The history of kyng Boccus, [and] Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men, and in ye syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite [and] dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte that he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyo[n] of the aungell. Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome, both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber. CCC.lxv. translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden, out of frenche into Englysshe.

The history of kyng Boccus, [and] Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men, and in ye syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite [and] dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte that he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyo[n] of the aungell. Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome, both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber. CCC.lxv. translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden, out of frenche into Englysshe.

Table of contents

Title page

¶Iohn̄ Twyne to the redar

¶Here begynneth the table of this boke.

§

¶Hic incipiunt questiones

1

¶The seconde questyon.

¶The thyrd questyon

¶The .iiii. questyon.

¶The .v. questyon

¶The vj. questyon

¶The vij. questyon

¶The viij. questyon

¶The ix. questyon

¶The .x questyon.

¶The xj. questyon

¶The .xij. questyon

¶The .xiij. questyon

¶The .xiiij. questyon.

¶The .xv. questyon.

¶The .xvj. questyon.

¶The .xvij. questyon.

¶The .xviij. question.

¶The .xix. questyon.

¶The .xx. questyon

¶The .xxj. questyon

¶The .xxiij. questyon

¶The .xxiij. questyon.

¶The .xxiiij. questyon

¶The .xxv. questyon

¶The .xxvj. questyon.

¶The .xxvij. questyon.

¶The .xxviij. questyon

¶The .xxix. question.

¶The .xxx. questyon.

¶The .xxxj. question.

¶The .xxxij. questyon.

¶The .xxxiij. questyon.

¶The xxxiiij. questyon

¶The .xxxv. questyon.

¶The .xxxvj. questyon.

¶The .xxxvij. questyon.

¶The .xxxviij. questyon

¶The .xxxix. question.

¶The .xl. questyon.

¶The .xlj, questyon.

¶The .xlij. questyon

¶The .xliij. questyon

¶The .xliiij. questyon

¶The .xlv questyon.

¶The xlvj. questyon

¶The .xlvij. questyon

¶The .xlviij. questyon.

¶The .xlix. questyon.

¶The .l. questyon.

¶The .lj. questyon

¶The .lij. questyon

¶The .liij. questyon.

¶The .liiij. questyon.

¶The .lv. questyon.

¶The .lvj questyon

¶The .lvij. questyon

¶The .lviij. questyon.

¶The .lix. questyon

¶The .lx. questyon

¶The .lxiij questyon

¶The .lxiiij. questyon

¶The .lxv. questyon

¶The .lxvj. questyon

¶The .lxvij. questyon

¶The .lxviii. questyon

¶The .lxix. questyon

¶The .lxx. questyon

¶The .lxxj. questyon

¶The .lxxij. questyon

¶The .lxxiij. questyon.

¶The .lxxiiij. questyon

¶The .lxxv. questyon.

¶The .lxxvi. questyon.

¶The .lxxvij. questyon

¶The .lxxviij. questyon

¶The .lxxix. questyon

¶The .lxxx questyon.

¶The .lxxxj questyon.

¶The .lxxxij. questyon

¶The .lxxxiij. questyon

¶The .lxxxiiij. questyon.

¶The .lxxxv. questyon

¶The .lxxxvj. questyon

¶The .lxxxvij. questyon

¶The .lxxxviij. questyon

¶The .lxxxix. questyon

¶ T•e .lxxxx. questyon

¶The .lxxxxj. questyon

¶The .lxxxxij. questyon

¶The .lxxxxiij. questyon

¶The .lxxxxiiii. questyon

¶The .lxxxxv questyon.

¶The .lxxxxvj. questyon

¶The .lxxxxvij. questyon

¶The .lxxxxviij. questyon

¶The .lxxxxix. questyon

¶The .C. questyon

¶The .Cj. questyon

¶The .C.ii. questyon

¶The .C.iij. questyon

¶The .C.iiij. questyon

¶The .C.v. questyon

¶The .C.vj. questyon

¶The .C.vij. questyon

¶The .C.viij. questyon

¶The .C.ix. questyon

¶The .C.x. questyon

¶The .C.xi. questyon

¶The .C.xii. questyon

¶The .C.xiii. questyon

¶The .C.xiiii. questyon

¶The .C.xv. questyon

¶The .C.xvj. questyon

¶The .C.xvij. questyon

¶The .C.xviij. questyon

¶The C.xix. questyon

¶The .C.xx. questyon

¶The .C.xxj. questyon

¶The .C.xxii. questyon

¶The .C.xiij. questyon

¶The .C.xxiiij. questyon

¶The .C.xxv. questyon

¶The .C.xxvi questyon

¶The .C.xxvij. questyon

¶The .C.xxviii. questyon

¶The .C.xxix. questyon

¶The .C.xxx. questyon

¶The .C.xxxj questyon

¶The .C.xxxi. questyon

¶The .C.xxxii. questyon

¶The .C.xxxiij. questyon

¶The .C.xxxiiij. questyon

¶The .C.xxxv. questyon

¶The .C.xxxvj. questyon

¶The .C.xxxvij. questyon

¶The .C.xxxviij. questyon

¶The .C.xxxix questyon

¶The .C.xl. questyon

¶The .C.xli. questyon

¶The .C.xlij. questyon

¶The .xliij. questyon

¶The .C.xliiii. questyon

¶The .C.xlv. questyon

¶The .C.xlvi. questyon

¶The .C.xlvij. questyon

¶The .C.xlviij. questyon

¶The .C.xlix. questyon

¶The .C.l. questyon

¶The .C.lj. questyon

¶The .C.lij. questyon

¶The .C.liij. questyon

¶The .C.liiij. questyon

¶The .C.lv. questyon

¶The .C.lvj. questyon

¶The .C.lvij. questyon

¶The .C.lviij. questyon

¶The .C.lix. questyon

¶The .C.lx. questyon

¶The .C.lxj. questyon

¶The .C.lxij. questyon

¶The .C.lxiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxiiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxv. questyon

¶The .C.lxvj. questyon

¶The .C.lxvij. questyon

¶The .C.lxviii. questyon

¶The .C.lxix. questyon

¶The .C.lxx. questyon

¶The .C.lxxj. questyon

¶The .C.lxxij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxiiii. questyon

¶The .C.lxxv. questyon

¶The .C.lxxvj. questyon

¶The .C.lxxvij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxviij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxix. questyon

¶The .C.lxxx. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxj. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxiiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxv. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxvj. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxvij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxviij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxix. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxx. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxj. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxiiij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxv. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxvj. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxvij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxviij. questyon

¶The .C.lxxxxix. questyon

¶The .CC. questyon

¶The .CC.j. questyon

¶The .CC.j. questyon

¶The .CC.ij. questyon

¶The .CC.iij. questyon

¶The .CC.iiii. questyon

¶The .CC.v. questyon

¶The .CC.vij. questyon

¶The .CC.viij. questyon

The .CC.ix. questyon

¶The .CC.x. questyon

¶The .CC.xj. questyon

¶The .CC.xij. questyon

¶The .CC.xiij. questyon

¶The .CC xiiij. questyon

¶The .CC.xv. questyon

¶The .CC.xvj. questyon

¶The .CC.xvij. questyon

¶The .CC.xviij. questyon

¶The .CC.xix. questyon.

¶The .CC.xx. questyon

¶The .CC.xxi. questyon

¶The .CC.xxij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxiij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxiiij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxv. questyon

¶The .CC.xxvj. questyon

¶The .CC.xxvij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxviij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxix. questyon

¶The .CC.xxx. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxj. questyon

¶The .CC.xxvii. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxiij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxiiij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxv. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxvi. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxvij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxviij. questyon

¶The .CC.xxxix. questyon

¶The .CC.xl. questyon

¶The .xlj. questyon

¶The .CC.xlij. questyon

¶The .CC.xliij. questyon

¶The .CC.xliiij. questyon

¶The .CC.xlv. questyon

¶The .CC.xlvj. questyon

¶The .CC.xlvij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxviij. questyon

¶The .CC.xlix. questyon

¶The .CC.xlix. questyon

¶The .CC.l. questyon

¶The .CC.lij. questyon

¶The .CC.liij. questyon

¶The .CC.liiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lv. questyon

¶The .CC.lvj. questyon

¶The .CC.lvij. questyon

¶The .CC.lviij. questyon

¶The .CC.lix. questyon

¶The .CC.lx. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxj. questyon

¶The .CC.lxij questyon

¶The .CC.lxiii. questyon

¶The .CC.lxiiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxv. questyon

¶The .CC.lxvj. questyon

¶The .CC.lxvij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxvi. questyon

¶The .CC.lxvij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxviii. questyon

¶The .CC.lxi. questyon

¶The CC.lxxii. questyon

¶The .CC.lxii. questyon

¶The .CC.lxiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxv. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxvj. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxvij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxviij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxix. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxx. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxj. questyon

¶The .lxxxij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxiiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxv. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxvj. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxvij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxviij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxix. questyon

¶The CC.lxxxx questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxj. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxiiij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxv. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxvj. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxvij. questyon.

¶ The .CC.lxxxxviij. questyon

¶The .CC.lxxxxix. questyon

¶The .CCC. questyon

¶The .CCC.j. questyon

¶The CCC.ij questyon

¶The .CCCiii. questyon

¶The .CCC.iiii. questyon

¶The .CCC.v. questyon.

¶The .CCC.vi. questyon

¶The .CCC.vij. questyon

¶The .CCC.viij. questyon

¶The .CCC.ix. questyon

¶The .CCC.x. questyon

¶The .CCC.xj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xiij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xiiij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xv. questyon

¶The .CCC.xvj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xvij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xviij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xix. questyon

¶The CCC.xx. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxiij. questyon

¶The .CCCxxiiij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxv questyon

¶The .CCC.xxvj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxvii. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxviij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxjx. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxx. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxx. questoon

¶The .CCC.xxxj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxiiij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxv. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxvj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxvij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxviij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xxxix questyon

¶The .CCC.xl. questyon

¶The .CCC.xlj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xlij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xliij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xliiij questyon

¶The .CCC.xlv. questyon

¶The .CCC.xlvj. questyon

¶The .CCC.xlvij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xlviij. questyon

¶The .CCC.xlix. questyon

¶The .CCC.l. questyon

¶The .CCC.lj. questyon

¶The .CCC.lij. questyon

¶The .CCC.liij. questyon

¶The .CCC.liiii. questyon

¶The .CCC.liiij. questyon

¶The .CCC.lv. questyon

¶The .CCC.lvj. questyon

The .CCC.lvij. questyon

¶The .CCC.lviij. questyon

¶The .CCC.lix. questyon.

¶The .CCC.lx. questyon

¶The .CCC.lxj. questyon

¶The .CCC.lxij. questyon

§

§

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

¶The history of kyng Boccus / & Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men / and in ye syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite & dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte yt he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyō of the aungell. Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome / both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber. CCC. lxv. translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden / out of frenche into Englysshe.

Sidrack

Kynge boccus.

¶Iohn̄ Twyne to the redar

[Page]

THe profyt and cōmodite of this boke (o gentyl and curteys redar) is so euydent & open / that it nedythe no settyng out nor praysyng / for dowtful thynges comenly be praysyd or despraysed / be cause trewe iugment may be takē of them. but thynges of opē goodnes nede no praysyng / for with theyr goodnes they prayse them selfe / as thou shalt fynd this boke / the whych to speke truly can not be suffycyently praysed. I had leuer therfore (as Salust sayth of Carthago) hold my pese and to speke lytel of yt / but shortly to knowe somwhat of his matters in effect / he showeth of goddys workes ryght as the old & new testament in many volumes declareth. Also natural phylosophy expressyng the causes with euydent ensamples of moch moralyte in geuyng good counsel and a delect betwyx good and bade & truly more euydēt than euer dyd Plato / Arystotyles / or Cicero ī theyr manyfold workes he shortly techeth moch knowlege of physyke the dyspocycyon of cōplexcyons the alteracyō of ages with moch secresy of the yere / greatly of astronomy / course of heuyn / & planets with theyr respectes / breuely and playnly that that ypocras / Galyen or Ptholomy comprehendyd in great or iuste volumes. Also moch worldly experyence. Abundaūt in prophesyes / how the maners of mē shal alter and the world shalbe ended / with his iugment meruelus exhortyng the people to eschew the fylthynesse of synne / what paynes are ordayned for yt / and the ioyes of heuyn. Than is this boke necessary to al men. For it exhortyth to wysdome / good maners / ensamples hystoryis. wherfore it may well be called a boke of philosofye / that is to say a stody of wysdome. Than I coūsayle euery mā to rede this boke / or that cannot rede to geue dylygent eere to the reder for they shal fynde therī great frute bothe to the soule and body.

¶Here begynneth the table of this boke.

¶Fyrst the hystory of Boccus & Sidracke / how by the power of god he dystroyed his ydols / and by the counsayle of the aungel shewed hym the vmbre of the trinite / wherby he conuerted hym and all his host. Than gaue he hym enstructions / and answeryd to dyuers questions that he demaundyd of hym.

¶The questyons.

¶Yf god be euer and euer shalbe? The fyrst questyon.

Where may it be that god of heuen may be sene ii.

Yf god be ouer al and euery where iii.

[Page]Whiche was the fyrst thynge that god made iiii.

The kyng asked whan aungel was wrought v.

Wherfore serue the aungels that are in heuen vi.

Do deuyls know al rhynge and may do al thyng vii.

What shape are aungels and what can they do viii.

Dyd god make Adam with his owne hand ix.

In what place was Adam made x.

Whether went Adam when he came out of paradise xi.

Dyd Adam any other syn than that he the appul ete and goddes commaundment brake xii.

What dyd Adam fro god take / and howe shal he amendys make. xiii.

Why was not Adam streyght loste when he had that synne wrought xiiii.

Why wold not god send an aungel or a man to amend Adā xv.

Why shal god be borne of a mayden & she styll a mayden xvi.

Why is deth called dethe and how many dethes there be xvii.

Sendeth god man knowlege what deth he shal dye xviii.

Whan the soule from the body departeth howe goth it to other place xix,

Whether were the soule or body made fyrst xx.

Whiche speketh in man the soule or the body xxi.

The soule that is a goost & hathe nother flesshe nor bone howe may it fele well or wo xxii.

Whiche is more lord the soule or the body xxiii.

In what place of the body hath the sowle his dwellyng xxiiii.

Why is the soule no lengar in the body than blode is left xxv.

How may it be that the people so dye xxvi.

How may man know that god made mā to his lykenes xxvii.

Seyng man is made of goddes lykenes why may he not do as god dyd xxviii.

Where becometh al the blode of man whan he dyeth xxix.

Where becometh the fyre whan it is quenchyd xxx.

Why dyethe not the body when he hathe loste halfe his blode or more xxxi

Of what complexcion and nature is the body xxxii.

Ware sowles made at the fyrst or be they made euery day xxxiii

May they haue any excusyng that of god know nothīg. xxxiiii.

Shal a man do more than god cōmaundyth hym xxxv.

How many worldes be there & how do mē them call xxxvi.

Dothe god greatly rewarde them that ryghtly hys seruys here do. xxxvii.

The people that shallbe at the commyng of hym and that shall be after shall they byleue in hym stedfastly xxxviii.

What cōmaundment shall goddes sone geue the people xxxix.

The blesfulest / fayrest / & worthyest thyng what is it. xl.

The fowlest and most perelous thyng to se which is it. xli.

[Page]Shal the good sowles sorowe for the wicked xlii.

Which is bettar of helth or sycknesse to haue xliii.

What poure hath god geuen to sowle here xliiii.

Whan goddys sone is retorned to heuyn shall he leue eny gouerner here to rule the people xlv.

Goddys hows who shal kepe it and haue it in holde. xlvi.

He that doth no good but holdyth him styl doth he yl. xlvii.

Lordshype / shal it be more of rygour or pyte xlviii.

Shal aman do good to his kyn or frendes xlix.

Wherof comyth gentylhed .l.

How may it be cold whan the wether is fayr and clere li.

May aman by eny tokyn know the good from the yl lii.

The beleue of ydols shal it be aresed after my deeth liiii.

Why was it not goddys wyll that man lyued not a weke with one mele of mete liiii.

Dye the rych men as the pouer do lv.

Shal men iuge the rych as they do the pouer lvi.

May wecked men euer get goddys loue as the good haue. lvii.

How may the child that ful of loue is come out of the mothers wombe lviii.

May eny woman bere mo chyldren at onys than one lix.

Which is the best thyng that may be or man may haue lx.

What is the worst thyng that man may haue lxi

How may aman be leel and trew lxii.

Wherof comyth hardynesse and dred in man lxiii.

Wherof comyth meselry or scalle lxiiii.

Ware al thynges of goddys makyng made at the begynīg. lxv.

Who noryssheth the trute in erth lxvi.

The beastes that haue no wyt how wax they ragyus and mad lxvii.

What beast leuyth longest in his kynde lxviii.

Fedyth god al thyng that is in erth of his makyng lxix.

Fysshes / foules / and beastes haue they soules or no lxx.

They that shalbe after the incarnacyon shall they lyue as lōge as we do now lxxi.

How long shal the world endure: lxxii.

Lyue eny men mo out of the erth that we on go lxxiii.

Why are some men whyt some broune and some blake. lxxiiii.

Wherof comyth felony lxxv.

Why are not al beastes of one colour lxxvi.

They that ete or drīke more thā nede do they wel or no. lxxvii.

Whiche is the best thyng / and the worst of the man. lxxviii.

Whether is a man more apter to conyng in etyng of hote metis or of colde. lxxix

How may aman fle felony / wrathe / and malencoly. lxxx.

Is it better to haue hate of woman or loue. lxxxi.

A man that is yonge / how angeryth he for a lytel thyng. lxxxii.

[Page]How may aman blamles be to loue a woman and hym not she lxxxiii.

Wherof comyth fattnesse in a mannys body lxxxiiii.

Shal aman chasten a woman with betyng whan she doth amys lxxxv.

What thyng is gelousy and wherof comyth it lxxxvi,

Shal aman loue his frend & open to hym all the secretes of his mynde lxxxvii.

May aman do his profyt and labor not for it lxxxviii.

Shal men do almes dedes to pouer that haue nede lxxxix.

How shal he order hym selfe that is alday amonge the people lxxxx.

Is a rych man lesse worthy that hath lost his good or the pouer that hath encresed lxxxxi.

Wherof comyth the wicked custome of men or maner. lxxxxii.

Seyng yron is so strong and harde wher with was fyrst made the hamer / tonges / and hyth lxxxxiii.

Do they amys that swere by theyr god what so he be. lxxxxiiii.

Shal aman in althynges be chair of his body lxxxxv.

With whom shal aman loue to go and whos company shal he tie from lxxxxvi.

Which is better to haue of ryehes or to be pouer lxxxxvii.

Shal a mā honour a pouer mā as he do a rych mā lxxxxviii.

Delyght the pouer men in theyr pouerte as the ryche men do in theyr ryches. lxxxxix

Shal aman bost hym of that thyng that he doth c.

Why are houndes raster in doyng of theyr kynd than other beastes are. c.i.

He that coueyteth another mannes wyfe doth he wel or yl. c.ii.

May not aman scape dethe by ryches / myght / or by some other meanes. c.iii.

Is it good to answere them that speke foly. c.iiii.

Whiche conyng of all is most greuoust to man. c.v.

They that labour for to wyn & cānot why do they not leue c.vi

Wherof may it come that men waxe foles and vnwyse c.vii.

Is the soule and the body wo whan they shal depart c.viii.

Whiche shall aman take for the more a yong mā or an old. c.ix.

Why rayneth it more in one yere than in another c.x.

Why made not god man so that he myght not haue synned. c.xi

Is it good to haue entermetynges with all maner of men indyfferently. c.xii.

Why wold god this world make c.xiii.

How was this world made as it is nowe and how holdeth it as it is. c.xiiii.

Is there any other than we that hathe the claryte or the lyght of the sonne. c.xv.

[Page]Howe longe is the worlde / how brode / and how thycke c.xvi.

Why shall god this world clene vndo c.xvii.

How are the fowles borne a hye that do flye. c.xviii.

Whence cometh the rayne that falleth c.xix.

Hayle stones wherof come they c.xx.

Whereof come the tempestes c.xxi.

Wherof cometh the thonder c.xxii.

The wynde wherof comethe it c.xxiii.

How issueth the water out of the hylles whiche hylles seme to be dry. c.xxiiii.

The water that is in the see why is it salte c.xxv.

Wherof cometh the lyghtenyng c.xxvi.

The water that dothe ebbe and flowe wherof come they and whyther do they go. c.xxvii.

Ware not hylles and roches made at the fyrste makynge of the worlde c.xxviii.

Shall euer so great a flode come eny more as was in the tyme of Noe. c.xxix.

Why dyd Noe take with hym into the arch venemous beastys as scorpion / edder / and snake. c.xxx.

Wherof cometh golde. c.xxxi.

How spryngeth some waters out of the erth hote c.xxxi.

Wherof cometh the Brymstone c.xxxii.

Wherof cometh carbouncles & other precyous stones. c.xxxiii.

How many landys be in the world c.xxxiiii.

May aman by drye lande go the world round about c.xxxv.

Myght a man sayle so longe that his shyp came vnrent to the turnyng of the fyrmament c.xxxvi.

Why made not god man to be euer yonge / iolyfe / and of powre ryche / and of longe lyfe / and at his deth to haue blys c.xxxvii.

Whiche are the aungels that receyuethe mannes sowle into heuen. c.xxxviii.

Which is better of thes two / good workes without chaslyte / or wycked workes / and chast to be. c.xxxix.

What maketh the erthe quake c.xl.

Wherof cometh the eclypse of the sonne and mone c.xli.

Howe falle the sterres that men se fall / and from whens come they all. c.xlii.

How many heuyns are there c.xliii.

How hye is the heuyn aboue the erthe c.xliiii.

Of what myght is the fyrmament c.xlv.

Of what myght are the planettis & what be they called c.xlvi.

How many maners of waters be there c.xlvii.

How many sees be there c.xlviii.

Why hathe god made the world rounde c.lxix.

Why is the mone colde and the sonne hote c.l.

[Page]Whiche is the most thynge that is c.li.

Is there more grauel in erth or dropes of water in the see. c.lii.

Maye the grauell in erthe tolde be / or dropes of water in the see. c.liii.

How many sterres are on the skye c.liiii.

How many aungels dyd god make / howe many be lefte / and how many tell. c.lv.

Whiche are most / of men / beastes / or fysshes c.lvi.

Whiche is the delectablest place in all the world c.lvii.

Whiche is the most prowes in towne or forest c.lviii.

If a man haue an euyll wyfe / or a wemme in any of his lymmes shall aman cast it in his tethe c.lix.

Shall men bothe worshyp men and do theyr wyll c.lx.

Shall aman forget the seruyce of a good seruaunt that well hathe serued hym. c.lxi.

May a man with holde hymselfe from a woman that he hath in kepyng / that he commyt no lechery. c.lxii.

Whiche is the greatest delyght that is. c.lxiii.

Shal a man ought delyght hym with a woman c.lxiiii.

Whan two hoostes mete shall they streyght fyght c.lxv.

Whiche of his membres myght a man worst forgo c.lxvi.

Who made the fyrst instrument that euer was / and howe came it in his thought c.lxvii.

He that is dumbe / defe / and can not se / what speche in his hert thynkethe he. c.lxviii.

Why are some cloudes of the skye whyte & some blacke. c.lxix.

May no creature knowe goddes wyll or thought c.lxx.

Shall aman worshyp god all day c.lxxi.

Wherof comethe bleryd eyen and why c.lxxii.

What people shall men worshyp in this world c.lxxiii.

Whiche is the largest man in the world c.lxxiiii.

Shall a pouer man put hymselfe at any tyme before a reche man. c.lxxv.

Is a man in any synne to ete all that he may get c.lxxvi.

Shall a man geue gretynge to a man euery tyme of the daye whan he hym dothe mete c.lxxvii.

How shall a man order his chyldren that he do not afterward repent hym. c.lxxviii.

Whether shal a man loue better his wyfe or chyldren c.lxxix.

If I had nother father nor mother howe shulde I haue bene borne c.lxxx.

The chylde that hathe the full shape in the mother how maye it not somtyme be brought forthe a lyue. c.lxxxi

Are all women in this world of one manere c.lxxxii.

If thy neyghboures wyfe or seruauntes mys vse thēselfe shalt thou shewe thy neyghbour therof c.lxxxiii.

[Page]Shal aman hast hym to do that that he hath to do. c.lxxxiiii.

Shall a man loue euery man c.lxxxv.

Are all the people of the world comyn after one c.lxxxvi.

Do men honour the ryche men in the other worlde and not the pouer at all. c.lxxxvii.

Shall the father bere any burden for the sone / or the sone for the father c.lxxxviii.

They that sle men / take they frō them theyr synne also. c.lxxxix.

Whiche is most sorow of that a man hereth or seythe. c.lxx [...]x

May ama fynd any that ete one another agayne kynd c.lxxxxi

Which is worst of thes thre / mourder / thefte / or slāder c.lxxxxii.

Forgeue god gladly al the synnes that mā doth here c.lxxxxiii.

Why labour men in this world as they do c.lxxxxiiii.

Whiche is the wickedest thyng that is c.lxxxxv

The good werkes or wicked that men do / whether come they of god or of hymselfe. c.lxxxxvi.

Where hydeth the daye hym from the nyght / and the nyght fro the day lyght. c.lxxxxvii.

Who hold the planettes on the sky that they fall not c.lxxxxviii

How may mē know the houres & poītes of day & night c.lxxxxix

Turne all the sterres about on the skye cc.

Whiche is the holsomest place in all the worlde cc.i.

Tell me whiche is the worthyest day in the yere cc.i.

Why was slepe made and wherfore cc.ii.

Shall there be euer warre and stryfe in this world cc.iii.

Wrathe not god for mannes dethe or his mysfortune what so euer it be. cc.iiii.

Whiche are they that nowe most the world sustayneth cc.v.

Whiche is heygher the kyng / or the law of the lande cc.vii

May aman eny good haue here / that he may with hym bere / and greue hym nothyng cc.viii.

If two men loue together & after be seperate / whan they come together shall they loue as they dyd before .cc.ix.

How may aman loue a woman or she hym for the syght .cc.x.

A man that hathe lyght conscyence / and swerethe falsly by his god for .x. false thīges is he any more forsworne thā ones cc.xi.

They that haue knowlege to teche the folke shall they haue more grace than other men cc.xii.

The thought that aman thynketh wherof cometh it cc.xiii.

Why fall people of the fallyng euyl cc.xiiii.

Whiche is the pereloust lymme that aman hathe cc.xv.

Whiche is the sureest arte of all / and moste parayle may come of it. cc.xvi.

How is a man iolyfe / and lyght of body cc.xvii.

May aman not get a chylde as ofte as he knowethe his wyfe flesshely. cc.xviii.

[Page]Wherof is the kynd of man / and howe gatheryth it so whan it gothe hym fro. cc.xix.

Is aman bound to loue his chyldren and do them good. cc.xx.

Enchaūtmēt or socery / vayle they ought or are they foly. cc.xxi

Whiche is the wyghtest beast & most of sauour cc.xxii.

Whiche is hygher of land or see. cc.xxiii.

Wherof come snayles / and how doth they holde themselfe so to the gras. cc.xxiiii.

Why slepe thes old men as thes yong men do cc.xxv.

Yf god had made so great a man as all the worlde / myght he haue resystyd god. cc.xxvi.

What shulde this worlde haue bene yf god had not dyght it as is nowe cc.xxvii.

Whether came aūgel of goddes onde as dyd the soule of Adam or not. cc.xxviii.

What thyng is heuenly paradyse cc.xxix.

Whiche is the fayrest thynge to loke on that god made in this worlde. cc.xxx.

Whether arte thou bound to loue them more that loueth the / or them that thou louest. cc.xxxi.

Whiche are worthyest wordes / erbes / or stones cc.xxxii.

Shalt thou tel all thy counsayle to thy frynd. cc.xxxiii.

Whiche women be tho that is moste profyte for men to do theyr delyght withal. cc.xxxiiii.

Wherof comethe the trymbelyng or quakyng that a man hathe some tyme in his body. cc.xxxv.

Whan a man seeth / dothe the eye geue it outwarde / or dothe it receyueth it inwarde. cc.xxxvi.

How may a man by hymselfe say we. cc.xxxvii.

Maye the see be demynysshed any thyng with takyng awaye any of the water. cc.xxxviii.

Whether shall aman loue better the chylde that comethe of the syster / or of the brother. cc.xxxix.

Whiche are the most perelous thyngis in man. cc.xl.

Whiche is the holsomest flesshe that aman may ete cc.xli.

How doparteth the mete in a mannes body cc.xlii.

How shall a man do to get out aboue that stekethe faste in his throte cc.xliii.

The mucke that cometh of man how stynketh it so. cc.xliiii.

Why is mannes vryne so salt cc.xlv.

Wherof brede wormes in man and how do they fede. cc.xlvi.

Whiche craftes are tho that aman may worst forbere cc.xlvii.

Whiche shall in heuen haue more ioy chyldren that neuer dyd a mys / or them that for goddes loue refrayned yll. cc.xlviii.

How may aman ouercome the wyll of this world cc.xlix.

Tho that go to helle or paradyse may they cō agayne cc.xlix.

Why go not the good into erthly paradyse cc.l.

[Page]Why go not the good in to erthly paradyse cc.l.

Whether is sowle heuy or lyght great or smale darke or bryght cc.lii.

The good sowles that go frō the body whyther go they cc.liii.

May no man go to heuyn but he se purgatory cc.liiii

Seyng god sendyth some to heuyn & some to helle wherof shal than the dome be cc.lv

Yong chyldren that haue no reson shal they be dampned tel me or no cc.lvi

Is there eny hows / toune or cyte in the other world cc.lvii

Shal the chyldren of hethen men be dampned cc.lviii.

If Adam had no synne don shuld the people that of hym came haue fede with flesshe as they do now cc.lix.

Dyd the flode droune paradyse cc.lx.

Of what age made god Adam cc.lxi.

Such as shal dey at the iugment and haue no tyme of purgacyon what shal become of them cc.lxii.

Whā the sowle comyth to the body which part goith it ī. cc.lxiii.

Who named fyrst althyng and taught them conyng cc.lxiiii.

Wherof is it that some are lesse and some more cc.xv.

Which is more perylous of hete or cold. cc.lxvi.

Shal the chyld folow the yl condycions of the father. cclxvii.

Whych is best / to speke or holde hym stylle cc.lxviii.

Which ought to be wysar of a yong man or old cc.lxix.

What thyng is delyte cc.lxx.

What maner of appuls dyd Adam ete cc.lxxi.

How lerne yong chyldren more than old men cc.lxxii.

Which is the delectabelest thyng vnder the sonne cc.lxxiii.

Why was heer made on mannys body cc.lxxiiii.

How is it that some be borne doume and defe cc.lxxv.

Profyteth men the almes dedes that they do cc.lxxvi.

Synneth the iuge that iugeth or he that doth execute. cc.lxxvii.

Tho that are fooles and doume borne and do yll shall they be dampned cc.lxxviii

Kepe aungels mennes soules here cc.lxxix.

Howe maye aungel shewe hymselfe openly to men seynge he hathe no body. cc.lxxx.

Do deuyls espye that that people dothe cc.lxxxi.

On what maner is the fyre of purgatary cc.lxxxii.

What thyng is helle and how come soules thether cc.lxxxiii.

Know soules any thyng that be in helle. cc.lxxxiiii.

The good that be hens gone be they in parfite ioy cc.lxxxv.

May soules shewe themselfe to theyr good frendes euery tyme whan they wyll. cc.lxxxvi.

Wherof come dremys. cc.lxxxvii.

Was the frute in the trees whā they were fyrst made cc.lxxxviii.

What tyme and what day was Adam made cc.lxxxix.

[Page]Whan the flode was done made god new frute to mā .cc.lxxxx.

Where set Noe shyp on land. cc.lxxxxi.

Whā Noe cā out of the shyp cā he strāge to this world. cc.lxxxxii

Wherof cometh petye in a mannes herte cc.lxxxxiii.

Why haue not fowles nature in them to engendure as other beastes do. cc.lxxxxiiii.

Shall men haue pytye of thos that be in wo and delyuer them yf they haue myght therto. cc.lxxxxv.

Whiche is better to drynke wyne or water cc.lxxxxvi.

Whan man is in great wyll to fyght how may he refrayne him of that passyon cc.lxxxxvii.

Why haue wymen all the wo and the ioy also cc.lxxxxviii.

Why are chyldren at theyr byrth as vnconyng as beastes that haue no reson cc.lxxxxix.

Wherof comyth natural wyt in man ccc.

Wherof comyth the nesyng ccci.

Why dyeth the wynd for a showre of rayne ccc.ii.

Whiche is stronger wynd or water ccc.iii.

On what maner shall a man leue in this worlde ccc.iiii.

Shall a man whan he is in a good place chaunge to seke abetter. ccc.v.

Whiche is worthyer of ryche or pouer ccc.vi.

Whiche is more semely to man fayre face or fayre body. ccc.vii.

Howe shall a man lede his lyfe that fyndethe aman with his wyfe. ccc.viii.

Shall men for theyr losse blame god ccc.ix.

Whiche is the sauorest thyng that is ccc.x.

Of what maner of bounte ought kynges to be ccc.xi.

How cometh swete of a body / wherof / and why ccc.xii.

Whiche are the best colours for mannes weryng ccc.xiii.

Whiche is the grenest thyng that is ccc.xiiii.

Whiche is the fattest thyng that is ccc.xv.

Whiche is better to haue whan a man shal dye repentaunce or hope of ioye. ccc.xvi.

Shall men be sory for them that dye ccc.xvii.

Came euer any from the other worlde that tolde tydynges of heuyn or helle. ccc.xviii.

Shal a man say any thyng whan he go to bed ccc.xix.

Whiche is the strongest batayle that is ccc.xx.

How lyeth the chyldren in the mothers wombe ccc.xxi.

Why is some wyne whyte and some red ccc.xxii.

Haue foules or beastes any vnderstandyng ccc.xxiii.

Whiche helpethe the soule more / that a man dothe before he dye or after his dethe. ccc.xxiiii.

Slepe the fysshes euer or no. ccc.xxv.

Whiche is the fayrest fowle in the world ccc.xxvi.

Which is the fayrest beast & that myght worst be myst. ccc.xxvii.

[Page]Whiche are the fayrest horses that be ccc.xxviii.

Whiche be the beastes that haue most vnderstondyng. ccc.xxix:

By what tokē may mē know that goddis sone is borne. ccc.xxx

What sygnyfyeth tho tokens ccc.xxx.

Shal he be a chyld more conyng then other ccc.xxxi.

Where shal he most dwell ccc.xxxii.

Shal goddes sone a fayre man be ccc.xxxiiii.

Why wold god dye. ccc.xxxv

Who shall hym kyl / and how long shal he be ded ccc.xxxvi.

Shal he ascend without company. ccc.xxxvii.

Shal goddes sone haue any house in erthe. ccc.xxxviii.

Shal his body be euer dwellyng in erthe ccc.xxxix.

Shall euery man haue power to make his body ccc.xl.

They that haue myght to make his body shal they be more honoryd before god than other. ccc.xli.

Why shall they euery day make it. ccc.lxii.

What thyng is synne / that men shalbe lost by ccc.xliii.

By what sygne shal mē know that goddes son is ded. ccc xliiii.

Of what vertu shall goddes sone be ccc.xlv.

Shall his dyscypyls do myracles ccc.xlvi

Shal they neuer haue wo nor ende that go to heuen. ccc.xlvii.

Shall they neuer haue rest that be in helle ccc.xlviii.

Shal they that be in heuyn be nakyd or clothed ccc.xlix.

Whan god shall come to iugement and deme bothe quycke and dede / who shalbe than alyue ccc.l.

Where shalbe borne the antichryst ccc.li.

What day shall the iugment be on ccc.lii.

What tyme shall the dome be ccc.liii.

On what maner shal he come to the iugment. ccc.liiii.

Shal his crosse be there present ccc.liiii.

How shall he showe hym selfe at the iugement ccc.lv.

Shall his mynysters be with hym at the iugement. ccc.lvi.

How shall he do the iugement and what shall he saye. ccc.lvii.

Shall any man knowe what he hathe done ccc.lviii.

What shalbe done after the dome. ccc.lix.

What shalbe come of this worlde after the dome ccc.lx.

Shall the good haue leue to do what they wyll ccc.lxi.

Shall they remember them of theyr wyckednes ccc.lxii.

FINIS

§

§

[Page]

MEn may fynde in olde bokys

Who so the in lokys

Actes worthy of memory

Full of knowlege and mystery

Wherof I shall shew a lytell ielle

That be fell ons in the Eest

Ther was a kynge that Boccus hyght

And was a man of moche myght

His lande lay by the greate ynde

Bectorye hyght it as we fynde

After the tyme of Noe euen

Eyght hundred yere fourty and seuen

The kynge Boccus hym be thought

That he wolde haue a cytye wrought

His enmyes ther with to fere

¶And agayn them to mayntayne his were

Chefly for a kynge that was his foo

That moche of ynde longed vnto

His name was Garaab the kynge

Boccus tho purueyed all thynge

And shortly a towre began he

There he wolde make a optye

And was ryght in the incomynge

Of Garabys lande the kynge

The masons with grete laboure

Began to worke on the towre

And all that they wrought on the daye

On nyght was it doone a waye

On morowe whan Boccus it, herde

He was wrouthe that it so fared

And it all newe quykly begonne

At nyght whan they shulde leue sone

[Page]Of werke / and they wente to rest

On the morowe all was downe kest

Well vij. monethes thus they wrought

And all myght a vayle nought

¶Boccus was wrothe wonderly

He called his gentylls that was hym by

Cownsell me lordynges / quod he

How I may best make this cytye

Syr they sayd sende you anone

For your phylosophers euerychone

And ye astronomers that in your countre is

For of them can you no cownsell mys

Kynge Boccus for them sent

His messyngers to gather them went

And whan they apperyd to gyther there

Foure score and .ix. maysters there were

The kynge receyuyd them with the best

And thre dayes he dyd let them reste

The fourth daye he dyd them caull

And they before hym were come all

¶Lordynges he sayd I shall tell you now

For what cause I haue sent for you

I am the most kynge I wysse

That vnder the sonne rysynge is

All the kynges of this countrye

At my cōmaundment truly be

Excepte Garaab the kynge

That in ynde is raynynge

He contraryes my commaundment

And not comys to my parlyament

And hym wolde I fayne compell

But howe in his lāde to enter I cannot tell

[Page]But men haue cowselyd me

For to make there a cytye

Masons and stone I thyther brought

And seuen moūthes there as they wrought

Ryght in the entre of his lande

For to meke hym to his hande

And all that they on daye wrought

At nyght turned all to nought

And yf Garaab hath perauenture herde

Of our worke how it farede

He wyll saye I haue no myght

A tower in his land for to dyght

Therfore your wyttes here on laye

Prayeng you that ye me saye

How I maye after my wyll

This tower and the cytye fulfyll

For I had leuer a venged to be

Of Garaab that despysyth me

Than ye name of all the world to bere

And by my god I you swere

That I shall soone for your dede

Quyte rychely your mede

¶Syr quod they we you promyse

That tower suerly for to furnyshe

So that ye shall a vengyd be

And haue your mynde of the cytye

And you vs respyte geue

Fourty dayes by your leue

Tyll we our arte haue ouer sene

How your tower shall be made a gayne

And we shall do our myght

To make it stonde daye and nyght

[Page]A place he causyd made redy to be

With vernaunt flowers and many a tree

And with freyshe water of the ryuer

He commaundyd on all goodly maner

That they were serued rychely

That daye as his owne body

Astronomers ther voare many one in fee

That were the eldest men of that countryt

And they wrought dylygently in theyr arte

Euery one by hym selfe on his parte

And whan the fourty dayes ware gone

They came before the kynge anone

He askyd them how they had wrought

Syr quod they take you no thought

Be you glade and mery also

For you shall all your mynd come to

Within a xiiij. nyghtes ye shall se

Therfore let your masons redy be

Suche atyme as we shall you saye

Stones vppon the tower to laye

And loke that they be than redy

And we all wyll be there by

Full greatly thanked them the kynge

And moche ioye had he of theyr sayenge

¶Than came the daye that they had set

The masons were all redy fet

And the maysters wente with all

To se them that worke shall

With greate ioye they be gunne

And wrought as longe as they had sonne

Whan that the nyght came at the laste

They wente home to make repaste

[Page]And they lefte vpon the worke all nyght

Great plenty truly of candell lyght

They went all home at nyght tyme

And came ageyne the nexte daye be pryme

The kynge was the nexte daye wod

Whan he sawe his worke not stode

All the tresure that he had vp layed

In ydylnesse it is consumyd he sayed

And he anon cauled before hym the clerkes

And sayed are thes your good werkes

That you haue caused me for to do

By the god that I beleue on and loue also

Quyte I shall all your dede

And for your werkes ye shall haue mede

Bynde them fote and hande

Thes wordis were spred a brode in his lāde

And so they were in pryson cast

Therin kepte without fauor fast

¶Ferof this towre the voyce rane

And vnto Garaab at lenght it came

Whan he it herde great ioye he had

And in his herte he was full glade

A letter he made to kyng Boccus

And sent it by hym that spake thus

I Garaab of ynde kynge

To the Boccus sendes gretynge

We haue vnderstondyng well

Of thy worke and thy wyll euerydele

Of the Cytye thou woldest dyght

But thou hast theyrto no myght

Neyther by arte nor by engyn

For to brynge it to a fyne.

