they aferd What shÌ„old I say they had a ioye in erde The whale the Dolphyn and Estaryus The Carabo and eke effuneron The Cakodryl and vratynstopus The see swyn and eke fastolyon The myllago that fleteth the water on The hamo that dredeth ay the hooke With many moo who so hath lust to loke The Myllanne Gastor ê‘pecanius Auronnea Phager Ferra also The Conger eke fysshe whiche hyght CoruÌ„s The pyke the luce the Samon see I tho The swerdfyssh with many other moo The Roche the tenche the lamperey and the Ele The Flouk the playse the flounder good to selle The Crabbe the lobster and the Craueys eke The welk the Oystur and the muscul good The rouche the Perche ther was no fyssh to seke That in the see in Ryuer or in flode In ponde stewe dyke· that euer swam or yode Who so hym sought· anone ther may hym see In lust in blysse and al prosperyte And yf so were he had of kynd a vyce In ony poynt or were malycyous For her were brouÈt from that Ryuer of pryce And of that water gloryous He shÌ„old anone be good and vertuous Shortely to say to eche fysshe grete and smal It is preseruatyf and medycynal Theyr names al I nede not to reherce For euery fysshe that goodely is in kynd In this Ryuer hadde lust to conuerce Who lust hym seke anone ther may hym fynd It is the pure holsome Ryuer and kynde And of eche nature and complexyoun To euery fysshe it is refectyoun And who soo lust to knowe dyuersyte of fissh And how they varrye in theyr mansyon How they them fed whiche is good in disshe Of theyr wysedom and generacyon Of theyr vertue and operacyon Of what shÌ„ap eke what substaÌ„ce what kind That they are of thou may in bookes fynd By Arystotyl in his book of beestes By Iorath eke ysydre plenius By Auycen by Bathylmewys gestys By Constantyn and by Basylyus By Ambrose eke that suche mater to vs Declareth wele in his exameron Who so hath lust god loke these clerkes on For I wyl not make declaracyon Of suche maters that ben collatural It were ywys to long disgressyon Nature of fysshe to telle and name them al It must suffyse my scripture general For now I wol my penne with wrytyng fede And somwhat telle of that moost heuenly mede Explicit Descripcio Piscium The souerayne honour of the erthes space The swete moder the fresshe moneth of maye To Flow sent and prayd her of her grace That shÌ„e wold come with her enormentes gaye For to reueste depaynt and to arraye This blessyd mede with parfyte dyuersyte Of colours fressh ful of solempnyte She come ryghÌ„t glad enourned in hast With herbe floure tree al fruyte precyous Her thursty cure in no poynt wold shÌ„e wast For eche good thyng was there most plentyuoê° O paradys with thy syght gloryous Thow art not now but an ymage feyned This parfyte mede al thy blysse hath dysteyned The Rose the lyle the vyolet Reflexyng shÌ„ynyng and payntyng the grouÌ„d Rody and bryght with heuenly colour set Blode and mylk and Asure gan habunde The rede y t whyte y e blewe wich there was foÌ„d Gan represent in colours delyte The Ruby the Saphyr· the Margaryte The purpyl two or godely staunchyng blode The two langyng ben precious medycynable The heuenly two ayenst payne be goode And to the nose the fyrst is delectable And to the syght the second amyable The thyrd in tast ryght goodely is bysene The Rose the lylle the vyolet I mene The fayr Iacynct the longyng premerose The Dayse the good gylofur floure With al other herbes withouten glose That gendreth flour or fresshe colour Agnus castus the worthy peramour Of chastite the good saffron also Of tyme the mynte the rewe with many moo The Rose mary the sawge the sauery eke Arystologye also long and round The annys good the bete goode for the seke The dyten that is good for a wound The Selydon ryght goodely on the ground The Century and eke the fumytere The malue the dok thre dragaunce eke y e brede The marygold cleped the Ilytrope The bure the fenel and the percele The letuse swete with many melky drope The Coryandre that hound doth to flee The plantane eke the mandrage eke I see With al other that groweth on the ground Eche goodely herbe hast lust there to habound Theyr names al it