ben gouerned whiche apertayneth to be kept and defendidy by the knyghte / and first hit aperteyneth that the kepars of the cyte be dyligent / besy / clere sayeng and loueres of the comyn prouffyt and we le as wel in the tyme of pees as in the tyme of warre / they ought alwey to goe in the cyte and enquyre of al thynges and ought reporte to the gouernours of the cyte suche thyng as they fynde and knowe / and suche thynge as aperteyneth and to the sâ—urte of the same â–ª and to denounce and telle the defaultes and parellys that there be· 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 offyce· ought to be of renome and fume / trewe / and of good conscience / in suche manere that they loue them of the cyte or towne / And that they put to no man ony blame or vylanye 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 compleyned on for ony cause / For hit happeth ofte tymes that dyuerce offycers accuse the good peple fraudulently / to th ende that they myght haue a thanke and ben praysed and to abyde stylle in theyr offyces / and trewly hit is a grete and hys maner of maltice to be in wylle to doo euyl and dysfâ—me other wyth out cause to grete glorye to hym self also the â—epars and offycers of cytees ought to be suche that they 〈…〉 / And varâ— this yâ—â—◠〈…〉 ymage lyke hym self sâ—ttyng in his magiste and the Iuges whiche were sette / one on the right side and that other on the lift side and vpon the seâ—cle aboue the heâ—de of the Iuge on the right side was wreton al they entre sâ—urely that wyl lyuâ— purely and vpon the 〈◊〉 of the Iuge on the lift side was wareton the vntrewe man ought to doubte / to doo thyng that he be put to pryson sore / and 〈…〉 the eâ—preour was 〈◊〉 I râ—â—ke 〈◊〉 lyâ—e in mysâ—â—y that I for lyue dysmesurably / and therfore hit apâ—â—teyâ—â—th to a Iuge to sbaâ—â—e to the peple for do drede and 〈◊〉 to do euyl / and hyt aptâ—â—â—â—th to the 〈◊〉 and offyceâ—s to 〈◊〉 the Iugeâ— aâ—â— to doo trewly theyr sâ—â—â—yâ—s and offyces / 〈…〉 â—â—â—ynce to 〈◊〉 the traytours and the maleâ—â—c tours of right 〈…〉 and â—â—rof we fyrâ—â— in the â—â—â—cient histories of 〈…〉 the kyng â—â—ys had a 〈…〉 he lâ—uyde the wâ—t / 〈◊〉 alwey his hand to the 〈◊〉 had no more regarde vnto his 〈◊〉 / he sayd to hym 〈…〉 not 〈◊〉 ye not â—â—â—sid / say yf ye seâ—â— any thyng otherwyse than 〈◊〉 and wel and he answerd see as 〈◊〉 as I seâ— thys sharpe sweâ—â—â— â—â—ngyng so sâ—bâ—tilly perâ—â—sly ouer â—yn hede I 〈◊〉 wel that I aâ—â— not 〈◊〉 / for I drede that hit shold falle on my hede â–ª thenne dyscâ—â—â—ed the kyng vnto hem aâ— wherfore he was alwey so heuy châ—rid tryste· For where he 〈◊〉 he thought alwey on the swerd of the secrete vengaunce of goâ— whyâ—h he behelde alwey in his herte / wherfore he had alwey in hym sâ—eÌ„f grete dâ—â—de / and therfore he worshypyd gladly the poure peple with glad vysage and good conscience / And by this sheweth the kyng wel that what man that in alwey in drede is not alwey mery or blessyd / And herâ—f sayth â—â—yntâ—â—â—aâ— that thys drede furmounteth alle other maâ—â—â—tres and euylles / for it is maoâ—turis of deede nyght and day And it is verite that to hym that is doubted of moche peple so muste be doubte moche / And that herde is lasse thenne his seruauÌ„tes that dredyth his seruauntes / and truly hit is a right sure thyng to drede no thyng but god somtyme right hardy men ben coÌ„strayned to lyue in drede / drede causith a man to be besy to kepe the thynges that be coÌ„mysed to hym that they perisshe not / but to be to moche hardy to moche ferdful bothe two ben vices â–ª the comyn officers ought to be wyse wel aduysed in suche wise that they take not of the peple ne requyre no more thaÌ„ they ought to haue by reson nâ— that they take of the sellars ne of the byars no more thaÌ„ the right custume for they here the name of a persone And therfore ought they to shewe them comune to alle men / and for as moche as the 〈◊〉 and fellars haue sent tyme moche langage they ought to haue wyth them these vertues that is to were pacience· and good doâ—age wyth honeste / for they that ben despytous to the concerne / 〈◊〉 otherwhile had in vylayne despite· therfore â—e â—aâ—e that thou haue no despyte vnto the poure mendyâ—ants yf thou wylt come and atteyne to thynges souemyn / for the Iâ—iurye that is doon wyth out cause / tâ—rneth to diffame hym that doth hit a Iogheler on a tyme beholde socrates sayd to hym thou hast the eyen of corumpour of children and art as a traytre / and whan his dysciple herde hym / they wold auengyd theyr maister but he repreuyd hym by suche sentence sayeng / suffre my felawes· for I am he and suche one as he sayth by the sight of my vysage / But I refrayne and kept me wel from suche thyng / this same so crates hym self was chidde right foul spoken to of hys wyf she Imposid to hym many grete Iniuries wyth out nombre / and she was in a place aboue ouer his heed / and whan she had brawled ynough she made her water poured hit on his heed / and he answerd to her no thyng agayn sauf whan he had dryed and wyped his hied he said he fine we wel that after suche wynde and thondce shold come 〈◊〉 and watre And the philosophâ—rs blamed hym that he coude not gouerne twe women / that was his wyf and his chaumberer / and shewyd hym that one â—â—ke gouerned wel xv hennes· he answerd to them that he was so vsed acustumed with theyr chidyng that the chidyngis of them ne of straungers dyd hym no greef ne harme / gyue thou place to hym that brawleth or chideth / And in suffryng hym thou shalt be his vaynquysshour and cathon saith whan thou lyuest rightfully / retche the not of the wordes of euyl peple / and therfore hit is sayd in a romyn prouerâ—â—e· he that wel doth retcheth not who seeth hit and hit is not in our power to lette men to speke and prosper sayth that to good men lacketh no goodnes / ne to euyl men tencions stryues blames pacience is a right noble vertu as a noble versefier saith / that pacience is a right noble maner to vaynquysshe for he that suffreth ouercometh / and yf thou wylt vanquysshe and ouercome lerne to suffre the peagers ner they that kepe passages ought not to take other peage
