my mynde ¶ Hic contra amori inobedientes ad coÌ„mendatienem obediencie confessor super codem exempluÌ„ ponit vbi dicit / quod cum quidam regis Secilie silia in sue inuentucis floribus pulcherrime ex â—uis Nouerce incantationibus in vetulam turpissimam transformata extitit / Florencius tunc im peratoris Claubii / nepos / miles in armie sâ—rennuissimus amorosisque legibus intendens / ex sun obedientia in pulchritudineÌ„ priftinaÌ„ reformami ¶ There was whylom by dayes olde A worthy knyght as men tolde He was neueu to the emperour And of his courte a courteour wyfeles he was Florent he hight He was a man / that mochel myght Of armes he was desyrous Chyualrous and amorous And for the fame of worldes speche Straunge auentures wolde he seche He rode the marches all aboute And felle a tyme / as he was out Fortune whiche may euery threde To breke and knytte of mans spede Shope as this knyght rode in a pase That he by strength taken was And to a castel they hym ladde where that he fewe frendes hadde For so it felle that ylke stounde That he hath with a deadly wounde Fyghtende his owne hande slayne Branchus whiche to the Capitayne was sonne and heyre wherof ben wroth The father and the mother bothe That knight BraÌ„chus was of his boÌ„de The worthyest of all his londe And fayne they wolde do vengeaunce Vpon Florent but remembraunce That they toke of his worthynes Of knyghthode and of gentilnes And howe he stode of colynage To themperour made them assuage And durste not slayne hym for feare In great desputeson they were Amonge them selfe that was the best There was a lady the slyest Of all that men knewe tho So olde she myght vnnethes go And was graundame vnto the deed And she with that began to rede And she sayde she wolde bring hym in That she shal hym to death wynne All onely of his owne graunte Through strength of veray couenaunt without blame of any wyght Anone she sent for this knyght And of her sonne she aleyde The death / and thus to hym she sayde Florent howe so thou be to wyte Of Branchus deathe men shall respite As nowe to take auengement Be so thou stonde in iudgement Vpon certayne condicion That thou vnto a question whiche I shall aske shalt answere And ouer this thou shalt eke swere That if thou of the sothe fayle There shall none other thynge auayle That thou ne shalt thy deth receyue And for men shall the not deceyue That thou therof myghtest beÌ„ aduysed Thou shalt haue day and tyme assysed And leue safely for to wende Be so that at thy dayes ende Thou come ageyne with thyn auyse This knight which worthi was wise This lady prayeth that he may wytte And haue it vnder seales wrytte what questyon it shulde be For whiche be shall in that degre Stonde of his lyfe in ieopardye with that she feynethe companye And sayth Florent on loue it hongeth All that to myn askynge longeth what all women moste desyre This woll I aske and in th empyre where thou haste moste knowlegynge Take counseyle of this askynge Florent this thynge hath vndertake The tyme was sette and daye take Vnder his seale he wrote his othe In suche a wyse and forthe be gothe Home to his emes courte agayne To whome his auenture playne He tolde of that is hym befalle And vpon that they were all The wysest of the londe assent But netheles of one assent They myght not accorde plat One sayde this an other that After the disposition Of naturall complexion To some woman it is plesaunce That to another is greuaunce But suche a thynge in speciall whiche to them all in generall Is moste plesaunte and moste desyred Aboue all other / and moste conspired Suche one can they not fynde By constellation ne by kynde And thus Florent with out cure Muste stonde vpon his auenture And is all shape vnto the lyere And as in defaulte of his answere This knyght hath leauer for to dye Than breke his trouth and for to lye In place where he was swore And shapeth him gone ayene therfore ¶ whan tyme come he toke his leaue That lenger wolde he not beleue And prayeth his eme he be not wroth For that is a point of his othe He sayth that no man shal hym wreke Though afterwarde men here speke That he perauenture dye And thus he went forth his weye Alone / as a knyght auenturous And in his thought was curyous To wytte what was beste to do And as he rode alone so And cam nygh there he wolde be In a forest there vnder a tree He sawe where satte a creature A lothly womanniss he fygure That for to speke of flesshe and bone So foule yet sawe he neuer none This knyght behelde her redily And as he wolde haue passed by She cleped hym and bad hym