Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners conteynynge the .iiii. vertues callyd cardynall compyled in latyn by Domynike Mancyn: And translate into englysshe at the desyre of syr Gyles Alyngton knyght by Alexander Bercley [i.e. Barclay] |
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Of iustyce. |
 | Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners |  |
Of iustyce.
Iustice
is a certayne/decre/or ordynaunce
Ryghtwyse and holy/belongynge to nature
Cōmaundynge man to loue/to profite/or auaunce
To helpe and socour/eche humayne creature
This iustyce comoyneth: bondes of loue/so sure
Bytwene all men mortall; that it onely certayne
Doth preserue in order/or kepe lynage humayne
Ryghtwyse and holy/belongynge to nature
Cōmaundynge man to loue/to profite/or auaunce
To helpe and socour/eche humayne creature
This iustyce comoyneth: bondes of loue/so sure
Bytwene all men mortall; that it onely certayne
Doth preserue in order/or kepe lynage humayne
Demaunde nat/yf that be/thynge of vtylyte
Whiche Iustyce cōmaundith: for certes without fable
Nothynge it cōmandeth/but ryght and equyte
What euer it doth charge/is alway profitable
The pryncipall partes/of Iustyce moste laudable
Is for to gyue honour/and laudes: as is diewe
Aboue other thynges/vnto our lorde Iesu
Whiche Iustyce cōmaundith: for certes without fable
Nothynge it cōmandeth/but ryght and equyte
What euer it doth charge/is alway profitable
The pryncipall partes/of Iustyce moste laudable
Is for to gyue honour/and laudes: as is diewe
Aboue other thynges/vnto our lorde Iesu
Whiche of his great mercy/meke and beneuolent
Hath gyuen vs hymselfe/to be our sauyour
And all other thynges/for vs conuenient
Wherfore we haundyn/of ryght hym to honour
Without comparyson/before all vayne tresour
And who that perfytly/fulfylleth nat this same
Of a ryghtwyse parson/deseruyth nat the name
Hath gyuen vs hymselfe/to be our sauyour
And all other thynges/for vs conuenient
Wherfore we haundyn/of ryght hym to honour
Without comparyson/before all vayne tresour
And who that perfytly/fulfylleth nat this same
Of a ryghtwyse parson/deseruyth nat the name
What man wyll inioy: name/of a ryghtwyse man
Must fyrste loue/and honour deuout/and constantly
Our sauyour (as is sayd) as moche as euer he can
And so must he loue god: with spyryt feruently
That he of goddes loue/agayne may be worthy
And dygnely deserue/by fauour to purchace
Of our lorde/and maker/his mercy/and his grace
Must fyrste loue/and honour deuout/and constantly
Our sauyour (as is sayd) as moche as euer he can
And so must he loue god: with spyryt feruently
That he of goddes loue/agayne may be worthy
And dygnely deserue/by fauour to purchace
Of our lorde/and maker/his mercy/and his grace
Thus shall our loue/and seruice/be to god/acceptable
If we to no parson/do wronge/nor iniury
But be to all people/iust: meke: and profitable
For so: god to manis: of infynyte mercy
Which the sonnys bryghtnes/to no man doth deny
But suffryth it shyne: both on good men and yll
Nat yeldynge: myslyuers: after theyr frowarde wyll
If we to no parson/do wronge/nor iniury
But be to all people/iust: meke: and profitable
For so: god to manis: of infynyte mercy
Which the sonnys bryghtnes/to no man doth deny
But suffryth it shyne: both on good men and yll
Nat yeldynge: myslyuers: after theyr frowarde wyll
The duty of one ryghtwyse/that man doth nat fulfyll
Whiche is to no parson/helpynge: nor profitable
Though he do to no man hurt/nother good nor yll
For vertue requireth/some warke or dede laudable
It is nat contentyd/man nat to be culpable
Of man is required: and askyd: of vertue
Both to do good dedis/and all vyces eschewe
Whiche is to no parson/helpynge: nor profitable
Though he do to no man hurt/nother good nor yll
For vertue requireth/some warke or dede laudable
It is nat contentyd/man nat to be culpable
Of man is required: and askyd: of vertue
Both to do good dedis/and all vyces eschewe
We be nat borne/onely/for our pryuate profyte
