University of Virginia Library

The First Egloge of the miseries and maners of the Court and Courtiers.

Coridon first speaketh.
Forsooth frende Cornix nought can my heart make light
When I remember the stormes of yester night,
The thunder & lightning, the tempest & the hayle
Hath playnely wasted our profite and auayle,
The fearefull thunder with greeuous clap and sounde
Our Corne hath beaten downe flat vnto the grounde,
With tempest after and violence of rayne
That it as I doubt shall neuer rise agayne.
The hayle hath beaten our shepe within the folde,
That all be febled aswell the yong as olde,
Our milke is turned and waxen pale and soure,
The storme and tempest vpon our couches poure,
Our flocke and fieldes is all our whole riches,
Which still is subiect to suche vnhappines:
For after that we haue done both cost and payne,
One sodeyn tempest destroyeth all agayne.
Then farewel welfare, worse chance we[n]ede not feare
Saue onely to sucke our clawes with the Beare.
The Citizens haue great treasour sikerly
In cofers closed auoyde of ieopardie,
Their coynes couched faste vnder locke and key,
From place to place they may the same conuay
When they of the theues perceiue the din and sounde:
But still must our corne remayne vpon the grounde,
Abiding stormes, hayle, thunder and tempest,
Till that it be for sikle ripe and prest.
As for their riches no thunder, frost nor hayle,
No storme nor tempest can hurt or disauayle.
Suche carefull chaunces and such aduersitie
Us alway kepeth in wretched pouertie.

Cornix answereth.
O Coridon my mate I sweare so haue I blis,
Thou playnly speakest like as the matter is,
But as for my parte my minde and wit is blinde
To knowe who gideth all wether storme and winde,
But this thing I knowe, but yet not parfitely,
Yet bolde dare I be to speake to thee playnly,
For if that I spake it in some audience
Some men would maligne and take it for offence,
If God (as men say) doth heauen and earth sustayne,
Then why doth not he regarde our dayly payne?
Our greeuous labour he iustly might deuide,
And for vs wretches some better life prouide.
Some nought doth labour and liueth pleasauntly,
Though all his reason to vices he apply:
But see with what sweat, what busines and payne
Our simple liuing we labour to obtayne:
Beholde what illes the shepheardes must endure
For flocke and housholde bare liuing to procure,
In feruent heate we must intende our folde,
And in the winter almost we frese for colde:
Upon the harde ground or on the flintes browne
We slepe, when other lye on a bed of downe.
A thousande illes of daunger and sicknesse,
With diuers sores our beastes doth oppresse:
A thousande perils and mo if they were tolde
Dayly and nightly inuadeth our poore folde.
Sometime the wolfe our beastes doth deuour,
And sometime the thefe awayteth for his hour:
Or els the souldiour much worse then wolfe or thefe
Agaynst all our flocke inrageth with mischefe.
See howe my handes are with many a gall,
And stiffe as a borde by worke continuall,
My face all scoruy, my colour pale and wan,
My head all parched and blacke as any pan,
My beard like bristles, so that that a pliant leeke
With a little helpe may thrust me throw the cheeke,
And as a stockfishe wrinkled is my skinne,
Suche is the profite that I by labour winne.
But this my labour should greue me much the lesse
If rest or pleasure came of my businesse:
But one sodayne storme of thunder, hayle or rayne,
Agayne all wasteth wherfore I toke this payne.
This is the rewarde, the dede and worke diuine,
Unto whose aulters poore shepheardes incline:
To offer tapers and candles we are fayne,
And for our offering, lo, this we haue agayne.
I can not declare what pitie and mercy
Wrappeth vs wretches in this harde misery,
But this wot I well, it is both right and mede,
There moste to succour where doth appeare most nede.

Coridon
Ho there frende Cornix, thou wadest nowe to farre,
Thy selfe forgetting thou leapest ouer the barre:
Smal is my knowledge, thou many a thing hast sene,
Yet out of the way forsoth I see thee clene.
The king of heauen is mercifull and iust,
And them all helpeth which put in him their trust:
When we deserue he striketh not alway,
This in the pulpit I hear[d] syr Peter say,
Yet ofte he striketh when man is obstinate,
And by no meanes will his misliuing hate:
So all these plages and inconuenience
Fal[l]s on vs wretches onely for our offence.

Cornix
For what offence? thou art mad so to say,
Were we of that sorte which did our Lorde betray,
Or that consented our Lorde to crucify?
We neuer were suche thy selfe can testifie.

Coridon
Nowe trust me truly though thou be neuer so wroth,
I nought shall abashe to thee to say the troth:
Though we shepheardes be out of company,
Without occasion we liue vnhappely,
Seke well among vs and playnly thou shalt see
Theft, brauling, malice, discorde, iniquitie,
Wrath, lechery, leasing, enuy and couetise,
And briefly to speake, truely we want no vice.

Cornix
What, nay man pardie all we do not offence,
Yet all haue sorowe without all difference,
Say nought man but truth, do God nothing deserue
[W]ithout difference, yet be all like to sterue.

Coridon
What ceasse man for shame thou art of reason scant,
The wise nowe must learne wit of the ignoraunt:
I haue no knowledge saue onely of my tarre,
Yet this I perceaue, man should not seke to farre
In Gods workes, he all doth for the best.
If thou findest here no easement, wealth ne rest,
What then, seke farther, for playnely so shall I,
In some place fortune beholdeth merily.
I bide no longer by saint Thomas of Kent
In suche bare places where euery day is Lent,
The Frers haue store euery day of the weke,
But euery day our meat is for to seke.
I nought haue to bye, begge can I not for shame
Except that I were blinde, impotent or lame:
If suche a gadling as I should begge or craue
Of me suche mercy and pitie would men haue,
That they for almes (I sweare by Gods sockes)
In euery towne would make [m]e scoure the stockes:
That can one Drome by many assayes tell,
With that ill science I purpose not to mell,
Here nothing I haue wherfore I nede to care,
Nowe Cornix adue streight forwarde will I fare.

Cornix
Streight forwarde man, hei Benedicite,
All other people haue as great care as we,
Onely bare nede is all our payne and wo,
But these Towne dwellers haue many paynes mo,
Our payne is pleasour nere in comparison
Of their great illes and sore vexation.
Of all suche thinges haue I experience,
Then mayst thou surely geue to me credence:
Whither wilt thou go to liue more quietly?
Man all the worlde is full of misery.

