The castell of laboure

¶ Thus endeth the prologue and be gynneth the castell of labour .

IN musynge an euenynge with me was none An olde prouerbe came in me subuenaunce A naturall foole in a house alone Wyl make for hymself shyft or cheuysaunce Than came in to my remembraunce A cyrcunspect of many dygnytees Fro whiche a man hauynge suffysaunce Withdraweth his herte as fro vanytees It is ay sene that youthes lustynesse For to subdue is harde and daungerous Some lyue in ioye / pleasure and gladnesse Fortune to some is ryght contraryous Some dethe tacheth in theyr estate prosperous Whome he ouerthroweth with his mortall blast Thus goeth the worlde / none is so eurous But other must he dye fyrst or last A yonge herte is vnstable and volage And knoweth not in what estate to byde Somtyme dysposed vnto maryage Somtyme to serue god the worlde set asyde Thus as my mynde varyenge dyd glyde I thought it most for myn auauntage Desyrynge god for to be my gyde Fermely I concluded vpon maryage Thus hauynge all my frendes at assent In short processe I puruayed me a wyfe Without wysedom / yet was I content To her to kepe the dayes of my lyfe I thought no thynge on wynnynge losse or stryfe She vnto me lyghtly dyd consent Than in an euenynge sad and pensyfe By her lyenge symple of myn entent

pouertye

necessyte

Dystresse

Nede .

Sodanly I was in grete daunger For to me fyersly dyd appere An odyous man / an vnknowen straunger With thre women cruell of manere This company to me approched nere Whan that I them togyder sawe assemble So cruell was theyr countenaunce and chere That fere constrayned my body for to tremble The man was mysshapen / pale / and rusty Rude / foule / and ryght abhomynable The women also as I coude spye Of shape were foule and detestable Theyr chere was yll and myserable With contenaunce replenysshed with ire Lene as ony wolf rauysable Theyr eyen brennynge as rede as fyre The man approched fyers as he woldefyght With starynge eyen / & sayde his name was nede His wyfe sayde necessyte she hyght The seconde pouerte / and the thyrde in dede Her named dystresse so thought I by her wede Than I desyred to knowe theyr lynage Pouerte was theyr moder full of drede This tolde they me in bryef langage Touchynge theyr fader they coude not denye But that he dwelt in the depest pyt of hell Whan I that harde ryght sore aferde was I Than nede approched with countenaunce cruell Myn body streynynge so that it dyd swell Necessyte me so sore dyd handle So that sothly it semed ryght well Or that she went she wolde me strangle Than sodaynly came pouerte Whiche me tourmented with rudenesse Than with grete crudelyte Vpon my bely lept dystresse They all abounded in cruelnesse On me smytynge with all theyr myght Dysgorgynge fyre in theyr fyersnesse Vpon me as a torche lyght Some at me foyned / some smote downe ryght That the strokes loude dyd redounde For all my peyne / durynge that nyght My wyfe euer slept styll and sounde She in her pleasure dyd habounde And wolde not wake for my dysease For yf I were brought to the grounde I trowe she cared not a pease

thought

AS she thus slept and I in payne With these foure fures dyd endure To me approche I sawe certayne A foule and counterfayted creature Odyous / proude / & fyers I you ensure And by the hande she toke me fast She thought her purpose to procure And drewe myn armes that they nere brast This fals witche me so dyd greue Whiche by her name was called thought That vneth coude I me remeue Thus vnto dethe she me nere brought Of wordes and tales she wanted nought Euer she talked I wote not what And behynde her a vylayne cought That was as blereyed as a cat

heuynes

BEynge in this perturbacyon This chorle on me gaped full wyde I fered sore his entencyon Whan that I sawe hym by my syde He loked as he had ben fryde Of shape and colour was he full vyle Than he began with me to chyde In his langage whiche was subtyle Vpon my bely he set his knees And sayd his name was heuynesse With scarled bordred were his eyes Balde and full of vnlustynesse He semed fader of all vnthryftnesse Iagged and garded full vngay With a race fylled with falsnesse Berded lyke to a kytlynge of may Hym to beholde I was dysmayed Howe he of thynges past dyd clatter Many a newe tale to me he sayde He had well lerned for to patter Of thynges to come fast dyd he chatter Byddynge me call them to remembraunce He lyst no thynge with me to flatter But put me to extreme vttraunce He bad I sholde remember my dettys And brought me forthe my countynge boke He shewed me there of my receptes And me compelled theron to loke By fere constrayned me body quoke That power was past me for to speke That rybaude fered me with his loke That confort to me coude I none take Of his tourment what sholde I say I neuer was in suche encumbraunce He bode styll and went not away And dyd me moche more greuaunce Than all the other by theyr noysaunce And tourned me fro syde to syde To slepe he left me no suffraunce But fyresly styll at me dyd chyde This fals caytyf by his cruelnesse Troubled me that my wytte was gone He put me in so grete dystresse That my herte was colde as ony stone I knewe not to whome me for to mone So was I enuyroned rounde about They me tourmented so echone That of my lyfe I had grete dout ¶ Than rounde about me dyd I loke Fyrst of all same I pouerte And fals nede by the berde me shoke There were dystresse and necessyte Thought was in theyr companye And heuynes dyd clater fast All these syr so layde at me That fro my bed they me nere cast Than as I dyd my hede remeue About me lokynge for confort I sawe one come / whiche dyd me greue More than all the other sorte He sayde his name was dysconfort Of colour was he pale and wan It nought auayled hym to exhort I sawe neuer suche an other man

Disconfort

By the hande fast he me toke And with grete myght dyd m constrayne Full sore me by the berde he shoke This these renewed all my peyne His encumbraunce wasted my brayne That often I wysshed that I were dede He wolde hym selfe no thynge refrayne But kept me styll fast by the hede In frowarde imaginacyon Dysconforte kept me a longe space He bad me in conclusyon To sue to hym after his grace Saynge that the tyme and space Ones lost coude not recouered be With suche termes dyd he me manase Than in conclusyon thus sayd he A poore man how shalt thou pay All thy dettes that are behynde Brede and drynke must thou puruay And a house to kepe the fro the wynde Bothe men and maydens must thou fynde With euery thynge that longeth them to Doth not fortune strongly the bynde Now let se how thou canst do What I this harde I was nere mad And often fortune cursed I The specyall cause why I was sad Was for my purse was clene empty Than was it nede I dyd espye My gowne to pledge vnto one I sawe there was no remedy Though that I had but that alone O blessyd iesu what may this be Maryed was I in an euyll chaunce To lyue in suche pouerte As I this sayd the same instaunce Came to me Despayre in cruell ordonaunce One of the worst of all the sort She was chyef capytayne of theyr daunce And doughter vnto Dysconfort

Despayre

dysconfort .

This Despayre dyd me so assayle That lost was my dyscrecyon My face began to wax pale By fere of her cruell vexacyon So cruell was her perturbacyon Whiche on me she dyd extende That I thought in conclusyon Of my selfe to make an ende ¶ I was redy to renne here and there To clymbe vp hye and than to fall By my lyfe set I not an here By meanes of this furye infernall I thought / who nedes to his deth shall It is but folye it to prolonge This is a worde sayde ouerall He that is drowned may no man hange And therfore thought I for to do The worst that eyther I coude or myght To sle my fader and moder also Yf I had founde them in my syght Than vnto my mynde came full ryght That I sholde dye no more but ones Wherfore dyspayre that wretched wyght Bad me go therto at ones I sawe well that without labour I neuer sholde sholde obteyne rychesse Fortune therof is gouernour To some she gyueth with largesse But I haue neyther more nor lesse So that I wery am of my lyfe Auoyde of ioyefull of dystresse Lo what it is to take a wyfe I se dysconfort doth me greue Despayre encreaseth my lang our That fote ne hande can I remeue Suche is my payne and my dolour Neyther thought I on worshyp ne honour On knyght squyer baron ne lorde My mynde was on no thynge that houre But to hange my selfe with a corde Or elles to lepe in to some ryuer And there with peyne my selfe to drowne I cared not in what maner I dyed so that my lyfe were done Despayre made me her champyon And had me so take in her snare That sodenly as I fell in suowne She me nere strangled or I was ware

