 | Mum and the Sothsegger |  |
MUM AND THE SOTHSEGGER
[Prologus.]
And as I passid in my preiere þer prestis were at messe,In a blessid borugh þat Bristow is named,
In a temple of þe trinite þe toune euen amyddis,
That Cristis Chirche is cleped amonge þe comune peple,
Sodeynly þer sourdid selcouþe þingis,
A grett wondir to wyse men as it well myȝth,
And dowtes for to deme for drede comynge after.
So sore were þe sawis of bothe two sidis,
Of Richard þat regned so riche and so noble,
That wyle he werrid be west on þe wilde Yrisshe,
Henrri was entrid on þe est half,
Whom all þe londe loued in lengþe and in brede,
And rosse with him rapely to riȝtyn his wronge,
For he shullde hem serue of þe same after.
Thus tales me troblid for þey trewe where,
And amarride my mynde rith moche and my wittis eke:
For it passid my parceit and my preifis also,
How so wondirffull werkis wolde haue an ende.
But in sothe whan þey sembled some dede repeute,
As knowyn is in cumpas of Cristen londis,
That rewthe was, if reson ne had reffourmed
The myssecheff & þe mysserule þat men þo in endurid.
I had pete of his passion þat prince was of Walis,
And eke oure crouned kynge till Crist wol[de] no lenger;
And as a [liage] to his [lord] þouȝ I lite hade,
All myn hoole herte was his while he in helthe regnid.
And for I [wuste] not witterly what shulde fall,
Whedir God wolde [g]eue him grace sone to amende,
2
This made me to muse many tyme and ofte,
For to written him a writte to wissen him better,
And to meuve him of mysserewle his mynde to reffresshe
For to [preie] þe prynce þat paradise made,
To fullfill him with feith and fortune aboue,
And not to grucchen a grott aȝeine Godis sonde,
But mekely to suffre what-so him sente were.
And ȝif him list to loke a leef oþer tweyne,
That made is to mende him of his myssededis,
And to kepe him in confforte in Crist and nouȝt ellis,
I wolde be gladde þat his gost myȝte glade be my wordis,
And grame if it greued him be God þat me bouȝte!
And euery Cristen kyng þat ony [croune] bereth,
So he were lerned on þe langage my lyff durst I wedde,
Ȝif he waite well þe wordis and so werche þer-after,
[Ther nys no gouernour on þe grounde ne sholde gye him þe better,]
For all is tresour of þe trinite þat turneth men to gode.
And as my body & my beste oute to be my liegis,
So rithffully be reson my rede shuld also,
For to conceill, and I couȝthe my kyng and þe lordis;
And þer-for I [fondyd] with all my fyue wyttis
To traueile on þis tretis to teche men þer-after
To be war of wylffulnesse lest wondris arise.
And if it happe to ȝoure honde beholde þe book onys,
And redeth on him redely rewis an hundrid,
And if ȝe sauere sum-dell se it forth ouere,
For reson is no repreff be þe rode of Chester!
And if ȝe fynde fables or foly þer amonge,
Or ony fantasie yffeyned þat no frute is in,
Lete ȝoure conceill corette it and clerkis to-gedyr,
And amende þat ys amysse and make it more better:
For ȝit it is secrette and so it shall lenger,
Tyll wyser wittis han waytid it ouere,
That it be lore laweffull and lusty to here.
For witterly, my will is þat it well liked
Ȝou and all ȝouris and yonge men leueste,
3
For and þey mvse þeron to þe myddwardis,
They shall fele fawtis foure score and odde,
That yough[th]e weneth alwey þat it be witt euere.
And þouȝ þat elde opyn it oþer-while amonge,
And poure on it preuyly and preue it well after,
And constrewe ich clause with þe culorum,
It shulde not apeire hem a peere a prynce þouȝ he were,
Ne harme noþer hurte þe hyghest of þe rewme,
But to holde him in hele and helpe all his frendis.
And if ony word write be þat wrothe make myghte
My souereyne, þat suget I shulde to be,
I put me in his power and preie him, of grace,
To take þe entent of my trouþe þat thouȝte non ylle,
For to wrath no wyght be my wyll neuere,
As my soule be saff from synne at myn ende.
Þe story is of non estate þat stryuen with her lustus,
But þo þat folwyn her flessh and here frelle þouȝtis;
So if my conceyll be clere I can saie no more,
But ho be greued in his gost gouerne him better,
And blame not þe berne þat þe book made,
But þe wickyd will and þe werkis after.
[Passus Primus.]
Now, Richard þe redeles reweth on ȝou-self,
Þat lawelesse leddyn ȝoure lyf and ȝoure peple boþe;
For þoru þe wyles and wronge and wast in ȝoure tyme,
Ȝe were lyghtlich ylyfte from þat ȝou leef þouȝte,
And from ȝoure willffull werkis ȝoure will was chaungid,
And rafte was ȝoure riott and rest for ȝoure daieȝ weren wikkid,
Þoru ȝoure cursid conceill ȝoure karis weren newed,
And coueitise hath crasid ȝoure croune for euere!
Of alegeaunce now lerneth a lesson oþer tweyne
Wher-by it standith and stablithe moste—
By dride, or be dyntis or domes vntrewe,
Or by creaunce of coyne for castes of gile,
By pillynge of ȝoure peple ȝoure prynces to plese,
Or þat ȝoure wylle were wrouȝte þouȝ wisdom it nolde;
Or be tallage of ȝoure townnes without ony werre,
By rewthles routus þat ryffled euere,
Be preysinge of polaxis þat no pete hadde,
Or be dette for þi dees deme as þou fyndist,—
Or be ledinge of lawe with loue well ytemprid.
Þat lawelesse leddyn ȝoure lyf and ȝoure peple boþe;
For þoru þe wyles and wronge and wast in ȝoure tyme,
Ȝe were lyghtlich ylyfte from þat ȝou leef þouȝte,
And from ȝoure willffull werkis ȝoure will was chaungid,
And rafte was ȝoure riott and rest for ȝoure daieȝ weren wikkid,
Þoru ȝoure cursid conceill ȝoure karis weren newed,
And coueitise hath crasid ȝoure croune for euere!
Of alegeaunce now lerneth a lesson oþer tweyne
Wher-by it standith and stablithe moste—
By dride, or be dyntis or domes vntrewe,
4
By pillynge of ȝoure peple ȝoure prynces to plese,
Or þat ȝoure wylle were wrouȝte þouȝ wisdom it nolde;
Or be tallage of ȝoure townnes without ony werre,
By rewthles routus þat ryffled euere,
Be preysinge of polaxis þat no pete hadde,
Or be dette for þi dees deme as þou fyndist,—
Or be ledinge of lawe with loue well ytemprid.
Though þis be derklich endited for a dull nolle,
Miche nede is it not to mwse þer-on,
For as mad as I am þouȝ I litill kunne,
I cowde it discryue in a fewe wordys;
For legiance without loue litill þinge availith.
But graceles gostis gylours of hem-self,
That neuere had [harmesse] ne hayle-schouris,
But walwed in her willis forweyned in here youthe,
Þey sawe no manere siȝth saff solas and ese,
And cowde no mysse amende whan mysscheff was vp,
But sorwed for her lustus of lordsch[i]pe þey hadde,
And neuere for her trespas oo tere wolde þey lete.
Ȝe come to ȝoure kyngdom er ȝe ȝoure-self knewe,
Crouned with a croune þat kyng vnder heuene
Miȝte not a better haue bouȝte, as I trowe;
So full was it filled with vertus stones,
With perlis of pris to punnysshe þe wrongis,
With rubies rede þe riȝth for to deme,
With gemmes and juellis joyned to-gedir,
And pees amonge þe peple for peyne of þi lawis.
It was full goodeliche ygraue with gold al abouȝte;
The braunchis aboue boren grett charge;
With diamauntis derue y-douutid of all
That wroute ony wrake within or withoute;
With lewte and loue yloke to þi peeris,
And sapheris swete þat souȝte all wrongis,
Ypouudride wyth pete þer it be ouȝte,
And traylid with trouþe and treste al aboute;
For ony cristen kynge a croune well ymakyd.
Miche nede is it not to mwse þer-on,
For as mad as I am þouȝ I litill kunne,
I cowde it discryue in a fewe wordys;
For legiance without loue litill þinge availith.
But graceles gostis gylours of hem-self,
That neuere had [harmesse] ne hayle-schouris,
But walwed in her willis forweyned in here youthe,
Þey sawe no manere siȝth saff solas and ese,
And cowde no mysse amende whan mysscheff was vp,
But sorwed for her lustus of lordsch[i]pe þey hadde,
And neuere for her trespas oo tere wolde þey lete.
Ȝe come to ȝoure kyngdom er ȝe ȝoure-self knewe,
Crouned with a croune þat kyng vnder heuene
Miȝte not a better haue bouȝte, as I trowe;
So full was it filled with vertus stones,
With perlis of pris to punnysshe þe wrongis,
With rubies rede þe riȝth for to deme,
With gemmes and juellis joyned to-gedir,
And pees amonge þe peple for peyne of þi lawis.
