A dyalogue defensyue for women, agaynst malycyous detractoures

¶ The Aucthour speaketh . IN the moneth of Decembre , when phebus the bright with his mocyon had entered in to the fyrst degre Of Capricorne , whan longe is the nyght And the day tyme , moste in breuytie Than snowes lyeth depe , vpon the hylles hye waters congyled , in to yse harde and thycke Trees , Plantes , and Herbes , seme than to dye Fewe thynges growynge , appere to be quycke The wether moste bytter , with wyndes sharpe and colde Causeth great company , togyther to resorte Vnto the fyre syde , where ale good and olde Merely they drynke , theyr hertes to comforte Early in a mornynge , in this moneth of Decembre From slepe I arose , and to my studye went Before all thynges than , I dyd remembre That tyme of euery man , shuld frutefully be spent At the fyrste by chaunce , I red an oracyon Moste pleasauntly set forth , with flowers rethorycall Descrybynge the monstruous vyce of detraction The dowghter of eunye , the furye infernall whose pestylent poyson , as cankar doth crepe Amonge all people , in Cytie , Tower , and Towne Bryngynge Innocentes , in to paynes depe And from theyr good names , it doth them cast downe By readynge this Aucthour , I was pensyfe in my harte As one that had proued , his wordes to be trewe Sorowes constrayned me , to lay this boke aparte The remembraunce therof , my paynes dyd renewe Anone I espyed in the Oryent That dame Aurora , to me dyd apeare And the Sonne with his beames , as golde resplendent To our Orizont , began to drawe neare with spede than my studye , and bokes , I dyd forsake Intendynge all thoughtes , from my mynde to expell And towarde a Forest , the way dyd I take Nat far from the partyes , where I dyd dwell In this Forest fayre , as I walked a whyle Beholdynge hye trees , with armes longe and wyde Sodaynly within the space of a myle An Arbour moste pleasaunt , there I espyde To that place of pleasure , for my recreacyon with spede I approched , it made my herte lyght Anone I was taken , with great admyracyon Of all the fayre pleasures , when I had a syght This place was enuyroned , with Hedgyes thre Of Hauthorne thycke , thre dyches depe cast Thre waters there were , whiche I dyd se In to the Arbour by them , as I past Okes that were olde , in the fyrste hedge were growynge And Elines in the seconde , that large were and longe In the thyrde Hedge , with bowes downe bowynge Many trees togyther , were thruste in a thronge The Ashe and the Aspe , with his leaues that do quake The Boxe and the Beyche , togyther dyd stande The Corke causynge slyppers , to cracke and to crake with the Ewe tre , a defence to this lande The Plane and the Poplar , there I dyd se The Salowe , the Pyne , and the Maple rownde The holy with his pryckes , and the walnut tre with the Fyr and the Hasyll , hangynge to the grownde In the myddes a Cypresse , I dyd espye Borderyd with Olyues , in cyrcle rownde And vnder the Cypresse , downe dyd I lye where benches on eche syde , were made aboue the grownde These trees to beholde , in my mynde I dyd muse Of all kyndes there growynge , and in order set All pleasures worldly , I wolde refuse To haue suche an Arbour , yf I myght it get Suche flagraunt sauours , suche odours swete I neuer felt in the moneth of May Agaynst all dolour , a medycyne moste swete Is to this Arbour , to take the redy way As in this place pleasaunt , my selfe I dyd comforte with sauours soueraygne , and colours good for syght A Fawcon and a Pye , to the same dyd resorte And ouer my heade , in the Cypresse they dyd lyght Great stryfe was betwene them , with argumentacyon Theyr opynyons contrary semed vnto me The Pye prated fast , with moche contencyon And sayde that her sentence , nedes trewe must be .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ The Fawcon moste gentyll , with sober behauour Sayde ianglynge wordes , the trouth do nat trye And fewe wyse men , I thynke do fauour The lyghtnes of a pratynge Pye .

¶ The Pye . ¶ The Pye than answered , with wordes full of yar And sayde , my sayinges I wyll neuer denye Of women I loke , to haue no hyar Nought is theyr nature , theyr wyttes nat worth a flye .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ All thynges sayde the fawcon , Deut. 32. of Goddes creacyon As scrypture recordeth , Gen. 10. be perfyt in theyr kynde woman was create , by dyuyne operacyon Perfyt in body , in reason , wyll , and mynde .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Perfyt ? who there sayde the Pye I the pray Perfection in woman , shall neuer take place Vnperfyt she is , and rude alway In body , and in soule , voyde of all grace .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ In the olde lawe , thou mayst playnly se Sayde the Fawcon , that Goddes creatures all Be sownde and perfyt , without deformitie A bongler or a botcher , thou cannest nat God call But yf thou wylt scrypture , leaue and forsake And flye vnto reason , with me to contende In what thynge tell me , dyd God woman make So vnperfyte , that thou canst nat her nature commende .

¶ The Pye . ¶ In her bodye sayde the Pye , she lacketh perfection Both faynt and feble , labours to sustayne Harted as an hen , she nedeth protection She can nother suffre the wynde , nor the rayne .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ If strength of body , with houge and great quantyte Preemynence quod the Fawcon , do proue and infer Amonge all creatures , than man in dygnytie To dyuers brute beastes shulde far be vnder In Lyon , Elephant , Bear , Bull , and Bore Quantyte in bodye , boldnes , strength , and myght In plenty and abundaunce , be sene euermore No man hath lyke , thou mayst se with thy syght Yet these beastes all , be subiect to man For all theyr hougenes , he is hyest in degre wherfore gyftes bodely , nother may nor can Preemynence in nature , proue where they be If shape of body , that semely is in syght If countenaunce comely , yf bewty gyue perfection Than must thou nedes graunt , that woman of ryght Ought before man , be taken in election But corporall qualyties , as bewtye , strength , or shappe Boldnes or greatnes , no proffe can make Of nobylytie in man , in hym thoughe thou them lappe Sens brute beastes of nature , these qualyties take And lyke as theyr presence , no dygnytie can brynge Vnto man nor perfection , so on the other syde Theyr lacke and absence of imperfection nothynge Can proue in woman , in whom they do nat byde .

