me thinkes ye are as one dysmaied Wheron so study you a peny for your thoughte In faythe quod I if ye knew it yet were it worth naught My thinckes quod she ye are chaunged in euery race What hath any mayde rauyshed your hart from his place Tel me she sayd and my best counsayle ye shall haue With all that I can do as God my soule saue Oh quod I my harte is wrapte full of woe Yet haue I no faythfull frende it to showe I shal tel you Lewes quod she what so euer ye saye To me thincke it sure vnder locke and kaye For euer herynge it by me spoken agayne Ercepte the same be for your profyte playne Well since ye wyl nedes know quod I my careful myserye Ye shall heare the same in fewe wordes playnlye So it is that that sayre swere blossome your syster Grace Hath holly my loue and harte in suche cace That neyther wandrynge nor walkinge whether so euer I go Neyther playinge nor workynge what so euer I do Neyther wakynge nor watchynge any tyme or space Neyther restynge nor slepynge in any maner place But at all tymes and euermore continuallye Hir amiable countenaunce restreth in my mynde daylye No pleasure me pleaseth my mirth is amated No ioyes my delyte my lyfelynesse is abated No musycke me reioyseth theyr soundes are vnswete No pastymes I passe on as at this tyme vnmete No worke is well wrought now vnder my handes Nor I am nothing as I was before I entered loues bades So that I well knowe I am lyke to sustayne Deathes darte very shortely if I do not obtayne The rather hir loue who now hath the measure Me to slaye or reuyue euen at hir owne pleasure Whiche I would she dyd shortly for the ease of my payne By the darte of cruel deathe deuorynge me cleane Nowe haue ye hearde all quod I and more as I saye Then euer to any other I tolde before this daye Wherin I shal desyre you to playe an honest parte For the spedy quietynge of my poore wretched harte Marie quod Iohan now I perceaue very well Of your sadnes and sorowe there is no meruel That hath such an Impostome bredynge in your brest Which worketh you wourthely full waywarde reste No wonder it is though ye loke wan and pale For loue hath made you drincke a draught of sower ale I toke you neuer so tender so soone to be caughte With the louely linckes of loue which are so quickly wrought Ye were wont before this tyme alwayes to saye That they were very fooles that to loue did obaye And that it was impossible any wyse man to be So earnestly set in loue in any degree But that when he would alwaies well he myghte Full easelye put the same out of his heade quite But now ye are caught in the same nette Which in tymes past ye greatly did neglecte When ye sawe any louer ye laughed him to scorne But loue hath now brought you to scole to learne And suerly quod she to deme in myne entent Ye haue worthely of loue deserued this punyshment Welquod I to a man that is falen in mysery and woo Good comforte behoueth and not chidynge soo My faulte I confcsse what nedeth more I desyre youre good counsayle for curynge of my sore Whiche waye I maye best by youre good aduyse Atcheue this so doubtefull and daungerouse an enterprpse Well Lewes quod Iohan nowe that I knoo What woman she is that worketh you this woo Let me alone I wyll fyrste moue this mattier Sone at nyght in bed I wyll earnestly at hir As ye shall perceaue here by this tyme to morowe Other ease or increase of all youre hole sorowe Therefore in the meane tyme be of good cheare And I wyll dilygently worke in youre cause I sweare Whereof I thanked her sayinge gladlye I woulde Hir gentylnes consyder yf euer I coulde And hauynge once kist hir I toke my leaue thane This departinge from hir whome warde I came The morowe nerte after I came estesones to the same place To heare yf I were lyke to obtaine any grace Iohan was not then come I stayed a lytle whyle At last not farre thence I sawe hir commynge ouer a style With hir pail in hir hande then I went hir to mete And gentyllie saluted hir she did lyke wyse me grete Eyther death and double sorow quod I Iohan do you brynge Or lyfe to reuyue me whiche am nowe dyinge Neyther of them bothe quod she but hope haue I broughte Thereby partely to fede and relieue youre heaupe thoughte Then saye on quod I and nomore tyme waste That happy hope to heare I gladly make haste Pester nyghte beynge bothe quod she in oure bed layed I tourned me towardes my syster and euen thus I sayde Oh Iohan quod I I then wyshed me in youre place To haue declared my selfe to hir my hole cace You re wyshe was but voyde quod she but harke what I tell I ared Grace how she dyd and she sayde very well Howe so euer you do quod I lye nowe at youre case I knowe other some are as yll at ease Whiche for you and for youre sake to be playne Muche mysery myschiefe and care do sustayne Whiche greueth me muthe for synce the worlde began God neuer created a more honester man And he is lyke for youre loue as far as I can gesse Shortely to dye suche is hys deadlye