But eche man is bounden/another for to socour
For as prudent plato/playne doth recorde and wryte
One man/for another/is borne: euery hour
And tyme/to be redy/refusynge no labour
To confort/to counseyl/and socour one an other
Both true/glad/and redy as brother vnto brother
But eche man is bounden/another for to socour
For as prudent plato/playne doth recorde and wryte
One man/for another/is borne: euery hour
And tyme/to be redy/refusynge no labour
To confort/to counseyl/and socour one an other
Both true/glad/and redy as brother vnto brother
Unresonable beastis/oft tymes do this same
Than muche more sholde man: to man be profitable
Or els: yf he be nat: he greatly/is to blame
That is a foule vilayne/and chorle abhomynable
Whiche to his owne person: is onely charitable
And on his onely profite/doth onely muse and thynke
Carynge for none other/whether they flete or synke
Than muche more sholde man: to man be profitable
Or els: yf he be nat: he greatly/is to blame
That is a foule vilayne/and chorle abhomynable
Whiche to his owne person: is onely charitable
And on his onely profite/doth onely muse and thynke
Carynge for none other/whether they flete or synke
But one maner reason/nor yet one maner way
To helpe one an other/is nat comon to all
Eche man hath his maner/and power to puruay
And helpe/other nedy/by confort fraternall
Some man hath great ryches/he may be lyberall
The stronge man hath power/wayke wretches to defende
The wyse man hath counsyell/that sholde he wysely spende
To helpe one an other/is nat comon to all
Eche man hath his maner/and power to puruay
And helpe/other nedy/by confort fraternall
Some man hath great ryches/he may be lyberall
The stronge man hath power/wayke wretches to defende
The wyse man hath counsyell/that sholde he wysely spende
In redressynge errours/infourmynge ignorant
And openynge the passage/to vertue and goodnes
If thou canst nat socour/with wit/nor myght puyssant
At leste way be redy/to confort with rychesse
Or yf thou want ryches/yet mayst thou neuer thelesse
Confort the pore carefull/with counseyl or labour
By one meane or other/so mayst thou gyue socour
And openynge the passage/to vertue and goodnes
If thou canst nat socour/with wit/nor myght puyssant
At leste way be redy/to confort with rychesse
Or yf thou want ryches/yet mayst thou neuer thelesse
Confort the pore carefull/with counseyl or labour
By one meane or other/so mayst thou gyue socour
Or yf thou sayle counseyl/or haue no good to spende
It least thou hast courage/audacyte and myght
From tyrannys extorcion/good people to defende
And to bestowe thy blode/in mayntenaunce of ryght
This poynt moste conseruyth the person of a knyght
For ryght/fayth and Iustice/fatherles/wydowes good
For maydes/kynge/and countrey/boldly to spend his blode
It least thou hast courage/audacyte and myght
From tyrannys extorcion/good people to defende
And to bestowe thy blode/in mayntenaunce of ryght
This poynt moste conseruyth the person of a knyght
For ryght/fayth and Iustice/fatherles/wydowes good
For maydes/kynge/and countrey/boldly to spend his blode
To dye in suche quarell/is honour fame and glory
Suche deth is mort immortall/and entrynge into lyfe
To hym and his lynage perpetuall memory
Sholde a ualyant knyght/for drede of spere or knyfe
Lose so great a tryumphe: fame and prerogatyfe
Who dare nat for Iustyce/pore: fame/and glory fyght
Ought/certes/be countyd/a cowarde/and no knyght
Suche deth is mort immortall/and entrynge into lyfe
To hym and his lynage perpetuall memory
Sholde a ualyant knyght/for drede of spere or knyfe
Lose so great a tryumphe: fame and prerogatyfe
Who dare nat for Iustyce/pore: fame/and glory fyght
Ought/certes/be countyd/a cowarde/and no knyght
Besyde all these poyntis/yet wayes be there mo
To socour and to helpe/the seke/sory and pore
As carefull confortynge/them easynge of theyr wo
And whan hurt apperith/warnynge a man before
And some for theyr vyces/blamynge with wordessore
