Hic incipit paruus Catho

Hic Incipit magnus Catho .

I deus est aīmus nobis vt carmina dicunt Hic tibi precipue sit pura mente colendus For thy that god is inwardly the wit Of man and geuyth hym vndirstanding As ditees sayne therfore shalt thou vnshit Thyn hert to thy souuerain lord & kyng And principally a boue al other thing Geuyng hym laude / honnour & reuerence Whiche hath the endowed with excellence Plus vigila semper ne sompno deditus esto Nam diuturna quies vicijs alimenta ministrat A wake my child and loue no slogardye In moche slepe loke thou neuer delite Yf thou purpose to worship for to stye Longe slepe & slouthe to vice doon men excite It maketh men dul It makith hem vnperfite It fosterith vp filthes of the flesshe It palleth also & wasteth blodes fresshe Virtutem primam puta esse compescere linguam Proximus ille deo qui scit racione tacere Trusteth wele also the first of vertues alle Ys to be stille and kepe thy tonge in mewe Of tonge vntied moche harme may falle Leue me wele this is as the gospel trewe Who that can delaviance of wordes eschewe And reste with reason this is verrey text To god aboue that man is alder next Sperne repugnando tibi tu contrarius esse Conueniet nulli qui secum dissidet ipse Aduise the wele that thou neuer trauerse Thyn owne sentence for there of sueth shame Sey not oon and efte the contrarie reherce Suche repugnance wol make thy worship lame Where stedfastnesse wol cause thy good fame For he shal neuer accorde with man on lyve That with hym self wyl ay repugne & stryve Si vitam inspicias hoīm si denique mores Cum culpas alios nemo sine crimine viuit Yf thou aduertise and beholde aboute The lyves of men and maners also Bothe of thy self and other the withoute In myddelerth thou shalt finde who That in some part nys to vertue foo Blame no man therfore yf you do a right Sith in erth lakles liueth no wight Que nocitura tenes quamuis sint cara relinque Vtilitas opibus preponi tempore debet Yf thou suppose thing that shal noye & greue Thaugh they be dere & right gret of price Suche as suffreth not thy proffit a cheue Yf thou lust to be reused as the wise Absteyne the from suche thing in al wyse For it is more wisdam in sothfastnesse To preferre prouffit than suche richesse Constans et lenis vt res expostulat esto Temporibus mores sapiens sine crimine mutat It is a good lesson for the nones A wight to be tempred with constance And to be glad and mery eftesones Not alwey sad ne light of contenance A man is chere may him ful ofte auance For at yche tyme as the thing requireth So the wise man visageth and chereth Nil temere vxori de seruis crede querenti Sepe . etem̄ mulier quem coniunx dilight odit Gyf no credence alwey to thy wyf That for hire Ire and vnpacience With scharper tonge than is swerd or knyf Playneth on thy seruant thaugh noon offenor Thou fynde in hym lerne wele this sentence The wyf wol hate and cause to smert Often hym that hire housband loueth in hert Cumque mones aliquem nec se velit ipse moneri Si tibi sit carus noli desistere ceptis And yf thou warne a wight of his forfete al thaugh he grutcheth with frowning contenance And in his langage manace the and threte Yet forbere thou not for al suche displesance To teche hym to amende his gouernance As thou began correcte that is a mysse And that is a frendly tache I wysse Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis Sermo datur cunctis animi sapiencia paucis Ayenst woordy folk ay ful of wynde Stryve not at al It may not the profite Suche rasshe folkes ben in conceites blynde The witles word availeth not a myte In fele wordes is ofte wisedam ful lite For vnto euery wight is geuen speche And yet the wyse ful ofte ben for to seche Dilige sic alios vt sit tibi carus amicus Sic bonus esto bonis ne te mala dampna sequantur Loue other men & haue them so in chere That to thy self thy loue moost extende Loke no personne be to the more dere Than thyn estat for than thou shalt offende And hurte thy self & other folke amende But euer cherisshe other & loue hem soo That to thy self thou be founden no foo Rumores fuge ne incipias nouus autor haberi Nam nulli tacuisse nocet nocet esse locutum Tydinges new that flen as the wynde Eschewe my chyld with al thy diligence Be neuer besy new tidinges to finde Suche nouelte causeth ofte offence It is no wit It is no sapience It hurteth not a man to be in pees But it doth harme to put his tonge in prees Rem tibi promissam certam ꝓmittere noli Rara fides ideo qr multi multa loquntur Make no promise of other men is hest Remembre wele that promisse is vnsure But yf thou kepe thyn thy name sleest To serve thy behest do thy besy cure Trust not the word of euery creature Summe man is feith is esy to breke For many folkes thenke not as they speke Cum te aliquis laudat iudex tuus esse memento Plus alijs de te quam tu tibi credere noli With wordes faire whan favel fedith the Be thou not blinde for his fals flaterye Late thyn owne reason alwey thy Iugge be And in effect yf thyn estat be hye Thaugh favel with his crafte wil blinde thin eye In al thy lyf thou neuer geue credence More to thy self than to thy conscience Officium alterius multis narrare memento Atque alijs cum tu benefeceris ipse sileto Whan thou seest a nother man is desert As for his good dedes commendable In euery place preuy or a part Suche a wight with thy good word enable And thaugh he haue ben by the available Yet of thy good dede make thou no bobaunce And than shal other men thyn name enhaunce Multorum cum facta senex et dicta resensus Fac tibi succurrant iuuenis que feceris ipse And yf thou leue longe an old man shalt thou be Age wol approche maugre who seith nay Than perceyue beholde aboute and see Howe aged folk ben treted with al day And so pouruey for thy self a say Into stouping age whan thou art crept Thing may the help that in thin youthe was kept Ne cures si quis tacito sermone loquatur Conscius ipse sibi de se putat omnia dici Charge not al thaugh thou see men speke softe Ne change no chere for ofte it is ful bet In secret wise to speke than crye on lofte A man sholde see alwey where he were set And after that so sholde he speke or let But to the suspect of harme it semeth Men speke of hym he noon other demeth Cum fueris felix que sunt aduersa caueto Non eodem cursu respondent vltima primis Whan fortune hath yeuen the felicite And set the on high than be war of a fal Than sueth ofte suche sharp aduersite Fals fortune tourneth as doth a bal In hire trust haue thou no sikernesse at al Hire perelous play turneth whilom to grame For the ende is woo that beganne that game Cum dubia et fragilis sit nobis vita tributa In mortem alterius spem tu tibi ponere noli Our brotel lyf is here so ful of doute That in verrey surete no wight may stonde So sodenly crepen the soules oute Al aboute this world in euery londe Of yonge and old for euery wight is bonde To deth therfore set not thyn affiance In deth of hym that may the surviue parchance Exiguum munus cum det tibi pauper amicus Accipito placide plene laudare memento A litel yefte geuen with good entent Of thy frend that leuith in pouerte With right good chere suche yefte take & hent Supposing ay that as good wille hath he And more than many men that richer be Peyse not the yefte ne pondre not the prise Th entent is good and that shal the suffise Infantem nudum cum te natura creauit Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento Sith nature that is thy first norice Hath brought the hider al naked & bare Thaugh thou neuer can richesse accomplice But thou art holde alwey in pouertis snare Yet no force make neuer to moche care Take paciently pouerte for the best Riches is not of nature but of erth encrest Ne timeas illam que vite est vltima finis Qui mortem metuit qd viuit perdit idip̄m Thaugh deth be the fyn of euery creature And no wight on lyue shal from him escape Yet drede not deth with ouer besy cure To lyue on erth It is but a Jape Yf thou shalt alwey after deth so gape Thinke wele to dye but modefye thy thought Or ellis to lyue availeth the right noght Si tibi pro meritis nemo respondet amicus Accusare deum noli sed teipse coherce For thy desert yf no frend thanke the I mene whan thou hast don thy force & payne To other folkes frendly for to be Yf they can not gramercy to the sayne Withdrawe thin hand & so thy self refrayne Blame not thy god / for th aire vnfrendlinesse But for suche men do afterward the lesse Ne tibi quid desit quesitis vtere parce Vt que quod est serues semper tibi deesse putato Sith no richeman that leuith any where Yf he consume his goodes al and waste But that pouerte shal greue sore and dere Therfore my child suche goodes as thou haste Let not to sone oute of thy hand beraste Leest than thy good hereafter wol the faile Hold that thou hast It may the efte availe Quod prestare potes ne bis ꝓmiseris vlli Ne sis ventosus dum vis bonus esse videri Behote no man a thing to lene hym twise And faile hym oones that is but vilanye Yf thou may lene do it in frendly wyse Suche cheuissance a frend loth to be wrye Of thy good dedes clamoure thou not ne crye Be not wyndy ner of wordes breme Yf a good man thou lyste appere and seme Qui simlat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditur arte And yf thou fynde the sone of doublenesse The fals dss●milour yf thou espye With peinted wordes & hert ful of falsnesse Thou maist in no wise better blere his ye Than to serue him with his owne trecherie With wordes faire & frendly to departe Mene thou the same & art begile by arte Noli homines blando nimium sermone probare Fistula dulce canit volucrem dum decipit auceps Preue thou neuer a man by ouer peinted speche For vndre faire wordes is ofte annexed gile The word is gay but frendship is to seche As it is said suche craft is in this Ile Yet summe thinke yl whan they thair tonges file The whisteling fouler maketh mery songe And so the briddes begileth he amonge Cum tibi sint nati nec opes tunc artibus illos Instrue quo possint inopem deffendere vitam Whan so is that thou hast goten children Loke in her yougth̄ than enforme hem soo In some craft & mister that they may therin Lerne to gete her lyuyng & to deffende also Her lyf whiche euer nedeth̄ & that they vnto Vertu may atteyne for that he no craft can Ofte tyme nedeth̄ & is in daunger of euery man Quod vile est carum quod carum vile putato Sic tibi nec cupidus nec auarus nosceris vlli Haue this conceit for it is ofte sene Thing dere bought ful ofte bate of price And thinges that litel of valeu bene In tyme comyng may to gret derth arise Remembre wele this and it ay aduertise Thus shalt thou best the name of chincherie fleme And other men shal the no nygard deme Que culpure soles ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum Aduise the wele lete reason be thy guyde Whan other folkes thou art aboute to blame That suche default in the be not espied For yf it be than shalt thou haue the shame A mannes honnour suche thing wol reclame It is ful foule whan a man wol teche Yf that his dedes ageinst his wordes preche Quod iustum est petito vel quod videatur honestum Nam stultum est petere quod possit iure negari Loke thy desir be grounded of right And than that it neuer trauerse honeste For as often tymes as any wordly wight Desireth more than right or equite Than may his request sone replied be And it is cleped nycete and gret folye To aske ofte that right wol ay denye Ignotum tibi tu noli preponere notis Cognita iudicio constant incongnita casu Change not a frend that thou knowest of old For any newe in trust that thou shalt finde A better than he but in thy handes thou hold Hym that hath ben to the frendly & kynde For suche eschanges ben ofte ful blynde The semith thou knowest neuer a dele To knowe a trusty frend It is casuele Cum dubia in certis versetur vita periculis Pro lucro tibi pone diem quicumque laboras Sith that mans lyf is ofte ful of miserie Whilom in myrth and after in mischief Now in the valey & now in the hille on hye Now is man poure & after by riches in relief The shynyng morowe hath ofte a stormy eve To this polecie take hede at the last ende Haue lucre for thy labour er that thou wende Vincere cum possis interdum cede sodali Obsequio quin dulces retinentur amici Thaugh thou may ouercome & haue the victorye Of thy frend or felowe yet ay forbere Refrayne thy self and be not haute or hye Irous handes ful euil do greue and dere Where easy softenesse frendes may conquere For by good dedes set in lowlinesse Men ben to geder knit in frendlinesse Ne dubites cum magna petas impendere parua Hijs etem̄ rebus coniungit gracia caros The limitour that visitith the wyues Ys wyse ynogh of hym a man may lere To yeue neldes pynnes girdeles and knyues The craft is good thus doth the wyse frere Yeueth thing smale for thing that ben dere Yf thou receyve euer yeue thou sumwhat ageyn And that wol ay norisshe love in certein Litem inferre caue cum quo tibi gracia iuncta est Ira odium generat concordia nutrit amorem Toyle not ne strive with hym that is thy frend Be ware of that make neuer thy frend thy fo A toylous man may frendship breke & shend Thise baratours that ben misreuled so Interrupte hem self & wrappen in moche wo For wikked wrath engendreth but hate Where as good accord norisshe loue algate Seruorum ob culpam cum te dolor vrget in iram Ipse tibi moderare tuis vt parcere possis Whan thy seruant thou takest in defaute Thaugh he can not his necgligence excuse Yet in thin Ire make not to fers asaute But with thy male talent take treuse So shalt thou finde ease this fet yf thou vse Reule thy passion and ay by suche mesure That thou saue hem that ben vnder thy cure Quem superare potes interdum vince ferendo Maxima etem̄ morum semper paciencia virtus Sufferance doth ease was seid longe agoo Suffre thou & haue al thin entent Thaugh al thou maist ouer yet do thou not soo Conquere by sufferance and be pacient But for to folowe cruelte neuer consent For it is cleped a vertue with excellence A wight to lyue in humble pacience Conserua pocius que sunt iam parta labore Cum labor in dampno crescit mortalis egestas Be not to skant ner be not to prodigal Conserue thy thinges goten with trew labour It is ful faire to be called liberal But ay eschewe wast and be not surfetour Consume not al thy tresour in oon hour Whan of thy labour ryseth noon availe Nedes pouerte must the in hast assayle Dapsilis interdum notis caris et amicis Cum fueris felix semper tibi ꝓximus esto Be thou not like senola for he wold ete With euery man and at his fest hym fede But neuer no man might taste of his mete Ner no wight to him come but he to al men yede Be fre of thy mete but loke that larges lede The no ferther than thou may easly ateyne be euer thin owne frend thus caton seith certeyne Take hede sire and see howe holsumly this clerk Entretith men with vertuouse doctrine The first part of this compendious werk In worship howe they shul ful clerely shyne Euydyng to renewe streight as a lyne Whois preceptis to obserue yf that ye lyste And to his conseil your hertis to enclyne Right in your age ful wele It shal be wiste The vertuous fourme that men shul fort convey Lo in this lyf as bridel doth a best That man do not erre here in this perilous wey ▪ Stablisshing him as doth a stedfast arest And as siker guydes that men worthiest Mannes leuing here to set in gouernance This sage cathon putteth in remembrance

