s: That procedeth of this counterfayt abusion


s: And mysshapen Fassions: I neuer shulde haue done.


s: For both States, comons, man, woman, and chylde


s: Ar vtterly inclyed to this inconuenyence.


s: But namely therwith these Courters are defyled.


s: Bytwen mayster and man I fynde no dyfference.


s: Therfore ye Courters knowledge your offence.


s: Do nat your errour mentayne, support nor excuse.


s: For Fowles ye ar your Rayment thus to abuse.


s: To Shyp Galauntes come nere I say agayne.


s: Wyth your set Busshes Curlynge as men of Inde.


s: Ye counterfayted Courters come with your fleinge brayne


s: Expressed by these variable Garmentes that ye fynde.


s: To tempt chast Damsels and turne them to your mynde


s: Your breste ye discouer and necke. Thus your abusion


s: Is the Fendes bate. And your soules confusion.


s: Come nere disgysed foles: receyue your Foles Hode.


s: And ye that in sondry colours ar arayde.


s: Ye garded galantes wastinge thus your goode


s: Come nere with your Shertes brodered and displayed.


s: In fourme of Surplys. Forsoth it may be sayde.


s: That of your Sort right fewe shal thryue this yere.


s: Or that your faders werith suche Habyte in the Quere.


s: And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde


s: Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.


s: Your Sadel on the tayle: yf ye lyst to sit soft.


s: I mean your Copyntanke: And if it wyl do no goode.


s: To kepe you from the rayne. ye shall haue a foles hode.


s: Is knowen by hir clothes, be they cours or fyne


s: Folowynge newe fassyons, not graunted by doctryne


s: The bocher sheweth his flesshe it to sell


s: So doth these women dampnyng theyr soule to hell


s: Both man and woman as I before haue sayde


s: Ar rayde and clothyd nat after theyr degre


s: As nat content with the shape that god hath made


s: The clenlynes of Clergye is nere also decayed.


s: Our olde apparale (alas) is nowe layde downe


s: And many prestes asshamed of theyr Crowne.


s: As of chryste our mayster in maner halfe asshamed


s: My hert doth wepe: my tunge doth sore complayne


s: Seing howe our State is worthy to be blamed.


s: But if all the Foly of our Hole Royalme were named


s: Of mys apparayle of Olde, young, lowe, and hye,


s: The tyme shulde fayle: and space to me denye.


s: Alas thus al states of Chrysten men declynes.


s: And of wymen also disfourmynge theyr fygure.


s: A Englonde Englonde amende or be thou sure


s: Bothe the begynners and folowes of this vyce.


s: Reduce courters clerly vnto your rembrance


s: From whens this disgysyng was brought wherein ye go


s: As I remember it was brought out of France.


s: This is to your plesour. But payne ye had also.


s: As French Pockes hote ylles with other paynes mo.


s: Take ye in good worth the swetnes with the Sour.


s: For often plesour endeth with sorowe and dolour.


s: But ye proude Galaundes that thus yourselfe disgise


s: Be ye asshamed. beholde vnto your Prynce.


s: Consyder his sadnes: His honestye deuyse


s: His clothynge expresseth his inwarde prudence


s: In his hyghnes: but godly wyt and grauyte.


s: Ensue hym: and sorowe for your enormyte.


s: Away with this pryde, this statelynes let be


s: Rede of the Prophetis clothynge or vesture


s: Of Johnn the Prophete, theyr clothynge was obscure


s: Wyll then eusue, sothly fewe by theyr wyll


s: Therfore suche folys my nauy shall fulfyll


s: Nought yonge, wors olde, suche is my state.]


s: Wyll me nat suffer to leue myne old vsage


s: Lame ar his lymmys, and also I can nat se


s: But though I myght lerne my wyll is nat therto


s: By my lewde doctryne bryngynge them to nought


s: And whan they ar onys into my daunce brought


s: My selfe example, begynner, and theyr gyde.


s: My lewde lyfe, my foly and my selfwyllyd mynde


s: Whiche I haue styll kept hytherto in this lyfe


s: Bequethyng parte both to man childe and wyfe


s: I am the actour of myschefe and of stryfe


s: The foly of my youth and the inconuenyence


s: In age I practyse, techynge by experyence


s: Desyrynge lawde for eche vngracious dede


s: To showe my vyce and synne, as voyde of drede


s: Of heuen or hell. therfore I take no hede


s: But as some stryue disputynge of theyr cunnynge


s: Right so do I in lewdnes and myslyuynge.


s: Somtyme I bost me of falshode and dysceyt


s: Of all myschefe, as murder flatery debate


s: But rather I sorowe that my lyfe is wore


s: But syns my lyfe so sodaynly dothe apeyre


s: I shall infourme and teche my sone and heyre


s: To folowe his fader, and lerne this way of me


s: The way is large, god wot glad shall he be


s: Lernynge my lore with affeccion and desyre


s: And folowe the steppys of his vnthryfty syre


s: I trust so crafty and wyse to make the lad


s: That me his father he shall pas and excell


s: O that my herte shall than be wonder glad


s: If I here of may knowe, se, or here tell


s: If he be false faynynge sotyll or cruell


s: And so styll endure I haue a speciall hope


s: To make hym scrybe to a Cardynall or Pope.


s: Fasynge and bostynge to scratche and to kepe


s: Than may he after to some great offyce crepe


s: Thus shall he lyue as I haue all his dayes


s: So shall the sone, if he hym selfe addres


s: To sue my steppes in falshode and lewdnes


s: This shyp of folys shall he gouerne with me


s: Remembrest thou nat that shortly thou shalt dye


s: Though thy youth reted were in vyciousnes


s: Thy graue is open thy one fote in the pyt


s: Leue thy bostynge of that thou hast done amys


s: Bewayle thy synnes, sayeng with rufull mone


s: Delicta iuuentutis mee deus ne memineris


s: That sore is harde to hele that bredes in the bone


s: He that is nought yonge, procedynge so in age


s: What thinge is more abhomynable in goddes syght.


s: It is eke worldly shame, whan thy corage and mycht


s: Is nere dekayed, to kepe thy lewde lyuynge.


s: And by example of the, thy yonge children to brynge.


s: Into a vicious lyfe: and all goodnes to hate.


s: Of the erudicion of neglygent faders anenst theyr chyldren.


s: Wythout rebukynge, blame, and correccion.


s: And hym nat exhorteth, hymselfe to amende.


s: For oft the faders foly, fauour, and neglygence


s: Causeth the Chylde for to fall to great offence]


s: Whiche his chyldren fawtes forseth nat to see


s: Hauynge no care for to induce theyr mynde


s: To godly vertue: and vyce to leue behynde.


s: For whyle they ar yonge fereful and tender of age


s: Theyre vyce and foly is easy to asswage.


s: Two dyuers sortes of these foles may we fynde.


s: By whome theyr chyldren ar brought to confusion.


s: The one is neglygent. the other is starke blynde.


s: Nat wyllynge to beholde his childes yl condicion.


s: Whyle he is in youthe: But for a conclusion


s: He is a Fole that wyl nat se theyr vyce.


s: And he that seyth: and wyl it nat chastyce.


s: Or wyse mayster, in youthes furious rage


s: Get them a mayster theyr foly to asswage


s: For as a herdles flocke strayth in Jepardy


s: So children without gyde wandreth in foly.


s: Theyr londe and goodes solde or layde to gage


s: But thou folysshe father art redy to excuse


s: Thy yonge children of theyr synne and abuse


s: Thou sayst they ar ouer tender to eschewe


s: Theyr folysshe maners and they haue no skyll


s: Nor to discerne what is gode, what is yll


s: Thou blynde dodart these wordes holde thou styll


s: Theyr youth can nat excuse thy folysshenes


s: He that can yll as well myght lerne goodnes


s: Great aptness outwarde and syne of grauyte


s: But fyll an erthen pot first with yll lycoure


s: And euer after it shall smell somwhat soure


s: So youth brought vp in lewdnes and in sin


s: Shall skant it shrape so clene out of his mynde


s: But that styll after some spot wyll byde within


s: A bygger braunche is harde to bowe or wynde


s: But suffer the braunche to a byg tre to growe


s: And rather it shall brake than outher wynde or bowe


s: Correct thy childe whyle he is lyke a twygge


s: It wyll be harde forsoth whan he is bygge


s: To brynge his stubron herte to subieccion


s: What hurtyth punysshement with moderacion


s: Unto yonge children, certaynely no thynge


s: It voydeth vyce, gettynge vertue and cunnynge


s: Say folysshe fader haddest thou leuer se


s: Than with a rod his skyn shulde brokyn be.


s: And oft thou trustest: and hast a stedfast hope


s: To se thy son promoted nere as hye as is the Pope


s: But yet perchaunce mourne thou shalt ful sore.


s: For his shameful ende: fortuned for lacke of lore.


s: Some folowe theyr chyldrens wyl and lewde plesour


s: So grauntinge them theyr mynde: that after it doth fal


s: To theyr great shame: they sorowe and dolour


s: Whiche suffred his men: his son chefe of them al


s: By force from Grece to robbe the fayre Helayne.


s: Wherby both Fader and son were after slayne.


s: With noble Hector and many thousandes mo.


s: The Cyte of Troy vnto the ground clene brent.


s: I rede in the Cronycles of the Romayns also


s: Howe Tarquyne the proude had shame and punysshment


s: For rauysshynge chaste Lucres agaynst hyr assent.


s: Wherfore hyrselfe she slewe hyr seynge thus defiled.


s: For the which dede this Tarquyn was exiled,


s: From Rome: wandrynge in the Costes of Italy.


s: Dyd nat the traytour Catelyne also conspyre


s: Agaynst the Romans to oppresse theyr Impyre,


s: But he and all his were murdred for theyr hyre,


s: And nat vnworthely. Beholde wherto they come


s: Which ar nat enfourmed in youth to ensue wysdom.


s: The son oft foloweth the faders behauour


s: And if the fader be discrete and vertuous.


s: The son shal suche wayes practyse both day and hour.


s: But if that the fader be lewde and vicious


s: By falshode lyuynge: and by wayes cautelous.


s: And that moche rather than goodnes or vertue


s: Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion.


s: Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle


s: Far from theyr faders of this condicion.


s: And other lewde gydes which myght theyr myndes assayle


s: Greuously wyth syn. So were it theyr auayle


s: From theyr faders frawde and falshode to declyne


s: And them submyt to some lawdable mannys doctryne.


s: Peleus, somtyme a noble and worthy kynge


s: Of phenix whiche was both worthy and cunnynge


s: Wherfore Achyllys right gladly dyd enclyne


s: With his hert and mynde vnto his disciplyne


s: Wherby his name so noble was at the last


s: Ryght so Philippus a kynge worthy of name


s: To fynde one wyse, sad and laudable of fame


s: To Alexander his sonne for to gyue Instruccion


s: Founde was great Aristotyl at the conclusion


s: Disciple of Plato. whiche in euery Science.


s: Infourmed this chylde with parfyte diligence.


s: Whiche Alexander afterward had so great dignyte.


s: What by his strength, his cunnynge, and boldenes.


s: That he was lorde both of Londe and See.


s: And none durst rebel aganst his worthynes.


s: Lo here the lawde, the honour, and nobles.


s: Which dothe procede of vertue and doctryne


s: But few ar the faders that nowe hereto inclyne


s: Theyr chyldren taught: or to do any cost


s: Al that is theron bestowed thynke they loste.


s: The folyssh Fader oft tymes maketh great boste.


s: That he his son to habundant riches shal auance


s: But no thynge he speketh of vertuous gouernance.


s: The feder made but smal shyft or prouysion.


s: But whan he is dede and past: moche les shal the son


s: To stody of grace his mynde or hert inclyne.


s: But abuse his reason: and from al good declyne.


s: Alas folysshe faders gyue your aduertence


s: To Crates complaynt comprysed in this sentence.


s: If it were graunted to me to shewe my thought


s: Ye follysshe faders Caytifes I myght you cal


s: Whiche gather riches to brynge your chylde to nought.


s: But goode nor cunnynge shewe ye hym none at all.


s: But whan ye drawe to age, ye than moste comonly.


s: Sorowe for your suffrance. But without remedy.


s: An olde sore to hele is oft halfe incurable


s: Ryght so ar these Chyldren roted in myschefe


s: Some after euer lyueth a lyfe abhomynable


s: To all theyr Kyn great sorowe and reprefe.


