University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
A new treatyse in maner of a Dialoge

/ whiche sheweth the excellency of ma[n]nes nature / in that he is made to the Image of God, and wherin it restyth / and by howe many wayes a man dothe blotte, and defyle the same Image [by Miles Hogarde]

collapse section
 
 



A new treatyse in maner of a Dialoge/whiche sheweth the excellency of mānes nature/in that he is made to the Image of God, and wherin it restyth/and by howe many wayes a man dothe blotte, and defyle the same Image.

Remembre man, thou art earth playne
And therto shalt, returne agayne.
Iob.

Of late as I lay, musynge all alone
Reuoluynge a certayne thynge in my mynde
Whiche troubled me so, that my herte was gone
But beynge compelled, remedy to fynde
Myne olde custome, not beynge yet resynde
I rose from my bedde, and forth dyd departe
And then herde I a byrde synge, O man vnkynde
I say remembre thou man, what thou arte.


Whiche thynge so heryng, made me moche to muse
And as I loked, what byrde it shuld be
She spyde me and sayd, nowe fayne thyne excuse
For truely I haue, a quarell to the
And with that, I sawe hyr syt in a tre
Whiche made me I tell you, glad at my harte
But she spyenge that sayd, streyghe vnto me
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
I perceyue by thy countenaunce, quod she
That thou dost moche reioyse, in my presence
But lytell cause hast thou, thou mayst truste me
For nowe art thou, with me out of credence
Because thou hast not done, thy dylygence
To performe thy promyse, made on thy parte
Therfore in reproche, of thy neclygence
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Why what matter quod I, hast thou to me
That thou shludest me, thus spytefully reproue
Matter ynoughe, I warant the quod she
For that thou dyddest not, as dyd the behoue
What is it quod I, tell me for my loue
Haue I in my promyse, ben ouerthawrte
Ye none excuse quod she, can it remoue
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
Thou dydest promyse me, yf thou call to mynde
To set forth a songe, whiche I sange to the
And nowe because vntrewe, I do the fynde
Thou dost me prouoke, displeased to be
That songe forth quod I, thou mayst truste me
I se no profe quod she, for who doth reuarte
From theyr vyce reprouyd, not one I can se
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.


It is forth quod I, though small profyte apere
Consernynge of mannes lyfe, the amendment
Thou mayst reproue synne, and neuer the nere

All this worlde is set on myschefe. 1. Iohn̄. 5.


We are vnto the flesshe, so fully bente
Then my laboure quod she, in vayne haue I spent
But no doute at length, for it ye shall smarte
Oneles that by grace, your faute ye repente
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Thou art but vyle earth, and shall turne to dust
Though all the worldes good, thou haddest at thy wyll

Iob.


At the laste cōmes death, and then hense thou muste
There is no treasure, can kepe the here styll
Therfore thou vayne man, why dost thou fulfyll
Thy flesshely luste, and from god dost reuarte
Wylt thou for thy flesshe, thy soule deadely kyll
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
God hath apoynted, of his meare goodnesse
Howe eche man shuld lyue, in his vocacyon

Let euery man abide in his callyng wherin he is called. 1. Cor. 7.


And scrypture doth, vnto you all expresse
So that ye can make, no excusacyon
But that ye prouoke, your owne dampnacyon
Oneles ye repent, or death with his darte
Of body and soule, make seperacyon
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Somwhat I haue, toched to the before
Howe moste people here, doth lyue out of frame

In the myrour of she mysery of the worlde.


Not one shalt thou fynde, scaffy in a score
That lyueth in his offyce, vnworthy blame
Nay clene to necclecte, yet they haue no shame
Or els they abuse it, so ouerthwarte
That they seme not, to haue a chrysten name
Remembre therfore thou man what thou arte.


What nedes thou quod I, this thynge to reherse
It is superfluous, as farre as I here
In thy songe before, in many a verse
Thou hast touched this, as well doth apere
What though sayd she, I am neuer the nere
I se no man grafte, my wordes in his harte
Therfore I warne the agayne, playne and clere
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
I shewed the ones, and so I do agayne
Howe euery creature, without blame

Make we mā to our owne lykenes and symylytude. Gen. 1.

Doth kepe theyr course, as nature doth constrayne

But thou man whiche God, so nobly dyd frame
Unto his ymage, thou wylt graunt the same
And yet lyke a beaste, from God ouerthwarte
Thou defylest his ymage, to thy great shame
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
I knowe quod I, that thou toldest me all this
Trouste thou that I haue, so dull memory
To forget what goddes goodnesse, to me is
Ye sayd she, I beleue it verely
For thou art so replete, with mysery
No thynge can moue the, from synne to reuerte
But yet whan thou fedest, thy lust besely
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
What thou meanest sayd I, I can not tell
I pray the shewe me, what thou dost intende
Thou checkest me, me thynke for not lyuynge well
And yet with no faute, dost me reprehende
Haue I not sayd she, howe dost thou attende
Unto my wordes, whiche enter not thy harte
But in all thy tyme, that thou dost here spende
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Dyd not I say, howe in synne thou dost lyue
By whiche thy soule, thou dost moste foully defyle
Whiche God of his goodnes, to the dyd gyue
Made to his ymage, and lyke no beaste vyle
And yet the deuyll, from the for to excyle
He suffred death here, with paynfull woundes smarte
Amende therfore, and euery meane whyle
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Thy soule thou knowest, well is made immortall
Hauynge wyll reason, and vnderstandynge
In whiche thou dost deffer, from beastes brutall
And therin to God, thou arte resemblynge
But nowe in what case, thy soule thou dost brynge
I purpose to shewe the, or thou departe
That for feare, thou wylt quake at the herynge
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Fyrste thou hast reason, a gyfte excelent
Whiche to the father, is apropryate
Because that he is, alway permenent
And dyd his persone, neuer derogate
Note ones altrynge, but in deuyne estate
He alway abydeth, and can not reuarte
For whiche by reason, he is fygurate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Nowe syth that by reason, thou dost represent
In thy soule, to the Father eternall
Whiche syngnyfyeth, thou muste be dylygent
To obaye to reason, the powre pryncyall
But howe thou from reason, dayly doest fall
Thou mayst be asshamed man of thy parte
As somwhat herafter. tell the I shall
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.