Incipit secundus liber ●Elluris si forte velis cognoscere cultus Virgilium legito qd si mage nosce laboras Herbarum vires macer tibi carmine dicet Yf thou lust my child set thy hertly delit Of erth to knowe the tilthe & the culture And yf thou wilt be of knowleche parfit Why summe is erable & summe eke pasture Why summe is freshe lyke floures of picture I conseile the to studie sadly for a while In the laureat poete grete virgile Si romana cupis et punica noscere bella Lucanum queras qui martis prelia dicit And thou haue desirous fresshe corage To here of romaines noble worthinesse Howe they veynquisshed them of cartage And many other thurgh manly prowesse Than rede lucan ful wele can he expresse Who bare hym best in towne and also in feld And who did meruayles vnder martes sheld Si quis amare libet vel discere amare legendo Nasonem petito sin aunt cura tibi hec est And who that lust eke of louers for to rede And in what wise hem self for to auance As in that craft naso can teche hym for to spede For summe loue song . harp . pipe . and dance Summe in reding & other thing of pleasance Summe louyn couertly eke & lust not be espiede And summe wold beknowen thus writeth ouide Vt sapiens viuas audi que discere possis Per que semotum vicijs deducitur euum But yet my lef child yf that in auenture Thyn hert be yeuen to noon suche maner thing Or that it be not vnto thy plaisure That virgil macer lucan / or naso doth bringe Yet that thou may be wise after in thy leuynge Yf thou lust to me to yeue audience I shal shewe the doctrine of sapience Ergo ades que sit sapiencia disce legendo Therfore my child come nere to me & lere And I shal the shewe the verray tresure Of sapience yf the lust to herken and here And ek how thou shalt in good estat endure And lede thy lyf holy after goddis plesure Therfore approche & lere this reding To b●n a man ay vertuous of leuyng Si potes ignotis eciam prodesse memento Vtilius est regno meritis adquirere amicos Ther is no wight that ferther may reporte Of thy good dedes than the stranger may Make him ay good chere & shewe him disporte And he shal with honnour vtter that this no nay For the vnknowen It proffiteth suntime tassay Frendes ynowe to haue It is a better thing Than is frendles any man to be a king Mitte arcana dei celum inquirere quid sit Cum sis mortalis que sunt mortalia cura Of goddis misterie & ek of his worching Make neuer my child to fer inquirance It is foly any man to muse on suche thing Dispute thou neuer vpon thy goddes purueance For al thing must be vnder his gouernance And sith thou art man clad in mortalite Dispute thou of thing suche as mortal be Linque metum leti nam stultum est tꝑe in euum Qui mortem metuit amittit gaudia vite The drede of deth that is mordmate I mene to drede it ay and neuer to cese Be ware of that I conscile the algate For this is trew as the gospdl doutlese Who that dredith deth is alwey myrthlese Whan drede of deth any man so agruggeth He wasteth his tyme & ay his lyf abreggeth Iratus de re incerta contendere noli Impedit ira animum ne possit cernere verum For thing that is vnto the vncertayne Whan thou art wroth loke neuer that thou striue But first thou oughtest to knowe the mater plaine For there is no personne oonly on erth a lyue But that he onsawl●s is also blyue As besy wrath hath kindled hym on fire And than can he not deme the trouth for Ire Fac sumptum propere cum res desiderat ipsa Dandum etem̄ est aliquid cum tempus postulat a res As time requireth so make ay thyn expence Mesure thyn hand ek after the profecee Of thing of tyme & also of the presence So that thou spende nomore than nedith the And that spende loke that thin hert be fre A man shold do kost & make his spending Considering the tyme & ek of his costis rewarding Quod nimium est fugito paruo gaudere memento Tuta magis puppis modico que flumine fertur To moche is noght of any manere thing The mene is good and moost comendable That man standeth surest here in this leuing With mene estat that holdeth him greable Plente and pouerte to gedre be not suffrable For than is the ship in the see moost surest What tyme the flode is moost demurest Quod pudeat socios prudens celare memento Ne plures culpant id quod tibi displicet vni Yf thou knowe aught that may turne in to shame Kepe it secret and for no thing it bewrye Be neuer to besy suche thing to proclame Or puplisshe as thou knowest wol reprye Make not almen to gauren on it and cry Lest that men dampne the to other folkes vnknowe For suche fals demers thou maist finde ynowe Nolo putes prauos homines peccata lucrari Temporibus peccata latent et tꝑe patent Yf thou espie and see or perceiue a forfaiture And ek a shrewe of misgouernance Truste wele that sumtyme shal come an heure Whan for his dedes he shal suffre penance A cursed dede asketh wreche and vengeance Thaugh wikkednesse for the tyme be kept secre Yet atte last it wol discouered be Corporis exigui vires contempnere noli Consilio pollet cui vim natura negauit Thaugh sumtyme nature hath ben vnkynde And geuyth a man to be of smal stature Yet remembre my child & haue in thy mynde That thou neuer dispise that creature For god may sende hym fortune & b●ne vre And ofte they be with good conseil alied To whom nature hath gret strengthe denyed Quem scieris non esse parem tibi tempore cede Victorem a victo superari sepe videmus Whan thy hap is to trauerse & haue a do with him that is noght egal to thy might Thin vttermest power shewe not suche vnto Lest that eftesones he haue the in like plight For it is often seen in batayl & in fight Fortune changeth ofte within oon our And he is scomfited that was erst victour Aduersus notum noli contendere verbis Lis minimis verbis interdum maxima crescit Of brondes smale be made fires grete Withdrawe the brondes the fire shal decrese Agein the hyer loke thou not plete With wordes fele for wordes discorde thy pese The man is wise than can of wordes cese For this is as verily soth as god gaf lyf That wordes smale breden ful moche stryf Quod deus intendit noli perquirere sorte Quod statuit de te sine te deliberat ipse Dele not with magike ner with sorcerie In goddes hand is al fortune & fate Be not aboute to calke by destenye Whether thou be miserous or fortunate Lete god alone in hym is al thyn estate For what hym lust of the to pourpose Withouten the he can ful we le dispose Inuidiam nimio cultu vitare memento Que si non ledat tamen hanc sufferre molestum Beware ay of enuie with tatches felle Withyn thyn hert loke ay that she ne rest For it is oon of the chief peines of helle Whan she soiourneth withyn a man is brest Than brenneth fenix in hire owne nest And than she may noon other man mischeve Yet ethna cesith not hire self to greue Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique Nemo diu gaudet qui iudice vincit iniquo Enforce thyn hert with