parfaytly how that thou art fullÌ„ of paryls of thoughte and of charge yf thou were on the grounde he wolde neuer lyfte ner take the vp Remembre the that whan thou art most gloryous than haue some men moste enuye on the and whan thou haste moste seignourye and lordships than shalt thou haue moste care thought and anguysshes Valpasian was so humble that whan Nero was slayn alle the peple cryed for to haue hym emê‘our and many of his frendes cam prayde hym that he wold take hit vpon hym so at the last he was constrayned to take hit vpon hym And sayd to his frendes Hit is better and more to preyse and alowe for a man to take thempire agaynst his wilÌ„ than for to laboure to haue hit and to put hym self therin Thus ought they to be humble and meke for to resseyue worship Therfore sayth the bible that Ioab the sone of Saryne that was captayn of the warne of the kynge Dauid whan he cam to take and wynne a Cyte He sente to Dauid and desired hym to come to the warre that the victorye shold be gyuen to Dauid And not to hym self Also they ought to be ware that they chaunge not ofte tymes her officers Iosephus reherceth that the frendes of tyberyus meruaylled moche why he helde hys offycyers so longe in theyr offices wyth oute changynge And they demanded of hym the cause to whom he answerd I wold chaunge them gladly yf I wyste that hit shold be good for the peple But I sawe on a tyme a man that was royuyous full of soores And many flyes satte vpon the soores and souked his blood that hit was meruaylle to see wherfore I suibâ—e and chaced them away And he than said to me why chacest and smytest away thyse flyes that ben full of my blood And now shallt then late come other that ben hongrye whiche shall doon to me double payne more than the other dide for the prikke of the hongrye is more poyngnant the half than of the fulle And therfore sayde he I leue the officiers in their offices for they ben allÌ„ riche and doo not so moche euylÌ„ harme As the newe shold doo were poure yf I shold sette hem in her places They ought also to be pacyent in herynge of wordes in suffrynge payne on her bodyes as to the first One said to alisander that he was not worthy to regne specially whan he suffrid that lecherie and delyte to haue seignoire in hym he suffrid hit paciently And answerd none otherwyse but that he wolde corrette hym self And take better maners and more honeste Also hit is reherced that Iulius cezar was ballyd wherof he had desplaysir so grete that he kempt his heeris that laye on the after parte of his heed forward for to hyde the bare to fore Than sayd a knyght to hym Cezar hit is lighther And sonner to be made that thou be not ballid than that I haue vsid ony cowardyse in the warre of rome or here after shall doo ony cowardyse he suffrid hit paciently and sayd not a word Another reproched hym by his lignage And callyd hym fornier he answerd that hit is better that noblesse begynne in me than hit shold faylle in me Another callid hym tyraunt he answerd yf I were one thou woldest not saie soo A knight callid on a tyme scipion of affricque fowle olde knyght in armes And that he knewe lityll good And he answerd I was born of my moder a lityll child and feble and not a man of armes And yet he was at alle tymes one of the best and moste worthy in armes that liuyd Another sayd to vaspasian And a wolf shold sonner change his skyn and heer than thou sholdest chauÌ„ge thy lyf For the lenger thou lyuest the moâ—e thou coueytest And he answerd of thyse wordes we ought to laughe But we ought to amende our self And punysshe the trespaces Seneque reherceth that the kynge Antygonus herde certayn peple speke and saye euyll of hym And therwas betwene hem no more but a courtyne And than he sayde make an ende of your euyll langage leste the kynge here yow for the courtyne heereth yow well I nowhe Than as towchynge to the paynes that they ought to suffre paciently Valerius reherceth that a tyrant dide do tormente Anamaximenes thretenyd hym for to cutte of his tonge To whom he sayd hit is not in thy power to doo soo and forthwyth he bote of his owne tonge And shewed hit wyth his teth and casted hit in the visage of the Tyrant Hit is a grete vertu in a man that he forgete not to be pacyent in corrections of wronges Hit is better to leue a gylty man vnpunysshyd than to punysshe hym in a wrath or yre Valerius reherceth that archita of tarente that was mayster to plato sawe that his feldes lande was destroyed and lost by the necligence of his seruant To whom he sayd yf I were not angry with the I wold take vengeance and turmente the Lo there ye may see that he had leuer to leue to punysshe than to pugnysshe more by yre wrath than by right And therfore sayth seneque doo no thynge that thou oughtest to doo whan thou art angry For whan thou art angry thou woldest doo alle thynges after thy playsir And yf thou canst not vaâ—nquysshe thyn yre than muste thyn yre ouercome the After thys ought they to haue wylfull pouerte lyke as hit was in the auncyent prynces For they coueyted more to be riche in wytte and good maners than in moneye And that reherceth Valerius in his .viii. booke that scipion of Affryque was accused vnto the Senate that he shold haue grete tresour And he answerd certes whan I submysed affryque in to your poeste I helde no thynge to my self that I myght saye this is myn saue only the surname of affryque Ner the affryquans haue not founden in me ner in my broder ony auarice ner that we were so couetouse that we had ne had gretter enuye to be riche of name than of rychesses And therfore sayth seneque that the kynge Altagone vsid gladly in his hows vessels of erthe And some sayde he dyde hit for couetyse But he sayde that hit was better and more noble thynge to shyne in good maners than in vayssell And whan some men demanded hym why and for what cause he dyde so he answerd I am now kynge of secylle and was sone of a potter and for as moche as I doubte fortune For whan I yssued out of the hous of my fader and moder I was sodaynly made riche wherfore I beholde the natiuyte of me and of my lignage whiche is humble meke And alle these thynges cometh of wilfull pouerte for he entended more to the comyn prouffyt than to his owen And of thys pouerte speketh saynt Augustyn in the booke of the cyte of god That they that entende to the comyn prouffyt sorowe more that wilfull pouerte is lost in rome
aboue alle other and most worthy And that is signefyed by the corone For the glorye of the peple is the dignite of the kynge And aboue all other the kynge ought to be replenysshid with vertues and of grace and thys signefieth the purpure For in lyke wyse as the robes of purpure maketh fayr enbelysshith the body the same wise vertues maketh the sowle he ought alleway thenke on the gouernement of the Royame and who hath thadmynystracion of Iustice And thys shuld be by hym self pryncipally This signefieth the appÌ„ell of gold that he holdeth in his lyfte honde And for as moche as hit apperteyneth vnto hym to punysshe the rebelles hath he the sceptre in his right hand And for as moche as mysericorde and trouthe conserue and kepe the kynge in his trone Therfore ought a kynge to be mercyfull and debonayr For whan a kynge or prynce desired or will be belouyd of his peple late hym be gouerned by debonarite And valerius saith that debonairte percyth the hertes of straungers and amolisshith and maketh softe the hertes of his enemyes wherof he reherceth that philostratus that was duc of athenes had a doughter whom a man louyd so ardantly that on a tyme as he sawe her wyth her moder sodaynly he cam and kyssed her wherof the moder was so angry and soroufull that she wente and requyred of her lord the duc that his heed myght be smyten of The prynce answerd to her and sayde yf we shold slee them that loue vs what shall we doo to our enemyes that hate vs Certaynly this was thanswer of a noble debonair prynce