George Ashby's Poems Edited from Two 15th Century MSS. at Cambridge by Mary Bateson |
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Active Policy of a Prince.
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 | George Ashby's Poems |  |
Active Policy of a Prince.
13
Hic Incipit Prologus.
1
Maisters Gower, Chauucer & Lydgate,Primier poetes of this nacion,
Embelysshing oure englisshe tendure algate,
Firste finders to oure consolacion
Off fresshe, douce englisshe and formacion
Of newe balades, not vsed before,
By whome we all may haue lernyng and lore.
2
Alas! saufe goddes wille, & his plesaunce,That euer ye shulde dye & chaunge this lyffe,
Vntyl tyme / that by youre wise pourueunce (sic)
Ye had lafte to vs / sum remembratife
Of a personne, lerned & Inuentif,
Disposed aftur youre condicion,
Of fresshe makyng to oure Instruccion.
3
But sithe we all be dedly and mortal,And no man may eschewe this egression,
I beseche almyghty god eternal
To pardon you all / youre transgression,
That ye may dwelle in heuenly mansion,
In recompense of many a scripture
That ye haue englisshede without lesure.
14
4
So I, George Asshby, not comparisonMaking to youre excellent enditing,
With right humble prayer & orison,
Pray god that by you I may haue lernyng,
And, as a blynde man in the wey blondryng,
As I can, I shall now lerne and practise
Not as a master but as a p[r]entise;
5
Besechyng almyghti god of support,That thorough his gracious instruction
I may confourme me aftur the report
Of vertuous / and sad construccion,
Without minisshyng or addicion,
Principally in thentent and substance
Of my matere, with all the obseruance.
6
And thaugh all thynges be nat made perfyteNor swetely englisshed to youre plesance,
I byseche you hertely / to excuse it,
So that I kepe intential substance,
While I haue of makynge none assurance,
Nor of balades haue experience,
Acceptyng my goode wille & diligence.
7
Some personnes peraventure woll thenkeThat it myght be saide better thus or thus.
For I cannat swym / I stand on the brynk,
Wadyng no forther / but as crist Iesus
Sendith me konnyng, showing vnto vs
That a litle childe may natt so well bere
A grete burthen / as a man, withoute dere.
8
Right so though I haue not seien scriptureOf many bookes right sentenciall,
In especial of the gloses sure,
I woll therfor kepe true menyng formal,
Nor right meche delatyng the rehersall,
15
Ostendyng my beneuolence & lore,
9
By protestacion that my menyngShall not be wilfully for to displease
Any creatures to my konnyng,
Principally suche as I aught to please,
Ner their estat in no wyse to displease,
But to my pore power / it to magnifie,
And in al my seruice / it to multiplie.
10
Thaugh I be fallen / in decrepit ageRight nygh at mony yeres / of foure score
I pray god that in my wytt / I ne rage
But that I may wryte aftur goddes lore,
Encrecyng vertuous liffe more & more,
As myne entente is / and also shalbe,
To goddes plesance / & to my dutie.
11
Under a support / and beneuolence,With a fauorable direction,
I woll put to / my peine & diligence,
After the simplesse of mine opinion,
To my cunnyng and erudicion;
This matier is finisshe to the pleasance,
Of almyghty Iesu & his suffrance.
12
In the name of almyghty Lorde Iesu,To whom heuen erth and helle [OMITTED] yne,
Whiche is the grete name / higheste in vertue,
And in all gracious goodenes dothe shyne,
Whom I biseche me for to Illumyne,
That in my mater I may so procede
Without offense / & therin not texcede.
De actiua pollecia principis.
13
[R]ight[high] & myghty princeand my right goode Lorde,Linially comyn of blode royal,
16
Occupying by grace celestial
Thaier Roiaulmes, with grace especial (?)
To whom be al honnour and reuerence,
Dewe to youre high estate / and excellence,
14
I mene, to youre highnesse Edwarde by name,Trewe sone & heire to the high maiestie (?)
Of oure liege lorde / Kynge Henry & dame (?)
Margarete, the Quene / bothe in Charitee
Euer though grete was their maiestie (?)
Yit they eschewed / vengeance and Rigoure,
Shewynge their beneuolence and Favour.
15
God, verrey Recompenser of goodenesse,Rewarde at large their blessidnesse therfore,
And so I dar say / he wil of his Rightwisnesse;
Enlarge theim daily / his grace more & more,
Blissed be tyme in whiche thei were bore,
Namly for youre birthe of theim discended,
In whome al vices ben vilipended.
16
My goode Lorde, trewe hertly affectionCompellithe me somewhat to entremete,
In fyndyng sum goode exhortacion
That myght be to you / gracious & mete,
Ensuryng youre estate in quiete sete,
Whiche may neuer endure but by vertue,
According to the pleasance of Iesu.
