aboue alle other and most worthy And that is signefyed by the corone For the glorye of the peple is the dignite of the kynge And aboue all other the kynge ought to be replenysshid with vertues and of grace and thys signefieth the purpure For in lyke wyse as the robes of purpure maketh fayr enbelysshith the body the same wise vertues maketh the sowle he ought alleway thenke on the gouernement of the Royame and who hath thadmynystracion of Iustice And thys shuld be by hym self pryncipally This signefieth the appÌ„ell of gold that he holdeth in his lyfte honde And for as moche as hit apperteyneth vnto hym to punysshe the rebelles hath he the sceptre in his right hand And for as moche as mysericorde and trouthe conserue and kepe the kynge in his trone Therfore ought a kynge to be mercyfull and debonayr For whan a kynge or prynce desired or will be belouyd of his peple late hym be gouerned by debonarite And valerius saith that debonairte percyth the hertes of straungers and amolisshith and maketh softe the hertes of his enemyes wherof he reherceth that philostratus that was duc of athenes had a doughter whom a man louyd so ardantly that on a tyme as he sawe her wyth her moder sodaynly he cam and kyssed her wherof the moder was so angry and soroufull that she wente and requyred of her lord the duc that his heed myght be smyten of The prynce answerd to her and sayde yf we shold slee them that loue vs what shall we doo to our enemyes that hate vs Certaynly this was thanswer of a noble debonair prynce That suffred that villonye don to his doughter and to hym self yet more This prince had also a frende that was named Arispe that sayd on a tyme as moche villonye vnto the prynce as ony man miht saye And that might not suffise hym but he scracchid hym in the visage The prynce suffryd hym paciently in suche wyse as thowh he had doon to hym no vilonye but curtoysye And whan his sones wold haue auengid this vilonye he comanded them that they shold not be so hardy so to do The next day folowyng arispe remembrid of the right grete vilonye that he had don to his frende and lord wyth oute cause He fyll in dispayr and wold haue slayn hym self whan the duc knewe and vnderstode that he cam to hym and sayd ne doubte the nothynge And swore to hym by his fayth that also well he was and shold be his frende fro than forthon as euery he had ben to fore yf he wold And thus he respited hym of his deth by his debonairte And in lyke wyse rede we of the kynge pirre to whom was reported that they of tarente had said grete vilonye of hym For whiche cause he maad alle them to come to fore hym And demanded of them yf they had so sayd Than oon of them answerd and sayd yf the wyn and the candellys had not fayllyd thys langage had ben but a Iape In regarde of that we had thought to haue doon Than the kynge began to lawhe for they had confessid that suche langage as was sayd and spoken was by dronkenship And for this cause of debonairte the peple of tarante toke for a custome that the dronken men shold be punysshyd And the sobre men preysed The kynge than thus ought to loue humylyte and hate falâ—â—te after the holy scripture that speketh of euery man generally For the kynge in his royame representeth god And god is verite And therfore hym ought to saye no thynge but yf hit were veritable and stable Valerius reherceth that Alixandre wyth alle his ooste rood for to destroye a cyte whyche was named lapsare whan than a phylosophre whiche had to name Anaximenes whiche had ben to fore maistre gouernour of Alixandre herd and vnderstood of his comyng Cam agayn Alixandre for to desire and requyre of hym And whan he sawe Alixandre he supposid to haue axid his requeste Alixander brake his demande to fore and swore to hym to fore he axid ony thynge by his goddes That suche thynge as he axid or requyryd of hym he wold in no wyse doon Than the philosopher requyred hym to destroye the cyte whan Alixandre vnderstood his desire and the oth that he had maad he suffrid the cyte to stande and not to be destroyed For he had leuer doo his wyll than to be periured and forsworn and doo agaynst his oth Quyntilian saith that no grete man ne lord shold not swere but where as is grete nede And that the symple parole or worde of a prynce ought to be more stable than the oth of a marchauÌ„t Alas how kepe the prynces their promisses in thise dayes not only her promises but their othes her sealis and wrytynges signes of their propre handes alle faylleth god amende hit {etc} A kynge also ought to hate alle cruelte For we rede that neuer yet dyed ony pietous persone of euyll deth ne cruell persone of good deth Therfore recounteth valerius that ther was a man named theryle a werkeman in metall that made a boole of coppre and a lityll wyket on the side wherby men myght put in them that shuld be brent therin And hit was maad in suche manere that they that shold be put and enclosid therin shold crye no thinge lyke to the wys of a man but of an oxe And this made he be cause men shold haue the lasse pite of them Whan he had made this bole of copper he presented hit vnto a kynge whiche was callyd philarde that was so cruell a tyrant that he delited in no thinge but in cruelte And he told hym the condicion of the bole whan philarde herde and vnderstode this he alowed and preysed moche the werke And after sayde to hym thou that art more cruell than I am thou shalt assaye proue first thy pÌ„sente and yeft And so made hym to goo in to the boole and dye an euyll deth Therfore saith Ouide ther is no thinge more raisonable than that a man dye of suche deth as he purchaseth vnto other Also the kynge ought souerainly kepe Iustice who maketh or kepeth a royame with oute Iustice of verray force ther muste be grete robberye and thefte Therfor reherceth saint Augustyn in a book which is intituled the cyte of god that ther was a theef of the see named diomedes that was a grete rouar and dide so moche harme that the complaintes cam to fore Alixander whiche dide hym to be taken brought to fore hym and he demanded hym wherfore he was so noyous cruell in the see And he answerd to hym agayn for as moche as thou art â—on a lande in the world so am I another in the see but for as moche as the euyll that I doo is in oon galeye or tweyne therfore I am callyd a theef but for as moche as thou dâ—st in many shippis and with grete puyssance and power therfore art thou
shall be named white fiers or black fiers after the poynt that he is in and there taketh he the dignyte of the quene {etc} And all these thinges may appere to them that beholden the play of the chesse and ye shall vnderstande that no noble man ought to haue despite of the comyn peple for hit hath ben ofte tymes seen that by their vertu a witte Diuerce of them haue comen to right highe a grete astate as poopes bisshoppes Emperours and kynges As we haue in the historye of Dauid that was made kynge of a shepherd and one of the comyn peple and of many other {etc} And in lyke wyse we rede of the contrary that many noble men haue ben brought to myserye by their defaulte As of gyges whiche was right riche of landes and of richesses And was so proude that he wente and demanded of the god appollo yf ther were ony in the world more riche or more happy than he was and than he herde a wys that yssued out of the fosse or pitte of the sacrefices that a peple named agalaus sophide whiche were poure of goodes and riche of corage was more acceptable than he whiche was kynge And thus the god Appollo alowed more the sapience the seurte of the poure man and of his lityll mayne than he dide the astate and the persone of giges ne of his ryche mayne And hit is more to alowe a lityll thynge scurly poursiewed than moche good taken in fere and drede And for as moche as a man of lowe signage is by his vertue enhaunsed so moche the more he ought to be glorious and of good renomee virgile that was born in lombardye of the nacion of mantua and was of lowe and symple lignage yet he was souerayn in wisedom and science and the moste noble of alle the poctes of whome the renome is and shall be durynge the world so hit happend that an other poete axid and demanded of hym wherfore he setted not the versis of homere in his book And he answerd that he shold be of right grete strength and force that shold pluck the clubbe out of hercules handes And thys suffyceth the state and draughtis of the comyn peple {etc} The eyght chapitre and the last of the fourth book of the epilogacion and recapitulacion of this book FOr as moche as we see and knowe that the memorye of the peple is not retentyf but right forgetefull whan some here longe talis a historyes whiche they cannot alle reteyne in her mynde or recorde Therfore I haue put in this present chapitre all the thynges abouesayd as shortly as I haue conne First this playe or game was founden in the tyme of emâ—merodach kynge of Babilone And exerses the philosopher otherwyse named philometer fonde hit And the cause why was for the correction of the kynge lyke as hit apperith in thre the first chapitres for the said kynge was so tyrannous and felon that he might suffre no correction But slewe them and dide do put hem to deth that correctid hym and had than do put to deth many right wyse men Than the peple beynge sorowfull and ryght euyll plesid of this euyll lyf of the kynge prayd and requyred the philosopher that he wolde repryse and telle the kynge of his folye And than the philosopher answerd that he shold â—â—dede yf he so dide and the peple sayd to hym Certes then oughtest sonner wille to dye to thende that thy renome myght come to the peple than the lyf of the kynge shold contynue in euyll for lacke of thy counceyll or by faulte of reprehension of the or that thou darst not doo and shewe that thou saist And whan the philosopher herd this he promisid