So longe as to reason, thou dost agree
In all thy workes, and conuersacyon
So longe aperyth, in thy soule to be
Thymage of God, by his creacyon
Let reason than, haue domynacyon
Folowe not wyll, and set reason aparte
Put not the Father, from his mancyon
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
I trowe quod I, thou knowest not what thou sayest
Thou hast forgot clene, what thou dyddest begyn
Me thynke thou doest spende, many wordes in waste
Wylt thou not, the other two powers brynge in
Yes quod she, but bycause thy wyt is thyne
I wolde that to reason, thou shuldest conuarte
Whiche thou dayly, doest so fowle blot with synne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
But for thy sake quod she, I am content
The other two powers, to the to expresse
Whyll in thy soule, doth the sone represent

Math. 29.

For as moche as he dyd, hym alway dresse

To do his fathers wyll, with great mekenesse
Wyllyngly suffrynge, for thy synfull harte
Thus christe of good wyll, thy synnes dyd redresse
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
Nowe lyke as Christ, onely of his good wyll

He offrede vp hym because he wolde. Esa. 53.

Toke here thy nature, and redemed the

From the deuyll and synne, whiche dyd thy soule kyll
He wyll not his death, thy sauegarde shall be

He that louithme kepith my cōmaunde mentes. Iohn̄. 15.

Onelesse thy wyll, freely to his agre

Not compelled, but by loue from thy harte
This meane by Iustyce, apoynted hath he
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.


Nowe stay there quod I, I pray the be styll
Let me in this poynt, vnderstande the well
Wylt thou affyrme here, that man hath fre wyll
Thou sayst that God, doth not mannes wyll compell
Mary syr yf I, that abrode shuld tell
Some wolde say that I, the trueth dyd peruarte
Wyll they quod she, agaynst that thynge rebell
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
A thou wycked man, nowe well I perceyue
Thou woldest fynde, away thy vyce to excuse
For yf thou couldest proue, the no free wyll to haue

God temp tyth no mā to euyll. Iaco. 1.


Thou woldest for thy synne, gods goodnes accuse
Bycause thou wylt say, he wolde not infuse
Grace in to thy soule, from synne to conuarte
Alas man do not, thy lyfe so abuse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
God offryth his grace, to the man dayly

Beholde I stond at the dore & knocke. Apoc 3.


Knockynge at thy soule, by many away
Declarynge his wyll, moste mercyfully
To haue the saued, yf thou say not nay
Therfore yf thou wylt, be saued thou may

God wold haue all men saued. 1. Timo. 2.


Gods helpe is redy, yf thou do thy parte
Thou mayst consent, yf thou wylt I dare say
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.

If thou wylt enter in to lyfe kepe the cōmaundementes. Math. 9.


In this quod I, thou hast peased my mynde
But may hap all other, so wyll not be
For in this matter, great faute they wyll fynde
When so euer they shall, it rede or se
What tho and they do, I pray the quod she
Trueth wyll be trueth, though they wolde it peruarte
Therfore to all them, as well as to the
I say remembre, thou man what thou arte.


I passe not sayd she, what any doth say
So longe as the trueth, I do demonstrate
To please all myndes, I do not knowe the way
Onelesse I shuld, gods pleasure vyolate
And that wyll I not do, for none estate
Nothynge shall cause me, from trueth for to starte
But let all this passe, early and late
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
If thou hast sayd I, in this sayd thy mynde
I pray the, in thy fyrste purpose prosede
Content sayd she, I haue it not resynde
Though I dyd degresse, as I thought it nede
Understandynge, is nowe the next in dede
Or memory whiche twayne, can not departe
In this the holy ghost, thy soule doth lede
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte,
By vnderstandynge, well may syngnyfy
In thy soule the Ymage, of the holy ghost
Bycause it is a powre, whiche inwardly

The knowledge of holy thynges is vnderstādynge. {gs. P 30. 9.}

Doth worke, in thy soule a thynge whiche doth most

Profyte thy soule helth, this well I dare bost
For therby gods wyll, thou knowest in thy harte
Without whiche, thou shuldest, be blynde as a post
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Nowe I trowe sayd she, thou doth playne perceyue
Howe to gods ymage, that thou art create
And in what it restyth, openyd I haue
Nowe syth that God, in the is socyate
Let not his grace, in the be vacuate
Kepe this ymage pure, in euery parte
So shalt thou with hym, be peticipate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.


