¶ Nota ¶ Forsoth sayd Colus yf I had respyte . ¶ Hereto an answere cowd I counterfete . ¶ But to haue her grace more is my delyte . ¶ wherfore I pray you all for me entrete . That I may by your request her gode grace gete ¶ And what payn or greef ye for me prouyde ¶ wythout ony grutchyng I shall it abyde . ¶ Lo good dame sayd god Appollo . ¶ what may he do more but sew to your grace . ¶ Beholde how the teres from his eyen goo . ¶ It is satysfaction half for his trespace . ¶ Now gloryous goddes shew your petious face ¶ To this pore prysoner at my request . ¶ All we for youre honour thynke thus is best . ¶ And yf it lyke you to do in thys wyse . ¶ And so to foryeue hym clerely his offence . ¶ One thynge surely I wyll you promyse . ¶ If he ought rebell and make resystence ¶ Or dysobey vnto your sencence . ¶ For euery tree that he maketh fall . ¶ Out of the erthe an / C / ryse shall . ¶ Soo that youre game shall not dyscrease ¶ For lacke of shade i dare vndertake ¶ well syr Appolo sayd she than wyll I cease ¶ Off all my rancour and mercy with you make ¶ And than god Neptunus of his maner spak ¶ Sayng thus appolo though dyana him relese ¶ yet shall he sue to me to haue his pease . ¶ A sayd Appolo ye wende I had forgete . ¶ You for my lady Dyana the goddesse . ¶ Nay thynke not so for I wyll you entrete . ¶ As well as her wythoute longe processe . ¶ wyll ye agre that Phebus your maystresse . ¶ May haue the guydyng of your varyaunce . ¶ I shall abyde quod he / her ordynaunce . ¶ Wel than quod appolo I pray you goddis all ¶ And goddesses that ben here presente . ¶ That ye companable wyll a borde falle . ¶ Nay than sayd Othea it is not conuenyente . ¶ A dew ordre in euery place is expedyente . ¶ To be hadde wherfore ye may not lette . ¶ To be your own marshal at your own banket ¶ And whan appolo se it wolde none other be ¶ He called to hym Aurora the goddesse . ¶ And sayd though ye wepe ye shall before me . ¶ Ay kepe your course and put yourself in p̄sse ¶ Soo he her set fyrste at his owne messe . ¶ wyth her moyst clothes with teres all be spreynt ¶ The medewes in may shew therof her cōpleīt ¶ Dext her sat Mars myghty god and strong ¶ wyth a flamme of fyre enuyroned all aboeut ¶ A crown o yron on his hede a spere in his hond ¶ It semed by his chē as he wold haue fought . ¶ And next vnto hym as I perceyue mought . ¶ Sat the goddesse Dyana in a mantell fyne . ¶ Of black sylke purfyled with poudred ermine ¶ Lyke as he had take the mantell & the rynge ¶ And next vnto her arayed roally . ¶ Sat the god Iupyter in his demenynge . ¶ Full sad and wyse he semed sykerly . ¶ A crowne of tynne stood on his hede . ¶ And that I recorde of all phylosophers . ¶ the lytyll store of Coyne kepe in her cofres . ¶ Ioyned to him in syttyng next there was ¶ The goddesse Iuno full rychely besene . ¶ In a sercote that shone as bryght as glas Of goldsmyth werk with spangles wrought beden̄ ¶ Of royall ryches wanted she none I wene . ¶ And next to her sat the god saturne . ¶ That oft syth causeth many one to morne . ¶ But he was clad me thought straungely ¶ For of froste & snowe was all his aray . ¶ In his honde he helde a fawchon all blody ¶ It semed by his chere as he wold make a frai ¶ A baudryck of Isykles about his neckegaye ¶ He had . and aboue on hygh on his hede . ¶ Couchid with hayl stones he wered a croun of lede ¶ And nexte in ordre was set by his syde . ¶ Ceres the goddesse in a garmente . ¶ Of sacke cloth made with sleues large & wyde ¶ Embrowdered wyth sheues and sycles bent ¶ Of all maner greynes she sealed the patente . ¶ In token that she was goddes of corne . ¶ Olde Poetes saye she beryth the heruest horn ¶ Then was there set the god cupydo . ¶ All fresshe & galaunte and costly in aray . ¶ Wyth ouches and rynges he was beset so . ¶ the paleys therof shōn as though it had be day ¶ A kerchyff of plesaūs stood ouer his helm ay ¶ The goddesse Ceres he loked in the face . ¶ And wyth one arme he her dyde enbrace . ¶ Next to Cupido in order by and by ¶ Of wordly wysdum sat the forteresse . ¶ Called Othea chyef grounde of polycy . ¶ Reuler of knyghthode of prudence the goddes ¶ Clad all in purpure was she more & lesse . ¶ Saaf on her hede a crowne there stode . ¶ Couched wyth perles oryent fyne & good . ¶ And nexte to her was god Pluto set ¶ Wyth a derke myste enuyrond al about . ¶ His clothy was made of a smoky net . ¶ His colour was bothe wythin & wythoute . ¶ Foule / derke & dymme his eyen grete & stoute . ¶ Of fyre & sulfure all his odoure wase . ¶ That wo was me whyle I beheld his face ¶ Fortune the goddesse with her perty face . ¶ Was vnto Pluto next in order sette . ¶ Varyant she was ay in shorte space . ¶ Her whele was redy to turne wythout let . ¶ Her gowne was of gawdy grene clamelet ¶ Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colours . ¶ To the condycyons accordyng to her shoures ¶ And by her sat thoughe he vnworthy were . ¶ The rewde god Pan of shepherdes the gyde ¶ Clad in russet frese & breched lyke a bere . ¶ Wyth a grete terbox hangyng by his syde . ¶ A shepcrok in his hond he spared for no pryde . ¶ And by his fete lay a prekered curre . ¶ He rateled in the throte as he had the murre . ¶ Isys the goddes bare hym company . ¶ For at the table next she sat by his syde . ¶ In a close kyr ell embrowdered curyously ¶ with braunches and leues brood large & wyde . ¶ Grene as any grasse in the somer tyde . ¶ Of all maner frute she had the gouernaunce ¶ Of fauours odyferous was her sustynauns ¶ Next to her than was god Neptunus set . ¶ He sauoured lyke a fyssher 〈…〉 before ¶ It semed by his clothes as they had be wet . About him in his gyrde●sted hing fysshes mani a xx ¶ Of his straunge aray merueyled I sore . ¶ A shyp wyth a top and sayle was hys creste . ¶ Me thought he was gayly dysgysed at the fest ¶ Than toke mynerue the goddes her sete . ¶ Ioyntly to Neptunus all in curas cladde . ¶ Gaūtelettis on hondes & sabatoūs on her fete ¶ She loked about as though she had be mad . ¶ An hamer and a sythe on her hede she hadde ¶ She wered two bokelers one by her syde . ¶ that other ye wote were this was al her prīd ¶ Than cam the god bachus & by her set him doun ¶ Holdynge in his honde a cuppe full of wyne . ¶ Of grene vyne leues he wered a Ioly croun ¶ He was clad in clustres of grapes gode & fine ¶ A garlonde of yuy he chose for his sygne . ¶ On his hede he had a thredbare kendall hode . ¶ A gymlot and a fauset therupon stode . ¶ Next hym sat phebus wyth her colour pale . ¶ Fat she was of face but os complexon feynte . She sayd sherewled Neptunusp & made him vayl ¶ And ones in the monthe with phebus was she meint ¶ Also ne were she Ceres were ateynte ¶ Thus she sat & tolde the myght of her nature ¶ & on her hede she wered a croun of siluer pure ¶ Ioyntly to her Marcuryus toke his see . ¶ As came to his cours wytnesse the zodyake . ¶ He had a gylden tonge as fyll for his degree ¶ In eloquence of langage he passed al the pake ¶ For in his talkyng noman coud fynde lake ¶ A box wyth quycksyluer he had in his honde / ¶ Multyplyers know it wel in euery londe ¶ By hym sat dame Venus with colour crystalline ¶ Whos long here shone as wyre of gold bryȝt ¶ Cryspe was her skyn her eyen columbyne ¶ Rauysshed myne herte her chere was so lyȝt ¶ Patrones of plesaunce be named wel she might ¶ A smocke was her wede garnysshed curyusli ¶ But all other she had a wanton eye ¶ On her hede she wered a red coper crowne ¶ A nosegay she had made ful plesauntly ¶ Bytwene her & aurora Apollo set hym doune ¶ Wyth his beames bryght he shone so feruently ¶ That he therwyth gladyd al the company ¶ A crown of pure gold was on his hede set ¶ In syne that he was mayster & lorde of the banket