[Page]But wylt thou sende me to my fere

Thy doughter that to the is so dere

And I shall gyue the leue thereto

To make that thou desyrest so

This came to Boccus the kynge

All in skorne and in mockynge

Boccus thought his herte shulde blede

Whan he herde the letters rede

And was so wode with that answere

That by and by he slewe the messyngere

Than dyd he in his lande crye

Yf there ware eny lowe or hye

That cowde hym cownsell of that thynge

How he myhht brynge it to endynge

That cytye with the tower

He shulde with great honoure

Gyue hym his doughter vnto wye

With halfe his tresure in his lyfe

Well two dayes after this crye

The kynge sat full drerely

For he wyste not what to do

Than came an olde man hym to

And sayd syr I shall not craue

Your doughter nor your tresure to haue

But yf you wyll do me good

I shall wytsafe to amende your mode

And shew who shall on hym take

Your tower and cytye for to make

¶The kynge anon swore by his god

That he loued and trusted in euer more

He shulde so quyt his seruyse

That it shulde lyke hym and all his

[Page]Syr he sayed this is beste to do

Sende the kynge Tractabar vnto

And praye hym for your seruyse

That he you lende in eny wyse

The boke of Astronomye

That Noe had with hym in balye

By an Aungell was made that boke

And Noe to one of his sonnes it toke

And so hath it gone I tell you

That Tractabar hath it now

Praye hym also you to lende

And with that boke hastely to sende

His astronomer Sydrac

Whiche shall vndo all the hole pac

All your wyll shall sone be do

Yf Sydrac come you ones to

Anon the kynge dyd letters make

And to a messynger he dede them take

And vnto Tractabar them sent

Withe a full ryche and good present

Desyryng hym very curtesly

His boke and Sydrac to sende shorty

¶Whan Tractabar that messengere

Had receyued with louynge there

Sayeng you are ryght welcome to me

Grete ioye I haue that I nou se

My lorde and my frende Boccus

To sende me louyng letters thus

A boke to sende hym he prayes me

That in olde tyme had Noe

That boke can fulfyll his wyll

Of a thynge that lyes beryed in a hyll

[Page]That who so myght come them to

He myght an his wyll do

My father wente vp to that hyll

But he myght neuer come ther tyll

But Boccus is of moche myght

And he wyll with them fyght

That vpon that hyll wonne

He shall haue his wyll sone

He sent hym his boke and Sydrac

And a letter that thus spake

Unto our lorde and frende

The kynge Boccus vnto we sende

Whom kynge Garaab getteth well

And certyfyeth that we haue euery dele

Accordyng your mynde we sende you to

Our boke and our clarke also

And thanke ye moche of your sendynge

A glade man was Boccus tho

Whan Sydrac before hym cam truly

He toke hym by the hande ryght gladly

And tolde hym euery dele of his case

And how to hym it befallen was

¶Syr quod Sydrac that lande I wysse

Euery dele be weched is

There shall nere man spede

Upon that lande to do no dede

That therof shall come eny prosperyte

Excepte theyr wychecrafte vndoune be

And I shall it redely vnbynde

¶I thāk the quod the kyng for thy wordes

¶Syr kynge quod Sydrac we fynde

In this [...]osse that was Noes [...]ynde

[Page]That an aungel came hym to

From his god that sent hym tho

And tolde hym that he myght fynde

An hyll fare in the lande of ynde

That called is the grene rauens hyll

And hath that name for this skyll

Whan Noe the rauen sent

Out of the arke verament

To proue yf there apered eny grounde

But he fell on careyn that he founde

And wolde not truly come awaye

The dowe vpon another daye

Fownd lande and came ageyne blyue

With a branche of grene olyue

That hyll is of length as we rede

Foure ioyrneys and thre of brede

People ther dwelleth of strange chere

Made of body as we are here

But theyr vysages for to se on

Are as houndes euerychon

By the lawe of femynne as it tellys

Lyes it there / no man in dwellys

On that hyll such frutfulnese is

That .xij. M. herbes there growys

Foure thowsand may good do

Foure thowsand are yuel to

The thyrd thowsand who thē vnderstode

May do nether yuell ne good

Seuen maner waters there are on

And all they gather in tyl one

The dewes the herbes cause to sprynge

And yf you wyll haue your entendynge

[Page]Fynde menys the herbes to wynne

And than may you neuer blynne

To do all that your wyll is

And ouercome your enemys

The kynge made ioy whan he herde this

And swore so euer haue I blys

His tresure and goddes to lose all

But thos herbes haue I shall

¶Redely on the thyrde daye

He with great company went his waye

Unto the hyll warde they made spede

And Sydrac with them dyd lede

The thyrtene daye come they tyll

A vale at the fote of the hyll

There taryed they thre dayes

The fourth daye to ye hyll toke theyr wayes

But the people that dwelled there

Hard that they come were

Anon agayne them went boldly

And dyd bet them backe manfully

Unto the vale ageyne they tourned

And fyften dayes so they iourned

And than went they to the hyll ageyne

Truly with all theyr mayne

And fought with them full hardely

But they ware dyscomfortyd fouly

Unto the dale ageyne they went

And after great succoure they sent

Whan they come they dyd them spede

Ageyne that they ware at that dede

And than they that on the hyll wore

They dyd dyscomforte for euer more

[Page]And viij. dayes they dwellyd styll

Hauynge all the hyl at wyll

¶Boccus was hethen and knew nought

God that heuyn wrought

He beleuyd all in ydolatre

And in false ymagere

Sydrac beleuyd in the Trynyte

Kepynge his cōmaundment with dylygēse

The kynge where he yede

His mammetes with hym dyd lede

And vpon the eyghtene daye

Upon the hyll where they lay

Theyr warre clene don

The kynge made redy a pauylyon

And his goddes forth fet

Eche one in his place was set

There ware they set in molde

Both of syluer and golde

And amonge them there was one

Rychest of them euerychone

Of golde and syluer comly to se

Hyest amonge them stode he

Most had in honoure

Amonge all that there wore

Bestes the kynge forth gan call

To make sacryfyce with all

He toke Sydrac by the hande

With other lordes of his lande

To the pauylyon they went

The bestes ware there present

A shepe very fat he toke truly

Kyllynge hym with his knyfe deuoutly

[Page]Before hym that so hye stode

And offeryd to hym the blode

And euery one slewe at the last

And aboute the pauylyon them cast

¶ Sydrac wondered in his thought

And markyd sadly what they wrought

¶ Kynge Boccus sayd Sydrac vp ryse

And vnto our god make sacryfyse

¶ Sydrac answeryd with great yre

And sayd that shall I neuer syre

Sacryfyse shall I make hym to

Heuyn and erth that made also

Both ayer / element / sonne and the se

And all that therin be

Also that made both Adam and Eue

He is the god that I on beleue

¶ The kynge was wrothe there he stode

And askyd hym in his mode

What canyst thou by my goddes say

Are they not good and all thynges may

¶Nay quod Sydrac trust me to

They are wycked and false also

And the deuyl in them dwellynge is

Craftely that begyleth the I wys

And all that honoure to them make

But I cownsel you them forsake

For a bad god I hym suppose

That cannot amannys herte dysclose

I had leuer to dethe be tourmentyd

Or of me they shulde be honoryd

¶The kynge was wrothe of his sayeng

And caused his goddes forth to bryng

[Page]And whan they were before hym brought

He sayd Sydrac dysdayne nought

Sacryfyse to do anone

Before so rych a god as this is one

Syr he sayd my sacryfyce

Shall be to god that hye iustyce

That made man and man not hym

But this is the deuelys lym

The deuyl of them thanke takyth

That vnto hym honour makyth

Therfore they be refusyd of me

All thes mahowndes that ye here se

Now was the kynge moued sore

That his goddes despysed wore

And sayd to Sydrac tell thou me

Thy god how callyd is he

¶Syr he sayd I shall tell ywys

On god a goostly substance is

And the aungels of heuyn lyght

That are so noble and so bryght

Passynge the sonne in manyfolde

Hauynge great ioy on hym to beholde

¶The kynge than callyd two of his

That ware in his lawe counted wyse

For to dyspute with Sydrac

But he cast them sone abacke

And ouercome all theyr reson

Ryght in opyn dysputacyon

¶Praye thou than quod they thy god vnto

And we wyll to ours also

Trustynge to haue tokenynge

Who shall sonyst haue his askynge

[Page]And loke how that we shall fare

In this wylde countre where we are

Anone they all forth wente

And helde a great parleamente

Than was there one that spake

¶I shall tel you this Sydrac

That causyth ye kyng this werke to begyne

And brought vs here it for to wyne

Without hym may it nought

Our purpose to ende be brought

And through his enchauntmente

Our god with fyre hath brente

Neuerthelesse I rede that we

Counsel that he delyuered be

And whan we haue that we haue sought

And in to our countre agayne brought

Hauynge our purpose on our enemyes

Than shall the kynge by my aduyse

Cause hym hanged and drawen to be

By cause to our god he hath do felone

¶All assentyd to that conclusyon

And made to the kynge of it relacyon

¶Anone the kynge chose hym ten

Of his most sagyest wyse men

And byd them to Sydrac goo

Sayenge that the kynge was woo

That he shulde be prysonede

And saye if he wyll my ioyrney spede

I shall forgyue the trespas

That done to my god was

¶Sydrac answered truly thus

Grete wel the kynge Boccus

[Page]And say also to hym so god me saue

That I wyll no forgyfnes haue

Of nothyng that I haue don amys

But yf god that in heuyn is

On his god hath shoyd power as he dyd se

What? wyll he forgyue that me

But say to hym yf it be his wyll

That I shall his seruyse fulfyll

In god of heuyn trust he shall

And his commaundment do all

Than his grace and mercy

I shall hym shewe apertly

¶Anon the messyngers went

Unto the kynge that them had sent

And told hym what answere they had

The kynge was wroth / and bad

That he shuld other dayes nyne

In pryson lye and there pyne

Whan the .ix. day was come and go

The kynge sent hym agayne vnto

The same bodyes lesse nor more

That he sent to hym before

And he his answer on them layd

As he had before sayd

Whan the kynge sawe at the last

That his ioyrne was ouer cast

And that he was a comfortlese man

That without hym nothyng can

He set hym forth anon ryght

And made hym all the ioy he myght

Sydrac anon before the kynge

¶Seyd syr by god of all thynge

[Page]The werke that thou hast to do

Shall neuer endyng come vnto

But thou wylt trust in god of lyght

That all thyng made of his myght

And yf that thou wylt hym se

Apertly I shall shew hym the

¶ The kynge sayd than with wordes grym

¶Let it so be than / shew me hym

And he be so good / as thou prechest

I shall beleue as thou me techest

¶ Whan he that herd anon Sydrac

And went from hym a lytel whyle bake

And set on his knees at the last

His syth vp to heuen dyd cast

And this prayer made he

Lord god full of pyte

That heryst all that call the to

And madest heuen and erth also

And aungells full of claryte

Of wisdom also for to be

Lucyfer by his pryde had a fall

For lorde wold he abyn of all

And thou lorde hym castest downe

Into hell that foule pryson

Than madest of erth slym

Adam our father and puttest hym in

Of thy grace gost of lyf

And madest Eue to be his wyf

Lorde that werkyst so perfytly

I besech the inwardly

That thou thy grace downe me sende

This wycked people for to amende

[Page]So that I haue no blame

And that they worshype thy holy name

Whan he had made his oryson

An aungell came from heuyn downe

And Sydrac truly this certyfyed

That god had herd all that he desyred

And has grawnted the thy bone

This kynge shalt thou conuert sone

Thou shalt ouercome by goddes grace

The deuyll and his wickyd trace

God hath graunted the myght

And his grace shall be thy lyght

Thou shalt to morowe vpon a trowe

Party of goddes myght hym showe

How he the world fyrst began

And why that he made man

Of the commyng a goddes sonne

That in erth shall with you wone

And of the antecryst with all

That the world ende shall

An erthen pot thou cause to be fet

And vpon thre stakys it set

In the name of the Trynyte

One god and persones thre

Fyll that pot with water clere

And than call the kynge the nere

Goddes grace than shalt thou se

And shewe it hym and so shall he

The aungell anon went his way

Sydrac markyd well what he dyd say

And at that had great reioysynge

Geuynge lawde to god for so cumfortynge

[Page]¶He callyd the kynge and sayd syr

Wyll ye se that you desyre

¶He was full wrouth I wys

And sayd shew we what a is

Which is better that wyll I se

Our god yt thou hast brent / or he

Sydrac thre stakys toke anon

And set an erthen pot thereon

Than with water it dyd fyll

He lokyd therein with good wyll

Than callyd the kynge hym to

And sayd behold here in / loo

The kynge beheld and than sawe he

The vmbre of the Trynyte

That of myght is truly most

Father and sonne and holygost

In heuyn all they syttyng wore

And the aungelles them before

Syngyng all that there wone

¶Lo quod the father to the sonne

The sonne to the holygost also

And the holygost vnto them two

Whan the kynge had sene that syght

He was full ioyfull and full lyght

He thought that he was in heuyn

His blessydnes coud he not tell yt he had syn

He told Sydrac how he fared

And sayd vnto hym that all they herde

I beleue in thy god I wys

And in all thyng that of hym is

Or euer was or euer shall be

But I pray the tell now me

[Page]That I the better beleue theron

How than ar they thre in one

¶Syr he sayd I shall you sho

On what maner ye shall hym knowe

Syr yf ye vnderstand verely

The sonne in the sky shynyng bryghtly

Thre thynges ar there innate

And noman can them separat

One is the sonne properly

That ye se vpon the say

A nother is the claryte

That it gyuys to you and me

And the hete is the thyrd

That wyde in the world is spred

Be the sonne I vnderstande

The father that all thyng hath in hande

And the sonne by the claryte

For of the father come is he

The holygost by the hete

Thes ar the thre that I grete

And all thre ar god but one

As you may se the sonne vpon

¶Boccus than is now in such gladnese

That no man coud it exprese

And on hye cryed and spake

I beleue in thy god Sydrac

Thre persones and one very god myghty

To late I haue on hym be eued suerly

The goddes that my fathers wore

And my auncytors here before

For sake I here for euer in say

For his loue that all thyng may

[Page]¶Whan the people that vnderstode

They were for it ny wode

And swore that Sydrac shuld dey

For ofte that eny man cowd sey

Sume wente mornyng alone

And for the kynge made gret morne

And sayd alas that he was borne

Our kynge hath his wytte forlorne

There withall they came hym to

And sayd syr thou hast mysdo

Full wroght than ar thy meyne

All that to the trusty shuld be

That thou hast a wich beleued

And thy good god renayed

That thy father and forgoars all

Had full dere and dyd on call

Now hast thou hym by thy assent

Confoundyd and in fyre brent

¶The kynge sayed vnto all them

You wote neuer what ye mene

Therfor I haue hym forsakyn

And vnto a nother god me taken

Longe I haue bene in the darke nyght

I take me now to the sonne lyght

Ye are of this thynge full lewde

For Sydrac that had me shewed

The vmbre of the trynyte

And that our fathers and we

Haue beleued in goddes fals & bad

And a feble lyfe haue we had

But now haue I hym in mynde

That may bothe lose and tynde

[Page]In his lawe soth to say

Than wyll I both lyue and dey

¶The people drew themself bake

All that were angre with Sydrac

They chose fouer men of the host

That wysest were and coude most

For to hold dysputacyon

Ageyne Sydrac and his reson

Thes fouer before the kynge went

And sayd to hym with one assent

This wich with his wichcraft lewdly

Hath you mouyd gretly

Syr let hym come forth now

And we shall dyspute with hym before you

¶So it come to pase at the last

And to dyspute they began fast

They shewed hym theyr fals lawe

¶And he vndyd it on a rawe

He destroyed with good reson

All theyr fals and peruert opynyon

Wrothe a way than gan they tourne

For agayne hym cowd they not spourne

Whan they ouercome wore

And they myght do no more

They went anon forth and fet

Of starke venom a gobet

And came to Sydrac there he stode

And sayd thou seyst thy god is good

Daryst thou in the name of hym

Drynke this gobet of venym

For if he be trew and strong also

To the it can no velony do

[Page]¶By god Sydrac that / that you wene

May not a vayl you a bene

¶Uenom of adder nor of snake

That eche in goddys name take

May greue me ryght nought

Gyue it hyther that ye haue brought

¶The venom in his hande toke he

That all the people about myght se

Ye that to my god trust not to

Anon shall se what he can do

He dranke that venom anon ryght

And was hole sownde and lyght

All the people that there gadered was

Had great wonder at that caas

¶The kynge was full glad therefore

And sayd to all that there wore

Had Sydracis god not myghty byn

He had brust that we had it syne

And thes four that dyd hym spyte

Thought he wold a be deed quyte

¶ Whan the deuyll was out lepyd

Of his great god that he was in crepyd

He and his felowes also

In to other goddes dyd go

And they all at the last

Uppon the kynge a cry dyd cast

And sayd Boccus thou had lost thy wyt

To play now this folysh tyt

To change thy old lawe

And to trust in this withes sawe

Us thou hast now forsakyn

And to a wychcrafte the takyn

[Page]And we shall forsake the

None of vs thy frend wyll be

Thy sacryfyce we shall forsake

On thy goddes we shall do wrake

All thy bestes we wyll slo

And helpe ageyne the thy fo

We shall also hast blyue

Out of thy kyngdom the to dryue

All thy chyldern sle we shall

And other of thy kyne with all

And thy self with soth to sey

On euyl deth shall cause to dey

But thou wilt slake all this

And beleue styll in thy blys

Reuoke all that thou hast sayd

And all that thy hert is on layed

And breke yender pot in two

His wichcraft for to vndo

And the water at the last

Unto thy howndes thou cast

Seyng that Sydrac doth not blynne

This wo to bryng the in

THe kynge & all that wer thore

Of this thyng wonderyd sore

And a masyd were sumdele

¶Sydrac that beheld full well

And sayd syr dysmay ye noght

On god of heuyn be thy thought

Let the deuyll haue no intrese

The with his engyn to refreshe

For thou shalt se anon ryght

That I shall destroy hym and his myght

[Page]A betyll in his his hande he toke

And to the false goddes he it shoke

He stode and sayd all on hye

In his name that is almyghty

I shall you breke this uery day

And the deuyll dryue away

With his betyll he layd vpon

And brake the ydols euerychone

Whan the deuyll saw nomore

That his dwellynge myght be thore

He and all his company

Began then from thens to hye

And an hydyous cry they cast

Whan the ydols were all to brast

An erthquake dyd they make anone

So that ye folke thought euerychone

That the yerth sanke & downe went

Thunder and lyghtenyng also they sent

Hayle and rayne also there wore

That made the folke abasshed sore

And the kynge of all the host

Was abasshed all the moost

¶Sydrac sawe the kynge in drede

Anon he vnto hym dyd yede

And sayd syr dyscomfort ye nought

Goddys myght that all hath wroght

Is stronger than the deuyl of hell

And that thou shalt perseue well

Therfore dred not but comfort the

Ouer vs shall sone his grace be

Downe came than an aungell bryght

All abowt hym mych lyght

[Page]¶And sayd Sydrac take with thyn handys

The water that in the pot standys

On the fouer corners of the hows it cast

As long as eny of it doth last

In the name of the Trynyte

Betokenyd of the stakys thre

Bete together fast the two

And the deuyll shall fle there fro

¶Sydrac dyd as he hym bad

And fayer wether anon they had

An other aungel they sawe commyng

Beryng aswerd all brennyng

And smot the deuyll and hym dyd shent

And thos ydols all to brent

All the folke that there wore

And wold not be conuertyd before

Whan they had sene that syght

They turned vnto god anon ryght

¶Boccus the kynge whan he that sauh

Alytel he began to lawgh

In his hert he was full iocound

And askyd Sydrac in that stound

¶Leue Sydrac / and tell now me

What syngnyfy the stakes thre

And the pot of erth also

That thou the water dydyst put into

And why thou so the water dyd cast

And bet to gyther the stakes fast

¶Syr he sayd the stakes thre

Do sygnyfye the Trynytye

Father and sonne and holygoost

That ar one god / as thou well knowest

[Page]By the erthen pot I take

This world that god of erth dyd make

The thre Rakys the pot vp bar

God it syngnyfyeth be thou well ware

The water that in the pot was don

Syngnyfyeth playnly goddys sonne

That in this world shall borne be

Of a fayr vyrgyn puer and fre

And that sonne shall all with ryght

Destroy the deuyll and his myght

Uppon a crosse he shall be done

And dye about the tyme of none

In erth shall he buryed without fayl be

And ryse vp within dayes thre

Through that dede shall he call

Adam and verely his frendes all

Out of wo and of theyr mornfull care

That now in the deuyllys handes are

The water that I at the last

About on the fouer corners dyd cast

Betokenys fouer men that shall tho

In fouer sydes of the world shall go

That many a man shall suerly wyte

Euery one his boke shall wryte

By the whiche they confownde shall

The deuyl and his power all

The stakes that I together smot

Made gret benne as ye it wot

That was in tokyn of them tho

That with goddys sonne shall go

And shall his dyscypyls also be

They shall preche the Trynyte

[Page]And the noyse of them shall wende

Ouer all to the worldes ende

For they shall to the people preche

And the ryght beleue them teche

That man had better not be borne

That it despysyth / for he is forlorne

And thos that ar in ryght beleue

Goddys sonne shall them forgyue

All that they haue don amys

And bryng them in to heuyn blys

¶Boccus lyked thos wordes well

And is instructyd now sumdele

By Sydracs trew informacyon

In the fayth hath take a fundacyon

And goddys name in honour had

And of the fayth ryght glad

Than desyred he for to here

Many thynges that he wold requere

Prayng that he tell wolde

Thynges that he aske shulde

Sydrac sayd full mekely

Aske what ye wyll syr hardely

The kynge asked hym anon

These questyons by one and one

That are wrytten in this boke

And vnto them great hede he toke.

¶Here after begyn the questyons

¶Hic incipiunt questiones

[Page]

1

The fyrst thyng than askyd he

Yf god was euer and euer shall be

GOd had neuer begynnyng

Nor neuer shall haue endyng

Before he heuy nor erth wrought

Or eny thyng to effect brought

He knew well how them to dyght

And all thorow his owne myght

Or he made aungell to be

The noumbre of them well wyst he

Of man of beste of euery dell

Of fowle of fyshe all knew be well

And what dede echone shuld haue

Also which shuld theyr sowles saue

Which they were shuld be forlore

All together knew he before

And theyr wordes and also thought

God had orels a be vnperfyt and nought

For of all that were of his makyng

There nedyd to be non amendyng

Ne empeyred shuld he a be nought

Al though they had not be wrought

He was / is / and euer shall be

Of one power I ensuer the

Ouer all truly is his myght

And thre heuyns he hath dyght

The one is bodely that we se

An other goostly where aungels be

The thyrd there god hym self is

Where is a ioyful blys

[Page]Where shall the ryght [...] ende [...] dyd [...] on

Whan this world is past and gone

¶The seconde questyon.

¶The kynge askyd where it aryght ben

That god of heuyn myght be sen

UIsybyl is god that warne I the

And inuysybyl also is he

For all thynges may he se

And he may nor sene be

For that / that is of bodely makyng

May se no goostly thyng

But goostly thyng that is in blys

May se goostly thyng that is

But whan goddys sonne so dere

In to erth is come among vs here

And the people shall walke bothe to

Both he and his werke [...] true

That shall be moost of goddys myght

And shall in a mayden lyght

Body to take of that vyrgyne

And shall be borne without syn

And do truly as a man shall do

Saue syne that may he not do

And god almyghty shall he be

Hym shall men / here fele and se

And except he body toke

There myght no man on hym loke

[Page]

¶The thyrd questyon

¶Than askyd the kynge hym more

Yf god be ouer all & euery whore.

NEuer yet god made thyng

That is / or hath of hym felyng

For we / such as we ar now

Fele hym and I shall show the how

We lyue here / war and go

That comys alwayes hym fro

And by the frute one kynd hym felyth

That euery yere newly spryngyth

The heueunes than fele hym also

They turne in orbis as he had them do

Sonne and mone and sterre bryght

All they fele hym and his myght

For all they fast abowt go

Untyll they come where they cam fro

The erth also hym truly felys

For euery yere his frute he geuys

Wynde and the fe [...] fele hym I wis

For whan the most tempest is

At his byddyng and at his wyll

Withdrawe they them and hold them styll

The deed hym felys on lyke maner wyse

For at his wyll they shall vp ryse

The bestes that in erth both crepe and go

They fele hym / for they do also

As he gaue theyr kynd to be

And ouer them all verely is he.

[Page]

¶The .iiii. questyon.

¶Which was the fyrst thynge

That god made askyd the kynge

Syr quod Sydrac vnto me lyst

A fayre paleys made he fyrst

Full of blys and full of lyght

That the kyngdom of heuyn hyght

After made he the world thus

And helle depe vnderneth vs

In to heuyn his fryndes he dyd lett

His foes in hell were subiecte

Man made he than as was his wyll

The vmbre of aungels to fulfyll

In stede of them that fall wore

And shuld in heuyn come no more

Aungel and man shall felowes be

For one god honorys both he and we

That is god of myght most

Father / sonne and holygoost

¶The .v. questyon

¶The kynge thā Sydrac be sought

To tell wan aungel was wroght

WHan god sayd worde but one

Than aungel was made anon

Lucyfer hym self dyd se

That fayrest of all was he

In pryde sone he dyd fall

And despysed the other of his company all

He was so good as hym thought

As god hym self / that hym wroght

[Page]Sume of the aungels turned hym to

And thought that it myght be so

Maysteres to make than he them hyght

Aboue other aungels bryght

Out of that palays was he cast

An howre myght he not therin last

For it was no ryght that he

That agayne his lorde wold be

Shulde eny part haue in that blysse

And for hym they fared all amysse

Truly all that were of his assent

Sume of them to hell went

And sume in to the thyckest eyre

That of ioye is none espeyre

They may no mercy haue

Ne for pryde they may none craue

¶The vj. questyon

¶The kynge askyd wher of serue thay

The aungels that in heuyn ar ay

THe aungels ye now heuyn ar in

Shall neuer haue wyll to syn

By cause they refusyd Lucyfer

In blysse they shall be euer

To who god hath gyuyn ywysse

Order and offyce in his blysse

¶Of aungels is there one maner

That vnto folke tellyth here

Both in water and in lande truly

The gret thynges of god all myghty

¶Another maner there is also

That tell [...] comyng folkes vnto

[Page]Be it loude / be it styll

The small bodys of goddys wyll

The thyrd potestas callyd is

That ar put in gret offys

Lordshype ouer deuyls they haue

And cōmaundes thē as a man his knaue

That they ne may ought can

Ouer moch euyll to do to man

¶A nother hyght pryncypates

Maysters ouer good spyryts be thes

And commaundes them to fulfyll

Goddys seruyce vnto his wyll

¶Than is there one that virtutes hyght

Which tech men to go aryght

¶Another is there gret of myght

Dominaciones theyr name hyght

Which be obedyent to the other before

And in theyr subiectyon ar thore

¶Another / and throni callyd is he

There vpon is goddys se

By them vsys god on hy

His iugementes full gryssely

¶An order is there chefe of all

Which cherubyns we do call

Many creatures of skyll

Ar that order subiecte tyll

For dylygently they beholde and se

In the myrrour of goddys claryte

And they knowe by theyr natures

The preuytes of creatures

¶And yet is there Seraphyn aboue

They ar brennynge in goddy [...]out

[Page]More than all the other be

And they ar of suche dygnyte

That no other spyryt certaynly is

Betwyx them and god in eternall blys

¶The vij. questyon

¶The kynge askyd yf deuyls also

All thyng knowe and all thyng may do

UEryly syr quod Sydrac we do fynde

That deuyls ar of aungels kynde

And by cause they of theyr nature ware

Of full grete conynge they ar

And they ar more goostly

Than man that hath body

Therfore knowe they more than man

By nature moche secrecy tell can

Saue thynges that ar commy [...]ge

Of that they know lytell or nothynge

Thynges that I haue don or thou

That knowe they well I now

Of euyl wyll and euyl thought

Thereof wote the deuyls nought

Ne none but god alone I ensuer the

Of a manys herte the preuyte

The deuyls may well yuel do

But good they ne haue wyll vnto

And yet may they not fulfyll

To do i [...] yuel all theyr wyll

No more haue they myght vntyll

Than good aungels them suffre wyll

¶The viij. questyon

[Page]

¶What shape ar aungels & what thyn [...]

They can do a sayd the kynge

ON owyse haue they euyn

The lyknese of god of heuyn

For bodylese they ar and h [...]yght

Full of fayre bed and of lyght

And there is nothyng in kynde

That they ne wote and haue in my [...]de

No wonder that they of knowlege be

For all thynges in god they se

And all that they haue wyll vnto

Without greuaunce may they do

¶The ix. questyon

¶The kynge than Sydrac askyd

Yf god Adam with his hande formyd

MAn and all that god hym lent

Was made of his comaundment

And who so vnderstande can

A feble nature is in man

And of a fowle thynge god hym dyght

To confounde the deuyl and his myght

For man so feble to [...] yt he came fro

That is to hym gret so [...]w [...] and wo

Of the fouer elements as [...] the

Our parent Adam made be

For his kynde [...] was goddis wyll

Shulde [...]oue [...] of the world fulfyll

For god knewe [...]e for [...] the shuld syn

And l [...]se the vertu that he was [...]reat in

[Page]And that he shulde as aman vnwysse

Not longe lyue in paradyse

All other thynges dyd he make

To mannys behoue and for his sake

And many wormes he made also

As mees / freys and other mo

Man to sorowe and byte s [...]ime tyde

Be cause he shulde not fall in pryde

And that he shulde remembre by this

Howe feble a thynge that he is

Whan so feble a thynge and so vyle

Shall hym gretly wex and trobyll

Of myre and rayne se men may

How they ar trauelyd all day

So besy shulde we of ryght

God to serue with all our myght

For vnto our delyte made he

A [...]l thynges that we se

And we and they were made also

Unto god worshype to do

¶The .x questyon.

¶The kynge askyd hym than

In what stede made god Adam

IN Ebro [...] ar god [...]olde it haue

Where [...] was put in graue

But fyrst he was [...]et in paradyse

A fayer stede tha [...] in the est lyese

There is ioy and gr [...]t de [...]yre

And trees a many [...] of fruyte

And euery frute [...] of myght

As god hastyth [...] with vertu dyght

[Page]One frute there is that yf aman

Had ones ete of it / neue [...] after than

He shulde hounger eny more

And another also groweth thore

That is callyd the frute of lyf

Both good for man and wyf

For who so etys of that tree

Shall neuer syke nor olde he

Whan Adam was thether brought

There was Eue than of hym wroght

So were they made as we fynde

Of one flesh and of o kynde

Be cause they shuld be wher they went

As of one fleshe / so of one assent

God made them that they shulde not syn

The more mercy after to wynne

And whan that god had Adam makyd

He and Eue were both nakyd

But therof shamyd they noght

Untyll they had synne wroght

Whan they of the appull had byten abyte

Eyther shamyd of other was tyte

For they sawe them than vnclad

Of clothyng a grace that they had

And in paradyse they wore

Seuen howers and no more

The thyrde hower after his m [...]kyng

Gaue Adam name to all thyng

The syxth hower ete his wyfe

The appull that made all the stryfe

The seuenth hower Adam dyd of yt ete

And was chasyd and streyth out hete

[Page]The aungel cam thyther anon ryght

With a sworde of fyre very bryght

And with the fyre be set he there

The walles of paradyse that there were

So that no man there in shuld wone

Untyl the commynge of goddys sonne

After his deth he shall vndo

The fyre that it doth compase so

And Adam and his frendes all

Into heuyn conducte shall

¶The xj. questyon

¶Thā as [...]yd he whyther went Adam

Out of paradyse whan he came

AFter that / he went anon

There he was made in Ebron

A hundreth yere there lede his lyf

And had chyldren by his wyf

But at lenght Cayn that was fell

Dyd kyll his brother Abel

Adam therfore came his wyf not nere

By the space of a hundreth yere

Makyng grete sorow that Abel was slayne

Than bade hym the aungel go agayne

And know his wyf as he shulde do

Sayeng that the wyll of god was so

For cursed of god was Cayn

And a [...]l the sede that cam of hym

And of that cursed sede forlorne

Goddys sonne wolde not be borne

That fu [...]fyl [...]ed Adam and [...]eth begot he

Of whos sede goddys some borne shal [...] be

[Page]And wete thou syr that from Adam

Unto the tyme that Noe came

Neuer fell on erthe no rayne

Ne none raynebowe was ne fayne

Flesshe that tyme no man dyd ete

No wynde than was / god none be lete

The wether was all tymes there

Fayer as somers day and clere

And plenty was of all thynge

Tyll mannys syn it made lettynge

¶The .xij. questyon

¶Dyd Adam eny other syn than it

He broke goddys bode & ye appul byt

NAy / he dyd none other synne

But a greater myght he not begyn

For he couetyd god to be

And for that the appul ete he

And shuld no creature of wyte

His creatorys bode ouersyt

Yf you before god now were

And some aungel sayde to the there

That thou behynde shuldest se

Or the worlde shuld destroyed be

And god the bade loke on hym fast

And no where els thy eyen cast

Goddys bode thou shuldyst fulfyll

And let all the worlde spyll

For that Adam couthe no good

Before god somtyme he stode

And behynde he lokyd as vnwyse

Wherfore he lost paradyse

[Page]And in that one synne that he dyd

Seuyn synnes were there hyd

¶Fyrst pryde / for that he

Desyred goddys lyke to be

¶Inobedyence another also

For he brake that god bade hym do

¶Couetyse the thyrd dyd hym greue

For he couetyd more than god wold gyue

¶ Sacrylege was the fouerth synne

That Adam was wrappyd in

For he toke vpon hym thore

That god had forbyden hym before

¶ The fyfte may be called by reason

Goostly fornicacyon

For his very spouse he forsoke

And to the deuelys counsell hym toke

Wherby his ryght sponsale he brake

And in aduoutre he stake

¶ The syxth to manslawter he drewe

For he by that hym self slewe

¶ Glotony the seuenth was

Whan he put hym in that caas

To ete the appul that his wyf bad

And that god hym forbodden had

Wherfore in that etynge vnwysly

Was syn inoughe as me thynkyth truly

¶The .xiij. questyon

¶What was ye Adam frō god dyd take

And how shall he amendys make

FRom god Adam moch toke

That tyme that he hym forsoke

[Page]All that he shuld there haue wrought

That Adam shuld forthe haue brought

That is that they shulde haue ouercomen

The deuyll / and his myght haue nomen

As the deuyll dyd Adam

Bothe hym / and all that of hym came

Bycause his syn was moche more

Than was all the worlde / therfore

It behouyd hym more agayne to yelde

And this had he nought to welde

Or fynde a man that shuld more be

Than all the world / whiche was not he

And therfore dyd he ete his brede

In laboure and swete tyll he was dede

¶The .xiiij. questyon.

¶Forlorne for aye why was he nought

Whan he so great a syn had wrought

FOr it behoueth nedely to stande

That god hathe ordeynyd before hād

God ordeyned at ye begīyng

That of Adam and his osprynge

Shuld ye orders of goddis chosen

Be fulfyllyd / and out losyn

And after whan Adam forthought

Was angryd that he had so wrought

Mercy anone myght he none take

For he myght not amendis make

And yf god had forgeuen hym this

And haue put hym agayne into blysse

That aungell was cast fro before

For a thought and for no more

[Page]Than had god bene vnryghtwyse

Therfore in synne and wreke he lyse

Yf a man founde anone

In a sloughe a ryche stone

That were fowle and nothynge clene

He shuld wasshe it as I wene

And in treasure it not laye

Untyll the fylthe were awaye

But goddes sone that more shalbe

Than all the worlde / shall dye on tre

Amendys for Adam to make

And hym fro his penaunce take

So shall he come out of helle

And amonge goddes chosen dwelle

¶The .xv. questyon.

¶Why wold not god an anngel send

Or a man Adam to amende

ANd aūgel had bought mā & made hī fre

His vnderlyne thā shuld he be

Man in erthe was maked here

For to bere aungell fere

And yf aungell the kynde nam

Of man / and a man becam

Then were aungell of lesse posterite

Than god hym made fyrst to be

And man agayne myght man not wynne

For all were they lockyd in one synne

For this shall goddes sone of myght

In a clene mayden lyght

Our kynde shall he in her take

And of two kyndys a man make

[Page]God and man bothe shall he be

And of his manhed shal he

Begyle the deuyll / for euermore

As that he dyd man before

And of mankynde shall he not twynne

Saue that he shall neuer do synne

¶The .xvj. questyon.

¶Why shall god be borne y• me tell

Of a maydē / and she amayden dwell

Syr on thre maners we fynde

That god in erth made mānes kynd

Fyrst made he man and gaue hym lyfe

That nother came of man nor wyfe

Man of man onely than he name

As Eue that he made of Adam

The thyrde maner than shalbe

Whan god of his powre I ensure the

Shall lyght in erthe in a woman

Without knowlegynge of any man

And sethe the world fyrst began

Euermore god lokyd vnto man

That he shulde best do his wyll

And his commaundementis fulfyll

And of his kynde shall chosen be

A clene mayden and a free

That shalbe withouten synne

And all vertues her within

Her father shall her sonne be

And of his dought his mother make shal he

She inuyolate / shall be in her lyght

And dwell in her .ix. monthes ryght

[Page]For the .ix orders shall he fulfyll

Of aungels than in heuen are styll

With mannes kynd that shall be borne

And forthe haue comen here beforne

He shall also throughe his myght

Be borne of that mayden bryght

And she after chylde berynge

Shalbe wemmyd of nothynge

For as the sonne his lyght casteth

Throughe the glas that hole lasteth

And cometh out as he fyrst was

Without wemme of the glas

So shall god in that mayden lende

And out of her body wende

And she styll left a mayden ryght

As the glas fro the sonne lyght

¶The .xvij. questyon.

Why is dethe callyd dethe tel me

And how many dethes that therbe

For bytternes is called dethe in dede

And for Adam through euyl rede

A bytter byte of the appul he bote

That droue hym into laboure and swote

And thre maner of dethes theris /

One that not rype is

As of chylderne that are yonge

They fele no paynes stronge

Another dethe there is also

That bytter is to come vnto

As a yonge man whan hym lyketh best

And the deth be on hym fest

[Page]Bytternes he feleth and wo

Or the goost departe hym fro

Goostly deth the thyrd it is

There the foule is euer dede fro blys

And all thre to man they came

For the synne that dyd Adam

And yf that synne ne had bene wrought

Man ne shuld haue dyed nought

¶The .xviij. question.

¶Sendeth god ought to man to saye

Of what deth that he shall dye

NAye: he sendeth to no man

But he that so moche can

That he haueth no menyng of the dede

And worketh after the best rede

Sodayne deth shall he not dye

For he shal go the redy waye

And the good that byleueth aryght

In god of heuen and his myght

And worke as they ought to do

To what deth that they go to

Whether they be slayne wt sword or knyf [...]

Or with wylde bestes lese theyr lyfe

Or in water drowned be

Or hangyd hye vpon a tre

Or of some fowle aduenture

Maye then the lyfe no lenger endure

Wycked deth are none of these

In the syght of god and hese

For theyr good dedys more and lesse

And goddes owne ryghtwysenesse

[Page]May not he forgottyn in thought

For they cursyd fyltynes of syn nought

And yf they had oft don amys

Through febylnes that in them is

Truly yt shall be forgyuen all

By the sharpe paynes that they suffer shall

But he that in god trowes nought

Ne his cōmaundmentis hath not wroght

What may it hym a vayle

That he haueth gret trauayle

And prouys longe or he dye

And though men hym fortunat say

What deth so euer he dyes I wys

Wycked deth and short it is

¶The .xix. questyon.

¶Whā sowle fro the body shal shede

How wendys the soule to other stede

THe soule wendes fro the body

Whan he dyeth full preuely

But whan it is out gone

Agayne to the body there cometh none

A sorte of deuyls it take

And moche ioye and dene therwith make

And vnto helle they it bere

With many paynes it to dere

But after the tyme of goddes sone

That he is comen in erthe to wone

Of ledynge / shall be manners thre

Soules to lede there they shall be

¶One is yf a man had here leuyd

Trustynge as god hathe hym instructed

[Page]And his cōmaundmentes all hath wroght

And from the ryght fayth erred nought

Whan his lyfe in this world endys

And his sowle from the body wendys

Of aungels a great company

Gaderys them with melody

Untyl hym that his keper was

Reioysyng greatly at that caas

Takyng that sowle with play and songe

And thankyng god euer amonge

Untyl heuyn therwith they wende

There to dwel without ende

¶Another maner of ledyng is

Yf aman haue done amys

And wyll not his lawe fulfyll

But hath all his lyfe done yll

And ageyne that he dye shall

He repentys hym of all

And vnto god for mercy cryes

Whan that sowle from the body flyes

A good aungell it taketh in hast

And delyuer it to a wycked gost at last

And he shall it forth lede

Payne to suffer for his mysdede

But whan he hathe bete it all

And sufferyd that he suffer shall

Then the good aungell hym taketh away

And ledethe hym to ioye for aye

¶The thyrd maner yf man or wyfe

In synne haue euer lad theyr lyfe

And goddes byddyng wold not fulfyll

But dyd all theyr hartes wyll

[Page]Deuyls kepe that sowle anon

Whan it is out of the body gon

And bere it to the payne of helle

Without ende therin to dwelle

¶The .xx. questyon

¶Now wolde I wyte whether wore

Sowle or body made before

Fyrst the body is made fulfayre

Of fyre / water / erth and ayre

And the fower complexyons that are

In man / of thes fower they are

Whan the body is made also

Goddys grace comyth therto

And blowyth in hym the goost of lyfe

And after of hym made a wyfe

Lorde and Syr he made hym be

Of all that he in erth myght se

But whan he the appul chose

Clothyng of grace than dyd he lose

Which hym greuyd very sore

As ye haue herde here before

¶The .xxj. questyon

¶Which spekyth knowe wolde I

The sowle of man or body

NO myght hath the body

Of hym selfe syk erly

To speke / to goo / ne ought els to do

But that the sowle hym geuyth to

Men se ofre it chaunsys

That aman on ahorse ryd yse

[Page]And hym gydeth to and fro

The way that he wyll go

And the horse so compellede

Goyth as the man wyll hym lede

On lyke maner hath the body no myght

Of spekyng / of goyng / ne of syght

Nor of nought that he do shall

But of the sowle it comyth all

The body is of erth wrought

And shall rote away to nought

Therfore is he of feble ar nature

Than the sowle that euer shall endure

And the body ne is nothynge

Unto the sowle but an hythynge

Thou seyste well whan the sowle is gon

A sowle caryn is the body on

That speke ne store ought may

Whan the sowle is gon away

And by cause all thyng of the sowle is

Therfore goyth she fyrst to ioy or blys

And than felyth the sowle euerydele

That the body doyth yll or well

¶The .xxiij. questyon

¶The sowle that a goost is on

And hath nother flesshe ne bone

¶Ne noght takys ne gyuys hym fro

How may it fele other wel or wo

A Goost is the sowle the soth to sey

And neuer more may it dey

Ete ne drynke wyll it nought

And it is as swyfte as thought

[Page]Felt ne sene may it not be

Nor no stede may it occupe

But whan the lyfe cometh to ende

And the sowle shall fro the body wende

Yf he helde goddes commaundement

A clothe of grace to hym shalbe sent

Haue he be wycked ouer all

A clothe of sorowe come to hym shall

Throughe whiche clothynge fele shal he

Ioye or payne whether it be

¶The .xxiij. questyon.

¶Who is more lord of the twey

Sowle or body thou me say.

