The whole poem is printed in the Folio MS. ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 470.
The late Mr. John Gough Nichols published in 1849 a very interesting volume, containing a translation of the Colloquy of Erasmus, with valuable notes in illustration of it, under the following title: "Pilgrimages to Saint Mary of Walsingham and Saint Thomas of Canterbury, by Desiderius Erasmus, newly translated ... and illustrated by J. G. Nichols. Westminster. 1849." sm. 8vo. This work has lately been reprinted.
An excellent description of Walsingham Priory, with an account of the excavations made on its site in 1853, will be found in Henry Harrod's Gleanings among the Castles and Convents of Norfolk, 8vo. Norwich, 1857, pp. 155-197.]
Gentle heardsman, tell to me,
Of curtesy I thee pray,
Unto the towne of Walsingham
Which is the right and ready way.
"Unto the towne of Walsingham 5
The way is hard for to be gon;
And verry crooked are those pathes
For you to find out all alone."
Weere the miles doubled thrise,
And the way never soe ill, 10
Itt were not enough for mine offence;
Itt is soe grievous and soe ill.
"Thy yeeares are young, thy face is faire,
Thy witts are weake, thy thoughts are greene;
Time hath not given thee leave, as yett, 15
For to committ so great a sinne."
Yes, heardsman, yes, soe woldest thou say,
If thou knewest soe much as I;
My witts, and thoughts, and all the rest,
Have well deserved for to dye. 20