A Dialogue Defensive for Women

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¶A Dyalogue defensyue for women / agaynst malycyous detractoures.

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¶The Prologue.

¶To the ryght worshypfull and his synguler good maystres Arthur_hardberde Robert_Uaghane sendeth moste harty gretynge.

TO you maystres Arthur, my seruyce premysed

As reason of ryght, requyreth to recompence

Your gentle herte, whiche hath nat despysed

Afore this tyme, to take with beneuolence

My wrytynges vnworthye, full of vayne sentence

Whiche kyndnes consydered, good cause doth constrayne

And dewty me dryueth, to do my dylygence

With some small gyfte, for to requyte agayne.

¶Your bownteous benygnytie, imboldeth my rudenes

This treatyse folowynge, vnto you to dedycate

Whiche to myne handes, occurryde doubtles

As I on my Iourney, was rydynge but late

By a frende of myne, with whom I was assocyate

As by chaunce I alyghted, at a certayne place

Whiche wylled me than, that I wolde algate

Go forth and talke with hym, a lytell space.

¶Than secretly, he dyd vnto me commyt

Agaynst detraction, this dyalogue defensyue

For the woman sakes, both necessary and fyt

Whan preuye reprehendeth, agaynst them lyst to stryue

Of whose vyce the circumstaunce, he playnely doth dyscryue

That throughe auaryce, the syn insacyable

Detractours swarme, as bees aboute an hyue

Where felonous flatery, to them is profytable.

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¶I toke the volume, and rede therin apase

And well perceyued at the fyrste syght

It was fayned in fauour, of one in your case

Howebeit I wolde nat aske hym, what she hyght

But vnto hym, I sayde anone full ryght

What is your mynde, that I herin do shall

For fayne I wolde, yf it lay in my myght

Your mynde accomplysshe, what-soeuer befall.

¶I wolde sayde he, yf it your pleasure were

That you wolde vouchsaue, at my hande to take

This lytell smale volume, your name for to bere

Whose fantasye with faynynge, is set for to make

Lest slaunder perchaunce, his sharpe sowne out_shake

To moue me [by] malyce, whiche onely meane rest by] 1542 omits

Your name may cause, suche noyses to asslake

Therfore present it, where-as you thynke best.

¶Than in my mynde, I thought that you were

Your cause consydered, and also your estate

Moste worthy to whom, I myght sende or bere

It to present, or els to dedycate

And because it declareth, howe the Pyes do prate

And what them causeth, suche pratynge to vse

I trust in God, it shall your mynde recreate

Throughe to rede it, yf you wyll nat refuse.

¶And of your thankes, to me I requyre

No parte at all, sens myne is nat the payne

But of your gentylnes, I humbly you desyre

That he may haue thankes, that labours doth sustayne

And as to my-selfe, no thanke I wyll clayme

Sens thanke to payne, is euer consequent

Yet natwithstandynge, whyle lyfe doth remayne

Myne herte and seruyce, shall be at your commaundement.

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¶This Dyalogue, as Dyamonde derely dyght

And as a (we[r]ke) moste worthely wrought werke] weke 1542

Shynynge with eloquence, as starre doth of lyght

Me-thynkes that you, of reason moste ought

As she that with payne, experyence hath bought

Haue in your custodye, as answere for your cause

As the free Fawcon, hath you herin taught

Your-selfe to defende, agaynst pyes and dawse.

FINIS.

¶ Robert_Uaghane to the reader.

REde gentyll Reader, all rygour set aparte

Onely with indyfferencye, ponder this argument

Be nat weyde with wylfulnes, that ofte doth trewth subuarte

Enter let no parcyallytye in iudgement

Remembre this rule, that Iustyce in election

Taketh no place in wyll nor affection.

¶Bende nat then in Iudgement, althoughe parchaunce

Unto the hath be extended, a auncyent occasyon

Requyrynge agaynst women, to haue thy defyaunce

Do nat consent, to suche a lyght parswasyon

Euer consyder, it is a made affection

To iudge all vnparfyte, thoughe one lacke parfection.

¶Raylynge without reason, voyde of humanytye

Outragynge and lewde, for lacke of intellygence

Blynded throughe ygnoraunce, with mystes of sensualytye

Euermore the Pye, setteth out her sentence

Relatynge her malyce, by vniust accusacyon

This shall ye perceyue, by the Fawcons declaracyon.

¶Bestowe nat then thy laboure, to prate with the Pye

Uniustly accusynge, thy nowrysshe and mother

Rede and recorde, howe the Fawcon doth replye

Defendynge the femalles, with Aucthours one and other

Euermore aledged, and noted in the mergent

The gentyll reader, to satysfye and content.

FINIS.

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¶The Aucthour speaketh.

IN the moneth of Decembre, when phebus the bright

With his mocyon had entered in-to the fyrst degre

Of Capricorne, whan longe is the nyght

And the day-tyme, moste in breuytie

Than snowes lyeth depe, vpon the hylles hye

Waters congyled, in-to yse harde and thycke

Trees, Plantes, and Herbes, seme than to dye

Fewe thynges growynge, appere to be quycke

The wether moste bytter, with wyndes sharpe and colde

Causeth great company, togyther to resorte

Unto the fyre-syde, where ale good and olde

Merely they drynke, theyr hertes to comforte

Early in a mornynge, in this moneth of Decembre

From slepe I arose, and to my studye went

Before all thynges than, I dyd remembre

That tyme of euery man, shuld frutefully be spent

At the fyrste by chaunce, I red an oracyon

Moste pleasauntly set forth, with flowers rethorycall

Descrybynge the monstruous vyce of detraction

The dowghter of e[nu]ye, the furye infernall

Whose pestylent poyson, as cankar doth crepe

Amonge all people, in Cytie, Tower, and Towne

Bryngynge Innocentes, in-to paynes depe

And from theyr good names, it doth them cast downe

By readynge this Aucthour, I was pensyfe in my harte

As one that had proued, his wordes to be trewe

Sorowes constrayned me, to lay this boke aparte

The remembraunce therof, my paynes dyd renewe

Anone I espyed in the Oryent

That dame Aurora, to me dyd apeare

And the Sonne with his beames, as golde resplendent

To our Orizont, began to drawe neare

With spede than my studye, and bokes, I dyd forsake

Intendynge all thoughtes, from my mynde to expell

And towarde a Forest, the way dyd I take

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Nat far from the partyes, where I dyd dwell

In this Forest fayre, as I walked a whyle

Beholdynge hye trees, with armes longe and wyde

Sodaynly within the space of a myle

An Arbour moste pleasaunt, there I espyde

To that place of pleasure, for my recreacyon

With spede I approched, it made my herte lyght

Anone I was taken, with great admyracyon

Of all the fayre pleasures, when I had a syght

This place was enuyroned, with Hedgyes thre

Of Hauthorne thycke, thre dyches depe cast

Thre waters there were, whiche I dyd se

In-to the Arbour by them, as I past

Okes that were olde, in the fyrste hedge were growynge

And Elmes in the seconde, that large were and longe

In the thyrde Hedge, with bowes downe bowynge

Many trees togyther, were thruste in a thronge

The Ashe and the Aspe, with his leaues that do quake

The Boxe and the Beyche, togyther dyd stande

The Corke causynge slyppers, to cracke and to crake

With the Ewe-tre, a defence to this lande

The Plane and the Poplar, there I dyd se

The Salowe, the Pyne, and the Maple rownde

The Holy with hys pryckes, and the walnut-tre

With the Fyr and the Hasyll, hangynge to the grownde

In the myddes a Cypresse-tre, I dyd espye

Borderyd with Olyues, in cyrcle rownde

And vnder the Cypresse, downe dyd I lye

Where benches on eche syde, were made aboue the grownde

These trees to beholde, in my mynde I dyd muse

Of all kyndes there growynge, and in order set

All pleasures worldly, I wolde refuse

To haue suche an Arbour, yf I myght it get

Suche flagraunt sauours, suche odours swete

I neuer felt in the moneth of May

Agaynst all dolour, a medycyne moste swete

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Is to this Arbour, to take the redy way

As in this place pleasaunt, my-selfe I dyd comforte

With sauours soueraygne, and colours good for syght

A Fawcon and a Pye, to the same dyd resorte

And ouer my heade, in the Cypresse they dyd lyght

Great stryfe was betwene them, with argumentacyon

Theyr opynyons contrary semed vnto me

The Pye prated fast, with moche contencyon

And sayde that her sentence, nedes trewe must be.