And some fayr exortynge/thus none is excusable
Who none of all these hath/is wretched and myserable
To socour and to helpe/the seke/sory and pore
As carefull confortynge/them easynge of theyr wo
And whan hurt apperith/warnynge a man before
And some for theyr vyces/blamynge with wordessore
And some fayr exortynge/thus none is excusable
Who none of all these hath/is wretched and myserable
But in doynge dutyes/or beynge profitable
Moste chefly behold yn/due ordre and degre
For order obserued/all thynge is more laudable
More comely and pleasant/that they shulde els be
Fyrst do thou thy dutye/to god omnypotent
Next god: to thy coūtrey/be trewe and dylygent
Moste chefly behold yn/due ordre and degre
For order obserued/all thynge is more laudable
More comely and pleasant/that they shulde els be
Fyrst do thou thy dutye/to god omnypotent
Next god: to thy coūtrey/be trewe and dylygent
To counseyl/to socour/and the same to defende
So doynge: thou helpist: thy selfe: ye and all thyne
For thy londe and coūtrey/all these doth cōprehende
And all these dothe perysshe/yf it go to ruyne
Than nexte helpe thy chyldren/and other of thy lyne
But namely thy parents/moste lefe and dere to the
Than kynred/and louers/eche after theyr degre
So doynge: thou helpist: thy selfe: ye and all thyne
For thy londe and coūtrey/all these doth cōprehende
And all these dothe perysshe/yf it go to ruyne
Than nexte helpe thy chyldren/and other of thy lyne
But namely thy parents/moste lefe and dere to the
Than kynred/and louers/eche after theyr degre
And whan thou hast prouyd/a frende feythfull and stable
Whiche harde is to be founde/yet suche one yf thou fynde
Also be thou faythfull/sure/and nat varyable
To hym/as to thone parte/and kepar of thy mynde
Nought may be compared to frende louynge and kynde
Thy chefe frende/is Iesu/whiche put for the his lyfe
So wolde nat/thy father: sone/doughter/nor thy wyfe
Whiche harde is to be founde/yet suche one yf thou fynde
Also be thou faythfull/sure/and nat varyable
To hym/as to thone parte/and kepar of thy mynde
Nought may be compared to frende louynge and kynde
Thy chefe frende/is Iesu/whiche put for the his lyfe
So wolde nat/thy father: sone/doughter/nor thy wyfe
Despyse nat suche frendes/but haue thou moste pyte
Of seke/and aged/or opressed with nede
And pouerte: syth suche haue moste necessite
Therfore thou sholde namely/them cōfort/clothe & fede
Thou must amonge these/consyder and take hede
If any somtyme flowynge: in welthe/and honest lyfe
Befall to pouertie/lyuynge in care pensyfe
Of seke/and aged/or opressed with nede
And pouerte: syth suche haue moste necessite
Therfore thou sholde namely/them cōfort/clothe & fede
Thou must amonge these/consyder and take hede
If any somtyme flowynge: in welthe/and honest lyfe
Befall to pouertie/lyuynge in care pensyfe
With thyne owne eyen/beholde suche pytie
And in thy proper person/them conforte and restore
To theyr olde estate/as moche as in the
Soche as in tyme passed/haue holpyn the before
Restore thou them agayne/nat lesse: but rather more
For theyr one good dede/with two them recōpence
This longyth to largesse/and hye magnyfycence
And in thy proper person/them conforte and restore
To theyr olde estate/as moche as in the
Soche as in tyme passed/haue holpyn the before
Restore thou them agayne/nat lesse: but rather more
For theyr one good dede/with two them recōpence
This longyth to largesse/and hye magnyfycence
Hesyodus/the greke/gaue this cōmaundement
If thou wylt be countyd/gentyll and lyberall
Folowe fulsome feldys/habundant of frument
Or a soyle wele berynge/frutfull and fayre with all
Whiche alway be gentyll/in maner/prodigall
For one lytyll mesure/of sede/or els twayne
To theyr lordes renderynge/a score dubled ageyne
If thou wylt be countyd/gentyll and lyberall
Folowe fulsome feldys/habundant of frument
Or a soyle wele berynge/frutfull and fayre with all
Whiche alway be gentyll/in maner/prodigall
For one lytyll mesure/of sede/or els twayne