That suffred that villonye don to his doughter and to hym self yet more This prince had also a frende that was named Arispe that sayd on a tyme as moche villonye vnto the prynce as ony man miht saye And that might not suffise hym but he scracchid hym in the visage The prynce suffryd hym paciently in suche wyse as thowh he had doon to hym no vilonye but curtoysye And whan his sones wold haue auengid this vilonye he comanded them that they shold not be so hardy so to do The next day folowyng arispe remembrid of the right grete vilonye that he had don to his frende and lord wyth oute cause He fyll in dispayr and wold haue slayn hym self whan the duc knewe and vnderstode that he cam to hym and sayd ne doubte the nothynge And swore to hym by his fayth that also well he was and shold be his frende fro than forthon as euery he had ben to fore yf he wold And thus he respited hym of his deth by his debonairte And in lyke wyse rede we of the kynge pirre to whom was reported that they of tarente had said grete vilonye of hym For whiche cause he maad alle them to come to fore hym And demanded of them yf they had so sayd Than oon of them answerd and sayd yf the wyn and the candellys had not fayllyd thys langage had ben but a Iape In regarde of that we had thought to haue doon Than the kynge began to lawhe for they had confessid that suche langage as was sayd and spoken was by dronkenship And for this cause of debonairte the peple of tarante toke for a custome that the dronken men shold be punysshyd And the sobre men preysed The kynge than thus ought to loue humylyte and hate falâ—â—te after the holy scripture that speketh of euery man generally For the kynge in his royame representeth god And god is verite And therfore hym ought to saye no thynge but yf hit were veritable and stable Valerius reherceth that Alixandre wyth alle his ooste rood for to destroye a cyte whyche was named lapsare whan than a phylosophre whiche had to name Anaximenes whiche had ben to fore maistre gouernour of Alixandre herd and vnderstood of his comyng Cam agayn Alixandre for to desire and requyre of hym And whan he sawe Alixandre he supposid to haue axid his requeste Alixander brake his demande to fore and swore to hym to fore he axid ony thynge by his goddes That suche thynge as he axid or requyryd of hym he wold in no wyse doon Than the philosopher requyred hym to destroye the cyte whan Alixandre vnderstood his desire and the oth that he had maad he suffrid the cyte to stande and not to be destroyed For he had leuer doo his wyll than to be periured and forsworn and doo agaynst his oth Quyntilian saith that no grete man ne lord shold not swere but where as is grete nede And that the symple parole or worde of a prynce ought to be more stable than the oth of a marchauÌ„t Alas how kepe the prynces their promisses in thise dayes not only her promises but their othes her sealis and wrytynges signes of their propre handes alle faylleth god amende hit {etc} A kynge also ought to hate alle cruelte For we rede that neuer yet dyed ony pietous persone of euyll deth ne cruell persone of good deth Therfore recounteth valerius that ther was a man named theryle a werkeman in metall that made a boole of coppre and a lityll wyket on the side wherby men myght put in them that shuld be brent therin And hit was maad in suche manere that they that shold be put and enclosid therin shold crye no thinge lyke to the wys of a man but of an oxe And this made he be cause men shold haue the lasse pite of them Whan he had made this bole of copper he presented hit vnto a kynge whiche was callyd philarde that was so cruell a tyrant that he delited in no thinge but in cruelte And he told hym the condicion of the bole whan philarde herde and vnderstode this he alowed and preysed moche the werke And after sayde to hym thou that art more cruell than I am thou shalt assaye proue first thy pÌ„sente and yeft And so made hym to goo in to the boole and dye an euyll deth Therfore saith Ouide ther is no thinge more raisonable than that a man dye of suche deth as he purchaseth vnto other Also the kynge ought souerainly kepe Iustice who maketh or kepeth a royame with oute Iustice of verray force ther muste be grete robberye and thefte Therfor reherceth saint Augustyn in a book which is intituled the cyte of god that ther was a theef of the see named diomedes that was a grete rouar and dide so moche harme that the complaintes cam to fore Alixander whiche dide hym to be taken brought to fore hym and he demanded hym wherfore he was so noyous cruell in the see And he answerd to hym agayn for as moche as thou art â—on a lande in the world so am I another in the see but for as moche as the euyll that I doo is in oon galeye or tweyne therfore I am callyd a theef but for as moche as thou dâ—st in many shippis and with grete puyssance and power therfore art thou
put forth to fore alle other thynges And ther is no thynge so resemblynge and lyke to the bees that maken honye ne so couenable in prosperite and in aduersite as is loue For by loue gladly the bees holden them to gyder And yf ony trespace to that other anone they renne vpon the malefactour for to punysshe hym And verray trewe loue faylleth neuer for wele ne for euyll and the most swete and the most confortynge thynge is for to haue a frende to whom a man may saye his secrete as well as to hym self But verayly amytye and frendship is somtyme founded vpon som thinge delectable And this amytye cometh of yongthe in the whiche dwelleth a disordinate heete And otherwhile amytie is founded vpon honeste And this amytie is vertuouse Of the whiche tullius saith that ther is an amytie vertuous by the whiche a man ought to do to his frende alle that he requyreth by rayson For for to do to hym a thynge dishonneste it is ayenst the nature of verray frendshipe amytie And thus for frendshipe ne for fauour a man ought not to doo ony thinge vnresonable ayenst the comyn prouffit ner agaynst his fayth ne ayenst his oth for yf alle tho thynges that the frendes desire and requyre were accomplisshid doon hit shold seme that they shold be dishoneste coniuracions And they myght otherwhile more greue hurte than prouffit and ayde And herof sayth seneque that amytie is of suche wylle as the frende wylle And to reffuse that ought to be reffusid by rayson And yet he sayth more that a man ought to alowe and preyse his frende to fore the peple and to correcte and to chastyse hym pryuyly For the lawe of amytie is suche For a man ought not to demande ner doo to be doon to his frende no vyllayns thynge that ought to be kept secrete And valerian sayth that it is a fowll thynge and an euyll excusacion yf a man conffesse that he hath done ony euyll for his frende ayenst right and rayson And sayth that ther was a good man named Tassile whiche herde one his frende repuyre of hym a thynge dishonneste whiche he denyed and wold not doo And than his frende sayth to hym in grete dispyte what nede haue I of thy frendship amytie whan thou wylt not doo that thynge that I requyre of the And Tassile answerd to hym what nede haue I of the frendship and of the amytie of the yf I shold doo for the thynge dishoneste And thus loue is founded otherwhile vpon 〈◊〉 prouffitable and this loue endureth as longe as he seeth his prouffit And herof men saye a comyn prouerbe in england that loue lasteth as longe as the money endureth and whan the money faylleth than there is no loue and varro reherceth in his sommes that the riche men ben alle louyd by this loue for their frendes ben lyke as the huske whiche is aboute the grayn and no man may proue his frende so well as in aduersite or whan he is poure for the veray trewe frende faylleth at no nede And seneque saith that some folowe the emê‘our for riches and so doon the fâ—â—es the hony for the swetenes and the wolf the karayn And thise companye folowe the proye and not the man And tullius