylke tyme
She made hym suche a sylagesyme
That he foryate al his  [...]ogyque
Ther was none arte of his practyque
Thorugh which he myght be excluded
That he ne was fully concluded
To loue & dyd his obeysaunce
And eke vyrgyle of acqueyntaunce
I sawe where he the mayden preyd
Which was the doughter as men seyde
Of themperour why [...]om of come
Sortes & plato with hym come
So dyd Ouyde the poete
I thought thenne how loue is swete
Which hath so wyse men reclamed
And was my self the lasse ashamed
Or for to lese or for to wynne
In the myschyef that I was in
And thus I lay [...] in hope of grace
And whan they came to the place
Where venus stode & I was falle
This olde men with one voyce  [...]
To venus prayden formy sake
And she that myght not forsake
So grete a clamour as was there
Le [...]e pyte come in  [...] ere
And forth with al vnto cupyde
She prayeth that she vpon his syde
Me wold thorugh his grace sende
Sōme comforte that I myght amende
Vpon the  [...]as which is byfalle
And thus for me they preyden alle
Of hem that weren olde aboute
And eke somme of the yonge row [...]
And of gentylesse & pure trouthe
[Page CCviij]I herd hem telle it was grete couthe
That I withouten helpe so ferd [...]
And thus me thought I laye & herde

Hic traciat qualiter c [...]pito amātis senect [...] [...] Viscera p [...]rsc [...]t [...]ns ignita s [...] concupis [...]cie tela ab [...]o peni tus extraxit quem venus postea ab [...] [...]lore percipiens vacuum reliquid / Et sic tandem prouisa senectus racionem inuocans hominem interiorem per p [...] ns amore infatuatum mentis sanitati p [...]enius restaurauit

cVpide which may hurt & hele
In loues cause as for my hele
Vpon the poynte which I hym pr [...]yde
Came with venus where I was leyde
So swownyg vpon the grene gras
And as me thought anone there was
On euery side so grete prees
That euery lyf began to prees
I wote not wel how many score
Suche as I spake of now tofor [...]
Louers that comen to beholde
But moste of hem that  [...]en olde
They stoden there that at ylke tyd [...]
To see what ende shal betyde
Vpon the cure of my sotye
There myght I here grete party [...]
Spe kyng & eche his owne aduy [...]
Hath tolde one that another this
But emonge al this I herde
They weren woo that I so ferde
And sayden that for no ryote
An olde man shold not asso [...]
For as they tolden redyly
There is in hym no cause why
But yf he wold hym self be ny [...]
So were he wel the more nyce
And thus despu [...]n somme of tho
And somme  [...]ayden no thynge so
But that the wylde loues rage
In mānes lyf forbereth none age
Whyle there is oyle for to fyre
The lampes be lyghtly set a fyre
And is ful hard or it be queynte
But onely yf it be somme seynte
And thus me thou [...]t in sondry place
God which prescrueth in his grace
Of hem that walken vp & doun
There was dy [...]rs opynyon
And so for a whyle it laste
Tyl that cupyde at the laste
Forthwith his moder ful aduysed
Hath determyned & deuysed
Vnto what poynte he wold descende
And al this tyme I was lyggende
Vpon the grounde tofore his eyen
And they that my dysese syen
Supposen not that I shold lyuen
But he which wold than yeuen
His grace so as it may be
This blynde god which may not see
Hath groped tyl that he me fonds
And as he put forth his honde
Vpon my body where I laye
Me thought a fyry lau [...]cegaye
Which whylom thorugh my herte he  [...]
He pulleth out & also fast
As thys was do / cupyde name
His weye I note where he became
And so dyd al the remenaunte
Which vnto hym was entendaunt
Of hem that in a vysyon
I had a reuelacion
So as I tolde now tofore
But venus wente not therfore
Ne genyus which thylke tyme
A [...]oden bothe fast byme
And she whiche may the hertes bynde
In loues cause & eke vnbynde
Or I out of my traunce aroos
Venus which helde a boxe cloos
And wold not I shold deye
Toke out more colde thenne ony keye
An oynement & in suche apoynte
She hath my wounded her [...] anoynte
[Page]My temples & my royames also
And forth with al she take me tho
A wonder myrcour for to holde
In which she bad me to beholde
And take hede of that I s [...]ye
Wherein anone my hertes e [...]
I caste & sawe my colour fade
Myn eyen dym & al vnglade
My chekes thynne & al my face
With elde I myght see defa [...]e
So  [...]yueled & so woo bysayn
That ther was no thyng ful ne playn
I fawe also myn h [...]ris hore
My wylle was tho to  [...]ce nomore
Therwith for ther was no plesaunce
And thenne in to my remembraunce
I drewe myn olde dayes passed
And res [...]n it hath compassed

Quod [...]atꝰ hoīs mēsiꝰ āni [...]