17
And so youre bringyng vp hath be right sad,In all vertuous disposicion,
And to the honnour of god / euer ladde,
Whome I biseche be youre proteccion,
That ye may abide in suche affeccion,
Not oonly to youre profite & honnour,
But als to oure althre wele & socour.
17
18
Besides whiche thre thinges I wolde meveYour high estate to haue in Remembrance,
Kepying (sic) theim in youre breste and neuer leue,
For any busynesse or attendance,
Puttyng youre high estate in assurance,
That is tyme Passed present and future,
Kepynge thees three tymes with due mesure.
In tempore preterito.
19
[O]f tyme passed I wolde ye sholde take hede,Redyng the bible & holy scripture,
And there ye may see to what ende dothe lede
Vertuos dedys & condutes seure,
Principally suche as haue noble cure,
For certeyne a blissed entencion
Must determine wele withoute question.
20
And other men, in the contrary wise,That be indisposed to rightwisnesse
Must nedis fal, and al folk theim dispise,
Sith their werkes bene without aduisinesse,
Hauing no regarde to goode stedfastnesse,
And so who so euere wol preve the sothe,
He endithe not wele that wykkidly dothe.
21
Seintes of youre noble blode ye may knowe,Diuers many that lyued blessedly,
Bothe of this England and of Fraunce ynowe,
That yave theire hertes to god Inwardly,
Abydy in goddes feith stedfastly,
Whos pathes ye may beholde & eke see,
And theim folowe in theire benignitee.
22
Beholde eke youre noble progenitours,Howe victorious thei were in corage,
How Iuste, how sad & eke wise at al houres,
Holdyng theire enemyes in seruage,
18
Whos werkes be cronicled to their fame.
Be suche as thei were, & no man wol you blame.
23
Ye may rede in cronicles the ruineOf high estates and translacion,
That to vices and outrage dud incline,
For the whiche thei suffred mutacion,
Wherof ye haue daili probacion.
For certeine no persoune may longe indure,
But he attende wele to his charge & cure.
24
Ther was neuer yet fal / of high estate,But it was for vices / or negligence,
Were he neuer so high / or eleuate,
Withoute he wolde attende wele by prudence
To his charge, avoidyng from his presence,
Men vicious, and namely couetous;
Where thei abide thei distroy euery hous.
25
Ther hath be in late daies right grete changeOf high estates and grete diuision,
Right meruelous, wonderful & eke strange
To myche folk unportable punicion,
Sorouful, peineful, and tribulacion,
Whiche might [haue be] eschewed in this wise,
To haue had counseil without couetise.
26
Ther was goode ynough if ther had be hertTo haue departed therwith in all haste,
And saued many a man that toke smert,
But rather thei wolde take the deth is taste
Than thei wolde for theimselfe theyr goode oute cast,
And so loste there maister, theimselfe & goode,
Oonly couetise shedynge their blode.
19
27
Howe may any estate be in seurteeOf his welthe, prosperite & honnour,
Or in any wise be in sikertee,
If couetous folke be in his favour?
Whiche people wol do / their peine & labour
Euer for their owne singularitee,
Charging no personne [h]is aduersitee.
28
The high estate of oure king god preserue,And if deuoided had folke couetous
From his persoune, his people had not sterue
With suche grete batellis dispiteous,
Whiche to here & telle is ful piteous.
For to late the couetous folk toke hede
To haue holpen theim selfe whan it was nede.
29
Ful openly shewithe experiensTo what effect couetise drawith to.
It is apte to vntrouthe and negligence,
To falsenesse and subtel treson also,
Euer for lucre, go where he go,
Hauyng no regarde to trouthe ne worship,
So he may come to goode and Lordeship.
30
Who that herith many Cronicles olde,And redithe other blessid Scripture,
Shall excede al other bi manyfolde
Resons, and his discrecions ful sure,
Circumspect in his actes, wytt pure,
And so to guyde hym in siche cases lyke
As other men dudde that were polletike.
31
Tempus preterit kepe in youre Remembrance,And reuolue in youre cogitacion,
How mysruled haue fallen in comberance,
And wele ruled in exultacion.
Chese the best for youre consolacion,
20
Maketh to fynisshe wele youre tyme present.
Iam de tempore presenti.
32
Tthe (sic) god / of his omnipotencieHath brought you now forth to our grete comfort,
So Iesu encrece you, to Iustifie
And rule this present tyme for owre support,
That al people may haue cause to report
The blessednesse of youre estate Roial,
Pleasyng god and to the wele of vs al.
33
And also al wronges for to redresse,With lauful and dewe moderacion,
And all rebellion for to suppresse,
Aftur Iust & dewe informacion,
All thing doon with consideracion,
As the case requireth, in his due wise,
For to youre highnesse is this entreprise.
