paye the other and soo he can neuer ryse out of dette â—gayne for but yf that he sholde sell all his goodes he can â—ot paye them all the poore foole promyseth to paye hym the whiche is ryght greuous vnto hym bycause that the tyme passeth so lyghtly Durynge the space of tyme the Deutero xv ê“uerbio xxii vsury renneth alway wherfore he seeth that within a shorte space after it doubleth by halfe for and they haue lente hym a hondreth nobles he muste rendre vnto hym agayne two hondred And yf that he haue houses or rentes psal xxv Ecclesia iii. Esaye xxiiii it behoueth hym for to sell them for lytell or nought bycause that he is in daunger to be put in pryson or condempned for to paye it And whan that he hathe solde al Psal. lxxi ê“uer xxviii Luce. vi his landes no body wyll set no store by hym And thus the poore foole shall abyde all naked dyspoyled of hys goodes After that it behoueth hym for to make restytucyon and habandone his goodes or flee out of the countree And oftentymes the lenners leseth all the whiche Ecclesia vii et viii were more prouffyte for them to sell it for a iuste pryse take redy money In lyke wyse you lenners yé thynke not that god taketh your vsuryes for offences yes truely for he hathe defended it bycause that ye sell the space of tyme for ye sell the tyme the whiche is not yours but goddes that lenneth it to you Alas we wyll not do that whiche god commaundeth vs but rather do agaynste his commaundement and in doynge soo he sendeth vs his maladyccyon and mysery Note well that god often Ecc 〈…〉 a. xii xxiii q. iiii Nabuchodonosor tymes gyueth vs longe space for to lyue and all is for to amende our mysdedes in the whiche the deuyll hathe holden vs so longe He leueth vs not in this worlde for to commytte synnes but for to do penaunce and amende our wretched lyfe for whan we thynke full lytell dethe shall come and atrappe vs and our folysshe vnderstondynge with grete payne wyll repente hym for to haue coÌ„mytted so many euylles Thynke vpon Sodome Sodoma Gomorra and Gomorre where so many folkes perysshed and on the cyte of Sobyme the whiche cytees by theyr grete synnes perysshed pyteouslye as Nylycolas dyde how Gene. xxiii iiii Re. xxi Thobie xiii Michee iiii Exodi iii. Johelis iii. Amos. ix Esaie i. Prouer. xxii Thobie xiii Ezch. xxiii well that the folke of Nylycola were blessyd of our lorde Wherfore he that boroweth of euery body and can not paye it agayne is a fole resemblynge vnto a wulfe that deuoureth all at ones And he hateth nothynge soo moche as to fynde a thynge that pleaseth hym whan he is goynge out of the felde Also the dettour wolde neuer that the terme of payenge came for the borowynge maketh a man poore God suffreth vs to be in this worlde not to commytte vyle synnes but to the ende that we doo merytoryous dedes for whan the tyme shall come that we shall haue no space to do good dedes he shal punysshe vs lyke as the credytour dothe the dettour whan he faylleth at his terme ¶ Of petycyons vowes inutyle xxvi ¶ Who that on handes and fete dothe praye By false dyssymulacyon Cryenge on god bothe nyght and daye That he wolde graunte to them pardon And gyue them clene remyssyon They be fooles that with cryenge Thynketh to obteyne ony thynge AMonge you foles that maketh vowes and prayers to god of heuen vnderstonde this chapytre the whiche correcketh instrueth you to lyue well Afore that ye make prayers prepayre your soules for the iuste god wyll excuse and the synner shall not be herde in no wyse And therfore to the ende that ye reteyne some thynge I shall reherse vnto you the vowes reproued He that Eccle. xxiii Prouer. xx Eccle. vii Luce. xx i fi Joh. ix requyreth god withoute reason for a thynge that is not good and promyseth hym that and he graunte it that he shall do a pylgrymage or gyue of his goodes to the poore people It happeneth that his request is not iuste nor agreable to god wherthrughe cometh to hym some euyll fortune as it dyde to Mydas kynge of Frygye as the poetes recounteth bycause that he requyred of the Midas rex phrygum Ouidius metha xi Persius i. sa goddes to gyue hym grete haboundaunce of fyne golde the whiche they vttred to hym facyly wherfore it behoued hym to faste for all that he touched was conuerted in to fyne golde And bycause that he made his request Prouer. xxii there grewe on his heed two asse ere 's There is dyuerse that desyreth and prayeth for none other thynge to god Sapien. viii but for to haue theyr houses full of rychesse Alas open your conscyences and lyfte vp your hertes that be so oppressed and haue remembraunce that in olde antyquyte the rychesse was occasyon of many euylles What hath Lycinus Crassus Croesus Juuenalis Adhebre g. Prouer. xxii auayled the grete rychesses and possessyons to Lycynê° The rentes of Crassus The treasour of Cresus Sardanapalus They fynysshed theyr dayes in grete dystresse He the whiche floryssheth in youthe desyreth for to lyue longe in his force and pleasure How well that by glotony and excesse he shorteth his lyfe without consyderyÌ„ge that in olde aege there is many that endureth greate payne and anguysshe dolours and inestymable calamytes in theyr bodyes heedes armes and legges and all was of to moche etynge drynkynge in theyr youth And yet they were renowmed in theyr flourynge aege dyscrete and full of sapyence As it appereth of Nestor Peleus Nesior Laertes horatiê° i arte SapieÌ„tie v. Eccle. xi and of Lacertes and Peleus the whiche lyued lenger than necessyte requyred for they had many accydentes and outrages in theyr aege Bycause that it happeneth oftentymes that olde and auncyente men become chyldysshe agayne and fynyssheth theyr dayes myserably Some there be that desyreth to haue fayre wyues the whiche whan they haue ben conuersaunte with them a whyle and sene all the guyse they repente them all the dayes of theyr lyfe ensuyng after To this sayth the phylosophre yf thou haue a wyfe kepe her and yf thou haue none take none for dyuers euylles haue fallen therby Some desyreth puyssaunce mondayne the whiche is cause of theyr grete ruyne The other desyreth corporall beaute Juuenalis that causeth theyr soules for to descende in to the depe pytte of helle O fooles that forgeth newe vowes by your insacyate volente ful of maladyccions DemauÌ„de of god helthe of thy body salute for thy soule good fayth good renowme and to habounde in vertues to the ende that ye maye se face to face hym that deyed on the crosse for all the humayne lygnage ¶ Of studye inutyle ca. xxvii ¶ Who wyll not excercyse studye But renne aboute from place to place
catho Ruffus Sextus pompeius Celius antipater Lucius crassus Sextus papirus insti de instici et 〈◊〉 intis precepta ff d legi senatus â—sul l. legis virtas bal. ea l. iusti de iusti et iure 〈◊〉 iuris prudentia iusti de iu. na geÌ„ ci in 〈◊〉 and Seruius sulpicius with dyuers other And whan I was in more greter strengthe I haue had Balde Barthole Cinius Angelus Alexander of ymola Panorme Johan andre of rota Accursius Anthonius de butrio diuers other that haue augmented me maynteyned I am ryght canon cyuyl without me none can do nothynge Justyce taketh his name of me the whiche me kepe Whan I am amonge the armed men I make scylence and holde my peas for fere oppresseth me to sore I neuer dydde wronge to none and they seke but for to dystroye me O pope that is the generall vycayre of god ad papâ—m ii q. vi â—i quis ad nostram 〈◊〉 c. ad romanam also well in the thynges temporelles as spyrytuelles defende me for thou arte the chyef of the chirche vnyuersall Thou maye curse the emperour thou hast so grete puys innocentius c. 1. de offi ordi et c. nos inter di si inimicus xxiii q. viii c. ii vt pridem saunce What is the cause that thou casteth this darte in the stomacke of ryght the whiche thou sholde defende It were better for the to make peas amonge the crysten men Thou louest better to susteyne warre than to put pease where as thou sholde Thou taketh kynges and prynces in indygnacyon thou ought not to hate none but be in peas with the crysten people Thou maye well bere armes and make batayll It sholde be then necessarye for the to go agaynst the infydeles and not to nourysshe warre amonge the crysten people Thou gyueth so many dyspences and thou knoweth well that it is the woundynge of ryght the whiche is odyous What auay leth it vnto a relygyous man or an hermyte to leue his Dispensatio est vuâ—â—uis iâ—â—is 〈◊〉 q. 