I made a  [...]knesse of my self
Vnto the sondry monthes  [...]
Wherof the yere in his estate
Is made & stante in no debute
That lyke to other none accordeth
For who the tymes wel recordeth
And thenne at ma [...]che yf he begyn
Whan that the lusty yere cometh in
Ty [...] it be passed septem [...]re
The myghty yongth he may remembre
In which the yere hath his deduyte
Of gras of floure of corne of f [...]yte
Of leef & eke the Wyn grape
And afterward this tyme is shape
To frost to snowe to wynde to reyne
Ty [...] efte that marche be come ageyne
The wyntrr wyl no sommer knowe
The grene leef is ouer throwe
The clothed  [...]rthe is than bare
Dyspoyled is the sommer fare
Tha [...]erst was hote is than chele
And thus thynkyng thoughtes fel [...]
I was out of my swo [...]e asrayed
Wherof I sawe my wyttes a [...]trayed
And gan to c [...]pe hem home ageyn
And whan reson it herde seyn
That loues rage was albeye
He came to me the right  [...]
And hath remenyd the sotye
Of thylke vnwyse fantasye
Wherof that I was wonte to playn
So that of thylke fyry payn
I was made s [...]bre & hole ynough
Venus behelde me thenne & lough
And  [...]xeth as it were in game
What loue was & I for shame
Ne wyst what I shold answere
And nethelesse I gan to swere
That by my trouth I know hym neu [...]t
So ferre it was out of my thought
Right as it had neuer be
My good sone tho  [...]d she
Now at this tyme I leue it we [...]e
So goeth the fortune of my Whele
For thy my counceyl is thou loue
Madame I said by your loue
Ye wote wel & so do I
That I am vn behouely
Your courte fxo this day forth to seru [...]
And for I may no thonke deserue
And also for I am refused
I praye you to ben excused
And nethelees as for the laste
Whyle that my wyttes hath mē laste
Tow [...]hyng my confessyon
I axe an absolucion
Of genyus or that I goo
The prcest anone was redy the
And said sone as of thy shryfte
Thou hast ful pardon & ful yefte
Foryete it thou & so wyl I
My holy fader graunte mercy
Quod I to hym & to the quene
I fyl on knees vpon the grene
And toke my loue for to wende
But she that wolde make an ende
[Page CCxix]As therto which was moste able
A pay [...]e of  [...]edes blacke as sable
She toke & hynge myn necke aboute
Vpon the gaudees al without
Was wryte of golde pur reposere
 [...]o thus she said Iohan gowere
Now thou a [...]te atte laste caste
Thus haue I for thy  [...]as caste
That thou of loue no more seche
But my wylle is that thou beseche
And pray [...] herafter for the pees
And that thou make a pleyn relees
To loue which taketh l [...]tel hede
Of olde men vpon the nede
Whan that the lustes  [...]en albeye
For thy to the nys but one weye
For which reson be thy  [...]yde
For he may sone hym self mysgyde
That seeth not the pery [...]e tofore
My sone be wel w [...]re therfore
And kepe the sentence of my lore
And tarye thou my courte no more
But goo there moralle vertu dwelleth
Where ben thy bookes as m [...]n telleth
Which of longe tyme thou hast wryte
For this I do the wel to wyte
Yf thou thyn hele wil purchace
Thou myght not make suche a chace
Where that the game is not prouable
It were a thynge vnresonable
A  [...]an to be so ouerseye
For thy take hede of that I seye
For in the lawe of my commune
We be not shapen to comune
Thy self & I neuer after this
Now haue I seyd al that there is
Of loue as for thy fynal ende
A dewe for I mo [...]e fro the wende
And grete wel chau [...] whan ye me [...]e
As my discyple & my poete
For in the  [...] of his youthe
In sondry wyse a [...] he wel couthe
Of dy [...]ees & of songes glade
The which he for my sake made
The bonde fulfilled is ouer alle
Wherof to hym in specyalle
Aboue al other I am moste holde
For thy now in his dayes olde
Thou shalt hym telle this message
That  [...] vpon his latter age
To sette an ende of al his werke
As he which is myn owne clerke
Do make his testament of loue
As thou hast doon thy shryfte about
So that my courte it may recorde
Madame I can me wel accorde
Quod I to telle as ye me  [...]ydde
And with that worde it so betydde
Out of syght al sodeynlye
Enclosed in a sterred skye
Venus which is the quene of loue
Was take in to hir place aboue
More wyst I not where she bycam
And thus of hir my leue I nam
And forth with al the same ty [...]e
Hir preest which wold not abyde
Or me be leef or me be booth
Out of my syght forth he gooth
And I was lefte withouten helpe
So wyst I not wherof to yelpe
But that onely I had lore
My tyme / & was sory therfore
And thus bywhaped in my thought
Whan al was torned in to nought
I stode amased for a whyle
And in my self I gan to smyle
Thynkyng vpon the bedes  [...]lake
And how they were me betake
For that I shold byd & praye
And whan I sawe none other waye
But onely that I was refused
Vnto the lyf which I had vsed
I thought neuer to torne ageyn
And in this Wyse soth to sayn
Homewarde a softe paas I wente
Where as with al myn hole entente
Vpon the poynte that I am shryue
I thynke to bydde whyle I lyue

