University of Virginia Library



The messenger.
Thaboūdant grace of the power deuyne
whiche doth illumyne ye world inuyron
Preserue this audyēce and cause them to inclyne
To charyte this is my petycyon
For by your pacyens and supportacyon
A lytyll interlude late made and preparyd
Before your presence here shall be declaryd
whiche of a few conclusyons is contriuyd
And poyntes of phylosophy naturall
But though the matter be not so well declaryd
As a great clerke coude do nor so substancyall
yet the auctour hereof requiryth you all
Though he be yngnorant and can lytyll skyll
To regarde his only intent and good wyll
whiche in his mynde hath oft tymes ponderyd
what nombre of bokes in our tonge maternall
Of toyes and tryfellys be made and impryntyd
And few of them of matter substancyall
For though many make bokes yet vnneth ye shall
In our englyshe tonge fynde any warkes
Of connynge that is regardyd by clerkes
The grekes the romayns with many other mo
In their moder tonge wrot warkes excellent
Than yf clerkes in this realme wolde take payn so


Consyderyng that our tonge is now suffycyent
To expoun any hard sentence euydent
They myght yf they wolde in our englyshe tonge
wryte workys of grauyte somtyme amonge
For dyuers prengnaunt wyttes be in this lande
As well of noble men as of meane estate
whiche nothynge but englyshe can vnderstande
Than yf connynge laten bokys were translate
In to englyshe wel correct and approbate
All subtell sciens in englyshe myght be lernyd
As well as other people in their owne tonges dyd
But now so it is that in our englyshe tonge
Many one there is that can but rede & wryte
For his pleasure wyll oft presume amonge
New bokys to compyle and balates to indyte
Some of loue or other matter not worth a myte
Some to opteyn fauour wyll flatter and glose
Some wryte curyous termes nothyng to purpose
Thus euery man after his fantesye
wyll wryte his conseyte be it neuer so rude
Be it vertuous vycyous wysedome or foly
wherfore to my purpose thus I conclude
why shold not than the auctour of this interlude
Utter his owne fantesy and conseyte also
As well as dyuers other now a dayes do
For wysedome and foly is as it is takyn


For yt one callyth wysedome a nother callyth foly
yet amonge moste folke that man is holdyn
moste wyse/whiche to be ryche studyeth only
But he that for a cōmyn welth bysyly
Studyeth and laboryth and lyuyth by goddes law
Except he wax ryche men count hym but a daw
So he that is ryche is euer honouryd
All though he haue got it neuer so falsely
The pore beynge neuer so wyse is reprouyd
This is the oppynyon moste cōmynly
Thorowe out the worlde/and yet no reason why
Therfore in my mynd whan that all suche dawis
Haue babelyd what they cā no force of .ii. strawis
For euery man in reason thus ought to do
To labour for his owne necessary lyuynge
And than for the welth of his neyghbour also
But what dyuylish mynd haue they which musīg
And labouryng all their lyffes do no nother thyng
But brīge ryches to their owne possessyon
Nothyng regardīge their neyghbours distrucciō
yet all the ryches in the worlde that is
Rysyth of the grounde by goddys sendynge
And by the labour of pore mennys handys
And though thou ryche mā haue therof ye kepynge
yet is not this ryches of thy gettynge
Nor oughtyst not in reason to be preysyd ye more


For by other mēnys labour it is got before
A great wytted man may sone be enrychyd
That laboryth and studyeth for ryches only
But how shall his cōscyens than be discharged
For all clerkes afferme that that man presysely
whiche studyeth for his owne welth pryncypally
Of god shall deserue but lytyll rewarde
Except he the cōmyn welth somwhat regarde
So they sey that that man occupyed is
For a cōmyn welth whiche is euer laborynge
To releue pore people with temporall goodys
And that it is a cōmyn good act to brynge
People from vyce and to vse good lyuynge
Lyke wyse for a cōmyn welth occupyed is he
That bryngyth them to knowlege yt yngnorāt be
But man to knowe god is a dyffyculte
Except by a meane he hym selfe inure
whiche is to knowe goddes creaturys that be
As furst them that be of the grosyst nature
And than to know them that be more pure
And so by lytyll and lytyll ascendynge
To know goddes creaturys & meruelous werkīge
And this wyse man at the last shall come to
The knowlege of god and his hye mageste
And so to lerne to do his dewte and also
To deserue of his goodnes partener to be
wherfore in this work declaryd shall ye see


Furst of the element is the sytuacyon
And of their effectis the cause and generacyon
And though some mē thynke this matter to hye
And not mete for an audyence vnlernyd
Me thynke for man nothynge more necessary
Than this to know though it be not vsyd
Nor a matter more lowe can not be arguyd
For though the elementis goddys creaturis be
yet they be most grose and lowyst in degre
How dare men presume to be callyd clerkes
Dysputynge of hye creaturis celestyall
As thyngys inuysyble and goddes hye warkys
And know not these vysyble thyngys inferyall
So they wolde know hye thynges & know nothīge at all
Of the yerth here wheron they dayly be
Nother the nature forme nor quantyte
wherfore it semyth nothynge conuenyent
A man to study and his tyme to be stowe
Furst for the knowlege of hye thynges excellent
And of lyght matters beneth nothynge to know
As of these .iiij. elementis here below
whose effectis dayly appere here at eye
Such thīges to know furst/were most mete study
whiche matter before your presence shortly
In this interlude here shall be declaryd
without great eloquence ī ryme rudely
Because the compyler is but small lernyd


This worke with rethoryk is not adournyd
For perhappis in this matter muche eloquence
Sholde make it tedyous or hurt the sentence
But because some folke be lytyll disposyd
To sadnes/but more to myrth and sport
This phylosophycall work is myxyd
with mery conseytis to gyue men cōfort
And occasyon to cause them to resort
To here this matter/wherto yf they take hede
Some lernynge to them therof may procede
But they that shall nowe this matter declare
Openly here vnto this audyence
Be holde I prey you see where they are
The pleyers begyn to appere in presence
I se well it is tyme for me to go hens
And so I wyll do/therfore now shortly
To god I cōmyt all this hole company

Hic intrat natura naturata Humanyte & Studyous desire portās figurā
Natura Naturata
The hye myghty most excellent of all
The foūtayn of goodnes verteu & cōnyng
whiche is eterne of power most potencyall
The perfeccyon and furst cause of euery thynge
I meane that only hye nauture naturynge