distresse For my loue syster Iohan quod Grace to me then In this paryshe I am as yet knowen of very fewe men And fewer do I knowe then howe maye it be That any man is vered so for loue of me Who is it I praye you once name hym to me And then yf I knowe hym I wyll tell you quod she Nay syster Grace quod I that shal not be Before syrste some promyse ye make vnto me That ye shall not at the fyrste kyll his harte cleane By geuyuge hym a naye or by any other meane Of vnkyndenes on youre behalfe but ye shall yf ye can Braunte hym youre loue before an other man For I wyll assure you yf ye perfertly knewe His good gentle behauioure bothe honest and true Whiche is so pleasaunte a parson to synge and to daunce And is skylled in instrumentes for youre pastaunce So well can shote wrestel and leape so lyghte So handesome a man in euery mans syghte And besydes this more sorowe hath sustayned For youre sake and is also so cruelly payned That deathe to hym were a greate deale sweater Then to lyue as he doth he thynketh it muche better And yf in youre defaulte ye shoulde suffer hym to dye For lacke of youre loue what prosyte therby Shoulde ye receaue nay rather yt myght name you A murderer I saye whiche would greately shame you And whome should ye kyll no enemy pardye But a moost true louer who loueth you hartelye Well quod my syster to loue hym ye shall pardon me For I wyll do nothynge in that matter trulye But this
there is no one thinge thy wyfe wyl take more greuouslye Nor any other thynge vereth hir spirites so vehemently Nor of nothynge desyreth she so soone to be reuenged As in that one poynte if hir husbande haue offended Then wareth she hote incensyd with yre With dispyte and malyce then hir harte is on fyre In which their furiouse rage some seke the waye than In lyke sorte if they may to deceaue their good man Beleue me sonne sewe of them will kepe their honestie Yf their husbandes in suche wyse do lyue abrode visiouslye Further thy children hereafter see thou vp brynge In vertuouse excercyse and also good learnynge Teache theim to feare God and the to obaye And euer kepe them in obedience as muche as thou maye For they wyll euer waxe bolde as nede shall requyre But not alwayes so humble as thou wouldest desyre Therfore whyle they are younge and tender of yeres Is bothe their helpe and vndoynge as it oft apperes Muche paynes muste thou take in godly instructynge theim Yf thou purpose they shal euer proue honest men Lause them al euel company to exchue continually For iuste he cannot be that is conuersaunte with the vngodly One shepe hauyngs a peryllouse pocke Of force muste enfecte all the hole flocke Thy daughters alwayes with shamefastnes vprere For it is the fairest flower all women can were Let them neuer be ydle but alwayes doynge With the whele the distafe or with the nedle sowynge For the welfare of this sexe standeth in their honestye Which when they are ydle is then in most ieoperdye And at their ripe yeres do it not ouer slyde Some honest husbandes for theim to prouyde Be not bitter good sonne to thy seruauntes at any tyme Neither punyshe theim with rigoure for euery cryme There is a meane to be obserued in correccion I saye By whiche thou maiest cause them thee both to loue obaye And althoughe fortune hathe poynted the their mayster to be He myght lykewyse haue made a seruaunte of the And what hereafter may fall no man knoweth his chaunce For the hole state of mans lyfe dependeth in ballaunce I haue knowen dyuerse men bothe riche and welthye That afterwarde haue fallen in suche myserye That full fayne they haue bene to auoyde vyle beggerye By seruyce to lyue in great callamitie What we are haue bene we knowe but what after we shal be We are ignoraunte therof suche is oure vncertayntye In thy fyrste kepynge of hduse be not to sumptuouse Neyther in foode nor apparell to laciuiouse For at thy pleasure thou mayest the same alway amende When God aboundaunce of substaunce hereafter shall sende But it woulde be to thy shame yf thou shouldest aslake The fyrste honnest porte thou diddest vpon the take Often call home thy neyghbours but most suche as are poore To dyne and suppe with the let some of them be sure The Lorde thy table shall blesse the more And for suche liberallitie he wil encrease thy store Go not to lawe with them nor be no extoretoner Finyshe their causes yf thou maiest and be no bearer In no mans mattier but in all that thou caune Set quietnesse and concorde betwene man and man But in wranglinge matters be in no wyse no medler Whiche myghte get the an yll name and no man the better Further yf thou fynde a man of an approued honestye That feareth God and is geuen to good vertues hollye Of whome moste men sayewell for his good lyuynge That is no drunckarde quarrelloure nor delyteth in striuig But quyet sober and learned in sapience Beynge of good iudgemente and also of good experience This mans frendshyp seke buselye to obtayne For