¶The Fawcon.

¶The Fawcon moste gentyll, with sober behauour

Sayde ianglynge wordes, the trouth do nat trye

And fewe wyse men, I thynke do fauour

The lyghtnes of a pratynge Pye.

¶The Pye.

¶The Pye than answered, with wordes full of yar

And sayde, my sayinges I wyll neuer denye

Of women I loke, to haue no hyar

Nought is theyr nature, theyr wyttes nat worth a flye.

¶The Fawcon.

¶All thynges sayde the fawcon, of Goddes creacyon

As scrypture recordeth, be perfyte in theyr kynde Deut .32. Gen .10.

Woman was create, by dyuyne operacyon

Perfyt in body, in reason, wyll, and mynde.

¶The Pye.

¶Perfyt? who there sayde the Pye I the pray

Perfection in woman, shall neuer take place

Unperfyt she is, and rude alway

In body, and in soule, voyde of all grace.

¶The Fawcon.

¶In the olde lawe, thou mayst playnly se

Sayde the Fawcon, that Goddes creatures all

Be sownde and perfyt, without deformitie

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A bongler or a botcher, thou cannest nat God call

But yf thou wylt scrypture, leaue and forsake

And flye vnto reason, with me to contende

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In what thynge tell me, dyd God woman make

So vnperfyte, that thou canst nat her nature commende.

¶The Pye.

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¶In her bodye sayde the Pye, she lacketh perfection

Both faynt and feble, labours to sustayne

Harted as an hen, she nedeth protection

She can nother suffre the wynde, nor the rayne.

¶The Fawcon.

¶If strength of body, with houge and great quantyte

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Preemynence quod the Fawcon, do proue and infer

Amonge all creatures, than man in dygnytie

To dyuers brute beastes, shulde far be vnder

In Lyon, Elephant, Bear, Bull, and Bore

Quantyte in bodye, boldnes, strength, and myght

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In plenty and abundaunce, be sene euermore

No man hath lyke, thou mayst se with thy syght

Yet these beastes all, be subiect to man

For all theyr hougenes, he is hyest in degre

Wherfore gyftes bodely, nother may nor can

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Preemynence in nature, proue where they be

If shape of body, that semely is in syght

If countenaunce comely, yf bewty gyue perfection

Than must thou nedes graunt, that woman of ryght

Ought before man, be taken in election

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But corporall qualyties, as bewtye, strength, or shappe

Boldnes or greatnes, no proffe can make

Of nobylytie in man, in hym thoughe thou them lappe

Sens brute beastes of nature, these qualyties take

And lyke as theyr presence, no dygnytie can brynge

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Unto man nor perfection, so on the other syde

Theyr lacke and absence of imperfection nothynge

Can proue in woman, in whom they do nat byde.

¶The Pye.

Yet humayne perfection, then sayde the Pye

In gyftes of the soule, doth chyefly consyst

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As reason and knowledge, thou cannest nat denye

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Nor agaynst this verytye, thou cannest nat resyst.

¶The Fawcon.

¶I graunt sayde the Fawcon, that the power intellectyue

Of the soule, with reason and lyberty of wyll

Set man in perfection, as his gyftes prymytyue

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By helpe wherof, Goddes lawes he doth fulfyll.

¶The Pye.

¶Than proue shall I lyghtly, that woman is

Unperfyt sayde the Pye, and bestyall of kynde

Sens these powers spyrytuall, by nature she doth mys

And none of them all, in her thou mayst fynde

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Of knowledge she hath, no more than a Calfe

In Iudgement as wyse, as a Capon or a Gander

And the trouth of her to speake, in this behalfe

Her wyt is apysshe, and in lewdnes doth wander

To rayle and to skolde, no tongue she doth lacke

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To inuent myschyfe, she is nat to seke

Of crafte and desceyte, she hath a great packe

But in goodnes, her wyt is nat worth a leke.

¶The Fawcon.

¶That woman hath these powers rehersed aboue

Of the soule sayde the Fawcon, that adde suche perfection

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Unto mankynde, by reason I shall proue

That in this matter, shall be her protection

Th'effect without the cause, can neuer be founde

For betwene them, there is mutuall relacyon

Let this be of my reasonynge the grounde

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And harke what shall folowe, in trewe declaracyon

Knowledge in lernynge, as in the artes seauen

In naturall Phylosophye, and morall also

To make dysputacyon, of the bodyes of heauen

And of earthly creatures, in theyr places lyinge so

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Facultyes and craftes, to inuent and fynde out

And chaunses to tell, are they come a longe season

All these to be th'effectes, no man doth doubte

Of the intellectyue power, the wyll and the reason.

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¶The Pye.

¶What woman, I pray the than sayde the Pye

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These gyftes haue had, that effectes thou dost call

Except thou be doubtles, dysposed to lye

Thou cannest reherse none, nother great nor small.

¶The Fawcon.

¶I can sayde the Fawcon, rehersall to the make

Of mo suche women, than thou hast in the

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Condycyons gentle, wherfore good hede take

And thou shalt here named, mo than two or thre

Carmentes the mayde, fyrste dyd inuent

Our latyne letters, as wryters do tell

Her industrye and labour, with wyll and intent

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In memorye perpetuall, do cause her to dwell

The .ix. virgynes pure, that musyes we call

The .vii. artes lyberall, dyd fyrste to vs fynde

And pleasaunt Poetrye, conteynynge matter morall

Under Fables fayned, these maydes dyd combynde

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Mynerua, whiche also Pallas was named

As goddes was taken, of arte and sapyence

Because that in Grecia, she fyrste set and framed

Plantes, shrubbes, and trees, as Aucthours gyue euydence

The vse of armour, the helmet, and brest-plate

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With Ingynes wonderfull, and fortresses stronge fortresses] fortresseys 1542

For warres with her policie, she dyd fyrste excogytate

The rehersall of her actes, requyreth tyme longe

Diotima a mayden, hyghe knowledge had

In Phylosophye, throughe whose fame and reporte

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Socrates the Phylosopher, moste graue and sad

To her commyne Lecture, dyd come and resorte

Leontium also, a woman moste wyse

Agaynst Theophrast, with oracyons dyd contende

And workes moste excellent, she dyd deuyse

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Agaynst detractours, women to defende

Paula and Eustochium, were lerned ryght well

Unto whom Hierome, of hyghe estymacyon

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Epystles and workes, the trouth for to tell

Dyuers dyd wryte, for theyr recreacyon

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In our countrey natyue, women thou mayst se

In both tongues experte, the Latyne and the Greke

In Rethorycke and Poetrye, excellent they be

And with pen to endyte, they be nat to seke

If women in youth, had suche educacyon

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In knowledge and lernynge, as men vse to haue

Theyr workes of theyr wyttes, wolde make full probacyon

And that of men counceyll, they nede nat to craue.

¶The Pye.

¶These Examples excell, yf they be vnfayned

Sayde the Pye, for women to the starres they extoll

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In naturall knowledge, nowe am I constrayned

To graunt that woman hath, moche in her noll.

¶The Fawcon.

¶I shall proue sayde the Fawcon, that supernaturall

Knowledge in woman, may well take place

Prophecye I meane, the gyfte celestyall

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In-to the soule infused, by especyall grace

Cassandra doughter, to Pyramus the kynge

A lady moste fayre, dyd shewe the destruction

Of noble Troye, whan it was moste florysshynge

That by Parys actes, it shulde come to confusyon

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The .x. Maydens gentylles, that Uarro doth call

The Sybylles, this gyfte of Prophecye receyued

Of meruayles they dyd speake, before they dyd fall

Suche as trusted theyr sayinges, were nat deceyued

Sybylla_Tyburtyna, dyd wryte in her boke

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That Messyas in Betheleem, of a mayde shulde be borne Lactant. q. gentiles

And that in Nazareth, mannes nature he toke

Man to redeme, that by synne was forlorne

Sybylla_Erythrea, as Lactancyus doth recorde

The processe of the Passyon, moste playnly doth expresse

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Howe the Iewes vniustly, theyr soueraygne Lorde

Oppressed with paynes, and deadly dystresse

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His buffyttes, his scourgynge with whyppes that dyd cut

His crowne of thorne, with pryckes sharpe and longe

The eysell and gall, that to his mouth were put

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These thynges she descrybed, and all his other wronge

The Eclypse of the Sonne, that made men to quake

With workes that were wonderfull, sene at that season

His dolorous death, that amendes dyd make

For mannes mysdede, and for his hyghe treason

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All these she descrybed, by dyuyne reuelacyon

Longe-tyme before they came to effect

And as saynt Austayne maketh recytacyon

Of domes-day, the fearfull sygnes she dyd detect De ciuit. dei. 1.18.

