The kalender of shepherdes the edition of Paris 1503 in photographic facsimile: a faithful reprint of R. Pynson's edition of London 1506. Edited with a critical introduction and glossary by H. Oskar Sommer |
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 | The kalender of shepherdes |  |
Vol. III.
In my tyme is grete stormes of coldnes
For vnto me no moneth of the yere
May compayre/ yf I auaunt me doubtles
For in my tyme was as clerkes do expresse
Cyrcumcysed the lorde omnypotent
And adoured by kynges of thoryent.
In my season the pure moder vyrgynall
Offred her sone in the temple truely
Makynge to god a present specyall
Of Ihesu cryst the kynge of kynges all
Betwene the armes of the bysshop Symon.
To whome praye we to haue remyssyon.
Whiche amonge moneths am of grete noblesse
For in my tyme all fruytes doth budde and sprynge
To the seruyce of man in grete largesse
And lente is in me the tyme of holynesse
That eche man ought for to haue repentaunce
Of his synnes doone by long contynuaunce.
Fresshe and holsom vnto eche creature
And in my tyme the dulcet droppes dystyll
Called crystall as poetes put in scrypture
Causynge all floures the longer to endure
In my tyme was the resurreccyon
Of god and man/ by dyuyne eleccyon.
Flourysshynge in beaute excellently
For in my tyme in vertue is all thynge
Feldes and medes spredde moost beauteuously
And byrdes syngeth with ryght swete armony
Reioycynge louers with hote loue all endewed
With flagraunt floures all about renewed.
Ought not at all my name to adnull
For in my tyme for all the comyns wede
From shepe is shorne all the flese and wull
And had in marchaundyse by grete shyps full
Ouer the see/ wherfore we ought to praye
Vnto our lorde/ and thanke hym nyght and day.
Amonge all months I am one of the chefe
For I enrype through my grete force and myght
Fruytes of the erthe to man and bestes relefe
Fedynge horses/ kyen/ moton/ and stronge befe
With other propryetees that I coude tell
But I must passe I may no longer dwell.
For redolent heet of Phebus bryghtnesse
In my tyme eche man ought for to haue lust
To laboure in haruest with grete besynes
To repe and shefe eschewynge ydlenesse
And ryse erly with perfyte dylygence
Thankynge our lorde of his good prouydence.
With the commodytees of my season
Ought of ryght to call me septembre
Plenteous of goodes by all maner reason
As wheet/ rye/ otes/ benes/ fytches/ and peason
Of whiche fruyte eche man ought to haue in store
To lyue dyrectly/ and thanke our lorde therfore.
Frende vnto vynteners naturally
And in my tyme Bachus is redy dyght
All maner wyne to presse and claryfy
Of whiche is sacred as we se dayly
The blyssed body of Cryst in flesshe and blode
Whiche is our hope/ refeccyon/ and fode.
To shewe my kyndly worthynes and vre
For in my tyme the blastes of the wynde
Abareth lenes and shedeth theyr verdure
Wherfore euery prudent creature
Ought for to lyue ryght as they wolde dye
For all thynge taketh ende naturally.
In whose tyme the moder Inuyolate
Delyuered was in an olde oxe stall
Of Ihesu cryst goddes owne sone Incarnate
Wherfore I thynke me the moost fortunate
Of all the other/ to whome pray we then
That we may come vnto his blysse Amen.
From myd February/ vnto myd Maye
And fro myd Maye somer is entred in
To myd august/ and than is haruest daye
And fro that tyme wynter entreth alway
On saynt Clements day who so taketh hede
At myd February it fayleth in dede.
to sek his ioye & not the glory of god
whan any beleueth yt godes cometh of him selfe
Or thīke that gode be gyuen thē for theyr dedys
yf they beleue to haue more thā they haue
Ipocresy
To dyssemble to shew thē goodlyar thā they be
To seme gode by warkes & be not but by coloure
To desyre praysynge for his gode dedys
Dysprayse thēselfe for to haue praysynge
To disprays his dedys yt other shulde prays thē
Or to repēte his doynge bycause they be praysyd
To disprays thē selfe by cause other praysis thē
For riches
whā they haue ryches they beleue to be godelyer
without ryches they thynke nat to be set by
To be asshamyd yt they lacke riches ī theyr nede
For pompys
To delyte them to haue a great housholde
To reioyse thē in ye fayer shape of theyr bodyes
Or in newe facyons to fayre coloured clothes
For honours
whan they desyre to be honoured wt others gode
wyllynge to be honoured and drede
Or that they wolde be take for stronge & myghty
Rekenynge theyr synnes
To be praysyde of their vnhappy dedys
For to shewe openly that they be euyll dysposyd
Hauynge a delyte to thynke on his euyll dedys
To be glad of that they be yll
For that they do loue the loue of the worlde
For theyr sīnynge they doute nat god almyghty
Or ellys that they loue nat god with theyr harte
To haue no shame to be bad & euyll
For they vnderstonde nat vertu nor synne
Nor to make themselfe nat to be in wyllynge
For to be sene gladly doynge euyll
To loue themselfe
Openly byfore all folkes and fewe
Or ellys secretly byfore one or by him selfe
Or seke occasyone for to belouyd onely
To shewe theȝselfe goodlyer than they be
Couerynge theyr synne that they be not sene
Rekenynge theyr gode dedys to be knowene
And hydynge theyr synnes
To byleue that they be wyse & be nat
To be great in the Iugement of hymselfe
Dispayrynge the vnderstondynge of other
Presumynge theyr vertu wt oute ye grace of god
apertly to speke & a gayne saye
To misprayes his maistr or thē yt are aboue him
To misprayes ye gode dedis yt cōeth of obediēs
Or to desyre to say il agayne any other
To do vntruly that they do
whā neglegētly they do that they shulde nat do
Or that they do other wyse thā they ought to do
Or for to shewe hurte or for to haue profette
For to requere grace īportune
whā they haue costume ī sinne & fall oft theyr in
whā they gyue vnkyndly āsweris to his betters
And nat synnes but abideth withoute amēdīge
Dyspraysynge other
For theyr ignorans and faute of vnderstondīge
Or for theyr pouerte & faute of worldly rychesse
For theyr sekenesse & faute of theyr membres
to ≼fare thēself before other
Shewynge them selfe connynge ī sōme warkes
In cōparisōe of theyr deds disperses dedis of othr
In cōsiderīge of other les thā he exalteth hī selfe
to disprayes les than hym selfe
whiche wyll cōpare thē selfe for riches or synnes
Or whiche that is myche greter than them selfe
Or whiche in thīges aboue saide are a boue him
desirynge to se synnes
For whā they wyll nat by rayson helpe thē selfe
whā they will nat beleue thinges yt they se nat
To iuge the thinges to come or they be come
to expose themselfe in perell
To beleue thē selfe that god shulde delyuer thē
For to haue wanhope & dye ī suche dāgerous perel
To beleue ī destines yt other wyse it may nat be
to trauel nothīge to kepe them fro perell
For they wyl nat vse praier to kepe thē fro sinne
And wyl folowe theyr owne wyl wtoute coūcel
where they be idell withoute wyllīge to laboure
to go before thi betters vnworthely
To desyre the myght yt they ought nat to haue
Excedīge the pore to them cōmyttyd or gyuen
Or to do harme to theyr myght
to abstayne thē selfe ouer mych
For they are nat worthy to haue suche autoryte
For they are cruell to theyr subgettys
To get them selfe hatrede
By myght or rychesse of theyr frendys
For vyolens that the soueraynes may do
For ye riches or grete godes yt they haue
To put theyre soules in perell
Beynge in dedly synne & nat repent hymselfe
To be in synne and care nat
Or to vnderstande & reioyse of it.
To set nought by the thynge to come
To beleue nat the lyfe to come for gode people.
To byleue the lyfe to come & nat faythfully
Or to byleue it and nat amende theyr synnes
≼fare the body to the soule.
To be dylygent to the body & nat to the soule
To desyre temporall goodes and nat spūall
To norysshe contynually the flesshe ī his delytes
Vnrightfully to be dispraysid
For the presumsyous aragons & pryde.
For his vayne glory vauntynge and praysynge.
Or for to shewe to lyue of auaūtage.
Vniustly wyllyng to be praysyd
whan they delyte in worldely louynges.
whan they haue drede to be dyspraysyd
For they desyre to be honoured withouten cause
To do goode in an euyll entent
For ignorans whā they byleue nat to do goode.
wykedly do gode ī hope that it shall tourne to yl
Falsly to dysceyue other.
To be vnkynd in theyr doyng
To be impetuous & nat proue the trouthe.
For to drawe ouer straytly the rygfull thynges.
To trauell more than of ryght with rightful mē
To be ouer cruell.
where there is none afeccyon to loue other persōs
To fynde newe maners to do euyll.
To haue no shame to do cruelte.
Importunyte.
whan any desyreth one thynge contynually.
whan any is without pyte to haue his dette
Or to be euer enuyously askynge.
Byleue no mā but hymselfe.
Euer in the dedis of other to fīde som thīg to say
To byleue that other do nothynge for god.
For his owne dedis to be contēt of hymselfe
speke of hye thīges.
For to exalt hymselfe and shewe that he is great
For to contrary his neybours or suche lyke
Or blasphemynge god and his holy sayntes
Byleue more ī hym selfe than he ought to do
whan eny wyll nat knowe theyr owne defautes
whan any dyspreyseth the fautes of other.
To vndertake for to come to that they may nat.
harde thē selfe in fyghtynge
That may nat suffer paciently to be smyten.
To grodge agayne the wyll of god
For to be smyten blaspheme god or his sayntys
resyste to god
To lete any gode to be done.
Nat to helpe to do gode whan they may.
Or to be sory that ony body shulde do gode
to vp holde euyll
For to synne more liberally.
For famulyarite that they haue to hī that sīnis
Or that this synne that they defende
By chastynge
wyll nat here theyr betters to teche them gode
ne to do there after ne mendeth them nat
wylfully to do euyll for to be mendyde
not willinge to for sake yll doynge
For they wyl nat leue theyr il costome.
Or els they gyue nat them to do gode
Or that they reioyse them in il doynge.
to be hardyde in euyll
To do a gaynste thinges that are dout some
To beleue that thinge gode that is nat
To gyue them selfe to euyll withoute remedy
synnynge dedly
By presumcione or vnderstondethe to do euyll
Or by ignorans that they wyll nat vnderstond
Desyrynge and prouokinge thē felfe do to euyll
synnynge venyally
For to folowe euyll company.
For custome to do any venyall synne
To ende .i. synne that they may ende another
In doute dedly or venially
By cogetacyons in theyr hartes onely
By wordes sayde lyghtly
Or by warke done vndescretly
singinge masse
And to be in any eresy.
Or to be in sutes of cursynge.
Or wyttyngely in dedly synne.
menistrynge ye sacramentes
Les than his dute and vnworthely.
withoute reuerens and vndeuoutly.
without doinge theyr duty to the peple īndiscretli
reseyue ye body of Iesu cryste
withoute honoure deuosyone & reuerens
Theftuously & of that they shulde nat receyue.
To say agayne thē that is more wyser than he.
wyll to be gode and haue sham
By wekenes and faute of corage.
For to loue neclygently any gode that may be.
For to be lyghtely ashamed for to do honoure
Haue shame to be goode and be nat
For whan any wyll complysshe to any persone
Or whan any loueth it that is nat gode.
Or whan they swere for to do gode.
for to be lyke to them that ben euyll
whan they reioyse them in euyll company.
For to shewe the hurte of hymselfe or other
For to obtayne his desyre.
Sory of the prosperyte of his nayboure.
For to desyre thy neybours harme.
For thou may nat susteyne to se his gode.
Therto they may nat oppres thē in wretchednes
That hath nat reioyst his neybours prosperyte to reioyse hym of his neyboures hurte.
whan they thynke to do theyr neybour wronge.
Or they haue gyuen the thynge hym to hynder.
For they may nat se theyr neybours encrece
The whiche as doynge or causeth to be done.
And glad that other hurte hym & nat thy selfe.
Or that he suffreth by the godly Iustyce.
For cause of lyghtnesse
For thou art glad of thy neybours yll name.
By euyll custome to hurte hym so.
Or to custome with some other people.
For hatrede cruell
As spekynge wordes that shulde noy & hurte
Fyndīge any euyll that is nat gode ne faythfull
To say they haue herde yll by other & haue nat.
And lyinge wyttyngely
To the intēte to cause some to haue trobyll
whan goodes come to hym that they hate.
Or if any be defamyd to reporte it for a trouthe
To noy vnder coloure of gode fauoure
To saye they knowe it and knowe it nat
They vnderstonde to be more greater than it is
To norysshe or defende other in theyr folye
Norysshe euyll in gode lyknes
Say these whiche profiteth or horteth by flateri
Some tyme flatter venyall somtyme mortall
Sayīge il be hynde thē & fayre before theyr face
To holde wt hī yt dothe euyll
For to haue any wynnynge or profyte
For to hurte and hynder any gode persone
Or for to lese the loue of him that doeth euyl
shewyng stryfe and dyscorde
By hastines mouynge the partyes
Or by flaterynge or besynes
Or in repeyre or by false langage
makynge stryf to laste longe
By cause they wolde haue the loue of some other
For thou woldyste haue sōe other helpe to noy hī
To reioyse oft to here or se dyscorde
And nat laboure for the pease
For malys that thou woldeste none haue
glade to trauell to make it worse and worse
And negligently groge if other wolde haue peas
sclāderinge the gode people
Tornynge theyr gode name in to euyll
To speke hurte to trobyll theyr vnderstondynge
Or to cause them to lese the loue of other people
giuīg the worst thynges they haue to fue god nat helpinge ye good people in trybulacyone
Abusynge them of the thankes of god
To be wery to do gode workes
And gyue to god of the worste & nat the beste
The whiche sofereth for the loue of god
For penaunce of theyr synnes
Or sofferes all trobyllys in hope of crystis glory
to beleue ouer sone
By what some euer occasyone indeferently
what thynge that they say to the beleue it shortly
whether it be true or falsse to beleue the fyrst tale
To lyue ouer faythfully
To beleue the whiche thou shuldest nat beleue
Or to beleue hastely that is so indede
And than iugeth the gode withoute discresyone
Or oft tymes to beleue
Thinges vnbelevable & whiche may nat be
whan sondry tymes thou haste be disseyued
For to beleue thē that hath oft be namyd il
Often tymes
whan it is for the vēgeaunce of him yt is accusyd
whā they delyte to excuse other
Or to hynder hym that they accuse
Or falsly
whā they fynde ye iewell of him that they accuse
whā they knowe yt he that is accusyd is not gylte
whā they accuse theyr neybour because of hatred
Or of thynges that ben doutfull
Sekynge occasyone to noy him that is accusyde
Affermynge to be trewe and all falsse
For they knowe nat what myschefe may folowe
Of word
whiche be doubtful to vnderstonde
Manyfestly and that are knowene falsse
Sekynge occasyone to couer theyr mysdede
By force of swerynge
Geuynge the iewell to him that dothe it not
For to shewe him selfe innocent of theyr mysdede
For to shewe to be punysshed for the euyll dedys
by holy gospels
How well that it be. by straynynge to āswere hī
And worse if they do it wylfully
Or to swere vn promisyd of ye thing yt they swere
No vnderstandynge the benyfytes of god
How myche or howe well haue they done
what goodnes without desarte they do to vs
what thynge is worthye for to retribue to hī selfe
To do euyll for gode
To him whiche holpe the in thy nessessite
Or to him that hathe gyuen the gode counsell
Or to hym that hathe defended the frome euyll
Nat to do gode For gode done to the
But to do ill to him that hath done the gode
Or to do hym at no tyme gode
For gode done to the/ thou doest harme agayne
Of the dedes Of other where it apertaynes nat
By ingnorans where they ought not
In doute of that wherof they wayte not
Or to iuge without that they be requiryd
Makynge fals Iugementes
For any gyftes that hath be gyuen afore or after
For loue or for hatrede
For certayne iewelles & delyuerynge
Euyll to be gode or of the cōtrary.
For lyghtnes or they be acostomed
Or to iuge that it is done by sporte
Or wyttyngly entende to hurte other
In temporall thynges
To gyue/ not to theyr pore thynges superfluus
To holde laufull godes of other & nat departe
Godes that are exposyd in euyll vsage
Thynges spirituall
Nat to be besy/ to amende the synners
Nor to shewe them of peynes to come
Nor to teche other to do gode dedys
Or of counsell
Not to gyue counsell to him that axeth it
Or to gyue euyll councell wyttyngly
Nat to councell whan they may helpe any
By example
whā any hath suautes & doth before them synne
whā any ledeth other in his company to do euyll
Or any vnder the kynd of gode doynge dothe euyll
By councell
To drawe to yll company to se yll doynge
Or to be glade that they consente to euyll
Or be theyr company synnes more dilectabyll
By force
To require and thretyne
Nat to sese tyll he be drawne to euyll
By his oppressyone and straynynge of thē
Loue for the fauoure of man
whan thou faueryst any in doinge euyll
whyche maye noy the and therfore they do it nat
They do that thou be sene gracyouse and meke
For erthely profyte
Faynynge the a frende to him and art none
Faynynge yt thou loueste hī more thā thou doest
shewynge to be his louer & be his dedly enmy
For flesshely loue
Defende or sustayne any in theyr synne
To promote them whyche are nat worthy to be
For to labowre to lyue more delicyously
To moke hym selfe
For to kepe other to loue hym by vayne scoffinge
For dylectalyons that thou haste in mockynges
Or that thou arte customed so to do
To cursse
Other in his thought without spekynge.