meritorye to dye by a strong vnrightful Iugement / than that I had deserued to dye The thyrd chappitre of the first tractate treteth wherfore the playe was founden and maad Capitulo iij THe causes wherfore this playe was founden ben in The first was for to correcte and repreue the kyng for whan this styng enylmerodach sawe this playe â–ª And the barons knyghtes and gentilmen of his court playe wyth the phylosopher / he merueylled gretly of the beauâ—â—e and noueltee 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 seruyd the play The kyng sayd hit was reson and that he wold put hym to the payn to lerne hit / Than the phylosopher began to eche hym / and to shewe hym the maner of the table / of the hesse lorde / and the chesse meyne And also the maners the condycions of a kyng of the nobles and of the comyn peple and of theyr offyces / and how they shold be touchyd drawen / And how he shold amende hym self / and become vertuous / and when / this kyng herde that he repreuyd hym / he demaunded hym vpon payn of deth to lesse hym wherefore he had founden and maad this playe / and he answerd my right dere lord and kyng the grettest and most thyng that I desire is that thou haue in thy self a glorious and vertuous lyf And that may I not see / but yf thou be endoctrined and wel manerd and that had so mayst thou bebeloâ—yd of thy peple Thus than I desire that thou haue other gouernement theÌ„ne thou hast had that thou haue vpon thy self first seignâ—urie maistrie suche as thou hast vpon other by force / and not by right / Certeynly hit is not right that a man be maister ouer other comalidour wheÌ„ he can not rewle neâ— may rewle hym self / and that his vertues domyne aboue his vyces / for seignourie by force and wylle may not longe endure / Thenne thus may thou see don of the causes why and wherfore I haue founden maad this playt whiche is for to correcte and repreue the of thy tyrannye vicious lyuyng for all kynges ought specially to here her corrigiours or correctours / and her correccions to holde and kepe in mynde In like wyse as valerius reherceth that the kyng alixandre had a noble and renomed knyght that sayd in repreuyng of Alixandre that he was to moche couetous / in especial of the honours of the world / And sayd to hym yf the goddes had maade thy body as grete as is thy heâ—â—e Alle the world 〈◊〉 not holde the for thou holdest in thy right hâ—nd al tâ—â—â—â—yent / and in thy lifte honde the oâ—cedent sith than het is â—o or thou art a god / or a man / or nought yf thou be god doo than wel and good / to the peple / as god doth and take not from them / that they ought to haue / and iâ— theyres Yf thou be a man / thynke that thou shalt dye and than thou shalt doâ—â—oon euyl / yf thou be nought / forgete thy self There is no thyng so stronge and ferme but that sumtyme / a feble thyng casteth doun and ouerthrowe hit How wel that the lyon be the strengest beest / yet somtyme a lityl byâ—de eâ—eth hym / The second cause wherfore this playe was founden and maad was for to kepe hym from ydlenesse / wherof seneque sayth vnto lucylle ydlenes wythout ony ocupacion is sepulture of a man lyuyng / and varro saith in his sentences that in lyke wyse as men goo not for to goo / the same wyse the lyf is not gyuen for to lyue but for to doo wel and good therfore secondly the philosopher fond this playe for to kepe the peple from ydlenes / for there is moche peple whan so is that they be fortunat in worldly goodes that they drawe them to ease ydlenes wherof comyth ofte tymes many euyll is and gretâ— synnes / and by this ydlenes the herde is quenchyd wherof comyth good desperacion The thyrd cause is that euery man naturelly desireth to knowe and here nouelteets and tydynges for this cause they of Athenes studyed as we rede / and for as the corporal or bodelye sight enpessheth and letteth otherwhyle the knowleche of subtyl thynges Therfore we rede that democrite the 〈…〉 put out his ofâ—en â—yn / For as moch as he 〈…〉 haue the â—â—liâ—e enâ—â—â—dâ—ment and vnderstâ—ndyng â—â—ng haue ben maâ—e blynde that were grete câ—eâ—â—is in 〈◊〉 wyse as has dedimus bysshop of oâ—â—â—andrie that how wel that he faâ—â—e not yet he was so grete a clerke / that gregore nazciz and saynt Ierome that were clerkes and maystâ—â—â— to other cam for to be his sooâ—es and lernyd of hym And saynt anthonye the grete herâ—yce aâ—m for defre hym on a tyme and amonge alle other thynges / he demaunded hym yf he were not gretly dysplesid that he was blynde sawe not and by answerd / that he was gretly abasshyd for that he supposid not that he was not displeasid in that he had lost his sight / and saynt anthonye answerd to hym I mâ—â—uaise moche that hit displesith the that thou hast lost that thyng whiche is comyn betwene the and bestes and thou knowest wel that thou hast not lost that thyng that is comyn betwene the and the aungellis / And for thise causes forsayd the phylosopher entended to put a wey al pensifneâ— and thoughtes and do thynke onely on this playe as shal be sayd and appere in this / book after 〈…〉 first chapiter treâ—eth of 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 estate Capitulo 〈◊〉 TThe kynge must be thus maad for he must sytâ—e in a chayeâ— clothyd in purpure / câ—â—â—ed on his heed in his right hond a ceptre and in the lift â—onde on apple of golde / for he is the most grettest and hyest in dygnyte as loue al other and most wâ—ethy And that is signyfyed by the â—â—â—one for the glorie of the peple is the dygnyte of the Kyng / and aboue al other the kyng ought to be replenysshed with vertues and of grace and this signyfieth the purpure Foâ— in like wyse as the roâ—ee of purpure maketh fayr and enâ—eâ—â—ssheth the body the same wyse vertues makyth that â—owle / he ought alwey thynk on the gouernement of the royame who hath thadmynyst 〈◊〉 of Iustyce / and this shold he by hym self pryncipally / This signefyeth the appel of golde that he holdeth in his fift honde / and for as moche as it aperteyneth vnto hym â— punysshe the rebelles hath he the septre in his right hand And for as moche as mysericorde and trouth conserue and stepe the kyng in his trowne / Therfore ought a kyng to be merciful and debonayr for when a kyng or prynce desireth or wyl be belouyd of his peple lete hym be gouerned by debonayrde
â—are that they chaunge not ofte tymes her offycers / Iosephus rehercith that the frendes of Tyberius meruaylled moche why he helde his officeâ—rs so longe in theyr offycers â—â—yth out chaunchyng And they demauÌ„des of hym the cause to whom he answerd I wolde chaunge them gladly yf I wyse that hit shold be good for the peple / But I sawe on a tyme a man that was royneous and ful of 〈◊〉 and many flyes saâ—de vpon the sores and souked hys blood that hit was meruayle to see· wherfore I smote chaced them away / and he than sayd â—o me why chasest smytest thou away thyse flyes that been ful of my blood / now shalt thou lete come other that be hongrye which shal â—on to me double payne more than the other dyd · for the prick of the hongry is more poygnaunt the half thenne of the fulle / And therfore sayde he I leue the offycers in theyr offyces For they ben al riche / and to not so moche euyll harme / as the newe shold do and were poure yf I shold sette hem in her places They ought also to be pacient in heryng of wordes and in suffryng payne on her bodyes· as to the first / one sayd to alisaunder that he was not worâ—hy to reigne / specially whan he suffred that lecherys and â—â—yde to haue seignorye in hym / he suffrid hit paciently / And answerd none otherwyse but that he wold correctâ— hym self / And take better maners and more honeste / also hit iâ— reâ—â—â—cid that Iulyus Cesar was ballyd wherof he had displasir so grete that he kempt hys heerâ—s that laye on the after poets of his heed forward for to hyâ—e the bare