The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 1 (of 2)

by John Skelton

MAGNYFYCENCE.

Felicite. Al thyngys contryuyd by mannys reason,

The world enuyronnyd of hygh and low estate,

Be it erly or late, welth hath a season,

Welth is of wysdome the very trewe probate;

A fole is he with welth that fallyth at debate:

But men nowe a dayes so vnhappely be vryd,

That nothynge than welth may worse be enduryd.

To tell you the cause me semeth it no nede,

The amense therof is far to call agayne;

For when men by welth, they haue lytyll drede 10

Of that may come after; experyence trewe and playne,

Howe after a drought there fallyth a showre of rayne,

And after a hete oft cometh a stormy colde.

A man may haue welth, but not, as he wolde,

Ay to contynewe and styll to endure;

But yf prudence be proued with sad cyrcumspeccyon,

Welthe myght be wonne and made to the lure,

If noblenesse were aquayntyd with sober dyreccyon;

But wyll hath reason so vnder subieccyon,

And so dysordereth this worlde ouer all, 20

That welthe and felicite is passynge small.

But where wonnys Welthe, and a man wolde wyt?

For welthfull Felicite truly is my name.

Lyberte.[780] Mary, Welthe and I was apoynted to mete,

And eyther I am dysseyued, or ye be the same.

Fel. Syr, as ye say, I haue harde of your fame;

Your name is Lyberte, as I vnderstande.

Lyb. Trewe you say, syr; gyue me your hande.

Fel. And from whens come ye, and it myght be askyd?

Lyb. To tell you, syr, I dare not, leest I sholde be maskyd 30

In a payre of fetters or a payre of stockys.

Fel. Here you not howe this gentylman mockys?

Lyb. Ye, to knackynge ernyst what and it preue?

Fel. Why, to say what he wyll, Lyberte hath leue.

Lyb. Yet Lyberte hath ben lockyd vp and kept in the mew.

Fel. In dede, syr, that lyberte was not worthe a cue:

Howe be it lyberte may somtyme be to large,

But yf reason be regent and ruler of your barge.

Lyb. To that ye say I can well condyssende:

Shewe forth, I pray you, here in what you intende. 40

Fel. Of that I intende to make demonstracyon,

It askyth lesure with good aduertysment.

Fyrst, I say, we owght to haue in consyderacyon,

That lyberte be lynkyd with the chayne of countenaunce,

Lyberte to let from all maner offence;

For lyberte at large is lothe to be stoppyd,

But with countenaunce your corage must be croppyd.

Lyb. Then thus to you—

Fel. Nay, suffer me yet ferther to say,

And peraduenture I shall content your mynde. 50

Lyberte, I wote well, forbere no man there may,

It is so swete in all maner of kynde;

Howe be it lyberte makyth many a man blynde;

By lyberte is done many a great excesse;

Lyberte at large wyll oft wax reklesse:

Perceyue ye this parcell?

Lyb. Ye, syr, passyng well:

But, and you wolde me permyt

To shewe parte of my wyt,

Somwhat I coulde enferre, 60

Your consayte to debarre,

Vnder supportacyon

Of pacyent tolleracyon.

Fel. God forbyd ye sholde be let

Your reasons forth to fet;

Wherfore at lyberte

Say what ye wyll to me.

Lyb. Brefly to touche of my purpose the effecte;

Lyberte is laudable and pryuylegyd from lawe,

Judycyall rygoure shall not me correcte— 70

Fel. Softe, my frende; herein your reason is but rawe.

Lyb. Yet suffer me to say the surpluse of my sawe;

What wote ye where vpon I wyll conclude?

I say, there is no welthe where as lyberte is subdude;

I trowe ye can not say nay moche to this;

To lyue vnder lawe, it is captyuyte;

Where drede ledyth the daunce, there is no ioy nor blysse;

Or howe can you proue that there is felycyte,

And you haue not your owne fre lyberte

To sporte at your pleasure, to ryn and to ryde? 80

Where lyberte is absent, set welthe asyde.

Hic intrat Measure.

Meas. Cryst you assyste in your altrycacyon!

Fel. Why, haue you harde of our dysputacyon?

Meas. I parceyue well howe eche of you doth reason.

Lyb. Mayster Measure, you be come in good season.

Meas. And it is wonder that your wylde insolence

Can be content with Measure presence.

Fel. Wolde it please you then—

Lyb. Vs to informe and ken—

Meas. A, ye be wonders men! 90

Your langage is lyke the penne

Of hym that wryteth to fast.

Fel. Syr, yf any worde haue past

Me other fyrst or last,

To you I arecte it, and cast

Therof the reformacyon.

Lyb. And I of the same facyon;

Howe be it, by protestacyon,

Dyspleasure that you none take,

Some reason we must make. 100

Meas. That wyll not I forsake,

So it in measure be:

Come of, therfore, let se;

Shall I begynne or ye?

Fel. Nay, ye shall begynne, by my wyll.

Lyb. It is reason and skyll,

We your pleasure fulfyll.

Meas. Then ye must bothe consent

You to holde content

With myne argument; 110

And I muste you requyre

Me pacyently to here.

Fel. Yes, syr, with ryght good chere.

Lyb. With all my herte intere.

Meas. Oracius to recorde, in his volumys olde,

With euery condycyon measure must be sought:

Welthe without measure wolde here hymselfe to bolde,

Lyberte without measure proue a thynge of nought;

I ponder by nomber, by measure all thynge is wrought,

As at the fyrst orygynall by godly opynyon, 120

Whych prouyth well that measure shold haue domynyon:

Where measure is mayster, plenty dothe none offence;

Where measure lackyth, all thynge dysorderyd is;

Where measure is absent, ryot kepeth resydence;

Where measure is ruler, there is nothynge amysse;

Measure is treasure: howe say ye, is it not this?

Fel. Yes, questyonlesse, in myne opynyon,

Measure is worthy to haue domynyon.

Lyb. Vnto that same I am ryght well agrede,

So that lyberte be not lefte behynde. 130

Meas. Ye, lyberte with measure nede neuer drede.

Lyb. What, lyberte to measure then wolde ye bynde?

Meas. What ellys? for otherwyse it were agaynst kynde:

If lyberte sholde lepe and renne where he lyst,

It were no vertue, it were a thynge vnblyst;

It were a myschefe, yf lyberte lacked a reyne,

Where with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest:

All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne;

Lyberte without measure is acountyd for a beste;

There is no surfet where measure rulyth the feste; 140

There is no excesse where measure hath his helthe;

Measure contynwyth prosperyte and welthe.

Fel. Vnto your rule I wyll annex my mynde.

Lyb. So wolde I, but I wolde be lothe,

That wonte was to be formyst, now to come behynde:

It were a shame, to God I make an othe,

Without I myght cut it out of the brode clothe,

As I was wonte euer at my fre wyll.

Meas. But haue ye not herde say, that wyll is no skyll?

Take sad dyreccyon, and leue this wantonnesse. 150

Lyb. It is[781] no maystery.

Fel. Tushe, let Measure precede,

And after his mynde herdely your selfe adresse;

For, without measure, pouerte and nede

Wyll crepe vpon vs, and vs to myschefe lede;

For myschefe wyll mayster vs, yf measure vs forsake.

Lyb. Well, I am content your wayes to take.

Meas. Surely, I am ioyous that ye be myndyd thus.

Magnyfycence to mayntayne, your promosyon shalbe.

Fel. So in his harte he may be glad of vs. 160

Lyb. There is no prynce but he hath nede of vs thre,

Welthe, with Measure and plesaunt Lyberte.

Meas. Nowe pleasyth you a lytell whyle to stande;

Me semeth Magnyfycence is comynge here at hande.

Hic intrat Magnyfycence.

Magn. To assure you of my noble porte and fame,

Who lyst to knowe, Magnyfycence I hyght.

But, Measure my frende, what hyght this mannys name?

Meas. Syr, though ye be a noble prynce of myght,

Yet in this man you must set your delyght;

And, syr, this other mannys name is Lyberte. 170

Magn. Welcome, frendys, ye are bothe vnto me:

But nowe let me knowe of your conuersacyon.

Fel. Pleasyth your grace, Felycyte they me call.

Lyb. And I am Lyberte, made of in euery nacyon.

Magn. Conuenyent persons for any prynce ryall.

Welthe with Lyberte, with me bothe dwell ye shall,

To the gydynge of my Measure you bothe commyttynge:

That Measure be mayster, vs semeth it is syttynge.

Meas. Where as ye haue, syr, to me them assygned,

Suche order, I trust, with them for to take, 180

So that welthe with measure shalbe conbyned,

And lyberte his large with measure shall make.

Fel. Your ordenaunce, syr, I wyll not forsake.

Lyb. And I my selfe hooly to you wyll inclyne.

Magn. Then may I say that ye be seruauntys myne,

For by measure, I warne you, we thynke to be gydyd;

Wherin it is necessary my pleasure you knowe,

Measure and I wyll neuer be deuydyd

For no dyscorde that any man can sawe;

For measure is a meane, nother to by nor to lawe, 190

In whose attemperaunce I haue suche delyght,

That measure shall neuer departe from my syght.

Fel. Laudable your consayte is to be acountyd;

For welthe without measure sodenly wyll slyde.

Lyb. As your grace full nobly hath recountyd,

Measure with noblenesse sholde be alyde.

Magn. Then, Lyberte, se that Measure be your gyde,

For I wyll vse you by his aduertysment.

Fel. Then shall you haue with you prosperyte resydent.

Meas. I trowe, good fortune hath annexyd vs together, 200

To se howe greable we are of one mynde;

There is no flaterer, nor losyll so lyther,

This lynkyd chayne of loue that can vnbynde.

Nowe that ye haue me chefe ruler assyngned,

I wyll endeuour me to order euery thynge

Your noblenesse and honour consernynge.

Lyb. In ioy and myrthe your mynde shalbe inlargyd,

And not embracyd with pusyllanymyte;

But plenarly all thought from you must be dyschargyd,

If ye lyst to lyue after your fre lyberte: 210

All delectacyons aquayntyd is with me,

By me all persons worke what they lyste.

Meas. Hem, syr, yet beware of Had I wyste!

Lyberte in some cause becomyth a gentyll mynde,

Bycause course of measure, yf I be in the way:

Who countyth[782] without me, is caste to fer behynde

Of his rekenynge, as euydently we may

Se[783] at our eye the worlde day by day;

For defaute of measure all thynge dothe excede.

Fel. All that ye say is as trewe as the Crede; 220

For howe be it lyberte to welthe is conuenyent,

And from felycyte may not be forborne,

Yet measure hath ben so longe from vs absent,

That all men laugh at lyberte to scorne;

Welth and wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne,

That all is without measure, and fer beyonde the mone.

Magn. Then noblenesse, I se well, is almoste vndone,

But yf therof the soner amendys be made;

For dowtlesse I parceyue my magnyfycence

Without measure lyghtly may fade, 230

Of to moche lyberte vnder the offence:

Wherfore, Measure, take Lyberte with you hence,

And rule hym after the rule of your scole.

Lyb. What, syr, wolde ye make me a poppynge fole?

Meas. Why, were not your selfe agreed to the same,

And now wolde ye swarue from your owne ordynaunce?

Lyb. I wolde be rulyd, and I myght for shame.

Fel. A, ye make me laughe at your inconstaunce.

Magn. Syr, without any longer delyaunce,

Take Lyberte to rule, and folowe myne entent. 240

Meas. It shalbe done at your commaundement.

Itaque Measure exeat locum cum Libertate, et maneat Magnyfycence cum Felicitate.

Magn. It is a wanton thynge this Lyberte;

Perceyue you not howe lothe he was to abyde

The rule of Measure, notwithstandynge we

Haue deputyd Measure hym to gyde?

By measure eche thynge duly is tryde:

Thynke you not thus, my frende Felycyte?

Fel. God forbede that it other wyse sholde be!

Magn. Ye coulde not ellys, I wote, with me endure.

Fel. Endure? no, God wote, it were great payne; 250

But yf I were orderyd by iust measure,

It were not possyble me longe to retayne.

Hic intrat Fansy.

Fan. Tusche, holde your pece, your langage is vayne.

Please it your grace to take no dysdayne,

To shewe you playnly the trouth as I thynke.

Magn. Here is none forsyth whether you flete or synke.

Fel. From whens come you, syr, that no man lokyd

after?

Magn. Or who made you so bolde to interrupe my tale?

Fan. Nowe, benedicite, ye wene I were some hafter,

Or ellys some iangelynge Jacke of the vale; 260

Ye wene that I am dronken, bycause I loke pale.

Magn. Me semeth that ye haue dronken more than ye haue bled.

Fan. Yet amonge noble men I was brought vp and bred.

Fel. Nowe leue this iangelynge, and to vs expounde

Why that ye sayd our langage was in vayne.

Fan. Mary, vpon trouth my reason I grounde,

That without largesse noblenesse can not rayne;

And that I sayd ones, yet I say agayne,

I say without largesse worshyp hath no place,

For largesse is a purchaser of pardon and of grace. 270

Magn. Nowe, I beseche thé, tell me what is thy name?

Fan. Largesse, that all lordes sholde loue, syr, I hyght.

Fel. But hyght you, Largesse, encreace of noble fame?

Fan. Ye, syr, vndoubted.

Fel. Then, of very ryght,

With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght,

Sholde be your dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.

Magn. Yet we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.

Fan. As in that, I wyll not be agaynst your pleasure.

Fel. Syr, hardely remembre what may your name auaunce. 280

Magn. Largesse is laudable, so it in measure be.

Fan. Largesse is he that all prynces doth auaunce;

I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.

Fel. Why haue ye hym named, and all other refused?

Fan. For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell vsed.

Plucke vp your mynde, syr; what ayle you to muse?

Haue ye not welthe here at your wyll?

It is but a maddynge, these wayes that ye vse:

What auayleth lordshyp, yourselfe for to kyll

With care and with thought howe Jacke shall haue Gyl? 290

Magn. What? I haue aspyed ye are a carles page.

Fan. By God, syr, ye se but fewe wyse men of myne age;

But couetyse hath blowen you so full of wynde,

That colica passio hath gropyd you by the guttys.

Fel. In fayth, broder Largesse, you haue a mery mynde.

Fan. In fayth, I set not by the worlde two Dauncaster cuttys.

Magn. Ye wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes:

Though Largesse ye hyght, your langage is to large;

For whiche ende goth forwarde ye take lytell charge.

Fel. Let se, this checke yf ye voyde canne. 300

Fan. In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole,

But yf I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.

Magn. Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe, when ye shal draw the pole.

Fan. In fayth, I wyll not say that ye shall proue a fole,

But ofte tymes haue I sene wyse men do mad dedys.

Magn. Go, shake the dogge,[784] hay, syth ye wyll nedys!

You are nothynge mete with vs for to dwell,

That with your lorde and mayster so pertly can prate:

Gete you hens, I say, by my counsell;

I wyll not vse you to play with me checke mate. 310

Fan. Syr, yf I haue offended your noble estate,

I trow I haue brought you suche wrytynge of recorde,

That I shall haue you agayne my good lorde:

To you recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,

And sendeth you this wrytynge closed vnder sele.

Magn. This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon:

Why kepte you it thus longe? howe dothe he? wele?

Fan. Syr, thanked be God, he hath his hele.

Magn. Welthe, gete you home, and commaunde me to Mesure;

Byd hym take good hede to you, my synguler tresure. 320

Fel. Is there ony thynge elles your grace wyll commaunde me?

Magn. Nothynge but fare you well tyll sone;

And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.

Fel. Your pleasure, syr, shortely shall be done.

Magn. I shall come to you myselfe, I trowe, this after none.[785]

I pray you, Larges, here to remayne,

Whylest I knowe what this letter dothe contayne.

Hic faciat tanquam legeret litteras tacite. Interim superveniat cantando Counterfet Countenaunce suspenso gradu, qui, viso Magnyfycence, sensim retrocedat; at[786] tempus post pusillum rursum accedat Counterfet Countenaunce prospectando et vocitando a longe; et Fansy animat[787] silentium cum manu.

C. Count. What, Fansy, Fansy!

Magn. Who is that that thus dyd cry?

Me thought he called Fansy. 330

Fan. It was a Flemynge hyght Hansy.

Magn. Me thought he called Fansy me behynde.

Fan. Nay, syr, it was nothynge but your mynde:

But nowe, syr, as touchynge this letter—

Magn. I shall loke in it at leasure better:

And surely ye are to hym beholde;

And for his sake ryght gladly I wolde

Do what I coude to do you good.

Fan. I pray, God kepe you in that mood!

Magn. This letter was wryten ferre hence. 340

Fan. By lakyn, syr, it hathe cost me pence

And grotes many one, or I came to your presence.

Magn. Where was it delyuered you, shewe vnto me.

Fan. By God, syr, beyonde the se.

Magn. At what place nowe, as you gesse?

Fan. By my trouthe, syr, at Pountesse;

This wrytynge was taken me there,

But neuer was I in gretter fere.

Magn. Howe so?

Fan. By God, at the see syde, 350

Had I not opened my purse wyde,

I trowe, by our lady, I had ben slayne,

Or elles I had lost myne eres twayne.

Magn.[788] By your soth?

Fan. Ye, and there is suche a wache,

That no man can scape but they hym cache.

They bare me in hande that I was a spye;

And another bade put out myne eye,

Another wolde myne eye were blerde,

Another bade shaue halfe my berde; 360

And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke,

And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke,

To preche out of the pylery hole,

Without an antetyme or a stole;

And some bade sere hym with a marke:

To gete me fro them I had moche warke.

Magn. Mary, syr, ye were afrayde.

Fan. By my trouthe, had I not payde and prayde,

And made largesse as I hyght,

I had not ben here with you this nyght; 370

But surely largesse saued my lyfe,

For largesse stynteth all maner of stryfe.

Magn. It dothe so sure nowe and than,

But largesse is not mete for euery man.

Fan. No, but for you grete estates:

Largesse stynteth grete debates;

And he that I came fro to this place

Sayd I was mete for your grace;

And in dede, syr, I here men talke,

By the way as I ryde and walke, 380

Say howe you excede in noblenesse,

If you had with you largesse.

Magn. And say they so in very dede?

Fan. With ye, syr, so God me spede.

Magn. Yet mesure is a mery mene.

Fan. Ye, syr, a blannched almonde is no bene.

Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall,

But largesse becometh a state ryall.

What, sholde you pynche at a peeke of otes,

Ye wolde sone pynche at a pecke of grotes. 390

Thus is the talkynge of one and of oder,

As men dare speke it hugger mugger;

A lorde a negarde, it is a shame,

But largesse may amende your name.

Magn. In faythe, Largesse, welcome to me.

Fan. I pray you, syr, I may so be,

And of my seruyce you shall not mysse.

Magn. Togyder we wyll talke more of this:

Let vs departe from hens home to my place.

Fan. I folow euen after your noble grace. 400

Hic discedat Magnificens cum Fansy, et intrat[789] Counterfet Countenaunce.

C. Count. What, I say, herke a worde.

Fan. Do away, I say, the deuylles torde!

C. Count. Ye, but how longe shall I here awayte?

Fan. By Goddys body, I come streyte:

I hate this blunderyng that thou doste make.

C. Count. Nowe to the deuyll I thé betake,

For in fayth ye be well met.

Fansy hath cachyd in a flye net

This noble man Magnyfycence,

Of Largesse vnder the pretence. 410

They haue made me here to put the stone:

But nowe wyll I, that they be gone,

In bastarde ryme, after the dogrell gyse,

Tell you where of my name dothe ryse.

For Counterfet Countenaunce knowen am I;

This worlde is full of my foly.

I set not by hym a fly,

That can not counterfet a lye,

Swere, and stare, and byde therby,

And countenaunce it clenly, 420

And defende it manerly.

A knaue wyll counterfet nowe a knyght,

A lurdayne lyke a lorde to fyght,[790]

A mynstrell lyke a man of myght,

A tappyster lyke a lady bryght:

Thus make I them wyth thryft to fyght,

Thus at the laste I brynge hym[791] ryght

To Tyburne, where they hange on hyght.

To counterfet I can by praty wayes:

Of nyghtys to occupy counterfet kayes, 430

Clenly to counterfet newe arayes,

Counterfet eyrnest by way of playes:

Thus am I occupyed at all assayes;

What so euer I do, all men me prayse,

And mekyll am I made of nowe adays:

Counterfet maters in the lawe of the lande,

Wyth golde and grotes they grese my hande,

In stede of ryght that wronge may stande,

And counterfet fredome that is bounde;

I counterfet[792] suger that is but founde; 440

Counterfet capytaynes by me are mande;

Of all lewdnesse I kyndell the brande;

Counterfet kyndnesse, and thynke dyscayte;

Counterfet letters by the way of sleyght;

Subtelly vsynge counterfet weyght;

Counterfet langage, fayty bone geyte.

Counterfetynge is a proper bayte;

A counte to counterfet in a resayte;

To counterfet well is a good consayte.

Counterfet maydenhode may well be borne, 450

But counterfet coynes is laughynge to scorne;

It is euyll patchynge of that is torne;

Whan the noppe is rughe, it wolde be shorne;

Counterfet haltynge without a thorne;

Yet counterfet chafer is but euyll corne;

All thynge is worse whan it is worne.

What, wolde ye, wyues, counterfet

The courtly gyse of the newe iet?

An olde barne wolde be vnderset:

It is moche worthe that is ferre fet. 460

What, wanton, wanton, nowe well ymet!

What, Margery Mylke Ducke, mermoset!

It wolde be masked in my net;

It wolde be nyce, thoughe I say nay;

By Crede, it wolde haue fresshe aray,

And therfore shall my husbande pay;

To counterfet she wyll assay

All the newe gyse, fresshe and gaye,

And be as praty as she may,

And iet it ioly as a iay: 470

Counterfet prechynge, and byleue the contrary;

Counterfet conscyence, peuysshe pope holy;

Counterfet sadnesse, with delynge full madly;

Counterfet holynes is called ypocrysy;

Counterfet reason is not worth a flye;

Counterfet wysdome, and workes of foly;

Counterfet countenaunce euery man dothe occupy:

Counterfet worshyp outwarde men may se;

Ryches rydeth out, at home is pouerte;

Counterfet pleasure is borne out by me: 480

Coll wolde go clenly, and it wyll not be,

And Annot wolde be nyce, and laughes, tehe wehe;

Your counterfet countenaunce is all of nysyte,

A plummed partrydge all redy to flye:

A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke,

He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to starke,

At his cloked counterfetynge dogges dothe barke;

A carter a courtyer, it is a worthy warke,

That with his whyp his mares was wonte to yarke;

A custrell to dryue the deuyll out of the derke, 490

A counterfet courtyer with a knaues marke.

To counterfet this freers haue lerned me;

This nonnes nowe and then, and it myght be,

Wolde take in the way of counterfet charyte

The grace of God vnder benedicite;

To counterfet thyr counsell they gyue me a fee;

Chanons can not counterfet but vpon thre,

Monkys may not for drede that men sholde them se.

Hic ingrediatur Fansy properanter cum Crafty Conueyaunce, cum famine multo[793] adinvicem garrulantes: tandem, viso Counterfet Countenaunce, dicat Crafty Conueyaunce.

Cr. Con. What, Counterfet Countenaunce!

C. Count. What, Crafty Conueyaunce! 500

Fan. What, the deuyll, are ye two of aquayntaunce?

God gyue you a very myschaunce!

Cr. Con. Yes, yes, syr, he and I haue met.

C. Count. We haue bene togyder bothe erly and late:

But, Fansy my frende, where haue ye bene so longe?

Fan. By God, I haue bene about a praty pronge;

Crafty Conueyaunce, I sholde say, and I.

Cr. Con. By God, we haue made Magnyfycence to ete a flye.

C. Count. Howe coulde ye do that, and [I] was away?

Fan. By God, man, bothe his pagent and thyne he can play. 510

C. Count. Say trouth?

Cr. Con. Yes, yes, by lakyn, I shall thé warent,

As longe as I lyue, thou haste an heyre parent.

Fan. Yet haue we pyckyd out a rome for thé.

C. Count. Why, shall we dwell togyder all thre?

Cr. Con. Why, man, it were to great a wonder,

That we thre galauntes sholde be longe asonder.

C. Count. For Cockys harte, gyue me thy hande.

Fan. By the masse, for ye are able to dystroy an hole lande.

Cr. Con. By God, yet it muste begynne moche of thé. 520

Fan. Who that is ruled by vs, it shalbe longe or he thee.

C. Count. But, I say, kepest thou the olde name styll that thou had?

Cr. Con. Why, wenyst thou, horson, that I were so mad?

Fan. Nay, nay, he hath chaunged his, and I haue chaunged myne.

C. Count. Nowe, what is his name, and what is thyne?

Fan. In faythe, Largesse I hyght,

And I am made a knyght.

C. Count. A rebellyon agaynst nature,

So large a man, and so lytell of stature!

But, syr, howe counterfetyd ye? 530

Cr. Con. Sure Surueyaunce[794] I named me.

C. Count. Surueyaunce! where ye suruey,

Thryfte hathe lost her cofer kay.

Fan. But is it not well? howe thynkest thou?

C. Count. Yes, syr, I gyue God auowe,

Myselfe coude not counterfet it better.

But what became of the letter,

That I counterfeyted you vnderneth a shrowde?

Fan. By the masse, odly well alowde.

Cr. Con. By God, had not I it conuayed, 540

Yet Fansy had ben dysceyued.

C. Count. I wote, thou arte false ynoughe for one.

Fan. By my trouthe, we had ben gone:

And yet, in fayth, man, we lacked thé

For to speke with Lyberte.

C. Count. What is Largesse without Lyberte?

Cr. Con. By Mesure mastered yet is he.

C. Count. What, is your conueyaunce no better?

Fan. In faythe, Mesure is lyke a tetter,

That ouergroweth a mannes face, 550

So he ruleth ouer all our place.

Cr. Con. Nowe therfore, whylest we are togyder,—

Counterfet Countenaunce, nay, come hyder,—

I say, whylest we are togyder in same—

C. Count. Tushe, a strawe, it is a shame

That we can no better than so.

Fan. We wyll remedy it, man, or we go;

For, lyke as mustarde is sharpe of taste,[795]

Ryght so a sharpe fansy must be founde

Wherwith Mesure to confounde. 560

Cr. Con. Can you a remedy for a tysyke,

That sheweth yourselfe thus spedde in physyke?

C. Count. It is a gentyll reason of a rake.

Fan. For all these iapes yet that ye[796] make—

Cr. Con. Your fansy maketh myne elbowe to ake.

Fan. Let se, fynde you a better way.

C. Count. Take no dyspleasure of that we say.

Cr. Con. Nay, and you be angry and ouerwharte,

A man may beshrowe your angry harte.

Fan. Tushe, a strawe, I thought none yll. 570

C. Count. What, shall we iangle thus all the day styll?

Cr. Con. Nay, let vs our heddes togyder cast.

Fan. Ye, and se howe it may be compast,

That Mesure were cast out of the dores.

C. Count. Alasse, where is my botes and my spores?

Cr. Con. In all this hast whether wyll ye ryde?

C. Count. I trowe, it shall not nede to abyde.

Cockes woundes, se, syrs, se, se!

Hic ingrediatur Cloked Colusyon cum elato aspectu, deorsum et sursum ambulando.

Fan. Cockes armes, what is he?

Cr. Con. By Cockes harte, he loketh hye; 580

He hawketh, me thynke, for a butterflye.

C. Count. Nowe, by Cockes harte, well abyden,

For, had you not come, I had ryden.

Cl. Col. Thy wordes be but wynde, neuer they haue no wayght;

Thou hast made me play the iurde hayte.

C. Count. And yf ye knewe howe I haue mused,

I am sure ye wolde haue me excused.

Cl. Col. I say, come hyder: what are these twayne?

C. Count. By God, syr, this is Fansy small brayne;

And Crafty Conuayaunce, knowe you not hym? 590

Cl. Col. Knowe hym, syr! quod he; yes, by Saynt Sym.

Here is a leysshe of ratches to renne an hare:

Woo is that purse that ye shall share!

Fan. What call ye him, this?

Cr. Con. I trowe, that he is.

C. Count. Tushe, holde your pece.

Se you not howe they prece

For to knowe your name?

Cl. Col. Knowe they not me, they are to blame.

Knowe you not me, syrs? 600

Fan. No, in dede.

Cr. Con. Abyde, lette me se, take better hede:

Cockes harte, it is Cloked Colusyon.

Cl. Col. A, syr, I pray God gyue you confusyon!

Fan. Cockes armes, is that your name?

C. Count. Ye, by the masse, this is euen the same,

That all this matter must vnder grope.

Cr. Con. What is this he wereth, a cope?

Cl. Col. Cappe, syr; I say you be to bolde.

Fan. Se, howe he is wrapped for the colde: 610

Is it not a vestment?

Cl. Col. A, ye wante a rope.

C. Count. Tushe, it is Syr Johnn Double cloke.

Fan. Syr, and yf ye wolde not be wrothe—

Cl. Col. What sayst?

Fan. Here was to lytell clothe.

Cl. Col. A, Fansy, Fansy, God sende thé brayne!

Fan. Ye, for your wyt is cloked for the rayne.

Cr. Con. Nay, lette vs not clatter thus styll.

Cl. Col. Tell me, syrs, what is your wyll. 620

C. Count. Syr, it is so that these twayne

With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne;

And there they wolde haue me to dwell,

But I wyll be ruled after your counsell.

Fan. Mary, so wyll we also.

Cl. Col. But tell me where aboute ye go.

C. Count. By God, we wolde gete vs all thyder,

Spell the remenaunt, and do togyder.

Cl. Col. Hath Magnyfycence ony tresure?

Cr. Con. Ye, but he spendeth it all in mesure. 630

Cl. Col. Why, dwelleth Mesure where ye two dwell?

In faythe, he were better to dwell in hell.

Fan. Yet where we wonne, nowe there wonneth he.

Cl. Col. And haue you not amonge you Lyberte?

C. Count. Ye, but he is a captyuyte.

Cl. Col. What, the deuyll, howe may that be?

C. Count. I can not tell you: why aske you me?

Aske these two that there dothe dwell.

Cl. Col. Syr, the playnesse you tell me.[797]

Cr. Con. There dwelleth a mayster men calleth Mesure— 640

Fan. Ye, and he hath rule of all his tresure.

Cr. Con. Nay, eyther let me tell, or elles tell ye.

Fan. I care not I, tell on for me.

C. Count. I pray God let you neuer to thee!

Cl. Col. What the deuyll ayleth you? can you not agree?

Cr. Con. I wyll passe ouer the cyrcumstaunce,

And shortly shewe you the hole substaunce.

Fansy and I, we twayne,

With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne,

And counterfeted our names we haue 650

Craftely all thynges vpryght to saue,

His name Largesse, Surueyaunce myne:

Magnyfycence to vs begynneth to enclyne

Counterfet Countenaunce to haue also,

And wolde that we sholde for hym go.

C. Count. But shall I haue myne olde name styll?

Cr. Con. Pease, I haue not yet sayd what I wyll.

Fan. Here is a pystell of a postyke!

Cl. Col. Tusshe, fonnysshe Fansy, thou arte frantyke.

Tell on, syr, howe then? 660

Cr. Con. Mary, syr, he tolde vs, when

We had hym founde, we sholde hym brynge,

And that we fayled not for nothynge.

Cl. Col. All this ye may easely brynge aboute.

Fan. Mary, the better and Mesure were out.

Cl. Col. Why, can ye not put out that foule freke?

Cr. Con. No, in euery corner he wyll peke,

So that we haue no lyberte,

Nor no man in courte but he,

For Lyberte he hath in gydyng. 670

C. Count. In fayth, and without Lyberte there is no bydyng.

Fan. In fayth, and Lybertyes rome is there but small.

Cl. Col. Hem! that lyke I nothynge at all.

Cr. Con. But, Counterfet[798] Countenaunce, go we togyder,

All thre, I say.

C. Count. Shall I go? whyder?

Cr. Con.[799] To Magnyfycence with vs twayne,

And in his seruyce thé to retayne.

C. Count. But then, syr, what shall I hyght?

Cr. Con. Ye and I talkyd therof to nyght. 680

Fan. Ye, my Fansy was out of owle flyght,

For it is out of my mynde quyght.

Cr. Con. And nowe it cometh to my remembraunce:

Syr, ye shall hyght Good Demeynaunce.

C. Count. By the armes of Calys, well conceyued!

Cr. Con. When we haue hym thyder conuayed,

What and I frame suche a slyght,

That Fansy with his fonde consayte

Put Magnyfycence in suche a madnesse,

That he shall haue you in the stede of sadnesse, 690

And Sober Sadnesse shalbe your name?

Cl. Col. By Cockys body, here begynneth the game!

For then shall we so craftely cary,

That Mesure shall not there longe tary.

Fan. For Cockys harte, tary whylyst that I come agayne.

Cr. Con. We wyll se you shortly one of vs twayne.

C. Count. Now let vs go, and we shall, then.

Cl. Col. Nowe let se quyte you lyke praty men.[800]

Hic deambulat.

To passe the tyme and order whyle a man may talke

Of one thynge and other to occupy the place; 700

Then for the season that I here shall walke,

As good to be occupyed as vp and downe to trace

And do nothynge; how be it full lytell grace

There cometh and groweth of my comynge,

For Clokyd Colusyon is a perylous thynge.

Double delynge and I be all one;

Craftynge and haftynge contryued is by me;

I can dyssemble, I can bothe laughe and grone;

Playne delynge and I can neuer agre;

But dyuysyon, dyssencyon, dyrysyon, these thre 710

And I am counterfet of one mynde and thought,

By the menys of myschyef to bryng all thynges to nought.

And though I be so odyous a geste,

And euery man gladly my company wolde refuse,

In faythe yet am I occupyed with the best;

Full fewe that can themselfe of me excuse.

Whan other men laughe, than study I and muse,

Deuysynge the meanes and wayes that I can,

Howe I may hurte and hynder euery man:

Two faces in a hode couertly I bere, 720

Water in the one hande, and fyre in the other;

I can fede forth a fole, and lede hym by the eyre;

Falshode in felowshyp is my sworne brother.

By cloked colusyon, I say, and none other,

Comberaunce and trouble in Englande fyrst I began;

From that lorde to that lorde I rode and I ran,

And flatered them with fables fayre before theyr face,

And tolde all the myschyef I coude behynde theyr backe,

And made as I had knowen nothynge of the case;

I wolde begyn all myschyef, but I wolde bere no lacke: 730

Thus can I lerne you, syrs, to bere the deuyls sacke;

And yet, I trowe, some of you be better sped than I

Frendshyp to fayne, and thynke full lytherly.

Paynte to a purpose good countenaunce I can,

And craftely can I grope howe euery man is mynded;

My purpose is to spy and to poynte euery man;

My tonge is with fauell forked and tyned:

By Cloked Colusyon thus many one is begyled.

Eche man to hynder I gape and I gaspe;

My speche is all pleasure, but I stynge lyke a waspe: 740

I am neuer glad but whan I may do yll,

And neuer am I sory but whan that I se

I can not myne apyetyte accomplysshe and fulfyll

In hynderaunce of welthe and prosperyte;

I laughe at all shrewdenes, and lye at lyberte.

I muster, I medle amonge these grete estates,

I sowe sedycyous sedes of dyscorde and debates:

To flater and to flery is all my pretence

Amonge all suche persones as I well vnderstonde

Be lyght of byleue and hasty of credence; 750

I make them to startyll and sparkyll lyke a bronde,

I moue them, I mase them, I make them so fonde,

That they wyll here no man but the fyrst tale:

And so by these meanes I brewe moche bale.

Hic ingrediatur Courtly Abusyon cantando.

Court. Ab. Huffa, huffa, taunderum, taunderum, tayne, huffa, huffa!

Cl. Col. This was properly prated, syrs! what sayd a?

Court. Ab. Rutty bully, ioly rutterkyn, heyda!

Cl. Col. De que pays este vous?

Et faciat tanquam exiat beretrum cronice.[801]

Court. Ab. Decke your hofte and couer a lowce.

Cl. Col. Say vous chaunter Venter tre dawce? 760

Court. Ab. Wyda, wyda.

Howe sayst thou, man? am not I a ioly rutter?

Cl. Col. Gyue this gentylman rome, syrs, stonde vtter!

By God, syr, what nede all this waste?

What is this, a betell, or a batowe,[802] or a buskyn lacyd?

Court. Ab. What, wenyst thou that I knowe thé not, Clokyd Colusyon?

Cl. Col. And wenyst thou that I knowe not thé, cankard Abusyon?

Court. Ab. Cankard Jacke Hare, loke thou be not rusty;

For thou shalt well knowe I am nother durty nor dusty.

Cl. Col. Dusty! nay, syr, ye be all of the lusty, 770

Howe be it of scape thryfte your clokes smelleth musty:

But whether art thou walkynge in faythe vnfaynyd?

Court. Ab. Mary, with Magnyfycence I wolde be retaynyd.

Cl. Col. By the masse, for the cowrte thou art a mete man:

Thy slyppers they swap it, yet thou fotys it lyke a swanne.

Court. Ab. Ye, so I can deuyse my gere after the cowrtly maner.

Cl. Col. So thou arte personable to bere a prynces baner.

By Goddes fote,[803] and I dare well fyght, for I wyll not start.

Court. Ab. Nay, thou art a man good inough but for thy false hart.

Cl. Col. Well, and I be a coward, ther is mo than I. 780

Court. Ab. Ye, in faythe, a bolde man and a hardy.

Cl. Col. A bolde man in a bole of newe ale in cornys.

Court. Ab. Wyll ye se this gentylman is all in his skornys?

Cl. Col. But are ye not auysed to dwell where ye spake?

Court. Ab. I am of fewe wordys, I loue not to barke.

Beryst thou any rome, or cannyst thou do ought?

Cannyst thou helpe in fauer that I myght be brought?

Cl. Col. I may do somwhat, and more I thynke shall.

Here cometh in Crafty Conueyaunce, poyntyng with his fynger, and sayth, Hem, Colusyon!

Court. Ab. Cockys harte, who is yonde that for thé dothe call?

Cr. Con.[804] Nay, come at ones, for the armys of the dyce! 790

Court. Ab. Cockys armys, he hath callyd for thé twyce.

Cl. Col. By Cockys harte, and call shall agayne:

To come to me, I trowe, he shalbe fayne.

Court. Ab. What, is thy harte pryckyd with such a prowde pynne?

Cl. Col. Tushe, he that hath nede, man, let hym rynne.

Cr. Con. Nay, come away, man: thou playst the cayser.

Cl. Col.[805] By the masse, thou shalt byde my leyser.

