Philargyrie of Great Britain

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¶Philargyrie of greate Britayne

i. Timoth .vi,

The rote of al mischife that euer dyd spring

Is carefull Couetise, & gredy Gathering

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The Contentes of thys boke.

Howe Philargyrie came into greate Brytayne

¶Hys Oration to the people that resorted to hym

¶Howe the people submitted them-selues to hym

¶Hypocrisies Oration.

¶Howe he committed the gouernance of the people to Hypocrisie

¶Howe Philargyrie deuoured all the treasure that Hypocrisie had layde vp in store

¶Howe Hypocrisie went about to wythstande Philargyrie

How selfe-loue vttered Hypocrisie his intent to Philargyrie

How Philaute went to Nodnoll and what he dyd there

¶How the people forsoke Hypo.

How truth tolde al to the Kynge

How the Kynge draue al these oute of his realme

Finis

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¶To the Readar

IF Poetes maye proue

And trye theyr owne wytte

In feyneyng of Fables

Great Vices to blame:

And if they be blamelesse

Although they do hytt

The Treuth in theyre Treatyse

Vnder a straynge name

Then maye I by ryght

(Me-thyncke) do the same

Wherefore though I tou[c]h the touch] touth B, Y, E

Take it in good parte,

For I wyll the no[n]e Ill

As God knoweth myne herte.

I graunte I haue feyned

And wrytten a lye,

And yet not so lowde

As I woulde it were,

For treuly thys Gigant

Greate Philargyrie

Is present in greate Brytayne

Euen euery-where

Not one man is free

From hys Tyrannie there,

For all men be polled

Fyrste by Hypocrisie,

And nowe by selfe-Loue

He doeth all destroye.

The Hypocrites had gotten

Into theyr owne handes

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All placis of Pleasure

In euery coaste

So had they the good

And profitable landis

Which nowe by selfe-loue

Are spoyled and loste

No good thynge at all

Remayneth welmoste

The thyngis that were best

Are nowe made so bad

That where muche thynge is

There nought can be had.

The Hypocritis were Ill

But worse is selfe-loue

Wherefore gentle Reader

I praye the hertily

Make ernest petition

To the Lorde aboue

To delyuer greate Britaine

From Philargyrie

Who hath brought that rich Iland

Into such miserie

That thyngs of greatist plentie

Are scantist to be had

And al-thynge that good was

Is nowe made to bad.

Finis.

Vnto suche as be yet wythoute All thyngis shalbe spoken in Parables. Marke .iiii.

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¶The fable of Philargyrie the great Gigant of great Britain, what houses were builded and landes appoynted for his prouisions,and how all the same is wasted to content his gredie gut wythall and yet he rageth for honger

GEue eare awhyle

And marke my style

You that hath wyt in store

For wyth wordes bare

I wyll declare

Thyngs done long-tyme before

Sometyme certayne

Into Britayne

A lande full of plentie

A Gyaunte greate

Came to seke meate

Whose name was Philargyrie

He was so stronge

That none emonge

That brutyshe nation

Durst take in hande

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Him to wythstande

In any station

That curssed ladde

A fre course had

That Ilande ouer all

Boeth vale and hyll

Were at his wyll

Wyth townes both great and smal

Then let he crye

That lowe and hye

That woulde to him resort

Shulde styll endure

In all pleasure

And lyue in playe and sporte

So that they woulde

Do as they shoulde

And honoure him as God

Wyth Baggis of golde

In manyfolde

In number euen or odde

Come vnto me

Who-so wyll (quoth he)

There shall no lawe him bynde

I wyll him make

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Free for to take

All thyngis that he can fynde

Force and stronge hand

By sea and lande

Shall be his lawe and ryght

He shall be bolde

To take and holde

Al thyngis by force and myght

So that he bryng

To me some thynge

I wyll defend him styll

None so hardye

Him to deny

Or to saye he doeth Ill

When this was knowne

And a ####ab#### broade blowne

Throughout that Iland wyde

From euery porte

Men dyd resorte

To him on euery syde

So that anone

A Legion

Were redy at hys wyl

To do all-thynge

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At his byddynge

Whether it were good or Ill

Then forth he stode

Wyth full mylde mode

Desyrynge them silence

Tyll he had tolde

All that he wolde

Unto that Audience

Philargyries Oration.

GOod syrs (quoth he)

Full well I se

That ye haue ben opprest

Longe-tyme wyth lawes

Not worth two strawes

But that shal be redreste

Henseforth there shall

No lawe at all

Restrayne your Libertie

But that you maye

Boeth nyght and daye

Do your owne wyll frely

Catch what you can

From euery man

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And hold it for your owne

Reape, let me se

And brynge to me

That other men haue sowne

And when you fynde

Ought to your mynde

That force can not brynge in

Then beate your brayne

Aboute some trayne

Whereby you maye it wynne

Se nothynge let

You for to get

All thyngs into your hande

100

Whych other men

Must nowe and then

Nedes haue by sea or lande.