tofore Thâ—n sayd a knyght to hym· Cezar hit is lighther and soner to be maad that thou be not ballyd / than that I haue vsid ony cowardyse in the warre of Rome / or shee after shal doo ony cowardyse He suffryd hye paciently and sayd not one 〈◊〉 another reprochyd hym by his lignage and called hym baker / he answerd that hit is better that noblesse begynne in me them hit shold faylle in me / another callyd hym tyraunt / he answerd yf I were one thou woldest not say so A knyght callyd on a tyme scipyon of Affrique fowle olde knyght in armes And that he knewe lytyl good And he answerd I was borne of my moder a lytyl chylde and feble and not a man of armes And yet he was at alle tymes one of the best and most worthyest in armes that lyuyd Another sayd to vaspasion / a wolf shold soÌ„ner chaunge his skyn and heer than thou sholdest chaunge thy lyf For the lenger thou lyuest the more thou coueytest / and he answerd of thyse wordes we ought to laughe / But we ought to amende our self / and punysshe the trespaces / Seneste rehercith that the kyng antygonus herde certeyn peple speke and say euyl of hym and there was betwene hem nomorâ— but a couetyne / and than he sayd make an ende of your euyl langage lest the kyng here you· for the courtyne heeryth you wel ynough than as touchyng to the paynes that they ought to suffre paciently / valerius reheaceth that a tyraunt dyd do torment Anamaxymenes and thretenyd hym for to cutte of his tunge to whom he sayd hit is not in thy power to do so and forthwith he â—â—te of his owne tongue / and chewid hit wyth his tethe and caste hit in the vysage of the tyraunt hit is a grete vertu in a man that he forgete not to be pacient in correccions of wronges hit is better to leue a gylty man vnpunysshed than to punysshe hym in a wrath or yre / valerius rehercith that archyta of tarente that was mayster to plato sawe that his seldes and landes were destroyed and lost by the necligence of his seruaunt / to whom he sayd yf I were not angry with the I wolde take vengeaunce and turmente the. lo there ye may see that he had leuer to leue to punysshe / than to punysshe mere by yre wrath than by right And therfore sayth seneque / do not thyng that thou oughtest to doo whan thou arte angrye For whan thou art angry thou woldest do alle thynges after thy playsiâ— / and yf thou canst not vaynquysshe thyn yre than must thyn yre ouercome the. After thys ought they to haue wylful pouerte / lyke as hit was in the auncient prynces For they coueyted more to be riche in wytte and good maners thenne in money / And that rehercith valerius in his viij book that Scypyon of affryque was accused vnto the senate that he shold haue grete tresour And he answerd certes whan I submysed Affrique in to your pâ—este I helde no thyng to my self that I myght say this is myn saue onely the surname of affrique Ner the affriquans haue not founden in me ner in my booder ony auaryce / nor that we were so couetouse that we had ne had gretter enuye to be riche of name than of richesses And therfore sayth Seneque that the kyng altagone vsyd gladly in his how 's vessels of erthe / And somme sayd he dyd hit for couetyse / but he sayd that hit was better and more noble thynge to shyne in good maners than in vasseyll / And whan some men demaunded hym why for what cause he dyd so / he answerd I am now kyng of Secylle and was sone of a potter / and for as moche as I doubte fortune / for whan I yssued out of the how 's of my fader and moder I was sodaynly maad riche / wherfore I beholde the natyuyte of me and of my lignage / whyche is humble and meke and al these thynges cometh of wylful pouerte / For he entended more to the comyn proffyt than to his owen And of this pouerte speketh Saynt Augustyn in the book of the cyte of god that they that entende to the comyn proffyt sorowe more that wylful pouerte is lost in rome than the richesses of rome / for by the wylful pouérte was the renomee of good maners kepte entierly / thus by this richesse pouerte is not onely corrupt in thyse dayes ner the cyte ner the maners But also the thoughtes of the men ben corrupt by this couetise and by felonys that is worse than ony other enemye / and of the cruelte of the peple of rome speketh the good man of noble memorye Iohn the monke late cardynal of rome in the decretal the sixte in the chappytre gens scaÌ„ where he sayth / that they ben felons ayenst god / contrarye to holy thynges / trayters one to that other Enuyous to her neyghbours prâ—ud vnto straungers rebell and vntrewe vnto their souerayns / not suffryng to them that â—â—ly of lower degree than they no thyng shamefast to 〈…〉 thynges discouenable and not to leue tyl they haue that they demaunde / and not plesyd but disagreable whan they haue receyued
the yefte they haue theyr tongues redy for to make grete boost and do lityl / they ben large in promysyng and smale gyuers / thyy ben right fals deceyuâ—â—res / and right mordent and bytyng detractours For whiche thyng hit is a grete sorowe to see the humylite the pacyence and the good wysdom that was wonte to be in this cyte of rome whiche is chyef of al the world is preuerted and torned in to maleheurte thyse euylles And me thynketh that in other parties of cristente they haue taken ensaumple of them to do euyl / They may say that this is after the decretale of seygndrye and dysobeysaunce / that sayth that suche thynges that the souerayns do is lightly and sone taken in ensaumple of theyr subgettis also thyse vycayres shold be large and liberall in so moche that suche peple as serue them ben duly payd and guerdoneâ— of her labour For euery man doth his labour the better lightlyer whan he seeth that he shal be wel payed and rewarded And we rede that titus thesone of vaspasian was so large and so lyberal that he gaf promysed sumwhat to euery man and whan his most preuy frendes demaunded of hym why he promysed more thenne he myght gyue / He answerd for as moche as it aperteyneth not to a prynce that ony man shold departe sorowful or tryste fre hym / Than hit happens on a day that he gaf ner promysed no thyng to ony man / and whan it was euen and aduysed hym self he sayd to his frendes O ye my frendes thys day haue I lost for this day haue I don no good and also we 〈◊〉 of Iulius cesar that he neuer sayd in alle hys lyf to his knyghtes goo on but alwey he sayd come come For I loue alwey to be in your companye / And he knewe wel that it was lasse paynt and trauaylle to the knyghtes whan the prynce is in her companye that loueth hem comforteth hem and also â—e rede of the same Iulyus cesar in the book of trupheâ— of philosophers / that there was an auncient knyght of his that was in parâ—lle of a â—aas hangyng tofore the Iuges of rome so he callyd cesar on a tyme and sayd to hym tofore al men that he shold be his aduocate And cesar delyueryd and assygned to hym a right good aduocate and the knyght sayd to hym / O cesar I put no vycayâ— in my place when thou were in paryl in the batayl of assise / but I faught