Cr. Con. Abyde, syr, quod he! mary, so I do.

Court. Ab. He wyll come, man, when he may tende to.

Cr. Con. What the deuyll, who sent for thé? 800

Cl. Col. Here he is nowe, man; mayst thou not se?

Cr. Con. What the deuyll, man, what thou menyst?

Art thou so angry as thou semyst?

Court. Ab. What the deuyll, can ye agre no better?

Cr. Con. What the deuyll, where had we this ioly ietter?

Cl. Col. What sayst thou, man? why dost thou not supplye,

And desyre me thy good mayster to be?

Court. Ab. Spekest thou to me?

Cl. Col. Ye, so I tell thé.

Court. Ab. Cockes bones, I ne tell can 810

Whiche of you is the better man,

Or whiche of you can do most.

Cr. Con. In fayth, I rule moche of the rost.

Cl. Col. Rule the roste! ye, thou woldest[806]

As skante thou had no nede of me.

Cr. Con. Nede! yes, mary, I say not nay.

Court. Ab. Cockes ha[r]te, I trowe thou wylte make a fray.

Cr. Con. Nay, in good faythe, it is but the gyse.

Cl. Col. No, for, or we stryke, we wyll be aduysed twyse.

Court. Ab. What the deuyll, vse ye not to drawe no swordes? 820

Cr. Con. No, by my trouthe, but crake grete wordes.

Court. Ab. Why, is this the gyse nowe adayes?

Cl. Col. Ye, for surety, ofte peas is taken for frayes.

But, syr, I wyll haue this man with me.

Cr. Con. Conuey yourselfe fyrst, let se.

Cl. Col. Well, tarry here tyll I for you sende.

Cr. Con. Why, shall he be of your bende?

Cl. Col. Tary here: wote ye what I say?

Court. Ab. I waraunt you, I wyll not go away.

Cr. Con. By Saynt Mary, he is a tawle man. 830

Cl. Col. Ye, and do ryght good seruyce he can;

I knowe in hym no defaute

But that the horson is prowde and hawte.

And so they[807] go out of the place.

Court. Ab. Nay, purchace ye a pardon for the pose,

For pryde hath plucked thé by the nose,

As well as me: I wolde, and I durste,

But nowe I wyll not say the worste.

Courtly Abusyon alone in the place.

What nowe, let se,

Who loketh on me

Well rounde aboute, 840

Howe gay and howe stoute

That I can were

Courtly my gere:

My heyre bussheth

So plesauntly,

My robe russheth

So ruttyngly,

Me seme I flye,

I am so lyght,

To daunce delyght; 850

Properly drest,

All poynte deuyse,

My persone prest

Beyonde all syse

Of the newe gyse,

To russhe it oute

In euery route:

Beyonde measure

My sleue is wyde,

Al of pleasure, 860

My hose strayte tyde,

My buskyn wyde,

Ryche to beholde,

Gletterynge in golde.

Abusyon

Forsothe I hyght:

Confusyon

Shall on hym lyght,

By day or by nyght

That vseth me; 870

He can not thee.

A very fon,

A very asse,

Wyll take vpon

To compasse

That neuer was

Abusyd before;

A very pore

That so wyll do,

He doth abuse 880

Hym selfe to to,

He dothe mysse vse

Eche man take a fe[808]

To crake and prate;

I befoule his pate.

This newe fonne iet

From out of Fraunce

Fyrst I dyd set;

Made purueaunce

And suche ordenaunce, 890

That all men it founde

Through out Englonde:

All this nacyon

I set on fyre

In my facyon,

This theyr desyre,

This newe atyre;

This ladyes haue,

I it them gaue;

Spare for no coste; 900

And yet in dede

It is coste loste

Moche more than nede

For to excede

In suche aray:

Howe be it, I say,

A carlys sonne,

Brought vp of nought,

Wyth me wyll wonne

Whylyst he hath ought; 910

He wyll haue wrought

His gowne so wyde

That he may hyde

His dame and his syre

Within his slyue;

Spende all his hyre,

That men hym gyue;

Wherfore I preue,

A Tyborne checke

Shall breke his necke. 920

Here cometh in Fansy, craynge, Stow, stow!

All is out of harre,

And out of trace,

Ay warre and warre

In euery place.

But what the deuyll art thou,

That cryest, Stow, stow?

Fan. What, whom haue we here, Jenkyn Joly?

Nowe welcom, by the God holy.

Court. Ab. What, Fansy, my frende! howe doste thou fare?

Fan. By Cryst, as mery as a Marche hare. 930

Court. Ab. What the deuyll hast thou on thy fyste? an owle?

Fan. Nay, it is a farly fowle.

Court. Ab. Me thynke she frowneth and lokys sowre.

Fan. Torde, man, it is an hawke of the towre:

She is made for the malarde fat.

Court. Ab. Methynke she is well becked to catche a rat.

But nowe what tydynges can you tell, let se.

Fan. Mary, I am come for thé.

Court. Ab. For me?

Fan. Ye, for thé, so I say. 940

Court. Ab. Howe so? tell me, I thé pray.

Fan. Why, harde thou not of the fray,

That fell amonge vs this same day?

Court. Ab. No, mary, not yet.

Fan. What the deuyll, neuer a whyt?

Court. Ab. No, by the masse; what sholde I swere?

Fan. In faythe, Lyberte is nowe a lusty spere.

Court. Ab. Why, vnder whom was he abydynge?

Fan. Mary, Mesure had hym a whyle in gydynge,

Tyll, as the deuyll wolde, they fell a chydynge 950

With Crafty Conuayaunce.

Court. Ab. Ye, dyd they so?

Fan. Ye, by Goddes sacrament, and with other mo.

Court. Ab. What neded that, in the dyuyls date?

Fan. Yes, yes, he fell with me also at debate.

Court. Ab. With thé also? what, he playeth the state?

Fan. Ye, but I bade hym pyke out of the gate,

By Goddes body, so dyd I.

Court. Ab. By the masse, well done and boldely.

Fan. Holde thy pease, Measure shall frome vs walke. 960

Court. Ab. Why, is he crossed than with a chalke?

Fan. Crossed! ye, checked out of consayte.

Court. Ab. Howe so?

Fan. By God, by a praty slyght,

As here after thou shalte knowe more:

But I must tary here; go thou before.

Court. Ab. With whom shall I there mete?

Fan. Crafty Conueyaunce standeth in the strete,

Euen of purpose for the same.

Court. Ab. Ye, but what shall I call my name? 970

Fan. Cockes harte, tourne thé, let me se thyne aray:

Cockes bones, this is all of Johnn de gay.

Court. Ab. So I am poynted after my consayte.

Fan. Mary, thou iettes it of hyght.

Court. Ab. Ye, but of my name let vs be wyse.

Fan. Mary, Lusty Pleasure, by myne aduyse,

To name thyselfe, come of, it were done.

Court. Ab. Farewell, my frende.

Fan. Adue, tyll sone.[809]

Stowe, byrde, stowe, stowe! 980

It is best I fede my hawke now.

There is many euyll faueryd, and thou be foule;

Eche thynge is fayre when it is yonge: all hayle, owle!

Lo, this is

My fansy, I wys:

Nowe Cryst it blysse!

It is, by Jesse,

A byrde full swete,

For me full mete:

She is furred for the hete 990

All to the fete;

Her browys bent,

Her eyen glent:

Frome Tyne to Trent,

From Stroude to Kent,

A man shall fynde

Many of her kynde,

Howe standeth the wynde

Before or behynde:

Barbyd lyke a nonne, 1000

For burnynge of the sonne;

Her fethers donne;

Well faueryd bonne.

Nowe, let me se about,

In all this rowte

Yf I can fynde out

So semely a snowte

Amonge this prese:

Euen a hole mese—

Pease, man, pease! 1010

I rede, we sease.

So farly fayre as it lokys,

And her becke so comely crokys,

Her naylys sharpe as tenter hokys!

I haue not kept her yet thre wokys,

And howe styll she dothe syt!

Teuyt, teuyt, where is my wyt?

The deuyll spede whyt!

That was before, I set behynde;

Nowe to curteys, forthwith vnkynde; 1020

Somtyme to sober, somtyme to sadde,

Somtyme to mery, somtyme to madde;

Somtyme I syt as I were solempe prowde;

Somtyme I laughe ouer lowde;

Somtyme I wepe for a gew gaw;

Somtyme I laughe at waggynge of a straw;

With a pere my loue you may wynne,

And ye may lese it for a pynne.

I haue a thynge for to say,

And I may tende therto for play; 1030

But in faythe I am so occupyed

On this halfe and on euery syde,

That I wote not where I may rest.

Fyrst to tell you what were best,

Frantyke Fansy seruyce I hyght;

My wyttys be weke, my braynys are lyght:

For it is I that other whyle

Plucke downe lede, and theke with tyle;

Nowe I wyll this, and nowe I wyll that;

Make a wyndmyll of a mat; 1040

Nowe I wolde, and I wyst what;

Where is my cappe? I haue lost my hat;

And within an houre after,

Plucke downe an house, and set vp a rafter;

Hyder and thyder, I wote not whyder;

Do and vndo, bothe togyder;

Of a spyndell I wyll make a sparre;

All that I make, forthwith I marre;

I blunder, I bluster, I blowe, and I blother;

I make on the one day, and I marre on the other; 1050

Bysy, bysy, and euer bysy,

I daunce vp and downe tyll I am dyssy;

I can fynde fantasyes where none is;

I wyll not haue it so, I wyll haue it this.

Hic ingrediatur Foly, quatiendo crema[810] et faciendo multum, feriendo tabulas et similia.

Fol. Maysters, Cryst saue euerychone!

What, Fansy, arte thou here alone?

Fan. What, fonnysshe Foly! I befole thy face.

Fol. What, frantyke Fansy in a foles case!

What is this, an owle or a glede?

By my trouthe, she hathe a grete hede. 1060

Fan. Tusshe, thy lyppes hange in thyne eye:[811]

It is a Frenche butterflye.

Fol. By my trouthe, I trowe well;

But she is lesse a grete dele

Than a butterflye of our lande.

Fan. What pylde curre ledest thou in thy hande?

Fol. A pylde curre!

Fan. Ye so, I tell thé, a pylde curre.

Fol. Yet I solde his skynne to Mackemurre,

In the stede of a budge furre. 1070

Fan. What, fleyest thou his skynne euery yere?

Fol. Yes, in faythe, I thanke God I may here.

Fan. What, thou wylte coughe me a dawe for forty pens?

Fol. Mary, syr, Cokermowthe is a good way hens.

Fan. What? of Cokermowth spake I no worde.

Fol. By my faythe, syr, the frubyssher hath my sworde.

Fan. A, I trowe, ye shall coughe me a fole.

Fol. In faythe, trouthe ye say, we wente togyder to scole.

Fan. Ye, but I can somwhat more of the letter.

Fol. I wyll not gyue an halfepeny for to chose the better. 1080

Fan. But, broder Foly, I wonder moche of one thynge,

That thou so hye fro me doth sprynge,

And I so lytell alway styll.

Fol. By God, I can tell thé, and I wyll.

Thou art so feble fantastycall,

And so braynsyke therwithall,

And thy wyt wanderynge here and there,

That thou cannyst not growe out of thy boyes gere;

And as for me, I take but one folysshe way,

And therfore I growe more on one day 1090

Than thou can in yerys seuen.

Fan. In faythe, trouth thou sayst nowe, by God of heuen!

For so with fantasyes my wyt dothe flete,

That wysdome and I shall seldome mete.

Nowe, of good felowshyp, let me by thy dogge.[812]

Fol. Cockys harte, thou lyest, I am no hogge.[813]

Fan. Here is no man that callyd thé hogge nor swyne.

Fol. In faythe, man, my brayne is as good as thyne.

Fan. The deuyls torde for thy brayne!

Fol. By my syers soule, I fele no rayne. 1100

Fan. By the masse, I holde thé madde.

Fol. Mary, I knewe thé when thou waste a ladde.

Fan. Cockys bonys, herde ye euer syke another?

Fol. Ye, a fole the tone, and a fole the tother.

Fan. Nay, but wotest thou what I do say?

Fol. Why, sayst thou that I was here yesterday?

Fan. Cockys armys, this is a warke, I trowe.

Fol. What, callyst thou me a donnyshe crowe?

Fan. Nowe, in good faythe, thou art a fonde gest.

Fol. Ye, bere me this strawe to a dawys nest. 1110

Fan. What, wenyst thou that I were so folysshe and so fonde?

Fol. In faythe, ellys is there none in all Englonde.

Fan. Yet for my fansy sake, I say,

Let me haue thy dogge, what soeuer I pay.

Fol. Thou shalte haue my purse, and I wyll haue thyne.

Fan. By my trouth, there is myne.

Fol. Nowe, by my trouth, man, take, there is myne;[814]

And I beshrowe hym that hath the worse.

Fan. Torde, I say, what haue I do?

Here is nothynge but the bockyll of a sho, 1120

And in my purse was twenty marke.

Fol. Ha, ha, ha! herke, syrs, harke!

For all that my name hyght Foly,

By the masse, yet art thou more fole than I.

Fan. Yet gyue me thy dogge, and I am content;

And thou shalte haue my hauke to a botchment.

Fol. That euer thou thryue, God it forfende!

For Goddes cope thou wyll spende.

Nowe take thou my dogge, and gyue me thy fowle.[815]

Fan. Hay, chysshe, come hyder! 1130

Fol. Nay, torde, take hym be tyme.

Fan. What callest thou thy dogge?

Fol. Tusshe, his name is Gryme.

Fan. Come, Gryme, come, Gryme! it is my praty dogges.

Fol. In faythe, there is not a better dogge for hogges,

Not from Anwyke vnto Aungey.

Fan. Ye, but trowest thou that he be not maungey?

Fol. No, by my trouthe, it is but the scurfe and the scabbe.

Fan. What, he hathe ben hurte with a stabbe?

Fol. Nay, in faythe, it was but a strype 1140

That the horson had for etynge of a trype.

Fan. Where the deuyll gate he all these hurtes?

Fol. By God, for snatchynge of puddynges and wortes.

Fan. What, then he is some good poore mannes curre?

Fol. Ye, but he wyll in at euery mannes dore.

Fan. Nowe thou hast done me a pleasure grete.

Fol. In faythe, I wolde thou had a marmosete.

Fan. Cockes harte, I loue suche iapes.

Fol. Ye, for all thy mynde is on owles and apes.

But I haue thy pultre, and thou hast my catell. 1150

Fan. Ye, but thryfte and we haue made a batell.

Fol. Remembrest thou not the iapes and the toyes—

Fan. What, that we vsed whan we were boyes?

Fol. Ye, by the rode, euen the same.

Fan. Yes, yes, I am yet as full of game

As euer I was, and as full of tryfyls,

Nil, nihilum, nihil, anglice nyfyls.

Fol. What canest thou all this Latyn[816] yet,

And hath so mased a wandrynge wyt?

Fan. Tushe, man, I kepe some Latyn in store. 1160

Fol. By Cockes harte, I wene thou hast no more.

Fan. No? yes, in faythe, I can versyfy.

Fol. Then, I pray thé hartely,

Make a verse of my butterfly;

It forseth not of the reason, so it kepe ryme.

Fan. But wylte thou make another on Gryme?

Fol. Nay, in fayth, fyrst let me here thyne.

Fan. Mary, as for that, thou shalte sone here myne:

Est snavi[817] snago with a shrewde face vilis imago.

Fol. Grimbaldus gredy, snatche a puddyng tyl the rost be redy. 1170

Fan. By the harte of God, well done!

Fol. Ye, so redely and so sone!

Here cometh in Crafty Conueyaunce.

Cr. Con. What, Fansy! Let me se who is the tother.

Fan. By God, syr, Foly, myne owne sworne brother.

Cr. Con. Cockys bonys, it is a farle freke:

Can he play well at the hoddypeke?

Fan. Tell by thy trouth what sport can thou make.

Fol. A, holde thy peas; I haue the tothe ake.

Cr. Con. The tothe ake! lo, a torde ye haue.

Fol. Ye, thou haste the four quarters of a knaue. 1180

Cr. Con. Wotyst thou, I say, to whom thou spekys?

Fan. Nay, by Cockys harte, he ne reckys,

For he wyll speke to Magnyfycence thus.

Cr. Con. Cockys armys, a mete man for vs.

Fol. What, wolde ye haue mo folys, and are so many?

Fan. Nay, offer hym a counter in stede of a peny.

Cr. Con. Why, thynkys thou he can no better skyll?

Fol. In fayth, I can make you bothe folys, and I wyll.

Cr. Con. What haste thou on thy fyst? a kesteryll?[818]

Fol. Nay, I wys, fole, it is a doteryll. 1190

Cr. Con. In a cote thou can play well the dyser.

Fol. Ye, but thou can play the fole without a vyser.

Fan. Howe rode he by you? howe put he to you?[819]

Cr. Con. Mary, as thou sayst, he gaue me a blurre.

But where gatte thou that mangey curre?

Fan. Mary, it was his, and nowe it is myne.

Cr. Con. And was it his, and nowe it is thyne?

Thou must haue thy fansy and thy wyll,

But yet thou shalt holde me a fole styll.

Fol. Why, wenyst thou that I cannot make thé play the fon? 1200

Fan. Yes, by my faythe, good Syr Johnn.

Cr. Con. For you bothe it were inough.

Fol. Why, wenyst thou that I were as moche a fole as thou?

Fan. Nay, nay, thou shalte fynde hym another maner of man.

Fol. In faythe, I can do mastryes, so I can.

Cr. Con. What canest thou do but play cocke wat?

Fan. Yes,[820] yes, he wyll make thé ete a gnat.

Fol. Yes, yes, by my trouth, I holde thé a grote,

That I shall laughe thé out of thy cote.

Cr. Con. Than wyll I say that thou haste no pere. 1210

Fan. Nowe, by the rode, and he wyll go nere.

Fol. Hem, Fansy! regardes, voyes.

Here Foly maketh semblaunt to take a lowse from Crafty Conueyaunce showlder.

Fan. What hast thou founde there?

Fol. By God, a lowse.

Cr. Con. By Cockes harte, I trowe thou lyste.

Fol. By the masse, a Spaynysshe moght with a gray lyste.

Fan. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Cr. Con. Cockes armes, it is not so, I trowe.

Here Crafty Conu[ey]aunce putteth of his gowne.

Fol. Put on thy gowne agayne, for nowe thou hast lost.[821]

Fan. Lo, Johnn a Bonam, where is thy brayne? 1220

Nowe put on, fole, thy cote agayne.

Fol. Gyue me my grote, for thou hast lost.

Here Foly maketh semblaunt to take money of Crafty Conueyaunce, saynge to hym,

Shyt thy purse, dawe, and do no cost.

Fan. Nowe hast thou not a prowde mocke and a starke?

Cr. Con. With, yes, by the rode of Wodstocke Parke.

Fan. Nay, I tell thé, he maketh no dowtes

To tourne a fole out of his clowtes.

Cr. Con. And for a fole a man wolde hym take.

Fol. Nay, it is I that foles can make;

For, be he cayser or be he kynge, 1230

To felowshyp with Foly I can hym brynge.

Fan. Nay, wylte thou here nowe of his scoles,

And what maner of people he maketh foles?

Cr. Con. Ye, let vs here a worde or twayne.

Fol. Syr, of my maner I shall tell you the playne.

Fyrst I lay before them my bybyll,

And teche them howe they sholde syt ydyll,

To pyke theyr fyngers all the day longe;

So in theyr eyre I synge them a songe,

And make them so longe to muse, 1240

That some of them renneth strayght to the stuse;

To thefte and bryboury I make some fall,

And pyke a locke and clyme a wall;

And where I spy a nysot gay,

That wyll syt ydyll all the day,

And can not set herselfe to warke,

I kyndell in her suche a lyther sparke,

That rubbed she must be on the gall

Bytwene the tappet[822] and the wall.

Cr. Con. What, horson, arte thou suche a one? 1250

Fan. Nay, beyonde all other set hym alone.

Cr. Con. Hast thou ony more? let se, procede.

Fol. Ye, by God, syr, for a nede,

I haue another maner of sorte,

That I laugh at for my dysporte;

And those be they that come vp of nought,

As some be not ferre, and yf it were well sought:

Suche dawys, what soeuer they be,

That be set in auctorite,

Anone he waxyth so hy and prowde, 1260

He frownyth fyersly, brymly browde,

The knaue wolde make it koy, and he cowde;

All that he dothe, muste be alowde;

And, This is not well done, syr, take hede;

And maketh hym besy where is no nede:

He dawnsys so longe, hey, troly loly,

That euery man lawghyth at his foly.

Cr. Con. By the good Lorde, truthe he sayth.

Fan. Thynkyst thou not so, by thy fayth?

Cr. Con. Thynke I not so, quod he! ellys haue I shame, 1270

For I knowe dyuerse that vseth the same.

Fol. But nowe, forsothe, man, it maketh no mater;

For they that wyll so bysely smater,

So helpe me God, man, euer at the length

I make hym[823] lese moche of theyr strength;

For with foly so do I them lede,

That wyt he wantyth when he hath moste nede.

Fan. Forsothe, tell on: hast thou any mo?[824]

Fol. Yes, I shall tell you, or I go,

Of dyuerse mo that hauntyth my scolys. 1280

Cr. Con. All men beware of suche folys!

Fol. There be two lyther, rude and ranke,

Symkyn Tytyuell and Pers Pykthanke;

Theys lythers I lerne them for to lere

What he sayth and she sayth to lay good ere,

And tell to his sufferayne euery whyt,

And then he is moche made of for his wyt;[825]

And, be the mater yll more or lesse,

He wyll make it mykyll worse than it is:

But all that he dothe, and yf he reken well, 1290

It is but foly euery dell.

Fan. Are not his wordys cursydly cowchyd?

Cr. Con. By God, there be some that be shroudly towchyd:

But, I say, let se and yf thou haue any more.

Fol. I haue an hole armory of suche haburdashe in store;

For there be other that foly dothe vse,

That folowe fonde fantasyes and vertu refuse.

Fan. Nay, that is my parte that thou spekest of nowe.

Fol. So is all the remenaunt, I make God auowe;

For thou fourmest suche fantasyes in theyr mynde, 1300

That euery man almost groweth out of kynde.

Cr. Con. By the masse, I am glad that I came hyder,

To here you two rutters dyspute togyder.

Fan. Nay, but Fansy must be eyther fyrst or last.

Fol. But whan Foly cometh, all is past.

Fan. I wote not whether it cometh of thé or of me,

But all is foly that I can se.

Cr. Con. Mary, syr, ye may swere it on a boke.

Fol. Ye, tourne ouer the lefe, rede there and loke,

Howe frantyke Fansy fyrst of all 1310

Maketh man and woman in foly to fall.

Cr. Con. A, syr, a, a! howe by that!

Fan. A peryllous thynge, to cast a cat

Vpon a naked man, and yf she scrat.

Fol. So how, I say, the hare is squat!

For, frantyke Fansy, thou makest men madde;

And I, Foly, bryngeth them to qui fuit gadde,

With qui fuit brayne seke I haue them brought

From qui fuit aliquid to shyre shakynge nought.

Cr. Con. Well argued and surely on bothe sydes: 1320

But for thé, Fansy, Magnyfycence abydes.

Fan. Why, shall I not haue Foly with me also?

Cr. Con. Yes, perde, man, whether that ye ryde or go:

Yet for his name we must fynde a slyght.[826]

Fan. By the masse, he shall hyght Consayte.

Cr. Con. Not a better name vnder the sonne:

With Magnyfycence thou shalte wonne.

Fol. God haue mercy, good godfather.

Cr. Con. Yet I wolde that ye had gone rather;

For, as sone as you come in Magnyfycence syght, 1330

All mesure and good rule is gone quyte.

Fan. And shall we haue lyberte to do what we wyll?

Cr. Con. Ryot at lyberte russheth it out styll.

Fol. Ye, but tell me one thynge.

Cr. Con. What is that?

Fol. Who is mayster of the masshe fat?

Fan. Ye, for he hathe a full dry soule.

Cr. Con. Cockes armes, thou shalte kepe the brewhouse boule.

Fol. But may I drynke therof whylest that I stare?

Cr. Con. When mesure is gone, what nedest thou spare? 1340

Whan mesure is gone, we may slee care.

Fol. Nowe then goo we hens, away the mare![827]

Crafty Conueyaunce alone in the place.

Cr. Con. It is wonder to se the worlde aboute,

To se what foly is vsed in euery place;

Foly hath a rome, I say, in euery route,

To put, where he lyst, Foly hath fre chace;

Foly and Fansy all where, euery man dothe face and brace;

Foly fotyth it properly, Fansy ledyth the dawnce;

And next come I after, Crafty Conueyaunce.

Who so to me gyueth good aduertence, 1350

Shall se many thyngys donne craftely:

By me conueyed is wanton insolence,

Pryuy poyntmentys conueyed so properly,

For many tymes moche kyndnesse is denyed

For drede that we dare not ofte lest we be spyed;

By me is conueyed mykyll praty ware,

Somtyme, I say, behynde the dore for nede;

I haue an hoby can make larkys to dare;

I knyt togyther many a broken threde.

It is great almesse the hungre[828] to fede, 1360

To clothe the nakyd where is lackynge a smocke,

Trymme at her tayle, or a man can turne a socke:

What howe, be ye mery! was it not well conueyed?

As oft as ye lyst, so honeste be sauyd;

Alas, dere harte, loke that we be not perseyuyd!

Without crafte nothynge is well behauyd;

Though I shewe you curtesy, say not that I craue,[829]

Yet conuey it craftely, and hardely spare not for me,

So that there knowe no man but I and she.

Thefte also and pety brybery 1370

Without me be full oft aspyed;

My inwyt delynge there can no man dyscry,

Conuey it be crafte, lyft and lay asyde:

Full moche flatery and falsehode I hyde,

And by crafty conueyaunce I wyll, and I can,

Saue a stronge thefe and hange a trew man.

But some man wolde conuey, and can not skyll,

As malypert tauernars that checke with theyr betters,

Theyr conueyaunce weltyth the worke all by wyll;

And some wyll take vpon them to conterfet letters, 1380

And therwithall conuey hymselfe into a payre of fetters;

And some wyll conuey by the pretence of sadnesse,

Tyll all theyr conueyaunce is turnyd into madnesse.

Crafty conueyaunce is no chyldys game:

By crafty conueyaunce many one is brought vp of nought;

Crafty Conueyaunce can cloke hymselfe frome shame,

For by crafty conueyaunce wonderful thynges are wrought:

By conuayaunce crafty I haue brought

Vnto Magnyfyce[nce] a full vngracyous sorte,

For all hokes vnhappy to me haue resorte. 1390

Here cometh in Magnyfycence with Lyberte and Felycyte.

Magn. Trust me, Lyberte, it greueth me ryght sore

To se you thus ruled and stande in suche awe.

Lyb. Syr, as by my wyll, it shall be so no more.

Fel. Yet lyberte without rule is not worth a strawe.

Magn. Tushe, holde your peas, ye speke lyke a dawe;

Ye shall be occupyed, Welthe, at my wyll.

Cr. Con. All that ye say, syr, is reason and skyll.

Magn. Mayster Suruayour, where haue ye ben so longe?

Remembre ye not how my lyberte by mesure ruled was?

Cr. Con. In good faythe, syr, me semeth he had the more wronge. 1400

Lyb. Mary, syr, so dyd he excede and passe,

They droue me to lernynge lyke a dull asse.

Fel. It is good yet that lyberte be ruled by reason.

Magn. Tushe, holde your peas, ye speke out of season:

Yourselfe shall be ruled by lyberte and largesse.

Fel. I am content, so it in measure be.

Lyb. Must mesure, in the mares name, you furnysshe and dresse?

Magn. Nay, nay, not so, my frende Felycyte.

Cr. Con. Not, and your grace wolde be ruled by me.

Lyb. Nay, he shall be ruled euen as I lyst. 1410

Fel. Yet it is good to beware of Had I wyst.

Magn. Syr, by lyberte and largesse I wyll that ye shall

Be gouerned and gyded: wote ye what I say?

Mayster Suruayour, Largesse to me call.

Cr. Con. It shall be done.

Magn. Ye, but byd hym come away

At ones, and let hym not tary all day.

Here goth out Crafty Conuayaunce.

Fel. Yet it is good wysdome to worke wysely by welth.

Lyb. Holde thy tonge, and thou loue thy helth.

Magn. What, wyll ye waste wynde, and prate thus in vayne? 1420

Ye haue eten sauce, I trowe, at the Taylers Hall.

Lyb. Be not to bolde, my frende; I counsell you, bere a brayne.

Magn. And what so we say, holde you content withall.

Fel. Syr, yet without sapyence your substaunce may be smal;

For, where is no mesure, howe may worshyp endure?

Here cometh in Fansy.

Fan. Syr, I am here at your pleasure;

Your grace sent for me, I wene; what is your wyll?

Magn. Come hyther, Largesse, take here Felycyte.

Fan. Why, wene you that I can kepe hym longe styll?

Magn. To rule as ye lyst, lo, here is Lyberte! 1430

Lyb. I am here redy.

Fan. What, shall we haue welth at our gydynge to rule as we lyst?

Then fare well thryfte, by hym that crosse kyst!

Fel. I truste your grace wyll be agreabyll

That I shall suffer none impechment

By theyr demenaunce nor losse repryuable.

Magn. Syr, ye shall folowe myne appetyte and intent.

Fel. So it be by mesure I am ryght well content.

Fan. What, all by mesure, good syr, and none excesse?

Lyb. Why, welth hath made many a man braynlesse. 1440

Fel. That was by the menys of to moche lyberte.

Magn. What can ye agree thus and appose?

Fel. Syr, as I say, there was no faute in me.

Lyb. Ye, of Jackeathrommys bybyll can ye make a glose?

Fan. Sore sayde, I tell you, and well to the purpose:

What sholde a man do with you, loke you vnder kay.[830]

Fel. I say, it is foly to gyue all welth away.

Lyb. Whether sholde welth be rulyd by lyberte,

Or lyberte by welth? let se, tell me that.

Fel. Syr, as me semeth, ye sholde be rulyd by me. 1450

Magn. What nede you with hym thus prate and chat?

Fan. Shewe vs your mynde then, howe to do and what.

Magn. I say, that I wyll ye haue hym in gydynge.

Lyb. Mayster Felycyte, let be your chydynge,

And so as ye se it wyll be no better,

Take it in worthe suche as ye fynde.

Fan. What the deuyll, man, your name shalbe the greter,

For welth without largesse is all out of kynde.

Lyb. And welth is nought worthe, yf lyberte be behynde.

Magn. Nowe holde ye content, for there is none other shyfte. 1460

Fel. Than waste must be welcome, and fare well thryfte!

Magn. Take of his substaunce a sure inuentory,

And get thou[831] home togyther; for Lyberte shall byde,

And wayte vpon me.

Lyb. And yet for a memory,

Make indentures howe ye and I shal gyde.

Fan. I can do nothynge but he stonde besyde.

Lyb. Syr, we can do nothynge the one without the other.

Magn. Well, get you hens than, and sende me some other.

Fan. Whom? lusty Pleasure, or mery Consayte? 1470

Magn. Nay, fyrst lusty Pleasure is my desyre to haue,

And let the other another[832] awayte,

Howe be it that fonde felowe is a mery knaue;

But loke that ye occupye the auctoryte that I you gaue.

[Here goeth out Felycyte, Lyberte, and Fansy.

Magnyfycence alone in the place.

For nowe,[833] syrs, I am lyke as a prynce sholde be;

I haue welth at wyll, largesse and lyberte:

Fortune to her lawys can not abandune me,

But I shall of Fortune rule the reyne;

I fere nothynge Fortunes perplexyte;

All honour to me must nedys stowpe and lene; 1480

I synge of two partys without a mene;

I haue wynde and wether ouer all to sayle,

No stormy rage agaynst me can peruayle.

Alexander, of Macedony kynge,

That all the oryent had in subieccyon,

Though al his conquestys were brought to rekenynge,

Myght seme ryght wel vnder my proteccyon

To rayne, for all his marcyall affeccyon;

For I am prynce perlesse prouyd of porte,

Bathyd with blysse, embracyd with comforte. 1490

Syrus, that soleme syar of Babylon,

That Israell releysyd of theyr captyuyte,

For al his pompe, for all his ryall trone,

He may not be comparyd vnto me.

I am the dyamounde dowtlesse of dygnyte:

Surely it is I that all may saue and spyll;

No man so hardy to worke agaynst my wyll.

Porcenya, the prowde prouoste of Turky lande,

That ratyd the Romaynes and made them yll rest,

Nor Cesar July, that no man myght withstande, 1500

Were neuer halfe so rychely as I am drest:

No, that I assure you; loke who was the best.

I reyne in my robys, I rule as me lyst,

I dryue downe th[e]se dastardys with a dynt of my fyste.

Of Cato the counte acountyd the cane,

Daryus, the doughty cheftayn of Perse,

I set not by the prowdest of them a prane,

Ne by non other that any man can rehersse.

I folowe in felycyte without reue[r]sse,

I drede no daunger, I dawnce all in delyte; 1510

My name is Magnyfycence, man most of myght.

Hercules the herdy, with his stobburne clobbyd mase,

That made Cerberus to cache, the cur dogge of hell,

And Thesius, that[834] prowde was Pluto to face,

It wolde not become them with me for to mell:

For of all barones bolde I bere the bell,

Of all doughty I am doughtyest duke, as I deme;

To me all prynces to lowte man be sene.[835]

Cherlemayne, that mantenyd the nobles of Fraunce,

Arthur of Albyan, for all his brymme berde, 1520

Nor Basyan the bolde, for all his brybaunce,

Nor Alerycus, that rulyd the Gothyaunce by swerd,

Nor no man on molde can make me aferd.

What man is so maysyd with me that dare mete,

I shall flappe hym as a fole to fall at my fete.

Galba, whom his galantys garde for agaspe,

Nor Nero, that nother set by God nor man,

Nor Vaspasyan, that bare in his nose a waspe,

Nor Hanyball agayne Rome gates that ranne,

Nor yet Cypyo,[836] that noble Cartage wanne, 1530

Nor none so hardy of them with me that durste crake,

But I shall frounce them on the foretop, and gar them to quake.

Here cometh in Courtly Abusyon, doynge reuerence and courtesy.

Court. Ab. At your commaundement, syr, wyth all dew reuerence.

Magn. Welcom, Pleasure, to our magnyfycence.

Court. Ab. Plesyth it your grace to shewe what I do shall?

Magn. Let vs here of your pleasure to passe the tyme withall.

Court. Ab. Syr, then with the fauour of your benynge sufferaunce

To shewe you my mynde myselfe I wyll auaunce,

If it lyke your grace to take it in degre.

Magn. Yes, syr, so good man in you I se, 1540

And in your delynge so good assuraunce,

That we delyte gretly in your dalyaunce.

Court. Ab. A, syr, your grace me dothe extole and rayse,

And ferre beyond my merytys ye me commende and prayse;

Howe be it, I wolde be ryght gladde, I you assure,

Any thynge to do that myght be to your pleasure.

Magn. As I be saued, with pleasure I am supprysyd

Of your langage, it is so well deuysed;

Pullyshyd and fresshe is your ornacy.

Court. Ab. A, I wolde to God that I were halfe so crafty, 1550

Or in electe vtteraunce halfe so eloquent,

As that I myght your noble grace content!

Magn. Truste me, with you I am hyghly pleasyd,

For in my fauour I haue you feffyd and seasyd.

He is not lyuynge your maners can amend;

Mary, your speche is as pleasant as though it were pend;

To here your comon, it is my hygh comforte;

Poynt deuyse all pleasure is your porte.

Court. Ab. Syr, I am the better of your noble reporte;

But, of your pacyence vnder the supporte, 1560

If it wolde lyke you to here my pore mynde—

Magn. Speke, I beseche thé, leue nothynge behynde.

Court. Ab. So as ye be a prynce of great myght,

It is semynge your pleasure ye delyte,

And to aqueynte you with carnall delectacyon,

And to fall in aquayntaunce with euery newe facyon;

And quyckely your appetytes to sharpe and adresse,

To fasten your fansy vpon a fayre maystresse,

That quyckly is enuyued with rudyes of the rose,

Inpurtured with fetures after your purpose, 1570

The streynes of her vaynes as asure inde blewe,

Enbudded with beautye and colour fresshe of hewe,

As lyly whyte to loke vpon her leyre,[837]

Her eyen relucent as carbuncle so clere,

Her mouthe enbawmed, dylectable and mery,

Her lusty lyppes ruddy as the chery:

Howe lyke you? ye lacke, syr, suche a lusty lasse.

Magn. A, that were a baby to brace and to basse!

I wolde I had, by hym that hell dyd harowe,

With me in kepynge suche a Phylyp sparowe! 1580

I wolde hauke whylest my hede dyd warke,

So I myght hobby for suche a lusty larke.

These wordes in myne eyre they be so lustely spoken,

That on suche a female my flesshe wolde be wroken;

They towche me so thorowly, and tykyll my consayte,

That weryed I wolde be on suche a bayte:

A, Cockes armes, where myght suche one be founde?

Court. Ab. Wyll ye spende ony money?

Magn. Ye, a thousande pounde.

Court. Ab. Nay, nay, for lesse I waraunt you to be sped, 1590

And brought home, and layde in your bed.

Magn. Wolde money, trowest thou, make suche one to the call?

Court. Ab. Money maketh marchauntes, I tell you, over all.

Magn. Why, wyl a maystres be wonne for money and for golde?

Court. Ab. Why, was not for money Troy bothe bought and solde?

Full many a stronge cyte and towne hath ben wonne

By the meanes of money without ony gonne.

A maystres, I tell you, is but a small thynge;

A goodly rybon, or a golde rynge,

May wynne with a sawte the fortresse of the holde; 1600

But one thynge I warne you, prece forth and be bolde.

Magn. Ye, but some be full koy and passynge harde harted.

Court. Ab. But, blessyd be our Lorde, they wyll be sone conuerted.

Magn. Why, wyll they then be intreted, the most and the lest?

Court. Ab. Ye, for omnis mulier meretrix, si celari potest.

Magn. A, I haue spyed ye can moche broken sorowe.

Court. Ab. I coude holde you with suche talke hens tyll to morowe;

But yf it lyke your grace, more at large

Me to permyt my mynde to dyscharge,

I wolde yet shewe you further of my consayte. 1610

Magn. Let se what ye say, shewe it strayte.