to the peple that he wold put hym in deuoyr to correcte hym and than he began to thynke in what maner he myght escape the deth and kepe to the peple his promesse And than thus he made in this maner and ordeyned theschequer of .lxiiii. poynts as Is a fore sayd And dide doo make the forme of chequers of gold and siluer In humayne fygure after the facyons and formes as we haue dyuysid and shewid to yow to fore in theyr chapitres And ordeyned the moeuynge and thestate after that it is said in the chapitres of theschesses And whan the philosopher had thus ordeyned the playe or game and that hit plesid alle them that sawe hit on a tyme as the philosopher playd on hit the kynge cam and sawe hit and desired to playe at this game And than the phylosopher began tenseigne and teche the kynge the science of the playe the draughtes Saynge to hym fyrst how the kynge ought to haue in hym self pytie debonairte and rightwisnes as hit is said to fore in the chapitre of the kynge And he enseygned to hym the estate of the quene and what maners she ought to haue And than of the alphyns as connceyllours and Iuges of the royame And after the nature of the knyghtes how they ought to be wise trewe and curtoys and alle the ordre of knyghthode And than after the nature of the vicaires rooks as hit apperyth in theyr chappitre And after this how the comyn peple ought to goo eche in his office And how they ought to serue the nobles And whan the philosopher had thus taught and enseigned the kynge and his nobles by the maner of the playe and had rephended hym of his euyll maners The kynge demanded hym vpon payne of deth to telle hym the cause why and wherfore he had made founden thys playe and game And what thynge meuyd hym therto And than the philosopher constrayned by fere and drede answerd that he had promysid to the peple whiche had requyred hym that he shold correcte and reprise the kynge of his euyll vices but for as moche as he doubtid the deth and had seen that the kynge dide do slee the sages wyse men That were so hardy to blame hym of his vices he was in grete anguysshe sorowe how he myght fynde a maner to correcte reprehende the kynge And to saue his owen lyf and thus he thought longe studyed that he fonde thys game or playe Whiche he hath do sette forth for to amende and correcte the lyf of the kynge and to change his maners and he adioustyd with all that he had founden this game for so moche as the lordes and nobles habondynge in delyces richessis And enioynge temporell peas shold eschewe ydlenes by playnge of this game And for to gyue hem cause to leue her pensifnes and sorowes In auysynge studyynge this game And whan the kynge had herd alle thyse causes He thought that the philosopher had founde a good maner of correction And than he thanketh hym gretly and thus by thenseygnement and lernynge of the phylosopher he changid his lyf his maners alle his euyll condicions And by this maner hit happend that the kynge that to fore tyme had ben vicyous and disordynate in his liuyng was made Iuste and vertuous debonayre gracious and and full of vertues vnto alle peple And a man that lyuyth in this world with out vertues liueth not as a man but as a beste And therfore my ryght redoubted lord I pray almighty god to saue the kyng our souerain lord to gyue hym grace to yssue as a kynge tabounde in all vertues to be assisted with all other his lordes in such wyse that his noble royame of Englond may prospere habounde in vertues and that synne may be eschewid iustice kepte the royame defended good men rewarded malefactours punysshid the ydle peple to be put to laboure that he wyth the nobles of the royame may regne gloriously In conquerynge his rightfull enheritaunce that verray peas and charite may endure in bothe his royames and that marchandise may haue his cours in suche wise that euery man eschewe synne and encrece in vertuous occupacions Praynge your good grace to resseyue this lityll and symple book made vnder the hope and shadowe of your noble protection by hym that is your most humble seruant in gree and thanke And I shall praye alimighty god for your longe lyf welfare whiche he preserue And sende yow thaccomplisshement of your hye noble Ioyous and vertuous desirs Amen Fynysshid the last day of marche the yer of our lord god a thousand foure honderd and lxxiiii
erthe with the comyn good And theyr doughters were maryed by the â—â—mandement of the senatours But syn that they despised pouertâ— And begonne to gadre rychesses And â—â—ue maad grete bataylles they haue vsed many synnes And so the comyn wele perysshid For there is no synne but that it regneth there Ther is none that is so â—ynfull as he that hath alle the world in despyte For he is in pees that dredeth no man And he is ryche that coueyteth no thynge Valere reherceth that he is not ryche that moche hath But he is ryche that hath lytyll and coueyteth no thynge Than thus late the Iuges take hede that they enclyne not for loue or for hate in ony Iugement For theophrast saith that alle loue is blynde ther loue is ther can not ryght Iugement by gyuen For alle loue is blynde And therfore loue is none euyn Iuge For ofte tymes loue Iugeth a fowll lothly woman to be fayr And so reherceth quynte curse in his first book that the grete Godaches sayth the same to Alixandre men may saye in this caas that nature is euyll For euery man is lasse auysed and worse in is owne feet and cause than in an other mans And therfore the Iuges ought to kepe hem well from yre in Iugement Tullius sayth that an angry yrous ê‘sone weneth that for to doo euyll is good counceyll and socrates saith that .ii. thinges ben contraryous to couÌ„ceyll and they ben hastynes wrath and Galeren sayth in Alexandrye yf yre or wrath ouercome the whan thou sholdest gyue Iugement weye all thinge in the balance so that thy Iugement be not enclyned by loue ne by yefte ne fauour of persone torne not thy corage Helemond reherceth that Cambyses kynge of perse whiche was a rightwys kynge had an vnrightwys Iuge whiche for enuye and euyll will had dampned a man wrongfully and agaynst right wherfore he dide hym to be flain all quyk and made the chayer or siege of Iugement to be couerid wyth his skyn And made his sone Iuge and to sitte in the chayer on the skyn of his fader to thende that the sone shold Iuge rightwysly And abhorre the Iugement payne of his fader Iuges ought to punysshe the defaultes egally And fullfille the lawe that they ordeyne Caton sayth accomplisshe and do the lawe in suche wyse as thou hast ordeyned and gyuen Valerius reherceth that calengius a consull had a sone whiche was taken in adwultrye And therfore after the lawe at that tyme he was dampned to lose bothe his eyen The fader wold that the lawe shold be accoÌ„plisshid in his sone with out fauour but all the cyte was meuyd herewyth And wold not suffre hit but in the ende his fader was vaynquysshid by theyr prayers And ordeyned that his sone shold lese oon eye whiche was put oute And he hym self lost an other eye And thus was the lawe obserued and kept And the prayer of the peple was accomplisshid We â—ede that ther was a counceyllour of rome that had gyuen counceill to make a statute that who some euer that entrid in to the senatoire a swerd gyrt aboute hym shold be ded Than hit happend on a tyme that he cam from with out and entrid in to the senatoyre his swerd gyrt aboute hym wherof he took noÌ„n heede and oÌ„n of the senatours told hym of hit and whan he knewe hit remembrid the statute he drewe oute his swerd slewe hym self to fore them rather to dye than to breke the lawe for whos deth all the senatours made grete sorowe but alas we fynde not many in thise dayes that soo doo but they doo lyke as anastasius saith that the lawes of some ben lyke vnto the nettis of spyncoppis that take no grete bestes fowles but lete goo flee thurgh But they take flyes gnattes suche smale thynges In lyke wise the lawes now a dayes ben not executed but vpon the poure peple the grete and riche breke hit goo thurgh with all And for this cause sourden bataylles discordes and make the grete riche men to take by force and strengthe lordshippis seignouries vpon the smale poure peple And this doon they specially that ben gentill of lignage poure of goodes And causeth them to robbe and reue And yet coÌ„strayned them by force to serue them And this is no meruayll for they that drede not to angre god ner to breke the lawe and to false hit Falle often tymes by force in moche cursednes and wikkidnes but whan the grete peple doo acordinge to the lawe and punysh the traÌ„sgressours sharply The comyn peple abstayne and withdrawe hem fro dooyng of euyll and chastiseth hem self by theyr example And the Iuges ought to entende for to studie for that yf smythes the carpeÌ„tiers that vignours and other craftsmen saye that it is most necessarye to studye for the comyn prouffit And gloryfye them in their connyng and saye that they ben prouffitable Than shold the Iuges studie and contemplaire moche more than they in that that shold be for the comyn wele wherfore sayth seneke beleue me that they seme that they do no thynge they doo more than they that laboure For they doo spirytuell and also corporall werkis and therfore amonge Artificers ther is no plesant reste But that reson of the Iuges hath maad and ordeyned hit And therfore angelius in libro actiui atticatorum de socrate sayth That socrates was on a tyme so pensyf that in an hole naturell daye He helde one estate that he ne meuyd mouth ne eye ne foote ne hand but was as he had ben ded rauysshyd And whan one demanded hym wherfore he was so pensyf he answerd in alle worldly thynges and labours of the same And helde hym bourgoys and cytezeyn of the world And valerius reherceth that carnardes a knyght was so sage wyse and laborous in pensifnes of the comyn wele that whan he was sette at table for to ete he forgate to put his hande vnto the mete to fede hym self And therfore his wyf that was named mellyse whom he had taken more to haue her companye felawship than for ony other thynge Fedde hym to thende that he shold not dye for honger in his pensifnes Dydymus sayd to Alixandrie we ben not deynseyns in the world but strauÌ„gers ner we ben not born in the world for to dwell and abyde allway therin but for to goo and passe thurgh hit we haue doon noon euyll dede but that it is worthy to be punysshid and we to suffre payne therfore And than we may goon with opon face and good conscience And so may we goo lightly and appertly the waye that we hope and purpose to goo This suffiseth as for the Alphyns The fourth chapitre of the seconde book treteth of the ordre of cheualerye and knyghthode and of her offices and maners THe knyght ought to be made alle armed vpon an hors in suche wyse that he haue an helme on his