In the actes of the Apostles, Luke doth recyte Act. 110.

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Howe Phylyp the Euangelyst, had dowghters foure

All virgyns cleane, with whom was the spryte

Of Prophecye, as [the] Sybylles had before the] they 1542

Wherfore sens women, suche knowledge haue had

Both naturall pure, and nature excedynge

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Who doubteth in this, except he be mad

Whyther they haue reason, with the power of vnderstandynge

But these two powers, set man in perfection

And from brute beastes, they do hym exclude

Women haue the same, as I haue made induction

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Ergo they be perfyt, I may well conclude.

¶The Pye.

¶Althoughe I must graunt, that they of nature be

Perfyt sayde the Pye, made by Goddes creacyon Ebr .14.

So is the Deuyll, yet in Hell lyeth he

By dyuyne sentence, in endles dampnacyon.

¶The Fawcon.

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¶What meanest thou, that murderer to mynde

Sayde the Fawcon, that man dyd take in his snare

Our dysputacyon, is of woman-kynde

Whiche vnto the Deuyll, thou mayst nat compare.

¶The Pye.

¶Betwene two extremes, that in qualytyes agre Arystot.

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Comparyson may be made, than sayde the Pye

The Deuyll and woman, be lyke in degre

Theyr ende is to haue, an euyll destenye.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Why women sayde the Fawcon, make me relacyon

More than men, suche fortune shulde haue

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Sens man and woman, be of Goddes creacyon

He denyeth no mercye, to them that do it craue. Mat. 70.

¶The Pye.

¶Where vyce is raygnynge, than sayde the Pye

Punysshement must folowe, thou knowest ryght well Ad co[r]inthos corinthos] cointhos 1542 60corinthos] cointhos 1542

All vyce raygneth in women, this is no lye

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Therfore in paynes, they must nedes dwell.

¶The Fawcon.

¶The Fawcon than answered, mylde in his mode

Sayinge Pye from thy raylynge, thy-selfe remoue

Chryste that suffered death, racked on a rode

Forbyd that euer, thou shulde this proue.

¶The Pye.

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¶Proue sayde the Pye, what maystry is this?

Who put man I pray the, in his fyrste creacyon

From Paradyse, that place of pleasure and blys

But woman, throughe the Deuylles temptacyon?

And therfore doubtles, I may her well call

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The fontayne and welsprynge, of all calamytie

For throughe her pryde, synne orygynall

Dyd ysshewe with death, to all her posterytie

And lyke as the fyrste woman, Eue I do meane

Dyd sowe the sede, of all iniquytie

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So syth her tyme, women maynteyne

All synne and vyce, in moste enormytie

Wauerynge they be, and lyght as the wynde

Crewell as Tygres, than Lucyfer more prowde

And trust in them, no man can fynde

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She is no woman, that can lye lowde

Of carnall pleasures, they be insacyable

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In battyll, bluddy bolde Barones for them dye

Woman to man, was neuer profyttable

But full of cost, who can this denye?

¶The Fawcon.

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¶A prouerbe proued sayde the Fawcon, I fynde

The barkynge of a Curre, no Kynge can restrayne

So no man can cause, the malycyous mynde

Of the pratynge Pye, from raylynge to refrayne.

¶The Pye.

¶A prater I am called, because I hyt the nayle

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Euen vpon the heade, than sayde the Pye

Whan I say the trouth, thou sayst I rayle

Yet my trewe sayinges, thou cannest nat denye.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Nothynge sayde the Fawcon, is more repugnant

Unto the trouth, than thy sayinges all

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And that may be proued, by reasones abundant

Deduced of pryncyples Theologycall

From Parydyse pleasaunt, as thou dost say

Adam was expulsed, with his posterytie Gen. 30.

That Eue was full cause, I do say nay

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Whom thou dost call, the mother of myserie

As Eue Goddes commaundement, there dyd transgresse

So dyd Adam, as the storye doth tell

The Sone of a mayde, theyr offence dyd redresse

Whose death dyd breake, the brason durres of hell brason] brasones 1542 Psal. 14.60.

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Nowe for-as-moche, as dysobedyence

Of both our fyrste parentes, Goddes yar dyd prouoke

It was nat all-onely, the womans offence

Wherby mankynde, dyd suffer Goddes stroke

And as Dyuynes make declaracyon 21. sisinarum distinct. 12.

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If Adam had neuer, consented to synne

In Paradyse mankynde, shulde haue had habytacyon

Althoughe Eue before, to offende dyd begynne

Wherfore thou Ianglar, nowe mayst thou well se

Agaynst our fyrste mother, thy vniust accusacyon

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Seynge that man is proued, cause for to be

As well as the woman, of all trybulacyon.

¶The Pye.

¶Than chattered the Pye, and sayde with hyghe voyce

Thoughe it be so, as thou tellest to me

Beware yet in women, lest thou reioyce

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They wyll deceyue the, by mutabylytye.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Who is sayde [t]he Fawcon, all tymes at one stay the] ihe 1542

Throughe this worlde wyde, and neuer mutable

Man is subiecte, to passyons alway Eccle. 1.

His lyfe in this worlde, must nedes be varyable.

¶The Pye.

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¶I graunt sayde the Pye, but this is my mynde

All women of promysse, be euer vnstable

Theyr fantasyes chaunge, and tourne as the wynde

And dowble be theyr dedes, this is no fable.

¶The Fawcon.

¶In reuoluynge of storyes, sayde the Fawcon then

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Of women stedfastnes, moche mayst thou rede

On the contrary parte, thou shalt fynde of men

That they haue ben false, in worde and in dede

What kyngdomes noble? what Cyties of pryce

By treason haue perysshed, as Cronycles tell

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Contryued throughe the false deuyce

Of cowharde Captaynes, that there dyd dwell

Who betrayde the hyghe kynge, our sauyour Iesu

Paynes for to suffre, with extreme passyon

But Iudas vniust, and treatour vntrewe

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Whiche hanged hym-selfe, throughe desperacyon

Aeneas with Anthenor, Troye dyd betray

And gaue it to the Grekes, that were voyde of compassyon

Than perysshed that Cytie, as the storye doth say

The treason of those Traytours, caused great lamentacyon

365

Fewe feldes be foughten, without treason I dare say

Of one parte or other, fewe kyngdomes be wonne

sig: [B4v]

Without preuy packynge, for treason doth decay

Mo cyties and countryes, than battyll-axe or gonne

If stedfastnes were stablysshed, substancyally in men

370

And grauytie were graued, in rulers that be lyght

If promys were performed, yf the commaundementes ten

Of man were well obserued, both by day and nyght

Then constant I myght call hym, but synce that fayth fayleth

And treason with all vyce, in hym hath taken place

375

Therfore hym to prayse, lyttell it auayleth

For mutable he is, and tourneth in small space

That women be constant, and trewe as fyne stele

Examples we rede, of Penoelope

And Lucrecya, that sorowes dyd fele

380

Both matrones noble, as storyes do say

Hester the quene, fayre Iudyth moste chast Hest. 70. Iud: 130.

As scrypture doth say, theyr people dyd saue

From crewell death, whan all hope was past

Amonge the men, suche grace God them gaue

385

Who can descrybe, with pen or with tonge

The constant vertue, of Susan moste kynde

Unto her husbande, the storye is longe

In Danyell the Prophet, thou mayst it fynde Dan. 130.

The mother of the Machabeis, that .vii. were in nombre II mach: 70.

390

Exhorted her chyldren, marterdom to take

Her stedfastnes caused, all men to wondre

No payne coulde cause her, the fayth to forsake

The woman of Chananee, of Chryst was commended Ma. 150.

For her fayth vnfayned, and stedfast belefe

395

By her prayer deuoute, her doughter was amended

That by vexacyon of a Deuyll, suffered moche grefe

Of virgynes moste chaste, what nede I to speke

As Katheryne, Margaret, and many thousandes mo

No Tyrayne coulde cause them, theyr vowes to breke

400

Theyr chastyte to saue, they suffred moche wo

At Chrystes death, whan the Apostles all

Theyr mayster dyd leaue, throughe mutabylytie Marci. 140.

sig: C1

Men were founde lyght, and trundlynge as a ball

In them was no fayth, but infydelytye

405

In one woman than, all fayth dyd remayne

When men dyd shrynke, and tourne as the wynde

Mary Chrystes mother, it is that I meane

No sorowe coulde cause, her fayth to vntwynde

Examples for this matter, almoste innumerable

410

I coulde here recyte, yf tyme wolde permyt

That women of dede and worde, be ryght stable

But here be ynowe, for them that haue wyt.

¶The Pye.

¶Yet women sayde the Pye, be great confusyon

Unto all men, for in batteyll bolde

415

Of blode they haue caused, oft great effusyon

Of theyr myschyfe, moche in storyes is tolde.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Thy fables fayned, make small probacyon

Unto thy purpose, the Fawcon dyd say

Whan dyddest thou rede, in trewe declaracyon

420

That women cause batteyll, by nyght or by day.

¶The Pye.

¶Dyd nat fayre Helene, than sayde the Pye

Of Troye the cytie, cause the destruction

When the stronge walles, with towers and towrrettes hye

By the Grekes dyd fall, and had there subuersyon.

¶The Fawcon.

425

¶Where malyce is raygnynge, there false accusacyon

Doth folowe sayde the Fawcon, in felde and in towne

Therfore of Troy, thou sayst the desolacyon

Was caused by Helene, the woman of renowne

Dyd nat Alyxaunder, his lust to fulfyll

430

Sone to kynge Pryame, by strength steale away

Fayre Helene from the Grekes, agaynst her owne wyll

Whan she her handes wronge, howe cannest thou say nay

If wepynge teares, yf syghes sore and sad

If lamentacyon, myght then haue preuayled

sig: [C1v]

435

Fayre Helene had escaped, Parys moste mad

From Grecye in-to Troye, with her whan he sealed

And thoughe battyll bloddye, with murder moste myserable

Betwene these two nacyons, enshewed to theyr payne

The adulterar it caused, by dede detestable

440

Whiche coulde nat from lust, his body restrayne

What mountayne myghty, what sees roughe and depe

Haue men passed throughe, as beastes without wyt

Theyr raygynge hath caused, good women to wepe

With vyolence constrayned, theyr lust to admyt

445

Suche myschyfes many men, oft haue procured

And yet they cesse nat, the same to support

As towchynge this matter, I am full assured

All theyr madnes fully, I can nat report.

¶The Pye.

¶I can report than, sayde the Pye

450

That women be crewell, and loue to be in stryfe

Cursed as Cayn, thou canst nat denye

Angry as the waspe, wedowe, mayde, and wyfe.

¶The Fawcon.

¶The fayre Fawcon answered, with wordes that were wyse

Sayinge Pye thou arte peuysshe, and blynde as a blocke

455

No man with reason may the suffyse

Thy malyce is meruaylous, and styffe as a stocke

Thou raylest agaynst reason, whan thou dost impute

Yar vnto women, with crewell condycyon

For vnto the contrarye, I shall dyspute

460

Theyr pacyence and pytye, in perfyt dyleccyon

Heate causeth yar, in man and in beaste Arystotle

Of yarfull herte, crewelnes doth sprynge

Where crewelty doth dwell, compassyon hath no rest

For contraryes togyther, can haue no bydynge Arystotle

465

What causeth fearsnes, in Lyon, wolfe, and beare

In Bores that be brym, and mastyffes moche of myght

Whiche all in theyr raygynge, in peces rent and teare

Theyr prayse that they take, by day or els by nyght

sig: C2

What moueth man, so fearse for to be

470

And crewell of dede, as beast wod and wylde

But heat causynge yar, whan he without pytie

In war doth destroy, the mother with the chylde

And lyke as heate feruent, yar doth inflame

In man and in beaste, and crewell them doth make

475

So coldnes contrary, crewelnes doth tame

Causynge man and beast, to shyuer and to quake

Women in theyr nature, be colde as a kay

In respect of men, wherfore inclynacyon

To be yarfull or crewell, from them is a_way

480

And petye moste tendre, in them hath habytacyon

Who is so sad, of crewelnes to here

In spoylynge or murdre, as these women be

For frayes and for feyghtynges, they make heuy chere

Upon euery mannes hynderaunce, they take great petye

485

What wepynge teares? what sore lamentacyon Luce. 23.

Dyd women make, in Hierusalem

Upon the lambes death, takynge compassyon

That borne was of mother, and mayde in Bethleem Mat. 20.

But men at that tyme, as beastes raygynge mad

490

Theyr hyghe kynge and maker, dyd nayle to a tre

At that season tell me, whyther men had

Lyke vnto women, compassyon and petie.

¶The Pye.

¶Admyt that thy reasones, dyd fully conclude

For women sayde the Pye, as thou dost infer

495

Yet profyte from them, thou must nedes exclude

Theyr husbandes they brynge, in det and daunger

Ease they loue all, to labour they dysdayne

Wasters they be of money, meate, and cloth

And from the blacke boll, they can nat refrayne

500

To speake all I knowe by them, I am loth.

¶The Fawcon.

¶I am full loth, the Fawcon dyd say

Unto the Pye, suche raylynge to here

sig: [C2v]

Nothynge is trewe, thou speakest here this day

Thy fables be fayned, and false this is clere

505

A womans offyce, as Arystotle tought

In his Econymyckes, is redy for to make prins econo: a. 30.

Suche thynges for sustynaunce, as to her be brought

Her famylye to fede, that paynes and labours take

All rychesse procured, by nyght or els by day

510

Throughe the mannes trauayle, in felde or in towne

The wyfe with her wysdom, must kepe from decay

And suffer no proffyte, in losse to fall downe

By practes I proue, in places as I passe

The prudent polycye, in suche gubernacyon

515

Of women that wysely, the worlde do compasse

In moste honest maner, to theyr commendacyon

What labour of bodye, do they oft sustayne

What breke of slepe, whan they shulde rest take

With honestye theyr husbandes, and house to mayntayne

520

These thynges to fulfyll, no paynes they forsake

Men dyuers I haue knowne, to wast, spyll, and spende

At drynkynges and games, suche rychesse as they had

Whan women full busylye, dyd labour to amende

Theyr husbandes lewdnes, that made them full sad

525

Wherfore sens women, theyr dewtyes do fulfyll

As I haue declared, without fayned fable

They rayle without reason, and speake all at wyll

That say vnto men, they be nat profyttable

Cryinge in his cradell, at his fyrste begynnynge

530

Whan man doth lye rocked, nat able to stande

Who doth hym than fede, with meates nurrysshynge

But woman that to helpe hym, doth put to her hande

Who can women lacke, in syckenes or in helth

To wasshe and to wrynge, and meates to prepare

535

A comforte they be, in pouertie and welth

Unto all men, to whom they repare

And therfore Scrypture, doth woman call

An helper to man, in euery dystresse Gen. 20.

sig: C3

Whan fortune fayleth, and causeth hym to fall

540

Chyfe remedye she is, of all his heuynesse

And thoughe thou Pye pratynge, by vniust accusacyon

All kyndes of vyce, to women hast obiect

Yet in all vertues, they haue delectacyon

And therfore of God, I thynke them elect

545

Humble they be, and lowly in harte

Pytefull and pacyent, with sobre behauour

And contynence from them, doth neuer departe

With dylygence for vertues, they do euer labour.

¶The Pye.