saith that Tarquyn the proude had a neuewe of his suster which was named brutus and this neuewe had banysshid tarquyn out of rome and had sente hym in exyle And than sayd he first that he parceyuyd knewe his frendes whiche were trewe vntrewe and that he neuer perceyuyd a fore tyme whan he was puyssant for to doo their wyll and sayd well that the loue that they had to hym endured not but as longe as it was to them prouffitable and therfore ought all the ryche men of the world take hede be they Kynges Prynces or duâ—s to what peple they doo prouffit how they may and ought be louyd of theyr peple For cathon sayth in his book see to whom thougyuyst and this loue whiche is founded vpon theyr prouffit whiche faylleth and endureth not may better be callyd and said marchandyse than loue For yf we repute this loue to our prouffit only and nothynge to the prouffyt of hym that we loue It is more marchandyse than loue For he byeth our loue for the prouffit that he doth to vs and therfor saith the versifier thise two versis Tempore felici multi murmerantur amici Cum ina perit nullus amicus erit whiche is to saye in English that as longe as a man is ewrous and fortunat he hath many frendes but whan fortune torneth and perisshith ther abideth not to hym one frende And of this loue ben louyd the medowes feldes Trees and the bestes for the prouffit that men take of them But the loue of the men ought to be charyte veray gracious and pure by good fayth And the veray trewe frendes ben knowen in pure aduersite and pers alphons saith in his book of moralite that ther was a philosophre in arabye that had an onely sone of whom he demanded 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 alle my lyf And I trowe verily that it is no lytyll thynge for to haue a frende and hit is well gretter and more a man to haue many And hit appertayneth and behoueth a man to assaye and preue his frende er he haue nede And than comanded the philosopher his sone that he shold goo and slee a swyne and putte hit in a sack and fayne that hit were a man dede that he had slayn and bere hit to his frendes for to burye hit secretly And whan the sone had don as his fader comanded to hym and had requyred his frendes one after an other as a fore is sayd They deuyed hym And answerd to hym that he was a vylayne to requyre desire of them thynge that was so peryllous And than he cam agayn to his fader and sayd to hym how he had requyred alle his frendes And that he had not founden one that wolde helpe hym in his nede And than his fader said to hym that he shold goo and requyre his frende whiche had but one and requyre hym that he shold helpe hym in his nede And whan he had requyred hym Anone he put oute alle his mayne oute of his hows And whan they were oute of the waye or a slepe he dide do make secretly a pytte in the grounde And whan hyt was redy and wold haue buryed the body he fonde hit an hogge or a swyne and not a man And thus thys sone preuÌ„yd thys 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 ther were two marchantes one of Bandach and that other of Egipte whiche were
quene ought to be chaste for as she is aboue all other in astate reuerâ—ce so shold she be ensample to all other in her liuyng honestly wherof Ierome reherceth agaynst Ioâ—ynyan that ther was a gentilman of rome named duele and this man was he that first fond the maner to fight on the water and had first victorie this duele had to his wif one of the best women so chaste that euery woman might take ensample of her And at that tyme the synne of the flesshe was the grettest synne that ony might doo agaynst nature And this sayd good woman was named ylye and so hit happend that this duele becam so olde that he stowped quaqued for age And on a tymâ— one of his aduersaries repreuyd reprochid hym sayng that he had a stynkynge breth And forthwyth he wente home to his wyf alle angry and abasshid and axid her why and wherfore she had not told his defaulte to hym that he myght haue founden remedye to haue ben purgid therof And she answerd that as for as moche as she supposid that euery man had that same faute as well as he For she kyst neuer ony mannes mouth but her husbondes O moche was this woman to be preysed haue a singuler lawde wenynge that this defaulte had not ben only in her husbonde wherfore she suffrid hit paciently in suche wyse that her husbonde knewe his defaute sonner by other than by her Also we rede that ther was a wedowe named anna whiche had a frende that counceyllid her to marye For she was yong fayr and riche to whom she answerd that she wold not so doo in no wise For yf I shold haue an husbond as I haue had and that he were as good as he was I shold euer ben a ferd to lose hym lyke as I lost that other And than shold I lyue allwey in fere drede whiche I wyll not And yf hit happend me to haue a wors what shold hyt prouffite me to haue an euyll husbond after a good And so she concluded that she wold kepe her chastete Saynt Austyn reherceth in the book de Ciuitate dei that in rome was a noble lady gentill of maners of hyghe kynrede named lucrecia And had an husbonde named colatyne whiche desired on a tyme the Emê‘ours sone named Torquyne thorguyllous or the proude and he was callid sixte for to come dyne and sporte hym in his castell or manoir And whan he was entrid amonge many noble ladyes he sawe lucrecia And whan this Emê‘ours sone had seen aduertised her deportes her contenance her manere and her beaulte he was all rauysshid and esprised wyth her loue forthwyth And espyed a tyme whan her husbonde collatyn wente vnto the ooste of themê‘our and cam in to the place where as lucresse was with her felawship whom she receyuyd honorably and whan tyme came to goo to bedde and slepe she made redy a bedde ryally for hym as hit apperteyned to the emperours sone And this sixtus espyed where lucresia laye And whan he supposyd knewe that euery body was in his first sleep he cam to the bedde of lucresse and that oon hand sette on her breste and in that other hand a naked swerd and sayd to her lucresse holde thy pees and crye not For I am sixte tarquynus sone for yf thou speke ony worde thou shalt be dede And for fere she held her pees Than he began to praye and promise many thinges And after he menaced thretenyd her that she shold enclyne to hym to do his wyll And whan he sawe he coude ner might haue his entent he sayd to her yf thou do not my wyll I shall slee the and ooÌ„n of thy seruantes and shall leye hym all ded by thy syde And than I shall saye that I haue slayn yow for your rybawdrye And lucresse that than doubted more the shame of the world than the deth consentid to hym And anone after as the Emê‘ours sone was departid the ladye sente lres to her husbond her fader her brethern to her frendes and to a man callid brute conceyllour neuewe to tarquyn And sayd to them that yesterday sixte the emê‘ours sone cam in to myn hous as an enemye in likenes of a frende hath oppressid me And knowe thou colatyn that he hath dishonorid thy bedde And how well that he hath fowled dishonored my body yet myn herte is not wherfore I beseche the of pardon foryfnes absolucion of the trespas but not of the payne and he that hath doon this synne to me hit shall ben to his meschance yf ye doo your deuoir And be cause no woman take ensample of lucresse and lyue after the trespaas but that she in lykewyse take ensample also of the payne And forthwyth wyth a swerd that she helde vnder her gowen or robe she roof her self vnto the herte And deyde forthwyth to fore them And than brute the counseillr And her husbond collatyn and alle her other frendes swore by the blood of lucresse that they wold neuer reste vnto the tyme that they had put out of rome tarquyn and alle his lignee And that neuer after none of them shold come to dignite And alle this was doon For they bare the dede corps thurgh the cyte and meuyd the peple in suche wyse that tarquyn