vyle nes reuerseth them she deceyueth all the worlde by her cautelles for she adnychylleth the conscyence fayth and scyence and pacyfyeth our superyours magystrates Euery body prayseth it and honoureth it and shortly with out reason dothe many euylles Yf a fole haue treasour he shall domyne aboue the other and shall lyue in tryuÌ„phe bycause of his rychesses ¶ Of the cure of astronomye ca. lxiii ¶ He is holden a foole truely The whiche putteth his besy cure To calke the sterres in the skye And all theyr natures to procure In pronostynge as he were sure Of the tyme the whiche is to come That he knoweth not all nor some AStrologyens that speculeth in the planettes xxvi q v. noÌ„ 〈◊〉 ceat christia et ê‘ totum et xxvi q. vii noÌ„ obseruetis et c. sequenti Ad Gall. iiii xxvi q. vii â—s existmareâ— and in the sterres approche you nere and come and make a pronostycacyon in my satyre Uayn astronomyers that is not vtyle in no good thynge machynatyques aryolles and the regyons of all them that honoureth the sterres If that there happen only lytell thynge vnto a man they wyll expose it saynge that the elementes dysposeth it be it good or badde There is dyuerse that enforceth them selfe to do it There is so many in the worlde that xxvi q. ii ip Exodi xii they be almoost innumerable and doo many euylles by that folysshe scyence and sayeth that the course of the tyme to come resteth all in the constellacyons of the sterres They be so wyse that they knowe the secretes obscure PlÇŽnetiste causes of all elementes of the grete mouynges and by theyr voluntaryous wyll sheweth cuydently theyr grete folysshenes by tellynge what shall falle euery daye They laboure excessyuely to declare or expowne in grete erroures dyuers horryble thynges And they specule Sol. Luna Saturnus Mars Uenus Mercurius Jupiter in the sonne and in the mone in theyr dyuers mouynges And after theyr tornynges they auaunce theyr speches saynge that Saturne is the worste sygne of all that there is grete dystresse vnder the same Saynge moreouer that Mars sygnyfyeth plenteuous people that shal be ryght eurous in batayll Saynge also that Uenus is a Joyous sygne and that vnder her is all welcome vnto loue and lybydynosyte As moche sayeth he of Mercurye Of Jupyter they say that he is pyteous And that he the whiche is borne vnder Saturne shal be dylygent for to stele and shal maynteyne lesynges and vnhappynes Under Mars he shall be in bataylles and shote in a bowe Neuerthelesse oftentymes we se that the chylde of whome I speke cometh to perfeccyon and departeth not from his house this fole reputeth hym suche Oly Ad TituÌ„ ii Ptholomeê° Ad. Rom. xi Eccle. i. Psal. xxxv uynge man in this worlde put not thyn vnderstondynge in suche vayne thynges but do well and be vertuous and haue no fere of suche thynges for god the creatour domyneth ouer the elementes and dysposeth them after his pleasure Come hether poore foole what furoure and what vygoure hathe taken the that speketh of the hye dedes of our lorde god the creatour It semeth for a certaynte that god hathe chosen the for to tell his secretes It appereth euydently that thou arte deuoyde of al gode vertues and scyence thou arte blynde wylt thou haue other lumynary leue these abusyons and take the entyere waye of vertue and prudence Leue these thynges de pâ— dis iiii in domo Ad Ephe. i. Ad Ro. viii xxvi q. v. non licet xxvi q. iii. admoneant vnto god for to dyspose them after his mercyfull pleasure Let hym gouerne the heuens the fyrmament and the erthe for yf he wyll preserue and defende vs what may the planettes or the sterres preuayle agaynste vs. for by his dyuyne and infynyte clemence he may delyuer vs from all constellacyons and fortunes ¶ Some wryteth of the natyuytees byrthes of chyldren comprehendynge sterres and planettes the whiche is sene fayll oftentymes and all is not true that they thynke For we haue that the wyse man domyneth aboue the sterres and planettes ¶ Of hym that wyll wryte and enquere of all regyons ca. lxiiii ¶ He the whiche mesureth the grounde The heuens and the clymates all And the worlde the whiche is all rounde With the planettes superyall Dyspraysynge our lorde eternall By comprysynge so follysshely The maners of countrees truely UNhappy fooles the whiche thynketh to haue intellygence of the amplenesse of heuen and Pliniâ—s li. 〈◊〉 circa prin erthe come and me sure this chapytre and ye shall comprehende thynges that ben vtyle This foole is replete with foly that thynketh to mesure the erthe with a lytell payre of compase and all the regyons of folkes They desyre to knowe all the mouynges in the skye A grete thynge that apperteyneth not to no mortall man to knowe And them of the ferdest abacuth nacyons of the worlde as in yperboreus where as is the grete wynde of eolus He mesureth Ursye for to comprehende the countree and people with all the regyons of the worlde And the profoundyte of the see All the yles Strabo with the enhabytauntes of whome the grete strabo dothe founde hym in his booke where as he hathe wryten all the worlde as it appereth O folysshe geometryen tel me wherfore thou takest so grete thought to compry se suche thynges I saye to the that thyn vnderstondynge is dymynysshed and destroyed wylte thou do more than Plynyus that made his booke of this scyence He was a grete clerke but yet he put in it dyuerse grete erroures Eccle. vii Ptholomeê° SapieÌ„tie iii. Hiere ii And in lyke wyse dyde the kynge Ptholomeus that thought for to haue made more than all the other Thou laboureth in vayne and hathe not thy herte clene and pure and yet thou leueth the good way for to holde the vycyous waye The thyrde the whiche is vnknowen Of prystes that neuer had ben manyfeste was she not Ezechi Eccle. xxiiii Ferdinandê° hispaniarum rex founde with the eye and not with the herte There was one that knewe that in the yles of spayne was enhabytauÌ„ tes Wherfore he asked men of kynge Ferdynandus wente founde them the whiche lyued as beestes ¶ Of hym that wyll not be a foole c. lxv ¶ Marcia the whiche with the sage Doct appolyne ones dysputed Bycause he passed the passage And in the same was polluted For a foole he was reputed But he wolde not therto agre Wherfore he was flayne as ye se BOthe yonge and olde poore and ryche approche you nere my satyre â–ª for certaynly yf ê“uer xxvii Oui. vnmetiâ— Oui. vi fas Juuenalie Eccle. ii ê“uer xxvi Eccle. xx SapieÌ„ iiii Eccle. xix Oui. i. tristiuÌ„ ê“uer xix Luce. xv Tulliê° de amicitia that ye approche you not ye shall be flayne for your obstynacyon and yet ye shall be foles euer after Euery foole holdeth