¶ The Pye . Yet humayne perfection , then sayde the Pye In gyftes of the soule , doth chyefly consyst As reason and knowledge , thou cannest nat denye Nor agaynst this verytye , thou cannest not resst

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ I graunt sayde the Fawcon , that the power intellectyue Of the soule , with reason and lyberty of wyll Set man in perfection , as his gyftes prymytyue By helpe wherof , Goddes lawes he doth fulfyll .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Than proue shall I lyghtly , that woman is Vnperfyt sayde the Pye , and bestyall of kynde Sens these powers spyrytuall , by nature she doth mys And none of them all , in her thou mayst fynde Of knowledge she hath , no more than a Calfe In Iudgement as wyse , as a Capon or a Gander And the trouth of her to speake , in this behalfe Her wyt is apysshe , and in lewdnes doth wander To rayle and to skolde , no tongue she doth lacke To inuent myschyfe , she is nat to seke Of crafte and desceyte , she hath a great packe But in goodnes , her wyt is nat worth a leke .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ That woman hath these powers rehersed aboue Of the soule sayde the Fawcon , that adde suche perfection Vnto mankynde , by reason I shall proue That in this matter , shall be her protection Th effect without the cause , can neuer be founde For betwene them , there is mutuall relacyon Let this be of my reasonynge the grounde And harke what shall folowe , in trewe declaracyon Knowledge in lernynge , as in the artes seauen In naturall Phylosophye , and morall also To make dysputacyon , of the bodyes of heauen And of earthly creatures , in theyr places lyinge so Facultyes and craftes , to inuent and fynde out And chaunses to tell , are they come a longe season All these to be th effectes , no man doth doubte Of the intellectyue power , the wyll and the reason .

¶ The Pye . ¶ what woman , I pray the than sayde the Pye These gyftes haue had , that effectes thou dost call Except thou be doubtles , dysposed to lye Thou cannest reherse none , nother great nor small .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ I can sayde the Fawcon , rehersall to the make Of mo suche women , than thou hast in the Condycyons gentle , wherfore good hede take And thou shalt here named , mo than two or thre Carmentes the mayde , fyrste dyd inuent Our latyne letters , as wryters do tell Her industrye and labour , with wyll and intent In memorye perpetuall , do cause her to dwell The .ix. virgynes pure , that musyes we call The .vii. artes lyberall , dyd fyrste to vs fynde And pleasaunt Poetrye , conteynynge matter morall Vnder Fables fayned , these maydes dyd combynde Mynerua , whiche also Pallas was named As goodes was taken , of arte and sapyence Because that in Grecia , she fyrste set and framed Plantes , shrubbes , and trees , as Aucthours gyue euydence The vse of armour , the helmet , and brest plate with Ingynes wonderfull , and fortresseys stronge For warres with her policie , she dyd fyrste excogytate The rehersall of her actes , requyreth tyme longe Diotima a mayden , hyghe knowledge had In Phylosophye , throughe whose fame and reporte Socrates the Phylosopher , moste graue and sad To her commyne Lecture , dyd come and resorte Leontium also , a woman moste wyse Agaynst Theophrast , with oracyons dyd contende And workes moste excellent , she dyd deuyse Agaynst detractours , women to defende Paula and Eustochium , were lerned ryght well Vnto whom Hierome , of hyghe estymacyon Epystles and workes , the trouth for to tell Dyuers dyd wryte , for theyr recreacyon In our countrey natyue , women thou mayst se In both tongues experte , the Latyne and the Greke In Rethorycke and Poetrye , excellent they be And with pen to endyte , they be nat to seke If women in youth , had suche educacyon In knowledge and lernynge , as men vse to haue Theyr workes of theyr wyttes , wolde make full probacyon And that of men counceyll , they nede nat to craue .

¶ The Pye . ¶ These Examples excell , yf they be vnfayned Sayde the Pye , for women to the starres they extoll In naturall knowledge , nowe am I constrayned To graunt that woman hath , moche in her noll .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ I shall proue sayde the Fawcon , that supernaturall Knowledge in woman , may well take place Prophecye I meane , the gyfte celestyall In to the soule infused , by especyall grace Cassandra doughter , to Pryamus the kynge A lady moste fayre , dyd shewe the destruction Of noble Troye , whan it was moste florysshynge That by Parys actes , it shulde come to confusyon The .x. Maydens gentylles , that Varro doth call The Sybylles , this gyfte of Prophecye receyued Of meruayles they dyd speake , before they dyd fall Suche as trusted theyr sayinges , were nat deceyued Sybylla Tyburtyna , Lactant. q̄ gentiles dyd wryte in her boke That Messyas in Betheleem , of a mayde shulde be borne And that in Nazareth , mannes nature he toke Man to redeme , that by synne was forlorne Sybylla Erythrca , as Lactancyus doth recorde The processe of the Passyon , moste playnly doth expresse Howe the Iewes vniustly , theyr soueraygne Lorde Oppressed with paynes , and deadly dystresse His buffyttes , his scourgynge with whyppes that dyd cut His crowne of throne , with pryckes sharpe and longe The eysell and gall , that to his mouth were put These thynges she descrybed , and all his other wronge The Eclypse of the Sonne , that made men to quake with workes that were wonderfull , sene at that season His dolorous death , that amendeds dyd make For mannes mysdede , and for his hyghe treason All these she descrybed , by dyuyne reuelacyon Longe tyme before they came to effect And as saynt Austayne maketh recytacyon Of domes day , De ciuit . Dei . li. 18. sect. 110. the fearfull sygnes she dyd detect In the actes of the Apostles , Luke doth recyte Act. 110. Howe Phylyp the Euangelyst , had dowghters foure All virgyns cleane , with whom was the spryte Of Prophecye , as they Sybylles had before wherfore sens women , suche knowledge haue had Both naturall pure , and nature excedynge who doubteth in this , except he be mad whyther they haue reason , with the power of vnderstandynge But these two powers , set man in perfection And from brute beastes , they do hym exclude women haue the same , as I haue made induction Ergo they be perfyt , I may well conclude .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Althoughe I must graunt , that they of nature be Perfyt sayde the Pye , Esa. 14. made by Goddes creacyon So is the Deuyll , yet in Hell lyeth he By dyuyne sentence , in endles dampnacyon .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ What meanest thou , that murderer to mynde Sayde the Fawcon , that man dyd take in his snare Our dysputacyon , is of woman kynde whiche vnto the Deuyll , thou mayst nat compare .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Betwene two extremes , Arystot . that in qualytyes agre Comparyson may be made , than sayde the Pye The Deuyll and woman , be lyke in degre Theyr ende is to haue , an euyll destenye .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ why women sayde the Fawcon , make me relacyon More than men , suche fortune shulde haue Sens man and woman , be of Goddes creacyon Mat. 〈◊〉 He denyeth no mercye , to them that do it craue .