〈◊〉 ips◠〈◊〉 tas de fi de presâ—i 〈◊〉 si prâ— bendis c. non potest li. vi de â—â—angui affâ—â—â— quod dilecto ff de ven in spâ— l. i. habyte of relygyon and take a seculer habyte What auayleth it to a man of the chirche to haue thre or foure cures prebendes bysshopryches archebysshopryches other benefyces and the good studyentes haue nothing the wyse men is not praysed but the asses shal be honouerd What auaylleth so many dyspenses vnto the wedded people for they are so dysregled that the gossep and gossep haue no conscyence to synne carnally togyder Certaynly of gossepshyp it is no more but entrynge in to the house The cosyn and cosyn broder syster is all one It were better for the to gouerne holyly thy papalyte euery body ought to kepe his dygnyte and good renowne Alas after that you are deed mondayne popes you shall haue but seuen fote of erthe thynke than to vpholde ryght well as you be bounde to the same O maieste imperyall the whiche bereth the dyademe of the Romaynes thou ought not to be decored alonely with armes but also with ryght Thou arte lorde mayster almoost of all the worlde Thou ought to defende the ryght mere ad imperatoreÌ„ iusti in ê“phe than ony on lyue thou smytest hym with thyn are vpon his body Is it not grete horrour that thou maynteynest warre agaynst the crysten men and may lyue in peas ye agaynst ryght and reason It were better for the that ff ad l. rodâ— am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dep 〈…〉 ff ad l. 〈…〉 ir plagus v. tabernacâ—â—ê° thou wente agaynst the infydeles than for to wyll harme ony crysten man Thou knowest well that he the whiche smyteth fyrste begynneth the noyse Rome is wryten with foure lettres That is for to wytte R. o. m. a. R. radix o. oim m. maloâ— a. auaricia whiche is to saye Rome is the rote of all the euylles of auaryce Thou hast euyll redde the cronycles romaynes and the noble feates of the emperours Romaynes Where is nowe the senatoures that auncyently were wonte for to gouerne Rome is there no mo semblable to them no for the Empyre is at the moost lowest that euer it was sene In the place where as Justyce was done is now no more mencyon wherat holdeth it for lacke of polycye who is the cause It is the heed imperyall that is not obeyed wherfore xii q. 〈◊〉 nolâ— Bycause that he is full of vyce and that he sholde nourysshe peas in crystendome and he kepeth warre who is the cause lacke of good vertues and good counsayll It were better for hym for to withdrawe his swerde maynteyne ryght as his predecessours haue done He that dothe agaynst his conscyence is ryght cruell and setteth nought by his good renowne ¶ The palays imperyall was somtyme in grete honour the whiche is now al caducke Emperour haue aspecke vnto thyn operacyons and remembre that thou muste deye be wormes mete and become as shes and that after that thy good dedes shall be weyed in a iuste balaunce O kynges the whiche ad regeâ— is in maieste ryall ye may make lawes in your realme you haue grete puyssaunce for by your arbytre all is gouerned What auayleth it the kynge for to smyte with this spere ryght amonge you kyÌ„ges you ought to mayÌ„teyne Uoâ—untas principis est lcx ff de origiâ—uris innoceÌ„tius de fi instrÌ„o◠〈◊〉 cum hym and yet you wyll put hym vnto dethe you gyue so many remyssyons that it is pyte you do pardon the ryche and punysshe the poore Suffre noo Justyce to be done on faderies chyldren and pore wedowes you make bysshoppes abbottes pryours within your realmes and yet certaynly you maye not for they ought to be made by the eleccyon of the chapytre this same putteth the prelates in descencyon Loys the leuenth of that c. cum in cuÌ„ ctis de elec name kynge of fraunce demaunded of a bysshop wherfore the bysihoppes of this present tyme dyde not myracles also well as the bysshoppes in olde tyme and the bysshop answered hym Syr the cause is bycause that they that put the bysshoppes in theyr syeges cathedralles haue no puyssaunce for to do it But whan they are perfyte of true eleccyon the holy ghost is with hym the whiche may do myracle and suche bysshoppes abbottes pryours may well do myracles The emperour may not lxiii di valen tia et c. veâ— et c. cuÌ„ adrianusâ— c. ego cum multis similibus baldus in l. 〈…〉 s publiciê° fr. de iusti et â—ur 〈◊〉 ff de iusti 〈◊〉 â—ur 〈◊〉 ff de verbo si l. agâ—r v. i. in glosa medle with the eleccyon of prelates One can not nowe haue a benefyce without pledynge and thus the benefyces is occupyed by force Symonye dothe it not
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
the newe customes or he the whiche wereth grete sleues with Math. xviii grete bordures or they the whiche bereth large sleues Saue that me thynketh it is all one thynge and that the one is as folysshe as the other For he thynketh that hathe the bordured sleues that he is as honestly clothed as he the whiche hathe the large sleues Amonge the auncy ente faders it was a grete loouynge and praysynge for to haue longe berdes that custome sholde be ryght folysshe and straunge vnto vs at this present tyme. Socrates ii regum x. the whiche was a grete phylosophre began fyrste for to bere a berde and after hym all the other phylosophres toke that custome ¶ After that the good phylosophers were departed out of this worlde fragylyte and luxury dyde sprede all aboute the worlde in suche wyse that almoost it floryssheth amonge all synnes All the vertues wherwith the hye elementes ben decored and aourned ben all vyces and synnes in a casualte through the worlde All the humaynes wyll counterfet that whiche our lorde hathe create and by theyr presumpcyon thynketh to do better than god O what erroure what abomynable synne Some bereth grete berdes for fere that they seme not more auncyent They araye theyr bodyes Sicambri Ethiopes and vysages in suche a facion that they seme yonge but yet they be olde The other bereth theyr heere as Sycabryens or longe yelowe and trussed lyke Almaynes or as Ethyopiens cryspe and corled the whiche is combed ten tymes a daye Some hathe theyr habytes so shorte that one maye almoost se theyr ars There be some that haue theyr neckes all charged with grete chayne 's and ben all replenysshed with golden Jewelles theyr handes full of gemmes and rynges Ample bonettes with lowe neckes and garded lyke as it were for dyspyte therupon the small hattes that is set all vpon one syde Theyr gownes shorte full of playtes and the sleues large as a sacke Theyr doublettes is garded endlong and ouerth warte bordred with veluet or with sylke Clokes bended with dyuers colours There is dyuers clothes worne at this present tyme the gownes haue double rebraced colers Theyr shertes ben fronced with golde or sylke ye that is of the fynest clothe that can be founden It is the guyse of the infideles of the turkes and sarazyns vyle and abhomynable The grete shone rounde as a boule and after them the squared buskynges all to cut slyppers bygared the hosen garded and bended with veluet or satyn the purses as sachelles with gyrdylles of taffeta What lacketh there more nothynge saue the fayre swerde or hanger by theyr syde O crystendome crystendome yf thou haue mortalytes and epydemees thou arte the cause therof I saye and notefye to the that thou haste endured that suche habytes haue ben worne that worse is is yet worne Thou shalt haue yet dyuers punycyons yf in shorte tyme thou remedy it not Cast awaye these newe guyses and customes aswel men as women for they be vyle and dyshonest Mayst thou not well thynke that the sauyour of all the worlde shall Juge all the humaynes of the mysdedes wyll reuenge hȳ ¶ Of auncyent fooles ca. v. ¶ Alas for all that euer I enclyne To my sepulture bothe by houre and daye yet can I not leue the folysshe ruyne That I haue contynued in alwaye And of olde fooles euer hathe kepte the laye Wherfore of olde fooles I maye be the chefe For all that is vyce hathe ben to me lefe AWaken your spyrytes auncyent folkes the whiche haue ben fooles all your lyfe herken how that this olde foole maketh his cōplaynte The grete foly ryght vycyous and replenysshed with bytternes that hath euer remayned in me syth myn enfancye may not suffre that I leue myne auncyent custome and fyrste lyfe I am a chylde yet ye maye se that I can not go I haue a. C. yere and more yet I am no wyser than I was wonte to be I am almoost as prudent and wyse as I was at my byrthe And that worse is I wolde be no wyser the sygnes and tokens of fooles I shewe and mynyster to chyldren and I wryte the folysshe regyme of foly I haue made my testament the whiche conteyneth techeth doctryne vnto all them that wyll folowe me and lyue folysshely as I haue done I am the ryght euyll and luna Esaye xvi tyke conductour and leder of all the other fooles that haue ensued and folowed my doctryne and am 〈…〉 toure of all vyces and euyll examples and that whiche I lerned I shewe it nowe by experyence Myn innocent dedes c. ex sludits specyfyeth that I am a foole for of my foly I desyre to haue louynge and praysynge In euery place whereas I go I may well gyue them knowlege that I haue sowen euyll renowne in dyuers places and countres c. cum 〈…〉 tu te de presum And by my folyshnes vyle and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 demonstraunce of my vyce and synne my foly and my dyshonour and me thynketh it is grete honoure of 〈◊〉 Mlegyōs of euylles hathe ben sowen vpon the erth by me I haue my herte ryght sorowfull that I maye 〈…〉 oo more so I haue grete dyspyre that I may not consume 〈…〉 my clothes vnto an ende that none myght were them after me but syth that I am olde auncyent