Then set the price

Aboue all syse

105

Your bagges therwyth to fyll

Make the vile slaues

And paysant knaues

Paye you at your owne wyll.

And where you spye

110

Commoditie

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Ther plant your dwelling-place

And then employe

Your whole study

To get it vp apase

115

And by eche porte

Where is resorte

Se that ye do conueye

All maner thynge

Whereof myght sprynge

120

Profyte to this contrey

For so shall ye

Enriched be

And haue money in store

For you shall sell

125

Thyngis twyse so wel

As men dyd heretofore.

The woule, the lead

The corne for breadde

The bere butter and cheese

130

Wyll be well solde

Wherefore be bolde

By them you can nought leese.

Metalle of Bellis

Lether and fellis

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135

And woulsted yarne also

Are redye golde

Let them be solde

Wyth thyngis a thousand moe

And if you maye

140

Conuey awaye

These thyngis beyond the fome

Then shall the pryse

Of that aryse

That shal be lefte at home

145

You must therfore

Haue euermore

All those thyngis in your hande

Wherin the sprynge

Of euery-thynge

150

And fyrst encrease doeth stande.

The pasture-grownde

That feadeth sound

You must in no case lacke

All maner mynes

155

And myllis that gryndis

Must helpe to fyll your sacke

Copsis of wodde

Be verye good

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For you to haue in hande

160

You must nedes haue

Greate fermes a thraue

Wyth all good fruitfull lands.

Shorte tale to make

You muste all take

165

And whorde vp styll in store

Tyll that be scant

Whereof no want

Was euer sene before.

Draffe is plenty

170

Yet certenly

If it were handled well:

It woulde be solde

For redy golde

And that some men can tel

175

The tyme hath byn

That men coulde wynne

By smoke and by Uryne

And why shoulde nat

Gayne ryse of that

180

Wher-with men fede their swine?

Se to all-thynge

Wherof maye sprynge

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Any Lucre or G[a]yne, Gayne] Guyne B

For Gayne doeth smell

185

Excedynge well

In euery-thynge certayne.

I wyll therefore

Nowe saye no more

But se you do apply

190

Your busynes

To get rychesse

My mynde to satisfie.

You muste me fede

Aye at my nede

195

Wyth bagges of moste pure golde

For I coulde eate

None other meate

Sence I was two dayes olde.

A God am I

200

That can not dye

Wherefore I muste be fed

Wyth golde most pure

That wyll endure

And not wyth bryckle breade

205

Brynge, bryng bryng, bryng

Alwaye some-thynge,

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And then you shall me please.

All that is solde

For redie golde

210

Doeth my stomake much ease.

And as you wyll

Continue styll

Al your dayes in pleasure

Euen so applye

215

You busily

Wyth golde me to honoure

I am your God

And haue the rod

Of honger in my fyste

220

Wherefore take hede

Ye do me fede

Wyth golde that is fynest

And him that can

Best playe the man

225

In gettynge golde and fe

I wyl promote

And set aflote

In wealth and hygh degree

And in the ende

230

I wyl him sende

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To Plutos dwellynge-place

Were he shal be

Next vnto me

Wherefore, gather apase

235

Dixi, quoth he

And bowed his k[n]ee

Vnto his audience

Thankyng them all

Boeth greate and smale

240

For theyr quie[t]e scilence quiete] quiere B

How the people of Britaine became subiect to Philargyrie.

THen wyth one voyce

All dyd reioyce

And clapt theyr handes apase

And after that

245

They fell all flatte

Prostrate before his face

Then rose they vp

And in a cup

Of golde, they dyd him brynge

250

Moe thousandis than

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Any man can

Well expresse by wrytynge

Then gan they synge

Beholde we brynge

255

Oure mornetydis sacrifice

Desyrynge the

That it maye be

Pleasant before thyne eies

Then forth he raught

260

His hande, and caught

The cup ful of pure golde

And at one sup

He drancke it vp

Thankyng them many-folde

265

Henseforth, quoth he

Loke that you be

Wyth me thryse in the daye

Wyth such a sup

In such a cup

270

That I do not decaye

And be ye bolde

To get the golde

As I haue sayde before

No lawe shall let

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275

You forto gette

So much, and ten tymes more

All tremblynge then

One of his men

Fell flatte vpon his face

280

And desyred

To be pardoned

To speake his mynde a space

Stand vp quoth he

What-so thou be

285

And tell to me thy name

Thou shalt haue grace

To speake a space

Thou shalte sustayne no blame

Deare Souerayne

290

Quoth he agayne

I am Hypocrisie

There is on mould

No man that woulde

Serue you leuer then I

295

But thys one thynge

My Lorde and Kynge

If I myght be so bolde

To saye my mynd

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A faute I fynde

300

In that which you haue tolde

Saye on, quoth he

I pardon the

Let me knowe all thy thoughte.