for the. than he shewyd to hym the places of his woundes that he had receyued in the bataylle and than cam cesar in his prâ—prâ— persone for to be his aduocate and to plâ—te his cause for hym he wold not haue the name of vnkyndenes But doubted that men shold say that he were prâ—ude· and that he wold not doo for them that had seruyd hym / they that can not do so moche as for to be belouyd of her knyghtes can not loue the knyghtes this suffiseth of the â—olâ—es The iij tanciate of the offices of the comyn 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 is of the offyce of the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 fOr so moche as noble persones can not rewle ne gouerne without the seruyse and werke of the people Than hit behoueth to deuyse the cultrages and the offyces of the werkmen than I shal begynne first at the first pawn that is in the playe of the chesse signefieth a man of the comyn peple on fote for they be al named pietoms that is as moche to say as footmen / And thenne we wyl begynne at the pawn whyche standeth tofore the rocke on the right syde of the kyng For an moche as thys pawne apperteyneth to serue the vycayre or lyeuetenaunt of the kyng and other officers / vnder hym of necessaries 〈…〉 this maner of 〈◊〉 fâ—gâ—â—d â—â—ght 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 and shâ—pe of a man holdyng in his 〈…〉 at shouâ—â— and a more in the lyft hâ—â—d the 〈…〉 is for 〈…〉 and labour therwyth the 〈…〉 the redde is for to dayâ—â— and coueâ—â—yâ— wyth al the â—â—stys vnto her pasture / also he ought to haue on hys 〈…〉 for to 〈◊〉 of the superfluytees of the vignes and tâ—â—s / And we rede in the bible that the first labourer that ouâ—r was was caym the first sone of adaÌ„ that was so euyl that he fleshe his broder abel For as moche as the smoke of his tithes went strayt vnto heuen / and the smoke and fume of the tythes of caym went doun ward vpon the erthe and how wel that thys cause was trewe yet was there another cause of enuye that he had vnto his broder â–ª For when Adam theyr fader maryed there for to multeplye the erthe of his ligne / he wold not marye ner Ioyne to gyder the two that were borne attones but gaf vnto caym her that was born with abel and to abel her that was borne wyth caym thus began â—heâ—â—yt that caym had ayenst abel / For hys wyf was fayere than cayms wyf / and for this cause he slewe abel wyth the chestebone of a beste / And at that tyme was neuer no maner of yron blody of mannes blood And Abel was the fyrst martir in the olde testament and thys sayd caym dyd many other euyl thynges whiche I leue / for it apperteyneth not to my mater but it behoueth for necessyte that soÌ„me shold laboure the erthe / after the synne of adam / for tofore or adam synned / churche brought forth fruyt without labour of handes but sithe he synned hit mâ—â—st 〈…〉 with the hands of 〈◊〉 for as moche as the cuthe is 〈◊〉 of al thynges and that we were first formed took 〈◊〉 â—â—gymyng of the 〈◊〉 the same wyse at the last she shal be the 〈…〉 al 〈◊〉 to al thynges god that formed vs of the 〈◊〉 hath ordeyned that by the labour of men she shold gyue adâ—â—tysshyng vnto al that lyueth / first the 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—rch ought to knowe his god that formed miâ—â— hâ—â—â—y â—â—the of nought and ought to haue loyalte trouth in hym self and despise deth for to entende to his labours and he ought to geue thankynges to hym that made hym of whom he receyueth al his goodes temporal / wherof his lyf is fasteyned and also he is bunden to paye the dismes tythes of al his thynges and not as caym dyd but as abel dyd of the beste that he chese out alwey for to gyue to god and to plese hym / for they that grutche and so graue in that they rendre geue to god the tienthes of her goodes / they ought to be aferd and haue drede that they shal falle in necissyte / And that they myght be despoylyd or robbyd by warre or by tempest that myght falle or happen in the contray / And hit is no merueylle though hys so happen / For that man that is disagreable vnto god / and beneth that
and endureth not / may better be callid and sayd marchaundyse than loue / for yf we repute this loue to our prouffyt onely no thyng to the purâ—ffyt of hym that we loue / it is more marchaundyse than loue / for he byeth our loue for the prouffyt that he doth to vs / And therfore sayth the versefier thyse two versis· Tempore feleci multi numerantur amici / Cum fortuna perit nullus amicus erit· Whiche is to say in englissh that as longe as a man is ewrous and fortunat he hath many frendes but whan fortune torneth and perissheth / there abydeth not to hym one frende and of thys loue ben loued the medowes / feldes / trees the bestys for the prouffyt that men take of them / but the loue of the men ought to be charite veray gracious and pure by good fayth / And the veray trewe frendes ben knowen in pure aduersite And piers alphons sayth in his book of Moralite that there was a phylosophre in Arabye that had an onely sone / of whom he demaunded what frendes he had goten hym in his lyf And he answerd that he had many / and his fader sayd to hym I am an olde man and yet coude I neuer fynde but one frende in al my lyf / and I trowe verely that it is no lytyl thyng for to haue a frende / and hit is wel gretter more a man to haue many / and hit apperteyneth and behoueth a man to assaye and preue his frende or he haue nede and thenne coÌ„maunded the philosopher his sone· that he shold goo and slee a swyne / and put hit in a saâ—â—â— / and fayne that it were a man dede that he had slayn and beâ— hit to his frendes for to burye hit secretly / And whan the sone had don as his fader coÌ„maunded hym and had requyred his frendes one after another as afore is sayd / they denyed hym and answerd to hym that he was a vylayne to requyre and desire of them thyng that was so perilous· And than he came agayn to his fader and sayd to hym how he had requyred al his frendes And that he had not founden one that wold helpe hym in his nede â–ª And than his fader sayd to hym that he shold goo and requyre his frende whyche had but one· and requyre hym that he shold helpe hym in his nede and whan he had requyred hym / Anone he put out al his mayne out of hys how 's and whan they were out of the waye or a slepe· â—e dyd do make secretly a pyttâ—â—â— the grounde / and whan but was redy and wold haue buryed the body / he founde â—â—t an hogge or a swyne and not a man / and thus this soâ—e preuyd this man to be a veray trewe frende of his fader And preuyd that his frendes were fals frendes of fortune / And yet reherceth the sayd piers Alphons· that there were two marchauntes one of bandach and that other of Egypt whiche were so ioyned to geder by so grete frendshyp that he of bandache cam on a tyme for to se his frende in Egypt of whom he was receyuyd right honuurably â–ª And this marchaunt of Egypt had in his how 's a fayre yonge mayden whom he shold haue had in mariage to hym self / Of the