may no more regne I wyll lerne my chyldren and neuewes to do as I haue done faynynge that of vyces the waye is ryght ample in euery place Lo how the fader gyueth euyll example vnto his chyldren and neuewes the whiche becometh more vycyous and peruers by halfe than is the fader of the whiche he is gretely reioysed wolde be ryght angrye to here saye that his chyldren were benygne In dule and melancoly the chyldren shall fynysshe De consecra ti di v. c. vl in glosa theyr lyues sythe that they lyue soo vycyously Wherfore I saye that he is worthy for to gouerne oure shyp whan there cometh ony tormente Alas olde foole wherfore hast thou no shame that thy foly hathe surmounted the so longe Hast thou no remors of conscyence for to lyue so longe in vyle synne abhomynable Knowest thou not that the euyll the whiche is rooted can not be taken awaye afterwarde for whan one abydeth to longe for Daniel xiiii to remedye his causes with grete payne may he detray the meurs that ben roted in the herte ¶ Of the documente of chyldren ca. vi ¶ He that forgyueth the crymes ryght vycyous Of his chyldren withouten correctynge And them enduceth not in vertues gloryous Is well worthy to haue grete tormentynge And the anguysshe by longe contynuynge For why he seketh all the wayes he can To lyue in sorowe as a folysshe man YOnge chyldren the whiche desyreth to lyue well and ryghtwysly reste you and herken to my doctrynes and you also faders that haue chyldren in your puyssaunce The fader shall be
and fynysshed Horrestes receyued guaryson of his maladye and neuer after that he sawe no more that the whiche he had sene before and that was by his loyall felowe that accomplysshed his auowe so truely We rede also of Amon and of the good Pythyas that were so go Demades Pithias Scipio Lelius valerius li. c. supradic Hercules de felowes and frendes for Denys the cruell tyraunte wolde haue put one of them to dethe wherfore his felowe wolde not accorde therto for the one was contente to suffre dethe for the other In semblable wyse we haue example of Scypyon ryght excellent domynatour of sodomy and Lybye that loued Lelyus so feruently that the memorye redoundeth yet vnto this daye Beholde we also the grete loue that Theseus had vnto Pyrrothus ouidius lactantius narraÌ„t vt refert boca de ge deo li. ix c. xxxiiii Prouerâ— 10 xiii xxix that for to rauysshe Proserpyne goddesse of helle transported hym in to the cauerne and whan Cerberus the porter of helle sawe Pyrrothus anone he slewe hym Theseus was taken prysoner by Pluto god of helle the whiche made hym be bounden in a spelunke Hercules aduertysed of the trouthe descended in to helle and vaynquysshed all and bounde Cerberus with thre chaynes and after vnbounde Theseus and ledde hym away maugre all the enhabytauntes therin By this we may vnderstonde the amyte of Theseus and the pyte of Hercules that dyde socoure hym Suche frendes be no more in course the tyme of loue is passed for euery body entendeth to his synguler prouffyte there is noo more fayth nor lawe in this worlde to the moyen of this I coÌ„clude that our volente and courage is worse than a spere trauersynge some body for we haue neyther felycyte nor loue but soner crudelyte reygneth amonge vs for the whiche cause it is no meruayll thoughe aduersyte do myne vpon vs that be voyde of benygnyte ¶ Of the conteÌ„mynge of scrypture c. xi ¶ Who wyll byleue eloquacyte Of the foles seynge the scrypture Shewynge our grete felycyte And wyll not in vertues endure Is a grete fole without mesure Wherfore as foles makynge dyscordes Of our grete shyp they dresse the cordes GOod chrysten men I supply you with al my herte that ye retayne this that shall be reherced vnto you here after folowynge for veretably it is ryght prouffytable vnto vs. They that by wanhope wyll not gyue credence vnto the auncyent scryptures be fooles seynge that they dysprayse the parables and wordes of the prophetes the i. ad thymo iiii whiche proceded from the dyuynyte They desyre more soner to rede playes tryfles and fables than to here the documentes and techynges of good men that hath had euer god in reuerence and honoured the heuens They flee the holy scryptures and the force of the fayth by the whiche the synful soule myght be preserued Suche folkes Ecclesia ii Marci xvi Johannis iii hathe none enuye to lyue honestly lyke creatures but lyke as vnreasonable beestes thynkynge that there is no god and that there is none habytacyon so noble and excellent as this myserable worlde and fereth nothynge Psalm xiii the meruayllous dedes of our lorde Ihesu cryst all the payne is lost that is done for to teche them how they sholde gouerne them for they wyll do nothynge at all saue to dyspyse it Whan ony body telleth them of the goodnes of heuen of the precyous treasours of the blessyd aungelles of the archaungelles of the cherubynes of the potestates of the thrones of the ordres and of the holy syeges aourned and replenysshed with holy sayntes as wel men as women martyrs confessours and vyrgyns And that is more ouer whan one reherseth to them the wayes vnto helle the cursed treasours ryght stynkyng replete with playntes and with infynyte euylles enuy ronned with floodes all enuenymed certaynly it is payne lost for theyr harde hertes obstynate vnto god may not be molefyed What auayleth menaces vnto fooles who wolde trauayle his body and herte for to rede vpon Psalmê° xci so many dyuers bookes for to recyte vnto them chapytres lawes holy scryptures the ensygnementes of the puer xxiii prophetes is nothynge worthe to them for they ben soo vnhappely molefyed so affusked and hardened that hygh puerb xii brayenge and hye cryenge auayleth to them nothynge Luce. xvi for they wyll not byleue nor kepe the scryptures of the fayth nor the commaundementes of the lawe The pore fooles be not aferde for to go in to the infernall pyt of helle there to endure paynes intollerable harde cryes and tormentes inhumayne O poore fole thou seeth wel ynoughe yf thou be not a slepe afore thy fete the mouynge the gylted doctrynes of our fayth the lawes of olde antyquyte and the tryumphes of our lorde Thynkest thou that thyn ygnoraunce shall excuse thyn erroures no but shall cause the for to be plonged in the infernal pytte with the dampned Syth it is so that euery body studyeth for to lyue vycyously they maye well perceyue De cogna spiri c. cum vir in anti that god almyghty the whiche Jugeth the wycked and the cruell that wyll not amende theyr lyues in this transytory and mortall worlde shall gyue them horryble tormentes in helle where as they shall remayne in euerlastynge payne Without the seynge of ony lyght or daye that euer was create Ecclesia iii. ¶ Of fooles vnpuruayed ca. xii Who fastneth not the sadle well Upon his horse whan he shall ryde Unto some towne his stuffe to sell Thynkynge all sure on euery syde Yf that he falle in some dytche syde They that passe by maye to hym saye Here lyeth a foole without delaye AWake your spyrytes fooles vnpuruayed that is alway slombrynge in thynges transytory and remembreth not the felycyte of thy soule â—uerb xiiii By cause that I knowe that there is many dyuers fooles in this worlde errynge froÌ„ the way of veryte I haue grete wyll for to reduce them vnto the hye waye to the ende that they adnychyll theyr insacyate erroures ryght daungerous The ygnoraunt vnpuruayed of wytte and reason that neuer thynketh on the thynges to come yf by aduenture there come ony fortune to hym he wyll saye Alas I thought not that suche a fortune sholde haue befallen me And whan the Seneca fortune is passed they studye how they myght eschewe it to the ende that they appese theyr sorowe â—e must not al waye thynke on the tyme present but on the tyme future Eccle. xxxiii as well for the wyse man seeth the thynges to come and the foole full of vnpurueyauÌ„ce shytteth the stable dore whan the horse is stolen He hathe his vnderstondynge ryghte good that puruayeth hym for the tyme to come for he maye eschewe all daungers peryllous and shall be sure at all seasons in prouydynge for the tyme future Yf Adam had taken regarde vnto the dyshonoure Salustius Adam Eua. and shame that happened to