s: The one is a murderer the other a fereles thefe,


s: The one of god nor goode man hath no fors ne care.


s: Another so out wasteth that his frendes ar ful bare.


s: Some theyr londe and lyuelode in riot out wasteth,


s: At cardes, and, tenys, and other vnlawful gamys.


s: And some wyth the Dyce theyr thryft away casteth.


s: Some theyr soule damnes, and theyr body shames.


s: With flesshly lust: which many one dyffamys.


s: Spendynge the floures of youth moche vnthryftely.


s: On dyuers Braunches that longe to Lechery.


s: Etynge and drynkynge without maner, or mesure:


s: The more that some drynke: the more they wax drye.


s: He is moste Galant whyche lengest can endure.


s: Thus without mesure ouercharge they theyr nature.


s: So that theyr Soule is loste theyr body and goode is spent.


s: For lacke of doctryne, Norture and punysshment.


s: Se here playne prose, example and euydence


s: Howe youthe which is nat norysshed in doctryne.


s: But nought shall make youthe soner forto inclyne.


s: Than shal the doctryne of a mayster wyse and sad:


s: For the rote of vertue and wysdome therby is had.


s: Without dout Noblenes is moche excellent


s: Whiche oft causeth youth to be had in great honour.


s: To haue the name, and lawde they ar content.


s: Thoughe it be nat gotten by theyr owne labour.


s: But what auayleth them this lewde obscure errour


s: Of suche hye byrthe them self to magnyfy.


s: Sythe they defyle it with vice and Uilany.


s: Why art thou proude thou foul of that nobles


s: Whyche is nat gotten by thyne owne vertue.


s: But this forsothe oft tymes fynde I true


s: That of a goode beste, yl whelpes may weshewe.


s: In lyke wyse of a Moder that is bothe chast and goode.


s: Often is brought forth a ful vngracious Brode.


s: But though the childe be of lewde condicion


s: If the fader be slacke in the correccion


s: Whiche wyll nat teche hym maners commendable


s: Thus is the fader a fole for his suffraunce


s: And the sone also for his mysgouernaunce


s: Anenst your children in theyr faute and offence


s: Reduce ye clerely vnto your remembraunce


s: Haue children done by theyr faders negligence


s: Of tale berers, fals reporters, and prometers of stryfes.


s: Whiche ar cause of brawlynge stryfe and deuysion


s: Suche ar dowble tongyd that lesyngys reporte


s: Therby trustynge to come to great promosion


s: But suche lewde caytyfes at the conclusion


s: Bytwene two mylstons theyr legges puttes to grynde


s: And for rewarde, theyr confusion shall they fynde.]


s: Some ar that thynke the pleasoure and ioy of theyr lyfe


s: To brynge men in brawlynge to discorde and debate


s: Enioynge to moue them to chydynge and to stryfe


s: And where loue before was to cause mortall hate


s: Suche is moche wors than outher murderer or thefe


s: For ofte of his talys procedeth grete myschefe


s: Within his mouth is venym Jeperdous and vyle


s: His tonge styll laboryth lesynges to contryue


s: His mynde styll museth of falshode and on gyle


s: Therwith to trobyll suche as gladly wolde nat stryue


s: Somtyme his wordes as dartis he doth dryue


s: Is set to sclaunder to diffame and bacbyte.


s: And namely them that fautles ar and innocent.


s: Of conscience clene, and maners commendable


s: These dryuyls sclaunder, beynge full dilygent.


s: To deuyde, louers that ar moste agreable


s: Of them that longe tyme haue lyuyd in amyte


s: But he that accused is thus without all faute


s: And so sclaundred of this caytyf vnthryfty


s: Knowyth nought of this ieoperdous assaute


s: For he nought dowteth that is no thynge fauty


s: Thus whyle he nought feryth comyth sodaynly


s: This venemous doloure distaynynge his gode name


s: And so gyltles put to rebuke, and to shame.


s: Thus if one serche and seke the worlde ouerall


s: Than a backbyter nought is more peryllous


s: His mynde myscheuous, his wordys ar mortall


s: He castyth out where he wolde haue debate


s: Engendrynge murder whan he his tyme can wayt


s: Faythfull and true: this cowarde and caytyf


s: With his fals talys them bryngeth to dyscorde


s: And with his venym kepeth them in stryfe


s: But howe beit that he thus pas forth his lyfe


s: His darte oft retourneth to his own reprefe


s: But nat withstandynge, suche boldely wyl excuse


s: His fals dyffamynge: as fautles and innocent.


s: If any hym for his dedes worthely accuse


s: He couereth his venym: as symple of intent.


s: Other ar whiche flater: and to euery thynge assent.


s: Before face folowynge the way of adulacion,


s: Whiche afterwarde sore hurteth by detraccion.


s: The worlde is nowe alle set on dyffamacion.


s: Suche ar moste cherisshed that best can forge a tale.


s: Whych shulde be moste had in abhomynacion.


s: And so they ar of wyse men without fayle.


s: But suche as ar voyde of wysdom and counsayle


s: Inclyneth theyr erys to sclander and detraccion,


s: Moche rather than they wolde to a noble sermon.


s: But euery Sclanderer, and begynner of stryfe.


s: Lousers of loue, and infecters of Charite.


s: Unworthy ar to lyue here at large in this lyfe.


s: But in derke Dongeon they worthy ar to be.


s: And there to remayne in pryson tyl they dye.


s: For with there yl tunges they labour to destroy


s: Concorde: whiche cause is of loue and of ioy.


s: An olde quean that hath ben nought al hyr dayes.


s: Whiche oft hath for money hyr body let to hyre


s: Thynketh that al other doth folowe hyr olde wayes.


s: So she and hyr boul felawes syttinge by the fyre.


s: The Boule about walkynge with theyr tunges they conspyre


s: Agaynst goode peple, to sclander them wyth shame.


s: Than shal the noughty doughter lerne of the bawdy dame.


s: For if one good, louynge, meke and charitable be.


s: He labours no debates amonge men to procure.


s: But coueyteth to norysshe true loue and charite.


s: Where as the other ful of falshode and iniquyte


s: Theyr synguler plesour put to ingender variaunce.


s: But oft theyr folysshe stody retournes to theyr myschaunce


s: Therfore ye bacbyters that folke thus dyffame


s: Leue of your lewdnes and note wel this sentence.


s: Which Cryist hymself sayd: to great rebuke and shame


s: Unto them that sclandreth a man of Innocence.


s: But wel is hym that wyth pacience can indure.


s: Vnto our shyp rowynge with great trauayle


s: Whiche nought perceyue of doctryne nor wysdome


s: And yet dysdayne they to aske wyse counseyll


s: If they alone endure theyr losse and payne]


s: He is a fole that dothe coueyt and desyre


s: To haue the name of wysdome and prudence


s: And yet of one sought thorugh a cyte or a shyre


s: None coude be founde of lesse wysdome nor science


s: But whyle he thynketh hym full of sapience


s: Crafty and wyse, doutles he is more blynde


s: Than is that fole whiche is out of his mynde


s: But though he be wyse, and of myght meruaylous


s: And of hym selfe both ware and cautelous


s: To dysdayne others counseyll and sentence


s: Tourneth a wyse man to consort and auayle


s: Of wyse men, discrete, and full of grauyte


s: Helpeth thyne owne, be thou never so prudent


s: To thy purpose gyuynge strength and audacyte.


s: Thoughe thou haue wysdome cunnynge and scyence


s: Some cast out wordes in paynted eloquence


s: Thoughe they haue neyther wysdome nor science


s: To ere the path that folys erst hath made


s: The trouth vnder glose of suche is hyd and layde


s: For why, they trust alway to theyr owne mynde


s: And furour begon whether it be good or yll


s: As if any other, no wyser read coude fynde


s: Thus they ensue theyr pryuate folysshe wyll


s: Oft in suche maters wherin they haue no skyll


s: As did Pyrrus whiche began cruell Batayle


s: Agaynst Orestes refusynge wyse counsayle


s: But folowyd his owne rasshe mynde without auayle


s: Hymselfe slayne, his men put to confusyon


s: With false Parys, had confourmed theyr intent


s: To Helenns counsayle Troy had nat ben brent.


s: For that Priamus his mynde wolde nat aply


s: The grekys distroyed a great parte of Asy


s: Was slayne with Peyn for all his doughtynes


s: For nat folowynge of his faders counsayle


s: If Hector that day had byddyn within Troy


s: Perchaunce he sholde haue lyuyd in welth and ioy


s: Whereas his body was with a spere through rent


s: Alas for suynge his owne selfwyllyd mynde


s: Whiche to wyse counsayle hymself wolde nat agre


s: But howe dyde he ende forsoth in myserye


s: Hymselfe he murdred with his owne hand and knyfe


s: The Bybyll wytnessyth howe the prophete Thoby


s: Gaue his dere sone in chefe commaundement


s: That if he wolde lyue sure without ieoperdy


s: He sholde sue the counsayle of men wyse and prudent


s: Whiche for nat suynge of counseyll and wysdome


s: Lost his Empyre, his scepter and kyngdome


s: If that it were nat for cawse of breuyte


s: Whiche nat folowynge counceyll of men of grauyte


s: Soone haue decayed from theyr olde honours


s: Whiche dispysynge the counsayle of men of age


s: That onely he trusteth to his owne blyndnes


s: Thynkynge all wysdome within his dotynge pate


s: Wherfore let suche theyr cours swyftly addres


s: To drawe our Plough, and depe to ere the ground


s: That by theyr laboure all folys may be founde.


s: Knowledge thy owne foly thy statelynes expel


s: Let nat for thy eleuate mynde nor folysshe pryde,


s: To order thy dedes by goode and wyse counsel


s: Howbeit thou thynke thy reason doth excel


s: Al other mennys wyt. yet oft it doth befall.


s: Anothers is moche surer: and thyn the worst of all.


s: Your proude lokys, disdayne and derysyon


s: Expresseth your inwarde folysshe ignoraunce


s: Nowe wyll I touche your mad mysgoueraunce


s: Whiche hast to foly, And folysshe company


s: Treylynge your Baybll in sygne of your foly]


s: That haue good maners worthy of reuerence


s: Stryuynge who sonest may come to all offence


s: Blyndnes of yll, and defylyd folysshenesse


s: All myserable men alas haue set theyr mynde


s: On lothsome maners clene destytute of grace


s: Theyr iyen dymmyd, theyr hertes are so blynde


s: That heuenly ioy none forceth to purchace


s: Both yonge and olde procedeth in one trace


s: With ryche and pore without all dyfference


s: As bonde men subdued to foly and offence


s: Some ar busshed theyr bonetes, set on syde.


s: Some waue theyr armys and hede to and fro


s: More wylde and wanton than outher buk or do


s: Some ar so proude that on fote they can nat go


s: But get they must with countenaunce vnstable


s: Shewynge them folys, frayle and varyable


s: Some thynkes, hymselfe a gentylman or state


s: Though he a knaue caytyf and bonde churle be


s: These folys ar so blynde them self they can nat so


s: With gentry or presthode is felowe and companyon.


s: Brybours and Baylyes that lyue upon towlynge


s: Are in the world moche set by nowe a dayes


s: Sergeauntis and Catchpollys that lyue upon powlynge


s: Courters and caytyfs begynners of frayes


s: Lyue styll encreasynge theyr vnhappy wayes


s: Lyue auauntynge them of theyr enormytees.


s: Within the chirche and euery other place


s: Some starynge some cryeng some haue great solace


s: Some them delyte in scornes and derysons


s: Theyr lyfe is folysshe lothsome and vnstable


s: Lyght brayned, theyr herte and mynde is inconstant


s: Theyr gate and loke proude and abhomynable


s: Chaungyng theyr myndes thryse in one instant


s: Wyll them nat suffer theyr wretchydnes to se


s: Thus ar these wretchyd caytyfes fully blynde


s: All men and wymen that good ar doth them hate


s: But he that with good maners endueth his mynde


s: His dedes pleaseth both comonty and estate


s: And namely suche as ar good and laudable


s: Thynketh his dedes right and commendable


s: As wyse men sayth: both vertue and cunnynge


s: Subduynge the furour of youthes wylfulnes


s: But shamefastnes trouth constance and probyte


s: Both yonge and olde bryngeth to great dignyte.


s: These foresayde vertues with charite and peas.


s: Together assembled stedfast in mannys mynde.


s: Cawseth his honour and worthynes to encreas.