What nede I quod she, the here to exorte
That thou shuldest, this ymage nothyng defyle
For nowe I se playne, thy workes do reporte
Thou hast done it redy, by thy synnes vyle
For whiche cause I se, I muste turne my style
To shewe howe thou dost, these thre powres peruarte
By whiche I feare me, thou dost god excyle
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Fyrste for as moche, as I tolde the before
That reason is the powre, moste pryncypall
By whiche onely, thou dyfferest euermore
From all other beestes, the whiche be brutall
For set reason asyde, and proue I shall
That beestes may compare, with the in some parte
Consernynge the powres, whiche be naturall
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
The lyon in strength, doth man greatly passe
And so doth the Egle, in clerenesse of syght
In herynge also, compare may the asse
The grayhounde to ronne, moste nemble and lyght
In smellynge the hounde, by day or by nyght
And in memory beestes, in plough and carte
Nowe yf they had reason, passe the they myght
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte.
But nowe as scripture, to the do recorde

Thou hast caste all thynges vnder his feete all maner of shepe and Oxen [illeg.] Psalm[illeg.]


It hath pleased god, for to ordayne the
Ouer all beestes of the earth, to be lorde
And the in to rule, in euery degre
But howe, by reason, or els thou mayste se
If beestes of reason, had nowe any parte
By them no case, ruled they wolde be
Therfore remembre, thou man what thou arte,


Nowe beestes by reason, thou dost make subiecte
To serue the here, as God dyd them ordayne
And so muste reason also in effecte
Rule all thy sencyse, whiche in the remayne
With all thy workes, whiche prosede from the playne
But worse is thy actes, reason to conuarte
Then al brute beestes, whiche the worlde doth contayne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Sensualyte in the, beryth suche rule
That when reason, shulde haue domynacyon
Frowarde wyll, causeth hym for to recule
To thy great shame, and defamacyon
For wyll ought to be, in gubernacyon
Of reason, fro whom he ought not to starte
But wyll doth rule all, I se probacyon
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Reason wolde thou shuldest, to god haue respecte
Alway consyderynge, his goodnes to the
But that moste vnkyndly, thou dost reiecte
Abusynge reason, that dayly I se
Unreasonable, thou semyst to be
From gods lawe, thy lyfe is so ouerthwarte
Whiche way I wyll declare, or els blame me
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.

Such make ther bellyes theyr God to theyr destruction. Philip. 3.

To thy fylthy carkase, thou hast suche delyte

That thou louest it more, then god or his lawe
What thynge can bynde the, from thyne apetyte
Can scrypture cause the, thy lust to withdrawe
From the fowle fedynge, of thy beestly mawe
Nay truely, than dost thou reason peruarte
A beeste and thou, doth not dyffer a strawe
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Doth scripture quod I, cōmaunde men to faste
Ye forsoth quod she, and yf thou rede well
Thou mayst fynde it, yf all grace be not paste
In the .iv. chapter, of Mathewes gospell
Ye mary quod I, but there chryste doth tell
That we shuld faste, euer from synne in harte
And not fro meate, quod she that glose repell
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Ihon̄s descyples came, and to Christ dyd say
Why do we fast, we pray the tell vs playne
And thy discyples, fast neuer a day
How can the bryde chyldren, quod christ agayne
Mourne whan the bryde grome, doth wt them remayne
But when that he shal, from them all departe
Then shall they fast, I tell you for certayne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Chryst spake not onely, of fastyng from synne
For why I dare say, whyle he was present
He wolde his dyscyples no vyse to lyue inne
But yf Ihon̄s scolers, had so onely ment
They shuld haue shewed, to Chryst euydent
That his discyples dyd, not from synne reuarte
And yet that chryst was, with them well content
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte
Nowe by thy wordes quod I, I do perceaue
Christ ment not of fastyng, from synne onely
For his discyples, dyd them so behaue
As became them, that kept Christ company
Yet fasted they not, as he doth testefy
From meate quod she, they dyd fast in no parte
But whan he was gone, they fasted truely
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte


Nowe thou man quod she, thou sayst very well
That Christe cōmaunded, that thou shuldest faste here
Agaynst whiche, yf thou dost rebell
To be christes discyple, thou dost not apere

Such coūt it a pleasure to lyue delycycyously. &. Pet. 2.

But moste lyke a beest, agaynst reason clere

Thou regardest no tyme, but dost gods lawe peruarte
Christes insample, with the no rule doth bere
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.

Offer youre carnall body as a lyuelye sacryfice to god. Rom. 12.

Good reason wolde, that thou shuldest sacrafyce

Thy carnall body, to our lorde aboue
Whiche is by fastynge, and other suche wyse
But thy vyle carkase, so moche thou dost loue
That neyther lawe, nor reason can the moue
To cause thy body, by fastynge to smarte
But dost lyke a beest, suche vertue reproue
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Thus of thy bely, a god thou dost make
And to that stynkynge Idole, dost sacrafyce
For pleasure of it, more payne thou dost take
Then thou for god, wylt do in any wyse
Ye, to please it, gods lawe thou wylt cleane dispyse
As though from hence, thou shuldest neuer departe
Reason agaynst this, dayly on the cryse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Truely quod I, I confesse this to the
That in this matter, I haue none exscuse
But yet me thynke, this a small faute to be
And yf I my soule, a ryght to god vse
Ye mary quod she, but thou dost it abuse
As and yf thou harkyn, that shall here parte
Therfore to here, my wordes do not refuse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


To make thy soule, a sacrafyce perfyte
Thou oughtest it, to our lorde to elyuate
By deuoute prayer, wherin he doth delyte

A cōtryte hart god dothe not despyse. Psalm. 55.


