¶A new treatyse in maner of a Dialoge / whiche sheweth the excellency of mānes nature / in that he is made to the Image of God, and wherin it restyth / and by howe many wayes a man dothe blotte, and defyle the same Image.
Remembre man, thou art earth playne
And therto shalt, returne agayne.
Iob.
OF late as I lay, musynge all alone
Reuoluynge a certayne thynge in my mynde
Whiche troubled me so, that my herte was gone
But beynge compelled, remedy to fynde
Myne olde custome, not beynge yet resynde
I [...]ose from my bedde, and forth dyd departe
And then herde I a byrde synge, O man vnkynd [...]
I say remembre thou man, what thou arte.
¶Whiche thynge so heryng, made me moche to muse
And as I loked, what byrde it shuld be
She spyde me and sayd, nowe fayne thyne excuse
For truely I haue, a quarell to the
And with that, I sawe hyr syt in a tre
Whiche made me I tell you, glad at my harte
But she spyenge that sayd, streyghe vnto me
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶I perceyue by thy countenaunce, quod she
That thou dost moche reioyse, in my presence
But lytell cause hast thou, thou mayst truste me
For nowe art thou, with me out of credence
Because thou hast not done, thy dylygence
To performe thy promyse, made on thy parte
Therfore in reproche, of thy neclygence
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Why what matter quod I, hast thou to me
That thou shludest me, thus spytefully reproue
Matter ynoughe, I warant the quod she
For that thou dyddest not, as dyd the behoue
What is it quod I, tell me for my loue
Haue I in my promyse, ben ouerthawrte
Ye none excuse quod she, can it remoue
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thou dydest promyse me, yf thou call to mynde
To set forth a songe, whiche I sange to the
And nowe because vntrewe, I do the fynde
Thou dost me prouoke, displeased to be
That songe forth quod I, thou mayst truste me
I se no profe quod she, for who doth reuarte
From theyr vyce reprouyd, not one I ca [...]se
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
¶It is forth quod I, though small pro [...]yte ape [...]e
Consernynge of mannes lyfe, the amendment
Thou mayst reproue synne, and neuer the nere
We are vnto the flesshe,
All this worlde is set on myschefe. 1. Ioh [...]. [...].
so fully ben [...]eThen my laboure quod she, in vayne haue I spent
But no doute at length, for it ye shall smarte
Oneles that by grace, your faute ye repente
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thou art but vyle earth, and shall turne to dust
Though all the worldes good,
Iob.
thou haddest at thy wyllAt the laste cōmes death, and then hense thou muste
There is no treasure, can kepe the here styll
Therfore thou vayne man, why dost thou fulfyll
Thy flesshely luste, and from god dost reuarte
Wylt thou for thy flesshe, thy soule deadely kyll
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶God hath apoynted, of his meare goodnesse
Howe eche man shuld lyue,
Let euery man abid [...] in his callyng whe [...] in he is called. 1. Co [...]. 7.
in his vocacyonAnd scrypture doth, vnto you all expresse
So that ye can make, no excusacyon
But that ye prouoke, your owne dampna [...]yon
Oneles ye repent, or death with his darte
Of body and soule, make seperacyon
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Somwhat I haue, toched to the before
Howe moste people here,
In the [...] of the myse [...]y of the worlde.
doth lyue out of frameNot one shalt thou [...]ynde, sca [...]y in a score
That lyueth in his Offyce, vnworthy blame
Nay clene to necele [...]e, yet they haue no shame
Or els they abuse it, so ouerthwarte
That they seme not, to haue a chrysten name
Remembre therfore thou man what thou arte.
¶What nedes thou quod I, this thynge to reherse
It is superfluous, as farre as I here
In thy songe before, in many a verse
Thou hast touched this, as well doth apere
What though sayd she, I am neuer the nere
I se no man grafte, my wordes in his harte
Therfore I warne the agayne, playne and cl [...]re
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶I shewed the ones, and so I do agayne
Howe euery creature, without blame
Doth kepe theyr course,
[...]ake we en [...] to our [...]wne lykenes and [...].