treason

Despeyre

AS I was in this perturbacyon I sawe a lady pleasaunt and bryght For to beholde her meke fassyon Sothly it was a pleasaunt syght Her caperon with parle was pyght With precyous stones about enlumynynge Her beaute full face shone as bryght As phebus doth in a may mornynge This lady standynge me before In her behauour was meke and lyberall Good and gracyous to ryche and poore She semed to me the quene celestyall A quene excellent I may her call For she was doughter shortly to say Vnto that meke lorde and immortall The whiche was borne on Chrystmas day Sore I desyred to knowe her name By cause she was of suche excellence She sayde reason whome none doth blame Than was I ryght glad of her presence This noble lady by her dylygence Approched nere vnto my syde Despayre anone gate her thens And dysconfort with her dyd glyde All the hole company dyd auoyde What tyme reason sat by me thus It was some wynde wolde me haue noyed Sende vnto me by myght of Eolus I trowe that Pluto / or Neptunus Or mars chyef forger of batayle Or elles helporter Cerberus Engendred them me to assayle What sholde I say they fled that tyde Bothe despayre and the other rout Than was there none with me to chyde I rysynge vp loked rounde about Than of no thynge was I in doubt Whan reason began to speke softly Whan she had dryuen the other out That her to here grete Ioye had I Reason spake with delyberacyon Replete with wysedom excellently So that sothly in conclusyon She semed an oratoure wytty What she sayde was sayde playnly To the vnderstondynge of euery man And syttynge in a chayre me by Wys●ly to speke thus she began My frende this thought se thou eschewe Ferest thou that rychesse wyll fayle Subdue thy selfe to force and vertue And be reuled by my counsayle Whiche shall the guyde in eche batayle So thou consyder what thou hast to do Thou mayst gete gode by thy trauayle For to fynde the and all thyn to ONe god alone must thou honoure And hym serue with all dylygence And as thy selfe loue thy neyghboure Agaynst hym do thou none offence In trouble se thou haue pacyence After the tyme and the season To eche man haue thou obedyence These be the termes of reason Thou sholdest not to largely Reioyse thy selfe of thy rychesse Nor yet be wrothe semblably Of pouerte / peyne / or dystresse Whan Atropos hymselfe doth dresse Eche to smyte with his mortall lance He smyteth the ryche with cruelnesse And to the poore hath oft suffraunce Why shold thyn herte for sere thus fayle Is it not rychesse ynough to the To haue thy handes redy to trauayle Without wem or mayme of thy body Yf that thou ●●bour certaynly Thou shall ●ot fayle to haue rychesse So that thou from all synne do fle Peasably lyuynge in mekenesse Fyrste auoyde eche synne mortall Replenysshe the with the grace dyuyne Behaue the so in this lyfe mortall That thou to hell do not declyne Submyt thy selfe vnto the discyplyne Of hym that made eche creature Praye hym thyn herte so to enlumyne That thou aduersyte may endure Whan nede cometh to thy presence To besye labour infyx thy courage So shalt thou make hym to go thens Constreynynge hym maugre his vysage And yf dystresse do vnto the outrage Thorough besynesse awaye hym chase Yf thought wolde do to the domage In some good dede put thy solace And yf pouertye do the assayle Or fals and feble necessyte Enforce thy body vnto trauayle By suche meane shalt thou cause them fle Yf dysconfort do trouble the Tende not vnto his temptacyon Yf despayre 〈…〉 olde thy lady be Leue her and come vnto me reason

humilitie casteth Pryde

YF pryde on the do auenture Despyte dysdayne or presumpcyon Beware of them they are not sure Of them cometh grete abusyon Cast fro the collaudacyon Vayne glorye with mysgouernaunce Fle fro fals ymagynacyon Fle bostynge and oultrecuydaunce Yf suche vyces on the do warre Them and theyr werkes se thou despyse Constrayne them by myght to stande a farre Pray humylyte the to promyse Her helpe and socoure in ony wyse With contemplacyon and deuocyon But aboue all I the aduyse Be meke of thyn entencyon Humylyte must be the chyef Agaynst pryde grounde of all vyce And for to kepe the fro myschyef Do so that thou mayst haue iustyce Gete good prouysyon yf thou be wyse Lete hym euer kepe the vantgarde Than shall pryde full of malyce Renounsynge the auoyde rerewarde

charite casteth Enuye

AFter that pryde is fro the chased By the myght of humylyte With a nother thou shalt be menased Whiche is daungerous called enuye Accompanyed with myserye With falshode / murder / and treason Suche shall be in his companye With sclaunder and fals detraccyon As a daungerous capytayne Enuye wyll the assayle and touche He shall do the full mouche payne Yf thou as subiect vnto hym crouche Ill reporte hath he in his pouche With many vyces and dyuers Whiche vnto vertue are reproche Hym alway tendynge to reuers Whan that thou seest her the aboute In me put thou thy trust and Ioye Be not afrayde nor do not doute Trust well I shall them all destroye Fayth and charyte shall them noye Se thou alwaye do her honoure So shall she wyt on the employe To knowe how she men doth socour Charyte hath waytynge on her dygnyte Very true loue and miserycorde Beneuolence with grace and veryte Amonge them founde is no dyscorde But peas mekenesse and concorde These shall the helpe in thy necessyte And thus as I vnto the recorde They shall enuye auoyde fro the

pacience ca●●●● yre

ANd than whan done is this assaute On the shall come a tyraunt daungerous Whose name is Ire withouten faute To all vyce fyers and desyrous And vnto vertue alwaye contraryous The whiche in seruauntes doth abounde He may well say that he is eurous Whome this vyce doth not confounde Cruelte bereth his banyer Felonye is his chyef champyon Peruersyte is his portere Madnes reygneth in his dongeon Cursed murder that fals felon Of his hous is as chyef captayne Here is a cursed relygyon To hym that foloweth theyr trayne Therfore yf Ire do the dystresse Shewe thy force and thy puysaunce Call vnto the debonayrnesse Agaynst yre a full myghty launce With her shall come fayre suffraunce Pacyence is chyef / with dyscrecyon Stedfastnesse with attemperaunce Subduynge the vnto correccyen Ire hath neyther mercy nor pety On man nor woman here lyuynge But echone assayleth full cruelly Ennemye to peas and to warre accordynge Susteyner of eche vyce semynge Whose furour melteth mannes hert Whiche to his counsell are lenynge Wherfore thy syght therfro dyuert It is impossyble that a man Irous May vnto god do good seruyce For Ire is a synne ryght daungerous Whiche is gouerned without Iustyce It is a fyers and mortall vyce Whiche often dothe ryght grete domage Syth thou art warned be thou wyse Lyst that he do to the outrage Shewe thy force and puyssaunce Call vnto the force with noblenesse Pray pacyence to be thy launce Whiche shall this vyce lyghtly oppresse Whan yre is gone sleuthe shall her dresse On euery syde with the to fyght Whiche of all vyce is chyef maystresse A stronge tyraunt despysynge ryght

Dylygence casteth Sleuthe

AS chyef capytayne of all the rout Sleuth shall haue pleasure the to assayle And sonne I put the out of dout That in thy bed she shall not fayle On the to lye bothe wanne and pale On her shall wayte vnlustynesse With neglygence voyde of trauayle Chyef guyder of all vnthryftenesse Defende the fyersly as a man For with sleuthe shall come rychelesse For to subdue the yf he can Puttynge the to vnlustynesse Accompanyed with fals fayntnesse The whiche by theyr iniquyte Many one bryngeth fro tychesse Vnto grete payne and pouerte Cowardyse wyll the folowe fast Yf thou do not thy selfe defende Vnto the grounde he wyll the cast But yf that thou thy myght extende And her withstandynge yf thou entende With her to fyght by force souerayne Vnto the grounde shall she descende Lyke the wynde peased by rayne Sleuth to the wyll make good chere By faynt and feble dyssymulacyon But at the ende is his manere For to stange lyke the scorpyon Beware of his abusyon Lyst that thou in his bondes rest But for helpe in conclusyon To god must thou make thy request Agaynst sleuth for thy defence Entencyon to good must thou requyre Prouyde chyefly for dylygence Besynesse with charge se thou desyre And for good hert se thou enquyre Pray good wyll to be thy gyde So shalt thou sleuth cast in the myre Hym and his asse as he doth ryde

Largesse casteth Covetyse .

After this assaut perylous On the shall come voyde of Iustyce One ougly fyers and daungerous Whose name is called auaryce Beware his cursed couetyse For by his wordes fals and subtyle Many one to hym dothe he atyse Whome at the ende he dothe begyle Auaryce is so yll and vnsacyable Neuer fulfylled with rychesse And of his mynde ay founde vnstable By thought euer fulfylled with heuynesse This auaryce doth all them oppresse Whiche lyghtly fyndeth not socoure He and his seruauntes wyll them dresse The to assayle at euery houre Whan auaryce dothe the assayle With hym wyll come full lyghtly Vsurye and rapyne withouten fayle Fals swerynge and okerye Murder / theft / and trecherye Fraude / falshode / and decepcyon Accompanyed with roberye Malyce and cauyllacyon Whan that thou seest this companye With auaryce the to dystresse Withdrawe thy selfe to charyte To suffysaunce and to largesse But in largesse auoyde excesse And by almes I the ensure Auaryce thou shalt oppresse That he no lenger shall endure And yf that ony maner creature Wolde say that these vyces all Be gyuen vnto them by nature Or yet by destenye infernall Mesemeth nay / theyr wyll is lyberall God hath vs gyuen reason and wyt Vs for to guyde vnto ioy eternall Whiche we shall haue ye we deserue it Th●●fore my sone se that thou entende Vnto thy selfe with perfyte dylygence Wherby thou mayst the fro this vyce defende For euer thou seest by playne euydence That auaryce full of malyuolence Hym moost hurteth that loueth it best With largesse make for hym defence Yf thou woldest haue thy mynde in rest

sob●●te casteth glotony

SO whan thou ouercome hast auaryce With the braunches of his lynage To the wyll come a cruell vyce Named glotonye full of outrage Whiche wyll to the do grete domage Yf thou thy selfe to hym subdue As wel in youthe as in thy age This vyce on many doth renewe To drynke whan thou hast no thurst Without mesure or ony reason And to ete whan thou hast no lust Therin is no dyscrecyon He may be called a foule gloton That of his wombe his god doth make Beware of this abusyon Lyft in his bondes this vyce the take Dysordered appetyte is with glotonye And serueth hym chyef on the nyght And gurmandyse is of his meyny And sleuth with hym encreaseth myght All these fyersly on the wyll lyght On eche syde the temptynge myghtely But lyft vp thyn eyen to heuen bryght Besechynge god of helpe mekely Sothely whan that thy stomake Is furnysshed with mete beyonde nature Thou mayst be lykened vnto a sacke Replete with fylthe dunge and ordure It dyspleaseth god sore / I the ensure And to thy selfe doest thou outrage Than bableth thy tunge without mesure To others hurt / sclander and domage Yest mayst thou make ryght good resystence Agaynst them maugre theyr vysage So that thou wylt take abstynence The whiche shall be for thyn auauntage Sobryete is chyef of this passage Whiche shall glotonye fro the auoyde Who in grete drynkynge hath vsage By deth lyghtly is destroyed Drunkenesse dothe the longes brenne And maketh the membres for to quake Dr●nken men often laugh and greene Than me ●●ooth them for fooles take Drunkenesse the wyt doth brake It maketh a man to fyght and chyde Sothly this vyce often doth make A man of his frendes homycyde

