The Court of Venus. With the Pilgrim's Tale

Wyatt, Sir Thomas?[poems 1-2]; Shyngleton, Robert?[poem 3]

TextBaseEarlyTudorEnglish
CV1-3: 24650
2008
STC 24650
Ringler 24650 and TP 2219, TP 357 and TP 904. Sole copy in Oxford, Bodleian Library, Douce g.3 (E1-8, F1-7 only). Rpt. F.J. Furnivall, Chaucer Soc., ser. 2, no. xiii (1876), pp. 77-93, 127. The first poem is probably by Wyatt, the second almost certainly by him (Fraser). UMI microfilm reel 718

[The court of Venus. With the Pilgrim's Tale]
London: [T. Gybson],1538?.



Composition Date: 1536-1539? [The Pilgrim's Tale].







See OED s.v. unbulk
ref.ed: 81
sig: E1
Which had me in the snare
Of pensyue thought and payn.

She saw that faithfully
I dyd my hert resynge resynge: =resign
5 To take it ge[n]tylly.
She dyd nothing repyn.

Wherfore away all payn.
For now I am right sure
Pyte in hir doth rayn
10 That hath my hert in cur.


Finis
¶Dryuen by dissyr to set affection.
A great way alas aboue my degre
Chosen I am I thinke by election.
To couet that thing that will not be.

5 I serue in loue not lyke to sped.
I loke alas a lytell to hye.
Agaynst my will I do in-ded.
Couet that thing that will not be.

My fanzy alas doth me so bynd
10 That I can se no remedy
But styll to folow my folych mind.
ref.ed: 82
sig: [E1v]
And couet that thing that wyll not be.

I hopyd well whan I began
And sens the proue is contrary.
15 Why shold I any longer than.
Couet that thing that wyll not be.

But rather to leaue now at the last.
Then styll to folowe fanzy.
Content with the payn that is past
20 And not couet that thing that will not be.


Finis.

The pylgrymse tale.