Lo he by his goodnes hath ordeynyd and create
Me here his mynyster callyd nature naturate
wherfore I am the verey naturate nature
The inmedyate mynyster for the preseruacyon
Of euery thynge in his kynde to endure
And cause of generacyon and corrupcyon
Of that thynge that is brought to distruccyon
A nother thynge styll I brynge forth a gayne
Thus wondersly I worke and neuer in vayne
The great world be holde lo deuydyd wōdersly
In to two regyons wherof on I call
The etheriall region with the heuyns hye
Conteynynge the planettys sterris & speris all
The lower region callyd the elementall
Conteynynge these .iiij. elementis be loo
The fyre the ayre the water and yerth also
But yet the elementis and other bodyes all
Beneth/take theyr effectys and operacyons
Of the bodyes in the region ethereall
By theyr influens and constellacyons
They cause here corrupcyons and generacyons
For yf the mouynges aboue sholde onys cease
Beneth sholde be nother increse nor decrese
These elementis of them selfe so syngle be
Unto dyuers formys can not be deuydyd
yet they cōmyx to gyder dayly ye see


wherof dyuers kyndes of thynges be ingenderyd
whiche thynges eft sonys whan they be corruptyd
yche element I reduce to his furst estate
So that nothynge can be vtterly adnyehelate
For though the forme and facyon of any thyng
That is a corporall body be distroyed
yet euery matter remaynyth in his beynge
wherof it was furst made and formyd
For corrupcyon of a body cōmyxyd
ys but the resolucyon by tyme and space
Of euery element to his owne place
For who that wyll take any body corporall
And do what he can it to distroy
To breke it or grynde it into pouder small
To washe to drown to bren it or to dry
yet the ayre and fyre therof naturally
To their owne proper places wyll ascende
The water to the water the yerth to ye yerth tende
For yf hete or moysture of any thynge certayne
By fyre or be water be consumyd
yet yerth or asshes on yerth wyll remayne
So the elementis can neuer be distroyed
For essencyally ther is now at this tyde
As muche fyre ayre water yerth as was
Euer before this tyme nether more nor las
wherfore thou man now I speke to the


Remembre that thou art compound and create
Of these elementis as other creaturis be
yet they haue not all lyke noble estate
For plantis and herbys growe and be insensate
Brute bestis haue memory and their wyttes fyue
But thou hast all those and soule intellectyue
So by reason of thyne vnderstandynge
Thou hast domynyon of other bestis all
And naturally thou sholdyst desire cōnynge
To knowe straunge effectes and causys naturall
For he that studyeth for the lyfe bestyall
As voluptuous pleasure and bodely rest
I account hym neuer better than a best

Humanyte.
O excellent prynce and great lorde nature
I am thyne owne chylde and formyd instrument
I beseche thy grace take me to thy cure
And teche me suche scyens thou thīkyst expedyēt

Nature.
Than syth thou art so humble and beneuolent
That thynge that is mete for thy capasyte
And good for thy knowlege I shall Instructe the
Furst of all thou must consyder and see
These elementis whiche do yche other penetrate
And by contynuall alteracyon they be
Of them selfe dayly corruptyd and generate


The yerth as a poynt or center is sytuate
In the myddes of the worlde/with ye water Ioyned
with the ayre & fyre rounde & hole inuyronyd
The yerth of it selfe is ponderous and heuy
Colde and dry of his owne nature proper
Some parte lyeth dry contynually
And parte therof coueryd ouer with water
Some with the salt see some with freshe ryuer
whiche yerth and the water to gyder with all
So Ioynyd make a rounde fygure sperycall
So the water whiche is colde & moyst is foūde
In and vppon the yerth fyllynge the holones
In dyuers partis liynge with ye yerth rounde
yet the hyllys and mounteyns of ye yerth excesse
Take nothynge of hit a way the roundnes
In comparyson bycause they be so small
No more than the prikkes do that be on a gall
The ayre whiche is hote and moyst also
And the fyre whiche is euer hote and dry
A bout the yerth and water Ioyntly they go
And compasse them euery where orbycularly
As the whyte a boute the yolke of an egg doth lye
But the ayre in the lower parte moste remaynyth
The fyre naturally to the hyer tendyth
The etheryall region whiche conteynyth
The sterrys and planettys and euery spere


A bout the elementis dayly mouyth
And coueryth them rounde a bout euery where
Euery sterre and spere in straunge maner
Uppon his owne poles mouyth dyuersly
whiche now to declare were to longe to tary
The fyre and the ayre of their naturys be lyght
Therfore they moue by naturall prouydence
The water bycause it is ponderous in weyght
Mouyth not naturally but by vyolence
Of the sterris and planettes by whose influence
The see is compellyd to ebbe and flowe dayly
And freshe waters to sprynge contynually
And though yt the water be grose and heuy
yet nothynge so grose as the yerth I wys
Therfore by hete it is vaporyd vp lyghtly
And in the ayre makyth cloudys and mystes
But as sone as euer that it grosely is
Gederyd to gyder/it descendyth a gayne
And causyth vppon ye yerth hayle snow & rayne
The yerth because of his ponderosyte
A voydyth equally the mouynges great
Of all extremytes and sperys that be
And tendyth to the place that is most quiet
So in the myddys of all the sperys is set
Formast abiect from all maner mouynge
where naturally he restyth & mouyth nothynge


Marke well now how I haue the shewyd & tolde
Of euery element the very sytuacyon
And qualyte/wherfore this fygure beholde
For a more manyfest demonstracyon
And by cause thou sholdyst not put to oblyuyon
My doctryne/this man callyd studyous desire
with the shall haue contynuall habytacyon
The styll to exhort more scyens to adquire
For ye more yt thou desyrest to know any thynge
Therin thou semyst the more a man to be
For that man that desireth no maner cōnynge
All that wyle no better than a best is he
why ben the eyes made but only to see
The leggys to bere the body of a creature
So euery thynge is made to do his nature
So lyke wyse reason wit and vnderstondyng
ys gyuen to the man for that thou sholdyst ī dede
Knowe thy maker & cause of thyne owne beynge
And what ye worlde is & wherof thou doest procede
wherfore it be houyth the of verey nede
The cause of thynges furst for to lerne
And than to knowe & laude the hye god eterne

Humanyte.
O gloryous lorde and prynce moste plesant
Greatly am I now holdyn vnto the
So to illumyne my mynd that was yngnorant


with such noble doctryne as thou hast here shewed me
wherfore I promyse vppon my fydelyte
My dylygence to do to kepe in memory
And the for to honour styll perpetually

Studyous desire
And syth it hath pleasyd thy grace to admyt
Me vppon this man to gyue attendaunce
with thy doctryne here shewyd I shall quekkyn his wyt
And dayly put hym in remembraunce
His courage and desyre I shall also inhaunce
So that his felycyte shall be most of all
To study and to serche for causys naturall

Nature.
well than for a season I wyll departe
Leuynge you to gyder here both twayne
what I haue shewid man prynt well in thyne hert
And marke well this fygure yt here shall remayne
wherby thou maist perceyue many thynges more playn
Concernynge ye matter I spake of before
And whan that I shall resort here a gayne
Of hye poyntes of cōnynge I shall shew ye more

