lere AFter that goddes sone vp shall stye Into his fathers companye His .xii. mynysters leue he shall That in erth hym companyd with all A holy hous amonge them all Shall they make that they shal call Goddes house and so shall it be For therin may men god se After them shall other come also That theyr commaundment shall do A whyle tyl it last maye And they shall fro daye to daye Wax ryche and of great myght And for theyr ryches anone ryght The lawe that goddes sone them lefte And his .xii. mynysters efte Febely than shall they it holde But for ryches shall all be solde And god shall then dystroye them tho For theyr synne and for theyr wo And than shall come great maystery Of the arte of astronomy And wyse men holde shall they be But coueytys shall shende all theyr gle ¶ The xlvj questyon ¶ Goddys how 's that thou hast tolde Who shal it kepe and haue in holde FOrsoth goddys sonne hym selue Shall amonge his dysciples twelue Commaunde one to kepe it ryght And stone of stonys shall he hyght He shall it kepe that it shall not spyll After maÌ„ shal succede maÌ„ according his wyl But after the tyme that goddys sonne Is come in erth for to wone A thowsand yere after than shal begynne In the worlde to sprynge synne Agaynst god and his lore And shal be wors than before After that men shall se Two great douues shal borne be That goddys lawe forther shall And myschefe destroye all That one douue shal be callyd mendar And that other amonester In the world they shal be bolde And pore men they shal be tolde The good shall loue them inwardly The wycked shal drede them wonderly And worshyp them with drede and sawe For they shal haue of them great awe Champyons they shal be stronge The faythe to holde and to fordo wronge Good kepars shall they be Of goddes house and his meyne ¶ The .xlvij. questyon ¶ He y t no good doth but holdeth hiÌ„ styll Whether dothe he good or yll HE that no good dothe nor yl dedys The lyfe of beast ryght he ledys And that doth yl for he do 〈◊〉 And he that of good wyâ— aâ—ynne And doth not there he maye it do He dothe yll and synne also ¶ As yf a man were honger sted And gladly wold of mete be fed And he by an orchyarde were goynge There he moche freute sawe hangynge And dyeth for faute of mete And of the freute wyl not ete He doth euyll and amys For his owne defawte it is ¶ The .xlviij. questyon ¶ Lordshyp whether shall it be Stoute and sterne or of petye LOrdshyp is goddes wyll Lawe and iustyce to fulfyll And yf myght Iustyce fynde Men shuld be of fysshes kynde The stronge shuld the feble ete And great the small that they myght gete And lordshyp ought stowte to be And stalworthe and of potence With ryght and skyll the wycked to deme And peas amonge the folke to set clene Alytel goddes sone beforne A kyng shall in erthe be borne He shal be profyte or he dye And in his prophesye he shall saye Blesyd be they god vnto That deme and ryghtwysenes shal do Yf a wycked man be raynt And of his wyckednes be ataynt The lorde maye deme hym of his ryght And forgeue it of his myght But yf he afterward do amys Of the dome worthy he is ¶ The .xlix. questyon ¶ Shal any man good do His kynde and his frendes vnto YF thy kynde good men be And they haue defawte of the And haue lost by myschaunce The good that shuld them auaunce Thou shalt them helpe and good them do And geue them good counsayle also Yf they be of wycked lyfe Be it man or be it wyfe And they be in wretchydnesse Throughe theyr owne wyckednesse As some that are of euyl mode He dothe yll that dothe them good That men putteth in all is lorne In a purs that is al to torne What helpeth it wax for to take And a serge therof make And before aman it lyght That is blynde and hathe no syght To suche aman helpeth it nought That lyght before hym be brought Also it is lost for to shewe Any goodnes to a shrewe ¶ The .l. questyon Now I praye the tell me Gentylhed what maye that be GEntylry that is powre And ryches that aman hath here Of lande and rent and of fee And cometh of antiquite And that in coste hath to mayntayne For most ientyll is he counted certayne But some are ryche men of good And are churles kynd of blode A ryche man men call hym one But gentylman is he flone And he that ryche is wonderly A noble man of his body Curteys wyse and holden fre A great gentylman is he And though he be a poure man And amonge men bere hym can As of norture in boure and halle A gentylman men shal hym calle But of poure men we al came As of Eue and adam ¶ The .lj. questyon ¶ How may it be colde euery yere Whan the wether is fayre and clere THe wether whan that it is fayre The hete comyth downe from y e ayre And in to the erth he dryueth thore The hete that hetyd the erth before And so is hete al awaye On wynters dayes that is to say And whan the wether is trobelus and thike The hete may not downe lyght From the sonne by his myght So may it here be warme tolde And sumtyme in fayre wether colde ¶ The .lij. questyon ¶ May aman by eny trowe The goodmen froÌ„ the wyckyd knowe GOod men them selfe declare ryght For of vysage they are bryght And theyr eyen also are bryght And louely they are of syght For the good lyfe they are in And they are trewly out of syn And bycause they lyue so chastly Swete wordes haue they comenly The wycked of euyl wyll they be And lowrynge are they on to se Of stablenes haue they nothynge Out of mesure is theyr spekynge Smarte goynge they haue also And they are seldome in ro And the wyckednes of theyr harte In worde and warke they shewe all smarte ¶ The .liij. questyon ¶ The byleue that was here before Of false ydols that here wore Shal it euer raysed be So sterke as was in tyme of me CHyldren that shall come of the In god of heuen theyr byleue shal be And theyr chyldren yet also But they that shal come of them tho Shal turne vnto the wycked lawe That was before by olde sawe And they shal make a cyte Therin shall a towre be And that towre shal haue thore Foure and forty stages before And therin shal raygne a kynge Of al the worlde most masterlynge And an ymage he shall do dyght After his father and lyke hym ryght And all folke shall he make go to That ymage worshyp to do ¶ The .liiij. questyon ¶ Why was it not goddes wyl That maÌ„ leuyd not a weke with one fyl HOnger one of the paynes is For syn that