¶ The Pye . ¶ where vyce is raygnynge , 〈◊〉 come ●os . ●0 than sayde the Pye Punysshement must folowe , thou knowest ryght well All vyce raygneth in women , this is no lye Therfore in paynes , they must nedes dwell .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ The Fawcon than answered , mylde in his mode Sayinge Pye from thy raylynge , thy selfe remoue Chryste that suffered death , racked on a rode Forbyd that euer , thou shulde this proue .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Proue sayde the Pye , what maystry is this ? who put man I pray the , in his fyrste creacyon From Paradyse , that place of pleasure and blys But woman , throughe the Deuylles temptacyon ? And therfore doubtles , I may her well call The fontayne and welsprynge , of all calamytie For throughe her pryde , synne orygynall Dyd ysshewe with death , to all her posterytie And lyke as the fyrste woman , Eue I do meane Dyd sowe the sede , of all iniquytie So syth her tyme , women maynteyne All synne and vyce , in moste enormytie wauerynge they be , and lyght as the wynde Crewellas Tygres , than Lucyfer more prowde And trust in them , no man can fynde She is no woman , that can lye lowde Of carnall pleasures , they be insacyable In battyll , bluddy bolde Barones for them dye woman to man , was neuer profyttable But full of cost , who can this denye ?

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ A prouerbe proued sayde the Fawcon , I fynde The barkynge of a Curre , no Kynge can restrayne So no man can cause , the malycyous mynde Of the pratynge Pye , from raylynge to refrayne .

¶ The Pye . ¶ A prater I am called , because I hyt the nayle Euen vpon the heade , than sayde the Pye whan I say the trouth , thou sayst I rayle Yet my trewe sayinges , thou cannest nat denye .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Nothynge sayde the Fawcon , is more repugnant Vnto the trouth , than thy sayinges all And that may be proued , by reasones abundant Deduced of pryncyples Theologycall From Parydyse pleasaunt , as thou dost say Adam was expulsed , Gen. ●0 . with his posterytie That Eue was full cause , I do say nay whom thou dost call , the mother of myserie As Eue Goddes commaundement , there dyd transgresse So dyd Adam , as the storye doth tell The Sone of a mayde , theyr offence dyd redresse whose death dyd breake , the brasones durres of hell Nowe for as moche , Psal. 14. 〈◊〉 . as dysobedyence Of both our fyrste parentes , Goddes rat dyd prouoke It was nat all onely , the womans offence wherby mankynde , dyd suffer Goddes stroke And as Dyuynes make declaracyon If Adam had neuer , 21. 〈◊〉 . distinct . ●2 . consented to synne In Paradyse mankynde , shulde haue had habytacyon Althoughe Eue before , to offende dyd begynne wherfore thou Ianglar , nowe mayst thou well se Agaynst our fyrste mother , thy vniust accusacyon Seynge that man is proued , cause for to be As well as the woman , of all trybulacyon .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Than chattered the Pye , and sayde with hyghe voyce Thoughe it be so , as thou tellest to me Beware yet in women , lest thou reioyce They wyll deceyue the , by mutabylytye .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ who is sayde the Fawcon , all tymes at one stay Throughe this worlde wyde , Eccle. 1. and neuer mutable Man is subiecte , to passyons alway His lyfe in this worlde , must nedes be varyable .

¶ The Pye . ¶ I graunt sayde the Pye , but this is my mynde All women of promysse , be euer vnstable Theyr fantasyes chaunge , and tourne as the wynde And dowble be theyr dedes , this is no fable .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ In reuoluynge of storyes , sayde the Fawcon then Of women stedfastnes , moche mayst thou rede On the contrary parte , thou shaft fynde of men That they haue ben false , in worde and in dede what kyngdomes noble ? what Cyties of pryce By treason haue perysshed , as Cronycles tell Contryued throughe the false deuyce Of cowharde Captaynes , that there dyd dwell who betrayde the hyghe kynge , our sauyour Iesu Paynes for to suffre , with extreme passyon But Iudas vniust , and treatour vntrewe whiche hanged hym selfe , throughe desperacyon Aeneas with Anthenor , Troye dyd betray And gaue it to the Grekes , that were voyde of compassyon Than perysshed that Cytie , as the storye doth say The treason of those Traytours , caused great lamentacyon Fewe feldes be foughten , without treason I dare say Of one parte or other , fewe kyngdomes be wonne without preuy packynge , for treason doth decay Mo cyties and countryes , than battyll axe or gonne If stedfastnes were stablysshed , substancyally in men And grauytie were groued , in rulers that be lyght If promys were performed , yf the commaundementes ten Of man were well obserued , both by day and nyght Then constant I myght call hym , but synce the fayth fayleth And treason with all vyce , in hym hath taken place Therfore hym to prayse , syttell it auayleth For mutable he is , and tourneth in small space That women be constant , and trewe as fyne stele Examples we rede , of Penoclope And Lucrecya , that sorowes dyd felt Both matrones noble , as storyes do say Hester the quene , 〈…〉 . fayre Iudyth moste chast As scrypture doth say , theyr people dyd saue From crewell death , whan all hope was past Amonge the men , suche grace God them gaue who can descrybe , with pen or with tonge The constant vertue , of Susan moste kynde Vnto her husbande , the storye is longe In Danyell the Prophet , Dan. 〈…〉 . thou mayst it fynde The mother of the Machabeis , that .vii. were in nombre Exhorted her chyldren , marterdom to take Her stedfastnes caused , all men to wondre No payne coulde cause her , the fayth to forsake The woman of Chananee , Ma. 150. of Chryst was commended For her fayth vnfayned , and stedfast belefe By her prayer deuoute , her doughter was amended That by vexacyon of a Deuyll , suffered moche grefe Of virgynes moste chaste , what nede I to speke As Katheryne , Margaret , and many thousandes mo No Tyrayne coulde cause them , theyr vowes to breke Theyr thastyte to saue , they suffred moche wo At Chrystes death , Marci . 140. whan the Apostles all Theyr mayster dyd leaue , throughe mutabylytie Men were founde lyght , and trundlynge as a ball In them was no fayth , but infydelytye In one woman than , all fayth dyd remayne when men dyd shrynke , and tourne as the wynde Mary Chrystes mother , it is that I meane No sorowe coulde cause , her fayth to vntwynde Examples for this matter , almoste innumerable I coulde here recyte , yf tyme wolde permyt That women of dede and worde , be ryght stable But here be ynowe , for them that haue wyt .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Yet women sayde the Pye , be great confusyon Vnto all men , for in batteyll bolde Of blode they haue caused , oft great effusyon Of theyr myschyfe , moche in storyes is tolde .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Thy fables fayned , make small probacyon Vnto thy purpose , the Fawcon dyd say whan dyddest thou rede , in trewe declaracyon That women cause batteyll , by nyght or by day .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Dyd nat fayre Helene , than sayde the Pye Of Troye the cytie , cause the destruction when the stronge walles , with towers and towrrettes hye By the Grekes dyd fall , and had there subuersyon .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ where malyce is raygnynge , there false accusacyon Doth folowe sayde the Fawcon , in felde and in towne Therfore of Troy , thou sayst the desolacyon was caused by Helene , the woman of renowne Dyd nat Alyxaunder , his lust to fulfyll Sone to kynge Pryame , by strength steale away Fayre Helene from the Grekes , agaynst her owne wyll whan she her handes wronge , howe cannest thou say nay If wepynge teares , yf sygtes sore and sad If lamentacyon , myght then haue preuayled Fayre Helene had escaped , Parys moste mad From Grecye in to Troye , with her whan he feased And thoughe battyll bloddye , with murder moste myserable Betwene these two nacyons , enshewed to theyr payne The adulterat it caused , by dede detestable whiche coulde not from lust , his body restrayne what mountayne myghty , what sees roughe and depe Haue men passed throughe , as beastes without wyt Theyr raygynge hath caused , good women to wepe with vyolence constrayned , theyr lust to admyt Suche myschyfes many men , oft haue precured And yet they cesse nat , the same to support As to wchynge this matter , I am full assured All theyr madnes fully , I can nat report .