Or of his mouthe by wordes.
To cause debate bytwene people.
To dyssayue
For to gyue euyll counsell to synne.
And wisshynge yt he yt he hateth may do euyll
Seīge thē synne & reproue them nat whā he may
Dyscorde
For to manyfeste rancowers
To shewe outwarde frendshyp & be enmy ī harte
To saye yt they loue ī peas & haue malys ī mynde
wronges
In shamynge other
Takynge from them theyr godenesse
Or hurtynge his body or good name
Conspyracyōs
Sysmatykes is tho that procure theyr synne
Thynkynge the parsons that are euyll
Or to conspire in any warkes
Repreuynges.
Repreue the pouerte in whiche they are
The sekenesse that they haue or haue had
Or that they be come of pore kynrede
Sharpe worde
Prouokynge other to Ier
Full of repreuynges and wronges
Seke howe that they may do damage
To noye his neyghbours
By persones outtrageous
By hurtynge of his persone or omysyde
For to take fro him his goodes or his renowne
Nat amēdinge other
As whan they haue lordeshipe a boue the synner
Or whan they be his ryght frende.
Or whiche hopes to do euyll and may lete it
To be glad of theyr synne.
As to prays and be glad of the synners
And not morne for that that they haue done
And nat amēde them but be glad of euyll doyng
Hope to do euyll.
By counsell that thou gyueste
By hope that thou haste
For thou defendest them that dothe euyll
In pungnant godenesse
Beleuynge in any eresy.
For to haue to ete or drynke
For the loue of some and hatrede of other.
to haunte stryuynge
For rancours secrete in the harte.
By custome that they be glade
By opene hatrede that they wyll apeyre.
To stryue by wordes
As in questions vnprofitable.
For to shewe theyr synnis
For to agayne say hym to whome they speke.
In defēdaunt
Hauynge wyl to kyll
Hym selfe or other withoute wyll of kyllynge.
To kyll vnwysely or ingnorantly
lyīge wyttīgly
By treason
By hatrede.
For he whiche he kyllythe is gode
that they beleue nat to kyll
Beleue that they do gode if they kyll any.
Castynge any gode gladly.
Or to gyue any medesyne
By wronge doynge
Saynge suchlyke wronges.
or saynge of greter wronges
Or rehersynge wronges very small.
beleue tis dōage and is nat
To hurte hym that amendis for good
Or to do euyll to hym that hath done gode.
If it displesis the yt they haue done for thy gode
by faute of any thynge
If any geuyth the not or lendeth the theyr gode
That he hath done that he is nat bounde.
Or hath nat hopyd to do thy synne.
In iugemētis of god
whan it pleseth the that plesys nat god
Or for that pleseth not to the wyll of god.
For that thou louest nat yt god wolde haue done
In his wrechednesse
If thou be in any sekenesse
If thou be in greate pouerte
Or if thou haue any aduersyte.
of wronge of his neyboure
For they haue myssayde the by any wordes
Or they haue done the euyll in thy body
Or yt they haue misdone to ye ī thy godes.
to talke of thinges vnprofitable
As of fayrenesse of women
Or of lenage of frendis.
Fo graete malys.
to say lesynges or falsenesse
Or of thinges that hurtethe.
For vauntynge or bostynge.
By fraude or vnfaythfulnesse.
To clater
For ouercomynge by forse of spekynge
Or for to hurte by flaterynge.
Or for pleasure that they take.
to vnderstōd of god that pertayneth nat to him
As of the souerayne withoute myght
Or of his ryght greate godenes in vs
Or of his rightfull Iustyce.
to aferme of god thīges vnworthely
For any erroure that they ar in.
For drede of lesynge.
For couetyse of wynnynge.
to say that it is god that is nat
Byleuynge as dothe ydolatours.
In opynyon by euyll vnderstandynge.
For to do agaynst the ordynaūce of the churche.
Thought superflues
To delyte to thynke yll
To thynke that theyr synne is swete
Or longe abydynge thinkynge in euyll
Dolorous Thought
Howe darkly they may hurte
He that putteth his euyll to others.
As doynge euyll to be sayde.
Thought detestable
Howe they may do euyll.
As doynge euyll they may perseuer.
And howe they may resyst to god.
To syne by custome.
For other synnes suche lyke.
For there custome is to do synne.
For there is none yt repreuis the doynge euyll.
syne by malys.
when eny dothe euyll & leuyth it.
when eny loues good & doth it not.
when eny loues not the good but the euyll.
Or be not ī wyll to leue the euyll
when eny dothe good gaynst his euyll.
when eny reioyses not doynge gode.
when it dyspleses them not yf they do euyll.
By constans.
Belewynge good that they vnderstand not.
Chan̄gynge ofte tymes his purpose in coūsell.
wayllynge in aduersyte.
By pusalanymyte.
To drawe them selfe fro god.
To fayle the grace of god.
To drede to be gyn that is gode.
By cruelte.
Ferynge vnprofytabyll thynges & newes
Plesauntlyer rumowres & cryes & fablys
To speke newe thynges by his owne wyll.
Drede where they sholde not.
To drede it yt is to come & saye it is no damage.
Lesse the sperytuall goodes for the temporallis
yf temporall aduersyte be ouer grete or heuy.
Drede more thā they shold.
To make gret mornyng for yt which they haue loste
to morne whā they haue not their desyre.
To groge whā any thīge happeneth agayne thē
Drede thē that they sholde.
As detractowres yt they se ryghtfully.
Or to holde wyth the euyll to please them
Or that it noyes them not of others doyng gode
wyll to do euyll.
whiche bereth to the dyshonoure of god.
Or to damage of his neyboure.
Or to the damage of his soule
And customely to vse euyll.
For the lectacyon of euyll.
For the dysplesaunce of god.
For these that they do please theyr mynde
To delyte them selfe as moche as they may ī yl
Nat resyst euyll thought.
Loue euyll dylectacyons
Desyre that they may delyte.
By neclygence.
whā any makes ther vow & ī dispraysīg to do it
yt makes les his vow thā he hath promysed.
yt fulfillis not his vow wt gode hert as he shold
By forgettynge
Of soleme vow secrete or thyngis yt perteynes therto
Of vow promissyd by hī self or for other
Of vow made to enter into relygyous
By dysspraysynge.
Not to fulfyl theyr vow whā they haue oportunyte
Or whā they may & doth not other suche lyke
Or yt he take no thought yt they may not do it
Leue and do no penaunce.
For fynall penaunce & neuer to repēte.
By deferrynge fro day to day of repentynge.
By dyspraysynge that they wyll not repēte thē.
To haue no shame to do syn.
whan after lytell syn they rotes them in it.
whan they haue no shame of yll doynge.
To be delyueryd to fulfyll dedly syn.
purpose to syn.
After that they haue synned & to a byde in syn.
To seke occasyon to fall in euyll syn.
Or without sorowe to be gladde of that yl doyng
Not to by leue yt at they sholde byleue.
To byleue the iewes or other vnfaythful men.
That byleueth not in the arteceles of the fayth.
Or that heres them sayd & wyl not byleue them
Byleue it that they sholde not byleue.
In false godes as doth the sarasyns.
In Idolles or any symulacres.
Or to byleue in dyuers thynges or wychecrafte.
To byleue Ignoraūtly.
Dowthe in that whych they sholde byleue.
byleue & not faythfully it that they shold byleue
nythely to let thē be dysceyued of theyr trouthe.
Indyscresyons
Do without coūseyl this yt they shold be coūselid
Do without maner that that they sholde hope
Do without wysdome of these that is requyryd
This that they sholde vnderstāde.
Dysprayes wyt & woll not to be tawghte
Trauayle not to vnderstonde synes profytabyll
To haue porpose & set not therby that they shold lerne.
they that haue no wyl to vnderstande.
Or that takes not payne to vnderstande.
Or to haue excusacyon.
By swerynge & neclygence of lernynge.
In noysumnes of leuynge.
whan good thynges be dysplesaūte.
whan all thynges are noysome.
whan all thynges that they do ar heuy.
False hope.
To presume to moche on the mersy of god.
& though they amēde thē not to truste on mersy
To lyue in syn without the drede of god.
To dysspayre theym selfe.
without dystruccyon of the Iustis of god.
For the gretnes of the syn that they haue done.
To mystruste of the marsy of god.
Towarde the thynges deffendede.
whan any exposyth hym self in perrell of syn.
whan they ar moche assuryd to do syn.
whā they exposes thē self ouermoche ī tēptaciōs
To warde gode counseyll
And wyll not be good and leue the euyll.
And not honour the good but loue the euyll
Dysprayse the counsell of good men.
Towarde yt cōmaundemētes.
Ne do the cōmaundementes that they sholde.
Dysprayse the cōmaūdemente of hym yt doth it
Nor loue no thynge that is cōmaundyde.
Dysprayse the good man.
To contynewe to do peuysshe wordes.
And hauynge hope to do euyll only.
Or to do bothe to geder.
To dred not to be defamyde.
Ne to set not by no thynges yt is sayd by the.
Ne care not who so is sclaunderyd with the.
Nor seke not who that other be edyfyed of the.
To do good in euyll intensyōs
Dyssayuyngely thou vnderstondest it well.
wt out dyscrecyō thou settest not by whō ne how
vnwysely for thou wylte not vnderstonde
Seke vnprofytabyll thynges.
wyllīge to vnderstande the thīge yt is ye maker of syn.
Labore to cōfoūde other of langage.
Or for to be callyd wyse Ideotes or folys.
Delite to se vayne thynges.
For to drawe other to it that is not laufull.
Or be that makes the & gyues the thy lyuynge.
Or causes the to vnderstonde all vanytes.
Do yt no other cane do.
Doynge newe thynges that they sawe neuer.
Or lerne thynges that be euyll.
Or thynges only for to make them laffe.
To leue to do good.
That is to say to good thoughtes.
To good wordes.
And to good workes.
Seke to do euyll.
By the concupyssens of the flesshe.
The concupyssence of his iyen.
And to lyue prowdly
Not to resyste to do euyll.
For loue that they haue to euyll.
For dyspyte that they haue to good.
For neclygence of them selfe.
In Idell thynges.
To expose them selfe to vanytes.
To drawe not them selfe fro vanytes.
wyllynge to abyde in vanytes.
In thynges delectabyll.
For they be euyll & plesaunte.
A bydynge be longe spase and tyme.
whan thy wyll is prouoked.
In wycked thīges.
Howe falsely thou may hurte.
Or greuously hender.
Or to do harme more at length.
Consentyng to thēt hat be euyll
By malys for to plese them.
For hatrede that they haue to good.
For hatrede of good that they may do.
Truste not thē that be goode.
whan they may not profyte wtout they helpe thē
there where they be in perrell.
There where they falle without helpe or socoure
To hurte them that be good.
Or by hym selfe
Or by other persons
Or holde fro them that they owe them.
In vayne thynges.
In beholdynge the pepell to fythe by vanyte.
Gyuynge ther yes to beholde any vanyte.
Beynge in company of moche people & publyke
In wantone thynges.
In Iustes of the body.
In lyghtnes of corage.
By forse of syngynge or cryenge.
In folisshe gladnes.
By ouer moche and longe laffynge.
To be without payne whan they sholde morne.
To prouoke other to laffynge.
Besynes of thoughte.
To lese the spirytuall goodes for the tēporalles.
To be neclyēt to the spūall & not to ye tēporall
To dysprayse ye goodes of ye soule for ye body.
Hope to wynne without commynge.
To holde with charge noysome thynges.
To procure ye goodes of other to haue profyte.
wyllynge to haue profyte for there besynes.
That may not drawe thē fro it
To aquyre tēporall goodes by grete delectaciōs
To be boūde in loue to haue temporall goodes.
Or to impute them selfe more than they maye.
To take with strenth ye goodes of other.
Of theyr subgettys or seruauntes lesse thē selfe.
To theyr ennemyes by any maner way.
To theyr neyboure by any subtyll way.
To do vyolēce or requeste.
To theyr subyectes or other of tēporall goodes.
Or suche lyke for specyall thynges by bostynge.
Or in spūall thynges makynge promysses.
By subyeccyon and hope.
Makynge induly without right or resone.
Or that before they were costomyd to do it
Or that they be made by forse of boystyngis
By couenaūte made.
whan any selles the derer by cause of abydynge
To lende money in hope to haue auauntage.
For that they lende it & doth a byde for it.
Couenaūte made hauing hope
Or that they leue not to thē yt they receyuyd.
Or by synes they know yt they shall wynne.
Or whan any receyues or lenes to haue bn̄fices.
To selle for more to the whiche yt thou mai not be sone payde.
As ar hesurers that lenes openly.
Or haue hope of wynnynge of that at they selle.
Or by custome to sell so.
Denyenge thē
Det that thou knowest well yt thou doste owe.
Or that det that thou haste for goten.
Or it that is lyghtly knowen that thou owe
Or robbynge them
Hauynge hope to gyue in any tyme.
without wyll to gyue it though thou maye.
yf thou may not gyue it & desyre no marcy.
Or suche dettes be forgoten.
The whiche wolde pay it yf thou desyred
To holde frothe childer yt theyr frēdes gaue thē
Hold wyttyngly it yt they know to whō it lōge
To take & hold the dedys gode
By strengthe or vyolence to take it to them selfe
By fraude or to cause other to lye.
Say that they hold thē vnder coloure of frēshep
Dyffare to gyue them.
They to the tyme that they may profyte.
Or that by any way they may abyde.
Or geuynge them that they haue profyte by.
Lende them to others.
That by suche lyuynge they may be recūpensed.
By curyosyte lende it that is nat theyrs.
By ambusyon say that it is theyrs & is nat.
to sell spūall thīges for lāguas.
To pepyll aduulterers by theyr flaterynge
To geue profyte to vnworthy people.
For wordes that is to other yll sayde.
to sell spūall thīges for pryce.
And to take or suche thynges be comon
Puttynge the answere for the whiche is nought
Or takyn after that it be comon
to sell spūall thīges for prayers
Somtymes do with mannasynge
Or somtymes with promes
And somtyme with vyolens & strength.
A holy thynge in a place nat halowed
The goodes of the churche taken in the churche
To holde the dymes or thynges of the churche
To take the goodes of the churche vndeserued
A thynge nat halowed ī place halowed.
To take the churches goodes where any is
Vnworthely to gyue the goodes of the churche.
Or a lay man say that it apertyneth to hym
A holy thynge ī a place sacred.
what so euer it be that longeth to the churche.
All goodes for suerty put in the churche.
Thynges as casueltyes to them alowed.
To robe other without it be ageyn gyuen
For he that robbeth dothe damage
Or that thou doste it of thy propre malys
Or for thy symplenes or ignorans.
To haue others goodes & hyde them.
Or for to holde more peasyble
For drede to be punysshed
Bycause thou wolde cōtynue in that synne
Consentinge to theues
For suche stelynge pleases the
For thou haste profyte by theft that is done
Or for thou dredest hym that hathe done theft
One relygyous of goodes of his relygyon.
To haue without vnderstandynge of theyr ≼lat
Or to the cōsētmēt of the bisshope yt perteneth nat
Or it that they haue by lysēs ouermoche apropred
men or wymen maryed
whā one hathe goodes wtout theyr vnderstādig
Or that some gyueth to moche to theyr kynne.
whā any spēdeth his comō goodes in his pouerte
Of the patrimō of the crusyfyx.
Takynge more than is nedefull
Vnworthely & it that they ought nat to gyue thē
In euyll vsage to spende them.
Therto that they may noy
For to do hurte one to other.
And accuse other wrongefully.
Or any tyme accusynge thē for rightuēs causes
For causes dyshonest.
Or for to do treason or falsenes.
For to do fylth or vn honest thynges.
Or thynges of the contrary partyes.
For to Iuge wrongefully.
There to do his thynges pertyculer.
To Iuge hym wronge that hathe ryght.
To dyffer to do right to hym that aperteyneth it
to acquere ouer moche
By vyolens done for syluer or for frendes
Or for hucker vnrightfully acquered.
Or by fraude & dysseyuynge acquered.
To morne whā they may nat gager.
Therto that they be more honoured & douted
Or to haue the better theyr pleasure.
Or to haue more possessyons than other.
Holde ouermoche.
For drede to haue faute of gode
For to delyte them selfe in ryches.
For to fere to haue nede in age.
Thīges rightuously acquered
They sel nat to whōe they gyue but vndiscretly
And gyuynge vnordynatly thyr goodes.
Abbusīge folysshe vsīge that they vnderstāde well
Thīges vnrightuously required.