If it come from a herte, inmaculate
But alas man, when thou art in that estate
Thou goest aboute, good prayers to subuarte
By whiche thy soule, thou doste sore vulnerate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Chryste taught the truely, howe ye thou shuldest pray

Math. 6.


Knowlegynge thy nede, and great mysery
And not seasynge, but as seynt Paule doth say

1. Tim. 2. 5.


Make prayers to God, contynually
And thou shuldest also, as Chryste doth testefy

Watche & praye that ye enter not into temtacyō. Math. 26.


Watche in prayers, with all thy mynde and harte
This is the sure meane, thy soule to mundefy
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
By prayer Moyses, optayned victory

Exod. 17.


By prayer the red see, also deuyded

Exod. 14.


By prayer kynge Dauid, optayned mercy

2. Reg. 12.


By prayer Hely, the deed chylde reuyued

2. Reg. 17.


By prayer Susan, from deth was saued

Daniel. 1. Iosua. x.


By prayer of Iosue, the sonne dyd reuarte

The prayer of the righteouse auaylethe much. Iacob. 5.


Thus prayers of the iust, God neuer depraued
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Nowe prayer of all workes, beyng moste hye
For the which our lorde, great wonders hath wrought
Why doste thou not man, thy selfe more apply
Vnto this vertue, in harte, wyll and thought
But alas it semeth, thou regardes it nought
For all tymes thou thynkyst, longe spent in that parte
But no short tyme to play, thy lust hath sought
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Yf good prayers, thou regardest nothyng
Thy soule to god, thou canst not sacryfyce
Then into what case that thou doest it bryng
Reason can tell that, thou dost that dyspyse
By which thy soule, trewly to god shuld ryse
And it moueth the dayly, to conuart
But reason can not thy foule flesh suffyse
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Thou haste in this quod I, bene somwhat playne
For in prayer in dede, man is neclygente
But yet for all this, one doute dothe remayne
Whether that scrypture, of vocall prayer mente
Or elles of mentall, which is moost excellente
By my trouth quod she, thou arte ouerthwarte
I haue moche a do, thy mynde to contente
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.

These mē honoure me with theyr lyppes but theyr hartes be far fro me. Esa. 29. Math. 15.

With vocall prayer, when that thou dost praye

Thy harte from god, then beyng alyenate
That prayer doth not meryte, I dare saye
For vayne thoughtes, doth make thy prayer frustrate
But mentall prayer, of more hye estate
Yf thou vse it, to vyce wyll not reuarte
But doth thy hart pure, to god elyuate
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.

Lorde let thyne eares be enclyned to ye voyce of my praier. Psal. 129.

Then quod I, I se I nede not all

To praye with the voyce, for that is but vayne
Yf the effecte rest, onely in prayer mentall
I meane not so quod she, I tell the playne
For when the harte, with the voyce doth remayne
Two wayes thou doste meryte eche in his parte
Where as one doth, but halfe so moch obtayne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte


Whan that thou dost pray, but in hart onely
It is knowne to god, and he doth it here
But that doth not, thy neyghbour edify

Let youre lyghte so shyne before men that they maye se your good workes. & Math. 5.


Because good example, doth not apere
Therfore double merite, thou shalt haue clere
When the voyce doth shew, what is in the harte
This kynde of prayer, to god is moost dere
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Thou hast my mynde, quod I well satysfyed
Consernyng prayer, in euery thynge
That is meruayle quod she, for I haue spyed
It is hard in thy heade, vertue to bryng
For which with sorow, thy handes thou mayst wrynge
But thou dost not care, vntyl tyme that thou smarte
Yet in the meane whyle, I gyue the a warnynge
Remembre I say, thou man what thou art.
Now haue I tolde the, how thou oughtest alwaye
Thy body and soule, to god to sacrafyce
Which thou canst not do, onlesse thou obaye
Unto reason, and thyne owne wyll dispyse
But how thou doste that, thy lyuyng well tryse

Folow not thy lustes but turne from thine owne wyl. Eccl. 10.


Wyll doth rule the, lyke a horse in a carte
What shame is this to the, that shuld be wyse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
But in the matter, farther to procede
Reason wold also, that thou shuldest truely
Thy goodes sacryfyce, in hart wyll and dede
Unto our lord, acknowlegyng therby
That he is the gyuer, of them onely
After what sorte, I wyl shewe the a parte
How thou must vse them, vnto gods glory
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Make you frendes of the wicked Mammon that they maye receaue you into eternal tabernacles. Luke 10.

Fyrste gyue thankes to god, for thy rychesse all

And helpe the poore, in theyr necessyte
And vnlose those, whiche are in pryson thrall
Forget not the wedowe, in her mysery
Nor the fatherles chylde, in thynfancy
Take the poore howsles, vnder thy couarte
Suffre not the poore, in the strete to dye
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.

Math. 25.