abyde And he his bors hedde asyde Tho torned and to her he rode And there he houed and abode To wytte what she wolde mene And she began hym to bemene And sayde Florent by thy name Thou haste on honde suche a game That if thou be not better auysed Thy deth shapen is and deuised That all the worlde ne may the saue But if that thou my counseyll haue Florent whan he this tale herde Vnto this olde wyght answerde And of her counsayle he her prayde And she ayene to hym thus sayde Florent if I for the so shape That thou through me thy deth escape And take worshippe of thy dede what shall I haue to my mede what thing quod he that thou wolde axe I byd neuer a better taxe Quod she but fyrste or thou be spedde Thou shalt me leaue suche a wedde That I woll haue thy trouth on honde That thou shalt be myn husbonde Nay sayde Florent that may not be Ryde than forth thy wey quod she And if thou go forthe withoute rede Thou shalt be sykerly deade Florent behyght her good inough Of londe of rent of parke of plough But all that counteth she at nought Tho fell this knyght in moch thought Now goth he forth now coÌ„meth ayene He wote not what is beste to seyne And thought as he rode to and fro That chose he mote one of the two Or for to take her to his wyfe Or elles for to lese his lyfe And than he caste his auauntage That she was of so great an age That she may lyue but a whyle And thought to put her in an I le where that no man her shulde knowe Tyll she with deth were ouerthrowe And thus this yonge lusty knyght Vnto this olde lothely wyght Tho sayd If that none other chaunce May make my delyueraunce But onely thylke same speche which as thou seist thou shalt me teche Haue here min hoÌ„de I shal the wedde And thus his trouth he leyth to wedde with that she frounceth vp the browe This couenaunt woll I alowe She sayth
heuen mede of suche a grace I can nought speke netheles Christ hath commanded loue and pees And who that worcheth the reuers I trowe his mede is full dyuers And sythen than that we fynde That werres in her owne kynde Ben toward god of no deserte And eke they bryngen in pouerte Of worldes good it is marueyle Amonge the men what it may eyle That they a pees ne connen set I trowe synne be the lette And euery mede of synne is deth So wote I neuer howe it geth But we that be of o beleue Amonge our selfe this wolde I leue That better it were pees to chese Than so by double weye lese ¶ I not if that it nowe so stonde But this a man may vnderstonde who that these olde bokes redeth That couetyse is one whiche ledeth And brought the fyrst werres inne At Grece if that I shall begynne There was it proued howe it stode To Perse whiche was full of good They maden werre in specyall And so they dydden ouer all where great rychesse was in londe So that they lefte nothynge stonde Vnwerred but onely Archade ¶ Nota ê™ greci omnem terram fertilem debellabant sed tantum Archadiam pro eo ê™ pauper et sterilis fuit pacifice dimiserunt ¶ For there they no werres made Bycause it was bareyne and poure wherof they myght nought recouer And thus pouerte was forbore He that nought had nought hath lore But yet it is a wonder thynge whan that a ryche worthy kynge Or lorde what so he be woll aske and clayme propertie In thynge to whiche he hath no right But onely of his great myght For this may euery man well wyte That bothe kynde and lawe wryte Expressely stonden there ageyne But he mote nedes somewhat seyne All though there be no reason inne whiche secheth cause for to wynne For wyt that is with wyll oppressed whan couetyse hym hath adressed And all reasone putte awaye He can well fynde suche a wey To werre where as euer hym lyketh wherof that he the worde entriketh That many a man of hym compleyneth But yet alway some cause he feyneth And of his wrongefull herte he demeth That all is well what euer him semeth Be so that he may wynne inough For as the true man to the plough Only to the gaynynge entendeth Right so the werriour dispendeth His tyme and hath no conscience And in this poynt for euidence Of hem that suche werres make Thou myght a great ensample take Howe they her tirrannye excusen Of that they wrongeful werres vsen And howe they stonde of one accorde The soudiour forth with the lorde The poore man forth with the riche As of courage they ben lyche To make werres and to pylle For lucre and for none other skylle wherof a propre tale I rede As it whylom befelle in dede ¶ Hic declar at per exemplum contra istos prinâ—â—es seu altes quoscilque illicite guerre motores / Et narrat de quodam pirata in