¶ The Pye . ¶ I can report than , sayde the Pye That women be crewell , and loue to be in stryfe Cursed no Cayn , thou canst nat denye Angry as the waspe , wedowe , mayde , and wyfe .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ The fayre Fawcon answered , with wordes that were wyse Sayinge Pye thou arte peuysshe , and blynde as a blocke No man with reason may the suffyse Thy malyce is meruaylous , and styffe as a stocke Thou raylest agaynst reason , whan thou dost impute Yar vnto women , with crewell condycyon For vnto the contrarye , I shall dyspute Theyr pacyence and pytye , in perfyt dyleccyon Heate causeth yar , Arystotle in man and in beaste Of yarfull herte , crewelnes doth sprynge where crewelty doth dwell , compassyon hath no rest For contraryes togyther , Arystotle can haue no bydynge what causeth fearsnes , in Lyon , wolfe , and beare In Bores that be brym , and mastyffes moche of myght whiche all in theyr raygynge , in peces rent and teare Theyr prayse that they take , by day or els by nyght what moueth man , so fearse for to be And crewell of dede , as beast wod and wylde But heat causynge yar , whan he without pytie In war doth destroy , the mother with the chylde And lyke as heate feruent , yar doth inflame In man and in beaste , and crewell them doth make So colones contrary , crewelnes doth tame Causynge man and beast , to shyuer and to quake women in theyr nature , be colde as a kay In respect of men , wherfore inclynacyon To be yarfull or crewell , from them is a way And petye moste tendre , in them hath habytacyon who is so sad , of crewelnes to here In spoylynge or murdre , as these women be For frayes and for feyghtynges , they make heuy chere Vpon euery mannes hynderaunce , they take great petye what wepynge teares ? Luce. 2● what sore lamentacyon Dyd women make , in Hierusalem Vyon the lambes death , takynge compassyon That borne was of mother , Mat. 10. and mayde in Bethleem But men at that tyme , as beastes raygynge mad Theyr hyghe kynge and maker , dyd nayle to a tre At that season tell me , whyther men had Lyke vnto women , compassyon and petie .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Admyt that thy reasones , dyd fully conclude For women sayde the Pye , as thou dost infer Yet profyte from them , thou must nedes exclude Theyr husbandes they brynge , in det and daunger Ease they loue all , to labour they dysdayne wafters they be of money , meate , and cloth And from the blacke boll , they can nat refrayne To speake all I knowe by them , I am loth .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ I am full loth , the Fawcon dyd say Vnto the Pye , suche raylynge to here Nothynge is trewe , thou speakest here this day Thy fables be fayned , and false this is clere A womans offyce , as Arystotle tought In his Econymyckes , primseco noca . ●0 . is redy for to make Suche thynges for sustynaunce , as to her be brought Her famylye to fede , that paynes and labours take All rychesse procured , by nyght or els by day Throughe the mannes trauayle , in felde or in towne The wyfe with her wysdom , must kepe from decay And suffer no proffyte , in losse to fall downe By practes I proue , in places as I passe The prudent polycye , in suche gubernacyon Of women that wysely , the worlde do compasse In moste honest maner , to theyr commendacyon what labour of bodye , do they oft sustayne what breke of slepe , whan they shulde rest take with honestye theyr husbandes , and house to mayntayne These thynges to fulfyll , no paynes they forsake Men dyuers I haue knowe , to wast , spyll , and spende At drynkynges and games , suche rychesse as they had whan women full busylye , dyd labour to amende Theyr husbandes lewdnes , that made them full sad wherfore sens women , theyr dewtyes do fulfyll As I haue declared , without fayned fable They rayle without reason , and speake all at wyll That say vnto men , they be nat profyttable Cryinge in his cradell , at his fyrste begynnynge whan man doth lye rocked , nat able to stande who doth hym than fede , with meates nurrysshynge But woman that to helpe hym , doth put to her hande who can women lacke , in syckenes or in helth To wasshe and to wrynge , and meates to prepare A comforte they be , in pouertie and welth Vnto all men , to whom they repare And therfore Scrypture , Gen. 10. doth woman call An helper to man , in euery dystresse whan fortune fayleth , and causeth hym to fall Chyfe remedye she is , of all his heuynesse And thoughe thou Pye pratynge , by vniust accusacyon All kyndes of vyce , to women hast obiect Yet in all vertues , they haue delectacyon And therefore of God , I thynke them efect Humble they be , and lowly in harte Pytefull and pacyent , with sobre behauour And contynence from them , doth neuer departe with dylygence for vertues , they do euer labour .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Howe canst thou them vertuous , and chast of lyfe call Sayde the Pye , that men by subtyle prouocacyon Moue vnto vyce , and cause them to fall No deuyll vnto woman , is lyke in temptacyon Meandre the flude , that maketh men to muse And laboryous labyrynth , that Dedalus deuysed Suche wyndynges and tournynges , neuer dyd vse As women in temptacyon , for men haue contryued All gyftes of nature , they inclyne to prouoke Man vnto pleasure , and his reason to blynde And with Cupydes darte , to gyue hym a stroke Thus cleane and fresshe men , in bondage they bynde Theyr countenaunce smylynge , as the messenger of loue Theyr eyes moste wantonly , euer roll and turne Vpon syghtes semely , and all thynges aboue Because loue them burneth , they desyre to burne Theyr handes and fyngers , for this they kepe whyte Dasshed full of rynges with many a precyous stone To shewe theyr prety fete , they haue great delyte On theyr toes howe they tryppe , to se it is alone They laught , they speake , they synge , they daunce The lustes of loue , in youth , to inflame Theyr garmentis be garnysshed , after the guyse of Fraunce And to vse paynted wordes , theyr tongues be nat lame They brestes they lay forth , as a Boucher doth his flesshe To be solde in the shambles , and ouer them they lay A fyne lase of sylke , with an owche that is fresshe Or els a small chayne , that was gotten in theyr play And as an horse mayster , that to a fayre doth brynge His Horses all platted , the mane and the tayle So women theyr hear , as golde wyre shynynge They wrappe , plete , and plat , yonge louers to assayle But Paule vnto Tymothe , 〈◊〉 Timoth. 20. a document doth gyue Vnto all women , suche fyghtnes to despyse And so doth Peter , 1. Pe. ●0 . whiche sayth they shulde lyue Nat in wanton apparell , but in sad and sobre wyse I dare nat nowe speake , howe some do counterfet The colours of theyr faces , as they were naturall Straunge hear also , for theyr heades they do get Of their muskes , posyes , & pōmanders , I make no rehersall All these prety tryckes , these prety dames do vse In to Venus daunce , yonge Rufflers to assure Howe canst thou Fawcon say , but theyr gyftes they abuse Defende them in this matter , thou canst nat I am sure .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Stop there sayde the Fawcon , and harke to me a season For thy braggynge bostes , lyghtly I shall make base And declare vnto the , by inuyncyble reason That delyberate dyscrecyon , in the doth take no place Shameles thou arte surely , thus shamefully to speake That man to vyce is moued , by womans prouocacyon For women of cleane lyuynge , be oft moued to breake Theyr chastytie by churles , that chafe them by temptacyon what paynted wordes , womans loue to allure what tokens that be trycke , do these men vse what rynges , what hertes of golde fyne and pure whiche women do vtterly contemne and refuse And whan by suche tokens , men can nat obtayne Theyr purpose and wyll , than they do inuent Letters of loue , expressynge theyr payne And preuely by messengers , they be forth sent If letters be contemned , yf wrytynges take no place Than labours do louers , in theyr owne persons take They ryde and they ronne , many myles in small space And moue honest women , chast lyfe to forsake with syghes semynge sorowfull , theyr foly they expresse with wepynges theyr wordes , be myxed for to moue Pytefully complaynynge , of deadly dystresse Thus women to deceyue , all wyles they do proue But yf all theyr glosynges , theyr matters can nat spede If theyr tokens with theyr trynkettes , & letters be despysed Than oft constant women , they brynge in great drede whan by vyolent oppressyon , they haue them defylled Dyna that to Iacob the Patryarke , Gen. 34. was doughter By Sychem was oppressed , as scrypture doth tell In punyshment of his vyolence , there folowed great slaughter Amonge all the people , that in his cytie dyd dwell In the cytie of Gabaa , Iud●● . what abhomynacyon Dyd men commyt , agaynst the Leuytes wyfe The wyde worlde may wondre , of theyr bestyall fasshyon For amonge them by oppressyon , the woman lost her lyfe Dyd nat Annon , 11. Reg● 130. that sone was to Dauyd the kynge Chast Thamar oppresse , his syster naturall After whiche acte , he had nat longe lykynge For absolon his brother , gaue hym woundes mortall Lucrecya the Romayne a matrone ryght famous Defyled by oppressyon , of Tarquimus sone After the dede , both shamefull and vyldynous On a swerde that was sharpe and kene , she dyd rone Suche dolour deadly , his herte dyd oppresse Throughe the dede moste detestable , by vyolence commytted That death moste dredefull , to ende her dystresse Before lyfe in efection , she thought to be admytted Many thousandes mo of maydes , wedowes , and wyues Moste tyrannous tourmentes , as wryters do tell Haue suffred , and also haue lost theyr lyues Theyr chastyte to saue , and Tyrannes to repell They be receyued , ergo I may conclude Vpon thy wordes , that aucthorytie they brynge And from my sayinges , all fables the exclude As touchynge the examples , of womens good lyuynge But nowe to retourne , after longe dygressyon To our matter intended , myne examples declare That men moche haue vsed , crafty instygacyon women to wrappe , in the deuylled net and snare And as prouocacyon , hath ben in tymes past Of men moche vsed , the clennes to subuert Of women contynent , so suche as lyue chast Be nowe prouoked , from elennes to auert They be nat women , that theyr gyftes do abuse Of nature and of grace , and to vyce them applye But men moste sensuall , that studye and muse Dayly theyr lust to fulfyll in lecherye Nowe I pray the Pye playnly , as it is in thy thought Speake here thy mynde , whyther more doth prouoke The man that doth seke , or the woman that is sought The trouth herof shulde cause the , thy raylynge to reuoke Dost thou nat dayly , with thyne eyes se Howe men mased with loue , to women make shute And on the other parte , fewe or none they be Of women to whom suche vyce , thou mayst impute .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Now am I constraynted , to graunt sayde the Pye By reason and experyence , that all prouocacyon Of man commeth commenly , for I can nat denye Of thy sayinges and examples , the suffycyent probacyon But yet for theyr rayment , all gorgyous and gay Reprehended of the Apostles , both Peter and Paule In excuse of the werars , what canst thou nowe say If this matter thou defende , than wyse I the call .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Full sharpe be the sayinges , sayde the Fawcon in dede Of these two Apostles , that rayment reprehende And deckynge of women , yet yf thou take good hede Thou shalt fynde that women , they lyttell byscōmende Saynt Austen to these sayinges , August● . answere doth make Of both these Apostles , and sayth that none offence Ryseth of rayment , whan women do take Vnto dyscrecyon , dylygent aduertence If after the custome , of theyr countrey they vse Rayment ryght royall , and accordynge to theyr state Secludynge vayne glorye , yf they do refuse All purpose in louers , lust carnall to instygate Than synne is auoyded , for who so decked was In garmentes moste gorgyous , as Hester the quene As the beames of the Sonne , shynynge throughe the glas with golde and perles , to glyster she was sene Euen so dyd Iudyth , herbewtye augment with apparell of great pryce , that caused admyracyon Yet these women both , for theyr good intent Of scrypture deserued prayse , and commendacyon .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Thou semest sayde the Pye , all maner to commende And vse of rayment , be it neuer so vayne Yet Paule vnto Tymothe , dyd vtterly intende All women from vanytie , in rayment to restrayne .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Nothynge I thynke lesse , sayde the Fawcon I the tell Than agaynst the sayinges , of Paule for to speake All vanytie in rayment , the Apostle doth repell All vanytie in the same , my mynde is to breake .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Be playne in thy termes , sayde the Pye I the pray And dystynctly declare , what thy meanynge is By vanytie of rayment , for nothynge can I say To the yf thy mynde herin , I do mysse .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ So oft sayde the Fawcon , as women rayment vse Agaynst the guyse of theyr countrey , or aboue theyr degre And power be decked , so oft they take and chuse In werynge theyr apparell , follysshe vanytie Vanytie in rayment , also I do call whan for prayse or vayne glorye , rayment is worne Or els to prouoke , and cause men to fall In to lust of the body , whan reason is forlorne .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Do nat women sayde the Pye , theyr rayment abuse All these foure wayes , whiche thou dost expresse In moste vayne maner , thou canst nat excuse Herein the femyne sexe , nor theyr lyghtnes redresse .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ I knowe nat sayde the Fawcon , the surety to say That any so lyue , but yf thou suche fynde what canst thou infer , nowe in the way Of reasonnynge , agaynst the whole kynde .