Holdynge them agaynst theyr consyens
Kepynge them to theyr synguler vsynge
Geuynge almes of theft & hucker.
Thynges that is owed.
Spendynge them in theyr folysshe lustys.
Or holdynge them to the vsage of other.
Kepīge to moche to ye vsage of which they ar nat.
cōmynge aboute
By promes therto that they may receyue.
By axynge suche lyke.
Or by swete wordes
beinge doubill
To shewe fayre sēblaūt to haue of others gode.
Or by suche semblaunt to shame other
Or by colour to hurte or noy other.
euyll countīge
To shewe that they byleueth is theyr frende.
To hym that they knowe well is theyr ennemy.
Or indyfferently to frende or ennemy
Bad rekenīge
Of it that they owe to other ryghtfully.
Of it that is owynge any maner of wayes
Be it of his owne to other than to hymselfe
whan they vnderstande nat Or can nat.
For drede to gyue it or to be notyd
For shame that they haue to do it.
For couetyse & loue of holdynge.
Nat to consent to do it.
To holde theyr peas of that they knowe.
Do and helpe hym that myscounteth it
wyllynge to hurte hym that is myscounted.
For ioye.
For couetyse to dysplease hym.
For pleasure that they haue to lye.
Lygtely to swere of it that they knowe nat
For to cause other to wynne.
Couerynge it with noyous & profyteth nat.
Some tyme it is for temporall godes.
Some tyme to preuayle some persone.
Dysseyuyngly
That sometyme profyteth and somtyme noyeth
to hynder other pryuely.
In the techynge and promes of relygyon.
the membres of god
Disprayes god or hys sayntys
For to shewe them selfe wode.
Or that they take solas swerynge by god.
Oft tymes
By euyll costome oft tymes swerynge.
By plesure that they take to swere greatly.
By dysplesure that they take to swere greatly.
vnwysely
Beholde nat the peryll of swerynge.
Doynge yll to appayre them that hereth them.
To swere vaynly and nat in tyme of nede.
By wordes
greuosly to trobyll and disceyue.
Vnwysely of it that they knowe nat
wyttingely of that they knowe nat.
By īter putige of them selfe
Receyuīge any of the sacramētis of the churche
In suche thinges that are nat lefesome.
Or in thinges that are lefesome.
by towchīge of holy thinges
Sweringe falsely wyllynge to disceyue.
Swerynge faythfully wyllynge to swere false
That swerīge false make sōe beleue it faithfully
the thinge that they know nat
To bere wytnes of that that they knowe nat
To wytnes that that they mys knowe
dissembyll to mysknowe that it that they kenne
whiche are perclous
For the preys that they haue or shulde haue
For frendshepe of hī the which they bere witnes
For malys that they wyll nat say trouthe.
to the persōs whche aperteyneth nat
For the false openyone yt they haue of that thīge
Say the thinge is faithfull that they knowe nat
Or they seke nat to vnderstōde & may well
which are forbodone
As playes done by wytche craftes
Disonest prouokynge
Or the whiche may gretely noy.
whiche are perclous
For pleasure of himselfe or pleasure of other
By custome to do suche playes
Or haue truste to haue wynnynge to do it
to ye persōs that aperteyneth not
A lewde man to play with a religious
Or a lewde man with preste or clerke
Or with one man of penanse.
For to acquere
Faynynge themselfe seke and be nat
To do suche fantasyes without necessyte.
To cause other to be sory for them and rede nat
for to be Idel
Eft wyse they that laborethe or trauellyth
whan they shulde worke/ fayne them dyseased.
Or to shewe them more lyke than they are
for to obtēper theyr ill wyll
And holdynge sharpe thynges to sustayne
Disceyue by faynynge wordes or by enuy
Or byleuynge to lyue without hurte.
For gode sauor
Ageyne the profyte of the soule.
Agayne the helthe of the body
Agayne the profyte of one or other to gyder.
For nouelte
For thynges that be dilysyous.
To ete fruyte by cause it is gode & rype.
For composycyons of the cōdycyons required
In sondry
By costome to ete so
By lyghtnes to be ouerhabūdāt wtout necessyte
By affectyon & plesaunce of it that they take.
Desyrynge
Mete ouer dere that longeth not for them.
Les mete than where they are requyred.
Mete resonable & be nat contente.
Ouer moche delytynge
To be ouer besy to fyll theyr bely.
To lytell to sarue god & moche the wombe
Or oft etynge & nat kepynge theyr houre
Ouer moche fyllynge themselfe
As they may to desyre the best mete.
whan they haue ete not to be content.
Ne gyue to the pore of the mete that they haue
By sondry maners
For to satysfye all theyr desyres
Nat refuse by no waye thynge that they desyre.
And nat to refuse none yll appetyte.
Or exquyred.
Or do that that other dothe nat.
By study howe they may haue theyr lust.
By labour & payne that they take for it
souerayntly.
Neuer content what so euer they haue.
Delycyous for the swete sauoures.
Nat wysely beholdynge what it dothe cost
At tyme that they shulde nat
Byfore the laufull houre without nede.
Or after whan the laufull is paste.
Or what houre it be without cōmaūdement.
Or to offence
what thynge thou desyrest to ete.
Closely to kepe it that other knowe it nat
Or secretly that thou only byleueth.
and vnlawfully
In the tyme of fastynge to ete flesshe
In places as to ete in the churche.
As to ete the mete that is forbede.
In quantite of metis
To ete more than the body hath nede
To ete it that hurteth bothe body and soule
Vnder coloure of sekenesse
In our dere metis
Care nat of the coste so it be swete
Thynkynge that it is no synne
Dysprayes the metys of small pryce
vsynge other mennis tabyls
By gloteny and frawdes
By company and greate drynkynge.
To fulfyll theyr foule appetyte
Fornycacyon
with women maryed or wydowes
Or with any mayde that is a virgyne
Or comenne women that are corrupte
Auowtry
whā man hath cōpany with other thā his wyfe
Or womē hauīge cōpany wt other thā hir spouse
Or that they be bothe in maryage
Excesse
Or with women of theyr lynage
with man or woman of theyr affenyte
Or that the one parte be of relygyon
Of thought
Longe delectacyon of thought of lechery
To gyue concentinge to suche pleasure
To īforse hī selfe to fulfyll his thought by warke
Of dede
By poluciōe at night ouer miche etīge or drīkīge
By restynge in the company of women
Euyll thought to fulfyll suche warke
Or of bothe to gedyr
To moue or touche the flesshe by delytynge
To fulfyll warke and of the wyll naturally
Or ony vyce not naturally
For hatrede
whā they loue other that they ought not to loue
whā they knowe they are nat loued on theyr ∥ty
Or they are dispytefull and regorous
For to shewe trauelynge
For they drede laboure and trauell
For drede to haue pouerte
For drede that they sholde nat haue pleasure
For abbomynacion
Abomynacyone of it that they haue costomyde
Or for vnclennes of the warke
wha any disprayseth ye cōpany of other ∥ty
to put thē selfe in perell
Some tyme for cause of some persones.
Other tymes for dangeour of places.
And other seasons for reason of tyme.
to drawe them nat from it
Of the warke that they knowe is bade
Or of perell whan they knowe it is daungerouse.
And for they be prouokyd in suche perell
Delitynge thēselfe
In the operacyon of the flesshe.
Or to haue desyre and wyll to fulfyll it
Or in thought & mynde to haue done it.
In clothynge
In iewels rynges singnettis and ouches
In precyousnesse of gownes gyrdels and bedis
In takynge of fassyons newe brought vp.
In delyte
By wantonnes of chylderne to be mery
By dilectacyon of the bodyes takīge theyr ease.
In doynge all that the harte desyres
In dispense
Spendynge largely for louynge of the worlde
Gyue where they ought nat.
Nat to kepe them fro pleasure nor cause other
and loue him perfetly
god ī vayne thou shalt nat swere
nor by nothinge that he made
thy sondaye thou shalt kepe
saruynge god deuoutly
fader & moder thou shalt Worship
and thou shalt longe lyue
thou shalt kyll no man
nor blode dystroye Wylfully
thou shalt do no lechery in dede
ne therto consent
thou shalt be no thefe
ne no mānes gode Witholde
bere no fals Wytnes
ageyn no mā: nor by lye ī no Wyse
the lust of the flesshe desyre nat.
but in mariage only.
the goodes of other couyt nat
to haue it vnrightfully.
And kepe them well and sure.
Shall haue in hell great tourmentys.
That shall euermore endure:
Thou shalt nat fere thy god nor thynke on his goodnes.
And to dampne thy soule thou shalt blaspheme god and his sayntes
Euermore thyn owne wyll be doynge
Dysseyue men and wymen/ and euer be swerynge.
Be dronken vpon thy holy daye.
And cause other to synne and thou may.
Thy fader nor thy moder loke thou loue nor drede.
And helpe them neuer thou they haue nede.
Hate thy neyghboure and hure hym by enuy.
Murder and shede mannys blode hardely.
Forgyue no man but be vengeable.
Be lecherous of dede and in touchynge dylectable.
Breke thy wedloke and spare nat.
And to dysceyue other by falshode care nat.
The goodes of other thou shalt holde falsely.
And gyue it neuer agayne thou they speke curtesly.
Company oft with wymen and tempe them to synne
Desyre thy neyghbours wyfe and his goodes thoughe thou may nat wyn
Do this hardely and care nat therfore.
And thou shalt dwell with me in hell for euermore.
Thou shalt ley in froste and fyre with sekenes & hunger.
And in a thousande peces thou shalt be torne a sondre.
yet thou shalt leue euer and neuer be dede.
Thy mete shall be todys & thy drynke hote boylynge lede.
Take no thought for the blode that god for the shede
O ye halfe goddys flourynge in prudence.
ye bysshopes with your deuout pastoralyte.
Teche the people with noble eloquence
Anyonte your flocke with crystes deuyne.
Fede the pore people with hospytalyte.
Be meke ande chaste in this melytante churche.
Do fyrst your selue well and than teche vs to worche.
The knyghtes.
O ye knyghtes that floures in fortytude.
with laboure and trauell to gete nobley.
Fyght thou for the people that is pore and rude.
And if nede be for the churche thou dye.
Loue trouthe hate wronge and velany.
Apes the people by thy magnyfycence.
And to all wymen be thou shelde and defence.
The generalyte.
Go home you persones and couche nat in courte.
Go teche Crystes seruantes/ and thyn owne laborere.
Thou nygarde/ sowe out thy horde.
In housholde/ and be none extorcyoner.
Monke pray/ preche frere/ marchaunt go farre and nere.
Drede god/ kepe his lawe & honour your kynge.
And your rewarde shall ye haue/ at your endynge.
Delue and drawe/ sowe barly whete/ and ry
Of one make ten/ this is a perfyte lyfe
As sayth Arystotle in his phylozophy
Thou nede not study to knowe astrology
For yf the weder be not to thy pleasaunce
Thanke euer god of his dyuyne ordenaunce.
The men of armes with fyers countenaunce.
The snayle speketh
The Kalender of the Shepeherdes.
Here begynneth the Kalender of Shepherdes.
17
[The fyrste parte of the kalēder of sheperdis.]
How euery moneth prayseth it selfe of some good propryete.
Ianuary.
I make me to be called IanyuereIn my tyme is grete stormes of coldnes
For vnto me no moneth of the yere
May compayre/ yf I auaunt me doubtles
For in my tyme was as clerkes do expresse
Cyrcumcysed the lorde omnypotent
And adoured by kynges of thoryent.
February.
I am February the moost hardyIn my season the pure moder vyrgynall
Offred her sone in the temple truely
Makynge to god a present specyall
Of Ihesu cryst the kynge of kynges all
Betwene the armes of the bysshop Symon.
To whome praye we to haue remyssyon.
Marche.
Marche am I called/ in noblesse flourysshyngeWhiche amonge moneths am of grete noblesse
For in my tyme all fruytes doth budde and sprynge
To the seruyce of man in grete largesse
And lente is in me the tyme of holynesse
That eche man ought for to haue repentaunce
Of his synnes doone by long contynuaunce.
Apryll.
Amonge all monthes I am lusty ApryllFresshe and holsom vnto eche creature
And in my tyme the dulcet droppes dystyll
Called crystall as poetes put in scrypture
Causynge all floures the longer to endure
In my tyme was the resurreccyon
Of god and man/ by dyuyne eleccyon.
Maye.
Of all the monethes in the yere I am kyngeFlourysshynge in beaute excellently
18
Feldes and medes spredde moost beauteuously
And byrdes syngeth with ryght swete armony
Reioycynge louers with hote loue all endewed
With flagraunt floures all about renewed.
Iune.
Who of my season taketh ryght good hedeOught not at all my name to adnull
For in my tyme for all the comyns wede
From shepe is shorne all the flese and wull
And had in marchaundyse by grete shyps full
Ouer the see/ wherfore we ought to praye
Vnto our lorde/ and thanke hym nyght and day.
Iuyll.
Yf that my tyme were praysed all aryghtAmonge all months I am one of the chefe
For I enrype through my grete force and myght
Fruytes of the erthe to man and bestes relefe
Fedynge horses/ kyen/ moton/ and stronge befe
With other propryetees that I coude tell
But I must passe I may no longer dwell.
August.
I am named the hote moneth of AugustFor redolent heet of Phebus bryghtnesse
In my tyme eche man ought for to haue lust
To laboure in haruest with grete besynes
To repe and shefe eschewynge ydlenesse
And ryse erly with perfyte dylygence
Thankynge our lorde of his good prouydence.
Septembre.
Who can my name perfytely remembreWith the commodytees of my season
Ought of ryght to call me septembre
Plenteous of goodes by all maner reason
As wheet/ rye/ otes/ benes/ fytches/ and peason
Of whiche fruyte eche man ought to haue in store
To lyue dyrectly/ and thanke our lorde therfore.
19
Octobre.
Amonge the other October I hyghtFrende vnto vynteners naturally
And in my tyme Bachus is redy dyght
All maner wyne to presse and claryfy
Of whiche is sacred as we se dayly
The blyssed body of Cryst in flesshe and blode
Whiche is our hope/ refeccyon/ and fode.
Nouembre.
I Nouembre wyll not abyde behyndeTo shewe my kyndly worthynes and vre
For in my tyme the blastes of the wynde
Abareth lenes and shedeth theyr verdure
Wherfore euery prudent creature
Ought for to lyue ryght as they wolde dye
For all thynge taketh ende naturally.
Decembre.
Decembre euery man dooth me callIn whose tyme the moder Inuyolate
Delyuered was in an olde oxe stall
Of Ihesu cryst goddes owne sone Incarnate
Wherfore I thynke me the moost fortunate
Of all the other/ to whome pray we then
That we may come vnto his blysse Amen.
The begynnynges and endes of the foure seasons of the yere.
The fyrst is prymetyme that thus dooth begynFrom myd February/ vnto myd Maye
And fro myd Maye somer is entred in
To myd august/ and than is haruest daye
And fro that tyme wynter entreth alway
On saynt Clements day who so taketh hede
At myd February it fayleth in dede.
Thus endeth the prayse of the .xii. moneths wt
the begynnynges & endes of the .iiii. quarters/
And consequently foloweth ye kalender wt the
feestes of the yere as shepeherdes specefye.
Here ēdethe the fyrst parte of the kalēder of sheperdis.
43
Here is the seconde parte of the compot and kalender that shewith of the tre of vices and the peynes of hell.
[The tre of vices and the peynes of hell.]
The fyrst braunche of pryde.
Vayne glorye of hīselfe.to sek his ioye & not the glory of god
whan any beleueth yt godes cometh of him selfe
Or thīke that gode be gyuen thē for theyr dedys
yf they beleue to haue more thā they haue
Ipocresy
To dyssemble to shew thē goodlyar thā they be
To seme gode by warkes & be not but by coloure
To desyre praysynge for his gode dedys
Dysprayse thēselfe for to haue praysynge
To disprays his dedys yt other shulde prays thē
Or to repēte his doynge bycause they be praysyd
To disprays thē selfe by cause other praysis thē
The seconde braunche of pryde.
vayne glory of ye worldFor riches
whā they haue ryches they beleue to be godelyer
without ryches they thynke nat to be set by
To be asshamyd yt they lacke riches ī theyr nede
For pompys
To delyte them to haue a great housholde
To reioyse thē in ye fayer shape of theyr bodyes
Or in newe facyons to fayre coloured clothes
For honours
whan they desyre to be honoured wt others gode
wyllynge to be honoured and drede
Or that they wolde be take for stronge & myghty
The thyrde braunche of pryde.