Coridon
What man, the court is freshe and full of ease,
I can drawe a bowe, I shall some lorde there please,
Thy selfe can report howe I can birdes kill,
Mine arowe toucheth of them nothing but the bill,
I hurte no fleshe, nor bruse no parte at all,
Were not my shoting our liuing were but small:
Lo here a sparowe, lo here be thrushes four,
All these I killed this day within an hour.
I can daunce the raye, I can both pipe and sing,
If I were mery I can both hurle and fling,
I runne, I wrastle, I can well throwe the barre,
No shepheard throweth the axeltrie so farre,
If I were mery I could well leape and spring,
I were a man mete to serue a prince or king.
Wherfore to the Court nowe will I get me playne,
Adue swete Cornix, farewell yet once agayne,
Prouide for thy selfe, so shall I do for me.

Cornix
Do way Coridon, for Gods loue let be,
Nought els is the Court but euen the deuils mouth,
And place most carefull of East, west, north, & south:
For thy longe seruice there nede shall be thy hyre,
Out of the water thou leapest into the fyre.
We liue in sorowe I will it not deny,
But in the Court is the well of misery.

Coridon
What man, thou seest, and in likewise see I,
That lusty courtiers go alway iolily,
They haue no labour yet are they wel besene,
Barded and garded in pleasaunt white and grene,
They do nought els but reuell, slepe and drinke,
But on his foldes the poore shepheard muste thinke.
They rest, we labour, they gayly decked be
While we go ragged in nede and pouertie,
Their colour lustie, they bide no storme nor shours,
They haue the pleasoures, but all the paynes are ours.
They haue all thinges, but we wretches haue nought,
They sing, they daunce, while we sore sigh for thought.
But what bringeth them to this prosperitie,
Strength, courage, frendes, crafte and audacitie.
If I had frendes I haue all thing beside,
Which might in court a rowme for me prouide.
But sith courtiers haue this life continually,
They haue all pleasour and nought of misery.

Cornix
Not so Coridon, oft vnder yelowe lockes
Be hid foule scabbes and fearefull French pockes,
Their reuilde shirtes of cloth white, soft and thin
Ofte time cloketh a foule and scoruy skin.
And where we labour in workes profitable,
They labour sorer in worke abhominable.
They may haue shame to iet so vp and downe
When they be debtours for dublet, hose and gowne,
And in the tauerne remayne they last for lag,
When neuer a crosse is in their courtly bag.
They crake, they boste, and vaunt as they were wood,
And moste when they sit in midst of others good.
Nought haue they fooles but care and misery,
Who hath it proued all courting shall defy.

Coridon
Mary Syr by this I see by experience
That thou in the Court has kept some residence.

Cornix
Remembring of court the payne continuall
I thinke these paynes but easy, short and small:
So the remembraunce of greeuous care and payne
Causeth me gladly this hardnes to sustayne.
Who that hath liued in court I thee assure,
In stede of pleasour may this our life endure.
Our nede is eased with pleasaunt libertie,
There care is heaped with harde captiuitie,
I thought our liuing care and vexation
Before of the court or thou made mention.

Coridon
If the court be suche as thou dost playnly tell
I thinke it folly with it to deale or mell,
Better is freewill with nede and pouertie
Then in the court with harde captiuitie:
But tell me Cornix I pray thee instantly,
Howe knowest thou first this geare so perfitely.

Cornix
While I in youth in Croidon towne did dwell
Often to the court I coles brought to sell,
And then I learned and noted parfitely
Of court and courtiers the care and misery.
For I lurked and none regarded me,
Till I had knowledge of hye and lowe degree,
What was their maner, behauour and vsage,
The more I taried more sawe I of outrage.

Coridon
Then farewell courting, I see thou countest best
Here to remayne in simple welth and rest,
But in the meane season I pray thee hartily
Declare me all whole the courtly misery.
Beholde our wethers [l]ye chewing of the cud,
Here is no perill of water dike nor mud,
Slouth loueth slombring, muche slepe is reprouable,
But mery talking is greatly comfortable.
Here is colde shadowe, here is a cleare fountayne,
When wordes greueth drinke and begin agayne,
For longe time passed I haue heard of thy lore,
Which thing me moueth to heare thee talke the more.
Begin and shewe me the courtes wretchednesse,
So I perchaunce shall set therby the lesse:
And where longe talking oft greueth many a man
I shall thee furnishe with wordes nowe and then.
What say on Cornix, why art thou nowe so still?
Thy wit and reason was wont to be at will.

Cornix
Fayne would I common for pleasour and pastime,
But truth is counted most greeuous fault and crime,
And some might me heare which by their wordes soure
Might bring me in court to greeuous displeasoure,
Because I shall proue all them that court doth haunt
Miserable fooles, mad men and ignoraunt.
Therefore Coridon among the bowes prye
If there lurke any Iay, Sterling, Thrush or Pye
To note my wordes, and chat them foorth agayne,
Wherby I might winne displeasour, losse or payne.

Coridon
Losse, Gods dominus, to lose thou haste no good,
Saue hooke and cokers, thy botle and thy hood,
Thy hood all ragged can kepe no body drye,
Many hath as good, though none can them espye:
He hath small reason that hath a hood more fine,
And would for malice berob thee here of thine,
As for displeasour I warrant thee also.
Thou shalt for princes great ease and pleasour do,
For many vpon them do dayly craue and call
To be in seruice, which are not mete at all:
To be in the court they labour so gladly
Because they knowe not therof the misery.
Whom to receiue it is not profitable,
And to despise them it is not honorable.
If thou suche constrayne to leaue of their own minde,
Thou doest to princes a very pleasour kinde,
And other fooles shall take thy tale in sporte,
And neuerthelesse shall to the court resorte.
Then let not Cornix, playnly to say the troth,
Let scabbed clawe, and gyly men be wroth,
Better is for truth suffer paynes harde,
Then for false flattering to haue a great rewarde.