as nature doth constrayneBut thou man whiche God, so nobly dyd frame
Unto his ymage, thou wylt graunt the same
And yet lyke a beaste, from God ouerthwarte
Thou defylest his ymage, to thy great shame
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
¶I knowe quod I, that thou toldest me all this
Trouste thou that I haue, so dull memory
To forget what goddes goodnesse, to me is
Ye sayd she, I beleue it verely
For thou art so replete, with mysery
No thynge can moue the, from synne to reuerte
But yet whan thou fedest, thy lust besely
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶What thou meanest sayd I, I can not tell
I pray the shewe me, what thou dost intende
Thou checkest me, me thynke for not lyuynge well
And yet with no faute, dost me reprehende
Haue I not sayd she, howe dost thou attende
Unto my wordes, whiche enter not thy harte
But in all thy tyme, that thou dost here spende
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Dyd not I say, howe in synne thou dost lyue
By whiche thy soule, thou dost moste foully defyle
Whiche God of his goodnes, to the dyd gyue
Made to his ymage, and lyke no beaste vyle
And yet the deuyll, from the for to excyle
He suffred death here, with paynfull woundes smarte
Amende therfore, and euery meane whyle
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thy soule thou knowest, well is made immortall
Hauynge wyll reason, and vnderstandynge
In whiche thou dost deffer, from beastes brutall
And therin to God, thou arte resemblynge
But nowe in what case, thy soule thou dost brynge
I purpose to shewe the, or thou departe
That for feare, thou wylt quake at the herynge
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Fyrste thou ha [...] reason, a gyfte excelent
Whiche to the father, is apropryate
Because that he is, alway permenent
And dyd his persone, neuer derogate
Note ones altrynge, but in deuyne es [...]ate
He alway abydeth, and can not reuarte
For whiche by reason, he is fygurate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Nowe syth that by reason, thou dost represent
In thy soule, to the Father eternall
Whiche syngnyfyeth, thou muste be dylygent
To [...]aye to reason, the powre pryn [...]yall
But howe thou from reason, dayly doest fall
Thou mayst be asshamed man of thy parte
As somwhat herafter▪ tell the I shall
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶So longe as to reason, thou dost agree
In all thy workes, and conuersacyon
So longe aperyth, i [...] thy soule to be
Thymage of God, by his creacyon
Let reason than, haue domynacyon
Folowe not wyll, and set reason aparte
Put not the Father, from his mancyon
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶I trowe quod I, thou knowest not what thou sayest
Thou hast forgot clene, what thou dyddest begyn
Me thynke thou doest spende, many wordes in waste
Wylt thou not, the other two powers brynge in
Yes quod she, but bycause thy wyt is thyne
I wolde that to reason, thou shuldest conuarte
Whiche thou dayly, doest so fowle blot with synne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶But for thy sake quod she, I am content
The other two powers, to the to expresse
Whyll in thy soule, doth the sone represent
For as moche as he dyd,
[...]
hym alway dresseTo do his fathers wyll, with great mekenesse
Wyllyngly suff [...]ynge, for thy synfull harte
Thus christe of good wyll, thy synnes dyd redresse
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
¶Nowe lyke as Christ, onely of his good wyll
Toke here thy nature,
[...] 53.
and redemed theFrom the deuyll and synne, whiche dyd thy soule kyll
He wyll not his death, thy sauegarde shall be
Onelesse thy wyll, freely to his agre
Not compelled,
[...]e that Lo [...]yth me kepi [...]h my cōmaundementes. Ioh [...]. 15.
but by loue from thy harteThis meane by Iustyce, apoy [...]ted hath he
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Nowe stay there quod▪ I, I pray the be styll
Let me in this poynt, vnderstande the well
Wylt thou affyrme here, that man hath fre wyll
Thou sayst that God, doth not mannes wyll compell
Mary syr yf I, that abrode shuld tell
Some wolde say that I, the trueth dyd peruarte
Wyll they quod she, agaynst that thynge rebell
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶A thou wycked man, nowe well I perceyue
Thou woldest fynde, away thy vyce to excuse
For yf thou couldest proue,
God lemp [...]yth [...] to euyll. Ia [...]. [...].
the no free wyll to haueThou woldest for thy synne, gods goodnes accuse
Bycause thou wylt say, he wolde not infuse
Grace in to thy soule, from synne to conuarte
Alas man do not, thy lyfe so abuse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶God offryth his grace,
[...]
to the man daylyKnockynge at thy soule, by many away
Declarynge his wyll, moste mercyfully
To haue the saued, yf thou say not nay
Therfore yf thou wylt,
God [...]old h [...]ue all [...].
be saued thou mayGods helpe is redy, yf thou do thy parte
Thou mayst consent, yf thou wylt I dare say
Remembre therfore,
If thou [...]ylt [...] to lyf [...] kepe the cōmaund [...] mentes. [...]
thou man what thou arte.¶In this quod I, thou hast peased my mynde
But may ha [...] all other, so wyll not be
For in this matter, great fa [...]te they wyll fynde
When so euer they shall, it rede or se
What tho and they do, I pray the quod she
Trueth wyll be trueth, though they wolde it peruarte
Therfore to all them, as well as to the
I say remembre, thou man what thou arte.
¶I passe not sayd she, what any doth say
So longe as the trueth, I do demonstrate
To please all myndes, I do not knowe the way
Onelesse I shuld, gods pleasure vyolate
And that wyll I not do, for none estate
Nothynge shall cause me, from trueth for to starte
But let all this passe, early and late
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶If thou hast sayd I, in this sayd thy mynde
I pray the, in thy fyrste purpose prosede
Con [...]ent sayd she, I haue it not resynde
Though I dyd degresse, as I thought it nede
Understandynge, is nowe the next in dede
Or memory whiche twayne, can not departe
In this the holy ghost, thy soule doth lede
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte,
¶By vnderstandynge, well may syngnyfy
In thy soule the Ymage, of the holy ghost
Bycause it is a powre, whiche inwardly
Doth worke,
[...].
in thy soule a thynge whiche doth mostProfyte thy soule helth, this well I dare bost
For therby gods wyll, thou knowest in thy harte
Without whiche, thou shuldest, be blynde as a post
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶None I trowe sayd she, thou doth playne perceyue
Howe to gods ymage, that thou art create
And in what it restyth, openyd I haue
Nowe syth that God, in the is socyate
Let not his grace, in the be vacuate
Kepe this ymage pure, in euery parte
So shalt thou with hym, be peticipate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶What nede [...]