them wherfore I conclude and say that they be ryght myserable and vnhappy that fyreth theyr hertesvpon worldly rychesse wherthrughe procedeth oftentymes grete calamytes Thou vauntest thâ—selfe Augustinus of thy rychesse saynge that no body dothe the wronge Thou wenest that thy goodes shall yelde the eurous Thou bosteth the of thy fynaunce saynge that the goodes cometh to the whyles thou slepest and that all gothe after thy pleasure and that thou haste castelles houses and rentes golde and syluer by grete hepes Fortune laugheth oftentymes and holdeth the man in prosperyte but in a momente she tourneth her whele aboute her false face also and then this poore caytyfe falleth in to dystresse and bytter sorowes and so it behoueth him tolyue wretchedly and so fynysshe his dayes Lo in this maner of wyse fortune rewardeth her subgectes Wherfore I saye that he is a perfyte foole that putteth his esperaunce in the goodes of fortune and that he is the deuylles sone for bycause of the trust that he hathe in the goodes of fortune he leueth to honoure god and his sayÌ„tes The deuyll tempteth hym so sore that he fyxeth all sâ—nâ—â—â— in hercule furente his herte vpon the rychesse mondayne and oftentymes he gyueth hym largely the whiche conduyteth hym to the grete pyt of helle withouten ony faute O foole the wâ—â—â—he â—â—er xxi â—â—ce v. Pluto Prouerbi i. vaunteth thyself of the gyftes of fortune I requyre the to herken vnto me yf that thou haue grete habounbaunce of goodes in this worlde reioyse the not therfore for and thou haue goodes to nyghte parauenture thou shalte haue none to morowe Therfore put not your affyaunce in suche thynges for dame fortune hathe no godes but god the whiche gyueth them where as it lyketh hym It is then grete foly for to prayse fortune so moche that fauoureth whome she pleaseth that was neuer without varyenge ¶ Oftogrete cury osyte ca. xxiiii ¶ He that procureth by grete payne The werkes of his seruauntes all And leueth his by grete dysdayne Undone and nought yet ther withall A veray foole men may hym call For he wyll take mo werkes on honde Than he and his men may withstonde ENtende to this chapytre curyous folkes that enterpryseth so many thynges and that bereth so grete burdens charges so that oftentymes your backe your instrumentes breke vnderneth the charge and all is by to moche De renuÌ„cia c. c. â—n lib. vi enterprysynge You the whiche bereth more than ye may susteyne ye be the cause of your owne dommage and grete myserye as it is shewed euydently And he is not reputed ouer wyse that by wanhope wyll corrumpe troubleth his brayne euery day for to comprehende pey â—uerbio xxv Ecclesia iii. Persius i. Cerennus Ad ro xii ê“uerbio xxv Eccle. 1. 〈◊〉 13. Juuenalis saunt werkes and molestacyons How be it that the thyÌ„ ge is ponderous that it were necessarye for hym that dyuers folkes put theyr handes vnto the forsayd operacyon for who that wyll take all the faytes of the elementes vpon his backe and charge hym with a thynge that he can not susteyne nor bere vnder the charge he muste falle then foly shall vsurpe hym bycause he enterprysed so ponderous a charge We fynde in the hystoryes that how well that kynge Alexander had wylled for to conquere Alexander all the worlde by strokes of swerdes yet he was not contente with the conouest of all the worlde for yf that he had myght he wâ—lde haue conquered more largely after that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—f 〈◊〉 yâ— worlde Dethe the whiche spâ—râ—th no 〈◊〉 dy 〈…〉 wounde hym with his mortall â—arte aâ—d after he was put in a lytell sepulcre for all his 〈…〉 ll dygnyte And thus dethe admonesteth vs for to he contente with suche as we haue and to haue memorye of the fyne of our wretched bodyes Cinicus a grete phelosophre beynge in grece was Ecclesia vii â—yogenes philosophus Horatiuâ— neuer of the nombre of suche folkes for he neuer consented for to edefye castelles houses but totally dyspraysed suche edefyces and was contente for to holde hymselfe within a tonne full of holes in the whiche he hadde intellygence of the mouynges of the elementes and of the sterres And this same Cinicus was more Joyous than they that haue the fayre edefyces Is it not than grete tranquylyte vnto a man for to charge hym by reason not to vndertake a thynge that he can not bere Is it not grete foly vnto this poore fole for to take so grete a charge vpon hym and for to comprehende a thynge that he can not brynge to an ende and knoweth well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impossyble for hym to brynge his maters aboute and so this incensyfe foole must bere a charge or a burden vpoÌ„ his backe that he can not susteyne it nor endure it ¶ O poore fooles mondaynes that enterpryseth so moche hathe none aspecte nor regarde vnto the thynge the whiche ye enterpryse thynke ye for to vaynquysshe the worlde the whiche is so defycyle What auayleth you for to take charge thought payne melancoly trauayll anguysshes and dolours in this wretched worlde for to take on hande more than ye can perfourme And whan that Janenalis ê“uer xvii Capientie v. Mathei xvii god shall separe the body from the soule ye shal be in grete daunger for to descende in to the pytte of helle there to remayne perpetually He lyueth in profouÌ„de thought and melancoly that wyll knowe all the faytes of the worlde and where that Cezar maketh warre and that taketh charge of a thynge that he can not do for he hathe not one good houre of reste and tranquylyte It were more behouefull for suche fooles to haue aspecte vnto the fyne of theyr enterpryses thaÌ„ to take them so folysihely on honde to the ende that they be not deceyued for it is a comyn prouerbe all aboute man dothe purpose â–ª god dothe dyspose sapien viii ¶ Of them that taketh a truste ca. xxv ¶ He is a fole deuoyde of reason And ones shall be myserable That wyll borowe at eche ceason Golde and syluer transmutable And for to paye is not able Without he sholde sell cote and gowne And after go begge in the towne LUnatyke fooles the whiche boroweth golde syluer come and borowe of this doctryne to the ende that ye may haue perfyte intellygence of the daunger that ye be in and of the profounde thought that ye take therfore â—e haue perfyte knowlege that he the whiche boroweth is bonde vnto hym that lenneth it They lenne vnto the synner and he rendreth it not agayne but the iuste and mercyfull dothe not soo Entende to me ryche and poore I reâ—uyre you and ye shall knowe what good procedeth of â—orowynge ¶ He the whiche boroweth golde or syluer 〈◊〉 marchaundyse may well be called foole for this poo 〈…〉 lunatyke foole and dettoure boroweth of the one for 〈◊〉
i. h. fu Martialiâ— in his cofre alas what auaylleth it hyÌ„ for after the dethe none can not tel whether to go Before his eyen cometh scyence the whiche examyneth hym of his vyces myserable in shewynge hym the paynes of helle Consyder that by fortune all thynges peryssheth that ben vpon the erthe and taketh ende by naturall ryght the whiche were so fayre and so well fourmed and all by aege that hathe domynacyon ouer all Who is he but that he wolde gyue grete goodes to be assured of fortune What is he be he neuer so grete a lorde nor so puyssaunte of rychesse that fortune wyll promyse assure that he shall not fall in daunger there is none for she is mouable our poore vyces be bytwene the handes of the furyous As Lathesys with her handes spynneth a threde where as our lyues Lachesis dependeth vpon to the ende that we lyue longely Cloto holdeth the threde but Atropos the cruell messenger of dethe breketh the threde Lathesys fedeth vs with Atropos hony and maketh our poore soules to falle in to helle with the dampned Also Julyus Cezar was taken sodaynly Julius cezar with dethe beynge in the presence of all his lordes bothe more and lesse He was moche puyssaunt whan he domyned in Rome for fortune fauoured hym but in the ende she was to hym so peruers that he whiche was soo perfyte in prudence was vnclothed from his empyre and his fynaunce and goodes taken from hym Ha fortune thou arte the moost dyuers and transmutable that euer Cullius i of Eccle. xx was for thou gyuest the domynyon vnto some that shaketh and trembleth for fere leste that thou do to them some thynge contraryous Thou comest vnder a coloure of welfare and anoynteth a man with treason gyuynge vnto hym of thy goodes that thou hast taken from another and lefte all naked Thou seruest euery body with Sapientie v suche meses the grettest ben the smallest and the leest be the moost And whan she hathe withdrawen her goodes they be dysdeyned of euery man and is no more beloued These be the retrybucyons that thou gyuest dame fortune O my frendes be not so abused to take the goodes Eccle. xxi of dame fortune for yf that ye haue of the goodes of hers and that ye be exalted vpon the heyght of her whele yet whan it shall please god ye shall descende a grete waye more lower than ye wolde shal be dyspuruayed of euery thynge as ye haue sene by experyence that many other hathe ben Of the impacyence in sykenes ca. xxxvii ¶ Yf the syke man be oppressed With maladye full anguysshous And wyll not be well counsaylled By the medecyne gracyous He is a foole vylependyous Wherfore yf he haue aduersyte He is the cause therof truelye AMonge you foles impacyent that wyll not byleue the oppynyons of the physycyens medecynes haue your regarde hetherwarde and ye shall knowe the foly that holdeth you oftentymes Who that in malady and sekenes wyll not byleue the good counsayl of the physycyens they be gretely deceyued for they procure theyr helthe and prosperyte but they wyll not doo after theyr Eccle. x. et xxxviii Boetius Juuenalis Persius wylles as whan they ordeyne hym good wyne for to drynke he wyll drynke water the whiche augmenteth his sykenes and taketh