¶In lincolneshyr fast by the fene.
Ther stant a hows and you yt ken.
And callyd sempynham of religion.
And is of an old foundation
5 Buyldyt full many a yer ago.
To helpe sowllis out of there payn and wo.
Or ellis tho beyn begyled
At whos cost such houses were byld
But there I was as fortune showpe
10 A_fore I ouer the fen toke.
Toward walsingham apon my pelgrymag
I had caght in myn hed suche a dotag.
That the gren gat I had more delit to folow
ref.ed: 83
sig: E2
Then of deuotion to seke the halowe
15 and at this town were-as this hows stant
Of good lodgyng we can non want
But in myn In or euer I to[ke] my eace. toke] to 1538
To walke about it did me best pleace
Ouer a brydg thorow a gren meyd
20 Where I might behold in euery sted.
The greate buyldyng of this obbey
Strong ynoghe t[h]oughe it were not gay thoughe] toughe 1538
The houses of office on and other
Where-on of leyd lay many a fowther
25 Wer well I_bylt and of a great costag
And forther with-out as is the vsag.
About the cowrt the barns of great strenghe
Wer bylt and the stablys in lenghe
Were wyd and fayr and comly for to se.
30 Saue sum-thing in ruin as thought me
Th[e]y were I_fall and not so well vphold They] Thy 1538
As thy had beyn by other days old.
Whan for there bred men vsed to swynk
And erne ther met or that they drynk
35 As austen wrytys to them in heremo.
and wold suche brethren shold do so.
For he that by husbandry wyll t[h]ryue and the thryue] tryue 1538
Must not trust in go but in now goe we.
Therfore the labourers tho monk barnardyns.
ref.ed: 84
sig: [E2v]
40 Came in reproffe, of the benedictins.
Then was good housses and hospytalite
And they estemyd for men of honeste.
For then thy wroght and labouryd with ther hand.
and fed with suche they gat or suche as they fand
45 Ner was not as the bord seruid with couerd mese.
Suche super_fluyte was had for nedles
Ner at tho days there was no suche presumption.
That thorow there prayer there shold be redemption
Ner of massys no suche multitude
50 For a_mongst, an hundreth this is of certitude.
Of thes religyuse brethre[n], as I can red
Where skarse .ii. prestes out of dred. Where: =were
Benet which was an holy man
Was a brother and no pryst as I here can.
55 and gat his lyuyng with labour of his hand.
Tho days obediens in religion was fand.
Francis was no prest but callid him-selue a brother
Which working taught no man to be a begger
For yf that he had taught beggyng
60 Then had he done agaynst godis byding.
And agaynst the order of charyte.
Excepd they be hold blynd lame or sykly.
But as I wanderyd here to and fro.
From place to place, alon as I dyd go.
65 Loking on the old and antyk bulding.
In myn eyr behynd I herde a bussinge
ref.ed: 85
sig: E3
and for at the fyrst I dyd him not se.
I thought yt had beyn the dran-be
That out of the hyue is dryuen for ydelnes
70 and then it was a brother in his holynes.
Which of the hous was sum officer
Be_lyke the bowcer or the tresurer
Or sum rowm ellis I thinke he had
A solome man that small chere made.
75 It was not met to suche a man as he.
To take acquantans in low degre
Except it were a knyght or a lord. knyght] knynght 1538
That mor to his appetyd dyd accord
Then could he fation in the best wyce.
80 Many a de[yn]te dyche in seruys. deynte] denyte 1538
And handell him-selue full fayr at his table.
And therto had men, seruychable.
That low on kne with keuering of his cupe.
Cwold saue his clothis from fallinge any drope
85 The cronikis old from kynge Arthur.
He could reherse and of his founder
Tell full many a whorthy story.
Wher this man walked there was no farey.
Ner other spiritis for his blessynges
90 and munbling of his holy thinges
Did vanquyche them from euery buch and tre.
There is no nother incubus but he
For chaucer sathe in the sted of the quen elfe.
ref.ed: 86
sig: [E3v]
[Ther walketh now the limitour himself] line supplied by Fraser
95 For whan that the incubus dyd fle
Yt was to bringe .vii. worse than he
and that is the cause there beyn now no fareys
In hallis bowris kechyns ner dyris.
Thes holy men beyn thus about sp[re]d spred] sperd 1538
100 Thorow all this lond in euery sted.
Of there awn retenue they weare the differens.
To whom they haue professyd there obediens.
For euere valeant and worthy warryor
Perde is known by his cote-armor
105 There-for this men, known must be.
By differe[n]s to whom they haue vowyd there chastite differens] differes 1538
What rekis them, the sayng of paull
Which wylnith to men we shall not call.
We ought not playn by there [t]eachyng. teachyng] cheachyng 1538
110 To gyue credens ner red suche wryting.
Suffisyth ynoghe to ther dome.
To do as our elders haue don
To mok and dissayue, men of there lyuelod
In making beleue in there brother_hod
115 Wher we shold only beleue in christis name
As we be taught, of the churche our dam
Ner a_mo[n]gst ourselues to haue suche sectis. a_mongst] a_mogst 1538
Which the innocent people sore infectis
Deuyding christ as in_sufficient.
120 To simple wyttis a great incomberment
ref.ed: 87
sig: E4
In dyuerse colors flekyd lyke a pye.
Sum gurd with ropis to seme holy
Sum go barfot and sum go showd.
and euere secte hath a straunge God.
125 To whom they teache the people to call
In this on they aggre they be hodyt all
and ellis euere on other doth deny
Amongst them-[s]elue ther is suche enuy selue] felue 1538
The dominikis hold vp thomas_the_aquin
130 That then douns he shold be better deuyne
and the minors agayn with hasty breth.
Defendis dou[n]s euen to the deth.
Th[e] carmel[i]tes haue set vp albert. The] Tha 1538; carmelites] carmelltes 1538
The hermytes with austen takis part
