[Explicit liber primus de curia sapiencie] Curia sapientiæ. English. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A06550 of text S100685 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 17015). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 130 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 38 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A06550 STC 17015 ESTC S100685 99836515 99836515 793 2240912856

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A06550) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 793) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1:11) [Explicit liber primus de curia sapiencie] Curia sapientiæ. English. Lydgate, John, 1370?-1451?, attributed name. [37] leaves Printed by William Caxton, [Westminister : 1480] Often wrongly attributed to John Lydgate. Signatures: a-e[-e7-8]. Title from b7r. Signature collation from Duff. Imprint from STC. In verse. Title page, and leaves e7-8 blank, lacking. Some print show-through. Reproduction of original in the British Library. eng eebo [Explicit liber primus de curia sapiencie] [no entry] 1483 76 18407 119 0 0 0 4 0 86.38 D The rate of 86.38 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2005-10 Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-03 Sampled and proofread 2006-03 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
tHe laberous & that 〈◊〉 ●e●ieylous workes Of sapienor syn f●●●e ●●gned nature My purpo● is to 〈◊〉 as writen clerkes And specyally her moost ●●●able oure In my fyrst book I wyl preche & deputr It is so plesaunt vnto eche persone That it a book shall occupye alone Sone after this I shall wysedom deseryue Her blessyd howsh̄old / and her wonnyng place And than retourne vnto her actes blyue As she them wrought by tyme , precesse & space Al this mater she taught me of her grace I spak with her / as ye may here and rede For in my dreme I mette her in a mede O clyo lady moost facundyous O Rauysshyng delyte of Eloquence O gylted goddes gay and gloryous Enspyred with the percyng Influence Of delycate heuenly complacence Within my mouth late dystylle of thy showres And forge my tonge to glad myn audytours Myn ignoraunce whome clowded hath eclippes With thy pure bemes illumynyne al aboute Thy blessyd breth lete refleyr in my lyppes And with the dewe of heuen thou them degoute So that my mouthe maye blowe & encense oute The redolent dulcour Aromatyke Of thy depured lusty Rethoryck I knowe my self moost naked in al artes My comune vulgare the moost interupte And I conuersaunte & borne in the partes Where my natyf langage is moost corrupt And with most sondry tonges myxt & rupte O lady myn wherefor I the byseche My muse amende / dresse / forge / mynysse & eche For to al makers here I me excuse That I ne can a lycatily endyte Rude is the speche of force / whiche I must vse Suche infortune my natyf byrth may wyte But O ye lordes whiche haue your delyte In termes gay / and ben moost eloquent This book to yow no plesaunce may present But netheles as tasted bytternesse Al swete thyng maketh be more precious So shal my hook extende the godelynesse Of other auctours whiche ben gloryous And make theyr wrytyng delycyous I symple shal ext●lle theyr soueraynte And my rudenes shall sh̄ewe theyr subtylyts Go wer chaucers erthely goddes two Of thyrst of eloquent delycacye With al youre successours fewe or moo Fragraunt in speche / experte in poetrye You ne yet theym in no poynt I enuye Exyled as fer I am from youre glorye As nyght from day / or deth from vycherye I you honoure / blysse / loue . and gloryfye And to whos presence my book shall atteyne His hastyf dome I pray hym modefye And not detcaye / ne haue it in dysdayne For I purpoos no makyng for to dystayne Meke herte / good tonge / and spyryte pacyent Who hath these thre / my book I hym present And as hym lyst lete hym detray or adde For syth I am constreyned for to wryte By my souerayne / and haue a mater glad And can not please paynte en●urne . ne endyte Late ignoraunce & chyldhode haue the wyte I aske no more / but god of his mercy Thy look conferme from sklaunder and enuy Explicit Prohemium
All besy swymmyng in the stormy flode Of fruteles worldly medytacyon To purpoos late . nothyng semed so good As to telle youthe hath ●mynacyon And for to put in sequestracyon Eche other thyng that hym shold cause vnrest And thus to bed I went with thought my gest The Chesplayer / or he a man haue drawen Hath only thought to make good purueaunce For kyng or quene aulfyn / knyght or pawne Echone of these he hath in his remembraunce So eche estate and worldly gouernaunce In one eschekker in my mynd I sawe But I ne wyst what draught was best to drawe Fyrst my desyre was to haue drawen my kyng At hertes lust in sure prosperyte But in the chesse I had espyed a thyng The kyng to purpoos may not passe his see To make hym way / or some pawne drawen bee Than bothe to guyde the kyng & pawnes eke And al other my wyttes were to seke I thought how by moral phylosophye The Chesse was founde / and set in dyuersite Of drangh̄t for a myrrour of polocye The whiche vertu departed is in thre Fyrst must man conne hym self reule in degre Efte his housh̄old / and than in vnyuerse Cyte and Reygne . these ben the thre dyuerse Arestotyl in h̄is poletyke book The fyrst of these seyth hygh̄t Monestyca The second parte / who hath lust to loke Of Polycy hyght Yconomica The thyrd partye is cleped poletyca But of al these syn I had neuer scole To playe at Chesse I me thought but a foole For in this bord eschekker of my mynd As I fyrst put a man or to drawe a draugh̄t Fyrst come the world with dame fortune vnkynd And sayd eschek / and so strongly they faught Ayenst me that al my men were caugh̄t With theyr eschekkes so muche they eche ascate That or I wyst / sodenly I was mate Than come reason / and thou to me she sayde With moble fortune· and fase worldlynesse O foole of fooles / h●st thou thy wyl assayde With ●●y man to countre them eschesse Thou mayse not fynd a poynt of syke●●sse For in theyr draught al 〈…〉 God forth quod she / a foole I the conclude Than 〈◊〉 I woo / and prayd a syne 〈◊〉 me were vnto d●me sup● That the myght lerne me som dis●ne For 〈◊〉 land we my 〈…〉 〈◊〉 ignoraunce myn insufficen●● For from of help / for which I gon●● Wepe Whyses at the l●s● I 〈…〉 Thus bronyt on slep / my spiryt forth qan passe And 〈◊〉 I was me thought in a place desert In wyldernes / but I nyse when 〈◊〉 In moche ●●●st●nce / in 〈◊〉 / in moche 〈◊〉 With wylde 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 Now woode / now 〈◊〉 / now by●●e now 〈◊〉 Now wynde / now rayne / I knewe no were The wylde wolues after me sewen 〈◊〉 I wold flee theym / but wile s●● I ne myght And of a way I was waue of the lose Thorny / and seueyor encome 〈◊〉 to the syght Thyder I went / I was ware of a syght But forth I thorugh with thornes of to rent And thanked god of lyght whiche 〈◊〉 had sent Oute from a mede moost heuenly vnto loke Aboute whiche can a lusty ryuer swete A lady cam / & two with her she toke I can to her / and so wely gan her grete The watres name asked I / she sayde quyete And sone she sayd / my name is sapyence Intellygence this h̄yght / and this scyence Vnto al vertues we ben ladyes thre Bothe in offyce / and degree dyfferent It is my parte to knowe dyuynyte My suster here hath knowlege dylygent Of creatures in heuen and erthe content And dame scyence of thynges temporal Hath knoulege pure / thus maist thou know vo al Of vs al thre I am the moost souerayne And yf the lyst me deseryue and dyffyne I am the trewe propre knowlege certayne Of erthely thyng / and eke of thyng dyuyne Ay fresshe & grene / & lusty is herte myne Though I seme yong / ful old my yeres bene For sapyence in old folk / is ay sene The desert place of fere / thurgh which thou come Is dredeful worldly occupacyon Sone leue that place & duelle with me at home Thou shalt haue wytt / lust / delectacyon Grace / helpe / lyf / hebe . & eterne saluacyon Now wyl I rest that trauayled haue al daye For my labour is brought al vnto playe Glad was I tho / and on kne felle a doune Held vp myn handes / & sayd I wold ful fayn Her seruaunt be with alle subiectyon But lady myn maysires / & hole souerayne Quod I. telle me your labour & your payne That ye so long haue had I wyl sayd she Yeue audyeuce the gladder shalt thou be A doughtful prynce most myghty & most digne Moost excellent and moost vyctoryous Hauyng a sonne & four doughters benyngne And a seruaunt whiche with affectuous Loue & desyre he cherysshed in his hows A commaundement yafe his seruaunt in certayn The whiche he brake· & deth sh̄ old he his payn Foure tormentours the kyng cleped to hym Bad one hym to put in pryson soure And other shold quyck flee hym lyth & lym The third kil hym the fourth shold him deuoure The four doughters herd telle of this rumoure Whos names ben Mercy / trouthe / ryght / & pease But mercy though̄t hyr faders yre to cease She loked doune in to the pryson depe Her loued seruaunt sawe she syttyng there For whome hyr hert gan bothe blede & wepe Dystyllyng teres dysteyned al here chere She gan vnlace her tressyd sonnysshe here Nakyd her brest / and for compassyon Byfore here fader on knees fel a doun O mercyful / and o most mercyable Kyng of kynges / and fader of pyte Whos myghty mercy is inmensurable O prynce eterne / O benyngne lord quod she To whome mercy is yeuen of properte Of thy seruaunt that lyeth in pryson bound Haue thow mercy or deth myn herte wyl wound I am souerayne aboue thy werkes al I am the pure auaunt of thy godhede I am thy child thy gemme celestyal The mynyster of al thy godlyhede The substaunce that al mankynde doth fede I am the tresour of thy deyte O prynce of pees my bone now graunt thou me See how I sytte dysseueld on 〈◊〉 My crystal eyen . see how theyr teres rayne My rosy lyppes / see how they perced be The hemed chere eke of my clekes tweyne See how the tery Ryuer doth dysteyne My swannysshe throte with syghes in distraynte My breste forbete / see fader al is faynte And yf thowe wolt graunt me you prysonere And gyfe me leue to lose hym oute of payne Al this dystresse / & al this myn heuy chere To gladnes thou myght restore agayne Thy h̄igh̄ vengeaunce / why shold thou not restrayne And she we mercy syn he is penytent With that cam trouth . & asked what it ment To trouthe than spack hyr fader reuerent And sayd a seruaunt / whiche I loued best On payne of deth I yaue a commandement Whiche for to kepe in hym was al my trest But he it bracke . & as a proude traytour kest Me to supplaunt / and I made my behest For his trespaas he shold dye at the lest My doughter mercy prayth with voys pyteous I wold foryeue / and on hym haue pyte For syth my mercy is moost copyous I must it sh̄ewe / thus argueth she to me Nay nay quod trouth / fader it may not be Thow must of force obserue thyne owne statute And thy promesse fulfylle for euery fute Thynk that I am thy doughter veryte That of al trouthe doothe execucyon Withouten whome thyne eterne deyte Were vnyat with imperfectyon Thy wyl is lawe / thy promesse is reason And syth thy wyl / and thy promesse also Was he shold dye thow mayst not goo ther fro For thy godlyhede put oute al varyaunce Stable thy sentence . and thy Iust iugement Lete execute in dede the same penaunce That was forbrokyn of thy commaundement Than sayd mercy / vnworthy is that assent For sauns doute euery resonable creature Withoute mercy may not lyue no endure Knowe ye not wele that I am sempyterne Quod mercy tho / how may ye me refrayne I am lady aboue the heuen superne Though ye in erthe be pryncesse & souerayne My myghty grace is neuer voyde ne vayne Ergo I must releue seruaunt penytent Saue fro the deth assoylle this argument Ryght sensyble & preygnaunt for youre path He that strong argument quod veryte But do dyspute / mercy is not myn arte Nother in herne ne in hole / trouth logeth to me And permanent I am as wele as ye And syn of force my fader must be trewe From his byhest / how may ye hym ●●newe And yf ye thynk / he broke not his byhest For to permute with mercy sh● vengeaunce For one is god / than wold ye at the lest In his godhede