¶ The shyppe of fooles Gaudeamê° oeÌ„s· ¶ Here after foloweth the prologue of the translatour of this present booke intytled the grete shyppe of fooles of this worlde KNowynge that Melius est habundare quam deficere It is better to haue haboundaunce of dyuers thynges than to haue necessyte Wherfore I haue put myselfe to translate this presente booke called the grete shyppe of fooles out of Frensshe in to Englysshe bycause that this booke hathe ben fyrste made in Allemayne language and out of Allemayne it was translated into latyn by mayster Jaques Locher and oute of latyn in to rethoryke Frensshe I haue consydered that the one delyteth them in latyn the other in Frensshe some in ryme and the other in prose for the whiche cause I haue done this more ouer consyderynge this that Therence Therentius sayth Tot capita tot sensus also many heedes also many opynyons And than consyderynge the saynge of Uyrgyle Uirgilius Trahit sua queque voluntas Euery body wyll do after theyr voluntees and wyll accomplysshe them but as Uyrgyle sayeth more ouer Nescia mens hoiÌ„m The voluntees of men is vnknowen Wherfore they that wyll haue latyn take it the frensshe ryme or prose or alleman or Englysshe Who wyll haue the morall sens take it who that wyll haue the lytterall sens take it And who wyll haue all take all as sayeth Esope ¶ To the honour of the Esopas ryght hye and ryght sacred trynyte fader sone and holy ghost in one essence and of the ryght gloryous moder of god and of all the sayntes of paradyse I haue begon to make this translacyon for to exhorte the poore humaynes the whiche by imbelycytes pusyllanimytes haue ensued the fooles of this presente worlde theyr werkes And to the ende that they may eschewe al mondanytes and folyes I praye them that they haue regarde vnto this present booke and that they comprehende the substaunce to the ende that they maye wysely gouerne them selfe in the tyme to come and that thorugh theyr labour they may be of the nombre of the saued For whan a man debateth the shame that it be not vaynquysshed multe plyeth his force And the good conscyence also multeply eth vertues in man Consyderynge also that the prose is more famylyer vnto euery man than the ryme I Henry Uirgilius Watson indygne and symple of vnderstondynge haue reduced this present boke in to our maternall tongue of Englysshe out of Frensh at the request of my worshyp full mayster wynkyn de worde thrughe the entysement exhortacyon of the excellent pryncesse Margarete couÌ„tesse of Rychemonde and Derby and grandame vnto our moost naturell souerayne lorde kynge Henry ye. viii whome Ihesu preserue from all encombraunce If that I haue added ony thynge in ony place I haue not done it by arrogaunce but for to applye vnto the scrypture and bycause that it came vnto purpose I haue not wylled to chaunge the name of the boke the whiche hathe ben called by the fyrste composer the shyppe of fooles He hathe fygured a shyppe full of fooles fletynge vpon a see ¶ By the shyppe we may vnderstonde the folyes and er roures that the mondaynes are in by the se this present worlde the fooles beynge in the shyppe is the synners for we are in this worlde as pylgrymes fletynge frome one countree to another and after our operacyons we shall be remunered at the porte of salute Syth that it is so we must serche in this booke the whiche may well be â—â—lled the doctrynall of fooles for there may be fouÌ„den good and helthfull doctrynes conteyned as well in the holy pagyne as in the werkes of the sayntes and prophetes of lawes and of the decretes of holy faders the whiche haue rowed so well in this worlde that they are aryued at a good porte that is in the glorye eternall to the whiche wyll conduyte vs the fader the sone and the holy ghost amen You lectours humbly I requyre you for to pardon me yf that I haue erred in ony thynge for the tendernes of my yeres hathe so affusked me that I haue not applyed me vnto the lettres as Jought to haue done the language is not autentyke to the ende that euerybody may vnderstonde some thynge for folkes vn lyttered demaundeth not thynges obscure ¶ Prolude of this present boke NOwe is the worlde ful of scyence and documentes made by our auÌ„cyent faders in suche wyse that the holy scrypture is in gretter vygoure than euer it was for in her is all ryght Fyrst we haue the holy byble of the auÌ„cyent faders In the whiche appereth euydently theyr feates and lyues we maye take good ensamples for to susteyne and nourysshe our poore soules For he that loueth not vertues is reputed vyle More ouer we haue the bookes of phylosophye wherin is conteyned all goodnes it is they wherin all the wyse men dyd lerne she is excellente and of grete pryse And who that delyteth in her may haue ryght grete prouffyte But this notwithstondynge I meruayle me of euery mortall man bycause that they thynke not vpon theyr salute and thynke soner to assemble a grete sorte of synnes and how that god