To theyr lordes renderynge/a score dubled ageyne
Yet restyth one errour: which must be notyd here
Wherof thou must beware/yf thou be cōmendable
Uncouer nat the churche/therwith to mende the quere
Spoyle nat a multutude: of peple miserable
To one or two persones/for to be profytable
No vertu is lawdyd/which grounde is on vyce
Of thynge stolne/acceptyth/our lorde no sacryfyse
Wherof thou must beware/yf thou be cōmendable
Uncouer nat the churche/therwith to mende the quere
Spoyle nat a multutude: of peple miserable
To one or two persones/for to be profytable
No vertu is lawdyd/which grounde is on vyce
Of thynge stolne/acceptyth/our lorde no sacryfyse
Prouyde thou in lyke wyse/that whyle thou dost intēde
Ouer gentyll lyberall/benygne/courteys and fre
To many men to be/and all thy good thus spende
Lyst thy selfe begge of other/by harde necessyte
For often in the world/this thynge prouydyd we se
That whan the prodygall/and waster hath all spent
He beggyth/or stelyth/by wayes fraudelent
Ouer gentyll lyberall/benygne/courteys and fre
To many men to be/and all thy good thus spende
Lyst thy selfe begge of other/by harde necessyte
For often in the world/this thynge prouydyd we se
That whan the prodygall/and waster hath all spent
He beggyth/or stelyth/by wayes fraudelent
Or if he shame to begge/or fere to robbe or steale
Than turneth he to frawde/and crafty cheuesaunce
Of all men borowynge/on suerete: othe/or seale
At last hym/with other/so bryngynge to vtteraunce
Gyue the nat to rapyne/thyne honour to auaunce
Thou shulde nat vyolate/iustyce/in any thynge
Though thou knowe/therby/for to be made a kynge
Than turneth he to frawde/and crafty cheuesaunce
Of all men borowynge/on suerete: othe/or seale
At last hym/with other/so bryngynge to vtteraunce
Gyue the nat to rapyne/thyne honour to auaunce
Thou shulde nat vyolate/iustyce/in any thynge
Though thou knowe/therby/for to be made a kynge
It is nat full ynough/for one louynge iustyce
For from hys mynde to cast: wronge and extorcyon
But frawde/and gyle/must he in lyke maner despyse
Frawde longyth to the fox: and myght: to the lyon
Let bruyt beastys folowe/beastly condycyon
Gyle frawde nor extorcyon/belongyth in no wyse
To men louynge vertue/good maners or Iustyce
For from hys mynde to cast: wronge and extorcyon
But frawde/and gyle/must he in lyke maner despyse
Frawde longyth to the fox: and myght: to the lyon
Let bruyt beastys folowe/beastly condycyon
Gyle frawde nor extorcyon/belongyth in no wyse
To men louynge vertue/good maners or Iustyce
But amonge all peple/no man is more damnable
Than he which resemblyth/a shepe/forth in the skyn
But by cruell purpose/and maners desceyuable
He is in veray dede/a raggynge wolfe within
A man doth nat onely/wronge/iniury and syn
In dedys: But in wordes/is also iniury
Accusynge/or slaunderynge/the gyltles wrongfully
Than he which resemblyth/a shepe/forth in the skyn
But by cruell purpose/and maners desceyuable
He is in veray dede/a raggynge wolfe within
A man doth nat onely/wronge/iniury and syn
In dedys: But in wordes/is also iniury
Accusynge/or slaunderynge/the gyltles wrongfully
Therfore: refrayne thy selfe: frō wrong in worde & dede
And speke that is ryght wyse: playne trouth and equite
In trouth styll defendynge great is thy laude and mede
So that thou nought worshyp: so moche as veryte
Nor thynke thou nat: that trouth vyolate may be
But that in lyke mader: both fayth and conscience
With trouth: delytyd: and sufferyth vyolence
And speke that is ryght wyse: playne trouth and equite
In trouth styll defendynge great is thy laude and mede
So that thou nought worshyp: so moche as veryte
Nor thynke thou nat: that trouth vyolate may be
But that in lyke mader: both fayth and conscience
With trouth: delytyd: and sufferyth vyolence
In trouth: thoughe to wytnes: man do nat call our lorde
Yet is he defender: of trouth and wyllyngly
And thus is he wytles: of hys owne accorde
So: the trouth dyspysyd: our lorde is semblably
And if it be lawfull: at any tyme to lye