partibus mariâ—is speliatore notissimo / qui cum captus fuisset et in iudicium coram rege Alexandro productus et de latricino accusatus dixit / O Alexander vere â—uia cuÌ„ paucis socus spoliorum causa naues tantum eâ—pforo / ego latruncusus vocor in auteÌ„ quia cum infinita beffatorum muftitudine vniuer fam tâ—rram subiugando spofiafti Imperator dicâ—tâ—â— Ita ê™ statue tuus a statu meo differt / sed â—â—â—em animo conditionem paâ—isem habemus 〈◊〉 â—ander vero enis audatiam in responsione 〈◊〉 bans ipsum penes se familiarem retinuit Et 〈◊〉 â—â—â—licâ—sâ—s beffatori complacnit ⧠Of hym whome all this erthe drad whan he the worlde so ouerladde Through werre as it fortuned is Kynge Alysaunder I rede this Howe in a marche where he lay It felle perchaunce vpon a day A Rouer of the see was nome whiche many a man bad ouercome And slayne and take her good awaye This pyller as the bokes say A famous man in sondry stede was of the werkes whiche he dede This prisoner afore the kynge was brought thervpon this thynge In audience he was accused And he his dede hath nought excused And praide the kyng to done him right And sayd Syre if I were of myght I haue an herte lyche vnto thyn For if thy power were myn My wylle is most in especiall To ryfle and gette ouer all The large worldes good about But for I leade a poure route And am as who sayth at mischiefe The name of pyllour and of these I beare and thou whiche routes great Myght leade and take thy beyete And doste right as I wolde do Thy name is nothynge cleped so But thou arte named emperour Our dedes ben of one colour And in effecte of one deserte But thy rychesse and my pouerte They be not taken euen lyche And netheles he that is ryche This day to morowe he may be poorer And in contrary also recouer A poore man to grete ryches Men seyn for thy let ryghtewysenes Be peysed euen in the balaunce ¶ The kynge his hardy contenaunce Behelde his wordes wyse And sayd vnto hym in this wyse Thyne answere I haue vnderstonde wherof my wyl is that thou stonde In my seruyce stylle abyde And forth with al the same tyde He hath hym terme of lyfe withholde The more for he shuld ben holde He made hym knyght yafe hym lond whiche afterwarde was of his honde An orped knyght in many a stede And grete prowesse of armes dede As the Cronykes it recorden And in this wyse they acorden The whiche of condicion Be sette vpon destruction Suche Capitaine suche retinue But for to see what yssue The kynge befalleth at the laste It is great wonder that men caste Her herte vpon suche wronge to wynne where no beyete may ben inne And doth dysese on euery syde But when reson is put a syde And wylle gouerneth the courage The faucon whiche fleeth ramage And suffreth no thyng in the weye wherof that he may take his preye Is not more set vpon rauyne Than thilke man whiche his couyne Hath set in suche a maner wyse For all the worlde may nought suffyse To wyl whiche is not resonable ☞ Hic secundum gefta Alexandri de guerris illicitis ponit Confessor exemplum / dicens quod quamuis Alexander sua potentia totius mundi victor subingarat imperium ipse tandem mortis victoria subiugatus / cunctipotentis sententiam euadere non potuit ⧠wherof ensampele concordable Lyche to this poynte of which I mene was vpon Alysander sene whiche hadde set all his entent So as fortune with hym went That reason myght hym not gouerne But of his wylle he was so sterne That all the worlde he ouerran And what hym lyst he toke and wan In Inde the superyour whan that he was full conquerour And hadde his wylfull pourpose woÌ„ne Of all this erth vnder the sonne This kynge homwarde to Macedoyne whan that he cam
subiugaium obtinuit ☞ Eneas eke within Itayle He had he wonne the bataylle And done his myght so besyly Ayene kynge Turne his enemy He hadde nought Lauine wonne But for he hath hym ouer ronne And gat his prys he gat her loue By these ensamples here aboue Lo nowe my sonne as I haue told Thou myght wel se who that is bold And dar trauayle and vndertake The cause of loue he shall be take The rather vnto loues grace For comonlyche in worthy place The women louen worthynesse Of manhode and of gentylnesse For the gentils be most desyred ¶ My fader but I were inspired Through lore of you I wote no weye what gentylnesse is for to seye wherof to telle I you beseche ¶ The grounde my sonne for to seche Vpon this diffinicyon The worldes constitucion Hath set the name of gentylnesse Vpon the fortune of rychesse whiche of longe tyme is falle in age Than is a man of hyghe lynage After the forme as thou shalt here