It was full goodeliche ygraue with gold al abouȝte;
The braunchis aboue boren grett charge;
With diamauntis derue y-douutid of all
That wroute ony wrake within or withoute;
With lewte and loue yloke to þi peeris,
5
Ypouudride wyth pete þer it be ouȝte,
And traylid with trouþe and treste al aboute;
For ony cristen kynge a croune well ymakyd.
But where þis croune bicome a clerk were þat wuste;
But so as I can declare it I thenke,
And nempne no name; but þo þat nest were,
Full preuyly þey pluckud þy power awey,
And reden with realte ȝoure rewme þoru-oute,
And as tyrauntis, of tiliers token what hem liste,
And paide hem on her pannes whan her penyes lacked.
For non of ȝoure peple durste pleyne of here wrongis,
For drede of ȝoure dukys & of here double harmes.
Men myȝtten as well haue hun[t]yd an hare with a tabre
As aske ony mendis for þat þei mysdede,
Or of ony of her men þouȝ men wulde plete,
For all was felawis and felawschepe þat ȝe with ferde,
And no soule persone to punnyshe þe wrongis;
And þat maddid þi men as þei nede muste.
For wo, þey ne wuste to whom for to pleyne.
For, as it is said by elderne dawis,
“Þer gromes and þe goodmen beth all eliche grette,
Woll wo beth þe wones and all þat woneth þer-in!”
Þey ladde ȝou with loue þat ȝoure lawe dradde
To deme ȝoure dukys myssdedis so derue þei were.
Thus was ȝoure croune crasid till he was cast newe,
Þoru partninge of ȝoure powere to ȝoure paragals.
Thus lacchide þey with laughinge and lourid longe after,
But frist sawe þey it not ne youre-self noþer;
For all was wisliche ywrouȝte as ȝoure witte demed,
And no fauutis yffounde till fortune aperid.
But had ȝoure croune be kepte þat comons it wiste,
Þer nadde morder ne mysscheff be amonge þe grette.
Thus ȝoure cautell to þe comoune hath combred ȝou all,
That, but if God helpe ȝoure heruest is ynne.
Wytteth it not ȝoure conceill but wyte[t]h it more ȝoure-self,
The fortune þat fallyn is to feitheles peple;
And wayte well my wordis and wrappe hem to-gedir,
And constrwe [clerlie] þe clause in þin herte
Of maters þat I thenke to meve for þe best
For kyngis and kayseris comynge here-after.
Whane ȝe were sette in ȝoure se as a sir aughte,
Ther carpinge comynliche of conceill arisith,
The cheuyteyns cheef þat ȝe chesse euere,
Weren all to yonge of ȝeris to yeme swyche a rewme;
Oþer hobbis ȝe hadden of Hurlewaynis kynne,
Reffusynge þe reule of realles kynde.
And whane ȝoure conceill i-knewe ȝe come so at ones
For to leue on her lore and be led be hem,
For drede þat þey had of demynge þer-after,
And for curinge of hem-self cried on ȝou euere,
For to hente hele of her owen greues,
More þan for wurschepe þat þey to ȝou owed.
Þey made ȝou to leue þat regne ȝe ne myȝte
Withoute busshinge adoun of all ȝoure best frendis,
Be a fals colour her caris to wayve,
And to holde hem in hele if it happe myȝte.
For trostiþ rith treuly and in no tale better,
All þat þey moued or mynged in þat mater
Was to be sure of hem-self and siris to ben y-callid;
For þat was all her werchinge in worde and in dede.
But had ȝe do duly and as a duke oughte,
Þe frist þat ȝou formed to þat fals dede,
He shulde haue hadde hongynge on hie on þe forckis,
Þouȝ ȝoure brother y-born had be þe same.
Than wolde oþer boynardis haue ben abasshyd
To haue meved ȝou to ony maters þat myssheff had ben ynne.
But for ȝe cleued to knavis in þis cas I avowe,
Þat boldid þi burnes to belde vppon sorowe,
And stirid ȝou stouttely till ȝe stombled all.
But so as I can declare it I thenke,
And nempne no name; but þo þat nest were,
Full preuyly þey pluckud þy power awey,
And reden with realte ȝoure rewme þoru-oute,
And as tyrauntis, of tiliers token what hem liste,
And paide hem on her pannes whan her penyes lacked.
For non of ȝoure peple durste pleyne of here wrongis,
For drede of ȝoure dukys & of here double harmes.
Men myȝtten as well haue hun[t]yd an hare with a tabre
As aske ony mendis for þat þei mysdede,
Or of ony of her men þouȝ men wulde plete,
For all was felawis and felawschepe þat ȝe with ferde,
And no soule persone to punnyshe þe wrongis;
And þat maddid þi men as þei nede muste.
For wo, þey ne wuste to whom for to pleyne.
For, as it is said by elderne dawis,
“Þer gromes and þe goodmen beth all eliche grette,
Woll wo beth þe wones and all þat woneth þer-in!”
Þey ladde ȝou with loue þat ȝoure lawe dradde
To deme ȝoure dukys myssdedis so derue þei were.
Thus was ȝoure croune crasid till he was cast newe,
Þoru partninge of ȝoure powere to ȝoure paragals.
Thus lacchide þey with laughinge and lourid longe after,
But frist sawe þey it not ne youre-self noþer;
For all was wisliche ywrouȝte as ȝoure witte demed,
And no fauutis yffounde till fortune aperid.
But had ȝoure croune be kepte þat comons it wiste,
Þer nadde morder ne mysscheff be amonge þe grette.
Thus ȝoure cautell to þe comoune hath combred ȝou all,
That, but if God helpe ȝoure heruest is ynne.
6
The fortune þat fallyn is to feitheles peple;
And wayte well my wordis and wrappe hem to-gedir,
And constrwe [clerlie] þe clause in þin herte
Of maters þat I thenke to meve for þe best
For kyngis and kayseris comynge here-after.
Whane ȝe were sette in ȝoure se as a sir aughte,
Ther carpinge comynliche of conceill arisith,
The cheuyteyns cheef þat ȝe chesse euere,
Weren all to yonge of ȝeris to yeme swyche a rewme;
Oþer hobbis ȝe hadden of Hurlewaynis kynne,
Reffusynge þe reule of realles kynde.
And whane ȝoure conceill i-knewe ȝe come so at ones
For to leue on her lore and be led be hem,
For drede þat þey had of demynge þer-after,
And for curinge of hem-self cried on ȝou euere,
For to hente hele of her owen greues,
More þan for wurschepe þat þey to ȝou owed.
Þey made ȝou to leue þat regne ȝe ne myȝte
Withoute busshinge adoun of all ȝoure best frendis,
Be a fals colour her caris to wayve,
And to holde hem in hele if it happe myȝte.
For trostiþ rith treuly and in no tale better,
All þat þey moued or mynged in þat mater
Was to be sure of hem-self and siris to ben y-callid;
For þat was all her werchinge in worde and in dede.
But had ȝe do duly and as a duke oughte,
Þe frist þat ȝou formed to þat fals dede,
He shulde haue hadde hongynge on hie on þe forckis,
Þouȝ ȝoure brother y-born had be þe same.
Than wolde oþer boynardis haue ben abasshyd
To haue meved ȝou to ony maters þat myssheff had ben ynne.
But for ȝe cleued to knavis in þis cas I avowe,
Þat boldid þi burnes to belde vppon sorowe,
And stirid ȝou stouttely till ȝe stombled all.
7
Passus secundus.
But moche now me merueilith and well may I in sothe,Of ȝoure large leuerey to leodis abouȝte,
That ȝe so goodliche [g]af but if gile letted,
As hertis y-heedyd and hornyd of kynde,
So ryff as þey ronne ȝoure rewme þoru-oute,
That non at ȝoure nede ȝoure name wolde nempne
In fersnesse ne in foltheed but faste fle awayward;
And some stode astonyed and stared for drede,
For eye of þe egle þat oure helpe brouute.
And also in sothe þe seson was paste
For hertis yheedid so hy and so noble
To make ony myrthe for mowtynge þat nyghed.
That bawtid ȝoure bestis of here bolde chere;
Þey seuerid and sondrid for somere hem faylid,
And flowen in-to forest and feldis abouȝte,
All þe hoole herde þat helde so [to]-gedir;
But ȝet þey had hornes half ȝere after.
Now liste me to lerne ho me lere coude,
What kynnes conceyll þat þe kyng had,
Or meued him most to merke his liegis,
Or serue hem with signes þat swarmed so thikke
Þoru-oute his lond in lengþe and in brede,
Þat ho-so had hobblid þoru holtes and tounes,
Or y-passid þe patthis þer þe prynce dwellyd,
[Of] hertis or hyndis on hassellis brestis,
Or some lordis leuere þat þe lawe stried,
He shulde haue y-mette mo þan ynowe.
For þey acombrede þe contre and many curse seruid,
And carped to þe comounes with þe kyngys mouþe,
Or with þe lordis þer þey belefte were,
That no renke shulde rise reson to schewe.
Þey plucked þe plomayle from þe pore skynnes,
8
To axe ony mendis for her mys-dedis.
Thus leuereȝ ouere-loked ȝoure liegis ichonne;
For þo þat had hertis on hie on her brestis,
For þe more partie I may well avowe,
Þey bare hem þe bolder for her gay broches,
And busshid with her brestis and bare adoun þe pouere
Liages þat loued ȝou þe lesse for her yuell dedis.