Gladde of euyll doyngeRekenynge theyr synnes
To be praysyde of their vnhappy dedys
For to shewe openly that they be euyll dysposyd
Hauynge a delyte to thynke on his euyll dedys
To be glad of that they be yll
For that they do loue the loue of the worlde
For theyr sīnynge they doute nat god almyghty
Or ellys that they loue nat god with theyr harte
To haue no shame to be bad & euyll
For they vnderstonde nat vertu nor synne
Nor to make themselfe nat to be in wyllynge
For to be sene gladly doynge euyll
The iiii. braunche of pryde
Bostynge of synneTo loue themselfe
Openly byfore all folkes and fewe
Or ellys secretly byfore one or by him selfe
Or seke occasyone for to belouyd onely
To shewe theȝselfe goodlyer than they be
Couerynge theyr synne that they be not sene
Rekenynge theyr gode dedys to be knowene
And hydynge theyr synnes
To byleue that they be wyse & be nat
To be great in the Iugement of hymselfe
Dispayrynge the vnderstondynge of other
Presumynge theyr vertu wt oute ye grace of god
44
The v. braunche of pryde
Innobediensapertly to speke & a gayne saye
To misprayes his maistr or thē yt are aboue him
To misprayes ye gode dedis yt cōeth of obediēs
Or to desyre to say il agayne any other
To do vntruly that they do
whā neglegētly they do that they shulde nat do
Or that they do other wyse thā they ought to do
Or for to shewe hurte or for to haue profette
For to requere grace īportune
whā they haue costume ī sinne & fall oft theyr in
whā they gyue vnkyndly āsweris to his betters
And nat synnes but abideth withoute amēdīge
The vi. braunche of pryde
DisdayneDyspraysynge other
For theyr ignorans and faute of vnderstondīge
Or for theyr pouerte & faute of worldly rychesse
For theyr sekenesse & faute of theyr membres
to ≼fare thēself before other
Shewynge them selfe connynge ī sōme warkes
In cōparisōe of theyr deds disperses dedis of othr
In cōsiderīge of other les thā he exalteth hī selfe
to disprayes les than hym selfe
whiche wyll cōpare thē selfe for riches or synnes
Or whiche that is myche greter than them selfe
Or whiche in thīges aboue saide are a boue him
The vii. braunche of pryde
To tempte goddesirynge to se synnes
For whā they wyll nat by rayson helpe thē selfe
whā they will nat beleue thinges yt they se nat
To iuge the thinges to come or they be come
to expose themselfe in perell
To beleue thē selfe that god shulde delyuer thē
For to haue wanhope & dye ī suche dāgerous perel
To beleue ī destines yt other wyse it may nat be
to trauel nothīge to kepe them fro perell
For they wyl nat vse praier to kepe thē fro sinne
And wyl folowe theyr owne wyl wtoute coūcel
where they be idell withoute wyllīge to laboure
The viii. branche of pryde
Excesto go before thi betters vnworthely
To desyre the myght yt they ought nat to haue
Excedīge the pore to them cōmyttyd or gyuen
Or to do harme to theyr myght
to abstayne thē selfe ouer mych
For they are nat worthy to haue suche autoryte
For they are cruell to theyr subgettys
To get them selfe hatrede
By myght or rychesse of theyr frendys
For vyolens that the soueraynes may do
For ye riches or grete godes yt they haue
45
The ix. braunche of pryde.
DyspraysyngeTo put theyre soules in perell
Beynge in dedly synne & nat repent hymselfe
To be in synne and care nat
Or to vnderstande & reioyse of it.
To set nought by the thynge to come
To beleue nat the lyfe to come for gode people.
To byleue the lyfe to come & nat faythfully
Or to byleue it and nat amende theyr synnes
≼fare the body to the soule.
To be dylygent to the body & nat to the soule
To desyre temporall goodes and nat spūall
To norysshe contynually the flesshe ī his delytes
The x. braunche of pryde.
Euyll goodnesVnrightfully to be dispraysid
For the presumsyous aragons & pryde.
For his vayne glory vauntynge and praysynge.
Or for to shewe to lyue of auaūtage.
Vniustly wyllyng to be praysyd
whan they delyte in worldely louynges.
whan they haue drede to be dyspraysyd
For they desyre to be honoured withouten cause
To do goode in an euyll entent
For ignorans whā they byleue nat to do goode.
wykedly do gode ī hope that it shall tourne to yl
Falsly to dysceyue other.
The xi. braunche of pryde.
Hardnes.To be vnkynd in theyr doyng
To be impetuous & nat proue the trouthe.
For to drawe ouer straytly the rygfull thynges.
To trauell more than of ryght with rightful mē
To be ouer cruell.
where there is none afeccyon to loue other persōs
To fynde newe maners to do euyll.
To haue no shame to do cruelte.
Importunyte.
whan any desyreth one thynge contynually.
whan any is without pyte to haue his dette
Or to be euer enuyously askynge.
The xij. braunche of pryde.
PresumpsyonByleue no mā but hymselfe.
Euer in the dedis of other to fīde som thīg to say
To byleue that other do nothynge for god.
For his owne dedis to be contēt of hymselfe
speke of hye thīges.
For to exalt hymselfe and shewe that he is great
For to contrary his neybours or suche lyke
Or blasphemynge god and his holy sayntes
Byleue more ī hym selfe than he ought to do
whan eny wyll nat knowe theyr owne defautes
whan any dyspreyseth the fautes of other.
To vndertake for to come to that they may nat.
46
The xiii. braunche of pryde
Rebellyon.harde thē selfe in fyghtynge
That may nat suffer paciently to be smyten.
To grodge agayne the wyll of god
For to be smyten blaspheme god or his sayntys
resyste to god
To lete any gode to be done.
Nat to helpe to do gode whan they may.
Or to be sory that ony body shulde do gode
to vp holde euyll
For to synne more liberally.
For famulyarite that they haue to hī that sīnis
Or that this synne that they defende
The xiiii. braunche of pryde.
obstenasion.By chastynge
wyll nat here theyr betters to teche them gode
ne to do there after ne mendeth them nat
wylfully to do euyll for to be mendyde
not willinge to for sake yll doynge
For they wyl nat leue theyr il costome.
Or els they gyue nat them to do gode
Or that they reioyse them in il doynge.
to be hardyde in euyll
To do a gaynste thinges that are dout some
To beleue that thinge gode that is nat
To gyue them selfe to euyll withoute remedy
The xv. braunche of pryde
synne wyttyngelysynnynge dedly
By presumcione or vnderstondethe to do euyll
Or by ignorans that they wyll nat vnderstond
Desyrynge and prouokinge thē felfe do to euyll
synnynge venyally
For to folowe euyll company.
For custome to do any venyall synne
To ende .i. synne that they may ende another
In doute dedly or venially
By cogetacyons in theyr hartes onely
By wordes sayde lyghtly
Or by warke done vndescretly
The xvi. braunche of pryde
cōmunīge the sacramētsinginge masse
And to be in any eresy.
Or to be in sutes of cursynge.
Or wyttyngely in dedly synne.
menistrynge ye sacramentes
Les than his dute and vnworthely.
withoute reuerens and vndeuoutly.
without doinge theyr duty to the peple īndiscretli
reseyue ye body of Iesu cryste
withoute honoure deuosyone & reuerens
Theftuously & of that they shulde nat receyue.
To say agayne thē that is more wyser than he.
47
The xvij. braunche of pryde.
shame to do goodewyll to be gode and haue sham
By wekenes and faute of corage.
For to loue neclygently any gode that may be.
For to be lyghtely ashamed for to do honoure
Haue shame to be goode and be nat
For whan any wyll complysshe to any persone
Or whan any loueth it that is nat gode.
Or whan they swere for to do gode.
for to be lyke to them that ben euyll
whan they reioyse them in euyll company.
For to shewe the hurte of hymselfe or other
For to obtayne his desyre.
Here endeth the braunches and smale sprayes of Pryde
And hereafter foloweth the braunches and sprayes of Enuy.
and the names of them all in ordre as they come one by
an other. The fyrst is Detraccyon. The seconde Adulacyon.
The thyrde. Sursuracyon. The fourthe is To slaken
the grace of the Holy goste. The fyfte is suspeccyon. The
syxt is Accusacyon. The vij. Vnthankfulnes. The viij. is
To Iuge. The ix. Substraccyon. The x. drawynge other
to euyll. The xj. is fals loue.
The fyrst braunche of enuy.
NoysumnesSory of the prosperyte of his nayboure.
For to desyre thy neybours harme.
For thou may nat susteyne to se his gode.
Therto they may nat oppres thē in wretchednes
That hath nat reioyst his neybours prosperyte to reioyse hym of his neyboures hurte.
whan they thynke to do theyr neybour wronge.
Or they haue gyuen the thynge hym to hynder.
For they may nat se theyr neybours encrece
The whiche as doynge or causeth to be done.
And glad that other hurte hym & nat thy selfe.
Or that he suffreth by the godly Iustyce.
The seconde braunche of Enuy.
DetraccyonFor cause of lyghtnesse
For thou art glad of thy neybours yll name.
By euyll custome to hurte hym so.
Or to custome with some other people.
For hatrede cruell
As spekynge wordes that shulde noy & hurte
Fyndīge any euyll that is nat gode ne faythfull
To say they haue herde yll by other & haue nat.
And lyinge wyttyngely
To the intēte to cause some to haue trobyll
whan goodes come to hym that they hate.
Or if any be defamyd to reporte it for a trouthe
48
The iii. braunche of enuye
adulacioneTo noy vnder coloure of gode fauoure
To saye they knowe it and knowe it nat
They vnderstonde to be more greater than it is
To norysshe or defende other in theyr folye
Norysshe euyll in gode lyknes
Say these whiche profiteth or horteth by flateri
Some tyme flatter venyall somtyme mortall
Sayīge il be hynde thē & fayre before theyr face
To holde wt hī yt dothe euyll
For to haue any wynnynge or profyte
For to hurte and hynder any gode persone
Or for to lese the loue of him that doeth euyl
The iiii. braunche of enuy
Susurracyoneshewyng stryfe and dyscorde
By hastines mouynge the partyes
Or by flaterynge or besynes
Or in repeyre or by false langage
makynge stryf to laste longe
By cause they wolde haue the loue of some other
For thou woldyste haue sōe other helpe to noy hī
To reioyse oft to here or se dyscorde
And nat laboure for the pease
For malys that thou woldeste none haue
glade to trauell to make it worse and worse
And negligently groge if other wolde haue peas
The v. braunche of enuy
synne to the holy gostesclāderinge the gode people
Tornynge theyr gode name in to euyll
To speke hurte to trobyll theyr vnderstondynge
Or to cause them to lese the loue of other people
giuīg the worst thynges they haue to fue god nat helpinge ye good people in trybulacyone
Abusynge them of the thankes of god
To be wery to do gode workes
And gyue to god of the worste & nat the beste
The whiche sofereth for the loue of god
For penaunce of theyr synnes
Or sofferes all trobyllys in hope of crystis glory
The vi. braunche of enuy
suspeccyoneto beleue ouer sone
By what some euer occasyone indeferently
what thynge that they say to the beleue it shortly
whether it be true or falsse to beleue the fyrst tale
To lyue ouer faythfully
To beleue the whiche thou shuldest nat beleue
Or to beleue hastely that is so indede
And than iugeth the gode withoute discresyone
Or oft tymes to beleue
Thinges vnbelevable & whiche may nat be
whan sondry tymes thou haste be disseyued
For to beleue thē that hath oft be namyd il
49
The vii. braunche of enuye
AccusacyoneOften tymes
whan it is for the vēgeaunce of him yt is accusyd
whā they delyte to excuse other
Or to hynder hym that they accuse
Or falsly
whā they fynde ye iewell of him that they accuse
whā they knowe yt he that is accusyd is not gylte
whā they accuse theyr neybour because of hatred
Or of thynges that ben doutfull
Sekynge occasyone to noy him that is accusyde
Affermynge to be trewe and all falsse
For they knowe nat what myschefe may folowe
The viij. braunche of enuy.
ExcusacyonOf word
whiche be doubtful to vnderstonde
Manyfestly and that are knowene falsse
Sekynge occasyone to couer theyr mysdede
By force of swerynge
Geuynge the iewell to him that dothe it not
For to shewe him selfe innocent of theyr mysdede
For to shewe to be punysshed for the euyll dedys
by holy gospels
How well that it be. by straynynge to āswere hī
And worse if they do it wylfully
Or to swere vn promisyd of ye thing yt they swere
The ix. braunche of enuye
VnthankfulnesNo vnderstandynge the benyfytes of god
How myche or howe well haue they done
what goodnes without desarte they do to vs
what thynge is worthye for to retribue to hī selfe
To do euyll for gode
To him whiche holpe the in thy nessessite
Or to him that hathe gyuen the gode counsell
Or to hym that hathe defended the frome euyll
Nat to do gode For gode done to the
But to do ill to him that hath done the gode
Or to do hym at no tyme gode
For gode done to the/ thou doest harme agayne
The x. braunche of enuy.
To IugeOf the dedes Of other where it apertaynes nat
By ingnorans where they ought not
In doute of that wherof they wayte not
Or to iuge without that they be requiryd
Makynge fals Iugementes
For any gyftes that hath be gyuen afore or after
For loue or for hatrede
For certayne iewelles & delyuerynge
Euyll to be gode or of the cōtrary.
For lyghtnes or they be acostomed
Or to iuge that it is done by sporte
Or wyttyngly entende to hurte other
50
The xi. braunche of enuy.
SubtraxyoneIn temporall thynges
To gyue/ not to theyr pore thynges superfluus
To holde laufull godes of other & nat departe
Godes that are exposyd in euyll vsage
Thynges spirituall
Nat to be besy/ to amende the synners
Nor to shewe them of peynes to come
Nor to teche other to do gode dedys
Or of counsell
Not to gyue counsell to him that axeth it
Or to gyue euyll councell wyttyngly
Nat to councell whan they may helpe any
The xii. braunche of enuye
To drawe otherBy example
whā any hath suautes & doth before them synne
whā any ledeth other in his company to do euyll
Or any vnder the kynd of gode doynge dothe euyll
By councell
To drawe to yll company to se yll doynge
Or to be glade that they consente to euyll
Or be theyr company synnes more dilectabyll
By force
To require and thretyne
Nat to sese tyll he be drawne to euyll
By his oppressyone and straynynge of thē
The xiii. braunche of enuye
To synneLoue for the fauoure of man
whan thou faueryst any in doinge euyll
whyche maye noy the and therfore they do it nat
They do that thou be sene gracyouse and meke
For erthely profyte
Faynynge the a frende to him and art none
Faynynge yt thou loueste hī more thā thou doest
shewynge to be his louer & be his dedly enmy
For flesshely loue
Defende or sustayne any in theyr synne
To promote them whyche are nat worthy to be
For to labowre to lyue more delicyously
Here endethe enuy. And folowithe the braunchis of wrathe
as iniquite. hatrede. contenewe ī vylite. concentynge to raunsome
omysyde. vengeauns. impasiens. cryinge. blasphemynge.
Owt of these xi. grete braunches comethe ix. other finale braunches.
so the noumber of all is a C. braunches. The whiche letteth
a man that he may nat loue god ne his owne soule. & for this synne
it is harde to be costumed and be sauide.
51
the first braunche of wrathe.
IniquiteTo moke hym selfe
For to kepe other to loue hym by vayne scoffinge
For dylectalyons that thou haste in mockynges
Or that thou arte customed so to do
To cursse
Other in his thought without spekynge.
Or of his mouthe by wordes.
To cause debate bytwene people.
To dyssayue
For to gyue euyll counsell to synne.
And wisshynge yt he yt he hateth may do euyll
Seīge thē synne & reproue them nat whā he may
The seconde braunche of wrathe
Hatred.Dyscorde
For to manyfeste rancowers
To shewe outwarde frendshyp & be enmy ī harte
To saye yt they loue ī peas & haue malys ī mynde
wronges
In shamynge other
Takynge from them theyr godenesse
Or hurtynge his body or good name
Conspyracyōs
Sysmatykes is tho that procure theyr synne
Thynkynge the parsons that are euyll
Or to conspire in any warkes
The thyrde braunche of wrathe.
Contynueng in vylyte.Repreuynges.
Repreue the pouerte in whiche they are
The sekenesse that they haue or haue had
Or that they be come of pore kynrede
Sharpe worde
Prouokynge other to Ier
Full of repreuynges and wronges
Seke howe that they may do damage
To noye his neyghbours
By persones outtrageous
By hurtynge of his persone or omysyde
For to take fro him his goodes or his renowne
The foureth braunche of wrathe
ConcentyngeNat amēdinge other
As whan they haue lordeshipe a boue the synner
Or whan they be his ryght frende.
Or whiche hopes to do euyll and may lete it
To be glad of theyr synne.
As to prays and be glad of the synners
And not morne for that that they haue done
And nat amēde them but be glad of euyll doyng
Hope to do euyll.
By counsell that thou gyueste
By hope that thou haste
For thou defendest them that dothe euyll
52
The v. braunche of wrathe
To raunsowmeIn pungnant godenesse
Beleuynge in any eresy.
For to haue to ete or drynke
For the loue of some and hatrede of other.
to haunte stryuynge
For rancours secrete in the harte.
By custome that they be glade
By opene hatrede that they wyll apeyre.
To stryue by wordes
As in questions vnprofitable.
For to shewe theyr synnis
For to agayne say hym to whome they speke.