Studyous desire.
Now humanyte call to your memory
The cōnynge poyntes that nature hath declaryd
And though he haue shewed dyuers poītes & many
Of the elementis so wondersly formed


yet many other causys there are wolde be lernyd
As to knowe the generacyon of thynges all
Here in the yerth/how they be ingendryd
As herbys plantys well sprynges ston and metall

Humanyte.
Those thynges to knowe for me be full expediēt
But yet ī those poyntes whiche nature late shewyd me
My mynde in them as yet is not cōtent
For I can no maner wyse parceyue nor see
Nor proue by reason why the yerth sholde be
In the myddes of ye fyrmament hengyng so small
And the yerth with the water to be roūde with all

Studyous desire.
Me thynkyth my selfe as to some of those poītes
I coude gyue a suffycyent solucyon
For furst of all thou must nedys graunt this
That the yerth is so depe and botom hath non
Or els there is some grose thyng hit stōdyth vpon
Or els that it hangyth thou must nedes consent
Euyn in the myddes of the fyrmament

Humanyte.
what than go forth with thyne argument

Studyous desire.
Thā marke well in ye day or in a wynters nyght
The sone and mone and sterris celestyall
In the est furst they do apere to thy syght


A[OMITTED] after in the west they do downe fall
A[OMITTED] agayne in the morowe next of all
wi[OMITTED] .xxiiij. houres they be come Iust
To[OMITTED] est poītes again where thou sawist them furst
Than yf the erthe shulde be of endles depnes
Or shulde stande vpon any other grose thynge
It shulde be an impedyment dowtles
To the sone mone and sterris in theyr mouynge
They shulde not so in the est agayne sprynge
Therfore in reason it semyth moste conuenyent
The yerth to hange in ye myddes of the fyrmamēt

Humanyte.
Thyne argument in yt poynt doth me cōfoūde
That thou hast made but yet it prouytht not ryght
That the yerth by reason shulde be rounde
For though ye fyrmament with his sterris bryght
Compas aboute the yerth eche day and nyght
yet the yerthe may be playne peraduenture
Quadrant triangle or some other fygure

Studyouse desyre.
That it can not be playne I shall well proue the
Be cause the sterris that a ryse in the oryent
Appere more soner to them that there be
Than to the other dwellynge in the occident


The eclypse is therof a playne experymente
Of the sone or mone which whane it dothe f[OMITTED]
Is neuer one tyme of the day in placys all
yet the eclyps generally is alwaye
In the hole worlde as one tyme beynge
But whan we that dwell here see it in ye mydday
They in the west partis see it in the mornynge
And they in the est beholde it in the euenyng
And why that sholde so be no cause can be found
But onely by reason that the yerthe is rownde

Humanyte.
That reason proueth the yerth at the lest
One wayes to be rownde I cannot gayne say
As for to accompt frome the est to the west
But yet not withstondynge all that it may
Lese hys rowndenesse by some other waye

Studyous desyre.
Na no dowte yt is rownde euery where
which I coulde proue thou shoudest not say nay
yf I had therto any tyme and leser
But I knowe a man callyd experyens
Of dyuers instrumentys is neuer without
Lowde proue all these poyntys & yet by his scyēs
Can tell how many myle the erthe is a bowte


[OMITTED]d many other straūge cōclusiōs no dowte
[OMITTED]hys instrumentys cowde shew thē so certayn
[OMITTED]at euery rude carter shold them persayue playn

Humanyte.
Now wolde to god I had yt man now here
For the contembtacyon of my mynde

Studyous desyre.
yf ye wyll I shall for hym enquere
And brynge hym heder yf I can hym fynde

Humanyte.
Then myght I say ye were to me ryght kynde

Studyous desyre.
I shall assay by god that me dere bought
For cunnyng is the thynge yt wolde be sought

Sensuall apetyte.
well hyet quod hykman when yt he smot
Hys wyffe on the buttockes with a bere pott
Aha now god euyn fole god euyn
It is euen the knaue that I mene
Hast thou done thy babelyng

Studyous desyre.
ye peraduenture what than

Sensuall apetyte.
Thā hold downe thy hede lyke a prety mā & take my blyssyng.


Benedicite/I graūt to the/this ∥don
And gyue the absolucion
For thy soth saws/stande vp Iack daw[OMITTED]
I be shrew thy faders sone
Make rome syrs and let vs be mery
with huffa galand synge tyrll on the bery
And let the wyde worlde wynde
Synge fryska Ioly with hey troly loly
For I se well it is but a foly
For to haue a sad mynd
For rather than I wolde vse suche foly
To pray to study or be pope holy
I had as lyf be ded
By goggys body I tell you trew
I speke as I thynke now els I be shrew
Euyn my next felowes hed
Master humanyte syr be your leue
I were ryght loth you to greue
Though I do hym dyspyse
For yf ye knewe hym as well as I
ye wolde not vse his company
Nor loue hym in no wyse

Hu.
Syr he loketh lyke an honest man
Therfore I merueyll that ye can


This wyse hym depraue

Sen.
Though he loke neuer so well
I promyse you he hath a shrewde smell

Hu.
why so I prey you tell

Sen.
For he saueryth lyke a knaue

St.
Holde your pease syr ye mystake me
what I trowe that ye wolde make me
Lyke to one of your kyn

Sen.
Harke syrs here ye not how boldly
He callyth me knaue agayne by polycy
The deuyll pull of his skyn
I wolde he were hangyd by the throte
For by the messe I loue hym not
we two can neuer a gre
I am content syr with you to tary
And I am for you so necessary
ye can not lyue without me

Hu.
why syr I say what man be ye

Sen.
I am callyd sensuall apetyte
All craturs in me delyte
I comforte the wyttys fyue
The tastyng smellyng & herynge
I refresh the syght and felynge
To all creaturs a lyue


For whan the body wexith hongry
For lacke of fode or ellys thursty
Than with drynkes plesaund
I restore hym out of payne
And oft refresshe nature agayne
with delycate vyand
with plesaunde sound of armonye
The herynge alwaye I satysfy
I dare this well reporte
The smellynge with swete odovr
And the syght with plesaunte fygovr
And colours I comforte
The felynge that is so plesaunte
Of euery member fote or hande
what pleasure therin can be
By the towchynge of soft & harde
Of hote or colde nought in regarde
Excepte it come by me

Hu.
Than I cannot see the contrary
But ye are for me full necessary
And ryght conuenyent.

Stu.
ye syr beware yet what ye do
For yf you forsake my company so
Lorde nature wyll not be contente.