So, trouthe to telle as toune-men said,
For on þat ȝe merkyd ȝe myssed ten schore
Of homeliche hertis þat þe harme hente.
Thane was it foly in feith, as me thynketh,
To sette siluer in signes þat of nouȝt serued.
I not what ȝou eylid but if it ese were;
For frist at ȝoure anoyntynge alle were ȝoure owen,
Bothe hertis and hyndis and helde of non oþer;
No lede of ȝoure lond but as a liege aughte,
Ty[l] ȝe, of ȝoure dulnesse deseueraunce made
Þoru ȝoure side signes þat shente all þe browet,
And cast adoun þe crokk þe colys amyd.
Ȝit am I lewde and litill good schewe
To coueyte knowliche of kyngis wittis,
Or wilne to witte [what] was þe mevynge
That [ladde] ȝou to lykynge ȝoure liegis to merke,
Þat loued ȝou full lelly or leuereȝ beg[a]nne,
And as redy to ride or renne at ȝoure heste
As wyghte myghte wilne wonnynge vppon erthe,
Tyll leuereȝ hem lette and lordyns wrongis,
As ȝoure-self fonde well whane fortune ȝou [fayled].
For whan ȝe list to lene to ȝoure owen lymes,
Þey were so feble and feynte for fauȝte of ȝoure lawe,
And so [wankel] and wayke wexe in þe hammes
Þat þey had no myghte to amende ȝoure greues
Ne to bere byrthen ȝoure banere to helpe.
9
Noþer in werk ne in word but if his witt faile.
“No, redely,” quod Reson “þat reule I alowe:
Displese not þi demer in dede ne in wordis
But if þe liste for to lede þi lyf in dissese.
But ȝif God haue grauntyd þe grace for to knowe
Ony manere mysscheff þat myȝtte be amendyd,
Schewe þat to þi souereyne to schelde him from harmes;
For and he be blessid þe better þe betydyth
In tyme for to telle him for þi trewe herte.”
Now for to telle trouthe þus þan me thynketh,
That no manere meyntenour shulde merkis bere,
Ne haue lordis leuere þe lawe to apeire,
Neiþer bragger ne boster for no breme wordis.
But ho-so had kunnynge and conscience bothe
To stonde vnstombled and stronge in his wittis,
Lele in his leuynge leuyd be his owen,
Þat no manere mede shulde make him wrye,
For to trien a trouthe be-twynne two sidis,
And lette for no lordsche[p] þe lawe to susteyne
Whane þe pore pleyned þat put were to wrongis,
And I were of conceill by Crist þat me bouȝte,
He shuld haue a signe and sum-what be ȝere
For to kepe his contre in quiete and in reste.
This were a good grounde so me God helpe!
And a trewe tente to take and to ȝeue,
[For] ony lord of this londe þat leuereȝ vsith.
But how the gayes han y-gon God wotte þe sothe
Amonge myȝtffull men alle þese many ȝeris;
And whedir þe grou[n]de of [g]ifte were good oþer ille,
Trouthe haþe determyned þe tente to þe ende,
And reson hath rehersid þe resceyte of all.
Ȝit I trowe ȝoure entente at þe frist tyme
Was, as I wene, ȝif I well thenke in multitude of peple,
10
Þat ȝe and ȝoure seruauntis abouȝte so thikke sowid;
And þat þey were more tristi and trewer þan oþer
To loue ȝou for þe leuere þat legaunce stroied;
Or ellis for a skylle þat skathed ȝoure-self,
Þat comounes of contre [in] costis abouȝte
Sholde knowe be hir quentise þat þe kyng loued hem
For her priuy prynte passinge anoþer.
Ȝif þat was ȝoure purpos it passith my wittis
To deme discrecion of ȝoure well-doynge.
Þus were ȝe disceyued þoru ȝoure duble hertis,
Þat neuere weren to truste so God saue my soule!
But had þe good greehonde be not agreued,
But cherischid as a cheffeteyne and cheff of ȝoure lese,
Ȝe hadde had hertis ynowe at ȝoure wille to go and to ride.
And also in serteyne þe soþe for to telle,
I wondir not hyly þouȝ heed-dere [you] failid;
For litill on ȝoure lyf þe list for to rewe
On rascaile þat rorid with ribbis so lene,
For fauȝte of her fode þat flateris stelen,
And euere with here wylis & wast ofte þey hem anoyed,
Þat pouerte hem prickid full preuyliche to pleyne,
But where, þey ne wyste ne ho it wolde amende.
Þus ȝe derid hem vnduly with droppis of anger,
And stonyed hem with stormes þat stynted neuere,
But plucked and pulled hem anon to þe skynnes,
Þat þe fresinge frost freted to here hertis.
So whanne ȝoure hauntelere-dere where all ytakyn,
Was non of þe rasskayle aredy full growe
To bere ony breme heed as a best aughte,
So wyntris wedir hem wessh with þe snowis,
With many derke mystis þat maddid her eyne.
For well mowe ȝe wyttyn & so mowe we all,
Þat harde is þe somer þer sonne schyneth neuere.
11
And leyde on hem lordschipe a leyne vppon oþer,
And bereued þe raskall þat rith wolde þei hadde,
And knewe not þe caris ne cursis þat walkyd;
But mesure is a meri mene þouȝ men moche yerne:
Þus [rend] be þe rotus ȝoure raskall endurid,
Tyll þe blessid bredd brodid his wyngis
To couere hem from colde as his kynde wolde.
Rith as þe hous-hennes vppon londe hacchen
And cherichen her chekonys fro chele of þe wynter,
Ryth so þe hende egle þe [heyere] of hem all,
Hasteth him in heruest to houyn his bryddis,
And besieth him besely to breden hem feedrin,
Tyll her fre fedris be fulliche y-pynned,
Þat þey haue wynge at her wyll to wonne vppon hille;
For venym on þe valeye hadde foule with hem fare,
Tyll trouthe þe triacle telde somme her sothes.
Thus baterid þis bred on busshes abouȝte,
And gaderid gomes on grene þer as þey walkyd,
þat all þe schroff and schroup sondrid from oþer.
He mellid so þe matall with þe hand-[melle]
That [þey] lost lemes þe leuest þat þey had.
Thus foulyd þis faukyn on fyldis abouȝte,
And cauȝte of þe kuyttis a cartffull at ones,
That rentis and robis with raveyn euere lauȝte.
Ȝit was not þe fawcon full fed at his likynge,
For it cam him not of kynde kytes to loue.
Than bated he boldeliche as a brid wolde,
To plewme on his pray þe pol fro þe nekk;
But þe blernyed boynard þat his bagg stall,
Where purraile-is pulter was pynnyd full ofte,
Made þe fawcon to floter and flussh for anger
That þe boy [nadd] be bounde þat þe bagge kepte.
But sone þer-after in a schorte tyme,
12
This lorell þat [ladde] þis loby awey
Ouere frithe and forde for his fals dedis,
Lyghte on þe lordschepe þat to þe brid longid,
And was felliche ylauȝte and luggid full ylle,
And brouȝte to þe brydd and his blames rehersid
Preuyly at þe parlement amonge all þe peple.
Thus hawkyd þis egle and houed aboue,
Þat, as God wolde þat gouerneth all þingis,
Ther nas kyte ne krowe þat kareyne hantid,
Þat he ne with his lynage ne louyd full sone.
For wher-so þey ferde be fryth or be wones,
Was non of hem all þat him hide myȝth,
But cam with him a reclayme fro costis abouȝte,
And fell with her fetheris flat vppon þe erthe,
As madde of her mynde and mercy be-souȝte.
Þey myȝte not aschonne þe sorowe þey had serued,
So lymed leues were leyde all abouȝte,
And panteris preuyliche pight vppon þe grounde,
With grennes of good heere þat God him-self made,
Þat where-so þey walkid þey waltrid dounwardis;
And euere houed þe egle on hie on þe skyes,
And kenned clerliche as his kynde axith,
Alle þe preuy poyntis þat þe pies wrouȝth.
Passus Tercius.
Now leue we þis beu brid till I restore,
For mater þat my mynde is meved in now,
That whi þe hie hertis her hele so mysside,
Þat pasture axid rith to here pure wombis,
I wolle schewe as I sawe till I se better;
And if I walke out of þe wey I wolle me repente.
Now herkeneth, hende men how þat me thynkyth,
Sauynge souereynes and sages avise,
Þat þe moste myscheff vppon molde on
Is demed þe dede ydo aȝeins kynde.
Ȝit clereth þis clause no þinge my wittis,
With-out more mater what it mene wolde.
I mene of þe hertis [of] hautesse of ȝeris,
Þat pasture prikkyth and her preuy age,
Whan þey han hoblid on þe holte an hundrid of ȝeris,
That þey feblen in fleissh in felle and in bones.
Her kynde is to keuere if þey cacche myȝth
Adders þat armen alle hende bestis;
Þoru busschis and bromes þis beste, of his kynde,
Secheth and sercheth þo schrewed wormes,
Þat steleth on þe stedis to stynge hem to deth;
And whanne it happeth þe herte to hente þe edder,
He putyth him to peyne as his pray asketh,
And fedith him on þe venym his felle to anewe,
To leue at more lykynge a longe tyme after.