135 Greatly requyring to gyue him the fame
But not to folow but only his name.
Wher-with the chanons can not agre.
But clamis him of there relygion to be
and yet amongst them there is dispyt
140 Sum goth in blak and sum in whyt
The whyt refusis the blak for his brother
and sayth they be not of that chapter
Of the mendicantes ther be orders fowr
Which haue mad many a ryche man powr.
145 and yf it be as old men sayn.
They spryng out of the name of caym.
ref.ed: 88
sig: [E4v]
For euen as abell was slayn with his brother
So be thos slayn that trust in that order.
And by a false fayth cleyn dismist
150 That haue not holy beleue in Christ
Heremittes there be that holdyse of paul
But I can not tell you be my soule.
Whether ther were any such or no
That constitute ydell bekers to go.
155 There be other that be anthonyn
But he whom I salute was gylbertin
Full loue reuerens I made with kne.
And ouer his sholder [he] lokyd a_wry. he] she 1538
As thoughe he sawe me it was ynoghe
160 Toward the churche I me droghe.
For I herd tell that by foundation.
Of bothe the sixis there was religion.
The women where closyd vp by the vysiter
You know what perrele it is together.
165 To ley hyrdis fast vnto the fyer. hyrdis: see OED s.v. hards, hurds, 'tough bits of flax'.
Which so[n]e to kyndyll is in daunger.
But all this whyell I was in great moon.
For that I was [by] my-selue, and company had non. by] 1538 omits
Whan in the churche that I spyed walkyng
170 A comely pryst and a welfaryng.
Lokyng in the wyndows all about.
As thoughe sum old armis, he wher sekyng out.
In a shord gown gurd by the wast.
ref.ed: 89
sig: [E5]
And a cersurt hod ouer his sholders cast. cersurt: Fraser suggests circuit.
175 With a blak fryng hempyd al about
Slyt sum-thing before and takyd in a lowpe.
His gown sleue was narow at the hand
In whom he bare a Ioly whyt wand.
He ware his geyr full well and semly.
180 His bottis sat cleyn, and claspyd feytuosly
Rownd-visagyd and sum-thing son-ybrent
He loked not as he were closter pent
From place to place he dyd about rowm
He semyd a master whan he was at home
185 I longyd sum tydynges of him to [h]eare heare] eare 1538
Because I toke him to be a straunger
Thinking him rather to incly[n]e.
Because we ware both perrygryne
And dyssiryd him hertely of his curtesy.
190 Of that fundation to show me the anscetry.
He told me sum-tym, that borne in that vilage.
Was on gylbert that of a page
Was there brought vp an holy man
Which this relygion fyrst began.
195 And so thorow-out the hole story.
I kepyd it well in memory.
Dessyring him to s[h]ow me what he thought show] swow 1538
In his consciens whan he had sought
Whether mans rule is so to be regardit
200 And how he him-selue beleued to be rewardyt.
ref.ed: 90
sig: [E5v]
By godis will and by his byding
Or ellis by tradition of mens inuentyng
and then he dyd planly confesse
That mans work was wrechydnes.
205 and to the corintheans he could rehers
That in mans work we shold not reIoce
For paull him-selue wold haue yet known
That mans work is our own
For wether it be he cephas or apollo
210 That is our awn what-euer we do.
Which is nought whan we do best.
Exceptyd only our faith in christ.
The thing for good that we pretend.
Takis non effect as meritoriuse end.
215 Therfore merit in vs is non.
But in our redemer christ alon.
Abraam Isac and Iacob.
Samuel ely ner patient Iobe
For ther workes lay in pryson fast
220 Tell the kyng of glory in brast
and fechyd them out wer-as they ley.
We must [be] delyuered. by the same key be] 1538 omits
and not by man ner in his inuention.
For there ruell is but confucion.
225 For it is expresse agaynst godis beading
That we to his ruell shold mak any adyng
Ner with any-thing thought it seme right
[............................]A line has dropped out here
ref.ed: 91
sig: [E6]
But humbly besekyng of syns remision
230 Sayeng (demite) by christis instruction.
and this he gaue it in ruell generall
In tokyn that we be synners all
Now be that lord (quod I) that makid me.
I lytell thought that in this contre
235 Had ben any so perfyt at Iudgment.
and he answerd yes verament
But we dar not for the bishops preche
Ner the people instruct and teache
Wher ot[h]er tyller they do non know other] otber 1538
240 But him that the cokyll doth sowe
That makis them knell to stokis and stons
and kyse and offer to rottyn bons.
and god wot here is full small diligens.
To show the people there obedyens.
245 Which they ought aboue all-thing
To god him-selue and to ther kyng
Which vnder him hath here the gueuernans
and made our hed by godis ordinans
To whom is gyuen his houll power.
250 Both to pu[n]yche and vs to socour punyche] puyche 1538
First to correct he beris the swerd.
and we offend by goddis word.
and second he shall prefer and leyd
The well-doer in euer[y] sted. euery] euer 1538
255 and by christ him-selue put in this degre.
ref.ed: 92
sig: [E6v]
Whan it was takin from the clergy
When they wer warnid from suche presumpcion
Not for to tak no iurisdiction
But he that wold haue the preferment
260 To be ther ministre shold be diligent
As Christ himselue to teache vs nought for_gett
[.......................]A line has dropped out here
And first he dyd yt and after he taght
Thes wordis sayd he haue I caght
265 Whiche put me cleyn, owt of dowt
That bisshopis to kingis shold lowt
Ner amongst them to haue no hed
For christ him-selue it for_beyd
And confirmid kingis in suche renown
270 Next him in erthe to haue dominion
But her he sayd cowd I tell a tall tall: =tale (occurs 3x)
Now I pray the quod I vnbu[kl]e thy malle malle: =mail (bag, pack)
vnbukle] vnbulke 1538See OED s.v. unbulk