and fraude is put away Men saye truly whan they saye that they knowe And they that knowe not trouthe ought to knowe hit And alleway vse trouthe For Saynt Austyn sayth that they that wene to knowe trouthe And lyuyth euyll viciously It is folye yf he knoweth hit not And also he sayth in an other place that is better to suffre peyne for trouthe Than for to haue a benefete by fâ—lsenes or by flaterye And man â—hat is callyd a beste resonable and doth not his werkes after reson and trouthe Is more bestyall than ony beste brute And knowe ye that for to come to the trouthe Hit cometh of a raysonable forsight in his mynde And lyenge cometh of an outrageous and â—â—ntrarye thought in his mynde For he that lyeth wetyngly Knoweth well that hit is agaynst the trouthe that he thynketh And herof speketh Saynt Bernard and sayth That the mouthe that lyeth destroyeth the sowle And yet sayth Saynt Austyn in an other place For to saye ony thynge And to doo the contrarye maketh doctryne suspecious And knowe ye veryly that for to lye is a right perillous thynge to body and sowle For the lye that the auncyent enemye made Eue adam to beleue hym made hem for to be dampned wyth alle theyr lignage to the deth pardurable And made hem to be cast oute of Paradyse terrestre For he made them to beleue that god had not forboden them the fruyt But only be cause they shold not knowe that her maister knewe But how well that the deuyll said thise wordes yet had she double entente to hem bothe For they knewe anoÌ„n as they had tasted of the fruyt that they were dampned to the deth pardurable And god knewe hit well to fore But they supposid well to haue knowen many other thynges And to be lyke vnto his knowleche and science And therfore sayth saynt poule in a pistyll hit ne apperteyneth to saure or knowe more than behoueth to saure or knowe but to sauoure or knowe by mesure or sobrenes And valerian reherceth that ther was a good woman of siracusane that wold not lye vnto the kynge of secylle whiche was named dyonyse And this kynge was so full of tyrannye so cruell that alle the world desired his deth and cursid hym Saauf this woman onely whiche was so olde that she had seen thre or .iiii. kynges regnynge in the contre And euery mornynge as sone as she was rysen she prayd to god that he wold gyue vnto the tyrant good lyf and longe And that she myght neuer see his deth And whan the kynge dyonise knewe this he sent for her And meruayllid moche herof For he knewe well that he was sore behated And demaunded her what cause meuyd her to pray for hym And she answerd and said to hym Syre whan I was a mayde we had a right euyll tyrant to our kynge of whom we coueyted sore the deth And whan he was ded ther cam after hym a worse of whom we coueyted also the deth And whan we were deliueryd of hym thou camst to be our lord whiche art worste of alle other And now I doubte yf we haue one after the he shall be worse than thou art And therfore I shall pray for the And whan dionyse vnderstod that she was so hardy in sayynge the truthe he durste not doo tormente her for shame be cause she was so olde The fourth chapitre of the thirde book treteth of the maner of the fourth pawn and of the marchants or changers THe fourth pawn is sette to for the kynge And is formed in the fourme of a man holding in his ryght hand a balance And the weyght in the lifte hand And to fore hym a table And at his gurdell a purse fulle of monoye redy for to gyue to them that requyre hit And by this peple ben signefied the marchans of cloth lynnen and wollen of all other marchandises And by the table that is to for hym is signefied the changeurs And they that leue money And they that bye selle by the weyght ben signefyed by the balances and weight And the customers â—ollers and resseyuours of rentes of money ben signefied by the purse And knowe ye that alle they that ben signefied by this peple ought to â—lee auaryce and couetyse And eschewe brekynge of the dayes of payement And ought to holde and kepe theyr promyssis And ought also to rendre restore that that is gyuen to them to kepe And therfor hit is reson that this peple be sette to for the kynge for as moche as they signefie the resscyuours of the tresours royall that ought allway to be redy to fore the kynge and to answere for hym to the knightes and other persones for their wages souldyes And therfor haue I sayd that they ought to flee auarice For auarice is as moche to say as an adourer or as worshipar of fals ymages herof saith Tullius that auarice is a couetise to gete that thing that is aboue necessite it is a loue disordinate to haue ony thynge And it is one of the werst thyngis that is And specially to prynces and to them that gouerne the thynges of the comunete And this vice causeth a man to do euyll And this doynge euyll is whan hit regneth in olde men And herof saith Seneque That alle wordly thynges ben mortifyed and appetissid in olde men reserued auaryce only whiche alleway abideth wyth hym and dyeth wyth hym But I vnderstande not well the cause wherof this cometh ne wherfore hit may be And hit is a fowle thynge and contrarie to reson That whan a man is at ende of his Iourney for to lengthe his viage and to ordeyne more vitayll than hym behoueth And this may well be lykened to the auarycious wolf For the wolf doth neuer good tyll he be dede And thus it is sayd in the prouerbis of the wisemen that thauaricious man doth no good tyll that he be ded And he desireth no thynge but to lyue longe in this synne For the couetouse man certaynly is not good for ony thynge For he is euyll to hymself and to the riche and to the poure And fynde cause to gayn saye theyr desire and herof reherceth seneque and saytâ— that Antigonus was a couetous prynce whan Tinque whiche was his frende requyred of hym a besauÌ„t he answerd to hym that he demanded more than hit apperteyned to hym And than tinque constrayned by grete necessite axid and requyred of hym a peny And he answerd to hym that hit was no yefte couenable for a kynge and so he was allway redy to fynde a cause nought to gyue For he myght haue gyuen to hym a besauÌ„t as a kynge to his frende And the peny as to a poure man And ther is no thynge so lytyll but that the humanyte of a kynge may gyue hit Auarice full of couetyse is a maner of alle vices of luxurye And Iosephus reherceth in the book of auncyent histories that ther was in
TO the right noble / right excellent vertuous prince George duc of Clarence Erle of warwyk and of salisburye / grete chamberlayn of Englond leutenant of Irelond oldest broder of kynge Edward by the grace of god kynge of England and of frauÌ„ce / your most humble seruant william Caxton amonge other of your seruantes sendes vnto yow peas helthe Ioye and victorye vpon your Enemyes Right highe puyssant and redoubted prynce For as moche as I haue vnderstand and knowe that ye are enclined vnto the comyn wele of the kynge our sayd saueryn lord his nobles lordes and comyn peple of his noble royame of Englond and that ye sawe gladly the Inh ans of the same enformed in good vertuous prouffitable and honeste maners In whiche your noble persone wyth guydyng of your hows haboundeth gyuyng light and ensample vnto all other Therfore I haue put me in deuour to translate a lityll book late comen in to myn handes out of frensh in to englisshe In which I fynde thauctorites dictees and stories of auncient Doctours philosophes poetes and of other wyse men whiche been recounted applied vnto the moralite of the publique wele as well of the nobles as of the comyn peple after the game and playe of the chesse whiche booke right puyssant and redoubtid lord I haue made in the name and vnder the shadewe of your noble protection not presumyng to correcte or enpoigne ony thynge ayenst your noblesse For god be thankyd your excellent renome shyneth as well in strange regions as with in the royame of england gloriously vnto your honour and lande whiche god multeplye and encrece But to thentent that other of what estate or degre he or they stande in â–ª may see in this sayd lityll book yf they gouerned them self as they ought to doo wherfor my right dere redoubted lord I requyre supplye your good grace not to desdaygne to resseyue this lityll sayd book in gree and thanke as well of me your humble and vnknowen seruant as of a better and gretter man than I am For the right good wylle that I haue had to make this lityll werk in the best wyse I can ought to be reputed for the fayte and dede And for more clerely to procede in this sayd book I haue ordeyned that the chapitres ben sette in the begynnynge to thende that ye may see more playnly the mater wherof the book treteth {etc} This booke conteyneth .iiii. traytees The first traytee is of the Inuencion of this playe of the chesse and conteyneth .iii. chapitres The first chapitre is vnder what kynge this