chastite casteth lechery

WHan thou escaped hast glotonye And passed his cruell morsure The sore assayle wyll lechyerye A cruell vyce I the ensure The whiche is of suche nature At her begynnynge her face to paynt But yf that she a whyle endure Thy body wyll she make full faynt This foule synne ougly to name With her braunches ryght many folde Hym that it loueth bryngeth to shame Example of Hercules the bolde I coude mo counte yf that I wolde Whome lechery hath made to smerte Bryefly yf thou wylt haue tolde It destroyeth many a noble herte It wyll the gyue foolysshe pleasaunce With a desyre ryght dysordynate Superfluyte with his launce Yf he with the do make debate He wyll the lay on the grounde prostrate And brynge the vnto captyuyte Makynge the fall fro thyn estate And to knowe thy fragylyte Cupydo shall thyn eyen bynde Hauynge venus hym to socoure Thus whan these two haue made the blynde They shall the brynge in grete erroure Than shall thou fall in to langoure For whan thou art in theyr bondes cought Yf thou leue not by theyr rygoure Shortly they shall the brynge to nought For to auoyde the crudelyte Of this fals archer amerous Take thou the shelde of chastyte Therin is fortune prosperous Chastyte is so vyctoryous That he wyll take vyndycacyon Of this fals vyce full vycyous And vaynquysshe his operacyon Many be that wyll them excuse Of theyr loke and beholdynge Saynge that none can theym accuse For beholdynge of ony thynge This reason is vnto them semynge Be not our eyen made for to se Suche excusacyons wyll they brynge For to defende theyr infelycyte Thus say they for theyr excusaunce Why may we not loke here and there That is trouth without doutaunce Of thy loke nedest thou not to fere But yet my sone this mayst thou lere Thyn eyen vnto the god hath sent With them to loke euery where So that thou haue a good entent The fayre regarde of maryage Is vnto god ryght grete delyte In good hope for to haue lynage Or ellys it is of no profyte Therfore yf thou wylt be perfyte Dryue awaye this foolysshe pleasaunce Geuynge vnto hym no respyte For to take the in to his daunce Remember the grete and fore vengeaunce Taken of god for this outrage Often tymes without doutaunce Of the mayster it maketh the page But as I sayde in maryage Behaue the as thou ought to do With good hope for to haue lynage Or elles sothly thou synnest to Therfore in bryef conclusyon To auoyde the peyne infernall Fle from all yll operacyon Procedynge of these synnes mortall And of pryde in especyall For whiche Lucyfer fell downe to hell Take this for a doctryne generall Whiche ensuynge I shall the tell ¶ Agaynst pryde take thou mekenesse For enuye take thou charyte Pacyence putteth Ire in dystresse By dylygence sluethe is in captyuyte For couetyse take thou lyberalyte Glotonye by sobrenesse is made thrall Chastyte subdueth lechery But good and ferme fayth ruleth all It is trouth that mannes nature To all yll vyce is prone and redy Wherfore the better may he endure The whiche vseth somwhat percyte Whiche is a grete frende vnto chastyte Agaynst synne take suche resystence Yf thou wylt auoyde aduersyte And purchace a place in goddes presence Therfore yf thou wylt heuen obteyne As thy selfe loue thy neyghboure Fro mortall synne thy selfe refrayne Fere god and do hym honoure Do his hyddynge whiche is thy creatoure Speke lytell here what wyse men say So mayst thou escape terrene langoure And haue wheron to lyue alway Where as many wordes are spoken For to speke in breef langage Often wysedom and trouth is broken Of moche speche cometh grete domage Who in grete langage hath vsage Some worde may he say in good entent The whiche soundeth to grete outrage And causeth hym after to repent Behaue thy selfe curtes and amyable Cause no debate / stryfe / nor dyscorde Be prudent / symple / and seruyable Speke thou of no man yll report Take good hope and good confort Lo here the playne waye of hardnesse Whiche shall the brynge vnto the fort That thou desyrest that is rychesse Rychesse goten by fore labour By watchynge trauayle and by peyne Is vnto god moche more pleasour Than it is whan it is sodayne One may in this lyfe mundayne Obteyne rychesse with grete vertue But whan it is yll goten certayne The getters vnto the deuyll subdue Folowe therfore the vertuous waye On the ryght hande that none doth begyle Leue the left / the whiche alwaye Destroyeth man / be he neuer so subtyle This waye that none doth defyle On the ryght hande is called dylygence For though the left on the do smyle The latter ende is voyde of all defence In this cursed waye on the left syde Many a man doth walke gladly So at the ende are they destroyed For that theyr good is goten falsly Some be drowned and some hanged on hye Be they neuer so hardy / subtyle / or wyse Suche is the ende / but the other sothly Bryngeth a man vnto paradyse A man that foloweth the left way Can vnneth hym selfe refrayne He that hym selfe refrayne not may Shall fynde it harde to come agayne Therfore begynne in the waye of peyne Whiche shall the brynge to the sterred regyon And for thy ledars haue no dysdayne To take vnderstandynge wyt and reason Some fooles yll and obstynate Whan they are repreued by Iustyce Say that they there to are destynate Wenynge for the excuse theyr malyce They say that fortune must accomplyse That / that is theyr destyne Thus dothe the deuyll these wretches atyse To kepe them in theyr incredulyte Good wyll must thou haue therfore Auoyde yll thought fro thyn entent And yf that thou be tempted sore Beware do not therto consent Lyft vp thyn eyen to the fyrmament Prayenge for helpe and than I reason Shall be ryght glad / fayne and dylygent The to delyuet in euery season Yf destryne shold haue domynacyon Than our good dedes sholde not auayle Echone wolde make transgressyon Yf thou so thynke thy mynde doth fayle Yf thou do well for thy trauayle Thou shalt haue Ioye / and for yll punycyon Gete heuen / and withouten fayle Thou escapest all tribulacyon Though that thy destenye be nought Be thou not redy to do the werst He that is of a cursed thought Euermore leueth the best Yf thou do yll beware the last Iustyce to eche geueth his guerdon Whan thy soule tro this lyfe is past Thou shalt haue euen as thou hast done In this noble way of dylygence Yf that thou thy selfe redresse Thou shalt by playne experyence By meane there of obteyne rychesse As for the waye of sleuthfulnesse Now euer it appere the ende is nought There is but wo / peyne and dystresse Dysconfort / trouble / care / and thought The waye of sleuth a man doth brynge Vnto a place of captyuyte Where nought is but hunger and mournynge Called the maner of wo and pouette There is no thynge but necessyte Brede nor drynke / worke nor trauayle There lyueth man in suche penurye That hunger constrayneth his hert to fayle Whan one is fall in suche myschaunce And subdued in suche pouertye He must to haue his sustenaunce His clothes sell releued for to be Whan they are gone than what doth he Than must he be a begger or a thefe So in conclusyon here may ye se Of sleuthe what is the ende and prese Of suche folke that ben ocyous By ryght no man sholde haue mercy They are to theym selfe contraryous Sleuth dysceyueth them so falsly Some be pale blacke and rusty Agaynst the sonne syttynge for solace Some dye for hunger some colde and thursty Sorowe mot he haue that it doth purchace Yf thou hast passed a place perylous And thens escaped without domage Take good hede se thou be cautelous Retourne not theder for thyn auauntage But the behaue as prudent wyse and sage Auoydynge all sleuthe and neglygence Go about by another passage Whiche is the waye of dylygence Yf thou se some goynge amysse Lyghtly auoyde theyr company Suche as in thy presence thy mouth wyl kysse And wolde the sle yf they myght preuely Be not aquaynted with suche comonly Kepe well thy counsell shewe not it Whan one blynde ledeth another lyghtly Often they bothe fall in the pytte Take therfore the ryght passage Of good hope and good esperaunce Be dylygent for thyn owne auauntage For therin is rychesse and pleasaunce Bothe in plentye and in suffysaunce But set not thyn hert theron to sore Gete not wrongfully suche abundaunce That thy soule suffre peyne therfore Who that tychesse to moche dothe pryse For it takynge labour and greuaunce Is so brought by vnhappy couetyse That he is neuer at his pleasaunce Though he haue rychesse in abundaunce For all is he not there with content But a man that hath suffysaunce To all good gladly dothe consent Suffysaunce doth god gretely please As thou full well mayst vnderstonde And couetyse dothe hym dysplease Therfore auoyde his cruell honde Let hym not take the in his bonde Lyst his excesse do the begyle Yf thou remember thou art but fonde With it thou endurest but a whyle Remember it is no thynge permanent In abundaunce to haue rychesse As water rennynge sone is it spent Whan deth cometh all thyn excesse Of welth and rychesse tourneth to heuynesse Thou must it all leue the behynde Than one of thy kynne with largesse Bloweth thy pens out with the wynde Therfore with lytell be thou content Thankynge euer god of pouerte Thanke hym of that he hath the sent Auoydynge synne and iniquyte If thou with synne subdued be Thou canst do no dede merytorye Do well and than I ensure the Thou shalte obteyne the heuenly glorye Some folke in all theyr lyfe To gete good are full dylygent Lettynge neyther for hatred ne stryfe And yet are they neuer content Vnto all falshode they do consent They tende not but to gete and saue With couetyse is theyr herte so brente That they thynke neuer ynough to haue Whan they are moost in fortunes grace Lyfted vp hye vnto the mone She shewynge them her frowarde face Causeth them lyghtly to come downe Though they before sate in theyr trone Fortune on them hath made a mowe Wherby theyr rychesse fro them is gone Than on the grounde lye they full lowe Therfore se thou fortune defye Syth her rychesse is so vnstable And in god onely thy selfe affye In whome is rychesse perdurable His suffysaunce is full profytable Therfore in hym thy selfe assure And in this purpose be thou stable God hym loueth that doth endure A man ryche full of ygnoraunce Whiche in tyme passed hath had honour In fortunes rychesse hauynge pleasaunce Is now downe dryuen by a sodayne shoure He neuer afore was vsed to laboure Thus after he hath lepte from hype to lowe By ydelnes fortune doth on hym loure He lyeth on the grounde & none wyll hym knowe Of clothynge desyre thou no newe guyse But clothe thy selfe alway honestly Suffre not pryde vpon the to ryse But go ay meke and symplye And se thou be content onely So thou haue good whereon to Iyue Without gatherynge ouer largely Thou knowest not whan deth wyll arryue If it fortune that by necessyte Thou put thy selfe in the seruyce Of ony man of grete auctoryte Other lorde / marchaunt / or Iustyce Be not folysshe / flaterynge / nor nyse Nor yet slouthfull in ony wyse Se that thou flee fro echo vyce Leest he the vtterly despyse What euer he saye suffre mekely Fere hym with loue entyer and cordyall Serue hym bothe daye and nyght truly Saye of hym good ouer all Remembre loue is so specyall That without it no good is done Of his goodes be not lyberall And god shall paye the thy guerdon Thou ought of ryght to set thy herte With all thy myght and thy puyssaunce Thy maysters wyll for to aduerte And it to fulfyll without doutaunce So call thou vnto thy subuenaunce This prouerbe that I the lere Kepe it in thy remembraunce Loue goth neuer without fere Fere without loue may ryght well be We fere without loue them that vs menase But where as true loue is in certaynte It maketh men lyue euen by compas Therfore this loue se thou purchace And than thou shalte fall in his fauour soone Than thy rewarde to thy solace Shall be euen after as thou hast done If thou truly thy mayster serue He shall perceyue it within a whyle Than shalte thou haue that thou dost deserue With a a good name whiche none doth fyle But yf that thou do hym begyle He shall perceyue it at the last Than shall thy dedes thy name defyle So out of his hous he shall the cast Whan that thou arte thus departed Without his loue full folysshely As a seruaunt full yll aduerted Another mayster must thou seke truly Than shall other come pryuely And enquyre whether thou were yll or good If he saye yll that they may spye No man wyll haue the by the rode But yf that ony be in necessyte And can none other seruaunt fynde Than parauenture he wyll haue the And alway be to the vnkynde But yf he be a fole or blynde Elles wyll he none of thy seruyse Than shalte thou wander out with the wynde No mayster shall loue thy guyse If that thou wylte thy mayster please Thou must haue these thre propretees Fyrst must thou haue an asses eares With an hertes fete in all degrees An hogges snoute / and after these By suche meanes shall I declare That in tyme of aduersytees By them the better thou mayst fare By an asses eares this is ment That thou must harken hym aboute If thou se he be not content Saye nought but se thou hym doute Where as he is se thou not route What he commaundeth do gladly Than shall he not put the out If thou behaue the thus wysely By this hogges snoute mene I this What mete so euer to the is brought Though it be somwhat a mysse Take pacyence and saye thou nought Ete thou it not but it be ought Rather suffre thou a lytell penurye Another tyme better shall be bought For to amende that Iniurye Let thy snoute smell in eche place And specyally for to seke labour If thou so do in lytell space Thou shalte not fayle of his fauour Let thy pacyence ouercome his rygour And take good hede to his condycyon Se that thou alway hym honour Submyttynge the to his correccyon This sygnyfyeth the fete of an herte Thou must do thy mayster socour Bothe daye and nyght though thou sholde smerte To renne and go at euery houre Daye nor nyght spare no laboure Rather than he sholde haue domage Helpe hym in welth and in doloure If ony man do to hym outrage Thus reason lefte of her parlyament Than after tourned I me to rest And than came wysedome full dylygent A man prudent / dyscrete and honest Stondynge nere afore my brest I lyfted my heed vnto hym nere He made suche glose vpon the texte That I had meruayle hym to here