Of hym ye shall neuer lerne good thyng
Nother vertu nor no other cōnynge
This dare I well say

Sen.
Mary auaunt knaue I the defye
Dyde nature forbyde hym my cōpany
what sayst thou therto speke openly

Hu.
As for that I know well nay

Sen.
No by god I am ryght sure
For he knoweth well no creature
without me can lyue one day

Hu.
Syr I pray you be contente
It is not vtterly myne intente
your company to exyle
But onely to haue cōmunycacyon
And a pastyme of recreacyon
with this man for a whyle

Stu.
well for your pleasure I wyll departe

Sen.
Now go knaue go I beshrew thy hart
The deuyll sende the forwarde

Sen.
Now by my trouth I meruell gretly
That euer ye wolde vse the company
So myche of suche a knaue
For yf ye do no nother thynge
But euer study and to be musynge


As he wolde haue you it wyll you brynge
At the last vnto your graue
ye shulde euer study pryncypall
For to comfort your lyfe naturall
with metis and drynkes dilycate
And other pastymes & pleasures a monge
Daūsynge laughynge or plesaunt songe
This is mete for your estate

Hu.
Be cause ye sey so I you promyse
That I haue musyd & studyed such wyse
Me thynketh my wyttes wery
My nature desyreth some refresshynge
And also I haue ben so longe fastynge
That I am somwhat hongry

Sen.
well than wyll ye go with me
To a tauerne where ye shall se
Good pastaunce & at your lyberte
Haue what so euer ye wyll

Hu.
I am content so for to do
yf that ye wyll not fro me go
But kepe me company styll

Sen.
Cōpany quod a/ye yt I shall poynt deuyse
And also do you good and trew seruyce
And therto I plyght my trouthe


And yf that I euer forsake you
I pray god the deuyl take you

Hu.
Mary I thanke you for that othe

Sen.
A myschyfe on it my tonge loo
wyll tryp somtyme what so euer I do
But ye wot what I mene well

Hu.
ye no force let this matter passe
But seydest euī now thou knewyst where was
A good tauerne to make solas
where is that I prey the tell

Sen.
Mary at the dore euyn here by
yf we call any thynge on hye
The tauerner wyll answere

Hu.
I prey the than call for hym nowe

Sen.
Mary I wyll/ How tauerner how
why doste thou not appere

Tauerner.
who is that calleth so hastely
I shrew thyne hert speke softely
I tell the I am not here

Sen.
Than I be shrew ye page of thyne age
Come hyther knaue for thyne auauntage
why makyst thou hit so tow

Ta.
For myne auaūtage mary thā I come
Beware syrs how let me haue rome
Lo here I am what seyst thou



Sen.
Mary thus here is a gentylman I say
That nother ete nor dranke this day
Therfor tell me I the praye
yf thou haue any good wyne

Ta.
ye shall haue spayneshe wyne & gascoyn
Rose coloure whyt claret rampyon
Tyre capryck and maluesyne
Sak raspyce alycaunt rumney
Greke ipocrase new made clary
Suche as ye neuer had
For yf ye drynke a draught or too
yt wyll make you or ye thens go
By gogges body starke madde

Sen.
I wot thou art not without good wyne
But here is a gentylmā hath lyst to dyne
Canst thou get hym any good mete

Ta.
what mete mayster wolde ye haue

Hu.
I care not so god me saue
So that it be holsome to ete
I wolde we had a good stewyd capon

Sen.
As for capons ye can gette none
The kyngys taker toke vp eche one
I wot well there is none to get



Ta.
Though all capons be gone what than
yet I can get you a stewed hen
That is redy dyght.

Hu.
yf she be fat yt wyll do well

Ta.
Fat or lene I cannot tell
But as for this I wot well
She lay at the stewes all nyght.

Hu.
Thou art a mad gest be this lyght.

Sen.
ye syr it is a felow that neuer faylys
But cāst get my mayster a dyshe of quales
smal byrdes swalowes or wagtayles
They be lyght of dygestyon.

Ta.
Lyght of dysgestyon for what reason

Sen.
For physyk puttyth this reason therto
Bycause those byrdes fle to & fro
And be contynuall mouynge

Ta.
Then know I a lyghter mete than yt

Hu.
I pray the tell me what

Ta.
yf ye wyll nedys know at short & longe
It is euyn a womans tounge
For that is euer sterynge

Hu.
Syr I pray the let suche fanteses be
And come heder nere & harke to me
And do after my byddynge.


Goo puruey vs a dyner euyn of the moste
Of all mauer dysshes both sod and roste
That thou canst get spare for no coste
yf thou make thre course

Ta.
Than ye get nother gose nor swane
But a dyshe of dreggys a dyshe of brane
A dysshe of draffe and I trowe than
ye can not get thre worse

Hu.
what horson woldyst thou puruey
Bran draffe & stynkynge dregges I sey
I holde the mad I trowe

Ta.
Gogges passyon sayd ye not thus
That I shulde puruey you thre course dysshes
And these be course I nowe

Hu.
Thre course dysshes quod a
what mad fole thou mys takest me clene
I se well thou wotest not what I mene
And vnderstandyst a mys
I mene this wyse I wolde haue the
To puruey mete so great plente
That thou sholdyst of necessyte
Serue them at thre coursys
That is to vnderstande at one worde
Thou shuldest brynge them vnto yt borde


At thre seuerall tymes

Ta.
what than I se well ye wyll make a feste

Hu.
ye by the rode euyn with the gretest

Sen.
By my trouth than do ye best
Euyn after my mynde
But ye must haue more company

Hu.
That is trewe and so wolde I gladly
If I knewe any to fynde

Sen.
why wyll ye folowe my counsell

Hu.
ye

Sen.
Than we wyll haue lytell nell
A proper wenche she daunsith well
And Iane with the blacke lace
we wyll haue bounsynge besse also
And two or thre proper wenchis mo
Ryght feyr and smotter of face

Hu.
Now be it so thou art saunce pere

Ta.
Thā I perceyue ye wyll make gode chere

Hu.
why what shulde I els do

Ta.
If ye thynke so best than wyll I
Go before and make all thynge redy
Agayne ye come therto

Hu.
Mary I prey the do so

Ta.
Than farewell syrs for I am gone



Hu.
And we shall folow the anon
without any taryyng

Sen.
Then it is best syr ye make hast
For ye shall spende here but tyme ī wast
And do no nother thynge

Hu.
yf ye wyll let vs goo by and by

Sen.
I pray you be it for I am redy
No man better wyllynge

Exeat Sen. & Hu. Intrat Experiēs. & Stu.
Stu.
Now cosyn experyens as I may say
ye are ryght welcom to this contrey
without any faynyng.

Experiēs
Syr I thanke you therof hertely
And I am as glad of your company
As any man lyuynge.