THe body the more lorde is

That ledeth the sowle oft amys

But the more parell shuld abyde

The sowle / yf that euyl betyde

As yf there were now yong men tway

Goynge in a parellous way

And that one be bolde and hardy

That other a coward that goeth hym by

The coward thynketh as he goes

Yf agayne vs come any fooes

This hardy man shall me out bere

So that me they shall not dere

Thus goyth the cowarde hardely

The hardy thynkyth what do shall I

This is a coward that goyth by me

Yf other than good come he wyll fle

And I shall mys hym whan I haue nede

Thus goyth the hardy man in drede

[Page]All thus farys it wyturly

Betwyx the sowle and the body

The body says I wyll haue quyte

All my wyll and my delyte

Whan I am ded erth shall I be

What than shall I recke what is of me

¶The sowle says a felowe I lede

That me beryth feble felowrede

For if there come eny aduersyte

I shall it fele and not be

Thus is the sowl in peryll ay

For that the body holdyth play

¶The .xxiiij. questyon

¶Where hath ye sowle I the rede

In mannys body his wonnyng stede

IN the body euerywhere

Wonyth ye sowle if blode be there

Blode is wessel for the sowle truly

And of the blode is the body

And where as blode raynyth nothyng

There hath the sowle no dwellyng

As in teth and heer also

In nayles and in hyde therto

Yf you say lyfe is in tho

For they may fele who doth them wo

Therto lyeth answere good

For theyr rotys touchyth blode

Pare them and clyp them who thou wylt

And come theyr rotys not vntyl

Shall they fele it neuer a dele

Whether thou doyst them wo or wele

[Page]

¶The .xxv. questyon

¶Why doth the sowle no lengar rest

In the body / than ye blode doth lest

Lyke it faryth I the ensuer

As fysshe in apond of water puer

Yf aman a goter make

The water of that ponde to slake

The water rēnith small & small

Untyl it be ronne out all

Than lye the fysshe of that ponde

Betynge them selfe ageyne the drye londe

And whan the water is all awey

Than most they nedys dey

Of the sowle it fareth so

Whan the blode it rennyth fro

As the blode out yssueth treuly

So doth the sowle there wex feble quyely

And whan the blode is out euery dele

The sowle no lenger lyketh wele

In that body for to dwell

But departeth al so suell

For his nature hathe he lost tho

As fysshe whan the water is therfro

¶The .xxvj. questyon.

¶I praye the nowe that thou me saye

How it is that [...]he folk [...] so deye

AMan dyeth on many wayes

Summe whan that his dayes

That god hym set fulfylled are

Than it behoueth hym nedely to fare

[Page]Somme of outrage that they do

As of mete and drynke also

And destroyeth theyr nature

So that they maye not endure

Understande that no man maye

Ouer goddes terme leue one daye

But with outrage maye he let

The terme that god hym haue set

Some dyeth in batayle and in fyght

With staffe or swerde as falleth lyght

And on many otherwyse also

Mo than I can tell the vnto

¶The .xxvij. questyon.

¶How may man wete that it so is

That god made man to his lykenes

WE fynde of antiquite

In bokes yt somtyme had Noye

That whan god of heuen kyng

Had made beest and all thyng

Thā sayde one of ye parsons thre

That are in the Trinite

Nowe althynge are made more and les

Make we man to our lykenes

And bycause he sayd make we

Is to vnderstand that there ar thre

And that he sayd is no lesynge

Than are we lyke hym in makynge

¶The .xxviij. questyon

Sethen we of goddes lykenes be

Why maye we not do as dyd he?

[Page] TO goddis lykenes are we dyght

And therfore hathe be geuen vs might

Aboue al other creature

That he made here for to dure

And for that likenes so know we

All thynges that in erthe be

We can labour / worke and wynne

And we knowe almes fro synne

All creatures maye we take

And our seruauntis of them make

And al other thynges that ar nought

Unto goddis lykenes wrought

Haue no conynge ne myght therto

To do thyngis that we do

Ne commaunde vs they ne maye

As we do them euery daye

But thoughe we be of his lykenes

We maye not neuertheles

Be al so stronge and wyse as he

For hys handworke all ar we

He is maker of all thynge

And we are of his makynge

He is lord and we subiecte as a slaue

And for the lykenes that we haue

Yf that we do not yll

Aungels nombre we shall fulfyll

For other lykenes than his

Were not worthy to that blys

¶The .xxix. question.

¶Where becometh the blode all

Of man / whan he dye shall.

[Page]GOd made blode of water ryght

And the body of erthe he dyght

And as water in erthe synketh

And the erthe the water drynketh

For to mayntayne all thynge

That waxeth and in erth sprynge

Also mayntayneth trewly

The blode / that is in the body

And whan the sowle departe shall

The blode he bereth with hym all

And whan the harte is fro hym sent

The blode is into the water went

And the body that is drye

And rype / may not longe lye

That it ne drynketh the blode also

As the erthe wyll the water do

¶The .xxx. questyon.

¶Whan the fyre quenchyd is

Whether becometh it tell me this?

OF the sonne the fyre is ryght

Therof haueth he hete and lyght

And he be quenchyd he shall go

To the sonne there he came fro

Thou seest the sonne that lyght maketh

And hete also there it on taketh

On nyght whan he fro vs is went

All the hete that he to vs lent

And thē lyght of hym also

All dothe he take it hym vnto

And ledeth with hym that he brought

Fro hym departe ne maye it nought

[Page]Also whan fyre is slaked here

He withdraweth hym on the same manere

Unto the nature for to go

Of the sonne there he came fro

¶The .xxxj. question.

¶Why dyeth not the body thore

Whan he leseth halfe his blode & more

THoughe the blode be halfe aweye

The body may not yet deye

For the hete of the soule I wys

That the blode by mayntayned is

Departeth not so lyghtly

And I shall tel the for why

The lytell blode that there is lefte

Maketh that the sowle fro hym is not refte

For it maynteyneth the sowle styffely

And the sowle the blode and the body

The weke that in a candel is

Whan it begynneth for to mys

The fyre slaketh and is a waye

Euynso it is here to saye

Of the blode the weke I make

And by the fyre the sowle I take

Whan the blode awaye is all

The sowle no lenger dwell shall

But the blode comforteth hym so

Except some other euyll it forthe do

Dyeth he not so lyghtly

But holdeth hym on lyue contynually

¶The .xxxij. questyon.

[Page]

¶Of what complexyon may it be

The body / and of what nature is he

OF the nature of erth it is tolde

And his complexyon is colde

And than is he makyd yare

Of the fowre elamentis that are

Of the erthe is the flesshe

And the blode of water nesshe

Of ayre the sowle maked was

And of fyre the hete he has

Se thyn flesshe is of erthes kynde

And blode of water as we fynde

Bothe are they colde of kynde to fonde

But sowle that is of goddis onde

That ought to be clene and fayre

And is hote of kynde of ayre

That sowle abydeth in the blode

And heteth it and doth it good

And the blode heteth trewly

All the lymmes of the body

¶The .xxxiij. questyon.

¶Were sowles made at the fyrst for aye

Or are they made yet euery daye

ALl thyng that god thought

to make al were at ons wroght

That is to say at ye begynnyng

That he befor sawe all thynge

And one cōmaundmēt made he

All that was and that shalbe

But I saye not that they were

[Page]In the lykenes that they now are

All thynges in hym ware enclosyd verely

Untyll they come to theyr beyng apertly

Than he shapyd theyr fygure

Euerychon after theyr nature

But he cōmaunded all to be

At ones / as we do se

So at ones made he all thynge

At his worde and his byddynge

¶The xxxiiij. questyon

¶May they haue eny excusynge

That of god know nothyng?

SUch as god knowe not here

Nor hym to lerne wyll not endeuere

At the daye of dome shall he

Know them for none of his meyne

And tho that byleue and wyll not do

The werkes that belongeth them vnto

That sympely them vnderstonde

As symple men that are in londe

Yf they dampned be therfore

Turmentyd shuld they not be sore

And they that haue good vnderstondyng

Of god / and do not his byddyng

Fro payne they may them not defende

But yf that they do here amende

¶The .xxxv. questyon.

¶Shall aman ought els do

But that god commaūdeth hym to?

[Page] GOd hathe kyndly made man

To serue hym in all that he can

And his commaundmēt to do

And the deuyl to hate also

And as we lordshyp wyl craue

Of all thynges / and theyr seruyce haue

Euyn so wyll god on all wyse

Aske and haue of vs seruyse

And that we byleue on hym stedfastly

And worshyp hym with our body

And loue hym aboue all thynge

For we are all of his makynge

¶The .xxxvj. questyon.

¶How many worldes are of all

And how do men them call?

THere are gostly worldes two

And two bodely worldes also

That one goostly heuen is

There aungels are and all the blys

And there the good generacyon

Of Adam / shall hereafter wone

That other goostly than is hell

There the deuyls in paynes dwell

¶The two bodely is in our syght

As sunne / and mone / daye / and nyght

And other thynges that we se

That vs geueth claryte

The tother trewly we can nat want

The chefe thynge that we do enhaunte

As the erthe that all thynge taketh

And our wombe that nought forsaketh

[Page]And fro the bodely that are

Unto the goostly for to fare

Whether it be lowe or hye

Ne is it but a twynkelyng of an eye

¶The .xxxvij. questyon.

¶Is god of great yeldyng to tho

That ryght in his seruyce here go

IN al the worlde ne is no man

That maye thynke ne tell can

The good / the honour in many wyse

That god gyueth man for his seruyse

That in hym ttusteth and in his myght

And his cōmaundment doth aryght

And short cōmaundment ordenyd hath he

Do good and lete euyl be

His sonne shall he send here doune

To dye for mannys saluacyon

And tho that his seruyse haue in mynde

In his blys they shall it fynde

For he shall them worshype more

Than eny aungel that is thore

¶The .xxxviij. questyon

¶The people that in yt tyme shalbe

Of goddys sonne whan come is he

¶And after shall they comenly

Beleue in hym stedfastly

ALl shall they in hym theyr trewth ley

His own folke that is to sey

But all shall they gatherede be

Of dyuers spech and sondre countre

[Page]But they shall not euerychon

Haue cōmaundment after one

Th [...] cōmaundment as men shall se

Of goddys sonne shall truly one be

After hym his mynisters twelue

Shall cōmaund that selue

But they that come after tho

That in stede of mynisters shall go

They shall well beholde and fynde

The feblenes of mannes kynde

And lyghter commaundment for that skyl

Shall they make the folke vntyl

And eche nacyon shall wene that he

Be better than any other be

But of them shalbe at the fyne

As it dothe by a great gardyne

Where in many trees standeth

And eche of them frewte bereth

The tre that best frewte berys

Be they appulles or be they peres

The plentuousest of berynge

And of best sauour in etynge

That tre shall the gardynere

Most loue and serue in tyme of yere

A [...]so they that shall best byleue

In goddes sone and theyr harte hym geue

And best shall here in erthe do

Whan tyme cometh there vnto

They shall most worshypped be

In heuen before the Trinite

A myrrour that they shall beholde and se

Full of ioy / that of no tong may expressed be

[Page]

¶The .xxxix. question.

¶What cōmaundment by thy leue

Shall goddes sone his folke geue?

IT shalbe loue and abstynence

And charyte and pacyence

And that no man other do

Than he wolde were done hym to

God hymselfe for mannes loue

Shall sende his sone from aboue

And shall fele here abstynence

And sufferaunce and pacyence

And bytter deth at the last

His folke out of payne to cast

And who so beholde these fowre thynges

All goodnes out of them sprynges

For he that good loue hathe in god

Loue in hymselfe is not all odde

And he that hathe abstynence

And charyte and pacyence

And haueth the loue of god with all

No doute he shall haue the lyfe eternall

¶The .xl. questyon.

¶The blesfulest thynge after thy wyt

And dygniest / and fayrest whiche is it?

A Sowle that is good of man

Of all thynges that I tell can

Is the fayrest thynge that maye be

For bryghter than the sonne is he

And a worthyer thynge is there nought

Of all that god in erthe hath wrought

For of goddes owne onde it came

[Page]Whan god blewe on Adam

Therfore are aungels set therto

To kepe it in all that they maye do

¶Also the blysfullest it is

For it is ordayned to that blys

There neuer ende shalbe

Of ioye and blysse and game and gle

And god gaue cōmaundement to al thynge

For to serue man his blyssynge

Than is mannes sowle blysfulest tho

And worthyest and fayrest also

¶The .xlj, questyon.

¶The fowlest & ye ꝑelousest thynge to se

And most wyckedest which may that be

Wycked sowle of man I wysse

Is the fowlest thyng that is

So harde harted man is none

And he a wycked sowle sawe one

In the ryght lykenes of it

That he ne shulde lese his wyt

Also it is perelouse

For it gothe to a velayne howse

There parell is and moche wo

Where it neuer shall come fro

The most cursyd is it aye

For goddes sone on domes daye

Before all his aungels thore

Shal curse it for euermore

And of the payne that it shall to

Aungels and Archangels also

Shall haue bothe ioye and blysse

[Page]For that it had done amys

¶The .xlij. questyon

¶The good sowles shal they ought

For ye wyckyd sorow or take thought

GOod men whan the wyckyd spyl

Shalbe al of goddys wyl

And whā they ye dome haue sene

Of them yt agayn god hath bene

They shalbe demt frō goddis face

Which shulbe al theyr solace

For the dome shalbe ryghtwyse

That god shal gyue his enemyes

And whan they are in al theyr paynes

A monge the other hell hownes

The good sowles shal glade be

Them in theyr paynes on to se

As we haue game to beholde

Fysshe swyme in the water colde

¶The .xliij. questyon

¶Whether is better so god ye saue

Helth or syknes for to haue

HElth of sowle is good to wynne

To kepe it out of dedly synne

For whan it is hole and fayre

Of heuyn blys it shalbe heyre

And his dwellyng with god shalbe

For his laboure and dylygence

If thou haddyst now a knyght

That ware strong and stowt in fyght

And ware hold bolde and hardy

[Page]Hym thou woldyst holde the by

And thou shuldyst in to fyght

And ware he syke and of no myght

No where woldyst thou with hym yede

Wher thou shuldyst stonde in drede

Lyke maner it is of sowles hele

God wyl not with that sowle dele

That feble is by the syknes of synne

But he wyl therof blynne

Ageyne the helth of the body

To agood man saye I sykerly

Is better hole than syke to be

For in goodnes his helth vsyth he

And they that lyue in synne and wo

Sycknes is best for them tho

Which for the payne of theyr sycknesse

Shal they synne yet the lesse

And withdrawe them therfro

That in helth shuld not so do

¶The .xliiij. questyon

¶What poure is it yt wold I lere

That god hath gyuen to sowle here

GOd hath geuen sowle vnto

Akyngdome for to rule also

That yf he kepe it aryght

His kynges sete shalbe dyght

Before god in heuen blys

And god shal saye to hym this

Come my dere sone to me

The kyngdome that I behyght the

Thou hast it so kepte in all thynge

[Page]That thou art worthy to be a kyng

Therfore shalte thou crowned be

Before my fathers maieste

The sowle for the kyng take I

And for the kyngdome the body

And the commaundment of eche good kyng

In his land shuld be done aboue all thynge

Therfore what so the sowle wyll

The body shuld it do with skyll

And but the body do also

As the sowle counsaylethe hym to

Bothe together they shuld be cast

In fyre of hell at the last

¶The .xlv questyon.

¶When goddes sone to ye erth is sent

And agayne to heuen is went

Shall he any gouernour leue here

In this world the folke to lere?

AFter that goddes sone vp shall stye

Into his fathers companye

His .xii. mynysters leue he shall

That in erth hym companyd with all

A holy hous amonge them all

Shall they make / that they shal call

Goddes house and so shall it be

For therin may men god se

After them shall other come also

That theyr commaundment shall do

A whyle / tyl it last maye

And they shall fro daye to daye

Wax ryche and of great myght

[Page]And for theyr ryches anone ryght

The lawe that goddes sone them lefte

And his .xii. mynysters efte

Febely than shall they it holde

But for ryches shall all be solde

And god shall then dystroye them tho

For theyr synne and for theyr wo

And than shall come great maystery

Of the arte of astronomy

And wyse men holde shall they be

But coueytys shall shende all theyr gle

¶The xlvj. questyon

¶Goddys hows that thou hast tolde

Who shal it kepe and haue in holde

FOrsoth goddys sonne hym selue

Shall amonge his dysciples twelue

Commaunde one to kepe it ryght

And stone of stonys shall he hyght

He shall it kepe that it shall not spyll

After mā shal succede mā according his wyl

But after the tyme that goddys sonne

Is come in erth for to wone

A thowsand yere after than shal begynne

In the worlde to sprynge synne

Agaynst god and his lore

And shalbe wors than before

After that men shall se

Two great douues shal borne be

That goddys lawe forther shall

And myschefe destroye all

That one douue shalbe callyd mendar

[Page]And that other amonester

In the world they shalbe bolde

And pore men they shalbe tolde

The good shall loue them inwardly

The wycked shal drede them wonderly

And worshyp them with drede and sawe

For they shal haue of them great awe

Champyons they shalbe stronge

The faythe to holde and to fordo wronge

Good kepars shall they be

Of goddes house and his meyne

¶The .xlvij. questyon

¶He yt no good doth but holdeth hī styll

Whether dothe he good or yll

HE that no good dothe nor yl dedys

The lyfe of beast ryght he ledys

And that doth yl for he do [...]

And he that of good wy [...] a [...]ynne

And doth not there he maye it do

He dothe yll and synne also

¶As yf a man were honger sted

And gladly wold of mete be fed

And he by an orchyarde were goynge

There he moche freute sawe hangynge

And dyeth for faute of mete

And of the freute wyl not ete

He doth euyll and amys

For his owne defawte it is

¶The .xlviij. questyon.

[Page]

¶Lordshyp whether shall it be

Stoute and sterne or of petye?

LOrdshyp is goddes wyll

Lawe and iustyce to fulfyll

And yf myght Iustyce fynde

Men shuld be of fysshes kynde

The stronge shuld the feble ete

And great the small that they myght gete

And lordshyp ought stowte to be

And stalworthe and of potence

With ryght and skyll the wycked to deme

And peas amonge the folke to set clene

Alytel goddes sone beforne

A kyng shall in erthe be borne

He shalbe profyte or he dye

And in his prophesye he shall saye

Blesyd be they god vnto

That deme / and ryghtwysenes shal do

Yf a wycked man be raynt

And of his wyckednes be ataynt

The lorde maye deme hym of his ryght

And forgeue it of his myght

But yf he afterward do amys

Of the dome worthy he is

¶The .xlix. questyon.

¶Shal any man good do

His kynde and his frendes vnto?

YF thy kynde good men be

And they haue defawte of the

And haue lost by myschaunce

[Page]The good that shuld them auaunce

Thou shalt them helpe and good them do

And geue them good counsayle also

Yf they be of wycked lyfe

Be it man or be it wyfe

And they be in wretchydnesse

Throughe theyr owne wyckednesse

As some that are of euyl mode

He dothe yll that dothe them good

That men putteth in all is lorne

In a purs that is al to torne

What helpeth it wax for to take

And a serge therof make

And before aman it lyght

That is blynde and hathe no syght

To suche aman helpeth it nought

That lyght before hym be brought

Also it is lost for to shewe

Any goodnes to a shrewe

¶The .l. questyon.

Now I praye the tell me

Gentylhed what maye that be

GEntylry that is powre

And ryches that aman hath here

Of lande and rent and of fee

And cometh of antiquite

And that in coste hath to mayntayne

For most ientyll is he counted certayne

But some are ryche men of good

And are churles kynd of blode

A ryche man men call hym one

[Page]But gentylman is he flone

And he that ryche is wonderly

A noble man of his body

Curteys / wyse and holden fre

A great gentylman is he

And though he be a poure man

And amonge men bere hym can

As of norture in boure and halle

A gentylman men shal hym calle

But of poure men we al came

As of Eue and adam

¶The .lj. questyon

¶How may it be colde euery yere

Whan the wether is fayre and clere

THe wether whan that it is fayre

The hete comyth downe from ye ayre

And in to the erth he dryueth thore

The hete that hetyd the erth before

And so is hete al awaye

On wynters dayes that is to say

And whan the wether is trobelus and thike

The hete may not downe lyght

From the sonne by his myght

So may it here be warme tolde

And sumtyme in fayre wether colde

¶The .lij. questyon

¶May aman by eny trowe

The goodmen frō the wyckyd knowe

GOod men them selfe declare ryght

For of vysage they are bryght

[Page]And theyr eyen also are bryght

And louely they are of syght

For the good lyfe they are in

And they are trewly out of syn

And bycause they lyue so chastly

Swete wordes haue they comenly

The wycked of euyl wyll they be

And lowrynge are they on to se

Of stablenes haue they nothynge

Out of mesure is theyr spekynge

Smarte goynge they haue also

And they are seldome in ro

And the wyckednes of theyr harte

In worde and warke they shewe all smarte

¶The .liij. questyon.

¶The byleue that was here before

Of false ydols that here wore

Shal it euer raysed be

So sterke as was in tyme of me?

CHyldren that shall come of the

In god of heuen theyr byleue shalbe

And theyr chyldren yet also

But they that shal come of them tho

Shal turne vnto the wycked lawe

That was before by olde sawe

And they shal make a cyte

Therin shall a towre be

And that towre shal haue thore

Foure and forty stages before

And therin shal raygne a kynge

Of al the worlde most masterlynge

[Page]And an ymage he shall do dyght

After his father and lyke hym ryght

And all folke shall he make go to

That ymage worshyp to do.

¶The .liiij. questyon.

¶Why was it not goddes wyl

That mā leuyd not a weke with one fyl

HOnger one of the paynes is

For syn that Adam dyd amys

And man was made so (yf he wolde)

That he euer leue shulde

Without trauayle and without wo

But whan he was fallen god fro

Myght he not agayne come hym to

Without trauayle and wo also

And trauayle shulde hym not lyft

But yf he had hunger and thyrst

And honger / thyrst / keelth / and hete

With other paynes that men with mete

Shuld man nothynge of haue wyst

Had the man not synned fyrst

And with honger and thyrst maye

Glotony be done awaye

And for to mene in mannes thought

The glotony that Adam wrought

And that synne to wasshe a waye

Kyndly hym hongereth euery daye

¶The .lv. questyon.

¶The ryche men dye they also

Lyghtly as the poure men do?

[Page]Ryche and poure that men fynde

All god made them of one kynde

One whyle waxeth the poure ryche

And somtyme made poure is the ryche

Up and downe catel is brought

But kynde of man ne changes nought

Honger and thyrst hete and colde

Ioye and sorowe many folde

Slepe and wake etynge and drynkynge

And many mo kyndes of lyuynge

This hath the poure men as well

As the rych of kynde euery dele

But the poure by reson

Are of strongar complexcyon

Than the ryche that deyntely doth fede

But they in trauayle theyr lyfe do lede

But whan deth knocketh truly

There is no nother remedy

But both alyke shal fare

Rych or poure whether they are

¶The .lvj questyon

¶Shall men iuge the ryche also

As they the poure do

IUge they shal them of ryght

Stryghter than ye poure wyght

And euer the rycher that he be

And he mysdo ageyne the

The more payne shulde he bere

Shulde no ryches hym out were

And yf men deme the ryche sore

The poure shall hym drede the more

[Page]But for the poure mannys dede

Hath the rych no drede

But god rewardys them than

The rych more than the poure man

And demyth both ryghtwysly

After as they are worthy

So shuld men deme the quycke

Rych and poure al alyke

¶The .lvij. questyon

May the wycked as wel for ay

Haue goddys loue as the good may

A Wycked man that hath do synne

And of wyckydnes wyll blynne

Cryēg god mercy wyllyng to do it no more

He shalbe in goddys fauoure

The good are goddys where they go

The wycked are fall hym fro

Yf aman athynge haue lore

That he loued wel before

And he may it after fynde

That shal he more haue in mynde

And more shall therof be glad

Than of all the othere that he had

By man faryth god euyn so

Yf aman ageyne hym mys do

And it dedly synne be

Far fro god fallen is he

But yf he wyll mercy craue

Sykerly he shall it haue

For therof is god fulfayne

And than fyndeth he hym agayne

[Page]And of his fyndynge is he glad

For the great loue that he to hym had

Thus maye wycked aswell all daye

Haue goddes loue as goodmen maye.

¶The .lviij. questyon.

¶How may the chyld that ful of loue is

Come out of ye mothers wōbe tel me this

GOd that all hath made of nought

More wonders hathe he wrought

And as he hath power therto

The one body in that other to do

So hath he myght it out to brynge

For at his wyl are all thynge

Whan tyme cometh that woman shall

Be delyueryd of that she gothe withall

All the ioyntes of her body

Open and enlargeth them kyndly

All one saue the chyn before

And in that tyme the chylde is bore

As a lykenes of dethe that ware

But as sone as the body bare

The ayre hath sauoryd that is here

The bones that febely mowe stere

Begynne for to drye anon

And waxeth harde growyng to bon

And all the lyghthes that ware open

In the woman agayne are cropen

Harken I shal tel the how

If aman his fyngar drow

The ioynt wyl open and vndo

And after shet agayne to

[Page]So it faryth with woman after chyldynge

Throughe the grace of the heuynly kynge

¶The .lix. questyon

¶May eny woman bere mo

Chyldren in her at onys than two

A Woman may bere kyndly

Seuen at onys in her body

For the matryce of woman

If you vnderstande can

Hath seuen chambres and no mo

And eche one is separat other fro

And she may haue in eche of tho

A chylde / and so with seuen go

If goddys wyl be fyrst therto

And the kynde of woman also

If hote of kynde be the woman

And hath great lykyng to the man

One chambre or two or thre

Of them that in her matryce be

Of great wyl open ther agayne

That aman hath by her layne

The sede falleth in them anone

And they close agayne eche one

And yf that sede acordaunt fynde

It waxeth further in his kynde

And yf that other chaumbers be

Open / and it be that she

Knowe man agayne that same nyght

Or on the morowe by daye lyght

Or the second daye / later nought

And the sede be therin brought

[Page]They spere to and holde it fast

And norysshe chyldren at the last

And so longe they shulde be borne

Latter than other are beforne

As they ware gete sonderly

But vnderstande not therby

That euery tyme that aman

Knowes flessly awoman

That the seed in her rote take

Many thynges may lettynge make

But it behouyth that he and she

Be both to gether atempre

For yf aman alecheroure be

And haunteth many as men do se

The seed of hym is of no myght

For feblenes of fowlynge ryght

And yf aman holde hym fro

That he no woman come to

And than doeth as ye wotte

The seed of hym is so hotte

Whan it is to his chamber brought

It brennyth and wastyth all to nought

And yf the man be of tempre

And yf the woman not so be

But brennyng hote and of good wyll

It shall the seed in her spylle

And yf they both be of tempure

Theyr seed shall in his chamber dure

Fest there in and so ground fast

That yt shall come to man at the last

And yf theyr together comynge

Be glade and mery in all thynge

[Page]Of glade semblant theyr chyld shalbe

As they ware both at the assembly

And yf they assemble them wrothly

Tother shalbe the chyld truly

If the one be glade the other nought

And the chyld be bytwyx them wrought

The chyld shalbe somtyme blythe

And somtyme great felnes kythe

And yf that it befall so

That the one of them two

Hath eny man greatly in thought

Whan the seed is to his chambre brought

That seed may lycknes take percaas

Of hym that in theyr thought so was

¶The .lx. questyon

Which is the best thyng yt may be

Or man may haue tel it me

HUmylyte is the best thynge

That is vnder heuyn kynge

For he that hath with hym humylyte

He is indued with vertues thre

Unto god and hymselfe also

And his neyghbore vnto

Al thynges are loued therby

And god loueth it greatly

The aungels that in heuyn are

For humilyte myght not fall in care

With the other that fell out

For they ware vnleel and stout

The great flode scapyd Noe

By the goodnesse of humilyte

[Page]That hym made of nought also

And at his wyl them shal for do

Trustyng stedfastly that he

Was euer and without end shalbe

And kepe wel the commaundment

That his sonne whan he doune is sent

Shal in erth gyue man vnto

Towarde god and man also

To do good and wyckydnes let be

And couetys and enuy fle

And take vnto hym pacyence

With charyte and abstynence

For who so hath thes thre

I wys aleel man is he

And after for his humilyte

In heuyn may he crowned be

With aungels before god of myght

Wher euer is day with out nyght

¶The .lxiij questyon

¶Hardynes of man and drede

Wherof come they I the rede

BOldnes and drede of man

Wherof they come tel I can

They come of the complexcyon

And I shal tel the areson

Thou knouest yt mē made ware

Of ye foure elementes that are

Saue that god gaue hym goost

And after aman hath in hym most

Of wete of dryeth hete or colde

Shal his complexcyon betolde

[Page]And thes foure euen be

Raynynge in man / than shal he

Be neyther coward ne hardy

Lysten I shal tel the why

If kelth not ouercome the hete

Nor the drye ouercome the wete

Equalyte than of hete / kylth / wete and dry

The herte of man shal than lye

For the euynhode of them tho

And styre neyther to ne fro

And yf the hete the kelthe ouer go

And the hete the kylth also

The body begynneth for to shake

And the herte to styre and quake

And for the hete is hardy anon

And dredyth not that he lokyth on

If the colde be mayster ouer the hete

And ouer the drye be the wete

The body waxeth colde at nede

And the hert weke and ful of drede

¶The .lxiiij. questyon

¶Wherof may it be fall

Man to haue meselry or scall

SCall and meselry also

Of the woman come they tho

A woman that is hote of kynde

And aman her in her floures fynde

The floures are both hote and drye

And the man than by her lye

And gete a chylde perauenture

That chylde shalbe of nature

[Page]Other be scalled or mesel

The nature it is so fell

That it in the woman takes

Of a blode that it all makys

Menstruum that blode we call

That bredyth meselry or scall

Which raygnyng in woman

It is but foly to come to man

But aman shal knowe his wyfe

In entent to get a lyfe

To worshype god that hym wrought

And whan she is with chylde brought

He shulde come ny her no more

Untyl the chylde ware bore

Nor fourty dayes shulde nought

Such precept to Noe ye aungel brought

¶The .lxv. questyon

¶Ware althynges of goddys makynge

Made at the fyrst begynnynge

GOd made of his myght althynge

At his worde and byddynge

But al the creatures that he forth brought

At one tyme made he them nought

For it ware agayne kynde by my thought

A thynge that of matter is wrought

But yf the matter ware before

Or that thynge of it made wore

For longe is stone or tre

Or the hows made be

Also fynde I many thynges yet

As wormes comyng of mannys swet

[Page]As lees and other wormes mo

And some of mannys flesshe also

And of mannys flesshe them fede

As wormes that in handes brede

Scarbode is of fylt a neet

A worme that is so gret

Of howndes come howndflees to

And wormes of wyckyd ayre also

And yf thes thynges latter be

Than that that they come of / thynkes me

That god at the begynnynge

Made not at ones al thynge

And al thynges he made I wys

Unto the lest worme that is

¶The .lxvj. questyon

¶Tel me now after thy wyt

The frute in erth who norysshys yt

AL the frute that in erth growes

And al that man therin sowes

Al noryshys god of his myght

And for that hath he them dyght

The foure elamentes to fynde

Eche one noryssheth in his kynd

The erthe sustayneth whā he to hym taketh

The ayre noryssheth and it maketh

The water it fedeth and grene it maketh

Of fyre / here and waxyng it taketh

These foure make rype euery frute

Wherof men suffyse theyr apetyte

Ryght as who shuld sethe mete

Foure thynges behoueth hym to gete

[Page]Fyre and water ayre and vessele

Or els is it not sodden wele

¶The .lxvij. questyon

¶The bestes that haue no wyte

How wax they ragyous tel me it

GOd made ech beste as we fynde

And gaue ech wyt after his kynde

And ech kynd hath knoulegynge

After his wyte of some thynge

And that wyte may sone away

In maner as I shal the say

Aman may rekyn and fynde sone

The .xxvii. daye of the mone

In tyme of Iune ryght esterly

A sterre hym sheweth on the skye

And be it nyght or be it daye

Yf a beast it beholde maye

Or the vmbre in water on nyght

It shal waxe ragyous anone ryght

And yf it man or beast than byte

It shal become rageous streyte

¶The .lxviii. questyon

¶What beast is it that ye fynde

That lengest leueth in his kynde?

AN Erne leueth longest as I trowe

Of all the beastes that I knowe

The erne euery daye wyl flye

In to the ayre vp so hye

Hygher than any man maye se

And fresshe and newe becometh he

[Page]And in longe lyfe he contynueth

That so oft hym selfe renueth

The adder also hath longe lyfe

And vnder erth he dwellyth ryfe

And vnder stonys and in brynkes

The kelyth of the erth drynkys

His hyde he newyth euery yere

And becomyth yonge and fayre

Be he not slayned with beast or man

A thowsand yere wel lyue he can

And whan a thowsand yere is gon

Horne his hede growyth on

And shortly after begynneth he

A fayr dragon for to be

But al they fare not so

Some dye or they come therto

And some are slayned here and there

Or els al to fell they were

¶The .lxix. questyon

¶Fedyth god al thynge

That is in erth of his makynge

GOd made althyng good

And to al he sendyth lyues fode

Frute on erth and flesshe on lande

And fysshe in water and on sande

To mannys fode is ordenyd all

And therby he lyue shall

Beastes so are fed also

Of that the erth comyth fro

Fowles some in erth are fed

And some in water theyr lyfe is led

[Page]The fyssh lyueth by his mete

And ech of them wyl other ete

The worme in erth is fede also

And thys sendyth god them vnto

Unto al that he hath lyfe lent

He hath mete to them sent

¶The .lxx. questyon

¶Fysshe & fowle and beastes echone

Haue they sowles or haue they none

Ryghtly sowles for to sey

Is such that it may neuer dey

For yf the body do wel here

The sowle shalbe assocyat to aungel clere

And that is callyd sowle of skyl

That god gaue only man vntyl

Wherfor euery other creature

Is vnder man by ryght nature

And for that shuld he

Ouer al beastes mayster be

Haue sowle that most wysdom can

Or els ware beast lyke to man

Beastes and foules and fysshes al

Haue no sowl ryghtly to cal

If thou say as some men do

Al that lyueth hath sowle ther to

Trough which sowl the body sterys

Etyth / drynketh / seyth and herys

It is no sowle it is but an onde

That god hath lent thē here we haue fonde

For no good ne can they do

But that man them noryssheth to

[Page]Than haue they wyt of mannys techynge

But of them selfe haue they nothynge

If wyt of them selfe wore

Theyr sowle ware of myght the more

But theyr sowle that I a yeanyng cal

Whan the body ded shal fall

It faryth as an onde of thy mouth

Whan it is gon no man it couth

But vanysshys in the ayre awaye

And no lengar ne dure may

¶The .lxxj. questyon

¶They yt in tyme of goddis sonne be

Shal they lyue as longe as we

OF body such as now are we

But so great shal they not be

And we are now of lengar lyfe

Than shalbe than man or wyfe

For the world is now stalworthyare

Than shalbe than and myghtyare

And the erth gyueth vs to

More frute than it shal them do

And the plenty that the erth yeldys

Both in woddes and in feldys

Is now of moch more myght

Than it shalbe than with ryght

And the wyne is strongar now

Than shalbe than and to more prow

Wherfore ought we by ryght nature

Haue lengar lyfe and lengar to endure

Than they that in thos dayes are

And febleare so forth shal they fare

[Page]For he that may than the people amonge

Lyue a .C. yere he lyueth longe

And euer shal men dounwarde go

Of lyfe and of strength also

But in wyt wax they shal

And in malyce with all

And of theyr bodyes lessen shal

Twyxen this and domys day

¶The .lxxij. questyon

¶Tel me now some ensure

How longe this world shal endure

NO man in erth may veryly

The preuyte know of goddys secresy

It is so great that wyte it ne can

Nother beast / aungel ne man

Ne no thyng but it be he

That with god be full preue

And that he loueth alther most

As his sone or the holy gost

For they with hym are all one

In godhed / or els wote it none

For euery erthely man wyl nought

Tel to euery man his thought

Ne his wyl in preuyte

But yf he preuy with hym be

Also reserueth god hym to

Many thynges that he wyl do

That he wyl of no kowlegynge

Geue to man / ne to nothynge

But to his owne sone onely

For he is next and most hym by

[Page]And that tyme that goddes sone

Shal in erthe a man here wone

Men shal hym aske yf the worlde here

Shal endure seuen thousand yere

And anone answere he shall

And saye ye / and more withall

For of the fathers preuyte

Of the more / shal none the wyser be

We fynde wele that god of heuen

Hath made planettes seuen

The world to kepe by daye and nyght

And to eueryone geueth that is his myght

And euery one is assyngned to

A thousand yere to kepe also

And whan euery one haueth on this wyse

A thousand yere done his seruyse

Than shal euer god fulfyll

The world longer at his wyll

For as al planettes gouernours be

Euenso gouerneth them he

And for he is aboue all

Wote none but he what shal befall

¶The .lxxiij. questyon.

¶Leue ony men in the world mo

Out of the erthe that we on go

Syr yles are many in the see

A thousand & fourehōdred & two ther be

Some are inhabyted men withall

And some not / nor neuer shall

There are some that men in dwell

Of our lykenes euery dell

[Page]And of hyth but hanfulls thre

And berdes hangyng to theyr kne

Theyr here downe to theyr helys is

Of flesshe they fede both of goose and gryce

Theyr beastes are small euerychone

A speche they haue by them alone

¶A nother yle is by the see

And therin are smal meyne

A spanne longe are they and nomore

And all of fysshe lyue they thore

In the water are they be lyght

And vp on londe they are on nyght

¶Yet there other yles be

With men al so great as we

With one eye in the front no more

And vs with two they drede ful sore

They ete flesshe / and with the fellys

Clothe they them / and with nothynge ellys

¶Yet there is a nother also

The folke that longeth therto

Are tayled ryght as shepe eche one

And then lyue by fysshe alone

¶Yet is there one of oure shapnesse

But they are moche lesse

And they are euer in fyght and were

Agayne a great maner of fowle is there

In colde wynter tho fowles great

Take they / and hold them for theyr mete

¶A nother is there yet nere hand

There is a maner foule dweland

Thoughe they were in fyre brought

Brenne ne shuld theyr fethers nought

[Page]¶A nother folke is there feyre and sounde

That haue vysage lyke a hounde

¶Yet is there folke in a countre

And feble and lene they be

On sonne and on the mone they byleue

And sacryfyce to them they geue

But when they wyl sacrifyce make

Sum wyl his best frendis take

And praye hym company hym bere

At the sacrifyce he shal do there

Than shal he cause to be made a fyre

And when it brenneth ful shyere

Than shal he crye that al may here

For loue of the sonne so dere

Or the mone whether it be

Or an ymage made of tre

Lepe I in this fyre al hote

For my meryte wel I wote

Thus hym selfe there he brenneth

And the deuyl his soule wynneth

And tho that bere hym company

Anone shal do the same foly

The tother folke aboute bydene

Syt tyl they be brenned ful clene

And than shal they theyr asshes take

And relykes shal they therof make

¶Another lande there is also

That sacryfyce the deuyl vnto

Of theyr bodyes / and are ful blythe

They cause to be made a sharpe sythe

In lykenes of a hors sho

And that shal haue haftes two

[Page]By the heere than shall he hanged be

Hye on lofte that men may se

The sythe in his necke shal men laye

The haftes in his handes twey

And he shal crye as a man in a rage

For the loue of his ymage

That is my god this shal I do

And kerue his owne necke in two

The hede hangeth styll on hye

The body falleth hastely

That body shalbe with honoure takyn

And done out all that is therin

And salted as they wyl it haue

And by that ymage do it graue

Upon the graue shal wryten be

His owne name / and howe that he

Made to that ymage sacryfyce

And on what daye and in what wyse

¶Another maner is there yet

Of folke that are of lytell wyt

Whan they sacrafyce shuld make

A hye tree they do take

And do styke it in a place

With many about makyng solas

And aboute that same tre

Foure swerdis naked shal set be

The poyntes vpward euerychone

Than shal he betaken anone

He that sacryfyce shall do

Be bounden fote and hand also

And vp drawen shal he be

Into the ouermost ende of the tre

[Page]Ther shal he crye the folke vnto

In the worshype of god this I do

They slake the rope they hym with drow

And he fallyth sharpe I now

Upon the swerdes he doth lyght

And goyth to the deuyl ryght

Than shal men that body take

And a fayr stede for it make

Two dayes / and that whyl shalbe

A crye made in al the cowntre

That such a man made sacryfyce

And yf eny are so wyse

To come and aske eny bone

Hast them and come thyther sone

Or he to his graue be brought

For of theyr bone want shal they nought

Than come some vnto that stede

And vnto hym make theyr bede

And at theyr goddys fote shal he

Afterward grauyn be

¶Yet is there a countre ferthermore

Whan a man is dede thore

Yf he haue a wyfe then shal she

All quycke by hym grauen be

And also the man by the wyfe

Yf she or he forlese theyr lyfe

¶Another folke there is and that

Wyll ete for deyntes hound and cat

¶Another is when he wyfe shal wed

He dare not with her go to bed

The fyrst nyght / but he causeth blythly

Another gest to lye her by

[Page]For it is peryl a says to lyfe

To touch fyrst a weddyd wyfe

¶Another maner ther is wel fedde

But they wyl neuer wyfe wedde

They say that one wyfe ne can

Holde her euer to one man

¶Yet is there one that men do call

Lande femynne that men call

All of wymen and no men

For therin lyue no man can

That passyth fyue yere of age

Ouer fyue dayes ther to haue herytage

But in foure sesons of the yere

Men and they gathere ful nere

Hauynge with them felowrede

Lokyng after no syburrede

Viij. dayes fare they thus no mo

Or the men depart them fro

And yf any a chylde haue

Be it so that it be a knawe

They shal it kepe and norysshe wel

Fyue yere / but more no dele

And than shal they dryue it sone

To the lande there men in wone

They labour and tyl theyr met to wyne

And ouer them they haue a quene

That cōmaundyth them as quene shuld do

Holdyng them in peas and ro

Countres are there many mo

But longe it ware to tel of tho

But of thes some shal mere

At the comyng of the false prophyte

[Page]But many shal there fyrst be lorne

For a kynge that shalbe borne

That shal the world seke valyently

And shal do wryt them as men fynde truly

And many of thos shal he spyll

And with other theyr landes fyll

¶The .lxxiiij. questyon

¶Why are some men blake in towne

Some whyt and some browne

IN thre maners it comyth to

That a man is colouryd so

One is through kynde

As we in our bokys fynde

For yf the man broune be

And the woman as wel as he

And yf they to gether haue engendrure

It ought to be broune of nature

If the one be broune the other whyt

And they assemble with great delyt

Whos seed with most delyt festys

Whan it in the chamber restys

That seed shal the chyld be

Lyckenyd most and shape of ble

Another maner there yet is

If a man be fedde amys

And pourly lye and pourly go

It makyth hym not colouryd so

As he shuld be with ryght

If he ware kept day and nyght

The thyrd cause it is also

The land and the ayre therto

[Page]For euer the hoter the londe is

The browner is the folke Iwys

The colder lande the whyter aye

For theyr skyn is not brent al day

¶The .lxxv. questyon.

¶Tell me nowe per company

Wherof cometh felony?

Wycked humours make malēcolye

And that engendereth felonye

The wicked humours kīdel smert

And gloweth sō whyle about the hert

And chafeth it as a fyre

And maketh it derke and blacke for Ire

And that darkenes answereth than

Up into the brayne panne

And whan the braynes are derked so

Great dele of wyt they for go

And smyte anone in felony

And that maketh the hart so drye

But whan that the humours sease

And of theyr glowyng do release

The herte resteth and styll lyeth

And the derkenes fro hym wendeth

The lymmes lyghten euerychone

And in good poynt becometh anone

¶The .lxxvi. questyon.

The beastes yt god ī erth hath wrought

Of one hewe why are they nought?