That thou [...] thyng de [...]yle
For nowe I se playne, th [...] work [...] do report [...]
Thou hast don [...] it redy, by thy [...] [...]yle
For whiche cause I se, I muste turne my style
To shewe howe thou dost, these th [...] powres peruarte
By whiche I feare me, thou [...] god excyle
Remembre I s [...]y, thou man what thou arte.
¶Fyrste for as m [...]che, as I tolde the before
That reason is the powre, moste pryncypall
By whiche onely, thou dy [...]erest e [...]ermore
From all other be [...]es, the whiche be brutall
For set reason asyde, and proue I shall
That beestes may compare, with the in some parte
Consernynge the powres, whiche be naturall
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶The lyon in strength, doth man greatly passe
And so doth th [...] Egle, in clerenesse of syght
In herynge also, compare may the asse
The grayhounde to ronne, moste nemble and lyght
In smellynge the hounde, by day or by nyght
And in memory beestes▪ in plough and [...]arte
Nowe yf they had reason, passe the they myght
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
¶But nowe as scripture,
[...].
to the do recordeIt hath pleased god, for to ordayne the
Ouer all beestes of the earth, [...]o be lorde
And them [...]
But howe, by reason, or els thou [...]
If beestes of reason, had now [...] any pa [...]e
By the in no [...] they wolde be
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte▪
¶Nowe bee [...]es by reason, thou dost make [...]
To serue the [...], as God dye them ordayne
And so muste reason, also [...]
Rule all thy [...] ▪ whi [...]he in the remayne
With all thy workes; whiche prosede from the playne
But worse is thy actes, reason to conuarte
Then al brute beestes, whiche the worlde doth contay [...]
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte▪
¶Sensualyte in the, beryth suche ru [...]e
That when reason, shulde haue domynacyon
Frowarde wyll, causeth hym for to recule
To thy great shame, and defamacyon
For wyll ought to be, in gubernacyon
Of reason, fro whom he ought not to starte
But wyll doth rule all, I se probacyon
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Reason wolde thou shuldest, to god haue respecte
Alway consyderynge, his goodnes to the
But that moste vnkyndly, thou dost reiecte
Abusynge reason, that dayly I se
Unreasonable, thou semyst to be
From gods lawe, thy lyfe is so ouerthwarte
Whiche way I wyll declare▪ or els blame me
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶To thy fylthy carkase,
[...].
thou hast suche dely [...]eThat thou louest it more, then god or his lawe
What thynge can bynd [...] the, from thy [...]e apety [...]e
Can scrypture cause the, [...] lust to withdraw [...]
From the fowle fedy [...]ge, of thy beestly [...]
Nay truely, th [...] dost thou reason peruarte
A beeste and thou, doth not dyffer a stra [...]
Remembre I say, tho [...] man what thou arte.
[...]
¶Nowe thou man quod she, thou sayst very well
That Christe cōmaunded, that thou shuldest faste here
Agaynst whiche, yf tho [...] dost rebell
To be christes discyple, thou dost not apere
But moste lyke a beest,
[...].
agaynst reason clereThou regardest no tyme; but dost gods lawe peruarte
Christes insample, with the no rule doth [...]ere
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Good reason wolde, that thou shuldest sacrafyce
Thy carnall body,
[...].
to our lorde aboueWhiche is by fastynge, and other suche wyse
But thy vyle carkase, so moche thou dost loue
That neyther lawe, nor reason can the moue
To cause thy body, by fastynge to smarte
But dost lyke a beest, suche vertue reproue
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thus of thy bely, a god thou dost make
And to that stynkynge Idole, dost sacrafyce
For pleasure of it, more payne thou dost take
Then thou for god, wylt do in any wyse
Ye, to please it, gods lawe thou wylt cleane dispyse
As though from hence, thou shuldest neuer departe
Reason agaynst this, dayly on the cryse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Truely quod I, I confesse this to the
That in this matter, I haue none exscuse
But yet me thynke, this a small faute to be
And yf I my soule, a ryght to god vse
Ye mary quod she, but thou dost it abuse
As and yf thou harkyn, that shall here parte
Therfore to here, my wordes do not refuse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶To make thy [...]oule, a sacrafyce perfyte
Thou oughcest it, to our lorde to elyuate
By deuou [...]e prayer,
A [...] hart god dothe not despyse. Psalm. [...].
wherin he doth delyteIf it come from a herte, inmaculate
But alas man, when thou art in that estate
Thou goest aboute, good prayers to subuarte
By whiche thy soule, thou doste sore vulnerate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Chryste taught the truely,
[...]ath. 6.
howe y• thou shuldest prayKnowlegynge thy nede, and great mysery
And not seasynge,
[...]. [...]im. [...]. [...]
but as seynt Paule doth sayMake prayers to God,
Watche & praye that ye enter not int [...] temtacyō. [...]ath. [...]6.
contynuallyAnd thou shuldest also, as Chryste doth testefy
Watche in prayers, with all thy mynde and hart [...]