whiche mayde thys marchaunt of banâ—ach was esprised with her loue so ordantly that he was right seek / and that men supposid hym to dye And than the other dyd do come the phisisiens whiche sayd that in hym was no sestenes sauf passyon of loue / Thenne he â—oyd of the seek man yf there were ony woman in hys howe 's that he loued and maad al the women of his howe 's to come tofore hym / And than he chees her that shold haue ben that others wyf and sayd that he was seek for her Than his frende sayd to hym frende comforte your self / for trewly I gyue her to you to wyf with alle the dowaire that is gyuen to me wyth her and had leuer to suffre to be wyth out wyf than to lese the body of his frende / And than he of bandach wedded the mayde And went with his wyf and with his richesse ageyn in to his contre And after this anone after hit happend that the marchaunt of Egypt became so poure by euyl fortune that he was constreyned to seche and begge his breed / by the contray in so moche that he cam to bandach / and whan he entrid in to the toun hit was derk nyght that he coude not fynde the how 's of his frende / But went and lay thye nyght in an olde temple / And on the morne whan he shold yssue out of the temple / the offycers of the toun arestyd hym and sayd that he was an homycide and had slayn a man whiche lay there dede / And anone he confessid hyt wyth a good wylle and had leuer to ben hangryd than to dye in that myserable and pour lyf that he suffryd And thus whan he was brought to Iugement and sentence shold haue ben gyuen ayenst hym as an homycide His frend of bandach cam and sawe hym and anone knewe that thys was his good frende of egypte And forthwyth stepte in and sayd that he hym self was calpable of the deth of this man and not that other / and enforced hym in alle maners for to delyuer and excuse that other / And than whan that he that had dâ—on the feet and had slayne the man sawe this thyng / he considerid in hym self that these two men were innocent / of thys feet And doubtyng the dyuyne Iugement he came tofore the Iuge confessyd all the feet by ordre / And whan the Iuge sawe and herd al thys mater and also the causes he considered the ferme and trewe loue that was betwene the two frendes and vnderstood the cause why that one wold saue that other and the trouth of the fayte of the homycide And than he pardoned al the feet hooly and entierly And after the marchaunt of bandach brought hym of egipt wyth hym in to his howe 's / And gaf to hym his sister in mariage / and departed to hym half his goodes and so bothe of hem were riche / and thus were they bothe veray faythful and trewe frendes Furthermore notaries / men of lawe crafty men shold and ought to loue eche other and also ought to be contynent chaste and honeste / For by theyr craftes they ought so to be by necessyte For they conuerse and accompanye them ofte tyme wyth women / And therfore hit appoâ—teyneth to them to be chaste and honeste / And that they meue not the wemen not entyse them to lawghe and Iape by ony dysordynate ensignes or tokenes / Titus liuius reherceth that the philosopher democreon dyd doo put out his eyen for as moche as he myght not beholde the women wyth out flesshly desyre And how wel it is sayd before that he
dyd hit for other certeyn cause yet was this one of the pryncipal causes And valerian tellyth that there was a yong man of rome of right excellent beaulte And how wel that he was right chaste for as moch as his beaulte meuyd many women to desire hym / in so moche that he vnderstood that the parentes and frendes of them had suspecion in hym / he dyd his vysage to be kutte wyth a knyf and lancettis endlong and euerthwart for to deforme his vysage and had leuer haue a fowle vysage and disformed than the beaute of his vysage shold meue other to synne And also we rede that there was a Nonne a virgyne dyd do put out bothe her eyen· For as moche as the beaute of her eyen meuyd a kyng to loue her / whyche eyen she sende to the kyng in a present And also we rede that plato the right ryche phylosopher lefte his owne lande and contre and chase his mansion and dwellyng in achadomye a toun / whiche was not onely destroyed but also was ful of pestelence / so that by the cure and charge and customauÌ„ce of sorowe that he there suffrid myght eschewe the hetes and occasions of lecherye / And many of hys dysciples dyd in lyke wyse / helemand reherceth that demostenes the philosopher laye ones by a noble woman for his dysporte / and playeng wyth her / he demaunded of her what he shold geue to haue to doo wyth her / and she answerd to hym a thousand pens he sayd ageyn to her I shold repente me to bye hit so dere and whan he aduysed hym that he was so sore chauffyd to speke to her for to accomplisshe his flesshly desyre he despoyled hym al nakyd and wente and put hym in the myddes of the snowe / And Ouyde rehercith that thys thynge is the lefte that maye helpe and most greue the louers / and therfore saynt augustyn rehercith in his book de ciuitate dei that there was a right noble remayn named Marculian that wan and took the noble cite of Siracuse / And tofore â— he dyd doe assayle hit or be fight hit / or he had do beshedde ony blood he wepte and shedde many teeris tofore the cite / and that was for the cause that he doubted that his peple shold defoule and corumpt to moche dishonestly the chastyte of the toun and ordeyned vpon payn of deth that no man shold be so hardy to take and defoyle ony woman by force what that euer she were After thys the crafty men ought to vnderstonde for to be trewe· and to haue trouth in her mouthes / And that theyr dedes folowe theyr wordes· For he that sayth one thyng and doth another / he condempneth hym self by his word / also they ought to see wel to that they be of one accorde in good / by entende / by word / and by dede so that they be not discordaunt in no caas / But that euery man haue pure verite and trouth in hym self For god hym self is pure verite / and men say comynly that trouth seketh none hernes ne corners· and trouth is a vertu by the whiche alle drede and fraude is put awey / Men saye trewly whan they saye that they knowe And they that knowe not trouthe ought to knowe hyt / And alwey vse trouthe· for saynt austyn sayth that they that wene to knowe trouth and lyueth euyl and vyciously it is folye yf he knoweth hit not / and also he sayth in an other place that it is better to suffre payn for trouth / than for to haue a benefete by falsnes or by flaterye And man that is callyd a beste resonable and doth not his werkys after reson and trouthe is more bestyal that ony beste brute· and knowe ye that for to come to the trouthe / hit cometh of a resonable forsight in his mynde· And lyeng cometh of an outtrageous and contrarie thought in hys mynde / for he that lyeth wittyngly / knoweth wel that hit is ageynst the trouthe that he thynketh / and herof speketh saynt bernard and sayth that the mouth that lyeth destroyeth the sowle and yet sayth saynt austyn