¶ The Pye . ¶ If one be nought , so be all the rest I say sayde the Pye , of the femyne gendre For amonge them all , she that is best wolde be loth of her lyfe , a reckenynge to rendre .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ In raysynge vnreasonable , thou ragest agaynst ryght Sayde the Fawcon , whan thou dost of fewe womens vyce Infer all the rest , in theyr lyuynge to be lyght If thou harken thy blynde erre , shall be open at a tryce Some men be murderers , shulde I therfore call All mankynde murderers , some theues and traytours be Shulde I therfore say , all men do fall In to the same vyce ? no that were madnes playnlye Because Cayn dyd murdre , Gen. 40. therfore dyd his brother Abell the same , Mala. 1. Esau was reiect And forsaken of God , in the wombe of his mother was therfore Iacob refused of God , ad ●0 . 90. and also neglect Horryble heresyes these blynde sayinges be If they be defended , and by scrypture confounded And who is so blynde , but he may well se That these saying ? agaynst women of reason , be nat grounded For what raylynge heretycke , so shameles canst thou fynde To say that our Lady , the virgyne moste pure was lyght in her lyuynge , or corrupte in her mynde Because pleasure some women , to lust dyd allure Cesse therfore thy sayinges , and raylynge moste rude Condemne nat a multytude , that innocent is As thoughe from all goodnes , thou woldest them exclude Because that a fewe , be founde to do amys Because that a fewe , be both lyght and vayne In rayment and apparell , agaynst the Apostles rule Thou mayst nat therfore , of the whole flocke complayne As thoughe euery woman , from vertue dyd recule But many there be , to sayinges euyll so prone And dayly in the same , accustomed to slepe That slaunders cansynge many , to syghe and to grone As pastymes they take , whan Innocentes do wepe .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Yet the mayster sayde the Pye , may lawfully speake Of his seruaunt his pleasure , be it false or trewe Lyke maner the husbande , doth nat Goddes precept breake whan he is wyfes sorowes , with slaunder doth renewe .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Blynde was the fyrste erre , and euery naked nought But this is moche worse , sayde the Fawcon in very dede Chryste that mannes soule , with his death derely bought Forbyd that this erre , come in chrysten mannes crede Dost thou nat fynde , daclared in Scrypture That Chryst is the fountayne , Iohannes 140. of trouth and verytie That man hath by grace , he hath by his nature This trouth is the way , to the celestyall cytie As trouth man to heauen , doth condyth and guyde So by falsenes and lyes , that nocyuous be Slaunderers sodaynly , to hell slyp and slyde where euer they shall rest , in carefull calamytie For Dauyd the prophet , Psal. 14. in his Psalme doth recorde That sclaunderars and lyars , to endles perdycyon Shall fall by iust sentence , of the heuenly lorde whan synne shall be rewarded , with ryght retrybucyon The wyse man also , Sapt . 1. beareth wytnes to this matter And sayth that the mouth , the soule doth sley and kyll Of that man whiche delyteth , of sclaunders to clatter And the names of good people , with detraction to spyll Nowe for as moche , as deedly detraction To all people is dampnable , no state or degre Excepted at all , therfore dredefull dampnacyon All men deserue , that of theyr wyues sclaunderars be And it is commonly sayde , that on the deuyll to lye Offence and synne it is , is it nat than offence Agaynst crysten women , with sclaundars out to crye Of whose gentyll nature , man shulde speake in defence Paule sayth that man , Ad eph. 5 shuld loue his wedded wyfe As his owne body , and cherysshe her alway Agaynst Paule they do playnly , that loue to be in stryfe with theyr wyues , whose names with sclaunder they decay Peace therfore Pye , and this opynyon peuyshe That men may rayle theyr pleasure , speake thou no more For sclaunder is a matter , of all other moste theuyshe The offence therof doubtles , deserueth sorowes sore And yf blynde affections , thou woldest set asyde And eluyshe enuye , from thy herte cleane expell Than woldest thou say , that reason in men doth nat byde That with raylynge , the fame of women hurte and quell For in case that any , be founde lewde or lyght In so great a nombre of women , as there is Thou mayst nat at theyr vyce , geast or tayle by ryght But be heuye and sorye , for suche as do amys And in this behalfe to say , I dare be bolde That none , the hole kynde of women doth sclaunder Excepte he be suche , as was nought yonge and olde And blyndly by vyce , lyueth in the deuylles daunger .