[Page]Marce precor xpriste populus quo gau det iste / Anglia ne triste subeat rex summe resiste / Corrige quosque fragiles absolue reatus / vnde deo gratꝰ vigeat [...]ocus iste beatus

hE which within dayes seuen
This large world forthwith the heuen
Of his eternal prouydence
Hath maad / & thylke intellygence
In mannes sowle resonable
Hath shape to be perdurable
Wherof the  [...]an of his feture
Aboue al erthely creature
After the sowle is inmortal
To thylke lord in special
As he which is of al thynges
The creatour & of the kynges
Hath the fortunes vpon honde
His grace & mercy for to fonde
Vpon my bare knees I preye
That he this londe in syker weye
Wyl sette vpon good gouernaunce
For yf men taken remembraunce
What is to lyue in vnyte
There is no state in his degre
That n [...] ought to desyre pees
Without which it is no lees
To seche & loke in to the laste
Ther may no worldes ioye laste

Fyrst for to loke the clergye
Hem ought wel to iustefye
Thynge which bylongeth to theyr cure
As for to praye & to pro [...]re
Our pees toward the heuen aboue
And eke to sette reste & loue
Emonge vs on this erthe here
For yf they wrought in this manere
After the rule of charite
I hope that men sholden see
This londe amended & ouer this
To seche & look how it is
Touchend of the chyualrye
Which for to loke in somme partye
Is worthy for to be commendyd
And in somme parte to  [...]e amended
That of her large retenue
The londe is ful of meyntenue
Which causeth that comyn right
In fewe contrees stonde vp  [...]ight
Extorcyon / contek / rauyne
Withholde ben of that couyne
Al day men here grete compleynte
Of the dysease of the constreynte
Wherof the peple is sore oppressyd
God graunte it mote be redressyd
For of knyghthode thordre wolde
That they deffende & kepe sholde
The comyn right & the fraunchyse
Of holy chirche in al wyse
So that no wycked man it dere
And therof serueth shelde and spere
But for it goeth now other weye
Our grace goeth the more aweye
And for to  [...]oken ouermore
Wherof the peple pleynen sore
Toward the lawes of our londe
Men say yt trouth hath broke his bōde
And with brocage is goon aweye
So that no man can see the weye
Wher for to fynde rightwisnesse
Aud yf men seke sykernesse
Vpon the lucre of marchandye
Compassement & trycherye
Of synguler prouffyte to wynne
Men sayn is cause of mochel synne
And namely of dyuysyoun
Which many a noble toun
Fro welthe & fro prosperyte
Hath brought to grete aduersyte
So were it good to be allone
For mochel grace therupon
Vnto the cytees shold falle
Which myght auayle to vs alle
Yf thyse estates amended were
So that the vertues stoden there
And that the vyces were aweye
Me thynketh I durst thenne seye
[Page CCx]This londes grace shold aryse
But yet to loke in other wyse
Ther is astate as ye shal here
Aboue al other on erthe here
Which hath the londe in his balaunce
To hym bylongeth the lygeaunce
Of clerke of knyght of man of lawe
Vnder his honde al is forth drawe
The marchaunt & the laborer
So stante it al in his power
Or for to spylle or for to saue
But though he suche power haue
And that his myghtes be so large
He hath hem nought without charge
To which that euery kyng is swore
So were it good that he therfore
Fyrst vnto the rightwysnes entende
Wherof that he hym self amende
Toward his god & leue vyce
Which is the chyef of his offyce
And after al the remenaunt
He shal vpon his couenaunt
Gouerne & lede in suche a wyse
So that there be no tyrannyse
Wherof that he his peple greue
Or ellis may he nought acheue
That longeth to his regalye
For yf a kyng wyl Iustefye
His londe & hem that  [...]en within
Fyrst at hym self he must begyn
To kepe & rule his owne estate
That in hym self be no debute
Toward his god for otherwyse
Ther may none erthely kyng suffyse
Of his kyngdom the folke to lede
But he the kyng of heuen drede
For what kyng sette hym vpon pride
Ad taketh his lust on euery syde
And wyl not goo the right weye
Though god his grace cast aweye
No wondre is / for atte laste
He shal wel wyte it may not laste
The pompe which he secheth here
But what kyng with humble chere