34
Suche as ye be, so shall ye be taken,Youre dedys & werkes shal prove al thing,
Wele or evyl thei shalbe awaken,
In cronicles youre Rule rehersyng,
Either in preisyng either in blamyng.
Nowe here ye may chese wherto ye wol drawe,
Best is to confourme you / to goddys lawe.
35
Goddys lawe is man to knowe his estate,And goddis wille haue in dewe obseruance,
And his owne Cure if he be fortunate,
And thise three euer haue in assurance,
And so shall he his high estate enhaunce,
And his goode dedys be magnified,
Bothe here and in heuyn glorifieed.
36
To entremete / of youre magnificence,I woll make therof but litil wrytyng,
21
Not to be to hasty in youre wyrkyng,
Ne to slowe, ne to feint, for no temptyng,
Ne to riall, ne in to grete simplesse,
Ne to liberal for no frendlynesse.
37
Ne ouer streit for noo necessite,But in a meane bi moderacion,
And so youre estate shall encrece & thee,
And yet thaugh bi consideracion,
Of youre honnour and nominacion,
At a point al other ye do excelle,
Another tyme ye may it Repelle.
38
And euer drawe to youre noble seruiceThe mooste vertuos folkes and cunnyng,
That may youre entencion accomplice,
Youre high estate and grete honnour sauyng
And suche ye may haue that cause no blamyng,
Suche as a man is / suche drawithe hym to,
Either vertuous folk or therto fo.
39
And also beware of the couetous,He is nat for youre profett and honnour,
He shall appere false and sedicious,
Be al quaint socibbilitees and labour,
Corruptyng his fellawship bi errour,
Of his false couetous opynion,
This is verrey soothe withoute question.
40
Take you to liue of youre own properteOf youre Revenues, lyuelode & Rent,
Propornouning after the quantite
Youre expenses by youre oune Iugement,
Paying all that is to youre estate lent.
Thus ye shall oure lorde god & the world please,
And all men fayne to leue you at youre ease.
22
41
The wiseman saithe do all thinge with counseil,Not biddynge youre counsail do al thing,
Right so if ye go youre selfe to batail,
All folk woll folowe you in youre helpyng.
Do youre selfe and all shall be obeying,
Truste to no man is execucion,
So wele as to youre oune inspeccion.
42
Principally I wolde you aduertise,The thynges to kepe in youre remembrance.
Oon is the vertuous folk to cherisshe
And þe vicious to put in grevance,
Disseuering theim bi youre ordynaunce,
Yevyng hym rewarde & other expence,
According to his merites and desert,
And thus ye shall avoide euery smert.
Docet Regem satisfacere / de stipendiis stipendiariis suis Alioquin societas despiciet eum & dominium suum; hec Plato.
43
And paie youre men theire wages & dutee,That thei may lyue withoute extorcion,
And so wol god trouthe & equitee,
And therfore take hertili this mocion,
And in their nedys be their proteccion.
And so shal youre fame encrece & rise,
And euery man youre pleasire accomplise.
44
Be ye rather clept an executerOf wisdam, in his deue & formal wise,
Than to be proclamed a wise speker,
And nought folowethe aftur that guyse,
Of bothe, weldisposed, fame shal arise,
So youre estate to wisdam do Incline,
Wherbi al myshappe fallith to Ruine.
45
All thynges afture wisedam to gouerneIs verrey suretee and trusty assurance,
23
If ther be put in hym trewe affyance,
Whiche ye may obserue in youre Remembrance,
That noght eschape in dissolucion,
Ne wested by delapidacion.
46
And in al thynges kepe order deuly.What is curtesye, trouthe, Reason, pite
What is curtesye, trouthe, Reason, pite
Or Iustice but a true ordre truly?
All thes vertues returned may be
To vices, withoute ordre in his degree.
Therfore ordre other while wol nat speke,
But in couenable tyme he wol owte breke.
47
That ye must nedis doo bi rightwisenesse,Bi trouthe, goode conscience or Iuggement,
Do it with pite & pacientnesse,
With no vengeance in youre commandement,
For that longithe to god omnipotent,
And who that is withoute grace and pite,
At last bi reason he shall vnthe.
Fundamentum timoris dei est pietas / hec Pitogoras.
48
Pite withoute rightwysnesse is folye,Rightwisnesse withoute pite tiranship,
The toon withowte the tother withoute any lye
May not contynue in myght of Lordeship,
But at last it woll come to shenshipp,
Therfore haue herto a goodely respect,
That ye be not herein founden suspecte.
49
Yeuethe no light credence to euery tale,Ner beleue not euery suggestion,
Nor by not euery thynge that is to sale,
Ner graunte ye not euery peticion,
But hauethe ye consideracion
To euery thing, as the cause requirethe,
Just, trewe, necessarye, as it semythe.