Stu.
Syr I vnderstonde that ye haue be
In many a straunge countree
And haue had grete fylycyte
Straunge causes to seke and fynde

Ex.
Ryght farr syr I haue rydden & gone
And seen straunge thynges many one
In affryk/europe and ynde
Bothe est & west I haue ben farre
North also and seen the sowth sterre


Bothe by see and lande
And ben in sondry nacyons
with peple of dyuers condycyons

Stu.
Maruelous to vnderstonde.
Syr yf a man haue suche corage
Or deuocyon in pylgrymage
Iheruzalem vnto
For to accompt the nexte way
How many myle is it I you pray

Ex.
From hens theder to goo
Syr as for all suche questyons
Of townes to know the sytuacyon
How ferre they be a sunder
And other poyntes of cosmogryfy
ye shall neuer lerne then more surely
Then by that fugure yonder
For who that fygure dyd fyrst deuyse
It semeth well he was wyse
And perfyte in this scyens
For bothe these and lande also
Lye trew and iust as they sholde do
I know by experyens.

Stu.
who thynke you brought here this fygure

Ex.
I wot not



Stu.
Certes lorde nature
Hym selfe not longe a gone
whiche was here personally
Declarynge hye phylosophy
And lafte this fygure purposely
For humanytes instruccyon

Ex.
Dowtles ryght nobly done

Stu.
Syr this realme ye knou is callid ēglāde
Somtyme brettayne I vnderstonde
Therfore I prey you poīt with your hāde
In what place it shulde lye

Ex.
Syr this ys ynglande lyenge here
And this is skotlāde yt Ioyneth hym nere
Compassyd a boute euery where
with the occian see rownde
And next from them westwardly
Here by hym selfe alone doth ly
Irelande that holsome grounde
Here than is the narowe seey
To Calyce and Boleyne the next wey
And flaunders in this ∥te
Here lyeth fraunce next hym ioynynge
And spayn̄ southwarde frō thēs stādynge
And portyngale in this quart


This contrey is callyd Italye
Beholde where Rome in ye myddes doth ly
And Naples here be yonde
And this lytell See that here is
Is callyd the Gulfe of Uenys
And here venys doth stande
As for almayne lyeth this way
Here lyeth denmarke and norway
And northwarde on this syde
There lyeth Iselonde where mē do fyshe
But be yonde that so colde it is
No man may there abyde
This See is called the great Occyan
So great it is that neuer man
Coude tell it sith the worlde began
Tyll nowe within this .xx. yere
westwarde be founde new landes
That we neuer harde tell of before this
By wrytynge nor other meanys
yet many nowe haue ben there
And that contrey is so large of rome
Muche lenger than all cristendome
without fable or gyle
For dyuers maryners haue it tryed
And sayled streyght by the coste syde
Aboue .v. thousand myle


But what cōmodytes be within
No man can tell nor well Imagin
But yet not longe ago
Some men of this contrey went
By the kynges noble consent
It for to serche to that entent
And coude not be brought therto
But they that were they venteres
Haue cause to curse their maryners
Fals of promys and dissemblers
That falsly them be trayed
whiche wold take no paine to saile farther
Than their owne lyst and pleasure
wherfore that vyage and dyuers other
Suche kaytyffes haue distroyed
O what a thynge had be than
yf that they that be englyshe men
Myght haue ben the furst of all
That there shulde haue take possessyon
And made furst buyldynge & habytacion
A memory perpetuall
And also what an honorable thynge
Bothe to the realme and to the kynge
To haue had his domynyon extendynge
There into so farre a grounde
whiche the noble kynge of late memory


The moste wyse prynce the .vij. Herry
Causyd furst for to be founde
And what a great meritoryouse dede
It were to haue the people instructed
To lyue more vertuously
And to lerne to knowe of men the maner
And also to knowe god theyr maker
whiche as yet lyue all bestly
For they nother knowe god nor the deuell
Nor neuer harde tell of heuyn nor hell
wrytynge nor other scripture
But yet in the stede of god almyght
The honour the sone for his great lyggt
For that doth them great pleasure
Buyldynge nor house they haue nō at all
But wodes/cot/and cauys small
No merueyle though it be so
For they vse no maner of yron
Nother in tole nor other wepon
That shulde helpe them therto
Copper they haue whiche is founde
In dyuers places aboue the grounde
yet they dyg not therfore
For as I sayd they haue non yryn
wherby they shuld in the yerth myne
To serche for any wore


Great haboundauace of woddes ther be
Moste parte vyr and pyne aple tre
Great ryches myght come therby
Both pyche and tarre and sope asshys
As they make in the eest landes
By brynnynge therof only
Fyshe they haue so great plente
That in hauyns take and slayne they be
with stauys withouten fayle
Nowe frenchemen & other haue foūde the trade
That yerely of fyshe there they lad
A boue an .E. sayle
But in the south parte of that contrey
The people there go nakyd alway
The lande is of so great hete
And in the north parte all the clothes
That they were/is but bestes skynnes
They haue no nother fete
But howe the people furst began
In that contrey or whens they cam
For clerkes it is a questyon
Other thynges mo I haue in store
That I coude tel therof but now no more
Tyll a nother season

Stu.
Thā at your pleasure shew some other thīge
yt lyketh me so wel your cōmynīge


ye can not talke a mys

Ex.
Thā wyl I torne a gayne to my matter
Of Cosmogryfy where I was err̄
Beholde take hede to this
Loo estwarde beyonde ye great occyan
Here entereth the see callyd mediterran
Of .ij. M. myle of lengthe
The Soudans contrey lyeth here by
The great Turke on ye north syde doth ly
A man of merueylous strengthe
This sayde north ∥te is callyd europa
And this south ∥te callyd affrica
This eest ∥te is callyd ynde
But this newe landes founde lately
Ben callyd america by cause only
Americus dyd furst them fynde
Loo Ihrfin lyeth in this contrey
And this be yonde is the red see
That moyses maketh of mencyon
This quarter is India minor
And this quarter India maior
The lande of prester Iohn̄
But northwarde this way as ye se
Many other straunge regions ther be
And people that we not knowe
But estwarde on the see syde


A prynce there is that rulyth wyde
Callyd the Cane of catowe
And this is called the great eest see
whiche goth all a longe this wey
Towardes the newe landis agayne
But whether that see go thyther dyrectly
Or if any wyldernes bytwene them do ly
No man knoweth for certeyne
But these newe landes by all cosmografye
Frome the cane of catous lande cā not lye
Lytell paste a thousande myle
But from those new landes mē may sayle playne
Estwarde & cū to englāde agaīe
where we began ere whyle
Lo all this parte of the yerth whiche I
Haue here discryuyd openly
The north parte we do it call
But the south ∥te on the other syde
ys as large as this full and as wyde
whiche we knowe nothynge at all
Nor whether ye moste ∥te be lande or see
Nor whether the people that there be
Be bestyall or connynge
Nor whether they knowe god or no
Nor howe they beleue nor what they do
Of this we knowe nothynge


Lo is not this a thynge wooderfull
How that

Et subito studyouse desire dicat.
Stu.
Pese syr no more of this matter
Beholde where humanyte cōmeth here

