Nay, I will taste of other assayes
And space our dame for holy daies
So that for very neede shee must vse her feate
With other of her house, and such as she can geate,
Yet is she not much to blame
Though shee increase her husbandes name
Such chyldren [...]o brynge as now ye see mee
Tall men as I am vnworthie though I bee.
Iustice
¶Thou spekest lyke a Lorell full larg & full lewdly
And not lyke a childe gotten of true matrymony
And yet though thy person enduce no lykelyhode
That in thee shuld be any manhode
Yet besyde that thou seemest of manhode frayle
Because so abused is thy lyght apparaile.
Iniuri.
¶Apparell, good syr, what faulte is that
Though grey be her cote why blame ye ye wild cat
Why shuld ye hym deme of nature frayle
Though as wyse as ye wolde were a Fox tayle
Or a cote after the comen vsage
Or haue by nature a mad vysage
These be no wytnesse for Iustyce to dyserne
Nor certayne knowledge of nature to lerne
And christ taught you syr how ye shuld iudge men
S [...]yenge Noli [...]e iudicare secundum faciem.
And yet in nature better knowledge shuld bee
Then is in apparell ye know perdie.
Iustice
¶ O yet in apparell is great abusion
If it be framed without dyscretion
For in apparell there may a great token bee
Of fraylenes, of pryde, and instabylytie,
If cōmen assyse therin vse no mesure
For then is apparell a wanton foolysh pleasure
And foly, best mede is of presumpcyon
When nature or reason vsed resumpcyon,
[Page]And therfore Chryst taught a great wyse prose
Sayenge Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos.
Iniuri.
¶Yet with ye same text I pray you wipe your nose
Hee said not Ex vestibus eorum cognoscetis eos.
Albion.
¶Yet freindes I pray you once agayne
To seate your trauice that breedes disdayne
And hartely both I do you pray
That both your frendshyps haue I may.
Iniury
¶Syr as for myne ye shall not mysse
But thys gentleman I thinke wyll go pysse.
Iustice
¶Nay syr Albyon I wyll not draw backe
If that of mee ye haue lacke,
So that I were in perfyte suertie
That this man here shuld manhode bee.
Iniury
¶Now Chrystes benedycyte
How Albion and Iustyce hath forgot mee
Because of mee they had no exercyse
Of long tyme by any enterpryse
Wherfore sithen ye can not know me by experience
I wote not how ye shuld knowe me but by my cre­dence
Therfore by my trouth & by my honestie
Beleue mee, for manhode trulie I am hee.
Albion.
¶Then by your othe I am content
To haue your frendshyp with good assent
And Iustice I pray you to do the same.
Iustice
¶Syr if manhod be hys name
As hee hath sworne I wolde be glad
That hys frenshyp also I had.
Albion.
¶Then Iustyce I pray you bothe
Let mee knyt you both vpon hys othe.
And thē he taketh both their hands togither saieng
Now freindes I trust we be all three
And with this knot I pray you contented to bee
Iustice
¶Syr ye ought to be contented best of all
[Page]Where iustice is treited with due equitie
And where no fauour nor mede shuld bee
And when reason hath tried there euerie deale
That such an acte were good for the comen weale
If therin anie losse may bee
To the disaduauntage of Principaltie
Such an acte leseth all hys sute
With a lytle indoysing of reason astute
And if it touche the Lordes sprytuall
Or be disauauntage to the Lordes temporall
Fare well, go bett, this bill may keepe
As well as through the parlyament creepe
And if that Marchauntes be moouid with all
Or anie multitude of the comen hall
This is not for vs say they than
This bill is naught but for to wype a pan
And this is all your new equitie
And for all your message, yet thus will it bee.
Albion.
¶Alas if this may not reformed bee
I shall neuer be sure of prosperitie.
Iniuri.
¶Ye and what foloweth hereof maister Albion
To your person vniuersall derysion
Albion.

¶Why to mee derision.

Iniuri.
¶For all other straunge nacions
They will raile on you with open proclamacions
Saienge whosoeuer do as he dose
Is halfe a man and halfe a wild goose.
Albion.

¶Why halfe a man and halfe a wyld goose.