And tell forthe the bisshop is not her
275 His su[m]ner the officiall ner yet his chansler sumner] summer 1538
And as we walkid with that he stayd
And with an othe confirmid and said
That I had reher[s]id nothing but papry. rehersid] reherhid 1538
Sprong owt of Antichrist full of foxry
280 And of the chansler of lichfeld begon to spek
But I desyrid him not his fast to breke
For I knew wel christis ente[n]t
Was ne[u]er to set prist on Iugment
But to teache men in-to better lyf
285 And not cruelly to sle with blody knif
ref.ed: 93
sig: [E7]
Well sayd he interrupt me no more
My tall I will begin wher I le[f]t befor left] lest 1538
But fyrst or I can bring mi purpos
I must his contrary disclos
290 The son of perdition it is a strang term
And began in iudas as I can deser[n]e
Which for mony sold his master
And now they be growin in-to a gretter number
Whiche be sprong out of iudas succession
295 Ther cheffe captay[n] of transgression
Dothe paull spek of to the tessalonians
That in this world hathe do[n] so muche greuans
Which shall not be known to the vttermost
But wha[n] ther coms a dissention first
300 For thes that from christ be appostalat
Deuidit in-to sectis in_ordinat
Agaenst godis ordinans be rebellion
And as fyndis in hell full of dissention
And dothe extoll ther awn noghtihod
305 Aboue all that is called god
In the temple sitti[n]g an vnmet thing
Showi[n]g him-selue as heuenly kyng
Scriptur dothe show and determin
That he shall be opinid in his tyme
310 Whiche is constitut and by god set
It is not ther burning that can it let. ther] ther ther 1538
Ther mischeu[f]fe tyranny ner cruelnes mischeuffe] mischeunfe 1538
Clokyd with ypocracy and falsnes
ref.ed: 94
sig: [E7v]
He shalbe shoude and his iniquite
315 The son of perdition perde
Whom Iesus_christ with the s[har]p rod sharp] strap 1538
Of the spirit of his mothe which is God
Shall destroy and make lyght his workyng.
That in sathan workis many strang thing.
320 and illude the people thorow there craftynes
There mokis there mous and there feynid holynes
In all dissayt full of iniquyte.
Repungnant to god and to his verite.
This is the woma[n] the sorcerus wich
325 Whom Iohn saw in the apocalips
Syting apon a monsterus best
With .vii. hedis and .x. hornis m[o]st odiust most] must 1538
The woman that this best bestrod
Was gorgi[u]sly be_seyn as she rod
330 In purple with stons set so well
Most rychestly chast with margarites euery-dell
I[n] hir hand she [b]ar a golden cupe bar] kar 1538
Were-in was venom euery drope
With whom she norichyd hir abhomination
335 and caused the people to comit fornication.
For we be called fornicators
When tyme we be ydolotors
and take antychrist for our hed
and not the kyng which is in christis sted
340 Of whom anon partly tell I shall
ref.ed: 95
sig: [E8]
But first the prophet of antichristes fall.
I will declare and sum-thing tell
and of this howr this leyder to hell
In whos forhed was wrytyn babylon.
345 The great mother of fornication
For out of this monster is sprong
Thes ydell lobers that do suche wrong
and takis the swet [f]rom true mens face. from] srom 1538
I beseke god amend it for his grace.
350 For when the son of man enteris his kyngdom
Then shall they know what wrong they haue done.
and say thes be they whom we had in derision.
and Iugyd them folyche in our opynyon
For they dyd labour toyle and swet
355 To get power clothes and to ther bely meat
and now be they takyn amongst the children of god.
and we expellyd for our ydelhod
We insensat haue eryd from the way of trueth.
With-out light of Iustyce now to our ruthe
360 and haue mad our-selue wery in the way of perdition
Walking strayt-ways to bryng vs to destruction
Yt trust in our-selue and owr workes hath vs ouerthrow
Because the way of god we dyd not know
