request With hert and will all that might be done As vntill her that might redresse it best For in her mind there might she find it soone The remedy of that which was her boone Rehearsing that she had said before Beseeching her it might be so no more And in like wise as they had done before The gentlewomen of our company Put her billes and for to tell you more One of hem wrote C'est sans dire verely And her matere hole to specifie Within her bill she put it in writing And what it said ye shall have knowing It said God wote and that full pitously Like as she was disposed in her hert No misfortune that she tooke grevously All one to her was the joy and smert Sometime no thanke for all her good desert Other comfort she wanted none comming And so vsed it greeued her nothing Desiring her and lowly beseeching That she would for seke a better way As she that had ben her daies living Stedfast and trewe and will be alway Of her felaw somewhat I shall you say Whose bill was red next forth withall And what it meant rehearsen you I shall En Dieu est she wrote in her devise And thus she said withouten faile Her trouth might be take in no wise Like as she thouÈt wherfore she had mervaile For trouth somtime was wont to take availe In every matere but all that is ago The more pity that it is suffred so Much more there was wherof she shuld complain But she thoght it too great encombraunce So much to write and therfore in certain In God and her she put all her affiaunce As in her word is made a remembraunce Beseeching her that she would in this cace Shew vnto her the favour of her grace The third she wrote rehersing her grevaunce Ye wote ye what a pitous thing to here For as me thoght she felt great displesaunce One might right wel perceive it by her chere And no wonder it sate her passing nere Yet loth she was to put it in writing But need woll have course in every thing Soyes ensure this was her word certaine And thus she wrote in a little space There she loved her labour was in vaine For he was set all in another place Full humbly desiring in that cace Some good comfort her sorrow to appease That she might live more at hearts ease The fourth surely me thought she liked wele As in her port and in her behaving And bien moneste as ferre as I coud fele That was her word till her well belonging Wherefore to her she prayed above all thing Full heartely to say you in substaunce That she would send her good continuaunce Ye have rehearsed me these billes all But now let see somwhat of your entent It may so hap paraventure ye shall Now I pray you while I am here present Ye shall have knowledge parde what I ment But this I say in trouth and make no fable The case it selfe is inly lamentable And well I wote ye woll think the same Like as I say when ye have heard my bill Now good tel on I here you by saint Iame Abide a while it is not yet my will Yet must ye wete by reason and by skill Sith ye haue knowledg of that was don before And thus it is said without words more Nothing so lefe as death to come to me For finall end of my sorrowes and paine What should I more desire as seeme ye And ye knew all aforne it for certaine I wote ye would and for to tell you plaine Without her help that hath all thing in cure I cannat thinke that it may long endure As for my trouth it hath be proued wele To say the sooth I can say no more Of full long time and suffered euerydele In patience and keepe it all in store Of her goodnesse beseeching her therefore That I might haue my thanke in such wise As my desert serueth of justise When these billes were rad euerychone The ladies tooke a good aduisement And hem to answere by one and one She thought it was too much in her entent Wherefore she yaue hem commaundement In her presence to come both one and all To yeue hem her answere in generall What did she then suppose ye verely She spake her self and said in this manere We haue well seene your billes by and by And some of hem pitous for to here We woll therefore ye know all this in fere Within short time our court of parliment Here shall be hold in our pallais present And in all this wherein you find you greued There shall ye find an open remedy In such wise as ye shall be releeued Of all that ye rehearse here throughly As for the date ye shall know verely That ye may haue a space in your comming For Diligence shall it tell you by writing We thanked her in our most humble wise Our felawship ech one by one assent Submitting vs lowly till her seruise For as we thought we had our trauail spent In such wise as we held vs content Then each of vs tooke other by the sleue And forthwithall as we should take our leue All suddainly the water sprang anone In my visage and therewithall I woke Where am I now thought I all this is gone All mased and vp I gan to loke With that anon I went and made this boke Thus simply rehearsing the substance Because it shuld not be out of remembrance Now verely your dream is passing good And worthy to be had in remembraunce For though I stand here as long as I stood It should to me be none encombraunce I tooke therein so inly great pleasaunce But tell me now with ye the book do call For I must wete With right good will ye shall As for this booke to say you very right Of the name to tell you in certainte L'assemble de dames thus it hight How thinke ye that name is good parde Now go farewell for they call after me My felawes all and I must after sone Rede well my dreme for now my tale is done The Conclusions of the Astrolabie This Book written to his Son in the year of our Lord 1391 and in the 14th of King Richard 2. standeth so good at this day especially for the Horizon of Oxford as in the opinion of the Learned it cannot be amended LIttle Lowis my sonne I perceiue well by certaine euidences thine abilitie to learne sciences touching numbers and proportions and also well consider I thy busie prayer in especiall to learne the Treatise of the Astrolabie Then for as much as a Philosopher saith hee wrapeth him in his friend that condiscendeth to the rightfull prayers of his friend Therefore I haue giuen thee a sufficient Astrolabie for our orizont compouned after the latitude of Oxenford Vpon the which by mediation of this little Treatise I purpose to teach thee a certaine number of conclusions pertayning to this same instrument I say a certaine of conclusions
supplien f. make entreaty supporaile upholder superlatife l. highest swyre b. neck swich b. such sweuen a dream swinker a labourer sawtry f. dancing instrumental musick or the instrument swilke b. such swolow b. gulf switch b. quickly swaine b. a servant swow a sleep swelt b. sowned swe rt d. sun-burned black swough b. sound swith b. swift swiftly swa b. also so swelwen b. devour swonken b. laboured swoll b. swelled swegh impetus b. force swelt b. die sykes sighs syker b. assurance steddy sykerd d. allied sye b. to fall syth b. afterward times T. Tabard d. A Jacket or sleeveless Coat worn in times past by Noblemen in the Wars but now only by Heralds and is called their Coat of Arms in service It was the sign of an Inn in Southwark by London within the which was the Lodging of the Abbot of Hyde by Winchester This was the Hostelry where Chaucer and the other Pilgrims met together and with Henry Baily their Host accorded about the manner of their Journey to Canterbury And whereas through time it had been much decaied it was then by Mr. J. Preston with the Abbots house thereto adjoyned newly repaired and with convenient Rooms much encreased for the Receipt of many Guests It is now the Sign of the Talbot tapinage f. secresie slilyness tailages toll customs tapes b. strings Taurs Mars therein Taurus being properly Venus house under the which Sign this woman was born Mars then ruling in the same prognosticateth great Incontinency tackle b. feather arrow taas f. d. an heap taboure a drum talages payments talagiers tole-gatherers tapite d. tapestry taling d. telling tales tacoy to pluck to or draw tabouren d. sound targe l. a target tatch tetch b. craft tatterwags b. raggs jaggs tale rayl tane b. take talent f. i. desire tassed b. tasselled tassey to aslay testes certain devices to try gold and silver testeres f. skulls sallets tene b. sorrow testifie f. wild brained teme an Ingot of metal teme g. a text termine l. to end terrestre f. l. earthly temen lay or bind temps f. l. time tell no store take no regard tetch b. a trick a stain frowardness tenhaunce set out tewell b. chimney tercelet d. Falco masculus textuele textele l. skillful in the text thrages busie matters Theophrast In his Book De Frugalitate else in his Treatise De Loquacitate mulierum therout without threke thrust thirled pierced thence catch find yet thanks acts enterprises labour reward thewes qualities thenne thence thilke same threpe b. affirm thare there also needeth thirled jugulavit strangled thacked b. beat smote thringing thrusting clustering together throw a short time thriueth b. springeth tho those although thascry outcry thorruke an heap thrilled killed thrope d. a village thankheeld thank-worthy theke such throw anger haste threst oppress thre mot the blast of an horn then although thonke held d. bestow labour or liking thopposite l. overagainst tholed b. suffred thauentaile coat of male thringe d. thrust thedom b. thriving theich plain smooth thore before threte curse threaten timbesters plaiers on sounding Instruments tid b. hapned befallen tiflers triflers tite b. befalleth tilleth b. ploweth tiren tear rent tides b. hapneth tissu f. a lace told took care made accompt tout b. hole * Tortuous Tortuous the signs are which are called Obliquae ascendentia that is all from Capricorn to Cancer So he calleth the Ascendent unfortunate because it is one of those signs and had at the same time the Lord of that sign in his fall which is in the Sign contrary to his exaltation toteth b. looketh tone b. claws * Tolitane tables Alphonsus tables to calculate the motion of the Planets for the meridian of Taledo towell tayle torcencions using extortion toder b. the other tomblesters tumblers told no tale took no care tole f. clout toy tournet f. a tower tort i. extortion torrets rings or the fastning of dogs Collars totti b. dizzie totoler prater Tramissene a City in Barbary in the Province sometime called Mauritania Tingitana or Caesariensis as hath Melanghton traue b. a trevis to snoo a wild horse in trate trot old drab transcend l. pass exceed trepeget an Instrument to cast stones trowen to trust trice pull trist meta a mark tressed broided up trentall thirty masses tresse funiculus d. the broiding up of the hair tretis streight trauers f. overthwart a curtain trip b. a piece trew truce trausmew i. change trill b. d. to turn to drop trenchant f. bending also sharp trayle f. an arbour trist l. b. sad also to believe traiâ—rie f. treason tregetor a iugler troce d. wreath or wyth tresses hair braids of hair truandise d. idleness trete handle trects streight treget deceit trophe i. victory tulsurelike f. tilekill-like tull lure allure twittel b. a knife twin b. depart also separate twiereth singeth twy d. two twynned b. parted twight b. pulled twyn to take away to depart to turn twifold d. double twitten b. carved out twist ramus b. a bow twist b. pinch hold twy tâ—â—y d. two V. Valerie and Theophrast Some will have us read Valery and his Paraphrast This Valery wrote a Book De non ducenda uxore with a Paraphrase upon it which I have seen in the Study of Mr. Allen of Oxford a man of as rare Learning as he is stored with rare Books His Name was Gualterus Maape Arch-deacon of Oxford in the days of King Henry the Second but changed his Name because he would not have the Author known and termed it Valerius ad Rusinum But yet there was one called Valerius who wrote a Book of the same Argument printed among St. Jerome's Works And likewise one called Theophrastus Eresius who among many things did write a Book wherein he reasoneth whether it be convenient for a wise man to marry Johannes Sarisburiensis in his Policraticon hath translated some things in this Book out of Greek and Latin as may appear lib. 8. cap. 11. De molestiis oneribus Conjugiorum out of which Chapter Chaâ—cer hath taken much for this Argument as may be seen in the Merchants Tale but more in the Wife of Bath's Prologue where between 30 and 40 Verses are translated from thence And if the whole Work at this day were by some sufficient Scholar translated it would deserve as much commendation as many Books which learned men not without great commendation have heretofore translated valence i. cloth of Valencia in Spain vapoured l. ascended vasselage f. service subjection van f. a fan vauesoure f. a Lord. Vernacle a cloth or napkin wherein was the figure of Christ's Face vernage i. sweet wine to be drank in Winter vent fore-part verge f. a garden vermell vermayle f. red ventosing f. cupping veiued weved put away verre f. glass vechons Hedghogs vecke i. an old woman veneri l. hunting Vigils It was the manner in times past upon festival Evens called Vigiliae for Parishioners to meet in their Church-houses or Church-yards and there to have a drinking fit
a Writer in Astronomy as of the Conjunction of the Planets c. Alanus among other things wrote a Book De Planctu Naturae B. Bocatius born at Florence in Italy set out many things in his own Tongue claruit 1375. Bernardus de Gordonio a Frenchman born Reader of Physick at Mount Pelier Bernardus Abbas Clarevallensis a Burgonian and a singular Divine set forth many things 1140. Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesarea 367. C. Cato a learned man among the Romans before the Incarnation 182. Corinna a Theban Woman and a Lyrike Poet she wrote 50 Books and Epigrams as Suidas and Pausanias report Claudianus born in Alexandria in Egypt among many things wrote a Book of the stealing away of Proserpina Crisippus did write a Book against the pleasure of the Body Constantine the Monk did translate and write many things in Physick and among other Lib. de coitu quibus modis augeatur diminuatur D. Dante 's Aligeras an Italian and born in Florence lived 1341. Dares Phrigius did write the Trojan War in Greek where he himself was a Souldier Ditis Historicus did write a Book of the Trojan War found in a certain Sepulchre Damascenus Presbiter did write many things in the Greek Tongue Dioscorides a worshipful Knight of Egypt wrote in Greek of the natures of divers Herbs He lived under Cleopatra and Antonius E. Aesculapius did write a Book of the original cause and descriptions of Diseases F. Franciscus Petrarcha an Italian born did write when Chaucer was a young man floruit 1374. G. Gatisden and Gilbertin Englishmen born and writers in Physick Guido de Columna a Sicilian did write of the Trojan War 1287. Galfride Vinesause was a Norman by his Parents but born in England he did write in his Book entituled de artificio loquendi by way of Example of Mourning under the Rhetorical figure of Apostrophe a complaint for the Death of Richard the First who was slain with an Arrow at the Siege of the Castle of Chalne in Normandy and lived in the time of King John An. Dom. 1210 Galenus a most singular Physician did write a multitude of Books 160. Gregorius Magnus did write much in Divinity claruit An. 369. Galfridus Monumethensis an Englishman born translated into our Tongue the History of England floruit 1152. H. Homerus the chiefest of all Poets wrote in the Greek Tongue two works the one called his Ilias and the other his Odyssea Helowis Maximinian Livian Aurora Zansis and divers others alledged by Chaucer have none or few of their works extant Haly wrote a Book of the Compositions of Medicines Hieronimus Stridonensis did write among other things a defence of Virginity in two Books against Jovinian Hippocrates Cous a most ancient Physician and Prince of all others lived in the days of Artaxerxes Hermes an Egyptian Disciple to Plato did write of many strange things I. Josephus wrote in Greek the Battel and Destruction of the Jews He was after the Incarnation seventy six years Johannes Damascenus a Writer in Physick 1158. Innocentius Papa born in Company wrote a Book of the happy state of Mankind Juvenalis a Poet which wrote Satyrs Justinian an Emperour of Rome who caused to be written the Books of the Laws called the Digests Institutions and the Code containing the Decrees of the Emperours He was after the Incarnation five hundred and seventy years L. Lollius an Italian Historiographer born in the City of Vrbine Lucanus a famous Poet that wrote the Battel between Caesar and Pompey M. Macrobius Aurellius wrote a Commentary on Scipio's Dream Marcus Aurelius Cassiodorus a Monk among many things wrote of the state of the Soul Marcianus Capella did write of the Liberal Sciences and also of the marriage of Philologi and Mercury O. Ovidius a famous Latin Poet and Orator advanced to be Senator of Rome He lived when Christ was conversant on Earth P. Petrus Alfonsus a Jew turned to the Faith before called Moses was baptised by King Alphonsus and bare his Name he did write many Books 1100. Pamphilus Presbiter Kinsman to Eusebius after much pains in writing suffered Martyrdom in Caesaria under the Persecution of Maximinus Papinius Statius a Neapolitan wrote of the Destruction of Thebes He lived under Domitian Ptolemeus lived in the Time of Anthony the Emperour he wrote divers works and restored out of Darkness the Mathematical Sciences Pithagoras an excellent Philosopher of Samos at whose Wisdom Plato did wonder He was before the Incarnation 522 years Petrus Cassiodorus an Italian a Noble man and learned did write to the Church of England and perswaded them to cast off their Obedience to the Roman Bishops and to beware of their Tyranny 1302. R. Rasis an Arabian Physician Rufus a Physician of Ephesus in the time of Trajan the Emperour S. Statius a noble Poet which wrote twelve Books of the Theban War Senior Zadith did write a Book of Alchimy Gesner Seneca a Spaniard born in Corduba a singular Philosopher did write many things he lived in the time of Nero by whom he was put to Death Serapion an Arabian did write of the Composition of Medicines Suetonius wrote the Lives of the Roman Emperours Strode a man of great Learning Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford 1380. T. Tertullian did write a Book of the attire of Women Titus Livius the most excellent Writer of the Romans History Tho. Bradwarden was Bishop of Canterbury who did write a Book De causa Dei contra Pelagianos and dedicated it to the Society of Merton Colledge in Oxford He did write many other Books one of the Trinity one of Predestination one of all Sciences one of the Principles of Geometry also a book of the Reward of them which shall be saved and another called the Sum of Divinity He flourished in the year of Grace 1270. Trotula set forth a book of the cure of Diseases in and after Childbirth Theophrastus Eresius Disciple to Aristotle writing a great number of Books hath one De frugalitate Tullius a Senator of Rome Father of Eloquence and pure Fountain of the Latin Tongue He flourished about forty years before Christs Incarnation V. Valerius Maximus wrote to Tiberius Caesar a Book of the memorable deeds and sayings of worthy Men. Virgilius the most famous Poet of Mantua whose Life Petrus Crinitus hath set down at large in Lib. 3. de Poetis Latinis Vitellio did write ten books of Perspectives W. William S. Aymour a Frenchman did write a Commentary on the Apocalipse much inveighing against the Pope and was therefore banished and his Books burned ADVERTISEMENT WHilst this Work was just finishing we hapned to meet with a Manuscript wherein we found the Conclusion of the Cook 's Tale and also of the Squires Tale which in the Printed Books are said to be lost or never finish'd by the Author but coming so late to our hands they could not be inserted in their proper places therefore the Reader is desir'd to add them as here directed Immediately after what