After the lawe of god escheweth
The vyces / & the vertues selveth
His grace shal be suffysauunt
To gouerne al the remenaunte
Which longeth to his duete
So that in his prosperite
The peple shal not be oppressyd
Wherof his name shal be blessed
For euer & be memoryalle
And now to speke as in fynalle
Tolbchyng that I vndertook
In englysshe for to make a book
Which stante bytwene ernest & game
I haue it made as thylke same
Which axe for to be excused
And that my book be not refused
Of lered men when they it see
For lacke of curyosyte
For thylke scole of eboquence
Bylongeth not to my scyence
Vpon the forme of rethorike
My wordes for to peynte & pyke
As tullyus somtyme wrote
But this I knowe & thus I wote
That I haue done my trewe peyne
With rude wordes & with pleyne
In al that euer I couthe & myght
This book to wryte as I behyght
So as sekenes it suffre wolde
And also for my dayes olde
That I am feble & Impotente
I wote not how the world is wente
So praye I to my lordes alle
Now in myn age how so byfalle
That I mote stonden in theyr grace
For though me lacke to purchace
Her worthy thanke as by deserte
Yet the symplesse of my pouerte
Desyreth for to do plesaunce
To hem vnder whos gouernaunce
I hope spker to abyde
But now vpon my last tyde
That I this book haue made & wryte
My muse dothe me for to wyte
[Page]And saith it shal be for my beste
Fro thie day ferth to take reste
That I nomore of loue make
Which many a horte hath ouertake
And ouertorned as the blynde
Fro reson in to salbe of kynde
Where as the wysdem goeth aweye
And can not see the right weye
How to gouerne his owne estate
But euery day stante in debate
Within hym self & can not leue
And thus for thy my synal leue
I take now for euermore
Without makyng ony more
Of loue & of his dedely hele
Which no physycyen can hele
For his nature is so dyuers
That it hath euer somme trauers
Or of to moche or of to lyte
That playnly may no man delyte
For hym fayleth or that or this
But thylke loue which that is
Within a mannes herte affermed
And stante of charyte conformed
Suche loue is goodly for to haue
Suche loue may the body saue
Suche loue may the selvle amende
The hyghe god suche loue vs sende
Forthwith the remenaunte of grace
So that aboue in thylke place
Where resteth loue & al pees
Our ioye may be endelees

Amen

Explicit iste liber qui transeat obsecro liber / Ut sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore / Qui sedet in scannis celi det ut ista Iohannis / Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata britannie / Derbie comiti recolunt auem laude periti / Vade liber prius sub eo requiesce suturus

Epistola super huius operis vet opusculi sui complementum Iohanni Golver a quodā philosopho transmissa

Quam anxere freta golber tua carmina leta / Per loca discreta canit anglia laude replita / Carminis at leta satirus tibi siue poeta / Sit laus completa quo gloria siat sine meta

Quia vnusquisa (que) prout a deo acoepit alijs impartire tenetur Iohes gow er super hijs que deus sibi intellectua liter donauit villicacionis sue racionem dum tempus instat scundum aliquid allemare cupiens inter labores et ocia ad aliorum noti [...]iam tres libros doctrine causa forma subsequenti propterea composuit

Primus liber galico sermone editus in decem diuiditur partes & tractans de viais et virtutibus necnon & de bariis huius seculi gradibus nama (que) (qui)a peccator trausgressus ad sui creatoris agnicionem redire debet recto tramite docere conatur / Titulus libelli istius Speculū hominis nuncupatus est

Scandus enim liber sermone latino versibus exame tri compositus tractat super illo mirabi [...] euentu qui in anglia tempore Regis Ricardi secundi Anno regni sui quarto contigit quando seruiles rustici impetuose contra nobiles et ingenuos regni insurrexerūt innocenciam tamen dicti domini regis tune iunioris etatis causam inde excusabilem pronuncians culpas abunde et quibus et non a fortuna talia inter homines contingunt enormia euidencius declarat titulus que voluminus huius cuius ordo septem continet paginas / vox clamantis nominatur