consumeth vs not seynge that we offende hyÌ„ soo moche Good doctryne is chaced out of the worlde euery daye and in folye and imbelycyte man passeth his dayes he fleeth leueth good doctryne Palas was wonte to kepe the ren Palâ—s ges in this worlde but by our grete and enorme synnes we maye not suffre it She is in heuen where as she serueth the sayntes of whome she is loue None or ryght fewe haue her prudence scyence or doctryne we haue not the ouerture of probyte fayth conscience loue and pyte is not in vs but echone dysprayseth his god wher fore he that taketh vertues cheseth a good place Noneste thynges and good condycyons we dysprayse The holy sayntes documentes and admonestinges we dyspyse with the celestyall doctrynes so dulcet and amerous vnto the good and dyscrete men of this worlde ¶ More ouer we fall in infynyte errours that in the worlde is the worste and are releued in a myscheuous empyre by our synnes are infynyte and none of vs hathe a stedfaste degree By playnes wayes pathes tauernes markettes stretes mountaynes hylles felde s and fynably by al quarters is excercysed glotonye whiche is so vyle in takyng inutyle wayes and not the waye of salute We folowe capons tauernes etynge drynkynge insacyably we replenysshe our bodyes vnmesurably with lecherye and delycates sobrenes is not fouÌ„de in vs euery body is trobled with this vyce Our hertes is affusked so that it demaundeth nothynge but vanytees our soules we fulfyl with fylthes and lecheryes in lyke wyse and of othervyces mo than a hondred By the meanes wherof there is grete haboundaunce of fooles thorugh the worlde in suche wyse that in dyuers regyons and countrees theyr folyes redoundeth so moche that all vertues pure thynges
that occupyeth the tyme in this lecture yf you fynde ony faute please it you to excuse the capacyte of me the yongthe that I am yet in consyderȳge that there is none so well shodde but that they may slyde somtyme ¶ Hereafter foloweth the table OF bookes inutyle ca. i. Of good counsaylles ca. ii Of auaryce and prodygalyte ca. iii. Of newe customes and guyses ca. iiii Of auncyent fooles ca. v. ¶ Of the doctryne of chyldren ca. vi ¶ Of reporters and detractours ca. vii ¶ Not for to ensue good counsayll ca. viii ¶ Of condycyons vncomposed ca. ix ¶ Of the lysyon of amyte ca. x. ¶ Of the contempnynge of scrypture ca. xi ¶ Of the fooles vnpuruayed ca. xii ¶ Of loue venerous ca. xiii ¶ Of them that synne vpon the mercy of god ca. xiiii ¶ Of fooles makynge edefyces ca. xv ¶ Of dronkerdes and gloutons ca. xvi ¶ Of rychesses mutyle ca. xvii ¶ Of the seruyce of two maysters ca. xviii ¶ To speke to moche ca. xix ¶ Of them that correcke other synne themself xx ¶ To fynde goodes and yelde them not agayne c. xxi ¶ Of the conscyon of sapyence ca. xxii ¶ Of iactacyon and confydence in fortune ca. xxiii ¶ Of to grete curyosyte ca. xxiiii ¶ To take on truste ca. xxv ¶ Of petycyons and vowes iutyle ca. xxvi ¶ Of the studye mutyle ca. xxvii ¶ Of them that speke folysshely agaynst god ca. xxviii ¶ On other to giue Jugement ca. xxix ¶ Of them that charge them with benefyces ca. xxx Of them that desyre frō day to day to amende thē xxxi ¶ Of them that wyll kepe theyr wyues ca. xxxii ¶ Of aduoutrye ca. xxxiii ¶ Of hym that is folysshe in all ceasons ca. xxxiiii ¶ Of angre that procedeth of a lytell cause ca. xxxv ¶ Of the mutabylyte of fortune ca. xxxvi ¶ Of the vnpacyence in sekenes ca. xxxvii ¶ Of consultacyons to euydente ca. xxxviii ¶ How they oughte to be wyse by the experyence of the euyll that they se fooles commytte ca. xxxxix ¶ Not for to haue cure of detraccyons and vayne wordes of euery body ca. xl ¶ Of subsanatours and detractours ca. xli ¶ Of the contempnynge of the Joye eternall ca. xlii ¶ Of the ianglynge that is done in the chirche ca. xliii ¶ Of them that inclyne them with theyr wylles to suffre dethe ca. xliiii ¶ Of the waye and felycyte and payne to come of dely tes and synnes purchaced ca. xlv ¶ Of the euyll example of the moost gretest ca. xlvi ¶ Of voluptuosyte corporell ca. xlvii ¶ Of them that may not hyde themselfe ca. xiviii ¶ Of them that wedde wyues for theyr rychesses xlix ¶ Of enuye ca. l. ¶ Of the vnpacyence of correccyon ca. li. ¶ Of vnconnynge and folysshe physycyens ca. lii Of the dolorous departynge frō the puyssaūce of heuen lz ¶ Of predestynacyon ca. liiii ¶ To forgete hymselfe ca. lv ¶ Of the vyce of ingratytude ca. lvi ¶ Of the daunces that be made ca. lvii ¶ Of players on instrumentes by nyght ca. lviii ¶ Of maundyens and theyr vanytees ca. lix ¶ Of the condycyons angre grete shrewednes of women ca. lx ¶ Of the purssaunce of fooles ca. lxi ¶ Of the cure of astronomye ca. lxii ¶ Of hym that wyll wryte and enquyre of all regyons and countrees ca. lxiii ¶ Of hym that wyll not be a foole lxiiii ¶ Of them that vnderstonde no playes ca. lxv ¶ Of the vnpacyence of some ca. lxvi ¶ Of the vnpacyence of some that wyll not abyde and wyll do euyll ca. lxvii ¶ Of the vnpuruayenge for the tyme to come ca. lxviii ¶ Of the lytygantes or pleaders in iugement ca. lxix ¶ Of fooles abhomynable in wordes ca. lxx ¶ Of the estate spyrytuell ca lxxi ¶ Of iactaunce ca. lxxii ¶ Of players lxxiii ¶ Of fooles surprysed ca. lxxiiii Of knightes men of armes scrybes practiciēs lxxv ¶ Of folysshe legacyons and messengers ca. lxxvi ¶ Of dyspencers kepers of sellers in a house lxxvii ¶ Of the excessyfe arrogaunce rustyke ca. lxxviii ¶ Of the dyspreysynge of pouerte ca. lxxix ¶ Not for to perseuer in goodnes ca. lxxx ¶ Of the contempnynge dyspraysynge of deth lxxxi ¶ Of the dyspraysynge of god ca. lxxxii ¶ Of the blasphemers of god ca. lxxxiii ¶ Of the plage of god ca. lxxxiiii ¶ Of the folysshe permutacyon ca. lxxxv ¶ For to honour fader and moder ca. lxxxvi ¶ Of the cauyllacyon of preestes