FOr they of goddes lykenes not be

Dyuers colours haue they perde

[Page]And by cause they on the ground frete

Dyuers herbes to theyr mete

Some are colde and some are hote

And some are drye and some are wete

And yf a beast / whan it great is

Gothe etynge on the gras

That most is hote and drye also

The yonge shal blacke hewe come vnto

And yf the most parte be hote

Redde shal that yonge be god it wote

And be they moyst it shalbe graye

And be they colde whyte for aye

And yf that a beast fynde

In one place erbes of sondry kynde

And she fede her of them all

Of dyuers hew the yonge shal fall

And after that she most of eteth

Most of that hew the yong geteth

And of all beastes fareth it so

Wylde and tame where so it go

And al hath god dyght this thyng

At his wyl and his ordaynyng

¶The .lxxvij. questyon

¶They yt ete or drynke more thā nede is

Whether do they wel or amys?

HE that eteth more than he shuld

And more than his kynd wold

He doth harme his body vnto

And some vnto his soule also

And dystruccyon of mete doth he

That other withall myght fed be

[Page]A gayne god such aman is

Wors than a beast I wys

God ordayned man to fede

After that his kynd hath nede

And the remnaunt to saue

Untyl after he nede haue

And a man that is wyse

Shal ete onys a day or twyse

A man that etyth at meel

Untyl hym thynkyth that he is wel

And layth efte aboue more

Or that be dygestyd before

His stomacke encombres he

And the hete that therin shuld be

And so his kynde he bryngyth doune

And hym selfe to corrupcyon

And his wyt in that is lesse

Than a beast that etyth gresse

For there is nether hors ne kowe

From that he hath etyn I nowe

That wyl ete eny more

Tyl after he hongar sore

And seyng a brute beast doth yt

More shuld a man that hath wyt

Wherfore I say a mys they do

That ete more than nede is to

¶The .lxxviij. questyon

¶Which is the best thyng of ye man

And ye worst that thou reckyn can

THe best thyng of the man I wys

And the worst the tonge it is

[Page]For by his tonge a man may get

Syluer and golde drynke and mete

Loue / worshype and fauoure

And enhauntynge of honoure

Also for the tonge he may

Haue shame and bylony alday

For such wordes may he say

That perauenture may cause hym to dey

The tonge hath nother gold ne fee

But moch honoure makyth she

And the tonge hath no bone

But it doth breke many one

And also wel / ware it the wyl

Myght it speke the good as yl

¶The .lxxix. questyon

¶Whether hath aman more conyng

Of hot mets or of colde etyng

A Man that vsyth hot metys

He chasys his body whan he etys

The senewes norysshys he therby

And al the vaynes of his body

He warmyth the brayne and the hert

And makyth them of wyt smerte

Colde metes dothe not therto

But keleth senowes and vaynes also

And styreth the humours wycked and yl

That the het held styll

And they kele a mannys wyt

Wherfore necessaryly behouyth it

Whan the wyttes are so colde

That they the lesse conynge holde

[Page]

¶The .lxxx questyon.

¶How maye aman fle felony

And wrathe and malencoly?

Fyrst shal amā haue ī his thought

Hym yt hī hathe made of nought

And thanke it hym in al sake

Yt he at his likenes wold hī make

And he shuld hym bethynke also

Of the deth that he shal to

That no man may fro shrynke

Also shal he hym bethynke

How god hath geuen to many

Mayme and sekenes of body

And to some rotyng of lym

And what helthe he gaue to hym

Ete and drynke after skyll

And slepe as that reason wyll

That euyl well ouercome he shall

That hym stereth to greue withall

And so maye he felony

Ouercome and malancoly

¶The .lxxxj questyon.

¶Whether to haue is more bate

Loue of woman or her hate?

A Good woman is good to loue

And holde vnto mannes behoue

For of good women comethe nought

Neyther in warke nor in thought

But good and worshyp where she goeth

And euery man therfore her commendeth

[Page]For but good and trewth and lawe

Doth she mene to her felawe

And such a woman loue men shal

And do worshyp and honour with all

A wyckyd woman shal men hate

And fle from her in the gate

If men may not fle her styl

Fynde menys to eschew her wyckyd wyl

For men shal neuer haue but folye

Of wyckyd womannys companye

Moch peryl and great blame

And amonge men eschap moch shame

Her maners are ful of vyce

Moch lyke to a cocatryce

Whych is a beast as men of tellyth

And in the water most he dwellyth

He hath a great hed and a longe

And many reth crokyd and wronge

Twyes in the yere he is greued

With wormes that in hys teth do bred

And whan he felyth them so

The lande doth he drawe to

And lyeth agayne the sonne aldaye

Gapynge as wyde as he maye

Than comyth a foule that god wold make

The wormes out of his teth to take

Aprycke on his hed is dyght

Shapen as an edyl ryght

The fowle crepeth in al nyce

In to the mouth of the Cocatryce

And the wormes etyth echone

The Cocatryce felyth anone

[Page]That the wormes destroyed be

Anon her mouth closyth she

And wold that fowle ete for his mede

That hath don to hym that good dede

The byrd felys her not wel

And wotyth that she wyl hym spyl

With his mouth that is sharpe before

The Cocatryce smytyth thore

In the mouth agayne the palat

That she openyth her mouth wyth that

The byrd fleyth out in haste

And spedyth her awaye faste

Such seruys yeldyth wyckyd wemen

For al his good dede / vnto man

Wherfore shal good men styl

Fle from theyr wyckyd wyl

¶The .lxxxij. questyon

¶A man that is in helth and yonge

How angerys he for a lytel wronge

I Shal tel the how and why

The hert is lorde of the body

The body is his wardeyn

And his seruaunt with al his meyn

For al that lyketh the hert vnto

Lykes to the body also

The eyne are gythers of the herte

The erys messyngers smerte

The tonge his aduocat is she

And the fete his somers be

The handes are his knyghtes ensured

The hertys castel is the hed

[Page]The braynes so are castel as I haue sayn

That of the hert reseuyth fayn

If the hert a worde here veryly

Be it scath or be it mery

He may it not wyte ne know

But his messyngers to hym it show

And yf that the tydynges hym lyke

He reioysys of it wonderlyke

And al his men haue ioy and blys

That the hert so mery is

But whan ye messyngers tel hym eny thyng

Wherto he hath no lykyng

He styrreth and quakyth wrothfully

And al his men are than sory

Al are they wroth and quake also

As the wote them selfe do

His enemyes are glad therfore

On his men waxyng glowyng sore

If the hert be strong and wyes

And loue the castel there he lyes

And his men wyl se vntyl

And theyr scath not norysshe wyl

Blame / charge / and the wroth all

Upon hym selfe take he shall

Holdyng hym faste it agayne

Than shal his men rest and be fayne

And his foos ouercome be

That haue reryd his meyne

But yf the hert be feble and vayne

His enmyes brennes hym agayne

And yf he haue no myght in resestyng

Theyr assaut hym assaylyng

[Page]And his men are as feble as he

And remembres nought her aduersyte

But to mysdo they styre them smerte

And al the sorowe bydeth the herte

Wherfor the body may take no scath

But the herte felle it rath

¶The .lxxxiij. questyon

¶How may a man blameles be

¶To loue a woman & hym not she

LOue may they together wel

As in god I the tel

For god them together festyd louely

Of both makyng one body

By cause frute shuld be bytwyx them two

To goddys name worshype to do

Wherfor shuld eyther loue other in blys

As the wyl of god is

¶Of loue ther is another maner

After as the world vsyth here

As a man to loue his wyfe

For her fayrnes and her good lyfe

For ryches and her lewte

And wyt that in her may be

Aman that a good wyfe hauys

That hym bothe wynnys and sauys

And is of good maner withall

The world wyl that he her loue shall

And for these skylles shal woman

After the worlde agayne loue man

But who so loueth other wele

And of these vertues haue no dele

[Page]Moche to blame are they trewly

For they loue vnskylfully.

¶The .lxxxiiij. questyon.

¶Wherof comethe the fatnes & why

That aman hath in his body?

OF flewmys that in the body renneth

Cometh fathed who so them kenneth

And yf the flewmys be swete

Throughe the body they shete

And the hete of other thynges

Sle they / and themselfe sprynges

And lordshyp they haue anone

Ouer the humours euerychone

And whan that they maysters are

The swetnes of them turneth yare

In to grece / than gather that

And maketh so the body fat

Yf the flewmes be salte within

The flesshe and the body they brenne

And company anone they take

Unto colours yelowe and blake

And whan they in lymmes & veynes sprede

And tho colours with them lede

So longe as they therin dure

They let the body of norture

And holdis it so lene alwaye

That it no grece gather maye

Therfore it is good to many one

To let the flewmes out of hym gone

For aman may be slaynyd therby

Or make great scabbe on his body.

[Page]

¶The .lxxxv. questyon

¶Shal a man awoman chastyse

With betyng whan she doth amyse

GOod wymen to dele with al

Theyr mysdedys shalbe but smal

And yf she haue ought mysgon

She repentys her anon

Shonysshyng her mysdede

Men shal than her chastyse and lede

With fayr wordes and soft

And shal noman morne her oft

Whan a wickyd woman hath myswrought

And shonysys it ryght nought

But doth vse it al tyte

And hath therin great delyte

If man her blame that she dyd so

Another tyme shal she wors do

If men them vpbrede or bete

The lesse she shal her folye lete

Men shal her warne twyes or thryes

With fayrewordes yf he be wyes

And with gyfte and fayre hetyng

Wyl not leue that thynge

Man shal her let and fro her go

For it helpyth man no nother to do

Unto woman that wyckyd wyl be

For of the deuyls wyl is she

And the deuyl her dwellyth in

That causyth that she cannot blyn

Wherfore there is no better wone

But let the deuyl and her alone

[Page]

¶The .lxxxvj. questyon

¶What thyng is gelousy to knowe

And why is man in gelousy so

OF gelousy are maners mo

For to tel of than one or two

One gelousy of god it is

Whan aman heryth spekyng amys

Agayne god or agayne his lay

As herytykes do al day

There shuld aman be ryght gelous

And to his lawe ware defyrus

Yet shal aman gelous be

Ouer his frende yf eny haue he

And that gelouse is cōmaundment

Of clene hert and louyng entent

Yet is there a gelousye

That comyth of fowle hert and folye

And of wyckyd humours also

That the hert gatherys vnto

That gelousy comyth of woman suerly

Enhauntyng them wyckydly

The hert brennys of wyckyd thought

Rest in the body may it nought

Mete and drynke he forgettyth al quyte

With al his ioy and his delyte

If aman be in such a stryfe

For her that is his owne wyfe

Out of his thought he shal it late

And thynke that it may hym not bate

His borden from his backe he thro

And cast it vnto grownd lowe

[Page]And thynke yf she good wolde be

Shuld non her kepe so wel as she

And thynke tyll he faryth so

He sekyth after sorow and wo

And yf he loue one wodly

That not is his owne properdly

He trauaylys in gelousye

Of brennyng hert and great folye

In angwysshe great lyue he sha

And his tyme losyth al

He is lyke that man I wys

That nyght and daye fyghtyng is

Agayne the wynd it for to take

His owne at his wyl to make

And euer the lengar he doth so

The forther is the wynde hym fro

¶The .lxxxvij. questyon

¶Shal aman loue his frende

And opyn to hym al his mende

HIs good frende aman loue shal

With good hert and clene with al

After his myght and with hym dele

And of his charge bere somdele

For yf he ryght good frende be

No goodnes forgetyth he

But of dyuers maners are they al

Many that men frendes call

Some ther are that wel can shake

And aman fayre semblant make

Sayeng that he is his frende

Untyl he knowe ought of his mende

[Page]He proferys hym his wyl to do

But there is no trust ther to

What he doth he rekenyth not nor hew

But that it be his owne prow

For dyd he ought agayne hym

He shuld fynde hym fell and grym

And he loueth me lyghtly inbate

That for a lytel wyl me hate

He that loueth me for myne

And not for me / that is venyme

But he is frende to mannys behoue

To trust in and to loue

That nought assentyth to the wyl

Of hys frend that may turne to yll

And seruyth not glosyngly

But chastyse hym of his foly

And though he apertly hym mysdo

He ne says hym no word vnto

In that frend shal man haue fyaunce

And loue hym and hym auaunce

¶The .lxxxviij. questyon

¶May aman his profyt do

And no trauayl haue therto

SIthen adā ete through wyckyd rede

The appul that god forbede

Fro that tyme vnto nowe

Myght neuer adam do his prowe

Ware he neuer so myghty

Without trauayl of his body

The worlde that men on affye

Is but vanyte and folye

[Page]Therfore it behoueth pouer to trauel smere

And ryche men in theyr hert

As to thynke how they shal saue

And multyplye that they haue

And also thynke on heuyn kynge

To make hym selfe a good endynge

Better it is before to trauel hard

So that the proue come afterward

Than of trauayl here to slake

And fowle endyng after to make

For without some trauayl

May no man in the world auayl

¶The .lxxxix. questyon

¶Shal men do good & almes dede

Unto pouer that haue nede

DO good / men shal to a pouer man

That hym selfe helpe ne can

And what befall ne rekyn shal

But for goddys loue do all

Unto the rych is lent rychesse

To helpe the pouer that hath dystresse

He shal thynke that pouer borne be

Of adam and Eue as wel as he

And to his lycknes are wrought

And that he hath his ryches nought

Of hym selfe but of goddys loue

His body to kepe only

But his sowle with al to tyle

And thynke that after a whyle

He shal dye and go hens somwhere

And nothynge shal he with hym bere

[Page]But as he came so shal he fare

Both pouer / nakyd and bare

Therfore shal he pouer gyue vnto

Gladly departyng therwith also

For that he geuyth that shal he fynde

And that he leuyth hym behynde

Is the worldys and not his

Whreof he shal haue lytel blys

¶ T [...]e .lxxxx. questyon

¶How shal aman hym order me say

That is among the folke alday

A Man shal hym contayne wysely

Among men and curteslye

And with fayre semblant euery whore

Spekyng at mesure and nomore

And here other speke whan they begynne

Thoughe he haue no delyt therin

For it is great curtesye

To cast vnto hym his eye

That he spekyth holde with al

And to his wordes lysten he shal

Yet shal he kepe hym euery a tyde

With out bost and also pryde

Thoughe he more rycher were

Than eny other that are there

For euer the myghtyare he be

The better behauyour of shuld be he

For to be curtys and meke

If he wyl honoure seke

And yf he shal speke eny whore

He shal hym bethynke before

[Page]And cast than in his hert ryght wel

Or that he speke eny dele

And whan that he shal tel his wyl

Gyue bold and fayre semblaunt there tyl

And be abasshed of nothynge

Whyl he is in tellynge

Aman that shal a reason show

A baysshyng as he doth it out throw

His knowlege is then lost among

For they wyl say that he sayth wrong

Be he among foles brought

There his wysdome helpyth nought

Wherfore he hym contayne

Untyl he be among wysmen agayne

As foly among wysmen is wyke

Wysdome among folys is lyke

¶The .lxxxxj. questyon

¶Is a ryche man lesse worthy

That he losyth his good holy

¶Or a poure worthy the more

That ryches on hym encresyd wore

AS longe as the rych hath his good

He is regardyd as of noble blode

He is callyd and herd ouer all

And euery man hym trust shall

If his good fall hym fro

He losyth myght and honour also

With corage and doutynesse

And becomyth coward neuer the lesse

At cownsel shal he be not regardyd

His wordes shal nothyng be trustyd

[Page]No man shal his tales beleue

No fayth shal men to hym gyue

And the talkyng shalbe I wys

That he was / and now not is

¶The poure whan he waxyth ryche

His neybors shal theyr trust in hym pych

He is holden wyse curteys and good

Thoughe he be a churle of blode

His word is hard and byleued wele

Thoughe it be lesyng a great dele

Frendys he fynd anone ryght

That somtyme set of hym ful lyght

Yf he come ony where to the mete

He shalbe set amonge the grete

To counsayle shal they cal hym gladly

That before regarded hym lyghtly

By the ryche it fareth euen so

As men seeth by a marchaunt it do

That boroweth great good al day

Of ryche men that lend may

And haue nought therof greatly

But trauayleth and lyues therby

And whan the ryche his good wyl haue

Than is the marchaunt but a knaue

And whyle he the reches occupyed

He was of them ryche counted

Of this world it fareth so

Of al that men may gather them to

Hath he nought but whyl he is here

His lyuelode / and he be on bere

Hath he nomore than he fyrst with began

He cometh and goeth a poure man

[Page]But the pouer that rych was

Is holden gentylare per caas

Than he that nought hade

Nor nought hath for he is bade

¶The .lxxxxij. questyon

¶The wyckyd maner of men we se

And wickyd custome whereof may yt be

OF wickyd wyl and wickyd herte

And of malyce yt gathers smerte

For man hath the wyt

To know his maner & reson it

And to lete it yf he wyl

And to change it from euyl

He that wickyd custome hath also

Good may he not thynke ne do

Nor his herte in rest be

For in vnclene thought trauayles he

Through the which suerly

His tyme he wastyth and body

As he that goyth beastye

That he myght sykerlye go by

That goyth aboute without townes

Both by dale and by downes

And nedles trauaylys hym amys

For al his owne folye it is

¶The .lxxxxiij. questyon

¶Seyng yron is so hard and stronge

And for to werke it somwhat longe

¶How was fyrst made & wherwith

Tonges hamour and the styth

[Page]GOd cōmaunded al thynge

And al are of his makynge

And wyst wherof man had nede

For to do with eny dede

To hym his messyngers he sent

The aungel that to adam went

He bade hym yron take in his hande

And than was it as nesshe as sande

And therof fyrst made a styth

And hamour / tonges to worke with

He went and shapyd them euerychone

And they became harde anone

And whan it to the dyluuy cam

Noe of such lomes made than

That ware forged after tho

And kept them and after made mo

And so to this tyme wrought are they

And shalbe to domysday

¶The .lxxxxiiii. questyon

¶Do they amys that alday swere

By theyr god what so he were

HE that swerys by his god falsly

For he shuld trust in hym perfytly

Whether he good or wicked is

He doth euyl and amys

For I trow there is no man quyke

That his god holdyth wyke

And falsly for couetys

Swerys on hym by many wys

He is deuyl and deuyls lyke

And wors than an herytyke

[Page]For his god falseth he

For thynge that lytel whyle shalbe

And thoughe his god be false and wicke

And he forswere hym by hym thycke

His neyghbour for to begyle

He synneth greatly I tel the treulye

Lawe nor treuthe hath he none

Nor amonge men shuld gone

That by his god falsely wyl swere

For he wold aman with falsed dere

¶The .lxxxxv questyon.

Shal aman of his body

In althyng be chast treuly?

CHastyte a man shal holde

Of his body many folde

Of false othes and of lechery

And of al other velany

Of euyl syght of euyl speke

Of euyl goyng and of handelyng eke

Not to slepe in euyl ne in euyl rede

Nor ete nor drynke in euyl stede

Ne none other thynge do

But as ryght hym gydeth to

Al that is euyl is to fle

And of al that shal a man chast be

Sethe god at his lykenes hath sent

Shape to man / and wyt hym lent

Euyl to knowe and it to forsake

Than doth he amys yt therto wyl hym take

And he that hym therfro holdeth al

To goddes company he shal

[Page]And to his aungels also

Whan tyme comes there vnto

¶The .lxxxxvj. questyon

¶Whom shal amā loue wt al to go

And whos company fle fro

IN fayre dewes that may them mete

shal aman go and in herbes swete

There may he go sykerly

Without hurte of his body

For who so in the fyre goos

He brennyth both fote and toos

By this shalt thou vnderstande

With whom aman shal go company / and

Go with the good to and fro

So shalt thou not mysdo

Nor noman shal to the say

Wher thou goyst by the way

But worshype / honour of the wyl talke

And than in the dewe thou doyst walke

But yf aman in hym selfe be good

And he turne there to his mood

To haunt folys company

To hym therof shal come foly

And euyl report and wyckyd name

And vylony of folke and blame

And they shal say he wold not go there

But he of theyr maners were

Ware he not of theyr assent

Therfore in theyr company he went

Euery good man wyl hym fle

And thys vpon the fyre goyth he

[Page]Wherfore shuld men with good go

And that are folys fle them fro

¶The .lxxxxvij. questyon

¶Whether is better so god the saue

Ryches or pouerte for to haue

RIches are there bodyly

And there are also goostly

And who comyth the one vntyl

May haue the other yf he wyl

For he may haue that is nede

The sowle and body both to fede

He shal fynde how hym he serue shal

And his cōmaundment do al

Iche man shal fynd to do it wel

And for his ryches the more euery dele

If men worshype the pouer ought

That is but wynde and turnyth to noght

For of that honour that he had

May he not be fede ne clad

Wherfore to bodyly profyt

Than is it more delyt

Men say a rych chorle is he

That pouer and worshyppyd men se

¶The .lxxxxviij. questyon

¶Shal aman honour yt are ny don

Lyke a rych man and agrom

THat man that deme wyl lelly

He shal also debonarly

Apouer ney do honour to

As he shuld to a rych do

[Page]Thoughe the rych be hye set

And the pouer stande on his feet

But yf they both in lyke caas be

Of iugment to here the sentence perde

Nomore shal he be dysdaynyng

To here the pouer mannys sayeng

Than he shalbe of the rych mannys matter

So as ye pouer mānys be as good or better

Iugment came of god wherfore it shulde

Be delyd euyn yf men wolde

¶The .lxxxxix. questyon

¶Delyt the pouer in pouerte also

As the rych in theyr ryches do

APouer man that hath no mete

And to fyl the wombe he may gete

He delyteth hym more therin

Than ye rych wt al yt he doth wyn

For yf the pouer haue his fylle

Of mete and drynke he hath his wyl

And the rych is hongre ay

To gather more than he may

And haue he neuer so great fee

He may neuer fyllyd be

For better at ese than is Iwys

The ful man / than the hongre is

The pouer so of his hongar sesyth

The rych in his hongar contynuyth

He that longe hath seke leyne

Whan he is helyd he is feyne

And in his hert reioysyth more

Than they that euer in helth wore

[Page]Whan the syckenes of the pouer

That hongre is may ought couer

With mete and drynke that he hath gat

More delyte he hath in that

Than he that is in ryches sad

That neuer no defaut had

¶The .C. questyon

¶Shal aman ought make his roos

Of eny thyng that he doos

THes wyse mē shuld bost them nought

Of nothīg that they haue wrought

For o [...]fence wa [...]e it god vnto

And his owne dyshonour also

Be he neuer so doughty

Ne so valyaunt of his body

And he bost hym of his dede

Men shal scorne hym to his mede

And though they say it not / they hym holde

For a lyer of that he tolde

But a coward of no bounte

For men shal wene he doughty be

Of moch more his bost wyl make

Than euer durst he vnder take

Than say some that by hym sat

That he is a lyare in that

He was neuer worth a torde

But a bostar in worde

And he that doughty man is tolde

And a hardy and a bolde

Kepyth his tonge where he doth resorte

Sufferyng other of hym to reporte

[Page]That is moch more his honoure

For it is an old auctoure

He that hym selfe bostyth in towne

With an horse tord men shal hym crowne

¶The .Cj. questyon

¶Why are howndes faster ī theyr kynde

Than other beastes that men do fynde

OF all the beastes that I wote

Is none of nature so hote

As is a hounde in his nature

And whan he shal make engendure

Of theyr hete the great glowyng

Maketh them together fastenyng

As two peces of Iron fare

In the fyre whan they wellyd are

Ley that one that other vpon

And geue them a stroke anon

Throughe hete they together bynde

And so fare houndes in theyr kynd

¶The .C.ii. questyon

¶He yt of a nother mānes wyfe couetis is

Or of his good doth he amys?

HE that is couetous and wode

After other mannes good

Other his wyfe whether it be

Great synne and amys doth he

And suche aman as we of tel

Is called the deuyls grype of hel

For the deuyll coueth aye

To drawe vnto hym that he maye

[Page]And for such a couetous is knowen

That more wolde haue than his owne

For a man shuld with another do

As he wold men dyd hym to

What man wold hym take fro

His wyfe or his goodys mo

I trowe it wold make hym loth

And sone make hym wroth

Wherfore shulde man hold hym euen

As the aungels do in heuen

There none couetyth others blys

But holdyth hym content as he is

¶The .C.iij. questyon

¶May no man eschape / but dye

By ryches / myght ne eny rede me sey

EUery man is made as thou hast herd

Of foure thynges in this mydelerd

Of fyre / water / erth / ayre

Both the fowle and also the fayre

And thes foure ech one be

Contrary to other in qualyte

And the body may not blyn

Where thes foure are gathered in

But to gether haue they batayle

Ey vnto one of them doth fayle

And be the one downe clene brought

The body lyueth lengar nought

Therfore where so aman be

Be it on land or on see

The deth cleuyth euer by hym

As it ware his owne lyme

[Page]His lyme myght he away cast

But deth cleueth ouer fast

So that powre ne rychesse

Ne conyng ne doughtynesse

No excusacyon may aman make

Whan god wyl the deth hym to take

For good and bade shrewe and wich

Yonge and old pouer and ryche

Strong and feble folys and wyse

Great and smal may none scape thys

The deth that he most to go

Unto the erth there he came fro

¶The .C.iiij. questyon

¶Syttyth god to aunswere ay

Them that folye speke alday

Hym to ferforth aman strykys

That answerys hym yt folysly spekys

But yf his folye shuld hym dere

Than is it good that he answere

Somtyme spekyth a fole folye

And noman wottyth of whom ne why

And men aunswere hym nothynge

Is none the wors of his sayenge

But yf men aunswere hym thore

They bold hym to speke the more

And than is a fole al hot

To speke more than he wot

And his wordes wyl not lete

To confyrme with wordes grete

And so engendryth great folye

And great hathred and enuye

[Page]And yf men hym answeryd nought

His iangelyng were to ende brought

Therfore he goth on the egge of a sword

That answereth vnto a foles word

¶The .C.v. questyon

¶What conyng of all that you tel can

Is most greuous vnto man?

OF all conyngis the greuosest

That is clargy and eke the best

The sotylest and the most of wyt

And the moste worshyped is it

And therfore is it called arte

For it arteth on eche parte

His herer vnto conyng

And of al thyng knowlegyng

And sonest may it auayle

But art of the most trauayle

Than is wrytynge of al that be

For he that wryteth may not se

A bought / whyle he is in wrytyng

Nor here no speche nor other thyng

Nor thynke / nor lysten / ne nought do

B [...]t al onely there vnto

Therfore of all trauayles thou wotest

Than is wrytyng alther most

¶The .C.vj. questyon

¶They that trauayle for to wyn

And can not lyue / why wyl they not blyn

MEn that trauayle and ese them nought

In great couetyse are they brought

[Page]And great traldam lyue they in

And yet they cannot blyn

But they shal trauayl and go ther fro

And al that trauayle in such wo

Shal another of it make hym blyth

That lytel dyd for it / but labour lyght

I say not yt is gottyn in hast

Shal a man dyspend in wast

Ne shal of that fele no dysese

But he shal with that syt at ese

And neuer the lesse at mesure spende

Of such as god wyl sende

Ese them that not haue

And lyfe and sowle so may he saue

But he that of trauayl can not late

For couetys of wordly bare

And hath I now without that

He shal neuer man be fate

But euer the more he may wyn

The more care is he in

Wherfore it is good in trauayl stronge

Thoughe a man wyn / to rest among

¶The .C.vij. questyon

¶On what maner may it ryse

That men wax soles and vnwyse

ON many maners cometh it to

That men foles wax also

Some are symple as foles borne

Some by euyl theyr wyttes haue lorne

And some by lesyng of theyr blode

Some for theyr braynes wax al wode

[Page]Some of wickyd humours begyn

And some for the hete that they haue be in

Some by cause theyr hert is of feble myght

And some for euyl syght on nyght

And some that wake ouer fast

That dryeth the braynes at the last

And many maners are there mo

That workes vnto man great wo

¶The .C.viij. questyon

¶Is the sowle or the body wo

Whan one shal depart another fro

FOr soth it greuyth them fulsore

And ful mornyng are therefore

Felyng great ang [...]ysshe and wo

Whan that one partyth the other fro

And yf it at theyr wyl wore

They depart wold neuer more

If a yong man toke awyfe

That he louyd as his lyfe

And she hym more than althynge

Who so betwyx them made departynge

Departyng them agayne theyr wyl

That shuld plese them both ful yll

So is it betwyx the sowle and the body

They are spoused to gether inwardly

And so great loue together holde

That they neuer depart wolde

And yf they febely haue wrought

Sythen they together ware brought

Than chely is the sorow al

Whan that they depart shal

[Page]For the body rottyh awaye

The sowle goyth to payne for aye

Than it is no wonder that they be wroth

And dredyng of thyr departyng both

¶The .C.ix. questyon

¶Whether shal men hold the more

A old man or a yong man that wore

UNto neyther shal men holde

There both are for fooles tolde

For yf the yong a foole is

And he be instructed amys

The hote nature wyl in hym glowe

And humours as a lowe

Which hetyth his hert and his blode

And makyth hym iolyfe and wode

And whyle that hete lasteth so

A short rede shuld he assent to

But an old fool yf there be one

That hath lytel hete or none

And he be tangeled with iolyte

A ryght kynde fool is he

For his tyme he had before

And now wold haue one more

And that iolynesse men in hym fynde

Is of force and of no kynde

And so is he ioylyfe amys

For he sheweth more than in hym is

As he that flesshe wold sethe kyndly

With the claryte of the sonne verely

But to such fooles olde

Shal no wyseman hym holde

[Page]

¶The .C.x. questyon

¶Why raynys it in one yere more

Than in a nother and wherfore

SOmtyme that it raynyth so

In one yere more than in a nother do

Fyrst of goddys wyl I it fet

And than of gouernal that he hath set

As of mouyng a the planetys

And of the sygnes that them metys

After as they meue lowe or hye

Make they the yeres were or drye

And al comyth of goddys wyl

Rayne it / snewe it / or be it styl

¶The .C.xi. questyon

¶Why hath not god mā so wrought

That he ne had synned nought

IF god had man fyrst so dyght

That he after ne synned myght

Of meryt ware no man worthy

For no goodnes of his body

Al the meryt agayne. shuld go

Unto god there it came fro

And of goddys blys no man worthy wore

But he deseruyd it had before

And ware man made on such manere

That he myght no synne do here

His goodnes of hym lefe ware nought

But his that hym so hath wrought

For of that that the behouyth nede

Arte thou worthy to haue no mede

[Page]But the man that of his wyl

May do both good and yl

And doth the good / worthy he is

For to come vnto that blys

That god hath ordayned hym vnto

And that the deuyl shuld also

Shame hym / that god had man ordayned

To haue the blys that he of myscaryed

By the werkes of his owne wyl

The good to take and fle the yl

¶The .C.xii. questyon

¶Is it good to haue entormetyng

Agayne euery man of althyng

AMan shal clyme on a tre

That he thynketh esyest be

The frute for to come vnto

If he wyl his profyt do

And he that on the sonne beme wyl clyme

He may breke his necke some tyme

For he that clymeth ouer hye

May happe somtyme to wrye

Euyn so it faryth with mannys demenar

That entermetyth a boue his powar

Late them that are rych and fers

Entyrmet them with theyr pers

And the pouer whare they fare

With such other as they are

But sometyme the pouer is pert perde

To stryue with the rych in his pouerte

But with the rych to entyrmet

He may lose and nothyng gete

[Page]And yf that it so befall

That arych hym to cownsel call

Entyrmete hym of no more

Than that he is called fore

Late rych with the rych man

Do the best that they can

And worke they good worke they yl

Euer the pouer hold hym styl

With his lyke about he go

And entyrmete hym as with the

Whare he shal haue drede none

To hurte his hede agayne astone

¶The .C.xiii. questyon

¶Tel me now for what sake

That god wold yt world make

GOd made ye world as was his wyl

The palays of heuyn to fulfyl

Of the which aungels fel out before

For the pryde they in wore

And for that the trynyte

Was not worshypped as it shuld be

Than made he man that blysse to wyn

That aungel had lost by synne

But al tho that here are wrought

Shal not to that blys be brought

None but tho that are worthy

For the good dedes of theyr body

¶The .C.xiiii. questyon

¶How was the world made as it is

And how holdys it tel me this

[Page] WHan aungel had don amys

And was fal out of blys

God cōmaunded there vnto

Be made the world & it was so

Fyre & ayre thē hyest drew truly

For they ware lyghtest sykerly

Erth and water doune them drest

And the water vpon the erth doth rest

And al foure by and by

Ware hangyng in the mydel of the sky

And fastenyng haue they none

But of goddys myght a lone

God made the world of the lykenesse

Of an egge more ny lesse

Be the shelle take I shal

The fyrmament that closyth al

Be the whyte the water take I

That is betwene the erth and the sky

Be the yolke that is innermest

Take I the erth that is lowest

And whan the yolke is sodde harde

Awhyt is in the mydwarde

Wherby I take hel

For it is fortherest from the shel

And so is hel heuyn fro

Ferrest put in sorow and wo

And echone is as thou mayst se

There god them ordayned fyrst to be

¶The .C.xv. questyon

¶Is eny other folke than we

That of the sonne hath the claryte

[Page]Dyuers other the world are in

And fer from vs they byn

Under vs they are loo

That theyr fete agayne owrs go

And who so al the world myght se

In one sonne both be we

But somtyme whan here is nyght

Than haue they the day lyght

And here somtyme shynyth the sonne

Whan that they none se cone

For whan the sonne to rest goyth thore

Halfe pryme is it to vs and more

And the roundnesse I wys

Of the world makyth this

Our somer and our wynter also

Is both on vs and them vnto

But after the sonne drawyth to endyng

Whan here is erly than there is mornyng

And in other placys mo

Of the word it faryth so

That some haue somer very hot

There other haue wynter cold and wot

And god hath of the sonne I wys

Made the way that makyth al this

¶The .C.xvj. questyon

¶How longe may the world be

And how brode and thyke is he

HE that the world beholdyth all

It is rownd as a ball

And for his roundnes it behoue thanede

That al one lyke be long and brede

[Page]Bud the thycknes also

Is euyn wyth them two

And in caas it ware al playne lande

As the palme of my hande

Aman shuld euery daye

Go certayne myles by the waye

And shuld haue no lettyng

Of water ne no nother thyng

The world for to thorow fare

He shuld not come there

His purpose throughe to go

By a thowsand dayes without mo

And that same shal he fynd that doth yede

The thycknes as wel as the brede

¶The .C.xvij. questyon

¶Why shal god clene also

The folke of this world vndo

GOd shal thys world destroye I wys

For a better than it is

For ware it now that here stode

A rych palays and a good

And the man that it longyd to

Another hows had also

Wel sympler and lesse worthy

And it fortuned than chaunceably

That of the palays fel awalle

And lose therof the stones and al

And that walle myght he not make

But he wold the stones take

Of the lytel hows besyde

I trow there shuld no nother betyde

[Page]But he wold his paleys dyght

As shortly as he myght

And of his hows haue lytel care

But that his palays fulfylled ware

He ware a fole that wold chese

The better for the wors to lese

So faryth god I warne the wele

For of his palays fel agreat dele

And of this world no nother careth he

But that his palays fulfylled be

¶The .C.xviij. questyon

¶The fowles that in the ayre flye

How are they borne on loft a hye

THe thycknesse of the ayre ahye

Is the chefe cause truly

That the fowles a lofte are borne

Els ware theyr flyght forlorne

The ayre is thycke and moyst also

And wyl dysclose and close agayne to

And whan the fowle is a lofte

His wynges styreth he ofte

With the warpyng of his wynge

He doth the ayre a sondre mynge

Which waxeth thycke and he is lyght

And that hym holdyth in his flyght

And that the ayre is thycke aboue

Aman may wel proue

Who so in his hande wyl take

A yarde and it smertly shake

It shal bowe in the shakyng

And that doth no nother thyng

[Page]But thycknes of the ayre withstandys

The yard in shakyng of thy handys

And so it withstandyth the fowles al

In theyr fleyng that they ne fall

¶The C.xix. questyon

¶Among al other tel me yet

The rayne yt fallyth whens comith it

BAyne is water of the see

And with blast of wynde mountys he

And whan the wynde is on hye

The sonne that is hote kyndly

Draweth the water fast hym to

The wynde puttyth fast after also

As that men may se somtyme

A dew lyeng tyl halfe the pryme

But whan the sonne his hete yeldys

That dew in towne and in feldys

He takyth vp and draweth fast

And cometh to the ayre at the last

And is there thyckened in cloude

Than comyth wynde and blowyth lowde

And beryth it in the ayre euerywhore

Tyl it be waxen thycke and more

Than begynneth it to be heuy sone

Aod may not longe a boue wone

But fallyth in rayne hastely

And whan the rayne is doune clenly

The cloude becomyth whyte and fayre

Which is a the keelth of the ayre

And that wastyth the sonne there nere

And so becomyth the sky clere

[Page]

¶The .C.xx. questyon

¶Hayle stones that fal also

From whence and wherof come the

OF water gathered vnder ye sky

And of kylth of the ayre on hy

As whan a cloude is but thyn

Lytel poure hauyng hym in

And aboue in the ayre flye

Wyndes that are colde and drye

And whan that cloud shuld in droppes fall

With coldnesse are they frosen all

And that yt shuld haue fall rayne to ground

They fall than in stones round

¶The .C.xxj. questyon

¶Wherof are the tempestes al

That somtyme among vs fall

IN that yere that somer is cold

And the moysture manyfold

That is in the ayre holdyth styl

And may not clensyd be at wyl

But gatheryth fast and holdyth thore

And in wynter encresyth to more

Than be fallyth in some partye

That the erth cleueth for drye

The spered wyndes than come out

And spred them al about

In to the ayre theyr waye they take

And therof great tempest make

¶The .C.xxii. questyon

¶Tel me now for it is wonder

Wherof cometh the thounder

[Page]'RIse out of the erth arecke truly

As a smoke men may se perfitely

And exalacyons they hyght

Which ascende in to the ayre ryght

Hote and drye are some of tho

And some hote and moyst also

Whan they al the hyest are

Of the ayre the wynd that is thare

He that / that is hote and drye

May the hastlyar vp a hye

And whan the wete cometh thore

For moysture gatheryth wynd sore

And waxyth colde therby

And thyckeneth also wonderly

And than is it in sondre cast

And cloudes made with wyndes blast

And the exalacyon that is drye

Is cast a mong the cloudes hye

From one to another as a balle

But at the last out it shal

And whan he brekyth it asonder

Anoyse it makyth that we call the thonder

For drye among the wete wyl nought

Dwel whan the wete pressys hym ought

And by ensample thou mayst se

On what maner it may be

Let a man his handful holde

Of whet or syluer which he wolde

The more he the hande togethtr prest

The more wyl it out threst

And so it is to vnderstande

Of the tother before hande

[Page]

¶The .C.xiij. questyon

¶The wynde yt blowyth by lād & see

Wherof euer may it be

I Haue tolde here before

Evalacyons what they wore

And he that is hote and drye

As I sayd wyl vp a hye

Now whan it comyth clowdes amonge

If the clowdes be thycke and stronge

They cast that exalacyon

To and fro vp and doune

And be cause it is drye at the last

It turneth in to wyndes blast

And ware that exalacyon hote

It turneth in to rayne wote

¶The .C.xxiiij. questyon

¶How yssueth water of hylles hye

That semed rather to be drye

ALso as the veynes lye

In mannys body lowe or hye

So the erth that we on go

Is vnder ful of veynes also

And open the hyde the veyne vpon

The blode spryngeth out anon

Euyn as wel vpon the crowne

As on the fote beneth downe

So the veynes that in the erth lye

Haue water runnyng lowe and hye

Up and doune to and fro

As the veynes in erth go

And there they the erth feble se

[Page]Hye or lowe whether it be

It brestyth out and rennyth there

Hylle or dale whether it be

¶The .C.xxv. questyon

¶The water that is in the see

Why is it salt tel you me

IN the mydel of the world a see is

Where the sonne euer brennyng is

And by that brennyng hete

Are the waters that shuld be swete

Become bytter and salt also

Which see renneth the other vnto

Wherof al salt it is

And ye hete of ye sonne makyth moche of this

Ware it that the see styl stode

And ware the water fresshe and good

The stynke therof so great shuld be

That al the fysshes in the see

Shuld dye anon both great and smal

And that ware vnto man great bale

And on the land shuld be such stynke

More than I can expresse or thynke

Which shuld on lande so be here

That it shulde al the people dere

¶The .C.xxvi questyon

¶Wherof euer may it be

The lyghtenyng that we here se

CLowdes somtyme on the sky

Renne to gether vp a hy

With so great fyre and so kenne

That fyre lyghtenyth them betwene

[Page]And that is that we lyghtnyng call

And somtyme downe wyl it fall

Somtyme slekenys it a lofte

In the cloude and that is ofte

¶The .C.xxvij. questyon

¶The waters that ebbe & flow also

Wherof come they & whyter do they go

ALl the waters that euer be

Al they come out of the see

And thyther agayne they go

Unto the see wher they came fro

The waters that fall in erth synkyth

And as a spryng the erth them drynkyth

And whan they are come thether

In veynes gather they to gether

And they that go in by one syde

By another out they glyde

The erth takyth and geuyth all

The waters that are and on erth fall

¶The .C.xxviii. questyon

¶Hylles and roches ware they nought

Made whan ye world was fyrst wrought

FRom the fyrst tyme of adam

Unto the tyme that Noe came

Was neuer hyl ne rocke with al

But as playne about as a ball

Rayne fell than to erth none

No tempest was nor storme

But in the tyme of Noe

For the great iniquyte

[Page]And for the synne that adam wrought

God sent astode that sesyd nought

Xl. dayes and xl. nyghtes

Al the world destroyed he thore

Saue them that in the arch wore

And the course of the stode them among

In his comyng was so strong

That where it neysshe ground fonde

It dyd fret away both erth and sonde

Stone and rocke felde and towne

Al was turned vp se downe

But whan the flode began to slake

And lytel stremes for to make

Stones on hepes so with stode

And turned no more for the flode

And whan some with stode so

Mo them gathered vnto

The neysshe ground the water doth fret

For no hardnes it doth let

And afterward the sonnys hete

With frost and snow to gether do mete

Dryuyng the stones to gether harde

And became rockes afterwarde

Wherfore by the forsayd skyl

That flode made both dale and hyll

¶The .C.xxix. questyon

¶Shal the dyluuy come eny more

In the world that was before

GOd hath hyght vnto man kynde

As we in our bokes fynde

That neuer shal come to destroy man

Such a dyluuy as than ran

[Page]But yf of synne man not amende

A sharpe scourge he shal them sende

That scourge is a swerd of wrake

That one shal agayne a nother take

And o [...]e shal a nother for do

And destroye the world also

¶The .C.xxx. questyon

¶Whan Noe shuld to the arch go

And of ech beastes toke wt hym two

Why wold he euyl beastes take

As scorpyons / adder / and snake

NOe dyd them in the arch ley

For two thynges that I shal the sey

That one for the cōmaundment

That god hym be the aungel sent

And that durst he not breke

For he sawe moch wreke

Of ech one two god byd hym take

For he wold not them al new make

Wherfore his precept dyd he

And of them came / that now be

¶That other was for mannys hele

For but yf venemous beastes fele

Ware dwellyng in ech countre

So ful of venom the erth shuld be

That it shuld enuenym al thynge

As frute and corne that in erth dyd sprynge

And so shuld no man therof ete

But he dyed by that mete

And the beastes ne lyue I wys

But of the venym that in erth is

[Page]And they clense the erth by kynde

Of the venym they therin fynde

And al theyr venym is truly

Of the erth that they lyue by

For take an adder for asay

The venemost that men fynde may

And in a vessel hym do

That no erth come hym to

With flesshe and bred kepe it thore

Fyftene dayes and no more

Al his venom shalbe gon

And hurte may he do none

For venom in hym none doth abyde

Except he on the erth do slyde

¶The .C.xxxj questyon

¶Wherof euer comyth the gold

That man so precyous doth hold

THe myne of gold without mys

In veynes of ye erth waxyng is

And syluer also with metals mo

Which the erth come fro

But gold and syluer men fynde betwene

The erth there it is pure and clene

Men gather it and dyght it so

With arte that they haue therto

But there men it most fynde

Is a lande by the west Inde

In gyse of brasse men fynde there

By the banke of the see euerywhere

But euery man can not it dyght

For to brynge it to the ryght

[Page]

¶The .C.xxxi. questyon

¶Tel me now yf thou wote

How out of ye erth spryng waters hot

WAters that al hote so sprynge

Haue it somwher in theyr rēnīg

By brymstone hath his cours

And not fare from his sours

By ye hete of y• kynd of brimstone

The water becomyth warme anon

And warme spryngeth out also

And who so leyd his nose therto

He shuld anon fele ful wele

Sauoure of brymstone somdele

¶The .C.xxxii. questyon

¶Among al other tel me one

Wherof comyth the brymstone

QUycke brymstone that men call

Cometh of lyghtenyng that doth fall

Upon roches by the see

Eyther on hylles whether it be

And so hard downe are they cast

With ayre aboue and wyndes blast

That they fall the erth within

And that erth they lye and [...]ry [...]

Which erth ex [...]st hyght therby

For it is brente so wondersly

And that turneth to brymstone

Which wellyth vp somtyme anon

¶The .C.xxxiij. questyon

¶Carboncles and other stones mo

Wherof may come al tho

[Page]OUt of Nygre that is a see

Where cokyls are in great plente

And hang to gether two and two

Openyng in the water hangyng so

The rayne falleth from aboue

And entres in them there they houe

Whā they haue receyued the rayne astound

They close them and go to ground

And at the ground / lye they thore

Wel a .C. yere and more

And they that are of that countre

Whan they seke them in the see

Theyr vysages to couar they begyn

With netes blathers blowen thyn

And in blacke sowe them also

For the fysshe wyl fle them fro

Than go they doune them to wyn

And perlys fynde they them with in

Whyte and rounde but neysshe they be

But whan they come out of the see

And the ayre haue them smyt vpon

They become ryght hard anon

But tho that are not in season

Nor theyr tyme haue after they wēte doune

To be fulfylled by the ground

They stynke as a pyllyd hownd

The Carboncles come also

Of cokyls as perles do

But Carboncles of smal hayle fall

And in fresshe water be they all

They by the grounde wylbe

Two hundred wynter wel or thre

[Page]And they stynke and fare amys

Whan theyr tyme not fulfylled is

But al the rayne that doth fall

Turne not to stones al

The rayne that the fyrst day fallyth

Of the mone in Ianuary / that men callyth

And the mone be in that sygne

That vnto that thynge be dygne

If that rayne in the cokyl go

Perles shal come of tho

And hayle that to fal is wone

The eyght daye of the mone

In feueryere and the mone be ryght

In a sygne that Cancer hyght

And the cokyls that hayle in take

Carboncles therof they make

But that rayne and hayle ech dele

Fall ful seldome wyte you wel

¶The .C.xxxiiij. questyon

¶Of this world now tel me

How many landes therein be

LAnde but one is there none

Who so al hole myght se there on

But for departynge of the see

That departyth them in thre

Thre landes are that we call

With out smale yles all

But al are one lande to gethere fest

And al vpon one grounde they rest

And who so myght the lande be holde

That no water let hym sholde

[Page]Al hole and one he shulde it se

And so made god it to be

The water aboue in sonder it castys

But vnder hole and fast it lastys

¶The .C.xxxv. questyon

¶Myght eny man on drye lande wel

Go ye world about euery dele

IN erth no man myght go

The world about to ne fro

For he shuld fynde many lettynges

And that of many thynges

He shuld fynde wastenes ful great

There nethere were drynke ne mere

But wylde beastes many one

Redy to tere hym as a bone

Ware a hundreth men on one wrought

And yf that ne let hym nought

The open erth shuld lettynge be

That swellyth and geuyth agayne the see

And many lettynges other mo

If he est and west wyl go

And yf north and south go he

Many other lettynges be

For thre zones shal he fynde

Where no man may lyue in one kynde

One is hote and colde are two

May no lyuyng thyng be in tho

And goddys wyl it is also

Sha [...] no man be myghty therto

¶The .C.xxxvj. questyon

[Page]¶Myght eny man sayle nyght & day

That had the wynde with hym ay

¶So long y• his shyppe came vnrēt

To the turnyng of the fyrmament

A Man that in a shyppe wore

Thoughe he sayled euer more

Yet shuld he not come nere the sky

And I shal tel the why

The erth is rounde as a ball

In the mydel / and the sky ouer al

Is alyke fer there fro

And the water also

Al about on the erth doth stande

And thoughe a man toke vnderhande

To sayle an hundred yere

He shuld the sky be al so nere

Whan that he from home went

As whan his hundred yere ar spent

¶The .C.xxxvij. questyon

¶Why made not god man to be

Ay yong / ioylyfe / and of pouste

¶Rych and longe lyfe hym lent

And at his deth to blys haue went

HAd god made man on that manere

As that thou tellyst here

God as I thynke in my thought

Had the deuyl great wrong wrought

Which for a thought fel to hell

And mo with hym than I can tel

Shuld aman than be of longe lyfe

Rych / yonge / and ioylyfe

[Page]And haue here al his delyte

And than fare to heuyn quyte

Noman is worthy to come thore

But yf he haue don wherfore

God hath graunted vs vnto

Be cause we shal here wel do

Helth with out sycknesse

Ioy and delyte and great rychesse

And lyfe also without ende

For the deth that men here to wende

Than is it for to reken ryght

No other but as a by [...]des flyght

That flyeth here in / yonder out

And be a man neuer so stout

Nor so yonge / nor fayre to day

To morow shal it al a way

I wold not lyue a thowsand yere

And al my delyte haue here

And than vnto heuyn gon

I had leuer be there a non

For one delyte that is thore

Is worth a thowsand here and more

And therfore ware it moche scate

Thether for to come so late

¶The .C.xxxviij. questyon

¶Whiche are the aungels tel me this

That receyueth mannys soule to blys

EChe man an aungel hath hym to

To kepe hym that he not mys do

And whan the soule at the ende

Shal out fro the body wende

[Page]And it vnto god be dere

The aungel that was his kepare here

Shal come with great melody

And of aungels great company

Receyuyng hym vnto mede

And to ioye hym lede

After the tyme that is to sey

That goddys sonne shal dey

But or he dey on the rode

Al go to hel wycked and good

But al alyke shal they nought

Be payned / but as they haue wrought

And some shalbe in fre pryson

Tyl tyme of his passyon

But whan the great dome shalbe

Men shal agre at wonder se

Sowle and body to gether go

And to gether fele ioye or wo

And the sowle that to hel shal went

The deuyl that hym holpe to shent

Shal receyue hym and sey hym to

Thou hast don as I bad the do

Thou withstodyst not my wyl

Nor my techyng vnto yl

Wherfore shalt thou go with me

Euer more in payne to be

Thus shal they be receyuyd thycke

Good with good / and wicked with wicke

¶The .C.xxxix questyon

¶I pray the mayster sey me now

Which is better of the two

[Page]¶Good werkes without chastyte

Or werkes wickyd / and chast to be

GOod werkes wolde I chese

Thoughe I chastyte forlese

For be thou chast of thy body

And thou worke wickydly

What vertu than hast thou in the

Percaas is than thy chastyte

For sycknesse that thou may not dure

Or for kelth of thy nature

Or for age that thou may no more

What meryt art thou worthy therfore

And than for to go sle aman

Or to robbe in wode or fen

Or thy neyghbore to begyle sotelly

Or his good to forlese falsly

What is worth such chastyte

Whan thou of othere hast no pyte

But that vnchast lyfe ledys

And he be good of al dedys

His synne doth no man dere

But al one he shal hym bere

And god alone he synneth to

And that may he sone fordo

With almes dede or other thyng

But he that is of wickyd beryng

And of wickyd dedes blynne ne can

He synneth both to god and man

And lyghter is it for to wynne

Forgyfnes of god of synne

Than of god and man both

[Page]For the mo that are to hym wrought

The more labour pees to make

For the better caas than wold I it take

For to leue chastyte

Than wickyd worke / and chast to be

¶The .C.xl. questyon

¶What thyng may it euer make

Erth dyn yt doth the erth quake

EXalacyons hote and drye

That are drawen vp ryght hye

And there with cloudes dryuen fast

And hard downe to erth cast

Which in to the cleft of the erth go

As the cloudes shones them fro

Comyth than hote wether and rayne

Which spereth ye cleftes of the erth agayne

The exalacyons dwel therin

Spered and may not out wynne

To and fro they moue them thore

But out may they no whore

And yf the exalacyon be

Gathered ther great quantyte

So hard meue them they shal

That the erth quakyth with al

And somtyme more somtyme lesse

After as it is of mykelnesse

¶The .C.xli. questyon

¶ Tel me now yf thou cone

Wherof is ye eclyps of sonne & mone

[Page] OF y• mone is eclyps no dowte

In ful mone or there about

& whā ye ful mone stādithe south

The sonne is than north

A shadow of the erth ryseth sone

Ascendyng vp a boue the mone

And houeth long whyle of the nyght

Betwyx her and the sonnys lyght

For lyght hath the mone none

But that the sonne her smyteth on

And so the mone her lyght leues

For the shadowe it reues

But as she goys and her pace makys

Fro the shadow / lyght she takys

Eclyps of the sonne comenly

Is in the new mone or there by

Whan the mone is new ryght

She is darke with out lyght

And that tyme the sonne and she

Be one syde of the sky shalbe

And the sonne beme as it is wone

Shuld lyght doune on the mone

But yf the mone vnder alyne fall

Lyne of eclyps that we call

Lyght she taketh nought anon

Unto she before be gon

But vnto that she there shal houe

Be twyx vs and the sonne aboue

Her derknes ronnyth from our syght

Moch of the sonnys lyght

This is the kyndest eclyps to se

That may of the sonne be

[Page]Other eclyps thre we fynde

Of the sonne agaynst kynde

One came in tyme of Noe

Agayne that the dyluny shuld be

Another shalbe in soth to sey

I [...] tyme that goddys sonne dey

And in the byrth shalbe the thryde

Of the antechryst as shalbe kydde

¶The .C.xlij. questyon

¶Sterres that men se fall

How fall they & frō whēs cōe they all

UNderstand syr vyturly

That no sterres fall fro the sky

But I shal tel the what it may be

That the folke so fallyng se

It is a fyre that is abydyng

In the hyest of the ayre brennyng

Next to the spere of fyre

And whan the nyght somtyme is shyre

Sparcles of that fyre clere

That moch hane of theyr matere

Falle and perce the ayre on nyght

And come so vnto our syght

And semyth as it were a sterre

That by the sky dyd slyde there

For a sparkel comyng from so hye

Unto a sterre is ful lykely

¶The .xliij. questyon

¶Tel me now or we further fare

How many heuens that there are

[Page] WE lay yt there are heuens thre

Wherof the one is that we se

Turnyng about and is the sky

And that heuen is bodyly

And to our syght it is blew

As it ware of asur hewe

The tother heuyn of to tel

Is there good aungels dwel

That is goostly / and is al

Of hew as it ware crystal

The thyrd is goddys se

Where he sytteth in maieste

Therin is moch blys

And of the gold of hew it is

Of seuen heuyns also we tel

For seuen planetes that therin dwel

But ryghtly of heuens to lere

So are no mo but thes thre here

¶The .C.xliiii. questyon

¶Tel me now how hye the heuyn

Aboue the erth is for to neuen

SO hye is heuyn the erth fro

That yf it were now also

That a stone in heuyn wore

And weyed a hundreth stone and more

And it shuld from heuyn fall

Unto ground among vs all

It shuld be seuen yere

Or it to ground came here

And neuer thelesse so fare they are

That a good sowle shuld fare

[Page]Fro erth in to heuen stye

In the twynkelyng of an eye

¶The .C.xlv. questyon

¶The fyrmament that we ouer vs se

Of what myght may it be?

WHo so knowe it al aryght

The firmamēt is of great might

Euer abought it turneth aye

And resteth neuer nyght nor day

For this world had no festenyng

Ne ware his aboute turnyng

Ware it that it styl stode

There nys man ne fysshe in flode

Foule ne beast ne nothyng here

That lyfe hath that ought myght stere

All that euer we stere or go

Or flyt other to or fro

Al together is vs lent

Of the turnyng of the fyrmament

Therfore may thou se Iwys

That of moche myght it is

¶The .C.xlvi. questyon

¶Tel me now of what myght

The planetes are & what they hyght

PLanettes gouerneth al thyng

That lyueth or hath in erth waxyng

And eche planet of his kynde

To norysshe and geue his mynd

Of the chylde eche alyke

Whyle the mother go therwith quyke

[Page]Ech one than shapyth his

Of euery lyme that in hym is

And of planetes are but seuen

Whos names I shal to the reken

¶Saturnus the fyrst we cal

He is hyest of them al

Most and strongest is he

And he passyth in his countre

The .xii. sygnes be one and one

And he dwellyth in ech one

Or he passe halfe thre yere

And his planet of power

The man that is borne therin

And he dounward go to begyn

Dounward shal he go of myght with al

And yf he regne regne he shal

And this planet regnyth of power

Onys in a thyrty yere

And his regne and his myght

Is in a sygne that Lybra hyght

And dounward he rest takes

To a sygne hyght aries

¶The secounde planet is Iupyter

He is not from vs so fer

Of great ryches planet is it

Of marchaundyse and of great wyt

And among men of good loos

And be the .xii. sygnes he goos

Dwellyng in ech one

A yere or he about haue gon

The man borne in hym that is

Of .xii. yere best of state he is I wys

[Page]In canser he regnes harde

In Caprycorne he goyth dounwarde

¶The thyrde planet Mars is hyght

Planet of warre and fyght

And of blode spyllyng there men dey

By the .xii. sygnes lyeth his wey

And in ech one truly dwellyth

Fourty dayes or he passyth

He that is borne in that planet

Within a yere may he byete

And foure and thyrty dayes therto

His dedes and his wyl also

His regne is in Caprycorne

And in Canser his myght is lorne

¶The fourth planet is the sonne

And yf you vnderstande conne

It is the planet of great worshype

Of kynges and of [...]ordshype

Kepar of erth we hym cal

And by the sygnes he passyth al

And in ech whan he comyth thore

He dwelleth a moneth and no more

That is borne in that he may euery yere

Change his worke and his manere

His regne so is in A [...]yes

And in Lybra he hym restes

¶The fyfte planet venus is

Planet of loue / delyte and blys

He that therin borne shalbe

Feble herte shal haue of vanyte

But in foure hundreth and forthy dayes

May he change al his wayes

[Page]His worke and thought holly

The .xii. sygnes goyth he by

And in ech one of tho shal he

Seuen and twenty dayes be

In piscibus rayneth he stabely

And doune he goyth in Gemyny

¶The syxte planet Mercurius

That arte and conyng geuyth vs

By the .xii. sygnes lyeth his wayes

Dwellyng in ech one seuentene dayes

He that is borne in hym may

Be two hundred and the fourth day

Chaunge his corage and his thought

And the workes that he wrought

¶The mone the seuenth planet we say

Planet of water and of waye

By the .xii. sygnes she goyth also

Dwellyng in ech one dayes two

He that is borne in this planet

In a moneth may he byete

And chaunge his worke and wyl

Be it good be it yl

In Taurus comyth her regne vnto

And abesses her in Scorpyo

And al the world is not I wys

So great as one planet is

Saue the thre that lowest wone

Uenus / Mercurius / and the mone

¶The .C.xlvij. questyon

¶Tel me now this ones yet

¶How many maner of waters is it

[Page]OF waters many maner there be

Fyrst the water of the see

That al other waters come fro

Water of welles there is also

That theyr hew and manere

Foure tymes change in a yere

Welles are spryngyng elles whore

Foure dayes in the weke no more

I stode theris that rennyth ay

Al the weke saue saturdaye

A stode is in the est see ryght

Which rennyth euer on nyght

And a daye it frosen is fast

But on nyght may it not last

Yet men may a welle fynde

In the yles of the see of ynde

That who so put a stafe therin

As of a fyre it shuld bryn

And it nothyng slekyn can

But only the breyne of man

Other welles are yet mo

And who the water dronke of tho

Of some good memory shuld he take

And some forgetfulnesse shuld make

Some amerous wyl make the men

And some wyl bareyne make wymen

Some wyl make yren and stele

In the fyre to tempre wele

A great wel yet is there one

Standyng stylle as eny stone

But who so makyth solace there by

Anone it rennyth hastely

[Page]Some waters are hote of kynde

And some colde as men do fynde

And the kynde of the ground causyth al this

Where eny water rennyng is

And al is at goddys wyl

Both rennyng and stondyng styll

¶The .C.xlviij. questyon

¶Now wold I wyt of the see

How many sees that there be

SEes we fynde there are thre

Wherof one hyght the see beter

Al about the erth goyth she

And is salt as men may se

That other see the blacke see hyght

And enuyrons that other ryght

The thyrd is called the stynkyng see

Therin may no man lyuyng be

For the stynke that it cometh fro

Enuyrous truly that other two

And god hath made them so to be

Of his wyl and his potence

¶The .C.xlix. questyon

¶Why hath god the world made al

Rownde aboute as a balle

THere are many skylles why

But thre I fynde pryncypally

For his owne lycknes is one

There non ende ne is vpon

For he ne had begynynge

Nor neuer shal haue endynge

[Page]And seke ye world neuer so wt trauayle & mīd

No endyng shal men therin fynde

Another sayl is comodyte

Why it behoueth so to be

For al the formes that thou knowst

Rownde contaynes aldermost

Now is it so at the begynyng

That the world contaynes althyng

Wherfore it behoued therto

That it shuld rownde be also

The thyrde cause is for the sky

And I shal tel the how and why

Late with war here fyll a canne

And whan it is ful breke it than

The wax shalbe of that shapnes

As was the canne more ne les

Now is the saye rounde and fayre

And conteyneth fyre and ayre

Water and erth ferrest therfro

And al behoueth rounde to be tho

The round saye the fyre round maketh

And ayre of fyre roundhed taketh

Water within ayre also

And erthe within all tho

And bycause the skye as thou hast hard

Is round and al are in hym sperd

All behoueth them round tobe

As thou ere on the waxe myght se

¶The .C.l. questyon

¶Why is the mone colde of kynd

And the sonne hote as we fynde?

[Page]The sonne is welle of hete

And the mone of waters wete

Now is that one drye and hote

And that other moyst and wote

The hete of the sonne doth spryng

That in erthe is al thynge

But with that hete may they not dure

But yf they haue withal moysture

And that the sonne heteth on daye lyght

The mone keleth vpon nyght

And geueth it moysture there vnto

Therfore al thynges spryngeth so

Shuld the sonne geue vs for aye

His here bothe nyght and daye

Man nor beast shuld lyue no throwe

Ne nothyng shuld in erth growe

And yf the keelth of the mone

Shuld euer amonge vs wone

And of the hete haue ryg [...]t nought

Shuld no leuyng thyng forthe be brought

Therfore hath god ordayned so

As the world hathe myster to

¶The .C.lj. questyon

¶Now I praye the tel me this

Whiche is the most thyng that is?

OF al thynge that thou most

Goddes marcy is the most

For no mouthe may speke I wys

No harte thynke how great it is

Unto tho that wyl it craue

And desyreth it to haue

[Page]It is greater than al erth may be

Or al the water in the see

It passyth al leues that sprynge

Or herbes / or eny other thynge

Ye / an hundreth thowsand folde

It passys al that I haue tolde

¶The .C.lij. questyon

¶Whether may grauel of erth mo be

Or droppes of water of the see

GRauel of the erth is wel more

Thā al water dropes yt euer wore

For al that were or yet shalbe

Al they come of the see

And for an handfuf of grauel

Behouyth of droppes a gooddele

For wel smaller is one hope

Of grauel / than a water drope

And water may be no where

But yf erth be vnder there

And many myles may men gon

Drye / where no water is on

And the see was neuer so depe a flete

That deper ne is vnder erth grete

And yf water vpon roche stande

Under roche is erth molde or sande

Now is the erth apperyng smal

And wyde strekes hym with al

In many stedes whare water is scante

Is fownde of erth good plente

Wherfore grauel of erth say we

Are mo than water droppes be

[Page]

¶The .C.liij. questyon

¶May the grauel ought tolde be

Or water droppes of the see

ANd the word such a thowsand wore

As it is and wel more

And that it shuld last with all

Such a thowsand as now shal

Foure and twenty howres ryght

Are in the daye and in the nyght

And ech a noure for to rekyn

Syxty poyntes are therein

And thoughe it myght so befalle

That in ech a poynt of all

Were borne a thowsand men or mo

And ful hore were ech of tho

Yet shuld the dropes of the see

Be mo than tho heres be

And yet is gretnes of erth more

Than al the dropes wore

And goddys mercy most of al

He that wyth hert to hym wyl call

¶The .C.liiij. questyon

¶Now wold I wyt vyturly

How many sterres are on the sky

IF al the men a lyue wore

That haue be ded here before

Sythen that adam was forlorne

And al that euer shalbe borne

Betwyx vs and the world be gon

Ware euery one borne anon

So mykel folke there shuld not ware

[Page]As sterres on the heuen are

But for the heyght of the sky

Ne may no man se them perfytly

Al the sterres that ther be

But some apertly may men se

How aboue with the sky they go

As it them beryth to and fro

Whan some go doune / some vp are went

With meuyng of the fyrmament

¶The .C.lv. questyon

¶Canst thou of aungels tel me ought

How many god in heuyn wroght

And how many be left therin

And how many felle for synne

GOd of his mercy and myght

Of aungels .ix. ordres hath dyght

And in ech order made he

Many a legyon for to be

And a legyon I wys

Syxe thowsand and syxe hundreth is

With fyfty and syxe therto

And al hym worshype to do

But there felle out of ech one

Al so many as came to one

And also many were they tho

As halfedele the folke and mo

That haue be borne and borne shalbe

And whan fulfylled is ech a se

Of aungels that fel away

Than shal it be domesday

That god shal deme both good and yl

And that shalbe at goddys wyl

[Page]

¶The .C.lvj. questyon

¶Which are the most of beast or mā

Or fowle / or fysshe that swyme can

BEastes are mo than men

And fowles mo than beastes such ten

And for ech afowle also

A thowsand fysshes are and mo

For therof is the most plente

Of al creatures that be

God made man of erth and slyme

And best of hete he made hym

Fysshes of water / fowle of ayre

And al that he made is fayre

And yf god them al had wrought

Of erth lyke / as he dyd nought

They shuld haue rysen al also

At domesday as man shal do

But for erth is in them none

Wherfore to nought they turne ech one

¶The .C.lvij. questyon

¶Of al the world tel me yet

The delectabelest stede which is it

WHere amannys hert is fest

And for to dwele were leuest

There is the delectabelest stede

To hym that he may on trede

For were aman in acountre

In the fayrest stede myght be

And had al that he had nede

Hym to clothe and to fede

[Page]And his hert loued els whore

No delyte had he thore

But there aman louyth wel

Though it be fowle euery dele

There is his ioy and his solace

More than in eny other place

¶The .C.lviij. questyon

¶Which is more prowes and best

That in towne or in forest

PRowes in towne as I wene

Ne was euer worth abent

It is no prowe / it is folye

And keytefnes and mysardry

Some man to aman ful ryfe

Wyl drawe vnto a man his knyfe

That wold neuer do so

And it ware betwyx them two

But there are thynges thre

That make hym hasty to be

One therof is folye

That makyth his hert skyp a hye

Anothere that he hopyth wel

That the folke elke adel

Shal stert on hym and hym hold

And let to do that he wold

The thyrd for his braynes smale

Are turned by wyne or ale

And he that assayled is

Holdyth hym styl in al this

He dredyth that he shuld hym slo

And lord [...]hype feryth he also

[Page]The thyrd hedredyth his enemy

For he wortyth not yf he be dowghty

His owne lostes he feryth eke

Which maketh his hert meke

But ware they both in the forest

There myght men know the best

There shuld no men on them wonder

No man put them in sonder

Ne no baylyfe ware thereto drede

But the boldar hym forth bede

Wherfore prowes in towne as men tellys

Nys but bost and nothyng ellys

¶The .C.lix. questyon

¶If aman haue an euyl wyfe

Or be poure or of feble lyfe

Or haue a wemme in a lym

Shal a man vpbreyde it hym

NO man ought othere vpbreyde

For no lacke that on hym is leyde

If he haue an euyl fere

So god may send to hym here

If he in pouerte fallen be

So may perauenture to morow he

For the whele of auenture

No whyle wyl endure

And yf he haue eny lacke

Eyther on body or on backe

Or eny of his lymmes al

Upbreyd hym nought what so befal

For he that sent hym that euery dele

May send it to the ryght wele

[Page]Wherfore ech man fayrely speke

That of his spech god take no wreke

¶The .C.lx. questyon

¶Shal men euery man worshype do

And al theyr wyl do also

AMan shuld al this do with skyl

If that he myght come there tyl

But no man may / no man can

Do the wyl of euery man

Neuerthelesse do not amys

Worshype euery man as he is

And fulfyl euery mannys wyl

That turne thy selfe vnto no yf

Do with good chere that thou shalt do

To them that prayes the vnto

And for a lytel say not nay

To do theyr wyl yf thou may

That thou desyrest shalt thou fynde

And ech man to serue the shalbe mynde

Thy honoure shal wyde wende

Euery man shal holde the good and kynde

Wherby may no yl of the tyde

Thy good worde goyth so wyde

¶The .C.lxj. questyon

¶Shal he ought forgotten be

That to lykyng hath seruyd me

IF aman do me seruyse

Unto my wyl in al wyse

I ought to forget it neuer more

Thoughe the seruyse lytel wore

[Page]For he that doth me lykynge

He gyueth me inoughe of his thynge

And I ought his helpe to be

If he haue nede of me

For euery man that doth a good dede

Is worthy to haue wel his mede

And the good wyl of such one

Ought I euer to thynke vpon

¶The .C.lxij. questyon

¶May aman hym ought with holde

From her that he hath in holde

That he no lechery do

Whan he hath great wyl therto

FUl wel aman may holde hym styl

And withstande his owne wyl

Fro lechery yf that he wyl

Though he great wyl haue thertyl

Late hym cast in his thought

How fayre that hym god hath wrought

At his owne lykenes to be

And that so fayre a thyng to se

Shulde be kepte clenly also

That no fylth ne came ther to

Were it now syr that a kynge

Gaue me a robe of his clothynge

Ful clene I wold it kepe and bryght

And worshype it at al my myght

For moch worshype to me it were

A kyngys clothyng for to bere

Euyn so shuld it with vs befall

Of goddys clothyng are we all

[Page]And yf we thynke to hold it clene

Our fowle wyl that was so kene

Shal twyne away and passe for nought

And kendele no more in our thought

The more that men a fyre leys in

The more and hotter wyl it bryne

And it wyl not leue brynnynge

But men it sleken with some thynge

Euyn so brenneth lechery

In man that geueth hym to foly

And yf he wyl that it be layde

Thynke on god as I haue sayd

Also shal in his thought be

What mede cometh of chastyte

And yf he be tane in synne

What payne shal his soule be in

And thus maye he kele shortly

His brennyng wyl yt was so outragyously

¶The .C.lxiij. questyon

¶The grettyst delyte that is

Which is it tel me this

I Fynde there are delytes two

Bodely and goostly also

The bodely wyl not last

That men doth there on is a waye cast

It fareth as the candel lyght

That now brenneth ferly bryght

Now than is it out quyte

So fareth bodely delyte

Goostly delyte is on other wyse

As delyte in god and his seruyse

[Page]And tho that delyte them therin

For to kepe them out of synne

Wyte you wel that they tho

In the payne of the wo

That they suffer theyr sowle to saue

Ful great delyte therin they haue

And who so is therin brought

That delyte ne keelyth nought

It waxeth ay from lesse to more

Euer vntyl aman come thore

There no ende may be

Which is before the Trynyte

And there shal his delyte betolde

More than here a thowsand folde

Wherfore the most delyte that is

Is to delyte in god I wys

¶The .C.lxiiij. questyon

¶Tel me now yf that aman

Shal ought delyt hym with a womā

DElyte with wymen are there twye

And which they are I shal the seye

That one is goostly with chast lyfe

As aman with his owne wyfe

Flesshely knowe her wel he may

Chyldren to wyne to goddys pay

And fro that tyme that he

Wotyth that she with chylde be

He shal hym hold from her holly

Tyl it be borne of her body

This is delyte of chastyte

That dygne and honest ought to be

[Page]Bodely delyte there is also

That no tyme hath reward vnto

But euery tyme that wyl hym takys

His fles [...]hly lust he not forsakys

And that is purly lyfe of beast

That nother is good ne honest

And such a delyte with woman

Shuld no man haue that good can

¶The .C.lxv. questyon

¶If one hoost a nother mete

Shal he anon on hym shete

CUm an hoost wt al theyr mayne

And another come them agayne

Smyte anōe ne shal they nought

Theyr cheueteyne shal haue forthought

And be wel aduysed and wyse

And ouer se his enymes

And yf he haue hope in his mode

That his partye may be good

He shal ordeyne his folke wysely

And be vygorus and hardy

And his enemes assayle

As it fallyth to batayle

And yf he aperceuyng is

That the feblear syde be his

He shal comfort his folke ycke dele

And make good vysage and bere hym wele

And fare a [...] he had no awe

And in al that hym with drawe

Holdyng them fast to gether so

That none outraye other fro

[Page]Yf his fleynge may not auayle

But that other hym assayle

Uygorously he than withstande

And harte his folke to be doand

The feble syde parchaunce so may

With lytel scathe scape away

¶The .C.lxvj. questyon

¶Which membres of the man are tho

That he worste myght forgo?

AMan myght no lym forbere

But yf it hym greatly dere

And some one myght he worse for go

Than he myght other two

For thoughe he forgo fote and hand

Eere and eyen thoughe hym wante

Yet maye he be ful hote of herte

And leue many daye in quarte

But ware teethe and tonge forgon

Good lyfe after had he none

For tho are the most hardely

That helpe to sustayne the body

The tonge the mete turneth al

Under the tethe that chewe it shal

And the tonge is made also

Unto god worshyp to do

The teethe gryndeth the mete small

That the body leueth withall

And for that aman may nought

Without these be forth brought

Therfore tothe and tonge are tho

That aman may worst forgo

[Page]

¶The .C.lxvij. questyon

¶The fyrst instrument who made it

And how came it in his wyt

OF the chyldren of Noe

Iaphet the yongest of the thre

He contryued it and wrought

As god it sent in his thought

And of the sounde he it toke

Of trees that the wynde shoke

And also of waters soune

That ran harde from hylles doune

Some soune was lowe and some hye

And therof founde he melody

An instrument he made anone

That melody to worke vpon

¶The .C.lxviii. questyon

¶He that is dome / defte & may not se

What spech in his hert thynkeh he

A Man that is borne to day

Doum and defe that se ne may

No langage ne may lere

For that he may nought here

Than behouyth hym of kynde

Nedly in his he [...]te haue mynde

Of the spech that Adam spake

Or he goddys precept brake

That is ebru that god gaue man

Fyrst whan he to speke began

For yf a tree a frute here

Be it appul / be it pere

[Page]The frute must take kynde and hewe

Of the rote that it on grewe

But the kynde of the tree

Sal chaunge yf it imped be

And but aman haue impyng

Of langage through some lernyng

The fyrst speche haue he shal

That man was fyrst lernyd with al

¶The .C.lxix. questyon

¶Why are some cloudes of the sky

Whyte and some blake there by

CLoudes somtyme are ryght thyn

For lytel water that there is in

Than comys the lyght of the day

And the sonne that shynes ay

Which geuyth on the cloude lyght

And the cloude that is of lytel myght

Is throughe shyned ther with al

Wherby whyte he shewe hym shal

For throughe water may men se

If that it not depe be

The cloude that blake is to our syght

Is thycke of water and of myght

And for the thycknes that he haas

May no lyght there thorow paas

Wherfore holdys it odrye

Not ful mykel vp on hye

And be cause it is thycke and lowe

Behouyth it blake to vs to showe

¶The .C.lxx. questyon

¶May no creature that god wrought

Wyte goddys wyl nor his thought

[Page]GOd made neuer creature

Aungel ne man nor other fygure

That myght wyte goddys thought

Nor his wyl tyl it was wrought

Whan he eny thyng wyl do

He says be made and it is so

But or he it in werke fulfyl

There may no man wyte his wyl

God wottyth the thoughtes of ech one

But his knoweth ryght none

Saue the holy Trynyte

For al one are they thre

Somtyme wottyth man what god do wyl

That is he that he sendyth vntyl

By aungels to tel hym his thought

Ellys none wote it nought

¶The .C.lxxj. questyon

¶Yet wold I wyte yf I may

If aman shal worshype god alday

EUery man shuld with ryght do so

But theyr myght is not therto

For the body is feble of myght

And behouyth somtyme rest with ryght

And but he rest may haue

Longe may he not the lyfe saue

Wherfore god honoure he may

At serteyne howres of the day

And in serteyne tyme he shal

Trauayle to hold the lyfe with all

And somtyme rest shal he take

The body stronge with to make

[Page]For after mete and drynke is rest

To nature of the body best

And whan he shal god worshype do

Loke al his herte be therto

For he that sayeth to god his bede

And his thought be in other stede

The tonge were as good be styll

For it askys with no wyl

Wherfore that god worshype shal

Speke tonge / herte / thought and al

¶The .C.lxxij. questyon

¶Wherof may it be and why

That eyne somtyme loke bleryly

SOmtyme herys aman a thyng

That is not to his lykyng

Or a thyng of great pyte

And he of tender herte be

The herte mekys anone ryght

And castyth wather to the syght

So wepe the eyne also smert

And al makyth the tendernes of the herte

And of that herte shal seldom

Euyl wyl of felnesse come

And the eyne that wepe ofte

Oldeth the herte and doth it softe

For the hete that the herte felys

With the teres greatly kelys

But he that not wel [...] wepe

Great felnesse in his herte can kepe

And of hard herte than is he

And of no mercy nor pyte

[Page]But he that to wepe is redy

In hym is pyte and mercy

¶The .C.lxxiij. questyon

¶What maner of folke are mē hold to

In this world worshype to do

EUery man shal pryncypaly

Worshype god that is on hy

That hym made and shal vnmake

Whan that talent wyl hym take

His wyfe shal man worshype also

For one body are they two

His lorde also worshype he shal

That he seruys and dwellyth with al

Father and mother also shal he

Worshype before al that be

Yet shal he worshype for theyr mede

That hym good doth with worde or dede

Suster and brother and his kynde

Unto worshype shuld he haue in mynde

And euery man yf that he myght

Ought he to worshype with ryght

¶The .C.lxxiiii. questyon

¶The largest man which is he

That now in the world may be

A Large man that haue shal

Thoughe he the world seke al

Shal he none fynde ne se

That of his owne may large be

For of no largenes told it is

Aman to gyue that not is his

[Page]For al the largesse that men telles

Of god they are and no man elles

And al that man is sent

Of goddys loue it is hym lent

For nakyd hyther is he brought

And of hym selfe he hath nought

And nakyd away shal he wende

With hym he berys it not at the ende

And yf it his owne were

Than myght he it with hym bere

And god hym lendyth good truly

That he it spend worthely

Hym selfe at mesure for to fede

And helpe the pouer that hath nede

And seyng he is bounde therto

The pouer for to helpe also

So may no man make his roos

That it is largesse that he doos

Wherfore wote I no large man

That to hym selfe appropryat it can

¶The .C.lxxv. questyon

¶Shal a pouer man euery whore

Put hym arych man before

IF it be so that they tweye

Go to gether by the weye

The pouer man shal euer more

Put the rych man before

And at one table be they

The pouer set hym not to hye

For yf arycher come than he

Hym behouyth to flyte his se

[Page]And than better yt wore

That he had set hym els whore

But be they both in a batayle

And shal theyr enymes assayle

There the pouer with out drede

Before the rych hym forth bede

For a pouer may be also doughty

As arych man of his body

And with yt forth puttyng percaas he may

Worshype more get than ye rych that day

¶The .C.lxxvj. questyon

¶Is a man in eny synne to ete

Al thyng that he may gete

UNto man god had such loue

That he made to his behoue

Fowle and fysshe in the see

Beast and frute in erth to be

And whan that he man had wrought

And in to paradyse hym brought

He made hym lorde of al thys

Them to put in his seruys

And for to vse them to his fode

For god made al thynges good

And seyng he gaue hym leue ther tyl

He doth no synne me thynke with skyl

That of al thyng etes

At mesure whan he it gethes

For what he etes with good wyl

Ne may euer do hym yl

Though it adder were or snake

But yf he agayne herte it take

[Page]Though it be the best men fynde

It doth no good to his kynde

¶The .C.lxxvij. questyon

¶Shal aman another grete

Alday whan he may hym mete

AMan so ofte nought grete thou shal

As thou hym metyst aday with al

But yf thou in thy hows be

Among thy folke and thy meyne

Gretyng shalt thou sey them thore

Twyes vpon the day no more

On morne whan thou comyst them amonge

And on euyn at thy bede goynge

And mete thou thy frende be the strete

Ones in the day thou shalt hym grete

And thou shalt say hym that gretyng

After the tyme of your metyng

At morne or euyn wether it be

And yf that he fyrst grete the

Grete hym agayne curtesly

Men shal the say worshyp therby

But thou hym shalt but onys grete

On the day that thou hym ofte mete

¶The .C.lxxviij. questyon

¶How shal aman his chyldren ordre

So that after repentyth not he

IF you haue chyldren kepe them wel

Tyl they be of age somedele

And than yf thou haue them dere

Cause them some crafte to lere

[Page]That in nede myster can

His conyng is esy to bere

It wyl helpe and nothyng dere

There is no tresure therto

For tresure wyl a way go

And whan the tresure is gon al

Conyng a gayne it bryng shal

Daunt them not whyle they are yonge

But sharpe wordes of thy tonge

Sey vnto them euer amonge

So shal they drede to do wronge

With thy chyldren do thou shal

As men doth a grene wand with al

It may be wrethen whyle it is grene

How so men wyl without tene

Were it drye sone wold it crake

A withe therof shuld no man make

So shuld men chyldren chastyse in youth

Tyl that they some good couth

For that yougth takyth comenly

In age he shal fynde it redely

¶The .C.lxxix. questyon

¶Whether shal amā more loue haue tyl

His wyfe or chyld with skyl

AMan shal loue ouer al thynge

God his maker heuyn kynge

And next his owne body

And than his wyfe pryncypaly

His chyldren ought aman by kynde

For to loue and haue in mynde

But whan god fyrst made adam

[Page]And Eue of his body came

He gaue hym her vnto fere

And bade hym for to haue her dere

Than in that geuyng made he

Man and his wyfe one to be

And yf thou and thy wyfe be one

And that partyng is none

Ne none other may forsake

Unto deth the one take

Thou ought thy wyfe to loue more

Than al the chyldren that thyne more

If thou forlese thy good wyfe

Than lesyst thou the solace of thy lyfe

And yf thou thy chyldren forgo

Of thy wyfe may thou wyn mo

Wherfore shalt thou thy wyfe loue more

Than thy chyldren and hold in store

¶The .C.lxxx. questyon

¶If I had no father borne

Ne no mother me beforne

How shuld I haue borne be

In this world or here or se

LOnge or god the world wrought

Or man or beast therin brought

He knewe al that shuld be borne

Which saued and which forlorne

And al theyr names and thought

God had bene elles nought

Wherfore he wyst wel of the

That thou shuldest borne be

And seyng thou nedys shuldest be borne

[Page]Though thy father the beforne

Ne thy mother that was also

Had nother come this world vnto

Another father thou shuldest haue had

And mother that had the both fede and clad

¶The .C.lxxxj. questyon

¶The chyld that hath ful the shap

In the mother / by what hap

Is it somtyme brought to nought

And may alyue forth be brought

BE thre causes may it come to

Why it comyth to pas so

One than may be goddys wyl

That he wylleth that it shal spyl

Another skyl also ther is

Why it so fareth somtyme amys

The feble norysshyng in the wyfe

That it may not come to lyfe

For the feblenesse of the which norture

Makyth the seed not to dure

Feblenes of raynes the thyrd

As in woman is be tyde

Some woman with chyld may be

And so feble of rayns is she

That she is not of the myght

Of the chyld to suffer the weyght

The mother sterys and turnes about

So that the chyld fallyth out

Whan it is out than is it lorne

And so than is it ded borne

And by the grace of goddys myght

The mother sperys a non ryght

[Page]

¶The .C.lxxxij. questyon

¶Wymen yt in this world are here

Are they al of one manere

WImen are made al after one

In flesshe / blode / hyde and bone

And al the lymes yu seyst one bere

Euery one such lymes were

And that men felys one vpon

May men fele on euery one

But of complexcyon are they sere

Of word / wyl and of manere

But al on one delyte men fynde

Whan it comyth to dede of kynde

Ofte of wathers may thou se

That of dyuers hewes they be

But in thy mouth yf thou them take

Al as one water shal they smake

So do wemen whare they fare

Al of one sauyour they are

But thynketh some man

That swetar is some woman

Than some other fyftene

And of that may be thre thynges mene

One is yf she be fayre and whyte

For aman hath more delyte

In her that is bryght on ble

Than in a lothlyer on to se

Another cause is noble wede

For aman geuyth gladder mede

To her that nobely is dyght

Than to a pouer raggyd wyght

The thyrd skyl is whan a man

[Page]So great loue hath to woman

That hym thynkyth none so swete to hold

For loue hath no lacke it is sayd of olde

¶The .C.lxxxiij. questyon

¶If thy frend haue wyfe and meyne

And them mysdo thou se

Salt thou vnto thy frēde it sey

And his wyfe and meyne be wrey

IF thy neyghbor haue a wyfe

That be of euyl lyfe

And thou may it vndertake

That she wronge doth agayne her make

Or dystroyer of his good be

And thou maye it wete or se

Warne hym so preuely and styl

That he smyte in none euyl wyl

But byd hym that he loke therto

So that they nomore do so

And make he hym wroth at the fyrst

Whan that he the soth hathe wyst

And throughe thy wordes he shal take hede

And than shal he the better spede

And saue his good that shuld away

And yf thou hym no word dyd say

For men sayne in olde sawes

By good neyghbours god day men dawes

¶The .C.lxxxiiij. questyon

¶Yf a man any thynge shal do

Shal he hym ought hast therto

[Page]IF thou thynke to do a good dede

Hastly therto thou the spede

For good dede shal haue no respyte

He doth it twyes that doth it tyte

But thynke thou euyl dede to do

Haste the nothyng there vnto

Be thynke the fyrst in thy herte

That it the not after smerte

For yf that thou take good hede

Euyl haste is al vnspede

In lytel tyme may befalle the

That thy herte may chaunged be

So that thou shalt the with holde

Fro that thou fyrst don wolde

And than shalt thou lyke wele

That thou hasted to it no dele

¶The .C.lxxxv. questyon

¶Shal he that eny good can

In this world loue euery man

GOostly for god loue shalt thou

Euery man and I shal tel the how

Tyl his sowle no euyl wyl

More than thou wylt thyne owne tyl

But bodely thy loue shalbe

To euery man as he loueth the

Loue he the loue hym a geyne

And of his company be feyne

Hate he the / hate hym also

And do with hym as he wold to the do

Come thou to thy frendes hows

There thy foes thou feryst not thus

[Page]He wyl receyue the with blys

And for the the gladder he is

If thou eny thyng hym craue

With good wyl thou mayst it haue

Such aman shalt thou loue ageyne

And his wyl to do be feyne

If thou come vnto thy foo

That sawe the leuer hang than go

Despyte of hym may thou gete

Or eyther drynke or mete

From such aman shalt thou fle

And hate hym as he doth the

For in old sawes says men that

He that loues there he is hate

Agayne the streme he rowes sore

And to lese hath he no more

¶The .C.lxxxvj. questyon

¶The folke of this world ech one

Are they comune after one

BEtwyx them is comunaute

In some thynges as thou may se

For al are they borne in care

And al shal they hens fare

And al shal they rotte away

And al aryse at domysday

But betwyx them in some thyng

Is dyuersyte / for some is kynge

Some pouer and vyle is theyr mete

Some lyue by that they may gete

Some go clade and some bare

And of dyuerse manere men are

[Page]Of dyuerse wyl of dyuerse thought

Here in comune are they nought

And as here is dyuersyte

So shal there in other world be

Some shal in to payne be brought

To dole the werkes that he hath wrought

And some shal in to payne of helle

There with out ende to dwelle

And some shal in to heuyn blys

That nothyng here haue don amys

¶The .C.lxxxvij. questyon

¶Do men the rych honour ech one

And vnto the pouer eyhgt none

In the other world also

As men here in this do

ARych man more honour shal haue

In other world than he can craue

And the pouer more shame suffer

Than eny man here and greatter

The rych there shal honour fynde

And the pouer set behynde

But they haue no man there dere

After as he was rych here

Understand now yf thou can

Al the ryches of the man

Is the sowle that hym is in

And yf it be clene out of synne

It is noble and rych

Hym shal aungels of make mych

And worshyp do to hym truly

For the goodnes that he is rych by

[Page]The pouer sowle that synful is

Shal nother haue honour ne blys

The aungels turne theyr face therfro

For it for pouert goyth to wo

Worshyp gettyth it ryght none

Ware it rych it had good wone

But his ryches was al spent

And from hym clenely it went

Whan he goddys precept forsoke

And to deedly synne hym toke

Therfore after as his ryches wore

Is he worthy to be honoured thore

¶The .C.lxxxviij. questyon

¶Shal the father bere eny bourthyn

For his sonne / or his sonne for hym

THe father of the sonne shal bere

No burthen that hym may dere

Ne the sonne not charged is

With that the father doth amys

Ech man of his owne synne

Is charged that he deyes in

But for the sonne the father may

Be charged oft and euery day

As yf that the sonne mysdo

And the father wote that it be so

And chastyse hym not of his synne

But sufferyth hym to be therin

He synnes al so wel as he

And for hym charged shalbe

The sonne for his dede doyng

And the father for his sufferyng

[Page]But the father is charged nought

Of that that the sonne wrought

But that he myght a hym corrected

If he had to hym ought seyed

But by sufferaunce ther is he in nede

Charged for his sonnys mysdede

¶The .C.lxxxix. questyon

¶They that slee men and vndo

Take they theyr synne them vnto

NAy / synne yt one man hath wrought

May charge a nother nought

No man with ryght may other slo

For no mysdede ne for no wo

But yf it by lordshyp be

That of god hath the pouste

Iustyce for to do the ryght

Therto is hym geuen myght

And yf aman for wrath or hate

Sle another in the gate

The synne of the ded chargys hym nought

Hym that hym to ded brought

But what he dyd euyl or wele

Shal cleue by hymselfe euery dele

Nought than may be of godys mercy

That he that ys slayne wrongfully

May of som synne releasyd be

For the sharp dede that he

Agaynst ryght was brought vnto

And he that hym slew also

Encresyth his synne where he goyth

By also many as he sleyth

[Page]For greatter synne nought tel I can

Than wylfully to slee a man

¶The .C.lxxxx. questyon

¶Which is most sorow thynkyth the

That thou heryst or doest se

SIght of eye wyl more dere

Than that a man heres with ere

For that a man sees with eye

That may be no flatery

For he sees al the dede doyng

And al the sorowe of that thyng

That moste go ryght nere the herte

And doth it aldermost smert

For olde men say / and it is newes

That eyne ne se / herte ne rewes

But that a man is told vnto

He wottyth neuer yf it be so

And though he trow he say aryght

Yet deryth it nothyng the syght

For the herte thynketh as it wold

It is not perchaunce as it is tolde

And thus conforteth he vyturly

Al the wyttes of the body

Syght of eye is bodely

And heryng of ere is goostly

Ryght as the wynde so is heryng

That is herde and sene nothyng

Wherfore more sorow is to se

Than to here what so it be

¶The .C.lxxxxj. questyon

[Page]

¶Myght men eny folke synde

That etyth other agayne kynde

HE that trauayles day and nyght

To hurte his neyghbor with vnryght

To lese his good that he wan

With trauayle or craft that he can

And that he shuld his lyfe with lede

For to clothe hym with and to fede

Me thynke he byteth hym very sore

And eteth hym as that it wore

Yet is there another manere

Aman to ete another here

Yf he a lesyng on hym lye

Wherfore he hathe great vylonye

Or sayth of hym euyl behynd his backe

Or before men maketh of hym alacke

He eteth hym without methe

Thoughe he not byte hym with his tethe

And he that sleeth aman also

And hath no cause ther vnto

Or for gyft that hym is hyght

Forsothe he than hym eteth ryght

And more maners the [...]e is of mete

That aman may another ete

¶The .C.lxxxxij. questyon

¶Which is the worst thyng of thes thre

Morder / thefte / or a slanderer to be?

TO be a slanderer is a wycked lyfe

For he maketh ofte great stryfe

He is aboute day and nyght

To make debate vnto his myght

[Page]And so may he by wickyd rede

Be encheson a man to be deed

Wherfore it is great folye

To haue such one in company

Theft also is great synne

For he that wyl neuer blynne

To stele his neyghbor fro

That he hath byde for moch wo

And so doth he agayne hym dryue

In wo and trauayl to lyue

Or to begge for euer more

Loke what synne he doys thore

But the most synne of al tho

Is man to murdre and slo

For he destroyeth that stature

That god made after his fygure

And reues lyfe ther it shuld be

And goddys seruyse so lettyth he

Mannys lycknes slo shal he nought

Ne none but god that hym hath wrought

¶The .C.lxxxxiij. questyon

¶Forgeuyth god with good chere

Al the synnes that a man doth here

IF al the droppes in the see

And grasses that in erth may he

And al the leues men can neuen

And al the sterres of heuen

And al the fysshes that swyme can

And al the heres of beast and man

Ware al on one synne brought

The tenthdele ne were they nought

[Page]Of the mercy of god of heuen

For that may no man sume ne reken

Had aman done al the synne

That al this world durst begyn

And he had sorow in herte therfore

And wold leue and do no more

God wold on hym haue mercy

And forgeue it hym redely

Admyttyng hym among his meyne

And of his turnyng glade be

But he that leuyth not his synne

Ne nought therof wyl blynne

Nother mercy wyl craue

He is worthy none to haue

For who so askys vnworthely

It may be denyed iustly

¶The .C.lxxxxiiij. questyon

¶Why trauaylys aman so

In this world as men do

FOr two thynges pryncypaly

The one to susteyne the body

The other that it strong be

To serue god in Trynyte

As in prayer and almesdede

For tho wyl the sowle fede

And to gather haue in mynde

To leue his chyldren and his frende

Al his trauayle shuld be here

To saue the sowle that god hath dere

And to do as that we fynde

As the myre doth in his kynde

[Page]By somers dayes he gaderys al

That he in wynter by lyue shal

He wyl not so long abyde

That it come to the wynter tyde

Euyn so shuld a man lere

To tyl his sowle whyle he is here

Abyde he tyl he hens fare

Colde wynter he fyndys and care

Wherfore shuld he so trauayle

That it myght after hym a vayle

¶The .C.lxxxxv. questyon

¶Tel me now with out mys

Which is the wickest thyng that is

WIckydare thyng may none be

Than wickyd man in pouste

For the sowle that is in hym

Is both myrke and dym

And a wickyd mā myght se byn

How darke his sowle is for synne

So fowle a thyng shal he se it

That he shuld forlese his wyt

Wherfore is there no myrcknesse

Agayne a man in wickydnesse

¶The .C.lxxxxvj. questyon

¶The good werkes and the yl

That a man doth of his wyl

Whether come they of god hym to

Or of hym selfe that doth them so

UNderstand you wel I wys

That of god no euyl is

[Page]Of hym is al holynesse

And al fayrhed and goodnesse

And for goodnes man he wrought

To paradyse whan he hym brought

He gaue hym wyt as was his wyl

For to know both good and yl

And whan aman had knowlegyng

Of both / than was at his chosyng

Whether he wold take vnto

And than began he euyl to do

Whan that he the good lete

Bytyng the appul that he dyd ete

And sythen he myght do whether he wold

And he wold vnto the wyckyd hym hold

Of hym selfe euery dele it is

That he dyd so amys

To helpe he had an enymy

And so hath both thou and I

Thre we haue euery day

Us to tempt al that they may

Our owne flesshe / the world / the sende

Ech one wold vs truly shend

But we knowe among al this

Which is better and which wors is

Than is that wickydnes euery dele

Of hym that doth it and myght do wele

If a man were wel be thought

To thanke hym that made hym of nought

He shuld haue grace wel to do

And wickydnes hold hym fro

Wherfore of god comyth vs goodnes in

And of our selfe euyl and synne

[Page]

¶The .C.lxxxxvij. questyon

¶Where hydeth hym ye day fro nyght

And the nyght fro the day lyght

THat tyme that god the world dyght

Of his word and of his myght

The elements were myxt ech one

And lyght on erth was none

Than departyd them god asonder

And ech one dyd set other vnder

Than made he sonne and mone to lyght

That one on day that other on nyght

The sonne aboute goes euer more

To lyght here and elles whore

Whan he vs lyghteth it is day

And nyght whan it is a way

And whan he departyth vs fro

About the erth behoueth hym to go

And the erth that is so rounde

Reues vs in that stounde

The lyght that we had of hym

And than is the nyght to vs dym

But whan the sonne is aboute went

And agayne is to vs sent

Sone so as he shewes eny thyng

We se it is in the dawyng

And as he ryses ay and ay

So waxes vs the clere day

Thus departyth day and nyght

By reson of the sonne lyght

And euer whan comyth that one

The other departyth anone

¶The .C.lxxxxviij. questyon

[Page]

¶How hold the planetes them al

On the sky that they ne falle

WHan god had dyght y• fyrmamēt

And stabled euery element

On the sky vnder the heuen

Made he planets seuen

And he made vp on hye

Al the sterres of the sky

And ech planet ther he is

In his owne spere goyth I wys

The mone so is lowest of al

The hyest Saturnus we call

And al haue they theyr steryng

A gayne the sky in his goyng

And euer the hyer that they be

The more to go hath he

Some as a yere and some two

In his spere about to go

And some about to go also

Haue but a moneth therto

And al they are of kynde

Of the fyrmament as we fynde

Hauyng to gether a fastenyng

So that there may be no partyng

And so god hath ordayned them al

That none may from other falle

So may none falle from other wel

Tyl god vndo the world al ech dele

¶The .C.lxxxxix. questyon

¶How may mē yt howres know aryght

And the poyntes of day and nyght

[Page]IN what lande thou be

Thou mayst esely know and se

Sone so the sonne thou se may

That is apoynt of the day

And whan the sonne to rest is gon

Thou knowest that it is nyght anon

And the nyght with the day

Haue but foure and twenty howrs ay

And euery howre hath no more

But a thousand poyntes and foure score

And this thyng may thou wel

Be a candel prowe ech dele

Be the day short or longe with sayl

The therbe shal not mysse yf thou wyl

Reckyn the day after as it is

And the nyght as rekenyd is

And ech an howre know thou may

Whan it comyth and passyth away

¶The .CC. questyon

¶Al the sterres vp on hy

Turne they about on the sky

TUrnyng are the sterres ay

And as the sky goyth so go they

And for the turnyng of the sky

Is that they go so hastely

But one ther is that semith nought

Unto our syght that it goyth ought

And yet is he euer steryng

In a cyrcle about turnyng

For ful in the ende stondyth he

The one ende of the axeltre

[Page]That the world al turnes on

For that semyth his steryng none

And be cause he the axeltre is by

Turneth he so narowly

And so semyth he therfore

Euer in one stede as it wore

Wherby shypmen on the see

In what stede so they be

Be nyght haue great knolegeyng

By hym and by his shewyng

And for that the shypmen al

Lodys sterre they hym call

¶The .CC.j. questyon

¶The holsomest stede which is it

Of al the world after thy wyt

HOlsomest stede vnto man

Is ther he best gyde hym can

That no sycknes by hym mete

Ne none outrage of keelth ne hete

Ne moch slepe ne ouer moch wakyng

Of mete and drynke no outrage takyng

In hote countre no hote mete

Ne colde in colde shal he none ete

And therfore who so hole wyl be

Do as I shal teche the

Ones ete on day and nyght

And ones sporge the raynes in seuenyght

And ones in a moneth let the blode

And ones to purge hym in the yere is good

Thus may he hym kepe in hele

But of these men fynde not fele

[Page]

¶The .CC.j. questyon

¶ Tel me for I am in dwere

The dygnyest day of the yere

OF al the yere the dygnyest day

So is holden the Saturday

Whan god had heuen and erth wroght

And al thyng therin brought

And al them wrought he tho

In syxe dayes and no mo

On the sondaye he began

And the syxte daye made he man

Whan that of man was made ech lym

The seuenth day god restyd hym

For veryhed toke he no rest

But for that he chose it day best

And bade man that day he in pees

And of al werkes to fees

Wherfore the Saturday of al

The dygnyest day we cal

But a tyme shal men se

Whan goddys sonne shal man be

That he shal dye and after aryse

The thyrd day on alwyse

Which rysyng day men worshyp shal ay

And that shalbe the Sonday

And after shal men euer calle

Sonday the best of al

¶The .CC.ij. questyon

¶Yet wold I wyt more

Why slepe was made & wherfore

[Page]SLepe is made for mannys rest

Of al thyng one of the best

For it esyth the herte namely

And myght geuyth to al the body

As yf a lorde waken be

Wakyd is al his meyne

There ne may slepe non of al

For to be redy yf he call

Tyl he slepe / slepe al his

Than are they the lyghter in seruys

The herte of man the lord call I

For it maysteryth al the body

And whan it is a slepe anon

The lymes rest them euerychon

And than al the kyndly hete

Of the body geuyth to mete

Aboute the stomacke for to brynne

And to dygest that ther is with in

And than the kynde to hym takys

That to hym shal or he wakys

And purges hym of that other dele

As kynde geuyth hym ful wele

Thus gatheryth the body myght

And is after stronge and lyght

For to do that it shal do

That ne ware / yf slepe ware not so

Therfore hath god the nyght wrought

To mannys rest and els nought

For payne is none / ne no mornyng

Unto man agayne wakyng

¶The .CC.iij. questyon

[Page]

¶Shal euer in this word be

Warre and contecte as men now se

AT the begynnyng whan there wore

Foure men in the world no more

Was there warre and enuy

And mannys slawghter and felony

And it shal neuer seas

That the world be al in peas

For were the world in peas holly

Men myght calle it skylfully

Paradyse and els nought

For there was neuer no warre wrought

But loue / peas / and charyte

And tho may holly here not be

But in this world are warres two

Goostly and bodely also

The goostly warre may no man se

Which is of the deuyl and his meyne

Nyght and day on man he warres

And in al that he may men deres

Bodely warre al fyrst began

Which is betwyx man and man

And that shal neuer to ende torne

Untyl it be the day of dome

¶The .CC.iiii. questyon

¶Wrathes god hī ough for mānis dede

What ded so he dye good or quede

THough god sawe al the world brynne

And al the folke dye that are therin

And dryed euerydele the see

In god shold no wreth be

[Page]In hym may be no euyl mode

For nothyng of this worldes good

Mannes dede deryth god no more

What dede so he dyes no whore

Than it doth the fyre to brynne

A hylle that many auntes were in

The payne that they fele in brennyng

Ne derys them for no kynges thyng

No more doth god soth to sey

What tyme aman shal here dey

No surar thyng than is the dede

But of the tyme can no man rede

And for that what tyme he dey shal

God greuyth hym nothyng with al

But sythen man wot no prow

Whan he shal dey ne how

Loke he be redy ay I rede

Than shal hym not the dede drede

¶The .CC.v. questyon

¶Which folke are it as thou wetes

That the world now most susteynes

FOure maner of folke there are

That were it so that they ne ware

The world myght not vp holden be

Ne fare so wel as we now se

One than are thes men of crafte

That lerne other that are dafte

Conyng theyr lyuelod for to wynne

And god to serue without synne

Another are tho that tyl the lande

And wynne vs mete and drynke to hande

[Page]The thryde are lordes that peas kepe

For in peas may men suerly slepe

If peas were not there were great doute

To lyue or eny wher walke aboute

The fourth maner of folke than are

Chapmen that about fare

Fro feyre to feyre fro lande to lande

And bryng that men do wande

And shuld defaute haue of it also

Dyd not chapmen gyue them therto

Wherfore the world with out thys

Mought be kept on none wyse

¶The .CC.vij. questyon

¶Whether is hyer as yu doyst vndarstād

The kynge or the lawe of the lande

LAwe is of more antyquyte

Than kyng or prynce may be

And yf thou wylt wyt why

I shal the tel apertly

The name of kynge or emperour

Is geuyn for worldly honour

And it fallyth to his myght

The lawe for to kepe aryght

Than is kynge for lawe set

To kepe that lawe be not let

Than is lawe more than he

For to do lawe hath he potence

For a thyng yt ordayned is

For another / than semys thys

That he that it is dyght for

Of them two is the more

[Page]And yf the kynge for lawe be

Than is lawe more than he

Yet shal I say the a nother sawe

If the kynge do agayne the lawe

Lawe shal hym deme with skyl and ryght

Than is lawe aboue his myght

And breke he lawe in eny thyng

He is not worthy to be kynge

Truly here after shal come one

A kyng that shal hyght Salomon

In his sawes say shal he

Blessyd mote they al be

That shal in this world rounde

Do iustyce and ryght in euery stounde

¶The .CC.viij. questyon

¶May man in ony manere

Ony worldly good haue here

That he ouer al may with hym bere

And the weyght hym not dere

AMan in this world may haue

Good hym eneywhere for to saue

And helpe hym at his nede

And euer he may it with hym lede

That is conyng of some arte

Which wyl not fro man parte

Who so hath hym nedyth not to drede

For it wyl hym both cloth and fede

Bettar tresour neuer no man wan

Than is conyng vn to man

And whyther so aman wyl go

He may it bere with out wo

[Page]And here vnto none of his

Wherfore shal Salomon the wyse

Say as aman wel be taught

That wyt and wysdome is worldys aught

The .CC.ix. questyon

¶If two haue loue to gether stronge

And after are a sonder longe

And come to gether ought one whore

May they loue so as they dyd before

LOue betwyx frendes twey

That onys is ne shuld not dey

And yf that they in sonder be

That eyther other longe not se

And they to gether come efte

The loue yt was before lefte

Before that they in sondre wore

May come agayne and ryght wel more

As thou in a garden mayst se

Standyng a wel lykyng tre

And the gardynar behaue hym so

That he take no hede therto

To mucke and tyl and els it dyght

It myscaryeth anon ryght

Losyng his wel lykyng

For it zemyd is nothyng

But whan the gardynar it sees

That it fayleth among other trees

Hede agayne therto he takys

And the erth about it bettar makys

And than begynneth it to sprynge

And take agayne to his lykynge

[Page]So it faryth of frendes two

If that one fro the other go

And after to gether come agayne

Eyther wylbe of other feyne

And the loue they had before

Or that they a sondre wore

For new may they them betwene

As the tree that eft waxed grene

¶The .CC.x. questyon

¶How may amā loue woman ryght

Or she hym for the syght

SOmtyme fallyth aman to mete

Afayre woman in the strete

His eyen wyl he on her caste

Beholdyng her ryght faste

And the eyen a non present ryght

Unto the braynes that same syght

Braynes send the herte vnto

And in delyte he fallyth also

And as sone as he is in delyte

He begynneth to loue tyte

The brayne sendyth to the eye agayne

That they of that syght are fayne

Delytyng them to beholde more

So that the herte therfore

Fallyth in a fowle lykyng

And so begynneth the loue to spryng

But and the herte were of myght

Stronge to hold hym in that syght

And say lorde I thanke it the

The syght that I yonder se

[Page]That thou woldest after thy fygure

Make so fayre a creature

Temptacyon shuld he none be in

Ne falle in no delyte of synne

Ne his herte shuld haue no menyng

Another tyme to such a thyng

No more shuld woman on her syde

If she dyd thanke god euery tyde

¶The .CC.xj. questyon

¶Aman that lyght conscyence berys

And by his god falsly swerys

Of .x. false thynges for the nonys

Is he ought for swore but onys

HE that swerys an oth amys

By his god what so he is

For .x. false thynges al in one

Soth as he swerys for ech one

And yf ech of the .x. false be

Tene tymes forsworne is he

An hundreth thynges though it wore

So ofte forsworne is he thore

And who so assentys therto

That he made that othe also

Also ofte is he forsworne

As he that made that oth beforne

¶The .CC.xij. questyon

¶Tho that any knowlege haue here

The folke for to lere

Shal eny grace come them vnto

More than it shal other men to

[Page]Ryght it is that euery man

That trauayls in labour as he can

That it be hym yeldyd so

As his trauayle amountys to

And he that trauayls here

Ony good other to lere

Or preches to them how they shal

Heuynly blys wyn with al

God shal them in heuyn saue

And double mede shal they haue

For that they haue techyd ryght

The way vnto heuyn lyght

But two maner of techers be

In this world as thou mayst se

Unto the sonne is lykened one

That geuyth his lyght euer anon

And euery lyke his lyght lastes

For ought that he doune castes

That are the good that teches here

Doyng them selfe as they do lere

But some are that tech wel

And wickydly lyue them selfe euery dele

Unto the candel lyght are tho

That to other geuyth his lyght hym fro

And wasteth hym selfe hastely

He that is no grace worthy

For yf aman were set to dele

Tresour among feele

And he myght pay them ech one wel

And holde hym selfe a great dele

If he dele so his delyng

That hym selfe lefte nothyng

[Page]Or yf ought hym left wicked ware

It is but ryght he euyl fare

Skyl it is that he fare yl

That wyl chose it of hys wyl

¶The .CC.xiij. questyon

¶Thought yt a man thynkes alday

Wherof euer come it may

COmenly thought in herte wyl spryng

Of clere herte and conyng

For euer the more that aman

Of arte in this world can

The more thought he hath thefore

And ymagynes more and more

The wysdom that thes wyse haue so

Of pure corage it comyth them to

And that is of pure blode nought elles

That about the herte dwelles

And the puryte of that blode

Cleres the braynes and makys them good

And that claryte that in the braynes dure

Geuyth to the corage moysture

And vnto the eyen claryte

And to al the lymes lyght to be

The herte it geuyth vnto

Blythnes and lykyng also

Which makyth aman conyng

And to haue thought of moch thyng

But for his conyng shal he nought

Smyte in to an euyl thought

And his thought shalbe holly

To worshyp god pryncypaly

[Page]And after to worke at his myght

Thynges that be honest and ryght

¶The .CC xiiij. questyon

¶Why than falle the folke also

Of the euyl as men se they do

FOr thre thynges pryncypaly

Falles vmwhyle amannys body

One is for colours & humors wyk

That stere in the body thycke

And the humors day and nyght

With the good in the body fyght

And yf the wicked maysters be

The herte somtyme they tourne perde

And ableese to the braynes cast

That aman falles at the last

And for that same vanyte

With fote and hand trauayleth he

And fome out of the mouth doth falle

His wyttes so and doth lose al

Another than is deedly synne

That aman is combred in

And goddys cōmaundment doth nought

But in synne is al his thought

Such powre hath the deuyl of hym

That he hym shewes to hym ful grym

The aungel that hath hym in kepyng

Rekenys than of hym nothyng

Wherfore the deuyl than fouly

Turmentys hym this pytyously

The thyrd cause than is fantasy

That comyth to the herte vnwysly

[Page]Wherfore it fayles and cowarde is

And waxes dredful and losys blys

Wherfore somtyme he fallys smert

And comyth a fantesy of the herte

¶The .CC.xv. questyon

¶Which is the perolousest lym

That mannys body hath in hym

OF al the lymes of the body

The perylousest than hold I

The eyen that shuld the body wys

That it not go amys

For in peryl both put they

Sowle and body euery dey

The eyen shew the braynes anon

The thyng that they se vpon

And the braynes also smert

Nuncyes it forth vnto the herte

The herte hath lykyng in the syght

And fallyth in synne anon ryght

And had the eyen se no thynge

The herte had falle in no lykynge

Also perylouse they ere

For they are tender and lyght to dere

And pryde and yre and couetys

With other synnes mo than this

Which thynges had be vnsought

And mannys eyen sawe ryght nought

And for that of euerychone

Perylouser lyme is none

¶The .CC.xvj. questyon

[Page]

¶Which is the sykerest arte of al

And there most peryl may in falle

CLerkes that to the world preches

And goddys wyl to do them teches

And how they shal theyr sowles gyde

And the deuyl from them cause to slyde

The surest arte haue they tho

And the perylousest also

For of the world they are the lyght

As to the body is eyen syght

The eyen lyght the body

And ledyth it by way and sty

Without hurte there it wylbe

Which hurte shuld take myght it not se

Also tho that lerne this arte

And thech forth therof some parte

The ryght way the folke they lede

And theyr sowles goostly they fede

And yf they do as they say

Theyr selfe goyth in the ryght way

And yf they nought ne do

As they other tech vnto

Fouly they them selfe spyl

And the candel lyke they are vntyl

That lyghtes me and the ryghtwel

But hym selfe wastes euery dele

¶The .CC.xvij. questyon

¶How is a man somtyme iolyfe

And lyght of body al his lyfe

SOmtyme begynneth iolyfte

In mannys body to styre and be

[Page]And that comyth ryght kyndly

Of a yong blode in the body

That of his mother toke it than

Or he to the world came

But than after his beryng

Gatheryth he of mete in fedyng

Anew blode and that steryth hym

Somtyme in euery a lyme

And the yong blode therwith

Steryth in to ech a lyght

The herte reuerdysse with al

As that it of kynde shal

So come in iolynyte

Ey to that blode so steryng be

But whan it begynnes to sesse

The herte quyckly hath relesse

Of iolynyte and fallyth thore

In a sadnes as it was before

¶The .CC.xviij. questyon

¶May man achyld not get ryfe

Ech tyme that he touches his wyfe

IN this world man is none

That myght get his wyfe vpon

Achyld ech tyme ay

That he with her lay

Ne so ofte may no woman

Conceyue of the seed of man

Achyld forth for to brynge

As he myght get it in pleyeng

For she is coldar of nature.

And keelth to seed is no norture

[Page]A lecherous man somtyme also

That goyth tha [...] worke moch vnto

And trauayles hym euer ryght

Of his reynes he lesyth myght

Than is the seed feble and veyne

And to engendure has no meyne

As a woman seuen chaumbres has

And in eche of tho parcas

May she conceyue a chyld no mo

And yet hathe she ynoughe of tho

And were aman of suche powere

To gete one whan he came her nere

At eche tyme where shuld that wyfe

Spere so many in her lyfe

Also yf there be goten one

The mother sperys vp an one

And no more conceyueth she

Untyl that same borne be

¶The .CC.xix. questyon.

¶What is it and how gathers it so

Mannys kynd whan it goth hym fro

AMannes kynd that goth hym fro

Gathers out of euery lym

For when aman aboute his mynd

With woman to done his kynd

The hete of hym and the great wyl

That he has his dede to fulfyl

Causeth his body to swete witin

Blode inward fro euery lym

And that blode becometh al whyte

And to the stones goth al tyte

[Page]And from thens it issueth so

Whan it comyth there vnto

Another cause than is frotyng

Of man to wyfe with great lykyng

Longe rest also a cause is why

And ful fellyng of the body

From aman somtyme / one of tho

Doth it slepyng go hym fro

But body trauaylyng and fastyng

Wyl come to hym no such thyng

¶The .CC.xx. questyon

¶Is aman bounde therto

To loue his chyldren & good them do

AMan shal loue ouer al thyng

God that is of heuyn kyng

And hym selfe after that

And his chyldren that he gat

For they are fruyte of his body

And for that ought he to loue them truly

But he shal not loue them so

Folyshly as many do

For some are theyr chyldren louyng

More than them selfe in some thyng

For yf thou leue now for no synne

Worldly goodes for to wynne

And caryst not wher thou it take

Theyr chyldren with rych to make

In also moch thou louest them more

Than thy selfe harken wherfore

Thy wrong takyng makyth the

That thou shalt dampned be

[Page]And me thynke he louys yl

That his sowle therfore wyl spyl

Wherfore of thy labor dylygently

Shalt thou fynde them mete truly

And somwhat thou lerne them shal

That they may after lyue with al

And whan they can it let them go

And purchase them with other mo

¶The .CC.xxi. questyon

¶Enchaunmentyng and socery

Uayle they ought or are they foly

THe body may they somdele vayle

But to ye soule they do great trauayle

And he that them worke shal

Thre thynges most haue with al

Fyrst behouyth hym to knowe a ryght

The howres & poyntes of day and nyght

For go he ought there agayne

Al his labour is in vayne

The tother is he most of nede

Geue great fayth vnto the dede

And haue stedfast in his thought

That the deuyl shal fayle hym nought

Yet most he know astronomy

Which shal helpe hym a great party

But want he eny of thes thre

His worke is nought but vanyte

¶The .CC.xxij. questyon

¶Which is the wightest beast y• is

And most of sauyour tel me this

[Page]HOunde is the wyghtest beast of al

And the trewest on to call

Lyghter no beast renne ne can

Nor none louyngare to man

And the sauourest is he

Saue yf it the myre be

For of al beastes the myre I wys

Sauours most after that it is

¶The .CC.xxiij. questyon

¶Whether of the two may be

Hyer the lande or the see

LAnde is hyer of the two

Els shuld the see it ouer go

Lete a wessel with water fylle

Euyn by the brynke standyng styll

Yet shal the brynkes ye water hold

But were it more vp / it wold

Renne ouer the vessel quyckly

And there spyl truly

Eueyn so it fareth by the see

But yf the erth myght hyare be

The see shuld it ouer renne

That al the world shuld wel kenne

¶The .CC.xxiiij. questyon

¶Wherof snayles come wyt I wold

And why they to the gras them hold

OF the hete and the swote

Come they of gras that is hote

And for moysture hold they them so

Unto the gras as that they do

[Page]And al be it lothly to syght

It is a worme of moch myght

For who so knoueth wel the kynde

Of great vertu he may it fynde

Be encombred the brest of man

That he his breth nought drawe can

Who so toke the snayles than

And fryed them wel in a panne

With oyle of olyue where men it get

And with hony gaue it hym to ete

Tene dayes at euen and morowe

It shuld delyuer hym of that sorowe

And yf a whyte spote were

In his eye the syght to dere

And toke snayles and them dyd brynne

Of that that is them with in

And whan it is brent to cole also

The tender parte so moch do thereto

Of a roste leke / and so moch yet

Ofybenus a tree as men call it

And bray it al to gether wel

And after sarce it euery dele

And vse it twyes or thryes a day

The whyte spote shal go a way

¶The .CC.xxv. questyon

¶How slepe thes old men also

As thes yong chyldren do

CHyldren yong slepe for the grennesse

Of theyr branes and the swetnesse

For tender and lyght it ought to be

As is the floure vpon a tre

[Page]If a wynde theron blowe truly

It fallyth of lyghtly

Also is it of a chyld I wys

Whan it of mete fellyd is

An ayre smyteth there vpon

Wherby it enclynes vpon one

And slepes than and restes so

Which is norysshyng there vnto

An old man also slepe wyl

As a chyld but by other skyl

For feblenes of braynes slepys he

As a rype appul vpon a tree

Whan a wynde it touches ought

It fallyth vnto ground for nought

The old man is in that caas

A lytel ese whan that he has

He fallyth a slepe quyte

And that is greatly his delyte

For feble reynes and heuy bonys

That causyth hym to slepe for the nonys

¶The .CC.xxvj. questyon

¶If god had so great a mā wrought

As al the world / myght he ought

Haue stond agayne god ryght

Thrughe vertu of his myght

HAd he made so great aman

As any man recken can

As al the world dale or doune

Woode / water / feld / or toune

Agayne god had he no mayne

More than an aunte hath hym agayne

[Page]And yet a thowsand tymes lesse

Than hath the aunte in his greatnesse

For god with word euynly wrought

Heuyn / erth and al of nought

And wold he byd them synke

It shuld be don as thou coudest thynke

Seyng he erth and henyn may vndo

Euyn with his word also

And is but apoynt of his myght

Moch more than with ryght

Is the remnaunt of his pouste

Wherfore to hym may nothyng be

¶The .CC.xxvij. questyon

¶What shuld this word haue be & how

Had god not dyght it as it is now

IT shuld haue be more ne lesse

Than a fowle dale of darknesse

Or as a darke pryson pyt

And nothyng shuld haue aluted it

The elements that we now calle

Shud haue be troblyd to gether al

And god shuld neuer thelesse in blys

Haue byn and rought nothyng of this

But for the creaturs sake

That god wold afterward make

The elementes claryfyed he

Settyng ech one ther they shuld be

And dyghtyd al thynges to mannys prow

Also as that they are now

¶The .CC.xxviij. questyon

¶Wether the aūgels of goddys onde cā

As dyd the sowle fyrst of Adam

[Page]ADamys sowle so was wrought

Of goddys flate but aungel nought

They were of goddys worde alone

He bad them be and they were echone

But god blewe vpon Adam

Goost of lyfe and he forth came

Wherfore adam and his ospryng

That stedfastly ouer al thyng

Trust in god and beleue shal

And his byddyng do with al

Dygnyer before god shal be

Than aungels be resons thre

Fyrst he hathe lyfe that may not wonde

Of the spririte of goddes onde

And that was hygher to my thynkyng

Than aungel that came ofspekyng

Also aman has enemyes

To tempte hym were he goth or lyes

And aungel in no temptyng is

Wherfore he may not do amys

And he that the temptyng withstandis

And cometh not in the deuyls handis

He is more dignyer than he

That in no temptyng may be

The thyrd cause then is also

That god hath set aungel therto

To kepe man both fer and hende

And fro al euyl hym to defende

And from al encombrement

But yf hym selfe therto assent

And yf aungel mannys seruaunt be

Than is agood man dygnyer than he

[Page]

¶The .CC.xxix. questyon

¶Now wold I know I wys

What thyng is heuynly paradyse

HEuynly paradyse than is

Nothyng but that same blys

That a man hath of the syght

Of goddys face that is so bryght

For he that sees hym face to face

He hath al maner of grace

Ioy and delyte endlesse to be

Helth / fayrhed / strenght / and lewte

Wyt and conyng with ryches also

God for his myght send vs therto

¶The .CC.xxx. questyon

¶The fayrest thyng in this world to se

That god made which may it be

AMan than is the fayrest thyng

That is in erth af goddys makyng

And the louelyest of vysage

For he hym made after his ymage

And for man made sonne and mone

With al thynges that vnder wone

And also as he wold make

Al thynges for mannys sake

Seruyse vnto man to do

So wil he man to hym shal do

¶The .CC.xxxj. questyon

¶Whether oughtest thou to loue alday

That loue the / or that ye louest me say

THou shalte loue that loueth the

And that thou louest some lat be

[Page]For thou louest some parauenture

That of the take ful lytel cure

And but thou loue with al shy meyne

Hym that loueth the agayne

Than wyl I saye thou louyst nought

God that at his lykenes the wrought

And who so loueth synne here

He loueth the deuyl to haue to fere

And he ne loueth here no man

But to shende al that he can

And to put hym in payne and wo

Lo / what wyse he loueth tho

The good he hateth day and nyght

But them to dere he hathe no myght

For god defendes them with his myght

And loueth al that loueth hym a ryght

Therfore they that great loue hath the tyl

Loue hym agayne for that is skyl

¶The .CC.xxvii. questyon

¶Which are the worthyest wordes yt be

And gras and stones as thynketh the?

GOd gaue vnto thynges thre

Moch vertu and potence

And to mannes helpe eche one

To worde / to gras / and to stone

The worthyest word and most of myght

For to saye day or nyght

Is to worshyp heuen kyng

And pray hym after good endyng

For yf this word be worthely spoken

It shalbe hard fro erth to heuen

[Page]Also grasses are there feele

Made vnto mannys heele

But of so many is there one

That may werst be forgone

That is where to fode of man

Worthyar grasse not I tel can

Also are ther many stones

Of great vertu for the nones

But mylle stones are they tho

That man may not wel forgo

For the gryndyng of the corne

They may werst be forborne

And seyng al haues of them nede

That with brede shal them fede

Worthyest stone I them call

Among other stones al

¶The .CC.xxxiij. questyon

¶Shalt thou thy counsel tel euery dele

To thy frend that thou louest wel

COunsel ought to be tolde

To hym that thou al haue wolde

Which is god and man elles

For he wyl hele that thou telles

If thou thy frend tel it vnto

It may after befalle so

That that frendshyp may ouer go

And thy frende becomyth thy fo

Than may thou say yf the lyste

Now wottyth my foo that my frynd wyst

Or yf thou thy frende it sey

And wenyst he shal the not wrey

[Page]And he tellys it preuely

Unto another frend hym by

And he the fourth as may welbe

This may it not long be preuete

For that many mouthes wote

On some tonge it lyes ful hote

Thus myght thou come in blame therfore

Wherfore bettar vntolde it wore

If thou a preuete haue wrought

And thy herte may hele it nought

Thynkyng it sadnes in the ryght

Untyl thou haue told it to some wyght

Go from the folke be the alone

That no man here the make no mone

And call it than thy selfe to

As thou woldest to a nother do

Whan thou hast told thy herte shal keel

And no more anguyshe shalt thou fele

If thou no wayes may it hold

Tyl thou haue it a nother told

Loke thou tel it to such one

That thou may wel trust vpon

That he wyl tel it on no syde

For no wrath that may be tyde

¶The .CC.xxxiiij. questyon

¶Which are wymen of most profyte

For man to haue to his delyte

UNtyl sowle profytes none

But amanys wyfe alone

But of the body yf thou sey

In the yere are sesons twey

[Page]After which aman loke shal

What woman he shal dele with al

In wynter whan the ayre is colde

And his keelth yeldes manyfolde

A yong woman and broune also

Profytes than man vnto

For broune woman is of hote onde

And of hote guttes fonde

And her hete hetys man also

And great profyt doys hym to

In somer whan the ayre is hote

And heteth both drye and wote

Than is a yong whyte woman

Best vnto profyt of man

For she is colde of kynde to fele

And man of great hete may she kele

But an olde woman doth no profyte

Unto man nother broune ne whyte

For yl onde aboute she beres

And moyst guttes that greatly deres

She makys aman pure heuy

And greuyth euery dele his body

And doth chaunge his fayre colour

Wherfore in her is no socour

¶The .CC.xxxv. questyon

¶The quakyng that aman is in

Somtyme wherof may it begyn

QUakyng that sometyme lyghtly

Falles aman in his body

Cometh of flemes that are colde

That the moysture in his body holde

[Page]For they ouer come of theyr [...]ouste

Al the colers that in hym be

Whan the colers haue al in welde

A great keelth in man they yelde

That cold reykes forth ther with

Unto synnes veynes and ech lyght

Which causyth hym to quake begyn

And the body shake within

As the blast of a colde ayre wyl make

A thynne clothyd man for to shake

¶The .CC.xxxvi. questyon

¶Whan aman seyth a thynge

Whether geuyth the eye out in seyng

Or it receyuyth inward therto

The shape that it sees also

NOthyng may come out owhore

But there that it went in before

Nor eye may nothyng geue outward

But that it fyrst receyuyd inward

Wherfore vnderstand a ryght

Thre thynges go to the syght

Fyrst that thyng that thou shalte se

That other that it coloured be

For of al thynges is seen nothyng

But only the colouryng

The thyrd are bemes of the syght

Which vpon that thyng shal lyght

That shalbe seen and after this

Moysture that in the eyne is

Drawes vnto hym the shapyng

And the facyon of that thyng

[Page]And that shape yeldes it the branes vnto

And the braynes to the herte also

The herte sendys it to hym at the last

And in memory holdes fast

And for that sendyng wyl the herte

Thynke a nother tyme ful smerte

Of the thyng eyen had somwhore

Seen truly therbefore

¶The .CC.xxxvij. questyon

¶How may aman spekyng be

Be hym alone and say we

AMan is made more ne lesse

But after goddys owne lycknesse

And also as in the godhed be

Rekened ryghtly persons thre

So there are in euery man

Thre thynges that I reken can

Body / sowle / and the wyt

Thes thre are together knyt

The tong an instrument is ryght

To speke the sowle geuyth myght

The wyttes gouern aboue al

What so the tong speke shal

And seyng euery man hath thes thre

In spech may he wel say we

¶The .CC.xxxviij. questyon

¶May with takyng from the see

It in any thyng amenysshed be

THyng that men alday of take

Behouyth to menysshe and slake

[Page]Now is no water of al that be

Fresshe nor salt but of the see

And euery day men takys therto

Both man and beast and fowle also

And al that is taken euery day

Ageyne to the see ne may

There goyth of it to wast somdele

As euery man may wyt wel

But the erth yeldes waters her fro

That vnto the see go

And the see restores eft

Of al that men hath it reft

And it is so long and wyde

And so greatly depe and syde

That men may aperceue nothyng

That therof goys to wastyng

¶The .CC.xxxix. questyon

¶Whether shal man loue one or other

Chyld of the suster or of the brother

BOth ought thou for to loue them euin

After goddys ryght of heuyn

But after the worldys lawe

Some man were leuer to hym drawe

The brothers chylde and loue hym more

Than the susters / harken wherfore

The chyld takys matter of the wyfe

And of the father shape and lyfe

And shape of al thyng I wys

Is worthyare than the matter is

Wherfore that some men wyl sey

The brothers chyld is nere of twey

[Page]But gyle is on that other syde

As men hath wyst it ofte betyde

My brothers wyfe may be a wyle

And may do her husbond gyle

And wyt on hym achyld lyghtly

That he no more gat than I

But achyld that my suster bare

Therof am I suer and ware

That that behouyth to be kynne of nede

But of my brothers chyld is drede

¶The .CC.xl. questyon

¶Tel me now yf that thou can

The peryloust thynges that are in man

FOure colours hath man hym in

That of foure complexcyons begyn

The fyrst is blode that may not mysse

That other blacke coloure I wysse

The thyrd is fleme whyte on to se

And yelow coloure the fourth is he

And want aman of thes thre

His body were deed anon

And ech one behouys to be

At his seson in his pouste

And yf any lacke them al

Out of tyme that they shuld in hym fall

In sycknes the body falles

Perylous wherfore men them calles

And ech one hath his power

In dyuers quarters of the yere

Thre thynges the fyrst quarter ches

Capricorne / Aquarius / and pisses

[Page]And of flemes haue they myght

And wete and colde is theyr ryght

In December they begynne

And in mydel of March they blynne

Which is the coldest tyme of al

For that is that we wynter call

¶The seconde quarter next therby

Haue Aries / Taurus / Gemini

Blode in man haue they myght to

And are hote and moyst also

In March is theyr begynyng

And in Iune is theyr endyng

Uer hyght that seson that I mene

Al thynges therin waxe grene

¶The thyrd quarter hath hym vnto

Cancer / Leo / and Uirgo

And they are both hote and drye

Of yelow colours is theyr maystrye

In Iune is theyr begynyng ay

And in September they wend away

Which is the somer tyde

The meryest tyme that men abyde

¶The fourth hath sygnes thus

Libra / Scorpio / Sagittarius

They are both colde and drye

And of blacke colour haue sygnorye

Whos begynyng is in September

And theyr partyng in December

And who so thes foure tymes obserues

And his kynd wel in them gydes

Fro perelles myght he kepe hym longe

And in hele holde his lymmes stronge

[Page]

¶The .xlj. questyon

¶Of al the flesshes ye men may get

Which is the holsomest to ete

THe flesshe that is of most substance

And geuyth man most sustynaunce

That flesshe is the holsomest

And vnto mannys norysshyng best

But who so a good stomacke myght get

That myght wel dygest his mete

To hym is best though it be grete

Flesshe of bugle and of nete

For great myght to man they geue

But sycke men wyl they greue

For a sycke man is feble ryght

And his stomacke is of no myght

Wherfore moton is best hym to

And yong chykens are good also

For tendernes that men in them fynde

And greatly chargeth not the kynde

For a sycke man may suffer no dele

Of that a hole man may ryght wel

¶The .CC.xlij. questyon

¶The mete that aman shal lyue by

How departys it in his body

SUstenaunce that aman take shal

Gaderys vnto the stomacke al

And with drynke synkes therin

And than to seth wyl it begyn

And whan it is soden wel

And dygested euery dele

In fyue partes deuyded it is

[Page]And euery party goys vnto his

The fyrst parte wylbe fall

To be clenest and purest of al

And that parte also smerte

Drawes hym lyghtly vnto the herte

That other part drawes hym also

The braynes / eyen / and hede vnto

The thyrd vnto the lymes shal

And vnto the blode with al

The fourth goyth there it is not spylt

To the longes / to the lyuer and to the milte

The fyfte than is as brene of al

Which wyl vnto the guttes fall

And men cast it out therby

That it helpyth not the body

And dryuke departys also in man

As I of mete to tel began

¶The .CC.xliij. questyon

¶How shal aman of his throte wyn

Abone or a thorne styckyng therin

By bred or lycour takyn fully

And swelowed inward hastely

And yf it synke not

And wyl not throughe the throt

Take of rawe flesshe a mossel

And with a smale threde bynd it wel

That mossel swalow with spede

But in thy hande hold the threde

Tyl it is doune hold fast

And it shal that bone out cast

If the thred breke do it efte

Unto that it be out refte

[Page]

¶The .CC.xliiij. questyon

¶The mucke that euery mā goyth fro

Tel me why it styncketh so

STynkyng is it for causes twey

And which they are I shal sey

That one for speryng of the body

So yt none ayre may come therby

I shal the set ensample how

If a man toke ryght now

A pece of flesshe neuer so fayre

And spered it there it had no ayre

And it lye hote sone shalt thou se

That it shuld stynckyng be

For the humours is another skyl

That the stomacke draw hym vntyl

Which ful byttar are and soure

Salt and of euyl sauoure

With the mete they mynge them al

Whan so aman ete shal

Great stench the mete of them takys

Wherby as aman lyes it smakys

¶The .CC.xlv. questyon

¶Tel me now I praye the this

Why mannys vryne so salt is

BE thre thynges comys it to

Why that it is salt also

One is be cause aman that it drynkes

In hym throughe the mete it synkes

And stepes therin out to get

Al the salt that was in the mete

A nother cause also truly

[Page]Is for the swote of the body

The body swetys inward for hete

And kyndly salte is the swete

And that swet mengeles with the pyss [...]

