History of King Boccus, The

sig: [A1]

¶The history of kyng Boccus / and Sydracke how he confoundyd his lerned men / and in the syght of them dronke stronge venym in the name of the Trinite and dyd hym no hurt. Also his diuynyte that he lerned of the boke of Noe. Also his profycyes that he had by reuelacyon of the aungell. Also his answeris to the questions of wysdome / both morall and natural wyth moche worldly wysdome contayned in noumber .CCC.lxv. translatyd by Hugo of Caumpeden / out of frenche into Englysshe.

sig: [A1v]

¶ Iohnn_Twyne to the redar

THe profyt and commodite of this boke (o gentyl and curteys redar) is so euydent and open / that it nedythe no settyng out nor praysyng / for dowtful thynges comenly be praysyd or despraysed / be_cause trewe iugment may be taken of them. but thynges of open goodnes nede no praysyng / for with theyr goodnes they prayse them-selfe / as thou shalt fynd this boke / the whych to speke truly can not be suffycyently praysed. I had leuer therfore (as Salust sayth of Carthago) hold my pese and to speke lytel of yt / but shortly to knowe somwhat of his matters in effect / he showeth of goddys workes ryght as the old and new testament in many volumes declareth. Also natural phylosophy expressyng the causes with euydent ensamples of moch moralyte in geuyng good counsel and a delect betwyx good and bade and truly more euydent than euer dyd Plato / Arystotyles / or Cicero in theyr manyfold workes / he shortly techeth moch knowlege of physyke the dyspo[s]ycyondysposycyon] dyspocycyon 1537 of complexcyons the alteracyon of ages with moch secresy of the yere / greatly of astronomy / course of heuyn / and planets with theyr respectes / breuely and playnly that that ypocras / Galyen or Ptholomy comprehendyd in great or iuste volumes. Also moch worldly experyence. Abundaunt in prophesyes / how the maners of men shal alter and the world shalbe ended / with his iugment meruelus exhortyng the people to eschew the fylthynesse of synne / what paynes are ordayned for yt / and the ioyes of heuyn. Than is this boke necessary to al men. For it exhortyth to wysdome / good maners / ensamples hystoryis. wherfore it may well be called a boke of philosofye / that is to say a stody of wysdome. Than I counsayle euery man to rede this boke / or that cannot rede to geue dylygent eere to the reder for they shal fynde therin great frute bothe to the soule and body.

¶Here begynneth the table of this boke.

¶Fyrst the hystory of Boccus and Sidracke / how by the power of god he dystroyed his ydols / and by the counsayle of the aungel shewed hym the vmbre vmbre ='reflection', here and several times below (see OED s.v. umber n1, 1c), or, alternatively, may be an aphetic form of 'number' (see OED s.v. umber n4).of the trinite / wherby he conuerted hym and all his host. Than gaue he hym enstructions / and answeryd to dyuers questions that he demaundyd of hym.

sig: B1

MEn may fynde in olde bokys

Who-so therin lokys

Actes worthy of memory

Full of knowlege and mystery

Wherof I shall shew a lytell ieste

That be_fell ons in the Eest

Ther was a kynge that Boccus hyght

And was a man of moche myght

His lande lay by the greate ynde

Bectorye hyght it as we fynde

After the tyme of Noe euen

Eyght hundred yere fourty and seuen

The kynge Boccus hym be_thought

That he wolde haue a cytye wrought

His enmyes ther-with to fere

¶And agayn them to mayntayne his were

Chefly for a kynge that was his foo

That moche of ynde longed vnto

His name was Garaab the kynge

Boccus tho purueyed all-thynge

And shortly a towre began he

There he wolde make a cytye

And was ryght in the incomynge

Of Garabys lande the kynge

The masons with grete laboure

Began to worke on the towre

And all that they wrought on the daye

On nyght was it doone a_waye

On morowe whan Boccus it herde

He was wrouthe that it so fared

And it all newe quykly begonne

At nyght whan they shulde leue sone

sig: [B1v]

Of werke / and they wente to rest

On the morowe all was downe kest

Well vij. monethes thus they wrought

And all myght a_vayle nought

¶ Boccus was wrothe wonderly

He called his gentylls that was hym by

Cownsell me lordynges / quod he

How I may best make this cytye

Syr they sayd sende you anone

For your phylosophers euerychone

And the astronomers that in your countre is

For of them can you no cownsell mys

Kynge Boccus for them sent

His messyngers to gather them went

And whan they apperyd to_gyther there

Foure score and .ix. maysters there were

The kynge receyuyd them with the best

And thre dayes he dyd let them reste

The fourth daye he dyd them caull

And they before hym were come all

¶Lordynges he sayd I shall tell you now

For what cause I ha[u]e sent for you

I am the most kynge I_wysse

That vnder the sonne rysynge is

All the kynges of this countrye

At my commaundment truly be

Excepte Garaab the kynge

That in ynde is raynynge

He contraryes my commaundment

And not comys to my parlyament

And hym wolde I fayne compell

But howe in his lande to enter I cannot tell

sig: B2

But men haue cow[n]selyd me cownselyd] cowselyd 1537

For to make there a cytye

Masons and stone I thyther brought

And seuen mounthes there-on they wrought

Ryght in the entre of his lande

For to meke hym to [my] hande my] his 1537, my B, myn L

And all that they on daye wrought

At nyght turned all to nought

And yf Garaab hath perauenture herde

Of our worke how it farede

He wyll saye I haue no myght

A tower in his land for to dyght

Therfore your wyttes here-on laye

Prayeng you that ye me saye

How I maye after my wyll

This tower and the cytye fulfyll

For I had leuer a_venged to be

Of Garaab that despysyth me

Than the name of all the world to bere

And by my god I you swere

That I shall soone for your dede

Quyte rychely your mede

¶Syr quod they we you promyse

That tower suerly for to furnyshe

So that ye shall a_vengyd be

And haue your mynde of the cytye

And you vs respyte geue

Fourty dayes by your leue

Tyll we our arte haue ouer-sene

How your tower shall be made a_gayne

And we shall do our myght

To make it stonde daye and nyght

sig: [B2v]

A place he causyd made redy to be

With vernaunt flowers and many a tree

And with freyshe water of the ryuer

100

He commaundyd on all goodly maner

That they were serued rychely

That daye as his owne body

Astronomers ther ware many one in fee

That were the eldest men of that countrye

105

And they wrought dylygently in theyr arte

Euery one by hym-selfe on his parte

And whan the fourty dayes ware gone

They came before the kynge anone

He askyd them how they had wrought

110

Syr quod they take you no thought

Be you glade and mery also

For you shall all your mynd come to

Within a xiiij. nyghtes ye shall se

Therfore let your masons redy be

115

Suche a tyme as we shall you saye

Stones vppon the tower to laye

And loke that they be than redy

And we all wyll be there-by

Full greatly thanked them the kynge

120

And moche ioye had he of theyr sayenge

¶Than came the daye that they had set

The masons were all-redy fet

And the maysters wente with-all

To se them that worke shall

125

With greate ioye they be_gunne

And wrought as longe as they had sonne

Whan that the nyght came at the laste

They wente home to make repaste

sig: B3

And they lefte vpon the worke all nyght

130

Great plenty truly of candell-lyght

They went all home at nyght-tyme

And came ageyne the nexte daye be pryme

The kynge was the nexte daye wod

Whan he sawe his worke not stode

135

All the tresure that he had vp layed

In ydylnesse it is consumyd he sayed

And he anon cauled before hym the clerkes

And sayed are thes your good werkes

That you haue caused me for to do

140

By the god that I beleue on and loue also

Quyte I shall all your dede

And for your werkes ye shall haue mede

Bynde them fote and hande

Thes wordis were spred a_brode in his lande

145

And so they were in pryson cast

Therin kepte without fauor fast

¶Ferof this towre the voyce rane

And vnto Garaab at lenght it came

Whan he it herde great ioye he had

150

And in his herte he was full glade

A letter he made to kyng Boccus

And sent it by hym that spake thus

I Garaab of ynde kynge

To the Boccus sendes gretynge

155

We haue vnderstondyng well

Of thy worke and thy wyll euerydele

Of the Cytye thou woldest dyght

But thou hast therto no myght therto] theyrto 1537

Neyther by arte nor by engyn

160

For to brynge it to a fyne.

sig: [B3v]

But wylt thou sende me to my fere

Thy doughter that to the is so dere

And I shall gyue the leue thereto

To make that thou desyrest so

165

This came to Boccus the kynge

All in skorne and in mockynge

Boccus thought his herte shulde blede

Whan he herde the letters rede

And was so wode with that answere

170

That by and by he slewe the messyngere

Than dyd he in his lande crye

Yf there ware eny lowe or hye

That cowde hym cownsell of that thynge

How he my[g]ht brynge it to endynge myght] myhht 1537

175

That cytye with the tower

He shulde with great honoure

Gyue hym his doughter vnto wy[f]e wyfe] wye 1537

With halfe his tresure in his lyfe

Well two dayes after this crye

180

The kynge sat full drerely

For he wyste not what to do

Than came an olde man hym to

And sayd syr I shall not craue

Your doughter nor your tresure to haue

185

But yf you wyll do me good

I shall wytsafe to amende your mode

And shew who shall on hym take

Your tower and cytye for to make

¶The kynge anon swore by his god

190

That he loued and trusted in euer-more

He shulde so quyt his seruyse

That it shulde lyke hym and all his

sig: [B4]

Syr he sayed this is beste to do

Sende the kynge Tractabar vnto

195

And praye hym for your seruyse

That he you lende in eny wyse

The boke of Astronomye

That Noe had with hym in balye

By an Aungell was made that boke

200

And Noe to one of his sonnes it toke

And so hath it gone I tell you

That Tractabar hath it now

Praye hym also you to lende

And with that boke hastely to sende

205

His astronomer Sydrac

Whiche shall vndo all the hole pac

All your wyll shall sone be do

Yf Sydrac come you ones to

Anon the kynge dyd letters make

210

And to a messynger he dede them take

And vnto Tractabar them sent

Withe a full ryche and good present

Desyryng hym very curtesly

His boke and Sydrac to sende short[l]y shortly] shorty 1537

215

¶Whan Tractabar that messengere

Had receyued with louynge chere

Sayeng you are ryght welcome to me

Grete ioye I haue that I nou se

My lorde and my frende Boccus

220

To sende me louyng letters thus

A boke to lende hym he prayes me

That in olde tyme had Noe

That boke can fulfyll his wyll

Of a thynge that lyes beryed in a hyll

sig: [B4v]

225

That who-so myght come them to

He myght all his wyll do

My father wente vp to that hyll

But he myght neuer come ther-tyll

But Boccus is of moche myght

230

And he wyll with them fyght

That vpon that hyll wonne

He shall haue his wyll sone

He sent hym his boke and Sydrac

And a letter that thus spake

235

Unto our lorde and frende

The kynge Boccus vnto we sende

Whom kynge [Tractabar] greteth well Tractabar] Garaab 1537

And certyfyeth that we haue euery-dele

Accordyng your mynde we sende you to

240

Our boke and our clarke also

And thanke ye moche of your sendynge

A glade man was Bocchus tho

Whan Sydrac before hym cam truly

He toke hym by the hande ryght gladly

245

And tolde hym euery-dele of his case

And how to hym it befallen was

¶Syr quod Sydrac that lande I_wysse

Euery-dele be_weched is

There shall neuer man spede

250

Upon that lande to do no dede

That therof shall come eny prosperyte

Excepte theyr wychecrafte vndoune be

And I shall it redely vnbynde

¶I thank the quod the kyng for thy wordes

255

¶Syr kynge quod Sydrac we fynde

In this boke that was Noes mynde

sig: C1

That an aungel came hym to

From his god that send hym tho

And tolde hym that he myght fynde

260

An hyll fare in the lande of ynde

That called is the grene rauens hyll

And hath that name for this skyll

Whan Noe the rauen sent

Out of the arke verament

265

To proue yf there apered eny grounde

But he fell on careyn that he founde

And wolde not truly come awaye

The dowe vpon another daye

Fownd lande and came ageyne blyue

270

With a branche of grene olyue

That hyll is of length as we rede

Foure ioyrneys and thre of brede

People ther dwelleth of strange chere

Made of body as we are here

275

But theyr vysages for to se on

Are as houndes euerychon

By the lawe of femynne as it tellys femynne: =Feminie

Lyes it there / no man in dwellys

On that hyll such frutfulnese is

280

That .xij.M. herbes there growys

Foure thowsand may good do

Foure thowsand are yuel to

The thyrd thowsand who them vnderstode

May do nether yuell ne good

285

Seuen maner waters there are on

And all they gather in-tyl one

The dewes the herbes cause to sprynge

And yf you wyll haue your entendynge

sig: [C1v]

Fynde menys the herbes to wynne

290

And than may you neuer blynne

To do all that your wyll is

And ouercome your enemys

The kynge made ioy whan he herde this

And swore so euer haue I blys

295

His tresure and goddes to lose all

But thos herbes haue I shall

¶Redely on the thyrde daye

He with great company went his waye

Unto the hyll-warde they made spede

300

And Sydrac with them dyd lede

The thyrtene daye come they tyll

A vale at the fote of the hyll

There taryed they thre dayes

The fourth daye to the hyll toke theyr wayes

305

But the people that dwelled there

Hard that they come were

Anon agayne them went boldly

And dyd bet them backe manfully

Unto the vale ageyne they tourned

310

And fyften dayes so they iourned

And than went they to the hyll ageyne

Truly with all theyr mayne

And fought with them full hardely

But they ware dyscomfortyd fouly

315

Unto the dale ageyne they went

And after great succoure they sent

Whan they come they dyd them spede

Ageyne that they ware at that dede

And than they that on the hyll wore

320

They dyd dyscomforte for euer-more

sig: C2

And viij. dayes they dwellyd styll

Hauy[n]ge all the hyl at wyll

¶ Boccus was hethen and knew nought

God that heuyn wrought

325

He beleuyd all in ydolatre

And in false ymagere

Sydrac beleuyd in the Trynyte

Kepynge his commaundment with dylygense

The kynge where he yede

330

His mammetes with hym dyd lede

And vpon the eyghtene daye

Upon the hyll where they lay

Theyr warre clene don

The kynge made redy a pauylyon

335

And his goddes forth fet

Eche one in his place was set

There ware they set in molde

Both of syluer and golde

And amonge them there was one

340

Rychest of them euerychone

Of golde and syluer comly to se

Hyest amonge them stode he

Most had in honoure

Amonge all that there wore

345

Bestes the kynge forth gan call

To make sacryfyce with-all

He toke Sydrac by the hande

With other lordes of his lande

To the pauylyon they went

350

The bestes ware there present

A shepe very fat he toke truly

Kyllynge hym with his knyfe deuoutly

sig: [C2v]

Before hym that so hye stode

And offeryd to hym the blode

355

And euery one slewe at the last

And aboute the pauylyon them cast

¶ Sydrac wondered in his thought

And markyd sadly what they wrought

¶ Kynge Boccus sayd Sydrac vp-ryse

360

And vnto our god make sacryfyse

¶ Sydrac answeryd with great yre

And sayd that shall I neuer syre

Sacryfyse shall I make hym to

Heuyn and erth that made also

365

Both ayer / element / sonne and the se

And all that therin be

Also that made both Adam and Eue

He is the god that I on beleue

¶The kynge was wrothe there he stode

370

And askyd hym in his mode

What canyst thou by my goddes say

Are they not good and all thynges may

¶Nay quod Sydrac trust me to

They are wycked and false also

375

And the deuyl in them dwellynge is

Craftely that begyleth the I_wys

And all that honoure to them make

But I cownsel you them forsake

For a bad god I hym suppose

380

That cannot a mannys herte dysclose

I had leuer to dethe be tourmentyd

Or of me they shulde be honoryd

¶The kynge was wrothe of his sayeng

And caused his goddes forth to bryng

sig: C3

385

And whan they were before hym brought

He sayd Sydrac dysdayne nought

Sacryfyse to do anone

Before so rych a god as this is one

Syr he sayd my sacryfyce

390

Shall be to god that hye iustyce

That made man and man not hym

But this is the deuelys lym

The deuyl of them thanke takyth

That vnto hym honour makyth

395

Therfore they be refusyd of me

All thes mahowndes that ye here se

Now was the kynge moued sore

That his goddes despysed wore

And sayd to Sydrac tell thou me

400

Thy god how callyd is he

¶Syr he sayd I shall tel ywys

On god a goostly substance is

And the aungels of heuyn lyght

That are so noble and so bryght

405

Passynge the sonne in manyfolde

Hauynge great ioy on hym to beholde

¶The kynge than callyd two of his

That ware in his lawe counted wyse

For to dyspute with Sydrac

410

But he cast them sone abacke

And ouercome all theyr reson

Ryght in opyn dysputacyon

¶Praye thou than quod they thy god vnto

And we wyll to ours also

415

Trustynge to haue tokenynge

Who shall sonyst haue his askynge

sig: [C3v]

These two went forth at the last

And theyr god ensensyd fast

And set on theyr knees hym before

420

And called to theyr god sore

Let not this weche with his sawe

Ouercome thy trewe lawe

The deuyll than within hym spake

Quod he) shortely Sydrac take

425

Brenne hym and do hym shame

But he worshyp well my name

They than rose Sydrac to take

And he sate knelynge his prayer to make

Sayeng lorde god of myght

430

That made bothe day and nyght

Thou that art god of Noe

Of Abraham / ysaac / and of me

I the with harte praye and desyre

That thou fere this folke now here

435

To them shewe thy powre anone-ryght

That the deuyll haue no myght

Nowhere the maystery to wynne

There thy name is namyd in

Whan he had made his orysone

440

A fyre came from heuen adowne

And brente to powder where he stode

Theyr god that they held so good

And that men also

That Sydrac to take wold go

445

And an hundred .xx. and mo

That stode aboute brent were tho

And scarsly scapyd the kynge

That he had not that endynge

sig: [C4]

Out of theyr god the deuyll ran

450

And made a crye that euery man

That they of it had suche drede

That they wyst neuer what they dede

¶Now is the kyng nere tent

Whan he sawe his god thus brent

455

He toke anone Sydrac

And bound his handis behynd his backe

Kepyng hym so styll

Untyll of hym he had his wyll

And after that laye they thore

460

Seuen dayes and more

That of the world had they no lyght

For fere they had nye lost theyr syght

Sydrac thus in pryson laye

Untyll the moneth daye

465

Than the kynge hym bethought

Whan the kyng sawe he coude spede nought

And of counsayle had no man

To fulfyll that he began

¶All the wysest dyd he thore

470

Of his host call hym before

¶And sayd lordynges your counsayle now

What shal we do / how thynke you

He that hathe vs hether brought

And by whose counsayle we haue wrought

475

Agayne our great god hath mysdone

And [he] is brent throughe his treasone he] 1537 omits; he B, L

But yet we cannot tell Iwys

Whether thorughe wechecrafte it is

Or by his goddes myght

480

Therfore counsayle me aryght

sig: [C4v]

And loke how that we shall fare

In this wylde countre where we are

Anone they all forth wente

And helde a great parleamente

485

Than was there one that spake

¶I shall tel you this Sydrac

That causyth the kyng this werke to begyne

And brought vs here it for to wyne

Without hym may it nought

490

Our purpose to ende be brought

And through his enchauntmente

Our god with fyre hath brente

Neuerthelesse I rede that we

Counsel that he delyuered be

495

And whan we haue that we haue sought

And in-to our countre agayne brought

Hauynge our purpose on our enemyes

Than shall the kynge by my aduyse

Cause hym hanged and drawen to be

500

By_cause to our god he hath do felone

¶All assentyd to that conclusyon

And made to the kynge of it relacyon

¶Anone the kynge chose hym ten

Of his most sagyest wyse men

505

And byd them to Sydrac goo

Sayenge that the kynge was woo

That he shulde be prysonede

And saye if he wyll my ioyrney spede

I shall forgyue the trespas

510

That done to my god was

¶ Sydrac answered truly thus

Grete wel the kynge Boccus

sig: D1

And say also to hym so god me saue

That I wyll no forgyfnes haue

515

Of nothyng that I haue don amys

But yf god that in heuyn is

On his god hath shoyd power as he dyd se

What? wyll he forgyue that me

But say to hym yf it be his wyll

520

That I shall his seruyse fulfyll

In god of heuyn trust he shall

And his commaundment do all

Than his grace and mercy

I shall hym shewe apertly

525

¶Anon the messyngers went

Unto the kynge that them had sent

And told hym what answere they had

The kynge was wroth / and bad

That he shuld other dayes nyne

530

In pryson lye and there pyne

Whan the .ix. day was come and go

The kynge sent hym agayne vnto

The same bodyes lesse nor more bodyes: ='commands, messages'

That he sent to hym before

535

And he his answer on them layd

As he had before sayd

Whan the kynge sawe at the last

That his ioyrne was ouer-cast

And that he was a comfortlese man

540

That without hym nothyng can

He fet hym forth anon-ryght

And made hym all the ioy he myght

Sydrac anon before the kynge

¶Seyd syr by god of all-thynge

sig: [D1v]

545

The werke that thou hast to do

Shall neuer endyng come vnto

But thou wylt trust in god of lyght

That all-thyng made of his myght

And yf that thou wylt hym se

550

Apertly I shall shew hym the

¶The kynge sayd than with wordes grym

¶Let it so be than / shew me hym

And he be so good / as thou prechest

I shall beleue as thou me techest

555

¶Whan he that herd anon Sydrac

And went from hym a lytel whyle bake

And set on his knees at the last

His syth vp to heuen dyd cast

And this prayer made he

560

Lord god full of pyte

That heryst all that call the to

And madest heuen and erth also

And aungells full of claryte

Of wisdom also for to be

565

Lucyfer by his pryde had a fall

For lorde wold he a byn of all a: =have

And thou lorde hym castest downe

Into hell that foule pryson

Than madest of erth slym

570

Adam our father and puttest hym in

Of thy grace gost of lyf

And madest Eue to be his wyf

Lorde that werkyst so perfytly

I besech the inwardly

575

That thou thy grace downe me sende

This wycked people for to amende

sig: D2

So that I haue no blame

And that they worshype thy holy name

Whan he had made his oryson

580

An aungell came from heuyn downe

And Sydrac truly this certyfyed

That god had herd all that he desyred

And has grawnted the thy bone

This kynge shalt thou conuert sone

585

Thou shalt ouercome by goddes grace

The deuyll and his wickyd trace

God hath graunted the myght

And his grace shall be thy lyght

Thou shalt to_morowe vpon a trowe

590

Party of goddes myght hym showe

How he the world fyrst began

And why that he made man

Of the commyng a goddes sonne a: ='of', here and elsewhere in this text

That in erth shall with you wone

595

And of the antecryst with-all

That the world ende shall

An erthen pot thou cause to be fet

And vpon thre stakys it set

In the name of the Trynyte

600

One god and persones thre

Fyll that pot with water clere

And than call the kynge the nere

Goddes grace than shalt thou se

And shewe it hym and so shall he

605

The aungell anon went his way

Sydrac markyd well what he dyd say

And at that had great reioysynge

Geuynge lawde to god for so cumfortynge

sig: [D2v]

¶He callyd the kynge and sayd syr

610

Wyll ye se that you desyre

¶He was full wrouth I_wys

And sayd shew [m]e what a is me] we 1537

Which is better that wyll I se

Our god that thou hast brent / or he

615

Sydrac thre stakys toke anon

And set an erthen pot thereon

Than with water it dyd fyll

He lokyd there-in with good-wyll

Than callyd the kynge hym to

620

And sayd behold here-in / loo

The kynge beheld and than sawe he

The vmbre of the Trynyte vmbre: see note at Sig. A1v above.

That of myght is truly most

Father and sonne and holygost

625

In heuyn all they syttyng wore

And the aungelles them before

Syngyng all that there wone

¶Lo quod the father to the sonne

The sonne to the holygost also

630

And the holygost vnto them two

Whan the kynge had sene that syght

He was full ioyfull and full lyght

He thought that he was in heuyn

His blessydnes coud he not tell that he had syn

635

He told Sydrac how he fared

And sayd vnto hym that all they herde

I beleue in thy god I_wys

And in all-thyng that of hym is

Or euer was or euer shall be

640

But I pray the tell now me

sig: D3

That I the better beleue theron

How than ar they thre in one

¶Syr he sayd I shall you sho

On what maner ye shall hym knowe

645

Syr yf ye vnderstand verely

The sonne in the sky shynyng bryghtly

Thre thynges ar there innate

And no man can them separat

One is the sonne proparly

650

That ye se vpon the sky

A nother is the claryte

That it gyuys to you and me

And the hete is the thyrd

That wyde in the world is spred

655

Be the sonne I vnderstande

The father that all-thyng hath in hande

And the sonne by the claryte

For of the father come is he

The holygost by the hete

660

Thes ar the thre that I grete

And all thre ar god but one

As you may se the sonne vpon

¶ Boccus than is now in such gladnese

That no man coud it exprese

665

And on hye cryed and spake

I beleue in thy god Sydrac

Thre persones and one very god myghty

To late I haue on hym beleued suerly

The goddes that my fathers wore

670

And my auncytors here-before

For_sake I here for-euer in fay

For his loue that all-thyng may

sig: [D3v]

¶Whan the people that vnderstode

They were for it ny wode

675

And swore that Sydrac shuld dey

For [ought] that eny man cowd sey ought] ofte 1537, ought B, L

Sume wente mornyng alone

And for the kynge made gret [mone] mone] morne 1537

And sayd alas that he was borne

680

Our kynge hath his wytte forlorne

There-withall they came hym to

And sayd syr thou hast mysdo

Full wro[th] than ar thy meyne wroth] wroght 1537, wrothe B

All that to the trusty shuld be

685

That thou hast a wich beleued

And thy good god renayed

That thy father and forgoars all

Had full dere and dyd on call

Now hast thou hym by thy assent

690

Confoundyd and in fyre brent

¶The kynge sayed vnto all them

You wote neuer what ye mene

Therfor I haue hym forsakyn

And vnto a nother god me taken

695

Longe I haue bene in the darke nyght

I take me now to the sonne-lyght

Ye are of this thynge full lewde

For Sydrac that had me shewed

The vmbre of the trynyte vmbre: see note at Sig. A1v above.

700

And that our fathers and we

Haue beleued in goddes fals and bad

And a feble lyfe haue we had

But now haue I hym in mynde

That may bothe lose and bynde

sig: [D4]

705

In his lawe soth to say

Than wyll I both lyue and dey

¶The people drew them-self bake

All that were angre with Sydrac

They chose fouer men of the host

710

That wysest were and coude most

For to hold dysputacyon

Ageyne Sydrac and his reson

Thes fouer before the kynge went

And sayd to hym with one assent

715

This wich with his wichcraft lewdly

Hath you mouyd gretly

Syr let hym come forth now

And we shall dyspute with hym before you

¶So it come to pase at the last

720

And to dyspute they began fast

They shewed hym theyr fals lawe

¶And he vndyd it on a rawe

He destroyed with good reson

All theyr fals and peruert opynyon

725

Wrothe a_way than gan they tourne

For agayne hym cowd they not spourne

Whan they ouercome wore

And they myght do no more

They went anon forth and fet

730

Of starke venom a gobet

And came to Sydrac there he stode

And sayd thou seyst thy god is good

Daryst thou in the name of hym

Drynke this gobet of venym

735

For if he be trew and strong also

To the it can no velony do

sig: [D4v]

¶By god [quod] Sydrac that / that you wene quod] 1537 omits; quod B, L

May not a_vayl you a bene

¶Uenom of adder nor of snake

740

That eche in goddys name take

May greue me ryght nought

Gyue it hyther that ye haue brought

¶The venom in his hande toke he

That all the people about myght se

745

Ye that to my god trust not to

Anon shall se what he can do

He dranke that venom anon-ryght

And was hole sownde and lyght

All the people that there gadered was

750

Had great wonder at that caas

¶The kynge was full glad therefore

And sayd to all that there wore

Had Sydracis god not myghty byn

He had brust that we had it syne

755

A[n]d thes four that dyd hym spyte

Thought he wold a be deed quyte

¶Whan the deuyll was out lepyd

Of his great god that he was in crepyd

He and his felowes also

760

In-to other goddes dyd go

And they all at the last

Uppon the kynge a cry dyd cast

And sayd Boccus thou hast lost thy wyt

To play now this folysh fyt

765

To change thy old lawe

And to trust in this wiches sawe

Us thou hast now forsakyn

And to a wychcrafte the takyn

sig: E1

And we shall forsake the

770

None of vs thy frend wyll be

Thy sacryfyce we shall forsake

On thy goddes we shall do wrake

All thy bestes we wyll slo

And helpe ageyne the thy fo

775

We shall also hast blyue

Out of thy kyngdom the to dryue

All thy chyldern sle we shall

And other of thy kyne with-all

And thy-self with soth to sey

780

On euyl deth shall cause to dey

But thou wilt slake all this

And beleue styll in thy blys

Reuoke all that thou hast sayd

And all that thy hert is on layed

785

And breke yender pot in two

His wichcraft for to vndo

And the water at the last

Unto thy howndes thou cast

Seyng that Sydrac doth not blynne

790

This wo to bryng the in

THe kynge and all that wer thore

Of this thyng wonderyd sore

And a_masyd were sumdele

¶ Sydrac that beheld full well

795

And sayd syr dysmay ye noght

On god of heuyn be thy thought

Let the deuyll haue no intrese

The with his engyn to refreshe

For thou shalt se anon-ryght

800

That I shall destroy hym and his myght

sig: [E1v]

A betyll in his hande he toke his] his his 1537

And to the false goddes he it shoke

He stode and sayd all on hye

In his name that is almyghty

805

I shall you breke this uery day

And the deuyll dryue away

With his betyll he layd vpon

And brake the ydols euerychone

Whan the deuyll saw nomore

810

That his dwellynge myght be thore

He and all his company

Began then from thens to hye

And an hydyous cry they cast

Whan the ydols were all to_brast

815

An erthquake dyd they make anone

So that the folke thought euerychone

That the yerth sanke and downe went

Thunder and lyghtenyng also they sent

Hayle and rayne also there wore

820

That made the folke abasshed sore

And the kynge of all the host

Was abasshed all the moost

¶ Sydrac sawe the kynge in drede

Anon he vnto hym dyd yede

825

And sayd syr dyscomfort ye nought

Goddys myght that all hath wroght

Is stronger than the deuyl of hell

And that thou shalt perseue well

Therfore dred not but comfort the

830

Ouer vs shall sone his grace be

Downe came than an aungell bryght

All abowt hym mych lyght

sig: E2

¶And sayd Sydrac take with thyn handys

The water that in the pot standys

835

On the fouer corners of the hows it cast

As long as eny of it doth last

In the name of the Trynyte

Betokenyd of the stakys thre

Bete together fast the two

840

And the deuyll shall fle there-fro

¶ Sydrac dyd as he hym bad

And fayer wether anon they had

An-other aungel they sawe commyng

Beryng a swerd all brennyng

845

And smot the deuyll and hym dyd shent

And thos ydols all to_brent

All the folke that there wore

And wold not be conuertyd before

Whan they had sene that syght

850

They turned vnto god anon-ryght

¶ Boccus the kynge whan he that sauh

A lytel he began to lawgh

In his hert he was full iocound

And askyd Sydrac in that stound

855

¶Leue Sydrac / and tell now me

What syngnyfy the stakes thre

And the pot of erth also

That thou the water dydyst put into

And why thou so the water dyd cast

860

And bet to_gyther the stakes fast

¶Syr he sayd the stakes thre

Do sygnyfye the Trynytye

Father and sonne and holygoost

That ar one god / as thou well knowest

sig: [E2v]

865

By the erthen pot I take

This world that god of erth dyd make

The thre stakys the pot vp bar

God it syngnyfyeth be thou well ware

The water that in the pot was don

870

Syngnyfyeth playnly goddys sonne

That in this world shall borne be

Of a fayr vyrgyn puer and fre

And that sonne shall all with ryght

Destroy the deuyll and his myght

875

Uppon a crosse he shall be done

And dye about the tyme of none

In erth shall he buryed without fayl be

And ryse vp within dayes thre

Through that dede shall he call

880

Adam and verely his frendes all

Out of wo and of theyr mornfull care

That now in the deuyllys handes are

The water that I at the last

About on the fouer corners dyd cast

885

Betokenys fouer men that shall tho

In fouer sydes of the world go go] shall go 1537, goo B

That many a man shall suerly wyte

Euery one his boke shall wryte

By the whiche they confownde shall

890

The deuyl and his power all

The stakes that I together smot

Made gret denne as ye it wot

That was in tokyn of them tho

That with goddys sonne shall go

895

And shall his dyscypyls also be

They shall preche the Trynyte

sig: [E3]

And the noyse of them shall wende

Ouer-all to the worldes ende

For they shall to the people preche

900

And the ryght beleue them teche

That man had better not be borne

That it despysyth / for he is forlorne

And thos that ar in ryght beleue

Goddys sonne shall them forgyue

905

All that they haue don amys

And bryng them in-to heuyn blys

¶ Boccus lyked thos wordes well

And is instructyd now sumdele

By Sydracs trew informacyon

910

In the fayth hath take a fundacyon

And goddys name in honour had

And of the fayth ryght glad

Than desyred he for to here

Many thynges that he wold requere

915

Prayng that he tell wolde

Thynges that he aske shulde

Sydrac sayd full mekely

Aske what ye wyll syr hardely

The kynge asked hym anon

920

These questyons by one and one

That are wrytten in this boke

And vnto them great hede he toke.

¶Here-after begyn the questyons

The fyrst thyng than askyd he

Yf god was euer and euer shall be

925

GOd had neuer begynnyng

Nor neuer shall haue endyng

Before he heuyn or erth wrought

Or eny-thyng to effect brought

He knew well how them to dyght

930

And all thorow his owne myght

Or he made aungell to be

The noumbre of them well wyst he

Of man of beste of euery-dell

Of fowle of fyshe all knew he well

935

And what dede echone shuld haue

Also which shuld theyr sowles saue

Which they were shuld be forlore

All together knew he before

And theyr wordes and also thought

940

God had or els a be vnperfyt and nought

For of all that were of his makyng

Thece nedyd to be non amendyng

Ne empeyred shuld he a be nought

Al-though they had not be wrought

945

He was / is / and euer shall be

Of one power I ensuer the

Ouer-all truly is his myght

And thre heuyns he hath dyght

The one is bodely that we se

950

An-other goostly where aungels be

The thyrd there god hym-self is

Where is a ioyful blys

sig: [E4]

Where shall the ryght men loke hym on

Whan this world is past and gon

¶The seconde questyon.

955

¶The kynge askyd where it myght ben

That god of heuyn myght be sen

UIsybyl is god that warne I the

And inuysybyl also is he

For all thynges may he se

960

And he may not sene be

For that / that is of bodely makyng

May se no goostly thyng

But goostly thyng that is in blys

May se goostly thyng that is

965

But whan goddys sonne so dere

In-to erth is come among vs here

And the people shall walke betwen

Both he and his werkes shall be sene

That shall be moost of goddys myght

970

And shall in a mayden lyght

Body to take of that vyrgyne

And shall be borne without syn

And do truly as a man shall do

Saue syne that may he not do

975

And god almyghty shall he be

Hym shall men / here fele and se

And except he body toke

There myght no man on hym loke

sig: [E4v]

¶The thyrd questyon.

¶Than askyd the kynge hym more

980

Yf god be ouer-all and euery-whore.

NEuer yet god made thyng

That is / or hath of hym felyng

For we / such as we ar now

Fele hym and I shall show the how

985

We lyue here / wax and go

That comys alwayes hym fro

And by the frute our kynd hym felyth

That euery yere newly spryngyth

The heuennes than fele hym also

990

They turne in orbes as he bad them do

Sonne and mone and sterre bryght

All they fele hym and his myght

For all they fast abowt go

Untyll they come where they cam fro

995

The erth also hym truly felys

For euery yere his frute he geuys

Wynde and the see fele hym I_wis

For whan the most tempest is

At his byddyng and at his wyll

1000

Withdrawe they them and hold them styll

The deed hym felys on lyke maner wyse

For at his wyll they shall vp-ryse

The bestes that in erth both crepe and go

They fele hym / for they do also

1005

As he gaue theyr kynd to be

And ouer them all verely is he.

sig: [F1]

¶The .iiij. questyon.

¶Which was the fyrst thynge

That god made askyd the kynge

Syr quod Sydrac vnto me lyst

1010

A fayre paleys made he fyrst

Full of blys and full of lyght

That the kyngdom of heuyn hyght

After made he the world thus

And helle depe vnderneth vs

1015

In-to heuyn his fryndes he dyd lett

His foes in hell were subiecte

Man made he than as was his wyll

The vmbre of aungels to fulfyll vmbre: here an aphetic form of 'number'; see OED s.v. umber n4

In-stede of them that fall wore

1020

And shuld in heuyn come no more

Aungel and man shall felowes be

For one god honorys both he and we

That is god of myght most

Father / sonne and holygoost

¶The .v. questyon

1025

¶The kynge than Sydrac besought

To tell wan aungel was wroght

WHan god sayd worde but one

Than aungel was made anon

Lucyfer hym-self dyd se

1030

That fayrest of all was he

In pryde sone he dyd fall

And despysed the other of his company all

He was so good as hym thought

As god hym-self / that hym wroght

sig: [F1v]

1035

Sume of the aungels turned hym to

And thought that it myght be so

Maysteres to make than he them hyght

Aboue other aungels bryght

Out of that palays was he cast

1040

An howre myght he not therin last

For it was no ryght that he

That agayne his lorde wold be

Shulde eny part haue in that blysse

And for hym they fared all amysse

1045

Truly all that were of his assent

Sume of them to hell went

And sume in-to the thyckest eyre

That of ioye is none espeyre

They may no mercy haue

1050

Ne for pryde they may none craue

¶The vj. questyon

¶The kynge askyd wher-of serue thay

The aungels that in heuyn ar ay

THe aungels that now heuyn ar in

Shall neuer haue wyll to syn

1055

By_cause they refusyd Lucyfer

In blysse they shall be euer

To whom god hath gyuyn ywysse

Order and offyce in his blysse

¶Of aungels is there one maner

1060

That vnto folke tellyth here

Both in water and in lande truly

The gret thynges of god allmyghty

¶Another maner there is also

That tellys comyng folkes vnto

sig: F2

1065

Be it loude / be it styll

The small bodys of goddys wyll

The thyrd potestas callyd is

That ar put in gret offys

Lordshype ouer deuyls they haue

1070

And commaundes them as a man his knaue

That they ne may ought can That they ne may ought can] That þey ne may ne not þey canne B, þat þei mowen not ne not can L

Ouer-moch euyll to do to man

¶Another hyght pryncypates

Maysters ouer good spyryts be thes

1075

And commaundes them to fulfyll

Goddys seruyce vnto his wyll

¶Than is there one that virtutes hyght

Which tech men to go aryght

¶Another is there gret of myght

1080

Dominaciones theyr name hyght

Which be obedyent to the other before

And in theyr subiectyon ar thore

¶Another / and throni callyd is he

There-vpon is goddys se

1085

By them vsys god on hy

His iugementes ful gryssely

¶An order is there chefe of all

Which cherubyns we do call

Many creatures of skyll

1090

Ar that order subiecte tyll

For dylygently they beholde and se

In the myrrour of goddys claryte

And they knowe by theyr natures

The preuytes of creatures

1095

¶And yet is there Seraphyn aboue

They ar brennynge in goddys loue

sig: [F2v]

More than all the other be

And they ar of suche dygnyte

That no other spyryt certaynly is

1100

Betwyx them and god in eternall blys

¶The .vij. questyon

¶The kynge askyd yf deuyls also

All-thyng knowe and all-thyng may do

UEryly syr quod Sydrac we do fynde

That deuyls ar of aungels kynde

1105

And by_cause they of theyr nature ware

Of full grete conynge they ar

And they ar more goostly

Than man that hath body

Therfore knowe they more than man

1110

By nature moche secrecy tell can

Saue thynges that ar commynge

Of that they know lytell or nothynge

Thynges that I haue don or thou

That knowe they well I_now

1115

Of euyl wyll and euyl thought

Thereof wote the deuyls nought

Ne none but god alone I ensuer the

Of a manys herte the preuyte

The deuyls may well yuel do

1120

But good they ne haue wyll vnto

And yet may they not fulfyll

To do in yuel all theyr wyll

No more haue they myght vntyll

Than good aungels them suffer wyll

¶The viij. questyon

sig: F3

1125

¶What shape ar aungels and what thyng

They can do / askyd the kynge

ON owyse haue they euyn owyse: =one-wise; B reads: oo wyse

The lyknese of god of heuyn

For bodylese they ar and bryght

1130

Full of fayrehed and of lyght

And there is nothyng in kynde

That they ne wote and haue in mynde

No wonder that they of knowlege be

For all thynges in god they se

1135

And all that they haue wyll vnto

Without greuaunce may they do

¶The ix. questyon

¶The kynge than Sydrac askyd

yf god Adam with his hande formyd

MAn and all that god hym lent

1140

Was made of his comaundment

And who-so vnderstonde can

A feble nature is in man

And of a fowle thynge god hym dyght

To confounde the deuyl and his myght

1145

For man so feble to inheryt that he came fro

That is to hym gret sorowe and wo

Of the fouer elements as I tell the

Our parent Adam made he

For his kynde as it was goddis wyll

1150

Shulde fouer parteys of the world fulfyll

For god knewe before that he shuld syn

And lose the vertu that he was creat in

sig: [F3v]

And that he shulde as a man vnwysse

Not longe lyue in paradyse

1155

All other thynges dyd he make

To mannys behoue and for his sake

And many wormes he made also

As mees / fleys and other mo

Man to sorowe and byte sume-tyde

1160

Be-cause he shulde not fall in pryde

And that he shulde remembre by this

Howe feble a thynge that he is

Whan so feble a thynge and so vyle

Shall hym gretly wex and trobyll

1165

Of myre and rayne se men may

How they ar trauelyd all day

So besy shulde we of ryght

God to serue with all our myght

For vnto our delyte made he

1170

All thynges that we se

And we and they were made also

Unto god worshype to do

¶The .x questyon.