s: And his godly lyfe a godly ende shal fynde


s: But these lewde caytyfs which doth theyr myndes blynde


s: In shame they lyue and wretchedly they dye.


s: Of brekynge and hurtynge of amyte and frendshyp.


s: Makyth a graue wherin hym selfe shall lye.


s: And lewdly he dyeth that lyueth crudlye.]


s: His frendes and subiectes laboures to subdewe


s: Therfore thou Juge thy erys se thou aply


s: To right Justyce and set nat thyne intent


s: Ne by pryde and malyce Justyce to violate


s: The law transposynge after a frowarde rate


s: With proude wordes defendynge his offence


s: God wot oft suche haue symple conscience


s: To fynde some meanes false and detestable


s: To put his frende to losse or hurte therby


s: There ar right fewe of hye or lowe degre


s: That luste to norysshe trewe loue and amyte


s: On golde and goodes than on a faythfull frynde


s: Awake blynde folys and call vnto your mynde


s: That though honest ryches be moche commendable


s: Yet to a true frende it is nat comparable


s: And without falshode this frendeshyp to mayntayne


s: And nat departe for pleasour nor for payne


s: On suche frendshyp for to set theyr delyte


s: We lowe oppressyon to sclaunder and bacbyte


s: Extorcyon hath strength, pyte gone is quyte


s: Nowe in the worlde suche frendes ar there none


s: There shall he se playne wryten without fayle


s: Howe whan Achyllys gaue no force nor hede


s: Of Achylles, and went forth in his steade


s: Agaynst Hector: but lyghtly he was dede.


s: But than Achylles seynge this myschaunce.


s: Befallen his frende whiche was to hym so true.


s: He hym addressyd shortly to take vengeaunce.


s: And so in Batayle the noble Hector slewe


s: And his dede cors after his charot drewe.


s: Upon the grounde traylynge ruthfully behynde


s: Se howe he auengyd Patroclus his frende.


s: The hystory also of Orestes dothe expresse


s: Whiche whan agamenon his fader was slayne


s: The childe was yonge wherfore it was but vayne


s: In youth to stryue, but whan he came to age


s: And also Egystus whiche had his fader slayne


s: Thus toke he vengeaunce of both theyr cruelnes


s: But yet it grewe to his great care and payne


s: His moder hym sued flamynge full of fyre


s: Orestes troubled with this fereful vysyon


s: Tyll he restoryd agayne was to his mynde


s: Alas what frynde may we fynde nowe so kynde.


s: Whiche in eche other suche loue had and delyte


s: Ualerius wrytyth a story longe and ample


s: Whiche of trewe loue hath left vs great example


s: For they neuer left in doloure wele nor wo


s: Howe he (as the Poetes fables doth tell)


s: Those lothsome flodys and wayes tenebrous


s: Ferynge no paynes of that dysordred place


s: Tyll at the laste by his wayes cautelous


s: And Hercules valyaunt dedes of boldnesse


s: He gat Perothus out of that wretchydnesse.


s: Alas where ar suche frendes nowe a dayes


s: Suerly in the worlde none suche can be founde


s: All folowe theyr owne profyte and lewde wayes


s: Brekers of frendshyp ynough ar on the grounde


s: Whiche set nought by frendshyp so they may haue good


s: All suche in my shyp shall haue a folys hode


s: Mollyfy your hertes vnkynde stuberne and rude


s: Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse


s: Of contempt, or dispisynge of holy scripture.


s: Thynkynge more wysdome and fruytfull sentence


s: In theyr vayne talys than is in the redynge


s: Of bokes whiche shewe vs the way of godly lyuynge


s: And soulys helth: forsoth suche one is blynde


s: And in this shyp the anker shall vp wynde.]


s: Of godly Prophetis whiche wrote of veryte


s: Rather than the doctryne of eternall lyfe


s: The holy Bybyll grounde of trouth and of lawe


s: Is nowe of many abiect and nought set by


s: Nor godly scripture is nat worth an hawe


s: That no scripture thynke they so true nor gode


s: He that to scripture wyll not gyue credence


s: As saue this worlde were neyther heuen nor hell.


s: Nor nobler place than is this wretchyd grounde


s: Nor goddes power suche neyther fere nor loue


s: With whom all grace and mercy doth abounde


s: Whiche whan hym lyst vs wretches may confounde


s: It nought auayleth vnto them to complayne


s: Of theyr blyndnes, nor enfourme them with vertue


s: Theyr cursed lyfe wyll by no mean refrayne


s: Their viciousnes, nor their erroure eschewe


s: Alas what profytis to suche to expresse.


s: The paynes of hell, wo dissolate and derke


s: No wo nor care can cause suche to beware


s: From their lewde lyfe corrupt and synfull warke


s: What profyteth sermons of any noble clarke


s: For to reherse to these myscheuous folys.


s: What helpeth the Prophetis scripture or doctryne


s: Their hertis ar harde, nat wyllynge to enclyne


s: To theyr preceptis nor rote them in theyr mynde


s: For if that they consydred heuen or hell


s: That within hell is neyther car nor payne


s: Hete nor colde, woo, nor other punysshement


s: Nor that for synners is ordeyned no turment


s: Thus these mad folys wandreth euery houre


s: Without amendement styll in theyr blynde erroure


s: Before thy fete thou mayst beholde and se


s: The olde lawes and newe layde ar before the


s: Expressynge christes tryumphe right excellent


s: But for all this set is nat thyne intent


s: Theyr holy doctryne to plant within thy brest


s: Wherof shold procede ioy and eternall rest


s: Trowest thou that thy selfe wyllyd ignoraunce


s: May clense or excuse thy blynde mysgouernaunce


s: Or lewde erroure, whiche scorne hast to inclyne


s: To theyr preceptis: and from thy synne declyne


s: Nay nay thy cursed ignoraunce sothly shall


s: Drowne thy soule in the depe flodes infernall


s: Nor holy doctryne, nor godly bokes dispyse


s: For god is aboue all our dedes to deuyse


s: Whiche shall rewarde them in a ferefull wyse


s: Whiche haue dyspysyd his doctryne and scripture


s: Out of your slomber folys I rede you ryse.


s: Who that it foloweth hath a speciall grace


s: But he that doth nat a wretche is and caytyfe


s: Whom I wolde gladly brynge to intellygence


s: To auoyde their blyndnes which sore doth incomber


s: Theyr mynde and herte for lackynge of science


s: Makynge no prouysyon for the tyme to come.


s: As often hapnyth, to suche a fole doth fall


s: Than sayth he I thought it wolde nat haue be so


s: It is nat ynough thou fole to say I shall


s: A wyse man seyth peryll longe before it come


s: That nought can se before he haue damage


s: Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore


s: Comys small pleasoure profyte or vauntage


s: But he that can suche folysshenes asswage


s: Begynnynge by counsayll, and fore prouydence


s: Whan Adam tastyd the appyll in Paradyse.


s: To hym prohybyte by dyuyne commaundement


s: If he had noted the ende of his interpryse


s: Thus he endured right bytter punysshement


s: That all his lynage rue sore for his offence.


s: Hymselfe dryuyn out from Paradyce all bare


s: To get theyr lyuynge with laboure payne and care


s: And also if Jonathas by errour and blyndnes


s: His ennemyes gyftis of frawde full and of treason


s: He myght haue sauyd hymselfe from ieoperdy


s: And all his people by prouydence and reason


s: Where as he blynde was as at that season


s: Where he was murdred and all his people slayne


s: The letter whiche to the counselhous was sent


s: For nat beyng wyse dyscrete and prouydent


s: The ende of his dedes he had nat be slayne


s: His hande and tunge cut of to his great payne


s: And than his hede, as the bybyll sheweth playne


s: Thus may all knowe that wyll therto entende


s: Wherto they come that caryth nat the ende


s: But he that begynneth by counsayll and wysdome


s: Notynge what is past and what is for to come


s: Suche folowys godly scripture and monycion


s: That wyse prouysyon, prose and good counsayle


s: And to mankynde great profyte and auayle.


s: Where as those folys haue often cause to wayle


s: For theyr mysfortune, in sorowe vexed sore


s: Styll in this lyfe therfore moste specially


s: For thy last ende thou oughtest to prouyde.


s: For that prouysion forsoth is most godly


s: And than next after thy mynde thou ought aply


s: To fle offence, and bewayle thyne olde synne


s: What may be the ende marke well or thou begynne


s: Whom Uenus caught hath in hyr net a snare


s: Whose blynde hertes this forour doth confounde


s: Theyr lyfe consumynge in sorowe shame and care


s: Many one she blyndeth alas fewe can beware


s: Of hyr dartes hedyd with shame and vylany


s: But he that is wondyd can skant ynde remedy]


s: Thy flaterynge gylys and proude commaundement


s: Suche folys endure moche sorowe and turment


s: Wastynge theyr goodes dishonestynge their name


s: As past fere of god and sekynge after shame


s: Howe great vengeaunce, and howe bytter punysshement


s: Hath god oft takyn for this synne and offence


s: Hath Uenus lost, destroyed, and alto brent


s: What lordes and howe many a great estate


s: Hath loue lost, murdred, or els brought in debate


s: Theyr cyte brent, decayde is theyr kyngdome


s: Theyr kynge pryant by pyrrus dede and slayne


s: And all this by Parys vnhappy loue is come


s: Whiche voyde of grace and blynde without wysdome


s: To fyll his lust, from Grece rubbyd Helayne,


s: But this one pleasour was grounde of moche payne


s: To Rome retournyd with tryumphe lawde and fame


s: And there (whiche after was to his great shame)


s: With cleopatra in loue was take so in blyndnes


s: So this blynde louer to fyll his interpryse


s: Caused his men two hondred shyppes ordayne


s: And toke the see wenynge in suche fourme and wyse


s: His lewde desyre: to perfourme and obteyne


s: But shortly after was he ouercome and slayne


s: Of Cesar: and whan he this purpose vnderstode


s: He bathed his Corse within his lemmans blode


s: For two serpentis that venemus were and fell


s: Were set to the brestis of fayre Cleopatray


s: So this cruell purpose had punysshement cruell


s: For theyr intendynge theyr countrey to betray


s: And worthy they were, what man can it denay


s: That of false loue cometh great inconuenyence


s: For he that loueth is voyde of all reason


s: Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure


s: In thought and fere sore vexed eche season


s: And greuous dolours in loue he must endure


s: From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde


s: But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde


s: Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde


s: He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte


s: His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned


s: To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe


s: The Net is stronge, the fole caught can nat starte


s: The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne


s: Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne


s: Rede howe Phedra hir loue fixed so feruent


s: As if he wolde hir tane by force to vylany


s: Ipolitus was murdred for this accusement


s: But Phedra for wo hanged hyrself incontynent


s: As poetis sayth) brought hir to hir confusyon


s: That euery nyght hir selfe she wolde disgyse


s: What shall I wryte the greuous forfayture


s: Of Sodom and Gomor syns the Bybyll doth tell


s: For whiche they sanke alyue downe into hell.


s: Thus it aperith what punysshement cruell.


s: Our lorde hath taken both in the olde lawe and newe


s: For this synne: whiche sholde vs moue it to eschewe


s: Note these examples, drawe from this vyce your mynde


s: Remember that there is none so great estate


s: But that false loue hym causeth to be blynde


s: Our folysshe wymen may nat be left behynde


s: That they sell theyr soules and bodyes to go gay


s: The graceles galantes, and the aprentyce pore


s: Though they nought haue, themselfe they set nought by


s: Without they be acquaynted with some hore


s: Of westmynster or some other place of rybawdry


s: Than fall they to murder theft and robery.


s: For were nat proude clothynge, and also flesshely lust


s: All the feters and gyues of Englonde shulde rust.


s: Therfore folys awake, and be no longer blynde


s: Consyder that shame, seknes, and pouertye


s: Of loue procedeth: and drawe from it your mynde


s: Suffre not your soules damned and lost to be


s: For thoughe the small pleasure do make the fayne


s: A bande of Folys a borde is come yet more


s: Theyr cursed maners and mad I shall nowe note


s: Whose herte for synne is neyther contryte ne sore


s: Nat mornynge (as they ought to do) therfore


s: Without fere styll lyuynge in theyr vyciousnes


s: They thynke no thynge on goddes rightwysnes


s: But grounde them all, on his mercy and pyte


s: Unto all people, than them punysshed to se


s: Of the worlde hathe nat aye worthy punysshement


s: Nor he nat damnyd that doth his synne repent


s: Put case he gyuyth nat aye lyke iugement


s: On mannys mysdede, nor yet mundayne offence


s: Nor shortly punyssheth our inconuenyence


s: To all mundayne fawtes synne and fragylyte


s: Yet none sholde synne in hope of his mercy


s: Sayth eche to other that oft it is laufull


s: To perseuerant synners lyuynge in iniquyte


s: Labourynge our synne and foly to refrayne


s: Syns synne is a thynge naturall and humayne


s: Than sayth another forsoth thou sayst playne


s: And also our fore Faders and progenitours


s: Before our dayes offendyd haue certayne.