Court. Ab. Wysely let these wordes in your mynde be wayed:

By waywarde wylfulnes let eche thynge be conuayed;

What so euer ye do, folowe your owne wyll;

Be it reason or none, it shall not gretely skyll;

Be it ryght or wronge, by the aduyse of me,

Take your pleasure and vse free lyberte;

And yf you se ony thynge agaynst your mynde,

Then some occacyon of[838] quarell ye must fynde,

And frowne it and face it, as thoughe ye wolde fyght, 1620

Frete yourselfe for anger and for dyspyte;

Here no man, what so euer they say,

But do as ye lyst, and take your owne way.

Magn. Thy wordes and my mynde odly well accorde.

Court. Ab. What sholde ye do elles? are not you a lorde?

Let your lust and lykynge stande for a lawe;

Be wrastynge and wrythynge, and away drawe.

And ye se a man that with hym ye be not pleased,

And that your mynde can not well be eased,

As yf a man fortune to touche you on the quyke, 1630

Then feyne yourselfe dyseased and make yourselfe seke:

To styre vp your stomake you must you forge,

Call for a candell[839] and cast vp your gorge;

With, Cockes armes, rest shall I none haue

Tyll I be reuenged on that horson knaue!

A, howe my stomake wambleth! I am all in a swete!

Is there no horson that knaue that wyll bete?

Magn. By Cockes woundes, a wonder felowe thou arte;

For ofte tymes suche a wamblynge goth ouer my harte;

Yet I am not harte seke, but that me lyst 1640

For myrth I haue hym coryed, beten, and blyst,

Hym that I loued not and made hym to loute,

I am forthwith as hole as a troute;

For suche abusyon I vse nowe and than.

Court. Ab. It is none abusyon, syr, in a noble man,

It is a pryncely pleasure and a lordly mynde;

Suche lustes at large may not be lefte behynde.

Here cometh in Cloked Colusyon with Mesure.

Cl. Col. Stande styll here, and ye shall se

That for your sake I wyll fall on my kne.

Court. Ab. Syr, Sober Sadnesse cometh, wherfore it be? 1650

Magn. Stande vp, syr, ye are welcom to me.

Cl. Col. Please it your grace, at the contemplacyon

Of my pore instance and supplycacyon,

Tenderly to consyder in your aduertence,

Of our blessyd Lorde, syr, at the reuerence,

Remembre the good seruyce that Mesure hath you done,

And that ye wyll not cast hym away so sone.

Magn. My frende, as touchynge to this your mocyon,

I may say to you I haue but small deuocyon;

Howe be it, at your instaunce I wyll the rather 1660

Do as moche as for myne owne father.

Cl. Col. Nay, syr, that affeccyon ought to be reserued,

For of your grace I haue it nought deserued;

But yf it lyke you that I myght rowne in your eyre,

To shewe you my mynde I wolde haue the lesse fere.

Magn. Stande a lytell abacke, syr, and let hym come hyder.

Court. Ab. With a good wyll, syr, God spede you bothe togyder.

Cl. Col. Syr, so it is, this man is here by,

That for hym to laboure he hath prayde me hartely;

Notwithstandynge to you be it sayde, 1670

To trust in me he is but dyssayued;

For, so helpe me God, for you he is not mete:

I speke the softlyer, because he sholde not wete.

Magn. Come hyder, Pleasure, you shall here myne entent:

Mesure, ye knowe wel, with hym I can not be content,

And surely, as I am nowe aduysed,

I wyll haue hym rehayted and dyspysed.

Howe say ye, syrs? herein what is best?

Court. Ab. By myne aduyse with you in fayth he shall not rest.

Cl. Col. Yet, syr, reserued your better aduysement, 1680

It were better he spake with you or he wente,

That he knowe not but that I haue supplyed

All that I can his matter for to spede.

Magn. Nowe, by your trouthe, gaue he you not a brybe?

Cl. Col. Yes, with his hande I made hym to subscrybe

A byll of recorde for an annuall rent.

Court. Ab. But for all that he is lyke to haue a glent.

Cl. Col. Ye, by my trouthe, I shall waraunt you for me,

And he go to the deu[y]ll, so that I may haue my fee,

What care I? 1690

Magn. By the masse, well sayd.

Court. Ab. What force ye, so that ye[840] be payde?

Cl. Col. But yet, lo, I wolde, or that he wente,

Lest that he thought that his money were euyll spente,

That ye[841] wolde loke on hym, thoughe it were not longe.

Magn. Well cannest thou helpe a preest to synge a songe.

Cl. Col. So it is all the maner nowe a dayes,

For to vse suche haftynge and crafty wayes.

Court. Ab. He telleth you trouth, syr, as I you ensure.

Magn. Well, for thy sake the better I may endure 1700

That he come hyder, and to gyue hym a loke

That he shall lyke the worse all this woke.

Cl. Col. I care not howe sone he be refused,

So that I may craftely be excused.

Court. Ab. Where is he?

Cl. Col. Mary, I made hym abyde,

Whylest I came to you, a lytell here besyde.

Magn. Well, call hym, and let vs here hym reason,

And we wyll be comonynge in the mene season.

Court. Ab. This is a wyse man, syr, where so euer ye hym had. 1710

Magn. An honest person, I tell you, and a sad.

Court. Ab. He can full craftely this matter brynge aboute.

Magn. Whylest I haue hym, I nede nothynge doute.

Hic introducat Colusion, Mesure, Magnyfycence aspectant[e] vultu elatissimo.

Cl. Col. By the masse, I haue done that I can,

And more than euer I dyd for ony man:

I trowe, ye herde yourselfe what I sayd.

Mes. Nay, indede; but I sawe howe ye prayed,

And made instance for me be lykelyhod.

Cl. Col. Nay, I tell you, I am not wonte to fode

Them that dare put theyr truste in me; 1720

And therof ye shall a larger profe se.

Mes. Syr, God rewarde you as ye haue deserued:

But thynke you with Magnyfycence I shal be reserued?

Cl. Col. By my trouth, I can not tell you that;

But, and I were as ye, I wolde not set a gnat

By Magnyfycence, nor yet none of his,

For, go when ye shall, of you shall he mysse.

Mes. Syr, as ye say.

Cl. Col. Nay, come on with me:

Yet ones agayne I shall fall on my kne 1730

For your sake, what so euer befall;

I set not a flye, and all go to all.

Mes. The Holy Goost be with your grace.

Cl. Col. Syr, I beseche you, let pety haue some place

In your brest towardes this gentylman.

Magn. I was your good lorde tyll that ye beganne

So masterfully vpon you for to take

With my seruauntys, and suche maystryes gan make,

That holly my mynde with you is myscontente;

Wherfore I wyll that ye be resydent 1740

With me no longer.

Cl. Col. Say somwhat nowe, let se, for your selfe.[842]

Mes. Syr, yf I myght permytted be,

I wolde to you say a worde or twayne.

Magn. What, woldest thou, lurden, with me brawle agayne?

Haue hym hens, I say, out of my syght;

That day I se hym, I shall be worse all nyght.

[Here Mesure goth out of the place.[843]

Court. Ab. Hens, thou haynyarde, out of the dores fast!

Magn. Alas, my stomake fareth as it wolde cast!

Cl. Col. Abyde, syr, abyde, let me holde your hede. 1750

Magn. A bolle or a basyn, I say, for Goddes brede!

A, my hede! But is the horson gone?

God gyue hym a myscheffe! Nay, nowe let me alone.

Cl. Col. A good dryfte, syr, a praty fete:

By the good Lorde, yet your temples bete.

Magn. Nay, so God me helpe, it was no grete vexacyon,

For I am panged ofte tymes of this same facyon.

Cl. Col. Cockes armes, howe Pleasure plucked hym forth!

Magn. Ye, walke he must, it was no better worth.

Cl. Col. Syr, nowe me thynke your harte is well eased. 1760

Magn. Nowe Measure is gone, I am the better pleased.

Cl. Col. So to be ruled by measure, it is a payne.

Magn. Mary, I wene he wolde not be glad to come agayne.

Cl. Col. So I wote not what he sholde do here:

Where mennes belyes is mesured, there is no chere;

For I here but fewe men that gyue ony prayse

Vnto measure, I say, nowe a days.

Magn. Measure, tut! what, the deuyll of hell!

Scantly one with measure that wyll dwell.

Cl. Col. Not amonge noble men, as the worlde gothe: 1770

It is no wonder therfore thoughe ye be wrothe

With Mesure. Where as all noblenes is, there I haue past:

They catche that catche may, kepe and holde fast,

Out of all measure themselfe to enryche;

No force what thoughe his neyghbour dye in a dyche.

With pollynge and pluckynge out of all measure,

Thus must ye stuffe and store your treasure.

Magn. Yet somtyme, parde, I must vse largesse.

Cl. Col. Ye, mary, somtyme in a messe of vergesse,

As in a tryfyll or in a thynge of nought, 1780

As gyuynge a thynge that ye neuer bought:

It is the gyse nowe, I say, ouer all;

Largesse in wordes, for rewardes are but small:

To make fayre promyse, what are ye the worse?

Let me haue the rule of your purse.

Magn. I haue taken it to Largesse and Lyberte.

Cl. Col. Than is it done as it sholde be:

But vse your largesse by the aduyse of me,

And I shall waraunt you welth and lyberte.

Magn. Say on; me thynke your reasons be profounde. 1790

Cl. Col. Syr, of my counsayle this shall be the grounde,

To chose out ii. iii. of suche as you loue best,

And let all your fansyes vpon them rest;

Spare for no cost to gyue them pounde and peny,

Better to make iii. ryche than for to make many;

Gyue them more than ynoughe and let them not lacke,

And as for all other let them trusse and packe;

Plucke from an hundred, and gyue it to thre,

Let neyther patent scape them nor fee;

And where soeuer you wyll fall to a rekenynge, 1800

Those thre wyll be redy euen at your bekenynge,

For then[844] shall you haue at lyberte to lowte;

Let them haue all, and the other go without:

Thus ioy without mesure you shall haue.

Magn. Thou sayst truthe, by the harte that God me gaue!

For, as thou sayst, ryght so shall it be:

And here I make thé vpon Lyberte

To be superuysour, and on Largesse also,

For as thou wylte, so shall the game go;

For in Pleasure, and Surueyaunce, and also in thé, 1810

I haue set my hole felycyte,

And suche as you wyll shall lacke no promocyon.

Cl. Col. Syr, syth that in me ye haue suche deuocyon,

Commyttynge to me and to my felowes twayne

Your welthe and felycyte, I trust we shall optayne

To do you seruyce after your appetyte.

Magn. In faythe, and your seruyce ryght well shall I acquyte;

And therfore hye you hens, and take this ouersyght.

Cl. Col. Nowe, Jesu preserue you, syr, prynce most of myght!

Here goth Cloked Colusyon awaye, and leueth Magnyfycence alone in the place.

Magn. Thus, I say, I am enuyronned with solace; 1820

I drede no dyntes of fatall desteny.

Well were that lady myght stande in my grace,

Me to enbrace and loue moost specyally:

A Lorde, so I wolde halse her hartely,

So I wolde clepe her, so I wolde kys her swete!

Here cometh in Foly.

Fol. Mary, Cryst graunt ye catche no colde on your fete!

Magn. Who is this?

Fol. Consayte, syr, your owne man.

Magn. What tydynges with you, syr? I befole thy brayne pan.

Fol. By our lakyn, syr, I haue ben a hawkyng[845] for the wylde swan. 1830

My hawke is rammysshe, and it happed that she ran,

Flewe I sholde say, in to an olde barne,

To reche at a rat, I coude not her warne;

She pynched her pynyon, by God, and catched harme:

It was a ronner; nay, fole, I warant her blode warme.

Magn. A, syr, thy iarfawcon and thou be hanged togyder!

Fol. And, syr, as I was comynge to you hyder,

I sawe a fox sucke on a kowes ydder,

And with a lyme rodde I toke them bothe togyder.

I trowe it be a frost, for the way is slydder: 1840

Se, for God auowe, for colde as I chydder.

Magn. Thy wordes hange togyder as fethers in the wynde.

Fol. A, syr, tolde I not you howe I dyd fynde

A knaue and a carle, and all of one kynde?

I sawe a wethercocke wagge with the wynde;

Grete meruayle I had, and mused in my mynde;

The houndes ranne before, and the hare behynde;

I sawe a losell lede a lurden, and they were bothe blynde;

I sawe a sowter go to supper or euer he had dynde.

Magn. By Cockes harte, thou arte a fyne mery knaue. 1850

Fol. I make God auowe, ye wyll none other men[846] haue.

Magn. What sayst thou?

Fol. Mary, I pray God your maystershyp to saue:

I shall gyue you a gaude of a goslynge that I gaue,

The gander and the gose bothe grasynge on one graue;

Than Rowlande the reue ran, and I began to raue,

And with a brystell of a bore his berde dyd I shaue.

Magn. If euer I herde syke another, God gyue me shame.

Fol. Sym Sadylgose was my syer, and Dawcocke my dame:

I coude, and I lyst, garre you laughe at a game, 1860

Howe a wodcocke wrastled with a larke that was lame:

The bytter sayd boldly that they were to blame;

The feldfare wolde haue fydled, and it wolde not frame;

The crane and the curlewe therat gan to grame;

The snyte snyueled in the snowte and smyled at the game.

Magn. Cockes bones, herde you euer suche another?

Fol. Se, syr, I beseche you, Largesse my brother.

Here Fansy cometh in.

Magn. What tydynges with you, syr, that you loke so sad?

Fan. When ye knowe that I knowe, ye wyll not be glad.

Fol. What, brother braynsyke, how farest thou? 1870

Magn. Ye, let be thy iapes, and tell me howe

The case requyreth.

Fan. Alasse, alasse, an heuy metynge!

I wolde tell you, and yf I myght for wepynge.

Fol. What, is all your myrthe nowe tourned to sorowe?

Fare well tyll sone, adue tyll to morowe.

Here goth Foly away.

Magn. I pray thé, Largesse, let be thy sobbynge.

Fan. Alasse, syr, ye are vndone with stelyng and robbynge!

Ye sent vs a superuysour for to take hede:

Take hede of your selfe, for nowe ye haue nede. 1880

Magn. What, hath Sadnesse begyled me so?

Fan. Nay, madnesse hath begyled you and many mo;

For Lyberte is gone and also Felycyte.

Magn. Gone? alasse, ye haue vndone me!

Fan. Nay, he that ye sent vs, Clokyd Colusyon,

And your payntyd Pleasure, Courtly Abusyon,

And your demenour with Counterfet Countenaunce,

And your suruayour,[847] Crafty Conueyaunce,

Or euer we were ware brought vs in aduersyte,

And had robbyd you quyte from all felycyte. 1890

Magn. Why, is this the largesse that I haue vsyd?

Fan. Nay, it was your fondnesse that ye haue vsyd.

Magn. And is this the credence that I gaue to the letter?

Fan. Why, coulde not your wyt serue you no better?

Magn. Why, who wolde haue thought in you suche gyle?

Fan. What? yes, by the rode, syr, it was I all this whyle

That you trustyd, and Fansy is my name;

And Foly, my broder, that made you moche game.

Here cometh in Aduersyte.

Magn. Alas, who[848] is yonder, that grymly lokys?

Fan. Adewe, for I wyll not come in his clokys.[849] 1900

Magn. Lorde, so my flesshe trymblyth nowe for drede!

Here Magnyfycence is beten downe, and spoylyd from all his goodys and rayment.

Aduer. I am Aduersyte, that for thy mysdede

From God am sent to quyte thé thy mede.

Vyle velyarde, thou must not nowe my dynt withstande,

Thou must not abyde the dynt of my hande:

Ly there, losell, for all thy pompe and pryde;

Thy pleasure now with payne and trouble shalbe tryde.

The stroke of God, Aduersyte I hyght;

I pluke downe kynge, prynce, lorde, and knyght,

I rushe at them rughly, and make them ly full lowe, 1910

And in theyr moste truste I make them ouerthrowe.

Thys losyll was a lorde, and lyuyd at his lust,

And nowe, lyke a lurden, he lyeth in the dust:

He knewe not hymselfe, his harte was so hye;

Nowe is there no man that wyll set by hym a flye:

He was wonte to boste, brage, and to brace;

Nowe dare he not for shame loke one in the face:

All worldly welth for hym to lytell was;

Nowe hath he ryght nought, naked as an asse:

Somtyme without measure he trusted in golde, 1920

And now without mesure he shal haue hunger and colde.

Lo, syrs, thus I handell them all

That folowe theyr fansyes in foly to fall:

Man or woman, of what estate they be,

I counsayle them beware of Aduersyte.

Of sorowfull seruauntes I haue many scores:

I vysyte them somtyme with blaynes and with sores;

With botches and carbuckyls in care I them knyt;

With the gowte I make them to grone where they syt;

Some I make lyppers and lazars full horse; 1930

And from that they loue best some I deuorse;

Some with the marmoll to halte I them make;

And some to cry out of the bone ake;

And some I vysyte with brennynge of fyre;

Of some I wrynge of the necke lyke a wyre;

And some I make in a rope to totter and walter;

And some for to hange themselfe in an halter;

And some I vysyte to[850] batayle, warre, and murther,

And make eche man to sle other;

To drowne or to sle themselfe with a knyfe; 1940

And all is for theyr vngracyous lyfe.

Yet somtyme I stryke where is none offence,

Bycause I wolde proue men of theyr pacyence.

But, nowe a dayes, to stryke I haue grete cause,

Lydderyns so lytell set by Goddes lawes.

Faders and moders, that be neclygent,

And suffre theyr chyldren to haue theyr entent,

To gyde them vertuously that wyll not remembre,

Them or theyr chyldren ofte tymes I dysmembre;

Theyr chyldren, bycause that they haue no mekenesse; 1950

I vysyte theyr faders and moders with sekenesse;

And yf I se therby they wyll not amende,

Then myschefe sodaynly I them sende;

For there is nothynge that more dyspleaseth God

Than from theyr chyldren to spare the rod

Of correccyon, but let them haue theyr wyll;

Some I make lame, and some I do kyll;

And some[851] I stryke with a franesy;

Of some of theyr chyldren I stryke out the eye;

And where the fader by wysdom worshyp hath wonne, 1960

I sende ofte tymes a fole to his sonne.

Wherfore of Aduersyte loke ye be ware,

For when I come, comyth sorowe and care:

For I stryke lordys of realmes and landys,

That rule not by mesure that they haue in theyr handys,

That sadly rule not theyr howsholde men;

I am Goddys preposytour, I prynt them with a pen;

Because of theyr neglygence and of theyr wanton vagys,

I vysyte them and stryke them with many sore plagys.

To take, syrs, example of that I you tell, 1970

And beware of aduersyte by my counsell,

Take hede of this caytyfe that lyeth here on grounde;

Beholde, howe Fortune of[852] hym hath frounde!

For though we shewe you this in game and play,

Yet it proueth eyrnest, ye may se, euery day.

For nowe wyll I from this caytyfe go,

And take myscheffe and vengeaunce of other mo,

That hath deseruyd it as well as he.

Howe, where art thou? come hether, Pouerte;

Take this caytyfe to thy lore. 1980

Here cometh in Pouerte.[853]

Pouer. A, my bonys ake, my lymmys be sore;

Alasse, I haue the cyatyca full euyll in my hyppe!

Alasse, where is youth that was wont for to skyppe?

I am lowsy, and vnlykynge, and full of scurffe,

My colour is tawny, colouryd as a turffe:

I am Pouerte, that all men doth hate,

I am baytyd with doggys at euery mannys gate;

I am raggyd and rent, as ye may se;

Full fewe but they haue enuy at me.

Nowe must I this carcasse lyft vp: 1990

He dynyd with delyte, with Pouerte he must sup.

Ryse vp, syr, and welcom vnto me.

Hic accedat ad levandum Magnyfycence, et locabit eum super locum stratum.

Magn. Alasse, where is nowe my golde and fe?

Alasse, I say, where to am I brought?

Alasse, alasse, alasse, I dye for thought!

Pouer. Syr, all this wolde haue bene thought on before:

He woteth not what welth is that neuer was sore.

Magn. Fy, fy, that euer I sholde be brought in this snare!

I wenyd ones neuer to haue knowen of care.

Pouer. Lo, suche is this worlde! I fynde it wryt, 2000

In welth to beware, and that is wyt.

Magn. In welth to beware, yf I had had grace,

Neuer had I bene brought in this case.

Pouer. Nowe, syth it wyll no nother be,

All that God sendeth, take it in gre;

For, thoughe you were somtyme a noble estate,

Nowe must you lerne to begge at euery mannes gate.

Magn. Alasse, that euer I sholde be so shamed!

Alasse, that euer I Magnyfycence was named!

Alasse, that euer I was so harde happed, 2010

In mysery and wretchydnesse thus to be lapped!

Alasse, that I coude not myselfe no better gyde!

Alasse, in my cradell that I had not dyde!

Pouer. Ye, syr, ye, leue all this rage,

And pray to God your sorowes to asswage:

It is foly to grudge agaynst his vysytacyon.

With harte contryte make your supplycacyon

Vnto your Maker, that made bothe you and me,

And, whan it pleaseth God, better may be.

Magn. Alasse, I wote not what I sholde pray! 2020

Pouer. Rem[e]mbre you better, syr, beware what ye say,

For drede ye dysplease the hygh deyte.

Put your wyll to his wyll, for surely it is he

That may restore you agayne to felycyte,

And brynge you agayne out of aduersyte.

Therfore pouerte loke pacyently ye take,

And remembre he suffered moche more for your sake,

Howe be it of all synne he was innocent,

And ye haue deserued this punysshment.

Magn. Alasse, with colde my lymmes shall be marde! 2030

Pouer. Ye, syr, nowe must ye lerne to lye harde,

That was wonte to lye on fetherbeddes of downe;

Nowe must your fete lye hyer than your crowne:

Where you were wonte to haue cawdels for your hede,

Nowe must you monche mamockes and lumpes of brede;

And where you had chaunges of ryche aray,

Nowe lap you in a couerlet full fayne that you may;

And where that ye were pomped with what that ye wolde,

Nowe must ye suffre bothe hunger and colde:

With courtely sylkes ye were wonte to be drawe; 2040

Nowe must ye lerne to lye on the strawe;

Your skynne that was wrapped in shertes of Raynes,

Nowe must ye be stormy beten[854] with showres and raynes;

Your hede that was wonte to be happed moost drowpy and drowsy,

Now shal ye be scabbed, scuruy, and lowsy.

Magn. Fye on this worlde, full of trechery,

That euer noblenesse sholde lyue thus wretchydly!

Pouer. Syr, remembre the tourne of Fortunes whele,

That wantonly can wynke, and wynche with her hele.

Nowe she wyll laughe, forthwith she wyll frowne; 2050

Sodenly set vp, and sodenly pluckyd downe:

She dawnsyth varyaunce with mutabylyte;

Nowe all in welth, forthwith in pouerte:

In her promyse there is no sykernesse;

All her delyte is set in doublenesse.

Magn. Alas, of Fortune I may well complayne!

Pouer. Ye, syr, yesterday wyll not be callyd agayne:

But yet, syr, nowe in this case,

Take it mekely, and thanke God of his grace;

For nowe go I wyll begge for you some mete; 2060

It is foly agaynst God for to plete;

I wyll walke nowe with my beggers baggys,

And happe you the whyles with these homly raggys.

Discedendo[855] dicat ista verba.

A, howe my lymmys be lyther and lame!

Better it is to begge than to be hangyd with shame;

Yet many had leuer hangyd to be,

Then for to begge theyr mete for charyte:

They thynke it no shame to robbe and stele,

Yet were they better to begge a great dele;

For by robbynge they rynne to in manus tuas quecke, 2070

But beggynge is better medecyne for the necke;

Ye, mary, is it, ye, so mote I goo:

A Lorde God, howe the gowte wryngeth me by the too!

Here Magnyfycence dolorously maketh his mone.

Magn. O feble fortune, O doulfull destyny!

O hatefull happe, O carefull cruelte!

O syghynge sorowe, O thoughtfull mysere!

O rydlesse rewthe, O paynfull pouerte!

O dolorous herte, O harde aduersyte!

O odyous dystresse, O dedly payne and woo!

For worldly shame I wax bothe wanne and bloo. 2080

Where is nowe my welth and my noble estate?

Where is nowe my treasure, my landes, and my rent?

Where is nowe all my seruauntys that I had here a late?

Where is nowe my golde vpon them that I spent?

Where is nowe all my ryche abylement?

Where is nowe my kynne, my frendys, and my noble blood?

Where is nowe all my pleasure and my worldly good?

Alasse, my foly! alasse, my wanton wyll!

I may no more speke, tyll I haue wept my fyll.

[Here cometh in Lyberte.]

Lyb. With, ye mary, syrs, thus sholde it be. 2090

I kyst her swete, and she kyssyd me;

I daunsed the darlynge on my kne;

I garde her gaspe, I garde her gle,

With, daunce on the le, the le!

I bassed that baby with harte so free;

She is the bote of all my bale:[856]

A, so, that syghe was farre fet!

To loue that louesome I wyll not let;

My harte is holly on her set:

I plucked her by the patlet; 2100

At my deuyse I with her met;

My fansy fayrly on her I set;

So merely syngeth the nyghtyngale!

In lust and lykynge my name is Lyberte:

I am desyred with hyghest and lowest degre;

I lyue as me lyst, I lepe out at large;

Of erthely thynge I haue no care nor charge;

I am presydent of prynces, I prycke them with pryde:[857]

What is he lyuynge that lyberte wolde lacke?

A thousande pounde with lyberte may holde no tacke; 2110

At lyberte a man may be bolde for to brake;

Welthe without lyberte gothe all to wrake.

But yet, syrs, hardely one thynge lerne of me:

I warne you beware of to moche lyberte,

For totum in toto is not worth an hawe;

To hardy, or to moche, to free of the dawe;

To sober, to sad, to subtell, to wyse;

To mery, to mad, to gyglynge, to nyse;

To full of fansyes, to lordly, to prowde;

To homly, to holy, to lewde, and to lowde; 2120

To flatterynge, to smatterynge, to to out of harre;

To claterynge, to chaterynge, to shorte, and to farre;

To iettynge, to iaggynge, and to full of iapes;

To mockynge, to mowynge, to lyke a iackenapes:

Thus totum in toto groweth vp, as ye may se,

By meanes of madnesse, and to moche lyberte;

For I am a vertue, yf I be well vsed,

And I am a vyce where I am abused.

Magn. A, woo worthe thé, Lyberte, nowe thou sayst full trewe!

That I vsed thé to moche, sore may I rewe. 2130

Lyb. What, a very vengeaunce, I say, who is that?

What brothell, I say, is yonder bounde in a mat?

Magn. I am Magnyfycence, that somtyme thy mayster was.

Lyb. What, is the worlde thus come to passe?

Cockes armes, syrs, wyll ye not se

Howe he is vndone by the meanes of me?

For yf Measure had ruled Lyberte as he began,

This lurden that here lyeth had ben a noble man.

But he abused so his free lyberte,

That nowe he hath loste all his felycyte, 2140

Not thorowe largesse of lyberall expence,

But by the way of fansy insolence;

For lyberalyte is most conuenyent

A prynce to vse with all his hole intent,

Largely rewardynge them that haue deseruyd,

And so shall a noble man nobly be seruyd:

But nowe adayes as huksters they hucke and they stycke,

And pynche at the payment of a poddynge prycke;

A laudable largesse, I tell you, for a lorde,

To prate for the patchynge of a pot sharde! 2150

Spare for the spence of a noble, that his honour myght saue,

And spende c.s̄. for the pleasure of a knaue!

But so longe they[858] rekyn with theyr reasons amysse,

That they lose theyr lyberte and all that there is.

Magn. Alasse, that euer I occupyed suche abusyon!

Lyb. Ye, for nowe it hath brought thé to confusyon:

For, where I am occupyed and vsyd wylfully,

It can not contynew longe prosperyously;

As euydently in retchlesse youth ye may se,

Howe many come to myschefe for to moche lyberte; 2160

And some in the worlde theyr brayne is so ydyll,

That they set theyr chyldren to rynne on the brydyll,

In youth to be wanton and let them haue theyr wyll;

And they neuer thryue in theyr age, it shall not gretly skyll:

Some fall to foly them selfe for to spyll,

And some fall prechynge at the Toure Hyll;

Some hath so moche lyberte of one thynge and other,

That nother they set by father and mother;

Some haue so moche lyberte that they fere no synne,

Tyll, as ye se many tymes, they shame all theyr kynne. 2170

I am so lusty to loke on, so freshe, and so fre,

That nonnes wyll leue theyr holynes, and ryn after me;

Freers with foly I make them so fayne,

They cast vp theyr obedyence to cache me agayne,

At lyberte to wander and walke ouer all,

That lustely they lepe somtyme theyr cloyster wall.

Hic aliquis buccat in cornu a retro post populum.

Yonder is a horson for me doth rechate:

Adewe, syrs, for I thynke leyst that I come to late.[859]

Magn. O good Lorde, howe longe shall I indure

This mysery, this carefull wrechydnesse? 2180

Of worldly welthe, alasse, who can be sure?

In Fortunys frendshyppe there is no stedfastnesse:

She hath dyssayuyd me with her doublenesse.

For to be wyse all men may lerne of me,

In welthe to beware of herde aduersyte.

Here cometh in Crafty Conueyaunce, [and] Cloked Colusyon, with a lusty laughter.

Cr. Con. Ha, ha, ha! for laughter I am lyke to brast.

Cl. Col. Ha, ha, ha! for sporte I am lyke to spewe and cast.

Cr. Con. What has thou gotted in faythe to thy share?

Cl. Col. In faythe, of his cofers the bottoms are bare.

Cr. Con. As for his plate of syluer, and suche trasshe, 2190

I waraunt you, I haue gyuen it a lasshe.

Cl. Col. What, then he may drynke out of a stone cruyse?

Cr. Con. With, ye, syr, by Jesu that slayne was with Jewes!

He may rynse a pycher, for his plate is to wed.

Cl. Col. In faythe, and he may dreme on a daggeswane for ony fether bed.

Cr. Con. By my trouthe, we haue ryfled hym metely well.

Cl. Col. Ye, but thanke me therof euery dele.

Cr. Con. Thanke thé therof, in the deuyls date!

Cl. Col. Leue thy pratynge, or els I shall lay thé on the pate.

Cr. Con. Nay, to wrangle, I warant thé, it is but a stone caste. 2200

Cl. Col. By the messe, I shall cleue thy heed to the waste.

Cr. Con. Ye, wylte thou clenly cleue[860] me in the clyfte with thy nose?

Cl. Col. I shall thrust in thé my dagger—

Cr. Con. Thorowe the legge in to the hose.

Cl. Col. Nay, horson, here is my gloue; take it vp, and thou dare.

Cr. Con. Torde, thou arte good to be a man of warre.

Cl. Col. I shall skelpe thé on the skalpe; lo, seest thou that?

Cr. Con. What, wylte thou skelpe me? thou dare not loke on a gnat.

Cl. Col. By Cockes bones, I shall blysse thé, and thou be to bolde.

Cr. Con. Nay, then thou wylte dynge the deuyll, and thou be not holde. 2210

Cl. Col. But wottest thou, horson? I rede thé to be wyse.

Cr. Con. Nowe I rede thé beware, I haue warned thé twyse.

Cl. Col. Why, wenest thou that I forbere thé for thyne owne sake?

Cr. Con. Peas, or I shall wrynge thy be in a brake.

Cl. Col. Holde thy hande, dawe, of thy dagger, and stynt of thy dyn,

Or I shal fawchyn thy flesshe, and scrape thé on the skyn.

Cr. Con. Ye, wylte thou, ha[n]gman? I say, thou cauell!

Cl. Col. Nay, thou rude rauener, rayne beten iauell!

Cr. Con. What, thou Colyn cowarde, knowen and tryde!

Cl. Col. Nay, thou false harted dastarde, thou dare not abyde! 2220

Cr. Con. And yf there were none to dysplease but thou and I,

Thou sholde not scape, horson, but thou sholde dye.

Cl. Col. Nay, iche shall wrynge thé, horson, on the wryst.

Cr. Con. Mary, I defye thy best and thy worst.

[Here cometh in Counterfet Countenaunce.[861]]

C. Count. What, a very vengeaunce, nede all these wordys?

Go together by the heddys, and gyue me your swordys.

Cl. Col. So he is the worste brawler that euer was borne.

Cr. Con. In fayth, so to suffer thé, it is but a skorne.

C. Count. Now let vs be all one, and let vs lyue in rest,

For we be, syrs, but a fewe of the best. 2230

Cl. Col. By the masse, man, thou shall fynde me resonable.

Cr. Con. In faythe, and I wyll be to reason agreable.

C. Count. Then truste I to God and the holy rode,

Here shalbe not great sheddynge of blode.

Cl. Col. By our lakyn, syr, not by my wyll.

Cr. Con. By the fayth that I owe to God, and I wyll syt styll.

C. Count. Well sayd: but, in fayth, what was your quarell?

Cl. Col. Mary, syr, this gentylman called me iauell.

Cr. Con. Nay, by Saynt Mary, it was ye called me knaue.

Cl. Col. Mary, so vngoodly langage you me gaue. 2240

C. Count. A, shall we haue more of this maters yet?

Me thynke ye are not gretly acomberyd with wyt.

Cr. Con. Goddys fote, I warant you, I am a gentylman borne,

And thus to be facyd I thynke it great skorne.

C. Count. I can not well tell of your dysposycyons;

And ye be a gentylman, ye haue knauys condycyons.

Cl. Col. By God, I tell you, I wyll not be out facyd.

Cr. Con. By the masse, I warant thé, I wyll not be bracyd.

C. Count. Tushe, tushe, it is a great defaute:

The one of you is to proude, the other is to haute. 2250

Tell me brefly where vpon ye began.

Cl. Col. Mary, syr, he sayd that he was the pratyer man

Then I was, in opynynge of lockys;

And, I tell you, I dysdayne moche of his mockys.

Cr. Con. Thou sawe neuer yet but I dyd my parte,

The locke of a caskyt to make to starte.

C. Count. Nay, I know well inough ye are bothe well handyd

To grope a gardeuyaunce, though it be well bandyd.

Cl. Col. I am the better yet in a bowget.

Cr. Con. And I the better in a male. 2260

C. Count. Tushe, these maters that ye moue are but soppys in ale:

Your trymynge and tramynge by me must be tangyd,

For, had I not bene, ye bothe had bene hangyd,

When we with Magnyfycence goodys made cheuysaunce.

Magn. And therfore our Lorde sende you a very wengaunce!

C. Count. What begger art thou that thus doth banne and wary?

Magn. Ye be the theuys, I say, away my goodys dyd cary.

Cl. Col. Cockys bonys, thou begger, what is thy name?

Magn. Magnyfycence I was, whom ye haue brought to shame.

C. Count. Ye, but trowe you, syrs, that this is he? 2270

Cr. Con. Go we nere, and let vs se.

Cl. Col. By Cockys bonys, it is the same.

Magn. Alasse, alasse, syrs, ye are to blame!

I was your mayster, though ye thynke it skorne,

And nowe on me ye gaure and sporne.

C. Count. Ly styll, ly styll nowe, with yll hayle!

Cr. Con. Ye, for thy langage can not thé auayle.

Cl. Col. Abyde, syr, abyde, I shall make hym to pysse.[862]

Magn. Nowe gyue me somwhat, for God sake I craue!

Cr. Con. In faythe, I gyue the four quarters of a knaue. 2280

C. Count. In faythe, and I bequethe hym the tothe ake.

Cl. Col. And I bequethe hym the bone ake.

Cr. Con. And I bequethe hym the gowte and the gyn.

Cl. Col. And I bequethe hym sorowe for his syn.

C. Count. And I gyue hym Crystys curse,

With neuer a peny in his purse.

Cr. Con. And I gyue hym the cowghe, the murre, and the pose.

Cl. Col. Ye, for requiem æternam groweth forth of his nose:

But nowe let vs make mery and good chere.

C. Count. And to the tauerne let vs drawe nere. 2290

Cr. Con. And from thens to the halfe strete,

To get vs there some freshe mete.

Cl. Col. Why, is there any store of rawe motton?

C. Count. Ye, in faythe, or ellys thou arte to great a glotton.

Cr. Con. But they say it is a queysy mete;

It wyll stryke a man myscheuously in a hete.

Cl. Col. In fay, man, some rybbys of the motton be so ranke,

That they wyll fyre one vngracyously in the flanke.

C. Count. Ye, and when ye come out of the shoppe,

Ye shall be clappyd with a coloppe, 2300

That wyll make you to halt and to hoppe.

Cr. Con. Som be wrestyd there that they thynke on it froty dayes,

For there be horys there at all assayes.

Cl. Col. For the passyon of God, let vs go thyther![863]

Et cum festinatione discedant a loco.

Magn. Alas, myn owne seruauntys to shew me such reproche,

Thus to rebuke me, and haue me in dyspyght!

So shamfully to me theyr mayster to aproche,

That somtyme was a noble prynce of myght!

Alasse, to lyue longer I haue no delyght!

For to lyue in mysery it is herder than dethe: 2310

I am wery of the worlde, for vnkyndnesse me sleeth.

Hic intrat Dyspare.

Dys. Dyspare is my name, that aduersyte dothe folowe:[864]

In tyme of dystresse I am redy at hande;

I make heuy hertys with eyen full holowe;

Of faruent charyte I quenche out the bronde;

Faythe and goodhope I make asyde to stonde;

In Goddys mercy I tell them is but foly to truste;

All grace and pyte I lay in the duste.

What lyest thou there lyngrynge, lewdly and lothsome?

It is to late nowe thy synnys to repent; 2320

Thou hast bene so waywarde, so wranglyng, and so wrothsome,

And so fer thou arte behynde of thy rent,

And so vngracyously thy dayes thou hast spent,

That thou arte not worthy to loke God in the face.

Magn. Nay, nay, man, I loke neuer to haue parte of his grace;

For I haue so vngracyously my lyfe mysusyd,

Though I aske mercy, I must nedys be refusyd.

Dys. No, no, for thy synnys be so excedynge farre,

So innumerable and so full of dyspyte,

And agayne thy Maker thou hast made suche warre, 2330

That thou canst not haue neuer mercy in his syght.

Magn. Alasse, my wyckydnesse, that may I wyte!

But nowe I se well there is no better rede,

But sygh and sorowe, and wysshe my selfe dede.

Dys. Ye, ryd thy selfe, rather than this lyfe for to lede;

The worlde waxyth wery of thé, thou lyuest to longe.

Hic intrat Myschefe.

Mys. And I, Myschefe, am comyn at nede,

Out of thy lyfe thé for to lede:

And loke that it be not longe

Or that thy selfe thou go honge 2340

With this halter good and stronge;

Or ellys with this knyfe cut out a tonge

Of thy throte hole, and ryd thé out of payne:

Thou arte not the fyrst hymselfe hath slayne.