Sen.
How sey you maister humanyte
I prey you haue ye not be mere
And had good recreacyon

Hu.
yes I thanke the therof euery dell
For we haue faryd meruelously well
And had good cōmunycacyon

Ta.
what how maister where be ye now

Sen.
what I shrewe the what haste hast thou
That thou spekyst so hye

Ta.
So hye quod a I trow ye be mad by saynt gyle
For dyd ye not ere whyle
Make poyntment openly
To come agayne all to supper
There as ye were to day at dyner
And yet ye poynted not playne
what mete that ye wyll haue drest
Nor what delycates ye loue best
Me thynke you farre ouer sayne

Hus
As for myne owne ∥te I care not
Dresse what mete thou louest spare not
what so euer thou doest best thynke



Ta.
Now if ye put it to my lyberte
Of all metes in the worlde that be
By this lyght I loue best drynke

Sen.
It semyth by thy face so to do
But my maister wyll haue mete also
what so euer it cost

Ta.
By god syr than ye must tell what

Hu.
At thy discressyon I force nat
whether it be soden or rost

Ta.
well syr than care not let me a lone
ye shall se that all thynge shall be done
And ordeyned well and fyne

Hu.
So I require the hertely
And in any wyse specyally
Let vs haue a cuppe of newe wyue

Tn.
ye shall haue wyne as newe as can be
For I may tell you in pryuyte
Hit was brued but yester nyght

Hu.
But that is nothynge for my delyte

Ta.
But than I haue for your apetyte
A cup of wyne of olde claret
There is no better by this lyght

Hu.
well I trust the well I nowe

Ta.
But on thynge if it please you nowe
ye se well I take muche payne for you
I trust ye wyll se to me



Hu.
ye I promyse the get the hens
And in this matter do thy dylygence
And I shall well rewarde the

Sen.
By cause thou lokyst for a rewarde
One thynge for the I haue ≼pared
That here I shall the gyffe
Thou shalte haue a knauys skyn
For to put thy body therin
For terme of thy lyfe

Ta.
Now gramercy my gentyll brother
And therfore thou shalt haue nother
For voydynge of stryfe

Sen
Nowe farewell gentyll Iohn̄

Ta.
Than farewell fole for I am gone

Sen.
A byde torne ones a gayne harke what I sey
yet there is a nother thynge
wolde do well at our maisters wasshynge

Hu.
what thynge is that I the prey

Sen.
Mary thus canst thou tell vs yet
where is any rose water to get

Ta.
ye that I can well puruey
As good as euer you put to your nose
For there is a feyre wenche callyd rose
Dystylleth a quarte euery day

Sen.
By god I wolde a pynt of that
were powryd euyn vpon thy pate


Before all this presence

Ta.
yet I had leuer she and I
where both to gyther secretly
In some corner in the spence
For by god it is a prety gyrle
It is a worlde to se her whyrle
Daunsynge in a rounde
O lorde god how she wyll tryp
She wyll bounce it she wyll whyp
ye clene aboue the grounde

Hu.
well let all suche matters passe I sey
And get the hens and goo thy way
Aboute this other matter

Ta.
Than I goo streyght lo fare ye well

Sen.
But loke yet thou remembre euery dell
That I spake of full ere

Ta.
yes I warrant you do not fere

Exeat Tauerner.
Hu.
Goddis lorde seist not who is here now
what studyous desire what newis with you

Stu
ye shall knowe syr or I go

Sen.
what art thou here I se well I
The mo knauys the worse company

Stu.
Thy lewde condycyons thou doest styll occupy
As thou art wont to do

Hu.
But I sey who is this here in presence



Stu.
Syr this is the man callyd experiens
That I spake of before

Hu.
Experyens why is this he
Syr ye ar ryght welcome vnto me
And shall be euer more

Expe.
Syr I thanke you therof hertely
But I assure you feythfully
I haue small courage here to tary
As longe as this man is here

Sen.
why horson what eylyst at me

Ex.
For thou hast euer so leude a properte
Science to dispyse and yet thou art he
That nought canst nor nought wylt lere

Sen.
Mary auaūt knaue I make god auowe
I thynke my selfe as cōnynge as thou
And that shall I proue shortly
I shall put the a questyon now come nere
Let me se how well thou canst answere
How spellest this worde tom Couper
In trewe artografye

Ex.
Tom couper quod a a wyse questyō herdly

Sen.
ye I tel ye agayne yet/tom couper how spellyst it
Lo he hath forgotten ye may se
The furste worde of his a b c.
Harke fole harke I wyll teche the
P.a.pa.t.c.r.ter. do to gyther tom couper


ys not this a sore matter
Loo here ye may se hym prouyd a fole
He had more nede to go to scole
Than to come hyther to clatter

Stu.
Certeyne this is a solucyon
Mete for suche a boyes questyon

Hu.
Sensuall apetyte I prey the
Let passe all suche tryfles and vanyte
For a wyle it shall not longe be
And departe I the require
For I wolde talke a worde or two
with this man here or he hens go
For to satysfy my desyre

Sen.
why goggis soule wyll ye so shortly
Breke poyntment with yonder company
where ye shulde come to supper
I trust ye wyll not breke promys so

Hu.
I care not greatly yf I do
yt is but a tauerne matter

Sen.
Than wyll I go shew them what ye sey

Hu.
Spare not if thou wylt go thy wey
For I wyll here tary

Sen.
Thā a dew for a whyle I tel you playne
But I promyse you whā I come a gayne
I shall make yonder knauys twayne
To repent and be sory



Ex.
Nowe I am full glad that he is gone

Stu
So am I for good wyll he do none
To no man lyuynge
But this is the man with whome ye shall
I trust be well content with all
And glad of his cōmynge
For he hath expownyd connyngly
Dyuers poyntes of Cosmogryfy
In fewe wordes and shorte clause

Hu.
So I vnderstand he hath gode science
And that he hath by playne experience
Lernyd many a straunge cause

Stu.
ye syr and I say for my ∥te
He is the cōnyngest man in that arte
That euer I coude fynde
For aske what questyon ye wyll do
Howe the yerth is rounde or other mo
He wyll satysfye your mynde

Ex.
why what doute haue ye therin founde
Thynke ye the yerth shulde not be rounde
Or elles howe suppose ye

Hu.
One wey it is rounde I must consent
For this man prouyd it euydent
Towarde the eest and occydent
It must nedis rounde be