's and Petrarch who had done the same for the Italian Tongue Alanus for the French and Johannes Mena for the Spanish neither was Chaucer inferiour to any of them in the performance hereof and England in this respect is much beholden to him as Leland well noteth Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra poetam Cui veneres debet patria lingua suas Our England honoureth Chaucer Poet as principal To whom her Country Tongue doth owe her Beauties all Besides those Books of his which we have in print he wrote divers others as De Vulcani veru De Leone eius dignitate Comoedias Tragoedias Facetias Jocos Jack Vpland against Friars Now Printed And His A. B. C. Now Printed Others I have seen without any Authors Name in the hands of Mr. Stow that painful Antiquary which for the Invention I would verily judge to be Chaucer's were it not that Words and Phrases carry not every where Chaucer's Antiquity Mr. William Thynn in his first printed Book of Chaucer's Works with one Column on a side had a Tale called the Pilgrims Tale which was more odious to the Clergy than the Speech of the Plowman The Tale began thus In Lincolneshire fast by a fenne Standeth a religious house who doth it kenne The Argument of which Tale as also the occasion thereof and the cause why it was left out of Chaucer's Works shall hereafter be shewed if God permit in Mr. Thynn's Comment upon Chaucer and the Tale it self published if possibly it can be found Now concerning those Books which we have in print The Canterbury Tales for the most part were of his own Invention yet some of them translated and penned in King Richard the Second's Days and after the Insurrection of Jack Straw which was in the fourth Year of the same King for in the Tale of the Nuns Priest he maketh mention thereof The Romaunt of the Rose was translated out of French Troilus and Creseid called Trophe in the Lumbard Tongue was translated out of Latin as in the Preface to the second Book of Troilus and Creseid he confesseth in these Words To every Lover I me excuse That of no sentement I this endite But out of Latin in my Tongue it write Mary Magdalen translated out of St. Origen The Ballad Fly from the Prease made by Chaucer on his Death-bed The Letter of Cupid is none of Chaucer's doing but was compiled by Thomas Occleve of the Office of the privy Seal sometime Chaucer's Scholar The which Occleve for the Love he bare to his Master caused his Picture to be truly drawn in his Book De Regimine Principis dedicated to Henry the Fifth the which I have seen and according to which this in the beginning of this Book was done by Mr. Spede who hath annexed thereto all such Coats of Arms as any way concern the Chaucers as he found them travelling for that Purpose at Ewelm and at Wickham Occleve in that Book where he setteth down Chaucer's Picture addeth these Verses Although his life be queint the resemblaunce Of him that hath in me so fresh livelines That to put other men in remembraunce Of his person I have here the likenes Do make to the end in soothfastnes That they that of him have lost thought and mind By this peinture may again him find His Death GEffrey Chaucer departed out of this World the 25th of October in the Year of our Lord 1400 after he had lived about 72 Years Thus writeth Bale out of Leland Chaucerus ad canos devenit sensitque senectutem morbum esse dum causas suas Londini curaret c. Chaucer lived till he was an old Man and found old Age to be grievous and whilst he followed his Causes at London he died and was buried at Westminster The old Verses which were written on his Grave at the first were these Galfridus Chaucer vates fama poesis Maternae hac sacra sum tumulatus humo But since Mr. Nicholas Brigham did at his own Cost and Charges erect a fair marble Monument for him with his Picture resembling that done by Occleve and these Verses Qui fuit Anglorum vates ter maximus olint Gaufredus Chaucer conditur hoc tumulo Annum si quaeras domini si tempora vitae Ecce notae subsunt quae tibi cuncta notant Anno Domini 1400 die mensis Octob. 25. About the Ledge of which Tomb were these Verses now clean worn out Si rogites quis eram forsan te fama docebit Quod si fama negat mundi quia gloria transit Haec monumenta lege Now it shall not be amiss to these Epitaphs to add the Judgements and Reports of some learned men of this worthy and famous Poet. And first of all Thomas Occleve who lived in his Days writeth thus of him in his Book De Regimine Principis But welaway so is mine hert woe That the honour of English Tongue is deed Of which I wont was counsail have and reed O Master dere and Fadre reuerent My Master Chaucer floure of Eloquence Mirror of fructuous entendement O universal Fadre of Science Alas that thou thine excellent prudence In thy bed mortal mightest not bequeath What eyld Death Alas why would she thee sle O Death that didest not harme singler in slaughter of him But all the land it smerteth But nathelesse yet hast thou no power his Name sle His hie vertue afterteth Vnslain fro thee which ay us lifely herteth With Books of his ornat enditing That is to all this land enlumining The same Author again in the same Book My dear Maister God his soule quite And Fader Chaucer faine would have me taught But I was young and leered lite or nought Alas my worthy Maister honorable This Lands very treasure and richesse Death by thy death hath harme irreparable Vnto us done her vengeable duresse Dispoiled hath this lond of the sweetnesse Of Rhetorige for unto Tullius Was never man so like among us Also who was heire in Philosophy To Aristotle in our Tongue but thou The steppes of Virgil in Poese Thou suedest eken men know well inough That combre World that thee my Maister slough Would I slaine were Death was too hastife To renne on thee and reve thee thy life She might have tarried her vengeance a while To that some man had egal to thee be Nay let be that she knew wele that this I le May never man forth bring like unto thee And her Office needs do must she God had her so I trust all for the best O Maister Maister God thy Soul rest Dan John Lidgate likewise in his Prologue of Bocchas of the Fall of Princes by him translated saith thus in his Commendation My Maister Chaucer with his fresh Comedies Is dead alas chief Poet of Britaine That whilome made full pitous Tragedies The faule also of Princes he did complaine As he that was of making soveraine Whom all this land should of right preferre Sith of our Language he was
maketh rehersaile That this lady so faire vpon to se Of whom the name was Isiphile To Adrastus told as ye may rede Lineally the stocke of her kinrede Sometime how she a kings doughter was Rehersing to him all the halâ—e caas First how that she out of her countree went Shortly for she wol nat assent To execute a conspiracion Made by the woman of that region A thing contrary agein all right That ech of hem vpon a certein night By one accord shall warely take kepe Fader brother and husbands in her slepe With kniues sharp and rasours kene Kitte her thortes in that mortall rene Vnto this fiâ—e â—s Bochas tell can In all that land be not found a man But slaine echoue to this conclusion That women might haue dominacion In that kingdome and reigne at liberte And on no parties interrupted be But for this lady passing debonaire To this matere was froward and contraire Kept her fader that he was not slawe But from the death preserued withdraw For which alas she fled Countree And of a Pirat taken in the See To king Ligurgus brought in all her dred And for her trouth and her womanhed To her be tooke his yong child to keepe Which in the herber she left alone to slepe When Tideus she brought to the well And by â—ason some bookes tell That this lady had sonnes two When that he and Hercules also Toward Colchos by her countree came For raccomplish the conquest of the Kam But who that list by and by to see The story holle of Isophilee Her fadres name of which also I write Though some sein he named was Thorite And some bookes Vermos eke him call But to know the auentures all Of this lady Isophile the faire So faithfull aye and inly debonaire Loke on the boke that Iohn Bachas made Whilom of women with Rhetoriques glade And direct by full souereigne stile To faire Iane the Queene of Cesile Rede there the Râ—brike of Isophile Of her trouth and of her bounte Full craftly compiled for her sake And when that she her leue hath take Of Adrastus homeward in her wey Tideus gan her to conuey To the Gardein till she is repeyred But now alas my matere is despeired Of all joy and of all wilfulnesse And destitute of all mirth and gladnesse For now of wâ— begin the sharpe houres For this lady hath found among the floures How the Child was slain of a foul Serpent in the Herber Her litel Childe turned vp the face Slain of a Serpent in the selfe place Her taile hurled with scales siluer shene The venim was so persing and so kene So mortall eke the perilous violence Caused alas through her long absence She was to slow homeward for to hie But now can she but wepe waile and crie Now can she nought but sigh compleine And wofully wring her honds tweine Dedly of looke pale of face and chere And gan to rende her gilt tresses clere And oft sithe gan to say alas I wofull wretch vnhappy in this caas What shall I do or whider shall I tourne For this the fine if I here sojourne I wote right well I may it not escape The piteous faâ—e that is for me shape Soccour is there none ne none other rede Liche to my desert but that I mote be dede For through my slouth and my negligence I haue alas done to great offence That my guilte I may it not excuse Shal to the king of treason me accuse Through my offence and slouth both two His sonne is ded and his heire also Which he loued more than al his good For treasour none so nigh his hert stood Nor was so depe graue in his courage That he is likely to fallen in a rage When it is so mine odious offence Reported be vnto his audience So importable shall be his heauinesse And well wot I in verray sothfastneise That when yâ— queen hath this thing aspied To mine excute it may not be denied I doubt it nat there geineth no pite Without respite she will auenged be On me alas as I haue deserued That from the death I may not be preserued Nother by bill nor by supplication For the rage of my transgression Requireth death and none other mede And thus alas she quaking in her drede None other helpe ne remedy can But dreint in sorow to the Grekes she ran Of hertely woo face and chere distreined And her cheekes with weping albereined In hie affray distraught and furious Tofore al thoste she came to Tideus Fell on knees and gan her compleint make And told pleinly that for the Grekes sake She must be ded and shortly in substaunce Rehersing him yâ— ground of her greuaunce First how by traines of a false serpent The child was flaine when she was absent And when that he her mischief vnderstood In what disjoint and perill that she stood Vnto her full knightly he behight To helpe and further all that euer he might Her pitious woo to stinten and appease And for to find vnto her disease Hasty comfort he went a full great paas To Adrastus and told him all the caas Of this vnhappy wofull auenture Beseeching him to doon his besy cure As he was bound of equite and right And eke aduertise and to haue a sight How she quitte her to Grekes here toforne That they were likely to haue ben lorne The succour void of her womanhede For which he must of knighthood take hede To remedien this vnhappy thing And Adrastus like a worthy king Taquite himselfe the story maketh mind To this lady will not be found vnkind Neither for coste ne for no trauaile But besy was in all that might auaile To her succour considred all things And by thauife of al the worthy kings Of Grekes lond they ben accorded thus Princes Dukes and with hem Tideus To hold her way and all at ones ride To Ligurgus dwelling there beside Of one entent if they may purchace In any wise for to get grace For this lady called Isophilee They would assay if it might be And to his palaice full roially built of stone The worthy Grekes came riding euerichone Euery lord full freshly on his stede And Ligurgus example of manlyhede Anon as he knew of her comming Tacquite himselfe like a gentill king Agein hem went to mete hem on the way Ful wel besein and in good aray Receiuing hem with a full knightly chere And to Adrastus said as ye shall here Cosin qd he and gan him to embrace Ye be welcome to your owne place Thanking hertely to your high noblesse That so goodly of your gentillesse Towards me ye list you to acquite Your selfe this day your Cosin to visite In this castell to take your lodging That neuer yet I was so glad of thing In all my life and thereto here my trouth And euermore there shall be no slouth That the chambres and the large toures Shall be deliuered to your herberioures That euery
worthiness of Chaucer's own Praise nor the importunate Prayers of divers your loving Friends can yet move you to put into print those good Observations of him and Collections that you have gathered For as for the Objections against him that in our private Talk you are wont to say are commonly alledged as first That many of his Words are become as it were vinewed and hoary with over-long lying and next that some of his Speeches are somewhat too broad and plain and that the Work therefore should be the less gracious these are either no Causes or no causes sufficient to withold from Chaucer such desert of Glory as you may bestow upon him at your Pleasure It is well known to wise and learned Men that all Languages be either such as are contained in Learning or such as be used in daily practise and for learned Tongues they having Testamentario jure their Legacies set down by them that be dead Words must be retained and continued in them in such sort as they were left without alteration of the Testators Wills in any thing although in his choice it be that is to use them when to use or where to refuse them at his own discretion But in usual Languages of common Practise which in choice of Words are and ever will be subject unto change never standing at one stay but sometimes casting away old Words sometimes renewing of them and always framing of new no man can so write as that all his Words may remain currant many Years Which thing Horace in his Book De arte Poetica precisely noteth in these Verses Vt silvae foliis pronos mutantur in annos Prima cadunt ita verborum vetus interit aetas Et juvenum ritu florent modo nata vigentque Debemur morti nos nostraque c. Whereby he declareth that Words in common Tongues like unto Leaves must of necessity have their Buddings their Blossomings their Ripenings and their Fallings and Chaucer most excellently also himself in true foresight hereof in these Verses of his I know that in fourme of speech is chaunge Within a hundreth yeere and wordes tho That hadden price now wonder nice and straunge Think we them and yet they spake them so And sped as well in love as men now do And therefore impossible it was that either Chaucer could or any man living can keep Words of unlearned Tongues from falling after so long a time And this hath happened amongst the Latin Writers themselves when theirs was a spoken Tongue as ours now is who though they first made their own Words and gave them their Allowance yet divers of Cecilius Statius Ennius and Plautus were by latter Latinists rejected and now again many of them by the last Writers of all though before as it were by Proclamation put down for baseness are upon a new touch warranted for good and pass abroad as Sterling But so pure were Chaucer's Words in his days as Lidgate that learned Man calleth him The Load-star of the English Language and so good they are in our days as Mr. Spencer following the Counsel of Tully in his Third Book De Oratore for reviving of ancient Words hath adorned his Stile with that Beauty and Gravity that Tully there speaks of and his much frequenting of Chaucer's ancient Words with his excellent imitation of divers Places in him is not the least help that hath made him reach so high as many learned men do think that no Poet either French or Italian deserves a second place under him And furthermore by your Interpretation of the unusual Words that ancient Hardness and Difficulty is made most clear and easie and in the Pains and Diligence you have used in collecting his Life methinks you have bestowed upon him as favourable Graces as Medea did upon Aeson for you have restored us Chaucer both alive again and young again and delivered many from the erroneous Conjectures they conceived of him And therefore though every thing be not perfect to your own mind for Desires be endless and nothing can be at one time both begun and perfected yet since you have opened the way to others and attempted that which was unattempted before you your Endeavours herein cannot but be well accepted unless of such as have better Will without just cause to reprove others than either Wit or Skill to do well themselves Touching the Incivility Chaucer is charged withal what Roman Poet hath less offended this way than he Virgil in his Priapus is worse by a thousand Degrees and Ovid in his Book De Arte Amandi and Horace in many Places as deep as the rest but Catullus and Tibullus in unclean Wantonness beyond measure pass them all Neither is Plautus nor Terence free in this behalf But these two last are excused above the rest for their due Observation of Decorum in giving to their Comical Persons such manner of Speeches as did best fit their Dispositions And may not the same be said for Chaucer How much had he swarved from Decorum if he had made his Merchant his Miller his Cook his Carpenter tell such honest and civil Tales as were told of his Knight his Squire his Lawyer and his Scholar But shewing the disposition of the baser sort of People he declareth in their Prologues and Tales That their chief Delight was in undecent Speeches of their own and in their false Defamations of others as in these Verses appeareth Let be thy leud dronken Harlotry It is a sinne and eke a great folly To apairen any man or him defame And eke to bring wives in such blame And in excuse of himself for uttering those broad Speeches of theirs he useth these Words But first I pray you of your curtesie That ye ne arette it not my follie Though that I plainly speake in this mattere To tellen you her words and eke her chere Ne though I speake her words properly For this ye knowen as well as I Who shall tellen a tale after a man He mote rehearse as nye as ever he can Everich worde if it been in his charge All speake he never so rudely ne large Or els he mote tellen his tale untrue Or feine things or find words newe And in another place Deemeth not for Gods love that I say Of evil entent but that I mote rehearce Her tales all been they better or werce Or els falsen some of my matere The wise Plato saieth as ye mowe rede The worde must needs acord with the dede It men should tell properly a thing The word must cosin be to the working For no man can imagine in his so large compass purposing to describe all English-mens Humours living in those days how it had been possible for him to have left untouch'd their filthy Delights or in discovering their desires how to have express'd them without some of their Words And now to compare him with other Poets His Canterbury Tales contain in them almost the same Argument that is handled in Comedies His