Lo, here is thy knyfe and a halter! and, or we go ferther,

Spare not thy selfe, but boldly thé murder.

Dys. Ye, haue done at ones without delay.

Magn. Shall I my selfe hange with an halter? nay;

Nay, rather wyll I chose to ryd me of this lyue

In styckynge my selfe with this fayre knyfe. 2350

Here Magnyfycence wolde slee hymselfe with a knyfe.

Mys.[865] Alarum, alarum! to longe we abyde!

Dys. Out, harowe, hyll burneth! where shall I me hyde?

Hic intrat Goodhope, fugientibus Dyspayre et Myschefe: repente Goodhope surripiat illi gladium,[866] et dicat.

Good. Alas, dere sone, sore combred is thy mynde,

Thyselfe that thou wolde sloo agaynst nature and kynde!

Magn. A, blessyd may ye be, syr! what shall I you call?

Good. Goodhope, syr, my name is; remedy pryncypall

Agaynst all sautes[867] of your goostly foo:

Who knoweth me, hymselfe may neuer sloo.

Magn. Alas, syr, so I am lapped in aduersyte,

That dyspayre well nyghe had myscheued me! 2360

For, had ye riot the soner ben my refuge,

Of dampnacyon I had ben drawen in the luge.

Good. Vndoubted ye had lost yourselfe eternally:

There is no man may synne more mortally

Than of wanhope thrughe the vnhappy wayes,

By myschefe to breuyate and shorten his dayes:

But, my good sonne, lerne from dyspayre to flee,

Wynde you from wanhope, and aquaynte you with me.

A grete mysaduenture, thy Maker to dysplease,

Thyselfe myscheuynge to thyne endlesse dysease! 2370

There was neuer so harde a storme of mysery,

But thrughe goodhope there may come remedy.

Magn. Your wordes be more sweter than ony precyous narde,

They molefy so easely my harte that was so harde;

There is no bawme, ne gumme of Arabe,

More delectable than your langage to me.

Good. Syr, your fesycyan is the grace of God,

That you hath punysshed with his sharpe rod.

Goodhope, your potecary assygned am I:

That Goddes grace hath vexed you sharply, 2380

And payned you with a purgacyon of odyous pouerte,

Myxed with bytter alowes of herde aduersyte;

Nowe must I make you a lectuary softe,

I to mynyster it, you to receyue it ofte,

With rubarbe of repentaunce in you for to rest;

With drammes of deuocyon your dyet must be drest;

With gommes goostly of glad herte and mynde,

To thanke God of his sonde, and comforte ye shal fynde.

Put fro you presumpcyon and admyt humylyte,

And hartely thanke God of your aduersyte; 2390

And loue that Lorde that for your loue was dede,

Wounded from the fote to the crowne of the hede:

For who loueth God can ayle nothynge but good;

He may helpe you, he may mende your mode:

Prosperyte to[868] hym is gyuen solacyusly to man,

Aduersyte to hym therwith nowe and than;

Helthe of body his besynesse to acheue,

Dysease and sekenesse his conscyence to dyscryue,

Afflyccyon and trouble to proue his pacyence,

Contradyccyon to proue his sapyence, 2400

Grace of assystence his measure to declare,

Somtyme to fall, another tyme to beware:

And nowe ye haue had, syr, a wonderous fall,

To lerne you hereafter for to beware withall.

Howe say you, syr? can ye these wordys grope?

Magn. Ye, syr, nowe am I armyd with goodhope,

And sore I repent me of my wylfulnesse:

I aske God mercy of my neglygence,[869]

Vnder goodhope endurynge euer styll,

Me humbly commyttynge vnto Goddys wyll. 2410

Good. Then shall you be sone delyuered from dystresse,

For nowe I se comynge to youwarde Redresse.

Hic intrat Redresse.

Red. Cryst be amonge you and the Holy Goste!

Good. He be your conducte, the Lorde of myghtys moste!

Red. Syr, is your pacyent any thynge amendyd?

Good. Ye, syr, he is sory for that he hath offendyd.

Red. How fele you your selfe, my frend? how is your mynde?

Magn. A wrechyd man, syr, to my Maker vnkynde.

Red. Ye, but haue ye repentyd you with harte contryte?

Magn. Syr, the repentaunce I haue, no man can wryte. 2420

Red. And haue ye banyshed from you all dyspare?

Magn. Ye, holly to goodhope I haue made my repare.

Good. Questyonlesse he doth me assure

In goodhope alway for to indure.

Red. Than stande vp, syr, in Goddys name!

And I truste to ratyfye and amende your fame.

Goodhope, I pray you with harty affeccyon

To sende ouer to me Sad Cyrcumspeccyon.

Good. Syr, your requeste shall not be delayed.

Et exeat.

Red. Now surely, Magnyfycence, I am ryght well apayed 2430

Of that I se you nowe in the state of grace;

Nowe shall ye be renewyd with solace:

Take nowe vpon you this abylyment,

And to that I say gyue good aduysement.

Magnyfycence accipiat indumentum.

Magn. To your requeste I shall be confyrmable.

Red. Fyrst,[870] I saye, with mynde fyrme and stable

Determyne to amende all your wanton excesse,

And be ruled by me, whiche am called Redresse:

Redresse my name is, that lytell am I vsed

As the worlde requyreth, but rather I am refused: 2440

Redresse sholde be at the rekenynge in euery accompte,

And specyally to redresse that were out of ioynte:

Full many thynges there be that lacketh redresse,

The whiche were to longe nowe to expresse;

But redresse is redlesse, and may do no correccyon.

Nowe welcome forsoth, Sad Cyrcumspeccyon.

Here cometh in Sad Cyrcumspeccyon, sayenge,

Sad Cyr. Syr, after your message I hyed me hyder streyght,

For to vnderstande your pleasure and also your mynde.

Red. Syr, to accompte you the contynewe of my consayte,

Is from aduersyte Magnyfycence to vnbynde. 2450

Sad Cyr. How fortuned you, Magnyfycence, so far to fal behynde?

Magn. Syr, the longe absence of you, Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,

Caused me of aduersyte to fall in subieccyon.

Red. All that he sayth, of trouthe doth precede;

For where sad cyrcumspeccyon is longe out of the way,

Of aduersyte it is to stande in drede.

Sad Cyr. Without fayle, syr, that is no nay;

Cyrcumspeccyon inhateth all rennynge astray.

But, syr, by me to rule fyrst ye began.

Magn. My wylfulnesse, syr, excuse I ne can. 2460

Sad Cyr. Then ye repent you of foly in tymes past?

Magn. Sothely, to repent me I haue grete cause:

Howe be it from you I receyued a letter,[871]

Whiche conteyned in it a specyall clause

That I sholde vse largesse.

Sad Cyr. Nay, syr, there a pause.

Red. Yet let vs se this matter thorowly ingrosed.

Magn. Syr, this letter ye sent to me, at Pountes was enclosed.

Sad Cyr. Who brought you that letter, wote ye what he hyght?

Magn. Largesse, syr, by his credence was his name. 2470

Sad Cyr. This letter ye speke of, neuer dyd I wryte.

Red. To gyue so hasty credence ye were moche to blame.

Magn. Truth it is, syr; for after he wrought me moch shame,

And caused me also to vse to moche lyberte,

And made also mesure to be put fro me.

Red. Then welthe with you myght in no wyse abyde.

Sad Cyr. A ha! fansy and foly met with you, I trowe.

Red. It wolde be founde so, yf it were well tryde.

Magn. Surely my welthe with them was ouerthrow.

Sad Cyr. Remembre you, therfore, howe late ye were low. 2480

Red. Ye, and beware of vnhappy abusyon.

Sad Cyr. And kepe you from counterfaytynge of clokyd colusyon.

Magn. Syr, in goodhope I am to amende.

Red. Vse not then your countenaunce for to counterfet.

Sad Cyr. And from crafters and hafters I you forfende.

Hic intrat Perseueraunce.

Magn. Well, syr, after your counsell my mynde I wyll set.

Red. What, brother Perceueraunce! surely well met.

Sad Cyr. Ye com hether as well as can be thought.

Per. I herde say that Aduersyte with Magnyfycence had fought.

Magn. Ye, syr, with aduersyte I haue bene vexyd; 2490

But goodhope and redresse hath mendyd myne estate,

And sad cyrcumspeccyon to me they haue annexyd.[872]

Red. What this man hath sayd, perceyue ye his sentence?[873]

Magn. Ye, syr, from hym my corage shall neuer flyt.

Sad Cyr. Accordynge to treuth they be well deuysyd.

Magn. Syrs, I am agreed to abyde your ordenaunce,

Faythfull[874] assuraunce with good peraduertaunce.

Per. Yf you be so myndyd, we be ryght glad.

Red. And ye shall haue more worshyp then euer ye had.

Magn. Well, I perceyue in you there is moche sadnesse, 2500

Grauyte of counsell, prouydence, and wyt;

Your comfortable aduyse and wyt excedyth all gladnesse.

But frendly I wyll refrayne you ferther, or we flyt,

Whereto were most metely my corage to knyt:

Your myndys I beseche you here in to expresse,

Commensynge this processe at mayster Redresse.

Red. Syth vnto me formest this processe is erectyd,

Herein I wyll aforse me to shewe you my mynde.

Fyrst, from your magnyfycence syn must be abiectyd,

In all your warkys more grace shall ye fynde; 2510

Be gentyll then of corage, and lerne to be kynde,

For of noblenesse the chefe poynt is to be lyberall,

So that your largesse be not to prodygall.

Sad Cyr. Lyberte to a lorde belongyth of ryght,

But wylfull waywardnesse muste walke out of the way;

Measure of your lustys must haue the ouersyght,

And not all the nygarde nor the chyncherde to play;

Let neuer negarshyp your noblenesse affray;

In your rewardys vse suche moderacyon

That nothynge be gyuen without consyderacyon. 2520

Per. To the increse of your honour then arme you with ryght,

And fumously adresse you with magnanymyte;

And euer let the drede of God be in your syght;

And knowe your selfe mortall, for all your dygnyte;

Set not all your affyaunce in Fortune full of gyle;

Remember this lyfe lastyth but a whyle.

Magn. Redresse, in my remembraunce your lesson shall rest,

And Sad Cyrcumspeccyon I marke in my mynde:

But, Perseueraunce, me semyth your probleme was best;

I shall it neuer forget nor leue it behynde, 2530

But hooly to perseueraunce my selfe I wyll bynde,

Of that I haue mysdone to make a redresse,

And with sad cyrcumspeccyon correcte my vantonnesse.

Red. Vnto this processe brefly compylyd,

Comprehendyng the worlde casuall and transytory,

Who lyst to consyder shall neuer be begylyd,

Yf it be regystryd well in memory;

A playne example of worldly vaynglory,

Howe in this worlde there is no seke[r]nesse,

But fallyble flatery enmyxyd with bytternesse; 2540

Nowe well, nowe wo, nowe hy, nowe lawe degre,

Nowe ryche, nowe pore, nowe hole, nowe in dysease,

Nowe pleasure at large, nowe in captyuyte,

Nowe leue, nowe lothe, now please, nowe dysplease,

Now ebbe, now flowe, nowe increase, now dyscrease;

So in this worlde there is no sykernesse,

But fallyble flatery enmyxyd with bytternesse.

Sad Cyr. A myrrour incleryd is this interlude,

This lyfe inconstant for to beholde and se;

Sodenly auaunsyd, and sodenly subdude, 2550

Sodenly ryches, and sodenly pouerte,

Sodenly comfort, and sodenly aduersyte;

Sodenly thus Fortune can bothe smyle and frowne,

Sodenly set vp, and sodenly cast downe;

Sodenly promotyd, and sodenly put backe,

Sodenly cherysshyd, and sodenly cast asyde,

Sodenly commendyd, and sodenly fynde a lacke,

Sodenly grauntyd, and sodenly denyed,

Sodenly hyd, and sodenly spyed;

Sodenly thus Fortune can bothe smyle and frowne, 2560

Sodenly set vp, and sodenly cast downe.

Per. This treatyse, deuysyd to make you dysporte,

Shewyth nowe adayes howe the worlde comberyd is,

To the pythe of the mater who lyst to resorte;

To day it is well, to morowe it is all amysse,

To day in delyte, to morowe bare of blysse,

To day a lorde, to morowe ly in the duste;

Thus in this worlde there is no erthly truste;

To day fayre wether, to morowe a stormy rage,

To day hote, to morowe outragyous colde, 2570

To day a yoman, to morowe made of page,

To day in surety, to morowe bought and solde,

To day maysterfest, to morowe he hath no holde,

To day a man, to morowe he lyeth in the duste;

Thus in this worlde there is no erthly truste.

Magn. This mater we haue mouyd, you myrthys to make,

Precely purposyd vnder pretence of play,

Shewyth wysdome to them that wysdome can take,

Howe sodenly worldly welth dothe dekay,

How wysdom thorowe wantonnesse vanysshyth away, 2580

How none estate lyuynge of hymselfe can be sure,

For the welthe of this worlde can not indure;

Of the terestre rechery we fall in the flode,

Beten with stormys of many a frowarde blast,

Ensordyd with the wawys sauage and wode,

Without our shyppe be sure, it is lykely to brast,

Yet of magnyfycence oft made is the mast;

Thus none estate lyuynge of hym can be sure,

For the welthe of this worlde can not indure.

Red. Nowe semyth vs syttynge that ye then resorte 2590

Home to your paleys with ioy and ryalte.

Sad Cyr. Where euery thyng is ordenyd after your noble porte.

Per. There to indeuer with all felycyte.

Magn. I am content, my frendys, that it so be.

Red. And ye that haue harde this dysporte and game,

Jhesus preserue you frome endlesse wo and shame!

Amen.

[779] Magnyfycence, &c.] From the ed. printed by Rastell, n. d.;—in which the above list of characters is placed at the end of the drama.

[780] Lyberte] Enters, probably, towards the end of the preceding speech.

[781] is] Ed. “it.”

[782] countyth] Ed. “countyd.”

[783] Se] Ed. “So.”

[784] the dogge] Qy. “thé, dogge?” but see notes.

[785] after none] Here Felycyte goes out.

[786] sensim retrocedat; at] Ed. “sensū retrocedat ad.”

[787] animat] Qy. “animet?”

[788] By your soth] Ed. prefixes “Fansy” to these words, and omits the prefix to the next speech.

[789] intrat] Qy. “intret?”—This stage-direction is not quite correct, for Count. Count. enters as Fansy is going off, and detains him till v. 406.

[790] to fyght] Qy. “to flyght”—scold (a word used elsewhere by Skelton), or “to syght?” see next line but two.

[791] hym] Compare v. 1275.

[792] I counterfet, &c.] This line seems to be corrupt.

[793] famine multo] Ed. “famina multa.”

[794] Sure Surueyaunce, &c.] Ed. gives this line to C. Count., and the next speech to Cr. Con. Compare v. 652.

[795] taste] Qy. a line wanting to rhyme with this?

[796] ye] Ed. “we.”

[797] Syr, the playnesse you tell me] Ed. prefixes Crafty Con. to these words, and omits the prefix to the next line.—Qy., for the rhyme,—“you me tell?”

[798] But, Counterfet, &c.] Ed. omits the prefix to this speech.

[799] Cr. Con.] Ed. “Cl. Col.”

[800] praty men] Here Fansy, Crafty Conueyaunce, and Counterfet Conntenaunce, go out.

[801] exiat beretrum cronice] Qy. “exuat (or rather, exueret) barretum (i. e. pileum) ironice?”

[802] batowe] Qy. “batone?”

[803] By Goddes fote, &c.] Here the prefixes to the speeches are surely wrong: but as I am doubtful how they ought to be assigned, I have not ventured to alter them. Qy.

“Court. Ab. By Goddes fote, and I dare well fyght, for I wyll not start.

Cl. Col. Nay, thou art a man good inough but for thy false hart.

Court. Ab. Well, and I be a coward, ther is mo than I.

Cl. Col Ye, in faythe, a bolde man and a hardy;

A bolde man in a bole of newe ale in cornys.

Court. Ab. Wyll ye se,” &c.

[804] Cr. Con.] Ed. “Cl. Col.” Compare the next line, and v. 796.

[805] Cl. Col.] Ed. “Court. Ab.”

[806] ye, thou woldest] Qy., for the rhyme, “thou woldest, ye?”

[807] they] i. e. Cloked Colusyon and Crafty Conueyaunce.

[808] Eche man take a fe] There seems to be some corruption of the text here.

[809] tyll sone] Here Courtly Abusyon goes out.

[810] crema] If this be the right reading, I am unacquainted with the word. It can hardly be a misprint for “cremia:” qy. “crembalum?”

[811] eye] Ed. “eyen.”

[812] dogge] Ed. “hogge.”

[813] hogge] Ed. “dogge.”

[814] myne] Qy., for the rhyme, “my purse?”

[815] fowle] Qy. a line wanting to rhyme with this?

[816] Latyn] Ed. “lutyn.”

[817] Est snavi, &c.] Between this line and the next, ed. has “Versus.”

[818] kesteryll] Ed. “besteryll.”

[819] you] Qy., for the rhyme, “you there?”

[820] Yes] Ed. “Yet.”

[821] for nowe thou hast lost] Qy., for the rhyme, “for thou hast lost nowe?”

[822] tappet] Ed. “tap.” Compare p. 128, v. 75.

[823] hym] Compare v. 427, p. 239. Perhaps these inconsistencies may have arisen from contractions in the MS.

[824] mo] Ed. “more.”

[825] wyt] Ed. “whyt.”

[826] slyght] Ed. “shyfte.” Compare v. 687, p. 247, and v. 964, p. 256, where “slyght” (sleight) is the rhyme to “consayte.”

[827] the mare] Here Foly and Fansy go out.

[828] hungre] Ed. “hunger.”

[829] craue] Qy., for the rhyme, “craued?” unless something be wanting.

[830] kay] Ed. “bay.”

[831] thou] Qy. “you?” see note on v. 1275, p. 266.

[832] another] Qy. “another time?”

[833] For nowe, &c.] In ed. this speech is given to Fansy.

[834] that] Ed. “the.”

[835] be sene] Qy., for the rhyme, “beseme?”

[836] Cypyo] Ed. “typyo.”

[837] leyre] Ed. “heyre.”

[838] occacyon of] Ed. “accacyon or.”

[839] candell] Qy. “caudell?”

[840] ye] Ed. “he.”

[841] ye] Ed. “he.”

[842] let se, for your selfe] Qy., for the rhyme, “for your selfe, let se?”—unless “for your selfe” was intended to form the commencement of the next verse.

[843] Here Mesure goth out of the place] To this stage-direction ought to be added—“with Courtly Abusyon, who, as he carries him off, exclaims.” See what Clokyd Colusyon says a little after,

“Cockes armes, howe Pleasure plucked hym forth!”

Pleasure is the assumed name of Courtly Abusyon.

[844] then] Qy. “them?”

[845] hawkyng] Ed. “howkyng.”

[846] men] Qy. “man?”

[847] suruayour] Ed. “superuysour:” compare v. 1414, p. 271; v. 652, p. 246, &c. Cl. Col. has just been made “superuysour:” see v. 1808, p. 284.

[848] who] Ed. “why.”

[849] clokys] Here Fansy goes out.

[850] to] Qy. “with?” compare vv. 1927, 1934.

[851] some] Ed. “syme.”

[852] of] Qy. “on?”

[853] Pouerte] And Aduersyte goes out.

[854] stormy beten] Perhaps “storm ybeten.”

[855] Discedendo] Ed. “Difidendo.”

[856] bale] Meant, perhaps, to rhyme with v. 2103.

[857] pryde] Qy. a line wanting to rhyme with this?

[858] they] Ed. “theyr.”

[859] late] Here Lyberte goes out.

[860] cleue] Ed. “clene.” Compare p. 130, v. 133, and p. 194, v. 37.

[861] Here cometh, &c.] Ed., besides omitting this stage-direction, leaves the two following lines unappropriated.

[862] pysse] Qy. a line wanting to rhyme with this?

[863] thyther] Qy. a line wanting to rhyme with this?

[864] folowe] Ed. “felowe.”

[865] Mys.] Ed. “Magn.”

[866] gladium] Ed. “gladio.”

[867] sautes] Ed. “fautes.”

[868] to] Qy. “by?”

[869] neglygence] Qy., did Skelton write, for the rhyme, “neglygesse?”

[870] Fyrst, &c.] Ed. leaves this speech unappropriated.

[871] a letter] Qy. some corruption? This line ought to rhyme with the preceding line but one.

[872] annexyd] Ed. “amexyd.”

[873] sentence] Qy. some corruption? This line ought to rhyme with the preceding line but one.

[874] Faythfull] Ed. “Faythfully.”

---

COLYN CLOUTE.[875]
HERE AFTER FOLOWETH A LITEL BOKE CALLED COLYN CLOUTE, COMPYLED BY MAYSTER SKELTON, POETE LAUREATE.

Quis consurget[876] mecum adversus malignantes? aut quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem? Nemo, Domine!

What can it auayle

To dryue forth a snayle,

Or to make a sayle

Of an herynges tayle;

To ryme or to rayle,

To wryte or to indyte,

Eyther for delyte[877]

Or elles for[878] despyte;[879]

Or bokes to compyle

Of dyuers maner[880] style, 10

Vyce to reuyle

And synne to[881] exyle;

To teche or to preche,

As reason wyll reche?[882]

Say this, and[883] say that,

His hed is so fat,

He wotteth[884] neuer what

Nor wherof he speketh;

He cryeth and[885] he creketh,

He pryeth and[886] he peketh, 20

He chydes[887] and he chatters,

He prates and he patters,

He clytters and he clatters,

He medles and he smatters,

He gloses and he flatters;

Or[888] yf he speake playne,

Than he lacketh brayne,

He is but a fole;

Let hym go to scole,

On[889] a thre foted stole 30

That he may downe syt,

For he lacketh wyt;

And yf that he hyt

The nayle on the hede,

It standeth in no stede;

The deuyll, they say, is dede,

The deuell is dede.[890]

It may well so[891] be,

Or els they wolde se

Otherwyse, and fle 40

From worldly[892] vanyte,

And foule couetousnesse,

And other wretchednesse,

Fyckell[893] falsenesse,

Varyablenesse,

With vnstablenesse.

And if ye[894] stande in doute

Who brought this ryme aboute,

My name is Colyn Cloute.

I[895] purpose to shake oute 50

All my connyng bagge,

Lyke a clerkely hagge;

For though my ryme be ragged,

Tattered and iagged,

Rudely rayne beaten,

Rusty and moughte[896] eaten,

If ye[897] take well therwith,

It hath in it some pyth.

For, as farre as I can se,

It is wronge with eche degre: 60

For the temporalte

Accuseth the spiritualte;

The spirituall[898] agayne

Dothe grudge and complayne

Vpon the[899] temporall men:

Thus eche of other blother[900]

The tone agayng[901] the tother:

Alas, they make me shoder!

For in hoder moder

The Churche is put in faute; 70

The prelates ben[902] so haut,

They say, and loke so hy,

As though they wolde fly

Aboue the sterry skye.

Laye men say indede

How they take no[903] hede

Theyr sely shepe to fede,

But plucke away and pull

The fleces of theyr[904] wull,

Vnethes[905] they leue a locke 80

Of wull amonges[906] theyr[907] flocke;

And as for theyr connynge,

A glommynge and a mummynge,

And make therof a iape;

They gaspe and they gape

All to haue promocyon,

There is theyr hole[908] deuocyon,

With money, if it wyll hap,

To catche the[909] forked cap:

Forsothe they are to[910] lewd 90

To say so, all beshrewd!

What trow ye they say more

Of the bysshoppes lore?

How in matters they be rawe,

They lumber forth[911] the lawe,

To herken[912] Jacke and Gyll,

Whan they put vp a byll,

And iudge it[913] as they wyll,

For other mennes skyll,

Expoundyng out theyr clauses, 100

And leue theyr owne causes:

In theyr prouynciall[914] cure

They make but lytell sure,

And meddels[915] very lyght

In the Churches[916] ryght;

But ire and venire,

And solfa[917] so alamyre,

That the premenyre

Is lyke to be set[918] a fyre

In theyr iurisdictions[919] 110

Through temporall afflictions:[920]

Men say they haue prescriptions[921]

Agaynst spirituall[922] contradictions,[923]

Accomptynge them as fyctions.[924]

And whyles the heedes do this,

The remenaunt is amys

Of the clergy all,

Bothe great[925] and small.

I wot neuer[926] how they warke,

But thus[927] the people barke;[928] 120

And surely thus they say,

Bysshoppes, if they may,

Small houses wolde[929] kepe,

But slumbre forth and slepe,

And assay to crepe

Within the noble walles

Of the kynges halles,

To fat theyr bodyes full,

Theyr soules lene[930] and dull,

And haue full lytell care[931] 130

How euyll[932] theyr shepe fare.

The temporalyte say[933] playne,

Howe bysshoppes dysdayne

Sermons for to make,

Or suche laboure to take;

And for to say trouth,

A great parte is for[934] slouth,

But the greattest parte

Is for[935] they haue but small arte

And ryght sklender[936] connyng 140

Within theyr heedes wonnyng.

But this reason they take

How they are able to make

With theyr golde and treasure

Clerkes out of[937] measure,

And yet that is a pleasure.

Howe be it some there be,

Almost two or thre,

Of that dygnyte,

Full worshypfull clerkes, 150

As[938] appereth by theyr werkes,

Lyke Aaron and Ure,

The wolfe from the dore

To werryn[939] and to kepe

From theyr goostly shepe,

And theyr[940] spirituall lammes

Sequestred from rammes

And from the[941] berded gotes

With theyr heery cotes;

Set nought by golde ne grotes, 160

Theyr names if I durst tell.

But they are[942] loth to mell,

And loth to hang the bell

Aboute the cattes necke,

For drede to haue a checke;

They ar fayne to play deuz decke,[943]

They ar made[944] for the becke.

How be it they are good men,

Moche[945] herted lyke an hen:

Theyr lessons forgotten they haue 170

That Becket them[946] gaue:

Thomas manum mittit ad fortia,

Spernit damna, spernit opprobria,

Nulla Thomam frangit injuria.

But nowe euery spirituall father,

Men say, they[947] had rather

Spende moche[948] of theyr share

Than to be combred with care:

Spende! nay, nay,[949] but spare;

For let se who that[950] dare 180

Sho the mockysshe mare;

They make her wynche and keke,

But it is not[951] worth a leke:

Boldnesse is to seke

The Churche[952] for to defend.

Take me as I intende,

For lothe[953] I am to offende

In this that I haue pende:

I tell you as men say;

Amende whan[954] ye may, 190

For, usque ad montem Sare,[955]

Men say ye can not appare;[956]

For some say ye hunte in[957] parkes,

And hauke on hobby larkes,

And other wanton warkes,

Whan the nyght darkes.

What hath lay men to[958] do

The gray gose[959] for to sho?

Lyke houndes of hell,

They crye and they yell, 200

Howe that ye[960] sell

The grace of the Holy Gost:

Thus they make theyr bost

Through owte[961] euery cost,

Howe some of you do eate

In Lenton season[962] fleshe mete,

Fesauntes, partryche, and cranes;

Men call you therfor prophanes;

Ye pycke no shrympes nor[963] pranes,

Saltfysshe, stocfysshe, nor[964] heryng, 210

It is not for your werynge;

Nor in holy Lenton[965] season

Ye[966] wyll netheyr benes ne peason,

But ye loke to be let lose[967]

To a pygge[968] or to a gose,

Your gorge not endewed

Without a capon stewed,

Or a stewed cocke,

To knowe[969] whate ys a clocke

Vnder her surfled[970] smocke, 220

And her wanton wodicocke.

And howe whan ye[971] gyue orders

In your prouinciall borders,

As at Sitientes,[972]

Some are insufficientes,[973]

Some parum sapientes,

Some nihil intelligentes,

Some valde negligentes,

Some nullum sensum habentes,

But bestiall[974] and vntaught;[975] 230

But whan thei haue ones caught

Dominus vobiscum by the hede,

Than renne they in euery stede,

God wot, with dronken nolles;

Yet take they[976] cure[977] of soules,

And woteth neuer[978] what thei rede,

Paternoster, Ave,[979] nor Crede;

Construe not worth a whystle

Nether Gospell nor Pystle;

Theyr mattyns madly sayde, 240

Nothynge deuoutly prayde;

Theyr lernynge is so small,[980]

Theyr prymes[981] and houres fall

And lepe[982] out of theyr lyppes

Lyke sawdust or drye chyppes.

I speke not nowe of all,

But the moost parte in[983] generall.

Of suche vagabundus[984]

Speketh totus mundus;

Howe some synge Lætabundus 250

At euery ale stake,

With, welcome hake and make!

By the brede that God brake,

I am sory[985] for your sake.

I speke not of the[986] good[987] wyfe,

But of theyr apostles[988] lyfe;

Cum ipsis[989] vel illis

Qui manent in villis

Est uxor vel ancilla,

Welcome Jacke and Gylla! 260

My prety Petronylla,

And you wyll[990] be stylla,

You shall haue your wylla.

Of suche Paternoster pekes

All the worlde spekes.

In you the faute is supposed,

For that they are not apposed

By iust[991] examinacyon

In connyng and[992] conuérsacyon;

They haue none instructyon 270

To make a true[993] constructyon:

A preest without a[994] letter,

Without his vertue be gretter,

Doutlesse were[995] moche[996] better

Vpon hym for to take

A mattocke or a rake.

Alas, for very shame!

Some can not declyne their[997] name;

Some can not scarsly[998] rede,

And yet he[999] wyll not drede 280

For to kepe a cure,

And in nothyng is sure;

This Dominus vobiscum,

As wyse as Tom a thrum,[1000]

A chaplayne of trust

Layth all in the dust.

Thus I, Colyn Cloute,

As I go aboute,

And wandrynge as I walke,

I here the people talke. 290

Men say, for syluer[1001] and golde

Myters are bought and solde;

There[1002] shall no clergy appose

A myter nor[1003] a crose,

But a full purse:

A strawe for Goddes curse!

What are they[1004] the worse?

For a symonyake

Is[1005] but a hermoniake;[1006]

And no more ye[1007] make 300

Of symony, men say,

But a chyldes play.

Ouer this,[1008] the foresayd laye

Reporte[1009] howe the Pope may

An[1010] holy anker call

Out of the stony[1011] wall,

And hym a bysshopp make,

If he on hym dare[1012] take

To kepe so harde a rule,

To ryde vpon a mule 310

With golde all betrapped,

In purple and paule belapped;

Some hatted and some capped,

Rychely and warme[1013] bewrapped,[1014]

God wot to theyr great paynes,

In rotchettes of fyne Raynes,

Whyte as morowes[1015] mylke;

Theyr tabertes of fyne silke,

Theyr styrops of myxt gold begared;[1016]

There may no cost be spared; 320

Theyr moyles[1017] golde dothe eate;

Theyr neyghbours dye for meate.

What care they though Gil sweate,

Or[1018] Jacke of the Noke?

The pore people they yoke[1019]

With sommons[1020] and citacyons

And excommunycacyons,[1021]

About churches[1022] and market:

The bysshop on his carpet

At home full softe dothe syt. 330

This is a farly[1023] fyt,

To here the people iangle,

Howe warely[1024] they wrangle:

Alas, why do ye not handle

And them all to-mangle?[1025]

Full[1026] falsely on you they lye,

And[1027] shamefully you ascrye,

And say as vntruely,[1028]

As the[1029] butterflye

A man myght[1030] saye in mocke 340

Ware the[1031] wethercocke

Of the steple of Poules;

And thus they hurte theyr soules

In sclaunderyng[1032] you for[1033] truthe:

Alas, it is great ruthe!

Some say ye syt in trones,

Lyke prynces[1034] aquilonis,

And shryne your rotten bones

With perles[1035] and precyous stones;

But howe the commons grones, 350

And the people mones[1036]

For prestes and for lones

Lent and neuer payd,

But from day to day delayde,

The commune welth decayde,

Men say ye are tonge tayde,[1037]

And therof speke[1038] nothynge

But dyssymulyng and glosyng.

Wherfore men be[1039] supposyng

That ye gyue shrewd counsell 360

Agaynst the commune well,

By poollynge and pyllage

In cytyes and vyllage,

By taxyng and tollage,[1040]

Ye make[1041] monkes to[1042] haue the culerage

For couerynge of an olde cottage,

That commytted[1043] is a collage

In the charter of dottage,

Tenure par seruyce[1044] de sottage,

And not par seruyce de socage, 370

After olde seygnyours,

And the lerning of Lytelton tenours:

Ye haue so ouerthwarted,

That good lawes are subuerted,

And good reason peruerted.

Relygous men are fayne

For to tourne[1045] agayne

In[1046] secula seculorum,

And to forsake[1047] theyr corum,

And vagabundare per forum, 380

And take a fyne meritorum,

Contra regulam morum,

Aut blacke monachorum,

Aut canonicorum,

Aut Bernardinorum,

Aut crucifixorum,

And to synge from place to place,

Lyke apostataas.

And the selfe same game

Begone ys[1048] nowe with shame 390

Amongest[1049] the sely nonnes:

My lady nowe[1050] she ronnes,

Dame Sybly[1051] our abbesse,

Dame Dorothe and lady Besse,

Dame Sare[1052] our pryoresse,

Out of theyr[1053] cloyster and quere

With an heuy chere,

Must cast vp theyr blacke vayles,

And set vp theyr fucke sayles,

To catch wynde with their ventales— 400

What, Colyne,[1054] there thou shales!

Yet thus with yll hayles

The lay fee[1055] people rayles.

And all the fawte[1056] they lay

On you, prelates,[1057] and say

Ye do them wrong[1058] and no ryght

To put them thus to flyght;

No matyns at mydnyght,

Boke and chalys gone quyte;

And[1059] plucke awaye the leedes 410

Evyn[1060] ouer theyr heedes,

And sell away theyr belles,

And all that they[1061] haue elles:

Thus the people telles,

Rayles lyke[1062] rebelles,

Redys[1063] shrewdly and spelles,

And with foundacyons[1064] melles,

And talkys[1065] lyke tytyuelles,

Howe ye brake the dedes[1066] wylles,

Turne monasteris into[1067] water milles, 420

Of an abbay ye[1068] make a graunge;

Your workes,[1069] they saye, are straunge;

So that theyr founders soules

Haue lost theyr beade rolles,

The mony for theyr masses

Spent[1070] amonge wanton lasses;

The Diriges are[1071] forgotten;

Theyr founders lye there rotten,

But where[1072] theyr soules dwell,

Therwith I wyll not mell. 430

What coulde[1073] the Turke do more

With all his false[1074] lore,

Turke, Sarazyn,[1075] or Jew?

I reporte me to you,

O mercyfull Jesu,

You supporte and rescue,[1076]

My style for to dyrecte,

It may take some effecte!

For I abhorre to wryte

Howe the lay fee dyspyte 440

You prelates, that of ryght

Shulde be lanternes of lyght.

Ye lyue, they say, in delyte,

Drowned in deliciis,

In gloria et divitiis,

In admirabili honore,[1077]

In gloria, et splendore

Fulgurantis hastæ,[1078]

Viventes parum caste:

Yet swete meate hath soure sauce, 450

For after gloria,[1079] laus,

Chryst by cruelte

Was nayled vpon[1080] a tre;

He payed a bytter pencyon

For mannes redemcyon,

He dranke eysell and gall

To redeme vs withall;

But swete ypocras ye drynke,

With, Let the cat wynke!

Iche wot what eche[1081] other thynk; 460

Howe be it per assimile

Some men thynke that ye

Shall haue penalte[1082]

For your iniquyte.

Nota[1083] what I say,

And bere it well away;

If it please not theologys,[1084]

It is good for astrologys;[1085]

For Ptholome tolde me

The sonne somtyme to be 470

In Ariete,

Ascendent a degre,[1086]

Whan Scorpion descendynge,

Was so then[1087] pretendynge

A fatall fall of one[1088]

That shuld[1089] syt on[1090] a trone,

And rule all thynges[1091] alone.

Your teth whet on this bone

Amongest[1092] you euerychone,

And let Collyn Cloute haue none[1093] 480

Maner of cause to mone:

Lay salue to your owne sore,

For els, as I sayd before,

After gloria, laus,

May come a soure sauce;

Sory therfore am I,

But trouth can neuer lye.

With language thus poluted

Holy Churche is bruted

And shamfully confuted. 490

My penne nowe wyll I sharpe,

And wrest vp my harpe

With sharpe twynkyng trebelles,

Agaynst all suche rebelles

That laboure to confounde

And bryng the Churche to the grounde;

As ye may dayly se

Howe the lay fee

Of one affynyte

Consent and agre 500

Agaynst the Churche to be,

And the dygnyte

Of the bysshoppes see.[1094]

And eyther ye be to bad,

Or els they ar mad

Of this to reporte:

But, vnder your supporte,

Tyll my dyenge day

I shall bothe wryte and say,

And ye shall do the same, 510

Howe they are to[1095] blame

You thus to dyffame:

For it maketh me sad

Howe that the people[1096] are glad

The Churche to depraue;

And some there are that raue,

Presumynge on theyr wyt,[1097]

Whan there is neuer a whyt,

To maynteyne argumentes

Agaynst the sacramentes. 520

Some make epylogacyon

Of hyghe predestynacyon;[1098]

And of resydeuacyon[1099]

They make interpretacyon

Of an aquarde facyon;

And of the prescience

Of dyuyne essence;[1100]

And what ipostacis[1101]

Of Christes manhode is.

Suche logyke men wyll chop, 530

And in theyr fury hop,

When the good ale sop

Dothe daunce in theyr fore top;

Bothe women and men,

Suche ye may well knowe and ken,

That agaynst[1102] preesthode

Theyr malyce sprede abrode,

Raylynge haynously

And dysdaynously

Of preestly dygnytes, 540

But theyr malygnytes.

And some haue a smacke

Of Luthers sacke,

And a brennyng sparke

Of Luthers warke,[1103]

And are somewhat suspecte

In Luthers secte;

And some of them barke,[1104]

Clatter and carpe

Of that heresy arte, 550

Called Wicleuista,[1105]

The deuelysshe dogmatista;

And some be Hussyans,

And some be Arryans,

And some be Pollegians,

And make moche varyans

Bytwene the clergye

And the temporaltye,

Howe the Church[1106] hath to mykel,

And they haue to lytell, 560

And bryng in[1107] materialites[1108]

And qualyfyed qualytes

Of pluralytes,

Of tryalytes,

And of tot quottes,

They commune lyke sottes,[1109]

As commeth to theyr lottes;

Of prebendaries and deanes,

Howe some of them gleanes

And gathereth[1110] vp the store 570

For to catche more and more;

Of persons and vycaryes

They make many outcryes;

They cannot kepe theyr wyues

From them for theyr lyues;

And thus the loselles stryues,

And lewdely sayes by[1111] Christ

Agaynst the sely preest.