nedeth not for to wryte Ne theyr vertues my labour only is For to deseryue what lust and what delyte What plesance comforte honour what blysse Vnto this mede they mynystred ywys The syght of them and of their yongly floures Was verray salue and he le to al langours Explicit descripcio floruÌ„m et herbarum Incipit descripcio Arborum A Heuenly wood was on that other syde And closed in with that Ryuer aboute Planted at lust with trees ful of pryde The blossmy bowes vnto the erthe gan loute The cedre tree presumptuus and stoute Hauyng dysdayne in erthe only to abyde Among the sterres his hede began to hÌ„yde He and the palme and eke the good Cypresse Gan ryse burgyn and refleyre with delyte The bowes brought forthe of al gentylnesse And gaf vmbre vnto that solempne syght With double blysse eche tree was insygnyte With frute to man with vmbre to the ground Thus honger there nede not to habound The peretre the Olyue the Appyltree Wexe grete grene and eke moost plentyuous The peres in bowes and appels of bounte The Almond tree with Iardyns fructuous Dystyllyng come from his hole precyous The fyrre in hyght vnto the Cyder lyke To Amoune the rede Aromatyke The Aloes the gentyl canne and good Whoo 's marugh and Iuse is made in sucre swete The balsom dystyllyng in a flode His gentyl baume made thurgh y e grouÌ„d to flete The Cynamom with fresshe oder replete The good spyknarde mastyk the gum Rosyn Olybanum the precious thure and fyn The vyne tree beryng clustres grete huge In this wood whiche largely dyd sprede With grapes hony swete herbes duge Whiche ben in myght strong as I rede The fyrst in tast the tother done excede The second be help vnto the strong accesse They staunchyn thyrst they helpen in sykenesse Thyk fayr and grene in bowe bark and leues The Cedre was souerayn of trees al The top the hole the Rote among the greues Herberd norysshed and swete in strondes smal The byrd the bee the water specyal In brede and bowes they ben bred in the hole And out of the Rote the welle dystylled hole The bowes brought forth bothe byrdes fruyte The hole the bark offred hony and waxe The Rote fyndeth the moyst and cold refuyte Of al the erth made to habounde waxe The hony swete felle doune in droppes laxe And with the bawme Iufe of floures glade In the water Electuarye they made The sturdy oke the Asshe the plum tree With acornes chattes and with the
Ful of al lust comfort vertu and grace Depeynted fresshe with colour precyous And in a parlour ful solacyous Thappostles al were set with pure delyte And of oure trouthe the artycles they wryte They had byleue in god fadel of myght Maker of heuen and erthe and al that is Of vysyble and inuysyble wyght And in his sonne crist ful of blysse Before the world whiche was alwey ywys I gete not made and consubstauncyal To his fader of whome fourmed is al He cam from heuen and in the mayd Marye By inspyracyon of the holy goost Mankynd he took borne he was for to dye To wyn mans soule out from the fendes hoost And vnder Pylate set with Iewes boost Bounden bete crowned and crucyfyed With watry woundes Innocent he dyed For he was grauen man out from helle he broÈt And rose the thyrd day vnto lyue ageyne Styed to heuen his faders Trone he sought From whens as kyng he shÌ„al come yet certeyn Bothe quyk and dede to deme to lyf or peyn The goode to blysse the euyl to punysshement Heuene erthe helle shÌ„al quake in that iugemeÌ„t And in the holy ghoost byleue they had In holy chirche baptysme communyon Of sayntes eke to hold ferme and sad Of al trespaas to haue remyssyon And for to trowe the resurectyon Of peple dede and in lyf lastyng Vnto the whiche almyghty god vs bryng These artycles with other poyntes al That longeth to the holy Trynyte Dame feyth her self gan telle in specyal With al the secretes of the deyte Whiche in Englysshe not reherced be Suche thyng as shÌ„old be pryuate occult I rede we leue and take quicumque vult There was to feyth doyng al reuerence The holy synner Mary Magdalene Whiche by dame fayth hath geten indulgence Of al her synne and was assoylled clene Good martha eke by her grace gan optene And brought to lyue her broder lasedarus Soo was the sone also of Regulus There was the doughter eke of Canane Whiche by her was brought fro the fendes bond Al other eke that of ony infyrmyte Thorugh feyth was cured with her see I stond Blynde dome and deef leprous fote hond Whome feith hath heled and brought vnto grace With al honour obeyed her in that place There was also the hooly confessours That preched feyth whyle they were on lyue Doctours martyrs and gloryous auctours Wrytyng of feyth and her meryte blyue And on this wyse they gan hyr descryue And sayd that feyth is ground of al godenes Withouten whome lyf hath no sykernes Vnto al good shÌ„e geueth strengthe comfort And who troweth not he falleth impotent The shÌ„eld of feyth who lust to comport Al thyng ouercometh as vnto reuerence His thre enemyes with theyr yrous pretence Ayenst hym shÌ„al neuermore preuayle Aske byleue thyn askyng shÌ„al not fayle She is â—y for as the clerke sayth There is but one god lord perpetual Pryncypally of whome preched is fayth Eke hole shÌ„e is of her artycles al Trewe withoute errour outher grete or smal Lyuely and quyck to do euery quyk dede For elles shÌ„e were but as a body dede There was the lady clennesse wel arrayed Deuocyon and dame vyrgynyte Dame contynence and chastyte the mayd Dame Loulynesse and dame stabylyte Enlumyned fresshe echone in theyr degre These seruen fayth and as they couthe deuyse With blysse they song sayd vpon this wyse If better is to trowe in god aboue Than in mankynd or in many other thyng Who troweth in hym for he can kepe and loue Theyr lust fulfylle grauÌ„t them theyr askyng And in his gospel eke a worthy kyng He sayd hym self in me who lust byleue Though he be dede ywys yet shÌ„al he leue O cursed folk with youre Idolatrye WhÌ„iche in fals goddes setten youre delyte Blynd dome and deth is al youre mametrye Of stok stone men may suche karue thwyte Leue theym for fals with sour and despyte In our one god cast anker and byleue Though ye were dede he can make yow leue He is al lyf whan youre goddes be dede They haue a tyme and he is sempyterne They are but erthe and brought lowe as lede He regneth god aboue the heuen superne Blyssed be he for he no grace wyl werne To them that wyl in hym beset theyr byleue And though they dye ywys yet shÌ„al they lyue Explicit Tractatus de Fide et Cantus famule sue These thynges folowyng is euery Crysten man and woman holde and bounde to lerne and to conne to theyr power in waye of theyr saluacyon The Pater noster The Aue maria And the Crede The ten commandentis Haue one god in worshÌ„yp In this is forboden al maner mawmetrye Wytchecraft Enchauntement Redynge of dremes And al mysbyleue Take not his name invayn In this is forboden al heresyes Al mysmenyng VnworshÌ„yp of god Forsweryng Takyng his name in vayne And suche other Halowe thyne holy day To this belongeth Heryng of thy seruyse Kepynge the oute of dedely synne Vysytyng of thy powre neyghbours Accordyng them that ben at debate And suche other Worspyp thy fader and moder God thy fader Holy chÌ„irche thy moder The ghoostly faders Thy flesshely fader moder Al men of age worshÌ„yp And prelates of holy chirche Slee no man With hond smytyng With mouthe bacbytyng Herte cursynge Ne wyllyng euyl Ne vengeaunce Do no lecherye Here is forboden Alle spousebreche Alle flesshely dedes And al mysshedynge of mannes seed Doo no thefte Here is forboden stelyng Wronge purchacyng DyshÌ„erytyng of heyres Trecherye Vsurye Wronge amersementis False mesure weyghtes And suche other Bere no false wytnes Here is forboden False lyeng Bacbytyng Accusyng Appayryng of good lots And suche other Desyre not thy neyghbours wyf In this is not onely Forboden the dede But also the desyre And wyl of herte Desyre not thy neyghbours thyngê How 's Londe Beest Seruaunt Ne nothyng that is his The seuen dedely synnes Pryde Herof comyth boostyng of proude beryng Dysplesyng Scornyng Hyghe herte Gay array Pryde of Rychesse Faytenes Cunnyng Strengthe Vertue Goodnes Pryde of kynne Vnbuxomnes Vayne glorye Dispyte of thyne neyghbour Ypocrysye suche other Enuye Glad of thy neyghbours euyl fare Heuy of hÌ„is welfare Backbytyng Sownyng of dyscord Scornyng And suche other wrath Fyghtyng Chydynge Hurtyng Betynge Waryeng Cursyng Grutchyng Desiring of vengeaunce Cruelnes Manslaughter And suche other Couetise Falsehode in wynnyng In beyeng In sellyng In metyng In weyeng Gyle Trecherye Sacrrilege Simonye Vsurye Thefte Receyuyng of stolen goodes Extorcion Wrong withholding Withdrawing of seruauntes hire Withholding of tithes and dutees of hooly Chirehe Glotonye Etyng or drynkyng ouer moche To erly To late Oute of mesure Brekyng of fast Vsyng of delycate metes and drynkes Or in vsyng them to strengthe thy body to synne And suche other Slouthe Therof cometh ydlenes Delite in sleepe Neclygence of thy bileue Vnlusty to goddes seruyse Foryetefulnes of shÌ„ryfte Myspendyng of tyme Dyspayer Wanhope and suche other Lecherye In thoughte Wylle Werke Syght Felyng Dede doyng With sengle With comune Wydowes Maydens Wyues Gossybbes Goddoughters Relygyous Or ony other oute of wedlok Synne ayenst kynde or suche other The fyue wyttes Syght Heryng Smellyng Tastyng Feelyng The seuen dedes of mercy bodyly Fede the hungry Yene drynke to the thursty Clothe the naked Herbero we the howseles Vysyte the syke Delyuer the prysoners And burye the poure that ben dede at her deth Tho seuen dedes of mercy ghoostely Teche them that can not Yeue good counseyl to hym that asketh it Chastyse thy subgette that offendith Comforte the sory Foryeue hym that trespâ—ceth to the Haue routhe on the synnar And praye for thyne enemye The seuen pryncypal vertues Fayth This is ground and begynnyng of oure saluacyon And it stondeth in thre thynges In the vnyte of the godhede in thre persones In the manhode of Cryst And in the sacramentes of the chirche Hope This is a trust by the mercy of god to be saued And it standeth in the grace of god and good werkes Charyte This is the ende perfectyon of al the commandementes of god And it standeth in the loue of god aboue al thyng And thy neyghbour as the self Ryghtwysenes This is a payeng of dente of eche thyng that it duly longeth to As to god praysyng and thankyng To thy neyghbour loue and charyte And to thy self besynes to fulfylle goddes wylle Wysedom That is a vertu to departe good fro euyl And it stondeth in chesyng of good and in refusyng of euyl Strengthe Thys maketh a man myghty hardy to doo grete thynges for the loue of god And it stondeth in suffryng pacyently aduersyte And mekely takyng prosperyte Mesure ThÌ„is is a mene bytwene to moche and to lytel And it stondeth in takyng suffycyently that nedeth And in refusyng vtterly that is to moche or to lytel By these thynges shal eche man and woman knowe god These that folowen brynge a man to heuen Good perseueraunce Pacyence in aduersyte Obedyence of the commauÌ„dementes of god RyghÌ„twysenes in dedes Penaunce in the lyf Contrycyon of synne Knowlege of thy self And charyte These bryngen one in to helle Desperacyon Wodenes in aduersyte Vnryghtwysenes of dedes Loue of synne Malyce Obstynacyon in synnes Despyte of the commauÌ„dementes of god Hate of good thynges And ignoraunce The fyue wyttes ghoostely Mynde of the kindenes of god and of thy last ende Vnderstondyng of his benefettys and of his bore Wylle to worshÌ„yppe hym in thought worde and dede Withoute ony werynes Reson to rewle with thy wittes both inward outward Withoute ony blyndenesse Ymagynacyon of vertuous lyuyng nedeful werkes and dredeful dedes of ioye and of peyne
dede Late be quod pees that is a cruel dede And with that word pees ceme in to the place Whoo 's persone was patron of portature Her rosy lyppes with chere ful of grace Offred kyssyng vnto eche creature Phebus hym self with al his bemed cure May not belyke the lyght of her vysage So pure perfyte was that heuenly ymage And on this wyse shÌ„e gan her tonge affyse And sayd to trouth O ryÈt how may this mene As youre purpoos pees for to exyle And to make mercy neuer more be sene And to ordeyne deth for to regne as quene This wold nomore but for to depryue expresse My faders Royalme his souerayne rychesse Syth euery Royalme that hath dyuysyon Within hym self must nedes be desolate And we ben four for one conclusyon For to sustene the Reame and his estate Among vs foure why shÌ„old thenne be debate And syth that lawe wyl rather lossyn peyne That it extende lete pees mercy reygne My faders Royalme had suffreth no whyâ—â— It is of rest and of tranquylyte By cause of whiche he wryteth in his style The prynce of pees the auctor of pyte Kyng of mercy and hâ—d of al bounte Thus nede of force must pees regne preuayle ChÌ„yef stryf and debate perysshe in al batayle The chÌ„yef auaunt and commendacyon Of this hÌ„yghe Royalme is for it is of pees Than wherto make ye disputacyon Contrarious ben youre debate rees With stryf I wyl not duelle withouten â—â—es And yf debate me from this Royame dysseuer The lond of pees destroyed is for euer But syth soo is ther is a trespaas done Vnto mercy lete yeld the trespasour Hit is her offyce to redresse it soone For trespaas is to mercy a meryour And ryÈt as swete hath his apryet by soure Soo by trespaas mercy hath al her myght Withoute trespas mercy hath last of lyghÌ„t What shÌ„old be syâ—te but yf that sykenes were What nedyth salue but yf there were a sore What nedeth drynk there thyrst hath no powers What shÌ„old mercy but trespaas goo byfore But trespaas by mercy were lytel store Withoute trespaas none execucyon May mercy haue ne yet perfectyon But suster trouth ye may regne as a pryncesse Withoute falshÌ„ede and haue youre soueraynte Withoute Iniure and so may ryghÌ„t wysenes Eke withoute werre I pees may alweyâ— be But mercy kyndely hath no properte Withouten trespas of whiche shÌ„e hath her myÈt RyÈt as the soÌ„ne the mone yeueth al theyr lyÈt Therfor I rede as for conclusyon That we obeye mercy with one acord And that we leue al oure dyscencyon For lytel thynges as clerkes here record With pees groweth goede thyng with discord Wydeth awey therfor lede pacyfye Our lust to one and falle we to mercy Late be qirod trouthe to yow I nyl assent Nomore wyl I ywys quod ryghtwysenes And with that word trouthe to her fader went And thus she sayd O ground of stedfastnes O permanent O veray trouthe endeles Hold thy hyhest and support veryte For ryghtwysenes acordeth vnto me These wordes sayth ryÈtwysenes kneleth doun And sayd fader syth it is myn offyce To yeue condygne remuneracyoun To euyl and good to eche vertu vyce And not to spare for prayer ne for pryce And I shÌ„al thy godhede gloryfye That trouthe asketh I must nede Iustyfye The forsayd caas reseruyng in my mynd How soone thy seruaunt lust to the offend And how he was cruel-fale and vnkynd To thy byhest I must of ryght attend And nede of force to iugement condescend Wherfor I yeue sentence dyffynytyue In forme forsayd y t peyue to deth hym dryue Of this processe to haue the trewe entent I wol thou wyte quod sapyence to me This myghty kyng is god omnypotent In one godhede regnaunt and persones thre His sone is Cryst his doughÌ„ters in degre Ben vertues four annext to his godhede His seruaunt is old Adam as I rede Retourne we now 〈…〉 Al thorugh darted with 〈…〉 Mercy felle doune she myght no longre feyne As a swonyd or in a lyâ—ergye Peas seyng that stood on 〈◊〉 And at the last with pyteous voyce and wylde She sayd alas peas is for ay exyld O mercy god for my suster mercy Leyng in a swouned deyng for lak of brethe For trouthe vntrewe and vnryghÌ„twysenes Ayenst vs hath yeuen sentence of dethe I wyl not rest but goo thorughÌ„ holt heth Exyled awey retourned wol I neuer Fare we le fader Fare we le thy reame for euer Fare wele mercy fare we le thy pyteous grace So we le awey that vengeaunce shÌ„al preuayle Fare wele the bemed lyght of heuens place Vnto mankynd thou mayst nomore auayle The pure derkenes of helle the doth assaylle O lyghÌ„t in vayn the clyppes hath the incâ—se Man was thy lord now man is thy refuse O Seraphyn yeue thyn Armonye O cherubyn thy glory do away O ye trones lete be al your melodye Your Ierarchye dysteyned is for ay Your maystres set in what array She lyeth in swoune y borne with debate Fare we le fare we le pouer houshÌ„old desolate O souerayne myghty domynacyons O vertues and ye potestates O pryncypates with al your heuenly sownes Archangel Angel with thryes thre estates Your spouse daine pees ouerset is with debates Now may ye wepe and Ierarchyes thre Your ordres nyne may not restored be Fare wel ye alle dame mercy lyeth in swoune For sothfastnes accused hath mankynd And ryghtwysenes that shÌ„old do al reson Hath dampned hÌ„ym as cruel vnkynd Mercy and pees for them no grace may fynd Notwithstondyng Iugement may haue no sute By cause of pees but it be execute Woo worth debate that neuer may haue pees Woo worth penaunce that asketh no pyte Woo worth vengeauÌ„ce that mercy may not cees Wo worth that IugemeÌ„t that hath none equyte Wo worth that trouth that hath no charyte Woo worth that Inge· that may no gylt saue And wo worth ryÈt that may no fauour haue Fare wel saturne Ioue Mars Phebus briÈt Fare wel Venus and fare wel Mercurye Fare wel thou shÌ„ynyng lady of the nyvht I was your guyde but now awey goo I O cruel mars· thy temrestes fury Now mayst thou shÌ„ewe and Iupyter thyn Ire Now mayst thou rayne with dartes ful of fyre I was the reyne that held yow al to gyder I brydled yow and set yow in acord But now I goo ywys I wote neuer whyder Wherfor of force ye must falle to dyscord O thou souerayne of al bataylle the lord Now mayst thou send comete thy messager To sygnefye that batayle negheth nere Whan Flora rydeth and cold awey is gone With Iupyter than mayst thou mete att luste And Iune in somme sygne of the aquybone Engendre fyre and make herbes combuste Enfecte the eyer and so to gyder Iuste One with other hote cold moyst and drye Contraryous stryf for the vyctorye Now may ye fyght make both wynd reyn And erratyk ay in your cours be
her craft they necessary bene Whiche on an ympne thou mayst brynge to hepe If thou his metre can proporcyon clene Vt queant laxis is hit whiche I mene Ther mayst thou fynd vt Re My Fa Sol la These syllables sex vsed Dame Musica She taught the notes by her monycord As shÌ„e the streng dyd touche or pulle And as shÌ„e lengthed or shorted the cord Which hye lowe or shÌ„arp which is dulle Of al these notes taught shÌ„e at the ful Theyr varyaunce and theyr dyscencyon Theyr ordres eke and theyr ascencyon A GaÌ„moth than wonderly shÌ„e found Whiche is a rewle to teche them for to synge And it to knowe shÌ„e taught them on their hond By whiche they wote the grouÌ„d of al syngyng The notes they knowe therby theyr chauÌ„gyng And proueth eke whiche songe is fals or trewe To Musyk thus shÌ„e gan the wayes shÌ„ewe She taught them whiche were tunes parfyte And yaue he in lust to here theyr concordaunce Whiche tunes eke ben cleped inparfyte And whiche in song shÌ„old be theyr gouernauÌ„ce Proporcyon she had in remembraunce Dyapason and dyapente eke And Dyatesseron nas not to seke Which large long which breue or semybreue Mynym Crochet in rule and eke in space Al this she taught but for I must be breue In this mater I nyl no ferther trace For though I wold therto I haue no space But who so lust of Musyk for to wyt For veray ground to Boece I hym remyt And to a Clerk whiche cleped is berno Iohan de Muris and IohÌ„n de Musica To guyde eke in his Metrologo There mayst thou see of Dame Armonyca Of Dame Metryk and of dame Rethinica Of al Musyke the veray ground parfyte There shalt thou fynd with blysse and al delyde And these with musyke were in ioye blysse And helped her prouynce with her armonye And with them was eche instrument ywys That is of Musyk and of mynstralcye Harp lute pype trump Fydel ryuyls sautry The Rote cagons and the monycord The Gyterne Symbalâ— and the clauycord Explicit Tractatus de Musica Incipit breuis processus de Astronomia Than see I syt in place ful of al plesaunce The heuenly lady dame Astronomye WhÌ„iche of the sterres the cours gouernaunce Theyr fygures eke descryueth craftely And with her was the mayd Astrologye Whiche somtyme is kyndely and precyous And otherwhÌ„yse ouer moche superstyous She is kyndely whan that shÌ„e shÌ„eweth clere The sonnes cours the mone the sterres eke And doth nothyng but as kynd doth her lere But whan shÌ„e lust in sterres for to seke The byrthe of man whiche hole shÌ„al be seke And wyl Dyuyne and preche thyng for to be Vnkyndely than and vnleful is shÌ„e Astronomye that lady ful of grace Gan first dyuyne what thyng y e world shÌ„old be What thyng heuen is his cours his place His paleys eke his partyes in degre His fourme his spere and eke his properte His syhte his cours his mouyng at the best With al other partyes most and lest His hemyspery and his cerâ—tis fyue Theyr properte and how they cleped bene The Zodyak also shÌ„e gan descryue The sonne his cours his effect clene His magnytude his nature wel besene The mone her cours her dyuers fourmes eke And their Eclypses there was nothyng to seke She taught also how sondry sterres hyghÌ„t And in what tyme they goo theyr cercules al Eke how the soÌ„ne the mone yeueth al their lyÈt Whiche Lucina we clepe in specyal And how that fyre oute from heuen doth fall Lyke as the sterres fyl it is sene The cause of this and what it may mene And to eche sterre that cleped is a sygne By syÈt of whiche thyng to come men may gesse A propre name shÌ„e gan to assygne As Arctur Vrsa the more eke the lesse Thus dyuers names gan shÌ„e for to dresse As Tryones Boetes Yades Aricturus Oryon and plyades As Lucyfer Cometes Vesperus Theyr names old shÌ„e told ful craftely The planetes seuen shÌ„e neuened vnto vs Saturne· Ioue Mars Phebus and Mercurye The Mone Venus and what they sygnyfye Their influence and theyr qualyte With cyrcumstannce of pure solempnyte Twelue fygures than shÌ„e told ryÈt wel arrayed The Ramme the Bul and the gemelles to The Crabbe the lyon· and the streyt mayd The balaunce tharcher and the Scorpio The Gote the water syre and the fysshe also The planetes seuen as they to this atteyne Suche eche tyme dysposed· soth to sayne And how eche fygure had of his properte A propre name thus gan shÌ„e constrewe The gentyles eke how that they blynded be That lust honour with worshÌ„yp fresshe newe The planetes seuen as parfyte goddes trewe Theyr rytes old and theyr ydolatrye She gan reherce as techeth poeterye And how they clepe the raÌ„me the fyrst sygne For that in mars begynnyng of the yere The sonne in hym maketh his cours digne And they worshÌ„yp hym on theyr manere By cause of Ioue whome in theyr temples clere If they depaynte a Rammes hede they make With hornes two for Iubyters sake He come an oxe and took Europa they sayd Wherfor the bole they worshÌ„yp of theyr grace Castor pollux eke when they dede were layd Among the sterres they demed haue a place Whome they clepen the gemelles with solace For Hercules eke slough the grete lyon Hym for that sygne they worshÌ„yp with renoun O mysbyleue merueylous for to neuene O cursyd blyndenes of these gentyles al Whiche demyn fysshe and bestyal be in heuen For gloryfyed regnauÌ„t perpetual As Rame bore Crabbe and bere in specyal Hound lyon swanne the egle eke in fere Whome they worshÌ„yp for Ioues chyef squyer She told also of batayl destyne And how in sterres som men haue such bileue That in theyr byrth ryght by necessyte Ordeyned is al that hym shÌ„al please or greue This old errour oure doctours done repreue Socrates the same with Arystotyl sayth Notwithstondyng they were not of oure fayth Or yf a man were in his natyuyte Constreyued to his sondry artes al Theym for to doo ryght by necessyte Why shÌ„old good men haue lawre in specyal Or myslyuers to punysshement be thral Good Isodre maketh this reson In dampnynge of this fals oppynyon Astronomye the Egyptes fyrst dyd fynd Astrologye and her queynt obseruaunce Folk of Calde fyrst sought brought to mynde Whom Abraham tauÈt the egyptes with plesaÌ„ce As wryteth Iosephus withouten doutaunce But grekes sayn this craft first was found By one Athlant of hym had his ground And with this lady was syre Tholome IohÌ„n de hispayn and Mysaleth also With al other auctours in degre That drewe of her whoo 's names lete I go Thus in sterres I wol cease and ho And by the ordre of the artes seuen Styre folk to leue the world drawe to heuen Explicit de Astronomia Incipit Tractatus de Fide Dame feith than led vs vnto her wonyng place Vnto a towre solempne and gloryous