This is the sure meane, thy soule to mundefy
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶By prayer Moyses,
Exod. 17.
optayned victoryBy prayer the red see,
Exod. 14.
also deuydedBy prayer kynge Dauid,
[...]. heg. 1 [...].
optayned mercyBy prayer Hely,
1. Reg. 1 [...].
the deed chylde reuyuedBy prayer Susan,
Dan [...]el. [...]. Ios [...]a. x. The prayer of the [...]ghteous [...] a [...]ayle the much. Iacob. 5.
from deth was sauedBy prayer of Iosue, the sonne dyd reuarte
Thus prayers of the iust, God neuer depraued
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Nowe prayer of all workes, beyng moste hye
For the which our lorde, great wonders hath wrought
Why doste thou not man, thy selfe more apply
Wnto this vertue, in harte, wyll and thought
But alas it semeth, thou regardes it nought
For all tymes thou thynkyst, longe spent in that parte
But no short tyme to play, thy lust hath sought
Remembre I say▪, thou man what thou arte.
¶Yf good prayers, thou regardest nothyng
Thy soule to god, thou canst not sacryfyce
Then into what case that thou d [...]est it bryng
Reason can tell that, thou dost that dyspyse
By which thy soule, trewly to god shuld ryse
And it moueth the dayly, to conuart
But reason can not thy foule flesh suffyse
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thou haste in this quod I, bene somwhat playne
For in prayer in dede, man is neelygente
But yet for all this, one doute dothe remayne
Whether that scrypture, of vocall prayer mente
Or [...]lles of mentall, which is moost excellente
By my trouth quod she, thou arte ouerthwarte
I haue moche a do, thy mynde to contente
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶With vocall prayer,
[...].
when that thou dost prayeThy harte from god, then beyng alyenate
That prayer doth not meryte, I dare saye
For vayne thoughtes, doth make thy prayer frustra [...]e
But mentall prayer, of more hye estate
Yf thou vse it, to vyce wyll not [...]euarte
But doth thy hart pure, to god elyuate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Then quod I,
Lorde [...] to y• [...] of my praier. Psal. 129.
I se I nede not allTo praye with the voyce, for that is but vayne
Yf the effecte rest, onely in prayer ment [...]all
I meane not so quod she, I tell the playue
For when the harte, with the voyce doth remayne
Two wayes thou doste meryte e [...]he in his parte
Where as one doth, but halfe so moch obtayne
Remembre therfore▪ thou man what thou arte▪
¶Whan that thou dost pray, but in hare onely
It is knowne to god, and he doth it here
But that doth not,
[...] before [...] that they maye se your go [...] workes▪ & [...]ath. 5.
thy neyghbour edifyBecause good example, doth not apere
Therfore double merite, thou shalt haue clere
When the voyce doth shew, what is in the harte
This kynde of prayer, to god is moost dere
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte▪
¶Thou hast my mynde, quod I well satysfyed
Consernyng prayer, in euery thynge
That is meruayle quod she, for I haue spyed
It is hard in thy heade, vertue to bryng
For which with sorow, thy handes thou mayst wrynge
But thou dost not care, vntyl tyme that thou smarte
Yet in the meane whyle, I gyue the a warnynge
Remembre I say, thou man what thou art.
¶Now haue I tolde the, how thou oughtest alwaye
Thy body and soule, to god to sacrafyce
Which thou canst not do, onlesse thou obaye
Unto reason, and thyne owne wyll dispyse
But how thou doste that,
[...] thin [...] owne wyl Eccl. 1 [...].
thy lyuyng well tryseWyll doth rule the, lyke a horse in a carte
What shame is this to the▪ that shuld be wyse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶But in the matter, farther to proce [...]e
Reason wold also, that thou shuldest truely
Thy goodes sacryfyce, in hart wyll and dede
Unto our lord▪ [...]owlegyng therby
That he is the gyuer, of them onely
After what sorte▪ I wyl shewe the a parte
How thou must vse them, vnto gods glory
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Fyrste gyue thankes to god,
[...]ake you frendes of the wicked [...]ammon that they maye receaue you into eternal tabernacles. Luke. 16.
for thy rychesse allAnd helpe the poore, in theyr necessyte
And vnlose those, whiche are in pryson thrall
Forget not the wedowe, in her mysery
Nor the fatherles chylde, in thynfancy
Take the poore how [...]les, vnder thy couarte
Suffre not the poore, in the strete to dye
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶This shuldest thou do,
[...].
whiche hath ryches at wyllSacrafyce to god, with ryghteouse abell
Whiche offrede the beste, gods lawe to fulfyll
And not the worste, for whiche to hym be [...]ell
That his offrynge, dyd please our lorde right well
His fyre brent bryght, declarynge his good harte
But caynes dyd smolder, the cause I wyll tell
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Good Abell thought, the best was not to gode
To gyue to god▪ the gyuer of all thynge
But cursed Cayne, whiche no grace vnderstode
Thought the worste▪ to good to burne in offrynge
For whiche his sacrafyce, brent all smoldrynge
Whiche declared, that he from god dyd reuarte
But this matter, nowe in thy mynde nothynge
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶It is not mete quod I, in our tyme I am sure
To burne our goodes, to god for sacrafyce
That is trueth quod she, but they in fygure
Burnt theyr offerynges, in many so [...]dry wyse
Whiche fygure in trueth, ye muste excersyse
As thus Abelles fyre, burnynge bryght in eche parte
Sygnyfyeth charyte, whiche all good workes tryse
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶The bryght fyre, causeth the sm [...]ke to assend [...]