[Page CCxj]Tercius iste liber ang [...]co sermone in octo partes diuisus qui ad instanciam serenissimi principis dc [...] domini regis anglie ricardi secundi conficitur / Secū dum dauic [...]s propheciam / Suꝑ huius modi regnorum mutaciene a tempore regis no [...]o godonosor vsqȝ nunc tempora distinguit / Tractat eciam secundum nectanabum et aristotilem / Super hijs quibus rex alexander tam in sui regimine (quam) aliter super amorem et amantum condiciones fundamentum habet vbi variarum cronicarum historiarum qȝ finem necnon poetarum philosophorum qȝ scripture ad exemplum distinctius inseruntur nomen qȝ presentis opuscuk Confessio amantis specia [...]tre nuncu patur

Carmen quod quidam philosophus in memoriam Iohannis Golber super consummacione suorum tuum [...]brorum forma sub sequenti composuit / et eitem gratanter transmisit

Eneidos Bucoks que georgi [...] me [...]ra perhennis / virgi [...]o laudis certe dedere soo [...]s / Hijs tribus ille [...]bries prefertur honore poetis / Roma qȝ precipuis laudibȝ Instat eis / Golber sic que tuio tribus est dotata libellis Anglia morigeris quo tua scripta seris / Ille que latinis tantum sua me tra loque [...]s / Scripsit vt Italicis sint recolenda notis / Te tua set trinis tria scribere carmina linguis / Constat vt inde viris sit scola lata magis Gallica [...]ngua / prius latina secunda set ortus / Lingua tui pocius angli [...] complet opus / Ille quidem vanis / ro manas obstupet aures / Ludit et in studijs musa pagana suis / Set tua xpristicolis fulget scriptum renatis Quo tibi [...]licolis laus sit hab [...]da locis Quis sit vel qualies / sacer ordo cōnubia [...]s / Scripsi mentalis sit amor qd in ordine talis / Exemplo veteri poterunt ventura timeri / Cras caro sicut heri / leuiter valet illa moueri / Non ita gaudebit sibi qui de carne placebit Quin corpus flebit aut spūs inde dolebit / Carne refrenatus / qui se regit inmaculatus / Omnes quoque status precellet in or [...]e beatus / Ille deo gratus / splendet ad omne latus

Carmen qd Iohannes golber super amoris multiplici varietate sub compen dio metrice composuit /

Est amor in glosa / pax bellica / [...]is pietosa / Accio famosa / vaga sors / vis imperiosa / Pugna quietosa / victoria pe [...]niciosa / Regula discosa / soola deui uia / lex capitosa / Cura molestosa / grauis ars / virtus viciosa / Gloria damp nosa / flens / risus / et ira iocosa / musa dolorosa / mors leca / febris preciosa Esca venenosa / fel dulce / fames animosa / vitis acetosa / sitis ebria / mens furiosa / Flamma pu [...]inosa / nox clara dies [...]enebrosa / Res dedignosa soci alis et ambiciosa / Garrula verbosa / se creta silene studiosa / Fabula formosa sapiencia prestigiosa / Causa ruinosa rota versa quies operosa / Vrticata rosa spes stulta / fides que dolosa

Magnus in exiguis variatus vt est tibi clamor / Fixus in ambiguis motibus errat amor / Instruat audit [...] tibi leccio sit repetita / mors amor et bita / participantur ita

Lex docet aucto (rum) quod iter carnole he norum / Tucius est quorum sunt federa coniugiorum / Fragrat vt ortorum rosa plus (quam) germen agroa [...]

[Page]Qrdo moriterū caput ē et finis amorū Hec est nuptorum carnis quasi regula morum / Que saluandorum sacratur in orbe virorum / Hinc vetus ānerum Eolber sub spe meritorum / Ordine sponsorum tutus adhibeo thorum

Orate pro anima Iohannis Golber Quiacunque enim pro anima ipsius Iohannis Golber orauerit t [...]ciens quo [...]ens mi [...] Quingen [...] dies indulgencie ab ecclesia rite conces [...] misericorditer in domino possidebit

Enprynted at westmestre by me Willyam Caxton and fynysshed the ij day of Septembre the fyrst yere of the regne of Kyng Richard the thyrd / the yere of our lord a thousand / CCCC / lxxxxiij /

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