Or contrary the trouth: parchaunce it so may be
More opynly to trye: the trouth and veryte
Yet is he defender: of trouth and wyllyngly
And thus is he wytles: of hys owne accorde
So: the trouth dyspysyd: our lorde is semblably
And if it be lawfull: at any tyme to lye
Or contrary the trouth: parchaunce it so may be
More opynly to trye: the trouth and veryte
And he parauenture: is worthy of pardon
Whiche to kepe his promys: forberyth to say trouth
As if he: constrayned: before to some persone
To kepe some thynge secrete: hath boūde hymself by oth
Man: to breke hys promys: moste comonly is loth
For sure oth and promysse: requyryth great constaunce
And couenauntis requyre: trowth and perseueraunce
Whiche to kepe his promys: forberyth to say trouth
As if he: constrayned: before to some persone
To kepe some thynge secrete: hath boūde hymself by oth
Man: to breke hys promys: moste comonly is loth
For sure oth and promysse: requyryth great constaunce
And couenauntis requyre: trowth and perseueraunce
I graunt that often tyme: suche chaunce & tyme may fall
That to breke thy promys: by oth affyrmyd stable
Is nat to be dampned: nor blamyd nough: ar all
But rather allowed: of wyse men resonable
As thynge promessyd: to none is profytable
To the lyttyll auayle: and great dammage to me
No syn if suche promys: nat parfourmed shalbe
That to breke thy promys: by oth affyrmyd stable
Is nat to be dampned: nor blamyd nough: ar all
But rather allowed: of wyse men resonable
As thynge promessyd: to none is profytable
To the lyttyll auayle: and great dammage to me
No syn if suche promys: nat parfourmed shalbe
Theseus shulde haue: desyred that Neptune
Wolde haue brokyn promys: & made his word vnstable
Whan he with wylde horses: for cause nat oportune
Drewe Ipolytus: to deth moste myserable
Accusyd of phedra: and nat beynge culpable
As innocent Ioseph: in egypt was some tyme
Of a quean accusyd: hyr selfe in all the cryme
Wolde haue brokyn promys: & made his word vnstable
Whan he with wylde horses: for cause nat oportune
Drewe Ipolytus: to deth moste myserable
Accusyd of phedra: and nat beynge culpable
As innocent Ioseph: in egypt was some tyme
Of a quean accusyd: hyr selfe in all the cryme
If out be commytted/to the in pryuete
Or in secrete counsell/do nat the same dysclose
As thy selfe wolde haue: one secret vnto the
So thy selfe or ther/in mynde and tonge purpose
Do nat dowtfull wordes/within thy mynde cōpose
Whiche vttered may be cawse/of anger or dyscorde
But playne comon langage frequent at euery worde.
Or in secrete counsell/do nat the same dysclose
As thy selfe wolde haue: one secret vnto the
So thy selfe or ther/in mynde and tonge purpose
Do nat dowtfull wordes/within thy mynde cōpose
Whiche vttered may be cawse/of anger or dyscorde
But playne comon langage frequent at euery worde.
Speke so/that none construe/thy wordes frowardly
Or if thou haue no cause/to speke/than kepe scylence
For a chatterynge tonge/and babelynge besely
Hath often tyme raysyd/great inconuenience
Agayne it selfe and other/cōmyttynge great offence
By wordes superflue/a fole is knowen playne
Where wyse men/by reason/theyr tonges can refrayn
Or if thou haue no cause/to speke/than kepe scylence
For a chatterynge tonge/and babelynge besely
Hath often tyme raysyd/great inconuenience
Agayne it selfe and other/cōmyttynge great offence
By wordes superflue/a fole is knowen playne
Where wyse men/by reason/theyr tonges can refrayn
If thou/haue/cōmittyd at any tyme to the
Cure of a comon welle/to chastyse euery vyce
Or/yf thou haue householde/or meny/in plente
Be bold/transgressours/for fawtys to chastyce
And amonge them: alway/to gyde the by iustyse
For it is no praysynge/to be to fauorable
Nor: yet to be countyd/a tyran intretable
Cure of a comon welle/to chastyse euery vyce
Or/yf thou haue householde/or meny/in plente
Be bold/transgressours/for fawtys to chastyce
And amonge them: alway/to gyde the by iustyse
For it is no praysynge/to be to fauorable