called John Gower It seemeth that Chaucer was of the Inner Temple for not many Years since Master Buckley did see a Record in the same House where Geffrey Chaucer was fined two Shillings for beating a Franciscan Friar in Fleet-street Thus spending much time in the Universities France Flanders and Inns of Court he proved a singular man in all kind of Knowledge His Marriage HE matched in Marriage with a Knights Daughter of Henault called Paon de Ruet King of Arms as by this Draught appeareth taken out of the Office of the Heralds This Gentlewoman whom he married whose Name we cannot find as it may be gathered by Chaucer's own Words in his Dream was Attendant on Blanch the Dutchess in the Duke of Lancaster's House as also her Sister Katharine was or else waited on the Dutchess Maud Sister of Blanch who was married to William Duke of Bavare Earl of Henault Zeland and Holland But howsoever it was by this Marriage he became Brother-in-Law to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as hereafter appeareth Stemma peculiare Gaufredi Chauceri Poetae celeberrimi Paganus de Rouet Hannoniensis aliter dictus Guien Rex Armorum Catherina de Rouet à priore marito Hugone Swinford Equite cognominata Swinford Quae postea renupta Johanni Gandavensi tertii Edovardi Regis filio Lancastriae Duci illi procreavit filios tres unicam filiam Gaufredus Chaucer Poeta celeber sui saeculi ornamentum ac decus ingens Altera filiarum cohaeredum Guienni Armorum Regis cujus Nomen non editur Thomas Chaucer Armiger dominus Manerii de Ewhelm in Oxoniensi Comit. William de la Pole Comes Marchio postea Dux Suffolciae Alicia unica filia haeres Thomae Chaucer ter nupta Johanni Philip. equiti deinde comiti Sarum postea Will. Com. Suff. Johannes de la Pole Dux Suffolciae Edmundus de la Pole Comes Suffolciae ultimus ex hac stirpe attinctus tempore Regis Hen. 7. Johannes Burg hershe Miles Matildis filia William Kerdeston Militis Johannes Burghershe Miles Imania filia natu maxima una haeredum Simonis Hannap vel Hanning de Comit. Glouc. Matildis filia cohaeres Johannis Burghershe Militis Margareta altera filiarum haeredum Johannis Burghershe nupta Johanni Arundel de Com. Cornubiae Johannes Arundell Hinc descendit hodiernus Johannes Arundel His Children with their Advancement IT should seem that Geffrey Chaucer had another Son besides Thomas for in the Preface to the Astrolabe writeth to one whom he calleth his little Son Lewis yet some hold opinion but I know not upon what Grounds that Thomas Chaucer was not the Son of Geffrey Chaucer but rather some Kinsman of his whom he brought up But this Pedigree by the hands of Master Glover alias Somerset that learned Antiquary as also the Report of Chronicles shew it to be otherwise Some say that in recompence of Chaucer's Service in France being sent thither Ambassador Edward the Third gave him this Maud Daughter and Heir of Sir John Burghershe Knight whom he married to Thomas Chaucer his Son to the great increase of his Living and amendment in Blood This Thomas Chaucer besides his own Inheritance of Ewelm and Dunnington Castle which M. England's most excellent Antiquiographer termeth Quondam Chauceri postea Delapolorum Castellum exiguum was divers ways preferred as out of Records in the Tower of London here we may partly see Vicesimo secundo Rich. secundi viginti Marcae datae Thomae Chaucer per ann durante vita Anno primo Henrici quarti idem donum viginti Marcarum confirmatum Thomas Chaucer primo anno Henrici sexti capitalis Pincerna Regis Angliae Thomas Chaucer Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Barkshire and Constable of Wallingford-Castle and Knaresborow Castle and the Forest of Knaresborow during Life Queen Jane Wife to Henry the Fourth the twelfth year of his Reign gave to Thomas Chaucer for his good Service Manerium de Woodstock Hannebrough Wotton Stuntesfield cum omnibus membris Hamlet suis durante vita Thomas Chaucer the last Heir male of the Chaucers and Owner of Ewelm and Dunnington Castle the Inheritance of the Chaucers lieth buried in a black Marble Tomb in a fair Chappel in the Parish-Church of Ewelm in the south side of the Quire with this Epitaph Hic jacet Thomas Chaucer Armiger quondam dominus istius villae patronus istius Ecclesiae qui obiit 18 die Mensis Novemb. Anno Dom. 1434. Matildis uxor ejus quae obiit 28 die Mensis Aprilis Anno Dom. 1436. Thomas Chaucer had one only Daughter named Alice married thrice first to Sir John Phillip Knight then to Thomas Mountacute Earl of Salisbury and the third time to William de la Pole Earl and after Duke of Suffolk who for love of his Wife and commodity of her Lands fell much to dwell in Oxfordshire and Barkshire where his Wives Lands lay Between them they had a Son called John as appeareth in the Book of the Foundation of the Hospital of Ewelm which is to be seen in Mr. Stow's Library where the Master Minister and the poor Men are enjoyned to gather themselves at appointed times about the Tomb of Thomas Chaucer and Maud his Wife Father and Mother of the Dutchess and there to say certain Prayers appointed which being ended one of them is to say openly in the English Tongue God save in Body and Soul our sovereign Lord the King my Lord William Duke of Suffolk my Lady Alice Dutchess of Suffolk his Wife our Foundress my Lord John their Son and all Christian People the Brethren answering Amen This is added because some have held that she never had Child but that the Duke had this Son by another Wife although indeed the descending of the Chaucers Lands to the Poles and after to the King might sufficiently confute them But what is it wherein some will not cavil This William and his Wife increased the Manor Place of Ewelm and builded there a Parish-Church and an Hospital called Gods-house for two Priests and thirteen poor men to be sustained for ever One of the Priests to be Master of the Alms-house and Alms people them to instruct the other Priest a School-master freely to teach the Children of the Tenants of the said Lordship their Grammar and either of them to have ten Pounds by the Year Also one of the poor men to be called Minister to present the Faults of the other to the Master and to ring their common Bell to Service and to have sixteen Pence the Week and the rest fourteen Pence To the which House they gave the Manors of Ramridge in Hampshire Conock in Wiltshire and Mersh in Buckinghamshire They also founded an Hospital at Donnington Castle J. St. This Alice Wife of Duke William surviving her Husband was after buried in the Parish Church of Ewelm on the South-side of the high Altar in a rich Tomb of Alabaster with an
his brothers bed he commen is And such comfort he yaue him for to gone To Orleaunce that he up stert anone And on his way then is he forth yfare In hope to been lessed of his care When they were comen almost to yâ— citee But if it were a two furlong or three A yong clerke roming by himselfe they met Which that in Latine thriftily hem gret And afterward he saied a wonder thing I know the whole cause of your comming And ere they farther any foot went He told hem all that was in her intent This Briton clerke asked him of fellowes The which he had knowen in old daies And he answerd him that they dead were For which he wept oft full many a tere Doune off his horse Aurelius light anon And with this Magician forth is he gon Home to his house and made him well at ese Hem lacked no vitaile that hem might plese So well araied an house as there was one Aurelius in his life saw neuer none He shewed him or he went to suppere Forrests and parkes full of wild dere He saw there Harts with hornes hie The greatest that euer were seene with eie He see of hem an hundred slaine with hounds And some of arows bled with bitter wounds He saw when voided were the wild dere These fauconers upon a faire riuere That with the haukes han the Heron slaine Tho saw he knights iusting in a plaine And after this he did him such pleasaunce That he him shewed his lady in a daunce On which himself daunced as him thought And when this master that this magike wrouÈt Saw it was time he clapped his honds to And farewell our revel all was ago And remeued neuer out of his hous While they saw all this sight maruellous But in his studie there his bookes bee They saten still no wight but they three To him this maister called his squier And saied him thus is ready our supper Almost an hour it is I vndertake Sithen I you bad our supper ready make When that these worthy men went with me Into my studie there as my bookes be Sir qd the squier when it liketh you It is all ready though ye woll right now Goe we sup then qd he for the best These amorous folk somtime mote haue rest And after supper fell they in treate What sum should this maisters guerdon be To remeue all the rockes of Britaine And eke from Girond to the mouth of Saine He made it strange swore so God him saue Lesse than a thousand pound would he not haue Ne gladly for that sum nold he it done Aurelius with blisfull heart anone Answerd thus Fie on a thousand pound This wide world which men say is round I would it yeue if I were lord of it This bargaine is full driue for we be knit Ye shall be paied truely by my trouth But looke now for no negligence or slouth Ne tarien vs here no lenger than to morow Nay qd this clerk here my trouth to borow To bed is gone Aurelius when him lest And well nigh all night he had his rest What for his labour and his hope of blisse His wofull heart of pennaunce had a lisse Vpon the morrow when that it was day Home to Britaine tooke they the right way Aurelius and this Magicine him beside And been discended there they would abide And this was as the booke doth remember In the cold frostie season of December Phebus waxed old and hewed like laton That afore in his hot declination Shone as the brenning gold with streames bright But now in capricorne adoune he light Whereas he shone full pale I dare well saine The bitter frost with the slidder raine Destroyed hath the greene in euery yerd Ianus sit by the fire with double berd And drinketh of his bugle horne the wine Beforn him stout brawne of the tusked swine And nowell crieth euery lustie man Aurelius in all that euer he can Doeth to this maister chere and reuerence And praieth him to doen his deligence To bringen him out of his paines smart Or with a swerd that he would slit his hart This clerke such routh hath on this man That night day he speedeth him with he can To wait a time of his conclusion This is to say to make illusion Or such an apparence of iogglerie I ne can no termes of Astrologie That she and every wight should wene say That of Britaine the rockes were away Or els they were sonken vnder the ground Till at the last he hath his time yfound To make his yapes and his wretchednesse Of such superstitious cursednesse His tollitan tables he forth brought Full well corrected him lacked nought Neither his collect ne his expans yeres Ne his roots ne yet his other geres As been his centris and his argumentes And his proportionell conuenientes For his equations in euery thing And by his eight speres in his werking He knew full well how far alnath was shoue Fro the head of thilke fixt Aries aboue That in the ninth spere considered is Full subtilly he had calked all this And when he had found his first Mansion He knew the remnaunt by proportion And knew the rising of the Moone we le And in such face the terme and euery dele And knew also his other obseruaunces For such illusions and such mischaunces As Heathen folke vsed in thilke daies For which ne maked he no lenger delaies But through his magick for a weeke or tway It seemed that all the rockes were away Aurelius which that dispaired is Whether he shall haue his loue or fare amis Awaiteth night and day on this miracle And when he knew there was none obstacle But that voided were these rocks euerichone Doune to the maisters feet he fell anone And saied I wofull wretch Aurelius Thanke you lord and lady mine Venus That me hath holpen fro my cares cold And to the temple his way forth hath he hold Whereas he knew he should his lady see And when he saw his time anon right hee With dreadfull hart and with humble chere Salued hath his soueraigne lady dere My rightfull lady qd this wofull man Whom I serue and loue as I best can And lothest were of all this world displease Nere it that I for you haue such disease That I must die here at your feet anon Nought would I tell how wo in me begon But certes either must I die or plaine Ye slea me guiltlesse for very paine But of my death though ye haue no routh Auisen you ere that ye breake your trouth Repenteth you for that like God aboue For ye slea me because that I you loue For Madame well ye wot that ye haue hight Nut that I chalenge any thing of right Of you my soueraigne lady but of your grace But in a garden yonde in such a place Ye wote right well what ye behight me And how in my hond your trouth plight ye To loue me best God wote ye saied so
This priest tooke vp this siluer teine anon And then said the Chanon let us gon With these three teines which we han wrouÈt To some Goldsmith and wete if it be ought For by my faith I nold for my hood But if it were siluer fine and good And that as swithe well proued shall be Vnto the Goldsmith with these teines three They went and put them in assaie To fire hammer might no man saie nay But they were as them ought for to be This sotted priest who was gladder than he Was neuer birde gladder ayenst the day Ne Nightingale ayenst the ceason of May Was neuer none that list better to sing Ne lady lustier in carolling And for to speake of loue and womanhede Ne knight in armes to doen a hardy dede To stonden in grace of his lady dere Than had this priest this craft now to lere And to the Chanon thus he spake and said For the loue of God that for us all deid And as I may deserue it vnto you What shall this receit cost telleth me now By our Lady qd this Chanon it is dere I warne you well saue I and a Frere In England there can no man it make No force qd he now sir for Gods sake What shall I pay tell me I you pray I wis qd he it is full deare I say Sir at one worde if that ye list it haue Ye shall pay fourtie pound so God me saue And nere the friendship that ye did er this To me ye shoulden pay more iwis This priest the sum of fortie pound anon Of nobles fet and told hem euerichon To this Chanon for this ilke receit All his worching was fraud and deceit Sir priest he said I keep for to haue no loos Of my craft for I would it were kept cloos And as you loue me keepeth it secre For and men know all my subtilte By God men would haue so great enuie To me because of my Philosophie I should be dead there were none other way God it forbid qd the priest what ye say Yet had I leuer spend all the good Which that I haue or els waxe I wood Than that ye should fallen in such mischefe For your good will haue ye right good prefe Qd. the Chanon farewell graunt mercie He went his way the priest neuer him seie After that day when that this priest should Maken assay at such time as he would Of this receit farewell it nold not be Lo thus beyaped and beguiled was he Thus maketh he his introduction To bring folke to her destruction * Considereth sirs how in each estate Betwixt men and gold there is debate So ferforth that vnneths there is none This multiplying blindeth so many one That in good faith I trow that it be The greatest cause of such scarsite These philosophers speaken so mistily In this craft that men cannot come thereby For any wit that men haue now adaies They may wel chattre iangle as do the iaies And in her tearmes set her lust and paine But to her purpose shull they neuer attaine * A man may lightly learne if he haue ought To multiplie bring his good to nought Lo such a lucre is in this lusty game A mans mirth it woll turne all to grame And emptien also great heauy purses And maken folke to purchase curses Of hem that han also her good ylent O fie for shame they that han be brent Alas cannot they flie the fires hete Ye that it vsen I rede that ye it lete Least ye lesen all for bet than neuer is late Neuer to thriue were too long a date Though that ye prolle aye ye shall it neuer find * Ye ben as bold as is bayard the blind That blondereth forth perill casteth none He is as bold to renne ayenst a stone As for to goe beside in the way So faren ye that multiplien I say If that your eyen cannot seene aright Looketh that your mind lacke not his sight For though ye looke neuer so broad stare Ye shall not win a mite in that chaffare * But wast all that ye may repe and renne Withdraw the fire least it too fast brenne Medleth with that art no more I meane For if ye done your thrift is gone full cleane And right as swithe I woll you tellen here What that the philosophers sain in this matere Lo thus saith Arnolde of the new toun As his Rosarie maketh mentioun He saith right thus withouten any lie There may no man Mercurie mortifie But if it be with his brothers knowledging Lo how that he which first said this thing Of Philosophers father was Hermes He saith how that the dragon doutles Ne dieth not but if he be slaine With his brother And this is for to saine By the dragon Mercury and none other He vnderstood that brimstone was his brother That out of Sol and Luna were ydraw And therefore said he take heed to my saw Let no man busie him this art for to seech But he that the entention and speech Of Philosophers vnderstond can And if he doe he is a leaud man For this science and this cunning qd he Is of the secre of the secres parde Also there was a disciple of Plato That on a time said his maister to As his booke Senior woll beare witnesse And this was his demaund in soothfastnesse Tell me the name of the priuy stone And Plato answerd vnto him anone Take the stone that Titanos men name Which is that qd he Magnetia is the same Said Plato ye sir and is it thus This is ignotum per ignotius What is Magnetia good sir I you pray It is a water that is made I say Of the elements foure qd Plato Tell me the roche good sir qd he tho Of that water if it be your will Nay nay qd Plato certaine that I nill The Philosophers were ysworne eachone That they should discouer it vnto none Ne in no booke it write in no manere For vnto Christ it is so lefe and dere That he woll not that it discouered be But where it liketh to his deitie Man to enspire and eke for to defend When that him liketh lo this is his end Then conclude I thus sens that God of heuen Ne will not that the Philosophers nemen How that a man shall come unto this stone I rede as for the best let it gone * For who so maketh God his aduersary As for to werch any thing in contrary Vnto his will certes neuer shall he thriue Though that he multiply tearme of his liue And there a point for ended is my tale God send euery true man bote of his bale ¶ The Doctor of Physicks Prologue WHen this yeoman his tale ended had Of this false Chanon which was so bad Our host gan say truly and certaine This priest was beguiled sooth for to saine He wened for to be a Philosopher Till he right no gold left in his cofer And soothly this