¶The kynge askyd hym than

In what stede made god Adam

1175

IN Ebron as god wolde it haue

Where he dyed and was put in graue

But fyrst he was set in paradyse

A fayer stede that in the est lyese

There is ioy and gret delyte

1180

And trees a many kyndes of fruyte

And euery frute is of myght

As god hath them with vertu dyght

sig: [F4]

One frute there is that yf a man

Had ones ete of it / neuer after than

1185

He shulde hounger eny more

And another also groweth thore

That is callyd the frute of lyf

Both good for man and wyf

For who-so etys of that tree

1190

Shall neuer syke nor olde be

Whan Adam was thether brought

There was Eue than of hym wroght

So were they made as we fynde

Of one flesh and of o kynde

1195

Be-cause they shuld be wher they went

As of one fleshe / so of one assent

God made them that they shulde not syn

The more mercy after to wynne

And whan that god had Adam makyd

1200

He and Eue were both nakyd

But therof shamyd they noght

Untyll they had synne wroght

Whan they of the appull had byten a byte

Eyther shamyd of other was tyte

1205

For they sawe them than vnclad

Of clothyng a grace that they had

And in paradyse they wore

Seuen howers and no more

The thyrde hower after his makyng

1210

Gaue Adam name to all-thyng

The syxth hower ete his wyfe

The appull / that made all the stryfe

The seuenth hower Adam dyd of yt ete

And was chasyd and streyth out bete

sig: [F4v]

1215

The aungel cam thyther anon-ryght

With a sworde of fyre very bryght

And with the fyre beset he there

The walles of paradyse that there were

So that no man there-in shuld wone

1220

Untyl the commynge of goddys sonne

After his deth he shall vndo

The fyre that it doth compase so

And Adam and his frendes all

Into heuyn conducte shall

¶The xj. questyon

1225

¶Than askyd he whyther went Adam

Out of paradyse whan he came

AFter that / he went anon

There he was made in Ebron

A hundreth yere there lede his lyf

1230

And had chyldren by his wyf

But at lenght Cayn that was fell

Dyd kyll his brother Abel

Adam therfore came his wyf not nere

By the space of a hundreth yere

1235

Makyng grete sorow that Abel was slayne

Than bade hym the aungel go agayne

And know his wyf as he shulde do

Sayeng that the wyll of god was so

For cursed of god was Cayn

1240

And all the sede that cam of hym

And of that cursed sede forlorne

Goddys sonne wolde not be borne

That fulfylled Adam and Seth begot he

Of whos sede goddys sonne borne shall be

sig: G1

1245

And wete thou syr that from Adam

Unto the tyme that Noe came

Neuer fell on erthe no rayne

Ne none raynebowe was ne sayne

Flesshe that tyme no man dyd ete

1250

No wynde than was / god none be lete MS versions refer to wine, not wind, at this point.

The wether was all-tymes there

Fayer as somers day and clere

And plenty was of all-thynge

Tyll mannys syn it made lettynge

¶The .xij. questyon

1255

¶Dyd Adam eny other syn than it

He broke goddys bode and the appul byt

NAy / he dyd none other synne

But a greater myght he not begyn

For he couetyd god to be

1260

And for that the appul ete he

And shuld no creature of wyte

His creatorys bode ouersyt

Yf you before god now were

And some aungel sayde to the there

1265

That thou behynde shuldest se

Or the worlde shuld destroyed be

And god the bade loke on hym fast

And no-where els thy eyen cast

Goddys bode thou shuldyst fulfyll

1270

And let all the worlde spyll

For that Adam couthe no good

Before god somtyme he stode

And behynde he lokyd as vnwyse

Wherfore he lost paradyse

sig: [G1v]

1275

And in that one synne that he dyd

Seuyn synnes were there hyd

¶Fyrst pryde / for that he

Desyred goddys lyke to be

¶Inobedyence another also

1280

For he brake that god bade hym do

¶Couetyse the thyrd dyd hym greue

For he couetyd more than god wold gyue

¶Sacrylege was the fouerth synne

That Adam was wrappyd in

1285

For he toke vpon hym thore

That god had forbyden hym before

¶The fyfte may be called by reason

Goostly fornicacyon

For his very spouse he forsoke

1290

And to the deuelys counsell hym toke

Wherby his ryght sponsale he brake

And in aduoutre he stake

¶The syxth to manslawter he drewe

For he by that hym-self slewe

1295

¶Glotony the seuenth was

Whan he put hym in that caas

To ete the appul that his wyf bad

And that god hym forbodden had

Wherfore in that etynge vnwysly

1300

Was syn inoughe as me-thynkyth truly

¶The .xiij. questyon

¶What was that Adam from god dyd take

And how shall he amendys make

FRom god Adam moch toke

That tyme that he hym forsoke

sig: G2

1305

All that he shuld there haue wrought

That Adam shuld forthe haue brought

That is that they shulde haue ouercomen

The deuyll / and his myght haue nomen

As the deuyll dyd Adam

1310

Bothe hym / and all that of hym came

Bycause his syn was moche more

Than was all the worlde / therfore

It behouyd hym more agayne to yelde

And this had he nought to welde

1315

Or fynde a man that shuld more be

Than all the world / whiche was not he

And therfore dyd he ete his brede

In laboure and swete tyll he was dede

¶The .xiiij. questyon.

¶Forlorne for aye why was he nought

1320

Whan he so great a syn had wrought

FOr it behoueth nedely to stande

That god hathe ordeynyd before-hand

God ordeyned at the beginyng

That of Adam and his osprynge osprynge: =offspring

1325

Shuld the orders of goddis chosen

Be fulfyllyd / and out losyn

And after whan Adam forthought

Was angryd that he had so wrought

Mercy anone myght he none take

1330

For he myght not amendis make

And yf god had fo[r]geuen hym this forgeuen] fogeuen 1537

And haue put hym agayne into blysse

That aungell was cast fro before

For a thought and for nomore

sig: [G2v]

1335

Than had god bene vnryghtwyse

Therfore in synne and wreke he lyse

Yf a man founde anone

In a sloughe a ryche stone

That were fowle and nothynge clene

1340

He shuld wasshe it as I wene

And in treasure it not laye

Untyll the fylthe were awaye

But goddes sone that more shalbe

Than all the worlde / shall dye on tre

1345

Amendys for Adam to make

And hym fro his penaunce take

So shall he come out of helle

And amonge goddes chosen dwelle

¶The .xv. questyon.

¶Why wold not god an a[u]ngel send

1350

Or a man Adam to amende

ANd aungel had bought man and made him fre

His vnderlyne than shuld be he

Man in erthe was maked here

For to bere aungell fere

1355

And yf aungell the kynde nam

Of man / and a man becam

Then were aungell of lesse posterite

Than god hym made fyrst to be

And man agayne myght man not wynne

1360

For all were they lockyd in one synne

For this shall goddes sone of myght

In a clene mayden lyght

Our kynde shall he in her take

And of two kyndys a man make

sig: G3

1365

God and man bothe shall he be

And of his manhed shal he

Begyle the deuyll / for euermore

As that he dyd man before

And of manky[n]de shall he not twynne

1370

Saue that he shall neuer do synne

¶The .xvj. questyon.

¶Why shall god be borne that me tell

Of a mayden / and she a mayden dwell

Syr on thre maners we fynde

That god in erth made mannes kynd

1375

Fyrst made he man and gaue hym lyfe

That nother came of man nor wyfe

Man of man onely than he name

As Eue that he made of Adam

The thyrde maner than shalbe

1380

Whan god of his powre I ensure the

Shall lyght in erthe in a woman

Without knowlegynge of any man

And sethe the world fyrst began

Euermore god lokyd vnto man

1385

That he shulde best do his wyll

And his commaundementis fulfyll

And of his kynde shall chosen be

A clene mayden and a free

That shalbe withouten synne

1390

And all vertues her within

Her father shall her sonne be

And of his doughter his mother make shal he

She inuyolate / shall he in her lyght

And dwell in her .ix. monthes ryght

sig: [G3v]

1395

For the .ix. orders shall he fulfyll

Of aungels that in heuen are styll

With mannes kynd that shall be borne

And forthe haue comen here-beforne

He shall also throughe his myght

1400

Be borne of that mayden bryght

And she after chylde-berynge

Shalbe wemmyd of nothynge

For as the sonne his lyght casteth

Throughe the glas that hole lasteth

1405

And cometh out as he fyrst was

Without wemme of the glas

So shal god in that mayden lende

And out of her body wende

And she styll left a mayden ryght

1410

As the glas fro the sonne-lyght

¶The .xvij. questyon.

Why is dethe callyd dethe tel me

And how many dethes that ther be

For bytternes is called dethe in-dede

And for Adam through euyl rede

1415

A bytter byte of the apull he bote

That droue hym into laboure and swote

And thre maner of dethes ther is /

One that not rype is

As of chylderne that are yonge

1420

They fele no paynes stronge

Another dethe there is also

That bytter is to come vnto

As a yonge man whan hym lyketh best

And the deth be on hym fest

sig: [G4]

1425

Bytternes he feleth and wo

Or the goost departe hym fro

Goostly deth the thyrd it is

There the sowle is euer dede fro blys

And all thre to man they came

1430

For the synne that dyd Adam

And yf that synne ne had bene wrought

Manne shuld haue dyed nought

¶The .xviij. question.

¶Sendeth god ought to man to saye

Of what deth that he shall dye

1435

NAye: he sendeth to no man

But he that so moche can

That he haueth no menyng of the dede

And worketh after the best rede

Sodayne deth shall he not dye

1440

For he shal go the redy waye

And the good that byleueth aryght

In god of heuen and his myght

And worke as they ought to do

To what deth that they go to

1445

Whether they be slayne with sword or knyfe

Or with wylde bestes lese theyr lyfe

Or in water drowned be

Or hangyd hye vpon a tre

Or of some fowle aduenture

1450

Maye then the lyfe no lenger endure

Wycked deth are none of these

In the syght of god and hese

For theyr good dedys more and lesse

And goddes owne ryghtwysenesse

sig: [G4v]

1455

May not [b]e forgottyn in thought be] he 1537

For they cursyd fyltynes of syn nought

And yf they had oft don amys

Through febylnes that in them is

Truly yt shal be forgyuen all

1460

By the sharpe paynes that they suffer shall

But he that in god trowes nought

Ne his commaundmentis hath not wroght

What may it hym a_vayle

That he haueth gret trauayle

1465

And prouys longe or he dye

And though men hym fortunat say

What deth so-euer he dyes I_wys

Wycked deth and short it is

¶The .xix. questyon.

¶Whan sowle fro the body shal shede

1470

How wendys the soule to other stede

THe soule wendes fro the body

Whan he dyeth full preuely

But what it is out gone

Agayne to the body there cometh none

1475

A sorte of deuyls it take

And moche ioye and dene therwith make

And vnto helle they it bere

With many paynes it to dere

But after the tyme of goddes sone

1480

That he is comen in erthe to wone

Of ledynge / shall be manners thre

Soules to lede there they shall be

¶One is yf a man had here leuyd

Trustynge as god hathe hym instructed

sig: H1

1485

And his commaundmentes all hath wroght

And from the ryght fayth erred nought

Whan his lyfe in this world endys

And his sowle from the body wendys

Of aungels a great company

1490

Gaderys them with melody

Untyl hym that his keper was

Reioysyng greatly at that caas

Takyng that sowle with play and songe

And thankyng god euer amonge

1495

Untyl heuyn therwith they wende

There to dwel without ende

¶Another maner of ledyng is

Yf a man haue done amys

And wyll not his lawe fulfyll

1500

But hath all his lyfe done yll

And ageyne that he dye shall

He repentys hym of all

And vnto god for mercy cryes

Whan that sowle from the body flyes

1505

A good aungell it taketh in hast

And delyuer it to a wycked gost at last

And he shall it forth lede

Payne to suffer for his mysdede

But whan he hathe bete it all

1510

And sufferyd that he suffer shall

Then the good aungell hym taketh away

And ledethe hym to ioye for aye

¶The thyrd maner yf man or wyfe

In synne haue euer lad theyr lyfe

1515

And goddes byddyng wold not fulfyll

But dyd all theyr hartes wyll

sig: [H1v]

Deuyls kepe that sowle anon

Whan it is out of the body gon

And bere it to the payne of helle

1520

Without ende therin to dwelle

¶The .xx. questyon

¶Now wolde I wyte whether wore

Sowle or body made before

Fyrst the body is made ful fayre

Of fyre / water / erth and ayre

1525

And the fower complexyons that are

In man / of thes fower they are

Whan the body is made also

Goddys grace comyth therto

And blowyth in hym the goost of lyfe

1530

And after of hym made a wyfe

Lorde and Syr he made hym be

Of all that he in erth myght se

But whan he the appul chose

Clothyng of grace than dyd he lose

1535

Which hym greuyd very sore

As ye haue herde here-before

¶The .xxj. questyon

¶Which spekyth knowe wolde I

The sowle of man or body

NO myght hath the body

1540

Of hym-selfe sykerly

To speke / to goo / ne ought els to do

But that the sowle hym geuyth to

Men se ofte it chaunsys

That a man on a horse rydyse

sig: H2

1545

And hym gydeth to and fro

The way that he wyll go

And the horse so compellede

Goyth as the man wyll hym lede

On lyke maner hath the body no myght

1550

Of spekyng / of goyng / ne of syght

Nor of nought that he do shall

But of the sowle it comyth all

The body is of erth wrought

And shall rote away to nought

1555

Therfore is he of feblear nature

Than the sowle that euer shall endure

And the body ne is nothynge

Unto the sowle but an hythynge

Thou seyste well whan the sowle is gone

1560

A fowle caryn is the body on

That speke ne store ought may store: =stir; see OED s.v. stir

Whan the sowle is gon away

And by_cause all-thyng of the sowle is

Therfore goyth she fyrst to ioy or blys

1565

And than felyth the sowle euerydele

That the body doyth yll or well

¶The .xxiij. questyon

¶The sowle that a goost is on

And hath nother flesshe ne bone

¶Ne noght takys ne gyuys hym fro

1570

How may it fele other wel or wo

A Goost is the sowle the soth to sey

And neuer-more may it dey

Ete ne drynke wyll it nought

And it is as swyfte as thought

sig: [H2v]

1575

Felt ne sene may it not be

Nor no stede may it occupe

But whan the lyfe cometh to ende

And the sowle shall fro the body wende

Yf he helde goddes commaundement

1580

A clothe of grace to hym shalbe sent

Haue he be wycked ouer-all

A clothe of sorowe come to hym shall

Throughe whiche clothyng fele shal he

Ioye or payne whether it be

¶The .xxiij. questyon.

1585

¶Who is more lord of the twey

Sowle or body thou me say.

THe body the more lorde is

That ledeth the sowle oft amys

But the more parell shuld abyde

1590

The sowle / yf that euyl betyde

As yf there were now yong men tway

Goynge in a parellous way

And that one be bolde and hardy

That other a coward that goeth hym by

1595

The coward thynketh as he goes

Yf agayne vs come any fooes

This hardy man shall me out-bere

So that me they shall not dere

Thus goyth the cowarde hardely

1600

The hardy thynkyth what do shall I

This is a coward that goyth by me

Yf other than good come he wyll fle

And I shall mys hym whan I haue nede

Thus goyth the hardy man in drede

sig: H3

1605

All thus farys it wyturly

Betwyx the sowle and the body

The body says I wyll haue quyte

All my wyll and my delyte

Whan I am ded erth shall I be

1610

What than shall I recke what is of me

¶The sowle says a felowe I lede

That me beryth feble felowrede

For if there come eny aduersyte

I shall it fele and not he

1615

Thus is the sowl in peryll ay

For that the body holdyth play

¶The .xxiiij. questyon

¶Where hath the sowle I the rede

In mannys body his wonnyngstede

IN the body euerywhere

1620

Wonyth the sowle if blode be there

Blode is wessel for the sowle truly

And of the blode is the body

And where-as blode raynyth nothyng

There hath the sowle no dwellyng

1625

As in teth and heer also

In nayles and in hyde therto

Yf you say lyfe is in tho

For they may fele who doth them wo

Therto lyeth answere good

1630

For theyr rotys touchyth blode

Pare them and clyp them whan thou wylt

And come theyr rotys not vntyl

Shall they fele it neuer-a_dele

Whether thou doyst them wo or wele

sig: [H3v]

¶The .xxv. questyon

1635

¶Why doth the sowle no lengar rest

In the body / than the blode doth lest

Lyke it faryth I the ensuer

As fysshe in a pond of water puer

Yf a man a goter make goter: =gutter

1640

The water of that ponde to slake

The water rennith small and small

Untyl it be ronne out all

Than lye the fysshe of that ponde

Betynge them-selfe ageyne the drye londe

1645

And whan the water is all awey

Than most they nedys dey

Of the sowle it fareth so

Whan the blode it rennyth fro

As the blode out yssueth treuly

1650

So doth the sowle there wex feble quycly

And whan the blode is out euery-dele

The sowle no lenger lyketh wele

In that body for to dwell

But departeth al-so snell

1655

For his nature hathe he lost tho

As fysshe whan the water is therfro

¶The .xxvj, questyon.

¶I praye the nowe that thou me saye

How it is that the folke so deye

A Man dyeth on many wayes

1660

Summe whan that his dayes

That god hym set fulfylled are

Than it behoueth hym nedely to fare

sig: [H4]

Somme of outrage that they do

As of mete and drynke also

1665

And destroyeth theyr nature

So that they maye not endure

Undertande that no man maye

Ouer goddes terme leue one daye

But with outrage maye he let

1670

The terme that god hym haue set

Some dyeth in batayle and in fyght

With staffe or swerde as falleth lyght

And on many otherwyse also

Mo than I can tell the vnto

¶The .xxvij. questyon.

1675

¶How may man wete that it so is

That god made man to his lykenes

WE fynde of antiquite

In bokes that somtyme had Noye

That whan god of heuen kyng

1680

Had made beest and all-thyng

Than sayde one of the parsons thre

That are in the Trinite

Nowe althynge are made more and les

Make we man to our lykenes

1685

And bycause he sayd make we

Is to vnderstand that there ar thre

And that he sayd is no lesynge

Than are we lyke hym in makynge

¶The .xxviij. questyon

Sethen we of goddes lykenes be

1690

Why maye we not do as dyd he?

sig: [H4v]

TO goddis lykenes are we dyght

And therfore hathe he geuen vs might

Aboue al other creature

That he made here for to dure

1695

And for that likenes so know we

All thynges that in erthe be

We can labour / worke and wynne

And we knowe almes fro synne

All creatures maye we take

1700

And our seruauntis of them make

And al other thynges that ar nought

Unto goddis lykenes wrought

Haue no conynge ne myght therto

To do thyngis that we do

1705

Ne commaunde vs they ne maye

As we do them euery daye

But thoughe we be of his lykenes

We maye not neuertheles

Be al-so stronge and wyse as he

1710

For hys handworke all ar we

He is maker of all-thynge

And we are of his makynge

He is lord and we subiecte as a slaue

And for the lykenes that we haue

1715

Yf that we do not yll

Aungels nombre we shall fulfyll

For other lykenes than his

Were not worthy to that blys

¶The .xxix. question.

¶Where becometh the blode all

1720

Of man / whan he dye shall.

sig: I1

GOd made blode of water ryght

And the body of erthe he dyght

And as water in erthe synketh

And the erthe the water drynketh

1725

For to mayntayne all-thynge

That waxeth and in erth sprynge

Also mayntayneth trewly

The blode / that is in the body

And whan the sowle departe shall

1730

The blode he bereth with hym all

And whan the harte is fro hym sent

The blode is into the water went

And the body that is drye

And rype / may not longe lye

1735

That it ne drynketh the blode also

As the erthe wyll the water do

¶The .xxx. questyon.

¶Whan the fyre quenchyd is

Whether becometh it tell me this?

OF the sonne the fyre is ryght

1740

Therof haueth he hete and lyght

And he be quenchyd he shall go

To the sonne there he came fro

Thou seest the sonne that lyght maketh

And hete also there it on taketh

1745

On nyght whan he fro vs is went

All the hete that he to vs lent

And the lyght of hym also

All dothe he take it hym vnto

And ledeth with hym that he brought

1750

Fro hym departe ne maye it nought

sig: [I1v]

Also whan fyre is slaked here

He withdraweth hym on the same manere

Unto the nature for to go

Of the sonne there he came fro

¶The .xxxj. question.

1755

¶Why dyeth not the body thore

Whan he leseth halfe his blode and more

THoughe the blode be halfe aweye

The body may not yet deye

For the hete of the soule I_wys

1760

That the blode by mayntayned is

Departeth not so lyghtly

And I shall tel the for-why

The lytell blode that there is lefte

Maketh that the sowle fro hym is not refte

1765

For it maynteyneth the sowle styffely

And the sowle the blode and the body

The weke that in a candel is

Whan it begynneth for to mys

The fyre slaketh and is a_waye

1770

Euynso it is here to saye

Of the blode the weke I make

And by the fyre the sowle I take

Whan the blode awaye is all

The sowle no lenger dwell shall

1775

But the blode comforteth hym so

Except some other euyll it forthe do forthe do] fordo B

Dyeth he not so lyghtly

But holdeth hym on_lyue contynually

¶The .xxxij. questyon.

sig: I2

¶Of what complexyon may it be

1780

The body / and of what nature is he

OF the nature of erth it is tolde

And his complexyon is colde

And than is he makyd yare

Of the fowre elamentis that are

1785

Of the erthe is the flesshe

And the blode of water nesshe

Of ayre the sowle maked was

And of fyre the hete he has

Sethyn flesshe is of erthes kynde

1790

And blode of water as we fynde

Bothe are they colde of kynde to fonde

But sowle that is of goddis onde

That ought to be clene and fayre

And is hote of kynde of ayre

1795

That sowle abydeth in the blode

And heteth it and doth it good

And the blode heteth trewly

All the lymmes of the body

¶The .xxxiij. questyon.

¶Were sowles made at the fyrst for aye

1800

Or are they made yet euery daye

All-thyng that god thought

To make al were at ons wroght

That is to say at the begynnyng

That he befor sawe all-thynge

1805

And one commaundment made he

All that was and that shalbe

But I saye not that they were

sig: [I2v]

In the lykenes that they now are

All thynges in hym ware enclosyd verely

1810

Untyll they come to theyr beyng apertly

Than he shapyd theyr fygure

Euerychon after theyr nature

But he commaunded all to be

At ones / as we do se

1815

So at ones made he all-thynge

At his worde and his byddynge

¶The xxxiiij. questyon

¶May they haue eny excusynge

That of god know nothyng?

SUch as god knowe not here

1820

Nor hym to lerne wyll not endeuere

At the daye of dome shall he

Know them for none of his meyne

And tho that byleue and wyll not do

The werkes that belongeth them vnto

1825

That sympely them vnderstonde

As symple men that are in londe

Yf they dampned be therfore

Turmentyd shuld they not be sore

And they that haue good vnderstondyng

1830

Of god / and do not his byddyng

Fro payne they may them not defende

But yf that they do here amende

¶The .xxxv. questyon.

¶Shall a man ought els do

But that god commaundeth hym to?

sig: I3

1835

GOd hathe kyndly made man

To serue hym in all that he can

And his commaundment to do

And the deuyl to hate also

And as we lordshyp wyl craue

1840

Of all thynges /and theyr seruyce haue

Euyn so wyll god on all wyse

Aske and haue of vs seruyse

And that we byleue on hym stedfastly

And worshyp hym with our body

1845

And loue hym aboue all-thynge

For we are all of his makynge

¶The .xxxvj. questyon.

¶How many worldes are of all

And how do men them call?

THere are gostly worldes two

1850

And two bodely worldes also

That one goostly heuen is

There aungels are and all the blys

And there the good generacyon

Of Adam / shall hereafter wone

1855

That other goostly than is hell

There the deuyls in paynes dwell

¶The two bodely is in our syght

As sunne / and mone / daye / and nyght

And other thynges that we se

1860

That vs geueth claryte

The tother trewly we can nat want

The chefe thynge that we do enhaunte

As the erthe that all-thynge taketh

And our wombe that nought forsaketh

sig: [I3v]

1865

And fro the bodely that are

Unto the goostly for to fare

Whether it be lowe or hye

Ne is it but a twynkelyng of an eye

¶The .xxxvij. questyon.

¶Is god of great yeldyng to tho

1870

That ryght in his seruyce here go

IN al the worlde ne is no man

That maye thynke ne tell can

The good / the honour in many wyse

That god gyueth man for his seruyse

1875

That in hym t[r]usteth and in his myght trusteth] ttusteth 1537

And his commaundment doth aryght

And short commaundment ordenyd hath he

Do good and lete euyl be

His sonne shall he send here doune

1880

To dye for mannys saluacyon

And tho that his seruyse haue in mynde

In his blys they shall it fynde

For he shall them worshype more

Than eny aungel that is thore

¶The .xxxviij. questyon

1885

¶The people that in that tyme shal be

Of goddys sonne whan come is he

¶And after shall they comenly

Beleue in hym stedfastly

ALl shall they in hym theyr trewth ley

1890

His own folke that is to sey

But all shall they gatherede be

Of dyuers spech and sondre countre

sig: [I4]

But they shall not euerychon

Haue commaundment after one

1895

The commaundment as men shall se

Of goddys sonne shall truly one be

After hym his mynisters twelue

Shall commaund that selue

But they that come after tho

1900

That in-stede of mynisters shall go

They shall well beholde and fynde

The feblenes of mannes kynde

And lyghter commaundment for that skyl

Shall they make the folke vntyl

1905

And eche nacyon shall wene that he

Be better than any other be

But of them shalbe at the fyne

As it dothe by a great gardyne

Where-in many trees standeth

1910

And eche of them frewte bereth

The tre that best frewte berys

Be they appulles or be they peres

The plentuousest of berynge

And of best sauour in etynge

1915

That tre shall the gardynere

Most loue and serue in tyme of yere

Also they that shall best byleue

In goddes sone and theyr harte hym geue

And best shall here in erthe do

1920

Whan tyme cometh there-vnto

They shall most worshypped be

In heuen before the Trinite

A myrrour that they shall beholde and se

Full of ioy / that of no tong may expressed be

sig: [I4v]

¶The .xxxix. question.

1925

¶What commaundment by thy leue

Shall goddes sone his folke geue?

IT shalbe loue and abstynence

And charyte and pacyence

And that no man other do

1930

Than he wolde were done hym to

God hymselfe for mannes loue

Shall sende his sone from aboue

And shall fele here abstynence

And sufferaunce and pacyence

1935

And bytter deth at the last

His folke out of payne to cast

And who-so beholde these fowre thynges

All goodnes out of them sprynges

For he that good loue hathe in god

1940

Loue in hymselfe is not all odde

And he that hathe abstynence

And charyte and pacyence

And haueth the loue of god with-all

No doute he shall haue the lyfe eternall

¶The .xl.questyon.

1945

¶The blesfulest thynge after thy wyt

And dygniest / and fayrest whiche is it?

A Sowle that is good of man

Of all thynges that I tell can

Is the fayrest thynge that maye be

1950

For bryghter than the sonne is he

And a worthyer thynge is there nought

Of all that god in erthe hath wrought

For of goddes owne onde it came

sig: K1

Whan god blewe on Adam

1955

Therfore are aungels set therto

To kepe it in all that they maye do

¶Also the blysfullest it is

For it is ordayned to that blys

There neuer ende shalbe

1960

Of ioye and blysse and game and gle

And god gaue commaundement to al-thynge

For to serue man his blyssynge

Than is mannes sowle blysfulest tho

And worthyest and fayrest also

¶The .xlj. questyon.

1965

¶The fowlest and the perelousest thynge to se

And most wyckedest which may that be

Wycked sowle of man I_wysse

Is the fowlest thyng that is

So harde-harted man is none

1970

And he a wycked sowle sawe one

In the ryght lykenes of it

That he ne shulde lese his wyt

Also it is perelouse

For it gothe to a velayne howse

1975

There parell is and moche wo

Where it neuer shall come fro

The most cursyd is it aye

For goddes sone on domes-daye

Before all his aungels thore

1980

Shal curse it for euermore

And of the payne that it shall to

Aungels and Archangels also

Shall haue bothe ioye and blysse

sig: [K1v]

For that it had done amys

¶The .xlij. questyon

1985

¶The good sowles shal they ought

For the wyckyd sorow or take thought

GOod men whan the wyckyd spyl

Shalbe al of goddys wyl

And whan they the dome haue sene

1990

Of them that agayn god hath bene

They shalbe demt from goddis face demt: =damned

Which shulbe al theyr solace

For the dome shalbe ryghtwyse

That god shal gyue his enemyes

1995

And whan they are in al theyr paynes

A_monge the other hell-hownes

The good sowles shal glade be

Them in theyr paynes on to se

As we haue game to beholde

2000

Fysshe swyme in the water colde

¶The .xliij. questyon

¶Whether is better so god the saue

Helth or syknes for to haue

HElth of sowle is good to wynne

To kepe it out of dedly synne

2005

For whan it is hole and fayre

Of heuyn blys it shalbe heyre

And his dwellyng with god shalbe

For his laboure and dylygence

If thou haddyst now a knyght

2010

That ware strong and stowt in fyght

And ware hold bolde and hardy

sig: K2

Hym thou woldyst holde the by

And thou shuldyst in-to fyght

And ware he syke and of no myght

2015

No-where woldyst thou with hym yede

Wher thou shuldyst stonde in drede

Lyke maner it is of sowles hele

God wyl not with that sowle dele

That feble is by the syknes of synne

2020

But he wyl therof blynne

Ageyne the helth of the body

To a good man saye I sykerly

Is better hole than syke to be

For in goodnes his helth vsyth he

2025

And they that lyue in synne and wo

Sycknes is best for them tho

Which for the payne of theyr sycknesse

Shal they synne yet the lesse

And withdrawe them therfro

2030

That in helth shuld not so do

¶The .xliiij. questyo[n]

¶What poure is it that wold I lere

That god hath gyuen to sowle here

GOd hath geuen sowle vnto

A kyngdome for to rule also

2035

That yf he kepe it aryght

His kynges sete shalbe dyght

Before god in heuen blys

And god shal saye to hym this

Come my dere sone to me

2040

The kyngdome that I behyght the

Thou hast it so kepte in all-thynge

sig: [K2v]

That thou art worthy to be a kyng

Therfore shalte thou crowned be

Before my fathers maieste

2045

The sowle for the kyng take I

And for the kyngdome the body

And the commaundment of eche good kyng

In his land shuld be done aboue all-thynge

Therfore what-so the sowle wyll

2050

The body shuld it do with skyll

And but the body do also

As the sowle counsayle the hym to

Bothe together they shuld be cast

In fyre of hell at the last

¶The .xlv questyon.

2055

¶When goddes sone to the erth is sent

And agayne to heuen is went

Shall he any gouernour leue here

In this world the folke to lere?

AFter that goddes sone vp shall stye

2060

Into his fathers companye

His .xii. mynysters leue he shall

That in erth hym companyd with-all

A holy hous amonge them all

Shall they make / that they shal call

2065

goddes house and so shall it be

For therin may men god se

After them shall other come also

That theyr commaundment shall do

A whyle / tyl it last maye

2070

And they shall fro daye to daye

Wax ryche and of great myght

sig: K3

And for theyr ryches anone-ryght

The lawe that goddes sone them lefte

And his .xii. mynysters efte

2075

Febely than shall they it holde

But for ryches shall all be solde

And god shall then dystroye them tho

For theyr synne and for theyr wo

And than shall come great maystery

2080

Of the arte of astronomy

And wyse men holde shall they be

But coueytys shall shende all theyr gle

¶The .xlvj. questyon

¶ Goddys hows that thou hast tolde

Who shal it kepe and haue in holde

2085

FOrsoth goddys sonne hym-selue

Shall amonge his dysciples twelue

Commaunde one to kepe it ryght

And stone of stonys shall he hyght

He shall it kepe that it shall not spyll

2090

After man shal succede man according his wyl

But after the tyme that goddys sonne

Is come in erth for to wone

A thowsand yere after than shal begynne

In the worlde to sprynge synne

2095

Agaynst god and his lore

And shalbe wors than before

After that men shall se

Two great douues shal borne be

That goddys lawe forther shall

2100

And myschefe destroye all

That one douue shalbe callyd mendar

sig: [K3v]

And that other amonester

In the world they shalbe bolde

And pore men they shalbe tolde

2105

The good shall loue them inwardly

The wycked shal drede them wonderly

And worshyp them with drede and sawe

For they shal haue of them great awe

Champyons they shalbe stronge

2110

The faythe to holde and to fordo wronge

Good kepars shall they be

Of goddes house and his meyne

¶the .xlvij. questyon

¶He that no good doth but holdeth him styll

Whether dothe he good or yll

2115

HE that no good dothe nor yl dedys

The lyfe of beast ryght he ledys

And that doth yl for he do[th synn]e Copytext illegible; B reads: dothe synne

And he that of good wy[ll bl]ynne Copytext illegible; B reads: woll blynne

And doth not there he maye it do

2120

He dothe yll and synne also

¶As yf a man were honger sted

And gladly wold of mete be fed

And he by an orchyarde were goynge

There he moche freute sawe hangynge

2125

And dyeth for faute of mete

And of the freute wyl not ete

He doth euyll and amys

For his owne defawte it is

¶The .xlviij. questyon.

sig: [K4]

¶Lordshyp whether shall it be

2130

Stoute and sterne or of petye?

LOrdshyp is goddes wyll

Lawe and iustyce to fulfyll

And yf [men] myght Iustyce fynde men] 1537 omits; menne B

Men shuld be of fysshes kynde

2135

The stronge shuld the feble ete

And great the small that they myght gete

And lordshyp ought stowte to be

And stalworthe and of potence

With ryght and skyll the wycked to deme

2140

And peas amonge the folke to set clene

A lytel goddes sone beforne

A kyng shall in erthe be borne

He shalbe profyte or he dye

And in his prophesye he shall saye

2145

Blesyd be they god vnto

That deme / and ryghtwysenes shal do

Yf a wycked man be raynt

And of his wyckednes be ataynt

The lorde maye deme hym of his ryght

2150

And forgeue it of his myght

But yf he afterward do amys

Of the dome worthy he is

¶The .xlix. questyon.

¶Shal any man good do

His kynde and his frendes vnto?

2155

YF thy kynde good men be

And they haue defawte of the

And haue lost by myschaunce

sig: [K4v]

The good that shuld them auaunce

Thou shalt them helpe and good them do

2160

And geue them good counsayle also

Yf they be of wycked lyfe

Be it man or be it wyfe

And they be in wretchydnesse

Throughe theyr owne wyckednesse

2165

As some that are of euyl mode

He dothe yll that dothe them good

That men putteth in all is lorne

In a purs that is al to_torne

What helpeth it wax for to take

2170

And a serge therof make

And before a man it lyght

That is blynde and hathe no syght

To suche a man helpeth it nought

That lyght before hym be brought

2175

Also it is lost for to shewe

Any goodnes to a shrewe

¶The .l. questyon.

Now I praye the tell me

Gentylhed what maye that be

GEntylry that is powre

2180

And ryches that a man hath here

Of lande and rent and of fee

And cometh of antiquite

And that in coste hath to mayntayne

For most ientyll is he counted certayne

2185

But some are ryche men of good

And are churles kynd of blode

A ryche man men call hym one

sig: L1

But gentylman is he none

And he that ryche is wonderly

2190

A noble-man of his body

Curteys / wyse and holden fre

A great gentylman is he

And though he be a poure man

And amonge men bere hym can

2195

As of norture in boure and halle

A gentylman men shal hym calle

But of poure men we al came

As of Eue and adam

¶The .lj. questyon

¶How may it be colde euery yere

2200

Whan the wether is fayre and clere

THe wether whan that it is fayre

The hete comyth downe from the ayre

And in-to the erth he dryueth thore

The hete that hetyd the erth before

2205

And so is hete al awaye

On wynters dayes that is to say

And whan the wether is trobelus and thike

The hete may not downe lyght

From the sonne by his myght

2210

So may it here be warme tolde

And sumtyme in fayre wether colde

¶The .lij. questyon

¶May a man by eny trowe

The good men from the wyckyd knowe

GOod men them-selfe declare ryght

2215

For of vysage they are bryght

sig: [L1v]

And theyr eyen also are bryght

And louely they are of syght

For the good lyfe they are in

And they are trewly out of syn

2220

And bycause they lyue so chastly

Swete wordes haue they comenly

The wycked of euyl wyll they be

And lowrynge are they on to se

Of stablenes haue they nothynge

2225

Out of mesure is theyr spekynge

Smarte goynge they haue also

And they are seldome in ro

And the wyckednes of theyr harte

In worde and warke they shewe all smarte

¶The .liij. questyon.

2230

¶The byleue that was here-before

Of false ydols that here wore

Shal it euer raysed be

So sterke as was in tyme of me?

CHyldren that shall come of the

2235

In god of heuen theyr byleue shalbe

And theyr chyldren yet also

But they that shal come of them tho

Shal turne vnto the wycked lawe

That was before by olde sawe

2240

And they shal make a cyte

Therin shall a towre be

And that towre shal haue thore

Foure and forty stages before

And therin shal raygne a kynge

2245

Of al the worlde most masterlynge

sig: L2

And an ymage he shall do dyght

After his father and lyke hym ryght

And all folke shall he make go to

That ymage worshyp to do.

¶The .liiij. questyon.

2250

¶Why was it not goddes wyl

That man leuyd not a weke with one fyl

HOnger one of the paynes is

For syn that Adam dyd amys

And man was made so (yf he wolde)

2255

That he euer leue shulde

Without trauayle and without wo

But whan he was fallen god fro

Myght he not agayne come hym to

Without trauayle and wo also

2260

And trauayle shulde hym not lyst

But yf he had hunger and thyrst

And honger / thyrst / keelth / and hete

With other paynes that men with mete

Shuld man nothynge of haue wyst

2265

Had the man not synned fyrst

And with honger and thyrst maye

Glotony be done awaye

And for to meue in mannes thought

The glotony that Adam wrought

2270

And that synne to wasshe a_waye

Kyndly hym hongereth euery daye

¶The .lv. questyon.

¶The ryche men dye they also

Lyghtly as the poure men do?

sig: [L2v]

Ryche and poure that men fynde

2275

All god made them of one kynde

One-whyle waxeth the poure ryche

And somtyme made poure is the ryche

Up and downe catel is brought

But kynde of man ne changes nought

2280

Honger and thyrst hete and colde

Ioye and sorowe many-folde

Slepe and wake etynge and drynkynge

And many mo kyndes of lyuynge

This hath the poure men as well

2285

As the rych of kynde euery-dele

But the poure by reson

Are of strongar complexcyon

Than the ryche that deyntely doth fede

But they in trauayle theyr lyfe do lede

2290

But whan deth knocketh truly

There is no nother remedy

But both alyke shal fare

Rych or poure whether they are

¶The .lvj questyon

¶Shall men iuge the ryche also

2295

As they the poure do

IUge they shal them of ryght

Stryghter than the poure wyght

And euer the rycher that he be

And he mysdo ageyne the

2300

The more payne shulde he bere

Shulde no ryches hym out-were

And yf men deme the ryche sore

The poure shall hym drede the more

sig: L3

But for the poure mannys dede

2305

Hath the rych no drede

But god rewardys them than

The rych more than the poure man

And demyth both ryghtwysly

After as they are worthy

2310

So shuld men deme the quycke

Rych and poure al alyke

¶The .lvij. questyon

May the wycked as wel for ay

Haue goddys loue as the good may

A Wycked man that hath do syn[n]e

2315

And of wyckydnes wyll blynne

Cryeng god mercy wyllyng to do it no more

He shalbe in goddys fauoure

The good are goddys where they go

The wycked are fall hym fro

2320

Yf a man a thynge haue lore

That he loued wel before

And he may it after fynde

That shal he more haue in mynde

And more shall therof be glad

2325

Than of all the othere that he had

By man faryth god euyn so

Yf a man ageyne hym mys_do

And it dedly synne be

Far fro god fallen is he

2330

But yf he wyll mercy craue

Sykerly he shall it haue

For therof is god ful fayne

And than fyndeth he hym agayne

sig: [L3v]

And of his fyndynge is he glad

2335

For the great loue that he to hym had

Thus maye wycked as well all daye

Haue goddes loue as good men maye.

¶The .lviij. questyon.

¶How may the chyld that ful of loue is

Come out of the mothers wombe tel me this

2340

GOd that all hath made of nought

More wonders hathe he wrought

And as he hath power therto

The one body in that other to do

So hath he myght it out to brynge

2345

For at his wyl are all-thynge

Whan tyme cometh that woman shall

Be delyueryd of that she gothe withall

All the ioyntes of her body

Open and enlargeth them kyndly

2350

All one saue the chyn before

And in that tyme the chylde is bore

As a lykenes of dethe that ware

But as sone as the body bare

The ayre hath sauoryd that is here

2355

The bones that febely mowe stere

Begynne for to drye anon

And waxeth harde growyng to bon

And all the lyghthes that ware open lyghthes: =liths; see OED s.v. lith n1.