other thynges that is defended hym and wyl not do nothynge that is sayd vnto hym nor endure no payne And al is bycause that he wolde be Eccle. xxxviii the soner in his graue and for to gyue you shortely the knowlege therof he wyll retorne hastely in to asshes agayne from the whiche he came fyrste And shall not ne Eccle. xviii Duidiê° â—re de no moo playsters nor medecynes Wherfore yf thou wylte be heled do that the whiche is necessary to the ende Eccle. xxxi Boetius de con philo that thou haue not a stronger sekenesse afterwarde for the sparcle that departeth frome the fyre taketh in the thynge that is nexte vnto it the whiche encreaseth vnto a grete flambe In lyke wyse a ryuer encreaseth moche by dyuerse lytell streames that falleth in to it so it is of sykenesse whan it begynneth for to regne by lytel streames and for to eschewe grete torment shewe your wounde and sykenesse vnto the physycyen to the ende the ye may be the soner heled for all superfluytes ben taken awaye by sone puttynge remedye therto And whan ye come vnto the physycyen make relacyon vnto hym of your infyrmyte howe sore and anguysshous soo euer it be to the ende that he may hele thy wounde thy grete sykenes for it sholde be vnpossyble for hym for to hele the wtout knowyÌ„ge of thyn infyrmyte the whiche myght be the cause of thyn owne dethe In lyke wyse yf that thou go vnto a preest for to be confessed and declare vnto hyÌ„ many grete and abhomynable synnes that thou hast coÌ„mytted here in this worlde and tell hym not all that euer thou offended god in syth thyn infancye or chyldhode as ferre as thou hast remembraunce of elles thyne absolucyon is of none effecte yet thou puttest thy loule in grete leoperdye and daunger Also it is grete shame for to sende after an experte physycyen and then to haue no volente for to do after his counsayll and commauÌ„ dementes nor byleue his dyscrete saynges that sholde i. thimo iiii be vnto thy helthe Thou wylte byleue soner an olde enchaunteresse or wytche the whiche gyueth a lytel breuet or a quycke herbe wherin lyeth all her dede or fayte as it pleaseth the thou touchest thy body with her enchauÌ„ted or charmed fynger the whiche by aduenture engendreth euyll helthe yf that thou gyue credence therto it is not sygne that thou wolde be guarysshed of thy maladye for thou puttest thy lyfe in grete daunger for to gyue credence vnto suche olde wytches wherfore yf ye wyll be heled of your infyrmytes byleue none but the experte physycyen for yf ye do otherwyse ye shal be in dauÌ„ger to lese bothe body and soule ¶ Of consultacyons to openly c. xxxviii ¶ Who dothe openly his wyll shewe And serteth his gynnes to apertly One may the daunger sone eschewe Be it a man or byrde truely For whan they knowe it they go by As who say we be all puruayed Wherfore the foole is euyll appayed POore fooles whiche haue your hertes a slepe ye be gretely abused to tel your thought and mynde vnto them that ye wolde decey Esopê° i apo Prouer. i. Duidiê° â—re ue and begyle gyue intellygence vnto this scrypture yf that ye wyll lyue wel and egally Who that pretendeth for to take byrdes in the feldes or in theyr nestes and setteth his nettes to euydently in theyr syght shall neuer take no byrdes for they wyl no resorte the derwarde as longe as they see them In lyke wyse he that menaseth one openly for to slee hym or betâ— Glo. in cle
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
for it is more hurte than all the other O poore foole beholde thy speche to the ende that thou dyffame not thy neyghboure For of tentymes they make a pytte for other folkes and falleth therin themselfe the fyrste of all As of Amon that had done dyuers euyl les vnto Mardocheus the whiche was a wyse man and a prudente This notwithstondynge he made a crosse for hym or a patybulayre or a gybet But Aman for all his cautelles vnhappynes fell therin for he was hanged without ony respyte It behoueth in euery case to consyder and chose a good meane leuynge detraccyons decepcyons dyssymulacyons fraudes and extorcyons for he dothe not well that putteth his affyauÌ„ce in them bycause that there is some that maketh to taste a bytter droppe in promesses truste you not How maye one apperceyue by syght that a man hathe good fayth in hym One can not knowe it If that thou lodge the with him that hathe enuy vpon the I praye the answere hym wysely for be thou neuer so wyse thou can not knowe hys secretes â—hese an host at thy pleasure ete drynke hardely in his house and haue no fere to haue ony hurte for all that thou arte a foole ete thy fyll but thou knowe that he is not for to socoure the to the ende that thou be not deceyued eschewehyÌ„ for he laugheth in mockynge of the and desyreth thy dethe ¶ Of vnpurueynge for the tyme to come ca. lxviii ¶ Who that spendeth his tyme in wast Without lernynge of sapyence To come to god he hathe no hast Whiche is of so hyghe excellence For but in yongthe he make prouydence And in somer gadre and spare In wynter he shall be full bare YSsue oute where someuer ye be vnpuruayed fooles and come hether hastely and be noo more slouthefull but dylygente for to here my saynges Who someuer in the tyme of somer gadereth not for to lyue in wynter lxxxiii diâ— nihil Seneca ê“uer vi by is of the condycyon of the beer He is a foole that is so slouthfull that he wyll not puruaye for the tyme to come Who is he that wolde doo as a beest consyderynge his euyll to come and thynke not for to gadre goodes for his pasture in tyme future ¶ He that thynketh not Deu. xxxii Eccâ— xxvi ê“uer xix ê“uer 〈◊〉 Ec. iii. 〈◊〉 xxx viii ê“uer xx Sapien. xv ê“uer vi et xxiiii ê“uer xxi ê“uer xxvi Mathei v. Eccle. xxii ê“uer xxii Juuenalis ê“uer vi theron is a foole be he neuer so yonge for yf he do otherwyse he marreth his body and his goodes for he purpen seth not of the thynges necessarye for hym nor of thynges propyce And whan indygence so wâ—eth hym pouerte calleth hym my schaunce foloweth hym hongre atteyneth hym and all vyle chaunce Neuer he thynketh on the tyme to come but passeth his yongthe in transytory thynges folysshe dysportes Is it not grete incoÌ„uenyence alas yes for the meschaunt sholde not haue aspecte vnto the other for yf he do he shall assemble no goodes Take ensample of the solycitudes as sayeth the wyse the whiche thynketh on his nourysshynge and after thynke on his lytell chyldren to the ende that in the tyme to come they haue no nede Whan thou arte in somer gadre thy fruytes thy goodes for to lyue in wynter by to the ende that thou and thyne perysshe not for defaute of prouysyon Also they that haue thought euyl ly on the tyme paste and hathe put all in oblyuyon and hathe had theyr hertes so hardened in mondayne pleasures that they slepe all the somer in the sonne without gaderynge ony good And soo they put theyr lyues in extremyte by theyr slouthfulnesse and seketh noo goodes Yf suche folke haue none other goodes nor londes they haue theyr hertes in grete thought in grete myserye pouerte Or yf that they haue spended all by euyll thynkynge on theyr necessytees as fooles doo oftentymes And after must sell his londes or other goodes for to lyue by and in the ende becometh myserable Also he the whiche maketh noo prouysyon for goodes in somer shall haue grete necessyte in wynter by extreme pouerte and myserye Wherfore I praye the take ensample at the pysmyres that gadereth in somer for to lyue in wynter with The hony bees dothe soo in lyke wyse And by this meanes they perysshe not for hongre in the frostye wynter ¶ Of lytygans or pleaders in iugement ca. lxix ¶ Who hathe aspecte to dame Justyce Makynge complayntes dolorous Askynge her ryght whiche is propyce Of all men beynge vertuous Peruers cursed or malycyous But the foole blyndeth her vysage By false sentence full of outrage MOre curraunt than the wynde renne byfore Mathei vii dame Justyce folysshe lunatyke cryers the whiche maketh so grete tumulte before dame Justyce and ye shall knowe how he is a fole that maketh tumulte before dame i. di in prin Justyce All cryers before Justyce be worthy for to be punysshed with greuous payne They do no merytoryous dede but maketh perturbacyon in the consystorye with theyr noyses and cryes whome the Juges prayeth for to kepe scylence but they wyll do nothynge for the more that they be bydden holde theyr peas the more they crye wenynge to them that by theyr cryenge theyr causes shall be the soner Juged They vse fraudes decepcyons ê“uer xxvi ê“uer xvi Esaye lvii Jacobi iiii and dyssymulacyons how well that the cause be but lytell yet they wyll make a grete processe of it thyn kynge to haue vengeaunce by theyr fyers courages Ye wene to corrumpte the fayre tytles of the lawes and the chapytres of dame Justyce They be ryght iocunde for to pleade Suche folkes knowe almoost as moche as the lawyers bycause they go so often to the lawe They make ê“uerbi xvii Hieremie ii theyr causes to be kepte longe in hande They pleade and yet they knowe that theyr quarell is not Juste pretendynge for to corrumpte and destroye the sacred lawes ê“uer xxvi Esaye iviii and decretes customed and establysshed and that worse is they eschewe them as moche as they maye If that they banysshe a man bycause that he is subterfuge by thre dyctes with the sowne of a trompette he ought to be called a foole or elles to be cyted before the offycyall He wyl Eccle. xxviii Eccle. viii let hymselfe be cursed and be deiecte frome the prayers of holy chirche careth not for none absolucyon The other wyll let hymselfe be condempned before the iuge The other wyll reyse a processe by enuye kepe it longe vp with cauyllacyons and fraudes agaynst all ryght 〈…〉 They enryche the aduocates procurours And whan ê“uee iii. theyr money is faylled they borowe by vsurye vnto the tyme that theyr processe be fynysshed And after dyspoyleth hymselfe of his propre goodes The other wyll vse cautelles and thynketh by grete sommes of moneye to corrumpte the Justyces and the ryghtes It is