dere Ony hous in erth haue here IN erth a how 's shal he haue That man afterward shal saue And that shal his spouse be For al shal be on it and he By the sacrament of his body That he shal make solempnelye Unto his apostyls at the mete And ech one shal therof ete And that sacrament that I the tel Shal in his how 's deuoutly dwelle And al of good conuersacyon Shal come vnto saluacyon Throughe the vertu and the myght Of that sacrament so dyght And al tho that are outfous And are spered out of that hous In payne of helle shal be shent But they come to amendment ¶ The CCC.xxxix questyon ¶ Shal his body euer dwellyng be In erth that men may it se HIs body shal euer be dwellyng In erth to the worldys endyng Upon a day as he shal His apostyls soupe with al He shal take the bred and blysse And say ete my body this ysse Than shal he take the cuppe in handys That with wyne before hym standys And blesse it and say them vnto Haue drynke this my blode also The selfe blode is it that I here make That shal be shed for mannys sake And throughe the vertu and the myght Of his word is there anon ryght His very body god and man As that he to say began And yf that sacrament ne wore His flesshe only and no more With out blod therto wrought His very body ware it nought Flesshe in leuyng man to be Without blode can no man se And there shal his dyscypyls take Myght that sacrament to make With word he shal them lerne thore That hym selfe sayd before And that body shal dwellyng be So that men eche day may it se ¶ The CCC.xl questyon Shal euery man haue myght therto His body for to make also NAy shal none haue therto myght But that therto are ordayned right That of his holy hous shal be Kepers and haue the dyngnyte And thoughe that keper bere hym yl And wyl not fulfyl goddes wyl Neuerthewors is that flesshe and blode Ne neuer the better thoughe he be good And who so taketh it worthely His sowle hele he taketh therby And he that vnworthely it taketh His owne dampnacyon he maketh For he taketh not goddes body But bread he taketh al onely The godhed that there was in God takes it to hym for his syn For so worthy a thyng as he In a foule vessel wyl not be And no more enpeyre ne can That same body a wicked man Than is enpeyred the sonnys lyght Of a warderobe that here is dyght ¶ The CCC.xlj questyon ¶ Tho that haue myght therto That body for to make also Shal they before the trynyte More than other worshypped be NO man shal there worshypped be For honour nor for dygnyte But with god he shal be dere After as he hath don here Thoughe goddys how 's wold hym chose Her kepar to bynd and lose His worshyp shal be neuer the more But yf he haue don wherfore And do he not aryght also As hym be comyth for to do He shal haue blame and payne withal Wel more than a nother shal For he that is made a hyrdar Of goddys how 's to be kepar His shepe must he kepe wel and know And by his owne lyfe them showe How that they theyr lyfe shal lede And them kepe from mysdede Wherfore yf he mysdo So moch more payne shal he go to ¶ The CCC.xlij questyon ¶ Why shal they euery day be wone To make the body of goddys sonne FOr thre thynges pryncypaly Shal a preest make goddys body For god and for hym selfe also And for the folke that se therto He that it sees hath mede therfore And that it takes moch more But he that receyuyth it vnworthely Hym selfe he dampneth suerly And the body ne doth it nought But hym that lewdly hath wrought In paradyse appyls many one Made god and wicked none And for an appyl that Adam dyd ete Was he out of that place bete And that was not for that That the appul was nought that he ate But for that that goddys bode brake he That hym defended had that thre So shal fare that Sacrament It shal cause no man be shent Agayne the deuyl strength shal it make Loke he be clene that it shal take ¶ The CCC.xliij questyon ¶ Tel me now what thyng is synne That many shal be lorne in SInne forsoth is ryght nought For that god neuer wrought God of heuyn made al thyng And al was good of his makyng And for his werkes good wore Synne is none of them therfore And for he made it not sothely In substance it is nought truly ¶ The CCC.xliiij questyon ¶ By what syngne shal men se Whan goddes sone shal dede be AT his dethe shal befall Syngnes many one withall For the sonne shal lese his lyght And become darke as the nyght The erthe euerydele shal quake That to folke great drede shal make Dede bodyes shal ryse hym with al The thyrd day when he ryse shal An astronomer then shal be In the boest and say shal he By the derkenes that he shal fynd That than dyes god of kynd ¶ The CCC.xlv questyon ¶ When goddes sone in erth shal dwel Of what vertue shal men hym tel OF moche vertu shal he be By his workes that men shal se Of his vertue he shal with ryght Ouercome the deuyl and his might His Glotony couetyse and pryde That the deuyl had spred wyde And al his myght dystroy he shal That he Adam begyled withal Fro feuere and other euyls fele Many men than shal he hele With fyue loues and fysshes two Fyue thowsand shal h◠fede and mo And .xij. lepys men shal fylle Of the relefe there that shal be stylle The prynce of his apostyls shal he Saue goyng vpon the see He shal cōmaund the wynd to lyth And it shal be styl also swyth To blynd shal he geue syght The croked ofte to go ryght Awoman that shal with heer grete And with her teres waysshe his fete And with her heer them wype and drye He shal forgeue her her folye A deed man that in graue hath leyn Foure dayes he shal areyse ageyne One of his dyscypyls shal bere A swerd and reue amannys ere The ere in his hand shal he take And agayne it hole make◠Al the prynces in helle that are Shal he cause to quake and eke care Whan he theyr gates shal come vnto And cōmaund them that they vndo That his are shal he take thore And sende them to blys for euer more ¶ The CCC.xlvj questyon ¶ Shal his dyscypyls ought also Do myracles as he shal do HIs dyscypyls throughe his grace Shal to many sycke do solace For he shal euer by them be They shal speke and worke shal he Many one with theyr techyng To goddys lawe shal they bryng A wicked man that tyme shal be And say that goddys sonne is he And begyn to ascend a hye
¶ The history of kyng Boccus Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men and in y e syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite dyd hym no hurt Also his diuynyte y t he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyō of the aungell Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber CCC lxv translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden out of frenche into Englysshe Sidrack Kynge boccus ¶ Iohn̄ Twyne to the redar THe profyt and cōmodite of this boke o gentyl and curteys redar is so euydent open that it nedythe no settyng out nor praysyng for dowtful thynges comenly be praysyd or despraysed be cause trewe iugment may be takē of them but thynges of opē goodnes nede no praysyng for with theyr goodnes they prayse them selfe as thou shalt fynd this boke the whych to speke truly can not be suffycyently praysed I had leuer therfore as Salust sayth of Carthago hold my pese and to speke lytel of yt but shortly to knowe somwhat of his matters in effect he showeth of goddys workes ryght as the old new testament in many volumes declareth Also natural phylosophy expressyng the causes with euydent ensamples of moch moralyte in geuyng good counsel and a delect betwyx good and bade truly more euydēt than euer dyd Plato Arystotyles or Cicero ī theyr manyfold workes he shortly techeth moch knowlege of physyke the dyspocycyon of cōplexcyons the alteracyō of ages with moch secresy of the yere greatly of astronomy course of heuyn planets with theyr respectes