[The Castell of laboure by Alexander Barclay]

Barclay, Alexander (1475?-1552)

[section]

Here begynneth the castell of laboure.

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Here begynneth the castell of laboure.

Here begynneth the prologe of this present treatyse.

O ye mortall people yt desyre to obtayne
Eternall blysse by your labour diligent
wt mortal riches subdue you to payne
To rede this treatyse to the right entēt
whiche shall shewe you playne and euydent.
That idelnes moder of all aduersyte
Hyr subiectes bryngeth to extreme pouertye.

The ryche by Idelnesse to pouertye ar brought
By it the oratour leseth his scyence.
The great clerke by it is set at nought.
Thus is it ennemye vnto sapyence.
wherfore let vs do our diligence.
This leude capytayne fro vs to exyle
whyche nought entendeth but man to begyle.

Idell people euer troubled ar with thought.
with indigence mysdauenture and necessyte
And in the snare whan they ar cought
They ar enuyroned with pouertye.
Than cometh disconforte in theyr aduersyte.
And also dispayre them doth manace.
And thought & trouble euer dothe them chace.

Therfore ye people that be subiecte to this vyce.
By your great sleuth and neglygence.
Brake your bondes/I aduyse you to aryse

And to these wordes gyue your aduertence
whiche wyse man saythe in brief sentence.
who laboureth nat to get his lyuynge
Is nat worthy here to haue abidynge.

Thus whan this vyce a man dothe assayle.
Of sleuthfulnes and of ocyosyte
By theyr meanes dothe ryches fayle.
what foloweth than but pouertye.
Thus tourneth his welthe vnto aduersyte.
So of his foly dothe he repente.
Than echone to hym dothe iniurye.
whiche oft tó vs appereth euydent.

Therfore to vs it is ryght profytable
For to take reason for to be our gyde.
wyth vnderstandynge/whiche ar agreable
Us for to gouerne in euery tyde.
wherby we may/yf sleuthe be set asyde
Ouercome pouerte & obteyne rychesse.
And dystroy thought mysfortune & distresse

But mannys mynde is full vnstedfaste.
More prone to vyce than to godlynesse.
And whan by vyce man thus is ouercast
Than cometh disceyte/vserye and falsnesse.
Counsaylynge man all to vnthryftynesse.
Thus yf that reason benat our frende and gyde.
Trouthe shall decay/by falshode and pryde.
But who wolde lyue in meane moderate.

And by way of dilygence richsse purchace
Good wyll must he haue to be his aduocate
with a gode herte/for therin is solace
Intencyon to gode/must we purchace.
And than may we lyue bytwene hye & lowe
By suche meane that our frendes may vs knowe

In this lyfe can none haue skarsnesse
whyle that reason is his protectour.
If he in labourynge take payne and besynesse
Auoydynge sleuthe that blynde gouernour.
whiche man assayleth euery day and hour
wherby ar many brought to distresse
But dilygence bryngeth man vnto rychesse

By whiche rychesse man cometh to noblesse
whiche to vertue is as cheyf nouryse.
Therfore leue we sleuthe drawynge to besynesse
Enclynynge to vertue & leuynge couetyse.
Thus is it gode to eche that is wyse
Remembrynge howe sone he shall haue an ende
In trouthe & vertue his short tyme to spende

Thus in conclusyon who redeth this treatyse
To the rude langage gyue none aduertence
It is but wryten the tyme to exercyse
without study/payne/or dylygence.
wyth style inorante/voyde of eloquence
Expressynge the wayes of dilygence & Idelnesse
The one of pouertye the other of rychesse

Thus endeth the prologe. And begynneth the castell of laboure.

In musinge an euenīge whit me was none
An olde prouerbe cam in my subuenaūce
A naturall foule in a hous alone
wyll make for hym self shyft or cheuisaūce
Than cam in to my remembraunce.
A circumspect of many dygnitees
Fro whiche a man hauynge suffisaunce
wythdraweth his herte as fro vanitees

It is ay sene that youthes lustynesse
For to subdue is harde and daungerous
Some lyue in ioy/pleasure and gladnesse
Fortune to some is right contrarious

Some dethe tacheth in theyr estate prosperous
whome he ouerthroweth with his mortall blast
Thus goeth the worlde/none is so eurous
But outher must he dye fyrste or last

A yonge harte is vnstable and volage
And knoweth nat in what estate to byde
Some tyme disposed vnto maryage
Somtyme to serue god the worlde set asyde
Thus as my mynde varyenge dyd glyde
I thought it moste for myne auauntage.
Desyrynge god for to be my gyde
Fermely I concluded vpon mariage.

Thus hauynge all my frendes at assent
In short processe I puruayed me a wyfe

wythout wysdome/yet was I content
To hyr to kepe the dayes of my lyfe
I thought no thynge on wynynge losse or stryfe
She vnto me lyghtly dyd consent
Than in an euenynge sad and pensyfe
By hyr lyenge symple of myne entente

Sodaynly I was in great daunger
For to me ferysly dyd appere
An odyous man/an vnknowen straunger
with thre women cruell of manere
This company to me approched nere.
whan that I them togeder sawe assemble
So cruell was theyr countenaunce & chere
That fere constrayned my body for to tremble

The man was mysshapen/pale and rusty
Rude/foule and right abhomynable
The wymen also as I coude spye
Of shape were foule and detestable.
Theyr chere was yll and myserable
with countenaunce replenysshed with ire
Lene as any wolf rauysable
Theyr iyen brynnynge as rede as fyre.

The man approched fyers as he wolde fyght
wyth straynge iyen/& sayde his name was nede
His wyfe sayde necessyte she hyght.
The seconde pouertye & the thyrde in dede
Hyr named distresse so thought I by hyr wede.

Than I desyred to knowe theyr lynage
Pouerty was theyr moderfull of drede
This tolde they me in breyf langage.

Touchynge theyr fader they coude nat denye
But that he dwelt in the depest pyt of hell
whan I that harde right sore aferde was I
Than nede approched with coūtenaunce cruell
Myne body streynynge so that it dyd swell
Necessyte me so sore dyd handle
So that sothly it semed right well
Or that she went she wolde me strangle

Than sodaynly cam pouertye
whiche me tourmented with rudenesse
Than with great crudelyte.
Upon my bely lept distresse
They all abounded in cruelnesse
On me smytynge with all theyr myght
Disgorgynge fyre in theyr fyersnesse
Upon me as a torche lyght.

Some at me foyned/some smote downe ryght
That the strokes loude dyd redounde
For all my payne/duryge that nyght
My wyfe euer slept styll and sounde
She in hyr pleasour dyd habounde
And wolde nat wake for my dysease
For yf I were brought to the grounde
I trowe she cared nat apease

As she thus slept and I in payne
with these foure fures dyd endure
To me approche I sawe certayne
A foule and counterfayted creature
Odius/proude and fyers I you ensure
And by the hande she toke me fast
She thought hyr purpose to procure
And drewe myne armes that they nere brast

This false witche me so dyd greue
whiche by hyr name was called thought
That vneth coude I me remeue
Thus vnto dethe she me nere brought.
Of wordes and tales she wanted nought

Euer she talked I wot nat what
And behynde hyr a vylayne coughed
That was as blereiyed as a cat.

Beynge in this perturbacyon
This churle on me gaped full wyde
I fered sore his intencyon
whan that I sawe hym by my syde
He loked as he had ben fryed
Of shape and colour he was ful vyle
Than he began with me to chyde
In his langage whiche was subtyle

Upon my bely he set his knees
And sayde his name was heuynesse

wyth scarled bordred were his iyes
Bolde and full of vnlustynsse
He semed fader of all vnthryftynesse
Iagged and gardyd full vngay.
with a face fylled with falsnesse
Berdyd lyke to a kytlynge of may.

Hym to beholde I was dismayde
Howe he of thynges fast dyd clatter
Many a newe tale to me he sayde
He had well lerned for to patter
Of thynges to come fast dyd he chatter
Byddynge me call them to remēbraunce
He lyst no thynge with me to flatter
But put me to extreme vtteraunce.

He bad I shulde remember my dettes
And brought me forthe my countynge boke
He shewed me there of my receptes
And me compelled theron to loke
By fere constrayned my body quoke
That powre was past me for to speke
That rybawde fered me with his loke
That conforte to me coude I none toke.

Of his turmente what sholde I say
I neuer was in suche encumbraunce
He bode styll and went nat away
And dyd me moche more greuaunce
Than all the other by theyr noysaunce

And turned me fro syde to syde
To slepe he lefte me no suffraunce
But fersely styll at me dyd chyde

This false caytyf by his cruelnesse
Troubled me that my wyt was gone
He put me in so great distresse
That my herte was colde as any stone.
I knewe nat to whome me for to mone
So was I enuyroned rounde aboute.
They me tourmented so echone
That of my lyfe I had great doute.

Than rounde aboute me dyd I loke
Fyrste of all sawe I pouerte

And fals nede by the berde me shoke.
There were dystresse and necessyte.
Thought was in theyr companye.
And heuynesse dyd clater faste
All these six so layde at me.
That fro my bed they me nere caste.

Than as I dyd my hede remeue
About me lokynge for confort
I sawe one come/whiche dyd me greue.
More than all the other sorte.
He sayde his name was disconforte.
Of colour was he pale and wan
It nought auayled hym to exorte.
I sawe neuer suche another man.

By the hande fast he me toke
And with great myght dyd me constrayne
Full sore me by the berde he shoke
This thefe renewed all my payne
His encumbraunce wasted my brayne
That often I wysshed that I were dede
He wolde hym selfe no thynge refayne.
But kept me styll fast by the hede

In frowarde imaginacion
Disconforte kept me a longe space.
He bad me in conclusyon
To sue to hym after his grace.
Saynge that the tyme and space

Onys lost coude nat recouered be.
with suche termes dyd he me manase
Than in conclusyon thus sayde he.

A pore man howe shalt thou pay
All thy dettes that ar behynde.
Brede and drynke must thou puruay.
And a hous to kepe the fro the wynde
Bothe men & maydens must thou fynde.
with euery thynge that longeth them to
Doth nat fortune strongly the bynde.
Nowe let se howe thou canst do.

whan I this harde I was nere mad.
And often fortune cursed I.
The speciall cause why I was sad.
was for my purse was clene empty
Than was it nede I dyd espye
My gowne to plege vnto one
I sawe there was no remedye
Thought that I had but that alone

O blessed iesu what may this be
Maryed was I in an euyll chaunce.
To lyue in suche pouertye.
As I this sayde the same instaunce.
Cam to me Dispayre in cruell ordynaunce.
One of the worste of all the sorte.
She was cheyf captayne of theyr daunce
And doughter vnto Disconforte.