¶ Nota ¶ Thus was the table set round aboute ¶ Wyth goddes & goddesses as i haue you told ¶ Awaytyng on the bord was a grete route ¶ Of sage phylosophers & poetes many fold ¶ There was sad Sychero & Arystotle olde ¶ Tholome Dorothe wyth Dyogenes ¶ Plato Myssehala and wyse Socrates ¶ Sortes & Saphdrus with hermes stode behynd ¶ Auycen & Aueroys wyth hem were in fere ¶ Galyen & ypocras that physyk haue in mynd ¶ wyth help of Esculapyon toward hem drowner ¶ Vyrgyle Orace Ouyd and Omere ¶ Euclyde and albert yaue her attendaunce ¶ To do the goddis & goddesses plesaunce ¶ Horeberded Orpheus was there with his harpe . ¶ And as a poyt musycal made he melody Other minstral had thei non saf Pan gan to carpe ¶ Of his leud bagpyp which caused the compani ¶ To law yet many mo ther wē yf i shuld notly ¶ Som yong som old both better and werse ¶ But mo of theyr names can I not reherce ¶ Of al maner deyntes there was habundaunce ¶ Of metes & drynkes foyson plenteuous ¶ In cam Dyscord to haue varyaunce ¶ But there was no roum to set her in that hous ¶ The goddis remembred the scysme odious ¶ Among the thre goddesses that he had wrought ¶ At the fest of Peleus wherfore they thought ¶ They wold not with her dele in a venture ¶ Lest she hem brought to som inconuenyente ¶ She seyng this was wroth out of me●ure ¶ And in that grete wrath out of the paleyse went ¶ Sayng to herself that chere shuld thei repent ¶ And anone with Attropes happed she to mete . ¶ As he had ben a gost came in a wyndyng shete ¶ She toke hymby the hond & rowned in his ere ¶ And told hym of the banket that was so delycate . How she was receyued & what chere she had yere ¶ And how euery god sat in his astate ¶ Is it thus qd attropos what in the deuyls date ¶ well he sayd I se well how the game goth ¶ Ones yet for your sake shal I make hem wroth ¶ And whan she had hym al togyder told ¶ From her he departed & of her toke his leue / ¶ Sayng that for her sake his way take he wolde ¶ In to the paleys his maters to meue ¶ And or he thens went he trowed hem to greue . ¶ wyth such tydynges as he wold hem ●el ¶ So forth he went & spake wordes fell ¶ Whan he came in the presence of the goddis alle ¶ As he had ben mad he loked hym a bout ¶ His shete from his body downe he let fall ¶ And on a reud maner he saluted al the route ¶ wyth a bold voys spekyng wordes stoute ¶ But he spake all holow as it had ben one ¶ Had spoke in a nother world that had wo begon ¶ He stode forth boldly with grym countenaunce ¶ Sayng on this wyse as ye shal here ¶ All ye goddes yeue attendaunce ¶ Vnto my wordes without all daungere ¶ Remembre how ye made me your offycere ¶ Al tho wyth my darte fynally to chastyse ¶ That thou / dysobeyed or wolde your law dyspise ¶ And for the more surete seiled my patent ¶ Gyuyng me full power so to ocupy ¶ Wherto I haue enployed myn entent ¶ And that can dame Nature testefy ¶ If she be examyned she wyll not it denye ¶ For whan she forsakyth ony creature ¶ I am al redy to take him to my cure ¶ Thus haue I deuly wyth al mi dylygence . ¶ Executed the offyce of olde antyquyte ¶ To me by you graunted by your comyn sentence ¶ For I spared none hygh nor low degre ¶ So that on my parte no faute hath be ¶ For as sone as ony to me commytted was ¶ I smote him to the hert he had none other grace ¶ Ector of Troy for al his cheualry ¶ Alexander the grete & myghty conqueroure ¶ Iulyus Cezar with al his companye ¶ Dauyd nor Iosue nor worthy Artur ¶ Charlis the noble that was so gret of honour ¶ Nor Iudas Machabee for al his trew herte ¶ Nor Godfrey of Boleyn coud me not asterte ¶ Nabugodonozor for al his grete pryde ¶ Nor the kyng of Egypt cruel Pharao ¶ Iason ne Hercules wēnt they neuer so wyde . ¶ Cosdras Hanyball nor gentyll Sypyo . ¶ Cyrus Achylles nor many a nother mo ¶ for fayr nor foule gat of me no grace ¶ But al be at the last I seased hem with my mace . ¶ Thus haue I brought euery creature ¶ To an ende bothman fysshe foule and best And euery other thyng in whomedame nature ¶ Hath ony Iurysdyccion eyther most or lest ¶ Except oonly one in whome your behest ¶ Is to me broke for ye me promysed That my myght of non shold haue be dyspysed ¶ Wherof the aontrary daoe I well a uow ¶ Is trew for one there is that wyl not apply ¶ Vnto my correction nor in no wyse bow ¶ To the dynt of my darte for dole nor desteny . ¶ What comfort he hath nor the cause why ¶ That he so rebellyth I can yot thynk of ryght But yf ye him graunted your alders safcondyght . ¶ And yf he so haue than do ye not as goddis . ¶ For a goddys wrytyng may not reuersed be . ¶ yf it shold I wold not gyue you ii pesecoddꝭ ¶ For grāut of your patent of offycenere of fee . ¶ wherfdre in this mater do me equyte ¶ Accerd&g to my patent for tyl this be do ¶ ye haue nomore my seruyse nor my gode wy ¶ And whan al the goddis had attropos hered ¶ As they had ben wode brayd vp attones ¶ & sayd they wold not rest tyll he were conq̄red ¶ Taken an dystroyed body blode and bones ¶ And that they swere grete othes for the noms ¶ Her lad to dyspyce that was so malapert ¶ They sayd he shuld be taught for to be so pert ¶ Wel sayd Appollo yf he on erth be ¶ wyth my brennyng chare I shall him confound ¶ In feyth quod neptunus & he kepe these ¶ He may be well sure he shall be drownd ¶ A sy rsayd Mars this haue we wel found ¶ That ony dysubeyed oure goodly precept ¶ We may well thynk we haue to long slept ¶ But neuertheles where I may hym fynd ¶ wyth thūd & lyghtning about I shall him chase ¶ And I quod Saturnus before and behynd . ¶ with my bytte cold shall shew him harde grace ¶ well sayd Mercuryus yf I may se his face . ¶ For euer of his spech I shall hym depryur ¶ So that hym were better dede than alyue ¶ Ye quod Othea yet may he well be ¶ In the eyr where he wyll & ax you no leue ¶ wherfore my counseyl is that all we ¶ May entrete Neptunus his rahcour foryeue . ¶ And than I dout not Colus wyl him myscheus ¶ So may ye be sure he shall you not escape ¶ & ellis . of you anger he wyll make but a iape . ¶ But for to tel you how Colus was brought . ¶ In daungere of Pluto yei had I forget ¶ wherfore on this mater forther wyl I nouȝt . ¶ Procede tyll I therof haue knowlege you let ¶ It befell on a day the weder was wete ¶ And Colus thought he wold on his dysport . ¶ Goo tn reioyse his spyrytis and comforte ¶ He thought he wold se what was in the ground ¶ And in a krauers forth he gan hym dresse ¶ A drough had the erthe late before found . ¶ That caused it to chyne & krauy more & lesse / ¶ Sodenly by wete constreyned by duresse ¶ Was the ground to close his suꝑfycyall face . ¶ So streyt that to scape colus had noo space ¶ This seyng Colus be styll wythin abode . ¶ Sekyng where he myght haue gene fer or nere . ¶ Auone he was espyed and one to Pluto rode ¶ And told him how Colus was in his daungere ¶ Than sayd he to Cerberus fet me the prysonere / ¶ Tyl I haue him sene let him not go at large / ¶ As the wylt answere of hem I yeue the charge ¶ Thus was this Colus take prysonere ¶ Than happed it so that thhsame day ¶ Pluto had prefyxed for a grete mater ¶ Mynos to syt in his robe of Ray ¶ Wherfore Cerberus toke the next way ¶ And led him to the place where the court shal be ¶ where I told you Morpleus brought me ¶ So thyder came Dyaua caryed in carre ¶ To make her compleynt as I told you all ¶ And so dyd Neptunus that doth make and mar ¶ Walewyng with his wawys & tomblyng as a ball ¶ Her matters they meued fal what may befall ¶ There was the fyrst syght that euer I them saw ¶ And yf I neuer do eft I care not a straw ¶ But now to my matter retourne agayn ¶ And tu begyn new where I left . ¶ whan al the goddis had done her besy payne . ¶ The way to contryue how it shuld be reft ¶ Of his lyf Attropos had no cause eft ¶ To compleyn than Phebus stert vpon her fete / ¶ And sayd I pray you let me speke a word yet ¶ Othea menyth wel to say on this wyse ¶ But al to entret Neptunus thope shall notnede ¶ Me semyth I alone durst take the entesprise . ¶ Er I am begyled or ellie I shal spede ¶ How say ye Neptunus shal I do this dede . ¶ Wyl ye your rancour seale at my request ¶ Madame quod he reule me as ye lykyth best ¶ G ramercy sayd she of your good wyll ¶ That it pleysyth you to shew methatfauorus ¶ Wherfore the goddys hygh pleysur to fulfyll ¶ Performe my desyre & leue al olde rancoure ¶ For our elders wele & sauyng of oure honour ¶ Agayn this colus that ye long haue had ¶ It is done quod he forsoth than am I gladd ¶ Sayd he now than Colus be thou to vs trewe● ¶ Kepe well the eyr and oure grete rebell ¶ May we than sone euer to vs subdew ¶ Yes and that quod Colus shall here tell ¶ No where in the eyr shall he rest nor dwel ¶ If he do ther of put me in the faute ¶ Wyth my bytter blastes so shal I him asaut ¶ What sayd the god Pluto what is his name . ¶ That thus presumyth agayn vs to rebell ¶ Vertu quod attropes that haue he mykyl shame ¶ He is neuer cofounded thus of him here I tell ¶ a sayd this pluto in dede I know him wel ¶ Ho hath ben euer myn vtter ennemye ¶ Wherfore this mater agayn him take wyll I ¶ For all the baytes that we for hym haue layde ¶ Wythout my helpe be not worth a pere ¶ For though ye all the contrary had sayd ¶ yet wold he brede right nigh your althris ere ¶ No maner of thynge can hym hurt or dere ¶ Saue only a sone of my bastard ¶ Whos name is vice he kepyth my vawarad . ¶ Wherfore you Cerberus now I the charge ¶ Of Colus & wyl that thou heder fet ¶ My dere sone Vyce & say that I him charge . ¶ That he to me come wythout ony let ¶ Armed at all poyntes for a day is set ¶ That he with Vertu for al the goddis sake ¶ In our defence must on hym batayl take . ¶ Forth then went Cerberus with his fyry chein ¶ Brought thyd vyce as he commaunded was ¶ Agayn noble Vertu the batayl to dereygne ¶ On a glydyng serpent rydynge a grete pace ¶ Formed lyke a dragon scaled hard as glas ¶ whoos mouth flammed fyre without fayll ¶ wyngis had it serpentyne & a long tayll ¶ Armed was vyce all in cure boyll ¶ Harde as horne blacker fer than sute ¶ An vngoodly sort folowed hym perde ¶ Of vnhappy capteyns of myschyfe crop & rot ¶ Pryde was the fyrst that next him rode god wote ¶ On a roryng Lyon next whom̄ came Enuye ¶ Syttyng on wolfe he had a scornful eye ¶ Wrath bestrode a wyld bore & next him gan ride . ¶ In his hond he bare a blody swerd ¶ Next whom cam couetise y●goth so fer & wide ¶ Rydyng on a Olyfaunt as he had ben aferd ¶ After whom rode Gloteny wyth his fat berd ¶ Syttyng on a bere wyth his grete bely ¶ And next him on a gote folowed Lechery ¶ Sloth was so slepy he came all behynd ¶ On a dull asse a full wery pase ¶ Thyse were the capteins that vyce coud fynde ¶ Best to set his feld & folowon the chase ¶ As for pety capteyns many mo there was ¶ As sacrylege symony & dyssymulacyon ¶ Manslaughter mordre theft & extorcyon ¶ Arrogaunce Presumpcyon wyth contumact ¶ Contempcyon Contempt & Inobedyence ¶ Malyle Frowardnes grete Ielasy ¶ wodnes Hate Stryf and Impacyence ¶ Vnkyndnes Opp̄ssyon with wofull neglygence . ¶ Murmur Myschef Falshod & detraccyon ¶ Vsury Periury Ly and adulacyon ¶ Wrong Rauyne Sturdy vyolence ¶ Fals Iugement with Obstynacyon ¶ Dysceyt Dronknes & Improuydence . ¶ Boldnes in yll with foule and Rybaudy . ¶ Fornycacyon Incest and Auoutry ¶ Vnshamfastnes with Prodygalyte ¶ Blasfeme vaynglory & worldly vanyte ¶ Ignoraunce Dyffydence with Ipocrysy ¶ Scysme Rancour Debate and Offence ¶ Herely Errour with Idolatry . ¶ New fangylnes and sotyll false Pretence ¶ Iordynat desyre of worldly excellence ¶ Fayned pouerte wyth apostasy ¶ Dysclaunder scorn & vnkynd Ielousy ¶ Hoordom baudry false mayntenaunce ¶ Treyson abusyon and pety brybry ¶ Vsurpacyon with horryble vengaunce ¶ Came alder last of that company ¶ All thyse pety capetayns folowed by and by . ¶ Shewyng theymself in the paleyse wyde ¶ And say th●y were redy that batayl to abyde ¶ Idylnes set the comyns in a ray ¶ Without the palayse on a fayr felde ¶ But there was an ost for to make a fray ¶ I trow suche a nother neuer man beheld ¶ Many was the wepyn amonghē that they weld ¶ What they were that came to that dysporte ¶ I shall you declare of many a sondry sort ¶ There were bosters crakers & brybours ¶ Praters sasers strechers and wrythers ¶ Shamefull shakelers soleyn slauedours ¶ Oppressours of people and myghty crakers ¶ Mayntenours of quarels horryble lyers ¶ Theues traytours with false heretykes ¶ Charmars sorcerers & many scysmatykes . ¶ Preuy symonyakes wyth false vsurers ¶ Multyplyers coyn wasshers & clyppers ¶ Wrong vsurpers wyth grete extorcyoners ¶ Bachyters Glofers and fayre flaterers . ¶ Malycyous murmurers with grete claterers ¶ Tregetours Tryfelers Feyners of tales . ¶ Lastyuous lurdeyns and Pykers of malys . ¶ Rouners Vagabundes Forgers & lesingis . ¶ Robbers Reuers Rauenous Ryfelers . ¶ Choppers of Chyrches Fynders of tydynges ¶ Merrers of maters and mony makers . ¶ Stalkers by nyght wyth Euysdroppers . ¶ Fyghters Brawlers Brekers of loue dayes ¶ Getters Chyders Causers of frayes . ¶ Tytyuyllis Tyrauntis with Tourmentours . ¶ Corsyd apostatis Relygyous dyssymulers : ¶ Closshers Carders wyth comon hasardours . ¶ Tyburne colops and Purskytters . ¶ Pylary knyghtys double tollyng Myllers . ¶ Gay Ioly tapters with hostelers of the stewes . ¶ Hores and Bawdes that many bale brewes ¶ Bold blasfemers wyth false Ipocrytes . ¶ Brothellers Brokers abhomynable swerers . ¶ Dryuylls Dastardes dyspysers of ryghtis ¶ Homycydes Poyseners & comon morderers ¶ Scoldis Caytyues Comberous clappers . ¶ I dolatres Enchauntors with false regenates . ¶ Sotyl ambydextrys and sekeers of debatis . ¶ Pseudo Prophetes false Sodemytes . ¶ Quesmers of chyldren wyth fornycatours . ¶ wetewoldes that suffre syn in their syghtis . ¶ Auoutrers and abhomynable auauntours . ¶ Of syn grete clappers & makers of clamours ¶ Vnthryftes & vnlustes came al to that game ¶ with luskꝭ & loselis that might not thryue for shame ¶ These were the comons the came thider the day . ¶ Redy bowne in batayl Vertu to abyde . ¶ Apollo theym beholdyng began to say . ¶ To the goddys & goddesses beyng there y● tid ¶ Me semyth conuenyent an herowd to ryde ¶ To Vertu & byd him to batayl make him boune ¶ Hymself to defend forsoth it shal be sone . ¶ And let hym not be sodeynly take . ¶ All dyspurneyed or that he beware . ¶ For than shold our dyshonour awake . ¶ If he were cowardly take in a snare . ¶ Ee quod Vyce for that haue I no care . ¶ I wyll auauntage take where I may . ¶ That heryng Morpleus p̄uely stale away . ¶ And went to warne Vertu of al this afray . ¶ And bad him awake and make hymself strong ¶ For he was lyke to endure that daye . ¶ A grete mortall shoure er . it were euensonge . ¶ with Vyce wherfore he bad hym not longe . ¶ Tary to send after more-socoure . ¶ If he dyde it shold torne hym to dolour . ¶ And brefely the mater to he declared . ¶ Lyke as ye haue hard begynnyng and ende . ¶ Well quod Vertu he shall not be ●pared ¶ To the feld I wyl go how it wende . ¶ But gramercy Morpleus myn own dere frende ¶ Of your trew hert & faythfull entente . ¶ That ye in this mat to meward haue ment . ¶ This done Morpleus departed away . ¶ Fro Vertu to the palayse retornyng agayn . ¶ None hym aspyed that I dare well say . ¶ In whych tyme Vertu dyde his besy payn ¶ People to reyse his quarell to maynteyn . ¶ Ymagynacyon was his messengere . ¶ He went to warne people both ter & nere . ¶ And bad hem come in all hast they myght ¶ For to strength Vertue for wyth out fayll . ¶ He sayd he shold haue long or it were nyght . ¶ Wyth Vyce to do a myghty strong batayl . ¶ Of vngracyous gestes he bryngyth a gret tayll ¶ Wherfore it behouyth to help at this nede . ¶ And after this shal Vertue rewar yor mede ¶ Whan ymagynacyon had gone his cyrcuyte ¶ To Vertue & frendis thus all about . ¶ Wythin short tyme many men of myght ¶ Gadered to Vertu in all that they myght . ¶ They hym comforted & bad him put no doute . ¶ His vtter enmy Vyce to ouerthrowe . ¶ Thoughe hw t him brought neuer so gret arow ¶ And whan Vertu se the sustaunce of his oost ¶ He prayed all the comons to the feld hem hye ¶ Wyth her pety capteyns both lest and moste ¶ And wyth his capteyns shold folow redely . ¶ For he sayd he knew well that vyce was ful nye . ¶ And who myght fyrst of the feld recouer the centre ¶ Wold kepe out that other he shuld not esely entre ¶ Then sent he forth Baptym to the feld before ¶ And prayed hym hartely it to ouerse . ¶ That nomaner trayn nor cotlrop therin wor̄ ¶ To noy nor hurt hym nor his meyne . ¶ And whan he thyder came he began to se . ¶ How Vyce his purseuannt cryme orygynall . ¶ Was entred before and had seased vp all . ¶ But as sone as herof Baptym had a syght . ¶ He fled fast away and left the feld alone . ¶ And anone Baptym entred wyth his myght . ¶ Serchyng al about where this crym̄ had gon ¶ But the feld was clene defaut found he none . ¶ Then came Vertu after with his gret oste . ¶ And his myghty capteyns both lest and most ▪ ¶ But to enfourme you how he thyder came . ¶ And what maner capteins he to the feld brouȝt . ¶ Hymselfe sekerly was the fyrst man . ¶ Of all his grete host the thyderwarde sought . ¶ Syttyng in a chare the rychely was wrought . ¶ Wyth golde and peerles & gemmes precyous . ¶ Crowned with laurer as lord vyctoryous . ¶ Foure doubty knyghtes about the chare went . ¶ At euery corner one hit for to gyde . ¶ And conuey accordyng to . Vertue his entent . ¶ At the fyrst corner was Ryghtwysnesse the tyde . ¶ Prudence at the seconde was set to abyde . ¶ At the thryd strength the fourth kept temperaunce . ¶ These the chare gyded to . Vertue his pleasaunce . ¶ Next to the chare seuen capyteyns there roode . ¶ Echone aftre other in ordre by and by . ¶ Humylyte was the fyrst a lambe he bestroode . ¶ With contenaunce demure he rood full soberly . ¶ Afawcon gentyll stood on his helme on hy . ¶ And next after hym came there . Charyte . ¶ Rydyng on a tygre as fyll to his degre . ¶ Boody as a roose ay he kept his chere . ¶ On his helme on hyghe a pellycan he bare . ¶ Next whom cam pacyence that no where hath no pere ¶ On a camell rydyng as voyde of all care . ¶ Afenix on his helm stood so forth gan he fare . ¶ Who next hym folowed but lyberalyte . ¶ Syteng on a dromedary that was both good & fre . ¶ On his helm for his crest he bare on ospray . ¶ And next after hym folowed abstynence . ¶ Rydyng on an hete was trapure and gay . ¶ He semed a lorde of ryght grete excellence . ¶ A popyniay was his crest he was of gret dyffence . ¶ Next hym folowed chastyte on an vnicorne . ¶ Armed at all poyntes behynde & beforne . ¶ A tortyldoue he bare on hyghe for his crest . ¶ Than came good besynesse last of the seuen . ¶ Rydyng on a panter a sondry coloured best . ¶ Gloryously beseen as he had come from heuen . ¶ A crane on his hede stood his crest for ●o steuen . ¶ All these .vii. capteyned had standardis of pryce . ¶ Eche of hem accordyng after his d●uyse . ¶ Many pety capteyns after these went . ¶ As trew feyth & hope mercy pease & pyte . ¶ Ryght trouth mekenesse with rood entent . ¶ Goodnes concorde & parfyte vnyte . ¶ Hoe est trewe loue with symplycyte . ¶ Prayer fastyng preuy almysdede . ¶ Ioyned with the artycles of the crede . ¶ Confessyon contrycyon & satyffaccyon . ¶ With sorow for synne & grete repentaunce . ¶ For●euenesse of trespas with good dysposycyon . ¶ Resystence of wrong performyng of penance . ¶ Holy deuocyon wyth good contynaunce ¶ Presth●de hem folowed with the sacramentis ¶ And sadnesse alse wyth the commaundementes ¶ Suffraunce in trouble wyth Innocensy ¶ Clennes contynence and virgynyte ¶ Kyndnes reuerence with curteysy ¶ Content & pleased wyth pyteous pouerte ¶ Entendyng wel mynystryng equyte ¶ Twene ryght & wrong hole indyfferently ¶ And labouryng the seruyse of god to multyply ¶ Refuse of ryches & worldly vaynglory ¶ Perfeccyon wyth perfyght contemplacyon ¶ Relygyon professyon wel kept in memory ¶ Verry drede of god wyth holy predycacyon ¶ Celestyall sapyence wyth gostly inspyracyon ¶ Grace was the guyde of al this meyne ¶ Whome folowed konnyng with his genealogy ¶ That is to say gramer and Sophystry ¶ Phylosophy naturall logyke and Rythoryke ¶ Arsmetrycke geometry wyth astronomye ¶ Canon and Cyuyll melodyous musyke ¶ Noble Theology and corporal physyke ¶ Moralyzayson of holy scrypture ¶ Profound poetry and drawyng of pycture ¶ Thyse folowed connyng & thyder wyth h●n can ¶ Wyth many one mo offryng her seruyie ¶ To Vertu at that nede but notwythstondyng than ¶ Some he refused and sayd in nowyse ¶ They shuld wyth hym go & as I coud auyse ¶ Thysewore her names fyrst Nygrōmancy ¶ Geomansy magyke and glotony ¶ Adryomansy Ornomancy with pyromancy ¶ Fysenomy also and pawmestry ¶ And al her sequeles yf I shal not lye ¶ Yet connyng prayed Vertu he wold not deny ¶ Theym for to know nor dysdeyn his eye ¶ On hem to loke wherto Vertu graunted ¶ How be it in his werres ge wold not they haunted ¶ So had they connyng lyghly to depart ¶ From Vertu his feld and they seyng this ¶ By comyn assent hyred them a carte ¶ And made hem be caryed toward Vyce Iwys . ¶ Fro thens forth to serue him this wold , not mys ¶ For loth they were to be maysterles ¶ In stede of the better the worse there they ches ¶ But forth to relese al the rrmenaunt ¶ Of pety capteins that wyth Vertue were ¶ Moderate dyet and wysdom auenant ¶ Euen weyght and mesure ware of contagyous gē ¶ Loth to offend ann louyng ay to lere ¶ Worshyp and profyte with myrth in maner ¶ Thyse pety capteyns wyth Vertu were in fere ¶ Comons hem folowed a grete multitude ¶ But in came pyson to that other syde ¶ I trow there was not brefely to conclude . ¶ The .x. man that batayl to abyde . ¶ Yet neuertheles I shal not from you hyde . ¶ what maner people they were & of what secte ¶ As nere as my wyt therto wyll me derect . ¶ There were noble and famous doctours . ¶ Example yeuers of lyuyng gracyous . ¶ Perpetuel prestes and dyscrete confessours . ¶ Of holy scrypture declarers fructuous . ¶ Rebukers of syn & myscheues odyous . ¶ Fysshers of soules & louers of clennes . ¶ Dyspysers of veyn and worldly rychesse . ¶ Peasyble prelatys Iustycyal gouernours . ¶ Founders of chyrches wyth mercyfull peres . ¶ Reformers of wrong of her progenytours ¶ On peynfull pore pyteous compassyoners ¶ well menyng marchauntes with trewartefecers ¶ Vyrgyns pure and also Innocentes ¶ Hooly matrones with chast contynence ¶ Pylgrymes & palmers with trew laborers ¶ Holy heremytes goddys solycytours ¶ Monesteryal monkes & well dysposed freres ¶ Chanons and nonnes feyth ꝓfessoures ¶ Of worldly people trew coniugatours . ¶ Louers of Cryst Confounders of yll . ¶ And all that to godward yeue her good wyll ¶ Mayntenours of ryghte verey penytentes . ¶ Dystroyers of errour causers of vnyte . ¶ Trew actyf lyuers that set her ententis ¶ The dedis to performe of mercy and pyte ¶ Contemplatyf people that desyre to be . ¶ Salytary seruauntis vnto god alone . ¶ Rather them to habound in rychesses echone . ¶ Thyse wyth many mo than I reherce can ¶ were come thyder redy that batayl to abyde . ¶ And take such part as fyl to Vertu than ¶ Vyce to uoercome they hoped for al his pride ¶ Al though he had more people on his syde ¶ For the men that Vertu had were ful sure . ¶ To trust on at nede & connyng in armure ¶ Macrocosme was the name of the feld ¶ where this grete batayll was set for to be ¶ In the myddys therof stode consyence & beheld ¶ whyche of hem shold be brought to captyuyte ¶ Of that noble tryumph Iuge wold he be ¶ Synderesys sate him wythin closed as a park ¶ with his table in his honde her dedys to marke . ¶ To come in to the feld were hygh wayes .v. ¶ Fre to both partyes large brode and wyde ¶ Vertu wold not tari but highed him thyder bliue ¶ Lest he were by vyce deceyued at that tyde ¶ Long out of the feld loth was he to abyde ¶ In auenture that he out of it were kept . ¶ For than wold he haue thought he had to long slept ¶ In this mene tyme whyle Vertu thus ꝓceded ¶ For him & his people the feld for to wynne . ¶ He charged euery man by grace to be guyded ¶ And al that euer myght the feld to enter ynne . ¶ In all that season went orygynal synne . ¶ To let Vyce know how Baptym with his hoste . Had entred Macrocosme & serched euery cooste ¶ A sayd Vyce I se well it is tyme . ¶ Baners to dysplay & standardes to auaunce . ¶ Al most to long haddest thou taryed cryme . ¶ To let vs haue knolege of this purueyaunce . ¶ Yet I trow I shal lerne hem a new daunce . ¶ Wherfore I commaund you al without delaye ¶ Toward the felde draw in all the hast ye may ¶ Than sayd the god Pluto that al men myght here ¶ Vyce I the charge as thou wylt eschew . ¶ Our heuyous Indyngnacyon thou draw not arere ¶ But put the forth boldly to ouerthrowe Vertu . ¶ In fayth quod Attropos & I shal after sew / ¶ For yf he escape oure hondys this day . ¶ I tell you my seruyse haue lost for ay . ¶ Forth than rode Vyce with al his hole strength ¶ On his stede serpentyne as i told you byfore . ¶ The ost that him folowed was of a grete length . ¶ Among whom were penouns & g●yt̄s mani a scor̄ ¶ Of hys pety capteynes he made many a kniȝt ¶ For they shuld not fle but manly with him fight ¶ He doubed Falshod wyth Dyssymylacyon . ¶ Symony Vsury Wrong and Rybawdy . ¶ Malyce Deceyt Lye wythout Extorcyon . ¶ Periury Dyffydence and Apostasy . ¶ Wyth boldnes in yl to bere hym company . ¶ Thyse .xiiii. knyghtes made vyce that daye . ¶ To wyn her spores they sayd they wold assay ¶ In lyke wyse Vertu doubed on his syde : ¶ Of pety capteyns other fourtene . ¶ Whyche made her auou wyth hym to abyde : ¶ Hor spores wold they wȳ the day shold it be ●en̄ ¶ Thyse wore her names yf it be as I wene ¶ Feyth ▪ Hope & Mercy Trouth & also Ryght . ¶ with Resystence of wronge a full hardy wyghte ¶ Confessyon Contrycyon wyth Satysfaction ¶ Verrey drede of God Performyng of penaunce ¶ Perfeccyon Connyng and Good dyspocision ¶ And all knyt to Vertu they were by alyauns ¶ Wherfore to hym they made assuraunce . ¶ That feld to kepe as long as they myght . ¶ And in his quarel agayn Vyce to fyght . ¶ The lord of Macrocosme & rewler of the fee ¶ Was called Frewyll chaunger of the chaunce : ¶ To whome Vertu sent embassatours thre ¶ Reson dyscresyon & good remembraunce . ¶ And prayed him be fauorable his honoure to ēhās ¶ For but he had his fauour at the poynt of nede ¶ He stood in gret doute he coude not lightly spede . ¶ In lyke wyse . Vyce embassatours thre . ¶ For his party vnto Frewyll sent . ¶ Temptacyon foly & sensualyte . ¶ Prayng him of fauour that he wolde assent . ¶ To him as he wolde at his commaundement . ¶ Haue him eftsones whan he lyst to call . ¶ On him for ony thyng that afterward myght fall . ¶ Answere yaue he none to neyther party . ¶ Saue oonli he sayd the batayll wolde he se ¶ To wete whiche of him shold haue the vyctory . ¶ Hit hyng in his balaunce the ambyguyte . ¶ He sayd he wolde not restrayne his lyberte . ¶ Whan he come where sorow shold awake . ¶ Than it shold be know what part he wyl take ¶ Whan . Vertu & Vyce be her ambassatours . ¶ Knew of this answere they stood in gret doute . ¶ Neuertheles they seyd they wold endure tho shours ¶ And make an ende shortly of that they went aboute . ¶ Soo forth came . Vyce with all his grete route . ¶ Er he came at the selde he sent yet priuely . ¶ Sensualyte before in maner of a spy . ¶ Whiche sewe the felde with his vnkynde seede . ¶ That caused Vertu after mykyll woo to feele ¶ For therof grewe nought but all oonly weede . ¶ Whiche made the grounde as sleper as an yele . ¶ He went ayene to vice & tolde hym euery dele . ¶ How he had done and bad hym come a way . ¶ For he had so purueyde the vyce sholde haue the day ▪ ¶ Soo as it happed at the felde they mete . ¶ Frewyll vertu and vice as tripartite . ¶ Saaf vertu a litil before the felde had gete . ¶ And ellis his auantage forsoth had be fullyght ¶ Not for then encombred so was neuer wyght ▪ ¶ As vertu & his men were with the ranke . wede ¶ That in the felde grew of sensualitees fede ¶ But as soone as vyce of vertu had a syght . ¶ He gan swage gonnes as he had be woode ¶ That heryng vertu commaunded euery wyght ¶ To pauyce hym vnder the sygne of the rode . ¶ And bad hem not drede but kepe styll where thy . ¶ It was but a shour shold sone confounde ¶ wherfore he commaunded them stand & kepe her ground stode . ¶ And whan vyce cam nerer to the felde . ¶ He callyd sore for bowes & bad hem shote faste ¶ But vertu & hys meyny bare of with the sheld . ¶ Of the b●yssyd Trynyte ay tyll shot was past . ¶ And whan shot was done vyce cam forth at last . ¶ Purposyng the felde wyth assaute to wyn . ¶ But vertu kept it long he myght not enter theryn . ¶ All that tyme Frewyll stode & hym bethought . ¶ To which he myght leue & what ꝑe he wold take . ¶ At last sensualite had him so fer brought . ¶ That he sayd playnly he vertu wold forsake . ¶ And in vyce hys quarell all his power make . Nota Iwis quod reason that is not for the beste . ¶ Noforse sayd frewyll I wyll do as my lyst . ¶ Vertu was full heuy when he see frewyll ¶ Take part with vyce but yet neuerthelesse . ¶ He dyde that he myght the felde to kepe styll . ¶ Tyll vyce with frewyll so sore gan him oppresse . ¶ That he was constranyed clerely by duresse . ¶ A lytyll tyne abacke to make abew retret . ¶ All thyng consydered hit was the best feet . ¶ Fyrst to remembre how vyce parte was . ¶ Ten ayen one strenger by lyklynesse . ¶ And than how frewyll was with hym alas . ¶ Whoo coude deme vertu but in heuynesse . ¶ Moreouer to thynke how that slyper grasse . ¶ That of sensualyte hys on kynde seede grew . ¶ Vnder foot in standyng encombred vertew ¶ Yet notwitstondyng vertue his men all . ¶ Nobelly theym bare and faught myghtyly . ¶ How be it the sleper grasse made many of hem fall . ¶ And from thense in maner departe sodenly . ¶ That seyng vyce his hoost began to shout & cry . ¶ And sayd on in Pluto name on & all is oure . ¶ For this day shal Vyce be made a conquerour . ¶ Thus Vertu was by myght of vyce & Frew ¶ Dryuen out of the feld it was the more pyte yll ¶ How by it yet Baptym kept his ground styll . ¶ And with hym abode feyth hope & vnyte . ¶ And konnynge also with a grete meyne . ¶ Confessyon contrycyon were redy at her hond . ¶ And Satysfaction Vyce to wythstond . ¶ But al the tyme whyle Vertu was away . ¶ A myȝty conflycte kept they with Vycys rout . ¶ And yet neuertheles for al that grete afray . ¶ Hope stod vpryght & feyth wold neuer lout ¶ And euermor sayd Baptym syres pu● no dout . ¶ Vertu shal return & haue his entent . ¶ This feld shal be ours or let me be shent . ¶ And whyl thyse pety capteyns sustend thus the feld ¶ Wyth Vertu his reward come good ꝑseuerauns ¶ An hugy myghty hoost & whan he beheld . ¶ How Vertu hym withdrew he toke dysplesaūs . ¶ And whan he to him cam he sayd ye shal your chans ¶ Take as it fallyth wherfore returne ye must . ¶ Yet one for your sake with Vyce shal I Tust . ¶ Alas that euer ye shold lese your honour . ¶ And therwyth also the hygh perpetuel crown . ¶ Which is for you kept in the celestyal tour . ¶ Wherfore be ye called chrystys champyon . ¶ How is it that ye haue noo compassyone . ¶ On baptyme feyth & hope konnyng & vnite . ¶ That stand so hard bestad & fyght as ye may see . ¶ All the tresour erthely vnder the fyrmament ¶ That euer was made of goddys creacyon . ¶ To reward theym euenly were not equyualent . ¶ For her noble labour in his affleccyon . ¶ Wherfore take vpon you your Iurisdyccyon ¶ Rescu yonder knyghtes & recontynu fyght . ¶ And els a dew your crown : or al your gret might ¶ With these & suche wordys as I haue you tolde ¶ By good perseueraunce vttred in this wyse . ¶ Vertu hym remembred & gan to vexe bolde . ¶ And sayd yeue trew knyghtis to rescu Iauyse ¶ Let vs no lengar tary from this entrepryse . ¶ Agayn to that felde soo Vertu retourned . ¶ That caused hem be mery that long afore had morned ¶ Auaunt baner qd he in the name of Iesu ¶ And with that his people set vp a gret shoute . ¶ And cryed with a loude voce a Vertu a Vertu . ¶ Then began Vyce his hoost for to loke a boute . ¶ But I trow ꝑseueraunce was not long withoute ¶ He bathed his swerd in his foos blood . ¶ The boldest of hem all not ones him withstoode . ¶ Constaunce hym folowed & brought him his spere ¶ But when ꝑseueraunce saw Vyce on his stede . ¶ Noman coude hym let tyll he came there . ¶ For to byd hym ryde I trow it was no nede . ¶ All Vertu his oost prayed for his good spede . ¶ Agayn Vyce he rode with his grete shaft . ¶ And hym ouerthrew for all his so●yll craft . ¶ That seyng Frewill came to conscyence . ¶ And gan hym to repente that he with hym had be . ¶ Prayeng hym of counsell for his grete offence . ¶ That he agayn Vertu had made his arme . ¶ What was best to doo to hymylyte : ¶ Qd conscyence must thou go so he hym thyder sent ¶ Dysguysed that he were not knowen as he wente . ¶ And whan he thyder came humylyte hym toke . ¶ A token & bad hym go to conffessyon . ¶ And shew hym his mater with a peteous loke ¶ Whiche done he hym sent to contrycyon . ¶ And fro thensforthe to satysfaccyon . ¶ Thus fro poost to pyler was he made to daunce . ¶ And at the last he went forthe to penaunce . ¶ But now for to tel you when Vyce was outhrow ¶ A gret part of his oost about hym gan resorte . ¶ But he was so