Alas, and well away,

What ayles[1112] them thus to say? 580

They mought[1113] be better aduysed[1114]

Then to be so[1115] dysgysed:

But they haue enterprysed,

And shamfully surmysed,

Howe prelacy[1116] is solde and bought,

And come vp of nought;

And where the[1117] prelates be

Come[1118] of lowe degre,

And set in[1119] maieste

And spirituall dyngnyte, 590

Farwell benygnyte,

Farwell symplicite,[1120]

Farwell humylyte,

Farwell good charyte!

Ye[1121] are so puffed wyth pryde,

That no man may abyde

Your hygh and lordely lokes:

Ye cast vp then[1122] your bokes,

And vertue is forgotten;

For then ye wyll be wroken 600

Of euery lyght quarell,

And call a lorde a[1123] iauell,

A knyght a knaue ye[1124] make;

Ye bost, ye face, ye crake,

And vpon you ye[1125] take

To rule bothe[1126] kynge and kayser;

And yf ye[1127] may haue layser,

Ye wyll[1128] brynge all to nought,

And that is all[1129] your thought:

For the lordes temporall, 610

Theyr rule is very small,

Almost nothyng at all.

Men saye howe ye[1130] appall

The[1131] noble blode royall:

In ernest and in game,

Ye are the lesse to blame,

For lordes of noble blode,

If they well vnderstode[1132]

How connyng myght them auaunce,[1133]

They wold pype you another[1134] daunce: 620

But noble men borne

To lerne they haue scorne,[1135]

But hunt[1136] and blowe an horne,

Lepe ouer[1137] lakes and dykes,

Set nothyng by[1138] polytykes;

Therfore ye kepe them bace,

And mocke them to[1139] theyr face:

This is a pyteous case,

To you that ouer[1140] the whele

Grete[1141] lordes must crouche[1142] and knele, 630

And breke theyr hose at the kne,

As dayly men may se,

And to remembraunce call,[1143]

Fortune so turneth the ball

And ruleth so ouer all,

That honoure hath a great fall.

Shall I tell you[1144] more? ye, shall.

I am loth to tell all;

But the communalte yow[1145] call

Ydolles of Babylon, 640

De terra Zabulon,

De terra Neptalym;

For ye[1146] loue to go trym,

Brought vp of poore estate,

Wyth pryde inordinate,

Sodaynly vpstarte

From the donge carte,

The mattocke[1147] and the shule,[1148]

To reygne and to rule;

And haue[1149] no grace to thynke 650

Howe ye[1150] were wonte to drynke

Of a lether bottell

With a knauysshe stoppell,

Whan mamockes was your meate,

With moldy[1151] brede to eate;

Ye cowde[1152] none other gete

To chewe and to gnawe,

To fyll therwith your mawe;

Loggyng in fayre[1153] strawe,

Couchyng your drousy heddes 660

Somtyme in lousy beddes.[1154]

Alas, this is out[1155] of mynde!

Ye growe nowe out of kynde:

Many one ye haue vntwynde,[1156]

And made[1157] the commons blynde.

But qui se[1158] existimat stare,

Let hym well beware[1159]

Lest that his fote slyp,

And haue suche a tryp,

And falle[1160] in suche dekay, 670

That all the worlde may[1161] say,

Come downe, in[1162] the deuyll[1163] way!

Yet, ouer all that,[1164]

Of bysshops they[1165] chat,

That though ye round your hear

An ynche aboue your ear,

And haue[1166] aures patentes

And parum intendentes,

And your tonsors be croppyd,[1167]

Your eares they be[1168] stopped; 680

For maister Adulator,

And doctour Assentator,

And Blandior blandiris,

With Mentior mentiris,

They folowe[1169] your desyres,

And so they blere your eye,

That ye can not espye

Howe the male dothe wrye.[1170]

Alas, for Goddes wyll,

Why syt ye, prelates,[1171] styll, 690

And suffre all this yll?

Ye bysshops of estates[1172]

Shulde open the brode gates[1173]

Of[1174] your spirituall charge,

And com forthe[1175] at large,

Lyke lanternes of lyght,

In the peoples syght,

In pullpettes[1176] awtentyke,[1177]

For the wele publyke

Of preesthode[1178] in this case; 700

And alwayes to chase

Suche maner of sysmatykes

And halfe heretykes,

That wolde intoxicate,[1179]

That wolde conquinate,

That wolde contaminate,[1180]

And that[1181] wolde vyolate,

And that wolde derogate,

And that[1182] wolde abrogate

The Churchis[1183] hygh estates,[1184] 710

After this maner rates,[1185]

The which shulde be

Both franke and free,

And haue theyr[1186] lyberte,

As[1187] of antiquyte

It was ratefyed,

And also gratifyed,

By holy synodalles

And bulles papalles,[1188]

As it is res certa 720

Conteyned in Magna Charta.

But maister[1189] Damyan,

Or some other man,

That clerkely is and can

Well scrypture expounde

And hys[1190] textes grounde,

His benefyce worthe ten pounde,

Or skante worth twenty marke,

And yet[1191] a noble clerke,

He must do this werke; 730

As I knowe a parte,

Some maisters of arte,

Some doctours of lawe,

Some lernde in other sawe,

As in dyuynyte,

That hath no dygnyte

But the pore degre

Of the vnyuersyte;

Or els frere Frederycke,

Or els[1192] frere Dominike, 740

Or frere Hugulinus,

Or frere Agustinus,

Or frere Carmelus,[1193]

That gostly can heale vs;

Or els yf we may

Get a frere graye,

Or els of the order

Vpon[1194] Grenewyche border,

Called Obseruaunce,

Or[1195] a frere of Fraunce; 750

Or els the poore Scot,

It must come to his lot

To shote forthe his[1196] shot;

Or of Babuell besyde Bery,

To postell vpon a[1197] kyry,

That wolde it shulde be[1198] noted

Howe scripture shulde be coted,

And so clerkley[1199] promoted;

And yet the frere doted.

But men sey your awtoryte,[1200] 760

And your noble se,[1201]

And your[1202] dygnyte,

Shulde be imprynted better

Then all[1203] the freres letter;

For if ye wolde take payne

To preche a worde or twayne,

Though it were neuer so playne,

With clauses two or thre,

So as they myght be

Compendyously conueyde, 770

These[1204] wordes shuld be more weyd,

And better perceyued,

And thankfullerlye[1205] receyued,

And better shulde remayne[1206]

Amonge[1207] the people playne,

That wold your wordes retayne[1208]

And reherce them agayne,

Than a thousand thousande[1209] other,

That blaber,[1210] barke, and blother,[1211]

And make a Walshmans hose 780

Of the texte and of the[1212] glose.

For protestatyon made,

That I wyll not wade

Farther in this broke,[1213]

Nor farther for[1214] to loke

In deuysynge of[1215] this boke,

But[1216] answere that I may

For my selfe alway,

Eyther analogice[1217]

Or els categorice,[1218] 790

So that in diuinite[1219]

Doctors that lerned be,

Nor bachelers of that faculte

That hath[1220] taken degre

In the vniuersite,

Shall not be obiecte at by[1221] me.

But doctour Bullatus,

Parum litteratus,

Dominus doctoratus

At the brode gatus,[1222] 800

Doctour Daupatus,

And bacheler bacheleratus,[1223]

Dronken as a mouse,

At the[1224] ale house,

Taketh[1225] his pyllyon and his cap[1226]

At the good ale tap,

For lacke of good wyne;

As wyse as Robyn[1227] swyne,

Vnder a[1228] notaryes sygne

Was made a dyuyne; 810

As wyse as Waltoms calfe,

Must preche, a Goddes halfe,

In the pulpyt solempnely;

More mete in the[1229] pyllory,

For, by saynt Hyllary,

He can nothyng smatter

Of logyke nor[1230] scole matter,

Neyther syllogisare,[1231]

Nor enthymemare,[1232]

Nor knoweth his elenkes[1233] 820

Nor his predicamens;[1234]

And yet he wyll mell[1235]

To amend the gospell,

And wyll preche and tell

What they do in hell;

And he dare not well neuen[1236]

What they do in heuen,

Nor[1237] how farre Temple barre is

From the seuen starrys.[1238]

Nowe wyll I[1239] go 830

And tell of other mo,

Semper protestando

De non impugnando

The foure ordores of fryers,[1240]

Though[1241] some of them be lyers;

As Lymyters at large

Wyll charge and dyscharge;

As many a frere, God wote,

Preches[1242] for his grote,

Flatterynge[1243] for a newe cote 840

And for to haue his fees;

Some to gather chese;

Loth they are to lese

Eyther corne or malte;[1244]

Somtyme meale and salte,

Somtyme a bacon flycke,

That is thre fyngers thycke

Of larde and of greace,

Theyr couent to encreace.

I put you out of doute, 850

This can not be brought aboute

But they theyr tonges fyle,

And make a plesaunt style

To Margery and to[1245] Maude,

Howe they haue no fraude;[1246]

And somtyme they prouoke

Bothe Gyll and Jacke at Noke

Their dewtyes to withdrawe,

That they ought by the lawe

Theyr curates to[1247] content 860

In open tyme and in Lent:[1248]

God wot, they take great payne

To flatter and to fayne;

But[1249] it[1250] is an[1251] olde sayd sawe,

That nede hath[1252] no lawe.

Some walke aboute in melottes,[1253]

In gray russet and heery cotes;

Some wyl[1254] neyther golde ne grotes;[1255]

Some plucke a partrych in remotes,

And by the barres of[1256] her tayle 870

Wyll knowe a rauen from[1257] a rayle,

A quayle, the raile, and the olde rauen:[1258]

Sed libera nos a malo! Amen.

And by Dudum, theyr Clementine,[1259]

Agaynst curates they[1260] repyne;

And say propreli they ar[1261] sacerdotes,

To shryue, assoyle, and reles[1262]

Dame Margeries[1263] soule out of hell:

But when the freare fell[1264] in the well,

He coud not syng himselfe therout[1265] 880

But by the helpe of Christyan Clout.

Another Clementyne also,[1266]

How frere Fabian, with other mo,

Exivit de Paradiso;

Whan they agayn theder shal come,

De hoc petimus consilium:

And through all the world they go

With[1267] Dirige and Placebo.

But nowe my mynd ye vnderstand,

For they[1268] must take in hande 890

To prech, and to[1269] withstande

Al maner of abiections;[1270]

For bysshops haue protections,

They say, to do corrections,

But they haue no affections[1271]

To take the sayd[1272] dyrections;

In such maner of cases,[1273]

Men say, they bere no faces

To occupye suche places,

To sowe the sede of graces:[1274] 900

Theyr hertes are so faynted,

And they be so attaynted

With coueytous and ambycyon,[1275]

And other superstycyon,

That they be[1276] deef and dum,

And play scylens and glum,[1277]

Can say nothynge but mum.

They occupye them so

With syngyng Placebo,

They wyll no farther go: 910

They had leuer to please,

And take their worldly ease,

Than to take on hande

Worsshepfully[1278] to withstande

Such temporall warre and bate,

As nowe is made of late

Agaynst holy Churche[1279] estate,

Or to maynteyne good[1280] quarelles.

The lay men call them barrelles

Full of glotony 920

And of hypocrysy,

That counterfaytes[1281] and payntes

As they were very sayntes:

In matters that them lyke[1282]

They shewe them polytyke,

Pretendyng grauyte

And sygnyoryte,

With all solempnyte,

For theyr indempnyte;

For they wyll haue no losse[1283] 930

Of a peny nor of a crosse[1284]

Of theyr predyall landes,

That cometh to theyr handes,

And[1285] as farre as they dare set,

All is fysshe that cometh to net:[1286]

Buyldyng royally[1287]

Theyr mancyons curyously,

With turrettes and with toures,

With halles and with boures,

Stretchynge[1288] to the starres, 940

With glasse wyndowes and barres;

Hangynge aboute[1289] the walles

Clothes of golde and palles,

Arras of ryche aray,

Fresshe[1290] as flours in May;

Wyth dame Dyana naked;

Howe lusty Venus quaked,

And howe[1291] Cupyde shaked

His darte, and bent his[1292] bowe

For to shote a crowe 950

At her tyrly tyrlowe;

And howe Parys of Troy

Daunced a lege de moy,[1293]

Made lusty sporte and ioy

With dame Helyn the quene;

With suche storyes bydene

Their chambres well besene;

With triumphes of Cesar,

And of[1294] Pompeyus war,

Of renowne and of[1295] fame 960

By them to get a name:

Nowe[1296] all the worlde stares,

How they ryde in goodly chares,

Conueyed by olyphantes,

With lauryat garlantes,[1297]

And by vnycornes

With their semely hornes;

Vpon these beestes rydynge,

Naked boyes strydynge,

With wanton wenches winkyng. 970

Nowe truly, to my thynkynge,

That[1298] is a speculacyon

And a mete meditacyon

For prelates of estate,

Their courage to abate

From worldly wantonnesse,

Theyr chambres[1299] thus to dresse

With suche parfetnesse

And all suche holynesse;

How be it they let downe fall 980

Their churches[1300] cathedrall.

Squyre, knyght, and lorde,

Thus the Churche[1301] remorde;

With all temporall people

They rune agaynst[1302] the steple,

Thus talkynge and tellyng[1303]

How some of you are mellyng;

Yet[1304] softe and fayre for swellyng,

Beware of a quenes yellyng.[1305]

It is a besy thyng 990

For one man[1306] to rule a kyng[1307]

Alone and[1308] make rekenyng,

To gouerne ouer all

And rule a realme royall

By one mannes verrey[1309] wyt;

Fortune may chaunce to flyt,

And whan[1310] he weneth to syt,

Yet may he mysse the quysshon:

For I rede a[1311] preposycyon,

Cum[1312] regibus amicare,[1313] 1000

Et omnibus dominari,

Et supra te pravare;[1314]

Wherfore[1315] he hathe good vre

That can hymselfe assure

Howe fortune wyll endure.

Than let reason you supporte,

For the communalte dothe reporte[1316]

That[1317] they haue great wonder

That ye[1318] kepe them so vnder;

Yet[1319] they meruayle so moche[1320] lesse, 1010

For ye play so at the chesse,

As they suppose and gesse,

That some of you but late

Hath played so checkemate

With lordes of great estate,[1321]

After suche a rate,

That they shall mell[1322] nor make,

Nor vpon them take,[1323]

For[1324] kynge nor kayser sake,

But at the playsure of[1325] one 1020

That ruleth the roste[1326] alone.

Helas,[1327] I say, helas!

Howe may this come to passe,

That a man shall here a[1328] masse,

And not[1329] so hardy on his hede

To loke on God in forme of brede,

But that[1330] the parysshe clerke

There vpon must herke,[1331]

And graunt hym at[1332] his askyng

For to se the sacryng? 1030

And[1333] howe may this accorde,

No man to our souerayne lorde

So hardy to make sute,

Nor yet[1334] to execute

His commaundement,

Without the assent

Of our presydent,

Nor to expresse[1335] to his person,[1336]

Without your consentatyon[1337]

Graunt hym his lycence 1040

To preas to his presence,

Nor to speke to hym[1338] secretly,

Openly nor[1339] preuyly,

Without his[1340] presydent be by,

Or els his substytute

Whom he wyll depute?

Neyther erle ne duke[1341]

Permytted? by[1342] saynt Luke,

And by swete saynt Marke,

This is a wonderous warke![1343] 1050

That the people talke this,

Somewhat there is amysse:

The deuil cannot stop their mouthes,

But they wyl talke of such vncouthes,[1344]

All that euer they ken

Agaynst all spirituall[1345] men.

Whether it be wrong or ryght,

Or els for dyspyght,

Or howe euer it hap,[1346]

Theyr tonges thus do[1347] clap, 1060

And through suche detractyon

They put you to your actyon;

And[1348] whether they say trewly

As they may abyde therby,

Or els that they do lye,

Ye knowe better then I.

But nowe debetis scire,

And groundly audire,

In your convenire,[1349]

Of this premenire, 1070

Or els in the myre

They saye they wyll you cast;

Therfore stande sure and fast.[1350]

Stande sure, and take[1351] good fotyng,

And let be all your motyng,

Your gasyng and your totyng,

And[1352] your parcyall promotyng

Of those that stande[1353] in your grace;

But[1354] olde seruauntes ye chase,

And put them out of theyr place. 1080

Make ye no murmuracyon,

Though I wryte after[1355] this facion;

Though I, Colyn Cloute,

Among the hole route

Of you that clerkes be,

Take nowe vpon[1356] me

Thus[1357] copyously to wryte,

I do it for[1358] no despyte.

Wherfore take no dysdayne

At my style rude[1359] and playne; 1090

For I rebuke no man

That vertuous[1360] is: why than

Wreke ye your anger on me?

For those[1361] that vertuous be

Haue no cause to say

That I[1362] speke out of the way.

Of no good bysshop speke I,

Nor[1363] good preest I escrye,[1364]

Good frere, nor good chanon,

Good nonne, nor good canon, 1100

Good monke, nor good clercke,

Nor yette[1365] of no good werke:

But my recountyng is

Of them that do[1366] amys,

In speking and rebellyng,[1367]

In hynderyng and dysauaylyng

Holy Churche,[1368] our mother,

One agaynst[1369] another;

To vse suche despytyng[1370]

Is all my hole wrytyng; 1110

To hynder no man,

As nere as I can,

For no man haue I named:

Wherfore sholde I be[1371] blamed?

Ye ought to be ashamed,

Agaynst[1372] me to be gramed,[1373]

And can[1374] tell no cause why,

But that I wryte trewly.

Then yf any there be

Of hygh or[1375] lowe degre 1120

Of the spiritualte,

Or of[1376] the temporalte,

That dothe thynke or wene

That[1377] his conscyence be not clene,

And feleth[1378] hymselfe sycke,

Or touched on the quycke,

Suche grace God them sende

Themselfe to[1379] amende,

For I wyll not pretende

Any man to offende. 1130

Wherfore, as thynketh[1380] me,

Great ydeottes[1381] they be,

And lytell grace they haue,

This treatyse to depraue;

Nor wyll here no prechyng,

Nor no vertuous techyng,

Nor wyll haue no resytyng

Of any[1382] vertuous wrytyng;

Wyll knowe none intellygence

To refourme theyr neglygence, 1140

But lyue styll out of facyon,

To theyr owne dampnacyon.

To do shame they haue no shame,

But they wold[1383] no man shulde them blame:

They haue an euyl name,

But[1384] yet they wyll occupy the same.

With them the worde of God

Is counted for no rod;[1385]

They counte it for a raylyng,

That nothyng is[1386] auaylyng; 1150

The prechers with euyll[1387] hayling:

Shall they daunt[1388] vs prelates,

That be theyr[1389] prymates?

Not so hardy on theyr pates!

Herke, howe the losell[1390] prates,

With a wyde wesaunt!

Auaunt, syr Guy of Gaunt!

Auaunt, lewde preest, auaunt!

Auaunt, syr doctour Deuyas![1391]

Prate of[1392] thy matyns and thy masse, 1160

And let our maters[1393] passe:

Howe darest[1394] thou, daucocke, mell?

Howe darest thou, losell,[1395]

Allygate the gospell

Agaynst vs of the counsell?[1396]

Auaunt[1397] to the deuyll of hell!

Take hym, wardeyne[1398] of the Flete,

Set hym fast by the fete!

I say, lyeutenaunt of the Toure,

Make this lurdeyne for to loure; 1170

Lodge hym in Lytell Ease,

Fede hym with beanes and pease!

The Kynges Benche or Marshalsy,

Haue hym[1399] thyder by and by!

The vyllayne[1400] precheth openly,

And declareth our vyllany;

And of our fre[1401] symplenesse

He sayes that we are[1402] rechelesse,

And full of wylfulnesse,

Shameles and mercylesse,[1403] 1180

Incorrigible and insaciate;[1404]

And after this rate

Agaynst vs dothe[1405] prate.

At Poules Crosse or els where,

Openly at Westmynstere,

And Saynt Mary[1406] Spyttell,

They set not by[1407] vs a whystell:[1408]

At the Austen fryers

They count vs for[1409] lyers:

And[1410] at Saynt Thomas of Akers 1190

They carpe vs[1411] lyke crakers,

Howe we wyll rule[1412] all at wyll

Without good reason or[1413] skyll;

And say how that we be

Full of parcyalyte;[1414]

And howe at a pronge

We tourne ryght into[1415] wronge,

Delay causes so longe

That ryght no man can fonge;

They say many matters be[1416] born 1200

By the ryght of[1417] a rambes horne.

Is not this a shamfull scorne,

To be[1418] teared thus and torne?

How may we thys[1419] indure?

Wherfore we make you sure,

Ye[1420] prechers shall be yawde;

And[1421] some shall be sawde,

As noble[1422] Ezechyas,

The holy prophet, was;

And some of you shall dye, 1210

Lyke holy Jeremy;

Some hanged, some[1423] slayne,

Some beaten to the brayne;

And we wyll rule[1424] and rayne,

And our matters mayntayne

Who dare say there agayne,

Or who dare dysdayne

At our[1425] pleasure and wyll:

For, be it good or be it yll,

As it is, it shall be styll, 1220

For all master doctour of Cyuyll,[1426]

Or of Diuine,[1427] or doctour Dryuyll,

Let hym cough, rough,[1428] or sneuyll;

Renne[1429] God, renne deuyll,

Renne who may renne[1430] best,

And let take all the rest![1431]

We[1432] set not a nut shell

The way to heuen or to[1433] hell.

Lo, this is the gyse now a dayes!

It is to drede, men sayes, 1230

Lest they be Saduces,[1434]

As they be sayd sayne

Whiche[1435] determyned[1436] playne

We shulde not ryse agayne

At dredefull domis day;

And so it semeth[1437] they play,

Whiche hate to be corrected

Whan they be infected,

Nor wyll[1438] suffre this boke

By hoke ne[1439] by croke 1240

Prynted for to be,

For that no man shulde se

Nor rede in any scrolles[1440]

Of theyr drunken nolles,

Nor of theyr noddy polles,

Nor of theyr sely soules,

Nor of some wytles pates

Of dyuers great estates,

As well[1441] as other men.

Now to withdrawe my pen, 1250

And now a whyle to rest,

Me semeth it[1442] for the best.

The forecastell of my shyp

Shall glyde, and smothely slyp

Out of the wawes wod

Of[1443] the stormy flod;

Shote anker, and lye at rode,

And sayle not farre abrode,

Tyll the cost be clere,

And[1444] the lode starre appere: 1260

My shyp nowe wyll I stere[1445]

Towarde the porte salu[1446]

Of our Sauyour Jesu,

Suche grace that he vs sende,

To rectyfye and[1447] amende

Thynges that are amys,

Whan that[1448] his pleasure is.

Amen![1449]

In opere imperfecto,

In opere semper perfecto,

Et in opere plusquam perfecto![1450] 1270

---

Colinus Cloutus,[1451] quanquam mea[1452] carmina multis

Sordescunt stultis,[1453] sed puevinate sunt rare cultis,

Pue vinatis altisem divino flamine flatis.[1454]

Unde meâ refert[1455] tanto minus, invida quamvis

Lingua nocere parat, quia, quanquam rustica canto,

Undique cantabor tamen et celebrabor ubique,

Inclita dum maneat gens Anglica. Laurus[1456] honoris,

Quondam regnorum regina et gloria regum,

Heu, modo marcescit, tabescit, languida torpet![1457]

Ah pudet, ah miseret! vetor hic ego pandere plura 10

Pro gemitu et lacrimis: præstet peto præmia pæna.

[875] Colyn Cloute] From the ed. by Kele, n. d., collated with the ed. by Kytson, n. d., with Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s Workes, 1568, and with a MS. in the Harleian Collection, 2252. fol. 147.

[876] consurget, &c.] Eds. “consurgat,” &c. MS. “resurgat ad malignantes.”

[877] for delyte] MS. “for to endyte.”

[878] for] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. and MS. “for to.”

[879] despyte] MS. “desyte.”

[880] maner] MS. “maner of.”

[881] to] MS. “for to.”

[882] wyll reche] MS. “wold reherse.”

[883] this, and] MS. “thus, or.”

[884] He wotteth, &c.] MS. “And saythe he wott not whate.”

[885] and] Not in MS.

[886] and] Not in MS.

[887] He chydes ... flatters] MS.;

“He chydethe he chaters

He praytythe he patyrs

He cleteryth he claters

He medelythe he smaters

He glosythe he fflaters.”

[888] Or] MS. (perhaps) “And.”

[889] On] So MS. Not in eds.

[890] The deuell is dede] Not in MS.

[891] well so] MS. “so well.”

[892] worldly] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “wordly.”

[893] Fyckell ... vnstablenesse] MS.;

“And fykyll falsenes

And varyabulnes

With vnstedfastnes.”

[894] ye] MS. “they.”

[895] I] MS. “And.”

[896] moughte] Other eds. “moothe.” MS. “mothe.”

[897] If ye, &c.] MS. “And yf thow take well it wythe.”—The eds. give the line as in the text, except that they have “talke” instead of “take:” compare v. 186.

[898] spirituall] MS. “spiritualte.”

[899] the] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[900] blother] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “bloder.”—In MS. the line runs,

“Thys eche with hothyr blen.”

[901] agayng] Other eds. “against.” MS. “ayenste.”

[902] ben] MS. “be.”

[903] no] MS. “none.”

[904] theyr] Not in MS.

[905] Vnethes] MS. “Scantly.”

[906] amonges] Other eds. and MS. “amonge.”

[907] theyr] MS. “the.”

[908] theyr hole] MS. “all ther.”

[909] the] MS. “them a.”

[910] to] Not in MS.

[911] lumber forth] MS. “labor forthe so in.”

[912] herken] Marshe’s ed. “herke.”

[913] it] MS. “all.”

[914] theyr prouynciall] Eds. (with various spelling) “theyr pryncypall.” MS. “the prouynciall:” compare v. 223.

[915] meddels] MS. “medlythe.”

[916] Churches] MS. “chyrche.”

[917] solfa] MS. “solfe.”

[918] to be set] MS. “to sett.”

[919] iurisdictions] MS. “juridiccion.”

[920] afflictions] MS. “afflyccion.”

[921] prescriptions] MS. “prescripcion.”

[922] spirituall] So MS. Eds. “the spiritual.”

[923] contradictions] MS. “contradiccion.”

[924] fyctions] MS. “affeccions.”

[925] great] MS. “the grete.”

[926] neuer] MS. “not.”

[927] thus] MS. “thys.”

[928] barke] So MS. Eds. “carke” (are careful, anxious,—which does not well suit the sense of the passage). Perhaps Skelton wrote “carpe” (talk, prate); for in the present poem we find the following similar, imperfect rhymes;

“And some of them barke,

Clatter and carpe.”—v. 549.

“About churches and market:

The bysshop on his carpet.”—v. 328.

[929] houses wolde] MS. “howsoldes woll.”

[930] lene] So MS. Eds. “lame.”

[931] haue full lytell care] MS. “hathe but lytell cure.”

[932] euyll] MS. “yll.”

[933] say] MS. “sathe.”

[934] for] So MS. Eds. “full” and “ful.” See notes.

[935] Is for, &c.] MS. “Ys they haue lytell arte.”

[936] sklender] MS. “slendyr.”

[937] out of] MS. “with owte.”

[938] As] MS. “As hyt.”

[939] werryn] So MS. Eds. “wary.”

[940] theyr] Not in MS.

[941] the] MS. “thyse.”

[942] are] MS. “be.”

[943] deuz decke] MS. “decke.”

[944] They ar made, &c.] This line only in MS.

[945] Moche ... an] MS. “Myche ... a.”

[946] Becket them] MS. “Saynt Thomas of Canterbury.”

[947] they] MS. “that they.”

[948] moche] MS. “myche.”

[949] nay, nay] So MS. Eds. “nay.”

[950] that] Not in MS.

[951] But it is not, &c.] This line not in MS.

[952] Churche] MS. “chyrche.”

[953] For lothe, &c.] This line not in MS.

[954] whan] MS. “when that.”

[955] Sare] Other eds. “fare.” MS. “sciire.” (Perhaps Skelton wrote “Seir”—and in the next line “appeire.”) See notes.

[956] appare] MS. “payre.”

[957] in] Not in MS.

[958] to] Not in Kytson’s ed.

[959] gose] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “gooes.”

[960] ye] MS. “yow.”

[961] owte] So MS. Not in eds.

[962] In Lenton season] MS. “In lente so myche.”

[963] Ye pycke no shrympes nor] MS. “Thus pyke ne shrympes ne.”

[964] nor] MS. “ne.”

[965] Lenton] MS. “lente.”

[966] Ye ... ne] MS. “They ... nor.”

[967] lose] So MS. Kele’s ed. “losse.” Other eds. “loose” (having in the next line “goose”).

[968] To a pygge, &c.] This line in MS. thus, “To ete eythyr pygge or gose.”

[969] To knowe, &c.] This line found only in MS.

[970] surfled] MS. “surfuld.” See notes.

[971] And howe whan ye] MS. “And when they.”

[972] As at Sitientes] MS. “At att citientes.” The editor of 1736 printed “As Insipientes.” See notes.

[973] are insufficientes] MS. “ad sufficientes.”

[974] bestiall] So MS. Eds. “bestyali” and “bestially.”

[975] vntaught] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “vntought.”

[976] take they] MS. “they take.”

[977] cure] Other eds. “cures.”

[978] woteth neuer] MS. “wot not.”

[979] Ave] So MS. Not in eds.

[980] small] MS. “lewde.”

[981] prymes] MS. “prime.”

[982] And lepe, &c.] This line, and the two following lines, not in MS.

[983] in] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “en.”

[984] vagabundus] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. “vacabundus.” MS. “vacabondes.”

[985] sory] MS. “seke.”

[986] the] MS. “every.”

[987] good] Marshe’s ed. “god.”

[988] apostles] MS. “postylles.”

[989] Cum ipsis ... villis] MS.

“Cum ipso vell cum ipsa

Que invenitur villi.”

[990] And you wyll] MS. “And ye can.”

[991] iust] MS. “fyrste.”

[992] and] Not in MS.

[993] a true] MS. “trewe.”

[994] a] MS. “hys.”

[995] were] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “where.”

[996] were moche] MS. “we were myche.”

[997] their] MS. “ther owne.”

[998] can not scarsly] MS. “scantlye.”

[999] he] Not in other eds. nor in MS.

[1000] Tom a thrum] MS. “Jacke athrum.”

[1001] syluer] MS. “money.”

[1002] There] MS. “They.”

[1003] nor] MS. “or.”

[1004] they] MS. “ye.”

[1005] Is] MS. “Hyt ys.”

[1006] hermoniake] MS. “harman jake.”

[1007] ye] MS. “they.”

[1008] Ouer this] MS. “Also.”

[1009] Reporte] MS. “Reportythe.”

[1010] An] So MS. Eds. “A.”

[1011] the stony] MS. “a stone.”

[1012] dare] MS. “can.”

[1013] and warme] So MS. Not in eds.

[1014] bewrapped] MS. “wrappyd.”

[1015] morowes] MS. “marys.”

[1016] of myxt gold begared] Marshe’s ed. “of mixt golde begarded.” MS. “with golde be gloryd.”

[1017] moyles] MS. “mvles.”

[1018] Or] MS. “Or else.”

[1019] yoke] MS. “choke.”

[1020] sommons] MS. “somners.”

[1021] excommunycacyons] MS. “extermynacions.”

[1022] churches] MS. “chyrche.”

[1023] farly] So MS. Eds. (with various spelling) “fearfull.”

[1024] Howe warely, &c.] This line and the following one not in MS.

[1025] all to-mangle] So MS. Eds. “all mangle.”

[1026] Full] MS. “For.”

[1027] And] MS. “And as.”

[1028] as vntruely] MS. “vtterly.”

[1029] As the] MS. “That a.”

[1030] A man myght, &c.] This line not in MS.

[1031] Ware the] MS. “Was a.”

[1032] sclaunderyng] MS. “slaunderynge.”

[1033] for] MS. “of.”

[1034] Lyke prynces] MS. “As prinopes” (principes).

[1035] perles] MS. “perle.”

[1036] mones] MS. “mornys.”

[1037] tonge tayde] MS. “tonge tyed.”

[1038] speke] MS. “spekys.”

[1039] be] MS. “ar.”

[1040] tollage] MS. “tollynge.”

[1041] make] Other eds. “haue.”

[1042] to] Not in MS.

[1043] commytted] MS. “vnnethe.”

[1044] Tenure par seruyce, &c.] This line and the six following ones not in MS.

[1045] tourne] MS. “returne.”

[1046] In] MS. has “In to;” and, after this line, it gives

“Contra presepta morum:”

but see v. 382.

[1047] And to forsake, &c.] This line and the nine following ones not in MS.

[1048] ys] So MS. Eds. “and.”

[1049] Amongest] MS. “Amonge.”

[1050] nowe] MS. “nonne.”

[1051] Dame Sybly] This line not in MS.

[1052] Sare] MS. “Sybylle.”

[1053] theyr] MS. “the.”

[1054] What, Colyne, &c.] This line and the following one not in MS.

[1055] The lay fee] MS. “Thus the lay.”

[1056] the fawte] So MS. Not in eds.

[1057] On you, prelates] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. “In you prelates.” MS. “In your presepte.”

[1058] Ye do them wrong] Other eds. “Ye do wrong.”

[1059] And] So MS. Not in eds.

[1060] Evyn] So MS. Not in eds.

[1061] that they] Kytson’s ed. “they that.”

[1062] lyke] MS. “and.”

[1063] Redys] So MS. Eds. “Rede.”

[1064] foundacyons] MS. “foundacion.”

[1065] talkys] So MS. Eds. “talke.”

[1066] Howe ye brake the dedes] MS. “How that he brekes the deths.”

[1067] Turne monasteris into] MS. “To torne monestarys to.”

[1068] ye] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. “they.” MS. “to.”

[1069] workes ... are] MS. “worke ... ys veraye.”

[1070] Spent] MS. “Spend.”

[1071] Diriges are] MS. “dyrige.”

[1072] But where, &c.] This and the following line not in MS.

[1073] coulde] MS. “can.”

[1074] false] MS. “hole.”

[1075] Turke, Sarazyn, &c.] This line and the twenty-seven lines which follow not in MS.

[1076] rescue] Other eds. “rescite.”

[1077] In admirabili honore] Kele’s ed. “In o admirabile honore.” Kytson’s ed. “Into admirabile honore.” Marshe’s ed. “Into honorable honore.”

[1078] Fulgurantis hastæ] Eds. “Fulgurantes haste.” See notes.

[1079] gloria] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “glyria.”

[1080] vpon] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “vpyn.”

[1081] eche] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “yche.”

[1082] penalte] So MS. and other eds. (with various spelling). Kele’s ed. “penalyte.”

[1083] Nota] MS. “Note.”

[1084] theologys] MS. “theologi.”

[1085] astrologys] MS. “astrologi.”

[1086] Ascendent a degre] This passage seems to be corrupted. MS. “Assendente a dextre:” (and compare the Lansdown MS. quoted below.)

[1087] Was so then, &c.] This line not in MS.

[1088] A fatall fall of one] So MS. (and compare the Lansdown MS. quoted below). Eds. “All fatall for one.”

[1089] shuld] So MS. Eds. “shall.”

[1090] on] MS. “in.”

[1091] thynges] MS. “thynge.”

[1092] Amongest] MS. “Amonge.”

[1093] haue none] MS. has “alone;” and omits the seventy-eight lines which follow. Among the Lansdown MSS. (762. fol. 75) I find the subjoined fragment:

“Som men thynke that ye

shall haue penaltie

for youre Inyquytie

Note well what to saye

yf yt please the not onely

yt is good for astrollogy

ffor tholomy tolde me

the sonn somtyme to be

In a Signe called ariotte

assendam ad dextram

when Scorpio is descendyng

affatuall fall of one

that syttys now on trone

and rewles all thynge alone

your tethe whet on this bone

Amonge you euery chone

And lett colen clowte alone.

The profecy of Skelton 1529.”

(The name originally written “Skylton.”)

[1094] see] Eds. “fee.”

[1095] to] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1096] that the people] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “the the peope.”

[1097] wyt] So (“wit”) other eds. Kele’s ed. “owne wyt.”

[1098] predestynacyon] Other eds. (with various spelling) “predestitacion.”

[1099] resydeuacyon] Eds. (with various spelling) “resydenacyon.”

[1100] essence] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “assence.”

[1101] ipostacis] Other eds. “ipostatis.”

[1102] agaynst] Other eds. “agayn.”

[1103] warke] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “weike.”

[1104] barke] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “barek.”

[1105] Wicleuista] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “Wytclyftista.”

[1106] Howe the Church, &c.] This passage in MS. stands thus:

“Some sey holy chyrche haue to mykell

Som sey they haue tryalytes

And some sey they brynge pluralites

And qualifie qualites

And also tot cotte

They talke lyke sottes

Makynge many owte cryes

That they cannot kepe ther wyffes

And thus the losselles stryvys.”

[1107] in] Other eds. “him in.”

[1108] materialites] Eds. (with various spelling) “maierialites.”

[1109] sottes] Marshe’s ed. “scottes.”

[1110] gathereth] Marshe’s ed. “gathered.”

[1111] by] MS. “be.”

[1112] ayles] MS. “eylythe.”

[1113] mought] MS. “myghte.”

[1114] aduysed] MS. “avysed.”

[1115] so] Not in other eds.

[1116] prelacy] MS. “the prelacye.”

[1117] where the] MS. “whan they.”

[1118] Come] MS. “Comyn vp.”

[1119] in] MS. “in ther.”

[1120] Farwell symplicite] Not in MS.

[1121] Ye] MS. “Theyse.”

[1122] Ye cast vp then] MS. “They caste then vp.”

[1123] a] Not in MS.

[1124] ye] So MS. Eds. “to.”

[1125] ye] So MS. Not in eds.

[1126] bothe] So MS. Not in eds.

[1127] ye] Other eds. “you.”

[1128] wyll] Not in other eds.

[1129] And that is all] MS. “And that hyt ys.”

[1130] howe ye] MS. “that they.”

[1131] The] MS. “That.”

[1132] vnderstode] Other eds. “vnderstand.”

[1133] auaunce] MS. “avayle.”

[1134] another] MS. “a new.”

[1135] scorne] MS. “grete scorne.”

[1136] hunt] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “hunet.”

[1137] Lepe ouer] MS. “Kepe vnnethe.”