s: But syns they haue escapyd all paynes and dolours


s: What nede haue we to fere infernall payne.


s: Than comys in an other with his dotysshe brayne


s: By god sayth he I knowe it without fable


s: That heuyn was made neyther for gose nor crane


s: Than of the Scripture doth he Chat and bable


s: Alleggynge our forefaders whiche haue mysdone


s: Saynge that no synne is newe in our season


s: Remember the synne of our forefaders done


s: And that somtyme, full sharpe and bytterly


s: The synne of Sodom foule and nat natural


s: The Pryde of rome, whiche was so excellent


s: The offence of Dauyd Prophete and kynge royal


s: Haue nat escaped the rightwyse punysshment


s: Of God aboue, the celestial and highe Justice


s: Which fyrst, or last punyssheth euery vyce.


s: In Englonde raynynge vnrightwisely a whyle.


s: With innocent blode his handes dyd defyle


s: But howbeit that fortune on hym dyd smyle


s: Two yere or thre: yet god sende hym punysshment


s: By his true seruant the rede Rose redolent.


s: Grauntynge them space and tyme of amendement


s: But those synners that byde in one degre


s: And in this lyfe their synne wyll nat refrayne


s: God after punyssheth with infernall payne


s: Though god be of infynyte pety and mercy


s: His fauour and grace passynge all synne mundayne


s: Wherfore I aduyse the to note intentifly


s: Though pyte wolde spare, iustyce wyll nat so


s: But the here rewarde, els with infernal we.


s: Syghe synners, syghe, for your mysgouernance.


s: Lament, mourne, and sorowe for your enormyte.


s: Away with these Clowdes of mysty ignorance


s: With dyuers dyseases both vncouthe and cruel


s: And all for your synne, but suche as escapeth fre


s: And styl lyue in syn, may fere the peynes of helle


s: And great losse procedynge of your owne foly


s: Whiche without gode and discrete purueaunce


s: All suche ar folys what man wyll it deny


s: For he that wyll bylde before he count his cost


s: Shall seldome well ende, so that is made is lost.]


s: Of byldynge or of other thynge chargeable


s: Nor tyme nat countyth to his worke agreable


s: Suche is a fole and well worthy a babyll


s: For he that is wyse wyll no thynge assay


s: Without he knowe howe he well ende it may.


s: The wyse man counteth his cost before alway


s: Or he begyn, and nought wyll take in honde


s: His costes confourmynge to the stynt of his londe


s: Where as the fole that nought doth vnderstonde


s: But or halfe be done his money clene is spent.


s: To bylde great houses and pleasaunt mansyons


s: Them thynkynge to finysshe after theyr intent


s: Their purpose nat worth a cowpyll of onyons


s: But whan they se that they it ende nat can


s: They curse the tyme that euer they it began


s: What shall I wryte or the story to the tell


s: Syth that the Bybyll to the expresse it can


s: In the fourth chapter of the prophete Danyell


s: Whiche he toke it in the byldynge of Babylon


s: His golde and treasoure he spendyd hole theron


s: The towre of Babylon began for this intent


s: To saue hym, if the worlde agayne were drent


s: But the hye god consyderynge his blynde rage


s: His towre vnperfyte to his losse and domage


s: His people punysshed, hymselfe specyally


s: On theyr hede falleth that byldeth in foly


s: Any great worke without ryches in excesse


s: For great byldynges requyreth great rychesse


s: That hereon nought they set their mynde ne thought


s: Wherfore to them oft commyth great distresse


s: And to great pouerty often ar they brought


s: Laughed to scorne, their purpose cometh to nought


s: And truely I fynde in bokes wryten playne


s: That our olde faders haue neuer set theyr brayne


s: On great byldynge, ne yet of them ben fayne:


s: It longeth to a lorde a Prynce or a Kynge


s: That lacke no treasoure theyr werkes to mayntayne


s: To set theyr myndes on excellent buyldynge


s: Therfore who so euer wyll meddle with this thynge


s: That his myght and ryches therto may suffyse.


s: Lyst all men do mocke and scorne his interpryse


s: And haue nat wherby his byldynge may up ryse


s: And better it is sothly in myn intencion


s: Nought to begyn, and spare laboure and payne


s: He shall haue mockis mengled with his damage


s: Therfore let suche folys sharpe theyr brayne


s: And better intende to theyr owne auauntage


s: Consyderynge that processe of tyme and age


s: Theyr curyous byldynges shall at the lest confounde


s: And Roufe and wallys make egall with the grounde.


s: Whiche on great byldynge set so sore your mynde


s: Remember ye nat that doutles ye shall dye


s: And your gay byldynges and howses leue behynde


s: Thynke ye your conforte alway in them to fynde


s: Or whan ye dye, them hens with you to haue


s: Nay nay the laste hous gyuen to mankynde


s: Is the course grounde and walles of his graue.


s: Shall hardly escape the weyght of pouertye.


s: Whiche drynketh and deuoureth both day and nyght


s: His soule, his godes and his wretchyd body.]


s: Within our nauy he nedes shall haue a place.


s: Whiche without mesure on lothsome glotony


s: Setteth his pleasure and singuler solace


s: His stomacke ouerchargynge, vyle and vngodely


s: And to none other thynge his mynde doth he aply


s: Saue depest to drynke, suche force nat of theyr soules


s: But labore in rynsynge pecis cuppis and bowles


s: The madnes of dronkennes is so immoderate


s: That greuous sores it ingendreth and sykenes


s: In thynges no difference putteth dronkennes.


s: It febleth the ioyntis and the body within


s: Wastynge the brayne makynge the wyt full thyn


s: The mynde it demynyssheth, coloure and beaute.


s: Causeth them lyue without lawe or measure


s: The people that are acloyed with this synne.


s: On no thynge els theyr myndes wyll aply:


s: Saue to the wyne and ale stakes to renne


s: And there as bestes to stryue and drynke auy


s: Or els to brawle and fight at euery worde


s: Thus dronkennes is the chefe cause of discorde


s: But namely dronkennes and wretchyd glotony


s: And with his furour the worlde so doth it blynde


s: That many it bryngeth to a shamfull ende


s: This vyce (alas) good maners doth confounde


s: It ofte in pryson bryngeth and in bondage


s: It causeth man to his great sorowe and domage


s: Disclose his secrete and his preuey counsayle


s: Whiche causeth hym after sore to mourne and wayle


s: Nought is more lothsome, more vycyous nor vyle


s: His lyfe shortynge his body he doth defyle


s: Howe many Cytees and lordes of great pryce


s: And by his felawe, false loue, or lechery.


s: Nor slayne by Cyrus for all his worthynes.


s: And the vyce auoydyd of blynde dronkennes


s: The great Alexander taken with this madnes


s: With his swerde, whan he was dronken slewe


s: Suche of his frendes as were to hym most trewe


s: With one of his knyghtes which wan ynally


s: Of hym great golde treasoure and rychesse


s: And lade with wyne, this conquerour vp brayde


s: And to his knyght in wrath these wordes sayde


s: I haue subdued by strength and by wysdome


s: All the hole worlde, whiche obeyeth to me


s: And howe hast thou alone me thus ouercome


s: And anone commaundyd his knyght hanged to be


s: Than sayde the knyght by right and equyte


s: Thou shalt be hanged thou spekest treason playne


s: The knyght sayd sauynge your honour certaynly


s: I am no traytoure, apele I woll certayne


s: From dronken Alexander tyll he be sober agayne


s: His lorde than herynge his desyre sounde to reason


s: Differryd the iustyce as for that tyme and season


s: And than after whan this furour was gone


s: His knyght he pardoned repentynge his blyndenes.


s: And well consydered that he shulde haue mysdone


s: If he to deth had hym done in that madnesse


s: Comynge of dronkennes as I wrytyn fynde.


s: Some ar so starynge mad that none can them holde


s: Rorynge and cryeng as men out of their mynde


s: Some fyghtynge some chydynge, some to other kynde


s: Nought lyuynge to them selfe: and some dotynge Johnn


s: Beynge dronke thynketh hym as wyse as Salomon


s: Some sowe dronke, swaloynge mete without mesure


s: Some mawdelayne dronke, mournynge lowdly and hye


s: Without they gyue them to bawdy rybawdry


s: Some swereth armys nayles herte and body.


s: Terynge our lord worse, than the Jowes hym arayed


s: Some nought can speke, but harkenyth what is sayd.


s: Some spende all that they haue and more at wast


s: With reuell and reuell dasshe fyll the cup Joohnn


s: Some their thryft lesyth with dyce at one cast


s: Some slepe as slogardes tyll their thryft be gone


s: Some shewe theyr owne counsell for kepe can they none


s: Some are Ape dronke full of lawghter and of toyes


s: Some mery dronke syngynge with wynches and boyes


s: Some spue, some stacker some vtterly ar lame


s: Lyeng on the grounde without power to ryse


s: Some bost them of bawdry ferynge of no shame


s: Some dumme, and some speketh. ix. wordes at thryse


s: Some charge theyr bely with wyne in suche wyse


s: That theyr legges skant can bere vp the body


s: Alas mad folys howe longe wyll ye procede


s: In this beestly lyuynge agayst humayne nature


s: Cease of your Foly: gyue aduertence and hede


s: That in eche thynge ought to be had measure


s: But sharpeth the wyt if it be take in kynde


s: It dulleth the brayne, blyndynge the wyt and mynde


s: Rede all bokes and thou shalt neuer fynde


s: That dronkennes and wysdome may togyther be


s: For where is dronkennes, there madnes is by kynde


s: And where as is madnes thou shalt neuer se


s: In one instant, wherfore lerne this of me


s: That dronkennes is mortell enmy to cunnynge.


s: With it denyeng their neyghboures to conforte


s: Whiche for nede lyueth in payne and wretchydnes


s: Suche one by fortune may fall into distres


s: And begge of other, whiche shall to hym deny.]


s: And so great laboure to take in care and payne


s: Syth he that is ryche hath gretter reuerence


s: Than he that hath sadnes wysdom and scyence


s: The ryche mannes rewardes stande in best degre


s: But godly maners we haue set clene asyde


s: Fals couetyse his braunches spreddeth wyde


s: Ouer all the worlde, that pety can nat byde


s: Thus lyeth the pore in wo and wretchydnes


s: Whiche hath ryches in great store and plente.


s: Suche shall be made a sergeant or Justyce


s: He shall be callyd to counseyll in the lawe


s: Though that his brayne be skarsly worth a strawe


s: His dedys praysyd as grettest of valoure


s: Men laboure and seke to fall in his fauoure


s: He shall haue loue, echone to hym shall sue


s: For his ryches, but nought for his vertue


s: A strawe for cunnynge wysdome and holynes


s: Of ryches is the first and chefe questyon


s: What rentes what londes howe great possessyon


s: What stuffe of housholde what store of grotz and pens


s: And after his gode his wordes hath credence.


s: His wordes ar trouth men gyue to them credence


s: Thoughe they be falsly fayned and sotell


s: But to the pore none wyll gyue aduertence


s: Though that his wordes be true as the gospell


s: By god and his sayntes and all that god made


s: Yet nought they beleue that of hym is sayde


s: They say that the pore men doth god dispyse


s: Thouhe they nought swere but trouth and veryte


s: And that god punyssheth them in suche wyse


s: Kepynge them for their synnes in pouerte


s: And theyr ryche exaltyth by his power and grace


s: To suche ryches, worldly pleasour and solace


s: The ryche ar rewarded with gyftis of dyuerse sorte


s: With Capons and Conyes delycious of sent


s: But the pore caytyf abydeth without confort


s: Though he moste nede haue: none doth hym present


s: The fat pygge is baast, the lene cony is brent


s: He that nought hathe, shall so alway byde pore


s: But he that ouer moche hath, yet shall haue more


s: The wolfe etis the shepe, the great fysshe the small


s: The hare with the houndes vexed ar and frayde


s: The ryche mannes pleasour can nat be denayde


s: Fere causeth hym sende vnto the ryches hous


s: His mete from his owne mouth, if it be delycious


s: And yet is this ryche caytyf nat content


s: Though he haue all yet wolde he haue more.