Cornix
Thou saiest but reason, I laude thee by saint Iohn,
Then boldly demaunde I pray thee Coridon
Of suche matters as to the court belonge,
And I shall answere, dene if it be wrong
That I haue learned by practise and science,
I shall as I may geue thee intelligence.

Coridon
The court as thou sayest is false and deceyuable,
Then tell me wherfore that men most honorable
Therin remayning abideth care and payne,
And yet by their will they will not foorth agayne.

Cornix
Many thinges be which moueth people blinde
To ren to the court with feruent heart and minde,
But of all thinges this specially is one,
The hope of honour called ambition.
Right so Minalcas did luste of honour call,
And as he counted, ambition is egall
Unto that vertue which men call charitie.
Charitie suffreth all harde aduersitie,
All payne and labour, and all vexation:
And euen as muche suffreth ambition.
For worldly wretches in honour to excell
Force not to labour downe to the pit of hell,
Lo here chiefe cause why men to court resorte,
But once in the court when they haue had comfort,
Suche is of mankinde the blinde calamitie,
That in one state if they longe time haue be,
A life there liuing but vile and full of shame,
Yet by no meane can they despise the same.
So who that in youth hath vsed courtes rage,
They finde no meane to leaue the same in age,
And to win laudes and prayse of the commontie
In no harde labour thinke they difficultie:
But if men hunted for God and hye glory,
As they hunt dayly for honour transitory,
Right fewe or none would to the court apply,
There to be tangled with care and misery.
But to the court if thou hast thine intent
Because Prelates and wise men it frequent,
Heare what the shephearde of Nazareth doth say,
As I heard Faustus declare vpon a day:
Upon the hye chayre and seat of Moyses
Sitte the olde Scribes and sect of Pharises,
Liue as they teach, but liue not as they do.
And thus in the court man must behaue him so.
His life refourming like as suche ought to liue,
Not by example which they to other giue.

Coridon
These be hye matters and farre beyonde my wit,
If suche be the court what man should mel with it?
Yet I assure thee before this I haue sene
That worthy shepheardes long in the court haue bene.

Cornix
All that I graunt thee, but aske and thou shalt finde
That suche in the court abode agaynst their mind,
As the riche shepheard which woned in Mortlake.

Coridon
O Cornix, Cornix, fele howe my hart doth quake,
On him when I thinke my heart is full of payne,
Would God that we could get him to liue agayne.
What time he liued some did him blame iwis,
Which since he died do him sore lacke and mis.
He passed Codrus, he passed Minalcas,
He passed Mopsus and also Lisidas,
None other shephearde might with that man compare,
In during his life we neded not to care,
But euer sith time that he was dead and gone
We suffer wrongs, defender haue we none,
He was the patron of thinges pastorall,
His face and fauour forget I neuer shall.
Whyle I was yong he came vnto our cotage,
Then was my father Amintas farre in age,
But the same shepheard gaue him both cloth and golde,
O Cornix, the yong be much vnlike the olde.

Cornix
Yes since his dayes a cocke was in the fen,
I knowe his voyce among a thousande men,
He taught, he preached, he mended euery wrong,
But Coridon alas no good thing bideth long.
He all was a cocke, he wakened vs from slepe,
And while we slumbred he did our foldes kepe,
No cur, no foxes, nor butchers dogges wood
Coulde hurte our fouldes, his watching was so good,
The hungry wolues which that time did abounde
What time he crowed abashed at the sounde.
This cocke was no more abashed of the foxe
Then is a lion abashed of an oxe.
When he went faded the floure of all the fen,
I boldly dare sweare this cocke trode neuer hen.
This was a father of thinges pastorall,
And that well sheweth his Church cathedrall,
There was I lately about the middest of May,
Coridon his Church is twenty sith more gay
Then all the Churches betwene the same and Kent,
There sawe I his tome and Chapell excellent.
I thought fiue houres but euen a little while,
Saint Iohn the virgin me thought did on me smile,
Our parishe Church is but a dongeon
To that gay Churche in comparison.
If the people were as pleasaunt as the place
Then were it paradice of pleasour and solace,
Then might I truely right well finde in my heart
There still to abide and neuer to departe.
But since that this cocke by death hath left his song
Trust me Coridon there many a thing is wrong,
When I sawe his figure lye in the Chapell side,
Like death for weping I might no longer bide.
Lo all good thinges so sone away doth glide,
That no man liketh to long doth rest and abide.
When the good is gone (my mate this is the case)
Seldome the better reentreth in the place.

Coridon
Thou saiest truth Cornix I make to God auowe,
But hay mate Cornix see where be we nowe?
Farre from the matter where we first began,
Begin where we left I pray thee if thou can.

Cornix
That shall I lightly: thou saydest that a sorte
Of goode olde shepheardes did to the court resorte,
But suche as be good be there agaynst their will,
For truely in court they finde lesse good then ill,
To see muche amis to them it is great payne,
When for their wordes none will his vice refrayne,
Then get they but scorne and indignation,
And for their good mindes payne and vexation.

Coridon
I pray thee Cornix procede, tell by and by.

Cornix
Of court and courtiers the payne and misery?
That were a longe matter and very harde to do.

Coridon
This is best remedy, take longer time therto.
Here is a pleasaunt shadowe, here is a pleasaunt coole,
Take banke and floures for cushen and for stoole.

Cornix
Then lay downe thy hooke, geue me the bottle nere,
With often washing the throte and voyce is clere.

Coridon
Lo here the bottle, drinke suche as is therein,
Drinke better, and then in the name of God begin,

Cornix
A syr well drawen, and that with little payne,
Then turne we our speche vnto the court agayne.
Who will to the court first let him thinke before
Whether he may suffer labour and paynes sore,
Both hunger and thirst, iniury and wrong,
For these shall he finde the rude courtiers among:
And more after these, yet let him thinke agayne
Whether in the court he may that thing obtayne
Which he desireth, me thinke the contrary,
Men would finde honour, there finde they misery.
Thus all be fooles which willingly there dwell,
Coridon the court is the bayting place of hell.

Coridon
That is hardly saide man, by the roode of rest.