breuely and playnly that that ypocras Galyen or Ptholomy comprehendyd in great or iuste volumes Also moch worldly experyence Abundaūt in prophesyes how the maners of mē shal alter and the world shal be ended with his iugment meruelus exhortyng the people to eschew the fylthynesse of synne what paynes are ordayned for yt and the ioyes of heuyn Than is this boke necessary to al men For it exhortyth to wysdome good maners ensamples hystoryis wherfore it may well be called a boke of philosofye that is to say a stody of wysdome Than I coūsayle euery mā to rede this boke or that cannot rede to geue dylygent eere to the reder for they shal fynde therī great frute bothe to the soule and body ¶ Here begynneth the table of this boke ¶ Fyrst the hystory of Boccus Sidracke how by the power of god he dystroyed his ydols and by the counsayle of the aungel shewed hym the vmbre of the trinite wherby he conuerted hym and all his host Than gaue he hym enstructions and answeryd to dyuers questions that he demaundyd of hym ¶ The questyons ¶ Yf god be euer and euer shal be The fyrst questyon Where may it be that god of heuen may be sene ii Yf god be ouer al and euery where iii. Whiche was the fyrst thynge that god made iiii The kyng asked whan aungel was wrought v. Wherfore serue the aungels that are in heuen vi Do deuyls know al rhynge and may do al thyng vii What shape are aungels and what can they do viii Dyd god make Adam with his owne hand ix In what place was Adam made x. Whether went Adam when he came out of paradise xi Dyd Adam any other syn than that he the appul ete and goddes commaundment brake xii What dyd Adam fro god take and howe shal he amendys make xiii Why was not Adam streyght loste when he had that synne wrought xiiii Why wold not god send an aungel or a man to amend Adā xv Why shal god be borne of a mayden she styll a mayden xvi Why is deth called dethe and how many dethes there be xvii Sendeth god man knowlege what deth he shal dye xviii Whan the soule from the body departeth howe goth it to other place xix Whether were the soule or body made fyrst xx Whiche speketh in man the soule or the body xxi The soule that is a goost hathe nother flesshe nor bone howe may it fele well or wo xxii Whiche is more lord the soule or the body xxiii In what place of the body hath the sowle his dwellyng xxiiii Why is the soule no lengar in the body than blode is left xxv How may it be that the people so dye xxvi How may man know that god made mā to his lykenes xxvii Seyng man is made of goddes lykenes why may he not do as god dyd xxviii Where becometh al the blode of man whan he dyeth xxix Where becometh the fyre whan it is quenchyd xxx Why dyethe not the body when he hathe loste halfe his blode or more xxxi Of what complexcion and nature is the body xxxii Ware sowles made at the fyrst or be they made euery day xxxiii May they haue any excusyng that of god know nothīg xxxiiii Shal a man do more than god cōmaundyth hym xxxv How many worldes be there how do mē them call xxxvi Dothe god greatly rewarde them that ryghtly hys seruys here do xxxvii The people that shall be at the commyng of hym and that shall be after shall they byleue in hym stedfastly xxxviii What cōmaundment shall goddes sone geue the people xxxix The blesfulest fayrest worthyest thyng what is it xl The fowlest and most perelous thyng to se which is it xli Shal the good sowles sorowe for the wicked xlii Which is bettar of helth or sycknesse to haue xliii What poure hath god geuen to sowle here xliiii Whan goddys sone is retorned to heuyn shall he leue eny gouerner here to rule the people xlv Goddys how 's who shal kepe it and haue it in holde xlvi He that doth no good but holdyth him styl doth he yl xlvii Lordshype shal it be more of rygour or pyte xlviii Shal aman do good to his kyn or frendes xlix Wherof comyth gentylhed .l. How may it be cold whan the wether is fayr and clere li. May aman by eny tokyn know the good from the yl lii The beleue of ydols shal it be aresed after my deeth liiii Why was it not goddys wyll that man lyued not a weke with one mele of mete liiii Dye the rych men as the pouer do lv Shal men iuge the rych as they do the pouer lvi May wecked men euer get goddys loue as the good haue lvii How may the child that ful of loue is come out of the mothers wombe lviii May eny woman bere mo chyldren at onys than one lix Which is the best thyng that may be or man may haue lx What is the worst thyng that man may haue lxi How may aman be leel and trew lxii Wherof comyth hardynesse and dred in man lxiii Wherof comyth meselry or scalle lxiiii Ware al thynges of goddys makyng made at the begynīg lxv Who noryssheth the trute in erth lxvi The beastes that haue no wyt how wax they ragyus and mad lxvii What beast leuyth longest in
yf a man had here leuyd Trustynge as god hathe hym instructed And his coÌ„maundmentes all hath wroght And from the ryght fayth erred nought Whan his lyfe in this world endys And his sowle from the body wendys Of aungels a great company Gaderys them with melody Untyl hym that his keper was Reioysyng greatly at that caas Takyng that sowle with play and songe And thankyng god euer amonge Untyl heuyn therwith they wende There to dwel without ende ¶ Another maner of ledyng is Yf aman haue done amys And wyll not his lawe fulfyll But hath all his lyfe done yll And ageyne that he dye shall He repentys hym of all And vnto god for mercy cryes Whan that sowle from the body flyes A good aungell it taketh in hast And delyuer it to a wycked gost at last And he shall it forth lede Payne to suffer for his mysdede But whan he hathe bete it all And sufferyd that he suffer shall Then the good aungell hym taketh away And ledethe hym to ioye for aye ¶ The thyrd maner yf man or wyfe In synne haue euer lad theyr lyfe And goddes byddyng wold not fulfyll But dyd all theyr hartes wyll Deuyls kepe that sowle anon Whan it is out of the body gon And bere it to the payne of helle Without ende therin to dwelle ¶ The .xx. questyon ¶ Now wolde I wyte whether wore Sowle or body made before Fyrst the body is made fulfayre Of fyre water erth and ayre And the fower complexyons that are In man of thes fower they are Whan the body is made also Goddys grace comyth therto And blowyth in hym the goost of lyfe And after of hym made a wyfe Lorde and Syr he made hym be Of all that he in erth myght se But whan he the appul chose Clothyng of grace than dyd he lose Which hym greuyd very sore As ye haue herde here before ¶ The .xxj. questyon ¶ Which spekyth knowe wolde I The sowle of man or body NO myght hath the body Of hym selfe syk erly To speke to goo ne ought els to do But that the sowle hym geuyth to Men se ofre it chaunsys That aman on ahorse ryd yse And hym gydeth to and fro The way that he wyll go And the horse so compellede Goyth as the man wyll hym lede On lyke maner hath the body no myght Of spekyng of goyng ne of syght Nor of nought that he do shall But of the sowle it comyth all The body is of erth