then a faythe full frende there is no greater gayne But er thou hys amitie earnistlie embrace Learne howe he hath vsed hys other frendes in lyke cate For suche as his behauioure hathe bene to other moe Truste me sonne he wylorder the euen so And when thou once haste him thy frende vnfeynedly Then seke to continue in frendshyp dillygentlye Let no lyght dyspleasure the same breake or decaye But beare with hym rather in all that thou maye Of all treasure the chefest that God dothe in earthe sende Is a man to haue alwayes a sure and stedfast frende Furthermore yf sycknesse shall vere the or thyne Se thou minister remedye to the same betyme Or euer the same do augment and encrease The soner shal it mende and the grefe be the lesse For lyke as fyre when it is fyrste begonne With a lyttel water wylbe quenched full soone But yf it be suffered to contynue stylle And a whyle to burne euen at his owne wyll Then the flame wylbe raysed in suche a great rage That hole welles and conduictes can scace it aswage Euen so euery malladye at the fyrste entraunce Maye be easely cured without great greuaunce This fyrste poynt of phisycke learne thou of me Yf the sycknes be hote colde or moyste the remedy must be contrarye If ouer much laboure and trauayle be the cause Then by ease and rest from the same thou must pause And yf the same come by ouer muche ease and rest Then exercyse and moderate laboure is best Yf it be by superfluitye of drincke or meate Then abstmence is the best remedie thou can get And yf nede requyre a phisicion then call Or a surgion but good diet is the best lieche of all The surgion is nerte for phisicions do kyll The moste part that put their truste theim vntyll For where by happe some one they do saue A hundred for hym they sende to theyr graue ALSO my sonne this laste precepte thou muste learne Which dilygently to obserue I the earnistlye warne Be prepared alwayes and euermore full redye Deathe to enbrace where he striketh soudenlye Yea euen in his moost Lust and welthiest tyme Let the remembraunce of hym be styll before thyne yene He assaulteth men comonly when they thinke of hym lest Fearcelye inuadynge them in their moste quietnes and rest He draweth euer nexer with his ineuitable darte Daylye percynge euery age of man to the harte Howe often dothe death strike the younge lustye man And beryeueth hym of hys best yeres we se nowe and than Oh howe great are the trauayles and payne That a man in this lyfe with payne dothe sustayne Howe shorte is our tyme and the same also so varyable That nothynge in this lyfe can be founde stable With what innumerable pylles are we beseged Whiche by this oure frayle nature can neuer be resyted What we oure vayne pleasures wherin we so truste Euen poysoned with galle and cankered with ruste What are we owretches but duste of the ayre As bryttell as glasse seme it neuer so fayre Moste lyke to a shadowe in a sonnye daye Which when the cloudes are alost sodenly vanyshe a waye Lyke as a flower whiche florisheth in the mornynge dew And at nyghte is withered and hathe vaded his hewe For thoughe we are now alyue and lustye in euery mans sight
Fayre amiable pleasaunte full of corage and might Yet perchaunce er Ppheabus hath once his course ronne Deade carcasses we may be and vyle meate for the worme What prosyteth vs then our great sommes of monye Heaped together by extorcion and bryberye Golde stones Iewels or implement most preciouse Landes houses or vyllages be they neuer so sumptuous Eyther worship honour or lordely auctoritie Rule or dominion or worldely dignitie Whiche maketh many men so proudely to looke ouer all As thoughe they were to the goddes coequall Seinge death endeth althynge and we wretches wyth mysery Lyke duste and shadowe consume so sodenly Semge all oure pryde and glory is so sone extinguyshed And oure tyme so quickly gone neuer to be recouered O lyfe so vayne so fugitiue and frayle Whome suche a nomber of daungers and persilles do assaslle O lyfe that arte so shorte and vncertayne Most lyke vnto smoke a man can the licken Nowe this man dyeth an other after hym I to daye perchaunce and thou to morowe betyme So a lyttel and a lytle eche man dothe dye Euen lyke a butcher hauynge shepe and bestes many Of whiche some to daye he kylleth downe ryght And other some to morow in the morning or at nyght The nerte daye other moo go to the blocke And so forthe tyll consumed be all the hole flocke Thus death dayly remember but feare not the same For of it selfe it is good and worthye no blame Deathe fynysheth all paynes death endeth all care Death daungers dissolueth and putteth away feare To the poore to the prisonner and to the comfortlesse To the condemned and to the miserable captyue in dissresse To the bondeman slaue spoyled and Lazar impotente To them that are on the racke and in greuouse tormente Deathe is imbraced and hartely welcome To suche and many other of lyke state and condicion To good men