24
50
Delay no thyng to be doon bi reason,Ne deferre it withoute cause resonable,
For thing done quykly in his season,
Is right worthi to be commendable,
And to al creatours laudable.
Bothe profit and worship shal herby sewe
To theym perfourmyg (sic) it and never rewe.
Sitis intra et extra idem ab hiis que loquimini; ad inuicem ne sit quod linguis exprimitis diversum ab eo quod reconditis in corde; hec Hermes.
51
Say nat oon thyng and do the contrarie,Lete youre worde & dede be in accordance,
Kepe secretnesse as a secretarye,
For youre worshippe, proffite and assurance,
Withoute langage, speche or vtterance,
But vnto suche personnes oportune
As may be furthering to youre fortune.
52
Heere euery man is counseil & aduisePaciently & chese therof the best,
And than I wold youre highnesse aduertise
That ye sholde kepe youre entent in your brest,
As ye wolde your owne tresoure in youre chest.
And so shall ye youre estate magnifie,
And youre grete wisdam daily multiplie.
53
And kepe no selfe-willed oppunion,But to all reason bethe appliable,
And allowe als withoute obliuion,
Euery man is goode wille / resonable,
Thaugh your wytt excelle & be more hable
To discerne the vtterest Iugement
In any case to you appurtenent.
25
Iam de tempore Futuro.
54
[N]ow of two tymes I wol speke no more,It suffiseth to youre discrecion.
But of futur temps I wol meve therfore,
Biseching you / vnder youre proteccion,
That ye wol take herin Inspeccion.
And kepe it in youre noble remembrance,
For the web of youre estate and surance.
55
Be wele ware by discrete prouisionFor to suppresse youre false conspiratours,
Aftur the lawe & constitucion,
Established ayenst opyn traiterous,
Being circumspect as youre progenitours,
In suche caas (sic) haue bene to the preseruing,
Of their Royal estate and preseruyng (sic).
56
Wolde to god that ye wolde prouide sadlyTo subdewe al maner rebellyon,
Namely of suche countreies that gladly
Be disposed to insurreccion,
Wherof ye may haue intelleccion
Redyng Cronicles, and then ye may fynde
Whiche places bene to thair deue kyng vnkynde.
57
In euery thyng haueth a prouidenceThat no hurt fal to youre noble highnesse,
Not bi conspiryng ner bi necligence,
Exilyng from you slough & simplenesse,
In suche thing as sholde sowne to youre distresse,
Hauyng al waies a tendre regarde,
to youre seuretee sparing for no Reward.
58
Almyghty Jhesu was disobeied,First by Adam and Eve in paradise,
Thurgh the fals deuel to theim conueiede,
And in heuyn by lucifer vnwise,
26
Haue not ye now nede aboute you to loke?
Sith god was deceyvede hy wiles croke.
59
Be wele ware of falsehode in felawship,And namly of corrupte bloode and suspecte,
Abidyng in power, myght & lordeship,
And be towardes thair rule circumspecte,
And to thaire werkes haueth respecte,
And if thei trespace Lete not theim eschape,
Iustly punysshyng then & not with lape.
60
Oon thyng I warne you, if ye wol be Kyng,Thurgh goddes grace, of any Region
Ye must subdewe with al suppressyng
Euery persoune withoute submission
Pretendyng right to your coronacion.
Or ellis ye may not regne in seurte,
Nor set youre subiettes in quiete.
61
And euer remembre olde Sarueyeres,Hauyng suche persounes in tendernesse
That hathe be feithfull & trewe welewyllers
To thair ligeance withoute feintnesse,
Suffryng therfore / grete peine & butternesse (sic)
And be ye ware of the Reconsiled
That hathe deserued to be reuiled.
62
May nat ye see late the experienceHowe falshede, mysreule & extorcion
Mysguidyng, Robbery & necligence,
Withe all ther wiles haue conclusion
Of destruction and confusion,
Wherto shal we expresse thair proper name,
That so haue perisshed to thair grete blame?
63
The trouthe is not hid, ne neuer shalbe,Cronicles faueurithe no man of Reason.
27
That falsly haue conspired bi treson,
Or lyued vngodly in iche season.
Do youre parte as longithe to your highnesse,
To avoide prudently suche heuynesse.
64
For truste me, verreyly god wol be knowen,He rewardythe euery benefet,
And punyssheth bothe high & eke the lowe,
Be he neuer so queinte or countrefet,
His rightwise Iuggement he neuer let,
Thawe he delay it of his diuine grace,
For a tyme of better leiser and space.
65
Muche folke wisshen hertely to be alorde (sic)For grete plente, worship & reuerence
Takyng no hede what sholde therto accorde,
So thai haue thair pleasir and complacens.