¶Howe canst thou them vertuous, and chast of lyfe call

550

Sayde the Pye, that men by subtyle prouocacyon

Moue vnto vyce, and cause them to fall

No deuyll vnto woman, is lyke in temptacyon

Meandre the flude, that maketh men to muse

And laboryous labyrynth, that Dedalus deuysed

555

Suche wyndynges and tournynges, neuer dyd vse

As women in temptacyon, for men haue contryued

All gyftes of nature, they inclyne to prouoke

Man vnto pleasure, and his reason to blynde

And with Cupydes darte, to gyue hym a stroke

560

Thus cleane and fresshe men, in bondage they bynde

Theyr countenaunce smylynge, as the messenger of loue

Theyr eyes moste wantonly, euer roll and turne

Upon syghtes semely, and all thynges aboue

Because loue them burneth, they desyre to burne

565

Theyr handes and fyngers, for this they kepe whyte

Dasshed full of rynges, with many a precyous stone

To shewe theyr prety fete, they haue great delyte

On theyr toes howe they tryppe, to se it is alone

They laughe, they speake, they synge, they daunce

570

The lustes of loue, in youth to inflame

Theyr garmentes be garnysshed, after the guyse of Fraunce

And to vse paynted wordes, theyr tongues be nat lame

Theyr brestes they lay forth, as a Boucher doth his flesshe

sig: [C3v]

To be solde in the shambles, and ouer them they lay

575

A fyne lase of sylke, with an owche that is fresshe

Or els a small chayne, that was gotten in theyr play

And as an horse-mayster, that to a fayre doth brynge

His Horses all platted, the mane and the tayle

So women theyr hear, as golde wyre shynynge

580

They wrappe, plete, and plat, yonge louers to assayle

But Paule vnto Tymothe, a document doth gyue

Unto all women, suche lyghtnes to despyse I. ad Timoth. 10.

And so doth Peter, whiche sayth they shulde lyue

Nat in wanton apparell, but in sad and sobre wyse I. Pe. 10.

585

I dare nat nowe speake, howe some do counterfet

The colours of theyr faces, as they were naturall

Straunge hear also, for theyr heades do they get

Of their muskes, posyes, and pommanders, I make no rehersall

All these prety tryckes, these prety dames do vse

590

In-to Uenus daunce, yonge Rufflers to allure

Howe canst thou Fawcon saye, but theyr gyftes they abuse

Defende them in this matter, thou canst nat I am sure.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Stop there sayde the Fawcon, and harke to me a season

For thy braggynge bostes, lyghtly I shall make base

595

And declare vnto the, by inuyncyble reason

That delyberate dyscrecyon, in the doth take no place

Shameles thou arte surely, thus shamefully to speake

That man to vyce is moued, by womans prouocacyon

For women of cleane lyuynge, be oft moued to breake

600

Theyr chastytie by churles, that chafe them by temptacyon

What paynted wordes, womans loue to allure

What tokens that be trycke, do these men vse

What rynges, what hertes of golde fyne and pure

Whiche women do vtterly contemne and refuse

605

And whan by suche tokens, men can nat obtayne

Theyr purpose and wyll, than they do inuent

Letters of loue, expressynge theyr payne

And preuely by messengers, they be forth sent

sig: [C4]

If letters be contemned, yf wrytynges take no place

610

Than labours do louers, in theyr owne persons take

They ryde and they ronne, many myles in small space

And moue honest women, chast lyfe to forsake

With syghes semynge sorowfull, theyr foly they expresse

With wepynges theyr wordes, be myxed for to moue

615

Pytefully complaynynge, of deadly dystresse

Thus women to deceyue, all wyles they do proue

But yf all theyr glosynges, theyr matters can nat spede

If theyr tokens with theyr trynkettes, and letters be despysed

Than oft constant women, they brynge in great drede

620

Whan by vyolent oppressyon, they haue them defyled

Dyna that to Iacob the Patryarke, was doughter

By Sychem was oppressed, as scrypture doth tell Gen. 34.

In punyshment of his vyolence, there folowed great slaughter

Amonge all the people, that in his cytie dyd dwell

625

In the cytie of Gabaa, what abhomynacyon

Dyd men commyt, agaynst the Leuytes wyfe Iudi. 19.

The wyde worlde may wondre, of theyr bestyall fasshyon

For amonge them by oppressyon, the woman lost her lyfe

Dyd nat A[m]non, that sone was to Dauyd the kynge Amnon] Annon 1542

630

Chast Thamar oppresse, his syster naturall II. Regum 130.

After whiche acte, he had nat longe lykynge

For absolon his brother, gaue hym woundes mortall

Lucrecya the Romayne, a matrone ryght famous

Defyled by oppressyon, of Tarquinius sone

635

After the dede, both shamefull and vylaynous

On a swerde that was sharpe and kene, she dyd rone

Suche dolour deadly, his herte dyd oppresse

Throughe the dede moste detestable, by vyolence co[m]mytted commytted] conmytted 1542

That death moste dredefull, to ende her dystresse

640

Before lyfe in election, she thought to be admytted

Many thousandes mo of maydes, wedowes, and wyues

Moste tyrannous tourmentes, as wryters do tell

Haue suffred, and also haue lost theyr lyues

Theyr chastyte to saue, and Tyrannes to repell

sig: [C4v]

645

Ursula with her felowes, this matter do recorde

Expulsed from theyr countrey, theyr clennes to kepe

Theyr virgynyte was vowed, to the hyghe kynge and lorde

And martyres they were made, with woundes wyde and depe

Margaret the mayde, maryage dyd refuse

650

Of Olibrius the Tyran, and his gyftes dyd forsake

A spouse in heauen, to her she dyd chuse

And mekely for his loue, death dyd she take

So dyd Katheryne the quene, and virgyne full pure

Agathe, and Annes, with Lucya the bryght

655

Wenefrede, and Cecylye, by clennes dyd procure

In heauen for euer, to be in Goddes syght.

¶The Pye.

¶Thou [ca]llest vp a ras[c]all rabble, sayde the Pye callest] rellest 1542; rascall] rastall 1542

Of wytles women, whom sayntes thou wylt make

What recorde hast thou, thy wordes to ratyfye

660

For without wytnes, as lyes I them take.

¶The Fawcon.

¶A rabble sayde the Fawcon, of raylers I may call

Wherof thou arte one, but of Sayntes in the blys

Of heauen nowe hauynge, the lyfe immortall

Theyr nombre a company, moste gloryous is

665

And to proue that these virgynes, rehersed before

In the cytie celestyall, haue theyr habytacyon

And in Goddes presence, shall be for euermore

The Authorytye of the Churche, I brynge for probacyon.

¶The Pye.

¶Ha ha here is a prety pastyme, sayde the Pye

670

To here thou mumble thy mu[mp]yng, and dronken dotterd dreames mumpyng] munpsyng 1542

As moche aucthorytye, they haue surely

As an eles tayle, whan it styrreth in streames.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Nother the ele sayde the Fawcon, nor yet the eles tayle

Aucthorytye haue, for reason they do lacke

675

But auncyent storyes, of aucthorytye can nat fayle

And that for to proue, I shall nat shrynke backe

sig: D1

And tell me nowe Pye, who fyrste buylder was

Of royall Rome, who made the walles stronge

That large were in heyght, and wyde in compas

680

And who made that domynyon, so large and so longe.

¶The Pye.

¶ Romulus was fyrste founder therof, sayde the Pye

Of whom Roma it was called, as wryters recorde

Scipio and Cato, Rome dyd amplyfye

And Iulius Cesar, her fyrste Emperour and Lorde.

¶The Fawcon.

685

¶If thou wylt sayd the Fawcon, that I shal credence gyue

Unto thy wordes, than wytnes I must haue

For wytnes of all men, that in this worlde lyue

Is euer accepted, the trouth for to saue.

¶The Pye.

¶Of Hystoryographers, many there be

690

Sayde the Pye, that the Romaynes gestes do declare

Whiche my sayinges, shall recorde abundauntlye

The trouth thou mayst lerne, yf to them thou repare

And to be breue, of many I brynge one

Titus_Li[u]ius, myne Authour in this case

695

Of no small aucthoryte, in myne opynyon

For his wordes amonge lerned men, do euer take place

And acceptynge of a worke, aucthoryte doth make

And gyue to the same, the strength of recorde

Wherfore the wytnes of Li[u]ius I take

700

Thy doubte to dyssolue, and deley thy dyscorde.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Stop there sayde the Fawcon, I haue myne intent

Whan a worke (as thou sayst) of the people is receyued

Than hath it aucthoryte, and as a foundement

Infallyble is taken, of verytie conceyued

705

The storyes of the Churche, by chrysten men compyled

That excellent were, in learnynge and in lyfe

Of crysten men, as verytie vndefyled

Haue euer ben taken, without any stryfe

sig: [D1v]

They be receyued, ergo I may conclude

710

Upon thy wordes, that aucthorytie they brynge

And from my sayinges, all fables the[y] exclude they] the 1542

As touchynge the examples, of womens good lyuynge

But nowe to retourne, after longe dygressyon

To our matter intended, myne examples declare

715

That men moche haue vsed, crafty instygacyon

Women to wrappe, in the deuylles net and snare

And as prouocacyon, hath ben in tymes past

Of men moche vsed, the clennes to subuert

Of women contynent, so suche as lyue chast

720

Be nowe prouoked, from clennes to auert

They be nat women, that theyr gyftes do abuse

Of nature and of grace, and to vyce them applye

But men moste sensuall, that studye and muse

Dayly theyr lust to fulfyll in lecherye

725

Nowe I praye the Pye playnly, as it is in thy thought

Speake here thy mynde, whyther more doth prouoke

The [man that] doth seke, or the woman that is sought man that] mn t hat 1542

The trouth herof shulde cause the, thy raylynge to reuoke.