This shuldest thou do, whiche hath ryches at wyll

Sacrafyce to god, with ryghteouse abell
Whiche offrede the beste, gods lawe to fulfyll
And not the worste, for whiche to hym befell
That his offrynge, dyd please our lorde right well
His fyre brent bryght, declarynge his good harte
But caynes dyd smolder, the cause I wyll tell
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Good Abell thought, the best was not to gode
To gyue to god, the gyuer of all thynge
But cursed Cayne, whiche no grace vnderstode
Thought the worste, to good to burne in offrynge
For whiche his sacrafyce, brent all smoldrynge
Whiche declared, that he from god dyd reuarte
But this matter, nowe in thy mynde nothynge
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
It is not mete quod I, in our tyme I am sure
To burne our goodes, to god for sacrafyce
That is trueth quod she, but they in fygure
Burnt theyr offerynges, in many sondry wyse
Whiche fygure in trueth, ye muste excersyse
As thus Abelles fyre, burnynge bryght in eche parte
Sygnyfyeth charyte, whiche all good workes tryse
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.


The bryght fyre, causeth the smoke to assende
And so doth charite, cause thy good workes all
Before god to haue rewarde at the ende
As sayth, the holy apostell saynt paull

1. Cor. [illeg.].


But whan that thou from charite dost fall
Thy workes doth smolder & thou playest Caynes parte
Abusyng gods gyftes, with thy lyfe bestyall
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Now of those that offer with good Abell
A lytel before I haue shewed to the
And now of another sorte I wyll tell
Whiche doth offer with Cayne in eche degre
And of these no small nombre ther be
I can scantly thynke on them all by harte
Therfore though I happe some to ouer se
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
The fyrst that be fygured by Cayne chefely
Be those that ther tenthes vntruely doth paye
Gyuyng vnto god vnreuerently
The worste of euery thyng that they may
Tushe it is good ynough for the preest they say
And yet they here scripture call it gods parte
This offryng smuldreth with Caynes musty haye
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
No more of that quod I, and thou loue me
For yf I abrode shuld playne reporte thys
The preestes proctor streyght called I shulde be
But from that reporte I wyl me sure blysse
My tongue shall not yet runne so farre amysse
What quod she wylt thou now from trewth reuarte
Darest thou not now tell the truth as it is
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Well quod I, I praye the yf thou intende
To procede farther, shewe forth thyne intente
Marye quod she, thou doste me reprehende
When I wolde shewe the, my mynde euidente
But trippe me no more, and I wyll not stente
Tyll I haue shewed the, my hole mynde and harte
And whatsoeuer, I saye here presente
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.

Exod[illeg.]. 24. Leui. 25. Deut. 23. Ezech. 18. Psalm. 14. Math. 6.

All suche as mony, to theyr neyghboures lende

Therof to haue profyte, by vsurye
With cursed Cayne, oure lorde they do offende
Because that theyr worke, doth lacke charite
For agaynst gods worde, no good worke can be
Let them glose what they can trewth to peruarte
They are a curste of god, from heauen on hye
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
To speake more of that, quod I, shall not nede
For thou doste, but throwe stones agaynst the wynde
Do quod she, then wyll I forth procede
To those that offer, in another kynde

thou shalt not cyrcūuente thy brother, sayth our Lorde.

With cursed Cayne, and they be those I fynde

Which giueth large mony theyr neyboures to subuarte
Which way, I wyll tel the as comes to mynde
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
All such as gyueth mony, leaces to take
Of theyr neyboures houses, for the intente
That they themselues so, the rytcher wold make
By vnreasonable, raysyng of the rente
To theyr neyghboures great hurt, and detremente
Poore men crye out for this, in euery parte
These with cursed Cayne, shall haue punyshmente
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.


Nexte cosyne to these, be all such trewlye
Which doth theyr neyghboure, by crafte cyrcumuente
By goynge aboute, preuely to spye
Such houses as they thynke, for them conuenyente
Not passyng on the poore men, there in resydente
Let them go and beg, or elles dryue a carte
Trowe these to scape hell, onlesse they repente
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Because thou speakest, of dryuyng carte quod I
Some sayth, that both cartes and plowes decayes
All those that so sayth, quod she, doth not lye
For I am a byrde, that flyeth many wayes
And where I was wonte, to feede many dayes
Upon swete corne, which comforted my harte
Nowe is there nothyng, because the plowe stayes
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
To what vse quod I, then serueth the grounde
For pastor quod she, for beastes for to fede
So where many poore mennes, lyuynges was founde
Now twayne or thre, theyr lyues alone doth lede
Not forsyng at all, for the poore mannes nede
These do the common welth, falsly subuarte
But for this at laste, hell shal be thy mede
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
It bootes not quod I, to speake more of this
The cause why, I could to the playne expresse
Ye quod she, I know full well where it is
Those men which chefely, shuld this thyng redresse
Haue vauntage therby, therfore nothyng lesse
Entende they, then to speake on the poore mans parte
This is trew surely, all men wyll confesse
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte


Say not so quod I, though thou doste so thynke
No more I wyll quod she, I haue all sayde
But thou knowest, the catte at swete mylke can wynke
When she feedes therof, and is well apayde
And so can such, this can not be denayde
Wynke at that, whiche from theyr welth doth reuart
But this thynge among them, beyng well wayde
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Tush, quod I, I praye the tell me no more
Of this matter, I loue it not to here
To rehearse it quod she, doth greue me sore
But yet to speake this, I could not forbeare
Syth that my mynde is, for to shew the clere
The trewth, how thou doste reason peruarte
In all these sortes, it doth well apere
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Farther now quod she, thy mynd to fulfyll
Euyn lyke as thou doste, thy reason abuse
In lyke maner, so thou dost thy frewyll
As I wyll proue, thou canst make none excuse
For gods grace dayly, thou dost here refuse
From which thy wyll ought neuer to reuarte
Thou blottes gods Image, whiche yu shuldest well vse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Wyll as I tolde the, ought to be subiecte
Unto reason, in euery degre
And to consent to nothyng in effecte
Whiche agaynst reason, any thyng shuld be
The which yf thou do, I dare assure the
I meane, yf wyll from reason do not starte
God his owne Image, in thy soule dothe se
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.