The vi. braunche of wrathe
HomysydeIn defēdaunt
Hauynge wyl to kyll
Hym selfe or other withoute wyll of kyllynge.
To kyll vnwysely or ingnorantly
lyīge wyttīgly
By treason
By hatrede.
For he whiche he kyllythe is gode
that they beleue nat to kyll
Beleue that they do gode if they kyll any.
Castynge any gode gladly.
Or to gyue any medesyne
The vii. braunche of wrathe
VengeansBy wronge doynge
Saynge suchlyke wronges.
or saynge of greter wronges
Or rehersynge wronges very small.
beleue tis dōage and is nat
To hurte hym that amendis for good
Or to do euyll to hym that hath done gode.
If it displesis the yt they haue done for thy gode
by faute of any thynge
If any geuyth the not or lendeth the theyr gode
That he hath done that he is nat bounde.
Or hath nat hopyd to do thy synne.
The viii. braunche of wrathe
ImpacyensIn iugemētis of god
whan it pleseth the that plesys nat god
Or for that pleseth not to the wyll of god.
For that thou louest nat yt god wolde haue done
In his wrechednesse
If thou be in any sekenesse
If thou be in greate pouerte
Or if thou haue any aduersyte.
of wronge of his neyboure
For they haue myssayde the by any wordes
Or they haue done the euyll in thy body
Or yt they haue misdone to ye ī thy godes.
53
The ix. braunche of wrathe.
Cryyngeto talke of thinges vnprofitable
As of fayrenesse of women
Or of lenage of frendis.
Fo graete malys.
to say lesynges or falsenesse
Or of thinges that hurtethe.
For vauntynge or bostynge.
By fraude or vnfaythfulnesse.
To clater
For ouercomynge by forse of spekynge
Or for to hurte by flaterynge.
Or for pleasure that they take.
The x. braunche of wrathe
Blasephemyngeto vnderstōd of god that pertayneth nat to him
As of the souerayne withoute myght
Or of his ryght greate godenes in vs
Or of his rightfull Iustyce.
to aferme of god thīges vnworthely
For any erroure that they ar in.
For drede of lesynge.
For couetyse of wynnynge.
to say that it is god that is nat
Byleuynge as dothe ydolatours.
In opynyon by euyll vnderstandynge.
For to do agaynst the ordynaūce of the churche.
Here endeth the braūches of wrathe and foloweth the braūches of slewthe
As fyrst euyll thought/ Noysumnes/ Promptuous/ Pusyllanymyte/ Euyll
wyll/ Brekynge vowe/ Impenytent/ Vnfaythfulnes/ Ignorans/ Vaynsoroufulnes/
Heuynes/ Euyll Hope/ Curyosyte/ Idelnes/ Euagacyon/ Emplesynge
to do gode. Here is the nombre of the great braunches. That is to
say xvj. out of the whiche syxtene great braunches Cometh an hundreth and
seuen and thyrty smale braunches whiche bryngeth man to euerlastynge dāpnacyon
and to the paynes perpetuall.
The fyrst braunche of slewth.
Euyll thoughte.Thought superflues
To delyte to thynke yll
To thynke that theyr synne is swete
Or longe abydynge thinkynge in euyll
Dolorous Thought
Howe darkly they may hurte
He that putteth his euyll to others.
As doynge euyll to be sayde.
Thought detestable
Howe they may do euyll.
As doynge euyll they may perseuer.
And howe they may resyst to god.
54
The .ii. braūche of slewthe.
Noysumnes.To syne by custome.
For other synnes suche lyke.
For there custome is to do synne.
For there is none yt repreuis the doynge euyll.
syne by malys.
when eny dothe euyll & leuyth it.
when eny loues good & doth it not.
when eny loues not the good but the euyll.
Or be not ī wyll to leue the euyll
when eny dothe good gaynst his euyll.
when eny reioyses not doynge gode.
when it dyspleses them not yf they do euyll.
The thyrde braūche of slewthe.
Prompnes.By constans.
Belewynge good that they vnderstand not.
Chan̄gynge ofte tymes his purpose in coūsell.
wayllynge in aduersyte.
By pusalanymyte.
To drawe them selfe fro god.
To fayle the grace of god.
To drede to be gyn that is gode.
By cruelte.
Ferynge vnprofytabyll thynges & newes
Plesauntlyer rumowres & cryes & fablys
To speke newe thynges by his owne wyll.
The .iiii. braunche of slewthe.
Pusalananymyte.Drede where they sholde not.
To drede it yt is to come & saye it is no damage.
Lesse the sperytuall goodes for the temporallis
yf temporall aduersyte be ouer grete or heuy.
Drede more thā they shold.
To make gret mornyng for yt which they haue loste
to morne whā they haue not their desyre.
To groge whā any thīge happeneth agayne thē
Drede thē that they sholde.
As detractowres yt they se ryghtfully.
Or to holde wyth the euyll to please them
Or that it noyes them not of others doyng gode
The .v. braunche of slewthe.
Euyll wyll.wyll to do euyll.
whiche bereth to the dyshonoure of god.
Or to damage of his neyboure.
Or to the damage of his soule
And customely to vse euyll.
For the lectacyon of euyll.
For the dysplesaunce of god.
For these that they do please theyr mynde
To delyte them selfe as moche as they may ī yl
Nat resyst euyll thought.
Loue euyll dylectacyons
Desyre that they may delyte.
55
The .vi. braunche of slewthe.
Brekynge of vowes.By neclygence.
whā any makes ther vow & ī dispraysīg to do it
yt makes les his vow thā he hath promysed.
yt fulfillis not his vow wt gode hert as he shold
By forgettynge
Of soleme vow secrete or thyngis yt perteynes therto
Of vow promissyd by hī self or for other
Of vow made to enter into relygyous
By dysspraysynge.
Not to fulfyl theyr vow whā they haue oportunyte
Or whā they may & doth not other suche lyke
Or yt he take no thought yt they may not do it
The .vii. braunche of slewthe.
Impenytentes.Leue and do no penaunce.
For fynall penaunce & neuer to repēte.
By deferrynge fro day to day of repentynge.
By dyspraysynge that they wyll not repēte thē.
To haue no shame to do syn.
whan after lytell syn they rotes them in it.
whan they haue no shame of yll doynge.
To be delyueryd to fulfyll dedly syn.
purpose to syn.
After that they haue synned & to a byde in syn.
To seke occasyon to fall in euyll syn.
Or without sorowe to be gladde of that yl doyng
The .viii. braunche of slewthe.
Vnfaythfulnes.Not to by leue yt at they sholde byleue.
To byleue the iewes or other vnfaythful men.
That byleueth not in the arteceles of the fayth.
Or that heres them sayd & wyl not byleue them
Byleue it that they sholde not byleue.
In false godes as doth the sarasyns.
In Idolles or any symulacres.
Or to byleue in dyuers thynges or wychecrafte.
To byleue Ignoraūtly.
Dowthe in that whych they sholde byleue.
byleue & not faythfully it that they shold byleue
nythely to let thē be dysceyued of theyr trouthe.
The .ix. braunche of slewthe.
Ignoraunce.Indyscresyons
Do without coūseyl this yt they shold be coūselid
Do without maner that that they sholde hope
Do without wysdome of these that is requyryd
This that they sholde vnderstāde.
Dysprayes wyt & woll not to be tawghte
Trauayle not to vnderstonde synes profytabyll
To haue porpose & set not therby that they shold lerne.
they that haue no wyl to vnderstande.
Or that takes not payne to vnderstande.
Or to haue excusacyon.
By swerynge & neclygence of lernynge.
56
The .x. braunche of slewthe.
Vayne sorowfulnes.In noysumnes of leuynge.
whan good thynges be dysplesaūte.
whan all thynges are noysome.
whan all thynges that they do ar heuy.
False hope.
To presume to moche on the mersy of god.
& though they amēde thē not to truste on mersy
To lyue in syn without the drede of god.
To dysspayre theym selfe.
without dystruccyon of the Iustis of god.
For the gretnes of the syn that they haue done.
To mystruste of the marsy of god.
The .xi. braunche of slewthe.
Hevynes.Towarde the thynges deffendede.
whan any exposyth hym self in perrell of syn.
whan they ar moche assuryd to do syn.
whā they exposes thē self ouermoche ī tēptaciōs
To warde gode counseyll
And wyll not be good and leue the euyll.
And not honour the good but loue the euyll
Dysprayse the counsell of good men.
Towarde yt cōmaundemētes.
Ne do the cōmaundementes that they sholde.
Dysprayse the cōmaūdemente of hym yt doth it
Nor loue no thynge that is cōmaundyde.
The .xii. braunche of slewthe.
Euyll hope.Dysprayse the good man.
To contynewe to do peuysshe wordes.
And hauynge hope to do euyll only.
Or to do bothe to geder.
To dred not to be defamyde.
Ne to set not by no thynges yt is sayd by the.
Ne care not who so is sclaunderyd with the.
Nor seke not who that other be edyfyed of the.
To do good in euyll intensyōs
Dyssayuyngely thou vnderstondest it well.
wt out dyscrecyō thou settest not by whō ne how
vnwysely for thou wylte not vnderstonde
The .xiii. braunche of slewthe.
Curyosyte.Seke vnprofytabyll thynges.
wyllīge to vnderstande the thīge yt is ye maker of syn.
Labore to cōfoūde other of langage.
Or for to be callyd wyse Ideotes or folys.
Delite to se vayne thynges.
For to drawe other to it that is not laufull.
Or be that makes the & gyues the thy lyuynge.
Or causes the to vnderstonde all vanytes.
Do yt no other cane do.
Doynge newe thynges that they sawe neuer.
Or lerne thynges that be euyll.
Or thynges only for to make them laffe.
57
The .xiiii. braunche of slewthe.
Idylnes.To leue to do good.
That is to say to good thoughtes.
To good wordes.
And to good workes.
Seke to do euyll.
By the concupyssens of the flesshe.
The concupyssence of his iyen.
And to lyue prowdly
Not to resyste to do euyll.
For loue that they haue to euyll.
For dyspyte that they haue to good.
For neclygence of them selfe.
The .xv. braunche of slewthe.
Euagacyons.In Idell thynges.
To expose them selfe to vanytes.
To drawe not them selfe fro vanytes.
wyllynge to abyde in vanytes.
In thynges delectabyll.
For they be euyll & plesaunte.
A bydynge be longe spase and tyme.
whan thy wyll is prouoked.
In wycked thīges.
Howe falsely thou may hurte.
Or greuously hender.
Or to do harme more at length.
The .xvi. braunche of slewthe.
Emplessynge to do goodConsentyng to thēt hat be euyll
By malys for to plese them.
For hatrede that they haue to good.
For hatrede of good that they may do.
Truste not thē that be goode.
whan they may not profyte wtout they helpe thē
there where they be in perrell.
There where they falle without helpe or socoure
To hurte them that be good.
Or by hym selfe
Or by other persons
Or holde fro them that they owe them.
The .xvii. braunche of slewthe.
DyssolucyoneIn vayne thynges.
In beholdynge the pepell to fythe by vanyte.
Gyuynge ther yes to beholde any vanyte.
Beynge in company of moche people & publyke
In wantone thynges.
In Iustes of the body.
In lyghtnes of corage.
By forse of syngynge or cryenge.
In folisshe gladnes.
By ouer moche and longe laffynge.
To be without payne whan they sholde morne.
To prouoke other to laffynge.
58
The fyrste braūche of couetyse.
Solysytude of thought.Besynes of thoughte.
To lese the spirytuall goodes for the tēporalles.
To be neclyēt to the spūall & not to ye tēporall
To dysprayse ye goodes of ye soule for ye body.
Hope to wynne without commynge.
To holde with charge noysome thynges.
To procure ye goodes of other to haue profyte.
wyllynge to haue profyte for there besynes.
That may not drawe thē fro it
To aquyre tēporall goodes by grete delectaciōs
To be boūde in loue to haue temporall goodes.
Or to impute them selfe more than they maye.
The .ii. braunche of couetyse.
Rapyne.To take with strenth ye goodes of other.
Of theyr subgettys or seruauntes lesse thē selfe.
To theyr ennemyes by any maner way.
To theyr neyboure by any subtyll way.
To do vyolēce or requeste.
To theyr subyectes or other of tēporall goodes.
Or suche lyke for specyall thynges by bostynge.
Or in spūall thynges makynge promysses.
By subyeccyon and hope.
Makynge induly without right or resone.
Or that before they were costomyd to do it
Or that they be made by forse of boystyngis
The .iii. braunche of couetyse.
Hoker.By couenaūte made.
whan any selles the derer by cause of abydynge
To lende money in hope to haue auauntage.
For that they lende it & doth a byde for it.
Couenaūte made hauing hope
Or that they leue not to thē yt they receyuyd.
Or by synes they know yt they shall wynne.
Or whan any receyues or lenes to haue bn̄fices.
To selle for more to the whiche yt thou mai not be sone payde.
As ar hesurers that lenes openly.
Or haue hope of wynnynge of that at they selle.
Or by custome to sell so.
The .iiii. braunche of couetyse.
To with holde det.Denyenge thē
Det that thou knowest well yt thou doste owe.
Or that det that thou haste for goten.
Or it that is lyghtly knowen that thou owe
Or robbynge them
Hauynge hope to gyue in any tyme.
without wyll to gyue it though thou maye.
yf thou may not gyue it & desyre no marcy.
Or suche dettes be forgoten.
The whiche wolde pay it yf thou desyred
To holde frothe childer yt theyr frēdes gaue thē
Hold wyttyngly it yt they know to whō it lōge
59
The fyfte braūche of couetyse.
To haue nought.To take & hold the dedys gode
By strengthe or vyolence to take it to them selfe
By fraude or to cause other to lye.
Say that they hold thē vnder coloure of frēshep
Dyffare to gyue them.
They to the tyme that they may profyte.
Or that by any way they may abyde.
Or geuynge them that they haue profyte by.
Lende them to others.
That by suche lyuynge they may be recūpensed.
By curyosyte lende it that is nat theyrs.
By ambusyon say that it is theyrs & is nat.
The vj. braunche of couetyse.
the thīges yt is cōmittedto sell spūall thīges for lāguas.
To pepyll aduulterers by theyr flaterynge
To geue profyte to vnworthy people.
For wordes that is to other yll sayde.
to sell spūall thīges for pryce.
And to take or suche thynges be comon
Puttynge the answere for the whiche is nought
Or takyn after that it be comon
to sell spūall thīges for prayers
Somtymes do with mannasynge
Or somtymes with promes
And somtyme with vyolens & strength.
The vii. braunche of couetyse.
Sacrilege.A holy thynge in a place nat halowed
The goodes of the churche taken in the churche
To holde the dymes or thynges of the churche
To take the goodes of the churche vndeserued
A thynge nat halowed ī place halowed.
To take the churches goodes where any is
Vnworthely to gyue the goodes of the churche.
Or a lay man say that it apertyneth to hym
A holy thynge ī a place sacred.
what so euer it be that longeth to the churche.
All goodes for suerty put in the churche.
Thynges as casueltyes to them alowed.
The viij. braunche of couetyse.
To be a thefeTo robe other without it be ageyn gyuen
For he that robbeth dothe damage
Or that thou doste it of thy propre malys
Or for thy symplenes or ignorans.
To haue others goodes & hyde them.
Or for to holde more peasyble
For drede to be punysshed
Bycause thou wolde cōtynue in that synne
Consentinge to theues
For suche stelynge pleases the
For thou haste profyte by theft that is done
Or for thou dredest hym that hathe done theft
60
The ix. braunche of couetys.
To take gyftes.One relygyous of goodes of his relygyon.
To haue without vnderstandynge of theyr ≼lat
Or to the cōsētmēt of the bisshope yt perteneth nat
Or it that they haue by lysēs ouermoche apropred
men or wymen maryed
whā one hathe goodes wtout theyr vnderstādig
Or that some gyueth to moche to theyr kynne.
whā any spēdeth his comō goodes in his pouerte
Of the patrimō of the crusyfyx.
Takynge more than is nedefull
Vnworthely & it that they ought nat to gyue thē
In euyll vsage to spende them.
The x. braunche of couetys.
VnrightfullyTherto that they may noy
For to do hurte one to other.
And accuse other wrongefully.
Or any tyme accusynge thē for rightuēs causes
For causes dyshonest.
Or for to do treason or falsenes.
For to do fylth or vn honest thynges.
Or thynges of the contrary partyes.
For to Iuge wrongefully.
There to do his thynges pertyculer.
To Iuge hym wronge that hathe ryght.
To dyffer to do right to hym that aperteyneth it
The xi. braunche of couetys.
To haue to moche goodto acquere ouer moche
By vyolens done for syluer or for frendes
Or for hucker vnrightfully acquered.
Or by fraude & dysseyuynge acquered.
To morne whā they may nat gager.
Therto that they be more honoured & douted
Or to haue the better theyr pleasure.
Or to haue more possessyons than other.
Holde ouermoche.
For drede to haue faute of gode
For to delyte them selfe in ryches.
For to fere to haue nede in age.
The xij. braunche of couetys.