include bothe ignoraunce And hastynesse and exyle 〈◊〉 And prescyence and aske eke myght I sone Why hyght he that / that better 〈◊〉 vndone Than sayd mercy / wherto was mercy wrought But yf mercy had execucyon Wherto on me was al my f●der● thought And al his ioye in my creacyon Was I not made for res●yon Of heuenly blysse / & for necessyre That bothe angel and man must haue of me And yf so were that I were adnychyla●● The heuenly court may not restorely be My faders Royalme were vayne and vacuate A power howsh̄old it were withouten me Why shold I not than haue a soueraynte And complement of my petycyon Than answerd trouth / for ye aske no reason Though ye al day argue for youre purpoos Trouthe shall delyuer at her owne volunte My lyberte in no poynt wyl I loos I am my faders ch̄yld / as we le as ye And ryghtwysenes I wote wil holde with me And with that word trouthe for h̄ir suster went Dame ryghtwysenes . whiche was anon present On godely wyse / but ferful to behold Come ryghtwysenes al bemed ful of lyght For she ne spared for hote / ne for cold For hyghe for lowe / for to fulfylle al ryght My sustres stryue qd she with voyce on hyght I wyl dyscusse / and theyr contencyon As ryght asketh / brynge to conclusycn To his seruaunt I thynk / what trust & grace My fader had / and eke ●haryte And in erthe for hym he made a place Of lust / delyte / and of al lyberte Eche erthely thyng eke vnto h̄is soueraynte He had enclyne / and be obedyent Wh̄yles he truly fulfylleth his commandement What thyng in erthe he couthe or myght deuyse For hertes rest and lyues sustenaunce On hym gan laugh in al godely wyse And at h̄is lust made hym obeysaunce Exyled from hym was vnhappy chaunce Aduersyte myght neuer his steppes sewe To his mayster whyles he was seruaunt trewe And yf so were / he brake his commandement My fader made a constytucyon That prysoned & al quyck flene and rent Dede & deuoured shold be punycyon For h̄is trespaas and his transgressyon That both pure loue and fere this iust precept Shold hym excyte that it were trewely kept Not withstandyng the promesse & statute The trust / the loue / the bounte and kyndenesse Yone freel seruaunt subiecte to seruytute Saue to conspyre with al vngentylnesse And of the iust mandement made ful iust in̄sgresse Wherfor of ryght me thynketh he must be dede Late be quod pees / that is a cruel dede And with that word pees ceme in to the place Whoos persone was patron of portature Her rosy lyppes with chere ful of grace Offred kyssyng vnto eche creature Phebus hym self with al his bemed cure May not belyke the lyght of her vysage So pure perfyte was that heuenly ymage And on this wyse she gan her tonge affyse And sayd to trouth / O ryght how may this mene As youre purpoos pees for to exyle And to make mercy neuer more be sene And to ordeyne deth for to regne as quene This wold nomore / but for to depryue expresse My faders Royalme / & his souerayne rychesse Syth euery Royalme that hath dyuysyon Within hym self must nedes be desolate And we ben four for one conclusyon For to sustene the Reame and his estate Among vs foure / why shold thenne be debate And syth that lawe wyl rather lossyn peyne That it extende / lete pees & mercy reygne My faders Royalme & had suffreth no why●● It is of rest and of tranquylyte By cause of whiche he wryteth in his style The prynce of pees / the auctor of pyte Kyng of mercy / and h●d of al bounte Thus nede of force must pees regne & preuayle Ch̄yef stryf and debate perysshe in al batayle The ch̄yef auaunt and commendacyon Of this h̄yghe Royalme is for it is of pees Than wherto make ye disputacyon Contrarious ben youre debate / & rees With stryf I wyl not duelle withouten ●●es And yf debate me from this Royame dysseuer The lond of pees destroyed is for euer But syth soo is / ther is a trespaas done Vnto mercy lete yeld the trespasour Hit is her offyce to redresse it soone For trespaas is to mercy a meryour And ryght as swete hath his apryet by soure Soo by trespaas mercy hath al her myght Withoute trespas mercy hath last of lyght What shold be sy●te / but yf that sykenes were What nedyth salue / but yf there were a sore What nedeth drynk there thyrst hath no powers What shold mercy / but trespaas goo byfore But trespaas by mercy were lytel store Withoute trespaas none execucyon May mercy haue / ne yet perfectyon But suster trouth / ye may regne as a pryncesse Withoute falsh̄ede / and haue youre soueraynte Withoute Iniure / and so may ryght wysenes Eke withoute werre I pees may alwey● be But mercy kyndely hath no properte Withouten trespas / of whiche she hath her myght Ryȝt as the sonne the mone yeueth al theyr lyght Therfor I rede as for conclusyon That we obeye mercy with one acord And that we leue al oure dyscencyon For lytel thynges as clerkes here record With pees groweth & goede thyng ; with discord Wydeth awey / therfor lede pacyfye Our lust to one / and falle we to mercy Late be qirod trouthe to yow I nyl assent Nomore wyl I ywys / quod ryghtwysenes And with that word / trouthe to her fader went And thus she sayd O ground of stedfastnes O permanent / O veray trouthe endeles Hold thy hyhest . and support veryte For ryghtwysenes acordeth vnto me These wordes sayth ryghtwysenes. . & kneleth doun And sayd fader syth it is myn offyce To yeue condygne remuneracyoun To euyl / and good / to eche vertu & vyce And not to spare for prayer ne for pryce And I shall thy godhede gloryfye That trouthe asketh / I must nede Iustyfye The forsayd caas reseruyng in my mynd How soone thy seruaunt lust to the offend And how he was cruel-fale / and vnkynd To thy byhest I must of ryght attend And nede of force to iugement condescend Wherfor I yeue sentence dyffynytyue In forme forsayd that peyue to deth hym dryue Of this processe to haue the trewe entent I wol thou wyte quod sapyence to me This myghty kyng is god omnypotent In one godhede regnaunt . and persones thre His sone is Cryst / his dough̄ters in degre Ben vertues four annext to his godhede His seruaunt is old Adam as I rede Retourne we now 〈…〉 Al thorugh darted with 〈…〉 Mercy felle doune she myght no longre feyne As a swonyd / or in a ly●ergye Peas seyng that stood on 〈◊〉 And at the last with pyteous voyce and wylde She sayd alas / peas is for ay exyld O mercy god / for my suster mercy Leyng in a swouned deyng for lak of brethe For trouthe vntrewe / and vnrygh̄twysenes Ayenst vs hath yeuen sentence of dethe I wyl not rest / but goo thorugh̄ holt & heth Exyled awey retourned wol I neuer Fare we le fader / Fare we le thy reame for euer Fare wele mercy / fare we le thy pyteous grace So we le awey that vengeaunce shall preuayle Fare wele the bemed lyght of heuens place Vnto mankynd thou mayst nomore auayle The pure derkenes of helle the doth assaylle O lyght in vayn the clyppes hath the inc●se Man was thy lord / now man is thy refuse O Seraphyn yeue thyn Armonye O cherubyn thy glory do away O ye trones lete be al your melodye Your Ierarchye dysteyned is for ay Your maystres set in what array She lyeth in swoune / & y borne with debate Fare we le / fare we le / pouer housh̄old desolate O souerayne myghty domynacyons O vertues / and ye potestates O pryncypates with al your heuenly sownes Archangel / Angel / with thryes thre estates Your spouse daine pees ouerset is with debates Now may ye wepe / and Ierarchyes thre Your ordres nyne may not restored be Fare wel ye alle . dame mercy lyeth in swoune For sothfastnes accused hath mankynd And ryghtwysenes that shold do al reson Hath dampned hym as cruel & vnkynd Mercy and pees for them no grace may fynd Notwithstondyng Iugement may haue no sute By cause of pees / but it be execute Woo worth debate / that neuer may haue pees Woo worth penaunce that asketh no pyte Woo worth vengeaunce / that mercy may not cees Wo worth that Iugement that hath none equyte Wo worth that trouth / that hath no charyte Woo worth that Inge· that may no gylt saue And wo worth ryght / that may no fauour haue Fare wel saturne / Ioue / Mars & Phebus bright Fare wel Venus / and fare wel Mercurye Fare wel thou sh̄ynyng lady of the nyvht I was your guyde / but now awey goo I O cruel mars· thy temrestes fury Now mayst thou sh̄ewe . and Iupyter thyn Ire Now mayst thou rayne with dartes ful of fyre I was the reyne / that held yow al to gyder I brydled yow / and set yow in acord But now I goo ywys I wote neuer whyder Wherfor of force ye must falle to dyscord O thou souerayne of al bataylle the lord Now mayst thou send comete thy messager To sygnefye that batayle / negheth nere Whan Flora rydeth / and cold awey is gone With Iupyter / than mayst thou mete att luste And Iune in somme sygne of the aquybone Engendre fyre / and make herbes combuste Enfecte the eyer / and so to gyder Iuste One with other hote / cold moyst and drye Contraryous stryf for the vyctorye Now may ye fyght / & make both wynd & reyn And erratyk ay in your cours be For pees is gone / that youre Ire dyd refreyn And stabled you in al tranquylyte Fare wel ye al with al your brode contre Fare wel fader / thy Reame may neuer encrees And with that word euanysshed dame pees The faders blysse / the souerayne ioy & chyef Of al the heuen the broder to mercy Th̄is woful caas seeyng / and this meschyef For me ywys dyd send ful hastely O sapyence he sayd ful pytously With somme counceyl help now in this nede Thorugh perced / myn herbe begynneth to blede For pees is gone / & mercy lyeth in swoune Withouten comfort so wele a wey the whyle Eke desolate is thys heuenly Regyon But mercy reygne· and pees com from exyle O sapyence help now to reconcyle My suster pees / and mercy to comfort And to this fyne with counceyl me support O mayster myn / O souerayne myghty lord Hard is this caas quod I withouten lees Hygh̄ is that help / that may bryng to acord Mercy & trouthe / dame ryghtwysenes & pees Mercy wold saue her man / & vengeaunce sees Trouth wyl not so ne yett dame ryghtwysenes And for this stryf pees is to wyldernes Echone of them wil no wey be remoued From her entent hit is incomerous Them to acord / how shold it be contreued Syn twoo for two stond ay contraryous Th̄is sole caas is wonder studyous For this acord who so that shall fulfylle Must nede of force performe their aller wylle But sapyence who may best plese them al And gyue echone theyr ful desyre expresse I mene the wretche / that lyeth in pryson thral Mercy to haue / and his gylt to redresse And not to offend dame trouthe & ryghtwisenes And reuoke pees / who shal this doo quod he In one godhede syn we be persones thre My fader is dy ful of lastynge myght And al wysedom appropred is to me Of al godenes the blessyd heuenly lyght The holy ghoost hath to his propyrte Thus myght wysedom & goodenes that both thre Ay of one wyl / may this accord make But of ve thre who shal the treuse take My wyttes hole I godred vnto me And fynally de for conclusyon O mayster myn / I sayd it lyeth in the Of this acord the execucyon And on thre wyse I proue it by reason Wherfor of force to make this accord Dyspose thy self . be both subiecte and lord Thy fader is so ferful wel thou wost That pees and mercy dat not compromyt In hym as juge and eke the hooly goost In whome al grace godenes & trouthe is knyt Dame trouthe & ryght for juge wyl not admyt For wel they wote that he is mercyes frend Wherfor thy self of this must make an end Yone wretche desyred not thy fadere myght Ne yet the goodenesse of the hooly ghoost For thy wysedom he cast with the to fyght And smote thy sheld omyd the heuenly hoost For whiche thy self must answer wel thou wost Not thy fader / ne yet the thyrd persone The help of this thus lyeth in the alone These sustres soul who that shal pacyfye Must be the sone of man / & take mankynd And for mannes gylt / gylthes suffre to dyi And raunson man that thynk I in my mynd Syth but to one sone the Trynyte may fynd Whiche sone thou art / that by necessyte This solemyne acte lyeth fynally in the Than sayd my self O lady sapyence O good beldame or ye forther procede Vouchesauf to telle your noble tru●tence Wh̄y myght wysedom & godenes as I dede To thre persones whiche are in one godhede Appropred ben / are they not peregal