In the woman agayne are cropen

2360

Harken I shal tel the how

If a man his fyngar drow

The ioynt wyl open and vndo

And after shet agayne to

sig: [L4]

So it faryth with woman after chyldynge

2365

Throughe the grace of the heuynly kynge

¶The .lix. questyon

¶May eny woman bere mo

Chyldren in her at onys than two

A Woman may bere kyndly

Seuen at onys in her body

2370

For the matryce of woman

If you vnderstande can

Hath seuen chambres and no mo

And eche one is separat other fro

And she may haue in eche of tho

2375

A chylde / and so with seuen go

If goddys wyl be fyrst therto

And the kynde of woman also

If hote of kynde be the woman

And hath great lykyng to the man

2380

One chambre or two or thre

Of them that in her matryce be

Of great wyl open ther agayne

That a man hath by her layne

The sede falleth in them anone

2385

And they close agayne eche one

And yf that sede acordaunt fynde

It waxeth further in his kynde

And yf that other chaumbers be

Open / and it be that she

2390

Knowe man agayne that same nyght

Or on the morowe by daye-lyght

Or the second daye / later nought

And the sede be therin brought

sig: [L4v]

They spere to and holde it fast

2395

And norysshe chyldren at the last

And so longe they shulde be borne

Latter than other are beforne

As they ware gete sonderly

But vnderstande not therby

2400

That euery tyme that a man

Knowes fless[h]ly a woman flesshly] flessly 1537

That the seed in her rote take

Many thynges may lettynge make

But it behouyth that he and she

2405

Be both to_gether atempre

For yf a man a lecheroure be

And haunteth many as men do se

The seed of hym is of no myght

For feblenes of fowlynge ryght

2410

And yf a man holde hym fro

That he no woman come to

And than doeth as ye wotte

The seed of hym is so hotte

Whan it is to his chamber brought

2415

It brennyth and wastyth all to nought

And yf the man be of tempre

And yf the woman not so be

But brennyng hote and of good-wyll

It shall the seed in her spylle

2420

And yf they both be of tempure

Theyr seed shall in his chamber dure

Fest there-in and so ground fast

That yt shall come to man at the last

And yf theyr together-comynge

2425

Be glade and mery in all-thynge

sig: M1

Of glade semblant theyr chyld shalbe

As they ware both at the assembly

And yf they assemble them wrothly

Tother shalbe the chyld truly

2430

If the one be glade the other nought

And the chyld be bytwyx them wrought

The chyld shalbe somtyme blythe

And somtyme great felnes kythe

And yf that it befall so

2435

That the one of them two

Hath eny man greatly in thought

Whan the seed is to his chambre brought

That seed may lycknes take percaas

Of hym that in theyr thought so was

¶The .lx. questyon

2440

Which is the best thyng that may be

Or man may haue tel it me

HUmylyte is the best thynge

That is vnder heuyn kynge

For he that hath with hym humylyte

2445

He is indued with vertues thre

Unto god and hymselfe also

And his neyghbore vnto

Al thynges are loued therby

And god loueth it greatly

2450

The aungels that in heuyn are

For humilyte myght not fall in care

With the other that fell out

For they ware vnleel and stout

The great flode scapyd Noe

2455

By the goodnesse of humilyte

sig: [M1v]

The prophytes that may not lye

By lewte tel theyr prophesye

By humylyte godys sonne of myght

Shal in-to a mayden lyght

2460

By that shal he dye also

Adam and his to lose of wo

For leaute shal many a good man

Be delyueryd to martyrdam

Humilyte than is also dygne and bryght

2465

As the sonne that gyueth vs lyght

That euer holdyth without let

The ryght waye that god hath hym set

And seyng al is ordeynyd for leute

Than is it best as thynketh me

¶The .lxj.

.lxj.] .lxvj. 1537

questyon

2470

¶The worst thynge so god the saue

What is it that man may haue

THe worst thyng of most folye

That man may haue is enuye

For it engendryth couetyse

2475

And treason on many wyse

For enuy that aungels hade

Unto god / they ware vnclade

Of grace and of blys also

Wherby they fell to great wo

2480

For enuy adam vnwyse

Was dryuen out of paradyse

And couetys not for to lye

Truly is doughter to enuye

She werkys many a man wo

2485

And some ful late from her doth go

sig: M2

And some by the necke hanged to be

That wold not by peyce it fle

Some ther are that may ye se

His neyghbor that wold not go fayrer thaa he

2490

He hath enuy and fallys lyght

In couetys and with vnryght

What enuy is yf thou wilt here

Lysten and I shal the lere

It is a tree that spryngeth wyde

2495

And the rote of it is pryde

The body also is euyl wyll

That in mannys herte is styll

The branches that wyde sprede

Is rancour of herte and hatrede

2500

The flours of this yll tre

Pale hed and lene on to se Pale hed] Palehed 1537, Are pale B, Pale hede T

For a man enuyous as I wene

Comenly is pale and lene

The frute of this tree than is

2505

Both sorow and care I_wys

Gladnes of his neyghborys care

And sorow of his welfare

Hath eny man trow ye lyuynge

A wors tree in his gardyn growynge

2510

For that that comyth of yt euery-dele

Is truly wycked and nothynge wel

¶The .lxij. questyon

¶Tel me yet he askyd new

[H]ow may a man be leel and trew How] Fow 1537

A man may be lyghtly trewe

2515

Fyrst whan he god of heuyn knowe

sig: [M2v]

That hym made of nought also

And at his wyl them shal for_do

Trustyng stedfastly that he

Was euer and without end shalbe

2520

And kepe wel the commaundment

That his sonne whan he doune is sent

Shal in erth gyue man vnto

Towarde god and man also

To do good and wyckydnes let be

2525

And couetys and enuy fle

And take vnto hym pacyence

With charyte and abstynence

For who-so hath thes thre

I_wys a leel man is he

2530

And after for his humilyte

In heuyn may he crowned be

With aungels before god of myght

Wher euer is day with-out nyght

¶The .lxiij questyon

¶Hardynes of man and drede

2535

Wherof come they I the rede

BOldnes and drede of man

Wherof they come tel I can

They come of the complexcyon

And I shal tel the a reson

2540

Thou knouest that men made ware

Of the foure elementes that are

Saue that god gaue hym goost

And after a man hath in hym most

Of wete of dryeth hete or colde

2545

Shal his complexcyon be tolde

sig: M3

And thes foure euen be

Raynynge in man / than shal he

Be neyther coward ne hardy

Lysten I shal tel the why

2550

If kelth not ouercome the hete

Nor the drye ouercome the wete

Equalyte than of hete / kylth / wete and dry

The herte of man shal than lye

For the euynhode of them tho

2555

And styre neyther to ne fro

And yf the hete the kelthe ouer-go

And the hete the kylth also

The body begynneth for to shake

And the herte to styre and quake

2560

And for the hete is hardy anon

And dredyth not that he lokyth on

If the colde be mayster ouer the hete

And ouer the drye be the wete

The body waxeth colde at nede

2565

And the hert weke and ful of drede

¶The .lxiiij. questyon

¶Wherof may it be_fall

Man to haue meselry or scall

SCall and meselry also

Of the woman come they tho

2570

A woman that is hote of kynde

And a man her in her floures fynde

The floures are both hote and drye

And the man than by her lye

And gete a chylde perauenture

2575

That chylde shalbe of nature

sig: [M3v]

Other be scalled or mesel

The nature it is so fell

That it in the woman takes

Of a blode that it all makys

2580

Menstruum that blode we call

That bredyth meselry or scall

Which raygnyng in woman

It is but foly to come to man

But a man shal knowe his wyfe

2585

In entent to get a lyfe

To worshype god that hym wrought

And whan she is with chylde brought

He shulde come ny her no more

Untyl the chylde ware bore

2590

Nor fourty dayes shulde nought shulde] after B, afterward L

Such precept to Noe the aungel brought

¶The .lxv. questyon

¶Ware althynges of goddys makynge

Made at the fyrst begynnynge

GOd made of his myght althynge

2595

At his worde and byddynge

But al the creatures that he forth brought

At one tyme made he them nought

For it ware agayne kynde by my thought

A thynge that of matter is wrought

2600

But yf the matter ware before

Or that thynge of it made wore

For longe is stone or tre

Or the hows made be

Also fynde I many thynges yet

2605

As wormes comyng of mannys swet

sig: [M4]

As lees and other wormes mo

And some of mannys flesshe also

And of mannys flesshe them fede

As wormes that in handes brede

2610

Scarbode is of fylt a neet Scarbode: =scarab; a: =of; fylt a neet: ='filth of neat' ('dung')

A worme that is so gret

Of howndes come howndflees to

And wormes of wyckyd ayre also

And yf thes thynges latter be

2615

Than that that they come of / thynkes me

That god at the begynnynge

Made not at ones al-thynge

And al thynges he made I_wys

Unto the lest worme that is

¶The .lxvi. questyon

2620

¶Tel me now after thy wyt

The frute in erth who norysshys yt

AL the frute that in erth growes

And al that man therin sowes

Al noryshys god of his myght

2625

And for that hath he them dyght

The foure elamentes to fynde

Eche one noryssheth in his kynd

The erthe sustayneth whan he to hym taketh

The ayre noryssheth and it maketh

2630

The water it fedeth and grene it maketh

Of fyre / hete and waxyng it taketh

These foure make rype euery frute

Wherof men suffyse theyr apetyte

Ryght as who shuld sethe mete

2635

Foure thynges behoueth hym to gete

sig: [M4v]

Fyre and water ayre and vessele

Or els is it not sodden wele

¶The .lxvij. questyon

¶The bestes that haue no wyte

How wax they ragyous tel me it

2640

GOd made ech beste as we fynde

And gaue ech wyt after his kynde

And ech kynd hath knoulegynge

After his wyte of some-thynge

And that wyte may sone away

2645

In maner as I shal the say

A man may rekyn and fynde sone

The .xxvii. daye of the mone

In tyme of Iune ryght esterly

A sterre hym sheweth on the skye

2650

And be it nyght or be it daye

Yf a beast it beholde maye

Or the vmbre in water on nyght vmbre ='reflection' (see OED s.v. umber n1, 1c).

It shal waxe ragyous anone-ryght

And yf it man or beast than byte

2655

It shal become rageous streyte

¶The .lxviii. questyon

¶What beast is it that ye fynde

That lengest leueth in his kynde?

AN Erne leueth longest as I trowe

Of all the beastes that I knowe

2660

The erne euery daye wyl flye

In-to the ayre vp so hye

Hygher than any man maye se

And fresshe and newe becometh he

sig: N1

And in longe lyfe he contynueth

2665

That so oft hym-selfe renueth

The adder also hath longe lyfe

And vnder erth he dwellyth ryfe

And vnder stonys and in brynkes

The kelyth of the erth drynkys

2670

His hyde he newyth euery yere

And becomyth yonge and fayre

Be he not slayned with beast or man

A thowsand yere wel lyue he can

And whan a thowsand yere is gon

2675

Horne his hede growyth on

And shortly after begynneth he

A fayr dragon for to be

But al they fare not so

Some dye or they come therto

2680

And some are slayned here and there

Or els al to fell they were

¶The .lxix. questyon

¶Fedyth god al-thynge

That is in erth of his makynge

GOd made althyng good

2685

And to al he sendyth lyues fode

Frute on erth and flesshe on lande

And fysshe in water and on sande

To mannys fode is ordenyd all

And therby he lyue shall

2690

Beastes so are fed also

Of that the erth comyth fro

Fowles some in erth are fed

And some in water theyr lyfe is led

sig: [N1v]

The fyssh lyueth by his mete

2695

And ech of them wyl other ete

The worme in erth is fede also

And thys sendyth god them vnto

Unto al that he hath lyfe lent

He hath mete to them sent

¶The .lxx. questyon

2700

¶Fysshe and fowle and beastes echone

Haue they sowles or haue they none

Ryghtly sowles for to sey

Is such that it may neuer dey

For yf the body do wel here

2705

The sowle shalbe assocyat to aungel clere

And that is callyd sowle of skyl

That god gaue only man vntyl

Wherfor euery other creature

Is vnder man by ryght nature

2710

And for that shuld he

Ouer al beastes mayster be

Haue sowle that most wysdom can

Or els ware beast lyke to man

Beastes and foules and fysshes al

2715

Haue no sowl ryghtly to cal

If thou say as some men do

Al that lyueth hath sowle ther-to

T[h]rough which sowl the body sterys Through] Trough 1537

Etyth / drynketh / seyth and herys

2720

It is no sowle it is but an onde

That god hath lent them here we haue fonde

For no good ne can they do

But that man them noryssheth to

sig: N2

Than haue they wyt of mannys techynge

2725

But of them-selfe haue they nothynge

If wyt of them-selfe wore

Theyr sowle ware of myght the more

But theyr sowle that I a yeanyng cal yeanyng; see OED s.v. yean v?

Whan the body ded shal fall

2730

It faryth as an onde of thy mouth

Whan it is gon no man it couth

But vanysshys in the ayre awaye

And no lengar ne dure may

¶The .lxxj. questyon

¶They that in tyme of goddis sonne be

2735

Shal they lyue as longe as we

OF body such as now are we

But so great shal they not be

And we are now of lengar lyfe

Than shalbe than man or wyfe

2740

For the world is now stalworthyare

Than shalbe than and myghtyare

And the erth gyueth vs to

More frute than it shal them do

And the plenty that the erth yeldys

2745

Both in woddes and in feldys

Is now of moch more myght

Than it shalbe than with ryght

And the wyne is strongar now

Than shalbe than and to more prow

2750

Wherfore ought we by ryght nature

Haue lengar lyfe and lengar to endure

Than they that in thos dayes are

And feble are so forth shal they fare

sig: [N2v]

For he that may than the people amonge

2755

Lyue a .C. yere he lyueth longe

And euer shal men dounwarde go

Of lyfe and of strength also

But in wyt wax they shal

And in malyce with-all

2760

And of theyr bodyes lessen shal

Twyxen this and domys-day

¶The .lxxij. questyon

¶Tel me now some ensure

How longe this world shal endure

NO man in erth may veryly

2765

The preuyte know of goddys secresy

It is so great that wyte it ne can

Nother beast / aungel ne man

Ne no-thyng but it be he

That with god be full preue

2770

And that he loueth alther-most

As his sone or the holy gost

For they with hym are all one

In godhed / or els wote it none

For euery erthely man wyl nought

2775

Tel to euery man his thought

Ne his wyl in preuyte

But yf he preuy with hym be

Also reserueth god hym to

Many thynges that he wyl do

2780

That he wyl of no k[n]owlegynge knowlegynge] kowlegynge 1537

Geue to man / ne to nothynge

But to his owne sone onely

For he is next and most hym by

sig: N3

And that tyme that goddes sone

2785

Shal in erthe a man here wone

Men shal hym aske yf the worlde here

Shal endure seuen thousand yere

And anone answere he shall

And saye ye / and more withall

2790

For of the fathers preuyte

Of the more / shal none the wyser be

We fynde wele that god of heuen

Hath made planettes seuen

The world to kepe by daye and nyght

2795

And to eueryone geueth that is his myght

And euery one is assyngned to

A thousand yere to kepe also

And whan euery one haueth on this wyse

A thousand yere done his seruyse

2800

Than shal euer god fulfyll

The world longer at his wyll

For as al planettes gouernours be

Euen so gouerneth them he

And for he is aboue all

2805

Wote none but he what shal befall

¶The .lxxiij. questyon.

¶Leue ony men in the world mo

Out of the erthe that we on go

Syr yles are many in the see

A thousand and foure hondred and two ther be

2810

Some are inhabyted men withall

And some not / nor neuer shall

There are some that men in dwell

Of our lykenes euery-dell

sig: [N3v]

And of hyth but hanfulls thre hyth: = height

2815

And berdes hangyng to theyr kne

Theyr here downe to theyr helys is

Of flesshe they fede both of goose and gryce

Theyr beastes are small euerychone

A speche they haue by them alone

2820

¶A nother yle is by the see

And therin are smal meyne

A spanne longe are they and nomore

And all of fysshe lyue they thore

In the water are they be lyght

2825

And vp-on londe they are on nyght

¶Yet there other yles be

With men al-so great as we

With one eye in the front no more

And vs with two they drede ful sore

2830

They ete flesshe / and with the fellys

Clothe they them / and with nothynge ellys

¶Yet there is a nother also

The folke that longeth therto

Are tayled ryght as shepe eche one

2835

And the[y] lyue by fysshe alone they] then 1537, they B

¶Yet is there one of oure shapnesse

But they are moche lesse

And they are euer in fyght and were

Agayne a great maner of fowle is there

2840

In colde wynter tho fowles great

Take they / and hold them for theyr mete

¶A nother is there yet nere hand

There is a maner foule dweland

Thoughe they were in fyre brought

2845

Brenne ne shuld theyr fethers nought

sig: [N4]

¶A nother folke is there feyre and sounde

That haue vysage lyke a hounde

¶Yet is there folke in a countre

And feble and lene they be

2850

On sonne and on the mone they byleue

And sacryfyce to them they geue

But when they wyl sacrifyce make

Sum wyl his best frendis take

And praye hym company hym bere

2855

At the sacrifyce he shal do there

Than shal he cause to be made a fyre

And when it brenneth ful shyere

Than shal he crye that al may here

For loue of the sonne so dere

2860

Or the mone whether it be

Or an ymage made of tre

Lepe I in this fyre al hote

For my meryte wel I wote

Thus hym-selfe there he brenneth

2865

And the deuyl his soule wynneth

And tho that bere hym company

Anone shal do the same foly

The tother folke aboute bydene

Syt tyl they be brenned ful clene

2870

And than shal they theyr asshes take

And relykes shal they therof make

¶Another lande there is also

That sacryfyce the deuyl vnto

Of theyr bodyes / and are ful blythe

2875

They cause to be made a sharpe sythe

In lykenes of a hors-sho

And that shal haue haftes two

sig: [N4v]

By the heere than shall he hanged be

Hye on_lofte that men may se

2880

The sythe in his necke shal men laye

The haftes in his handes twey

And he shal crye as a man in a rage

For the loue of his ymage

That is my god this shal I do

2885

And kerue his owne necke in two

The hede hangeth styll on hye

The body falleth hastely

That body shalbe with honoure takyn

And done out all that is therin

2890

And salted as they wyl it haue

And by that ymage do it graue

Upon the graue shal wryten be

His owne name /and howe that he

Made to that ymage sacryfyce

2895

And on what daye and in what wyse

¶Another maner is there yet

Of folke that are of lytell wyt

Whan they sacrafyce shuld make

A hye tree they do take

2900

And do styke it in a place

With many about makyng solas

And aboute that same tre

Foure swerdis naked shal set be

The poyntes vpward euerychone

2905

Than shal he be taken anone

He that sacryfyce shall do

Be bounden fote and hand also

And vp drawen shal he be

Into the ouermost ende of the tre

sig: O1

2910

Ther shal he crye the folke vnto

In the worshype of god this I do

They slake the rope they hym with-drow

And he fallyth sharpe I_now

Upon the swerdes he doth lyght

2915

And goyth to the deuyl ryght

Than shal men that body take

And a fayr stede for it make

Two dayes / and that whyl shalbe

A crye made in al the cowntre

2920

That such a man made sacryfyce

And yf eny are so wyse

To come and aske eny bone

Hast them and come thyther sone

Or he to his graue be brought

2925

For of theyr bone want shal they nought

Than come some vnto that stede

And vnto hym make theyr bede

And at theyr goddys fote shal he

Afterward grauyn be

2930

¶Yet is there a countre ferthermore

Whan a man is dede thore

Yf he haue a wyfe then shal she

All quycke by hym grauen be

And also the man by the wyfe

2935

Yf she or he forlese theyr lyfe

¶Another folke there is and that

Wyll ete for deyntes hound and cat

¶Another is when he wyfe shal wed

He dare not with her go to bed

2940

The fyrst nyght / but he causeth blythly

Another gest to lye her by

sig: [O1v]

For it is peryl a says to lyfe a: =he

To touch fyrst a weddyd wyfe

¶Another maner ther is wel fedde

2945

But they wyl neuer wyfe wedde

They say that one wyfe ne can

Holde her euer to one man

¶Yet is there one that men do call

Lande femynne that men call

2950

All of wymen and no men

For therin lyue no man can

That passyth fyue yere of age

Ouer fyue dayes ther to haue herytage

But in foure sesons of the yere

2955

Men and they gathere ful nere

Hauynge with them felowrede

Lokyng after no syburrede syburrede: =sibred, 'relationship, kinship'

Uiij. dayes fare they thus no mo

Or the men depart them fro

2960

And yf any a chylde haue

Be it so that it be a knawe

They shal it kepe and norysshe wel

Fyue yere / but more no dele

And than shal they dryue it sone

2965

To the lande there men in wone

They labour and tyl theyr met to wyne

And ouer them they haue a quene

That commaundyth them as quene shuld do

Holdyng them in peas and ro

2970

Countres are there many mo

But longe it ware to tel of tho

But of thes some shal mete

At the comyng of the false prophyte

sig: O2

But many shal there fyrst be lorne

2975

For a kynge that shalbe borne

That shal the world seke valyently

And shal do wryt them as men fynde truly

And many of thos shal he spyll

And with other theyr landes fyll

¶The .lxxiiij. questyon

2980

¶Why are some men blake in towne

Some whyt and some browne

IN thre maners it comyth to

That a man is colouryd so

One is through kynde

2985

As we in our bokys fynde

For yf the man broune be

And the woman as wel as he

And yf they to_gether haue engendrure

It ought to be broune of nature

2990

If the one be broune the other whyt

And they asemble with great delyt

Whos seed with most delyt fest ys

Whan it in the chamber restys

That seed shal the chyld be

2995

Lyckenyd most and shape of ble

Another maner there yet is

If a man be fedde amys

And pourly lye and pourly go

It makyth hym not colouryd so

3000

As he shuld be with ryght

If he ware kept day and nyght

The thyrd cause it is also

The land and the ayre therto

sig: [O2v]

For euer the hoter the londe is

3005

The browner is the folke Iwys

The colder lande the whyter aye

For theyr skyn is not brent al day

¶The .lxxv. questyon.

¶Tell me nowe per company

Wherof cometh felony?

3010

Wycked humours make malencolye

And that engendereth felonye

The wicked humours kindel smert

And gloweth som-whyle about the hert

And chafeth it as a fyre

3015

And maketh it derke and blacke for Ire

And that darkenes answereth than

Up into the brayne-panne

And whan the braynes are derked so

Great dele of wyt they for_go

3020

And smyte anone in felony

And that maketh the hart so drye

But whan that the humours sease

And of theyr glowyng do release

The herte resteth and styll lyeth

3025

And the derkenes fro hym wendeth

The lymmes lyghten euerychone

And in good poynt becometh anone

¶The .lxxvi. questyon.

The beastes that god in erth hath wrought

Of one hewe why are they nought?

3030

FOr they of goddes lykenes not be

Dyuers colours haue they perde

sig: O3

And by_cause they on the ground frete

Dyuers herbes to theyr mete

Some are colde and some are hote

3035

And some are drye and some are wete

And yf a beast / whan it great is

Gothe etynge on the gras

That most is hote and drye also

The yonge shal blacke hewe come vnto

3040

And yf the most parte be hote

Redde shal that yonge be god it wote

And be they moyst it shalbe graye

And be they colde whyte for aye

And yf that a beast fynde

3045

In one place erbes of sondry kynde

And she fede her of them all

Of dyuers hew the yonge shal fall

And after that she most of eteth

Most of that hew the yong geteth

3050

And of all beastes fareth it so

Wylde and tame where-so it go

And al hath god dyght this thyng

At his wyl and his ordaynyng

¶The .lxxvij. questyon

¶They that ete or drynke more than nede is

3055

Whether do they wel or amys?

HE that eteth more than he shuld

And more than his kynd wold

He doth harme his body vnto

And some vnto his soule also

3060

And dystruccyon of mete doth he

That other withall myght fed be

sig: [O3v]

A_gayne god such a man is

Wors than a beast I_wys

God ordayned man to fede

3065

After that his kynd hath nede

And the remnaunt to saue

Untyl after he nede haue

And a man that is wyse

Shal ete onys a day or twyse

3070

A man that etyth at meel

Untyl hym thynkyth that he is wel

And layth efte aboue more

Or that be dygestyd before

His stomacke encombres he

3075

And the hete that therin shuld be

And so his kynde he bryngyth doune

And hym-selfe to corrupcyon

And his wyt in that is lesse

Than a beast that etyth gresse

3080

For there is nether hors ne kowe

From that he hath etyn Inowe

That wyl ete eny more

Tyl after he hongar sore

And seyng a brute beast doth yt

3085

More shuld a man that hath wyt

Wherfore I say a_mys they do

That ete more than nede is to

¶The .lxxviij. questyon

¶Which is the best thyng of the man

And the worst that thou reckyn can

3090

THe best thyng of the man I_wys

And the worst the tonge it is

sig: [O4]

For by his tonge a man may get

Syluer and golde drynke and mete

Loue / worshype and fauoure

3095

And enhauntynge of honoure

Also for the tonge he may

Haue shame and vylony alday

For such wordes may he say

That perauenture may cause hym to dey

3100

The tonge hath nother gold ne fee

But moch honoure makyth she

And the tonge hath no bone

But it doth breke many one

And also wel / ware it the wyl

3105

Myght it speke the good as yl

¶The .lxxix. questyon

¶Whether hath a man more conyng

Of hot mets or of colde etyng

A Man that vsyth hot metys

He chafys his body whan he etys

3110

The senewes norysshys he therby

And al the vaynes of his body

He warmyth the brayne and the hert

And makyth them of wyt smerte

Colde metes dothe not therto

3115

But keleth senowes and vaynes also

And styreth the humours wycked and yl

That the het held styll

And they kele a mannys wyt

Wherfore necessaryly behouyth it

3120

Whan the wyttes are so colde

That they the lesse conynge holde

sig: [O4v]

¶The .lxxx questyon.

¶How maye a man fle felony

And wrathe and malencoly?

Fyrst shal a man haue in his thought

3125

Hym that him hathe made of nought

And thanke it hym in al sake

Yt he at his likenes wold him make

And he shuld hym bethynke also

Of the deth that he shal to

3130

That no man may fro shrynke

Also shal he hym bethynke

How god hath geuen to many

Mayme and sekenes of body

And to some rotyng of lym

3135

And what helthe he gaue to hym

Ete and drynke after skyll

And slepe as that reason wyll

That euyl well ouercome he shall

That hym stereth to greue withall

3140

And so maye he felony

Ouercome and malancoly

¶The .lxxxj questyon.

¶Whether to haue is more bate

Loue of woman or her hate?

A Good woman is good to loue

3145

And holde vnto mannes behoue

For of good women comethe nought

Neyther in warke nor in thought

But good and worshyp where she goeth

And euery man therfore her commendeth

sig: P1

3150

For but good and trewth and lawe

Doth she mene to her felawe

And such a woman loue men shal

And do worshyp and honour with-all

A wyckyd woman shal men hate

3155

And fle from her in the gate

If men may not fle her styl

Fynde menys to eschew her wyckyd wyl

For men shal neuer haue but folye

Of wyckyd womannys companye

3160

Moch peryl and great blame

And amonge men eschap moch shame eschap: probably misread from the previous line in the compositor's exemplar; see Burton, p. 246.

Her maners are ful of vyce

Moch lyke to a cocatryce

Whych is a beast as men of tellyth

3165

And in the water most he dwellyth

He hath a great hed and a longe

And many teth crokyd and wronge

Twyes in the yere he is greued

With wormes that in hys teth do bred

3170

And whan he felyth them so

The lande doth he drawe to

And lyeth agayne the sonne aldaye

Gapynge as wyde as he maye

Than comyth a foule that god wold make

3175

The wormes out of his teth to take

A prycke on his hed is dyght

Shapen as an edyl ryght

The fowle crepeth in al nyce

In-to the mouth of the Cocatryce

3180

And the wormes etyth echone

The Cocatryce felyth anone

sig: [P1v]

That the wormes destroyed be

Anon her mouth closyth she

And wold that fowle ete for his mede

3185

That hath don to hym that good dede

The byrd felys her not wel

And wotyth that she wyl hym spyl

With his mouth that is sharpe before

The Cocatryce smytyth thore

3190

In the mouth agayne the palat

That she openyth her mouth wyth that

The byrd fleyth out in haste

And spedyth her awaye faste

Such seruys yeldyth wyckyd women

3195

For al his good dede / vnto man

Wherfore shal good men styl

Fle from theyr wyckyd wyl

¶The .lxxxij. questyon

¶A man that is in helth and yonge

How angerys he for a lytel wronge

3200

I Shal tel the how and why

The hert is lorde of the body

The body is his wardeyn

And his seruaunt with al his meyn

For al that lyketh the hert vnto

3205

Lykes to the body also

The eyne are gythers of the herte gythers: =guiders; B reads: gyderes

The erys messyngers smerte

The tonge his aduocat is she

And the fete his somers be somers ='pack-horses'; see OED s.v. somer

3210

The handes are his knyghtes ensured

The hertys castel is the hed

sig: P2

The braynes so are castel as I haue sayn castel; B reads chastylene: =castellan

That of the hert reseuyth fayn

If the hert a worde here veryly

3215

Be it scath or be it mery

He may it not wyte ne know

But his messyngers to hym it show

And yf that the tydynges hym lyke

He reioysys of it wonderlyke

3220

And al his men haue ioy and blys

That the hert so mery is

But whan the messyngers tel hym eny-thyng

Wherto he hath no lykyng

He styrreth and quakyth wrothfully

3225

And al his men are than sory

Al are they wroth and quake also

As the[y] wote [hym]-selfe do they wote hym-selfe] the wote them-selfe 1537, they wote hymselfe B

His enemyes are glad therfore

On his men waxyng glowyng sore

3230

If the hert be strong and wyes

And loue the castel there he lyes

And his men wyl se vntyl

And theyr scath not norysshe wyl

Blame / charge / and the wroth all

3235

Upon hym-selfe take he shall

Holdyng hym faste it agayne

Than shal his men rest and be fayne

And his foos ouercome be

That haue reryd his meyne

3240

But yf the hert be feble and vayne

His enmyes brennes hym agayne

And yf he haue no myght in resestyng

Theyr assaut hym assaylyng

sig: [P2v]

And his men are as feble as he

3245

And remembres nought her aduersyte

But to mysdo they styre them smerte

And al the sorowe bydeth the herte

Wherfor the body may take no scath

But the herte felle it rath

¶The .lxxxiij. questyon

3250

¶How may a man blameles be

¶To loue a woman and hym not she

LOue may they together wel

As in god I the tel

For god them together festyd louely

3255

Of both makyng one body

By_cause frute shuld be bytwyx them two

To goddys name worshype to do

Wherfor shuld eyther loue other in blys

As the wyl of god is

3260

¶Of loue ther is another maner

After as the world vsyth here

As a man to loue his wyfe

For her fayrnes and her good lyfe

For ryches and her lewte

3265

And wyt that in her may be

A man that a good wyfe hauys

That hym bothe wynnys and sauys

And is of good maner withall

The world wyl that he her loue shall

3270

And for these skylles shal woman

After the worlde agayne loue man

But who-so loueth other wele

And of these vertues haue no dele

sig: P3

Moche to blame are they trewly

3275

For they loue vnskylfully.

¶The .lxxxiiij. questyon.

¶Wherof comethe the fatnes and why

That a man hath in his body?

OF flewmys that in the body renneth

Cometh fathed who-so them kenneth

3280

And yf the flewmys be swete

Throughe the body they shete

And the hete of other thynges

Sle they / and themselfe sprynges

And lordshyp they haue anone

3285

Ouer the humours euerychone

And whan that they maysters are

The swetnes of them turneth yare

In-to grece / than gather that

And maketh so the body fat

3290

Yf the flewmes be salte within

The flesshe and the body they brenne

And company anone they take

Unto colours yelowe and blake

And whan they in lymmes and veynes sprede

3295

And tho colours with them lede

So longe as they therin dure

They let the body of norture

And holdis it so lene alwaye

That it no grece gather maye

3300

Therfore it is good to many one

To let the flewmes out of hym gone

For a man may be slaynyd therby

Or make great scabbe on his body.

sig: [P3v]

¶The .lxxxv. questyon

¶Shal a man a woman chastyse

3305

With betyng whan she doth amyse

GOod wymen to dele with-al

Theyr mysdedys shalbe but smal

And yf she haue ought mysgon

She repentys her anon

3310

Shonysshyng her mysdede Shonysshyng her mysdede ='shunning her misdeed'; B reads: shryues here of þat misdede, L shameþ of hire misdede, S shoues (?shones) here of þat misdede. OED does not record a verb *shunnish.

Men shal than her chastyse and lede

With fayre wordes and soft

And shal no man morne her oft

Whan a wickyd woman hath myswrought

3315

And shonysys it ryght nought shonysys it ='shuns it'; B reads: ne shames, L neuere repentiþ hir, P yeuyth therof.

But doth vse it al tyte

And hath therin great delyte

If man her blame that she dyd so

Another tyme shal she wors do

3320

If men them vpbrede or bete

The lesse she shal her folye lete

Men shal her warne twyes or thryes

With fayre wordes yf he be wyes

And with gyfte and fayre hetyng

3325

Wyl not leue that thynge

Man shal her let and fro her go

For it helpyth man no nother to do

Unto woman that wyckyd wyl be

For of the deuyls wyl is she

3330

And the deuyl her dwellyth in

That causyth that she cannot blyn

Wherfore there is no better wone

But let the deuyl and her alone

sig: [P4]

¶The .lxxxvj. questyon

¶What thyng is gelousy to knowe

3335

And why is man in gelousy so

OF gelousy are maners mo

For to tel of than one or two

One gelousy of god it is

Whan a man heryth spekyng amys

3340

Agayne god or agayne his lay

As herytykes do al day

There shuld a man be ryght gelous

And to his lawe [to] w[e]re desyrus to were] ware 1537, to were Bwere: =were; see OED s.v. were v.

Yet shal a man gelous be

3345

Ouer his frende yf eny haue he

And that gelouse is commaundment

Of clene hert and louyng entent

Yet is there a gelousye

That comyth of fowle hert and folye

3350

And of wyckyd humours also

That the hert gatherys vnto

That gelousy comyth of woman suerly

Enhauntyng them wyckydly

The hert brennys of wyckyd thought

3355

Rest in the body may it nought

Mete and drynke he forgettyth al quyte

With al his ioy and his delyte

If a man be in such a stryfe

For her that is his owne wyfe

3360

Out of his thought he shal it late

And thynke that it may hym not bate

His borden from his backe he thro

And cast it vnto grownd lowe

sig: [P4v]

And thynke yf she good wolde be

3365

Shuld non her kepe so wel as she

And thynke tyll he faryth so

He sekyth after sorow and wo

And yf he loue one wodly

That not is his owne properdly properdly: =properly

3370

He trauaylys in gelousye

Of brennyng hert and great folye

In angwysshe great lyue he sha[l] shal] sha 1537

And his tyme losyth al

He is lyke that man I_wys

3375

That nyght and daye fyghtyng is

Agayne the wynd it for to take

His owne at his wyl to make

And euer the lengar he doth so

The forther is the wynde hym fro

¶The .lxxxvij. questyon

3380

¶Shal a man loue his frende

And opyn to hym al his mende

HIs good frende a man loue shal

With good hert and clene with-al

After his myght and with hym dele

3385

And of his charge bere somdele

For yf he ryght good frende be

No goodnes forgetyth he

But of dyuers maners are they al

Many that men frendes call

3390

Some ther are that wel can shake

And a man fayre semblant make

Sayeng that he is his frende

Untyl he knowe ought of his mende

sig: Q1

He proferys hym his wyl to do

3395

But there is no trust ther-to

What he doth he rekenyth not nor how

But that it be his owne prow

For dyd he ought agayne hym

He shuld fynde hym fell and grym

3400

And he loueth me lyghtly in bate

That for a lytel wyl me hate

He that loueth me for myne

And not for me / that is venyme

But he is frende to mannys behoue

3405

To trust in and to loue

That nought assentyth to the wyl

Of hys frend that may turne to yll

And seruyth not glosyngly

But chastyse hym of his foly

3410

And though he apertly hym mysdo

He ne says hym no word vnto

In that frend shal man haue fyaunce

And loue hym and hym auaunce

¶The .lxxxviij. questyon

¶May a man his profyt do

3415

And no trauayl haue therto

SIthen adam ete through wyckyd rede

The appul that god forbede

Fro that tyme vnto nowe

Myght neuer adam do his prowe

3420

Ware he neuer so myghty

Without trauayl of his body

The worlde that men on affye

Is but vanyte and folye

sig: [Q1v]

Therfore it behoueth pouer to trauel smert

3425

And ryche men in theyr hert

As to thynke how they shal saue

And multyplye that they haue

And also thynke on heuyn kynge

To make hym-selfe a good endynge

3430

Better it is before to trauel hard

So that the proue come afterward

Than of trauayl here to slake

And fowle endyng after to make

For without some trauayl

3435

May no man in the world auayl

¶The .lxxxix. questyon

¶Shal men do good and almes-dede

Unto pouer that haue nede

DO good / men shal to a pouer man

That hym-selfe helpe ne can

3440

And what befall ne rekyn shal

But for goddys loue do all

Unto the rych is lent rychesse

To helpe the pouer that hath dystresse

He shal thynke that pouer borne be

3445

Of adam and Eue as wel as he

And to his lycknes are wrought

And that he hath his ryches nought

Of hym-selfe but of goddys loue

His body to kepe only

3450

But his sowle with-al to tyle

And thynke that after a whyle

He shal dye and go hens somwhere

And nothynge shal he with hym bere

sig: Q2

But as he came so shal he fare

3455

Both pouer / nakyd and bare

Therfore shal he pouer gyue vnto

Gladly departyng therwith also

For that he geuyth that shal he fynde

And that he leuyth hym behynde

3460

Is the worldys and not his

Wh[er]of he shal haue lytel blys Wherof] Whreof 1537

¶The .lxxxx. questyon

¶How shal a man hym order me say

That is among the folke alday

A Man shal hym contayne wysely

3465

Among men and curteslye

And with fayre semblant euery-whore

Spekyng at mesure and nomore

And here other speke whan they begynne

Thoughe he haue no delyt therin

3470

For it is great curtesye

To cast vnto hym his eye

That he spekyth holde with-al

And to his wordes lysten he shal

Yet shal he kepe hym euery a tyde

3475

With-out bost and also pryde

Thoughe he more rycher were

Than eny other that are there

For euer the myghtyare he be

The better behauyour of shuld be he

3480

For to be curtys and meke

If he wyl honoure seke

And yf he shal speke eny-whore

He shal hym bethynke before

sig: [Q2v]

And cast than in his hert ryght wel

3485

Or that he speke eny dele

And whan that he shal tel his wyl

Gyue bold and fayre semblaunt there-tyl

And be abasshed of nothynge

Whyl he is in tellynge

3490

A man that shal a reason show

A_baysshyng as he doth it out-throw

His knowlege is then lost among

For they wyl say that he sayth wrong

Be he among foles brought

3495

There his wysdome helpyth nought

Wherfore he hym contayne

Untyl he be among wys men agayne

As foly among wys men is wyke

Wysdome among folys is lyke

¶The .lxxxxj. questyon

3500

¶Is a ryche man lesse worthy

That he losyth his good holy

¶Or a poure worthy the more

That ryches on hym encresyd wore

AS longe as the rych hath his good

3505

He is regardyd as of noble blode

He is callyd and herd ouer-all

And euery man hym trust shall

If his good fall hym fro

He losyth myght and honour also

3510

With corage and doutynesse

And becomyth coward neuer-the-lesse

At cownsel shal he be not regardyd

His wordes shal nothyng be trustyd

sig: Q3

No man shal his tales beleue

3515

No fayth shal men to hym gyue

And the talkyng shalbe I_wys

That he was / and now not is

¶The poure whan he waxyth ryche

His neybors shal theyr trust in hym pych

3520

He is holden wyse curteys and good

Thoughe he be a churle of blode

His word is hard and byleued wele

Thoughe it be lesyng a great dele

Frendys he fynd anone-ryght

3525

That somtyme set of hym ful lyght

Yf he come ony-where to the mete

He shalbe set amonge the grete

To counsayle shal they cal hym gladly

That before regarded hym lyghtly

3530

By the ryche it fareth euen so

As men seeth by a marchaunt it do

That boroweth great good al day

Of ryche men that lend may

And haue nought therof greatly

3535

But trauayleth and lyues therby

And whan the ryche his good-wyl haue

Than is the marchaunt but a knaue

And whyle he the reches occupyed

He was of them ryche counted

3540

Of this world it fareth so

Of al that men may gather them to

Hath he nought but whyl he is here

His lyuelode / and he be on bere

Hath he nomore than he fyrst with began

3545

He cometh and goeth a poure man

sig: [Q3v]

But the pouer that rych was

Is holden gentylare per-caas

Than he that nought hade

Nor nought hath for he is bade

¶The .lxxxxij. questyon

3550

¶The wyckyd maner of men we se

And wickyd custome where-of may that be

OF wickyd wyl and wickyd herte

And of malyce that gathers smerte

For man hath the wyt

3555

To know his maner and reson it

And to lete it yf he wyl

And to change it from euyl

He that wickyd custome hath also

Good may he not thynke ne do

3560

Nor his herte in rest be

For in vnclene thought trauayles he

Through the which suerly

His tyme he wastyth and body

As he that goyth be a stye

3565

That he myght sykerlye go by

That goyth aboute without townes

Both by dale and by downes

And nedles trauaylys hym amys

For al his owne folye it is

¶The .lxxxxiij. questyon

3570

¶Seyng yron is so hard and stronge

And for to werke it somwhat longe

¶How was fyrst made and wherwith

Tonges hamour and the styth

sig: [Q4]

GOd commaunded al-thynge

3575

And al are of his makynge

And wyst wherof man had nede

For to do with eny dede

To hym his messyngers he sent

The aungel that to adam went

3580

He bade hym yron take in his hande

And than was it as nesshe as sande

And therof fyrst made a styth

And hamour / tonges to worke with

He went and shapyd them euerychone

3585

And they became harde anone

And whan it to the dyluuy cam dyluuy: =diluvy, 'flood', here and elsewhere in this text.

Noe of such lomes made than

That ware forged after tho

And kept them and after made mo

3590

And so to this tyme wrought are they

And shalbe to domysday

¶The .lxxxxiiii. questyon

¶Do they amys that alday swere

By theyr god what-so he were

HE that swerys by his god falsly

3595

For he shuld trust in hym perfytly

Whether he good or wicked is

He doth euyl and amys

For I trow there is no man quyke

That his god holdyth wyke

3600

And falsly for couetys

Swerys on hym by many wys

He is deuyl and deuyls lyke

And wors than an herytyke

sig: [Q4v]

For his god falseth he

3605

For thynge that lytel whyle shalbe

And thoughe his god be false and wicke

And he forswere hym by hym thycke

His neyghbour for to begyle

He synneth greatly I tel the treulye

3610

Lawe nor treuthe hath he none

Nor amonge men shuld gone

That by his god falsely wyl swere

For he wold a man with falsed dere

¶The .lxxxxv questyon.

Shal a man of his body

3615

In althyng be chast treuly?