playe was founden The .ii. chapitre who fonde this playe The .iii. chapitre treteth of .iii. causes why hit was made and founden The seconde traytee treteth of the chesse men and conteyneth .v. chapitres The first chapitre treteth of the forme of a kynge and of suche thinges as apperteyn 〈◊〉 a kynge The .ii. chapitre treteth of the quene her forme maners The .iii. chapitre of the forme of the alphins and her offices and maners The .iiii. chapitre is 〈◊〉 â—he kyâ—â—ht and of his offices The .v. is of the roâ—â—â— and of their maners and offices The third trayâ—â—◠〈◊〉 of the offices of the comyn peple And hath viiiâ— chapitres The first chapitre is of the labourers tilinge of the erthe The .ii. of and other werkes in yron metall The .iii. is of drapers and makers of cloth notaries The .iiii. is of and chaungers The .v. is of phisicyens and cirugiens and apotecaries The .vi. is of tauerners and hostelers The .vii. is of the gardes of the cit tollers customers The .viii. is of ribauldes disep and currours The .iiii. traytre is of the m and yssue of them And hath .viii. chapitres The first is of the eschequer The seconde of the yssue and progression of the kynge The thirde of the yssue of the quene The fourth is of the yssue of the alphyns The fifth is of the yssue of the knyghtes The sixty chapitre of the yssue of the rooks The seuenth is of the meuynge yssue of the comyn peple And the eyght and laste chapitre is of the epilegacion And of the recapitulacion of all these forsaid chapitres This first chapiter of the first tractate sheweth vnder what kynge the play of the chesse was founden and maad AMonge all the euyll condicions and signes that may be in a man the first and the grettest is whan he feereth not ne dredeth to displese and make wroth god by synne and the peple by lyuyng disordynatly whan he reccheth not ner taketh hede vnto them that repreue hym and his vices but sleeth them In suche wyse as dide the emperour Nero whiche dide do slee his maister seneque For as moche as he migâ—â—◠〈◊〉 suffre to be repreuid and taught of hym In lyke wyse was somtyme a kynge in babilome that was named Emsmerodac a Iolye man with oute Iustice and so cruell that he dyde do hewe his faders body in thre honderd pieces And gaf hit to ete and deuour to thre honderd birdes that men calle voultres And was of suche condicion as was Nero And right well resemblid and was lyke vnto his fader Nabogodonosor whiche on a tyme wold do slee alle the sage and wyse men of babylonye For as moche as they coude not telle hym his dreme that he had dremed on a nyght and had forgoten hit lyke as it is wreton in the bible in the book of danyell Vnder this kynge than Emlmerodach was this game and playe of the chesse founden Trewe it is that some men wene that this playe was founden in the tyme of the bataylles siege of troye But that is not soo For this playe-cam to the playes of the caldees as dyomedes the greek sayth and reherceth That amonge the philosophrs was the most renomed playe amonge all other playes And after that cain this playe in the tyme of Alixandre the grete in to Egipte And so vnto alle the parties toward the south And the cause wherfore thys playe was so renomed shall be sayd in the thirde chapitre This seconde chapitre of the first tractate sheweth who fonde first the playe of the chesse THys playe fonde a phylosopher of Thoryent whiche was named in Caldee Exerses or in greke philometor whiche is as moche to saye in english as he that loueth Iustice and mesure And this philosopher was renoâ—â—d gretly amonge the grekes and them of Athenes whiche were good clerkys and philosophers also renomed of theyr comiynge This philosopher was so Iuste and trewe that he had leuyr dye than to lyue longe and be a falâ— flaterer wyth the sayd kynge For whan he behelde the foull and synfull lyf of the kynge And that no man durst blame hym For by his grete cruelte he putte them alle to deth that displesid hym he put hym self in paryll of deth And louyd and chees rather to dye than longer to lyue The euyll lyf and diffamed of a kynge is the
lyf of a cruell beste And ought not longe to be susteyned For he destroyeth hym that displesith hym And therfore reherceth valeriuds that ther was a wise man named theodore cerem whom his kynge dyde do hange on the crosse for as moche as he repreuyd hym of his euyll fowll lyf And all way as he was in the torment he said to the kynge vpon thy counceyllours them that ben cladd in thy clothynge robes were more reson that this torment shold come For as moche as they dar not saye to the The trouthe for to do Iustice right wysly of my self I make no force whether I dye on the lande or on the water or otherwyse {etc} as who sayth he recched not to dye for Iustice In lyke wyse as democreon the philosophre put out his owen eyen be cause he wold not see that no good myght come to the euyll and vicyous peple wyth out right And also defortes the philosophre as he went toward his deth his wyf that folowed after hym saide that he was dampned to deth wrongfully than he answerd and sayd to her holde thy peas and be styll hit is better and more merytorye to dye by a wronge and vnrightfull Iugement than that I had deseruyd to dye The thirde chapitre of the â—irst tractate treteth wherfore the playe was founden and maad THe causes wherfore this playe was founden ben thre the first was for to correcte and repreue the kynge For whan this kynge Emâ—merodach sawe this playe And the barons knyghtes and gentillmen of his court playe wyth the philosopher he meruaylled gretly of the beaulte and nouelte of the playe And desired to playe agaynst the philosopher The philosopher answerd and sayd to hym that hit myght not be doon But yf he first lerned the playe The kynge said hit was reson and that he wold put hym to the payne to lerne hit Than the philosophre began to teche hym and to shewe hym the maner of the table of the chesse borde and the chesse meyne And also the maners and condicions of a kynge of the nobles and of the comun peple and of theyr offices and how they shold be touchid and drawen And how he shold amende hym self become vertuous And whan this kynge herde that he repreuyd hym He demanded hym vpon payne of deth to telle hym wherfore he had founden and made this playe And he answerd my ryght dere lord and kynge the grettest and most thinge that I desire is that thou haue in thy self a gloryous and vertuous lyf And that may I not see but yf thou be endoctrined and well manerd and that had so mayst thou be belouyd of thy peple Thus than I desire that thou haue other gouernement than thou hast had And that thou haue vpon thy self first seygnorye and maistrye suche as thou hast vpon other by force and not by right Certaynly hit is not ryght that a man be mayster ouer other and comandour whan he can not rewle ner may rewle hym self and that his vertues domyne aboue his vices For seygnourye by force and wylle may not longe endure Than thus may thou see oon of the causes why and wherfore I haue founden and maad thys playe whyche Is for to correcte and repente the of thy tyraâ—nye and vicyous lyuynge For alle kynges specyally ought to here her corrygeours or correctours and her corrections to hold and kepe in mynde In lyke wyse as Valerius reherceth that the kynge Alixandre had a noble and renomed knyght that sayd in repreuynge of Alixandre that he was to moche couetous and in especyall of the honours of the world And sayd to hym yf the goddes had maad thy body as greet as is thy herte Alle the world coude not holde the For thou holdest in thy right hand alle the Oryent And in thy lyfte hande the occident syn than hit is so or thou art a god or a man or nought yf thou be god doo than well and good to the peple as god doth And take not from them that they ought to haue and is theyres yf thou be a man thinke that thou shalt dye And than thou shalt doo noon euyll yf thou be nought forgete thy self ther is no thynge so stronge and ferme but that somtyme a feble thinge casteth doun and ouerthrowe hit How well that the lyon be the strengest beste yet somtyme a lityll birde eteth hym The seconde cause wherfore this playe was founden and maad was for to kepe hym from ydlenesse wherof senecque saith vnto lucylle ydlenes wyth oute ony ocupacion is sepulture of a man lyuyng and varro saith in his sentences that in lyke wise as men goo not for to goo the same wyse the lyf is not gyuen for to lyue but for to doo well and good And therfore secondly the philosopher fonde this playe for to kepe the peple from ydlenes For ther is moche peple Whan so is that they be fortunat in wordly goodes that they drawe them to ease and ydlenes wherof cometh ofte tymes many euyllys and grete synnes And by this ydlenes the herte is quenchid wherof cometh desperacion The thirde cause is that euery man naturelly desireth to knowe and to here noueltees and tydynges For this cause they of atthenes studyed as we rede and for as the corporall or bodyly sight enpessâ—heth and letteth otherwhyle the knowleche of subtyll thinges therfore we rede that democrion the phylosopher put oute his owen eyen for as moche as he myght haue the better entendement and vnderstondynge Many haue ben made blynde that were grete clerkis in lyke wyse as was dydymus bisshop of Alixandrye that how well that he sawe not yet he was so grete a clerk that gregore nazan saynt Ierome that were clerkes and maystres to other came for to be his scolers lerned of hym And saint Anthonie The grete heremyte cam for to see hym on a tyme and amonge all other thynges he demanded hym yf he were not gretly displesid that he was blynde and sawe not And he answerd that he was gretly abasshid for that he supposid not that he was not displesid in that he had lost his sight And saynt Anthonye answerd to hym I meruayle moche that hit displesith the that thou hast lost that thynge whiche is comyn betwene the and bestes And thou knowest well that thou hast not loste that thynge that is comyn bitwene the and the angellis And for thise causes forsayd the philosopher entended to put away alle pensifnes and thoughtes and to thynke only on this playe as shall be said appere in this book after The seconde tractate the first chapiter treteth of the forme of a kynge of his maners and of his estate THe kynge must be thus maad For he must sitte in a chayer clothed in purpure crowned on his heed in his ryght hand a ceptre and in the lyfte hande an apple of gold For he is the most grettest and hyest in dignyte