manly sufferance Thaugh that fals Juggement ageyn the procede Be thou not a basshed in word ne contenance For ofte times the fals opp̄ssour may reule & lede The lawe but truste me wele withonten drede Longe to reioyse acheve he may nat Whiche by menes vntrewe his goodis so gat Nec te collaudes nec te culpaueris ipse Hoc faciunt stulti quos gloria vexat īanis Thy self also loke thou not preise Ner dispreise but let thou other men alone Alwey after prudence thy wordes peise For thin auant honour shalt thou gete none But haue a mok as sone as thou art gone A man to preise him self as seith the scole Or dispreise moche is token of a fole Litis preterite noli maledicta referre Post inimicitias iram meminisse malorum est Wrath of old that shold be kept oute of mynde Be thou not aboute to make it on lyue But the enuious hath ay a tatche of kynde Suche malice my child loke thou neuer reuiue for suche malice of old wrath maketh a striue And who remembreth old enemyte A wikked man forsoth is he Vtere quesitis modice cum sumptus habundat Labitur exiguo quod partum est tempore longo Whan it is tyme of cost and grete expense Bewar of wast & spende ay by mesure Who that to kepe or spende hath no differense Maketh his goodes may not longe endure For the old prouerbe saith mesure is tresure Remember that sone thy goodes may slip a way That bifore were goten in many a sondry day Incipiens esto cum tempus postulat aut res Stulticiam similare loco prudencia summa est It is no wisdam a man alwey to be sage But sumtyme to be nyce and feine folye Who that hath this fet shal finde avantage Whan tyme and thing desireth that espye And than dissimise that is gret pollecye For sumtyme to be vnwise by apparence Among the wise is cleped hye prudence Luxuriam fugito simul et vitare memento Crimen auaricie nam sunt contraria fame The filthy flesshe meuyng the bestial That fighteth ay agein the soule within By force of hire attis●ment liberal Eschewe my child and kepe the from hire gyn That art and grace ben set ful fer a twyn And eschewe ay of auarice the wikked fame Thise two they ben that causen euil name Noli tu quedam referenti credere semper Exigua est tribuenda fides qr multi multa loquntur Beleue thou not lightly in euery wightis sawe For summe reporten thing al other wyse ▪ Than it was euer thought or don or sawe And some haue it also of custume & of guise To fede folk with flatering and lyes Therfore geue litel trust to suche feire speking For many folkes speke vntrewe thing Quod potu peccas ignoscere tu tibi noli Nam nullum crimen vini sed culpa bibentis Yf thou surfete in drink forgete thou not that Aduise the wele efte thou come not in the snare Withdrawe thin hand fede not thy throte to fat Drinke that suffiseth the & ell loke thou spare To moche drink maketh men of wit ful bare And yet the wyne therof is not to blame To blame is the drinker the makith hym lame Consilium archanum tacito committe sodali Corporis auxilium medico committe fideli To thy trusty frend that is secret to the Shewe thy conseil & thy nede bewrie For a trusty frend is the chest of priuite But it is gret hap suche frendes to espye Trye oute oon among al a companye And of thy body betake thou al the cure Vnto suche a leche that is trusty and sure Successus indignos noli tu ferre moleste Indulget fortuna malis vt ledere possit With thy self a greue the neuer to sore Thaugh thing a mys sumtyme betyde Dismay the not in besy wyse therfore For thyn auenture nedes thou must abide Fortune may not alwey be on thy syde With harmes to greue ay in wayte lith she To ref men welth honnour and prosperite Prospice qui veniunt hos casus esse ferendos Nam leuius ledit quicquid p̄uidimus ante In thyn owne self compare aboute ay before Thing to perceiue that after wol fal It noieth not ner greueth not half so sore That is a sore seen as other thing shal Sodein chaunses diseasith moost of al It hurteth ay lesse and is in better plight Where a man prudently can haue a fore sight Rebus in aduersis animum submittere noli Spem retinere spes vna animum non morte relinq̄t Whan diuers thinges trauerse thyn entent And thou art wrapped in aduersite For wanhope loke thou be not lost ne shent Lete neuer dispair thy wit bereue the But abide the tyme that better shal be Hope is she that shal make the a seth Hope leueth not a man til man leue the breth Rem tibi quam noscis aptam dimittere noli Fronte capillata post hec occasio calua Whan men profre than is tyme to reteine Take ay thing while they ben in season Many profre now that after wol refreine For that is plente now wol afterward be geson Therfore take ay in time for so cōseileth reson For the balled hed was sumtime ful of herys Whiche is now bare withoute rasure or sherys Quod sequitur specta qd īminet ante videto Illum imitare deum qui partem spectat vtramque Prouide thy self and haue deliberance By likly coniecture what way betide Aduertise my child in thy remembrance Afore and after aboute on euery side Folowe that god wol & lete him be thy guyde Whiche hath al thing oonly in his gouernemnt Fortune feture and pouste & al that is present Forcior vt valeas interdum parcior esto Pauca voluptati debentur plura saluti It is a tatche of a deuouryng honde To receyue superfluyte and do eke excesse Til his receit agein from hym rebonde Contente thy nature & fle ay from gredinesse Foule lustes ay kepe vnder fote and represse Fede not thy lust with al that she wol crave Yf that in helth the lust thy lyf to haue Sic tibi precipue qd primum est cura salutis Tempora ne culpes cum sint tibi causa doloris Take good hede eke of thyn owne estate To reule thy body wele with good diete In tyme but loke thou be not at debate Thurgh thyn owne reule and surfete Thaugh seknesse & sorowe haue yeue the an hete The tyme is good and no diesmale ther is But yf men it make for that they don a mys Sompnia ne cures nam mens humana qd optat Dum vigilat sperat ꝑ sompnum cernit id ipsum Drede thou no dremes so seith deutronomye For ofte they be caused of diuers complexion Some of ymaginacōns & many a nice fantasie Or ellis of blode or of superflue replexion For dremes ben ofte deceit & fals illusion Whan they be wakyng they desire & thinke Vpon that thing they dreme whan they winke Iudicium populi numquam contempseris vnus Ne nulli placeas dum vis contempnere multos Whan that a multitude hath yeue a decree Or concluded ought agein thin entent Trauerse yet neuer ayeinst the comentee For yf thou do thou shalt be sore shent Dispise thou not a loone the peoples Iuggement In auenture thou please of hem not oon Whiles thou woldest trauerse hem euery●hon Museth a while what al thise maters mene Abideth sire and goo no further yet For to rede theim wileth not a bene To no man but he the kernel vnknet Therfore al your hert & al your minde vnshet And loke what lieth vnder the boistous rinde And I dar sey of wisdam and of wit Plente & foyson therein shal ye fynde Refressith your spirites with this holsom diete That fostreth vertues and kepith a lyue To your personne me thinketh ful mete For to receyue suche a ioyful nutretif Whiche your estat shal ay preserue in lyf In gret honnour & kepe you from noyance Oute of the daunger of vices infectyf Yf ye wirche after this ordenance And in especial loke that your dede May bere trew witnesse and testifye The maters that ye beholde and rede loke hem with your hert aswele as with your eye And than dar I say sumwhat ye shal espye In this werk that shal meue your corage Wherfore your hert your eye & your spirite applie Your self ay to reule after thise dedes sage