If thy counsell

305

Do lyke me well

It shall in-dede be wroughte

Then manerly

He made curchy curchy=curtsy

As one that coulde his goode

310

Wyth mylde wordis than

Thus he began

Before them as he stode

Hypocrisies Oration.

MY Lorde and Kynge

This is the thynge

315

That doeth my mynde offend

And causeth me

Thus bolde to be

Trustyng you wyll it mende

You haue vs tolde

320

We shulde be bolde

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To take all at our wyll

And spoyle the ryche

And pore alyche

Our baggis wyth golde to fyll

325

But well I wotte

This thynge wyll not

Be suffred anye-whyle

Except that we

Worcke subtyltee

330

And get theyr goodis by gyle

We muste pretende

Some holy ende

That maye the people please

And so we shall

335

Be Lordis of all

And fyl oure baggis wyth ease

Sende me to preache

And I wyll teache

The people ouer-all

340

That they shall lye

In purgatorye

After theyr death fatall

I will them tell

That paynes in Hell

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345

And paynes there are a ####ab#### lone

Saue that of this

An ende there is

But of the other none

Then that they maye

350

Be sure alwaye

To crepe oute at their wyll

I wyll them tell

We haue to sell

Pardone of all theyr Ill

355

So they wyll brynge

To vs althynge

Whereof we shall stande nede

Houses to buylde

Boeth thackt and tylde

360

And bye vs fode and wede

Then wyll I proue

It doeth behoue

That we haue land and rent

That we maye praye

365

For them alwaye

To God omnipotent

And when they lye

Redy to dye

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Then wyl I be at hande

370

For to declare

Howe harde we fare.

For lacke of rent and lande.

Then wyll I tell

The paynes pf Hell

375

And purgatorye-fyre

And what greate payne

They shall sustayne

Unlesse they do vs hyre

For we are they

380

That fast and praye

For them that geue vs ought

And our doynge

Is worth nothynge

Onlesse it be deare bought

385

Nowe when they se

Them-selfes to be

Set in so greate distresse

Wyth all theyr herte

They wyl departe

390

Wyth much of theyr ryches

In hope that we

Wyll factours be

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For them, when they be gone

And by thys trayne

395

We shall obtayne

Great landis and goodis anon

For what is he

That wyll not be

Glad to redeme wyth golde

400

Hys soule, which he

Shall thyncke to be

Dampened a thousande-folde?

And specially

When he shall dye

405

And leaue all thyngs byhynde

For if he wold

Then whorde vp golde

He can not haue his mynde

I wyll I trowe

410

In some eares blowe

So terrible a blaste

That they shall quake

And for feare make

Us theyr heyres at the laste

415

Yea Kyngis wyth crownes

Shall geue vs townes

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And Cities to be sure

That we shall praye

For them allwaye

420

Whylse the world shall endure

Thus shall we haue

All that we craue

And much more at oure wyll

Oure-selfes to fede

425

As we shall nede

And geue you golde your fyll

Dixi, he sayed

And then he prayed

Philargyrie of grace

430

And then wyth that

He fell downe flat

Pr[o]strate before his face Prostrate] Prastrate B, Y, E

Howe Philargyrie committeth the Gouernaunce of all hys Subiectes to Hypocrisie.

FUll myldly than

This God began

435

And bade his man arise

Stand vp, quoth he

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For well I se

Thou arte prudent and wyse

Wherefore wyth me

440

Thou shalte chiefe be

I wyll worcke by thy reade

And all that be

Subiect to me

Thou shalte gouerne and leade

445

Then let he crye

That lowe and hye

That woulde take him as kyng

Shoulde wyth all spede

Fulfyll in-dede

450

Hypocrisies bydynge

For he is wyse

And can dyuise

Wayes to get golde and fe

And make men fyll

455

Wyth ryght good wyll

Your baggis to brynge to me

Then all that were

Present to heare

That proclamasion

460

Shewed them content

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Wyth full assent

And thus they sayed eche-one,

Hypocrisie

Is most worthy

465

To rule vnder oure Kynge

For he can preach

And men so teach

That they wyll gladly brynge

Then went there out

470

A full greate route

From Philargyries place

And by and by

Hypocrisie

Began to preach apace

475

All maner men

Were redie then

To geue euen what he woulde

They were so madde

They thought he had

480

Saluation to be solde

Then builded he

A greate Citie

Nodnoll he dyd it name

It was all one

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485

Wyth Babylon

If it were not the same

In that Citie

Then Bylded he

A temple to his God

490

Settynge therein

Of his owne kyne

An hundred knights and odde.