And coeterne / and consubstancyal Yis sonne ywys quod sapyence to me They ben al thre in godenesse myght & wyt Egal & lyke / of one substaunce they be But yet ywys thou clepyse them dryght Whan that thou sayest the fader ful of myght The sone of wyt / the spyryte of goodenesse This wyl a cause that is in kynd expresse A fader is thou wost a name of age Of impotence and of debylyte A Sone a name is of youthe / & courage Of inscyence and instabylyte A spyryte is a name of cruelte Of hyght & pryde / this may thou propre fynd And eke comune yf thou wolt see in kynd Wherfor the fader in the Trynyte We clepe myghty the sonne ful of wyt The good spyryte / this is of propyrte To auoyde the vyce / that in kynd is knyt But of them al sone myn A wyl thou wyt In myght with grace more excellent is none Echone hath al. and al thre is but one Retourne we sonne myn to oure matere My souerayne lord the broder of mercy Sayd sapyence / I see it now so clere That this accord in me is fynally But hard it is to take mankynd and dye Neuertheles mercy to recomforte And saue mankynd , suche deth nere but disporte With ful effecte he concluded in his herte Of al mankynd to make redempcyon Yeue deth for lyf / yeue ioye for peynes smerte Loue soueraynte / and make subiectyon The Angels eke had suche compassyon Of mans deth / that ryght in specyal To help mankynd / they cast them al Vnto counceyl the holy spyrytes went The Ierarch̄yes with theyr heuenly collage To pray for man / it was theyr hole entent That he myght come to his old herytage Oute from the Carybde / and the smoky cage Of seruytude· the whiche hym had incluse Four thousand yere / he myght it not refuse The Ierarchye next to the Trynyte With heuenly voys pytous / and delycate Kneled a doune / and sayd O god we be As thou wel wost to the inmedyate As assessours we ben to thyn estate Cubyculers also of thy godhede To our prayer / O myghty god take hede The to byhold is our souerayne solace Our lyf . our lust / and ay lastyng blysse The hyghe glory that shyneth in thy face The wyt of kynd may not conceyue ywys And syth that man soo lyke vnto the is And fourmed was vnto thyne owne sykenesse Oute of thy blysse . wh̄y lyeth he in derkenesse What honour is / what worthynesse To thy godhede to suffre thyn ymage Deuoured be / and drenched in derkenesse For whome thou made lyght to be herytage And syth our blysse is hole in thy vysage O wel awey· why shold of it the shapnesse The to dysteyne alwey in derkenesse Wherfor we pray / O prynce ful of grace Thou haue pyte of man thy creature His hondes strong / vouchesauf to vnlase Lete not thy sh̄ap so long derkenes endure Yeue somme reward vnto thyn owne honoure For now is tyme of mercy and of pees And tyme is comyn that al vengeaunce shold cees Explicit supplicacio prime Ierarchie
Incipit Inuocacio secunde Ierarchie Than kneled doune the seconde Ierarchye And h̄umbly sayd O souerayne lord of al We be y made thy myghte to magnyfye And to obserue thy lawe imperyal As worthy lordes that in general With besy cure supporten thyn empyre And with knyghthode obeyen thy desyre Hens from vs al the proude prince of derkenes As captyue took lordes of eche estate Than man was made thurgh the heuenly godenes For to restore this kyngdom desolate But weleawey / wherto was man create Syth that the lyon of al cruelte In h̄is derk lake of hym hath soueraynte Our worthy lordsh̄yppes / & oure maners old . O myghty god / how long voyd shall they be Thyn heyres eke / how long shall deth withhold Syth thou art lyf / why hath deth soueraynte If thou be kyng / to thyn honour thou see Soo bynd the fend / and take man by conquest Vnto thy blysse / and set thy regne in rest Four thousand yere is suffysaunt For to punysshe old Adam for a tast And wel awey / helle is exuberaunt With his ofsprynges / & our reame stondeth wast Now rewe on man thou that al mercy hast For now is tyme of mercy and of pees And tyme come that al vengeaunce shold sees Explicit supplicacio secunde Ierarchie
Incipit suppli●acio tercie Ierarchie Th archangel than with theyr Ierarchye Kneled doune / and sayd with voyce benyngne O god thou wost / we be alwey redy To thy godhede . to yeue louyng condygne To what prouynce / and as thou lyst assygne Vs in thy Reame / as trewe and dylygent Offycyals we doo thy commaundement Thy messagyers / we be redy alway And in thy Reame to what place / we be sent We can not fynd / but pees is gone away And mercy lyeth with wepyng al be sh̄ent For trouthe & ryght to her wyl not assent To saue mankynd our reame . wh̄ich shold restore Where so we goo / debate is vs byfore Our enemyes eke of vs haue vyctorye Whyle thy ch̄ylder contynue in dyscord And but mankynd be brought to thy glorye Thou mayst neuer them four bryng to accord On thyn old mercy / O good god record And syth eche thynge to the possyble is Pease thy chylder / & bryng mankynd to blisse The faders herte by kynd shold be pytrous Of his ch̄ilder / and wayle for theyr absence Wherfor I pray / O prynce vyctoryous Send for dame pees . bryng her to thy presence And to mankynd graunt a playne indulgence For now is tyme of mercy / and of pees And tyme is come that al vengeaunce shold cees Explicit supplicatio tercie Ierarchie
That excellent prynce of al worthynesse That myghty lord / that fader gracious That Rote of ryght / that welle of godelynesse That noble kyng / that mayster gloryous That souerayne syre / and moost vyctoryous Byheld his Royalme al wasted with ruyne And in hym self to pyte gan enclyne He herd also how pytously compleyned His heuenly court of his regne desolate And how mercy with teres was dysteyned And pees h̄is ch̄yld exyled for debate And how mankynd was so incarcerate That by no wey he myght h̄is realme restore Than gan his herte for pyte wax al sore Vnto mercy / he gan his bede to held wh̄ich̄ was in poynt thurgh weping for to spille Than thorugh dart●d his herte gan to yeld And droppes smale of pyte to dystylle His blyssed sonne than knewe his faders wille Fele Ir●n hote / and thought tyme for to smyte And vp be rose with of lust and delyte He kneled doune and sayd fader of myght I am thy sonne / in whome al wysedome is And wel I wote / thou faryst not aryght For chyld●r thyn ben o● debate ywys Yo●● me th●e canst / O souerayne lord of blys I shal reward echone with theyr entent And man ageyne to thy blysse 〈◊〉 Swete swettest sonne ●oued that good f●der tho Of 〈…〉 I am entyerly glad Doo what the 〈◊〉 b●ynge man oute of woo But it forthynketh me that I man made I mene the godhede that such gladnesse he●de 〈◊〉 to make man in the must toke mankynd And renounce 〈◊〉 his b●nd●e to vnbynd With humble hert to doo thy wylle With 〈…〉 & 〈◊〉 d●syer I am 〈◊〉 and what thou w●c● I wylle Thy 〈…〉 I may not but desyre I 〈◊〉 pursewe the ryght of 〈◊〉 empyre Quod that good sonne with spyryte dylygent And vp 〈◊〉 rose and to 〈◊〉 luster w● He took her vp / and godely gan her kysse E●●●ated her vnto his herte / and sayd O swete mercy / O pryncesse of al blysse O suster myn / O godly yongly mayde With salt terre / why be ye thou or●a●de I am that wyght / that shal youre sorowe 〈◊〉 And saue mankynd / & beyng ageyn 〈…〉 Cast vp youre eyen behold / I am your brother Your lyf / your lust· your loue / your champyon And for your sake my self shal / & none other Become a man / and suffre passyon To help mankynd / and with double renoun Bryng hym to yow / & saue / whiche was thral That mortal is / I shal make Inmortal Thus shal I doo your herte to recomforte Your soueraynte eke for to magnyfye Ful manfully I shall my payne comporte And thynk on yow· as on myn owne lady To fyghte in armes / and obteyne vyctory Ye●e trouth / & ryght theyr owne desire o● fulle And euery gylt / you at lust to ad●ulle Reuyue gan that goodely lady tho The brothers speche was salut to al her sore 〈◊〉 thanked hym / as cure of al her woo 〈◊〉 kissed him 〈◊〉 / she loued him more & more O prynce she seyde / whiche shal my ryght restore What may I do your thank for to deserue That redy ben for me to lyue and s●er●e O swete moost swete brother / & of my knyght O 〈◊〉 cause of ol myn hertes rest To your reward / where shal I gader myght To your kyndenesse / I not how I moy best Thank yow for this / but O prynce worthyest Me as your owne / commaund ay as ye ●yst Thus al was wel / and eyther other kyst The Trynyte to counceyl went anon Concluded in host / a messager shold goo Vnto the mayde the doughter of ●yon To sal●we ●ee / and for to say her to The sonne of god to bryng man oute of wo Moder and mayde she shold bere & conceyue Whiche message done she goodely gan receyue Yet to mercy more straunge the to excyte O blessyd sonne / see how I syt on kne Byhold these brestes smal with al delyte That yafe the sukke the mylke of chastyte Byhold the wombe / of whiche thou born wold be Byhold the hondes / that on my lap the layd Byhold thy spouse / thy moder / and thy mayd And for al this haue mercy sonne of man For nexe thy self / I derest haue them bought For wel thou wost / the swerd of sorowe ran Out thurgh myn hert . when thou on rode was broght And I the sawe with woundes al besought Syth thus in payne / I had my part with the Part of my wyl for man / sonne graunt thou me Thus shall my moder say / yf man offende O suster myn / youre lust for to sustene Eke my self his trespaas for to amende My woundes wyde shall hold both newe & grene Dystyllyng bloode ful fresshe they shall be sene If with mankynd my fader wyl debate When he them seeth / he mowe no lenger hate Therfor be glad / O suster myn mercy Haue here your man . do with hym what ye lyst She kneled doune / took hym ful thankfully Enbraced hym / and after syth hym kyst That tonge can telle vnneth her spyrit wyst For pure gladnes / in what place for to abyde Her perfyte blysse perced the heuen wyde Forth than he went vnto dame veryte And sayd suster / be ye not yet content Yis broder myn quod she in al degre For trouthe it is that man was neclygent More than I aske eke is his punysshement Than went he forthe vnto dame ryghtwysenesse Asked the same / whiche answerd thus I gesse O swete broder / man is for his trespaas More punysshed than I my self desyre I am content debate awey shall passe And with that word pees feruent as the fyre Was present tho . for staunched was al Ire Mercy & trouthe mette at theyr owne lyst And ryght and pees to gyder hertely kyst To whiche kyssyng / O myghty prynce of pees Bryng vs alle / as thou starf on a rode And graunt me grate / or of makyng cees To thy plesaunce somme mater that is good For to compyle to help me from the flode Of fruteles worldly medytacyon And fynd a wey to my saluacyon Explicit liber primus de curia sapiencie qualiter misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi / Iusticia et pax obstulate sunt
Incipit Prohemium secundi libri Forth to procede in mater of my booke And I dyscryue the solempne mancyon Of sapyence moost heuenly vnto loke Whos Cyte is sette in al perfectyon And to auoyde the obloqucyon Of fals tonges / and thank to deserue Thou graunt me grace / o good goddesse Myneuie My style thou dresse / my langage thou depure My wytte inforce thou mynystre matere· For syth I am moost symple creature I wol vsurpe in thy palays tapere But thou me guyde to sh̄ewe in what matere I shall pronounce thynges / whiche thou dost me see Thy referendary only wyl I be The pure knowlege and veray sentement Of thy wysedom was neuer my dower But as the sonne in lyght moost excellent With his bemes the mone illumyneth clere Soo done alday these wysemen fooles bere Wherfor thy wysedom / as thou lust me teche O lady myn / In my book wyl I preche Explicit