ca. lxxxvii ¶ Of the demonstraunce of pryde ca. lxxxviii ¶ Of vsurers and feneratours ca. lxxxix ¶ Of the vayne esperaunce to haue succede lxxxx ¶ Not for to kepe the holydayes ca. lxxxxi ¶ To gyue his goodes after to repente hym lxxxxii ¶ Of the vyce of slouthe ca. lxxxxiii ¶ Of the fooles infydeles ca. lxxxxiiii ¶ Of the inclynacyon of the fayth catholyke and of the empyre ca. lxxxxv ¶ Of assentatours blandysshers flaterers and scummers of the courte ca. lxxxxvi ¶ Of delayers and vayne reporters ca. lxxxxvii ¶ Of falshode and fraudes ca. lxxxxviii ¶ Of the Antecryste ca lxxxxix ¶ Of hym that hydeth trouthe ca. C. ¶ To withdrawe the good dede ca. Ci. ¶ Of the obmyssyon of good werkes ca. Cii ¶ Of the laude of sapyence ca. Ciii ¶ Of the dyspraysynge of his vnfortune ca. Ciiii. ¶ Of the detraccyon of goodes ca. Cv. ¶ Of the vnmoderate etynge at the table ca. Cvi ¶ Of the true dyscrypcyon of a prudent man Cvii ¶ Of the commendacyon or recommendacyon of phylosophye ca. Cviii. ¶ Concertacyon of vertue with voluptuosyte Cix ¶ Obieccyon of voluptuosyte blamynge vertues Cx. ¶ The answer of vertue to voluptuosyte ca. Cxi ¶ The shyppe latyne or barge socyale ca Cxii ¶ Of the shyppe socyale mecanyke ca. Cxiii ¶ Of the syngularyte of some newe fooles ca Cxiiii ¶ Of them that wyll corrumpe the ryght ca Cxv. ¶ Of them that do all thynges contrary ca. Cvi Finis tabule ¶ Argument in the shyppe of Fooles of this Worlde FOr the felycyte and salute of all the humayne gendre is compyled and dyrecte the shyppe of fooles of this transytory worlde in the whiche ascendeth all they that vageth from the waye of trouthe and from the playne exhortacyon of the intellectyue vnderstondynge in transmutable and obscure thoughtes of the frayle body Wherfore this present boke may be called satyre notwithstondynge that the fyrste auctoure dyde delyte hym in the newe intytulacyon of this present booke for ryght so as by the poesyes and fyccyons the auncyent poetes dyde correcte the vyces and fragylytees of mortall men ¶ Semblably this present pagyne specifyeth before theyr syght the estate and condycyon of men to the ende that as a myrroure they beholde the meurs and rectytude of lyfe Neuertheles thynke not ye lectours that I haue worde by worde dyrecte and reduced this presente booke oute of Frensshe in to our maternall tongue of Englysshe for I haue
onely as resyteth Flaccus taken entyerely the substaunce of the scrypture in esperaunce that myn audace presumptuous sholde be pardonned of the lectoures hauynge aspecte vnto the capacyte of my tendre yeres and the imbylycyte of my lytel vnderstondynge in leuynge the egressyons poetyques and fabulous obscurtees in achyeuynge the werke in facyle sentence and famylyer style in supplyenge al the reders to haue me for excused yf that I have fayled in ony thynge ¶ Here after ensueth the fyrste chapytre ¶ Of bookes inutyle ca. primo ¶ The fyrste foole of the shyppe I am certayne That with my handes dresse the sayles all For to haue bookes I do all my besy payne Whiche I loue not to rede in specyall Nor them to se also in generall Wherfore it is a prouerbe all aboute Suche thynketh to knowe that standeth in doute YOnge folkes that entende for to knowe dyuers thyÌ„ges approche you vnto this doctryne it reuolue in your myndes organykes to the ende that ye maye comprehende and vnderstande the substaunce of it and that ye be not of the nombre of the fooles that vageth in this tempesteous flode of the worlde And you also the whiche haue passed the flourynge aege of your youthe to the ende that and ye be of the nombre of the fooles moundaynes that ye maye lerne somwhat for to detraye you out of the shyp stultyfere Wherfore vnderstande what the fyrste foole sayth beynge in the grete shyppe of fooles ¶ I am the fyrste in the shyppe vagaunte with the other fooles I tourne and hyse the cordes of the shyp saylynge ferre forth in the see I am founded full euyll in wytte in reason I am a grete foole for to affye me in a grete multytude of bokes I desyre alwaye and appetyteth newe inuencyons compyled mystycally and newe bookes in the whiche I can not comprehende the substaunce nor vnderstande nothynge But I doo my besy cure for to kepe them honestly from poudre dust I make my lectrons and my deskes clene ryght often My mansyon is all replenysshed with bookes I solace me ryght of ten for to se them open without ony thynge compylynge out of them ¶ Ptolomeus was a ryche Ptolomeus philadelphê° cuiê° memini Josephus si xii man the whiche constytued and commauÌ„ded that they sholde serche hym thorough euery regyon of the worlde the moost excellentest bookes that myght be founden And whan they had brought them all he kepte theym for a greate treasoure And that notwithstandynge he ensued not the ensygnementes nor the doctryne of the dyuyne sapyence how be it that he coude dyspose nothynge of the lyfe without it what bookes someuer he had nor compose ony thynge to the relefe of his body at that tyme. I haue redde in dyuers bookes in the whiche I haue studyed but a lytell whyle but oftentymes I haue passed the tyme in beholdynge the dyuersytees of the couerynges of my bookes It sholde be grete foly to me to applye by excessyue studye myn vnderstondynge vnto so many dyuers thynges where through I myghte lese my sensual intellygence for he that procureth for to knowe ouermoche and occupyeth hymself by excessyue studye is in daunger for to be extraught from hymself also euerychone is dyspensed be he a clerke or vnderstoÌ„de he nothyng yet he bereth the name of a lorde I may aswell commytte one in my place the whiche thynketh for to lerne scyence for hym and for me And yf that I fynde myselfe in ony place in the company of wyse men to the ende that I speke no latyn I shall