Incipit liber tercius ●Oc quicumque velis carmen cognoscere lector Hec p̄cepta feres que sunt gratissima vite Loo what wight that lusteth hym for to rede In this my diete sumwhat shal he finde Wherwith he may his soule fostre and fede With vertue and it from vices vnbinde Come nere my child therfore & haue in mynde Suche doctrine in thin hert to bere awey & lere As to thy self here after shal be lef & dere Instrue preceptis aīm ne discere cesses Nam sine doctrina vita est quasi mortis ymago Mannes soule resembleth a newe plain table In whiche yet apperith to sight no picture The philisophre saith withouten fable Right so is manes soule but a dedly figure Vnto the tyme she be reclaimed with the lure Of doctrine and so gete hir a good habit To be expert in cunnyng science & proffit Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis Vt possis aīmo quēuis sufferre laborem Who that lakketh rest may no while endure Therfore among take ease and disport Delite the neuer in gret besinesse & cure But that whilom thou maist also resort To playes recreacions and al other comfort Than shalt thou better laboure atte longe Whan thou hast mirth thy besinesse amonge Cum recte viuas ne cures verba malorum Arbitrij nostri non est qd quisque loquatur Yf thou lyue iustly ay kepe vp right Neuer declinyng for mede lucre drede or fauour Treuly than standest thou in a fulholsome plight Though men maligne the with wordes of rigour Yf thou lyue thus thy good lyf is thy tour We may not let the people to gaure & crye But do yet we le thaugh they missey or lye Productus testis saluo tamen ante pudore Quantūcumque potes celato crimen amici Sone yf thou be called the soth to testifye Euermore sauyng thy worship & honeste Thy frendes trespas be not aboute to bewrye Where as no shame thereof may growe to the This requireth ay good frendship parde In wele and the trewe beneuolence Betwix folkes is frendship in assistence Sermones blandos blesosque cauere memento Simplicitas viri fan●a est fraus ficta loquendi Make b●sy wache kepe wele thy soule algate Beholde wisely aboute & spye thy couert trayne Whan that fals fauel knokketh at thy yate He menyth gile thaugh outward he faire fain̄ For he can anoynte bothe thin eres twayne With the oile of plaisance in ful gret foison But yet vnder the kepe the wele from this poison Segniciem fugito que vite ignauia fertur Nam cum aīmus languet consumit inercia corpus Slouthe slogardy and dul Idelnesse And lachesse that causeth to be negligent Enforce the ay to eschewe with al thy besinesse For Idel soule maketh thy body shent Treuly ther is in erth no gretter argument For to conclude thy mortal body vnapte Than the soule in Idelnes to be wrapte Comoda multa feras sin autem spreueris illud Non me scriptorem sꝪ te neglexeris ipse Enprinte my teching in thy soule stedfast And ful proffitable thou shalt it fynde Forsake it not ner fro thin hert it caste For yf that thou exclude oute of thy mynde This lesson thou art ful barein & blynde From vertues & therfore wite not me Sithen the default my sone is than in the Alterius dictum aut factum ne carpseris vnquam Wedde not a wyf for hire enheritance For she wol cast it often in thy berd And yf she be noyant and ful of greuance Constreine hire neuer to abide in thy yerd Of chastisement It is a cursed swerd To kepe suche oon that wol ay a twyte For he is at ease that of suche oon is quyte Multorum disce exemplo que facta sequaris Que fugias vita nobis est aliena magistra Of other men thou shalt thy myrrour make Confourme the to that / that moost men appreue What thou shalt do & what thou shalt forsake A better fet maist thou not contreue Than to other men is dedes releue In al that perteineth to thy techyng Make of other men a reule of thy leuyng Quod potes id tempta operis ne pondere pressus Succumbat labor et frustra temptata relinquas Attempte no thing that surmonteth thy might Ner that to finisshe thou maist not acheue For than standest thou foule in thin owne sight Ouer his pouer what man that lusteth meue With shame his werke must nedes take leue It is foly a man suche werkes to begynne Whiche to perfourme his power is to thynne Quod nosci factum non recte noli silere Ne videare malos imitari velle tacendo Lawe presumeth that what man kepith stille The crime of oon that hath doon gret offence And discouerid hit not he is than jlle As the criminous for keping of his scilence Therfore my sone beinge it in to audience That thou perceiuest not wele don is Lest for silence men deme of the a mys Iudicis auxilium sub iniqua lege rogato Ipse etem̄ leges cupiunt vt jure regantur Whan the lawe is strait and rigorous Entrete ay the Iugge to do the fauour Enclinyng him for to be gracious For an egal Iugge may thy cause ay socour And yet the lawe shal be his gouernour Whiche oweth sumtyme to modefie As in cas he may a point aspie Quod merito pateris pacienter ferre memento Cumque reus tibi sis ipsum te iudice dampna What peine thou suffrest for thy desert Receyue it ay we le in gree and pacience Althaugh thy trespas be pryue and couert Yet whan thou weyes it in thyn aduertence That thou art blemisshed in thy conscience With in thy self make thou an arbitrement Demyng thy self in thyn owne Iuggement Multa legas facito ꝑlectis ꝑlege multa Nam miranda canunt sed non credenda poete Mispende thou no tyme neuer for lachesse But whilom rede in bookes old and wise Rede and reporte eke with gret attentifnesse By reding to cumnyng a man may ryse Than rede my sone and cunning accomplise Thyse poetes wryten thing of gret meruaile And eke of smale credence ofte this is no faile Inter conuiuas fac sis sermone modestus Ne dicare loquax dum vis vrbanus haberi Euermore amonge frendes sitting atte fest Be thou curteys and demeure of thy langage Who that speketh moost is not counted wisest For of flesshe & bone nature hath made a cage The tonge to kepe that she be not outrage Than yf thou wil be preferred of nature Refrayne thy tonge with al thy besy cure Coniugis irate noli tu verba timere Nam lacrimis struit insidias dum femina plorat Some wommen wepen of pure feminite Whan other wise they can not th aire entent Acheue but yet be war of suche nyce pite Thy manly reason for that be not blent For suche weping thy hert aught neuer relent Some wommen of kynde be euer wepinge And vnder that they can bothe pryk & stynge Vtere quesitis sed ne videaris abuti Qui sua consumunt cum deest aliena sequntur Whan thou hast goten to thy worship vse What availeth richesse with oute honour To spende ay good & worship to refuse Ys no point of proffit ner of socour Therfore that thou hast goten with trew labour Consume not in mysuse lest thou doo a mys Ofte he nedith of other that wasted hath his Fac tibi ꝓpenis mortem non esse timendam Que bona si non est finis tamen illa bonorum Enprinte my child ay hertly in thy mynde That thou be not of deth so sore a drad Exemplo simili ne te derideat alter It is ful hard to please euery wight Displease the of no manere dedes ner them lak Ner th aire wordes neither for euen so right As thou displeased them behinde thy bak Right so wol men make the a mok & knak For the contrarie thaugh men had it sworn The scorner shal be guerdoned ay with scorn Quod tibi sors dederit