hastinesse For certes ye may not deme for the best a suddain thought that falleth in your heart but ye must advise you on it full oft For as yee have heard here before the common proverb is this * He that sone deemeth sone repenteth Sir ye ne be not alway in like disposition for certes some thing that seemeth somtime to you that is good for to doe another time it seemeth to you the contrarie And when ye han taken counsaile in your selfe and han deemed by good deliberation such thing as you seemeth best than rede I you that yee keepe it secret Bewray yee not your counsaile to no person but if so be that yee wene sikerly that through your bewraying your condition shall bee to you the more profitable For Iesus Sirake saith * Neither to thy foe ne to thy friend discover not thy secret ne thy folly for they woll yeue you audience and looking and supportation in your presence and scorn you in your absence Another Clerke sayth * That scarsly shall you finde any person that may keepe counsaile secretly The booke saieth * While that thou keepest the counsaile in thine heart thou keepest it in thy prison and when thou bewrayest thy counsaile to any wight hee holdeth thee in his snare And therefore you is better to hide your counsaile in your heart than to pray him to whom yee have bewrayed your counsaile that he woll keepe it close still For Seneca saieth If so be that thou maiest not thine owne counsaile hide howe darest thou pray any other wight thy counsaile secret to keepe But nathelesse if thou wene sikerly that thy bewraying of thy counsaile to a person woll make thy condition stonde in the better plight then shalt thou tell him thy counsaile in this wise First thou shalt make no semblant whether thee were lever peace or warre or this or that ne shewe him not thy will ne thine entent for trust well that commonly these counsailours beene flatrerers namely the counsailours of great lordes for they enforce hem alway rather to speak pleasant words enclining to the lordes lust than words that ben trew or profitable and therfore men say * that the rich man hath seld good counsaile but if hee have it of himselfe And after that thou shalt consider thy friendes and thine enemies And as touching thy friendes thou shalt consider which of hem been most faithfull and most wise and eldest and most approved in counsailing and of hem shalt thou aske thy counsaile as the case requireth I say that first yee shall call to your counsaile your friends that been true For Saloman saith * That right as the heart of a man deliteth in savour that is sote right so the counsaile of true friends yeueth swetenesse to the soule And hee saieth also there may nothing be likened to the true friend For certes gold ne silver bee not so much worth as the good will of a true friend And also he saith that a true friend is a strong defence who so that it findeth hath a great treasure Then shall ye also consider if that your true friends be discreet wise for the booke saith Aske alway thy counsaile of them that bin wise And by this same reason shall ye call to your counsaile your friends that beene of age such as seeme and beene expert in many thinges and been approoved in counsailing For the booke saieth * That in olde men is Sapience in long time the prudence And Tullius saieth * That great things beene not aye accomplished by strength ne by delivernesse of body but by counsaile by aucthoritie of persons and by Science the which three things ne beene not feeble by age but certes they enforce and encrease day by day and then shall ye keep this for a generall rule First shall yee call to your counsaile a fewe of your friends that been especial For Salomon saieth * Many friends have thou but among a thousand chuse thee one to bee thy counsailour For all bee it so that thou first ne tell thy counsaile but to a fewe thou mayest afterwarde tell it to mo folke if it bee neede But looke alway that thy counsaylours have those conditions that I have sayd before that is to say That they be true wise and of old experience And werke not alway in every need by one Counsailer alone for sometimes behooueth it to bee counsailed by many For Salomon sayth * Saluation of things is where as there be many counsaylers Now haue I told you of which folke yee shall be counsailed now woll I tell you which cousaile yee ought to eschew First yee shall eschew the counsailing of fooles Salomon sayth * Take no counsaile of a foole for hee woll counsaile but after his owne lust his affection The booke sayth that the propertie of a foole is this * He troweth lightly harme of euery man and lightly troweth all bountie in himselfe Thou shalt eschew the counsailing of all flaterers which as enforcen hem rather to praise your person by flatterie than for to tell you the soothfastnesse of things Wherefore Tullius sayeth * Among all the pestilence that been in friendship the greatest is flatterie And therefore it is more need that thou eschew and dread flatterers than any other people The booke saith * Thou shalt rather flee fro the sweete wordes of flattering and praising than fro the eagre words of thy friends that saith the sooths Salomon saith * That the words of a flatterer is a snare to catch innocence He sayth also * He that speaketh to his friend wordes of flatterie and of pleasaunce he setteth a net beforne his feet to catch him And therefore Tullius sayth Encline not thine eares to flatterers ne take no counsaile of flatterers And Caton sayeth * Auise thee well and eschew the wordes of sweetnesse and of pleasaunce And eke thou shalt eschew the counsailing of thine old enemies that been reconciled The booke sayth * That no wight retourneth safely into the grace of his old enemie And Isope sayth * Ne trust not to hem to which thou hast sometime had war or enmity ne tell hem not thy counsaile And Seneck telleth the cause why it may not be for he sayth * There as great fire hath long time endured that there dwelleth some vapour of heat And therefore saith Salomon * In thine old foe trust thou neuer For likerly though thine enemie be reconciled make the signe of humilitie and loute to thee with his head trust him neuer for certes he maketh thilke faigned humility more for his profite than for any humility or for any loue of thy person because that he deemeth to haue victory ouer thy person by such fained countenaunce the which victorie he might not haue by strife or warre And Petrus Alphons sayeth * Make no fellowship with thine old enemies for if thou do hem bounty they wollen pervert it to wickedness And eke thou must eschew the counsailing of hem that been thy servaunts and
the Booke of Canterbury tales THE Romaunt of the Rose THis Book was begun in French Verse by William de Lorris and finished forty years after by John Clopinell alias John Moone born at Mewen upon the River of Loyer not far from Paris as appeareth by Molinet the French Author of the Morality upon the Romaunt and afterward translated for the most part into English Metre by Geffrey Chaucer but not finished It is entituled The Romaunt of the Rose or The Art of Love wherein is shewed the helps and furtherances as also the lets and impediments that Lovers have in their Suits In this Book the Authour hath many glaunces at the Hypocrisie of the Clergy whereby he got himself such hatred amongst them that Gerson Chancellour of Paris writeth thus of him saith he There was one called Johannes Meldinensis who wrote a Book called The Romaunt of the Rose which Book if I only had and that there were no more in the World if I might have five hundred pound for the same I would rather burn it than take the Money He sayeth more That if he thought the Authour thereof did not repent him for that Book before he dyed he would vouchsafe to pray for him no more than he would for Judas that betrayed Christ MAny men sain that in sweueninges There nis but fables and lesinges But men may some sweuen seene Which hardely that false ne been But afterward ben apparaunt This may I draw to warraunt An authour that hight Macrobes That halt not dreames false ne lees But undoth us the auisioun That whilom mette king Cipioun And who so sayth or weneth it be A yape or else nicete To wene that dreames after fall Let who so liste a foole me call For this trow I and say for me That dreames signifiaunce be Of good and harme to many wightes That dreamen in her sleep a nightes Full many thinges couertly That fallen after all openly Within my twentie yeere of age When that loue taketh his courage Of young folke I went soone To bed as I was wont to doone And fast I slept and in sleeping Me mette such a sweuening That liked me wondrous wele But in that sweuen is neuer a dele That it nis afterward befall Right as this dreame woll tell us all Now this dreame woll I rime a right To make your hearts gay and light For loue it prayeth and also Commaundeth me that it be so And if there any aske me Whether that it be he or she How this Booke which is here Shall hight that I rede you here It is the Romaunt of the Rose In which all the art of loue I close The matter faire is of to make God graunt me in gree that she it take For whom that it begonnen is And that is she that hath Iwis So mokel prise and thereto she So worthie is beloued to be That she well ought of prise and right Be cleped Rose of euerie wight That it was Mey me thought tho It is fiue yere or more ago That it was Mey thus dreamed me In time of loue and iolitie That all thing ginneth waxen gay For there is neither buske nor hay In Mey that it nill shrouded bene And it with new leues wrene These woodes eke recoueren grene That drie in winter ben to sene And the earth waxeth proud withall For swote dewes that on it fall And the poore estate forget In which that winter had it set And then become the ground so proude That it woll haue a newe shroude And maketh so queint his robe and faire That it had hewes an hundred paire Of grasse and floures Inde and Pers And many hewes full diuers That is the robe I mean iwis Through which the ground to praisen is The birdes that han left her song While they han suffred cold full strong In wethers grille and derke to sight Ben in Mey for the sunne bright So glad that they shew in singing That in her heart is such liking That they mote singen and ben light Then doth the Nightingale her might To maken noyse and singen blith Then is blisfull many a sith The chelaundre and the popingaye Then young folke entenden aye For to ben gay and amorous The time is then so sauorous Hard is his heart that loueth nought In Mey when all this mirth is wrought When he may on these braunches here The small birdes singen clere Her blisfull sweete song piteous And in this season delitous When loue affirmeth all thing Me thought one night in my sleeping Right in my bed full readyly That it was by the morrow early And up I rose and gan me cloth Anone I wish mine hondes both A siluer needle forth I drow Out of an aguiler queint inow And gan this needle thread anone For out of toune me list to gone The sound of birdes for to heare That on the buskes singen cleare That in the sweete season that lefe is With a thred basting my sleuis Alone I went in my playing The small foules song hearkening That payned hem full many a paire To sing on bowes blossomed faire Iolife and gay full of gladnesse Toward a Riuer gan I me dresse That I heard ren fast by For fairer playen none saw I Then playen me by that Riuere For from an hill that stood there nere Come doune the stream full stiffe and bold Clere was the water and as cold As any Well is sooth to saine And somedele lasse it was than Saine But it was straiter weleaway And neuer saw I er that day The water that so wele liked me And wonder glad was I to se That lusty place and that Riuere And with that water that ran so clere My face I wish tho saw I wele The bottome ypaued eueridele With grauel full of stones shene The meadowes soft sote and grene Be et right on the water side Full clere was than the morowe tide And full attempre out of drede Tho gan I walken thorow the Mede Dounward aye in my playing The Riuers side coasting And when I had a while igone I saw a garden right anone Full long and broad and eueridele Enclosed was and walled wele With high walles enbatailed Portrayed without and well entayled With many rich portraitures And both yet Images and peintures Gan I beholde besely And I woll tell you readyly Of thilke Images the semblaunce As farre as I haue remembraunce Amidde saw I Hate stonde That for her wrath and yre and onde Seemed to be a mynoresse An angry wight a childeresse And full of gile and fell courage By semblaunt was that like Image And she was nothing wele araide But like a wode woman afraide Ifrounced foule was her visage And grinning for dispitous rage Her nose snorted up for tene Full hidous was she for to sene Full foule and rustie was she this Her head iwrithen was iwis Full grimly with a great towaile An image of another entaile A lifte halfe was her fast by
service * As plant a tree or herbe in sondrie wise And on the morrow pull it vp as blive No wonder is though it may never thrive And sith yâ— God of love hath thee bestowed In place digne vnto thy worthinesse * Stond fast for to good port hast thou rowed And of thy selfe for any heavinesse Hope alwaie well for but if drerinesse Or over hast both our labour shend I hope of this to maken a good end And wost thou why I am the lasse afered Of this matter with my nece to trete For this have I heard say of wise lered Was never man or woman yet beyete That was vnapt to suffer loves hete Celestiall or els love of kind For thy some grace I hope in her to find And for to speake of her in speciall Her beautie to bethinken and her youth It sit her nought to been celestiall As yet though that her list both and kouth And truely it sit her well right nouth A worthy knight to loven and cherice And but she doe I hold it for a vice Wherefore I am and woll be aye ready To paine me to doe you this service For both you to please this hope I Here after for that ye been both wise And con counsaile keepe in such a wise That no man shall the wiser of it bee And so we may ben gladded all three And by my trouth I have right now of thee A good conceit in my wit as I gesse And what it is I woll now that thou see I thinke that sith Love of his goodnesse Hath thee conuerted out of wickednesse That thou shalt been the best post I leue Of all his lay and most his foes greue Ensample why see now these great clerkes That erren aldermost ayen a law And ben conuerted from her wicked werkes Throgh grace of god yâ— lest hem to withdraw They arne the folke yâ— han god most in aw And strengest faithed been I vnderstond And con an errour alder best withstond When Troilus had herd Pandare assented To ben his helpe in loving of Creseide He wext of his wo as who saith vnturmented But hotter wext his love and then he said With sober chere as though his hart plaid Now blisfull Venus helpe ere that I sterue Of thee Pandare I mow some thank deserue But dere friend how shall my wo be lesse Till this be done good eke tell me this How wilt thou saine of me and my distresse Least she be wroth this drede I most iwis Or woll not heren all how it is All this drede I and eke for the manere Of thee her Eme she nill no such thing here Qd. Pandarus thou hast a full great care * Lest the chorle may fall out of the moone Why lord I hate of thee the nice fare Why entremete of that thou hast to doone For Gods love I bid thee a boone So let me alone and it shall be thy best Why frend qd he then done right as thee lest But herke Pandare o word for I nolde That thou in me wendest so great follie That to my lady I desiren should That toucheth harme or any villanie For dredelesse me were leuer to die Than she of me ought els vnderstood But that that might sownen into good Tho lough this Pandarus anon answerd And I thy borow fie no wight doth but so I raught not though she stood and herd How that thou saiest but farwell I woll go Adieu be glad God speed vs both two Yeue me this labour and this businesse And of my speed be thine all the sweetnesse Tho Troilus gan doune on knees to fall And Pandare in his armes hent fast And said now fie on the Greekes all Yet parde God shall helpen at last And dredelesse if that my life may last And God toforne lo some of hem shall smerte And yet me a thinketh that this auaunt masterte And now Pandare I can no more say Thou wise thou wost thou maist thou art all My life my death hole in thine hond I say Help me now qd he Yes by my trouth I shal God yeeld thee friend and this in speciall Qd. Troilus that thou me recommaund To her that may me to yâ— death commaund This Pandarus tho desirous to serve His full friend he said in this manere Farwell think I wol thy thanke deserve Have here my trouth that thou shalt here And went his way thinking on this matere And how he best might beseechen her of grace And find a time thereto and a place * For every wight that hath a house to found He renneth nat the werke for to begin With rakel hond but he woll biden stound And send his hearts line out fro within Alder first his purpose for to win All thus Pandare in his heart thought And cast his werke full wisely ere he wrought But Troilus lay tho no lenger doun But anone gat vpon his stede baie And in the field he played the Lioun Wo was the Greek that with him met yâ— daye And in the toune his manner tho forth aye So goodly was and gat him so in grace That eche him loved that looked in his face For he became the friendliest wight The gentilest and eke the most free The thriftiest and one the best knight That in his time was or els might be Dead were his yapes and his cruelte His high port and his manner straunge And each of hem gan for a vertue chaunge Now let vs stint of Troilus a stound That fareth like a man that hurt is sore And is some dele of a king of his wound Ylessed well but healed no dele more And as an easie patient the lore Abite of him that goeth about his cure And thus he driueth forth his aventure Explicit liber primus OVt of these black wawes let vs for to sail O wind now the weather ginneth clere For in the sea the boate hath such trauaile Of my conning that vnneth I it stere This sea clepe I the tempestous matere Of deepe dispaire that Troilus was in But now of hope the kalends begin O lady mine that called art Cleo Thou be my spede fro this forth my muse To rime well this booke till I have do Me needeth here none other art to vse For why to every lover I me excuse That of no sentement I this endite But out of latine in my tongue it write Wherefore I nil have neither thank ne blame Of all this worke but pray you mekely Disblameth me if any word be lame For as mine authour said so say I Eke though I speake of love vnfeelingly No wonder is for it nothing of new is * A blind man cannot judgen well in hewis I know yâ— in forme of speech is change Within a thousand yere and words tho That hadden prise now wonder nice strange Thinketh hem and yet they spake hem so And spedde as well in love as men now do * Eke for to winnen love in sundry ages In