This is [clerlie] hir kynde coltis [not] to greue,
Ne to hurlle with haras ne hors well atamed,
Ne to stryue with swan þouȝ it sholle werre,
Ne to bayten on þe bere ne bynde him noþer,
Ne to wilne to woo þat were hem ny sibbe,
Ne to liste for to loke þat her alie bledde;
This was aȝeins kynde as clerkis me tolde;
And þer-for þe hertis here hele so myssid,
And myȝte nat passe þe poynte of her prime age.
Now constrew ho-so kunne I can saie no more,
But fare I wolle to þe fowle þat I beffore tolde.
For mater þat my mynde is meved in now,
That whi þe hie hertis her hele so mysside,
Þat pasture axid rith to here pure wombis,
I wolle schewe as I sawe till I se better;
And if I walke out of þe wey I wolle me repente.
Now herkeneth, hende men how þat me thynkyth,
Sauynge souereynes and sages avise,
13
Is demed þe dede ydo aȝeins kynde.
Ȝit clereth þis clause no þinge my wittis,
With-out more mater what it mene wolde.
I mene of þe hertis [of] hautesse of ȝeris,
Þat pasture prikkyth and her preuy age,
Whan þey han hoblid on þe holte an hundrid of ȝeris,
That þey feblen in fleissh in felle and in bones.
Her kynde is to keuere if þey cacche myȝth
Adders þat armen alle hende bestis;
Þoru busschis and bromes þis beste, of his kynde,
Secheth and sercheth þo schrewed wormes,
Þat steleth on þe stedis to stynge hem to deth;
And whanne it happeth þe herte to hente þe edder,
He putyth him to peyne as his pray asketh,
And fedith him on þe venym his felle to anewe,
To leue at more lykynge a longe tyme after.
This is [clerlie] hir kynde coltis [not] to greue,
Ne to hurlle with haras ne hors well atamed,
Ne to stryue with swan þouȝ it sholle werre,
Ne to bayten on þe bere ne bynde him noþer,
Ne to wilne to woo þat were hem ny sibbe,
Ne to liste for to loke þat her alie bledde;
This was aȝeins kynde as clerkis me tolde;
And þer-for þe hertis here hele so myssid,
And myȝte nat passe þe poynte of her prime age.
Now constrew ho-so kunne I can saie no more,
But fare I wolle to þe fowle þat I beffore tolde.
Off all billid breddis þat þe bough spareth,
Þe propirte of partriche to preise me lustiþ,
Þat in þe somer seson whan sittinge nyeth,
Þat ich foule with his fere folwith his kynde,
Þis brid be a bank bildith his nest,
And heipeth his [eiren] and hetith hem after.
And whane þe dame hath ydo þat to þe dede longith,
And hopith for to hacche or heruest begynne,
Thane cometh þer a congion with a grey cote,
As not of his nolle as he þe nest made,
Anoþer proud partriche and precyth to þe nest,
And preuylich pirith till þe dame passe,
And sesith on hir [sete] with hir softe plumes,
And houeth þe eyren þat þe hue laide,
And with hir corps keuereth hem till þat þey kenne,
And fostrith and fodith till fedris schewe,
And cotis of kynde hem keuere all abouȝte.
But as sone as þey styffe and þat þey steppe kunne,
Þan cometh and crieth hir owen kynde dame,
And þey folwith þe vois at þe frist note,
And leueth þe lurker þat hem er ladde,
For þe schrewe schrapid to selde for her wombis,
Þat her lendys were lene and leued with hunger.
But þan þe dewe dame dineth hem swythe,
And fostrith hem forthe till þey fle kunne.
“What is þis to mene, man?” maiste þou axe,
“For it is derklich endited for a dull panne;
Wherffore I wilne ȝif it þi will were,
Þe partriche propurtes by whom þat þou menest?”
A! Hicke Heuyheed! hard is þi nolle
To cacche ony kunynge but cautell bigynne!
Herdist þou not with eeris how þat I er tellde
How þe egle in þe est entrid his owen,
And cried and clepid after his owen kynde briddis,
Þat weren anoyed in his nest and norished full ille,
And well ny yworewid with a wronge leder?
But þe nedy nestlingis whan þey þe note herde
Of þe [hende] egle þe heyer of hem all,
Þei busked fro þe busches and breris þat hem noyed,
And burnisched her beekis and bent to-him-wardis,
And folowid him fersly to fighte for þe wrongis;
Þey bablid with her billis how þei bete were,
And tenyd with twiggis two and twenty ȝeris.
Thus lafte þey þe leder þat hem wrong ladde,
And [tyned] no twynte but tolled her cornes,
And gaderid þe grotus with gyle, as I trowe.
Þan folwid þey her fre fader as good feith wolde,
That he hem fede shulde and fostre forther,
And bringe hem out of bondage þat þey were brouȝth inne.
Thanne sighed þe swymmers for þe swan failid,
And folwid þis faucon þoru feldus and tounes,
With many faire [fowle] þouȝ þey feynte were,
And heuy for þe hirte þat þe hors hadde.
Ȝit þey ferkyd hem forth as faste as þey myȝte,
To haue þe egles helpe of harme þat þey hadde;
For he was heed of hem all and hieste of kynde
To kepe þe croune as cronecle tellith.
He blythid þe beere and his [bond] braste,
And lete him go at large to lepe where he wolde.
But þo all þe berlingis brast out at ones,
As fayne [as] þe foule þat flieth on þe skyes
Þat Bosse was vnbounde and brouute to his owen.
Þey gaderid hem to-gedir on a grette rouȝte,
To helpe þe heeris þat had many wrongis;
Þey gaglide forth on þe grene for þey greued were
Þat her frendis were falle þoru felons castis.
They mornyd for þe morthir of manffull knyȝtis,
That many a styff storme with-stode for þe comunes;
[Þey] monside þe marchall for his myssedede,
Þat euell coude his craft whan he [cloyed] þe stede.
And euere as þey folwide þis faucon abouȝte,
At iche mevinge fotte venyaunce þey asked
On all þat assentid to þat synffull dede,
Þe propirte of partriche to preise me lustiþ,
Þat in þe somer seson whan sittinge nyeth,
Þat ich foule with his fere folwith his kynde,
Þis brid be a bank bildith his nest,
And heipeth his [eiren] and hetith hem after.
And whane þe dame hath ydo þat to þe dede longith,
And hopith for to hacche or heruest begynne,
14
As not of his nolle as he þe nest made,
Anoþer proud partriche and precyth to þe nest,
And preuylich pirith till þe dame passe,
And sesith on hir [sete] with hir softe plumes,
And houeth þe eyren þat þe hue laide,
And with hir corps keuereth hem till þat þey kenne,
And fostrith and fodith till fedris schewe,
And cotis of kynde hem keuere all abouȝte.
But as sone as þey styffe and þat þey steppe kunne,
Þan cometh and crieth hir owen kynde dame,
And þey folwith þe vois at þe frist note,
And leueth þe lurker þat hem er ladde,
For þe schrewe schrapid to selde for her wombis,
Þat her lendys were lene and leued with hunger.
But þan þe dewe dame dineth hem swythe,
And fostrith hem forthe till þey fle kunne.
“What is þis to mene, man?” maiste þou axe,
“For it is derklich endited for a dull panne;
Wherffore I wilne ȝif it þi will were,
Þe partriche propurtes by whom þat þou menest?”
A! Hicke Heuyheed! hard is þi nolle
To cacche ony kunynge but cautell bigynne!
Herdist þou not with eeris how þat I er tellde
How þe egle in þe est entrid his owen,
And cried and clepid after his owen kynde briddis,
Þat weren anoyed in his nest and norished full ille,
And well ny yworewid with a wronge leder?
But þe nedy nestlingis whan þey þe note herde
Of þe [hende] egle þe heyer of hem all,
Þei busked fro þe busches and breris þat hem noyed,
And burnisched her beekis and bent to-him-wardis,
And folowid him fersly to fighte for þe wrongis;
Þey bablid with her billis how þei bete were,
And tenyd with twiggis two and twenty ȝeris.
15
And [tyned] no twynte but tolled her cornes,
And gaderid þe grotus with gyle, as I trowe.
Þan folwid þey her fre fader as good feith wolde,
That he hem fede shulde and fostre forther,
And bringe hem out of bondage þat þey were brouȝth inne.
Thanne sighed þe swymmers for þe swan failid,
And folwid þis faucon þoru feldus and tounes,
With many faire [fowle] þouȝ þey feynte were,
And heuy for þe hirte þat þe hors hadde.
Ȝit þey ferkyd hem forth as faste as þey myȝte,
To haue þe egles helpe of harme þat þey hadde;
For he was heed of hem all and hieste of kynde
To kepe þe croune as cronecle tellith.
He blythid þe beere and his [bond] braste,
And lete him go at large to lepe where he wolde.
But þo all þe berlingis brast out at ones,
As fayne [as] þe foule þat flieth on þe skyes
Þat Bosse was vnbounde and brouute to his owen.
Þey gaderid hem to-gedir on a grette rouȝte,
To helpe þe heeris þat had many wrongis;
Þey gaglide forth on þe grene for þey greued were
Þat her frendis were falle þoru felons castis.