CHastyte a man shal holde

Of his body many-folde

Of false othes and of lechery

And of al other velany

3620

Of euyl syght of euyl speke

Of euyl goyng and of handelyng eke

Not to slepe in euyl ne in euyl rede

Nor ete nor drynke in euyl stede

Ne none other thynge do

3625

But as ryght hym gydeth to

Al that is euyl is to fle

And of al that shal a man chast be

Sethe god at his lykenes hath sent

Shape to man / and wyt hym lent

3630

Euyl to knowe and it to forsake

Than doth he amys that therto wyl hym take

And he that hym therfro holdeth al

To goddes company he shal

sig: R1

And to his aungels also

3635

Whan tyme comes there-vnto

¶The .lxxxxvj. questyon

¶Whom shal a man loue with-al to go

And whos company fle fro

IN fayre dewes that may them mete

Shal a man go and in herbes swete

3640

There may he go sykerly

Without hurte of his body

For who-so in the fyre goos

He brennyth both fote and toos

By this shalt thou vnderstande

3645

With whom a man shal go company / and

Go with the good to and fro

So shalt thou not mysdo

Nor no man shal to the say

Wher thou goyst by the way

3650

but worshype / honour of the wyl talke

And than in the dewe thou doyst walke

But yf a man in hym-selfe be good

And he turne there to his mood

To haunt folys company

3655

To hym therof shal come foly

And euyl report and wyckyd name

And vylony of folke and blame

And they shal say he wold not go there

But he of theyr maners were

3660

Ware he not of theyr assent

Therfore in theyr company he went

Euery good man wyl hym fle

And thys vpon the fyre goyth he

sig: [R1v]

Wherfore shuld men with good go

3665

And that are folys fle them fro

¶The .lxxxxvij. questyon

¶Whether is better so god the saue

Ryches or pouerte for to haue

RIches are there bodyly

And there are also goostly

3670

And who comyth the one vntyl

May haue the other yf he wyl

For he may haue that is nede

The sowle and body both to fede

He shal fynde how hym he serue shal

3675

And his commaundment do al

Iche man shal fynd to do it wel

And for his ryches the more euery-dele

If men worshype the pouer ought

That is but wynde and turnyth to noght

3680

For of that honour that he had

May he not be fede ne clad

Wherfore to bodyly profyt

Than is it more delyt

Men say a rych chorle is he

3685

That pouer and worshyppyd men se

¶The .lxxxxviij. questyon

¶Shal a man honour that are ny do[m] dom] don 1537For the emendation, see Burton, p. 761.

Lyke a rych man and a grom

THat man that deme wyl lelly

He shal also debonarly

3690

A pouer ney do honour to

As he shuld to a rych do

sig: R2

Thoughe the rych be hye set

And the pouer stande on his feet

But yf they both in lyke caas be

3695

Of iugment to here the sentence perde

Nomore shal he be dysdaynyng

To here the pouer mannys sayeng

Than he shalbe of the rych mannys matter

So as the pouer mannys be as good or better

3700

Iugment came of god wherfore it shulde

Be delyd euyn yf men wolde

¶The .lxxxxix. questyon

¶Delyt the pouer in pouerte also

As the rych in theyr ryches do

A Pouer man that hath no mete

3705

And to fyl the wombe he may gete

He delyteth hym more therin

Than the rych with al that he doth wyn

For yf the pouer haue his fylle

Of mete and drynke he hath his wyl

3710

And the rych is hongre ay

To gather more than he may

And haue he neuer so great fee

He may neuer fyllyd be

For better at ese than is I_wys

3715

The ful man / than the hongre is

The pouer so of his hongar sesyth

The rych in his hongar contynuyth

He that longe hath seke leyne

Whan he is helyd he is feyne

3720

And in his hert reioysyth more

Than they that euer in helth wore

sig: [R2v]

Whan the syckenes of the pouer

That hongre is may ought couer couer ='recover'; see OED s.v. cover v2, 4

With mete and drynke that he hath gat

3725

More delyte he hath in that

Than he that is in ryches sad

That neuer no defaut had

¶The .C. questyon

¶Shal a man ought make his roos roos: =roose, 'boast'

Of eny thyng that he doos

3730

THes wyse men shuld bost them nought

Of nothing that they haue wrought

For offence ware it god vnto

And his owne dyshonour also

Be he neuer so doughty

3735

Ne so valyaunt of his body

And he bost hym of his dede

Men shal scorne hym to his mede

And though they say it not / they hym holde

For a lyer of that he tolde

3740

But a coward of no bounte

For men shal wene he doughty be

Of moch more his bost wyl make

Than euer durst he vnder-take

Than say some that by hym sat

3745

That he is a lyare in that

He was neuer worth a torde

But a bostar in worde

And he that doughty man is tolde

And a hardy and a bolde

3750

Kepyth his tonge where he doth resorte

Sufferyng other of hym to reporte

sig: R3

That is moch more his honoure

For it is an old auctoure

He that hym-selfe bostyth in towne

3755

With an horse-tord men shal hym crowne

¶The .Cj. questyon

¶Why are howndes faster in theyr kynde

Than other beastes that men do fynde

OF all the beastes that I wote

Is none of nature so hote

3760

As is a hounde in his nature

And whan he shal make engendure

Of theyr hete the great glowyng

Maketh them together fastenyng

As two peces of Iron fare

3765

In the fyre whan they wellyd are

Ley that one that other vpon

And geue them a stroke anon

Throughe hete they together bynde

And so fare houndes in theyr kynd

¶The .C.ii. questyon

3770

¶He that of a nother mannes wyfe couetis is

Or of his good doth he amys?

HE that is couetous and wode

After other mannes good

Other his wyfe whether it be

3775

Great synne and amys doth he

And suche a man as we of tel

Is called the deuyls grype of hel

For the deuyll cou[et]eth aye coueteth] coueth 1537, coueytes B

To drawe vnto hym that he maye

sig: [R3v]

3780

And for such a couetous is knowen

That more wolde haue than his owne

For a man shuld with another do

As he wold men dyd hym to

What man wold hym take fro

3785

His wyfe or his goodys mo

I trowe it wold make hym loth

And sone make hym wroth

Wherfore shulde man hold hym euen

As the aungels do in heuen

3790

There none couetyth others blys

But holdyth hym content as he is

¶The .C.iij. questyon

¶May no man eschape / but dye

By ryches / myght ne eny rede me sey

EUery man is made as thou hast herd

3795

Of foure thynges in this mydelerd

Of fyre / water / erth / ayre

Both the fowle and also the fayre

And thes foure ech one be

Contrary to other in qualyte

3800

And the body may not blyn

Where thes foure are gathered in

But to_gether haue they batayle

Ey vnto one of them doth fayle

And be the one downe clene brought

3805

The body lyueth lengar nought

Therfore where-so a man be

Be it on land or on see

The deth cleuyth euer by hym

As it ware his owne lyme

sig: [R4]

3810

His lyme myght he away cast

But deth cleueth ouer-fast

So that powre ne rychesse

Ne conyng ne doughtynesse

No excusacyon may a man make

3815

Whan god wyl the deth hym to take

For good and bade shrewe and wich

Yonge and old pouer and ryche

Strong and feble folys and wyse

Great and smal may none scape thys

3820

The deth that he most to go

Unto the erth there he came fro

¶The .C.iiij. questyon

¶Syttyth go[o]d to aunswere ay good] god 1537, goode B, good L

Them that folye speke alday

Hym to ferforth a man strykys

3825

That answerys hym that folysly spekys

But yf his folye shuld hym dere

Than is it good that he answere

Somtyme spekyth a fole folye

And no man wottyth of whom ne why

3830

And men aunswere hym nothynge

Is none the wors of his sayenge

But yf men aunswere hym thore

They bold hym to speke the more

And than is a fole al hot

3835

To speke more than he wot

And his wordes wyl not lete

To confyrme with wordes grete

And so engendryth great folye

And great hathred and enuye

sig: [R4v]

3840

And yf men hym answeryd nought

His iangelyng were to ende brought

Therfore he goth on the egge of a sword

That answereth vnto a foles word

¶The .C.v. questyon

¶What conyng of all that you tel can

3845

Is most greuous vnto man?

OF all conyng is the greuosest

That is clargy and eke the best

The sotylest and the most of wyt

And the moste worshyped is it

3850

And therfore is it called arte

For it arteth on eche parte

His herer vnto conyng

And of al-thyng knowlegyng

And sonest may it auayle

3855

But art of the most trauayle

Than is wrytynge of al that be

For he that wryteth may not se

A_bought / whyle he is in wrytyng

Nor here no speche nor other thyng

3860

Nor thynke / nor lysten / ne nought do

But al-onely there-vnto

Therfore of all trauayles thou wotest

Than is wrytyng alther-most

¶The .C.vj. questyon

¶They that trauayle for to wyn

3865

And can not lyue / why wyl they not blyn

MEn that trauayle and ese them nought

In great couetyse are they brought

sig: S1

And great t[h]raldam lyue they in thraldam] traldam 1537

And yet they cannot blyn

3870

But they shal trauayl and go ther-fro trauayl] dye B, deie L

And al that trauayle in such wo

Shal another of it make hym blyth

That lytel dyd for it / but labour lyght

I say not that is gottyn in hast

3875

Shal a man dyspend in wast

Ne shal of that fele no dysese

But he shal with that syt at ese

And neuer-the-lesse at mesure spende

Of such as god wyl sende

3880

Ese them that not haue

And lyfe and sowle so may he saue

But he that of trauayl can not late

For couetys of wordly bate

And hath Inow without that

3885

He shal neuer man be fate fate: =fat

But euer the more he may wyn

The more care is he in

Wherfore it is good in trauayl stronge

Thoughe a man wyn / to rest among

¶The .C.vij. questyon

3890

¶On what maner may it ryse

That men wax foles and vnwyse

ON many maners cometh it to

That men foles wax also

Some are symple as foles borne

3895

Some by euyl theyr wyttes haue lorne

And some by lesyng of theyr blode

Some for theyr braynes wax al wode

sig: [S1v]

Some of wickyd humours begyn

And some for the hete that they haue be in

3900

Some by_cause theyr hert is of feble myght

And some for euyl syght on nyght

And some that wake ouer-fast

That dryeth the braynes at the last

And many maners are there mo

3905

That workes vnto man great wo

¶The .C.viij. questyon

¶Is the sowle or the body wo

Whan one shal depart another fro

FOr-soth it greuyth them ful sore

And ful mornyng are therefore

3910

Felyng great anguysshe and wo

Whan that one partyth the other fro

And yf it at theyr wyl wore

They depart wold neuer-more

If a yong man toke a wyfe

3915

That he louyd as his lyfe

And she hym more than althynge

Who-so betwyx them made departynge

Departyng them agayne theyr wyl

That shuld plese them both ful yll

3920

So is it betwyx the sowle and the body

They are spoused to_gether inwardly

And so great loue together holde

That they neuer depart wolde

And yf they febely haue wrought

3925

Sythen they together ware brought

Than heuy is the sorow al heuy] cheuy 1537

Whan that they depart shal

sig: S2

For the body rot[yt]h awaye rotyth] rottyh 1537

The sowle goyth to payne for aye

3930

Than it is no wonder that they be wroth

And dredyng of th[e]yr departyng both theyr] thyr 1537

¶The .C.ix. questyon

¶Whether shal men hold the more

A old man or a yong man that wore

UNto neyther shal men holde

3935

There both are for fooles tolde

For yf the yong a foole is

And he be instructed amys

The hote nature wyl in hym glowe

And humours as a lowe lowe ='flame'; see OED s.v. lowe n2

3940

Which hetyth his hert and his blode

And makyth hym iolyfe and wode

And whyle that hete lasteth so

A short rede shuld he assent to

But an old fool yf there be one

3945

That hath lytel hete or none

And he be tangeled with iolyte

A ryght kynde fool is he

For his tyme he had before

And now wold haue one more

3950

And that iolynesse men in hym fynde

Is of force and of no kynde

And so is he ioylyfe amys

For he sheweth more than in hym is

As he that flesshe wold sethe kyndly

3955

With the claryte of the sonne verely

But to such fooles olde

Shal no wyse man hym holde

sig: [S2v]

¶The .C.x. questyon

¶Why raynys it in one yere more

Than in a nother and wherfore

3960

SOmtyme that it raynyth so

In one yere more than in a nother do

Fyrst of goddys wyl [is] it fet is] I 1537

And than of gouernal that he hath set

As of mouyng a the planetys

3965

And of the sygnes that them metys

After as they meue lowe or hye

Make they the yeres wete or drye

And al comyth of goddys wyl

Rayne it / snewe it / or be it styl

¶The .C.xi. questyon

3970

¶Why hath not god man so wrought

That he ne had synned nought

IF god had man fyrst so dyght

That he after ne synned myght

Of meryt ware no man worthy

3975

For no goodnes of his body

Al the meryt agayne shuld go

Unto god there it came fro

And of goddys blys no man worthy wore

But he deseruyd it had before

3980

And ware man made on such manere

That he myght no synne do here

His goodnes of hym-se[l]fe ware nought selfe] sefe 1537

But his that hym so hath wrought

For of that that the behouyth nede

3985

Arte thou worthy to haue no mede

sig: S3

But the man that of his wyl

May do both good and yl

And doth the good / worthy he is

For to come vnto that blys

3990

That god hath ordayned hym vnto

And that the deuyl shuld also

Shame hym / that god had man ordayned

To haue the blys that he of myscaryed

By the werkes of his owne wyl

3995

The good to take and fle the yl

¶The .C.xii. questyon

¶Is it good to haue entormetyng

Agayne euery man of althyng

A Man shal clyme on a tre

That he thynketh esyest be

4000

The frute for to come vnto

If he wyl his profyt do

And he that on the sonne-beme wyl clyme

He may breke his necke some-tyme

For he that clymeth ouer-hye

4005

May happe somtyme to wrye

Euyn so it faryth with mannys demenar

That entermetyth a_boue his powar

Late them that are rych and fers

Entyrmet them with theyr pers pers: =peers

4010

And the pouer whare they fare

With such other as they are

But sometyme the pouer is pert perde

To stryue with the rych in his pouerte

But with the rych to entyrmet

4015

He may lose and nothyng gete

sig: [S3v]

And yf that it so befall

That a rych hym to cownsel call

Entyrmete hym of no more

Than that he is called fore

4020

Late rych with the rych man

Do the best that they can

And worke they good worke they yl

Euer the pouer hold hym styl

With his lyke about he go

4025

And entyrmete hym as with tho

Whare he shal haue drede none

To hurte his hede agayne a stone

¶The .C.xiii. questyon

¶Tel me now for what sake

That god wold the world make

4030

GOd made the world as was his wyl

The palays of heuyn to fulfyl

Of the which aungels fel out before

For the pryde they in wore

And for that the trynyte

4035

Was not worshypped as it shuld be

Than made he man that blysse to wyn

That aungel had lost by synne

But al tho that here are wrought

Shal not to that blys be brought

4040

None but tho that are worthy

For the good dedes of theyr body

¶The .C.xiiii. questyon

¶How was the world made as it is

And how holdys it tel me this

sig: [S4]

WHan aungel had don amys

4045

And was fal out of blys

God commaunded there-vnto

Be made the world and it was so

Fyre and ayre then hyest drew truly

For they ware lyghtest sykerly

4050

Erth and water doune them drest

And the water vpon the erth doth rest

And al foure by and by

Ware hangyng in the mydel of the sky

And fastenyng haue they none

4055

But of goddys myght a_lone

God made the world of the lykenesse

Of an egge more ny lesse

Be the shelle take I shal

The fyrmament that closyth al

4060

Be the whyte the water take I

That is betwene the erth and the sky

Be the yolke that is innermest

Take I the erth that is lowest

And whan the yolke is sodde harde

4065

A whyt is in the mydwarde

Wherby I take hel

For it is fortherest from the shel

And so is hel heuyn fro

Ferrest put in sorow and wo

4070

And echone is as thou mayst se

There god them ordayned fyrst to be

¶The .C.xv. questyon

¶Is eny other folke than we

That of the sonne hath the claryte

sig: [S4v]

Dyuers other the world are in

4075

And fer from vs they byn

Under vs they are loo

That theyr fete agayne owrs go

And who-so al the world myght se

In one sonne both be we

4080

But somtyme whan here is nyght

Than haue they the day-lyght

And here somtyme shynyth the sonne

Whan that they none se cone

For whan the sonne to rest goyth thore

4085

Halfe pryme is it to vs and more

And the roundnesse I_wys

Of the world makyth this

Our somer and our wynter also

Is both on vs and them vnto

4090

But after the sonne drawyth to endyng

Whan here is erly than there is mornyng

And in other placys mo

Of the word it faryth so word: =world

That some haue somer very hot

4095

There other haue wynter cold and wot

And god hath of the sonne I_wys

Made the way that makyth al this

¶The .C.xvj. questyon

¶How longe may the world be

And how brode and thyke is he

4100

HE that the world beholdyth all

It is rownd as a ball

And for his roundnes it behoueth a nede

That al one_lyke be long and brede one_lyke: =alike

sig: T1

Bu[t] the thycknes also But] Bud 1537

4105

Is euyn wyth them two

And in caas it ware al playne lande

As the palme of my hande

A man shuld euery daye

Go certayne myles by the waye

4110

And shuld haue no lettyng

Of water ne no nother thyng

The world for to thorow-fare

He shuld not come there

His purpose throughe to go

4115

By a thowsand dayes without mo

And that same shal he fynd that doth yede

The thycknes as wel as the brede

¶The .C.xvij. questyon

¶Why shal god clene also

The folke of this world vndo

4120

GOd shal thys world destroye I_wys

For a better than it is

For ware it now that here stode

A rych palays and a good

And the man that it longyd to

4125

Another hows had also

Wel sympler and lesse worthy

And it fortuned than chaunceably

That of the palays fel a walle

And lose therof the stones and al

4130

And that walle myght he not make

But he wold the stones take

Of the lytel hows besyde

I trow there shuld no nother betyde

sig: [T1v]

But he wold his paleys dyght

4135

As shortly as he myght

And of his hows haue lytel care

But that his palays fulfylled ware

He ware a fole that wold chese

The better for the wors to lese

4140

So faryth god I warne the wele

For of his palays fel a great dele

And of this world no nother careth he

But that his palays fulfylled be

¶The .C.xviij. questyon

¶The fowles that in the ayre flye

4145

How are they borne on-loft a_hye

THe thycknesse of the ayre ahye

Is the chefe cause truly

That the fowles a_lofte are borne

Els ware theyr flyght forlorne

4150

The ayre is thycke and moyst also

And wyl dysclose and close agayne to

And whan the fowle is alofte

His wynges styreth he ofte

With the warpyng of his wynge

4155

He doth the ayre a_sondre mynge

Which waxeth thycke and he is lyght

And that hym holdyth in his flyght

And that the ayre is thycke aboue

A man may wel proue

4160

Who-so in his hande wyl take

A yarde and it smertly shake

It shal bowe in the shakyng

And that doth no nother thyng

sig: T2

But thycknes of the ayre withstandys

4165

The yard in shakyng of thy handys

And so it withstandyth the fowles al

In theyr fleyng that they ne fall

¶The C.xix. questyon

¶Among al other tel me yet

The rayne that fallyth whens comith it

4170

RAyne is water of the see

And with blast of wynde mountys he

And whan the wynde is on hye

The sonne that is hote kyndly

Draweth the water fast hym to

4175

The wynde puttyth fast after also

As that men may se somtyme

A dew lyeng tyl halfe the pryme

But whan the sonne his hete yeldys

That dew in towne and in feldys

4180

He takyth vp and draweth fast

And cometh to the ayre at the last

And is there thyckened in cloude

Than comyth wynde and blowyth lowde

And beryth it in the ayre euerywhore

4185

Tyl it be waxen thycke and more

Than begynneth it to be heuy sone

A[n]d may not longe a_boue wone And] Aod 1537

But fallyth in rayne hastely

And whan the rayne is doune clenly

4190

The cloude becomyth whyte and fayre

Which is a the keelth of the ayre

And that wastyth the sonne there nere

And so becomyth the sky clere

sig: [T2v]

¶The .C.xx. questyon

¶Hayle-stones that fal also

4195

From whence and wherof come tho

OF water gathered vnder the sky

And of kylth of the ayre on hy

As whan a cloude is but thyn

Lytel poure hauyng hym in

4200

And aboue in the ayre flye

Wyndes that are colde and drye

And whan that cloud shuld in droppes fall

With coldnesse are they frosen all

And that that shuld haue fall rayne to ground

4205

They fall than in stones round

¶The .C.xxj. questyon

¶Wherof are the tempestes al

That somtyme among vs fall

IN that yere that somer is cold

And the moysture manyfold

4210

That is in the ayre holdyth styl

And may not clensyd be at wyl

But gatheryth fast and holdyth thore

And in wynter encresyth to more

Than be_fallyth in some partye

4215

That the erth cleueth for drye

The spered wyndes than come out

And spred them al about

In-to the ayre theyr waye they take

And therof great tempest make

¶The .C.xxii. questyon

4220

¶Tel me now for it is wonder

Wherof cometh the thounder

sig: T3

RIse out of the erth a recke truly

As a smoke men may se perfitely

And exalacyons they hyght

4225

Which ascende in-to the ayre ryght

Hote and drye are some of tho

And some hote and moyst also

Whan they al-the-hyest are

Of the ayre the wynd that is thare

4230

He that / that is hote and drye

May the hastlyar vp a_hye

And whan the wete cometh thore

For moysture gatheryth wynd sore

And waxyth colde therby

4235

And thyckeneth also wonderly

And than is it in_sondre cast

And cloudes made with wyndes blast

And the exalacyon that is drye

Is cast a_mong the cloudes hye

4240

From one to another as a balle

But at the last out it shal

And whan he brekyth it asonder

A noyse it makyth that we call the thonder

For drye among the wete wyl nought

4245

Dwel whan the wete pressys hym ought

And by ensample thou mayst se

On what maner it may be

Let a man his handful holde

Of whet or syluer which he wolde

4250

The more he the hande togeth[e]r prest together] togethtr 1537

The more wyl it out-threst

And so it is to vnderstande

Of the tother before-hande

sig: [T3v]

¶The .C.xiij. questyon

¶The wynde that blowyth by land and see

4255

Wherof euer may it be

I Haue tolde here-before

Exalacyons what they wore

And he that is hote and drye

As I sayd wyl vp a_hye

4260

Now whan it comyth clowdes amonge

If the clowdes be thycke and stronge

They cast that exalacyon

To and fro vp and doune

And be_cause it is drye at the last

4265

It turneth in-to wyndes blast

And ware that exalacyon hote

It turneth in-to rayne wote

¶The .C.xxiiij. questyon

¶How yssueth water of hylles hye

That semed rather to be drye

4270

ALso as the veynes lye

In mannys body lowe or hye

So the erth that we on go

Is vnder ful of veynes also

And open the hyde the veyne vpon

4275

The blode spryngeth out anon

Euyn as wel vpon the crowne

As on the fote beneth downe

So the veynes that in the erth lye

Haue water runnyng lowe and hye

4280

Up and doune to and fro

As the veynes in erth go

And there they the erth feble se

sig: T4

Hye or lowe whether it be

It brestyth out and rennyth there

4285

Hylle or dale whether it be

¶The .C.xxv. questyon

¶The water that is in the see

Why is it salt tel you me

IN the mydel of the world a see is

Where the sonne euer brennyng is

4290

And by that brennyng hete

Are the waters that shuld be swete

Become bytter and salt also

Which see renneth the other vnto

Wherof al salt it is

4295

And the hete of the sonne makyth moche of this

Ware it that the see styl stode

And ware the water fresshe and good

The stynke therof so great shuld be

That al the fysshes in the see

4300

Shuld dye anon both great and smal

And that ware vnto man great bale

And on the land shuld be such stynke

More than I can expresse or thynke

Which shuld on lande so be here

4305

That it shulde al the people dere

¶The .C.xxvi questyon

¶Wherof euer may it be

The lyghtenyng that we here se

CLowdes somtyme on the sky

Renne to_gether vp a_hy

4310

With so great fyre and so kene kene] kenne 1537

That fyre lyghtenyth them be_twene

sig: [T4v]

And that is that we lyghtnyng call

And somtyme downe wyl it fall

Somtyme slekenys it a_lofte

4315

In the cloude and that is ofte

¶The .C.xxvij. questyon

¶The waters that ebbe and flow also

Wherof come they and whyt[h]er do they go whyther] whyter 1537

ALl the waters that euer be

Al they come out of the see

4320

And thyther agayne they go

Unto the see wher they came fro

The waters that fall in erth synkyth

And as a spryng the erth them drynkyth

And whan they are come thether

4325

In veynes gather they to_gether

And they that go in by one syde

By another out they glyde

The erth takyth and geuyth all

The waters that are and on erth fall

¶The .C.xxviii. questyon

4330

¶Hylles and roches ware they nought

Made whan the world was fyrst wrought

FRom the fyrst tyme of adam

Unto the tyme that Noe came

Was neuer hyl ne rocke with-al

4335

But as playne about as a ball

Rayne fell than to erth none

No tempest was nor storme

But in the tyme of Noe

For the great iniquyte

sig: U1

4340

And for the synne that adam wrought

God sent a flode that sesyd nought

Xl. dayes and xl. nyghtes

Al the world destroyed he thore

Saue them that in the arch wore

4345

And the course of the flode them among

In his comyng was so strong

That where it neysshe ground fonde

It dyd fret away both erth and sonde

Stone and rocke felde and towne

4350

Al was turned vp-se-downe

But whan the flode began to slake

And lytel stremes for to make

Stones on hepes so with-stode

And turned no more for the flode

4355

And whan some with-stode so

Mo them gathered vnto

The neysshe ground the water doth fret

For no hardnes it doth let

And afterward the sonnys hete

4360

With frost and snow to_gether do mete

Dryuyng the stones to_gether harde

And became rockes afterwarde

Wherfore by the forsayd skyl

That flode made both dale and hyll

¶The .C.xxix. questyon

4365

¶Shal the dyluuy come eny more

In the world that was before

GOd hath hyght vnto man-kynde

As we in our bokes fynde

That neuer shal come to destroy man

4370

Such a dyluuy as than ran

sig: [U1v]

But yf of synne man not amende

A sharpe scourge he shal them sende

That scourge is a swerd of wrake

That one shal agayne a nother take

4375

And one shal a nother for_do

And destroye the world also

¶The .C.xxx. questyon

¶Whan Noe shuld to the arch go

And of ech beastes toke with hym two

Why wold he euyl beastes take

4380

As scorpyons / adder / and snake

NOe dyd them in the arch ley

For two thynges that I shal the sey

That one for the commaundment

That god hym be the aungel sent

4385

And that durst he not breke

For he sawe moch wreke

Of ech one two god byd hym take

For he wold not them al new make

Wherfore his precept dyd he

4390

And of them came / that now be

¶That other was for mannys hele

For but yf venemous beastes fele

Ware dwellyng in ech countre

So ful of venom the erth shuld be

4395

That it shuld enuenym al-thynge

As frute and corne that in erth dyd sprynge

And so shuld no man therof ete

But he dyed by that mete

And the beastes ne lyue I_wys

4400

But of the venym that in erth is

sig: U2

And they clense the erth by kynde

Of the venym they therin fynde

And al theyr venym is truly

Of the erth that they lyue by

4405

For take an adder for asay

The venemost that men fynde may

And in a vessel hym do

That no erth come hym to

With flesshe and bred kepe it thore

4410

Fyftene dayes and no more

Al his venom shalbe gon

And hurte may he do none

For venom in hym none doth abyde

Except he on the erth do slyde

¶The .C.xxxj questyon

4415

¶Wherof euer comyth the gold

That man so precyous doth hold

THe myne of gold without mys

In veynes of the erth waxyng is

And syluer also with metals mo

4420

Which the erth come fro

But gold and syluer men fynde betwene

The erth there it is pure and clene

Men gather it and dyght it so

With arte that they haue therto

4425

But there men it most fynde

Is a lande by the west Inde

In gyse of brasse men fynde [it] there it] 1537 omits; hit B, it L

By the banke of the see euerywhere

But euery man can not it dyght

4430

For to brynge it to the ryght

sig: [U2v]

¶The .C.xxxj. questyon

¶Tel me now yf thou wote

How out of the erth spryng waters hot

WAters that al hote so sprynge

Haue it somwher in theyr renning

4435

By brymstone hath his cours

And not fare from his sours

By the hete of that kynd of brimstone

The water becomyth warme anon

And warme spryngeth out also

4440

And who-so leyd his nose therto

He shuld anon fele ful wele

Sauoure of brymstone somdele

¶The .C.xxxii. questyon

¶Among al other tel me one

Wherof comyth the brymstone

4445

QUycke brymstone that men call

Cometh of lyghtenyng that doth fall

Upon roches by the see

Eyther on hylles whether it be

And so hard downe are they cast

4450

With ayre aboue and wyndes blast

That they fall the erth within

And [in] that erth they lye and bryn in] 1537 omits

Which erth exust hyght therby exust ='burnt, dried up'; see OED s.v. exust adj.

For it is brente so wondersly

4455

And that turneth to brymstone

Which wellyth vp somtyme anon

¶The .C.xxxiij. questyon

¶Carboncles and other stones mo

Wherof may come al tho

sig: U3

OUt of Nygre that is a see

4460

Where cokyls are in great plente

And hang to_gether two and two

Openyng in the water hangyng so

The rayne falleth from aboue

And entres in them there they houe

4465

Whan they haue receyued the rayne astound

They close them and go to ground

And at the ground / lye they thore

Wel a .C. yere and more

And they that are of that countre

4470

Whan they seke them in the see

Theyr vsages to couar they begyn

With netes blathers blowen thyn blathers: =bladders

And in blacke sowe them also

For the fysshe wyl fle them fro

4475

Than go they doune them to wyn

And perlys fynde they them with-in

Whyte and rou[n]de but neysshe they be

But whan they come out of the see

And the ayre haue them smyt vpon

4480

They come ryght hard anon

But tho that are not in season

Nor theyr tyme haue after they wente doune

To be fulfylled by the ground

They stynke as a pyllyd hownd

4485

The Carboncles come also

Of cokyls as perles do

But Carboncles of smal hayle fall

And in fresshe water be they all

They by the grounde wylbe

4490

Two hundred wynter wel or thre

sig: [U3v]

And they stynke and fare amys

Whan theyr tyme not fulfylled is

But al the rayne that doth fall

Turne not to stones al

4495

The rayne that the fyrst day fallyth

Of the mone in Ianuary / that men callyth

And the mone be in that sygne

That vnto that thynge be dygne

If that rayne in the cokyl go

4500

Perles shal come of tho

And hayle that to fal is wone

The eyght daye of the mone

In feueryere and the mone be ryght

In a sygne that Cancer hyght

4505

And the cokyls that hayle in take

Carboncles therof they make

But that rayne and hayle ech-dele

Fall ful seldome wyte you wel

¶The .C.xxxiiij. questyon

¶Of this world now tel me

4510

How any landes therein be

LAnde but one is there none

Who-so al hole myght se there-on

But for departynge of the see

That departyth them in thre

4515

Thre landes are that we call

With-out smale yles all

But al are one lande to_gethere fest

And al vpon one grounde they rest

And who-so myght the lande be_holde

4520

That no water let hym sholde

sig: U4

Al hole and one he shulde it se

And so made god it to be

The water aboue in_sonder it castys

But vnder hole and fast it lastys

¶The .C.xxxv. questyon

4525

¶Myght eny man on drye lande wel

Go the world about euery-dele

IN erth no man myght go

The world about to ne fro

For he shuld fynde many lettynges

4530

And that of many thynges

He shuld fynde wastenes ful great

There nethere were drynke ne mete

But wylde beastes many one

Redy to tere hym as a bone

4535

Ware a hundreth men on one wrought

And yf that ne let hym nought

The open erth shuld lettynge be

That swellyth and geuyth agayne the see

And many lettynges other mo

4540

If he est and west wyl go

And yf north and south go he

Many other lettynges be

For thre zones shal he fynde

Where no man may lyue in one kynde

4545

One is hote and colde are two

May no lyuyng thyng be in tho

And goddys wyl it is also

Shal no man be myghty therto

¶The .C.xxxvj. questyon

sig: [U4v]

¶Myght eny man sayle nyght and day

4550

That had the wynde with hym ay

¶So long that his shyppe came vnrent

To the turnyng of the fyrmament

A Man that in a shyppe wore

Thoughe he sayled euer-more

4555

Yet shuld he not come nere the sky

And I shal tel the why

The erth is rounde as a ball

In the mydel / and the sky ouer-al

Is alyke fer there-fro

4560

And the water also

Al about on the erth doth stande

And thoughe a man toke vnderhande

To sayle an hundred yere

He shuld the sky be al-so nere

4565

Whan that he from home went

As whan his hundred yere ar spent

¶The .C.xxxvij. questyon

¶Why made not god man to be

Ay yong / ioylyfe / and of pouste

¶Rych and longe lyfe hym lent

4570

And at his deth to blys haue went

HAd god made man on that manere

As that thou tellyst here

God as I thynke in my thought

Had the deuyl great wrong wrought

4575

Which for a thought fel to hell

And mo with hym than I can tel

Shuld a man than be of longe lyfe

Rych / yonge / and ioylyfe

sig: X1

And haue here al his delyte

4580

And than fare to heuyn quyte

No man is worthy to come thore

But yf he haue don wherfore

God hath graunted vs vnto

Be_cause we shal here wel do

4585

Helth with-out sycknesse

Ioy and delyte and great rychesse

And lyfe also without ende

For the deth that men here-to wende

Than is it for to reken ryght

4590

No other but as a byrdes flyght

That flyeth here in / yonder out

And be a man neuer so stout

Nor so yonge / nor fayre to_day

To_morow shal it al a_way

4595

I wold not lyue a thowsand yere

And al my delyte haue here

And than vnto heuyn gon

I had leuer be there a_non

For one delyte that is thore

4600

Is worth a thowsand here and more

And therfore ware it moche scate scate: =scathe

Thether for to come so late

¶The .C.xxxviij. questyon

¶Whiche are the aungels tel me this

That receyueth mannys soule to blys

4605

EChe man an aungel hath hym to

To kepe hym that he not mys_do

And whan the soule at the ende

Shal out fro the body wende

sig: [X1v]

And it vnto god be dere

4610

The aungel that was his kepare here

Shal come with great melody

And of aungels great company

Receyuyng hym vnto mede

And to ioye hym lede

4615

After the tyme that is to sey

That goddys sonne shal dey

But or he dey on the rode

Al go to hel wycked and good

But al alyke shal they nought

4620

Be payned / but as they haue wrought

And some shalbe in fre pryson

Tyl tyme of his passyon

But whan the great dome shalbe

Men shal a great wonder se

4625

Sowle and body to_gether go

And to_gether fele ioye or wo

And the sowle that to hel shal went

The deuyl that hym holpe to shent

Shal receyue hym and sey hym to

4630

Thou hast don as I bad the do

Thou withstodyst not my wyl

Nor my techyng vnto yl

Wherfore shalt thou go with me

Euer-more in payne to be

4635

Thus shal they be receyuyd thycke

Good with good / and wicked with wicke

¶The .C.xxxix questyon

¶I pray the mayster sey me now

Which is better of the two

sig: X2

¶Good werkes without chastyte

4640

Or werkes wickyd / and chast to be

GOod werkes wolde I chese

Thoughe I chastyte forlese

For be thou chast of thy body

And thou worke wickydly

4645

What vertu than hast thou in the

Percaas is than thy chastyte

For sycknesse that thou may not dure

Or for kelth of thy nature

Or for age that thou may no more

4650

What meryt art thou worthy therfore

And than for to go sle a man

Or to robbe in wode or fen

Or thy neyghbore to begyle sotelly

Or his good to forlese falsly

4655

What is worth such chastyte

Whan thou of othere hast no pyte

But that vnchast lyfe ledys

And he be good of al dedys

His synne doth no man dere

4660

But al one he shal hym bere

And god alone he synneth to

And that may he sone fordo

With almes-dede or other thyng

But he that is of wickyd beryng

4665

And of wickyd dedes blynne ne can

He synneth both to god and man

And lyghter is it for to wynne

Forgyfnes of god of synne

Than of god and man both

sig: [X2v]

4670

For the mo that are to hym wrought wrought: =wroth; B reads: wrothe, L wroþe.

The more labour pees to make

For the better caas than wold I it take

For to leue chastyte

Than wickyd worke / and chast to be

¶The .C.xl. questyon

4675

¶What thyng may it euer make

Erth-dyn that doth the erth quake

EXalacyons hote and drye

That are drawen vp ryght hye

And there-with cloudes dryuen fast

4680

And hard downe to erth cast

Which in-to the cleft of the erth go

As the cloudes sho[u]es them fro

Comyth than hote wether and rayne

Which spereth the cleftes of the erth agayne

4685

The exalacyons dwel therin

Spered and may not out-wynne

To and fro they moue them thore

But out may they no-whore

And yf the exalacyon be

4690

Gathered ther great quantyte

So hard meue them they shal

That the erth quakyth with-al

And somtyme more somtyme lesse

After as it is of mykelnesse

¶The .C.xli. questyon

4695

¶Tel me now yf thou cone

Wherof is the eclyps of sonne and mone

sig: X3

OF the mone is eclyps no dowte

In ful mone or there-about

and whan the ful mone standithe south

4700

The sonne is than north

A shadow of the erth ryseth sone

Ascendyng vp a_boue the mone

And houeth long whyle of the nyght

Betwyx her and the sonnys lyght

4705

For lyght hath the mone none

But that the sonne her smyteth on

And so the mone her lyght leues

For the shadowe it reues

But as she goys and her pace makys

4710

Fro the shadow / lyght she takys

Eclyps of the sonne comenly

Is in the new mone or there-by

Whan the mone is new ryght

She is darke with-out lyght

4715

And that tyme the sonne and she

Be one syde of the sky shalbe

And the sonne-beme as it is wone

Shuld lyght doune on the mone

But yf the mone vnder a lyne fall

4720

Lyne of eclyps that we call

Lyght she taketh nought anon

Unto she before be gon

But vnto that she there shal houe

Be_twyx vs and the sonne aboue

4725

Her derknes ronnyth from our syght ronnyth] reuueþ B, reueþ L

Moch of the sonnys lyght

This is the kyndest eclyps to se

That may of the sonne be

sig: [X3v]

Other eclyps thre we fynde

4730

Of the sonne agaynst kynde

One came in tyme of Noe

Agayne that the dyluuy shuld be

Another shalbe in soth to sey

In tyme that goddys sonne dey

4735

And in the byrth shalbe the thryde

Of the antechryst as shalbe kydde

¶The .C.xlij. questyon

¶Sterres that men se fall

How fall they and from whens come they all

UNderstand syr vyturly vyturly: =witterly

4740

That no sterres fall fro the sky

But I shal tel the what it may be

That the folke so fallyng se

It is a fyre that is abydyng

In the hyest of the ayre brennyng

4745

Next to the spere of fyre

And whan the nyght somtyme is shyre

Sparcles of that fyre clere

That moch hane of theyr matere hane: =have

Falle and perce the ayre on nyght

4750

And come so vnto our syght

And semyth as it were a sterre

That by the sky dyd slyde there

For a sparkel comyng from so hye

Unto a sterre is ful lykely

¶The [C].xliij.

C.xliij.] .xliij. 1537

questyon

4755

¶Tel me now or we further fare

How many heuens that there are

sig: [X4]

WE say that there are heuens thre

Wherof the one is that we se

Turnyng about and is the sky

4760

And that heuen is bodyly

And to our syght it is blew

As it ware of asur hewe

The tother heuyn of to tel

Is there good aungels dwel

4765

That is goostly / and is al

Of hew as it ware crystal

The thyrd is goddys se

Where he sytteth in maieste

Therin is moch blys

4770

And of the gold of hew it is

Of seuen heuyns also we tel

For seuen planetes that therin dwel

But ryghtly of heuens to lere

So are no mo but thes thre here

¶The .C.xliiii. questyon

4775

¶Tel me now how hye the heuyn

Aboue the erth is for to neuen

SO hye is heuyn the erth fro

That yf it were now also

That a stone in heuyn wore

4780

And weyed a hundreth stone and more

And it shuld from heuyn fall

Unto ground among vs all

It shuld be seuen yere

Or it to ground came here

4785

And neuer-the-lesse so fare they are fare] ny B, nyhe L

That a good sowle shuld fare

sig: [X4v]

Fro erth [and] in-to heuen stye and] 1537 omits; and L

In the twynkelyng of an eye

¶The .C.xlv questyon

¶The fyrmament that we ouer vs se

4790

Of what myght may it be?

WHo-so knowe it al aryght

The firmament is of great might

Euer abought it turneth aye

And resteth neuer nyght nor day

4795

For this world had no festenyng

Ne ware his aboute-turnyng

Ware it that it styl stode

There nys man ne fysshe in flode

Foule ne beast ne nothyng here

4800

That lyfe hath that ought myght stere In B there follows the line: Nere the turnynge of þe ffirmament were.