wysedome .

HE that hym ruleth by reason Geteth bothe ryches and honour Takynge vpon hym labour Euer hath he a ryche mansyon That is ruled by reason He puruayeth eche thynge in season As best is whan the tyme is grene After a storme the sonne doth shene That man is quyte of all dyscencyon Whiche is ruled by reason ¶ Sothly my frende it is abusyon This caduke rychesse gretly to prayse To many a man it doth dysease He auoydeth sclaunder and detraccyon Whiche is ruled by reason ¶ Ye knowe that within a lytell season Fortunes fauour many one procure But of her grace no man is sure Therfore he wyse is in conclusyon Whiche is ruled by reason I make townes & castelles stronge of walles I make Iestes / storyes / and comedyes I made the seuen artes lyberalles With poemes and many tragydees I haue made many omelyes Whiche vnto man are full profytable Wherby he may auoyde all folyes And of his mynde be ferme and stable Whan reason on man hath dominacyon I promote hym vnto grete dygnyte I hate dyscorde / and adulacyon And loue peas / concorde / and equyte He that wyll lyue well in prospetyte Must haue reason to be his gouernour And than wyll I of myn owne lyberte Of very ryght be his protectour I am wysedome whiche haue knowlegynge Of good and yll without doutaunce But without reason I do no thynge For in her is so maner ygnoraunce Who me procureth I hym auaunce Wherfore sone yf thou wylte procede Be euer concent with suffysaunce Than shall I helpe the at thy nede Obey to reason what euer she saye With all thyn herte in lowlynesse Than by her grace shalte thou puruay Bothe worshyp honour and rychesse She helpeth men out of dystresse By her wytte and dyscrecyon If thou wylte come to parfytnesse Put the in her subgeccyon

The auctour ¶ Thus wysedome vnto me spake At reasons wyll and commaundement Wherby grete comforte dyde I take His reasons were so wyse and prudent On whose saynge I fyxed myn entent Concludynge vpon the way of payne But for the tyme passed I was dolent Whiche lost / coude not be called agayne Than halfe faynt for watchynge excessyfe I lyfted my hede vp lokynge me aboute Lefte alone sore / sad / and pensyfe Than was I agayne in doute I fered them that afore wente out Than sawe I one full of grauyte Go compassynge my bedde aboute With two seruauntes in his company Whan he vnto me dyde appere I thought he had ben some aduocate His hode was furred with menyuere His gowne of the same lyke his estate He me behelde without ony debate And sayd his name was dysceyte full slye Of whome cometh many a mortall fate His lytell varlet was named vsurye Falshode was his seruauntes name So knewe I by his fals vysage The mayster cared no thynge for shame Yet was he a comely personage He me so flaterynge by his langage Set hym downe there by my cheke I meruaylled what was his vsage Than thus vnto me he began to speke

vsurye

falshode

deeeyte

SAy my frende wheron dost thou 〈…〉 Thou doost thy selfe destroy with thought All thy wytte thou doost abuse Thou studyest sore and all for nought Reason hath the in her bondes cought But let her go by my counsayle Than of rychesse that thou hast sought By my helpe thou shalte not fayle Wysedome hath the aduertysed To put the in reasones subgeccyon A strawe man let her be dyspysed And yelde the vnder my proteccyon Who loueth reason lacketh dyscrecyon Thou alway seest a man resonable That fereth god Iustyce and punycyon Hath neuer ought this is verytable Reason that fole doth the counsayle To lyue alway vertuously Thou shalte haue hunger for thy trauayle She byddeth the alway labour besely But by my crafte I all sodaynly Make hym this daye poore ryche to morowe Therfore reason se thou defye Let her and all hers go with sorowe Reason with lytell is well content She setteth no thynge by excesse For to labour she is euer dylygent Without gatherynge of grete rychesse But I exalte men vnto noblesse Sodaynlye by my arte subtyle If ony wolde do me falsnesse I take hym lyghtly in his owne wyle But whyle that thou ensuest reason Thou shalte neuer come to dygnyte But poore and symple in euery season As a bonde man had in captyuyte Out of all maner hope lyberte Oppressed shalte thou be ouer all Euery daye well mayst thou se That the grete dothe the small Leue therfore reason by my counsayle If thou wylte haue rychesse lyghtly And yf that ony do the assayle By my crafte I shall blere theyr eye If that thou do entende to me Thou shalte fynde that thou hast sought I shall be at thy wyll redy And whyle I lyue thou shalte lacke nought If that thou wylte come to thyn ease And haue golde at thy pleasour Thy neyghbour se that thou dysease With iniwaye / domage / force / and rygour Let me dysceyte be as thy gouernour Or elles my seruaunt vsurye From one to other go euery houre With a glosynge langage of flaterye Let thy tunge be as a knyfe With euery man therwith to rage And where thou woldest haue no stryfe Shewe thy selfe dyscrete and sage Specyally where as is 〈◊〉 Speke fayre tyll thou haue thy pray But yet let not to do domage To euery man whyle that thou may Gouerne the euer with dyscepcyon Care not for them that are in payne At poore folke haue thou deryson To gete good do the not refrayne For to deceyue men set thy brayne In theyr presence shewe them good chere But of theyr hurte se thou be fayne In theyr absence in eche manere Speke fayre with falshode amonge Shewe thy selfe meke and treatable Take mony by ryght and wronge Make the ryche man myserable Gather togyder tychesse arrable Fere neyther god ne the deuyll of hell Of thy wordes be thou not stable To ryche enuyous to poore cruell Paye nought in plede / nor in processe Lene no thynge but vnto vsure Se that thou the poore oppresse Take theyr herytage and nouryture Spare no thynge the to periure And yf that ony do the repreue By swerynge fast thy selfe assure From his good hym to remeue Thou shalte haue rychesse at the last To lyue in grete prosperyte If thou speke fayre and borowe fast Faynynge thy selfe in charyte For now a dayes in trouth and veryte No man of the wyll haue count Without clothynge of auctoryte Lyke a knyght or a vycount Kepe thy termes lyke thyn estate With ermyne or sables furre thy gowne If ony man haue enuye therate By thy crafte tourne hym vp set downe Thus mayst thou encrease thy renowne And yf ony come with the to speke Let thy man saye thou arte not in the towne That he may come often the to seke Let hym retourne the to enquyre Be not asshamed for to lye And what thynge that thou doost desyre Be it good or badde do it lyghtly Take no hede to well nor truly So it be done take thou no thought And I shall helpe the euer besely So that at nede thou shalte lacke nought To hym that is curteys and lowly Euery man dare agaynsaye But to one ryche gaye and hastye Scant is one that dare saye nay They wyll hym fere lyst that he fraye Therfore eche man wyll hym forbere Fayne felonye on them to laye And than shall euery man the fere What euer thou doost worke by whle Fyll thy stomacke full of falsenesse Fro the reason do thou exyle Of her nought cometh but dystresse Refuse fayth take thou falsnesse For suche is the worlde in this season As thou mayst se by euydence expresse They are all poore that folowe reason Se thou be redy aye to take Without gyuynge ought agayne Thy promesse swerynge se thou forsake Thus mayst thou haue rychesse sodayne Let thy tunge folowe the comyn trayne Of adulacyon couered with eloquence Thus shall euery man be fayne Vnto the for to do reuerence If there come to the ony myschaunce Care not it shall do the no grefe Thou shalte haue for thy sustenaunce Me and my men the to relefe We shall defende the fro myschefe And vnder the vmbre of veryte Though he be neuer so fals a thefe We shall ouercome hym by our subtylte Loke what it is for to haue polyce With crafte subtylte and practyke By whiche meanes he that worketh slye Casteth his encmye lyghtly in the dyke Trewe wysedome se thou exyle Whiche causeth thought and heuynes Muse alway men to begyle Let not to make fayre promesses Euery daye here twenty masses But haue at none of them deuocyon And space thou not to take excesses Of thefte / falshhode / and extorcyon Byleue me for thyn auauntage And refuse thou reason vtterly Falshode my frende shall be thy page Exaltynge the to rychesse myghtely Whan thou arte in suche case truly Euery man shall do the honour And yf that ony do to the vylany Se thou hym tame by thy rygour Whyle that reason on the doth reyne Thou shalte neuer come to worthynesse But euer of pouerte complayne Auoyde of myrth full of sadnesse Thou shalte not nede to count expresse Crownes / nobles / nor royalles Thou shalte be voyde of all rychesse And of degrees temporalles Thou hast herde what I haue the tolde This is my mynde and my counsayle Wherfore on me se thou be bolde And do here after for thyn auayle Thus mayst thou come without trauayle To rychesse so thou autoyde reason If thou thus do without fayle No more wyll I saye at this season