Dost thou nat dayly, with thyne eyes se

730

Howe men mased with loue, to women make shute

And on the other parte, fewe or none they be

Of women to whom suche vyce, thou mayst impute.

¶The Pye.

¶Nowe am I constrayned, to graunt sayde the Pye

By reason and experyence, that all prouocacyon

735

Of man commeth commenly, for I can nat denye

Of thy sayinges and examples, the suffycyent probacyon

But yet for theyr rayment, all gorgyous and gay

Reprehended of the Apostles, both Peter and Paule

In excuse of the werars, what canst thou nowe say

740

If this matter thou defende, than wyse I the call.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Full sharpe be the sayinges, sayde the Fawcon in-dede

Of these two Apostles, that rayment reprehende

And deckynge of women, yet yf thou take good hede

sig: D2

Thou shalt fynde that women, they lyttell dyscommende

745

Saynt Austen to these sayinges, answere doth make Augusti.

Of both these Apostles, and sayth that none offence

Ryseth of rayment, whan women do take

Unto dyscrecyon, dylygent aduertence

If after the custome, of theyr countrey they vse

750

Rayment ryght royall, and accordynge to theyr state

Secludynge vayne-glorye, yf they do refuse

All purpose in louers, lust carnall to instygate

Than synne is auoyded, for who so decked was

In garmentes moste gorgyous, as Hester the quene

755

As the beames of the Sonne, shynynge throughe the glas

With golde and perles, to glyster she was sene

Euen so dyd Iudyth, her bewtye augment

With apparell of great pryce, that caused admyracyon

Yet these women both, for theyr good intent

760

Of scrypture deserued prayse, and commendacyon.

¶The Pye.

¶Thou semest sayde the Pye, all maner to commende

And vse of rayment, be it neuer so vayne

Yet Paule vnto Tymothe, dyd vtterly intende

All women from vanytie, in rayment to restrayne.

¶The Fawcon.

765

¶Nothynge I thynke lesse, sayde the Fawcon I the tell

Than agaynst the sayinges, of Paule for to speake

All vanytie in rayment, the Apostle doth repell

All vanytie in the same, my mynde is to breake.

¶The Pye.

¶Be playne in thy termes, sayde the Pye I the pray

770

And dystynctly declare, what thy meanynge is

By vanytie of rayment, for nothynge can I say

To the yf thy mynde herin, I do mysse.

¶The Fawcon.

¶So oft sayde the Fawcon, as women rayment vse

Agaynst the guyse of theyr countrey, or aboue theyr degre

775

And power be decked, so oft they take and chuse

sig: [D2v]

In werynge theyr apparell, folysshe vanytie

Vanytie in rayment, also I do call

Whan for prayse or vayne-glorye, rayment is worne

Or els to prouoke, and cause men to fall

780

In-to lust of the body, whan reason is forlorne.

¶The Pye.

¶Do nat women sayde the Pye, theyr rayment abuse

All these foure wayes, whiche thou dost expresse

In moste vayne maner, thou canst nat excuse

Herein the femyne sexe, nor theyr lyghtnes redresse.

¶The Fawcon.

785

¶I knowe nat sayde the Fawcon, the surety to say

That any so lyue, but yf thou suche fynde

What canst thou infer, nowe in the way

Of reasonynge, agaynst the whole kynde. reasonynge] reasonnynge 1542

¶The Pye.

¶If one be nought, so be all the rest

790

I say sayde the Pye, of the femyne gendre

For amonge them all, she that is best

Wolde be loth of her lyfe, a reckenynge to rendre.

¶The Fawcon.

¶In raylynge vnreasonable, thou ragest agaynst ryght

Sayde the Fawcon, whan thou dost of fewe womens vyce

795

Infer all the rest, in theyr lyuynge to be lyght

If thou harken thy blynde erre, shall be open at a tryce

Some men be murderers, shulde I therfore call

All mankynde murderers, some theues and traytours be

Shulde I therfore say, all men do fall

800

In-to the same vyce? no that were madnes playnlye

Because Cayn dyd murdre, therfore dyd his brother Gen. 40.

Abell the same, Esau was reiect

And forsaken of God, in the wombe of his mother Mala. 1.

Was therfore Iacob refused of God, and also neglect Ad ro. 90.

805

Horryble heresyes, these blynde sayinges be

If they be defended, and by scrypture confounded

And who is so blynde, but he may well se

sig: D3

That these sayinges agaynst women of reason, be nat grounded

For what raylynge heretycke, so shameles canst thou fynde

810

To say that our Lady, the virgyne moste pure

Was lyght in her lyuynge, or corrupte in her mynde

Because pleasure some women, to lust dyd allure

Cesse therfore thy sayinges, and raylynge moste rude

Condemne nat a multytude, that innocent is

815

As thoughe from all goodnes, thou woldest them exclude

Because that a fewe, be founde to do amys

Because that a fewe, be both lyght and vayne

In rayment and apparell, agaynst the Apostles rule

Thou mayst nat therfore, of the whole flocke complayne

820

As thoughe euery woman, from vertue dyd recule

But many there be, to sayinges euyll so prone

And dayly in the same, accustomed to slepe

That slaunders causynge many, to syghe and to grone

As pastymes they take, whan Innocentes do wepe.

¶The Pye.

825

¶Yet the mayster sayde the Pye, may lawfully speake

Of his seruaunt his pleasure, be it false or trewe

Lyke maner the husbande, doth nat Goddes precept breake

Whan he [h]is wyfes sorowes, with slaunder doth renewe. his] is 1542

¶The Fawcon.

¶Blynde was the fyrste erre, and euen naked nought

830

But this is moche worse, sayde the Fawcon in very dede

Chryste that mannes soule, with his death derely bought

Forbyd that this erre, come in chrysten mannes crede

Dost thou nat fynde, d[e]clared in Scrypture declared] daclared 1542

That Chryst is the fountayne, of trouth and verytie Iohannes 140.

835

That man hath by grace, he hath by his nature

This trouth is the way, to the celestyall cytie

As trouth man to heauen, doth condyth and guyde

So by falsenes and lyes, that nocyuous be

Slaunderers sodaynly, to hell slyp and slyde

840

Where euer they shall rest, in carefull calamytie

For Dauyd the prophet, in his Psalme doth recorde Psal. 14.

sig: [D3v]

That sclaunderars and lyars, to endles perdycyon

Shall fall by iust sentence, of the heuenly lorde

Whan synne shall be rewarded, with ryght retrybucyon

845

The wyse man also, beareth wytnes to this matter Sapi. 1.

And sayth that the mouth, the soule doth sley and kyll

Of that man whiche delyteth, of sclaunders to clatter

And the names of good people, with detraction to spyll

Nowe for-as-moche, as deedly detraction

850

To all people is dampnable, no state or degre

Excepted at all, therfore dredefull dampnacyon

All men deserue, that of theyr wyues sclaunderars be

And it is commonly sayde, that on the deuyll to lye

Offence and synne it is, is it nat than offence

855

Agaynst crysten women, with sclaundars out to crye

Of whose gentyll nature, man shulde speake in defence

Paule sayth that man, shuld loue his wedded wyfe Ad eph. 5

As his owne body, and cherysshe her alway

Agaynst Paule they do playnly, that loue to be in stryfe

860

With theyr wyues, whose names with sclaunder they decay

Peace therfore Pye, and this opynyon peuyshe

That men may rayle theyr pleasure, speake thou no more

For sclaunder is a matter, of all other moste theuyshe

The offence therof doubtles, deserueth sorowes sore

865

And yf blynde affections, thou woldest set asyde

And eluyshe enuye, from thy herte cleane expell

Than woldest thou say, that reason in men doth nat byde

That with raylynge, the fame of women hurte and quell

For in case that any, be founde lewde or lyght

870

In so great a nombre of women, as there is

Thou mayst nat at theyr vyce, geast or rayle by ryght

But be heuye and sorye, for suche as do amys

And in this behalfe to say, I dare be bolde

That none, the hole kynde of women doth sclaunder

875

Excepte he be suche, as was nought yonge and olde

And blyndly by vyce, lyueth in the deuylles daunger.