All that euer we stere or go

Or flyt other to or fro

Al-together is vs lent

Of the turnyng of the fyrmament

4805

Therfore may thou se I_wys

That of moche myght it is

¶The .C.xlvi. questyon

¶Tel me now of what myght

The planetes are and what they hyght

PLanettes gouerneth al-thyng

4810

That lyueth or hath in erth waxyng

And eche planet of his kynde

To norysshe and geue his mynd

Of the chylde eche alyke

Whyle the mother go therwith quyke

sig: Y1

4815

Ech one than shapyth his

Of euery lyme that in hym is

And of planetes are but seuen

Whos names I shal to the reken

¶Saturnus the fyrst we cal

4820

He is hyest of them al

Most and strongest is he

And he passyth in his countre

The .xii. sygnes be one and one

And he dwellyth in ech one

4825

Or he passe halfe thre yere

And his planet of power

The man that is borne therin

And he dounward go to begyn

Dounward shal he go of myght with-al

4830

And yf he regne regne he shal

And this planet regnyth of power

Onys in a thyrty yere

And his regne and his myght

Is in a sygne that Lybra hyght

4835

And dounward he rest takes

To a sygne hyght aries

¶The secounde planet is Iupyter

He is not from vs so fer

Of great ryches planet is it

4840

Of marchaundyse and of great wyt

And among men of good loos

And be the .xii. sygnes he goos

Dwellyng in ech one

A yere or he about haue gon

4845

The man borne in hym that is

Of .xii. yere best of state he is Iwys

sig: [Y1v]

In canser he regnes harde

In Caprycorne he goyth dounwarde

¶The thyrde planet Mars is hyght

4850

Planet of warre and fyght

And of blode-spyllyng there men dey

By the .xii. sygnes lyeth his wey

And in ech one truly dwellyth

Fourty dayes or he passyth

4855

He that is borne in that planet

Within a yere may he byete byete: =beet v, here and once below

And foure and thyrty dayes therto

His dedes and his wyl also

His regne is in Caprycorne

4860

And in Canser his myght is lorne

¶The fourth planet is the sonne

And yf you vnderstande conne

It is the planet of great worshype

Of kynges and of lordshype

4865

Kepar of erth we hym cal

And by the sygnes he passyth al

And in ech whan he comyth thore

He dwelleth a moneth and no more

That is borne in that he may euery yere

4870

Change his worke and his manere

His regne so is in Aryes

And in Lybra he hym restes

¶The fyfte planet venus is

Planet of loue / delyte and blys

4875

He that therin borne shalbe

Feble herte shal haue of vanyte

But in foure hundreth and forthy dayes

May he change al his wayes

sig: Y2

His worke and thought holly

4880

The .xii. sygnes goyth he by

And in ech one of tho shal he

Seuen and twenty dayes be

In piscibus rayneth he stabely

And doune he goyth in Gemyny

4885

¶The syxte planet Mercurius

That arte and conyng geuyth vs

By the .xii. sygnes lyeth his wayes

Dwellyng in ech one seuentene dayes

He that is borne in hym may

4890

Be two hundred and the fourth day

Chaunge his corage and his thought

And the workes that he wrought

¶The mone the seuenth planet we say

Planet of water and of waye

4895

By the .xii. sygnes she goyth also

Dwellyng in ech one dayes two

He that is borne in this planet

In a moneth may he byete

And chaunge his worke and wyl

4900

Be it good be it yl

In Taurus comyth her regne vnto

And abesses her in Scorpyo abesses: =abases

And al the world is not I_wys

So great as one planet is

4905

Saue the thre that lowest wone

Uenus / Mercurius / and the mone

¶The .C.xlvij. questyon

¶Tel me now this ones yet

¶How many maner of waters is it

sig: [Y2v]

OF waters many maner there be

4910

Fyrst the water of the see

That al other waters come fro

Water of welles there is also

That theyr hew and manere

Foure tymes change in a yere

4915

Welles are spryngyng elles-whore

Foure dayes in the weke no more

A flode ther is that rennyth ay

Al the weke saue saturdaye

A flode is in the est_see ryght

4920

Which rennyth euer on nyght

And a_daye it frosen is fast

But on nyght may it not last

Yet men may a welle fynde

In the yles of the see_of_ynde

4925

That who-so put a stafe therin

As of a fyre it shuld bryn

And it nothyng slekyn can

But only the breyne of man

Other welles are yet mo

4930

And who the water dronke of tho

Of some good memory shuld he take

And some forgetfulnesse shuld make

Some amerous wyl make the men

And some wyl bareyne make wymen

4935

Some wyl make yren and stele

In the fyre to tempre wele

A great wel yet is there one

Standyng stylle as eny stone

But who-so makyth solace there-by

4940

Anone it rennyth hastely

sig: Y3

Some waters are hote of kynde

And some colde as men do fynde

And the kynde of the ground causyth al this

Where eny water rennyng is

4945

And al is at goddys wyl

Both rennyng and stondyng styll

¶The .C.xlviij. questyon

¶Now wold I wyt of the see

How many sees that there be

SEes we fynde there are thre

4950

Wherof one hyght the see_betee

Al about the erth goyth she

And is salt as men may se

That other see the blacke_see hyght

And enuyrons that other ryght

4955

The thyrd is called the stynkyng_see

Therin may no man lyuyng be

For the stynke that it cometh fro

Enuyro[n]s truly that other two

And god hath made them so to be

4960

Of his wyl and his potence

¶The .C.xlix. questyon

¶Why hath god the world made al

Rownde aboute as a balle

THere are many skylles why

But thre I fynde pryncypally

4965

For his owne lycknes is one

There non ende ne is vpon

For he ne had begynynge

Nor neuer shal haue endynge

sig: [Y3v]

And seke the world neuer so with trauayle and mind

4970

No endyng shal men therin fynde

A nother skyl is comodyte

Why it behoueth so to be

For al the formes that thou knowst

Rownde contaynes aldermost

4975

Now is it so at the begynyng

That the world contaynes althyng

Wherfore it behoued therto

That it shuld rownde be also

The thyrde cause is for the sky

4980

And I shal tel the how and why

Late with wax here fyll a canne

And whan it is ful breke it than

The wax shalbe of that shapnes

As was the canne more ne les

4985

Now is the skye rounde and fayre

And conteyneth fyre and ayre

Water and erth ferrest therfro

And al behoueth rounde to be tho

The round skye the fyre round maketh

4990

And ayre of fyre roundhed taketh

Water within ayre also

And erthe within all tho

And bycause the skye as thou hast hard

Is round and al are in hym sperd

4995

All behoueth them round to be

As thou ere on the waxe myght se

¶The .C.l. questyon

¶Why is the mone colde of kynd

And the sonne hote as we fynde?

sig: [Y4]

The sonne is welle of hete

5000

And the mone of waters wete

Now is that one drye and hote

And that other moyst and wote

The hete of the sonne doth spryng

That in erthe is al-thynge

5005

But with that hete may they not dure

But yf they haue withal moysture

And that the sonne heteth on daye-lyght

The mone keleth vpon nyght

And geueth it moysture there-vnto

5010

Therfore al thynges spryngeth so

Shuld the sonne geue vs for aye

His hete bothe nyght and daye

Man nor beat shuld lyue no throwe

Ne nothyng shuld in erth growe

5015

And yf the keelth of the mone

Shuld euer amonge vs wone

And of the hete haue ryght nought

Shuld no leuyng thyng forthe be brought

Therfore hath god ordayned so

5020

As the world hathe myster to

¶The .C.lj. questyon

¶Now I praye the tel me this

Whiche is the most thyng that is?

OF al-thynge that thou wost

Goddes marcy is the most

5025

For no mouthe may speke Iwys

No harte thynke how great it is

Unto tho that wyl it craue

And desyreth it to haue

sig: [Y4v]

It is greater than al erth may be

5030

Or al the water in the see

It passyth al leues that sprynge

Or herbes / or eny other thynge

Ye / an hundreth thowsand folde

It passys al that I haue tolde

¶The .C.lij. questyon

5035

¶Whether may grauel of erth mo be

Or droppes of water of the see

GRauel of the erth is wel more

Than al water-dropes that euer wore

For al that were or yet shalbe

5040

Al they come of the see

And for an handfu[l] of grauel handful] handfuf 1537, handfull B

Behouyth of droppes a good dele

For wel smaller is [I] hope I] one 1537, I B

[A] grauel / than a water-drope A] Of 1537, A B, L

5045

And water may be no-where

But yf erth be vnder there

And many myles may men gon

Drye / where no water is on

And the see was neuer so depe a_flete a_flete: =afloat

5050

That deper ne is vnder erth grete

And yf water vpon roche stande

Under roche is erth molde or sande

Now is the erth apperyng smal

And wyde strekes hym with-al strekes ='extends'; see OED s.v. streek v.

5055

In many stedes whare water is scante

Is fownde of erth good plente

Wherfore grauel of erth say we

Are mo than water-droppes be

sig: Z1

¶The .C.liij. questyon

¶May the grauel ought tolde be

5060

Or water-droppes of the see

ANd the word such a thowsand wore

As it is and wel more

And that it shuld last with-all

Such a thowsand as now shal

5065

Foure and twenty howres ryght

Are in the daye and in the nyght

And ech a noure for to rekyn

Syxty poyntes are therein

And thoughe it myght so befalle

5070

That in ech a poynt of all

Were borne a thowsand men or mo

And ful hore were ech of tho

Yet shuld the dropes of the see

Be mo than tho heres be

5075

And yet is gretnes of erth more

Than al the dropes wore

And goddys mercy most of al

He that wyth hert to hym wyl call

¶The .C.liiij. questyon

¶Now wold I wyt vyturly

5080

How many sterres are on the sky

IF al the men a_lyue wore

That haue be ded here-before

Sythen that adam was forlorne

And al that euer shalbe borne

5085

Betwyx vs and the world be gon

Ware euery one borne anon

So mykel folke there shuld not ware

sig: [Z1v]

As sterres on the heuen are

But for the heyght of the sky

5090

Ne may no man se them perfytly

Al the sterres that ther be

But some apertly may men se

How aboue with the sky they go

As it them beryth to and fro

5095

Whan some go doune / some vp are went

With meuyng of the fyrmament

¶The .C.lv. questyon

¶Canst thou of aungels tel me ought

How many god in heuyn wroght

And how many be left therin

5100

And how many felle for synne

GOd of his mercy and myght

Of aungels .ix. ordres hath dyght

And in ech order made he

Many a legyon for to be

5105

And a legyon I_wys

Syxe thowsand and syxe hundreth is

With fyfty and syxe therto

And al hym worshype to do

But there felle out of ech one

5110

Al-so many as came to one

And also many were they tho

As halfedele the folke and mo

That haue be borne and borne shalbe

And whan fulfylled is ech a se

5115

Of aungels that fel away

Than shal it be domesday

That god shal deme both good and yl

And that shalbe at goddys wyl

sig: Z2

¶The .C.lvj. questyon

¶Which are the most of beast or man

5120

Or fowle / or fysshe that swyme can

BEastes are mo than men

And fowles mo than beastes such ten

And for ech a fowle also

A thowsand fysshes are and mo

5125

For therof is the most plente

Of al creatures that be

God made man of erth and slyme

And best of hete he made hym

Fysshes of water / fowle of ayre

5130

And al that he made is fayre

And yf god them al had wrought

Of erth lyke / as he dyd nought

They shuld haue rysen al also

At domesday as man shal do

5135

But for erth is in them none

Wherfore to nought they turne ech one

¶The .C.lvij. questyon

¶Of al the world tel me yet

The delectabelest stede which is it

WHere a mannys hert is fest

5140

And for to dwele were leuest

There is the delectabelest stede

To hym that he may on trede

For were a man in a countre

In the fayrest stede myght be

5145

And had al that he had nede

Hym to clothe and to fede

sig: [Z2v]

And his hert loued els-whore

No delyt had he thore

But there a man louyth wel

5150

Though it be fowle euery-dele

There is his ioy and his solace

More than in eny other place

¶The .C.lviij. questyon

¶Which is more prowes and best

That in towne or in forest

5155

PRowes in towne as I wene

Ne was euer worth a bene

It is no prowe / it is folye

And keytefnes and mysardry

Some man to a man ful ryfe to a man] for a worde B, for a word L

5160

Wyl draw vnto a man his knyfe

That wold neuer do so

And it ware betwyx them two

But there are thynges thre

That make hym hasty to be

5165

One therof is folye

That makyth his hert skyp a_hye

Anothere that he hopyth wel

That the folke elke-adel

Shal stert on hym and hym hold

5170

And let to do that he wold

The thyrd for his braynes smale

Are turned by wyne or ale

And he that assayled is

Holdyth hym styl in al this

5175

He dredyth that he shuld hym slo

And lordshype feryth he also

sig: Z3

The thyrd he dredyth his enemy

For he wottyth not yf he be dowghty

His owne lostes he feryth eke lostes ='losses'; see OED s.v. lost n. B, L read: loos

5180

Which maketh his hert meke

But ware they both in the forest

There myght men know the best

There shuld no men on them wonder

No man put them in_sonder

5185

Ne no baylyfe ware there to drede

But the boldar hym forth bede

Wherfore prowes in towne as men tellys

Nys but bost and nothyng ellys

¶The .C.lix. questyon

¶If a man haue an euyl wyfe

5190

Or be poure or of feble lyfe

Or haue a wemme in a lym

Shal a man vpbreyde it hym

NO man ought othere vpbreyde

For no lacke that on hym is leyde

5195

If he haue an euyl fere

So god may send to hym here

If he in pouerte fallen be

So may perauenture to_morow he

For the whele of auenture

5200

No-whyle wyl endure

And yf he haue eny lacke

Eyther on body or on backe

Or eny of his lymmes al

Upbreyd hym nought what-so befal

5205

For he that sent hym that euery-dele

May send it to the ryght wele

sig: [Z3v]

Wherfore ech man fayrely speke

That of his spech god take no wreke

¶The .C.lx. questyon

¶Shal men euery man worshype do

5210

And al theyr wyl do also

A Man shuld al this do with skyl

If that he myght come there-tyl

But no man may / no man can

Do the wyl of euery man

5215

Neuerthelesse do not amys

Worshype euery man as he is

And fulfyl euery mannys wyl

That turne thy-selfe vnto no yl

Do with good chere that thou shalt do

5220

To them that prayes the vnto

And for a lytel say not nay

To do theyr wyl yf thou may

That thou desyrest shalt thou fynde

And ech man to serue the shalbe mynde

5225

Thy honoure shal wyde wende

Euery man shal holde the good and kynde

Wherby may no yl of the tyde

Thy good worde goyth so wyde

¶The .C.lxj. questyon

¶Shal he ought forgotten be

5230

That to lykyng hath seruyd me

IF a man do me seruyse

Unto my wyl in al wyse

I ought to forget it neuer-more

Thoughe the seruyse lytel wore

sig: [Z4]

5235

For he that doth me lykynge

He gyueth me inoughe of his thynge

And I ought his helpe to be

If he haue nede of me

For euery man that doth a good dede

5240

Is worthy to haue wel his mede

And the good-wyl of such one

Ought I euer to thynke vpon

¶The .C.lxij. questyon

¶May a man hym ought with-holde

From her that he hath in holde

5245

That he no lechery do

Whan he hath great wyl therto

FUl wel a man may holde hym styl

And withstande his owne wyl

Fro lechery yf that he wyl

5250

Though he great wyl haue thertyl

Late hym cast in his thought

How fayre that hym god hath wrought

At his owne lykenes to be

And that so fayre a thyng to se

5255

Shulde be kepte clenly also

That no fylth ne came ther-to

Were it now syr that a kynge

Gaue me a robe of his clothynge

Ful clene I wold it kepe and bryght

5260

And worshype it at al my myght

For moch worshype to me it were

A kyngys clothyng for to bere

Euyn so shuld it with vs befall

Of goddys clothyng are we all

sig: [Z4v]

5265

And yf we thynke to hold it clene

Our fowle wyl that was so kene

Shal twyne away and passe for nought twyne ='turn'; see OED s.v. twine v1, 4a

And kendele no more in our thought

The more that men a fyre leys in

5270

The more and hotter wyl it bryne

And it wyl not leue brynnynge

But men it sleken with some-thynge

Euyn so brenneth lechery

In man that geueth hym to foly

5275

And yf he wyl that it be layde

Thynke on god as I haue sayd

Also shal in his thought be

What mede cometh of chastyte

And yf he be tane in synne

5280

What payne shal his soule be in

And thus maye he kele shortly

His brennyng wyl that was so outragyously

¶The .C.lxiij. questyon

¶The grettyst delyte that is

Which is it tel me this

5285

I Fynde there are delytes two

Bodely a[n]d goostly also

The bodely wyl not last

That men doth there-on is a_waye cast

It fareth as the candel-lyght

5290

That now brenneth ferly bryght

Now than is it out quyte

So fareth bodely delyte

Goostly delyte is on other wyse

As delyte in god and his seruyse

sig: &1

5295

And tho that delyte them therin

For to kepe them out of synne

Wyte you wel that they tho

In the payne of the wo

That they suffer theyr sowle to saue

5300

Ful great delyte therin they haue

And who-so is therin brought

That delyte ne keelyth nought

It waxeth ay from lesse to more

Euer vntyl a man come thore

5305

There no ende may be

Which is before the Trynyte

And there shal his delyte be tolde

More than here a thowsand-folde

Wherfore the most delyte that is

5310

Is to delyte in god I_wys

¶The .C.lxiiij. questyon

¶Tel me now yf that a man

Shal ought delyt hym with a woman

DElyte with wymen are there twye

And which they are I shal the seye

5315

That one is goostly with chast lyfe

As a man with his owne wyfe

Flesshely knowe her wel he may

Chyldren to wyne to goddys pay

And fro that tyme that he

5320

Wotyth that she with chylde be

He shal hym hold from her holly

Tyl it be borne of her body

This is delyte of chastyte

That dygne and honest ought to be

sig: [&1v]

5325

Bodely delyte there is also

That no tyme hath reward vnto

But euery tyme that wyl hym takys

His flesshly lust he not forsakys

And that is purly lyfe of beast

5330

That nother is good ne honest

And such a delyte with woman

Shuld no man haue that good can

¶The .C.lxv. questyon

¶If one hoost a nother mete

Shal he anon on hym shete

5335

CUm an hoost with al theyr mayne

And another come them agayne

Smyte anone ne shal they nought

Theyr cheueteyne shal haue forthought

And be wel-aduysed and wyse

5340

And ouer-se his enymes

And yf he haue hope in his mode

That his partye may be good

He shal ordeyne his folke wysely

And be vygorus and hardy

5345

And his enemes assayle

As it fallyth to batayle

And yf he aperceuyng is

That the feblear syde be his

He shal comfort his folke ycke-dele

5350

And make good vysage and bere hym wele

And fare as he had no awe

And in al that hym with-drawe

Holdyng them fast to_gether so

That none outraye other fro

sig: &2

5355

Yf his fleynge may not auayle

But that other hym assayle

Uygorously he than withstande

And harte his folke to be doand

The feble syde parchaunce so may

5360

With lytel scathe scape away

¶The .C.lxvj. questyon

¶Which membres of the man are tho

That he worste myght forgo?

A Man myght no lym forbere

But yf it hym greatly dere

5365

And some one myght he worse for_go

Than he myght other two

For thoughe he forgo fote and hand

Eere and eyen thoughe hym wante

Yet maye he be ful hote of herte

5370

And leue many daye in quarte

But ware teethe and tonge forgon

Good lyfe after had he none

For tho are the most hardely

That helpe to sustayne the body

5375

The tonge the mete turneth al

Under the tethe that chewe it shal

And the tonge is made also

Unto god worshyp to do

The teethe gryndeth the mete small

5380

That the body leueth withall

And for that a man may nought

Without these be forth brought

Therfore tothe and tonge are tho

That a man may worst forgo

sig: [&2v]

¶The .C.lxvij. questyon

5385

¶The fyrst instrument who made it

And how came it in his wyt

OF the chyldren of Noe

Iaphet the yongest of the thre

He contryued it and wrought

5390

As god it sent in his thought

And of the sounde he it toke

Of trees that the wynde shoke

And also of waters soune

That ran harde from hylles doune

5395

Some soune was lowe and some hye

And therof founde he melody

An instrument he made anone

That melody to worke vpon

¶The .C.lxviii. questyon

¶He that is dome / def[f]e and may not se deffe] defte 1537

5400

What spech in his hert thynke[t]h he thynketh] thynkeh 1537

A Man that is borne to_day

Doum and defe that se ne may

No langage ne may lere

For tha[t] he may nought here that] thar 1537, þat B, L

5405

Than behouyth hym of kynde

Nedly in his herte haue mynde

Of the spech that Adam spake

Or he goddys precept brake

That is ebru that god gaue man

5410

Fyrst whan he to speke began

For yf a tree a frute bere

Be it appul / be it pere

sig: &3

The frute must take kynde and hewe

Of the rote that it on grewe

5415

But the kynde of the tree

Sal chaunge yf it imped be

And but a man haue impyng

Of langage through some lernyng

The fyrst speche haue he shal

5420

That man was fyrst lernyd with-al

¶The .C.lxix. questyon

¶Why are some cloudes of the sky

Whyte and some blake there-by

CLoudes somtyme are ryght thyn

For lytel water that there is in

5425

Than comys the lyght of the day

And the sonne that shynes ay

Which geuyth on the cloude lyght

And the cloude that is of lytel myght

Is throughe-shyned ther-with-al

5430

Wherby whyte he shewe hym shal

For throughe water may men se

If that it not depe be

The cloude that blake is to our syght

Is thycke of water and of myght

5435

And for the thycknes that he haas

May no lyght there thorow paas

Wherfore holdys it odrye odrye ='at a distance'; see OED, s.v. adrigh adv.

Not ful mykel vp on hye

And be_cause it is thycke and lowe

5440

Behouyth it blake to vs to showe

¶The .C.lxx. questyon

¶May no creature that god wrought

Wyte goddys wyl nor his thought

sig: [&3v]

GOd made neuer creature

Aungel ne man nor other fygure

5445

That myght wyte goddys thought

Nor his wyl tyl it was wrought

Whan he eny-thyng wyl do

He says be made and it is so

But or he it in werke fulfyl

5450

There may no man wyte his wyl

God wottyth the thoughtes of ech one

But his knoweth ryght none

Saue the holy Trynyte

For al one are they thre

5455

Somtyme wottyth man what god do wyl

That is he that he sendyth vntyl

By aungels to tel hym his thought

Ellys none wote it nought

¶The .C.lxxj. questyon

¶Yet wold I wyte yf I may

5460

If a man shal worshype god alday

EUery man shuld with ryght do so

But theyr myght is not therto

For the body is feble of myght

And behouyth somtyme rest with ryght

5465

And but he rest may haue

Longe may he not the lyfe saue

Wherfore god honoure he may

At serteyne howres of the day

And in serteyne tyme he shal

5470

Trauayle to hold the lyfe with-all

And somtyme rest shal he take

The body stronge with to make

sig: [&4]

For after mete and drynke is rest

To nature of the body best

5475

And whan he shal god worshype do

Loke al his herte be therto

For he that sayeth to god his bede

And his thought be in other stede

The tonge were as good be styll

5480

For it askys with no wyl

Wherfore that god worshype shal

Speke tonge / herte / thought and al

¶The .C.lxxij. questyon

¶Wherof may it be and why

That eyne somtyme loke bleryly

5485

SOmtyme herys a man a thyng

That is not to his lykyng

Or a thyng of great pyte

And he of tender herte be

The herte mekys anone-ryght mekys: =meeks v

5490

And castyth wather to the syght

So wepe the eyne also smert

And al makyth the tendernes of the herte

And of that herte shal seldom

Euyl wyl of felnesse come

5495

And the eyne that wepe ofte

Oldeth the herte and doth it softe Oldeth: transitive sense not recorded in OED s.v. old v.

For the hete that the herte felys

With the teres greatly kelys

But he that not wel [may] wepe Copytext illegible; B reads: may.

5500

Great felnesse in his herte can kepe

And of hard herte than is he

And of no mercy nor pyte

sig: [&4v]

But he that to wepe is redy

In hym is pyte and mercy

¶The .C.lxxiij. questyon

5505

¶What maner of folke are men hold to

In this world worshype to do

EUery man shal pryncypaly

Worshype god that is on hy

That hym made and shal vnmake

5510

Whan that talent wyl hym take

His wyfe shal man worshype also

For one body are they two

His lorde also worshype he shal

That he seruys and dwellyth with-al

5515

Father and mother also shal he

Worshype before al that be

Yet shal he worshype for theyr mede

That hym good doth with worde or dede

Suster and brother and his kynde

5520

Unto worshype shuld he haue in mynde

And euery man yf that he myght

Ought he to worshype with ryght

¶The .C.lxxiiii. questyon

¶The largest man which is he

That now in the world may be

5525

A Large man that haue shal

Thoughe he the world seke al

Shal he none fynde ne se

That of his owne may large be

For of no largenes told it is

5530

A man to gyue that not is his

sig: A1

For al the largesse that men telles

Of god they are and no man elles

And al that man is sent

Of goddys loue it is hym lent

5535

For nakyd hyther is he brought

And of hym-selfe he hath nought

And nakyd away shal he wende

With hym he berys it not at the ende

And yf it his owne were

5540

Than myght he it with hym bere

And god hym lendyth good truly

That he it spend worthely

Hym-selfe at mesure for to fede

And helpe the pouer that hath nede

5545

And seyng he is bounde therto

The pouer for to helpe also

So may no man make his roos

That it is largesse that he doos

Wherfore wote I no large man

5550

That to hym-selfe appropryat it can

¶The .C.lxxv. questyon

¶Shal a pouer man euery-whore

Put hym a rych man before

IF it be so that they tweye

Go to_gether by the weye

5555

The pouer man shal euer-more

Put the rych man before

And at one table be they

The pouer set hym not to hye

For yf a rycher come than he

5560

Hym behouyth to flyte his se

sig: [A1v]

And than better yt wore

That he had set hym els-whore

But be they both in a batayle

And shal theyr enymes assayle

5565

There the pouer with-out drede

Before the rych hym forth bede

For a pouer may be also doughty

As a rych man of his body

And with that forth-puttyng percaas he may

5570

Worshype more get than the rych that day

¶The .C.lxxvj. questyon

¶Is a man in eny synne to ete

Al-thyng that he may gete

UNto man god had such loue

That he made to his behoue

5575

Fowle and fysshe in the see

Beast and frute in erth to be

And whan that he man had wrought

And in-to paradyse hym brought

He made hym lorde of al thys

5580

Them to put in his seruys

And for to vse them to his fode

For god made al thynges good

And seyng he gaue hym leue ther-tyl

He doth no synne me-thynke with skyl

5585

That of al-thyng etes

At mesure whan he it getes getes] gethes 1537

For what he etes with good-wyl

Ne may euer do hym yl

Though it adder were or snake

5590

But yf he agayne herte it take

sig: A2

Though it be the best men fynde

It doth no good to his kynde

¶The .C.lxxvij questyon

¶Shal a man another grete

Alday whan he may hym mete

5595

A Man so ofte nought grete thou shal

As thou hym metyst aday with-al

But yf thou in thy hows be

Among thy folke and thy meyne

Gretyng shalt thou sey them thore

5600

Twyes vpon the day no more

On morne whan thou comyst them amonge

And on euyn at thy bede-goynge

And mete thou thy frende be the strete

Ones in the day thou shalt hym grete

5605

And thou shalt say hym that gretyng

After the tyme of your metyng

At morne or euyn wether it be

And yf that he fyrst grete the

Grete hym agayne curtesly

5610

Men shal the say worshyp therby

But thou hym shalt but onys grete

On the day that thou hym ofte mete

¶The .C.lxxviij questyon

¶How shal a man his chyldren ordre

So that after repentyth not he

5615

IF you haue chyldren kepe them wel

Tyl they be of age somedele

And than yf thou haue them dere

Cause them some crafte to lere

sig: [A2v]

That in nede myster can

5620

His conyng is esy to bere

It wyl helpe and nothyng dere

There is no tresure therto

For tresure wyl a_way go

And whan the tresure is gon al

5625

Conyng a_gayne it bryng shal

Daunt them not whyle they are yonge

But sharpe wordes of thy tyonge

Sey vnto them euer amonge

So shal they drede to do wronge

5630

With thy chyldren do thou shal

As men doth a grene wand with-al

It may be wrethen whyle it is grene

How-so men wyl without tene

Were it drye sone wold it crake

5635

A withe therof shuld no man make

So shuld men chyldren chastyse in youth

Tyl that they some good couth

For that yougth takyth comenly

In age he shal fynde it redely

¶The .C.lxxix. questyon

5640

¶Whether shal a man more loue haue tyl

His wyfe or chyld with skyl

A Man shal loue ouer al-thynge

God his maker heuyn kynge

And next his owne body

5645

And than his wyfe pryncypaly

His chyldren ought a man by kynde

For to loue and haue in mynde

But whan god fyrst made adam

sig: A3

And Eue of his body came

5650

He gaue hym her vnto fere

And bade hym for to haue her dere

Than in that geuyng made he

Man and his wyfe one to be

And yf thou and thy wyfe be one

5655

And that partyng is none

Ne none other may forsake

Unto deth the one take

Thou ought thy wyfe to loue more

Than al the chyldren that thyne wore

5660

If thou forlese thy good wyfe

Than lesyst thou the solace of thy lyfe

And yf thou thy chyldren forgo

Of thy wyfe may thou wyn mo

Wherfore shalt thou thy wyfe loue more

5665

Than thy chyldren and hold in store

¶The .C.lxxx. questyon

¶If I had no father borne

Ne no mother me beforne

How shuld I haue borne be

In this world or here or se

5670

LOnge or god the world wrought

Or man or beast therin brought

He knewe al that shuld be borne

Which saued and which forlorne

And al theyr names and thought

5675

God had bene elles nought

Wherfore he wyst wel of the

That thou shuldest borne be

And seyng thou nedys shuldest be borne

sig: [A3v]

Though thy father the beforne

5680

Ne thy mother that was also

Had nother come this world vnto

Another father thou shuldest haue had

And mother that had the both fede and clad

¶The .C.lxxxj. questyon

¶The chyld that hath ful the shap

5685

In the mother / by what hap

Is it somtyme brought to nought

And may alyue forth be brought

BE thre causes may it come to

Why it comyth to pas so

5690

One than may be goddys wyl

That he wylleth that it shal spyl

Another skyl also ther is

Why it so fareth somtyme amys

The feble norysshyng in the wyfe

5695

That it may not come to lyfe

For the feblenesse of the which norture

Makyth the seed not to dure

Feblenes of raynes the thyrd

As in woman is be_tyde

5700

Some woman with chyld may be

And so feble of rayns is she

That she is not of the myght

Of the chyld to suffer the weyght

The mother sterys and turnes about

5705

So that the chyld fallyth out

Whan it is out than is it lorne

And so than is it ded borne

And by the grace of goddys myght

The mother sperys a_non-ryght sperys ='closes up'; see OED s.v. spear v1.

sig: [A4]

¶The .C.lxxxij. questyon

5710

¶Wymen that in this world are here

Are they al of one manere

WImen are made al after one

In flesshe / blode / hyde and bone

And al the lymes thou seyst one bere

5715

Euery one such lymes were

And that men felys one vpon

May men fele on euery one

But of complexcyon are they sere

Of word / wyl and of manere

5720

But al on one delyte men fynde

Whan it comyth to dede of kynde

Ofte of wathers may thou se

That of dyuers hewes they be

But in thy mouth yf thou them take

5725

Al as one water shal they smake

So do wemen whare they fare

Al of one sauyour they are

But thynketh some man

That swetar is some woman

5730

Than some other fyftene

And of that may thre thynges mene may] may be 1537

One is yf she be fayre and whyte

For a man hath more delyte

In her that is bryght on ble

5735

Than in a lothlyer on to se

Another cause is noble wede

For a man geuyth gladder mede

To her that nobely is dyght

Than to a pouer raggyd wyght

5740

The thyrd skyl is whan a man

sig: [A4v]

So great loue hath to woman

That hym thynkyth none so swete to hold

For loue hath no lacke it is sayd of olde

¶The .C.lxxxiij. questyon

¶If thy frend haue wyfe and meyne

5745

And them mysdo thou se

Salt thou vnto thy frende it sey Salt: =Shalt, here and elsewhere in this text.

And his wyfe and meyne be_wrey

IF thy neyghbor haue a wyfe

That be of euyl lyfe

5750

And thou may it vndertake

That she wronge doth agayne her make

Or dystroyer of his good be

And thou maye it wete or se

Warne hym so preuely and styl

5755

That he smyte in none euyl wyl

But byd hym that he loke therto

So that they nomore do so

And make he hym wroth at the fyrst

Whan that he the soth hathe wyst

5760

And throughe thy wordes he shal take hede

And than shal he the better spede

And saue his good that shuld away

And yf thou hym no word dyd say

For men sayne in olde sawes

5765

By good neyghbours god day men dawes

¶The .C.lxxxiiij. questyon

¶Yf a man any-thynge shal do

Shal he hym ought hast therto

sig: B1

IF thou thynke to do a good dede

Hastly therto thou the spede

5770

For good dede shal haue no respyte

He doth it twyes that doth it tyte

But thynke thou euyl dede to do

Haste the nothyng there-vnto

Be_thynke the fyrst in thy herte

5775

That it the not after smerte

For yf that thou take good hede

Euyl haste is al vnspede

In lytel tyme may befalle the

That thy herte may chaunged be

5780

So that thou shalt the with_holde

Fro that thou fyrst don wolde

And than shalt thou lyke wele

That thou hasted to it no dele

¶The .C.lxxxv. questyon

¶Shal he that eny good can

5785

In this world loue euery man

GOostly for god loue shalt thou

Euery man and I shal tel the how

Tyl his sowle no euyl wyl

More than thou wylt thyne owne tyl

5790

But bodely thy loue shalbe

To euery man as he loueth the

Loue he the loue hym a_geyne

And of his company be feyne

Hate he the / hate hym also

5795

And do with hym as he wold to the do

Come thou to thy frendes hows

There thy foes thou feryst not thus

sig: [B1v]

He wyl receyue the with blys

And for the the gladder he is

5800

If thou eny-thyng hym craue

With good-wyl thou mayst it haue

Such a man shalt thou loue ageyne

And his wyl to do be feyne

If thou come vnto thy foo

5805

That sawe the leuer hang than go

Despyte of hym may thou gete

Or eyther drynke or mete

From such a man shalt thou fle

And hate hym as he doth the

5810

For in old sawes says men that

He that loues there he is hate

Agayne the streme he rowes sore

And to lese hath he no more

¶The .C.lxxxvj. questyon

¶The folke of this world ech one

5815

Are they comune after one

BEtwyx them is comunaute

In some thynges as thou may se

For al are they borne in care

And al shal they hens fare

5820

And al shal they rotte away

And al aryse at domysday

But betwyx them in some thyng

Is dyuersyte / for some is kynge

Some pouer and vyle is theyr mete

5825

Some lyue by that they may gete

Some go clade and some bare

And of dyuerse manere men are

sig: B2

Of dyuerse wyl of dy[u]erse thought

Here in comune are they nought

5830

And as here is dyuersyte

So shal there in other world be

Some shal in-to payne be brought

To dole the werkes that he hath wrought

And some shal in-to payne of helle

5835

There with-out ende to dwelle

And some shal in-to heuyn blys

That nothyng here haue don amys

¶The .C.lxxxvij. questyon

¶Do men the rych honour ech one

And vnto the pouer ry[gh]t none ryght] ryhgt 1537

5840

In the other world also

As men here in this do

A Rych man more honour shal haue

In other world than he can craue

And the pouer more shame suffer

5845

Than eny man here and greatter

The rych there shal honour fynde

And the pouer set behynde

But they haue no man there dere

After as he was rych here

5850

Understand now yf thou can

Al the ryches of the man

Is the sowle that hym is in

And yf it be clene out of synne

It is noble and rych

5855

Hym shal aungels of make mych

And worshyp do to hym truly

For the goodnes that he is rych by

sig: [B2v]

The pouer sowle that synful is

Shal nother haue honour ne blys

5860

The aungels turne theyr face therfro

For it for pouert goyth to wo

Worshyp gettyth it ryght none

Ware it rych it had good wone

But his ryches was al spent

5865

And from hym clenely it went

Whan he goddys precept forsoke

And to deedly synne hym toke

Therfore after as his ryches wore

Is he worthy to be honoured thore

¶The .C.lxxxviij. questyon

5870

¶Shal the father bere eny bourthyn

For his sonne / or his sonne for hym

THe father of the sonne shal bere

No burthen that hym may dere

Ne the sonne not charged is

5875

With that the father doth amys

Ech man of his owne synne

Is charged that he deyes in

But for the sonne the father may

Be charged oft and euery day

5880

As yf that the sonne mysdo

And the father wote that it be so

And chastyse hym not of his synne

But sufferyth hym to be therin

He synnes al-so wel as he

5885

And for hym charged shalbe

The sonne for his dede-doyng

And the father for his sufferyng

sig: B3

But the father is charged nought

Of that that the sonne wrought

5890

But that he myght a hym corrected

If he had to hym ought seyed

But by sufferaunce ther is he in nede

Charged for his sonnys mysdede

¶The .C.lxxxix. questyon

¶They that slee men and vndo

5895

Take they theyr synne them vnto

NAy / synne that one man hath wrought

May charge a nother nought

No man with ryght may other slo

For no mysdede ne for no wo

5900

But yf it by lordshyp be

That of god hath the pouste

Iustyce for to do the ryght

Therto is hym geuen myght

And yf a man for wrath or hate

5905

Sle another in the gate

The synne of the ded chargys hym nought

Hym that hym to ded brought

But what he dyd euyl or wele

Shal cleue by hymselfe euery-dele

5910

Nought than may be of godys mercy

That he that ys slayne wrongfully

May of som synne releasyd be

For the sharp dede that he

Agaynst ryght was brought vnto

5915

And he that hym slew also

Encresyth his synne where he goyth

By also many as he sleyth

sig: [B3v]

For greatter synne nought tel I can

Than wylfully to slee a man

¶The .C.lxxxx. questyon

5920

¶Which is most sorow thynkyth the

That thou heryst or doest se

SIght of eye wyl more dere

Than that a man heres with ere

For that a man sees with eye

5925

That may be no flatery

For he sees al the dede-doyng

And al the sorowe of that thyng

That moste go ryght nere the herte

And doth it aldermost smert

5930

For olde men say / and it is newes

That eyne ne se / herte ne rewes

But that a man is told vnto

He wottyth neuer yf it be so

And though he trow he say aryght

5935

Yet deryth it nothyng the syght

For the herte thynketh as it wold

It is not perchaunce as it is tolde

And thus conforteth he vyturly

Al the wyttes of the body

5940

Syght of eye is bodely

And heryng of ere is goostly

Ryght as the wynde so is heryng

That is herde and sene nothyng

Wherfore more sorow is to se

5945

Than to here what-so it be

¶The .C.lxxxxj. questyon

sig: [B4]

¶Myght men eny folke fynde

That etyth other agayne kynde

HE that trauayles day and nyght

To hurte his neyghbor with vnryght

5950

To lese his good that he wan

With trauayle or craft that he can

And that he shuld his lyfe with lede

For to clothe hym with and to fede

Me-thynke he byteth hym very sore

5955

And eteth hym as that it wore

Yet is there another manere

A man to ete another here

Yf he a lesyng on hym lye

Wherfore he hathe great vylonye

5960

Or sayth of hym euyl behynd his backe

Or before men maketh of hym alacke

He eteth hym without methe

Thoughe he not byte hym with his tethe

And he that sleeth a man also

5965

And hath no cause ther-vnto

Or for gyft that hym is hyght

Forsothe he than hym eteth ryght

And more maners there is of mete

That a man may another ete

¶The .C.lxxxxij. questyon

5970

¶Which is the worst thyng of thes thre

Morder / thefte / or a slanderer to be?

TO be a slanderer is a wycked lyfe

For he maketh ofte great stryfe

He is aboute day and nyght

5975

To make debate vnto his myght

sig: [B4v]

And so may he by wickyd rede

Be encheson a man to be deed

Wherfore it is great folye

To haue such one in company

5980

Theft also is great synne

For he that wyl neuer blynne

To stele his neyghbor fro

That he hath byde for moch wo

And so doth he agayne hym dryue

5985

In wo and trauayl to lyue

Or to begge for euer-more

Loke what synne he doys thore

But the most synne of al tho

Is man to murdre and slo

5990

For he destroyeth that stature

That god made after his fygure

And reues lyfe ther it shuld be

And goddys seruyse so lettyth he

Mannys lycknes slo shal he nought

5995

Ne none but god that hym hath wrought

¶The .C.lxxxxiij. questyon

¶Forgeuyth god with good chere

Al the synnes that a man doth here

IF al the droppes in the see

And grasses that in erth may be

6000

And al the leues men can neuen

And al the sterres of heuen

And al the fysshes that swyme can

And al the heres of beast and man

Ware al on one synne brought synne] summe B, L

6005

The tenth dele ne were they nought

sig: C1

Of the mercy of god of heuen

For that may no man sume ne reken

Had a man done al the synne

That al this world durst begyn

6010

And he had sorow in herte therfore

And wold leue and do no more

God wold on hym haue mercy

And forgeue it hym redely

Admyttyng hym among his meyne

6015

And of his turnyng glade be

But he that leuyth not his synne

Ne nought therof wyl blynne

Nother mercy wyl craue

He is worthy none to haue

6020

For who-so askys vnworthely

It may be denyed iustly

¶The .C.lxxxxiiij. questyon

¶Why trauaylys a man so

In this world as men do

FOr two thynges pryncypaly

6025

The one to susteyne the body

The other that it strong be

To serue god in Trynyte

As in prayer and almesdede

For tho wyl the sowle fede

6030

And [not] to gather haue in mynde not] 1537 omits; noȜt B, not L

To leue his chyldren and his frende

Al his trauayle shuld be here

To saue the sowle that god hath dere

And to do as that we fynde

6035

As the myre doth in his kynde myre ='ant'

sig: [C1v]

By somers dayes he gaderys al

That he in wynter by lyue shal

He wyl not so long abyde

That it come to the wynter-tyde

6040

Euyn so shuld a man lere

To tyl his sowle whyle he is here

Abyde he tyl he hens fare

Colde wynter he fyndys and care

Wherfore shuld he so trauayle

6045

That it myght after hym a_vayle

¶The .C.lxxxxv. questyon

¶Tel me now with-out mys

Which is the wickest thyng that is

WIckydare thyng may none be

Than wickyd man in pouste

6050

For the sowle that is in hym

Is both myrke and dym

And a wickyd man myght se byn byn ='within'; see OED s.v. bin adv. B reads: bynne.