[1138] Set nothyng by] MS. “And sette nowghte by.”

[1139] to] Marshe’s ed. “so.”

[1140] ouer] MS. “be on.”

[1141] Grete] So MS. Not in eds.

[1142] crouche] Other eds. “couch.”

[1143] call] MS. “I haue calle.”

[1144] you] Not in MS.

[1145] yow] So MS. Eds. “ye.”

[1146] ye] So MS. Eds. “you.”

[1147] mattocke] Eds. “mattockes.” MS. “mactocke.”

[1148] shule] MS. “shovyll.”

[1149] haue] MS. “hathe.”

[1150] ye] Eds. and MS. “they.”

[1151] moldy] So MS. Eds. “moulde” and “mould.”

[1152] cowde] So MS. Eds. (with various spelling) “wolde.”

[1153] Loggyng in fayre] So MS. Eds. “Lodged in the.”

[1154] lousy beddes] MS. “a lowsy bed.”

[1155] Alas, this is out] MS. “All this ys owte owte.”

[1156] Many one ye haue vntwynde] So MS. See notes. Eds. (with various spelling) “Many one haue but wynde.”

[1157] made] So MS. Eds. “make.”

[1158] se] Not in MS.

[1159] well beware] MS. “be well ware.”

[1160] falle] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “false.”

[1161] may] So MS. Eds. (with various spelling) “myght.”

[1162] in] So MS. Eds. “on.”

[1163] deuyll] Other eds. (with various spelling) “deuils.” See notes.

[1164] Yet, ouer all that] MS. “And yete ouer that.”

[1165] they] MS. “thus they.”

[1166] haue] So MS. Not in eds.

[1167] tonsors be croppyd] So MS. The reading of the eds. “coursers be trapped,” does not accord so well with the context.

[1168] they be] MS. “they sey byn.”

[1169] They folowe, &c.] So these lines are rightly arranged in MS. In eds. of Kele, and Kytson, they stand thus;

“That ye can &c.

They folowe &c.

And so they &c.

Howe the &c.”

In Marshe’s ed. thus;

“They folow &c.

That ye can &c.

And so they &c.

How the &c.”

[1170] wrye] So MS. Eds. “wryte.”

[1171] ye, prelates] MS. “yow so.”

[1172] Ye bysshops of estates] MS. “The Bysshoppes of estate.” Marshe’s ed. “Ye Bysshoppe,” &c.

[1173] gates] MS. “gate.”

[1174] Of] So MS. Eds. “For.”

[1175] com forthe] So MS. Eds. “conforte” and “confort.”

[1176] pullpettes] MS. “pulpyt.”

[1177] awtentyke] So MS. Eds. “attentyke” and “antentike.”

[1178] Of preesthode, &c.] This line and the following one not in MS.

[1179] intoxicate] MS. “intrixicate.”

[1180] contaminate] So Marshe’s ed. Kele’s ed. “contemminate.” Kytson’s ed. “contamininate.”

[1181] that] Not in MS.

[1182] that] Not in MS.

[1183] Churchis] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. “churche” and “church.” MS. “chyrchys.”

[1184] estates] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “estate.”

[1185] rates] MS. “of rate.”

[1186] theyr] MS. “her.”

[1187] As] So MS. Eds. “And.”

[1188] papalles] MS. “papall.”

[1189] maister] Not in MS.

[1190] hys] So MS. Not in eds.

[1191] yet] MS. “ys.”

[1192] els] Not in MS.

[1193] Carmelus] MS. “Carmelinus.”

[1194] Vpon] MS. “Of.”

[1195] Or] So MS. Eds. “And.”

[1196] his] MS. “thys.”

[1197] a] MS. “this.”

[1198] be] So other eds. and MS. Not in Kele’s ed.

[1199] clerkley] MS. “clerely.”

[1200] But men sey your awtoryte] So MS. Eds.;

“Men say

But your auctoryte.”

(the last word variously spelt.)

[1201] se] Other eds. “fee.”

[1202] your] MS. “your hye.”

[1203] Then all, &c.] This line not in MS.

[1204] These] Marshe’s ed. “Those.” MS. gives the line thus, “This shuld be now more weyed.”

[1205] thankfullerlye] So MS. Eds. “thankfully.”

[1206] remayne] MS. “rettayne.”

[1207] Amonge] Not in MS.

[1208] your wordes retayne] MS. “reherse these wordes agayn,” omitting the following line.

[1209] thousand thousande] MS. “thowsand.”

[1210] blaber] MS. “babyll.”

[1211] blother] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “bloder.” MS. “blondyr.”

[1212] of the] Not in MS.

[1213] broke] MS. “boke.”

[1214] for] Not in MS.

[1215] of] Not in MS.

[1216] But] MS. “But to.”

[1217] analogice] MS, “anolegie.”

[1218] categorice] Eds. “cathagorice” and “rathagorice.” MS. gives the line thus, “Or cathogory.”

[1219] that in diuinite] MS. “that dyngnite.”

[1220] That hath, &c.] This line and the following one not in MS.

[1221] obiecte at by] So MS. Eds “obiected for.”

[1222] At the brode gatus] Not in MS.

[1223] bacheleratus] MS. “bagalatus.”

[1224] the] MS. “an.”

[1225] Taketh] MS. “Take.”

[1226] cap] MS. “cuppe.”

[1227] Robyn] MS. “a.”

[1228] a] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “an.”

[1229] the] So MS. Eds. “a.”

[1230] nor] MS. “and.”

[1231] Neyther syllogisare] MS. “Nothir foly silogizare.”

[1232] Nor enthymemare] Eds. “Nor of emptimeniare.” MS. “Nor entimemare.”

[1233] his elenkes] Eds. “his eloquens” and “his eloquence.” MS. “not hys elenkes.”

[1234] predicamens] Other eds. “predicamence.” MS. “predictamenttes.”

[1235] mell] MS. “medyll.”

[1236] And he dare not well neuen] MS. “And wyll newyn.”

[1237] Nor] MS. “And.”

[1238] starrys] So MS. Eds. “sterres” and “starres.”

[1239] wyll I] MS. “I wyll.”

[1240] fryers] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “freres”—but at v. 1188 it gives “fryers” as the rhyme to “lyers.”

[1241] Though] MS. “There.”

[1242] Preches] MS. “Prechythe.”

[1243] Flatterynge] MS. “And flatyrs.”

[1244] malte] MS. “salte,” and in the next line “malte.”

[1245] to] Not in MS.

[1246] fraude] MS. “fawte.”

[1247] curates to] MS. “curat to to.”

[1248] open tyme and in Lent] MS. “Ester tyde and lente.”

[1249] But] Not in MS.

[1250] it] So other eds. Not in Kele’s ed.

[1251] an] Other eds. “and.”

[1252] hath] MS. “hyt hathe.”

[1253] melottes] MS. “flockes.”

[1254] wyl] MS. “wyll take.”

[1255] grotes] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “grots.”

[1256] of] So MS. Eds. “yf” and “if.”

[1257] from] MS. “or.”

[1258] the raile, and the olde rauen] MS. “a rayle an olde rowen.”

[1259] by Dudum, theyr Clementine] MS. “Bidudum The.”

[1260] they] So MS. Not in eds.

[1261] propreli they ar] MS. “they ar properli.”

[1262] To shryue, assoyle, and reles] MS. “To shewe assoyle and to releas.”

[1263] Margeries] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “Mergeres,”—but previously it has “Margery,” v. 854. MS. “Margaretes.”

[1264] fell] MS. “fyll.”

[1265] therout] MS. “owte.”

[1266] Another Clementyne also, &c.] I suspect some corruption here. In MS. the passage stands thus;

“Another clementyn how frere faby and mo

Exivit,” &c.

[1267] With] So other eds. Kele’s ed “Wit.”

[1268] they] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “the.”

[1269] to] So other eds. and MS. Not in Kele’s ed.

[1270] Al maner of abiections] MS. “Suche maner of subieccōns.”

[1271] affections] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “afflictions.”

[1272] the sayd] MS. “sadde.”

[1273] cases] MS. “cawsys.”

[1274] the sede of graces] MS. “sede of grace.”

[1275] coueytous and ambycyon] MS. “couetus ambyssyon.”

[1276] be] MS. “be bothe.”

[1277] glum] MS. seems to have “mume,” and omits the next line.

[1278] Worsshepfully] So MS. Eds. “Worship” and “Worshyp.”

[1279] Churche] MS. “chyrche.”

[1280] good] Not in MS.

[1281] That counterfaytes, &c.] Kytson’s ed. “The counterfaytes and painets.”

[1282] them lyke] MS. “they lyke.”

[1283] losse] Some eds. “lesse.”

[1284] a peny nor of a crosse] MS. “peny nor of crosse.”

[1285] And] Not in MS.

[1286] to net] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “to the net.”

[1287] royally] MS. “ryally.”

[1288] Stretchynge] MS. “So recchyng.”

[1289] aboute] MS. “apon.”

[1290] Fresshe] MS. “As fresshe.”

[1291] And howe] MS. “Howe god.”

[1292] his] MS. “a.”

[1293] a lege de moy] MS. “a lege moy.”

[1294] And of] So MS. Eds. “And of his.”

[1295] of] Not in MS.

[1296] Nowe] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. and MS. “How.”

[1297] garlantes] MS. “garlondes.”

[1298] That] MS. “This.”

[1299] chambres] So MS. (“chambyrs”). Eds. “chambre.”

[1300] churches] MS. “chyrchys.”

[1301] Churche] MS. “chyrche.”

[1302] They rune agaynst] MS. “The ron ayenste.”

[1303] tellyng] MS. “yellyng,” omitting the following line.

[1304] Yet] MS. “Thus.”

[1305] quenes yellyng] MS. “comyn yellyng.”

[1306] man] Not in MS.

[1307] kyng] So other eds. and MS. (with various spelling.) Kele’s ed. “gyng.” See notes.

[1308] and] MS. “to.”

[1309] verrey] So MS. Not in eds. The following word in MS. “wyll.”

[1310] And whan, &c.] This line not in MS.

[1311] For I rede a] Marshe’s ed. “For I red a.” MS. “I rede by.”

[1312] Cum] So MS. Eds. “Sum.”

[1313] amicare] Altered by the Editor of 1736 to “dimicare.” See notes.

[1314] pravare] MS. “grassari.”

[1315] Wherfore] MS. “Therfor.”

[1316] dothe reporte] So MS. The words have dropt out from the eds.

[1317] That] MS. “How.”

[1318] ye] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “we.”

[1319] Yet] MS. “And yet.”

[1320] so moche] MS. “myche,” giving the two following lines thus,

“As they suppose and gesse

Ye play so at the chesse.”

[1321] estate] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “steate.”

[1322] mell] MS. “neyther melle.”

[1323] take] MS. “to take.”

[1324] For] MS. “More for.”

[1325] of] MS. “all of.”

[1326] roste] So MS. Eds. “rest.”

[1327] Helas, &c.] MS. gives the line thus, “O alas I say alas.”

[1328] a] Not in MS.

[1329] not] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “nat.”

[1330] that] MS. “yet.”

[1331] herke] MS. “harte.”

[1332] at] MS. “all.”

[1333] And] MS. “Or.”

[1334] yet] So MS. Not in eds.

[1335] Nor to expresse] MS. “Not to prese.”

[1336] person] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “parson.” MS. “persone.”

[1337] your consentatyon] Marshe’s ed. “your assentacion.” MS. “george gascone.”

[1338] to hym] Not in MS.

[1339] nor] MS. “or.”

[1340] his] MS. “this.”

[1341] Neyther erle ne duke] MS. “Nowther erle nor duke.”

[1342] Permytted? by] MS. “Now by.”

[1343] wonderous warke] MS. “wonder warke.”

[1344] talke of such vncouthes] MS. “tell veritatem.”

[1345] Agaynst all spirituall] MS. “Ayenste spiritual.”

[1346] hap] MS. “dothe happe.”

[1347] do] MS. “they.”

[1348] And] Not in MS.

[1349] In your convenire] Not in MS.

[1350] stande sure and fast] MS. “stonde faste.”

[1351] take] MS. “make.”

[1352] And] Not in MS.

[1353] those that stande] MS. “thyse that stondyth.”

[1354] But] MS. “But as for.”

[1355] after] MS. “on.”

[1356] Take nowe vpon] Eds. “Take vpon.” MS. “I take nowe vppon.”

[1357] Thus] MS. “Thys.”

[1358] I do it for] So MS. (“hyt”). Eds. “I do it not for.”

[1359] rude] MS. “bothe rude.”

[1360] vertuous] MS. “vertu.”

[1361] those] MS. “they.”

[1362] I] MS. “I do.”

[1363] Nor] MS. “Nor no.”

[1364] I escrye] Marshe’s ed. “of the clargy.”

[1365] yette] So MS. Not in eds.

[1366] them that do] MS. “suche as dothe.”

[1367] rebellyng] MS. “in raylyng.”

[1368] Churche] MS. “chyrche.”

[1369] agaynst] MS. “agayne.”

[1370] despytyng] Eds. (with various spelling) “despysyng.” MS. gives the line thus, “To cawse suche dysputyng.”

[1371] be] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1372] Agaynst] MS. “Ayenste.”

[1373] gramed] Eds. “greued.” MS. “grevyd.” See notes. (Gremed is nearer the trace of the old letters, but Skelton elsewhere has the former spelling.)

[1374] can] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “can not.”

[1375] or] MS. “and.”

[1376] of] Not in MS.

[1377] That] Not in MS.

[1378] And feleth] MS. “Or fele.”

[1379] to] MS. “for to.”

[1380] thynketh] MS. “thynkes.”

[1381] ydeottes] MS. “Idolles.”

[1382] any] MS. “no.”

[1383] But they wold, &c.] This line the MS. gives thus, “But yet they wolde haue no blame,” and omits the following line.

[1384] But] MS. “And.”

[1385] rod] MS. “rede.”

[1386] That nothyng is] MS. “Whyche ys nothyng.”

[1387] euyll] MS. “yll.”

[1388] daunt] MS. “teche.”

[1389] theyr] MS. “theyr grete.”

[1390] losell] MS. “pollshorne.”

[1391] Deuyas] Kytson’s ed. “deuyrs.” Marshe’s ed. “dyuers.”

[1392] of] MS. “on.”

[1393] maters] Kytson’s ed. “matter.” MS. “medlyng.”

[1394] darest] MS. “dar.”

[1395] darest thou, losell] MS. “dar thow lorell.”

[1396] Agaynst ... counsell] MS. “Ayenste ... prevy councell.”

[1397] Auaunt] MS. “Avante avante.”

[1398] wardeyne] Kele’s ed. “wadeyne.” Other eds. and MS. “warden.”

[1399] hym] MS. “them.”

[1400] vyllayne] MS. “polshorne.”

[1401] fre] Not in MS.

[1402] sayes that we are] MS. “seythe we be.”

[1403] mercylesse] MS. “graceles.”

[1404] insaciate] MS. “incessant.”

[1405] Agaynst vs dothe] MS. “Ayenste vs he dothe.”

[1406] And Saynt Mary] MS. “Or at Saynte Marys.”

[1407] They set not by] MS. “Sett nowghte by.”

[1408] whystell] MS. “shetyll,”—which, at least, is a better rhyme.

[1409] for] MS. “all.”

[1410] And] Not in MS.

[1411] carpe vs] MS. “clacke of vs.”

[1412] wyll rule] MS. “ren.”

[1413] or] MS. “and.”

[1414] parcyalyte] Kele’s ed. “paryalyte.” Other eds. and MS. (with various spelling) “parcialite.”

[1415] into] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “to.”

[1416] be] MS. “ar.”

[1417] By the ryght of] MS. “Be hyt ryghte as.”

[1418] To be, &c.] This line not in MS.

[1419] thys] So MS. Eds. “thus.”

[1420] Ye] MS. “The.”

[1421] And] So MS. Not in eds.

[1422] As noble, &c.] This line and the following one stand thus in MS.;

“As nobyll Isay was

The holye prophete ozeas.”

[1423] some] MS. “and som.”

[1424] rule] MS. “rayle.”

[1425] our] So MS. (“ower”). Eds. “your.”

[1426] of Cyuyll] MS. “wyll.”

[1427] Diuine] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “diuinite.” The line in MS stands thus; “Or of domynicke or doctour oryll.”

[1428] rough] Not in MS.

[1429] Renne God, &c.] This line thus in MS.; “Ryn god or ryn devyll.”

[1430] Renne ... renne] MS. “Ryn ... ryn.”

[1431] take all the rest] MS. “them take there reste.”

[1432] We] MS. “For we.”

[1433] to] Not in MS.

[1434] Saduces] Kele’s ed. “seduces.” Other eds. “saducies.” MS. “Adasayes,” omitting the following line.

[1435] Whiche] MS. “Wyttes.”

[1436] determyned] So MS. Eds. (with various spelling) “determyne.”

[1437] semeth] MS. “semys.”

[1438] wyll] MS. “wyll not.”

[1439] ne] MS. “nor yet.”

[1440] scrolles] Not in MS.

[1441] As well, &c.] This line not in MS.

[1442] it] Not in MS.

[1443] Of] MS. “And.”

[1444] And] So MS. Eds. “That.”

[1445] stere] So MS. Eds. “pere.”

[1446] salu] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “sauel.”

[1447] and] MS. “and to.”

[1448] that] Not in MS.

[1449] Amen] Not in Marshe’s ed. In MS. the word is followed by “quod Collyn Clowte.”

[1450] perfecto] After this MS. has “qd Sceltonyus lawreatus.”

[1451] Colinus Cloutus, &c.] These verses, not in eds., follow the poem of Colyn Cloute in the Harleian MS. The corruptions in the second and third lines (distinguished by Roman letter) have baffled the ingenuity of the several scholars to whom I submitted them.

[1452] mea] MS. “mori.”

[1453] stultis] MS. “stulte.”

[1454] flamine flatis] MS. “flamina faltis.” Compare p. 223, last line but one.

[1455] refert] MS. “referte.”

[1456] Laurus] MS. “lauruus.”

[1457] torpet] MS. “tropet.”

---

A RYGHT DELECTABLE TRATYSE VPON A GOODLY
GARLANDE OR CHAPELET OF LAURELL,[1458]
BY MAYSTER SKELTON, POETE LAUREAT, STUDYOUSLY DYUYSED AT SHERYFHOTTON CASTELL, IN THE FORESTE OF GALTRES, WHEREIN AR COMPRYSYDE MANY AND DYUERS SOLACYONS AND RYGHT PREGNANT ALLECTYUES OF SYNGULAR PLEASURE, AS MORE AT LARGE IT DOTH APERE IN THE PROCES FOLOWYNGE.

Eterno mansura die dum sidera fulgent,

Æquora dumque tument, hæc laurea nostra virebit:

Hinc nostrum celebre et nomen referetur ad astra,

Undique Skeltonis memorabitur alter Adonis.

Arectyng my syght towarde the zodyake,

The sygnes xii for to beholde a farre,

When Mars retrogradant[1459] reuersyd his bak,

Lorde of the yere in his orbicular,[1460]

Put vp his sworde, for he cowde make no warre,

And whan Lucina plenarly[1461] did shyne,

Scorpione ascendynge degrees twyse nyne;

In place alone then musynge in my thought

How all thynge passyth as doth the somer flower,

On[1462] euery halfe my reasons forthe I sought, 10

How oftyn fortune varyeth in an howre,

Now clere wether, forthwith a stormy showre;

All thynge compassyd, no perpetuyte,

But now in welthe, now in aduersyte.

So depely drownyd I was in this dumpe,

Encraumpysshed so sore was my conceyte,

That, me to rest, I lent me to a stumpe

Of an oke, that somtyme grew full streyghte,

A myghty tre and of a noble heyght,

Whose bewte blastyd was with the boystors wynde, 20

His leuis loste, the sappe was frome the rynde.

Thus stode I in the frytthy forest of Galtres,

Ensowkid with sylt[1463] of the myry mose,

Where hartis belluyng, embosyd with distres,

Ran on the raunge so longe, that I suppose

Few men can tell now[1464] where the hynde calfe gose;

Faire fall that forster[1465] that so well[1466] can bate his hownde!

But of my purpose[1467] now torne we to the grownde.

Whylis I stode musynge in this medytatyon,

In slumbrynge I fell[1468] and halfe in a slepe; 30

And whether it were of ymagynacyon,

Or of humors superflue, that often wyll crepe

Into the brayne by drynkyng ouer depe,

Or it procedyd of fatall persuacyon,

I can not wele tell[1469] you what was the occasyon;

But sodeynly at ones, as I me aduysed,[1470]

As one in a trans or in an extasy,

I sawe a pauylyon wondersly[1471] disgysede,

Garnysshed fresshe after my fantasy,

Enhachyde with perle and stones preciously, 40

The grounde engrosyd and bet with bourne golde,

That passynge goodly it was to beholde:

Within it,[1472] a prynces excellente of porte;

But to recounte her ryche abylyment,

And what estates to her did resorte,

Therto am I full insuffycyent;

A goddesse inmortall[1473] she dyd represente;

As I harde say, dame Pallas was her name;

To whome supplyed the royall Quene of Fame.[1474]

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Prynces moost pusant, of hygh preemynence, 50

Renownyd[1475] lady aboue the sterry heuyn,

All other transcendyng, of very congruence

Madame regent of the scyence[1476] seuyn,

To whos astate all noblenes most lenen,[1477]

My supplycacyon to you I arrect,

Whereof I beseche[1478] you to tender the effecte.

Not[1479] vnremembered it is vnto your grace,

How you gaue me a ryall[1480] commaundement

That in my courte Skelton shulde haue a place,

Bycause that his tyme he[1481] studyously hath spent 60

In your seruyce; and, to the accomplysshement

Of your request, regestred is his name

With laureate tryumphe in the courte of Fame.

But, good madame, the accustome and vsage

Of auncient poetis, ye wote full wele, hath bene

Them selfe to embesy[1482] with all there holl corage,

So that there workis myght famously be sene,

In figure wherof they were the[1483] laurell grene;

But how it is, Skelton is wonder slake,

And, as we dare, we fynde in hym grete lake:[1484] 70

For, ne were onely he hath your promocyon,

Out of my bokis full sone I shulde hym rase;

But sith he hath tastid of the sugred[1485] pocioun

Of Elyconis[1486] well, refresshid with your grace,

And wyll not[1487] endeuour hymselfe to purchase

The fauour of ladys with wordis electe,

It is sittynge that ye must hym correct.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

The sum of your purpose, as we ar aduysid,[1488]

Is that[1489] our seruaunt is sum what to dull;

Wherin this answere for hym we haue comprisid, 80

How ryuers rin not[1490] tyll the spryng be full;

Better[1491] a dum mouthe than a brainles scull;

For if he gloryously pullishe[1492] his matter,

Then men wyll say how he doth but flatter;

And if so[1493] hym fortune to wryte true and plaine,

As sumtyme he must vyces remorde,

Then sum wyll say he hath but lyttill brayne,

And how his wordes with reason wyll not[1494] accorde;[1495]

Beware, for wrytyng remayneth of recorde;

Displease not an hundreth[1496] for one mannes pleasure; 90

Who wryteth wysely hath a grete treasure.

Also, to furnisshe better his excuse,

Ouyde was bannisshed for suche a skyll,

And many mo whome I cowde enduce;

Iuuenall was thret parde for to kyll

For certayne enuectyfys,[1497] yet wrote[1498] he none ill,

Sauynge he rubbid sum vpon[1499] the gall;

It was not[1500] for hym to abyde[1501] the tryall.

In generrall wordes, I say not gretely nay,

A poete somtyme may for his pleasure taunt, 100

Spekyng in parablis,[1502] how the fox, the grey,

The gander, the gose, and the hudge oliphaunt,

Went with the pecok ageyne[1503] the fesaunt;

The lesarde came lepyng, and sayd that he must,

With helpe of the ram, ley all in the dust.

Yet dyuerse ther[1504] be, industryous of reason,

Sum what wolde gadder in there coniecture[1505]

Of suche an endarkid chapiter sum season;

How be it, it were harde to construe this lecture;

Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture; 110

Another manes mynde diffuse is to expounde;

Yet harde is to make but sum fawt be founde.

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Madame, with fauour of your benynge sufferaunce,

Vnto your grace then make I this motyue;

Whereto made ye me hym to auaunce

Vnto the rowme of laureat promotyue?

Or wherto shulde he haue that[1506] prerogatyue,

But if he had made sum memoryall,

Wherby he myght haue a name inmortall?[1507]

To pas the tyme in slowthfull ydelnes, 120

Of your royall palace it is not[1508] the gyse,

But to do sumwhat iche man doth hym dres:

For how shulde Cato els be callyd wyse,

But that his bokis, whiche he did deuyse,

Recorde the same? or why is had in mynde

Plato, but for that he[1509] left wrytynge behynde,

For men to loke on? Aristotille also,

Of phylosophers callid the princypall,

Olde Diogenes, with other many mo,

Demostenes,[1510] that oratour royall, 130

That gaue[1511] Eschines suche a cordyall,

That bannisshed was he by[1512] his proposicyoun,

Ageyne[1513] whome he cowde make no contradiccyoun?

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

Soft, my good syster,[1514] and make there a pawse:[1515]

And was Eschines rebukid as ye say?

Remembre you wele, poynt wele that clause;

Wherfore then rasid ye not[1516] away

His name? or why is it, I you praye,

That he to your courte is goyng and commynge,

Sith he is slaundred[1517] for defaut of konnyng? 140

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

Madame, your apposelle[1518] is wele inferrid,

And at your auauntage[1519] quikly it is

Towchid, and hard for to be debarrid;[1520]

Yet shall I answere your grace as in this,

With your reformacion, if I say amis,

For, but if your bounte did me assure,

Myne argument els koude not[1521] longe endure.

As towchyng that Eschines is remembred,

That he so sholde be, me semith it sittyng,[1522]

All be it grete parte he hath surrendred 150

Of his onour,[1523] whos dissuasyue in wrytyng

To corage Demostenes was moche excitynge,

In settyng out fresshely his crafty persuacyon,

From whiche Eschines had none euacyon.

The cause why Demostenes so famously is brutid,

Onely procedid for that he did outray

Eschines, whiche was not[1524] shamefully confutid

But of that famous oratour, I say,

Whiche passid all other; wherfore I may

Among my recordes suffer hym namyd, 160

For though[1525] he were venquesshid, yet was he not[1526] shamyd:

As Ierome,[1527] in his preamble Frater Ambrosius,

Frome that I haue sayde in no poynt doth vary,

Wherein[1528] he reporteth of the coragius

Wordes that were moch consolatory

By Eschines rehersed to the grete glory

Of Demostenes, that was his vtter foo:

Few shall ye fynde or none that wyll do so.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

A thanke to haue, ye haue well deseruyd,

Your mynde that can maynteyne so apparently; 170

But a grete parte yet[1529] ye haue reseruyd

Of that most folow then conseqently,

Or els ye demeane you inordinatly;

For if ye laude hym whome honour hath opprest,

Then he that doth worste is as good as the best.

But whome that ye fauoure, I se well, hath a name,

Be he neuer so lytell of substaunce,

And whome ye loue not[1530] ye wyll[1531] put to shame;

Ye counterwey not euynly your balaunce;

As wele foly as wysdome oft ye do[1532] avaunce: 180

For[1533] reporte ryseth many deuerse wayes:

Sume be moche spokyn of for makynge of frays;

Some haue a name for thefte and brybery;

Some be called crafty, that can pyke[1534] a purse;

Some men be made of for their[1535] mokery;

Some carefull cokwoldes, some haue theyr wyues curs;

Some famous wetewoldis, and they be moche wurs;

Some lidderons,[1536] some losels, some noughty packis;

Some facers, some bracers, some[1537] make great crackis;

Some dronken dastardis with their dry soules; 190

Some sluggyssh slouyns, that slepe day and nyght;

Ryot and Reuell be in your courte rowlis;

Maintenaunce and Mischefe, theis be men of myght;

Extorcyon is counted with you for a knyght;

Theis people by me haue none assignement,

Yet they ryde and rinne[1538] from Carlyll to Kente.

But lytell or nothynge ye shall[1539] here tell

Of them that haue vertue by reason of cunnyng,

Whiche souerenly in honoure shulde excell;

Men of suche maters make but a[1540] mummynge, 200

For wysdome and sadnesse be set out[1541] a sunnyng;

And suche of my seruauntes as I haue promotyd,

One faute or other in them shalbe notyd:

Eyther they wyll[1542] say he is to wyse,

Or elles he can nought bot whan he is at scole;

Proue his wytt, sayth he, at cardes or dyce,

And ye shall well fynde[1543] he is a very fole;

Twyshe,[1544] set hym a chare, or reche hym a stole,[1545]

To syt hym[1546] vpon, and rede Iacke a thrummis bybille,

For truly it were pyte that he sat ydle. 210

The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.

To make repungnaunce agayne that ye haue sayde,

Of very dwte it may not[1547] well accorde,

But your benynge sufferaunce for my discharge I laid,

For that I wolde not with you fall at discorde;

But yet I beseche[1548] your grace that good[1549] recorde

May be brought forth, suche as can be founde,

With laureat tryumphe why Skelton sholde be crownde;

For elles it were to great a derogacyon

Vnto your palas, our noble courte of Fame,

That any man vnder supportacyon 220

Withoute deseruynge shulde haue the best game:

If he to the ample encrease of his name

Can lay any werkis that he hath compylyd,

I am contente that he be not[1550] exylide

Frome the laureat senate by force of proscripcyon;

Or elles, ye know well, I can do no lesse

But I most bannysshe hym frome my iurydiccyon,[1551]

As he that aquentyth hym with ydilnes;

But if that he purpose to make a redresse,

What he hath done, let it be brought to syght; 230

Graunt my petycyon, I aske you but ryght.

Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.

To your request we be well condiscendid:

Call forthe, let se where is your clarionar,

To blowe a blaste with his long breth extendid;

Eolus, your trumpet, that[1552] knowne is so farre,

That bararag blowyth in euery mercyall warre,

Let hym blowe now, that we may take a[1553] vewe

What poetis we haue at our retenewe;

To se if Skelton wyll[1554] put hymselfe in prease

Amonge the thickeste of all the hole rowte; 240

Make noyse enoughe, for claterars loue no peas;

Let se, my syster, now spede you,[1555] go aboute;

Anone, I sey, this trumpet were founde out,

And for no man hardely let hym spare

To blowe bararag[1556] tyll bothe his eyne stare.

Skelton Poeta.

Forthwith there rose amonge the thronge

A wonderfull noyse, and on euery syde

They presid in faste; some thought they were to longe;

Sume were to hasty, and wold no man byde;

Some whispred, some rownyd, some spake, and some cryde, 250

With heuynge and shouynge, haue in and haue oute;

Some ranne the nexte way, sume ranne abowte.

There was suyng to the Quene of Fame;

He plucked hym backe, and he went afore;

Nay, holde thy tunge, quod another, let me haue the name;

Make rowme, sayd another, ye prese all to sore;

Sume sayd, Holde thy peas, thou getest here no more;

A thowsande thowsande I sawe on a plumpe:

With that I harde the noyse of a trumpe,

That longe tyme blewe a full timorous blaste, 260

Lyke to the boryall wyndes whan they blowe,

That towres and townes and trees downe caste,

Droue clowdes together lyke dryftis of snowe;

The dredefull dinne droue all the rowte on a rowe;

Some tremblid, some girnid, some gaspid, some gasid,

As people halfe peuysshe, or men that were masyd.

Anone all was whyste, as it were for the nonys,

And iche man stode gasyng and staryng vpon other:

With that there come in wonderly at ones

A murmur of mynstrels, that suche another 270

Had I neuer sene, some softer, some lowder;

Orpheus, the Traciane, herped meledyously

Weth Amphion, and other Musis of Archady:

Whos heuenly armony was so passynge sure,

So truely proporsionyd, and so well did gree,

So duly entunyd with euery mesure,

That in the forest was none so great a tre

But that he daunced for ioye of that gle;

The huge myghty okes them selfe dyd auaunce,

And lepe frome the hylles to lerne for to daunce: 280

In so moche the stumpe, whereto I me lente,

Sterte all at ones an hundrethe[1557] fote backe:

With that I sprange vp towarde the tent

Of noble Dame Pallas, wherof I spake;

Where I sawe come[1558] after, I wote, full lytell lake

Of a thousande poetes assembled togeder:

But Phebus was formest of all that cam theder;

Of laurell leuis a cronell on his hede,

With heris encrisped[1559] yalowe[1560] as the golde,

Lamentyng Daphnes, whome with the darte of lede 290

Cupyde hath stryken so that she ne wolde

Concente to Phebus to haue his herte in holde,

But, for to preserue her maidenhode[1561] clene,

Transformyd was she into the laurell grene.

Meddelyd with murnynge[1562] the moost parte of his muse,

O thoughtfull herte, was euermore his songe!

Daphnes, my derlynge, why do you me refuse?

Yet loke on me, that louyd you haue so longe,

Yet haue compassyon vpon my paynes stronge:

He sange also how, the tre as he did take 300

Betwene his armes, he felt her body quake.

Then he assurded into this[1563] exclamacyon

Vnto Diana, the goddes inmortall;[1564]

O mercyles madame, hard is your constellacyon,

So close to kepe your cloyster virgynall,

Enhardid adyment the sement of your wall!

Alas, what ayle you to be so ouerthwhart,

To bannysshe pyte out of a maydens harte?

Why haue the goddes shewyd me this cruelte,

Sith I contryuyd first princyples medycynable? 310

I helpe all other of there infirmite,

But now to helpe myselfe I am not able;

That profyteth all other is nothynge profytable

Vnto me; alas, that herbe nor gresse[1565]

The feruent axes of loue can not represse!

O fatall fortune, what haue I offendid?

Odious disdayne, why raist thou me on this facyon?

But sith I haue lost now that I entended,

And may not[1566] atteyne it by no medyacyon,

Yet, in remembraunce of Daphnes transformacyon, 320

All famous poetis ensuynge after me

Shall were a garlande of the laurell tre.

This sayd, a great nowmber folowyd by and by

Of poetis laureat of many dyuerse nacyons;

Parte of there names I thynke to specefye:

Fyrste, olde Quintiliane with his Declamacyons;[1567]

Theocritus with his bucolycall relacyons;

Esiodus, the iconomicar,[1568]

And Homerus, the fresshe historiar;

Prynce of eloquence, Tullius Cicero, 330

With Salusty[1569] ageinst Lucius Catelyne,

That wrote the history of Iugurta also;

Ouyde, enshryned with the Musis nyne;

But blessed Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne,

Of closters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1570]

These orators and poetes refresshed there throtis;

Lucan,[1571] with Stacius in Achilliedos;

Percius presed forth with problemes diffuse;

Virgill the Mantuan, with his Eneidos;

Iuuenall satirray, that men makythe to muse; 340

But blessed Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne,

Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotes

These orators and poetes refreshed their throtes;

There Titus Lyuius hymselfe dyd auaunce

With decadis historious, whiche that he mengith[1572]

With maters that amount the Romayns in substaunce;

Enyus, that wrate[1573] of mercyall war at lengthe;

But blessyd Bachus, potenciall god of strengthe,

Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy flotis[1574]

Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis; 350

Aulus Gelius, that noble historiar;

Orace also with his new poetry;

Mayster Terence, the famous comicar,[1575]

With Plautus, that wrote full[1576] many a comody;

But blessyd Bachus was in there company,

Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1577]

Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis;

Senek full soberly with[1578] his tragediis;

Boyce, recounfortyd[1579] with his philosophy;

And Maxymyane, with his madde ditiis, 360

How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly;

But blessyd Bachus most reuerent and holy,

Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy flotis[1580]

Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis;

There came Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete;

Quintus Cursius,[1581] full craftely that wrate

Of Alexander; and Macrobius that did trete

Of Scipions dreme what was the treu probate;

But blessyd Bachus that neuer man forgate,

Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1582] 370

These orators and poetis refresshid ther throtis;

Poggeus also, that famous Florentine,

Mustred ther amonge them with many a mad tale;

With a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne,

That frownyd[1583] on me full angerly and pale;

But blessyd Bachus, that bote is of all bale,

Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1584]

Theis orators and poetis refresshid there throtis;

Plutarke and Petrarke, two famous clarkis;

Lucilius and Valerius Maximus by name; 380

With Vincencius in Speculo, that wrote noble warkis;

Propercius and Pisandros, poetis of noble fame;

But blissed Bachus, that mastris oft doth frame,

Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1585]

Theis notable poetis refresshid there throtis.

And as I thus sadly amonge them auysid,[1586]

I saw Gower, that first garnisshed our Englysshe rude,

And maister Chaucer, that nobly enterprysyd

How that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed;[1587]

The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd, 390

Dane Johnn Lydgate: theis Englysshe poetis thre,

As I ymagenyd, repayrid vnto me,

Togeder in armes, as brethern, enbrasid;

There apparell farre passynge beyonde that I can tell;

With diamauntis and rubis there tabers[1588] were trasid,

None so ryche stones in Turkey to sell;

Thei wantid nothynge but the laurell;

And of there bounte they made me godely chere,

In maner and forme as ye shall after here.

Mayster Gower to Skelton.

Brother Skelton, your endeuorment 400

So haue ye done, that meretoryously

Ye haue deseruyd to haue an enplement

In our collage aboue the sterry sky,

Bycause that ye[1589] encrese and amplyfy

The brutid Britons of Brutus Albion,

That welny[1590] was loste when that we were gone.

Poeta Skelton[1591] to Maister Gower.

Maister Gower, I haue nothyng deserued

To haue so laudabyle a commendacion:

To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued,

Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion 410

How all that I do is vnder refformation,

For only the substance of that I entend,

Is glad to please, and loth to offend.

Mayster Chaucer to Skelton.[1592]

Counterwayng your besy delygence

Of that we beganne in the supplement,

Enforcid ar we you to recompence,

Of all our hooll collage by the agreament,

That we shall brynge you personally present

Of noble Fame before the Quenes grace,

In whose court poynted is your place. 420

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

O noble Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquence

Oure Englysshe rude so fresshely hath set out,

That bounde ar we with all deu reuerence,

With all our strength that we can brynge about,

To owe to yow our seruyce, and more if we mowte!

But what sholde I say? ye wote what I entende,

Whiche glad am to please, and loth to offende.

Mayster Lydgate to Skelton.

So am I preuentid of my brethern tweyne

In rendrynge to you thankkis meritory,

That welny[1593] nothynge there doth remayne 430

Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory,

But that I poynt you to be prothonatory[1594]

Of Fames court, by all our holl assent

Auaunced by Pallas to laurell preferment.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd,

Mayster Lidgate, of your accustomable

Bownte, and so gloryously ye haue enrollyd

My name, I know well, beyonde that I am able,

That but if my warkes therto be agreable,

I am elles rebukyd of that I intende, 440

Which glad am to please, and lothe to offende.