these bokes woll me shend Irolled shall I been on many a â—ong Throughout the world my bell shall be rong And women most woll hate me of all Alas that such a caas me should fall They woll saine in as much as in me is I have hem done dishonour welaway * All be I not the first that did amis What helpeth that to done my blame away But sens I see there is no better way And that too late is now for me to rue To Diomede I woll algate be true But Troilus sens I no better may And sens that thus departen ye and I Yet pray I God so yeve you right good day As for the gentillest knight truely That ever I saw to serven faithfully And best can aye his ladies honour kepe And with that word she brast anon to wepe And certes you ne haten shall I never And friendes love that shall ye have of me And my good word all should I liven ever And truly I would right sorrie be For to seene you in adversite And guiltlesse I wot well I you leave And all shall passe and thus take I my leave But truly how long it was bitwene That she forsoke him for this Diomede There is none authour telleth it I wene Take every man now to his bookes hede He shall no terme finden out of drede For though that he began to woe her sone Ere he her wan yet was there more to done Ne me ne list this sillie woman chide Ferther than the storie woll de vise Her name alas is published so wide That for her gilt it ought ynough suffise And if I might excuse her in any wise For she so sorrie was for her vntrouth Iwis I would excuse her yet for routh This Troilus as I before have told Thus driveth forth as wel as he hath might But oft was his heart hote and cold And namely that ilke ninth night Which on the morrow she had him behight To come ayen God wote full little rest Had he that night nothing to slepe him lest The laurer crowned Phebus with his heat Gan in his course aie vpward as he went To warmen of the East sea the waves wete And Circes doughter song with fresh entent When Troilus his Pandare after sent And on the wals of the towne they pleide To looke if they can seene aught of Creseide Till it was noone they stooden for to see Who that there came every maner wight That came fro ferre they saiden it was shee Till that they coulden knowen him aright Now was his heart dull now was it light And thus beyaped stooden for to stare About naught this Troilus and Pandare To Pandarus this Troilus tho seide For aught I wot before noone sikerly Into this toune ne cometh not here Creseide She hath ynough to done hardely To winnen from her father so trow I Her old father woll yet make her dine Ere that she go God yeve his hart pine Pandarus answerd it may well been certain And for thy let vs dine I thee beseech And after noone then maist thou come again And home they go without more speech And comen ayen but long may they seech Ere that they find that they after gape Fortune hem both thinketh for to yape Qd. Troilus I see well now that she Is taried with her old father so That ere she come it woll nigh even be Come forth I woll vnto the yate go These porters ben vnkonning â—vermo And I woll done hem holden vp the yate As naught ne were although she come late The day goth fast and after that came eve And yet came nat to Troilus Creseide He looketh forth by hedge by tree by greve And ferre his head over the wall he leide And at the last he tourned him and seide By God I wote her meaning now Pandare Almost iwis all new was my care Now doubtlesse this Lady can her good I wote she commeth riding prively I commend her wisedome by mine hood She woll nat maken people nicely Gaure on her when yâ— she commeth but softely By night into the toune she thinketh ride And dere brother thinke nat long to abide We have naught els for to done iwis And Pandarus now wilt thou trowen me Have here my trouth I see her yond she is Heave up thine eyen man mayst thou nat see Pandare answerde nay so mote I thee Al wrong by God with saist thou man wher art That I see yonde afarre nis but a cart Alas thou sayst right sooth qd Troilus But hardely it is not all for nought That in mine hart I now rejoyce thus It is ayenst some good I have a thought Not I nat how but sens that was wrought Ne felt I such a comfort dare I say She cometh to night my life that durst I lay Pandarus answerde it may be well inough And held with him of all that ever he saied But in his hart he thought and soft lough And to himselfe full soberly he saied * From hasell wood there jolly Robin plaied Shall come all that thou abidest here Ye farwell all the snow of ferne yere The Wardein of the yates gan to call The folk which that without the yates were And bad hem driven in her beasts all Or all the night they must bleven there And ferre within the night with many a tere This Troilus gan homeward for to ride For well he seeth it helpeth nat to abide But nathelesse he gladded him in this He thought he misacompted had his day And saied I understand have all amis For thilke night I last Creseide sey She sayd I shall ben here if that I may Ere that the Moone O dere hart swete The Lion passe out of this Ariete For which she may yet hold all her behest And on the morrow unto the yate he went And up and doune by West eke by East Vpon the walls made he many a went But all for naught his hope alway him blent For which at night in sorow sighes sore He went him home withouten any more This hope all cleane out of his hart fled He ne hath whereon now lenger for to hong But for yâ— paine him thought his hart bled So were his throws sharp wonder strong For when he saw that she abode so long He nist what he judgen of it might Sens she hath broken that she him behight The third fourth fift and sixt day After tho dayes tenne of which I told Betwixen hope and drede his hart say Yet somewhat trusting on her hestes old But when he saw she nolde her terme hold He can now seene none other remedie But for to shape him soone for to die Therwith the wicked spirit God us blesse Which that men clepen wood jealousie Gan in him crepe in all this hevinesse For which because he would soone die He ne eat ne dronke for his melancholie And eke from every company he fled This was the life that all this time he led He so
not as he would have me do If I medled with soch or other moe It might be called pity mercilesse And afterward if I should live in woe Then to repent it were to late I gesse L'amant. O marble herte and yet more hard parde Which mercy may not perce for no labour More strong to bowe than is a mighty tree What availeth you to shew so great rigour Pleaseth it you more to see me die this houre Before your iyen for your disport and play Than for to shewe some comfort and soccour To respite death which chaseth me alway La dame Of your disease ye may have allegeaunce And as for mine I let it over slake Also ye shall not dye for my pleasaunce Nor for your heale I can no surety make I will not hurt my selfe for others sake Wepe they laugh they or sing they I warrant For this matter so will I vndertake That none of hem shall make therof avant L'amant. I can not skill of love by God alone I have more cause to wepe in your presence And well ye wote avauntour am I none For certainly I love better silence One should not love by his hertes credence But he were sure to kepe it secretly * For a vauntour is of no reverence When that his tongue is his most enemy La dame Male bouch in court hath great commaundment Eche man studieth to say the worst he may These false lovers in this time now present They serue best to jangle as a Iay The most secrete iwis yet some men say How he mistrusted is in some partise Wherfore to ladies with so men speake or say It should be bileved in no wise L'amant. Of good and ill shall be and is alway The world is soch the yearth is not all plain They that he good yâ— profe shewth every day And otherwise great villony certain * It is no reason though one his tong distain With cursed speech to do himself a shame That soch refuce should wrongfully remain Vpon the good renomed in their fame La dame Soch as be nought when they here tidings new That ech trespas shall lightly have pardon They that pursuen to be good and true Will not set by none ill disposition To continue in every good condicion They are the first that fallen in domage And full freely the hertes habandon To little faith with soft and faire language L'amant. Now know I well of very certaintee If one do truely yet shall he be shent Sith all maner of Iustice and pitee Is banished out of a Ladies entent I cannot see but all is at one stent The good the ill the vice and eke the vertue Soch as be good soch haue the punishment For the trespace of hem that liue untrue La dame I have no power you to do greuaunce Nor to punish none other creature But to eschew the more encombraunce To kepe us from you all I hold it sure False semblaunce hath a face full demure Lightly to catch these Ladies in a wait Wherefore we must if we will here endure Make right good watch lo this is my conceit L'amant. Sith that of grace a goodly word not one May now be had but alway kept in store I appeale to God for he may hear my mone Of the duresse which greueth me so sore And of pitee I complaine furthermore Which he forgate in all his ordinaunce Or els my life to haue ended before Which so sone am put out of remembraunce La dame My hert nor I haue done you no forfeit By which ye should complain in any kind Nothyng hurteth you but your own conceit Be iudge your self for so ye shall it find Thus alway let this sinke in your mind That your desire shall never recovered be Ye noye me sore in wasting all this wind For I haue said ynough as seemeth me L'amant. This woful man rose vp in all his paine And so departed with weping countenaunce His woful herte almost to brast in twaine Full like to dye walking forth in a traunce And sayed death come forth thy self auaunce Or that mine hert forget his property And make shorter all this woful penaunce Of my poore lyfe full of aduersity Fro thens he went but whither wist I nought Nor to what part he drew in soothfastnesse But he no more was in his Ladies thought For to the daunce anone she gan her dresse And afterward one tolde me thus expresse He rent his heer for anguish and for paine And in himself toke so great heauinesse That he was dedde within a day or twaine Lenuoy THe true louers thus I beseech you all Soch aduentures flye hem in euery wise And as people defamed ye hem call For they truely do you great prejudice His castels strong stuffed with ordinaunce For they have had long time by their office The whole countrey of loue in obeysaunce And ye Ladies or what estate ye be Of whom worshyp hath choyse his dwellyng place For Goddes loue do no such cruelty Nor in no wise ne foule not the trace Of her that here is named rightwisely Which by reason me seemeth in this cace May be called La belle dame sans Mercy Go litle Book God send thee good passage Chese well thy way be simple of manere Looke thy clothing be like thy pilgremage And specially let this be thy prayere Vnto hem all that thee will rede or here Where thou art wrong after her help to call Thee to correct in any part or all Pray hem also with thine humble seruice Thy boldnesse to pardon in this cace For els thou art not able in no wise To make thy self appear in any place And furthermore beseech hem of her grace By her favour and supportacion To take in gree this rude translation The which God wote standeth ful destitute Of eloquence of metre and colours Like as a beast naked without refute Vpon a plain to abide all manner showers I can no more but ask of hem socours At whose request thou were made in this wise Commanding me with body and seruice Right thus I make an end of this prosses Besechyng him that all hath in balaunce That no true man be vexed causelesse As this man was which is of remembraunce And all that done her faithful observaunce And in her trouth purpose him to endure I pray God send hem better auenture Explicit Of Queen Annelida and false Arcite Arcite a Theban Knight forsaketh Queen Annelida who loved him intirely and taketh a new Lady whereupon Annelida maketh this great complaint O Thou fiers God of armes Mars the rede That in thy Frosty Countrey called Thrace Within thy grisly Temples full of drede Honoured art as patrone of that place With the Bellona Pallas full of grace Be present and my song continue and gie At my beginning thus to thee I cry For it full depe is sonken in minde With pitous hert in English to endite This old story in Latine which I finde Of Queene Annelida and false
be littell wonder But on y◠other side my trew seruants not faynen ne disceyue conne soothly their doyng is open my foundement endureth be the burthen neuer so great euer in one it lasteth it yeueth lyfe and blisfull goodnesse in the laste ends though the ginnings been sharp Thus of two contraries contrary ben the effects And so thilke Margarite thou seruest shall seen thee by her seruice out of perillous tribulacion delyuered bycause of her seruice in to new disease fallen by hope of amendment in the last end with joy to be gladded wherefore of kinde pure her mercy with grace of good helpe shall she graunt and els I shall her so straine that with pity shall she ben amaistred Remembre in thine heart how horrible sometime to thyne Margarite thou trespassest in a great wyse ayenst her thou forfeitest cleape ayen thy mind and know thyne owne guiltes What goodnesse what thyne own guiltes What goodnesse what bounty with mokell followyng pity found thou in that time Wert thou not goodly accepted in to grace By my plucking was she to foryeuenesse enclined And after I her stired to draw thee to house and yet wendest thou vtterly for euer haue ben refused But well thou woste sithen that I in soche sharp disease might so greatly auayle with thinkest in thy witte How ferre may my wit stretch And thou lach not on thy side I woll make the knotte Certes in thy good bering I woll accorde with the Psauter I haue found David in my seruice true and with holy oyle of peace and of rest long by him desired vtterly he shall be annointed Trust well to me and I woll thee not fayle The lening of the first way with good hert of continuaunce that I see in the grounded this purpose to parfourme draweth my by maner of constrayning that needes must I been thine helper although mirthe a while be taried it shal come at soch season that thy thought shall been joyed would neuer GOD sithen thyne hert to my reasons arne assented and openly haste confessed thine amisse going and now criest after mercy but if mercy followed thy blisse shall been ready ywis thou ne wost how sone Now be a good childe I rede The kind of vertues in thy Margarite rehearsed by strength of me in thy person shull werch Comfort thee in this for thou maist not miscary And these words said she streight her on length and rested a while ¶ Thus endeth the second book and hereafter followeth the third booke OF nombre sain these clerks that it is naturell some of discrete thinges as in telling one two three and so forth but among all nombres three is determined for most certaine Wherfore in nombre certain this werke of my besie leudenes I think to end and parfourme Ensample by this worlde in three times is deuided Of which y◠first is cleped Dematian that is to say going out of true way all that tho dieden in hell were thy punished for a mans sinne till grace and mercy fet hem thence there ended the first time The second time lasteth from the coming of merciable grace vntill the end of transitory time in which is shewed y◠true way in fordoing of y◠badde and that is ycleped time of grace that thing is not yeuen by desert of yelding one benefite for another but onely through goodnesse of the yeuer of grace in thilke tyme. Who so can well vnderstand is shapen to be saued in souled blisse The third time shal gin when transitory things of worldes han made their end and that shall been in joy glory and red both body and soule that well han deserued in the tyme of grace And thus in y◠heauen togither shull they dwell perpetuelly without any ymaginatife yuel in any halue These times are figured by tho three dayes that our God was closed in yearth and in the third arose shewyng our resurrection to joy blisse of tho that it deseruen by his merciable grace So this leude booke in three matters accordaunt to tho times lightely by a good inseer may been vnderstande as in y◠first errour of misse goyng is shewed with sorrowful pine punished is cried after mercy In the second is grace in good way proued which is fayling without desert thilk first misse amending in correction of tho errours and euen way to bryng with comforte of welfare in to amendement wexing And in the third joye and blisse graunted to him that well can deserue it and hath sauour of vnderstandyng in the tyme of grace Thus in joye of my third booke shall the matter be till it end But speciall cause I haue in my heart to make this processe of a Margarit pearl that is so precious a gem with cleere and littell of which stones or Iewel the tongues of vs English people tourneth the right names and clepeth hem Margery pearles thus varieth our speech from many other langages For trewly Latine French and many mo other langages clepeth hem Margery peerles the name Margarites or Margarit perls wherefore in that denominacion I woll me accord to other mens tonges in that name cleping These clerkes that treaten of kindes studien out the property there of things sayne the Margarit is a littel white pearle throughout holow and rounde and vertuous and on the sea sides in the more Britaine in muskle shels of y◠heavenly dewe the best been engendred in which by experience ben found three fayre vertues One is it yeueth comforte to the feling spirits in bodily persones of reason Another is good it is profitable health ayenst passions of sory mens hearts And the third it is needfull and noble in staunching of blood there els too much would out ren To which perle and vertues me list to liken at this time Philosophy with her three speces that is naturel and moral and reasonable of which things heareth what saine these great Clerks Philosophy is knowing of deuinely and manly things joyned with study of good liuyng and this stante in two things that is conning and opinion conning is when a thing by certaine reason is conceiued but wretches and fooles and lewd men many will conceyue a thyng maintaine it as for a sothe though reason be in the contrary wherefore conning is a straunger Opinion is while a thyng 〈◊〉 in non certayne and hidde from mens very knowledging and by no parfite reason fully declared as thus if the sonne be so mokel as men wenen or els if it be more then the earth For in soothnesse y◠certaine quantity of that Planet is vnknowen to erthly dwellers yet by opinion of some men it is holden for more than middle erth The first spece of Philosophy is naturel which in kindely things treaten sheweth causes of heauen strength of kindly course as by Arsmetrike Geometry Musike by Astronomy techeth ways and course of Heauens of Planetes and of Sterres about Heauen Earth other Elements The second