Nor: yet to be countyd/a tyran intretable
For whyle thou haste tyl one/immoderate pyre
By loue/or neglygence: or parciall fauour
Thou cawsyst many syn: by wylde audacyte
Yet nought doest thou profyte/that one in his errour
But many dost thou hurte: Thy cause is hard and sour
For what: many synneth by thy remys sufferance
Thy selfe art in fawte/and worthy vengeance
By loue/or neglygence: or parciall fauour
Thou cawsyst many syn: by wylde audacyte
Yet nought doest thou profyte/that one in his errour
But many dost thou hurte: Thy cause is hard and sour
For what: many synneth by thy remys sufferance
Thy selfe art in fawte/and worthy vengeance
And for all theyr fawtys/by ryght art thou culpable
And for theyr offencys/shalt byde punicion
But head offycers/to soche ar fauorable
Whome/they nat wyll chastyce/for theyr transgressiō
Fauour/is a mylde rod of execucion
Of lawe/ryght and iustyce/some iugys mankyng blynde
That they/seynge iustyce/wyll it nat se/nor fynde
And for theyr offencys/shalt byde punicion
But head offycers/to soche ar fauorable
Whome/they nat wyll chastyce/for theyr transgressiō
Fauour/is a mylde rod of execucion
Of lawe/ryght and iustyce/some iugys mankyng blynde
That they/seynge iustyce/wyll it nat se/nor fynde
Oft/iustyce is closed/and captyue in pryson
Within threfolde dorys/that no man may hyr se
Mede/fauour/and fayre/denyeth hyr raunsom
So kepynge hyr/oftyn/styll in captyuyte
And oft these by fauour/set hyr at lyberte
To wrnder at hyr wyll/in placys reprouable
Hyr iyen blyndfeldyd/by meanys dysceyuable
Within threfolde dorys/that no man may hyr se
Mede/fauour/and fayre/denyeth hyr raunsom
So kepynge hyr/oftyn/styll in captyuyte
And oft these by fauour/set hyr at lyberte
To wrnder at hyr wyll/in placys reprouable
Hyr iyen blyndfeldyd/by meanys dysceyuable
More playnly to pronounce/lawe hath no lyberte
Without mede/or money/or fauour parcyall
But fere/oft hyr kepyth/in wronge captyuyte
In stede of trewe iustyce/these gouerne ouerall
For soth he subuertyth: great cyties pryncypall
And cōpanyes of men: which blyndly sparyth vyce
Nat scourgynge mysdoers/by lawe/ryght and iustyce
Without mede/or money/or fauour parcyall
But fere/oft hyr kepyth/in wronge captyuyte
In stede of trewe iustyce/these gouerne ouerall
For soth he subuertyth: great cyties pryncypall
And cōpanyes of men: which blyndly sparyth vyce
Nat scourgynge mysdoers/by lawe/ryght and iustyce
As he sone subuertyth olde townys of great name
Whiche opynyth the gates/to foes vyolent
And castyth on howsys/great fyre lytenynge in flame
So iugys forgyuynge/deseruyd punysshement
Subuextyth great townes/and cyties excellent
Soche ought nat be called/prynces/nor cytyzens
But moste mortall foes/and maynteners of syns
Whiche opynyth the gates/to foes vyolent
And castyth on howsys/great fyre lytenynge in flame
So iugys forgyuynge/deseruyd punysshement
Subuextyth great townes/and cyties excellent
Soche ought nat be called/prynces/nor cytyzens
But moste mortall foes/and maynteners of syns
Yet is it nat lawfull/in payne to paste measure
Or rage in punysshement/as tyran intretable
Syth frayle vnto trespas/is all humayn nature
A fayre mean is measure/in all thynge cōmendable
Wherfore in chastysynge/be nat to vengeable
Unmersyfull and sharpe/as ioynynge in thy rage
Of anothers ruyne/confusion and dammage
Or rage in punysshement/as tyran intretable
Syth frayle vnto trespas/is all humayn nature
A fayre mean is measure/in all thynge cōmendable
Wherfore in chastysynge/be nat to vengeable
Unmersyfull and sharpe/as ioynynge in thy rage
Of anothers ruyne/confusion and dammage
But punysshe as one pensyf/nat wyllyng/but dolent
Bs both for to punysshe/constrayned to the same
And sorowe/that synners/deserue suche punysshement
With so great trāsgression/hurtynge theyr sowle & name
If many trespassers/be all as one to blame
And in one cause and cryme/be all in lyke culpeable
Let nat one escape the/a nother byde instable