wrought And shall rote away to nought Therfore is he of feble ar nature Than the sowle that euer shall endure And the body ne is nothynge Unto the sowle but an hythynge Thou seyste well whan the sowle is gon A sowle caryn is the body on That speke ne store ought may Whan the sowle is gon away And by cause all thyng of the sowle is Therfore goyth she fyrst to ioy or blys And than felyth the sowle euerydele That the body doyth yll or well ¶ The .xxiij. questyon ¶ The sowle that a goost is on And hath nother flesshe ne bone ¶ Ne noght takys ne gyuys hym fro How may it fele other wel or wo A Goost is the sowle the soth to sey And neuer more may it dey Ete ne drynke wyll it nought And it is as swyfte as thought Felt ne sene may it not be Nor no stede may it occupe But whan the lyfe cometh to ende And the sowle shall fro the body wende Yf he helde goddes commaundement A clothe of grace to hym shal be sent Haue he be wycked ouer all A clothe of sorowe come to hym shall Throughe whiche clothynge fele shal he Ioye or payne whether it be ¶ The .xxiij. questyon ¶ Who is more lord of the twey Sowle or body thou me say THe body the more lorde is That ledeth the sowle oft amys But the more parell shuld abyde The sowle yf that euyl betyde As yf there were now yong men tway Goynge in a parellous way And that one be bolde and hardy That other a coward that goeth hym by The coward thynketh as he goes Yf agayne vs come any fooes This hardy man shall me out bere So that me they shall not dere Thus goyth the cowarde hardely The hardy thynkyth what do shall I This is a coward that goyth by me Yf other than good come he wyll fle And I shall mys hym whan I haue nede Thus goyth the hardy man in drede All thus farys it wyturly Betwyx the sowle and the body The body says I wyll haue quyte All my wyll and my delyte Whan I am ded erth shall I be What than shall I recke what is of me ¶ The sowle says a felowe I lede That me beryth feble felowrede For if there come eny aduersyte I shall it fele and not be Thus is the sowl in peryll ay For that the body holdyth play ¶ The .xxiiij. questyon ¶ Where hath y e sowle I the rede In mannys body his wonnyng stede IN the body euerywhere Wonyth y e sowle if blode be there Blode is wessel for the sowle truly And of the blode is the body And where as blode raynyth nothyng There hath the sowle no dwellyng As in teth and heer also In nayles and in hyde therto Yf you say lyfe is in tho For they may fele who doth them wo Therto lyeth answere good For theyr rotys touchyth blode Pare them and clyp them who thou wylt And come theyr rotys not vntyl Shall they fele it neuer a dele Whether thou doyst them wo or we le ¶ The .xxv. questyon ¶ Why doth the sowle no lengar rest In the body than y e blode doth lest Lyke it faryth I the ensuer As fysshe in apond of water puer Yf aman a goter make The water of that ponde to slake The water reÌ„nith small small Untyl it be ronne out all Than lye the fysshe of that ponde Betynge them selfe ageyne the drye londe And whan the water is all awey Than most they nedys dey Of the sowle it fareth so Whan the blode it rennyth fro As the blode out yssueth treuly So doth the sowle there wex feble quyely And whan the blode is out euery dele The sowle no lenger lyketh wele In that body for to dwell But departeth al so suell For his nature hathe he lost tho As fysshe whan the water is therfro ¶ The .xxvj. questyon ¶ I praye the nowe that thou me saye How it is that â—he folkâ— so deye AMan dyeth on many wayes Summe whan that his dayes That god hym set fulfylled are Than it behoueth hym nedely to fare Somme of outrage that they do As of mete and drynke also And destroyeth theyr nature So that they maye not endure Understande that no man maye Ouer goddes terme leue one daye But with outrage maye he let The terme that god hym haue set Some dyeth in batayle and in fyght With staffe or swerde as falleth lyght And on many otherwyse also Mo than I can tell
the vnto ¶ The .xxvij. questyon ¶ How may man wete that it so is That god made man to his lykenes WE fynde of antiquite In bokes y t somtyme had Noye That whan god of heuen kyng Had made beest and all thyng Thā sayde one of y e parsons thre That are in the Trinite Nowe althynge are made more and les Make we man to our lykenes And bycause he sayd make we Is to vnderstand that there ar thre And that he sayd is no lesynge Than are we lyke hym in makynge ¶ The .xxviij. questyon Sethen we of goddes lykenes be Why maye we not do as dyd he TO goddis lykenes are we dyght And therfore hathe be geuen vs might Aboue al other creature That he made here for to dure And for that likenes so know we All thynges that in erthe be We can labour worke and wynne And we knowe almes fro synne All creatures maye we take And our seruauntis of them make And al other thynges that ar nought Unto goddis lykenes wrought Haue no conynge ne myght therto To do thyngis that we do Ne commaunde vs they ne maye As we do them euery daye But thoughe we be of his lykenes We maye not neuertheles Be al so stronge and wyse as he For hys handworke all ar we He is maker of all thynge And we are of his makynge He is lord and we subiecte as a slaue And for the lykenes that we haue Yf that we do not yll Aungels nombre we shall fulfyll For other lykenes than his Were not worthy to that blys ¶ The .xxix. question ¶ Where becometh the blode all Of man whan he dye shall GOd made blode of water ryght And the body of erthe he dyght And as water in erthe synketh And the erthe the water drynketh For to mayntayne all thynge That waxeth and in erth sprynge Also mayntayneth trewly The blode that is in the body And whan the sowle departe shall The blode he bereth with hym all And whan the harte is fro hym sent The blode is into the water went And the body that is drye And rype may not longe lye That it ne drynketh the blode also As the erthe wyll the water do ¶ The .xxx. questyon ¶ Whan the fyre quenchyd is Whether becometh it tell me this OF the sonne the fyre is ryght Therof haueth he hete and lyght And he be quenchyd he shall go To the sonne there he came fro Thou seest the sonne that lyght maketh And hete also there it on taketh On nyght whan he fro vs is went All the hete that he to vs lent And thē lyght of hym also All dothe he take it hym vnto And ledeth with hym that he brought Fro hym departe ne maye it nought Also whan fyre is slaked here He withdraweth hym on the same manere Unto the nature for to go Of the sonne there he came fro ¶ The .xxxj. question ¶ Why dyeth not the body thore Whan he leseth halfe his blode more THoughe the blode be halfe aweye The body may not yet deye For the hete of the soule I wys That the blode by mayntayned is Departeth not so lyghtly And I shall tel the for why The lytell blode that there is lefte Maketh that the sowle fro hym is not refte For it maynteyneth the sowle styffely And the sowle the blode and the body The weke that in a candel is Whan it begynneth for to mys The fyre slaketh and is a