was put in exyle And sixte his sone was slayn A Quene ought to be well manerd amonge alle she ought to be tumerous and shamefast For whan a woman hath loste shamefastnes she may ner can not well be chaast Wherfore saith symachus that they that ben not shamefast haue no conscience of luxurye And saynt Ambrose saith that oon of the best parements and maketh a woman most fayr in her persone is to be shamefast Senecque reherceth that ther was oon named Archezille whiche was so shamefast That she put in a pelow of fethers a certain some of money and put hit vnder the heed of a pour frende of heeris whiche dissimyled his pouerte and wold not ner durst not be a knowen of his pouerte For for shame she durst not gyue hit openly but had leuer that he shold fynde hit than that she had gyuen hit hym wherfore otherwhile men shold gyue helpe her frendes so secretly That they knowe not whens hit come For whan we kepe hit secret and make no boost therof our deedes and werkes shall plese god and them also A Quene ought to be chosen whan she shall be wedded of the most honest kynrede and peple For oftentymes the doughters folowen the tacches and maners of them that they ben discended from wherof Valerius maximus sayth that ther was one that wold marye whiche cam to a philosopher and axid counceyll what wif he might best take He answerd that he shold take her that thou knowe certaynly that her moder and her grauntdame haue ben chaast and well condicioned For suche moder suche doughter comunely Also a quene ought to teche her childern to ben contynent and
falsenes and trecherye Men kepe not theyr couenantes promyses othes writynges ne trouthe The subgettis rebelle agayn theyr lorde ther is now no lawe kepte nor fidelite ne oth holden the peple murmure and ryse agayn theyr lord and wole not be subget they ought to be piâ—tous in herte whiche is auaillable to all thinge ther is pite in effecte by compassion and in worde by remission and pardon by almesse for to enclyne hym self to the poure For pite Is nothynge ellis but a right grete will of a debonaire herte for to helpe alle men Valerius reherceth that ther was a Iuge named sangis whiche dampned a woman that had deseruyd the deth for to haue her heed smyten of or ellis that she shold dye in prison The Geayler that had pite on the woman put not her anone to deth but put her in the pryson And this woman had a doughter whiche cam for to se and conforte her moder But allway er she entryd in to the pryson the Iayler serchid her that she shold bere no mete ne drynke to her moder but that she shold dye for honger Than hit happend after this that he meruaylled moche why this woman deyd not And began to espye the cause why she lyuyd so longe And fonde at laste how her doughter gaf souke to her moder And fedde her with her melke whan the Iayler sawe this meruaill he wente told the Iuge And whan the Iuge sawe this grete pite of the doughter to the moder he pardoned her and made her to be delyuerid oute of her pryson what is that that pite ne amolisshith moche peple wene that it is agaynst nature and wondre that the doughter shold gyue the moder to souke hit were agayn nature but the children shold be kynde to fader and moder Seâ—â—ca sayth that the kynge of bees hath no prykke to stynge with as other bees haue And that nature hath take hit away from hym be cause he shold haue none armes to assaylle them And this is an example vnto prynces that they shold be of the same condicion Valerius reherceth in his .v. book of marchus martellus that whan he had taken the cyte of siracusane And was sette in the hyest place of the cyte he behelde the grete destruction of the peple and of the cyte he wepte and sayde thou oughtest to be sorofull for so moche as thou woldest haue no pite of thy self But enioye the for thou art fallen in the hande of a right debonaire prynce Also he recounteth whan pompeye had conqueryd the kynge of Germanye that often tymes had foughten ayenst the romayns And that he was brought to fore hym bounden he was so pietous that he wold not suffre hym to be longe on his knees to fore hym but he receyuyd hym cortoysly And sette the crowne agayn on his heed and put hym in the state that he was to fore For he had oppynyon that hit was as worshipfull and sittynge to a kynge to pardone as to punysshe Also he reherceth of a couÌ„ceyllour that was named poule that dide do brynge to fore hym a man that was prisonner And as he knelid to fore hym he toke hym vp fro the ground made hym to sytte beside hym for to gyue hym good esperance and hoope And sayd to the other stondynge by in this wyse yf hit be grete noblesse that we shewe our self contrarye to our enemyes than this fete ought to be alowed that we shewe our self debonair to our caytyfs prisonners Cesar whan he herde the deth of cathon whiche was his aduersarye sayde that he had grete enuye of his glorye And no thinge of his patrimonye and therfore he lefte to his children frely alle his patrimonye Thus taught vyrgyle and enseygned the gloryus prynces to rewle and gouerne the peple of rome And saynt Augustin de ciuitate deâ— saith thus Thou emperour gouerne the peple pietously And make peas ouerall deporte and forbere thy subgets repreue correcte the prowde for so enseyne And teche the the lawes And hit was wreton vnto Alexander that euery prynce ought to be pyetous in punysshynge And redy for to rewarde Ther is no thynge that causeth a prynce to be so belouyd of hys peple As whan he speketh to hem swetly and coÌ„uersith with hem symply And all this cometh of the roote of pyte we rede of the Emperour Traian that his frendes repreuyd hym of that he was to moche pryue and familier wyth the comyn peple more than an emperour ought to be And he answerd that he wold be suche an emperour as euery man desired to haue hym Also we rede of Alixander that on a tyme he ladde his oost forth hastely and in that haste he beheld where satte an olde knight that was sore a colde Whom he dide do arise and sette hym in his owne sete or siege what wondre was hit though the knightes desired to serue suche a lord that louyd better theyr helth than his dignite The rookes ought also to be humble meke After the holy scripture whiche saith the gretter or in the hier astate that thou arte so moche more oughtest thou be meker more humble Valerius reherceth in his .vii. book that ther was an emperour named publius cesar That dide do bete doun his hows whiche was in the middis of the market place for as moche as hit was heier than other houses for as moche as he was more glorious in astate than other Therfore wold he haue a lasse hous than other And scipion of affrique that was so poure of voluÌ„tarie pouerte that whan he was dede he was buried at the dispencis of the comyn good They shold be so humble that they shold leue theyr offices and suffre other to take hem whan her tyme comyth doo honour to other for he gouerneth welÌ„ the royame that may gouerne hit whan he will Valeriê° saith In his thirde book that fabyan the grete had ben maistre counceyllour of his fader his grauntsire And of his grauntsirs fader of alle his antecessours And yet dide he alle his payne and labour that his sone shold neuer haue that office after hym but for nothynge that he mystrusted his sone For he was noble and wise and more attemprid than other but he wold that the office shold not allway reste in the familye and hows of the fabyans Also he reherceth in his seuenth book that they wold make the sayd fabyan emê‘our but he excused hym and sayd that he was blynde and myght not see for age but that excusacion myght not helpe hym Than sayd he to hem seke ye and gete yow another For yf ye make me your emê‘our I may not suffre your maners nor ye may not suffre myn Ther was a kynge of so subtyll engyne That whan men brought hym the crowne to fore that he toke hit he remembrid hym a lityll and saide O thou crowne that art more noble than happy For yf a kynge knewe well and