And so doth charite, cause thy good workes all
Before god to haue rewarde at the ende
As sayth,
[...].
the holy apostell say [...]t paullBut whan that thou from charite dost fall
Thy workes doth smolder & thou playest Cayues parte
Abusyng gods gyftes, with thy lyfe bestyall
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Now of those that offer with good Abell
A lytel before I haue shewed to the
And now of another sorte I wyll tell
Whiche doth offer with Cayne in eche degr [...]
And of these no small nombre ther be
I can scantly thynke on them all by harte
Therfore though I happe some to ouer se
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶The fyrst that be fygured by Cayne chefely
Be those that ther tenthes vntruely doth paye
Gyuyng vnto god vnreuerently
The worste of euery thyng that they may
Tushe it is good y [...]ough for the preest they say
And yet they here scripture call it gods parte
This offryng smuldreth with Caynes musty hay [...]
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶No more of that quod I, and thou loue me
For yf I abrode shuld playne reporte thys
The preestes proctor streyght called I shulde be
But from that reporte I wyl me sure blysse
My tongue shall not yet runne so farre amysse
What quod she wylt thou now from trewth reuar [...]
Darest thou not now tell the truth as it is
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Well quod I, I praye the yf thou intende
To procede farther, shewe forth thyne intente
Marye quod she, thou doste me reprehende
When I wolde shewe the, my mynde euidente
But trippe me no more, and I wyll not s [...]ente
Tyll I haue shewed the, my hole mynde and harte
And whatsoeuer, I saye here presente
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶All suche as mony,
[...].
to theyr neyghboures lendeTherof to haue profyte, by vsurye
With cursed Cayne, oure lorde they do offende
Because that theyr worke, doth lacke charite
For agaynst gods worde, no good worke can be
Let them glose what they can trewth to peruarte
They are a curste of god, from heauen on hye
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶To speake more of that, quod I, shall not nede
For thou doste, but throwe stoness agaynst the wynde
Do quod she, then wyll I forth procede
To those that offer, in another kynde
With cursed Cayne,
[...].
and they be those I [...]yndewhich giueth large mony theyr neyboures to subuarte
Which way, I wyll tel the as comes to mynde
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶All such as gyueth mony, leaces to take
Of theyr neyboures houses, for the intente
That they themselues so, the rytcher wold make
By vnreasonable, raysyng of the rente
To theyr neyghboures great hurt, and detremente
Poore men crye out for this, in euery parte
These with cursed Cayne, shall haue punyshmente
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Nexte cosyne to these, be all such trewlye
Which doth theyr neyghboure, by crafte cyrcumuente
By goynge aboute, preuely to spye
Such houses as they thynke, for them conuenyente
Not passyng on the poore men, there in resydente
Let them go and beg, or elles dryue a carte
Trowe these to scape hell, onlesse they repente
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Because thou speakest, of dryuyng carte quod I
Some sayth, that both cartes and plowes decayes
All those that so sayth, quod she, doth not lye
For I am a byrde, that flyeth many wayes
And where I was wonte, to feede many dayes
Upon swete corne, which comforted my harte
Nowe is there nothyng, because the plowe stayes
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶To what vse quod I, then serueth the grounde
For pastor quod she, for beastes for to fede
So where many poore mennes, lyuynges was founde
Now twayne or thre, theyr lyues alone doth lede
Not forsyng at all▪ for the poore mannes nede
These do the common welth, falsly subuarte
But for this at laste, hell shal be thy mede
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte
¶It bootes not quo [...] I, to speake more of this
The cause why, I could to the playne expresse
Ye quod she, I know full well where it is
Those men which chefely, shuld this thyng redresse
Haue vauntage therby, therfore nothyng lesse
Entende they, then to speake on the poore mans parte
This is trew surely, all men wyll confesse
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Say not so quod I, though thou doste so thynke
No more I wyll quod she, I haue all sayde
But thou knowest, the ca [...]te at swete mylke can wynke
When she feedes therof, and is well apayde
And so can such, this can not be denayde
Wynke at that, whiche from theyr welth doth reuart
But this thynge among them, beyng well wayde
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶ [...]ush, quod I, I praye the tell me no more
Of this matter, I loue it not to here
To rehearse it quod she, doth greue me sore
But yet to speake this, I could not forbeare
Syth that my mynde is, for to shew the clere
The trewth, how thou dos [...]e reason peruarte
In all these sortes, it doth well apere
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Farther now quod she, thy mynd to fulfyll
Euyn lyke as thou doste, thy reason abuse
In lyke maner, so thou dost thy frewyll
As I wyll proue, thou caust make none excuse
For gods grace dayly, thou dost here refuse
From which thy wyll ought neuer to reuarte
Thou blottes gods Image, whiche y• shuldest well vse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Wyll as I tolde the, ought to be subiecte
Unto reason, in euery degre
And to consent to nothyng in effecte
Whiche agaynst reason, any thy [...]g shuldbe
The which yf thou do, I dare assure the
I meane, yf wyll from reason do not starte
God his owne Image, in thy soule dothe se
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶But as I before, haue tolde vnto the
Thou sayest that frewyll, in the hath no place