¶ The Pye . ¶ I graunt sayde the Pye , that sclaunder is nought And lyghtnes in iudgement , that causeth moche wo But yf mene lyues & womens , were to the bothom sought Of men than of women good , thou shuldest fynde mo .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ This doubte to dyscuse , to no man it pertayneth Sayde the Fawcon , for God this matter must trye But experyence , and also scrypture me constrayneth The rather to women , in this behalfe to wrye For scrypture me teacheth , that all kyndes of synne More by man than woman , had rote and begynnynge And practyse doth proue , that contynuaunce therin Of men moste chefely , hath eade and mayntaynynge The fyrste murdre by croked Cayn , Gen. 40. was commytted whan innocent Abell , to death he dyd dryue Incontynent Lamech , Ibidem . began admytted For agaynst stymulacyons , he wolde nat stryue Noe fyrste dronkarde , Gen. 90. whose fylthynes his chylde Chain dyd dyscouer , his bretherne it perceyuynge Abhorred that dede , wylfull and wylde And couered the preuyties , cause of theyr conceyuynge Fyrste tryan was Nemrath , Gentsis . 10. & . 11. fyrste ydolater was he He set nought by God , by his lyghtnynge , nor his thondre The tower of Babell he buylded , that all men myght se Than deuyded were the tongues , that made men to wondre The synne agaynst nature , both brute and bestyall Men fyrste dyd commyt , Gen. 19. as scrypture doth recorde Of .v. Cyties the people perysshed , great and small In punysshement of that synne , by the hyghe kynge & lorde Pharao of Egypt , Exodi . 1. that Tyran styfe and flowte Fyrst Innocentes dyd murdre , and to death dyd them dresse For the murdre of those chyldren , Exo. 14. he dyed without doubte The red see hym swalowed , with his people more and lesse And lyke as these offences , had fyrste orygynall Begynnynge of men , so contynuaunce they haue Of men moste chyfely , whiche dayly to them fall From enormyties they labour nat , theyr soules for to saue For who doth kyll and murdre , in batteyll that is bolde who robbeth and spoleth , both by see and by lande who Tyranny doth vse , that maketh hertes colde who Innocentes doth kyll , with a bloddy hande who ? but man set on myschyfe this vyce doth commyt As lewdnes were lawfull , all vyce he doth take In the snare he lyeth slepynge , the knot is fast knyt No kynde of cryme croked , he wyll forsake In Sessyons and in Lyes , who is periured but he Great othes that be odyous , no man refuseth And lecherye is laudable , in euery degre Both symonye synfull , and vsurye man vseth And althoughe some women , to these synnes do fall Aboue rehersed , yet in respect of men Theyr nombre is nothynge , or els very small For agaynst one of them offendynge , of the tother there be ten ▪