What now aua[y]lyth our ryches and pryd auaylyth] auallyth 1538
365 All saue our ydelnes doth from vs slyd
As much to say oure closters ner farmeris
Wt [w]hom we haue bleryd innocent eys whom] withhom 1538
ref.ed: 96
sig: [E8v]
Wher we were wont to work the workes of falsnes
Is now obiect to oure opprobbryusnes
370 Iohn sath he saw this woman dronk
That this multitude of sectis hath sonk
Of the bloud of many an holy martyr
And of Iesu_christ many a confessore
For this is to be noted in generall.
375 That vnder the clok of patrons they be al
Where-of sum wher marters in-dede.
And sum fore the trueth dyd neuer a drope bled
But wher frau[we]rd disobedient and surquidus frauwerd] fraurd 1538
Agaynst there own princes presu[m]ptu[o]se presumptuose] presuptunse 1538
380 And suche as to princes be not obedient
Be a[n]tichristes against God repungnant
But this howr of Babylon that hath regnid so long
Yt hath not beyn by trueth but by strong hand
I can not expresse I ha[ue] [n]on such wyt. haue] han 1538
385 How in euery part theyr sectis were set
Quyckly to accuse them that begon to spye.
By reyding of scripture to se there heresy.
And then all such must be burned.
Or ellis ab_Iuryd and to hething s[c]ornyd hething s[c]ornyd: see OED s.v. hething
390 s[c]ornyd] stornyd 1538
The multitude of the people beleued them well.
That from god by inspyration dyd not feyl
Her in this contrey contynus the infection.
Yet styll of antechrist which causis insurrection.
395 For it is only the old pharizes pretens.
ref.ed: 97
sig: F1
To kepe the people in ingnorans
Styll in egipt vnder pharo thrall
For by bloud-shed they hop to be kepyd in stall.
Euen as nature doth them bynd
400 For they be come of ca[in]s kynd cains] cams 1538
To whos sacrifyce god had no respect
But as ysay saith doth them cleyn abiect
For wher the seyd of god is vnsawn
For his ner his children they be not known
405 There-for to this ignorant rebels
Ysay the prophet this tall tels
And bydyse them here the word of god
In [f]erful termis for there noghtyhod ferful] serful 1538
Which knew before of there sodomi.
410 and so callis them and of gomory.
The princes wich be infernall
Fygured in daniell by beall
And bydis them to godis word gyue heryng
And of ther sacrify[c]e to make leauyng sacrifyce] sacrifyre 1538
415 And saith when you shall come to my presens
Then shall I ask who gaue you lycens.
With-in my gat to take suche presumption.
This is not spoken without great occasion
Of thes which wylbe ministers
420 And vnder such pretens be_come masters
When of them-selue they be callyd alon
and not of god as was aaron.
ref.ed: 98
sig: [F1v]
And therfore there shalbe no religion
Not truely plantyd without destruction
425 Thes be the prophesys that we shold trust vnto.
and not in false lyes that we be inhibyt fro
It is a praty pownt to mark the crafty wyttis.
That on both the partis hath set there delitis.
To moue the people to ther awn part.
430 Where them-selue dyd most apply there hert
For sum soght antechristes distruction.
And sum agayne of the contrary opynyon
Dyd lyes inuent and set them out in prophesy
In hope to alure the people therby
435 Thorow which vndowtyd many hath beyn slayn.
That haue put trust in suche fablis vayn.
And thes that folow suche niffels and fablis.
They cary them in bowsums and writyn in tablis
By the harolydis termis they call him the lyon.
440 The son and the mon and the dredfull a dragon.
and how the barns shall ryse ful blythe
Be_tweyn the sykyll and the syth.
Thes prophesis come of the deuyll.
Which is perseyued be there end euyll.
445 As martin_swarthe and many an-other mo.
Hath mischeffe asked vengens and wo.
On them that suche craft cowd
Enuent to sheyd crystyn mens bloud.
Perkyn_wer[b]ek and Iak_straw. werbek] werkek 1538
ref.ed: 99
sig: F2
450 And now of lat owr cobler the dawe.