To spekeh abundauntlyThīges rightuously acquered
They sel nat to whōe they gyue but vndiscretly
And gyuynge vnordynatly thyr goodes.
Abbusīge folysshe vsīge that they vnderstāde well
Thīges vnrightuously required.
Holdynge them agaynst theyr consyens
Kepynge them to theyr synguler vsynge
Geuynge almes of theft & hucker.
Thynges that is owed.
Spendynge them in theyr folysshe lustys.
Or holdynge them to the vsage of other.
Kepīge to moche to ye vsage of which they ar nat.
61
The xiij. braunche of couetyse.
Disceyuyngecōmynge aboute
By promes therto that they may receyue.
By axynge suche lyke.
Or by swete wordes
beinge doubill
To shewe fayre sēblaūt to haue of others gode.
Or by suche semblaunt to shame other
Or by colour to hurte or noy other.
euyll countīge
To shewe that they byleueth is theyr frende.
To hym that they knowe well is theyr ennemy.
Or indyfferently to frende or ennemy
The xiiij. braunche of couetyse.
Euyll countynge.Bad rekenīge
Of it that they owe to other ryghtfully.
Of it that is owynge any maner of wayes
Be it of his owne to other than to hymselfe
whan they vnderstande nat Or can nat.
For drede to gyue it or to be notyd
For shame that they haue to do it.
For couetyse & loue of holdynge.
Nat to consent to do it.
To holde theyr peas of that they knowe.
Do and helpe hym that myscounteth it
wyllynge to hurte hym that is myscounted.
The xv. braūche of Couetyse.
Lyenge.For ioye.
For couetyse to dysplease hym.
For pleasure that they haue to lye.
Lygtely to swere of it that they knowe nat
For to cause other to wynne.
Couerynge it with noyous & profyteth nat.
Some tyme it is for temporall godes.
Some tyme to preuayle some persone.
Dysseyuyngly
That sometyme profyteth and somtyme noyeth
to hynder other pryuely.
In the techynge and promes of relygyon.
The xvj. braunche of couetyse.
Swerynge.the membres of god
Disprayes god or hys sayntys
For to shewe them selfe wode.
Or that they take solas swerynge by god.
Oft tymes
By euyll costome oft tymes swerynge.
By plesure that they take to swere greatly.
By dysplesure that they take to swere greatly.
vnwysely
Beholde nat the peryll of swerynge.
Doynge yll to appayre them that hereth them.
To swere vaynly and nat in tyme of nede.
62
The xvii. braunche of couetys.
myssworoneBy wordes
greuosly to trobyll and disceyue.
Vnwysely of it that they knowe nat
wyttingely of that they knowe nat.
By īter putige of them selfe
Receyuīge any of the sacramētis of the churche
In suche thinges that are nat lefesome.
Or in thinges that are lefesome.
by towchīge of holy thinges
Sweringe falsely wyllynge to disceyue.
Swerynge faythfully wyllynge to swere false
That swerīge false make sōe beleue it faithfully
The xviii. braunche of couetys
False wytnessethe thinge that they know nat
To bere wytnes of that that they knowe nat
To wytnes that that they mys knowe
dissembyll to mysknowe that it that they kenne
whiche are perclous
For the preys that they haue or shulde haue
For frendshepe of hī the which they bere witnes
For malys that they wyll nat say trouthe.
to the persōs whche aperteyneth nat
For the false openyone yt they haue of that thīge
Say the thinge is faithfull that they knowe nat
Or they seke nat to vnderstōde & may well
The xix. braunche of couetys.
Playeswhich are forbodone
As playes done by wytche craftes
Disonest prouokynge
Or the whiche may gretely noy.
whiche are perclous
For pleasure of himselfe or pleasure of other
By custome to do suche playes
Or haue truste to haue wynnynge to do it
to ye persōs that aperteyneth not
A lewde man to play with a religious
Or a lewde man with preste or clerke
Or with one man of penanse.
The xx. braunche of couetys
To be vacaboundeFor to acquere
Faynynge themselfe seke and be nat
To do suche fantasyes without necessyte.
To cause other to be sory for them and rede nat
for to be Idel
Eft wyse they that laborethe or trauellyth
whan they shulde worke/ fayne them dyseased.
Or to shewe them more lyke than they are
for to obtēper theyr ill wyll
And holdynge sharpe thynges to sustayne
Disceyue by faynynge wordes or by enuy
Or byleuynge to lyue without hurte.
63
The first braunche of glotony.
To seke dylycate metysFor gode sauor
Ageyne the profyte of the soule.
Agayne the helthe of the body
Agayne the profyte of one or other to gyder.
For nouelte
For thynges that be dilysyous.
To ete fruyte by cause it is gode & rype.
For composycyons of the cōdycyons required
In sondry
By costome to ete so
By lyghtnes to be ouerhabūdāt wtout necessyte
By affectyon & plesaunce of it that they take.
The seconde braunche of glotony.
Delycyous ī the mouthDesyrynge
Mete ouer dere that longeth not for them.
Les mete than where they are requyred.
Mete resonable & be nat contente.
Ouer moche delytynge
To be ouer besy to fyll theyr bely.
To lytell to sarue god & moche the wombe
Or oft etynge & nat kepynge theyr houre
Ouer moche fyllynge themselfe
As they may to desyre the best mete.
whan they haue ete not to be content.
Ne gyue to the pore of the mete that they haue
The .iii. braunche of glotony.
To desyre dylycatly.By sondry maners
For to satysfye all theyr desyres
Nat refuse by no waye thynge that they desyre.
And nat to refuse none yll appetyte.
Or exquyred.
Or do that that other dothe nat.
By study howe they may haue theyr lust.
By labour & payne that they take for it
souerayntly.
Neuer content what so euer they haue.
Delycyous for the swete sauoures.
Nat wysely beholdynge what it dothe cost
The iiij. braunche of glotony.
Ete withouten houre.At tyme that they shulde nat
Byfore the laufull houre without nede.
Or after whan the laufull is paste.
Or what houre it be without cōmaūdement.
Or to offence
what thynge thou desyrest to ete.
Closely to kepe it that other knowe it nat
Or secretly that thou only byleueth.
and vnlawfully
In the tyme of fastynge to ete flesshe
In places as to ete in the churche.
As to ete the mete that is forbede.
64
The v. braunche of glotony
To make excesIn quantite of metis
To ete more than the body hath nede
To ete it that hurteth bothe body and soule
Vnder coloure of sekenesse
In our dere metis
Care nat of the coste so it be swete
Thynkynge that it is no synne
Dysprayes the metys of small pryce
vsynge other mennis tabyls
By gloteny and frawdes
By company and greate drynkynge.
To fulfyll theyr foule appetyte
The fyrste braunche of lechery
LecheryFornycacyon
with women maryed or wydowes
Or with any mayde that is a virgyne
Or comenne women that are corrupte
Auowtry
whā man hath cōpany with other thā his wyfe
Or womē hauīge cōpany wt other thā hir spouse
Or that they be bothe in maryage
Excesse
Or with women of theyr lynage
with man or woman of theyr affenyte
Or that the one parte be of relygyon
The ii. braunche of lechery
VnclennesOf thought
Longe delectacyon of thought of lechery
To gyue concentinge to suche pleasure
To īforse hī selfe to fulfyll his thought by warke
Of dede
By poluciōe at night ouer miche etīge or drīkīge
By restynge in the company of women
Euyll thought to fulfyll suche warke
Or of bothe to gedyr
To moue or touche the flesshe by delytynge
To fulfyll warke and of the wyll naturally
Or ony vyce not naturally
The iii. braunche of lechery
In gyuinge nat the detFor hatrede
whā they loue other that they ought not to loue
whā they knowe they are nat loued on theyr ∥ty
Or they are dispytefull and regorous
For to shewe trauelynge
For they drede laboure and trauell
For drede to haue pouerte
For drede that they sholde nat haue pleasure
For abbomynacion
Abomynacyone of it that they haue costomyde
Or for vnclennes of the warke
wha any disprayseth ye cōpany of other ∥ty
65
The iiii. braunche of lechery
to abuse theyr v. wittysto put thē selfe in perell
Some tyme for cause of some persones.
Other tymes for dangeour of places.
And other seasons for reason of tyme.
to drawe them nat from it
Of the warke that they knowe is bade
Or of perell whan they knowe it is daungerouse.
And for they be prouokyd in suche perell
Delitynge thēselfe
In the operacyon of the flesshe.
Or to haue desyre and wyll to fulfyll it
Or in thought & mynde to haue done it.
The v. braunche of lechery
SuperfluyteIn clothynge
In iewels rynges singnettis and ouches
In precyousnesse of gownes gyrdels and bedis
In takynge of fassyons newe brought vp.
In delyte
By wantonnes of chylderne to be mery
By dilectacyon of the bodyes takīge theyr ease.
In doynge all that the harte desyres
In dispense
Spendynge largely for louynge of the worlde
Gyue where they ought nat.
Nat to kepe them fro pleasure nor cause other
Here endeth the braunches of all the vij. dedely synnes as they be afore rehersed. with all the smale braunches/ Also shewynge howe that thre cometh of the great braunches eche by himself. And out of them thre groweth nyne & so forth. There is no man nor woman lyuynge but he synnes venyally/ as it is wryten [Septies in die cadet iustus] Lo if the right wyse men do syn vii tymes a daye by venyall synne/ Than we wretched synners howe oft do we synne in one daye. God wote full oft/ but yet for venyall synne is many remedyes/ as holy water & holy brede/ & blessynge of a bysshope/ & many other remedyes/ also as for dedly synne there is but few remedyes. But the fyrst is thou must be sory for that that thou hast done. The seconde is to have meke cōcessyon. The thyrde is penaunce done wyth gode wyll/ and neuer haue purpose to synne more. For penauns is dette that we must pay to god for our syn doynge/ and loke neuer that god shall forgyue thy synne without penauns/ or ellys to be delyuered by pardon of holy churche/ which helpeth greatly/ so he synne nat in hope of fame/ For if that ye synne in hope of the sayde pardon it standeth hym to none effect/ for he was as gode as vn confessed. Also syn is very perylous/ for thre causes. The fyrst he gyueth no warning Secōde loke as god fyndeth the so he wyll iuge the. The thyrde whan thou art dede remedy is paste.
66
A remembraunce of the vnstabylnes of the worlde.
wolde euery man thynke one his begynnynge.
Fro whense he came and whether he shall.
Than wolde they fere bothe duke and kynge.
And euery lorde bothe greate and small.
Lytell wote they when they syt on theyr benche.
whan dethe wyll come and make them fall
A waye fro him they may nat wrenche.
Thoughe he be gretyst lorde of all.
And for as one thynge to thy mynde call
Trust nat to myche to thy wyfe nor thyne eyre.
But do well here what so euer be fall
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre
Fro whense he came and whether he shall.
Than wolde they fere bothe duke and kynge.
And euery lorde bothe greate and small.
Lytell wote they when they syt on theyr benche.
whan dethe wyll come and make them fall
A waye fro him they may nat wrenche.
Thoughe he be gretyst lorde of all.
And for as one thynge to thy mynde call
Trust nat to myche to thy wyfe nor thyne eyre.
But do well here what so euer be fall
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre
But well were he that ware so wyse.
That coude be ware or he be wo.
He were a man of ful grete pryce.
In thys worlde that coude do so.
we waxe nowe so worldly nyse.
we cast our wyttes full farre vs fro.
Lyke a player at the dyce.
we wot nat well where that we go.
But wolde we be ware of the fende our foo.
Leste that he do oure soules apayre
Than shulde we be ware or we be woo.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
That coude be ware or he be wo.
He were a man of ful grete pryce.
In thys worlde that coude do so.
we waxe nowe so worldly nyse.
we cast our wyttes full farre vs fro.
Lyke a player at the dyce.
we wot nat well where that we go.
But wolde we be ware of the fende our foo.
Leste that he do oure soules apayre
Than shulde we be ware or we be woo.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
It hath euer be sene yet bothe daye and nyght.
Oft longe tyme here beforne.
For there knowe the not kynge ne knyght.
whether that he shall lyue vntyll the morne.
To daye thoughe he be hole and lyght.
And honteth bothe with hounde and horne.
whan he is man moste in his myght.
In shorte tyme thy lyfe is lorne.
For on thy bere whan thou art borne.
Than clymeste thou on a sledyr stayre.
Late thy gode dedys man go the beforne.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
Oft longe tyme here beforne.
For there knowe the not kynge ne knyght.
whether that he shall lyue vntyll the morne.
To daye thoughe he be hole and lyght.
And honteth bothe with hounde and horne.
whan he is man moste in his myght.
In shorte tyme thy lyfe is lorne.
For on thy bere whan thou art borne.
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Late thy gode dedys man go the beforne.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
Thys worlde nowe adayes is il to truste.
For couetus walkethe a boute so wyde.
And to all other synnes is ouer lust.
Both enuy and slouthe lechery and pryde.
And symony full swete is kyste.
And on hye horses dothe ryde.
Some locketh him full fast in his cheste.
And sette full nye his bede syde.
But the daye shall come they shall curse the tyde.
Bothe barone burges preste and mayer.
That euer they dyd that tyme abyde
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre.
For couetus walkethe a boute so wyde.
And to all other synnes is ouer lust.
Both enuy and slouthe lechery and pryde.
And symony full swete is kyste.
And on hye horses dothe ryde.
Some locketh him full fast in his cheste.
And sette full nye his bede syde.
But the daye shall come they shall curse the tyde.
Bothe barone burges preste and mayer.
That euer they dyd that tyme abyde
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre.
where is thy tresoure there is thy mynde.
So saythe the gospell yf thou wylte loke.
Alacke men why be you to Iesu so vnkynde.
To loue so myche a lytell mocke
And all shalt thou leue behynde.
Thoughe thou loue rauany as dothe a roke
Goodes of this worlde maketh many one blynde.
And the fende them taketh with many a croke.
Nowe Ihū that mary to thy moder toke.
That was euer cleryste vnder the ayer.
Thou wasshe vs in thy mercyfull broke.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
So saythe the gospell yf thou wylte loke.
Alacke men why be you to Iesu so vnkynde.
To loue so myche a lytell mocke
And all shalt thou leue behynde.
Thoughe thou loue rauany as dothe a roke
Goodes of this worlde maketh many one blynde.
And the fende them taketh with many a croke.
Nowe Ihū that mary to thy moder toke.
That was euer cleryste vnder the ayer.
Thou wasshe vs in thy mercyfull broke.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
78
Here after foloweth the x. comaūdemētes in the table that god gaue vnto Moyses in the moūte of Synay.
One god thou shalt honoureand loue him perfetly
god ī vayne thou shalt nat swere
nor by nothinge that he made
thy sondaye thou shalt kepe
saruynge god deuoutly
fader & moder thou shalt Worship
and thou shalt longe lyue
thou shalt kyll no man
nor blode dystroye Wylfully
thou shalt do no lechery in dede
ne therto consent
thou shalt be no thefe
ne no mānes gode Witholde
bere no fals Wytnes
ageyn no mā: nor by lye ī no Wyse
the lust of the flesshe desyre nat.
but in mariage only.
the goodes of other couyt nat
to haue it vnrightfully.
81
[God gyde me ryght/ that I wonse myght]
God gyde me ryght/ that I wonse myght
Come to the porte of peace
My exchaunge to make/ and retorne take
That my enmyes me not sease
One me folowed wolde haue me swalowed
In the golfe daungerous
with worldly glose/ he dothe me tose
Amonge the waues perylous
On rases holowe/ some do me folowe
Enmyes me to take
A grete nomber/ to smyte me vnder:
I dought I shall not skape
The fende with wo/ the worlde also
My fleche do me trobyll
where I wake or slepe/ they do me threte
This creases my sorowe dobyll
They bed me not spare/ but by theyr ware
As all worldly vanyte
They say hope amonge/ for to lyue longe
Thus do they in comber me
Come to the porte of peace
My exchaunge to make/ and retorne take
That my enmyes me not sease
One me folowed wolde haue me swalowed
In the golfe daungerous
with worldly glose/ he dothe me tose
Amonge the waues perylous
On rases holowe/ some do me folowe
Enmyes me to take
A grete nomber/ to smyte me vnder:
I dought I shall not skape
The fende with wo/ the worlde also
My fleche do me trobyll
where I wake or slepe/ they do me threte
82
They bed me not spare/ but by theyr ware
As all worldly vanyte
They say hope amonge/ for to lyue longe
Thus do they in comber me
The worlde dothe smyle/ me to be gyll
And so dothe the other two
Nowe muste I seke/ some me to kepe
To saue me fro my foo
I haue founde one/ euen god alone
I nede no other ayde
That by his myght/ put them to flythe
And made them alle afrayde
He spake to me/ full curteysly
And proferde me full fayer
yf I do well/ with hym to dwelle
In heuen to be his ayere
And so dothe the other two
Nowe muste I seke/ some me to kepe
To saue me fro my foo
I haue founde one/ euen god alone
I nede no other ayde
That by his myght/ put them to flythe
And made them alle afrayde
He spake to me/ full curteysly
And proferde me full fayer
yf I do well/ with hym to dwelle
In heuen to be his ayere
86
The balad of the shepherde.