But onely to synne, in that it is fre
And not vnto vertue, though thou hast grace
Which sayeng is false, but yet in one case
Thy wordes is well proued, trew on thy parte
For the pathe of synne, thy wyll doth styll trase
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶In one case, I say, thou dost proue trewlye
That vnto synne, thy wyll is euer fre
For wholly to synne, thou dost thy well aplye
And then doste affyrme, the chefe cause to be
For that, there is no vertue in the
It is because, god wyl the not conuart
So is he the cause, of thyne iniquite
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte,
¶The hyest gyft, which god to the hath lent
Aboue all creatures, on earth create
Is thy frewyll, by which thou mayste consent
To vertue or vyce, both early and late
For yf thou couldest not, frewyl were frustrate
And all gods preceptes, in euery parte
In vayne to the, they were all promulgate
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶If frewyll can not, but to synne consent
Thou canst not proue it, a frewyl to be
For yf wyll can not chose, this indifferent
Uertue or vyce, there is necessite
Which compelleth wyll, to synne thou mayste se
And then is not wyll, fre in any parte
But god as a dome instrumente, doth vse the
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thy phrase of speache quod I, is very obscure
Thou sayest me thynke, that mans wyll is not fre
Yf it can not chose, for to put in vre
As well vertu as vyce, in eche degre
Yf not, than thou sayest god must nedes be
The cause of my synne, in dede or in harte
And that can I proue, be thou sure quod she
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte
¶Fyrst thou must graunt, thou arte a christen man
And p [...]a [...]ted, in Christes churche by helpe of grace
I speake to the, and not a to pagan
For I knowe ye twayne, are not in one case
Thou with that grace, I say mayste purchase
To haue further grace, from synne to conuarte
Euen by thy frewyll, thou canst not this deface
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶Now synce thou must needes, graunt this to be true
That by thy frewyll, thou mayste alway consent
Not onely to synne, but also to vertue
By helpe of grace, which is euer present
Now to saye frewyll, is not permynent
In thy soule, the dyuell doth the man peruarte
As I wyll proue to the, euen contynent
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Whan that thou doste saye, thou haste no frewyll
Thou mayst as well saye, no faute is in the
For that, that thou canst do nothyng but yll
Thou canst, in no wyse to vertue agre
And then,
[...].
for lacke therof condempned to beThou woldest proue god, to play a tyrauntes parte
But leue that erroure, and learne this of me
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶By that reason quod I, I se in dede
That I shuld proue god, the cause of my synne
And the farther me thynke, that I procede
In this matter, more blyndnesse I fall inne
Therfore I wyll leue, for nought I do wynne
Nor they neyther quod she, whiche doth take thy parte
To defende an erroure, thy wytte is to thynne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶In denyenge frewyll, now thou mayst se
That thymage of god, thou doste full defyle
For by wyll, gods sone is fygured to be
In thy soule, from which thou woldest hym exyle
But beware thy selfe, thou dost not begyle
For wyll, I feare me wyll make the to smarte
Thou doste so abuse it, euery meane whyle
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
¶How wyll doth rewle,
It is not good to haue respecte of person i [...] Iugeme [...] [...]
to reason contraryI reporte [...]e, to trew experience
Doth not moost iuges, from Iustice vary
Yes yes, and that well knoweth, theyr conscyence
Iudgement is defarde, but for what pretence
I know not, for I can not, serche the harte
Onlesse I may iudge, with the wyse mannes euydence
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶What sayth the wyseman quod I, in that thynge
Doth he agaynst Iudges, any thynge surmyse
Ye mary quod she, his wordes I wyll brynge
Forth vnto the, thou shalt here what he cryse
Gyftes and rewardes sayth he, doth blynde the [...]eyese
Of Iud [...]es, which hath a couetous harte
Causyng them, trew iudgement cleane to dispyse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶I coulde [...]hewe the scriptures,
[...].
many [...]Which doth reproue such, as iudge not ryghtly
Oh what curse is that, whan god doth cry w [...]
Unto all rewlers, in auctorite
Which doth not mayntayne ryght and equitie
O man thynkest thou not from hence to departe
And that as thou doste iudge, iudged thou shalt be
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶What rewle doth frendshyp nowe bere in eche place
Without dew respect had to the offence
Fauoure doth Iustice,
[...].
euen clearly defaceBeynge by frendshyp now brought in presence
And yf I lye looke on experience
Doth this with gods lawe agre, in any parte
A [...]udge to syt, in a chayre of pestilence
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶But the cause hereof, what is it but wyll
When he doth rewle, and hath reason reiecte
It is [...] thou sayest, such thynges to fulfyll
Trewlye so it is, thou shewest the effecte
But canst thou turne nowe, or arte thou subiecte
So much to this vyce, thou canst not conuarte
Then art thou damned without more respecte
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Softe quod I, me thynke thou speakyst very large
Agaynst Iudges as though all dyd amys
Wylt thou with fautes of some, all the reste charge
Me thynke in that small charite there is
Nay quod she, thou mayst vnderstande, in thys
That all such, as doth play a trew Iudges parte
Are not blame worthy, for doyng Iustis
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶In that quod I, thou hast answered me well
But yet in one thyng, thou do [...]e me offend [...]