¶an exclamation of the auctor agaynst sathan owr old ennemy.

¶O wycked worme to penaunce conIuryd
And of god him-selfe first accorsyd.
Amongst all creatures most to be aborred
By whom in-to this world came first
455 The fal of man tell me how thou durst
Presum to ryse most vngraciouse beast.
And so by god inputed to crepe apon thy brest

O false pretens of grati[u]se pilgramage
For the comyn-welth which is the destrower.
460 Wyll thu neuer leue to bryng folke in dotage
Which of all lyes was the fyrst father
Euen so of eue thou wast the disayuer
To comen-welthe thou sayd men shold be brought.
Of all thy begynnynges the end is noght

465 Thou wase thy-selue the fyrst rebellyon
and therfore eiect down in-to hell
Not geuying due honor was thy confusyon
Wt god and his ordinans thou wold mell
and euyn lyke thes innocentes compell.
470 Workyng in thy-selue antichristes clerkes
Thy sha[u]yllynges thy ministerys of bealles markes. shauyllynges: 'tonsured priests'

For euyn as adam hyd him for shame
Whan he had broken godis commaundment.
ref.ed: 100
sig: [F2v]
So wold the rebellions alas wo can them blame. rebellions: =rebels; wo: =who
475 There awn conscio[n]s must nedis be ther Iugment
By fals temptacion hoping preferment. temptacion] temtptacion 1538
No-thing to haue deseruyd but cruell dethe
Wo [w]orthe that worm that euer it drue brethe. worthe] morthe 1538

That be_twyx sowll and spryt hath put dissention
480 Thorow which the sowll is banychid cleyn.
That with the spryt of god afore was in vnion
In paradyce, now it must no mor be seyn.
In the same case our rebellions beyn
Eiect for breking godis ordinans.
485 And greuously accursyd for ther disobediens

The spryt is desolat from thes rebellions
and called woman for lak of a make
Which in the apocalipis in pay[n]s dolorus
payns] pays 1538
490 To bryng forth and be delyuered doth tak
Great payns and this is for owr sake
Promysed by god that the womans seyd
Shold distroy and breke this fals serpentis heyd.

Which dragon stondis ready to deuor
495 With .vii. hedis an odius beast
And ten great horns styf and stowr
That in-to malis is dayle encreasyd.
And diademis .vii. apon thes hedis be impressyd.
ref.ed: 101
sig: F3
And with hir tayll the steris out of heuyn rownd
500 The thred part pullid, and thrown to grond.

This is antichrist the howr of babylon
Spoke of agayn in this same bok.
Waching the woman hir chyldis destruction
Whom god from heuin preseruid and toke
505 It is the son of man yf you lyst to lok
This world for to ruell, with the yron rod
This must be true yt is both man and god

And here doth your prophesy take effect
Agaynst the son of man sedeci[u]sly to ryce.
510 Yf scripture be true they shalbe subiect.
For we taking godis part must them dispyce
Thes be our papystes rotyd in malis
Waching godis word as ner as they can.
Whych now is come forth by the son of man

515 The true church of god figuryd in the woma[n].
That fled to wyldernes for a space
And for fer of this dragon durst not be known
Tyll the sonne of man be brought to his place
Which shall thes dragon deuour and chace
520 With moses rod turnyd in-to a serpent.
To eate vp the ask manteyned by enchantment ask: 'venemous newt'

ref.ed: 102
sig: [F3v]
O what reIosyng it is to a noble hert.
To se goddes prophesy fulfylled in owr tyme
Come home owt of egipt in heyll and quart quart: 'health'
525 This was figuryd in owr layde mother and virgyn.
Which syngnifyd a space as god did determene
That we vnder this dragon shold suffer payn.
Tyll restorment by the minister of the son of man

Of whom I haue herd many on spek.
530 That knew god wot ful lytyll what it ment
Were-in the .ii. natures them-selue doth not brek.
I mene god and man, mad at_onment.
In the last adam, there is suche agrement
That from this diuinite, christ will ne can
535 It is the selue-sam, that is the son of man.

Right hand the father, he syttis omnipotent
Thorow his diui[n]ite, ful hye in trown.
From whens he is to come, at the Iugment.
To Iodge the sowll that is sounken downe.
540 From the spryt of God, and wyll not be bown
At all tyms ready for to fulfyll
Her apon erth his commaundment and wyll

Euyn as heuyn is seyt to his deyte
and is his kyngdom, of very right
545 So apon erth thorow his humanite.
ref.ed: 103
sig: F4
Doth he dissend and there-on lyght.
It is his fot-stull, and rullis with his might
Of very congruens, by power imperiall.
In the misticall man his substitute regal

550 Moses dyd fygure, the kyng apon erthe.
Segnifyeng the spiryt, aboue the sowll
To whom was comytted to kepe in helth
Record to aaron whom he dyd controle.
The spirit ys the son the mo[n]e is the sowll
555 The mon is a subiect, of very right
Vnto the son of whom she takis here lyght.