that it were not for the grete rychesses that Juuenalis they be replete with Dyuers sholde be hanged brente or slayne yf that it were not for theyr goodes And by this meane abydeth many vnpunysshed The pore man that hathe nothynge shall be greuously punysshed By suche meanes is commytted soo many euylles that it is horrour Achas that was kynge of Samarye vsurped Achas iii. Reg. xxi Eccle. v. Jezabell all his subgectes for he was not contente with his realme Naboth had a fayre arbour and a delectable to this kynge the kynge asked it hym eyther to sell or to haue as moche for it but Naboth sayd he wolde not breke the arbour of his fader for that sholde be to grete dyshonour He departed from thens and came in to his house and layde hym downe vpon his bedde he myght neyther ete vi q. iii. paup Juuenalis Lucanus xv q. ii illa no. de rescrip statatuÌ„ li. vi bea tho ii ii q. clxxx viii ar iii. ê“uer xix xii q. ii crates Roma Qui curtius dendatus Publicola Fabritius M. regulus de q o tulliê° i of Apuletus Grecia Aristotelis epaminuÌ„das Homerus Socrates Eccle. xi Roma Augustinus Duidius Eccle. x viii Larthago ê“uer xxii Juuenalis nor drynke His wyfe arryued there the whiche was ryght sorowfull but whan she knewe wherfore it was she sayd vnto hym that he sholde take no thought TheÌ„ she wente and shewed it vnto the grettest of the towne And she exhorted them soo moche that they stoned hym to dethe But god knoweth all for meÌ„broth was slayne for that the whiche the kynge suffred folysshely Thus is the poore oppressed by the ryche In the tyme of the golden leage pouerte was praysed and well maynteyned And by her was good lyfe without enuye euery bodylyued Euery body vsed largenesse and negardyse was expulsed by her was had good vertues and scyences auaryce was not then reygnynge Al the estates reygned in peas and vnyon with the people Vertues and honoure was with pouerte All grete prynces and lordes was replete with vertues and pouerte They domyned in euery prouynge As Curtius and his felowes that helde the Samnytes ausonye and dyuers other cytees bycause that they were enclyned to serue pouerte They maynteyned the thynges publyke mounted vp in honoure and excellence Pouerte was cause she was of heuen of the worlde the hye pryce the gate of heuen at this tyme for thou berest the keye O publycolle thou berest honoure is dygne of grete laude bycause that thou mayÌ„teyned pouerte O fabrycyus thou arte worthy to be praysed for thou dyspraysed all the grete gyftes of Pyrrus Pouerte gaue the honour I pray the folysshe ryche man consyder that pouerte hathe done many excellent werkes As to crowne kynges To dyscerne Justyce estatâ—s of realmes she hathe loued doctrynes Grece respleÌ„dyssheth in pouerte and all scyence is extracte therfro The grace of pouerte fleeth neuer Arystotle EpaminuÌ„ces Homerus Socrates were grete phylosophres and excellente poetes notwithstondynge they were poore desyred no rychesse Rychesse gaue neuer no goodes but hathe destroyed many realmes ¶ By pryde is knowen how Rome is decayed many men it peryssheth Cartage came vnto ruyne It engendreth all euylles There is nothynge more excellenter nor more sweter than pouerte â—resê° de quo Herodo li. i. ê“uer xii Eccle. xvi Marti x. Wherfore do we loue otherthynge than We myrre ourselfe in this vnhappy moneye that ledeth the soule vnto helle Tell me what auaylled the rychesse vnto kynge crassus or to Sardanapalê° or other To speke shortly there is nothynge worse nor more abhomynable Pouerte gyueth fruycyon to the realme of heuen Wherfore you cursed fooles that dyspryseth pouerte know that ye shall be banysshed and expulsed from the realme of paradyse Of hi that wyll not perseuer in goodnes ca. lxxx ¶ Dyuers fooles wyll the carte drawe By wanhope and iniquyte Without reason or ony lawe Lyuynge in grete calamyte Deuoyde of blysse and prosperyte And all thrugh theyr folysshe bobaunce Not folowynge perseueraunce NOw without ony lenger delaye foles that wyll not perseuer in goodnes make a lepe in to our shyppe and ye shall knowe the gre Luce. ix Ecc 〈…〉 xxxviii de pe dis ii multi Abacuc i. ii â—orin vi Ad hebre iii. Ad hebre xii te erroure that ye be in and ye shall se the robuste man begynne to werke the which whan he hathe tasted it ones wyll neuer leue it Now yf thou wylte vnderstonde this thynke where as I wyll falle to the ende that thou take ensygnement and here my sentence amyably Our shyppe calleth all these men bycause that they be couenable to drawe the cordes of our saylles or do some other thynge aboute in the shyp vnderneth the hatches and aboute the pompe and stere They the whiche begynne for to lyue well and vertuously and make clene theyr soules frome synne wyll ensue good doctrynes and vertuous scyences and cast out from your conscyences the infeccyons and fylthes Eccle. ii pictagoras But who that gothe vp a mountayne to holde the somet and abydeth in the halfe waye it is grete pyte and yf he loke behynde hym he destroyeth hymselfe and leseth all the vertues that were resplendy sshynge in hym he was debonayre but he perseuered not therin dyuers be of theyr condycyons The other wyll goo in the waye of Josue vii ê“uer xxvi Exodi xvi Nume xiiii veryte where as is Justyce and ryght but whan they be at the halfe waye they torne the brydell in to the waye polluted and so strayeth out of the ryght waye for they tourne theyr faces awaye and beholde the perfounde places of mondanytees As the chyldren of Israhell to whome our lorde had done so moche good and loued so perfytely and made them to be ledde out of captyuyte by Moyses in to deserte And after they murmured saynge that god wolde predestyne them vnto grete myschefe bycause that he hadde put them in to so barayne a countre and taken them from that the whiche was soo fructuous God knowynge theyr murmuracyon made Mathei xv Luce. ii apoca 〈…〉 i. Hieremie iii. it to rayne manna from heuen for to se yf that they wolde kepe theyr lawe They dyde well But in the ende they wolde do euyll Then for to come vnto my purpose I saye that he the whiche wyll be the waye to serue god after be wrappeth his body in synne knowe that his es tate is ryght daungerous for he honoureth that the whiche is of no valure example of a seke man to whome the physycyen sayeth that he wyll hele hym I demaunde i. q. i. c. veÌ„tuÌ„ Depe dis 1. c. qÌ„ pertinet xcii di plurimos the yf he wyll obserue his commaundement naye and yf he impayre who is it longe on of hymselfe bycause he wolde not byleue his good couÌ„sayll the whiche was for his helthe Yf thou had a grete
reygne The benefyces be they not solde I byleue yes the whiche is a greate plage In the tyme passed the vylagyens were wonte but for to paye vnto the emperoure xxvi pens for theyr heedes but nowe they are soo sore pylled that it is pyte for to here theyr clamoure Axtaxerxers imposed fyrste the trybutes the assyryens payed theym fyrste and then the perses the Macedonyens and then ceasar constreyned the romayns to paye it There is not nowe neyther frenshmen nor ytalyens calabryens nor the men of the pope but that they be constrayned for to paye that trybute and yet wors than trybute you suffre yet that your men of armes ete vp the poore folkes of the vyllages whan you be in ony towne it is horrour to here the lyues of your men they be so moche abandoned to do euyll and are supported by you in all theyr vyces they be habandoned vno lecherye whether they be may dens or wyues they dystroye all and then who hath done it my lorde or an archer of the garde and so they escape without punysshynge by your supportacion They fyght and kyll and do innumerable euylles and bycause they be not punysshed they be wors and wors theyr lorde hathe none honoure Thynke you not vpon yâ— kynge Dauyd that for the louynge that he loued Bersabee Dauid Bersabe Urias wyfe vnto Urye was called a blodye man his people was punysshed for his synne you care not you be so replete with pryde and mondanytees you be armed with grete pompes and habytes large and