¶ The Pye . ¶ I thynke sayde the Pye , that thy sayinges nowe be Indyfferent agaynst men , for practyes doth expresse That fewe of these vyces , in women we may se whiche thou hast rehersed , but in men they be doubtles For murdre and robrye , that openly is done Symonye , vsurye , and treason vntrewe Brybrye that chaungeth , that iudge as the mone Heresyes and scysmes , that dyssencyon do renewe Periurye and rybawdrye , with pollynge and oppressyon All these synnes sensuall , that fowle and fylthy be Of man be moche vsed , I must nedes make confessyon Moche more than of woman , that from these semeth fre .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Yet man at his daunger , as thoughe well he were Doth laughe sayde the fawcon , so synne doth hym blynde If his synne he dyd se , than chaunge wolde his chere Perceyuynge to his maker , howe he is vnkynde His breast he wolde beate , for mercye he wolde call For his dedes of dampnacyon , he wolde knele on his kne And many salt teares , from his chekes than shulde fall If he his workes wycked , dyd ponder as they be .

¶ The Pye . ¶ As it ought to be sayde the Pye , thou dost speake But as thou dost speake , so shall it nat be whyse man is here lyuynge , Goddes lawes he wyll breake Cease therfore thy sayinges , by the counceyll of me .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Than shall I retourne , to make repetycyon Of our matter fyrste moued , sayd the Fawcon in this place Thou saydest that all women , do lacke perfection Of body and theyr soules , be voyde of all grace A pertlye I haue proued , that as perfyte they be In body as man , and theyr soules haue creacyon Vnto the ymage , of the hyghe Trynyte Thuo perfyt they were create , by dyuyne operacyon That depenes of wyt , with reason profounde In women take place , myne examples expresse For the .vii. Aries lyberall , had theyr fyrste grounde And inuercyon by women , this is doubtlesse Aptnes also , and pronytie they haue Vnto all kyndes of vertue moste pure with dylygent endeuour , they haue laboured to saue Theyr soules from all vyce , and grace to procure And furthermore Pye , I haue made declaracyon That women in lyuynge , the men do excell Confounded I haue , thy false accusacyon And reasones I haue vsed , thy raylynges to repell Of scrypture somtyme , the sayinges I haue sought Hystoryes profane , and experyence moste sure The documentes of Doctours , forth I haue brought For the femynyne sakes , theyr ryght to recure .