waye Euynso it is here to saye Of the blode the weke I make And by the fyre the sowle I take Whan the blode awaye is all The sowle no lenger dwell shall But the blode comforteth hym so Except some other euyll it forthe do Dyeth he not so lyghtly But holdeth hym on lyue contynually ¶ The .xxxij. questyon ¶ Of what complexyon may it be The body and of what nature is he OF the nature of erth it is tolde And his complexyon is colde And than is he makyd yare Of the fowre elamentis that are Of the erthe is the flesshe And the blode of water nesshe Of ayre the sowle maked was And of fyre the hete he has Se thyn flesshe is of erthes kynde And blode of water as we fynde Bothe are they colde of kynde to fonde But sowle that is of goddis onde That ought to be clene and fayre And is hote of kynde of ayre That sowle abydeth in the blode And heteth it and doth it good And the blode heteth trewly All the lymmes of the body ¶ The .xxxiij. questyon ¶ Were sowles made at the fyrst for aye Or are they made yet euery daye ALl thyng that god thought to make al were at ons wroght That is to say at y e begynnyng That he befor sawe all thynge And one cōmaundmēt made he All that was and that shal be But I saye not that they were In the lykenes that they now are All thynges in hym ware enclosyd verely Untyll they come to theyr beyng apertly Than he shapyd theyr fygure Euerychon after theyr nature But he cōmaunded all to be At ones as we do se So at ones made he all thynge At his worde and his byddynge ¶ The xxxiiij questyon ¶ May they haue eny excusynge That of god know nothyng SUch as god knowe not here Nor hym to lerne wyll not endeuere At the daye of dome shall he Know them for none of his meyne And tho that byleue and wyll not do The werkes that belongeth them vnto That sympely them vnderstonde As symple men that are in londe Yf they dampned be therfore Turmentyd shuld they not be sore And they that haue good vnderstondyng Of god and do not his byddyng Fro payne they may them not defende But yf that they do here amende ¶ The .xxxv. questyon ¶ Shall aman ought els do But that god commaūdeth hym to GOd hathe kyndly made man To serue hym in all that he can And his commaundmēt to do And the deuyl to hate also And as we lordshyp wyl craue Of all thynges and theyr seruyce haue Euyn so wyll god on all wyse Aske and haue of vs seruyse And that we byleue on hym stedfastly And worshyp hym with our body And loue hym aboue all thynge For we are all of his makynge ¶ The .xxxvj. questyon ¶ How many worldes are of all And how do men them call THere are gostly worldes two And two bodely worldes also That one goostly heuen is There aungels are and all the blys And there the good generacyon Of Adam shall hereafter wone That other goostly than is hell There the deuyls in paynes dwell ¶ The two bodely is in our syght As sunne and mone daye and nyght And other thynges that we se That vs geueth claryte The tother trewly we can nat want The chefe thynge that we do enhaunte As the erthe that all thynge taketh And our wombe that nought forsaketh And fro the bodely that are Unto the goostly for to fare Whether it be lowe or hye Ne is it
yf they nought ne do As they other tech vnto Fouly they them selfe spyl And the candel lyke they are vntyl That lyghtes me and the ryghtwel But hym selfe wastes euery dele ¶ The CC.xvij questyon ¶ How is a man somtyme iolyfe And lyght of body al his lyfe SOmtyme begynneth iolyfte In mannys body to styre and be And that comyth ryght kyndly Of a yong blode in the body That of his mother toke it than Or he to the world came But than after his beryng Gatheryth he of mete in fedyng Anew blode and that steryth hym Somtyme in euery a lyme And the yong blode therwith Steryth in to ech a lyght The herte reuerdysse with al As that it of kynde shal So come in iolynyte Ey to that blode so steryng be But whan it begynnes to sesse The herte quyckly hath relesse Of iolynyte and fallyth thore In a sadnes as it was before ¶ The CC.xviij questyon ¶ May man achyld not get ryfe Ech tyme that he touches his wyfe IN this world man is none That myght get his wyfe vpon Achyld ech tyme ay That he with her lay Ne so ofte may no woman Conceyue of the seed of man Achyld forth for to brynge As he myght get it in pleyeng For she is coldar of nature And keelth to seed is no norture A lecherous man somtyme also That goyth tha◠worke moch vnto And trauayles hym euer ryght Of his reynes he lesyth myght Than is the seed feble and veyne And to engendure has no meyne As a woman seuen chaumbres has And in eche of tho parcas May she conceyue a chyld no mo And yet hathe she ynoughe of tho And were aman of suche powere To gete one whan he came her nere At eche tyme where shuld that wyfe Spere so many in her lyfe Also yf there be goten one The mother sperys vp an one And no more conceyueth she Untyl that same borne be ¶ The CC.xix questyon ¶ What is it and how gathers it so Mannys kynd whan it goth hym fro AMannes kynd that goth hym fro Gathers out of euery lym For when aman aboute his mynd With woman to done his kynd The hete of hym and the great wyl That he has his dede to fulfyl Causeth his body to swete witin Blode inward fro euery lym And that blode becometh al whyte And to the stones goth al tyte And from thens it issueth so Whan it comyth there vnto Another cause than is frotyng Of man to wyfe with great lykyng Longe rest also a cause is why And ful fellyng of the body From aman somtyme one of tho Doth it slepyng go hym fro But body trauaylyng and fastyng Wyl come to hym no such thyng ¶ The CC.xx. questyon ¶ Is aman bounde therto To loue his chyldren good them do AMan shal loue ouer al thyng God that is of heuyn kyng And hym selfe after that And his chyldren that he gat For they are fruyte of his body And for that ought he to loue them truly But he shal not loue them so Folyshly as many do For some are theyr chyldren louyng More than them selfe in some thyng For yf thou leue now for no synne Worldly goodes for to wynne And caryst not wher thou it take Theyr chyldren with rych to make In also moch thou louest them more Than thy selfe harken wherfore Thy wrong takyng makyth the That thou shalt dampned be And me thynke he louys yl That his sowle therfore wyl spyl Wherfore of thy labor dylygently Shalt thou fynde them mete truly And somwhat thou lerne them shal That they may after lyue with al And whan they can it let them go And purchase them with other mo ¶ The CC.xxi questyon ¶ Enchaunmentyng and socery Uayle they ought or are they foly THe body may they somdele vayle But to y e soule they do great trauayle And he that them worke shal Thre thynges most haue with al Fyrst behouyth hym to knowe a ryght The howres poyntes of day and nyght For go he ought there agayne Al his labour is in vayne The tother is he most of nede Geue great fayth vnto the dede And haue stedfast in his thought That the deuyl shal fayle hym nought Yet most he know astronomy Which shal helpe hym a great party But want he eny