Whan sapyence her besy cure had told Whiche is rehercyd in the forsayd booke Vnto her home she sayd / retorne she wold Intellygence and scyence with her she tooke And on my self ful goodely gan she loke And said beel sone yf thou wilt wend with me Come on in hast / ryght welcome mote thou be Forth went we thens vnto a Ryuers syde Whoos name is quyete ful of al swetenesse Oute ouer / whiche with arches hyghe & wyde A brydge was sett ful of al lustynesse The marble stone the solempne worthynesse Of geometry sh̄ewyd on suche auys Soo good a werk that no wyght couthe deuyse The pyllers strong enarched with effect With pynacles and towres ful of blysse And alured clene yaue suche a digne prospet That suche a brydge was neuer seen ywys And on a towre this scrypture wryten is Who dredeth god / come in / and ryght welcome For drede of god is way of al wysedome I entred on the brydge with sapyence She led me ouer vnto the Ryuers syde Come in she sayd / put the forth in presence For suche a syght thurgh al the world wyde Thou neuer sawe so ful of lust & pryde So gloryous as here is for the nones As grauel is / so were the precyous stones The Alabastyr the electorye The Aurypygnient and the Argeryte The Asteron ful of heuenly glorye The Admante eke . and the Asteryte The Admatyst and eke the Admatyte Whiche bryght stone withstondeth the myght of fire Soo good a syght no spyryte myght desyre The Alabastre whyte yeueth vyctorye And Ire swageth the sh̄ynyng argeryte And loue refourmeth the sayd electorye The Admant eke but the asteryte Hath in hym self a sterre ful of delyte The Aurypygment hote is in effect The Amatyst yeueth ryght good intellect The pale byrel that heleth eyen sore And helpeth loue and stauncheth enmyte The Selydon that with lust who can restore And medycyn is to old Infyrmyte The Carbuncle that hath his soueraynte When derkenes is / the precyous crisolyte Whiche fendes fleen / & holden in despyte The Calcydone whiche hard is in to graue The Crysopasse most sh̄ynyng on the nyght The Crystal clere that men oft doth saue The Gyral rede whiche flux stauncheth aryght The Ceranne stone in thonder which hath myght The Caleophan that voyces sore doth clence Al these doon bote without offence The Dyadek / that doth spyrytes to preche The Dyonys / whiche that hateth drunkenes The good eschyte / that is the wombes leche In byrthe of chyld / & cause of theyr gladnesse The Emachyte that stauncheth bloode expresse The Elytrope· whiche is the sonnes foo And venym sleeth with many vertues moo The stone Enydros moost wondre in kynd That ay dystysseth droppes to the syght And neuer moyst ne les men shall it fynd The wepyng stone a clerk seyth it hyght The epystyte / whiche is a stone ful bryght Frendful to Corn and excelyte rose In colours felt / as clerkes don depose Ther was also the gentyl gagates Good for woman that long in child bed pyne Whiche yf a mayd drynk / it shall hyt plees And in her body hold it wele and fyne Where she corrupt / she shold anone ruyne The Salachyte for mylk moost proufytable Ther was also in vertu commendable Ge●aty●en whiche is a noble stone Blak in colour· but vertuous in myght And maketh beloued where they gone If they hym bere / and telle them aryght What other thynk ye / the Iaspre grene of syght Holsome ayenst the feuours accesse Ther for I lye ful of al lustynesse The good Iacynet / that is ryght comfortable And in the pestylence a noble medycyne The Adachyd that hath withouten fable Within hym self ouer other stone fyne That sweteth water wonder to dyuyne The Ierachyte whiche yf a man bere There may no flees with bytynge hym dere There was the good Irys of Arebye Holsome for women in theyr chyldled The stone Iona that techeth prophecye The sad Camen with dyuers coloure lede The dropcy / whiche healeth as I ●●de In bookes old and the bygurius That colour lost restoreth vnto vs A noble stone / that is for h̄unters good Lipparia whiche is cleped a ryght For beestes wyld be they neuer so woode To his presence / he bryngeth thorugh his syght The Alabandyne / that to bloode yeueth myght The Alabystus whiche thurgh hete wyl remayn Seuen dayes in hete / as noble clerkes sayn The Margaryte whiche is both bryght & whyte Eke medycynable and comfortatyf The magnes sad that yeueth grace & delyte And souerayne hath vertu attractatyf The mellanyte whoos Iuce is exceptyf Swete as hony / in colour whyte & grene The good myryte / whiche hath an odoure clene The stone Menysyte / and eke the Melochyte That chyldern yong whan they in cradels bene Kepyth of kynd from noy and al dyspyte The stone nitrum that helpeth to wasshe clene The medrys eke good for blyndenes of eyen The stone Neset / whiche in the tood men fynd And nyghe venym he waxeth hote of kynd The Onychyne that is a stone of Inde The Onyx eke whiche as a myrrour His owne ymage a man may see & fynd Optallyus of many strong colour That is to theues good patron and socour The Oryte eke that saueth from beestes wyld And suffreth not women to be with child The Paryus / and eke the prassyus Grene of colour / and good for feble sygh̄t The pyrryte stone anone whiche brenneth vs Within our hond yf we hym presse dryght The stone ponyte / whiche hath a wondre myght Good for women / and of hym self alone He bryngeth forth ryght swyth another stone The stone Quyrryne / that doth the sleper say What so he dremeth / & eke the quanydras good That can encrese brestes with mylk al way The good Ruby that stauncheth alwey bloode The Rebe eke / whiche of beestes woode The strong bytyng heleth for euermore And noble medycyne is for woundes sore The good Saphyre most noble and moost digne Of al stones and moost preseruatyf Comforte of pees / and to sore eyen benyngne Of hete vnkyndely / and moost repressyf It maketh glad / It is comfortatyf It stauncheth blode and swete / and chastyte He loueth best / and doth the venym flee The grene Smaragde / that is ryght medicynable Ayenst tempest sykenes and fantasye The Sardonyx / that is ryght commendable Frend to mekenes / and hadeth lecherye The Sardyns that maketh men hardy The sonnes gemmes ful of bemes bryght The serenyte that in loue hath his myght Topacius goode for men lunatyke And stauncheth Ire / and swageth heuynesse It holsome is eke to men frenetyke The good turkoys / that engendreth gladnesse Good for the syght / the ȝemeth that sykenesse He leth dyuers / the zyngynt / whiche of kynd Refreyneth blode and holdeth man in his mynd Al other stones whiche ben precyous There myght men see ful of al pure delyte But I of force must be compendyous Therfor of them I wyl no ferther wryte Of theyr vertues I touche here but a lyte Theyr propertees who lust to haue told I counceyl them / go loke in bookes old As in a book cleped the lapydarye In Isodre or dyascorydese By phylosophres as by platearye Or Barthylme we / loke who may the please Natures and kynd there mayst thou see at ease Suche thynges / as longeth not to comyn mater● Another feld I haue in hast to ere And yf thou seme· that here be stones straunge And thou in Englysshe can them better name Doo as thou lyfe . theyr names for to chaunge So my langage and my book thou not blame For I suppose ther be fewe wordes lame For by the latyn for the more suerte I name theym al / and for the more comunte Explicit descripcio lapidum in littore Riui consistencium /
Incipit descripcio Riui Than al my lust was goodely to byhold That good water / that noble clement That Ryuer swede in his kynd moyst & cold That is the holsome perfecte nutryment To euery thyng / that is in erthe content To corne . herbe· tree / plant / & eche thyng lyuyng It geueth his drynk / & clenseth al foule thyng The erthe he maketh to be plentyuous He tempreth welle also the heuen a sonne And with his subtyle vapour curyous He greueth the ayer incorperacyon And densyth hym / & is of hyghe renoun In to the hyghe to s●y● is his solace For to chalenge heuen for wonnyng place From whens be fallith distillyng sh̄oures swete Replenysshyng percyng and commyttyf Vnto the erthe / but to the heuens hete His moyst vapor is moost temporatyf His droppes swete eke hen moost nutrytyf And cause of lyf to eche thyng anymate Withouten hym / al thyng were vycyate For thorugh the erth he goth with his moisture And perceth hym thurgh his effusyon The partes of the erthe eke thorugh his cure Ben stabled sad / and take vnyon Elles for grete hete and hyghe entencyon Of souerayne drought ryght by necessyte Vnto powder they shold dyssolued be He is to fysshe holsome and profytable As ayr to beest / and cause of al theyr blysse His propertees / that ben moost commendable Dame scyence there declareth wel ywys And as a glas so speculer . he is Of thyng obiect the sh̄ap to represent Of hym hath nede al thyng in hym content He wyl ay meue withouten rest or constaunce Whyles that h̄is party superfycyal Be adequate by ryght and lyke dystaunce Oute from the erthe lyke from the myd of al And of the sonnes lyght celestyal In to the heuen he maketh reflectyon The natures four he passeth in renoun Of water thus to speke in general Ther may none fynd a goodely properte But in hym self this Ryuer hath them al In paradys he had h̄is soueraynte Bothe oute and in / to renne with lyberte From sulphur veynes / and from metal vre He can absteyne / and be ay swete and pure Basilius in his exameron Deseryueth water / and his properte Who so hath lust / he may loke them vpon But I my self wol flee prolyxyte And of my Ryuer speke as lyketh me What shold I say hym to here and behold Al erthly Ioye passeth a thousand fold His heuenly sownes / his grones delycate His swete murmour / his subtyl cours & stylle His fresshe colour / whiche no storme may abate His sapour swete hauyng refleyr at wylle Myght say ascaunce / on this wyse be I wyl For to excyte oute from the heuens place Nature to come to see of my solace O ph̄yson Tygrys Gyon . Eufrates O doryx eke the flood of paradys O Iordan Cobar / and thou Edapces Danybyus and pharphar at deuyse . Abana eke as wryten clerkes wyse Whiche of damask with his moyst passage The gardyns grene fulfylleth with herbage O Tybre . Rodan / Yber / leyre and sayne Geron and Ryne with many watry drope And O ye solempne floodys and souerayne Of Asia / Affryke / and Europe Among yow al I snote a goodely sope Lyke to this Ryuer in comparyson The Occyon doth hym subiectyon O ye floodes / and ye other al That haue your cours out thorūgh the erthes space Were not lyke in no poyntes specyal To this Ryuer in bounce nor in grace And who so lust floodes to knowe and trace In Barthylmewe in his fyften book Among his prouynce / may ye goo and loke Holy scripture the maketh mencyon In Genesis and other places moo Of flodys fele / and theyr condycyon And Phylosophers tellen them also As I rede / but al this lete I goo Of this Ryuer and his encenement gay I mene of fysshe now somwhat wol I say Explicit descripcio Riuium
Incipit descripcio Piscium This lusty fysshe within this Ryuer swete There swymmyng / whiche we fynnes clepe They put in vse to bere swymme and flete Now at the ground / and now aboue they lepe Now dysceuerd / and now vpon an hepe Nou here nou there now endelong . nou outhwert The syghte of them might he le eche wounded hert Somme had lust to sewe the sonnes lyght Somme to the pryuate vmbre gan to attend And gadred in theyr to dyes to the syght Shote oute of lengthe theyr courage to extend Theyr parfyte blysse nature myght not amend Of net ne hooke / of deceyte were they aferd What shold I say / they had a ioye in erde The whale / the Dolphyn and Estaryus The Carabo and eke effuneron The Cakodryl and vratynstopus The see swyn . and eke fastolyon The myllago / that fleteth the water on The hamo that dredeth ay the hooke With many moo / who so hath lust to loke The Myllanne / Gastor / ꝑpecanius Auronnea / Phager / Ferra also The Conger eke fysshe . whiche hyght Corūs The pyke / the luce / the Samon see I tho The swerdfyssh with many other moo The Roche the tenche / the lamperey / and the Ele The Flouk / the playse / the flounder good to selle The Crabbe / the lobster / and the Craueys eke The welk / the Oystur / and the muscul good The rouche / the Perche / ther was no fyssh to seke That in the see in Ryuer or in flode In ponde / stewe / dyke· that euer swam or yode Who so hym sought· anone ther may hym see In lust . in blysse / and al prosperyte And yf so were he had of kynd a vyce In ony poynt / or were malycyous For her were brought from that Ryuer of pryce And of that water gloryous He shold anone be good and vertuous Shortely to say / to eche fysshe grete and smal It is preseruatyf and medycynal Theyr names al I nede not to reherce For euery fysshe that goodely is in kynd In this Ryuer hadde lust to conuerce Who lust hym seke / anone ther may hym fynd It is the pure holsome Ryuer and kynde And of eche nature and complexyoun To euery fysshe it is refectyoun And who soo lust to knowe dyuersyte of fissh And how they varrye in theyr mansyon How they them fed . & whiche is good in disshe Of theyr wysedom and generacyon Of theyr vertue and operacyon Of what sh̄ap eke what substance & what kind That they are of / thou may in bookes fynd By Arystotyl in his book of beestes By Iorath eke ysydre plenius By Auycen / by Bathylmewys gestys By Constantyn / and by Basylyus By Ambrose eke / that suche mater to vs Declareth wele in his exameron Who so hath lust / god loke these clerkes on For I wyl not make declaracyon Of suche maters that ben collatural It were ywys to long disgressyon Nature of fysshe / to telle / and name them al It must suffyse my scripture general For now I wol my penne with wrytyng fede And somwhat telle of that moost heuenly mede Explicit Descripcio Piscium