So finally, when they had shewyd there deuyse,

Vnder the forme as I sayd tofore,[1595]

I made it straunge, and drew bak ones or twyse,

And euer they presed on me more and more,

Tyll at the last they forcyd me so[1596] sore,

That with them I went where they wolde me brynge,

Vnto the pauylyon where Pallas was syttyng.

Dame Pallas commaundid that they shold me conuay

Into the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame; 450

There shal he here what she wyl to hym[1597] say

When he is callid to answere to his name:

A cry anone forthwith she made proclame,

All orators and poetis shulde thider go before,

With all the prese that there was lesse and more.

Forthwith, I say, thus wandrynge[1598] in my thought,

How it was, or elles within what howris,

I can not[1599] tell you, but that I was brought

Into a palace with turrettis and towris,

Engolerid[1600] goodly with hallis and bowris, 460

So curiously, so craftely, so connyngly wrowght,

That all the worlde,[1601] I trowe, and it were sought,

Suche an other there coude no man fynde;

Wherof partely I purpose to expounde,

Whyles it remanyth fresshe in my mynde.

With turkis and grossolitis enpauyd was the grounde;

Of birrall enbosid wer the pyllers rownde;

Of elephantis tethe were the palace gatis,

Enlosenged with many goodly platis

Of golde, entachid with many a precyous stone; 470

An hundred steppis mountyng to the halle,

One of iasper, another of whalis bone;

Of dyamauntis pointed was the rokky[1602] wall;

The carpettis within and tappettis of pall;

The chambres hangid with clothes of arace;

Enuawtyd with rubies the vawte was of this place.

Thus passid we forth walkynge vnto the pretory

Where the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy blew,

Englasid glittering with many a clere story;

Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew: 480

Vnto this place all poetis there did sue,

Wherin was set of Fame the noble Quene,

All other transcendynge, most rychely besene,

Vnder a gloryous cloth of astate,

Fret all with orient perlys of Garnate,

Encrownyd as empresse of all this worldly[1603] fate,

So ryally, so rychely, so passyngly ornate,

It was excedyng byyonde the commowne rate:

This hous enuyrowne was a myle about;

If xii were let in, xii hundreth[1604] stode without. 490

Then to this lady and souerayne of this palace

Of purseuantis ther presid in with many a[1605] dyuerse tale;

Some were of Poyle, and sum were of Trace,

Of Lymerik, of Loreine, of Spayne, of Portyngale,[1606]

Frome Napuls, from Nauern, and from Rounceuall,

Some from Flaunders, sum fro the se coste,

Some from the mayne lande, some fro the Frensche hoste:

With, How doth the north? what tydyngis in the sowth?

The west is wyndy, the est is metely wele;

It is harde to tell of euery mannes mouthe; 500

A slipper holde the taile is of an ele,

And he haltith often that hath a kyby hele;

Some shewid his salfecundight,[1607] some shewid his charter,[1608]

Some lokyd full smothely, and had a fals quarter;[1609]

With, Sir, I pray you, a lytyll tyne stande backe,

And lette me come in to delyuer my lettre;

Another tolde how shyppes wente to wrak;

There were many wordes smaller and gretter,

With, I as good as thou, Ifayth and no better;

Some came to tell treuth, some came to lye, 510

Some came[1610] to flater, some came to spye:

There were, I say, of all maner of sortis,

Of Dertmouth, of Plummouth, of Portismouth also;

The burgeis and the ballyuis of the v portis,

With, Now let me come, and now let me go:

And all tyme wandred I thus to and fro,

Tyll at the last theis noble poetis thre

Vnto me sayd, Lo, syr, now ye may se

Of this high courte the dayly besines;

From you most we, but not[1611] longe to tary; 520

Lo, hither commyth a goodly maystres,

Occupacyon, Famys regestary,

Whiche shall be to you a sufferayne accessary,

With syngular pleasurs to dryue away the tyme,

And we shall se you ageyne or it be pryme.

When they were past and wente forth on there way,

This gentilwoman, that callyd was by name

Occupacyon, in ryght goodly aray,

Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game;

I sawe hir smyle, and I then[1612] did the same; 530

With that on me she kest[1613] her goodly loke;

Vnder her arme, me thought, she hade a boke.

Occupacyoun to Skelton.

Lyke as the larke, vpon the somers day,

Whan Titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght,

Mountith on hy with her melodious lay,

Of the soneshyne engladid with the lyght,

So am I supprysyd with pleasure and delyght

To se this howre now, that I may say,

How ye ar welcome to this court of aray.

Of your aqueintaunce I was in tymes past, 540

Of studyous doctryne when at the port salu

Ye[1614] fyrste aryuyd; whan broken was your mast

Of worldly trust, then did I you rescu;

Your storme dryuen shyppe I repared new,

So well entakeled, what wynde that[1615] euer blowe,

No stormy tempeste your barge shall ouerthrow.

Welcome to me as hertely as herte can thynke,

Welcome to me with all my hole desyre!

And for my sake spare neyther pen nor ynke;

Be well assurid I shall aquyte your hyre, 550

Your name recountynge beyonde the lande of Tyre,

From Sydony to the mount Olympyan,

Frome Babill towre to the hillis Caspian.[1616]

Skelton Poeta answeryth.

I thanked her moche of her most noble offer,

Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunce

For her pleasure to make a large profer,

Enpryntyng her wordes in my remembraunce,

To owe her my seruyce with true perseueraunce.

Come on with me, she sayd, let vs not stonde;[1617]

And with that worde she toke me by the honde. 560

So passyd we forthe into the forsayd place,

With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde;

And then she sayd, Whylis we haue tyme and space

To walke where we lyst, let vs somwhat fynde

To pas the tyme with, but let vs wast no wynde,

For ydle iangelers haue but lytill braine;

Wordes be swordes, and hard to call ageine.

Into a felde she brought me wyde and large,

Enwallyd aboute with the stony flint,

Strongly enbateld, moche costious of charge: 570

To walke on this walle she bed I sholde not[1618] stint;

Go softly, she sayd, the stones be full glint.

She went before, and bad me take good holde:

I sawe a thowsande yatis new and olde.

Then questionyd I her what thos[1619] yatis ment;

Wherto she answeryd, and breuely me tolde,

How from the est vnto the occident,

And from the sowth vnto the north so colde,

Theis yatis, she sayd, which that ye beholde,

Be issuis and portis from all maner of nacyons; 580

And seryously she shewyd me ther denominacyons.

They had wrytyng, sum Greke, sum Ebrew,

Some Romaine letters, as I vnderstode;

Some were olde wryten, sum were writen new,

Some carectis of Caldy, sum Frensshe was full good;

But one gate specyally, where as I stode,

Had grauin in it of calcydony a capytall A;

What yate[1620] call ye this? and she sayd, Anglia.[1621]

The beldynge therof was passynge commendable;

Wheron stode a lybbard, crownyd with golde and stones, 590

Terrible of countenaunce and passynge formydable,

As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones,

As gastly that glaris, as grimly that gronis,

As fersly frownynge as he had ben fyghtyng,

And with his forme foote he shoke forthe this wrytyng:

Cacosinthicon[1622] ex industria.

Formidanda nimis Jovis ultima fulmina tollis:

Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvis

Quam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno;

Arma, lues, luctus, fel, vis, fraus, barbara tellus;

Mille modis erras odium tibi quærere Martis: 600

Spreto spineto cedat saliunca roseto.

Then I me lent, and loked ouer the wall:

Innumerable people presed to euery gate;

Shet were the gatis; thei might wel knock and cal,

And turne home ageyne, for they cam al to late.

I her demaunded of them and ther astate:

Forsothe, quod she, theys be haskardis[1623] and rebawdis,

Dysers, carders, tumblars with gambawdis,

Furdrers of loue, with baudry aqueinted,

Brainles blenkardis that blow at the cole, 610

Fals forgers of mony, for kownnage[1624] atteintid,

Pope holy ypocrytis, as they were golde and hole,

Powle hatchettis, that prate wyll[1625] at euery ale pole,

Ryot, reueler, railer, brybery, theft,

With other condycyons that well myght be left:

Sume fayne themselfe folys, and wolde be callyd wyse,

Sum medelynge spyes, by craft to grope thy mynde,

Sum dysdanous dawcokkis that all men dispyse,

Fals flaterers that fawne thé, and kurris of kynde

That speke fayre before thé and shrewdly behynde; 620

Hither they come crowdyng to get them a name,

But hailid they be homwarde with sorow and shame.

With that I herd gunnis russhe out at ones,

Bowns, bowns, bowns! that all they out cryde;

It made sum lympe legged and broisid there bones;

Sum were made peuysshe, porisshly pynk iyde,

That euer more after by it they were aspyid;

And one ther was there, I wondred of his hap,

For a gun stone, I say, had all to-iaggid[1626] his cap,

Raggid, and daggid, and cunnyngly cut; 630

The blaste of the byrnston[1627] blew away his brayne;

Masid as a marche hare, he ran lyke a scut;

And, sir, amonge all me thought I saw twaine,

The one was a tumblar, that afterwarde againe

Of a dysour, a deuyl way, grew a ientilman,

Pers Prater, the secund, that[1628] quarillis beganne;

With a pellit of peuisshenes they had suche a stroke,

That all the dayes of ther lyfe shall styck by ther rybbis:

Foo, foisty bawdias! sum smellid of the smoke;

I saw dyuers that were cariid away thens in cribbis, 640

Dasyng after dotrellis, lyke drunkardis that dribbis;

Theis titiuyllis[1629] with taumpinnis wer towchid and tappid;

Moche mischefe, I hyght you, amonge theem ther happid.

Sometyme, as it semyth, when the mone light

By meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowde

Sodenly is eclipsid in the wynter night,

In lyke maner of wyse a myst did vs shrowde;

But wele may ye thynk I was no thyng prowde

Of that auenturis, whiche made me sore agast.

In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last 650

The clowdis gan[1630] to clere, the myst was rarifiid:

In an herber[1631] I saw, brought where I was,

There birdis on the brere sange on euery syde;

With alys ensandid about in compas,

The bankis enturfid with singular solas,

Enrailid with rosers, and vinis engrapid;

It was a new comfort of sorowis escapid.

In the middis a coundight,[1632] that coryously[1633] was cast,

With pypes of golde engusshing out stremes;

Of cristall the clerenes theis waters far past, 660

Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis, and bremis,

Whose skales[1634] ensilured again the son beames

Englisterd, that ioyous it was to beholde.

Then furthermore aboute me my syght I reuolde,

Where I saw growyng a goodly laurell tre,

Enuerdurid with leuis[1635] contynually grene;

Aboue in the top a byrde of Araby,

Men call a phenix; her wynges bytwene

She bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full kene

With braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue, 670

Oliva speciosa in campis. Nota[1636] excellentiam virtutis in oliva.

Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyue

Ageynst all infeccyons with cancour[1637] enflamyd,

Ageynst all baratows broisiours of olde,

It passid all bawmys that euer were namyd,

Or gummis of Saby so derely that be solde:

There blew in that gardynge a soft piplyng colde

Enbrethyng of Zepherus with his pleasant wynde;

All frutis and[1638] flowris grew there in there kynde.

Dryades there daunsid vpon that goodly soile,

With[1639] the nyne Muses, Pierides by name; 680

Phillis and Testalis,[1640] ther tressis with oyle

Were newly enbybid; and rownd about the same

Grene tre of laurell moche solacyous game

They made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene;

And formest of all dame Flora, the quene

Of somer, so formally she fotid the daunce;

There Cintheus sat twynklyng vpon his harpe stringis;

And Iopas his instrument did auaunce,

The poemis and storis auncient inbryngis

Of Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis, 690

Of wandryng of the mone, the course of the sun,

Of men and of bestis, and whereof they begone,

What thynge occasionyd the showris of rayne,

Of fyre elementar in his supreme spere,

And of that pole artike whiche doth remayne

Behynde the taile of Vrsa so clere;

Of Pliades he prechid with ther drowsy chere,

Immoysturid with mislyng and ay droppyng dry,

And where the two Trions[1641] a man shold aspy,

And of the winter days that hy them so fast, 700

And of the wynter nyghtes that tary so longe,

And of the somer days so longe that doth[1642] last,

And of their shorte nyghtes; he browght in his songe

How wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge:

There was counteryng of carollis in meter and[1643] verse

So many, that longe it[1644] were to reherse.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

How say ye? is this after your appetite?

May this contente you and your mirry mynde?

Here dwellith pleasure, with lust and delyte;

Contynuall comfort here ye may fynde, 710

Of welth and solace no thynge left behynde;

All thynge conuenable[1645] here is contryuyd,[1646]

Wherewith your spiritis may be reuyuid.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

Questionles no dowte of that ye say;

Jupiter hymselfe this lyfe myght endure;

This ioy excedith all worldly[1647] sport and play,

Paradyce this place is of syngular pleasure:

O wele were hym that herof myght be sure,

And here to inhabite and ay for to dwell!

But, goodly maystres, one thynge ye me tell. 720

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Of your demawnd shew me the content,

What it is, and where vpon it standis;

And if there be in it any thyng ment,

Wherof the answere restyth in my[1648] handis,

It shall be losyd[1649] ful sone out of the bandis

Of scrupulus[1650] dout; wherfore your mynde discharge,

And of your wyll the plainnes shew at large.

Poeta Skelton answeryth.

I thanke you, goodly maystres, to me most benynge,

That of your bounte so well haue me assurid;

But my request is not[1651] so great a thynge, 730

That I ne force what though[1652] it be discurid;

I am not[1653] woundid but that I may be cured;

I am not ladyn of liddyrnes with lumpis,

As dasid doterdis that dreme in their dumpis.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Nowe what ye mene, I trow I coniect;

Gog[1654] gyue you good yere, ye make me to smyle;

Now, be[1655] your faith, is not[1656] this theffect[1657]

Of your questyon ye make all this whyle,

To vnderstande who dwellyth in yone[1658] pile,

And what blunderar is yonder that playth didil diddil? 740

He fyndith fals mesuris out[1659] of his fonde fiddill.

Interpolata,[1660] quæ industriosum postulat[1661] interpretem, satira in vatis adversarium.

Tressis agasonis species prior, altera Davi:

Aucupium culicis, limis dum torquet ocellum,

Concipit, aligeras rapit, appetit,[1662] aspice, muscas!

Nota Alchimaiam et 7 metalla.

Maia quæque fovet, fovet aut quæ Jupiter, aut quæ

Frigida Saturnus, Sol, Mars, Venus, algida Luna,

Si tibi contingat verbo aut committere scripto,

Quam sibi mox tacita sudant præcordia culpa!

Hinc ruit in flammas, stimulans[1663] hunc urget et illum,

Invocat ad rixas, vanos tamen excitat ignes, 750

Labra movens tacitus, rumpantur ut ilia Codro.

17.	4.	7.	2.	17.	5.	18.
18.	19.	1.	19.	8.	5.	12.

His name for to know if that ye lyst,

Enuyous Rancour truely he hight:

Beware of hym, I warne you; for and[1664] ye wist

How daungerous it were to stande in his lyght[1665],

Ye wolde not[1666] dele with hym, thowgh[1667] that ye myght,

For by his deuellysshe drift and graceles prouision

An hole reame[1668] he is able to set at deuysion:

For when he spekyth fayrest, then thynketh he moost yll;

Full gloryously can he glose, thy mynde for to fele; 760

He wyll set men a feightynge[1669] and syt[1670] hymselfe styll,

And smerke, lyke a smythy kur, at[1671] sperkes of steile;

He[1672] can neuer leue warke whylis it is wele;

To tell all his towchis it were to grete wonder;

The deuyll of hell and he be seldome asonder.

Thus talkyng we went forth[1673] in at a postern gate;

Turnyng[1674] on the ryght hande, by a[1675] windyng stayre,

She brought me to[1676] a goodly chaumber of astate,

Where the noble Cowntes of Surrey in a chayre

Sat honorably, to whome did repaire 770

Of ladys a beue[1677] with all dew reuerence:

Syt downe, fayre ladys, and do your diligence!

Come forth, ientylwomen, I pray you, she sayd;

I haue contryuyd for you a goodly warke,

And who can worke beste now shall be asayde;

A cronell of lawrell with verduris light and darke

I haue deuysyd for Skelton, my clerke;

For to his seruyce I haue suche regarde,

That of our bownte we wyll hym rewarde:

For of all ladyes he hath the library, 780

Ther names recountyng in the court of Fame

Of all gentylwomen he hath the scruteny,[1678]

In Fames court reportynge the same;

For yet of women he neuer sayd shame,

But if they were counterfettes that women them call,

That list of there lewdnesse with hym for to brall.

With that the tappettis and carpettis were layd,

Whereon theis ladys softly myght rest,

The saumpler to sow on, the lacis to enbraid;

To weue in the stoule sume were full preste, 790

With slaiis, with tauellis, with hedellis well drest;

The frame was browght forth with his weuyng pin:

God geue[1679] them good spede there warke[1680] to begin!

Sume to enbrowder put them in prese,

Well gydyng ther[1681] glowtonn to kepe streit theyr sylk,

Sum pirlyng of goldde theyr worke to encrese

With fingers smale, and handis whyte[1682] as mylk;

With, Reche me that skane of tewly sylk;

And, Wynde me that botowme of such an[1683] hew,

Grene, rede, tawny, whyte, blak,[1684] purpill, and blew. 800

Of broken warkis[1685] wrought many a goodly thyng,

In castyng, in turnynge, in florisshyng of flowris,

With burris rowth[1686] and bottons surffillyng,[1687]

In nedill wark raysyng byrdis in bowris,[1688]

With vertu enbesid all tymes and howris;

And truly of theyr bownte thus were they bent

To worke me this chapelet by goode aduysemente.[1689]

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Beholde and se in your aduertysement

How theis ladys and gentylwomen all

For your pleasure do there endeuourment, 810

And for your sake how fast to warke[1690] they fall:

To your remembraunce wherfore ye must call

In goodly wordes plesauntly comprysid,

That for them some goodly conseyt be deuysid,

With proper captacyons of beneuolence,

Ornatly pullysshid after your faculte,

Sith ye must nedis afforce it by pretence

Of your professyoun vnto vmanyte,[1691]

Commensyng your proces after there degre,

To iche of them rendryng thankis commendable, 820

With sentence fructuous and termes couenable.

Poeta Skelton.[1692]

Auaunsynge my selfe sum thanke[1693] to deserue,

I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen,

Deuoutly arrectyng my prayer to Mynerue,

She to vowchesafe me to informe and ken;

To Mercury also hertely prayed I then,

Me to supporte, to helpe, and to assist,

To gyde and to gouerne my dredfull tremlyng[1694] fist.

As a mariner that amasid[1695] is in a stormy rage,

Hardly bestad and[1696] driuen is to hope 830

Of that the tempestuows[1697] wynde wyll aswage,

In trust[1698] wherof comforte[1699] his hart doth grope,

From the anker he kuttyth[1700] the gabyll rope,

Committyth all to God, and lettyth his shyp ryde;

So I beseke[1701] Ihesu now to be my gyde.

To the ryght noble Countes of Surrey.

After all duly ordred obeisaunce,

In humble wyse as lowly[1702] as I may,

Vnto you, madame, I make reconusaunce,[1703]

My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say,

Recount, reporte, reherse without delay 840

The passynge bounte of your noble astate,

Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date:

Lyke to Argyua by iust resemblaunce,

The noble wyfe of Polimites kynge;

Prudent Rebecca, of whome remembraunce

The Byble makith; with whos chast lyuynge

Your noble demenour is counterwayng,

Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate,

Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

The noble Pamphila,[1704] quene of the Grekis londe,[1705] 850

Habillimentis royall founde out industriously;

Thamer also wrought with her goodly honde

Many diuisis passynge curyously;

Whome ye represent and exemplify,

Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate,

Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

As dame Thamarys, whiche toke the kyng of Perce,

Cirus by name, as wrytith the story;

Dame Agrippina also I may reherse

Of ientyll corage the perfight[1706] memory; 860

So shall your name endure perpetually,

Whos passyng bounte, and ryght noble astate,

Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

To my lady Elisabeth Howarde.

To be your remembrauncer,[1707] madame, I am bounde,

Lyke to Aryna, maydenly of porte,

Of vertu and[1708] konnyng the well and perfight grounde;

Whome dame Nature, as wele I may reporte,

Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte

Of womanly feturis, whos florysshyng tender age

Is lusty to loke on, plesaunte, demure, and sage: 870

Goodly Creisseid, fayrer than Polexene,[1709]

For to enuyue Pandarus appetite;

Troilus, I trowe, if that he had you sene,

In you he wolde haue set his hole delight:

Of all your bewte I suffyce not[1710] to wryght;

But, as I sayd, your florisshinge tender age

Is lusty to loke on, plesaunt, demure, and sage.

To my lady Mirriell Howarde.

Mi litell lady I may not[1711] leue behinde,

But do her[1712] seruyce nedis now I must;

Beninge, curteyse, of ientyll harte and mynde, 880

Whome fortune and fate playnly haue discust

Longe to enioy plesure, delyght, and lust:

The enbuddid blossoms of[1713] roses rede of hew

With lillis[1714] whyte your bewte doth renewe.

Compare you I may to Cidippes, the mayd,

That of Aconcyus whan she founde the byll

In her bosome, lorde, how[1715] she was afrayd!

The ruddy shamefastnes in her vysage fyll,

Whiche maner of abasshement became her not yll;

Right so, madame, the roses redde of hew 890

With lillys whyte your bewte dothe renewe.

To my lady Anne Dakers of the Sowth.

Zeuxes,[1716] that enpicturid fare Elene the quene,

You to deuyse his crafte were to seke;

And if Apelles your countenaunce had sene,

Of porturature which was the famous Greke,

He coude not deuyse the lest poynt of your cheke;

Princes of yowth, and flowre of goodly porte,

Vertu, conyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1717]

Paregall in honour vnto Penolepe,

That for her trowth is in remembraunce had; 900

Fayre Diianira surmountynge[1718] in bewte;

Demure Diana womanly and sad,

Whos lusty lokis make heuy hartis glad;

Princes of youth, and flowre of goodly porte,

Vertu, connyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1719]

To mastres Margery Wentworthe.

With margerain ientyll,

The flowre of goodlyhede,[1720]

Enbrowdred the mantill

Is of your maydenhede.[1721]

Plainly I can not[1722] glose; 910

Ye be, as I deuyne,

The praty primrose,

The goodly columbyne.

With margerain iantill,

The flowre of goodlyhede,

Enbrawderyd the mantyll

Is of yowre maydenhede.

Benynge, corteise, and meke,

With wordes well deuysid;

In you, who list to seke, 920

Be vertus well comprysid.

With margerain iantill,

The flowre of goodlyhede,

Enbrawderid the mantill

Is of yowr maydenhede.

To mastres Margaret Tylney.

I you assure,

Ful wel I know

My besy cure

To yow I owe;

Humbly and low 930

Commendynge me

To yowre bownte.

As Machareus

Fayre Canace,

So I, iwus,[1723]

Endeuoure me

Yowr name to se

It be enrolde,

Writtin with golde.

Phedra ye may 940

Wele represent;

Intentyfe ay

And dylygent,

No tyme myspent;

Wherfore delyght

I haue to whryght

Of Margarite,

Perle orient,

Lede sterre[1724] of lyght,

Moche relucent; 950

Madame regent

I may you call

Of vertues[1725] all.

To maystres Iane Blenner-Haiset.[1726]

What though[1727] my penne wax faynt,

And hath smale lust to paint?

Yet shall there no restraynt

Cause me to cese,

Amonge this prese,

For to encrese

Yowre goodly name. 960

I wyll my selfe applye,

Trust[1728] me, ententifly,

Yow for to stellyfye;

And so obserue

That ye ne swarue

For to deserue

Inmortall fame.[1729]

Sith mistres[1730] Iane Haiset[1731]

Smale flowres helpt to sett

In my goodly chapelet, 970

Therfore I render of her the memory

Vnto the legend of fare Laodomi.[1732]

To maystres Isabell Pennell.

By saynt Mary, my lady,

Your mammy and your dady

Brought forth a godely babi!

My mayden Isabell,

Reflaring rosabell,

The flagrant camamell;

The ruddy rosary,

The souerayne rosemary, 980

The praty strawbery;

The columbyne, the nepte,

The ieloffer well set,

The propre vyolet;

Enuwyd your[1733] colowre

Is lyke the dasy flowre

After the Aprill showre;

Sterre[1734] of the morow gray,

The blossom on the spray,

The fresshest flowre of May; 990

Maydenly demure,

Of womanhode[1735] the lure;

Wherfore I make you sure[1736],

It were an heuenly helth,

It were an endeles welth,

A lyfe for God hymselfe,

To here this nightingale,

Amonge the byrdes smale,

Warbelynge in the vale,

Dug, dug, 1000

Iug, iug,

Good yere and good luk,

With chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk!

To maystres Margaret Hussey.

Mirry Margaret,

As mydsomer flowre,

Ientill as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre;

With solace and gladnes,

Moche mirthe and no madnes,

All good and no badnes, 1010

So ioyously,

So maydenly,

So womanly

Her demenyng

In euery thynge,

Far, far passynge

That I can endyght,

Or suffyce to wryght

Of mirry Margarete,

As mydsomer flowre, 1020

Ientyll as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre;

As pacient and as styll,

And as full of good wyll,

As fayre[1737] Isaphill;

Colyaunder,

Swete pomaunder,

Good cassaunder;

Stedfast of thought,

Wele made, wele wrought; 1030

Far may be sought

Erst that[1738] ye can fynde

So corteise, so kynde

As mirry Margarete[1739],

This[1740] midsomer flowre,

Ientyll as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre.

To mastres Geretrude Statham.

Though[1741] ye wer hard hertyd,

And I with you thwartid

With wordes that smartid, 1040

Yet nowe doutles ye geue me cause

To wryte of you this goodli clause,

Maistres[1742] Geretrude,

With womanhode[1743] endude,

With vertu well renwde.

I wyll that ye shall be

In all benyngnyte

Lyke to dame Pasiphe;

For nowe dowtles ye geue me cause

To wryte of yow this goodly clause, 1050

Maistres Geretrude,

With womanhode endude,

With vertu well renude.

Partly by your councell,

Garnisshed with lawrell

Was my fresshe coronell;

Wherfore doutles ye geue me cause

To wryte of you this goodly clause,

Maistres Geretrude,

With womanhode endude, 1060

With vertu well renude.

To maystres Isabell[1744] Knyght.

But if I sholde aquyte your kyndnes,

Els saye ye myght

That in me were grete blyndnes,

I for to be so myndles,

And cowde not[1745] wryght

Of Isabell Knyght.

It is not[1746] my custome nor my gyse

To leue behynde

Her that is bothe womanly[1747] and wyse, 1070

And specyally which glad was to deuyse

The menes[1748] to fynde

To please my mynde,

In helpyng to warke my laurell grene

With sylke and golde:

Galathea, the made well besene,

Was neuer halfe so fayre, as I wene,

Whiche was extolde

A thowsande folde

By Maro, the Mantuan prudent, 1080

Who list to rede;

But, and I had leyser competent,

I coude shew you[1749] suche a presedent

In very dede

Howe ye excede.

Occupacyon to Skelton.

Withdrawe your hande, the tyme passis[1750] fast;

Set on your hede this laurell whiche is wrought;

Here you[1751] not[1752] Eolus for you blowyth a blaste?

I dare wele saye that ye and I be sought:

Make no delay, for now ye must be brought 1090

Before my ladys grace, the Quene of Fame,

Where ye must breuely answere to your name.

Skelton Poeta.

Castyng my syght the chambre aboute,

To se how duly ich thyng in ordre was,

Towarde the dore,[1753] as we were comyng oute,

I sawe maister Newton sit with his compas,

His plummet, his pensell, his spectacles of[1754] glas,

Dyuysynge in pycture, by his industrious wit,

Of my laurell the proces euery whitte.

Forthwith vpon this, as it were in a thought, 1100

Gower, Chawcer, Lydgate, theis thre

Before remembred, me curteisly[1755] brought

Into that place where as they left me,

Where all the sayd poetis sat in there degre.

But when they sawe my lawrell rychely wrought,[1756]

All other besyde were counterfete[1757] they thought

In comparyson of that whiche I ware:

Sume praysed the perle, some the stones bryght;

Wele was hym that therevpon myght stare;

Of this warke[1758] they had so great delyght, 1110

The silke, the golde, the flowris fresshe to syght,

They seyd my lawrell was the goodlyest

That euer they saw, and wrought it was the best.

In her astate there sat the noble Quene

Of Fame: perceyuynge how that I was cum,

She wonderyd me thought[1759] at my laurell grene;

She loked hawtly, and gaue[1760] on me a glum:

Thhere was amonge them no worde[1761] then but mum,

For eche man herkynde what she wolde to me[1762] say;

Wherof in substaunce I brought this away. 1120

The Quene of Fame to Skelton.

My frende, sith ye ar before vs[1763] here present

To answere vnto this noble audyence,

Of that shalbe resonde you[1764] ye must be content;

And for as moche as, by the hy[1765] pretence

That ye haue now thorow[1766] preemynence

Of laureat triumphe,[1767] your place is here reseruyd,

We wyll vnderstande how ye haue it deseruyd.

Skelton Poeta to the Quene of Fame.

Ryght high[1768] and myghty princes of astate,

In famous glory all other transcendyng,

Of your bounte the accustomable[1769] rate 1130

Hath bene full often and yet is entendyng[1770]

To all that to[1771] reason is condiscendyng,

But if hastyue[1772] credence by mayntenance of myght

Fortune to stande betwene you and the lyght:

But suche euydence I thynke for to[1773] enduce,

And so largely to lay for myne indempnite,

That I trust[1774] to make myne excuse

Of what charge soeuer ye lay ageinst[1775] me;

For of my bokis parte ye shall se,

Whiche in your recordes, I knowe well, be enrolde, 1140

And so Occupacyon, your regester, me tolde.

Forthwith she commaundid I shulde take my place;

Caliope poynted me where I shulde sit:

With that, Occupacioun presid in a pace;

Be mirry, she sayd, be not[1776] aferde a whit,

Your discharge here vnder myne arme is it.

So then commaundid she was vpon this

To shew her boke; and she sayd, Here it is.

The Quene of Fame to Occupacioun.

Yowre boke[1777] of remembrauns we will now that ye rede;

If ony[1778] recordis in noumbyr can be founde, 1150

What Skelton hath compilid and wryton in dede

Rehersyng by ordre, and what is the grownde,

Let se now for hym how ye can expounde;

For in owr courte, ye wote wele, his name can not[1779] ryse

But if he wryte oftenner than ones or twyse.

Skelton Poeta.

With that of the boke losende were the claspis:

The margent was illumynid all with golden railles

And byse, enpicturid with gressoppes and waspis,

With butterfllyis and fresshe pecoke taylis,

Enflorid with flowris and slymy snaylis; 1160

Enuyuid picturis well towchid and quikly;

It wolde haue made a man hole that had be ryght sekely,

To beholde how it was garnysshyd and bounde,

Encouerde ouer with golde of tissew fyne;

The claspis and bullyons were worth a thousande pounde;

With balassis and charbuncles the borders did shyne;

With aurum musicum euery other lyne

Was wrytin: and so she did her spede,

Occupacyoun, inmediatly[1780] to rede.

Occupacyoun redith and expoundyth sum parte of Skeltons bokes and baladis with ditis of plesure, in as moche as it were to longe a proces to reherse all[1781] by name that he hath compylyd, &c.

Honor est benefactivæ operationis signum: Aristotiles. Diverte a malo, et fac bonum: Pso. Nobilis est ille quem nobilitat sua virtus: Cassianus. Proximus ille Deo qui scit ratione tacere: Cato. Mors ultima linea rerum: Horat.

Of your oratour and poete laureate 1170

Of Englande, his workis[1782] here they begynne:

In primis the Boke of Honorous Astate;

Item the Boke how men shulde fle synne;

Item Royall Demenaunce worshyp to wynne;[1783]

Item the Boke to speke well or be styll;

Item to lerne you to[1784] dye when ye wyll;

Virtuti omnia parent: Salust. Nusquam tuta fides: Virgilius. Res est soliciti plena timoris amor: Ovid. Si volet[1785] usus, quem penes, &c.: Horace.

Of Vertu also the souerayne enterlude;

The Boke of the Rosiar; Prince Arturis Creacyoun;

The False Fayth that now goth, which dayly is renude;

Item his Diologgis of Ymagynacyoun; 1180

Item Antomedon[1786] of Loues Meditacyoun;

Item New Gramer in Englysshe compylyd;

Item Bowche[1787] of Courte, where Drede was begyled;

Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum: Psalmo. Concedat laurea linguæ: Tullius. Fac cum consilio, et in æternum non peccabis: Salamon.

His commedy, Achademios callyd by name;

Of Tullis Familiars the translacyoun;

Item Good Aduysement, that brainles doth blame;

The Recule ageinst Gaguyne of the Frenshe nacyoun;

Item the Popingay, that hath in commendacyoun

Ladyes and gentylwomen suche as deseruyd,

And suche as be counterfettis they be reseruyd; 1190

Non mihi sit modulo rustica papilio: Vates. Dominare in virtute tua: Pso. Magnificavit eum in conspectu regum: Sapient. Fugere pudor, verumque fidesque: In quorum subiere locum fraudesque, dolique, Insidiæque, et vis, et amor sceleratus habendi: Ovid. Filia Babylonis misera: Psalmo.

And of Soueraynte a noble pamphelet;

And of Magnyfycence a notable mater,

How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get

With Crafty Conueyaunce dothe smater and flater,

And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater

With Courtely Abusyoun; who pryntith it wele in mynde

Moche dowblenes of the worlde therin he may fynde;

Of manerly maistres Margery[1788] Mylke and Ale;

To her he wrote many maters of myrthe;

Yet, thoughe I[1789] say it, therby lyith a tale, 1200

For Margery wynshed, and breke her hinder girth;

Lor,[1790] how she made moche of her gentyll birth!

With, Gingirly, go gingerly! her tayle was made of hay;

Go she neuer so gingirly, her honesty is gone away;

De nihilo nihil fit: Aristotiles. Le plus displeysant pleiser puent.

Harde to make ought of that is nakid nought;

This fustiane maistres and this giggisse gase,

Wonder is to wryte what wrenchis she wrowght,

To face out her foly with a midsomer mase;

With pitche she patchid her pitcher shuld not[1791] crase;

It may wele ryme, but shroudly it doth accorde, 1210

To pyke out honesty of suche a potshorde:

Patet per versus.

Nota.

Hinc puer hic[1792] natus; vir conjugis hinc spoliatus

Jure thori; est fœtus Deli de sanguine cretus;

Hinc magis extollo, quod erit puer alter Apollo;

Si quæris qualis? meretrix castissima talis;

Et relis, et ralis, et reliqualis.

A good herynge of thes olde talis;

Fynde no mo suche fro[1793] Wanflete to Walis.

Et reliqua omelia[1794] de diversis tractatibus.

Apostolus: Non habemus hic civitatem manentem, sed futuram perquærimus. Notat bellum Cornubiense, quod in campestribus et in patentioribus vastisque solitudinibus prope Grenewiche gestum est.

Of my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun,

Owt of Frenshe into Englysshe prose, 1220

Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun,

He did translate, enterprete, and disclose;

The Tratyse of Triumphis of the Rede Rose,

Wherein many storis ar breuely contayned

That vnremembred longe tyme remayned;

Erudimini qui judicatis terram: Pso.

The Duke of Yorkis creauncer whan Skelton was,

Now Henry the viij. Kyng of Englonde,[1795]

A tratyse he deuysid and browght it to pas,

Callid Speculum Principis, to bere in his honde,

Therin to rede, and to vnderstande 1230

All the demenour of princely astate,

To be our Kyng, of God preordinate;

Quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem? Pso. Arrident melius seria picta jocis: In fabulis Æsopi.

Also the Tunnynge of Elinour Rummyng,

With Colyn Clowt, Iohnn Iue, with Ioforth Iack;

To make suche trifels it asketh sum konnyng,

In honest myrth parde requyreth no lack;

The whyte apperyth the better for the black,

And after conueyauns as the world goos,

It is no foly to vse the Walshemannys hoos;

Implentur veteris Bacchi pinguisque ferinæ: Virgilius. Aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poetæ: Horace.

The vmblis of venyson, the botell[1796] of wyne, 1240

To fayre maistres Anne that shuld haue be sent,

He wrate[1797] therof many a praty lyne,

Where it became, and whether it went,

And how that it was wantonly spent;

The Balade also of the Mustarde Tarte;

Suche problemis to paynt it longyth to his arte;

Adam, Adam, ubi es? Genesis. Resp. Ubi nulla requies, ubi nullus ordo, sed sempiternus horror inhabitat: Job.

Of one Adame all a knaue, late dede and gone,—

Dormiat in pace, lyke a dormows!—

He wrate[1798] an Epitaph for his graue stone,

With wordes deuoute and sentence agerdows,[1799] 1250

For he was euer ageynst Goddis hows,

All his delight was to braule and to barke

Ageynst holy chyrche,[1800] the preste, and the clarke;

Etenim passer invenit sibi donum: Psalmo.

Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate,

The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,

Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate;

Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce,

And grudge[1801] therat with frownyng countenaunce;

But what of that? hard it is to please all men;

Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne; 1260

For the gyse now adays

Of sum iangelyng iays[1802]

Is to discommende

That they can not[1803] amende,

Though they wolde spende

All the wittis they haue.

What ayle them to depraue

Phillippe Sparows graue?

His Dirige, her Commendacioun

Can be no derogacyoun, 1270

But myrth and consolacyoun,

Made by protestacyoun,

No man to myscontent

With Phillippis enteremente.

Alas, that goodly mayd,

Why shulde she be afrayd?

Why shulde she take shame

That her goodly name,

Honorably reportid,

Shulde be set and sortyd, 1280

To be matriculate

With ladyes of astate?