of thes thre His worke is nought but vanyte ¶ The CC.xxij questyon ¶ Which is the wightest beast y ◠is And most of sauyour tel me this HOunde is the wyghtest beast of al And the trewest on to call Lyghter no beast renne ne can Nor none louyngare to man And the sauourest is he Saue yf it the myre be For of al beastes the myre I wys Sauours most after that it is ¶ The CC.xxiij questyon ¶ Whether of the two may be Hyer the lande or the see LAnde is hyer of the two Els shuld the see it ouer go Lete a wessel with water fylle Euyn by the brynke standyng styll Yet shal the brynkes y e water hold But were it more vp it wold Renne ouer the vessel quyckly And there spyl truly Eueyn so it fareth by the see But yf the erth myght hyare be The see shuld it ouer renne That al the world shuld wel kenne ¶ The CC.xxiiij questyon ¶ Wherof snayles come wyt I wold And why they to the gras them hold OF the hete and the swote Come they of gras that is hote And for moysture hold they them so Unto the gras as that they do And al be it lothly to syght It is a worme of moch myght For who so knoueth wel the kynde Of great vertu he may it fynde Be encombred the brest of man That he his breth nought drawe can Who so toke the snayles than And fryed them wel in a panne With oyle of olyue where men it get And with hony gaue it hym to ete Tene dayes at euen and morowe It shuld delyuer hym of that sorowe And yf a whyte spote were In his eye the syght to dere And toke snayles and them dyd brynne Of that that is them with in And whan it is brent to cole also The tender parte so moch do thereto Of a roste leke and so moch yet Ofybenus a tree as men call it And bray it al to gether wel And after sarce it euery dele And vse it twyes or thryes a day The whyte spote shal go a way ¶ The CC.xxv questyon ¶ How slepe thes old men also As thes yong chyldren do CHyldren yong slepe for the grennesse Of theyr branes and the swetnesse For tender and lyght it ought to be As is the floure vpon a tre If a wynde theron blowe truly It fallyth of lyghtly Also is it of a chyld I wys Whan it of mete fellyd is An ayre smyteth there vpon Wherby it enclynes vpon one And slepes than and restes so Which is norysshyng there vnto An old man also slepe wyl As a chyld but by other skyl For feblenes of braynes slepys he As a rype appul
wymen of most profyte For man to haue to his delyte UNtyl sowle profytes none But amanys wyfe alone But of the body yf thou sey In the yere are sesons twey After which aman loke shal What woman he shal dele with al In wynter whan the ayre is colde And his keelth yeldes manyfolde A yong woman and broune also Profytes than man vnto For broune woman is of hote onde And of hote guttes fonde And her hete hetys man also And great profyt doys hym to In somer whan the ayre is hote And heteth both drye and wote Than is a yong whyte woman Best vnto profyt of man For she is colde of kynde to fele And man of great hete may she kele But an olde woman doth no profyte Unto man nother broune ne whyte For yl onde aboute she beres And moyst guttes that greatly deres She makys aman pure heuy And greuyth euery dele his body And doth chaunge his fayre colour Wherfore in her is no socour ¶ The CC.xxxv questyon ¶ The quakyng that aman is in Somtyme wherof may it begyn QUakyng that sometyme lyghtly Falles aman in his body Cometh of flemes that are colde That the moysture in his body holde For they ouer come of theyr â—ouste Al the colers that in hym be Whan the colers haue al in welde A great keelth in man they yelde That cold reykes forth ther with Unto synnes veynes and ech lyght Which causyth hym to quake begyn And the body shake within As the blast of a colde ayre wyl make A thynne clothyd man for to shake ¶ The CC.xxxvi questyon ¶ Whan aman seyth a thynge Whether geuyth the eye out in seyng Or it receyuyth inward therto The shape that it sees also NOthyng may come out owhore But there that it went in before Nor eye may nothyng geue outward But that it fyrst receyuyd inward Wherfore vnderstand a ryght Thre thynges go to the syght Fyrst that thyng that thou shalte se That other that it coloured be For of al thynges is seen nothyng But only the colouryng The thyrd are bemes of the syght Which vpon that thyng shal lyght That shal be seen and after this Moysture that in the eyne is Drawes vnto hym the shapyng And the facyon of that thyng And that shape yeldes it the branes vnto And the braynes to the herte also The herte sendys it to hym at the last And in memory holdes fast And for that sendyng wyl the herte Thynke a nother tyme ful smerte Of the thyng eyen had somwhore Seen truly therbefore ¶ The CC.xxxvij questyon ¶ How may aman spekyng be Be hym alone and say we AMan is made more ne lesse But after goddys owne lycknesse And also as in the godhed be Rekened ryghtly persons thre So there are in euery man Thre thynges that I reken can Body sowle and the wyt Thes thre are together knyt The tong an instrument is ryght To speke the sowle geuyth myght The wyttes gouern aboue al What so the tong speke shal And seyng euery man hath thes thre In spech may he wel say we ¶ The CC.xxxviij questyon ¶ May with takyng from the see It in any thyng amenysshed be THyng that men alday of take Behouyth to menysshe and slake Now is no water of al that be Fresshe nor salt but of the see And euery day men takys therto Both man and beast and fowle also And al that is taken euery day Ageyne to the see ne may There goyth of it to wast somdele As euery man may wyt wel But the erth yeldes waters her fro That vnto the see go And the see restores eft Of al that men hath it reft And it is so long and wyde And so greatly depe and syde That men may aperceue nothyng That therof goys to wastyng ¶ The CC.xxxix questyon ¶ Whether shal man loue one or other Chyld of the suster or of the brother BOth ought thou for to loue them euin After goddys ryght of heuyn But after the worldys lawe Some man were leuer to hym drawe The brothers chylde and loue hym more Than the susters harken wherfore The chyld takys matter of the wyfe And of the father shape and lyfe And shape of al thyng I wys Is worthyare than the matter is Wherfore that some men wyl sey The brothers chyld is nere of twey But gyle is on that other syde As men hath wyst it ofte betyde My brothers wyfe may be a wyle And may do her husbond gyle And wyt on hym achyld lyghtly That he no more gat than I But achyld that my suster bare Therof am I suer and ware That that behouyth to be kynne of nede But of my brothers chyld is drede ¶ The CC.xl. questyon ¶ Tel me now yf that thou can The peryloust thynges that are in man FOure colours hath man hym in That of foure complexcyons begyn The fyrst is blode that may not mysse That other blacke coloure I wysse The thyrd is fleme whyte on to se And yelow coloure the fourth is he And want aman of thes thre His body were deed anon And ech one behouys to be At his seson in his pouste And yf any lacke them al Out of tyme that they shuld in hym fall In sycknes the body falles Perylous wherfore men them calles And ech one hath his power In dyuers quarters of the yere Thre thynges the fyrst quarter ches Capricorne Aquarius and pisses And of flemes haue they myght And wete and colde is theyr ryght In December they begynne And in mydel of March they blynne Which is the coldest tyme of al For that is that we wynter call ¶ The seconde quarter next therby Haue Aries Taurus Gemini Blode in man haue they myght to And are hote and moyst also In March is theyr begynyng And in Iune is theyr endyng Uer hyght that seson that I mene Al thynges therin waxe grene ¶ The thyrd quarter hath hym vnto Cancer Leo and Uirgo And they are both hote and drye Of yelow colours is theyr maystrye In Iune is theyr begynyng ay And in September they wend away Which is the somer tyde The meryest tyme that men abyde ¶ The fourth hath sygnes thus Libra Scorpio Sagittarius They are both colde and drye And of blacke colour haue sygnorye Who 's begynyng is in September And theyr partyng in December And who so thes foure tymes obserues And his kynd wel in them gydes Fro perelles myght he kepe hym longe And in he le holde his lymmes stronge ¶ The .xlj. questyon ¶ Of al the flesshes y e men may get Which is the holsomest to ete THe flesshe that is of most substance And geuyth man most sustynaunce That flesshe is the holsomest And vnto mannys norysshyng best But who so a good stomacke myght get That myght wel dygest his mete To hym is best though it be grete Flesshe of bugle and of nete For great myght to man they geue But sycke men wyl they greue For a sycke man is feble ryght And
his stomacke is of no myght Wherfore moton is best hym to And yong chykens are good also For tendernes that men in them fynde And greatly chargeth not the kynde For a sycke man may suffer no dele Of that a hole man may ryght wel ¶ The CC.xlij questyon ¶ The mete that aman shal lyue by How departys it in his body SUstenaunce that aman take shal Gaderys vnto the stomacke al And with drynke synkes therin And than to seth wyl it begyn And whan it is soden wel And dygested euery dele In fyue partes deuyded it is And euery party goys vnto his The fyrst parte wylbe fall To be clenest and purest of al And that parte also smerte Drawes hym lyghtly vnto the herte That other part drawes hym also The braynes eyen and hede vnto The thyrd vnto the lymes shal And vnto the blode with al The fourth goyth there it is not spylt To the longes to the lyuer and to the milte The fyfte than is as brene of al Which wyl vnto the guttes fall And men cast it out therby That it helpyth not the body And dryuke departys also in man As I of mete to tel began ¶ The CC.xliij questyon ¶ How shal aman of his throte wyn Abone or a thorne styckyng therin By bred or lycour takyn fully And swelowed inward hastely And yf it synke not And wyl not throughe the throt Take of rawe flesshe a mossel And with a smale threde bynd it wel That mossel swalow with spede But in thy hande hold the threde Tyl it is doune hold fast And it shal that bone out cast If the thred breke do it efte Unto that it be out refte ¶ The CC.xliiij questyon ¶ The mucke that euery mā goyth fro Tel me why it styncketh so STynkyng is it for causes twey And which they are I shal sey That one for speryng of the body So y t none ayre may come therby I shal the set ensample how If a man toke ryght now A pece of flesshe neuer so fayre And spered it there it had no ayre And it lye hote sone shalt thou se That it shuld stynckyng be For the humours is another skyl That the stomacke draw hym vntyl Which ful byttar are and soure Salt and of euyl sauoure With the mete they mynge them al Whan so aman ete shal Great stench the mete of them takys Wherby as aman lyes it smakys ¶ The CC.xlv questyon ¶ Tel me now I praye the this Why mannys vryne so salt is BE thre thynges comys it to Why that it is salt also One is be cause aman that it drynkes In hym throughe the mete it synkes And stepes therin out to get Al the salt that was in the mete A nother cause also truly Is for the swote of the body The body swetys inward for hete And kyndly salte is the swete And that swet mengeles with the pyss◠Wherfore as salt it is The thyrd cause for the hete with in To seeth and boyle that wyl not blyn In the body both swete and drynke Or they may to the blader synke And for thes causes thre Behoueth vryne salt to be ¶ The CC.xlvj questyon ¶ Wherof euer wormes brede In man and how that they fede WOrmes are truly there brede And in mannys body fede Of the mucke of grossy metes That a man or woman etes And of the selfe lyue they wel Of the venomousest dele For as the adder and the pode And other wormes that in erth wode Fedyth the erth them verely Of the venom that therin doth ly Also thes wormes that in vs lye Clenses vs of great party Of euyls that shuld in vs make Uenemous metes that we take Neuerthelesse hurte they do There men hath them long also ¶ The CC.xlvij questyon ¶ How many craftes which are tho That man myght werst for go CRaftes foure in erth ere That men myght not wel for bere One is smyth another wryght That to men many thynges dyght The thyrd arte so is sowyng And the fourth so is weuyng After the tyme that made was adam Was smythyng the fyrst arte that cam Wherfore is it lorde of al For nothyng that to man shal fall Of werkyng lomes to worke with al That it through smythes handes ne shal Wryghtyng is also a conyng That myght not be foreborne be my iugyng For as for the yron steres the tre So most the tre helpe to the yron be For with out tre may no man wel Lyght nothyng with yron and stele Of sowyng as the world hathe nede With sowyng is dyght mannys wede Though man in lether shuld be clade Yet were it with out sowyng bade Also clouth is made ryght none But yf weuyng be there on Other many craftes there are But thes foure be the fyrst that ware And of al they are the best And to mannys lyfe of the surest ¶ The CC.lxviij questyon ¶ Whether shal ī heuyn haue more blys Chyldren that neuer dyd amys Or they that for god of theyr wyl Toke the good and left the yl CHyldren yong that dyd no synne Great ioy shal in heuyn wynne Ye theyr ioy shal be moch more Thā they here haue dōe therfore But he that is of age perfyte And knoweth thys worldes delyte And myght take al to his behoue And leuyth al for goddys loue Takyng penaunce on his body There he myght lyue esely An hundreth fold shal be his blys More than eny chyldes I wys For as achyld no yl can do So can it no good therto Mede is not ordayned alto tho That wickyd dedes are kept fro But that do of theyr wyl good dede To them so is ordayned mede ¶ The CC.xlix questyon ¶ How may aman on what manere Ouer come y e wyl of this world here HE may wyl ouer come euery dele And that lyghtly and we le If athyng fall in his thought That he wotyth good is nought And he haue therto great wyl It in dede to fulfylle Turne thy thought in that temptyng And begyn to thynke on other thyng Thy fyrst thought shal fal the fro And that wycked wyl thou shalt forgo But holde thou theron thy thought sore Thou delytes more and more And kyndeles euer as a glede Unto that thou come to dede And than falles thou in synne For thy thought coude not blynne But pyne the al that thou may For to turne thy thought away Anone shal it in the kele And no more therof shalt thou fele ¶ The CC.xlix questyon ¶ Tho that to paradise or helle go Shal they euer come out therfro AL that are in paradise Wold gladly out that be thou wyse But the soules that are in helle Wolde neuer out but styl there dwelle And I shal tel the for why Yf a lorde dwellyd here by And had dwellyng in a cete Two seruauntes of his meyne That one serued hym so aryght That the lord wardayne hym hyght Sone wold he haue his lord come agayne The tother were a wycked
