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.

1537

¶The history of kyng Boccus / & Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men / and in y^e syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite & dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte y^t 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.

[Page]

¶Iohn̄ Twyne to the redar

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

[Page]

¶Hic incipiunt questiones

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. questyonSethen 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. questyonMay 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. questyonWhich 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 y^e 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 y^t 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 y^t 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 y^e 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 y^e 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 y^u 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. questyonShal 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. questyonShal 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. questyonShal 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. questyonShal 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 y^t 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.

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