death neuer can come vnware Whiche euer against his commynge them selues do prepare Whose lyfe hathe contynued in ryghteousnesse And whyche haue remayned in faythe mercy and godlynesse To them no dysproffit is deathe but aduauntage Althoughe it take them in theyr mooste flouryshynge age Thus yf thou be good receaue deathe gladlye For it is a passynge oute of this vale of myserye Then shalte thou render to the earthe and againe to hir sende Thy body whiche but for a tyme she did vnto the lende And if thou ponder with thy selfe in thy minde discretlye What dammage or hurte can death do vnto the She spoilleth the of thy riches perchaunce thou wylt saye But then riches wantest thou none by no kynde of waie Nor anie other thing els thy soule shall desyre But from pouertie to riches thou then semest to aspire For he of all other is the richeste in dede Nor that hathe mooste but that fewest thinges doth nede To leaue thy wyse childerne frendes is a miserable thinge Yea but it wer much more miserable to se thē die thē liuinge And it wyll not be longe but they shall folowe the When the lorde shall also call for them accordinglye And these worldly riches and pleasures are none of thine But lent to the as it weare for a litle tyme Naked camest thou hether and naked must thou hence go Therfore for terrestriall trifles sorowe not so This world is as it were a certaine great feaste Where vnto euery man is bidden as a geaste Where for a while duringe the Lordes pleasure We haue the fruition of this vayne worldlye treasure Vpon this condicion that we be alwayes ready At his commaundement to giue place and departe gladlye And to suffer other men that after vs shall come Of the same feast to receaue like fruition What wight wyl not willinglye leaue this lothesome lyfe Whiche is so wicked disceatfull and so full of strife Where no fayth no pietie nor any iustice Remaineth neither any quietnes or peace Wher all kinde of Sinnes euermore do raigne Where the brother is comonly the brothers bayne Where the sonne ofte wisheth for his fathers shorte lyfe The woman hir husbande and the husbande his wife Whereche body catheth snatcheth what he can Beinge dissemblers and wourkers of fraude euery man That this worlde maie wourthelye well be named A denne of theues being with pillinge and polling enflamed Of luste and boredome what should I make mencion Wherwith the hole earth is fylled with like abhominacion That chastifie is banyshed and virgynitie defaced And the honorable sacremēt of Matrimonie nothing regarded In which wicked worlde also are of parels so many Of labors and sicknes suche a nombre and sondery Where fortune onelye ruleth without all reason Wher no man of him self can be assured any season What good man will not nowe leaue this world gladly Whiche is hollye compassed with such vntollerable mysery Wherefore great follye it is death for to feare Seinge it endeth the myseries we sustayne here And consyder also that departynge from mortallitie By death thou enterest into thy region of eternitie Therfore my sonne let thy lyfe be godlye So shalte thou not stande in any feare to dye Fyrste in thy health hollye set in good staye By wyll al thy worldly affaires as nere as thou maye That in thy sicknes thou be not with them troubled Nor thy mynde then from godlynesse by them encombred And euery nyghte before thou goest to thy rest To confesse to God thy synnes with harty repentaunce is best And humblye aske mercy with hope vnsaynedly Preparynge thy selfe then holly to dye And so thy soule to the Lorde moost humblye betake Which on the crosse suffred his passion for thy sake Thus shal not soden death vnprouyded the fynde Yf thou beare well this last lesson in thy mynde This my rude counsayle yf thou followe in euery condicion As I trust thou wylt accordynge to myne expectacion Thou shalt well walke in the right pathe waye than Whiche as I erste sayde leadeth to the lyfe of an honest man And now sonne my former promyse beynge performed done To the place where we met we are nere eftesones come I thancke you gentle father sayd I for your holsome counsayle I neuer herde tolde a more verteouse tale I beseche almyghty God to graunte me the grace The same to obserue in euery poynte and cace And the same Lorde of hys goodnes rewarde you gratiouslye That hathe taken suche paynes to enstructe me verteouslye Fare well my good sonne quod he Christ be thy guyde And so departynge from hym home warde I hyed FINIS