Bs both for to punysshe/constrayned to the same
And sorowe/that synners/deserue suche punysshement
With so great trāsgression/hurtynge theyr sowle & name
If many trespassers/be all as one to blame
And in one cause and cryme/be all in lyke culpeable
Let nat one escape the/a nother byde instable
Let thou/nat one go fro/an other pay for all
Or the lesse transgressour/haue greattest punysshement
Murther nat one wretche/of wyt and substance small
Promotynge another/stronge thefe/more vyolent
This is no good iustyce/ryght/lawe/nor iugement
Let one fawt/or forfayte/haue punyhement semblable
Be egally/to all/ryght wyse/or fauorable
Or the lesse transgressour/haue greattest punysshement
Murther nat one wretche/of wyt and substance small
Promotynge another/stronge thefe/more vyolent
This is no good iustyce/ryght/lawe/nor iugement
Let one fawt/or forfayte/haue punyhement semblable
Be egally/to all/ryght wyse/or fauorable
Shewe the nat/to some/in maner of a mother
To some as a enmy/or fo/most vyolent
Though thou this day iuge/consyder that a nother
Parchaunce shall to morowe/syt on thy iugement
Endeuoyr the therfore/to be indyfferent
Be nat to regorous/nor yet ouer remys
But iuge thou with mercy/lyke as the matter is
To some as a enmy/or fo/most vyolent
Though thou this day iuge/consyder that a nother
Parchaunce shall to morowe/syt on thy iugement
Endeuoyr the therfore/to be indyfferent
Be nat to regorous/nor yet ouer remys
But iuge thou with mercy/lyke as the matter is
Murder nat small theues/lettynge greatter theues go
Without execucyon/for fere/fauor or mede
So men say/the spyder/hath custom for to do
Whith hyr webbys framyd/of artyficyall threde
To tangell lyttell flyes/onely she takyth hede
But if there come a hornet/a dore or gretterr flye
They breke the lyght webbyss/& so forthe passe they fre
Without execucyon/for fere/fauor or mede
So men say/the spyder/hath custom for to do
Whith hyr webbys framyd/of artyficyall threde
To tangell lyttell flyes/onely she takyth hede
But if there come a hornet/a dore or gretterr flye
They breke the lyght webbyss/& so forthe passe they fre
Hyr webbys dependant/onely inuoluyth in
The small lyttyll flyes/as dayly we may se
Whose lyues doth perysshe with murmur and small dyn
Ryght so the symple wretche/lyuynge in pouerte
Hath rygour of the lawe with moste extremyte
But the ryche tyran offendynge passyth equite
Fre/lowsyd by the lawe: o wronge custume and ryte
The small lyttyll flyes/as dayly we may se
Whose lyues doth perysshe with murmur and small dyn
Ryght so the symple wretche/lyuynge in pouerte
Hath rygour of the lawe with moste extremyte
But the ryche tyran offendynge passyth equite
Fre/lowsyd by the lawe: o wronge custume and ryte
O custom execrable and greuous preiudyce
So these thre fell tyrans/fere/money and fauour
Oft tymes vse to brake: the balans of iustyce
The ryche fyndynge ryghtwyse/to pore gyuyng rygour
These thre blidyth iustyce/which thyng is great dolour
Which causyth pore wretches/theyr wrōgys to be wayle
Whyle the ryche is correcte/scant with a foxe tayle
So these thre fell tyrans/fere/money and fauour
Oft tymes vse to brake: the balans of iustyce
The ryche fyndynge ryghtwyse/to pore gyuyng rygour
These thre blidyth iustyce/which thyng is great dolour
Which causyth pore wretches/theyr wrōgys to be wayle
Whyle the ryche is correcte/scant with a foxe tayle
What dyfference betwene/a great thefe and a small
Forsoth no more but this: to speke I dare be bolde
The great syttyth on benche in costely furrys of pall
The small thefe at barre/standyth tremblynge for colde
The great theuys ar ladyd/with great chaynys of golde
The small thefe with yron/chayned from all refuge
The small thefe is iugyd/oft tyme the great is iuge
Forsoth no more but this: to speke I dare be bolde
The great syttyth on benche in costely furrys of pall
The small thefe at barre/standyth tremblynge for colde
The great theuys ar ladyd/with great chaynys of golde
The small thefe with yron/chayned from all refuge