Thou sayest, I must nedes be damned in hell
So thou woldest make me dispayre, at myne ende
Mary quod she, yf thou wylt styll d [...]fende
That god doth gyue the, no powre to conuarte
Then mayest thou dispayre, for thou canst not amende
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶Yf god dyd not offer, to the his grace
Which by thy frewyll, thou mayest leue or take
Of iustice he coulde not, damne the in that case
But syth wylfully, thou doest it forsake
Thy mo [...]st greuous payne, in thinfernall lake
Shalbe for that thou, woldest not here reuart [...]
From synne, but wylfully gods preceptes brake
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Do lewde preest [...] lacke grace,
These are cursed childrē leu [...]ng the ryghte waye and are geu [...] [...] [...]rrours [...]. Pet. [...].
which kepeth not theyrDo ry [...]he mē lacke grace, which help not y• pore (vowes
Do lawer [...] lacke grace, which from the right bowes
Doth that man lacke grace, whiche doth kepe an hoore
Doth those men lacke grace, which do false mē succoure
Doth he lacke grace, whiche doth gods worde peruarte
Doth he lacke grace, which doth poore men deuoure
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Wyll thou saye quod I, that these lacke not grace
Yes forsoth quod she, they lacke grace in dede
But why, because they wyll it not inbrace
For god doth off [...]e it, theyr soules cleane to wede
From all fylthynesse, and forth wolde them lede
To farther vertu, yf they from it hot starte
So that they lacke therof, of wyll doth procede
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte
¶Now thou wretched man, here thou mayest perceaue
How thou doest offende, through thy wyckednesse
Euen worse then a beaste, thou doste thy selfe behaue
No threatnyng nor preachyng, can thy lyfe redresse
No plage of god, ca [...] turne thy wylfulnesse
Surely I beleue, thou haste Pharos harte
That thus abusest wyll, agaynst gods goodnesse
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶I praye the quod I, speake no more of wyll
For truely I fele, in my conscience
The faute is in me, yf I my soule kyll
For of gods wyll, I haue experience
Yf I peryshe, it is my neclygence
Is it so quod she, then thou mayest conuarte
Why doest thou therto, slacke thy diligence
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Now to leue wyll, and to another thynge
The which I told the, that thou doest abuse
It is gods hye gyfte, of vnderstandynge
The which the holy ghost, in the dyd infuse
Ioyned with reason, so that none excuse
Of yngnoraunce, thou shuldest aleage on thy parte
But knowyng good and yll, and how them to vse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Understandynge, as I tolde the before
Is in very beastes, in a certayne kynde
Through which they, are brought euermore
To serue the man, accordynge to thy mynde
And when disobedient, thou dost them fynde
With correction, thou makest them to smarte
And then as a lambe, the strongest thou mayste bynde
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶But vnderstandynge, now beynge in the
Thou haste it, with reason for to discus
All thynges, which are good or bad in degre
And them to vse, to gods honoure as thus
All good thynges to vse, as gyftes gracious
And euyll thynges perceauynge, from them to reuarte
But how thou doste vse it, it is marueylous
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶As god hath made, beastes to be vnder the
So arte thou vnder god, hym to obaye
And because to know his wyll, sure thou shuldest be
Understandynge he hath gyuen the alwaye
Not lyke to a beaste, and yet I may saye
Soner dost thou make, a beast to conuarte
Then thou wylte, to god by nyght or by daye
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶The beast by sore beatyng, here thou dost [...]eache
To knowe thy mynde sure, and it to fulfyll
But god in his ministers, to the doth preache
Declaryng dayly, vnto the gods wyll
But thou lyke one, which therof colde no skyll
Wylt not obaye god, although thou doste smarte
And yet wyll saye, thou arte gods darlyng styll
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶In that quod I, me thinke I coulde answere the
By the wordes of the wyse man, wrytten playne
The chylde whom the father doth beate, sayth he
The same doth he loue, and wyll hym mayntayne
Now by this I may saye, to the agayne
God scourgynge vs, playeth a good fathers part [...]
That is truth quod she, but more grace to optayne
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Lyke a father, god doth the admonys [...]e
Many sondry wayes thy soule for to wynne
And with dyuers plages, he doth the punyshe
But when to conuarte, wylt thou once begynne
Nay rather thou wylt defende, thy foule synne
How arte thou gods chyld, in dede or in harte
When thou for his lawe, doth not passe a pynne
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Therfore onlesse, thou thy lyfe doest amende
To call g [...]d father, thou arte not worthy
For such father such sonne, shall not contende
Therfore god, vnto his chyldren doth cry
Be holy sayth he,
[...]
as I am holyTurne vnto me, and from synne reuart [...]