s: And though this gode can neuer of hym be spent


s: With nought he departyth to hym that is pore


s: Though he with nede harde vexed were and sore.


s: To laboure for that whiche neuer shall do profyte


s: Say couetous caytyfe what doth it the auayle


s: For to haue all and yet, nat to be content


s: Thou takest nat this sore laboure and trauayle


s: To thy pleasoure but to thy great turment


s: But loke therof what foloweth consequent


s: Whan thou art dede and past this wretchyd lyfe


s: Thou leuyst behynde brawlynge debate and stryfe


s: Whiche can it order right as it ought to be


s: Whiche therwith disdayneth to socoure pouerte.


s: Suche shall our lorde sore punysshe fynally


s: To whome god in this lyfe hath sent ryches


s: Haue ye compassion, on paynfull pouertye


s: And them conforte in theyr carefull wretchydnes


s: God hym loueth and shall rewarde doutles


s: Whiche to the nedy for hym is charitable


s: With heuenly ioy, whiche treasour is endeles


s: So shall thy riches to the be profytable.


s: The one he shall displease, or els bothe.]


s: To serue god, and also his wretchyd store


s: Of worldly ryches: for as I sayde before


s: Shall one displease and nat his loue deserue


s: For he that with one hownde wol take also


s: For the moste parte doth the both two forgo


s: And if he one haue: harde it is and skant


s: That draweth thre boltis atons in one bowe


s: At one marke shall shote to hye or to lowe


s: With one or none of them he strykis the marke:


s: And he that taketh vpon hym nyght or day


s: Or dyuerse offycis: suche wander in the darke


s: To hym that on dyuerse thynges hath his thought


s: With great thoughtes he troubleth sore his brayne


s: His mynde vnstable, his wyt alway wandrynge:


s: Nowe here nowe there his body labours in payne


s: Nowe workynge now musynge now renynge now rydynge


s: Now on see nowe on londe, than to se agayne


s: Somtyme to Fraunce, and nowe to Flaunders or Spayne


s: Thus is it paynfull and no thynge profytable


s: For nouther his wyt nor body can be stable


s: Whiche wyll his body to dyuers chargis bynde


s: Whyle one goth forwarde the other bydes behynde


s: Therfore I the counseyll for thyne owne behoue


s: Let go this worlde and serue thy lorde aboue


s: He that his mynde settyth god truly to serue


s: And his sayntes: this worlde settynge at nought


s: Shall for rewarde euerlastynge ioy deserue


s: But in this worlde, he that settyth his thought


s: All men to please, and in fauour to be brought


s: Must lout and lurke, flater, lawde, and lye:


s: And cloke a knauys counseyll, though it fals be


s: He must be sober and colde of his langage


s: More to a knaue, than to one of hye lynage


s: Oft must he stoupe his bonet in his honde


s: His maysters backe he must oft shrape and clawe


s: His breste anoyntynge, his mynde to vnderstonde


s: But be it gode or bad therafter must he drawe


s: Without he can Jest he is nat worth a strawe.


s: But in the meane tyme beware that he none checke


s: For than layth malyce a mylstone in his necke


s: He that in court wyll loue and fauour haue


s: A fole must hym fayne, if he were none afore


s: And to please his lorde he must styll laboure sore


s: His manyfolde charge maketh hym coueyt more


s: That he had leuer serue a man in myserye


s: His lorde to serue as I before haue sayde


s: For one small faute or neglygent offence


s: Suche a displeasoure agaynst hym may be layde


s: That out is he cast bare and vnpuruayde.


s: Whether he be gentyll, yeman grome or page


s: Thus worldly seruyce is no sure herytage


s: Wherfore I may proue by these examples playne


s: That it is better more godly and plesant


s: To leue this mondayne casualte and payne


s: Whiche whyle thou lyuest shall nat let the want


s: That thou desyrest iustly, for thy syruyce


s: And than after gyue the, the ioyes of Paradyse.


s: Worshyp nat thy ryches nor thy vayne treasoure


s: With fere, mekenes, fayth, glory, and honoure


s: Let thy treasoure onely in his seruyce be


s: And here be content with symple behauoure


s: Hauynge in this lorde trust and felycyte


s: Shall kepe his mynde from trowble, sadnes and payne


s: And fynde therby great ease and auauntage


s: Where as a hasty speker falleth in great domage


s: Peryll and losse, in lyke wyse as the pye


s: Betrays hir byrdes by hir chatrynge and crye.]


s: Ye blaberynge folys superflue of langage


s: By right and lawe ye may chalange a stage


s: To you of Barklay it shall nat be denayde


s: Howe be it the charge Pynson hathe on me layde


s: Yet ye of dewty shall haue a sympyll barge


s: Of this sorte thousandes ar withouten fayle


s: That haue delyte in wordes voyde and vayne


s: On men nat fawty somtyme vsynge to rayle


s: On folysshe wordes settynge theyr herte and brayne


s: They often touche to theyr owne shame and payne


s: Suche thynges to whiche none wyll theyr mynde aply


s: (Saue suche folys) to theyr shame and enuy


s: To haue enuy, and that echone sholde the hate


s: Whan by thy wordes soundynge to great foly


s: Some renneth fast thynkynge to come to late


s: To gyue his counsell whan he seeth men in doute


s: And lyghtly his folysshe bolt shall be shot out


s: Is it nat better for one his tunge to kepe


s: Where as he myght (perchaunce) with honestee


s: Than wordes to speke whiche make hym after wepe


s: For great losse folowynge wo and aduersyte


s: Therfore thy fynger lay before thy lypes


s: For a wyse mannys tunge, without aduysement trypes


s: He that wyll answere of his owne folysshe brayne


s: Shewith hym selfe and his hasty foly playne


s: Wherby men knowe his wordes of none auayle


s: Some haue delyted in mad blaborynge and frayle


s: Whiche after haue suffred bytter punysshement


s: For their wordes, spoken without aduysement


s: But great mysfortune, wo and vnhappynesse


s: But for all theyr chattynge and plenty of langage


s: Whan to the preste they come them to confesse


s: To shewe theyr lewde lyfe theyr synne and wretchydnes


s: Whan they sholde speke, and to this poynt ar come


s: Theyr tunges ar loste and there they syt as domme


s: Many haue ben whiche sholde haue be counted wyse


s: Sad and discrete, and right well sene in scyence


s: But all they haue defyled with this one vyse


s: Of moche spekynge: o cursyd synne and offence


s: So great shame, contempt rebuke and vylany


s: Sholde by one small member came to the hole body


s: Let suche take example by the chatrynge pye.


s: Whiche doth hyr nest and byrdes also betraye


s: By hyr grete chatterynge, clamoure dyn and crye


s: Ryght so these folys theyr owne foly bewraye.


s: But touchynge wymen of them I wyll nought say


s: They can nat speke, but ar as coy and styll


s: As the horle wynde or clapper or a mylle


s: That lytell speketh or els kepeth sylence


s: Ar euer of them selfe moste stedfast and sure


s: Where as to suche comys moche inconuenyence


s: Whiche wyll no tyme, his speche nor tunge refrayne


s: Fayre speche is pleasaunt if it be moderate


s: And spoken in season, conuenyente and dewe


s: Langage is lawdable whan it is god and true


s: A wyse man or he speke wyll be wyse and ware


s: What (to whome) why (howe) whan and whare


s: Ye bablynge brybours, endeuer you to amende


s: Mytygat by mesure, your prowde hasty langage


s: Kepe well your tunges so, shall ye kepe your frende


s: For hasty speche ingendreth great damage


s: Whan a worde is nat sayd, the byrde is in the cage


s: Also the hous is surest whan the dorys be barryde


s: So whan thy worde is spokyn and out at large


s: Thou arte nat mayster, but he that hath it harde


s: If thou take hede and set therto thy brayne


s: In this world thou shalt fynde thynges thre


s: Whiche ones past, can nat be callyd agayne.


s: The firste is (tyme lost) by mannes symplycyte


s: The thyrde (a worde spoken) it gooth out in the wynde


s: And yet is the fourth, that is (virginyte)


s: My forgetfull mynde, had lefte it nere behynde


s: Whiche to a towne or Cyte knoweth the way


s: And shewyth other howe they may thether go


s: Hym selfe wandrynge aboute from day to day


s: In myre and fen, though his iourney thether lay


s: So he is mad whiche to other doth preche and tell


s: The wave to heuyn, and hym selfe goth to hell.]


s: Whiche lyghtly noteth another mannes faute.


s: Chastynge that synne, whiche theyr owne mynde doth rust


s: By longe abydynge, and increas of carnall lust


s: They cloke their owne vyce synne and enormyte


s: Other blamynge and chastynge with moche cruelte


s: They mocke and mowe at anothers small offence


s: But of theyr owne foly and inconuenyence


s: They se no thynge, for fully ar they blynde


s: Nat notynge the vyce rotyd in theyr owne mynde


s: Theyr greuous woundes and secrete malady


s: The hande whiche men vnto a Crosse do nayle


s: Shewyth the waye ofte to a man wandrynge


s: Whiche by the same his right way can nat fayle


s: But yet the hande is there styll abydynge


s: So do these folys lewde of theyr owne lyuynge


s: To other men shewe mean and way to wynne


s: Whiche in a nothers iye can spye a lytell mote


s: Whiche noteth anothers small faute or offence


s: To his owne great synnes gyuynge none aduertence


s: Many them selfe fayne as chaste as was saynt Johnn


s: And many other fayne them meke and innocent


s: But yet is theyr lyfe full lewde and vycious


s: Some lokyth with an aungels countenaunce


s: Thus hydynge theyr synne and theyr mysgouernaunce.


s: Let suche folys rede what Cicero doth wryte


s: Whiche sayth that none sholde blame any creature


s: For his faut, without his owne lyuynge be sure


s: Without all spot of synne faut or offence


s: Relefe nor hele so doth he that doth blame


s: Anothers synne: he styll lyuynge in the same


s: Many ar whiche other can counseyll craftely


s: And shewe the peryll that may come by theyr synne


s: But them selfe they counseyll nat: ne remedy.


s: Nor take no waye whereby they heuyn may wynne


s: But lye in that vyce that they rotyd ar in


s: Leuynge the way that gydyth to ioy and rest


s: Their owne sensualyte ensuynge as a beest


s: Wherfore ye prestis that haue the charge and cure.


s: Lyue so that none may cause haue you to blame


s: And if ye do nat: it is to your great shame


s: Wherin he well knowyth hym owne selfe gylty


s: Agaynst hymselfe suche one gyueth sentence


s: Howe god ryght iuge, by rightwyse iugement


s: Shulde hym rewarde with worthy punysshement


s: Ye clerkes that on your shulders here the shelde


s: Howe dare ye auenture to fyght in cristes felde


s: Agaynst synne, without ye clere and gyltles be


s: Consyder the Cocke and in hym shall ye se:


s: A great example, for with his wynges thryse


s: He betyth hym selfe to wake his owne bodye


s: Before he crowe, to cause other wake or ryse.


s: Usynge it as his owne, as thynge gottyn iustly


s: And thynketh that he so may do by lawe and right


s: Suche is disceyuyd, and thynketh wrongfully


s: Doth hym so counseyll and in his erys blowe


s: Disceyuynge in his bondes, as he doth many mo]


s: The feruour of ryches and disordred loue


s: Whiche many haue, doth me bynde and constrayne.


s: That pen nor hande, themselfe wyll not refrayne


s: Of couetyse nowe I wyll nat speke agayne


s: But of them that kepeth by force and by myght


s: That thynge wherto they haue nat come, by ryght


s: Some fyndeth treasours other mennys good


s: And in theyr owne vse suche good they occupy.


s: Whiche of theyr myndes ar so blynde and wode.


s: That oft they say (say) ye and dare byde by


s: That some saynt whome they worshypped haue


s: Haue sende, them the same theyr honestee to saue


s: They haue no force nor care, nor they none haue wyll


s: To whome the ryches so loste dyde apertayne


s: That fortune hath gyuen they holde fast and kepe styll


s: Neuer hauynge mynde it to restore agayne


s: Suche folys fere no thynge euerlastynge payne


s: Nor note nat, that without true restytucion


s: It small auayleth to haue made confessyon.