To whiche entent god neuer yaue suche sentence,
But that thei sholde be in chageabe (sic) cure,
To directe other vndur dewe Mesure.
66
Also take this for a note and Lesson,Yf ye be put in high estate & cure,
But ye reule deuly at tyme & season,
Accordyng to right, as seithe Scripture,
A wreche shall reule theim withoute mesure,
To a grete punisshyng and chastement
To be at a wreche is commaundent.
67
Prouide you sadly for youre sowles is heltheOf a Confessour in discrecion,
Of a goode leche for youre body is welthe,
Of a Secretarie withe Inspection,
Secrete, sad, and of goode Intencion,
That can accomplisshe your commaundement.
To thonnour and profit of youre entente.
28
68
Also chese your servantes of goode draught,That wol attente and be seruiable,
Remembryng with whom thei haue be vpbraught,
For to suche thei shalbe appliable.
Whether thei be good or nat vailable,
So take herin a goode direccion,
To haue seruice withoute suspecion.
69
Looke that youre servauntes be of the best,Bothe Knyghtes, Squiers, Clercs & yomen,
And eueriche in his degre vertuest
Whiche shalbe to your glorious fame then,
In all countrees that men may you ken,
As well in grete strenght, profit & honnour
As to al youre trewe Soubgettes socour.
70
Prouide bifore for al thing in seasonIn youre estate, householde & other thing,
And ye shall haue better chepe bi reason
Of youre prouision in the bying,
Than whan ye may make therof no tarying,
For whan a thing must right nedys be had,
It must be receiued, goode, chepe or bad.
71
A peny spent bi wise prouisionAuailith two in time seasonable,
And in lyke wise the execucion
Of dedys by tyme is right profitable,
Where in taryeng it is mutable,
Therfore some thinges oons by tyme doon
Ben worthe twyes / other thing ouergoon.
72
Prouide that your Communes may be welthy,In richesse, goodes and prosperite,
And to occupacion theim applye,
Vndur drede of the lawe is Rigourstee.
For of what condicion that he be,
29
He dar not be to lawe contrarious.
73
For he that nought hathe is nat vnder drede,Neither of lawe, ne of punicion,
For in other place / he may his nede spede,
No thing rechyng of transgression,
Ne willyng to come / to submission.
For he that hathe of goodes no substance,
He may the soner make than auoydance.
74
It hathe be, and yet is a comyn sawe,That Poverte departithe felaship.
Therfor vnder rule & drede of the lawe,
Kepe youre Comyns bi helpe of your lordeship,
That they may growe to richesse & worship,
And than at tyme of nede thei may you aide,
As often sithes as they shalbe praied.
75
Prouide that lawe may be excercised,And executed in his formal cours,
Aftur the statutes autorised
By noble Kynges youre progenitours,
Yeving therto youre aide helpe & socour.
So shall ye kepe folk in subieccion
Of the lawe and trewe dispocision.
76
Yif ye wol bryng vp ayen clothe makyng,And kepe youre Comyns oute of ydelnesse,
Ye shull therfore haue many a blessyng,
And put the pore people in busynesse,
Bi the whiche thei shal come to grete swetnesse,
And robbery lafte by that excercise,
And strumpery als by this entreprise.
77
Lete nat the pouer Comyns be dysguisedNee haue precious clothe in theire Vesture,
30
And obserue a resonable mesure
In their arraye, with oute chaunge but tendure,
Accordyng to degree of Laborours,
Aftur statute of youre / progenitours.
78
Youre Comyns shude nat bere dagger, ne Lance,Ne noon other wepins defensife,
Leste therby thei cause debate & distance,
Yeuynge other occasions / of Striff,
Swhiche wepyns haue made folk to lese their liff.
And if this statute were executed
Meche folk sholde be Laufully rebuked.
79
Also gentilmen shuld nat yeve clothyngBut to their howshold meyne, for surance
That no man be their power excedyng,
Ne maynteine no people, by youre puissance,
Ner false quarels take thorough maintenance,
But euerry man lyve of his owne in rest,
And that pleasithe god and man most best.
80
Euery man ought to lyve vnder a lawe,And namly cristenmen that wold god please,
And for drede therof to lyve under awe.
For miscreantes, for drede of disease,
Bene obedient to their lawe doutelesse,
And muche more rather to be obseruante
Of cristen lawe we shulde yeve attendance.
81
What region may Lyve withoute a reule?Or abide quietly In assurance,
Thaugh he were an asse hede or a dulle mule,
He myght not lyve wildly at his pleasance.
But at last ye shall falle in grevance,
As ye may bi experience it se,
Mysruled folk evyll doon thrive or thee.
31
82
By lawe euery man shold be compelledeTo vse the bowe and shetyng for disport,
And al insolent pleies Repellede,
And iche towne to haue Buttes for resort
Of euery creature for their comfort,
Especially for al oure defence
Establisshed before of grete prudence.