But no thynge after the matere For who that reason vnderstond Vpon rychesse it may not stonde For that is thynge whiche fayleth ofte For he that stant to day alofte And all the worlde hath in his wones To morowe he fallyth all at ones Oute of ryches in to pouerte So that therof is no deserte whiche gentylnesse maketh abyde And for to loke on other syde Howe that a gentylman is bore Adam whiche was all tofore with Eue his wyfe as of hem two All was alyche gentyll tho So that of generacyon To make declaration There may no gentylnes be For to the reason if we se Of mannes byrthe the measure It is so common to nature That it yeueth euery man alyche As well to the poore as to the ryche For naked they ben bore bothe The lorde no more hath for to clothe As of hym that ilke throwe Than hath the poorest of the rowe And whan they shull both passe I not of hem whiche hath the lasse Of worldes good but as of charge The lorde is more for to charge whan god shall his accompte here For he hath had his lustes here But of the body whiche shall deye All though there be dyuers weye To deth yet is there but one ende To whiche that euery man shall wende As well the begger as the lorde Of one nature of one accorde She whiche our olde mother is The erthe bothe that and this Receyueth and alyche deuoureth That she do nouther part fauoureth So were I nothynge after kynde where I may gentylles fynde For lacke of vertue lacketh of grace wherof Rychesse in many place whan men best wene for to stonde All sodeynly goth out of honde But vertue sette in the courage There may no worlde be so saluage whiche myght it take and done away Tyll when that the body deye And than he shall be ryched so That it may fayle neuermo So may that well be gentylâ—â—se whiche yeueth so great a sikernes For after the condicion Of reasonable intencyon The whiche out of the soule groweth And the vertue fro vice knoweth wherof a man the vice escheweth without slouth and vertue seweth That is a very gentyll man And nothynge els whiche he can Ne whiche he hath ne whiche he may But for all that yet nowe a day In loues courte to taken hede The poore vertue shall not spede where that the ryche vice woweth For selde it is that loue alloweth The gentyll man withouten good Though his condition be good But if a man of bothe two Be ryche and vertuous also Than is he well the more worth But yet to put hym selfe forth He must done his besynesse For nother good ne gentylnesse May helpen hem whiche idel be But who that woll in his degre Trauayle so as it belongeth It happeth ofte that he fongeth worshyppe and ease bothe two For euer yet it hath be so That loue honest in sondry wey Profyteth for it dothe aweye The vice and as the bokes seyne It maketh curteys of the vileyne And to the cowarde hardyesse It yeueth so that the very prowesse Is caused vpon loues reule To hym that can manhode reule And eke towarde the womanhede who that therof woll taken hede For though the better affayted be In euery thynge as men may se For loue hath euer his lustes grene In gentyll folke as it is sene whiche thynge there may no kind arest I trowe that there is no beaste If he with loue shulde acqueynt That he ne wolde make it queynt As for the whyle that it laste And thus I conclude at last That they ben ydell as me semeth whiche vnto thynge that loue demeth For slouthen that they shulden do And ouer this my sonne also After the vertue morail eke To speke of loue if I shall seke Amonge the holy bokes wyse I fynde wrytte in suche a wyse ☞ Nota de amore charitatis vbi dicit qui non diliget / manet in morte who loueth not as here is dede For loue aboue all other is hede whiche hath the vertues for to lede Of all that vnto mannes dede Belongeth For of ydelshyp He hateth all the felaushyp For slouthe is euer to despyse whiche in disdeyne hath all appryse And that acordeth nought to man For he that wyt and reason can It syt hym wel that he trauayle VpoÌ„ such thinge whiche myght auayle For ydelshyp is nought comended But euery lawe it hath defended And in ensample thereupon The noble wyse Salomon whiche hadde of euery thynge insyght Seyth As the byrdes to the flyght Ben made so the man is bore To labour whiche is nought forbore To hem that thynken for to thryue For we whiche are nowe a lyue Of hem that besy whylome were As wel in schole as elles where Nowe euery day ensample take That if it were nowe to make Thyng which that they fyrste founden out It shuld not be brought aboute Her lyues than were longe Her wyttes great her myghtes strong Her hertes full