The souerayne honour of the erthes space The swete moder / the fresshe moneth of maye To Flow sent / and prayd her of her grace That she wold come with her enormentes gaye For to reueste depaynt and to arraye This blessyd mede with parfyte dyuersyte Of colours fressh ful of solempnyte She come ryght glad enourned in hast With herbe floure / tree & al fruyte precyous Her thursty cure in no poynt wold she wast For eche good thyng was there most plentyuous O paradys with thy syght gloryous Thow art not now but an ymage feyned This parfyte mede al thy blysse hath dysteyned The Rose the lyle / the vyolet Reflexyng / sh̄ynyng / and payntyng the ground Rody and bryght with heuenly colour set Blode and mylk and Asure gan habunde The rede / that whyte / the blewe wich there was fond Gan represent in colours delyte The Ruby . the Saphyr· the Margaryte The purpyl two or godely staunchyng blode The two langyng ben precious medycynable The heuenly two ayenst payne be goode And to the nose the fyrst is delectable And to the syght the second amyable The thyrd in tast ryght goodely is bysene The Rose / the lylle / the vyolet I mene The fayr Iacynct the longyng premerose The Dayse / the good gylofur floure With al other herbes withouten glose That gendreth flour or fresshe colour Agnus castus the worthy peramour Of chastite the good saffron also Of tyme the mynte / the rewe with many moo The Rose mary the sawge . the sauery eke Arystologye also long and round The annys good / the bete goode for the seke The dyten that is good for a wound The Selydon ryght goodely on the ground The Century and eke the fumytere The malue the dok / thre dragaunce / & eke the brede The marygold cleped the Ilytrope The bure / the fenel / and the percele The letuse swete with many melky drope The Coryandre that hound doth to flee The plantane eke / the mandrage eke I see With al other that groweth on the ground Eche goodely herbe hast lust there to habound Theyr names al / it nedeth not for to wryte Ne theyr vertues / my labour only is For to deseryue what lust and what delyte What plesance / comforte / honour / & what blysse Vnto this mede they mynystred ywys The syght of them / and of their yongly floures Was verray salue . and he le to al langours Explicit descripcio florūm et herbarum
Incipit descripcio Arborum A Heuenly wood was on that other syde And closed in with that Ryuer aboute Planted at lust with trees ful of pryde The blossmy bowes vnto the erthe gan loute The cedre tree presumptuus and stoute Hauyng dysdayne in erthe only to abyde Among the sterres his hede began to h̄yde He and the palme / and eke the good Cypresse Gan ryse & burgyn / and refleyre with delyte The bowes brought forthe of al gentylnesse And gaf vmbre vnto that solempne syght With double blysse / eche tree was insygnyte With frute to man / with vmbre to the ground Thus honger there nede not to habound The peretre / the Olyue / the Appyltree Wexe grete & grene / and eke moost plentyuous The peres in bowes / and appels of bounte The Almond tree with Iardyns fructuous Dystyllyng come from his hole precyous The fyrre in hyght vnto the Cyder lyke To Amoune the rede Aromatyke The Aloes / the gentyl canne and good Whoos marugh and Iuse is made in sucre swete The balsom dystyllyng in a flode His gentyl baume made thurgh the ground to flete The Cynamom with fresshe oder replete The good spyknarde / mastyk / the gum / Rosyn Olybanum the precious thure and fyn The vyne tree beryng clustres grete & huge In this wood whiche largely dyd sprede With grapes hony swete / & herbes duge Whiche ben in myght strong as I rede The fyrst in tast / the tother done excede The second be help vnto the strong accesse They staunchyn thyrst / they helpen in sykenesse Thyk fayr and grene in bowe bark and leues The Cedre was souerayn of trees al The top / the hole / the Rote among the greues Herberd / norysshed / and swete in strondes smal The byrd / the bee / the water specyal In brede and bowes they ben bred in the hole And out of the Rote the welle dystylled hole The bowes brought forth bothe byrdes & fruyte The hole . the bark / offred hony and waxe The Rote fyndeth the moyst and cold refuyte Of al the erth made to habounde & waxe The hony swete felle doune in droppes laxe And with the bawme & Iufe of floures glade In the water Electuarye they made The sturdy oke the Asshe / the plum tree With acornes chattes / and with the Damecyne Al other trees with theyr frutes in degre The Rampe / the more / the laurer / and the pyne The Cherubynte swetyng the swete Rasyne The byrche the box / the Alme / the Sycomore The fyge / the wyn of trees I speke no more For euery tree and fruyte in especyal And euery spyce and mace gynger and clowe Peper & greynes with other spyces al That euer on tree or busshe or herbe can growe There was at lust / and Zepherus gan blowe Oute thorugh the mede / and tafia gan refleyr Theyr perfyte blysse illumyned al the eyer Explicit descripcio Arborūm
Incipit descripcio Auium The besy byrdes in theyr melodye Theyr heuenly voys gan to entone Theyr Anglyk rauysshyng Armonye Out thorugh the heuen vnto the hyest trone Gaue pryce / and passe the nyne ordres echone O cherubyn they sayd / come here to vs Le●e with what tune thou shold synge sanctus The throstel cok vpon the Cedre grene The nyghtyngale vpon the blosme thorn The noble swan with whyte fethers & clene The gentyl larke fleyng among the corne Ne cesed not to syng from euen to morne With al other foules of plesaunce Theyr voys gan daunte vnto the concordaunce Eche other foules in kynd there had his blysse His lust / his comforte and his sustenaunce They had no nede Raueyn to vse ywys Eche thyng obeyed to theyr plesaunce Debate no staf / dyscord / ne yet dystaunce Among them myght not engendred be Echone other supporte in degre The proud Pecok his tayl began to whele On which the sparkyng sonne so puerly brent That to the syght he semed euery dele An Archaungel doune from the heuen sent Al heuenly colours in heuen were content His tayl / the floures / the byrdes eke ywys The eye / the nose . the ere fode with al blys The Egle fresshe souerayne of fowles al The good Goosh̄auk / the fresshe faucon of pryse With al other that to dysport Royal Dysposed ben ther regned at deuyse The gentyl dowue Innocent of al vyce The Turtyl trewe / the Fenyx syngulere In lust in blysse to geders al they were The holsom Pertryche and the Pellycane The sparowes eke / the plouer / and the pye The Popyngay / the Roke / the henne . the Crane Theyr names al here to specyfye It nedeth not for euery foule sh̄ortely That is in kynd / & hath in vertu myght In al comfort / reioysed there his flygh̄t They flee at lust / there is not them to lette They bylde in blysse / they haue al lyberte They nede not drede for gyler / ne for nette Flee where they wol / they ben in al suerte The wynd the rayne / ne none aduersyte May them dystourbe / al ioye is them among The heuen among aboue delyted in theyr songe Explicit descripcio Auium
Incipit descripcio Animalium The noble lyon / and the leonesse The vnycorn / the Olyfaunt also The leopard / the wolf / the bere expresse Withouten Ire in rest and pees gan goo The herte / the hynd . the buk / & eke the doo The bole / the oxe / the Cowe / and eke her caulf No Raueyn dredde / pees was on euery half The herte / the hynde and the gentyl doo Proude and myghty / and lepyng lustely In hede and brest / on foote eke to and fro Iaped paced / and started meryly Iak napys nyce made them al mynstralcye Now here now there in eche place was his fete Eche thyng obiect / he gan to counterfete The brocke / the pantere / and the dromydare The asse the Camyl and the lynx ful of syght The bore / the Swyne / the whesel / and the hare The Foxe / the Tyger of most spedy myght The hound . the Ermyn bryght / and whyght The Squerel eke / the myse / the Cat / the Ramme The ghoot / the kyd / the hors / the sh̄epe / the lamme Al other beestes sh̄ortely for to wyte That ben in kynd / that gan sustene In pees / and rest / in comforte and delyte Eche best & byrd / fysshe floure / & herbes grene To stere to swymme / synge laugh or flene In wood / in nest / in water / and the mede Theyr parfyte blysse vnto the heuen gan sprede The waters sowne / the lusty fysshe and feyre The good ceason / the yongly sonne & bryght The mede / the herbes the floure / & theyr refleyre The blosmy bowes . the fowles fresshe of flyght The tendre wynd with his brethe & his myght Enspyred thorugh the blossomes at deuys Hit to seen was an heuenly paradys Explicit descripcio Animalium
Incipit descripcio Castri mansionis sapientie Whan I had sene the solempne souerayne syght Dame sapyence led me a lytel besyde Vnto a Cumly Castel sh̄ynyng bryght Ful of al solace delyte lust / and pryde In whoos circuite with wantes large & wyde Of parfyte blysse y set were towres seuen The lyght of whiche / astyed vp to heuen The dyke of hyt y fourmed with delyte Fulfylled was with water of comete The marbyl stone / the Alabaster whyte By geometry so frendely gan mete That suche one as in hede body and fete With precyous stones illumyned at deuyse Was neuer seen / hit passed paradyse Vpon a Roche it was grounded and set And euery buttras ful of ymagery Eche pynacle Corner . towre and Towret With gold and perle and stones curyously Depaynted was and poudred lustely And on the yate illumyned with al blysse With gold lettres thus y wryte ywys This is the weye to vertu / & to grace To connyng / knowlege wyt / and al wysedome This is the wey vnto the heuenly place Ther scorne ne thirst syn vyce . ne euil may come This is the wey to that solempne kyngedome Where rest pees blysse / & comforte seceth neuer Come in who wyl / and ryght welcome for euer Seuen ladyes bryght doune from the heuen Came to the yate with many ladyes moo Seruauntes to them· whoos name wol I neuene Feyth hope to fore with charyte goo Prudence / the wyse dame . fortytude also With temporaunce and ryghtwysenes ywys Met sapyence / and hertely gan to kys With feyth was Clemens and vyrgynyte Dame contynence and dame deuocyon Dame lowlmesse· the dame eke chastyte On whoos hede was ther garlandes of renoun One for vyrgyns and theyr Relygyon One for spoused peple that lyuen clene The thyrd for wedowes / yf they pure contene With hope was gladnes and contrycyon Dame discyplyne / and eke dame sapyence Confessyon / and contemplacyon The blessyd lady / eke dame penytence With charyte was grace and indulgence Pees and acord / pyte / compassyon And dame mercy Emperesse of al renoun With dame prudence was counceyl and reson The drede of god and tractabylyte Dame dylygence / and dame dyscrescyon Dame prouydence causer of al bounte With temporaunce was dame benyḡnyte Moralyte maner and tolleraunce Dame sobrenes / and propre suffysaunce With fortytude was dame perseueraunce Rest / and quyete / scyence and stabylyte Ay of one strengthe withoute varyaunce And neuer proude for no prosperyte Nother yet grutchyng for aduersyte With ryght wysenes was lawe & correctyon Trouthe . ryght / and dome and execucyon Than come a lady dyuyne