But as I before, haue tolde vnto the
Thou sayest that frewyll, in the hath no place
But onely to synne, in that it is fre
And not vnto vertue, though thou hast grace
Which sayeng is false, but yet in one case
Thy wordes is well proued, trew on thy parte
For the pathe of synne, thy wyll doth styll trase
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
In one case, I say, thou dost proue trewlye
That vnto synne, thy wyll is euer fre
For wholly to synne, thou dost thy well aplye
And then doste affyrme, the chefe cause to be
For that, there is no vertue in the
It is because, god wyl the not conuart
So is he the cause, of thyne iniquite
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte,
The hyest gyft, which god to the hath lent
Aboue all creatures, on earth create
Is thy frewyll, by which thou mayste consent
To vertue or vyce, both early and late
For yf thou couldest not, frewyl were frustrate
And all gods preceptes, in euery parte
In vayne to the, they were all promulgate
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
If frewyll can not, but to synne consent
Thou canst not proue it, a frewyl to be
For yf wyll can not chose, this indifferent
Uertue or vyce, there is necessite
Which compelleth wyll, to synne thou mayste se
And then is not wyll, fre in any parte
But god as a dome instrumente, doth vse the
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Thy phrase of speache quod I, is very obscure
Thou sayest me thynke, that mans wyll is not fre
Yf it can not chose, for to put in vre
As well vertu as vyce, in eche degre
Yf not, than thou sayest god must nedes be
The cause of my synne, in dede or in harte
And that can I proue, be thou sure quod she
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte

Nota.

Fyrst thou must graunt, thou arte a christen man

And planted, in Christes churche by helpe of grace
I speake to the, and not a to pagan
For I knowe ye twayne, are not in one case
Thou with that grace, I say mayste purchase
To haue further grace, from synne to conuarte
Euen by thy frewyll, thou canst not this deface
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
Now synce thou must needes, graunt this to be true
That by thy frewyll, thou mayste alway consent
Not onely to synne, but also to vertue

Apoca. 3.

By helpe of grace, which is euer present

Now to saye frewyll, is not permynent
In thy soule, the dyuell doth the man peruarte
As I wyll proue to the, euen contynent
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Whan that thou doste saye, thou haste no frewyll
Thou mayst as well saye, no faute is in the
For that, that thou canst do nothyng but yll
Thou canst, in no wyse to vertue agre

God temtethe no man to euyll. Iacob. 1.

And then, for lacke therof condempned to be

Thou woldest proue god, to play a tyrauntes parte
But leue that erroure, and learne this of me
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


By that reason quod I, I se in dede
That I shuld proue god, the cause of my synne
And the farther me thynke, that I procede
In this matter, more blyndnesse I fall inne
Therfore I wyll leue, for nought I do wynne
Nor they neyther quod she, whiche doth take thy parte
To defende an erroure, thy wytte is to thynne
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
In denyenge frewyll, now thou mayst se
That thymage of god, thou doste full defyle
For by wyll, gods sone is fygured to be
In thy soule, from which thou woldest hym exyle
But beware thy selfe, thou dost not begyle
For wyll, I feare me wyll make the to smarte
Thou doste so abuse it, euery meane whyle
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte.
How wyll doth rewle, to reason contrary

It is not good to haue respecte of person in Iugement. Pro. 24.


I reporte me, to trew experience
Doth not moost iuges, from Iustice vary
Yes yes, and that well knoweth, theyr conscyence
Iudgement is defarde, but for what pretence
I know not, for I can not, serche the harte
Onlesse I may iudge, with the wyse mannes euydence
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
What sayth the wyseman quod I, in that thynge
Doth he agaynst Iudges, any thynge surmyse
Ye mary quod she, his wordes I wyll brynge
Forth vnto the, thou shalt here what he cryse
Gyftes and rewardes sayth he, doth blynde the eyese
Of Iudges, which hath a couetous harte
Causyng them, trew iudgement cleane to dispyse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


euerlastīg wo be vnto them which make vnrighteous lawes and do wryte agaynst iustice to the intente to oppresse poore men in Iudgement. Esa. 10. Blessyd is the man which hath no counsel of the wicked & hath not stande in ye way of sinners and that hath not sytte in a chayre of pestilance. Psal. 1.