febyll that he coude noman know . ¶ And whan they se that they knew no comforte . ¶ But caryed hym a way be a preuy porte . ¶ And as they caryed dyspeyre with him met . ¶ With Vyce his rewarde he cam theym for to fet ¶ Then came there downe goodly ladyes tweyn . ¶ From the hyghe heuen aboue the fyrmamente . ¶ And sayd the gret Alpha & Oo moost souereyn . ¶ For that nobell tryumphe had hem thyder sent . ¶ One of hem to dryue Vyce to grete tormente . ¶ With a fyry strong that she bare in her hande . ¶ And so he dede dyspere & all his hole bande . ¶ The name of this lady was called Prestyence . ¶ She neuer left Vyce ne none that wolde him folow . ¶ Tyll they were commytted by the dyuyne sentence . ¶ All to payne perpetuell & Infynyte sorow . ¶ Right wysnes went to se that noman shold hem borow . ¶ Thus al entreted sharpely were they tyll Cerberus ¶ Had hem beshut within his gates tenebrus . ¶ And all the whyle that Prestyence with her scorge smert ¶ To rewarde Vyce gan her thus occupy . ¶ With all his hole , bende after her desert . ¶ That other gloryous lady that came fro heuen on hy . ¶ Hauyng in her honde the palme of vyctory . ¶ Came downe to Vertu & toke hym to that present . ¶ Sayeng thus that Alpha & Oo hath hym sent . ¶ And as ferre as I ryght coude vnderstonde ¶ That ladyes name was Predestynacyon . ¶ Vertu & his oost she blessyd with her honde . ¶ And in heuyn graunted hem habytacyon . ¶ Whereto eche of hem reseruyd was a crowne . ¶ She sayd in token that they enherytours . ¶ Of the glory were & gracious conquerours . ¶ Wych done the ladyes ' ayen to gyder met ¶ And towarde heuen vp they gan to sty ¶ Embraced in armes as they had ben knyt . ¶ Togyd with a gyrdyl but so sodenly . ¶ As yy wer vanysshyd saw I neuthȳg with ey . ¶ And anone Vertu wyth al his company . ¶ Kneled doūn & thanked god of that vyctory . ¶ Yet had I forget whan Vyce was ouerthrow . ¶ To haue told you hou many of Vycys hoost . ¶ Gan to seke pease & darked doūn ful low . ¶ And besought mercy what so euer it coste . ¶ To be her mene to Vertu els y●y wē but lost . ¶ And some in lyke wyse to feyth & hope sought . ¶ What to do for pease they sayd they ne rouȝte . ¶ Some also Baptym sewed to be her mene . ¶ Som to one som to other as thei hem gete myȝte . ¶ But al to Confessyon went to make hem clene ¶ And as y●y came to consyence he theym bad go lyȝte . ¶ Er than old attropes of hem had a syȝt . ¶ For yf he so theym toke lost they wē for euer ¶ He sayd Vyce to forsake better late thyn neuer . ¶ Som eke for socour drew to circumcision . ¶ But by him coud they gete but smal fauoure . ¶ For he in that company was had but in derysyd ¶ Neueryelesse to feyth he bad hem go laboure . ¶ Prayng theym for olden acqueyntance theym socoure ¶ Wel qd feth for his sake I shal do that I may doo ¶ But fyrste for the best way baptym go ye to . ¶ For by hym sonest shal ye recouer grace . ¶ Which shal to Vertu bryng you by processe . ¶ Wherfore in ony wyse loke ye make good face . ¶ And let noman know of your heuynes . ¶ So they were by baptym brought out of desires ¶ Turned al to Vertu & whan this was done . ¶ Vertu cūmaūded Frewyl before hym come . ¶ To whom thus he sayd I haue grete merueyl ¶ Ye durst be so bold Vyces party to take . ¶ Who bad you do so & yaue you that counseyl . ¶ Iustly vnto that ye shal me preuy make . ¶ Then sayd Frewyll & swemfully spake . ¶ Knelyng on his kne wyth a chere denyng . ¶ I pray you syr let pyte your eres to me enclyne . ¶ And I shall yow tel the verrey soth of all . ¶ How it was & who made me that way drawe . ¶ For soth sensualyte his ꝓpre name they call . ¶ A sayd reason then I know wel that felowe . ¶ Wyld he is & wanton of me stant him none awe . ¶ Is he so qd Vertu wel he shall be taught . ¶ As a player shuld to draw another draught . ¶ And with thal came sadnesse wyt his sober chere . ¶ Bryngyng Sensualite beyng ful of thought . ¶ And sayd that he had take hym prysonere . ¶ A welcome sayd Versu now haue I the I souȝt . ¶ Blessed be the good lord as the wold it is nought ¶ Why arte thou so wanton he sayd for shame . ¶ Or y● go at large thou shalt be more tame . But stond a part a whyle tyl I haue spoke a word ¶ Wyth Frewyl a lytyl & then shaite thou knowe . ¶ What shal be thy fynaunce then he saydin bord ¶ Vnto Frewyl the bend of your bowe . ¶ Begynnyth to s●ake but suche as ye haue sowe ¶ Must nedes repe there is none waye , ¶ Notwythstondyng that lette what ye can saye . ¶ What is your habilite me to recompense . ¶ For the grete harme that ye to me haue do . ¶ Forsoth sayd Frewyll in open audyence . ¶ But oonly Macrocosme more haue I not loo . ¶ Take that yf it pleyse you I wyl that it be soo . ¶ Yf I may vnderstond ye be my good lorde . ¶ In dede sayd Vertu to that wyll I accorde . ¶ Then made Vertu Reason his leyftenaunte . ¶ And yaue him a grete charge macrocosme to kepe ¶ That done Sensualite yeld hym recreaunte . ¶ And began for anger bysterly to wepe . ¶ For he demed surely hys sorowe shold not slepe ¶ Then made Vertu Frewyll bayl vnd Reason . ¶ The feld for to ocupy to his behoue that season . ¶ And then sayd Vertu to Sensualyte . ¶ Thou shalt be rewarded for thy besynesse . ¶ Vnder this furme al fragylyte . ¶ Shalt thou forsake both more and lesse . ¶ And vnd the guydyng thou shalt be of sadnesse . ¶ All though it somwhat be agayn thy herte . ¶ Thy Iugement is gyuen thou shalt it not asterte ¶ And euyn with that came in dame Nature . ¶ Sayeng thus to Vertu syr ye do me wronge . ¶ By duresse & constreynt to put this creature . ¶ Gentyll Sensualyte that hath me ꝓued longe . ¶ Clerely from his lyberte & set hym amonge . ¶ Theym that loue him not to be her vnderloute . ¶ As it were a cast away or a sho cloute . ¶ And perde ye know well a rewlehaue I must ¶ Wythin Macrocosme forsoth I say not nay . Od Vertu butsēsualyte shal not perform your lust ¶ Lyke as he hath do befor this yf I may . ¶ Therfro him restreyn sadnesse shal assay . ¶ How be it ye shal haue your hoselyberte . ¶ Wythin Macrocosme as ye haue had fre . ¶ And whan Vertu had to Nature sayd thns ¶ a lytyll tyne his ey castyng hym besyde . ¶ He se in a corner stondyng Morpleus . ¶ That him before warned of the verely tyde . ¶ A syrs sayd Vertu yet we must abyde . ¶ Here is a frend of ours may not be forgete . ¶ After his deserte we shall him entreate ¶ Morpleus sayd . Vertu I thanke you hertely . ¶ For your trew herte & your grete laboure . ¶ That ye lyst to come to me soo redely . ¶ Whan ye vnderstod the comyng of that shoure . ¶ I thanke god & you of sauyng of myn honour . ¶ Wherfore this preuylege now to you I grant ¶ That within Macrocosme ye shall haue your haunt ¶ And of fyue posternes the keys shall ye kepe . ¶ Lettyng in & out at him whome ye lyst . ¶ As long as in Macrocosme your fad wyll crepe . ¶ Blere whos ey yewyll