condyscende vnto all theyr preposycyons for fere that I sholde not be reproched of that that I haue so euylly lerned ¶ O Prouerb v. doctours the whiche bereth the name and can nothynge of scyence for to eschewe grete dyshonoure come ne 〈…〉 in the company of lerned men our auncyent faders here before dyde not lerne theyr resplendysshynge scyence in the multytude of bookes but of an ardaunt desyre of a good courage They had not theyr spyrytes so vnstedfast as the clerkes haue at this present tyme it were more propyce for suche folkes for to bere asses eeres than for to bere the names of doctours and can nothynge of cunnynge ¶ Of good counsayll ca. secundo ¶ The counsayll the whiche dothe not well conserne His owne estate and grete affynyte And from others hurte dothe not his dyscerne Is well worthy to haue aduersyte Prouerb v And to be deiecte from prosperyte For he bryngeth the hogge vnto the pyt And afterwarde reuerseth hym in it HEre after ensueth of them that wyll haue entre in to the senate or in the courte of some grete lorde or prynce to the ende that they maye haue honoure and reuerence of the people in theyr countree and to be exalted before the other and it is they the whiche ben the leest Ecclesia ii experte in scyences as in lawe decrete and good couÌ„sell by suche folkes is obscurely couerde and hyd in vayne wordes and walketh by tenebrous centres At rome auncyently were good couÌ„sayllers wyse prudent and lettered the whiche canonykely and imperyally punysshed the malefactours and thynges yllycyte and vycyously done And the thynges that were good and honest they mayntened in multyplyenge from daye to daye the tranquylyte and welfare of the thynges publyke But at â—eneâ—â— this present tyme in many places be some couÌ„sellers gouernours of courtes as well seculers as ecclesyastykes that can not eschewe some euyll passage nor dyscerbe the lytyges and debates nor vnbynde the knotte that is bounden Yf that a presydent requyre hym for to gyue lib. ii ff de origi 〈◊〉 hym some good counsayll vpon some defuse mater he is so full of pryde and grauyte that he wyll not declare vnto hym no newe thynge also it sholde be agaynst reason for to make pure and clene water yssue out of a vessell the whiche is maculate fulsome He fleeth from the other and semeth that he wyll not saye neuer a worde vnto theyr preposycyons but he wyll not in noo maner of wyse gaynsaye them for fere lest they sholde dysprayse hym bycause of his vnreasonnable responce and vnconnynge and in this maner of wyse is the counsell corrumped lo how suche folke do Justyce the whiche dependeth vpon them Alas senate courte royall what forfayture what euyll nature what greuous euylles ys sueth from the that ought to be moder and nouryssher of Justyce Knowest thou not how that thy propre couÌ„sayllers assemble them togyder whan there is ony verdyte or sentence to be gyuen and yf that there be twayne of one semblable oppynyon the other wyl not empesshe the sentence be it egall or not and so lettteth it passe and by this reporte vniust the courte shall execute false Judgement Alas it is not ynoughe for to here the other ii q. iii. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tempus nor for to ensue theyr oppynyons ye must recyte and declare good
the laye people but also vnto the clerkes and them of the chirche for they daunce also how well that theyr thoughtes be vertuous yet they be beten downe with mondanytees and ben sene reygne in maladyccyon Osyuyte holdeth euery daye chyldren yonge maydens be nothynge endoctryned as they were in tyme paste they can no more vertuousnes nowe nor honour nor amyable speche in the worlde is nothinge but synne All men as wel on werke dayes as on holydayes daunceth ye and they that be so auncyent that they maye scarsely susteyne themselfe enrageth for to daunce In many and dyuers wayes it is but vycyousnes 〈…〉 g. ii geor Judith ii in mouynge theyr corporall bodyes after the melodyous armony of the instrument More than a thousande myllyons of euylles is done at the daunces for a notable man shal fynde with his doughter or with his wyfe a grete sorte of galauntes spekynge many dyssolate wordes kyndelynge the fyre of loue And after they be so ardaunt in loue that all theyr bodyes is tormented therwith Amonge you yonge maydens that putteth all your curyosyte therin yf ye wyll lyue without vyce flee that thynge ¶ Of players of instrumentes ca. lix Who gothe aboute euery nyght Playnge on instrumentes swetely And syngeth songes by the lyght Of the mone melodyously Before his ladyes dore truely He is a foole endurynge colde Whiche he shall fele whan he is olde PLayers on instrumentes that renneth on the Esaye xxix SapieÌ„ xiiii Job xxiii ê“uer vii nyght aboute come and playe a balade before my booke and ye shall haue a celestyal rewarde I wolde haue made an ende of mi saynges for my volunte was descended on the banke of the see where as I sawe a grete companye of foles that gothe by nyght Then toke I my penne wrote of theÌ„ as I dyde of other Whan euery body was at reste these fooles made grete noyse whiche noyed sore the poore folkes that were at reste as well men as women for they gooâ—cryenge and rennynge from strete to strete makynge dyuers songes and playenge on many instrumentes lyke as fooles that haue loste theyr sensuall wyttes They synge vycyous songes and balades Somtyme they haue vysyons by nyght that be ryght Ouidius in arte Luce. v. horryble Notwithstandynge the swete instrumentes and the songes that they go syngynge oftentymes of deumenydes And for all theyr melodyous instrumentes yet they trouble them sore that be at reste bycause that they be not in theyr houses And it behoueth them often tymes to caste stones at them water ye and the pot with pysse for