s: Callynge it thyne: thou lyest therin falsly


s: If thou haue wyt thou canst nat well deny


s: But that gode nat gyuen, nor gottyn by laboure


s: Can nat be rightwyse: thus mende thy blynde erroure


s: If thou ought fynde that longeth nat to the


s: Than is it anothers, the case is clere and playne


s: But if he be dede, to whome it dyd attayne


s: Thou ought nat yet to kepe it nere the more.


s: But to his sectours or heyres it restore


s: Put case that they also be past and dede


s: Yet ought thou nat to keep it styll with the.


s: The lawe commaundyth, and also it is mede.


s: With it releuynge theyr paynfull pouertee


s: And so shalt thou discharge thy conseyence.


s: Helpynge the pore, and auoyde great offence


s: But he that others godes tourneth to his owne vse


s: Spendynge and wastynge that thynge that neuer was his


s: Wherby he lesyth eternall ioy and blysse


s: His soule drownynge depe within hell flodes


s: For his myspendynge of other mennys goodes


s: But to be shorte, and brefe in my sentence


s: And sothe to saye playne as the mater is


s: Bytwene a thefe, and these folys couetys


s: Both wrongly kepeth that thynge that is nat his


s: Thynkynge that god doth nat therto aduerte


s: Whiche notyth thy dedys, thy mynde thought and herte


s: Wherfore if thou haue a rightwyse conscyence


s: Thou wylt nought kepe whiche longeth nat to the


s: The lawe so commaundeth in payne of great offence


s: For of gode that thou kepest agaynst equyte


s: Thou shalt make accompt after that thou shalt dye


s: To thy great payne in hell for euer more


s: Here myght I touche executours in this cryme.


s: Blamynge theyr dedys dysceyte and couetyse


s: For mende they wyll nat them in any wyse


s: Nor leue no poyntes of theyr disceytfull gyse


s: Let them take parte of that whiche I here note


s: And be partynge foles in this present bote.


s: Ye false executours whome all the worlde repreuys


s: And ye that fynde mennes goodes or treasoures


s: For ye by your falshode and manyfolde errours


s: Kepe falsly that thynge whiche is none of yours


s: And wast here the goodes of hym that is past


s: The soule lyeth in payne, ye take your pleasours.


s: With his ryches, damnynge your owne soule at the last


s: And in this worlde haue honour and rychesse


s: Or a worthy crowne in heuyns blessydnesse


s: Or els bothe welthe here, and after ioy and blysse


s: Where as a fole of bothe the two shall mysse]


s: Callyth to all people, and sayth o thou mankynde


s: Howe longe wylt thou lyue in this enormyte


s: Alas howe longe shalt thou thy wyt haue blynde


s: Here my preceptis and rote them in thy mynde


s: Nowe is full tyme and season to clere thy syght:


s: Harkyn to my wordes, grounde of goodnes and ryght


s: Lerne mortall men, stodyenge day and nyght


s: To knowe me wysdome, chefe rote of chastyte


s: My holy doctryne thy herte shall clere and lyght


s: My tunge shall shewe the ryght and equyte


s: And seke me wysdome whiche shall endewe thy mynde


s: With helth and welth wherby thou lyfe shalt fynde


s: And seke me wysdome that am well of goodnes


s: Let nat this worlde thy conscyence farther blynde


s: Nor to synne subdue for loue of false rychesse


s: Blynde nat thy herte with mondayne wretchednes


s: I am worth golde and worth all good mundayne:


s: I passe all ryches and cause a man refrayne


s: His mynde from synne, and of his ende be sure


s: There is no treasoure nor precious stone so pure


s: Carbuncle Ruby ne adamond in londe nor see


s: And shortly to speke wysdome is more laudable


s: Than all the worlde or other thynge mundayne


s: There is no treasoure: to wysdome comparable


s: But it alone is a vertue moste souerayne


s: Hauynge nought lyke in valoure nor worth certayne


s: But that a wyse man pore is more worthy than he


s: Prynces promotynge by counseyll prouydent


s: By it pore men somtyme, and of lowe degre


s: Hath had the hole worlde to them obedyent


s: It gydeth Cytees and countrees excellent


s: And gouerneth the counseyll of prynce lorde and kynge


s: Strengthynge the body the herte enlumynynge


s: It gydyth lordes and from bondage doth brynge


s: Them whome foly hath brought in to captyuyte


s: Gydynge hir discyples from all aduersyte


s: Cryeth to mankynde with lowde voyce in this wyse


s: I trouth exalte: and vycious men dispyse


s: Lerne of me wysdome cast out your couetyse


s: For by my myght craft and wyse prouysicion


s: Them and theyr royalmes whyle they gyde them by me


s: All maner nacyons that doth to me inclyne


s: What blynde foly, and howe great aduersyte


s: Do they auoyde that gyde them selfe by me


s: And he that me louyth with worshyp and honour


s: Shall knowe my loue my grace and my fauour


s: He that me folowyth shall auoyde all dolour


s: I shall hym folowe promotynge in suche case


s: The father of heuen of infynyte goodnesse.


s: And euery creature bothe on londe and se


s: The heuen imperyall all planetis and firmameut


s: God neuer thynge made without my true assent


s: Therfore mankynde set thy mynde and intent


s: To me wysdome to be subiect and seruaunt


s: And heuenly ioy thou shalt nat lacke nor want


s: That wyll nat gladly be seruauntes vnto me


s: Here hir perceptis and plant them in your mynde


s: And rote out the gaffys of your olde offence.


s: Howe sodayne fallys, what sorowe and turment


s: Hath come to many a myghty lorde and prynce


s: On frayle fortune vncertayne and mutable


s: His mynde exaltynge in pryde and insolence


s: Suche folys oft whan they thynke them most sure


s: Amonge our folys he ought to haue a place


s: Whiche thynketh hymselfe greatly in fortunes grace


s: In this vayne hope suche theyr lyfe doth lede


s: Tyll at the laste theyr hous borne oure theyr hede


s: He shakyth boost and oft doth hym auaunte


s: Whiche suffreth hym nought of his wyll to wante


s: Nor mysfortune nor what thynge is pouertee.


s: Say what suretye in fortune canst thou fynde


s: Shall fortune frayle vnrightwyse and vnsure


s: Howe darest thou the in hir blyndnes assure.


s: Syns she vnstable is and can nat longe endure


s: Hir gyftis changith, she is blynde and sodayne


s: Thoughe she firste lawghe hir ende is vncertayne.


s: Thou shakest boste ofte of hir foly in vayne


s: For he is most happy whiche can auoyde hir snare


s: If she exalte some one vnto welth mundayne


s: She bryngeth another to payne sorowe and care


s: Whyle one is ladyd to the others backe is bare


s: Whyle she a begger maketh in good abounde


s: A lorde or state she throweth to the grounde


s: Thou bostest thy gode and to moche abundaunce


s: Thou bostest thy welth and thy prosperyte


s: Thy good auenturs, and plentyfull pleasaunce


s: And in thy welthe to this saynge intende


s: That fortune euer hath an incertayne ende


s: Fals fortune infect of countenaunce and of face


s: Hath many for a whyle taken to hir grace


s: Whiche after by hir whele vnstable and volage


s: Hath brought them to wo mysfortune and damage


s: She ruleth pore and riche without difference


s: Lewdnes exaltynge and damnynge innocence


s: Thus is that man voyde, of all intellygence


s: Whom fortune fedyth, with chaunche fortunable


s: And thynke that sure that euer is mutable


s: That fole is sonne, to the fende abhomynable


s: That foloweth ryches, and fortune that is blynde


s: His sauyour lefte, and clene out of mynde


s: Whan the foule fende, father of vnhappynes


s: Pore man purposyth by falshode to begyle


s: He sendeth hym welth worldly, and fals ryches


s: And causeth fortune, awhyle on hym to smyle


s: Whiche with hir blyndenes doth mankynde so defyle


s: That whyle they trust in hir fauour to sore.


s: They damme theyr soules in hell for euermore


s: By large examples thou eche day mayste se


s: The chaunge of fortune and the ende vncertayne


s: It is great foly and also thynge in vayne


s: From this lewdnes thy mynde therfore refrayne


s: Nor boste the nat of thy welth or estate


s: This day thou art ryche and despysest the pore


s: Yet so may it fall, that for thy lewde lyuynge


s: To morowe thou beggest thy brede from dore to dore


s: Therfore remembre that blynde fortune wandrynge


s: Hath nat in hyr handes power, nor gydynge


s: But god them gydeth by his great maieste


s: And all thynge chaungeth as is to hym plesaunt


s: Wherfore blynde fole be nat so ignoraunt


s: But thoughe she smyle trust nat to hir intent


s: For amonge swete herbes ofte lurkyth the serpent


s: Ye folys that haue in fortune confydence:


s: And boste you of welth and of prosperyte


s: Leue of your foly, and note by euydence:


s: But somtyme hye, than after pore and lowe.


s: Nowe full nowe voyde as waters ebbe and flowe


s: Thus is it foly to trust in fortunes grace


s: For whyle the Se floweth and is at Burdews hye


s: Whiche medlyth with euery mannys besynes


s: And nat intendeth to their owne losse and charge


s: Great payne and wo suche folys oft oppresse


s: To suffer sorowe for why they shall none lacke


s: Syns they alone, the hole worlde take on theyr backe]


s: He that wyll coueyt to bere more than he may


s: And take on his sholders more than he can sustayne


s: Suche is a fole, his dedys wyll not deny


s: And with his owne wyll gooth to peryll and payne.


s: To offer his necke to bere that without fere


s: Whiche were ynoughe for dyuers men to bere


s: That man that taketh vpon his backe alone


s: Or any burdeyne whiche maketh hym to grone


s: Whiche to sustayne his strength is ympotent


s: And than whan he lowe on the grounde doth lye


s: Shewynge the lewde ende of this curyosyte.


s: I rede of Alexander that dyd often sweate


s: At the last ende, cowde nat his mynde content


s: But at the last he must holde hym content


s: With a small cheste, and graue nat of great pryce.


s: Thus deth vs shewyth what thynge sholde vs suffyce


s: For dethe is lyke to hye and lowde degre


s: What shall a kynge at his last endynge haue


s: Of all his realme and infynyte treasoure


s: Saue onely his towmbe, and the grounde of his graue


s: But thoughe it be of great pryce and voloure


s: Yet lytell conforte to his soule shall it gyue


s: But cause of bostynge to them that after lyue


s: Thus whan man vnto his last ende is come


s: He nought with hym bereth of his dignytees


s: Lorde grettest of Grece in londes and Cytees


s: Hathe lefte great example vnto all degrees


s: For his great ryches his herte dyd neuer blynde


s: But worldly pompe set clene out of his mynde


s: He forced of no castels nor excellent byldynge


s: But gaue his mynde to vertue and cunnynge


s: Consyderynge that great rest of mynde and of body


s: With hym abydeth whiche with bolde herte is fayne


s: To folowe vertue, and leue charges mundayne


s: That his small strength must it agayne forsake.


s: Where he that attempteth grettest thynges, and hye:


s: Great weyght of charges and moche dignite


s: Must lerne to suffer payne thought and vexacion


s: In one mannys power, and all other to excell


s: To suffer trouble, and vayne charges sustayne


s: And at the last his pore soule gooth to hell


s: There toren and tourmented in paynes cruell


s: It were moche better to kepe a quyet mynde


s: And after our deth eternall rest to fynde


s: He that taketh thought for euery besynes:


s: And caryth for that whiche doth nat apertayne


s: Nor longe to his charge, he is full of blyndnes


s: And no houre shall rest, but styll in thought and payne


s: Care for thy owne charges, theron set thy brayne


s: For he a fole is that caryth or doth intende


s: For another mannys charge whiche he can nat amende


s: Nor on suche thynges do nat thy mynde aply


s: Whiche ar no thynge apertaynynge vnto the


s: If thou so do thou shalt fynde rest therby


s: Auoyde thou the charge of worldly mysery


s: For godes take no thought great care ne trauayle.


s: Whiche after deth shall do the none auayle


s: Fole clere thy iyen and of thy selfe beware


s: Care moste for thy owne besynes and charge


s: For other mennes take no great thought nor care


s: If thou thy conscience mayst therof discharge


s: A curyous man that of his tunge is large


s: Talkynge or carynge of other, his place is best


s: Hye in the fore top of our folysshe barge


s: For in that place is small quyet or rest


s: Of his frendes and neyghbours to begge and to borow


s: To the deuourynge wolfe is most lyke or semblable


s: Suche in our shyp shall nat want a babyll


s: For he that styll borowes shall skant hym quyte or redde


s: And as a wretche the asse shall hym ouer tredde]


s: That fole that hym selfe a dettour doth make


s: Right ponderous charges on hym doth take


s: Borowynge of one another therwith to pay


s: Thoughe he be glad to haue longe terme and day


s: It nought auayleth, for soone the tyme is spent


s: Where they two borewed they promys to pay thre


s: Thus doth oft borowynge many thousandes marre


s: Yet some get malyce for that gode that they len


s: And where they lent twenty gladly taketh ten.


s: I wyll nat say but that it is mede certayne


s: But he that lenyth to haue rewarde or mede


s: Or more than he lent, may of hell payne haue drede


s: And he that so boroweth gayne can haue none


s: Therby in this lyfe, but hell whan he is gone


s: Therfore in this satyre suche wyll I repreue


s: The vsurers: fals cristen men in theyr byleue


s: Theyr vnclene hertes, and mynde, vnhappely


s: They hepe theyr synne in quantyte horryble


s: Labowrynge that lewde burthen gretter to make


s: And that sore weght tedyose and terryble


s: With a great rope vpon theyr shulders take


s: The weyght vp taken all theyr hole ioyntes quake


s: Thus these caytyfs with this rope and burthyn heuy


s: Them selfe hange damnynge theyr soule eternally


s: A wretchyd man, alas make clere thy reason


s: Remember thoughe god the suffer thus longe tyme


s: He graunteth that space to amende the in season.


s: And nat dayly to encreas thy synne and cryme


s: Somtyme he punyssheth with infernall abhyme


s: Shortly for synne, somtyme thoughe one mysdo


s: He suffreth longe: but yet truste nat therto


s: The longer vnpunysshed, the sorer is the payne


s: And if thou wylt nat gyue to me credence


s: Of sodome and Gomor the Bybyll sheweth playne


s: Howe God rightwysely ponysshed theyr offence


s: And also Solym, towne of great excellence


s: Whiche sholde vs cause for to lyue rightwysely.


s: The rightwyse god also dyd sore chastyce


s: Tthe Nilicolyans and them vtterly destroy


s: For theyr contynuynge in theyr syn and vyce


s: And theyr lynage longe kepte from welth and ioy


s: In great trouble whiche dyd theyr hertis noy:


s: Howe be it that they were good and innocent


s: For theyr fathers faute they suffred punysshement


s: He that ought boroweth whiche he can nat pay


s: Of a wolfe rauysshynge foloweth the trayne


s: But though he all swolowe yet can he by no way


s: Wherfore if he than disceyue his credytour


s: He oft hym chastyth with iustyce and rygour


s: In this worlde to lyue grauntyth vs tyme and space


s: Nat styll to synne, but vnto this intent


s: To leue our vyce, and folowe the way of grace


s: And haue done no good to pay hym at our day


s: Thou fole mysmyndyd to large of sconscyence


s: Borowe thou no thynge, noble grote ne pens.


s: More than thou mayst agayne pay thy credytour


s: His right and dewty, with a glad wyll and fayne


s: That is true seruyce, with glory and honour


s: Than shalt thou surely escape infernall payne.


s: Or he that setteth nat his herte and mynde


s: Upon his wordes, theyr sentence or intent


s: And he that desyreth thynge nat conuenyent


s: Suche folys shall nat theyr peticion obtayne


s: For without the herte the tonge laboureth in vayne]


s: Here we repreue (reperue) ye and reuyle.


s: Whose herte and tunge theyr soules doth defyle


s: By theyr blynde prayers and yll peticions


s: Suche folowe no techynge nor gode monysyons


s: For often many of them with tunge doth pray


s: Theyr mynde, abstract nat knowynge what they say


s: That thynge of god, whiche thynge if god wolde graunt.


s: Sholde be at last vnto thyer destruccyon


s: Examples hereof thou canst nat lacke nor want


s: The great Medas somtyme kynge tryumphant.


s: With paynfull hunger, his lyfe breth dyd expyre


s: This kynge Mydas of whom I haue you tolde


s: That all that he touchyd tourne myght vnto golde


s: His prayer was harde, he obteynyd his intent


s: But nat to his welth, but mortall punysshement


s: For whan he brede or drynke tast or touche sholde


s: For at the laste he dyed in wo and payne


s: For no golde coude his sore hunger asswage


s: Nor his desyre coude he nat call agayne.


s: And where he wenyd great welth to get therby


s: For to haue plenty of welth ioy and ryches


s: And to be made ryche myghty and excellent.


s: On suche desyres they set theyr mynde and thought


s: Whiche thousandes vnto shamefull ende hath brought


s: What profyteth the money gotten in vyces


s: Of riche Crassus, or cresus, great ryches


s: Theyr blynde desyres chefe rote and cause of all


s: For strength and myght often to god doth pray


s: But yet they in glotony take suche custome


s: That they slea them selfe longe or theyr day be come


s: Say folysshe man whiche art of mynde vnstable


s: To pray for that thynge, whiche he can nat endure


s: As Itackes and laertes, sore haue complayned


s: For to longe age, euer full of payne and wo


s: Wherwith theyr bodyes sore haue ben constrayned


s: And with great sorowes and dyuers often payned:


s: Yet ar mo folys whiche ought repreued be


s: And they ar suche whiche styll on god doth call


s: For great rowmes, offyces and great dignyte


s: No thynge intendynge to theyr greuous fall


s: If he hap to fall, his fall can nat be soft


s: Wherby they lese the heuenly blyssydnes:


s: Theyr soule subduynge to infernall turment


s: Pray your Pater noster with deuoute herte and mynde


s: For therin is all that is nedefull to mankynde


s: Our sauyour criste whyle he was on this grounde


s: Amonge vs synners in this vale of mysery


s: Taught his disciples this prayer whiche doth sounde


s: Nere to this sentence, nor greatly doth nat vary


s: (Our father wiche art in heuen) eternally


s: Thy name be halowyd (graunt that to thy kyngdome)


s: In heuen and erth thy wyll be done alway


s: And of thy great grace and thy benygnyte


s: As we forgyue them that to vs detters be


s: And to auoyde temptacion thy grace vnto vs len


s: Whan thou hast clensyd thy mynde from syn before


s: And sayd this prayer to thy maker deuoutly


s: Yet mayst thou pray and desyre rightwysly


s: For helthe of soule within thy hole body


s: For stedfast fayth and yll name to eschewe.


s: And chastely to lyue (by his help) in vertue


s: Thus sholde thou pray thou wretche both day and nyght


s: With herte and mynde vnto thy creatoure:


s: And nought by foly to asshe agaynst right


s: To hurte or losse to thy frende or neyghboure


s: But if god to thy prayers alway sholde enclyne


s: Oft sholde come great sorowe to the and to all thyne


s: Man clere thy mynde or thou begyn to pray


s: Els though thy prayer be iust it is but vayne


s: And kepe togyther thy hurte and tonge alway


s: Or els doutles thou lesest all thy payne


s: From lewde peticions thy mynde thou ought refrayne


s: For though thou be wrothe god is nat in lyke wyse


s: And lesyth his tyme, of fruyte voyde and barayne


s: Resortynge to ryot whiche cunnynge doth dispyse


s: And that of doctryne (in maner) hath disdayne


s: Suche shall in age of his madnes complayne


s: And seynge that he lesyth his tyme thus in foly


s: Nowe in this Nauy many them selfe present


s: Of this our roylame and from beyond the see


s: Whiche in theyr stody or lewde and neglygent


s: Yet count they them selfe of great auctoryte


s: With theyr proude hodes on theyr neckes hangynge


s: They haue the lawde: but other haue the cunnynge


s: They thynke that they haue all scyence perfytely


s: Within theyr hertes bostynge them of the same


s: Though they therto theyr mynde dyd neuer aply


s: Without the thynge, they ioy them of the name


s: But suche mad folys to theyr great losse and shame


s: Whyle they sholde norysshe theyr myndes with science


s: They seke theyr pleasour, gyuen to neglygence


s: From strete to strete, from tauerne to tauerne


s: No thynge intendynge the profyte to dyscerne


s: Nor fruyte of cunnynge wherby they myght gouerne


s: Them selfe by reason, but suche thynges they ensue


s: Wherby they neyther get good maners nor vertne


s: But he that intendeth to come to the science


s: And godly wysdome of our elders: certayne.


s: He must sore stody, for without dilygence


s: None ought to cesse: though it firste be a payne.


s: In good perseueraunce getteth great ryches


s: Where no good cometh by sleuthfull ydelnes.


s: But moste I marueyll of other folys blynde


s: Whiche in dyuers scyencis ar fast laborynge


s: Both daye and nyght with all theyr herte and mynde


s: But of gramer knowe they lytyll or no thynge


s: Whiche is the grounde of all lyberall cunnynge


s: Whan all theyr gramer is skarsly worth a strawe


s: He thynketh to haue sene the poyntis of grammer all.


s: And yet of one errour he maketh two or thre


s: Thus many whiche say that they theyr grammer can


s: Ar als great folys as whan they firste began


s: One with his speche rounde tournynge lyke a whyle


s: Of logyke the knottis doth lows and vndo


s: In hande with his sylogysimes, and yet doth he fele


s: No thynge what it menyth, nor what longeth therto


s: Nowe sortes currit: Nowe is in hande plato


s: Another comyth in with bocardo and pheryson


s: And out goeth agayne a fole in conclusyon


s: There is nought else but Est and non est


s: Blaberynge and chydynge, as it were beawlys wyse


s: They argue nought els but to proue man a beest


s: Thus passe forth these folys the dayes of theyr lyfe


s: To other cunnynge doctryne, nor scyence.


s: The to knowe of Logyke the chrafte and connynge


s: The mynde: and sharpynge the wyt in many a thynge


s: But oft yet by it a thynge playne bryght and pure


s: Is made diffuse, vnknowen harde and obscure


s: It is ynoughe therof to knowe the grounde


s: And nat therin to wast all thy lyfe holly


s: Styll grutchynge lyke vnto the frogges sounde


s: Or lyke the chaterynge of the folysshe pye


s: Sophestry nor Logyke with their art talcatyfe


s: With suche folyes tender youth is defylyd


s: And all theyr dayes on them they set delyte


s: But godly doctryne is from theyr myndes exylyd


s: Whiche sholde the body and soule also profyte


s: They take no layser, pleasur nor respyte


s: To other scyences, pleasaunt and profytable


s: But without ende in one thynge chat and bable


s: One rennyth to almayne another vnto fraunce


s: More ignorant, blynder and gretter folys


s: Than they were whan they firste went to the scolys


s: One bostynge the name of a lawer or deuyne


s: His proude hode hye vpon his stately necke:


s: Thus muste a gode clerke vnto a foule enclyne


s: Lowt with the body and with obedyence becke


s: And thoughe it tourne to theyr rebuke and checke


s: Yet nowe a dayes ouer many suche there be.


s: Whiche in stede of cunnynge vseth audacyte


s: The hode must answere for the follysshe student


s: Theyr tyme hath ben lost frutles and barayne.


s: Theyr frendes godes on suche folyes ar spent


s: To their damage thought hunger and payne:


s: Thus to conclude: me thynke it is but vayne


s: The frendes to labour the dayes of theyr lyue


s: To spare for suche scolers whiche shall neuer thryue


s: The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte


s: Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour


s: Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre


s: More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure


s: The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure


s: Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue


s: Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure.


s: I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue


s: Howe be it I knowe my wordes shall suche greue


s: As them selfe knoweth fawty and culpable


s: But if they be wroth: take they me by the sleue


s: For they shall bere the hode and I wyll the bable:


s: But firste ye studentis that ar of mynde vnstable


s: Ye wasters and getters by nyght in felde or towne


s: Within my Nauy wolde I set you to a cable


s: If I not fered lyst ye your selfe wolde drowne


s: Also I fere lyst my shyp sholde synke for syn


s: My shyp is nat dressyd for them conuenyent


s: And to I fere lyst theyr cruell rygours:


s: Sholde rayse to my shyp some tempest or tourment


s: Fy studentis clens your myndes of this cryme


s: Gyue ones your hertis to parfyte dylygence


s: Howe longe in Idelnes, wyll ye lese your tyme


s: In pryde and ryot, with all other offence


s: And where your frendes thynke, ye labour for scyence:


s: Ye lese your tyme bryngynge them to pouertee


s: And gyue your myndes to scyences lawdable


s: Where ye may your herte set and inclyne:


s: I wyll nat say but it is a thynge dyuyne


s: With goddes worke, and ordynaunce dyuyne


s: Thynkynge theyr owne wyll moche more expedyent


s: Nat wyllynge theyr myndes to his wyll to enclyne


s: But suche folys often sholde come to ruyne


s: And wo with sorowe and losse sholde they fynde


s: If god sholde conforme his workes to theyr mynde]


s: Whiche with small brondes of fyre flamynge bryght


s: Entendyth with laboure besynes and payne


s: Of the shynynge sonne for to encrease the lyght


s: Suche one assayeth a thynge passynge his myght


s: To mende that thynge whiche god hath made perfyte


s: But yet is he a moche gretter fole truely


s: Whiche wyll correct that thynge whiche god hath done


s: And doth nat his herte his wyll and mynde aply


s: And more frantyfe forsoth I may hym call


s: Than they that ar vext with furyes infernall:


s: In vertue and wysdome so largely doth extende


s: His glorious godhede his workes doth defende


s: Wenest thou mad fole that thou amende cannest ought


s: That he hath done: whiche made all thynge of nought


s: He that hath made the heuen and firmament


s: The londe, the se, and euery other thynge


s: All thynge to come that neuer hath had beynge


s: His workes and dedys ar so perfyte and ryght


s: That none can increas nor yet decreas his myght


s: He doth all thynge dispose moderate and dispence


s: Knowynge our mynde, and what is to vs most mete


s: All thynge is open and playne in his presence


s: Our inwarde thought must he nedes knowe and wete


s: And euery fortune is playne before his fete


s: He hath all thynge by lawe and order drest


s: And doth no thynge but it is for the best


s: Therfore whether he gyue thunder snowe or rayne


s: Frost lyghtnynge, fayre wether, outher storme sodayne


s: Mystes or clowdes, yet man sholde be content


s: And nat with worde nouther inwarde intent


s: Agaynst god grutche, but euery day and houre


s: It were moche better thou fole that thou were dome


s: Than to cast lewde wordes agaynst thy lorde in vayne


s: Thou fole he worketh no thynge but by wysedome


s: And yet art thou nat content but dost complayne


s: Thou sekest vengeaunce (for thy synne) and payne


s: In hell for euer, thynkynge thy selfe so wyse


s: To teche thy god, and his warke to dispyse


s: Grutchynge wordes agaynst his god to throwe


s: Thughe to theyr plaseour a thynge nat fortune well


s: Whiche oft for this synne suffred great payne and wo


s: Slayne and distroyed, so haue ben many mo


s: Many a lewde body without wysdome or rede


s: Grutche in theyr myndes, and openly do blame


s: Almyghy god, whan theyr children ar dede


s: Where rather they ought to enioye of the same


s: For it myght fortune that great rebuke and shame


s: Myght to theyr frendes haue come by theyr synne and cryme


s: Soone after: if they had nat dyed at that tyme


s: Wherfore this one clause is my conclusyon


s: That god our maker is wyse and prouydent


s: For all that he doth is for the best intent


s: To our desyres and euer perfourme our wyll


s: Our owne requestis sholde tourne vs to great yll


s: O ye mad myndes that no thynge vnderstonde


s: Howe darest thou be so bolde to take on honde


s: Wylt thou hym teche, as more wyse and prouydent


s: Than he is (whiche made all thynge of nought)


s: Leue of this thy foly, and holde thy selfe content


s: For thou art a fole to set theron thy thought


s: Of maners gode, and of lyuynge commendable.


s: And iugeth other (parchaunce that ar gyltles)


s: Hymselfe nat notynge, thoughe that he were culpable


s: He is a fole, and onys shall haue a fall


s: Syns he wyll other iuge, hym selfe yet worst of all.]


s: And greuous deth by the vyce of folysshnes


s: Theyr soule infect with synne and viciousnes


s: And though that deth hym alway to them addres


s: Yet hope they in longe lyfe and prosperyte


s: And neuer asswageth theyr blynde iniquyte


s: Dethe with his dartis vnwarely doth apere


s: The last of all ferys and ende of worldly payne


s: But thoughe we knowe that we all must haue an ende


s: We slepe in synne disdaynynge vs to amende


s: Some thynke them gode, iust and excellent


s: Myghty stronge and worthy of preemynence:


s: Charitable, chast, constant and innocent


s: Nat doutynge deth nor other inconuenyence


s: But yet ar they wrappyd sore in synne and offence


s: And in a vayne hope, contynue in suche wyse


s: That all the worlde (saue them selfe) they dispyse


s: They take on them the workes of god omnipotent


s: To iuge the secrete of mannys mynde and thought


s: And where no sygne is sene playne and euydent


s: They iuge a man saynge, his lyfe is nought


s: And if deth one hath vnto his last ende brought


s: (As mad) they mende nat theyr mysgouernaunce


s: Nat thynkynge that they ensue must the same daunce


s: Suche folys fayne causes and often tymes say:


s: That he that is dede vsed ryot and moche foly


s: And that he was feble, or full of malancoly


s: Ouer sad, or prowde, disceytfull and pope holy


s: Wherfore god suffred hym lyue the shorter whyle


s: Rewardyd for his workes in endles ioy and blys


s: Where as this lewde Juger, here in this worlde is


s: Styll lyuynge in synne, suffrynge great payne and wo


s: And though he thynke hym gode shall neuer come therto


s: He that in synne here lyeth fettered fast


s: And iugeth the deth of his frende or neyboure


s: Whiche from this lyfe is departed and past.


s: Let hym beware, for onys come shall the houre


s: That he must fele dethis dolorouse rygoure.


s: And after that endure infernall punysshement


s: For iugynge and mysdemynge of people innocent


s: The terme and day, of deth is moche vnsure


s: The deth is sure, the houre is vncertayne


s: Theder we must all, be it pleasour or payne


s: Wherfore wysdome wyll that we shulde refrayne


s: From folysshe demynge and nons deth discus


s: After deth god wot howe it shall be with vs


s: Alas full often a iust man gode and true


s: Is of these folys thought and demyd for yll


s: And he that is nought, frowarde of dede and wyll


s: Of these folys blynde frantyke and wode.


s: Wherfore I proue that a blynde fole thou art


s: To iuge or deme a mannys thought or intent


s: For onely god knoweth our mynde and hart


s: Wherto we gree and to what thynge we assent


s: But who that is rightwyse iust, and innocent


s: And louyth god with honour and with reuerence


s: Than, may he boldely iuge anothers offence


s: Amende you folys: do way these folysshe wayes


s: Take ye no charge: nat mete for your degre.


s: And note these wordes: whiche criste our sauyour sayes


s: Juge nat another, and thou shalt nat iugyd be


s: To iuge our mynde: for he is true iustyce


s: All thynge discernynge by right and equyte


s: No man sholde deme, whyle hym selfe is in vyce


s: Of pluralitees that is to say of them whiche


s: And as a mad man shall fast therin be bounde


s: Whiche his Asse wyll with so many sackes charge


s: That the pore beste for payne fallys to the grounde


s: Many in the chirche lyke hym may be founde.


s: Whiche so many benefycis labour to procure


s: That their small myght can nat the charge endure.]


s: Amonge our folys delytynge them in vyces


s: Whiche them ouerchargeth with dyuers benefyces


s: And namely suche that lowest ar in degre


s: Of byrth and cunnynge, of this condycion be


s: Defylynge goddes rentis and the chirches goode


s: Them selfe ouer ladynge, as men frantyke and wode


s: The weght is so great they can it nat endure


s: Theyr myght is small, theyr cunnynge is moche lesse


s: Thus this great charge wherof they haue the cure


s: To infernall Fenn doth this pore Asse oppresse


s: Whiche takynge on his backe sackes nyne or tenne.


s: Destroyeth hymselfe them leuynge in the fenne


s: But though one prebende were to hym suffycient


s: Or one benefyce his lyuynge myght suffyse


s: Yet this blynde fole is nat therwith content


s: But labowreth for mo, and alway doth deuyse


s: He gapeth with his wyde throte insaciable


s: And neuer can content his wyll abhomynable


s: He taketh this charge to lyue in welth and eas.


s: Howe be it that sole that hath suche besynes


s: And dyueres charges fyndeth great disseas


s: Neyther shall he god, nor yet the worlde pleas


s: And shall with his burthyns his mynde so vex and comber


s: That halfe his cures, can he nat count nor nomber


s: These carefull caytyfs, that ar of this same sort


s: With cures ar ouerchargyd so that of theyr mynde.


s: Rest haue they none, solace, pleasour nor conforte


s: Howe be it they thynke therby great welth to fynde


s: They gape yet euer, theyr maners lyke the wynde


s: Theyr lyfe without all terme or sertaynte


s: If they haue two lyuynges, yet loke they to haue thre


s: The folys whose hertis vnto this vyce ar bounde


s: Upon theyr sholders bereth aboute a sacke.


s: Insaciable without botome, outher grounde:


s: They thynke them nat lade though all be on theyr backe.


s: The more that they haue (the more they thynke they lacke)


s: What deuyll can stop theyr throte so large and wyde


s: Yet many all waste aboute Ryot and pryde


s: That asses vntaught without wysdome or scyence


s: Haue theyr proude myndes moste vnsaciable


s: Nat commynge to worshyp by vertue nor prudence


s: Yet counte they them worthy of this excellence


s: Courters become prestis nought knowynge but the dyce


s: They preste not for god, but for a benefyce


s: The clerke of the kechyn is a prest become


s: No thynge by vertue cunnynge nor wysdome


s: The Stepyll and the chirche by this meane stand awry


s: For some become rather prestis for couetyse.


s: Than for the loue of god or his seruyce.


s: Alas oft goddes goodes and cristis herytage


s: Of suche folys is wastyd and spent in vayne


s: Where it decreed, and ordeyned is certayne.


s: That prestis sholde helpe pore people that lyue in payne


s: Whiche pryde ryot and Uenus suffreth nat to be


s: Thus is the grettest parte of the spiritualte


s: Pore preste, persone, vicayr, relygyon and prelate


s: With couetyse acloyde outher prodigalyte


s: And folys promotyd causyth good clerkis haue hate


s: Say lordes and bysshops with other of estate


s: What mouyth you so gladly, suche to promote


s: Whiche haue no cunnynge their wyt skant worth a grote


s: Wyll ye alway the folysshe asse ouercharge


s: With suche burthyns wherwith it can nat fare


s: And suffer other to walke and ren at large


s: And where they best myght bere theyr backes ar left bare


s: And that is worst of all, suche folys can nat be ware


s: But whan they ar promotyd after theyr owne entent.


s: Yet theyr insaciable mynde can neuer be content.


s: Some take to ferme, and some let out agayne


s: And some for one god scosyth gladly twayne


s: Some lyueth longe in hunger and in payne


s: And in the somer day skarsly drynketh twyse


s: Sparynge monay therwith to by a benefyce


s: With lorde or knyght, and all for this polecy


s: To get of his lorde a benefyce at the ende


s: And somtyme laboureth by chraft of symony.


s: He playeth a fals cast, nat cessynge to coniure


s: Tyll of some benefyce he at the last be sure


s: Than if this lorde haue in hym fauoure, he hath hope


s: To haue another benefyce of gretter dignyte


s: And so maketh a fals suggestyon to the pope


s: Than shall he nat be pleased with .II. nouther thre


s: But dyuers wyll he haue ay choppynge and changynge


s: So oft a fole all and a gode clerke no thynge


s: These of nought force so that they may haue gayne


s: And golde ynough to spende on rybawdry and pryde


s: They haue the profyte, another hath the payne


s: The cure of the soulys of them is set asyde


s: And no meruayle, for howe sholde they abyde.


s: To teche their parysshynges vertue wysdome or grace


s: Syns no man can be atonys in euery place


s: Alas these folys our mayster criste betray


s: Of mannes soule wherof they haue the cure


s: And settynge in their stede syr Johnn of garnesey


s: They thynketh them selfe dischargyd quyte and sure


s: These folys note nat that euery creature.


s: Whiche here of soulys doth cure or charge take