spece is morall which in order of liuing maners techeth by reason proueth vertues of soule most worthy in our liuyng which been Prudence Iustice Temperaunce Strength Prudence is goodly wisedome in knowyng of thynges Strength voideth all aduersities aliche euen Temperaunce distroyeth bestiall liuing with easie bearyng And Iustice rightfully judgeth and judging departeth to euery wight that is his own The third spece tourneth in to reason of vnderstanding al things to be said sothe discussed and that in two things is deuided one is Art another is Rhetorique in which two all lawes of mans reason been grounded or elles maintayned And for this book is all of Loue thereafter beareth his name and Philosophy and law must hereto accorden by their clergial discripcions as Philosophy for loue of wisedom is declared Law for maintaynaunce of peace is holden and these with loue must needs accorden therefore of hem in this place haue I touched Order of homely things and honest manner of lyuing in vertue with rightful judgement in causes profitable administracion in communalties of Realms Cities by euenhede profitably to rayne nat by singuler auantage ne by priuy enuy ne by solein purpose in couetise of worship or of goods ben disposed in open rule shewed by Loue Philosophy law and yet loue toforne all other Wherfore as susterne in vnity they accorden one end yâ— is peace rest they causen nourishyng in the joy mainteynen to endure Now then as I haue declared my boke accordeth with discripcion of three things and the Margarite in vertue is likened to Philosophy with yâ— three speces In which matters euer twey been accordant with bodily reason the third with the soule But in conclusion of my book and of this Margarit pearle in knittyng togider law by three sondry manners shal be lykened that is to say Law Right Custom which I woll declare all that is law commeth of Gods ordinaunce by kindely worchyng thilke things ordayned by mans wittes arne icleped right which is ordayned by many maners and in constitution written But custome is a thing yâ— is aâ—cepted for right or for law there as law right faylen and there is no difference whether it come of Scripture or of reason Wherefore it sheweth that law is kindly governaunce right commeth out of mannes probable reason and custome is of commen vsage by length of time vsed and custom nat write is vsage and if it be writte constitution it is iwritten and ycleped But law of kinde is commen to euery nation as conjunction of man woman in loue succession of children in heritaunce restitucion of thing by strength taken or leant this lawe among all other halte the soueraynest gree in wurship which lawe beganne at yâ— beginnyng of reasonable creature it varied yet neuer for no chaunging of time cause forsooth in ordainyng of Law was to constrain mens hardines in to peace withdrawing his yuell will turning malice into goodnesse and yâ— innocence sikerly withouten teneful anoy among shrews safely might inhabite by protection of safe conduct so that shrewes harm for harm by brydle of feardenesse shoulden restrayn But forsothe in kindely lawe nothing is commended but soche as Gods will hath confirmed ne nothing denied but contraryoustie of Gods will in Heauen eke then all lawes or custome or els constitution by vsage or writing that contrarien law of kinde vtterly been repugnant aduersary to our gods will of Heauen Trewly lawe of kinde for goddes own lusty will is verily to mayntaine vnder which law and vnworthy both professe and reguler arn obediencer and bounden to this Margarit pearl as by knot of loues statutes stablishment in kind which yâ— goodly may not ben withsetten Lo vnder this bonde am I constrained to abide man vnder liuyng lawe ruled by that law oweth after desertes to been rewarded by paine or by mede but if mercy weiue the pain so than be parte reasonfully may be sey that mercy both right lawe passeth th entent of all these matters is the lest cleere vnderstanding to weten at the end of this third boke ful knowyng thorow Gods grace I thinke to make neuerthelater yet if these things han a good and a sleght inseer which that can souke hony of the hard stone oyle of yâ— dry rock may lightly feele nobly of matter in my leude imaginacion closed But for my booke shal be of joy as I said and I so ferre set fro thilke place fro whens gladness should come my corde is to short to let my boket ought to catch of yâ— water and few men be abouten my corde to ech many in full purpose been ready it shorter to make to enclose thenter yâ— my boket of joy nothing should catch but empty returne my carefull sorrowes to encrease if I die for payne yâ— were gladnesse at their hearts Good Lord send me water in to the cop of these Mountains I shall drink thereof my thrustes to stanch and sey these be comfortable welles in to health of goodnes of my sauiour am I holpen And yet I say more the house of joy to me is not opened How dare my sorrowful goost then in any matter of gladness thynken to trete for euer sobbings complaints be ready refrete in his meditacions as werbles in manyfold stoundes comming about I not than And therefore what maner of joy coude endite but yet at dore shall I knock if yâ— key of Dauid would the lock unshyt and he bring me in which that childrens tonges both openeth and closeth Whose spirite where he well worcheth departing goodly as him liketh Now to Gods laude reuerence profite of the readers amendment of maners of the herers encreasing of worship among loues seruaunts releuing of my hert in to grace of my jewel frendship pleasance of this pearle I am stered in this making for nothing els if any good thing to mens likyng in this scripture be found thanketh the maister of grace which yâ— of that good and all other is authour principal doer And if any thing be insufficient or els mislikyng with yâ— that yâ— lewdness of mine vnable conning for body in disease annoyeth the vnderstanding in soule A disesely habitation leteth the wits many thinges and namely in sorow The custome neuer the later of loue be long tyme of seruice in termes I thinke to pursue which beene liuely to yeue vnderstanding in other thinges But nowe to enforme thee of this Margarites goodness I may her not halfe prayse Wherefore not she for my book but this book for her is worthy to be commended tho my book be leude right as thinges nat for places but places for things ought to be desired and praysed NOw qd Loue truely thy words I haue well vnderstond Certes me thinketh hem right good and me wondreth why thou so lightly passest in the law Sothly qd I my wit is leude and I am right blind and
I weare thy liuerie For thou art ground of my prosperitie And freshest floure of all my garland My singular aid as I well vnderstand But as he that oweth his lord best seruise And entire faith his honour to support Right so I speake and in none other wise I knowledge my selfe one of the least sort Of thy seruannts to our elders comfort Draw sad counsaile to thee if thou list Thee and thy power who may then resist Fie on age vnder words few And his erronious opinion What spekest of him which saith most vntrue All youth to be of ill dispositioun Dampneth vs all without exceptioun And for a colerable auauntage He saith in him resteth counsaile sage Well may sad counsaile in him rest But yet his deeds ben ferre therefro He may say with our parish priest * Do as I say but not as I do For I my selfe know one or two Well striken in age for neighbourhed Woll to their neighbours wiues bed He will in presence of the young man Her clippe and kisse ye and doune lay To bleare his eye thus he saieth than * O suffer ye old Morel to play Now haue I doen that I can or may Thus he saieth her husband to queme That he nor no man should not misdeme In word nor deed nedeth him not be coy It is impossible that he doe amisse If the yong man speake anone he saith boy To rebuke age beseemeth thee not iwis Thus his old face aye his warrant is All is in him sleight and subtiltee And ferre from reason I tell thee And shortly age is not aboue me Age is impotent and of no resistence Age vnweldie may not fight nor flee What were age without my defence Sad counsaile saist thou giueth him assistence Reason is freshest where that I am Wherefore in thy saying thou art to blame Sith reason to me is rather accompanied Than vnto age whith is the opinion Of euery wise man not to be denied And sith sad counsaile proceedeth of reason Sad counsaile in me hath his cheef mansion This is no nay but what is the end Of this thy suasion what doest entend Age to compare vnto thine excellence I nill presume him so to dignifie Ye be not egall howbeit experience Him auauntageth for she most certainly Him teacheth what thing to him is contrary And oft to foresee it and warely eschew Which thou neuer assaidest yet nor knew * Experience maketh a man most certaine Of any thing yearthly and of necessite Sad counsaile requireth certaintie plaine So ferre to moue thus whereto need we But to my purpose as thou commandest me Shortly mine entent is thus none other Vnder thy license to counsaile my brother How shuldest thou giue any counsail so yong Lacking experience vnto thine owne speach I report me I wote well as for thy tong Wil serue thee right wel but then for to teach I doubt me lest that thy wit woll not reach Youth experience thou saist be not conuert How shouldest thou then teach well vnexpert * Scripture witnesseth that God will oft shitte Fro the hie witted man shew it to yâ— child To him I meane that of his own witte Presumeth not but is debonaire and mild By counsaile I entend vertue for to bild Which of mine elders part haue I borowed And part of Experience which I haue sorowed Wel then if it be as thou lettest fare Shew forth thy doctrine be not agast I woll thee support looke thou not spare Maugre age though he frete or gnast To aske age counsaile herein were but wast Boldely begin go forth to the processe Feare not sith thou art of such surenesse Graunt mercie lord sith it thee doeth like To license me now I woll dare boldly Assail my purpose with scriptures autentike My werke woll I ground vnderset fortefie Aspire my beginning O thou wood furie Alecto with thy susters and in especiall To the mother of ielousie Iuno I call Explicit Prologus The Remedy of Love This Book drawn for the most part out of the Proverbs of Solomon is a warning to take heed of the deceitful company of Women THis werke who so shall see or rede Of any incongruitie do me not impeche Ordinately behoueth me first to procede In deduction thereof in manner as the leche His patients siknesse oweth first for to seche The which known medicin he should applie And shortly as he can then shape a remedie Right so by counsaile willing thee to exhort O yong man prosperous which doth abound In thy floures of lust belongeth on thee sort Me first to consider what is root and ground Of thy mischeefe which is plainly found Woman farced with fraud and deceit To thy confusion most allectiue bait Fly the miswoman least she thee deceiue Thus saith Salomon which tauÈt was fully The falshed of women in his days to conceiue The lips of a strumpet ben sweeter than hony Her throte he saith soupled with oil of flatery Howbeit the end and effect of all Bitterer is than any wormwood or gall Fly the miswoman louing thy life Ware the straungers bland eloquence Straunge I call her that is not thy wife Of her beauty haue no concupiscence Her countenaunce pretending beneuolence * Beware her signes and eye so amiable Hold is for ferme they ben deceiuable Lo an ensample what women be In their signes and countenaunce shortly I woll shew thee how louers three Loued one woman right entirely Ech of them knew others maladie Wherefore was all their daily labour Who coud approch next in her fauour At sundry seasons as fortune requireth Seuerally they came to see her welfare But ones it happened loue them so fireth To see their Lady they all would not spare Of others coming none of them were ware Till all they mette whereas they in place Of her Lady saw the desired face To supper set full smally they eat Full sober and demure in countenaunce For there taried none of hem for any meat But on his Lady to giue attendaunce And in secret wise some signifiaunce Of loue to haue which perceiuing she Fetely executed thus her properte In due season as she alway espied Euery thing to execute conueniently Her one louer first friendly she eied The second she offred the cup courtesly The third she gaue token secretly Vnderneath the bord she trade on his foot Through his entrailes tikled the hert root By your leaue might I here ask a question Of you my maisters that selve loues trace To you likely belongeth the solution Which of these three stood now in grace Clerely to answere ye would ask long space The matter is doubtfull and opinable To acertaine you I woll my selfe enable Of the foresaid three my selfe was one No man can answere it better than I Hertely of vs beloued was there none * But Wattes packe we bare all by and by Which at last I my selfe gan aspie In time as me thought then I left yâ— daunce O thoughtfull hert great is thy
body hath do shame No worship may he thus to him conquer But great disclaunder vnto him and her To her nay yet was it no reprefe For all for vertue was that she wrought But he that brewed hath all this mischefe That spake so faire fasâ—y inward thought His be the sclaunder as it by reson ought And vnto her thanke perpetuell That in soch a need help can so well Although through mens sleight subtilty A sely simple and innocent woman Betraied is no wonder sith the city Of Troy as the sâ—orie tell can Betrayed was through the disceit of man And set on fyre all downe ouerthrowe And finally destroied as men knowe Betray nat men cities great and kings What wight is it that can shape remedy Ayenst these falsely purposed things Who can by crafte soch craftes espy But man whose witt is ever redy taply To thing that sowning is to falshede Women bethe ware of false men I rede And farthermore have these men in vsage That where they nat likely been to speed Soch as they ben with a double visage They procuren for to pursewe her need He prayeth him in his cause to proceed And largely guerdoneth he his travaile Litel wote women how men hem assaile Another wretch vnto his felow saith Thou fishest faire she that thee hath fired Is false inconstaunt and hath no faith She for the rode of folke is so desired And as an horse fro day to day she is hired That when thou twinnest fro her company Commeth another and blered is thine eye Now pricke on fast and ride thy journey While thou art there for she behind thy back So liberall is she woll nothing withsey But smattly of another take a smack Thus fare these women all the pack * Who so hem trusteth hanged mote he bee Ever they desire chaunge and nolveltee Whereof proceedeth this but of envy For he himselfe her ne winne may He speaketh her reprefe and villany As mans blabbing tonge is wont alway Thus divers men full oft make assay For to distourbe folke in sondry wise For they may not obtaine her emprise Many one eke would for no good That hath in love his time spent and vsed Men wish that his lady his asking withstood Ere that he were of her plainly refused Or waste and vaine all that he had mused Wherefore he can none other remedy But on his lady shaperh him to ly Cvery woman he saith is light to gete Can none say nay if she be well ysought Who so may leiser have with her to trete Of his purpose shall he fayle nought But he on madnesse be so depe brought That he shende all with open homelynesse That loven women they doten as I gesse To slaunder women thus what may profite To gentillesse namely that hem arme should In defence of women and hem delite As that the ordre of gentillesse wold If that a man list gentill to be hold * He must all eschewe yâ— thereto is contrary A sclaundrous tonge is his great adversary A foule vice is of tonge to be light For who so moch clappeth gabbeth oft The tonge of man so swift is and so wight That when it is reised vp on loft Reason is shewed so slowly and soft That it him never ouertake may Lord so these men been trusty in assay Albeit that men find one woman nice Inconstaunt rechlesse and variable Deignous proude fulfilled of mallice Without faith or love and disceivable Sly queint false in all vntrust coulpable Wicked feirse or full of cruelte Yet followeth it not that soch all women be When yâ— high God aungels fourmed had Among hem all were there none That founden was malicious and bad Yet all men wote there were many one That for her pride fill fro heven anone Shuld men for thy yeve al angels proud name Nay he that thee susteineth is to blame Of twelve Apostles one a traitour was The remnant yet good were and trew So if it hap men find percaas O woman false soch good is to eschew And deme not that they all therfore be vntrewe * I see well mens owne falsenesse Hem causeth women to trust the lesse O every man ought have an herte tendre Vnto a woman and deeme her honorable Where his shape be thicke or slendre Or he be good or badde it is no fable Every wight wote that wit hath resonable That of a woman he discended is Then is it shame of her to speake amisse A wicked tree good fruite may none forth bring For soch the fruite is as is the tree Take heed of whom thou toke thy beginning Let thy mother be mirrour vnto thee Honour her if thou wolte honoured bee Dispise her then not in no manere Lest that thereby thy wickednesse appere An old proverbe sayd is in English * That bird or foule is full dishonest What that he be and hold full churlish That vseth to defoule his owne nest Men to say well of women it is the best And naught to dispise hem ne depraue If they woll her honour keep or saue The ladies ever complain hem on clerks That they have made bookes of her diffame In which they dispise women her werks And speak of hem great reprofe and shame And causelesse yeve hem a wicked name Thus they dispised be on every side Disclaundred and blowen on full wide Tho sory bookes maken mencion How women betraide in especiall Adam David Sampson and Salomon And many one mo who may reherse hem all The treason that they have do and shall The world her malice may not comprehend As clerkes saine for it hath none end Ouide in his boke called Remedy Of loue great reprofe of women writeth Wherein I trowe he did great foly And euery wight that in soch case him deliteth A clerkes custome is when he enditeth Of women be it prose time or vers Say they be wicked all know he the reuers And yâ— boke scholers lerned in her childhede For they of women beware should in age And to loue hem euer be in drede Sith to disceiue is set all her corage They say of perel men should cast thauauntage Namely of soch as men haue in bewrapped For many a man by women hath mishapped No charge is what so these clerkes saine Of all her writing I doe no cure All her labour and trauayle is in vaine For betweene me and my lady nature Shall not be suffred while yâ— world may dure Thus these clerkes by her cruell tyranny On selie women kithen her maistry Whilom for many of hem were in my cheine Tied and now for vnwedly age And vnlust may not to loue atteine And saine now that loue is but very dotage Thus for they hemselfe lacken courage They folke excite by her wicked sawes For to rebell ayenst me and my lawes But mauger hem that blame women most Such is the force of mine impression That sodainly I can fell her boste And all her wrong imagination It shall not be in