kepe chastite entyerly as hit is wreton in ecclesiastes yf thou haue sones enseigne and teche them And yf thou haue doughters kepe well them in chastite For helemonde reherceth that euery kynge prynce ought to be a clerke for to comande to other to studye and rede the lawe of our lord god And therfore wrote themperour to the kynge of france that he shold doo lerne hys children sones the seuen sciences â–ª lyberall And saide amonge other thynges that a kynge not lettryd resembleth an assâ— coroned Themperour Octauian maad his sones to be taught and lerne to swyme to sprynge and lepe to Iuste to playe wyth the axe and swerde And alle maner thynge that apperteyneth to a knyght And his doughters he made hem to lerne to sewe to spynne to laboure as well in wolle as in lynnen cloth And alle other werkis langynge to women And whan his frendes demanded wherfore he dyde so he answerd how well that he was lord syre of alle the world yet wyste he not what shold befalle of his children and whether they shold falle or come to pouerte or noo and therfore yf they conne a good crafte they mayâ— alleway lyue honestly The Quene ought to kepe her doughters in alle chastyte For we rede of many maydens that for theyr virginite haue ben made quenes For poule the historiagraph of the lombardes reherceth that ther was a duchesse named remonde whiche had .iii. sones two doughters And hit happend that the kynge of hongrye cantanus assaylled a castell where she her children were Iâ—â—e And on a day she behelde her enemyes And amonge all other she sawe the kynge that he was a well faryng and goodly man Anone she was esprised and taken wyth his loue And that so sore that forthwith she sent to hym that she wold deliuere ouer the castell to hym yf he wold take her to his wyf and wedde her And he agreed therto and sware that he wold haue her to his wyf on that condicion whan than the kynge was in the castell his peple toke men and women and alle that they fonde her sones fledde from her of whom one was named Ermoaldus and was yongest and after was duâ— of boneuentan And syn kynge of the lumbardis And the two susters toke chikens And put hem vnder her armes next the flessh and bytwene her pappes that of the heete chaffyng the flessh of the chikens stanke And whan so was that they of hongrye wold haue enforcid defowled hem anone they felte the stenche and fledde away and so lefte hem sayng fy how these lombardes stynke and so they kept their virginite wherfore that one of them afterward was Quene of france And that other Quene of Aleman And hit happend than that the kynge Catanus toke acordynge to his promyse the duchesse and laye with her one night for to saue his oth And on the morn he made her comune vnto alle the hongres And the thirde day after he dyde doo put a staf of tre fro the nether part of her thurgh her body vnto her throte or mouthe for be cause of the lust of her flessh she betrayed her cyte and sayd suche husbond suche wyf {etc} And this sufficeth of the Quene The thirde chapitre of the seconde tractate treteth of the alphyns her offices and maners THe Alphyns ought to be made and formed in manere of Iuges syttynge in a chayer wyth a book open to fore their eyen And that is be cause that some causes ben crymynell And some ben cyuyle as aboute possessyons and other temporell thynges and trespaces And therfore ought to be two Iuges in the royame one in the black for the first cause And that other in whyte as for the seconde Theyr office is for to counceyll the kynge And to make by his comandements good lawes And to enforme alle the royame in good and vertuous maners And to Iuge and gyue sentence well and truly after the caas is had And to counceyll well and Iustely alle them that axe counceyll of hem wyth oute hauynge of ony eye opene to ony persone And to estudye diligently in suche wyse and to ordeygne alle that that ought to be kept be obseruyd be faste and stable So that they be not founde corrupt for yeft for fauour ne for lignage ne for enuye variable And as touchynge the first poynt Seneque sayth in the book of benefetes that the poure Dyogenes was more stronge than Alixandre For Alixandre coude not gyue so moche as Diogenes wold reffuse Marcus curâ—us a romayn of grete renome sayth thus That whan he had besiegid assayllyd them of samente And boneuentans whiche herde that he was poure they toke a grete masse and wegghe of gold and sended hit to hym prayng hym that he wold resseyue hyt and leue his assault and siege And whan they cam with the present to hym they fonde hym sittynge on the erthe and ete his mete oute of platers and disshes of tree and of wode and dyde than her message to whom he answerd and sayde that they shold goo hoome and saye to them that sente hem that marcus cursus loueth better to be lord and wynne richesses than richesse shold wynne hym For by bataylle he shall not be ouercome and vaynquysshid Nor be gold ne siluer he shalÌ„ not be corrupt ne corompid Often tymes that thynge taketh an euyll ende that is vntrewe for gold and siluer And that a man is subgett vnto money may not be lord therof helimond reherceth that demonscene demanded of aristodone how moche he had wonne for pletynge of a cause for his clyent And he answerd a marck of gold Demoscenes answerd to hym agayn that he had wonne as moche for to hold his pees and speke not Thus the tonges of aduocates and men of lawe ben ê‘yllous and domegeable yet they must be had yf thou wylt wynne thy cause for wyth money and yeft thou shall wynne And oftetymes they selle as welle theyr scilence as theyr vtterance Valerius reherceth that the senatours of rome toke counceyll to geder of two persones that one was poure And that other riche and couetous whiche of hem bothe were most apte for to sende to gouerne and Iuge the contre of spayne and scipion of affricque sayd that none of them bothe were good ner prouffitable to be sente theder For that one hath no thynge And to that other may nothynge suffise And despised in his saynge alle pouerte and auerice in a Iuge For a couetous man hath nede of an halfpeny For he is seruant bonde vnto money and not lord therof But pouerte of herte of wylle ought to be gretly alowed in a Iuge Therfore we rede that as longe as the romayns louyd pouerte they were lordes of all the world For many ther were that exposed alle their goodes for the comyn wele and for that was most prouffitable for the comynaulte that they were so poure that whan they were dede they were buryed brought to
parfaytly how that thou art fullÌ„ of paryls of thoughte and of charge yf thou were on the grounde he wolde neuer lyfte ner take the vp Remembre the that whan thou art most gloryous than haue some men moste enuye on the and whan thou haste moste seignourye and lordships than shalt thou haue moste care thought and anguysshes Valpasian was so humble that whan Nero was slayn alle the peple cryed for to haue hym emê‘our and many of his frendes cam prayde hym that he wold take hit vpon hym so at the last he was constrayned to take hit vpon hym And sayd to his frendes Hit is better and more to preyse and alowe for a man to take thempire agaynst his wilÌ„ than for to laboure to haue hit and to put hym self therin Thus ought they to be humble and meke for to resseyue worship Therfore sayth the bible that Ioab the sone of Saryne that was captayn of the warne of the kynge Dauid whan he cam to take and wynne a Cyte He sente to Dauid and desired hym to come to the warre that the victorye shold be gyuen to Dauid And not to hym self Also they ought to be ware that they chaunge not ofte tymes her officers Iosephus reherceth that the frendes of tyberyus meruaylled moche why he helde hys offycyers so longe in theyr offices wyth oute changynge And they demanded of hym the cause to whom he answerd I wold chaunge them gladly yf I wyste that hit shold be good for the peple But I sawe on a tyme a man that was royuyous full of soores And many flyes satte vpon the soores and souked his blood that hit was meruaylle to see wherfore I suibâ—e and chaced them away And he than said to me why chacest and smytest away thyse flyes that ben full of my blood And now shallt then late come other that ben hongrye whiche shall doon to me double payne more than the other dide for the prikke of the hongrye is more poyngnant the half than of the fulle And therfore sayde he I leue the officiers in their offices for they ben allÌ„ riche and doo not so moche euylÌ„ harme As the newe shold doo were poure yf I shold sette hem in her places They ought also to be pacyent in herynge of wordes in suffrynge payne on her bodyes as to the first One said to alisander that he was not worthy to regne specially whan he suffrid that lecherie and delyte to haue seignoire in hym he suffrid hit paciently And answerd none otherwyse but that he wolde corrette hym self And take better maners and more honeste Also hit is reherced that Iulius cezar was ballyd wherof he had desplaysir so grete that he kempt his heeris that laye on the after parte of his heed forward for to hyde the bare to fore Than sayd a knyght to hym Cezar hit is lighther And sonner