in another place for to say one thynge and do the contrarye / maketh doctryne suspecious And knowe ye verily that for to lye is a right perilous thynge to body and sowle / For the lye that the auncient enemye maad eue and Adam to beleue hym / made hem for to be dampned with alle their lignage to the deth pardurable / and made hem to be cast out of paradyse terrestre / For he maad them to beleue that god had not forboden them the fruyt / but onely by cause they shold not knowe that her mayster knewe / but how wel that the deuyl sayd thyse wordes / yet had he double entente to hem bothe / For they knewe anone as they had tastyd of the fruyt that they were dampned to thâ— deth pardurable· And god knewe hit wel tofore· but they supposid wel to haue knowen many other thynges / and to be lyke vnto his knowleche and science And therfore saith saynt poule in a pistyl· hit ne apperteyneth to sauer or knowe more than behoueth to sauer or knowe / but to sauer or knowe by mesure or sobrenes / And valerian rehercith that there was a good woman of firacusant that wold not lye vnto the kyng of Secille whyche was named dyoryse· and this kyng was so ful of tyrannye and so cruel that alle the world desired his deth and cursid hym Sâ—uf this woman onely whiche was so olde that she had seen iij or four kynges reignyng in the contre and euery mornyng as sone as she was rysen she prayed to god that he wold gyue vnto the tyraunt good lyf and longe / and that she myght neuer see his deth / And whan the kyng dyonyse knewe this he sent for her / and meruaylled moche herof / for he knewe wel that he was sore behated / and demauÌ„ded her what cause meuyd hyr to praye for hym / she answerd and sayd to hym sir whan I was a mayde we had a right euyl tyraunt to our kyng of whom we coueyted sore the deth / and whan he was dede there came after hym a werse / of whom we coueyted also the deth and whan we were delyuerd of hym thou camest to be our lord which art worst of al other and now I doubte yf we haue one after the be shal be worse than thou art / and therfore I shal praye for the / and whan dyonyse vnderstood that she was so hardy in sayeng the trouth / he durst not do torment her for shame by cause she was so olde The fourth chapâ—itre of the third book 〈…〉 of the fouâ—th paâ—â— of the 〈…〉 tHe fourth pawn is sette tofore the kyng and is formed in the forme of a man holdyng in his right hand a balaunce and the weyght in the lyft hand and tofore hym a table / and at his gurdel a
purse ful of money redy for to geue to them that requyred hit and by thys peple ben signefyed the marchauntes of cloth lynnen and wollen / and of al other marchaundyses / and by the table that is tofore hym is signefyed the chaungers· and they that lene money / they that bye and selle by the weyght ben signefyed by the balaunces / and weyghtes And the 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 of money 〈…〉 by the 〈…〉 ye that alle they 〈…〉 signified by this peple ought to 〈◊〉 auarice and coâ—â—tyse and eschewe brekyng of the â—yes of payment ought to holde and kepe theyr promys◠〈◊〉 ought also to rendre and restore that that is gyuen to them to kepe / therfore hit iâ— reson that this peple be set tofore the kyng for as moche as they signefye the receyuours of the tresours tyal that ought alwey to be redy tofore the kyng to answer for hym to the knyghtes and to other persones for theyr wages and souldyes / therfore haue I said that they ought to flee auarice For auarice is as moche to say as an adourer or as worshyper of faln ymages / and herof sayth tullyus that auarice is a couetise to gete that thyng that is aboue necessite / and it is a loue disordynate to haue ony thyng / it is one of the werst thynges that is specially to prynces to them that gouerne the thynges of the comunete and this vyce causeth a man to do euyll and thys doyng euyl is whan hit reygneth in olde men / herof sayth Seneque· that all worldly thynges ben mortefyed and appetissed in olde men reseruyd auarice onely whyche alwey abydeth wyth hym and dyeth with hym / But I vnderstonde not wel the cause wherof this cometh ne wherfore hit may be / And hit is a fowle thyng and contrarye to reson· that whan a man is at the ende of his Iourney for to lengthe his viage and to ordeyne more vitayl than hym behoueth / this may wel be likned to the auaricious wolf for the wolf doth neuer good tyl he be dede / and thus it is sayd in the prouerbys of the wyse men that thâ—uaricious man doth no good tyl that he be deed and he desireth no thynge but to lyue long in thys synne / for the courtous man certeynly is not good for ony thyng for he is euyl to hym self to the riche to the poure· and fyndeth cause to gaynsay theyr desire / herof whercith seneque sayth that antigonus was a couetous paynce / whan tynque whiche was his frende requyred of hym a be saunt / he answerd to hym that he demauÌ„ded more than hyt apperteyned to hym / than tynque constrayned by grete necessite axid requyred of hym a peny / he answerd to hym that it was no yefte couenable for a kyng and so he was alwey redy to fynde a cause nought to geue For he myght haue gyuen to hym a besaunt as a kynge to his frende / and the peny as to a poure man ther is no thyng so litil but that the humanyte of a kyng may geue hyt / auariceful of couetise is a maner of al vices of luxurye Iosephus whercith in the book of auÌ„cient histories / that ther was in rome a right noble lady named paulyne / and was of the most noble of rome right honest for the noblesse of chastite / whiche was maryed in the tyme that the wommen glorefyed them in theyr chastyte vnto a yonge man / fayr noble· and riche aboue al other· was lyke and semblable to his wyf in al caasis And thys pawlyne was belouyd of a knyght namyd enymerancian and was so ardantly esprised in her loue that he sent to her morny right riche yeftes / and made to her many grete promyses / but he myght neuer torne the herte of her which was on her syde also colde and harde / as marbyll / But she had leuer to refuse his yeftes and hys promyses Than to intende to couetyse and to lose her chastyte / we rede also in the histories of rome that there was a noble lady of rome whiche lyued a solytarye lyf was chaste honeste had gadrid to geder a grete soÌ„me of golde and had hyd hit in the erthe in a pytte wyth in her how 's / whan she was deed / the bisshop dyd do burye her in the chirche wel and honestly / and anone after this gold was fouÌ„den and born to the bysshop / and the bisshop had to caste hit in to the pytte where she was buryed thre dayes men herd her crye make grete noyse / say that she brenned in grete payn and they herd her ofte tymes thus tormentid in the cherche the neyghbours went vnto the bysshop tolde hym therof / the bisshop gaf hem leue to open the sepulcre whan they had openyd hit· they fonde al the golde molten with fire ful of sulphre· was poured put in her mouth they herd one say thou desiredest this gold by couetyse take hyt and drynke