superfluous â—â—u haue not grete payne for to wynne that the whiche you dyspende alas you thynke not The ryght by you is nothynge susteyned Whan you make Justes and torneymentes to the vttraunce knowe you not well that he the c. felicis me morie 〈◊〉 torneamentis ff 〈◊〉 alea. l. solens vt l. ff ad l. acâ— qÌ„ actioÌ„e v. si â—s whiche is slayne there ought not for to be buryed in holy grounde And that he the whiche gyueth the stroke ought for to do penaunce We fynde well in the ryght cyuyll that one may proue his strengthe otherwyse not and in suche maner he is not bounden to the lawe aquylye They do the contrary whiche is a wouÌ„de made in ryght Alas Emperours kynges dukes erles and barons vulnere hym no more suffre not that ryghte be vsurped within your realmes and countrees yf that you wyll that your domynacyons prospere in goodnes and tranquylyte ¶ O ryght crysten kynge of Englonde I beseche the also humbly as I may that thou suffre not within thy noble realme that ryght be vsurped by thy subgectes and offycers Thou arte the moost noble kynge the moost myghtyest that is vpon the erthe for thou arte the relucent sterre of all the terryens endewed with al vertues the odeferous floure descended frome paradyse moost marcyall in batayll amyable as a lady fayre as absolon wyse as Salomon dyscrete as Agamenon all good meurs remayneth in the wherfore yllustred kynge excercyse egall iugement and in so doynge ye shall be exalted in the sempyternall courte with the rose fyrst stocke of your generacyon The good kynge Henry loued noo blasshemynge but punysshed the swerers but who that can now moost blassheme god is moost made of in courte you gyue euyll example vnto them that cometh after you and the thynges of euyll examples oughte to be eschewed but you vpholde them you make dyuers fayre statutes but they endure but a whyle Shewe thyselfe valyaunt in vertues loue the prouffyte and vtylyte of the thynge publyke Thynke vpon the auÌ„cyent Romaynes the whiche loued better for to deye poore than the welthe publyke sholde haue ben enpayred After that is some comen that loueth better to enryche themselfe than the good publyke wherby they are comen vnto grete ruyne The consules and senatours of this presente tyme haue not the fame that the auncyent romaynes were wonte to haue for they loue better theyr owne prouffyte than the comyn prouffyte and corrumpe the ryght for to do pleasure vnto theyr frendes The cause is bycause they are not replete with vertues for they are rauysshynge wulues without supportynge or defendynge of the ryghte thou ought for to knowe what ryght is to the ende that whan they demaunde the some countree londe or rente Uide bal. in repentioÌ„e l. 〈◊〉 i. xiii col◠〈◊〉 de suÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bal. i dicta l. fi that thou mayst answere them after ryght and reason and examyne well and iustely the cause or that you gyue ony sentence vpon ony thynge and in soo doynge ye shall acquyre grete meryte of the Juge eternal the whiche Jugeth euery thynge and after theyr deserte remunereth them in the sempyternall mansyon Wherfore loke that ye put men the whiche are vertuous and Juste for to gouerne ryght and Justyce for suche folkes are Baldus in l. i. ff de sena ff de ori iur bal. de ori 〈◊〉 Pilatus l. is apud 〈◊〉 de edendo worthy for to rule or gouerne ony crysten regyon or hethen for there as ryght wysmen is domynatours there is egall iugement also well to the poore and nedy as vnto the ryche but at this present tyme it is grete pyte for to here the exclamacyon of the poore people for they can not haue no ryght without gyuynge of large moneye thus auaryce hathe banysshed ryght out of this countre Put no rauysshynge wulues to gyue iugement nor no marchauntes the whiche haue no desyre but for to wyn in lettynge the welthe publyke fall in to ruyne Juges rede you neuer of the Jugement of Alpius the whiche was amerous of a mayden that was brought vnto him for to be out of seruytude but her fader Uyrginyus wyllynge for to saue her from dyshonour tupracyon slewe her before the Romayns and bare the heed vnto that Alpius Nor in lyke wyse of the doughter of Lauyon that was slayne Myrre you herm and of the Jugement that Pylate made on Ihesu cryste It is wryten that the loue of maydens subuerteth the Juges that doo not true Justyce Juge iustely the sone of man Suche Juges is hated of euery body A good Juge ought to enquere the 〈◊〉 de aduo l. aduocatri laudabili in trouthe and then to gyue sentence on the thinge proued and none otherwyse Aduocates you ought to desyre the principio 〈◊〉 de aduoca di uerâ—udi comune welthe and defende the ryght for you are equypared to the knyghtes for by you as knyghtes is the lyâ— and the patrymony defended your offyce is necessary louable Wherfore leue all decepcyons and false lagacyons and maynteyne the ryght Put sergeauntes of gode lyues in offyces for to kepe the people the better with out puttynge in a grete sorte of rascalles and rybaudes that pylleth the poore people and renneth nyght daye to the bordell in vsurpynge euery body bycause that they bere the names of sergeauntes yf there
dormen tarium glo c. si de cle noÌ„ res li. vi pÌ„s xv they be so enflambed with auaryce yf that they haue no moneye nor dystrybucyon and wyll not go vnto the chirche for the loue of god O what horrour to dysobeye the creatour Peruers folkes of condycyons thynke where god shall put your soules ye well symonyacles It were better for you that ye wente not vnto the chirche than for to go in esperaunce to take money I praye you that ye go not in to sacred places by auaryce for that is not a greable to god bycause that it polluteth the sacred place so worthy Ye be not ashamed to speke vnto harlottes and baudes in the chirche in makynge them sygnes they fo lowe you paas by paas God out and auoyde holy â—hâ—â—che go your wayes hastely be ye not ashamed that foâ—kes Neemie xiii Eccle. xxi xvi q. vii et â—oc diximus â—hoâ—de se you no for ye be no more ashamed than 〈◊〉 sowe that lyeth her downe in the myre that dyspleaseth moche vnto god More ouer ye gyue euyll example vnto the seculers You ought to be the refulgent sterre but Ictâ—uÌ„ xii xxiiii q. 〈◊〉 oibê° et c. quare ex sola ye be withouten lumynarye or lyght O what scandale and what dyshonour I demaunde you yf that ye shall haue the gyrtes of god and his realme perduraâ—â—e for to do so no But muste praye vnto hym in the chirche as mayster and lorde of heuen and erthe and purge you clene of all your vyces and synnes Some there is that wyll be without syngynge masse vnto a leuen of the clocke a bydynge that some sholde gyue them moneye for to synge malse for yf that they haue no moneye gyuen theym they wyll synge no masse ¶ O what dyshonour to holy chirche of mandyens or other as well monkes as abbottes chanons as pryours nothyÌ„ge I speke but they may be in the nombre with the other Suche folkes can not wynne the realme of paradyse but yf that they amen de theyr lyues and do penaunce for theyr synnes For it is they that ought to be resplendysshynge as the sterres And they be more obscure than many of the seculers commytte mo vyces and abhomynable synnes in gyuynge ryght euyll examples vnto the poore folkes parysshynges ¶ Of the grete demonstraunce of pryde ca. lxxxviii ¶ All â—â—ey that be replete with pryde Foloâ—ynge the fende ryght cruell Is worthy with hym to abyde And for euermore with hym dwell In the horryble paynes of hell There to be rewarded doubtelesse And neuer come in heuens blesse PRoude fooles approche you hastely and come here my doctryne for there is dyuerse Eccle. ix Judith ix â—s xc et 123. â—â—er vii Eccle. vii Dui meth de pe dis ii hinc etiam Esaie xiiii Thobie iiii Jacobi iiii vi q. i. imita xii q. ii glo â—ia eâ—i in â—i peregrinatio noÌ„ facit medâ— cuÌ„ nulla ars lorâ— disciâ— vt ait Sene. Johel ii Ecclesia x. et xxvii Luce. x. xxiiii q. iii. quideÌ„ vel lâ—ciâ—iceriant fooles that be full of pryde that by theyr vyces is entred in to our shyppe They wyl holde the empyre and domyne aboue all the other Ofte ntymes the foole surprysed rowynge with in the foule shyppe the whiche was of auncyente forged by Lucyfer prynce of pryde that wolde haue mounted aboue god is deceyued but god almyghtye made hym for to descende into the obscure pyt of helle where as is tormentes intollerable This lucyfer was the fyrst that synned in pryde He is fader and mayster of pryde And they that folowe hym ben his chyldren the whiche he holdeth euer ferre from our lorde They ben habandoned vnto hym and be replete with dyscordes with vaynglo rye and also with iactaunce saynge I haue had the solycytude of pauonye the wyse cyte in my youthe I haue redde the holy ensygnementes of sapyence And bycause that I haue knowen suche thynges I ought to be exalted aboue all the other ¶ The other hathe ronne in frauÌ„ce in spayne and in other places where as he is hated not for no valyauntyse that he hathe done yet he wyll be exalted aboue the