to be made that thou be not ballid than that I haue vsid ony cowardyse in the warre of rome or here after shall doo ony cowardyse he suffrid hit paciently and sayd not a word Another reproched hym by his lignage And callyd hym fornier he answerd that hit is better that noblesse begynne in me than hit shold faylle in me Another callid hym tyraunt he answerd yf I were one thou woldest not saie soo A knight callid on a tyme scipion of affricque fowle olde knyght in armes And that he knewe lityll good And he answerd I was born of my moder a lityll child and feble and not a man of armes And yet he was at alle tymes one of the best and moste worthy in armes that liuyd Another sayd to vaspasian And a wolf shold sonner change his skyn and heer than thou sholdest chauÌ„ge thy lyf For the lenger thou lyuest the moâ—e thou coueytest And he answerd of thyse wordes we ought to laughe But we ought to amende our self And punysshe the trespaces Seneque reherceth that the kynge Antygonus herde certayn peple speke and saye euyll of hym And therwas betwene hem no more but a courtyne And than he sayde make an ende of your euyll langage leste the kynge here yow for the courtyne heereth yow well I nowhe Than as towchynge to the paynes that they ought to suffre paciently Valerius reherceth that a tyrant dide do tormente Anamaximenes thretenyd hym for to cutte of his tonge To whom he sayd hit is not in thy power to doo soo and forthwyth he bote of his owne tonge And shewed hit wyth his teth and casted hit in the visage of the Tyrant Hit is a grete vertu in a man that he forgete not to be pacyent in corrections of wronges Hit is better to leue a gylty man vnpunysshyd than to punysshe hym in a wrath or yre Valerius reherceth that archita of tarente that was mayster to plato sawe that his feldes lande was destroyed and lost by the necligence of his seruant To whom he sayd yf I were not angry with the I wold take vengeance and turmente the Lo there ye may see that he had leuer to leue to punysshe than to pugnysshe more by yre wrath than by right And therfore sayth seneque doo no thynge that thou oughtest to doo whan thou art angry For whan thou art angry thou woldest doo alle thynges after thy playsir And yf thou canst not vaâ—nquysshe thyn yre than muste thyn yre ouercome the After thys ought they to haue wylfull pouerte lyke as hit was in the auncyent prynces For they coueyted more to be riche in wytte and good maners than in moneye And that reherceth Valerius in his .viii. booke that scipion of Affryque was accused vnto the Senate that he shold haue grete tresour And he answerd certes whan I submysed affryque in to your poeste I helde no thynge to my self that I myght saye this is myn saue only the surname of affryque Ner the affryquans haue not founden in me ner in my broder ony auarice ner that we were so couetouse that we had ne had gretter enuye to be riche of name than of rychesses And therfore sayth seneque that the kynge Altagone vsid gladly in his hows vessels of erthe And some sayde he dyde hit for couetyse But he sayde that hit was better and more noble thynge to shyne in good maners than in vayssell And whan some men demanded hym why and for what cause he dyde so he answerd I am now kynge of secylle and was sone of a potter and for as moche as I doubte fortune For whan I yssued out of the hous of my fader and moder I was sodaynly made riche wherfore I beholde the natiuyte of me and of my lignage whiche is humble meke And alle these thynges cometh of wilfull pouerte for he entended more to the comyn prouffyt than to his owen And of thys pouerte speketh saynt Augustyn in the booke of the cyte of god That they that entende to the comyn prouffyt sorowe more that wilfull pouerte is lost in rome
made heuen erthe of nought And ought to haue loyaulte and trouth in hym self and despise deth for to entende to his laboure And he ought to gyue thankyngis to hym that made hym And of whom he receyueth alle his goodes temporall wherof his lyf is susteyned And also he is bounden to paye the dismes and tythes of alle his thynges And not as Cayin dyde But as Abell dyde of the beste that he chese out allway for to gyue to god to plese hym For they that grucche and be greuyd in that they rendre and gyue to god the tienthes of her goodes they ought to be aferd and haue drede that they shall falle in necessite And that they might be dispoyllyd or robbed by warre or by tempeste that myght falle or happen in the contrey And hit is meruayll though hit so happen For that man that is disagreable vnto god And weneth that the multiplynge of his goodes temporell cometh by the vertu of his owne couÌ„ceyll and his wytte the whiche is made by the only ordenance of hym that made alle And by the same ordenance is soone taken away fro hym that is disagreable and hit is reson that whan a man haboundeth by fortune in goodes And knoweth not god by whom hit cometh that to hym come some other fortune by the whiche he may requyre grace and pardon And to knowe his god And we rede of the kynge Dauid that was first symple one of the comyn peple that whan fortune had enhaunsed and sette hym in grete astate he lefte and forgate his god And fyll to aduoultrye and homicyde and other synnes Than anon his owne sone Absalon assaylled began to persecute hym And than whan he sawe that fortune was contrarye to hym he began to take agayn his vertuous werkis and requyred pardoun and so retorned to god agayn We rede also of the children of ysraelÌ„ that were nyghe enfamyned in desert and sore hongry thrusty that they prayd requyred of god for remedy Anon he changed his wyll sente to hem manna flessh {etc} And whan they were replenesshid fatte of the flessh of bestes of the manna they made a calf of gold and worshippid hit Whiche was a grete synne Inyquyte For whan they were hongry they knewe god And whan theyre belyes were fylde fatted they forgid ydoles were ydolatrers After this euery labourer ought to be faythfull trewe That whan his maystre delyuereth to hym his lande to be laboured that he take no thinge to hym self but that hym ought to haue is his but laboure truly take cure and charge in the name of his maistre and do more diligently his maisters labours than his owen for the lyf of the most grete noble men next god heth in the handes of the labourers and thus all craftes occupacions ben ordeyned not only to suffise to them only but to the comyn And so hit happeth ofte tyme that the labourer of the erthe vseth grete and boystous metes and bryngeth to his maister more subtile more deyntous metes And valerius reherceth in his .vi. book that ther was a wise noble maistre that was named Anthomê° that was accused of a caas of aduoultrye as the cause henge to fore the Iuges his accusers or denonciatours brought I labourer that closid his land for so moche as they sayde whan his maistre wente to doo the aduoultrye this same seruant bare the lanterne wherof Anthonyus was sore abasshyd and doubted that he shold depose agaynst hym But the labourer that was named papirion sayd to his maister that he shold denye his cause hardyly vnto the Iuges For for to be tormentid his cause shold neuer be enpeyrid by hym ner nothyngâ— shold yssue out of his mouth wherof he shold be noyed or greuyd And than was the labourer beten and tormentid and brent in many places of his body But he sayd neuer thynge wherof his mayster was hurte or noyed But the other that accused his maister were punysshid And papiryon was deliuerid of his paynes free and franc And also telleth valerius that ther was another labourer that was named penapion that seruyd a maister whos name was Themes whiche was of meruayllous faith to his maystre For hit befell that certain knyghtes cam to his maisters hows for to slee hym And anone as papiryon knewe hit he wente in to his maisters chambre And wold not be knowen For he dide on his maisters gowne and his rynge on his fynger And laye in his bedde And thus put hym self in parill of deth for to respite his maisters lyf But we see now a dayes many fooles that daigne not to vse groos metes of labourers And flee the cours clothynge And maners of a seruant Euery wise man a seruant that truly seruyth his maister is free and not bonde But a foole that is ouer proude is bonde For the debilite and feblenes of corage that is broken in conscience by pryde Enuye or by couetyse is ryght seruytude yet they ought not to doubte to laboure for feere drede of deth no man ought to loue to moche his lyf For hit is a fowll thynge for a man to reâ—me to the deth for the enemye of his lyf And a wyse man and a stronge man ought not to flee for his lyf but to yssue For ther is no man that lyueth but he must nedes dye And of this speketh claudyan and sayth that alle thoo thynges that the Ayer goth aboute and enuyronned And alle thynge that the erthe laboureth Alle thyngys that ben conteyned wyth in the see Alle thynges that the floodes brynge forth Alle thynges that ben nourysshid and alle the bestes that ben vnder the heuen shall departe alle from the world And alle shall goo at his comandement As well Kynges Prynces and alle that the world enuyronned and gooth aboute Alle shall goo this waye Than he ought not to doubte for fere of deth For as well shall dye the ryche as the poure deth maketh alle thynge lyke and putteth alle to an ende And therof made a noble versifier two versis whiche folowe Forma genus mores sapieÌ„cia res et honores â—orteruant subita sola manent merita Wherof the english is Beaulte lignage maners wysedom thynges honoures shal ben deffetid by sodeyn deth no thynge shalÌ„ abide but the merites And herof fynde we in Vitas patrum that ther was an erle a riche noble man that had a sone onely and whan this sone was of age to haue knowlech of the lawe he herde in a sermone that was prechid that deth spareth none ne riche ne poure and as well dyeth the yonge as the olde and that the deth ought specially to be doubted for .iii. causes one was that noman knoweth whan he cometh and the seconde ner in what state he taketh a man And the thirde he wote neuer whither he shall goo Therfore eche man shold dispise and flee the world and lyue well and holde hym toward god And whan this