of besynesse wherof the worldes redynesse In bopy both and in courage Stant euer vpon his auauntage And for to drawe in to memorye Her names bothe and her historye Vpon the vertu of her dede In sondry bokes thou myght rede Expedit de manibus labor vt de coridianis Actibus ac vita viuere poscit homo Sed qui doctrina causa fert meute labores Praeualet et merita perpetuata parat ☞ Hic loquitur contra ociosos quoscumque et maxime contra istos qui excellentis prudencie ingenium habentes absque fructu operum torpescunt Et ponit exemplum de diligencia predecessorum qui ad tocius humani generis doctrinam et auxiliuÌ„ suis coÌ„tinuis laboribus et studus gracia mediante diuina artes et sciencias primitus inueneruÌ„t ⧠Of euery wysdome the parfyt ♣ The hyghe god of his spyryt yafe to men in erth here Vpon the forme and the mater Of that he wolde make hem wyse And thus cam in the
openly ¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra viros amori ingratos Et narrat qualiter Theseus Aegei filius consilio fultus Adriane regis Minos filie in domo que Laborinthus dicitur Minotaurum vicit vnde Theseus Adriane sponsalie certissime promittens / ipsaÌ„ vna cum Phedra sorore sua a Creta secuÌ„ nauigio duxit Sed statim postea oblito gratitudinis beneficio Adriadnam ipsum saluantem in insula Chion spretam post terguÌ„ re fiquit Et Phedram Athenis sibi sponsatam ingratus coronauit ¶ Minos as tellen the poete The which whylom was kyng of Crete A sonne hadde and Androchee He hyght and so befelle that be Vnto Athenes for to lere was sente and so he bare him there For that he was of high lignage Suche pride he toke in his corage That he foryeten hath the scholes And in ryot amonge the foles He dyd many thynges wronge And vsed thylke lyfe so longe Tyl at last of that he wrought He fonde the mischiefe which he sought wherof it fell that he was slayne His fader whiche it herde sayne was wrothe and all that euer he myght Of men of armes he hym dyght A stronge power and forth he went Vnto Athenis where he brent The playne countre al aboute The cities stode of hym in doute As they that no defence hadde Ageyne the power whiche he ladde Egeus whiche was there kynge His counsell toke vpon this thynge For he was than in the citie So that of pees in to trete Bitwene Mynos and Egeus They fell and bene accorded thus That kynge Mynos fro yere to yere Receyue shal as thou shalt here Out of Athenys for truage Of men that were of myghty age Parsons nyne of whiche he shall His wyl don in speciall For vengeaunce of his sonnes deth None other grace there ne geth But for to take the Iuyse And that was don in suche a wyse Vpon whiche stode a wonder cas For that tyme so it was wherof that men yet rede and synge Kynge Mynos had in his kepynge A cruell monster as seyth the iest For he was halfe man and halfe best And Mynotaurus he was hote which was begotten in a ryote Vpon Pasyphae his owne wyfe whyles he was out vpon the stryfe Of that great syege of Troye But she whiche lost hath all ioye whan that she syghe this monstre bore Bad men ordeyne anon therfore And felle that ilke tyme thus There was a clerke one Dedalus whiche had ben of hir assent Of that her lorde was so myswent And he made of his owne wyt wherof the remembraunce is yet For Mynotaure suche a hous That was so stronge and meruaylous That what man that within went There was so many a sondry went That he ne shulde nought come out But gone amased all aboute And in this house to locke and warde was Mynotaurus put in warde That what lyfe that therin cam Or man or beest be ouercam And slough and fedde hym thervpon And in this wyse many one Out of Athenis for truage Deuouted weren in that rage For euery yere they shopen hem so They of Athenis er they go Towarde that ilke wofull chaunce As it was sette in ordynaunce Vpon fortune her lotte they cast Tyll that Theseus at laste whiche was the kynges sonne there Amonges other that there were In thilke yere as it befelle The lotte vpon his chaunce felle He was a worthy knyght withall And whan he sygh his chaunce falle Hâ—â—erde as though he toke none hede But all that euer he myght spede with hym / and with his felaushyp Forth in to Crete he goth by shyp where that the kyng Mynos he sought And profereth all that he hym oughte Vpon the poynt of her accorde This sterne kynge this cruell lorde Toke euery day one of the nyne And put hym in to the discipline Of Mynotaure to be deuoured But Theseus was so fauoured That he was kepte tyll at laste And the meane whyle he cast what thynge hym were best to do And