I knowe that god hathe formed me.
And made me to his owne lykenes.
I knowe that he hathe gyue me trule.
Soule and wytte/ lyfe with knowlege ywys.
I knowe that by rightwys true balaunce.
After my dedys Iuged shall I be
I knowe moche but I wote nat the varyans
To vnderstonde wherof comes my foly
I knowe full well that I shall dye.
And yet my lyfe amend nat I.
I knowe in what pouerte.
Borne a chylde thys erthe aboue.
I knowe that god hathe lente to me.
Habundauns of goodes to my byhoue.
I knowe that ryches can nat me saue.
And with me I shall none bere away.
I knowe the more gode that I haue.
And made me to his owne lykenes.
I knowe that he hathe gyue me trule.
Soule and wytte/ lyfe with knowlege ywys.
I knowe that by rightwys true balaunce.
After my dedys Iuged shall I be
I knowe moche but I wote nat the varyans
To vnderstonde wherof comes my foly
I knowe full well that I shall dye.
And yet my lyfe amend nat I.
I knowe in what pouerte.
Borne a chylde thys erthe aboue.
I knowe that god hathe lente to me.
Habundauns of goodes to my byhoue.
I knowe that ryches can nat me saue.
And with me I shall none bere away.
I knowe the more gode that I haue.
I knowe all this faythfully.
And yet my lyf amende nat I.
I knowe that I haue passyd.
Great parte of my days with playe and plesauns.
I knowe that I haue gadered.
Synnes and also done lytell penauns.
I knowe that by ignorans
To excuse me there is no arte.
I knowe that one houre shall be.
whan my soule shall departe.
That I shall wysshe that I had mended me.
I knowe that than is no remedy.
And yet my lyfe amende nat I.
And yet my lyf amende nat I.
I knowe that I haue passyd.
Great parte of my days with playe and plesauns.
I knowe that I haue gadered.
Synnes and also done lytell penauns.
I knowe that by ignorans
To excuse me there is no arte.
I knowe that one houre shall be.
whan my soule shall departe.
That I shall wysshe that I had mended me.
I knowe that than is no remedy.
And yet my lyfe amende nat I.
Here foloweth the songe of a woman shepherde that vnderstode well & hir songe profytes.
In cōsyder my pore humanyte.
Aboue the erthe borne with great wepynge.
I consydre my fragilete.
My harte is ouerprest with synnynge.
I consyder dethe wyll come verely.
To take my lyfe but the houre wote nat I.
I consydre the deuyll dothe watche me
The worlde and the flesshe on me warreth straytly
I consyder that myn ennemyes they bethe.
That wolde delyuer me fro me dethe to dethe.
I consydre the many trybulacyons:
Of this foule worlde wherof the lyfe is nat clene.
I consydre C. M. passyons
That we pore creatures dayly fall in.
I consydre the perfyte sentens of god & man.
That bothe euyll & gode iuge shall he.
I consyder the lenger I lyue the worse I am.
wherfore my consyence cryeth out on me.
I consydre for synne some dampned as the boke setth.
which are delyuered frome dethe to deth.
I consydre that wormes shall ete me.
My sorowfull body this is credable.
I consyder that synners shalbe.
Aboue the erthe borne with great wepynge.
87
My harte is ouerprest with synnynge.
I consyder dethe wyll come verely.
To take my lyfe but the houre wote nat I.
I consydre the deuyll dothe watche me
The worlde and the flesshe on me warreth straytly
I consyder that myn ennemyes they bethe.
That wolde delyuer me fro me dethe to dethe.
I consydre the many trybulacyons:
Of this foule worlde wherof the lyfe is nat clene.
I consydre C. M. passyons
That we pore creatures dayly fall in.
I consydre the perfyte sentens of god & man.
That bothe euyll & gode iuge shall he.
I consyder the lenger I lyue the worse I am.
wherfore my consyence cryeth out on me.
I consydre for synne some dampned as the boke setth.
which are delyuered frome dethe to deth.
I consydre that wormes shall ete me.
My sorowfull body this is credable.
I consyder that synners shalbe.
At the Iugement of god moste dredable.
O ye virgyn mary aboue all thynges moste dylectable.
Haue mercy on me at that dredefull daye.
That shall be so meruelous & doutable.
whiche my pore soule greatly dothe fraye.
In you than I put my trust and faythe.
To saue me that I go nat frome dethe to dethe.
Prynce of heuen your meke cretor.
Cryeth you mercy/ to make a sethe.
And I purpose neuer to synne more
Nowe saue me without ende fro dethe to dethe.
O ye virgyn mary aboue all thynges moste dylectable.
Haue mercy on me at that dredefull daye.
That shall be so meruelous & doutable.
whiche my pore soule greatly dothe fraye.
In you than I put my trust and faythe.
To saue me that I go nat frome dethe to dethe.
Prynce of heuen your meke cretor.
Cryeth you mercy/ to make a sethe.
And I purpose neuer to synne more
Nowe saue me without ende fro dethe to dethe.
88
Here begynneth the songe of dethe.
Though yt my picture be nat to your plesaūs.
And ye thynke that it be dredable.
Take it a worth for suerly in substauns.
The sight of it may to you profytable.
There is no waye alo more doutable.
Therfore lerne/ knowe yourselfe and se.
And ye thynke that it be dredable.
Take it a worth for suerly in substauns.
The sight of it may to you profytable.
There is no waye alo more doutable.
Therfore lerne/ knowe yourselfe and se.
Loke man howe I am/ and thus must thou nedys be.
And take hede of thy selfe in aduenture red I.
For adams aple all ye shall dye.
Alas worldely peple beholde my manere.
Sometyme I lyued and had a fayre vysage.
Myn iyen be gone I haue two holowe holes here.
I was mete to wormes in this passage.
Take hede whyle ye lyue if ye be wyse & sage.
For as I am thou shalt come to pouder.
As holowe as a thymble/ what shall the auaunce.
Nought but thy gode dedes thou shalt be as other.
And with my lykenes you all must daūce.
The tyme that I was in this worlde leuynge
I was honoured with lowe and hye
But I kept not my consyence clene fro synne
Therfore nowe I do it dere aby.
Lo what auayleth couetyse pryde and enuy
They be the brondes that dothe bren in hell.
Truste not to your frendes whan ye be dede reed I
Nor your excecutours for fewe dothe well.
But do for thy selfe or thou dye.
And remembre whyle thou arte lyuynge.
That god blessyd all thynge without nay
with his owne honde all but synne.
The deuyll can not clayme the but by synne I say
A mende therfor by tyme and go the ryght way
I wolde that I myght haue but one houre or two
To do penaunce in or halfe a day
But whyle I lyued I dyd none do
And nowe my dettes I do trewly pay
Thou man I do gyue better counsell to the.
yf that thou wyll do after it
Than any was shewed to me
Thou ar halfe warned thynke on thy pytt.
And cheuse of two wayes whiche thou wylte flete
To ioye or payne any of tho.
In welthe or wo for euer to syte
Nowe at thyne owne choyce thou mayst go.
For god hathe gyue the a frewyll
Nowe chose the/ whether thou wylte do gode or yll.
And take hede of thy selfe in aduenture red I.
For adams aple all ye shall dye.
Alas worldely peple beholde my manere.
Sometyme I lyued and had a fayre vysage.
Myn iyen be gone I haue two holowe holes here.
I was mete to wormes in this passage.
Take hede whyle ye lyue if ye be wyse & sage.
For as I am thou shalt come to pouder.
As holowe as a thymble/ what shall the auaunce.
Nought but thy gode dedes thou shalt be as other.
And with my lykenes you all must daūce.
The tyme that I was in this worlde leuynge
I was honoured with lowe and hye
But I kept not my consyence clene fro synne
Therfore nowe I do it dere aby.
Lo what auayleth couetyse pryde and enuy
They be the brondes that dothe bren in hell.
Truste not to your frendes whan ye be dede reed I
Nor your excecutours for fewe dothe well.
But do for thy selfe or thou dye.
And remembre whyle thou arte lyuynge.
That god blessyd all thynge without nay
with his owne honde all but synne.
The deuyll can not clayme the but by synne I say
A mende therfor by tyme and go the ryght way
I wolde that I myght haue but one houre or two
To do penaunce in or halfe a day
89
And nowe my dettes I do trewly pay
Thou man I do gyue better counsell to the.
yf that thou wyll do after it
Than any was shewed to me
Thou ar halfe warned thynke on thy pytt.
And cheuse of two wayes whiche thou wylte flete
To ioye or payne any of tho.
In welthe or wo for euer to syte
Nowe at thyne owne choyce thou mayst go.
For god hathe gyue the a frewyll
Nowe chose the/ whether thou wylte do gode or yll.
Hereafter foloweth the x. cōmaūdementys of the deuyll contrary to them of our lorde.
Who so wyll do my cōmaundementes.And kepe them well and sure.
Shall haue in hell great tourmentys.
That shall euermore endure:
Thou shalt nat fere thy god nor thynke on his goodnes.
And to dampne thy soule thou shalt blaspheme god and his sayntes
Euermore thyn owne wyll be doynge
Dysseyue men and wymen/ and euer be swerynge.
Be dronken vpon thy holy daye.
And cause other to synne and thou may.
Thy fader nor thy moder loke thou loue nor drede.
And helpe them neuer thou they haue nede.
Hate thy neyghboure and hure hym by enuy.
Murder and shede mannys blode hardely.
Forgyue no man but be vengeable.
Be lecherous of dede and in touchynge dylectable.
Breke thy wedloke and spare nat.
And to dysceyue other by falshode care nat.
The goodes of other thou shalt holde falsely.
And gyue it neuer agayne thou they speke curtesly.
Company oft with wymen and tempe them to synne
Desyre thy neyghbours wyfe and his goodes thoughe thou may nat wyn
90
And thou shalt dwell with me in hell for euermore.
Thou shalt ley in froste and fyre with sekenes & hunger.
And in a thousande peces thou shalt be torne a sondre.
yet thou shalt leue euer and neuer be dede.
Thy mete shall be todys & thy drynke hote boylynge lede.
Take no thought for the blode that god for the shede
Hereafter Foloweth parte of the paynes/ of Helle/ For the cōmaundementes of the Deuyll As it is aboue sayde.
In hell is great mournynge
Great trouble of cryenge.
Of thundre noyses rorynge. [OMITTED]
with plente of wylde fyre
betyngis with grete strokes lyke gonnes
with a grete froste and colde that ronnes
And after a bytter wynde comes
That gothe thorowe the soules with Ire
There is bothe thourste and hunger
Fendes with hokes poles theyr flesshe a sonder
They fyght and cose on eche other wonder
with the sythe of deuyls dredabyll
There is shame and confusyon
Rumore of consyens for euyll leyuynge
They corsse them selfe with grete cryenge
In smoke and stenche they be euermore lyenge
with other paynes in newmerable
Great trouble of cryenge.
Of thundre noyses rorynge. [OMITTED]
with plente of wylde fyre
betyngis with grete strokes lyke gonnes
with a grete froste and colde that ronnes
And after a bytter wynde comes
That gothe thorowe the soules with Ire
There is bothe thourste and hunger
Fendes with hokes poles theyr flesshe a sonder
They fyght and cose on eche other wonder
with the sythe of deuyls dredabyll
There is shame and confusyon
Rumore of consyens for euyll leyuynge
They corsse them selfe with grete cryenge
In smoke and stenche they be euermore lyenge
with other paynes in newmerable
It is wreten in the appocalypes that saynt Iohā sawe a horse of blake co-lower and vpon the horse sat dethe/ and hell foloweth these horse/ The horse betokeneth the synner the whiche is blake of colowre for ye sekenes of his syn And he bereth dethe for syn is dethe of the soule/ And hell folowes for to swalowe them as they be worthy yf they dye Impenytente.
Aboue this horse blake and hydeous
Deth I am that fersly do syte
There is no fayrnes but syght tedyous.
All gay coloures I do hyt
My horse ronnes by dales and hyllys
And many he smyteth dede & kylles.
In my trape I take some by euery way
By townes & castellys I take my rent.
I wyll not respet none not a our of a daye
Byfore me they moste nedys be presente.
I sle all with my mortall knyfe
And of duty I take the lyfe.
Hellys knowes well my kyllynge
I slepe neuer but worke & wake.
It foloweth me euer ronynge
He wayteth where I smyte with my darte.
A grete nomber he hath of me
Paradyse hathe nat the fourthe parte.
Skant the .x. parte wronge hathe he
I cause many to syghe at the harte.
Be ware/ for I gyue no warnynge [OMITTED]
I cause many to syghe at the harte.
Be ware for I gyue no warnynge.
Come at ones whan I do knacke and call.
And if thy boke be nat sure of rekenynge.
Thou shalt to hell body soule and all.
Deth I am that fersly do syte
There is no fayrnes but syght tedyous.
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My horse ronnes by dales and hyllys
And many he smyteth dede & kylles.
In my trape I take some by euery way
By townes & castellys I take my rent.
I wyll not respet none not a our of a daye
Byfore me they moste nedys be presente.
I sle all with my mortall knyfe
And of duty I take the lyfe.
Hellys knowes well my kyllynge
I slepe neuer but worke & wake.
It foloweth me euer ronynge
He wayteth where I smyte with my darte.
A grete nomber he hath of me
Paradyse hathe nat the fourthe parte.
Skant the .x. parte wronge hathe he
I cause many to syghe at the harte.
Be ware/ for I gyue no warnynge [OMITTED]
I cause many to syghe at the harte.
Be ware for I gyue no warnynge.
Come at ones whan I do knacke and call.
And if thy boke be nat sure of rekenynge.
Thou shalt to hell body soule and all.
Howe euery degre of states sholde ordre them.
The imperyall myght of a kynges mageste.
On foure pylers grounded is gouernaunce.
Fyrst do right iustyce and equyte.
To pore and ryche bothe in a balaunce.
Than his stately myght shall further and auaunce
He to be lyberall with force of humanyte
And after vyctory haue mercy and pyte.
The bysshope.
On foure pylers grounded is gouernaunce.
Fyrst do right iustyce and equyte.
To pore and ryche bothe in a balaunce.
Than his stately myght shall further and auaunce
He to be lyberall with force of humanyte
And after vyctory haue mercy and pyte.
O ye halfe goddys flourynge in prudence.
ye bysshopes with your deuout pastoralyte.
Teche the people with noble eloquence
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Fede the pore people with hospytalyte.
Be meke ande chaste in this melytante churche.
Do fyrst your selue well and than teche vs to worche.
The knyghtes.
O ye knyghtes that floures in fortytude.
with laboure and trauell to gete nobley.
Fyght thou for the people that is pore and rude.
And if nede be for the churche thou dye.
Loue trouthe hate wronge and velany.
Apes the people by thy magnyfycence.
And to all wymen be thou shelde and defence.
The generalyte.
Go home you persones and couche nat in courte.
Go teche Crystes seruantes/ and thyn owne laborere.
Thou nygarde/ sowe out thy horde.
In housholde/ and be none extorcyoner.
Monke pray/ preche frere/ marchaunt go farre and nere.
Drede god/ kepe his lawe & honour your kynge.
And your rewarde shall ye haue/ at your endynge.
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The gouernaunce of helthe.
Who wyll be hole and kepe hymselfe from sekenesse
And resyste the stroke of pestylence
Lete hym be glad and/ voyde all heuynes
Fle wycked ayres/ eschewe the presence
Of infect places/ causynge the vyolence
Drynke good wynes/ of holsome metes take
Smell swete thynges/ and for thy defence
Walke in clene ayre/ and eschewe the mystes blake
And resyste the stroke of pestylence
Lete hym be glad and/ voyde all heuynes
Fle wycked ayres/ eschewe the presence
Of infect places/ causynge the vyolence
Drynke good wynes/ of holsome metes take
Smell swete thynges/ and for thy defence
Walke in clene ayre/ and eschewe the mystes blake
With voyde stomake/ outwarde the not dresse
Rysynge vp erly with fyre haue a sustence
Delyte in gardyns for the grete swetenes
To be well cladde do thy dylygence
Kepe well thyselfe from inconuenyence
In stewes ne bathes/ no soiourne thou make
Openynge of the pores/this doth grese offence
Walke in clene ayre/ & eschewe mystes blake
Rysynge vp erly with fyre haue a sustence
Delyte in gardyns for the grete swetenes
To be well cladde do thy dylygence
Kepe well thyselfe from inconuenyence
In stewes ne bathes/ no soiourne thou make
Openynge of the pores/this doth grese offence
Walke in clene ayre/ & eschewe mystes blake
Ete no rawe flesshe for no gredynes
And from fruyte kepe thyn abstynēce
Pullettes/ and chekyns for theyr tendrenes
Ete thou with sauce/ spare for none expence
Vergyus/ vyneyger/ and the influence
Of holsom spyces I dare vndertake
The morowe slepe/ called gylden in sentence
Gretely helpeth agaynst the mystes blake
And from fruyte kepe thyn abstynēce
Pullettes/ and chekyns for theyr tendrenes
Ete thou with sauce/ spare for none expence
Vergyus/ vyneyger/ and the influence
Of holsom spyces I dare vndertake
The morowe slepe/ called gylden in sentence
Gretely helpeth agaynst the mystes blake
For helthe of body/ couer for colde thyn heed
Ete no rawe metes/ take good hede here to.