The small thefe is iugyd/oft tyme the great is iuge
If any haue trespased/ageyne the wyllyngly
Be nat ouer hasty/by cruell punysshement
Let nat the punyssement/excede the iniury
If it be so greuous/it is suffycient
But the fawt/to pardon/if thou can be content
Than art thou more ryghtwyse/benynge and charytable
And to good thy maker/more dere: and acceptable
Be nat ouer hasty/by cruell punysshement
Let nat the punyssement/excede the iniury
If it be so greuous/it is suffycient
But the fawt/to pardon/if thou can be content
Than art thou more ryghtwyse/benynge and charytable
And to good thy maker/more dere: and acceptable
Mercy makyth mākynde/to hys maker moste semblable
And also to thy seruaūtys: whiche lyueth vnder the
Be rightwyse: and equall: in maner resonable
Gyue them theyr dutye: and ryght with all pyte
And nought of them require: but ryght and equyte
Thynke seruantes be made: our bretherne by nature
Wherfore ryght requyryth: to treat them in mesure
And also to thy seruaūtys: whiche lyueth vnder the
Be rightwyse: and equall: in maner resonable
Gyue them theyr dutye: and ryght with all pyte
And nought of them require: but ryght and equyte
Thynke seruantes be made: our bretherne by nature
Wherfore ryght requyryth: to treat them in mesure
And nat without reason: agayne them for to rage
Them treatynge as beastys: syth they be men as we
If theyr fawte be greuous: and done of yll corage
Or of froward malyce: caste them away fro the
Or if theyr fawte be small: than of them haue pyte
Theyr longe faythfull seruyse: se thou do nat dyspyse
What man is so dyscrete: whiche all way can be wyse
Them treatynge as beastys: syth they be men as we
If theyr fawte be greuous: and done of yll corage
Or of froward malyce: caste them away fro the
Or if theyr fawte be small: than of them haue pyte
Theyr longe faythfull seruyse: se thou do nat dyspyse
What man is so dyscrete: whiche all way can be wyse
But nowe comprehendynge/all Iustyce in one sōme
And brenely concludynge/the bondys of iustyce
If thou wylt be ryghtwyse/as requyreth wysdom
Than must thou thy lyuynge/order in this wyse
Gyue good lawde and glory/and let thyne hart aryse
Moste clefely in his loue/contynually brennynge
Auoyde his displeasour/do after his byddynge
And brenely concludynge/the bondys of iustyce
If thou wylt be ryghtwyse/as requyreth wysdom
Than must thou thy lyuynge/order in this wyse
Gyue good lawde and glory/and let thyne hart aryse
Moste clefely in his loue/contynually brennynge
Auoyde his displeasour/do after his byddynge
Next to thy nayghbour/or euery chrysten man
Do thou no otherwyse/than thou wold haue gladly
Get gooddys ryghtwysely/& whan thou haste thē: Thā
Loue them nat ouer moche/but them bestowe wysely
To reason of thy sowle/make subiecte thy body
Let hym with his lustys/be subiecte seruytour
Refrayned from foly/by reason gouernour
Do thou no otherwyse/than thou wold haue gladly
Get gooddys ryghtwysely/& whan thou haste thē: Thā
Loue them nat ouer moche/but them bestowe wysely
To reason of thy sowle/make subiecte thy body
Let hym with his lustys/be subiecte seruytour
Refrayned from foly/by reason gouernour
Nowe haue we dyscrybyd the bondes of iustyce
Moche thynge omittynge/by cause of breuyte
Whiche askyth longe proces/in meter to compryse
Wherfore/nowe procedynge/indeuoyr vs shall we
For to dyscrybe/a man/of magnamite
And wryttynge/for to gyue/cure/and solycytude
To shewe what belongyth/to strength or fortytude
Moche thynge omittynge/by cause of breuyte
Whiche askyth longe proces/in meter to compryse
Wherfore/nowe procedynge/indeuoyr vs shall we
For to dyscrybe/a man/of magnamite
And wryttynge/for to gyue/cure/and solycytude
To shewe what belongyth/to strength or fortytude
Thus endyth the dyscripcion of the secōde cardynall Uertue
namyd Iustyce/And begynneth to be treatyd of the thyrde Cardynall
vertue/callyd fortytude or magnanimite or strength of mynde.
| Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners | |