s: At domys day a compt for them shall make


s: But if I sholde touche all the enormytees


s: The immoderat couetyse and desyre of dignyte


s: That nowe is vsed amonge all the degrees


s: Of benefycyd men ouer all the spiritualte


s: That trouth is blamed, and nat ay best to tell


s: But he that in this lyfe wyll alway besy be


s: To get dyuers prebendes shall haue the last in hell


s: What meane ye gyders of Christis herytage


s: Shall ye neuer leue this your deuowrynge mynde


s: Whiche in goddes seruyce your hartis sore doth blynde


s: Let this fals traytour no place amonge you fynde


s: Graunt hym no rowne in churche nor in quere.


s: For this is sure ye shall all leue behynde


s: We haue no Cyte, nor place abydynge here


s: Amonge our folys, in this our shyp shall rowe


s: For his presumpcion, dull mynde and blynde intent


s: What knowe these folys whether god omnypotent


s: Wyll graunt them to lyue vntyll another day.


s: Wherfore we ought to mende vs whyle we may.]


s: Wyll and gode mynde his synnes to amende


s: And with his grace his thoughtes enlumyne


s: But doth dyffer and dryue frome day to day


s: And knowynge theyr owne vyce, and lyfe full of ordure


s: The payne therof, and howe euery offence


s: Also they knowe that theyr deth is vnsure


s: And dye they must knowynge no houre nor space


s: Yet synne they styll, nat receyuynge this grace


s: They folowe the crowes cry to theyr great sorowe


s: Cras cras cras to morowe we shall amende


s: And if we mende nat than, than shall we the next morowe


s: Outher shortly after, we shall no more offende


s: Amende mad fole whan god this grace doth sende


s: He is vnwyse whiche trustes the crowes songe


s: And that affermyth that he shall lyue so longe


s: Syns deth (as I haue sayde) is so vnstable


s: And mende our lyfe and synne abhomynable


s: For though that thou be hole at the euyn tyde


s: Thou knowest nat sure that thou shall here abyde


s: Untyll the morne but if thou dye in that space


s: It shall be to late for the to cry cras cras


s: The longer tary the lesse apt shalt thou be.


s: Whan costome and vse is tourned to nature


s: Therfore if that thou lewdly fall in syn


s: By thy frayle flesshe, and the fals fendes trayne


s: Synne alway thretenyth vnto the doer, payne


s: And grutche of conscience with moche thought and wo


s: Agaynst our flesshe fyghtyng whiche often doth vs shame


s: On his parte labours to get vs in his frame


s: Thus oft we fall, and than our foly blame


s: Repentynge sore, and wyllynge to refrayne


s: But within an houre we fall therto agayne


s: The gyftis of grace we clene from vs exclude


s: We haue great cause sore to complayne and mone


s: We leue that thynge (our myndes ar so rude)


s: That myght vs gyde to helth and beatytude


s: Thus our owne foly, and our owne blynde madnes


s: For to confesse our synne, excesse, or cryme


s: With one cras, to morowe, perauenture twayne


s: Without regarde had, vnto infernall payne


s: But in the meane space if that deth vntretable


s: Arrest the with his mace, fyers and cruell


s: By iustyce damme thy soule for euer to hell


s: Than woldest thou gladly (If thou myght) do well


s: But there is no grace but doloure payne and sorowe


s: Than is to late to crye cras cras to morowe


s: Say what delyte, thou fole or what pleasoure


s: It is small sothly, and passeth euery houre


s: Perchaunce to morowe sholde be to late to the


s: So sholde cras the crwys songe the sore abuse


s: And feryth of hir lyuynge by his Jelowse intent


s: Is as great fole, as is that wytles wratche


s: That wolde kepe flees vnder the son feruent


s: Or in the se cast water, thynkynge it to augment


s: For thoughe he hir watche lockynge with lockys twayne


s: But if she kepe hir selfe his kepynge is but vayne]


s: Orestes was neuer so blynde and mad as is he


s: Whiche for his wyfe taketh thought and charge


s: Watchynge hir wayes, thoughe that she gyltles be


s: This fole styll fereth, if she be out at large


s: Lyst that some other his harnes sholde ouercharge


s: But for all his fere and carefull Jelowsy


s: Thou fole I proue, thy watchynge helpeth nought


s: Thy labour lost is, thou takest this care in vayne


s: In vayne thou takest this Jelowsy and thought


s: In vayne thou sleest thy selfe with care and payne


s: And of one doute thou fole thou makest twayne


s: And neuer shalt fynde eas nor mery lyuynge


s: (Whyle thou thus lyuest) but hatered and chydynge


s: For locke hir fast and all hir lokes marke.


s: Note all hir steppys, and twynklynge of hir iye.


s: Ordeyne thy watchers and dogges for to barke


s: Bar fast thy dores and yet it wyll nat be


s: Close hir in a Toure with wallys stronge and hye


s: But yet thou fole thou lesist thy trauayle


s: For without she wyll no man can kepe hir tayle


s: And yet more ouer breche hir with plate and mayle


s: And for all that if she be nought of kynde


s: She shall disceyue the (If she lyst) without fayle


s: But if that she be chast of dede and mynde


s: Hir selfe shall she kepe, though thou hir neuer bynde


s: Thus they that ar chast of nature, wyll byde so


s: And nought wyll be nought what so euer thou do


s: Thus is it foly and causeth great debate


s: Bytwene man and wyfe, whan he by Jelowsy.


s: His wyfe suspectyth, and doth watche or counterwayt


s: For hym that gladly wolde escape the hode


s: Nat to be Jelous: but honest lyuynge and gode


s: The toure of bras that callyd was darayne.


s: Coude nat the damsell (by name Danes) defende


s: But that Jupiter fonde a cautell and trayne


s: This mayde for all this Toure was there defylyd.


s: And by this lorde was she there brought with childe


s: That it is foly a woman to kepe or close


s: Outher preuy or apert there about she goys


s: Deuysynge wayes with hir good man to glose


s: Whiche neuer folowe this fals and lothly way


s: Whiche though that she alone was many a day


s: Unto hir olde: and neuer changyd for newe


s: I fynde that often this folysshe Jelowsy


s: Where as (were nat theyr husbondes blynde foly)


s: The pore wymen knowe nat what longyd therto


s: Wherfore suche men ar folys and mad also


s: And with theyr hodes whiche they them selfe purchace


s: Within my shyp shall haue a rowme and place


s: For where as perchaunce theyr wyfes ar chaste and goode


s: By mannys vnkyndnes they chaunge and turne theyr herte


s: So that the wyfe must nedes gyue them a hode


s: But to be playne some wymen ar esy to conuert


s: For if one take them where they can nat start.


s: What for theyr husbondes folysshe Jelowsy


s: And theyr owne pleasour: they scars can ought deny


s: Therfore ye wymen lyue wysly and eschewe


s: These wanton wowers and suche wylde company


s: Haunt no olde quenys that nourysshe rybawdry


s: To pleasaunt wordes nor letters eloquent


s: She had nat ven rauysshed by handes violent


s: Of auoutry, and specially of them y^t ar


s: Whiche thoughe his wyfe openly defylyd be


s: Before his owne face, yet suche a chrafte he can


s: To fayne hym a slepe, nat wyllynge it to se


s: Or els he layeth his hande before his iye


s: And thoughe he here and se howe the mater gose


s: He snortynge slepyth, and wyll it nat disclose.]


s: O what disorder, what shame and what domage


s: Is nowe brought in, and right lykely to abyde


s: The fere of payne and lawe is set a syde


s: Faythe is clene lost, and fewe them selfe do gyde


s: After theyr othe, but for lacke of punysshement.


s: They brake and despyse this dyuyne sacrament


s: Agaynst auoutry: is nowe a slepe or dede


s: None feryth iustyce punysshement nor payne


s: Both man and woman ar past all fere and drede


s: Theyr promes brekynge, without respect or hede


s: Had to theyr othe, by mariage solemnysed


s: Many ar whiche thynke it is a thynge laudable


s: And howe beit the synne is moche abhomynable


s: They fere nat god, nor dout nat worldly shame


s: But rather boldly they bost them of the same


s: They note no thynge the mortall punysshement


s: Taken on auoutrers in the olde testament


s: Yet is another thynge more lothsome and vyle


s: That many husbondes knowynge theyr wyues syn


s: Absent themselfe and stop theyr iyen the whyle


s: Kepynge the dore whyle the auoutrer is within


s: They forse no thynge so they may money wyn


s: Lyuynge as bawdes, and that to theyr owne wyues


s: O cursyd money, this madnes thou contryuys


s: O cursyd husbonde thou ought to be asshamyd


s: To set so great fors for syluer or for golde


s: That thou for them thy wyfe wyll se diffamyd


s: And helpe therto: ye: and the dede beholde


s: Blame it blynde dryuyll: by the lawe so thou sholde


s: And nat therat to gyggyll laghe and Jest


s: It is a lewde byrde that fyleth his owne nest


s: Howe he (by his owne brother) for auoutry


s: Was dryuen from his royalme and his childre slayne


s: These children thus bought theyr faders mad foly


s: Whiche Tarquyn had for rauysshynge lucres


s: Whiche to thyntent this foule synne to eschewe


s: Whan his doughter was desyred by Clodius


s: And that by force; the fader his dowghter slewe


s: The fader answered (whan men his dede dyd blame)


s: Better is to dye chast: than longe to lyue in shame


s: In it is yre Enuy and paynfull pouertye.


s: And also he or she that mariage doth breke


s: And here without welth ioy and rest shall they be


s: And well ar they worthy (forsoth) of sore tourment


s: In hell: for brekynge this holy sacrament


s: But in the meane tyme here shalt thou haue discorde


s: And lothsome be before the almyghty lorde


s: Thy dedes shall purchace mysfortune and distres


s: Thou lyue shalt in shame and dye in wretchydnes


s: And if thou procede therin and nat amende


s: Some great shame shalt thou haue before thyne ende.


s: O creatures vnkynde leue ye this outrage


s: Breke nat your othe whiche ye made solemly


s: Eche one to other for to lyue in mariage


s: After your promes: in loue, fayth and concorde


s: Than shall ye in erth encreas and multyply


s: And after haue syght of the almyghty lorde


s: Let all spousys in theyr myndes comprehende


s: The lawys and decrees of the olde testament


s: Confermed hath the olde testament with the newe


s: Auoutrers nowe deserue that same punysshement


s: But well is to them, that stedfast ar and trewe


s: That thynketh hym wyse, and yet can he no thynge


s: And though he myght he wyll nat set nor gyue


s: His mynde to good maners, vertue nor cunnynge.


s: So is he a fole that doth to market brynge


s: His Gese fast bounde, and game or sporte to se


s: Lowsyth theyr fete, and suffreth them to fle]


s: Saynt George to borowe our Nauy is aflote


s: Forth shall we sayle, thoughe that it be a payne


s: And moche laboure to forge a pryuate bote


s: For euery faute: yet shall I nat refrayne


s: My hande nor penne: thoughe vnsure be my gayne


s: My laboure sure: my wyt and reason thynne


s: Than leue a thynge vnendyd better nat begynne


s: But in this place shall I a Shyp ordayne


s: For that fole: that heryth great doctryne


s: Wherby good maners and vertue aperyth playne


s: He seth all goodnes, stody, and disciplyne


s: And yet wyll nat his mynde therto enclyne


s: But though he knowe what thynge is godlyest


s: Ouer all the worlde, yet is he styll a beest.


s: All studies, the wonders of the worlde to se


s: With vnstabyll wynges fleynge from place to place


s: And if they were Asses and folys blynde before


s: After all these syghtes yet ar they moche more


s: They se moche nought lernynge, and hauynge no delyte


s: In wysdome nor maners vertue nor goodnes


s: Theyr tyme is loste, without wysdome or profyte


s: If they se ought newe, or any folysshe toy


s: That lyghtly they lerne, and set theron theyr ioy.


s: For wytles men of fleynge mynde and brayne


s: Ar best pleasyd with thynges of neweltye


s: And them to haue, they spare no cost nor payne


s: To dyuers londes to ren but all in vayne


s: And so they labour alway from londe to londe


s: To se all wonders, but nought they vnderstonde


s: Some to the court to se the maners there


s: Of all marueyles, and skantly worth a here


s: Some vnto Fraunce and some to Flaunders ren


s: To so the wayes, and workes of cunnynge men


s: Spendynge theyr goodes about vnthryftynes


s: In countrees knowen, vnknowen and strange


s: But whan theyr iourney they homwarde must addres


s: As folys vnware, and vagabundes thryftles


s: They haue nought lerned, kept, nor with them brought


s: Of maners, wysdome or other thynge that is ought


s: They that by the se sayle to londes strange


s: Oft chaunge the place and planete of the fyrmament


s: But theyr mynde nor maners they ne turne nor chaunge


s: And namely suche that ar lewde and neglygent


s: What euer they se styll one is theyr intent


s: Whan he departyd, If that he were a sote


s: Agayne anone he comyth in the same mynde and cote


s: Say mad folys blynde ouersene, and worthy scorne


s: Fayne wolde I knowe what necessyte ye haue


s: To go from the place where ye were bred and borne


s: Into another londe to lerne to play the knaue


s: Your mynde vnstable sheweth playne that ye raue


s: Laboure nat so sore, to lerne to be a fole


s: That cometh by it selfe without any other scole


s: He that is borne in walys or small brytayne


s: To lerne to pyke and stele nedys nat go to Rome.


s: What nede we sayle to Flaunders or Almayne


s: To lerne glotony, syns we may it lerne at home


s: Suche lewdnes soon may we lerne of our wombe


s: He that wyll lerne falshode gyle or sotelte


s: May lerne it here as well as beyonde the se.


s: It is great foly, for thou mayst lerne thy fyll


s: In shoppis Innes and sellers, ye somtyme openly


s: At saynt Martyns Westmynster or at the tour hyll


s: So that I fere all London, in tyme it shall fyll


s: For it is there kept in lyght and in darke


s: That the pore Stuys decays for lacke of warke


s: But brefely to speke, and this to set a syde


s: He that on vyce, and synne wyll set his entent


s: May lerne it in Englonde, if he at home abyde


s: And that of all sortis: god sende amendement


s: To labour in the worlde about from place to place


s: Do as dyd Plato, than shalt thou fynde great grace


s: This godly plato laboured with dilygence


s: Where euer he came: augmentynge his scyence


s: And at the last retourned to Grece agayne


s: His countrey natyf: with laude and name souerayne


s: Thus he for all his wysdome laboured besyly


s: But that fowle that nought can nought settyth by


s: Wherfore that gose that styll about wyll wander


s: Moche seynge and herynge, and nought berynge away


s: Shall home come agayne as wyse as a gander


s: But more fole is he that may lerne euery day


s: Without cost or laboure out of his owne countrey


s: And whan the well of wysdome renneth by theyr dore


s: Yet looth they the water as if that it were soure


s: Soft folys soft, a lytell slacke your pace


s: I haue eyght neyghbours, that firste shall haue a place


s: Within this my shyp, for they most worthy be


s: They may theyr lernynge receyue costeles and fre.


s: Theyr wallys abuttynge and ioynynge to the scoles.


s: No thynge they can, yet nought wyll they lerne nor se


s: Therfore shall they gyde this one shyp of foles.


s: Great cause thou hast to morne sore and complayne


s: And yet to lerne thou hast scorne and dysdayne


s: Alas man mende, and spare no maner payne


s: To get wysdome, and it thou shalt nat want


s: Hym that nought wyll knowe, god wyll nat knowe certayne


s: And he that wyll be wroth for a thynge of nought


s: For who that by wrathe to suche a wyll is brought


s: To sle his Asse for hir pas slowe and soft


s: Shall after his fury, repent his mad foly


s: For to a clere mynde, mad wrathe is ennemy]


s: Come nere, ye wrathfull men, take your rowme and place


s: Within our shyp, and to slake our hastynes


s: Mount on an Asse slowe of hir gate and pace


s: Syns troublous wrath, in you, styreth this madnes


s: To a wylde cowe god doth short hornys sende


s: Wrath is great foly, where myght may nat extende


s: O man yll myndyd what helpeth the this yre


s: None the commendyth whiche doth thy maners marke


s: What doste thou: but the waste with thyne owne fyre


s: Narrynge with thyselfe lyke as a dogge doth barke


s: Without meke worde and pleasyd with no warke


s: Art thou: but thoughe all men be dylygent


s: Mad wrathe to please, yet who can it content


s: This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath


s: Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R


s: Thoughe all be well, yet he none answere hath


s: Saue the dogges letter, glowmynge with nar nar


s: Suche labour nat this mad rancour to defar


s: Nor yet his malyce to mytygate or asswage


s: But ioyeth to be drede of men for this outrage


s: His mouth fomyth his throte out gorgyth fyre


s: His ferefull furoure is, his hole felycyte


s: By his great yre, doth he coueyte and desyre


s: Wyll he nat knowe as he were nat culpable


s: Hym selfe is blynde, but other well note his dede


s: He shall be poynted whether he go or ryde


s: Saynge one to other take gode regarde and hede


s: Of yonder furyous fole whome reason doth nat gyde


s: Who that hym sueth both hurte and shame shall fynde


s: Thus other hym notyth but he hymself is blynde


s: He thynkyth to haue pacyence though that he haue none


s: That suche ar folys whose pacyence is gone


s: Thus coueytyth he to kepe his erys alone


s: And to wrathfull men he wyll no thynge obiect


s: For that hym selfe is with the same infect


s: But somwhat to touche the inconuenyences


s: Whiche by this wrath procedyth to mankynde


s: It is chefe grounde of many great offences


s: Destroynge reason blyndynge the wyt and mynde


s: Do that by wrath oft whiche they after repent


s: Reuoke thy mynde, somwhat thy herte enclyne


s: Borne the the ryche Cyte namyd Tarentyne


s: Rede howe that he his malyce dyd ouercome


s: For thoughe his seruaunt was fals to hym become


s: And he sore mouyd to auenge the same offence


s: Suffred great wronge great iniury and payne


s: For christ our mayster dyd great turment sustayne


s: What wo or payne cowde saynt Laurance refrayne


s: From pacience wherfore it is great shame


s: For christen men if they do not the same


s: They suffred deth, ye, and yet were pacyent


s: And many haue prayed, for suche that haue them slayne


s: Where thou mad fole takest greuous punysshement


s: For small occasyon, ye come by chaunce sodayne


s: Fole thou art blynde, and mad to set thy brayne


s: All thynge to venge (by wrath) that doth mysfall


s: For he that part hath lost: by wrath oft lesyth all


s: And forsoth no meruayle, if suche wyse actours


s: Hath wrathes madnes, expelled and set asyde


s: For where that wrath doth rayne with his furours


s: There can no reason nor wysedome longe abyde


s: The wyt it wastyth: so is it a lewde gyde


s: Therfore let mesure, this malyce holde agayne


s: But pacyence is brydyll his madnes to refrayne


s: It longeth nat to any man of hye prudence


s: For to be wrothe, yrous, or gyuys to malancoly


s: Can fall to man, ay stedfast wyse and holy


s: But folys ar moste troublyd with this foly


s: A man well manerd, sad sober and dyscrete


s: If he be ware, wyse, chrafty and prouydent


s: Beholdeth all thynge before his syght and fete.


s: Gydynge hym by mesure a vertue excellent


s: Where as a fole doth all without aduysement


s: And in euery thynge shewyth his folysshnes


s: Wroth at eche worde, as mayster of madnes


s: For your mad wrath dowtyth no thynge the ende


s: Your madnes can nat your blynde mysdede defende


s: For who that one sleyth, angry and feruent


s: Blynde myndyd man whiche wylt all thynge ouercome


s: Reputynge thy selfe, moste souerayne and royall


s: Labour to ouercome thyne owne selfe firste of all


s: Let neyther malyce, nor yre with the abyde


s: Thou art a fole the chefe or lorde to call


s: Of other: whan thou can nat thy selfe well gyde.


s: On fortunes whele, and come to state royall


s: If the whele turne, may doute sore to descende


s: Shall in moste eas and suerty hymselfe gyde


s: For vnsure fortune can in no place abyde]


s: That many be made folys mad and ignorant


s: By the brode worlde, puttynge trust and confydence


s: Some assay the whele thynkynge it pleasant


s: But whyle they to clym vp haue pleasour and desyre


s: Theyr fete them faylyth so fall they in the myre


s: Make of a Squyer knyght, yet wyll they if they can


s: And many in the worlde haue this condicion


s: In hope of honour by treason to conspyre


s: But ofte they slyde, and so fall in the myre


s: Suche lokys so hye that they forget theyr fete


s: On fortunes whele whiche turneth as a ball


s: They seke degrees for theyr small myght vnmete


s: Theyr folysshe hertis and blynde se nat theyr fall


s: Some folys purpose to haue a rowme Royall


s: The whele than turneth lyuynge them in the myre


s: To worldly honoures so greatly to entende


s: Or here to make the hye ryche and excellent


s: Syns that so shortly thy lyfe must haue an ende


s: None is so worthy, nor can so hye ascende


s: Nor nought is so sure if thou the trouth enquyre


s: But that it may doute to fall downe to the myre


s: There is no lorde Duke kynge nor other estate


s: But dye they must, and from this wolde go


s: All worldly thynges whiche god hath here create


s: Shall nat ay byde, but haue an ende also


s: That euer of lyfe had houre of certaynte


s: In stormy wyndes lowest trees ar most sure


s: And howsys surest whiche ar nat byldyd hye


s: Where as hye byldynges may no tempest endure


s: Without they be foundyd sure and stedfastly


s: So gretest men haue moste fere and ieopardy


s: Better is pouertye though it be harde to bere


s: Than is a hye degre in ieopardy and fere,


s: The hyllys ar hye, the valeys ar but lowe


s: On hyest places most gras doth nat ay growe


s: A mery thynge is mesure and easy to sustayne


s: The hyest in great fere, the lowest lyue in payne


s: Yet better ly on grounde, hauynge no name at all


s: Than hye on a Clyf ferynge alway to fall


s: Thus as me thynke it is no thynge lawdable


s: On fortunes whele, for one to clym to hye


s: Syns the swyft cours therof is so vnstable


s: And all must we leue whan we depart and dye


s: For lachesys (whan that thou hast lefte drede)


s: Of thy lyue dayes shall shortly breke the threde.


s: Defar wyll nat deth by prayer ne request


s: Nor of hym haue one day longer here to rest:


s: Content the with measure (therfore) for it is best


s: It is a fowle fall to fall from erth to hell


s: To this intent, them to brynge to an yll ende


s: For who that hye clymmeth his fall can nat be soft


s: If that mysfortune constrayne hym to dyscende


s: Though Julius Cesar his lordshyp dyd extende


s: Ouer all the worlde: yet fortune at the last.


s: From lyfe and lordshyp hym wretchydly dyd cast


s: This hath ben sene, is sene, and euer shall


s: Howe many estatis, howe many men Royall.


s: Hath fortune dryuyn downe into aduersyte


s: Rede dyuers cronycles, and thou shall playnly se


s: That many thousandes hath endyd in doloure


s: Ouer rede Bochas and than shalt thou se playne


s: The fall of prynces wryten ryght compendeously


s: There shalt thou se what punysshement and payne


s: Haue to them fallen, somtyme by theyr foly


s: Where euer they go: they lyue in ieopardye


s: Ay dowtynge deth by cursed gyle and treason


s: Eche thynge mysdemynge, ferynge to be opprest


s: By some mysfortune, with venym or with poyson.


s: Thus in great honour is neyther ioy nor rest


s: But thought and fere, ye whyle the lyfe doth lest


s: Thus who that procuryth great honour to attayne


s: Procuryth with all, enuy, peryll, fere and payne


s: A lorde or state whom many men doth drede


s: With loueles fere, and fayned countenaunce


s: Unto hym selfe ought wysely to take hede


s: And them to fere, if he wyll voyde myschaunce


s: For why a comonty is of suche ignoraunce


s: They muse to destroy hym whom, they fere and hate


s: But no true loue nouther faythfull amyte.


s: Yet harde is to please a folysshe comonte


s: Therfore me thynke of all thynge it is best


s: Man to be pleased and content with his degre


s: For why in mesure, is suerty eas and rest


s: Fortune is full of changes and mutabylyte


s: But nowe hye nowe lowe, vnstable as a flode


s: To clymme to hye lyst thou by fortune fall


s: For certaynly, that man slepyth nat sure


s: Better somtyme to serue, than for to gouerne all


s: The great fysshe ar taken and the pryncipall


s: Where as the small escapyth quyte and fre


s: Within his body felynge dyseas and payne


s: And wyll nat gladly with perfyte mynde agre


s: To a wyse Phesycian that wolde hym hele agayne


s: He is a fole, and shall his foly sore complayne


s: And if that he by his selfe wyll do sterue


s: It is but well: syns he it doth deserue.]


s: He that is feble with sekenes outher wounde


s: Wherwith he feleth hym selfe so kept in payne


s: That dye he muste but if remedy be founde


s: Of wyse Phesycyans: and medecines souerayne


s: And wyll nat sue theyr counsell and aduysement


s: Wherby he myght haue helth and short amendement


s: Thoughe the Phesycyan (of his lyfe) hym assure


s: The pacyent yet kepyth no dyete nor mesure


s: In mete nor drynke, and wyll nat gouerned be


s: Receyuynge colde water in stede of ale or wyne


s: Agaynst read and counsell of crafty medycyne


s: What mete or drynke that is most contagious


s: And most infectyf to his sekenes or dyseas


s: And to hym forbyden, as moste contrarious


s: Unto his sekenes. That namely doth hym pleas


s: But that thynge that myght hym helpe and greatly eas


s: He hatyth moste, and wyll none receyue at all.


s: Tyll this small sore, at the last become mortall


s: Suche wyll no counsell ensue, nor mesure haue


s: Nor temper theym selfe in lesse nor yet in more.


s: Tyll theyr yll gouernaunce brynge them to theyr graue


s: Retournynge into grounde lyke as they were before


s: But who that soone wolde, be helyd of his sore


s: It selfe: and groweth to flames peryllous


s: Right so small wellys whiche semeth to be spent


s: With lytell sprynges and Ryuers, ofte so growys


s: So a small sore augmentyth, styll preuely


s: By lytell and lytell for lacke of remedy


s: A small diseas whiche is ynoughe durable


s: At the begynnynge, for lacke of medycyne


s: At longe contynuaunce becomyth incurable


s: The paynfull pacyent bryngynge vnto ruyne


s: Wherfore who wyll to his owne helth enclyne


s: And soone be helyd of yll without all tary


s: To the Phesician ought nat to be contrary


s: Ought he nat be, but with a pacyent mynde


s: Shewe all his soris truly playne and euydent


s: To the Phesician if he wyll socour fynde.


s: And thoughe his saluys in paynes hym sore bynde.


s: Let nat for that, but after his wyll the gyde


s: Better a shorte payne, than that doth longe abyde


s: Forsake nat the short, the longe payne to eschewe


s: To the Phesycian we ought in worde be playne


s: And shewe hym our sore, whether it be olde or newe


s: For in thy wordes if that thou be nat trewe


s: Or kepe ought close, thou dysceyuest be thou sure


s: Thy selfe. and nat hym that of the hath the cure.


s: In lyke fourme who comyth vnto confessyon


s: There to declare howe he his lyfe hath spent


s: And shewyth nat his synne lyke wyse as he hath done


s: Hymself he disceyuyth, as blynde of his entent.


s: Thus many one endureth infernall tourment


s: With wo contynuall and payne for euermore


s: For kepynge secrete there, of his goostly sore.


s: Bodely or gostly, ought nat to be callyd wyse


s: And his preceptis hant kepe and exercyse


s: But now olde wytches dare boldly interpryse


s: And many them byleue, whiche sothly is pyte


s: Suche wytches of theyr byleue abhomynable


s: On brest or hede of the paynfull pacyent


s: With theyr wytchecraftis shall compasse chat and bable


s: Assurynge hym of helth, and short amendement


s: Upon hir errour: to haue helpe of his sore


s: But she hym leuyth wors than he was before


s: Poule the apostyll doth boldly say and preue


s: That they whiche to suche wytches wyll assent


s: Ar heretykes, Lolardes and false of theyr byleue


s: And oft also by profe it apereth euydent


s: That suche as to wytches craftis wyll intende


s: By theyr fals Phesyke come soner to theyr ende


s: Theyr body dede, theyr soule in ieopardy


s: By mysbyleue for euer in paynes infernall.


s: Whiche ar rewarde for wretchyd synne and heresy


s: But if thou to thy mynde and reason call


s: And of this wrytynge perceyue the sence morall


s: Whan thou art fallen seke and in dedely syn


s: Seke helpe betyme, and byde nat longe therein


s: Thou man or woman, that lyest seke in vyce


s: To goddes vycayrs confesse thy syn holly


s: So shalt thou from thy goostly yll aryse.


s: Without leasynge shewe hym thy synne playnly


s: Let nat for shame nor fall nat thereto agayne


s: Better shewe thy sore there to one secretely


s: Than after openly: and byde eternall payne


s: Ensewe the counsell of a wyse confessour


s: Take nat colde water in stede of vermayll wyne:


s: For moche swetnes, endure thou a lytell soure


s: Kepe well the dyet and threfolde medicyne


s: Ordayned for synne by spirituall doctryne


s: That is confessyon, the next contrycyon.


s: With satisfaccion these thre, with grace deuyne


s: Before the byrdes whome he by gyle wolde take


s: Them playnly techyth of his gyle to be ware


s: Right so is he (and doth a sauegarde make)


s: For his foes them (techynge remedy to fynde)


s: Whiche sheweth them by thretenynge the secret of his mynde]


s: To take many byrdes, outher small or great


s: And layeth before them to playne and openly


s: His lynes snarys, his lyme twyggis or his net


s: He shall no profyte gayne nor auauntage get


s: The byrdes shall be ware, and lyghtly fle asyde


s: So he that wyll openly manace and threte


s: With worde and hande, as he wolde sle adowne ryght


s: Is oft scant abyll a symple hounde to bete.


s: For in his worde is all his force and myght


s: And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght.


s: For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men


s: Agaynst hym selfe to encreas his foes myght


s: Suche one hath reason and wyt of smal valour.


s: Ryght so that sole is led in lyke errour


s: Which nought can do, of mater les or more


s: Without he crake and boste therof before.


s: And also suche bosters and crakers comonly


s: Whiche doth theyr mynde in hasty wordes declare


s: And by theyr wordes, full often yll they fare


s: Of folys whiche thus theyr counsell out expres


s: Whose thretenyngs to theyr foes is armour and harnes


s: But hym call I wyse and crafty of counsell


s: Whiche kepeth close the secretis of his mynde


s: And to no man wyll them disclose nor tell


s: But do his purpose whan he best tyme can fynde


s: Without worde spekynge, and so may his intent


s: Best come to ende, his foo, beynge inprouydent


s: In thynges weyghty, of peryll and great charge


s: Consernynge a royallue, or helth of his body


s: By lewde tale berers whiche seke the way to fynde


s: To knowe the preuy counsell of theyr lordes mynde


s: They fawne and flater to knowe his pryuetee


s: But they forsoth, that wolde knowe thynges newe


s: No thynge to kepe, but lyghtly it to shewe.


s: Thus may the saynge of Salomon be fonde true.


s: Whiche sayth that he is wyse, and lyueth happely


s: Whiche to hym selfe kepyth his counsell secretely


s: I fynde foure thynges whiche by meanes can


s: Be kept close, in secrete, one longe in preuetee


s: The firste is the counsell of a wytles man


s: The seconde a Cyte, whiche byldyd is a bye


s: Upon a mountayne, the thyrde we often se


s: That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll


s: The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll


s: A pore mannys dedys may soone be kept close


s: His name is hyd, and right so is his dede.


s: A ryche mannys dede may no man hyde nor glose


s: It fleeth farthest, all men of it take hede


s: So that yll fame whome all men ought to drede


s: In fleynge about hir myght doth multyply


s: Augmentynge to his lynage shame and vylany


s: Ware and crafty, auoydynge all inconuenyence


s: To shewe his counsell ought nat to interpryse


s: In seruauntis is small trust or confydence


s: He that is nowe thy frende may after be thy fo


s: Warne nat thy ennemy of that that thou wylt do


s: If ye intende for to yelde the same agayne


s: Or hym to threten with bostynge wordes vayne.


s: For oft is sayde, and true it is certayne


s: That they that wyll lyue in quyetnes and rest


s: Must here and se and hasty wordes refrayne


s: All styll with fewe wordes do that they thynke best


s: Of folys that can nat beware by the mysfortune


s: Theyr wofull fall the ruyne and dystres.


s: Yet sue they the same, and ware they wyll nat be


s: Though they by example the payne of other se


s: Yet leue they nat: thus may they clayme a place


s: Within my Nauy, as folys voyde of grace]


s: Whiche folys suffer for theyr synne and outrage


s: Some drowned, some maymed, some other wyse slayne


s: Yet this example can nat cause vs refrayne


s: That folys hath ofte tyme whan they offende


s: We se theyr losse, theyr shame and theyr confusion


s: Howe be it all this can cause vs to amende


s: We can no thynge and to nought we intende


s: So many folys I fynde that playne I thynke


s: Theyr weyghty charge shall cause my shyp to synke


s: Suche ar despysyd of men discrete and wyse


s: Ye and more ouer these folys ar so blynde


s: That echone of them the other doth despyse


s: With sharp rebukes, wordes lewde and vnkynde


s: Yet in theyr lyfe no difference may we fynde


s: And though they haue sene a thousande brough to shame


s: For one sore vyce: yet lyue they in the same


s: The example of other can nat theyr myndes moue


s: Theyr wyttis ar blynde theyr foly is the cause


s: Rennynge ay to deth without all rest or pause


s: Alas, at the last retourne to christis lawes


s: Be ware, whan ye other se taken in the snare


s: Let anothers peryll cause you to be ware


s: Your synne hath quenchyd your grace and gostly lyght


s: One blynde man another doth chyde and blame


s: And yet both stomble, nat goynge euyn or right


s: A blynde man hym ledyth that also hath no syght


s: So both in the dyche fallyth in suche a wyse


s: That one can nat helpe, the other agayne to ryse


s: One crab blamys another for hir bacwarde pace


s: And yet the blamer sothly can none other do


s: But both two ar in theyr goynge in lyke case


s: The one goeth bocwarde, the other doth also


s: But who that of his moders doctryne hath disdayne:


s: Shall by his stepdame endure wo care and payne


s: And perchaunce after abyde the correccyon


s: Of the sayde stepdame, in place of punysshement.


s: For his synne, sufferynge hir vniust subieccien


s: And who that nat foloweth the commaundement


s: May fortune after in hunger thyrst ond colde


s: Obey that stranger, whom he nat gladly wolde


s: We fynde Hystories wryten longe and ample


s: Howe they were punysshed that lyuyd in cruelte


s: Howe that Pheton was brent with the lyghtnynge


s: For his presumpcion, agaynst a myghty kynge


s: By fleynge to hye his wynges and fethers brent


s: And so descendyd and in the se was drent


s: Thus these two endynge by theyr lewdnes in care


s: By theyr example sholde cause vs to beware


s: We dayly se before our syght and our presence


s: And that worthely for theyr synne and offence


s: Yet ar we blynde, and ar nat ware at all


s: And where by synne we se one come to shame


s: Therfore who sethe a mad fole come to wo


s: Or fall in peryll for lacke of a good gyde


s: And (by anothers yll) for his helthe to prouyde


s: And wolde nat enter into the caue, for playne


s: Of bestis that entred sawe he none come agayne


s: For if one byrde be onys tane in a snare


s: The other auoyde as fast as they may flee


s: A fysshe byrde or beste that hath in peryll be


s: Of net hoke or snare, if that they may escape.


s: Wyll after euer beware, but blynde man wyll nat se


s: His owne destruccion, but after it doth gape


s: If vnto the same a clapper lacke or fayle


s: The bell shall make but sympyll noyse or sounde


s: Though thou in it do hange a Foxys tayle


s: Right so backbyters that vse on men to rayle


s: Can nat greatly hurt them that lyue rightwysly


s: Wherfore it is foly theyr babblynge to set by.]


s: Who that within this worlde wolde rest and lyue


s: Must nat his mynde set, nor his erys gyue


s: And though some people of suche condicion be


s: Oft to dyffame good people true and Just


s: Let them nought care, for byde it nede they must


s: Of cursyde tunges syns none can them asswage


s: For who in this worlde wyll come to auautage


s: Hym selfe exaltynge to worshyp and honoure


s: Shall fynde the swetnes mengled with the sowre


s: Right greuous chargis somtymes must endure


s: Suche thynges wherwith his mynde can not agre


s: And he that wyll with the worlde haue to do


s: Must suffer suche trouble as belongeth therto


s: Yet some haue pytched theyr tentis stedfastly


s: Upon sure grounde, auoyde of all this payne


s: Despysynge the worldes wantonnes and foly


s: For in the same is nought sure nor certayne


s: Nought se we tranquyll in these wawes mundayne


s: We se no loue, lawe, fydelyte, nor trust


s: But nowe up hye, and nowe lowe in the dust


s: To auoyde the worlde with his foly and stryfe


s: Ye and that: men of moste wyt and worthynes


s: Whiche by that meane dyd best of all eschewe


s: All worldly sclaunder and lyuyd in vertue


s: He that intendeth to lyue a rightwyse lyfe


s: And so procedeth in maners and good dede


s: Of worldly sclaunder, complaynt, hatered, and stryfe


s: And all yll wyll, he ought nat to take hede


s: For he that is iuste ought no thynge for to drede


s: A sclaundrynge tonge, ye, be it neuer so wode


s: For suche lewde tonges can none hurte that ar gode.


s: Lyue well and wysely, than let men chat theyr fyll


s: Wordes ar but wynde, and though it oft so fall


s: That of lewde wordes comyth great hurte and yll


s: Yet byde the ende, that onely prouyth all


s: If thou canst suffer truste well that thou shall


s: Ouercome thyne ennemyes better by pacience


s: If poetis that somtyme vyce blamyd and discommendyd


s: And holy Prophetis whiche also dyd the same


s: To suche vayne and mortall wordes had intendyd


s: They sholde nat haue durst the peoples vyce to blame


s: So sholde they haue lost their honour and good name


s: Theyr fame and meryt, but nowe they haue nat so


s: But spred theyr fame, whiche neuer away shall go


s: Forsoth none lyueth within the worlde wyde


s: Whiche can hym selfe at euery tyme so gyde


s: To please eche fole, for none can some content


s: Happy and blessyd and lyue in welth and eas


s: Whiche euery man cowde serue content and pleas


s: But suche is none, and he that wyll assay


s: For to content eche folysshe mannes mynde


s: Must brake his slepe and stody nyght and day


s: And yet alway some fole shall be behynde


s: Ye if one lyue well, yet wyll they somwhat fynde


s: Behynde his backe hym to sclaunder and diffame


s: For beggers and bawdes therin haue all theyr game


s: For whether thou dwell in Est west north or south


s: Of suche dryuels euer shalt thou fynde plente


s: One must haue moche mele, to stoppe eche mannys mouth


s: Sclander is the cunnynge of all the comonte


s: Whiche lyue them selfe in shame and vylany


s: Euen nowe they speke repentynge by and by


s: Thus all the cunnynge and stody dilygent.


s: And diffame other whiche ar but innocent


s: Wherfore let suche as ar discrete and wyse


s: Nought set by them that lesyngys doth deuyse


s: Nor theyr vayne foly: for he that doth certayne


s: Is but, a fole. and euer shall lyue in payne.


s: Trouble nat thy selfe (thou man) where is no nede


s: And arme thou thy selfe with goodly pacyence


s: Unto backbytynge syns that no resystence


s: May be founde to withstande his violence


s: And take thou this one thynge for thy comfort


s: That none wyse, or good, wyll commyt this offence


s: But all ar caytyffes, that ar of this lewde sort.


s: Suche as them shewyth wysdome and doctryne


s: And at theyr hedes (vngoodly) stonys cast


s: In mynde disdaynynge to wysdome to enclyne


s: Of folysshe mockers, let wyse men them eschewe


s: For no correccion can brynge them to vertue]


s: O Hertles folys, haste here to our doctryne


s: For here shall I shewe you good and veryte


s: Enclyne, and ye fynde shall great prosperyte


s: Ensuynge the doctryne of our faders olde


s: And godly lawes in valour worth great golde


s: Who that wyll folowe the graces manyfolde


s: Whiche ar in vertue, shall fynde auauncement


s: Wherfore ye folys that in your syn ar bolde


s: Ensue ye wysedome and leue your lewde intent


s: Wysdome is the way of men most excellent


s: Therfore haue done, and shortly spede your pace


s: To quaynt your selfe and company with grace.


s: Lerne what is vertue, therin is great solace


s: Lerne what is trouth sadnes and prudence


s: Let grutche be gone, and grauyte purchace


s: Cesse to be folys, and ay to sue offence


s: Folowe ye vertue, chefe rote of godlynes


s: For it and wysdome is grounde of clenlynes


s: Wysedome and vertue two thynges ar doutles


s: Knoweth no thynge, and wyll nought knowe at all


s: All folysshe mockers I purpos to repreue


s: Clawe he his backe that felyth ytche or greue


s: Mockers and scorners that ar harde of byleue


s: With a rugh combe here wyll I clawe and grate


s: To proue if they wyll from theyr vyce remeue


s: And leue theyr foly whiche causeth great debate


s: Suche caytyfs spare neyther pore man nor estate


s: And where theyr selfe ar moste worthy of dyrysion


s: Other men to scorne is all theyr moste condicion


s: Whiche of wyse men despyseth the doctryne


s: With mowes, mockes, scorne, and collusyon


s: Rewardynge rebukes, for theyr good disciplyne


s: Shewe to suche wysdome, yet shall they nat enclyne


s: That who that wyll a Fole rebuke or blame


s: Thus in derysyon, haue folys theyr speciall game


s: Correct a wyse man, that wolde eschewe yll name


s: And fayne wolde lerne, and his lewde lyfe amende


s: And to thy wordes he gladly shall intende


s: If by mysfortune a rightwyse man offende


s: And hym that hym techyth taketh for his frende


s: Hym selfe puttynge mekely vnto subieccion


s: Folowynge his preceptis and good dyreccion


s: He shall his techer, hate, sclaunder, and dyffame


s: Howbeit his wordes, oft turne to his owne shame


s: And his owne dartis retourne to hym agayne


s: And in wo endyth, great mysery and payne


s: That they that on mockes alway theyr myndes cast


s: Shall of all other be mocked at the last


s: He that goeth right, stedfast sure and fast


s: May hym well mocke that goth haltynge and lame


s: And he that is whyte may well his scornes cast


s: Agaynst a man of ynde, but no man ought to blame


s: But who that of synne is clene in dede and thought


s: May hym well scorne whose lyuynge is starke nought


s: The scornes of Naball full dere sholde haue ben bought


s: Had nat by kyndnes right crafty meanes sought


s: The wrath of Dauyd to temper and asswage


s: Hath nat two berys in theyr fury and rage


s: For they the Prophete Helyseus dyd scorne


s: So myght they curse the tyme that they were borne


s: For theyr mockynge of this Prophete dyuyne


s: So many other of this sorte often mowrne


s: For theyr lewde mockes, and fall in to ruyne


s: To this lewde flocke of Folys for se thou shall


s: Them moste scornynge that ar most bad of all


s: Ye mockynge Folys that in scorne set your ioy


s: Whiche hym, after, cursyd for his transgressyon


s: And made hym seruaunt to all his lyne and stocke


s: Syns ye ar nought, and other scorne and mocke


s: He thynketh that this wretchyd erth is best


s: And thoughe that here be neyther ioy nor rest


s: Yet had some leuer here styll to remayne


s: Than to depart to heuen voyde of al payne]


s: My hande is wery: fayne wolde I rest a space


s: That to haue rest: they wyll graunt me no grace


s: They ar suche that this worlde so greatly loue


s: That they despyse the heuenly Royalme aboue


s: They often thynke in theyr mynde preuely


s: And by them selfe in this wyse oft they say


s: Graunt me thy grace that I may lyue alway


s: To se of this worlde the extreme ende and day


s: As for thy royalme, forsoth I set no thynge


s: But yet this fole doth nat desyre this tyme


s: To clens his mynde from all synfull cryme


s: But rather that he his pleasour may ensue


s: And with his maters and felawes suche as he


s: To lyue in wantonnes and blyndnes lascyuyte


s: Suche sytteth theyr myndes and theyr felycyte


s: Not ferynge hell whiche is rewarde of vyce.


s: Those dredefull dennys, in a right ferefull wyse


s: With fyres flamynge, and manyfolde tourment


s: Can nat suche folys, theyr synnes cause to stent


s: O sleuthfull fole say why doste nat thou call


s: Unto thy mynde that this worldes wretchydnes


s: Is full of sorowe moche more bytter than gall


s: Uoyde of all ioy, all pleasour and swetnes


s: Why settest thou so moche by frayle delyciousnes


s: On vayne pleasours, whiche shall sothly decay


s: Man note my wordes and gyue to them credence


s: I say that pleasours and also ioyes mundayne


s: Ar fylled with sorowe bytternes and payne


s: And yet alas the worlde so doth men blynde


s: That it they loue and caste heuen out of mynde


s: Wherfore it hapneth full often as I fynde


s: That suche as foloweth shamefull wantonnes


s: Shall ofte perceyue great shame and wretchydnes


s: And them most suffer, with great mundayne distres.


s: And better charges, and after must nede endure


s: Cruell deth whiche ende is of euery creature


s: The worlde shall passe: ye and all ioy mundayne


s: Without all doute at last shall haue an ende


s: And euery thynge outher fruytfull or barayne


s: Shall to the grounde outher firste or last discende


s: Thus is this wretchyd worlde moche vnstable


s: Wherfore me thynke it is a great outrage


s: But without doute the tyme shall come and houre


s: Some to theyr ioy, some to wo and doloure


s: None shall eskhape that rightwyse iugement.


s: But eche be rewardyd as he his tyme hath spent


s: Despysynge this worlde shall gladly there apere


s: But they that here haue led theyr lyfe in vyce


s: And ferefull to byde that sentence of iustyce


s: Syns of theyr synne excuse they can none fynde


s: But to conclude forsoth that fole is blynde


s: That for worldly welth, from god wolde hym deuyde


s: And for vayne clay, the hye heuyn set a syde


s: O blynde man whiche hast thy moste felycyte


s: On worldly thinges, alas make clere thy mynde


s: What fyndest thou here, but great aduersyte


s: Wylt thou for it leue y^t heuenly ioy behynde


s: And where thou myght euerlastynge ryches fynde


s: Where as is helth, endles lyfe and all goodnes


s: Wylt thou forsake it for worldly wretchydnes


s: Wylt thou heuyn compare with his paynfull lyfe


s: There on to thynke thou art vnwyse certayne


s: There is concorde, here is no thynge but stryfe


s: There is all rest, and here is care and payne


s: There is true loue: here is scorne and disdayne


s: There is all goodnes, here all yll and offence


s: Nowe chuse the best: here is great difference


s: And gyueth occasyon to men on hym to rayle.


s: Whiche goth in the chirche, his houndes hym aboute


s: Some rennynge, some fast tyed to his tayle


s: A hawke on his fyst suche one withouten fayle


s: Better were to be thens, for by his dyn and cry


s: He troublyth them that wolde pray deuoutly:]


s: Whiche thynke that it is no shame nor vylany


s: Within the chirche, the seruyce to encomber


s: With theyr lewde barkynge roundynge dyn and cry


s: And whyle good people ar praynge stedfastly


s: Theyr herte to good, with meke mynde and deuout


s: Suche folys them let, with theyr mad noyse and shout


s: And whyle the prestis also them exercyse.


s: In matyns masse sermon or prechynge dyuyne


s: Or other due thynges that longe to theyr seruyce.


s: Techynge the people to vertue to enclyne


s: Than these folys as it were rorynge swyne


s: With theyr gettynge and talys of vycyousnes


s: Trouble all suche seruyce, that is sayd, more and les


s: In to the churche than comys another sote


s: Or to be sene, and to showe his gardyd cote


s: Another on his fyst a Sparhauke or fawcon


s: Or els a Cokow, and so wastynge his shone


s: Before the auters he to and fro doth wander


s: In comys another his houndes at his tayle


s: With lynes and leshes and other lyke baggage.


s: His dogges barkyth, so that withouten fayle


s: The hole churche is troubled by theyr outrage


s: So innocent youth lernyth the same of age


s: And theyr lewde sounde doth the churche fyll.


s: But in this noyse the good people kepe them styll.


s: Another tyme they flutter with theyr wynges


s: And nowe the houndes barkynge strykes the skye


s: Nowe sounde theyr fete, and nowe the chaynes rynges


s: They clap with theyr handes, by suche maner thynges


s: They make of the churche, for theyr hawkes a mewe


s: And Canell to theyr dogges, whiche they shall after rewe


s: So with suche folys is neyther peas nor rest


s: Unto the holy churche they haue no reuerence


s: But wander about to see who get may best


s: As mad men they fere nat our sauyours presence


s: Wherin is gyuen to man euerlastynge grace


s: There ar handlyd pledynges and causes of the lawe


s: There ar made bargayns of dyuers maner thynges


s: Byenges and sellynges scant worth a hawe


s: And there ar for lucre contryued false lesynges


s: And whyle the prest his Masse or matyns synges


s: These folys whiche to the Churche do repayre


s: Ar chattynge and bablynge as it were in a fayre


s: Some gygyll and lawghe and some on maydens stare


s: And some on wyues with wanton countenaunce


s: As for the seruyce they haue small force or care


s: But full delyte them in theyr mysgouernaunce


s: Some with theyr slyppers to and fro doth prance


s: Clappynge with their helys in churche and in quere


s: So that good people can nat the seruyce here


s: What shall I wryte of maydens and of wyues


s: Of theyr roundynges and vngoodly comonynge


s: And in the churche therof hath hyr talkynge


s: The other hath therto theyr erys lenynge


s: And than whan they all hath harde forth hir tale


s: With great deuocyon they get them to the ale.


s: Ar vsyd shamefull bargayns and talys of rybawdry


s: Jettynges and mockynges and great derysyon


s: There fewe ar or none of perfyte deuocion


s: And whan our lorde is consecrate in fourme of brede


s: Therby walkes a knaue, his bonet on his hede


s: Ar sayde of the preste in goddes owne presence


s: Suche caytyfs kepe talys and communycacion


s: Fast by the auter, thynkynge it none offence


s: And where as the angels ar ther with reuerence


s: Laudynge and worshyppynge our holy sauyour


s: These vnkynde caytyfs wyll scantly hym honour


s: Syns none of them theyr fautes wyll refrayne


s: But ay procede in this theyr lewde errour


s: And nat withstandynge that Christ our sauyour


s: Hath left vs example, that none sholde mysdo


s: Within the chirche, yet inclyne we nat therto.


s: Jhonn the euangelyst doth openly expres.


s: Howe criste our sauyour dyd dryue out and expell


s: From the Temple, suche as vsed there falsnes


s: And all other that therin dyd bye and sell


s: That of goddes house they made a den of theues.


s: Remember this man, for why thou dost the same


s: Defylynge goddes Chirche with synne and vanyte


s: Whiche sothly was ordeyned to halowe goddes name


s: And to lawde and worshyp the holy trynyte


s: With deuout harte, loue, and all benygnyte


s: And with all our myght our lorde to magnyfy


s: For this cause hath god the holy chirche ordeyned


s: And nat for rybawde wordes and thynges vayne


s: And if our lorde sholde nowe come downe agayne.


s: To dryue out of the churche suche as there do syn


s: Forsoth I thynke, right fewe sholde byde within


s: O man that bostest thy selfe in cristes name


s: Callynge the christen, se thou thy synne refuse


s: Remember well it is both synne and shame


s: The house of god, thus to defyle and abuse


s: But this one thynge causeth me oft to muse


s: That the false paynyms within theyr Temples be


s: To theyr ydols moche more deuout than we


s: His owne deth or putteth hym selfe in ieopardy


s: Lepynge in a well, or in a flamynge fyre


s: And where he myght lyue so dyeth wyllyngly


s: And if that they be drowned outher brent


s: I fynde mo folys yet. whome I shall note


s: Suche ar they whiche pray both day and nyght


s: To god and his sayntes cryeng with open throte


s: O glorious god helpe me by thy great myght


s: That I may clens my herte and clere my syght


s: Wherby all foly and synne may fro me fall


s: Suche folys oft pray for theyr amendement


s: Unto our lorde with syghynges sore and depe


s: But yet to synne contynually they assent


s: And after the same often complayne and wepe


s: Than say they playne that god hath had no kepe


s: Unto theyr prayer and taken of it no hede


s: But theyr owne foly is cause of theyr lewde dede


s: They se the peryll before theyr faces playne


s: That god hath ordeyned, for foly and for synne


s: They pray for helpe, and yet ar they full fayne


s: And besely laboure the same alone to wyn


s: But they them selfe wyll helpe no thynge at all


s: Than thynke they theyr prayers to god nat acceptable


s: Bycause (anone) they haue nat all theyr wyll


s: To here theyr cry and it graunt and fulfyll


s: These folys in theyr vyce contynue styll


s: And where they myght they fynde no remedy


s: Prayeth vnto god and to his sayntis aboue


s: Nat knowynge what may content theyr folysshe mynde


s: Nor whether theyr askynge be for theyr behoue


s: But sothly this dare I both say and proue


s: That neuer man shall syn without his wyll


s: If that one with his owne wyll doth fall


s: Whan he is there. if he lowde crye and call


s: Bothe on god and man for helpe and remedy


s: He sekyth that peryll, and dyeth worthely


s: So were it foly to gyue hym corde or trayne


s: Whan suche folys ar sure vpon the grounde


s: Without all daunger, peryll hurt or fere


s: They lepe in the wel and yet fere to be drowned


s: With suche lyke foly hym selfe so sore dyd dere


s: That knowyngly and with his owne consent


s: Hymself he lost and by fyers fyre was brent


s: He lept hedelynge into the flamynge fyre


s: Of a brennynge hyll whiche callyd is Ethnay


s: To knowe the trouth, and nature to enquyre


s: Whether that same flame were very fyre or nay


s: So with his deth the trouth he dyd assay


s: But who that wolde hym drawen out of that hyll


s: Had ben a fole, syns it was his owne wyll


s: For why his mynde was blyndyd so certayne


s: That thoughe a man had hym delyuered than


s: The same peryll wolde he haue proued agayne


s: That is at eas, and hym nat so holde can


s: And also he that putteth hymselfe in drede


s: Or fere and peryll, where as he hath no nede


s: So he that prayeth to god that he may get


s: The blysse of heuen, and scape infernall payne


s: On frayle ryches, welth and ioy mundayne


s: On stedfast fortune, on lucre or on gayne


s: For certaynly these thynges of worldly welth


s: Oft man deuydeth away from heuenly helth


s: Thus he that prayeth for welth or for ryches


s: Prayeth for his hurt and cause of viciousnes


s: For worldly welth doth vyce oft multyply


s: But who that prayeth, and can nat as he ought


s: He bloweth in the wynde, and shall nat haue his thought


s: And who that to honour couetyse to ascende


s: He seketh his peryll for if that he descende


s: From welth and worshyp to payne and pouerte


s: It is but worthy, and let hym pacyent be


s: He is worthy sorowe that wyll it alway seke


s: Auoyde suche thynges the whiche myght cause the same


s: They that so doth may theyr owne madnes blame


s: For he that is sure, and to a fray wyll ren


s: May fortune come home agayne, nosles or lame


s: And so were it better for to haue byd within


s: Of the way of felycyte and godnes, and of


s: By payne and labour, alway right dylygent


s: Norysshynge theyr syn agaynst all right and lawe


s: But whan they ar dede than shall theyr punysshement


s: In hell be dowblyd with cartis of whelys foure


s: Where as they thought, deth shuld ende theyr laboure]


s: God suffreth nat eche vicious fole to knowe


s: The wonders that he made hath on this grounde


s: And dayly worketh. wherfore theyr syn doth growe


s: So that theyr foly them selfe doth confounde


s: And here theyr bodyes to great labours ar bounde


s: Sparynge no peryll for pleasour and for gayne


s: Than after deth haue they euerlastynge payne


s: So he that here lyueth in vyce and synne


s: Than what auantage is it for man to wyne


s: All orthly tresour, and of hell payne be sure


s: Whiche goddes lawes wyll nat here holde and kepe


s: Shall after deth haue cause to wayle and wepe


s: And suche as here wyll nat knowe theyr sauyour


s: Obseruynge his preceptis and commaundement


s: Whiche god hathe ordeyned to saue vs from erroure


s: And vs commaundyd to kepe with clene intent


s: Ouer all the worlde. as rule moste excellent


s: That foloweth in this worlde voluptuosyte


s: All suche in this worlde, by theyr blynde negligence


s: Drawe styll the cart of greuous besynes.


s: With payne and charge and, whan this wretchydnes


s: Is past and gone, yet after this they shall


s: In hell endure great tourmentis eternall


s: There shalt (thou fole) the charet drawe alway


s: With dowble paynes both tedyous and cruell


s: Wherfore thou fole retourne the I the pray.


s: Seke nat the way whiche ledeth vnto hell


s: With his foule dennes, more darke than tunge can tell


s: And thoughe the way be esy streyght and playne


s: The ende is nought, I aduyse the tourne agayne


s: To suche as purpose in mynde to come therto


s: Thus is no meruayle though this way be playne


s: By dyuers folys whiche haste them to that payne.


s: By way contynuall therto: but none therfro


s: The dredefull dore to them that wyll in go


s: Both day and nyght is open, it doth forsake


s: No folys that wyll theyr iourney thyther take


s: Is way of grace plesour, and all felycyte


s: In it suche walke as here lyue vertuously


s: And blessyd men, but nat suche as vyciouse be


s: Yet is it narowe, and full of difficulte


s: There is many a harde flynt brere and thorne


s: And no meruayle for it is nat greatly worne


s: For why lewde people, whiche is the gretest sort


s: Forsake this way for the payne and hardnes


s: With all that lyue by grace in ryghtwysnes


s: Suche well consyder that heuyns blessydnes


s: Can nat be gotten by pleasour rest nor eas


s: Wherfore this way can nat suche synners pleas


s: God so hath ordeyned that who wyll haue vertue


s: Must it obtayne with payne and dilygence


s: And great labour, whiche many nowe eschewe


s: Fewe seke the way to christis hye presence


s: Fast rennyth leftwarde, but fewe on the right hande


s: And though the way be harde that lyeth therto


s: Forsoke it nat for all that great sharpnes


s: But who that taketh the other way certayne


s: Shall fynde at the ende eternall payne and wo


s: Thoughe the way thether be easy streyght and playne


s: By anger or malyce brake, platter pot, or pan


s: The son in hande shall take some cauderon


s: And lerne to breke it if his small power can


s: Thus oft tyme chyldren haue cause to curse or ban


s: Theyr frendes for suche example of lewdnes


s: For soner that they lerne than vertue or goodes]


s: And folysshe parentis lewde of your langage


s: Syns ye be worthy therin to haue a stage


s: Nowe cast I repreues agaynst your outrage


s: Whiche boldly bost you of your vnthryfty lyues


s: Before your maydes, your doughters and your wyues


s: By theyr example cause great inconuenyence


s: Before theyr children recountynge rybaudry


s: And in that synne wheron they bost and vant


s: They make them perfyte whiche erst were ignorant


s: Theyr wordes ar voyde of shame and honestye


s: Theyr lyfe is without mesure and reuerence


s: But yet they thynke that they moste worthy be


s: That moste can tell of this greuous offence


s: Thus all the youth that is in theyr presence


s: Or that doth here theyr vyce and rybawdry


s: Vnto the same with theyr full mynde aply


s: Thus theyr yonge children maners lernyth none


s: The wyfe hath occasyon to breke hir chastyte


s: That of what maners the folysshe husbondes be


s: Such ar theyr wyues, children and housholde


s: The yonge Cok lerneth to crowe hye of the olde


s: A folysshe Father, full hardly shall ensyne


s: His sone to good lyfe or to good gouernaunce


s: The sone wyll folowe his father in that daunce


s: And if the father vse hasarde or the chaunce


s: If that the husbonde be vycious of his lyfe


s: Wastfull or dronken, or vyle in his langage


s: His sonnes doughters, his seruauntes and his wyfe


s: Wyll lerne of hym to passe the same passage


s: If the wyfe knowe, in mynde she wyll be wroth


s: Without he haue a hode of the same cloth


s: An olde prouerbe hath longe agone be sayde


s: That oft the sone in maners lyke wyll be


s: Vnto the Father, and in lyke wyse the mayde


s: And before theyr children bost them of the same


s: The sone and doughter shall folowe syre and dame


s: The monkes thynke it lawfull for to play


s: Whan that the Abbot bryngeth them the dyce


s: Right so the Father, can nought or lytell say


s: Agaynst the sone, nor hym blame or chastyce


s: If he hym selfe be taken in that same vyce


s: Thus lyues the Father in synne withouten shame


s: And after his deth the sone shall do the same


s: And full of foly without all hope to stent


s: Howe longe shall god our lorde and sauyour


s: This synne suffer without greuous punysshement


s: That the fathers foly synne and great outrage


s: Is left to the sonne as it were herytage


s: And no meruayle, for it hath neuer ben seen


s: That of a wolfe a shepe hath be forth brought


s: Or that a calfe or lambe gendred hath been


s: Of a fell tygre: right so if it were sought


s: Ouer all the worlde. a Father that is nought


s: Sholde scant be founde, whiche coude brynge vp his childe


s: With his synne in no maner poynt defylyd


s: The yonge crab bacwarde doth crepe or go


s: As doth the olde, none can hir cours redres


s: These yonge children for the moste part also


s: Foloweth theyr fathers synne and his lewdnes


s: In honest lyfe, goodnes grace and chastyte


s: May brynge forth children of maners as they be


s: Sayde by a childe whiche dronken was with wyne


s: That his Father was in that case doutles


s: Knewe that the childes maners dyd inclyne


s: Vnto his Fathers, and so was it founde trewe


s: By them whiche well that childes fader knewe


s: But though the Father and mother also be nought


s: Without dout this one thynge apereth playne


s: That the childe is suche as it is vp brought


s: And nat lyghtly chaungyd without great charge or payne


s: Therfore let euery man hym selfe refrayne


s: Within his hous from all thynge worthy blame


s: Than shall his children and seruautes do the same


s: Ye that haue children or other great housholde


s: Subdued to your seruyce, and your obedyence


s: Kepe vertuous lyfe, for that is worth great golde


s: And great example to youth to auoyde offence


s: But if ye boost you of synne and neglygence


s: In rybawde wordes, gyue credence to this clause


s: Your lewde example is the chefe grounde and cause


s: Oft blyndeth attysynge vnto inconuenyence


s: And them as shepe sleeth for all theyr innocence


s: But other some it kepyth with myght and violence


s: As bulles bounde sure to endure great care


s: And other as byrdes it tangleth in hir snare]


s: Drawe nere ye folys to you I crye and call


s: Whiche ar of grace clene destytute and bare


s: Folowynge your lust and pleasour corporall


s: But for your soule ye take no thought ne care


s: To whome may I this shamefull lust compare


s: Saue to a harlat faynynge, fals and couetous.


s: Of whome comyth shame and bytes venemous


s: She syttyth in the strete as past both shame and fere


s: Hir brestes bare to tempt them that passe by


s: Hir face anoyntyd blasynge abrode hir here


s: Or els on hir folysshe front enlaced hye


s: Hir smocke to garnysshyd so hir dysceytfull iye


s: To shamfull lust a thousande doth attyce


s: Of youth whiche erst perchuance knewe nought of vyce


s: Hir chamber full of flatery and disceyte


s: Anone is opened the blynde fole entreth in


s: Of folysshe lust pleasour and mortall syn


s: Hir soule she sellyth ryches therby to wyne


s: And what riches: a rewarde sothly full vyle


s: The soules damneth and bodyes doth defyle


s: The one departyth, another comys in agayne


s: Without all shame dare she them boldly pray


s: To hir fals pleasours, Thus by hir gyle and trayne


s: This folysshe youth to hir wyll nat denay


s: But vnto hir some lepe both nyght and day


s: Without mesure, rennynge to lese theyr lyfe


s: The symple lambe his necke doth out extende


s: So doth these folys, sekynge a shamefull ende


s: And theyr owne deth, though they myght fynde remedy


s: Vnto my wordes and thou shalt here and se.


s: Howe moche thou oughtest this folysshe lust to fle


s: The soule it damneth, and drowneth depe in hell


s: The wyt it wastyth, and confoundeth the mynde


s: It causeth man his londe and good to sell


s: And if that he none other mene can fynde


s: To rob and stele he oft tyme is inclyned


s: Besyde all these this fowle lust is so vyle


s: That with fowle sauour it shall thy body fele


s: Thoughe of lewde lust the ioy be short and small


s: And thoughe the pleasour therof be soon ouer past


s: With wofull dolour menglyd, that euer shall last


s: Therfore leue of: do nat thy pleasour cast


s: On worldly welth, delyte ioy and pleasour


s: For soon they pas and chaunge at euery hour


s: Who that in this wretchyd worlde wyll auoyde


s: Of voluptuousnes the ioyes frayle and vayne


s: And suffre nat hym with them to be acloyde


s: Infect or drownyd, shall for the same certayne


s: Euerlastynge lyfe, and endles ioy obtayne


s: And for his hye tryumphe and dyuyne prudence


s: Haue the fruycyon of goddes hye presence


s: But who that wyll his carnall lust ensue


s: Shall here haue shame, and after payne cruell


s: But of right many this one I shall you tell


s: In carnall lust and so his mynde dyd cast


s: On loue prohybyte, that grace was fro hym past


s: The loue of vertue was full out of his mynde


s: Thynkynge after deth no welth nor ioy to fynde


s: For this is the sentence of the prynce of derknes


s: His body and soule deuydyd soon in twayne


s: From worldly pleasour vnto infernall payne


s: That from worldly pleasour and voluptuosyte


s: With all our myght we ought vs to refrayne


s: For thoughe the first of them delycious be


s: Theyr ende is poyson, and of sournes plente


s: Sue wyse men vertue, and set suche lust asyde


s: For they ar folys that in it lyue and byde


s: Amende mad men your blynde mysgouernaunce


s: Of flysshely lust and corporall pleasaunce


s: Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr


s: Which by theyr bablynge wordes and langage


s: Can nat kepe close the secrete of theyr mynde.


s: But all theyr counsel out they shewe at large.


s: So that oft therof procedeth great damage.


s: As Murder, myschefe, hatered and debate.


s: That after they repent. But than it is to late]


s: And to hym selfe ingendryth oft great stryfe


s: Whiche can nat hyde his counsell and secrete


s: And all that he hath done in his hole lyfe


s: Or that to do here after he doth purpose


s: The noble Sampson moste excellent of myght


s: And strongest man that euer was get or borne


s: Were nat this foly: sholde nat haue lost his syght


s: Nor had his here, by gyle from his hede ofshorne


s: And of his ennemyes ben laughyd vnto scorne


s: And at the last with herte wrethfull and wo


s: If he had kept his secretes in his mynde


s: With his owne wyll he dyed in great dolour.


s: By the fals treason of his lemman vnkynde


s: Howe many thousandes haue suffred paynes smart


s: And all for shewynge the secretes of theyr hart


s: Shortened the dayes of his pore doutfull lyfe


s: For shewynge the preuetees of his intent


s: By his owne foly to his disceytfull wyfe


s: And thoughe he longe escaped had the stryfe


s: And war of Thebes whiche he dyd longe defende


s: Yet at the leest his tunge was his owne ende


s: Thus olde storyes doth oft recorde and tell


s: By theyr examples whiche they vnto vs gyue


s: It goeth through them as water trough a syue


s: Wherfore let them that quyetly wolde lyue


s: No more of theyr counsell to any woman showe


s: Than that they wolde that euery man dyd knowe


s: Whiche shewe theyr counsell by theyr hasty langage.


s: To euery man without all thought and care


s: For they of wysdome and reason ar but bare


s: And who that his owne secrete wyll forth tell


s: Howe sholde he hyde another mannes counsell


s: Yet other be whiche by theyr flaterynge trayne


s: Bablynge that they haue theyr wyll in euery thynge


s: As prosperous welth loue, ryches and cunnynge


s: And of great dedes done both on see and londe


s: Some by theyr falshode, some by strength and vertue


s: But if one laboured the trouth to vnderstonde


s: Suche folysshe wordes sholde all be founde vntrewe


s: Let neuer man to suche his counsell shewe


s: For of one worde these folys makyth twayne


s: Whiche tourneth many to losse rebuke and payne


s: Be kept secrete and nat come out at large


s: And if thou do thou shalt be in this barge


s: For howe wylt thou thynke that another man


s: Can kepe thy counsell syns thou thy selfe ne can


s: If the kynge Achab had nat vttred and tolde


s: Vnto his wyfe his wyll and mynde so playne


s: By hir fals treason, and dysceyt manyfolde


s: But for the same, Achab suffred great payne


s: By deth in batayle, and for a punysshment


s: His wyfe with houndes was all to torne and rent


s: Thus it apereth that he is wyse and ware


s: Whiche can his counsell kepe within his hart


s: For by that mean may he escape great care


s: The Prophete seynge what dyuers paynes smart


s: Comyth oft to them whiche doth theyr secret tell


s: Eche man exortyth to kepe close his counsell.


s: Thou man that hast thy secret in thy brest


s: Holde it styll there suffer it nat out to go


s: Who that so doth, therby shall fynde great rest


s: Ne to thy frende shewe nat thy mynde also


s: As often hapneth, than myght he the bewry


s: So sholde thy foly tourne vnto thy great wo


s: Howe be it suche thynges are prouyd comonly.


s: Rather for hir ryches and hir worldly gode


s: Than for pure loue, or hope to haue lynage


s: But suche youth as mary them selfe with age


s: The profyte and pleasour of wedlocke lese certayne


s: And worthely lyue in brawlynge stryfe and payne.]


s: Under the Asse tayle thoughe it be no thynge pure


s: Yet many seke and grope for the vyle fatnes


s: Gatherynge togyther the fowle dunge and ordure


s: Suche ar they that for treasour and ryches


s: Whyle they ar yonge in theyr chefe lustynes


s: Lesynge theyr youth, and shortynge so theyr lyfe


s: They that so do hath neyther rest nor peas


s: But besy brawlynge and stryfe contynuall


s: They have no pleasour, but thought and great dyseas


s: Rebuke out braydynge, and strypes whan they fall


s: But theyr owne foly is grounde and cause of all


s: For they be maryd unto the vyle treasour


s: And precious bagges, but nat for godly pleasour


s: They haue no hope of children nor lynage


s: Loue is there none, and durynge theyr wretchyd lyfe


s: Auoyde of brawlynge, of hatered and of stryfe


s: But that pore man that weddeth a ryche wyfe


s: Cast in his nose shall styll hir bagges fynde


s: For whose cause he made was made and blynde


s: They that ar weddyd nat for loue but rychesse


s: Of moryage despysynge the pleasour and profyte


s: But oft mysfortune them greuously doth byte


s: Thus gone is theyr pleasour theyr ioy and delyte


s: And for vayne treasoure suche ar so glad and fayne


s: That for the same they them subdue to payne


s: They wyllyngly to payne them selfe subdue


s: The whiche ar weddyd for wretchyd couetyse


s: To honeste nor wysdome but lyue ay in malyce


s: For if a woman be fowle and full of vice


s: And lewde of maners, nought both to man and lad


s: Yet good shall hir mary be she neuer so bad


s: Wolde spouse his doughter vnto a strange man


s: But if he be ryche in londes and good: than


s: He shall be prayed his doughter for to haue


s: The firste enquyrynge and speciall questyon


s: Is of the money, that thynge namely they moue


s: So whan they mete they neuer haue perfyte loue


s: Wherfore it were better to suche for theyr behoue


s: Than in wedloke in payne for frayle ryches


s: And disagreynge and moche agaynst the lawe


s: Bytwene fresshe youth, and lame vnlusty age


s: The loue bytwene them is scantly worth a strawe


s: So doth the one styll on the other gnawe


s: And oft the man in mynde doth sore complayne.


s: Than muste he haue another prymme or twayne


s: With them to slake his wanton yonge cowrage


s: But in that space must he endure great payne


s: Hir bablynge tunge whiche no man can asswage


s: With wrathfull wordes shall sle hym at the laste


s: His other prymes his good shall spende and waste


s: Thus who that selleth his youthes lustynes


s: For frayle ryches and this mundayne vanyte


s: He byeth stryfe, gyle and falshode endlesse


s: Suche force nat for fayth true loue nor honestye


s: And thoughe that he discende of hye degre


s: For hope of money he shall an olde fole wed


s: And so these folys subdue them to bondage


s: And worthely endure suche payne and punysshement


s: But that they lese and lyue in sore tourment


s: They wast theyr good, and so whan that is spent


s: And nought remayneth theyr bodyes to relefe


s: Theyr disputacion is nought but hore and thefe


s: But if I sholde wryte all the vnhappynes


s: The wrath discorde and the great deuysyon


s: And nat for loue. I neuer sholde haue done


s: That he shall neuer thryue ne come to his behoue


s: That weddyth a wyfe for gode and nat for loue


s: And wolde haue the profyte of faythfull maryage


s: This worldly ryches ought no thynge to set by


s: But wed for loue and hope to haue lynage


s: To mekenes vertue and discrete gouernaunce


s: And other maners whiche ar more commendable


s: Than worldly treasour or suche vnsure substaunce


s: Wherfore consyder and call to thy remembraunce


s: That better is to haue some woman pore and bare


s: And lyue in eas: Than one with habundaunce


s: Of great ryches: and euer to lyue in care


s: The dartis of suche ouer all the wordly flye


s: And euer in fleynge theyr fethers multyply


s: No state in erth therfro can kepe hym sure


s: His sede encreasyth as it wolde euer endure]


s: Folys nat a fewe whiche ar therto enclynyd


s: Pryckynge theyr frowarde hertes vnto vyce


s: Of others damage reioysynge in theyr mynde


s: In wrathfull hertes, it wastyth his owne nest


s: Nat suffrynge other to lyue in eas and rest


s: If one haue plenty of treasour and ryches


s: These folys enuyous that of the same haue les


s: They it enuy and wysshe that they myght sterue


s: Howe be it suche folys can nat the same deserue


s: These folys desyre agaynst both lawe and right


s: If they may nat by flaterynge nor by myght


s: Than by fals malyce they hym enuy and blame


s: Outher if one by his vertue hath good name


s: Their wrath them blyndeth so that they none can loue


s: That it is incurable and voyde of remedy


s: Or do some mysche, whiche he reputyth best


s: Tyll it be done, he neuer hath eas nor rest


s: No slepe, no rest nor pleasour can they fynde


s: To them so swete, pleasaunt and delectable


s: That may expell this malyce from theyr mynde


s: It maketh hym lene. his colour pale and wan.


s: His loke frowarde, his face without pleasaunce


s: Pyllynge lyke scalys, his wordes ay vntrue


s: His iyen sparklynge with fyre ay fresshe and newe


s: But euer his herte by furious wrath is dull


s: By Joseph whome his bretherne dyd neuer beholde


s: With louynge loke, but sharpe and cruelly


s: So that they hym haue murdred gladly wolde


s: In them no myrth nor solace can be founde


s: As for gode lost or whan some shyp is drounde


s: Or whan some hous is brent vnto the grounde


s: But whyle these folys on other byte and gnawe


s: Theyr enuy wastyth theyr owne herte and theyr mawe


s: The mount of Ethnay though it brent euer styll


s: Yet (saue itselfe) it brenneth none other thynge


s: So these enuyous Folys by theyr yll wyll


s: Wast theyr owne herte, thoughe they be ay musynge


s: Another man to shame and losse or hurt to brynge


s: Upon them sellfe Thus tournyth this yll agayne


s: To theyr destruccion both shame great losse and payne


s: Doth often, bretherne so cursedly inflame


s: That by the same the one of them conspyre


s: Agaynst the other without all fere and shame


s: Whiche byldyd Rome, but after: enuy so grewe


s: Bytwene them that the one the other slewe


s: What shall I wryte of Cayme and of Abell


s: Howe Cayme for murder suffred great payne and wo


s: Wherfore let hym that is discrete and wyse


s: This wrathfull vyce exyle out of his mynde


s: Sue hir preceptis than shalt thou consort fynde


s: Loue in this lyfe, and ioy whan thou art past


s: Where as enuy thy conscyence shall blynde


s: And both they blode and body mar and wast


s: Whiche in his Bagpype hath more game and sport


s: Than in a Harpe or Lute more swete of melody


s: Whiche in theyr Bable haue all they hole confort


s: For it is oft sayd of men both yonge and olde


s: A fole wyll nat gyue his Babyll for any golde]


s: The grettest synners that man may se or fynde


s: Is whan they wyll by no mean gyue theyr mynde


s: To frendly wordes, to grace or to goodnes


s: Suche folys so set theyr mynde on frowardnes


s: That though one gyue them counsell sad and wyse


s: Aplyeth his mynde right gladly to doctryne


s: He hereth wyse men, his wysdome to augment


s: He them doth folowe and to theyr wordes enclyne


s: And mortall myschefe had leuer be dede or slayne


s: Than byde correccyon or for his profyte payne


s: Suche haue suche pleasour in theyr mad folysshe pype


s: They leuer wolde dye folys than: byde a strype


s: For theyr correccyon and specyall remedy


s: As is their folysshe bagpype and theyr babyll


s: These frantyke folys wyll byde no punysshement


s: Nor smale correccion, for theyr synne and offence


s: No frendly warnynge can chaunge theyr yll intent


s: They here no wysdome but fle from hir presence


s: O mortall fole remember well what thou art


s: Thy dayes ar short and nede thou must depart


s: Out of this lyfe, that canst thou nat denay


s: Yet hast thou reason and wyt wherby thou may


s: Thy selfe here gyde by wysdome ferme and stable


s: Wherby thou passest all bestis vnreasonable


s: God hath also gyuyn vnto the intellygence


s: Than art thou a fole that reason to abuse


s: Supporte his faute and so bere out his vyce


s: The hell tourmentis hym after shall chastyce


s: Correccyon shall the vnto wysdome brynge


s: Whiche is more precious than all erthly ryches


s: Why dost thou bost the of byrth or noblenes


s: Where as all good comyth by wysdome and prudence


s: Is to be named moste ryche and of most myght


s: Here thou his wordes and plant them in thy mynde


s: And folowe the same for they ar sure and right.


s: Better is to endure, thoughe it be nat lyght


s: To suffer a wyse man the sharply to repreue


s: Than a flaterynge fole to clawe the by the sleue


s: Thoughe sharpe correccyon at the first the greue


s: Thou shalt the ende therof fynde profytable


s: Whiche here in fere lyueth sure and stable


s: Ferynge the sharpe payne of hellys punysshement


s: Whiche is correct in his first tender age


s: And in his yocke, whiche doth all yll asswage


s: But these folys bydynge in theyr outrage


s: Whiche of correccyon in this lyfe hath dysdayne


s: May fere to be correct in hell with endles payne


s: Ye obstynate folys that often fall in vyce


s: Howe longe shall ye kepe this frowarde ignoraunce


s: Submyt your myndes, and so from synne aryse


s: Let mekenes slake your mad mysgouernaunce


s: Remember that worldly payne it greuaunce


s: To be compared to hell whiche hath no pere


s: There is styll payne, this is a short penaunce


s: Wherfore correct thy selfe whyle thou art here.


s: And hath no insyght cunnynge nor doctryne


s: Nat knowynge of man, nor herbe the right nature]


s: Yet be mo folys vpon the grounde and londe


s: Whiche in our Shyp may clayme a rowme and place


s: Suche be Phesycians that no thynge vnderstonde


s: Wandrynge about in euery towne and place


s: Uysytynge the seke whiche lyue in heuy case


s: But nought they relefe of those paynes harde


s: Suche that haue practyse and nought of speculatyfe


s: Whan they go vysyte some paynfull pacyent


s: Whan they hym note sure to forgo his lyfe


s: Yet say they other than is in theyr intent


s: Sayth the Phesycyan whan he hath his rewarde


s: Than from the pacyent homewarde departyth he


s: In that meane space the medycyne is to late


s: So may he lay it to his owne folysshe pate


s: The speculacion sholde he before haue sene


s: For that in Phesyke is chefe and pryncypall,


s: Whiche of the cunnynge knowe lytell or nought at all


s: A herbe or wede that groweth vpon a wall


s: Nor none they rede to haue the true scyence


s: Or perfyte knowlege and grounde of medycyne


s: Suche folys disdayne theyr myndes to enclyne


s: But all the substance of theyr blynde faculte


s: They take in bokes that speke of herbes only


s: To fals doctrynes, but first and specyally


s: These olde wyues therwith wyll haue to do


s: Thoughe they nought knowe that doth belonge therto


s: They dare be bolde to take on them the cure


s: Of them diseasyd howe be it that they nat can


s: Suche thynge descerne as longyth to nature


s: What is for woman good, and what for man


s: So oft they ende moche wors than they began


s: That the pore pacyent is so brought to his graue


s: Yet dyuers suters suche folysshe wytches haue


s: Suche wytches boldly dare afferme and say


s: That with one herbe they hele can euery sore


s: Yet besyde this they boldly dare say more


s: Thus many thousandes oft ar by them begyled


s: They say also in this our charge or cure


s: What nedes it note the synes or fyrmament


s: The cause of thynges, or the strength of nature


s: Whether that the seke be stronge or impotent


s: And if it fortune it be to colde or warme


s: The faythles wytche in hande goth with hir scharme


s: Takest thou on the, nought knowynge of scyence


s: With one Salue or plaster, to heale euery sore


s: Yet so thou thynkest, I the compare therfore


s: Unto a lawyer that of his craft nought can


s: Of theyr condicion and both insue one trayne


s: Takynge his god for to encreas his payne


s: The other labours and cauteles oft doth fayne


s: To clawe the coyne by craft from his clyent


s: Castynge hym of whan all his good is spent


s: Also some other ar callyd Phesicians good


s: If he haue money than hath he his intent


s: And if the seke haue store ynough to pay


s: Than shall the cure be dryuen from day to day


s: He shall the cause from terme to terme defarre


s: So laweyers and Phesicians thousandes do marre


s: And whan they no more can of theyr suers haue


s: The playntyf beggyth, the seke is borne to graue


s: But of these lawyers bycause I spoke before


s: Of folysshe Phesicians here onely I intende.


s: On you Phesicians shall I conclude and ende


s: That he for murder may auoyde punysshement


s: Thus thou that of Phesycian hast the name


s: If thou nought knowe of perfyte medycyne


s: To boste the scyence: nat hauynge the doctryne


s: Therfore I counsell that thou thy mynde inclyne


s: To haue the cunnynge, els certaynly thou shall


s: Haue thy blynde craft and lyue a fole with all.


s: Thou blynde Phesician that of thy craft nought can


s: To take on the: the cure of chylde or man


s: And ye that suerly perceyue your faculte


s: Be true therin, and auaryce from you cast


s: And than in paynes to leue hym at the last


s: Nor man so myghty: in ryches nor scyence


s: But at the ende all hath ben gone and spent


s: Agaynst the same no man can make defence


s: Deth all thynge drawyth, ferefull is his presence,


s: It is last ende of euery thynge mundayne


s: Thus mannys fortune of cours is vncertayne]


s: I wonder of your hertis proude and eleuate


s: Whiche on vayne power set so sore your mynde


s: And trust so moche to your vnsure estate


s: As of your lyfe were neyther yere nor date


s: To worldly worshyp ye stedfastly intende


s: As if your lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende


s: And oft by falshode your power to augment


s: But by extorcion spoyle the pore innocent


s: On worldly treasour so set is theyr intent


s: And styll to honour as besely to ascende


s: As if theyr lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende


s: That of the worlde durynge a whyle was sure


s: And many kynges subduyd by myght of warre


s: And of the Empyre had lordshyp charge cure


s: But this his myght great space dyd nat endure


s: And whyle he trustyd yet hyer to ascende


s: Was kynge of Persy a realme moche excellent


s: That with the same helde he hym nat content


s: So whan his myght coude nat therto extende


s: His owne Royalme he loste and so came to his ende


s: Was longe in peas and great tranquyllyte


s: And in his Royalme was hye and tryumphant


s: As longe as he was content with his degre


s: Than had he pleasour and great felycyte.


s: To assay by warre his kyngdome to amende


s: In vnsure fortune set to great confydence


s: Made hym a beste, for that he dyd offende


s: And so in proces of tyme came to his ende


s: Alexander the great and myghty conquerour


s: To whome all the worlde scantly myght suffyse


s: Of Grece was the origynall lorde and Emperour


s: Left all behynde, for nought coude hym defende


s: But as a symple man at the last came to his ende


s: The myghty Cresus with his kyngdomes and store


s: Of golde and ryches hym selfe coude nat content


s: But whyle he trustyd and laboured for more


s: Fortune hym fayled: So lost he his intent.


s: Drynkynge his blode by deth whiche fortune sende


s: To here of states the comon deth and ende


s: All kyngdomes dekay and all estate mundayne


s: Of Solyme Tyre grace and Troy moste souerayne


s: None of these places ar nowe as they haue ben


s: Nor none other ouer the worlde as I wene


s: Thus shortly to speke and all to comprehende


s: All worldly thynges at last shall haue an ende.


s: O man that hast thy trust and confydence


s: Fyxed on these frayle fantasyes mundayne


s: Remember at the ende there is no difference


s: Bytwene that man that lyued hath in payne


s: And hym that hath in welth and ioy souerayne


s: They both must dye their payne is of one sort


s: Both ryche and pore, no man can deth refrayne


s: And where is Abell of innocence the flour


s: A: dredfull deth of them hath left nat one


s: Where is Mathusalem, and Tuball that was playne


s: The first that played on Harpe or on Orgone


s: _Ilz sont tous mortz ce monde est choce vayne_


s: Where is iust Noy and his ofsprynge become


s: As Isaac and Jacob, no strength nor wysdome


s: Where is kynge Dauyd whome god dyd magnyfy


s: And Salomon his son of wysdome souerayne


s: Where ar his sonnes of wysdome and beauty


s: _Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._


s: Where ar the prynces and kynges of Babylon


s: He had no place in this lyfe ay to dwell


s: That rayned before Christ delyuered vs from payne


s: And from the Dongeons of darke and ferefull hell


s: In this our age whiche is the last of all


s: Yonge nor olde, pore man nor kynge royall


s: Unstable fortune tourneth as doth a ball


s: And they that ones pas can nat retourne agayne


s: Wherfore I boldly dare speke in generall


s: We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.


s: Ryches nor wysdome can none therfro defende


s: Ne in his strength no man can hym assure


s: Say where is Tully is he nat come to ende


s: The hye Arystotyll of godly wyt and pure


s: The glorious Godfray, and myghty Charlemayne


s: Thoughe of theyr lyfe they thought that they were sure


s: Yet ar they all dede: _ce monde est choce vayne_.


s: Where ar the Phylosophers and Poetis lawreat


s: The great Grammaryens and pleasant oratours.


s: Ar they nat dede after the same fourme and rate


s: As ar all these other myghty conquerours


s: Where ar theyr Royalmes theyr ryches and treasours


s: Left to theyr heyres: and they be gone certayne


s: And here haue left theyr riches and honours


s: So haue they proued that this worlde is but vayne.


s: That if one sought the worlde large and wyde


s: Therin sholde be founde no maner of dere


s: Strength, honour, riches cunnynge and beautye


s: All these decay, dayly: thoughe we complayne


s: _Omnia fert etas_, both helth and iolyte


s: We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.


s: And lenyth his body vpon a rede forwarde


s: Whiche for waykenes may hym nat well sustayne


s: Forsoth this fole may longe so loke in vayne


s: And on the Crauys he styll shall bacwarde ryde


s: Cryenge with the doue, whose flyght shall hym ay gyde]


s: Or serchynge goddes workes to set his thought


s: Howe he hath made the heuen and fyrmament


s: The erth the see and euery thynge of nought


s: Yet of some Folys the cause hereof is sought,


s: These folys forgettynge their owne fragilyte


s: Wolde loke to knowe the ende of euery thynge


s: And what rewarde is ordeynyd for men lyuynge


s: Whiche labour dayly with besy cure and payne.


s: To knowe what god doth discerne and or ordayne


s: Therfore in this part I shall dispyse and blame


s: Unchrafty folys whiche scantly haue ouer sene


s: Ought of scripture, if they knowe the bokes name


s: Than bende they the browys and stedfastly they wene


s: In theyr conceyt that they ar passynge wyse


s: For all scripture newe commentis to deuyse


s: They frowardly the sentence do transpose


s: And that whiche is wryten, both playne and holely


s: By theyr corruptynge and vnlawfull glose


s: They labour to transpose and turne the right sence


s: Thoughe the wordes stryue and make great resystence


s: Here what these folys with theyr audacyte


s: Dare besely say by theyr fals errour blynde


s: Presumynge on goddes secrete and pryuete


s: Here what lewde wordes they cast out in the wynde


s: They say what man can chaunge or turne his mynde


s: Hath any ordeyned that in this worlde is


s: To come to the place and rowme celestyall


s: Ordeyned for suche as here doth nat amys


s: No man can chaunge, not other thynge mundayne


s: That thynge whiche god by his myght doth ordayne


s: No erthly thynge may that sentence call agayne


s: Nor hym delyuer: o fole thou mayst complayne


s: Is god nat rightwyse and grounde of all iustyce


s: He that hath here nat lyen in synne and vyce


s: Hauynge in goddys seruyce his pleasaunce


s: Shall of his lorde be had in remembraunce


s: Where it is worthy that synners payne endure


s: Trust well who seruyth his maker stedfastly


s: With pure herte kepynge sure his commaundement


s: With heuenly ioy and scape all punysshement


s: Therfore thou fole leue of this lewde intent


s: Lyue vertuously and trust in goddes grace


s: Than yll desteny in the shall haue no place


s: By ouer owne foly we fall, and so become


s: Whiche them rewardyth that here lyue vertuously


s: Therfore thou Fole desyst thy wordes vayne


s: And let thy tunge no more suche wordes say


s: For god hath vs made all of one stuf certayne


s: Vessels dyuers, but whan he must them lay


s: Vpon the kyll with fyre them there to dry


s: They come nat all to good, moste comonly


s: Whether it be made of fassyon good or yll


s: Saynge why dost thou make me in this wyse


s: Wherfore mad man I reade the to be styll


s: Blame nat thy maker, for thy vnhappy wyll


s: For god hath neuer man nor childe create


s: And whyle we lyue here on this wretchyd grounde


s: We haue our reason and wyttes vs to gyde


s: With our fre wyll and if no faute be founde


s: In our demenour, in heuen we shall abyde


s: So our owne foly is moste cause of our syn.


s: What carest thou to knowe or to inuestygate


s: The pryuetye, of god, leue this thy errour


s: To endles wo and from his blysse pryuate


s: For syns thou hast thy reason and frewyll


s: Gyuyn the by god, thou art in suche estate


s: To take the eleccion outher of good or yll


s: Tyll nought of it saue the bare wallys stonde


s: To quenche the fyre of anothers hous or londe


s: He is a fole and haue shall in his hande


s: A folysshe Pype or horne therwith to blowe


s: For other folys that in my Shyp wyll rowe.]


s: Within my Shyp of rowme he shall be sure


s: Whiche for anothers auantage and profyte


s: Takyth great thought and doth moche payne endure


s: But settyth it asyde and hath all his delyte


s: With all his stody hym to enforce and dres:


s: Suche hertles folys to them self neglygent


s: But with open iyen they ar full dylygent


s: The worke of other with all theyr myght to aply


s: And for others profyte prouyde they besely.


s: But whyle these Folys ar glad to take in hande


s: Anothers charge, theyr owne styll let they stande


s: That if it fortune them on the same to loke


s: They may therby perceyue in theyr corage


s: That labour they ought for their owne auauntage


s: Begynneth with hym selfe for to be charitable


s: Thy owne auauntage is ay moost profytable


s: The great Phylosophers of maners ferme and stable


s: Hath left to vs suche techynge and doctryne


s: We haue by Therence the same commaundement


s: And therfore he that oft wyll set his mynde


s: For others maters with care his thought to blynde


s: Lyst some mysfortune hym after sharply byte


s: Let hym turne his labour to his owne auauntage


s: And than do for other where as he seeth moste nede


s: For who that playeth for mony outher gage


s: And on his felawes cast takyth onely hede


s: And nat to his owne, suche one shall seldom spede


s: To quenche another hous, suffrynge his owne to bren


s: Suche one of his owne damage hath no fere


s: And worthy is his losse and hurte to byde


s: So is he that wyll anothers burthen bere


s: Despysynge his owne werke and settynge it asyde


s: If suche haue losse and after it forthynke


s: No man shall moche force whether he flete or synke


s: That goth vnbyddyn to rype anothers corne


s: And suffreth his owne to stande though it be rype.


s: And generally all Folys ar worthy scorne


s: Of what maner byrth so euer they be borne


s: If they them self put, to losse or damage


s: Say curyous Fole: say what pleasour thou hast


s: Or theyr great charges thus in thy mynde to cast


s: Thy selfe to socour set thou thy mynde and wyt


s: Let others maters therfore in quyete syt


s: On thy owne profyte of all firste set thy mynde


s: And than (if thou mayst) do somwhat for thy frende


s: That thus takyth thought for anothers charge


s: For suche Folys I forgyd haue this barge


s: But of the same suche men I clene discharge


s: That first of his pryuate profyte can take hede


s: And than helpe a frende and felowe at a nede


s: Ye that take charge, thought and besy cure


s: For others mysfortune, losse or aduersyte


s: First of your self I aduyse you to be sure


s: For this is the order of parfyte charyte


s: Eche to hym selfe moste louynge ay to be


s: And next to his frende, but who that doth dispyse.


s: Whiche whan one doth to hym a frendly dede


s: It gladly takyth, thoughe it be two or thre


s: Lokynge for kyndnes, yet takyth he no hede


s: To shewe the same agayne in tyme of nede


s: Let suche Folys be no thing wroth therfore


s: Thoughe in this Shyp I set them to an ore.]


s: Takynge the seruyce and rewardes of his frende


s: And nat remembryth the same agayne to pay


s: But as a churle it castyth out of his mynde


s: For who that wolde haue one to hym be kynde


s: For kyndnes meyntayneth bothe loue and charyte


s: He that wyll charge another with cures harde


s: Ought for his labour hym worthely rewarde


s: That the rewarde may be confort to his payne


s: It is disworshyp and also shame certayne


s: Wherfore the workman ought also to intende


s: His worke so done, he is a chorle vnkynde


s: If he do nat content the workmannys mynde.


s: He that wolde gladly that men sholde hym commende


s: Must fully purpose and fyx within his mynde


s: To false Auaryce, whiche many one doth blynde


s: And if he purpose hye honours for to fynde


s: And of his speche als pleasaunt as he can


s: Sayth that good lyfe and maners makyth man


s: The churlysshe vyce and lewde of vnkyndnes


s: Whiche dryeth vp the well of bounte and goodnes


s: For vnkynde folys if one labour dylygent


s: And so brynge theyr worke vnto good conclusyon


s: They fynde yet fautis and so ar nat content


s: Withdrawynge the rewarde by theyr collusyon


s: Nor haue disdayne ne yet in mynde complayne


s: If the pore laborer gyue vp his worke agayne


s: These frowarde Folys, doth wronge and iniury


s: To suche as to them do profyte and honour


s: For kyndnes, they render shame and vylany


s: But whyle they hope to come to great valoure


s: Theyr hope vanyssheth as doth the snowe or yce


s: Wherfore who that puttyth one to besynes


s: Ought hym rewarde agayne for his kyndnes


s: It is a thynge whiche doth for vengeaunce cry


s: Whiche groweth of this lewde and cursyd vyce


s: Vnkyndnes causeth great myschefe and offence


s: Wherfore let suche that wyll be namyd wyse


s: Agaynst all lawe and reason were vnkynde


s: Whiche hast Camyllus exyled in great payne


s: Thoughe he euer laboured thy honour to mentayne


s: Hast thou nat banysshyd Solon also fro the


s: Though he enfourmyd hath thy maners rude


s: For his great meryte, loue and benygnyte


s: Thou hast hym gyuen exyle and paynes harde


s: What shall I wryte or thy lewde vnkyndnes


s: Thy kynge Lycurgus, bycause he dyd redres


s: Thy wanton errours by lawe and rightwysnes


s: And Scipio whiche his country dyd defende


s: Fonde it to hym, vnkynde at the last ende


s: To suche as haue for them abyde great payne


s: Haue done displeasour, and shewed vnkyndnes