How darke his sowle is for synne

So fowle a thyng shal he se it

6055

That he shuld forlese his wyt

Wherfore is there no myrcknesse

Agayne a man in wickydnesse

¶The .C.lxxxxvj. questyon

¶The good werkes and the yl

That a man doth of his wyl

6060

Whether come they of god hym to

Or of hym-selfe that doth them so

UNderstand you wel I_wys

That of god no euyl is

sig: C2

Of hym is al holynesse

6065

And al fayrhed and goodnesse

And for goodnes man he wrought

To paradyse whan he hym brought

He gaue hym wyt as was his wyl

For to know both good and yl

6070

And whan a man had knowlegyng

Of both / than was at his chosyng

Whether he wold take vnto

And than began he euyl to do

Whan that he the good lete

6075

Bytyng the appul that he dyd ete

And sythen he myght do whether he wold

And he wold vnto the wyckyd hym hold

Of hym-selfe euery-dele it is

That he dyd so amys

6080

To helpe he had an enymy

And so hath both thou and I

Thre we haue euery day

Us to tempt al that they may

Our owne flesshe / the world / the fende

6085

Ech one wold vs truly shend

But we knowe among al this

Which is better and which wors is

Than is that wickydnes euery-dele

Of hym that doth it and myght do wele

6090

If a man were wel be_thought

To thanke hym that made hym of nought

He shuld haue grace wel to do

And wickydnes hold hym fro

Wherfore of god comyth vs goodnes in

6095

And of our-selfe euyl and synne

sig: [C2v]

¶The .C.lxxxxvij. questyon

¶Where hydeth hym the day fro nyght

And the nyght fro the day-lyght

THat tyme that god the world dyght

Of his word and of his myght

6100

The elements were myxt ech one

And lyght on erth was none

Than departyd them god asonder

And ech one dyd set other vnder

Than made he sonne and mone to lyght

6105

That one on day that other on nyght

The sonne aboute goes euer-more

To lyght here and elles-whore

Whan he vs lyghteth it is day

And nyght whan it is a_way

6110

And whan he departyth vs fro

About the erth behoueth hym to go

And the erth that is so rounde

Reues vs in that stounde

The lyght that we had of hym

6115

And than is the nyght to vs dym

But whan the sonne is aboute went

And agayne is to vs sent

Sone so as he shewes eny-thyng

We se it is in the dawyng dawyng is a northern form; see OED s.v. dawing vbln. B reads: dawnyng, L dawening

6120

And as he ryses ay and ay

So waxes vs the clere day

Thus departyth day and nyght

By reson of the sonne-lyght

And euer whan comyth that one

6125

The other departyth anone

¶The .C.lxxxxviij. questyon

sig: C3

¶How hold the planetes them al

On the sky that they ne falle

WHan god had dyght the fyrmament

And stabled euery element

6130

On the sky vnder the heuen

Made he planets seuen

And he made vp on hye

Al the sterres of the sky

And ech planet ther he is

6135

In his owne spere goyth I_wys

The mone so is lowest of al

The hyest Saturnus we call

And al haue they theyr steryng

A_gayne the sky in his goyng

6140

And euer the hyer that they be

The more to go hath he

Some as a yere and some two

In his spere about to go

And some about to go also

6145

Haue but a moneth therto

And al they are of kynde

Of the fyrmament as we fynde

Hauyng to_gether a fastenyng

So that there may be no partyng

6150

And so god hath ordayned them al

That none may from other falle

So may none falle from other wel

Tyl god vndo the world al ech-dele

¶The .C.lxxxxix questyon

¶How may men the howres know aryght

6155

And the poyntes of day and nyght

sig: [C3v]

IN what lande thou be

Thou mayst esely know and se

Sone so the sonne thou se may

That is a poynt of the day

6160

And whan the sonne to rest is gon

Thou knowest that it is nyght anon

And the nyght with the day

Haue but foure and twenty howrs ay

And euery howre hath no more

6165

But a thousand poyntes and foure score

And this thyng may thou wel

Be a candel prowe ech-dele

Be the day short or longe with skyl

The there shal not mysse yf thou wyl there] therbe 1537

6170

Reckyn the day after as it is

And the nyght as rekenyd is

And ech an howre know thou may

Whan it comyth and passyth away

¶The .CC. questyon

¶All the sterres vp on hy

6175

Turne they about on the sky

TUrnyng are the sterres ay

And as the sky goyth so go they

And for the turnyng of the sky

Is that they go so hastely

6180

But one ther is that semith nought

Unto our syght that it goyth ought

And yet is he euer steryng

In a cyrcle about turnyng

For ful in the ende stondyth he

6185

The one ende of the axeltre

sig: [C4]

That the world al turnes on

For that semyth his steryng none

And be_cause he the axeltre is by

Turneth he so narowly

6190

And so semyth he therfore

Euer in one stede as it wore

Wherby shypmen on the see

In what stede so they be

Be nyght haue great knolegeyng

6195

By hym and by his shewyng

And for that the shypmen al

Lodys-sterre they hym call

¶The .CC.j. questyon

¶The holsomest stede which is it

Of al the world after thy wyt

6200

HOlsomest stede vnto man

Is ther he best gyde hym can

That no sycknes by hym mete

Ne none outrage of keelth ne hete

Ne moch slepe ne ouer-moch wakyng

6205

Of mete and drynke no outrage takyng

In hote countre no hote mete

Ne colde in colde shal he none ete

And therfore who-so hole wyl be

Do as I shal teche the

6210

Ones ete on day and nyght

And ones sporge the raynes in seuenyght

And ones in a moneth let the blode

And ones to purge hym in the yere is good

Thus may he hym kepe in hele

6215

But of these men fynde not fele

sig: [C4v]

¶The .CC.j. questyon

Numbering sic.

¶Tel me for I am in dwere

The dygnyest day of the yere

OF al the yere the dygnyest day

So is holden the Saturday

6220

Whan god had heuen and erth wroght

And al-thyng therin brought

And al them wrought he tho

In syxe dayes and no mo

On the sondaye he began

6225

And the syxte daye made he man

Whan that of man was made ech lym

The seuenth day god restyd hym

For veryhed toke he no rest

But for that he chose it day best

6230

And bade man that day be in pees

And of al werkes to sees

Wherfore the Saturday of al

The dygnyest day we cal

But a tyme shal men se

6235

Whan goddys sonne shal man be

That he shal dye and after aryse

The thyrd day on al wyse

Which rysyng-day men worshyp shal ay

And that shalbe the Sonday

6240

And after shal men euer calle

Sonday the best of al

¶The .CC.ij. questyon

¶Yet wold I wyt more

Why slepe was made and wherfore

sig: D1

SLepe is made for mannys rest

6245

Of al-thyng one of the best

For it esyth the herte namely

And myght geuyth to al the body

As yf a lorde waken be

Wakyd is al his meyne

6250

There ne may slepe none of al

For to be redy yf he call

Tyl he slepe / slepe al his

Than are they the lyghter in seruys

The herte of man the lord call I

6255

For it maysteryth al the body

And whan it is a_slepe anon

The lymes rest them euerychon

And than al the kyndly hete

Of the body geuyth to mete

6260

Aboute the stomacke for to brynne

And to dygest that ther is with-in

And than the kynde to hym takys

That to hym shal or he wakys

And purges hym of that other dele

6265

As kynde geuyth hym ful wele

Thus gatheryth the body myght

And is after stronge and lyght

For to do that it shal do

That ne ware / yf slepe ware not so

6270

Therfore hath god the nyght wrought

To mannys rest and els nought

For payne is none / ne no mornyng

Unto man agayne wakyng

¶The .CC.iij. questyon

sig: [D1v]

¶Shal euer in this word be word: =world

6275

Warre and contecte as men now se

AT the begynnyng whan there wore

Foure men in the world no more

Was there warre and enuy

And mannys-slawghter and felony

6280

And it shal neuer seas

That the world be al in peas

For were the world in peas holly

Men myght calle it skylfully

Paradyse and els nought

6285

For there was neuer no warre wrought

But loue / peas / and charyte

And tho may holly here not be

But in this world are warres two

Goostly and bodely also

6290

The goostly warre may no man se

Which is of the deuyl and his meyne

Nyght and day on man he warres

And in al that he may men deres

Bodely warre al fyrst began

6295

Which is betwyx man and man

And that shal neuer to ende torne

Untyl it be the day of dome

¶The .CC.iiii. questyon

¶Wrathes god him ough[t] for mannis dede ought] ough 1537

What ded so he dye good or quede

6300

THough god sawe al the world brynne

And al the folke dye that are therin

And dryed euerydele the see

In god shold no wreth be

sig: D2

In hym may be no euyl mode

6305

For nothyng of this worldes good

Mannes dede deryth god no more

What dede so he dyes no-whore

Than it doth the fyre to brynne

A hylle that many auntes were in

6310

The payne that they fele in brennyng

No derys them for no kynges thyng

No more doth god soth to sey

What tyme a man shal here dey

No surar thyng than is the dede

6315

But of the tyme can no man rede

And for that what tyme he dey shal

God greuyth hym nothyng with-al

But sythen man wot no prow

Whan he shal dey ne how

6320

Loke he be redy ay I rede

Than shal hym not the dede drede

¶The .CC.v. questyon

¶Which folke are it as thou wetes

That the world now most susteynes

FOure maner of folke there are

6325

That were it so that they ne ware

The world myght not vp-holden be

Ne fare so wel as we now se

One than are thes men of crafte

That lerne other that are dafte

6330

Conyng theyr lyuelod for to wynne

And god to serue without synne

Another are tho that tyl the lande

And wynne vs mete and drynke to hande

sig: [D2v]

The thryde are lordes that peas kepe

6335

For in peas may men suerly slepe

If peas were not there were great doute

To lyue or eny-wher walke aboute

The fourth maner of folke than are

Chapmen that about fare

6340

Fro feyre to feyre fro lande to lande

And bryng that men do wande wande: =want

And shuld defaute haue of it also

Dyd not chapmen gyue them therto

Wherfore the world with-out thys

6345

Mought be kept on none wyse

¶The .CC.vij. questy[o]n

questyon] questyqn 1537

¶Whether is hyer as thou doyst vndarstand

The kynge or the lawe of the lande

LAwe is of more antyquyte

Than kyng or prynce may be

6350

And yf thou wylt wyt why

I shal the tel apertly

The name of kynge or emperour

Is geuyn for worldly honour

And it fallyth to his myght

6355

The lawe for to kepe aryght

Than is kynge for lawe set

To kepe that lawe be not let

Than is lawe more than he

For to do lawe hath he potence

6360

For a thyng that ordayned is

For another / than semys thys

That he that it is dyght for

Of them two is the more

sig: D3

And yf the kynge for lawe be

6365

Than is lawe more than he

Yet shal I say the a nother sawe

If the kynge do agayne the lawe

Lawe shal hym deme with skyl and ryght

Than is lawe aboue his myght

6370

And breke he lawe in eny-thyng

He is not worthy to be kynge

Truly here-after shal come one

A kyng that shal hyght Salomon

In his sawes say shal he

6375

Blessyd mote they al be

That shal in this world rounde

Do iustyce and ryght in euery stounde

¶The .CC.viij. questyon

¶May man in ony manere

Ony worldly good haue here

6380

That he ouer-al may with hym bere

And the weyght hym not dere

A Man in this world may haue

Good hym eneywhere for to saue

And helpe hym at his nede

6385

And euer he may it with hym lede

That is conyng of some arte

Which wyl not fro man parte

Who-so hath hym nedyth not to drede

For it wyl hym both cloth and fede

6390

Bettar tresour neuer no man wan

Than is conyng vn_to man

And whyther-so a man wyl go

He may it bere with-out wo

sig: [D3v]

And here-vnto none of his

6395

Wherfore shal Salomon the wyse

Say as a man wel be_taught

That wyt and wysdome is worldys aught

The .CC.ix. questyon

¶If two haue loue to_gether stronge

And after are a_sonder longe

6400

And come to_gether ought o[u]_whore ou_whore] one_whore 1537, owhere B

May they loue so as they dyd before

LOue betwyx frendes twey

That onys is ne shuld not dey

And yf that they in_sonder be

6405

That eyther other longe not se

And they to_gether come efte

The loue that was before lefte

Before that they in_sondre wore

May come agayne and ryght wel more

6410

As thou in a garden mayst se

Standyng a wel-lykyng tre

And the gardynar behaue hym so

That he take no hede therto

To mucke and tyl and els it dyght

6415

It myscaryeth anon-ryght

Losyng his wel-lykyng

For it Ȝemyd is nothyng Ȝemyd ='cared for'; see OED s.v. yeme v1.

But whan the gardynar it sees

That it fayleth among other trees

6420

Hede agayne therto he takys

And the erth about it bettar makys

And than begynneth it to sprynge

And take agayne to his lykynge

sig: [D4]

So it faryth of frendes two

6425

If that one fro the other go

And after to_gether come agayne

Eyther wylbe of other feyne

And the loue they had before

Or that they a_sondre wore

6430

For new may [be] them betwene be] they 1537, be B, L

As the tree that eft waxed grene

¶The .CC.x. questyon

¶How may a man loue woman ryght

Or she hym for the syght

SOmtyme fallyth a man to mete

6435

A fayre woman in the strete

His eyen wyl he on her caste

Beholdyng her ryght faste

And the eyen a_non present ryght

Unto the braynes that same syght

6440

Braynes send the herte vnto

And in delyte he fallyth also

And as sone as he is in delyte

He begynneth to loue tyte

The brayne sendyth to the eye agayne

6445

That they of that syght are fayne

Delytyng them to beholde more

So that the herte therfore

Fallyth in a fowle lykyng

And so begynneth the loue to spryng

6450

But and the herte were of myght

Stronge to hold hym in that syght

And say lorde I thanke it the

The syght that I yonder se

sig: [D4v]

That thou woldest after thy fygure

6455

Make so fayre a creature

Temptacyon shuld he none be in

Ne falle in no delyte of synne

Ne his herte shuld haue no meuyng

Another tyme to such a thyng

6460

No more shuld woman on her syde

If she dyd thanke god euery tyde

¶The .CC.xj. questyon

¶A man that lyght conscyence berys

And by his god falsly swerys

Of .x. false thynges for the nonys

6465

Is he ought for_swore but onys

HE that swerys an oth amys

By his god what-so he is

For .x. false thynges al in one

Soth as he swerys for ech one

6470

And yf ech of the .x. false be

Tene tymes forsworne is he

An hundreth thynges though it wore

So ofte forsworne is he thore

And who-so assentys therto

6475

That he made that othe also

Also ofte is he forsworne

As he that made that oth beforne

¶The .CC.xij. questyon

¶Tho that any knowlege haue here

The folke for to lere

6480

Shal eny grace come them vnto

More than it shal other men to

sig: E1

Ryght it is that euery man

That trauayls in labour as he can

That it be hym yeldyd so

6485

As his trauayle amountys to

And he that trauayls here

Ony good other to lere

Or preches to them how they shal

Heuynly blys wyn with-al

6490

God shal them in heuyn saue

And double mede shal they haue

For that they haue techyd ryght

The way vnto heuyn lyght

But two maner of techers be

6495

In this world as thou mayst se

Unto the sonne is lykened one

That geuyth his lyght euer anon

And euer ylyke his lyght lastes

For ought that he doune castes

6500

That are the good that teches here

Doyng them-selfe as they do lere

But some are that tech wel

And wickydly lyue them-selfe euery-dele

Unto the candel-lyght are tho

6505

That to other geuyth his lyght hym fro

And wasteth hym-selfe hastely

He that is no grace worthy

For yf a man were set to dele

Tresour among feele

6510

And he myght pay them ech one wel

And holde hym-selfe a great dele

If he dele so his delyng

That hym-selfe lefte nothyng

sig: [E1v]

Or yf ought hym left wicked ware

6515

It is but ryght he euyl fare

Skyl it is that he fare yl

That wyl chose it of hys wyl

¶The .CC.xiij. questyon

¶Thought that a man thynkes alday

Wherof euer come it may

6520

COmenly thought in herte wyl spryng

Of clere herte and conyng

For euer the more that a man

Of arte in this world can

The more thought he hath the[r]fore therfore] thefore 1537

6525

And ymagynes more and more

The wysdom that thes wyse haue so

Of pure corage it comyth them to

And that is of pure blode nought elles

That about the herte dwelles

6530

And the puryte of that blode

Cleres the braynes and makys them good

And that claryte that in the braynes dure

Geuyth to the corage moysture

And vnto the eyen claryte

6535

And to al the lymes lyght to be

The herte it geuyth vnto

Blythnes and lykyng also

Which makyth a man conyng

And to haue thought of moch thyng

6540

But for his conyng shal he nought

Smyte in-to an euyl thought

And his thought shalbe holly

To worshyp god pryncypaly

sig: E2

And after to worke at his myght

6545

Thynges that be honest and ryght

¶The .CC.xiiij. questyon

¶Why than falle the folke also

Of the euyl as men se they do

FOr thre thynges pryncypaly

Falles vmwhyle a mannys body

6550

One is for colours and humors wyk

That stere in the body thycke

And the humors day and nyght

With the good in the body fyght

And yf the wicked maysters be

6555

The herte somtyme they tourne perde

And a bleese to the braynes cast bleese ='blast'; see OED s.v. blas. B reads: blaste, L abaisshing

That a man falles at the last

And for that same vanyte

With fote and hand trauayleth he

6560

And fome out of the mouth doth falle

His wyttes so and doth lose al

Another than is deedly synne

That a man is combred in

And goddys commaundment doth nought

6565

But in synne is al his thought

Such powre hath the deuyl of hym

That he hym shewes to hym ful grym

The aungel that hath hym in kepyng

Rekenys than of hym nothyng

6570

Wherfore the deuyl than fouly

Turmentys hym this pytyously

The thyrd cause than is fantasy

That comyth to the herte vnwysly

sig: [E2v]

Wherfore it fayles and cowarde is

6575

And waxes dredful and losys blys

Wherfore somtyme he fallys smert

And comyth a fantesy of the herte

¶The .CC.xv. questyon

¶Which is the perolousest lym

That mannys body hath in hym

6580

OF al the lymes of the body

The perylousest than hold I

The eyen that shuld the body wys

That it not go amys

For in peryl both put they

6585

Sowle and body euery dey

The eyen shew the braynes anon

The thyng that they se vpon

And the braynes also smert

Nuncyes it forth vnto the herte

6590

The herte hath lykyng in the syght

And fallyth in synne anon-ryght

And had the eyen se no-thynge

The herte had falle in no lykynge

Also perylouse they ere

6595

For they are tender and lyght to dere

And pryde and yre and couetys

With other synnes mo than this

Which thynges had be vnsought

And mannys eyen sawe ryght nought

6600

And for that of euerychone

Perylouser lyme is none

¶The .CC.xvj. questyon

sig: E3

¶Which is the sykerest arte of al

And there most peryl may in falle

CLerkes that to the world preches

6605

And goddys wyl to do them teches

And how they shal theyr sowles gyde

And the deuyl from them cause to slyde

The surest arte haue they tho

And the perylousest also

6610

For of the world they are the lyght

As to the body is eyen-syght

The eyen lyght the body

And ledyth it by way and sty

Without hurte there it wylbe

6615

Which hurte shuld take myght it not se

Also tho that lerne this arte

And tech forth therof some parte tech] thech 1537

The ryght way the folke they lede

And theyr sowles goostly they fede

6620

And yf they do as they say

Theyr selfe goyth in the ryght way

And yf they nought ne do

As they other tech vnto

Fouly they them-selfe spyl

6625

And the candel lyke they are vntyl

That lyghtes me and the ryght wel

But hym-selfe wastes euery-dele

¶The .CC.xvij. questyon

¶How is a man somtyme iolyfe

And lyght of body al his lyfe

6630

SOmtyme begynneth iolyfte

In mannys body to styre and be

sig: [E3v]

And that comyth ryght kyndly

Of a yong blode in the body

That of his mother toke it than

6635

Or he to the world came

But than after his beryng

Gatheryth he of mete in fedyng

A new blode and that steryth hym

Somtyme in euery a lyme

6640

And the yong blode therwith

Steryth in-to ech a ly[th] lyth] lyght 1537, lith B, L

The herte reuerdysse with-al

As that it of kynde shal

So come in ioly[u]yte iolyuyte: =jollity

6645

Ey to that blode so steryng be

But whan it begynnes to sesse

The herte quyckly hath relesse

Of ioly[u]yte and fallyth thore

In a sadnes as it was before

¶The .CC.xviij. questyon

6650

¶May man a chyld not get ryfe

Ech tyme that he touches his wyfe

IN this world man is none

That myght get his wyfe vpon

A chyld ech tyme ay

6655

That he with her lay

Ne so ofte may no woman

Conceyue of the seed of man

A chyld forth for to brynge

As he myght get it in pleyeng

6660

For she is coldar of nature

And keelth to seed is no norture

sig: [E4]

A lecherous man somtyme also

That goyth that worke moch vnto

And trauayles hym euer ryght

6665

Of his reynes he lesyth myght

Than is the seed feble and veyne

And to engendure has no meyne

As a woman seuen chaumbres has

And in eche of tho parcas

6670

May she conceyue a chyld no mo

And yet hathe she ynoughe of tho

And were a man of suche powere

To gete one whan he came her nere

At eche tyme where shuld that wyfe

6675

Spere so many in her lyfe

Also yf there be goten one

The mother sperys vp anone

And no more conceyueth she

Untyl that same borne be

¶The .CC.xiv. questyon.

6680

¶What is it and how gathers it so

Mannys kynd whan it goth hym fro

A Mannes kynd that goth hym fro

Gathers out of euery lym

For when a man aboute his mynd

6685

With woman to done his kynd

The hete of hym and the great wyl

That he has his dede to fulfyl

Causeth his body to swete witin

Blode inward fro euery lym

6690

And that blode becometh al whyte

And to the stones goth al tyte

sig: [E4v]

And from thens it issueth so

Whan it comyth there-vnto

Another cause than is frotyng

6695

Of man to wyfe with great lykyng

Longe rest also a cause is why

And ful_fellyng of the body

Fro a man somtyme / one of tho

Doth it slepyng go hym fro

6700

But body trauaylyng and fastyng

Wyl come to hym no such thyng

¶The .CC.xx. questyon

¶Is a man bounde therto

To loue his chyldren and good them do

A Man shal loue ouer al-thyng

6705

God that is of heuyn kyng

And hym-selfe after that

And his chyldren that he gat

For they are fruyte of his body

And for that ought he to loue them truly

6710

But he shal not loue them so

Folyshly as many do

For some are theyr chyldren louyng

More than them-selfe in some thyng

For yf thou leue now for no synne

6715

Worldly goodes for to wynne

And caryst not wher thou it take

[Thy] chyldren with rych to make Thy] Theyr 1537, Thy B

In also moch thou louest them more

Than thy-selfe harken wherfore

6720

Thy wrong takyng makyth the

That thou shalt dampned be

sig: F1

And me-thynke he leuys yl

That his sowle therfore wyl spyl

Wherfore of thy labor dylygently

6725

Shalt thou fynde them mete truly

And somwhat thou lerne them shal

That they may after lyue with-al

And whan they can it let them go

And purchase them with other mo

¶The .CC.xxi. questyon

6730

¶Enchaun[t]mentyng and socery Enchauntmentyng] Enchaunmentyng 1537

Uayle they ought or are they foly

THe body may they somdele vayle

But to the soule they do great trauayle

And he that them worke shal

6735

Thre thynges most haue with-al

Fyrst behouyth hym to knowe a_ryght

The howres and poyntes of day and nyght

For go he ought there-agayne

Al his labour is in vayne

6740

The tother is he most of nede

Geue great fayth vnto the dede

And haue stedfast in his thought

That the deuyl shal fayle hym nought

Yet most he know astronomy

6745

Which shal helpe hym a great party

But want he eny of thes thre

His worke is nought but vanyte

¶The .CC.xxij. questyon

¶Which is the wightest beast that is

And most of sauyour tel me this

sig: [F1v]

6750

HOunde is the wyghtest beast of al

And the trewest on to call

Lyghter no beast renne ne can

Nor none louyngare to man

And the sauourest is he

6755

Saue yf it the myre be

For of al beastes the myre I_wys

Sauours most after that it is

¶The .CC.xxiij. questyon

¶Whether of the two may be

Hyer the lande or the see

6760

LAnde is hyer of the two

Els shuld the see it ouer-go

Lete a wessel with water fylle

Euyn by the brynke standyng styll

Yet shal the brynkes that water hold

6765

But were it more vp / it wold

Renne ouer the vessel quyckly

And there spyl truly

Eueyn so it fareth by the see

But yf the erth myght hyare be

6770

The see shuld it ouer-renne

That al the world shuld wel kenne

¶The .CC.xxiiij. questyon

¶Wherof snayles come wyt I wold

And why they to the gras them hold

OF the hete and the swote

6775

Come they of gras that is hote

And for moysture hold they them so

Unto the gras as that they do

sig: F2

And al-be-it lothly to syght

It is a worme of moch myght

6780

For who-so knoueth wel the kynde

Of great vertu he may it fynde

Be encombred the brest of man

That he his breth nought drawe can

Who-so toke the snayles than

6785

And fryed them wel in a panne

With oyle of olyue where men it get

And with hony gaue it hym to ete

Tene dayes at euen and morowe

It shuld delyuer hym of that sorowe

6790

And yf a whyte spote were

In his eye the syght to dere

And toke snayles and them dyd brynne

Of that that is them with-in

And whan it is brent to cole also

6795

The tender parte so moch do thereto

Of a roste leke / and so moch yet

Of ybenus a tree as men call it

And bray it al to_gether wel

And after sarce it euery-dele

6800

And vse it twyes or thryes a day

The whyte spote shal go a_way

¶The .CC.xxv. questyon

¶How slepe thes old men also

As thes yong chyldren do

CHyldren yong slepe for the grennesse

6805

Of theyr branes and the swetnesse

For tender and lyght it ought to be

As is the floure vpon a tre

sig: [F2v]

If a wynde theron blowe truly

It fallyth of lyghtly

6810

Also is it of a chyld I_wys

Whan it of mete fellyd is

An ayre smyteth there-vpon

Wherby it enclynes vpon one

And slepes than and restes so

6815

Which is norysshyng there-vnto

An old man also slepe wyl

As a chyld but by other skyl

For feblenes of braynes slepys he

As a rype appul vpon a tree

6820

Whan a wynde it touches ought

It fallyth vnto ground for nought

The old man is in that caas

A lytel ese whan that he has

He fallyth a_slepe quyte

6825

And that is greatly his delyte

For feble reynes and heuy bonys

That causyth hym to slepe for the nonys

¶The .CC.xxvj. questyon

¶If god had so great a man wrought

As al the world / myght he ought

6830

Haue stond agayne god ryght

Thrughe vertu of his myght

HAd he made so great a man

As any man recken can

As al the world dale or doune

6835

Woode / water / feld / or toune

Agayne god had he no mayne

More than an aunte hath hym agayne

sig: F3

And yet a thowsand tymes lesse

Than hath the aunte in his greatnesse

6840

For god with word euynly wrought

Heuyn / erth and al of nought

And wold he byd them synke

It shuld be don as thou coudest thynke

Seyng he erth and he[u]yn may vndo

6845

Euyn with his word also

And is but a poynt of his myght

Moch more than with ryght

Is the remnaunt of his pouste

Wherfore to hym may nothyng be

¶The .CC.xxvij. questyon

6850

¶What shuld this word haue be and how word: =world

Had god not dyght it as it is now

IT shuld haue be more ne lesse

Than a fowle dale of darknesse

Or as a darke pryson pyt

6855

And nothyng shuld haue al[igh]ted it alighted] aluted 1537, lighted T

The elements that we now calle

Shud haue be troblyd to_gether al

And god shuld neuer-thelesse in blys

Haue byn and rought nothyng of this

6860

But for the creaturs sake

That god wold afterward make

The elementes claryfyed he

Settyng ech one ther they shuld be

And dyghtyd al thynges to mannys prow

6865

Also as that they are now

¶The .CC.xxviij. questyon

¶Wether the aungels of goddys onde cam

As dyd the sowle fyrst of Adam

sig: [F3v]

ADamys sowle so was wrought

Of goddys flate but aungel nought flate ='breath'; see OED s.vv. flate, flatus

6870

They were of goddys worde alone

He bad them be and they were echone

But god blewe vpon Adam

Goost of lyfe and he forth came

Wherfore adam and his ospryng

6875

That stedfastly ouer al-thyng

Trust in god and beleue shal

And his byddyng do with-al

Dygnyer before god shal be

Than aungels be resons thre

6880

Fyrst he hathe lyfe that may not wonde

Of the spirite of goddes onde spirite] spririte 1537

And that was hygher to my thynkyng

Than aungel that came of spekyng

Also a man has enemyes

6885

To tempte hym were he goth or lyes

And aungel in no temptyng is

Wherfore he may not do amys

And he that the temptyng withstandis

And cometh not in the deuyls handis

6890

He is more dignyer than he

That in no temptyng may be

The thyrd cause then is also

That god hath set aungel therto

To kepe man both fer and hende

6895

And fro al euyl hym to defende

And from al encombrement

But yf hym-selfe therto assent

And yf aungel mannys seruaunt be

Than is a good man dygnyer than he

sig: [F4]

¶The .CC.xxix. questyon

6900

¶Now wold I know I_wys

What thyng is heuynly paradyse

HEuynly paradyse than is

Nothyng but that same blys

That a man hath of the syght

6905

Of goddys face that is so bryght

For he that sees hym face to face

He hath al maner of grace

Ioy and delyte endlesse to be

Helth / fayrhed / strenght / and lewte

6910

Wyt and conyng with ryches also

God for his myght send vs therto

¶The .CC.xxx. questyon

¶The fayrest thyng in this world to se

That god made which may it be

A Man than is the fayrest thyng

6915

That is in erth [o]f goddys makyng of] af 1537

And the louelyest of vysage

For he hym made after his ymage

And for man made sonne and mone

With al thynges that vnder wone

6920

And also as he wold make

Al thynges for mannys sake

Seruyse vnto man to do

So wil he man to hym shal do

¶The .CC.xxxj. questyon

¶Whether oughtest thou to loue alday

6925

That loue the / or that thou louest me say

THou shalte loue that loueth the

And that thou louest some lat be

sig: [F4v]

For thou louest some parauenture

That of the take ful lytel cure

6930

And but thou loue with al thy meyne

Hym that loueth the agayne

Than wyl I saye thou louyst nought

God that at his lykenes the wrought

And who-so loueth synne here

6935

He loueth the deuyl to haue to fere

And he ne loueth here no man

But to shende al that he can

And to put hym in payne and wo

Lo / what wyse he loueth tho

6940

The good he hateth day and nyght

But them to dere he hathe no myght

For god defendes them with his myght

And loueth al that loueth hym a_ryght

Therfore they that great loue hath the tyl

6945

Loue hym agayne for that is skyl

¶The .CC.xxxii. questyon

¶Which are the worthyest wordes that be

And gras and stones as thynketh the?

GOd gaue vnto thynges thre

Moch vertu and potence

6950

And to mannes helpe eche one

To worde / to gras / and to stone

The worthyest word and most of myght

For to saye day or nyght

Is to worshyp heuen kyng

6955

And pray hym after good endyng

For yf this word be worthely spoken

It shalbe hard fro erth to heuen

sig: G1

Also grasses are there feele

Made vnto mannys heele

6960

But of so many is there one

That may werst be forgone

That is whete to fode of man

Worthyar grasse not I tel can

Also are ther many stones

6965

Of great vertu for the nones

But mylle-stones are they tho

That man may not wel forgo

For the gryndyng of the corne

They may werst be forborne

6970

And seyng al haues of them nede

That with brede shal them fede

Worthyest stone I them call

Among other stones al

¶The .CC.xxxiij. questyon

¶Shalt thou thy counsel tel euery-dele

6975

To thy frend that thou louest wel

COunsel ought to be tolde

To hym that thou al haue wolde

Which is god and [no] man elles no] 1537 omits; noo B, no L

For he wyl hele that thou telles

6980

If thou thy frend tel it vnto

It may after befalle so

That that frenshyp may ouer-go

And thy frende becomyth thy fo

Than may thou say yf the lyste

6985

Now wottyth my foo that my frynd wyst

Or yf thou thy frende it sey

And wenyst he shal the not wrey

sig: [G1v]

And he tellys it preuely

Unto another frend hym by

6990

And he the fourth as may welbe

This may it not long be preuete

For that many mouthes wote

On some tonge it lyes ful hote

Thus myght thou come in blame therfore

6995

Wherfore bettar vntolde it wore

If thou a preuete haue wrought

And thy herte may hele it nought

Thynkyng it sadnes in the ryght

Untyl thou haue told it to some wyght

7000

Go from the folke be the alone

That no man here the make no mone

And call it than thy-selfe to

As thou woldest to a nother do

Whan thou hast told thy herte shal keel

7005

And no more anguyshe shalt thou fele

If thou no-wayes may it hold

Tyl thou haue it a nother told

Loke thou tel it to such one

That thou may wel trust vpon

7010

That he wyl tel it on no syde

For no wrath that may be_tyde

¶The .CC.xxxiiij. questyon

¶Which are wymen of most profyte

For man to haue to his delyte

UNtyl sowle profytes none

7015

But a manys wyfe alone

But of the body yf thou sey

In the yere are sesons twey

sig: G2

After which a man loke shal

What woman he shal dele with-al

7020

In wynter whan the ayre is colde

And his keelth yeldes manyfolde

A yong woman and broune also

Profytes than man vnto

For broune woman is of hote o[n]de

7025

And of hote guttes fonde

And her hete hetys man also

And great profyt doys hym to

In somer whan the ayre is hote

And heteth both drye and wote

7030

Than is a yong whyte woman

Best vnto profyt of man

For she is colde of kynde to fele

And man of great hete may she kele

But an olde woman doth no profyte

7035

Unto man nother broune ne whyte

For yl onde aboute she beres

And moyst guttes that greatly deres

She makys a man pure heuy

And greuyth euery-dele his body

7040

And doth chaunge his fayre colour

Wherfore in her is no socour

¶The .CC.xxxv. questyon

¶The quakyng that a man is in

Somtyme wherof may it begyn

QUakyng that sometyme lyghtly

7045

Falles a man in his body

Cometh of flemes that are colde

That the moysture in his body holde

sig: [G2v]

For they ouer-come of theyr pouste

Al the colers that in hym be

7050

Whan the colers haue al in welde in welde ='in control'

A great keelth in man they yelde

That cold reykes forth ther-with reykes: =rakes; see OED s.v. rake v2.

Unto synues veynes and ech ly[th] lyth] lyght 1537, lith B, L

Which causyth hym to quake begyn

7055

And the body shake within

As the blast of a colde ayre wyl make

A thynne-clothyd man for to shake

¶The .CC.xxxvi. questyon

¶Whan a man seyth a thynge

Whether geuyth the eye out in seyng

7060

Or it receyuyth inward therto

The shape that it sees also

NOthyng may come out owhore

But there that it went in before

Nor eye may nothyng geue outward

7065

But that it fyrst receyuyd inward

Wherfore vnderstand a_ryght

Thre thynges go to the syght

Fyrst that thyng that thou shalte se

That other that it coloured be

7070

For of al thynges is seen nothyng

But only the colouryng

The thyrd are bemes of the syght

Which vpon that thyng shal lyght

That shalbe seen and after this

7075

Moysture that in the eyne is

Drawes vnto hym the shapyng

And the facyon of that thyng

sig: G3

And that shape yeldes it the branes vnto

And the braynes to the herte also

7080

The herte sendys it to hym at the last

And in memory holdes fast

And for that sendyng wyl the herte

Thynke a nother tyme ful smerte

Of the thynge eyen had somwhore

7085

Seen truly therbefore

¶The .CC.xxxvij. questyon

¶How may a man spekyng be

Be hym alone and say we

A Man is made more ne lesse

But after goddys owne lycknesse

7090

And also as in the godhed be

Rekened ryghtly persons thre

So there are in euery man

Thre thynges that I reken can

Body / sowle / and the wyt

7095

Thes thre are together knyt

The tong an instrument is ryght

To speke the sowle geuyth myght

The wyttes gouern aboue al

What-so the tong speke shal

7100

And seyng euery man hath thes thre

In spech may he wel say we

¶The .CC.xxxviij. questyon

¶May with takyng from the see

It in any-thyng amenysshed be

THyng that men alday of take

7105

Behouyth to menysshe and slake

sig: [G3v]

Now is no water of al that be

Fresshe nor salt but of the see

And euery day men takys therto

Both man and beast and fowle also

7110

And al that is taken euery day

Ageyne to the see ne may

There goyth of it to wast somdele

As euery man may wyt wel

But the erth yeldes waters her fro

7115

That vnto the see go

And the see restores eft

Of al that men hath it reft

And it is so long and wyde

And so greatly depe and syde

7120

That men may aperceue nothyng

That therof goys to wastyng

¶The .CC.xxxix. questyon

¶Whether shal man loue one or other

Chyld of the suster or of the brother

BOth ought thou for to loue them euin

7125

After goddys ryght of heuyn

But after the worldys lawe

Some man were leuer to hym drawe

The brothers chylde and loue hym more

Than the susters / harken wherfore

7130

The chyld takys matter of the wyfe

And of the father shape and lyfe

And shape of al-thyng I_wys

Is worthyare than the matter is

Wherfore that some men wyl sey

7135

The brothers chyld is nere of twey

sig: [G4]

But gyle is on that other syde

As men hath wyst it ofte betyde

My brothers wyfe may be a [f]yle fyle] wyle 1537, fyle B, file L

And may do her husbond gyle

7140

And wyt on hym a chyld lyghtly

That he no more gat than I

But a chyld that my suster bare

Therof am I suer and ware

That that behouyth to be kynne of nede

7145

But of my brothers chyld is drede

¶The .CC.xl. questyon

¶Tel me now yf that thou can

The peryloust thynges that are in man

FOure colours hath man hym in

That of foure complexcyons begyn

7150

The fyrst is blode that may not mysse

That other blacke coloure I_wysse

The thyrd is fleme whyte on to se

And yelow coloure the fourth is he

And want a man of thes thre

7155

His body were deed anon

And ech one behouys to be

At his seson in his pouste

And yf any lacke them al

Out of tyme that they shuld in hym fall

7160

In sycknes the body falles

Perylous wherfore men them calles

And ech one hath his power

In dyuers quarters of the yere

Thre thynges the fyrst quarter ches

7165

Capricorne / Aquarius / and pisses

sig: [G4v]

And of flemes haue they myght

And wete and colde is theyr ryght

In December they begynne

And in mydel of March they blynne

7170

Which is the coldest tyme of al

For that is that we wynter call

¶The seconde quarter next therby

Haue Aries / Taurus / Gemini

Blode in man haue they myght to

7175

And are hote and moyst also

In March is theyr begynyng

And in Iune is theyr endyng

Uer hyght that seson that I mene

Al thynges therin waxe grene

7180

¶The thyrd quarter hath hym vnto

Cancer / Leo / and Uirgo

And they are both hote and drye

Of yelow colours is theyr maystrye

In Iune is theyr begynyng ay

7185

And in September they wend away

Which is the somer-tyde

The meryest tyme that men abyde

¶The fourth hath sygnes thus

Libra / Scorpio / Sagittarius

7190

They are both colde and drye

And of blacke colour haue sygnorye

Whos begynyng is in September

And theyr partyng in December

And who-so thes foure tymes obserues

7195

And his kynd wel in them gydes

Fro perelles myght he kepe hym longe

And in hele holde his lymmes stronge

sig: H1

¶The [CC].xlj.

CC.xlj.] .xlj. 1537

questyon

¶Of al the flesshes that men may get

Which is the holsomest to ete

7200

THe flesshe that is of most substance

And geuyth man most sustynaunce

That flesshe is the holsomest

And vnto mannys norysshyng best

But who-so a good stomacke myght get

7205

That myght wel dygest his mete

To hym is best though it be grete

Flesshe of bugle and of nete

For great myght to man they geue

But sycke men wyl they greue

7210

For a sycke man is feble ryght

And his stomacke is of no myght

Wherfore moton is best hym to

And yong chykens are good also

For tendernes that men in them fynde

7215

And greatly chargeth not the kynde

For a sycke man may suffer no dele

Of that a hole man may ryght wel

¶The .CC.xlij. questyon

¶The mete that a man shal lyue by

How departys it in his body

7220

SUstenaunce that a man take shal

Gaderys vnto the stomacke al

And with drynke synkes therin

And than to seth wyl it begyn

And whan it is soden wel

7225

And dygested euery-dele

In fyue partes deuyded it is

sig: [H1v]

And euery party goys vnto his

The fyrst parte wylbe fall

To be clenest and purest of al

7230

And that parte also smerte

Drawes hym lyghtly vnto the herte

That other part drawes hym also

The braynes / eyen / and hede vnto

The thyrd vnto the lymes shal

7235

And vnto the blode with-al

The fourth goyth there it is not spylt

To the longes / to the lyuer and to the milte

The fyfte than is as brene of al brene: =bran

Which wyl vnto the guttes fall

7240

And men cast it out therby

That it helpyth not the body

And dry[n]ke departys also in man

As I of mete to tel began

¶The .CC.xliij. questyon

¶How shal a man of his throte wyn

7245

A bone or a thorne styckyng therin

By bred or lycour takyn fully

And swelowed inward hastely

And yf it synke not

And wyl not throughe the throt

7250

Take of rawe flesshe a mossel mossel: =morsel

And with a smale threde bynd it wel

That mossel swalow with spede

But in thy hande hold the threde

Tyl it is doune hold fast

7255

And it shal that bone out-cast

If the thred breke do it efte

Unto that it be out refte

sig: H2

¶The .CC.xliiij. questyon

¶The mucke that euery man goyth fro

Tel me why it styncketh so

7260

STynkyng is it for causes twey

And which they are I shal sey

That one for speryng of the body

So that none ayre may come therby

I shal the set ensample how

7265

If a man toke ryght now

A pece of flesshe neuer so fayre

And spered it there it had no ayre

And it lye hote sone shalt thou se

That it shuld stynckyng be

7270

For the humours is another skyl

That the stomacke draw hym vntyl

Which ful byttar are and soure

Salt and of euyl sauoure

With the mete they mynge them al

7275

Whan-so a man ete shal

Great stench the mete of them takys

Wherby as a man lyes it smakys

¶The .CC.xlv. questyon

¶Tel me now I praye the this

Why mannys vryne so salt is

7280

BE thre thynges comys it to

Why that it is salt also

One is be_cause a man that it drynkes

In hym throughe the mete it synkes

And stepes therin out to get stepes: =steeps

7285

Al the salt that was in the mete

A nother cause also truly

sig: [H2v]

Is for the swote of the body

The body swetys inward for hete

And kyndly salte is the swete

7290

And that swet mengeles with the pysse

Wherfore as salt it is

The thyrd cause for the hete with-in

To seeth and boyle that wyl not blyn

In the body both swete and drynke

7295

Or they may to the blader synke

And for thes causes thre

Behoueth vryne salt to be

¶The .CC.xlvj. questyon

¶Wherof euer wormes brede

In man and how that they fede

7300

WOrmes are truly there brede

And in mannys body fede

Of the mucke of grossy metes

That a man or woman etes

And of the selfe lyue they wel

7305

Of the venomousest dele

For as the adder and the pode

And other wormes that in erth wode

Fedyth the erth them verely

Of the venom that therin doth ly

7310

Also thes wormes that in vs lye

Clenses vs of great party

Of euyls that shuld in vs make

Uenemous metes that we take

Neuerthelesse hurte they do

7315

There men hath them long also

¶The .CC.xlvij. questyon

sig: H3

¶How many craftes and which are tho

That man myght werst for_go

CRaftes foure in erth ere

That men myght not wel for_bere

7320

One is smyth another wryght

That to men many thynges dyght

The thyrd arte so is sowyng

And the fourth so is weuyng

After the tyme that made was adam

7325

Was smythyng the fyrst arte that cam

Wherfore is it lorde of al

For nothyng that to man shal fall

Of werkyng lomes to worke with-al

That it through smythes handes ne shal

7330

Wryghtyng is also a conyng

That myght not be foreborne be my iugyng

For as for the yron steres the tre

So most the tre helpe to the yron be

For with-out tre may no man wel

7335

Dyght nothyng with yron and stele

Of sowyng as the world hathe nede

With sowyng is dyght mannys wede

Though man in lether shuld be clade

Yet were it with-out sowyng bade

7340

Also clouth is made ryght none

But yf weuyng be there-on

Other many craftes there are

But thes foure be the fyrst that ware

And of al they are the best

7345

And to mannys lyfe of the surest

¶The .CC.lxviij. questyon

sig: [H3v]

¶Whether shal in heuyn haue more blys

Chyldren that neuer dyd amys

Or they that for god of theyr wyl

Toke the good and left the yl

7350

CHyldren yong that dyd no synne

Great ioy shal in heuyn wynne

Ye / theyr ioy shalbe moch more

Than they here haue done therfore

But he that is of age perfyte

7355

And knoweth thys worldes delyte

And myght take al to his be_houe

And leuyth al for goddys loue

Takyng penaunce on his body

There he myght lyue esely

7360

An hundreth-fold shalbe his blys

More than eny chyldes I_wys

For as a chyld no yl can do

So can it no good therto

Mede is not ordayned al to tho

7365

That wickyd dedes are kept fro

But that do of theyr wyl good dede

To them so is ordayned mede

¶The .CC.xlix. questyon

¶How may a man on what manere

Ouer-come the wyl of this world here

7370

HE may wyl ouer-come euery-dele

And that lyghtly and wele

If a thyng fall in his thought

That he wotyth good is nought

And he haue therto great wyl

7375

It in dede to fulfylle

sig: [H4]

Turne thy thought in that temptyng

And begyn to thynke on other thyng

Thy fyrst thought shal fal the fro

And that wycked wyl thou shalt forgo

7380

But holde thou theron thy thought sore

Thou delytes more and more

And kyndeles euer as a glede

Unto that thou come to dede

And than falles thou in synne

7385

For thy thought coude not blynne

But pyne the al that thou may

For to turne thy thought away

Anone shal it in the kele

And no more therof shalt thou fele

¶The .CC.xlix. questyon

7390

¶Tho that to paradise or helle go

Shal they euer come out therfro?