men spillynge Finallye no filthier thinge is there or more detestable I say Then a man to be couetouse by any maner of way For whoso to that vile vice is once geuen To the blynde Mole I maye him wel lyken Which neither loueth desireth or any way knoweth Any other thynge then in thys vayne worlde groweth The wretche doth not see howe shorte and how frayle The life of man is and how death doth vs assayle Daylye ready to strike vs his bowe being bente With his deadly doubtfull darte then is to late to repente He nother spareth the younge the olde or any degre The riche the learned or the man in auctorytie The Lawer the Landlorde or the lacking poore man that wepith But withoute any difference he euery man stryketh And he is ofterymes nerest vs we dailie doo see When we mooste thincke him furthest of too bee But then my sonne these wordlie ryches here And these vaine goodes subiecte to blinde fortunes power Doo lytill esteme nor moche for them care For these thinges are none of thyne whatsoeuer they are Which either vnstable fortune hir pleasure too fulfill Doth geue graunte and plucke awaye at hir variable will Or which when thou dyest will no lenger abyde But to seke them newe maisters awaye soudainly thei doo slyde There bee other goodes which thou oughtest too acquyze And morche better ryches thou shouldest desyre Which with thee alwayes will remaine and endure Of whom neither fortune nor death hath power be thou sure These ought thou too heape vp for the night and daye Then in dede arte thou happie and riche euerye waie As for the reste which the commoÌ„ people followe and magnifie Yf thou haue them as landes goodes catailles or moneye Lawfullie vse the same no man can forbide thee But thou oughtest to vse them with Iustice and modestie And also when thou maiest pytie the pouertie And neuer shutte thine eares at the crye of the nedie For who so with compassion wil not hear the crieng of the poore Shal crye him self and not be heard I am sure By releuinge the poore thou laiest vp in stoore A treasure in heauen to continue euermore Which neither canere can corrupte neither theues them coÌ„uaie Thus heauely treasure for worldly trifles thou shalt haue another daye No man he is but a Wulfe that clemencye lacketh And which at other mens myserie no pitie taketh Or that refuseth too helpe his fellowe seruaunte here Seinge wee are all seruauntes to one Lorde and maister But of it shall happen the I saye a poore man too bee With pacient hearte beare and sustame the pouertie For the man that hath moche wee alwaye well see Is troubled and tossed with cares aboundauntlie Also he to whom fortune hath of goodes geuen stoore The hote hastye heate beginneth to aswage Then after fally foloweth frownynge frowarde repentaunce With sorow and shame fastnes bringing great greuaunce Therfore busily beware of it and thy mynde so moderate That this foule vyce in thy corage thou dilygently abate Pacience is a vertue of a wonderful strength And obtayneth the victory of eche thing at length The which godly gyft who so euer doth wante In hym all goodnes and grace of force must be scante And cruel he must nedes he and also to strife ful prone Which is not the nature of man but of beastes alone The prudent and good seketh chiefely for peasse And fearing greater mischieâ—â—s wyll beare with the lesse Lest that a lytle sparke might encrease such a flame That great peryl it were agayne to quenche the same He that nothing wyll suffre nor his way warde wrath refrayne Must flee the company of al men we see playne And dwel alone in the wodes or mountaynes on hye Where no man may trouble hym nor he no body But he that wyll frequent and dwel amongest men Must learne to suffer dyspleasures now and then And brydle hys furye dissemblynge his yre And in his secrete brest quench the hote fyre Nor in any wyse may for euery lyght offence Violate the bondes of peace and pacience But asmuch as he can forgiue other men That he offendynge in lyke case may be also forgeuen ¶ Further Gloton ye to ertue be euer circumspecte Which with diuerse diseases the minde and body doth infecie Besydes shortenynge mans lyfe it consumeth his wealth Vnwarely as it were him robbynge by stealth For dainties are dere and dilicates be costely Swallowing vp cleane great riches quickely Some men very rich by prodigal superfluitie Haue in short time deuoured their patrimonie Dayly pourynge in their bellyes both house goods and lande Tyll pouertye them pincheth and they aâ— broughte behande I haue knowen very many I tel the good sonne That by laciniouse ryotte haue bene vtterly vndone Thou must eate I saye thy lyfe onely to sustayne And not lyue to eate this is most playne Ebreite and drunckennes is also excesses brother For in whome rayneth the one there is also the other This likewyse must thou fle yf thou loue thy welfare Of al other the same is the most detestable snare He that this wicked vyce hath once embraced All goodnes in him is clearly defaced Reason then refuseth hym and he is left too his wyll Al synnes haue free entraunce him then for too spyll Good sonne I haue sayd many yeres past That great Alerander in his drunckennes coÌ„mauÌ„ded in hast His most deare and familiare frendes to be slayne By whose helpe and good counsayle as it is moost playne He had the hole world conquered who beynge thus dedde And slepe had expulsed ebriety out of Alexanders hedde He then so