that man is knowen by If it be fayre and semely A fayre man men wyl hym call And leue his other lymmes all And in a fayre vysage and whyte Hath aman moch delyte Wherfore in al the man not lyeth truly So cōly a lym as is a fayre vysage verely ¶ The CCC.viij questyon ¶ How shal aman lede hys lyfe That fyndes ama hauntyng his wife Fynde thou aman with thy wyfe Loke thou make w t hym no stryfe Preuely thou go thy way And nothyng vnto them say But afterward thou say her to That she no more do so Say she doth here selfe shame For in her lyeth al the blame There wold no man her come tyl But it were by her wyl Wherfore chastyse her courtesly And loke how she wyl do there by And she wyl not do after thy lore Of that vpbreyd her no more If thou smyte on the man a non Whan thou comest hym fyrst vpon And begyn to fyght also The deuyl procurys there vnto One of you may lyghtly the other slo And so encresyth sone thy wo Therfore thoughe it greues the sore Better the lasse scathe than the more ¶ The CCC.ix. questyon Shal men for tene or for lesyng Blame god of heuen in ony thyng GOd of heuen is so wyse That in hym no blame lyse But thākyng worshyp honour As to hym that is our creatour And yf thou for thy foly Fal in any malencoly Blame thou god therfore nothyng Blame the and thyne vnconyng Haue thou not as thy wyl wore Why shalt thou blame god therfore Thoughe thou pray god send me It may not at thy wyl be But yf thou trauayle for to lyue God shal helpe the for to thryue Were aman a water in That depe ware and coud swym And he cryed on god fast And ware perysshed at the last For defaute of steryng That he wold helpe hym selfe nothyng Wherfore blame god no man shuld He wold haue holpe yf hym selfe wold ¶ The CCC.x questyon ¶ Which is the sauourest thynge Of al that are at thy wenynge OF al thynges that euer be Is there none so sauoure Unto man beast and foule also As slepe is whan tyme is therto There nis nother mete ne drynke That sauoryth aman I thynke As slepe whan aman wold fayne No delyte is there agayne With out slepe may nothyng thryue Of al that euer are a lyue For that ordayned god the nyght Therein to rest and slepe euery wyght Slepe norysshes mannys kynde And beastes as that men fynde Man beast ne foule is none So iolyfe nor so wel be gone Hold hym fro slepe agayne his wyl Thou mayst hym sone spyl And cause hym to lese both flesshe and blode Be he neuer so totter and wode Wherfore is slepe sykerly The sauorest thyng that I wot truly ¶ The CCC.xj questyon ¶ Of what maner of what bounte Ought kynges and lordes to be LOrdes kinges ought ryght wel To be trewe as eny stele In worde ī werke to their myght And with iustyce deme a ryght Uyse them wel also to be Curteys meke and of pyte And to mysdoars neuerthelesse Stout to deme theyr wickydnesse For he may neuer god wel plese Nor his lordshyp in honour with ese That sparyth wickednesse to shent And god is not there with content They ought also to be doughty Wygrous and fers of theyr body Large and geuyng courtesly Theyr state may they maynteyne ther by To pouer they ought be mercyable And vnto the rych stable And aboue al thyng To worke the wyl of heuyn kyng For he hath them lordes set Good to do and yī to let ¶ The CCC.xij questyon ¶ Swete that cometh of the body How comes it wherof and why Swete kyndly cometh comenly Of wicked blod in the body That steryth somtyme and hath no roo And other humours hym mynges to And whan they to gether take Great hete in the body they make And that hete that is within Maketh the body as it shuld brynne And that body that is so hote Anon castes out the swote The kynd clensys ther with all But ouer moch hurte shall ¶ The CCC.xiij questyon ¶ Which are the best hewes that ere Of clothyng men for to were BEst hewes that may be To mannys clothyng are thre That are rede whyte and grene And for thes causes I it mene The red supposys regalyte And is colour of dygnyte It geuyth the werer moch blys And to the sonne lyckened it is Whyte wede is a worthy thyng And of aungels it is clothyng Hyt makyth hym mylde that it weryth And hewe of the mone it beryth Grene is a precyons colour And shuld be hold in honour Of al other most is it borne For gras tre and also corne And al that waxyth in erth by dene Al is it clad in grene And that most thynges are clad with al Dygnyest hewe men hold shal ¶ The CCC.xiiij questyon ¶ Seyng men grene a good hew call Which is the grenest thyng of al THe grenest thyng is water I wene For waters make al thyng grene And ware not of water the moystyng Shuld no grene thyng spryng Grasses that on hylles are standyng There no water is rennyng With rayne and dewes of the ayre Waxe they both grene and fayre And seyng grennesse is by watrys myght Than is it grenest with ryght ¶ The CCC.xv. questyon ¶ Tel me now so haue thou blys Which is the fattest thyng that is FAttest thyng that is of kynde Than is erth that men fynde For trees and al othere thynge Of the fatnesse of erth sprynge And ware fattnesse of the erth no whore Shuld they neuer spryng more Of the fatnesse of erth comyth al That they spryng and waxe with al Of erth take they theyr nature And els myght they not endure ¶ The CCC.xvj questyon ¶ Whether is bettar at the deth day Repentaunce or hope of blys for ay BOth are good soth to say Unto man whan he shal deye Repentaunce is good to haue But good hope shal aman more saue For euery man that deye shal May not repent hym of al For thy behouyth hym nedly Trust hym al in goddys mercy But he that in no hope is For to come to heuyn blys Shal he neuer come therin Be he neuer so clene of synne But he that hath al his trust That god is of mercy most That trust shal saue hym at the last Whan other shal be out cast ¶ The CCC.xvij questyon ¶ Shal men greue make euyl chere For aman that deyes here By kynde men wepe and make care Whan theyr frendes fro them fare Neuerthelesse the man that ay Hath kept goddys law I say Of his deeth no sorow is For he goyth vnto blys There to be for euer more Hym shuld no man sorow sore But he that in god trustes nought Nor his cōmaundment hath not wrought And dyeth so in that entent And is so to helle went For hym is sorow to make That he such lyfe wold not for