¶The Pye.

sig: [D4]

¶I graunt sayde the Pye, that sclaunder is nought

And lyghtnes in iudgement, that causeth moche wo

But yf mens lyues and womens, were to the bothom sought

880

Of men than of women good, thou shuldest fynde mo.

¶The Fawcon.

¶This doubte to dyscuse, to no man it pertayneth

Sayde the Fawcon, for God this matter must trye

But experyence, and also scrypture me constrayneth

The rather to women, in this behalfe to wrye

885

For scrypture me teacheth, that all kyndes of synne

More by man than woman, had rote and begynnynge

And practyse doth proue, that contynuaunce therin

Of men moste chefely, hath ea[k]e and mayntaynynge eake] eade 1542

The fyrste murdre by croked Cayn, was commytted

890

Whan innocent Abell, to death he dyd dryue Gen. 40.

Incontynent Lamech, [murdre] admytted murdre] began 1542 Ibidem.

For agaynst stymulacyons, he wolde nat stryue

Noe fyrste dronkarde, whose fylthynes his chylde

Cham dyd dyscouer, his bretherne it perceyuynge [G]en. Gen.] Cen. 1542 90.Gen.] Cen. 1542

895

Abhorred that dede, wylfull and wylde

And couered the preuyties, cause of theyr conceyuynge

Fyrste tyran was Nemrath, fyrste ydolater was he Genesis. 10. et .11.

He set nought by God, by his lyghtnynge, nor his thondre

The tower of Babell he buylded, that all men myght se

900

Than deuyded were the tongues, that made men to wondre

The synne agaynst nature, both brute and bestyall

Men fyrste dyd commyt, as scrypture doth recorde Gen. 19.

Of .v. Cyties the people perysshed, great and small

In punysshement of that synne, by the hyghe kynge and lorde

905

Pharao of Egypt, that Tyran styfe and stowte Exodi. 1.

Fyrst Innocentes dyd murdre, and to death dyd them dresse

For the murdre of those chyldren, he dyed without doubte Exo. 14.

The red_see hym swalowed, with his people more and lesse

And lyke as these offences, had fyrste orygynall

910

Begynnynge of men, so contynuaunce they haue

Of men moste chyfely, whiche dayly to them fall

sig: [D4v]

From enormyties they labour nat, theyr soules for to saue

For who doth kyll and murdre, in batteyll that is bolde

Who robbeth and spoleth, both by see and by lande

915

Who Tyranny doth vse, that maketh hertes colde

Who Innocentes doth kyll, with a bloddy hande

Who? but man set on myschyfe this vyce doth commyt

As lewdnes were lawfull, all vyce he doth take

In the snare he lyeth slepynge, the knot is fast knyt

920

No kynde of cryme croked, he wyll forsake

In Sessyons and in Cyes, who is periured but he

Great othes that be odyous, no man refuseth

And lecherye is laudable, in euery degre

Both symonye synfull, and vsurye man vseth

925

And althoughe some women, to these synnes do fall

Aboue rehersed, yet in respect of men

Theyr nombre is nothynge, or els very small

For agaynst one of them offendynge, of the tother there be ten.

¶The Pye.

¶I thynke sayde the Pye, that thy sayinges nowe be

930

Indyfferent agaynst men, for practyes doth expresse

That fewe of these vyces, in women we may se

Whiche thou hast rehersed, but in men they be doubtles

For murdre and robrye, that openly is done

Symonye, vsurye, and treason vntrewe

935

Brybrye that chaungeth, that iudge as the mone

Heresyes and scysmes, that dyssencyon do renewe

Periurye and rybawdrye, with pollynge and oppressyon

All these synnes sensuall, that fowle and fylthy be

Of man be moche vsed, I must nedes make confessyon

940

Moche more than of woman, that from these semeth fre.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Yet man at his daunger, as thoughe well he were

Doth laughe sayde the Fawcon, so synne doth hym blynde

If his synne he dyd se, than chaunge wolde his chere

Perceyuynge to his maker, howe he is vnkynde

945

His breast he wolde beate, for mercye he wolde call

sig: E1

For his dedes of dampnacyon, he wolde knele on his kne

And many salt teares, from his chekes than shulde fall

If he his workes wycked, dyd ponder as they be.

¶The Pye.

¶As it ought to be sayde the Pye, thou dost speake

950

But as thou dost speake, so shall it nat be

Whyle man is here lyuynge, Goddes lawes he wyll breake

Cease therfore thy sayinges, by the counceyll of me.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Than shall I retourne, to make repetycyon

Of our matter fyrste moued, sayd the Fawcon in this place

955

Thou saydest that all women, do lacke perfection

Of body and theyr soules, be voyde of all grace

Apertlye I haue proued, that as perfyte they be

In body as man, and theyr soules haue creacyon

Unto the ymage, of the hyghe Trynyte

960

Thus perfyt they were create, by dyuyne operacyon

That depenes of wyt, with reason profounde

In women take place, myne examples expresse

For the .vii. Artes lyberall, had theyr fyrste grounde

And inuencyon by women, this is doubtlesse

965

Aptnes also, and pronytie they haue

Unto all kyndes of vertue moste pure

With dylygent endeuour, they haue laboured to saue

Theyr soules from all vyce, and grace to procure

And furthermore Pye, I haue made declaracyon

970

That women in lyuynge, the men do excell

Confounded I haue, thy false accusacyon

And reasones I haue vsed, thy raylynges to repell

Of scrypture somtyme, the sayinges I haue sought

Hystoryes profane, and experyence moste sure

975

The documentes of Doctours, forth I haue brought

For the femynyne sakes, theyr ryght to recure.

¶The Pye.

¶By thy processe sayde the Pye, as I can perceyue

Thou concludest all women, vertuous to be

sig: [E1v]

Because that a fewe, vertues dyd recey[u]e

980

Wherof examples, thou dydes recyte to me

At the length thou dost take, for fynall conclusyon

That women in theyr lyuynge, far men do excell

As thoughe they alonely, of grace had infusyon

This vtterly from men, grace thou wylt repell.

¶The Fawcon.

985

¶Nat so sayde the Fawcon, for that is nat my mynde

Grace from all men, vtterly to exclude

Nor by myne examples, thou canst nat fynde

That all women vertuous, I entende to conclude

But this conclusyon, of all my sayinges take

990

That to knowledge and vertue, women apt be

And yf of theyr lyues, comparyson thou make

More godly than men, they seme vnto me.

¶The Pye.

¶Theyr proctour thou arte made, sayd the Pye I perceyue

A rewarde to receyue, theyr parte thou dost take

995

But whan they with doblenes, shall the deceyue

I thynke than this offyce, thou wylt forsake.

¶The Fawcon.

¶The trouth to defende, why shulde I refuse

A proctour to be, the Fawcon dyd say

Innocentes to helpe, we shulde our wyttes vse

1000

In theyr causes iust, and helpe them alway

None other rewarde, to receyue I desyre

But trouth to trye forth, and malyce to subdue

This brought to passe, than haue I my hyre

For than shall be knowen, the false from the true

1005

And where-as by doublenes, I shall be deceyued

(As thou sayst of women) that can nat so be

For doublenes of those, is neuer conceyued

In whose hertes is playnes, and symplycytie.

¶The Pye.

¶I se sayde the Pye, with the to contende

1010

Agaynst the femyne gendre, I am moche vnable

sig: E2

As one ouercome, therfore I make an ende

For lytell it auayleth, before the to fable.

¶The Fawcon.

¶Yet one thynge of the, or thou from hens flye

I demaunde sayde the fawcon, what moued thy mynde

1015

In all thy sore sayinges, so shamefully to lye

With raylynge outragyous, agaynst woman-kynde

Whyther theyr nature, theyr wordes, or theyr lyuynge

Thy tongue haue prouoked, to deadly detraction

Or rather by rashnes, of enuye procedynge

1020

Theyr fame to defaulke, thou hast delectacyon.

¶The Pye.

¶Theyr nature is good, than sayde the Pye

And so be theyr dedes, the trouth for to tell

Malyce me moued, of women to lye

Syster to Megera, the ragynge fende of hell.