lamented their deathes in wepynge bytterlye That he was redy for very anguyshe to dye presentlye Oh fylthy ebrietie the destroyer of the soule Oh norysher of vyces and iniquities all What thing is it but thou forcest mannes harte to fulfyll Wherby he wareth bolde too attempt all that is yll Quarellynge stryfe cruel fraies thou doest moue Neyther regardynge discrecion honest frendship or loue Through the counsaile is opened and secrettis reueled The tongue is not then hable too kepe the same closed Flee this vyce my sonne in all that thou maye Least it growe from custome too nature another daye The tongue also thou must learne too moderate And be well ware what thou speakest early and late Be euermore wyllynge attentify too heare But speake seldome as nede shall require Aboundaunce of talke is a great sygne of follye And the busye babler offendeth continuallye He that seldome talketh and then speaketh wyselye Is worthye much prayse and approueth too be wittie One principal point obserue in thy communication Whether they be preseÌ„t or absent w e thy words hurt no man Nor except it tende too some purpose speake thou any thing Leaste men laughe the too scorne for thy bablynge Rather holde thy peace and be euer silent It hurteth not neyther shall it thee repent In daunger and perell he remayneth euermore Experience doth teach vs and we
see euery daye Some mans landes and ryches too be their castynge away It is no newe thynge to see this abusion That dyuerse mennes wealthes haue bene theyr confusion Also riche men are w e the burde of their goodes so borne downe That they haue no minde to seke after the celestial mansion For the more a man desyreth riches and earthly gayne So much the harder it is for him too heauen to attayne For looke where a mans treasure is layde There is also hys harte it can not bee denayed Therefore pouertye to some persons is profytable Disburdenynge them of mischeffes innumerable FVRTHER pride of thee is to be abhorred no lesse Beynge of stryfe and debate the mother and mistresse By this the lawes ar neglected and the common welth spylled And innumerable people this vayne pryde hath kylled With this pestilence the famouse Rome being once poysoned By cyuill warre and oppression was vtterly destroyed This monstruous helhound by alway see thou flee Yf thou wylt with almyghty God lyue eternallye For God in the lowly and meke taketh delectacion And in the humble spirites glady hath his habitacion Them also he fauoureth that are voyde of ambicion And the proud swellynge people he bringeth to confution Therefore ye people puft vp with pryde what profyteth you Your pride high names and vayne styles forged newe Which death doth confounde and bringeth in subieccion Your ambisious tytels of so great a renowne Some wyll perchaunce say the common people we wil please In couetynge of them therfore to haue our prayse Tel me I praye you what is the iudgement of the multytude Ye shall perceaue many tymes they doo mocke and delude Or elles speake of affeccion as some tyme namynge them wyse Which are perchaunce very fooles rightly to surmyse And though the ignoraunt we mocke God can we not deceaue Naye he rather derydeth vs by our leaue For he knoweth our maners and our dedes most secrete And for them worthelye to punyshe vs he wil not forget But many are so blynde that in their owne thoughte They beleue there is no God that there remayneth nought Of any man the breathe beynge once erpired Therfore the present ioyes of this lyfe they haue euer desyred And do dayly wyshe for deridynge the blisse to come Haue not they bestial heartes vnder mans shape and forme We sâ—ke after ryches our pride too mayntayne Oure lyfe vanely spendynge to seke a synfull gayne We ponder not the frayltye of our wretched state Wese not death dayly redy our pryde to abate We are so contentlesse from moste vnto leaste That in oure vocacion we neuer can reste Wel yf in worldly thynges blynde fortunes gouernaunce Ruled not without reason at hir owne wil and pleasaunce As we se she dothe then all thinges should be wel The lawes and iustice should floryshe and tiranny expel But since almighty God suffereth such thinges to be done Who if it pleased hym coulde amende al right soone Why should we grutche to suffer the same To repyne at Gods wyl we are greatly to blame Wherfore wysedom willeth wyse men euer to be patient And taking al thinges as it commeth to be content But thou my sonne endeuour thy selfe in al that thou can Blynde fortune to dispyce and the vayne prayse of man Onely studye thou dayly by al maner of wayes With vertuouse lyuynge the Lord for to please For true honour and prayse thou canst not obtayne Vntyl after this lyfe in heauen thou remayne Whiche the good and iuste shal enioy there That with humblenes and mekenesse haue led their lyfe here ALSO I charge thee thyne angre to suppresse And the hote rage of ire which causeth great busynesse Wrathe worketh