to chace them awaye they endure colde hete froste snowe and rayne O poore fooles wherfore reioyse you yourselfe for to renne vpon the nyght as foles SapieÌ„ xvii JohaÌ„ xi vnreasonable beestes that were neuer wyse The mynstrelles be not all alone doynge so But the yonge Joyous men gentylmen preestes religyous men and monkes doynge on the nyght all thynges dysordynate The husbandes that hathe theyr custome for to accomplysshe theyr cursed wyll and macule theyr maryage leue theyr wyues in theyr beddes without ony consolacyon wherthorugh oftentymes they be dysposed to vycyousnes by his euyll example Who that is maryed ought Juuenalis ad ephe iiii i. thessa iiii to kepe theyr wyues honestly and peasybly mynystringe vnto them all that is behouefull and necessarye to the ende that ye gyue them none occasyon for to doo euyll For oftentymes for lacke they be vycyously dysposed ¶ Of beggers of theyr vanytees c. lx ¶ I whiche am a poore almesse man Haue grete fere to encrease lygnage Bycause that I nothynge gete can To helpe myselfe in myn olde aege And my chyldren in theyr domage Goynge aboute from dore to dore Gyue your good almesse to the poore ALl vacabondes and myghty beggers the which gothe beggynge from dore to dore ayleth lytell or nought with lame men and 〈◊〉 de mendi vali li. xi v. q. v. noÌ„ ois lxxxvi dis c. pasce glo suê‘ math c. auaricie de preben puerbi xiii crepylles come vnto me and I shall gyue you an almesse saluberryme of grete vertue The mendycans be in grete nombre wherfore I wyll declare vnto you some of theyr folysshe condycyons These fooles the whiche be souÌ„de in theyr corporall bodyes wyll nourysshe and kepe dyuers chyldren I by leue fermely that they wolde not haue theyr lyues in this Luce. vi Thobie iiii et xii Eccle. iii. vale of my serye otherwyse The monkes haue this myschefe and the clerkes also the whiche haue theyr coffres full of grete rychesses and treasours Neuertheles yet they applye themselfe in the offyce of the mendycans in purchasynge and beggynge on euery syde They be a grete sorte replenysshed with vnhappynes saynge that â—s xl Danielis iiii they lede theyr lyues in grete pouerte and calamyte therfore they praye euery man to gyue them theyr good almesse in release of theyr payne and myserye And yet they haue golde and syluer grete plente but they wyll spende nothynge before the comyn people ¶ Our lorde Eccle. vii de 〈◊〉 et re c. cum ex eo Ihesu cryste hathe ordeyned that almesse sholde be dystrybuted and gyuen vnto the poore folkes that possedeth nothynge and that be indygente to the ende that they lyue here to the laude and praysynge of our lorde Ihesu cryste the whiche thynge is ryght precyous before god Somtyme the cursed taketh the almesse of the poore in dygente I fynde grete fautes in the abbottes monkes pryours chanons and couentes for all that they haue Eccle. xix l. vna 〈◊〉 de meÌ„di vali rentes tenementes and possessyons ynough yet as folkes deuoyde of sence and vnderstondynge they be neuer satysfyed with goodes They goo from vyllage to vyllage and from towne to towne berynge grete bagges vpon theyr neckes assemblynge so moche goodes that it is grete meruayll and whan they be in theyr relygyons or cloysters they make them byleue that they haue had lytell gyuen theym or nothynge for god knoweth they make heuen chere in the countree And by this occasyon the poore nedy hathe none almesse or elles it is but small There is another sorte of pardoners the whiche bereth relyques aboute with them in abusynge the pore folkes for yf they haue but one poore peny in theyr purses they must haue it They gadre togyder golde syluer in euery place lyke as yf it grewe They make the poore folkes byleue moche gaye gere They sell the feders of the holy ghoost They bere the bones of some deed body aboutâ— the whiche parauenture is dampned They shewe the heere of some olde hors saynge that it is of the berde of the innocentes There is an innumerable syght Uide libruâ— stultoruÌ„ i lingua theutoni calatius of suche folkes and of vacabondes in this realme of englonde the whiche be hole of all theyr membres myghte wynne theyr
be experte in makynge of moneye and semblable thynges In counterfettynge the kynges coyne trespassynge agaynst his ryall mageste Wherfore they be worthy to lese theyr lyues And they haue false stones the which they sell for precyous stones in begylynge bothe ryche marchauntes and poore There is also a grete meyne of clyppers of golde and syluer and wasshers of money by newe inuencyons so that the kynges coyne is gretely dystroyed for whan it is lyght they put it in vessell so there is no money sterynge bycause there is so moche vessell Fraudes is done in weyghtes and mesures The marchauntes haue two yerdes and two weyghtes for to begyle the comynalte and specyally the poore folkes for they of the towne knoweth it well ynoughe There is no fayth in the worlde for euery body is full of fraudes Also they delyte them for to be renowmed begylers He the whiche may eschewe suche fraudes and deceytes is well happy for there is but fewe in the worlde that is clene They be semblable vnto 〈◊〉 〈…〉 rners that medleth the wyne that of whyte and rede maketh â—laret fylleth Eccle. xxvii 〈◊〉 in ene â—â—er xx theyr wynes ful of chalke do dyuers other fraudes of whiche I wyll holde my pease for this present tyme. ¶ Here may ye se false antecryst In his estate tryumphauntlye That counterfetteth Ihesu cryst By his foule pryde and trechery Wherfore he shall haue paynes truely With his owne fader Lucyfere And all that byleueth hym here â—Ome rede in this chapytre folysshe seductours of the fayth of Ihesu cryste and you shall se Anâ— tecryst and his dedes For we haue composed the shy 〈…〉 Deâ—tro xiii xxvi q. v. ifi meruayllous that renneth