The Arch-knyght was

Byshope Chayphas

495

Who rode with spear and shyld

Haueynge his corse

Armed wyth force

To cause all men to yelde

Then in ech place

500

That pleasante was

He planted houses sure

Of lyme and stone

They were echone

Because they shoulde endure

505

Bulwarkis also

A thousande moe

Then any man can tell

To beate them downe

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That ware the crowne

510

If they dyd once rebell

So was that lande

Whole in the hand

Of Philargyries men

No wyght was free

515

From them if he

Were worth pore shyllyngs ten

But to couloure

His endeuoure

He dyd those places name

520

Houses for clarkes

And the bulwarckes

Lodgyngis for blynde & lame

Then poynted he

That there shoulde be

525

Leches of wondrous skyll

In euerye place

Whoe in short space

Should helpe theyr bags to fil

At Walsyngehame

530

Was Noter dame

At Elye good Audrye

And at Wylsedon

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Were greate cures done

By bolstryng of Baudrye

535

At Hayles there was

One in a glasse

That wrought wounders full great

And at Wynchcome

Were cured some

540

That coulde Ke[n]elme intrea[t] intreat] intrea B, Y, intreate E

There were also

A thousand moe

Leaches of his poyntynge

That coulde heale all

545

Boeth great and small

That woulde any-thyng bryng

They woulde not stycke

To heale the sycke

In bodye and in soule

550

They had suche wytte

They coulde do it

By drynckynge of a bole

When this was done

Then was al wone

555

They nede to seke no more

They had all-thynge

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At theyr lykynge

To spende and kepe in store

Hypocrisie

560

Thought then to stye

Up to Nodnoll anone

To se what was

There brought to passe

After he was thense gone

565

But ere he went

More golde he sent

To his God Philargyrie

Then thousandis ten

Of brutysh men

570

Coulde bare, to make hym mery

Wych he eate vp

All at one sup

And yet was not content

But sayde thay they

575

Had by the waye

Spent some of that was sent.

Al ragynge than

This God beganne

On them his wrath to wreake

580

He layed aboute

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Emonge the route

Tyll none of them colde speake.

And when he had

Lyke one halfe madde

585

Slayne all that companye

In all his rage

He calde his page

Whoe came forth by and by

Come on (quoth he)

590

I wyll go see

What prouision there is

They shall it bye

Full deare if I

Fare not better then this

595

¶Fetch forth my steed

Trustie at nede

For nowe I am in haste

I muste go trye

Hypocrisie

600

And se if he make waste

His lad was preste

Wyth his steede dreste

Redy for hym to ryde

And ryght anone

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605

He leapt theron

And would no longer byde

He ryd forth faste

Tyll at the laste

He came to I gralk place

610

Where he dyd spye

Hypocrisie

Fyllynge his bagges apase

Then laughed he

And sayde I se

615

Hypocrisie is iuste

Nought can him let

Treasure to get

To satisfie my luste

Hypocrisie

620

Hearde by and by

His Lorde and maisters voyce

And ganne to synge

To leape and sprynge

So muche he dyd reioyce.

625

All smylyngly

Philargyrie

Then gan his man embrace

And sayde my sonne

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Howe haste thou done

630

Sense thou wast at my place

My Lorde sayde he

And bowed his knee

I haue had good successe

For all this lande

635

Is in my hande

Wyth infinite rychesse.

Then sayde he come

You shall se some

Of that I haue in store

640

Take you your fyll

Of what you wyll

There cometh in dayly more,

Then wyth a keye

He made his waye

645

Into his treasurie

Where was more golde

I dare be bolde

Then wold in poulis church ly

Howe Philargyrie deuored all the treasure that Hypocrisie had layed vp in store.

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Full hungerly

650

Philargyrie

Began then forto eate

Euen as he had

Ben more then madde

For lacke of nedefull meate.