wo and much mischiefe we see Furye maketh frayes and then of necessitie Foloweth wyde woundes hurtes and other mayme In which bluddy bickeringes oft tyines some men are slayne For the mynde of man beynge once incensed with ire Is so blyndely oppressed with that rashe ragynge fyre That it neyther can beholde or iudge any thing a ryght Reason then ruleth not and wit hath lost his myght When after once beynge past such furiouse rage Too haue bene quiet and still but erperience teacheth That the talkatiue person oft to his paine repenteth FINALLY my sonne a nother thing ther is Which I haue not to the yet rehersed ywys That aboue all the rest thy lyfe will deface If in youth too represse it thou haue not the grace That is the wanton desyres of the bodie frayle With this thy best age will violentlie assaile The lewd lustes wherof see that thou flee And brydle thou them before they blind thee Ther is no thinge too vertue soo cleane contrarye As is the wicked concupiscence of the bodie Wher vertue too the heauens striueth too assende Vyle luste vaine pleasures onlie doth attende Lokinge alwaies as a beast too the earth grouelinge The liue lie sprites both of the minde and bodie distroyenge The deuill taketh manie with his booke and snare Like a craftie sore no trauell doth he spare So he may withhold them the blisse of heauen too attaine And after this life within in hell too liue euer with paine These deceates therfore of Sathan thin enemie And this detestable poyson couered ouer with honye Warely beware of as moche as thou maye Least the same repent the in vaine a nother daye When thy rype yeres of discretion and mans perfect state Shall clearlie perceaue all thoughe then to late Thy wytte thy substaunce members and good name By a lytill wanton pleasure consumed to remane Then shalt thou as many other ar wont too saie Oh youth and lustye yeares howe ar yee vanyshed awaye Howe euill haue I spente you wretche that I am Whether are ye gone oh vnfortunate man Yf god of his goodnes wold estsones restore The ioyfull â—…uentute I once had before If I might once I saye the same againe ebtaine I wold then tread the right pathe of vertue soo plaine Although the same were neuer so narowe a waye I wolde therein walke and continue night and daye That there is no thing like vertue I finde nowe full true Nor to it too bee compared this alas ofte doo I rue Whiche euer continueth and alwaye doth endure Geuing to man suche worthy prayse honor as is sure She increaseth thy ryches and thy lyfe doth preserue Yea after death she abiding away wyl not swarue But I of all other thincke my selfe most vnhappye Who by flatteringe voluptuousnes was dereaued wylfullye Which slidying away longe since hath lefte me Wrapped in al my mischiefes and wofull miserye For I beinge a younge man the stewes dyd frequente And in bancketinge slepe and play my tyme ydlye spente Nothing then woulde I learne all study I despised Abhorring in good science to be exercised But nowe therfore we worth the tyine I well see My selfe bothe vnlearned and no lesse diâ—â—amed to be In pouertie also and my whole body brused My wittes altogether dulled and my
sences confused I haue hither to liued as one who hath dreamed Him selfe to be awake and yet was deceaued Suche thinges sonne of some men we are wonte for to here That are farre stricken in age and to their graue draw nere Which callynge to remembraunce their lustye yeares past Do now but to late bewayle their miserye at the last Then shuttinge the stable dore when horses there be none And now waring wise when blinde Fortune is gone Then sekyng a Surgion to heale their rancled sore When there is no hope of cure in the same any more My sonne therfore take tyme whyle thou maye For it neuer retourneth yf it once vanishe awaye Neither waylinge wyl helpe nor wepynge then remedye Yf the body be once stricken with deathes darte deadlye The medicine is profitable Phicisione doe saye That in time is ministred not slackyng any daye Wherfore when thyne youth first to floryshe doth begynne Then thee behoueth vertue to embrace and fle from synne Then oughtest thou to take the ryght pathe of lyuynge To good and honest studyes thy selfe holly applyinge Then vse thou reason and gouerue by counsayle thy mynde While the same is pliaunte euery waye to wynde Whoso wylbe wyse let him be wyse whyle he maye For to be wise a daye after the fayre is folyshnes I saye And therfore he is worthye hys miserye to sustayne Bewaylinge the losse that is neuer to be recouered agayne NOWE touchinge this worlde vnderstande plainelye That the same is veary short and transitorie And the hole lyfe of man wherein we do rurine In comparison to theternite of the woride to come The trueth wherof to be truely declared To one momente of tyme is not to be compared And touching the myserye of the worlde I saye He is happyer that is gone then here farre awaye For marke I pray the howe infancye cometh