Iniuri.
¶For with hie reason they saie ye can dispute
And trie out perils with labourous sute
And eke the treasure for the comen vaile
As farr as wit or reason can assaile
But when all is done and your statute made
Then soorth ye go in a wise trade
[Page]To brynge it all to good conclusion
And put it neuer in execucyon
Then speke they further in steede of a mocke
They haue made a statute lyke a woodkoeke
That hath but one eye and the other blynde
And it wyll turne with euery wynde
And for because ye study but for the begynnynge
And neuer prouide for a sure endyng
Begynnyng lyke a man ye take great assay
At last lyke a wyld goose euen but to flye awaye.
Iustice
¶Well if thys be true it is more pytie
Yet let vs endeuer both ye and I
To taste our message that it were done
To helpe here of some reformacyon.
Albion.
¶Ye that to do I pray you bothe
And to you two I promyse by othe
I shall mee endeuer with the cōmynaltie
Theyr hole allegyaunce to keepe in vnytie.
Iustice

¶Then God be your spede for I wil forth my way

Albion.

¶And I will after god guyde vs that best may.

Iniuri.
¶And I wyll tarye no longer whyle
But as I see you ouer the style.
Then departeth Albion & Iustice both.
Iniuri.
¶Now here begynneth a game ywys
For manhode they wene my name is
But trust mee syrs if I shuld not lye
My name is called Iniury
Whych name to hyde I thought it polysie
And turne it to manhode, and wote ye why?
It is a parte of our new experyence
When I agaynst ryght make styffe defence
That Iustyce in hys seate may not be enstabled
Then am I Iniury manhode called
O than of mee craketh euery man
[Page]How lyke a Lorde this fellow stere can
The lawe to defend without a fall
For all theyr pledyng in Westminster hall,
Or say what they wyll and bable there
Yet mayntenaunce and I wyll kepe the chere
If it come once to the countree
Then as I wyll so shall it bee
A very cause syrs why I hyde my name
Was, they shuld not suspect my fame
Because I wolde spye all theyr intent
To chaunge theyr purpose after my iudgement
And so wyll I do, for thys is theyr pretence
By meane of Iustice to brynge in experyence
That peace shuld continew the people amonge
And so by that meane to banysh mee wronge
But trust me syrs I wyll none of that
But rather by theyr faces I wyll them scrat
And mee to mayntaine in this opynion
I haue an olde mate called Dyuycion
That shalbe of my counsayle in thys case
Whych I truste wyll not turne hys face
Tyll Peace be dryuen clene from Albyon
And then let Iustyce and mee alone
For I trust or hee and I haue done
He shall go whystle in a mary bone
As for any ryghtfull iudgement
That after this shall folow hys intent
And now syrs will I goo my waye
My felow to seke, fynde him if I may.
Here Iniury goeth out, & then Diuision cometh in with a byll, a sword a buckler, & a dagger.
Diuisyon
¶Haue in the ruske
Out of the buske
A lustye Captayne,
[Page]A Boore with a tuske
A sturdie Luske
Any battaile to detaine
A stalyon stoute
To beare it out
In euery wheare,
And neuer to Loute
For a knaues cloute
though my hed it beare.
As styffe as a stake
Battayle to make
As neuer aferde.
I can awake
These knaues and take
Them fast by the berde.
For Peace is bent
Nor [...] intent
To lyue at ease,
Shall not preuent
Let of my iudgement
To [...] in dysease.
Such can I haue
To coniure a knaue
Out of his skynne,
Though Iustyce raue
To hange or saue
Fye on hym horson.
Here cometh Iniury in agayne.
Iniuri.
¶Mary fye on hym horeson
What art thou mad agayne.
Diuisyon
¶What [...] olde freinde Iniury
How were other hanged and [...]
Iniury
¶By god because I tooke delaye▪
For lacke of thee to bee myne [...].
Diuisyon
[Page]
¶What horson woldest thou haue mee
Be trussed vp in stede of thee.
Iniury
¶Ye by god, but euen for a saye
That I might lerne of you to know the playe.
diuisiō.
¶To play horson, what menist thou by that
Iniuri.
¶By god me thought euen now ye were in a snare
Or els an huntyng to catche an bare
But harke I say, do togither and spell
Beware euer amonge of the frery clarkes bell.
Diuisyon.
¶It is doubtfull to mee all that thou spekest