AL that are in paradise

Wold gladly out that be thou wyse

But the soules that are in helle

7395

Wolde neuer out but styl there dwelle

And I shal tel the for-why

Yf a lorde dwellyd here-by

And had dwellyng in a cete

Two seruauntes of his meyne

7400

That one serued hym so aryght

That the lord wardayne hym hyght

Sone wold he haue his lord come agayne

The tother were a wycked swayne

And for falshed taken wore

7405

And in pryson holden sore

sig: [H4v]

And abode an euyl endyng

At the lordes home-comyng

The good seruaunt wold he came tyte

In trust of the more profyte

7410

The wycked wold he taryed lange

For at his comyng shuld he hange

And euer in pryson leuer were he

Than come out and hanged be

Also they that in paradyse wone

7415

Them longeth after goddes sone

The very profyte that come shal

That the world shal deme ouer-al

For than shal theyr blysse be more

An hundreth-folde than was before

7420

For than shal soule and body wende

Into heuen withouten ende

But soules that to hel go

Wold goddes sone neuer came so

For at his dome the body shal

7425

Come and dwell the soule withal

And bothe into helle fare

And an hondreth-folde haue care

More than that he had fyrst

Therfore to dwell styl hym lyst

7430

For better with one care with-inne

Than to come out and haue twayne

¶The .CC.l. questyon

¶Why go not the good that are wyse

Unto erthly paradyse?

IT is not conuenyent dare I say

7435

That they thether toke the way

sig: I1

Erthly paradyse was wrought

To body and to soule nought

It is a place erthly

Therfore when soule is fro the body

7440

It may no-where haue dwellyng

But it be in goostly thyng

For goost reioyseth hym ryght nought

In place that bodyly is wrought

Goost to goost that is his ryght

7445

And body in bodyly thyng hath myght

Sowle may no man fele ne se

Wherfore in his kynd must he be

¶The .CC.lij. questyon

¶Whether is sowle heuy or lyght

Great or smal darke or bryght

7450

WEre a thowsand sowles here

Lyeng on a lefe of papere

Heuyar were the papere nought

For they are lyght and [swyfte] as thought swyfte] 1537 omits; swhifte B, swift L

Under thy nayle myght thou spere

7455

A thowsand and be neuer the werre The manuscript versions indicate that a line has dropped out here in the copytext; L reads: And if a þousand soules wore.

Thy eyen and thy syght before

Shuld neuer the lesse thy syght be

To se the thyng that thou woldest se

No more than thou hast lettyng

7460

Of the wynd to se a thyng

And in the world is nought so whyte

As is of hewe a good spyryte

But a synful sowle synful and wycke

Is also blacke as eny pycke

7465

Great lothly and heuy

sig: [I1v]

And fallyth dounward redely

There nys man ne woman none

That a synful sowle sawe one

But yf the more wonder ware

7470

Out of his wyt he shuld fare

¶The .CC.liij. questyon

¶Good sowles that fro the body gon

Whyther wend they anon

ALl that euer to lyfe came

Fro the fyrst tyme of adam

7475

Yong and old good and wicked

Tyl goddys sonne on rode be deed

Holly vnto helle flyed

Some to the lowe and some to the hye

But after his deeth on the rood

7480

So shal the sowles of the good

Whan they fro the body shede

Wende vnto the clensyng-stede

And whan they clensed are a_ryght

Unto the blys of heuyn lyght

7485

The wicked shal with-out dwellyng

Anone in-to helle be synkyng

And some shal here haue don so

That great clensyng nedyth them not to

But also sone as they dey

7490

Wende to heuyn the hye wey

But neuer-the-lesse at theyr ende

Be purgatory shal they wende

¶The .CC.liiij. questyon

sig: I2

¶May no man in heuyn be

But he fyrst purgatory se

7495

NO man or woman shal euer be

Ne was in tyme that is gone perde

That shal to heuyn whan he shal dey

But by purgatory be his wey

Neuer-thelesse ther shalbe two

7500

That ther-by nede not to go

The prophyt that shal man saue

For of clensyng no nede shal he haue

That other shalbe that mayden bryght

That goddys sonne shal in lyght

7505

For ful clene shalbe of synne

The body that he shal lyght in

Wherfore shal she with-out care

With sowle and body to hym fare

¶The .CC.lv. questyon

¶Sythen god sendys some to helle

7510

And some to heuyn for to dwelle

Wherto shal the dome be

And what thyng than iuge shal he

GOod sowles shuld in heuyn dwelle

And wicked before the dome in helle

7515

And al at the aungels call

Unto the dome come shal

In sowle and body as they wore

In thys world here-before

And both to_gether shal they wende

7520

There they shalbe with-out ende

Gloryfyed shalbe the wyse

Of hym that is the hye iustyse

sig: [I2v]

And tr[e]beled than shalbe theyr blys trebeled] trobeled 1537, trebled L

That men neuer ne shal mys

7525

And bryghter shal than the body be

Than is the sonne in his claryte

The wicked shal to helle go

Sowle and body to dwele in wo

The payne that he had fyrst in wold

7530

Shal than be encresed thre-fold

For ryght is the body that was here

In yl and good the sowlys fere

That it with the sowle fele also

Ioy or payne where it goys to

7535

Wherfore shal the dome be set

Eythere ioy or payne to get

¶The .CC.lvj. questyon

¶Yong chyldren that can not reson

Shal they ought fele dampnacyon

SHal no man dampned be but he

7540

That grauntes wel he worthy be

For agayne-say may he nought

Al the dedes that he hath wrought

But cheldren that no good can

Ne no wyt had of man

7545

Dampnacyon shal none come in

For they dyd no deedly synne

But yf ony be perchaunce

That shuld haue come to creaunce

And be deed or it be borne

7550

Ioy for euer it hath forlorne

But payne it shal none dole

Dwele it shal in a darke hole

sig: I3

Where they shal fele euery-adele

Nyther of wo ne of wele

¶The .CC.lvij. questyon

7555

¶Whether in that other world may be

Ony hows toune or cete

A Ful fayre cete god fyrst dyght

Of his conyng and his myght

Both to aungel and to man

7560

Or that man to synne be_gan

But after the synne of adam

Ech man vnto helle came

And that is a ful wicked cete

Made to the deuyl and his meyne

7565

But whan goddys sonne is come truly

And deth hath suffered pityously

Than shal men fynd weyes thre

Ech one to a dyuers cete

The good to heuyn the way shal take

7570

The wicked to helle to deuyls blake

That repent them here shal be_dene

To purgatory to make them clene

Wonyng-stedes be there no mo

Where man or woman shal to go

¶The .CC.lviij. questyon

7575

¶Shal they be dampned canst thou me say

Chyldren of hethen men that dey

CHyldren of hethen in yougth dyed

And after theyr fathers lawe a_lyued

Al shal they dampned be

7580

No blys shal they euer se

sig: [I3v]

But yong chyldren shal haue no awe

That shuld haue be of goddys law

In a darcknes shal they dwelle

But of payne dare them none tell

¶The .CC.lix. questyon

7585

¶Yf no synne had done Adam

Shuld al the folke that of hym cam

With flesshe and fel as they are sene

Euer in paradise haue bene?

HAd Adam so hym bethought

7590

That he had no synne wrought

Of his ospryng shuld neuer none

Out of paradyse haue gone

But lyued there without torment

And fro thens to heuen haue went

7595

Ryght as one of heuens meyne

Without dethe or any payne

Shuld no synne ne no lykyng

Haue be than in chyld-getyng

Shuld no man haue thought velany

7600

Amonge other of his company

Nomore than now is velanye

For to loke a man in the eye

¶The .CC.lx. questyon

¶Whan water hylled the world euery-dele hylled ='covered'; see OED s.v. hill v1.

Hyllyd it paradyse as wele?

7605

THat flode in erth god sent also

The most dele of the folke to fordo

And for to wasshe the mekyl synne

That the world that tyme was inne

sig: [I4]

But in paradyse came it nought

7610

For there was no synne in wrought

But one that adam the appul ate

And the synne lay not in that

It lay in the brekyng

Of the precept of heuyn kynge

7615

And for the synne that he dyd thore

Myght he therin dwele no more

With al his synne was he out-cast

Unto this world here at the last

And whan no synne was there-aboute

7620

In paradyse whan he was out

What wold the flode than do therin

Whare was left no synne

¶The .CC.lxxj. questyon

¶Of what age made god adam

Whan he in-to this world came

7625

ADam god made and his fere

At his licknes for they are to him dere

And yong ryght as aungels wyse

For the loue that he and his

Shuld the ordres of aungels fulfyl

7630

That Lucyfer began to spyl

But whan they mysded at the last

and of paradyse ware out-cast

Theyr here began to wax and sprede

And to theyr heles doune it yede

7635

And after theyr here on to se

Them semed of thyrty yere to be

¶The .CC.lxij questyon

sig: [I4v]

¶Tho that at the dome shal dey

And haue not serued to helle the wey

Nore tyme of purgacyon so sone may be

7640

What shal come of them tel me

THey that so long here lyue shal

Untyl god the world deme al

And them behouys on al wysse

Unto the dome for to arysse

7645

And hath not seruyd here to dwele

With wicked in the payne of helle

Ne nought worthy so redely are

In-to heuyn for to fare

Untyl theyr sowle clensed is

7650

Of that it here dyd amys

God shal send them south to sey

So sharpe a payne or they dey

That shal clense them ouer-all

And for al the dayes stand them shal

7655

That they had be worthy to take

In purgatory them clene to make

Also in theyr vp-takyng

Shal come to them a sharpe clensyng

And so shal they vp wende

7660

In-to the blys with-out ende

¶The .CC.lxiii. questyon

¶Whan soule come to the body also

Whiche part gothe it in therto?

GOddys wyl may not mys

What-so he wyl anone it is

7665

But when god a soule shal make

To a body that it shal take

sig: K1

Of his myght he makys it al

Within the body it haue shal

As thou seyst vpon a tre

7670

Pere or appul whether it be

Whan it to waxe shal begyn

The carnel bredyth there with-in

And waxes in the frute holly

So doth the sowle in the body

¶The .CC.lxiiij. questyon

7675

¶Who named fyrst al-thyng

And teched them theyr conyng

GOd whan he had made adam

Gaue him strength beute and wisdom

And he gaue vnto thynges al

7680

Names as men them call

And he gaue man conyng also

As behoued his lyfe vnto

Of goddys grace and of his wyl

And than be_lefte they so al styl

7685

Fro the tyme that they begon to be

Unto our seconde father Noe

He newed and teched al-thyng

As adam dyd at the begynyng

Our second father we hym cal

7690

For the dyluuy drouned al

But Noe and his sonnes thre

And theyr wyues / of them came we

Neuerthelesse Noe came

Of the gendure of adam

7695

But that tyme no men had lyues

But they foure and theyr wyues

sig: [K1v]

And or he dyed came of them two he] þey B; two] tho B

xxiiij. thowsand and mo

¶The .CC.lxv. questyon

¶Whereof it be and wherfore

7700

That some men are lesse and some more

COmenly a mannys waxyng

Is after the tyme of his beryng

And somwhyle man more or lesse is

After the vessel he lay in I_wys

7705

He that is planet of that yere

Whan a chyld is borne so here

If he in tyme of the byrth be

Of his sygne in the entre

That chyld so shalbe kyndly

7710

But lytel man of his body

And yf he be the sygne amyde

For the more man he shalbe kydde

And yf it in the endyng falle

Than is he more than the other al

7715

And by_cause the planets of more myght wore

In the tyme here-before

Wherfore men than ware

Of greattare myght than now are

And euer-more whyle the world shal stand

7720

The more shal al thynges be lesseand

¶The .CC.lxvj. questyon

¶Whether is perylousare to haue

Hete or cold thy-selfe to saue

HEte and colde ouer mesure

Are ful hote to endure

sig: K2

7725

If thou haue cold and clothles be

Yet may thou somwyse helpe the

For to styre and go fastly

Or some-wayes trauayle thy body

Trauayle in keelth than is good

7730

It wyl sone enchafe thy blode

And whan the blode in hete is brought

Al the lymes eschafe for nought

But yf thou haue an outrage hete

It is euyl for to bete

7735

There may thou helpe thy-selfe not so

As thou in the cold may do

The hete wyl gather more and more

And greue a man al to sore

But yf he eny drynke may fele

7740

Or with some other thyng hym kele

Ful drye it wyl his body make

And great euyl cause hym to take

Wherfore than is more payne to haue

Hete than keelth and surear to saue surear] worse B, werse L

¶The .CC.lxvij. questyon

7745

¶Doth the chyld folowe naturally

The wycked condycyons of his parent truly

THoughe father and mother wicked be

And the chyld may lyue and the

And do as he ought to do

7750

Toward god and man also

It shal hym nothyng dere

That his forgoars wicked were

No more than it dereth whete to grow

Though a thefe or wicked man it sow

7755

And be his father neuer so good

sig: [K2v]

Ne his mother neuer so myld of mode

And hym-selfe be wicked truly

Defyled with dedes wickedly

It fareth as whete that fyrst men brynne

7760

And after the erth sowes it in

That shal neuer in erth spryng

Ne frute shal it none forth bryng

¶The .CC.lxvi. questyon

¶Whether is bettar and lesse to spyl

A man to speke or hold hym styl

7765

SPeke and leue is both to do

As a man sees tyme therto

Thou may somtyme a word sey

That may cause the for to dey

And somtyme may thou hold the styl

7770

That may turne the vnto yl

Wherfore yf thou shalt speke eny-whore

Auyse the on it before

Also wel as thou can

That it be scath to no man

7775

And that thy wordes may a_vayle

Or els losys thou thy trauayle

If thou eny word say shal

For to pay thy frend with-al

And it be a_gayne two or thre

7780

Unsayd were it bettar be

A man shuld haue in any poyntes

A cranes hals with many ioyntes

That he not speke to rath

Wherof shuld turne scath

7785

But that he may his word with_cal

sig: K3

Or it passe the ioyntes al

¶The .CC.lxvij questyon

¶Whether ought wysar to be

Yong man or old as thynkes the

I Thynke it ware agayne kynde

7790

That men yong men shuld fynde

That of al-thyng wysar were

Than old men and coude more

For of the braynes of the man

Is moch of the wyt that he can

7795

And the braynes of the olde

Are sadder and more may holde

Than of a yong man that are lyght

And to hold are of no myght

Also the eldar that a man is

7800

The more tyme of profe hath be his

And the more a man may here and se

The more most his conyng be

In .xl. yere more can men

Than in .viii. nyne or ten

7805

Wherfore ought old to be wysare

Than eny yong man in fere

The old may men ouer-renne wel

But ouer the other neuer-a_dele

¶The .CC.lxviii. questyon

¶Tel me now I pray the

7810

What thyng delyte may be

BOdely delyte is hele

And for to haue ryches fele

sig: [K3v]

And the body at ese to make

And many gyftes for to take

7815

For yf that thou in hele be

In some thyng thou delytes the

Be thou rych and fast may wynne

Thy delyte is than therin

And he that wyl curteys be told

7820

And geuyth gyftes many-folde

For to get hym loos and pryese

His delyte therin lyese

A couytous man delytes hym sore

For to gather more and more

7825

And that he to gather hath delyte

Comes some-tyme other to profyte

Another delyte is there yet

And goostly delyte hyght it

Whan a man delytes hym nothyng

7830

But in the seruyse of heuyn kyng

Neyther in catel chyld ne wyfe

But in holynesse of lyfe

Of al delytes the best that is

For it geuyth the endlesse blys

¶The .CC.lxi. questyon

7835

¶What kynde appul was that

That our father Adam ate

ADam ete an appul ryght

Such as we now se in syght

And that appul for his synne

7840

Tokyn of deeth bare there with-in

for that that was fyrst swetest of al

Be_came byttar as eny galle

sig: [K4]

In tokyn that he that fyrst had space

Was put there-fro and from grace

7845

And in-to wo and sorow than

Wherof the appul soure be_came

And the synne was not for that

That he so the appul ate

But by_cause he brake the commaundment

7850

Of his maker / that made hym shent

And al that euer came of them to

For theyr synne went in-to wo

¶The CC.lxxii. questyon

¶Why lerne thes yong chyldren so

More than thes old men do

7855

CHyldren are hottar of kynde

Than eny old man that men fynde

And curyous they are also

To the thyng that men them settis to

Lyghtly takyng and holdyng

7860

For theyr wyt is euer waxing

[O]ld man hath saddar wyt Old] Cold 1537, Olde B, Oolde L

Wherfore harde takyng is it

And of long tyme hath he seen

Many thynges that hath been

7865

Wherof he hath [seen] before seen] 1537 omits; seen L

Therfore he taketh not moch more

And mannys wyt is more thynkyng

In other thynges that he hath in occapyeng

And chyldren but of theyr lesson

7870

Haue no occupacyon

Therfore theyr wyt is theron set

And are of nought els let

sig: [K4v]

¶The .CC.lxii. questyon

¶Which is the dylectablest syght

That is vnder sunne-lyght?

7875

THe delectabelest thyng that may be

Than is to heuyn for to se

And thynke on hym that al hath wroght

Heuyn / erth / and al of nought

Sonne / mone / and sterre bryght

7880

That is delectable goostly syght

Delectable syght there is also

That bodely thyng longes vnto

As to se delytes hym many one

That he loues and longes to se on

7885

For man delyteth hym to be_hold

Thyng that he loues and haue wold

Though it lothly be and blacke

For loue men say hath no lacke

And be it so fayre as it ought

7890

And a man loue it nought

In the syght hath he no lykyng

Ne delytes hym therin nothyng

¶The .CC.lxiij. questyon

¶Why made god as thou mayst se

Heere on mannys body for to be

7895

MAter that man hath of eche lym

Toke fyrst god of erthe slyme

And comparyd to erth he is

For as on erthe waxeth gris

So waxeth heere vpon the man

7900

Other frute nought geue he can

sig: L1

And on the fyrst man heer gan spryng

In the stede of his clothyng

Whan he clothyng of grace had lorne

For he hym to god had mysborne

7905

He sawe hym nakyd and shamed sore

On al the lymes that on hym wore

Than sent god heer on hym waxyng

That to his heles was hangyng

There-with was his body clad

7910

And Eue no nother clothyng had

¶The .CC.lxxv. questyon

¶Why come some this world vnto

Doumbe borne and defe also

LOng before that god began

This world for to make or man

7915

Wyst he wel that man shuld sinne

And goddys hest to breke begyn

And stablest he forth_by

The turnyng about of the sky

And the planets in theyr goyng

7920

For to gouerne al-thyng

And the sygnes there they in go

For to worke both wel and wo

And in some poynt of tho

Are some borne defe and doume also

7925

Some croked and some blynd

As men may many fynde

And al for adamys synne is that

Whan that he the appul ate

And be_cause he synned in his assent

7930

In al the wyttes that god hym lent

sig: [L1v]

Wher-by in ech wyt that man haas

Fallyth this auenture percaas

In tokyn that adam forsoke

God in them al and the appul toke

¶The .CC.lxxvj. questyon

7935

¶Profyteth the folke ought vnto

The almesdedes that they here do

A Man that doth here almesdede

He is worthy of moch mede

If he for god it do only

7940

And he trust in hym stedfastly

Fro moch payne it wyl hym saue

In purgatory that he shuld haue

And he that beleuyth not in god truly

But in ydols beleuyth sykerly

7945

No almes do he ne may

Thoughe he the pouere gyue alday

For almes-dede may none it proue

With-out it be geuen for goddys loue

And gyue for hym and beleue in hym nought

7950

This may not be to_gether brought

For yf a man now wore

With a spere wounded sore

Lechcrafte myght do no good to hym

Whyle the yren styked therin

7955

Neuer-thelesse a man in synne

May soner haue grace for to blynne

And throughe knowlegyng ma[ke] h[ym] loos make hym] may he 1537, make hym B, make him L

For almesdedes that he doos

¶The .CC.lxxvij. questyon

sig: L2

¶A iuge synnes he ought

7960

That demes them that yl hath wrought

Or synnes he ought also with-al

That the iugment fulfyl shal

BUt yf iuges were set

The wicked somtyme for to let

7965

An euyl world shuld sone begyn

And peryl were to lyue therin

Wherfore is it good to be here

Wicked dedes to correct and dere

For he that workes here amys

7970

In-so-moch as in hym is

He wrathes god of heuyn sore

Than is iuge ordayned therfore

Wreckar of goddys cause to be

Wronge to deme in euery countre

7975

Now yf he deme hym that doth yl

Me-thynketh he doth goddys wyl

And he that the iugment shal do

Unto hym that dempt is so

He hath no peryl therin

7980

But waysshes his hand in blode of synne

Now than who-so in iugment shal syte

Loke that he fro ryght not flyte

For gyft / fauoure / ne for mede

For he wrathes god in that dede

7985

But in that he iuges ryght

Synnes he not I the plyght

¶The .CC.lxxviij. questyon

¶Tho that are dome and fooles borne

And doys yl shal they be forlorne

sig: [L2v]

FOles that no good can

7990

Ne no wyt haue of man

And are borne of theyr mother so

Men tel of them what-so they do

As a chyld that hath no wyt

But doth al that lyketh it

7995

And bettar do can it nought

But as it falleth in the thought

And by_cause theyr wyt is no more

Dampned be they not therfore

But they that in wyt were borne

8000

And after it haue forlorne

And dyd euyl there-before

Whyle that they in wyt wore

And no mercy of god asked

Of that dede whyle theyr wit lasted

8005

And after knew nother good nor yl

Tho shalbe at goddys wyl

¶The .CC.lxxix. questyon

¶Aungels that with god are dere

Kepe they mennys sowles here

EUery man what-so he be

8010

That beleuyth in the Trynyte

Hath an aungel hym to Ȝeme

And to tech hym to good to lene

And al his good thoughtes and dedes

Puttys hym his aungel that ledys

8015

A wicked aungel he hath also

Wicked dedes to put hym to

And his wyt is lent hym fre

And good and euyl knowes he

sig: L3

Whether aungel he folowe wyl

8020

And the good aungel is ful wo

Whan he sees his man mysgo

And his ioy is wel the more

Whan men doys after his lore

For of hym-selfe hath man ryght nought

8025

But wickydnes in dede and thought

¶The .CC.lxxx. questyon

¶How may aungel that hath no body

Shew hym-selfe here to man openly

AUngel that is in goddys syght

To se al-thyng hath he myght

8030

But hym may no body se

For a goostly thyng is he

And throughe mannys oryson

Is aungel somtyme sent here doune

And he may come also smerte

8035

As eny thought in mannys herte

Of the ayre he takyth a body

And than is he sene openly

And than a man here hym can

And he hym as another man

8040

But were not that body truly

Hym myght se no bodely eye

¶The .CC.lxxxj. questyon

¶Are deuyls spyers euer-more

Of that the folke do euerywhore

DEuyls are euer-more redy

8045

Where-so a man doth wickedly

And many mynysters haue they

That are walkyng nyght and day

sig: [L3v]

And that neuer-more blynne

Men to tempt and brynge in synne

8050

And whan man hath don also

Anone his mayster he tellys it to

But yf that it so befalle

That eny of the deuyls all

With some good man be doune-cast

8055

His poure wyl no lengar last

Among his felowes he shalbe shent

And be cast in great tourment

So sore them tenes he spede nought

Of the thyng that he after wrought

¶The .[CC.]lxxxij.

.CC.lxxxij.] lxxxij. 1537

questyon

8060

¶How is that fyre on what manere

Purgatorye that men calle here

FYre of purgatorye is

There moch wo is and no blys

Thethere shal fare al tho

8065

That shalbe saued and no mo

They that are here of repentaunce

And do not fully here penaunce

There shal he it fulfyl be_dene

For to make hym fully clene

8070

But there shewes to them in that wo

Aungels and other hallowes mo

For whos loue they dyd good here

And they amend them al theyr chere

Syght of them and trust also

8075

Of blys that they shal after [t]o Copytext illegible; B reads: to.

That shalbe the comforte all

For they wote to blys they shal

sig: [L4]

But that shal after that goddys sonne be

Deed truly vpon the rode-tre

¶The .CC.lxxxiij. questyon

8080

¶What thyng is it men calle helle

And how come sowles therin to dwell

HElle is a stede of payne and wo

And yet are there helles two

The nether and the vppar helle

8085

And the nether the worse we tel

For ther is the great pyne

And pryncypaly are there-in in] neyne B, nyne L

¶The fyrst payne is I wot

That aboue other fyre is hot

8090

As that our fyre is of nature

Aboue fyre wrought of the paynture

¶That other payne than is great cold

Such that no man yong ne old

May suffer it so straynyng it is

8095

And there is nother ioy ne blys

¶The thyrd payne that is in that helle

Are dragons and adders felle

That in the fyre lyue also

As fysshes in the water do

8100

¶The fourth is such stynke in that hole

That nothyng may it thole

¶The fyfte scourgears sowles to bete

As smyth doth yren with hamours great

¶The syxte payne that there is dyght

8105

Is great darknes with-out lyght

¶The seuente is the confusyone

Of al the synnes a man has done

sig: [L4v]

For euery man shal knowe and se

His ded though hym loth be

8110

¶The eyght payne shalbe the crye

That the dragons so gryssely

And the adders that there wone

Shal crye vpon hym euer anon

¶The nynth is that he shal for_go

8115

The syght of god and euer to be in wo

A wicked shal haue al this pyne

For he forsoke the ordres nyne

Of aungels that in heuyn wore

Ne wrought not after goddys lore

8120

But tho that now wend to helle

Shal not al in the nether dwelle

In the hyer shalbe theyr dwellyng

As adam and his ospryng

Unto the tyme of the prophete

8125

That theyr synne with his deeth shal bete

¶The .CC.lxxxiiij. questyon

¶They that in helle haue theyre dwellyng

Wote they or knowe they eny-thyng

Ryghtwyse sowles knowe wel

Al men and theyr dedes euery-dele

8130

And they wote al that euer is

Both in sorowe and in blys

Wicked sowle that is in helle

Knowes al that with them dwelle

But of heuyn wote they nought

8135

Ne of no good dede that is wrought

The good pray euer-more

For them that dyd them good before

sig: M1

And they present to god also

The good dedes that we do

8140

And the syght in the Trynyte

Makyth them al-thyng to know and se

¶The .CC.lxxxv. questyon

¶The good that hens be gon al tyte

Come they now to ioy perfyte

U[N]to ioy thoughe they be brought

8145

Parfyt ioy haue they nought

As they shal afterward come tyl

And why I shal the say the skyl

If thou come vnto a feste

There rych metes are and honest

8150

And thou be set alone to mete

The sadlyare shalt thou ete

But yf a good felowe come to the shal

That thou daryst to ete with-al

Thou etyst meryare than thou dedyst before

8155

And thy mete doth the good the more

Euyn so the sowle that is in blys

Hath moch ioy there that he is

But perfyt ioy hath it nought

Tyl his felowe be therto brought

8160

Which is the body that it in lay

And that shalbe at domysday

Whan they to_gether shal come agayne

Eyther of other shalbe fayne

And haue of other great delyt

8165

Than shalbe theyr ioy perfyt

And tho that shal to helle fare

Shal than haue perfyt care

sig: [M1v]

¶The .CC.lxxxvj. questyon

¶May sowles ought shew them vntyl

Theyr frendes ech tyme whan they wyl

8170

GOod sowles that are in blys

May ech tyme that theyr wyl is

Shew them to frendes that wold them se

Slepyng or wakyng whether it be

But the sowle that is in helle

8175

Behouyth euer more styl to dwelle

Tho that are in purgatory / are byleue

That the good aungel may them geue

So may they shew them theyr frendes vnto

To pray them that they them good do

8180

Or that they prayer for them make

That theyr paynes may sone slake

But yf eny shew hym to the

And seys that he dampned be

Trust it nought neuer-the-lesse

8185

It is a deuel in his lycknesse

¶The .CC.lxxxvij. questyon

¶Dremes that men dreme on nyght

Wherof come they to mannys syght

SOme tyme of heuyn kyng

For to tel man some-thyng

8190

And of the deuyl they come somwhyle

To be_gyle that fayth geue them tyl

Somtyme of humours steryng

About the hert of man slepyng

Somtyme the wombe fylled wyl it make

8195

Ouer-moch mete and drynke to take

Somtyme of that men sees on day

sig: M2

And can not cast it a_way

Or thyng that he hath of great thought

In slepe is it before hym brought

¶The .CC.lxxxviij. questyon

8200

¶Whan god made fyrst trees for man

Was eny frute in them than

AS god made adam fully man

And Eue of hym fully woman

Of theyr seed forth mo to bryng

8205

So dyd he of al other thyng

Among al other trees he wrought

That frute in theyr seson forth brought

And euery tree that men fynde

Hath his frute in hym by kynde

8210

And the seed of them also

Brought forth frute as they now do

¶The .CC.lxxxix. questyon

¶What tyme and what day was it

That adam was made tel me yet

ADam was made as old men told

8215

Whan the mone was .iij. dayes old

And had lytel than of lyght

G[u]abrygab than it hyght Guabrygab] Gnabrygab 1537, Guabrigab B

The fyrst mone was it of the yere

And on a fryday that was clere

8220

Adam sawe that same tyme

And anon he called it pryme

But after chaunged al Noe

And the mones stablysshed he

sig: [M2v]

On a fryday adam was wrought

8225

Noe that day of lyue was brought

And on such a day shal borne be

The very prophyt / and dye on tre

And he shal as he wel may

Worke many wonders on that day

¶The .CC.lxxxx questyon

8230

¶Whan the flod ouer the world ran

Made god than new frute to man

GOd made frute and al-thyng

To mannys mete at the begynyng

Trees he made and frute theron

8235

And tho fel in the flod ech one

The rotes stode in the erth styl

And after the flod waxed to wyl

And were so fayr as they fyrst wore

Beryng frute as they dyd before

8240

So was no frute made new

But the trees that fyrst grew

¶The .CC.lxxxxj. questyon

¶Where set Noe shyp on land

Whan the flod was with_drawand

SOne so the flod was with_droughe

8245

The arch was set safe I_noughe

Upon a great hylle and a hye

That hyght the mount of Hermonye

Also quyckly as Noe

Was out gon with his mene

8250

And the beastes euerychone

The trees toke rotes vp a_non

sig: M3

That vpon the shyp wore

And shal there stande euer-more

God set the lycknesse on the sky

8255

So that men shuld wyt there_by

That neuer-more shuld be none

Such a flod as that was one

The .CC.lxxxxij. questyon

¶Whan Noe from the shyp went so

Came he this world straunge vnto?

8260

GOd made neuer creature

Ne neuer shal here for to dure

That he ne shal that warne I the

To this world ryght straunge be

For porely we came and bare

8265

And pouere shal we hens fare

To_day borne to_morowe on bere

Our herytage is not here

And haue we herytage none

Than are we straunge euerychone

8270

And straunge was Noe also

Whan of the arche he came the world vnto

¶The CC.lxxxxiij. questyon

¶Wherof euer may it be

That a man has in his harte petye?

PEtye comes of a fre blode

8275

And of a nesshe hart that is good

Pyte to god may lyckened be

For of hym is mercy and pyte

And he that wyl no pyte haue

Hym auayleth not pyte to craue

sig: [M3v]

8280

Pyte tendres mannys herte

And causyth it to swet al smerte

The herte there-with in swete is brought

And for no nother trauayleth nought

Whan the herte hath pyte of a thyng

8285

Anon it fallyth in meltyng

And to swete it wyl begyn

For tendernesse that than is in

¶The .CC.lxxxxiiij. questyon

¶Why haue foules in them no nature

As beastes to make engendure

8290

HAd foules kynd in them also

As the other beastes do

Yong to bere in theyr body

They myght not than fly a_hy

The heuynes of theyr beryng

8295

So shuld let them of fleyng

And than myght take them euery man

Whan they great to waxe began

And they are made by the ayre to flye

And not euer by the ground to lye

8300

Wherfore they ordayned ware

Of goddys wyl as they now are

¶The .CC.lxxxxv. questyon

¶Sal men haue pyte of al tho

That lye in payne and in wo

And delyuer them also

8305

If that men may come therto

IF that thou in payne se

Man or beast whether it be

sig: [M4]

Than shalt thou haue pyte of the syght

And delyuer them yf thou myght

8310

Neuerthelesse men may wel slo

Dyuers beastes and foules also

Mannys mete of for to make

Whan tyme comes them to take

But shuld they do the no seruyse

8315

Nothere for mete ne other-wyse

Thoughe thou haue to it delyte

Or serue not for thy appetyte

But as it came so let it go

Do it nother payne ne wo

8320

Be it a worme that venym berys

And it the / nor non other derys

Thou shalt no hurte it do

For thou hast no cause therto

God it made not for nought

8325

For-thy lete hym that it wrought

For to do with it at his owne wyl

And do not thou with wrong it spyl

¶The .CC.lxxxxvj. questyon

¶Which is bettar as thou doyst thynke

Wyne or water for to drynke

8330

WIne is a thyng ful precyous

That many are after couetous

And somtyme it helth makys

Unto some man that it takys

For it is nought to euery man

8335

To drynke I_lyke that it drynke can

sig: [M4v]

Wyse men drynke wyne oft

At mesure and bere them soft

They no man mys_say ne mys_do

Them is wyne profyte vnto

8340

But folys that wyne drynke shal

That drynke dronke therwithal

And whan the wyt dronken is

Then wyl they gladly do amys

Men to bete or to slo

8345

Or vnto horedom for to go

Unto men that vse it so comyn

Were better the water than the wyne

But he that mesurably

Drynkys wyne and not for-thy

8350

Leses his wyt / hym doth it good

And maketh hym good body and blode

Therfore shal wyne to good be prest

And vnto foles is water best

¶The .CC.lxxxxvij. questyon

¶Whan man is ardaunt for to fyght

8355

With some that standis in his syght

How than may he holde hym styl

And ouercome that wycked wyl

A Man may tempre hym yf he wyl

And he wyl lede his wyt with skyl

8360

Yf that he in wreth be brought

For some-thyng that hym lykes nought

Yf he be in wyl to fyght

Withstand his wyl at his myght

And vndertake to thynke els-whore

8365

And may his blode not kele therfore

sig: N1

Out fro folke he drawe hym fast

And alone in his herte he cast

That man may do whan he is wroth

That al his lyue may be hym loth

8370

And be hym alone so flyte and fyght

As it ware in that others syght

And with his breth that he lettes go

Shal his great hete wend hym fro

So quyeted shal he be

8375

And become al in a tempre

¶The .CC.lxxxxviij. questyon

¶Why haue wymen al the wo

Of this world and the ioy also

LIghtly wo and lyghtly wele

Haue thes wymen euery-dele

8380

Ful lyghtly take they ioy them to

And ful lyghtly wo also

Lyghtnes of the brayne ma[ke]s this makes] mas 1537, maketh B

There no sadnesse in is

Lesse they are than men of wyt

8385

Wherfore theyr thought lyghtly wyl flyt

They fare as a lefe on the tre

That turnes whare the wynd wylbe

Ware theyr wyt sad as of man

Men shuld of them / for that they can

8390

Domesmen and iustyce take

But no lawe wyl it them now make

Lyghtly they trust that men them say

And also quycly it is a_way

And for that they now trust / and now let go

8395

Haue they so sone wel and wo

sig: [N1v]

¶The .CC.lxxxxix. questyon

¶Why are chyldren whan they borne are

So vnconyng as beastes ware

A chyld that tender is and a yonglyng

May of this world know nothyng

8400

For he is both tendar and grene

And of this world hath nothing sene

Unto he come to greatter age

That he may hym-selfe page page: unattested as a verb in this sense (see OED s.v. page v1); B reads: wage

Than may he se and vnderstand

8405

Of al thynges that be co[n]yng / and conyng] comyng 1537, knowande B, kunnande L

Unconnyng is a chyld also

Unto the deuyl shame to do

That he that so lytel borne shal be

And that a beaste can more than he

8410

That he shal haue the herytage

That the deuyl for his outrage

Fyrst lost / and for his pryde

This is his sorow in euery tyde

For feblenesse of nature is it

8415

Why chyldren yong haue no wyt

Whan adam was made and his wyfe

And god had gyuen hym goost of lyfe

Redely knew they al-thyng

For they ware of goddys makyng

8420

But that father and mother hath here

For feblenesse of the matere

Whan it is borne it can no good

Lesse than a beast lepyng in the wode

¶The .CCC. questyon

¶Tel me now yf that thou can

8425

Wherof comys natural wyt in man

sig: N2

OF pure braynes it comyth vnto

Pure blod and pure herte also

And be the two pure of thes thre

And the thyrd nought be

8430

Right clere wyt may ne be there

As that al thre to_gether were

For with one eye sees no man so

As that he with two myght do

Be herte and braynes neuer so good

8435

And darke be in hym the blode

Herte and braynes it drynkes tyl

And the wyt truly doth spyl

Be the herte good and the blod bryght

And the braynes myrke and lyght

8440

Greatly wyl lyght braynes greue

Al that that other to wold gyue to: =two

And the planets in theyr goyng

Workes in man al this thyng

¶The .CCC.j. questyon

¶Wherof may it come to

8445

The nesyng that men nese so

NEsyng falles soth to sey

Unto man of thynges twey

Fyrst of humours that are ascended

In-to the braynes of the hed

8450

The braynes refuse them gladly

And castys them out hastely

And in the doune-fallyng of tho

Unto the nostrels they go

For tho are redy open ey

8455

Wherby go they so a_wey

sig: [N2v]

Another is to loke vp on hy

Unto the sonne on the sky

And the hete of the sonne anon

Fylles the veynes of the hed echone

8460

Dryuyng out the keelth thore

That in the braynes was before

And yf thou wylt with_hold nesyng

Spere thy mouth at the begynyng

And draw thy breth fast to and fro

8465

And nesyng shal the ouer-go

For the nose stoppys there-with-al

And at the mouth it out go shal

¶The CCC.ij questyon

¶Wynd blowyng with mayne

Why deyes it for a shoure of rayne

8470

WAter and wynd to_gether are

As it mother and doughter ware

Doughter of mother had feding

And wynd of water begynyng

and whan the cloud that it has wrought

8475

Is hym-selfe doune brought

¶The wynd is stylle anon-ryght

For his mattar hath lorne syght

For knyfe shal no man make wele

If he haue nother yren ne stele

¶The .CCC.iii. questyon

8480

¶Whic[h] is the strongar of thes twey Which] Whic 1537

Wynd or water this me sey

GRound of al-thyng with ryght

Is strongar and of more myght

sig: N3

Than the croppe aboue it cast

8485

Elles myght it no-whyle last

And strongar is that thyng I_wys

That sterys than that steryd is

Now is wynd at the begynyng

Stered ayre and no nother thyng

8490

And cours of water maketh it al

That the ayre so sterre shal

And yf wynd with water stered be

Than is water strongar than he

¶The .CCC.iiii questyon

¶Tel me now on what manere

8495

A man shal lyue in this world here

A Man shal lyue in that manere

So that whan he deyes here

Afterwarde may ryse

Boldly to go be_fore iustyse

8500

That is to say that al his thought

Be on hym that hym hath wrought

And worshyp hym al that he can

And after in god loue euery man

And of that truly he may wynne

8505

Of his trauayle with-out synne

Than shal he lyue with-out pryde

Enuye and couetys also let glyde

This may he bothe lyue wel and deye This: =thus

And ryse and go to the blys the weye

¶The .CCC.v. questyon

8510

Shal a man that in good stede be

To seke a bettar raunge the countre

sig: [N3v]

IF thou in a good place be

Wher-with thou mayst wel agre

There thou good lyfe may lede

8515

The to cloth and to fede

Hold the styl renne nought

Ne for the bettar haue no thought

To seke a bettar thou may be in mynd

But thou wottyst not where it to fynde

8520

And there thou comyst percaas

Shalbe wors than that other was

Such wenys to fynde hym before

Baken brede whan he comes thore

He shal perauenture fynde the corne

8525

Standyng yet in the feld vnshorne

Wherfore yf thou in good stede be

Hold the therin by rede of me

¶The .CCC.vi. questyon

¶Which are more worthy of the twey

Rych or pouer thou me sey

8530

THere are worthynesse two

Goostly and bodely also

The bodely worthynesse

That is nother more ne lesse

But after as a man hath here

8535

So is he hold a_mong men dere

Therfore by so moch as thou hast now

So moch worthy art thou

Haue thou but a peny in al

No more worthy men hold the shal

8540

Goostly worthynesse is not so

But who toward god best may do

sig: [N4]

And serue hym here al-the-best

He with god is worthyest

Moch worthy here to be

8545

Is truly but a vanyte

But that worthy is to god to wende

That worthynesse hath no ende

¶The .CCC.vij. questyon

¶Whether is to man more semely

Fayre vysage or fayre body

8550

A Fayre body to man I_wys

A ful semely thyng it is

But what the nakyd body be

No man may it wel se

Be it shapen yl or wele

8555

The clothes couers it euery-dele

But that that is in syght

And may not be hyd with ryght

The vsage that man is knowen by

If it be fayre and semely

8560

A fayre man men wyl hym call

And leue his other lymmes all

And in a fayre vysage and whyte

Hath a man moch delyte

Wherfore in al the man not lyeth truly

8565

So comly a lym as is a fayre vysage verely

¶The .CCC.viij. questyon

¶How shal a man lede hys lyfe

That fyndes a ma[n] hauntyng his wife man] ma 1537

Fynde thou a man with thy wyfe

Loke thou make with hym no stryfe

sig: [N4v]

8570

Preuely thou go thy way

And nothyng vnto them say

But afterward thou say her to

That she no more do so

Say she doth here-selfe shame

8575

For in her lyeth al the blame

There wold no man her come tyl

But it were by her wyl

Whe[r]fore chastyse her courtesly Wherfore] Whefore 1537

And loke how she wyl do there-by

8580

And she wyl not do after thy lore

Of that vpbreyd her no more

If thou smyte on the man a_non

Whan thou comest hym fyrst vpon

And begyn to fyght also

8585

The deuyl procurys there-vnto

One of you may lyghtly the other slo

And so encresyth sone thy wo

Therfore thoughe it greues the sore

Better the lasse scathe than the more

¶The .CCC.ix. questyon

8590

Shal men for tene or for lesyng

Blame god of heuen in ony-thyng?