Paull spekis whan he wryttys to thymothy
and shows the mis[c]heffe of thes sundry sectis. mischeffe] misheffe 1538
and how thes be they that refusys veryte
560 Which the ingnorant people in_fectis.
They tak no lyght, wher they be subiectis
Therfor he confers them, to Iannes and ma[m]bres mambres] manbres 1538
Rebellers to god and his ministre moses

But paull tretynis them to be ouer_trown
565 As Ianes and mambres were at that season
and from hensforth openly to be known.
There ingnorant folyche rebellion
Of the spryt of god hauyng non intellection
But resisting moses godis minister.
ref.ed: 104
sig: [F4v]
570 Folowyng antichrist out of godis order

Thes thinges are wryten, for our instruction.
So hath paull to the corinthyans.
And shows how many hath suffreth distruction.
Which crepyd not vnder godis gouernans
575 Our rebellions I trow be alians
To dat[h]an and abiron the trueth to tell. dathan] datban 1538
For resistinge moses that sonk vnto hell.

By owr lord quod I this is well sayd
I durst haue sworn or my nek layd
580 Yt had beyn true that merlyn did tell
Afore I herd it repungne the gospell.
Thuche quod he ther was no suche man.
Gotyn by the deuyll se[n]se the world began.
Or let vs ymagin that it be so.
585 As we may the blak swan or the whyt crow.
Hath not paull warnyd vs wher he doth tell.
That we shold not beleue an angell.
From heuyn in the ayr fley[n]g.
Yf he teache agaynst godis bidinge
590 Which in his testament we may reyd
And bownd to bele[u]e as owr cred.
Thus ymagining it doth aper playn
That antichrist in all them doth rayn.
That beleue in the deuyls loor.
ref.ed: 105
sig: [F5]
595 To desayue vs styll as he had don before
Thes be they that paull callis heritykis
Which after monicion from vs inhibitis.
Christen men shold not with thes monsteris mell
Which do beleue in the deuyle of hell
600 Yf lucifer had dryuen god out of heuyn.
Then shold merlyn haue kepyd his steuyn.
You spok (quod I) of the son and the mone.
Of whom I dessyr to here interpretation
Thos be matters (he sayd) misticall
605 And be very hyghe and theologicall
The son is the spryt and so doth it syngnify
Beleue not me, but reyd exody
That whan moses apon the mont syon.
Had of the lord owr creator a vysion
610 For bryghtnes the people cowld not behold.
Of the son-beames yt can not be told.
The clernes and light that from him did spryng
Of quykyng and lyf it was a presentyng.
For the letter ther-to hym geuyng.
615 By god was of the spryt a fyguryng.
Vs to reuiue at suche tym and whan. reuiue] reuyuiue 1538
The selue spryt vnit to the son of man.
I persaue quod I that moses is the spryt
No perde he sayd but figure it
620 And euyn so dyd he fygure the sone.
From whom all light and knowleg doth come.
ref.ed: 106
sig: [F5v]
and now do I say that merlyn was a donine donine: diuine? domine?
and no deuyll as deuels determine
For if he were a fend, and spok carnally
625 Necessyte compellis it a fals prophesy
But thus dyd he take the sprit for heuyn-kyng.
Which in the sowll shold haue his byding
and now doth the mon losse hir light.
Not resayuing the spryt aganst all right
630 For that sowll is perished and ded
Where the spryt of god is not hed
and this is euen it the vnnaturall thinge
Out of his awn realm to ba[n]iche the kyng.
For christ is a ky[n]g god and man
635 and also a pryst as I lear cane
Marke of his kyngdom Iohn his diuinite
Luke of his prysthod mathu the humanite
Dyd wryt and therfore take hed.
For thes be the true prophycis in-ded
640 It is marke that is callyd the lyon.
I meyn the gospell and Iohn the faulcon.
Whos frendes shall set opyn the gates
Vnder_stond by our good prelatis.
To let truthe entre you know which is he
645 That callis him-selue the way and veryte.
Which hath byn banyched from his kyngdom.
Wher-of babylon hath r[e]gned howrdom regned] rygned 1538
The lyon the oxe the man and the faulcon.
ref.ed: 107
sig: [F6]
All thes in on be son of man.
650 Prophysed to ruell with his yron rod.
It is his very word which is god
In the ymage of christ the last adam.
Both son of god, and son of man
In whom we be bownd to work our meyt.