The auctour . ¶ Whan this fals catyf had thus sayd I was abstracte nere fro my mynde His wordes made me sore afrayde That I vnstable was as the wynde Aboute me socour coude I none fynde For fere I quaked / colde were my fete I had in me as good a mynde As hath a gose vpon a spete That whiche reason dyde me counsayle Was good holsome and reasonable Dysceyte contrarye dyde me assayle Shewynge me craftes dysceyuable Thus was my mynde as varyable As a fane strondynge in the wynde In no purpose ferme nor stable As now a dayes we may fynde As I thus laye troubled full sore Wysedome retourned to me agayne More prudent than he was before Whiche with his langage dyscrete & playne Exorted me for to refrayne Me fro that thefe decepcyon And than reason sholde me mayntayne And thus sayd he in conclusyon

¶ Wysedome .

wysedome .

DOst thou trust falshode or dysceyte A poore man they wyll the dyffame They loue but dyscorde and debate They prayse the yll & good doth blame And they pryncypally are the same Whiche bryngeth man to the pytte of hell Trust in reason moost noble of fame Whiche no thynge doth but that is well That man is madde that leueth reason Vnto dysceyte for to be lenynge He that so doth after in brefe season Ayenst hym selfe is murmurynge Therfore be thou the withdrawynge For of hym venym doth dyscende Lyue after reason aboue all thnge For who well lyueth well doth ende How many dayly doost thou se That leuynge reason them selfe assure In falshode hauynge grete dygnyte Fro poore men takynge theyr pasture In this extorcyon they longe endure By falshode getynge good mundayne But whan that knowen is theyr nature They he made poore by chaunce sodayne We haue ofte sene grete wyndes blowe And with a lytell rayne ouercome So many men be brought full lowe Before exalted by fals custome Some rayed in scarlet / and other some Arayed in golde / tyssue / and veluet The one after vnto the swerde become The other trayned vnto the gybet If that they had trusted in reason Leuynge falshode that dysceyuour They sholde not haue had suche confusyon But styll haue lyued in theyr honour Reason that lady of grete valour Doth nought that is to repreue But dysceyte that fals traytour His chefe subgertes doth myschefe Syth that rychesse is so varyable Wherfore take we therfore suche payne Consyderynge our lyfe so vnstable From deth we can vs not refrayne The daye and houre is vncertayne Therfore let vs lyue scarsely For this is a thynge moost certayne That fyrst or last we must nedes dye Dysceyte in his fyrst begynnynge To eche man well ynough doth sounde But an euyll deth is his endynge His scolers thus doth he confounde But hym that in rychesse doth abounde By reason goten eche man doth prayse In dysceyte suche ende is founde That euery man doth it dysprayse By reason well mayst thou obtayne Rychesse mundayne suffycyently Who that hath none bydeth in payne And ofte is entreted vncurteysly Who hath not money and that largely Were he as holy as was saynt poule Where euer he goth contynually He shall be taken but for a fole Who that by reason doth good purchace He lyueth therwith ryght merely To his pleasour with grete solace But yf that ony thrugh enuye Wolde do hym wronge or iniurye He must to god call for socoure And than shall he full hastely Hym ayde and helpe at euery houre Thus in my bedde sore troubled layde Halfe releued was my courage I toke good hede to that he sayd For he was wyse dyscrete and sage And thynkynge it for myn auauntage Submytted me to the grace dyuyne I knowe dysceyte by his outrage Wolde me haue brought vnto ruyne So purposed I fully to take The counsayle of my lady reason And dysceyte vtterly forsake With his falshode and abusyon Than beynge of this opynyon Reason dyde vnto me appere With her face bryght as the sonne Arayed in a ryche manere This lady was ryght gracyous Pleasaunt curteys and amyable On me lokynge with chere Ioyous With a salutacyon ryght honourable For this fals caytyfe myserable Dysceyte with his seruauntes two For all theyr chere abhomynable At her comynge dyde fro me go

Reason .