Theologye With ladyes seuen her sewyng in a route Dame sapyence they folowed ful h̄umbly Pryst her with blysse / and lowely gan to lowte Echone other enbraced al aboute Glad of that metyng ful of grace What shold I say / it was an heuenly place There was gramer ground of scyence al And Dyaletyk ful of pure knowyng Dame Rethoryk scyence Imperyal Dame Arsmetryk scyence in proporcyonyng Geometry that mesureth euery thyng The lady musyke and Astronomye These ladyes seuen sewed theologye Than from the dongeon grete within the place A solempne towre whiche styed vp to heuen Philosophie the lady ful of grace With ladyes come as after I shal neuen To sapyence the way she took ful euen And sayd welcome suster and souerayne They kyssed swete / of other bothe were fayne Philosophye is who lust to dyffyne Knowlege of erthely and eke heuenly thyng Y ioyned with sad study and fyne Of gouernaunce honest and good lyuyng It is also the probable connyng Of worldly thyng / and goodely thyng ywys As moche as to man possyble is She is cleped also the arte of artes And eke of deth the medytacyon Hyr beyng eke y set in two partes In pure scyence and oppynacyon Scyence thynge techeth by certayne reason Oppynacyon is in certaynte When thyng by reson may not proued be And yf the sonne be more in quantyte Than is the erthe / how moche eke is the heuen Of what mater / and yf he stable be Or yet moble / thys can not scyence neuen If that the mone be moysty / holowe or euen This knowe we not by propre pure reason But this we haue by oppynacyon This souerayne lady dame phylosophye Within her self al artes doth contene Nature and kynd / vertu and polycye How they y taught eke execute shold bene In her wysedom she hath groundely and clene Wherfor to her annexed ben sustres thre Whiche ladyes ben of al souerayne bounte The fyrst suster is cleped Natural Whome folk of grace clepyn dame phisyca The second hyght the good pryncesse moral Whome they of grece eke clepyn dame Ethyca They clepe also the thyrd / Dame Loyca Whome oure clerkes clepyn Racyonal Phylosophye hath these in especyal The fyrst doth teche the cause of euery thyng Her propre kynd / hir kyndely properte And in the second is trust of lyuyng Knowlege of vertues and honeste When kynd and vertues may than knowen be The thyrd suster cometh with her resoun Of euyl and good makyng discrypcyoun Millesius one of the sages seuene In grece fyrst drewe / as in the craft of kynde By his reason the causes of the heuene And of eche the nature gan he fynde Than come plato a worthy clerke of kynde For natural art sought oute geomatrye Arsmetryk . Musyk and astronomye Dame Ethyca pryncesse of polycye Good Socrates fyrst founder of gouernaunce To knewe vertu and conne lyue honestly And four ladyes he sought ful of plesaunce To serue dame Ethyke with obeysaunce Whoos names ben prudence and ryghtwysenes Dame fortitude and temporaunce I gesse Than fond plato the lady racyonal Whiche whan that kynd & vertu knowen bene Techeth eche man by reson specyal To vnderstonde the subtyl strengthe and clene Of kynd and vertu what they wold & mene Than sought he oute Dame Dyaletyca To serue her with Dame Rethorica In these thre sustres grounded may we fynd Dyuynyte / yf we loke wele ywys For eche dyuyne other speketh of kynd As in the noble book of Genesis Or of maners as in prouerbes Or of logyk / for whome dyuynes al The Cantycle taken in specyal Some sayne that philosoph̄ye called resoun Hath ladyes twoo subiect in specyal The fyrst hyght Inspectyue whoos eye a boun Dyscerneth thyng whiche is celestyal The second lady hygh̄t Actual That of eche thyng maketh discrypcyoun As it sh̄eweth in operacyon Dame Inspectyue hath seruyng ladyes thre Dame natural / and eke dame doctrynal The thyrd in heuen hath syght and soueraynte Wherfor she hyght the pryncesse dyuynal The fyrst techeth kynd of thynges al By craft the second geteth Intellect The thyrd Inuysyble thynges hath respect Dame doctrynal hath seruauntes four ywys The good Arysmetryk and dame Geometrye Dame Musyk eke the lady ful of blysse The fourth pryncesse hyght dame Astronomye Of these four ladyes must I specyally Herafterward in my treatys endyte Of them nomore wherfor now wyl I wryte Dame Actual hath other ladyes thre As dame moral / and dame dispensatyue Dame Cyuyle hyght the thyrd ful of bounte The fyrst dysposeth to eche man of lyue Maner of lyuyng / the second is actyue Which can her housh̄old rewle withoute dystaunce The thyrd of Cytees hath in gouernaunce We entred in this yate ful of blysse Vnto the fyrst court ful of heuenly lyght Whiche dame scyence had in kepyng ywys Whiche hows and ward loyal lusty & bryght Ellumyned fresshe / and peynted to the syght With propre kynd of eche thyng temporal Man / beest / herbe / tree / ther maist thou know them al Scripture there taȝt hou man shold gouerne him And what he is in body / and in bloode And what mater he in lyeth / or yet in hym Why this is euyl / and why that thyng is good Why this is tame / and why that beest is wood Al polycy in erthe / and al knowlege Dame scyence ther had in that herbergage There was al natural philosoph̄ye And in a goodly parlour see I syt The philosopher with his companye Tretyng of kynd / and what longeth to it There was clerk / note / konnyng / and wyt The poynt they wryte / they dyspute they depure They determyne eche thyng that hath nature Arystotyl auerous and Auycenne Good Algazel / Galyene / and Appollynus Pyctagoras and Plato with his penne Macrobius / Crato / Boecius Rasus Isake / Calyxte Orbasius Salustius / cleophyl / Ypocras With many mo whoos names I lete pas These had delyte to serue dame scyence And to haue knowlege in phylosoph̄ye They worsh̄ypped her / they dyd reuerence Theyr hole desyre was to her soueraynly They wake / they work / they study besyly Whyles that they ben with dame scyence expert Theym to byholde myght rauysshe euery hert Explicit processus de prima Curia
Incipit processus de secunda curia Vnto the second court than in we yode The cure of the whiche had dame Intellygence With halle chambres / with toures hye & good Ful of al lust / and heuenly complacence There was depeynted with al reuerence The heuen / his blysse / and who duelleth in it The Ierarchyes in nyne ordres y knyt Of what degre was euery Ierarchye Of what Offyce / and of what obseruaunce And why the fyrst eke hyght ypyphanye There was depaynted with al pure plesaunce Of Lucyfer and his vnhappy chaunce Of the spyrytes whiche that with hym felle There myght men see and of the payne of helle Oure wyttes fyue when they begyn to fayle As in eche inuysyble creature Intellygence must yeue vs than counsayle By her we haue parfyte knowlege and pure When eye / nose / ere / mouthe / eke is vnsure And we by them may gete no pure scyence Than must vs renne vnto intellygence There was Dapys Bernard / bede / barthilmew The good Cardynal / the swete bonauenture Within enspyred / whiche had sene and knew The pryuy counceyl of the fyrst nature And many moo within a parlour pure Of clerkes whiche that were contemplatyue There see I sytte heuenly thyng to descryue Theyr names al / I may not now reherce The multitude of them so passyng bene They may not al be conteyned in a verce But to byhold how fresshe lusty and grene Was theyr desyre to loke on bookes clene And heuenly with eye mental to see Al erthly ioye it passeth in degre
Incipit processus de tercia curia Wyth ioy and blysse and delectacyon Dame sapyence that good goddesse Vnto her ward souerayne of al renoun Than led vs forth vnto a halle expresse Whoos blysse . beaute / luste / and parfyte neblesse Al erthly place passeth a thousand fold The ioy of it with tonge may not be told Hit was an heuen only to loke it on Soo rauyssyng it was and elegaunt O pryamus and thyn halle Ilyon With al his propre beaute pure plesaunte For to be lyke it is not suffysaunt Vnto this halle / whiche made by nature As for mayster ch̄yef in portrature It hanged was with auys werk in gold Ful of sterres of wysedom and of wyt The parables moost godely to byhold Ecclesiastes eke than folowed hit The boke of sapyence ful wely wryte The good book eke Ecclesiasticus Al wysedom there clare gan and dyscusse And on the dayse / Mynerue that hyght pallas The goddesse of wysedom ful of lyght On heuenly wyse portreyed and peynted was A lady fayr enourned fresshe and brygh̄te Whoos hede was with the reynbowe dyghte A Crest aboue her ryght honde had a spere The other syde a sh̄eld of Crystal clere Her hede was ferful and eke monstruous For dyuers serpentes henge her hede aboute Bryght eyen she had / and clothyng precyous Of colours there delycyous and stoute An olyue tree with braunches on a route On whiche a nyght crowe lustely was set Stode her besyde . it myght not be made bet And what it ment there told dame sapyence This is the goddesse of al wyt souerayne Depeynted thus with lust and reuerence Y gete she was of Iupyters brayne To moral sence / it is as moche to sayne That al wysedom come from god aboue Whoome Poetes clepen Iubyter and Ioue Eke wysedom hath armour of al vertu The bryght Reynbowe of loue and frendlyheede The Crest of honour / the ferful hede to sh̄ewe With serpentes dyuers is the parfyte drede Of god of deth / and of the hyghe falsh̄ede Of his enuye ful of despyte Euery wyseman that serpent mote hym hyte She hath the ryght spere of correctyon The sh̄eld of fortytude and of pacyence Tholyue of pees / the nyght crowe a bonne Whiche is the byrd of mekenes and lycence She hath the eyen of reson and prudence Her clothyng eke / that is of colours thre Betokenyth feyth . hope / and charyte Wysedom or prudence / who so lust descryue Or her array parfyte and lustely I counceyl hym / that he goo loke belyue Fulgencius in his Methologye Fyrst in Satourn / and hym than counceyl I Goo loke in Iuno / Neptune / and pluto There shall he see / whiche thyng I lete ouergoo Was neuer place in erthe so gloryous As is the worthy halle of sapyence With hows of offyce moost delycyous Inhabyte ful with folk of reuerence And in a chapel ful of complacence Within a sh̄ryne lusty to al deuyse Set with al blysse was Salamon the wyse Theologye a byble took anone And torned to many a story fyn The Gospellers / Mark / Mathew / Luke & Iohn The Doctours four / as Gregory and Anstyn Ierome / Ambrose / expert in thynges dyuyne Vnto her cam al aboute her al they syt There myght men bere of wysedom and of wyt There studyed holcote vpon sapyence And Notyngham vpon the gospellers The good clerk / the mayster of sentence Seynt Thomas eke worsh̄yp vnto al Freres To mayster of the storyes with his feres And many one moo good clerk and dyuyne Than for to telle my wyttes can dyffyne With gramer were ladyes wel besene Of whiche the fyrst hyght dame Ortographye Within a parlour· lusty fresshe and grene There was eke gentyl Ethymologye Dyasynstastica / and prosodye These sustres four dyfferent in offyce Serued gramer / as lady ful of pryce The first taught lrens / & how men shold them write The second taught the partes of reson To telle eche word truly is her delyte And which is nomen which verbum . & ꝓnom●● The thyrd dyd teche party constructyon The last eche word yaue h̄is tyme & accident And in these foure al gramer is content These four serued that scyence litteral In wrytyng pronouncyng / and construyng Of lettre / syllable / word / Reson / with al She hath her pryncypal consyderyng She is the ground / the yate / the entryng To al the noble artes lyberal By her frendsh̄yp they be made specyal There was Moyses / Cadmus / and Carmenta Ebrard Ferryn / and Iohan Gerlond . & donate Prescyane / Petyr / Thomas de hennaya Lambart Papy / they wryte erly and late The Ianuens was there in grete estate And Arystotyl for theyr bookes wyse Catholycon and paryarmonyse Hugucyon with many auctor moo Wrytyng ther was / and lokyng on gramer Whoos names al sh̄ortely I lete ouer goo They may not doo / but prolong my matere Many a babe of souerayne heuenly chere Desyrous al in connyng to habounde Aboute dame gramer satte to haue theyr grounde Explicit breuis descripcio Gramatice et eius parcium
Incipit breuis Tractatio de Dialetica Within another par●out ful of blysse With many clerk of Scoler of yong age Dame Dyaletica was set ywys She red them / al latyn was theyr langage They al of her asked none other wage But that they myght dyscerne and eke depure Trouth from falsh̄ede / that was theyr aller cure Her parlour fresshe / her clothyng proude & stout Of dyffert scire and of Incipit With sophysmes depeynted ful al aboute And other matres / as of dyffynytyf The comune treatys taught she them ryf Whiche whatkyns / what is a proposicion What thyng he is / and his dyuysyon Whiche is subiect / couple and predicate And how he is reson indycatyf And when he hath vnyuersal estate Partyculer or is affyrmatyf Infynytyf syngulere or negatyf Whiche Subalterne / whiche contradictyon Whiche is contrarye taught she be resoun Equypollens and conuersyon Sylogysmus maner of arguyng And for to make an oblygacyon She taught hem there with bus● and al lykyng Fast they dyspute in theyr connyng With sophyms straunge maters they discusse And fast they crye oft / tu es Asinus The vnyuersels and the natures good The predycamentes Topykes also The pryncipals the Elynk● / as they stood She red them al with many tretes moo She taught them way to procede & to goo And to atteyne to al ph̄ylosophye Her to byhold . it was a blysse heuenly The phylosoph̄res whiche reherced bene With Dame scyence in her fyrst towre of al With this lady eke goodely were bysene And had contours to her in especyal Alfred haly Iorath and Iuuenal Eraclius Affricane / Demoscene Mercurius and noble Damascene Gyles and Eucūdo / Rusus / and Cythero Democritus and Physyologus Syr Theoprasse Tytrus and Cypro William Concles peno Iohanneus Syr Tholome and New and plumus Salustyane / Pernienides also And many / on whoos name I lete goo Explicit breuis tractacio de Dyaleci●a
Incipit breuis tractatus de Rethorica Dame Rethoryke modre of Eloquence Moost elegaunt / moost pure and gloryous With lust delyte / blysse honour and reuerence Within her parlour fresshe and precyous Was set as quene / whoos speche delycyous Her audytours gan to al ioye conuerce Eche word of hyr myght muysshe euery herte And many clerk had lust her for to here Her speche to theym was parfyte sustenaunce Eche word of her deputed was so clere And illumyned with so parfyte plesaunce That heuen it was to here her beauperlaunce Her termes gay as facund souerayne Catepbaton in no poynt myght dystayn She taught them the craft of endytyng Whiche vyces ben that shold avoyded be Whiche ben the colours gay of that connyng Theyr dyfference and eke theyr properte Eche thyng endyte how it shold poynted be Dystynctyon she gan clare and dyscusse Whiche is Coma Colym perydus Who so thynketh my wrytyng dul & blont And wold conceyue the colours purperate Of Rethoryke· goo he to tria sunt And to Galfryde the poete laureate To Ianuens a clerk of grete astate Within the fyrst parte of his gramer book Of this mater there groundely may he loke In Tullius also moost eloquent The chosen spouse vnto this lady free His gylted craft and glorye in content Gay thinges y made eke / yf thow lust to see Goo loke the Code also the dygestes thre The bookes of lawe and of physyk goode Of ornate speche there spryngeth vp the floode In prose and metre of al kynd ywys This lady blyssed had lust for to playe With her was blesens Richard pophys Farrose pystyls clere lusty fresshe and gay With maters were poetes in good array Ouyde / Omer / Vyrgyl / Lucan / Orace Alane· Bernard / prudencius and State Explicit processus ●e Rethorica
Incipit de Arsmetrica Arsmetryke than amyd the ladyes al As a pryncesse goodely had her mansyon Eche of her had nede in specyal By cause of whiche she was of grete renoun And al her craft by numeracyon Was for to sette eche thyng in his ordre Withouten her ben the sex artes vnsure She told vs there how both the erthe & the heuen Had theyr makyng / and theyr parfectyon In dayes syxe and eke in nygh̄tes seuene How thre persones / and one god aboune The Trynyte contenteth with renoun How Moyses Ely / and how cryst hym selue Fast fourty dayes / and of the Apostles twelue In hooly wryte moche thyng y nombred is Of whiche by her we haue cognycyon And in this world eche creature ywys Is made by numeral proporcyon Four elementes / the seuen planettes aboue These be dystynct in trewe nombre certayne Withouten her al craftes be but veyne It is wryte that god al thyng hath made In weyght / in nombre / and eke in mesure Of Arsmetryk wherfor he shold be glad Of ony thyng / whiche hath knowlege pure When oure weke / moneth / yere / there is sure Theyr currycles theyr tymes / and theyr space By this lady to haue knowlege we trace She taught nombre whiche is old / & which euen Deuyded hym with subdyuysyon Ten fygures eke of Augrym gan she neuene And Calendres for numeracyon She told the craft of computacyon To adde / to mynue / and to multyplye Eche thyng to count she taught truly She taught vs eke what thyng that nombre was A multytude of vnytees she sayd And with her set the old Pyctagoras Nychomacus / of whome moche good is sayd Apulenis and Boece ryght wele arrayd These were the fyrst in latyn and grewe That in the crafte of nombre euer drewe Explicit breuis processus de Arsmetrica
Incipit breuis Tractatus de Geometria And Geometrye her subtyl crafte oute ronge And her place as lady reuerent She sat at lust with lynes large and long Compase rule / plumbe / and many instrument With fygures queynte and al to hir entent Of euery thyng to yeue the trewe mesure Th̄is her craft / her labour and her cure She made cerculis / fygures / and spyres straunge Tryangles quadrantes wonderly wrought Layd lynes a long / & ofte she dyd hem chaunge The pure mesure of euery thyng she sought And by her craft the pure knowlege she broght How hye / how lowe / hou long . & how brode eke Was euery thyng she had it not to seke Whiche is the wynt / the centre or the pole Ful craftely she taught of euery spere Whiche Cercle is cut / and whiche is hole Whiche lyne is ryght / whiche perpenty culere Wh̄iche Circuler· and whiche Dyametere And by this craft of al the erthes space The veray mesure truly gan she trace The erthes space how long it is aboute Arystotyl sayth that old clerkes sayne That four and twenty thousand al oute In his cercle he conteyneth certayne But Albert thynketh / it is an errour pleyne For in his tyme there couthe it not forclere The quantite of his Dyametere But another clerk sh̄ewyng Theolome Sayd that erthe in his cyrcuyte round Shold twenty thousand myle and fourty be And thus one clerk another doth confounde Soo that the trouthe by none of them is found Gode thyng sayth basyle shold haue remembrance And that shold passe which stondeth in doutaunce With her dyuers clerkes of Egypte were Whiche fyrst dyd fynde the crafte of Geometry Eke Theodosius in his maner With philosophres sate ful lustely Of that scyence tretyng ful craftely As good Englyd / and many clerkes moo Of theym no more / for ferther must I go Explicit de Geometria
Incipit de Musica A lytel besyde within a place of blys Dame Musyk sat / and with her ladyes thre The fyrst hyght dame Armonyca ywys The second Rethenica a lady free The thyrd hyght metrica ful of beaute The song she prycked / she numered notes newe Theyr melodye formed on heuen newe The fyrst delyted her in tunes mete The second mesured dyte with the note The thyrd numered her songe with certeyne fete And whiche be her boundes ryght wel she wote And with them were good clerkis that thus wrote And sayd that Musyk was the pure connynge And veray wey of trewe parfyte syngynge They wrote also / who that fyrst Musyk found Some sayd Tubal / somme sayd Linus Tibeus Some Zetus / Amphyonas they dyd vnderstond Some sayd also it was one Orpheus Some playnly saidfor ought they coude discusse That by the soune of hamers in a forge Pyetagoras fyrst ganne Musyk forge Dame Musyk ganne her craft to record And made a wey / how folk shold fyrst begyn Her example was in a monycord On instrument quadraunt long holowe within Of whiche the myd one strenge had in a gyn Oute of the whiche dyuers tunes she wrought And thus the ground of Musyke first she sought She taught sex syllables / whiche we notes clepe And in her craft they necessary bene Whiche on an ympne thou mayst brynge to hepe If thou his metre can proporcyon clene Vt queant laxis is hit / whiche I mene Ther mayst thou fynd vt / Re / My / Fa / Sol / la These syllables sex vsed Dame Musica She taught the notes by her monycord As she the streng dyd touche or pulle And as she lengthed or shorted the cord Which hye / lowe / or sh̄arp / & which is dulle Of al these notes taught she at the ful Theyr varyaunce / and theyr dyscencyon Theyr ordres eke / and theyr ascencyon A Gāmoth than wonderly she found Whiche is a rewle to teche them for to synge And it to knowe she taught them on their hond By whiche they wote the ground of al syngyng The notes they knowe therby & theyr chaungyng And proueth eke / whiche songe is fals or trewe To Musyk thus she gan the wayes sh̄ewe She taught them whiche were tunes parfyte And yaue he in lust to here theyr concordaunce Whiche tunes eke ben cleped inparfyte And whiche in song shold be theyr gouernaunce Proporcyon she had in remembraunce Dyapason and dyapente eke And Dyatesseron nas not to seke Which large / long . which breue or semybreue Mynym Crochet / in rule and eke in space Al this she taught / but for I must be breue In this mater I nyl no ferther trace For though I wold therto I haue no space But who so lust of Musyk for to wyt For veray ground to Boece I hym remyt And to a Clerk / whiche cleped is berno Iohan de Muris / and Iohn de Musica To guyde eke in his Metrologo There mayst thou see of Dame Armonyca Of Dame Metryk / and of dame Rethinica Of al Musyke the veray ground parfyte There shalt thou fynd . with blysse and al delyde And these with musyke were in ioye & blysse And helped her prouynce / with her armonye And with them was eche instrument ywys That is of Musyk / and of mynstralcye Harp / lute / pype / trump / Fydel / ryuyls / sautry The Rote / cagons / and the monycord The Gyterne / Symbal● / and the clauycord Explicit Tractatus de Musica
Incipit breuis processus de Astronomia Than see I syt in place ful of al plesaunce The heuenly lady dame Astronomye Wh̄iche of the sterres the cours & gouernaunce Theyr fygures eke descryueth craftely And with her was the mayd Astrologye Whiche somtyme is kyndely / and precyous And otherwh̄yse ouer moche superstyous She is kyndely whan that she sh̄eweth clere The sonnes cours / the mone . the sterres eke And doth nothyng / but as kynd doth her lere But whan she lust in sterres for to seke The byrthe of man / whiche hole shall be seke And wyl Dyuyne / and preche thyng for to be Vnkyndely than / and vnleful is she Astronomye that lady ful of grace Gan first dyuyne what thyng the world shold be What thyng heuen is his cours & his place His paleys eke / his partyes in degre His fourme / his spere / and eke his properte His syhte / his cours / his mouyng at the best With al other partyes most and lest His hemyspery / and his cer●tis fyue Theyr properte / and how they cleped bene The Zodyak also she gan descryue The sonne his cours & his effect clene His magnytude . his nature wel besene The mone her cours / her dyuers fourmes eke And their Eclypses / there was nothyng to seke She taught also how sondry sterres hygh̄t And in what tyme they goo theyr cercules al Eke how the sonne the mone yeueth al their lyght Whiche Lucina we clepe in specyal And how that fyre oute from heuen doth fall Lyke as the sterres fyl it is sene The cause of this / and what it may mene And to eche sterre that cleped is a sygne By syght of whiche thyng to come men may gesse A propre name she gan to assygne As Arctur / Vrsa / the more eke & the lesse Thus dyuers names gan she for to dresse As Tryones / Boetes / Yades Aricturus . Oryon / and plyades As Lucyfer / Cometes / Vesperus Theyr names old she told ful craftely The planetes seuen she neuened vnto vs Saturne· Ioue / Mars / Phebus / and Mercurye The Mone Venus / and what they sygnyfye Their influence / and