I coniure thé, Phillip Sparow,

By Hercules that hell did harow,

And with a venomows arow

Slew of the Epidawris

One of the Centawris,

Or Onocentauris,[1804]

Or Hippocentauris;[1805]

By whos myght and maine 1290

An hart was slayne

With hornnis twayne

Of glitteryng golde;

And the apples of golde

Of Hesperides withholde,

And with a dragon kepte

That neuer more slepte,

By merciall strength

He wan at length;

And slew Gerione 1300

With thre bodys in one;

With myghty corrage

Adauntid the rage

Of a lyon sauage;

Of Diomedis stabyll

He brought out a rabyll

Of coursers and rounsis

With[1806] lepes and bounsis;

And with myghty luggyng,

Wrastelynge and tuggyng, 1310

He pluckid the bull

By the hornid scull,

And offred to Cornucopia;

And so forthe per cetera:

Also by Hecates bowre[1807]

In Plutos gastly towre;

By the vgly Eumenides,

That neuer haue rest nor ease;

By the venemows serpent

That in hell is neuer brente, 1320

In Lerna the Grekis fen

That was engendred then;

By Chemeras flamys,

And all the dedely namys

Of infernall posty,

Where soulis fry and rosty;

By the Stigiall flode,

And the stremes wode

Of Cochitos bottumles well;

By the feryman of hell, 1330

Caron with his berde hore,

That rowyth with a rude ore,

And with his frownsid fortop

Gydith his bote with a prop:

I coniure[1808] Phillippe, and call,

In the name of Kyng Saull;

Primo Regum expres,

He bad the Phitones

To witche craft her to dres,

And by her abusiouns, 1340

And damnable illusiouns

Of meruelous conclusiouns,

And by her supersticiouns

Of[1809] wonderfull condiciouns,

She raysed vp in that stede

Samuell that was dede;

But whether it were so,

He were idem in numero,

The selfe same Samuell,

How be it to Saull he did tell 1350

The Philistinis[1810] shulde hym askry,

And the next day he shulde dye,

I wyll my[1811] selfe discharge

To letterd men at large:

But, Phillip, I coniure thé

Now by theys names thre,

Diana in the woddis grene,

Luna that so bryght doth shene,

Proserpina in hell,

That thou shortely tell, 1360

And shew now vnto me

What the cause may be

Of this perplexyte![1812]

Phillyppe answeryth.

Inferias, Philippe, tuas Scroupe pulchra Joanna

Instanter petiit: cur nostri carminis illam

Nunc pudet? est sero; minor est infamia vero.

Then such that[1813] haue disdaynyd

And of this worke complaynyd,

I pray God they be[1814] paynyd

No wors than[1815] is contaynyd 1370

In verses two or thre

That folowe as ye may se:

Luride, cur, livor, volucris pia funera damnas?

Talia te rapiant rapiunt quæ fata volucrem!

Est tamen invidia mors tibi continua:

Porcus se ingurgitat cæno, et luto se immergit: Guarinus Veronens. Et sicut opertorium mutabis eos, et mutabuntur: Pso. c. Exaltabuntur cornua justi: Psalmo.

The Gruntyng and the[1816] groynninge of the[1817] gronnyng swyne;

Also the Murnyng[1818] of the mapely rote;

How the grene couerlet sufferd grete pine,

Whan the flye net was set for to catche a cote,

Strake one with a birdbolt to the hart rote; 1380

Also a deuoute Prayer to Moyses hornis,

Metrifyde merely, medelyd with scornis;[1819]

Tanquam parieti inclinato et maceriæ depulsæ: Psalmo. Militat omnis amans, et habet sua castra Cupido: Ovid.

Of paiauntis that were played in Ioyows Garde;

He wrate of a muse[1820] throw a mud wall;

How a do cam trippyng in at the rere warde,

But, lorde, how the parker was wroth with all!

And of Castell Aungell the fenestrall,

Glittryng and glistryng and gloryously glasid,

It made sum mens eyn dasild and dasid;

Introduxit me in cubiculum suum: Cant. Os fatuæ[1821] ebullit stultitiam. Cant.

The Repete of the recule of Rosamundis bowre, 1390

Of his pleasaunt paine there and his glad distres

In plantynge and pluckynge a propre ieloffer flowre;

But how it was, sum were to recheles,

Not[1822] withstandynge it is remedeles;

What myght she say? what myght he do therto?

Though Iak sayd nay, yet Mok there loste her sho;

Audaces fortuna juvat: Virgilius. Nescia mens hominum sortis[1823] fatique futuri: Virgilius.

How than lyke a man he wan the barbican

With a sawte of solace at the longe last;

The colour dedely, swarte, blo, and wan

Of Exione, her lambis[1824] dede and past, 1400

The cheke and the nek but a shorte cast;

In fortunis fauour euer to endure,

No man lyuyng, he sayth, can be sure;

Oleæque Minerva inventrix: Georgicorum. Atque agmina cervi pulverulenta [fuga] glomerant: Æneid. iv.

How dame Minerua[1825] first found the olyue tre, she red

And plantid it there where[1826] neuer before was none; vnshred

An hynde vnhurt hit[1827] by casuelte, not[1828] bled

Recouerd whan the forster was gone; and sped

The hertis of the herd began for to grone, and fled

The howndes began to yerne and to quest; and dred

With litell besynes standith moche rest; in bed 1410

Duæ molentes in pistrino, una assumetur, altera relinquetur: Isaias.[1829] Foris vastabit eum timor, et intus pavor: Pso.[1830]

His Epitomis of the myller and his ioly make;

How her ble was bryght as blossom on the spray,

A wanton wenche and wele coude bake a cake;

The myllar was loth to be out of the way,

But yet for all that, be as be may,

Whether he rode to Swaffhamm[1831] or to Some,

The millar durst not[1832] leue his wyfe at home;

Opera quæ ego facio ipsa perhibent testimonium de me: In Evang. &c.

With, Wofully[1833] arayd, and shamefully betrayd;

Of his makyng deuoute medytacyons;

Vexilla regis he deuysid to be displayd; 1420

With Sacris solemniis, and other contemplacyouns,

That in them comprisid consyderacyons;

Thus passyth he the tyme both nyght and day,

Sumtyme with sadnes, sumtyme with play;

Honora medicum; propter necessitatem creavit eum altissimus, &c. Superiores constellationes influunt in corpora subjecta et disposita, &c. Nota.

Though Galiene[1834] and Dioscorides,[1835]

With Ipocras,[1836] and mayster Auycen,

By there phesik doth[1837] many a man ease,

And though Albumasar can thé enforme and ken

What constellacions ar good or bad for men,

Yet whan the rayne rayneth and the gose wynkith, 1430

Lytill wotith the goslyng what the gose thynkith;

Spectatum admisse,[1838] risus teneatur amor? Horace. Nota.

He is not[1839] wyse ageyne the streme that stryuith;

Dun is in the myre, dame, reche me my spur;

Nedes[1840] must he rin that the deuyll dryuith;

When the stede[1841] is stolyn, spar the stable dur;

A ientyll hownde shulde neuer play the kur;

It is sone aspyed where the thorne prikkith;

And wele wotith the cat whos berde she likkith;

Lumen ad revelationem gentium: Pso. clxxv.[1842]

With Marione clarione, sol, lucerne,

Graund Juir, of this Frenshe prouerbe olde, 1440

How men were wonte for to discerne

By candelmes day what wedder shuld holde;

But Marione clarione was caught with a colde colde,[1843]

(anglice a cokwolde,)[1844]

And all ouercast with cloudis vnkynde,

This goodly flowre with stormis was vntwynde;

Velut rosa vel lilium, O pulcherrima mulierum, &c.: Cantatecclesia.

This ieloffer ientyll, this rose, this lylly flowre,

This primerose pereles, this propre vyolet,

This columbyne clere[1845] and fresshest of coloure,

This delycate dasy, this strawbery pretely set,

With frowarde frostis, alas, was all to-fret! 1450

But who may haue a[1846] more vngracyous[1847] lyfe

Than a chyldis birde and a knauis wyfe?

Notate verba, signata mysteria: Gregori.

Thynke what ye wyll

Of this wanton byll;

By Mary Gipcy,

Quod scripsi, scripsi:

Uxor tua, sicut vitis,

Habetis in custodiam,

Custodite sicut scitis,

Secundum Lucam, &c. 1460

Nota penuriam aquæ, nam canes ibi hauriunt ex puteo altissimo.

Of the Bonehoms of Ashrige besyde Barkamstede,

That goodly place to Skelton moost kynde,

Where the sank[1848] royall is, Crystes blode so rede,

Wherevpon he metrefyde after his mynde;

A pleasaunter place than Ashrige is, harde were[1849] to fynde,

As Skelton rehersith, with wordes few and playne,

In his distichon[1850] made on verses twaine;

Fraxinus in clivo frondetgue viret sine rivo,[1851]

Non est sub divo similis sine flumine vivo;

Stultorum infinitus est numerus, &c.: Ecclesia. Factum est cum Apollo esset Corinthi: Actus Apostolorum. Stimulos sub pectore vertit Apollo: Virgilius.

The Nacyoun of Folys he left not[1852] behynde; 1470

Item Apollo that whirllid vp his chare,

That made sum to snurre[1853] and snuf in the wynde;

It made them to skip, to stampe, and to stare,

Whiche, if they be happy, haue cause to beware

In ryming and raylyng with hym for to mell,

For drede that he lerne them there A, B, C, to spell.

Poeta Skelton.

Fama repleta malis pernicibus[1854] evolat alis, &c.

With that I stode vp, halfe sodenly afrayd;

Suppleyng to Fame, I besought her grace,

And that it wolde please her, full tenderly I prayd,

Owt of her bokis Apollo to rase. 1480

Nay, sir, she sayd, what so in this place

Of our noble courte is ones spoken owte,

It must nedes after rin all the worlde aboute.

Ego quidem sum Pauli, ego Apollo: Corᵐ.

God wote, theis wordes made me full sad;

And when that I sawe it wolde no better be,

But that my peticyon wolde not[1855] be had,

What shulde I do but take it in gre?

For, by Juppiter and his high mageste,

I did what I cowde to scrape[1856] out the scrollis,

Apollo to rase out of her ragman rollis. 1490

Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella: Virgilius. Nec, si muneribus certes, concedet Iollas: 2. Bucol.

Now hereof it erkith me lenger to wryte;

To Occupacyon I wyll agayne resorte,

Whiche redde[1857] on still, as it cam to her syght,

Rendrynge my deuisis I made in disporte

Of the Mayden of Kent callid Counforte,[1858]

Of Louers testamentis and of there wanton wyllis,

And how Iollas louyd goodly Phillis;

Mille hominum species, et rerum discolor usus: Horace.[1859]

Diodorus Siculus of my translacyon

Out of fresshe Latine into owre Englysshe playne,

Recountyng commoditis of many a straunge nacyon; 1500

Who redyth it ones wolde rede it agayne;

Sex volumis engrosid together it doth containe:

But when of the laurell she made rehersall,

All orators and poetis, with other grete and smale,

Millia millium et decies millies centena millia, &c.: Apocalipsis. Virtute[1860] senatum laureati possident: Ecclesiastica. Cauiť.

A thowsande thowsande. I trow, to my dome,

Triumpha, triumpha! they cryid all aboute;

Of trumpettis and clariouns the noyse went to Rome;

The starry heuyn, me thought, shoke with the showte;

The grownde gronid and tremblid, the noyse was so stowte:

The Quene of Fame commaundid shett fast the boke; 1510

And therwith sodenly out of my dreme[1861] I woke.

My mynde of the grete din was somdele amasid,

I wypid myne eyne for to make them clere;

Then to the heuyn sperycall vpwarde I gasid,

Where I saw Ianus, with his double chere,

Makynge his almanak for the new yere;

He turnyd his tirikkis, his voluell ran fast:

Good luk this new yere! the olde yere is past.

Vates.

Mens tibi sit consulta, petis? sic consuls menti;

Æmula sit[1862] Jani, retro speculetur et ante. 1520

Skeltonis alloquitur[1863] librum suum.

Ite, Britannorum lux O radiosa, Britannum

Carmina nostra pium vestrum celebrate Catullum!

Dicite, Skeltonis vester Adonis erat;

Dicite, Skeltonis vester Homerus erat.

Barbara cum Latio pariter jam currite versu;

Et licet est verbo pars maxima texta Britanno,

Non magis incompta nostra Thalia patet,

Est magis inculta nec mea Calliope.

Nec vos pœniteat livoris tela subire,

Nec vos pœniteat rabiem tolerare caninam, 1530

Nam Maro dissimiles non tulit ille minas,

Immunis nec enim Musa Nasonis erat.

Lenuoy.

Go, litill quaire,

Demene you faire;

Take no dispare,

Though I you wrate

After this rate

In Englysshe letter;

So moche the better

Welcome shall ye 1540

To sum men be:

For Latin warkis

Be good for clerkis;

Yet now and then

Sum Latin men

May happely loke

Vpon your boke,

And so procede

In you to rede,

That so indede 1550

Your fame may sprede

In length and brede.

But then[1864] I drede

Ye[1865] shall haue nede

You for to spede

To harnnes bryght,

By force of myght,

Ageyne[1866] enuy

And obloquy:

And wote ye why? 1560

Not[1867] for to fyght

Ageyne dispyght,

Nor to derayne

Batayle agayne

Scornfull disdayne,

Nor for to chyde,

Nor for to hyde

You cowardly;

But curteisly

That I haue pende 1570

For to deffend,

Vnder the banner

Of all good manner,

Vnder proteccyon

Of sad correccyon,

With toleracyon

And supportacyon

Of reformacyon,

If they[1868] can spy

Circumspectly 1580

Any worde defacid

That myght be rasid,

Els ye shall pray

Them that ye may

Contynew still

With there good wyll.

Ad serenissimam Majestatem Regiam,[1869] pariter cum Domino Cardinali, Legato a latere honorificatissimo, &c.

Lautre Enuoy.

Perge, liber, celebrem pronus regem venerare

Henricum octavum, resonans sua præmia laudis.

Cardineum dominum pariter venerando salutes,

Legatum a latere, et fiat memor ipse precare 1590

Prebendæ, quam promisit mihi credere quondam,

Meque suum referas pignus sperare salutis

Inter spemque metum.

Twene hope and drede

My lyfe I lede,

But of my spede

Small sekernes;

Howe be it I rede

Both worde and dede

Should be agrede 1600

In noblenes:

Or els, &c.

[1458] A ryght delectable tratyse vpon a goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell, &c.] From Faukes’s ed. 1523, collated with Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s Workes, 1568, (in which it is entitled The Crowne of Lawrell), and with fragments of the poem among the Cottonian MSS. Vit. E.X. fol. 200. The prefatory Latin lines are from Faukes’s ed., where they are given on the back of the title-page, and below a woodcut portrait headed “Skelton Poeta,” (see List of Editions, in Appendix to Account of Skelton, &c.): they are not in Marshe’s ed. nor in MS.

[1459] retrogradant] Marshe’s ed. “retrograunt.”

[1460] orbicular] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “orbucular.”

[1461] plenarly] So MS. Eds. “plenary.”

[1462] On] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “One.”

[1463] sylt] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “fylt.”

[1464] now] So MS. Not in eds.

[1465] forster] MS. “foster.”

[1466] well] Not in MS.

[1467] purpose] MS. “proces.”

[1468] fell] MS. “fille.”

[1469] not wele tell] So MS. Eds. “not tell” and “nat tell.”

[1470] aduysed] MS. “auysid.”

[1471] wondersly] MS. “wonderly.”

[1472] it] So MS. Eds. “that.”

[1473] inmortall] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “immortall:” but here and elsewhere Faukes’s ed. has the former spelling.

[1474] Quene of Fame] Opposite this line MS. has a marginal note, partly illegible, and partly cut off, “Egida concussit p ... dea pectore porta ...”

[1475] Renownyd] MS. “Renowmmyd.”

[1476] scyence] Marshe’s ed. “sciences.”

[1477] lenen] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. and MS. “lene.”

[1478] beseche] MS. “beseke.”

[1479] Not] Marshe’s ed. “Nat.”

[1480] you gaue me a ryall] Marshe’s ed. “ye,” &c. MS. “ye yave me in roiall.”

[1481] his tyme he] So MS. Eds. “he his tyme.”

[1482] embesy] MS. “enbissy.”

[1483] they were the] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “the were they.”

[1484] grete lake] Marshe’s ed. “a lacke” (having in the preceding line “slacke”).

[1485] the sugred] MS. “thensugerd.”

[1486] Elyconis] Faukes’s ed. “Elycoms.” Marshe’s ed. “Heliconis.”

[1487] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1488] aduysid] MS. “auysid.”

[1489] that] MS. “for that.”

[1490] rin not] Marshe’s ed. “ren nat.”

[1491] Better] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “Bete.”

[1492] pullishe] So MS. Eds. (with various spelling) “publisshe.”

[1493] so] Not in MS.

[1494] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1495] accorde] MS. “corde.”

[1496] not an hundreth] Marshe’s ed. “nat an hundred.”

[1497] For certayne enuectyfys] MS. “For that he enveiyd.”

[1498] wrote] MS. “wrate.”

[1499] vpon] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. and MS. “on.”

[1500] not] Marshe’s ed. here and in the next line “nat.”

[1501] abyde] MS. “byde.”

[1502] parablis] Faukes’s ed. “paroblis.” Marshe’s ed. “parables.”

[1503] ageyne] Marshe’s ed. “agaynst.”

[1504] ther] MS. “that.”

[1505] coniecture] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “conuecture.”

[1506] that] So MS. Eds. “the.”

[1507] inmortall] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “immortall:” see ante, p. 363, note 3.

[1508] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1509] for that he] MS. “for he.”

[1510] Demostenes] So Faukes’s ed. at vv. 152, 155, 167; here it has “Dymostenes.”

[1511] That gaue] MS. “Whiche yave.”

[1512] by] Marshe’s ed. “through.”

[1513] Ageyne] Marshe’s ed. “Agaynst.”

[1514] my good syster] MS. “goode my sister.”

[1515] pawse] Marshe’s ed. “pauses.”

[1516] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1517] slaundred] Marshe’s ed. “sklaundred.” The editor of 1736 gave “thus blamed.”

[1518] apposelle] MS. “opposelle.”

[1519] auauntage] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “auanuntage.”

[1520] debarrid] So MS. Eds. “barrid” and “barred.”

[1521] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1522] sittyng] MS. “is syttynge.”

[1523] onour] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “honour.”

[1524] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1525] For though] MS. “Sithe thowthe.”

[1526] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1527] Ierome] Marshe’s ed. “Hierome.”

[1528] Wherein] MS. “Where.”

[1529] But a grete parte yet] MS. “Bot yit a grete parte.”

[1530] not] Marshe’s ed. here and in the next line “nat.”

[1531] wyll] MS. “wold.”

[1532] ye do] MS. “tyme ye.”

[1533] For] Not in MS.

[1534] pyke] MS. “kit.”

[1535] their] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “the.”

[1536] lidderons] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “lidderous.” MS. “liddurns.”

[1537] some] MS. “and sum.”

[1538] they ryde and rinne] MS. “ryde they and ryn they.”

[1539] ye shall] MS. “shall ye.”

[1540] a] So MS. Not in eds.

[1541] be set out] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “be out.”

[1542] wyll] MS. “shall.”

[1543] well fynde] MS. “fynde wele.”

[1544] Twyshe] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “Twyse.”

[1545] stole] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “stol.”

[1546] hym] Not in MS.

[1547] not] Marshe’s ed. here and in the next line but one “nat.”

[1548] beseche] MS. “beseke.”

[1549] good] Not in MS.

[1550] be not] Faukes’s ed. “be be not.” Marshe’s ed. “be nat.”

[1551] iurydiccyon] Marshe’s ed. “iurisdiction.”

[1552] that] MS. “whiche.”

[1553] a] MS. “the.”

[1554] wyll] MS. “dare.”

[1555] you] Not in MS.

[1556] bararag] MS. “bararag brag.”

[1557] hundrethe] Marshe’s ed. “hundred.”

[1558] come] Marshe’s ed. “came.”

[1559] encrisped] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “enscrisped.”

[1560] yalowe] Marshe’s ed. “yolowe.”

[1561] maidenhode] Marshe’s ed. “maydenheed.”

[1562] murnynge] Faukes’s ed. “murmynge.” Marshe’s ed. “murning.”

[1563] this] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed “his.”

[1564] inmortall] Marshe’s ed. “immortall:” see ante, p. 363, note 3.

[1565] gresse] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “gras.”

[1566] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1567] Declamacyons] Faukes’s ed. “declynacyons” Marshe’s ed. “Declamations.”

[1568] iconomicar] Eds. “Icononucar.” See notes.

[1569] Salusty] Marshe’s ed. “Salust;” but the former reading is meant for the Latin genitive.

[1570] flotis] Faukes’s ed. “droppes.” Marshe’s ed. “flotes” (having “throtes” in the next line).

[1571] Lucan, &c.] This stanza from Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed. MS. defective here.

[1572] mengith] Marshe’s ed. “mengleth.”

[1573] wrate] Marshe’s ed. “wrote.”

[1574] flotis] Eds. “droppes” and “dropes.” But see note 2 above.

[1575] comicar] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “conucar.”

[1576] full] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1577] flotis] Eds. “dropis” and “dropes.”

[1578] with] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “wit.”

[1579] recounfortyd] Marshe’s ed. “recomforted.”

[1580] flotis] Eds. “dropis” and “dropes.”

[1581] Cursius] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “cursus.”

[1582] flotis] Eds. “dropis” and “dropes.”

[1583] frownyd] Faukes’s ed. “frowmyd.” Marshe’s ed. “frowned.”

[1584] flotis] Eds. “dropis” and “dropes.”

[1585] flotis] Eds. “dropis” and “dropes.”

[1586] auysid] Marshe’s ed. “aduysed.”

[1587] ennewed] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “a meude.”

[1588] tabers] Marshe’s ed. “taberdes.”

[1589] ye] So Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed.

[1590] welny] Marshe’s ed. “welnere.”

[1591] Poeta Skelton, &c.] This speech of Skelton to Gower is from Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed. MS defective here.

[1592] Mayster Chaucer to Skelton] Marshe’s ed. “Maister Chaucher Lawreat poete to Skelton,” which contradicts what our author has just told us: see v. 397.

[1593] welny] Marshe’s ed. “welnere.”

[1594] prothonatory] Marshe’s ed. “protonotory.”

[1595] tofore] Marshe’s ed. “before.”

[1596] so] So Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed.

[1597] wyl to hym] Marshe’s ed. “to hym will.”

[1598] wandrynge] Faukes’s ed. “wadrynge.” Marshe’s ed. “wandring.”

[1599] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1600] Engolerid] Marshe’s ed. “Engalared.”

[1601] worlde] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “worde.”

[1602] rokky] So Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed.

[1603] worldly] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “wordly.”

[1604] hundreth] Marshe’s ed. “hundred.”

[1605] a] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1606] Portyngale] Marshe’s ed. “Portugale.”

[1607] salfecundight] Marshe’s ed. “safeconduct.”

[1608] charter] Marshe’s ed. “chart.”

[1609] quarter] Marshe’s ed. “quart.”

[1610] came] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “come.”

[1611] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1612] I then] Marshe’s ed. “than I.”

[1613] kest] Marshe’s ed. “cast.”

[1614] Ye] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “The.”

[1615] that] Marshe’s ed. “so.”

[1616] Caspian] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Gaspian.”

[1617] not stonde] Marshe’s ed. “nat stande,” and in the next line “hande.”

[1618] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1619] thos] Marshe’s ed. “these.”

[1620] yate] Marshe’s ed. “gate.”

[1621] Anglia] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Anglea.”

[1622] Cacosinthicon] Properly “Cacosyntheton.”

[1623] haskardis] Faukes’s ed. “hastardis.” Marshe’s ed. “haskardes.”

[1624] kownnage] Marshe’s ed. “coynnage.”

[1625] wyll] Marshe’s ed. “well.”

[1626] to-iaggid] Marshe’s ed. “to lagged.”

[1627] byrnston] Marshe’s ed. “brymston.”

[1628] that] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “tha.”

[1629] titiuyllis] Faukes’s ed. “titinyllis.” Marshe’s ed. “titiuils.”

[1630] gan] Marshe’s ed. “gon.”

[1631] an herber] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “a an herber.”

[1632] coundight] Marshe’s ed. “cundite.”

[1633] coryously] Marshe’s ed. “curiously.” See notes.

[1634] Whose skales, &c.] This line, not in Faukes’s ed., is from Marshe’s ed. MS. defective here.

[1635] leuis] Marshe’s ed. “leaue.”

[1636] Nota] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. has a contraction which I cannot decipher. MS. deficient here.

[1637] cancour] Marshe’s ed. “rancour.”

[1638] and] So Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed.

[1639] With] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Wit.”

[1640] Testalis] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “testalus.”

[1641] Trions] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “troons.”

[1642] doth] Marshe’s ed. “done.”

[1643] and] Marshe’s ed. “and in.”

[1644] it] Marshe’s ed. “in.”

[1645] conuenable] Marshe’s ed. “couenably.”

[1646] contryuyd] Faukes’s ed. “contyruyd.” Marshe’s ed. “contryued.”

[1647] worldly] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “wordly.”

[1648] my] MS. “myne.”

[1649] losyd] MS. “losond.”

[1650] scrupulus] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “scupulus.”

[1651] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1652] though] MS. “thowthe.”

[1653] not] Marshe’s ed. here and in the next line “nat.”

[1654] Gog] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “God.”

[1655] be] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “by.”

[1656] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1657] theffect] MS. “the effecte.”

[1658] yone] MS. “yonder.”

[1659] fals mesuris out] MS. “owght fals mesuris.”

[1660] Interpolata, &c.] This heading not in MS., which has on the margin “Wryght truly theys verses.”

[1661] postulat] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “postulāt.”

[1662] appetit] Eds. “opetit.” MS. “oppetit.”

[1663] stimulans] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “stimulas.”

[1664] and] Marshe’s ed. “if.”

[1665] were to stande in his lyght] MS. “is to stop vp his sight.”

[1666] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1667] thowgh] Marshe’s ed. “thought.” MS. “thowthe.”

[1668] reame] Marshe’s ed. “realme.”

[1669] set men a feightynge] MS. “stir men to brawlyng.”

[1670] syt] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “set.”

[1671] at] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “os.”

[1672] He] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “Ie.”

[1673] forth] Not in MS.

[1674] Turnyng] MS. “Turnnyd.”

[1675] a] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Not in Faukes’s ed.

[1676] to] MS. “into.”

[1677] a beue] Faukes’s ed. “aboue.” Marshe’s ed. and MS. “a beuy.”

[1678] scruteny] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “scuteny.”

[1679] geue] MS. “yeve.”

[1680] warke] MS. “worke.”

[1681] ther] MS. “the.”

[1682] whyte] Marshe’s ed. “as white.”

[1683] an] MS. “a.”

[1684] blak] So MS. Not in eds.

[1685] warkis] MS. “workis.”

[1686] rowth] Marshe’s ed. “rowgh.”

[1687] surffillyng] MS. “surfullinge.” See notes.

[1688] byrdis in bowris] MS. “bothe birddis and bowres.”

[1689] aduysemente] MS. “auysemente.”

[1690] warke] MS. “worke.”

[1691] vmanyte] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “humanite.”

[1692] Poeta Skelton] So MS. Eds. “Poeta Skelton answeryth.”

[1693] thanke] MS. “thonk.”

[1694] tremlyng] Marshe’s ed. “trembling.”

[1695] amasid] MS. “masid.”

[1696] and] Not in MS.

[1697] tempestuows] So MS. Faukes’s ed. “tempeous.” Marshe’s ed. “tempestous.”

[1698] trust] MS. “troste.”

[1699] comforte] MS. “counforte.”

[1700] kuttytth] MS. “kyttithe.”

[1701] beseke] Marshe’s ed. “beseche.”

[1702] lowly] MS. “lawly.”

[1703] reconusaunce] So MS. Faukes’s ed. (by a misprint) “recounsaunce.” Marshe’s ed. “reconisaunce.”

[1704] Pamphila] Marshe’s ed. “Pamphilia.”

[1705] londe] Marshe’s ed. “land” (and in the next line “hande”); and so MS.

[1706] perfight] So MS. Faukes’s ed. “profight.” Marshe’s ed. “parfite.”

[1707] remembrauncer] Marshe’s ed. “remembraunce.”

[1708] and] Not in MS.

[1709] Creisseid ... Polexene] MS. “Creisseyda ... Polycene.”

[1710] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1711] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1712] do her] So MS. Eds. “to do you.”

[1713] The enbuddid blossoms of] MS. “Enbuddid blossome withe.”

[1714] With lillis] MS. “The lylly.”

[1715] how] Not in MS.

[1716] Zeuxes] Marshe’s ed. “zeusis.”

[1717] comforte] MS. “counfort.”

[1718] surmountynge] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “surmewntynge.”

[1719] comforte] MS. “conforte.”

[1720] goodlyhede] MS. “goodlihode” here and in the repetition, having “maydenhode” always as its rhyme.

[1721] maydenhede] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. here (but not in the repetition) “maydenhode.”

[1722] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1723] iwus] So MS. Eds. “iwys.”

[1724] Lede sterre] Marshe’s ed. “Lode sterre.” MS. “Lode star.”

[1725] vertues] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “vertuows.” MS. “vertuys.”

[1726] Blenner-Haiset] MS. “Hasset.”

[1727] though] MS. “thowthe.”

[1728] Trust] MS. “Trost.”

[1729] Inmortall fame] Marshe’s ed. “Immortall fame:” but see ante, p. 363, note 3. MS. “The courte of fame.”

[1730] mistres] Marshe’s ed. “maistres.” MS. “mastres.”

[1731] Haiset] MS. “Hasset.”

[1732] Laodomi] Marshe’s ed. “Leodomie.”

[1733] your] MS. “her.”

[1734] Sterre] MS. “Star.”

[1735] womanhode] Marshe’s ed. “woman hede.”

[1736] I make you sure] MS. “I yow assure.”

[1737] fayre] MS. “the fayre.”

[1738] that] MS. “than.”

[1739] Margarete] MS. here, but not before, “Marget.”

[1740] This] MS. “The.”

[1741] Though] MS. “Thowthe.”

[1742] Maistres] MS. here and in the repetition “Mastres.”

[1743] womanhode] Marshe’s ed. here and in the repetition “woman hede.”

[1744] maystres Isabell] MS. “Mastres Isbell;” and so the name in the repetition.

[1745] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1746] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1747] womanly] MS. “maydenly.”

[1748] menes] MS. “mene.”

[1749] you] Not in MS.

[1750] passis] Marshe’s ed. and MS. (with various spelling) “passeth.”

[1751] you] MS. “ye.”

[1752] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1753] dore] MS. “durre.”

[1754] of] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “with.”

[1755] me curteisly] MS. “kurteisly me.”

[1756] wrought] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “whought.”

[1757] All other besyde were counterfete] MS. “All thos that they ware were counterfettis.”

[1758] warke] MS. “worke.”

[1759] thought] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “thouhht.”

[1760] gaue] MS. “yave.”

[1761] amonge them no worde] MS. “not a worde amonge them.”

[1762] wolde to me] MS. “to me wold.”

[1763] vs] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “hus.”

[1764] you] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1765] hy] MS. “higthe.”

[1766] thorow] So MS. Eds. “by the.”

[1767] triumphe] MS. “promocioun.”

[1768] high] MS. “higthe.”

[1769] accustomable] Marshe’s ed. “customable.”

[1770] entendyng] Marshe’s ed. “attendyng.”

[1771] To all that to] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Faukes’s ed. “To all tho that.”

[1772] hastyue] Marshe’s ed. “hasty.”

[1773] for to] MS. “for me to.”

[1774] trust] MS. “troste.”

[1775] ageinst] MS. “ageyne.”

[1776] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1777] boke] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “bokes”—but compare the preceding line and the first line of the following stanza. MS. defective here.

[1778] ony] Marshe’s ed. “any.”

[1779] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1780] inmediatly] Marshe’s ed. “immediately:” but see ante p. 363, note 3. MS. defective here.

[1781] all] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1782] workis] Marshe’s ed. “warkes”.

[1783] wynne] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “wyne.”

[1784] to] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “do.”

[1785] volet] Faukes’s ed. (which alone has these notes) “vacet.”

[1786] Antomedon] Qy. “Automedon?”

[1787] Bowche] Marshe’s ed. “Bouge.”

[1788] maistres Margery] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “margery maystres.” MS. defective here.

[1789] I] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “ye.”

[1790] Lor] Marshe’s ed. “Lorde.”

[1791] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1792] hic] Marshe’s ed. “hinc.”

[1793] fro] Marshe’s ed. “from.”

[1794] reliqua omelia] Marshe’s ed. seems to have “reliquā,” &c. Qy. “reliquæ omeliæ?”

[1795] Englonde] Marshe’s ed. “Englande;” and in the next line but one “hande.” MS. defective here.

[1796] botell] Marshe’s ed. “botels.”

[1797] wrate] Marshe’s ed. “wrote.”

[1798] wrate] Marshe’s ed. “wrote.”

[1799] agerdows] Marshe’s ed. “egerdous.”

[1800] Ageynst holy chyrche] Marshe’s ed. “Agayne holy churche.”

[1801] grudge] Marshe’s ed. “grugge.”

[1802] iays] Marshe’s ed. “da Iayes.”

[1803] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1804] Onocentauris] Marshe’s ed. “Onocentaurus.”

[1805] Hippocentauris] Both eds. “Hippocentaurus.” MS. defective here.

[1806] With] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Wit.”

[1807] bowre] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “powre.”

[1808] coniure] Qy. “coniure thé?” as before and after.

[1809] Of] Marshe’s ed. “And.”

[1810] Philistinis] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Phillistimis.”

[1811] my] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “me.”

[1812] perplexyte] Faukes’s ed. “proplexyte.” Marshe’s ed. “perplexite.”

[1813] that] Marshe’s ed. “as.”

[1814] be] Marshe’s ed. “by.”

[1815] than] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “and.”

[1816] and the] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed., instead of these words, only “a.”

[1817] of the] So Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed.

[1818] Murnyng] Faukes’s ed. “murmyng.” Marshe’s ed. “Mournyng.”

[1819] scornis] Faukes’s ed. “stormis.” Marshe’s ed. “scornes.”

[1820] muse] Marshe’s ed. “mows.”

[1821] fatuæ] Altered purposely by Skelton from “fatuorum” of the Vulgate, Prov. xv. 2. (not Cant.)

[1822] Not] Marshe’s ed. “Nat.”

[1823] sortis, &c.] “fati sortisque futuræ.” Æn. x. 501.

[1824] lambis] Marshe’s ed. “lambe is,”—which may be the right reading. MS. defective here.

[1825] How dame Minerua, &c.] The words which I have printed in Italics destroy both sense and metre. But they are found in both eds. MS. defective here.

[1826] it there where] Marshe’s ed. “yet wher.”

[1827] hit] Marshe’s ed. “it.”

[1828] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1829] Isaias] Matt. xxiv. 41.

[1830] Pso.] Deut. xxxii. 25, where “Foris vastabit eos gladius, et, &c.”

[1831] Swaffhamm] Eds. “Swasshamm.”

[1832] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1833] Wofully] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “wofuflly.”

[1834] Galiene] Marshe’s ed. “Galene.” See notes.

[1835] Dioscorides] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Diascorides.”

[1836] Ipocras] Marshe’s ed. “Hipocrias.”

[1837] doth] Marshe’s ed. “done.”

[1838] Spectatum admisse, &c.] “Spectatum admissi risum teneatis, amici?” A. P. 5. Qy. Is the barbarous alteration of this line only a mistake of the printer?

[1839] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1840] Nedes] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “Nededes.”

[1841] When the stede, &c.] I have placed this line according to Marshe’s ed. In Faukes’s ed. it stands third in the stanza.

[1842] Pso. clxxv.] Luc. ii. 32.

[1843] a colde colde] Marshe’s ed. “a colde.”

[1844] anglice a cokwolde] These words, which I have placed according to Faukes’s ed., are not in that of Marshe. MS. defective here.

[1845] This columbyne clere, &c.] This line and the next are transposed in eds.

[1846] a] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1847] vngracyous] Faukes’s ed. “vngraryous.” Marshe’s ed. “vngracious.”

[1848] sank] Marshe’s ed. “sange.”

[1849] were] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “where.”

[1850] distichon] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “distincyon.”

[1851] rivo] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “viro.”

[1852] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1853] snurre] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “surt.”

[1854] pernicibus] Faukes’s ed. (which alone has these marginal notes) “ꝑ virilis.”

[1855] not] Marshe’s ed. “nat.”

[1856] scrape] Marshe’s ed. “scarpe.”

[1857] redde] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “rede.”

[1858] Counforte] Marshe’s ed. “comforte.”

[1859] Horace] Persius, V. 52.

[1860] Virtute] Faukes’s ed. (which alone has these marginal notes) “Vite.” The reference “Cauiť” I do not understand.

[1861] dreme] Marshe’s ed. “slepe.”

[1862] sit] Marshe’s ed. “sis.”

[1863] alloquitur] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “alloquiū.”

[1864] then] Marshe’s ed. “that.”

[1865] Ye] Marshe’s ed. “You.”

[1866] Ageyne] Marshe’s ed. “Agaynst”—and so, too, in the next line but three.

[1867] Not] Marshe’s ed. “Nat.”

[1868] they] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “thy.”

[1869] Ad serenissimam Majestatem Regiam &c.... Twene hope and drede, &c.] These Latin and English lines are from Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed. MS. defective here.

---

ADMONET SKELTONIS OMNES ARBORES[1870] DARE LOCUM VIRIDI LAURO JUXTA GENUS SUUM.

Fraxinus in silvis, altis in montibus ornus,[1871]

Populus in fluviis, abies, patulissima fagus,

Lenta salix, platanus, pinguis ficulnea ficus,

Glandifera et quercus, pirus, esculus, ardua pinus,

Balsamus exudans, oleaster, oliva Minervæ,

Juniperus, buxus, lentiscus cuspide lenta,

Botrigera et domino vitis gratissima Baccho,

Ilex et sterilis labrusca perosa colonis,

Mollibus exudans fragrantia thura Sabæis

Thus, redolens Arabis pariter[1872] notissima myrrha, 10

Et vos, O coryli fragiles, humilesque myricæ,

Et vos, O cedri redolentes, vos quoque myrti,

Arboris omne genus viridi concedite lauro!

Prennees en gre The Laurelle.[1873]

[1870] Admonet Skeltonis omnes arbores, &c.] These Latin lines, with the copy of French verses which follow them and the translations of it into Latin and English, are from Faukes’s ed.—where, though they have really no connexion with The Garlande of Laurell, they are considered as a portion of that poem, see the colophon, p. 427; collated with Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s Workes, 1568,—where they occur towards the end of the vol., the three last placed together, and the first a few pages after.—Marshe’s ed. “Admonitio Skeltonis ut omnes Arbores viridi Laureo concedant.”

[1871] ornus] So Marshe’s ed. Faukes’s ed. “orni.”

[1872] pariter] Marshe’s ed. “panter.”

[1873] The Laurelle] So Marshe’s ed. Not in Faukes’s ed.

---