shyftely vpon the grete see in the whiche is conuersaunt the fooles replete with decepcyons Math. xiiii Marci xiii ix dis ego c. si ad sacros xxiiii q. iii. heresis ActuuÌ„ xxvii ê“uer xxx Marci iiii Mathei viii Hiero. in ê“lo go biblie tricesima septima relatuÌ„ Apocalip xx ii thimo iii. ix dis quis nesciat ii Petri. iii. Hiere xxiii Mich. iii. xlvi di hoÌ„ hâ— and false credence Who coueyteth to knowe what men these be knowe that they be crysten men the whiche holdeth the scoles of the fayth And be false seduc tours in sowynge errours They honoure Ihesu cryste and his holy sacryfyce with an euyll courage They wyll enterprete the holy scryptures The poore of vnderstondynge and symple in the barge of saynt Peter bereth the keye the whiche is stronge and euyll to dystroye She is withouten maste or sayle and fleteth vpon the daungerous wawes ryght profounde Within is the false enterpretours false actours and false prophetes that con tamyneth our fayth and holy scryptures They be full of folyes and erroures for they sowe false doctrynes innumerable but the myschefe shall descende vpon theyr owne hedes Our fayth and the holy mysterye appereth euydently also clere as the sonne the wordes is so well ordred that there is none vniuste enterpretacyon Neuertheles these ambycyous fooles wyll haue excellente names honour and glorye They wyll make newe enterpretacyons vpon thynges that is also clere as the day And affusketh theyr spyrytes in exposynge oure lawe wrongfully And they do it all by iactaunce and pryde Is it not suffycyent ynoughe for you to be amonge the holy lawes without hauynge ony wyll to surmounte the other By your peruerse and insacyate cogytacyons ye coueyte to haue reuelacyons of the dyuynyte transcendynge from the imperyall mageste of god Lyke as our auncyent faders haue had and obteyned thorughe their merytoryous operacyons The whiche haue holyly shewed vnto vs the holy scryptures These folkes conceyue false interpretacyons thynkynge for to dest 〈…〉 r holy lawe and the fayth that we byleue on They 〈◊〉 ensue â—xiiii q. iiii 〈◊〉 â—â—r◠〈◊〉 xxxvii c. direlatâ—◠〈◊〉 â–ª c vino this cursed Antecryst and his folkes by theyr erroures They haue theyr hertes insacyable Of these there is a daunce and many other berynge the sygnes of Antecryst false seâ—uctour and inuencyoner of euylles the whiche wyll myne our fayth and breke it by lawes full of deceytes that they wyll sowe in the worlde They be xxiiii q. i. non afferamus contrary to the grete kynge of heuen and peâ—iecuters of his lawe In the tyme that Antecryste shall reygne Ezechi ii they shall be subdued by moneye He shall gyue theym dyuers rychesses for to lede theyr marchaundyses false nesses fayntyses vsuryes and grete euylles To the go 〈◊〉 Joh. i. de crysten men he shall do many iniuryes in cuttynge of theyr hedes This shyp shall not last longe vpon this proude see but shall be destroyed and as she constrayneth Eccle. x. her gouernall shall fall shall abyde in our fayth kepte safe and sounde And how well that the shyppe of Apocalip xiii saynt Peter is in grete peryl for a myghty blaste of wyÌ„de Marci iiii that often maketh it to dauÌ„ce so that they sore trembleth for grete fere It is vauntours of grete scyences and interpretours that wolde defyle the crysten lawe They may be well named the messengers of Antecryste for they ensue the operacyons that he shall do They be sowers of zizanies I the laste translatoure haue sene at Parys dysgrade cutte the tongue and after brenne a preest that helde almoost suche errours And there was no doctour so grete that myght put hym out of his foly He sayd and dyde grete thynges of whiche I holde my peas for dyuers reasons There is dyuers at this preseÌ„t tyme that hathe as well deserued the dethe as he for the whiche thynge I wolde that the creatour sholde puny 〈…〉 she them so that all erroures were expulsed out of theyr hedes I wyll put here thre thynges that ought to be noted 〈◊〉 Johaâ— i Eccleâ—â— â—i 〈◊〉 Johan i Inno. in c. 〈◊〉 auÌ„t de et â—e 〈◊〉 in clâ— â—uâ— â—i for all the fayth is comprehended in it The fyrste is the grete grace that is in the bysshoppes mouthe the whiche is dyspraysed set at nought The seconde is the grete haâ—â—undaunce of bookes by the whiche euery body maketh exposycyons expretacyons at theyr pleasures And then a lyght courage wyll take soner the euyll opynyon than the good for oftentymes one fyndeth thynges that he sholde not abyde on The thyrde is the grete erroures of holy doctryne vertues of whiche dyuerse folkes is vnclothed and wyll not go vnto the grete glorye but in to the paynes infernalles Pryntynge is soo Eccle. xvâ— ê“uer xvi sowen aboute the worlde so many bokes of holy scryptures that the ryche and the poore is all one The true x. ciii di legl â–ª ê“uer xxiiii scyences and vertues none taketh none prayseth them It is of necessyte that the poore men take them for the gentylmen setteth not by them but haue greate shame Eccle. ii Heâ—c xiii to vysyte the fayre bookes and