lack of shade nie shent And after that within a little throw The wind began so sturdily to blow That down goeth all the floures euerichone So that in all the mede there laft not one leues Save such as succoured were among the Fro euery storme that might hem assaile Growing vnder hedges and thicke greues And after that there came a storme of haile And raine in fere so that withouten faile The ladies ne the knights nade o threed Drie on them so dropping was her weed And when the storm was cleane passed away Tho in white that stood vnder the tree They felt nothing of the great affray That they in greene without had in ybe To them they yede for routh and pite Them to comfort after their great disease So faine they were the helplesse for to ease Then I was ware how one of hem in grene Had on a crowne rich and well sitting Wherefore I demed well she was a Quene And tho in greene on her were awaiting The ladies then in white that were comming Toward them and the knights in fere Began to comfort hem and make hem chere The Queen in white that was of great beauty Took by the hond the queen that was in grene And said suster I haue right great pitie Of your annoy and of the troublous tene Wherein ye and your company haue bene So long alas and if that it you please To go with me I shall do you the ease In all the pleasure that I can or may Whereof the tother humbly as she might Thanked her for in right ill array She was with storm and heat I you behight And euery lady then anone right That were in white one of them took in grene By the hond which when the knights had sene In likewise ech of them tooke a knight Clad in greene forth with hem they fare To an hegge where they anon right To make their justs they would not spare Boughes to hew down eke trees square Wherwith they made hem stately fires great To dry their clothes yâ— were wringing weat And after that of hearbs that there grew They made for blisters of the sunne brenning Very good and wholesome ointments new Where that they yede the sick fast anointing And after that they yede about gadering Pleasaunt salades which they made hem eat For to refresh their great vnkindly heat The lady of the Leafe then began to pray Her of the Floure for so to my seeming They should be as by their array To soupe with her and eke for any thing That she should with her all her people bring And she ayen in right goodly manere Thanketh her of her most friendly cheare Saying plainely that she would obay With all her hert all her commaundement And then anon without lenger delay The lady of the Leafe hath one ysent For a palfray after her intent Arrayed well and faire in harneis of gold For nothing lacked that to him long shold And after that to all her company She made to puruey horse and euery thing That they needed and then full lustily Euen by the herber where I was sitting They passed all so pleasantly sâ—nging That it would haue comforted any wight But then I sie a passing wonder sight For then the nightingale that all the day Had in the laurer sete and did her might The whole seruice to sing longing to May All sodainly gan to take her flight And to the lady of the Leafe forthright She flew and set her on her hond softly Which was a thing I marueled of greatly The goldfinch eke that fro the medle tree Was fled for heat into the bushes cold Vnto the Lady of the Flower gan flee And on her hond he set him as he wold And pleasauntly his wings gan to fold And for to sing they pained hem both as sore As they had do of all the day before And so these ladies rode forth a great pace And all the rout of knights eke in fere And I that had seen all this wonder case Thought I would assay in some manere To know fully the trouth of this matere And what they were that rode so pleasantly And when they were the herber passed by I drest me forth and happed to mete anone Right a faire Lady I you ensure And she come riding by her self alone All in white with semblance ful demure I saluted her and bad her good auenture Might her befall as I coud most humbly And she answered my doughter gramercy Madame qd I if that I durst enquere Of you I would faine of that company Wit what they be that past by this arbere And she ayen answered right friendly My faire doughter all tho yâ— passed here by In white clothing be seruaunts euerichone Vnto the Leafe and I my selfe am one See ye not her that crowned is qd she All in white Madame qd I yes That is Diane goddesse of chastite And for because that she a maiden is In her hond the braunch she beareth this That Agnus castus men call properly And all the ladies in her company Which ye se of that hearb chaplets weare Be such as han kept alway her maidenheed And all they that of laurer chaplets beare Be such as hardy were and manly indeed Victorious name which neuer may be dede And all they were so worthy of their hond In her time that none might hem withstond And tho that weare chaplets on their hede Of fresh woodbind be such as neuer were To loue vntrue in word thought ne dede But aye stedfast ne for pleasance ne fere Thogh that they shuld their herts all to tere Would neuer flit but euer were stedfast Till that their liues there asunder brast Now faire madame qd I yet I would pray Your ladiship if that it might be That I might know by some maner way Sith that it hath liked your beaute The trouth of these Ladies for to tell me What that these knights be in rich armour And what tho be in grene weare the flour And why that some did reuerence to the tre And some vnto the plot of floures faire With right good will my fair doghter qd she Sith your desire is good and debonaire Tho nine crowned be very exemplaire Of all honour longing to chiualry And those certaine be called the nine worthy Which ye may see riding all before That in her time did many a noble dede And for their worthinesse full oft haue bore The crowne of Laurer leaues on their hede As ye may in your old bookes rede And how that he that was a conquerour Had by laurer alway his most honour And tho that beare bowes in their hond Of the precious laurer so notable Be such as were I woll ye vnderstond Noble knights of the round table And eke the douseperis honourable Which they beare in signe of victory It is witnesse of their deeds mightily Eke there be knights old of the Garter That in her time did right worthily And the honour
did write in Verse to the foresaid William a Book under the Title of Brunellus called Speculum stultorum And this is it which Chaucer calleth here Burnell the Ass He lived Anno 1200. in the Days of King John dawes b. days time daweth b. springeth beginneth daren darreigne b. attempt challenge daw b. wax day dare b. stare daffe b. dasterd dagges fractura latchets cut of leather dagon fractura a piece or remnant dagged b. slitted dates b. accounts dayned f. vouchsafed defayted decayed senceless dere b. hurt grieve deluge l. a flood deviant l. far off wandering definished l. proved desiderie l. lust debonairely f. meekly deis b. a seat debonaire f. gentle humble deaurat l. shining denwere b. doubt destrer f. horse of Arms. de pardeux f. by God debate f. to fight derne dirus earnest careful secret deintie desire decoped d. peaked demeane f. behave deficate l. deified deiden died deme condemn depe lowpe transparens giving thorough light deslaui d. lecherous servile beastly dey dead also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a dairy woman demaine f. toll custom possession also to rule demoniake g. possessed of a Devil demin b. Judge dely b. small deuoire f. labour endeavour duty dent b. stroke demeane f. complain behave delue d. digg ditch deignous f. disdainful deuinals l. wisards defended d. forbad forbidden dequace b. dash dexe a desk defouled shamed defence f. charge forbidding determinate l. limited dispaired b. discouraged dissentori a kind of still digne l. worthy mete also lyth gentle yielding also to vouchsafe diuinistre l. a divine dike b. ditch diapred f. diversified diuinaile Aenigma g. a riddle dight b. made ready handled used also to cover distance l. discord danger dispended l. wasted dim b. obscure disheuild f. barehairred dite b. a treatise disconsolate l. without comfort dismal l. dies malus unluckey dispone l. dispose disparage f. disgrace distreineth effecteth disceuer spend distraineth vexeth diameter g. a line dividing any figure into two equal parts disease b. vexation disapered l. vanished discure b. shew diuerseth l. turneth disioint b. jeopardy dissoned l. dissonant docked b. cut off done houres b. do servise to God doleth l. grieveth douced a pipe made of box sounding most sweetly domesman b. Jugde doughtie b. stout dortoure f. dormitorium a sleeping place domed b. judged dormant l. unremoved doced f. a sweet Instrument dole b. sorrow doluen d. buried donet l. a book so called dowtremere f. fair wearing dowle b. deal dow b. give dretching delay dreri b. heavy sorrowful dretch to stay to hinder to tarry to dream draftie d. irksom filthy drerines b. sorrow drenched b. overcome drowned drerinesse b. heart-grief dreint b. drowned dray drey dry dri drien b. to suffer droui d. filthy drugge b. toyl drurie modesty sobriety comliness drough b. drew drenching taking in drunkelew d. given to drink drunken * Dulcarnon is a proportion in Euclid lib. 1. Theorem 33. propos 47. which was found out by Pythagoras after an whole years study and much beating of his Brain In thankfulness whereof he sacrificed an Ox to the Gods which Sacrifice he called Dulcarnon Alexander Neckam an ancient Writer in his Book De Naturis Rerum compoundeth this word of Dulia and Caro and will have Dulcarnon to be quasi sacrificium Carnis Chaucer aptly applyeth it to Creseide in this place shewing that she was as much amazed how to answer Troilus as Pythagoras was wearied to bring his desire to effect duresse f. hardness dwale solanum soporiferum d. nightshade provoking sleep dwined d. dried consumed E. Ebracke Hebrew ebracke Jews ecclesiast g. a churchman ecliptike line g. the circumference of the circle wherein the Sun finisheth his yearly motion echen eche b. increase draw out echeth b. helpeth eft b. again soon effunde l. utter effated f. sorted defaced eftris efters entries ways galleries egment b. procurement eigteth mow d. may grant elate l. stout elenge b. strange ele help eldeth b. maketh old elth eld old age eluish b. wicked froward empaired much grieved emplede f. sue embolfe cercle g. the oblique circle embosed hanged out his tongue with weariness emforth after according emispere g. half the compass of the visible heaven emplaster f. set out paint emprise f. enterprise also fashion order enbolned b. swelled enchafeth flagrat burneth Eneidos g. a work written by Virgil of the travels of Aeneas endry b. endure engined d. racked enhansed f. exalted enhauncen lift up raise engine f. wit devise engluting f. stopping enbibing l. sucking enewed renewed enmoised f. comforted encontrewayle f. prevent to meet encheson f. cause occasion enchafed f. heated enpited delited enlangored f. languishing ensise b. quality fashion order entreteden d. handle entalenten f. move stir up entaile f. graved work entremete f. deal meddle entermined l. undermined entred l. buried entalented f. ingrafted enteched f. defiled entetched f. qualified spotted entame touch handle entailed f. carved entriketh b. entrappeth entriked deceived also mingled enteched f. qualified or spotted entremes f. intermingled enuelopt f. wrapped enuiron f. round round about equinoctial l. when the nights and days be all of one length ernes b. promise erke b. weary loathing erne greatly ernefull b. sorrowful * Eros g. Whereas some Copies have Hereos some Hernes and some such like counterfeit word whereof can be given no reason I have set down Eros i. Cupid as most agreeing in my Opinion with the matter which I gather thus Lucian in his second Dialogue bringeth in Cupid teaching Jupiter how to becomeamiable and in him how lovers may be made acceptable to their ladies not by weeping watching and fasting nor by furious melancholick fits but by comly behaviour The words in the Greek are thus much in Latin Si voles amabilis esse neque concutias Aegida neque fulmen geras sed suavissimum teipsum exhibe vestem sume purpuream crepidas subliga auratas ad tibiam ad Timpana composito gressu incede videbis quod plures te sequentur quam Bacchum Maenades So that the lovers of Eros that is Cupids Servants do carry themselves comely in all their Passions and their Maladies are such as shew no open distemperature of body or mind which mediocrity this Arcite was far from keeping And whereas some will have us read Heroes i. Noble-men I cannot dislike their Opinion for it may fitly stand with the sense of the place erre f. way erst b. earnest escrite f. a writing esperance f. hope esploit perfection espiritueles l. heavenly essoine f. delay eth b. easie etymologise g. to shew the true interpretation of a word euin b. equal euin b. upright exiteth l. moveth exorcismes g. adjurations expleiten f. make shew counterfeit eyth b. easle ey an egg F. Fast wedded fare f. gone falding a kind of course cloth fare faire fay f. truth fast frets full fraughteth farce f. paint fage a fable fare b. chear farden b. fared famulers l. helpers falsed l. deceived fallas l. deceit fame defame slander
fassed l. stuffed faitors i. deceivers flatterers fay l. truly also fidelity fairy b. a goodly sight the place where Hobgolins and Fairies dwell fantom f. fancy vain vision falke b. people folk faw b. glad joyful fare f. to go also a stir faunes g. rustical gods falsen f. deceive fantom f. vain vision facond i. speech fendli b. ugly ferne yeare February fetise b. handsom ferthing b. a thin scale fermerere an overseer of cattel fele many also feling ferd b. fared fermases g. medicines * Fenne Avicen divideth his Canons into partitions which he calleth Fens ferth b. the fourth fermentation l. giving Life to the Philosophers stone feled known fers the queen in Chess-play feture f. handsomness fend b. devil ferne b. long time feestlych d. pleasant fendish b. divelish ferly b. strange ferd b. fared felloun f. deadly cruel fele b. knowledge fethered b. shaked his wings fesse b. indue feele find fele homages f. faithful subjection fell b. the skin feest b. mirth joy fere b. a companion ferth b. the fourth fete b. fine fine l. cease finance f. end flaming red flash of flames sheaf of Arrows flaw yellow flay did fly flebring b. flattering slaunder fleten b. abound flemer b. expeller flone an arrow flemed b. daunted fleming conquest flid b. flie flite flight b. chide * Floreine A Coin of the value of 3 s. 4 d. or thereabouts and such were called Florenes de Scuto Others there were called Florenes Regales contained within the price of 2 s. 10 d. q. flo an arrow flode abounded floreth l. florisheth floiting f. d. whistling fonden labour fonde make contend to labour also to make a fool fonge b. take fonne b. fool also to be foolish fonnes devises fone fine l. make an end fother b. a Wain-load of twenty hundred weight forstraught b. daseled fore gone forfraught beset forrei f. to provide horse meat forrage f. fodder course meat forcer f. copher or chest forward course condition promise forwined d. dried up fordo overthrown for thy b. therefore forpined consumed forleten forlete forsake broken off forloine rechase terms of hunting forleien d. wander fordo b. kill forleten foryetten let pass neglected forlorne fortuna maior l. Jupiter forgist forgiving forth theft forwelked marcidus d. dryed up forlaine forsaken fort l. strong forleteth giveth over forlyth spoileth forsongen b. weary with singing forge f. work foreyne b. a Jaques formel his make forfare b. forlorne fore fared gone foredid killed foryede b. overwent fordo undone lost fone b. enemies foison f. plenty foiterers f. vagabonds foothot b. forthwith fowlefaile b. err greatly folili f. rashly fomen b. enemies fongeth taketh use fownd framed foiles f. leaves frape b. a company a rabble frained restrained also asked fret b. a circle freneth maketh strange noise fret f. fraught frend fremd b. strange freelti b. frail froy from you franks f. french crowns freten b. devour franchise f. freedom freel b. frail freteth f. rubbeth chafeth fret f. turn fraught frouncen d. f. wrinckling fremed b. wild strange fret full set full frened b. strange frounce f. a wrincle froise frixura f. a Pancake or Tansey frounklesse f. plain fryth b. a wood fullich fully fulke an hollow place furiall f. cruel fusible l. that may be molten fuir i. fury fye defie fined l. ended fish the sign Pisces fire leuin b. lightning G. Gabbing b. lying gadling b. stragling garnison f. preparation Garnade Garnata in Spain garison f. a defence gable the fore front of an House galoch f. a kind of shoe gaytere berries virga sanguinea prickwood gastnes b. terror gargoning f. strange speaking gab b. prate or lye * Ganilion which betrayed the Army of the Christians under Charlemain to the Saracens and was therefore torn in pieces with four Horses galaxi lactea via g. a tract of â—stars called Watling-street gale b. yawle gale b. flout also chaâ—e galpeth b. belcheth gallard f. lusty frollick garison f. to defend * Gawyn This Gawyn was Sisters Son to Arthur the great King of the Britains a most famous man in War and in all manner of Civility As in the Acts of the Brittains we may read In the year 1082. in a Province of Wales called Rose was his Scpulchre found and his Body affirmed by many to have been of the length of fourteen foot galliens Galens works gate occasion gaudi b. brave gawreth b. stareth gawre b. stare gawde b. a trifle geri gerifull mutable also cruel gend f. seemly gere b. jest frensie gergon b. chattering prating geomancie g. conjuration by circles in the earth gent f. d. comely proper gesseran a brestplate giplere f. a bag or pouch gippon a doublet or light coat gigges b. drabs girde b. strike gigging sounding gigges garrulitas babling gite a gown gisarme gasa a certain weapon gipe a coat full of pleits gigges bablings giglotlyke b. strumper like gladly commonly glapeth b. glistereth glede b. fire embers flame sparkles ashes gle b. melody glent b. glanced cast gleire b. white glase b. to glose gleden d. gon slidden gledes imbers also flames gleue b. a spear glitteren b. glister shine glitering b. shining glode b. ascended glowed b. stared glombe b. frown gloten covering glose perswade glose b. flatter also the exposition of a dark speech glede b. puttock glowden d. shined glittren b. shine gnarre b. an hard knot as in wood a short thick grub gnast gnash gnew b. gnawed gnosse i. fool chuffe miser gods sonn b. that God sendeth gods half b. on Gods side gorget f. a throat gore lacinia a pleat or fold golyerdies f. ravenously mouthed gowreth b. stareth gonfennon f. a little flag gonge b. Jaques gossomor b. things that flye in the Air in Summer time like Copwebs Goodmes f. good time or mood gourde b. a bottel made of a gourd golit d. throat gotysh i. sottish gore an arbor under a gourd goodlihead gay shew grame i. sorrow mishap d. anger graythed devised grapenel an Instrument with many hooks graspeth b. catcheth fast gratch b. apparel grauen d. buried grant mercy f. I thank you graue bury graieth b. to make trim great see Mar maggiore anciently Pontus Euxinus grece f. gray gray amise of Russie Squirrels greith b. remove grete b. wepe grenehed rashness gre f. good part grith b. agreement greues b. trees boughs leaves grass gret b. saluted greyned made grede b. cried grint b. grinded grispe d. gripe grisely b. abhominably gastly fearfully grill b. could grofly b. flat on the ground groine b. a froward look growbed b. digged gruffe groufe b. groveling gruell b. pottage guerdon f. reward guerdonlesse f. unrewarded guerring i. brawling gullet d. a throat gye b. guide gyre b. trance H * Harrolds whereas in some books it is my King of Harrolds shalt thou be it is now corrected thus my King of Harlots shalt thou be For so it is in the French Moralization of Molinet 149. where he is called Roi des Ribaulds which is the King of Harlots or wicked Persons
diligence in doing a message mendicants l. Beggars mees b. Meddows mew secret mest b. most mete deal yield methe a kind of sweet drink metten dream melite power megre f. b. lean * Minoresse the right reading is moueresse as we have now printed it that is a stirrer of debate for so it is in the French Verses in the oldest written Copies Sembla byen estre moueresse ministralcie any instrument of Musick or Musick it self miscreants f. Infidels misqueame b. displease missat b. became not mistaken misused misfill miscarried mirror f. a glass mistere f. occupation manner fashion service strange thing also need mineth l. threatneth mistihede darkness mystery mitches f. manchets misericorde l. compassion minge b. mingle mine b. to entend also to dig misbode wrong minotaure g. a monster half a bull and half a man * Moses and King Salomon Out of Josephus and Petrus Comestor magister historiarum qui claruit Anno 1260. moyson f. ripeness monest l. admonish mouch b. to take up all mourdant i. the tongue of a buckle mokell mikell b. much mortresse a meat made of boiled hens crummed bread yolks of eggs and saffron all boiled together mokell d. stature making bigness modefie l. moderate mountaunce quantity mollock b. earth dung mowen posse be able mormall a canker moniours f. coiners moeble f. housholdstuff mow mon b. might mosell mouth snout mowlen b. wax mould moten d. must do moile a dish made of marrow and grated bread morter f. a lampe mote d. must go molles kistrels momblishnes d. talk mue moved muet f. silent muckre b. hoard up musard f. lingerer mynting labouring N. Nadir a. the point opposite to Zenith or the point under the Horizon right under our feet nakoners i. crotalum cimbals nas was not nart art not nad had not nale b. the ale-house narcotise d. stupefactive making senseless nat wilne not desire nam am not name d. took nere were not nede nedes b. business neighen neigh b. touch to draw near nest b. next neuen neuin b. name named nerfe i. sinew gristle nedely of necessity nesh b. tender nere untill were it not nempt b. named name tell nede needed nerthes herdmen nedes cost of necessity neders adders nice nise b. foolish nicete folly curiosity niterall saltpeter nigh b. almost nighen draw near nist knew not nil will not nigon nigeon f. dolt niggard nigges b. niggards nigh near to draw near nightspell b. a prayer against the night mare nightertale by night nimphes g. maidens of the sea nowell signifieth Deus nobiscum and is taken for Christmas 20. or 30. days next before nortelri nurture nore f. comfort nourishing note a Saint called Neotes nones b. condition purpose nori i. nurse nost knowest nome taken nummed nowth now note business O. Obay abide obseruaunce l. honour obstacles l. let ts occision l. murther occisier l. murderer octogami g. eight times married odible l. hateful offitorie l. a song or lesson in the time of offring oftsithes b. sundry times of plat then edge of ease then grief offrend f. d. offring onde halitus b. breath also fury on hie apace oned united onis once on knew d. one knee on presse adowne openheed bare-headed orde l. point ordainor d. governour oratorie l. a Temple a Chappel orisons f. d. Prayers * Ordall Ordalia is a tryal of chastity and other things by going over hot burning cultures of iron bare-footed as did Emma and Gunegond the Wife of Henry the fifteenth Emperour of Romans as writeth Craâ—tius in his Chronicles of Almaine This Ordall was used among the Saxons and since the Conquest among the Normans but in the time of King John it was taken away by the Court of Rome And afterward in England by the authority of Henry the third ordred b. having taken orders of priesthood Orders fower The four orders of Friars were these 1 Friars Minors or gray friers Franciscans 2 Friars preachers or blackfriars Dominicanes 3 Friars Carmelites or white friars 4 Friars Augustines * Orfrayes Aurifrisium frisled cloth of gold made and used in England both before and since the Conquest worn both by the Clergy and the Kings themselves as may appear out of Matthew Paris where he speaketh of the Ornaments sent by the Abbots of England to the Pope And also by a Record in the Tower where the King commandeth the Templers to deliver such Jewels garments and ornaments as they had of the Kings in keeping Among the which he nameth Dalmaticum velatum de Orefreis that is a Damask garment garded with Orfrayes orisont g. the part of the firmament to us seen orientall bright beautiful orientall i. bright orpiment the herb Orpin orloge f. g. a diall ouch b. a boss or button of gold also a wedge of gold ouerfret spred ouerthrowing hast outraie depart run outrance destruction out take except owhere any where ownding f. garding like waves owndy f. waving owles b. hooks pinsars P. * Palmers A Pilgrim and a Palmer did differ thus The Pilgrim had some dwelling place the Palmer had none the Pilgrim travelled to some certain place the Palmer to all and not to any one the Pilgrim might go at his own charge the Palmer must profess wilful poverty the Pilgrim might give over his profession the Palmer must be constant until he had obtained the Palm that is victory over his ghostly enemies and life by death * Pasiphae wife of Minos king of Creet who having kept company with a bull but rather as Festus saith with a man called Taurus brought forth Minotaurus who was half a man and half a bull palladium g. the image of Pallas in Troy pale f. a spangle also a robe of state palastere g. a combate paie b. robe paine mane f. white bread paling cutting in pains pace b. appease Palathi Palathia in Anatolia papelard f. hypocrite pankers f. toyls to take deer parage f. parentage patere b. prate partner by parts pan b. brain panter f. a pitfall pad b. a bundel parfay f. verily paynem b. heathenish paramors f. lovers pleasures pardieux f. verily paplardi f. hypocrisie paraments Robes of state or the place where they are kept par for pauade pugio a dagger or baslard penon f. a long streamer perse f. sky colour pennes fele many pence pensell d. a peece perionet a young pear tree perry f. precious stones bravery with precious stones pekois a pickaxe perturben f. disturb perriwrigh embroidered with pearl permagall equal peregrine f. strange peri d. a pear tree perpendicular l. down right * Peruise f. A bar and here it is understood of the conference called the Peruis amongst the young Counsellors Pleaders Attorneys or Students of the Law such as at this day might resemble the course in the houses of Court or Chancery called mootes and bolts wherein the form of pleading and arguing a case is exercised For so doth Fortescue in his 51. chapter of his Book commending those laws prove when he saith that after the
shew that Tideus and Polimite are combined in Friendship In the second Tideus's Message is taught and the Treacheries disclosed The third doth speak of Harmonia and of Amphiaraus who hid himself The fourth setteth out the Battels of the seven Kings The fifth noteth out the outrage of the Women of Lemnos toucheth the Adder and the Death of Archemorus In the sixth the games are declared In the seventh Amphiaraus the wise man is no more seen In the eighth Tideus the stay of the Greeks is slain In the ninth Hippomedon and Parthenope die In the tenth Capanâ—us in scaling the Walls is slain In the eleventh Etteocles and Polynice kill one another The twelfth setteth out Adrastus their hard case bewailing and Thebes burning Benedicite Praise ye Benedictus Blessed Cor meum eructavit My heart hath belched out Consummatum est It is finished Cum iniquis deputatus est He was reckoned among the wicked Consumere me vis Wilt thou destroy me Cur me dereliquisti Why hast thou forsaken me Coeli enarram The Heavens declare Corpus Domini The Lords Body De septem peccatis mortalibus Of the seven deadly Sins De Invidia Of Envy De Ira Of Anger De Accidia Of Accidy De Avaritia Of Covetousness De Luxuria Of Letchery Dolorum meum My Grief Domine Laba c. O Lord open my Lips Domine Dominus noster O Lord our God Domine est Terra The Earth is the Lords Dominus regnavit The Lord is King Explicit secunda pars poenitentiae sequitur pars tertia Here endeth the second part of Repentance and here followeth the third Fuerunt mihi Lachrimae me in Desertâ— Panes Die ac nocte My Tears were my Bread in the Wilderness Day and Night Faciem tuam abscondis Dost thou hide thy Face Jesus Nazarenus Jesus of Nazareth Irasâ—imini nolite peccare Be angry but sin not In nomine Jesu In the Name of Jesus In manus â—uas Into thy hands Jube Domine Command Lord. Jubilate Rejoyce Ignotum per ignotius One Obscurity by a more Obscurity Libera me Save me Laudate Praise ye Mulier est Hominis Confusio A Woman is Mans Destruction Non est Dolor sicut Dolor meus There is no Grief like to mine Non est aliud Nomen sub Coelo c. There is no other Name under Heaven O admirabile O wonderful O Deus Deus meus O God my God Pone me juxta te Set me by thee Qui Gladio percutit He that striketh with the Sword Quia tulerunt Dominum meum Because they have taken away my Lord. Quid mali feci tibi What harm have I done thee Quia non est qui consoletur me Because there is none to comfort me Quod dilexi multum Because I love much Quod sic repente praecipitas me That thou doest so suddenly cast me down Radix omnium malorum est Cupiditas Covetousness is the root of all evil Remedium contra Peccatum acidiae An help against the sin of wanhope Remedium contra Peccatum Avaritiae An help against the Sin of Covetousness Remedium contra Peccatum Luxuriae An help against the Sin of Lechery Sanctus Deus Holy God Sanctissimus Most holy Sequitur de Gula Concerning Gluttony Sequitur secunda pars Poenitentiae Here followeth the second part of Repentance Suspensus in Patibulo Hung upon the Cross Sed non respondes mihi But thou dost not answer me Sagittae tuae infixae sunt mihi Thy Arrows have pierced me sore Solum superest Sepulchrum There only remaineth a Grave Tanquam Cera liquescens Like melting Wax Tuam animam pertransibit Gladius The Sword shall pierce thy Soul Trahe me post te Draw me after thee Tu autem And thou Te Deum amoris Thee the God of Love Turpe lucrum Filthy Gain Vbi posuerunt eum Where have they laid him Velociter exaudi me Speedily hear me Venite Come ye The French in Chaucer translated A Moi qui voy To me which see Bien moneste Well admonished Bien loialement Well and dutifully C'est sans dire c. It is without saying c. Don vient la destinie From whom cometh destiny En diu est In God is Entierement vostre Yours wholly Estreignes moy de coeur joyeux Strain me with a joyful heart Et je scay bien que ce n'est pas mon tort And I know well that it is not my hurt Jay tout perdu mon temps mon labeur I have altogether lost my Time and Labour Jay en vous toute ma fiance I repose all my trust in you Je vouldray I will Je vous dy I say to you Je vous dy sans doute I say to you without doubt La belle dame sans mercy The fair Lady without mercy L'ardant espoir en mon coeur point est mort d'avoir l'amour de celle que je desire The earnest hope within my heart is not dead to have the love of her whom I desire Meulx un One best in heart Onques puis leuer I can never rise Or à mon coeur Now to my Heart Or à mon coeur ce qui vouloy Now to my Heart that which I would Pleures pour moy s'il vou plaist amoreux Weep for me if you please lovely Lady Plus ne pourroy I can do no more Qui est la Who is there Qui bien aime tard oublie He that loveth well is slow to forget Sans ose je dire Without shall I be bold to say Sans que jamais c. Without ever c. Sans ose je ou diray But dare I or shall I say Si douce est la marguerite So sweet is the daisie son mon joly coeur endormi Her lively Heart and mine fallen asleep Soyes asseurè Be ye assured Sâ—s la feville devers moy Upon the Leaf towards me Tant que je puis As much as I can Tant me fait mal departir de ma dame It grieveth me so much to depart from my Lady Vn sans changer One without changing The Authors cited by G. Chaucer in his Works by Name declared ALhazen an Arabian wrote seven Books of Perspectives Arnoldus de nova villa did write the Book called Rosarium Philosophorum Anselmus Bishop of Canterbury a great Writer in Divinity 1061. Agathon a Philosopher of Samos did write Histories Augustine that famous Doctor and Bishop wrote more Books than ever did any in the Church of the Latines Avicen a Physician of Sevil wrote a multitude of Books Averroys a Physician of Corduba floruit 1149. Albumasar alias Japhar a great Astrologian wrote of sundry things in that Art Aesopus a Philosopher born in Phrygia in the days of Croesus King of Lydia to whom he dedicated the Fables which he wrote Aristotle a famous Philosopher Scholar to Plato and Master to King Alexander He was 345 years before Christ Ambrose the worthy Bishop of Millain in the year of our Lord 373. Alcabutius
an Office of great account in times past and yet used in the Court of France Of this office speaketh Johannes Tillius in his second book De rebus Gallicis under the title De Praefecto praetorio Regis But more hereof when time shall serve in M. F. Thinâ— Comment halse d. a neck hasard d. dising haw a yard black have halse b. charge haire hair-cloth hayes f. hedges haketon f. a Jacket without sleves hawberke f. a gorget halpe b. helped halke angulus b. corner herne valley haubergion lorica f. a coat of male hate b. benamed habite l. plite harlotrise b. bawdry halt b. held purpose hauten comely haried b. pulled hayne f. hatred hafe lifted hace b. hath han b. have hawbacke b. return hardely b. stoutly also verily hackeney d. a trotting horse hameled d. cut off abated halow hollow halsing b. embrasing harrow apagesis away away fie fie happeth b. covereth embraseth hauselines faemoralia breches hat b. was called hallowes b. Saint haulues d. parts hawtently b. solemnly halt held holdeth judgeth haunten b. use haunce set out hanceled cut off halt b. performeth holdeth halteth trahit draweth hauoire f. possession henten hent b. catch he le heyle b. health hethen b. mockery hewen hewed b. coloured hecled wrapped herbigage f. lodging held accompt accompted hereid b. praised honoured hewed b. coloured hew hewis b. colours welfare beauty hestes b. wills promise commandements heyne b. to labourer drudge heauen b. to shove to lift hewmond new made healed b. covered heard heroner a special long winged Hawk hent b. catched herborow d. lodging heriyng b. praise herawdes b. furious parts in a play here and houne hare and hound helmed b. defended heale hele b. hold cover here and hace b. hoarse and harsh healed heard helded b. holden down herieth b. praiseth helest did hold hend b. gentle hernia g. the disease called bursting hote hete heten d. vow promise * Heisugge The Heisugge called Curruca is a little Bird in whose nest the Cuckow laieth her-Eggs and when they be hatched and grown to some bigness they eat the Bird that bred them hew welfare herden did hear heuen b. rise up hem them heth b. brabes or such like her their hete d. was named henters b. catchers height b. were named heepe b. help heraud d. proclaim set forth hew to hover henten b. to catch hemisphere g. half the compass of the visible Heaven highest maketh hast hight b. promised hierdesse b. herdwoman hith b. make hast highten b. promise hip b. the red berry on the brier hidous f. b. great hite hete hote d. is called hild b. powred hidiously b. fiercely fearfully holt holden hoten b. called horologe g. a clock hote the knot make fast hoppen d. leap howten b. hallow howgates how hore b. white holoure b. horemonger hostei to lay siege homicide g. murderer hoten b. make an unpleasant noise hopesteres gubernaculum tenentes pilots horde b. heap howselin b. receive the Sacrament homager f. subject howuer an hoverer hold with-held houed b. taried hoker b. stoutness frowardness horrow squalidus beastly base slanderous houe b. lifted up to hover also a shew horoscope g. the ascendent of ones Nativity hough how hostell f. a town house hote b. promise bid hostilements necessaries hold beholden holtes hore b. woods white holt d. a grove hoting d. promising hurleth f. falleth maketh a noise * Hugh of Lincolne In the 20th year of Henry the Third eighteen Jews were brought to London from Lincolne and hanged for crucifying a Child of eight years old which was this Hugh whereof Chaucer speaketh as may be proved out of Matthew Paris and Walsingham hurleth obstrepit f. maketh a noise hurtell skirmish hurtlest carrieth throweth hurtlen b. thrust hulstred b. hidden hurtelen b. provoke humling b. sounding hyldeth yieldeth hyne b. a hiend or husbandman hyerd heardman Governour hyerds b. guides I. Iape Jest a Word by abuse grown odious and therefore by a certain curious Gentle-woman scraped out in her Chaucer whereupon her serving man writeth thus My Mistress cannot be content To take a Jest as Chaucer ment But using still a Womans fashion Allows it in the last Translation She cannot with a word dispence Although I know she loves the sence For such an use the World hath got That words are sins but deeds are not iambeux f. armour for the legs iane half pence of Janua or Galy half pence iapedst b. jested iangleresses b. brablers ibet stamped ibete set forth icond b. learned ich b. my self ido b. undone spoiled idolaster g. idolatour iet b. devise iewry the Jews street or sinagogue iewise reward by revenge also a gibber ifete b. effect ifere b. together ificched f. fixed ifounded b. sunk ifretten d. devoured igourd fly igrauen d. buried ihight b. called accompted ihired honoured ikend b. known ilimed taken ilke b. same illusion l. deceipt imasked f. covered imeint b. mingled imped b. grafted impetren l. intreat incantations i. charms in a threw b. quickly innerest f. inward indulgence l. pardon ingot the mass or wedge of gold after it is molten as also the trough wherein it is molten intermete f. medle incubus l. the night mare indigence l. want intremes f. middle servise intermingled intresse lining i not I know not intermeting changing inome d. taken interual l. distance of time iniquitance l. disquiet induration l. making hard inde f. azure colour in hie in hast i the b. thrive itwight b. drawn ineched put in inomen d. obtained inhild b. infuse iombre b. joyn jumble ionglerie d. jugling iordans b. double urinals ioleming d. joyful iossa turn ioyeux f. joyful ipriued searched ipulled smoothed irayled covered spred I se beheld isped expeditus dispatched ishad b. scattered isperi g. Orizon ishet b. shut ispended l. considered ishone set forth iswent b. swinged * Iustinian In the eleventh Book of the Code De mendicantibus validis where it is enacted that if any shall beg having no cause either by need or maim the same shall be examined and searched and who so shall find him to counterfeit and proveth the same Dominium ejus consequetur and saith Bartoll He shall be punished Ad arbitrium Judicis iuuentute l. youth iupart b. adventure iubeli l. joy gladness for freedom iub b. bottel iudicum l. book of Judges iwri iwrien hidden iwri covered hanged iwimpled d. mufled hooded K. Kalender chief first kalends preamble keiked kiken b. stared keinard micher hedg-creeper kepe b. care * Kenelme This Kenelmus king of the Mercians was innocently slain by his Sister Quendrida whereby he obtained his Name of a Martyr In the same place for Mereturick we now read Mercenrick which is the Kingdom of Mercia as the Etymology of the word doth teach For Rik in the Saxon Tongue signifieth a Kingdom and Mercen the marches or bounds of a country So that Mercenrick is regnum Mercia whereof both Kenulph and Kenelme were Kings kele b. to coole kest b. cast kepen b. to care kembe d. deck