Drynke holsom wyne/ fede the on lyght breed
With an appetyte ryse frome thy meet also.
With women aeged fleshly haue not to do
Vpon thy slepe drynke not of the cuppe
Gladde to warde bedde/ at morowe bothe two
And vse neuer late for to suppe
Ete no rawe metes/ take good hede here to.
Drynke holsom wyne/ fede the on lyght breed
With an appetyte ryse frome thy meet also.
With women aeged fleshly haue not to do
Vpon thy slepe drynke not of the cuppe
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And vse neuer late for to suppe
And yf it so be that leches do the fayle
Then take good hede to vse thynges thre
Temporate dyet/ temporate trauayle
Not malycyous for none aduersyte
Meke in trouble/ gladde in pouerte
Ryche with lytell/ content with suffysaunce
Neuer grutchynge/ mery lyke thy degree
If phesycke lacke/ make this thy gouernaunce
Then take good hede to vse thynges thre
Temporate dyet/ temporate trauayle
Not malycyous for none aduersyte
Meke in trouble/ gladde in pouerte
Ryche with lytell/ content with suffysaunce
Neuer grutchynge/ mery lyke thy degree
If phesycke lacke/ make this thy gouernaunce
To euery tale soone gyue thou no credence
Be not to hasty/ ne sodaynly vengeable
To poore folke do thou no vyolence
Curteys of language/ of fedynge mesurable
On sundry meet not gredy at the table
In fedynge gentyll/ prudent in dalyaunce
Close of tonge/ of worde not deceyuable
To saye the best set alwaye thy pleasaunce
Be not to hasty/ ne sodaynly vengeable
To poore folke do thou no vyolence
Curteys of language/ of fedynge mesurable
On sundry meet not gredy at the table
In fedynge gentyll/ prudent in dalyaunce
Close of tonge/ of worde not deceyuable
To saye the best set alwaye thy pleasaunce
Haue in hate mouthes that ben double
Suffre at thy table no detraccyon
Haue dyspyte of folke that make trouble
Of false rauenoures and adulacyon
Within thy place suffre no deuysyon
Within thy housholde it shall cause encrease
Of all welfare/ prosperyte and foyson
With thy neyghboures lyue in rest and peas
Suffre at thy table no detraccyon
Haue dyspyte of folke that make trouble
Of false rauenoures and adulacyon
Within thy place suffre no deuysyon
Within thy housholde it shall cause encrease
Of all welfare/ prosperyte and foyson
With thy neyghboures lyue in rest and peas
Be clenly cladde after thyne estate
Passe not thy bondes/ kepe the promyse blyue
With thre folke be not at debate
Fyrst with thy better beware for to stryue
Agaynst thy felawe no quarell to contryue
With thy subget to stryue it were shame
Wherfore I counceyle pursue all thy lyue
To lyue in peas/ and gete the a good name
Passe not thy bondes/ kepe the promyse blyue
With thre folke be not at debate
Fyrst with thy better beware for to stryue
Agaynst thy felawe no quarell to contryue
With thy subget to stryue it were shame
Wherfore I counceyle pursue all thy lyue
To lyue in peas/ and gete the a good name
120
Fyre at morowe/ and towarde bedde at eue
Gaynst mystes blake/ and aye of pestylence
Betyme at masse thou shalte the better cheue
Fyrst at thy rysynge to do god reuerence
Vesyte the poore/ with entere dylygence
On all nedy haue compassyon
And god shall sende grace and influence
The to encrease and thy possessyon
Gaynst mystes blake/ and aye of pestylence
Betyme at masse thou shalte the better cheue
Fyrst at thy rysynge to do god reuerence
Vesyte the poore/ with entere dylygence
On all nedy haue compassyon
And god shall sende grace and influence
The to encrease and thy possessyon
Suffre no surfytes in thy house at nyght
Ware of rere soupers/ and of grete excesse
Of noddynge hedes/ and of candell lyght
Of slouth at morowe/ and slombyrynge ydlenes
Whiche of all vyce is chefe porteresse
Voyde all dronkenesse/ lyers/ and lechours
Of all vnthryfty exyle the maystresse
That is to saye dyseplayers and hasadours
Ware of rere soupers/ and of grete excesse
Of noddynge hedes/ and of candell lyght
Of slouth at morowe/ and slombyrynge ydlenes
Whiche of all vyce is chefe porteresse
Voyde all dronkenesse/ lyers/ and lechours
Of all vnthryfty exyle the maystresse
That is to saye dyseplayers and hasadours
After mete beware make not to longe slepe
Heed/ fote and stomacke preserue ay from colde
Be not to pensyf/ of thought take no kepe
After thy rent/ gouerne thy housholde
Suffre in tyme/ in thy ryght be bolde
Swere none othes/ no man to begyle
In youth be lusty/ sad whan thou arte olde
No worldy ioye lasteth but a whyle
Heed/ fote and stomacke preserue ay from colde
Be not to pensyf/ of thought take no kepe
After thy rent/ gouerne thy housholde
Suffre in tyme/ in thy ryght be bolde
Swere none othes/ no man to begyle
In youth be lusty/ sad whan thou arte olde
No worldy ioye lasteth but a whyle
Dyne not at morowe before thyn appetyte
Clere ayre and walkynge maketh good dygestyon
Betwene mele drynke not for no forwarde delyte
But thryst or trauayle gyue the occasyon
Ouer salte mete dooth grete oppressyon
To feble stomacke whan they can not refreyne
Fro thynge contrary to theyr complexyon
Of gredy handes the stomacke hath grete payne
Clere ayre and walkynge maketh good dygestyon
Betwene mele drynke not for no forwarde delyte
But thryst or trauayle gyue the occasyon
Ouer salte mete dooth grete oppressyon
To feble stomacke whan they can not refreyne
Fro thynge contrary to theyr complexyon
Of gredy handes the stomacke hath grete payne
Thus in two thynges stondeth all thy welthe
Of soule and body who lyst them sue
Moderate fode gyueth to man his helthe
And all surfyttes than he dooth escheue
And charyte to the soule is due
This receyte bought is of no potycary
Of mayster Anthony ne of mayster hue
To all indyfferent rychest dyetary
Of soule and body who lyst them sue
121
And all surfyttes than he dooth escheue
And charyte to the soule is due
This receyte bought is of no potycary
Of mayster Anthony ne of mayster hue
To all indyfferent rychest dyetary
168
The awtor
O ye clarkes famos and eloquente.
Connynge is kauth by redynge and excersyse.
Of nobyll materys full exellente.
And remember salamones sayes the wyse.
That praysythe besynes/ and Idylnes dyspyse.
And saythe he that many bokes do rede and se.
It is full lykely wysdome haue shall he.
Connynge is kauth by redynge and excersyse.
Of nobyll materys full exellente.
And remember salamones sayes the wyse.
That praysythe besynes/ and Idylnes dyspyse.
And saythe he that many bokes do rede and se.
It is full lykely wysdome haue shall he.
Remember clarkes dayly dothe theyr delygens.
In to oure corrupte speche maters to translate.
yet betwene frenche and englysshe is grete deffens.
There longage In redynge is douse and dylycate.
In theyr mother tonge they be so fortunate.
They haue the bybyll and the apocalypys of deuynyte.
with other nobyll bokes that in Englyche may not be.
In to oure corrupte speche maters to translate.
169
There longage In redynge is douse and dylycate.
In theyr mother tonge they be so fortunate.
They haue the bybyll and the apocalypys of deuynyte.
with other nobyll bokes that in Englyche may not be.
And remember reders where euer ye go.
That hony is swete but conynge is swetter.
Caton) the grete clarke some tyme sayd so.
Howe golde is good and lernynge moche better.
yet many full good be that neuer knewe letter.
And yet vertuous none can be of leuynge.
But fyrste of prestes or clarkes they muste haue lernynge.
That hony is swete but conynge is swetter.
Caton) the grete clarke some tyme sayd so.
Howe golde is good and lernynge moche better.
yet many full good be that neuer knewe letter.
And yet vertuous none can be of leuynge.
But fyrste of prestes or clarkes they muste haue lernynge.
wherfore with pasyens I you all desyre.
Be ware of the rysynge of false erysy.
Lette euer parfyte faythe set youre hartys a fyre.
And the chaffe fro the corne clene out to trye.
They that beleuythe a mysse be worthy to dye.
And he is the gretest fole in this worlde Iwys.
That thynketh that no mānys wytte is so good as his.
Be ware of the rysynge of false erysy.
Lette euer parfyte faythe set youre hartys a fyre.
And the chaffe fro the corne clene out to trye.
They that beleuythe a mysse be worthy to dye.
And he is the gretest fole in this worlde Iwys.
That thynketh that no mānys wytte is so good as his.
Thus endeth here the shepardys kalender.
Drawen into englysshe to goddys reuerence.
And for profyte and pleasure smale clarkes to chere.
Playnly shewed to theyr intellygens.
Oure parte is done/ nowe reders do your dylygens.
And remember that Pynson saythe to you this.
He that leuyth well/ maye not dye amys.
Drawen into englysshe to goddys reuerence.
And for profyte and pleasure smale clarkes to chere.
Playnly shewed to theyr intellygens.
Oure parte is done/ nowe reders do your dylygens.
And remember that Pynson saythe to you this.
He that leuyth well/ maye not dye amys.
Her endeth the kalender of shepardys/ drawen out of Frenche into Englysshe in the honowre of Ihesu cryste and his blessyd mother mary and alle the sayntes if heuen Impryntyd at London in flete strete at the sygne of the George by Richard Pynson the dat of oure lorde a. M.CCCCC and vj.
172
APPENDIX.
How plowmen sholde do.
Peers go thou to plowe/ and take with the thy wyfeDelue and drawe/ sowe barly whete/ and ry
Of one make ten/ this is a perfyte lyfe
As sayth Arystotle in his phylozophy
Thou nede not study to knowe astrology
For yf the weder be not to thy pleasaunce
Thanke euer god of his dyuyne ordenaunce.
Of an assaute agaynst a snayle.
The woman speketh with hardy courage
Go out of this place thou ryght vgly beest
Whiche of the vynes the burgenynges doost ete
And buddes of the trees/ bothe more and leest
In dewy mornynges agaynst the wete
Out of this place or I shall the sore bete
With my dystaffe betwene thyn hornes twayne
That it shall soune in to the realme of spayne
Whiche of the vynes the burgenynges doost ete
And buddes of the trees/ bothe more and leest
In dewy mornynges agaynst the wete
173
With my dystaffe betwene thyn hornes twayne
That it shall soune in to the realme of spayne
The men of armes with fyers countenaunce.
Horryble snayle lyghtly thy hornes doune laye
And frome this place out fast loke that thou rynne
Or with our sharpe wepons we shall the fraye
And take the castell that thou lyest in
We shall the fley out of thy skynne
And in a dysshe with onyons and peper
We shall the dresse/ and with strenge vyneyger.
And frome this place out fast loke that thou rynne
Or with our sharpe wepons we shall the fraye
And take the castell that thou lyest in
We shall the fley out of thy skynne
And in a dysshe with onyons and peper
We shall the dresse/ and with strenge vyneyger.
There was neuer yet ony lombarde
That dyde the ete in suche maner of wyse
And breke we shall thy house so stronge and harde
Wherfore gete the hens by our aduyse
Out of this place of so ryche edyfyse
We the requyre yf it be thy wyll
And lete vs haue this toure that we come tyll.
That dyde the ete in suche maner of wyse
And breke we shall thy house so stronge and harde
Wherfore gete the hens by our aduyse
Out of this place of so ryche edyfyse
We the requyre yf it be thy wyll
And lete vs haue this toure that we come tyll.
The snayle speketh
I am a beest of ryght grete myruayle
Vpon my backe my hous reysed I bere
I am neyther flesshe ne bone to auayle
As well as a grete oxe two hornes I were
yf that the armed men proche me nere
I shall them soone vaynquysshe euerychone
But they dare not for fere of me alone.
Vpon my backe my hous reysed I bere
I am neyther flesshe ne bone to auayle
As well as a grete oxe two hornes I were
yf that the armed men proche me nere
I shall them soone vaynquysshe euerychone
But they dare not for fere of me alone.
The saynge of a deed man.
Man loke and se
Take hede of me
How thou shalte be
Whan thou arte deed
Drye as a tree
Wormes shall ete the
Thy grete beaute
Shall be lyke leed
Take hede of me
How thou shalte be
Whan thou arte deed
Drye as a tree
Wormes shall ete the
Thy grete beaute
Shall be lyke leed
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The tyme hath ben
In my youth grene
That I was clene
Of body as ye are
But for myn eyen
Now two holes bene
Of me is sene
But bones all bare
In my youth grene
That I was clene
Of body as ye are
But for myn eyen
Now two holes bene
Of me is sene
But bones all bare
Now entende
For to amende.
For to amende.
O mortall cretures saylynge in the wawes of mysery
Auayle the sayle of your conscyence vnpure
Fle fro the perylles of this vnstedfast whery
Dryue to the hauen of charyte moost sure
And cast the ankers of true confessyon
Fastned with the grete cable of contrycyon clene
Wynde vp thy marchaundyse of hole satisfaccyon
Whiche of true customers shall be ouer sene
And brought to the warehouse of perfeccyon
As perfyte marchauntes of god by eleccyon
Auayle the sayle of your conscyence vnpure
Fle fro the perylles of this vnstedfast whery
Dryue to the hauen of charyte moost sure
And cast the ankers of true confessyon
Fastned with the grete cable of contrycyon clene
Wynde vp thy marchaundyse of hole satisfaccyon
Whiche of true customers shall be ouer sene
And brought to the warehouse of perfeccyon
As perfyte marchauntes of god by eleccyon
180
How euery man and woman ought to cease of theyr syn̄es at the sownynge of the dredable horne.
Ho/ ho you blynde folke derked in the clowde
Of ygnoraunt fumes/ thycke and mystycall
Take hede of my horne totynge all alowde
With boystous sownes/ and blastes boryall
Gyuynge you warnynge of the Iugement fynall
The whiche dayly is redy to gyue sentence
On peruers people replete with neclygence
Of ygnoraunt fumes/ thycke and mystycall
Take hede of my horne totynge all alowde
With boystous sownes/ and blastes boryall
Gyuynge you warnynge of the Iugement fynall
The whiche dayly is redy to gyue sentence
On peruers people replete with neclygence
Ho ho betyme/ or that it be to late
Cease whyle ye haue space and portunyte
Leue your folyes or deth make you chekmate
Cease your ygnoraunt incredulyte
Clense your thoughtes of immundycyte
Cease of your pecunyall pensement
The whiche defyleth your entendement
Cease whyle ye haue space and portunyte
Leue your folyes or deth make you chekmate
Cease your ygnoraunt incredulyte
Clense your thoughtes of immundycyte
Cease of your pecunyall pensement
The whiche defyleth your entendement
Ho ho people enfecte with neglyhence
Cease your synnes and many folde crueltees
Drede god your maker and his ryghwyse sentence
Cease your blyndnes of wordly vanytees
Leest he you smyte with endles infyrmytees
Cease your couetyse/ glotony/ and pryde
And cease your superfluus garmentes wyde
Cease your synnes and many folde crueltees
Drede god your maker and his ryghwyse sentence
Cease your blyndnes of wordly vanytees
Leest he you smyte with endles infyrmytees
Cease your couetyse/ glotony/ and pryde
And cease your superfluus garmentes wyde
Cease of your othes/ cease of your grete swerynge
Cease of your pompe/ cease of your vayne glory
Cease of your hate/ cease of your blasphemynge
Cease of your malyce/ cease of your enuy
Cease of your wrathe/ cease of your lechery
Cease of your fraude/ cease your decepcyon
Cease of your tonges makynge detraccyon
Cease of your pompe/ cease of your vayne glory
Cease of your hate/ cease of your blasphemynge
Cease of your malyce/ cease of your enuy
Cease of your wrathe/ cease of your lechery
Cease of your fraude/ cease your decepcyon
Cease of your tonges makynge detraccyon
181
Fle faynt falsehode fekell foule and fell
Fle fatall flaterers full of fayrnes
Fle fayre faynynge fabels of fauell
Fle folkes felawshyp frequentynge falsenes
Fle frantyke facers fullfylled of frowardnes
Fle foles falaces/ fle fonde fantasyes
Fle from fresshe fablers faynynge flaterers
Fle fatall flaterers full of fayrnes
Fle fayre faynynge fabels of fauell
Fle folkes felawshyp frequentynge falsenes
Fle frantyke facers fullfylled of frowardnes
Fle foles falaces/ fle fonde fantasyes
Fle from fresshe fablers faynynge flaterers
Thus endeth the horner.
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