tabulis supprema notato Augendo serua ne sis quem fama sequatur Whan thy last sort that men callen fate Ys good & pleasant after thyn entent This mene I lo whan thou art fortunate Recorde al thy goodes that god hath the sent And suffre hem not reklesly to be spent For than of a wastour thou shalt haue the name For gret riot wol cause thy feble fame Cum tibi diuicie superant in fine senecte Munificus facito viuas non parcus amicis Into gret age what tyme that thou art crept And hast richesse prosperite & gret habundance Be liberal than of the goodes that a fore y● hast kept Thenke wele thou hast ynogh and suffisance Lete neuer thy good of the haue gouernance But gouerne & departe it ay with thy frend For whan thou gost hens it may not with y● wend Vtile consilium dominus ne despice serui Nullius sensum si ꝓdest contempseris vnquam Grace is youen to man in many sondry wise Some haue wisedam & some haue eloquence The poure folkes also some tyme be ful wise A seruant suntyme may be ek of gret sapience Thaugh al he be had in litel reuerence Re●arde his wit yf it be worth the while For vertu is hid vnder many an habit vile Rebus et in sensu si non est quod fuit ante Fac viuas contentus eo qd tempora prebent This worldes welth ebbing & flowing ay At no certein is like as wankle aprile Thaugh thou haue losse thou shalt not y● dismay Be content with that thou hast for the while Some man ther is that hath neither crosse ne pile Now in his ward & yet right good auenture Ys him ful negh no man may knowe his vre Vxorem fuge ne ducas sub nomine dotis Nec retinere velis si cepit esse molesta Whiche shal the from wrechednesse vnbynde Where in thy lyf so longe thou hast forth lad A lyf perauenture to god and man ful bad The whiche thaugh she be not to al proffitable Yet she maketh an end bothe of bad & able Vxoris linguam si frugi est ferre memento Namque malum nil velle pati nec posse taceri Thy wyves wordes thou suffre & take in gre Whan it availeth for betyde it may Ful ofte that of grete prudence is she And moost to be allowed this is no nay Suffre hire than and hire conceit assay For it is hard whan thou can not be stille Ner yet to suffre hire thou can eke haue wille Dilige non egra caros pietate parentes Nec matrem offendas dum vis bonus esse parenti Goodes that ben yeuen the of nature They come to the of thy progenitours Therfore my child with al thy force & cure Loke thou loue hem and cherisshe at al hours For they fostred y● & kept in youth from shours Thy moder my dere child yet in especial Yf thou do we le neuer offende at al Resorte resorte and hiderward the releue My maistre now here is an holsome eire For your availe to this place retreue Where as for moralite springing floures feire And sote ful pleasantly do the repeire Gadre of hem and make a chaplet or a gay And rest thou a while here right in this herbere Beholde wele & see what thing is to your pay

Incipit liber quartus ●Ecuram quicumque cupis deducere vitam Nec vicijs herere aīm que moribus obsunt What wight that lust to lyue in sekernesse His lyf & his soule to kepe from incumbrance Of vices the whiche & good thewes expresse Be ay at stryf come nere & geue attendance Thise preceptis kepe wele in remembrance Enrolling hem and printing in your mynde And so to lyue the menes shal ye fynde Despice diuicias si vis animo esse beatus Quas qui suscipiunt mendicant semper auari The foule talent of riches my child eschewe And resemble thou neuer gredy tantalus Whos etyk in hunger is alwey newe Amonge the feire apples delicious No water swete quenchith his thrust right thus To vilayns swalowe of couetise Loo al this world noght can ner suffise Comoda nature nullo tibi tempore deerunt Si contentus eo fueris qd postulat vsus With resonable fedyng be thou content As in diete a man shold neuer ouer charge Hym self for with surfet many men ben shent For th aire receites ben to grete and large Men seen alday that litel bote or barge Wol drenche a noon whan it is ouer freight Cherisshe euer nature with none ouer weight Cum sis incautus nec rem racione gubernas Noli fortunam que non est dicere cecam Yf thy thyng the happe to misgouerne Withoute reason or any prouidence Than myn owne child of me this lesson lerne Say not It was by fortune suche expense To make but wite it thyn owne negligence For fortune may neuer compelle the Thy good to spende but at thy liberte Dilige denarium sed parce dilige formam Quam nemo sanctus nec honestus captat habere Loue thou the peny as for thy cheuisance Not for the quoyne to horde it vpon hepe For of the prince was made the ordonance Not for in cofres It shold be stille & slepe But that it shold ay stere among the people & sepe In their eschange & who that kepith it Inne As for the fourme is ay soubget to synne Cum fueris locuples ocrpus curare memento Eger diues habet nummos sꝪ non habet ipsum Whan thou hast plente and art pecunial I mene whan thou hast grete suffisance Of money foyson and help but smal Than spende thy money & thy self auance Kepe neuer the coyne and lyue in greuance The sike hath siluer in ful gret excesse But of him self he hath no sikernesse Verba cum tuleris discens aliquando magistri Fer patris imperium cum verbis exit in iram Thaugh sumtime thou suffre the gret shrapnes Of beting yet ay thy maistres chastisement Take wele in gre with humble lowlines Sith it is don but al in good entent In cause to lerne and wisedam for to hent Al thaught his wordes sowne ful of Ire Yet suffre thou the talent of that fire Res age que ꝓsunt rursus vitare memento In quibus error inest nec spes est certa laboris Also my child thou shalt the ay occupie To wirke thing that ben proffitable But loke thou neuer thy wittes applie To thinges that may not be available To kepe a thing that is not proffitable By wit or strengthe It is gret errour Dispaired hope is the end of suche labour Quod donare potes gratis concede roganti Nam recte fecisse bonis in parte lucrosum est Whan thou shalt yeue than yeue in frendly wyse Frendly contente thou a praier or a request For thing yeuen by tyme is yeuen twise Suche gladsome chere makith yeftes richest Who that yeueth gladly & sone yeueth is best Loo no thing better may thing conquere Than a man to lene that he may forbere Quod tibi suspectum est confestim discute quid sit Namque solent primo que sunt neglecta nocere Whan vpon a thing thou hast a coniecture As in thy conceit holding in suspect To discoure that a noon do thy cure For at the first whan suche thing is reiect That shold sewe after is easy to correct A thing that at the firfr is noght set by Ys often tymes sene to greue finally Cum te detineat veneris dampnosa voluptas Indulgere gule noli que ventris amica est And whan thou art disposed inwardlye To venus actes than oppresse thy corage Suffre not thy flesshe than to lustlye For grete diete maketh thy flesshe outrage Where as mesure might causen it to aswage And gloteny is cleped the chief prometrice Leding the flesshe ay to wantonesse & vice Cum tibi ꝓponas aīalia cuncta timere Vnum precipue hominem plus esse timendum The rampant lyon and the tigre felle The jrous bore the hounde ful of enuie And many moo bestis than here nedith to tell Men dreden ful sore & eke th aire tirannye And wele they do but yet oon beest espye That is a fore al other moost especial Man is the beest that thou moost drede shal Cum tibi preualide fuerint in corpe vires Fac sapias animo sic tu poteris vir fortis haberi The vertue that is called fortitude Stondeth al in the strengthe bodely As to be eurous mighty stronge & rude But in the soule It must be sikerly Neuertheles yf thou wilt thy soule fortefye And hym within a queinte with sapience Treuly than shalt thou be stronge in existence Auxilium a notis petito si forte laboras Nec quisquam melior medicus quam fidus amicus What thing in erth that thou shalt take on honde And thy support shal be in frendlinesse No strange wight on lyue so negh the wol stonde As thy knowen frend my child this is expresse Of the stranger hast thou no sikernesse For whan al other ben for to seche The feithful knowen frend can best be thy leche Cum sis ipse nocens moritur cur victima pro te Stulticia est in mortem alterius sperare salutem The deth of bestes that ben vnresonable As by custume and right of sacrifise To pourge the js no seth greable Truste not also to gete thy repryse For they that trusten so ben ful vnwyse By deth of bestes god wol not quemed be And a man a bide stille in his iniquyte Cum tibi vel socium vel fidum queris amicum Non tibi fortuna est hominis sꝪ vita petenda Whan thou wold chese a frend for trustinesse Of his fortune make noon inquirance For fortune is moder of changeablenesse But aske of his dedes & his gouernance For that is proued of gretter suffisance Than vre of fortune that is casuelle For lyf of man his fortune doth excesse Vtere quesitis opibus fuge nomen auari Quid tibi diuicie ꝓsunt si pauper habundas Vse wele the richesse that thou hast of quest Of auarice the wikked fame eschewe Lete not thy good lye ay stopped in thy chest Kepe not thy tresour & stuf ay closed in mewe Suche old tresour wol make thy shame newe What proffiteth plente & gret tresure And in pouerte a wreche al wey to endure Si famam seruare cupis dum viuis honestam ●ac fugias animo que sunt mala gaudia vite My sone yf thou desire to reioyse thy fame In honeste while thou lyuest here Eschewe thing that may causen thy shame And lichorous lustes must be leyde on lere And eke thingis fele that ful Ioious appere Thy worldes Ioye is ofte ful defectif Be war of Ioye that lettith thy good lyf Cum sapias animo noli irridere senectam Nam quocumque sene puerilis sensus in illo est And ay my child assay & aduertise That thou neuer skorne the gret stouping age Thy elder my sone for no thing thou dispise Thaugh al in th aire wittes they be not so sage As in th aire youth sith age is outrage Whan age cometh this is soth certain A man begynneth than to be a child a gain Disce aliquid nam cum subito fortuna recedit Ars remanet vitamque hominis non deserit vnquam Enforce thy wittes sumwhat for to lere Aqueinte the with cunnyng for it is sure Yf fortune change & pouerte appere Who that is cunnyng is likly to recure Cunnyng & craft remayne euer & endure And by theim a man may sone releue Whan fortune hath cast him to mischeve Prospicito cuncta tacitus quod quisque loquatur Sermo hoīm mores celat et iudicat idem Be stille in scilence with good aduis●dnesse Tarye my child til other haue saide So shalt thou lerne sumwhat of stedfastnesse Lete neuer thy tonge sodeinly be vnteide For that might the of hastinesse abreide By man is word his maner wol be shewde By word eke is knowen the wise from the lewde Excerce studium quamuis ꝑceperis artem Vt cura ingenium sic et mamis adiuuat vsum Thaugh of cunnyng thou haue ful gret Enforce the ay my child yet to lerne more The soule it is that must be thy receit Replenisshe here with vertues tresour & store Vse maketh maistrie vse thou ay cunning therfore Vse helpeth art and cure helpith wit Than vse and cure to gedre must be knit Multum venturi ne cures tempora fati Non metuit mortem qui scit contempnere vitam The body from the soule shal haue disseuerance Deth is the ende commune of euery wight Charge not therfore of deth is chance The tribut of deth must thou pay of right But yet of deth shalt thou set but light Yf by this lyf thou set right noght expresse The whiche is ay ful of wo & wrechednesse Disce sed a doctis indoctos ipse doceto Propaganda est etem̄ rerum doctrina bonarum Lerne ay of the wise & teche the vncunnyng For it is vertue & at al tyme commendable To encrese doctrine thurgh suche commenyng It is eke alwey a dede of god charitable Bothe to lerne & to teche It is ful greable Doctrine helpith vertue euermore on lyue Whiche ne were doct̄ne sone from vs wolde slyue Hoc bibe qd possis si tu vis viuere sanus Morbi causa mali namque est quecumque voluptas Drinke not to moche more than thou may lere Reule wele ay thy self with the bridel of mesure To moche drinke wol thy body noy & dere For surfet is euermore of helth vnsure And mesure maketh men in helth tendure What man is reuled after lustes vile In good estat he may abide no while Laudaris quodcumque palam quodcumque probaris Hoc vide ne rursus leuitatis crimine dampnes And yf it hap the my child in audience A thing to praise bewar that thou not blame Efte agein right the same in presence Yf thou dispreise commende not eke the same Of suche trauers must nedis ryse shame To preise now and este to blame expres It is a signe of gret vnstedfastnes Tranquillis rebus que sunt aduersa caueto Rursus in aduersis melius sperare memento Whan thou lyuest here right at thin owne ease In al thy hertis ioye rest and prosperite Thenke yet parcas that prosperite may sese For wordly welth standeth neuer in sikerte And as sone whan pouerte or aduersite Assauteth that yet falle thou neuer in dispaire Thenke ay in thy self good fortune may repaire Discere non cesses cura sapiencia crescit Rara datur longo prudencia temporis vsu It is ful faire m●●hild to be prudent And wise loke that thou lerne fast therfore To lerne ay my sone do thyn entent For by cure & besinesse wisdam is the more Wisdam is she that may not be forbore The rare prudence that folkes nyce refuse Can neuer be had but by processe & vse Paror laudato nam quem tu sepe probaris Vna dies qualis fuerit monstrabit amicus Beware also that thou neuer enhance In thy laude or preising a wight to hye For thou maist haue cause efte to disanance Thy fame but ay thy preising modefye For on a day thou shalt ful wele espye Whether he be frend that frendly semyth For al be no frendes that men demyth Ne pudeat que nescieris te velle doceri Scire aliquid laus est culpa est nil discere velle Be not a shamed also my child to lere That thou canst not for it is but a tecche Of foly noght to desire doctrine to here For wele is him that to cunnyng may strecche For cūnyngles a man is but a wreche Therfore to cunne moche it is right comendable And eke noght to cunne it is moost rep̄uable Cum venere et bacho lis est et iuncta voluptas Quod iustum est animo complectere sꝪ fuge lites Vemis is ay redy to al hire actes vile Whan that bachus hath hire in largesse Thurgh the tresour of hire h●te & feruent sire Therfore my child thin apetit thou represse In wynes hete do thou neuer to gret excesse Drinke nomore than for the soule is expedient Eschewe strif & ay with mesure be content Dimissos animo tacitos vitare memento Quo flumen est placidum forsan latet alcior vnda The solein stille man ofte meneth fraude & gile Of suche a man eschewe ay the companye For the stille man compasseth other while Within his deceit falshede & trecherie In flodes stille is water depe and hye For often tymes betide vnhappy chance In stremes softe