655

Goblettes of golde

Went downe twofolde

So dyd owches and ryngis

Tablettis wyth stones

Made for the nonce

660

Wyth many other thyngis

So faste he eate

That he gan swete

As it had bene a bull

Ten tunne I wote

665

Went downe hys throte

And yet he was not ful

Then carefully

Hypocrisie

Bethought him of his store

670

And wyth wordes wyse

He dyd aduise

His lorde to eate no more

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It shall, quoth he

Ryght healthfull be

675

To leaue wyth Appetite

For all fulnes

Doeth cause syckenes

As Phisickes-maisters wryte

Yea syr, quoth he

680

But when I se

That sycknes doeth me pricke

I can be bolde

For redy golde

To haue present Phisicke

685

Wherefore I wyll

Nowe eate my fyll

There shall nothynge me lette

Therefore be gone

Let me alone

690

I must lyue by my meate

Full Heauily

Hypocrisie

Then toke leaue to departe

And sayed Adiu

695

Much good do it you

But thought it not in herte

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Wyth boeth handis than

This God began

To crambe into his crawe

700

Tyll all the golde

Whereof I tolde

Was mowed vp in his mawe

Than sate he downe

And gan to frowne

705

As not content in mynde

Because no more

Was lefte in store

And he had not halfe dynde

Then vp he rose

710

And caste the nose

Alofte into the wynde

Euen as a swyne

Holdeth vp the groyne

When he woulde fedyng fynde

715

Come on, quoth he

For well I se

Here is no meat in store

Hypocrisie

Wyll him aply

720

I thyncke to get in more

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Then home he went

Halfe mysse ####ab#### content

And layed him downe to rest

But he could get

725

No slepe quiete

To fasten in his breste

¶Howe Hypocrisie went about to wythstande Philargyrie.

IN this meane space

Hypocrisie was

At Nodnoll, full busy

730

Some waye to fynde

Hym-selfe to wynde

Out of that miserie

Thus dyd he caste

Then at the laste

735

In his disceytefull thought

I wyll, thought he

Liberall be

Of that which coste me nought

As many as wyll

740

Shall haue theyr fyll

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Of meate and drynck wyth me

Boeth lowe and hye

Shall haue plentie

Of fode, wyth golde and fe.

745

So shall I kepe

Wyth them frendshype

And haue them on my syde

Wyth al theyr herte

To take my parte

750

What-so shall me bytyde

Full well I knowe

That hye and lowe

Wyll take parte of my chere

For in ech coaste.

755

Boeth sodde and roste

Are waxen very dere

And it is lyke

That they wyll stycke

To me alwaye at nede

760

For houndis are wont

Freshly to hunte

For them that do them fede,

And so I saye

I shall alwaye

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765

Be able to wythstande

That wycked wyght

If he wyll fyght

Either by sea or lande

Then by and by

770

He dyd employe

Hym-selfe to make good chere

And for to spende

By the yeres ende

All that came in by yere.

775

This dyd allure

I am ryght sure

The hertes of thousandis ten

To be redy

To lyue and dye

780

Wyth him lyke faythfull men

Then was he bolde

And thought he could

Withstande his maisters myght

He dyd therfore

785

Kepe nought in store

For hym as he had plyght

Greate fees he gaue

An hundred thraue

sig: [C4]

To men that had no nede

790

For well knewe he

That it must be

Such that muste do the dede

Howe selfe-loue vttered Hy[p]ocrisie

Hypocrisie] Hyyocrisie B

his intent to Philargyrie

THen was there one

That dyd anone

795

Conceiue his w[h]ole intent whole] wole B, Y, whole E

And in a nyght

He dyd him dyght

And to P[h]ilargyrie went Philargyrie] Ppilargyrie B, Y, Philargyrie E

He went so faste

800

And made such haste

For feare to come to late

That longe ere daye

He rydde the waye

And was come to the gate

805

Full fiersly than

To knocke he gan

As one that woulde come in

Tyll the wycket

sig: [C4v]

Was open set

810

To knocke he would not blinne

Then came forth one

To him anone

And sayde what haste is this:

Saye on quoth he

815

Declare to me

What thy busynes is

Syr, quoth the freke

I muste nedis speake

Wyth my lorde Philargyrie

820

I can him tell

All is not well

About Hypocrisie

Than ranne the page

As one in rage

825

Unto the chaumber-dore

And at one pushe

He dyd it rushe

Downe flat into the flore

Wyth that awoke

830

That God and shoke

Hys lockis that were full thynne

What maye this [be] be] B, Y omit, be E

sig: [C5]

Syr knaue (quoth he)

That thou comest so faste in:

835

Upon hys knee

Then kneled he

(So well he could his good)

And myldly than

Thus he began

840

Wyth a moste heauy mode

My Lorde, he sayde

I am a ####ab#### frayed

Oure heauie newes to tell

For feare that ye

845

Shoulde angry be

And take it nothyng well

Newes? quoth he than

And bade his man

Tell him wythout delaye.

850

Speake man, quoth he

What ayleth the

Why dost thou make this stay?

Then at the laste

His man out ####ab#### braste

855

And in fewe wordis he sayed

Surely there is

sig: [C5v]

Some-thynge amysse

Some man hath you betrayde

Betrayed, quoth he,

860

Howe maye that be?