Cornix
I graunt it is harde, but to say truth is best,
But yet shall I proue my saying veritable,
Aduert my wordes, see if I be culpable.
Unto our purpose: by diuers wayes three
Men may be fooles, I shall them count to thee:
They all be fooles which set their thought and minde
That thing for to seke which they shall neuer finde.
And they be fooles which seke thing with delite,
Which if they finde is harme and no profite.
And he is a foole, a sotte, and a geke also,
Which choseth a place vnto the same to go,
And where diuers wayes lead thither directly
He choseth the worst and most of ieopardie:
As if diuers wayes laye vnto Islington,
To Stow on the Wold, Quaueneth or Trompington,
To Douer, Durham, to Barwike or Exeter,
To Grantham, Totnes, Bristow or good Manchester
To Roan, Paris, to Lions or Floraunce.

Coridon
(What ho man abide, what already in Fraunce.
Lo, a fayre iourney and shortly ended to,
With all these townes what thing haue we to do?

Cornix
By God man know thou that I haue had to do
In all these townes and yet in many mo,
To see the worlde in youth me thought was best,
And after in age to geue my selfe to rest.

Coridon
Thou might haue brought one and set by our village.

Cornix
What man I might not for lacke of cariage.
To cary mine owne selfe was all that euer I might,
And sometime for ease my sachell made I light.

Coridon
To our first matter we better must entende,
Els in twelue monthes we scant shall make an ende.

Cornix
True saide, Coridon, that can I not deny,
But thine owne selfe did leade me from the way.
Unto these townes nowe to returne agayne),
To any of them all if there lay wayes twayne,
The one sure and short and leading directly,
The other way longer and full of ieopardie,
That foole were worth a bable and a hood,
Which would chose the worst, perceiuing wel the good.
One of these follies or all oppresse that sorte
Which not constrayned vnto the court resorte,
Eyther that they search which they may not attayne,
Or that which gotten shall do them hurt and payne,
Or of two wayes they vse to leaue the best,
For on no goodnes doth their desires rest.

Coridon
What is the desire and purpose principall,
Chiefly frequented among these Courtiers all,
And for what rewarde take they suche busines.

Cornix
Of that coulde Codrus the truth to expresse,
And I shall tell thee as true as the Gospell,
After like maner as I heard Codrus tell.
Who that remayne by king or princes side
Endure great paynes fiue thinges to prouide,
Who that in court may one of them purchase
Thinketh to haue wonne a pleasaunt gift of grace.
The first is honour, I tolde thee of this same,
The seconde is laude, hye name or worldly fame,
The thirde is power might or aucthoritie,
The fourth is riches chiefe roote of dignitie,
The fifte is pleasour, lust and voluptuousnes,
For these do men sue vnto the court doubtles.
Beside these be some, but they be sowen thin,
Resorting to court there soules for to win,
So muche more merit supposing to obtayne,
Howe much more they bide of displeasour & payne,
Of these all shall be my communication.

Coridon
Nowe speake on Cornix with Gods benison.

Cornix
All these shall I proue by playne experience
Not onely witles and voyde of sapience,
But also fooles, men ignoraunt and wood,
And of all fooles moste worthy of a hood.
But or I begin I take thee to witnes,
That no prince I blame deliting in goodnes:
But onely to speake by protestation,
To say nought but truth is no detraction.
Agaynst our soueraigne nothing do I reply,
In whom all vertue doth spring abundantly:
And other princes and lordes great or small,
While they flee vices I blame none of them all.
And though in talking often times call I must
Some princes subiect to folly, sinne, and lust,
I would not haue that ascribed to them all.
I am not so fonde, so dull nor rusticall,
But that I perceyue that many princes be,
Whose life and vertue is after their degree.
With feare of God and dread of payne doubtles
They slake those vices which riseth on nobles.
And where ofte vices spring moste in hye degree,
By men of riches, wealth, lust and libertie,
Because that no man dare blame them for offence,
Yet some noble men so gide them by prudence,
Namely assisted by the supernall grace,
So that wit ruleth and lustes haue no place.
Among Gentiles suche princes fi[n]de I can,
As Augustus, Titus, and eke Uespasian,
Traian, Antonius with many other mo,
And Christen princes many one also.
As rich Constantine and olde Archadius,
Theodocius, Charles, and Honorius,
Yea and holy Henry lying at Windesore,
Of such could I count mo then a twentie score.
Beside noble Henry which nowe departed late,
Spectacle of vertue to euery hye estate,
The patrone of peace and primate of prudence,
Which on Gods Church hath done so great expence.
Of all these princes the mercy and pitie,
The loue of concorde, iustice and equitie,
The purenes of life and giftes liberall,
Not lesse vertuous then the said princes all.
And Henry the eyght moste hye and triumphant,
No gifte of vertue nor manlines doth want,
Mine humble spech and language pastorall
If it were able should write his actes all:
But while I ought speake of courtly misery,
Him with all suche I except vtterly.
But what other princes commonly frequent
As true as I can to shewe is mine intent,
But if I should say that all the misery,
Which I shall after rehearse and specify,
Were in the court of our moste noble kinge,
I should fayle truth, and playnly make leasing,
And if that I sayde that in it were no vice,
So should I lye, in like maner wise.
As for my part, I blame no man at all,
Saue such as to vice be subiect, bounde and thrall.
For among all men this wise standeth the case,
That more ill then good doth growe in euery place.

Coridon
Right well excused, I thought not erst sithene,
That simple Cornix had halfe this subtiltie.
But nowe appereth the very truth certayne,
That men of worship haue not best wit and brayne.
Nowe tell howe Courtiers which gape for honour,
In stede of honour finde paynes sharpe and sour.

Cornix
All they which suffer in court labour and payne,
Thereby supposing true honour to obtayne,
It much abuseth, my wordes nor doctrine
Be much vnable to geue them medicine.
For Elebor the olde with all his salues pure
Their wilfull foly could scantly helpe and cure.
What man would thinke that true honour profounde
In princes halles or courtes may be founde.
There none hath honour by vertue and cunning,
By maners, wisedome, sadnes nor good liuing.
But who hath power, hye rowmes or riches,
He hath moste honour and laude of more and lesse.
For what poore man, a playne and simple soule,
Though he were holy as euer was Saint Powle,
Haste thou euer seene exalted of a king
For all his maners and vertuous liuing.
These be the wordes of Shepherde Siluius,
Which after was pope, and called was Pius.

Coridon
What yes man perdie right many haue bene sene,
Which in poore houses borne and brought vp haue bene
That from lowe rowmes and carefull pouertie
Be nowe exalted to greatest dignitie.

Cornix
Such is the pleasure of princes, to promote
Such vnto honour, which scant be worth a grote.
But whom promote they? geue credence vnto me,
Such as in maners to them moste likest be,
And in what maners? in beastly lechery,
In couetise, ire, or in vile gluttony,
In hastie murther and other crueltie:
Beleue me Coridon, I say but veritie:
A couetous prince hath him moste acceptable,
Which gathereth coyne by meanes disceyuable:
As false accusing, and wrong extortion,
Selling of Iustice, fraude and oppression,
A lecherous prince hath him best in conceyte,
Which can by craftes his place and time best wayt,
Uirgins and wiues moste fayre and amiable
To bring to his bed for lust abhominable.
And a dronken prince hath him as derest mate,
Which moste can surfet, moste reuell and drinke late.
And vnto a prince which loueth crueltie,
Chiefely in fauour and conceyte is he,
Which moste deliteth in sheding mans bloud,
Fewe vicious princes promote such as be good.
Nowe is accepted of men of hye degree,
Nor set in honour from humble pouertie.
Except he done some dede so great of fame,
That all the world may wonder at the same.
But this same honour is neither true nor stable,
Which groweth of roote so ill and detestable.
For very honour, and true or perfect glory
Commeth of actes of laudable memory:
In supportation of right and equitie,
Or in defending the Church and commontie.
Or other actes common or priuate
Which sound to worship, these make a true estate.
But such true honour fewe princes do deserue,
And no more do they which in the court them serue:
Sith all almoste be of misgouernaunce,
For no good do they except it be by chaunce.

Coridon
Yet at the least way such men reputed be
Men of great honour amonge the commontie:
For while such walke in court or in strete,
Eche man inclineth which them doth see or mete.
Off goeth the bonet, a becke at euery worde,
Eche man must needes geue place vnto my Lorde.
After his degree, birth or promotion,
Suche of the commons haue salutation.
And shortly to say, men do them more honour,
Then to the figure of Christ our Sauiour.

Cornix
It is as thou sayest forsooth my Coridon,
But harke what they say at last when men be gone,
Then they salute them in the deuils name,
And pray vnto God that they may dye with shame.
And so doth many by torment and dolour
When fikle fortune liketh on them to loure.
But such as do stoupe to them before their face
Geueth them a mocke when they be out of place:
And one doth whisper soft in anothers eare,
And sayth, this tiran is feller then a bere.

Coridon
Why, and feare they no more for to say thus?

Cornix
No, but harke man what sayth the good pope Siluius
Lo, this same is he which by his bad councell
Causeth our prince to be to vs to fell.
This same is he which rayseth deme and taxe,
This same is he which strayned men on rackes.
This same is he which causeth all this warre,
This same is he which all our wealth doth marre.
This is of Commons the very deadly mall,
Which with these charges thus doth oppresse vs all.
Who him displeaseth he beateth all to dust,
This same is he which killeth whom him lust,
That all the deuils of hell him hence cary,
That we no longer endure his tiranny.
This is the honour and all the reuerence
Geuen vnto them when they be from presence.
But in such honour who euer hath delite,
Which is fraudfull, so faynt and vnperfite.
I am not afeard to call him mad and blinde,
And a very foole, or els a sot of kinde.

Coridon
Cornix my frende, thou speakest nowe to playne,
I feare least this gere shall turne vs vnto payne
If any man be nere, be still a while and harke.

Cornix
I feare not at all nowe I am set on warke:
Beside this (Coridon) in court moste part doth dwell
Flatterers and lyers, curriers of fafell,
Iugglers and disers, and such a shamefull rable
Which for a dinner laude men nothing laudable.
But men circumspect which be discrete and wise,
Doth such vayne laudes vtterly despise.
For truely no laude is named good nor true,
Except it proceede of men which loue vertue.
A ribaudes blame is commendation,
Such vse to slaunder good conuersation.
But suche they commende as be to them semblable,
So their dispraysing to thee is profitable.

Coridon
Nowe truely my heart is eased with the same,
For Godfrey Gormand lately did me blame.
And as for him selfe, though he be gay and stoute,
He hath nought but foly within and eke without.
To blowe in a bowle, and for to pill a platter,
To girne, to braule, to counterfayte, to flatter,
He hath no felowe betwene this and Croydon,
Saue the proude plowman (Gnato) of Chorlington.
Because he alway maligneth against me,
It playne appereth our life doth not agree.
For if we liued both after one rate,
Then should I haue him to me a frendly mate.
But Cornix proceede, tell forth of dignitie.

Cornix
Often in my tale I hindred am by thee.
Such as for honour vnto the court resort,
Looke seldome times vpon the lower sort:
To the hyer sort for moste part they intende,
For still their desire is hyer to ascende.
And when none can make with them comparison,
Against their princes conspire they by treason.
Then when their purpose can not come well to frame,
Agayne they discende and that with vtter shame.
Coridon thou knowest right well what I meane,
We lately of this experience haue seene.
When men would ascende to rowmes honorable,
Euer is their minde and lust insaciable.
What euer they haue, they count the same but small,
While ought is greater, nought can them please but all.
And once in Cambridge I heard a scoller say,
(One of the same which go in copes gay)
That no man should fixe ende of felicitie
In worldly honour, hye rowme or dignitie:
For it is a thing incertayne and vnstable,
Which man of him selfe to puruay is not able.
In another power this honour alway is,
Who moste it seeketh, of it doth often misse.
And who that serueth for honour and hye name,
And in this world to get him noble fame,
Much payne abideth through cares and distresse.
And with many men he hath much busynes:
And oft must he rather the minde of men content,
Then do the pleasure of God omnipotent.
Then sith two honours of diuers sortes be,
One which is geuen of men of honestie.
The second honoure is of a multitude:
For very truth that man of wit is rude,
Which hunteth in court for the first honour,
The same to purchace by care and great labour.
As fortune honour no man can there obtayne,
Where neyther maners nor vertues do rayne.
The seconde honour is of commontie,
Who that requireth, yet more foolishe is he.
For he demaundeth a thing right perillous,
Unsure, vnstable and also vicious,
But both these sortes alway be vexed sore,
When they in honour see many them before,
And often times suche as moste vnworthy be.
For in court seldome is lauded honestie.
Thus who of honour and laude is couetous,
Unto him the court is moste contrarious.
And no where he findeth greater vexation,
Then folowing the court, suing ambition.
For who would ascende to honour principall,
Findeth in the court moste care and payne of all.