vnfortune â–ª ca. C. iiii ¶ He is a foole that fortune dothe se Come on hym whiche is transmutable And may resyst it in eche degre With sapyence incomparable Folowynge thynges prouffytable And wyll not by no maner of waye Tyll dethe hym take without delaye IMpeteous fooles vnfortuned the whiche setteth noughte by mysfortunes come and rede this chapytre and ye shall se what mysfortune is euery body thynkynge on his affayres and that with fayth they be garnysshed to knowe the descendynge therof the vnstablenes We se that the worldly thynges is not sure for they the whiche thynketh to be happye here falle incontynente for the fortunes ben sodayne There is no hande be it neuer so stronge that may go agaynst it there is nothynge in the worlde but that it taketh ende by the whiche I haue thought in my mynde of them that haue no stablenes to whome fortune is agreable and how well that she cometh not to the socoure of theyr ruyne They are alway applyaunt vnto her for all that she is vnnaturell to do good and more prest and redy to doo euyll This foole fyndeth hymselfe in his house all on a fyre and his goodes consumed O thou man yf thou haue an vnfortune Hiere li. Ezech. xxvi ff como l. si vt ê“uer vii for all thy heed is well combed and that there brede lyce or vermyne the prudentes saye a comyn prouerbe If there come yll it is neuer alone and by our faute encreaseth more We se euery daye that fortune encreaseth vs Her dede is so greuous that it is not worthy to be recyted Notwithstondynge thynke we not on the transmutacy on s that is contempled of many thynges that cometh to vs. It happeneth oftentymes as one thynketh to the ende that the man be not withoute this He dothe well that kepeth hymselfe from euyll whan he knoweth how Eccle. lxiii ê“uer xxiii Luce. viiâ— Eccle si iii. Esaye xxiii Job iiii sapien xiiii he shoulde kepe hym and dothe it For to haue ones fote surely one must loke where he setteth it for oftentymes Fortune hydeth her vnder the fote of the man for euen so as the man wyll go vpon the se she waxeth and swel leth wherfore he is a foole that entreth in to the shyppe that may not susteyne the wawes nor alytell wynde the whiche oftentymes peryssheth thrughe haboundauÌ„ce of tempeste and orage And thus the foole receyueth grete doÌ„mage dyuers tymes thrughe his folyshnes bycause that he can not gouerne it But the wyse man kepeth hym from the daungers aforesayd in eschewynge the orages of the se that maye happen wherfore euery body that thynketh to go vpon the se ought to haue a sure and a stronge shyppe to the ende that it maye resyste agaynst the wawes and tempestes Wherfore synners consyder the vnfortunes of this worlde amende your lyues to the ende that ye be of the well fortuned in the realme of paradyse ¶ Of the detraccyon of goodes ca. C. v. ¶ The wyse man that lyueth here well Without fraude or detraccyon And afterwarde hangeth a bell At his cattes necke by correccyon He is a foole without dyscrecyon So at the last for to condyscende Unto foly and so make an ende AMonge you fooles that adnychylleth the go des by your vndyscrecyons come and rede in this chapytre and ye shall fynde thynges prouffytable for your soules for the dyscrete wyse and prudente men that haue had volente for to do well delyted them there in with all theyr puyssaunce bycause that there is so grete a congregacyon of fooles regystred in our booke the whiche we haue put in the grete shyppe with foure toppes We haue barges rowynge vppon the se of dyuers nacyons we wyll not wryte theyr detraccyons and renownes We speke of malefactours peruers and ful of iniquyte to the ende that they sholde amende theym of good men that they sholde reioyse them and maynteyne them in bounte by the whiche we put here medecynes and ensygnementes ê“uer i. Eccle. vii Eccle. xxi for to instructe and he le the syke folkes our booke is full wherfore yf ye rede in it and reteyne it you can not be empesshed with synne And to the contrary he that synneth Loquitur ad sagaces hurteth by our shyppe for we haue repreued dyuerse fooles by our scyptures If these fooles wolde breke my saynges where as I haue none aspecte in theyr wordes knowe for a trouthe that I doubte them not yf some yonge fole entremetteth hym for to contamyne and detraye our lytell playes scryptures he dothe not well For and they haue clere eyen and vnderstondynge they wyll not do so And yf ye be mutyns auoyde without ony murmuracyon and put the case that your tongues serpentynes wyll reherse dyuers wordes you can not hurte vs. If that ye wyll not se our booke go elles whe Horatius re or take the saynges that shall be notable to you for we haue wryten as moche for the wyse men as for the foles To the regarde of the saynges our study lyes not therin These fooles here wyll do also well as the asse playenge on the cymbales for as moche is good playenge worth as euyll Also the foole taketh no taste in our good scryptures wherfore you lectours I beseche you to take the good documentes and leue the euyll ¶ Of the immoderate turpitude of the table capitulo C. vi ¶ Now at this tyme we be moued To paynt the grete enormytees Of dronkerdes the whiche is approued In our booke offragylytees Touchynge theyr foule commodytees Whiche they coÌ„myt in euery place As folke that is deuoyde of grace NOw we trust for to haue replenysshed our shyppe with the fooles of this worlde notwithstondynge the turbe dyssolate at the table ê“uer iii. xii PsÌ„ lxviii Eccle. xxix i. Lorinth xi Ecclesi ii iii. dis denique Esaie xxviiii xliiii dis c. i. ff deori iu. l. Math. xv ActuuÌ„ vi xliiii dis ê“ reuerentia is not fallacyous deceyuours nor auarycyous but they are men replete with enormytees and dyssolate at the table insacyable in etynge without shame They ete vyllaynously and drynke lyke pygeons as longe as theyr brethe may holde in drynkynge wyne and ale togyder They set themself at the table without saynge ony graces or wasshynge theyr handes saue in theyr soppes and or the morsell is downe they drynke without remyssyon and swaloweth the morselles all hole for hast theyr trenchours is laden lyke mountioyes and theyr cuppes full of wyne and ale whan they haue dyned they ryse from the table without gyuynge ony thankes vnto god for his goodes They be so vyle and abhomynable at the table that I haue grete horrour for to recounte it For they drynke tyll theyr eyeÌ„ watre theyr tethe is rotten for the drynke that they haue dronken They yeske and boke and vome at the mou de con dis v. in omnibus Plinius li. xiiii circa