This dispayre dyd me so assayle.
That loste was my discressyon.
My face began to wax pale
By fere of hyr cruell vexacion.
So cruell was hyr perturbacion.
whiche on me she dyd extende.
That I thought in conclusion
Of my selfe to make an ende.

I was redy to renne here & there.
To clym vp a hye and than to fall
By my lyfe set I nat an here.
By meanes of this fury infernall
I thought/who nedis to his deth shall.

It is but folye it to prolonge
This is a worde sayde ouer all.
He that is drowned may no man hange.

And therfore thought I for to do
The worste that outher I coude or myght
To sie my fader and moder also
If I had founde them in my syght
Than vnto my mynde cam full ryght
That I shulde dye no more but onys
wherfore Dyspayre that wretched wyght
Bad me go therto at onys.

I sawe well that without labour
I neuer shulde obteyne rychesse.
Fortune therof is gouernour
To some she gyueth with largesse
But I haue neyther mor nor lesse
So that I wery am of my lyfe
Auoyde of ioy full of distresse.
Lo what it is to take a wyfe

I se disconforte doth me gerue
Dispayre encreaseth my langour
That fote ne hande may I remeue
Suche is my payne and my dolour
Neyther thought I on worshyp ne honour
On knyght/squyer/baron nor lorde
My mynde was on no thynge that houre
But to hange my selfe with a corde.

Or elles to lepe in to some ryuer
And there with payne my selfe to drowne
I fered nat in what manere
I dyed/so that my lyfe were done
Dispayre made me hyr campyon
And had me so take in hyr snare
That sodeynly as I fell in sowne
She me nere strangled or I was ware.

As I was in this perturbacyon
I sawe a lady plesaunt and bryght
For to beholde hyr meke fassyon
Sothly it was a plesaunt syght
Hir caperon with perle was pyght

with precyous stones about enlumynynge
Hyr beautefull face shone as bryght
As phebus dothe in a may mornynge

This lady standynge me before
In hyr behauour was meke and lyberall
Gode and gracious to ryche and pore
She semed to me the quene celestyall
A quene excellent I may hyr call
For she was doughter shortly to say
Unto that meke lorde and immortall
The whiche was borne on christmas day

Sore I desyred to knowe hyr name
Bycause she was of suche excellence
She sayde Reason whome none doth blame
Than was I ryght glad of hyr presence
This noble lady by hyr dylygence
Approched nere vnto my syde
Dispayre anone gat hyr thens
And disconfort with hyr dyd glyde

All the hole company dyd auoyde
what tyme reason sat by me thus
It was some wynde wolde me haue noyed
Sende vnto me by myght of Eolus
I trowe that Pluto/or Neptunus
Or mars cheyf forger of batyle
Or elles helporter Cerberus
Engendred them me to assayle

what shulde I say they fled that tyde
Bothe dispayre and the other rout
Than was there none with me to chyde
I risynge vp loked rounde aboute
Than of no thynge was I in doute
whan reason began to speke softly
whan she had dryuen the other out
That hyr to here great ioy had I

Reason spake with delyberacyon
Replete with wysdome excellently
So that sothly in conclusion
She semed an oratour wytty
what she sayde was sayde playnly
To the vnderstondynge of euery man
And syttynge in a chayer me by
wysely to speke thus she began

My frende this thought se thou eschewe
Ferest thou that rychesse wyll fayle
Subdue thy selfe to force and vertue
And be ruled by my counsayle
whiche shal the gyde in eche batayle
So thou consyder what thou hast to do
Thou mayst get gode by trauayle
For to fynde the and all thyne to.

One god god alone must thou honour.
And hym serue with all diligence
And as thy selfe loue thy neyghbour.

Agaynst hym do thou none offence
In trouble se thou haue pacyence
After the tyme and the season
To eche man haue thou obedyence
These be the termes of reason

Thou shuldest nat to largely
Reioyse thy selfe of thy rychesse
Nor yet be wrothe semblably
Of pouertye/payne/or distresse
whan atropos hym selfe doth dresse
Eche to smyte with his mortall launce
He smyteth the ryche with cruelnesse
And to the pore hathe oft suffraunce

why shulde thyne hert for fere thus fayle
Is it nat rychesse ynoughe to the
To haue thy handes redy to trauayle
without wem or mayme of thy body
If that thou labour cretaynlye
Thou shall nat fayle to haue rychesse
So that thou from all synne do fle
Peasably lyuynge in mekenesse.

Fyrst auoyde eche synne mortall
Replenysshe the with the grace deuyne
Behaue the so in this lyfe mortall
That thou to hell do nat declyne
Submyt thy self vnto the discyplyne
Of hym that made eche crature

Pray hym thyn harte so to enlumyne
That thou aduersyte may endure

whan nede cometh to thy presence
To besye laboure in fyx thy courage
So shalt thou make hym to go thens
Constraynynge hym maugre his vysage
And if dystresse do vnto the outrage
Thoroughe besynesse away hym chase
If thought wolde do to the damage
In some gode dede put thy solace

And if pouertye do the assayle
Or fals and feble necessyte
Enforce thy body vnto trauayle
By suche meane shalt thou cause them fle
If disconforte do trouble the
Tende nat vnto his temptacion
If dyspayre wolde thy lady be
Leue hyr and come vnto me reason

If pryde on the do auenture
Despyte dysdayne or presūpcyon
Beware of them they ar nat sure
Of them cometh great abusyon
Cast fro the collaudacion
Uayne glorye with mysgouernaunce
Fle fro fals ymagynacion
Fle bostynge and oultrecuy daunce

If suche vyces on the do warre
Them & theyr workes se thou despyse
Costreyne them by myght to stande a farre
Pray humilyte the to promyse
Hyr helpe/and socoure in any wyse
with contemplacyon and deuocyon
But aboue all I the aduyse
Be meke of thyn entencyon

Humilyte must be the cheyf
Agaynst pryde grounde of all vyce
But for to kepe the fro myscheyf
Do so that thou mayst haue iustice
Gete gode prouysyon if thou be wyse
Let hym euer kepe the vantgarde
Than shall pryde full of all malyce
Renounsynge the auoyde rewarde

After that pryde is fro the chased
By the myght of humylite
wyth another shalt thou be manased
whyche is daungerous called enuye.
Accompanyed wyth myserye
with falshode/murder/and treason
Suche shall be in his companye
wyth sclander/and fals detraccyon

As a daungerouns capytayne
Enuye wyll the assayle and touche
He shall do the full moche payne
If thou as subiect vnto hym crouche
Ill reporte hathe he in his pouche
wyth many vyces and dyuers
whiche vnto vertue ar reproche
Hym alway tendynge to reuers.

whan that thou seest hyr the about
In me put thou thy truste and ioy
Be not afrayde nor do nat dout

Truste well I shall them all destroye
Faythe and charyte shall them noye
Se thou all waye do hyr honour
So shall she wyt on the employ
To knowe howe she men dothe socour

Charyte hathe waytynge one hyr dignyte
Uery trewe loue and misericorde
Beneuolence with grace & veryte
Amonge them fonde is no discorde
But peas mekenesse and concorde
These shall the helpe in thy necessyte
And thus as I vnto the recorde
They shall enuye auoyde frothe

And than whan done is this assaute
On the shall come a tyraunt daungerous
whose name is yre withouten faute
To all vyce fyers and desyrous
And vnto vertue all waye contraryous
The whiche in seruauntes doth abounde

He may well say that he is curous
whome this vyce doth nat confounde

Crueltye bereth his banyer
Felony is his cheyf campyon
Peruersyte is his portere
Madnes reyneth in his dongeon
Cursed murder that fals felon
Of his hous is as cheyf captayne
Here is a cursed relygyon
To hym that foloweth theyr trayne

Therfore yf yre do the distresse
Shewe thy force and thy puissaunce
Call vnto debonayrnesse
Agaynst yre a full myghty launce
with hyr shall come fayre suffraunce
Pacyence is cheyf/with discressyon
Stedfastnesse with attemperaunce
Subduynge the vnto correccyon

Ire hathe nouther mercy nor petye
On man nor woman here lyuynge
But echone assayleth full cruelly
Ennemye to peas and to warre accordynge
Susteyner of eche vyce semynge
whose furour melteth mannys hart
whiche to his counseler leuynge
wherfore thy syght therfro dyuert

It is impossyble that a man yrous
May vnto god do gode seruyce
For yre is a synne ryght daungerous
whiche is gouerned without iustyce
It is a fyers and mortall vyce
whiche often dothe ryght great damage
Sythe thou art warned be thou wese
Lyst that he do to the outrage.

Shewe thy force and thy puyssaunce
Call vnto the force with noblesse
Pray pacyence to be thy launce
whiche shall this vyce lyghtly oppresse
whan yre is gone sleuthe shall hyr dresse
On euery syde with the to fyght
whiche of all vyce is cheyf maystresse
A stronge tyraunt dispysynge ryght

As cheyf captayne of all the rout
Sleuthe shall haue pleasour the to assayle
And sonne I put the out of dout
That in thy bed she shall nat fayle

On the to lye bothe wanne and pale
On hyr shall wayte vnlustynesse
with neglygence voyde of trauayle
Cheyf guyder of all vnthyrftynesse.

Defende the fersly as a man
For with sleuthe shall come rechelesse
For to subdue the yf he can
Puttynge the to vnlustynesse
Accompanyed with fals fayntnesse
The whiche by theyr iniquyte
Many one bryngeth fro rychesse
Unto great payne and pouertye

Cowardyse wyll the folowe fast
If thou do nat thy selfe defende
Unto the grounde he wyll the cast
But yf that thou thy myght extende
And hyr withstandynge yf thou entende
with hyr to fyght by force soverayne
Unto the grounde shall she descende
Lyke the wynde peased by rayne

Sleuthe to the woll make good chere
By faynt and feble dissimulacion
But at the ende is his manere
For stynge lyke the scorpion
Be ware of his abusyon
Lyst that thou in his bondes rest
But for helpe in conclusyon

To god must thou make thy request

Agaynst sleuth for thy defence
Extencion to goode must thou requyre
Prouyde chefly for dilygence
Besynesse with charge se thou desyre
And for good hert se thou enquyre
Pray gode wyll to be thy gyde.
So shall thou sleuthe cast in the myre
Hym and his asse as he dothe ryde

After this assaut perylous
On the shall come voyde of iustyce
One ougly fiers and daūgerous
whose name is called auaryce
Be ware his cursed couetyse.
For by his wordes fals and subtyle
Many one to hym dothe he atyse
whome at the ende he dothe begyle

Auaryce is so yll and vnsaciable
Neuer fulfylled with rychesse

And of his mynde ay fonde vnstable
By thought ever fylled with heuynsse
This auaryce dothe all them oppresse
whiche lyghtly fyndeth nat socour
He and his seruauntes wyll them dresse
The to assayle at euery hour.

whan auarice doth the assayle
wyth hym woll come full lyghtly
Usury and rapyne wythouten fayle
Fals swerynge and okerye
Murder/theft/and trecherye
Fraude/falshode/and decepcion
Accompanyed wyth roberye
Malyce/and cauyllacyn

whan that thou seest this companye
with auaryce the to distresse.
withdrawe thy selfe to charyte
To suffysaunce and to largesse
But in largesse auoyde excesse
And by almes I the ensure
Auaryce thou shalt oppresse
That he no lenger shall endure

And yf that any maner creature
wolde say that these vyces all
Be gyuen vnto them by nature
Or yet by destenye infernall
Me semeth nay/theyr wyll is liberall

God hathe vs gyuen reasan and wit
Us for to guyde vnto ioye eternall
whiche we shall haue if we deserue it.