Coridon
We haue ynough had of communication
As touching honour and commendation,
Or worldly praysing for rowmes and hye name:
And though more might be declared of the same.
What leaue some my mate for other on to brall,
It were ouermuch for vs to talke of all.
Nowe talke we of might or hye aucthoritie,
Howe men for the same loue in the court to be.
Speede thee, for cloudes appere on euery side,
If any storme fall we can not longer abide.

Cornix
As touching power, might or aucthoritie:
Some thinke in the court in fauour great to be.
To be with princes of power excellent,
Some fooles counteth a thing preeminent.
Or that men should him a kinges tutour call,
Much to commaund, but nought to do at all.
Both peace and battayle to order at his will,
To be of power both to do good and ill.
But many a thousande which haue such power sought,
Haue bene disceyued, and shortly come to nought.
As with one Nero named [C]laudus,
In so great fauour was one Seianus,
That while this Nero was farre from his empire,
Seianus ruled the same at his desire,
So much that Seian had honour then in deede,
As of all the worlde counted the seconde head.
That if this Nero had died or his houre,
This Seian truely should haue bene emperour.
But by one letter he after taken was,
In vtter dishonour deposed from his place.
Led for a spectacle streyght vnto Tiber banke,
And there beheded, such was his mede and thanke.
All his ymages in his honour erect
Were with great malice downe to the grounde deiect.
Thus all his power ended with care and shame,
Who that hath wisedome will note and marke the same.
It is no matter nor thing of certayntie
With mighty princes of great power to be.
No state is febler, more weake and incertayne
Then such as semeth great with his souerayne.
He hath enuious maligners and ill will,
All out of fauour adiudgeth him for ill.
And all the housholde doth commonly him hate,
Which with the master is seruaunt and nere mate.
And this in the world is seene moste commonly,
That all hye rowmes be subiect to enuy.
Such of all other be hated and suspect,
If they ought offende, it lightly is detect.
And from all defence if they be clere and quite,
Then lye they in wayte them sharply to bacbite.
Some for them study fraudes, disceyte and gile,
And talebearers walke and greue them otherwhile.
And like as thine eye is grieued with a mote,
So princes fauour (though it be neuer so hote)
Is lightly grieued, and that for small offence,
Though it were gotten with paynefull diligence.
And oft is it lost for none offence at all,
So much with princes may tonges false make fall.
So much talebearers by craftes forge can,
That the Emperour called Adrian
Slewe his olde frendes, and hated many one
By these talebearers and false detraction.
And many Princes or this haue done the same
By hasty credence, distayning sore their name.
And as in Croidon I heard the Collier preache,
That holy scripture doth vs infourme and teache,
Howe Saule, Dauid, and prudent Salomon
Commaunded to be slayne of such many one,
As hath bene with them in great aucthoritie.
And dayly of such may we example see.
Because Isaac in might did rise and stande,
False Abimelech him droue out of his lande.
And Alexander with his owne handes slewe
Citron his frende, which he did after rewe.
Because he compared vnto this conquerour
His father Philippus, laudes and honour.
And such like chaunce but lately did befall
In the lande of Apuly to the great Senescall:
Which was so greatly in fauour with the Quene,
That none was so great as he him selfe did wene.
And thought in fauour to bide more stedfastly,
For he abused the Queene dishonestly.
But to another the Queene turned her loue,
And then him murdred his presence to remoue.
And when she had founde the meanes him to kill,
Then had she diuers louers at her will.

Coridon
O cursed woman, and deede of crueltie.

Cornix
Yea yea Coridon, mo be as bad as she,
Some haue by malice their sucking children slayne.
But to my matter will I retourne agayne.
Their fraude and malice I will not nowe declare,
Who with them dealeth perceyueth what is care.
But nowe (Coridon) to princes to returne,
Who pleaseth this day is out agayne the morne.
Right fewe or none are by a Princes side
Which doth in fauour continually abide.
While one ascendeth, another doth discende,
This is the thing whereto they moste intende.
And which in court men chiefely go about,
Them selues to bring in, and rub another out.
And then to climbe vp to office and renowme,
And while they ascende to thrust another downe.
Eche one desireth his felowe to excell,
There is none order, no more then is in hell.
No loue, no fauour, fayth nor fidelitie,
One brother can not sure for another be.
The sonne for the father hath no compassion,
And like pitie hath the father of his sonne.
Eche man for him selfe, and the frende for all,
Eche one desireth to be the principall.
Eche one will commaunde and haue preeminence,
And if any one haue place of excellence,
He hath about him a thousande eyne and nine,
And as many tonges to put him to ruine.
On euery side enuyers him awayte,
Deuising meanes to bring him from his state.
A man of power which many men may deare
Hath euer ill will, thus may he many feare.
Hye towres decay builded by flouds side,
Which doth the waues continually abide.
What shall a shepherde do in the court to tende,
Whose life and seruice on one man doth depende.
Though thou in fauour be with a princes or king,
Yet trust not therein, it is vncertayne thing.
Thou haste him not bounde to thee with chayns strong
Of lead or yron to last and tary long.
But with feble waxe suche bande can not last,
When loue waxeth colde, then shall the linkes brast.
The feruour of wrath shall them consume and melt,
Then is thy fauour scant worth a shepes pelt.

Coridon
Of some haue I heard of men of great honour,
Which haue in the court bid alway in fauour.
Till time their princes departed from this life,
And then with the newe had like prerogatife.
Thus in the court nothing so variable
As thou rehearsest, nor yet so reprouable.

Cornix
I graunt thee Coridon, some such haue there bene,
But that is a birde which seldome time is sene.
That is but fortune, and chaunce not on to trust,
But many be throwen vnwarely to the dust.
Some while their princes still liued in renowme,
But when they depart, all turneth vp set downe.
Then if some haue fauour with princes successours,
We see them seldome set in so hye honours,
As with their elders they did before obtayne,
A man soone falleth, and slowe is vp agayne.
So many we see deposed from degree:
And howe much the more they were in dignitie,
So much more after be they vile and abiect,
Their auncient name counted of none effect.
Then they perceyue who was their frende and fo,
Before in honour forsooth they could not so.
To men of power some often stoupe and becke,
Which gladly would see their heades from the necke.
When they by fortune are on the grounde agayne,
Then laugh their foes and haue at them disdayne.
Their frendes dolour and sorowe is not small,
Their owne disworship a shame is worst of all.
For after they liue still in dolour and distresse,
In shame, rebukes, in care and heauynes.
This is the common ende and sure conclusion
Of such as with princes serue for promotion,
Wherfore I dare call them fooles before thee,
Which serue in the court for might or dignitie.

Coridon
Forsooth mate Cornix, I can not well denye,
But that such chaunces do happen commonly.
Then better is small fire one easyly to warme,
Then is a great fire to do one hurt or harme.
I am assured, as for thy selfe and me,
We nede not to feare to fall from our degree.
Beggery is lowest, who that can fare withall
Needeth not to feare to lower state to fall.
But haue done Cornix, and tell the wretchednes
Of such as in court serue onely for riches.
As for the other, the best that we do may
Is, to differre it vntill another day.

Cornix
Well sayde Coridon, I am content with that,
But first let me drinke, I shall the better chat.
This whey is soure, but vse easeth the payne,
Drinke Coridon, and stop it vp agayne.

Coridon
Nowe say on Cornix, thy talking liketh me,
I see that counsell excludeth capacitie.
Saue for thy wisedome or this time as I wene,
With courtly misery I tangled should haue bene.
But well fare councell when it is true and good,
I would that Minalcas this also vnderstoode.

Cornix
Many of the court resort dayly doubtlesse,
In youth to gather some treasure or riches,
Then against age they may go out agayne,
And afterwarde liue without labour or payne.
In hope of this ease and latter libertie,
Many in the court bide longe captiuitie.
And if some courtier thus to him selfe doth say,
Alas shall I neuer ought for my selfe puruey.
When shall I in court some litle banke procure,
That from the bagge and staffe mine age may be sure.
The foole thinketh then moste riches for to haue
Against such season when nerest is his graue.
When nere is ended his iourney of this life,
Then is he for vitayle moste busy and pensife.
Our Sauiour sayth: It is as harde doubtles
To one which fixeth his pleasure on riches
To enter that royalme which is aboue the skye,
As an asse to enter through a needels eye.
I heard our Uicar say in like maner wise
Once when he preached against couetise:
Then it is foly great riches to purchace,
And by it to lose the hope of heauenly place.
Is not Christ able his poore men to sustayne,
Yes, and to rid them out of all other payne.
The poore Apostles be greater nowe of fame
Then riche Cresus, for all his royall name.
When man hath in God his trust and confidence,
In all time of neede he fayleth none expence.
All good men fixe their trust in God pardie,
He knoweth better what thing we neede then we.
Of some poore freers is made more curiously,
Then is some Abbey or riche monastery.
The first hath their trust in God our Creatour,
The other trusteth vpon their vayne treasour.
Thus God oft helpeth them that in him haue trust,
When worldly riches men leaueth in the dust.

Coridon
Cornix, thy promise was not to preache,
But me of the courtiers misery to teache.
Against thine owne selfe thou speakest nowe perdie,
For first thou grutched against pouertie.
Agayne, thou blamest plentie of riches nowe,
But fewe men liuing thy saying will alowe.
For without riches, thou sayest openly
Uertue nor cunning nowe be nothing set by.

Cornix
I will not denye, but it is neede doubtles
For all men liuing for to haue some riches,
But trust me Coridon, there is diuersitie
Betwene to haue riches, and riches to haue thee.
Then thou hast riches when thou despisest store,
Bestowest it well, and forcest not therefore.
But riches haue thee when wretched couetise
Thy minde subdueth to euery ill and vice.
And when thy desire is yet insaciable
Though thou haue treasure almoste innumerable.
Such maner riches (the Collyer tell thee can)
Is vile and odible both vnto God and man.
But nowe to the court for to returne agayne,
Some thinke by princes great riches to obtayne.
But while they couete inriched for to be,
Coridon, forsooth they lese their libertie.
And yet if I should the very truth expres,
No man can in court finde iust and true riches.
If thy lorde geue thee eyther golde or fee,
Unto his seruice more art thou bounde perdie.
Saint Gregory sayth, affirming the same thing,
In greatest giftes is greatest reckening.
But if thou wilt then forth of the court depart,
When by thy prince inriched thus thou art.
Then shall be founde some gile, some fraude or trayne,
By meane wherof thou lesest all agayne.
A fault shall be founde, some one shall thee accuse
Of thing wherof thou did neuer thinke nor muse.
Though thou be giltlesse, yet shalt thou be conuict,
Fare well, thy good all shall be from thee lickt,
Or some backe reckening concerning thine office
Of all thy riches shall pill thee with a trice.
Then art thou clapped in the Flete or Clinke,
Then nought must thou say, whatsoeuer thou thinke.
For if thou begin to murmure or complayne,
Thy life thou lesest, then haste thou harmes twayne.

Coridon
Yet were it better for to continue still
As longe in the court as is the princes will.