GOd of heuen is so wyse

That in hym no blame lyse

But thankyng / worshyp / and honour

8595

As to hym that is our creatour

And yf thou for thy foly

Fal in any malencoly

Blame thou god therfore nothyng

Blame the and thyne vnconyng

sig: O1

8600

Haue thou not as thy wyl wore

Why shalt thou blame god therfore

Thoughe thou pray god send me

It may not at thy wyl be

But yf thou trauayle for to lyue

8605

God shal helpe the for to thryue

Were a man a water in

That depe ware and coud swym

And he cryed on god fast

And ware perysshed at the last

8610

For defaute of steryng

That he wold helpe hym-selfe nothyng

Wherfore blame god no man shuld

He wold haue holpe yf hym-selfe wold

¶The .CCC.x. questyon

¶Which is the sauourest thynge

8615

Of al that are at thy wenynge

OF al thynges that euer be

Is there none so sauoure

Unto man / beast / and foule also

As slepe is whan tyme is therto

8620

There nis nother mete ne drynke

That sauoryth a man I thynke

As slepe whan a man wold fayne

No delyte is there agayne

With-out slepe may nothyng thryue

8625

Of al that euer are a_lyue

For that ordayned god the nyght

Therein to rest and slepe euery wyght

Slepe norysshes mannys kynde

And beastes as that men fynde

sig: [O1v]

8630

Man / beast / ne foule is none

So iolyfe nor so wel be_gone

Hold hym fro slepe agayne his wyl

Thou mayst hym sone spyl

And cause hym to lese both flesshe and blode

8635

Be he neuer so totter and wode totter: =tatter ('peevish, testy')?

Wherfore is slepe sykerly

The sauorest thyng that I wot truly

¶The .CCC.xj. questyon

¶Of what maner and of what bounte

Ought kynges and lordes to be

8640

LOrdes and kinges ought ryght wel

To be trewe as eny stele

In worde in werke to their myght

And with iustyce deme a_ryght

Uyse them wel also to be

8645

Curteys / meke and of pyte

And to mysdoars neuerthelesse

Stout to deme theyr wickydnesse

For he may neuer god wel plese

Nor his lordshyp in honour with ese

8650

That sparyth wickednesse to shent

And god is not there-with content

They ought also to be doughty

Wygrous and fers of theyr body

Large and geuyng courtesly

8655

Theyr state may they maynteyne ther-by

To pouer they ought be mercyable

And vnto the rych stable

And aboue al-thyng

To worke the wyl of heuyn kyng

sig: O2

8660

For he hath them lordes set

Good to do and yl to let

¶The .CCC.xij. questyon

¶Swete that cometh of the body

How comes it wherof and why

Swete kyndly cometh comenly

8665

Of wicked blod in the body

That steryth somtyme and hath no roo

And other humours hym mynges to

And whan they to_gether take

Great hete in the body they make

8670

And that hete that is within

Maketh the body as it shuld brynne

And that body that is so hote

Anon castes out the swote

The kynd clensys ther-with-all

8675

But ouer-moch hurte shall

¶The .CCC.xiij. questyon

¶Which are the best hewes that ere

Of clothyng men for to were

BEst hewes that may be

To mannys clothyng are thre

8680

That are rede / whyte / and grene

And for thes causes I it mene

The red supposys regalyte

And is colour of dygnyte

It geuyth the werer moch blys

8685

And to the sonne lyckened it is

Whyte wede is a worthy thyng

And of aungels it is clothyng

sig: [O2v]

Hyt makyth hym mylde that it weryth

And hewe of the mone it beryth

8690

Grene is a precyo[u]s colour

And shuld be hold in honour

Of al other most is it borne

For gras / tre / and also corne

And al that waxyth in erth by_dene

8695

Al is it clad in grene

And that most thynges are clad with-al

Dygnyest hewe men hold shal

¶The .CCC.xiiij. questyon

¶Seyng men grene a good hew call

Which is the grenest thyng of al

8700

THe grenest thyng is water I wene

For waters make al-thyng grene

And ware not of water the moystyng

Shuld no grene thyng spryng

Grasses that on hylles are standyng

8705

There no water is rennyng

With rayne and dewes of the ayre

Waxe they both grene and fayre

And seyng grennesse is by watrys myght

Than is it grenest with ryght

¶The .CCC.xv. questyon

8710

¶Tel me now so haue thou blys

Which is the fattest thyng that is

FAttest thyng that is of kynde

Than is erth that men fynde

For trees and al othere thynge

8715

Of the fatnesse of erth sprynge

sig: O3

And ware fattnesse of the erth no-whore

Shuld they neuer spryng more

Of the fatnesse of erth comyth al

That they spryng and waxe with-al

8720

Of erth take they theyr nature

And els myght they not endure

¶The .CCC.xvj. questyon

¶Whether is bettar at the deth-day

Repentaunce or hope of blys for ay

BOth are good soth to say

8725

Unto man whan he shal deye

Repentaunce is good to haue

But good hope shal a man more saue

For euery man that deye shal

May not repent hym of al

8730

For-thy behouyth hym nedly

Trust hym al in goddys mercy

But he that in no hope is

For to come to heuyn blys

Shal he neuer come therin

8735

Be he neuer so clene of synne

But he that hath al his trust

That god is of mercy most

That trust shal saue hym at the last

Whan other shalbe out-cast

¶The .CCC.xvij. questyon

8740

¶Shal men greue and make euyl chere

For a man that deyes here

By kynde men wepe and make care

Whan theyr frendes fro them fare

sig: [O3v]

Neuerthelesse the man that ay

8745

Hath kept goddys law / I say

Of his deeth no sorow is

For he goyth vnto blys

There to be for euer-more

Hym shuld no man sorow sore

8750

But he that in god trustes nought

Nor his commaundment hath not wrought

And dyeth so in that entent

And is so to helle went

For hym is sorow to make

8755

That he such lyfe wold not for_sake

¶The .CCC.xviij. questyon

¶Came fro that other world euer eni-thing

That of helle or heuyn told tydyng

MAny haue come ageyne here

Good men that with god were

8760

The folke to counsel and telle

Both of heuyn and of helle

Yt ware good men here-before

Of whom that we yet haue lore

They wrote in bokes what was wrought

8765

By_cause men shulde for_get it nought

The great ioy that is in heuen

That no tong in erth may reken

And the great payne of helle

That they haue that therin dwelle

8770

This told adamys sonne Abel

Seth and Enocke also wel

Noe and Melchysedech also

And other prophytes set therto

sig: [O4]

Throughe goddys commaundment

8775

They are hyther ageyne sent

That is to say theyr techyng

Throughe which we haue knolegeyng

Of heuyn and helle both

Wel is he that [doth after] they[r] roth that doth after theyr roth] that they roth 1537, þat dothe after here rothe BThe copytext apparently mistakes the rare noun roth, 'advice', for a verb; see OED s.v. rathe n1.

¶The .CCC.xix. questyon

8780

¶Shal a man eny-thyng sey

Whan he shal to slepe hym ley

A Man that beleuyth in god aryght

And kepyth his wyl at his myght

Whan he to slepe doth lay him doune

8785

He shal say this oryson

Lord god of myght most

To the be_take I my goost

Thou kepe it lord and it defende

From encombrance of the fende

8790

From hym lord thou me clere

That he me neuer dere

Haue mercy on me heuyn kyng

And graunt me lord my askyng

And than slepe he hardely

8795

With-out drede of thy enemy

¶The .CCC.xx. questyon

¶Of al batayle that is in lande

Which is the strongest to withstande

BAtayle strongar wot I nought

Whan that I haue al be_thought

8800

Than is temptacyon of the deuyl

None that doth a man more euyl

sig: [O4v]

Other batayls sees some day

But the deuyls fondyng lastyth ay

Slepe man or wake he where-so he be

8805

That batayle may he euyl fle

And be he neuer so stedfast

Yet wyl the deuyl hym cast a cast

And man may not fle of the stede

But with fastyng or some holyhede holyhede: not recorded in OED; B reads: hooly beede, L holy bede

8810

And be_cause that warre is euer on one

Therfore strengar wot I none

¶The .CCC.xxj. questyon

¶How lyeth a chyld tel me this

¶In the mothers wombe whan it is

A chyld throughe goddys grace

8815

Hath in the mothers wombe a space

In a chambyr one of the seuen

Of the matryce that of men be callen

And the fystes soth to saye

Lye be_fore the eyen twaye

8820

And great ioy they haue and reioysyng

There they lye and lykyng

And they wold neuer-more

Come in other stede than thore

But whan they are here comen

8825

And the ayre of this worlde haue taken

Than wold they not be there agayne

¶The .CCC.xxij. questyon

¶Tel me now of wynes tyte

Why some is rede and some whyte

sig: P1

NOe was the fyrst man

8830

That euer vyne to plant began

Fourthy plantes he gathered and fette

That ware in fourthy dayes sette

Euery day two in erth he dyght

One on day a nother on nyght

8835

Tho that the day ware sette vpon

Unto the sonne on it shon

For hete of sonne that shon than

Of goddys grace tho rede becam

And that in erth on nyght dyd lay

8840

Whan the sonne was a_way

For nyghtes keelth that felle theron

Be_came whyte euerychone

Wherfore are the red hottar wele

Than the whyte a great dele

¶The .CCC.xxiij. questyon

8845

¶Haue foules and beastes eny spekyng

Or vnderstandyng of eny-thyng

OF beast or foule shalt thou none fynde

That hath language in his kynde

Of al beastes men recken can

8850

Hath none language but man

Foules and beastes crye by_dene

But they wot neuer what they mene

Whan that one makyth a crye

That other herys redely

8855

And cryeth ageyne by and by

But what they mene wot not they

Al that euer they cry and do

Of kynd is and vsage also

sig: [P1v]

Which kynde hath god them dyght

8860

For man shal ouer them haue myght

¶the .CCC.xxiiij. questyon

¶Whether helpeth the sowle more

That a man doth here-before

Or that men after do for hym

Whan that he is deed and dym

8865

BOth helpes man in nede

But both are not of one mede

For yf a man goyng be

In a darknesse there he may not se

And a lanthorne go hym before

8870

Therof hath he lyght wel more

Than thoughe be_hynd folowed two

For / for them myght he mysgo

Also a man that doth good here

As long as he may hym-selfe stere

8875

Therof hath the sowle more mede

Than for such two after dede

Many men haue that rede

To do for them whan they are deed

Whan hym-selfe may haue it no more

8880

The lesse thanke he is worthy therfore

Wold he for goddys loue it dele

Whyle that he ware in hele

Than went before hym the lyght

To lede hym the wey a_ryght

¶The .CCC.xxv questyon

8885

¶Fysshes that swym here and thore

In water slepe they neuer-more

sig: P2

FIsshes that are in the see

Or in ryuer whether it be

Haue theyr eyen bryght within

8890

And to and fro they euer swym

It is not of theyr kynd the ryght

That they slepe other day or nyght

If they be wery they wyl rest

A whyle where them thynketh best

8895

And yf they felt the ayre also

As we or foules or beastes do

That aboue erth wone

Of kynd shuld they slepe ful sone

¶The .CCC.xxvj. questyon

¶Of al that in the world be

8900

The fayrest foule which thynketh the

IF al the foules that god hath wrought

Wore in-to one place brought

And stode al vpon a flocke

The fayrest of al were the cocke

8905

And he hath thynges thre

That in none other may men se

On his hede he beryth a crowne

And spore vpon his shanke downe

And god hath geuen hym the myght

8910

To know the howrs of day and nyght

The cocke is gelous ouer his wyfe

And oft for her makyth stryfe

And he shuld haue defaut of mete

Or his wyfe yf he myght ought gete

8915

And yf he dwelled in felde also

Or in wod as other do

sig: [P2v]

Al the foules that before hym wore

Reuerence shuld bere them thore

And for his fayrnesse haue of hym awe

8920

Than is he fayrest with lawe

¶The .CCC.xxvii. questyon

¶Which is the fayrest beast that is

And that a man myght not mys

HOrs is the fayrest beast in lande

Stalworthyest and made to hande

8925

With horses oft lordes gete

Lande and lyfe / drynke and mete

Horses in harow and in ploughe

In cart and euerywhore good I_noughe

Horses bere men to and fro

8930

There they on fote myght not go

Wherfore is he best and fayrest

And vnto mannys behoue the best

¶The .CCC.xxviij. questyon

¶Tel me now yet thynges mo

The fayrest horses which are tho

8935

HOrses in the world are many one

But not al shapen after one

He that wel shapen shalbe

Behouyth to haue this properte

Foure thynges long / behouyth hym to

8940

And foure thynges short also

And foure thynges large somedele

Than is [t]he horse shapen ful wele the] he 1537, the B

Longe shankes / and longe hals

Long tayle and long rybbes als

sig: P3

8945

Foure short thynges is no lake

Hede / eres / pastor[n]s / and backe pastorns] pastors 1537, pastrons B, pastrouns L

Foure large thynges come there nest

Mouth / nostrels / croupe / and brest

And great eyen falleth wele

8950

Than is he shapen wel euery-a_dele

¶The .CCC.xxjx. questyon

¶Whiche are the beastes so god the saue

That most vnderstandyng haue

BEastes that of vnderstandyng be

Most of al other are thre

8955

Ape / bere / and hounde also

Thes wylbe buxum man vnto

Mannys techyng wyl they lere

And vnderstand that they stere

Whan Noe in the arch was in the flode

8960

Thes thre beastes nexte hym stode

And of al-the-last went hym fro

For none vnderstode so moch as tho

¶The .CCC.xxx. questyon

¶Whan goddys sonne shal borne be

By what tokyn shal men it se

8965

TOkyns many shal be_falle

Whan goddys sonne lorde of all

Shalbe borne of her that he ches

Ouer al the world shal than be pees

A great sterre shal shewe that day

8970

That al the worlde wel se may

A sercle of gold purpred with-al

About the sonne shewe hym shal

sig: [P3v]

A welle of oyle in great tokenyng

Out of the erth than shal spryng

8975

And a descrypcyon shal taken be descrypcyon ='enrolment', here and below; see OED s.v. description n, 1b. B reads: chyueuache, L tribute.

Ouer al the world in euery countre

A dombe beast as that we fynd

That day shal speke agayne kynd

Beast / foule / and fysshe also

8980

That day shalbe in rest and ro

And the deuyls in helle dwellyng

Shalbe ful sory and mornyng

The eyghtene day after he is borne

He shalbe circumcised and shorne

8985

And that in tokenyng be shal

That he is god and man with-al

¶The .CCC.xxx. quest[y]on

questyon] questoon 1537

¶Tel me now as shal be_falle

What sygnyfye tho tokyns al

PEas shalbe ouer-al

8990

For he is peas that man come shal

The sterre that shal shew frelye

His godhed shal sygnyfye

About the sonne the golden thyng

Shal betoken that he is kyng

8995

The purpre shalbe token also

Of the passyon that he shal to

The welle of oyle showyth vyturly

That he shalbe welle of mercy

The descrypcyon that shal taken be

9000

Tokenes that ouer-al lorde is he

The doume beast spekyng tokenes als

That they that in the law were fals

sig: [P4]

And were but as beastes told

Shal turne to hym and of hym hold

9005

Beast and foule shalbe in blys

and they wot goddys sonne he is

And the deuyls shalbe sory

For they drede hym wonderly

That he is that shal breke helle

9010

And take away that with hym dwelle

¶The CCC.xxxj. questyon

¶Whan he is borne a chyld shal he

Be conyng more than another shalbe

SOne as he borne is / he can

More than eny other man

9015

For thoughe he be than a yonglyng

The godhed in hym wot althyng

The sonne of the trynyte

The fathers wysdome truly

So is spe[r]ed in hym only spered] speed 1537spered ='enclosed'; see OED s.v. spear v1

9020

Wherfore shal he know wel more

Than eny after or before

Neuerthelesse for al that he can

He wyl fulfyl the kynd of man

In al thynges that falles hym to

9025

Saue synne that shal he neuer do

¶The .CCC.xxxij. questyon

¶Whan he is borne as that we tel

Wher shal he in hoost dwelle

WIth his mother whyle he is yong

So shalbe his dwellyng

9030

In-to Egype she lede hym shall

sig: [P4v]

And ther a whyle dwele hym with-al

After agayne shal he go

Unto the lande that he came fro

And begynne the folke to tech

9035

And openly for to prech

And al his lyfe shalbe so

As he teches there-vnto

To many synne he shal forgeue

Such as vpon hym wyl beleue

9040

And cold water them crysten in

In forgeuenesse of theyr synne

For water as that men wel wot

Sleckenes the fyre that is hot

It clenses fylth and makyth clene

9045

And that is drye it makyth grene

And it sleckeneth also thyrste

Unto man that drynke lyst

Wherfore in water baptyse shal he

For vertu of thes myghtes thre

9050

Fyrst it sleckenes hete of synne

And clenses fylthe that man is in

And drye sowles grene shal he make

Throughe the baptyme that they shal take

And in this lyfe shal he dwelle

9055

Ey to he dey and breke helle

¶The .CCC.xxxiiij. questyon

¶Yet wold I wyt more of the

Shal goddys sonne a fayre man be

A Shal with ryght of nature

Be the fayrest creature

9060

That euer was and euer shalbe

sig: Q1

Shal none be so fayre as he

And it is ryght that he be fayre

That of heuyn is sonne and heyre

And he shal vpon an hylle

9065

His dyscyples shewe hym tyl

And he shal seme to theyr syght

As it were the sonne-lyght

And his clothes whyte of hewe

As it were newe-fallen snewe

9070

Therfore is no man alyue

That his fayrhed may descryue

¶The .CCC.xxxv. questyon

¶Tel yet yf that thou can me sey

Why it was that he wold dey

FOr obedyence and for loue

9075

Heuyn to dyght to our behoue

For obedyent shal he be

Unto the deeth vpon the tre

So that that was forlorne

Throughe the tre ther-beforne

9080

Shuld be wonne agayne also

Throughe the tre that he shal to

And for loue of man-kynde

That his seruyse wyl haue in mynde

He had leuer deeth take

9085

Than he wold man-kynde forsake

His deeth shal a man agayne_bye

To reue the deuyl of his maystery

The father shal to the sonne geue

Poure for his seruaunts that he wil here leue

¶The .CCC.xxxvj. questyon

sig: [Q1v]

9090

¶Who shal him slo and by what rede

And how long shal he be dede

A Maner of folke shal hym slo

That hyght Iewes and none but tho

A false counsele take they shal

9095

And a false wyttnesse with-al

To brynge hym to the deeth also

And knyghtes shal to deeth hym do

In graue shal he be nyghtes two

The whyls shal the godhed go

9100

To helle to fete al hyse

And the thyrde day shal he aryse

To paradyse than wend shal he

Fourty dayes there to be

In which tyme he shal bodely

9105

Ten tymes shew hym openly

Fyrst he shal hym shew I sey

To hym that hym in graue shal ley

After to his mother dere

For to glade her mornyng chere

9110

After he shal hym shew also

The Mary_Magdalene vnto

And her synnes forgyue shal he

The fourth tyme to maryes thre

The fyfte to peter south to seye

9115

The syxte tyme to pylgryms twey

That to a castel shal with hym wende

And thore shal he with them send

And the seuenth tyme in a halle

Among his dyscypyls al

9120

There shal he byd them grope and se

Wyturly that he it be

sig: Q2

The eyghtene day to one that shal

Grope his woundes and handes with-al

And to a ful worthy hylle

9125

The nynth day shal he shew them tyl

The tenth among the people openly

Whan he ascendyth to heuyn on hye

¶The .CCC.xxxvij. questyon

¶Shal he ascende to heuyn so hye

Alone with-out companye

9130

AL tho that with hym ryse shal

To heuyn shal ascend hym with-al

And in that lyknesse shal he fare

That he was in before his care

But whan he is vp on hye

9135

Aboue the cloudes by the sky

In that lyknesse he shal be thore

That he dyd in hym shew before

Unto his dyscypyls two

O[n] an hylle whare they shal go On] Oo 1537, On B, L

¶The .CCC.xxxviij. questyon

9140

Shal goddys sonne that hym is dere

Ony hous in erth haue here

IN erth a hows shal he haue

That man afterward shal saue

And that shal his spouse be

9145

For al shalbe on it and he

By the sacrament of his body

That he shal make solempnelye

Unto his apostyls at the mete

sig: [Q2v]

And ech one shal therof ete

9150

And that sacrament that I the tel

Shal in his hows deuoutly dwelle

And al of good conuersacyon

Shal come vnto saluacyon

Throughe the vertu and the myght

9155

Of that sacrament so dyght

And al tho that are outfous Outfous (also the reading in B): Burton suggests 'excommunicated' or perhaps 'eager to stay out'.

And are spered out of that hous

In payne of helle shalbe shent

But they come to amendment

¶The .CCC.xxxix questyon

9160

¶Shal his body euer dwellyng be

In erth that men may it se

HIs body shal euer be dwellyng

In erth to the worldys endyng

Upon a day as he shal

9165

His apostyls soupe with-al

He shal take the bred and blysse

And say / ete / my body this ysse

Than shal he take the cuppe in handys

That with wyne before hym standys

9170

And blesse it and say them vnto

Haue drynke this my blode also

The selfe blode is it that I here make

That shalbe shed for mannys sake

And throughe the vertu and the myght

9175

Of his word is there anon-ryght

His very body god and man

As that he to say began

And yf that sacrament ne wore

sig: Q3

His flesshe only and no more

9180

With-out blod therto wrought

His very body ware it nought

Flesshe in leuyng man to be

Without blode can no man se

And there shal his dyscypyls take

9185

Myght that sacrament to make

With word he shal them lerne thore

That hymselfe sayd before

And that body shal dwellyng be

So that men eche day may it se

¶The .CCC.xl. questyon

9190

Shal euery man haue myght therto

His body for to make also?

NAy / shal none haue therto myght

But that therto are ordayned right

That of his holy hous shalbe

9195

Kepers / and haue the dyngnyte

And thoughe that keper bere hym yl

And wyl not fulfyl goddes wyl

Neuer the wors is that flesshe and blode

Ne neuer the better thoughe he be good

9200

And who-so taketh it worthely

His sowle hele he taketh therby

And he that vnworthely it taketh

His owne dampnacyon he maketh

For he taketh not goddes body

9205

But bread he taketh al-onely

The godhed that there was in

God takes it to hym for his syn

For so worthy a thyng as he

sig: [Q3v]

In a foule vessel wyl not be

9210

And no more enpeyre ne can

That same body a wicked man

Than is enpeyred the sonnys lyght

Of a warderobe that here is dyght

¶The .CCC.xlj. questyon

¶Tho that haue myght therto

9215

That body for to make also

Shal they before the trynyte

More than other worshypped be

NO man shal there worshypped be

For honour nor for dygnyte

9220

But with god he shal be dere

After as he hath don here

Thoughe goddys hows wold hym chose

Her kepar to bynd and lose

His worshyp shalbe neuer the more

9225

But yf he haue don wherfore

And do he not aryght also

As hym becomyth for to do

He shal haue blame and payne withal

Wel more than a nother shal

9230

For he that is made a hyrdar hyrdar: =herder, q.v. in OED for date.

Of goddys hows to be kepar

His shepe must he kepe wel and know

And by his owne lyfe them showe

How that they theyr lyfe shal lede

9235

And them kepe from mysdede

Wherfore yf he mysdo

So moch more payne shal he go to

¶The .CCC.xlij. questyon

sig: [Q4]

¶Why shal they euery day be wone

To make the body of goddys sonne

9240

FOr thre thynges pryncypaly

Shal a preest make goddys body

For god and for hym-selfe also

And for the folke that se therto

He that it sees hath mede therfore

9245

And that it takes moch more

But he that receyuyth it vnworthely

Hym-selfe he dampneth suerly

And the body ne doth it nought

But hym that lewdly hath wrought

9250

In paradyse appyls many one

Made god and wicked none

And for an appyl that Adam dyd ete

Was he out of that place bete

And that was not for that

9255

That the appul was nought that he ate

But for that that goddys bode brake he

That hym defended had that tre tre] thre 1537, tree B, L

So shal fare that Sacrament

It shal cause no man be shent

9260

Agayne the deuyl strength shal it make

Loke he be clene that it shal take

¶The .CCC.xliij. questyon

¶Tel me now what thyng is synne

That many shalbe lorne in

SInne forsoth is ryght nought

9265

For that god neuer wrought

God of heuyn made al-thyng

And al was good of his makyng

sig: [Q4v]

And for his werkes good wore

Synne is none of them therfore

9270

And for he made it not sothely

In substance it is nought truly

¶The .CCC.xliiij questyon

¶By what syngne shal men se

Whan goddes sone shal dede be?

AT his dethe shal befall

9275

Syngnes many one withall

For the sonne shal lese his lyght

And become darke as the nyght

The erthe euerydele shal quake

That to folke great drede shal make

9280

Dede bodyes shal ryse hym with-al

The thyrd day when he ryse shal

An astronomer then shalbe

In the west and say shal he

By the derkenes that he shal fynd

9285

That than dyes god of kynd

¶The .CCC.xlv. questyon

¶When goddes sone in erth shal dwel

Of what vertue shal men hym tel

OF moche vertu shal he be

By his workes that men shal se

9290

Of his vertue he shal with ryght

Ouercome the deuyl and his might

His Glotony / couetyse / and pryde

That the deuyl had spred wyde

And al his myght dystroy he shal

9295

That he Adam begyled withal

sig: R1

Fro feuere and other euyls fele

Many men than shal he hele

With fyue loues and fysshes two

Fyue thowsand shal he fede and mo

9300

And .xij. lepys men shal fylle

Of the relefe there that shalbe stylle

The prynce of his apostyls shal he

Saue goyng vpon the see

He shal commaund the wynd to lyth

9305

And it shalbe styl also swyth

To blynd shal he geue syght

The croked ofte to go ryght

A woman that shal with heer grete heer grete: B reads: here grete, 'her lamenting', which makes better sense.

And with her teres waysshe his fete

9310

And with her heer them wype and drye

He shal forgeue her / her folye

A deed man that in graue hath leyn

Foure dayes / he shal areyse ageyne

One of his dyscypyls shal bere

9315

A swerd and reue a mannys ere

The ere in his hand shal he take

And agayne it hole make

Al the prynces in helle that are

Shal he cause to quake and eke care

9320

Whan he theyr gates shal come vnto

And commaund them that they vndo

That his are shal he take thore

And sende them to blys for euer-more

¶The .CCC.xlvj. questyon

¶Shal his dyscypyls ought also

9325

Do myracles as he shal do

sig: [R1v]

HIs dyscypyls throughe his grace

Shal to many sycke do solace

For he shal euer by them be

They shal speke and worke shal he

9330

Many one with theyr techyng

To goddys lawe shal they bryng

A wicked man that tyme shalbe

And say that goddys sonne is he

And begyn to ascend a_hye

9335

As he wold to heuyn flye

One of the apostyls there-by standyng

And se where he is so flyeng

He shal commaund hym throughe the myght

Of goddys sonne that he doune lyght

9340

And he shal falle doune anon

And breke his necke-bone

Of many a bale they shal do bote

And many a syke bryng on fote

And al shal of his myght be

9345

That shal gyue them that pouste

¶The .CCC.xlvij. questyon

¶Shal they neuer haue no ende

Nor no wo that to heuyn wende

SOules that are in heuyn blys

Shal neuer of ioy mys

9350

Wo ne shuld they neuer se

Nor old shal they neuer be

They shal euer be reioysing

As a chyld in his best lyking

And hool as fysshe in delyte

9355

Swyfte as wynd and snow-whyte

sig: R2

Bryght as the shynyng sonne

And know al that aungels conne

Leel as ded in althyng

And worshypped shal they be as kyng

9360

A thowsand yere in game and playe

Thynketh them not an howre of the daye

And that delyt they are with-al

With-out end them last shal

¶The .CCC.xlviij. questyon

¶Tho that are in helle fest

9365

Shal they no mercy haue ne rest

THo that shal to helle wende

They are dampned with-out ende

Rest shal they none haue ne mercy

For of that they are not worthy

9370

He that lettys of his fre wyl

The good / and takys hym to yl

It is ryght that he haue also

As that he hym chose vnto

And to pray for hym loude or styl

9375

Is al ageyne goddys wyl

He that in purgatory is

To clense and after shal to blys

For hym is prayer to make

Of his paynes for to slake

9380

But he that dampned is to helle

He shal euer in sorowe dwelle

With-out rest with-out ro

And with-out mercy also

¶The .CCC.xlix. questyon

sig: [R2v]

¶They that in heuen shal haue theyr se

9385

Shal they clad or naked be?

THey shal be nakyd of enuye

Of pryde and of lechery

And clad also neuertheles

With grace and blys and bryghtnes

9390

Shame of themselfe shal they thynke non

Thoughe they haue no clothis on

Nomore than Adam of hym thought

Or that he the synne wrought

When he had of the appul taken

9395

Than shamed hym a sawe his makyng makyng: =make ('mate')?

No more than shamyth the

That man vpon thy vysage se

¶The .CCC.l. questyon

¶Whan god to deme come shal

Quyck / deed / and the world al

9400

And al shalbe deed / which is than he

That shal alyue here be

LIfe and deeth of for to sey

May be sayd on maners twey

Deeth that body goys here-to

9405

And deeth of sowle in payne also

He that god hath serued here

And his commaundments held dere

He shal not be deed that day

For he shal lyue in blys euer and ay

9410

And he that goddys wyl ne wrought

And he that trowed on hym nought

He shalbe deed with-out ende

And to the payne of helle wende

sig: R3

And that the Antechryst shal turne

9415

Fro the fayth / they may wel morne

Them ware bettar they ware vnborne

For many shal by hym be lorne

¶The .CCC.lj. questyon

¶Where shalbe borne that false prophyte

That al that wo in erth shal sete

9420

ANtechryst shal borne be

In Babylon a great cete

A wicked woman hym bere shal

And the deuyl shal entre hym with-al

And wicches shal norysshe hym

9425

In a toune hyght corozaym

Uery prophyt they shal hym call

And many wondres shal of hym fall

Al the folke shal he drawe

To his assent and to his lawe

9430

The rych shal on hym beleue

For the gyftes that he shal geue

The pouer shal to hym turne also

For great awe that he shal put them to

And for that he wyse shalbe

9435

For al the clergye knowe shal he

The clerkes shal he to hym alye

Through wysdome of his clergye

The good men and stedfast

That in goddys lawe wold last

9440

Many shal he drawe hym to

For myracles that he shal do

He shal cause the fyre to falle

Fro heuyn and his foos borne all

sig: [R3v]

Deed men he shal cause aryse

9445

To bere wyttnesse of werkes his

No dedman but the deuyl onely

Shal ryse in dampned body

And bere witnesse of his werkys

Among lewd men and clerkys

9450

Moch people shal to hym drawe

Namely folke of the fyrst lawe

Thre yere and a halfe shal he

Reygne with moch dygnyte

Twelue apostyls chose he shal

9455

With hym to walke ouer-al

He shal feyne hym for to deye

And two dayes shal he be a_weye

The thyrd day shal he come with blys

And say that he vp-rysen ys

9460

Than shal come Enocke and Elye

And shal prech ageyne his folye

Great folke shal they turne hym fro

But he shal them bothe slo

No lenger there than dwell he wyl

9465

But he shal drawe hym to a hyl

For to folowe and to do shame

Tho that wycked haue his name

Sodeyne dethe shal he dye thore

For god wyl that he regne nomore

9470

And ful sore may agryse [al] hyse Copytext illegible; B reads: all.

Whan they shal to the d[o]me ryse Copytext illegible; B reads: dome.

¶The .CCC.lij. questyon

¶What day shal it befall

That goddys sone shal deme vs al

sig: [R4]

ON suche a day shal he deme hyse

9475

As he fro deth to lyfe shal ryse

That shalbe on a sonday

That now is sabbat in our lay

Of heuen than the orders nyne

That neuermore shal heuen tene

9480

Shalbe fulfyllyd as they were al

Or lucifer began to fal

Lyuyng men shal then eueryone

Dye for drede and ryse anone

There shalbe none of so great mede

9485

That at that day he shal haue drede

¶The .CCC.liij. questyon

¶What tyme shal he come therto

For to deme the world also?

AT the mydnyght forsothe I tel

Suche tyme as he shal harowe hel

9490

That eche tyme shal he lede out thore

Al tho that his frendys wore

And that tyme out shal he lede

His of this world to geue them mede

¶The .CCC.liiii. questyon

¶How shal he come and on what manere

9495

When he shal come to deme vs here?

AS a kyng to a cytye

That wyl haue his inentere inentere: =in-entry; B, L read: entre

And men before hym shal bere

His crowne his sheld and his spere

9500

Wherby men may haue knowlegyng

That thether comyng is the kyng

sig: [R4v]

So shal he come to the dome

But nother with knyght ne with grome

But with ordres of aungels all

9505

That bodyes out of theyr graue shal cal

And they shal dele and set in twynne

The good from thos that deyed in synne

¶The .CCC.liiij. questyon

¶Shal his crosse be there present

Whan he shal geue his iugment

9510

NAy his crosse shal not be there

But the semblaunt as it were

And that shalbe of more claryte

Than men in the sonne se

And whan the dome is don al

9515

With his to heuyn wend he shal

¶The .CCC.lv. questyon

¶Whan he the folke shal deme also

How shal he shew hym them vnto

SO as he dyd his dyscypyls tyl

Dysfygured vpon an hylle

9520

He shal shew hym vnto them

Bryghter than eny sonne-beme

So shal he shew hym to the good

And to the wicked hangyng on rode

¶The .CCC.lvj. questyon

¶Shal his mynystres with hym be

9525

In the dome to here and se

HIs mynysters shalbe thore

Tho that with hym walked before

sig: S1

And al that lyued after hys lore

And kepars of his hous wore

9530

And al that lyue in chastyte

Or that ded for his loue shal be

Al shal they be of his wylle

Synful wreches for to spylle

For that shal they be there present

9535

To here and se the iugement

The .CCC.lvij. questyon

¶How shal he the dome do

And what shal he say them to

GOod departed shal he se

Fro the wicked that there shalbe

9540

Than shal he to the good say

Ye in erth stode by me ay

I houngred sore and ye me fedde

I thursted and ye me drynke bede

I was nakyd and ye me clad

9545

In sycknesse I helpe of you had

I lay in pryson and myght not se

Thether ye came to vyset me

And by_cause ye dyd this gladly

Come to my fathers ioy heuynly

9550

And ye that of me not rought

But al that ye lyked wrought

With the deuyl and his ye go

Unto payne for euer and oo

For ye nothyng dyd me fore

9555

Whan ye in your lykyng wore

This shal euery man here and se

Why he shal saued or dampnyd be

sig: [S1v]

¶The .CCC.lviij questyon

¶Sal euery man than know wele

That he hath don here euery-adele

9560

AL that euer a man hath wrought

Good and yl in dede or thought

Al shal on hym wryten be

That al the world may it se

But yf eny ware of repentaunce

9565

That toke his shryft here and penaunce

Of his mysded with harte contryte

That synne for_geuen is al tyte

The good than thanke god shal thore

That they of such lyfe wore

9570

Wherfore that they shulde than wende

To the blys with-out ende

And the wicked shal se eft

What goodnesse they haue left

And what wickednesse they toke

9575

Whan that they the good forsoke

Ful sory be they than in thought

But al shal avayle them nought

For they shal anon be shent

With the deuyl in tourment

¶The .CCC.lix. questyon.

9580

¶Whan al is don that dome so harde

What shal be don afterwarde

AFterwarde the deuyl shal

Take tho that shal with hym al

And wend to helle for euer-more

9585

The wicked men to payne thore

Goddys sonne shal his take

sig: S2

That here dyd wel for his sake

And lede them to his fathers blys

Where euer I_lyke ioy is

9590

And al shal theyr blys be

That they euer god shal se

And neuer-more shal deye

For yf they shuld chose one of tweye

They shuld leuer in helle be

9595

God euery day in blys to se

Than be in heuyn and se hym nought

For that ware nought worth them thought

¶The .CCC.lx. questyon

¶What shal than betyde and [how] how] who 1537

Of this world where we are now

9600

AS water it fyrst fordyd also

Shal it fyre than fordo

Al-to_gether shal it brynne

Shal nothyng be left therin

The elementes shal than slake

9605

Of theyr fygure and a newe take

Sonne and mone shal bryghter be

Seuen tymes than men now them se

Erth / water / fyre / and ayre

They shalbe than thre tymes so fayre

9610

Than they euer ware before

And so shalbe left euer-more

Al trauayls in erth shal blynne

Shal no payne after be therin

¶The .CCC.lxj. questyon

Shal the good haue leue ther-tyl

9615

For to do al that they wyl

sig: [S2v]

THe good shal than be of that wyl

To do but good and nothyng yl

For than shal they ech thyng do

That theyr wyl standyth vnto

9620

And in what stede they wold they wore

Anon as thought they shalbe thore

And other worke shal they haue none

But goddys vysage to se vpon

And thanke hym that of al lord is

9625

That they are come to that [b]lys blys] hlys 1537, blis B, L

¶The .CCC.lxij. questyon

¶Shal they than remember ought

Of wickednesse that they here wrought

REmember them they shal euery-dele

Of that they wrought here yl and wel

9630

And great ioy haue they shal

That they the wickednesse ouer-came al

As a knyght is blyth and glad

That a stronge batayle hath had

And hath bore the prayse away

9635

From al his enymyes that day

Great ioy it is his frendes vnto

That he that day bare hym so

And al-so sory are they tho

That for theyr synne go than to wo

¶Here ende the questyons.

sig: S3

¶The ende of the hystory.

9640

SYdracke god yeld it the

The techyng that thou hast teched me

From darknesse thou hast me brought

Unto lyght that fayleth nought

Now than wot I moch thyng

9645

That after Iesus haue great longyng

And now wot I what god may do

To lyfe and vnto soule also

Wherfore it is good now

Upon what maner and how

9650

That we shal our toure fulfyl

Wherto we fyrst had great wyl

For that was the cause why we

Came fyrst vnto this countre

FOr-thy the kyng Boccus anon

9655

Toke hors and worthed there-vpon worthed: ='mounted'; see OED s.v. worth v1, 3c

And his mayster Sydracke before

And al his folke be_gan to raye thore

They came in-to the in-comyng

Of Garabys lande the kyng

9660

There they began the toure to dyght

That sanke from them euery nyght

The kyng caused to be brought lyme and stone

And caused masons to come anon

And Sydracke the kynge present

9665

Deuysed them the foundament

In the name of the Trynyte

One god and persons thre

Boldly ther-vpon they wrought

And that shuld hurt them found they nought

sig: [S3v]

9670

And in dayes syxe and twenty

Was the toure made vp fully

And al-thyng that therto shuld

After the kyng it ordayne wold

¶Whan that Garaab it herde

9675

Of the toune how it farede

How it was to ende brought

He was ful sory in his thought

And foule abasshed he was also

For he perseuyd it shuld hym vndo

9680

In harte myght haue no rest

He counselyd hym what was best

A messynger anon he sent

That vnto kyng Boccus went

And prayed hym purcharyte

9685

Of hym to haue mercy and pyte

Kynge Boccus answered and spake

By the counsel of Sydracke

That yf Garaab wyl a good man be

And beleue in the Trynyte

9690

That may both dampne and saue

That he shal of hym mercy haue

And Garaab sent to hym agayne

That what he wyl I shal do fayne

Kyng Garaab caused to be broken anon

9695

His false ydols euerychone

And trusted in god of heuyn lyght

Seruyng hym with al his myght

And many landes there mo

Causyd Boccus to serue god tho

9700

But whan kynge Boccus was deed

And Sydracke / than was there no rede

sig: [S4]

But anon they god forsoke

And to theyr false ydols they toke

Throughe entysement of the wicked goost

9705

Now he that is of myght most

Saue vs fro his wycked wyles

For many one that shrew begyles

And bryng vs into that blys

Wherof that none ende is.

9710

AMEN

PRay we now with al our myght

Unto god of heuen lyght

That he geue vs grace so to do

That we heuen may come vnto

That we shal al to I wene

And that Hughe of caumpedene

That this boke hath throughe-sought

And vnto Englysshe ryme brought

Lyue in ioye without synne

And that he godis loue here wynne

So that he at his lyues ende

Unto the blesse of heuen wende.

FINIS

¶Thus endeth the hystory and questyons of kynge Boccus and Sydracke. Prynted at London by Thomas_Godfray. At the coste and charge of dan Robert_Saltwode monke of saynt_Austens at Cantorbury.

¶ Cum priuilegio regali.

sig: [S4v]