Reason

I Am gladde of the perfyte vyctorye Whiche thou hast obteyned this nyght It shall be to the ryght merytorye In the hygh trone that is so lyght Wysedome with his noble myght Hath ben for the a good solycytour But syth thou hast agreed to the ryght Now shalte thou be my seruytour I gyue the in commaundement For to serue me ferme and faythfully Haunt company wyse and prudent So shalte thou haue ryches largely I knowe that mannes mynde truly By temptacyon full ofte doth vary What I commaunde do thou gladly And to me reason be not contrary What man that I do sustayne I make clene from all maner vyce But he that falshode doth mayntayne Hateth concorde / peas / and Iustyce God wyll that thou leue malyce And vsurye in pryncypall Whiche thou must do yf thou be wyse With perfyte wyll and cordyall I kepe men in theyr fraunchyse I make the feble stronge and able Dysceyte to yll men doth atyse And doth nought that is profytable Be therfore constaunt / ferme / and stable Endue thy herte with forte and vertue So shalte thou dysceyte full myserable By godly wysedome strongly subdue Good name is better than rychesse The grace of god is full excellent Trust not in the fayre promesse Of dysceyte / ne his termes eloquent Behaue thy selfe wyse and prudent Be ruled by grace and pacyence Bothe daye and nyght be dylygent To gete the treasour of sapyence And yf that god gyue the wysedome Be not therof proude nor gloryous But more symple se thou become Thankynge hym with chere pyteous Let thy mynde be euer vertuous Submyttynge the to thy creatour Whiche is so meke and gracyous That he wyll be thy gouernour With eche man be in charyte Begynnynge at thy selfe fyrst of all Let all thy dedes sounde vnto equyte To poore men be thou lyberall Men wyse and vertuous to the call Whiche shall the kepe from all domage Auoyde flaterers from thy hall The to dysceyue is theyr vsage With me abydeth none malycyous Tyraunt traytour nor cowarde But noble people wyse and vertuous And peas as chefe bereth the standarde Who casteth on me his regarde Shall suerly scape bothe hole and sounde Who in dysceyte hath his forwarde Whan he moost trusteth is brought to grounde If that by fortune thou haue aduersyte Without noyse pacyently endure God knoweth thy fragylyte Fro poynt to poynt I the ensure And yf dysceyte on the procure Auoyde the cause the tyme and place For without doute I the ensure Dysceyte stynketh in goddes face Where as is pryde myschefe is bye Therfore of humylyte take comforte Fals flaterye se thou defye And tende no thynge to dyscomforte Beware falshode and yll reporte Auoyde robberye and all maner wronge If thou do as I the exorte In vertue shalte thou lyue full longe Thou mayst gete yf thou folowe me Rychesse mundayne in suffysaunce Without falshode or iniquyte Or doynge thy neyghbour ony greuaunce Thy good and yll in a balaunce Shall be weyed at the daye extreme And than after thyn ordynaunce The myghty Iuge shall the deme Therfore sone by me thou may Obteyne goodes mundayne & eternall Lyue without thought in lowe aray Without ony payne corporall Of this rychesse that is temporall Thou mayst with Ioye haue here thy parte And the hyghe glorye celestyall Whan thy soule shall hens departe Beholde what two grete benefyces I ordayne for my seruytour Where other fylled with malyces By falshode lese all suche honours Periurers theues and seductours Saturate with synne and ordure Lyue here in castelles and in toures But theyr estate can not endure Robbery / pykynge / and cauyllacyon Thefte with falshode doth gouerne That fals tyraunt decepcyon And ledeth hym vnto the tauerne Fals vsurye doth dyscerne Theyr armes with his termes blasynge With pryde of all vyce lanterne Vnto theyr counseyll is lenynge Suche as they haue but small conscyence Wherfore se that thou them dyspyse They refuse vertue / cunnynge / and scyence Lenynge to ryotte suche is theyr guyse Wherfore dere sone I the aduyse Let not theyr power on the extende For yf it do I the promyse At tyborne wyll they make the ende If falshode thrugh his wylynes Exalte a man vnto honour And after yf that his ryches Be lost by some sodayne shoure They to whome ye dyde rygour Before wyll Ioye of his domage They wyll be redy at euery houre To hym to render his outrage One vnto another wyll saye Loke where he lyeth that was so ryche His good yll goten is now awaye And lo where he lyeth in the dyche We thought that his ende wolde be suche He hath lyued in welth to longe His scabbed skyn lo now doth ytche That he dare not come vs amonge Thus mayst thou se it is profytable To lyue truly in this mortall lyfe Getynge rychesse by meanes verytable Syth it yll goten encreaseth stryfe Who laboureth for rychesse excessyfe Weneth to come vnto hye estate But at the last he abydeth pensyfe And euery good man doth hym hate Leue therfore vyce and loue vertue If thou wylte lyue in lybertye And than men knowynge the good & true Wyll be gladde of thy company But yet must thou haue humylyte With pacyence & concorde thy way to dresse With fayth / trouth / and equyte If thou wylte gete heuenly rychesse Be thou symple of countenaunce Speke fayre with chere amyable Beware dysceyte and fere his launce Be not of purpose varyable It is a thynge abhomynable Vnde an abyde of faythfulnesse To haue a fals herte & reprouable Full of wrathe / yre / and falsnesse Vnder the vmbre of veryte Many one vseth fals dyscepcyon Vsynge to speke ryght faythfully But falshode is in theyr entencyon Then thynke other to dysceyue by treason But theyr selfe dysceyued do they fynde But lerne this sone of me reason God knoweth euery mannes mynde God knoweth playne and clerely Mannes mynde thought and courage For he by his grace ineffably Made hym lyke to his owne ymage Sholdest thou not than do hym homage Whiche hath the gyuen so grete a benefyce Passynge all other in auauntage That is the realme of paradyse And after whan by dysobedyence Man was dampned to be in payne That hyghe lorde a lambe of innocence With his owne blode brought hym agayne This blessed lorde had no dysdayne For to become a man mortall And suffre deth with many a payne To make vs fre that erst were thrall This lorde chefe mayster of Iustyce Shall kepe his Iugement fynall Than some that there be moost of pryce Shall than be myserablest of all The poore and ryche shall be egall Eche man shall haue lyke audyence All mankynde there in generall Shall there abyde this Iuges sentence The aungelles shall theyr trumpettes blowe Callynge men to the Iugement Than euery man full well shall knowe How that he here his lyfe hath spent With an hygh voyce that lorde omnipotent Shall call my seruauntes with hym to dwell The badde all pensyf / woo / and dolent Perpetually shall be dampned to hell Now arte thou so that thou mayst chuse The harde waye of saluacyon Or elles yf thou wylte that abuse Thou fyndest the waye of perdycyon Do after me sone that am reason To auoyde the fendes cruell bonde And than that Iuge prynce of dyscressyon Shall the set on his ryght honde On the rayne bowe meke and propyce On hye shall syt that myghty lorde Hauynge on his one hande Iustyce And on the other myserycorde With them shall be peas and concorde And veryte shall be there playne This Iuge with these at one accorde Shall Iuge the lygnage humayne God shall my seruauntes vnto hym call With meke chere and countenaunce Vnto his hyghe sete emperyall But after another maner of chaunce He shall saye wordes of grete penaunce To falshode seruauntes whiche shall be dum Puttynge them to extreme vttraunce Ite maledicti in ignem eternum What shall theyr rychesse than auayle Whan they shall haue but ryghtwysnesse Eche man shall haue after his trauayle The good lyght and the yll derkenesse Some shall thynke it a daye of swetnesse But other some with crye and yell Shall thynke that daye of bytternesse Dyscendynge downe to the pytte of hell Therfore frende to thy selfe take hede Renounce falshode with all iniquyte This daye shall make the to haue drede If thou it call to mynde truly Who geteth rychesse here falsly Of hell paynes shall haue his parte And therfore hyther come am I Fro this payne the to dyuerte Therfore aryse and do me homage With meke herte and entencyon Refusynge falshode with his outrage Makynge sucke prouysyon That thou mayst lyue by dyscressyon Than shall I make the to possede A place in the heuenly regyon Lo all my seruauntes hath suche mede

¶ The auctour .

Reason

AFter that I herde my lady reason So wysely speke full of prudence I forsoke dysceyte / falshode & treason Yeldynge me vnto her magnyfycence I kneled downe in her presence Knowynge it for myn auauntage With meke Ioue and obedyence Vnto reason I made homage Holdynge my handes vp to her grace With lowe chere dyde I me present There shewed I her all the case How that I my lyfe had spent This noble lady wyfe and prudent Surely vnto me dyde promesse So I wolde make amendement To be my lady and maystresse Than this lady approched nete Of all other moost good and gracyous With lowly countenaunce and chere Of my helth gretly desyrous And to her seruauntes neuer contraryous Seynge her nere thus vnto her sayd I Moost excellent lady moost good & gloryous To you wyll I me submytte gladly Do ye with me what is your pleasour I am euer redy gladde and dylygent To do all thynge that may you honour Neuer wyllynge more to be neglygent To suche vertues / or counseyle prudent I defye falshode with his subtyltees To you obeyenge with hole entent Bothe in welth and aduersytees Reason was gladde in eche degre Whan she herde me saye in this wyse Than as syster vnto humylyte Out of her chayre sone dyde she ryse And kyssynge me she dyde promyse Euer at my nede for to be kynde Than sodaynly in a secrete wyse This lady entred in to my mynde Thus whyle that reason was my guyde I gouerned me well and wysely Dysceyte and falshode settynge asyde With wretchednesse and vsurye To byde with reason purposed I As longe as god lent me my lyfe Beynge in this purpose dyde I espye Approche an olde man and his wyfe Whan I them sawe I was content They were so meke and gracyous The mannes name was euydent Good wyll / to none was contraryous The womannes good herte to none enuyous The whiche two had with them brought A yonge chylde / pleasaunt / good and vertuous In excellence passynge my thought This chylde euer by good wyll stode Vpon her hande to her lenynge This was his name / lust to do good As me thought vnto my semynge These thre togyder on me smylynge Approched nere and fyrst of all Good herte began with this saynge With meke countenaunce and lyberall

¶ Good herte .

good herte

good wyll

lust to do good

SIth that reason resteth in the Sone I shall not from the departe The tyme & season now mayst thou se Whiche to the bryngeth the ease of hert We shall fro the all yil dyuerte Puttynge in to thy subgeccyon Thy wyfe & chyldren hole & quarte Whan age cometh the vpon We thre togyder shall the conuay Vnto a place full of all pleasaunce There shall we shyfte for to puruay To helpe the out of all greuaunce This place is of grete cheuysaunce Goten onely by waye of dylygence The whiche place shall the auaunce To the hye degre of excellence Folowe vs and we shall the brynge In to the hye way whiche is ryght spacyous The whiche way hath at his endynge A fayre castell pleasaunt and sumptuous In whiche remayneth a treasour precyous That is worldly goodes full of noblesse This place is called that is so beauteous Labour / wherin remayneth rychesse Reason ryght often hath the tolde Of this castell whiche is so honourable Passynge all castelles a thousande folde And vnto mankynde moost profytable But the waye is so varyable That none can come thyder without vs thre But he must haue some fortune myserable And be compelled agayne to fle Therfore who thyder doth hym dresse Not hauynge vs in his companye Shall neuer truly haue rychesse His fortune is in grete dyffycultye Many one cometh vnto dygnyte By falshode / vsurye / and rapyne But at the rnde symple pouertye Kepeth them fallen in to ruyne Syth thou applyest to reasons doctryne I shall helpe the euer at thy nede My wyfe shall vnto the enclyne My sone shall helpe the for to spede Do after vs and haue no drede For we thre shall to the be kynde Whan thou hast laboured / for thy mede If thou well do thou shalte well fynde Lust to do good is now redy Vnto this place the to conuay Therfore aryse and come lyghtly And we shall well for the puruay Reason her seruauntes helpeth alway Whiche hath vs hyther vnto the brought Ryse vp let vs go without delay For after grete rest ofte cometh thought

¶ The auctour . ¶ I accorded vnto them lyghtly Auoyde of slouth and neglygence With them thyder to go gladly Vnto this place chefe of dylygence Whiche of all honour hath preemynence Eche man for to helpe at his nede Than thought I for to recompence The tyme loste / and thyder to spede But I tolde them I knewe no thynge Of dylygence / nor yet of besynesse Good herte sayd / by our techynge Thou shalte knowe the way expresse Thou mayst bothe saye & thynke doutlesse Whyle we thre are thy conductours That thou arte voyde of heuynesse And sure of all worldly honours Awake and put the in apparayle To moche slepe hurteth man certayne In this waye must thou fore trauayle For reason so doth it ordayne For what man that taketh payne On hym with trauayle and abstynence To rychesse nedes must attayne Therfore aryse and go we hens Go sone thou must bestowe thy tyme In other wyse than thou hast done Let not to labour for no cryme Lettynge thy dedes ay sounde to reason And as for me I me abandon With my husbande on the to wayte Vnto this castell and noble mansyon Wherin is rychesse without dysceyte Who other begyleth hym selfe dysceyueth Rychesse yll goten cometh to yll ende Who in this castell falshode conceyueth Shall not his power ferre extende But after deth yf thou wylte ascende Take me and trauayle to be thy guyde Whiche in this castell shall the defende By our meanes in euery tyde .