felle / that Ariadne tho whiche was the doughter of Mynos And had herde the worthy los Of Theseus and of his myght And sygh he was a lusty knyght Her holle herte on hym she layde And he also of loue her prayd So ferforth that they were alone And she ordeneth that anone In what maner she shuld hym saue And shope so that she dyd hym haue A clewe of threde of whiche within Fyrst at dore he shall begynne with hym to take that one ende Than whan he wold ageynward wende He myght go the same weye And ouer this so as I seye Of pytche she toke hym a pelote The whiche he shuld in to the throte Of Mynotaure cast ryght Suche wepen also for hym she dyght That he by reason may not fayle To make an ende of his bataile For she hym taught in sondry wyse Tylle he was knowe of thylke empryse Howe he this best shuld quelle And thus shortely for to telle So as this mayden hym had taught Theseus with his monster faught And smote of his hede the whiche be nam And by the thred so as he cam He goth ageyne tyl he were oute So was great wonder all aboute Mynos the tribute hath releced And so was all the werre seced Betwene Athenys and hem of Crete But nowe to speke of that swete The whose beaute was withoute wan This fayre mayden Adryan whan that she sygh Theseus sounde was neuer yet vpon this grounde A gladder wyght than she was tho Theseus dwelt a day or two where that Mynos great chere him did Theseus in a preue sted Hath with this maiden spoke rowned That she to hym was abandouned In al that euer she couth So that her lusty youth All pryuely bytwene hem twey The fyrste floure he toke awey For he so fayre tho behyght That euer whyle he lyue myght He shuld her take for his wyfe And as his owne bertes lyfe He wolde her loue and trouth here And she whiche myght not forbere So sore loueth hym ageyne That what as euer he wold seyne with all her hert she it leueth And thus his purpose he acheuyth So that assured of his trouth with hym she went that was routh Phedra her yonge suster eke A lusty mayd a sobre a meke Fulfylled of all curtosye For susterhode and companye Of loue whiche was hem betwene To se her suster be made a quene Her fader lefte and forth she went with hym whiche all his fyrst entent Forgat within a lytel throwe So that it was all ouer throwe whan she best wend it shuld stonde The shyp was blowen fro the londe wherin that they sailend were This Ariadne had mochel fere Of that the wynde so lowde blewe As she whiche of these ne knewe And praid for to reste a whyle And so felle that vpon an yle whiche Chio hyght they ben dreue where he to her leue hath yeue That she shall lond and take her rest But that was nothynge
therof was lore So that in due tyme is bore This childe and forthwith therupon There fell wonders many one Of teremote vniuersele The sonne toke colloure of stele And lost his lyght the windes blewe And many strengthes ouerthrewe These his propre kynde chaungeth And all the worlde his forme strangeth The thonder with his fyry leuen So cruel was vpon the heuen That euery erthely creature Tho thought his lyfe in auenture The tempest at last sesseth The childe is kepte his age encreceth And Alisaunder his name is hote To whome Calystre and Arystote To techen him philosophye Entenden and Astronomye with other thinges whiche he couth Also to teche him in his youth Nectanabus toke vpon honde But euery man may vnderstonde Of sorcery howe that it wende It wolle him selfe proue at ende And namely for to begyle A lady / whiche withoute gyle Supposeth trouthe all that she hereth But often he that euyll stereth His ship is dreint therin a mydde And in this cas right so betydde Nectanabus vpon a nyght whan it was fayre and sterre lyght This yonge lorde lad vpon highe A boue a towre where as he syghe The sterres suche as he acounteth And saith what eche of hem amounteth As though he knewe of all thinge yet hath he no knowlechinge what shal vnto him selfe befall whan he hath tolde his wordes all This yonge lorde than him apposeth And asketh if that he supposeth what deth he shule him selfe deye He seith or fortune is aweye And euery sterre hath lost his wonne Or els of myn owne sonne I shall be slayn I may not fle Thought Alysaunder in priuete Herof this olde dotarde lyeth Ander that other ought aspyeth All sodeinlyche his olde bones He shofe ouer the walle at ones And saith hym Lye downe there a part wherof nowe serueth all thyn art Thou knewe all other mens chaunce And of thy selfe hast ignoraunce That thou hast sayd amonges all Of thy persone is not befall ¶ Nectanabus whiche hath