I pray thee spell it thy self & tell me what thou me­nest
Iniuri.
¶But woldest thou nedes so fayne know it
I tell thee with Albion and Iustyce I am knyt
Therfore it were wysdome for thee
To beware what thou sayest before mee
diuisiō.
¶What horeson then thou hast forsaken mee.
Iniuri.
¶Nay I had leuer ye were skynned all three
For I haue turned the wronge syde of my hode
And tolde them my name was manhode
And now by god in any wyse
For both our eases I must haue thyne aduyse.
diuisiō.
¶What hast thou now chaunged thyne olde copy
To Iustyce and Albyon to be a comen hoby,
Or art thou a ferde of thy olde name
That in euery place is had in fame
And is supported in such suffrentie
From the lowest vnto the hyest degree.
Iniuri.
¶Nay by god I was not aferd
It was but for to claw theyr berde
Or rub it of all that they ment
That I myght know all theyr intent
Wherof the matter is to longe to tell
For the tyme that we dyd mell
But shortly to shew thee for a conclusyon
[Page]Theyr mynde is to brynge vs both to confusyon.
diuisiō.
¶I pray thee by what meane.
Iniuri.
¶Albyon hath sent Iustyce to Pryncypaltie
To haue assystence, and mee to suffreyntie
Of the Lordes temporall to haue theyr ayde
That Iustyce in no wyse shuld be delayde.
And this thou knowest well inough perdye
Thus they meane to destroy thee and mee
And as for Iustyce foorth is gone
Speede as he can, but I taryed alone
And yet I wolde no messenger bee
Tyll I had the aduyce of thee
Therfore how sayest thou now in thys case
Wee shall not be idle to play at thys bace.
diuisiō.
¶Tush as for this I care not a puddyng prycke
For wee two wyll go thorow thyn and thycke
Maygresse theyr heades euerychone
Though they be as harde as rocke or stone
Iniury
¶I pray thee tell mee howe
diuisiō.
¶Fyrst I my selfe wyll enterpryse
That peace shall haue no exersyse
Betweene the comons and Pryncypalitie
Nor betweene lords spiritual & lords of the tempo­raltie
Iniury
¶Or yu go ani further tel me by what mene
diuisiō.
¶I haue two spyes of great exercyse
The one is called double deuyce
Hym wyll I sende I may tell thee
Unto the court to Pryncypalytye,
And hym wyll I charge that wyth hys prouisyon
Pryncypalytye and the comons to set at dyuysyon
The seconde spye is called olde debate
A synguler felow with a ballyd pate
Hym wyll I send to the lordes spirituall
To cause them to wrangle wt the lords temporall.
Iniuri.
[Page]
¶What shall they vse in their deuise.
diuisiō.
¶The one to principalytie shall surmyse
That the comons hartes do aryse
Against him, when that he doth aske
In tyme of neede, our money for taske,
His harte to mooue with such vnkyndnes.
Then the same spye shall vse lyke doublenes
And go to the comons and to them tell
That Principalytie with equtie doth rebell
More to hys lucre in euerie deale
Applyeng his affection then to the comen weale
And how that he of neglygence
Doth not apply for theyr defence,
Neither by Sea nor by londe
Neither by hye wayes, neither by stronde
But theues and raueners and murders eke
Dayly true men they pursue and seke
And that his lawes indifferently
Be not vsed, but maintenaunce and brybary
Is suffred alone without reformacion
That the poore comons is in altercation
Of this matter and wote not what to say
Bringing them in opinion yt they ought not to pay
To pryncypalytie theyr duety of very desarte
Except lyke duetie be mynistred on hys parte.
Iniuri.
¶I make god a vowe this is a souerayne bayte
To brynge our purpose to a narow strayte
But what shall the other spye then do
A felowshyp tell me that also.
diuisiō.
¶Mary he shall enfourme the lordes temporall
That the spyrytuall men wolde rule all
And saye it were shame to them by the rood
That ben dyscended from the noble blood
To suffre any other of such powre to bee
[Page]To haue the gouernaunce about principalytie
Sythen they inheritoures are borne to bee
Of the hye counsell by blood and dygnytie
Which medycyne I trow wyll not lyghlie starte
Till it hath tyckled them all by the harte
Then shall the same spye tast the other parte
And turne to them the wronge side of the carte