And eternall deth,
[...]
ye shall neuer dyRemembre I say, thou man what thou arte,
¶Thus god is god, to the man moste vnkynde
To call the by grace, which thou doest abuse
Understandynge, in the doth seme to be blynde
[...]or as he shulde be,
[...]
thou doest hym not vseThou thynkest to be gods chylde, and yet doest refuse
To do that pertayneth, to a good chyldes parte
Which is to please hym, thou shuldest dayly muse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thou oughtest, vnderstandynge hole to aply [...]
Unto gods honoure, with a faythe perfyte
But thou from god, turnest it cleane a wrye
By takynge scripture, to thyne apetyte
I pray the, what vertue can I resyte
But that thou fyndest, scripture it to peruarte
By false vnderstandynge, from gods truth quyt [...]
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Of this sorte,
Yf th [...] make [...] [...]owe vnto god be not [...] to performe it. Eccl. 5. Dent▪ 2 [...]. [...] 6.
thou hast full many a oneAs preestes chefely, which there vowes do not kepe
And yf kytte wyll come, they wyll not lye alone
[...]ushe say they, we are nother stones nor shepe
This makes them to make, when other doth slepe
Such vnderstande, gods worde ouerthwa [...]te
They feare not, ne thynke the paynes of [...] depe
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
¶Some sayth quod I, that they ought to haue wyues
For they say in dede, they can not lyue chaste
They muste nedes [...]o quod she, whom the dyuell dryues
For of vertuous lyuynge, they haue no taste
As to faste and praye, nay [...] of that haste
They wyll fede, and playe a reuelers parte
For to saye theyr seruyce, they counte [...]yme waste
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶They vse not the meanes, to lyue a chast lyfe
For where as they, shuld be solytary
Con [...]rarye, to all pleasures they are ry [...]e
And commonly, cou [...]t lyght company
Then reason they, there is no remedy
We must nedes mary, our fleshe to subuarte
Thus for theyr vowes, they care not a butterfly
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Thus of vnderstandynge, the grace they distroye
And lyke beastes they lyue, without godly respecte
Uery Epicures, sekynge belly ioye
With which, all the realme they haue i [...]fecte
Fastynge is now, so clearely re [...]ecte
That no good preacher, can make them conuarte
Well, I say no more, but this in ef [...]ecte
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶I pray the quod I, of them speake no more
Nor yet of none other, it is [...]yme to ende
I se well, vertue decayeth very sore
I haue herde as moche, as I do int [...]de
Arte thou wery quod she, god the am [...]nde
[...]o here thou mayste se thy myscheuous harte
Thou thynkest tyme longe, thy lyfe to reprehende
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶I haue done quod she, but now thou mayest se
That I haue kepte promyse, as I dyd saye
Haue I not proued the, so wycked to be
That thou gods ymage, in thy soule doest decaye
[...]o moch as lyeth in the, thou canst not saye naye
I haue not flattered the truly, in no parte
[...]ut now thou arte warned, conuart whyle thou may [...]
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶Defarre not amendment, leste tyme do fayle the
Uncertayne thou arte, whan deth shall the kyll
Therfore to be sure, take warnynge of me
[...]aste, watche, and praye, and do not thy soule spyll
Turne thou to god, and turne to the he wyll
I can say no more, for now I wyll departe
But yet at my goynge, kepe this in mynde styll
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
¶When she had thus spoken, awaye she flewe
Mountyng wonders hye, into the wynde
So that where she became, I neuer knewe
Then dyd I reuolue, her wordes in my mynde
And when that I, the next leasure dyd fynde
I wrote out her sentence, hole with my penne
Wherin I perceaue, how people are blynde
Whom god graunt [...] to mende, saye we all amen.
FINIS.
¶The [...]enuoy of the Auctor.
¶ [...]rthe my booke, speake thy mynde
And flatter none, of no degre
All men, be men of Adams kynde
Without any diuersite
For all mens soules created be
To gods ymage, as thou dost tell
Which they foule blotte, as they may se
Yf that they do, peruse the well.
¶And I praye the, tell all men this
Yf chaunce I fayle, in any thynge
That I erre not, of no malys
In erroure, any man to brynge
But am redy to reformynge
In any thynge, that thou dost saye
But truely, to my knowlegynge
Thou tellest the truth, nere as thou maye
¶And where, as lacketh eloquence
To make the pleasaunt, for to rede
Axe pardon, for my necligence
For I confesse, in very dede
That of lernynge, surely I nede
To make the, a more pleasaunte style
But a rude wytte, rudely doth lede
So rudely nedes, I must compyle
¶And all doutes, cleane to put awaye
Who was thyne auctor, the to frame
Saye Myles Hogarde, so swe [...]e thou maye
Though some doth thynke, he settes his name
To that, which other men myght clame
But of that, no man profe can brynge
And yf they can, [...]et them hym shame
As well they maye, prouyng that thynge.
¶But now an ende, of the to make
Trustynge thou shalt, be taken well
God graunt vs all, vyce to forsake
And to thynke on both, heuen and hell
With feare and loue, not to rebell
Agaynst gods lawe, in any case
And then no doute, but we shall dwell
With hym, in his moost ioyfull place.
FINIS. ¶God saue the Kynge.
¶Imprynted by me Robert wyer, dwellinge in S. Martins paryshe at Charynge Crosse.
¶Ad [...].