They mornyd for þe morthir of manffull knyȝtis,
That many a styff storme with-stode for þe comunes;
[Þey] monside þe marchall for his myssedede,
Þat euell coude his craft whan he [cloyed] þe stede.
And euere as þey folwide þis faucon abouȝte,
At iche mevinge fotte venyaunce þey asked
On all þat assentid to þat synffull dede,
Arere now to Richard and reste here awhile,
For a preuy poynt þat [passith] my wittis,
Of fauutis I fynde þat frist dede engendre
Cursidnesse and combraunce amonge þe yonge lordis,
And þe wikkid werchinge þat walmed in her daies,
And ȝit woll here-after but wisdom it lette.
That were a lord of lond þat lawe hathe in honde,
Þat to lyghtliche leueth or lewte apere,
Þe tale of a trifflour in turmentours wede,
That neuere reed good rewle ne resons bookis!
For ben þey rayed arith þey recchith no forther,
But studieth all in strouutynge and stireth amys euere;
[For I say for my-self and schewe, as me thyn[c]hith,
That ho is riall of his ray that light reede him folwith;
For all his witte in his wede ys wrappid for sothe,
More þan in mater to amende þe peple þat ben mys-led.
Ȝit swiche fresshe foodis beth feet in-to chambris,
[And for her wedis so wyde wise beth y-holde;]
And for her dignesse endauntid of dullisshe nollis,
And, if þou well waite of no wight ellis.
Þan waite mo wayes how þe while turneth
With g[uy]leris, joyffull for here gery jaces;
Þey casteth hem to creaunce þe courte for to plese,
And hopen to be hied in hast, yif þey myȝthe,
Þoru swiche stif strouutynge þat stroyeth þe rewme;
But here wey is all wronge þer wisdom is ynned,
[For] þey lepith als lygh[t]ly at þe longe goynge,
Out of þe domes carte as he þat þroff neuere.
For þey kepeth no coyne þat cometh to here hondis,
But chaunchyth it for cheynes þat in chepe hangith,
And settith all her siluer in [seintis] and hornes,
And for-doth þe coyne and many oþer craftis,
And makeþ þe pep[l]e for pens-lac in pointe for to wepe;
And ȝit þey beth ytake forth and her tale leued,
And for her newe nysete nexte to þe lordis,
(Now, be þe lawe of Lydfford in londe [&] in water
Þilke lewde ladde ouȝte euyll to þryue,
Þat hongith on his hippis more þan he wynneth)
And douȝeth no dette so dukis hem preise,
But beggith and borwith of burgeis in tounes
Furris of foyne and oþer felle-whare,
And not þe better of a bene þouȝ þey boru euere.
And, but if þe slevis slide on þe erthe,
Þei woll be wroth as þe wynde and warie hem þat it made;
And [but] ȝif it were elbowis adoun to the helis
Or passinge þe knee it was not acounted.
And if Pernell preisid þe plytis bihynde,
The costis were acountid paye whan he myȝth.
Þe leesinge so likyde ladies and oþer
Þat þey joied of þe jette and gyside hem þer-vnder;
And if Felice fonde ony faute þenne of þe makynge,
Yt was y-sent sone to shape of þe newe.
But now þer is a gyse þe queyntest of all,
A wondir coriouse crafte y-come now [of] late,
That men clepith kerving þe cloþe all to pecis,
Þat seuene goode sowers sixe wekes after
Moun not sett þe seemes ne sewe hem aȝeyn.
But þer is a pr[o]ffit in þat pride þat I preise euere,
For þei for þe pesinge paieth pens ten duble
That þe cloþe costened þe craft is so dere.
Now if I sothe shall saie and shonne side tales,
Þer is as moche good witte in swyche gomes nollis,
As þou shuldist mete of a myst fro morwe tyll euen.
Ȝit blame I no burne to be, as him ouȝte,
In comliche cloþinge as his statt axith;
But to ledyn her lust all here lyff-daies
In quentise of cloþinge for to queme sir Pride,
And euere-more stroutynge and no store kepe,
And iche day a newe deuyse it dullith my wittes
Þat ony lord of a lond shulde leue swiche þingis,
Or clepe to his conceill swiche manere cotis,
That loueth more her lustis þan þe lore of oure Lord.
And if a lord his leuere lyste for to ȝeue,
Ther may no gome for goodnesse gette þer-of but lite
For curtesie, for comlynesse ne for his kynde herte,
But rather for his rancour and rennynge ouere peple,
For braggynge and for bostynge and beringe vppon oilles,
For cursidnes of conscience and comynge to þe assises.
This makyth men mysdo more þan ouȝte ellis,
And to stroute and to stare and stryue aȝeyn vertu.
So [clerlie], þe cause comsith in grette,
Of all manere mysscheff þat men here vsyn.
For wolde þey blame þe burnes þat brouȝte newe gysis,
And dryue out þe dagges and all þe Duche cotis,
And sette hem aside and [schorn] of hem telle,
And lete hem pleye in þe porche and presse non ynnere,
Ne no proude peniles with his peynte sleve;
And eke repreue robbers and riffleris of peple,
Flateris and fals men þat no feith vseth,
And alle deabolik doeris dispise hem ichone,
And coile out þe knyȝtys þat knowe well hem-self,
Þat were sad of her sawis and suffre well couude,
And had traueilid in her tyme and temprid hem-self,
And cherliche cheriche hem as cheff in þe halle
For to ordeyne officeris and all oþer thyngis,
Men shuld wete in a while þat þe world wolde amende;
So vertue wolde flowe whan vicis were ebbid.
But now to þe mater þat I be-fore meved,
Of þe gomes so gay þat grace hadde affendid,
And how stille þat steddeffaste stode amonge þis reccheles peple,
Þat had awilled his wyll as wisdom him taughte:
For he drough him to an herne at þe halle ende,
Well homelich yhelid in an holsum gyse,
Not ouerelonge, but ordeyned in þe olde schappe,
With grette browis y-bente and a berde eke,
And y-wounde in his wedis as þe wedir axith;
He wondrid in his wittis as he [well] myȝthe,
Þat þe hie houusinge herborowe ne myghte
Halfdell þe houshould but hales hem helped;
But for crafte þat he couude caste þenne or be-þenke,
He myȝte not wonne in þe wones for witt þat he vsid;
But, arouutyd for his ray and rebuked ofte,
He had leue of þe lord and of ladies alle
For his good gouernaunce to go or he drank.
Þer was non of þe mene þat þey ne merueilid moche
How he cam to þe courte and was not y-knowe;
But als sone as þey wiste þat Witt was his name,
And þat þe kyng knewe him not ne non of his knyȝtis,
He was halowid and y-huntid and y-hotte trusse,
And his dwellinge ydemed a bowe-drawte from hem,
And ich man y-charchid to schoppe at his croune,
Ȝif he nyhed hem ony nere þan þey had him nempned.
Þe portir with his pikis þo put him vttere,
And warned him þe wickett while þe wacche durid:
“Lete sle him!” quod þe sleues þat slode vppon þe erthe,
And alle þe berdles burnes bayed on him euere,
And schorned him, for his slaueyn was of þe olde schappe.
Þus Malaperte was myȝtffull and maister of hous,
And euere wandrid Wisdom without þe ȝatis.
“By him þat wrouȝte þis world!” quod Wisdom in wrath,
“But ȝif ȝe woll sumtyme I walke in amonge ȝou,
I shall forbede ȝou burnesse þe best on þis erthe,
Þat is, gouernance of gettinge and grace þat him follwith;
For þese two trewly twynned ȝet neuere.”
And so it fell on hem, in feith for fauȝtis þat þey vsid,
Þat her grace was agoo for grucchinge chere,
For þe wrong þat þey wrouȝte to Wisdom affore.
For tristith, als trewly as tyllinge us helpeth,
Þat iche rewme vndir roff of þe reyne-bowe
Sholde stable and stonde be þese þre degres:
By gouerna[un]ce of grete and of good age;
By styffnesse and strengthe of steeris well y-yokyd,
Þat beth myȝthffull men of þe mydill age;
And be laboreris of lond þat lyfflode ne fayle.
Thanne wolde [right dome] reule if reson where amongis us,
Þat ich leode lokide what longid to his age,
And neuere for to passe more oo poynt forþer,
To vsurpe þe seruice þat to sages bilongith,
To be-come conselleris er þey kunne rede,
In schenshepe of souereynes and shame at þe last.
For it fallith as well to fodis of xxiiij ȝeris,
Or yonge men of yistirday to ȝeue good redis,
As becometh a kow to hoppe in a cage!
It is not vnknowen to kunnynge leodis,
That rewlers of rewmes around all þe erthe
Were not yffoundid at þe frist tyme
To leue al at likynge and lust of þe world,
But to laboure on þe lawe as lewde men on plowes,
And to merke meyntenourȝ with maces ichonne,
And to strie strouters þat sterede aȝeine rithis,
And alle þe myssedoers þat þey myȝte fynde,
To put hem in preson a peere þouȝ he were;
And [not] to rewle as reremys and rest on þe daies,
And spende of þe spicerie more þan it nedid,
Bothe wexe and wyn in wast all abouȝte,
With deyntes y-doublid and daunsinge to pipis,
In myrthe with moppis myrrours of synne.