than the richesses of rome For by the wilfull pouerte was the renomce of good maners kept entierly thus by this richesse pouerte is not only corrupt in thyse dayes ner the cyte ner the maners but also the thoughtes of the men ben corrupt by thys couetyse and by felonnye 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 cardynall of rome in the decretall the syxte in the chapitre gens sancta where he sayth that they ben felouÌ„s ayenst god contrarye to holy thynges traytres one to that other enuyous to her neyghbours proude vnto straungers rebelle and vntrewe vnto theyr souerayns Not suffringe to them that ben of lower degree than they and nothinge shamfast to demande thinges discouenable and not to leue tyll they haue that they demande and not plesid but disagreable whan they haue resseyuyd the yeft They haue their tonges redy for to make grete boost and doo lityll They ben large in promysynges And smale gyuers they ben ryght fals deceyuours And ryght inordent and bitynge detractours For whiche thynge hit is a grete sorowe to see the humylite the pacyence And the good wisedom that was woute to be in this cyte of rome whiche is chief of alle the world is peruertid torned in to maleheurte and thise euylles And me thynketh that in other partyes of crestiante they haue taken ensample of them to doo euyll They may saye that this is after the decretale of seygnourye and disobeysance that sayth That suche thynges that the souerayns doo Is lightly and sone taken in ensample of theyr subgets Also thise vicayres shold be large and liberall In so moche that suche peple as serue them ben duly payd and guerdoned of her labour For euery man doth his labour the better and lightlyer whan he seeth that he shall be well payd and rewarded And we rede that Titus the sone of vaspasian was so large and so liberall That he gaf and promysyd somewhat to euery man And whan hys moste pryuy frendes demanded of hym why he promysid more that he myght gyue he answerd for as moche as hyt apperteyneth not to a prynce that ony man shold departe sorowfull or tryste fro hym Than hit happend on a day that he gaf ner promysid no thynge to ony man And whan hit was euen and auysed hym self he sayd to hys frendes O ye my frendes thys day haue I lost for this day haue I don no good And also we rede of Iulius Cesar that he neuer saide in alle his lyue to his knyghtes goo oon but allway he sayde come come For I loue allway to be in youre companye And he knewe well that hit was lasse payne trauayll to the knyghtes whan the prynce is in her companye that loueth hem coÌ„forted hem And also we rede of the same Iulius cesar in the booke of truphes of phylosophers that ther was an Auncyent knyght of his that was in paryll of a caas hangynge to fore the Iuges of rome so he callyd cesar on a tyme and said to hym to fore all men that he shold be his aduocate And cesar deliueryd and assigned to hym a right good aduocate And the knyght sayd to hym O cesar I put no vicaire in my place whan thou were in parill in the batayll of assise But I faught for the. And than he shewed to hym the places of his woundes that he had receyuyd in the batayll And than cam cesar in his propre persone for to be his aduocate to plete his cause for hym he wold not haue the name of vnkyndenes but doubted that men shold saye that he were proude And that he wold not do for them that had seruyd hym They that can not do so moche as for to be belouyd of her knightes can not loue the knyghtes And this sufficeth of the rooks The thirde tractate of the offices of the comyn peple The fyrst chapitre is of the office of the labourers and werkemen FOr as moche as the Noble persone canne not rewle ne gouerne with oute the seruyce and werke of the peple than hit behoueth to deuyse the oâ—uurages and the offices of the werkemen Than I shall begynne fyrst at the fyrst pawne that is in the playe of the chesse And signefieth a man of the comyn peple on fote For they be all named pietous that is as moche to saye as footemen And than we wyll begynne at the pawne whiche standeth to fore the rooke on the right side of the kinge for as moche as this pawne apperteyneth to serue the vicaire or lieutenant of the kynge and other officers vnder hym of necessaryes of vitayll And this maner a peple is figured and ought be maad in the forme shappe of a man holdynge in his ryght hande a spade or shouell And a rodde in the lifte hand The spade or shouell is for to delue labour therwith the erthe And the rodde is for to dryue conduyte wyth all the Bestes vnto her pasture also he ought to haue on his gyrdell a crokyd hachet for to cutte of the supfluytees of the vignes trees And we rede in the bible that the first labourer that euer was was Cayin the firste sone of Adam that was so euyll that he slewe his broder Abel for as moche as the smoke of his tythes went strayt vnto heuen And the smoke fumeâ— of the tythes of Cayin wente dounward vpon the erthe And how well that this cause was trewe yet was ther another cause of enuye that he had vnto his broder For whan Adam their fâ—der maried them for to multyplie the erthe of hys â—ignye he wolde not marye ner Ioyne to gyder the two that were born aâ—â—ones but gaf vnto cayin her that was born wyth Abel And to Abel her that was born with cayin And thus began the nuye that cayin had ayenst abel For his wyf was fayrer than cayins wyf And for this cause he slough abel with the chekebone of a beste at that tyme was neuer no maner of yron blody of mannes blood And abel was the first martier in tholde testament And this cayin dide many other euylÌ„ thinges whiche I leue for hit apperteyneth not to my mater But hit behouetâ— for necessite that some shold labour the erthe after the synne of adam for to fore er adam synned the erthe brought forth fruyt with out labour of handes but syn he synned hit muste nedes be labourid with the handes of men And for as moche as the erthe is moder of alle thynges And that we were first formed and toke oure begynnyng of the erthe the same wyse at the laste she shall be the ende vnto alle vs and to alle thynges And god that formed vs of the erthe hath ordeyned that by the laboure of men she shold gyue nourysshyng vnto alle that lyueth and first the labourer of the erthe ought to knowe his god that formed and
so Ioyned to gyder by so grete frendshippe that he of Bandach cam on a tyme for to see hys frende in Egipte of whom he was receyuyd ryght honourably And thyâ— marchant of Egipte had in his hows a fayr yonge mayden whom he shold haue had in maryage to hymself Of the whiche mayde thys marchant of Bandach was esprysed wyth her loue so ardantly that he was ryght seeke And that men supposid hym to dye And than the other dyde doo come the phisicyens whiche sayd that in hym was none other sekenes sauf passyon of loue Than he axid of the seeke man yf ther were ony woman in hys hows that he louyd and made alle the women of his hows to come to fore hym And than he chees her that shold haue ben that others wyf and sayd that he was seek for the loue of her Than hys frende sayd to hym Frende conforte your self For trewly I gyue her to yow to wyf wyth alle the dowayre that is gyuen to me wyth her And had leuer to suffre to be wyth oute wyf than to lese the body of his frende And than he of Bandach wedded the mayde And wente wyth his wyf and wyth his richesse ayen in to his contrey And after this anone after hit happend that the marchauÌ„t of Egipte be cam so poure by euyll fortune that he was constrayned to seche and begge his brede by the contrey in so moche that he cam to bandach And whan he entrid in to the toun hit was derke nyght that he coude not fynde the hows of his frende but wente and laye this nyght in an olde temple And on the morn whan he shold yssue oute of the temple the officers of the toun arestid hym and sayd that he was an homycide