¶ Lust to do good . ¶ Do my faders commaundement If thou truly wolde haue rychesse And to my moder be dylygent In that thou mayst with lowlynesse And I shall do my wyll and besynesse Vnto my power the to sustayne Wherfore auoyde thou slouthfulnesse And vs to folowe take on the payne

¶ The auctour .

good herte

good wyll

Lust to do good

THus I hauynge grete delyte To here them speke so wysely Lepte fro my bed without respyte And made me redy hastely Good wyll wente full redely To lyght a candell at myn instaunce Whiche as she wente songe so merely That her to here I had pleasaunce I toke my clothes vnto me necessarye And made me redy at theyr instaunce Lust to do good full gladly To bere the candell had grete pleasaunce . Than wente they forth all in ordynaunce As folke replenysshed with mekenesse That to beholde theyr countenaunce My herte was fylled with gladnesse Lust to do good wente alwaye Before berynge the candel●●yght Good ●yll wente nexte in tayre araye And than good herte I folowed ryght Sothly it was a pleasaunt syght To se togyder so meke a company I had not suche sorowe all the nyght As I had than myrth and melodye

good herte

good wyll

besinesse .

THan entred we in to the waye Of grete payne called dylygence Without restynge I wente alwaye There founde I no resystence These thre were euer in my presence For the waye was vnknowen to me I hasted me vnder theyr defence That I myght there the sooner be Thus wente we forth a lytell whyle Of the waye was I ygnoraunt My thre felawes dyde on me smyle On me beholdynge with glad semblaunt Than sawe I this castell fayre & pleasaunt Moost ryche / stronge and sumptuous Whan I it sawe so resplendaunt Sothly of herte I was full Ioyous Vnto the gate whan I was nye I wolde haue entred without sauegarde But the porter resysted me Beholdynge me with chere frowarde Of that castell he kepte the garde His wyfe was euer in his presence Thynkest thou to entre he sayd cowarde Not hauynge our loue nor our lycence

¶ Besynesse . ¶ Thynkest thou to entre without our leue In to this castell chefe grounde to rychesse Nay nay thou must hens remeue None entreth here but by mekenesse My wyfe Cure and I besynesse Haue suche offyce in this castell To vs obeyeth bothe more and lesse That hath intencyon therin to dwell By the fayre path of dylygence Thou arte come hyder as I byleue Yet mayst thou not here haue resydence Without our loue fauour and leue Thou mayst not entre therfore remeue For with the am I not content Auoyde or elles I shall the greue His wyfe than sayd incontynent

¶ Cure . ¶ Gentyll husbonde holde hym excused He wyll obey vnto your commaundement Let not his mekenesse be refused He wyll nought without your assent I knowe hym wyse / dyscrete / & prudent He wyll gladly do you homage So it wyll please you be content Of fauour to graunt hym passage Commaunde hym what so euer ye please And he shall do it without fallace He purposeth not you to dysplease But hym submytteth vnto your grace Prayenge that he may haue place In to this castell for to go He hath our fauour to purchace Good herte and good wyll also

¶ The auctour . ¶ Than besynesse as a man full kynde Sayd / syth thou hast suche socour My fauour redy shalte thou fynde The for to helpe at euery houre To here hym speke I had pleasoure Than sayd he / syth thou hast reason Thou shalte not fayle of grete honoure With welth and rychesse in brefe season

¶ Besynesse .

The castell of laboure .

cure

besines

I That called am besynesse Vnto man rychesse do procure My wyfe also in all dystresse Doth man of her helpe assure This place is called by droyture The excellent castell of labour If thou here be I the ensure Thou must be besye in euery houre Syth thou arte in our subgeccyon Trust well thou shalte come to rychesse For whyle in thy mynde abydeth reason By no meane cannest thou haue skarsnesse I shall helpe the in all besynesse In this castell to ensue the trayne The capytayne therof and the maystresse Are called by name trauayle and payne Thou shalte in this place haue moche ad . Mannes good wyll for to deserue Thou shalte skant fynde the meane therto The capytayne is so yll to serue Vnneth his byddynge canst thou obserue Without it be well done and a pace But in goodnesse thou the styll preserue Thou shalte be soone out of theyr grace Thus do I the afore aduerte Of the grete payne that thou shalte fynde Lest that after it sholde greue thy herte Therfore on wysedome set thy mynde The capytayne is somwhat vnkynde Whiche shall do to the grete rygour Eche thynge tourneth as the wynde Within this castell of labour

¶ The auctour . ¶ All that shall do me none yll I shall assaye them for to please I haue founde good herte and good wyll With lust to do good whiche shall me case I trust no man for to dysplease Whyle I of them do take counsayle I wyll not let for no dysease To go in to this castell of trauayle

cure .

besinesse

THan besynesse & cure brought me in to This castell / ample / and spacyous Shewynge me men and women also Sore workynge and none ocyous Then to beholde was a thynge meruaylous Bothe yonge and olde of euery facultye To labour was there none contraryous Eche one wolde afore his felawe be They smote with hambers that were stronge That to beholde I had grete wonder Suche a noyse was them amonge That it sounded lyke the thunder Some were aboue and some were vnder In theyr shertes labourynge for hete Some dyde peces breke in sunder Some agayne them togyder bete To beholde them I had delyte Seynge them worke so lustely That to labour I had appetyte Cure and besynesse that dydespye Whiche sayd vnto me shortly That yf I coude labour well They wolde gete me lycence gladly In that castell for to dwell Than to them answered I certayne That to labour I was content Than spake they to the capytayne Requyrynge hym for to assent He graunted me a place present Conuenyent for my degre There promysed I for to be dylygent So that in theyr fauour I myght be I set me downe vnto labour With besynesse and parfyte dylygence Trustynge therby to haue honour Cure and besynesse were not thens I was ryght glad of theyr presence For they taught me how I sholde do Vnto them I gaue audyence And what they sayd I agreed therto Than came the wyfe of the capytayne Goynge here and there trottynge They tolde me that her name was payne Eche mannes labour vysytynge Her handes and her forehede swetynge She taryed nomore in ony place Than doth a pursuyuaunt rydynge Whan he wolde purchace some grace Somtyme in her smocke rennynge fast No thynge tendynge to rest nor ease She ran styll whyle her breth wolde last Not sparynge for no dysease She was dylygent eche man to please And me behelde approchynge nere She sayd syr porter ye me dysplease For bryngynge of this straunger here

¶ Payne . Syr besynesse that are porter Of this castell shewe me playne Who hath brought hyther this straunger I sawe hym neuer afore certayne Cometh he fro fraunce or fro brytayne I must knowe his cause and his entent He must submytte hym vnto my payne Or elles in vayne his tyme is spent

¶ Besynesse . ¶ My lady payne haue ye no doute For hyther is he come truly With good herte and good wyll hym aboute Whiche hyther hath hym brough besely Lust to do good is to hym nye Whiche is a chylde ryght honourable Ye shall fynde hym to you redy Humble of herte and seruysable

¶ Cure . ¶ My husbonde and I loue hym ryght well We shall helpe hym at euery nede Ye shall not nede hym ●●ght to tell Therfore my lady haue ye no drede Euen as he doth gyue hym his mede And my husbonde shall be his borowe That in his labour he shall spede And neyther spare for payne nor sorowe

¶ Payne :

payne

Cure

YE saye bothe well and wysely I knowe not yet how he wyll preue For many one be soone wery Of labour whan it doth them greue But suche sothly be to repreue But we shall soone se what labour He can do / or that he remeue To come to rychesse and honour

¶ The auctour . ¶ Than payne to me approched nere Byddynge me labour dylygently And that I sholde in eche manere Do my besynesse well and wysely Not sparynge my body nor my bones And he that dyde not so truly Sholde auoyde that place at ones I tolde her that I had desyre To worke fast without fayne And for to folowe her pleasyre So that she sholde not complayne Saynge I trusted to obtayne By my labour welth and rychesse And that I sholde my setfe constrayne To be nere Cure / and Besynesse

¶ Payne . ¶ That is answered by good moyen Whan trauayle my husbonde shall you se The whiche is feble and auncyen Your worke and labour shall he ouerse Of hym rewarded shall ye be After your worke and your labour And in the meane tyme ye shall haue me Alway redy at your socour

¶ The auctour . ¶ Than began I to labour fast Employenge theron pleasure & myght Contynuenge whyle the nyght dyde last Than in the mornynge appered lyght In at a wyndowe that was bryght Than blewe I my candellout Labourynge styll with all my myght As other that were me aboute Styll to labour I dyde me cast By suffraunce of the grace dyuyne Vnto the tyme of the brekefast Where we had neyther ale ne wyne They myght not tary for to dyne So sure on labour was theyr purpose Tyll labour caused them to declyne By payne constrayned so vp they rose They were all homely as companyons Theyr labour gaue them an appetyt reall Some ete garlyke / some ete onyons Suche seruyce was amonge them all Browne brede to them was cordyall Wetynge it in the water clere Drynkynge of the fountayne clere as crystall They had no scorne of this manere There was neyther befe ne moton To ete whan hunger dyde them assayle Suche is the maner in this season Some be rewarded yll theyr trauayle They wrought in peas and in batayle Some etynge and labourynge bothe at ones Not sparynge theyr body without fayle As chefe labourers for the nones