Wherfore as salt it is

The thyrd cause for the hete with in

To seeth and boyle that wyl not blyn

In the body both swete and drynke

Or they may to the blader synke

And for thes causes thre

Behoueth vryne salt to be

¶The .CC.xlvj. questyon

¶Wherof euer wormes brede

In man and how that they fede

WOrmes are truly there brede

And in mannys body fede

Of the mucke of grossy metes

That a man or woman etes

And of the selfe lyue they wel

Of the venomousest dele

For as the adder and the pode

And other wormes that in erth wode

Fedyth the erth them verely

Of the venom that therin doth ly

Also thes wormes that in vs lye

Clenses vs of great party

Of euyls that shuld in vs make

Uenemous metes that we take

Neuerthelesse hurte they do

There men hath them long also

¶The .CC.xlvij. questyon

[Page]

¶How many craftes & which are tho

That man myght werst for go

CRaftes foure in erth ere

That men myght not wel for bere

One is smyth another wryght

That to men many thynges dyght

The thyrd arte so is sowyng

And the fourth so is weuyng

After the tyme that made was adam

Was smythyng the fyrst arte that cam

Wherfore is it lorde of al

For nothyng that to man shal fall

Of werkyng lomes to worke with al

That it through smythes handes ne shal

Wryghtyng is also a conyng

That myght not be foreborne be my iugyng

For as for the yron steres the tre

So most the tre helpe to the yron be

For with out tre may no man wel

Lyght nothyng with yron and stele

Of sowyng as the world hathe nede

With sowyng is dyght mannys wede

Though man in lether shuld be clade

Yet were it with out sowyng bade

Also clouth is made ryght none

But yf weuyng be there on

Other many craftes there are

But thes foure be the fyrst that ware

And of al they are the best

And to mannys lyfe of the surest

¶The .CC.lxviij. questyon

[Page]

¶Whether shal ī heuyn haue more blys

Chyldren that neuer dyd amys

Or they that for god of theyr wyl

Toke the good and left the yl

CHyldren yong that dyd no synne

Great ioy shal in heuyn wynne

Ye / theyr ioy shalbe moch more

Thā they here haue dōe therfore

But he that is of age perfyte

And knoweth thys worldes delyte

And myght take al to his behoue

And leuyth al for goddys loue

Takyng penaunce on his body

There he myght lyue esely

An hundreth fold shalbe his blys

More than eny chyldes I wys

For as achyld no yl can do

So can it no good therto

Mede is not ordayned alto tho

That wickyd dedes are kept fro

But that do of theyr wyl good dede

To them so is ordayned mede

¶The .CC.xlix. questyon

¶How may aman on what manere

Ouer come ye wyl of this world here

HE may wyl ouer come euery dele

And that lyghtly and wele

If athyng fall in his thought

That he wotyth good is nought

And he haue therto great wyl

It in dede to fulfylle

[Page]Turne thy thought in that temptyng

And begyn to thynke on other thyng

Thy fyrst thought shal fal the fro

And that wycked wyl thou shalt forgo

But holde thou theron thy thought sore

Thou delytes more and more

And kyndeles euer as a glede

Unto that thou come to dede

And than falles thou in synne

For thy thought coude not blynne

But pyne the al that thou may

For to turne thy thought away

Anone shal it in the kele

And no more therof shalt thou fele

¶The .CC.xlix. questyon

¶Tho that to paradise or helle go

Shal they euer come out therfro?

AL that are in paradise

Wold gladly out that be thou wyse

But the soules that are in helle

Wolde neuer out but styl there dwelle

And I shal tel the for why

Yf a lorde dwellyd here by

And had dwellyng in a cete

Two seruauntes of his meyne

That one serued hym so aryght

That the lord wardayne hym hyght

Sone wold he haue his lord come agayne

The tother were a wycked swayne

And for falshed taken wore

And in pryson holden sore

[Page]And abode an euyl endyng

At the lordes home comyng

The good seruaunt wold he came tyte

In trust of the more profyte

The wycked wold he taryed lange

For at his comyng shuld he hange

And euer in pryson leuer were he

Than come out and hanged be

Also they that in paradyse wone

Them longeth after goddes sone

The very profyte that come shal

That the world shal deme ouer al

For than shal theyr blysse be more

An hundreth folde than was before

For than shal soule and body wende

Into heuen withouten ende

But soules that to hel go

Wold goddes sone neuer came so

For at his dome the body shal

Come and dwell the soule withal

And bothe into helle fare

And an hondreth folde haue care

More than that he had fyrst

Therfore to dwell styl hym lyst

For better with one care with inne

Than to come out and haue twayne

¶The .CC.l. questyon

¶Why go not the good that are wyse

Unto erthly paradyse?

IT is not conuenyent dare I say

That they thether toke the way

[Page]Erthly paradyse was wrought

To body and to soule nought

It is a place erthly

Therfore when soule is fro the body

It may no where haue dwellyng

But it be in goostly thyng

For goost reioyseth hym ryght nought

In place that bodyly is wrought

Goost to goost that is his ryght

And body in bodyly thyng hath myght

Sowle may no man fele ne se

Wherfore in his kynd must he be

¶The .CC.lij. questyon

¶Whether is sowle heuy or lyght

Great or smal darke or bryght

WEre a thowsand sowles here

Lyeng on alefe of papere

Heuyar were ye papere nought

For they are lyght & as thought

Under thy nayle myght yu spere

A thowsand and be neuer the werre

Thy eyen and thy syght before

Shuld neuer the lesse thy syght be

To se the thyng that thou woldest se

No more than thou hast lettyng

Of the wynd to se a thyng

And in the world is nought so whyte

As is of hewe a good spyryte

But a synful sowle synful and wycke

Is also blacke as eny pycke

Great lothly and heuy

[Page]And fallyth dounward redely

There nys man ne woman none

That a synful sowle sawe one

But yf the more wonder ware

Out of his wyt he shuld fare

¶The .CC.liij. questyon

¶Good sowles that fro the body go [...]

Whyther wend they anon

ALl that euer to lyfe came

Fro the fyrst tyme of adam

Yong and old good and wicked

Tyl goddys sonne on rode be deed

Holly vnto helle flyed

Some to the lowe and some to the hye

But after his deeth on the rood

So shal the sowles of the good

Whan they fro the body shede

Wende vnto the clensyng stede

And whan they clensed are a ryght

Unto the blys of heuyn lyght

The wicked shal with out dwellyng

Anone in to helle be synkyng

And some shal here haue don so

That great clensyng nedyth them not to

But also sone as they dey

Wende to heuyn the hye wey

But neuer the lesse at theyr ende

Be purgatory shal they wende

¶The .CC.liiij. questyon

[Page]

¶May no man in heuyn be

But he fyrst purgatory se

NO man or woman shal euer be

Ne was in tyme that is gon perde

That shal to heuyn whan he shal dey

But by purgatory be his wey

Neuer thelesse ther shalbe two

That ther by nede not to go

The prophyt that shal man saue

For of clensyng no nede shal he haue

That other shalbe that mayden bryght

That goddys sonne shal in lyght

For ful clene shalbe of synne

The body that he shal lyght in

Wherfore shal she with out care

With sowle and body to hym fare

¶The .CC.lv. questyon

¶Sythen god sendys some to helle

And some to heuyn for to dwelle

Wherto shal the dome be

And what thyng than iuge shal he

GOod sowles shuld in heuyn dwelle

And wicked before the dome in helle

And al at the aungels call

Unto the dome come shal

In sowle and body as they wore

In thys world here before

And both to gether shal they wende

There they shalbe with out ende

Gloryfyed shalbe the wyse

Of hym that is the hye iustyse

[Page]And trobeled than shalbe theyr blys

That men neuer ne shal mys

And bryghter shal than the body be

Than is the sonne in his claryte

The wicked shal to helle go

Sowle and body to dwele in wo

The payne that he had fyrst in wold

Shal than be encresed thre fold

For ryght is the body that was here

In yl and good the sowlys fere

That it with the sowle fele also

Ioy or payne where it goys to

Wherfore shal the dome be set

Eythere ioy or payne to get

¶The .CC.lvj. questyon

¶Yong chyldren that can not reson

Shal they ought fele dampnacyon

SHal no man dampned be but he

That grauntes wel he worthy be

For agayne say may he nought

Al the dedes that he hath wrought

But cheldren that no good can

Ne no wyt had of man

Dampnacyon shal none come in

For they dyd no deedly synne

But yf ony be perchaunce

That shuld haue come to creaunce

And be deed or it be borne

Ioy for euer it hath forlorne

But payne it shal none dole

Dwele it shal in a darke hole

[Page]Where they shal fele euery adele

Nyther of wo ne of wele

¶The .CC.lvij. questyon

¶Whether in that other world may be

Ony hows toune or cete

AFul fayre cete god fyrst dyght

Of his conyng and his myght

Both to aungel and to man

Or that man to synne be gan

But after the synne of adam

Ech man vnto helle came

And that is a ful wicked cete

Made to the deuyl and his meyne

But whan goddys sonne is come truly

And deth hath suffered pityously

Than shal men fynd weyes thre

Ech one to a dyuers cete

The good to heuyn the way shal take

The wicked to helle to deuyls blake

That repent them here shal be dene

To purgatory to make them clene

Wonyng stedes be there no mo

Where man or woman shal to go

¶The .CC.lviij. questyon

¶Shal they be dampned canst yu me say

Chyldren of hethen men that dey

CHyldren of hethen in yougth dyed

And after theyr fathers lawe a lyued

Al shal they dampned be

No blys shal they euer se

[Page]But yong chyldren shal haue no awe

That shuld haue be of goddys law

In a darcknes shal they dwelle

But of payne dare them none tell

¶The .CC.lix. questyon

¶Yf no synne had done Adam

Shuld al the folke that of hym cam

With flesshe and fel as they are sene

Euer in paradise haue bene?

HAd Adam so hym bethought

That he had no synne wrought

Of his ospryng shuld neuer none

Out of paradyse haue gone

But lyued there without torment

And fro thens to heuen haue went

Ryght as one of heuens meyne

Without dethe or any payne

Shuld no synne ne no lykyng

Haue be than in chyld getyng

Shuld no man haue thought velany

Amonge other of his company

Nomore than now is velanye

For to loke a man in the eye

¶The .CC.lx. questyon

¶Whā water hylled ye world euery dele

Hyllyd it paradyse as wele?

THat flode in erth god sent also

The most dele of the folke to fordo

And for to wasshe the mekyl synne

That the world that tyme was inne

[Page]But in paradyse came it nought

For there was no synne in wrought

But one that adam the appul ate

And the synne lay not in that

It lay in the brekyng

Of the precept of heuyn kynge

And for the synne that he dyd thore

Myght he therin dwele no more

With al his synne was he out cast

Unto this world here at the last

And whan no synne was there aboute

In paradyse whan he was out

What wold the flode than do therin

Whare was left no synne

¶The .CC.lxxj. questyon

¶Of what age made god adam

Whan he in to this world came

ADam god made and his fere

At his licknes for they are to hī dere

And yong ryght as aungels wyse

For the loue that he and his

Shuld the ordres of aungels fulfyl

That Lucyfer began to spyl

But whan they mysded at the last

And of paradyse ware out cast

Theyr here began to wax and sprede

And to theyr heles doune it yede

And after theyr here on to se

Them semed of thyrty yere to be

¶The .CC.lxij questyon

[Page]

¶Tho that at the dome shal dey

And haue not serued to helle the wey

Nore tyme of purgacyon so sone may be

What shal come of them tel me

THey that so long here lyue shal

Untyl god the world deme al

And them behouys on al wysse

Unto the dome for to arysse

And hath not seruyd here to dwele

With wicked in the payne of helle

Ne nought worthy so redely are

In to heuyn for to fare

Untyl theyr sowle clensed is

Of that it here dyd amys

God shal send them south to sey

So sharpe a payne or they dey

That shal clense them ouer all

And for al the dayes stand them shal

That they had be worthy to take

In purgatory them clene to make

Also in theyr vp takyng

Shal come to them a sharpe clensyng

And so shal they vp wende

In to the blys with out ende

¶The .CC.lxiii. questyon

¶Whan soule come to the body also

Whiche part gothe it in therto?

GOddys wyl may not mys

What so he wyl anone it is

But when god asoule shal make

To a body that it shal take

[Page]Of his myght he makys it al

Within the body it haue shal

As thou seyst vpon a tre

Pere or appul whether it be

Whan it to waxe shal begyn

The carnel bredyth there with in

And waxes in the frute holly

So doth the sowle in the body

¶The .CC.lxiiij. questyon

¶Who named fyrst al thyng

And teched them theyr conyng

GOd whan he had made adam

Gaue him strength beute & wisdō

And he gaue vnto thynges al

Names as men them call

And he gaue man conyng also

As behoued his lyfe vnto

Of goddys grace and of his wyl

And than be lefte they so al styl

Fro the tyme that they begon to be

Unto our seconde father Noe

He newed and teched al thyng

As adam dyd at the begynyng

Our second father we hym cal

For the dyluuy drouned al

But Noe and his sonnes thre

And theyr wyues / of them came we

Neuerthelesse Noe came

Of the gendure of adam

But that tyme no men had lyues

But they foure and theyr wyues

[Page]And or he dyed came of them two

xxiiij. thowsand and mo

¶The .CC.lxv. questyon

¶Whereof it be and wherfore

That some men are lesse & some more

COmenly a mannys waxyng

Is after the tyme of his beryng

And somwhyle man more or lesse is

After the vessel he lay in I wys

He that is planet of that yere

Whan a chyld is borne so here

If he in tyme of the byrth be

Of his sygne in the entre

That chyld so shalbe kyndly

But lytel man of his body

And yf he be the sygne amyde

For the more man he shalbe kydde

And yf it in the endyng falle

Than is he more than the other al

And by cause y• planets of more myght wore

In the tyme here before

Wherfore men than ware

Of greattare myght than now are

And euer more whyle the world shal stand

The more shal al thynges be lesse and

¶The .CC.lxvj. questyon

¶Whether is perylousare to haue

Hete or cold thy selfe to saue

HEte and colde ouer mesure

Are ful hote to endure

[Page]If thou haue cold and clothles be

Yet may thou somwyse helpe the

For to styre and go fastly

Or some wayes trauayle thy body

Trauayle in keelth than is good

It wyl sone enchafe thy blode

And whan the blode in hete is brought

Al the lymes eschafe for nought

But yf thou haue an outrage hete

It is euyl for to bete

There may thou helpe thy selfe not so

As thou in the cold may do

The hete wyl gather more and more

And greue aman al to sore

But yf he eny drynke may fele

Or with some other thyng hym kele

Ful drye it wyl his body make

And great euyl cause hym to take

Wherfore than is more payne to haue

Hete than keelth and surear to saue

¶The .CC.lxvij. questyon

¶Doth the chyld folowe naturally

The wycked cōdycyōs of his parēt truly

THoughe father and mother wicked be

And the chyld may lyue and the

And do as he ought to do

Toward god and man also

It shal hym nothyng dere

That his forgoars wicked were

No more than it dereth where to grow

Though a thefe or wicked man it sow

And be his father neuer so good

[Page]Ne his mother neuer so myld of mode

And hym selfe be wicked truly

Defyled with dedes wickedly

It fareth as where that fyrst men brynne

And after the erth sowes it in

That shal neuer in erth spryng

Ne frute shal it none forth bryng

¶The .CC.lxvi. questyon

¶Whether is bettar and lesse to spyl

Aman to speke or hold hym styl

SPeke and leue is both to do

As aman sees tyme therto

Thou may somtyme a word sey

That may cause the for to dey

A [...]d somtyme may thou hold the styl

That may turne the vnto yl

Wherfore yf thou shalt speke eny whore

Auyse the on it before

Also wel as thou can

That it be scath to no man

And that thy wordes may a vayle

Or els losys thou thy trauayle

If thou eny word say shal

For to pay thy frend with al

And it be a gayne two or thre

Unsayd were it bettar be

A man shuld haue in many poyntes

A cranes hals with many ioyntes

That he not speke to rath

Wherof shuld turne scath

But that he may his word with cal

[Page]Or it passe the ioyntes al

¶The .CC.lxvij. questyon

¶Whether ought wysar to be

Yong man or old as thynkes the

I Thynke it ware agayne kynde

That men yong men shuld fynde

That of al thyng wysar were

Than old men and coude more

[...]or of the braynes of the man

Is moch of the wyt that he can

And the braynes of the olde

Are sadder and more may holde

Than of a yong man that are lyght

And to hold are of no myght

Also the eldar that aman is

The more tyme of profe hath be his

And the more aman may here and se

The more most his conyng be

In .xl. yere more can men

Than in .viii. nyne or ten

Wherfore ought old to be wysare

Than eny yong man in fere

The old may men ouer renne wel

But ouer the other neuer a dele

¶The .CC.lxviii. questyon

¶Tel me now I pray the

What thyng delyte may be

BOdely delyte is hele

And for to haue ryches fele

[Page]And the body at ese to make

And many gyftes for to take

For yf that thou in hele be

In some thyng thou delytes the

Be thou rych and fast may wynne

Thy delyte is than therin

And he that wyl curteys be told

And geuyth gyftes many folde

For to get hym loos and pryese

His delyte therin lyese

A couytous man delytes hym sore

For to gather more and more

And that he to gather hath delyte

Comes some tyme other to profyte

Another delyte is there yet

And goostly delyte hyght it

Whan aman delytes hym nothyng

But in the seruyse of heuyn kyng

Neyther in catel chyld ne wyfe

But in holynesse of lyfe

Of al delytes the best that is

For it geuyth the endlesse blys

¶The .CC.lxi. questyon

¶What kynde appul was that

That our father Adam ate

ADam ete an appul ryght

Such as we now se in syght

And that appul for his synne

Tokyn of deeth bare there with in

For that yt was fyrst swetest of al

Be came byttar as eny galle

[Page]In tokyn that he that fyrst had space

Was put there fro and from grace

And in to wo and sorow than

Wherof the appul soure be came

And the synne was not for that

That he so the appul ate

But by cause he brake the cōmaundment

Of his maker / that made hym shent

And al that euer came of them to

For theyr synne went in to wo

¶The CC.lxxii. questyon

¶Why lerne thes yong chyldren so

More than thes old men do

CHyldren are hottar of kynde

Thā eny old man that mē fynde

And curyous they are also

To the thyng yt mē thē settis to

Lyghtly takyng and holdyng

For theyr wyt is euer waxing

Cold man hath saddar wyt

Wherfore harde takyng is it

And of long tyme hath he seen

Many thynges that hath bene

Wherof he hath before

Therfore he taketh not moch more

And mannys wyt is more thynkyng

In other thynges yt he hath in occapyeng

And chyldren but of theyr lesson

Haue no occupacyon

Therfore theyr wyt is theron set

And are of nought els let

[Page]

¶The .CC.lxii. questyon

¶Which is the dylectablest syght

That is vnder sunne lyght?

THe delectabelest thyng that may be

Than is to heuyn for to se

And thynke on hym that al hath wroght

Heuyn / erth / and al of nought

Sonne / mone / and sterre bryght

That is delectable goostly syght

Delectable syght there is also

That bodely thyng longes vnto

As to se delytes hym many one

That he loues and longes to se on

For man delyteth hym to be hold

Thyng that he loues and haue wold

Though it lothly be and blacke

For loue men say hath no lacke

And be it so fayre as it ought

And aman loue it nought

In the syght hath he no lykyng

Ne delytes hym therin nothyng

¶The .CC.lxiij. questyon

¶Why made god as thou mayst se

Heere on mannys body for to be

MAter that man hath of eche lym

Toke fyrst god of erthe slyme

And comparyd to erth he is

For as on erthe waxeth gris

So waxeth heere vpon the man

Other frute nought geue he can

[Page]And on the fyrst man heer gan spryng

In the stede of his clothyng

Whan he clothyng of grace had lorne

For he hym to god had mysborne

He sawe hym nakyd and shamed sore

On al the lymes that on hym wore

Than sent god heer on hym waxyng

That to his heles was hangyng

There with was his body clad

And Eue no nother clothyng had

¶The .CC.lxxv. questyon

¶Why come some this world vnto

Doumbe borne and defe also

LOng before that god began

This world for to make or man

Wyst he wel that man shuld sinne

And goddys hest to breke begyn

And stablest he forth by

The turnyng about of the sky

And the planets in theyr goyng

For to gouerne al thyng

And the sygnes there they in go

For to worke both wel and wo

And in some poynt of tho

Are some borne defe and doume also

Some croked and some blynd

As men may many fynde

And al for adamys synne is that

Whan that he the appul ate

And be cause he synned in his assent

In al the wyttes that god hym lent

[Page]Wher by in ech wyt that man haas

Fallyth this aueature percaas

In tokyn that adam forsoke

God in them al and the appul toke

¶The .CC.lxxvj. questyon

¶Profyteth the folke ought vnto

The almesdedes that they here do

AMan that doth here almesdede

He is worthy of moch mede

If he for god it do only

And he trust in hym stedfastly

[...]o moch payne it wyl hym saue

In purgatory that he shuld haue

And he that beleuyth not in god truly

But in ydols beleuyth sykerly

No almes do he ne may

Thoughe he the pouere gyue alday

For almes dede may none it proue

With out it be geuen for goddys loue

And gyue for hym & beleue in hym nought

This may not be to gether brought

For yf a man now wore

With a spere wounded sore

Lechcrafte myght do no good to hym

Whyle the yren styked therin

Neuer thelesse aman is synne

May soner haue grace for to blynne

And throughe knowlegyng may he loos

For almesdedes that he does

¶The .CC.lxxvij. questyon

[Page]

¶A iuge synnes he ought

That denies them y• yl hath wrought

Or synnes he ought also with al

That the iugment fulfyl shal

BUt yf iuges were set

The wicked somtyme for to let

An euyl world shuld sone begyn

And peryl were to lyue therin

Wherfore is it good to be here

Wicked dedes to correct and dere

For he that workes here amys

In so moch as in hym is

He wrathes god of heuyn sore

Than is iuge ordayned therfore

Wreckar of goddys cause to be

Wronge to denie in euery countre

Now yf he deme hym that doth yl

Me thynketh he doth goddys wyl

And he that the iugment shal do

Unto hym sha [...] dempt is so

He hath no p [...]ryl therin

But waysshes his hand in blode of synne

Now than who so in iugment shal fyte

Loke that he fro ryght not [...]yte

For gyft / fauour [...] / ne for made

For he wrathes god so tha [...] dede

But in [...] iuges ryght

Synnes [...] the plyght

¶The .CC.lxxviij. questyon

¶Tho tha [...] are dom [...] & [...]ooles borne

And doys [...]

[Page]HOles that no good can

Ne no wyt haue of man

And are borne of theyr mother so

Men tel of them what so they do

As a chyld that hath no wyt

But doth al that lyketh it

And bettar do can it nought

But as it falleth in the thought

And by cause theyr wyt is no more

Dampned be they not therfore

But they that in wyt were borne

And after it haue forlorne

And dyd euyl there before

Whyle that they in wyt wore

And no mercy of god asked

Of that dede whyle theyr wit lasted

And after knew nother good nor yl

Tho shalbe at goddys wyl

¶The .CC.lxxix. questyon

¶Aungels that with god are dere

Kepe they mennys sowles here

EUery man what so he be

That beleuyth in the Trynyte

Hath an aungel hym to zeme

And to tech hym to good to lene

And al his good thoughtes and dedes

Puttys hym his aungel that ledys

A wicked aungel he hath also

Wicked dedes to put hym to

And his wyt is lent hym fre

And good and euyl knowes he

[Page]Whether aungel he folowe wyl

And the good aungel is f [...]lwo

Whan he sees his man mysgo

And his ioy is wel the more

Whan men doys after his lore

For of hym selfe hath man ryght nought

But wickydnes in dede and thought

¶The .CC.lxxx. questyon

¶How may aungel yt hath no body

Shew hym selfe here to man openly

AUngel that is in goddys syght

To se al thyng hath he myght

But hym may no body se

For a goostly thyng is he

And throughe mannys pryson

Is aungel somtyme sent here doune

And he may come also smerte

As eny thought in mannys herte

Of the ayre he takyth a body

And than is he sene openly

And than aman here hym can

And he hym as another man

But were not that body truly

Hym myght se no bodely eye

¶The .CC.lxxxj. questyon

¶Are deuyls spyers euer more

Of that the folke do euerywhore

DEuyls are euer more redy

Where so aman doth wickedly

And many mynysters haue they

That are walkyng nyght and day

[Page]And that neuer more blynne

Men to tempt and brynge in synne

And whan man hat [...] do [...] also

Anone his mayster hete [...]ys it to

But yf that it so b [...]falle

That eny of the deuyls all

With some good man be doune cast

His poure wyl no lengar last

Among his felowes he shalbe she [...]

And be cast in great tourment

So sore them [...]nes hesp [...]de nought

Of the thyng that he after wrought

¶The .lxxxij. questyon

¶How is that fyre on what manere

Purgatorye that men calle here

Fyre of purgatorye is

There moch wo is and no blys

Thethere shal face al tho

That shalbe saued and no mo

They that are here of repentaunce

And do not fully here pr [...]aunce

There shal he it fulfyl be dene

For to make hym fully clene

But there shewes to them in that wo

Aungels and other hallowes mo

For whos loue they dyd [...] h [...]re

And they amend them at theyr sh [...]re

Syght of them and trust al so

Of blys that they shal after to

That shalbe the comforte all

For they wote to blys they shal

[Page]But that shal after that goddys sonne be

Deed truly vpon the rode tr [...]

¶The .CC.lxxxiij. questyon

¶What thyng is it men calle helle

And how come sowles therin to dwell

HElle is a stede of payne and wo

And yet are there helles two

The nether and the vppar helle

And the nether the worse we [...]el

For ther is the great pyne

And prync [...]paly are there in

¶The fyrst payne is I wot

That aboue other fyre is hot

As that our fyre is of nature

Aboue fyre wrought of the paynture

¶That other payne than is great cold

Such that no man yong ne old

May suffer it so straynyng it is

And there is nother ioy de blys

¶The thyrd payne that is in that helle

Are dragons and adders felle

That in the fyre lyue also

As fysshes in the water do

¶The fourth is such stynke in that hole

That nothyng may it th [...]

¶The fyfte scourgears fowles to [...]ete

As smyth doth [...] [...]mours great

¶The syxte payne that there is dyght

Is great darknes without lyght

¶The seuente is the confusyone

Of al the synnes aman b [...]e done

[Page]For euery man shal knowe and se

His dede though hym loth be

¶The ryght payne shalbe the crye

That the dragons so gryssely

And the adders that there wone

Shal crye vpon hym euer anon

¶The nynth is that he shal for go

The syght of god and euer to be in wo

A wicked shal haue al this pyne

For he forsoke the ordres nyne

Of aungels that in heuyn wore

Ne wrought not after goddys lore

But tho that now wend to helle

Shal not al in the nether dwelle

In the hyer shalbe theyr dwellyng

As adam and his ospryng

Unto the tyme of the prophete

That theyr synne with his deeth shal bete

¶The .CC.lxxxiiij. questyon

¶They y• in holle haue theyre dwellyng

Wote they or knowe they eny thyng

Ryghtwyse sowles knowe wel

Al men and th [...]yr dedes euery dele

And they wore al that euer is

Both in sorowe and in blys

Wicked sowl [...] that is in helle

Knowes al that with them dwelle

But of heuyn wote they nought

Ne of no good dede that is wrought

The good pray euer more

For them that dyd them good before

[Page]And they present to god also

The good dedes that we do

And the syght in the Trynyte

Makyth them al thyng to know and se

¶The .CC.lxxxv. questyon

¶The good that hens begon al tyte

Come they now to ioy perfyte

UNto ioy thoughe they be brought

Parfyt ioy haue they nought

As they shal afterward come tyl

And why I shal the say the skyl

If thou come vnto a feste

There rych metes are and honest

And thou be set alone to mete

The sadlyare shalt thou ete

But yf a good felowe come to the shal

That thou daryst to ete with al

Thou etyst meryare than thou dedyst before

And thy mete doth the good the more

Euyn so the sowle that is in blys

Hath moch ioy there that he is

But perfyt ioy hath it nought

Tyl his felowe be therto brought

Which is the body that it in lay

And that shalbe at domysday

Whan they to gether shal come agayne

Eyther of other shalbe fayne

And haue of other great delyt

Than shalbe theyr ioy perfyt

And tho that shal to helle fare

Shal than haue perfyt care

[Page]

¶The .CC.lxxxvj. questyon

¶May sowles ought shew thē vntyl

Theyr frēdes ech tyme whā they wyl

GOod sowles that are in blys

May ech tyme that theyr wyl is

Shew them to frendes that wold them se

Slepyng or wakyng whether it be

But the sowle that is in helle

Behouyth euer more styl to dwelle

Tho yt are in purgatory / are byleue

That the good aungel may them geue

So may they shew them theyr frendes vnto

To pray them that they them good do

Or that they prayer for them make

That theyr paynes may sone slake

But yf eny shew hym to the

And seys that he dampned be

Trust it nought neuer the lesse

It is a deuel in his lycknesse

¶The .CC.lxxxvij. questyon

¶Dremes that men dreme on nyght

Wherof come they to mannys syght

SOme tyme of heuyn kyng

For to tel man some thyng

And of the deuyl they come somwhyle

To be gyle that fayth geue them tyl

Somtyme of humours steryng

About the hert of man slepyng

Somtyme the wombe fylled wyl it make

Ouer moch mete and drynke to take

Somtyme of that men sees on day

[Page]And can not cast it a way

Or thyng that he hath of great thought

In slepe is it before hym brought

¶The .CC.lxxxviij. questyon

¶Whan god made fyrst trees for mā

Was eny frute in them than

AS god made adam fully man

And Eue of hym fully woman

Of theyr seed forth mo to bryng

So dyd he of al other thyng

Among al other trees he wrought

That frute in theyr seson forth brought

And euery tree that men fynde

Hath his frute in hym by kynde

And the seed of them also

Brought forth frute as they now do

¶The .CC.lxxxix. questyon

¶What tyme and what day was it

That adam was made tel me yet

ADam was made as old men told

Whan the mone was .iij. dayes old

And had lytel than of lyght

Gnabrygab than it hyght

The fyrst mone was it of the yere

And on a fryday that was clere

Adam sawe that same tyme

And anon he called it pryme

But after chaunged al Noe

And the mones stablysshed he

[Page]On a fryday adam was wrought

Noe that day of lyue was brought

And on such a day shal borne be

The very prophyt / and dye on tre

And he shal as he wel may

Worke many wonders on that day

¶The CC.lxxxx questyon

¶Whan the flod ouer the world ran

Made god than new frute to man

GOd made frute and al thyng

To mannys mete at the begynyng

Trees he made and frute theron

And tho fel in the flod ech one

The rotes stode in the erth styl

And after the flod waxed to wyl

A [...]d were so fayr as they fyrst wore

Beryng frute as they dyd before

So was no frute made new

But the trees that fyrst grew

¶The .CC.lxxxxj. questyon

¶Where set Noe shyp on land

Whan the flod was with drawand

SOne so the flod was with droughe

The arch was set safe I noughe

Upon a great hylle and a hye

That hyght the mount of Hermonye

Also quyckly as Noe

Was out gon with his mene

And the beastes euerychone

The trees toke rotes vp a non

[Page]That vpon the shyp wore

And shal there stande euer more

God set the lycknesse on the sky

So that men shuld wyt there by

That neuer more shuld be none

Such a flod as that was one

¶The .CC.lxxxxij. questyon

¶Whan Noe from the shyp went so

Came he this world straunge vnto?

GOd made neuer creature

Ne neuer shal here for to dure

That he ne shal that warne I the

To this world ryght straunge be

For porely we came and bare

And pouere shal we hens fare

To day borne to morowe on bere

Our herytage is not here

And haue we herytage none

Than are we straunge euerychone

And straunge was Noe also

Whan of the arche he came the world vnto

¶The .CC.lxxxxiij. questyon

¶Wherof euer may it be

That a man has in his harte petye?

PEtye comes of a fre blode

And a nesshe hart that is good

Pyte to god may lyckened be

For of hym is mercy and pyte

And he that wyl no pyte haue

Hym auayleth not pyte to craue

[Page]Pyte tendres mannys herte

And causyth it to swet al smerte

The herte there with in swete is brought

And for no nother trauayleth nought

Whan the herte hath pyte of a thyng

Anon it fallyth in meltyng

And to swete it wyl begyn

For tendernesse that than is in

¶The .CC.lxxxxiiij. questyon

¶Why haue foules in thē no nature

As beastes to make engendure

HAd foules kynd in them also

As the other beastes do

Yong to bere in theyr body

They myght not than fly a hy

The heuynes of theyr beryng

So shuld let them of fleyng

And than myght take them euery man

Whan they great to waxe began

And they are made by the ayre to flye

And not euer by the ground to lye

Wherfore they ordayned ware

Of goddys wyl as they now are

¶The .CC.lxxxxv. questyon

¶Sal men haue pyte of al tho

That lye in payne and in wo

And delyuer them also

If that men may come therto

IF that thou in payne se

Man or beast whether it be

[Page]Than shalt thou haue pyte of the syght

And delyuer them yf thou myght

Neuerthelesse men may wel slo

Dyuers beastes and foules also

Mannys mete of for to make

Whan tyme comes them to take

But shuld they do the no seruyse

Nothere for mete ne other wyse

Thoughe thou haue to it delyte

Or serue not for thy appetyte

But as it came so let it go

Do it nother payne ne wo

Be it a worme that venym berys

And it the / nor non other derys

Thou shalt no hurte it do

For thou hast no cause therto

God it made not for nought

For thy lete hym that it wrought

For to do with it at his owne wyl

And do not thou with wrong it spyl

¶The .CC.lxxxxvj. questyon

¶Which is bettar as ye doyst thynke

Wyne or water for to drynke

WIne is a thyng ful precyous

That many are after couetous

And somtyme it helth makys

Unto some man that it takys

For it is nought to euery man

To drynke I lyke that it drynke can

[Page]Wyse men drynke wyne oft

At mesure and bere them soft

They noman mys say ne mys do

Them is wyne profyte vnto

But folys that wyne drynke shal

That drynke dronke therwithal

And whan the wyt dronken is

Then wyl they gladly do amys

Men to bete or to slo

Or vnto horedom for to go

Unto men that vse it so comyn

Were better the water than the wyne

But he that mesurably

Drynkys wyne and not for thy

Leses his wyt / hym doth it good

And maketh hym good body and blode

Therfore shal wyne to good be prest

And vnto foles is water best

¶The .CC.lxxxxvij. questyon.

¶ Whan man is ardaunt for to fyght

With some that standis in his syght

How than may he holde hym styl

And ouercome that wycked wyl

AMan may tempre hym yf he wyl

And he wyl lede his wyt with skyl

Yf that he in wreth be brought

For some thyng that hym lykes nought

Yf he be in wyl to fyght

Withstand his wyl at his myght

And vndertake to thynke els whore

And may his blode not kele therfore

[Page]Out fro folke he drawe hym fast

And alone in his herte he cast

That man may do whan he is wroth

That al his lyue may be hym loth

And be hym alone so flyte and fyght

As it ware in that others syght

And with his breth that he lettes go

Shal his great hete wend hym fro

So guyeted shal he be

And become al in a tempre

¶ The .CC.lxxxxviij. questyon

¶Why haue wymen al the wo

Of this world and the ioy also

LIghtly wo and lyghtly wele

Haue thes wymen euery dele

Ful lyghtly take they ioy them to

And ful lyghtly wo also

Lyghtnes of ye brayne mas this

There no sadnesse in is

Lesse they are than men of wyt

Wherfore theyr thought lyghtly wyl flyt

They fare as a lefe on the tre

That turnes whare the wynd wylbe

Ware theyr wyt sad as of man

Men shuld of them / for that they can

Domesmen and iustyce take

But no lawe wyl it them now make

Lyghtly they trust that men them say

And also quycly it is a way

And for that they now trust / &now let go

Haue they so sone wel and wo

[Page]

¶The .CC.lxxxxix. questyon

¶Why are chyldrē whan they borne are

So vnconyng as beastes ware

A chyld yt tender is and a yonglyng

May of this wo [...]d know nothyng

For he is both tendar and grene

And of this world hath nothīg sene

Unto he come to greatter age

That he may hym selfe page

Than may he se and vnderstand

Of al thynges that be comyng / and

Unconnyng is a chyld also

Unto the deuyl shame to do

That he that so lytel borne shal be

And that a beaste can more than he

That he shal haue the herytage

That the deuyl for his outrage

Fyrst lost / and for his pryde

This is his sorow in euery tyde

For feblenesse of nature is it

Why chyldren yong haue no wyt

Whan adam was made and his wyfe

And god had gyuen hym goost of lyfe

Redely knew they al thyng

For they ware of goddys makyng

But that father and mother hath here

For feblenesse of the matere

Whan it is borne it can no good

Lesse than a beast lepyng in the wode

¶The .CCC. questyon

¶Tel me now yf that thou can

Wherof comys natural wyt in man

[Page] OF pure braynes it comyth vnto

Pure blod & pure herte also

And be ye two pure of thes thre

And the thyrd nought be

Right clere wyt may ne be there

As that al thre to gether were

For with one eye sees no man so

As that he with two myght do

Be herte and braynes neuer so good

And darke be in hym the blode

Herte and braynes it drynkes tyl

And the wyt truly doth spyl

Be the herte good and the blod bryght

And the braynes myrke and lyght

Greatly wyl lyght braynes greue

Al that that other to wold gyue

And the planets in theyr goyng

Workes in man al this thyng

¶The .CCC.j. questyon

¶Wherof may it come to

The nesyng that men nese so

NEsyng falles soth to sey

Unto man of thynges twey

Fyrst of humours that are ascended

In to the braynes of the hed

The braynes refuse them gladly

And castys them out hastely

And in the doune fallyng of tho

Unto the nostrels they go

For tho are redy open ey

Wherby go they so a wey

[Page]Another is to loke vp on hy

Unto the sonne on the sky

And the hete of the sonne anon

Fylles the veynes of the hed echone

Dryuyng out the keelth thore

That in the braynes was before

And yf thou wylt with hold nesyng

Spere thy mouth at the begynyng

And draw thy breth fast to and fro

And nesyng shal the ouer go

For the nose stoppys there with al

And at the mouth it out go shal

¶The CCC.ij questyon

¶Wynd blowyng with mayne

Why deyes it for a shoure of rayne

WAter and wynd to gether are

As it mother & doughter ware

Doughter of mother has feding

And wynd of water begynyng

& whā. ye cloud yt it has wrought

Is hym selfe doune brought

¶The wynd is stylle anon ryght

For his mattar hath lorne syght

For knyfe shal no man make wele

If he haue nother yren ne stele

¶The .CCCiii. questyon

¶Whic is the strongar of thes twey

Wynd or water this me sey

GRound of al thyng with ryght

Is strongar and of more myght

[Page]Than the croppe aboue it cast

Elles myght it no whyle last

And strongar is that thyng I wys

That sterys than that steryd is

Now is wynd at the begynyng

Stered ayre and no nother thyng

And cours of water maketh it al

That the ayre so sterre shal

And yf wynd with water stered be

Than is water strongar than he

¶The .CCC.iiii. questyon

¶Tel me now on what manere

Aman shal lyue in this world here

AMan shal lyue in that manere

So that whan he deyes here

Afterwarde may ryse

Boldly to go be fore iustyse

That is to say yt al his thought

Be on hym that hym hath wrought

And worshyp hym al that he can

And after in god loue euery man

And of that truly he may wynne

Of his trauayle with out synne

Than shal he lyue with out pryde

Enuye and couetys also let glyde

This may he bothe lyue wel and deye

And ryse and go to the blys the weye

¶The .CCC.v. questyon.

