A Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell

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¶A ryght delectable tratyse vpon a goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell by mayster Skelton Poete laureat studyously dyuysed at Sheryfhotten_Castell. In þe foreste of galtres / where-in ar comprysyde many and dyuers solacyo[u]s and ryght pregnant allectyues of syngular pleasure / as more at large it doth apere in þe proces folowynge.

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Eterno mansura die dum sidera fulgent

Equora dumque tument hec laurea nostra virebit.

Hinc nostrum celebre et nomen referetur ad astra.

Vndique Skeltonis memorabitur alter adonis

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ARectyng my syght towarde the zodyake.

The sygnes .xij. for to beholde a_farre

When mars retrogradant reuersyd his bak

Lorde of the yere in his orbucular

Put vp his sworde for he cowde make no warre

and whan lucina plenar[l]y did shyne plenarly] plenary F, M

Scorpione ascendynge degrees twyse nyne

¶In place alone then musynge in my thought

How all-thynge passyth as doth the somer flower

On euery halfe my reasons forthe I sought On] One F, On M

How oftyn fortune varyeth in an howre

Now clere wether forthwith a stormy showre

All-thynge compassyd no perpetuyte

But now in welthe / now in aduersyte

¶So depely drownyd I was in this dumpe

Encraumpysshed so sore was my conceyte

That me to rest / I lent me to a stumpe

Of an oke / that somtyme grew full streyghte

A myghty tre and of a noble heyght

Whose bewte blastyd was with the boystors wynde

His leuis loste / the sappe was frome the rynde

¶Thus stode I in the frytthy forest of Galtres

Ensowkid with [s]ylt of the myry [w]ose sylt] fylt F, sylt M; wose] mose F, M

Where hartis belluyng embosyd with distres

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Ran on the raunge so longe that I suppose

Few men can tell where the hynde-calfe gose tell] telle now C

Faire fall that forster that so well can bate his hownde well] C omits

But of my purpose now torne we to the grownde purpose] proces C

¶Whylis I stode musynge in this medytatyon

In slumbrynge I fell and halfe in a slepe

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And whether it were of ymagynacyon

Or of humors superflue that often wyll crepe

In-to the brayne by drynkyng ouer depe

Or it procedyd of fatall persuacyon

I can not tell you what was the occasyon not tell] not wele tell C

¶But sodeynly at ones as I me aduysed

As one in a trans or in an extasy

I sawe a pauylyon wondersly disgysede

Garnysshed fresshe after my fantasy

Enhachyde with perle and stones preciously

The grounde engrosyd and bet with bourne golde

That passynge goodly it was to be_holde

¶Within that a prynces excellente of porte that] it C

But to recounte her ryche abylyment

And what estates to her did resorte

Therto am I full insuffycyent

A goddesse inmortall she dyd represente

As I harde say Dame Pallas was her name

To whome supplyed the royall quene of fame

¶The quene of Fame. To dame Pallas

PRynces moost pusant of hygh preemynence

Renownyd lady a_boue the sterry heuyn

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All other transcendyng of very congruence

Madame regent of the scyence seuyn scyence] sciences M

To whos astate all noblenes most le[uen] leuen] lene F, C, le[u]en M

My supplycacyon to you I arrect

Where-of I beseche you to tender the effecte

¶Not vnremembered it is vnto your grace

How you gaue me a ryall commaundement you] ye M, C; a] in C

That in my courte skelton shulde haue a place

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Bycause that he his tyme studyously hath spent he his tyme] his tyme he C

In your seruyce: and to the accomplysshement.

Of your request: regestred is his name

Wt laureate tryumphe in the courte of fame

¶But good madame the accustome and vsage

Of auncient poetis ye wote full wele hath bene

Them-selfe to embesy with all there holl corage

So that there workis myght famously be sene

In figure wherof the[y] were [the] laurell grene they were the] the were they F, they were the M

But how it is skelton is wonder slake

And as we dare we fynde in hym grete lake grete] a M

¶For ne were onely he hath your promocyon

Out of my bokis full sone I shulde hym rase

But sith he hath tastid of the sugred pocioun

Of elyco[ni]s well: refresshid with your grace elyconis] elycoms F, Heliconis M

And wyll not endeuour hymselfe to purchase

The fauour of ladys with wordis electe

It is sittynge that ye must hym correct

¶Dame Pallas To the quene of Fame

THe sum of your purpose as we ar aduysid

Is that our seruaunt is sum-what to dull that] for that C

Wher in this answere for hym we haue comprisid

How ryuers rin not tyll the spryng be full

Bete a dum mouthe than a brainles scull Bete] Better M, C

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For if he gloryously publisshe his matter

Then men wyll say how he doth but flatter

¶And if so hym fortune to wryte true and plaine so] C omits

As sumtyme he must vyces remorde

Then sum wyll say he hath but lyttill brayne

And how his wordes with reason wyll not accorde

Beware for wrytyng remayneth of recorde.

Displease not an hundreth for one mannes pleasure

Who wryteth wysely hath a grete treasure

¶Also to furnisshe better his excuse

Ouyde was bann[iss]hed for suche a skyll bannisshed] bannssihed F

And many mo whome I cowde enduce

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Iuuenall was thret parde for to kyll

For certayne enuectyfys: yet wrote he none ill certayne enuectyfys] that he enueiyd C

Sauynge he rubbid sum on the gall on] vpon M

It was not for hym to abyde the tryall abyde] byde C

¶In generrall wordes I say not gretely nay

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A poete somtyme may for his pleasure taunt

Spekyng in paroblis how the fox the grey

The gander the gose: and þe hudge oliphaunt

Went with the pecok a_geyne the fesaunt

The lesarde came lepyng and sayd that he must

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With helpe of the ram ley all in the dust

¶Yet dyuerse ther be industryous of reason ther] that C

Sum-what wolde gadder in there con[i]ecture coniecture] conuecture F, coniecture M

Of suche an endarkid chapiter sum season

How-be-it / it were harde to construe this lecture

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Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture

A nother manes mynde diffuse is to expounde

Yet harde is to make but sum fawt be founde

¶The quene of fame to dame Pallas.

¶Madame with fauour of your benynge sufferaunce

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Unto your grace then make I this motyue

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Where-to made ye me hym to auaunce

Unto the rowme of laureat promotyue

Or wherto shulde he haue the prerogatyue the] that C

But if he had made sum memoryall

Wherby he myght haue a name inmortall

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¶To pas the tyme in slowthfull ydelnes

Of your royall palace it is not the gyse

But to do sumwhat iche man doth hym dres

For how shulde Cato els be callyd wyse

But that his bokis: whiche he did deuyse

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Recorde the same: or why is had in mynde

Plato: but for that he left wrytynge behynde that] C omits

¶For men to loke on: Aristotille also

Of phylosophers callid the princypall

Olde diogenes with other many mo

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Dymostenes that oratour royall

That gaue eschines suche a cordyall That] Whiche C

That banisshed was he by his proposicyoun by] through M

Ageyne whome he cowde make no contradiccyoun

¶Dame pallas to the quene of Fame

SOft my good syster and make there a pawse my good syster] goode my sister C

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And was eschines: rebukid as ye say

Remembre you wel[e]broken letter: poynt wele that clause

Wherfore then rasid ye not a_way

His name: or why is it I you praye

That he to your courte is goyng and commynge

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Sith he is slaundred for defaut of konnyng

¶The quene of fame to dame Pallas.

¶Madame your apposelle is wele inferrid

And at your auauntage quikly it is auauntage] auanuntage F

Towchid: and hard for to be barrid barrid] debarrid C

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Yet shall I answere your grace as in this

145

With your reformacion if I say a_mis

For but if your bounte did me assure

Myne argument els koude not longe endure

¶As towchyng that eschines is remembred

That he so sholde be: me semith it sittyng it] it is C

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All-be-it grete parte he hath surrendred

Of his onour: whos dissuasyue in wrytyng

To corage demostenes was moche excitynge

In settyng out fresshely his crafty persuacyon

From whiche eschines had none euacyon

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¶The cause why demostenes so famously is brutid

Onely procedid for that he did outray

Eschines? whiche was not shamefully confutid

But of that famous oratour I say

Whiche passid all other: wherfore I may

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Among my recordes suffer hym namyd

For though he were venquesshid yet was he not shamyd. For] Sithe C

As ierome in his preamble frater ambrocius

Frome that I haue sayde in no poynt doth vary

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Where-in he reporteth of the coragius Where-in] Where C

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Wordes that were moch consolatory

By eschines rehersed: to the grete glory

Of demostenes: that was his vtter foo

Few shall ye fynde or none that wyll do so

¶Dame pallas to the quene of Fame

A Thanke to haue ye haue well deseruyd

170

Your mynde that can maynteyne so apparently

But a grete parte yet ye haue reseruyd But a grete parte yet] Bot yit a grete parte C

Of that most folow then conseq[u]ently consequently] conseqently F

Or els ye demeane you inordinatly

For if ye laude hym whome honour hath opprest

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Then he that doth worste is as good as the best

¶But whome that ye fauoure I se well hath a name

Be he neuer so lytell of substaunce

And whome ye loue not / ye wyll put to shame

Ye counterwey not euynly your balaunce

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As wele foly as wysdome oft ye do avaunce ye do] tyme ye C

For reporte ryseth many deuerse wayes For] not C

Sume be moche spokyn of for makynge of frays

¶Some haue a name for thefte and brybery

Some be called crafty that can pyke a purse pyke] kit C

185

Some men be made of for the mokery the] their M

Some carefull cokwoldes / some haue theyr wyues curs.

Some famous wetewoldis / and they be moche wurs

Some liddero[n]s / some losels / some noughty packis

Some facers / some bracers / some make great crackis some make] and sum make C

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¶Some dronken dastardis with their dry soules

Some sluggyssh slouyns that slepe day and nyght

Ryot and reuell be in your courte-rowlis

Maintenaunce and mischefe theis be men of myght

Extorcyon is counted with you for a knyght

195

Theis people by me haue none assignement

Yet they ryde and rinne from carlyll to kente they ryde and rinne] ryde they and ryn they C

¶But lytell or nothynge ye shall here tell ye shall] shall ye C

Of them that haue vertue by reason of cunnyng

Whiche souerenly in honoure shulde excell

ref.ed: 318

200

Men of suche maters make but mummynge but] but a C

For wysdome and sadnesse be out a_sunnyng be out] be set out M, C

And suche of my seruauntes as I haue promotyd

One faute or other in them shalbe notyd

¶Eyther they wyll say he is to wyse wyll] shall C

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Or elles he can nought bot whan he is at scole

Proue his wytt sayth he at cardes or dyce

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And ye shall well fynde he is a very fole well fynde] fynde wele C

Twyse set hym a chare or reche hym a stol. Twyse] Twyshe M, C

To syt hym vpon / and rede iacke_a_thrummis bybille hym] C omits

210

For truly it were pyte that he sat ydle

¶The quene of Fame To dame Pallas

TO make repungnaunce agayne that ye haue sayde

Of very dwte it may not well accorde

But your benynge sufferaunce for my discharge I laid

For þat I wolde not with you fall at discorde

215

But yet I beseche your grace that good recorde good] C omits

May be brought forth suche as can be founde

With laureat tryumphe why Skelton sholde be crownde

¶For elles it were to great a derogacyon

Vnto your palas our noble courte of fame

220

That any man vnder supportacyon

With-oute deseruynge shulde haue the best game

If he to the ample encrease of his name

Can lay any werkis that he hath compylyd

I am contente that he be not exylide be] be be

225

¶Frome the laureat senate: by force of proscripcyon

Or elles ye know well I can do no lesse

But I most bannysshe hym frome my iurydiccyon

As he that aquentyth hym with ydilnes

But if that he purpose to make a redresse

230

What he hath done let it be brought to syght

Graunt my petycyon I aske you but ryght

¶Dame Pallas To the quene of Fame

TO your request we be well condiscendid

Call forthe let se where is your clarionar

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To blowe a blaste with his long breth extendid

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Eolus your trumpet that k[n]owne is so farre that] whiche C

That bararag blowyth in euery mercyall warre

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Let hym blowe now that we may take a vewe a] the C

What poetis we haue at our retenewe

¶To se if skelton wyll put hym-selfe in prease wyll] dare C

240

Amonge the thickeste of all the hole rowte

Make noyse enoughe for claterars loue no peas

Let se my syster now spede you go a_boute you] C omits

Anone I sey this trumpet were founde out

And for no man hardely let hym spare

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To blowe bararag tyll bothe his eyne stare bararag] bararag brag C

¶Skelton Poeta.

FOrth-with there rose amonge the thronge

A wonderfull noyse / and on euery syde

They presid in faste / some thought they were to longe

Sume were to hasty and wold no man byde

250

Some whispred some rownyd / some spake / and some cryde.

With heuy[n]ge and shouynge haue in and haue oute

Some ranne the nexte way sume ranne a_bowte

¶There was suyng to the quene of fame

He plucked hym backe / and he went a_fore

255

Nay holde thy tunge quod a nother let me haue the name

Make rowme sayd a nother ye prese all to sore

Sume sayd holde thy peas thou getest here no more

A thowsande thowsande I sawe on a plumpe

With that I harde the noyse of a trumpe

260

¶That longe-tyme blewe a full timorous blaste

Lyke to the boryall wyndes whan they blowe

That towres / and townes / and trees downe caste

Droue clowdes to_gether lyke dryftis of snowe

The dredefull dinne droue all the rowte on a rowe

265

Some tremblid / some girnid / some gaspid / some gasid

As people halfe peuysshe or men that were masyd

¶Anone all was whyste as it were for the nonys

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And iche man stode gasyng and staryng vpon other

With that there come in wonderly at ones

ref.ed: 320

270

A murmur of mynstrels / that suche a nother

Had I neuer sene some softer some lowder

Orpheus the traciane herped meledyously

Weth amphion and other musis of archady

¶Whos heuenly armony was so passynge sure

275

So truely proporsionyd and so well did gree

So duly entunyd with euery mesure

That in the forest was none so great a tre

But that he daunced for ioye of that gle

The huge myghty okes them-selfe dyd auaunce

280

And lepe frome the hylles to lerne for to daunce

¶In-so-moche the stumpe where-to I me lente

Sterte all at ones an hundrethe fote backe

With that I sprange vp towarde the tent

Of noble dame Pallas wherof I spake

285

Where I sawe come after I wote full lytell lake

Of a thousande poetes assembled to_geder

But phebus was formest of all that cam theder

¶Of laurell-leuis a cronell on his hede

With heris encrisped yalowe as the golde encrisped] enscrisped F

290

Lamentyng daphnes whome with the darte of lede

Cupyde hath stryken so that she ne wolde

Concente to phebus to haue his herte in holde

But for to preserue her maiden_hode clene maiden hode] maydenheed M

Transformyd was she in-to the laurell grene

295

¶Meddelyd with mur[n]ynge the moost parte of his muse murnynge] murmynge F, murning M

O thoughtfull herte was euermore his songe

Daphnes my derlynge why do you me refuse

Yet loke on me that louyd you haue so longe

Yet haue compassyon vpon my paynes stronge

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300

He sange also how the tre as he did take

Betwene his armes he felt her body quake

¶Then he assurded in-to his exclamacyon his] this M

Unto Diana the goddes inmortall

O mercyles madame hard is your constellacyon

305

So close to kepe your cloyster virgynall

Enhardid adyment the sement of your wall

Alas what ayle you to be so ouerthwhart

To bannysshe pyte out of a maydens harte

ref.ed: 321

¶Why haue the goddes shewyd me this cruelte

310

Sith I contryuyd first princyples medycynable

I helpe all other of there infirmite

But now to helpe my-selfe I am not able

That profyteth all other is no-thynge profytable

Unto me / alas that herbe nor gr[e]s[se] gresse] gras F, gresse M

315

The feruent axes of loue can not represse

¶O fatall fortune what haue I offendid

Odious disdayne why raist thou me on this facyo[n]

But sith I haue lost now that I entended

And may not atteyne it by no medyacyon

320

Yet in remembraunce of daphnes transformacyon

All famous poetis ensuynge after me

Shall were a garlande of the laurell-tre

¶This sayd a great nowmber folowyd by and by

Of poetis laureat of many dyuerse nacyons

325

Parte of there names I thynke to specefye

Fyrste olde Quintiliane with his decl[am]acyons declamacyons] declynacyons F, Declamations M

Theocritus with his bucolycall relacyons

Esiodus the Icono[mi]car Iconomicar] Icononucar F, M

And homerus the fresshe historiar

330

¶Prynce of eloquence tullius_cicero

With salusty a_geinst lucius_catelyne

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That wrote the history of iugurta also

Ouyde enshryned with the musis nyne

But blessed bacchus the pleasant god of wyne

335

Of closters engrosyd with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] droppes F, flotes M

These orators and poetes refresshed there throtis

Lucan with stacius in Achilliedos this stanza is added in M

Percius presed forth with problemes diffuse

Uirgill the mantuan with his en[e]idos eneidos] enridos M

340

I[u]uenall satirray that men makythe to muse

But blessed Bacchus the pleasant god of wyne

Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotes

These orators and Poetes refreshed their throtes

¶There titus_lyuius hym-selfe dyd auaunce

345

With decadis historious whiche that he mengith

With maters that amount the romayns in substaunce

Enyus that wrate of mercyall war at lengthe

ref.ed: 322

But blessyd bachus potenciall god of strengthe

Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] droppes F, dropes M

350

Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis

¶Aulus_Gelius that noble historiar

Orace also with his new poetry

Mayster Terence the famous co[mi]car comicar] conucar F, comicar M

With plautus that wrote full many a comody full] M omits

355

But blessyd bachus was in there company

Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] dropis F, dropes M

Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis

¶Senek full soberly wit[h] his tragedijs with] wit F

Boyce recounfortyd with his philosophy

360

And maxymyane with his madde ditijs

How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly

But blessyd bachus most reuerent and holy

Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] dropis F, dropes M

Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis

365

¶There came Iohnn_bochas with his volumys grete

Quintus_curs[i]us full craftely that wrate cursius] cursus F

Of Alexander / and macrobi[u]s that did trete

Of scipions dreme what was the treu probate

But blessyd bachus that neuer man forgate

370

Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] dropis F, dropes M

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These orators and poetis refresshid ther throtis

¶Pogge[u]s also that famous florentine

Mustred ther amonge them with many a mad tale

With a frere of fraunce men call sir gagwyne

375

That frow[n]yd on me full angerly and pale frownyd] frowmyd F

But blessyd bachus that bote is of all bale

Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] dropis F, dropes M

Theis orators and poetis refresshid there throtis

¶Plutarke and Petrarke two famous clarkis

380

Lucilius and valerius_maximus by name

With vincencius in speculo that wrote noble warkis

Propercius and Pisandros poetis of noble fame

But blissed bachus that mastris oft doth frame

Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy [flotis] flotis] dropis F, dropes M

385

Theis notable poetis refresshid there throtis

ref.ed: 323

¶And as I thus sadly amonge them auysid

I saw Gower that first garnisshed our englysshe rude

And maister Chaucer that nobly enterprysyd

How that our englysshe myght fresshely be [ennewed] ennewed] a meude F, ennewed M

390

The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd

Dane Iohnn_lydgate theis englysshe poetis thre

As I ymagenyd repayrid vnto me

¶To_geder in armes as brethern enbrasid

There apparell farre passynge beyonde that I can tell

395

Wt diamauntis and rubis there tabers were trasid tabers] taberdes M

None so ryche stones in turkey to sell

Thei wantid nothynge but the laurell

And of there bounte they made me godely chere

In maner and forme as ye shall after here

¶Mayster Gower. To Skelton.

400

¶Brother Skelton your endeuorment

So haue ye done that meretoryously

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Ye haue deseruyd to haue an enplement

In our collage aboue the sterry sky

By_cause that [ye] encrese and amplyfy ye] F omits, ye M

405

The brutid britons of brutus_albion

That welny was loste when that we were gone welny] welnere M

¶Poeta Skelton to Maister Gower.

This heading and the following stanza are absent in F and are added here from M

MAister Gower I haue nothyng deserued

To haue So laudabyle a commendacion

To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued

410

Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion

How all that I do is vnder Refformation

For only the Substance of that I entend

Is glad to please and loth to offend.

¶Mayster Chaucer To Skelton.

COunterwayng your besy delygence

415

Or that we beganne in the supplement

Enforcid ar we you to recompence

ref.ed: 324

Of all our hooll collage by the agreament

That we shall brynge you personally present

Of noble fame before the quenes grace

420

In whose court poynted is your place

¶Poeta Ske[l]ton

Skelton] Sketon F

answeryth.

O Noble Chaucer whos pullisshyd eloquence

Oure englysshe rude so fresshely hath set out

That bounde ar we with all deu reuerence

Wt all our strength that we can brynge about

425

To owe to yow our seruyce / and more if we mowte

But what sholde I say ye wote what I entende

Whiche glad am to please and loth to offende

¶Mayster Lydgate. To Skelton.

SO am I preuentid of my brethern tweyne

In rendrynge to you thankkis meritory

430

That welny no-thynge there doth remayne welny] welnere M

Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory

But that I poynt you to be prothonatory

Of fames court by all our holl assent

Auaunced by pallas to laurell preferment

¶Poeta Skelton answeryth

435

¶So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd

Mayster lidgate of your accustomable

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Bownte / and so gloryously ye haue enrollyd

My name / I know well be_yonde that I am able

That but if my warkes therto be agreable

440

I am elles rebukyd of that I intende

Which glad am to please and lothe to offende

¶So finally when they had shewyd there deuyse

Under the forme as I sayd to_fore to_fore] before M

I made it straunge and drew bak ones or twyse

445

And euer they presed on me more and more

Tyll at the last they forcyd me sore sore] so sore M

That with them I went where they wolde me brynge

Unto the pauylyon where pallas was syttyng

ref.ed: 325

DAme Pallas commaundid that they shold me conuay

450

In-to the ryche palace of þe quene of fame

There shal he here what she wyl to hym say wyl to hym] to hym will M

When he is callid to answere to his name

A cry anone forthwith she made proclame

All orators and poetis shulde thider go before

455

Wi[th] all the prese that there was lesse and more With] wiht F

¶Forth-with I say thus wa[n]drynge in my thought wandrynge] wadrynge F

How [far] it was or elles within what howris far] F, M omit

I can not tell you / but that I was brought

In-to a palace with turrettis and towris

460

Engolerid goodly with hallis and bowris Engolerid] Engalared M

So curiously / so craftely / so connyngly wrowght

That all the worde I trowe and it were sought worde] worlde M

¶Suche a nother there coude no man fynde

Wher-of partely I purpose to expounde

465

Whyles it remanyth fresshe in my mynde

Wt turkis and grossolitis enpauyd was the grounde

Of birrall enbosid wer the pyllers rownde

Of Elephantis tethe were the palace gatis

sig: [B3v]

Enlosenged with many goodly platis

470

¶Of golde entachid with many a precyous stone

An hundred steppis mountyng to the halle

One of iasper a nother of whalis-bone

Of dyamauntis pointed was the wall the] the rokky M

The carpettis within and tappettis of pall

475

The chambres hangid with clothes of arace

Enuawtyd with rubies the vawte was of this place

¶Thus passid we forth walkynge vnto the pretory

Where þe postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy-blew

Englasid glittering with many a clere-story

480

Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew

Unto this place all poetis there did sue

Wherin was set of fame the noble quene

All other transcendynge [the] most rychely besene the] F, M omit

¶Under a gloryous cloth of astate

485

Fret all with orient perlys of garnate

Encrownyd as empresse of all this wordly fate wordly] worldly M

So ryally / so rychely / so passyngly ornate

ref.ed: 326

It was excedyng by_yonde the commowne rate

This hous enuyrowne was a myle a_bout

490

If .xij. were let in .xij. hundreth stode without

¶Then to this lady and souerayne of this palace

Of purseuantis ther presid in with many a dyuerse tale a] M omits

Some were of poyle and sum were of trace

Of lymerik / of loreine / of spayne of portyngale

495

Frome napuls / from nauern and from rounceuall

Some from flaunders / sum from the se-coste

Some from the mayne-lande / some fro the frensche hoste

¶With how doth / e north what tydyngis in / e sowth

The west is wyndy / the est is metely wele

500

It is harde to tell of euery mannes mouthe

sig: [B4]

A slipper holde the taile is of an ele

And he haltith often that hath a kyby hele

Some shewid his salfecundight some shewid his charter salfecundight] safeconduct M; charter] chart M

Some lokyd full smothely and had a fals-quarter quarter] quart M

505

¶With sir I pray you a lytyll tyne stande backe 'tyne': see 'tine', a. and sb. 6, OED

And lette me come in to delyuer my lettre

A nother tolde how shyppes wente to wrak

There were many wordes smaller and gretter

With I as good as thou / I_fayth and no better

510

Some came to tell treuth / some came to lye

Some c[a]me to flater / some came to spye came] come F, came M

¶There were I say of all maner of sortis

Of dertmouth / of plummouth / of portismouth also

The burgeis / and the ballyuis of the .v. portis

515

With now let me come / and now let me go

And all-tyme wandred I thus to and fro

Tyll at the last theis noble poetis thre

Unto me sayd / lo syr now ye may se

¶Of this high courte the dayly besines

520

From you most we but not longe to tary

Lo hither commyth a goodly maystres

Occupacyon famys regestary

Whiche shall be to you a sufferayne accessary

With syngular pleasurs to dryue a_way the tyme

525

And we shall se you ageyne or it be pryme

ref.ed: 327

¶When they were past and wente forth on there way

This gentilwoman that callyd was by name

Occupacyon in ryght goodly aray

Came towarde me and smylid halfe in game

530

I sawe hir smyle and I then did the same I then] than I M

With that on me she kest her goodly loke

Under her arme me-thought she hade a boke

sig: [B4v]

¶Occupacyoun to Skelton.

Lyke as the larke vpon the somers day

Whan titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght

535

Mountith on hy with her melodious lay

Of the sone-shyne engladid with the lyght

So am I supprysyd with pleasure and delyght

To se this howre now that I may say

How ye ar welcome to this court of aray

540

¶Of your acqueintaunce I was in tymes past

Of studyous doctryne when at the port-salu

[Ye] fyrste aryuyd whan broken was your mast Ye] The F, Ye M

Of worldly trust then did I you rescu

Your storme-dryuen shyppe I repared new

545

So well entakeled what wynde that euer blowe that] so M

No stormy tempeste your barge shall ouer_throw

¶Welcome to me as hertely as herte can thynke

Welcome to me with all my hole desyre

And for my sake spare neyther pen nor ynke

550

Be well assurid I shall a_quyte your hyre

Your name recountynge be_yonde the lande of tyre

From sydony to the mount olympyan

Frome babill_towre to the hillis [C]aspian Caspian] Gaspian F, Caspian M

¶Skelton poeta answeryth

I Thanked her moche of her most noble offer

555

Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunce

For her pleasure to make a large profer

Enpryntyng her wordes in my remembraunce.

To owe her my seruyce with true perseueraunce

ref.ed: 328

Come on with me she sayd let vs not stonde

560

And with that worde she toke me by the honde

So passyd we forthe in-to the forsayd place

With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde

sig: C1

And then she sayd whylis we haue tyme and space

To walke where we lyst / let vs somwhat fynde

565

To pas the tyme with / but let vs wast no wynde

For ydle iangelers haue but lytill braine

Wordes be swordes and hard to call ageine

¶In-to a felde she brought me wyde and large

Enwallyd aboute with the stony flint

570

Strongly enbateld moche costious of charge

To walke on this walle she bed I sholde not stint

Go softly she sayd the stones be full glint

She went before and bad me take good holde

I sawe a thowsande yatis new and olde

575

¶Then questionyd I her what thos yatis ment thos] these M

Wherto she answeryd and breuely me tolde

How from the est vnto the occident

And from the sowth vnto the north so colde

Theis yatis she sayd which that ye beholde

580

Be issuis and portis from all maner of nacyons

And seryously she shewyd me ther denominacyons

¶They had wrytyng sum greke / sum ebrew

Some romaine letters as I vnderstode

Some were olde wryten / sum were writen new

585

Some carectis of caldy / sum frensshe was full good

But one gate specyally where-as I stode

Had grauin in it of calcydony a capytall .A.

What yate call ye this / and she sayd Anglea yate] gate M

The beldynge therof was passynge commendable

590

Wheron stode a lybbard crownyd with golde and stones

Terrible of countenaunce and passynge formydable

As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones

As gastly that glaris as grimly that gronis

As fersly frownynge as he had ben fyghtyng

sig: [C1v]

595

And with his forme foote he shoke forthe this wrytyng

ref.ed: 329

Formidanda nimis Iouis vltima fulmina tollis

Vnguibus ire parat loca singula liuida curuis

Quam modo per phebes Nummos raptura celeno

Arma / lues / luctus / fel / vis / fraus barbara tellus

600

Mille modis erras odium tibi querere martis

Spreto spineto cedat sali[un]ca roseto saliunca] salimica F, saliunca M Cacosinthicon ex industria

THen I me lent and loked ouer the wall

Innumerable people presed to euery gate

Shet were the gatis thei might wel knock and cal

605

And turne home ageyne for they cam al to late

I her demaunded of them and ther astate

Forsothe quod she theys be has[k]ardis and rebawdis haskardis] hastardis F, haskardes M

Dysers / carders / tumblars with gambawdis

¶Furdrers of loue with bawdry aqueinted

610

Brainles blenkardis that blow at the cole

Fals forgers of mony for kownnage atteintid kownnage] coynnage M

Pope-holy ypocrytis as they were golde and hole

Powle-hatchettis that prate wyll at euery ale-pole wyll] well M

Ryot / reueler / railer / brybery theft

615

Wt other condycyons that well myght be left

¶Sume fayne them-selfe folys and wolde be callyd wyse

Sum medelynge spyes by craft to grope thy mynde

Sum dysdanous dawcokkis that all men dispyse

Fals flaterers that fawne the and kurris of kynde

620

That speke fayre before the and shrewdly behynde

Hither they come crowdyng to get them a name

But hailid they be homwarde with sorow and shame

¶With that I herd gunnis russhe out at ones

Bowns / bowns / bowns / that all they out-cryde

625

It made sum lympe-legged and broisid there bones

Sum were made peuysshe porisshly pynk-iyde

sig: [C2]

That euer more after by it they were aspyid

And one ther was there I wondred of his hap

For a gun-stone I say had all to_iaggid his cap to iaggid] to lagged M

630

¶Raggid and daggid and cunnyngly cut

The blaste of the brynston blew away his brayne

Masid as a marche-hare he ran lyke a scut

And sir amonge all me-thought I saw twaine

ref.ed: 330

The one was a tumblar that afterwarde againe

635

Of a dysour a deuyl way grew a Ientilman

Pers_prater the secund tha[t] quarillis beganne that] tha F, that M

¶Wt a pellit of peuisshenes they had suche a stroke

That all þe dayes of ther lyfe shall styck by ther rybbis

Foo / foisty bawdias sum smellid of the smoke

640

I saw dyuers that were carijd away thens in cribbis

Dasyng after dotrellis lyke drunkardis that dribbis

Theis titi[u]yllis with taumpinnis wer towchid and tappid

Moche mischefe I hyght you / amonge theem ther happid

SOmetyme as it semyth when þe mone-light

645

By meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowde

Sodenly is eclipsid in the wynter night

In lyke maner of wyse a myst did vs shrowde

But wele may ye thynk I was no-thyng prowde

Of that auenturis whiche made me sore agast

650

In derkenes thus dwelt we tyll at the last

¶The clowdis gan to clere / þe myst was rarifijd

In an herber I saw brought where I was an] a an F

There birdis on the brere sange on euery syde

With alys ensandid about in compas

655

The bankis enturfid with singular solas

Enrailid with rosers and vinis engrapid

It was a new comfort of sorowis escapid

¶In the middis a coundight that coryously was cast

sig: [C2v]

With pypes of golde engusshing out stremes

660

Of cristall the clerenes theis waters far past

Enswymmyng with rochis / barbellis / and bremis

Whose skales ensilured again the son-beames this line is added in M

Englisterd: that ioyous it was to be_holde

Then furthermore aboute me my syght I reuolde

665

¶Where I saw growyng a goodly laurell-tre

Enuerdurid with leuis contynually grene

Aboue in the top a byrde of araby

Men call a phenix: her wynges bytwene

She bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full kene

670

With braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue

Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyue Oliua speciosa in campis

ref.ed: 331

¶Ageynst all infeccyons with cancour enflamyd cancour] rancour M

Ageynst all baratows broisiours of olde

It passid all bawmys that euer were namyd

675

Or gummis of saby so derely that be solde Quam excellentiam virtutis in oliua.

There blew in that gardynge a soft piplyng colde

Enbrethyng of zepherus with his pleasant wynde

All frutis [and] flowris grew there in there kynde and] F omits, and M

¶Dryades there daunsid vpon that goodly soile

680

Wit[h] the nyne muses pierides by name with] wit F

Phillis and testalus ther tressis with oyle

Were newly enbybid: and rownd a_bout the same

Grene tre of laurell moche solacyous game

They made / with chapellettes and garlandes grene

685

And formest of all dame flora the quene

¶Of somer: so formally she fotid the daunce

There cintheus sat twynklyng vpon his harpe-stringis

And iopas his instrument did auaunce

The poemis and storis auncient inbryngis

690

Of athlas astrology and many noble thyngis

Of wandryng of the mone / the course of the sun

sig: [C3]

Of men and of bestis and where-of they begone

¶What thynge occasionyd the showris of rayne

Of fyre elementar in his supreme spere

695

And of that pole artike whiche doth remayne

Behynde the taile of vrsa so clere

Of pliades he prechid with ther drowsy chere

Immoysturid with mislyng and ay droppyng dry

And where the two tr[i]ons a man shold a_spy trions] troons F, trions M

700

¶And of the winter days that hy them so fast

And of the wynter nyghtes that tary so longe

And of the somer days so longe that doth last

And of their shorte nyghtes / he browght in his songe

How wronge was no ryght / and ryght was no wronge

705

There was counteryng of carollis in meter and verse and] and in M

So many: that longe it were to reherse

¶Occupacyon. To Skelton.

HOw say ye: is this after your appetite

ref.ed: 332

May this contente you and your mirry mynde

Here dwellith pleasure with lust and delyte

710

Contynuall comfort here ye may fynde

Of welth and solace no-thynge left be_hynde

All-thynge conuenable here is cont[ry]uyd conuenable] conuenably M; contryuyd] contyruyd F

Where-with your spiritis may be reuyuid

¶Poeta Skelton answeryth.

QUestionles no dowte of that ye say

715

Iupiter hym-selfe this lyfe myght endure

This ioy excedith all wordly sport and play wordly] worldly M

Paradyce / this place is of syngular pleasure

O wele were hym that herof myght be sure

And here to inhabite / and ay for to dwell

720

But goodly maystres one thynge ye me tell

sig: [C3v]

¶Occupacyon. To Skelton.

OF your demawnd shew me the content

What it is and where-vpon it standis

And if there be in it any-thyng ment

Wherof the answere restyth in my handis

725

It shall be losyd ful sone out of the bandis

Of sc[r]upulus dout: wherfore your mynde discharge scrupulus] scupulus F, scrupulus M

And of your wyll the plainnes shew at large

¶Poeta Skelton answeryth.

I Thanke you goodly maystres to me most benynge

Yt of your bounte so well haue me assurid

730

But my request is not so great a thynge

That I ne force what though it be discurid

I am not woundid but that I may be cured

I am not ladyn of liddyrnes wi[th] lumpis with] wiht F

As dasid doterdis that dreme in their dumpis

¶Occupacyon. To Skelton

735

NOwe what ye mene I trow I coniect

Gog gyue you good yere ye make me to smyle Gog] God M

ref.ed: 333

Now b[y] your faith is not this th'effect by] be F, by M

Of your questyon ye make all this whyle

To vnderstande who dwellyth in yone pile yone] yonder C

740

And what blunderar is yonder that playth didil_diddil

He fyndith fals mesuris out of his fonde fiddill fals mesuris out] owght fals mesuris C

Interpolata / que industriosum Postulant interpretem / satira in vatis aduersarium.

¶Tressis agasonis species prior: altera daui,

Aucupium culicis limis dum torquet ocellum.

Concipit / aligeras / rapit / [ap]petit / aspice muscas appetit] opetit F

745

Maia queque fouet: fouet aut que iuppiter aut que

Frigida / saturnus / sol / mars venus algida luna Nota Alchimiam et .7. metalla.

sig: [C4]

Si tibi contingat verbo aut committere scripto

Quam sibi mox tacita sudant precordia culpa.

Hinc ruit in flammas: stimula[n]s hunc vrget et illum stimulans] stimulas F

750

Inuocat ad rixas / vanos tamen excitat ignes

Labra mouens tacitus / rumpantur vt ilia Codro

17. 4. 7. 2. 17. 5. 18.

18. 19. 1. 19. 8. 5. 12.

HIs name for to know if that ye lyst

Enuyous_rancour truely he hight

Be ware of hym I warne you for and ye wist and] if M

755

How daungerous it were to stande in his lyght were to stande in his lyght] is to stop up his sight C

Ye wolde not dele with hym thowgh that ye myght though] thought M, thowth C

For by his deuellysshe drift and graceles prouision

An hole reame he is able to set at deuysion

¶For when he spekyth fayrest then thynketh he moost yll

760

Full gloryously can he glose thy mynde for to fele

He wyll set men a_feightynge and s[y]t hym-selfe styll set men a feightynge] stir men to brawlyng C; syt] set F, syt M

And smerke lyke a smythy-kur [at] sperkes of steile at] os F, at M

[H]e can neuer leue warke whylis it is wele He] Ie F

To tell all his towchis it were to grete wonder

765

The deuyll of hell and he be seldome a_sonder

THus talkyng we went forth in at a postern-gate forth] C omits

Turnyng on þe ryght hande by [a] windyng-stayre a] F omits, a M

She brought me to a goodly chaumber of astate to] into C

Where the noble cowntes of Surrey in a chayre

ref.ed: 334

770

Sat honorably / to whome did repaire

Of ladys [a beue] with all dew reuerence a beue] aboue F, a Beuy M

Syt downe fayre ladys and do your diligence

¶Come forth Ientylwomen I pray you she sayd

I haue contryuyd for you a goodly warke

775

And who can worke beste now shall be a_sayde

A cronell of lawrell with verduris light and darke

sig: [C4v]

I haue deuysyd for Skelton my clerke

For to his seruyce I haue suche regarde

That of our bownte we wyll hym rewarde

780

¶For of all ladyes he hath the library

Ther names recountyng in þe court of fame

Of all gentylwomen he hath the sc[r]uteny scruteny] scuteny F, scruteny M

In fames court reportynge the same

For yet of women he neuer sayd shame

785

But if they were counterfettes that women them call

That list of there lewdnesse with hym for to brall

¶With that the tappettis and carpettis were layd

Where-on theis ladys softly myght rest

The saumpler to sow on the lacis to enbraid

790

To weue in the stoule sume were full preste

Wt slaijs / with tauellis / with hedellis well drest

The frame was browght forth with his weuyng-pin

God geue them good spede there warke to begin

¶Sume to enbrowder put them in prese

795

Well gydyng ther glowtonn to kepe streit theyr sylk ther] the C

Sum pirlyng of goldde theyr worke to encrese

Wt fingers smale and handis whyte as mylk whyte] as white M

With reche me that skane of tewly sylk

And wynde me that botowme of such an hew an] a C

800

Grene / rede / tawny / whyte / purpill and blew whyte] whyght blak C

¶Of broken warkis wrought many a goodly thyng

In castyng / in turnynge / in florisshyng of flowris

With burris rowth and bottons surffillyng

In nedill-wark raysyng byrdis in bowris byrdis in bowris] bothe birddis and bowres C

805

With vertu enbesid all tymes and howris

And truly of theyr bownte thus were they bent

To worke me this chapelet by goode aduysemente

ref.ed: 335

sig: D[1]

¶Occupacyon. To Skelton.

BEholde and se in your aduertysement

How theis ladys and gentylwomen all

810

For your pleasure do there endeuourment

And for your sake how fast to warke they fall.

To your remembraunce wherfore ye must call

In goodly wordes plesauntly comprysid

That for them some goodly conseyt be deuysid

815

¶With proper captacyons of beneuolence

Ornatly pullysshid after your faculte

Sith ye must nedis afforce it by pretence

Of your professyoun vnto vmanyte

Commensyng your proces after there degre

820

To iche of them rendryng thankis commendable

With sentence fructuous and termes couenable

¶Poeta Skelton answeryth.

AUaunsynge my-selfe sum thanke to deserue

I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen

Deuoutly arrectyng my prayer to mynerue

825

She to vowche_safe me to informe and ken

To mercury also hertely prayed I then

Me to supporte to helpe and to assist

To gyde and to gouerne my dredfull tremlyng fist

¶As a mariner that amasid is in a stormy rage amasid] masid C

830

Hardly be_stad and driuen is to hope and] C omits

Of that the tempe[st]ous wynde wyll a_swage tempestous] tempeous F, tempestous M, tempestuows C

In trust wherof comforte his hart doth grope

From the anker he kuttyth the gabyll-rope

Committyth all to god and lettyth his shyp ryde

835

So I beseke ihesu now to be my gyde

sig: [D1v]

¶To the ryght noble countes of Surrey

¶After all duly ordred obeisaunce =Ringler TP 68

In humble wyse as lowly as I may

Unto you madame I make reco[nu]saunce reconusaunce] recounsaunce F

My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say

ref.ed: 336

840

Recount / reporte / reherse with-out delay

The passynge bounte of your noble astate

Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date

¶Lyke to argyua by iust resemblaunce

The noble wyfe of polimites kynge

845

Prudent rebecca of whome remembraunce

The byble makith / with whos chast lyuynge

Your nobl[e] demenour is counterwayng noble] noblr F

Whos passynge bounte / and ryght noble astate

Of honour and worship it hath the formar date

850

¶The noble pamphila quene of þe grekis londe

Habillimentis royall founde out industriously

Thamer also wrought with her goodly honde

Many diuisis passynge curyously

Whome ye represent and exemplify

855

Whos passynge bounte and ryght noble astate

Of honour and worship it hath the formar date

¶As dame thamarys whiche toke the kyng of perce

Cirus by name as wrytith the story

Dame agrippina also I may reherse

860

Of ientyll corage the p[er]fight m[e]mory perfight] profight F

So shall your name endure perpetually

Whos passyng bounte and ryght noble astate

Of honour and worship it hath the formar date

¶To my lady elisabeth_howarde

¶To be your remembrauncer madame I am bounde =Ringler TP 2012

865

Lyke to aryna maydenly of porte

sig: [D2]

Of vertu and konnyng the well and perfight grounde and] C omits

Whome dame nature as wele I may reporte

Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte

Of womanly feturis / whos florysshyng tender age

870

Is lusty to loke on plesaunte demure and sage

¶Goodly creisseid: fayrer than polexene

For to enuyue pandarus appetite

Troilus I trowe if that he had you sene

In you he wolde haue set his hole delight

875

Of all your bewte I suffyce not to wryght

ref.ed: 337

But as I sayd your florisshinge tender age

Is lusty to loke on plesaunt demure and sage

¶To my lady mirriell_howarde

MI litell lady I may not leue behinde =Ringler TP 1166

But to do you seruyce nedis now I must to do you] do her C

880

Beninge curteyse of ientyll harte and mynde

Whom fortune and fate playnly haue discust.

Longe to enioy plesure delyght and lust

The enbuddid blossoms of roses rede of hew The enbuddid blossoms of] Enbuddid blossome with C

With lillis whyte your bewte doth renewe With lillis] The lylly C

885

¶Compare you I may to cidippes the mayd

That of aconcyus whan she founde the byll

In her bosome / lorde how she was afrayd how] C omits

The ruddy shamefastnes in her vysage fyll

Whiche maner of abasshement became her not yll

890

Right so madame the roses redde of hew

With lillys whyte your bewte dothe renewe

¶To my lady ann_dakers of the sowth

ZEuxes that enpicturid fare elene the quene =Ringler TP 2345

You to deuyse his crafte were to seke

And if apelles your countenaunce had sene

895

Of porturature which was the famous greke

sig: [D2v]

He coude not deuyse the lest poynt of your cheke

Princes of yowth and flowre of goodly porte

Vertu / conyng / solace / pleasure / comforte

¶Paregall in honour vnto penolepe

900

That for her trowth is in remembraunce had

Fayre dijanira surm[o]wntynge in bewte surmowntynge] surmewntynge F

Demure diana womanly and sad

Whos lusty lokis make heuy hartis glad

Princes of youth and flowre of goodly porte

905

Vertu / connyng / solace / pleasure / comforte

¶To mastres margery_wentworthe.

¶With margerain ientyll

The flowre of goodly_hede

ref.ed: 338

Enbrowdred þe mantill

Is of your maydenh[e]de maydenhede] maydenhode F

910

¶Plainly I can not glose. =Ringler TP 1469

Ye be as I deuyne

The praty primrose

The goodly columbyne.

¶With margerain iantill

915

The flowre of goodly_hede

Enbrawderyd the mantyll

Is of yowre maydenhede

¶Benynge corteise and meke

Wt wordes well deuysid

920

In you who list to seke

Be vertus well comprysid

¶With margerain iantill

The flowre of goodlyhede

Enbrawderid the mantill

925

Is of yowr maydenhede

¶To mastres margaret_tylney.

I you assure =Ringler TP 816

Ful wel I know

My besy cure

To yow I owe

930

Humbly and low

Commendynge me

To yowre bownte

¶As machareus

Fayre canace

935

So I / iwys

Endeuoure me

Yowr name to se

It be enrolde

Writtin with golde

940

¶Phedra ye may

Wele represent

Intentyfe ay

ref.ed: 339

And dylygent

No tyme myspent

sig: [D3]

945

Wherfore delyght

I haue to whryght

¶Of margarite

Perle orient

L[o]de-sterre of lyght Lodesterre] Lede sterre F

950

Moche relucent

Madame regent

I may you call

Of vertuows all

¶To maystres Iane_blenner_haiset.

¶What though my penne / wax faynt =Ringler TP 2139

955

and hath smale lust to paint

Yet shall there [be] no restraynt be] F, M omit

Cause me to cese

Amonge this prese

For to encrese

960

Yowre goodly name

¶I wyll my-selfe applye

Trust me ententifly

Yow for to stellyfye

And so obserue.

965

That ye ne swarue

For to deserue.

Inmortall fame Inmortall] The courte of C

¶Sith mistres iane_haiset

Smale flowres helpt to sett

970

In my goodly chapelet

Therfore I render of her the memory.

Vnto þe legend of fare laodomi

¶To maystres Isabell_pennell

¶By saynt mary my lady =Ringler TP 288

Your mammy and your dady

975

Brought forth a godely babi

ref.ed: 340

¶My mayden Isabell

Reflaring rosabell

The flagrant camamell

¶The ruddy rosary

980

The souerayne rosemary

The praty strawbery

¶The columbyne þe nepte

The ieloffer well set

The propre vyolet

985

¶Envwyd your colowre your] her C

Is lyke the dasy flowre

After the aprill showre

¶Sterre of the morow gray

The blossom on the spray

990

The fresshest flowre of may.

¶Maydenly demure

Of womanhode the lure

Wherfore I make you sure I make you sure] I yow assure C

¶It were an heuenly helth

995

It were an endeles welth

A lyfe for god hym-selfe

¶To here this nightingale

Amonge þe byrdes smale

Warbelynge in the vale

1000

Dug / dug / Iug / Iug.

Good yere and good luk

Wt chuk / chuk / chuk / chuk.

sig: [D3v]

¶To maystres margaret_Hussey

¶Mirry margaret

As mydsomer flowre

1005

Ientill as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre

¶Wt solace and gladnes =Ringler TP 2304

Moche mirthe and no madnes

ref.ed: 341

All good and no badnes

1010

So ioyously

So maydenly

So womanly

Her demenyng

In euery-thynge

1015

Far / far passynge

That I can endyght

Or suffyce to wryght

Of mirry margarete

As mydsomer flowre

1020

Ientyll as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre

¶As pacient and as styll

And as full of good wyll

As fayre Isaphill fayre] the fayre C

1025

Colyaunder

Swete pomaunder

Good cassaunder

Stedfast of thought

Wele made / wele wrought

1030

Far may be sought

Erst that ye can fynde that] than C

So corteise so kynde

As mirry margarete

This midsomer flowre This] The C

1035

Ientyll as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre

¶To mastres Geretrude_statham

Though ye wer hard-hertyd =Ringler TP 1977

And I with you thwartid

With wordes that smartid

1040

Yet nowe doutles ye geue me cause

This line is set out as two lines in F

To wryte of you this goodli clause

Maistres geretrude

With womanhode endude

Wt vertu well renwde

1045

¶I wyll that ye shall be

In all benyngnyte

ref.ed: 342

Lyke to dame pasiphe

For nowe dowtles ye geue me cause

This line is set out as two lines in F

To wryte of yow this goodly clause

1050

Maistres geretrude

With womanhode endude

With vertu well renude

¶Partly by your councell.

Garnisshed with lawrell

1055

Was my fresshe coronell

Wherfore doutles ye geue me cause

This line is set out as two lines in F

To wryte of you this goodly clause

Maistres geretrude

With womanhode endude

sig: [D4]

1060

With vertu well renude

¶To maystres Isabell_knyght

BUt if I sholde aquyte your kyndnes =Ringler TP 280

Els saye ye myght

That in me were grete blyndnes

I for to be so myndles

1065

And cowde not wryght

Of Isabell_knyght

¶It is not my custome nor my gyse

To leue be_hynde

Her that is bothe womanly and wyse womanly] maydenly C

1070

And specyally which glad was to deuyse

The menes to fynde

To please my mynde

¶In helpyng to warke my laurell grene

With sylke and golde

1075

Galathea the made well besene

Was neuer halfe so fayre as I wene

Whiche was extolde

A thowsande-folde

¶By maro the mantuan prudent

1080

Who list to rede

But and I had leyser competent

I coude shew you suche a presedent you] C omits

ref.ed: 343

In very dede

Howe ye excede

¶Occupacyon. To Skelton.

1085

¶With_drawe your hande the tyme passis fast

Set on your hede this laurell whiche is wrought

Here you not eolus for you blowyth a blaste you] ye C

I dare wele saye that ye and I be sought

Make no delay for now ye must be brought

1090

Before my ladys grace the quene of fame

Where ye must breuely answere to your name

sig: [D4v]

¶Skelton Poeta.

CAstyng my syght the chambre aboute

To se how duly ich thyng in ordre was

Towarde / e dore as we were comyng oute

1095

I sawe maister newton sit with his compas

His plummet / his pensell / his spectacles [of] glas of] with F, M

Dyuysynge in pycture by his industrious wit

Of my laurell the proces euery whitte

¶Forthwith vpon this as it were in a thought

1100

Gower / Chawcer / Lydgate theis thre

Before remembred me curteisly brought me curteisly] kurteisly me C

In-to that place where-as they left me

Where all the sayd poetis sat in there degre

But when they sawe my lawrell rychely w[r]ought wrought] whought F

1105

All other besyde were counterfete they thought All ... counterfete] that they ware were counterfettis C

¶In comparyson of that whiche I ware

Sume praysed the perle some the stones bryght

Wele was hym that there-vpon myght stare

Of this warke they had so great delyght

1110

The silke the golde the flowris fresshe to syght

They seyd my lawrell was the goodlyest

That euer they saw / and wrought it was the best

¶In her astate there sat the noble quene

Of fame / perceyuynge how that I was cum

1115

She wonderyd me-thou[g]ht at my laurell grene me thought] me thouhht F

ref.ed: 344

She loked hawtly and gaue on me a glum

There was amonge them no worde then but mum There] Thhere F; amonge them no worde] not a worde amonge them C

For eche man herkynde what she wolde to me say wolde to me] to me wold C

Wherof in substaunce I brought this away

¶The quene of fame To S[k]elton

Skelton] Selton F

1120

¶My frende sith ye ar before [us] here present us] hus F

To answere vnto this noble audyence

sig: E[1]

Of that shalbe resonde you ye must be content you] M omits

And for-asmoche as by the hy pretence

That ye haue now by the preemynence by the] thorow C

1125

Of laureat triumphe: your place is here reseruyd triumphe] promocioun C

We wyll vnderstande how ye haue it deseruyd

Skelton poeta to the quene of fame

Ryght high and myghty princes of astate

In famous glory all other transcendyng

Of your bounte the accustomable rate

1130

Hath bene full often and yet is entendyng

To all [that to] reason is condiscendyng that to] tho that F, that to M

But if hastyue credence by mayntenance of myght

Fortune to stande betwene you and the lyght

¶But suche euydence I thynke for to enduce for to] for me to C

1135

And so largely to lay for myne indempnite

That I trust to make myne excuse

Of what charge so-euer ye lay ageinst me

For of my bokis parte ye shall se

Whiche in your recordes I know well be enrolde

1140

And so occupacyon your regester me tolde

¶Forth-with she commaundid I shulde take my place

Caliope poynted me where I shulde sit

With that oc[c]upacioun presid in a_pace occupacioun] octupacioun F

Be mirry she sayd be not aferde a whit

1145

Your discharge here vnder myne arme is it

So then commaundid she was vpon this

To shew her boke: and she sayd here it is

ref.ed: 345

¶The quene of fame to occupacioun.

YOwre boke of remembrauns we will now that ye rede boke] bokes F, boke M

If ony recordis in noumbyr can be founde

1150

What skelton hath compilid and wryton in-dede

Rehersyng by ordre and what is the grownde

sig: [E1v]

Let se now for hym how ye can expounde

For in owr courte ye wote wele his name can not ryse

But if he wryte oftenner than ones or twyse

¶Skelton Poeta.

1155

¶With that of the boke losende were the claspis

The margent was illumynid all with golden railles

And byse: enpicturid with gressoppes and waspis

Wt butterfllyis and fresshe pecoke taylis

Enflorid with flowris and slymy snaylis

1160

Enuyuid picturis well towchid and quikly

It wolde haue made a man hole þat had be ryght sekely

¶To be_holde how it was garnysshyd and bounde

Encouerde ouer with golde of tissew fyne

The claspis and bullyons were worth a thousande pounde

1165

Wt balassis and charbuncles the borders did shyne

With aurum musicum euery other lyne

Was wrytin: and so she did her spede

Occupacyoun inmediatly to rede

¶Occupacyoun redith and expoundyth sum parte of Skeltons bokes and baladis with ditis of plesure in-asmoche as it were to longe a proces to reherse all by name þat he hath compylyd.etc.

OF your oratour and poete laureate

1170

Of Englande his workis here they begynne

In primis the boke of honorous astate

Item the boke how men shulde fle synne

Item royall demenaunce worshyp to wyn[n]e wynne] wyne F

Item the boke to speke well or be styll

1175

Item to lerne you [t]o dye when ye wyll to] do F, to M Honor est benefactiue operacionis signum Aristotiles : diuerte a malo et fac bonum. pso nobilis est ille quem nobilitat sua virtus. cassianus proximus ille deo qui scit racion e tacere. cato mors vltima linea rerum horac

¶Of vertu also the souerayne enterlude

The boke of þe rosiar: prince arturis creacyoun

ref.ed: 346

The false fayth that now goth which dayly is renude virtuti omnia parent salust: Nusquam tuta fides. virgilius .

sig: [E2]

Item his diologgis of ymagynacyoun

1180

Item a[u]tomedon of loues meditacyoun automedon] antomedon F, M, C

Item new gramer in englysshe compylyd

Item bowche of courte where drede was be_gyled res est solliciti plena timoris amor. Ouid Si vacet vsus quem penes. etc Horace:

¶His commedy achademios callyd by name

Of tullis familiars the translacyoun

1185

Item good aduysement that brainles doth blame

The recule ageinst gaguyne of the frenshe nacyoun

Item the popi[n]gay that hath in commendacyoun

Ladyes and gentylwomen suche as deseruyd

And suche as be counterfettis they be reseruyd Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum. spalmo. concedat laurea lingue. Tullius Fac cum consilio et in eternum non peccabis Salamon

1190

¶And of soueraynte a noble pamphelet

And of magnyfycence a notable mater

How cownterfet_cowntenaunce of the new get

Wt crafty_conueyaunce dothe smater and flater

And cloked_collucyoun is brought in to clater

1195

Wt courtely_abusyoun: who pryntith it wele in mynde

Moche dowblenes of the worlde therin he may fynde Non mihi sit modulo rustica papilio. Uates / Dominare in virtute tua. pso. mag nificauit eum in conspectu / regum. sapienc. Fugere pudor verumque fidesque In quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolique. Insidieque et / vis et amor. scileratus habendi. ouid.

¶Of manerly margery maystres mylke_and_ale margery maystres] maistres Margery M

To her he wrote many maters of myrthe

Yet thoughe [I] say it ther_by lyith a tale I] ye F, I M

1200

For margery wynshed and breke her hinder girth

Lor[de] how she made moche of her gentyll birth Lorde] Lor F, Lorde M

Wt gingirly go gingerly her tayle was made of hay

Go she neuer so gingirly her honesty is gone a_way Filia babilonis misera. Psalmo.

¶Harde to make ought of that is nakid nought De nihilo nihil fit. Aristotiles

1205

This fustiane maistres and this giggisse gase

Wonder is to wryte what wrenchis she wrowght

To face out her foly with a midsomer mase

Wt pitche she patchid her pitcher shuld not crase

It may wele ryme but shroudly it doth accorde

1210

To pyke out honesty of suche a potshorde Le plus displeysant pleiser puent.

sig: [E2v]

¶Patet per versus.

¶Hinc puer hic natus: vir coniugis hinc spoliatus

Iure thori: est: fetus deli de sanguine cretus

Hinc magis extollo quod erit puer alter apollo

Si queris qualis: meretrix castissima talis Nota.

1215

¶Et relis et ralis? et reliqualis

ref.ed: 347

A good herynge of thes olde talis

Fynde no mo suche fro wanflete to walis

Et reliqua. omelia de diuersis tractatibus

OF my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun

Owt of frenshe in-to englysshe prose

1220

Of mannes lyfe the peregrynacioun Apostolus. non habemus hic ciuitatem manentem sed futuram perquerimus.

He did translate / enterprete and disclose

The tratyse of the triumphis of the rede rose

Where-in many storis ar breuely contayned

That vnremembred longe-tyme remayned Notat bellum cornubiense quod in campistribus et in patencioribus vastisque solitudinibus prope Grenewiche gestum est.

1225

The duke of yorkis creauncer whan skelton was

Now henry the .viij. kyng of englonde

A tratyse he deuysid and browght it to pas

Callid speculum principis to bere in his honde

Therin to rede and to vnderstande

1230

All the demenour of princely astate

To be our kyng of god preordinate Erudemini qui i[u]dicatis terram. pso.

¶Also the tunnynge of elinour_rummyng

Wt colyn_clowt / iohnn_iue / with ioforth_iack

To make suche trifels it asketh sum konnyng

1235

In honest myrth parde requyreth no lack Quis stabit mecum aduersus operantes iniquitatem. pso:

The whyte apperyth the better for the black

And after conueyauns as the world goos

It is no foly to vse the walshemannys hoos Arrident melius seria picta iocis. In fabulis isopi

The vmblis of venyson / the botell of wyne

1240

To fayre maistres anne that shuld haue be sent Implentur veteris bacchi pinguisque ferine. virgilius

sig: [E3]

He wrate therof many a praty lyne

Where it became and whether it went

And how that it was wantonly spent

The balade also of the mustarde tarte

1245

Suche problemis to paynt it longyth to his arte Aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poete Horace:

¶Of one adame_all_a_knaue late dede and gone

Dormiat in pace / lyke a dormows

He wrate an epitaph for his graue-stone

Wt wordes deuoute and sentence agerdows

1250

For he was euer ageynst goddis hows

All his delight was to braule a[n]d to barke

Ageynst holy chyrche the preste and the clarke Adam adam vbi es. genesis / Resp vbi nulla requies vbi nullus ordo sed sempiternus horror inhabitat. Iob

ref.ed: 348

¶Of phillip_sparow the lamentable fate

The dolefull desteny and the carefull chaunce

1255

Dyuysed by skelton after the funerall rate

Yet sum there be there-with that take greuaunce

And grudge ther-at with frownyng countenaunce

But what of that: hard it is to please all men

Who list amende it let hym set to his penne Etenim passer inuenit sibi domum. spalmo.

1260

¶For the gyse now-a-days

Of sum iang[e]lyng iays iangelyng] iangrlyng F

Is to discommende

Yt they can not amende

Though they wolde spende

1265

All the wittis they haue

¶What ayle them to depraue

Phillippe_sparows graue

His dirige: her commendacioun

Can be no derogacyoun

1270

But myrth and consolacyoun

Made by protestacyoun

No man to myscontent

With phillippis enteremente

¶Alas that goodly mayd

1275

Why shulde she be afrayd

Why shulde she take shame

That her goodly name

Honorably reportid

Shulde be set and sortyd

1280

To be matriculate

With ladyes of astate

¶I coniure þe phillip_sparow

By hercules that hell did harow

And with a venomows arow

1285

Slew of the epidawris

sig: [E3v]

One of the centawris

¶Or onocentauris

Or hippocentaurus

By whos myght and maine

1290

An hart was slayne

Wt hornnis twayne

Of glitteryng golde

ref.ed: 349

And the apples of golde

Of hesperides with_holde

1295

And with a dragon kepte

That neuer-more slepte

By merciall strength

He wan at length

¶And slew gerione

1300

With thre bodys in one

With myghty corrage

Adauntid the rage

Of a lyon sauage.

Of diomedis stabyll

1305

He brought out a rabyll

Of coursers and rounsis

Wit[h] lepes and bounsis with] wit F

¶And with myghty luggyng

Wrastelynge and tuggyng

1310

He pluckid the bull

By the hornid scull

And offred to cornucopia

And so forthe per cetera

¶Also by hecates powre powre] bowre M

1315

In plutos gastly towre

¶By the vgly eumenides.

Yt neuer haue rest nor ease

¶By the venemows serpent

That in hell is neuer brente

1320

In ler[n]a the grekis fen

That was engendred then

¶By chemeras flamys

And all the dedely namys

Of infernall posty infernall] infernalll F

1325

Where soulis fry and rosty

¶By the stigiall flode

And the stremes wode

Of cochitos bottumles well

By the feryman of hell

1330

¶Caron with his berde hore

That rowyth with a rude ore

And with his frownsid fortop.

Gydith his bote with a prop

ref.ed: 350

¶I coniure phillippe and call

1335

In þe name of kyng saull

Primo regum expres

He bad the phitones

To witche-craft her to dres

And by her abusiouns

1340

And damnable illusiouns

Of meruelous conclusiouns.

And by her supersticiouns

Of wonderfull condiciouns Of] And M

She raysed vp in that stede

1345

Samuell that was dede

¶But whether it were so

He were idem in numero

The selfe-same samuell

How-be-it to saull he did tell

sig: [E4]

1350

The phillisti[n]is shulde hym askry phillistinis] phillistimis F

And the next day he shulde dye

I wyll m[y]-selfe discharge my selfe] me selfe F

To letterd men at large

¶But phillip I coniure the

1355

Now by theys names thre

Diana in the woddis grene

Luna that so bryght doth shene

Proserpina in hell

That thou shortely tell

1360

And shew now vnto me

What the cause may be

Of this p[er]plexyte perplexyte] proplexyte F, perplexite M

¶Inferias phillippe tuas scroupe pulcra Iohanna

Instanter pe[t]iit: cur nostri carminis illam petiit] peciit F

1365

Nunc pudet: est sero: minor est: infamia vero Phillyppe answeryth.

THen such that haue disdaynyd

And of this worke complaynyd

I pray god they be paynyd

No wors [than] is contaynyd than] and F, than M

1370

In verses two or thre

That folowe as ye may se

¶Luride cur liuor volucris pia funera damnas

Talia te rapiant rapiunt que fata volucrem.

Est tamen inuidia mors tibi continua

ref.ed: 351

1375

THe gruntyng [and the] groynninge [of the] gronnyng swyne and the] a F, and the M; of the] F omits, of the M

Also the mur[n]yng of the mapely-rote murnyng] murmyng F, Mournyng M

How the grene couerlet sufferd grete pine

Whan the flye-net was set for to catche a cote

Strake one with a birdbolt to the hart-rote

1380

Also a deuoute prayer to moyses hornis

Metrifyde merely / medelyd with s[c]or[n]is scornis] stormis F, scornes M Porcus se ingurgitat ceno et luto se immergit guarinus_veronenc. et sicut oportorium mutabis eos et m utabuntur. pso .C. Exultabuntur cor[n]ua iusti. spalmo

sig: [E4v]

¶Of paiauntis that were played in ioyows_garde

He wrate of a muse throw a mud wall

How a do cam trippyng in at the rere-warde

1385

But lorde how the parker was wroth with-all Tanquam parieti inclinato et macerie depulse spalmo.

And of castell_aungell the fenestrall

Glittryng and glistryng and gloryously glasid

It made sum mens eyn: dasild and dasid Militat omnis amans et habet sua castra cupido. ouid.

¶The repete of the recule of rosamundis bowre

1390

Of his pleasaunt paine there and his glad distres Introduxit me in cubuculum suum. cant.

In plantynge and pluckynge a propre ieloffer-flowre

But how it was sum were to recheles

Not-withst[a]ndynge it is remedeles withstandynge] withstnndynge F

What myght she say: what myght he do therto

1395

Though iak sayd nay: yet mok there loste her sho Os fatue ebullit stultitiam. cant.

¶How than lyke a man he wan the barbican

With a sawte of solace at the longe last Audaces fortuna iuuat. Uirgilius

The colour dedely swarte blo and wan

Of exione h[is] l[i]mbis dede and past his limbis] her lambis F, her lambe is M

1400

The cheke and the nek but a shorte cast

In fortunis fauour euer to endure

No man lyuyng he sayth can be sure nescia me[n]s hominum sortis / fatique futuri. Uirgilius

¶How dame minerua first found þe olyue tre: she red Oleeque minerua inuentrix. georgicorum.

And plantid it there where neuer before was none: vnshred it there where] yet wher M

1405

An hynde vnhurt hit by casuelte: not bled

Recouerd whan the forster was gone: and sped

The hertis of the herd began for to grone: and fled

The howndes began to yerne and to quest: and dred

Wt litell besynes standith moche rest: in bed Atque agmina cerui puluerulenta glomerant. eneid .4.

1410

¶His epitomis of the myller and his ioly make due molantes in pistrino vno assumetur altera relinquetur. isaias

How her ble was bryght as blossom on the spray

A wanton wenche and wele coude bake a cake

The myllar was loth to be out of the way Foris vasta /

ref.ed: 352

sig: F1

But yet for all that be as be may bit eum timor. et intus prauor. pso.

1415

Whether he rode to swa[ff]hamm or to some swaffhamm] swasshamm F, M

The millar durst not leue his wyfe at home

Wt wofully arayd and shamefully betrayd wofully] wofuflly F, wofully M

Of his makyng deuoute medytacyons

Vexilla regis he deuysid to be displayd

1420

Wt sacris solempniis and other contemplacyouns Opera que ego facio ipsa perhibent testimonium de me In euang .etc.

That in them comprisid consyderacyons

Thus passyth he the tyme both nyght and day

Sumtyme with sadnes sumtyme with play

¶Though galiene and diascorides

1425

With ipocras and mayster auycen

By there phesik doth many a man ease Honora medicum propter necessitatem creauit eum altissimus .etc.

And though albumasar can / e enforme and ken

What constellacions ar good or bad for men Superiores laciones influunt in corpora / subiecta et disposita .etc.

Yet whan the rayne rayneth and / e gose wynkith

1430

Lytill wotith / e goslyng what / e gose thynkith Nota.

¶He is not wyse ageyne / e streme that stryuith

Dun is in / e myre dame reche me my spur

Ne[des] must he rin that the deuyll dryuit[h] Nedes] Nededes F; dryuith] dryuit FThis line and the one following are transposed in F

When the stede is stolyn spar the stable-dur Spectatum admisse risuz teneatis amor Horace.

1435

A ientyll hownde shulde neuer play the kur

It is sone aspyed where the thorne prikkith

And wele wotith the cat whos berde she likkith ¶Nota.

¶With marione_clarione sol lucerne

Graund iuir: of this frenshe prouerbe olde

1440

How men were wonte for to discerne

By candelmes day what wedder shuld holde Lumen ad reuelacionem gencium. pso. .Clxxv.

But marione_clarione was caught with a colde colde a colde colde] a colde colde anglice a cokwolde F, a colde M

and all ouercast with cloudis vnkynde

This goodly flowre with stormis was vntwynde

sig: [F1v]

1445

This ieloffer ientyll / this rose this lylly-flowre Uelut rosa vel lilium O pulcherrima mulierium .etc Cantat ecclesia.

This prime-rose pereles / this propre vyolet

This columbyne clere and fresshest of coloure This line and the one following are transposed in F, M

This delycate dasy / this strawbery pretely set

Wt frowarde frostis alas was all to_fret

1450

But who may haue a more vngra[c]yous lyfe a] M omits; vngracyous] vngraryous F

Than a chyldis birde and a knauis wyfe

ref.ed: 353

¶Thynke what ye wyll

Of this wanton byll

By mary_gipcy

1455

Quod scripsi scripsi Notate verba signate misteria. Gregori.

¶Uxor tua sicut vitis

Habetis in custodiam

Custodite sicut scitis

Secundum lucam .etc.

1460

¶Of the bone-homs of a_shrige besyde barkamstede

That goodly place to skelton moost kynde

Where the sank-royall is crystes blode so rede

Where-vpon he metrefyde after his mynde

A pleasaunter place than a_shrige is harde were to fynde were] where F, were M

1465

As skelton rehersith with wordes few and playne

In his disti[ch]on made on verses twaine distichon] distincyon F, Distichon M

¶Fraximus in cli[u]o: frondetque viret sine viro.

Non est sub diuo: similis sine flumine viuo. ¶Nota: Penuriam aque / nam canes ibi. hauriunt ex puteo altissimo

¶The nacyoun of folys he left not behynde

1470

Item apollo that whirllid vp his chare

That made sum to [snurre] and snuf in the wynde snurre] surt F, snurre M

It made them to skip to stampe and to stare

Whiche if they be happy haue cause to be ware

In ryming and raylyng with hym for to mell

1475

For drede and he lerne them there A.B.C. to spell Stultorum infinitus est numerus .etc. ecclesia Factum est cum apollo esset corinthi. actus apostolorum Stimules sub pectore vertit apollo. Uirgilius

¶Poeta Skelton.

WIth that I stode vp halfe sodenly a_frayd

Suppleyng to fame I besought her grace

And that it wolde please her full tenderly I prayd

Owt of her bokis apollo to rase

sig: [F2]

1480

Nay sir she sayd: what so in this place

Of our noble courte is ones spoken owte

It must nedes after rin all the worlde a_boute Fama repleta malis per virilis euolat alis .etc.

¶God wote theis wordes made me full sad

And when that I sawe it wolde no better be

1485

But that my peticyon wolde not be had

What shulde I do but take it in gre

For by iuppiter and his high mageste

ref.ed: 354

I did what I cowde to scrape out the scrollis scrape] scarpe M

Apollo to rase out of her ragman-rollis Ego quidem suz pauli ego apollo. corum.

1490

¶Now here-of it erkith me lenger to wryte

To occupacyon I wyll agayne resorte Malo me galathea petit lasci[u]a puella. virgilius.

Whiche red[d]e on still as it cam to her syght redde] rede F, redde M

Rendrynge my deuisis I made in disporte

Of the mayden of kent callid counforte

1495

Of louers testamentis and of there wanton wyllis

And how iollas louyd goodly phillis Nec si muneribus certes concedet iollas .2. bucol..

¶Diodorus_siculus of my translacyon

Out of fresshe latine in-to owre englysshe playne

R[e]countyng commoditis of many a straunge nacyon Recountyng] Rcountyng F Mille hominum species et rerum discolor vsus horace.

1500

Who redyth it ones wolde rede it agayne

Sex volumis engrosid to_gether it doth containe

But when of the laurell she made rehersall

All orators and poetis with other grete and smale

¶A thowsande thowsande I trow to my dome

1505

Triumpha triumpha they cryid all aboute Millia millium et decies millies centena millia .etc. apocalipsis. Uite senatum laureati possident. ecclesiastica. Cauite.

Of trumpettis and clariouns the noyse went to rome

The starry heuyn me-thought shoke with the showte

The grownde gronid and tremblid þe noyse was so stowte

The quene of fame commaundid shett fast þe boke

1510

And ther-with sodenly out of my dreme I woke dreme] slepe M

sig: [F2v]

¶My mynde of the grete din was somdele amasid

I wypid myne eyne for to make them clere

Then to the heuyn sperycall vpwarde I gasid

Where I saw Ianus with his double chere

1515

Makynge his almanak for the new yere

He turnyd his tirikkis his voluell ran fast

Good luk this new yere the olde yere is past

Meus tibi sit consulta petis: sic consule menti

Emula sit iani retro speculetur et ante Uates.

¶ Skelton[i]s

Skeltonis] Skeltonts F; alloquitur] alloquium F, alloquitur M

alloqui[tur] Librum suum.

ITe britannorum lux: O radiosa britannum

Carmina nostra pium vestrum celebrate catullum .

¶Dicite Skeltonis Vester adonis erat.

ref.ed: 355

¶Dicite Skeltonis Vester homerus erat.

¶Barbara cum lactio pariter iam currite versu.

Et licet est verbo pars maxima texta britanno. britanno] britannno F

¶Non magis incompta: Nostra thalya patet.

¶Est magis inculta: Nec mea caliope.

¶Nec vos peniteat liuoris tela subire.

Nec vos peniteat rabiem tolerare caninam.

¶Nam maro dissimiles Non tulit ille minas.

¶Immunis nec enim Musa nasonis erat.

sig: [F3]

¶Lenuoy.

GO litill quaire

Demene you faire

Take no dispare

Though I you wrate

After this rate.

In engly[ss]he letter englysshe] englyflhe F

¶So moche the better

Welcome shall ye

To sum men be

For latin warkis

Be good for clerkis

¶Yet now and then

Sum latin men

May happely loke

Vpon your boke

And so procede.

In you to rede

That so in-dede

Your fame may sprede

In length and brede

¶But then I drede then] that M

Ye shall haue nede. Ye] You M

You for to spede

To harnnes bryght

By force of myght

Ageyne enuy

And obloquy

And wote ye why

¶Not for to fyght

ref.ed: 356

Ageyne dispyght

Nor to derayne

Batayle agayne

Scornfull disdayne

Nor for to chyde

Nor for to hyde

You cowardly

¶But curteisly

That I haue pende.

For to deffend

Vnder the banner

Of all good manner

Vnder proteccyon

Of sad correccyon

With toleracyon

And supportacyon

Of reformacyon

If th[e]y can spy they] thy F, they M

Circumspectly

Any worde defacid

That myght be rasid

¶Els ye shall pray

Them that ye may

Contynew still

With there good wyll

sig: [F3v]

Ad serenissimam maiestatem regiam, pariter cum domi[n]o Cardinali legato a latere honorificatissimo .etc.

This heading and the following 16 lines of verse are missing in F and supplied from M

Perge liber, celebrem pronus regem Venerar

Henricum octauum, resonans sua praemia laudis.

Cardineum dominum pariter Venerando salutes,

Legatum a latere et fiat memor ipse precare,

Prebende, quam promiset mihi credere quondam.

Meque suum referas pignus sperare salutis

Inter spemque metum.

Twene hope and drede

My lyfe I lede

But of my spede

Small sekernes. line set to right of stanza

ref.ed: 357

Howe-be-it I rede

Both worde and dede

Should be agrede

In noblenes. line set to right of stanza

Or els .andc.

¶Admonet Skeltonis: omnes arbores dare locum viridi lauro Iuxta genus suum.

FRaxinus in siluis: altis In montibus Orn[us]. Ornus] Orni F, ornus M

Populus in fluuiis Abies patulissima Fagus.

Lenta Salix platanus pinguis ficulnea ficus

Glandifera et Quercus / pirus / esculus ardua pinus.

Balsamus exudans: oleaster / oliua minerue.

Iunip[e]rus Buxus: lentiscus cuspide lenta. Iuniperus] Iunipirus F

Botrigera et domino vitis gratissima Baccho

Ilex et sterilis / labrusta perosa colonis

Mollibus exudans frag[r]ancia thura Sabeis. fragrancia] fragancia F

Thus: redolens arabis pariter notissima mirrha

Et vos o corili fragiles: Humilesque mirice.

Et vos o Cedri redolentes vos quoque mirti.

Arboris omne genus viridi concedite Lauro.

¶Prennees En gre [The Laurelle] The Laurelle] F omits, The Laurelle M

sig: [F4]

¶En parl[e]ment

parlement] parlament F, Parlement M

A Paris.

IUstice est morte

Et veryte sommielle

Droit et raison

Sont alez aux pardon[s] pardons] pardonn F, pardons M

¶Lez deux premiers

Nul ne les resuelle

Et lez derniers

Sount corrumpus par dons.

¶Out of frenshe in-to latyn.

¶Abstulit atra dies astream : Cana fides sed

Sompno pressa iacet: Ius iter arripuit.

¶Et secum racio proficiscens limite longo

Nemo duas primas euigilare para

ref.ed: 358

¶Atque duo postrema ab[s]unt. et [mun]era tantum absunt] abiunt F, absunt M; munera] numera F, M

Impediunt: nequiunt quod remeare domum.

¶Owt of latyne in-to Englysshe.

¶Iustyce now is dede =Ringler TP 1004

Trowth with a drowsy hede

As heuy as the lede

Is layd down to slepe

And takith no kepe takith] bidythe M

¶and ryght is ouer the fallows ouer the fallows] euer fallow M

Gone to seke hallows

Wt reason to_gether

No man can tell whether

¶No man wyll vndertake

The first twayne to wake

¶And the twayne last

Be with_holde so fast

Wt mony as men sayne

They can not come agayne

¶A grant tort

Foy dort.

sig: [F4v]

¶Here endith a ryght delectable tratyse vpon a goodly garlonde or chapelet of laurell dyuysed by mayster Skelton Poete laureat.

¶Inpryntyd by me Rycharde_faukes dwelly[n]gdwellyng] dwellydg F in duram_rent or els in Powlis chyrche-yarde at the sygne o f the A.B.C. The yere of our lorde god .M.CCCCC.xxiij. The .iij. day of Octobre.