655 Of god marked whan we it truly geyt
Ministerid vnto vs by the lyon.
The misticall ymage of the son of man
Institute and put in godis sted
Ouer sowll and body to be our hed.
660 Not only our hed but body and all
The misticall man and so we may hym call.
In vs he hath his operation.
As body in members by due proportion.
It is a wonder to se scripturs agre
665 It passis man it is so heuenly
and as moche mistery of the wordis rysyng
As euer was of christis comyng.
I am satisfed quod I what merlyn ment.
Bede sayd he coms euyn to the same entent
670 For all the dessyr and policy
Was to dryue it in-to hedis witty
That the pope was antichrist, and the howr of babylon .
And shold haue a fall and destruction.
A ded man shold ryse dukis to deme
675 Then after that all quiet and queme
ref.ed: 108
sig: [F6v]
The true minister lying a_mort longe.
Shold his awn autor[yy]te in-to his hond fonge. autoryte] autorte 1538
and then he asked me and I were cantibrygion
I sayd no I was an oxonion
680 There haue you herd sayd he a prophesy.
Which is true without any lye.
Hoc magnum studium quod floret ad vada bo[u]um Ante finem seculi. etc
I haue herd it quod I full oft a_forne
And therto my-selue on a boke swor[n]
685 Neuer with-in stampford to reyd logyk.
Diuinite phylosophy ner yet retoryk
For fer that oxford which once was floryching
Shold remoue to stampford for gud learnyng
I told you before there was crafty wyttis.
690 And thus he sayd apon both the partis
For they that inuentyd that othe fyrst
Of god him-selue be accurst
Ther was a prouerbe I knew wan.
Callyd turnyng the cate in the pane
695 For that that was spoken in the spryt.
In the fleche they wold haue vs to tak yt
So wold they haue vs to tak merlyn
As thoughe spiritually he had known no feling
But thus this prophesy is vnderstond.
700 That oxford now which is bond
Vnder the howr the monsterus beaste
ref.ed: 109
sig: [F7]
and is here ford for most and least
That there doth pease thorow any degre
Mantenythe babylon vtterly
705 Saue the good yo[u]th begy[n]s to spryng youth] yoth 1538
And of the well of lyf to haue tasting
Which water christ promysyd than
At Iacobs well to the samaritane
And leuis the slechy podell full of frogis
710 To the old cenkanter phariziecall dogis. cenkanter: see OED, s.v. Fraser suggests cankered.
Where-in ther delyte is spytfull chyding.
I beseke god send them a mending
To fulfyll the prophesy thorow the ford of stone.
In which pathe-way christ byld apon.
715 And leaue ther falshed craft and lyes.
Suffering the word of god to ryse
Wt that he stod and toke his leaue.
Dissiring me my-selue not greue
Of his tarying ner his long tale
720 And I besought god to kepe him out of bale
Saue I longyd sor yf euer we met agan
Of the blak flet of norwey me to say[n].
He sayd he durst not i[t] dis[c]lose it] il 1538; disclose] dislose 1538
But bad me reyd the romant of the rose
725 The thred leafe Iust from the end.
To the secund page ther he dyd me send
Wher I shold se mater plenty ynoghe
Saue only vnder the coler of the wolfe
ref.ed: 110
sig: [F7v]
Is conferyd al the stinking fuet. fuet: =feute?
730 So the hunters call it whan they mak ther suet
The lyzard the polcat the fox and fulmerd
Which with the dr[a]gon takis part dragon] drogon 1538
To deuor the chyld the so[n] of ma[n]
Or ellis a lyon in his kyngdom
735 The egle or the falcon whan he flys on hye.
In the calue or the oxe misteris be.
As well in the old tyme there fation and gyes
As of his awn selue the sacrifice
But the wolfe wol neuer owt of his hyd
740 Tyll first he be flayn both bely bak and syd
He prayd me thes .vi. sta[u]is for to marke
Whiche be chaucers awn hand-wark

¶Thus moche woll our boke syngnify
That whyle peter hath mastery
745 May neuer Iohn show well his myght.
Now haue I declaryd right
The meyning of the bark and rynd.
That makis the ententions blynd.

¶And by and by he doth away fle.
750 and conu[e]ys him-selue as it had neuer beyn he conueys] conuys 1538
But I beseke god Iohn may haue his might
and the son of man to posses his right
In his kyngly ymage to haue his ministre Fragment breaks off here, bottom of F7v