his death yet whyles hym lasteth lyfe and brethe To Alysaunder he spake and seyd That he with wrong blame on him leid Fro poynt to poynt and all the cas He tolde howe he his sonne was Tho be whiche sory was inough Out of the dyche his father drough And tolde his mother howe it ferde In counsayle and when she it herde And knewe the tokens whiche he tolde She nyst what she say shulde But stode abasshed as for the whyle Of this magike and all the gyle She thought how that she was deceyued That she hath of a maÌ„ conceiued And wende a god it had he But netheles in suche degree So as she myght her honour saue She shope the body was begraue And thus Nectanabus abought The sorcery whiche he wrought Though he vpon the creatures Through his caretes and fygures The maystry and the power had His creatour to nought hym lad Ageyne whose lawe his crafte he vseth when he for lust his god refuseth And toke hym to the deuyls crafte Lo what profyte is hym belafte That thing through which he weÌ„d haue stonde First him exiled out of londe which was his owne and from a kynge Made hym to be an vnderlynge And sythen to deceyue a quene That torneth hym to mochel tene Through lust of loue he gat hym hate That ende couth he nought abate His olde sleyghtes whiche he cast yonge Alisandre hym ouercast His father whiche hym mysbegat He sloughe a great myshappe was that But for omys an other mys was yolde and so full ofte it is Nectanabus his crafte myswent And so it mysfell hym er he went I not what helpeth that clergy whiche maketh a man to do foly And namelyche of Nygromance whiche stont vpon the myscreance ¶ Nota qualiter rex Zorastes statim cum ab vtero matris sue nasceretur gaudâ—o magno risit in quo pronosticum doloris subsequentis signum figurabatur Nam et ipse detestabilis artis magice primus fuit inuentor queÌ„ postea rex Surrie dira morte trucidauit et sic opus operariuÌ„ coÌ„sumpsit ¶ And for to se more euidence Zorastes whiche thexperience Of art magike ferst forth drough Anone as he was bore he lough whiche token was of wo suinge For of his owne controuinge He fond magik and taught it forth But all that was him lytel worth For of Surry a worthy kynge Him slewe and that was his endinge But yet through him this crafte is vsed And he through all the worlde excused For it shall neuer well acheue That stont not ryght with the beleue But liche to wolle is euil sponne who leseth him selfe hath litell wonne And ende proueth euery thyng ¶ Saul whiche was of iewes kynge Vp peyne of deth forbad this arte And yet he toke therof his parte The phitonysse in Samary yafe hym counsayle by sorcery whiche after felle to moche sorowe For he was slayne vpon the morowe To conne mochell thynge it helpeth But of to moche no man yelpeth So for to loke on euery syde Magyke may not well betyde For thy my sonne I woll the rede That thou of these ensamples drede That for no lust of erthly loue Thou seche so to come aboue wherof as in the worldes wonder Thou shalt for euer be put vnder ¶ My good fader graunt mercy For euer I shall beware therby Of loue what me so befalle Suche sorcery abouen all Fro this day forth I shall eschewe That so ne wylle I not pursewe My lust of loue for to seche But this I wolde you beseche Beside that me stant of loue As I you herd speke aboue Howe Alysandre was betaught Of Arystotle and so well taught Of all that to a kynge belongeth wherof my herte sore longeth To wyte what it wolde mene For by reason I wolde wene But if I herde of thinges straunge Yet for a tyme it shulde chaunge My peyne and lisse me somdele ¶ My good sonne thou sayest wele For wisdome howe that euer it stonde To him that can it vnderstonde Doth great profite in sondry wyse But touchend of so hyghe a pryse whiche is not vnto Venus knowe 〈◊〉 may it not my selfe knowe whiche of her courte am all forth drawe And can no thinge but of her lawe But netheles to knowe more As wel as thou me longeth sore And for it helpeth to commune All be they nought to me coÌ„mune The scholes of philosophye Yet thinke I for to specyfye In bokes as it is comprehended wherof thou mightest ben amended For though I be not all counninge Vpon the forme of this wrytinge Some part therof yet I haue herde In this mater howe it hath ferd ☞ Explicit liber sextus ⧠QVIA OMNIS DOCTRIna bona humano regimini saluteÌ„ confert / In hoc septimo libro ad instantiam amantis languidi intendit Genius illam ex qua philosophi et Astrologi philosophie doctrinam regem Alexandrum imbuerunt secundum aliquid declarare Diuidit enim philosophiam in tres partes /