83
Iff any people put to youre highnesseBilles of compleint or peticion
Onswere theim in haste with aduisinesse,
Werto they shal trust withoute decepcion,
Aftur the trouthe & Iuste perfeccion
That folke be nat delaied friuolly,
Otherwyse then the case askith iustly.
84
My lorde al men shuld be vnder your drede,That bene vnder your reule & obeisance.
So must ye vnder god in worde & dede,
In eschewing his wrathe & displeasance.
He wol be deled with in sad constance,
Neither with Iapes, mokke ne scornyng,
But Iustly, truly, even & mornyng.
85
No man reuleth god, be (sic) he reulith al,Bothe heuen, erthe, and also helle.
What man is he that is terrestial
But of hym thus sadly wol speke & telle?
Al kynges & princes he dothe excelle.
Suche a maister that is worthi & best
Is surest to serue and at longe moost rest.
86
And for most especial RemembranceThinketh that men be erthly & mortal,
Ner there is worldly Ioy ne assurance
But in almyghti Ihesu eternal,
Bi whos myght & power especial,
Reignen kynges, and be to hym soubget,
And hym to obey is thaire deutee & dette.
32
87
Oon thing kepe right stedfastly in your mynde,If any man do thinge for youre plasance,
Acquite you ayein of natural kynde,
Though ye wil nat hym therfore auance,
Yit lete hym wyt that ye haue therof rememberance,
Whiche is to hym a sufficiant Reward,
And ever to please you wol haue regarde.
88
And als euer amonge cherisshe straungers,Marchandes, pilgrymes & great Clerkes,
In especial suche as be makers.
Thise may exaltat youre name & werkes,
Aftur the oolde dogge the yonge whelpe barkes;
Study euer to haue men is fauour
By vertue, or elles lost is youre labour.
89
Whan any man tellethe you any tale,Serche it priuely to haue trewe knowlege
Whether it be soothe, and to you no bale,
And than kepe it in secretnesse treuleche,
Til ye haue youre ful entente feithfullyche,
And so ye may ful many thynges knowe,
Where bi blabbynge thei may be overthrowe.
90
Oon thing kepe in youre noble memorie,Do magnifie & enriche youre dscent (sic),
And thaugh al other ye do modifie,
I holde it a prouision prudent,
Lete not theime be to you equiuolent,
Neither in myghti pouer ne Richesse,
In eschewyng hapley youre oune distresse.
91
To make many lordys bethe aduised,But thei be of youre lyue or cause vrgent,
Leest the Realme be charged & supprised,
And therbi the folke haue cause to repent.
God hathe you grace and plentuous wit sent,
33
For many folke holde this opinion.
92
Make knyghtes, squiers & gentilmen riche,And the pore Comyns also welthy,
But to youre richesse make neuer man liche,
If ye wol stande in peas and be set by.
So wol god and polleci sykerly,
Lyke as ye in estate other excelle,
In propre richesse ye sholde bere the belle.
93
Yf god sende you children plentuously,As I truste to god he wole right wele,
Do theim to be lettred right famously
Wherby thei shall reule bi Reason and skele,
For leude men litle discrecion fele.
Who that is lettred suffician[t]ly,
Rulethe meche withoute swerde obeiceantly.
Satis cito sit quidquid bene sit.
94
Euery day be ware of that extremiteNot to be to hasty in mandement,
But medle th[e]rwith youre benignite,
Being to high and lowe Indifferent.
For youre Lawe is to bothe equiuolent,
Lyke as al other ye do Rectifie,
Right so god wol youre highnesse iustifie.
95
Euery day oons showe your high presenceBefore the Comyn people opynly,
To thentente that ye may yeve audience
To al compleintis shewid perfitly,
Yeuyng theim lauful remedy iustly,
Defendynge the pore from Extorcion,
Withe al your power / myght & tuicion.
96
Oure nature desirith to haue a manTo reigne here vppon vs with gouernance,
34
He shal execute thyng in assurance,
Quykly & iustly to goddys plesance,
Not as a wreche, Tiraunt ne oppresour,
Nor in subtel wiles a Coniectour.
97
I wold fain ye wolde kepe in remembranceTo be right wele aduised by goode sadnesse,
By discrete prudence & feithful constance
Er ye begynne werre for any richesse,
Or of fantesie or of symplenesse.
For werre may be lightly commensed,
Doubt is how it shal be recompensed.
98
I mene nat for vnthrifty Cowardise,Whiche is in al Realmes abhominable,
But of wilfulnesse people to supprise,
That micht otherwise be recouerable,
By iuste meanes to god acceptab[l]e,
For man knowith nat what he bygynneth,
Howe fortume of vntrifty werre endith.
99
Wo worthe debate that never may have peas.Wo worthe penance that askithe no pite.
Wo worthe vengence that mercy may nat sease.
Wo worthe that Iugement that hathe none equite.
Wo worthe that trouthe that hathe no charite.
Wo worthe that Iuge that wol no gilte save.
Wo worthe that right that may no favour haue.
Facias aliis quod tibi vis fieri & non facias aliis Quod tibi non vis fieri; hec Socrates.
100
If forgoten be al lawe positifeRemembre the noble lawe of nature,
Obse[r]uyng it / al daies of your lif,
And ye shal kepe equite iust & suer,
As to ministre to iche Creature
35
As ye wold be doon to in semblable case.
101
What is wisdam, no to be this day wise,And for to be a fole a nother day,
But euermore to a bide in wise guise
In wordes & dedis to goddes pay.
And in al thing that men wol hym assay,
Neither in malice, ne in Cruelte,
Nor owte of tempre for aduersite.
102
On al wise if your counsail aduise youTo do thing for your profit and honnour,
Yet heere þair reason & cause why & how,
Thei be to you suche a Solicitour,
Nor for mistruste but for better favour.
For perauenture, al thyng discussed,
The case bi you may be better trussed.
103
A mater discussed & wele betynAnd reasoned by goode discrecion,
The sadnesse therof men may owte setten.
In the contrarie men finde decepcion,
Thurgh thaire owne simple intelleccion.
For who that many Reasons wol wele here,
May chese the better & with hym it bere,
104
Amonges other I wolde you aduertiseTo be wele aduised in your grauntyng
Any fee or office in any wise
That it securly stande withoute resumyng.
Suche variance hathe be grete rebukyng
To many folk, that haue be preferred,
And aftur of their livelode differred.
105
A man to be preferred to honourOf fee or office to his grete makyng,
And aftur to be put to dishonnour
36
Better had be neuer be suche takyng.
It is nought a man to be cherisshed,
And aftur for povertee perisshed.
106
Studie how ye may stande in ful conceiteOf youre owne seruantes beneuolence,
Bothe in love & in drede withoute deceite,
That thei may haue comfort of your presence,
For your manly & wytti diligence,
In Iustly rulyng with circumspeccion
Bothe high & lowe with deue direccion.
107
Than your seruauntes wol bere oute your fame,That in this world It shal nat quenched be,
And renowne your glorious & goode name,
Spryngyng it for the to eueryche degree,
Blissyng you daily with goode hert & free,
Whos worship shal be cronicled sadly
Yn remembryng your goode workes gladly.
108
Looke þat your maters be with god standyng,And ye shal acheue / your blessed entent,
The contrarye shal mischeue in al thing.
He endith not wele that vngodly ment,
Withoute a reconsiled amendment.
A man of goode wille shal determyne wele,
A malicious man evel shal fele.
109
Whan any man maketh suggestionA yenst another for any greuance
Heerithe hym wele & make sad question
How his tale may be had in assurance.
But yeueth therto no trusty affiance,
Vntil tyme that ye haue herde the tother.
Thaugh it seme sothe / it may be founde other.
110
Light credence hath done muche harme & damageIn this world, and euer more herafter shall,
37
Withoute examynyng lytil or smalle.
Many men haue had / therby a grete fal,
He that is warned is not deceiued;
Yeue no credence / til trouthe be perceiued.
111
If I shal speke of the vniuersalAnd the comyn wele of this Region,
I wol aduise you in especial
To haue goode guidyng & Inspeccion
To euery trouble in this nacion,
For thaugh by a litil it begynnyth,
It may distroy vs al or it endithe.
112
My lorde, if any man hathe offendedAnd is brought to the lawe at your owne wille,
Of what maner bloode he be discended,
Thaugh ye be above & high on the hille,
Yet lete not people vtterly spille,
If any gracious misericord
Wol helpe & it to god & man accord.
113
I mene not / this mercy generally,But to suche people that by lyckelyhede
Bene wele disposed vniuersally,
To goode gouernaunce & vertuous dede.
If it be so, ye may deserue grete mede,
This I commyt / to youre discreccion,
As the case askith in submission.
Inferas cito penam malefactoribus terre ex quo tibi constiterit de delictis [OMITTED] impediet regnum tuum, decapita eum publice vt alii terreantur; hec Hermes.
114
And if thoffence touche the subuercionOf the Realme, puttyng it in disturbance,
Procede sharply to deue execucion
Aftur lawful and rightful ordynaunce,
In eschewynge al suche mysgouernaunce.
38
Neither for the Realme, ne for you spedeful.
115
Truste me verely, & take it for trouthe,That ye shul moe people hertis conquere
Bi compassion & piteuous routhe
Accordyng to god and his moder dere,
Than bi crueltee, & rigoroussete.
So lawe & mercy must be discerned,
That it be suer to god concerned.