oute Of his mothers wombe naked without any cloute And the first thinge he then doth is wepinge with teares Because the miserie of this worlde as I thincke he feares As I mighte it lyken to some marchaunt man Which on some percellous vyage his waye must take than And fearing both drowninge Pirats and shipwrake Tremblynge so daungerous a iourney to take Eurn so nature teacheth the infaunte plainlye That he then entreth into the vale of myserie All other beaftes that nature bringeth forthe To their dāmes tytt ronne straight with open mouthe But man as soone as euer he is borne Yf the mother clothe and fede him not he is forlorne After Infauncie how longe it is Or perceueraunce crepyth in that lityll brest of his Childhode cometh after wherofneyther of them both Can by reason rule them selues be they lefe or loth Then what grefe trauayle feare and payne Suffreth the chylde or he to iuuentute doth attayne Then ignoraunte fraill youth begynneth to aryse Which leaueth reason and comonly is ruled by vyce His strength encreasinge he putteth away feare Good warninges and preceptes he will then no more heare Then wareth he wilde his younge bloud beinge warme Geuen to Ire and Lusse which doth hym moch harme Good counsell he refuseth and is then rashe in all thinge To the euill enclyned the good euer ertuinge Noperel he doubteth no daunger he doth refraine So that his fraill luste he may by anie meane obtaine No lawe he then feareth yf there be a toye in his braine Fewe younge men in that age from vice can abstaine Whom either shame fastness feare or wisdome doth constraint By no spotte of vice their youth for to staine Then cometh mans state graue and sage By erperience and wisdome he is taught in this age Then vnsounde are his slepes he lanboureth with paine The liuinge of him selfe and his house to sustaine He gathered together in that state of life In age to kepe hun his famelie and wife Onelie caringe for them all both to cloth and fede Spendinge this his best age with miserye in dede And then wearye rude age on man fast crepeth Stealinge vpon him whether he waketh or sleapeth Bringinge many discommodites both of minde and bodie His strength taketh his leaue his freshe colour will not tarye His sences shrincke awaye his sight wareth dime His hearinge dulleth and his smellinge leaueth hime Further he is alwaies vered with one or other disease No meate him then sauourith al thinge him displease Withoute aide of a stafe his legges him then fale His witte is then gone his body shrincheth waring pale This euery age hath his infirmitie we see Which of force we are forced to suffer parientlie Which last age will not leaue him til he hath broughte Man to his graue where he consumeth to noughte ILET passe of all other comon perrilles to tell With which man is beseged while he here doth dwell Wherwith a mans life is so greately enuironed That it is seldome or neuer but by some of them deuoured Nowe vehemente colde with I lye snowe greue vs Then hotte burninge heate to vs are molestiouse Thertremitie whereof as is ofte seene Causeth the ground wyde open some licoure to obtaine Sometyms we are noyed by so greate wete and raine That it ouer floweth hole contries we se plaine Hunger thirst and also moch penurie Wyth the wantyng of necessarie thinges to occupie Who can declare in miter or in prose The greate and manysolde nomber of those Discases and sickenesses of euery hinde Which killeth daylie our bodies and verith our minde By battel and warfaire some men are confounded In the seas and other waters many men are drowned Other some by fallinge catch theyr bane Orels by crushing their members are made lame Some men cruell fyre to ashes doth consume Many ar chocked and cruell beastes killeth some What shal I recite howe in earth the liuing manne Hath no greater enemie then the sede wherof he came Of that sede springeth al theues and robers All murderers periured and false witnesse bearers Fornicatours also and vile adulterers And of mankinde discende al wicked doers This mā with his weapon another with his tongue mē do kile The most parte by fraude and deceate worketh ile O lorde all men almoost nowe take delite At other mens harmes suche is their spite The brother the naturall brother doth mistrust The amitie of frendes nowe lieth in the dust The father his sonne and the husband his wife Eche suspecte other here is a goodly lyfe Nowe sonne I haue told the aswell as I can The perels that doo compasse the life of man Wherfore thou maiest not this worldelie pleasure vse Ercept thou intende eternell life to refuse And the tyme veary short that thou here shalt remaine The trueth wherof I can well declare plaine For all though that I am nowe fowre score yeare olde Yet the bedroll of my lyfe when I do vnfolde I do nowe wel ponder and perceaue in this case The same to haue ben but a veary litil space And yet to liue myne age of a hunderith I knowe One shalt thou not