Ȝit forbede I no burne to be blithe sum while;
But all þinge hath tyme for to tempre glees:
For caste all þe countis þat þe kyng holdith,
And loke how þese lordis loggen hem-self,
And euere shall þou fynde as fer as þou walkiste,
[Þat] wisdom and ouere-wacche wonneth fer asundre;
But whane þe gouernaunce goth þus with þo þe hous gie shulde,
And letith lyghte of þe lawe and lesse of þe peple,
And herkeneth all to honour and to ese eke,
And þat ich wyght with his witt waite on him euere,
To do hem reuerence aright þouȝ þe rigge brest,
Þis warmnesse in welth with wy vppon erthe
Myȝte not longe dure as doctourȝ us tellith.
For ho-so þus leued his lyff to þe ende,
Euere wrappid in welle and with no wo mette,
Myȝte seie þat he sawe þat seie was neuere,
Þat heuene-[ȝate] were vnhonge out of þe hookis,
And were boun at his bidding ȝif it be myȝte.
But clerkis kne[w] I non ȝete þat so couude rede
In bokis y-bounde þouȝ ȝe brouȝte alle
Þat ony wy welldith wonnynge vppon erthe;
For in well and in woo þe werld euere turneth.
Ȝit þer is kew-kaw þouȝ he come late,
A new þing þat noyeth nedy men and oþer,
Whanne realles remeveth and ridith þoru tounes,
And carieth ouere contre þer comunes dwelleth,
To preson þe pillourȝ þat ouere þe pore renneth;
For þat were euene in her weye if þey well ride.
But ȝit þer is a foule fauȝte þat I fynde ofte:
Þey prien affter presentis or pleyntis ben yclepid,
And abateth all þe billis of þo þat nouȝth bringith;
And ho-so grucche or grone aȝeins her grette willes,
May lese her lyff lyghtly and no lesse weddis.
Thus is þe lawe louyd þoru myȝhty lordis willys,
Þat meyneteyne myssdoers more þan oþer peple.
For mayntenance many day well more is þe reuthe!
Hath y-had mo men at mete and at melis
Þan ony cristen kynge þat ȝe knewe euere;
For, as reson and rith rehersid to me ones,
Tho ben men of þis molde þat most harme worchen.
For chyders of Chester where chose many daies
To ben of conceill for causis þat in þe court hangid,
And pledid pipoudris alle manere pleyntis.
Þey cared for no coyffes þat men of court vsyn,
But meved many maters þat man neuer thouȝte,
And feyned falshed till þey a fyne had,
And knewe no manere cause as comunes tolde.
Þei had non oþer signe to schewe þe lawe
But a preuy pallette her pannes to kepe,
To hille here lewde heed in stede of an houe.
Þey constrewed quarellis to quenche þe peple,
And pletid with pollaxis and poyntis of swerdis,
And at þe dome-ȝeuynge drowe out þe bladis,
And lente men leuere of her longe battis.
Þey lacked alle vertues þat a juge shulde haue;
For, er a tale were ytolde þey wolde trie þe harmes,
Withoute ony answere but ho his lyf hatid.
And ho-so pleyned to þe prince þat pees shulde kepe,
Of þese mystirmen medlers of wrongis,
He was lygh[t]liche ylauȝte and y-luggyd of many,
And y-mummyd on þe mouthe and manaced to þe deth.
They leid on þi leigis, Richard lasshis ynow,
And drede neuere a dele þe dome of þe lawe.
Þer nas rial of þe rewme þat hem durste rebuke,
Ne juge ne justice þat jewis durste hem deme
For oute þat þei toke or trespassid to þe peple.
This was a wondir world ho-so well lokyd,
Þat gromes ouere-grewe so many grette maistris;
For þis was þe rewle in þis rewme while þey here regnyd.
Þouȝ I satte seuenenyght and slepte full selde,
[I miȝte not reche redili to rekene þe nombre]
Of many mo wrongis þan I write couude;
For selde were þe ser[gi]auntis souȝte for to plete,
Or ony prentise of courte preied of his wittis,
Þe while þe degonys domes weren so endauntid.
Tille oure sire in his see aboue þe vijne sterris,
Sawe þe many mysscheuys þat þese men dede,
And no mendis ymade but menteyne[d] euere
Of him þat was hiest y-holde for to kepe
His liegis in lawe and so her loue gette.
He sente for his seruantis þat sembled many,
Of baronys and baccheleris with many briȝth helmes,
With þe comunes [of] contres þey cam all at ones;
And as a duke douȝty in dedis of armes,
In full reall aray he rood vppon hem euere,
Tyll Degon and Dobyn þat mennys doris brastyn,
And were y-dubbid of a duke for her while domes,
Awakyd [fro] wecchis and wast þat þey vsid,
And for her breme blastis buffettis henten.
Þan gan it to calme and clere all abouȝte,
Þat iche man myȝte ho-so mynde hadde,
Se, be þe sonne þat so briȝte schewed,
Þe mone at þe mydday meve, and þe sterris,
Folwinge felouns for her false dedis,
Devourours of vetaile þat fouȝten er þei paide.
For a preuy poynt þat [passith] my wittis,
Of fauutis I fynde þat frist dede engendre
16
And þe wikkid werchinge þat walmed in her daies,
And ȝit woll here-after but wisdom it lette.
That were a lord of lond þat lawe hathe in honde,
Þat to lyghtliche leueth or lewte apere,
Þe tale of a trifflour in turmentours wede,
That neuere reed good rewle ne resons bookis!
For ben þey rayed arith þey recchith no forther,
But studieth all in strouutynge and stireth amys euere;
[For I say for my-self and schewe, as me thyn[c]hith,
That ho is riall of his ray that light reede him folwith;
For all his witte in his wede ys wrappid for sothe,
More þan in mater to amende þe peple þat ben mys-led.
Ȝit swiche fresshe foodis beth feet in-to chambris,
[And for her wedis so wyde wise beth y-holde;]
And for her dignesse endauntid of dullisshe nollis,
And, if þou well waite of no wight ellis.
Þan waite mo wayes how þe while turneth
With g[uy]leris, joyffull for here gery jaces;
Þey casteth hem to creaunce þe courte for to plese,
And hopen to be hied in hast, yif þey myȝthe,
Þoru swiche stif strouutynge þat stroyeth þe rewme;
But here wey is all wronge þer wisdom is ynned,
[For] þey lepith als lygh[t]ly at þe longe goynge,
Out of þe domes carte as he þat þroff neuere.
For þey kepeth no coyne þat cometh to here hondis,
But chaunchyth it for cheynes þat in chepe hangith,
And settith all her siluer in [seintis] and hornes,
And for-doth þe coyne and many oþer craftis,
And makeþ þe pep[l]e for pens-lac in pointe for to wepe;
And ȝit þey beth ytake forth and her tale leued,
And for her newe nysete nexte to þe lordis,
(Now, be þe lawe of Lydfford in londe [&] in water
Þilke lewde ladde ouȝte euyll to þryue,
17
And douȝeth no dette so dukis hem preise,
But beggith and borwith of burgeis in tounes
Furris of foyne and oþer felle-whare,
And not þe better of a bene þouȝ þey boru euere.
And, but if þe slevis slide on þe erthe,
Þei woll be wroth as þe wynde and warie hem þat it made;
And [but] ȝif it were elbowis adoun to the helis
Or passinge þe knee it was not acounted.
And if Pernell preisid þe plytis bihynde,
The costis were acountid paye whan he myȝth.
Þe leesinge so likyde ladies and oþer
Þat þey joied of þe jette and gyside hem þer-vnder;
And if Felice fonde ony faute þenne of þe makynge,
Yt was y-sent sone to shape of þe newe.
But now þer is a gyse þe queyntest of all,
A wondir coriouse crafte y-come now [of] late,
That men clepith kerving þe cloþe all to pecis,
Þat seuene goode sowers sixe wekes after
Moun not sett þe seemes ne sewe hem aȝeyn.
But þer is a pr[o]ffit in þat pride þat I preise euere,
For þei for þe pesinge paieth pens ten duble
That þe cloþe costened þe craft is so dere.
Now if I sothe shall saie and shonne side tales,
Þer is as moche good witte in swyche gomes nollis,
As þou shuldist mete of a myst fro morwe tyll euen.
Ȝit blame I no burne to be, as him ouȝte,
In comliche cloþinge as his statt axith;
But to ledyn her lust all here lyff-daies
In quentise of cloþinge for to queme sir Pride,
And euere-more stroutynge and no store kepe,
And iche day a newe deuyse it dullith my wittes
Þat ony lord of a lond shulde leue swiche þingis,
18
That loueth more her lustis þan þe lore of oure Lord.
And if a lord his leuere lyste for to ȝeue,
Ther may no gome for goodnesse gette þer-of but lite
For curtesie, for comlynesse ne for his kynde herte,
But rather for his rancour and rennynge ouere peple,
For braggynge and for bostynge and beringe vppon oilles,
For cursidnes of conscience and comynge to þe assises.
This makyth men mysdo more þan ouȝte ellis,
And to stroute and to stare and stryue aȝeyn vertu.
So [clerlie], þe cause comsith in grette,
Of all manere mysscheff þat men here vsyn.