Cornix
If thou continue, thou must be diligent
And ready at hande at eche commaundement,
When he commaundeth, thou must be prest to fight
To ride and to go by day and eke by night.
No dreade, no daunger may helpe thee nor excuse,
No payne nor perill mayst thou flee or refuse.
Sometime must thou be in ayre contagious,
And in thousandes other of chaunces perillous.
What he commaundeth, that nedes do thou must,
Be it good or ill, rightwise or uniust.
Laugh when he laugheth, all if thine heart be sad,
Wepe when he wepeth, be thou neuer so glad.
Laude what he laudeth, though it be not laudable,
Blame what he blameth, though it be commendable.
And shortly to speake, thou must all thing fulfill
As is his pleasure, and nothing at thy will.
None of thy wittes are at thy libertie,
Unto thy master they needes must agree.
What is more foolishe, more fonde or imprudent
Then to get riches by such extreme torment.
For nought it is els but playne a phrensey
To bide for riches this care and misery.
It would make one clawe where as it doth not itche
To see one liue poore because he would dye riche.
Because one in court hath gotten good, or twayne,
Should all men suppose the same there to obtayne?
And in hope thereof to lose their libertie,
But seeking riches, such findeth pouertie.
For many in court while they abide riches,
Spende all their treasure and liue in wretchednes,
What saith some foole, spende on a bone viage,
Perchaunce my wages shall passe mine heritage.
But while he spendeth till scant remayne a grote,
Home he retourneth, yea, with a threede bare coate.
His horse is so fat, that playne he is not able
To get his body nor head out of the stable.
His sworde and buckler is pledged at the bere,
And to go lighter, so is his other gere.
The rider walketh now with his bowe and arowes,
With a fayre excuse (in hedges to kill sparowes).
And oft returning he sayde, but all to late.
Adue all courting in the deuils date.

Coridon
A syr, this passeth nowe by the rode of some,
Better were for suche to haue bid at home.
But tell me Cornix, hath all men the bondage
And payne of the court for no more aduauntage.

Cornix
Yes, sometime riches is geuen by some chaunce
To such as of good haue greatest aboundaunce.
Likewise as streames vnto the sea do glide,
But on bare hilles no water will abide:
So if a poore man serue in the court longe while,
Fortune shall neuer so frendly on him smile,
But that a riche man in rowme or hye dignitie
For a litle seruice hath more rewarde then he.
As for the seruice, none in the court shall ponder,
They note the person, still is the poore kept vnder.
For a litle man mete is a small hakney,
So smallest persons haue small rewarde alway.
But men of worship set in aucthoritie
Must haue rewardes great after their degree.
And (Coridon) princes geue nought I tell thee playne,
But when that they lust reuoke agayne.
And so such thinges which princes to thee geue,
To thee be as sure as water in a siue.
Thou mayest not of them make alienation,
Nor the same carye vnto another nation.
Thou mayest not dispose them after thine intent,
But like as thy prince is pleased and content.
Then such vayne riches can be thine by no skill,
Sith thou haste no might to spende them at thy will.
Yea, and moreouer thou haste no facultie
The same to bequeath at will when thou must dye.
If thou want issue, no man shall be thine heyre
Saue onely the prince, thus doth the world fare.
If thou haue issue, succeede shall they not thee,
Except with thy prince they will in seruice be.
How many haue be slayne me needeth not expresse
Of such as them erst auaunced to riches.
So princes are wont with riches some to fede,
As we do our swine when we of larde haue nede.
We fede our hogges them after to deuour,
When they be fatted by costes and labour.
In like wise princes promoteth many one,
And when they be riche, they gnaw them to the bone.
Like as Longinus and Seneca doubtlesse,
Which as sayth Codrus were slayne for their riches,
So writeth Pius (whom some Eneas call)
A clause alleaging of famous Iuuenall.

Coridon
The more of the court that thou doest count and tell,
The lesse me liketh with it to deale or mell.

Cornix
What bide Coridon, yet haste thou not heard all,
The Court is in earth an ymage infernall,
Without fayre paynted, within vggly and vile,
This know they surely which there hath bene a while.
But of our purpose nowe for to speake agayne,
Fewe princes geue that which to them selfe attayne.
Trust me Coridon, I tell thee by my soule,
They robbe saint Peter therewith to cloth S. Powle.
And like as dayly we both may see and here,
Some pill the Churche, therewith to leade the quere.
While men promoted by such rapine are glad,
The wretches pilled mourne and be wo and sad.
And many heyres liue giltlesse in distresse,
While vnworthy hath honour and riches.
But such vile giftes may not be true playnly,
Nor yet possessed by lawe rightwisely.
And sith fewe rowmes of lordly dignitie
Be won or holden with right and equitie,
Say what thing haue they to geue by lawe and right,
Sith their chiefe treasure is won by wrongful might.
Whence come their iewels, their coyn, and cloth of price,
Saue moste by rapine and selling of Iustice,
Els of Saint Peters, or Christes patrimony.
Nowe fewe be founders, but confounders many.
These be no giftes true, honest nor laudable,
Neyther to the geuer nor taker profitable.
These men call giftes of none vtilitie,
Which thus proceedeth of false iniquitie.
Then leaue we this vice while all good men it hate,
For couetous with coyne be neuer saciate.
I hearde syr Sampson say but this other day,
That Ierome and Seneca do both this sentence say,
That couetous wretches not onely want that thing
Which they neuer had in title nor keeping.
But that which they haue also they want and fayle,
Sith they it hauing of it haue none auayle.
And as I remember, olde Codrus sayde also
That golde nought helpeth when we must hence go.
Scant haue we pleasure of it while we here tary,
And none can his store nor glory with him cary.
Thus ought we to liue as hauing all in store,
But nought possessing, or caring nought therefore.
What should christen men seeke farther for riches,
Hauing foode and cloth it si ynough doubtlesse,
And these may our Lorde geue vnto vs truely.
Without princes seruice or courtly misery.
Thus finde we in court playne no riches at all,
Or els finde we such with care continuall.
That it were better no riches to haue founde
Then for false treasure in thraldome to be bound.

Coridon
Looke vp mate Cornix, beholde into the west,
These windy cloudes vs threatneth some tempest.
My clothes be thin, my shepe be shorne newe,
Such storme might fall that both might after rewe.
Driue we our flockes vnto our poore cotage,
To morowe of court we may haue more language.
This day haste thou tolde and proued openly
That all such courtiers do liue in misery.
Which serue in the court for honour, laude or fame,
And might or power, thou proued haste this same:
And that all they liue deepest in distresse
Which serue there to win vayne treasour and riches.
As for the other two, and if ought more remayne,
Thou mayest tell to morowe when we turne agayne.

Cornix
I graunt Coridon, take vp thy bottell sone,
Lesse is the burthen nowe that the drinke is done,
Lo here is a sport, our bottell is contrary
To a Cowes vtter, and I shall tell thee why.
With a full vtter retourneth home the cowe,
So doth not the bottell as it appereth nowe.
Coridon, we must haste in our iourney make,
Or els shall the storme vs and our shepe ouertake.