I coulde shewe the scriptures, many one mo

Which doth reproue such, as iudge not ryghtly
Oh what curse is that, whan god doth cry wo
Unto all rewlers, in auctorite
Which doth not mayntayne ryght and equitie
O man thynkest thou not from hence to departe
And that as thou doste iudge, iudged thou shalt be
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
What rewle doth frendshyp nowe bere in eche place
Without dew respect had to the offence
Fauoure doth Iustice, euen clearly deface
Beynge by frendshyp now brought in presence
And yf I lye looke on experience
Doth this with gods lawe agre, in any parte
A iudge to syt, in a chayre of pestilence
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
But the cause hereof, what is it but wyll
When he doth rewle, and hath reason reiecte
It is fre thou sayest, such thynges to fulfyll
Trewlye so it is, thou shewest the effecte
But canst thou turne nowe, or arte thou subiecte
So much to this vyce, thou canst not conuarte
Then art thou damned without more respecte
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Softe quod I, me thynke thou speakyst very large
Agaynst Iudges as though all dyd amys
Wylt thou with fautes of some, all the reste charge
Me thynke in that small charite there is
Nay quod she, thou mayst vnderstande, in thys
That all such, as doth play a trew Iudges parte
Are not blame worthy, for doyng Iustis
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


In that quod I, thou hast answered me well
But yet in one thyng, thou doste me offende
Thou sayest, I must nedes be damned in hell
So thou woldest make me dispayre, at myne ende
Mary quod she, yf thou wylt styll defende
That god doth gyue the, no powre to conuarte
Then mayest thou dispayre, for thou canst not amende
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
Yf god dyd not offer, to the his grace
Which by thy frewyll, thou mayest leue or take
Of iustice he coulde not, damne the in that case
But syth wylfully, thou doest it forsake
Thy moost greuous payne, in thinfernall lake
Shalbe for that thou, woldest not here reuarte
From synne, but wylfully gods preceptes brake
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Do lewde preestes lacke grace, which kepeth not theyr vowes

These are cursed childrē leuing the ryghte waye and are geuen to errours. 2. Pet. 2.


Do ryche mē lacke grace, which help not ye pore
Do lawers lacke grace, which from the right bowes
Doth that man lacke grace, whiche doth kepe an hoore
Doth those men lacke grace, which do false mē succoure
Doth he lacke grace, whiche doth gods worde peruarte
Doth he lacke grace, which doth poore men deuoure
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Wyll thou saye quod I, that these lacke not grace
Yes forsoth quod she, they lacke grace in dede
But why, because they wyll it not inbrace
For god doth offre it, theyr soules cleane to wede
From all fylthynesse, and forth wolde them lede
To farther vertu, yf they from it not starte
So that they lacke therof, of wyll doth procede
Remembre therfore, thou man what thou arte


Now thou wretched man, here thou mayest perceaue
How thou doest offende, through thy wyckednesse
Euen worse then a beaste, thou doste thy selfe behaue
No threatnyng nor preachyng, can thy lyfe redresse
No plage of god, can turne thy wylfulnesse
Surely I beleue, thou haste Pharos harte
That thus abusest wyll, agaynst gods goodnesse
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
I praye the quod I, speake no more of wyll
For truely I fele, in my conscience
The faute is in me, yf I my soule kyll
For of gods wyll, I haue experience
Yf I peryshe, it is my neclygence
Is it so quod she, then thou mayest conuarte
Why doest thou therto, slacke thy diligence
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Now to leue wyll, and to another thynge
The which I told the, that thou doest abuse
It is gods hye gyfte, of vnderstandynge
The which the holy ghost, in the dyd infuse
Ioyned with reason, so that none excuse
Of yngnoraunce, thou shuldest aleage on thy parte
But knowyng good and yll, and how them to vse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Understandynge, as I tolde the before
Is in very beastes, in a certayne kynde
Through which they, are brought euermore
To serue the man, accordynge to thy mynde
And when disobedient, thou dost them fynde
With correction, thou makest them to smarte
And then as a lambe, the strongest thou mayste bynde
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


But vnderstandynge, now beynge in the
Thou haste it, with reason for to discus
All thynges, which are good or bad in degre
And them to vse, to gods honoure as thus
All good thynges to vse, as gyftes gracious
And euyll thynges perceauynge, from them to reuarte
But how thou doste vse it, it is marueylous
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
As god hath made, beastes to be vnder the
So arte thou vnder god, hym to obaye
And because to know his wyll, sure thou shuldest be
Understandynge he hath gyuen the alwaye
Not lyke to a beaste, and yet I may saye
Soner dost thou make, a beast to conuarte
Then thou wylte, to god by nyght or by daye
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
The beast by sore beatyng, here thou dost teache
To knowe thy mynde sure, and it to fulfyll
But god in his ministers, to the doth preache
Declaryng dayly, vnto the gods wyll
But thou lyke one, which therof colde no skyll
Wylt not obaye god, although thou doste smarte
And yet wyll saye, thou arte gods darlyng styll
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
In that quod I, me thinke I coulde answere the
By the wordes of the wyse man, wrytten playne
The chylde whom the father doth beate, sayth he
The same doth he loue, and wyll hym mayntayne
Now by this I may saye, to the agayne
God scourgynge vs, playeth a good fathers parte
That is truth quod she, but more grace to optayne
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Lyke a father, god doth the admonyshe
Many sondry wayes thy soule for to wynne
And with dyuers plages, he doth the punyshe
But when to conuarte, wylt thou once begynne
Nay rather thou wylt defende, thy foule synne
How arte thou gods chyld, in dede or in harte
When thou for his lawe, doth not passe a pynne
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Therfore onlesse, thou thy lyfe doest amende
To call god father, thou arte not worthy
For such father such sonne, shall not contende
Therfore god, vnto his chyldren doth cry

Ae. 11. & 19. 1. Pet. 1.