theyr qualyte With cyrcumstannce of pure solempnyte Twelue fygures than she told ryght wel arrayed The Ramme / the Bul / and the gemelles to The Crabbe . the lyon· and the streyt mayd The balaunce tharcher / and the Scorpio The Gote / the water syre / and the fysshe also The planetes seuen as they to this atteyne Suche eche tyme dysposed· soth to sayne And how eche fygure had of his properte A propre name / thus gan she constrewe The gentyles eke how that they blynded be That lust / honour with worsh̄yp fresshe & newe The planetes seuen / as parfyte goddes trewe Theyr rytes old / and theyr ydolatrye She gan reherce / as techeth poeterye And how they clepe the ramme the fyrst sygne For that in mars begynnyng of the yere The sonne in hym maketh his cours digne And they worsh̄yp hym on theyr manere By cause of Ioue whome in theyr temples clere If they depaynte a Rammes hede they make With hornes two for Iubyters sake He come an oxe / and took Europa they sayd Wherfor the bole they worsh̄yp of theyr grace Castor pollux eke when they dede were layd Among the sterres they demed haue a place Whome they clepen the gemelles with solace For Hercules eke slough the grete lyon Hym for that sygne they worsh̄yp with renoun O mysbyleue merueylous for to neuene O cursyd blyndenes of these gentyles al Whiche demyn fysshe / and bestyal be in heuen For gloryfyed regnaunt perpetual As Rame / bore / Crabbe / and bere in specyal Hound / lyon / swanne / the egle eke in fere Whome they worsh̄yp for Ioues chyef squyer She told also of batayl destyne And how in sterres som men haue such bileue That in theyr byrth ryght by necessyte Ordeyned is al that hym shall please or greue This old errour oure doctours done repreue Socrates the same with Arystotyl sayth Notwithstondyng they were not of oure fayth Or yf a man were in his natyuyte Constreyued to / his sondry artes al Theym for to doo ryght by necessyte Why shold good men haue lawre in specyal Or myslyuers to punysshement be thral Good Isodre maketh this reson In dampnynge of this fals oppynyon Astronomye the Egyptes fyrst dyd fynd Astrologye / and her queynt obseruaunce Folk of Calde fyrst sought & brought to mynde Whom Abraham taught the egyptes with plesance As wryteth Iosephus withouten doutaunce But grekes sayn this craft first was found By one Athlant / & of hym had his ground And with this lady was syre Tholome Iohn de hispayn / and Mysaleth also With al other auctours in degre That drewe of her / whoos names lete I go Thus in sterres I wol cease and ho And by the ordre of the artes seuen Styre folk to leue the world / & drawe to heuen Explicit de Astronomia
Incipit Tractatus de Fide Dame feith than led vs vnto her wonyng place Vnto a towre solempne and gloryous Ful of al lust / comfort / vertu and grace Depeynted fresshe with colour precyous And in a parlour ful solacyous Thappostles al were set with pure delyte And of oure trouthe the artycles they wryte They had byleue in god fadel of myght Maker of heuen and erthe / and al that is Of vysyble and inuysyble wyght And in his sonne crist ful of blysse Before the world / whiche was alwey ywys I gete not made and consubstauncyal To his fader / of whome fourmed is al He cam from heuen / and in the mayd Marye By inspyracyon of the holy goost Mankynd he took / & borne he was for to dye To wyn mans soule out from the fendes hoost And vnder Pylate set with Iewes boost Bounden & bete / crowned and crucyfyed With watry woundes Innocent he dyed For he was grauen man out from helle he broght And rose the thyrd day vnto lyue ageyne Styed to heuen / his faders Trone he sought From whens as kyng / he shall come yet certeyn Bothe quyk and dede to deme / to lyf / or peyn The goode to blysse / the euyl to punysshement Heuene erthe & helle shall quake in that iugement And in the holy ghoost byleue they had In holy chirche baptysme communyon Of sayntes eke to hold ferme and sad Of al trespaas to haue remyssyon And for to trowe the resurectyon Of peple dede / and in lyf lastyng Vnto the whiche almyghty god vs bryng These artycles with other poyntes al That longeth to the holy Trynyte Dame feyth her self gan telle in specyal With al the secretes of the deyte Whiche in Englysshe not reherced be Suche thyng as shold be pryuate & occult I rede we leue / and take quicumque vult There was to feyth doyng al reuerence The holy synner Mary Magdalene Whiche by dame fayth hath geten indulgence Of al her synne / and was assoylled clene Good martha eke by her grace gan optene And brought to lyue her broder lasedarus Soo was the sone also of Regulus There was the doughter eke of Canane Whiche by her was brought fro the fendes bond Al other eke / that of ony infyrmyte Thorugh feyth was cured / with her see I stond Blynde dome and deef leprous fote & hond Whome feith hath heled / and brought vnto grace With al honour obeyed her in that place There was also the hooly confessours That preched feyth whyle they were on lyue Doctours martyrs and gloryous auctours Wrytyng of feyth / and her meryte blyue And on this wyse / they gan hyr descryue And sayd that feyth is ground of al godenes Withouten whome lyf hath no sykernes Vnto al good she geueth strengthe & comfort And who troweth not he falleth impotent The sh̄eld of feyth who lust to comport Al thyng ouercometh as vnto reuerence His thre enemyes with theyr yrous pretence Ayenst hym shall neuermore preuayle Aske & byleue thyn askyng shall not fayle She is ●y / for as the clerke sayth There is but one god lord perpetual Pryncypally / of whome preched is fayth Eke hole she is of her artycles al Trewe withoute errour outher grete or smal Lyuely and quyck to do euery quyk dede For elles she were but as a body dede There was the lady clennesse wel arrayed Deuocyon and dame vyrgynyte Dame contynence and chastyte the mayd Dame Loulynesse and dame stabylyte Enlumyned fresshe echone in theyr degre These seruen fayth / and as they couthe deuyse With blysse they song / & sayd vpon this wyse If better is to trowe in god aboue Than in mankynd or in many other thyng Who troweth in hym / for he can kepe and loue Theyr lust fulfylle / & graunt them theyr askyng And in his gospel eke a worthy kyng He sayd hym self in me / who lust byleue Though he be dede ywys yet shall he leue O cursed folk with youre Idolatrye Wh̄iche in fals goddes setten youre delyte Blynd dome / and deth is al youre mametrye Of stok & stone / men may suche karue & thwyte Leue theym for fals with sour and despyte In our one god cast anker and byleue Though ye were dede / he can make yow leue He is al lyf whan youre goddes be dede They haue a tyme / and he is sempyterne They are but erthe / and brought lowe as lede He regneth god aboue the heuen superne Blyssed be he . for he no grace wyl werne To them / that wyl in hym beset theyr byleue And though they dye ywys yet shall they lyue Explicit Tractatus de Fide et Cantus famule sue
These thynges folowyng is euery Crysten man and woman holde / and bounde to lerne / and to conne to theyr power in waye of theyr saluacyon The Pater noster The Aue maria And the Crede The ten commandentis Haue one god in worsh̄yp In this is forboden al maner mawmetrye Wytchecraft Enchauntement Redynge of dremes And al mysbyleue Take not his name invayn In this is forboden al heresyes Al mysmenyng Vnworsh̄yp of god Forsweryng Takyng his name in vayne And suche other Halowe thyne holy day To this belongeth Heryng of thy seruyse Kepynge the oute of dedely synne Vysytyng of thy powre neyghbours Accordyng them that ben at debate And suche other Worspyp thy fader and moder God thy fader Holy ch̄irche thy moder The ghoostly faders Thy flesshely fader & moder Al men of age & worsh̄yp And prelates of holy chirche Slee no man With hond smytyng With mouthe bacbytyng Herte cursynge Ne wyllyng euyl Ne vengeaunce Do no lecherye Here is forboden Alle spousebreche Alle flesshely dedes And al mysshedynge of mannes seed Doo no thefte Here is forboden stelyng Wronge purchacyng Dysh̄erytyng of heyres Trecherye Vsurye Wronge amersementis False mesure & weyghtes And suche other Bere no false wytnes Here is forboden False lyeng Bacbytyng Accusyng Appayryng of good lots And suche other Desyre not thy neyghbours wyf In this is not onely Forboden the dede But also the desyre And wyl of herte Desyre not thy neyghbours thyngꝭ Hows Londe Beest Seruaunt Ne nothyng / that is his The seuen dedely synnes Pryde Herof comyth boostyng of proude beryng Dysplesyng Scornyng Hyghe herte Gay array Pryde of Rychesse Faytenes Cunnyng Strengthe Vertue Goodnes Pryde of kynne Vnbuxomnes Vayne glorye Dispyte of thyne neyghbour Ypocrysye & suche other Enuye Glad of thy neyghbours euyl fare Heuy of h̄is welfare Backbytyng Sownyng of dyscord Scornyng And suche other wrath Fyghtyng Chydynge Hurtyng Betynge Waryeng Cursyng Grutchyng Desiring of vengeaunce Cruelnes Manslaughter And suche other Couetise Falsehode in wynnyng In beyeng In sellyng In metyng In weyeng Gyle Trecherye Sacrrilege Simonye Vsurye Thefte Receyuyng of stolen goodes Extorcion Wrong withholding Withdrawing of seruauntes hire Withholding of tithes and dutees of hooly Chirehe Glotonye Etyng or drynkyng ouer moche To erly To late Oute of mesure Brekyng of fast Vsyng of delycate metes and drynkes Or in vsyng them to strengthe thy body / to synne And suche other Slouthe Therof cometh ydlenes Delite in sleepe Neclygence of thy bileue Vnlusty to goddes seruyse Foryetefulnes of sh̄ryfte Myspendyng of tyme Dyspayer Wanhope / and suche other Lecherye In thoughte Wylle Werke Syght Felyng Dede doyng With sengle With comune Wydowes Maydens Wyues Gossybbes Goddoughters Relygyous Or ony other oute of wedlok Synne ayenst kynde or suche other The fyue wyttes Syght Heryng Smellyng Tastyng Feelyng The seuen dedes of mercy bodyly Fede the hungry Yene drynke to the thursty Clothe the naked Herbero we the howseles Vysyte the syke Delyuer the prysoners And burye the poure that ben dede at her deth Tho seuen dedes of mercy ghoostely Teche them that can not Yeue good counseyl to hym that asketh it Chastyse thy subgette that offendith Comforte the sory Foryeue hym that tresp●ceth to the Haue routhe on the synnar And praye for thyne enemye The seuen pryncypal vertues Fayth This is ground and begynnyng of oure saluacyon And it stondeth in thre thynges In the vnyte of the godhede in thre persones In the manhode of Cryst And in the sacramentes of the chirche Hope This is a trust by the mercy of god to be saued And it standeth in the grace of god / and good werkes Charyte This is the ende & perfectyon of al the commandementes of god And it standeth in the loue of god aboue al thyng And thy neyghbour / as the self Ryghtwysenes This is a payeng of dente of eche thyng that it duly longeth to As to god praysyng / and thankyng To thy neyghbour loue and charyte And to thy self besynes to fulfylle goddes wylle Wysedom That is a vertu to departe good fro euyl And it stondeth in chesyng of good / and in refusyng of euyl Strengthe Thys maketh a man myghty & hardy / to doo grete thynges for the loue of god And it stondeth in suffryng pacyently aduersyte And mekely takyng prosperyte Mesure Th̄is is a mene bytwene to moche and to lytel And it stondeth in takyng suffycyently that nedeth And in refusyng vtterly that is to moche or to lytel By these thynges shal eche man and woman knowe god These that folowen brynge a man to heuen Good perseueraunce Pacyence in aduersyte Obedyence of the commaundementes of god Rygh̄twysenes in dedes Penaunce in the lyf Contrycyon of synne Knowlege of thy self And charyte These bryngen one in to helle Desperacyon Wodenes in aduersyte Vnryghtwysenes of dedes Loue of synne Malyce Obstynacyon in synnes Despyte of the commaundementes of god Hate of good thynges And ignoraunce The fyue wyttes ghoostely Mynde of the kindenes of god and of thy last ende Vnderstondyng of his benefettys / and of his bore Wylle to worsh̄yppe hym in thought / worde / and dede Withoute ony werynes Reson to rewle with thy wittes / both inward & outward Withoute ony blyndenesse Ymagynacyon of vertuous lyuyng / nedeful werkes / and dredeful dedes of ioye and of peyne