Ex.
And lykewyse from the south to north



Hu.
That poynt to proue were sū thāke worth

Ex.
yes that I can well proue
For this ye knowe as well as I
ye se the north starre in the skye
Marke well ye shall vnethe it spye
That euer it doth remoue
But this I assure you if you go
Northwarde an hundreth myle or two
ye shall thynke it ryseth
And how that it is nere aproched
The poynt ouer the top of your hed
whiche is callyd your zenyth
yet yf ye go the other wey
Southwarde .x. or .xii. dayes Iorney
ye shall then thynke anon
It discended and come more nye
The sercle ∥tynge the yerth and skye
As ye loke streyght with your eye
whiche is callyd your oryson
But ye may go southwarde so farre
That at the last that same starre
wyll seme so farre downe ryght
Clere vnder neth your oryson
That syght therof can you haue non
The yerth wyll stop your syght
This prouyth of necessyte


That the yerth must nedis rounde be
This conclulsyon doth it trye

Hu.
Nowe that is the properist conclusyon
That euer I herde for by reason
No man may hit deuye
But sir if that a man sayle farre
Upon the see wyll than that starre
Do there as on the grounde

Ex.
ye doutles sayle northward ryse it wyl
And sayle southwarde it falleth styl
And that prouyth the see rounde

Stu.
So dothe it in myne oppynyon
But knowe you any other conclusyon
To proue it rounde saue that alone

Ex.
ye that I knowe ryght well
As thus marke well whan ye see is clere
That no storme nor wawe therō doth pere
This maryners can tell
Than if a fyre be made on nyght
Upon the shore that gyueth great lyght
And a shyp in the see farre
They in the toppe the fyre se shall
And they on hache nothynge at all
yet they on haches be nerr̄
Also on the see where men be saylynge
Farre frome lande they se nothynge


But the water and the skye
yet whan they drawe the lande more nere
Than the hyll toppes begyn to apere
Styll the nere more hye and hye
As though they were styll growynge faste
Out of the see tyll at laste
whan they come the shore to
They se the hyll toppe fote and all
whiche thynge so coude not be fall
But the see lay rounde also

Hu.
Me thynketh your argumēt sōwhat hard

Ex.
Than ye shall haue it more playnly declared
If ye haue great desyre
For here loo by myne instrumentis
I can shew the playne experimentes

Hu.
Therto I you requyre

Ex.
with all my herte it shall be done
But for the furst conclusyon
That I spake of the fyre
Be this the seey that is so rounde
And this the fyre vpon the grounde
And this the shyp that is here
ye knowe well that a mannes syght
Can neuer be but in a lyne ryght

Hu.
Iust you say that is clere

Ex.
Marke well than may not yt mānis eye
[OMITTED]


with argyng here theyr folysh[OMITTED]
That is not worth iij. strawes
I loue not this horeson losophers
Nor this great cōnyng extromers
That tell how far it is to the sterres
I hate all maner connyng
I wolde ye knew it I am Ignorance
A lorde I am of gretter pusans
Than the kynge of yngland or fraunce
ye the grettyst lord lyuyng
I haue seruaūtes at my retynew
That longe to me I assure you
Here with in ynglande
That with me yngnorance dwell styll
And terme of lyfe cōtynew wyll
Aboue v C. thowsand

Sen.
Gogges naylys I haue payed sō of thē I tro

yng.
why man what eylyth ye so to blow

Sen.
For I was at a shrewd fray

yng.
Hast thou any of them slayn than

Sen.
ye I haue slayn them euery man
Saue them that ran away

yng.
why is any of them skapyd & gone

Sen.
ye by gogges body euerychone
All that euer were there



yng.
why than they be not all slayne

Sen.
No but I haue put some to payne
For one horeson there was yt torned again
And streyght I cut of his ere

yng.
Than thou hast made a cut hym purs

Sen.
ye but yet I seruyd a nother wors
I smot of his legge by the hard ars
As sone as I met hym there

yng.
By my trouth that was a mad dede
Thou sholdest haue smyt of his hed
Thā he shold neuer haue troublid ye more

Sen.
Tushe than I had ben but mad
For there was a nother man that had
Smyt of his hed before

yng.
Thā thou hast quyt ye lyke a tal knyght

Sen.
ye that I haue by this lyght
But I sey can you tell me ryght
where becam my maister

yng.
what he that you call humanyte

Sen.
ye

yng.
I wot neuer except he be
Hyd here in some corner

Sen.
Goggys body and trew ye sey
For yonder lo beholde ye may
Se where the mad fole doth ly



yng.
Now on my feyth and treuth [OMITTED]
Hit were euyn great almys
To smyte his hed from his body

Sen.
Nay god forbed ye sholde do so
For he is but an innocent lo
In maner of a fole
For as sone as I speke to hym agayne
I shall torne his mynde clene
And make hym folowe my skole

yng.
Thā byd hym ryse let vs here hym speke

Sen.
Now ryse vp maister huddy peke
your tayle totyth out be hynde
Fere not man stande vp by and by
I warrant you ryse vp boldly
Here is non but is your frynde

Hu.
I cry you mercy maister dere

yng.
why what is cause thou hydest the here

Hu.
For I was almoste for fere
Euyn clene out of my mynde

Sen.
Nay it is the study that ye haue had
In this folyshe losophy hath made you mad
And no nother thynge Iwys

yng.
That is as trewe as the gospell
Therfore I haue great meruell
That euer thou wylt folowe the counsell
Of yonder two knauys



Hu.
O syr ye know ryght well this
That when any man is
In other mens company
He must nedes folow the appyte
Of such thynges as they delyte
Som tyme amonge perdy

yng.
But such knaues wold alway haue ye
To put all thy mynd & felicite
In this folysh cōnyng to study
which if thou do wyll make ye mad
And alway to be pensyf & sad
Thou shalt neuer be mery

Sen.
Mery quod a/no I make god auow
But I pray ye mayster hark on word now
And aunswere this thyng
whether thought you it better chere
At the tauerne where we were ere
Or elles to clatter with these knaues here
Of theyr folysh cunnynge

Hu.
Nay I can not say the contrary
But yt I had mych myryer company
At the tauerne than in this place

Sen.
Than yf ye haue any wyt or brayn
Let vs go to the tauerne agayn
And make some mery solace

yng.
yf he wyll do so thā doth he wysely



Hu.
By my troth I care not gretely
For I am indyfferent to all company
whether it be here or there

Sen.
Then I shall tell you what we wyll do
Mayster yngnorans you & he also
Shall tary both styll here
And I wyll go fet hyther a cōpany
That ye shall here thē syng as swetly
As they were angelles clere
And yet I shall bryng hydyr a nother sort
Of lusty bluddes to make dysport
That shall both daunce & spryng
And torne clene aboue ye ground
with fryscas & with gambawdes round
That all the hall shall ryng
And yt done with in an howre or twayn
I shall at the towne agayne
Prepare for you a banket
Of metys that be most delycate
And most plesaunt drynkes & wynes ther ate
That is possyble to get
which shall be in a chamber feyre
Replete with sote & fragrāt eyre
Preparyd poynt deuyse
with damaske water made so well
That all ye howse therof shall smell