and had slayn a man whiche laye there dede And anoÌ„n he confessid hit wyth a good wylle And had leuyr to ben hangid than to dye in that myserable and poure lyf that he suffrid And thus whan he was brought to Iugement And sentence shold haue ben gyuen ayenst hym as an homicide his frende of bandach cam and sawe hym and anone knewe that this was his good frende of Egipte And forthwyth stept in and sayde that he hym self was culpable 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 don the feet and had slayn the man sawe this thynge he considerid in hym self that these two men were Innocente of this feet And doubtynge the dyuyn Iugement he cam to fore the Iuge and confessid alle the feet by ordre And whan the Iuge sawe and herd alle this mater and also the causes he considerid the ferme and trewe loue that was betwene the two frendes And vnderstode the cause why that one wold saue that other and the trouth of the fayte of the homicide And than he pardoned alle the feet hoolly and entierly and after the marchant of bandach brought hym of egipte wyth hym in to his hous and gaf to hym his suster in mariage and departid to hym half his goodes And so bothe of hem were riche And thus were they bothe veray faythfull and trewe frendes Furthermore Notaires men of lawe and crafty men shold and ought to loue eche other And also ought to be contynent chaste honeste For by theyr craftes they ought so to be by necessite For they conuerse accompanye them ofte tyme with women And therfor hit apperteyneth to them to be chaste and honeste And that they meue not the women ner entyse them to law he and Iape by ony disordinate ensignees or tokens Titus liuyâ—s reherceth that the philosopher democreon dyde do put oute his eyen for as moche as he myght not beholde the women wyth oute flesshely desire And how well hit is said before that he dide hit for other certayn cause yet was this one of the pryncipall causes And Valerian telleth that ther was a yonge man of rome of ryght excellent beaute And how well that he was ryght chaste For as moche as his beaute meuyd many women to desyre hym in so moche that he vnderstode that the parents and frendes of them had suspecion in hym he dyde his visage to be cutte wyth a knyf and lancettis endlonge and ouerthwart for to deforme his visage And had leuer haue a fowle visage and disformed than the beaute of hys visage shold meue other to synne And also we rede that ther was a Nonne a virgyne dyde do put oute bothe her eyen For as moche as the beaute of her eyen meuyd a kynge to loue her whyche eyen she sente to the kynge in a presente And also we rede that plato the ryght ryche and wyse phylosophre lefte hys owne lande and Contre And cheese his mansion and dwellynge in a chadomye a town whiche was not only destroyed but also was full of pestelence so that by the cure and charge and customance of sorowe that he there suffrid myght eschewe the heetes and occasions of lecherye And many of his disciples dyde in lyke wyse Helemand reherceth that demostenes the philosopher lay ones by a right noble woman for his disporte and playnge with her he demanded of her what he shold gyue to haue to doo wyth her And she answerd to hym a thousand pens and he sayd agayn to her I shold repente me to bye hit so dere And whan he aduysed hym that he was so sore chauffid to speke to her for taccoÌ„plssh his flesshely desire he dispoylled hym alle naked and wente and putte hym in the middes of the snowe And ouide reherceth that this thynge is the leste that maye helpe and moste greue the louers And therfore saynt Augustyn reherceth in his book de Ciuitaâ—dâ—i that ther was a ryght noble romayne named mercuâ—ian that wan and toke the noble cyte of siracuse And to fore er he dyde do assaylle hit or befyghte hit and er he had do be shedde ony blood he wepte and shedde many treris to fore the cyte And that was for the cause that he doubted that his peple shold defoyle and corrumpe to moche dishonestly the chastyte of the toun And ordeyned vpon payne of deth that no man shold be so hardy to take and defoylle ony woman by force what that euer she were After this the craftymen ought to vnderstond for to be trewe and to haue trouthe in her mouthes And that theyr dedes folowe theyr wordes For he that sayth one thynge and doth another he condempneth hym self by his word Also they ought to see well to that they be of one Acorde in good by entente by word and by dede so that they ben not discordant in no caas But euery man haue pure veryte and trouth in hym self For god hym self is pure verite And men saye comynly that trouthe seketh none hernes ne corners And trouthe is a vertu by the whyche alle drede
and fraude is put away Men saye truly whan they saye that they knowe And they that knowe not trouthe ought to knowe hit And alleway vse trouthe For Saynt Austyn sayth that they that wene to knowe trouthe And lyuyth euyll viciously It is folye yf he knoweth hit not And also he sayth in an other place that is better to suffre peyne for trouthe Than for to haue a benefete by fâ—lsenes or by flaterye And man â—hat is callyd a beste resonable and doth not his werkes after reson and trouthe Is more bestyall than ony beste brute And knowe ye that for to come to the trouthe Hit cometh of a raysonable forsight in his mynde And lyenge cometh of an outrageous and â—â—ntrarye thought in his mynde For he that lyeth wetyngly Knoweth well that hit is agaynst the trouthe that he thynketh And herof speketh Saynt Bernard and sayth That the mouthe that lyeth destroyeth the sowle And yet sayth Saynt Austyn in an other place For to saye ony thynge And to doo the contrarye maketh doctryne suspecious And knowe ye veryly that for to lye is a right perillous thynge to body and sowle For the lye that the auncyent enemye made Eue adam to beleue hym made hem for to be dampned wyth alle theyr lignage to the deth pardurable And made hem to be cast oute of Paradyse terrestre For he made them to beleue that god had not forboden them the fruyt But only be cause they shold not knowe that her maister knewe But how well that the deuyll said thise wordes yet had she double entente to hem bothe For they knewe anoÌ„n as they had tasted of the fruyt that they were dampned to the deth pardurable And god knewe hit well to fore But they supposid well to haue knowen many other thynges And to be lyke vnto his knowleche and science And therfore sayth saynt poule in a pistyll hit ne apperteyneth to saure or knowe more than behoueth to saure or knowe but to sauoure or knowe by mesure or sobrenes And valerian reherceth that ther was a good woman of siracusane that wold not lye vnto the kynge of secylle whiche was named dyonyse And this kynge was so full of tyrannye so cruell that alle the world desired his deth and cursid hym Saauf this woman onely whiche was so olde that she had seen thre or .iiii. kynges regnynge in the contre And euery mornynge as sone as she was rysen she prayd to god that he wold gyue vnto the tyrant good lyf and longe And that she myght neuer see his deth And whan the kynge dyonise knewe this he sent for her And meruayllid moche herof For he knewe well that he was sore behated And demaunded her what cause meuyd her to pray for hym And she answerd and said to hym Syre whan I was a mayde we had a right euyll tyrant to our kynge of whom we coueyted sore the deth And whan he was ded ther cam after hym a worse of whom we coueyted also the deth And whan we were deliueryd of hym thou camst to be our lord whiche art worste of alle other And now I doubte yf we haue one after the he shall be worse than thou art And therfore I shall pray for the And whan dionyse vnderstod that she was so hardy in sayynge the truthe he durste not doo tormente her for shame be cause she was so olde The fourth chapitre of the thirde book treteth of the maner of the fourth pawn and of the marchants or changers THe fourth pawn is sette to for the kynge And is formed in the fourme of a man holding in his ryght hand a balance And the weyght in the lifte hand And to fore hym a table And at his gurdell a purse fulle of monoye redy for to gyue to them that requyre hit And by this peple ben signefied the marchans of cloth lynnen and wollen of all other marchandises And by the table that is to for hym is signefied the changeurs And they that leue money And they that bye selle by the weyght ben signefyed by the balances and weight And the customers â—ollers and resseyuours of rentes of money ben signefied by the purse And knowe ye that alle they that ben signefied by this peple ought to â—lee auaryce and couetyse And eschewe brekynge of the dayes of payement And ought to holde and kepe theyr promyssis And ought also to rendre restore that that is gyuen to them to kepe And therfor hit is reson that this peple be sette to for the kynge for as moche as they signefie the resscyuours of the tresours royall that ought allway to be redy to fore the kynge and to answere for hym to the knightes and other persones for their wages souldyes And therfor haue I sayd that they ought to flee auarice For auarice is as moche to say as an adourer or as worshipar of fals ymages herof saith Tullius that auarice is a couetise to gete that thing that is aboue necessite it is a loue disordinate to haue ony thynge And it is one of the werst thyngis that is And specially to prynces and to them that gouerne the thynges of the comunete And this vice causeth a man to do euyll And this doynge euyll is whan hit regneth in olde men And herof saith Seneque That alle wordly thynges ben mortifyed and appetissid in olde men reserued auaryce only whiche alleway abideth wyth hym and dyeth wyth hym But I vnderstande not well the cause wherof this cometh ne wherfore hit may be And hit is a fowle thynge and contrarie to reson That whan a man is at ende of his Iourney for to lengthe his viage and to ordeyne more vitayll than hym behoueth And this may well be lykened to the auarycious wolf For the wolf doth neuer good tyll he be dede And thus it is sayd in the prouerbis of the wisemen that thauaricious man doth no good tyll that he be ded And he desireth no thynge but to lyue longe in this synne For the couetouse man certaynly is not good for ony thynge For he is euyll to hymself and to the riche and to the poure And fynde cause to gayn saye theyr desire and herof reherceth seneque and saytâ— that Antigonus was a couetous prynce whan Tinque whiche was his frende requyred of hym a besauÌ„t he answerd to hym that he demanded more than hit apperteyned to hym And than tinque constrayned by grete necessite axid and requyred of hym a peny And he answerd to hym that hit was no yefte couenable for a kynge and so he was allway redy to fynde a cause nought to gyue For he myght haue gyuen to hym a besauÌ„t as a kynge to his frende And the peny as to a poure man And ther is no thynge so lytyll but that the humanyte of a kynge may gyue hit Auarice full of couetyse is a maner of alle vices of luxurye And Iosephus reherceth in the book of auncyent histories that ther was in
rome â— ryght noble lady named Paulyne And was of the most noble of rome right honeste for the noblesse of chastete whiche was maryed in the tyme that the women gloryfied them in theyr chastete vnto a yonge man fayr noble and riche aboue alle other and was lyke and semblable to his wyf in alle caasis And this paulyne was belouyd of a knight named emmerancian And was so ardautly esprysed in her loue that he sente to her many right riche yeftes And made to her many grete promissis but he might neuer tâ—â—ne the herte of her whiche was on her side also colde and harde as marbill But had leuer to reffuse his yeftes and his promisses Than to entende to couetise to lose her chastete and we â—ede also in the historyes of rome that ther was a noble lady of rome whiche lyuyd a solitarye lyf and was chaste honeste And had gadrid to gyder a grete some of gold And had hid hit in the erthe in a pytte wyth in her hous And whan she was ded the bisshop dyde do burye her in the churche well and honestly And anone after this gold was founden born to the bisshop And the bisshop bad to caste hit in to the pytte wher she was buryed And .iii. dayes men herd her crye make grete noyse and saye that she brennyd in grete payne and they herd her ofte tymes thus tormentid in the chirche the neighbours wente to the bisshop told hym therof and the bisshop gaf hem leue to open the sepulcre and whan they had opend hit they fonde all the gold molten with fyre full of sulphre And was poured and put in her mouth and they herd one saye thou desiredest this gold by couetyse take hit and drynke hit And than they toke the body out of the tombe And hit was cast oute in a preuy place Seneque reherceth in the book of the cryes of women that auarice is foundement of alle vices And valerian reherceth that auarice is a ferdfull garde or kepar of rychessis for he that hath on hym or in his kepynge moche money or other rychessis is allway a ferd to lose hit or to be robbid or to be slayn therfore And he is not ewrous ner happy that by couetyse geteth hit And alle the euyllys of this vice of auarice had a man of rome named septemulle For he was a frende of one named tarchus And this septemulle brente so sore and so cruelly in this synne of couetyse that he had no shame to smyte of the hede of his frende by trayson For as moche as one framosian had promysed to hym as moche weyght of pure gold as the heed weyed And he bare the sayd heed vpon a staf thurgh the cyte of rome and he wyded the brayn out therof and fyld hit full of leed for to weye the heuyer This was a right horrible and cruell auarice Ptolome kynge of the Egipciens poursewed auarice in an other manere For whan anthome emperour of rome sawe that he was right riche of gold and siluer he had hym in grete hate and tormentid hym right cruelly And whan he shold perishe be cause of his richessis he toke alle his hauoyr and put hit in a shippe And wente wyth alle in to the hye see to thende for to drowne and perishe there the shippe and his rychesses be cause Anthonie his enemye shold not haue hit And whan he was there he durst not perisshe hit ner myght not fynde in his herte to departe from hit but cam and brought hit agayn in to his hows where he resseyuyd the reward of deth therfore And wyth oute doubte he was not lord of the richesse but the richesse was lady ouer hym And therfore hit is sayd in prouerbe that a man ought to sâ—ignorye ouer the riches and not for to serue hit and yf thou canst dewly vse thy rychesse than she is thy chamberyer And yf thou can not departe from hit and vse hit honestly at thy playsir knowe verily that she is thy lady For the richesse neuer satisfieth the couetouse but the more he hath the more he desireth And saluste sayth that auarice distourblith fayth poeste honeste and alle these other good vertues And taketh for these vertues pryde cruelte And to forgete god And saith that alle thynges be vendable And after this they ought to be ware that they lene not to moche ner make so grete creances by which they may fâ—lle in pouerte For saynt Ambrose saith vpon to bye 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 berowest and thinke how thou maist paye rendre agayn yf thou be ryche thou hast none nede to borowe axe it is said in the prouerbes that hit is fraude to take that thou wilt not ner maist rendre paye agayn and also hit is said in reproche whan I leue I am thy frend whan I axe I am thy enemye as wo saith god at the leâ—yâ—ge the deuyll at rendrynge And seneque sayth in his auctorites that they that gladly borowe ought gladly to paye and ought to surmonte in corage to loue hem the better be cause they â–ª lene hem ayde hem in her nede For for benefetes good tornes doon to a man ought to gyue hym thankinges therfore And moche more ought a man to repaye that Is lente hym in his nede But now in these dayes many men by lenynge of their money haue made of their frendes enemyes And herof speketh Domas the philosopher and sayth that my frende borowed money of me And I haue lost my frende and my money attones Ther was a marchant of Gene also a chaungeour whos name was Albert gauor And this albert was a man of grete trouth and loyaulte for on a tyme ther was a man cam to hym and said affermed that he had delyueryd in to his banke .v. honderd floryns of gold to kepe whiche was not trouth for he lyed whyche fyue honderd floryns the said Albert knewe not of ner coude fynde in all hys bookes ony suche money to hym due And this lyar coude not brynge no wytnessis but began to braye crye and deffame the said albert And than this Albert callid to hym this marchauÌ„t and sayd Dere frende take here v â–ª honderd florms whyche thou affermest and sayst that thou hast deliuerid to me And forthwyth tolde hem and toke hem to hym And lo this good man had leuer to lose his good than his good name and renome And this other marchant toke these florins that he had wrongfully receyuyd and enployed them in diuerce marchandise in so moche that he gate and encresid and wan with them .xv. thousand florins And whan he sawe that he approchid toward his deth and that he had no children He establisshid albert his heyr in alle thingis And sayd that with the .v. honderd florms that he had receyuyd of albert falsely he had goten
alle that he had in the world And thus by dyuyne pourueance he that had be a theef fraudelent was made afterward a trewe procurour and attorney of the sayd albert But now in this dayes ther ben marchauÌ„s that do marchandise with other mens money whiche is taken to hem to kepe And whan they ben requyred to repaye hit they haue no shame to denye hit appertly wherof hit happend that ther was a marchant whyche had a good a grete name and renome of kepynge well suche thynges as was delyueryd to hym to kepe But whan he sawe place and tyme he reteynyd hyt lyke a theef So hyt befelle that a marchant of with oute forth herd the good reporte fame of this man cam to hym and deliuerid hym grete tresour to kepe And this tresour abode thre yer in his kepynge And after this thre yer thys marchant cam requyred to haue hys good deliueryd to hym agaym And thys man knewe well that he had no recorde ne wytnes to preue on hym this duete Nor he had no obligacion ne wrytynge of hym therof In suche wyse that he denyed alle entyerly And sayd playnly he knewe hym not And whan thys good man herde and vnderstode thys he wente sorowfully and wepynge from hym so ferre and longe that an old woman mette wyth hym And demanded of hym the cause of hys wepynge And he sayd to her woman hit apperteyneth no thynge to the Go thy way And she prayd hym that he wold telle her the cause of hys sorowe For parauenture she myght gyue hym counceylle good and prouffytable And than this man told to her by ordre the â—aas of his fortune And the old woman that was wyse subtyll demanded of hym yf he had in that cyte ony frende whiche wold be faythfull and trewe to hym And he sayd ye that he had dyuerce frendes Than said she goo thou to them and saye to them that they do ordeyne and bye dyuerce cofres chestie And that they do fylle them with som olde thinges of no value and that they fayne And saye that they be full of gold siluer other Iewels and of moche grete tresour And than that they brynge them to this sayd marchant And to saye to hym that he wold kepe them For as moche as they had grete trust and affiance in hym And also that they haue herd of his grete trouthe and good renome And also they wold goo in to a fer contre And shold be longe er they retorned agayn And whilis they speke to hym of this mater thou shalt come vpon them and requyre hym that he do deliuere to the that thou tokest to hym And I trowe be cause of tho good men that than shall profre to hym the sayd tresour And for the couetise to haue hit he shall deliuere to the thy good agayn But beware late hym not knowe in no wyse that they ben thy frendes ner of thy knowleche This was a grete and good couÌ„ceyll of a woman And verily hit cometh of nature oftentymes to women to gyue counceyll shortly and vnauysedly to thynges that ben in doute or perillous and nedeth hasty remedye And as ye haue herd this good man dyde And dyde after her counceyll And cam vpon them whan they spack of the mater to the marchant for to deliuere to hym the sayd cofres to kepe whyche his frendes had fayned and requyred of hym that he had taken to hym to kepe and than anoÌ„n the sayd marchant sayd to hym I knowe the now well For I haue auysed me that thou art suche a man And camst to me suche a tyme And deliuerest to me suche a thynge whiche I haue well kept And than callyd his clerck and bad hym goo fecche suche a thynge in suche a place and deliuere hit to that good man For he deliuerid hit to me And than the good man receyuyd his good And wente his way right Ioyously and gladd And this marchant trycheur and deceyuour was defrauded from his euyll malice And he ne had neyther that one ne that other ony thynge that was of value And therfore hit Is sayd in prouerbe to defraude the beguylar is no fraude And he that doth well foloweth oure lord And seneke saith that charyte enseygneth and techeth that men shold paye well For good payement is sometyme good confession And this marchant trycheour deceyuour resembleth Is lyke to an hound that bereth a chese in his mouth whan he swymmeth ouer a watre For whan he is on the watre He seeth the shadowe of the chese in the watre And than he weneth hit be an other chese And for couetyse to haue that he openth his mouth to cacche that And than the chese that he bare fallyth doun in to the watre And thus he loseth bothe two And in the same wise was seruyd this marchant deceynour For for to haue the coffres whiche he had not seen He deliueryd agayn that he wold haue holden wrongfully thus by his couetise and propre malice he was deceyuyd And therfore hit apperteyneth to euery good wyse man to knowe considere in hym self how moche he had resseyuyd of other men And vpon what condicion hit was deliuerid to hym And hit is to wete that this thinge apperteyneth to resseyuours to chaungeours And to alle true marchans and other what som euyr they bee and ought to kepe their bookes of resaytes of payements of whom to whom and what tyme day and yf ye demande what thynge makyth them to forgete suche thynges as ben taken to them to kepe I answere saye that hyt Is grete couetyse for to haue tho thynges to them self and neuer to departe from them And hit is all her thought and desire to assemble alle the good that they may gete For they beleue on none other god but on her richessis theyr hertes ben so obstynat and this sufficeth of the marchantes This fyfth chapitre of the thirde book treteth of phisiciens spicers and Apotyquaryes THe pawoÌ„n that is sette to fore the quene signefyeth the phisicyen spicer and Apotyquaire and is formed in the figure of a man And he is sette in a chayer as a maystre and holdeth in his right hand a book And an ample or a boxe wyth oynementis in his lyft hand And at his gurdell his Instrumentis of yron and of siluer for to make Incysions and to serche woundes and hurtes and to cutte apostumes And by thyse thynges ben knowen the cyrurgyens By the book ben vnderstanden the phisicyens and alle gramaryens logicyens maistres of lawe of Geometrye Arismetryque musique and of astronomye And by the ampole ben signefyed the makers of pigmentaries spicers and apotiquayres and they that make confections and confytes and medecynes made wyth precyous spyces And by the ferremens and Instrumentis that hangen on the gurdell ben signefied the cyrurgyens the maistres And knowe ye for certain that a maystre phisicyen ought to knowe the proporcions of