hit / And thenne they took the body out of the tombe / And hit was cast out in a preuy place· Seneque rehercith in the boook of the cryes of women that auaryce is foundement of alle vyces / And valerian rehercith that auarice is a ferdful garde or kepar of richessis for he that hath on hym or in his keppyng moche money or other richessis· is alwey aferd to lose hit or to be robbid or to be slayn therfore· he is not ewrousner happy that by couetise getith hit / al the euyls of this vice of auarice had a man of rome named septenulle / for he was a frend of one named tarchus / this septenulla brent so sore so cruelly in this synne of couetise that he had no shame to smyte of the hede of hys frend by trayson For as moche as one framofian had promysed to hym as moche weyght of pure gold as the heed wayed he bare the said heed vpon a staf thrugh the cite of rome· and he voyded the brayn out therof filled hyt ful of â—eed for to weye the heuyar / this was a right horrible cruel auarice Ptolome kyng of egipciens poursewed auarice in another manere for whan anthonie emperour of rome sawe that he was right riche of gold siluer / he had hym in grete hate tormentid hym right cruelly / and whan he shold perissh by cause of his richessis he toke al his hauoir put hyt in a shippe / went with alle in to the hye see to th ende for to drowne perissh there the shippe and his richesses by cause anthonye his enemye shold not haue hit / whan he was there he durst not perisshe hit ner myght not fynde in hyes herte to departe from hit but cam brought hit agayn in to his
bows where he receyuyd the rewarde of deth therfore with out doubte he was not lord of the richesse but the richesse was lady ouer hym / therfore hit is said in prouerbe that a man ought to seignorie ouer the riches / not for to serue hit yf thou canst dewly vse thy richesse than she is thy chamberer yf thou can not departe from hit a vse hit honestly at thy plesure knowe verily that she is thy lady / for the riches neuer satisfyeth the couetous / but the more he hath the more he desireth / saluste saith that auarice destroubleth fayth / poeste / honeste al thise other good vertues / And taketh for thyse vertues / pryde / cruelte and to forgete god and sayth that al thynges be vendable And after this they ought to be ware that they lene not to moche ner make so grete creatâ—es by whiche they may falle in pouerte / for saynt ambrose saith vpon thoby pouerte hath no lawe / for to owe hit is a shame / to owe and not paye is a more shame yf thou be poure beware how thou lo rowest thynke how thou mayst paye rendre agayn yf thou be riche thou hast no nede to borowe axe it is said in the prouerbis that hit is fraude to take that thou wylt not ner mayst rendre paye agayn also hit is sayd in reproche whan I lene I am thy frende / whan I aye I am thyn enemye as who saith / god at the lenyng / the deuyll atte rendryng seneke saith in his auctorites / that they that gladly borowe / ought gladly to paye ought to furmolite in corage to loue hem the better by cause they lene hem ayde hem in her nede for benefetes good tornes don to a man / ought to gyue hym thankynges therfore / and moche more ought a man to repaye that is lent hym in his nede but now in these dayes many men by lenyng of their money haue made of their frendes enemyes herof speketh domas the philosopher saith that my frende borowed money of me / I haue lost my frende my money there was a marchauÌ„t of gene also a chaungeour wâ—â—s name was albert ganor / this albert was a man of grete trouth and loyalte for on a tyme there was a man cam to hym and sayd and affermyd that he had desyueryd in to his banke v hondred floryns of gold to kepe whiche was not trouth for he lyed whiche v C floryns the sayd albert knewe not of / ner coude fynde in al his bookes ony suche money to hym due / this lyar coude brynge no wytnes· but began to braye· crye deffame the said albert / than this albert callyd to hym this marchaunt and sayd dere frende take here v hondred florene whiche thou offer mest sayest that thou hast delyuerd to me forthwyth tolde him and toke him to hym· lo this good man had leuer to lose his good than his good name and renome â— and this other marchaunt toke these florens that he had wrongfully receyuyd and enployed them in dyuerse marchaundyse in so moche that he gate and encresed and wan with them xv thousand florens / and whan he sawe that he approched toward his deth· and that he had no children / he establisshed albert his heyr in al thynges / sayd that with the v hondred florens that he had receyuyd of abbert falsely / he had goten alle that he had in the world / thus by deuyne purueauÌ„ce he that had be a theef fraudelent / was maad afterward a trewe procurour atorney of the sayd albert / but now in thyse dayes there be marchauÌ„tis that do marchaundise with other mennys money whiche is taken to hem to kepe whan they ben requyred to repaye hyt / they haue no shame to denye hit appertly / wherof hit happeÌ„d that ther was a marchauÌ„t which had a good a grete name and renome of kepyng wel suche thynges as was delyuerd to hym to kepe but whan he sawe place tyme / he reteynyd hit lyke a theef so hit befel that a marchauÌ„t of without forth herd the good reporte fame of this man / cam to hym delyuerd hym grete tresour to kepe / thys cresour abode in yere in his kepyng / after this thre yere thys marchaunt came and requyred to haue his good delyuerd to hym agayn· And thys man knewe wel that he had no recorde ne witnes / to preue on hym this duete / nor he had no obligacion ne wrytyng of hym therof· In suche wyse that he denyed al entierly and saye playnly he knewe hym not and whan this good man herd and vnderstood this he went sorowfully and kepyng from hym so ferce and longe that an olde woman mette wyth hym· and demaunded of hym the cause of his wepyng · and he sayd to her woman hit aperteyneth no thyng to the goo thy waye / And she prayed hym that he wold telle her the cause of his sorowe / For perauenture she myght geue hym counceyl good and proffytable / and thenne this man tolde to her by ordre the caas of his fortune / and the olde woman that was wyse and subtil demaunded of hym yf he had in that cite ony frende whiche wold be faythful and trewe to hym / and he sayd ye that he had dyuerse frendes Than sayd she goo thou to them and saye to them that they doo ordeyne and bye dyuerce cofres and chestes And that they doo fylle them wyth some olde thynges of no value / that they fayne say that they be ful of golde siluer and other Iewels and of moche grete tresour / thenne that they brynge them to thys sayd marchaunt / to say to hym that he wold kepe theÌ„ for as moche as they had grete trust in hym / also that they haue herd of his grete trouth good renome / also they wold go in to fer contre / and shold be longe or they retorned agayn / whills they speke to hym of this mater / thou shalt come vpon them requyre hym that he too delyuer to the · that thou tokest to hym· I trowe by cause of tho good men that than shal proffre to hym the sayd tresour / and for the couetise to haue hit / he shal delyuer to the thy good agayn / but beware late hym not knowe they ben thy good frendes ner of thy knowleche This was a grete and good counceyl of a woman / and verily it cometh of nature often tymes to woman to geue counceyl shâ—â—lly and vnaduysedly to thynges that ben in doubte or perilous and nedeth hasty remedye and as ye haue herd this good man dyd and did afteâ— her counceyl and came vpon them whan they spâ—ck of the mater to the marchaunt for to delyuer to hym the