As it were pardyse
And after that if ye wyll touche
A feyre wenche nakyd in a couche
Of a softe bed of downe
For to satisfye your wantō lust
I shall apoynt you a trull of trust
Not a feyrer in this towne
And whan ye haue taken your delyte
And thus satisfyed the appetyte
Of your wyttis fyue
ye may sey than I am a seruaunt
For you so necessary and plesaunt
I trowe non suche a lyue

Hu.
Nowe by the wey that god dyd walke
It cōforthe myne herte to here the talke
Thy mache was neuer seyn

yng.
Than go thy wey by and by
And brynge in this company
And he and I wyll here tary
Tyll thou come agayne

Hu.
And I prey the hertely also

Sen.
At your request so shall I do
Lo I am gone nowe fare well
I shall brynge them in to this hall
And come my selfe formast of all
And of these reuellis be chefe mershall


And order all thynge well

yngnoraunce.
Nowe set thy hert on a mery pyn
Agayns these lusty bluddes come in
And dryue fantesys a wey

Hu.
And so I wyll by heuyn kynge
If they other daunce or synge
Haue a monge them by this day

yngnoraunce.
Than thou takyst good & wyse weys
And so shalt thou best please
All this hole company
For the folyshe arguynge yt thou hast had
with that knaue experiens yt hath made
All these folke therof wery
For all they that be nowe in this hall
They be the most ∥te my seruauntes all
And loue pryncypally
Disportis as daunsynge syngynge
Toys tryfuls laughynge gestynge
For connynge they set not by

Hu.
I se well suche company euer more
As sensuell appetyte is gone fore
wyll please well this audyens

yng.
ye that I suppose they wyll
But pease harke I prey the be styll


I wene they be not far hens

Then the daunsers with out the hall syng this wyse and they with in answer or ellys they may say it for nede.
The daunsers & Sensuall.
Pease syrs peace now pease syrs all

Humanyte & yngnorans.
why who is that so hye doth call

The daunsers.
Sylence I say be you among
For we be dysposyd to syng a song

Humanyte & yngnorans.
Come in then boldely a mong this presens
For here ye shall haue good audyens.


Tyme to pas with goodly sport our sprytes


to reuyue & cōfort to pipe to sīge to daūce to sprīg


with plesure & delyte folowīg sēsual appetyte
to pipe &c.


Tyme to pas &c.
Tyme to pas &c.



yng.
I can you thank yt is done well
It is pyte ye had not a mynstrell
For to augment your solas

Sen.
As for mynstrell it maketh no force
ye shall se me daunce a cours
without a mynstrell be it better or wors
Folow all I wyll lede a trace

Hu.
Now haue amonge you by this lyght

yng.
That is well sayd be god almyght
Make rome syrs & gyf them piace

Than he syngyth this song & daunyth with all And euermore maketh countenaunce accordyng To the mater & all ye other annswer lyke wyse

Daunce we/daunce we. praunce we praunce we

[Sen.]
So merely let vs daunce ey/so merely &c
And I can daunce it gyngerly & I &c
And I can fote it by & by & I &c
And I can pranke it properly
And I can countenaunse comely
And I can kroke it curtesly
And I can lepe it lustly
And I can torn it trymly
And I can fryske it freshly
And I can loke it lordly

yng.
I can the thanke sensuall apetyte
That is ye best daunce with out a pype


That I saw this seuen yere

Hu.
This daunce wold do mych better yet
yf we had a kyt or taberet
But alas ther is none here

Sen.
Then let vs go to ye tauerne agayne
There shall we be sure of one or twayn
Of mynstrelles yt can well play

yng.
Then go I pray ye by & by
And puruey some mynstrell redy
And he & I wyll folow shortly
As fast as euer we may

Hu.
Ther with I am ryght well content

Sen.
Then wyll I go in contynent
And prepare euery thyng
That is metely to be done
And for lacke of mynstrelles ye mean seasō
Now wyll we begyn to syng


Now we wyll here begyn to syng
For daunce can we no more
For mynstrelles here be all lackyng
To ye tauerne we wyll therfore



Et exeūt cantando &c.
Hu.
Now yf that sensuall appetyte cā fynd
Any good mynstrelles after hys mynd
Dowt not we shall haue good sport

yng.
And so shall we haue for a suerte
But what shall we do now tell me
The meane whyle for our cōfort

Hu.
Then let vs some lusty balet syng

yng.
Nay syr by ye heuyn kyng
For me thynkyth it seruyth for no thyng
All suche peuysh prykyeryd song

Hu.
Pes man pryksong may not be dispysyd
For ther with god is well plesyd
Honowryd praysyd & seruyd
In the churche oft tymes among

yng.
Is god well pleasyd trowst thou therby
Nay nay for there is no reason why
For is it not as good to say playnly
Gyf me a spade
As gyf me a spa ve va ve va ve vade
But yf thou wylt haue a song yt is good
I haue one of robyn hode
The best that euer was made

Hu.
Then a feleshyp let vs here it

yng.
But there is a bordon thou must bere it
Or ellys it wyll not be



Hu.
Than begyn and care not for [OMITTED]

Downe downe downe &c.
yng.
Robyn hode in barnysdale stode
And lent hym tyl a map yll thy styll
Thā cam our lady & swete saynt andrewe
Slepyst thou wakyst thou geffrey coke
A .C. wynter the water was depe
I can not tell you how brode
He toke a gose nek in his hande
And ouer the water he went
He start vp to a thystell top
And cut hym downe a holyn clobe
He stroke ye wren betwene the hornys
That fyre sprange out of the pygges tayle
lak boy is thy bowe I broke
Or hath any mā done ye wryguldy wrage
He plukkyd muskyllys out of a wyllowe
And put them in to his sachell
wylkyn was an archer good
And well coude handell a spade
He toke his bend bowe in his hand
And set hym downe by the fyre
He toke with hym .lx. bowes and ten
A pese of befe a nother of baken
Of all the byrdes in mery englond
So merely pypys the mery botell



Nature.
well Humanyte now I see playnly
That thou hast vsyd muche foly
The whyle I haue ben absent

Hu.
Syr I trust I haue done nothynge
That shold be contrary to your pleasynge
Nor neuer was myne intent
For I haue folowed the counsell clere
As ye me bad of studyouse desire
And for necessyte a monge
Somtyme sensuall appetytes counsell
For without hym ye knowe ryght well
My lyfe can not endure longe

Nature.
Though it be for the full necessary
For thy cōfort somtyme to satysfy
Thy sensuall appetyte
yet it is not conuenyent for the
To put therin thy felycyte
And all thy hole delyte
For if thou wylt lerne no sciens
Nother by study nor experiens
I shall the neuer auaunce
But in the worlde thou shalt dure than
Dyspysed of euery wyse man
Lyke this rude best ygnoraunce

[OMITTED]