other Tell me what auayleth thy pryde Yf thou haue sene dyuers countrees in grete daungers as well on the see as on the londe and thou sayst more by halfe Thy wordes ben to bytter and yet thou sayst them not of a good sorte Beholde yf the wyse taketh so grete laude no for neuer a wyse man desyred laude nor neuer blameth none But thou arte as full of pryde as lucyfer that was sayd berynge lyghte For by his beaute he wolde enhaunce hym in pryde and wolde haue mounted vpon the hyghe syege of our lorde But our good god the whiche is so Juste made hym to falle Job x. puer xv et viii â—s xvii Sapien. v â—uer xiiii Job xxvi Eccle. xi â—uer xi Eccle. vii Eccle. xix puer v. Holofernes Judith ix Jesabell iiii ReguÌ„ ix into the abys 〈…〉 es of helle with his complyces ¶ Alas it was for them grete euyll And thus the proude folkes shall descende into the tenebres and paynes infernalles Lucyfer and his complyces layeth many gynnes nettes for to take the proude soules the whiche they drawe in to theyr cauernes from daye to daye withouten euer to haue ony Joye or solace This cursed synne of pryde destroyeth all good condycyons vertues and scyences and engendreth thynges contrary that is to knowe abhomynacyon This synne reygneth in dyuers persones and pryncypally in women For al the gendre femynyne is replete with pryde the whiche synne maculeth totally the body and the soule of the persone they were ambycyous clothes They make theyr husbandes to stoupe or other without reason by theyr lokes that they caste dyuers wyse men ben almoost depryued from theyr wyt Judyth dyde soo moche by her fayre speche that she cut of Holofernes heed bycause that he wolde haue destroyed her londe how well that Jesabell was fayre yet she anoynted her vysage for to make her foule in the presence of her husbande Jehu Euery daye wysdome calleth vs in saynge that we â—â—ee frome claterynge wyues for they haue theyr tongues to lyght and to daungerous they be replenysshed with lechery the whiche with their eyen and â—restes byteth the hertes of the poore men le deth the soule in to the pytte of helle there to remayne perpetually The good woman hathe all good vertues wher honour ensueth her she vseth laudes and good operacyons Eccle. xiiii xxvii q. v. nec salomon puer xiiii Eccâ— xxv ii Reg. xi she kepeth chastyte and setteth noughte by concupy scence carnal yf Bersabee had not ben esprysed with loue she wolde neuer haue shewed her naked body vnto kynge Dauyd She was the pryncypall cause that her husbande Urye was slayne for The women at this presente tyme ben cause of many folysshe loues you doo Ecclesia
x. Johel ii Nume xv Thobie iiii not well women that for your pleasures carnalles draweth men vnto your loues Knowe for a certaynte that god shall punysshe you greuously for your pryde insacyable lecherye Thynke amonge you grete synners of the infynyte Joyes of paradyse And in lyke wyse of the inestymable paynes and tormentes of helle And consyder that Lucyfer the whiche was the fayrest aungell of Job xli Esaie xiiii Nume xvi â—s cv paradyse by his pryde is the vglyest deuyll in helle and all proude folkes shall be punysshed so bothe men women As Dathan and Abyron the whiche wolde vsurpe the sacrefyce the ensence the dyuyne offyce by theyr pryde for the whiche god punysshed them well For they were swalowed quycke in to the erthe And in the same wyse shall our lorde Ihesu cryste do with the proude men and women ¶ Of vsurers and feneratours ca. lxxxix ¶ All you the whiche ben vsurers That take of men theyr hole substaunce And also you that be synners Lyuynge euer in grete bobaunce Leue your vyle synnes and perturbaunce Or elles ye shall be put in thrall And haue tormentes perpetuall USurers abhomynable come and lenne some moneye by vsurye vpon my chapytre studye therupon and ye shal see what prouf ê“uer xâ— Luce. vi Inno. in c. i. de vsu. Bal. i auÌ„t ad hec L 〈◊〉 ti xiiii q. â—iii pet totuÌ„ fyte ye may haue by your vsuryes you be lefte behynde yet for to speke of the whiche is the vylest company that I spake yet of And yf that ye wyll knowe what they be knowe for certaynte that they be vsurers that be full of lyes They ought to be punysshed and delyuered vnto cruell dethe for theyr studye c. i. de emp. et ven Eccle. xlii Esaie xxxiii Azech xiii Ebacuc ii xiiii q. iiii ca. uonuÌ„ et c. se. ec c. pe is not but for to dyspoyle the poore people of theyr goodes without hauinge ony pyte Of suche folkes there is many bothe burgeyses and lytell lordes of smal vyllages They fere not god his vengeaunce nor the offence that they do in destroyenge the poore folkes how well that it is not greuous for to saye I saye that the Jewes is more charytable more iuste and more verytable thaÌ„ they be for all that they kepe grete vsuryes more than the crysten men and be better in theyr lawe They be Math. xxiii Leui. xxv Deutr. xxiii Exodi xxii Hiere v. Luce. xix pÌ„s lxxi Eccâ— xxvii no rauysshers of goodes as the crystyens is We dysprayse god euery day And yf we chase the Jewes out of our countrees they knowe not our entencyon nor to what ende we entende Certaynly it is to our vsurye alonely not vnto that of the Jewes thus we be without vertues and expulsed from god O holy crysten men how that it is an vndyscrete paccyon and a spere more sharper than stele To do so vnto your crysten brederen you be as horryble wulues famysshed that holdeth the poore shepe By auaryce you commyt vsurye fraudulously xiiii q. iiii nec hoc et c. se. et c. quicunque be enraged by grete hete you desyre derthenes of whete and corne to the ende that you may sell your prouysyon you desyre another mannes euyll and truely the euyll shall fall vpon yourselfe It had ben better that you had neuer ben borne than to commyt suche extorcyons In dyuers thynges you thynke that ye coÌ„myt none vsurye and excuse yourselfe But god at the daye of Jugemente shall accuse you ¶ Of the vayne hope to haue succede â—ca lxxxx ¶ Who trusteth to haue successyon Of others goodes and rychesse Makynge therfore prouysyon Not thynkynge on dethes hardynesse He is a foole voyde of sagesse For to desyre other mennes dethe Eyther for rychesse londe or hethe SLepe no more fooles that desyreth the dethe of your frendes to haue the successyon and â—e coÌ„ces pÌ„beÌ„ c. ii et c. ne ca â—tande eo â—i li. vi l. stipulatio ff de ver ob l. quidaÌ„ ff de dona Eccâ—ie xxxi Treno v. Esaie xxx i. thimo vi ê“uer xx Eccle. xliiii Hiere xxii Sapien. iii. Eccle. vi ê“uer x. Osâ—e ix ê“uer xii â—amê° de quo Juuenalis Absolon 〈◊〉 Reg. xviii Hiere viii pÌ„s xxxvi Eccle. iiii ê“uer xxviii Ecclesi x. pÌ„s liiii come and se the testament where as is lefte you many fayre doctrynes Ha what is he that may suffre this foole that hathe his mynde lyght as wynde the whiche desyreth the dethe of another for his goodes He is a fole so to desyre his frendes deth but god gyueth theÌ„ no power therto nor excepteth not theyr prayers For oftentymes we se the contrary that they dye before theyr frendes Alas is it not grete furoure to the to desyre ony mannes deth for temporall goodes For deth foloweth the fote for fote be thou neuer so grete at the laste thou shalte be deceyued It is sene often that the sone deyeth afore his fader It is than grete fo ly to truste in the dethe of another man Kynge Pryam for all his aege sawe all his chyldren deye before hym Wherfore he deyed almoost as he wente In lyke wyse whan Absolon sawe the sceptre of his fader kynge Dauyd he desyred it gretely But all sodaynly dethe smote hym with his darte and he wolde not haue thought but that he sholde haue lyued after his fader The dedes of dethe be not all the sureste for they be to obscure derke Lyuynge folkes be not so folysshe to put your truste in thynges caducke and transytorye but truste euer to lyue with the sayntes of heuen in Joye perdurable and not in the thynges mondaynes ¶ Of them that obserueth not the sondayes and other feestes ca. lxxxxi ¶ Who that kepeth not the sondayes And holy festes canonysed But occupyeth them in playes Is a grete fole predestyned And shall be from god expulsed But yf that he kepe them truely In seruynge god reuerently AWaken you out of your dremes fo 〈…〉 he lu natyke fooles the whiche haloweth 〈…〉 nor kepeth not the sondayes nor the ot 〈…〉 sayntes ero xx 〈◊〉 xxxi Leuiti xxvi Johan xvii Deu. v. dayesmen women come 〈◊〉 this chapytre parauenture it shall 〈…〉 se you for to obserue them as ye be bounde for to do â—nd coÌ„maunded of our moder holy chirche Alas I aduertem my remembraunce the vyces opprobryous of the humaynes I am ryght sore abasshed how that they haue theyr hertes so affusked in vyle synnes ¶ For they haue theyr corporall bodyes enuyronned with obscurnes tenebrous walkynge in dyuers quarters oure of the hye waye And holdeth not the playne and perfyte waye that Hier. xvii De fer ci i. 〈◊〉 vltimo L. e. t. l. ois our lorde Ihesu cryste hathe demonstred them of good fayth He gyueth his ensygnementes and artycles hys doctryne and hye grace vnto euery