And say that god of his hye great grace
To them hath geuen good fortune and space
By lerning sadnes and grauitie
And for theyr due reward in honour to bee
And bere to them boldly in hand
That they ought by reason to rule thys land
Because the powre of temporaltie
Hath no knowledge in conning perdie
Neyther in youth will labour the passage
Of paine for vertue to rule in age
So that if they rulers wold bee
They know not how, for in suffycientie
Thus will I deuide by thys proper trayne
That peace amongst them shall not rayne.
Iniuri.
¶Mary thys is a cast of a new horse combe
To rub any on the nauyll that hath a tickle wōbe
This gere will worke after my fantasye
To make of an olde grudge a new frenesie
And this openeth the gate euen for mee
That both the one and the other degree
Shall wrastle with them selfe in such afflictions
That euerychone shal disdaine at other iurisdicti­ons
diuisiō.
¶What wilt thou do thē let me here thy cast
Iniuri.
¶This gentle sede will I sowe at the last
When Peace by thee is in perplexitie
And wore not in what parte quyete to bee
Then Iustice must euer be in doubt
[Page]Which parte at nede shall bere hym out
So that for my part he shall stand styll
Whyle I ronne at large and haue all my wyll.
diuisiō.
¶But to what conclusion wylt thou bryng it then
Iniuri.
¶Why knowest not thou, then harke me man
This Iustice is a felow of a farr cast
And dryueth such dryftes to rule all at the last
And Peace is hys brother of one degree
Which hath a fayre doughter that is called plentie
And Albion as longe as rest him treates
Hee loueth fayre flesh of all meates
And it is a comen saieng that Iustice Peace & hee
Will conclude a maryage with fayre dame plentie
And then wyll Albyon that olde soot
With rest and peace so on her doot
That than shee by her and her freindes
Shall sayle in stormes at all wyndes.
diuisiō.
¶By gods bread thou sayest trouth
But this to help we must not vse slouth.
Iniuri:
¶No, and therfore harke me to an ende
Thou and I shall thys matter defende
For thou shalt to Albyon a messenger bee
And say thou were present when principalitie
With Iustyce fell at great debate
When that his message he dyd delate
From Albiō, & tel him that principalitie in no wyse
His will with equ [...]ti [...] will graunt to exercyse
But that the law shuld be out after his lykyng
And euery wryt after hys entytelyng
And that his will who euer lyst to stryfe
Shuld be the best part for hys prerogatyfe
And than they both sodeinly vppon thys
In great rages departed wys
Wherfore Iustice said I am in such confusyon
[Page]That I am ashamed to turne againe to Albyon
And when this message thou hast done soberly
Tell hym thy name is Polysy.
diuisiō.
¶What the deuill menest thou by that
Shuld I decemble from a wyld cat
That euer before thys haue vsed patchyng
And now to play the wise man & leaue scratching.
Iniuri.
¶Why horson it is a poynt of hye madnes
For a tyme to desemble sadnes,
And though thou be all redy as mad as a harte
Yet will I make thee madder then thou arte
diuisiō.

¶Well say on then.

Iniuri.
¶Mary then euen thus I say
When that to Albion thou hast taken thy way
And done thy message as I thee bad
He wyll for a while be pensife and sad
And hee will aske thyne aduise
Then must thou dissemble thy selfe wyse.
diuisiō.
¶I make god a vowe that is vnpossyble
That I and wysdome shuld knyt in one quyneble
Or in my braine to print such abusyon
That wysdome and I shuld be in one conclusion
For when I was yonge my mother charged mee
And said beware wyt son though thou neuer thee.
Iniuri.
¶& I am not disposed to chaunge much your lyue
But here me speke an end though you neuer thriue
diuisiō.
¶Well say on then and tell mee what counsell
I shall giue Albion that may sound dwell
To both our profits that wolde I know.
Iniuri.
¶Thou shalt teche him a wronge crosse row
And tell him best it is after thine aduise
With myrth and Prodigalitie him to exercyse
And take of his owne good while he maye
Lest all at last be brybid awaye

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