And then in hande he toke

Hys b[a]slarde bryght baslarde] boslarde B, Y, bastarde E

So goodly dyght

And gan fiersly to loke

865

Tell me quoth he

Who it shuld be

That hath this treason wrought

That I maye wreke

Me on the freke

870

And bryng his stocke to nought

Hypocrisie

I thyncke treuely

Quoth Philargyries m[a]n man] men B, Y, man E

For one came nowe

875

To speake wyth you

And thus the freke began.

I muste quoth he

If it maye be

Speake wyth Philargyrie

880

I can hym tell

sig: [C6]

All is not well

Aboute Hypocrisie

Than the God bade

Fech in that ladde

885

That I maye here hym speake.

Full lyghtly than

Hys saruant ranne

And brought to him the freake.

Full manerly

890

He made curchie

And lowted to the grownde

Than sayde the lad

I am ryght glad

I haue your lordshipe fou[n]de

895

For I haue spyed

And throughly tryed

Thingis by Hypocrisie

Which do declare

That he doeth beare

900

Grudge to your maiestie

For certenly

Hypocrisie

Hath nowe in his owne hande

The halfe welmoste

sig: [C6v]

905

In euery coaste

Of this pleasant Ilande

And doeth employe

Hym busily

There-wyth forto optayne:

910

All mens good-wyll

That he maye styll

In thys ryche Ilande raygne

He goeth aboute

To haue a route

915

Knytte to hym in frendeshyp:

And to that ende

He doeth intende

A ryght greate house to kepe,

He wyll therfore

920

Kepe nought in store

For you to fede vpon,

He wyll all spende

By the yeres ende

That he maye laye handes on

925

And if you woulde

Do what you coulde

To recouer your ryght

The loselles shall

sig: [C7]

Be redy all

930

In his quarrell to fyght

Wherefore I saye

Inuent some waye

Betyme, for this myschyefe,

Els certenly

935

You shall shortely

Lacke your nedefull relyefe

Then curtesly

Philargyrie

Thanked this man and sayde

940

Ten thousande pounde

In nobles rownde

Thou shalt haue treuly payede

Tell me thy name

And I shall frame shall] wyll E

945

My wayes after thy skyll

For I se well

Thou canste me tell

Wayes to escape thys Ill.

Deare syr quoth he

950

My name hath be

Philaute sence I was borne,

Hypocrisie

sig: [C7v]

Is clombe so hye

That my stocke is nygh worne

955

Well sayde he than

Be content man

I wyll thy stocke restore

For thou shalt be

Chiefe vnder me

960

As Hypocrisie was before

I haue no dreade

But by thy reade

I shall brynge it to passe

That, that vyle slaue

965

And wycked knaue

Shall be brought downe full base

Tell me therfore

If any store

Of counsell doe remay[n]e remayne] remaye B, Y, remayne E

970

What waye we maye

Beste p[ro]ue and saye proue] porue B, Y, proue E

To subdue this vylayn

My Lorde, quoth he

If it so be

975

That ye wyl, as you saye

Take my counsell

sig: [C8]

Then knowe ye well

I thyncke this the beste waye.

Let me be sent

980

To preach in Lent

And out of Lent also:

And I shall drawe

Them from his awe

I truste wyth small adoe

985

I wyll declare

Howe madde they are

To gyue him of theyr good

To be made iust

Sens all men muste

990

Be made iust bi Christis bloud

For though he rynge

Greate belles and synge

A thousande masses and moe

Yet must Christis bloude

995

Shed on the rode

Delyuer all men from woe

Then you shall geue

Ech man good leaue

To wytholde what he can

1000

From that vyle slaue

sig: [C8v]

That doeth styll craue

A flyse of euery man.

They must be bolde

All to wytholde

1005

And eke to take hym fro

Boeth lande and fee

Whereso it be

And rych Iewelles also.

When this is tolde

1010

You may be bolde

All men wyll be full preste

Your parte to take

And him forsake

And then the knaue is dreste,

1015

Let me alone,

There shall not one

Holde on hys syde I trowe

After they do

Once hearken to

1020

The blaste that I shal blowe,

Wyth wordes myry

Then Philargyrie

Sayde, be it as thou hast told

To vse thy skyll

sig: D1

1025

At thyne owne wyll

Thou mayst hensefore be bold

Be thou, quoth he

Next vnto me

And eke my cosen deare

1030

Henseforth certayne

In al Britayne

There shall not be thy peare

And all that be

Kynne vnto the

1035

Be it neuer so small

I wyll promote

And set aflote,

Cosens I wyll them call

Nowe swete Kynsman

1040

Do what you can

That Uylaynes wyll to let

And get me golde

Either newe or olde

Else shall I starue for meate

1045

For I had not

My fyll I wot

This hundred yeres and moe

Whych causeth me

sig: [D1v]

So lea[n]e to be

1050

That scarsely I can goe

Holde you content

It is nowe lent

You must nedes fast awhyle.