¶ The Pye . ¶ By thy processe sayde the Pye , as I can perceyue Thou concludest all women , vertuous to be Because that a fewe , vertues dyd receyue wherof examples , thou dydes recyte to me At the length thou dost take for fynall conclusyon That women in theyr lyuynge , far men do excell As thoughe they alonely , of grace had infusyon This vtterly from men , grace thou wylt repell .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Nat so sayde the Fawcon , for that is nat my mynde Grace from all men , vtterly to exclude Nor by myne examples , thou canst nat fynde That all women vertuous , I entende to conclude But this conclusyon , of all my sayinges take That to knowledge and vertue , women apt be And yf of theyr lyues , comparyson thou make More godly than men , they seme vnto me .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Theyr proctour thou arte made , sayd the Pye I perceyue A rewarde to receyue , theyr parte thou dost take But whan they with doblenes , shall the deceyue I thynke than this offyce , thou wylt forsake .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ The trouth to defende , why shulde I refuse A proctour to be , the Fawcon dyd say Innocentes to helpe , we shulde our wyttes vse In theyr causes iust , and helpe them alway None other rewarde , to receyue I desyre But trouth to trye forth , and malyce to subdue This brought to passe , than haue I my hyre For than shall be knowen , the false from the true And where as by doubtenes , I shall be deceyued ( As thou sayst of women ) that can nat so be For doubtenes of those , is neuer conceyued In whose hertes is playnes , and symplycytie .

¶ The Pye . ¶ I se sayde the Pye , with the to contende Agaynst the femyne gendre , I am moche vnable As one ouercome , therfore I make an ende For lytell it auayleth , before the to fable .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Yet one thynge of the , or thou from hens flye I demaunde sayde the Fawcon , what moued thy mynde In all thy sore sayinges , so shamefully to lye with raylynge outragyous , agaynst woman kynde whyther theyr nature , theyr wordes , or theyr lyuynge Thy tongue haue prouoked , to deadly detraction Or rather by rashnes , of enuye procedynge Theyr fame to defaulke , thou hast delectacyon .

¶ The Pye . ¶ Theyr nature is good , than sayde the Pye And so be theyr dedes , the trouth for to tell Malyce me moued , of women to lye Syster to Megera , the ragynge fende of hell .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ why dost thou than women , more than men sclaunder The Fawcon dyd say , with thy wordes that be wylde Sens men by dedes deadly , lyue in more daunger Of soule than women , whiche seme vndefylde .

¶ The Pye . ¶ The lowest parte of the hedge , is troden downe Vnder fore sayde the Pye , whan the hyest is forborne womans power is small , in felde and in towne Therfore I them sclaunder , therfore I them skorne Men rule and gouerne , by see and by lande Promocyons and profytes , by them I may haue Therfore to catche somwhat , in to my hande ▪ I laude them , I flatter them , whan I begyn to craue He that wylleth with welth , in this worlde leade his lyfe Placebo he must play , his kne both bowe and bende Flaterars fare of the best , and lyue without stryfe whan playnes with trouth , great men do offende Theyr appetytes to please , my mynde I applye As they say I say , be it wronge or ryght Somtyme I graunt , somtyme I denye Yonge Rufflers to please , whole wyttes be full ryght .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ Than yf thou shuldes playnly , and as the trouth is Thy mynde agaynst men , sayde the Fawcon expresse Rebuke they shulde haue , of prayse they shulde mys And thy style agaynst women , than woldes thou redresse .

¶ The Pye . ¶ I graunt sayde the Pye , but yet adulacyon Nedes must I vse , great men to content And agaynst women , my common detraction These two to contynewe , is my full intent Auaryce of mynde , that is insacyable Adulacyon to vse , hath gyuen me occasyon And so hath enuye , the vyce detestable Prouoked detraction , with false accusacyon .

¶ The Fawcon . ¶ The Fawcon moste fayre , moche moued in his mynde Agaynst the Pyes wordes , and open confessyon with syghes sore , ascendynge from his herte kynde In lamentynge maner , made this exclamacyon O worlde moste wretched , O tyme infortunate O blyndnes moste beastlye , O lyfe without lyght O vertue , O grace , from mans soule seperate The dedes of darknes , haue put forth his syght Nowe reason is blynded , by synne sensuall And iudgement corrupte , by offence customable wyll wandereth wyldly , by appetyte carnall All powers of mans soule , be founde reprouable Flaterars moste false , that fables can fayne Great men accept , and to counceyll take Playnes and Iustyce , be exyled cleane And oppressyon causeth , Innocentes to quake Extorsyon is extolled , and rygour doth rule Detraction and derysyon , with nobles do dwell Verytie and petie , from these men recule And falsenes with flatery , trewe plannes do quell All these seme lawfull , to men that be of myght Theyr wylles and pleasures , they take for a lawe with ragynge and raylynge , they ronne agaynst ryght For smal is theyr lernyng , theyr wyttes nat worth an hawe O Pye moste peuysshe , howe canst thou suche prayse And Innocentes condemne , whose dedes deserue lawde The hertes of playne people , thou dost dysease whiche couet in trouth , to lyue without frawde But seynge my sayinges , can take no place In hertes that be harde , congelyd with vyce No remedye I fynde , but prayer for grace That many from his synne , may wake and aryce .

¶ The Aucthour . ¶ Whan these wordes were spoken , the Fawcon toke flyght The Pye for to punysshe , that fled fast away Of them both shortly , I lost there the syght And whomwarde I walked , from that Arbour gay Anone I drewe forth , the argumentacyon Of these two byrdes , the Fawcon and the Pye As you haue harde me make recytacyon Nothynge from theyr sayinges , my style I dyd wrye The people to profyte , my purpose is playne No man to dysplease , with worde or with wyll But deadly detraction , I wolde restrayne That causeth many men , theyr soules for to spyll The prynce of peace pearles , the lambe immaculate That suffered sorowes sharpe , synne to suppresse And with his blode , Apoc. 1. wasshed out soules cōcamynate On the Aulter of the Crosse , the deuyll to depresse He graunt by his grace , that charytie may sprynge In euery mans herte , as flowres sprynge in May Than God shall we loue , our heauenly kynge And enuye expell , that our soules doth decay Than reason shall rule our dedes with dyscrecyon Betwene man and man , loue shall be vnfayned ¶ Therfore , whan thou shalt come to her syght whiche wyll be shortely , as far as I gesse Say thou arte sende , to pleade in her ryght As in the quarell , of thyne owne maystresse Than shall she se , what thou canst expresse For her defence her ryght to recure And from detractours , that wolde the suppresse In her Cypresse cofer , she wyll kepe the sure .

FINIS .