hardely with your myst ¶ And kepe your werkes close there as in a chyst ¶ Saaf I wold desyre you spare Pollucyon . For no thyng may me plese the soūeth to corrupcyon . ¶ And whan he had thus sayd the keyes he him toke . ¶ And toward his castell with his people went ¶ Byddyng reason take good hede & about loke . ¶ That sensualite by Nature were not shent . ¶ Kepe him short he sayd tyll his lust be spent ¶ For better were a chylde to by vnbore . ¶ Than let him haue the wyll & foreuer be lore . ¶ And whan olde Attropos had seen & herd all this ¶ How Vertu had opteyned astonyed as he stood , ¶ He sayd to hȳse lfe som what there is amys . ¶ I trow well my patent be not all good . ¶ Sayeng to the goddys I see ye do but iape . ¶ After a worthy whew haue ye made me gape . ¶ How a deuyll way sholde I Vertue ouerthrow . ¶ When he dredeth not all your hole route . ¶ How can ye make good your patent wold I know ¶ Hit is to Impossable to bryng that aboute . ¶ For stryke hym may I not that is out of doute . ¶ A good Attropos sayd god Apollo . ¶ An answere conuenyent shall thou haue herton . ¶ The wordes of thy patent dare I well say ¶ Stretche to no forther but were dame Nature ¶ Hath Iurysdyccyon them to haue thy way Nota. ¶ And largesse to stryke as longet to thy cure . ¶ And as for Vertu he his no cryature . ¶ Vnder the predycament conteyned of quantyte ¶ Wherfore his dystruccyon longeth not to the. ¶ A ha sayd Attropos then I see well . ¶ That all ye goodys be but couēterfete . ¶ For oo God there is that can euerydell . ¶ Tourne as hym lest bothe drye & whete . ¶ In to whoos seruyce I shal assay to gete . ¶ And yf I may ones to his scruycece me . ¶ Your names shal be put to oblyuyone . ¶ Thus went Attropos fro the paleys wrooth . ¶ But in the mene tyme whyle the he there was . ¶ Glydyng by the paleys resydyuacyon gooth . ¶ Towarde Macrocosme with a pēynted fase . ¶ Clad lyke a pylgryme walkyng a grete pase . ¶ In the forme as he had ben a man of ynde . ¶ He wede haue made reson & fadnesse both blynde ¶ With sensualyte was he soone aqueynted . ¶ To whome he decared his mater pryuely . ¶ Yet he was espyed for all his face peynted . ¶ Then reson hy comauded pyke him thens lightly . ¶ For his ease qd sadnesse so coum eyll hym wyll I. ¶ Soo was sensualyte ay kepte vnder foote . ¶ That to resydyuacyon myght he doo no boote . ¶ Then went he to Nature & asked her auyse . ¶ His entent to opteynde what was best to doo . ¶ She sayd euer syth Vertu of vyce man the pryse . ¶ Reson with sadnesse hath rewled the felde soo . ¶ That I & sensnalyte may iytyll for the doo . ¶ For I may noo more but oonly kepe my cours . ¶ And yet is seusualyte strenger kept & wours . ¶ Thus heryng resydiuacōn fro thens he went ageyn ¶ Full of thought & sorow that ehe myght not spede . ¶ Than reson & saduesse toke we dehokes tweyn . ¶ And all wylde wantonesse out the felde gan wede . ¶ With all the slyper grasse the grewe of the sede . ¶ That sensualyte before therin sew . ¶ And fro thens forth kept it clene for vertew ¶ Than began new grase in the felde to spryng . ¶ All vnlyke that other of colour fayr & bryght . ¶ But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng . ¶ For the grounde of the felde gan wex hore & whyt . ¶ I coude not conceyue how the be myght . ¶ Tyll I was enformed & taught it to know . ¶ But wher vertu occupyet must nedes wel grow Yet in the mene tyme while the felde thus grow . ¶ And reson with sadnesse therof had goueraunce . ¶ Many a preuy messenger thyder sent Vertew . ¶ To know yf it were guyded to his plesaunce . ¶ Now prayer eft fastyng & often tyme penaunce . ¶ And whan he myght goo preuely almesdede . ¶ And bad him to his power helpe where these nede While the felde thus rewled reson with sadnesse . ¶ Maugre dame Nature for all her carnall might ¶ Came thyder Attropos voyd of all gladnesse . ¶ Wrapped in his shete & axed of ony wyght . ¶ Coude wysse hym the vay to the lorde of light . ¶ Or ellis where myght fynde ryghwysnesse . ¶ Forsothe sayd reyson I trowas I gesse . ¶ At Vertu his castell ye may soone hym fynde ¶ I ●ye lyst the laboure thyder to take . ¶ And there shall ye know yf ye be not blynde . ¶ The next wey to the lorde of lyght I vndertake . ¶ So thyder went Attropos petycyon to make . ¶ To ryghtwysnesse preyeng that he myght . ¶ Be take in to the seruyse of the lorde of lyght . ¶ What sad ryghwysnesse thou olde dotyng foole . ¶ Whome yast thou seruyd syth the worlde began ¶ But oonlh hym where hast thou go to scole . ¶ Whethery art thou doubl cor elles the sam man . ¶ That thou were fyrst a syr sayd he than . ¶ I praye you hertely holde me excused . ¶ I am olde & febell my wyttys are dysused . ¶ Well sayd ryghtwysnes for as moche as thow . ¶ Knowest not thy mayst̄ thy name shal I chaunge ¶ Dethe shalt thou be caled from hens forward now ¶ Among all the peple that shal be had straunge . ¶ But whan thou begynnest to make thy chalaunge . ¶ Dredde shalt thou be where so thou become . ¶ And to noo creature shalt thou be welcome . ¶ And as for theym whome thou dedest serue . ¶ For as moche as they presume on hem to take . ¶ That hygh name of god they shal as they deꝓue ¶ Therfore he rewarded I dare vndertake . ¶ Wyth payn perpetual among fendes blake . ¶ And her names shall be put to oblyuyon . ¶ Among men but it be in dyrysyon . ¶ Aha sayd Attropos now begynne I wexglad . ¶ That I shal thus auenged of hem be . ¶ Syth they so long tyme haue made me so mad . ¶ Yre qd ryght wysnesse here what I say to the. ¶ The lorde of lyght sent the wordeby me . ¶ That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thou take ¶ wherfore thy darte redy loke thou make ¶ And as soone as Vertue that vnderstood ¶ He sayd he was pleased that it sholde soo be ¶ And euen forth with he commaunded presthood ¶ To make hym redy the felde for to se ¶ So thyder went presthode with benygnyte ¶ Conueyen●g thyder the blessyd sacrament ¶ Of Eukaryst but fyrst were thyder sent ¶ Confessyon contrycyon and satysfaccyon nota ¶ Sorow for synne and grete repentaunce ¶ Holy deuocyon with good dysposycyon ¶ All these thyder came and also penaunce ¶ As her dewte was to make purueaunce ¶ Agayn the comyng of that blessyd lorde ¶ Feyth hope & charyte therto were acorde ¶ Reason with sadnesse dyde his dylygence ¶ To clense the felde within and without ¶ And whan they se the bodely presence ¶ Of that holy Eukaryst lowly gan they lout ¶ So was that lorde receyued out of dout ¶ with all huble chere debonayre & benygne ¶ Lykly to pleasure it was a grete sygne ¶ Then came to the felde the mynyster fynall ¶ Called holy vnccyon with a crysmatory ¶ The fyue hye wayes in especyall ¶ Therof he anoynted & made hit sanctuary ¶ whome folowed deth which wolde not tary ¶ His feruent power there to put in vre ¶ As he was commaunded grauntyng dame Nature