to selle his heritage patrimonye and sente the money that he resseyuyd therof vnto hanibalÌ„ And had leuer louyd better to be poure in his contrey of herytage than of byleue and fayth But in thyse dayes hit were grete folye to haue suche affiance in moche peple but yf they had ben preuyd afore For oftentymes men truste in them by whom they ben deceyuyd at theyr nede And it is to wete that these crafty men and werkemen ben souerainly prouffitable vnto the world And wyth oute artificers and werkmen the world myght not be gouerned And knowe thou verily that alle tho thynges that ben engendrid on the erthe and on the see ben made and formed for to do prouffit vnto the lignage of man for man was formed for to haue generacion that the men myght helpe and prouffit eche other And here in ought we to folowe nature For she shewed to vs that we shold do comyn prouffit one to an other And the first fondement of Iustice is that no man shold noye ne greue other But that they ought doo the comyn prouffit For men saye in reproche That I see of thyn I hope hit shall be myn But who is he in thyse dayes that entendeth more to the comyn prouffit than to his owne Certaynly none But all way a man ought to haue drede and feere of his owne hows whan he seeth his neyghbours hous a fyre And therfore ought men gladly helpe the comyn prouffit for men otherwhile sette not be a lityll fyre And might quenche hit in the begynnyng that afterward makyth a grete blasyng fyre And fortune hath of no thinge so grete playsir as for to torne werke allway And nature is so noble a thynge that were as she is she wyll susteyne and kepe but this rewle of nature hath fayllid longe tyme how well that the decree sayth that alle the thynges that ben ayenst the lawe of nature ought to be taken away and put a part And he sayth to fore in the .viii. distinition that the ryght lawe of nature differenceth ofte tymes for custome statutes establisshid for by lawe of nature all thinge ought to be comyn to euery man and this lawe was of old tyme And men wene yet specially that the troians kept this lawe And we rede that the multitude of the Troians was one herte and one sowle And verayly we fynde that in tyme passid the philosophres dyde the same And also hit is to be supposyd that suche as haue theyr goodes comune not propre is most acceptable to god For ellys wold not thise religious men as monkes freris chanons obseruantes all other auowe hem kepe the wilfull pouerte that they ben professid too For in trouth I haue my self ben conuersant in a religioê° hous of white freris at gaunt Whiche haue alle thynge in comyn amonge them and not one richer than an other in so moche that yf a man gaf to a frere .iii. d or .iiii. d to praye for hym in his masse as sone as the masse is doon he deliuerith hit to his ouerest or procuratour in whyche hows ben many vertuous and deuoute freris And yf that lyf were not the beste and the most holiest holy church wold neuer suffre hit in religion And acordynge therto we rede in plato whiche sayth that the cyte is well and Iustely gouernid and ordeyned in the whiche no man maye saye by right by custome ne by ordenance this is myn but I say to the certaynly that syn this custome cam forth to say this is myn And this is thyn no man thought to preferre the comyn prouffit so moche as his owen And alle wâ—rkemen ought to be wise well aduysyd so that they haue none enuye ne none euyll suspecion one to an other for god wylle that our humayne nature be couetous of two thynges that is of Religion And of wysedom but in this caas ben some often tymes deceyuyd For they take ofte tymes religion and leue wisedom And they take wysedom and reffuse religion And none may be vraye and trewe with oute other For hit apperteyneth not to a wyse man to do ony thynge that he may repente hym of hit And he ought to do no thynge ayenst his wyll but to do alle thynge nobly meurely fermely and honestly And yf he haue enuye vpon ony hit is folye For he on whom he hath enuye is more honest and of more hauoir than he whiche is so enuyous For a man may haue none enuye on an other but be cause he is more fortunat and hath more grace than hym self For enuye is a sorowe of corage that cometh of dysordynance of the prouffit of another man And knowe thou verily that he that is full of bounte shall neuer haue enuye of an other But thenuyous man seeth and thynketh alleway that euery man is more noble And more fortunat that hymself And sayth alleway to hym self that man wynneth more than I and myn neyghebours haue more plente of bestes and her thynges multiplye more than myn and therfore thou oughtest knowe that enuye is the moste grettest dedely synne that is for she tormenteth hym that hath her wythin hym wyth oute tormentynge or doyng ony harme to hym on whome he hath enuye And an enuyous man hath no vertue in hym self for he corrumpeth hym self for as moche as he hateth allway the welthe and vertues of other and thus ought they to kepe them that they take none euyll suspecoÌ„n For a man naturelly whan his affection hath suspecion in ony man that he weneth that he doth hit semeth to hym verily that it is doon And hit is an euyll thynge for a man to haue suspecion on hym self For we rede that dionyse of zecyll a tyrant Was so suspecionous that he had so grete fere and drede For as moche as he was hated of all men that he putte his frendes oute of theyr offices that they had And put other strangers in theyr places for to kepe his body and these suche as were ryght Cruell and felons And for fere and doubte of the barbours he made hys doughters to lerne shaue and kembe And whan they were grete He wold not they shold vse ony yron to be occupied by them but to brenne and senge his heeris and manaced them and durst not truste in them And in lyke wyse they had none affâ—ance in hym And also he dyde do enuyronne the place where he laye wyth grete diches and brode lyke a castell And he entryd by a drawbrygge whiche closyd after hym And hys knyghtes laye wyth oute wyth his gardes whiche wacchid and kept straytly thys forteresse And whan plato sawe thys Dionyse kynge of cezille thus enuyronned and set aboute wyth gardes wacchemen for the cause of his suspecion sayd to hym openly to fore all men kinge why hast thou don so moche euyll harme that the behoneth to be kept wyth so moche peple And therfor I saye that hit apperteyneth not to
fro the gibet and the cause was brought to fore the Iuge And the hooste was accused of the trayson and he confessid his trespaas and sayd he dide hit for couetyse to haue his good And than the Iuge dampned hym for to be hanged on the same gibet where as the yonge pilgryme was hanged And that I haue sayd of the seruantes beynge men the same I saye of the women as chambriers and tapsters For semblable caas fille in spayne at saynt doune of a chamberier that put a cup in lyke wyse in the scrippe of a pilgryme be cause he wold not haue a doo wyth her in the synne of lecherye wherfore he was hanged And his fader moder that were there with hym wente and dyde her pilgremage And whan they cam agayn they fonde her sone lyuynge And than they wente and told the Iuge whiche Iuge sayd that he wolde not byleue hit tyll a cok and an henne whiche rosted on the fyre were a lyue the cok crewe And anon they began wexe a lyue the cok crewe and began to crowe and to pasture and whan the Iuge sawe this miracle he wente and toke doun the sone and made the chamberyer to be taken and to be hanged wherfore I saye that the hoostes ought to hold no tapsters ne chamberyers but yf they were good meure and honeste For many harmes may be falle and come by the disordenat rewle of seruantes The seuenth chapitre of the thirde Tractate treteth of kepars of townes customers and tolle gaderers {etc.} THe gardes and kepars of of cytees ben signefied by the .vii. pawn whiche stondeth in the lyfte side to fore the knyght And is formed in the semblance of a man holdynge in his right hande grete keyes And in his lifte hande a potte an elle for to mesure with And ought to haue on hys gurdell a purse open And by the keyes ben signefyed the kepars of the cytees and townes and comyn offices And by the potte and elle ben signefyed them that haue the charge to weye and mete mesure truly And by the purse ben signefied them that reseyue the costumes tolles scawage peages and duetes of the cytees townes And thyse peple ben sette by ryght to fore the knyght And hit behoueth that the gardes and offycers of the townes be taught And enseygned by the knyghtes And that they knowe and enquyre how the cytees or townes ben gouerned whiche apperteyneth to be kept and defended by the knyghtes And first hit apperteyneth that the kepars of the cyte be dilygente besy clere seeynge and louers of the comyn prouffit wele as well in the tyme of pees as in the tyme of warre They ought alleway to goo in the cyte and enquyre of all thynges and ought rapporte to the gouernours of the cyte suche thynge as they fynde and knowe And suche thynge as apperteyneth and to the seuerte of the same and to denoÌ„nce and telle the defaultes and paryls that ther bee And yf hit be in tyme of warre they ought not to open the yates by nyght to no man And suche men as ben put in this office ought to be of good renome fame trewe and of good conscience In suche maner that they loue them of the Cyte or town And that they put to no man ony blame or vilanye with out cause by enuye