¶The Fawcon.

1025

¶Why dost thou than women, more than men sclaunder

The Fawcon dyd say, with thy wordes that be wylde

Sens men by dedes deadly, lyue in more daunger

Of soule than women, whiche seme vndefylde.

¶The Pye.

¶The lowest parte of the hedge, is troden downe

1030

Under fote sayde the Pye, whan the hyest is forborne

Womans power is small, in felde and in towne

Therfore I them sclaunder, therfore I them skorne

Men rule and gouerne, by see and by lande

Promocyons and profytes, by them I may haue

1035

Therfore to catche somwhat, in-to my hande

I laude them, I flatter them, whan I begyn to craue

He that wylleth with welth, in this worlde leade his lyfe

Placebo he must play, his kne both bowe and bende

Flaterars fare of the best, and lyue without stryfe

1040

Whan playnes with trouth, great men do offende

Theyr appetytes to please, my mynde I applye

As they say I say, be it wronge or ryght

sig: [E2v]

Somtyme I graunt, somtyme I denye

Yonge Rufflers to please, whose wyttes be full lyght.

¶The Fawcon.

1045

¶Than yf thou shuldes playnly, and as the trouth is

Thy mynde agaynst men, sayde the Fawcon expresse

Rebuke they shulde haue, of prayse they shulde mys

And thy style agaynst women, than woldes thou redresse.

¶The Pye.

¶I graunt sayde the Pye, but yet adulacyon

1050

Nedes must I vse, great men to content

And agaynst women, my common detraction

These two to contynewe, is my full intent

Auaryce of mynde, that is insacyable

Adulacyon to vse, hath gyuen me occasyon

1055

And so hath enuye, the vyce detestable

Prouoked detraction, with false accusacyon.

¶The Fawcon.

¶The Fawcon moste fayre, moche moued in his mynde

Agaynst the Pyes wordes, and open confessyon

With syghes sore, ascendynge from his herte kynde

1060

In lamentynge maner, made this exclamacyon

O worlde moste wretched, O tyme infortunate

O blyndnes moste beastlye, O lyfe without lyght

O vertue, O grace, from mans soule seperate

The dedes of darknes, haue put forth his syght

1065

Nowe reason is blynded, by synne sensuall

And iudgement corrupte, by offence customable

Wyll wandereth wyldly, by appetyte carnall

All powers of mans soule, be founde reprouable

Flaterars moste false, that fables can fayne

1070

Great men accept, and to counceyll take

Playnes and Iustyce, be exyled cleane

And oppressyon causeth, Innocentes to quake

Extorsyon is extolled, and rygour doth rule

Detraction and derysyon, with nobles do dwell

1075

Uerytie and petie, from these men recule

sig: E3

And falsenes with flatery, trewe playnes do quell

All these seme lawfull, to men that be of myght

Theyr wylles and pleasures, they take for a lawe

With ragynge and raylynge, they ronne agaynst ryght

1080

For smal is theyr lernyng, theyr wyttes nat worth an hawe

O Pye moste peuysshe, howe canst thou suche prayse

And Innocentes condemne, whose dedes deserue lawde

The hertes of playne people, thou dost dysease

Whiche couet in trouth, to lyue without frawde

1085

But seynge my sayinges, can take no place

In hertes that be harde, congelyd with vyce

No remedye I fynde, but prayer for grace

That man from his synne, may wake and aryce.

¶The Aucthour.

¶Whan these wordes were spoken, the Fawcon toke flyght

1090

The Pye for to punysshe, that fled fast away

Of them both shortly, I lost there the syght

And whomwarde I walked, from that Arbour gay

Anone I drewe forth, the argumentacyon

Of these two byrdes, the Fawcon and the Pye

1095

As you haue harde me make recytacyon

Nothynge from theyr sayinges, my style I dyd wrye

The people to profyte, my purpose is playne

No man to dysplease, with worde or with wyll

But deadly detraction, I wolde restrayne

1100

That causeth many men, theyr soules for to spyll

The prynce of peace pearles, the lambe immaculate

That suffered sorowes sharpe, synne to suppresse

And with his blode, wasshed our soules con[t]amynate contamynate] concamynate 1542 Apoc. 1.

On the Aulter of the Crosse, the deuyll to depresse

1105

He graunt by his grace, that charytie may sprynge

In euery mans herte, as flowres sprynge in May

Than God shall we loue, our heauenly kynge

And enuye expell, that our soules doth decay

Than reason shall rule our dedes with dyscrecyon

1110

Betwene man and man, loue shall be vnfayned

sig: [E3v]

No man agaynst women, shall vse detraction

For enuye throughe charytie, shall be than restrayned

After this sorte, by moste godly gouernaunce

If man hym-selfe vse, in good conuersacyon

1115

In God before all thynges, hauynge affyaunce

Than well he may trust, to come to saluacyon

Heauen he shall haue, the cytie celestyall

The bryght beames of glorye, shall gyue his soule lyght

All worldly pleasures, his ioy excede shall

1120

Of the hyghe Trynytie, whan he hath a syght

The increate wysdom, that all the worlde wrought

To his blysse moste blessyd, this company brynge

Our Sauyour I meane, that man and woman bought

Graunt vs in heauen, to here the Aungelles synge.

1125

AMEN.

¶ Finis.

¶ Robert_Uaghane to the Fawcon.

¶Folowe? no O Fawcon, to faynte the with flyght

In pressynge thy pynyons, to punysshe the Pye

Syt styll sobrely, and thou shalt se with thy syght

The tyme that Innocentes, theyr owne trouth shall trye

Whan reason reygneth, that ryght wyll nat reprye

And plantyth Prudence, suche poyntes to ouer_se

Than shall wauerynge fortune, her whele tourne awrye

And the pratynge Pyes, punysshed shall be.

¶ Robert_Uaghane to the Pye.

¶Pyke the hence Pye, pyke the hence prater

Pyke the hence peuysshe, pyke the pyed Pye

Walke in the wanyond, and wayte for some water

To lyckar thy lyppes, that of lyinge are drye

Thy braggynge bostes, once shalt thou dere bye

Happe wyll so happen, I holde the a grote

Than far from thy countrey, thou wylt be fayne to flye

Or cowardly in couerte, go and chaunge thy cote.

sig: [E4]

¶ Lenuoy de Robert_Uaghane.

¶Moue nat thy mynde, with crewell malyce

Agaynst thy detractours, O symple Innocence

Remembre howe prycketh them, the synne of auaryce

Gyuynge them boldenes, thou knowest by experyence

Acquaynt the therfore, with pearles pacyence

Requyre thou her, with the for to abyde

Euer to stande, and be in thy defence

Tyll suche a tyme, as thy trouth may be tryed.

¶Uexe nat thy vaynes, with vyolent hate

Expell from the, all enuye and yar

Receyue no ranker, for hurtynge thyne estate

Neuer from pacyence, flye thou for yar

Onely she is thy remedye

None other, but her knowe I Recure to be. last three words set suprascript

¶ Robert_Uaghane to the treatyse.

GO forth lytell treatyse, I do the commyt

To her womanly wysdom, that shall the retayne

And thoughe thou be both lose and vnknyt

I doubte nat, but she wyll do her busye payne

To sowe the togyther, with fyne sylke of Spayne

[A]nd make the an hyllynge, of fyne veluet blewe letter broken

Because in the, is nothynge sayde certayne

But she her-selfe, doth knowe it to be trewe.

¶Haue than no drede, to be in her protection

As thou dost her, so wyll she the defende

And for to say the soth, in myne election

I can nat se, what nature more can lende

To any wyght, her fourme to amende

Her vertues vernysshe, as vyolettes in vere

I wyll nat speake, other to offende

But in wyt and womanheade, I knowe nat her pere.

sig: [E4v]

¶Therfore, whan thou shalt come to her syght

Whiche wyll be shortely, as far as I gesse

Say thou arte sende, to pleade in her ryght

As in the quarell, of thyne owne maystresse

Than shall she se, what thou canst expresse

For her defence, her ryght to recure

And from detractours, that wolde the suppresse

In her Cypresse cofer, she wyll kepe the sure.

FINIS.

¶Thus endeth the Fawcon and the Pye.Anno domini. 1542.

¶Imprynted by me Robert_wyer / for Rycharde_Banckes.

¶ Cum priuilegio regali / ad imprimendum solum. per septem annum.