Lenten quoth he

1055

Lent let it be

And then he gan to smyle

Wyth that began

Philaute his man

To demaund with wordes mild

1060

What thyng myght be

The cause that he

When Lent was named smyld

¶Oh Couse quoth he

The tyme hath be

1065

That I haue eate more golde

In one shorte lent

Then some haue spent

In fyftie wynters colde

¶For certenly

1070

Hypocrisie

Dyd in lent most prouide

Good golde to fede

sig: D2

Me at my nede

In euery tyme and tyde.

1075

But let that go

He doeth not so

Nowe, well he shall repent

You wyll I trowe

Couse brynge him lowe

1080

Before an-other Lent

Yea syr, quoth he

Sure ye shall be

I wyll so brynge hym downe

That the vyle knaue

1085

Shall nothynge haue

In fielde nor yet in towne

Let vs therefore

Nowe talke no more

I muste this mater plye

1090

It shall be beste

For you to reste

Whylse I to Nodnoll stye

Go you to bed

And laye your heade

1095

Upon a pyllowe fyne

I truste to gete

sig: [D2v]

You golden meate

Ere it be tyme to dyne.

Couse go thy waye

1100

That God gan saye

God pluto be thy spede

My sprite shal be

Present wyth the

To helpe the aye at nede

1105

My lorde, quoth he

It shall best be

That no man [do this] knowe do this] doth is B, Y, do this E

Wherfore let not Wherfore] Therfore E

Your seruants wot

1110

Lest they some rumours sowe

For I must preach

And al men teach

That gods sonne hath me sent

For so shall I

1115

Haue by and by

My purpose and intent

Couse, thou shalt se

I warant the

All shall be kept secrete

1120

For counsells knowne

sig: D3

And abroade blowne

Wyll oure procedyngis let

Departe therfore

And saye no more

1125

For I knowe al thy mynde

Thou shalt well se

That I wyll be

As reasone doeth me bynde

Then louted he

1130

Wyth either knee

And sayed, my lorde Adiu

The God of slepe

Uouchsalfe to kepe

All that belonge to you

Howe Phila[ut]e

Philaute] Philargyrye B, Philargyrie Y, Philaute E

went to Nodnol and what he dyd there.

1135

THen forth he went

As he was sent

Tyl he to Nodnoll came

Where by and bye

He made outecrie

1140

Agaynst Hypocrisies name

sig: [D3v]

Geue eare to me

All you, quoth he

That do your owne welth loue

For gods owne sonne

1145

Dyd byd me runne

Your enmie to remoue.

Hypocrisie

Hath dealt f[al]sely falsely] flasely B, Y, falsely E

Wyth you full many a yere

1150

To gather pelfe

And kepe him-selfe

In ease and bealy-chere.

Do you not se

Howe greasye he

1155

And his be, and how fat?

His chekes be bolne

And for fat swollen,

His nose is cowched flat

He walloweth in

1160

That fylthy synne

Of gredy glottonnye

He wyll not swynke

For meate nor dryncke

But lyue styll Idellye

sig: [D4]

1165

Yet wyll he eate

Nought but fyne meate

And drincke of the best wyne

Who-so hath bene

Wyth him hath sene

1170

His fare to be ryght fyne

I graunte he wyll

Your bealies fyll

Tyl your backis can not bowe

But all that is

1175

Nothynge of his

But [p]yggis of your owne sow pyggis] byggis B, Y, pyggis E

Open your eies

If you be wyse

And se to your owne gayne

1180

Let not thys slaue

The ryches haue

That you haue gote w[it]h payne with] wtih B

You nede not passe

For his vayne masse

1185

Hys diryge and prayars longe

For well we see

All those thyngis be

But laboure of the tonge

sig: [D4v]

Your-selfe can praye

1190

As wel alwaye

As he, and also feede

All such as ye

Shall knowe to be

Pore and nedie in-dede

1195

His prayars shall

Helpe none at all

Christis bloude hath paid the price

You nede therefore

To do no more

1200

That one price doeth suffice.

What madnes than

Is in that man

That wyll so much bestowe

Upon a thynge

1205

Worsse then nothynge?

No man is so madde I trowe

Howe the people forsoke Hypocrisie.

THe people anone

Much mused on

These words that semed straynge

sig: [D5]

1210

Yet dyd they embrace

Them, in shorte space

Because they loue to chaynge

And naturally

You knowe pardie

1215

Ech man wyll loue him-selfe

Then a small thynge

Maye him sone brynge

In loue with this worlds pelfe

The brutes therfore

1220

Toke Philautis lore

And lefte Hypocrisie

Then range the bell

To a Counsell

That thynge to ratifie.

1225

In this Synnodde

Ten score and odde

Toke Hypocrisies parte

Yet all they loste

For all theyr boaste

1230

In dispyte of theyr herte

It was decreed

There and agreed

That Philaute should possesse

sig: [D5v]

For euer-more

1235

Hypocrisie store

Hys landes and his ryches.

Then Philaute sent

In ####ab#### conti[n]ent In ####ab#### continent] In contient B, Y, Incontinent E

Ten thousande tunnes of gold

1240

To Philargyrie

To make him miry

Therwith, what time he wold

In shorte tyme than

His store began

1245

To waste and weare apase

For he eate styll

And coulde not fyll

Hys paunch, in .vii. yeres spase

Then Philaute fedde

1250

Hys God wyth leade

With stones, and wyth tymber

And tolde him that

Golde was to fatte

For men that faste Imber.

1255

You muste, quoth he

Contented be

Wyth such as doeth remayne,

sig: [D6]

Ye must forbeare

Thys preciouse geare

1260

Yet for a yere or twayne

Then Philaute solde

For redy golde

Fortes that were builded strong

And made so sure

1265

Forto endure

That they had stande ful long

Greate landes also

Philaute let go

For golde that was full fyne

1270

And sent it all

To Philargyries hall

For him therwyth to dyne

But all was gone

And spent anone

1275

And he loked for more

But yet in vayne

For nought certayne

Remayned then in store

Well thought he than

1280

I trowe I can

Make ryght fyne golde of bras

sig: [D6v]

And so he dyd

But it framed

Full euel as resone it was

1285

Well, yet he sent

And raysed rent

From fyue grotes to a pounde

Yet was there nat

Much wone by that

1290

For more was lost then founde

Well thus at the last

All hope was paste.

His God he coulde not fyl

Unlesse he shoulde

1295

Be founde so bolde

The Kynge & hys reame to syl

Then gan this God

To take the rode

Of hunger in his fyst

1300

And sayde that he

Woulde fylled be

No man shoulde him resiste.

Then wyth strokes sore

He smote the pore

1305

And then they gan to crye

sig: [D7]

To god almyght

For them to fyght

Agaynst Philargyrie

Howe Trueth tolde all to the Kynge.

BUt then toke trueth

1310

Pitie and ruth

And to the kynge he went

And sayed syr kynge

Amende this thynge

Thy realme else wylbe shent

1315

Philargyrie

Hypocrisie

And Philaute haue spent all

Thy people are

So full of care

1320

That nowe to god they cal.

Uengeaunce therfore

Is at thy dore

Redy the to destroye

Onlesse thou wyll

1325

Purge out the Ill

That doeth thy flocke anoye

sig: [D7v]

An horrible thynge

It is syr Kynge

To fall into godis hande

1330

Thou maist trust me

No man can be

Able him to wythstande

Take hede therfore

Suffer no more

1335

These fell felons to raygne

Leste God almyght

For thy stock fyght

And thou thy-selfe be slayne

What though they be

1340

Myghtie to se?

Yet feare not thou at all

For (God no doubt)

Wyll rowte them oute

If thou wylt on him call

1345

For he hath sayde

He wyll the ayde

Agaynste his enimies

If thou wylt go

Forthe streyght and do

1350

Thyngis pleasant in his eies

sig: [D8]

¶Howe the Kynge draue that wycked sort oute of his realme

WYth that the Kynge

For feare gan sprynge

Unto the Bible-boke

And by and by.

1355

Ryght reuerently

That swerde in hand he toke

No wyght, quoth he

Shall spared be

That doeth my flocke oppresse

1360

God hath me set

Such thyngis to let

And all wrongis to redresse

Then let he crye

That lowe and hye

1365

In whom gods feare did dwel

Shoulde neuer rest

But do they[r] best theyr] they B, Y, thier E

Gods eni[m]ies to expell enimies] eninies B

Then fell he downe

1370

And cast his crowne

sig: [D8v]

And diademe asyde

And lokyng on hye

Up to the skye

To God aloude he cryed

1375

Lorde God, quoth he

Thou hast chosen me

Ouer thy flocke to raygne

Make me of myght

All wrongis to ryght

1380

And make all well agayne

Then God him sent

Men that were bent

Oppression to expell

Whoe chased oute

1385

This gygante stoute

And then all thyngs were w[ell]word obscured in binding

Finis.

¶Imprynted at London by Robert Crowly dwellinge in Elie Rentes in Holburne Anno D[o]miniDomini] Dmini B, Y, Domini E M.D.L.I.

¶Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.