semyng to thy pleasance Cum tua fortuna rerum tibi displicet vni Alterius specta quo sis discrimine peior With thy fortune whan thou art discontent And canst not take in gre thin auenture Beholde aboute and fele in thin aduisement Howe they that whilom were of goodes more sure Than thou & more likly in welth tendure Bothe for bounte fauour & eke noblesse and yet sodenly they haue fall into wrechednesse Quod potes id tempta nam litus carꝑe remis Tucius est multo quam velum tendere in altum Attempte the thing so as thou maist suffise Passe neuer thi might bere neuer to hye a saylle For there is perel yf that the streme a ryse Certein my child this is withoute faile The vessel smal is at ful gret availe Whan that with core to londe he may a reche Whan the sayles hye ful ofte gon to wreche Contra hominem iustum praue contendere noli Semper em̄ deus iniustas vlciscitur iras agein the trew iust man braule thou neuer ne striue For vnto god a boue that is gret displeasance Truste this trewly there is noman here on lyue That to the iust man doth dere or greuance But at the last god wol take vengance Therfore hereof it is reason jche man to take For the right wiseman of god is neuer forsake Ereptis opibus noli merere dolendo Sed gaude pocius si te contingat habere Yf extorcion or of any misauenture Haue plukked at the & made the thredbare Of richesse yet do thou ay thy force & cure To be mery & eschewe thought and care For flitering thought is a foule snare Come not therein fortune is vnstable After pouerte richesse ●s preignable Est iactura grauis que sunt amittere dampnis Sunt quedam que ferre decet pacienter amicum It is harme thy goodes to for go That ben in hand with force & violence But yet my child thou must considere who And what he is that doth suche offence Betwene frend & foo haue ay a difference For in summe cas thou aught a frend forbere And eke suffre him though he noye & dere Tempora longa tibi noli promittere vite Quocumque ingrederis sequitur mors corporis vmbram Be not sure that thou shalt lyue here longe A wight shal dye al be it that he be loth or lef And as the old so doth the yong eke amonge Deth stelith ay on as doth a pryue thef For agein deth men may finde no relef She is aboute ay to make a final diuorse And foleweth eche day the schadowe of thy corse Thure deum placa vitulum siue crescat aratro Net credas placare deum dum cede litatur Worshipe god with all thy puissance With hert entier & swete smelling ensence Suche sacrifice is good to his pleasance Of the calues smale that neuer did offence Thaugh thou hem sle the blode may not dispence With the lete hem growe & swynke in the plough Thy trew hert ay to god is suffisance is ynogh Cede locum lesus fortune cede potenti Ledere qui potuit aliquando ꝓdesse valebit Yeue place to hym that excedith thy might Thaugh thou be hurt It may proffite par chance And selde availeth any man to fight Agein suche oon that passith his puissance Thaugh al it greue now efte it may avance For ofte is sene that after gret duresse The mighty man is ful of gentillesse Cum quid peccaris castiga teipse subinde Vulnera dum sanas dolor est medicina doloris After thy surfet and thy gret offence Chastise thy self correcte that is a mys Redresse the to good reule amende thy negligence And sorowe for synne a verrey medicine is Repente the sore than art thou sauf I I wys For phis●k seith my sone I the ensure A bitter drink the sharp seknesse may cure Dampnaris numquam post longum tempus amicum Mutauit mores sꝪ pūgnera prima memento Yf thou haue founde good frendship in a wight Longe a goo & yet thaugh he begyn to change Dispeire him not men abide not in oon plight For sumtime was lordship ther now is grange The worldes cours is wondre queint & strange But thaugh as now the man is wex vnkinde Yet is old frendship remembrd ay in mynde Gracior officijs quo s●s mage carior esto Ne nomen subeas quod dicitur officiperdi Thaugh it vre the in office to be set Than be thou gentil & gracious to other men That they may reporte a godly is met With office and so good name shal ren Aboute of the but assure the lest when The officer is vnbounde than seith the prees Now wold to god the this man were officeles Suspectus caueas ne sis miser omnibus horis Nam timidis et suspectis aptissima mors est Be not suspect that is a wikked teche The suspect man with coward ferfulnesse In his liuing is but a verrey wreche Mys is a mys but al he wold redresse He demeth fals and faileth hertlinesse By fals conceit set in malencolye Sleth hym a noon thus deth endith his folye Cum seruos fueris ꝓprios mercatus in vsus Et famulos dicas homines tamen esse memento Yf thou haue men withoute fredom & liberte Suche as ben cleped men of bondage Notwithstanding they be vnder thy captiuite Yet honoure suche & ouer hem be not to outrage Yf they beholden vnder thy wordly seruage For al they ben bounde yet verrey men they be that god hath made theim men yet ay remember the Quam primum rapienda tibi est occasio prima Ne rursus queras que iam neglexeris ante Thy first fortune receiue with redinesse Refuse it not thaugh it be skant & smal It is wel better in gre to take the lesse Than to refuse it and after faile of al Yeftis of fortune take hem ay as they fal Refuse hem nowe & efte thou shalt haue nede Therfore it is to take whan me profre & bede Morte repentina noli gaudere malorum Felices obiunt quorum sine crimine vita Reioyse the neuer my child in al thy lyf The sodein deth of a cursed man & wreche Whan he is ded the soule may not relef From peine to joy the soule may not reche The fendes holde ay sore that they may keche Therfore who that liuyth iustly ful wel doth he For his soule is ay ful of felicite Cum coniunx tibi sit nec res et fama laborat Vitandum ducas inimicum nomen amici Yf thou haue a wyf in assurance Truste hire wele & loue hir inwardlye With hert with thought with al thy affiance And be thou neuer infect with suspect Ielosye Yf no fault be in hire or that thou can espye Yet yf thy frend tel the suche is the fame He is a frend and she no thing to blame Cum tibi contigerit studio cognoscere multa Hac discas multa vita nescire doceri Whan thurgh studie & gret excersice Thou knowest moche & hast gret cunnyng Yet ay do thy diligence in the moost besy wyse To purchase more for it is a holsome thyng For to gret honnour cunnyng may the being And eschewe thou neuer daily to be taught for withoute teching cunnyng may not be caught Miraris verbis midis me scribere versus Hec breuitas sensus fecit coniungere binos Yf thou aught meruayle or lust to muse In naked wordes why my versis thus I write In no wyse trewly I may me better excuse Than sey my wit so dul is and vnparfite Whiche arteth me thus rudely for to endite By two and two my metre for to knyt No thing causeth me but simplenesse of wit Nowe I haue gadered floures to your lyst Tasteth theim for they be preseruatyf Holdeth theim fast & bere hem in your fyst For the pestilence eire whiche is infectif I conseile you and I jeparde my lyf That ye shul lede your lyf in sekernesse And eke ateine to moche worthinesse This mene I to you vnder protection Of your gode grace what tyme ye rede Or ell haue in this mater inspection As it biddeth that ye wol do in dede Than dar I afferme withoute drede Ye shul acheue and be ful vertuous Here haue I fonde that shal you guyde & lede Streight to gode fame & leue you in hir hous

Explicit Catho