For wolde þey blame þe burnes þat brouȝte newe gysis,
And dryue out þe dagges and all þe Duche cotis,
And sette hem aside and [schorn] of hem telle,
And lete hem pleye in þe porche and presse non ynnere,
Ne no proude peniles with his peynte sleve;
And eke repreue robbers and riffleris of peple,
Flateris and fals men þat no feith vseth,
And alle deabolik doeris dispise hem ichone,
And coile out þe knyȝtys þat knowe well hem-self,
Þat were sad of her sawis and suffre well couude,
And had traueilid in her tyme and temprid hem-self,
And cherliche cheriche hem as cheff in þe halle
For to ordeyne officeris and all oþer thyngis,
Men shuld wete in a while þat þe world wolde amende;
So vertue wolde flowe whan vicis were ebbid.
But now to þe mater þat I be-fore meved,
Of þe gomes so gay þat grace hadde affendid,
And how stille þat steddeffaste stode amonge þis reccheles peple,
Þat had awilled his wyll as wisdom him taughte:
For he drough him to an herne at þe halle ende,
Well homelich yhelid in an holsum gyse,
Not ouerelonge, but ordeyned in þe olde schappe,
With grette browis y-bente and a berde eke,
19
He wondrid in his wittis as he [well] myȝthe,
Þat þe hie houusinge herborowe ne myghte
Halfdell þe houshould but hales hem helped;
But for crafte þat he couude caste þenne or be-þenke,
He myȝte not wonne in þe wones for witt þat he vsid;
But, arouutyd for his ray and rebuked ofte,
He had leue of þe lord and of ladies alle
For his good gouernaunce to go or he drank.
Þer was non of þe mene þat þey ne merueilid moche
How he cam to þe courte and was not y-knowe;
But als sone as þey wiste þat Witt was his name,
And þat þe kyng knewe him not ne non of his knyȝtis,
He was halowid and y-huntid and y-hotte trusse,
And his dwellinge ydemed a bowe-drawte from hem,
And ich man y-charchid to schoppe at his croune,
Ȝif he nyhed hem ony nere þan þey had him nempned.
Þe portir with his pikis þo put him vttere,
And warned him þe wickett while þe wacche durid:
“Lete sle him!” quod þe sleues þat slode vppon þe erthe,
And alle þe berdles burnes bayed on him euere,
And schorned him, for his slaueyn was of þe olde schappe.
Þus Malaperte was myȝtffull and maister of hous,
And euere wandrid Wisdom without þe ȝatis.
“By him þat wrouȝte þis world!” quod Wisdom in wrath,
“But ȝif ȝe woll sumtyme I walke in amonge ȝou,
I shall forbede ȝou burnesse þe best on þis erthe,
Þat is, gouernance of gettinge and grace þat him follwith;
For þese two trewly twynned ȝet neuere.”
And so it fell on hem, in feith for fauȝtis þat þey vsid,
Þat her grace was agoo for grucchinge chere,
For þe wrong þat þey wrouȝte to Wisdom affore.
For tristith, als trewly as tyllinge us helpeth,
Þat iche rewme vndir roff of þe reyne-bowe
Sholde stable and stonde be þese þre degres:
20
By styffnesse and strengthe of steeris well y-yokyd,
Þat beth myȝthffull men of þe mydill age;
And be laboreris of lond þat lyfflode ne fayle.
Thanne wolde [right dome] reule if reson where amongis us,
Þat ich leode lokide what longid to his age,
And neuere for to passe more oo poynt forþer,
To vsurpe þe seruice þat to sages bilongith,
To be-come conselleris er þey kunne rede,
In schenshepe of souereynes and shame at þe last.
For it fallith as well to fodis of xxiiij ȝeris,
Or yonge men of yistirday to ȝeue good redis,
As becometh a kow to hoppe in a cage!
It is not vnknowen to kunnynge leodis,
That rewlers of rewmes around all þe erthe
Were not yffoundid at þe frist tyme
To leue al at likynge and lust of þe world,
But to laboure on þe lawe as lewde men on plowes,
And to merke meyntenourȝ with maces ichonne,
And to strie strouters þat sterede aȝeine rithis,
And alle þe myssedoers þat þey myȝte fynde,
To put hem in preson a peere þouȝ he were;
And [not] to rewle as reremys and rest on þe daies,
And spende of þe spicerie more þan it nedid,
Bothe wexe and wyn in wast all abouȝte,
With deyntes y-doublid and daunsinge to pipis,
In myrthe with moppis myrrours of synne.
Ȝit forbede I no burne to be blithe sum while;
But all þinge hath tyme for to tempre glees:
For caste all þe countis þat þe kyng holdith,
And loke how þese lordis loggen hem-self,
And euere shall þou fynde as fer as þou walkiste,
[Þat] wisdom and ouere-wacche wonneth fer asundre;
But whane þe gouernaunce goth þus with þo þe hous gie shulde,
21
And herkeneth all to honour and to ese eke,
And þat ich wyght with his witt waite on him euere,
To do hem reuerence aright þouȝ þe rigge brest,
Þis warmnesse in welth with wy vppon erthe
Myȝte not longe dure as doctourȝ us tellith.
For ho-so þus leued his lyff to þe ende,
Euere wrappid in welle and with no wo mette,
Myȝte seie þat he sawe þat seie was neuere,
Þat heuene-[ȝate] were vnhonge out of þe hookis,
And were boun at his bidding ȝif it be myȝte.
But clerkis kne[w] I non ȝete þat so couude rede
In bokis y-bounde þouȝ ȝe brouȝte alle
Þat ony wy welldith wonnynge vppon erthe;
For in well and in woo þe werld euere turneth.
Ȝit þer is kew-kaw þouȝ he come late,
A new þing þat noyeth nedy men and oþer,
Whanne realles remeveth and ridith þoru tounes,
And carieth ouere contre þer comunes dwelleth,
To preson þe pillourȝ þat ouere þe pore renneth;
For þat were euene in her weye if þey well ride.
But ȝit þer is a foule fauȝte þat I fynde ofte:
Þey prien affter presentis or pleyntis ben yclepid,
And abateth all þe billis of þo þat nouȝth bringith;
And ho-so grucche or grone aȝeins her grette willes,
May lese her lyff lyghtly and no lesse weddis.
Thus is þe lawe louyd þoru myȝhty lordis willys,
Þat meyneteyne myssdoers more þan oþer peple.
For mayntenance many day well more is þe reuthe!
Hath y-had mo men at mete and at melis
Þan ony cristen kynge þat ȝe knewe euere;
For, as reson and rith rehersid to me ones,
Tho ben men of þis molde þat most harme worchen.
For chyders of Chester where chose many daies
22
And pledid pipoudris alle manere pleyntis.
Þey cared for no coyffes þat men of court vsyn,
But meved many maters þat man neuer thouȝte,
And feyned falshed till þey a fyne had,
And knewe no manere cause as comunes tolde.
Þei had non oþer signe to schewe þe lawe
But a preuy pallette her pannes to kepe,
To hille here lewde heed in stede of an houe.
Þey constrewed quarellis to quenche þe peple,
And pletid with pollaxis and poyntis of swerdis,
And at þe dome-ȝeuynge drowe out þe bladis,
And lente men leuere of her longe battis.
Þey lacked alle vertues þat a juge shulde haue;
For, er a tale were ytolde þey wolde trie þe harmes,
Withoute ony answere but ho his lyf hatid.
And ho-so pleyned to þe prince þat pees shulde kepe,
Of þese mystirmen medlers of wrongis,
He was lygh[t]liche ylauȝte and y-luggyd of many,
And y-mummyd on þe mouthe and manaced to þe deth.
They leid on þi leigis, Richard lasshis ynow,
And drede neuere a dele þe dome of þe lawe.
Þer nas rial of þe rewme þat hem durste rebuke,
Ne juge ne justice þat jewis durste hem deme
For oute þat þei toke or trespassid to þe peple.
This was a wondir world ho-so well lokyd,
Þat gromes ouere-grewe so many grette maistris;
For þis was þe rewle in þis rewme while þey here regnyd.
Þouȝ I satte seuenenyght and slepte full selde,
[I miȝte not reche redili to rekene þe nombre]
Of many mo wrongis þan I write couude;
For selde were þe ser[gi]auntis souȝte for to plete,
Or ony prentise of courte preied of his wittis,
Þe while þe degonys domes weren so endauntid.
Tille oure sire in his see aboue þe vijne sterris,
Sawe þe many mysscheuys þat þese men dede,
23
Of him þat was hiest y-holde for to kepe
His liegis in lawe and so her loue gette.
He sente for his seruantis þat sembled many,
Of baronys and baccheleris with many briȝth helmes,
With þe comunes [of] contres þey cam all at ones;
And as a duke douȝty in dedis of armes,
In full reall aray he rood vppon hem euere,
Tyll Degon and Dobyn þat mennys doris brastyn,
And were y-dubbid of a duke for her while domes,
Awakyd [fro] wecchis and wast þat þey vsid,
And for her breme blastis buffettis henten.
Þan gan it to calme and clere all abouȝte,
Þat iche man myȝte ho-so mynde hadde,
Se, be þe sonne þat so briȝte schewed,
Þe mone at þe mydday meve, and þe sterris,
Folwinge felouns for her false dedis,
Devourours of vetaile þat fouȝten er þei paide.