Be holy sayth he, as I am holy

Turne vnto me, and from synne reuarte

Ezech. 18.

And eternall deth, ye shall neuer dy

Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte,
Thus god is god, to the man moste vnkynde
To call the by grace, which thou doest abuse
Understandynge, in the doth seme to be blynde

He that knowethe his lordes wyll and doth it not shal be beten with many strypes. Lu. 12.

For as he shulde be, thou doest hym not vse

Thou thynkest to be gods chylde, and yet doest refuse
To do that pertayneth, to a good chyldes parte
Which is to please hym, thou shuldest dayly muse
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Thou oughtest, vnderstandynge hole to aplye
Unto gods honoure, with a faythe perfyte
But thou from god, turnest it cleane a wrye
By takynge scripture, to thyne apetyte
I pray the, what vertue can I resyte
But that thou fyndest, scripture it to peruarte
By false vnderstandynge, from gods truth quyte
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


Of this sorte, thou hast full many a one

Yf thou make a vowe vnto god be not slacke to performe it. Eccl. 5. Deut. 23. [illeg.]. 6.


As preestes chefely, which there vowes do not kepe
And yf kytte wyll come, they wyll not lye alone
Tushe say they, we are nother stones nor shepe
This makes them to wake, when other doth slepe
Such vnderstande, gods worde ouerthwarte
They feare not, ne thynke the paynes of hell depe
Remembre I saye, thou man what thou arte.
Some sayth quod I, that they ought to haue wyues
For they say in dede, they can not lyue chaste
They muste nedes go quod she, whom the dyuell dryues
For of vertuous lyuynge, they haue no taste
As to faste and praye, nay tye of that haste
They wyll fede, and playe a reuelers parte
For to saye theyr seruyce, they counte it tyme waste
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
They vse not the meanes, to lyue a chast lyfe
For where as they, shuld be solytary
Contrarye, to all pleasures they are ryfe
And commonly, couet lyght company
Then reason they, there is no remedy
We must nedes mary, our fleshe to subuarte
Thus for theyr vowes, they care not a butterfly
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Thus of vnderstandynge, the grace they distroye
And lyke beastes they lyue, without godly respecte
Uery Epicures, sekynge belly ioye
With which, all the realme they haue infecte
Fastynge is now, so clearely reiecte
That no good preacher, can make them conuarte
Well, I say no more, but this in effecte
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.


I pray the quod I, of them speake no more
Nor yet of none other, it is tyme to ende
I se well, vertue decayeth very sore
I haue herde as moche, as I do intende
Arte thou wery quod she, god the amende
Lo here thou mayste se thy myscheuous harte
Thou thynkest tyme longe, thy lyfe to reprehende
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
I haue done quod she, but now thou mayest se
That I haue kepte promyse, as I dyd saye
Haue I not proued the, so wycked to be
That thou gods ymage, in thy soule doest decaye
So moch as lyeth in the, thou canst not saye naye
I haue not flattered the truly, in no parte
But now thou arte warned, conuart whyle thou maye
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
Defarre not amendment, leste tyme do fayle the
Uncertayne thou arte, whan deth shall the kyll
Therfore to be sure, take warnynge of me
Faste, watche, and praye, and do not thy soule spyll
Turne thou to god, and turne to the he wyll
I can say no more, for now I wyll departe
But yet at my goynge, kepe this in mynde styll
Remembre I say, thou man what thou arte.
When she had thus spoken, awaye she flewe
Mountyng wonders hye, into the wynde
So that where she became, I neuer knewe
Then dyd I reuolue, her wordes in my mynde
And when that I, the next leasure dyd fynde
I wrote out her sentence, hole with my penne
Wherin I perceaue, how people are blynde
Whom god graunte to mende, saye we all amen.
FINIS.


The Lenuoy of the Auctor.

Go forthe my booke, speake thy mynde
And flatter none, of no degre
All men, be men of Adams kynde
Without any diuersite
For all mens soules created be
To gods ymage, as thou dost tell
Which they foule blotte, as they may se
Yf that they do, peruse the well.
And I praye the, tell all men this
Yf chaunce I fayle, in any thynge
That I erre not, of no malys
In erroure, any man to brynge
But am redy to reformynge
In any thynge, that thou dost saye
But truely, to my knowlegynge
Thou tellest the truth, nere as thou maye
And where, as lacketh eloquence
To make the pleasaunt, for to rede
Axe pardon, for my necligence
For I confesse, in very dede
That of lernynge, surely I nede
To make the, a more pleasaunte style
But a rude wytte, rudely doth lede
So rudely nedes, I must compyle


And all doutes, cleane to put awaye
Who was thyne auctor, the to frame
Saye Myles Hogarde, so swere thou maye
Though some doth thynke, he settes his name
To that, which other men myght clame
But of that, no man profe can brynge
And yf they can, let them hym shame
As well they maye, prouyng that thynge.
But now an ende, of the to make
Trustynge thou shalt, be taken well
God graunt vs all, vyce to forsake
And to thynke on both, heuen and hell
With feare and loue, not to rebell
Agaynst gods lawe, in any case
And then no doute, but we shall dwell
With hym, in his moost ioyfull place.
FINIS.
God saue the Kynge.