Couetyse ne by hate but they ought to be sory and heuy whan they see that ony man shold be complayned on for ony cause For hâ—t happeth ofte tymes that diuerce officers accuse the good peple fraudulently To thende that they myght haue a thanke be preysed and to abide stille in theyr offices And trewly hit is a grete and hye maner of malyce to be in will to doo euyll and diffame other wyth oute cause to gete glorie to hym self Also the kepars and officers of cytees ought to be suche that they suffre no wronges ne vylonyes to fore the Iuges and gouernours of cytees wyth out cause to be doon to them that ben Innocents but they ought to haue theyr eyen and regarde vnto hym that knoweth the hertes and thoughtes of alle men And they ought to drede doubte hym wyth oute whos grace theyr wacche and kepynge is nought And that promyseth to them that doubte hym shall be ewrous happy And by hym ben alle thynges accomplisshid in good Hit is founden in the historyes of rome that Temperour Frederik the seconde dide do make a gate of marble of meruayllous werke and entayll in the cyte of capnane vpon the watre that renneth aboute the same and vpon this yate he made an ymage lyke hym self sittynge in his mageste and two Iuges whiche were sette one on the right side and that other on the lifte side And vpon the sercle aboue the hede of the Iuge on the ryght side was wreton Alle they entre seurly that will liue purely And vpon the sercle of the Iuge on the lift side was wreton The vntrewe man ought to doubte to doo thynge that he be put to prison fore and on the sercle aboue themâ—our was wreton I make them lyue in misery that I see lyue dismesurably And therfore hit apperteyneth to a Iuge to shewe to the peple for to drede and doubte to doo euyll And hit apperteyneth to the gardes and officers to doubte the Iuges and to do trewly their seruyces and offices And hit apperteyneth to a prynce to menace the traytours and the malefactours of right greuous paynes And herof we fynde in the auncyent historyes of cecylle that the kynge denys had a broder whom he louyd sore well But allway where he wente he made heuy and tryste semblant And thus aâ— they wente bothe to gyder on a tyme in a chare ther cam agayn hem two poure men wyth glad visage but in foule habite And the kynge anon as he sawe them sprange out of his chare and resseyuyd them worshipfully with grete reuerence wherfore his barons were not only ameruaylled but also angry in their corages notwithstandynge fere and drede letted them to demande hym the cause But they made his broder to demande the cause and to knowe the certaynte And whan he had herde his broder saye to hym the demande and that he was blessyd also a kynge whiche was ryche and full of delites worshipis he demanded hym yf he wold assaye knowe the grace and beneurte of a kynge And his broder answerd ye And that he desired and requyred hit of hym and than the kinge comanded vnto alle his sugettis that they shold obeye in alle thynges only vnto his broder And than whan the oure of dyner cam and alle thynge was redy the broder was sette at the table of the kynge And whan he sawe that he was seruyd wyth right noble botelliers and other officers And he herde the sownes of musicque right melodious The kynge demanded hym than yf he supposid that he were benerous and blessid And he answerd I wene well that I am
cyte was made a toure treangle as a shelde wherof the heyght extended vnto the lengthe of .vii. thousand paas whiche is .vii. myle english And this towr was callyd the tour of Babell The walles aboute the tour made a woman whos name was semiranus as sayth virgilius As to the thirde wherfore the comyn peple ben sette to fore the nobles in the felde of the bataylle in one renge First for as moche as they ben necessarye to alle nobles For the rooke whiche standeth on the ryght syde and is vicaire of the kynge what may he doo yf the labourer were not sette to fore hym and labourid to mynystre to hym suche temporell thynges as be necessary for hym And what may the knyght doo yf he ne had to fore hym the smyth for to forge his armours sadellis axis and spores and suche thynges as apperteyneth to hym And what is a knyght worth wyth oute hors and armes certaynly nothynge more than on of the peple or lasse ê‘auenture And in what maner shold the nobles lyue yf no man made cloth and bought and solde marchandyse And what shulde kynges and quenes and the other lordes doo yf they had no phisicyens ne cyrurgiens than I saye that the peple ben the glorye of the Crowne And susteyne the lyf of the nobles And therfore thou that art a lord or a noble man or knyght despise not the comyn peple for as moche as they ben sette to fore the in the playe The seconde cause is why the peple ben sette to fore the nobles and haue the table wyde to fore them is be cause they begyn the bataylle They ought to take hede and entende to do theyr offices and theyr craftes In suche wyse that they suffre the noble men to gouerne the cytees and to counceylle and make ordenances of the peple of the batayll how shold a labourer a plowman or a craftyman counceylle and make ordenance of suche thynges as he neuer lerned And wote ne knoweth the mater vpon what thynge the counceylle ought to be taken Certes the comyn peple ought not to entende to none other thynge but for to do their seruyse and the office whiche is couenable vnto hem And hyt apperteyneth not to hem to be of counceyllys ne at the aduocacions ne to menace ne to threte noman for ofte tymes by menaces and by force good counceylle is distroublid And where good counceyll faylleth there ofte tymes the cytees ben betrayed and destroyed And Plato sayth That the comyn thynges and the cytees ben blessid whan they ben gouerned by wyse men or whan the gouernours studye in wisedom And so hit apperteyneth to the comyn to lerne to vttre the maters the maner of procuracion to fore they be counceyllours For hit happeth oftetymes that he that maketh hym wyser that he vnderstandeth is made more foole than he is And the fourth cause wherfore that ther ben in the tabâ—er as many poynts wyde as ben full hit is to wete for that they what euer they be that haue peple to gouerne ought ten force to haue cytees castellis possessions for to sette his peple theryn And for to laboure doo their ocupacion For for to haue the name of a kynge with out royame is a name wyde and honour with oute prouffit And alle noblesse wyth oute good maners and with out suche thinges as noblesse may be mayntenyd ought better be callid folye than noblesse And shamefull pouerte is the more greuous whan hit cometh by nature of an hyhe and noble burth or hous For noman gladly wole repreue a poure man of the comyn peple But euery man hath in despite a noble man that is poure yf he haue not in hym good maners and vertuous by whiche his pouerte is forgoten and truly a royame with oute haboundance of goodes by whiche hit may be gouerned and prospere may better be callyd a latrocynye or a nest of theeuys than a royame Alas what haboundance was some tymes in the royames And what prospite In whiche was Iustice And euery man in his office contente how stood the cytees that tyme in worship and renome how was renomed the noble royame of Englond Alle the world dredde hit And spack worship of hit how hit now standeth and in what haboundance I reporte me to them that knowe hit yf ther ben theeuis wyth in the royame or on the see they knowe that laboure in the royame And sayle on the see I wote well the fame is grete therof I pray god saue that noble royame And sende good true and politicque counceyllours to the gouernours of the same {etc} And noblesse of lignage wyth oute puyssance and might is but vanyte and dispite And hit is so as we haue sayd to fore that the schequer whiche the philosopher ordeyned represented and figured the sayd cyte of Babilone And in lyke wyse may hit figure a royame and signefye alâ— the wâ—rld And yf men regarde and take heed vnto the poyntes vnto the middes of euery quadrante and so to double euery quadrant to other the myles of this cyte all way doublinge vnto the nombre of .lxiiii. The nombre of the same shulde surmounte alle the world And not only the world but many worldes by the doublinge of inylis whiche doublinge so as a fore is sayd shuld surmounte alle thynges And thus endeth the first chapitre of the fourth booke The seconde chapitre of the fourth tractate treteth of the draught of the kynge And how he meuyth hym in the chequer WE ought to knowe that in this world the kynges seygnourye and regne eche in his royame And in this playe we ought to knowe by the nature of hit how the kynge meueth hym and yssueth oute of his place For ye shall vnderstande that he is sette in the fourth quadrante or poynt of theschequer And whan he is black he standeth in the white and the knyght on his ryght side in white And the Alphyn and the rooke in black And on the lifte side the foure holden the places opposite And the rayson may be suche For be cause that the knyghtes ben the glorye the crowne of the kynge They ensiewe in semblable residence that they doo whan they ben sette semblably on the ryght side of the kynge on the lyfte side of the quene And for as moche as the rook on the ryght syde is vicayre of the kynge he accompanyeth the quene in semblable siege that the Alphyn doth whiche is Iuge of the kynge And in lyke wyse the lifte rook the lyfte Alphyn accompanye the kynge in semblable siege In suche wyse as they ben sette aboute the kynge in bothe sides wyth the Quene in manere of a crowne That they may seurely kepe the royame that reluyseth and shyneth in the kynge and in the Quene In suche wyse as they may conferme and diffende hym in theyr sieges and in theyr places And the more hastily renne vpon his enemyes And for as moche as the Iuge