Shal aman that in good stede be

To seke a bettar raunge the countre

[Page]IF thou in a good place be

Wher with thou mayst wel agre

There thou good lyfe may lede

The to cloth and to fede

Hold the styl renne nought

Ne for the bettar haue no thought

To seke a bettar thou may be in mynd

But thou wottyst not where it to fynde

And there thou comyst percaas

Shalbe wors than that other was

Such wenys to fynde hym before

Baken brede whan he comes thore

He shal perauenture fynde the corne

Standyng yet in the feld vnshorne

Wherfore yf thou in good stede be

Hold the therin by rede of me

¶The .CCC.vi. questyon

¶Which are more worthy of ye twey

Rych or pouer thou me sey

THere are worthynesse two

Goostly and bodely also

The bodely worthynesse

That is nother more ne lesse

But after as a man hath here

So is he hold among men dere

Therfore by so moch as thou hast now

So moch worthy art thou

Haue thou but a peny in al

No more worthy men hold the shal

Goostly worthynesse is not so

But who toward god best may do

[Page]And serue hym here al the best

He with god is worthyest

Moch worthy here to be

Is truly but a vanyte

But that worthy is to god to wende

That worthynesse hath no ende

¶The .CCC.vij. questyon

¶Whether is to man more semely

Fayre vysage or fayre body

A Fayre body to man I wys

A ful semely thyng it is

But what the nakyd body be

No man may it wel se

Be it shapenyl or wele

The clothes couers it euery dele

But that that is in syght

And may not be hyd with ryght

The vysage that man is knowen by

If it be fayre and semely

A fayre man men wyl hym call

And leue his other lymmes all

And in a fayre vysage and whyte

Hath aman moch delyte

Wherfore in al the man not lyeth truly

So cōly a lym as is a fayre vysage verely

¶The .CCC.viij. questyon

¶How shal aman lede hys lyfe

That fyndes ama hauntyng his wife

Fynde thou aman with thy wyfe

Loke thou make wt hym no stryfe

[Page]Preuely thou go thy way

And nothyng vnto them say

But afterward thou say her to

That she no more do so

Say she doth here selfe shame

For in her lyeth al the blame

There wold no man her come tyl

But it were by her wyl

Wherfore chastyse her courtesly

And loke how she wyl do there by

And she wyl not do after thy lore

Of that vpbreyd her no more

If thou smyte on the man a non

Whan thou comest hym fyrst vpon

And begyn to fyght also

The deuyl procurys there vnto

One of you may lyghtly the other slo

And so encresyth sone thy wo

Therfore thoughe it greues the sore

Better the lasse scathe than the more

¶The .CCC.ix. questyon

Shal men for tene or for lesyng

Blame god of heuen in ony thyng?

GOd of heuen is so wyse

That in hym no blame lyse

But thākyng / worshyp / & honour

As to hym that is our creatour

And yf thou for thy foly

Fal in any malencoly

Blame thou god therfore nothyng

Blame the and thyne vnconyng

[Page]Haue thou not as thy wyl wore

Why shalt thou blame god therfore

Thoughe thou pray god send me

It may not at thy wyl be

But yf thou trauayle for to lyue

God shal helpe the for to thryue

Were aman a water in

That depe ware and coud swym

And he cryed on god fast

And ware perysshed at the last

For defaute of steryng

That he wold helpe hym selfe nothyng

Wherfore blame god no man shuld

He wold haue holpe yf hym selfe wold

¶The .CCC.x. questyon

¶Which is the sauourest thynge

Of al that are at thy wenynge

OF al thynges that euer be

Is there none so sauoure

Unto man / beast / and foule also

As slepe is whan tyme is therto

There nis nother mete ne drynke

That sauoryth aman I thynke

As slepe. whan aman wold fayne

No delyte is there agayne

With out slepe may nothyng thryue

Of al that euer are a lyue

For that ordayned god the nyght

Therein to rest and slepe euery wyght

Slepe norysshes mannys kynde

And beastes as that men fynde

[Page]Man / beast / ne foule is none

So iolyfe nor so wel be gone

Hold hym fro slepe agayne his wyl

Thou mayst hym sone spyl

And cause hym to lese both flesshe and blode

Be he neuer so totter and wode

Wherfore is slepe sykerly

The sauorest thyng that I wot truly

¶The .CCC.xj. questyon

¶Of what maner & of what bounte

Ought kynges and lordes to be

LOrdes & kinges ought ryght wel

To be trewe as eny stele

In worde ī werke to their myght

And with iustyce deme a ryght

Uyse them wel also to be

Curteys / meke and of pyte

And to mysdoars neuerthelesse

Stout to deme theyr wickydnesse

For he may neuer god wel plese

Nor his lordshyp in honour with ese

That sparyth wickednesse to shent

And god is not there with content

They ought also to be doughty

Wygrous and fers of theyr body

Large and geuyng courtesly

Theyr state may they maynteyne ther by

To pouer they ought be mercyable

And vnto the rych stable

And aboue al thyng

To worke the wyl of heuyn kyng

[Page]For he hath them lordes set

Good to do and yī to let

¶The .CCC.xij. questyon

¶Swete that cometh of the body

How comes it wherof and why

Swete kyndly cometh comenly

Of wicked blod in the body

That steryth somtyme and hath no roo

And other humours hym mynges to

And whan they to gether take

Great hete in the body they make

And that hete that is within

Maketh the body as it shuld brynne

And that body that is so hote

Anon castes out the swote

The kynd clensys ther with all

But ouer moch hurte shall

¶The .CCC.xiij. questyon

¶Which are the best hewes that ere

Of clothyng men for to were

BEst hewes that may be

To mannys clothyng are thre

That are rede / whyte / and grene

And for thes causes I it mene

The red supposys regalyte

And is colour of dygnyte

It geuyth the werer moch blys

And to the sonne lyckened it is

Whyte wede is a worthy thyng

And of aungels it is clothyng

[Page]Hyt makyth hym mylde that it weryth

And hewe of the mone it beryth

Grene is a precyons colour

And shuld be hold in honour

Of al other most is it borne

For gras / tre / and also corne

And al that waxyth in erth by dene

Al is it clad in grene

And that most thynges are clad with al

Dygnyest hewe men hold shal

¶The .CCC.xiiij. questyon

¶Seyng men grene a good hew call

Which is the grenest thyng of al

THe grenest thyng is water I wene

For waters make al thyng grene

And ware not of water the moystyng

Shuld no grene thyng spryng

Grasses that on hylles are standyng

There no water is rennyng

With rayne and dewes of the ayre

Waxe they both grene and fayre

And seyng grennesse is by watrys myght

Than is it grenest with ryght

¶The .CCC.xv. questyon

¶Tel me now so haue thou blys

Which is the fattest thyng that is

FAttest thyng that is of kynde

Than is erth that men fynde

For trees and al othere thynge

Of the fatnesse of erth sprynge

[Page]And ware fattnesse of the erth no whore

Shuld they neuer spryng more

Of the fatnesse of erth comyth al

That they spryng and waxe with al

Of erth take they theyr nature

And els myght they not endure

¶The .CCC.xvj. questyon

¶Whether is bettar at the deth day

Repentaunce or hope of blys for ay

BOth are good soth to say

Unto man whan he shal deye

Repentaunce is good to haue

But good hope shal aman more saue

For euery man that deye shal

May not repent hym of al

For thy behouyth hym nedly

Trust hym al in goddys mercy

But he that in no hope is

For to come to heuyn blys

Shal he neuer come therin

Be he neuer so clene of synne

But he that hath al his trust

That god is of mercy most

That trust shal saue hym at the last

Whan other shalbe out cast

¶The .CCC.xvij. questyon

¶Shal men greue & make euyl chere

For aman that deyes here

By kynde men wepe and make care

Whan theyr frendes fro them fare

[Page]Neuerthelesse the man that ay

Hath kept goddys law / I say

Of his deeth no sorow is

For he goyth vnto blys

There to be for euer more

Hym shuld no man sorow sore

But he that in god trustes nought

Nor his cōmaundment hath not wrought

And dyeth so in that entent

And is so to helle went

For hym is sorow to make

That he such lyfe wold not for sake

¶The .CCC.xviij. questyon

¶Came fro yt other world euer eni thīng

That of helle or heuyn told tydyng

MAny haue come ageyne here

Good men that with god were

The folke to counsel and telle

Both of heuyn and of helle

Yt ware good men here before

Of whom that we yet haue lore

They wrote in bokes what was wrought

By cause men shulde for get it nought

The great ioy that is in heuen

That no tong in erth may reken

And the great payne of helle

That they haue that therin dwelle

This told adamys sonne Abel

Seth and Enocke also wel

Noe and Melchysedech also

And other prophytes set therto

[Page]Throughe goddys cōmaundment

They are hyther ageyne sent

That is to say theyr techyng

Throughe which we haue knolegeyng

Of heuyn and helle both

Wel is he that they roth

¶The .CCC.xix. questyon

¶Shal aman eny thyng sey

Whan he shal to slepe hym ley

AMan that beleuyth in god aryght

And kepyth his wyl at his myght

Whā he to slepe doth lay hī doune

He shal say this oryson

Lord god of myght most

To the be take I my goost

Thou kepe it lord and it defende

From encombrance of the fende

From hym lord thou me clere

That he me neuer dere

Haue mercy on me heuyn kyng

And graunt me lord my askyng

And than slepe he hardely

With out drede of thy enemy

¶The CCC.xx. questyon

¶Of al batayle that is in lande

Which is the strongest to withstande

BAtayle strongar wor I nought

Whan that I haue al be thought

Than is temptacyon of the deuyl

None that doth aman more euyl

[Page]Other batayls sees some day

But the deuyls fondyng lastyth ay

Slepe man or wake he where so he be

That batayle may he euyl fle

And be he neuer so stedfast

Yet wyl the deuyl hym cast a cast

And man may not fle of the stede

But with fastyng or some holyhede

And be cause that warre is euer on one

Therfore strengar wot I none

¶The .CCC.xxj. questyon

¶How lyeth a chyld tel me this

¶In the mothers wombe whan it is

A chyld throughe goddys grace

Hath in the mothers wombe aspace

In a chambyr one of the seuen

Of the matryce that of men be callen

And the fystes soth to saye

Lye be fore the eyen twaye

And great ioy they haue and reioysyng

There they lye and lykyng

And they wold neuer more

Come in other stede than thore

But whan they are here comen

And the ayre of this worlde haue taken

Than wold they not be there agayne

¶The .CCC.xxij. questyon

¶Tel me now of wynes tyte

Why some is rede and some whyte

[Page]NOe was the fyrst man

That euer vyne to plant began

Fourthy plantes he gathered and fette

That ware in fourthy dayes sette

Euery day two in erth he dyght

One on day a nother on nyght

Tho that the day ware sette vpon

Unto the sonne on it shon

For hete of sonne that shon than

Of goddys grace tho rede becam

And that in erth on nyght dyd lay

Whan the sonne was a way

For nyghtes keelth that felle theron

Be came whyte euerychone

Wherfore are the red hottar wele

Than the whyte agreat dele

¶The .CCC.xxiij. questyon

¶Haue foules & beastes eny spekyng

Or vnderstandyng of eny thyng

OF beast or foule shalt thou none fynde

That hath language in his kynde

Of al beastes men recken can

Hath none language but man

Foules and beastes crye by dene

But they wot neuer what they mene

Whan that one makyth a crye

That other herys redely

And cryeth ageyne by and by

But what they mene wot not they

Al that euer they cry and do

Of kynd is and vsage also

[Page]Which kynde hath god them dyght

For man shal ouer them haue myght

¶The .CCCxxiiij. questyon

¶Whether helpeth the sowle more

That aman doth here before

Or that men after do for hym

Whan that he is deed and dym

BOth helpes man in nede

But both are not of one mede

For yf a man goyng be

In a da [...]knesse there he may not se

And a [...]anthorne go hym before

Therof hath he lyght wel more

Than thoughe be hynd folowed two

For / for them myght he mysgo

Also a man that doth good here

As long as he may hym selfe stere

Therof hath the sowle more mede

Than for such two after dede

Many men haue that rede

To do for them whan they are deed

Whan hym selfe may haue it no more

The lesse thanke he is worthy therfore

Wold he for goddys loue it dele

Whyle that he ware in hele

Than went before hym the lyght

To lede hym the wey a ryght

¶The .CCC.xxv questyon

¶Fysshes that swym here and thore

In water slepe they neuer more

[Page]FIsshes that are in the see

Or in ryuer whether it be

Haue theyr eyen bryght within

And to and fro they euer swym

It is not of theyr kynd the ryght

That they slepe other day or nyght

If they be wery they wyl rest

A whyle where them thynketh best

And yf they felt the ayre also

As we or foules or beastes do

That aboue erth wone

Of kynd shuld they slepe ful sone

¶The .CCC.xxvj. questyon

¶Of al that in the world be

The fayrest foule which thynketh the

IF al the foules yt god hath wrought

Wore in to one place brought

And stode al vpon a flocke

The fayrest of al were the cocke

And he hath thynges thre

That in none other may men se

On his hede he beryth a crowne

And spore vpon his shanke downe

And god hath geuen hym the myght

To know the howrs of day and nyght

The cocke is gelous ouer his wyfe

And oft for her makyth stryfe

And he shuld haue defaut of mete

Or his wyfe yf he myght ought gete

And yf he dwelled in felde also

Or in wod as other do

[Page]Al the foules that before hym wore

Reuerence shuld here them thore

And for his fayrnesse haue of hym awe

Than is he fayrest with lawe

¶The .CCC.xxvii. questyon

¶Which is the fayrest beast that is

And that aman myght not mys

HOrs is the fayrest beast in lande

Stalworthyest and made to hande

With horses oft lordes gete

Lande and lyfe / drynke and mete

Horses in harow and in ploughe

In cart and euerywhore good I noughe

Horses bere men to and fro

There they on fote myght not go

Wherfore is he best and fayrest

And vnto mannys behoue the best

¶The .CCC.xxviij. questyon

¶Tel me now yet thynges mo

The fayrest horses which are tho

HOrses in the world are many one

But not al shapen after one

He that wel shapen shalbe

Behouyth to haue this properte

Foure thynges long / behouyth hym to

And foure thynges short also

And foure thynges large somedele

Than is he horse shapen ful wele

Longe shankes / and longe hals

Long tayle and long rybbes als

[Page]Foure short thynges is no lake

Hede / eres / pastors / and backe

Foure large thynges come there nest

Mouth / nostrels / croupe / and brest

And great eyen falleth wele

Than is he shapen wel euery a dele

¶The .CCC.xxjx. questyon

¶Whiche are ye beastes so god ye saue

That most vnderstandyng haue

BEastes yt of vnderstandyng be

Most of al other are thre

Ape / bere / and hounde also

Thes wylbe buxum man vnto

Mannys techyng wyl they lere

And vnderstand that they stere

Whan Noe in the arch was in the flode

Thes thre beastes nexte hym stode

And of al the last went hym fro

For none vnderstode so moch as tho

¶The .CCC.xxx. questyon

¶Whan goddys sonne shal borne be

By what tokyn shal men it se

TOkyns many shalbe falle

Whan goddys sonne lorde of all

Shalbe borne of her that hethes

Ouer al the world shal than be pees

Agreat ster [...]e shal shewe that day

That al the worlde wel se may

Asercle of gold purpred with al

About the sonne shewe hym shal

[Page]A welle of oyle in great tokenyng

Out of the erth than shal spryng

And a descrypcyon shal taken be

Ouer al the world in euery countre

A dombe beast as that we fynd

That day shal speke agayne kynd

Beast / foule / and fysshe also

That day shalbe in rest and ro

And the deuyls in helle dwellyng

Shalbe ful sory and mornyng

The eyghtene day after he is borne

He shalbe circumcised and shorne

And that in tokenyng be shal

That he is god and man with al

¶The .CCC.xxx. questoon

¶Tel me now as shalbe falle

What sygnyfye tho tokyns al

PEas shalbe ouer al

For he is peas that man come shal

The sterre that shal shew frelye

His godhed shal sygnyfye

About the sonne the golden thyng

Shal betoken that he is kyng

The purpre shalbe token also

Of the passyon that he shal to

The welle of oyle showyth byturly

That he shalbe welle of mercy

The descrypcyon that shal taken be

Tokenes that ouer al lorde is he

The doume be ast spekyng tokenes als

That they that in the law were fals

[Page]And were but as beastes told

Shal turne to hym and of hym hold

Beast and foule shalbe in blys

And they wot goddys sonne he is

And the deuyls shalbe sory

For they drede hym wonderly

That he is that shal breke helle

And take away that with hym dwelle

¶The .CCC.xxxj. questyon

¶Whan he is borne achyid shal he

Be conyng more thā another shalbe

SOne as he borne is / he can

More than eny other man

For thoughe he be thā a yonglyng

The godhed in hym wot althyng

The sonne of the trynyte

The fathers wysdome truly

So is sperd in hym only

Wherfore shal he know wel more

Than eny after or before

Neuerthelesse for al that he can

He wyl fulfyl the kynd of man

In al thynges that falles hym to

Saue synne that shal he neuer do

¶The .CCC.xxxij. questyon

¶Whan he is borne as that we tel

Wher shal he in hoost dwelle

WIth his mother whyle he is yong

So shalbe his dwellyng

In to Egype she lede hym shall

[Page]And ther a whyle dwele hym with al

After agayne shal he go

Unto the lande that he came fro

And begynne the folke to tech

And openly for to prech

And al his lyfe shalbe so

As he teches there vnto

To many synne he shal forgeue

Such as vpon hym wyl beleue

And cold water them crysten in

In forgeuenesse of theyr synne

For water as that men wel wot

S [...]eckenes the fyre that is hot

It clenses fylth and makyth clene

And that is drye it makyth grene

And it sleckeneth also thyrste

Unto man that drynke lyst

Wherfore in water baptyse shal he

For vertu of thes myghtes thre

Fyrst it sleckenes hete of synne

And clenses fylthe that man is in

And drye sowles grene shal he make

Throughe the baptyme that they shal take

And in this lyfe shal he dwelle

Ey to he dey and breke helle

¶The .CCC.xxxiiij. questyon

¶Yet wold I wyt more of the

Shal goddys sonne afayre man be

A Shal with ryght of nature

Be the fayrest creature

That euer was and euer shalbe

[Page]Shal none be so fayre as he

And it is ryght that he be fayre

That of heuyn is sonne and heyre

And he shal vpon an hylle

His dyscyples shewe hym tyl

And he shal seme to theyr syght

As it were the sonne lyght

And his clothes whyte of hewe

As it were newe fallen snewe

Therfore is no man alyue

That his fayrhed may descryue

¶The .CCC.xxxv. questyon

¶Tel yet yf that thou can me sey

Why it was that he wold dey

FOr obedyence and for loue

Heuyn to dyght to our behoue

For obedyent shal he be

Unto the deeth vpon the tre

So that that was forlorne

Throughe the tre ther beforne

Shuld be wonne agayne also

Throughe the tre that he shal to

And for loue of man kynde

That his seruyse wyl haue in mynde

He had leuer deeth take

Than he wold man kynde forsake

His deeth shal aman agayne bye

To reue the deuyl of his maystery

The father shal to the sonne geue

Poure for his seruaunts yt he wil here leue

¶The .CCC.xxxvj. questyon

[Page]

¶Who shal him slo and by what rede

And how long shal he be dede

A Maner of folke shal hym slo

That hyght Iewes and none but tho

Afalse counsele take they shal

And afalse wyttnesse with al

To brynge hym to the deeth also

And knyghtes shal to deeth hym do

In graue shal he be nyghtes two

The whyls shal the godhed go

To helle to fete al hyse

And the thyrde day shal he aryse

To paradyse than wend shal he

Fourty dayes there to be

In which tyme he shal bodely

Ten tymes shew hym openly

Fyrst he shal hym shew I sey

To hym that hym in graue shal ley

After to his mother dere

For to glade her mornyng chere

After he shal hym shew also

The Mary Magdalene vnto

And her synnes forgyue shal he

The fourth tyme to maryes thre

The fyfte to peter south to seye

The syxte tyme to pylgryms twey

That to a castel shal with hym wende

And thore shal he with them send

And the seuenth tyme in a halle

Among his dyscypyls al

There shal he byd them grope and se

Wyturly that he it be

[Page]The eyghtene day to one that shal

Grope his woundes and handes with al

And to aful worthy hylle

The nynth day shal he shew them tyl

The tenth among the people openly

Whan he ascendyth to heuyn on hye

¶The .CCC.xxxvij. questyon

¶Shal he ascende to heuyn so hye

Alone with out companye

AL tho that with hym ryse shal

To heuyn shal ascend hym with al

And in that lyknesse shal he fare

That he was in before his care

But whan he is vp on hye

Aboue the cloudes by the sky

In that lyknesse he shal be thore

That he dyd in hym shew before

Unto his dyscypyls two

Oo an hylle whare they shal go

¶The .CCC.xxxviij. questyon

Shal goddys sonne that hym is dere

Ony hous in erth haue here

IN erth a hows shal he haue

That man afterward shal saue

And that shal his spouse be

For al shalbe on it and he

By the sacrament of his body

That he shal make solempnelye

Unto his apostyls at the mete

[Page]And ech one shal therof ete

And that sacrament that I the tel

Shal in his hows deuoutly dwelle

And al of good conuersacyon

Shal come vnto saluacyon

Throughe the vertu and the myght

Of that sacrament so dyght

And al tho that are outfous

And are spered out of that hous

In payne of helle shalbe shent

But they come to amendment

¶The .CCC.xxxix questyon

¶Shal his body euer dwellyng be

In erth that men may it se

HIs body shal euer be dwellyng

In erth to the worldys endyng

Upon a day as he shal

His apostyls soupe with al

He shal take the bred and blysse

And say / ete / my body this ysse

Than shal he take the cuppe in handys

That with wyne before hym standys

And blesse it and say them vnto

Haue drynke this my blode also

The selfe blode is it that I here make

That shalbe shed for mannys sake

And throughe the vertu and the myght

Of his word is there anon ryght

His very body god and man

As that he to say began

And yf that sacrament ne wore

[Page]His flesshe only and no more

With out blod therto wrought

His very body ware it nought

Flesshe in leuyng man to be

Without blode can no man se

And there shal his dyscypyls take

Myght that sacrament to make

With word he shal them lerne thore

That hym selfe sayd before

And that body shal dwellyng be

So that men eche day may it se

¶The .CCC.xl. questyon

Shal euery man haue myght therto

His body for to make also?

NAy / shal none haue therto myght

But that therto are ordayned right

That of his holy hous shalbe

Kepers / and haue the dyngnyte

And thoughe that keper bere hym yl

And wyl not fulfyl goddes wyl

Neuerthewors is that flesshe and blode

Ne neuer the better thoughe he be good

And who so taketh it worthely

His sowle hele he taketh therby

And he that vnworthely it taketh

His owne dampnacyon he maketh

For he taketh not goddes body

But bread he taketh al onely

The godhed that there was in

God takes it to hym for his syn

For so worthy a thyng as he

[Page]In a foule vessel wyl not be

And no more enpeyre ne can

That same body a wicked man

Than is enpeyred the sonnys lyght

Of a warderobe that here is dyght

¶The .CCC.xlj. questyon

¶Tho that haue myght therto

That body for to make also

Shal they before the trynyte

More than other worshypped be

NO man shal there worshypped be

For honour nor for dygnyte

But with god he shal be dere

After as he hath don here

Thoughe goddys hows wold hym chose

Her kepar to bynd and lose

His worshyp shalbe neuer the more

But yf he haue don wherfore

And do he not aryght also

As hym be comyth for to do

He shal haue blame and payne withal

Wel more than a nother shal

For he that is made a hyrdar

Of goddys hows to be kepar

His shepe must he kepe wel and know

And by his owne lyfe them showe

How that they theyr lyfe shal lede

And them kepe from mysdede

Wherfore yf he mysdo

So moch more payne shal he go to

¶The .CCC.xlij. questyon

[Page]

¶Why shal they euery day be wone

To make the body of goddys sonne

FOr thre thynges pryncypaly

Shal a preest make goddys body

For god and for hym selfe also

And for the folke that se therto

He that it sees hath mede therfore

And that it takes moch more

But he that receyuyth it vnworthely

Hym selfe he dampneth suerly

And the body ne doth it nought

But hym that lewdly hath wrought

In paradyse appyls many one

Made god and wicked none

And for an appyl that Adam dyd ete

Was he out of that place bete

And that was not for that

That the appul was nought that he ate

But for that that goddys bode brake he

That hym defended had that thre

So shal fare that Sacrament

It shal cause no man be shent

Agayne the deuyl strength shal it make

Loke he be clene that it shal take

¶The .CCC.xliij. questyon

¶Tel me now what thyng is synne

That many shalbe lorne in

SInne forsoth is ryght nought

For that god neuer wrought

God of heuyn made al thyng

And al was good of his makyng

[Page]And for his werkes good wore

Synne is none of them therfore

And for he made it not sothely

In substance it is nought truly

¶The .CCC.xliiij questyon

¶By what syngne shal men se

Whan goddes sone shal dede be?

AT his dethe shal befall

Syngnes many one withall

For the sonne shal lese his lyght

And become darke as the nyght

The erthe euerydele shal quake

That to folke great drede shal make

Dede bodyes shal ryse hym with al

The thyrd day when he ryse shal

An astronomer then shalbe

In the boest and say shal he

By the derkenes that he shal fynd

That than dyes god of kynd

¶The .CCC.xlv. questyon

¶When goddes sone in erth shal dwel

Of what vertue shal men hym tel

OF moche vertu shal he be

By his workes that men shal se

Of his vertue he shal with ryght

Ouercome the deuyl and his might

His Glotony / couetyse / and pryde

That the deuyl had spred wyde

And al his myght dystroy he shal

That he Adam begyled withal

[Page]Fro feuere and other euyls fele

Many men than shal he hele

With fyue loues and fysshes two

Fyue thowsand shal h [...] fede and mo

And .xij. lepys men shal fylle

Of the relefe there that shalbe stylle

The prynce of his apostyls shal he

Saue goyng vpon the see

He shal cōmaund the wynd to lyth

And it shalbe styl also swyth

To blynd shal he geue syght

The croked ofte to go ryght

Awoman that shal with heer grete

And with her teres waysshe his fete

And with her heer them wype and drye

He shal forgeue her / her folye

A deed man that in graue hath leyn

Foure dayes / he shal areyse ageyne

One of his dyscypyls shal bere

A swerd and reue amannys ere

The ere in his hand shal he take

And agayne it hole make [...]

Al the prynces in helle that are

Shal he cause to quake and eke care

Whan he theyr gates shal come vnto

And cōmaund them that they vndo

That his are shal he take thore

And sende them to blys for euer more

¶The .CCC.xlvj. questyon

¶Shal his dyscypyls ought also

Do myracles as he shal do

[Page]HIs dyscypyls throughe his grace

Shal to many sycke do solace

For he shal euer by them be

They shal speke and worke shal he

Many one with theyr techyng

To goddys lawe shal they bryng

A wicked man that tyme shalbe

And say that goddys sonne is he

And begyn to ascend a hye

As he wold to heuyn flye

One of the apostyls there by standyng

And se where he is so flyeng

He shal cōmaund hym throughe the myght

Of goddys sonne that he doune lyght

And he shal falle doune anon

And breke his necke bone

Of many a bale they shal do bote

And many a syke bryng on fote

And al shal of his myght be

That shal gyue them that pouste

¶The .CCC.xlvij. questyon

¶Shal they neuer haue no ende

Nor no wo that to heuyn wende

SOules that are ī heuyn blys

Shal neuer of ioy mys

Wo ne shuld they neuer se

Nor old shal they neuer be

They shal euer be reioysing

As a chyld in his best lyking

And hool as fysshe in delyte

Swyfte as wynd and snow whyte

[Page]Bryght as the shynyng sonne

And know al that aungels conne

Leel as ded in althyng

And worshypped shal they be as kyng

A thowsand yere in game and playe

Thynketh them not an howre of the daye

And that delyt they are with al

With out end them last shal

¶The .CCC.xlviij. questyon

¶Tho that are in helle fest

Shal they no mercy haue ne rest

THo that shal to helle wende

They are dampned with out ende

Rest shal they none haue ne mercy

For of that they are not worthy

He that lettys of his fre wyl

The good / and takys hym to yl

It is ryght that he haue also

As that he hym chose vnto

And t [...] pray for hym loude or styl

Is al ageyne goddys wyl

He that in purgatory is

To clense and after shal to blys

For hym is prayer to make

Of his paynes for to slake

But he that dampned is to helle

He shal euer in sorowe dwelle

With out rest with out ro

And with out mercy also

¶The .CCC.xlix. questyon

[Page]

¶They that in heuen shal haue theyr se

Shal they clad or naked be?

THey shal be nakyd of enuye

Of pryde and of lechery

And clad also neuertheles

With grace and blys and bryghtnes

Shame of themselfe shal they thynke non

Thoughe they haue no clothis on

Nomore than Adam of hym thought

Or that he the synne wrought

When he had of the appul taken

Than shamed hym a sawe his makyng

No more than shamyth the

That man vpon thy vysage se

¶The .CCC.l. questyon

¶Whan god to deme come shal

Quyck / deed / and the world al

And al shalbe deed / which is than he

That shal alyue here be

LIfe and deeth of for to sey

May be sayd on maners twey

Deeth that body goys here to

And deeth of sowle in payne also

He that god hath serued here

And his cōmaundments held dere

He shal not be deed that day

For he shal lyue in blys euer and ay

And he that goddys wyl ne wrought

And he that trowed on hym nought

He shalbe deed with out ende

And to the payne of helle wende

[Page]And that the Antechyrst shal turne

Fro the fayth / they may wel morne

Them ware bettar they ware vnborne

For many shal by hym be lorne

¶The .CCC.lj. questyon

¶Where shalbe borne yt false prophyte

That al that wo in erth shal sete

ANtechryst shal borne be

In Babylon agreat cete

A wicked woman hym bere shal

And the deuyl shal entre hym with al

And wicches shal norysshe hym

In a [...]oune hyght corozaym

Uery prophyt they shal hym call

And many wondres shal of hym fall

Al the folke shal he drawe

To his assent and to his lawe

The rych shal on hym beleue

For the gyftes that he shal geue

The pouer shal to hym turne also

For great awe that he shal put them to

And for that he wyse shalbe

For al the clergye knowe shal he

The clerkes shal he to hym alye

Through wysdome of his clergye

The good men and stedfast

That in goddys lawe wold last

Many shal he drawe hym to

For myracles that he shal do

He shal cause the fyre to falle

Fro heuyn and his foos borne all

[Page]Deed men he shal cause aryse

To bere wyttnesse of werkes his

No dedman but the deuyl onely

Shal ryse in dampned body

And bere witnesse of his werkys

Among lewd men and clerkys

Moch people shal to hym drawe

Namely folke of the fyrst lawe

Thre yere and a halfe shal he

Reygne with moch dygnyte

Twelue apostyls chose he shal

With hym to walke ouer al

He shal feyne hym for to deye

And two dayes shal he be a weye

The thyrd day shal he come with blys

And say that he vp rysen ys

Than shal come Enocke and Elye

And shal prech ageyne his folye

Great folke shal they turne hym fro

But he shal them bothe slo

No lenger there than dwell he wyl

But he shal drawe hym to a hyl

For to folowe and to do shame

Tho that wycked haue his name

Sodeyne dethe shal he dye thore

For god wyl that he regne [...]omore

And ful sore may agryse as [...]yse

Whan they shal to the [...] ryse

¶The .CCC.lij. questyon

¶What day shal it befall

That goddys sone shal deme vs al

[Page]ON suche aday shal he deme hyse

As he fro deth to lyfe shal ryse

That shalbe on a sonday

That now is sabbat in our lay

Of heuen than the orders nyne

That neuermore shal heuen tene

Shalbe fulfyllyd as they were al

Or lucifer began to fal

Lyuyng men shal then eueryone

Dye for drede and ryse anone

There shalbe none of so great mede

That at that day he shal haue drede

¶The .CCC.liij. questyon

¶What tyme shal he come therto

For to deme the world also?

AT the mydnyght forsothe I tel

Suche tyme as he shal harowe hel

That eche tyme shal he lede out thore

Al tho that his frendys wore

And that tyme out shal he lede

His of this world to geue them mede

¶The .CCC.liiii. questyon

¶How shal he come & on what manere

When he shal come to deme vs here?

AS a kyng to a cytye

That wyl haue his inentere

And inen before hym shal bere

His crowne his sheld and his spere

Wherby men may haue knowlegyng

That thether comyng is the kyng

[Page]So shal be come to the dome

But nother with knyght ne with grome

But with ordres of aungels all

That bodyes out of theyr graue shal cal

And they shal dele and set in twynne

The good from thos that deyed in synne

¶The .CCC.liiij. questyon

¶Shal his crosse be there present

Whan he shal geue his iugment

NAy his crosse shal not be there

But the semblaunt as it were

And that shalbe of more claryte

Than men in the sonne se

And whan the dome is don al

With his to heuyn wend he shal

¶The .CCC.lv. questyon

¶Whan he the folke shal deme also

How shal he shew hym them vnto

SO as he dyd his dyscypyls tyl

Dysfygured vpon an hylle

He shal shew hym vnto them

Bryghter than eny sonne beme

So shal he shew hym to the good

And to the wicked hangyng on rode

¶The .CCC.lvj. questyon

¶Shal his mynystres with hym be

In the dome to here and se

HIs mynysters shalbe thore

Tho that with hym walked before

[Page]And al that lyued after hys [...]ore

And ke pars of his hous wore

And al that lyue in chastyte

Or that ded for his loue shal be

Al shal they be of his wylte

Synful wreches for to spylle

For that shal they be there present

To here and se the iugement

The .CCC.lvij. questyon

¶How shal he the dome do

And what shal he say them to

GOod departed shal he se

Fro the wicked that there shalbe

Than shal he to the good say

Ye in erth stode by me ay

I houngred sore and ye me fedde

I thursted and ye me drynke bede

I was nakyd and ye me clad

In sycknesse I helpe of you had

I lay in pryson and myght not se

Thether ye came to vyset me

And by cause ye dyd this gladly

Come to my fathers ioy heuynly

And ye that of me not rought

But al that ye lyked wrought

With the deuyl and his ye go

Unto payne for euer and od

For ye nothyng dyd me fore

Whan ye in your lykyng wore

This shal euery man here and se

Why he shal saued or dampnyd be

[Page]

¶The .CCC.lviij. questyon

¶Sal euery man than know wele

That he hath don here euery adele

AL that euer aman hath wrought

Good and yl in dede or thought

Al shal on hym wryten be

That al the world may it se

But yf eny ware of repentaunce

That toke his shryft here and penaunce

Of his mysded with harte contryte

That synne for geuen is al tyte

The good than thanke god shal thore

That they of such lyfe wore

Wherfore that they shulde than wende

To the blys with out ende

And the wicked shal se eft

What goodnesse they haue left

And what wickednesse they toke

Whan that they the good forsoke

Ful▪ sory be they than in thought

But al shal avayle them nought

For they shal anon be shent

With the deuyl in tourment

¶The .CCC.lix. questyon.

¶Whan al is don that dome so harde

What shal be don afterwarde

AFterwarde the deuyl shal

Take tho that shal with hym al

And wend to helle for euer more

The wicked men to payne thore

Goddys sonne shal his take

[Page]That here dyd wel for his sake

And lede them to his fathers blys

Where euer I lyke ioy is

And al shal theyr blys be

That they euer god shal se

And neuer more shal deye

For yf they shuld chose one of tweye

They shuld leuer in helle be

God euery day in blys to se

Than be in heuyn and se hym nought

For that ware nought worth them thought

¶The .CCC.lx. questyon

¶What shal than betyde and who

Of this world where we are now

AS water it fyrst fordyd also

Shal it fyre than fordo

Al to gether shal it brynne

Shal nothyng beleft therin

The elementes shal than slake

Of theyr fygure and a newe take

Sonne and mone shal bryghter be

Seuen tymes than men now them se

Erth / water / fyre / and ayre

They shalbe than thre tymes so fayre

Than they euer ware before

And so shalbe left euer more

Al trauayls in erth shal blynne

Shal no payne after be therin

¶The .CCC.lxj. questyon

Shal the good haue leue ther tyl

For to do al that they wyl

[Page]THe good shal than be of that wyl

To do but good and nothyng yl

For than shal they ech thyng do

That theyr wyl standyth vnto

And in what stede they wold they wore

Anon as thought they shalbe thore

And other worke shal they haue none

But goddys vysage to se vpon

And thanke hym that of al lord is

That they are come to that hlys

¶The .CCC.lxij. questyon

¶Shal they than remember ought

Of wickednesse yt they here wrought

REmember them they shal euery dele

Of that they wrought here yl and wel

And great ioy haue they shal

That they the wickednesse ouer came al

As a knyght is blyth and glad

That a stronge batayle hath had

And hath bore the prayse away

From al his enymyes that day

Great ioy it is his frendes vnto

That he that day bare hym so

And al so sory are they tho

That for theyr synne go than to wo

¶Here ende the questyons.

[Page] ¶The ende of the hystory.

§

§

Sydracke god yeld it the

The techyng yt thou hast teched me

From darknesse thou hast me brought

Unto lyght that fayleth nought

Now than wot I moch thyng

That after Iesus haue great longyng

And now wot I what god may do

To lyfe and vnto soule also

Wherfore it is good now

Upon what maner and how

That we shal our toure fulfyl

Wherto we fyrst had great wyl

For that was the cause why we

Came fyrst vnto this countre

FOr thy the kyng Boccus anon

Toke hors and worthed there vpon

And his mayster Sydracke before

And al his folke be gan to raye thore

They came in to the in comyng

Of Garabys lande the kyng

There they began the toure to dyght

That sanke from them euery nyght

The kyng caused to be brought lyme & stone

And caused masons to come anon

And Sydracke the kynge present

Deuysed them the foundament

In the name of the Trynyte

One god and persons thre

Boldly ther vpon they wrought

And yt shuld hurt them found they nought

[Page]And in dayes syxe and twenty

Was the toure made vp fully

And al thyng that therto shuld

After the kyng it ordayne wold

¶Whan that Garaab it herde

Of the toune how it farede

How it was to ende brought

He was ful sory in his thought

And foule abasshed he was also

For he perseuyd it shuld hym vndo

In harte myght haue no rest

He counselyd hym what was best

A messynger anon he sent

That vnto kyng Boccus went

And prayed hym purcharyte

Of hym to haue mercy and pyte

Kynge Boccus answered and spake

By the counsel of Sydracke

That yf Garaab wyl a good man be

And beleue in the Trynyte

That may both dampne and saue

That he shal of hym mercy haue

And Garaab sent to hym agayne

That what he wyl I shal do fayne

Kyng Garaab caused to be broken anon

His false ydols euerychone

And trusted in god of heuyn lyght

Seruyng hym with al his myght

And many landes there mo

Causyd Boccus to serue god tho

But whan kynge Boccus was deed

And Sydracke / than was there no rede

[Page]But anon they god forsoke

And to theyr false ydols they toke

Throughe entysement of the wicked goost

Now he that is of myght most

Saue vs fro his wycked wyles

For many one that shrew begyles

And bryng vs into that blys

Wherof that none ende is.

AMEN

PRay we now with al our myght

Unto god of heuen lyght

That he geue vs grace so to do

That we heuen may come vnto

That we shal al to I w [...]

And that Hughe of caumpeden [...]

That this boke hath throughe sought

And vnto Englysshe tyme brought

Lyue in ioye without synne

And that he god is loue here wynne

So that he at his lyues ende

Unto the blesse of heuen wende.

FINIS

§

§

¶Thus endeth the hystory and questyōs of kynge Boccus and Sydracke. Prynted at London by Thomas Godfray. At the coste and charge of dan Robert Saltwode mōke of faynt Austens at Cantorbury.

¶Cum priuilegio regali.

[Page]

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The history of kyng Boccus, [and] Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men, and in ye syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite [and] dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte that he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyo[n] of the aungell. Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome, both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber. CCC.lxv. translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden, out of frenche into Englysshe.

Edition statement

1537

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A16265

ID [STC]

STC 3186

ID [STC]

ESTC S106435

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99842151

ID [PROQUEST]

99842151

ID [VID]

6781

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A16265)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 6781)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 26:10)

Source

— The history of kyng Boccus, [and] Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men, and in ye syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite [and] dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte that he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyo[n] of the aungell. Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome, both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber. CCC.lxv. translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden, out of frenche into Englysshe., Boccus, King., Sidrac, 13th cent., Hugo, of Caumpeden., Twyne, John, ca. 1501-1581..

Extent

[340] p.

By Thomas Godfray. At the coste and charge of dan Robert Saltwode mo[n]ke of saynt Austens at Cantorbury,. [Prynted at London :: [1537?]]. (French original not traced.) (Edited by John Twyne, whose name appears on A1v.) (In verse.) (With a title-page woodcut.) (Printer's name and address from colophon; publication date conjectured by STC.) (Signatures: A⁶ B-Z⁴ [et]⁴ ² A-S⁴.) (In this edition C2r line 6 has: false.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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