WHan that I sawe theyr condycyon So prone to labour and besynesse I set myn hole and ferme entencyon By suche labour to gete rychesse Than vpon me came fayntnesse That I had lust to refresshe nature Whan they me sawe in suche dystresse I lacked no brede I you ensure I wolde be of theyr company And takynge this brede with good wyll I therof bote ryght merely Styll workynge not thynkynge yll I had no scorne me for to fyll With this brede but theron bote And after with chere meke and styll With fayre water I wasshed my throte I fylled my bely fayre and well With this fayre brede made of rye Drynkynge alway at the well And yet styll wrought I merely I was as well at ease truly As though I had had all deyntees In the worlde / for certaynly To moche is nought in all degrees Shortly to saye I was as full As was conuenyent to nature For excesse maketh the mynde dull I reporte me to besynesse and cure For often tymes man doth murmure Whan he is full of mete and wyne To all vyce prone I the ensure Excludynge hym from the grace dyuyne Whan I was thus refresshed well I drewe me to my werke agayne Good herte and good wyll dyde me tell How I sholde do also certayne Lust to do good dyde me mayntayne Thus drewe I me vnto besynesse I spared neyther trauayle nor payne Without falshode to gete rychesse

Cure

Besynes

good hert

good wyll

lust to do good

CVre and charge dyde me beholde Commaundynge me to labour fast And tolde me suerly that they wolde Rewarde me truly at the last So laboured I tyll the daye was past And as I laboured songe I merely Tyll hesperus cloudes the daye ouercast And that the nyght approched nye Than cure vnbyden wente a p●ce And lyghtly lyghted a candell She set it by my workynge place And many newe poyntes to me dyde tell She sayd who bydeth in this castell After the commaundement of reason Must worke vnto the curfue knell Consyderynge the tyme and season At her byddynge I wrought styll fast Hauynge therin delyte and pleasoure Tyll that the bell range at the last Whiche was a conuenyent houre Than hunger came with his rygour Whiche cruelty dyde me assayle With that sawe I come from a toure The capytayne called trauayle

trauayle

FRende thou arte welcome vnto this place For thy labour true and dylygent Whiche hath brought the in to my grace Therfore shal I gyue the ryches permanent So after that thy youthe is spent I shall the promyse and behest After thy labour incontynent Thou shalte come to the hous of rest Thou shalte haue rest at thy desyre After thy payne and trybulacyon Thou shalte syt merely by the fyre After that thy worke is done There shalte thou fynde consolacyon After thy payne and thy trauayle Thus shalte thou fynde in conclusyon After pouerte ryche apparayle And therfore at one worde shortly Now do as thou thynkest best For with good wyll the leue gyue I For to go home vnto thy rest And thy prayer and thy request I trauayle shall vnto the promesse Go now thou shalte haue my behest After labour / that is rychesse

¶ The auctour . ¶ Than toke I leue of trauayle Goynge to rest full of gladnesse Than with hye voyce withouten fayle I called the porter named besynesse Than to the gates I dyde me dresse The whiche were shytte than had I doute Yet shewed I the porter suche mekenesse Than he agreed to let me out

Besynes

Cure .

BEsynesse and cure his wyfe Let me out at the gate mekely Alway me warnynge for brede of stryfe On the mo●nynge to ryse erly My labour for to fynysshe parfytly Saynge all that I had done was nought Without it were ended lyghtly Wherfore theron set thy thought He sayd in the castell of rychesse No man can haue ony audyence Whyle he soiourneth with ydelnesse The capytayne hath gyuen that sentence But by the waye of dylygence One may ryght well obteyne this place Here mayst thou se in thy presence By what hardnesse thou fell in grace In labour must thou haue perseueraunce Auoydynge grete test that is so daungerous Whiche bryngeth wyse men in to ygnoraunce And to rychesse is ryght contraryous Auoyde slouth whiche is so odyous That of hym cometh nought but pouerte Aboue all to falshode be contraryous Despysynge his goodes full of iniquyte If thou hym loue sone I ensure the Of my worde mayst thou be certayne That thou offendest the deite Of our lorde and deseruest payne Eternall / therfore the refrayne Fro this falshode in eche degre And yf that slouth vpon the fayne As poore as Iob was shalte thou be Without rest no man may lyue For it is accordynge to trauayle But yf in rychesse yf thou wysten preue Rest not to moche by my counsayle Remembre this lesson se thou not fayle And to the entent thou forsake not this lawe Not it forgettynge / for thyn auayle By thyn eare I shall the drawe

¶ Cure . My frende one can not aye endure For to labour to his auauntage Therfore se thou thy selfe assure To labour fast in thy yonge age Infyre thy mynde and thy courage On reason and thou shalte haue rychesse By ydelnesse thou doost outrage Bothe to the and all thy doutlesse

¶ The auctour . ¶ Than drewe she myn ere agayne As cure had done before doutlesse And than vanysshed away certayne Leuynge me there full of fayntnesse Procedynge of my labour and besynesse Thus seynge them gone I thought it best To refresshe nature without excesse And so drewe me to the hous of rest I sawe rest whiche dyde me abyde Within his hous withouten blame And my wyfe on the other syde Dressed my souper without dyffame There rested I in goddes name Famylyarly not as a straunger Thankynge god of immortall fame That I escaped was that daunger

The house of rest

VNto the table I wente that tyde Entendynge to soupe without outrage My wyfe sate on the other syde After my custome and olde vsage There had we brede wyne & potage And of flesshe a small ꝓytaunce Without to ony hurte or domage We souped togyder at our pleasaunce My wyfe voyded the table clene And vnto me approched nere Than on my shulder dyde she lene After her custome and manere There tolde I her of the daungere Whiche I was in the nyght before How that she slepte with mery chere The whyle that I was troubled sore I tolde her that in all my lyfe I had not so grete peruersyte Now in pleasure and now in stryfe Tourmented fyersly felte I me For fals Nede / and Necessyte With Pouerte / & her felawe Dystresse Thought and heuynes with cruelte Laye on my bedde me to opresse Dyscomforte and Dysesperaunce Laye vpon me with theyr treason Redy to brynge me to myschaunce Or in the waye of perdycyon That had not ben my lady reason Whiche me enfourmed to myn auauntage They had brought me vnto confusyon Or done to me some grete outrage Wysedome dyde gretly me profyte For I haunted his companye Whiche by his meanes made me quyte Of falshode / dysceyte / and vsurye Whiche thre by theyr polecye Had me nere brought to confusyon But after agayne comforte had I Of that wyse lady called reason To whome I haue made homage For the of her owne beneuolence Hath gyuen me at brefe langage Good herte and good wyll for my defence Whiche haue a chylde ay in my presence Lust to do good named is he . Redy to helpe me in all indygence Out of payne and peruersyte We wente vnto the castell of labour Where was many an artyfycer Cure stode at the gate that houre Besynesse her husbonde was porter They receyued me with good chere Trauayle was theyr capytayne His wyfes name was called payne There wrought I all daye & nyght certayne With fre wyll and glad pleasaunce To morowe must I retourne agayne To this castell of fayre ordynaunce There founde I but small pytaunce But euery man after his degre After his labour had his fe And therfore my welbeloued wyfe Consyder the payne and the trauayle Whiche whyle ye slepte without stryfe Ryght cruelly dyde me assayle But now am I well without fayle Syth I haue escaped this daungere And in your presence may appere My wyfe therof cared no thynge But leughe me to derysyon She scorned me and my talkynge For were it wynnynge or perdycyon It was to her all one conclusyon For so she were serued at her desyre She cared not yf I laye in the myre She called me fole and cared nought And was nere redy with me to fyght She swore by god that her dere bought She wolde make me remembre that nyght Therfore I wente to bedde euen ryght For the thyre foted stole fore fered I To that with a woman it is but foly A man sholde take no hede at all To what someuer a woman saye Of her tunge she is lyberall It is no wysedome her to denay In peas may he be by no way That wolde styll a woman / it is contrary She is a publyke and comyn secretary Who euer he be that hath a wyfe Had nede for to haue paryence Or elles must he lyue alway in stryse Though she be bounde to obedyence Yet doth she after her owne sentence I dare no more saye for drede of blame That man is happy that one can tame On this poynt I made we redy And so wente to my bedde full ryght Where I slepte styll and merely Cyll foure of the clocke after mydnyght Than vp I rose by the candell lyght Thynkynge on cure and besynesse And to my worke soone byde I me dresse Ay prayenge god by his ordynaunce That yf I may not obtayne rychesse That I may purchace suffysaunce Whiche is my lady and my maysteresse To enfourme me to lyue in symplenesse So that after this lyse mortall I may reioyse the realme eternall

¶ Actoris excusatio . GO forth small treatyse & humbly the present Vnto the reders as indygne of audyence Exortynge them with meke and lowe entent To this rude langage to gyue none aduertence For many one hath parfyte dylygence Whiche by no meane his mynde can expresse The cause therof is lacke of eloquence Whiche now is caduke by meane of slouthfulnesse The yonge chylde is not all parfyte To renue whan he can neyther crepe nor go But whan he begynneth he hath grete delyte In his newe scyence / wherfore he hath grete wo Endurynge falles with many paynes mo Thus suche payne so longe doth he endure And to hym selfe he entendeth so That of his fete he is parfyte and sure So certaynly in suche case am I Somwhat assayenge yf I can ensue The steppes of them the whiche craftely All vyce of wrytynge vtterly eschue But ygnoraunce ryght ofte doth me subdue And often I fall for lacke of exercyse This rude langage so on me both renewe That I agayne vnnethes may aryse The cause why I folowe not these oratours Is for lacke of intellygence And that I haue not smelled of the floures Spryngynge in the gardyn of parfyte eloquence Wherfore with humble and meke obedyence I submytte me to the correccyon Of them whome minerua with her scyence Hath endued this is my conclusyon