sayd cofres to kepe whiche his frendes had fayned and requyred of hym that he had taken to hym to kepe / and than anone the sayd marchaunt sayd to hym I knowe the now wel for I haue aduysed me that thou art suche a men / and camest to me suche a tyme / and delyuered to me suche a thynge whyche I haue wel kept / and thenne callyd his clerk· and bad hym goo fetche suche a thyng in suche a place and delyuer hit to that good man / for he delyuerd hit to me / and than the good man receyuyd his good / and went his waye right Ioyously and glad and this marchaunt trichour deceyuour was defrauded from his euyl malice and he ne had neyther that one ne that other ony thyng that was of value and therfore hit is sayd in prouerbe to defraude the begiler is no fraude / and he that doth wel foloweth our lord / and seneke sayth that charite enseigneth and techeth that men shold paye wel / for good payement is somtyme good confessyon / And this marchaunt trichour and deceyuour resemblith and is lyke to an hound that bereth a chese in his mouth whan he swymmeth ouer a water / for whan he is on the watre he seeth the shadowe of the chese in the watre / and than he weneth hit be another chese for couetyse to haue that he openyth his mouth to catche thâ—â— than the chese that he bare fallith 〈◊〉 in to the watre· and thus he loseth bothe the in the same wyse was seruyd thys marchauÌ„t deceyuour / for for to haue the cofres whiche he had not seen / he delyuerd agayn that he wold haue holden wrongfully and thus by his couetise propre malyce he was deceyuyd and therfore hit apperteyneth to euery good and wyse man to knowe and considere in hym self how moche he hath receyued of other men vpon what coÌ„dycion hit was delyuerd to hym / and it is to wete that thys thyng apperteyneth to receyuours and to chaungeours· and to alle trewe marchauntis and other what that someuer they be / and ought to kepe theyr bookes of resaytes and of payementes of whom and to whom what tyme and day / and yf ye demaunde what thyng makyth them to forgete suche thynges as ben taken to them to keâ—â— I answer and say that it is grete couetise for to haue thâ— thynges to them self and neuer to departe from them / and hit is alle her thought desire to assemble alle the goodes that they may gete for they beleue on none other god / But on her richesses theyr hertes ben so obstynat· and this suffyseth of the marchauntes The fifthe chappiter of the thyrd book â—â—teth of physiciens medicynes spycers and appotiquaries capitulo v tHe pawn that is sette tofore the quene signefyeth the physicien / spicer apotiquare · and is formed in the fygure of a man / and he is sette in a chayer as a maistre and holdeth in his right hand a book and an ample or a boxe with oynementis in his lyft hand / and at his gurdel his instrumentis of yron and of siluer for to make Incisions and to serche woundes and hurtes and to cutte apostumes And by thyse thynges ben knowen the surgyens By the book ben vnderstonden the phisicienes and all gramariens logyciens / maysters of lawe / of geometrye / arsmetrique musique and of astronomye / and by the ampole ben signefyed the makers of pygmentaries spicers apotiquaries / and they that make confeccions and confites and medecynes maad wyth precious spyce / And by the fferremens and Instrumentis that hangen on the gurdel ben signefyed the Surgyens and the maysters and knowe ye forcerteyn that a maystre and physicyen ought to knowe the proporcions of lettres of gramayre the monemens the conclucions and the sophyms of logique / the gracious speche and veteraunce of rethorique / the mesures of the houres and dayes· and of the cours of astronomye the nombre of arsmetrique and the ioyous songes of musique · and of al thyse tofore named the maysters of rethorique ben the chyef maysters in speciâ—â— tyf and the two last that ben practiciens and wakes ben callyd physiciens and surgyens / how wel they ben sage and curious in thyse sciences · and how wel that maÌ„nys lyf is otherwhyle put in thordonaunce of the physicien or surgyen / yf he haue not sagesse and wysedom in hym self of dyuerse wrytynges and is not expert / and medlyth hym in the craft of physique / he ought better be callyd a slear of peple than a phisicien or surgyen For he may not be a maystre but yf he be sewre and expert in the craft of phisike that he slee not moo than he cureth and maketh hoole / and therfore sayth auycenne in an anforysme yf thou curest the seek man And knowest not the cause wherof the maladye ought to be cured · hit ought to be sayd that thou hast cured hym by fortune and happe more than by ony kunnyng· And in al thyse maner of people ther ought to be meurte of good maners / curtosie of werdes / chastice of the body promysse of helthe· and as to them that been seek contynuel vysitacion of them· they ought to enquere the cause of theyr sekenessys and the sygnes and tokens of theyr maladyes as is rehercid in the bokes of the auctours by right grete dyligence / and specially in the bookes of ypocras galiene and of auycene / and whan many maysters and phisiciens ben assemblid tofore the pacient or seke man They ought not there to argue and dispute one agaynst another / but they ought to make good and symple colacion to geder in suche wyse as they be not seen in theyr dysputyng one agaynst another for to encroche and gete more glory of the world to them self than to trete the salute and helthe of the pacient and seek man I meruaylle why that whan they see and knowe that whan the seek man hath grete nede of helthe wherfore than they make gretter obieccion of contrariousnes for as moche as the lyf of man is demened and put amonge them / but hit is by cause that he is reputed most sage and wyse that argueth and bryngeth in most subtiltees / And alle this maner is amonge doctours of lawe that tretith no thyng of mannes lyf / but of temporel thynges that he is holden most wyse and best lerned / that by hys counceyl can best accorde the contencions and dyssencions of men / and therfore ought the phisiciens and surgyens leue whan they be tofore the seek men al discencions and contrariousnes of wordes· in suche wyse that hit appere that they studye more for to cure the seek men than for to despute / And therfore is the phisicien duly sette tofore the quene so that it is figured that he ought to haue in hym self chastyte and contynence of body /