116
My lorde, lete neuer temporal LordeBe your tresourer, ne your Receyvour,
For a meane personne wol therto accorde
More mete & a bitter (sic) solicitour,
More availeable in actiffe socour.
For a lordis rewarde is infinite,
A mene personne may be content with lite.
117
Loke that youre counseil be rather godly set,Wele aged, of goode disposicion,
Than worldly witty & no vertue knet.
Vicious men yeve no gladly inicion
To gracious werke ne goode direccion,
But often theire purpose & their entente
Comyn to nought when they be euil ment.
In deum statuas principia tuorum negociorum & fines; hec Gregorius.
118
Take this for general conclusion,In euery case where counsail is lackyng
Committ you to goddes direccion,
And your matiers shall haue goode begynnyng,
And consequently come to goode endyng.
For that thyng that is bi god comenced
Shal fynyssh wele with hym so insenced.
Cum inceperis aliquid bene operare incipias deum rogare quotibi bene succedat; hec pitagoras.
39
119
In al your maters, er ye bygynne,Thenke what ende wol be the conclusion.
In suche guidyng ye shal grete prudence wynne,
And eschewe mischife & confusion,
In wise forsight & goode discussion,
In althing take god at your commencement,
And al thing shal folowe after your intent.
120
Be wele ware that ye haue not by wisshes,Wisshing that ye had doon or lefte suche thing,
Suche maner reule is nat worthe two Russhes,
To haue cause of repenting your doying.
Therfore in iche thing at the begynnyng,
Studie sadly by goode discrecion
How ye may take a goode direccion.
Aspectus ostendit quod iacet in corde plus quam verbum; hec Omerus.
121
Auoide alwaies frownyng CowntenaunceBeing fressh, not disguised, ne deyuous,
Ay gladsom and chierful with sad constance,
To the wele of your people amerous,
And þereto with al youre her desirous,
Attempryng you als betwyx colde & fire,
Kepyng your selfe from Angre, wrathe & Ire.
122
Retoriq & musyk been two scoles,Right miche commendable in their nature,
Without restreint many may be fooles
That rekke not to take herin goode mesure.
Neither of thise withoute reule wol be seure,
Musyke is disposed to grete lightnesse,
Feire speche for the most parte to grete falsenesse.
123
Feire speche I mene i-peynted withoute trouthe,With flatering speche to blere a man is Ie,
Suche personnes to cherisshe it were routhe,
For grete parte of their langage þei do lye
40
Feire speche mesurably & godly ment,
Accordith to goddis commaundement.
124
Whan ye be in doubte of any Reulyng,For to say, do, commaunde or determyn,
Better is of al thise to make cesing,
Vntil time that god you illumine.
Of al the certente bi wisedam fine,
Thus ye may obserue goode auisement,
And the more suerly topteine youre entent.
125
Put no ful truste in the Comonalte,Thai be euer wauering in variance,
But in god feithfulnesses and equite,
In plaine trouthe, Iustice & goode gouernaunce,
Men haue be bigiled in affiance,
For al other truste is decepcion,
Brynging men to a false conclusion.
126
Loke that ye kepe alway attemperanceIn youre langage & eke commaundement,
Auoidyng al vengeance & displesance
With al mansuetude conuenient,
This is to your estate expedient.
So the mekenesse in your hert may habonde
To the people of god & of your londe.
127
I biseche almyghti god of his graceTo sende you longe lif with prosperite,
Hertly comfort, reioysyng & solace,
And in al your daies tranquillite.
Yet think ther is no suche feli[ci]te,
But al is transitorie and passyng,
Sauf your vertues & godly menyng,
128
Whiche bene enchaunced in Erthe & alsoIn heven lastyngly glorified.
41
Where no Ioy may be now certified,
Than in thise wise to be sanctified,
For vertu shalbe lauded & preised,
And misreule atte laste disobeied.
129
Saint petur saithe þat soubgettes shold beBuxom to thar lorde, goode or vnworthy,
Right so a lord shold be in equite,
Be-tuyx the high & the lowe Rightfully
Procedyng & in iche case equally,
Hauyng no respecte to grete alliance,
Ner therfore dredyng manne-is displeasance.
130
Whan al lawe, Reason and discrecion,Wisdam, prudence, counseil & secretnesse
Faile & dispeire / in ymaginacion,
Than ther may be noon other stabilnesse.
But trustyng to god & his feithfulnesse
There is verrey relief and goode seurte.
Sith it is so, lete vs to hym trewe be.
131
Thinges past, remembre & wele deuide;Thinges present, considre & wele governe;
For thinges commyng, prudently provide;
Al thinges in his tyme peise & discerne,
That to trouthe & worship it may concerne,
Avoidyng from you al Impediment,
Showing ayenst al vertuous entente.
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