Therfore my sone se that thou entende
Unto thy selfe with perfyte dylygence
wherby thou mayst the fro this vyce defende
For euer thou seest by playne euydence
That auaryce full of maliuolence
Hym moste hurteth that loueth it best
wyth largesse make for hym defence
If thou woldest haue thy mynde in rest

So whan thou ouercome hast auaryce
withe braunches of his lynage
To the woll come a cruell vyce
Named glotonye full of outrage
whiche wyll to the do great damage
If thou thy selfe to hym subdue
As well in youthe as in thy age.
This vyce on many doth renewe

To drynke whan thou hast no thurst
wythout mesure or any reason
And to ete whan thou hast no lust
Therin is no discressyon
He may be called a foule gloton
That of his wombe his god doth make
Be ware of this abusyon
Lyst in his bondes this vyce the take

Disordered appetyte is with glotonye
And serueth hym cheyf on the nyght
And gurmandyse is of his meyny
And sleuth wiht hym encraseth myght
All these fyersly on the woll lyght
On eche syde the temptynge myghtely
But lyft vp thyne iyen to heuen bryght
Besechynge god of helpe mekely

Sothly whan that thy stomake
Is furnysshed with mete beyonde nature
Thou mayste be lykened vnto a sacke
Replete with fylthe dunge and ordure
It displeaseth god sore/I the ensure
And to thy selfe doest thou outrage
Than bableth thy tunge without mesure
To others hurte/sclander and damage.

yet mayst thou make right gode resystence
Agaynst them maugre theyr vysage
So that thou wylt take abstynence

Thē whiche shall be for thyne auauntage
Sobryete is cheyf of this passage
whiche shall glotonye fro the auoyde
who in great drynkynge hath vsage
By dethe lyghtly is destroyed

Dronkenesse dothe the lunges brenne
And maketh the membres for to quake
Droken men often laugh and grenne
Than men doth them for foles take
Dronkenesse the wyt dothe brake
It maketh a man to fyght and chyde
Sothly this vyce often doth make
A man of his frendes homycyde

Whan thou escaped hast glotonye
And passed his cruell morsure
The sore assayle wyll lecherye
A cruell vyce I the ensure
The whiche is of suche nature
At hyr begynnynge hyr face to paynt
But if that she a whyle endure

Thy body wyll she make full faynt

This foule synne ougly to name
with hyr braunches ryght many folde
Hym that it louth bryngeth to shame
Example of hercules the bolde
I coude mo counte if that I wolde
whome lechery hathe made to smert
Breyfly if thou wylt haue tolde
It destroyeth many a noble hert.

It woll the gyue foulysshe pleasaunce
with a desyre right disordynate
Superfluyte with his launce
If he wyth the do make debate
He wyll the lay on the grounde prostrate
And brynge the vnto captiuyte
Makynge the fall fro thyne estate
And to knowe thy fragylite.

Cupido shall thyne iyen bynde
Hauynge venus hym to socour
Thus whan these two haue made the blynde
They shall the brynge in great errour
Than shalt thou fall into langour
For whan thou art in theyr bondes cought
If thou leue nat/by theyr rygour
Shortly they shall the brynge to nought

For to auoyde the crudelyte

Of this fals archer amerous
Take thou the shelde of chastyte
Therin is fortune prosperous
Chastyte is so vyctoryous
That he wyll take vyndycacyon
Of this fals vyce full vycious
And vaynquysshe his operacyon

Many be that wyll them excuse
Of theyr loke and beholdynge
Saynge that none can them accuse
For beholdynge of any thynge
This reason is vnto them semynge
Be not our iyen made for to se
Suche excusacions wyll they brynge
For to defende theyr inselicyte

Thus say they for theyr excusaunce
why may we nat loke here and there
That is trouthe without doutaunce
Of thy loke nedest thou nat to fere
But yet my son this mayst thou lere
Thyn iyen vnto the god hathe sent
with them to loke euery where
So that thou haue a gode entent

The fayre regarde of maryage
Is vnto god ryght great delyte
In good hope for to haue lynage
Or ellys it is of no profyte

Therfore if thou wylt be perfyte
Dryue away this folysshe pleasaunce
Geuynge vnto hym no respyte
For to take the in to his daunce

Remember the great & sore vengeaunce
Taken of god for this outrage
Often tymes without doutaunce
Of the mayster it maketh the page
But as I sayde in mariage
Behaue the as thou ought to do
with gode hope for to haue lynage
Or elles sothly thou synnest to

Therfore in bryef conclusyon
To auoyde the payne infernall
Fle from all yll operacyon.
Procedynge of these synnes mrotall
And of pryde in especyall
For whiche lucyfer fell downe to hell
Take this for a doctrine generall
whiche ensuynge I shall the tell.

Agaynst pryde take thou mekenesse
For enuye take thou charyte
Pacyence putteth yre in dystresse
By dylygence sleuthe is in captiuite
For couetyse take thou liberalyte
Glotonye by sobernesse is made thral
Chastyte subdueth lechery

But gode and ferme fayth ruleth all

It is trouthe that mannys nature
To all yll vyce is prone and redy
wherfore the better may he endure
The whiche vseth somwhat percyte
whiche is a great frende vnto chastyte
Agaynst synne take suche resystence
If thou wylt auoyde aduersyte
And purchace a place in goddys presence

Therfore if thou wolt heuen obteyne
As thy selfe loue thy neyghbour
Fro mortall synne thy selfe refrayne
Fere god and do hym honour
Do his byddynge whiche is thy creatour
Speke lytell here what wyse men say
So mayste thou escape terrene langour
And haue wheron to lyue alway

where as many wordes ar spoken
For to speke in breyf langage
Often wysdome & trouthe is broken
Of moche speche cometh great damage
who in great langage hath vsage
Some worde may he say in gode entent
The whiche soundeth to great outrage
And causeth hym after to repent

Behaue thy selfe curtes and amyable

Cause no debate/stryfe/nor discorde
Be prudent/symple/and seruyable
Speke thou of no man yll reporte
Take gode hope and gode conforte
Lo here the playne way of hardnesse
whiche shall the brynge vnto the sorte
That thou desyrest/that is rychesse

Rychesse goten by sore labour
By watchynge trauayle and by payne
Is vnto god moche more pleasour
Than it is whan it is sodayne
One maye in this lyfe mundayne
Obtayne rychesse wyth great vertue
But whan it is yll goten certayne
The getters vnto the deuyll subdue

Folowe therfore the vertuous way
On the ryght hande that none dothe begyle
Leue the left/the whiche all way
Destroyeth man/be he neuer so subtyle
This way that none dothe defyle
On the ryght hande is called dylygence
For thoughe the left on the da smyle
The latter ende in voyde of all defence

In this cursed way on the left syde
Many a man dothe walke gladly
So at the ende ar they destroyed
For that theyr gode is goten falsly

Some be drowned & some hanged
Be they neuer so hardy/subtyll/or wyse
Suche is the ende/but the other sothly
Brengeth a man vnto paradyse

A man that foloweth the left way
Can vnethe hym selfe refrayne
He that hym selfe refrayne nat may
Shall fynde it harde to come agayne
Therfore begynne in the waye of payne
whiche shall the brynge to the sterred regyon
And for thy leders haue no disdayne
To take vnderstondynge wyt and reason

Some foules yll and obstynate
whan they ar repreued by iustyce
Say that that they therto ar destynate
wenynge for to excuse theyr malyce
They say that fortune must accomplyse
That that is theyr destenye
Thus dothe the deuyll these wretches atyse
To kepe them in theyr incredulyte

Gode wyll must thou haue therfore
Auoyde yll thought fro thyne entent
And if that thou be tempted sore
Beware do nat therto consent
Lyft vp thyne iyen to the fyrmament
Prayenge helpe and than I reason.
Shall be right glade/fayne and diligent
The to delyuer in euery season

If destenye shulde haue dominacion
Than our gode dedes shulde nat auayle
Echone wolde make trangression
If thou so thynke thy mynde doth fayle
If thou do well for thy trauayle
Thou shalt haue ioye & for yll punycyon
Gete heuen/and withouten fayle
Thou escapest all tribulacyon

Thoughe that thy destenye be nought
Be thou nat redy to do the werst
He that is of a cursed thought
Euermore leueth the best
If thou do yll/be ware the last
Iustyce to eche geueth his guerdon
whan thy soule fro this lyfe is past
Thou shalt haue euen as thou hast done

In this noble way of giligence
If that thou thy selfe redresse.
Thou shalt by playne experience.
By meane therof obteyne rychesse
As for the way of sleuthfulnesse
Howe euer it appere the ende is nought
There is but wo/peyne and dystresse
Disconforte/trouble care and thought

The way of sleuthe a man doth brynge
Unto a place of captyuite
where nought is but hūger & murnynge

Called the maner of wo and pouettye
There is no thynge but necessyte
Brede nor drynke/worke nor trauayle
There lyueth man in suche penurye
That hunger constrayneth his hart ta fayle

whan one is fall in suche myschaunce
And subdued in suche pouertye
He must to haue his sustenaūce
His clothes sell releued for to be
whan they ar gone than what dothe he
Than must he be a begger or a thefe
So in conclusyon here may ye se
Of sleuthe what is the ende & the prefe

Of suche folke that ben ocyous
By ryght no man shulde haue mercy
They ar to them selfe contrarious
Sleuthe disceyueth them so falsly
Some be pale blacke and rusty
Agaynst the sonne syttynge for solace
Some dye for hunger some colde and thursty
Sorowe mot he haue that it doth purchace

If thou haste passed a place perilous
And thens escaped without damage
Take gode hede se thou be cautelous
Retourne nat theder for thyne auaūtage
But the behaue as prudent wyse and sage
Auoydynge all sleuthe and neglygence

Go aboute by another passage
whiche is the way of dyligent

If thou se some goynge amasse
Lyghtly auoyde theyr company
Suche as in thy presence thy mouthe wyl kysse
And wolde the sle if they myght pryuely
Be nat aquaynted with suche comonly
Kepe well thy counsell shewe nat it
whan one blynde ledeth another lyghtly
Often they bothe fall in the pytte

Take therfore the ryght passage
Of gode hope and gode esperance
Be diligent for thyne owne auauntage
For therin is richesse and pleasaunce
Bothe in plentye and in suffysaunce
But set nat thyn herte theron to sore
Gete nat wrongfully suche abundaunce
That thy soule suffer peyne therfore

who that rychesse to moche doth pryse
For it takynge labour and greuaunce
Is so brought by vnhappy couetyse
That he is neuer at his pleasaunce
Thoughe he haue rychesse in abundaunce
For all is he nat therwith content
But a man that hathe suffisaunce
To all gode gladly dothe consent

Suffisaunce dothe god greatly please
As thou full well mayst vnderstonde
And couetyse dothe hym dysplease
Therfore auoyde his cruell honde
Let hym nat take the in his bonde
Lyst his excesse do the begyle
If thou remember thou art but fonde
with it thou endurest but a whyle

Remember it is no thynge permanent
In abundaunce to haue rychesse
As water rennynge sone is it spent
whan deth cometh all thyn excesse
Of welth & richesse tourneth to heuynesse
Thou must it all leue the behynde
Than one of thy kynne with largesse
Bloweth thy pens out with the wynde

Therfore with lytell be thou content
Thankynge euer god of pouertye
Thanke hym of that he hathe the sent
Auoydynge synne and iniquite
If thou wyth synne subdued be
Thou canst do no dede meritorys
Do well and than I ensure the
Thou shalt obtayne the heuenly glorye

Some folke in all theyr lyfe
To gete gode ar full diligent
Lettynge neythey for hatered ne stryfe

And yet ar they neuer content
Unto all falhode they do consent
They tende nat but to get and saue
with couetyse is theyr herte so brent
That they thynke neuer youghe to haue

whan they ar moste in fortunes grace
Lystfted vp hye vnto the mone
She shewynge them hyr frowarde face
Causeth them lyghtly to come downe
Thoughe they before sat in theyr trone
Fortune on them hath made a mowe
wherby theyr rychesse fro them is gone
Than one the grounde lye they full lowe.

Therfore se thou fortune defye
Sythe hyr rychsse is so vntable
And in god onely thy selfe affye
In whom is rychesse perdurable
His suffisaunce is full profytable.
Therfore in hym thy selfe assure
And in this purpose be thou stable
God hym loueth that doth endure

A man ryche full of Ignoraunce
whiche in tyme passed hath had honour
In fortunes rychesse hauynge pleasaunce
Is nowe downe dryuen by a sodayne shoure
He neuer afore was vsed to labour
Thus after he hath lept from hye to lowe

By idelnes fortune doth on hym lour
He lyeth on the grounde & none wyll hym knowe

Of clothynge desyre thou no newe gyse
But clothe thy selfe alway honestly
Suffer nat pryde vpon the to ryse
But go ay meke and symplye
And se thou be content onely
So thou haue good wheron to lyue
without gatherynge ouer largely
Thou knowest nat whan deth wyll aryue

If it fortune that by necessyte
Thou put thy selfe in the seruyce
Of any man of great auctoryte
Outher lorde/marchaunt/or iustice
Be nat foulysshe/flaterynge/nor nyse
Nor yet sleuthfulle in any wyse
Se that thou fle from eche vyce
Lyst he the vtterly despyse

what euer he say suffer mekely
Fere hym with loue entyer and cordyall
Serue hym bothe day & nyght truly
Say of hym goode ouer all
Remember loue is so specyall
That without it no gode is done
Of his goodes be nat lyberall
And god shall pay the thy guerdon

Thou ought of right to set thy hert
with all thy myght & thy puyssaunce
Thy masters wyll for to aduert
And it to fulfyll without doutaunce
So call thou vnto thy subuenaunce
This prouerbe that I the lere
Kepe it in thy remembraunce
Loue goeth neuer without fere

Fere without loue may right well be
we fere without loue them that vs manase
But where as true loue is/in certentye
It maketh men lyue euen by compas
Sherfore this loue se thou purchace
And than thou shalt fall in his fauour sone
Than thy rewarde to thy solace
Shalbe euen after as thou hast done

If thou truly thy mayster serue
He shall perceyue it within a whyle
Than shalt thou haue that thou doest deserue
with a gode name whiche none doth fyle
But if that thou do hym begyle
He shall perceyue it at the laste
Than shall thy dedes thy name defyle
So out of his hous he shall the cast

whan that thou art thus departed
wythout his loue full folysshely
As a seruant full yll aduerted

Another mayster must thou seke truly
Than shall other come pryuely
And enquyre whether thou were yll or gode
If he say yll that they may spye
No man woll haue the by the rode

But if that any be in necessyte
And can none other seruaunt fynde
Than perauenture he woll haue the
And alway be to the vnkynde
But if he be a fole or blynde
Elles wyll he none of thy seruyce
Than shalt thou warder out with the wynde
No mayster shall loue thy gyse

If that thou wolt thy mayster please
Thou must haue these thre propertees
Fyrst must thou haue an asses eares
wyth an hertes fete in all degrees
An hogges snout/and after these
By suche meanes shall I declare
That in tyme of aduersytees
By them the better thou mayst fare

By an asses eres this is ment
That thou must harken hym about
If thou se he be nat content
Say nought but se thou hym dout
where as he is se thou nat rout
what he cōmaundeth do gladly

Than shall he nat put the out
If thou behaue the thus wysely

By the hogges snout mene I thys
what mete so euer to the is brought
Thoughe it be some what amysse
Take pacyence and say thou nought
Ete thou it nat but it be ought
Rather suffer thou a lytell penurye
Another tyme better shalbe bought
For to amende that iniury

Let thy snout smel in eche place
And specially for to seke labour
If thou so do in lytell space
Thou shalt nat fayle of his fauour
Let thy pacyence ouercome his rigour
And take good hede to his condicion
Se that thou alway hym honour
Submyttynge the to his correccyon

This signyfyeth the fete of an hert
Thou must do thy mayster socour
Both day & nyght thoughe thou shuld smerte
To renne and go at euery hour
Day nor nyght spare no labour
Rather than he shulde haue damage
Helpe hym in welth and in dolour
If any man do to hym outrage

Thus reason left of hyr parlament
Than after turned I me to rest
And than cam wysedome full dilygent
A man prudent/discrete and honest
Stondynge nere afore my brest
I lyfted myne hede vnto hym nere
He had suche glose vpon the text
That I had maruayle hym to here

wysdome

He that hym ruleth by reason
Getteth bothe ryches & honour
Takynge vpon hym labour
Euer hath he a ryche mansyon
That is ruled by reason

He purueyeth eche thynge in season

As best is whan the tyme is grene
After a storme the sonne dothe shene
That man is quyte of all discencion
whiche is ruled by reason

Sothly my frende it is abusyon
This caduke richesse greatly ty prayse
To many a man it dothe dysease
He auoydeth sclaunder ad detraccion
whiche is rewled by reason

ye knowe that within a lytell season
Fortunes fauour many one procure
But of hyr grace no man is sure
Therfore he is wyse in conclusyon
whiche is ruled by reason

I make townes and castels stronge of walles
I make iestes/stories/and comedyes/
I made the seuen artes lyberals
with poemes and many tragydees
I haue made many omelyes
whiche vnto man ar full profytable
wherby he maye auoyde all folyes
And of his mynde be ferme and stable

whan reason on man hathe dominacyon
I promote hym vnto great dignite
I hate discorde/and adulacion
And loue peas/concorde/and equyte

He that wyll lyue well in prosperyte
Muste haue reason to be his gouernoure
And than wyll I of myne owne lybertye
Of very right be his protectoure

I am wysedome whiche haue knowlegynge
Of goode and yll without doutaunce
But without reason I do no thynge
For in hir is no maner ignoraunce
whome procureth I hym auaunce
wherfore sonne if thou wylt procede
Be euer content with suffysaunce
Than shall I helpe the at thy nede

Obey to reoson what euer she say
with all thyn hert in lowlynesse
Than by hyr grace shalt thou puruay
Bothe worshyp honour and richesse
She helpeth men out of dystresse
By hyr wyt and discressyon
If thou wylt come to parfytnesse
Put the in hir subieccion

The auctour.

Thus wysedome vnto me dyde speke
At reasons wyll and cōmaundement
wherby great confort dyd I take
His reasons were so wyse and prudent
On whose saynge I fyxed myne entent

Concludynge vpon the way of payne
But for the tyme passed I was dolent
whiche loste/coude nat be called agayne

That halfe faynt for watchynge excessyf
I lyfted my hede vp lokynge me about
Lest alone sore/sad/and pensyf
Than was I agayne in dout
I fered them that afore went out
Than sawe I one full of grauyte
Go compaysynge my bed about
with two seruauntes in this companye

whan he vnto me dyd appere
I thought he had ben some aduocate
His hode was furred wyth menyuere
His gowne of the same lyke his estate
He me behelde without any debate
And sayde his name was disceyt full slye
Of whome comethe many a mortall fate
His lytell varlet was named vsurye

Falhode was his seruauntes name
So knewe I by his fals vysage
The mayster cared no thynge for shame
yet was he a comely personage
He me so flaterynge by his langage
Set hym downe there by my cheke
I maruayled what was his vsage
Than thus vnto me he began to speke.

disceyte

Say my frende wheron doest thou muse
thou doest thy selfe destroy with thought
All thy wyt thou doest abuse
Thu stodyest sore and all for nought
Reason hathe the in hyr bondes cought
But let hyr go by my counsayle
Than of rychesse that thou hast sought
By my helpe thou shalt nat fayle

wysedome hath the aduertysed
To put the in reasones subiectyon
A strawe man let hyr be despysed
And yelde the vnder my proteccyon
who loueth reason lacketh discressyon

Thou all way seest a man resonable
That fereth god iustyce & punycyon
Hath neuer ought this is verytable

Reason that foule doth the counsayle
To lyue alway vertuously
Thou shalt haue hunger for thy trauayle
She byddeth the alway laboure besyly
But by my craft I all sodaynly
Make hym this day pore ryche to morowe
Therfore reason se thou defye
Let hyr and all hyrs go with sorowe

Reason with lytell is well content
She settethe no thynge by exesse
For to labour she is euer diligent
without gatherynge of great rychesse
But I exalt men vnto noblesse
Sodaynly by my art subtyle
If any wolde do to me falsnesse
I take hym lygtly in his owne wyle

But whyle that thou ensuest reason
Thou shalt neuer come to dignyte
But pore and sympl in euery season
As a bonde man had in captyuyte
Out of all maner hope of lybertye
Oppressed shalt thou be ouer all
Euery day well mayst thou se
That the great dothe ete the small

Leue therfore reason by my counsayle
If thou wylt haue rychesse lyghtly
And if that any do the assayle
By my craft I shall blere theyr iye
If that thou do entende to me
Thou shalt fynde that thou hast sought
I shall be at thy wyll redy
And whyle I lyue thou shalt lacke nought

If that thou wolt come to thyn ease
And haue golde at thy pleasour
Thy neyghbour se that thou dysease
with iniuye/damage force and rygour
Let me disceyte be as thy gouernour
Or elles my seruaunt vsurye
From one to another go euery hour
with a glosynge langage of flaterye

Let thy tunge be as a knyfe
wyth euery man therwyth to rage
And where thou woldest haue no stryfe
Shewe thy selfe/discrete and sage
Specyally where as is auauntage
Speke fayre tyll thou haue thy pray
But yet let nat to do damage
To euery man whyle that thou may

Gouerne the euer wyth decepcyon

Care nat for them that ar in payne
At pore folke haue thou derision
To gete gode dothe not refrayne
For to dysceyue men set thy brayne
In theyr presence shewe them gode chere
But of theyr hurte se thou be fayne
In theyr abscence in eche manere

Speke fayre with falshode amonge
Shewe thy selfe meke and treatable
Take money by ryght and wronge
Make the ryche man myserable
Gather togeder rychesse arrable
Fere neyther god ne the deuyll of hell
Of thy wordes be thou nat stable
To ryche enuyous/to pore cruell

Pay nought in plede nor in processe
Lene no thynge but vnto vsere
Se that thou the pore oppresse
Take theyr herytage and nouryture
Spare no thynge the to periure
And if any do the repreue
By swerynge fast thy selfe assure
From his gode hym to remeue

Thou shalt haue rychesse at the last
To lyue in great prosperyte
If thou speke fayre and borowe fast
Faynynge thy selfe in charyte

For nowe a dayes in trouth and veryte
No man of the woll haue count
without clothynge of auctoryte
Lyke a knyght or a vycount

Kepe thy termes lyke thyn estate
with ermyne or sables fur thy gowne
If any man haue enuye therat
By thy craft turne hym vp set downe
Thus mayst thou encreas thy renowne
And if any come with the to speke
Let thy man say thou art nat in the towne
That he may come often the to seke

Let hym retour the to enquyre
Be nat asshamed for to lye
And what thynge thou doeth desyre
Be it gode or bad do it lyghtly
Take no hede to well nor truly
So it be done take thou no thouht
And I shall euer helpe the besely
So that at nede thou shalt lacke nought

To hym that is curtais and lowly
Euery man dare agaysay
But to one ryche gay and hastye
Skant is one that dare say nay
They wyll hym ferelyste that he fray
Therfore eche man wyll hym forbere
Fayne felonye on them to lay

And than shall euery man the fere

what euer thou doest worke by wyle
Fyll thy stomake full of falsnesse
Fro the reason do thou exyle
Of hyr nought cometh but destresse
Refuse fayth take thou falsnesse
For suche is the worlde in this season
As thou mayst se by euydence expresse
They ar all pore that folowe reason

Se thou be redy ay to take
withoute geuynge ought agayne
Thy promesse swerynge se thou forsake
Thus mayst thou haue ryches sodayne
Let thy tunge folowe the comon trayne
Of adulacyon couerde with eloquence
Thus shall euery man be fayne
Unto the for to do reuerence

If there come to the any myschaunce
Care nat it shall do the no grefe
Thou shalt haue for thy sustenaunce
Me and my men the to relefe
we shall defende the fro myschef
And vnder the vmber of veryte
Thoughe he be neuer so fals a thefe
we shall ouercome hym by our subtyltye
Loke what it is for to haue polecye
with craft subtyltye and practyke
By whiche meanes he that worketh slye

Casteth his ennemye lyghtly in the dyke

Trewe wysdome se thou exyle
whiche causeth thought and heuynesse
Muse alway men to begyle
Let nat to make fayre promesses
Euery day here twenty messes
But haue at none of them deuocion
And spare thou nat to take excesses
Of theft/falshode/and excorcion

Beleue me for thyne auauntage
And refuse thou reason vtterly
Falshode my frende shalbe thy page
Exaltynge the to rychesse myghtely
whan thou art in suche case truly
Euery man shall do the honour
And yf that auy do to the vylanye
Se thou hym tame by thy rygour

whyle that reason on the doth reyne
Thou shalt neuer come to worthynesse
But euer of pouertye complayne
Auoyde of myrthe full of sadnesse
Thou shalt nat ned to count expresse
Crownes/nobles/nor royals
Thou shalt be voyde of all rychesse
And of degrees temporalles.

Thou hast herde what I haue the tolde

This is my mynde and my coūsayle
whefore on me se thou be bolde
And do here after for thyn auayle
Thus mayst thou come without trauayle
To rychesse/so thou auoyde reason
If thou thus do without fayle
No more woll I say at this season

The auctour.

whan this fals caytyf had thus sayde
I was abstract nere fro my mynde
His wordes made me sore afrayde
That I vnstable was as the wynde
About me socour coude I none fynde
For fere I quaked/colde were my fete
I had in me as good a mynde
As hath a Gose vpon a spete

That whiche reason dyd me counsayle
was gode holsome/and resonable
Disceyte contrarye dyd me assayle
Shewynge me craftes dysceyuable
Thus was my mynde as varyable
As a fane stanbynge in the wynde
In no purpose ferme nor stable
As nowe a dayes we many fynde

As I thus lay troubled full sore
wysdome retourned to me agayne
More prudent than he was before
whiche with his langage discrete & playne

Exorted me for to refrayne
Me fro that thefe deceptyon
And than reason shulde me mayteyne
And thus sayde he in conclusyon

wysedome.

Doest thou trust falhode/or dysceyte
A pore man they woll the dyffame
They loue but dyscorde and debate
They prayse the yll and good doth blame
And they pryncypally ar the same
whiche bryngeth man to the pyt of hell
Trust in reason moste noble of fame
whiche no thynge doth but that is well

That man is mad that lyueth reason
Unto dysceyte for to be lenynge
He that so dothe after in breyf season
Agaynste hym self is murmurynge
Therfore be thou the wythdrawynge
For of hym venym dothe descende
Lyue after reason aboue all thynge
For who well lyueth/well doth ende

Howe many dayly doest thou se
That leuynge reason them selfe assure
In falshode/hauynge great dignite
Fro pore men takynge theyr pasture
In this extorcion they longe endure
By falshode getynge gode mundayne
But whan that knowen is theyr nature
They be made pore by chaunce sodayne

we haue oft sene great wyndes blowe
And with a lytell rayne euercome
So many men be brought full lowe
Before exalted by fals costom
Some rayed in scarlet/and other some
Arayed in golde/tyssue/and veluet
The one after vnto the swerde become
The other trayned vnto the gebet.

If that they had trusted in reason
Leuynge falshode that dysceyuour
They shulde nat haue had suche confusyon

But styll haue lyued in theyr honour
Reason that lady of great valour
Dothe nought that is to repreue
But dysceyte that fals traytour
His cheyf subiectes doth myscheyf

Sythe that rychesse is so varyable
wherfore take we therfore suche payne
Consyderynge our lyfe so vnstable
From dethe we can vs nat refayne
The day and the hour is vncertayne
Therfore let vs lyue skarsly
For this is a thynge moste certayne
That fyrst or laste we must nedis dye

Disceyte in his fyrst begynnynge
To eche man well Inoughe doth sounde
But an euyll deth is his endynge
His scolers thus doth he confounde
But hym that in no rychesse doth abounde
By reason goten eche man dothe prayse
In deceyte suche ende is founde
That euery man dothe it disprayse

By reason well mayst thou obtayne
Rrchesse mundayne suffycyently
who that hathe none bydeth in payne
And of is entreated vncurteysly
who hathe nat money & that largely
were he as holy as was saynt poule

where euer he goeth contynually
He shall be taken for a fole

who that by reason dothe gode purchace
He lyueth therwith right merely
To his pleasour with grat solace
But yf that any thorowe enuye
wolde do hym wronge or iniurye
He must to god call for socour
And than shall he full hastely
Hym ayde and helpe at euery hour

The auctour.

Thus in my bed sore troubled layde
Halfe releued was my courage
I toke gode hede to that he sayde
For he was wyse discrete and sage
And thynkynge it for myn auauntage
Submytted me to the grace dyuyne
I knowe dysceyte by his outrage
wolde me haue brought vnto ruyne

So purposed I fully to take
The counsayle of my lady reason
And dysceyte vtterly forsake
with his falshode and abusyon
Than beynge of opynyon
Reason dyd vnto me apere
with hir face bryght as the sonne

Arayed in a ryche manere

This lady was right gracious
Pleasaunt curteys and amyable
On me lokynge with chere ioyous
with a salutacyon right honorable
For this fals caytyf myserable
Disceyte with his seruauntes two
For all theyr chere abhomynable
A thyr comynge dyd fro me go

reason.

I am glad of the perfyte vyctorye
whiche thou hast obtayned this nyght
It shall be to the right merytorye
In the hyghe trone that is so lyght

wysedome with his noble myght
Hath ben for the a goode solicitour
But sith thou haste agreed to the right
Nowe shalt thou be my seruytour

I gyue the in commaundement
For to serue me ferme and faythfully
Haunt company wyse and prudent
So shalt thou haue rychesse largely
I knowe that mannys mynde truly
By temptacion full oft doth vary
what I commaunde do thou gladly
And to me reason be nat contrary

what man that I do sustayne
I make clene from all maner vyce
But he that falshode doth maynteyne
Hateth concorde/peas/and iustice
God wyll that thou leue malice
And vsurye in pryncypall
whiche thou must do if thou be wyse
with perfyte wyll and cordyall

I kepe men in theyr fraunchyse
I make the feble stronge and able
Disceyte to yll men doth atyse
And doth nought that is profytable
Be therfore constant/ferme/and stable/
Endue thy hert with force and vertue
So shalt thou disceyte full myserable

By godly wysdome strongly subdue

Gode name is better than rychesse
The grace of god is full excellent
Truste nat in the fayre promysse
Of disceyte/ne his termes eloquent
Behaue thy selfe wyse/and prudent
Be ruled by grace and pacience
Both day and nyght be diligent
To get the treasour of sapience

And if that god gyue the wysdome
Be nat therof proude nor glorious
But more symple se thou become
Thankynge hym with chere pyteous
Let thy mynde be euer vertuous
Submyttynge the to thy creatur
whiche is so meke and gracyous
That he wyl be thy gouernour

with eche man be in charyte
Begynnynge at thy selfe fyrst of all
Let all thy dedes sounde vnto equyte
To pore men be thou lyberall
Men wyse and vertuous to the call
whiche shall the kepe from all damage
Auoyde flaterers from thy hall
The to disceyue is theyr vsage

with me abydeth none malicious

Tyraunt traytoure nor cowarde
But noble people/wyse/and vertuous
And peas as chefe bereth the standarde
who casteth on me his regarde
Shall surely skape both hole and sounde
who in dysceyte hathe his forwarde
whan he moste trusteth is brought to grounde

If that by fortune thou haue aduersyte
without noyse paciently endure
God knoweth thy fragylyte
Fro poynt to poynt I the ensure
And if disceyte on the procure
Auoyde the cause the tyme and place
For without dout I the ensure
Disceyte stynketh in goddys face

where as is pryde myscheyf is bye
Therfore of humilyte take confort
Fals flaterye se thou defye
And tende no thynge to disconforte
Beware falshode and yll reporte
Auoyde robery and all maner wronge
If thou do as I the exorte
In vertue shalt thou lyue full longe

Thou mayste get if thou folowe me
Rychesse mundayne in suffisaunce
without falshode or iniquyte
Or doynge thy neybour any greuaunce

Thy gode and yll in a balaunce
Shall be weyed at the day extreme
And than after thyn ordynaunce
The myghty iuge shall the deme

Therfore sonne by me thou maye
Obteyne goodes mundayned & eternall
Lyue without thought in lowe araye
without any payne corporal
Of this rychesse that is temporal
Thou mayst with ioye here haue thy part
And the hyghe glorye celestyal
whan thy soule shall hens depart

Beholde what two great benefices
Iordeyne for my seruytours
where other fylled with malyces
By falshode lese all suche honours
Periures theues and seductours
Saturate with synne and ordure
Lyue here in castels and in tours
But theyr estate can nat endure

Roberye/pykynge and cauyllacion
Theft with falshode doth gouerne
That fals tyraunt decepcyon
And ledeth hym vnto the tauerne
Fals vsurye dothe discerne
Theyr armes with his termes blasynge
with pryde of all vyce lanterne

Unto theyr counsell is lenynge

Suche as they haue but smale conscience
Therfore se that thou them despyse
They refuse vertue/cūnynge/and syence
Lenynge to ryot suche is theyr gyse
wherfore dere sonne I the aduyse
Let nat theyr power on the extende
For yf it do/I the promyse
At Tyburne wyll they make the ende

If falshode thoroughe his wyllynes
Exalt a man vnto honour
And after if that his rychesse
Be loste by some sodayne shour
They to whome he dyd rigour
Before/wyl ioy of his damage
They wylbe redy at euery hour
To hym to render his outrage

One vnto another wyll say
Loke where he lyeth that was so ryche.
His gode yll goten is nowe away
And lo where he lyeth in the dyche
we thought that his ende wolde be suche
He hathe lyued in welth to longe
His scabbed skyn lo nowe doth ytche
That he dare nat come vs amonge

Thus mayst thou se it is profytable

To lyue truly in this mortall lyfe
Gettynge rychesse by meanes verytable
Sythe it yll gotten encreaseth stryfe
who laboureth for rychesse excessyf
weneth to come vnto hye estate
But at the last he abydeth pensyf.
And euery gode man dothe hym hate

Leue therfore vyce/and loue vertue
If thou wylt lyue in lybertye
And than men knowynge the gode & true
wylbe glad of thy company
But yet must thou haue humilite
wyth pacyence/& concorde thy way to dresse
wyth fayth/trouthe/and equyte
If thou wolt get heuenly rychesse

Be thou symple of countenaunce
Speke fayre with chere amyable
Beware dysceyte and fere his launce
Be nat of purpose varyable
It is a thynge abhomynable
Under an abyde of faythfulnesse
To haue a fals hert & reprouable
Full of wrathe/yre and falsnesse

Under the vmber of veryte
Many one vseth fals discepcion
Usynge to speke right faythfully
But falshode is in theyr entencyon

They thynke other to disceyue by treason
But theyr self dysceyued do they fynde
But lerne this sonne of me reason
God knoweth euery mannys mynde

God kon weth pleyne and clerely
Mannys mynde thought and courage
For he by his grace ineffably
Made hym lyke to his owne ymage
Shuldest thou nat than do hym homage
whiche hathe the gyuen so great a benefyce
Passynge all other in auauntage
That is the royalme of paradyse

And after whan by disobedyence
Man was damned to be in payue
That hyghe lorde a lambe of innocence
with his owne blode brought hym agayne
This blessed lorde had no dysdayne
For to become a man mortall
And suffer deth with many a payne
To make vs fre that erst were thrall

This lorde chefe mayster of iustice
Shall kepe his iugement fynall
Than some that there be moste of pryce
Shall than be myserablest of all
The pore and ryche shall be egall
Eche man shall haue lyke audience
All mankynde there in generall

Shall there abyde this iuges sentence

The aungels shall theyr trumpettes blowe
Callynge men to the iugement
Than euery man full well shall knowe
Howe that he here his lyfe hath spent
with an hyghe voyce that lorde omnipotent
Shall call my seruantes with hym to dwel
The bad all pensyf/wo/and dolent
Perpetually shalbe damned to hell

Nowe art thou so that thou mayste chuse
The harde way of slauacyon
Or elles if thou wolt that abuse
Thou fyndest the way of perdycyon
Do after me son that I am reason
To auoyde the fendes cruell bande
And than that iuge prynce of dyscressyon
Shall the set on his right hande

On the rayne bowe meke & propyce
On hye shall syt that myghty lorde
Hauynge on his one hande iustyce
And one the other myserycorde
with them shall peas be and concorde
And veryte shall be there playne
This iuge with these at one accorde
Shall iuge the lynage humayne

God shall my seruauntes vnto hym call

with meke chere and countenaunce
Unto his hyghe sete imperyall
But after another maner chaunce
He shall say wordes of great penaunce
To falshodes seruauntes whiche shalbe dum
Puttynge them to extreme vttraunce
Ite maledicti in ignem eternum.

what shall theyr rychesse than auayle
whan they shall haue but right wysnesse
Eche man shall haue after his trauayle
The gode lyght/and the yll derkenesse
Some shall thynke it a day of swetnesse
But other some wyth crye and yell
Shall thynke that day of bytteresse
Descendynge downe to the pyt of hell

Therfore frende to thy self take hede
Renounce falshode with all iniquyte
This day shall make the to haue drede
If thou it call to mynde trulye
who getteth rychesse here falsly
Of hell paynes shall haue his part
And therfore hyther come am I
Fro thys payne the to dyuert

Therfore aryse and dome homage
with meke hert and intencion
Refusynge falshode with his outrage
Makynge suche prouysyon

That thou mayst lyue by dyscressyon
Than shall I make the to possede
A place in the heuenly regyon
Lo al my seruaūtes hath such mede

The actour.

After that I herde my lady reason
So wysely speke full of prudent
I forsoke disceyte/falshode & treason
yeldynge me vnto hyr magnificence
I kneled downe in hir presence
Knowynge it for myne auauntage
with meke loue and obedyence
Unto reason I made homage

Holdynge my handes vp to hyr grace
with lowe chere dyd I me present
There shewed I hyr all the case
Howe that I my lyfe had spent
This noble lady wyse and prudent
Suerly vnto me dyd promesse
So I wolde make amendemente
To be my lady and maystresse

Than this laday approched nere
Of all other moste gode and gracious
with lowly countenaunce and there
Of my helthe gratly desyrous
And to hyr seruauntes neuer contrarious
Seynge hyr nere thus vnto hyr sayde I
Most excellent lady moste gode and glorious
To you wyll I me submyt gladly

Do ye with me what is our pleasoure
I am euer redy glad and diligent
To do all thynge that may you honoure
Neuer wyllynge more to be negligent
To suche vertues/or counsayle prudent
I defye falshode with his subtyltees
To you obeynge with hole entent
Bothe in welth and aduersytees

Reason was glad in eche degre
whan she herde me say in this wyse
Than as syster vnto humylyte

Out of hyr chear sone dyd she ryse
And kyssynge me she dyd promyse
Euer at my nede for to be kynde
Than sodaynly in a secrete wyse
This lady entred into my mynde

Thus whyle that reason was my gyde
I gouerned me well and wysely
Dysceyte and falshode settynge asyde
with wretchednesse and vsurye
To byde with reason purposed I
As longe as god lent me my lyfe
Beynge in this purpose dyd I spye
Aproche an olde man and his wyfe

whan I them sawe I was content
They were so meke and gracyous
The mannys name was euydent
Gode wyll/to none contrarious
The womans gode hert to none enuyous
The whiche two had with them brought
A yonge chylde/pleasaunt/gode & vertuous
In excellence passynge my thought

This childe euer by gode wyll stode
Upon hyr hande to hyr leuynge
This was his name/Lust to do gode
As me thought vnto my semynge
These thre togeder on me smylynge
Aproched nere/and fyrste of all

Gode hert began with this saynge
with meke countenaunce and lyberall

Gode hert.

Sithe that reason resteth in the
Son/I shall nat from the depart
The tyme and season nowe mayst thou se
whiche to the bryngeth the ase of hert
we shall fro the all yll dyuert
Puttynge into thy subieccion
Thy wyfe and chyldren hole & quart
whan age cometh the vpon.

we thre togeder shall the conuey
Unto a place full of all pleasaunce

There shall we shyft for the puruay
To helpe the out of all greuaunce
This place is of great cheuysaunce
Goten onely by way of dyligence
The whiche place shal the auaunce
To the hye degre of excellence

Folowe vs and we shall the brynge
Into the hye way/whiche is right specious
The whiche way hath at his endynge
A fayre castel/pleasaunt and sumptuous
In whiche remayneth a treasour precious
That is worldly goodes full of noblesse
This place is called that is so beauteous
Labour/wherin remayneth rychesse

Reason right often hath the tolde
Of this castell whiche is so honorable
Passynge all castels a thousande folde
And vnto mankynde most profytable
But the way is so variable
That none can com thyder without vs thre
But he must haue some fortune myserable
And be compelled agayne to fle

Thefore who theder doth hym dresse
Nat hauynge vs in his companye
Shall neuer truly haue rychesse
His fortune is in great difficultye
Many one cometh vnto dignyte

By falshode/vsurye/and rapyne
But at the ende symple pouertye
Kepeth them fallen into ruyne

Syth thou opplyest to reasons doctryne
I shall helpe the euer at thy nede
My wyfe shall vnto the enclyne
My sone shall helpe the for to spede
Do after vs/and haue no drede
For we thre shal to the be kynde
whan thou hast laboured/for thy mede
If thou well do thou shalt well fynde

Lust to do gode/is nowe redy
Unto this place the to conuey
Therfore aryse and come lyghtly
And we shall well for the puruay
Reason hyr seruaūtes helpeth alway
whiche hath vs hyther vnto the brought
Ryse vp let vs go with out delay
For after great rest oft cometh thought

The actour.

I accorded vnto them lyghtly
Auoyde of sleuth and negligence
with them theder to go gladly
Unto this place cheyf of diligence
whyche of all honour hath preemynence
Eche man for to helpe at his nede
Than thought for to recompence
The tyme loste/and thyder to spede

But I tolde them I knewe no thynge
Of dyligence/nor yet of besynesse
Gode hert sayde/By our techynge
Thou shalt knowe the way expresse
Thou mayste bothe say & thynke doutlesse
whyle we thre ar thy conductours
That thou art voyde of heuynesse
And sure of all worldly honours

A wake and put the in aparayle
To moche slepe hurteth man certayne
In this way must thou sore trauayle
For reason so do the it ordeyne
For what man that taketh payne
On hym with trauayle and abstynence
To rychesse medys must attayne
Therfore aryse and go we hens

Gode wyll.

Go sonne thou must bestowe thy tyme
In other wyse than thou hast done
Let to labour for no cryme
Lettynge thy dedes ay sounde to reason
And as for me/I me abandon
with my husbonde on the to wayte
Unto this castell and noble mansyon
wherin is rychesse without dysceyte

who other begyleth hym selfe disceyueth
Rychesse yll goten cometh to yll ende
who in this castell falshode conceyueth

Shall nat his power far extende
But after dethe if thou wylt ascende
Take me trauayle to be thy gyde
whiche in this castell shall the defende
By our meanes in euery tyde

Lust to do gode
Do my faders commaundement
If thou truly wolde haue rychesse
And to my moder be dylygent
In that thou mayst wit loulynesse
And I shall do my wyll & besynesse
Unto my power the to susteyne
wherfore auoyde thou sleuthfulnesse
And vs to folowe take on the peyne

The actour.

Thus I hauynge great delyte
To here them speke so wysely
Lept fro my bed without respyte
And made me redy hastely
Gode wyll wente full redely
To lyght a candell at myne instaunce
whiche as she went songe so merely
That hyr to here I had pleasaunce

I toke my clothes vnto me necessarye
And made me redy at theyr instaunce
Lust to do gode full gladly
To bere the candell had great pleasaunce
Than went they forthe all in ordynaunce
As folke replenysshed with mekenesse
That to beholde theyr countenaunce
My herte was fylled with gladnesse

Lust to do gode/went alway
Before berynge the candell lyght
Gode wyll went next in fayre aray
And than gode hert/I folowed right
Sothly it was a pleasaunt syght
To se to geder so meke a company
I had nat suche sorowe all the nyght
As I had than myrthe and melodye

Than entred we into the way
Of great payne called dyligence
wythout restynge I went alway
There founde I no resystence
These thre were euer in my presence
For the way was vnknowen to me
I hasted me vnder theyr defence
That I myght there the soner be

Thus went we forth a lytell whyle
Of the way was I ignoraunt
My thre felawes dyd on me smyle
On me beholdynge wyth glad semblaunt
Than sawe I this castell fayre & plesaunt

Moste ryche/stronge and sumptuous
whan I it sawe so resplendaunt
Sothly of hert I was full ioyous

Unto the gate whan I was nye
I wolde haue entred without sauegarde
But the porter resysted me
Beholdynge me with chere frowarde
Of that castell he kept the garde
His wyfe was euer in his presence
Thynkest thou to enter he sayde cowarde
Nat hauynge our loue nor our lycence

Besynesse.

Thynkest thou to enter without our leue
Into this castell cheyf grounde of rychesse
Nay nay thou must hens remeue
None entreth here but by mekenesse
My wyfe Cure and I Besynesse
Haue suche offyce in this castel
To vs obeyeth bothe more and lesse
That hathe intencyon therin to dwell

By the fayre path of diligence
Thou art come hyder as I byleue
yet mayst thou nat here haue resydence
wythout our loue fauour and leue
Thou mayste nat enter therfore remeue
For wyth the am I nat content

Auoyde or elles I shall the greue
His wyfe than sayde incontynent

Cure.

Gentyll husbonde holde hym excused
He wyll obey vnto your commaundement
Let nat his mekenesse be refused
He wyll nought without your assent
I knowe hym wyse/discrete/& prudent
He wyll gladly do you homage
So it wyll please you be content
Of fauour to graunt hym passage

Commaunde hym what so euer ye please
And he shall do it without fallace
He purposeth nat you to dysplease
But hym submytteth vnto you grace
Praynge that he may haue place
Into this castell for to go
He hath our fauour to purchace
Gode hert/& Gode wyll also

The actour.
Than besynesse as a man full kynde
Sayde/syth thou hast suche socour
My fauour redy shalt thou fynde
The for to helpe at euery hour
To here hym speke I had pleasour
Than sayde he/sythe thou hast reason

Thou shalt nat fayle of great honour
wyth welth and rychesse in breyf season

Besynesse.

I that called am besynesse
Unto man richesse do procure
My wyfe also in all destresse
Doth man of hyr helpe assure
This place is called by droyture
The excellent castell of labour
If thou here be I the ensure
Thou must be besye in euery hour

Sythe thou art in our subieccion

Trust well thou shalt come to rychesse
For whyle in thy mynde abydeth reason
By no meane cannest thou haue skasnesse
I shall helpe the in all besynesse
In this castell to ensue the trayne
The captayne therof/& the maysters
Ar called by name trauayle and payne

Thou shalt in this place haue moche ado
Mannys good wyll for to deserue
Thou shalt skant fynde the meane therto
The captayne is so yl to serue
Uneth his byddynge canst thou obserue
without it be weldone and a pace
But in godenesse thou the styll preserue
Thou shalt be sone out of theyr grace

Thus do I the afore aduert
Of the great payne that thou shalt fynde
Lest that after it shulde greue thy hert
Therfore on wysedome set thy mynde
The captayne is som what vnkynde
whiche shall do to the great rigour
Eche thynge tourneth as the wynde
wythin this castell of labour

The actour.

All that shall do me none yll
I shall assay them for to please

I haue fonde gode hert/and gode wyll
with Lust to do gode/whiche shall me ase
I trust no man for to dysplease
whyle I of them do take counsayle
I wyll nat let for no dysease
To go into this castell of trauayle

Than besynesse & cure brought me into
This castell/ample/and spacyous
Shewynge me men & wymen also
Sore workynge and none ocyous
Them to beholde was a thynge maruelous
Bothe yonge and olde of euery facultye
To labour was there none contracious
Eche one wolde afore his felawe be

They smote with hambers that we stronge
That to beholde I had great wonder
Suche a noyse was them amonge
That it sounded lyke the thunder
Some were aboue/and some were vnder
In theyr shertes laborynge for hete
Some dyd peaces brake in sunder
Some agayne them togeder bete

To beholde them I had delyte
Seynge them worke so lustely
That to laboure I had appetyte
Cure and Besynesse that dyd spye
whyche sayde vnto me shortly
That if I coude labour well
They wolde get me lycence gladly
In that castell for to dwell

Than to them answered I certayne
That to labour I was content
Than spake they to the captayne
Requyringe hym for to assent
He graunted me a place present
Conueniet for my degre
There promysed I for to be diligent
So that in theyr fauour I myght be

I set me downe vnto labour.
with besynesse and parfyte diligence
Trustynge therby to haue honour

Cure and besynesse were nat thens
I was right glad of theyr presence
For they taught me howe I shulde do
Unto them I gaue audyence
And what they sayde I agred therto

Than cam the wyfe of the capytaayns
Goynge here and there trottynge
They tolde me that hyr name was payne
Eche manys labour vysytynge
Hyr handes and hyr forehede swetynge
She taryed no more in any place
Than doth a pursyuaunt ridynge
whan he wolde purchace some grace

Sometyme in hyr smocke rennynge faste
No thynge entendynge to rest nor ease
She ran styll whyle hyr breth wolde laste
Nat sprynge fo no dysease
She was diligent eche man to please
And me behelde approchynge nere
She sayde syr porter ye me displease
For bryngynge of this stranger here

Peyne.
Syr Besynesse that ar portere
Of this castell shewe me playne
who hathe brougt hyther this straunger?
I sawe hym neuer afore certayne

Cometh he fro fraunce/or fro britayne
I must knowe his cause and his entent
He muste submyt hym vnto my payne
Or elles in vayne his tyme is spent

Besynesse.
My lady peyue haue ye no dout
For hyther is he come truly
with gode hert/& gode wyll hym about
whiche hyther hathe hym brought besely
Lust to do gode is to hym nye
whiche is a chylde ryght honorable
ye shall fynde hym to you redy
Humble of hert and seruyable

Cure.
My husbonde and I loue hym right well
we shall helpe hym at euery nede
ye shall nat nede hym ought to tell
Therfore my lady haue ye no drede
Euen as he dothe gyue hym his mede
And my husbonde shalbe his borowe
That in his labour he shall spede
And neyther spare for peyne nor sorowe

Peyne.

Esay bothe well and wysely
I knowe nat yet howe he wyll preue
For many one be sone wery
Of labour whan it doth them greue
But suche sothly be to repreue
But we shall sone se what labour
He can do or that he remeue
To come to rychesse and honour

The actour.

Than payne to me approched nere
Byddynge me labour diligently
And that I shulde in eche manere

Do my besynesse well and wysely
Nat sparynge my body nor my bonys
And he that dyd nat so truly
Shulde auoyde that place at onys

I tolde hyr that I had desyre
To worke fast without fayne
And for to folowe hyr pleasyre
So that she shulde nat complayne
Saynge I trusted to obteyne
By my labour welth and rychesse
And that I shulde my selfe constrayne
To be nere Cure/and Besynesse

Peyne.
That is answered by gode moyen
whan trauayle my husbonde shall you se
The whiche is feble and auncyen
your worke and labour shall he ouerse
Of hym rewarde shall ye be
After your worke and your labour
And in the meane tyme ye shall haue me
Alway redy at your socour

The actour.

Than began I to labour fast
Enployinge theron pleasour & myght
Contynuynge whyle the nyght dyd last

Than in the mornynge appered lyght
In at a wyndowe that was bryght
Than blewe I my candell out
Labourynge styll with all my myght
As other that were me about

Styll to labour I dyd me caste
By suffraunce of the grace dyuyne
Unto the tyme of the brakefaste
where we had neyther ale ne wyne
They myght nat tary for to dyne
So sure on labour was theyr purpose
Tyll labour caused them to declyne
By payne constrayned so vp they rose

They were all homely as companions
Theyr labour gaue them an appetyt reall
Some yete garleke/some yete onyons
Suche seruyce was amonge them all
Broun brede to them was cordyall
wetynge it in the water clere
Drynkynge of the fountayne clere as crystall
They had no scorne of this manere

There was neyther befe ne moton
To ete whan hunger dyd them assayle
Suche is the maner in this season
Some be rewarded yll theyr trauayle
They wrought in peas and in batayle
Some etynge and labourynge both at onys

Nat sparynge theyr body without fayle
As chefe laborers for the nones

Whan I sawe theyr condycion
So prone to labour and besynesse
I set myne hole and ferme entencion
By suche labour to gete rychesse
Than vpon me came fayntnesse
That I had lyst to refresshe nature
whan they me sawe in suche distresse
I lacked no brede I you ensure

I wolde be of theyr companye
And takynge this brede with gode wyll
I therof bote ryght merely

Styll workynge nat thynkynge yll
I had no scorne me for to fylle
with this brede but theron bote
And after with chere meke & styll
with fayre water I wasshed my throte

I fylled my bely fayre and well
with this fayre brede made of rye
Drynkynge alway at the well
And yet styll wrought I merely
I was as well at eas truly
As thughe I had all deyntees
In the worlde/for certaynly
To moche is nought in all degrees

Shortly to say I was as full
As was conuenyent to nature
For excesse maketh the mynde dull
I reporte me to besynesse and cure
For often tymes man dothe murmure
whan he is full of mete and wyne
To all vyce prone I the ensure
Excludynge hym fro the grace dyuyne

whan I was thus refresshed well
I drewe me to my warke agayne
Gode hert and Gode wyll dyd me tell
Howe I sholde do/also certayne
Lust to do gode dyd me maynteyne
Thus drewe I me vnto besynesse

I spared neyther trauayle nor peyne
wythout falshode to gete rychesse

Cure and charge dyd me beholde
Commaundynge me to labour fast
And tolde me surely that they wolde
Rewarde me truly at the last
So laboured I tyll the day was past
And as I laboured songe I merely
Tyll hesperus cloudes the day ouercast
And that the nyght aproched nye

Than cure vnbyden went a pace
And lyghtly lyghted a candell
She set it by my workynge place

And many newe poyntes to me dyd tell
She sayde who bydeth in this castell
After the commaundement of reason
Must worke vnto the curfue knell
Consyderynge the tyme and season

At hyr byddynge I wrought styll fast
Hauynge therin delyte and pleasour
Tyll that the bel range at the last
whiche was a conuenyent hour
Than hunger cam with his rigour
whiche cruelly dyd me assayle
with that sawe I come from a tour
The capytayne called trauayle

trauaiel.

Frende thou art welcome vnto this place
For thy labour true and diligent
whiche hath brought the into my grace
Therfore shal I gyue the riches permanēt
So after that thy youthe is spent
I shall the promyse and behest
After thy labour incontynent
Thou shalt come to the hous of rest

Thou shalt haue rest at thy desyre
After thy payne and tribulacion
Thou shalt syt merely by thy fyre
After that thy worke is done
There shalt thou fynde consolacyon
After thy payne and thy trauayle
Thus shalt thou fynde in conclusyon
After pouertye ryche apparayle

And therfore at one worde shortly
Nowe do as thou thynkest best
For with gode wyll the leue gyue I
For to go home vnto thy rest
And thy prayer and thy request
I trauayle shall vnto the promesse
Go nowe thou shalt haue my behest
Aferlabour/that is richesse.

The actour.

Than toke I leue of trauayle
Goynge to reste full of gladnesse
Than with hye voyce withouten fayle
I called the porter named besynes
Than to the yates I dyd me dresse
The whiche were shyt than had I dout
yet shewed I the porter suche mekenes
That he agreed to let me out

Besynesse and cure his wyfe
Let me out at the gate mekely
Alway me warnynge for drede of stryfe
On the mornynge to ryse erly

My labour for to fynysshe parfytely
Saynge all that I had done was nought
without it were ended lyghtly
wherfore theron set thy thought

He sayde in the castell of rychesse
No man can haue any audyence
whyle he soiourneth with ydelnesse
The captyne hath gyuen that sentence
But by the way of dyligence
One may ryght well obteyne this place
Here mayst thou se in thy presence
By what hardnesse thou fell in grace

In labour must thou haue perseueraunce
Auoydynge great rest that is so daungerous
whiche bryngeth wyse men into ignoraunce
And to rychesse is right contrarious
Auoyde sleuth whiche is so odyous
That of hym cometh nought but pouertye.
Aboue all to falshode be contrarious
Despysynge his goodes full of iniquyte

If thou hym loue sonne I ensure the
Of my worde mayst thou be certayne
That thou offendest the deyte
Of our lorde/and deseruest peyne
Eternall/therfore the refrayne
Fro this falshode in eche degre
And if that sleuth vpon the rayne

As pore as Iob was shalt thou be

without rest no man may lyue
For it is accordynge to trauayle
But in rychesse if thou wolt preue
Rest nat to moche by my counsayle.
Remember this lesson se thou nat fayle
And to thentent thou forsake nat this lawe
Nat it forgettynge for thyne auayle
By thyne eare I shall the drawe

Cure.
My frende one can nat ay endure
For to labour to his auauntage
Therfore se thou thy selfe assure
To labour fast in thy yonge age
Infyxe thy mynde and thy courage
On reason and thou shalt haue rychesse
By ydelnesse thou doest outrage
Bothe to the and all thyne doutlesse.

The actour.

Than drewe she myne ere agayne
As cure had done before doutlesse
And than vanysshed away certayne
Leuynge me there full of fayntnesse
Procedynge of my labour and besynesse
Thus seynge them gone I thought it best

To reeresshe nature without excesse
And so drewe me to the hous of rest

I sawe rest whiche dyd me abyde
within his hous withouten blame
And my wyfe on the other syde
Dressed my souper without dyffame
There rested I in goddys name
Famylierly nat as a stranger
Thankynge god of inmortall fame
That I escaped was that daunger

The hous of rest.

Unto the table I went that tyde
Entendyng to soupe without outrage
My wyfe sat on the other syde
After my custome and olde vsage
There had we brede wyne and potage
And of flesshe a smale pytaunce
without to any hurte or damage
we souped togeder at our pleasaunce

My wyfe voyded the table clene
And vnto me aproched nere
Than on my sholder dyd she lene
After hyr costome and manere
There tolde I hyr of the daungere
whiche I was in the nyght before
Howe that she slept with mery chere
The whyle that I was troubled sore

I tolde hyr that in all my lyfe
I had nat so great peruersyte
Nowe in pleasour and nowe in stryfe
Tourmented fyersly felt I me
For fals Nede/and Necessyte
wyth pouertye/& hyr felawe distresse
Thought & heuynesse wyth crueltye
Lay on my bed me to oppresse

Dysconfort and Disesperaunce
Lay vpon me with theyr treason
Redy to brynge me to myschaunce

Or in the way of perdicion
That had nat ben my lady reason
whiche me enformed to myne auaūtage
They had brought me vnto confusyon
Or done to me some great outrage

wysdome dyd greatly me profyte
For I haunted his companye
whiche by his meanes made me quyte
Of falshode/disceyte/and vsurye
whiche thre by theyr polecye
Had me nere brought to confysyon
But after agayne confort had I
Of that wyse lady called reason

To whome I haue made homage
For she of hyr owne beneuolence
Hathe gyuen me at breyf langage
Gode hert/& Gode wyll for my defence
whiche haue a chylde ay in my presente
Lust to do gode named is he
Redy to helpe me in all indigence
Out of payne and peruersyte

we went vnto the castell of labour
where was many an artifycer
Cure stode at the gate that hour
Besynesse hyr husbonde was porter
They receyued me with gode chere
Trauayle was theyr captayne

His wyues name was called payne

There wrought I all nyght & day certayne
with fre wyll and glad plesaunce
To morowe must I retoure agayne
To this castell of fayre ordynaunce
There fonde I but smale pytaunce
But euery man after his degre
After his labour had his fe

And therfore my welbeloued wyfe
Consyder the payne and the trauayle
whyche whyle ye slept without stryfe
Right cruelly dyd me assayle
But nowe am I well without fayle
Sythe I haue escaped this daungere
And in your presence may appere

My wyfe therof cared no thynge
But leughe me to derysyon
She scorned me and my talkynge
For were it wynnynge or perdicion
It was to hyr all one conclusyon
For so she were serued at hyr desyre
She cared nat if I lay in the myre

She called me fole and cared nought
And was nere redy wyth me to fyght
She swore by god that hyr dere bought
She wolde make me remember that nyght

Therfore I went to bed euen ryght
For the thre foted stole sore fered I
To chat with a woman it is but foly

A man shulde take no hede at all
To what someuer a woman say
Of hyr tunge she is lyberall
It is no wysedome hyr to denay
In peas may he be by no way
That wolde styll a woman/it is contrary
She is a publyke and comon secretary

who euer he be that hathe a wyfe
Had nede for to haue pacyence
Or elles must he lyue alway in stryfe
Thoughe she be bounde to obedyence
yet doth she after hyr owne sentence
I dare no more say for drede of blame
That man is happy that one can tame

On this poynt I made me redy
And so went to my bed full ryght
where I slept styll and merely
Tyll four of the clocke after mydnyght
Than vp I rose by the candellyght
Thynkynge on Cure and besynesse
And to my worke sonne dyd I me dresse

Ay praynge god by his ordynaunce
That if I may nat obteyne rychesse

That I may purchace suffysaunce
whiche is my lady and my maysteresse
To enforme me to lyue in symplenesse
So that after this lyfe mortall
I maye reioys the realme eternall

Actoris excusatio.

Go forth smale treatyse & hūbly the presēt
Vnto the reders a sindigne of audience
Exortyng them with meke & lowe entent
To this rude langage to gyue none aduertence
For many one hath parfyte diligence
whiche by no meane his mynde can expresse
The cause therof is lacke of eloquence
whiche nowe is caduke by meane of sleuthfulnesse

The yonge chylde is nat all parfyte
To renne whan he can neyther crepe nor go
But whan he begynneth he hath great delyte
In his newe science/wherfore he hath great wo
Endurynge falles with many paynes mo
Thus suche peyne so longe dothe he endure
And to hym selfe he entendethe so
That of his fete he is parfyte and sure

So certaynly in suche case am I
Some what asaynge if I can ensue
The steppes of them the whiche craftely
All vyce of wrytynge vtterly eschue

But ignoraunce right oft doth me subdue
And often I falle for lacke of exercyse
This rude langage so on me doth renewe
That I agayne vnethes may aryse

The cause why I folowe nat these oratours
Is for lacke of intellygence
And that I haue nat smelled of the flours
Spryngynge in the garden of parfyte eloquence
wherfore with humble & meke obedyence
I submyt me to the correccion
Of them whom minerua with hyr science
Hathe indued/this is my conclusyon

Thus endeth the castell of labour wherin is rychesse/vertue and honoure:.

University of Virginia Library

Here begynneth the castell of laboure.

Here begynneth the prologe of this present treatyse.

Thus endeth the prologe. And begynneth the castell of laboure.

The hous of rest.

Actoris excusatio.