Passus quartus.
For where was euere ony cristen kynge þat ȝe euere knewe,
Þat helde swiche an household be þe halfdelle
As Richard in þis rewme þoru myserule of oþer,
Þat alle his fynys for fauȝtis ne his fee-fermes,
Ne for-feyturis fele þat felle in his daies,
Ne þe nownagis þat newed him euere,
As Marche and Moubray and many mo oþer,
Ne alle þe issues of court þat to þe kyng longid,
Ne sellynge, þat sowkid siluer rith faste,
Ne alle þe prophete of þe lond þat þe prince owed,
Whane þe countis were caste with þe custum of wullus,
Myȝte not areche ne his rent noþer,
To paie þe pore peple þat his puruyours toke,
Withoute preiere at a parlement a poundage biside,
And a fifteneth and a dyme eke,
And with all þe custum of þe cloþe þat cometh to fayres?
And ȝet, ne had creaunce icome at þe last ende,
With þe comunes curse þat cleued on hem euere,
Þey had be drawe to þe deuyll for dette þat þey owed.
And whanne þe reot and þe reeuell þe rent þus passid,
And no þing y-lafte but þe bare baggis,
Þan felle it afforse to fille hem aȝeyne,
And feyned sum folie þat failid hem neuer,
And cast it be colis with her conceill at euene,
To haue preuy parlement for proffitt of hem-self,
And lete write writtis all in wex closid,
For peeris and prelatis þat þei apere shuld,
And sente side sondis to schreuys abouȝte,
To chese swiche cheualleris as þe charge wold,
To schewe for þe schire in company with þe grete.
And whanne it drowe to þe day of þe dede-doynge,
Þat souereynes were semblid and þe schire-knyȝtis,
Þan, as her forme is frist þey begynne to declare
Þe cause of her comynge and þan þe kyngis will.
Comliche a clerk þan comsid þe wordis,
And prononcid þe poyntis aperte to hem alle,
And meved for mony more þan for out ellis,
In glosinge of grette lest greyues arise.
And whanne þe tale was tolde anon to þe ende,
Amorwe þei must, affore mete mete to-gedir,
Þe knyȝtis of þe comunete and carpe of þe maters,
With citiseyns of shiris ysent for þe same,
To reherse þe articlis and graunte all her askynge.
But ȝit for þe manere to make men blynde,
Some argued aȝein rith þen a good while,
And said, “we beth seruantis and sallere fongen,
And ysent fro þe shiris to shewe what hem greueth,
And to parle for her prophete and passe no ferthere,
And to graunte of her gold to þe grett wattis
By no manere wronge way but if werre were;
And if we ben fals to þo us here fyndyth,
Euyll be we worthy to welden oure hire.”
Þan satte summe as siphre doth in awgrym,
Þat noteth a place and no þing availith;
And some had ysoupid with Symond ouere euen,
And schewed for þe shire and here schew lost;
And somme were tituleris and to þe kyng wente,
And formed him of foos þat good frendis weren,
Þat bablid for þe best and no blame serued
Of kynge ne conceyll ne of þe comunes noþer,
Ho-so toke good kepe to þe culorum.
And somme slombrid and slepte and said but a lite;
And somme mafflid with þe mouþ and nyst what þey ment;
And somme had hire and helde þer-with euere,
And wolde no forther affoot for fer of her maistris;
And some were so soleyne and sad of her wittis,
Þat er þey come to þe clos acombrid þey were,
Þat þei þe conclucion þan constrewe ne couþe,
No burne of þe benche of borowe noþer ellis,
So blynde and so ballid and bare was þe reson.
And some were so fers at þe frist come,
Þat þey bente on a bonet and bare a topte saile
Affor þe wynde fresshely to make a good fare.
Þan lay þe lordis alee with laste and with charge,
And bare abouȝte þe barge and blamed þe maister,
Þat knewe not þe kynde cours þat to þe crafte longid,
And warned him wisely of þe wedir-side.
Thanne þe maste in þe myddis at þe monþe-ende,
Bowid for brestynge and brouȝte hem to lond;
For ne had þei striked a strake and sterid hem þe better,
And abated a bonet or þe blast come,
Þey had be þrowe ouere þe borde backeward ichonne.
And some were acombrid with þe conceill be-fore,
And wiste well y-now how it sholde ende,
Or some of þe semble shulde repente.
Some helde with þe mo how it euere wente,
And somme dede rith so and wolld go no forþer.
Some parled as perte as prouyd well after,
And clappid more for þe coyne þat þe kyng owe[d] hem
Thanne for comfforte of þe comyne þat her cost paied,
And were be-hote hansell if þey helpe wolde
To be seruyd sekirly of þe same siluere.
And some dradde dukis and Do-well for-soke; [OMITTED]
Þat helde swiche an household be þe halfdelle
As Richard in þis rewme þoru myserule of oþer,
Þat alle his fynys for fauȝtis ne his fee-fermes,
Ne for-feyturis fele þat felle in his daies,
Ne þe nownagis þat newed him euere,
As Marche and Moubray and many mo oþer,
Ne alle þe issues of court þat to þe kyng longid,
Ne sellynge, þat sowkid siluer rith faste,
Ne alle þe prophete of þe lond þat þe prince owed,
Whane þe countis were caste with þe custum of wullus,
Myȝte not areche ne his rent noþer,
To paie þe pore peple þat his puruyours toke,
Withoute preiere at a parlement a poundage biside,
And a fifteneth and a dyme eke,
And with all þe custum of þe cloþe þat cometh to fayres?
24
With þe comunes curse þat cleued on hem euere,
Þey had be drawe to þe deuyll for dette þat þey owed.
And whanne þe reot and þe reeuell þe rent þus passid,
And no þing y-lafte but þe bare baggis,
Þan felle it afforse to fille hem aȝeyne,
And feyned sum folie þat failid hem neuer,
And cast it be colis with her conceill at euene,
To haue preuy parlement for proffitt of hem-self,
And lete write writtis all in wex closid,
For peeris and prelatis þat þei apere shuld,
And sente side sondis to schreuys abouȝte,
To chese swiche cheualleris as þe charge wold,
To schewe for þe schire in company with þe grete.
And whanne it drowe to þe day of þe dede-doynge,
Þat souereynes were semblid and þe schire-knyȝtis,
Þan, as her forme is frist þey begynne to declare
Þe cause of her comynge and þan þe kyngis will.
Comliche a clerk þan comsid þe wordis,
And prononcid þe poyntis aperte to hem alle,
And meved for mony more þan for out ellis,
In glosinge of grette lest greyues arise.
And whanne þe tale was tolde anon to þe ende,
Amorwe þei must, affore mete mete to-gedir,
Þe knyȝtis of þe comunete and carpe of þe maters,
With citiseyns of shiris ysent for þe same,
To reherse þe articlis and graunte all her askynge.
But ȝit for þe manere to make men blynde,
Some argued aȝein rith þen a good while,
And said, “we beth seruantis and sallere fongen,
And ysent fro þe shiris to shewe what hem greueth,
And to parle for her prophete and passe no ferthere,
And to graunte of her gold to þe grett wattis
By no manere wronge way but if werre were;
25
Euyll be we worthy to welden oure hire.”
Þan satte summe as siphre doth in awgrym,
Þat noteth a place and no þing availith;
And some had ysoupid with Symond ouere euen,
And schewed for þe shire and here schew lost;
And somme were tituleris and to þe kyng wente,
And formed him of foos þat good frendis weren,
Þat bablid for þe best and no blame serued
Of kynge ne conceyll ne of þe comunes noþer,
Ho-so toke good kepe to þe culorum.
And somme slombrid and slepte and said but a lite;
And somme mafflid with þe mouþ and nyst what þey ment;
And somme had hire and helde þer-with euere,
And wolde no forther affoot for fer of her maistris;
And some were so soleyne and sad of her wittis,
Þat er þey come to þe clos acombrid þey were,
Þat þei þe conclucion þan constrewe ne couþe,
No burne of þe benche of borowe noþer ellis,
So blynde and so ballid and bare was þe reson.
And some were so fers at þe frist come,
Þat þey bente on a bonet and bare a topte saile
Affor þe wynde fresshely to make a good fare.
Þan lay þe lordis alee with laste and with charge,
And bare abouȝte þe barge and blamed þe maister,
Þat knewe not þe kynde cours þat to þe crafte longid,
And warned him wisely of þe wedir-side.
Thanne þe maste in þe myddis at þe monþe-ende,
Bowid for brestynge and brouȝte hem to lond;
For ne had þei striked a strake and sterid hem þe better,
And abated a bonet or þe blast come,
Þey had be þrowe ouere þe borde backeward ichonne.
And some were acombrid with þe conceill be-fore,
And wiste well y-now how it sholde ende,
Or some of þe semble shulde repente.
Some helde with þe mo how it euere wente,
And somme dede rith so and wolld go no forþer.
26
And clappid more for þe coyne þat þe kyng owe[d] hem
Thanne for comfforte of þe comyne þat her cost paied,
And were be-hote hansell if þey helpe wolde
To be seruyd sekirly of þe same siluere.
And some dradde dukis and Do-well for-soke; [OMITTED]
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